South Africa: Government commemorates Black Wednesday Government has joined the South African media industry in commemorating the 45th anniversary of Black Wednesday, also marked as National Press Freedom Day. This day serves as a reminder of how far the South African media has come and affords the country an opportunity to reflect on media freedom. On this day in 1977, the apartheid government banned independent media in an attempt to silence the media from reporting about the brutal acts of the apartheid regime. Journalists, which include the then editor of The World, Percy Qoboza were taken into detention. A free media is an integral part of our democracy and government is committed to press freedom. We value our regular interactions with the media formations such as SANEF, the Press Club and the Press Gallery. We will continue to further strengthen our relations and cement the importance of independence of the media. The freedom of the press must be respected because any threat to the freedom of the media undermines our democracy, Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele said. Gungubele said the right to press freedom and freedom of expression is an important cornerstone of democracy. He highlighted that the Constitution entrenches the right to freedom of expression, including media freedom because it recognises that the media plays a crucial role in ensuring that all South Africans and government are held to account. Government, he said, urges the media to continue to uphold the standards of ethical reporting. We recognise the media as partners in strengthening our democracy and promoting our rights, which many have fought and died for during the years of struggle. We embrace any platform that allows us to strengthen relationships with the media, while also allowing us to speak about the work of government and to share our successes and challenges, Gungubele said. The Minister added that government appreciates the good work of the media, especially the diligent work that journalists did during the COVID-19 pandemic. Government also remembers the brave journalists who lost their lives whilst bringing reliable information to our homes. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-10-19. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. UN envoy says progress made in Mali's transition, peace process Xinhua) 07:58, October 19, 2022 Photo taken on Oct. 18, 2022 shows a view of a UN Security Council meeting on Mali at the UN headquarters in New York. El-Ghassim Wane, the UN secretary-general's special representative and head of the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, said on Tuesday that progress has been made in the transition and peace process in Mali, but he remains concerned about the security situation in the country. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- The top UN envoy for Mali, El-Ghassim Wane, said on Tuesday that progress has been made in the transition and peace process in Mali, but he remains concerned about the security situation in the country. Following the agreement reached in early July between Mali and the Economic Community of West African States on the transition timetable, notable progress has been made in the preparation for elections, he told the UN Security Council in a briefing. Steps have been taken to establish a unique electoral management authority after the adoption of the electoral law in June, he said. The mechanism to monitor the timetable of political and electoral reforms, which involves the Malian side and the multilateral partners concerned, is now operational at both the technical and political levels. Its political steering committee has so far met four times, he said. "While this progress is commendable, the successful implementation of the electoral process will depend on a multitude of factors, including the availability of the necessary financial and logistical resources and the evolution of the security situation," said Wane, the UN secretary-general's special representative and head of the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, known as MINUSMA. "Strengthening inclusiveness will also remain important," he added. In view of the constitutional referendum scheduled for March 2023, the Constitution Drafting Committee presented last week a preliminary constitution draft, and its adoption by the Council of Ministers is expected toward the end of November, he said. MINUSMA and the UN Country Team in Mali are actively involved in supporting the electoral process, providing technical and logistical support, and participating in the monitoring mechanism. An integrated electoral support plan for the 2022-2024 electoral cycle is being finalized, he said. Since August, the peace process has witnessed encouraging developments. In early August, the long-awaited high-level decision-making meeting was held and resulted in the approval of the government's proposal to integrate up to 26,000 former combatants into the Malian defense and security forces and other state structures. The meeting also agreed on a way forward for the required institutional reforms, he said. The positive developments are unfolding against the backdrop of a very challenging security, humanitarian, and human rights situation, with severe consequences for civilians across large parts of the country, cautioned Wane. The security situation remains volatile in the central Mali and in the tri-border area between Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, he said. Since March, there has been a sharp increase in the activities of extremist elements affiliated with two terrorist groups in the Menaka and Gao regions in the northeast. These extremist groups are taking advantage of security voids, which the Malian forces are striving to fill, and are fighting for territorial control while targeting the Malian forces and MINUSMA alike, he said. The prevailing insecurity in Menaka and Gao regions underscores the need for greater coordination between MINUSMA and Malian forces. Moreover, it also points to the urgency of completing the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process and deploying the reconstituted army, as this will significantly enhance the ability of the Malian state to address the current challenges, he said. The security situation in central Mali also remains fragile. Extremist elements retain the capacity to conduct coordinated attacks against the Malian armed forces, sabotage infrastructure, and terrorize local communities through reprisal attacks, he said. While the fight against terrorism necessarily includes a military and security component, it is obvious that no lasting results can be achieved if two basic conditions are not met: first, the need for these efforts to be complemented by the restoration of state authority and the rebuilding of trust with local communities; second, efforts to ensure that the government-led military operations are carried out in compliance with human rights and international humanitarian law and for perpetrators of violations and abuses to be held to account, said Wane. The current security environment has compounded the humanitarian situation in the country. The number of internally displaced persons rose from 350,000 to more than 422,000 in the center and north of the country, while more than 175,000 Malian refugees were in neighboring countries, he said. More than 1.8 million people face severe food insecurity. This figure could rise to 2.3 million by next month. More than 1.2 million children under the age of 5 are affected by acute malnutrition. As of May 2022, more than 1,950 schools in Mali were closed due to insecurity, which affected close to 587,000 children, mainly in the central region of Mopti. The efforts of humanitarian actors to meet these needs are hampered by the lack of adequate and sustainable funding. So far, only about 30 percent of the 686 million U.S. dollars requested for 2022 has been mobilized. The situation in Mali continues to warrant sustained international attention and engagement. The people of Mali have demonstrated great resilience amid multiple challenges. They continue to forge ahead and harbor a strong desire for peace and stability. Their efforts deserve the full support of the international community, and it bears emphasizing that stabilizing Mali is a sine qua non for the stabilization of the entire region, said Wane. El-Ghassim Wane (Front), the UN secretary-general's special representative and head of the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, speaks at a Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on Oct. 18, 2022. Wane said on Tuesday that progress has been made in the transition and peace process in Mali, but he remains concerned about the security situation in the country. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Wu Chaolan) 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 Karabakh army did not open fire at Azerbaijani positions in occupied territories World oil prices falling Armenia PM, wife attend charity concert in support of soldiers undergoing treatment Azerbaijan army fires towards Armenia positions Eurasianet: Azerbaijan's Russian natural gas deal raises uncomfortable questions for Europe Stanislav Zas: CSTO proposed several measures to help Armenia MOD: Artsakh Defense Army did not fire at Azerbaijani positions Princess Diana was 'murdered' because she was pregnant with Dodi Al Fayed's baby, claims his father Israel will fall apart, says Irans Islamic Revolution Guards Corps chief Turkey, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan leaders summit to be held in Ashgabat Elon Musk announces he will support Ron DeSantis if Florida governor runs for US president Armenia MOD dismisses Azerbaijan disinformation Baghdad ready to help Tehran-Riyadh negotiations resume, Iraq FM says Russia presidential spokesman: Attempts to interfere with CSTO work will continue Protests staged in Shanghai over China COVID curbs Iran parliament approves law on country's membership in Shanghai Cooperation Organization Worlds biggest nuclear-fusion project faces delays due to component cracks Erdogan announces Turkeys Bayraktar UAV fighter manufacture by end of 2023 Venezuela authorities and opposition resume talks, eyeing US sanctions relief Azerbaijan's Armenophobia policy to be presented in Australia (PHOTOS) Armenia FM: I am deeply shocked by news of Vladimir Makei's death The New York Times: Artillery breaking in Ukraine, becoming problem for Pentagon Karabakh MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement Americans spend record $9.12bn on online shopping on Black Friday North Korea aims to have world's strongest nuclear force, Kim Jong Un says What is best age to seek jobs? Scholz says Germany will allocate another 10 million to ensure grain supplies from Ukraine Azerbaijan opens fire on Armenian border positions Parapolitika: U.S. drone base is being set up near the Greek city of Larissa Belgium to send to Ukraine 100 instructors who fought in Afghanistan U.S. household spending up $433 for the year Authorities of Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine signs Declaration of Lublin Triangle PMs CIS Executive Committee says they agreed with CSTO, SCO on combining anti-terrorist exercises Over 10 people are missing in Italy after landslide Finns saving on alcohol Kyodo: Japan ready for joint counterstrikes with U.S. in case of attack OSCE PA session in Warsaw kicks off in darkness as sign of solidarity with Ukraine Times: Britain may triple its nuclear energy production by 2050 IAEA tells what blow to spent fuel at Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant will lead to AFP: Macron wants to dissuade Biden from unequal competition with EU ARF Dashnaktsutyun delegation meets with Spanish PM India launches vehicle with 9 satellites on board Bloomberg says cost of chartering oil tankers exceed $100,000 Belgium to provide Ukraine with underwater unmanned drones and mobile laboratories Presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan has phone talks 22 people injured in Turkish minibus accident Xi Jinping says he wants to develop relations with North Korea amid global changes Inauguration ceremony of Tokayev takes place in Astana Greta Thunberg and 600 more eco-activists sue Sweden Secretary of Armenian Security Council to visit France and Germany US starts transferring 80 power generators to Ukraine Another disinformation: Armenian soldiers did not shell Azerbaijani positions New York builds world's thinnest skyscraper Armenian Defense Ministry: Azerbaijan shells Armenian border positions Ford Motor Co. recalls 634,000 SUVs worldwide due to risk of fire Chinese man becomes famous for looking after 320 wolves at once Taliban bans women from visiting doctors without men in Nangarhar province Norway to provide almost $14 million for the EU mission of training AFU World economy predicts to roll back to the level of the 2008 financial crisis UN: Every hour more than five women are killed by their families around the world Drone use bans in Tatarstan Russian MOD advises Azerbaijani MOD not to question activities of Russian peacekeeping contingent Dutch ambassador summoned to Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry French MFA: Paris is committed to supporting negotiations between Pashinyan and Aliyev Sweden says it will not wait for Turkish elections to join NATO Germany's economy grew slightly more than expected in third quarter Putin says there is no need to recruit more people through partial mobilization Spiegel: Bundestag will vote on recognizing the holodomor as genocide Putin informs participants of Security Council about trip to Yerevan Hungary to receive exception to EU's planned price cap on Russian oil imports Uruguay's first resident ambassador presents his credentials to Armenian president Scholz surprised by companies' dependence on China Armenian PM receives Managing Director of European External Action Service of EU Doctors suspect poisoning of former Georgian President Saakashvili British Foreign Secretary announces millions of pounds in additional support for Ukraine Turkey and Qatar finalize talks on providing Ankara with up to $10 billion Armenian Deputy Defense Minister briefs EU representatives on situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border Switzerland approves CHF 960,000 in aid for resilience, economic recovery of Armenia border communities Xavier Villar: Tensions between Iran and Azerbaijan through the prism of Ummatic identity Over $11M pledged during 25th Hayastan All Armenian Fund annual Telethon Forbes: Armenia's purchase of Iranian drones could be a potential deterrent FM, EU official discuss Armenia-Turkey relations Dollar is down, euro is relatively stable in Armenia Azerbaijan president receives EU Special Representative for South Caucasus Lithuania terminates cooperation with Belarus in field of interior affairs France seeks to poach India from its main arms supplier, Russia AraratBank launches Google Pay for its card users MFA: Armenia ready for meeting in accordance with Prague agreements, format ARF Dashnaktsutyun: We condemn the Turkish army's actions in Northern Syria Saudi Arabian and Iraqi energy ministers highlight importance of OPEC+ work Grigoryan, Zohouri discuss Armenia-Iran railway operation in case of possible unblocking Kopirkin on Armenia-Russia relations: There are problems but they are being resolved Lemkin Institute: Giving up Artsakh would mean condoning genocide against Armenians Russia envoy to Armenia: Impressions from last summit of leaders of CSTO member countries are quite positive Chevron Corp may soon get U.S. approval to expand operations in Venezuela Kazakhstan, Turkey and Azerbaijan FMs meet in Aktau to discuss Middle Corridor Canada to open new consulate in Armenia Politico: US is profiting from war, while the EU countries suffer Cavusoglu declares strategic importance of so-called 'Zangezur corridor' Azerbaijani Armed Forces continue shelling civilians in Artsakh The rector of Valery Brusov State University of linguistics of Armenia said she heard Tuesday the small report on Public TV, and the statements that there are underground currents in the matter, that this is an attempt to manipulate students. Karine Harutyunyan announced this during Wednesdays extended meeting of the university's academic board. "I want to inform everyone with full responsibility that yes, during my meeting with the education minister before the session on October 14, he offered me to occupy a high position in the university being newly formed. I refused it, I said it was out of the question. Now I declare again with full responsibility that I am not going to occupy any position in the institute being newly formed I have noted that this is not a personal issue, that there are no underground movements here, I believe it is not possible to manipulate so many students and professors. I said that I am here, I am appointed rector to protect the interests of this university, I stand with the students and the entire staff," the rector declared. The government has come up with a new initiative according to which Valery Brusov State University, as well as the Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture, will be joined to the Armenian State Pedagogical University. People will be able to get Armenian citizenship not only for $150,000 in investments. Other standards will be set as well, Deputy Chief of Police Ara Fidanyan told reporters this on Wednesday. This, he said, is so far only a draft law. More detailed provisions will be set upon the decision of the government. All of the existing risks that we have identified will be eliminated if possible. Fidanyan also responded to criticism. Journalists pointed out that Azerbaijanis and Turks, if the new law is adopted, will also be able to invest 150 thousand dollars, and obtain Armenian citizenship, according to the new law. "First, the granting of citizenship will be limited to a certain circle of people. We can't define nationality as such in the law, but all the risks will definitely be taken into account. There are various types of criminal activities related to individuals involved in money laundering," explained the Deputy Chief of Police. In response, journalists asked if a citizen of Azerbaijan can also make investments and obtain Armenian citizenship. "Azerbaijani citizen," in this case, is an extremely relative notion. By the same logic, he, for example, can be Azerbaijani by nationality, while having the citizenship of the Russian Federation. Therefore, we are not going to focus solely on the citizenship factor," said the deputy head of the police. President Joe Biden and Russian leader Vladimir Putin are scheduled to attend next month's G-20 summit in Indonesia. U.S. officials are taking steps to prevent the two presidents from meeting. Last week, Biden opened the door to meet with Putin at the summit to discuss the release of American prisoners, including WNBA star Brittney Griner. But there have been no talks with the Kremlin about making a deal, and that is unlikely to change, Politico writes, citing administration officials. According to officials, who note that the presidents may attend the same big plenary session, it cannot be ruled out that Biden and Putin's paths may cross at some point during the November summit. But U.S. officials have ruled out a formal meeting and are taking steps to ensure that the American president does not meet his Russian counterpart in the hallway or even in a group photo of the leaders. The G-20 summit, to be held on the beautiful beaches of Bali, will be the most anticipated multinational meeting in years, as the war has tested Europe and the economy is on the verge of recession. Not all countries present are expected to rally around Ukraine, as European countries have done. This has created logistical problems for the White House. While Biden plans to avoid Putin, talks have begun between senior aides in Washington and Beijing about the first face-to-face meeting between Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping during the G-20 summit, officials said. Normally, the first meeting between the leaders of the world's two major superpowers would be the headliner, but Putin is ready to get everyone's attention. There have been internal discussions in the White House for weeks about Putin's possible arrival after Indonesian officials announced that the Russian leader would attend the summit. There has been little disagreement in the West Wing over the conclusion that Biden should not meet with Putin. Story Highlights 54% believe federal government is too powerful, similar to past years 53% say government doing too many things to solve nation's problems Twice as many say there is too much rather than too little business regulation WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A 54% majority of Americans say the federal government has too much power, while 39% say it has about the right amount of power and 6% say too little. These figures have generally been stable throughout the Donald Trump and Joe Biden presidential administrations. Since 2005, no less than 50% of Americans have said they believe the federal government is too powerful, with some of those readings reaching 60%. ###Embeddable### These results are based on Gallup's annual Governance survey, conducted Sept. 1-16. Americans have typically believed the federal government has too much power, except in the first three years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Between 2002 and 2004, about half of Americans said the government had the right amount of power, while close to 40% said it had too much. At no point in Gallup's trend have more than 9% of U.S. adults said the government has too little power. The stability in the overall numbers masks large shifts by Republicans and Democrats tied to the party of the sitting president. Generally speaking, Republicans and Democrats are more inclined to say the government has too much power when the president is from the other party, and less inclined when a president from their own party is in the White House. But since 2009, Republicans have been consistently more likely than Democrats to say the government is too powerful, just by larger margins under a Democratic president than under a Republican president. ###Embeddable### Currently, 74% of Republicans, 32% of Democrats and 54% of independents believe the federal government has too much power. Slim Majority Believes Federal Government Is Too Active When asked how active the government should be in addressing the nation's problems, 53% say it is doing too many things that should be left to individuals and businesses, while 43% believe the government should be doing more to solve problems. These attitudes are similar to a year ago and have largely held over the past two decades, although with some variation, depending on the party of the president at the time. Typically, as now, Americans have been more likely to see the government as too active when a Democratic president is in office than when a Republican is. ###Embeddable### Gallup first asked the question about government activity in 1992. The highest percentages saying the government is doing too much are 61% measured in July 2012 and 60% in December 1995. There have been only three instances since 1992 in which more Americans have called for the government to do more than to do less. These were in early 1993, after Bill Clinton took office following his victory over the incumbent George H.W. Bush in an election focused on economic issues; in October 2001, weeks after the 9/11 terrorist attacks; and in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Consistent with their party platforms, most Republicans (75%) currently say the government is doing too many things, and most Democrats (66%) believe the government should be doing more. Independents' views mirror the national average. Since 2011, no less than 64% of Democrats have said the government should be doing more than it is, including a high of 83% in 2020. Over that same period, no less than 70% of Republicans have said the government is doing too many things it shouldn't be. Americans Most Likely to Believe Business Regulated Too Much Twice as many Americans believe the government regulates business too much (46%) rather than too little (23%), and 29% say there is the right amount of regulation. For the past two years -- the first two of Biden's administration -- the percentage of Americans saying there is too much regulation has exceeded the percentages measured in 2018-2020, the last three years of Trump's administration. Similarly, more Americans thought there was too much business regulation under Barack Obama between 2009 and 2016 than under George W. Bush between 2001 and 2008. ###Embeddable### The high point in saying there is too much regulation in Gallup's trend is 50% in 2011. A 1981 Los Angeles Times poll that asked the same question found 54% saying there was too much regulation. That poll was conducted early in Ronald Reagan's presidency, after he won election on a platform of cutting government regulation. Bottom Line Americans' views of federal government power haven't changed over the past six years, which have spanned a number of issues or events that involved significant, if not unprecedented, government activity. During this period, the U.S. Justice Department investigated possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russia in the 2016 election, the U.S. House impeached Trump twice, and the FBI recently raided Trump's home looking for government records, including classified material. The federal government has also spent trillions of dollars addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and authorized $1 trillion for infrastructure and billions more for climate change legislation. Consistent with the philosophies of the two major parties, Republicans are more likely than Democrats to believe the government is too powerful, is doing too many things that individuals and businesses should be doing, and that it is regulating business too much. However, those views are usually moderated by the party of the current president and whether his approach is in line with what Republicans or Democrats prefer. To stay up to date with the latest Gallup News insights and updates, follow us on Twitter. Learn more about how the Gallup Poll Social Series works. View complete question responses and trends (PDF download). Sweden ditches 'feminist foreign policy' New Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom announced the move. Photo: AFP Sweden's new right-wing government said Tuesday it was ditching the country's pioneering "feminist foreign policy", launched by the left-wing in 2014, saying the label could be counter-productive. New Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom announced the move just moments after Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson presented his new government, backed by the far-right Sweden Democrats for the first time. The "feminist foreign policy" concept has been copied by several countries but also ruffled feathers in others, notably in the Middle East. Former foreign minister Margot Wallstrom coined the term in 2014, placing gender equality at the heart of Sweden's international agenda. Its goals included the promotion of economic emancipation, fighting sexual violence and improving women's political participation. "Gender equality is a fundamental value in Sweden and also a fundamental value for this government", Billstrom, of the conservative Moderates party, told Swedish news agency TT on Tuesday. "But we're not going to use the expression 'feminist foreign policy' because labels on things have a tendency to cover up the content", he said. Various publications on the subject were in the process of being taken down from the foreign ministry's website on Tuesday. Billstrom said there would be no major changes to Sweden's other foreign policy dossiers, such as the country's historic Nato application process. (AFP) Lafarge fined US$778 million for paying Islamic State The US said the French cement company operated a revenue sharing agreement with IS. Photo: AFP French cement giant Lafarge SA was slapped with a US$778 million fine Tuesday for making millions in payments to the Islamic State and another jihadist group to build its business in Syria. The US Justice Department said the company and its Syrian subsidiary actively sought the Islamic State (IS) group's help to squeeze out competitors when the radical Islamists controlled large parts of Syria and Iraq in 2013-2014, operating an effective "revenue sharing agreement" with them. It also paid access and protection money to associates of IS and the similarly radical Al-Nusrah Front, ultimately earning some US$70 million in revenues during the period, with a Lafarge executive saying the cooperation was "to share the cake." Lafarge agreed to the fine and to plead guilty to one count of conspiring to provide material support to US-designated foreign terrorist organisations, the first time a corporation has faced the charge. US officials said the company, now owned by Swiss giant Holcim Group, made itself a handmaiden to terror for profits. "In the midst of a civil war, Lafarge made the unthinkable choice to put money into the hands of ISIS, one of the world's most barbaric terrorist organisations, so that it could continue selling cement," Justice Department prosecutor Breon Peace said, using another acronym for IS. "This unprecedented charge and resolution reflect the extraordinary crimes committed and demonstrates that corporations that take actions in contravention of our national security interests in violation of the law will be held to account," Peace said. In a statement, Lafarge said the company and its defunct subsidiary Lafarge Cement Syria "have accepted responsibility for the actions of the individual executives involved." "We deeply regret that this conduct occurred and have worked with the US Department of Justice to resolve this matter." Holcim, which took over Lafarge in 2015 without knowledge of the Syria business dealings, said it had been cleared of any wrongdoing by US authorities. "None of the conduct involved Holcim, which has never operated in Syria, or any Lafarge operations or employees in the United States," it said in a separate statement. Lafarge began operating a 680 million euro (US$670 million) cement plant in the Jalabiyeh region of Northern Syria in 2010, the year IS swept the region with a brutal campaign to establish its extremist "califate." That sparked a counter-offensive by the Iraq military and Syrian Kurdish forces backed by the US-led international coalition in the region. The US designated IS and Al-Nusrah terror organisations, threatening tough penalties against anyone who worked with them. Rather than withdraw like other companies, Lafarge kept working to market its cement, the Justice Department said. From 2013 to 2104, it paid IS and Al-Nusrah around US$5.9 million, some for raw materials, some as payments based on the volume of cement sold and some simply as monthly "donations," the department said. Lafarge paid another US$1.1 million to intermediaries facilitating business with the two groups. The firm also worked out a deal with IS to make it harder for cheaper Turkish cement suppliers to sell their goods in the same area, effectively allowing Lafarge to keep its prices higher, according to US authorities. Company executives knew of the arrangement, the Justice Department said. (AFP) China has again blocked the UN from imposing sanctions on a Pakistani terrorist - this time Shahid Mahmood - a week before the Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee is to meet in India, according to diplomatic sources. Acting for the fourth time since June on behalf of its ally Pakistan, China blocked the inclusion of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader in the UN Security Council sanctions list, the sources said on Wednesday. The action was reported on the eve of the meeting in Paris of the terrorist funding watchdog, Financial Action Task Force (FATF), that is to consider Pakistan's request to be taken off a list of countries facilitating the funding of terrorist groups. Mahmood's declaration as an UN-sanctioned terrorist could be an embarrassment for Islamabad at the FATF meeting. The US and India have asked the Security Council committee dealing with sanctions on the Islamic State and Al Qaeda along with affiliated groups like the LeT to impose sanctions on Mahmood, who runs its international operations. The panel, known as the 1267 Sanctions Committee for the number of the resolution setting it up, includes all the members of the Security Council and its members can block the addition of terrorists to its list, which China has repeatedly done to protect several terrorists from its ally Pakistan. Last month, China put a hold on the sanctioning of another LeT leader, Sajid Mir, a mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai attack carried out by Pakistanis in 2008. In August, China blocked the listing of another Pakistan-based terrorist Abdul Rauf Azhar, the commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) involved in the hijacking of an Indian aeroplane in 1999, from being added to the list. And in June, Beijing vetoed sanctioning LeT deputy chief Abdul Rehman Makki. According to the US Treasury Department, which put Mahmood on its sanctions list in 2016, he is the vice chair of an LeT front organisation called Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation. He was involved in LeT's international operations, with a focus on Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, and has also led delegations to Syria, Turkey, and Myanmar, it said. The department said, "Mahmood claimed that L-e-T's primary concern should be attacking India and America". It said that he has visited Bangladesh to distribute funds in Myanmar refugee camps to recruit members for the LeT. The Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee headed by India is to meet in Mumbai at the Taj Palace Hotel on October 28. The venue is highly symbolic as it was the centre of the 2008 terrorist attack on Mumbai that killed at least 175 people. The next day, it will hold another meeting in New Delhi. The FATF, an international group that monitors the financing of and money laundering by terrorists and the countries involved, has placed Pakistan on its "Gray List" and Islamabad wants to be dropped from it claiming it has improved compliance with the FATF requirements. (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis) --IANS al/vd ( 509 Words) 2022-10-19-20:56:03 (IANS) Siam Makro remains committed to its existing Indian assets which include the wholesale cash and carry trading business, under its brand, LOTS Wholesale Solutions.' Issued by and on behalf of Siam Makro Public Company Limited. For further enquiries please contact: Metin Ozyurtlu Metin.ozyurtlu@cpwi.in This story has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content in this article. (ANI/PRNewswire) The airline said that the new flight routes will now bring Indian travellers to the heart of Vietnam, "positively" impacting travel, tourism, trade and culture. With the duration of only four-hour travel, passengers coming from India will have the opportunity to experience famous cultural hotspots, resort destinations and beautiful beaches, including the world-famous Golden Bridge in Ba Na Hills. For passengers from Vietnam, the unique opportunity to soak in the diverse culture, religious practices and culinary delights of India are only a flight away. VietJet's direct to India flight will also boast of several other in-flight features; hot meals from a list of international cuisines, health services, leather seats, dedicated cabin crews & unique art programmes all while experiencing seamless air travel at an altitude of 10,000 meters. Return flights between Da Nang - New Delhi, will be scheduled for Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Return flights between Da Nang - Mumbai will be scheduled for Monday, Wednesday and Friday. With a focus on cost management ability, effective operations and performance, Vietjet offers flying opportunities with cost-saving and flexible fares as well as diversified services to meet customers' demands, said the airline. --IANS kvm/pgh ( 228 Words) 2022-10-19-19:24:03 (IANS) 'The Eight Mountains' star Luca Marinelli will be portraying the role of Benito Mussolini in Joe Wright's next 'M. Son of the Century'. According to Deadline, the eight-part drama, based on best-selling author and historian Antonio Scurati's work M, which charts the ascent of the fascist dictator, begins filming this week at Rome's Cinecitta studios. The casting was announced at a presentation of the drama at the Rome Film Festival on Tuesday. For his work in Pietro Marcello's Jack London adaptation Martin Eden, Marinelli, a former European Shooting Star at the Berlinale, earned the Coppa Volpi award for best actor in Venice in 2020. He also received praise for the film They Call Me Jeeg, for which he was awarded the 2016 Davide Di Donatello in Italy. As per the reports of Deadline, his most recent appearance was in the Italian-language drama The Eight Mountains, directed by Felix van Groeningen and written by Charlotte Vandemeersch and set in a lonely mountain region and focusing on the lifelong friendship of two friends from different backgrounds. M. Son of the Century is made in partnership with French mini-major Pathe by Sky Studios and Lorenzo Mieli at Rome-based The Apartment Pictures, a Fremantle subsidiary. The series will cover the years from 1919, when Fasci Italiani was founded, to 1925, when socialist MP Giacomo Matteotti was assassinated, when Mussolini gave his infamous statement in parliament. According to Deadline, every event, character, line of dialogue, and utterance from that time period will be accurately portrayed and supported by a variety of sources. The drama will also provide details about Mussolini's personal relationships, including those with his wife Rachele, his lover Margherita Sarfatti, and other well-known historical figures. The adaptation's writers are Davide Serino and Stefano Bises (Gomorrah, The New Pope, ZeroZeroZero, Speravo de mor prime) (1992, 1993, Il Re, Esterno Notte). (ANI) The National Investigation Agency in the early hours of Tuesday morning raided the house of infamous gangster Naresh Sethi as a part of the central agency's mega operation conducted yesterday across the four states of northern India. The central agency along with local police raided the premises of jailed gangster Naresh Sethi. "The illegal property and bank details of Sethi were also investigated", said officials. Adding that the raid was conducted for five hours and the relatives were also interrogated during the operation. The National Investigation Agency also searched the premises of Surender alias Cheeku of Narnaul in Haryana; Naveen alias Bali of Bawana in Delhi; Amit alias Dabang of Tajpur in Outer Delhi; Amit Dagar of Gurugram in Haryana; Sandeep alias Bandar, Salim alias Pistol of North-East Delhi; Qurban and Rizwan Khurja of Bulandshahr in UP and their associates. Earlier today, in a second such mega operation conducted within a span of 36 days to dismantle and disrupt the emerging nexus between terrorists, gangsters and drug smugglers based in India and abroad, the NIA carried out searches at 52 locations in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi as well as the National Capital Region (NCR). The locations raided by the NIA included Abohar, Bhatinda, Muktsar Sahab, Moga, Ludhiana, Chandigarh and Mohali districts of Punjab; East Gurugram, Bhiwani, Yamuna Nagar, Sonepat, Mahendragarh, Manesar, Rewari, Rohtak and Jhajjar districts of Haryana; Churu, Bharatpur and Alwar districts of Rajasthan; Noida, Bulanshehar and Sonbhadra districts as well as Dwarka, Outer North, Central, Outer and North East districts of Delhi and NCR. During the searches, five pistols and revolvers were seized, along with ammunition, which includes a cache of four pistols from the house of Asif Khan, an advocate, a residence of Gautam Vihar, Usmanpur in North East Delhi, said the agency, adding "he was connected with various gangsters of Haryana and Delhi"."Few weapons in semi-knocked down condition have also been recovered during these raids," said the NIA. Apart from these, incriminating documents, digital devices, details about Benami property created through proceeds of crime, cash, gold bars and gold jewellery from Khurja, Bulandshahar (UP), and threat letters were also seized by the NIA. The Central agency said that these raids were carried out to "dismantle and disrupt the emerging nexus between terrorists, gangsters and drug smugglers/traffickers based in India and abroad". "A few of the most desperate gang leaders and their associates based in India and abroad, who are spearheading and carrying out such terror and criminal activities were identified and booked in two cases registered by the NIA in August this year," said the NIA. This was the second round of raids and searches conducted by the NIA as part of its crackdown on top gangsters, their criminal and business associates based in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan and arms suppliers based in UP, Rajasthan and Delhi. The NIA also arrested one Rajesh alias Raju Mota who hails from Basaudi, Sonepat (Haryana).Mota, according to the NIA, has multiple criminal cases registered against him. "Raju Mota is running an illegal liquor mafia network in Sonepat and surrounding areas, along with his associates. He is an accomplice of Sandeep alias Kala Jathedi, who is a dreaded gangster of Haryana," the NIA said in a statement. "Raju Mota has also invested a huge amount of money in the liquor business which he has earned through illegitimate means," it added. On September 12, the NIA had also searched 50 locations in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi and NCR region. The NIA crackdown followed the launch of investigations against this nexus by the anti-terror agency after the re-registration of two cases, earlier registered by Delhi Police, on August 26 this year. A few of the most desperate gang leaders and their associates based in India and abroad, who are spearheading and carrying out such terror and criminal activities were identified and booked. (ANI) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that the judge who had granted bail to the accused in Chhattisgarh's Nagrik Apurti Nigam (NAN) scam had met the Chief Minister, two days before the bail order was passed. A bench of Chief Justice U.U. Lalit and comprising Justices Ravindra Bhat and Ajay Rastogi was hearing a plea by the ED seeking to transfer the investigation in the scam, pertaining to corruption in the Public Distribution System (PDS), to the CBI and also shift the trial outside Chhattisgarh. Previously, the ED had told the Supreme Court that the constitutional functionaries were helping the accused. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the ED, submitted that the judge met the CM two days before the bail and "if this isn't shocking, I don't know!" He claimed that the status report is being exchanged with the accused before it is being filed, as he contended that a free and fair trial has not been carried out in the case. Mehta added that the special investigation team (SIT) constituted to investigate the matter was in touch with the prime accused, and the collusion between accused and the authorities has diluted the case of the prosecution. He also emphasised the accused has received concessions from the present state government in the case. He cited WhatsApp conversations between the accused and the co-accused allegedly pointing that the CM was also contacted. Reading out the conversation, Mehta said: "Please see this --I was wondering if HCM could speak with him", adding that the HCM means "Hon'ble Chief Minister". However, Justice Rastogi was not convinced that the messages established collusion between the accused and constitutional functionaries. Mehta then said that the judge met the CM two days before the bail, and "if this isn't shocking, I don't know what is!" As the ED also submitted material connected with the case in sealed cover, the bench told Mehta if the court were to consider sealed cover documents, the documents should be shared with the state government as well, in the interest of fairness. Mehta opposed it, saying that the state government has been sharing everything with the accused. The top court has scheduled the matter for further hearing on Wednesday. The ED had registered a money laundering case in connection with the scam against two IAS officers. The NAN scam surfaced in 2015, and those involved have been accused of supplying low quality rice, gram, salt etc. The ED moved the apex court seeking transfer of trial from Chhattisgarh alleging a senior government official attempting to weaken the predicate offence against the accused. --IANS ss/vd ( 456 Words) 2022-10-18-20:40:05 (IANS) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday conducted searches at over 50 locations in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi-NCR to dismantle and disrupt the emerging nexus between terrorists, gangsters and drug smugglers and traffickers based in India and abroad, sources said. According to the information, a few of the most desperate gang leaders and their associates based in India and abroad, who are spearheading and carrying out such terror and criminal activities were identified, and two cases were registered by the NIA in August against them. "Today was the second round of the searches which were conducted by the centre agency," an NIA official said. "The second round of raids and searches is part of the NIA crackdown on top gangsters, their criminal and business associates based in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, and arms suppliers based in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi. Their associates involved in illegal liquor supply mafia were also raided today. Premises of Rajesh a.k.a. Raju Mota -- a resident of Sonepat was also searched, he is a drug peddler," the NIA official said. According to the information, "the raids were carried out in Abohar, Bhatinda, Muktsar Sahab, Moga, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, Mohali districts of Punjab, east Gurugram, Bhiwani, Yamuna Nagar, Sonepat, Mahendragarh, Manesar, Rewari, Rohtak and Jhajjar districts of Haryana, Churu, Bharatpur and Alwar districts of Rajasthan Noida, Bulanshehar and Sonbhadra districts, and Dwarka, outer-north, central, outer and north-east districts of Delhi-NCR". During the searches, five pistols have been seized, along with ammunition, which includes a cache of 4 pistols from the house of an advocate, Asif Khan who lives in north-east Delhi. He was connected with various gangsters of Haryana and Delhi. Few weapons in semi-knocked down condition have also been recovered. Apart from the above, incriminating documents, digital devices, details about benami property created through proceeds of crime, cash, gold bars and gold jewellery from Khurja , Bulandshahr (Uttar Pradesh), threat letters, etc., have also been seized by the NIA. "Investigations have revealed that these gangs were carrying out targeted killings and were also raising funds to carry out such criminal activities through smuggling of drugs and weapons. The recent sensational crimes and extortion calls by criminal syndicates and gangsters to businessmen, professionals, including doctors etc., had created a widespread scare among the people. These gangs were using cyber-space to publicise these crimes to create terror among the public at large," the official said. The NIA has also learnt that there was a deep-rooted conspiracy among terrorists, gangsters and drug smuggling cartels and networks, who were operating from both within and outside the country. Many gang leaders and members had fled India, and have been operating from foreign countries including Pakistan, Canada, Malaysia, Australia, etc. Ongoing probe by the NIA in cases being investigated by the agency, such as the killing of Shaurya Chakra Awardee Comrade Balwinder Singh in Punjab also revealed that most of these conspiracies were being hatched from inside jails of different states and were being executed by an organised network of operatives based in abroad. --IANS atk/pgh ( 519 Words) 2022-10-18-20:40:06 (IANS) In a significant political development in Andhra Pradesh, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) national President N. Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena Party (JSP) leader and actor Pawan Kalyan on Tuesday decided to work together to save democracy in the state. The two leaders vowed to work together against the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government's "undemocratic style of functioning". Naidu met Pawan Kalyan at a hotel in Vijayawada, where the latter was staying and expressed solidarity with him in the wake of the recent developments in Visakhapatnam. After the meeting that lasted for more than an hour, the two leaders told media persons they will work together to save democracy which is facing a grave threat under Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government. Naidu said all democratic forces should come together to save democracy. "Elections come later. We have to first save democracy," the TDP chief said, evading questions about a possible alliance between the two parties in the next elections. The former Chief Minister said an action plan would be prepared by bringing all democratic forces to restore people's faith in democracy. "We have to restore the freedom for any party to go to any village and organise a meeting," he said. "For democracy to survive, there should be political parties to raise the problems of people. What will happen if the voice of the leaders of these political parties is suppressed and false cases are booked against them," asked Pawan Kalyan. The actor-politician said not just Jana Sena but all parties including the CPI, the CPI-M, the BJP and people's organisations should come forward to work for this. Naidu said the government was targeting all those raising their voice against its misrule. He said the ruling party first targeted him and now is targeting Pawan Kalyan. He said in his 40-year-old political career he did not see a situation like this. "I have seen many parties but have not seen a party like the YSRCP which has stooped very low," he said. The TDP leader alleged Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy was drawing sadistic pleasure by abusing opposition leaders, by insulting them and by subjecting them to mental torture. The two leaders discussed the developments of the last couple of days in Visakhapatnam, where police barred Pawan Kalyan from addressing meetings or rallies following attack on vehicles of ministers and other leaders of the YSRCP at Visakhapatnam Airport. Several leaders and scores of Jana Sena were arrested for the attack. Pawan Kalyan, however, denied involvement of his party in the incident and alleged that the YSRCP was targeting his party for raising people's voice. --IANS ms/vd ( 448 Words) 2022-10-18-20:44:05 (IANS) "Home Minister of India's order to release the convicts in Bilkis Bano case, exposes the cruel mindset of Indian BJP leaders. They have brought shame to the entire country by granting pardon to these inhuman vultures," Siddaramaiah stated. Union Home Minister Amit Shah should resign and apologise to the entire nation, he demanded. "It is unfortunate that BJP party wants to use sensitive issue for their political agenda. The release of those inhuman rapists and murderers is to polarise electorate ahead of Gujarat elections," Siddaramaiah charged. He further stated that for BJP, elections become more important than the concerns of women of this country. The entire nation has seen the beautiful bond of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his mother. But, why could PM Modi not see the pain of the mother who lost her infant and unborn child, Siddaramaiah questioned. India will not forgive this inhuman decision of BJP government to grant pardon, he stated. Where are the women MPs from BJP? Siddaramaiah questioned. "If they can't stand up even for women's causes, they are unfit to continue in their positions. Can they sleep peacefully knowing that rapists were released by their party for political reasons?," Siddaramaiah further stated. --IANS mka/uk ( 243 Words) 2022-10-18-20:50:03 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to have a jam-packed schedule in the run-up to Diwali with back-to-back visits to Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh starting Wednesday till October 23. These visits would cover several aspects of governance as well as spirituality. The Prime Minister will kickstart his busy schedule with a two-day visit to Gujarat starting Wednesday. Modi will be in his home state on October 19-20, where he will dedicate and lay foundation stone for projects worth around Rs 15,670 crore. The Prime Minister is scheduled to inaugurate the Defence Expo 2022 at the Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar on Wednesday. After this, he will launch the Mission Schools of Excellence programme at Adalaj. He will then lay the foundation stone for various development projects in Junagadh. Modi will also inaugurate the India Urban Housing Conclave 2022 and dedicate and lay the foundation stone for multiple key projects in Rajkot on the same day. He will then inaugurate an exhibition of innovative construction practices. On October 20, the Prime Minister will launch Mission LiFE. This will be followed by his participation in the 10th Heads of Missions Conference in Kevadia, after which he will lay the foundation stone for various development initiatives at Vyara. Early on October 21 morning, Modi will head towards Kedarnath and Badrinath, where he will lay the foundation stone for connectivity projects worth around Rs 3,500 crore. He will also perform puja at the Kedarnath temple as well as the Badrinath temple. The Prime Minister will then review the progress of various development works there. On October 22, the Prime Minister will return from Uttarakhand and later in the day he will participate in the Griha Pravesham function of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (Gramin) beneficiaries in Madhya Pradesh via video conferencing. Modi will also participate in an important programme which will impact the youth across the country, details of which will be revealed soon, PMO sources said. On October 23, the Prime Minister will reach Ayodhya where he will perform puja at the Ram temple. This would be followed by inspection of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra site. He will also attend the 'Rajya Abhishek' of Lord Ram. Later in the evening, Modi will witness 'aarti' at new Saryu ghat and participate in the 'deepotsav' celebrations. --IANS ans/arm ( 400 Words) 2022-10-18-21:32:01 (IANS) Reacting to the allegations of the Arumughaswamy committee after the committee called for an investigation against Sasikala, among three others, expelled AIADMK leader Sasikala on Tuesday said "I deny all the allegations levelled against me in the report". Arumughaswamy Commission of Inquiry constituted to probe the death of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa has called for an investigation against Sasikala, among three others. The report of the Arumugasamy Inquiry Committee, which probed the death of former Tamil Nadu chief minister and AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa, was tabled in the State Assembly on Tuesday. Arumughaswamy Commission of Inquiry concluded that Sasikala, Jayalalithaa's personal Doctor K S Sivakumar, then Health Secretary Radhakrishnan, C.Vijayabaskar who was health Minister then are found to be at fault and an investigation is to be ordered. Replying to which Expelled AIADMK leader Sasikala said that I deny all the allegations levelled against me in the report. I never interfered in the medical treatment of J Jayalalithaa. "I am ready to face an inquiry on this," she added. Earlier in August, the single-member commission of retired Justice Arumugasamy, appointed to probe J Jayalalithaa's death, submitted its report to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin at the Secretariat after five years. After the demise of Jayalalithaa in December 2016, full-scale politics erupted over the cause of her death and the medical procedures followed during her hospitalisation. Former Tamil Nadu chief minister O Pannerselvam had requested a probe into her death. This led to the formation of the Arumughaswamy Commission. The Commission was assigned to enquire into the circumstances, health condition and situation leading to the hospitalisation of the late Chief Minister J Jayalalitha on 22 September 2016 and subsequent treatment provided till her unfortunate demise on 5 December 2016. Aarumugasami has filed his 608 pages final report in Tamil and 500 pages report in English. Over 159 witnesses in relation to Jayalalithaa have appeared before Arumughaswamy Commission and have put forward their points of view. Notably, Arumughaswamy Commission commenced its investigation in November 2017 with many hearings of close aides of Jayalalithaa and doctors who provided treatment, then Tamil Nadu Health Minister Vijayabhakar, then Health Secretary Radhakrishnan, then Finance Minister of Tamil Nadu and AIADMK senior leader O Pannerselvam. Meanwhile, a report by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences' panel of doctors has asserted that the treatment provided to late Jayalalithaa was as per "correct medical practice and no errors" have been found in the care provided. This clean chit provided relief for Apollo Hospital where Jayalalithaa was admitted.The panel found all the final diagnosis and timeline of events of Jayalalithaa's health was fully observed and also agreed with Apollo's treatment and diagnosis. (ANI) Karnataka chief minister Bosavraj Bommai on Tuesday promised the general public, funds for the Bidar-Nanded Railway project. "The Government of India will soon approve the project", CM said. Speaking at the Jan Sankalp Yatra in Aurad yesterday, Bommai said that the Government of India will soon approve the Bidar-Nanded Railway project and the State government will provide land and its share of the project cost. While emphasizing upon the developmental promises to be commenced soon in the Aurad of Bidar district, CM Bommai said that the filling up of 36 tanks in Aurad taluk will be taken up at a cost of Rs 698 crore and it will benefit 40 villages. This scheme is being taken up following pressure from Union Minister Bhagwant Khuba and Karnataka Animal Husbandry Minister Prabhu Chavan at a cost of Rs 700 crore. "The administrative approval will be given this month and the work will start from next month. In the Bhalki Assembly constituency, a scheme to irrigate 24,000 acres of land with one tmc ft of water at a cost of Rs 762 crore has been sanctioned. These two projects were pending for the last so many years," he said. Adding that we are doing what the Congress government failed to do. "Bidar is like a crown of Karnataka, blessed with salubrious weather, industry-friendly atmosphere, fertile land and historic monuments. Rs 20 crore has been provided with each for Bidar and Kalburgi fort for their development," Bommai said at the event. "The government wants tourism to start from Bidar because of which it is being given a lot of importance. A sum of Rs 50 crore has been provided in the State Budget for establishing the CIPET's Centre of Excellence. Steps were taken for the development of Basavakalyan and released Rs 1400 crore for this purpose. The amount has to be spent from March till January," he further said. "In the 2022-23 state budget, Rs 3,000 crore has been earmarked and approved. In the 2023-24 budget, the government will provide Rs 5,000 crore. The construction of Anubhava Mantapa was going on and Rs 500 crore has been earmarked for this project." Bommai underlined. (ANI) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday arrested two persons including an aide of gangster Kala Jathedi and a Delhi-based advocate after a day-long raids at over 50 locations across the country. The searches were conducted at more than 50 locations in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi-NCR to dismantle and disrupt the emerging nexus between terrorists, gangsters, and drug smugglers and traffickers based in India and abroad. A senior NIA official said that Advocate Asif Khan, a resident of Usmanpur, and one Rajesh a.k.a. Raju Mota, who is involved in criminal cases, have been arrested after the raid. "Khan has been arrested. Four weapons and a few pistols (in semi knocked down condition), along with ammunition, were recovered from his house. Rajesh a.k.a. Raju Mota, an aide of Kala Jathedi, a resident of Haryana, has also been arrested. He has a criminal background and has multiple criminal cases registered against him," the official said. The NIA said that during investigation, it emerged that Advocate Khan was in touch with gangsters -- both inside and outside the jail, and he was actively assisting gangsters and criminals in carrying out various types of criminal and illegal activities. The official said Raju Mota is running an illegal liquor mafia network in Sonepat and surrounding areas, along with his associates. He is an accomplice of Sandeep a.k.a. Kala Jathedi -- a dreaded gangster of Haryana. Raju Mota has also invested huge amount of money in liquor business which he has earned through illegitimate means. --IANS atk/pgh ( 264 Words) 2022-10-18-22:38:03 (IANS) The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Delhi Police has arrested a swindler who cheated people to the tune of Rs 8 crore in lieu of making business associates in an 'air cargo company'. The accused has been identified as Balakrishnan Shivram Iyer, a resident of Puri Emerald Apartment, a luxury residential society in Gurugram. "Six complaints were received wherein the complainants had alleged that Iyer misrepresented them saying he was the executive director in Bhagwati Airways Express Ltd and later signed 'franchise agreements' with them to make business associates in the cargo sector in Mumbai, Chennai and Coimbatore," said Ravindra Singh Yadav, Special Commissioner of Police (Crime). "Iyer had also collected Rs 8 crore in cash from them in lieu of making them business associates, whereas he was not authorised to sign any agreement on behalf of the company," Yadav said. "After preliminary inquiry, a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code was registered and investigation was taken up. During the investigation, ROC records of Bhagwati Airways Express Ltd were collected and it was revealed that Dinesh Kumar Digga and Roop Kumar Baheti were the directors of the company," he said. "Their statements revealed that Iyer was not authorised by the company to execute any agreement with the complainants. He misrepresented to the complainants that he was the executive director in the company, though he was just an employee who was not authorised to enter into any agreement on behalf of the company," the officer said. "As Iyer was on the run, surveillance was mounted, and on October 14, Iyer was nabbed when he was covertly visiting his home in Gurugram," Yadav said. --IANS ssh/arm ( 292 Words) 2022-10-18-22:50:02 (IANS) Two tainted IPS officers of Bihar were suspended by the state Home Department on Tuesday. A notification said Superintendent of Police, Purnea, Daya Shankar, and Gaya's former Senior Superintendent of Police, Aditya Kumar, have been suspended. Daya Shankar, a 2014 batch officer, is facing serious charges of corruption. The Economic Offences Unit had raided his premises in Purnea and Patna last week and seized more than Rs 71 lakh cash, jewellery, and other valuables. He was booked under relevant sections of law in EOU police station, Patna. The case of Aditya Kumar is more sensational as he allegedly planned with his friend Abhishek Agrawal to apply pressure on Bihar DGP S.K. Singhal to get a clean chit in a case registered against him in Gaya's Kalyanpur police station. Agrawal, impersonating Chief Justice of Patna High Court Sanjay Karol, made more than 30 calls to Singhal, applying pressureto remove the name of Aditya Kumar from the FIR. Singhal eventually submitted the report in court wherein he had mentioned "mistake of facts" in that case and given a clean chit to him. Following that, Aditya Kumar rejoined duty as AIG in the police headquarters here. Aditya Kumar, a 2011 batch IPS officer, was the SSP of Gaya when he was booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including for assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty, putting person in fear of death or of grievous hurt, in order to commit extortion, cheating, impersonation, forgery and more in Fatehpur police station having case number 312/2022 on the direction of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Besides him, SHO, Fatehpur, Sanjay Kumar was also a co-accused. After the clean chit to Aditya Kumar, the case file reached the Chief Minister's Secretariat but officials found something fishy in it and transferred it to EOU for the thorough investigation. The EOU officials used cyber cell officials to scan the phone numbers which were used to call senior police officials who have prepared the report including the DGP. During the investigation, two numbers - 9709303397 and 9431602303, both having a photo of Chief Justice Karol as the display picture - were found to be used by Agrawal to call the DGP, and several times, the DGP had called him on this number. Sometimes, Agrawal sent messages to him and said that he was busy. The DGP also made an appointment on Whatsapp to talk to him over phone. "EOU has registered an FIR against Abhishek Agrawal and Aditya Kumar. Besides them, Gaurav Raj, Subham Kumar and Rajul Ranjan are also co-accused in this case. We will take strong action against the accused," an EOU official said. During investigation, it was also found that Aditya Kumar met Agrawal in a Patna restaurant to prepare the plan for the latter to pretend to be the Chief Justice. The EOU, in its investigation, found that the phone numbers used to call the DGP did not belong to Chief Justice, put them under surveillance, and EOU officials then managed to nab Agrawal. During interrogation, Agrawal confessed that he was having close links with Aditya Kumar for the last four years, and they had connived to get the police officer a clean chit. A serial offender on this count, Agrawal faces a case in Delhi as well where he had posed as the Union Home Minister's Secretary to threaten an MCD official. He was sent to Tihar jail for 5 days as well. Agrawal also extorted Rs 1 crore from the father of IPS officer Saurav Shah and an FIR under various sections of the IPC was registered against him in Kahalgaon police station in Bhagalpur district as well. He was also involved in threatening the SHO of a Patna police station in 2015. --IANS ajk/vd ( 642 Words) 2022-10-18-22:52:01 (IANS) The face-off started between the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) ahead of Munugode Assembly by-polls after the TRS general secretary Soma Bharath Kumar on Tuesday wrote a letter to polls officers, demanding action against the BJP leader Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Tuesday. "BJP Telangana state President Bandi Sanjay Kumar encouraging corruption", TRS leader alleged. TRS leader Soma Bharath Kumar in a written letter to the chief electoral officer, district electoral officer and returning officer demanded strict action against the BJP state President Sanjay Kumar BJP for allegedly encouraging people and voters to commit corruption by accepting money for casting their vote. "We are surprised as to why this Commission is silent. This kind of silence and in action is worrying us and also giving an impression that the Commission is ignoring the constitutional duty invested on it to conduct free and fair elections," the letter stated. "We are also submitting a pen drive consisting of video footage of Sri Bandi Sanjay's speech at Tirugundlapally road show. We hope you will take serious note of it and initiate criminal action one including immediately stopping him from talking nonsense and using criminal language by passing interim directions to him to do so," the letter further read. Earlier, Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Bandi Sanjay on Tuesday alleged that TRS leaders' eyes on Munugodu lands while campaigning for By-Elections. Sanjay was addressing the public and the party Karyakartas while carrying out a roadshow in Thirugundlapalli and Tammadapalli in the Munugode constituency of Nalgonda district. "TRS leaders are eyeing the lands of Munugode constituency. In the name of the election campaign, TRS Dandupalayam gang is roaming around Munugode and inquiring about lands," he said. The BJP State President said that a "war" has started in Telangana between the army of "Ram" and Rakshas". "It is a war between Ram's and Rakshasas' army. It is the fight between self-respect and arrogance. 15 ministers and 86 MLAs have come to the feet of the people. They are showing hope that they will give whatever they have asked for," he said. "TRS men are ready to distribute Rs 40 thousand for a house. But that money is earned by drinking the blood of the poor. That is the money earned by diverting central funds. KCR thinks if we throw money, poor people will vote. But, TRS should be taught a lesson by voting for the right people. You all should take the money from them but vote for BJP," Sanjay further said. The BJP leader further alleged that KCR doesn't care for the poor and is doing everything only as the elections are nearing. "Similarly, when elections were held in Huzurabad and Dubbaka, funds were given for development there. It was the same in Munugodu as soon as Rajagopal Reddy resigned. Gattuppal Mandal was formed, new roads were sanctioned and money was given for the sheep," Sanjay said. KCR has never cared to give three acres of land, double-bedroom houses and pensions to Dalits for years. Now, he is hoping to give everything when the elections come. Sanjay said that there are no jobs for the youth here. All those who didn't get the jobs, who didn't get Dalit Bandhu, who didn't get double-bedroom houses and the people who fell in the net of TRS should vote for BJP. KCR should be taught a lesson," Sanjay further said. Sanjay also claimed that all survey results say BJP would win the by-elections. He also alleged that because of this, KCR got "afraid" and "ran" to Delhi. Notably, the nominations of Munugode constituency by-polls, which are scheduled to be held on November 3, ended on Monday. (ANI) The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has issued a notice to the Transport Department over a complaint against a car dealer who reportedly refused to sell a commercial vehicle, which can be modified to fit in a wheelchair, to a specially-abled girl. The Commission earlier received a representation from the specially-abled girl with regard to purchase of a modified vehicle for persons with disability. The girl submitted that she is suffering from intellectual disability, cerebral palsy and has restricted mobility. She has stated in the complaint that she wanted to purchase a wheelchair accessible 'Tata Winger' in which she will install a manual or hydraulic ramp to improve its accessibility. However, the car dealer refused to sell her the vehicle for private use, stating that the car is of a large size and the government allows its sale only for commercial purpose. The DCW said that the girl has requested that approval be given to her to purchase the said vehicle for her personal use. Also, she has sought approval for modifying the vehicle into a disable-friendly car by installing a hydraulic lift and other allied features. DCW Chief Swati Maliwal along with members of the Commission visited the girl at her residence and interacted with her and her family members. During the interaction, the girl informed that she has already submitted a request in this regard to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, which has been forwarded to the Department of Transport, Delhi government. Maliwal has recommended to the Transport Department to take up the request of the girl for permission on a priority basis. The Commission has also asked the Transport Department to provide a timeline for granting her the requisite approvals. It has also asked as to what steps have been taken by the department to streamline and ease the process for other such applicants. "Even in the 21st century, differently-abled persons have to face several problems in their life. It's shameful that instead of increasing their accessibility, their mobility is restricted through government policies. I fail to understand why approvals are needed for this and even if they are, why can't they be granted on a priority basis for people with disabilities? We have issued a notice in this matter. Not only should this girl get approvals soon, the government must take steps to smoothen the process for other differently-abled persons as well," Maliwal said. The Commission has sought details of the guidelines issued by the Transport Department to the car sellers in this regard. Also, the Commission has sought details of the steps taken by the department to list such approvals under the flagship scheme of Door Step Delivery of Services of Delhi government, so that persons with disability are not forced to run around for the same. The Transport Department has been asked to provide an action taken report along with other requisite information to the Commission latest by October 26. --IANS avr/arm ( 510 Words) 2022-10-18-23:06:05 (IANS) The India-Africa Defence Dialogue (IADD) was held on Tuesday on the sidelines of DefExpo 2022 here, and successfully brought out various aspects of its theme "Adopting Strategy for Synergising and Strengthening Defence and Security Cooperation". Delivering the keynote address, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh defined the theme of IADD as the underlying commitment of India and African countries to explore new areas of convergence for defence engagements, including capacity-building, training, cyber security, maritime security and counter-terrorism. Terming India and African countries as important stakeholders in ensuring safe and secure maritime environment, especially in the Indian Ocean Region, he underlined that the two sides work together in many regional mechanisms, which foster inclusive and constructive collaboration in dealing with shared security concerns and address common challenges to peace and prosperity. Emphasising that India and Africa nations share a multi-faceted defence and security cooperation relationship, Rajnath Singh reiterated India's support to Africa to deal with challenges of conflict, terrorism and violent extremism. "India remains united with African countries in their quest for peace, security, stability, growth and prosperity. Our partnership with Africa is centred on the ten guiding principles articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address to Parliament of Uganda in 2018. He had clearly stated that Africa will be at the top of our priorities. We will continue to intensify and deepen our engagements with Africa," he said. Rajnath Singh invited African countries to explore Indian defence equipment and technologies, stating that India has emerged as a leading defence exporter in recent years. "Peace, security and development are inter-related. Security is essential for enabling development in the region. We have created a robust public and private defence industry. A defence manufacturing ecosystem has been created in India which has the advantage of abundant technical manpower. Our defence industry can work with you to fulfil your defence requirements," he told his African counterparts. He also reaffirmed India's belief that the global world order deserves to be democratised further. Stating that the world's multilateral forums should be reflective of the change in global realities, he stressed on the need to make the UN Security Council more representative which will provide it with greater legitimacy, thereby sustaining a global order wherein the principles of international peace, security and order are respected universally. Later, the Gandhinagar Declaration was adopted as an outcome document of IADD 2022 that proposes to enhance cooperation in the field of training in all areas of mutual interest by increasing training slots and deputation of training teams, empowerment and capability building of the defence forces of Africa, participation in exercises, and humanitarian assistance during natural disasters. Fifty African countries, including 20 Defence Ministers, seven CDS/service chiefs, and eight Permanent Secretaries participated in the Dialogue attesting to the high priority accorded to India-Africa engagement in defence and security. Rajnath Singh also met several visiting African Ministers where issues related to defence and bilateral relations were discussed. --IANS avr/vd ( 501 Words) 2022-10-18-23:14:03 (IANS) Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday hits out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his frequent visits in Gujarat ahead of state Assembly elections. "He should open PMO office here," Gehlot said. Ashok Gehlot also took a swipe at Delhi chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over his campaign in Gujarat. "Kejriwal is like Modi's brother in terms of body language," Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot said. Senior Congress leader was speaking at a press conference in Ahmedabad. Both PM Modi and Arvind Kejriwal are visiting Gujarat ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled this year. Prime Minister Modi has more tour schedules in Gujarat beginning with starting October 19. He will dedicate and lay the foundation stone of projects worth around Rs 15,670 crore. On October 19, PM Modi will participate in five different events. He will inaugurate the DefExpo22 at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar. He will launch the Mission Schools of Excellence at Adalaj. He will lay the foundation stone for various development projects in Junagadh. He will inaugurate India Urban Housing Conclave 2022 and dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple key projects in Rajkot. He will also inaugurate the exhibition of innovative construction practices. Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday virtually reviewed the progress of the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal in Gujarat on Tuesday and said that the government will bring back the glory of Dholavira and Lothal. In his address via video conferencing, PM Modi said, "We'll bring back the glory of Dholavira and Lothal. We're seeing rapid progress in this mission. Lothal was not only a major trading centre of the Indus Valley Civilisation, but it was also a symbol of India's maritime power and prosperity. The way in which Lothal was developed as a port city thousands of years ago still amazes experts." "An industry for the construction of ships used to be present thousands of years ago in Kutch. Big ships made in India were sold all over the world, and this indifference towards heritage did a great loss to the country. This situation needs to change," he added. The Prime Minister cited the archaeological evidence and stated that India was a maritime power even thousands of years ago. He stressed that India was also a major part of major sea trade routes. "We have archaeological evidence proving that even thousands of years ago, India was a maritime power and part of major sea trade routes... The heritage complex being built in Lothal will be a great source of information for the common man about India's rich maritime history spanning centuries," he said. "The same splendour, the same power of thousands of years ago is being rekindled on this earth. I am sure it will become a huge centre of attraction for tourists from all over the world. This complex is being developed to welcome thousands of tourists a day," PM Modi added. (ANI) The accused has been identified as Imran and was only apprehended after a brief encounter. As per reports, Imran tried running away to which the officials responded by firing a shot at his leg. He was later arrested with arms and ammunition in his possession. "We got a tip-off about his location. Based on which our team followed the accused. Imran tried running away and we shot at his leg to stop him. Later he was arrested from the Kathota area, and arms and ammunition have been recovered from him," informed the Deputy Commisioner of Police (East), Lucknow Prachi Singh. Imran was arrested for his alleged involvement in a gang rape case reported on October 15. "The police had already arrested Akash Tiwari, another accused involved in the incident, on October 17," said DCP Singh added. Earlier on October 17, an officer in charge was suspended for negligence in a gang rape incident in Lucknow. The officer-in-charge Husdia Hussain Abbas is part of the local police team. As per reports, the girl was raped while returning to her residence on October 15. The auto driver and his accomplice raped her and fled the spot. The accused left the rape survivor at the Husdia intersection area, informed the police. "After the rape survivors' complaint, the local police were negligent, due to which the outpost in charge has been suspended," said Lucknow Deputy Commissioner of Police (East), Prachi Singh. Further investigations into the matter are underway. (ANI) A newborn girl, who was rescued from a garbage dump earlier this month from the Vasant Kunj area of the national capital, has been discharged from hospital and handed over to the representatives of the Delhi Council for Child welfare. The baby girl is feeding well and is gaining weight. "Presently, after the 11-day stay in the hospital, the baby is feeding well and gradually gaining weight (current weight is 2.5kg). The medical team at Fortis, Vasant Kunj is pleased to discharge her today, on October 18. She was handed over to the representatives from Delhi Council for Child Welfare (DCCW)/Child Welfare Committee (CWC), New Delhi, in the presence of the Delhi police team," a statement from Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj said. On October 8, a two-day-old girl found abandoned in a garbage dump in Harijan Basti of Rajokri village was brought to the hospital by Delhi police for treatment. According to the hospital, "On October 8, a newborn baby girl was brought to the emergency ward of Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj by local police after she was discovered in a trash can. She weighs about 2.1 kg and was hypothermic, wet, with an animal bite mark near her right leg, and had low oxygen saturation. In addition, the baby had jaundice and respiratory distress for which oxygen support was required. A team of doctors led by Dr Md Nadeem, HOD- Emergency and Dr Rahul Nagpal, Director and HOD, Paediatrics, Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj immediately intervened and took the baby in their care." The baby girl was discovered by two people who were passing by and alerted the police. "She was placed in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where she was stabilized. Her temperature was maintained with an infant warmer, antibiotics were given along with oxygen support and her sugar level was managed. The baby was anaemic for which treatment was initiated and all relevant blood, radiological and ultrasonological tests were carried out. An echocardiogram revealed a patent ductus arteriosus (a persistent opening between the two major blood vessels leading from the heart), which was treated without surgery," the hospital further said. On preliminary examination, it appeared that the baby was born less than 24-48 hours ago, was looking blue and her body weight was only two kilograms, lower than the usual weight for a newborn. Despite efforts by the government and other stakeholders, as per the latest data available, India has 29.6 million orphaned and abandoned children as per UNICEF. Delhi topped the list among states with the highest number of infants abandoned in any city in India between 2015-2020 according to the National Crime Records Bureau 2020 report. Among other states, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Gujarat registered a high number of abandoned babies, foeticide and infanticides combined within the same period. (ANI) Every year, Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs all celebrate Diwali to symbolise the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and joy over despair. Deepavali, popularly known as the festival of lights, is celebrated nationwide with great pomp. People perform puja, observe rituals, decorate their homes with diyas, rangoli, ornaments, and lights, enjoy delectable sweets and meals, dress in new traditional attire, and more. Hindu mythology states that Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya on Diwali after slaying Ravana and spending 14 years in exile. People make wishes for health, wealth, and prosperity to the gods Lakshmi, Ganesh, and Kubera as part of the festival of lights. With Dhanteras or Dhan Trayodashi as the first day and Bhai Dooj as the last, Diwali festivities last for five days. Govatsa Dwadashi signifies the beginning of Diwali in Maharashtra one day earlier. The festivities will so begin on October 21 in Maharashtra. Drik Panchang predicts that Diwali's five days will start on October 22 and end on October 25. According to the lunisolar Hindu calendar, Diwali is observed between the middle of October and November. According to Drik Panchang, here is a list of the five days of Deepavali. 1. Dhanteras or Dhan Trayodashi on October 22The first day of the Diwali festival in India is known as Dhanteras or Dhanatrayodashi. It is commemorated on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha, which falls in the month of Ashvini in the Hindu calendar. The Dhanteras puja muhurat will be observed from 07:00 to 08:17 pm on October 22. 2. Narak Chaturdashi or Kali Chaudas on October 23Narak Chaturdashi is a Hindu festival that falls on Chaturdashi (the 14th day) of the Krishna Paksha in the Shalivahan Shak Hindu calendar month of Kartik. It is also referred to as Kali Chaudas, Narak Chaudas, Roop Chaudas, Choti Diwali, and Narak Nivaran Chaturdashi. It is the second day of the five-day Deepavali/Diwali festival. Narakasur, an asura (demon), was slain on this day, according to Hindu tradition, by Krishna and Satyabhama. Abhyanga Snan on Chaturdashi day, also known as Narak Chaturdashi, will begin at 05:05 am and end at 06:27 am. 3. Chhoti Diwali and Badi Diwali on October 24Due to the solar eclipse, the day after Chhoti Diwali and Badi Diwali will be celebrated on the same day (Monday, October 24, 2022), (25 October 2022) this year. Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs all celebrate Diwali, which is known as the festival of lights. The festival is observed during the Hindu lunisolar month of Kartika and typically lasts five days or six in some parts of India. The Lakshmi puja muhurat will begin at 06:53 pm and end at 08:15 pm on October 24. Additionally, the Amavasya tithi will last from 05:27 pm on October 24 to 04:18 pm on October 25. 4. Govardhan Puja on October 25Govardhan Puja, also known as Annakut or Annakoot, is a Hindu holiday during which followers of Krishna worship Govardhan Hill and prepare and present Krishna with a wide array of vegetarian foods as an expression of their thanks. The Govardhan Puja muhurat is from 06:28 am till 08:43 am. 5. Bhai Dooj on October 26On the second lunar day of Shukla Paksha in the Vikram Samvat Hindu calendar or of Shalivahan Shaka calendar month of Kartika, Hindus celebrate Bhai Dooj, Bhaubeej, Bhai Tika, or Bhai Phonta. It is celebrated during the Holi celebration and the Diwali or Tihar festival. On this day, the Aparahna time will last from 01:12 pm to 03:26 pm. People perform Lakshmi Puja, also known as Diwali Puja, on the third day (Diwali). During the lengthy festivities, it is the most important day. Early in the morning, devotees offer prayers to their ancestors, and on Amavasya, they perform Shradh for them. Lakshmi Puja is performed on Diwali during Pradosh Kaal, which begins after sunset and lasts for two hours and twenty-four minutes (approximately). (ANI) Congress presidential candidate and veteran leader Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday extended a "big thank you" to the masses who voted for the internal polls of the party. "As the counting begins in @INCIndia presidential elections, a big "thank you" from me to who all who contributed to making this historic event a landmark in the evolution of our politics," Congress Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor tweeted. https://twitter.com/ShashiTharoor/status/1582598219153874944?t=LlnuHTJCqWoDCQj3O6WZmw&s=08 The Congress is all set to get a new party president as the counting of votes began at 10 am today. Former Union Ministers Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor are in the fray and it will be for the first time in 24 years that the party will get a chief who does not belong to the Nehru-Gandhi family. The new president will take place of Sonia Gandhi who has been serving as interim president after Rahul Gandhi stepped down from the post following the party's debacle in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The result is likely to be declared between 3 pm to 4 pm. The ballot boxes from the state headquarters have reached the counting place in the Congress office. Mallikarjun Kharge is seen as the favourite to win the contest. Five agents from each side will oversee the counting while two agents from both sides will be kept in reserve, sources said. The Chairman of the Central Election Authority will announce the result after counting. More than 9,500 delegates cast their votes in the presidential election which took place at the culmination of the party's organisational polls. Sources said that at least seven-eight tables have been set up for the counting of votes and each table would have two persons. Congress sources also said the elected president will take charge after Diwali in the presence of senior leaders in a programme at the Congress headquarters. It has not been decided whether the certificate will be given to the winner on Wednesday or later. (ANI) Experts hailed the DefExpo 2022, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, for focusing on creating a self-reliant ecosystem in India. Speaking to ANI, retired Colonel Raghunathan Nambiar said that DefExpo is indigenous and is on the theme of the Government of India's Aatmanirbhar Bharat motto. "This is a great platform for the industry to showcase the products which have been made in India and most of the industries have been able to come up with the requirement of the government and have been able Indigenize various equipments which have been produced in the country now. As...aerospace, we are doing complete manufacturing in Bangalore. We have our indigenous product which we supply to defence forces, armed, paramilitary and police," said the retired Colonel. He further said that this expo is one of the biggest platforms for the Indian private industry and also for the government to focus on products for the Indian defence forces. Divya Gupta, a member of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) said that major superpowers of the world now recognise India as an entity. "You have seen the tagline path to pride. We are very happy that India is going into self-reliance. A flagship that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has given to the nation which is "Prachand", a helicopter which was launched and handed over to the Air force. We are part of a legacy India was never before... Major superpowers of the world now recognise India as an entity," said Gupta. Independent Director of HAL, Deepak Shinde said that it is extremely important to be self-reliant because in coming years India will not only make strategic defence equipments but also export them in an even bigger way. "HAL is the leading aerospace organisation in the country. We have given to the country lots of aircraft, helicopters and even aerospace...whatever we see as a structure for the ISRO, the launching vehicles those also being manufactured by HAL. We are in the entire paradigm of aerospace and for this expo," he said. He further said that it is extremely important for India to be self-reliant because depending on other countries for our defence needs is dangerous. "I feel that this is extremely important to our juncture whereby we are finding that just depending on different countries for our defence needs is very dangerous for things because due to the Ukraine war our dependency on Russia did create problems for us from the strategic point of view," said Shinde. He also said that the expo will give a lot of exposure to the small industries of the country. "Now, we realized that we have to be self-reliant in the things that we manufacture and for a defence need we just cannot rely on others. So in this expo, there is a lot of stress being laid on this Aatmanirbhar Bharat and there is a whole ecosystem has been created whereby manufacturing of parts of different defence-related strategic items is done in the country itself. So I feel that this expo will give a lot of exposure to all the small industries because if you find that the big industries are involved in it but the MSMEs are also involved. The expo will give them a good idea of what exactly needs to be done and what can be done," he said. Shinde said that India is a very big consumer of defence items because of its strategic location and in the coming years, India not only will create strategic defence equipemnts that is necessary for the country but with this capability, it will export them in a bigger way. "It is extremely important for us to be self-reliant. In the coming years, India will not only create strategic defence equipments but export in an even bigger way and will be one of the bigger leagues in the next couple of years. The expo also focuses on African and middle eastern countries. These areas have been underexposed. But now they are one of the marketplaces that can be thought about," he added. With an aim to give impetus to the defence sector, India's "biggest ever" defence exhibition - DefExpo 2022 begin in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on October 18. This is the 12th edition of the event that has been organised on the theme 'Path to Pride'. Addressing the curtain raiser press conference in Gandhinagar on Monday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, that the DefExpo 2022 will showcase the growing prowess of the domestic defence industry, calling it one of the major drivers of the nation's resolve to achieve 'Make in India, Make for the World'. The Defence Minister termed DefExpo 2022, exclusively for Indian companies, as a humble tribute of an 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' to Mahatma Gandhi who he called the "pillar of the Swadeshi movement". (ANI) As per reports, the house is worth Rs 50 lakhs and is owned by a mafia named Sukhdev. The officials also informed that the said house was illegally acquired by Sukhdev. His other property worth Rs 2 in the Faridpur area was earlier seized by officials. "The District Magistrate had previously seized properties worth Rs 2 crore that belonged to criminal Sukhdev and his associates under section 14A of the Gangster Act. The officials also passed an order to confiscate the other properties," said Superintendent Police, (Rural Bareilly), Rajkumar Agrawal. Sukhdev is a history sheeter and has been booked under seven cases of murder, Gangster Act in Bareilly. The development came in wake of the state government's ongoing campaign against the land mafia in the state. Earlier last month, UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath assured the people of the government's "zero tolerance against the land mafia". "Every complaint of illegal possession of land, be it government or private, will be dealt with with the utmost sensitivity and prompt action will be taken," CM Yogi UP said while addressing and reviewing the functioning of the urban development departments through video conferencing at his official residence on September 2. "In Uttar Pradesh, the possession of the house of a poor cannot be accepted at all," he said adding that all the authorities and local bodies should ensure that illegal settlements are not formed anywhere under any circumstances. "Every colony should have all the necessary facilities," he said further. (ANI) In a shocking incident, two men from the Shakya community were allegedly tonsured, garlanded with shoes, and paraded around a village in the Bhind district of Madhya Pradesh, police said. The incident took place on Monday in the Daboha village under Bhind Dehat police station and was done following a decision taken by the panchayat, an official said on Tuesday. Police, on being informed about the incident, rescued the two youths and took them to the police station where they were questioned by the Superintendent of Police (SP) and the District Collector. SP Shailendra Singh Chouhan said that acting on the complaint of the victims, a case has been registered against six people. Two accused were arrested and were sent on judicial remand till October 31. SP Chouhan told ANI that it is said that three men - Ramvir Shakya, Santosh Shakya and Dharmendra Shakya all residents of Daboha village were involved in a dispute with the accused Dilip Sharma. During a brawl, Ramvir, Santosh and Dharmendra hit Dilip on his head due to which he sustained serious injuries. After this incident, Ramvir, Santosh and Dharmendra fled the village and a month and a half later, a person from the Shakya community identified as Hariram made a proposal on behalf of the trio to settle the dispute. Following this, on Monday a panchayat presided by sarpanch Murarilal was convened in the village and a decision was taken that three should pay a sum of Rs 1. 5 lakh towards the cost of Sharma's treatment. A barber was summoned and the heads of Santosh and Dharmendra were tonsured and they were paraded with shoe garlands around their necks. The police registered a case against six persons under various sections, including atrocity act and the SC/ST Act. The police have also arrested Dilip Sharma and his father. Both the youths were sent to the district hospital for medical treatment. Along with this, the police force has been deployed at the home of the victims. (ANI) Allahabad High Court on Wednesday will hear a plea on Wednesday challenging the Varanasi District Court's decision on the challenge to the petition of Hindu devotees. The matter is related to the Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi mosque dispute.The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee has filed a petition in the Allahabad High Court against the order passed by the Varanasi District Court. The plea stated that the order passed in the district court is not maintainable. The plea claimed the Gyanvapi case falls under the Worship Act, under which it cannot be heard. The High Court on Tuesday imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for failing to submit a personal affidavit within the deadline. The HC granted the last opportunity to the SSI DG to file a personal affidavit in the case in 10 days. The High Court was hearing a case in which a Varanasi court ordered the ASI to conduct a survey in the Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi mosque complex to ascertain whether a Hindu temple was partially demolished for the construction of the Gyanvapi mosque in the 17th century. The plea was filed by the Anjuman Intazamia Masjid Committee challenging the suit filed in Varanasi court and seeking the restoration of land on which the Gyanvapi mosque is situated. Pertinent to mention, a Varanasi court on Friday rejected the plea seeking carbon dating and scientific investigation of the purported 'Shivling' claimed to be found in the Gyanvapi mosque complex. 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. 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. The PIL moved before the High Court seeks direction from a committee to ascertain whether a Shivaling, 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. (ANI) Ahead of Wednesday's counting of votes for the Congress presidential election, the Shashi Tharoor camp has approached the party's election authority alleging that it suspected "extremely serious irregularities" in Uttar Pradesh on the day of the polling and demanded that all votes from the state be deemed invalid.In a letter to Congress Central Authority Chairman Madhusudan Mistry, Salman Soz the election agent to Tharoor who has been pitted against Mallikarjun Kharge in the race for the party's top post has written about "disturbing facts" including "reports of minor violations" guidelines in a few states on Monday, when the polling was held. The letter dated October 18, Soz said" Our campaign wants to bring to your attention extremely serious irregularities in the conduct of the election in the state of Uttar Pradesh. As you will see, the facts are damning and the election process in UP is devoid of credibility and integrity. I have already conveyed some of this to you in a telephonic conversation yesterday evening." "We do not see how this election can be deemed free and fair if the tainted process of Uttar Pradesh is allowed to stand. We therefore demand that all votes from Uttar Pradesh be deemed invalid. Whether you wish to declare that publicly or not, we leave to your good judgment. We reserve the right to do what we believe is in the best interests of the party, Soz wrote. The ex-Member of Parliament (MP) Salman Anees Soz in his letter underlined that they had no evidence that Mallikarjun Kharge was aware of how his supporters were engaging in electoral malpractice in Uttar Pradesh. "We are certain that if he were aware, he would never allow what happened in Uttar Pradesh. He would not allow the tainting of an election that is so important for the Indian National Congress," Soz said. Incidentally, Uttar Pradesh has the largest number of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates. Stating that there were reports of "minor violations" of Mistry's guidelines in a few states Soz said for the most past, polling across the country happened peacefully and reasonably fairly. "However, what we have witnessed in Uttar Pradesh is at a completely different level and it is an open challenge to the authority of your office as well as contempt for the orders of the Hon'ble Congress President and the Congress Working Committee to hold free and fair elections," Soz wrote. Tharoor and Kharge are contesting for the post of the party chief to replace Sonia Gandhi who had been serving as interim president after Rahul Gandhi stepped down from the post following the party's debacle in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Sealed ballot boxes were brought from across the country to the Congress headquarters in Delhi. Soz, in his letter to Mistry alleged that in Uttar Pradesh ballot boxes were not sealed at the end of polling, as per guidelines issued by the polling authority. "On voting day, when the ballot boxes were prepared for voting, our agents raised concerns with PROs/APROs about the lack of a proper sealing mechanism for ballot boxes. At that point they were told that the seal would be applied later. At no point did any PRO, APRO, or DPRO indicate to polling agents that there was a problem related to the official seals mentioned with serial numbers and provided by the Central Election Authority all states." Soz's letter also contained photographs of the alleged violation in Uttar Pradesh. The Shashi Tharoor camp further alleged that there were unofficial persons present in polling booths. "Iin Uttar Pradesh, there were three (3) additional persons (none of them was a PRO, APRO, DRO or a polling agent) in each booth who were sitting inside the polling booth and they were acting like the presiding officers whose role was to check the delegate card of the voters and match then with their government ID cards like Aadhar, Voter ID, PAN and, if they found them to be genuine, then allow delegates to vote." "Without exception, these people are influential local leaders and national and state office bearers. One of them, Shri Omveer Yadav, is a proposer of Shri Mallikarjun Kharge," Soz wrote.Soz also said they suspected voter malpractice in the election and the absence of polling summary sheet. "We have specific examples of people who were not in Lucknow on polling day and their ballots were recorded as having been cast. We will not disclose those examples to you at this time to protect our sources and to make sure there is no attempt to fix such issues by those who have committed such malpractices. Rest assured, we have concrete examples with us," the letter read. He also pointed out that despite clear instructions, "AICC Secretaries who are in-charge of Uttar Pradesh but belong to different states were present in Lucknow at the PCC Headquarters and visiting different polling booths." Over 9,000 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates from the Electoral College to pick the party chief in a secret ballot. Voting was jeld in over 65 polling booths across the country on October 17. Whoever gets more than 50 per cent of the votes gets elected as Congress president. (ANI) Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak on Wednesday said that dengue cases are less than last year. The Chief Minister's Office has cancelled the leaves of doctors and paramedical staff. He said that the increasing dengue cases are being controlled in Uttar Pradesh and all measures are being taken to avoid the spread. "Cases less as compared to last year. Beds are reserved in hospitals and preparations for enough platelets are being made. Leaves of all government doctors and health-related people have been cancelled," said Pathak. Earlier on Friday, the Centre informed that it has decided to depute a high-level team to Uttar Pradesh in collaboration with the state authorities for instituting measures for dengue management in Firozabad, Agra and Etawah districts. "Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has decided to depute a high-level multi-disciplinary team to Uttar Pradesh to collaborate with the State Health Authorities in instituting public health measures for Dengue management in Firozabad, Agra and Etawah districts," the ministry informed in a press statement. As per the statement, the six-member central team to Uttar Pradesh comprises experts from National Centre for Disease Control, National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control and Dr RML Hospital, New Delhi. The team will be headed by Dr VK Chaudhary, Senior RD, Regional Office of Health and Family Welfare, Lucknow. The team shall work closely with the State Health Departments and take stock of on-ground situation and recommend necessary public health interventions to manage the increasing cases of Dengue being reported by the State, it stated. (ANI) Highlighting the advancement in the country's technology space, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said 5G services will usher in transformation in the education sector in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched the Mission School of Excellence in Adalaj, Gandhinagar. Prime Minister walked through the Mission School of Excellence campus. He also interacted with children. Speaking at the occasion, PM Modi said, "Recently, the nation has entered the fifth generation (5G) era of mobile and internet services. We have used internet services up to 4G so far. Now, 5G is about to bring a major change." PM said 5G will revolutionize the education sector. "Ahead of smart services, smart classrooms and smart teaching, 5G will take our education system to next level. Students will experience Virtual Reality and Internet of Things in schools. Gujarat has taken the first step in the country for this, through Mission Schools of Excellence," he said. PM Modi said the change in the field of education in the past two decades in Gujarat has been unprecedented. H said, "20 years ago, 20 out of 100 children did not go to school. A large number of those who used to go to school used to drop out by the time they reached standard 8. The situation of girls was even worse. There were villages where girls were not sent to school. In tribal areas, the few education centres that were available had no facility to teach Science." "As the Chief Minister of Gujarat, I myself went from village to village and requested the people to send their daughters to school. The result has been that today almost every son and daughter in Gujarat has started coming to school, and continuing education in college," Prime Minister added. In the field of education in Gujarat, PM said always something new and some unique and big experiments were done. "We established the Institute of Teachers Education, the first teacher training university in Gujarat. In two decades, the people of Gujarat have shown the transformation of their state education. In these two decades, more than 1.25 lakh new classrooms were built in Gujarat and more than 2 lakh teachers have been recruited," PM Modi said. He said the central government has decided to build more than 14,500 'PM Shri' schools across the country. These schools will be the model schools for the new National Education Policy across the country. He said efforts are underway to make courses in several Indian languages including Gujarati. The new National Education Policy Prime Minister said is an attempt to bring talent and innovation. "Now students have started getting the provision of studying science, technology, and medicine in Indian languages too," he said. According to Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the Mission School of Excellence has been conceived with a total outlay of Rs 10,000 crore. During the event at Trimandir, PM Modi launched projects worth around Rs 4,260 crore. The Mission will help strengthen education infrastructure in Gujarat through the setting up of new classrooms, smart class rooms, computer labs and overall upgradation of infrastructure of schools in Gujarat. (ANI) "A lookout circular has been issued against both the accused. All the airports of the country are being informed so that the accused could not escape," Mishra told reporters here. Besides, efforts were on to contact Vaishali Thakkar's fiance who lives in America, Mishra added. Vaishali Thakkar was found hanging at her residence in the Sai Bagh colony, under the limits of Tejaji police station in Indore, an official informed on Sunday adding that a suicide note was also recovered from the spot which suggested that she was stressed and harassed by her neighbour, businessman Rahul Navlani. The Tejaji Nagar Police have booked Rahul Navlani and his wife Disha under sections 306 (Abetment of suicide) and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly persuading the actor to kill herself. Seeking justice Vaishali Thakkar had asked for punishment to them for harassing her. Vaishali was quite an active social media user and had worked in multiple serials, including 'Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata hai', 'Sasural Simar Ka', 'Yeh Hai Aashiqui'. (ANI) All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Interim General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday said that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin's "idea to break the AIADMK" will not work. EPS also accused Assembly Speaker M Appavu of bias. "We requested speaker M Appavu through a letter, three months ago to consider our new assembly deputy leader RB Udayakumar and allot him a seat accordingly in the Tamil Nadu Assembly but he has not considered it. Injustice has been done in place of the allocation of seats in the assembly. He is not behaving as a speaker and behaving in biased manner," Palaniswami said. He further said that he met with CM Stalin and O Paneerselvam and discussed for more than half an hour on Tuesday. He said, "Stalin's idea to break and destroy AIADMK will not work". "The support of MLAs is important and the seats should be allocated only in accordance with their numbers. However, the speaker says there is no law in the assembly to allocate a seat of deputy leader, which is wrong as there is a law for it," he added. The law and order is badly disturbed in the DMK government, he said further while addressing the media persons after several cadres of AIADMK cadres, including D Jayakumar, were detained by the Tamil Nadu police while protesting against the state government. "This is a democracy, peaceful agitation should be allowed," Jayakumar said. Despite we have stated that O Paneerselvam, Manoj Pandian and Vaithayalingam have been sacked from the party, Assembly speaker Apavoo is still supporting OPS. Former chief minister Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS) on Tuesday said that more than 60 AIADMK MLAs have given representations to the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker against OPS. The fight between AIADMK factions led by former chief ministers EPS and OPS has reached the Tamil Nadu assembly, with both sides urging assembly speaker M Appavu to identify them as real AIADMK. EPS in a press conference on Tuesday said "Over 60 MLAs from AIADMK don't want OPS to be the deputy leader of the opposition. We had given representations to the Speaker on the same. It is been two months since we requested the Speaker to remove OPS from the position. But however, no changes have been made and OPS is still the deputy leader of the opposition." EPS was addressing the press after Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker M Appavu ordered his and AIADMK MLAs' eviction amid a ruckus in the Assembly. He further said that they were not given a chance to speak about this in the assembly. "OPS is someone who has been removed from the primary membership of AIADMK. The Speaker seems to be acting with suggestions from DMK," he added. Earlier on October 17, when the Monsoon Session of the Tamil Nadu Assembly began, EPS remained absent. As per sources, he "boycotted" the Assembly session because rival faction leader OPS was made to sit in the Assembly Deputy Opposition Leader Chair, the sources said. Former Chief Minister OPS was seen participating in the proceedings of the House seated in the chair for AIADMK deputy floor leader. Back on July 11, in the General Council meeting convened, EPS was elected as the interim General Secretary of the party. Before the meeting, supporters of both rival factions clashed outside the party headquarters. Following the violent clash, the headquarters was seized by the Revenue Divisional Officer. The August 17 judgement by a single bench of Justice G Jayachandran had nullified the July 11 meeting and ordered status quo, as prior to July 11. EPS camp then challenged the single bench judgement to a division bench of Madras High Court which ruled in favour of EPS. Both factions of the AIADMK have urged the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker M Appavu to identify them as the real AIADMK. The matter is pending in the Supreme Court. (ANI) As per the reports, the Bill has been introduced for banning online gambling platforms including Rummy and Poker. The Tamil Nadu government in March had stated that they were committed to banning these online platforms and also asserted that they have been making efforts to invoke the laws that serve the said purpose. On October 7, Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi promulgated an ordinance to prohibit online gambling and to regulate online gaming in the state. The government decided to ban online rummy games based on a report submitted by Justice Chandru's led panel and stakeholders' input. Earlier in September, Tamil Nadu Cabinet approved the ordinance to ban online gambling. Following the Council of Ministers' acceptance of the bill to outlaw online gambling, the Governor granted his support and the measure received the assent of Governor RN Ravi earlier this month. The Tamil Nadu state government has made two attempts to pass legislation outlawing online gambling in the region and according to that legislation, no supplier of online games can offer online gambling services, permit the gaming of any online gambling that would require the use of cash or other risks or permit the gaming of any online game that violates the rules. (ANI) UGC has also asked the university to ensure that such incidents are avoided in future "It has come to the notice of the UGC through media that there were clashes between Nigerian and local students, on the campus of the university, which is causing tension among the students," read the official e-mail from the UGC. The UGC in its e-mail to the University officials wrote, "You are requested to urgently take appropriate action on the issue and send a detailed report to the commission". The matter pertains to October 17, when a group of Nigerian students and another group of local students filed cross FIRs after both levelled allegations of being assaulted by the other. Both groups were booked under sections of 'voluntarily causing hurt' and 'criminal intimidation'. Further details on the matter are awaited. (ANI) "We received information about a person lying near the railway track. As the information came, the police reached the spot and took the body under their possession," said the Government Railway Police (GRP). "There were many stab marks on the body," the GRP added. The deceased has been identified as Nikhil Sawla, a resident of Ghatkopar in Mumbai. Police have registered the case against an unknown suspect under Section 302 (Murder) of the Indian Penal Code. Kurla is one of the busiest railway stations on the Central and Harbour lines of the Mumbai Suburban Railway network. Further investigation into the matter is underway to ascertain the motive behind the purported murder and how the body reached the railway tracks. (ANI) Former Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar on Wednesday came out in support of his current counterpart Kiren Rijiju and said that the time has come for a debate on judicial appointments through the collegium system. Union Law Minister Rijiju yesterday said that the collegium system was "opaque" and described the Indian selection system as the only one where judges appoint judges. Speaking to ANI, Ashwani Kumar said, "the statement of the Law Minister expressing reservations about the collegium system in the matter of judicial appointments comes as no surprise. His views are in accord with experience and a wide political consensus on the subject in the country." "The collegium system is a creation of judicial interpretation inconsistent with the intent of the Constitution expressed in the relevant Article of the national charter," he said. The former Union minister said that by striking down Parliament's law for changes in the appointments system, the Supreme Court in a sense became a judge in its own case. "It did so by equating independence of the judiciary with the mode of judicial appointments. This fallacious equivalence is evidenced by the fact that prior to the creation of the collegium mechanism, judges of great merit and independence were appointed by governments of the day," Kumar said. The challenge, therefore, is to ensure the appointment of persons with impeccable intellectual and personal integrity, men and women of merit and substance as judges, he remarked. He said there is no warrant in the Constitution to suggest that this cannot be done by the Executive or that the collegium system in its present form can alone ensure judicial independence. "Perhaps, the time has come to debate the issue in-depth and at larger forums. It is clearly imperative to reexamine from time to time constitutional assumptions so that the Constitution can serve as the articulator of national conscience," Kumar added. "The mechanism to appoint judges is opaque," said the minister, adding the common man can see twists and turns in the politics but the politics within the judiciary over the appointment of judges is not visible. The collegium in the top court comprises its first five judges, including the Chief Justice of India. Emphasizing the need for reforms in judicial appointments, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju has said the procedure of the collegium system is very opaque and there exists "internal politics" in the judiciary. Notably, the Supreme Court collegium is presided over by the Chief Justice of India and consists of the four senior-most judges of the court. Though the government can raise objections or seek clarifications with respect to the recommendations of the collegium, the government is bound to approve the names if the five-member body reiterates them. Rijiju said as per the spirit of the Constitution, appointing judges is the job of the government. In 2014, the National Democratic Alliance government brought the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act in an attempt to change the system of appointment of judges. The NJAC was a proposed body, which would have been responsible for the appointment and transfer of judges to the higher judiciary. The NJAC Act and the Constitutional Amendment Act came into force on April 13, 2015. But the top court on October 16, 2015, struck down the NJAC Act. The verdict brought back the primacy of the collegium system of judges appointing judges. (ANI) Army Chief General Manoj Pande exuded confidence in the indigenous weapon systems and said that these equipment were of world-class quality. His remarks came while addressing mediapersons at the DefExpo 2022 in Gujarat's Gandhinagar today. "Whatever has been produced ingeniously is as good as what's available in the world market. The Russia-Ukraine conflict has given us profound lessons, told us you need to be self-reliant and not depend on any global supply chains to the extent possible," General Pande told ANI. He also highlighted the projects and types of equipment that were in the pipeline. "For our Make I projects, there are 2-3 major projects we're looking at including light tanks, Future-ready Combat Vehicles and Future Infantry Combat Vehicles. These are partially funded by the government. In the Make II category, we've 43 projects, in which about 187 industries are participating, these amount to Rs 27,000 crore and largely pertain to improving our intelligence, and surveillance capabilities. We are also looking at projects in artificial intelligence," he added. The Army Chief hailed the Made-in-India strategic defence equipment and stressed, "We can absolutely and undoubtedly win the wars of the future with indigenous weapon systems. All new ingeniously developed technology has performed well in our forward areas. The advantage of all this being indigenous is sustenance becomes easier." With an aim to give impetus to the defence sector, India's "biggest ever" defence exhibition - DefExpo 2022 - began in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on October 18. This is the 12th edition of the event organised on the theme 'Path to Pride'. Addressing the curtain raiser press conference in Gandhinagar on Monday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, that the DefExpo 2022 will showcase the growing prowess of the domestic defence industry, calling it one of the major drivers of the nation's resolve to achieve 'Make in India, Make for the World'. "The biennial exhibition has been organised to support, showcase and forge partnerships for the Indian aerospace and defence manufacturing sectors with Indian as well as global customers to achieve the overall objective of catering to domestic requirements while fulfilling the needs of friendly foreign countries," Rajnath Singh said. The Defence Minister termed DefExpo 2022, exclusively for Indian companies, as a humble tribute of an 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' to Mahatma Gandhi who he called the "pillar of the Swadeshi movement". (ANI) Several leaders of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, which has now become Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), including former MP from Bhongiri, Boora Narsaiah Goud joined the Bharatiya Janata Party at its headquarters in the national capital on Wednesday. https://twitter.com/BJP4Telangana/status/1582668713018290177 After resigning from the party on Saturday (October 15), Goud alleged that he was no longer able to perform his duties in the party and was not even consulted about the decision of starting BRS. While talking to the ANI the previous week, Goud said that he could not perform his duties at the party and no longer knew its "agenda". "As a politician, I was not able to do my duties in the party. KCR started Bharatiya Rashtriya Samiti (BRS) without even consulting or informing us. We only got to know about this through the news. So, we do not know the agenda of the party," he said. He also said that he went through a lot of "pain" while deciding to resign from the party. "I did not criticise the CM in my resignation letter. I only wrote facts. I have been through a lot of pain while separating from the TRS family. I was in TRS only because of personal relations or else I would have left the party much before," Goud said. As per the sources, Goud had already met BJP Telangana in-charge, Tarun Chugh multiple times in Delhi. He also met BJP national president JP Nadda on October 14. Goud is considered a popular leader in Telangana who also played a significant role in the demand for a separate state. The sources further informed that BJP is connecting with the people in the state through its campaigns like "Palle Gosa BJP Bharosa" and "Praja Sangram Yatra". The party is presenting the people with its development schemes and the failures of the TRS government. As per the sources, BJP is also laying special focus on the caste combination. The party is promoting leaders like G Kishan Reddy, DK Aruna, Jitendra Reddy, and Parminder Reddy in the state. Other than them, BJP State President Bandi Sanjay, Rajya Sabha MP K Laxman and senior leader Etela Rajender also hold crucial posts in the party. Now, the inclusion of Boora Narsaiah Goud will impact the voters from the Goud community and will be a major boost to the party, sources said. Notably, the development emerged when the bypolls of the Munugode constituency are slated to be held on November 3. (ANI) As Congress' veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge swept the party's presidential polls on Wednesday, his rival in the election, Shashi Tharoor, congratulated him and said that their contest had strengthened the party. Later, he went to the New Delhi residence of the Congress President-elect to congratulate him on his victory. Taking to Twitter, Tharoor said that he called on the new Congress President and congratulated him. "Called on our new President-elect Mallikarjun @kharge to congratulate him & offer him my full co-operation. @incIndia has been strengthened by our contest," he said. Tharoor said he believed "the revival of the party begins today". "It is a great honour and a huge responsibility to be President of the INC and I wish Kharge ji all success in the task," the MP from Thiruvananthapuram tweeted.In a statement issued just after the announcement of the poll result, Tharoor said, "Our new President is our party colleague and senior who brings ample leadership and experience to the table. Under his guidance, I am confident we can all collectively take the party to new heights." Chairman of the party's Central Election Committee (CEC) Madhusudan Mistry today declared Mallikarjun Kharge as the elected President of the party."The total counted votes were 9,385, of which Mallikarjun Kharge received 7,897 votes and Shashi Tharoor received 1,072 votes. 416 were invalid votes. As per Article 18 (D) of the Constitution of Indian National, I hereby declare Mallikarjun Kharge as the elected President of Congress," said Mistry. Praising Sonia Gandhi, Tharoor said, "At this crucial time in the party's history and for our collective future, we owe an irredeemable debt to our outgoing President, Sonia Gandhi, for her quarter century of the leadership of the party and for being our anchor during our most crucial moments. Her decision to authorise this election process, which has given us new pathways to the future, is undoubtedly a fitting testament to her sagacity and vision for our party." Ahead of Wednesday's counting of votes for the presidential election, the Shashi Tharoor camp approached the party's election authority alleging that it suspected "extremely serious irregularities" in Uttar Pradesh on the day of the polling and demanded that all votes from the state be deemed invalid. In a letter to Congress Central Authority Chairman Madhusudan Mistry, Salman Soz the election agent to Tharoor who has been pitted against Mallikarjun Kharge in the race for the party's top post has written about "disturbing facts" including "reports of minor violations" guidelines in a few states on Monday, when the polling was held. In the letter dated October 18, Soz said" Our campaign wants to bring to your attention extremely serious irregularities in the conduct of the election in the state of Uttar Pradesh. As you will see, the facts are damning and the election process in UP is devoid of credibility and integrity. I have already conveyed some of this to you in a telephone conversation yesterday evening.""We do not see how this election can be deemed free and fair if the tainted process of Uttar Pradesh is allowed to stand. We, therefore, demand that all votes from Uttar Pradesh be deemed invalid. Whether you wish to declare that publicly or not, we leave to your good judgment. We reserve the right to do what we believe is in the best interests of the party, Soz wrote. For the first time in 24 years, the party has got a chief who does not belong to the Nehru-Gandhi family. The new president will take place of Sonia Gandhi who has been serving as interim president after Rahul Gandhi stepped down from the post following the party's debacle in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Congress sources also said the elected president will take charge after Diwali in the presence of senior leaders in a programme at the Congress headquarters.Meanwhile, ahead of the declaration of results for the party's top post, the Shashi Tharoor camp approached the party's election authority alleging that it suspected "extremely serious irregularities" in Uttar Pradesh on the day of the polling and demanded that all votes from the state be deemed invalid. In a letter to Congress Central Authority Chairman Madhusudan Mistry, Salman Soz the election agent to Tharoor wrote about "disturbing facts" including "reports of minor violations" guidelines in a few states including Uttar Pradesh during the polling on Monday.The ex-Member of Parliament (MP) Salman Anees Soz in his letter underlined that they had no evidence that Mallikarjun Kharge was aware of how his supporters were engaging in electoral malpractice in Uttar Pradesh. (ANI) People on Wednesday showered flower petals on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel as they held a roadshow in Rajkot. Prime Minister will dedicate and lay the foundation stone of various projects worth Rs 7,710 crore and inaugurate the India Urban Housing Conclave 2022 in Rajkot. Earlier on Tuesday, Rajkot residents had expressed their exhilaration over the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as the latter holds a special connection with the city. Modi contested his first election in a by-poll in Rajkot after taking over as the Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2002. The locals expressed gratitude to their 'vadapradhan' (prime minister), for establishing an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Rajkot Greenfield International Airport in the years 2020 and 2022 respectively. "We are really happy that Prime Minister is coming to Rajkot. We will get a chance to see PM Modi. I want to request him to bring more and more development in Rajkot so that the city comes forward," a local had said. "Rajkot is the home of PM Modi. He became CM and PM from here. Hence, there is a lot of enthusiasm in Rajkot. He has given Rajkot a lot. We have received an international cargo airport which will become operational within a month," another local Prakash Rajpreet had said. "It is a matter of great happiness that Prime Minister Modi is coming to Rajkot. He has an old connection with Rajkot. He fought elections from here. His career and journey began in Rajkot. He has given us AIIMS and an international airport. He has done a lot for women's empowerment," another local Nirali Parekh had said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Rajkot through video conference in December 2020. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has undertaken the construction work of a new greenfield airport at Rajkot in Gujarat to cater to the growing population of the fourth-largest city in the state and the increasing flow of air traffic in this region. (ANI) India is a country with different castes and communities and different religions have different laws, so if the Uniform Civil Code is implemented, it would affect the country, said All India United Democratic Front leader Rafiqul Islam. He alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is "targeting" Muslims. "India is a country of different castes and communities. There are different laws of different religions. If the Uniform Civil Code is implemented then it will affect the country. The BJP-led government is not only targeting Muslims but also other religions," he said. Rafiqul Islam further said that many drugs enter India from the Northeast region because of the porous border, and asked the centre to look into the matter. "The Myanmar border with India is still open and the Indo-Bangladesh border is also porous. In the last year, drugs worth more than Rs 900 crores were seized in Assam alone and of around Rs 2000-2500 crores in the North Eastern region. The centre should take this seriously," Islam said. (ANI) After Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 'Mission Schools of Excellence' at Adalaj in Gandhinagar, the students and teachers said that through this project, the quality of education and learning will be enhanced. "It is a big vision. Through this, imparting education will become easy for teachers. Learning will become easy for the students as technology will be used on a large scale to teach," said Arti Sharma, a school teacher. "It is a motivational moment for Gujarat as PM Modi has come. It is a proud moment for us. We teachers will try to implement this project. Through this project, students will get the best education. Even in the Adivasi area, regular teachers used to teach, but now through this technology, a child sitting in a secluded place can also have access to education," said Krupa Jha, another school teacher. "We used to study via ordinary blackboards, but now we have smart classes in our school. It's fun! We learn more now, said a student, after interacting with PM Modi during the launch of Mission Schools of Excellence in Adalaj, Gandhinagar "After studying on the smart board, we learn more. We enjoy a lot by learning through technology," said another student Himansh. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Mission Schools of Excellence at Trimandir, Adalaj, Gujarat. The Mission has been conceived with a total outlay of 10,000 Crores. During the event at Trimandir, the Prime Minister also launched projects worth around Rs 4260 crores, said a press release by Prime Minister's Office. The Mission will help strengthen education infrastructure in Gujarat by setting up new classrooms, smart classrooms, computer labs and overall upgradation of the infrastructure of schools in the State. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that today, Gujarat is taking a monumental step towards the creation of the Amrit generation for the Amrit Kaal. "This occasion is going to serve as a milestone for a developed India, and for a developed Gujarat'', the Prime Minister said. He congratulated all citizens, teachers, youth and the upcoming generations of Gujarat for Mission Schools of Excellence. Throwing light on the recent development of 5G technology, the Prime Minister remarked that although we have used the 1st to 4th generation of internet, 5G will usher in a transformation across India. "With every passing generation, technology has connected us to every small aspect of life", Modi continued, "Similarly we have seen different generations of schools." Highlighting the capabilities of the 5G technology, the Prime Minister said that it will take the education system beyond smart facilities, smart classrooms and smart teachings and take it to the next level. "Our younger students can now experience the power of virtual reality and the internet of things in schools", he said. The Prime Minister expressed happiness that through the Mission Schools of Excellence, Gujarat has taken the first and most significant step in the entire country. The Prime Minister congratulated the team of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel for this monumental achievement. The Prime Minister expressed delight at the array of changes that Gujarat has seen in the field of education in the past two decades. The Prime Minister recalled the dilapidated state of the education sector in Gujarat and informed that 20 out of 100 children would never go to school. Earlier, he said that those students who did manage to get to school would drop out after 8th standard. He also pointed out that the condition of the girl children, who were stopped from attending school, was even worse than the rest. Remarking on the paucity of educational centres in tribal areas, the Prime Minister pointed out that there were no plans in place for science education at all. Modi underlined, "In these two decades, the people of Gujarat have shown the transformation of the education system in their state." The Prime Minister informed that in these two decades, more than 1.25 lakh new classrooms were built in Gujarat, and more than 2 lakh teachers were recruited. "I still remember the day when programs like Shala Praveshotsav and Kanya Kelavani Mahotsav were started. The effort was that when the son and daughter go to school for the first time, it will be celebrated like a festival", Modi exclaimed. (ANI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted bail to Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Nahid Hussain in a 2019 threat case. A bench of justices AS Bopanna and PS Narasimha directed to release Nahid Hussain on bail on conditions to be imposed by the trial Court. "It is no doubt true that the High Court has adverted to in detail to the facts while rejecting the request of the appellant for bail. However, having taken note of the subsequent developments and also the fact that the material witnesses have already been examined and the appellant is not keeping good health, without expressing any opinion on the merits, we find it appropriate that the appellant be released on bail," the court said. The court directed the trial court that while imposing conditions, it shall take note of the apprehension expressed by the senior counsel for the respondent that there is likely to be interference with the trial and therefore, appropriate conditions be imposed so that the appellant shall diligently cooperate in the trial without causing any hindrance. Nahid Hussain has challenged the Allahabad High Court order dated July 6 2022, whereby his bail has been rejected. A case was registered in April 2019 at Police Station Kairana, District Shamli in Uttar Pradesh against him and others under the charges dealing with criminal intimidation and an intentional insult with an intention to provoke a breach of the peace. The first information report was lodged on September 26 in 2019 by a woman against the applicant Hasan and one other person namely Nawab alleging therein that the complainant's husband had given a Bolero pick-up vehicle of which he was the registered owner on rent in the year 2015 to co-accused Nawab who was having a business of milk and milk products. Nawab did not pay the required monthly rent of the same on which he was countered to which he stated that he will give the same collectivity. Later on, her husband asked him for the return of the vehicle. According to FIR, on April 22, 2019 the complainant came to know that the vehicle was standing in the premises of the applicant Hasan who is M.L.A and a phone call was received to the husband's complainant from the applicant Hasan, who allegedly threatened them and told them to go back. They were also abused and threatened for life and even the threat was extended that they would be involved in false cases, the complainant had alleged. (ANI) With India reporting a highly infectious new COVID-19 variant, former Director of Delhi AIIMS, Dr Randeep Guleria on Wednesday urged the common people to follow COVID-appropriate behaviour. He said, "I would suggest to everyone that if they are going out and especially in crowded places then they must wear a mask. High-risk groups, elderly people should avoid going out because there are high chances of spreading infection and some can also get a serious infection." "New variants are expected and this variant has a tendency to mutate that will continue, but now the situation is different, earlier, there was no vaccination, but people are now vaccinated also. But this doesn't mean that people will stop taking precautions, festival season is coming up and cases are also rising," he explained further. Guleria said that the chances of hospitalisation and ICU admissions are low. "The chances of hospitalisation and ICU admissions are low. This time there will be a mild infection, fever cold, cough and body ache, the chances of recovery are within 3-4 days, usually, in this season, viral fever is reported due to COVID also." On Tuesday, a high-level meeting of Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya with the senior health officials regarding the emergence of Omicron's new sub-variants concluded with the decision to continue masks and COVID19-appropriate behaviour across the country. The team of Scientists, doctors and Senior officials has also recommended increasing surveillance and genome sequencing. The health officials also urged accelerating COVID-19 precaution dose of Eligible Population on Mission Mode. Niti Aayog member VK Paul, Chairperson of COVID-19 working group NTAGI NK Arora, NTAGI officials, NEGVAC officials and other senior health officials, as per the official sources. Earlier on Tuesday, Maharashtra recorded a 17.7 per cent rise in coronavirus cases compared to last week, according to a state health department bulletin. The state has reported new Covid cases including the XBB, a new sub-variant of the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which has been detected in parts of India, including Kerala. Apart from this, Maharashtra has reported cases from other sub-variants of Omicron- BA.2.3.20 and BQ.1 variant, which was detected for the first time in India on Monday from the sample of a patient in Pune. XBB, a recombinant lineage between two Omicron sublineages BJ.1 and BA.2.75, is a fast-spreading variant, which was seen to have caused a spike across Singapore recently.As per the Maharashtra Health Department report, the XBB, has a growth advantage over BA.2.75 and evasive immune properties. According to statistics the new COVID cases are expected to increase in the state in the October 10-16 period this week by 17.7 per cent as compared to the period between October 3-9. This rise is noticed in Thane, Raigad and Mumbai says the official release from the health department. While on October 17, India detected its first case of Omicron's BQ.1 subvariant in a sample of a patient from Pune. The BQ.1 is a descendant of BA.5, which is behind the 60 per cent of COVID cases in the United States (US), as per reports. Some experts from the health department predicted a rise in the coming winter season, especially in a festive environment. In Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), BA.2.75 decreased to 76 per cent from 95 per cent. Maharashtra's health department and experts have asked not to ignore flu-like symptoms and seek medical advice soon. They have advised observing Covid Appropriate behaviour in public places and getting vaccinated as per Government of India guidelines. Experts from the department suggest that people with comorbidities need to take extra precautions while visiting public places. People suffering from Influenza-like illnesses should avoid public contact as much as possible. The BF.7 is also reported in Gujarat and confirmed by the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre.BF.7 is known as an 'Omicron spawn' that was first detected in China and now reached the United States, the UK, Australia, and Belgium. Meanwhile, the Kerala government on October 17 held a high-level meeting under health minister Veena George and said it is intensifying preventive measures in view of the new genetic variations of COVID-19 (XBB and XBB1) being reported from other parts of the world. "Necessary instructions have been given to all the districts. The new strain is more contagious than any other strain of Covid-19 so far. Hence the resistance is strengthened. About 1.8 per cent of those infected may require hospital treatment. There is no cause for concern at present. But everyone should be careful. Everyone should wear a mask properly for self-protection. Masks must be worn by the elderly and those with co-morbidities. The minister requested that masks be worn at the airport and in closed places," the Kerala health department said. According to Kerala Health Expert Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, said, "These are immune escape variants. Since Omicron arrived in November 2021, it has been giving off branches that divide into smaller branches. Of these, BA.2 and BA.5 proved stronger than the rest." "From BA.2 and BA.5, a series of sublineages kept appearing. Each of these had additional mutations which were concentrated on the RBD or receptor binding domain of the spike protein of the virus. This is the part that the virus uses to attach to the human cell," he added. He said, "With convergent evolution involving about 5 frequently found mutations, the virus is now able to escape the immune response to the earlier versions, either from natural infection or through vaccination." This is why they are called immune evasive variants BA.5.1.7 and BF.7 are names given to downstream descendants of BA.5." Dr Rajeev further explained also said that the pandemic isn't over, precautions still need to be taken. He said, "What we must realise is that the pandemic is not over. There will be periodic regional surges that especially coincide with festivals and group gatherings. Wearing masks Indoors and preferring outdoor to indoor gatherings are safe options. The vulnerable individuals will need to be specially protected." (ANI) Hindu College organised a Diwali Mela named Suruchi that celebrated the diverse culture of the nation and focused on the aim of community service. The mega event was organized by the National Service Scheme (NSS) wing of the Hindu College, said a press release by the college on Tuesday. Around 8,000 students participated in multiple fun and enthralling events and upheld the virtues of community service. All the colleges of Delhi University came together and shared innovative ideas for selfless service and nation-building during the event. As per the release, the significance of the Diwali Mela was unparalleled in the eyes of not only Hinduites but also the entire Delhi University student fraternity. Suruchi has created a legacy over the years that is enduring and exceptional and is an event whose memories would endure for a long time. This event provided spaces for College student-run organizations, such as various chapters of Enactus, and some Self-Help Groups to put up their innovative stalls and sell their handmade products. Differently abled students of Delhi University were also given a stage to perform and showcase their talent, the release said. Hindu College principal Professor Anju Srivastava, while addressing the event, commended the students' efforts. "'India is a nation of vivid cultures, traditions and festivals, and Hindu College admits students from all over the nation. It is through the organization of events like these that we successfully imbibe heterogenous cultural heritages and traditions in the students. It infuses solidarity among them, building a relationship of bonhomie and cultivating inclusivity," she said. "Seeing the entrepreneurial enthusiasm of the students, the principal rendered some useful advice for marketing and more, spending enough time to converse with every stallholder personally. She also gave tips on balancing both academics and extracurricular activities which highly impressed the students. She further added, "Recovering from the depressive months of Covid, this event was an elixir for the students who lost their much cherished years of college to a fateful virus," she further said. Vice Principal Dr Reena Jain said, "Suruchi was a spectacular blend of celebration, philanthropy and innovation which instilled a spirit of bonhomie and joviality after two years of social distancing and telescreens." She added, "Even Hindu College Diwali Mela was not just a fun fair. It gave a platform for showcasing the craftsmanship and creativity of those who are unable to get visibility or marketability elsewhere," she said. "Suruchi thus presented a mosaic of cultures and talent and a plethora of artistic expression. It enabled students from various colleges of Delhi University to come together as a family and represent themselves via the theme Sanskritik Sangam. This engendered a perfect experience of 'Mini India' for the audience that visited," she said. Program officer of NSS Hindu College Dr Achla Tandon said, "NSS Hindu College has always had a unique approach to dealing with social issues. Our students are trained to be practitioners of an inclusive, empathetic and empowered world. So all those sections of society who have any challenges, whether they be physical, social, medical, or even age-related, were given necessary support as well as empowering skills by our NSS brigade." The president of the NSS Hindu College Anjali Gupta, brimmed with delight and excitement seeing the enthusiasm of the visitors. "I have never been happier in life since all the efforts that we made were totally worth it. There were many intricacies and technicalities that we had to figure out during the process of arranging for the Mela, which we weren't aware of, but organizing Surichi opened many windows of knowledge for us, and we are really thankful to the administration for bestowing us with the permission and opportunity," she said. A volunteer from NSS, Shubhra Jyotsana Singh talked about the comprehensive nature of the event and commented, "I felt blessed to be a part of NSS and Hindu College which rendered me this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as I got to organize and experience such a spectacle, composing of an inordinately large number of elements, be it its cultural essence or the philanthropic angle or of course the entertaining components." Sunit Tandon, the Director of India Habitat Centre and Yuvraj Dua, a prominent social media influencer and alumnus of Hindu College, enthusiastically inspected the variety of stalls while uplifting the confidence of the students. (ANI) The Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Wednesday said that a new airport terminal building would be constructed with all modern facilities at Imphal International airport. The authority also said that the new-constructed airport -- Hollongi Airport -- which is 25 km from Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh would be operational soon. AAI Regional Executive Director Sanmukh Jugani informed media persons at a conference in Guwahati that the construction of a new integrated terminal building (NITB) with technical block cum Air Traffic Control tower and apron-linked taxiway and associated city works would be taken up at the Imphal International Airport, Manipur. He also said the cost of the project is about Rs 500 crore and the new terminal building will be spread over 22,000 sq m, which will have world class passenger facilities. Work has already been awarded and it is expected to be completed in 24 months. The NITB will be able to cater to around 800 passengers during peak-hour flight operations, according to the executive director. The annual passenger capacity of this NITB will be around 2.5 million passengers per annum. The ATC control tower cum technical block will be a six-storey building of 40-meter height. He also added the service Building of the airport will be built over 2,152 sq m. A new apron and taxiways will also be built with total number of eight Stands for Code -C type aircrafts- Airbus A 320 and Boeing 737. The executive director also said that Hollongi Airport would be operational soon. Hollongi Airport Hollongi was selected as site for the greenfield airport of Itanagar in July 2012 and is situated at Hollongi village, Yupia Tehsil, Papum Pare district of Arunachal Pradesh. The government of Arunachal Pradesh approved Hollongi airport project in May 2018. A detailed project report was completed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for the project in August 2018. Environment clearance and in-principle approval by concerned ministries were given in December 2018. Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the development of the Hollongi Airport in February 2019. Hollongi Airport, also called Donyi Polo Airport, is a much-needed one in view of the fact that the capital of Arunachal, Itanagar, doesn't had an airport. An Airport of such capacity to get directly connected by air to other major cities of the country and within Northeast Region. Currently, the nearest airport to Itanagar is Lilabari Airport in Assam which is at 73 km by road and it takes 2 hours to reach the airport from Itanagar. Hollongi Airport is spread over 694 acres and is provided with 2,300-m runway and other facilities to handle A 320 type of aircraft which can carry about 180 passengers. In another development, budget carrier IndiGo on Tuesday successfully test-landed its aircraft at the newly-constructed Donyi Polo Airport, which is located at Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh, which was reported by ANI. With this, the air connectivity of Arunachal Pradesh will begin on October 28, informed by the sources. Imphal Airport AAI had said that the cargo complex at the Imphal Airport is being built at a cost of about Rs 16 crore of which physical progress of over 69 per cent has been completed and is expected to be completed by March 31, 2023. The cargo complex will have a capacity of 1,05,120 mt/annum. The present terminal building at Imphal Airport caters to around 250 arrivals and 250 departures during peak hours. It is designed for passenger-handling capacity of 0.6 million per annum. (ANI) National Commission for Minorities on Wednesday sought a reply from the Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand, following the death of a woman named Gurpreet Bhullar in a clash between Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh Police by October 31. The woman was allegedly killed in a clash between UP's Moradabad Police and locals in Bharatpur village of Uttarakhand's Udham Singh Nagar. "You are requested to kindly send a factual report in this matter latest by October 31 for the consideration of the commission," the Commission said in its notice. Following the matter, Uttarakhand Police on October 13 registered an FIR against over 10 Uttar Pradesh policemen under an attempt to murder and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). "UP Police came here without informing anyone. They were not in uniform and were not carrying ID cards. Raids are not conducted this way. They entered a house, fired, and a woman lost her life. This is wrong. A case of murder has been registered," Nilesh Anand Bharney, DIG, Kumaon Range at Bharatpur. The DIG said, "We're probing it. Had they (UP police) informed the local police, they might have been able to help them better as they are aware of the area. Injured UP Police officials went to Moradabad hospital without informing us." Speaking to ANI, Rajkumar, the Additional Director General of Police, Bareilly, said that a police team had gone to Uttarakhand on a search operation for a wanted criminal following which they were taken hostage and were fired upon. "Two of our personnel are critically injured and they are undergoing treatment. We are investigating the matter. We are in contact with the Uttarakhand Police," he said. Shalabh Mathur, DIG, (Moradabad) of Uttar Pradesh Police said on Wednesday that six UP police personnel from Moradabad sustained gunshot injuries during the clash with locals in Bharatpur village. The UP police personnel had gone to the Uttarakhand village to apprehend one Jafar, a wanted mining mafia criminal carrying a bounty of Rs 50,000 on his head. "The UP Police received intimation from trusted sources that the wanted mining mafia was trying to flee to Uttarakhand. Acting on the tip-off a team reached the spot and started checking every vehicle on Surajnagar Road, Jaspur Mod to nab Jafar", officials said."Jafar was spotted in a white SUV and after seeing police, he opened fire at the police team in his attempt to flee. Police official Deepak was shot in the arm", police added. According to a statement released by UP Police, "the team started following a white SUV, which entered a village and Jafar and his companions took shelter inside a house in Bharatpur village, Uddham Singh Nagar." The team following the absconders entered the house where they were attacked by Zafar and unidentified persons who started firing at the police. Two policemen Shiv Kumar and Rahul were shot in the leg. The accused also took police hostage and escaped the scene.Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Police said they would take fair and legal action in this matter.A forensic team also reached the site of the incident in Bharatpur village of Udham Singh Nagar district. (ANI) Kerala Police launched an extensive search operation to recover the anklet of one of the two deceased women, Padma in the human sacrifice case, according to the police on Wednesday. The police are conducting the search at the place shown by prime accused Muhammed Shafi at the Alappuzha-Changanssery canal in the Alappuzha district. The rescue divers are conducting this operation with their latest equipment. This operation is a part of the evidence collection in this case, according to the police. The anklets were made of silver which was allegedly thrown away by Shafi in the canal at Ramankari in the Alappuzha district. The police conducted a search following the statement given by Shafi. Earlier today, the Kochi Police Commissioner confirmed that they are interrogating the main accused, Muhammed Shafi, in the Kerala human sacrifice case where two women were brutally killed in the name of a ritual after being lured for money. "Prime accused Muhammed Shafi's behaviour was extremely mysterious. The investigation is proceeding with a major focus on Shafi. We are also interrogating his co-prisoners during the time when he was behind the bars in some other cases. We are also probing his financial transactions as his finances significantly rose after he was out of prison," said Kochi City Police Commissioner CH Nagaraju. He said the process of evidence collection in Kochi is "almost completed" adding that they rely on cyber evidence which is important in this case. The police remand report of the accused mentions the shocking "human sacrifices" were suspected to have been committed as part of a ritual to obtain financial benefits. The remains of the two deceased women--identified as Padma and Roslin-- were exhumed later from pits near the residence of Singh and Laila in the Pathanamthitta district. According to police, the accused allegedly lured the victims with the promise of money. The remand report stated that the accused allegedly chopped up the bodies of the victims before burying them. On Tuesday, the police rejected allegations of an organ mafia behind the murder and said that the organ transplant was not possible in unsanitary conditions. It has been suspected that the main accused Shafi misled the co-accused persons in this regard, CH Nagaraju said adding that crucial scientific and technical evidence was available against the accused. The police have also seized several phones from the accused. The Commissioner also asserted that the main accused used to mutilate the bodies in a butcher's style. "There is no indication that there are more victims. Missing cases are being investigated. So far no evidence has been found about the link between missing cases and human sacrifice cases. Several phones have been seized from the accused. Muhammed Shafi, who is the main accused mutilated the bodies. It is done in the butcher's style. Evidence collection will continue," Kochi Commissioner said on Tuesday. As per the reports, the police have found 39 grams of gold which belonged to victim Padma mortgaged by Shafi for Rs 1 lakhs out of which he gave Rs 40,000 to his wife. As per the police remand report, the accused husband-wife pair of Bhagaval Singh and Laila conspired with the "prime accused" Muhammed Shafi to commit the crimes. On September 26, Shafi approached the 52-year-old Padma, who used to sell lottery tickets in Kochi and lured her by offering Rs 15,000 for sex work, the police remand report read. "Then she agreed and went with Shafi to the home of Bhagaval Singh and Laila in the Pathanamthitta district. There, the accused strangled her with a plastic cord around her neck to make her unconscious. After that, Shafi mutilated Padma's private parts using a knife and slit her throat. After that, they chopped her into 56 pieces and put the mutilated body parts into buckets and buried them in a pit," the report detailed. Kochi Police Commissioner CH Nagaraju addressing a press conference told reporters that Shafi, the main accused, was a pervert and has a criminal past. (ANI) Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Gujarat's Tapi, the residents exclaimed that due to Modi's growing global popularity, it has become a matter of pride to be called a Gujarati. The residents expressed their exhilaration to see their Vada Pradhan and are waiting with bated breath to see and listen to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Tapi on Thursday to lay the foundation stone of multiple development initiatives "We are feeling very good. He was Gujarat's Chief Minister and now he is the Prime Minister. We have a lot of pride to be Gujarati. He is our 'Vada Pradhan'. He is famous all over the world. Wherever he goes, people shout his name. It's a matter of pride for Gujarat and every Gujarati," said Bharat, a local resident. "Tomorrow Modi Ji is coming to our Tapi. He is going to give us such a gift that no other Prime Minister has given us. The public has a lot of enthusiasm to see him, " said another resident Hemant Rana. "I am feeling very happy. He is doing great service to the people. We will go to listen to him. He is doing great work for farmers. We expect him to bring a scheme regarding health," Bakul, a local resident said. "Tomorrow PM Modi is coming. People are waiting with bated breath. We are hoping to progress in 'Arogya'. We are in need of the industrial area. We are expecting him to bring schemes regarding industries," said Sandeep Kumar, a journalist. "We are very happy that PM Modi is coming. There is euphoria in our area as a world leader is coming to Tapi. I hope he will bring schemes to benefit us," said Raju, a local resident. Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of multiple development initiatives worth over Rs 1,970 crore in Vyara, Tapi. He will lay the foundation stone for the improvement of the road from Saputara to the Statue of Unity along with the construction of missing links. Other projects whose foundation stone will be laid include water supply projects worth over Rs 300 crore in Tapi and Narmada districts. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Arunachal Pradesh next week and inaugurate the greenfield airport in Itanagar and a 600 MW Kameng hydro electric power project, officials said on Wednesday. A senior official of the state government said that the Prime Minister is likely to visit Arunachal Pradesh on October 27 or 28, though his tour schedule has not been finalised yet. "The PM would visit Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh next week to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for several projects," said the official who didn't wish to be named. He said that Chief Minister Pema Khandu recently met the Prime Minister in New Delhi and requested him to inaugurate the Donyi Polo greenfield airport in Itanagar, and the 600 MW capacity Kameng hydro electric power project. With a 2,300 metre runway, the greenfield airport would be the first in Arunachal Pradesh to have the capacity to land big aircraft. Spread over an area of 4,100 sq mt, the airport -- the state's third after Pasighat and Tezu airports -- is equipped with all the modern facilities for the passengers, sources in the Airport Authority of India (AAI) said. The AAI undertook the Rs 650 crore project to develop the airport to boost air connectivity in the mountainous state. An Airbus A320 of IndiGo successfully completed a test landing at the Donyi Polo airport on Tuesday. "It's so satisfying and fulfilling to see IndiGo flight making a successful test landing at Donyi Polo airport. Ensuring better connectivity for our people is a top priority of my government. Rest assured, we'll ensure we've many more flights from Itanagar," Chief Minister Khandu tweeted. The official quoted above said that the Kameng hydroelectric project is the largest of its kind in the northeast and has been executed by the state-owned North East Electric Power Corporation Ltd at an estimated cost of around Rs 8,000 crore. --IANS sc/arm ( 331 Words) 2022-10-19-19:12:02 (IANS) Days after the BJP led Madhya Pradesh government released the Hindi version text books for MBBS for first year students, it has directed all medical colleges to perform puja of Dhanvantari (God of medicine) on Dhanteras. The announcement was made by medical education minister Vishwas Sarang on Wednesday. The minister told the press that Dhanteras will be celebrated with pomp in all medical colleges in the state every year on the lines of the Ganpati festival. Sarang said the objective behind organising Dhanvantari puja in medical colleges is to make Madhya Pradesh a healthy state. "By worshipping Bhagwan Dhanvantari, we pray for the good health of us and others. On Dhanteras (which falls on October 22 this year), all medical colleges in the state will worship God Dhanvantari by organising a programme. All doctors, students and attendants of patients will participate and pray for the good health of all," Sarang told IANS on Wednesday. He added that during Dussehra and Diwali, people perform puja of their property and vehicles and also purchase new property, but they do not perform puja for their health. "This is why the government has taken this step to encourage people to perform puja of God Dhanvantari," Sarang said. Meanwhile, the Congress took a jibe at the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government saying it "is doing all things except improve the health infrastructure. The BJP ruled Madhya Pradesh for over 17 years and the health infrastructure continues to deteriorate. There is a shortage of doctors in every hospital, medicines are not available but they will not talk about these issues," said K. K. Mishra, the Madhya Pradesh Congress media in-charge. --IANS pd/bg ( 291 Words) 2022-10-19-19:18:06 (IANS) After the question paper row in Seemanchal, Bihar education minister Chandrashekher Yadav has ordered an inquiry into the issue and has asked the district magistrate of Kishanganj to submit the inquiry report. The English question paper for Class 7 apparently mentioned Kashmir as a separate country. The question was in the form of 'fill in the blanks' where it was asked what the people of China, Nepal, England, Kashmir and India are called. Interestingly, the same question was asked in the 2017 examination as well. The minister admitted that it was a mistake by the concerned official and there was no justification for it. The question was asked in three districts of Seemanchal region including Kishanganj, Araria and Purnea. "We have initiated an inquiry into the matter and asked the district magistrate to investigate and find out who set such a question," Singh said. "We will take action against that person. Kashmir is an integral part of our country," he said. Reacting to the BJP allegation, Singh said that mistakes can be made by any person. "Mistakes happened by PM Narendra Modi as well. You (BJP leaders) need to keep in mind those mistakes as well. PM Narendra Modi said Takshashila university is in Bihar. The Takshashila university is in Pakistan and Vikramshila university is in Bihar. Still, the way the question was asked in the class seven examination was absolutely wrong and the culprits will be booked for it," Singh said. The question was asked in an examination paper of English to students of class 7 of government schools coming under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan which is regulated by the Bihar State Project of Education Council. --IANS ajk/bg ( 293 Words) 2022-10-19-19:48:06 (IANS) UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman resigned from her post on Wednesday, taking responsibility for sending an official document from her personal email, while also noting her concerns over the "government's direction" and breaking of pledges, particularly on restricting illegal immigrants. The Indian-origin Braverman had recently figured in the news for noting that the UK-India FTA would increase migrants from India. In a letter to Prime Minister Liz Truss, Braverman said that she had sent "an official document from my personal email to a trusted parliamentary colleague as part of policy engagement, and with the aim of garnering support for government policy on migration". "This constitutes a technical infringement of the rules. As you know, the document was a draft Written Ministerial Statement about migration, due for publication imminently. Much of it had already been briefed to MPs. Nevertheless it is right for me to go. "As soon as I realised my mistake, I rapidly reported this on official channels, and informed the Cabinet Secretary. As Home Secretary I hold myself to the highest standards and my resignation is the right thing to do." Braverman also said that the "business of government relies upon people accepting responsibility for their mistakes". "Pretending we haven't made mistakes, carrying on as if everyone can't see that we have made them, and hoping that things will magically come right is not serious politics. I have made a mistake; I accept responsibility; I resign. "Not only have we broken key pledges that were promised to our voters, but I have had serious concerns about this government's commitment to honouring manifesto commitments, such as reducing overall migration numbers and stopping illegal migration, particularly the dangerous small boats crossings," she said. --IANS vd/arm ( 299 Words) 2022-10-19-22:20:02 (IANS) To cover up their failure, Pakistan has been quietly supporting the global terrorist group, Islamic State of Khorasan Provinces (ISKP) and other outfits for carrying out a dirty war against Afghanistan. The recent devastating attacks sponsored by Pakistan are a deceitful method of compelling the Taliban government to follow the diktat of Rawalpindi which is bound to cause a blowback, reported Al Arabiya Post. A series of suicide attacks carried out by Pakistan's new cohort, the Islamic State of Khorasan, killed over 25 people, mostly Shias and Hazaras in Kabul, in September this year. The attacks come in the wake of the fraying of Pakistan's deep-rooted relationship with its old ally, the Afghan Taliban. Pakistan is miffed at the Taliban on several issues, but more so on the terrorist group, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) which it considers a grave threat. The TTP is protected by the Afghan Taliban, sheltered mostly in border areas in Afghanistan and now regrouping in Pakistan's Swat and nearby tribal areas, reported Al Arabiya Post. The suspicion and anger between the two allies were reflected in the statements made by senior leaders recently. A few weeks back, Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Sher Abbas Stanekzai accused Islamabad of "receiving millions of dollars" from the US to permit drones to fly over Pakistan's airspace for operations in Afghanistan. He condemned Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's statement during his UN General Assembly that terrorist groups were operating from Afghanistan. He warned Pakistan not to interfere in internal matters and to stop defaming the people of Afghanistan for their problems, reported Al Arabiya Post. There are several reasons for Pakistan's belligerent move towards Afghanistan. The most serious is the Taliban's steady challenge to Durand Line, the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Pashtuns are sore at Pakistan's attempt to build a wire fence across the border which they see as cutting through their heartland. Pashtuns live on both sides of the border and have for long nursed ambitions of gaining a Greater Pashtunistan. Pakistan is wary of such aspirations and has been constructing a long-winded fence along the border despite skirmishes and gunfire, reported Al Arabiya Post. What has riled Pakistan no less is the Taliban government's refusal to rein in TTP, a serious threat in its border regions. In fact, thousands of Swat residents had come out into the streets in recent days to protest against the TTP influx into their areas. The residents believe that the army was not taking serious action against the terrorists to create an atmosphere of fear. In the past, the army had disingenuously allowed terrorists to infiltrate into civilian areas to project themselves as a victim of terrorism and seek foreign help and contribution. Pakistan is also deeply peeved at the Taliban government's pragmatic approach towards India. The Taliban Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoub's statement of sending Afghan troops to India for training has caused ripples in Rawalpindi, reported Al Arabiya Post. India's efforts to reach out to the Taliban, quite successfully, have challenged Pakistan's long-held notion of having a friendly regime in Afghanistan which can be used to rebuff India. If Afghan troops are trained in India, along with other aid, it could free the Taliban government of slavish reliance on Pakistan. The Taliban government's increasingly independent posturing indicates a complete failure of Pakistan's Afghan policy which it had invested in for decades. The failure could also lead to serious issues of security in the Pashtun-dominated tribal region and nearby areas. In fact, the Taliban has used the equation with Islamabad to strengthen its hold over the country, with the help of TTP, the bete noire of Pakistan, reported Al Arabiya Post. (ANI) Nordic countries are increasingly suspicious of China over the human rights violations of Uyghurs in its Xinjiang region. It is running out of favour in the Nordic region. FN-SAMBANDET, United Nations Association of Norway said that the country is strengthening its support for the Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities in Xinjiang, China. It concluded that Norway must ensure that China does not succeed in taking the situation in Xinjiang off the international human rights agenda. As per the FN-SAMBANDET statement, the Norwegian government should use October 17, 2022, hearing on the situation of the Uyghurs in the Norwegian Parliament as an opportunity to strengthen support and make use of available tools to address the serious human rights situation in Xinjiang. Similar to other Chinese groups of Turkic descent, the Uyghur people of Xinjiang have long faced prejudice and persecution. Beijing launched policies of assimilation and strict police control on the pretext of fighting terrorism and secession. Chinese authorities suppressed Uyghur calls for autonomy and their religious expressions. These policies have in recent years developed into a program of ethnic and religious persecution. More than one million Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities are held in more than 300 detention facilities, while twice as many are reportedly receiving "re-education". Many people have experienced torture and forced labour in detention. Outside the detention facilities, Chinese authorities have imposed a pervasive system of mass surveillance, controls on movement, arbitrary arrest and enforced disappearance, cultural and religious erasure, and family separation on Turkic Muslims, read the statement. Many countries are reluctant to raise concerns about human rights violations in Xinjiang because of their economic ties with China. China's "debt trap diplomacy" explains how the Chinese government uses loans to smaller nations for its geopolitical purposes, and put pressure on states not to criticise human rights violations. Recently, the UN Human Rights Council rejected a draft decision on the "debate on the situation of human rights in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China", by a vote of 17 in favour, 19 against and 11 abstention. Owing to the above-made examples, Norway recommended condemning the ongoing systematic and widespread human rights violations against Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities in Xinjiang and urged Chinese authorities to release those who have been unjustly detained or imprisoned. It also called on Chinese authorities to comply with their obligations under international human rights treaties. The country also ensured that Norwegian companies are not engaged in trade or transportation of mass surveillance tools (malware, cameras, software, etc.) with China and that imported products from China do not include goods, produced by the use of forced labour in Xinjiang, added the United Nations Association of Norway statement. The statement also stated that Uyghurs, residing in third countries (especially in the Arab States) should not be returned to China, where they risk detention, torture, and other serious human rights violations and to be provided asylum to those who are fleeing from repression in Xinjiang. The statement was supported by Amnesty International Norway; Norwegian Students' and Academics' International Assistance Fund (SAIH); Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF); Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC); Norwegian Human Rights Fund (NHRF); Rafto Foundation for Human Rights and United Nations Association of Norway. (ANI) Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi, who competed in South Korea on Sunday without wearing the head covering required of all women by her country's hardline Islamic government offered an apology saying that she had competed without a hijab accidentally. Early Tuesday, a text-only Instagram story was posted on Rekabi's account that said, "Due to inappropriate timing, and an unpredictable call for me to climb the wall, there was accidentally a problem with my head cover," the post says. It also said Rekabi was flying back to Iran "according to the pre-arranged schedule," and apologized for the "concerns created." As of Tuesday morning, Rekabi and other athletes staying at the same hotel in Seoul had all checked out. Meanwhile, many social media users raised concern over the well-being of Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi. Many took her public appearance without a headscarf or hijab as a sign of solidarity with the women-led protests that have raged in Iran for more weeks. "This is an act of terror; forced confession -Elnaz Rekabi refused forced hijab while competing in Seoul; Her phone & passport was confiscated by the Islamic Republic; She has gone missing; Elnaz returned to Iran & announced: not wearing the hijab was not intentional," tweeted Masih Alinejad, an Iranian journalist and activist. Meanwhile, the Iranian embassy tweeted a photo of Rekabi, with her head covered, and said she had departed the country. It dismissed reports of her going missing as "false news and disinformation." In a tweet, the Iranian Embassy in Seoul denied "all the fake, false news and disinformation" regarding Rekabi's departure on Tuesday. But instead of posting a photo of her from the Seoul competition, it posted an image of her wearing a headscarf at a previous competition in Moscow, where she also won a bronze medal. Iran has been rocked by massive anti-government demonstrations for more than a month. The most significant challenge to the Islamic Republic's ruling regime in more than a decade was sparked by the September death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran's morality police. Her family say she was tortured and killed after being arrested for alleged violations of the country's strict dress code for women. Human rights groups say Iran's security forces have killed more than 200 protesters in a violent crackdown on the demonstrations. (ANI) Three years since Chinese President Xi Jinping's historic Nepal visit in 2019, there is not much to show for it. Anil Giri, a reporter covering diplomacy, international relations and national politics, writing in The Kathmandu Post said that Xi came, Xi saw but Xi couldn't conquer hurdles in bilateral ties. Described as a "watershed" in Nepal-China relations, a 14-point joint statement was issued and a 20-point list of instruments was signed and exchanged. Xi had vowed to transform 'landlocked' Nepal into a 'land-linked' country. Separately, during delegation-level talks with President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Xi had announced aid worth Rs 56 billion to Nepal, said Giri. Although the money was to be provided over the next two years, negotiations for it still continue between Kathmandu and Beijing. Interestingly, the joint statement did not mention the Rs 56 billion promised by Xi. Beijing-based Nepali diplomat, Bishnu Pukar Shrestha said Chinese officials have been saying they have already provided some of the Rs 56 billion aid in the form of Covid supplies including vaccines and other assistance, reported The Kathmandu Post. "We will learn the details once we sit for talks with them," the diplomat said. Moreover, there has not been a single meeting between Nepali and Chinese officials in the past three years to discuss the agreements signed three years ago during Xi's Nepal visit. One important agreement signed during the visit was a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport of Nepal and the Ministry of Transport of China on the Feasibility Study of the China-Nepal Cross-Border Railway Project. But Nepali officials are still unsure when the study will start. As per the joint communique released after Xi's visit, the two sides had committed to implementing several projects under the Belt and Road Initiatives, which Nepal signed up to in 2017. "The two sides agreed to intensify the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative to enhance connectivity, encompassing such vital components as ports, roads, railways, aviation and communications within the overarching framework of trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network," said the joint statement. The goal is to "significantly contribute to Nepal's development agenda that includes graduating from LDC at an early date, becoming a middle-income country by 2030 and realising the SDGs by the same date." But not a single project that Nepal had selected under the BRI has started in the past five years, said Giri. In order to execute the BRI projects, Nepali authorities have communicated to the Chinese side that Nepal prefers grants to loans. Another major announcement made by Xi was to transform Nepal from a land-locked to a land-linked country. But following the pandemic, China has almost shut down two key border trading points of Kyrung and Tatopani. After Xi's historic visit to Nepal, the first by a Chinese President in 23 years, there were apprehensions in Kathmandu that Nepal would tilt towards the north. But that did not happen, reported The Kathmandu Post. (ANI) After US President Joe Biden's "Pakistan one of most dangerous nations in the world" remarks, America once again reiterated that it expects sustained action against terrorist groups from Pakistan. US State Department spokesman, Vedant Patel on Monday (local time) in a media briefing told reporters, "We seek a strong partnership with Pakistan on counter-terrorism and expect sustained action against all militant and terrorist groups. And we look forward to the cooperative efforts to eliminate all regional and global terrorist threats." Earlier, US President Biden said Pakistan may be one of the "most dangerous nations in the world" during an address in California while speaking about the changing global geopolitical situation.The US president reasoned that he thought so as Pakistan has "nuclear weapons without cohesion". According to the transcript, available on the White House website, of Biden's address at a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reception in California, he said: "... And what I think is maybe one of the most dangerous nations in the world: Pakistan. Nuclear weapons without any cohesion." Notably, Pakistan on Saturday summoned the US Ambassador Donald Blome for clarification after President Biden described Pakistan as "one of the most dangerous countries in the world." Meanwhile, the US on Sunday (local time) backtracked on President Joe Biden's alarm over Pakistan's ability to secure its nuclear arsenal and said that the country can secure its nukes. Today again Patel said, "I will reiterate again that the US has always viewed secure and prosperous Pakistan, its critical to US interest and more broadly to US values, our long-standing cooperation." Pakistan has always sold its false narrative of being the victim of terror, however, its doublespeak has been caught many times. Moreover, many of the terrorist groups were deliberately created by the Pakistani state to serve its purposes. However, its ability to control the various terrorist outfits is uneven and some of them have turned against their creator. It establishes the fact that using terrorist outfits for state objectives can have very negative consequences for the stability of the state itself. "Few countries have suffered from terrorism like Pakistan and have shared interest in combatting threats - to regional instability and internal security like TTP," said Patel. Notably, Pakistan is miffed at the Taliban on several issues, but more so on the militant group, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) which it considers a grave threat. The TTP is protected by the Afghan Taliban, sheltered mostly in border areas in Afghanistan and now regrouping in Pakistan's Swat and nearby tribal areas. Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar raised questions over the "merits" of the US-Pakistan relationship and said that Washington's ties with Islamabad have not served the "American interest". "It's a relationship that has neither ended up serving Pakistan well nor serving the American interests," Jaishankar said at an event organized by the Indian American community in Washington. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh promptly conveyed to US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin India's concerns over Washington's decision to provide a sustenance package for Pakistan's F-16 fleet. "It's really for the United States today to reflect on the merits of this relationship and what they get by it," Jaishankar asserted. "For someone to say I am doing this because it is all counter-terrorism content and so when you are talking of an aircraft like a capability of an F-16 where everybody knows, you know where they are deployed and their use. You are not fooling anybody by saying these things," Jaishankar noted. "If I were to speak to an American policy-maker, I would really make the case (that) look what you are doing," Jaishankar strongly asserted. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Ulf Kristersson, Moderate Party leader for becoming Sweden's next PM. The prime minister said he looks forward to working together to strengthen bilateral relations. "Congratulations to H. E. Mr. Ulf Kristersson on his election as the next Prime Minister of Sweden. I look forward to working closely together to further strengthen our multi-faceted partnership. @SwedishPM," PM Modi said in a tweet. On Monday, Sweden's Parliament elected Ulf Kristersson as the country's new prime minister as 176 members of the Riksdag, legislature, voted in favor of him while 173 were against the new PM, according to Anadolu Agency. "It feels great, I am grateful and happy about the confidence I have received from the Riksdag and also markedly humble about the task that lies ahead of us," Kristersson said in a news conference following the vote. Kristersson will be leading a three-party coalition government with the Moderates, the Christian Democrats, and the Liberals, reported Anadolu Agency. Outgoing Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, who leads the transitional government, congratulated Kristersson on becoming the prime minister in an Instagram post. However, Andersson said: "Before the elections, the four right-wing conservative parties promised very much. But we already hear how they are beginning to let down their promises to the voters." After becoming Sweden's new PM, Kristersson made some changes in the government. Jessika Roswall became the Minister for EU Affairs, Johan Pehrson will serve as Minister for Employment and Integration and Paulina Brandberg becomes the Minister for Gender Equality and Deputy Minister for Employment in the new government, according to Sweden's government official site. Responding to a question over criticism by his party members on the deal between three right-wing parties, the new PM said that he does not see it as a problem. "I believe that there is a serious atmosphere in Swedish politics for many different reasons," he said, adding that he believes the vast majority will be focusing on doing "as much good as possible" despite differences., according to Anadolu Agency. The right-wing bloc won a slim majority in last month's election over the ruling Social Democrats government and its left-wing bloc by securing 176 seats in a 349-member parliament. Far-right Sweden Democrats will not be a part of the government, however, Kristersson said in a press conference last week that "he will cooperate closely with the Sweden Democrats," reported Anadolu Agency. (ANI) Canada's lack of seriousness in countering terror financing has surfaced as hate crimes in Canada by anti-national elements continue to witness a surge as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continues to accommodate the most extreme elements of the Sikh community and for political reasons, ignores terror financing, writes Michael Rubin for a US-based publication. Highlighting the fact that the Trudeau government is turning a blind eye to violence against ethnic communities in Canada, the publication stated that the prime minister is making such terrorist entities a liability. "If Trudeau continues to accommodate the most extreme elements of the Sikh community and, for political reasons, ignores their terror financing, he will not only do Canada a disservice, but he will make it a liability. He should use Canada's moral authority to call out the ISI and its cynical efforts to do in Punjab what it tried and failed to do in Kashmir," the publication 1945 reported quoting Dr Rubin as saying. "Given Canada's lack of seriousness in countering Khalistani extremist terror finance, however, it is time for the Financial Action Task Force to grey-list America's neighbour to the north," the statement added. Rubin, while writing for the publication said that European police sought to crack down on extortion from militant groups threatening violence against ethnic communities unless businessmen gave the militants "donations," as he recalled Trudeau government's actions turning a blind eye to the situation. Moreover, the situation in Canada has grown more malevolent, making the country a weak link while dealing with terrorism. Khalistani militants regularly extort money from the Sikh business community under threat of violence, 1945 reported. Recently, India also asked Canada to stop the so-called "Khalistan Referendums" by the anti-India elements on November 6 in Ontario. The Centre has asked the Canadian government to act against those who promote terror and violence against the largest democracy in the world. Earlier, on September 15, unknown miscreants vandalised and painted anti-India slogans on the walls of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan (BAPS) temple in Canada. The Indian High Commission in Ottawa had then expressed concern over the incident and asked the Canadian authorities to investigate the matter. Incidentally, India had on September 23 issued an advisory for Indian nationals and students in Canada to remain vigilant amid increasing incidents of crimes, sectarian violence and anti-India activities in the country. (ANI) Lawmakers belonging to Pakistan's ruling coalition have urged the Shehbaz Sharif government to carry out DNA tests of the dead bodies found on the rooftop of Multan hospital in Punjab province. Legislators requesting the DNA test, including Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Kishwar Zehra, fear that the corpses could be of people who went missing from Sindh and the erstwhile tribal areas of the country, the Dawn newspaper reported. Videos of bodies dumped on the Nishtar Hospital's rooftop rattled Pakistan after it was shared on social media last week. Dozens of mutilated bodies were found on the rooftop of the hospital's mortuary, the Pakistan newspaper said citing official sources. Addressing the National Assembly, Zehra and other legislators, endorsed a parliamentary investigation into the matter after seeking a report from the Punjab government. "Our party demands that DNA tests of all these bodies should be conducted. We are not yet tired of searching for our missing people. God forbid, our people can be [among them]," Zehra was quoted as saying by Dawn. On October 14, multiple unidentified and decomposing bodies were found lying on the rooftop of the Nishtar hospital's mortuary. Thereafter, an investigation began following orders from the province's additional chief secretary to form a six-member committee. After receiving an initial inquiry report of the incident, the Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi suspended three doctors, three hospital employees, and two police officials posted in the area. Action will also be taken against those responsible for negligence under Pedda Act. In any case, such treatment of dead bodies is not acceptable. No matter how much this heinous incident is condemned, it is less. In the religion of Islam, the teachings of funeral and burial of dead bodies are very clear," Elahi tweeted on October 17. "An inhumane act has been committed by throwing dead bodies on the roof. The desecration of dead bodies is intolerable," he said in another tweet. Thousands of people forcibly disappearing is a severe and longstanding issue in Pakistan. Despite efforts by civil society, there is no end to the issue of enforced disappearances in Pakistan, as the State continues to use it with impunity. (ANI) The Chinese government, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, is targeting news consumers globally using massive campaigns to influence media outlets, according to media watchdogs. A recent Freedom House report found Beijing has established new routes through which Chinese state media content can reach vast audiences, incentivizing self-censorship on topics disfavored by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and co-opting government officials and media owners in some countries to assist in spreading propaganda narratives or suppressing critical coverage. In some countries, such as Israel and Italy, the local China Radio International (CRI) correspondents are highly active and charismatic, garnering hundreds of thousands of followers or viewers on their social media accounts. Other employees at CRI who act more as cultural or lifestyle influencers target users in countries like Sri Lanka through their Facebook pages, which are labeled as state-controlled. "Some of the success of these accounts may be attributable to advertising campaigns; in Sri Lanka, an investigation revealed that Chinese state media accounts were running ads on Facebook targeting Sri Lankan audiences in 2020 and 2021, a period that coincided with a leap in their number of followers," the Freedom House report said. China's growing influence in Sri Lanka can be traced back to the government of former two-time President Mahinda Rajapaksa and predates China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), according to International Republican Institute (IRI) report. In a report titled "Chinese Malign Influence and The Corrosion of Democracy", the IRI researchers said China assisted the Sri Lankan government financially, diplomatically and militarily during the final stages of its 26-year campaign against the separatist Tamil Tigers, which ended with the government's victory in 2009. "China's support for the Rajapaksa administration continued in the postwar years (when the Sri Lankan government was accused of human rights violations), and set the stage for Sri Lanka's current dependence on China. Both governments touted the package of economic investments offered to Sri Lanka at the time as mutually beneficial," it says. The report goes on to state that the Sri Lankan media industry has also had to endure censorship and attacks on journalists, which have stifled the industry's development. In the rare cases in which journalists undertake investigative reporting on sensitive subjects, they are met with restricted access to information. It says that China is also now investing in Sri Lanka's media sector, as it has in other countries, raising the prospect for even greater influence in the country's information space. "Therefore, a stronger and more independent media is critical to educating the public about the risks of foreign interference to their democracy and longterm prosperity," it adds. (ANI) As hostilities continue to escalate across Ukraine, the Indian embassy in Kyiv on Wednesday issued an advisory, warning against travelling to the war zone and also advising Indian citizens, currently in Ukraine to leave at the earliest. "In view of the deteriorating security situation and recent escalation of hostilities across Ukraine, Indian nationals are advised against travelling to Ukraine," the Indian embassy in Ukraine said in an advisory posted on its Twitter handle. "The Indian citizens, including students, currently in Ukraine are advised to leave Ukraine at the earliest by available means," it added. On Monday, multiple explosions were heard in Kyiv in the morning, which were later reported to be targeted attacks against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, using Iranian-made drones. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said at least five people have been killed in Russia's attacks on the Ukrainian capital. "From under the rubble of a building in the center of the capital, which was hit by a Russian kamikaze drone yesterday morning, the body of another deceased resident - an elderly woman - was recovered. This is already the fifth victim of Russia's barbaric attack on the capital on October 17," Klitschko tweeted. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 30 per cent of Ukraine's power stations have been destroyed due to Russian attack, thereby leaving no room for negotiations with "Putin's regime". "Another kind of Russian terrorist attacks: targeting Ukrainian energy and critical infrastructure. Since Oct 10, 30% of Ukraine's power stations have been destroyed, causing massive blackouts across the country. No space left for negotiations with Putin's regime," he said in a tweet. On Monday, multiple explosions were heard in Kyiv in the morning, which was later reported to be targeted attacks against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, using Iranian-made drones. The war between Russia and Ukraine has only escalated after a truck recently exploded on the Crimea road bridge, causing seven fuel tanks of a train heading to the Crimean Peninsula to catch fire. The Crimean Bridge was opened in 2018 by Russian President Vladimir Putin, four years after Moscow annexed Crimea, and was designed to link the peninsula to Russia's transport network. (ANI) Sri Lankan Supreme Court on Wednesday has given orders to summon former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa over the disappearance of two human rights activists in 2011 as he is now out of constitutional powers. The order was issued after taking up for consideration a petition filed by the relatives of human rights and political activists, Lalith Weeraraj and Kugan Murugananthan who went missing on December 9, 2011, when Gotabaya Rajapaksa was serving as the Defence Secretary, NewsWire reported. Gotabaya, who served as Defence Secretary when the two men disappeared was prior asked by the Jaffna Magistrate's Court to appear in court on 27th September and provide evidence. However, the former president dodged the court's orders and claimed danger to his life if he were to appear in court to provide the evidence, according to NewsWire. He later filed a motion at the Court of Appeal, seeking an order to suspend the order of the Jaffna Magistrate's Court in the disappearance case. Later, Gotabaya was elected as the President of Sri Lanka when the verdict was announced on the disappearnce case, however, he was freed from summoning due to his title and the constitutional powers that followed. As soon as he resigned from his position due to the crisis in the country, the family of victims filed the petition, hearing which the Supreme Court on Wednesday instructed the lawyer representing the petitioners to issue a new notice to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to appear before the court to provide evidence. The Supreme Court also fixed the next hearing of the petition for 15th December 2022, NewsWire reported. The former president fled the county following mass agitations calling for his resignation on July 9. Rajapaksa fled Sri Lanka in the early hours of July 13 after massive protests erupted in Colombo and demonstrators angry with the country's economic crisis stormed his official residence and office. He resigned as president after reaching Singapore, where he was issued a 14-day visit pass. He had fled to Singapore via the Maldives and then spent a few weeks in Thailand. He returned to Sri Lanka almost after two months after fleeing to Thailand. Sri Lanka is suffering its worst economic crisis since gaining independence in 1948, which comes on the heels of successive waves of COVID-19, threatening to undo years of development progress and severely undermining the country's ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). (ANI) Amid the ongoing 20th National Party Congress, Beijing has started reinforcing tight control over the highly surveilled Tibet autonomous region and the authorities continue to increase its repression in the name of the Zero-Covid policy. Chinese leader Xi Jinping opened the ruling Communist Party's twice-a-decade National Congress on Sunday. Regional experts say that Chairman Xi Jinping will undoubtedly extend his term in power for another five years, according to Tibet Rights Collective. He will either be re-elected as general secretary of the CCP or will be newly elected as chairman of the CCP, a title that has lain dormant since 1982 and was once the highest position ever held by Mao Zedong. The congress is taking place at one of the most perilous periods in international affairs in recent years. A war is raging in Ukraine as President Vladimir Putin attempts to burnish his credentials as a great Russian leader, and China remains a staunch supporter of this would-be tsar. Meanwhile, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s atrocities in Tibet continue to take place as minorities are at the receiving end of the repressive Chinese government policies, especially the Uyghurs. Recently, a new Human Rights Watch report pointed towards DNA collection drives by CCP among Tibetans in and outside Tibetan Autonomous Region from children as young as five years old without consent which clearly explains the possible implications of Xi Jinping's re-election on Tibet and Tibetans. Moreover, Beijing's quest to sinicise Tibetan Buddhism in compliance with Chinese policies, which they refer to as "Socialism with Chinese Characteristics" also explains how the election of the Chinese premier for the third term will prove for Tibet. In 2021, Xi Jinping made an unannounced visit to Tibet and was the first Chinese President to do so in 30 years. Not only this, but he also visited the region during his vice-presidency, to mark the 60 years since the Communist takeover, and gave an aggressive speech from Potala Palace, promising to "smash anyone who attempts to destabilize Tibet, according to Tibet Rights Collective. Also, when Xi Jinping began his second term without designating a successor as party leader, China scrapped the two-term limit on the presidency, paving the way for Xi to rule for life if he chooses. Since China illegally occupied Tibet in the 1950s, the brutality of the Chinese Communist government on the people of Tibet started and turned the lives of the Tibetan people into a living hell. The lack of basic human rights is also an issue that has been raised on every occasion to gain the attention that it deserves on international platforms. But sadly, it has never been considered a case worthy of being seriously taken up by organizations such as the United Nations. (ANI) The humanitarian body has announced the establishment of 18 new "family health houses" in the quake-ravaged province, Khaama Press reported. "We are scaling up our services for women, girls & children in #Afghanistan . In #Paktika province, we just opened 18 new Family Health Houses to provide life-saving reproductive, maternal, newborn & child health services to underserved communities 24/7," the UNFPA's representative in Afghanistan, Dr Aleksandar S. Bodiroza tweeted on Tuesday. In addition to providing "life-saving" maternal, reproductive, and newborn services, these centres will aid pregnant women 24/7, Bodiroza said. Meanwhile, according to a report from the World Food Program (WFP) the earthquake destroyed around 2,100 houses in the Paktika province districts of Gayan and Barmal, as well as the Khost district of Spera, Khaama Press reported. According to the WFP report, 1000 houses were destroyed in the Gayan district, 300 houses in Paktika province's Barmal district, and 800 other residential houses in Khost province. Occurrences of floods and earthquakes across several provinces of Afghanistan have affected more than 2,23,000 people over the past several months, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a recent report. In an earlier report, OCHA said that more than 24 million people are facing food shortages in Afghanistan. Almost 23 million Afghan people benefitting from at least one form of humanitarian aid delivered as the UN office's Humanitarian Response Plan for Afghanistan seek to provide relief aid to at least 22.1 million people this year. OCHA said that it continues to coordinate the emergency response on behalf of humanitarian partners in all four regions affected - central, eastern, southern, and south-eastern regions.(ANI) "During the meeting, both ministers reviewed the current state of bilateral relations between the two countries and explored means to further strengthen these relations in areas such as health, trade and investment, defence, economic cooperation, training and capacity building among others," read the Ministry of External Affairs press release. This was the first meeting for any foreign minister with Jaishankar in Ektanagar, Kevadia. "First occasion to host a Foreign Minister in Ekta Nagar, Kevadia. A warm meeting with FM Lemogang Kwape of Botswana. Particularly apt to meet in Gujarat, since diamonds and pharma are so salient in our ties," tweeted Jaishankar. Regional and international issues of mutual concern including cooperation in multilateral fora such as the UN were also discussed. "It was also decided to reinvigorate the existing institutional mechanisms and conduct these meetings at the earliest mutually convenient dates, including the meeting of the ministerial Joint Commission," added the release. India and Botswana enjoy cordial bilateral relations underpinned by strong people-to-people ties. More than 6000 Indians live in Botswana. Bilateral trade between India and Botswana is about USD 806 million. (ANI) In yet another blow to UK Prime Minister Liz Truss after Home Secretary Suella Braverman on Wednesday tendered her resignation, it is alleged that Chief Whip Wendy Morton resigned. There had been suggestions that the government's chief whip Wendy Morton had resigned, along with her deputy, Craig Whittaker, reported Sky News. But Number 10 later stated that both remained in their posts. Morton is responsible for enforcing party discipline, MP for Aldridge-Brownhills in the West Midlands since 2015, she was appointed to the position by Truss just six weeks ago. Meanwhile, a Labour motion that would have forced a vote on a bill to ban fracking has been defeated amid farcical scenes in the House of Commons, reported Sky News. Politicians have claimed Conservative MPs were being "manhandled" and bullied into voting with the government to oppose a ban, counter to what their party manifesto said in 2019. Tory whips initially stated the vote on whether to allocate Commons time to consider legislation to stop shale gas extraction was being treated as a "confidence motion" in Liz Truss's embattled government. But after a series of Tory MPs signalled they would not take part in the vote, climate minister Graham Stuart caused confusion by telling the Commons: "Quite clearly this is not a confidence vote." The dramatic scenes come as Truss fights for her political survival following the sacking of chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng last Friday and the axing of the majority of the government's mini-budget on Monday by new chancellor Jeremy Hunt. The turmoil continued on Wednesday as the now former home secretary Suella Braverman announced her shocked resignation and took aim at the PM in her departure letter. Truss on Wednesday appointed Welwyn Hatfield MP Grant Shapps as the new Home Secretary after the departure of Suella Braverman earlier today. "The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP @grantshapps has been appointed Secretary of State for the Home Department @ukhomeoffice," UK Prime Minister's office said in a tweet. (ANI) UN relief chief calls for solidarity with Cuba in wake of Hurricane Ian Xinhua) 08:03, October 19, 2022 UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths on Tuesday called for global solidarity with Cuba as the island nation is dealing with the devastation of Hurricane Ian. Hurricane Ian was one of the worst disasters ever to hit Cuba, pummeling the country's western provinces and affecting an estimated 3.2 million people. Many lives were saved thanks to swift evacuations. But the hurricane battered schools, homes, hospitals, local businesses and agricultural areas, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The UN system in Cuba has launched a 42-million-U.S. dollar plan of action to enable relief efforts and jump-start recovery. To support this, Griffiths has allocated 7.8 million dollars from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), said OCHA in a press release. The newly allocated CERF funds will help 575,000 people in the areas of food security, health, water and sanitation, shelter and education, it said. "The people of Cuba have shown tremendous resilience and acted quickly on early warnings when facing storms," said Griffiths in the press release. "However, the climate crisis makes storms more intense and more frequent. People were expecting 50 centimeters of rain. But they experienced three times that amount, losing their homes, family photos, children's school supplies and elderly parents' medicines. We all must help the people to respond and recover." Food, health supplies, hygiene kits, shelter supplies and other items that were pre-positioned ahead of the hurricane are already reaching people in need. But they need much more support, said OCHA. The hurricane damaged some 170 health clinics and more than 1,000 schools, affecting the education of 139,000 children. Several community food distribution centers and processing warehouses were lost, and many people lost fishing boats, livestock and other means of sustaining their livelihoods. The lack of electricity in much of the affected area and the limited availability of fuel are hindering the response, it said. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Wu Chaolan) 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. Chinese President Xi Jinping's address at Communist Party's twice-a-decade congress hints that his aim is indeed not to equal revolutionary leader Mao Zedong, but to surpass him. Xi Jinping thought has been enshrined in the party's constitution alongside Mao Zedong Thought, and there has been talk of reviving Mao's chairman title for Xi to put the two on the same level. But if Xi's aim is indeed not to equal Mao, but to surpass him, the consequences for global stability could be even more severe, reported Nikkei Asia. There were two major differences between the report read out by Xi on Sunday compared with the party congress five years ago. One was an expansion to 15 points from 13, adding sections on national security and the rule of law aimed at further centralizing power. The other was a complete rewrite of the section on ideology, reported Nikkei Asia. The speech five years ago discussed "Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era," the concept that has been dubbed "Xi Jinping Thought." That disappeared from this year's version and was replaced with a section titled "A New Frontier in Adapting Marxism to the Chinese Context and the Needs of the Times." This was pushed up to the second section of the speech, above even the section about the Communist Party's missions. And given that the first item was an overview of the last five years and the next 10 years, this essentially gave the "New Frontier" section top priority among the individual topics, reported Nikkei Asia. Understanding the significance of this choice requires examining the party's litany of stock phrases that has gradually expanded under Xi. References to the Chinese leader as a "Marxist politician, thinker and strategist" aim to portray him as a direct heir to Karl Marx's ideas in the modern era. Given the great weight that the party places on ideology, this could be used to justify overturning the collective leadership system implemented by Deng Xiaoping and establishing Xi as leader for life, reported Nikkei Asia. It could also address the issue of Xi's age. The Chinese leader turned 69 this year -- and while presidential term limits were eliminated in 2018, the party still has an unspoken rule requiring officials who are 68 or older at the time of the party congress to step down. Setting Xi up as a "successor" to Marx would provide a reason to break with this custom and keep him in power. While Sunday's speech did not explicitly say who would open up the "new frontier" of Marxism, it seems clear that Xi was referring to himself. Five years ago, the Chinese leader said his own ideology "builds on and further enriches Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development," the latter two being the signature concepts of Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, reported Nikkei Asia. The ideological section of this year's report made no mention of the debt owed to these predecessors, including Mao, seemingly skipping over them to directly connect Marx to Xi. Both Mao and Xi talked about adapting Marxism to the Chinese context. But Xi's mention of a "new frontier" suggests that he intends to go beyond Mao's vision. He also said Beijing would "never promise to renounce the use of force" to unify Taiwan with the mainland, reported Nikkei Asia. With these statements, Xi essentially declared his intent to try to achieve two goals that Mao could not. Mao, paraphrasing the "Communist Manifesto," liked to say that "only by emancipating all mankind can the proletariat ultimately emancipate itself," referring to socialist revolutions in countries around the world. (ANI) As the nation witnesses unprecedented declines in academic achievement, one of the largest education philanthropies has announced it will fund $1.1 billion in K-12 math initiatives over the next four years. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundations investment marks the beginning of a decade-long strategy to prioritize math gains, particularly for Black, Latino and low-income students, making the subject its primary K-12 investment for the next decade. The Foundations work in math is not new, but making it their top priority signals a major shift: from roughly 40% of its K-12 budget to 100% through 2026. No paywall. No pop-up ads. Keep The 74 free for everyone with a generous donation. Math helps students make sense of the world. It gives them critical thinking and problem solving skills they can use later as adults, said Bob Hughes, director of the Gates Foundations K-12 program on a press call earlier this week. And even before the pandemic, too many students did not have equitable access to qualified math teachers, advanced coursework, high quality curriculum, tutoring or other resources necessary to master, enjoy and succeed at math. New programming will likely roll out next year, targeted in states with high numbers of Black, Latino and low-income students who disproportionately struggle with math: California, Florida, New York, and Texas. Nationwide, the latest math scores from suggest the pandemic eliminated two decades of growth and exacerbated gaps along racial lines. Such a setback will have long-term impacts on students economic and social mobility. Research has long-affirmed students who pass Algebra 1 by 9th grade, for instance, are twice as likely to graduate high school and eventually earn higher wages. In efforts to flip the bleak script, the Foundations strategy includes focusing on elementary and middle schools and funding teacher preparation; research, along with culturally, socially relevant curricula and materials. In feedback sessions, parents told the Foundation their children want to know why math matters in their lives. To make the connection, Gates will prioritize applied statistics and data science-related math pathways in high school, courses that help students make sense of political polls and health risk assessment amid the pandemic. Story continues Related: Long-Term NAEP Scores for 13-Year-Olds Drop for First Time Since Testing Began in 1970s A Matter for National Concern, Experts Say To address historically persistent shortages of math teachers, the Foundation is backing alternative models to build up pipelines. Districts that Gates already partners with in western Texas are building residency programs modeled after medical residencies, providing in-house preparation for community members and staff to become licensed without the financial barriers of traditional programs. In Baltimore, lead and early career teachers are paired up to support Algebra learning. Were spreading the expertise, but also giving other teachers who might not be at that level the opportunity to come alongside and support in real time, said Sonja Santileses, CEO of Baltimore City Schools. There are ways of inducting folks into mathematics teaching as well as looking at teaching not as just one teacher in front of the classroom anymore, which weve been talking about for years. Gates officials also anticipate efforts, like improving assessments or professional development, will benefit other subject areas. Improving math isnt a pipe dream. We can create classrooms and instruction where everyone is good at math. So today is the beginning much remains to be done, Hughes said, adding more funding may be on the horizon, to be determined with the next budgeting cycle in 2026. Related: Can Right Answers Be Wrong? Latest Clash Over White Supremacy Culture Unfolds in Unlikely Arena: Math Class For now, financial resources will be shifted away from English language arts historically about 20% of the K-12 budget to fund more math initiatives, though the Foundation is working with other philanthropies to ensure funding in the humanities remains. We dont want the entire field to follow us to math, Hughes said. Were really hoping to go deep to understand what does the professional development need to look like around something as concrete as fractions understand the barriers that young people or teachers face in enacting instructional visions and then use that to inform the entire field. The $1.1 billion for math, while comparable to recent funding for teacher effectiveness, is four times the amount dedicated to the Foundations controversial Common Core investment. Hughes said the experience reaffirmed the reality that every district has different assets and priorities to consider when adopting new curricula it cant be prescribed as a one-size-fits-all. Were instead saying, were going to try to improve materials, said Hughes, give you greater insight into whats effective for different types of students and populations, and work to ensure that you have those tools. Related: Long Road to Recovery: Math, Reading Scores Remain Below Pre-Pandemic Levels Disclosure: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation provides financial support to The 74. In this article, we discuss 11 best high-dividend stocks under $100. You can skip our detailed discussion of dividend stocks and their returns, and go directly to read 5 Best High-Dividend Stocks Under $100. The current economic situation has completely altered investment trends this year. Investors are flocking to long-term investment strategies, with dividends gaining solid ground among them. Due to this, dividend stocks are outperforming other class assets this year. According to Matthew Bartolini, the head of SPDR Americas Research, the average return of 123 dividend strategies tracked in the firm's research was recorded at -8.4% as of August 2022. This was six percentage points above the return of the S&P Global BMI Index. He further mentioned that dividend yields contributed significantly to such returns. The past performance of the stock market during bear markets shows that high-dividend stocks have outperformed their peers in nearly every market downturn. Moreover, reinvestment plans also make dividend stocks more reliable relative to other securities. Companies with strong dividend growth cycles allow shareholders with reinvestment plans to increase the value of their investments. According to Charles Schwabs research, reinvesting dividends can significantly boost shareholders initial investment. Another report by the same financial services company shows that dividend securities surpassed the overall market in six out of seven bear markets from 1976 to 2022. This year through July 31, MSCI Word High Dividend Index fell by 5.8%, compared with a 15.3% decline in the MSCI World Index. Some of the best dividend stocks that are outperforming the broader index this year include The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO), Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ). 11 Best High-Dividend Stocks Under $100 Photo by Nicholas Cappello on Unsplash Our Methodology: For this list, we selected dividend stocks with share prices under $100 and yields above 4%, as recorded on October 18. We carefully analyzed these stocks through their dividend policies and overall financial health. The stocks are ranked according to their share prices. Story continues Best High-Dividend Stocks Under $100 11. Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE:MPW) Share Price as of October 18: $11.14 Dividend Yield as of October 18: 10.42% Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE:MPW) is an Alabama-based real estate investment trust company that owns and operates healthcare facilities around the globe. In October, the stock was added to Raymond James' Analyst Current Favorite list as the firm believes that there is more upside in the hospital-focused healthcare REIT. The firm maintained a Strong Buy rating on the stock, with an $18 price target. Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE:MPW) is one of the best dividend stocks on our list as it has been raising its dividends consistently for the past nine years. The company pays a quarterly dividend of $0.29 per share and has a yield of 10.42%, up from a sector median of 4.3%. In Q2 2022, Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE:MPW) reported an operating cash flow of $164.6 million, down from $180 million in the previous quarter. However, the company's revenue of $400.2 million showed a 5% growth from the same period last year. At the end of June, it had $257.2 million available in cash and cash equivalents and over $19.7 billion in total assets. At the end of Q2 2022, 15 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey owned stakes in Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE:MPW), compared with 16 in the previous quarter. These stakes have a total value of over $238.5 million. Cardinal Capital was the company's largest shareholder with over 5 million shares. In addition to some of the best dividend stocks like The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO), Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE:MPW) is a good option for income investors. 10. The Williams Companies, Inc. (NYSE:WMB) Share Price as of October 18: $30.51 Dividend Yield as of October 18: 5.57% The Williams Companies, Inc. (NYSE:WMB) is an American energy company that deals in natural gas processing and transportation. The company also has additional petroleum and electricity generation assets. In Q2 2022, the company reported a strong cash position with $1.09 billion in cash from operations, up 4% from the same period last year. Its AFFO came in at $1.13 billion, showing a 23% year-over-year growth. On July 26, The Williams Companies, Inc. (NYSE:WMB) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.425 per share, in line with its previous dividend. The company has raised its dividend at a CAGR of 7% in the past five years and holds a six-year track record of consistent dividend growth. This makes the company one of the best dividend stocks on our list. As of October 18, the stock has a dividend yield of 5.57%. In August, Barclays raised its price target on The Williams Companies, Inc. (NYSE:WMB) to $39 with an Overweight rating on the shares as the firm expects the US refining fundamentals to remain stable in today's market volatility. At the end of Q2 2022, 36 hedge funds in Insider Monkeys database owned stakes in The Williams Companies, Inc. (NYSE:WMB), down from 38 in the previous quarter. These stakes have a collective value of over $345 million. Longleaf Partners mentioned The Williams Companies, Inc. (NYSE:WMB) in its Q2 2022 investor letter. Here is what the firm has to say: The Williams Companies, Inc. (NYSE:WMB) US natural gas pipeline operator Williams contributed as it benefitted from positive natural gas tailwinds in the quarter. After scaling back the position in the first quarter, we sold the remaining position in the quarter as its price reached our appraisal value. This was a very successful investment that was extremely contrarian in 2019 and now has become much more consensus appreciated. 9. Leggett & Platt, Incorporated (NYSE:LEG) Share Price as of October 18: $32.67 Dividend Yield as of October 18: 5.39% Leggett & Platt, Incorporated (NYSE:LEG) is one of the most diversified manufacturers in the US. The company manufactures a wide range of products that are designed for homes and automobiles. The company falls into the category of Dividend Aristocrats as it has raised its dividends consistently for the past 51 years. It currently offers $0.44 per share in quarterly dividends with a yield of 5.39%, as of October 18. In the second quarter of 2022, Leggett & Platt, Incorporated (NYSE:LEG) showed growth in its operating cash flow and free cash flow at $90 million and $67.7 million, respectively. The company's strong cash generation supports its dividend payments and also indicates further growth. It plans to pay over $230 million in dividends at the end of FY22. Truist maintained its Hold rating on Leggett & Platt, Incorporated (NYSE:LEG) with a $35 price target in October, expecting a slowdown in the company's sales in the upcoming quarters. At the end of Q2 2022, 12 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey owned stakes in Leggett & Platt, Incorporated (NYSE:LEG), compared with 15 in the preceding quarter. These stakes are collectively worth over $48.3 million. Millennium Management was the company's leading stakeholder in Q2. 8. Main Street Capital Corporation (NYSE:MAIN) Share Price as of October 18: $34.92 Dividend Yield as of October 18: 7.56% Main Street Capital Corporation (NYSE:MAIN) is a Texas-based principal investment firm that offers debt and equity capital to middle-market companies. The company is one of the best dividend stocks on our list as it pays monthly dividends to shareholders. Moreover, it has been making consistent dividend payments to shareholders since 2007. The company pays a monthly dividend of $0.22 per share, with a dividend yield of 7.56%, as of October 18. In Q2 2022, Main Street Capital Corporation's (NYSE:MAIN) revenue of $85.2 million showed a 26.6% growth from the same period last year. Its net asset value came in at $25.3 per share and generated $54.7 million in net investment income. In addition to this, the company had aggregate liquidity of $518.4 million while its cash and cash equivalents stood at $475 million at the end of June. As of the close of Q2 2022, 5 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey owned stakes in Main Street Capital Corporation (NYSE:MAIN), down from 9 in the previous quarter. The collective value of these stakes is over $19.3 million. 7. National Retail Properties, Inc. (NYSE:NNN) Share Price as of October 18: $39.98 Dividend Yield as of October 18: 5.50% National Retail Properties, Inc. (NYSE:NNN) is an American real estate investment trust company that mainly invests in high-quality properties. In August, Stifel lifted its price target on the stock to $54 with a Buy rating on the shares, highlighting the company's recent FFO beat. The firm also appreciated the company's revised guidance for FY22. National Retail Properties, Inc. (NYSE:NNN) is one the best dividend stocks on our list as the company has been raising its dividends for the past 33 years. It currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.55 per share with a dividend yield of 5.50%, as recorded on October 18. In the past five years, the company has raised its dividends at a CAGR of 3.07%. As of the end of June 2022, 18 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey owned stakes in National Retail Properties, Inc. (NYSE:NNN), the same as in the previous quarter. These stakes are collectively valued at over $92.2 million. Point72 Asset Management owned the largest position in the company in Q2. 6. Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) Share Price as of October 18: $43.84 Dividend Yield as of October 18: 4.65% Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) provides finance and other investment banking services to its consumers. The company reported over $9 billion in free cash flow in the third quarter of 2022, which was enough to support its dividend payments worth over $1 billion. The company has a safe payout ratio of 29%, which further signals dividend growth. Though Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) does not have a dividend growth track record, it has raised its payouts at a CAGR of 20.59% in the last five years. It currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.51 per share for a yield of 4.65%, as of October 6. In October, BMO Capital maintained an Outperform rating on Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) with a $71 price target, highlighting the company's strong performance across Services and Branded Cards. At the end of the June quarter 2022, 82 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey owned stakes in Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C), down from 88 in the previous quarter. These stakes have a consolidated value of over $7.4 billion. Among these hedge funds, Berkshire Hathaway was the company's leading stakeholder in Q2. Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) is also gaining attention among investors alongside some of the best dividend stocks like The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO), Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ). Diamond Hill Capital mentioned Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) in its Q1 2022 investor letter. Here is what the firm has to say: Shares of Citigroup declined in the quarter as investors became increasingly negative on capital markets activity. The company is also continuing to divest certain consumer banking geographies which may be dilutive to earnings in the near term. Click to continue reading and see 5 Best High-Dividend Stocks Under $100. Suggested articles: Disclosure. None. 11 Best High-Dividend Stocks Under $100 is originally published on Insider Monkey. Bob Doherty, facilities manager, and Patrick Redington, general manager, stand before Saint-Gobain's new $22 million machine, called the "powerhouse," that will power Saint-Gobain's entire Worcester site and will cut the site's carbon emissions by 50%. WORCESTER Patrick Redington was dressed in a natty blue-pinstriped suit, not his usual hard hat and work clothes as the general manager of the abrasives division at Saint-Gobain's manufacturing plant in Worcester. On Wednesday, Redington was on hand for the ceremonial unveiling of a $22.3 million powerhouse that provides electricity to run the company's Worcester plant. The former powerhouse had been in service since the 1950s and company officials said the multimillion-dollar investment shows the French multinational companys commitment to Worcester, with a new electricity source that runs more efficiently and is better for the environment. The Worcester operation has about 1,000 workers, the largest of the company's manufacturing sites in North America, based on the number of employees. As for the company's stated commitment to Worcester, it extends 137 years, when the operation known as Norton Co. for many years was founded by a band of entrepreneurs who eventually bought several acres of land in the Greendale neighborhood. It was there they set up the manufacture of grinding wheels, an essential part of many businesses to shape and refine products. In 1962 the company went from a privately-held family business to a publicly traded one, and Saint-Gobain bought Norton in 1990. Today's plant is in the same Greendale location along Interstate 190, but vastly bigger than the early days of the late 19th century. Pipes, boilers and more With a long system of pipes, boilers and a turbine that generates 4.7 megawatts of power, the new powerhouse it went operational Sept. 20 is expected to cut the plants carbon emissions in half as Saint-Gobain works toward a carbon-neutral operation for its worldwide operations by 2050. Its a fantastic way of making the world a better home, said Redington, alluding to the companys stated purpose. This is one element to get us there. Story continues Connected to Worcesters power grid, the powerhouse can potentially provide electricity to nearby residential neighborhoods if there is a power outage or natural disaster. Why now? Some might wonder why Saint-Gobain invested $22.3 million in a powerhouse when financial markets are experiencing a rollercoaster ride due to uncertain economic and geopolitical forces. Company officials noted the investment had been in the works long before the stock markets current slide and fits with Saint-Gobain's strategy to invest heavily in North America to counterbalance financial and political turbulence in Europe and other corners of the globe. This year's highlights of the companys $3.5 billion investment in North America includes the $2.3 billion purchase of GCP Applied Technologies Inc, a construction chemicals company and a $928 million purchase of Kaycan Ltd. in Canada, a maker and distributor of exterior building materials. Additional investments include expansions of the companys CertainTeed roofing plants in Oxford, North Carolina ($118 million) and Peachtree City, Georgia ($100 million). Through the first six months of this year, Saint-Gobain posted $25.4 billion in sales (Euro), a 15.1% increase compared to the same period last year. Didnt get the memo Bob Doherty, facilities manager at Saint-Gobain in Worcester, said in jest he didnt get the memo that Wednesday was suit-wearing day to celebrate the powerhouse. But he wasnt any less enthusiastic about it than Redington. Its great for the city and its great for Saint-Gobain. It shows our commitment to Worcester, said Doherty, a 10-year company veteran who explained the powerhouse starts with a massive turbine that runs on natural gas. The gas heats enormous boilers that use heat and exhaust gas to make steam. The steam powers the plant's operations and keeps workers warm in the cold months. Housed in this building is Saint-Gobain's new $22 million machine, called the "powerhouse," that will power the entire Worcester site and will cut the site's carbon emissions by 50%. Two back-up boilers are in place to send steam to the plant to keep things running in case of snafus, and the turbine can send energy to the National Grid's local power grid if the public utility needs it. Jobs unfilled Taking a moment to redirect the conversation away from the powerhouse, Redington mentioned 50 manufacturing jobs at the Worcester plant remain unfilled during a super-tight labor market. (Hiring) is slower than we thought, said Redington, who has worked at Saint-Gobain for 32 years. Its a challenge filling manufacturing jobs, but we will fill them. Timing is the challenge. Pivoting away from the challenge, Redington focused on Wednesday's celebration of the newest addition to Saint-Gobain's 137-year legacy in Worcester. I couldnt be more excited (about the powerhouse), said Redington. It was built on time, on budget, with no worker accidents. Its very pleasing for me. Contact Henry Schwan at henry.schwan@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @henrytelegram This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: $22M powerhouse helps Saint-Gobain make 'the world a better home' Associated Press The extended Senate campaign in Georgia between the Democratic incumbent, Raphael Warnock, and his Republican challenger, football legend Herschel Walker, has grown increasingly bitter as their Dec. 6 runoff nears. With Democrats already assured a Senate majority, its a striking contrast from two years ago, when the state's twin runoffs were mostly about which party would control the chamber in Washington. Herschel Walker aint serious, Warnock told supporters recently in central Georgia, saying that Walker majors in lying and fumbles the basics of public policy. Vadym Pastukh / iStock.com A whopping 65% of Americans believe they're underpaid, according to a recent Payscale report. Another report revealed that Americans feel they need to earn roughly $122,000 a year to be financially stable. The national average salary is $54,132 per year, so it's no wonder that most Americans feel like they're significantly underpaid. Explore: GOBankingRates' Best Credit Cards for 2023 The Future of Finance: Gen Z & How They Relate to Money Do you think you deserve to be paid more at your current job? GOBankingRates asked career experts to weigh in on what signs to look for if you suspect you're underpaid. Click through to see if your financial future should include a pay boost. Robert Kneschke / Shutterstock.com Your Co-Workers Are Getting Paid More for the Same Job Krystal Covington -- job expert, national speaker and founder of the social enterprise group Women of Denver -- once discovered she was being underpaid in a unique way. "Someone in HR accidentally sent me a spreadsheet with every salary in the company on it," she said. It hurt, but it also spurred her into action. An introvert by nature, Covington is now an advocate for equal pay for women and has given TEDx Talks on the subject. One of her most powerful tools and pieces of advice to those who want and deserve a raise: practice talking about money. Many -- especially women -- she said, find speaking to managers about their salary daunting. baranq / Shutterstock.com What You Should Consider Covington suggested first writing down what you think you're worth. Then, ask human resources for your job's range of salaries and try to negotiate to the higher ranges. How? Practice, preferably in a group, said Covington. While it might not ever be comfortable to ask for a raise, practicing will make it more bearable. In Covington's case, she negotiated a 10 percent increase in pay. Not bad for an introvert who had always found it difficult to discuss her salary. Take Our Poll: Do You Believe in Quiet Quitting? Rawpixel.com / Shutterstock.com The Data Is on Your Side There are many websites that can help you determine your worth, said Sallie Krawcheck, co-founder and CEO of Ellevest, a digital investment platform created for women. Story continues For example, she recommended Comparably, which offers salary reports that can help you see where your compensation ranks among similar jobs. Meanwhile, "Hired.com will show you up-front job offers from potential employers, including compensation numbers after you've answered a few questions," said Krawcheck. "And GetRaised.com takes you one step further -- not just with calculations of your pay gap, but with step-by-step instructions on how to approach your boss to get the best results." fizkes / Shutterstock.com What You Should Consider Krawcheck recommends you schedule a one-on-one with your manager to discuss what you've found. Obviously, subtlety goes a long way here. You can get a lot more honey (i.e., money) with a smile than a shout. But make it clear that others doing the same work with the same credentials and experience as you make more money. Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock.com Your Peers Are Getting Promotions Have you noticed fellow employees moving on or out while you stay in the same position with the same pay -- all while you do great work? It could mean that, without knowing it, you have moved up the ladder -- without the pay benefit, said Lauren McAdams, a career adviser and hiring manager at Resume Companion. "This indicates you now have a degree of seniority, and it also shows that your company has been a little too stingy with salary increases," she said. "In this instance, circumstances are ripe for asking for a pay boost." fizkes / Shutterstock.com What You Should Consider Krawcheck said to schedule a one-on-one meeting well in advance of your pay review. The theme should be: What does success look like for me? "Ask for specific numbers -- how many new clients, completing which project by what deadline, how many hires, etc. -- so when it comes to review time, there's no room for disagreement," she said. Clarity is your goal. Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock.com You Developed New Skills but Haven't Earned a Raise Have you added skills, a certificate or a degree to your resume? That could be a sign that you deserve more pay. "Simply putting the time in with a company does this to some degree," said McAdams. "But if you've received certifications or continuing education ... but have not been rewarded for your greater effectiveness, now's the time to bring that to the attention of your manager." GaudiLab / Shutterstock.com What You Should Consider First, check those comparison websites to see what others with your new skills are being paid, said Krawcheck. In fact, do this before you put the time into getting the certificate or degree, and verify that your manager believes it will be a good investment to further your career. Regardless, set up a meeting with your manager and make your case, clearly showing that the new skill or degree is a benefit to your position and the company at large. And, explain why you deserve a raise. "If you're told no, don't retreat," said Krawcheck. "There are lots of things that are worth money that aren't actually money, such as a new title, an overseas assignment or a flexible work arrangement. Make sure you walk away with something." Adamov_d / Shutterstock.com Your Boss Never Followed Through Whether it was stated outright or heavily implied, employees are often working under the impression that if certain projects or goals are finished or attained, they'll get more pay. But, managers get overwhelmed, and they can sometimes forget about some of the discussions you had if there isn't a formal plan in place. shironosov / iStock.com What You Should Consider Krawcheck said in order to avoid confusion you need to have a clear discussion with your manager about what success looks like not just for you -- but for your department and company as well. "By understanding what success looks like for your department or your business, you can potentially aim your career that way," she said. "This also gives you a record of what success is beforehand, so that your expectations are realistic." Then, on review day, you can bring in a record of what you accomplished and compare it to the listed items you and your manager agreed on beforehand. "Now, you can ask for that raise and be backed by facts of what you are worth," said Krawcheck. ProStockStudio / Shutterstock.com Your Company Is Offering More Pay for a Similar Job If your company is hiring new people to do a job identical or similar to your own, this is a great opportunity to get a feel for whether you're being underpaid. If you find that your company is willing to pay others more for your position, it might be time to visit the HR department. fizkes / Shutterstock.com What You Should Consider Your HR partner can review your skill set and clearly communicate why your salary is what it is, said Jasmin Forts, a career consultant who runs the JobbingWithJas YouTube channel. "If you communicate the concern with your HR partner, they can share the things you can do to increase your pay, as well as what was shared on your performance evaluation for merit increases or other promotional opportunities based on performance," said Forts. She suggested a little finesse during these conversations, however, so they don't become confrontational. That rarely benefits anyone. Forts also said to weigh options, such as leaving your company, very carefully so that you are comfortable with your decision and explaining it on your resume. More From GOBankingRates Sam Disalvo contributed to the reporting for this article. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 6 Tell-Tale Signs Youre Underpaid Venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) is not on board with the founders vision to break up MakerDAO, one of cryptos largest decentralized finance protocols, into smaller units. A16z, an investor in Maker with power to sway votes in decision-making, laid out its own vision for the protocols path forward, pushing back against some arguments of MakerDAO founder Rune Christensens Endgame manifesto on how to make Maker more decentralized and censorship resistant. Maker is a cornerstone of decentralized finance, where users withdraw and lend crypto in an automated manner. It also issues DAI, the $6 billion decentralized stablecoin backed by some $7.8 billion in assets locked up by investors. As a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), the platform is governed by blockchain-based codes and votes by maker (MKR) token holders, who discuss all proposals and decisions in the protocols forum. A16z owns a significant amount of MKR tokens as an investor and therefore boasts voting power and influence on which proposals will eventually gain approval. Ongoing debate The platform is in the middle of a makeover, and the debate between proponents of prioritizing decentralization versus boosting growth touches on a fundamental dilemma for cryptocurrency protocols. "Currently, MakerDAO is wrestling with the trade-offs between growing the protocol or hardening it against regulatory risks, Dustin Teander, an analyst at crypto intelligence platform Messari, told CoinDesk. Decentralization has to play a part, of course, but a small, decentralized product doesn't actually solve the market problem for the people that need it." Read more: Is MakerDAO Becoming a Company Run by Politics? The note, authored by Porter Smith, a partner at a16z, advocates for changes that would improve decentralization without impeding growth and comply with the current legal and regulatory environment. This includes improving the current system based on Core Units, instead of breaking up the protocols governance structure into smaller units called MetaDAOs. Story continues The Core Unit structure is arguably already legally decentralized, Smith wrote. Introducing MetaDAOs likely does not change this analysis, nor lead to more organizational resiliency from a strictly legal perspective. The note said a16z would support experimentation through smaller, self-contained proposals to get a baseline for how proposed changes might work (or not) in practice. Maybe experimenting with one MetaDAO (or one per type), iterating, and then rolling out an organizational change with real data and live experience could strike the balance here, Smith wrote in a comment on the forum. Two proposals are open for voting to MKR holders about how to reorganize MakerDAOs structure, including spinning off management units of the protocol and turning them into MetaDAOs. At press time, polls show that around 90% of voters support the creation of MetaDAOs at the expense of Core Units. Rune Christensen unveiled an ambitious roadmap for MakerDAOs future in May, tagged as the Endgame plan, to make the protocol truly decentralized and resistant to any potential overreach and censorship from governments. His plan included free-floating DAI and ditching centralized assets from reserves that could be, in theory, blacklisted or seized. In the short term, however, MakerDAO contributors doubled down on growth and voted for incorporating real-world assets such as $500 million of government-issued Treasury bonds into the protocols reserves, in an attempt to capture revenue from yields and build in incentives for MKR and DAI holders to attract new users. Tensions between rival factions in the protocol's governance go back at least to this summer, when investors and founders came face to face in a voting about the protocols lending oversight unit. Abortions are legal in Arizona but providers told Rep. Ruben Gallego Tuesday that reproductive care in the state is still hindered by politics. Clinics that provide abortions in the state are struggling to find staff, patients are confused and fearful, and because of a new Arizona law, clinics must now turn away patients seeking abortions who are past 15 weeks of pregnancy, providers told Gallego, D-Ariz. Gallego, whose 7th Congressional District includes parts of Phoenix and Glendale, hosted the roundtable discussion with reproductive health providers at Planned Parenthood Arizona's Phoenix headquarters. While abortions up to 15 weeks are legal in Arizona, the courts could reinstate a 19th century near-total ban. Brittany Fonteno, president of Planned Parenthood Advocates of AZ, speaks during a press conference at the Arizona state Capitol in Phoenix on Aug. 24, 2022, highlighting the importance of abortion access as well as Republican nominee for U.S. Senate Blake Masters' support for a national abortion ban. "The ongoing threat of the near-total ban on abortions looms big," said Brittany Fonteno, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Arizona, which is the state's largest abortion provider. "Arizona's ban is one of the most cruel and extreme in the country. It has no regard for the health and lives of people across the state, including survivors of rape and incest." Gallego said during the discussion that he does not think government should be disrupting the "sacred" physician-patient relationship and noted that many abortion laws are coming from men who don't understand the female reproductive system. It is important to hear from providers at a time when a near-total abortion ban remains a possibility in Arizona, Gallego said. Also, the next Arizona Legislature could be "even more radical" than today's, he said. "It's such a complicated issue and the most important reason why I say it's a complicated issue is because when it gets this complicated, the government should not be involved," Gallego said. "At the end of the day, this is why we trust women, for them to take care of their bodies, and government should not be involved in that." Abortion rights, economic stresses: These issues are top of mind for many Arizona women as they vote Story continues Incest victim couldn't get an abortion in Arizona, doctor says Tabitha Pennington joins fellow abortion rights demonstrators as they gather at the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix on Sept. 24, 2022. The roundtable discussion was held nearly four months after the U.S. Supreme Court's June 24 decision to reverse the nearly 50-year-old landmark Roe v. Wade decision, which protected an individual's right to choose to have an abortion. States were left to make their own abortion laws in the wake of the decision, which translated into a lot of confusion in Arizona about whether a pre-statehood law that bans nearly all abortions or a 15-week ban passed earlier this year were in effect here. Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich was behind an effort to reinstate the near total 19th century ban. Planned Parenthood went to court to block Brnovich's bid to lift a 1973 injunction that prevented its enforcement. While Pima County Superior Court Judge Kellie Johnson ruled in Brnovich's favor, the Arizona Court of Appeals on Oct. 7 put the pre-statehood era abortion law on hold until a full appeal of the earlier ruling on it is heard. The appellate court's action once again legalized abortion in Arizona, at least for now. However, abortion providers now must follow the state's 15-week abortion ban, said Dr. Jill Gibson, medical director for Planned Parenthood Arizona. While abortions after 15 weeks are only a small percentage of abortions that happen in Arizona, the 15-week ban already is having an adverse effect on some patients, Gibson said. Gibson told the story of a patient who became pregnant because of incest but did not realize it until recently, when she was already more than 15 weeks into her pregnancy. The patient's mind did not allow her to realize or acknowledge she was pregnant until she was at more than 15 weeks likely because of the trauma she'd experienced, Gibson said. The patient told Gibson that the only thing she needed to recover from the trauma of the incest was to terminate the pregnancy, but Gibson had to tell her she would not be able to obtain an abortion in Arizona. The patient had to travel to California to obtain an abortion, she said. "To not be able to offer her that service is unbelievably devastating," Gibson said. Prior to the 15-week ban, surgical abortions in Arizona were legal up until fetal viability, which is typically at 23 weeks to 24 weeks of pregnancy. Medication abortions are still legal in Arizona, at least pending another court ruling. A medication abortion, sometimes referred to as the abortion pill, is a two-drug combination recommended for use up to 10 weeks of pregnancy that accounts for more than half of U.S. abortions. 'Our communities need more access to health care, not less' On at least two occasions after the reversal of Roe v. Wade, most of Arizona's nine licensed abortion clinics stopped offering both surgical and medication abortions because of fear of criminal prosecution. As a result of that uncertainty, the canceled appointments and ongoing fear, it's difficult to find staff, said Dr. DeShawn Taylor, an obstetrician/gynecologist and the founder and owner of Desert Star Family Planning in Phoenix. "We're still in a pandemic. People want full-time work," Taylor said Criminalizing abortion will never reduce the need and demand for abortions, which are an essential part of health care, Fonteno told Gallego. "Banning abortion just serves to further our country's shameful legacy of racism and discrimination because it will have the greatest impact on Black, Indigenous, Latino and other people of color, young people and rural communities," Fonteno said. "As a mother and a woman of color myself, I know that in order to attain equity in health and in life, our communities need more access to health care, not less, and certainly not criminalization for making our own personal decisions about our bodies, our lives and our futures." Reach the reporter at Stephanie.Innes@gannett.com or at 602-444-8369. Follow her on Twitter @stephanieinnes Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona abortion clinics are struggling to find staff, providers say Acne-shaming is alive and well in the workplace. (Photo: Boy_Anupong via Getty Images) Acne-shaming is alive and well in the workplace. (Photo: Boy_Anupong via Getty Images) After years of dealing with acne, certified nursing assistant Hayley Wester decided to forego wearing makeup at work to let her skin breathe. After showing up at her Denver, Colorado, office, she was in for a rude awakening. The personal decision prompted unsolicited acne advice from her colleagues and invasive questions including, Have you tried vitamin C? and Have you tried washing your face? or Have you tried drinking water? Once, she was even pulled into a meeting with a supervisor about the concern from others over her skin condition. While makeup isnt a pre-requisite to working as a CNA, it can just be a little uncomfortable for patients, she recalled the supervisor telling her. I remember asking him, So are you telling me that I have to wear makeup when I come to work? And he said, Its up to you, but we have just gotten a couple of comments... [wondering] if youre OK, or if you want to see a dermatologist and get your skin under control, or [if you will consider] covering up some of the redness. He was trying to be nice about it, but I dont think you can be nice about something like that, she said. Wester said the conversation was very embarrassing, but she agreed to wear some makeup. She quit the job less than a week later without another lined up. I couldnt imagine continuing to work for a company that would pull me into their office about a skin condition that is very clearly out of my control, Wester said, adding that the conversation made her feel extra self-conscious because she did not know who raised the concern. You go around feeling even more insecure than before because youre thinking, Well shoot, it could be this person, could be this person. It adds so much stress on top of an already stressful job. Co-workers judgment about acne causes social isolation and mental health issues for employees on the receiving end. Studies have shown that people instinctively perceive people with acne as less successful in their careers. One study in Dermatology and Therapy found that when global respondents looked at pictures of the same person with either digitally-superimposed acne scars or clear skin, people with facial acne scars were seen as less likely to be successful, confident, healthy, happy, and more likely to be insecure and shy. Respondents said people in the pictures with acne scars were less likely to have a promising future (78% vs. 84%) and less likely to be hired for a job (78% vs. 82%) than those without scars. Story continues Shannon Garcia, a psychotherapist at States of Wellness Counseling in Illinois and Wisconsin, has seen how adult acne can cause her patients to become more socially isolated and less confident at work. When it comes to work, they worry about not appearing adult enough or mature since acne is better known as an adolescent issue. It has affected their confidence when it comes to interviews, meetings and introducing themselves to clients and/or coworkers, Garcia said. During particularly difficult flare-ups, their anxiety can cause them to want to avoid attending professional events, preferring to hunker down at home until the flare-up subsides. Wester posted on her Instagram account, myuglyacne, where she documents her acne journey, No one talks about how stressful it is to have acne and start a new career. Its a weird thing and topic because we have been conditioned to be ashamed of it and to hide it for the sake of being professional. In a 2014 survey of over 200 employed women between 25 to 45 years old, almost half reported that they had difficulty concentrating at work some or all of the time because of their acne, and 12.3% took it a step further saying they had missed work or school in the past month because of an acne breakout. Toni, a mental health professional in the San Francisco Bay area who asked to be identified by her first name, said, Theres a stigma that acne means the person is unclean, lazy, doesnt care about their skin, etc., when that is further from the truth. Those perceptions can certainly negatively impact the way the person is perceived in the workplace. Toni has an Instagram account dedicated to acne positivity and skincare, and she told HuffPost that she had experienced this stigma. Ive felt judged by others in the workplace because of my acne, she said. Though I have never been directly approached with any comments, I have noticed the stares that come with having a breakout on my face. People with acne can face pressure to cover up acne breakouts with makeup while working, said Lavinia Rusanda, a Canada-based chemical engineering intern. Ive seen it come from a place of a lot of people seeing acne as un-hygienic. You dont take care of yourself, she said. Rusanda has talked about not covering up her acne on her TikTok account. She said people should wear makeup for themselves, not for other people. I definitely encourage people to not wear makeup out of the sense that they have to because wearing it for you is so much better than waking up in the morning and making it feel like a chore, Rusanda said. Rusanda added she had not received negative feedback about going makeup-free at work, which she attributes to being public about acne on her social media accounts. Suppose you are thinking of transitioning away from wearing makeup over your acne at work. In that case, she recommends doing things that make you feel confident, like wearing your favorite outfit or doing your hair your favorite way. Wester believes that the stigma of acne in the workplace will phase out as more young people enter the workforce. I see a lot of younger generations coming in and their refusal to wear makeup, refusal to cover up tattoos, their nope, this is who I am. Youre either going to hire me, or youre not [attitude], she said. That is such a great attitude to have towards workplaces because nothing is really going to change unless people start accepting others for who they are, and I feel like that really includes skin conditions. It can also help to recognize that youre not the only person dealing with body image issues at work. While you may feel alone in your adult acne, you are not alone in struggling with body image, Garcia said. You might sit in that work meeting dreading how people will look at your acne. Your coworkers are focused on their own insecurities. They are thinking about their hair, clothing, weight, teeth, nose; you name it. As a therapist, I have heard it all. What to do if you receive unsolicited advice about your acne. If you get comments from friends and family about acne flare-ups, Rusanda recommends taking a step back and reminding yourself that the person is not in your head. Realize they might be uninformed and educate them, she said. Rusanda advises using language like, I would appreciate it if maybe in the future you dont point it out because I already know whats going on with my skin. Im also very educated on what products I should be using, and Im working on that, so I dont really need that advice, but I appreciate your concern. Wester said she used to swallow her discomfort and pretend to listen when people would share unsolicited acne opinions with her at work. Now she calls it out and shuts it down. Ill say, You know this is my skin condition that is between myself and my healthcare professional, my dermatologist who is helping me with this. Anything that you can suggest, Ive already tried, so Id really like to not discuss my skin. That immediately shuts it down, she said. I know it has definitely made some people feel really embarrassed because theyll start to profusely apologize... Im OK with being the one to say that if it means they wont ask other people about their skin conditions. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... NEW YORK (AP) A normal morning scene. Breakfast on the kitchen table. A newspaper rustles. A backpack is packed. The mother asks her teenage daughter if shell be home later. Its Tuesday, so, um, Im going to go to Dads. The look of concern on the mothers face, and the tone of the school day's interactions, give a sense of some unspoken loss hanging over the girl. Each detail tugs at you until finally, after the girl has spent the afternoon alone in the dying light of her fathers apartment, her mother arrives to quietly take her home. So unfolds Tuesday, the first short film by the 35-year-old Scottish filmmaker Charlotte Wells, and one that bears many of the hallmarks found in her shattering feature debut, Aftersun. It, too, centers on a young girl and her father. It, too, radiates with the glow of memory while coursing with an undertow of grief. I made the first one without ever considering who would see it and why. It was an exercise for myself. A few people responded very strongly to it, but it was a few. Like, 10% would be generous," Wells says. "But when they did, it was a very meaningful response. It seemed very sincere. That was always enough for me. Many more have been moved by Aftersun. Devastated, actually, is more like it. Since its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May, Aftersun has accumulated a rare kind of buzz. Here was the uncommonly mature debut of a filmmaker of masterful control and deep wells of empathy. Here was the self-evident launch of a major new voice. The rumors, The New Yorker wrote recently, are true. It was Wells shorts that first brought her to the attention of Barry Jenkins and Adele Romanski. While making If Beale Street Could Talk, they had coffee with Wells to talk about a possible feature. Two years later, Wells came back with a script. Romanski and Jenkins signed on to produce through Pastel, their production company formed with the intention of enabling young directors similar to how Plan B helped them make Moonlight. Story continues Through that whole process, Charlotte always had faith in the ethereal gooey stuff that you cant arrive at mathematically, that you cant arrive at through some book on screenplay conventions, Jenkins says. I kind of describe it as a magic trick. As you watch the film, you get to those last two minutes, and you realize: Holy s---, Ive arrived at this place and it feels like magic. Aftersun, which A24 releases in select theaters Friday, stars newcomer Frankie Corio as 11-year-old Sophie whos traveling with her father, Calum (Paul Mescal), on a summer vacation in Turkey. Gently poised from the perspective of an older Sophie we only vaguely see, the film is a memory piece. In many ways, it feels like a coming-of-age film. Sophie, teetering between childhood and young adulthood, is attracting the attention of older kids. But we gradually grasp that its not Sophie whos sliding away from her dad. Its Calum, wrestling with his own demons, who may be adrift. Coming from her Brooklyn apartment and shortly before ducking into the fabled Criterion Collection closet, Wells, who goes by Charlie, met a reporter for coffee near Union Square in New York to reflect on a head-spinning year and some of the heartache behind Aftersun. Wells father died when she was 16. He lived in London for the most part when I was a kid. I spent a lot of time with him. He would come up a lot, Wells says, brightening with his memory. He was really loving and ambitious and super creative and probably had some ambition that I be a filmmaker, which is something that occurred to me only recently. I hate to think that I fulfilled some idea of what a parent wanted for me. My goal was to do the opposite. Wells has sometimes spoken obliquely about the personal roots of Aftersun, describing it as emotionally autobiographical. But many details of the film have profound connections with her life. Sophie plays at times with a Mini-DV camera. Wells father gave her the same kind of camera as a teenager. I was always preoccupied with keeping a record of things visually, Wells says, describing how she shot friends and parties, including a last-day-of-school celebration before reluctantly changing schools. I recorded everybody and everything. It really froze that moment in time in a way that I felt like I could still slide back into it. In writing Aftersun, she played back old Mini-DV tapes that her father shot of her, sometimes drawing dialogue from the footage. The tapes prompted reflection about how memory and film intertwine. Theres a one-hour tape that I received well past being a teenager, says Wells. Its a game of chess between us and his friend and everyones head is cut off. Its just torsos. Its like the cruelest joke that only I can find funny. Its such a strange record to have and definitely had some impact on the film." Her father, Wells says, exposed her to a lot of art, music and film sometimes to stuff that was much cooler and more interesting than I was ready for, said Wells. It laid a foundation so that when I was ready on my own terms, I could find it. My mom would joke that his head was above the clouds and her feet were more firmly planted on the ground, Wells adds. In a lot of ways, Im some combination of them that I appreciate. My feet are on the ground and my head is above the clouds." She laughs. "Im just really tall." Wells film education continued at New York University where she made several shorts. Even in her student films you can see an uncommon balance of subtlety and revelation. In Wells films, theres often a surface reality and a hidden, more painful one. In Laps, which was inspired by a similar experience Wells had on the subway on her way to NYU, a young woman is sexually assaulted on a crowded train where no one notices or, at least, no one seems to notice. I think Laps is the least oblique, she says of the short, a prize-winner at Sundance and SXSW in 2017. If you miss whats going on, I really think you dont want to see whats going on. To Romanski, Aftersun may be a step up into features, but theres nothing first film about it. Theres a deep belief that if someone like Charlotte does what theyve already demonstrated in 10 minutes what theyre capable of over 90 minutes and if we do our job as producers then you can arrive at a place like Aftersun, says Romanski. Making it, though, meant toiling over every detail, carefully sculpting the film's precise but organic flow. I wrote so many openings and so many endings, Wells sighs. Jenkins, himself a maker of richly vivid, lyrical films that compress present and past, was intimately involved in the process. He estimates that through the edit, hes seen the film 12 to 15 times. There were times Id watch the damn film four times in a week, says Jenkins. Youd have to watch it how these small moves make these massive ripples. Aftersun has made its own waves playing on the festival circuit around the globe, including the New York Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival. Wells, who started out making movies as an exercise for myself has been surprised by how much Aftersun has resonated with others. Adele likes to remind me: See, you would have been happy if only one person got your film, Wells says, smiling. But it has been nice, Ill admit, that more than one person has responded to this film, and that the ratio has been flipped a little. I dont know why." But Im glad I never thought about what would happen when the credits rolled, until they rolled. ___ Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP Troops in the Department of the Air Force can now access the same resources to deal with sexual harassment as they would for sexual assault under a recent policy change. Airmen and Space Force guardians who are sexually harassed can file a confidential report to their local Sexual Assault Prevention and Response office to get support from a victim advocate or response coordinator. The move brings sexual assault and harassment reporting under one roof as part of a broader slate of reforms to help victims. Sexual harassment does not reflect who we are as an organization and has no place in the military, said Brig. Gen. Debra Lovette, head of the Air Forces personal and professional resilience initiatives. For service members victimized by this harmful behavior, it can be crippling, preventing them from coming forward out of fear of further harassment or the perceived lack of support from their leaders or coworkers. Reported sexual assaults across US military increase by 13% Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, quid pro quos and other actions or comments that make someone uncomfortable can constitute harassment. Previously, sexual harassment complaints were handled through Equal Opportunity offices. But separating those reports from formal sexual assault allegations limited the help victims could receive, and complicated the process of punishing perpetrators. The policy was revised following recommendations from an independent panel tasked with studying how the Pentagon addresses sexual misconduct, as well as legal changes enacted in the fiscal 2022 National Defense Authorization Act. The update took effect Sept. 30. Service members may choose to make an unrestricted report with the SAPR program to receive victim advocacy services such as crisis intervention, safety assessments and counseling referrals, the Air Force said. They may also file a separate military equal opportunity complaint through the EO office. Story continues The EO program will continue processing and tracking those harassment complaints as well, the Air Force said. Military sexual assault victims could get back benefits under plan Troops can file sexual harassment complaints that are restricted, meaning the details are kept confidential, or unrestricted. Both options let troops describe their experiences to sexual assault response coordinators or victim advocates and get help. Unrestricted reports trigger investigations into the allegations; restricted reports do not. Sexual assault prevention and response staffers also cannot notify the service members commander or their local EO office about a restricted report without their written consent or in cases of clear and present danger to their health and safety. However, when the victim reports the crime to someone in the chain of command, a restricted report is no longer an option, the Pentagons SAPR office noted. Nearly one-third of active duty female troops reported being sexually harassed in 2021, up from 24% in 2018, the Pentagon reported in August. The percentage of active duty men who said they were sexually harassed about 7% remained the same in that time frame. Military sexual assault reform is slow going, but that's the plan The number of sexual harassment reports also rose from about 1,800 in 2020 to 3,200 in 2021, the Pentagon said. Most service members identified the alleged offenders as men in their unit who are the same rank as the victim, the Pentagon said. However, nearly one-quarter of women (24 percent) and 19 percent of men identified at least one alleged offender as someone in their chain of command. Of the people who reported being harassed or assaulted, about 40% of women and nearly one-third of men were sexually harassed and assaulted by the same alleged offender, DOD added. And of those, 8% of women and 5% of men reported harassment prior to an assault. The odds of experiencing sexual assault increase threefold for women and tenfold for men who also indicated experiencing sexual harassment in the past year, DOD added. Alex Jones. Illustrated | Getty Images Alex Jones is likely the most visible and well-known conspiracy theorist in the United States, and his self-founded, alt-right platform InfoWars has become a bastion for a number of debunked myths and bizarre plots. Jones' luck finally ran out last week, though, when he was ordered during a defamation trial to pay $965 million to families of the victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting, which Jones has previously referred to as a fake "drill" perpetrated by crisis actors. During the trial, Jones eventually admitted to understanding the massacre was "100 percent real," but by then he had been promoting Sandy Hook as a false flag operation for years on InfoWars. As a result, this conspiracy theory was propagated to a massive audience, as InfoWars reportedly had a larger audience than mainstream publications such as Newsweek and The Economist. With Jones now financially liable for his rhetoric on Sandy Hook, many believe he should be held responsible for the spread of other misinformation, too, given the reach of his platform and the fact that his baseless claims often receive significant media attention. However, others believe the spread of misinformation has been a wider problem for years, and say it's unfair to simply blame Jones for the rise in conspiratorial thinking. Just how much lasting damage has Jones caused, and how culpable is he for the spread of misinformation? Alex Jones brought conspiracy theories into the mainstream Alex Jones is directly responsible for bringing conspiracy theories out of the fringes over the past decade due to InfoWars' massive following, many argue. "As his audience grew, Jones popularized a vocabulary for pernicious doubt: not just that officials and media are hiding the truth, but that tragic events are being engineered for nefarious purposes," Shannon Bond wrote for NPR. Beyond this, Jones' lies about Sandy Hook "created a template to cast doubt on subsequent mass shootings," and these lies had "real-world consequences" for the victim's families, many of whom testified about death threats and instances of harassment. Story continues Some may find it hard to understand how so many people could believe in these debunked conspiracies, but Sarah Mullins wrote an op-ed for NBC News describing how her mother began to have her beliefs twisted by Jones' rhetoric. "Alex Jones sold my mother a pair of glasses, a lens into the world," she wrote. "But through them, the world doesn't look dirty it is black and white. For her, the glasses reveal order within chaos, a world where no violence is random. When she's looking through them, she's on the right side of an epic battle between truth and lies." This leaves the future of American misinformation looking grim, per Mullins: "[My mother], and the millions of other everyday Americans like her, will never take [their glasses] off." The Alex Jones case will not stop the spread of misinformation Even as Jones is now required to pay nearly $1 billion in restitutions, misinformation may now be too ingrained in American society to ever take a backseat again. "The verdict against [Jones] is unlikely to put much of a dent in the phenomenon he represents: Belligerent fabulists building profitable media empires with easily disprovable lies," said Kevin Roose in The New York Times. Even as mainstream platforms like Facebook and Twitter have banned Jones, his reach is still massive. "Jones still appears as a guest on popular podcasts and YouTube shows, and millions of Americans still look to him as, if not a reliable chronicler of current events, at least a wacky diversion," Roose added. "But a bigger reason for caution is that, whether or not Mr. Jones remains personally enriched by his lies, his shtick is everywhere these days." Roose noted the influence of the provocateur in right-wing media and at the highest levels of power, even in Congress. "You can see and hear Jones' influence on Capitol Hill, where attention-seeking Republican politicians often sound like they're auditioning for slots on Infowars," he wrote. Roose pointed to Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene (R-Ga.), who claimed the slate of recent mass shootings in the U.S. could be a plot to get GOP politicians to support gun control, something Jones said extensively about Sandy Hook. Alex Jones is not only to blame, and conspiracies go far beyond him Jones is simply one symptom of a larger problem, others argue, and any issues arising from conspiracies can't solely be placed on his shoulders. In fact, Jones could even be considered a proponent of free speech. In The Arizona Republic, EJ Montini wrote about Arizona state Sen. Wendy Rogers (R), who defended Jones online following a separate defamation lawsuit and tweeted that he "should be able to criticize the official story whenever he wants." Rogers also said she hoped Jones appealed the verdict, and that his actions and words should be covered under the First Amendment. Some of Jones' claims have also been spread as a result of mainstream media outlets giving their proponents loud voices. This includes people like Jerome Corsi, the D.C. bureau chief for InfoWars, who had an op-ed published in USA Today in which he argued for arming teachers and staff as a way to prevent school shootings. CNN's Oliver Darcy said it was "surprising the third largest U.S. newspaper by circulation would lend its platform to someone as radical as him," and noted that USA Today has a daily readership of more than three million, helping to dramatically increase the number of eyes landing on conspiratorial news. Alex Jones will be a cautionary tale to conspiracy theorists Jones' financial punishment may be the beginning of a reckoning for others who spread misinformation. For the families of the Sandy Hook victims, the hope is "that they will be able to establish that conspiracy profiteering off the tragedy of others is not an acceptable business model," the editorial board of The Washington Post wrote in an op-ed. "Let's hope that others in this age of increasing misinformation get that message." There have also been calls for lawmakers to step into the picture. After the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Matt Rosoff opined for CNBC that social media companies should be held liable for misinformation spread on their platforms. "Congress should pass ... legislation saying that social media networks can be held liable for damage caused by incitements to violence and libelous false information shared on their platforms," Rosoff wrote. "The health of American democracy is more important than allowing these companies and their shareholders to continue to profit from allowing propagandists to spread lies and groups to organize violent actions on their platforms," he wrote. You may also like Special Counsel John Durham's final case goes to the jury after a series of prosecutorial setbacks Missy Elliott honored in her Virginia hometown of Portsmouth, receives key to the city Why Russia losing everywhere else in Ukraine is still trying to capture Bakhmut A Model X and Glenn Howerton. The car in the picture is not Howerton's. It's unclear which model the actor owns. Getty Glenn Howerton said his Tesla was stuck in a parking garage for over 24 hours after his key fob broke. The actor described a frustrating experience where Tesla support failed to help him start the car. It's unclear how much of the issue was user error versus an issue with the Tesla. The "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" and "A.P. Bio" star Glenn Howerton described in a podcast Monday a frustrating experience where his Tesla was stuck in a parking garage for over 24 hours. Howerton told his costars on "The Always Sunny Podcast" that he was locked out of his Tesla on Friday night after his key fob broke. The actor said he was also unable to connect to WiFi on the bottom floor of a Los Angeles parking garage to use the electric-car maker's app for accessing the vehicle a fail-safe against issues with the key fob. On its website, Tesla says that for its Model X, "your phone and vehicle must both be actively connected to cellular service to allow the mobile app to communicate with your vehicle." "Tesla recommends that you always have a functional physical key readily available if parking in an area with limited or absent cellular service, such as an indoor parking garage," the site adds. Tesla introduced its keyless-entry system in 2017, and other carmakers have followed suit, using Bluetooth technology to allow for keyless entry. Unlike other automakers, though, Tesla does not supply drivers with a traditional key that can be inserted into the vehicle, but the carmaker can give owners more than one key fob. It's unclear which Tesla model Howerton owns. Newer Tesla models do not require internet connectivity to use the app to open and start the car. The newer vehicles also come with key cards. Over the past few years, Tesla has also begun supplying drivers with backup key cards that can be used to get into their cars and start them. It's unclear how much of the issue was user error versus an issue with the Tesla. Howerton said he didn't discover until the next day he could unlock the car by putting the key fob on a designated area on the vehicle. Story continues "It sent me into a rage," said Howerton, who has joked on the podcast about his strong response to frustrating situations. He added that there was a point in the ordeal where all he could do was scream. "Every step of the way throughout this journey, every single thing that could go wrong went wrong," he added. Spokespeople for Howerton and Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider. AP/Carlos Osorio Howerton said he was forced to leave the car at the parking garage overnight after replacing the battery for the key failed to fix the issue. The next morning, after studying the issue, he was able to get into the car by placing the fob on a designated area on the vehicle, he said, but was still unable to start the car because the key fob was having difficulty "talking to the car." The actor said his early attempts to tow the car were foiled because of the low ceiling in the garage and because he was unable to put the car in Transport Mode, something Tesla requires to avoid "significant damage and overheating" and, in some cases, a fire, Tesla's Model 3 owner's manual says. A struggle to get Tesla support on the phone For over eight hours on Saturday, Howerton said he camped out at the parking garage while trying to fix the issue. He said he found it nearly impossible to get in contact with Tesla's support teams. "I had a very difficult time getting through to any of these people," Howerton said, adding that he couldn't get in contact with Tesla's roadside-assistance and vehicle-support teams. In a last-ditch effort to get in contact with Tesla support, he said he decided to call Tesla's sales department, thinking a salesperson would at least pick up the phone. It worked, and he started "lacing into" a member of the company's sales team. "I was like, 'You guys lost a customer today. I've been a Tesla customer for 10 years,'" he said. The actor said he was then "tossed" back and forth between two Tesla departments as he attempted to troubleshoot the issue. "We'd get to the end of the call, and they'd go: 'I guess there's nothing we can do,'" Howerton told his castmates. "And I was like: 'What do you mean there's nothing you can do?'" Howerton, who said he eventually made peace with the ridiculous situation, said it wasn't technology or Tesla support staff that resolved the issue it was old-fashioned human ingenuity. With the help of the parking-garage staff, he said he eventually found a tow truck that was small enough to get into the garage and could jack the car up so that its wheels wouldn't have to touch the ground. Since then, he said the key fob had yet to be fixed and he'd driven the car relying solely on Tesla's app meaning he had to be extra careful to avoid garages or any parking zones without WiFi. The actor's account is far from unheard of. Earlier this year, a Tesla owner told Insider he was locked out of his electric car after the battery died an issue that he said would cost over $20,000 to fix. In August, Vox reported that owners had filed thousands of complaints against Tesla's service centers. Last year, Insider reported that drivers were saying on social media that they were having issues with their brand-new Teslas, including poor paint jobs and misaligned car panels. Read the original article on Business Insider U.S. officials have been warning travelers as of late to stay alert while vacationing in Mexico. Recently one traveler had to find out the hard way. As he was kidnapped and left bleeding from the left side of his body due to getting hacked with a machete on his way home from Cancun. Photo Credit: Alexander Schimmeck What happened? Recently one of the attorney generals of Mexico launched an investigation into an alleged kidnapping. A dad from Utah came to Cancun with his wife for Valentines Day and was attacked with a machete. 36-year-old contractor, Dustan Jackson of Salt Lake City wanted to pick up some chewing tobacco before his flight home from Cancun. He called a cab and pulled up to the grocery store and once he got out, he was knocked unconscious. He didnt wake up until sundown, with broken teeth, a welt on his head, and machete wounds on the left side of his body. He also realized his cell phone and credit cards were gone. Jackson spent hours bleeding before authorities found him and drove him to the airport. Barely any medical attention? Photo Credit: Towfiqu Barbhuiya She put a few bandages on me; why didnt she take me to the hospital, I dont know, he said. Some of the horror stories Ive heard, Im glad that [she] didnt because I could have been stuck down there. Who knows? Upon arrival at the airport, Jackson asked strangers for help until he came across someone who spoke English. The person helped with a call to his wife and set him up in a hotel overnight. No record of the attack The authorities in Cancun have no record of the attack on Jackson or of any interactions with the victim according to Fox News Digital. Fortunately, prosecutors have decided to launch an investigation. An official from the State Department also made a statement that the U.S. government is aware of the case and is prepared to lend a hand. The state of Quintana Roo includes tourist destinations such as Cancun, Tulum, Cozumel, and Playa del Carmen. All these locations are far from where crime occurs but the State Department is still asking Americans to practice and exercise increased caution. Always a treat Criminal activity and violence may occur in any location, at any time, including in popular tourist destinations, the State Department warns. Travelers should maintain a high level of situational awareness, avoid areas where illicit activities occur, and promptly depart from potentially dangerous situations. U.S. citizens and [lawful permanent residents] have been victims of kidnapping. By Lananh Nguyen and Saeed Azhar NEW YORK (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Group Inc's strategy pivot has solved one problem for investors who didn't love its foray into consumer banking. Still, Wall Street is yet to be convinced if the broader reorganization will create long term benefits. In its biggest management reshuffle in years, the Wall Street giant merged its traditional mainstays -- trading and investment banking -- and joined its asset-management and wealth management arms. A new unit focusing on financial technology products, dubbed Platform Solutions, will make up its third operating segment. However, Goldman said it was pulling back some of its consumer ambitions and its money-losing digital banking unit Marcus was placed under the wealth business. "The reorganization itself is just about geography on the income statement," David Fanger, a senior vice president at Moody's Investors Service, told Reuters. "It remains to be seen whether or not this actually results in greater synergies, greater focus." In a call discussing the bank's third-quarter earnings Tuesday, Goldman's Chief Executive Officer David Solomon took multiple questions about the new structure. Christian Bolu of Autonomous Research asked what the reorganisation meant "practically for the businesses", while Mike Mayo of Wells Fargo asked Solomon to explain how the new platform solutions unit fits into the firm's strategy. Brennan Hawken of UBS AG said: "I just want to try and understand strategically what the new direction is." Solomon's response: Goldman Sachs is focusing on its fundamental operations while maintaining its financial targets. "The changes will further the strength in our core businesses, accelerate our ability to scale the growth platforms and improve efficiency," Solomon told analysts. "We are making a purposeful shift," he said. Goldman shares closed 2.3% higher. Story continues Graphic: Price-to-book value of big U.S. banks - https://graphics.reuters.com/GOLDMAN%20SACHS-VALUATION/znvneyyrgpl/7yqWh-price-to-book-value-of-big-u-s-banks%20(2).png "It makes sense" to reorganize the units in a way that's similar to Goldman's competitors, Hawken later told Reuters, adding, "I don't think anyone was upset about them pulling back" from the consumer business. Still, Hawken said Goldman could be fielding questions from investors about whether the rest of the strategies are iron-clad "or is there a risk there could be further adjustments." Bolu at Autonomous also said while the consumer part of the strategy "makes sense" the advantages of the broader reorganization are yet to become clear. "Ultimately the investment banking business is a great business, it has always done well," he said. "The markets business has improved markedly." His question to Solomon was focused on what would change on a day to-day basis, Bolu said, and that's "almost to be decided." TRADITIONAL STRENGTHS The company's new strategy shows a lean into its traditional strengths of trading and investment banking and shifting away from Marcus, a business that was always viewed skeptically by Wall Street, said Michael Farr of Farr Miller & Washington LLC. "This is a clear effort to reduce attention to and deemphasize the push into consumer banking," said Farr, an investor whose company held about $45 million worth of Goldman Sachs shares, according to its most recent filings. Senior executives who sit atop the storied firm will run the merged units, including Marc Nachmann, who will lead the asset and wealth management arm. The combined investment banking and trading group will be led by Dan Dees, Jim Esposito and Ashok Varadhan. "It's the same people working together," Solomon told Reuters. "People are on board for this," he said, adding the company has a "deep bench" of talent. Observers said that moving Marcus under wealth management was a strong signal that the Wall Street heavyweight was stepping back from Main Street. Goldman had aimed to woo mass market customers. It struggled to gain traction or introduce a checking account, and the business lost money. "Marcus was a very long shot," said Fanger at Moody's about the unit's potential as a mass-market digital bank. "I don't see much significant change in the current strategy other than this one pivot." The pullback reflects the challenges of competing against incumbent Main Street lenders, said Mark Narron, senior director at Fitch Ratings. "While the consumer strategy has been successful in generating deposits for Goldman Sachs, its expansion has also been costly in terms of operating expenses and provisions. A pullback in consumer ambitions plays to Goldman's proven strengths." Meanwhile, the new structure demonstrates Goldman's flexibility and ability to adapt to market conditions, said Guido Petrelli, founder and chief executive officer of Merlin Investor. "As shall happen with any company during rough times, there is the need for restructuring and identifying synergies within the organization with the ultimate goal to cut costs and limit losses," Petrelli said. (Reporting by Lananh Nguyen, Saeed Azhar in New York, additional reporting from Ira Iosebashvili, Davide Barbuscia and Megan Davies in New York and Mehnaz Yasmin in Bengaluru; editing by Megan Davies and Richard Pullin) Andy Farrells side will return to action at Aviva Stadium having climbed to the top of the world rankings (Donall Farmer/PA) (PA Archive) Ireland have included six uncapped players in a 37-man squad for the autumn internationals against world champions South Africa, Fiji and Australia at Aviva Stadium. Andy Farrells side will return to action having climbed to the top of the world rankings following a stunning 2-1 Test series win in New Zealand during the summer. Ireland will tackle the Springboks for the first time in six years on Saturday, November 5, while Fiji head to Dublin for the first time since 2017 a week later ahead of the final game of the Bank of Ireland Nations Series against Australia on November 19. Introducing your Ireland squad for the upcoming @bankofireland Nations Series at Aviva Stadium! Head Coach Andy Farrell has also named an additional panel of players for the Ireland 'A' fixture against the All Blacks XV #TeamOfUs | #IrishRugby Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) October 19, 2022 Captained by Johnny Sexton, Ireland will have six players looking to make their senior international debuts as Ciaran Frawley, Jeremy Loughman, Joe McCarthy, Calvin Nash, Jimmy OBrien and Cian Prendergast all received call-ups. Ulster wing Jacob Stockdale returns following a lengthy injury lay-off, his last cap coming during the summer of 2021, while Leinsters James Lowe misses out because of a calf problem. An additional panel of players has been named for the Ireland A fixture against an All Blacks XV, which takes place at the RDS Arena on November 4. | Johnny Sexton has been named as @IrishRugby captain for the upcoming @bankofireland Nations Series. The uncapped trio of Ciaran Frawley, Joe McCarthy and Jimmy O'Brien have also been included. Read the full story https://t.co/MnCW2btump#FromTheGroundUp pic.twitter.com/SmdB0T6ckl Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) October 19, 2022 The group includes Tom Ahern, Diarmuid Barron, Jack Crowley, Shane Daly, Max Deegan, Jamie Osborne, Scott Penny and Roman Salanoa from the Emerging Ireland squad as well as experienced front-row forwards Dave Kilcoyne and Marty Moore. Story continues Ireland squad: Backs Robert Baloucoune (Ulster), Joey Carbery (Munster), Craig Casey (Munster), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster), Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster), Mack Hansen (Connacht), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), Hugo Keenan (Leinster), Michael Lowry (Ulster), Conor Murray (Munster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Calvin Nash (Munster), Jimmy OBrien (Leinster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Johnny Sexton (Leinster, capt), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster) Forwards Ryan Baird (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Gavin Coombes (Munster), Caelan Doris (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Dave Heffernan (Connacht), Cian Healy (Leinster), Rob Herring (Ulster), Jeremy Loughman (Munster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Peter OMahony (Munster), Tom OToole (Ulster), Andrew Porter (Leinster), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), James Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Kieran Treadwell (Ulster), Josh Van Der Flier (Leinster) VALENTYNA ROMANENKO WEDNESDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2022, 14:34 Anti-aircraft defence was activated in Kyiv Oblast. In addition, the Russians are attacking Vinnytsia Oblast using rockets and explosions have rocked Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. Source: Oleksii Kuleba, Head of Kyiv Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram; Serhii Borzov, Head of Vinnytsia Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram; Suspilne [Ukrainian broadcast company] Quote: "Residents of Kyiv Oblast! The air-raid siren continues! Do not ignore it, stay in the shelter! The air defence system was activated in the oblast. Take care of yourself and be responsible." Details: Borzov reported that Vinnytsia Oblast is under rocket attack. "The military is working! Stay in shelters!", he added. Suspilne correspondents reported that there were explosions in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. An air-raid siren is sounding throughout Ukraine (except in temporarily occupied Crimea). Ukrainska Pravda reported that the Russians are attacking energy facilities. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! As an investor its worth striving to ensure your overall portfolio beats the market average. But in any portfolio, there are likely to be some stocks that fall short of that benchmark. We regret to report that long term Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. (NYSE:ARI) shareholders have had that experience, with the share price dropping 50% in three years, versus a market return of about 30%. And more recent buyers are having a tough time too, with a drop of 38% in the last year. The falls have accelerated recently, with the share price down 16% in the last three months. On a more encouraging note the company has added US$87m to its market cap in just the last 7 days, so let's see if we can determine what's driven the three-year loss for shareholders. Check out our latest analysis for Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS). Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance saw its EPS decline at a compound rate of 9.1% per year, over the last three years. The share price decline of 21% is actually steeper than the EPS slippage. So it's likely that the EPS decline has disappointed the market, leaving investors hesitant to buy. The less favorable sentiment is reflected in its current P/E ratio of 7.96. The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). We're pleased to report that the CEO is remunerated more modestly than most CEOs at similarly capitalized companies. It's always worth keeping an eye on CEO pay, but a more important question is whether the company will grow earnings throughout the years. Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here.. Story continues What About Dividends? When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. In the case of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, it has a TSR of -28% for the last 3 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! A Different Perspective We regret to report that Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance shareholders are down 30% for the year (even including dividends). Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 23%. However, it could simply be that the share price has been impacted by broader market jitters. It might be worth keeping an eye on the fundamentals, in case there's a good opportunity. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 1.7% over the last half decade. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies we expect will grow earnings. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on US exchanges. 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 The online application for federal student debt forgiveness is now live, meaning the more than 560,000 Kentuckians eligible can now apply for relief. But as millions of borrowers seek debt relief, state and federal leaders are warning them to be alert for potential scams that could dupe them into giving their personal information through spoofed websites or to phony government representatives. Heres what to know about the application process, how you make sure youre not falling prey to a scammer and what student debt relief will generally mean for Kentucky borrowers. The Herald-Leader also wants to know what specific questions you want answered, let us know using this form. Kentucky attorney general warns of student loan scams Monday, as the online application went live, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron issued a consumer alert warning borrowers to be on their guard against potential scams. In light of the beta testing rollout of the federal student loan debt relief application, Kentuckians should watch out for scammers posing as the Department of Education or a loan provider, Cameron said in a news release sent by his office. In these schemes, the scammer may offer help and ask the consumer to complete a fake debt relief application, which allows the scammer to access their personal funds or personally identifiable information that could be used for identity theft, he continued. Scammers may contact borrowers claiming, for example, to be affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or a loan servicing provider and offer specialized repayment plans, access to quicker loan forgiveness or assistance with filling out the application, the office warned. You might be directed to complete a fake debt relief application or confirm your personal loan information. A dead giveaway is if the application includes direct deposit or power of attorney forms that allow scammers direct access to your bank account. In these schemes, scammers may also collect personal information to carry out identity theft. Story continues Camerons office issued the following tips for borrowers: Never pay anyone to help you apply for loan forgiveness. Nobody can get your loans forgiven faster, even if you pay them. Never give unsolicited callers or emailers your student aid identification information, social security number, date of birth or credit card information. Be suspicious of unsolicited calls or emails from anyone claiming to be affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education. If youre not sure the offer is legit, hang up and contact your federal student loan servicer directly. A screenshot warning from the U.S. Department of Educations federal student loan relief application that warns of scammers. How to apply for student debt relief You can find the beta application online at studentaid.gov. The government website allows eligible Americans to apply for up to $20,000 in student debt forgiveness. Those who earn less than $125,000 as individual filers or less than $250,000 as a family qualify for $10,000 in loan forgiveness. If you received a need-based federal Pell Grant in college, that forgiveness amount is up to $20,000. The application itself is available in English and Spanish and prompts borrowers to submit their first and last name, social security number, date of birth and contact information. Borrowers submit basic identifying information and then verify they are the individual named in the application, provide proof of income and affirm they meet the income requirements. Once complete, youll get confirmation email that your application has been successfully submitted. The Department of Education will review your application, determine if you qualify for relief and work directly with your loan servicer to process it. Unless you hear back from the U.S. Department of Education or your loan servicer, you dont have to take any other action, the application reads. The confirmation applicants receive when their application for student loan relief has been submitted. That said, the department may follow up with you if it requires additional information to process your application. If it does, it will contact you via email, possibly to ask for the following information: Additional information documentation to verify your income If you were enrolled as a dependent student anytime between July 1, 2021, and Jun 30, 2022. In that case, the department will request additional information about your parents income The department cannot match you to the loan records it has based on the information you provided through your application If youve been approved for relief, youll be notified this has occurred and your loan servicer has been told to process your loan forgiveness. Your loan servicer will notify you when your debt relief has been applied and will share any additional information, such as updates to your outstanding loan balance and updated monthly payment amount (if you still have a balance), per the online application. If you submitted your application during the soft launch beta period over the weekend, you wont need to resubmit, according to CBS News. Unlike some other states, Kentucky wont tax the forgiven student debt. Student loan borrowers have until Dec. 31, 2023, to apply. What does this mean for Kentuckys student loan borrowers? In Kentucky, more than half a million borrowers are eligible for student debt relief and as many as 209,400 state residents could see their loans forgiven entirely, a 2021 study from the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy determined. Not all of them are millennials in their 30s, according to a sampling of borrowers who previously told the Herald-Leader what they plan to do after forgiveness. I have student loans that will outlive me (Im 63 now), Vickie Naylor wrote in response to a a previous poll. It will be such a relief to get out from under this never-ending burden! Ashley Spalding, who directs research for the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, described the opening of the application Monday as a big day for hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians, who can now apply for life-changing debt cancellation. Student debt cancellation will relieve enormous financial stress facing families in Kentucky, where Black students are more likely to have debt than white students and many with student loan debt have few economic resources with which to pay them back. While this policy doesnt solve the problem, its a good first step that will help many whose lives and economic choices suffer under the weight of student debt, Spalding said in a KCEP release. Do you have a question about Kentucky for our service journalism team? Wed like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com. (Reuters) - A group of U.S. state attorneys general including from Arizona and Texas have sent civil investigative demands to the country's six biggest banks, alleging their environmental, social, and governance-related (ESG) practices hurt the American energy industry. Republican-led states have ramped up attacks on what they view as a woke bias at financial companies. Asset manager BlackRock Inc and investment research firm Morningstar Inc have also been targeted in recent months. The attorneys general are seeking documents from the banks about their involvement with the United Nations' Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA), according to their statements on Wednesday. The NZBA is a group of banks "committed to aligning their lending and investment portfolios with net-zero emissions by 2050," according to the U.N. website. The investigation is targeting JPMorgan Chase & Co, Goldman Sachs Group Inc, Bank of America Corp, Citigroup Inc, Wells Fargo & Co and Morgan Stanley. "American banks should never put political agendas ahead of the secure retirement of their clients," Arizona AG Mark Brnovich said in a statement. "The last thing Americans need right now are corporate activists helping the left bankrupt our fossil fuel industry," Texas AG Ken Paxton said, adding that the banks practices potentially violate consumer protection laws. JPMorgan declined to comment, while the other five banks did not immediately respond to requests for comment. (Reporting by Niket Nishant in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber) Republican Rep. Michael Waltz (Fla.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said the majority of the Republican caucus supports U.S. assistance to Ukraine amid concerns that a GOP-controlled House following the November elections may push back on billions of dollars of military and economic aid provided to Kyiv. I think the vast majority of the conference realizes that we either pay now or pay later, that Russian President Vladimir Putin fully intends, if he takes Ukraine, to move on to NATO-allied countries like the Baltics, and Poland and Finland, he told The Hill in a phone interview Tuesday. Waltzs comments follow remarks from House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) that House Republicans will not write a blank check for Ukraine if they take control of the lower chamber of Congress after the midterm elections. Waltz, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan and the first Green Beret elected to Congress, said GOP criticism of assistance to Ukraine stems from a failure by the Biden administration to answer calls for strict oversight. The issue is, and this is where members are raising concern, is we have no oversight of where this aid is going and exactly how its being used, said Waltz, who stressed he supports oversight to follow the effectiveness of the assistance when pressed if he thinks the military and economic assistance is being misused. Its not that its being misused, but this is all new equipment and new systems, how is the maintenance going? How is the logistics being handled? Are many of these systems breaking down? Its about using it effectively. Its a lot of money, a lot of support. The U.S. has provided an estimated $18.3 billion in military assistance to Ukraine and about $10 billion in economic and humanitarian assistance that is credited as key in helping push back Russian forces and keep Ukraine functioning amid eight months of war. But Republicans are increasingly facing turmoil within their ranks between those who argue full-throated support for Ukraine albeit with oversight and a small, but provocative group that have their base in former President Trumps Make America Great Again movement that promotes an isolationist foreign policy. Story continues Even among the partys mainstream conservatives, who say they support sending more military aid to Ukraine, skepticism is building over nonmilitary economic and humanitarian assistance. Influential outside groups like Heritage Action, the advocacy arm of the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation, lobbied against a $40 billion aid package in May. Waltz traveled to Ukraine in July and met there with President Volodymyr Zelensky, who he said welcomed transparency in monitoring U.S. assistance. That aid is expected to grow as Russia has stepped up its attacks on Ukraine in recent days killing civilians and destroying infrastructure in the capital and across the country. The Russian assault has come in response to pressure on Putin over embarrassing military defeats and as the Ukrainian armed forces have routed the Russian military from key territorial areas. Republicans scrutiny of U.S. assistance to Ukraine is expected to be only part of a long list of GOP criticism of the Biden administration in the areas of national security and foreign policy. Top of mind for lawmakers is the August, 2021, withdrawal from Afghanistan and collapse of the Western-backed government in Kabul and takeover by the Taliban. The withdrawal was widely recognized as a chaotic end after a more than $2 trillion investment in the country, on top of thousands of casualties among U.S. service members, allied troops and Afghans over the course of two decades. Waltz told The Hill there are conversations on the House Armed Services Committee, along with the Foreign Affairs and Intelligence panels, to establish a select committee to investigate President Bidens Afghanistan withdrawal. Lawmakers have criticized how the Biden administration handled the withdrawal, with a last-minute evacuation that airlifted more than 100,000 people out of the country, but left hundreds of Americans and thousands of Afghan partners behind. A suicide bombing in the midst of the chaos killed 13 U.S. service members. The structure of it, hasnt fully taken shape yet, because we have lots of things to investigate origin of [COVID-19], the border, [Bidens son] Hunter Biden, China, theres just a lot sadly theres a lot of competing demands of what were going to look into but, leadership has committed to drive accountability for the debacle that was that withdrawal, Waltz said. Meanwhile, the Florida Republican on Wednesday sent a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin criticizing the Pentagon for missing a March deadline to brief Congress about its efforts to catalog the operational and intelligence from Afghanistan that was collected over the past 20 years, as required under the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act. The letter, which was shared exclusively with The Hill, raises concern that al Qaeda is taking root in Afghanistan and could necessitate the return of American forces to counter a terrorist threat. In July, the Biden administration targeted and killed with a drone strike al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri at his apartment in Kabul. We must ensure the lessons learned from the two-decade conflict are not lost or misplaced. The operational and intelligence data from Afghanistan is important for a holistic understanding of the war and must be accessible if future campaigns in Afghanistan occur, Waltz wrote. In conversation with The Hill, Waltz said that an organized intelligence catalog is necessary in the event U.S. soldiers are required to go back into Afghanistan for counter terrorist threats. Where is all of the operational data of what villages we were in, who we spoke with, which tribe was with us, which tribe was against us, where were all the ambush locations, where is all of that so that that future Ranger company commander, thats having to go back because ISIS and Al Qaeda have reconstituted themselves, where is that one place where all of thats been, not just cataloged, but is usable and an interface that future American soldiers, should we have to go back, can use it, he said. The Pentagon did not return a request for comment. Emily Brooks contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Joanna Chimonides at an Asos launch party. Asos was once a darling of the stock market but its share price has plunged after the pandemic. Photo: Dave Benett/Getty Asos (ASC.L) has posted an 89% drop in 2021-22 profits and forecast a first half loss in its new financial year, as consumers cut spending during the cost of living crisis. The online fashion retailer posted a pre-tax loss of 32m ($28m) from a profit of 177m and said trading at the start of the new fiscal year had been volatile. On an adjusted basis profits fell to 22m in the 12 months to August 31 2022, in line with recently lowered guidance and down from 193.6m last year when consumers turned to online purchases during COVID lockdowns. Read more: UK homebuilder Bellway warns of slowing demand amid soaring mortgage rates The company blamed significant volatility in the macroeconomic environment but Asos is not only struggling with a tough consumer climate as it faces troubles with its own finances. The fast fashion firm has been in talks with lenders over a 350m loan deal as it strives for more flexibility in uncertain financial times. New chief executive Jose Antonio Ramos Calamonte said there was a significant need to improve the way we operate to unlock the opportunity of our global reach. In recent years, the quest for growth has resulted in ASOS becoming excessively capital intensive, too complex and overstretched globally, which has resulted in a lack of meaningful growth and scale in its key international markets of the US, France and Germany. ASOS and other online fashion retailers were early pandemic winners as locked-down consumers shopped online but they have struggled as people returned to stores. Its shares are down 90% this year. Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, said: ASOS has capped off a torrid year by swinging to a pre-tax loss as retail realities bite. Read more: FTSE 100: Mondi profits jump amid higher selling prices Although revenues increased by 1% overall, this is one of few key metrics which the company will want to remember. A pre-tax loss of 32m is far lower than the companys own estimates and compares to a profit of 177m in the previous year. Gross margin has declined from 45.4% to 43.6%, while net debt stands at 153m as compared to a net cash position of 200m a year earlier. Watch: UK fashion retailer ASOS warns of hit to sales (Reuters) - Auckland International Airport Ltd on Thursday raised its profit forecast for fiscal 2023, helped by a better-than-expected rebound in the aviation market. High aircraft load factors and continued strength in forward international seat capacity are expected to fuel the ongoing recovery, New Zealand's biggest airport operator said. Earlier this year New Zealand reopened its borders and loosened restrictions that led to one of the fewest COVID-19 case loads in the world. The country welcomed hundreds of travelers from Australia in early April for the first time since mid-2021. "We are increasingly confident that aviation is returning to normal," said Chief Executive Carrie Hurihanganui, adding that the global aviation system continues to be impacted by lack of availability of crew and ground staff. The company expects underlying profit after tax of between NZ$100 million ($56.64 million) and NZ$130 million for the year, up from NZ$50 million to NZ$100 million forecast earlier. Auckland Airport now anticipates that international passenger numbers will be between 60% and 70% of pre-pandemic levels for the year, with domestic passenger numbers at 85% to 90% of those levels. ($1 = 1.7655 New Zealand dollars) (Reporting by Harish Sridharan in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta) In newly released audio recordings from a 2020 interview, former President Donald Trump admitted he preferred world leaders the tougher and meaner they are. I like Putin. Our relationship should be a very good one. I campaigned on getting along with Russia, China and everyone else, Trump told veteran journalist Bob Woodward in a Jan. 2020 interview, according to CNN, which obtained a copy. Getting along with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing, all right? Especially because they have 1,332 nuclear fucking warheads. Its funny, the relationships I have, the tougher and meaner they are, the better I get along with them. You know? Trump added. Explain that to me someday, okay. But maybe its not a bad thing. The easy ones are the ones I maybe dont like as much or dont get along with as much. He also spoke about his relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. I get along very well with Erdogan, even though youre not supposed to because everyone says what a horrible guy, Trump said. But you know for me it works out good. Trump routinely touted his good relationship with authoritarian leaders throughout his presidency, while alienating allies such as Canada, France and Germany. Woodward is releasing the tapes from 20 interviews he conducted with Trump from 2016 to 2020 as a new audiobook, titled The Trump Tapes. CNN released excerpts from the audiobook after obtaining an advance copy. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... Australian Vintage Ltd (ASX:AVG) has announced that it will be increasing its periodic dividend on the 16th of December to A$0.034, which will be 26% higher than last year's comparable payment amount of A$0.027. This takes the dividend yield to 5.3%, which shareholders will be pleased with. Check out our latest analysis for Australian Vintage Australian Vintage's Payment Has Solid Earnings Coverage If the payments aren't sustainable, a high yield for a few years won't matter that much. Prior to this announcement, Australian Vintage's dividend was only 50% of earnings, however it was paying out 190% of free cash flows. While the company may be more focused on returning cash to shareholders than growing the business at this time, we think that a cash payout ratio this high might expose the dividend to being cut if the business ran into some challenges. Looking forward, earnings per share is forecast to rise by 36.3% over the next year. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we think the payout ratio could be 43% by next year, which is in a pretty sustainable range. Dividend Volatility The company has a long dividend track record, but it doesn't look great with cuts in the past. The dividend has gone from an annual total of A$0.0289 in 2012 to the most recent total annual payment of A$0.034. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 1.6% over that duration. Modest growth in the dividend is good to see, but we think this is offset by historical cuts to the payments. It is hard to live on a dividend income if the company's earnings are not consistent. The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to evaluate if earnings per share is growing, which could point to a growing dividend in the future. It's encouraging to see that Australian Vintage has been growing its earnings per share at 28% a year over the past five years. The company doesn't have any problems growing, despite returning a lot of capital to shareholders, which is a very nice combination for a dividend stock to have. Story continues In Summary Overall, we always like to see the dividend being raised, but we don't think Australian Vintage will make a great income stock. While the low payout ratio is redeeming feature, this is offset by the minimal cash to cover the payments. This company is not in the top tier of income providing stocks. Market movements attest to how highly valued a consistent dividend policy is compared to one which is more unpredictable. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. For example, we've picked out 1 warning sign for Australian Vintage that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of high yield dividend stocks. 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 A Silver Alert was canceled Wednesday morning for a couple reported missing from a home in Cabarrus County. Authorities said Lillie Mclain Wilson, 72, and Merlin Conrad Wilson Jr, 76, were last seen on Troutman Road in Midland. Both are believed to have dementia or other cognitive disabilities, investigators said. ALSO READ: Silver Alert issued for woman, 74, reported missing from Statesville Cabarrus County dispatchers confirmed to Channel 9 the two are a married couple. At 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, the Silver Alert was canceled. Authorities were not able to provide any further information. A photo of the couple was not made available. (WATCH BELOW: Cabarrus County Schools increases focus on students mental health after pandemic) Oct. 18DICKINSON While burning isn't outright banned in southwest North Dakota, a common occurance on the Western Edge, the current fire danger rating of moderate is present throughout much of the state. Officials are warning residents to wait for moisture before lighting a fire. Sarah Duttenhefner, Dunn County emergency manager, said residents should be especially cautious with large fires, such as garbage pits. "It might be better to wait until after the snow flies," Duttenhefner said. "There might be better opportunities later for those types of fires." As of Tuesday, Stark, Dunn, Slope, Hettinger, Bowman and Adams Counties had a fire safety rating of moderate, according to the ND Response website. When in the moderate category, those planning a fire are strongly advised to monitor it, contain it in a fire ring or remove organic material from the immediate area and have basic hand tools available for quick response, according to the website. Taylor Rural Fire Protection District Chief Jake Peterson said even if the fire danger index is low, it's important to look at weather forecast for the next several days. "It's just as important as what it is today, because if they light a pit because it's beautiful today, and it's in low or moderate, and the next three days they're calling for lots of wind, there's 0% chance that that pit is gonna be out within the next four to 14 days," Peterson said. Duttenhefner said it's possible that the fire danger rating may soon be updated to high or more, since rain is not expected in the near future. "It's definitely a possibility," Duttenhefner said. "Our drought index is increasing, meaning that we're drier than normal, which also increases our risk for fire danger. The fire index is based on vegetation, temperature, wind and humidity. So with it being drier, that causes more issues or possibilities of fire." Story continues She warned outdoorsmen to avoid parking in tall grass, as the heat from a vehicle's undercarriage can spark a blaze. For more obvious reason, lit cigarette butts should not be thrown on the ground. Those planning controlled burns should be prepared with large quantities of water in case it gets out of control, she added. Duttenhefner urged drivers to call 911 if they see an unmonitored fire, and advised that callers should be ready to provide an accurate description of the location. "We've been very lucky," Peterson said. "A lot of it comes down to people that are burning are calling chiefs and they're looking ahead at the weather, and they're being conscientious about making sure that their fire is out before they ever leave it." An average of 1,800 fire incidents are recorded in the Roughrider State every year. Campfires should be built away from leaves and dry grass, where they're less likely to spread. When barbecuing, do not wear loose clothing. For more fire safety tips check out the state government's website https://ndresponse.gov/public-awareness/fire-safety. Those who are planning a fire should check in with appropriate authorities ahead of time, such as the local fire department, emergency management or dispatch. In the Dickinson area, those planning controlled burns should notify local dispatch by calling 701-456-7759. A cheeseburger that's been styled to perfection by Diana Jeffra. (Photo: Kate Grewal) A cheeseburger that's been styled to perfection by Diana Jeffra. (Photo: Kate Grewal) Seeing a photo of a big, juicy burger (or Beyond Burger), with crisp green lettuce and tiny droplets of water on thickly sliced tomato is enough to make your mouth water. The same applies when youre watching a Coke commercial, when the fizz and spritz from the drink is so apparent that you suddenly find yourself thirsty. Food imagery is powerful, and making it look good is an important job. In fact, its an entire career all its own. Diana Jeffra, who lives in Virginia, has been a food stylist for the past nine years. While a photographer is the person who takes pictures of the food, Jeffras job is to cook the food and set up the shot. Whether the photo is going to end up in a magazine, advertisement or product box, or if shes helping shoot a commercial, the mission is the same: Leave the viewer craving whatever it is theyre looking at. On the summer day that I called her to learn more about her career, she was on set styling a turkey for a Thanksgiving spread for a local magazine. Yes, the summer heat was sweltering outside, but on set, it was Nov. 24. Doing print work like this is Jeffras bread and butter, so to speak. I prefer the pace of still [photos]. I find that the pace of shooting for big commercials is too fast for me, she said. In addition to styling food for magazines, she has worked with many brands that are likely in your pantry or fridge, such as Betty Crocker, Sabra, Justins and General Mills. But Jeffra wasnt always a food stylist. It took a slight career pivot and a lot of drive to end up where she is today. How to become a food stylist Jeffra said she has long worked with food, just in vastly different ways than she does now. All my jobs growing up were in restaurants, she said. I worked as a dishwasher, steaming crabs, shucking oysters that kind of stuff. Clearly shes someone who doesnt mind getting her hands dirty, a skill that would come on handy later on in her career. Story continues In college, Jeffra majored in graphic design, and after she graduated started working for an ad agency that specialized in food service and hospitality. It was her job to retouch images from photo shoots and put them in different formats, such as banner ads. Jeffra said that while she liked her job, she felt a bit antsy sitting in front of a computer all day. At the same time, she started asking questions about what was happening on the photo shoot sets to learn more about how they worked. The creative director told me that there was a photographer and then someone who comes in whose job it was to set up food for the camera, Jeffra said. I remember thinking, Wait, thats a thing? Ice cream is one of the trickiest subjects to shoot. Here, a perfectly drippy cone styled by Jeffra. (Photo: Kate Grewal) Ice cream is one of the trickiest subjects to shoot. Here, a perfectly drippy cone styled by Jeffra. (Photo: Kate Grewal) When Jeffra started researching how to become a food stylist herself, she figured the best way to find out was to ask someone who did it, so she invited a food stylist in her area, Lisa Cherkasky, to lunch. (Pro job tip for anything you want to do in life: Find yourself a mentor.) Lisa gave me the best advice, which was that its important to know how to make food for the camera, Jeffra said. Yes, Lisa told her, its important to know about photography like how to use lighting but its also important to know how to make food from scratch (quickly!) thats made for the camera. Shucking oysters was one thing, but learning how to get food photo-ready was a whole other skill set. To beef up her knowledge, Jeffra enrolled in a cooking and hospitality program at a local community college. The restaurant chefs I worked with while in cooking school were completely supportive of me wanting to be a food stylist and would allow me to come in and take photos, she said. Eventually, she was able to start landing clients and building a portfolio, which led to booking more jobs. What food styling actually looks like A day in the life of a food stylist starts before arriving on set. The first order of business is to buy all the ingredients needed to make the food. Typically before the shoot, Ill get a shot list, listing all the photos they want to have, Jeffra said. This helps guide how shell cook and style the food. For example, in some Thanksgiving food photos, the turkey isnt cooked fully inside, but Jeffra said for the shoot she was currently working on, the shot list indicated that the turkey needed to be carved in some photos, so this meant Jeffra would have to cook it all the way through. Jeffra typically has a call time, so she knows when to arrive on set. Then, she gets to work cooking and styling the food for each shot before a photographer shoots it. Attention to detail is a must. Jeffra is often plucking tiny hairs off raspberries or misting perfectly sized droplets onto produce. Sure, a photographer could edit or add these details later while retouching, but she does as much as she can herself so that they dont have to. It makes it easier for the photographer and it kind of makes them love you more, she said. Not all of the food Jeffra styles is actually edible: Sometimes it is and sometimes it isnt. For example, on TikTok, she showed that buttercream (a whipped icing) is often used in place of ice cream for shoots because it wont melt. But if Jeffra is styling ice cream for an actual ice cream brand, theres no fake ice cream allowed that would be false advertising. Ice cream and cheese are the hardest foods to shoot, Jeffra said. Both have to be melted in a certain way, and with cheese, some types become translucent when they melt, like Swiss cheese. Jeffra said her job isnt always glamorous, either. The other day, she found herself making instant mashed potatoes using a water fountain because there wasnt a full kitchen on set. A strawberry honey cake that Jeffra styled. (Photo: Kate Grewal) A strawberry honey cake that Jeffra styled. (Photo: Kate Grewal) Tips for taking your food photos to the next level Maybe you dont want to be a food stylist. Maybe you just want to give your food blog or Instagram photos an upgrade. Is there anything you can do to level up your pics without resorting to buttercream and half-baked turkeys? Jeffra is happy to offer up a few tips. One is to use fresh ingredients, especially when it comes to produce and herbs. This is when the colors are most vibrant. Adding little droplets of water on food or drinks, like on ... a Coke can, makes it look super fresh and refreshing too, Jeffra said, offering up another one of her tried-and-true tricks. For some foods, like freshly baked rolls or a hamburger bun, Jeffra said that adding a little oil can give a nice sheen. Its also important to consider your lighting, as it can transform a food from looking flat to showing different dimensions and details. So if you really want to get the perfect shot, you just might need your friend to shine their phone flashlight on your food while you snap your pic. If you love playing with your food, following in Jeffras footsteps and becoming a food stylist might just be the perfect career for you. It takes hard work to get there and it certainly isnt easy, but Jeffra said shes glad she put in the effort. I cant imagine doing anything else, she said. I love everything about it. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... The future of Being Mortal is up in the air. Production on the planned comedy-drama film directed by and starring Aziz Ansari (Master of None) was suspended earlier this year, following an incident involving one of the films stars, Bill Murray. The Ghostbusters star initially appeared to downplay the severity of the incident, claiming he had done something I thought was funny on set, but it wasnt taken that way. However, in October it was reported that the incident involved Murray allegedly straddling a "much younger" female production assistant and kissing her on the mouth . The future of the project remains unclear, with some reports suggesting that the film could be finished without Murrays involvement. In the days since the report was published, others including actors Seth Green, Rob Schneider and Geena Davis have shared their own negative experiences with Murray in the past . Heres a timeline of everything thats happened with Being Mortal. 22 February 2022 Being Mortal is announced On 22 February, Searchlight Pictures announces that it is producing an untitled film that will be written, directed and produced by Aziz Ansari. The film will be based on the 2014 non-fiction book Being Mortal: Medicine & What Matters in The End, written by practising surgeon Atul Gawande. Murray is also announced as part of the initial cast. Bill Murrays involvement was announced back in February (Getty Images) 24 March 2022 Seth Rogen joins the cast The Superbad star becomes the third actor to be attached to the project. Just one week later, it is announced that Nope star Keke Palmer has joined Rogen, Ansari and Murray. 28 March 2022 Production begins Principal photography begins in Los Angeles in late March. 17 April 2022 Production is halted With the film reportedly halfway through principal photography, production on Being Mortal is called to a halt after a crew member makes a complaint against Murray. 20 April 2022 Production is officially suspended With filming having been stopped for three days, the films production is officially suspended on 20 April. Story continues Searchlight Pictures sent a letter to the cast and crew (published in Deadline ) which read: We know you are all concerned about the recent delays in production and want to give you an update. Late last week, we were made aware of a complaint, and we immediately looked into it. After reviewing the circumstances, it has been decided that production cannot continue at this time. Actor-director Aziz Ansari pictured in 2019 (Getty Images) We are truly grateful to all of you for everything youve put into this project. Our hope is to resume production and are working with Aziz and [producer Youree Henley] to figure out that timing. 30 April 2022 Murray gives a statement Murray gives his account of what happened to the press, saying in an interview : I did something I thought was funny, and it wasnt taken that way. The company, the movie studio, wanted to do the right thing, so they wanted to check it all out, investigate it, and so they stopped the production. But as of now, were talking and were trying to make peace with each other. 10 October 2022 Report about the incident surfaces On 10 October, a report is published by Puck magazine containing new details about the allegations against Murray. Writer Eriq Gardner cites multiple sources describing that Murray allegedly straddled and kissed a much younger female production staffer, who was horrified and interpreted his actions as entirely sexual. The unnamed woman whom the writer specifies is not Palmer, as had been speculated was in close proximity near a bed that was part of the production when Murray had allegedly started kissing her body and straddling her after he felt she had been flirting with him. It is suggested that the incident may have been intended as a piece of misjudged physical comedy. It prompted a complaint both from the woman and a second staffer who witnessed it. Keke Palmer (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) The Puck report also claims that Murray entered mediation with the woman and ended up paying a settlement of just over $100,000 (90,533). It states: Murray felt miserable, a source close to the actor told me, not just at what he thought was a miscommunication, but also at how one moment had caused his co-workers to essentially lose their jobs. 16 October Keke Palmer reacts In an interview with Variety, Palmer spoke about the films suspension and suggested that there is a chance production could be resumed at some point . If somebody could figure it out, it would be Aziz, she said. Obviously, we got cut short at a certain point but I will say that I am pretty devastated. Its an amazing film. If there is some way to be able to complete, salvage it, I would want to do it. Palmer did not directly address anything related to Murray, but claimed that it would probably require a major rewrite if production was to continue. [Ansari] would probably have to do a major rewrite, but I know what we got was gold, she said. The Independent has contacted the unnamed womans attorney Shawn Holley at Kinsella Weitzman for comment, as well as Murrays lawyer David Nochimson. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya In Krakow Exiled leader of the opposition in Belarus, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, meets with members of the local Belarusian diaspora outside the Adam Mickiewicz monument during her short visit to Krakow, Poland, on October 02, 2022. Credit - Artur WidakNurPhoto/Getty Images As the war in Ukraine approaches its eighth month, a prevalent concerneven fearis that Western war fatigue could soon set in. While support for Ukraine remains steadfast across much of the West, some polls have shown flagging support for sanctions on Russia if they continue to exacerbate economic challenges at home. The prevailing worry is that this coming winter, amid rising energy demand and a cost-of-living crisis, could expose the limits of Western support. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the Belarusian opposition leader who has made common cause between the fights for freedom and democracy in her native Belarus and Ukraine, understands the repercussions of such complacency better than most. Since emerging as the unlikely political challenger to longtime Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko in 2020, when she put herself forward to contest the election in the place of her jailed husband Sergei Tsikhanouski (a contest she believes she would have won, had it not been for vote tampering), and becoming the de facto leader of Belaruss pro-democracy movement in 2020, Tsikhanouskaya has dedicated her life to ensuring that her country doesnt slip from the worlds attention. Over the past two years, she has met with world leaders, represented democratic Belarus at international bodies, and lobbied Western capitals to sanction Lukashenkos dictatorial regime, all the while living in exile in neighboring Lithuania. So far, her efforts have succeeded in ensuring that the West doesnt recognize the legitimacy of Lukashenkos 2020 election victorya result that was dismissed by observers both within and outside the country as riggedbut they have yet to force Lukashenko from power or usher in free and fair vote. Since Russias invasion of Ukraine, Belarus has largely fallen off the worlds collective radar, save for the Norwegian Nobel Committees decision earlier this month to honor the jailed Belarusian human rights advocate Ales Bialiatski as one of the recipients of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize. (Tsikhanouskaya was also among the favorites to win the prize.) As Tsikhanouskaya sees it, the world cannot afford to forget Belarusespecially now. We need Belarus not to be overlooked because Belarus is not only a part of this crisis, Tsikhanouskaya tells TIME, referencing Russias ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Belarus can be part of the solution. Belarus has played an important, if slightly understated, role in Russias war in Ukraine. In the days leading up to the invasion, Lukashenko invited Russia to stage its troops and equipment on Belarusian soil in a move that seemed to formalize the countrys status as a Russian vassal state. While Belarusian troops have yet to be deployed to fight in neighboring Ukraine, Lukashenko has not ruled out their direct involvement. Indeed, the Belarusian leader announced last week an agreement between Minsk and Moscow to deploy what he called a joint regional group of forces. Nearly 9,000 Russian soldiers have since arrived in Belarus as part of this joint grouping, according to Belarusian officialsa move that suggests Russia could once again use Belarus as a staging ground for further attacks on Ukraine. Lukashenkos posturing can be explained less by his personal commitment to the Russian invasion (he told the Associated Press that he thought it had dragged on in May) and more by his own desire for self-preservation. It was Russian President Vladimir Putin, after all, who supplied Lukashenko with security forces to crush the pro-democracy demonstrations against his rule in 2020. The Russian President also backed Lukashenko with a $1.5 billion loan to help him overcome Western sanctions. By supporting his benefactors in the Kremlin, Lukashenko is not only offering Putin a return on his investment, but is shoring up his own position at home. Its for this reason, Tsikhanouskaya argues, that long-term security in Europe will be elusive so long as Lukashenko remains in power. If theres a Putin-friendly regime in Belarus and if Russian troops are allowed to remain on its territory, she says, no one in our neighboring countries will sleep peacefully. While Russian provocations beyond Ukraine are seemingly unlikely given the difficulties that Moscow is already facing in Ukraine, a further weaponization of Belarusian territory nonetheless poses a potential vulnerability for NATO, particularly as it concerns the alliances Baltic members. Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia have long regarded Belarus as a key buffer between themselves and Russia. By permitting Russian troops in Belarus, Lukashenko has not only brought Moscow closer to the doorsteps of the Baltic countries, but he has also granted Russia direct access to the strategic Suwaki Corridor, a 65-mile stretch of land sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania that connects Belarus with the westernmost and non-contiguous Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, which sits on the Baltic Sea. The prevailing concern is that if Russian troops are able to control the Suwaki Corridor from either side, they could effectively use it to cut off NATOs Baltic members from the rest of the alliance, posing a major challenge if NATO wished to send ground troops to reinforce its eastern flank. Lon Tweeten While some experts have downplayed the significance of the Suwaki Corridor, noting that the land gap represents as much of a strategic issue for Russia as it does NATO countries, is is nonetheless seen as a vulnerable place, depending on what Belarus does, says Ben Hodges, the former commander of the U.S. Army in Europe. The fact that Lukashenko has already been seen to forfeit Belarusian sovereignty in order to stay in power makes it unlikely that he will be able to establish trust with Belaruss closest neighbors even after the war ends. As long as hes there or somebody like him, says Hodges, it will be very difficult for the neighbors of Belarus to see them as anything other than a puppet of Moscow. When asked what the West can do to address this issue, Tsikhanouskaya called for consistency. Continue applying multiple points of pressure on the regime politically, economically, she says. Dont recognize Lukashenko, dont send ambassadors. Be strong in this period of history. More than anything, Tsikhanouskaya says that she hopes that their allies in the West wont succumb to war fatigue. Its really high time for Western countries to show their strength, she says. Not only as politicians, but as people. Belleville police officers called to Memorial Hospital arrested a man after they seized a gun from him at the hospital, police said. Alfunzo Delk, 38, of Belleville, was charged with one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, a Class 4 felony, according to charging documents. No one was injured during the incident and no threats were made by Delk during the incident, Lt. Col. Mark Heffernan said in a statement. The hospital staff called for the police at 6:13 a.m. Monday. Officers located an adult male subject that was distraught, possibly in a mental health crisis, Heffernan said. The male told officers he was armed with a firearm. Police officers were able to take the firearm from the man and then arrest him without incident. Records showed the man was not legally authorized to be in possession of a firearm, Heffernan said. St. Clair County online court records do not list an attorney for Delk. He has a court date of Oct. 21 and his bond was set at $10,000. A spokeswoman for St. Louis-based BJC HealthCare, which owns Memorial Hospital, declined to comment on the case. The incident in which Neo Hong Chye tried to run down a security guard at Red Swastika School on 11 January 2022. (SCREENGRAB: SGRV/Facebook) SINGAPORE The driver of a Bentley car which threatened to run down a security guard outside Red Swastika School was on Wednesday (19 October) jailed for eight weeks and fined $600. The Straits Times reported that Neo Hong Chye, 61, was also disqualified from holding all classes of driving licences for 12 months. He had pleaded guilty to one count of causing hurt by performing a rash act, which accounts for his jail term, and another count of driving the vehicle without insurance coverage. According to The Straits Times, Neo appeared in court in a floral shirt, remained quiet and stood with head bowed as the facts were read out to him. Bypassed queue of cars, stopped from entering school The incident occurred on 11 January this year, and video footage showed Neo arriving in a Bentley car outside Red Swastika School along Bedok North Avenue 3. Because he had bypassed a queue of cars, he was stopped from entering the premises by the security guard. However, he inched the car forward a few times, pushing the security guard back despite being stopped from entering the primary school. He was arrested that same day, and police said the guard suffered minor injuries following the incident. Son also hit with 2 charges Neo's son, Glynn Neo Jia, was also charged in May with one count each of altering the licence plate number of the Bentley and allowing his father to use the car without insurance coverage. The 28-year-old was the owner of the Bentley at the time and allegedly allowed his father to drive the car at around 6.30am on the day of the incident. His case is still pending. For causing hurt by committing a rash act, the elder Neo could have been jailed for up to a year and/or fined up to $5,000. For using a car without insurance coverage, he could have been jailed for up to three months and/or fined up to $1,000. An offender can also be disqualified from driving all classes of vehicles for a year. 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. WASHINGTON (AP) Presidents Joe Biden and Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador spoke Tuesday as a growing number of migrants from crisis-gripped Venezuela arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border. The Biden administration announced last week that it would accept up to 24,000 Venezuelan migrants at U.S. airports. Mexico, meanwhile, has agreed to take back Venezuelans who come to the U.S. illegally over land. But at the same time, Biden is restricting Venezuelan travel into the U.S. with the help of a Trump-era rule known as Title 42, which suspends rights to seek asylum under U.S. and international law on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19. The White House said in a statement that the leaders discussed joint migration management efforts, including actions to reduce the number of individuals who unlawfully cross the U.S.-Mexico border and to expand legal pathways as an alternative to irregular migration. Lopez Obrador said on Twitter following the call that Biden confirmed that he will travel to Mexico for a North America leaders summit, a face-to-face meeting that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is also expected to attend. A date has yet to be set for the meeting. The three leaders met last year in Washington, reviving the tradition that had been put on hold during President Donald Trump's administration. Earlier Tuesday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the two administrations were working through plans for the next North Americans leaders summit." We had a cordial conversation with President Joe Biden about immigration, security and cooperation on development," Lopez Obrador said in the social media posting. Mexico's foreign minister, Marcelo Ebrard, added that it was a very close and affectionate conversation. Under the restrictions, the Biden administration is barring Venezuelans who walk or swim across the border. Any Venezuelan who illegally enters Mexico or Panama is also ineligible to come to the U.S. under the offer. Story continues The use of Tittle 42 by the Biden White House comes after the Democratic administration had rejected many of Trump's policies aimed at keeping out migrants. The Biden administration had even brokered a deal to send the Venezuelans to Mexico, which already had agreed to accept migrants expelled under Title 42 if they are from Guatemala, Honduras or El Salvador. All the while, Justice Department lawyers continue to appeal a court decision that has kept Title 42 in place. They oppose Republican attorneys general from more than 20 states who have argued that Title 42 is the only safety valve preventing this Administrations already disastrous border control policies from descending into an unmitigated catastrophe. In August, Venezuelans surpassed Guatemalans and Hondurans to become the second-largest nationality stopped at the U.S. border after Mexicans. An estimated 6.8 million Venezuelans have fled their country since the economy tanked in 2014, mostly to Latin America and Caribbean countries. But the U.S. economys relative strength since the COVID-19 pandemic has caused Venezuelan migrants to look north. Also, U.S. policies and strained relations with the Venezuelan government make it extremely difficult to send them home. The White House said Biden and Lopez Obrador also discussed joint efforts to combat the trafficking of fentanyl and efforts to prosecute gun traffickers. Gun legislation passed by Congress earlier this year gives the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives new authorities to combat firearms trafficking along the U.S. borders. ___ Stevenson reported from Mexico City. President Biden on Wednesday said that Vladimir Putins only available tool right now in his war against Ukraine is the brutalization of its citizens, in the wake of the Russian president declaring martial law in the four Ukrainian regions he recently annexed. I think that Vladimir Putin finds himself in an incredibly difficult position. And, what it reflects to me is, it seems his only tool available to him is to brutalize individual citizens in Ukraine, Ukrainian citizens, to try to intimidate them into capitulating, Biden told reporters. Theyre not going to do that, he added. The president has projected confidence in the Ukrainian people since Russia first invaded the country in February, consistently saying that they will not back down from defending Ukraine. Putin launched his latest round of drone strikes on Kyiv on Monday, taking aim at infrastructure to harm civilians. At least three people were killed, including a young couple expecting a child, as 28 drones pounded on the capital. The escalation follows setbacks for the Russian military while Ukrainian forces have continued to make major gains. Putins martial law order goes into effect on Thursday in the regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson and gives additional emergency powers to regional leaders in Russia. Draft legislation reportedly suggests that the order may include restrictions on travel and public gatherings, increased censorship and expanded law enforcement authority. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. New export controls recently mandated by the Biden administration have placed hundreds of Chinese Americans at risk of losing either their jobs or their citizenship. On Oct. 7, the U.S. government published a set of restrictions that essentially bar exports to China of American-made manufacturing equipment necessary for advanced chips production. The White House said the initiative was aimed at thwarting Chinas capabilities in producing high-end semiconductors used in commercial and military technologies. However, a term in the restriction also extends itself to people and not just organizations or companies. More from NextShark: Vietnamese Influencer Puts Makeup On in the Hospital Before Her Boyfriend Visits Based on the new rules, both U.S. citizens and permanent residents may be barred from supporting the development or production of advanced chips at Chinese factories without a license. This means the hundreds of executives and professionals with U.S. citizenship in Chinas tech industry are now in potentially vulnerable positions should their former clients and suppliers begin to dwindle due to the restrictions. For some, it could mean a choice between abandoning either their citizenship or their profession. Semiconductor manufacturer ASML, which has U.S. offices and many U.S. employees, immediately instructed its U.S. staff to freeze their interactions with Chinese customers. More from NextShark: 64-Year-Old Asian Man Collecting Cans Receives Racist Abuse, Death Threats in Australia ASML U.S. employees must refrain either directly or indirectly from servicing, shipping or providing support to any customers in China until further notice, while ASML is actively assessing which particular fabs are affected by this restriction, the company recently told employees in an internal letter. The order applies to all U.S. citizens, green-card holders and foreign nationals who live in the U.S. There are green-card holders considered U.S. persons that are going to be in a bind. Do they want to stay in China and give up their U.S. person status or do they want to move? Martijn Rasser, senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, told The Washington Post. Story continues More from NextShark: Ukraine removes Emperor Hirohito from Hitler, Mussolini video after anger and protests from Japan Some observers also cautioned that these restrictions could further hurt the U.S. manufacturers in the long run should China start flooding the market with cheaper, low-end chips. An official from the Commerce Department told The Washington Post that the potential market flood is something that they are already monitoring so they can make the necessary adjustments as soon as any negative effect arises. Thats just something we continue to watch and if there are unintended consequences well figure out what adjustments are appropriate, the anonymous source said. More from NextShark: Elon Musk denies affair with Google founders wife, shares photo of himself partying with Sergey Brin The official pointed out that the restrictions are not designed to rupture everything but only to get at the Chinese capability to produce chips at a defined level. In August, Biden signed the Chips and Science Bill, a $280 billion measure aimed at boosting the U.S. technological competitiveness against China. Featured Image via Republica Black Panther's Okoye and Shuri in civilian clothes and sunglasses. Is one of these characters the new Black Panther? On November 11, a new character will become Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But is it Shuri? Is it Nakia? Okoye? We dont know for sure, but apparently everyone in Wakanda has their own opinion about it. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever opens next month and the story centers on the fictional Marvel country grieving the loss of its king, TChalla, played by the late Chadwick Boseman. TChallas passing means a new Black Panther must be chosen and according to the films producer, that question is not one thats answered easily in the film. Read more The Black Panther has existed in Wakanda for centuries, so the notion of someone else picking up the mantle didnt seem inorganic, Nate Moore, Marvel Studios executive and producer on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever told the Hollywood Reporter. But once that had to become a reality, then it was, OK, what makes the most sense for the story? Who actually makes the most sense to take this thing on? All of the characters in the film have a different idea of who should don the mantle and why. Of course, that wasnt always the story of the film. Before Boseman lost his battle with colon cancer, he was going to be front and center in the film. The script we wrote before Chadwick passed was very much rooted in TChallas perspective, co-writer and director Ryan Coogler said. It was a massive movie but also simultaneously a character study that delved deeply into his psyche and situation. Now, that story centers on TChallas loss and inevitable replacement. Most fans believe Shuri, played by Letitia Wright, will be the choice and they could very well be right. But one person who isnt saying is Lupita Nyongo, who plays Nakia, another strong contender. If I told you [who the new Black Panther is], I might as well just swim into the ocean and never be seen again, the actress said. Story continues Read much, much more about Nyongo and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in an excellent profile at the Hollywood Reporter. And check back soon for more on the highly anticipated, sure to be hugely emotional sequel. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel and Star Wars releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about House of the Dragon and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. With today's announcement, we shift our focus from local to global to further help permanent crop growers Fresno, California --News Direct-- Bluewhite Blue White Robotics was excited to officially announce their new company rebranding and expansion initiatives today, at FIRA USA. Leading the company's rebranding efforts and focus on the future, Blue White Robotics will now be known as Bluewhite, which was a change that came naturally for the company. Hand in hand with their name change, the company also teased a variety of new initiatives, at FIRA, focused on transforming Bluewhite over the next five years. Our vision is to bring sustainable innovation to growers worldwide. We at Bluewhite partner with growers around the world to support their continual progress and by building more resilient farms through profitability, productivity, and safety, says Ben Alfi, Founder and CEO. We will soon be launching our second generation product which will provide some exciting updates for growers to give them even more control over their fleet and crops, and provide more data to continue managing their farm through improved productivity and financial efficiency. The Bluewhite Leadership Team Bluewhite was built on three core values: Fellowship, Love of the Land, and Innovation, and while those continue to be the core focus of the business, Bluewhite is looking ahead to the future. Food security and labor scarcity are pressing challenges that drive us to build a life-long platform that never quits, says Alfi. With over thousands of autonomous driving hours, and decades of experience in autonomous air and ground technologies, we will ensure to have any tractor in your fleet running 24/7, in any weather. With Bluewhite you can work with any color of tractor he adds. Bluewhite, a Fresno based business, with a development center in Tel-Aviv, Israel, attributes much of their early success to generous community support; both from other local businesses and organizations, as well as the growers located in Californias Central Valley. With todays announcement comes a renewed focus to build on the companys three core values, while shifting some attention from local to global. With todays announcement, Bluewhites next goal will be aimed at expanding the footprint of services and partnerships to permanent crop growers all over the United States. Story continues The problems we are facing in agriculture are global; growers all around the world are feeling the tremendous pressure of workforce shortages, and significant increases in input and production costs. We want to give all growers access to the 21st century through autonomous and data-driven farms, says Alon Ascher, Chief Business Officer. Our employees around the world have already experienced our shift in focus to become a global company. Now, it's the time to share it with our partners and clients. Grow Forward with Bluewhite. Bluewhite was founded in 2017 with a vision to bring sustainable innovation to growers worldwide. Today, Bluewhite is a global company with U.S.-based headquarters in Fresno, CA. The Bluewhite mission is simple, to build resilient farms by maximizing the growers productivity and reducing their operational cost. We equip existing fleets with autonomous technology, combined with an easy to use platform, and end-to-end service; supporting their journey to a more profitable and sustainable farm. Bluewhite's diverse team of engineers, farmers, technicians, and field operators, hold decades of experience in autonomous technologies, and share the same values: Fellowship, love of the land, and innovation. We are committed to deliver the best autonomous farm solution for all. Contact Details AgCulture Marketing Delaney Howell +1 563-299-3035 delaney@agculturemarketing.com View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/bluewhite-looks-to-the-future-715326687 ALONA MAZURENKO WEDNESDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2022, 12:00 Border guards in Odesa Oblast have shot down a Shahed drone launched by the Russians from Crimea at dawn. Source: Press service of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Quote: "At dawn, guards from the Ukrainian State Border Service spotted a moped [a derisory name for drones - ed.] that the Russians had launched from Crimea. The guards opened fire on the drone using small arms. The downed Shahed drone exploded and fell into the sea without reaching its intended target". Details: Border guards called on civilians to stay in shelters during the air-raid. Nataliia Humeniuk, spokeswoman for Operational Command Pivden (South), said the drone was shot down near Kobleve. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! BRASILIA (Reuters) - Leftist presidential candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva assured Brazil's Evangelical Christians that he would not restrict religious freedoms if he is elected on Oct. 2, and praised the dedication to their beliefs. In a public letter to Brazilian Evangelicals, Lula said he was personally opposed to legalizing abortion and his government would leave that issue for Congress to decide. Lula said his message, coming less than two weeks from a second-round runoff against far-right incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro, was prompted by campaign lies spread by his rival that warn voters that a Lula government would close churches and curtail religious freedoms. "My government will not adopt any policies that hurt religious liberty or create obstacles for churches to function freely," he said. Brazil's presidential race has narrowed to a 4-percentage-point gap between leftist front-runner Lula and the incumbent Bolsonaro, and they are now statistically tied, according to a poll published on Wednesday. Lula said the use of religious beliefs for political gain in the election campaign was a "sad scandal" and he vowed never to use religion politically or violate the separation of church from state. His adversary Bolsonaro has strong backing from Brazil's fast-growing Evangelical churches due to his conservative agenda based on pro-life and family values, and rejection of gay marriage and the legalization of drugs. With one in four Brazilians believed to be Evangelical today in this predominantly Catholic country, a recent poll by PoderData said 62% of evangelical voters are for Bolsonaro, and only 38% back Lula, who has the support of 51% of Catholics. Lula, who governed Brazil from 2003-2010, said he always maintained absolute respect for religious freedom during his eight years as president, passing laws and decrees protecting religious diversity. "The Brazilian people know that I took care, with special affection, of the poorest and, with God's blessings, my government contributed to improve the lives of millions of families," the former president said. (Reporting by Anthony Boadle; editing by Richard Pullin) By Elizabeth Piper LONDON (Reuters) - British Defence Minister Ben Wallace met his U.S counterpart in Washington this week to discuss shared security concerns about the situation in Ukraine, a senior defence source said in response to speculation around the sudden trip. Following advances by Ukrainian forces to retake land in the east of the country, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a partial Russian mobilisation and also issued nuclear threats. Wallace cancelled a planned committee hearing in parliament on short notice in order to go to Washington on Tuesday, prompting questions around what was behind the apparently urgent nature of the trip. "There has been a lot of speculation about why the defence secretary travelled to Washington," the source said. "As we approach winter in Ukraine with their successes on the battleground against Russian forces and in light of Putins recent actions, it was important to meet face to face with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and others from the U.S. administration to discuss our shared security concerns." Ukrainian cities are increasingly being targeted by missile and drone strikes, and foreign secretary James Cleverly told Sky News "there's urgency because civilians are being targeted in a new way and so we have to respond to that." "Our response has to be done at pace," he said on Wednesday. But on Tuesday junior defence minister James Heappey told Sky News that Wallace was in Washington "having the sort of conversations that - beyond belief, really - the fact that we're at a time when these sort of conversations are necessary". Asked whether Wallace had gone to Washington to discuss the risk that Russia uses nuclear weapons in Ukraine, Prime Minister Liz Truss's spokesman reiterated that there would be "severe consequences" if Russia used nuclear weapons, but added: "I would guide away from speculating on this as an issue." "I think it would be a mistake to be drawn into speculation on this rather than focusing on what we are seeing take place day-by-day, which is a senseless and barbaric attack on civilians across Ukraine," he told reporters. (Reporting by Elizabeth Piper, additional reporting by Sachin Ravikumar, writing by Alistair Smout; Editing by Bill Berkrot) LONDON (Reuters) -Britain's Chief of the Defence Staff Tony Radakin on Wednesday urged the international community to remain united against what he called Russian President Vladimir Putin's "deeply irresponsible" nuclear rhetoric. "He (Putin) has few options left. Hence, the nuclear rhetoric," he said during a speech. "And while this is worrying and deeply irresponsible, it is a sign of weakness, which is precisely why the international community needs to remain strong and united." British defence minister Ben Wallace met his U.S counterpart in Washington this week to discuss shared security concerns about the situation in Ukraine. Asked during a question and answer session following his speech how likely he thought it was that Putin was preparing to launch a nuclear strike in Ukraine, Radakin declined to answer directly. "I don't think you'll be surprised for me to duck giving you a precise likelihood of where Russia is," he said. "I would just stress the recklessness of Russia using that language around nuclear and that this is a desperate ... We need to focus on our continued support to Ukraine and not be drawn to reckless rhetoric." (Reporting by Kylie MacLellan, writing by Muvija M) Brittney Griner spent her 32nd birthday in a Russian prison, awaiting an appeal to her nine-year sentence for drug possession that's set for next week. The WNBA star has been especially down lately, according to her lawyers. They were with her for part of her birthday on Tuesday. Maria Blagovolina, a partner at Rybalkin, Gortsunyan, Dyakin, said it wasn't much of a celebration, but that Griner's attorneys passed along well wishes from family and friends. She did smile, it was really good to see her smiling, Blagovolina wrote in an email to The Associated Press. Griner later released a statement through her agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas. Thank you everyone for fighting so hard to get me home. All the support and love are definitely helping me, Griner said. Griner's appeal hearing is scheduled for Oct. 25. While its unlikely the appeal will overturn her conviction, her lawyers hope it could lessen the sentence. We hope the term of the sentence will be reduced, Blagovolina said. Griner was convicted Aug. 4 in an unusually swift verdict and given a longer sentence than most Russians receiver for similar offenses. The 6-foot-9 center, who played professionally in Russia during the WNBA offseason, was detained on Feb. 17, a week before Russia invaded Ukraine. Police said they found vape canisters with cannabis oil in Griner's luggage at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow. Her lawyers said she had been prescribed cannabis for pain, and Griner said she had inadvertently packed them and had no criminal intent. Griner is also waiting for a potential swap of prisoners between Russia and the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken took the unusual step of revealing publicly in July that Washington had made a substantial proposal to get Griner home, along with Paul Whelan, an American serving a 16-year sentence in Russia for espionage. Blinken didnt elaborate, but The AP and other news organizations have reported that Washington has offered to exchange Griner and Whelan for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer who is serving a 25-year sentence in the U.S. and once earned the nickname the merchant of death. Story continues The White House said it has not yet received a productive response from Russia to the offer. Her friends and family are trying to keep Griner's name in the forefront of people's minds amid delicate negotiations between the U.S. and Russia that seem to be stalled. I pray for her mental health and sanity and us doing what we can do to help keep her name out there, said South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, who coached Griner at last year's Tokyo Olympics. To get her home. I hope its at a time thats sooner rather than later. Shes one of our own in an incredible situation, Its going to take positive synergy, prayers, and some powerful people making some deals to get her home." Golden State guard Stephen Curry took time during the Warriors' championship ring ceremony Tuesday night to make an impassioned plea in support of Griner. We want to continue to use our platform and the opportunity to shout out a very special member of the basketball community. Brittney Griners birthday is today, shes 32, Curry told the crowd before the defending NBA champions beat the Los Angeles Lakers. We want to continue to let her name be known and we pray ... its been 243 days since she was wrongfully incarcerated in Russia. We hope that she comes home soon, that everybodys doing their part to get her home. The U.S. women's team won its fourth consecutive World Cup title earlier this month and captain Breanna Stewart said that the medal was dedicated to Griner, who would have been on the team had she not been in jail. Griner was honored when she heard that from her lawyers. ___ More AP coverage of Griner: https://apnews.com/hub/brittney-griner Last week, President Biden said there had been no progress in discussing Griners case with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Brittney Griner turned 32 on Tuesday, and she sent a message of appreciation to her fans. According to The New York Times, Griner met with Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov, two of her Russian attorneys, for several hours on Tuesday. They said she appeared highly stressed ahead of the Oct. 25 hearing about her appeal of her drug-related conviction. Still, according to a statement the attorneys released on her behalf, the WNBA star is grateful for her supporters. WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner stands in a cage in a courtroom prior to a hearing in Khimki just outside Moscow, Russia, in August. Griner sent a message of thanks to her supporters on Tuesday, Oct. 18, which was her 32nd birthday. (Photo: Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool Photo via AP) Thank you everyone for fighting so hard to get me home, the statement said, according to the Times. All the support and love are definitely helping me. Griner, who plays overseas in the WNBA off-season, has been detained in a Russian prison since March. Customs officers at the airport reportedly found her with two vape cartridges containing cannabis oil. She was given a nine-year prison sentence in August. Griners defense lawyers said she had been prescribed cannabis for pain, according to theGrio. The Times reported that Griner confided in her attorneys last week that she was having emotional difficulties and was pessimistic about her chances of getting released before serving her entire term. She is permitted to go outdoors once daily and spends the rest of her time in a tiny cell with two other inmates, sitting and sleeping on a specially expanded bed to fit her near 7-foot frame. According to Boykov, Griner struggles as she waits for the appeals court hearing because it is very difficult for her to talk to her family. He said scheduling phone calls with Griners wife, Cherelle, had been challenging and that, as far as he knew, she had been unable to contact her parents or siblings since being detained. TheGrio reported earlier this month that Cherelle Griner has claimed that her imprisoned wife is experiencing her weakest point and believes her existence is meaningless. Story continues Shes very afraid about being left and forgotten in Russia, or just completely used to the point of her detriment, Cherelle Griner said of Brittney, theGrio reported. Last Wednesday, President Joe Biden said there had been no progress in discussing Griners case with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to The Times. The United States has said that the Kremlin wants to swap Griner for prominent Russians currently imprisoned in this country. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Brittney Griner thanks supporters on 32nd birthday appeared first on TheGrio. A portrait of Vicky Escalante, with husband Yelman Oviedo and grandson Brian Oviedo, 4. Yelman Oviedo died of COVID-19. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Our story on overcrowded housing involved dozens of interviews and visits to tightly packed apartments where COVID-19 ran rampant. We pored over historical books, scholarly journals, oral histories, census and public health data, archival city records and newspaper clippings. In addition to the people struggling with overcrowding who are documented in the story, we want to give credit to the historians and researchers who were gracious enough to share their time and expertise. For an overall look at overcrowded housing, we conducted several interviews with Dowell Myers, a professor of policy, planning and demography at USC and one of the preeminent experts on this topic. To study the intersection of COVID-19 and overcrowding, we interviewed, among others, Paul Ong, a professor emeritus of urban planning at UCLA; Jarvis Chen, a social epidemiologist at Harvard; Steve Graves, an economics professor at Cal State Northridge; and Dr. David Eisenman, a professor at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. Claudia Solari, a senior research associate with the Urban Institute, spoke about the non-COVID effects of overcrowding. And James Rojas, an urban planner, described the issues specifically facing Latinos. William Deverell, a historian at USC, offered his insight into how Los Angeles developed from its frontier days. Manuel Pastor, director of USC's Equity Research Institute; Natalia Molina, a USC historian; and Fernando Guerra, director of the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount, discussed the history of Latinos in the region. That history was fleshed out with help from dozens of books and articles, including Mark Wilds Street Meeting, Robert M. Fogelsons The Fragmented Metropolis," Carey McWilliams Southern California and Tom Zimmermans Paradise Promoted." Molinas Fit to Be Citizens? describes the racial implications of the tuberculosis outbreaks of the 1920s, as do Emily K. Abels Tuberculosis & the Politics of Exclusion, Stephanie Lewthwaites Race, Place and Reform in Mexican Los Angeles" and Dana Cuffs The Provisional City. We also consulted contemporaneous scholarly works, mainly from sociological researchers at USC. Story continues In researching the deportation and coerced emigration campaign of the 1930s, we relied on Francisco E. Balderrama and Raymond Rodriguezs book Decade of Betrayal and conducted interviews with Balderrama. Oral history interviews conducted by Christine Valenciana, an associate professor at Cal State Fullerton, illuminated the personal stories of those who were expelled from the U.S. Don Parsons Making a Better World and Eric Nusbaums Stealing Home" documented the Chavez Ravine saga. We also interviewed Priscilla Leiva, an assistant professor of Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies at Loyola Marymount, who has extensively researched the history of those neighborhoods. Greg Morrows The Homeowner Revolution provided a helpful window into the "slow growth" movement of the 1970s. The socioeconomic landscape of L.A. housing in the late 20th century was expounded upon in William Fultons The Reluctant Metropolis, Ivan Lights Deflecting Immigration," Jacob Wegmanns We Just Built It" and Mike Davis' "The L.A. Inferno." While not every historian and researcher we interviewed made it into the report, their expertise was invaluable in better understanding the issue of overcrowding in Los Angeles. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Chinas chief diplomat to the United Kingdom in Manchester has confirmed his involvement in the violence with pro-Hong Kong independence protesters that erupted in his office grounds on Sunday. The incident, which was caught on now-viral security footage, saw a group of masked men drag a protester onto the Chinese consulate grounds, where he was then repeatedly beaten. They dragged me inside, they beat me up, the Hong Kong national, identified only as Bob, told the BBC. It's ridiculous. They [the attackers] shouldn't have done that. We are supposed to have freedom to say whatever we want here [in the UK]. A photo purportedly identifying some of the masked men has since circulated on social media. One of them is said to have been Consul-General Zheng Xiyuan, who heads the Manchester office. More from NextShark: 70% of Latino and Asian immigrants in California saw workplace discrimination, UCLA study finds The Manchester Chinese consulate assault. Here are the perps. @trussliz you know what you have to do. From left to right: Consul General Zheng Xiyuan Consul Gao Lianjia Counsellor Chen Wei Deputy Consul General Fan Yingjie pic.twitter.com/O85LHxaJ5q More from NextShark: Japan Has More Suicide Deaths Than COVID-19 Deaths Father Ted Crilly (@TedCrilly666) October 17, 2022 Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Zheng confirmed that he went outside and got caught up in the chaos. He claimed that the mob stormed the consulate and assaulted two members of his staff. More from NextShark: Filipino archbishop who some claimed had the ability to be in 2 places at once moves closer to sainthood However, Member of Parliament (MP) Alicia Kearns, who also affirmed Zhengs involvement, said he was seen ripping down posters before grievous bodily harm was inflicted on a protester. Story continues What we saw was the Chinese consul-general then ripping down posters and peaceful protest, Kearns told the House of Commons on Tuesday. We cannot allow the CCP to import their beating of protesters, their silencing of free speech and their failure to allow time and time again protests on British soil, the MP added. This is a chilling escalation. More from NextShark: GOP Senate candidate Peter Yu defends This racism thing? Its a lie' statement CCTV from the Chinese Consulate in Manchester quite clearly shows diplomats pulling Bob the protestor into the compound as police attempt to save his life. H/T @samuel_wade and @MattCKnight pic.twitter.com/h36VHpuaqS Luke M (@McWLuke) October 18, 2022 In a letter to the Greater Manchester Police, Zheng alleged that the protesters carried an image of Chinese President Xi Jinping with a noose around his neck, as well as posters with messages like God kill CPC (Communist Party of China) and F*ck your mother. He said such actions were deliberately designed to provoke, harass, alarm and distress our consular staff and in violation of the U.K.s Public Order Act. Zheng added that the protesters were initially asked politely to remove the signs. However, they refused to do so, resulting in the scuffle. The diplomat then addressed an incident involving a protester, though it was not immediately clear if it pertained to Bob. During the ensuing scuffle, one of the protestors grabbed a member of consular staff by the neck and refused to let go. In an effort to free the staff member, other members of staff pulled their colleague into our compound. Despite this, the attacker persistently refused to let go and plunged into the property himself, Zheng wrote. Despite several of our staff attempting to pull him off, the attacker continued assaulting our staff member and so our staff were forced to disentangle his hands. Eventually the attacker was removed with the assistance of the police but not before our staff member received injuries. British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly summoned China's second-most senior diplomat in London, Yang Xiaoguang, to explain the incident. Chinese Ambassador Zheng Zeguang is currently out of the U.K. They were on British soil and it is absolutely unacceptable for this kind of behavior, Cleverly told reporters on Wednesday. He added, My understanding is the Greater Manchester Police will be conducting an investigation into this and when I see the details of that investigation, I'll then decide what more we might need to do on that. Meanwhile, in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin disputed the protesters version of the events. He said the protester illegally entered the consulate and jeopardized the security of the Chinese diplomatic premises. The diplomatic missions of all countries have the right to take necessary measures to maintain the peace and dignity of the premises, Wang told reporters, according to the Associated Press. What I want to stress is that the peace and dignity of Chinese embassies and consulates abroad must not be violated. Investigation into the incident is currently ongoing. Featured Image via CGTN Europe (left) and @McWLuke (right) A Nashville social club owner on Wednesday pleaded guilty to a campaign finance scheme that also involves a Tennessee state senators failed 2016 congressional campaign. Joshua Smith, 45, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the solicitation and spending of at least $25,000 of so-called soft money or funds not subject to federal limitations and reporting requirements in connection with a federal election. RELATED: TN State Senator Brian Kelsey indicted for alleged campaign finance scheme The plea comes three months before state Sen. Brian Kelsey, a Republican, is scheduled to head to trial after pleading not guilty to federal campaign fraud charges. Kelsey, who is not seeking reelection this year, has criticized the charges as a political witch hunt. Smiths attorneys notified a federal judge earlier this month that a plea deal had been reached with prosecutors. Smith did not offer any comment during Wednesdays hearing other than to confirm to the judge that he understood and agreed to the plea deal. His sentencing hearing will be June 9, 2023, where the maximum penalty is five years in prison. A five-count indictment filed in October 2021 alleges that Smith, owner of The Standard club, and Kelsey violated campaign finance laws by illegally concealing the transfer of $91,000 during the lawmakers congressional campaign in 2016. The Standard is a restaurant and private club near the state Capitol that is often frequented by lawmakers and has featured its own political action committee. Kelsey and Smith unlawfully and secretly funneled funds from Kelseys state Senate campaign committee to his federal congressional campaign committee, according to the indictment. Prosecutors also allege that Kelsey and others caused a national nonprofit political organization to make illegal and excessive campaign contributions to Kelsey by coordinating with the organization on advertisements, and they caused the organization to file false reports to the Federal Election Commission. Story continues The indictment mentions, but does not charge, two alleged co-conspirators, one of whom is described as an attorney and former Tennessee House member expelled in 2016. Former Rep. Jeremy Durham, a Republican attorney from Franklin, was the only lawmaker expelled that year. The Associated Press contributed to this article. Download the FOX13 Memphis app to receive alerts from breaking news in your neighborhood. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD Trending stories: By Joyce Lee SEOUL (Reuters) - Kakao Corp's co-CEO Namkoong Whon resigned on Wednesday as South Korea's largest mobile chat app sought to defuse public anger over a massive outage that left tens of millions without access to a wide range of services. The company has pledged to increase investment to ensure continuity at the data centres it uses amid growing concern about the app's market dominance in Asia's fourth-largest economy. Namkoong's resignation comes only seven months after he took the top job and leaves co-CEO Hong Euntaek, appointed in July, as sole CEO. The two apologised for the outage that started on Saturday due to a fire at a data centre run by SK C&C near Seoul, which cut off power to 32,000 servers, or about 30% of Kakao's total. "We did not prepare for a complete shutdown of an entire data centre," Hong said at a press briefing, adding that previous emergency drills had mostly involved contingencies for surges in traffic. "We will increase infrastructure investment so we can be prepared for shutdown of a data centre or two." He noted while there was no loss of data due to back up plans, programmers' tools had not been backed up. Most of its systems were restored by Wednesday, but miscellaneous functions remain shaky after disruptions to a wide range of services from payments to taxis and restaurant bookings. "While Kakao has become a public service that the majority of the public uses, we've neglected responsibilities accompanying our status," Hong said. 'LIKE WATER OR AIR' KakaoTalk, launched in 2010, has more than 47 million active accounts in South Korea, making it one of the most ubiquitous apps in the country of 51.6 million. The free messenger service took mobile users by storm soon after smartphones took off in late 2000s and its early mover advantage allowed it to outpace competitors, including tech giant Naver, to become South Korea's dominant chat app. Story continues It was later able to leverage its large user base to expand into games, advertising, intellectual property and other entertainment, shopping, payments and mobility. Hong, who is also leading the company's response to the outage, said Kakao would look into why service recovery work was slow, review compensation for users and businesses affected by service disruptions and build its own data centres. Namkoong, whose responsibilities included supervision of data centre operations, will remain in an advisory role to ensure no repeat of the problem. "As the CEO in charge of the business...all thinking revolved around sales and operating profit. Rather than staying in that role, I recognise the gravity of this situation," Namkoong said. "For a tech company, the system is like water or air... as (Kakao) has grown rapidly in recent years, we are reevaluating the need for deeper interest and investment in the area." Kakao is investing 460 billion won ($325 million) to build its own data centre from next year, and another one will be completed in the following year, it said. More than 650 small businesses complained about lost sales due to the Kakao outage, lobby group Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise said. The ruling party's policy chief said on Wednesday lawmakers will propose a bill requiring companies like Kakao to back up their systems. The reshuffle and its biggest ever service disruptions cap a tumultuous year for Kakao. The group's billionaire founder Brian Kim quit the board and Namkoong was tapped for the top job in March after controversy involving stock options exercised by some executives at its financial affiliate soon after IPO. Shares in Kakao rose as much as 5.7% on Wednesday. Kakao shares plunged as much as 9.5% on Monday to their lowest since May 2020, wiping out 2 trillion won ($1.39 billion) in market capitalisation at one point. ($1 = 1,415.6400 won) (Reporting by Joyce Lee; Writing by Miyoung Kim; Editing by Sam Holmes) Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. (Justin Jun Lee / For The Times) On the surface, Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell have little in common beyond their Irish heritage. Separated by more than 20 years, Gleeson is a consummate character actor who didnt begin acting in films until middle age and has maintained a low profile, while Farrell was shot out of a cannon into stardom while still in his 20s and for years kept gossip columnists busy chronicling his offscreen antics. But appearances, of course, can be deceiving and when Farrell and Gleeson shared the screen as a pair of hit men in Martin McDonaghs 2008 black comedy, In Bruges, something clicked. Ever since, the two have been hoping for a chance to work together again. I was waiting for it to happen, frankly, Gleeson says. There's just something really special about myself and Colin. It doesn't matter if its years between the times we see each other; we just pick up where we left off. Now Gleeson, 67, and Farrell, 46, have reunited with McDonagh in the savagely funny yet melancholic The Banshees of Inisherin, in theaters Friday. Set on a starkly beautiful, fictional island off the coast of Ireland during the Irish Civil War, the film centers on a much smaller, more prosaic conflict: Gleesons brooding fiddler, Colm Doherty, abruptly decides to end his friendship with Farrells kindhearted if rather dull Padraic Suilleabhain. Determined to cut Padraic out of his life so he can focus on his music, Colm threatens to cut off his own fingers if his old friend so much as speaks to him, creating a rift that soon begins to tear the entire community apart. Colin Farrell, in window, and Brendan Gleeson in "The Banshees of Inisherin." (AP) McDonaghs last film, 2017s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, earned seven Oscar nominations, including best picture, with Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell earning Oscars for their performances in the film. Following the premiere of Banshees at Septembers Venice Film Festival, where Farrell earned the best actor prize, Oscar prognosticators have already tagged Farrell and Gleeson as likely contenders in the lead actor and supporting actor categories, respectively. In writing the script for Banshees, McDonagh had Farrell and Gleeson in mind from the start. If they'd said no, I don't know if I'd even have done it, he says. I definitely wanted to get them back together but to go to very different territory. In Bruges is, in some ways, a love story between the two of them, whereas Banshees is like the end of that and explores different qualities that they have as actors. Just days after Gleeson hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time, The Times spoke with the pair via Zoom about playing the bitterest of frenemies and navigating the perils of Oscar season while remaining the best of friends. Before we talk about Banshees, Brendan, I have to ask about your experience hosting Saturday Night Live, which seemed to come out of left field. Did Colin give you any advice as a former SNL host himself? Brendan Gleeson: I had been badly resistant to the idea I actually said no. But I listened to Colin because he knows the business better than I do, and I listened to Martin, who was also pushing it. I said to Martin, "Will you come in and help with the monologue and be part of the writing team? And he agreed. And Colin was saying, Ill be there. I had a fantastic time. It bumped me back to the 80s when I was part of a theater company, running around doing a lot of costume changes and wearing wigs and dodgy mustaches. Colin Farrell: Brendan was reticent about doing it, as I was and many people are its not our stock in trade. But I sold the s out of it. I wanted him to do it more than I wanted him to do Banshees or In Bruges. [Laughs.] And it was magic. You two have had great chemistry onscreen going back to In Bruges. Was that connection apparent to you both from the start? Farrell: From the first day of rehearsal on In Bruges, there was a shorthand that was deeply organic and familiar. There was just an ease and a little bit of giddiness as well. Theres an excitement that arises when you're both open to exploration, to not being quite certain what it is you're searching for. That kind of certainty mixed with uncertainty is a lovely sandbox to be in, and we had that from the start. Colin Farrell, left, and Brendan Gleeson in "The Banshees of Inisherin." (AP) In the years since it came out, In Bruges has become a beloved cult film. Im sure you get people quoting lines back to you. Farrell: [Dryly] My lines are unquotable in todays culture. Banshees is a very different film, though. No less funny but also quieter, sadder and stranger. What appealed to you about the idea of reuniting with Martin on it? Farrell: Martins writing really is the tastiest stuff. Its so funny, but ultimately it's so moving and emotionally connected to all the things we struggle with as human beings: the need for love, our loneliness, our inescapable leaning into violence at times and the consequences of that violence. And its so sneaky you think youre watching something thats irreverent and macabre with this gallows humor, but at its core, theres a tenderness and a longing and a deep inquisition into what it is to be a human being, how fallible and frail we ultimately are and how much we need each other. Gleeson: What Martin does with this tiny story is to explore the metaphysical. All the various areas that he goes into, it really does mainline meaning and humanity in a way. That's what's connecting with people. Director Martin McDonagh (Justin Jun Lee / For The Times) Its easy for the audience to empathize with Padraic because hes so gentle and open-hearted. In some ways it seems you had the bigger challenge, Brendan, getting the audience to understand why Colm is behaving so cruelly toward him and going to such extremes to cut him out of his life. How did you find your own way into the character? Gleeson: Martin said, Think about where you are at the beginning of the film, and suddenly a light came on. Colm is at a place of desperation already before the film starts. He's screaming for survival. He has to make something happen or he's in the pit. His abyss is gaping. So I understood that the desperation to make things different is total, and that was what allowed me to be that brutal. Because I knew he wasn't a monster. Colin, Padraic is clearly a bit dim, and everyone in the film talks about how dull he is. But theres more to him underneath the surface, as we see when he gets drunk and unloads his anger on Colm. Farrell: There's a lot more to everyone. There are people that bore me thats my experience of them. But a human being cannot be boring. If you can find a way to obviate all your own traumas or your own prejudices and all that jazz, human beings, all 8 billion of us, are fascinating to observe. Padraic is pretty dim, and I understood where the accusations of total dullard-ship came from. But he also has a beauty and a purity to him, and how that simplicity and that childlike quality was rendered in the writing was so gorgeous. But it also didn't take that much to make everything come crumbling down. Its not often we see a movie that explores the ups and downs of male friendship as intimately as this one does. Did working on the film make you reflect on your own friendships? Farrell: Sometimes the work makes you reflect on things in your life, and sometimes things in your life go into the work. I felt like this was more of the latter. I haven't got many friends in the world, like true friends, and the ones I have I care for deeply, and I feel they care for me in a similar sympathetic way. Gleeson: I dont think either of us have an issue with talking about our emotions. But there are other people that really do have that archetypal male-silence thing, and I understand [that] as well. I have friends who talk and friends who dont talk, and I dont see a lot of difference in the way it works. Often male intimacy can be communicated nonverbally. Sometimes a good friend is somebody who says nothing, and thats explored in Banshees too. It's not all spoken, the stuff between us. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson (Justin Jun Lee / For The Times) You two are both considered early Oscar contenders for your work in this film. Neither of you has ever been nominated before. Is it hard not to let all of that awards-season chatter get into your head? Gleeson: It'd be great if it happened and all that. But its not why we do it. I don't like the competitive aspect its apples and oranges and all the nonsense of it. But it's part of the business, and it keeps people interested in going to movies. And now, of all times, we need people to be interested in movies to keep all these theaters open for as long as possible. Farrell: The whole thing is totally ridiculous, but there's a lot of stuff in life that's ridiculous that can be fun as well if you don't take it too seriously. You're not the first one to ask about it, so of course it's in my head, but its not keeping me up at night. It'd be a laugh if it happens. But if it doesnt, I've already had such a laugh. To be honest with you, if I had a choice [for who would get nominated] between the two of us, I would choose him, and he would choose me. Thats the gospel truth. If I got a nod and he didnt, I would be crushed. Gleeson: Colin won a Golden Globe for In Bruges, and he said, A hemisphere belongs to Brendan. Which I thought was the sweetest thing. And thats the way I feel now. This interview has been condensed and edited. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. IRYNA BALACHUK WEDNESDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2022, 11:53 Collaborator Volodymyr Saldo has announced that the so-called leadership of Kherson Oblast has decided to move to the left bank [of the Dnipro River] due to the alleged preparation of a counteroffensive by Ukrainian Armed Forces. Source: Russian state-owned news outlet RIA Novosti with reference to Saldo Details: The collaborator states that all divisions and ministries of the so-called "civilian administration" of Kherson Oblast are moving to the left bank of the Dnipro [river]. Saldo has also added that entry for civilians to Kherson Oblast is closed for a week. What happened before: Representatives of the occupation "administration" of Kherson and the oblast have stated that they plan to remove approximately 50,000-60,000 residents from 4 right-bank districts of the oblast to the left bank of the Dnipro or to Russia due to the alleged preparation of a counteroffensive by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Background: "Gauleiter" [Russian-appointed puppet leader/governor; a term that referred to German governors of territories occupied by the Nazis in WWII] Kyrylo Stremousov, one of the so-called leaders of the occupying "administration" of Kherson, has announced the preparation for an offensive by Ukrainian troops on the city. Western military officials believe that the Ukrainian army can liberate Kherson from the Russian invaders as early as late October. Volodymyr Saldo, the Russian-appointed puppet governor of Kherson Oblast, has appealed to the Russian leadership, asking for it to help evacuate residents from the region. The Russian Federation said that it would provide "free accommodation" to all persons coming to Russia from Kherson Oblast. According to the General Staff, the Russians have begun the process of evacuating so-called state institutions from the occupied part of Kherson Oblast to occupied Crimea. The Russian occupiers are taking collaborators and their families from Kherson to Russian-occupied Crimea. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Programs that offer college in prison are becoming more prevalent. Scott Shymko via Getty Images When it comes to education in prison, policy and research often focus on how it benefits society or improves the life circumstances of those who are serving time. But as I point out in my new edited volume, Education Behind the Wall: Why and How We Teach College in Prison, education in prison is doing more than changing the lives of those who have been locked up as punishment for crimes it is also changing the lives of those doing the teaching. As director of a college program in prisons and as a researcher and professor who teaches in both colleges and prisons, I know that the experience of teaching in a correctional facility makes educators question and reexamine much of what we do. My book collects experiences of college professors who teach in prison. A common thread is that we all went into education behind the wall thinking about ourselves to some extent as experts but have since critically reflected on what we know through interactions with incarcerated students and the institutions that hold them. Rewriting the book One semester in 2020, I volunteered to tutor for a class on something that occurs frequently behind prison walls: conflict and negotiation. The class featured two books that are considered essential to the field. The first is Interpersonal Conflict, a 2014 text that invites readers to reflect on how conflict has played out in their personal lives. The second is Getting to Yes, a 2011 text described by its publisher as a universally applicable method for negotiating personal and professional disputes without getting angry or getting taken. You know, I know these are very important books and all, but this isnt really what would work in here, one incarcerated student said after a few class meetings, gesturing to the prison walls. Here, you cant talk openly about your feelings like the authors want us to, and the rules of relating to people are different. I responded that his observation was astute, and that knowing both sets of rules and how to switch between them could be profoundly useful. For example, I theorized, I imagine he behaves differently during yard time than on a phone call with a family member on the outside. If the textbooks about conflict on the outside didnt adequately address how to handle conflict in prison, I suggested he write an equivalent book for conflict negotiation in prison. Story continues Maybe I should, he chuckled, and looked around to his classmates. Maybe we should. The experience showed me how even though there are textbooks that are considered universal, that universality may not always extend itself to correctional institutions. A new understanding of status As a full professor and chair of the sociology department at Clark University, a small, private university in Worcester, Massachusetts, Shelly Tenenbaum is used to being accorded a certain degree of respect for her professional accomplishments and credentials. But none of those things mattered once she passed through the gates of medium-security prisons for men located in Massachusetts. Status that I might have as a scholar, full professor, department chair is rendered invisible as we enter prison, Tenenbaum writes. When passing through security, I have been abruptly instructed to obey commands and my questions are ignored. Encounters with correctional officers are frequently unnerving for educators, particularly at the entrance gates. I find myself in the position of needing to second-guess what I may (or may not) have done wrong and defer to people who are considerably younger than I am, Tenenbaum continues. There were times that I followed rules only to be scolded when the rules appeared to be differently interpreted from one day to the next. To be in the subordinate role of a power dynamic is a humbling experience. It takes having expectations defied to realize that they even existed. Whether the rules are about clothing faculty members are allowed to wear or the number of pieces of paper we can carry in, the decisions are frequently about power. In her chapter, Tenenbaum writes that having had her status questioned has led to a new sense of humility and altered the power dynamics in her professional world. She does not take it for granted that her expertise is currency for respect. Modeling apology When an incarcerated student told Bill Littlefield, a retired English professor, that the novel Frankenstein had no relevance to his experience or life, Littlefields first reaction was to push back. Good writing is always relevant, I said, ever the professor, writes Littlefield. Littlefield tutors and teaches at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution in Concord and Northeastern Correctional Center. He is also author of the newly released book Mercy, as well as popular host of WBURs sports radio show Only A Game. He said he would read it, certainly even though he knew that the story of the lonely, ultimately vengeful monster created by the gentleman scientists preposterous, insane overreach would have nothing to say to him, Littlefield writes. I argued that he was wrong. But in the week that followed, Littlefield said he came to see his own reaction as a mistake and an act of arrogance. When we met again, I made a point of apologizing to the student, in front of his classmates, Littlefield writes. I told him that Id realized it was no business of mine to tell him what was relevant to his life. If he did the reading, hed decide for himself. The student thanked him. More college in prison As college programs in prison become more prevalent, I fully expect that in the coming years there will be more and more college professors being transformed by the powerful experience of teaching behind bars. This is especially so given that Congress has lifted a long-standing ban on federal financial aid, namely, Pell Grants, for people who are incarcerated. In 2022, there are 374 prison education programs run by 420 institutions of higher education operating in 520 facilities, according to the National Directory maintained by the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison. Collectively, college programs in prison have been shown to lower the odds that a person who participates in them will return to prison after being released. But as I show in my book, the programs are also dramatically changing the perspective of the college professors who teach them. This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Mneesha Gellman, Emerson College. Like this article? subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Read more: Mneesha Gellman is affiliated with the Emerson Prison Initiative. Bogota (Reuters) - Colombia's congress on Tuesday approved an $85.5 billion budget for 2023, increasing spending for education, health and agriculture amid promises by leftist President Gustavo Petro to increase support for social programs. The 405.6 trillion peso figure for the bill - the highest budget in the country's history - was approved last month. Tuesday's vote enshrined spending for individual programs and ministries. "The approval of the budget is a victory of the government," Finance Minister Jose Antonio Ocampo told journalists. "It makes a significant increase in social programs, programs in favor of peace, of agrarian reform, education, health." Funding for education will rise 10.3% to 54.8 trillion pesos, while the health sector will see a 19.8% increase to 50.2 trillion. The agriculture sector, which Petro wants to expand as part of a move away from oil and mining development, will see a 62.6% increase in funding, taking its coffers to 4.08 trillion pesos. The defense sector will see a rise of 9.91% to 46.9 trillion pesos, while debt servicing will get its highest-ever level of funding, reaching 77.9 trillion pesos. The bill received 71 votes in favor in the Senate, with seven against, and 144 votes in the lower house, with 13 against. The funding uptick also incorporates required increases to public-sector salaries and pensions, which must move in tandem with inflation. The ministry on Monday said it would not issue any more TES Treasury bonds via auctions this year because it already has sufficient funds, thanks to previous issuances and tax revenue. ($1 = 4,636.83 Colombian pesos) (Reporting by Carlos Vargas, Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb. Editing by Gerry Doyle) A Columbia, South Carolina, man is the latest arrest in a multi-agency sting operation in search of predators who target underage children, according to the Beaufort Police Department. Tony Hoover, 54, was charged Tuesday night with criminal solicitation of a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor in the first degree and disseminating obscene material to a minor, jail records show. The charges stem from an online conversation that occurred in March. Messaging with a person who Hoover thought to be a 14-year-old girl, Hoover sent and asked for sexually explicit photos, according to Lt. Charles Raley, a spokesperson for the Beaufort Police Department. But Hoover was actually messaging with an undercover police officer, as a part of Operation Rock the Boat, a joint effort between local law enforcement agencies and the Attorney Generals Internet Crimes Against Children task force. The operation involved undercover police officers posing as children online, leading multiple individuals to have explicit conversations with people they believed to be minors. As part of the operation, four people traveled to Beaufort with the intent of having sex with minors between the ages of 12 and 14, according to previous reporting from the Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette. Hoover was released Wednesday morning from the Beaufort County Detention Center on a $20,000 bond. When we publish mugshots The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette publishes police booking photos, or mugshots, in the following instances: In situations where a public figure or someone in a position of public trust is arrested In cases where there is an immediate and widespread threat to public safety In cases where the arrested person is accused of a crime reporters have evidence to believe involved numerous, unknown victims Reporters will avoid using mugshots as lead images for online articles in order to limit their circulation on social media, except in cases where the public is served by the immediate identification of the accused. Reporters and editors may use discretion in situations that dont meet the criteria outlined in this policy but still present a compelling reason to publish a mugshot. As the COVID-19 pandemic winds down, one of the nation's top doctors is warning Ohioans to prepare for a crisis exacerbated by years of social distancing and shuttered schools youth mental health. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy visited Columbus on Tuesday to meet with leaders and hear from young people at local colleges and hospitals about mental health. In an interview with The Dispatch, he called youth mental health "the defining challenge of our country." U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy, talks with Dispatch reporters Tuesday about youth mental health. "How do we answer the question: Are we taking care of our kids?" said Murthy, a doctor and vice admiral who was the first surgeon general of Indian descent when he first served as U.S. surgeon general under President Obama. "... Right now, our kids are telling us very clearly that they are struggling and it's up to us to collectively respond." Youth mental health:'Something is happening': As suicides rise among Black girls, local leaders take action Around 44% of high school students have reported feeling persistently sad and hopeless and on average it takes about 11 years for a child struggling with his or her mental health to obtain treatment, Murthy said. It's critically important, Murthy said, for those numbers to decline. However, he said the rise in youth mental health struggles isn't caused by any one thing and so society needs multiple approaches to help children cope. What Murthy did in Columbus Murthy praised local work being done to address the issue, such as the Big Lots Behavioral Health Pavilion at Nationwide Children's Hospital. The facility opened in 2020 and planned to start with 22 inpatient beds and eventually ramp up to 48. Murthy said he visited Nationwide Children's on Tuesday and was happy to hear that the hospital is working behavioral health care into primary care treatment as well. Mental health and kids:Psychiatrist shortage limits Nationwide Childrens behavioral health program Before Murthy stopped by The Dispatch, he also met with students and faculty at Otterbein University in Westerville. Afterward, he planned to discuss mental health with student athletes at Ohio State University. Story continues "Some of the loneliest people I've met are students on college campuses, who say: 'I'm surrounded by people all the time, but I feel like nobody really knows me. I feel like I'm invisible,'" Murthy said. For the last several years, Murthy has publicly talked about loneliness and how it plays an important role in other health and social problems. He has even published a book on the subject, "Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World." Kids and mental health care: Where things stand in U.S. Across the U.S., there has been a shortage of child psychiatrists for decades. There are 16 mental health care facilities for children in Ohio, four of which are located in Greater Columbus, according to data from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry estimates that for every 100,000 Ohio children, there are just 11 psychiatrists, which matches the national median. The association labels Ohio as one of 41 states with a severe shortage. Health care:Over-the-counter hearing aids now available in Ohio following federal change It's no secret that there's been an exodus of health care workers since the start of the pandemic that Murthy admitted has likely worsened the shortage. While Ohio and the country as a whole "absolutely need more medical providers," Murthy said more creative solutions are needed. Remedying the mental health care shortage Murthy said one fix could include expanding the definition of who is considered a mental health care provider. The workforce, he said, shouldn't be limited to psychiatrists and psychologists. It needs to expand to include more school counselors, clinical social workers and everyday community members who can be trained to administer "mental health first aid." The other solution is virtual mental health care, which Murthy said has been expanding. Flu season returns:Ohio doctors on what to expect this flu season, when to get shots The surgeon general recalled visiting in 2016 a remote fishing village in Alaska, where he stopped by a small clinic where there was a video screen hanging on the wall. Murthy asked what the screen was for and workers told him that patients could use it to talk with mental health professionals in other parts of the U.S. "There is no reason we should not be able to do that everywhere in America," he said. Mental health care: Going forward While the pandemic may have exacerbated the youth mental health crisis, Murthy said it may have also hastened some of the solutions in the works. In fact, the expansion of telemedicine for mental health has expedited virtual health care across the country. Now, Murthy said states and the nation as a whole need to make permanent the changes that allowed doctors to practice remotely. Doing so will expand access to care for parts of the country where there remain too few psychiatrists and psychologists, he said. Bivalent COVID boosters:Columbus doctors answer 3 major questions about new COVID boosters The isolation experienced by many during the COVID pandemic also seems to have opened people's minds to what others are going through. That represents a cultural shift that Murthy said needs to continue in the decades to come. "A lot of this has been pushed forward by the pandemic, which for many people, has just pulled back the curtain on mental health as an issue..." he said. "We're all struggling in some way, and we all have struggled over the years and there's nothing to be ashamed of. So I want us to use this window of opportunity to do right by our children." mfilby@dispatch.com @MaxFilby This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: In Columbus, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy urges mental health care Editors note: This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you love is struggling with a mental health crisis, there are resources available. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by texting or dialing 988. The defendant in a Columbus rape trial left a Government Center courtroom during a break, walked across the street and killed himself outside his attorneys office, authorities said Wednesday. Christopher Smith, 51, was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound to the head at 1:13 p.m. outside 908 Second Ave., Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan said Tuesday afternoon. Court officials said Smith was on trial in Superior Court Judge Maureen Gottfrieds courtroom on two counts of rape when his attorneys, father and son team Shevon Thomas and Shevon Thomas II, sought a mistrial based on a witness sequestration issue. That was shortly after court started at 11 a.m., witnesses said. Gottfried denied the motion, and Smiths attorneys asked for a few minutes break, so their client could walk to his car, parked off the east side of Second Avenue, to get his glasses. When he did not return, Shevon Thomas II went looking for him, found the body and reported the death, officials said. Gottfried afterward dismissed the jury to end the trial. Court records identifying the defendant as Christopher Daron Smith said he was on trial for two alleged rapes reported over the summer of 2008. After a fan announced that a check from the Washington Commanders bounced, the team blamed the issue on a "bank error" and wired him his money. The Commanders addressed the issued a statement on Wednesday after season-ticket holder Drew Shipley called into The Team 980 radio with a story about the bounced check. Per host Chris Russell, Shipley claimed to have won a prize of more than $14,000 from a charity raffle the Commanders hosted during their season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Shipley then shared an image of the $14,822 check with local media, which he said came from the "Washington Football Charitable Foundation." Just talked to Drew Shipley, the @Commanders fan whose $14kprize check from the team bounced after winning the 50/50 raffle week 1. The team paid him what he was owed this afternoon but he remains stunned. "Who am I supposed to talk to? Am I supposed to call Dan Snyder myself?" pic.twitter.com/dSndJ8xBIT Eric Flack (@EricFlackTV) October 19, 2022 After the story made the rounds on social media, Commanders media relations confirmed that the check had bounced. They blamed it on the bank and announced that they wired Shipley his money in a statement provided to local media, including Washington Post reporter Nicki Jhabvala: Weve reached out to the fan and sent an electronic payment directly to his account. It was a bank error, and we have reached out to the bank to determine what happened and to ensure it doesnt happen again. Washington Commanders. (David Eulitt/Getty Images) Tuesday's news was the latest in a seemingly endless stream of dysfunction surrounding the beleaguered franchise. It certainly wasn't the biggest or most damning headline. That honor belongs to all things Dan Snyder. But it continued a trend of the team struggling to get things right, big and small. Story continues Take, for instance, another Week 1 snafu. Social media caught wind of mugs being sold near FedEx Field that had the team's "W" logo emblazoned over an outline of a map of Washington state not the team's Washington, D.C. home. From team official: These were not INSIDE the stadium. Instead, they were being sold at a truck just outside it https://t.co/DoXPlXEbIJ Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) September 11, 2022 After declaring that the mugs were sold outside the stadium, the team eventually admitted that the mugs were sold from an official team truck. Shipley summed up his take on the state of the franchise on Wednesday in an interview with WUSA's Eric Flack. "You've got to do the small things right," Shipley said. "You have big enough scandals from the top of your organization. You've got to do the little things right, you've got to retain your customers. I have a hard time now thinking about spending a dollar at FedEx Field. A federal grand jury indicted the former captain of the Conception dive boat a second time for his actions contributing to a boat fire near Santa Cruz Island that killed all 33 passengers and a crew member in 2019. Jerry Boylan, 68, of Santa Barbara, was indicted Tuesday with one count of misconduct or neglect of ship officer. The indictment, filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, states that a host of Boylan's mistakes before, during and after the fire constituted "misconduct, gross negligence and inattention to his duties," which led to the deaths of 34 people. The charge stems from a fire that erupted on the 75-foot passenger vessel in the early morning hours of Sept. 2, 2019, while the boat was anchored off the coast of Santa Cruz Island on a Labor Day weekend diving excursion. The Conception had launched from Santa Barbara Harbor. The blaze trapped 33 passengers and one crew member sleeping in quarters below deck. Five crew members, including Boylan, escaped as they slept on the upper deck. One of the passengers was an Oxnard resident. Kendra Chan, 26, had taken the weekend diving trip with her father, Raymond Scott Chan, 59, of Los Altos. A heart-shaped sign surrounded by flowers leans against the memorial for victims of the Conception boat fire at Santa Barbara Harbor on the eve of the disaster's third anniversary in September. Ventura County Fire Department crews were among the first to respond to the scene. Boylan had previously been indicted on the same charge, but that indictment had been thrown out by a federal judge in Los Angeles last month because it didn't allege gross negligence as legal precedent required. The new document alleges gross negligence. The indictment catalogs a variety of Boylan's alleged shortcomings as captain of the Conception, including not having a night watch, insufficient training for crew members, failing to use a fire ax and extinguisher next to him in the wheelhouse when the blaze broke out, not warning passengers and crew about the fire and becoming the first crew member to abandon ship. Story continues Boylan will be scheduled for arraignment in district court in Los Angeles in coming weeks, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in LA. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. The investigation is being conducted by the FBI, the Coast Guard Investigative Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Read the indictment in full below: Jeremy Childs is a general assignment reporter covering courts, crime and breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at 805-437-0208, jeremy.childs@vcstar.com, and on Twitter @Jeremy_Childs. This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Conception boat captain Jerry Boylan indicted by grand jury President Joe Biden Evan Vucci/AP A Wisconsin conservative group is asking SCOTUS to block Biden's student-debt relief. This comes after a federal judge already struck down the lawsuit, saying the group does not have standing. The group argued that the loan forgiveness has an "improper racial motive" and is unconstitutional. A conservative taxpayers group wants President Joe Biden's student-loan forgiveness plan blocked as soon as possible and it's taking matters to the Supreme Court. The Brown County Taxpayers Association in Wisconsin filed an emergency request to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, asking to temporarily pause Biden's student-debt relief plan before Sunday, when the group expects the administration to start officially canceling borrowers' debt. The conservative group, represented by the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL), initially filed a lawsuit against the debt relief on October 4, arguing that it has an "improper racial motive" by seeking to help Black borrowers and advance racial equity. It said Biden exceeded his constitutional power by enacting the loan relief without congressional approval. Two days later, a federal judge tossed out the lawsuit. While that decision is being appealed, the group is now escalating the issue to the Supreme Court in an effort to block Biden's plan from taking effect. "The assault on our separation of powersand upon the principle that the spending power is vested solely in Congressis extraordinary, and perhaps unprecedented," lawyers representing the group wrote in a brief to the court. "It is critical that the U.S. Supreme Court weighs in on the President's unconstitutional student loan relief plan before Sunday, when the loan forgiveness could start," WILL President and General Counsel Rick Esenberg said in a statement. "WILL is proud to represent American taxpayers, and to bring the first claim to be submitted to SCOTUS." The Sunday deadline refers to a previous court filing from Biden's administration that noted no student debt would be canceled before October 23. The group is asking the Supreme Court to respond to two questions surrounding the legality of loan forgiveness: whether a taxpayer can sue in federal court to prevent the overreach of constitutional spending power, and whether the HEROES Act permits broad debt relief for millions of Americans. Story continues The HEROES Act has been widely debated even before Biden announced debt relief. While his administration said it gives the Education Secretary the authority to modify or waive student loan balances in connection with a national emergency, like COVID-19, many conservatives have claimed Biden's policy is an overreach of that authority. At least six major conservative groups have filed lawsuits seeking to halt Biden's student-debt relief, and while federal judges have struck down at least two of them so far, borrowers are still awaiting a decision from a federal judge who heard arguments last week from six Republican-led states who sought to block the loan forgiveness, arguing the relief would hurt their states' tax revenues, among other things. The emergency filing also comes just days after Biden officially launched the student-loan forgiveness application. During Monday remarks, Biden noted that 8 million borrowers had already applied for relief through the simple form that takes just minutes to fill out, only requiring basic information like a borrower's email address and Social Security number. The emergency request was filed to Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who handles matters coming from Wisconsin. She can decide to respond to the request on her own or refer the issue to the full nine-member court. For now, the Biden administration is moving forwarding with the debt relief application process and recommends that borrowers submit their forms before mid-November to ensure the debt cancellation will be processed before payments resume in January. Correction: This story has been updated to clarify that the Brown County Taxpayers Association is appealing a federal judge's decision to throw out the original lawsuit, in addition to asking the Supreme Court to weigh in and block Biden's forgiveness plan. Read the original article on Business Insider A fisherman raises a steel crab trap off the coast of Alaska in 2015. The 2022 Bering Sea snow crab harvest has been cancelled due to population issues. Credit - Shutterstock Snow crab legs, the pale-pink centerpiece of any self-respecting seafood platter, are no longer on the menu. They are the victim of a massive population crash that led Alaska to cancel its 2022 Bering Sea snow crab harvest for the first time in history. As fishery officials announced the closure of one of the states most lucrative harveststhe Alaskan snow crab industry is worth some $132 million a yearthey said that the states snow crab population had dropped 87%, from 8 billion in 2018 to a billion last year. Further fishing could wipe out the population entirely. Officials suggested that a combination of climate change and some kind of crustacean health crisis might be to blameAlaska is the fastest warming state in the U.S.. They posited that the warming waters of the Bering Sea forced the cold-loving crustaceans into increasingly small pockets of frigid water, leaving them more susceptible to hunger, disease, and predation. But thats only part of the story, says Wes Jones, the Fisheries, Research, and Development Director for the Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation, a private nonprofit organization that represents communities in the Bering Sea region and promotes fishing as an industry and livelihood. According to the marine biologists he works with, the most immediate cause of snow-crab death is one that even seasoned fishermen and scientists didnt see coming: a mass cannibalism frenzy. To understand what really happened in the icy depths of Alaskas Bering Sea this year means going back to 2017, when fishermen started reporting an unprecedented population explosion of juvenile snow crabswhat is called, in crabber speak, a recruit. The population boom continued into 2018 and 2019, creating what Jones says was the largest recruitment event on record. Jones is something of a local piscine historian. He can quote fishery statistics going back 30 years in the same way a Red Sox fan might quote batting averages. At the time the young crabs were too small for a legal harvestjuvenile snow crabs take four to five years to maturebut there were enough of them for seasoned crabbers to start the count-down to huge hauls starting in 2022. Story continues In the meantime, Bering Sea temperatures, which usually hover around freezing, were on the rise, spiking several degrees between 2017-2019. Unlike mammals, who use less energy when temperatures rise, cold-water fish and crustaceans speed up their metabolism. The faster the crabs grow and expend energy, the faster they have to replace it, says Jones. Some of the crabs may have headed north into cooler Russian waters, but most seem to have stayed put. All of a sudden you had this huge number of little crabs coming up, eating themselves out of house and home, says Jones. Then the water warmed, which meant they had to eat more. It was a double whammy, he says, and the results were inevitable for a hungry, omnivorous species that has run out of its usual food source: They basically cannibalized each other. Snow crabs are only the latest victim of climate change up in the Bering Sea area. For years, the fishing industry has reported lower-than-usual catches of certain species. But rising temperatures dont necessarily lead to a steady decline into obsolescence. Just as likely it leads to unpredictable boom and bust cycles for climate change winners and losers that have unanticipated consequences for creatures up and down the food chain. A population explosion of sockeye salmon south of the Bering Sea, in Bristol Bay, is the likely reason for the recent collapse of Alaskas lucrative red king crab harvest, which was also canceled this year, for the second time in a row. Meanwhile, the warming waters of the historically cold Bering Sea have opened the door for Pacific Cod, a predator of juvenile crabs of all kinds. It will be years before the Alaskan snow crab population recovers to harvest-worthy levels, says Jones. And thats only if temperatures in the Bering Sea stay cool enough for the cold-loving juvenilesand climate change is making everything harder to predict. Scientific projections, he says, are based on what has happened in the past. But when you start seeing things outside of the range of what youve seen before, you dont know how thats gonna affect something until its happened. Like rising water temperatures. And cannibalism. A car crashed into the entrance of the Tofukuji Temple's ancient communal bathroom. Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education A Japanese cultural heritage worker smashed his car into an ancient bathroom on Monday. The man accidentally stepped on the gas while his car was in reverse, per Japanese news reports. The Tofukuji temple's toilet is Japan's oldest existing communal loo, and a cultural heritage site. A Japanese cultural heritage worker had a terrible start to the week when he accidentally crashed his car into a treasured bathroom he was supposed to help preserve. The unnamed 30-year-old man was on a work trip to the Tofukuji Temple in Kyoto at 9:30 a.m. on Monday. He is a staff member at the Kyoto Association for the Preservation of Ancient Cultures, the Sankei Shimbun, a local newspaper, reported. While on the temple grounds, the man put his car in reverse before accidentally stepping on the accelerator, reported the Sankei Shimbun, citing a Japanese police source. The car then rammed through the doors of the Tofukuji Temple's ancient communal loo. While the row of latrines within the wooden structure was undamaged, the temple toilet's doors and pillars were smashed in, reported the Sankei Shimbun. No one was injured. The heritage worker later reported the accident to the police himself, the outlet reported. Tofukuji Temple's bathroom was built at least 500 years ago during Japan's Muromachi period and is the country's oldest existing communal loo. Inside the temple outhouse is a row of holes around 11 inches deep, an example of the spartan restroom facilities used at the time. The temple's latrine was dubbed the "hundred-person toilet" because it was used by more than 100 trainee monks, The Asahi Shimbun reported, citing Kyoto Prefecture's cultural properties protection division. The wooden building that the toilet is in was designated by the Japanese government as an important cultural site, per The Asahi Shimbun. Fortunately for the unnamed man, the doors can be fixed. "We are relieved that the damage is reparable," Keishu Nagai, head of the temple's management office, told The Asahi Shimbun. "We'd like to somehow restore it to its original state." Story continues On Tuesday, the Kyoto Association for the Preservation of Ancient Cultures issued an apology on its website for its employee's driving foul-up. "We sincerely apologize for causing an accident involving a vehicle that damaged an important cultural property by an employee of our association," read the association's statement. "We deeply apologize for the great inconvenience caused to Tofukuji Temple and everyone involved." The association added that it will take measures to educate employees on safe driving measures. The organization did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment on whether the man was fired. Read the original article on Insider Jeff Spicer - Getty Images Earlier this year, actor Daniel Craig officially ended his five-film run as the iconic British spy James Bond. But while Craig might be hanging up his tux for good, he now has one more thing in common with his famous fictional counterpart. Earlier today, Craig was named a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) by Princess Annean honor also shared by none other than Bond, James Bond. The royal family shared the news on Twitter, with a photo of Anne placing the honors around Craig's neck. Weve been expecting you The Princess Royal presents Daniel Craig with The Order of St Michael and St George - the same honour held by his character James Bond - in recognition of his outstanding contribution to film and theatre. pic.twitter.com/X20TP6BogL The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 18, 2022 "Weve been expecting you" they wrote in the caption, "The Princess Royal presents Daniel Craig with The Order of St Michael and St George - the same honour held by his character James Bond - in recognition of his outstanding contribution to film and theatre." Originally created in 1818, the Order of St Michael and St George was first instituted to acknowledge those of high rank in the Ionian Islands and Malta, but was later expanded "to reward distinguished service in British territories, as well as more generally in foreign affairs," according the the royal family's website. In From Russia with Love and On Her Majesty's Secret Service, the novels by Bond creator Ian Fleming on which two of the eventual Bond films would be based, it's mentioned that the infamous secret agent himself was awarded a CMG in the early 1950s, presumably for all of his daring-do on behalf of queen and country. You Might Also Like Danny Masterson is pictured in March 2014. Annie I. Bang/Invision/AP Actor Danny Masterson's trial kicked off in Los Angeles on Tuesday. He's standing trial on three charges of forcible rape that the prosecution alleges happened between 2001 and 2003. In opening statements, the Los Angeles Deputy DA said that the Church of Scientology silenced the accusers. During the opening statements of actor Danny Masterson's criminal rape trial in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller offered the court an inside look at Masterson's house, flipping through slides that showed his backyard, jacuzzi, and master bedroom. In those sections of the house, between 2001 and 2003, the prosecution said during opening statements, the "That '70s Show" actor raped at least three women, taking jurors on a macabre guided tour. In 2020, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office charged Masterson with three counts of rape. Masterson and his legal team have denied the allegations, calling them "outrageous." He pleaded not guilty to the charges, and during opening statements Tuesday, Masterson's attorney said the women's accounts of the incidents had inconsistencies and that they had potentially discussed the details with one another. On Tuesday, opening statements in the trial expected to last weeks centered on the three alleged rapes, but also veered into how the Church of Scientology responded to the allegations, which prosecutors have said intimidated the women and attempted to protect Masterson from potential consequences. Masterson is a longtime member of the Church of Scientology, and although the trial is centered on what the accusers say happened in the actor's house, church leaders' response to the accusations will inevitably be a presence. The Church of Scientology is not a defendant in Masterson's criminal trial and declined to comment to Insider on the trial. In 2019, four women filed a civil lawsuit against Masterson and the church, accusing Masterson of sexually assaulting them between 2001 and 2003. That suit led to the three criminal charges filed in 2020. Story continues Prosecutors described the first alleged rape During opening statements on Tuesday, Mueller alleged that on April 25, 2002, Masterson committed the first count of forcible rape that he is being charged with. One of the women set to take the stand during the trial was identified as Jane Doe 1, or Jen B. They had a "brother-sister" relationship, Mueller said. Both of them were close friends with Brie Schaffer, Masterson's personal assistant in the early 2000s. Jen B. was set to sleep at Schaffer's house, but on a whim, the pair went to join Masterson and others at the Electric Lotus restaurant, with Jen B. ending up at Masterson's house. Masterson "brought her a fruity red drink in a coffee mug," Mueller told the court, adding that Jen B., who hadn't consumed alcohol that night, quickly became highly disoriented. The prosecution alleged that Masterson then dragged her, semi-conscious, into his jacuzzi, as she told him "no, no, no" and started to feel impaired and nauseous. Then, Masterson told her about his jacuzzi rule, Mueller said, where the actor told guests, "you have 15 seconds to drop everything," before getting into his hot tub. "After 5 to 10 minutes in the jacuzzi, things got worse," Mueller said. "She had a fear she was going to slip down in the water." The prosecution told the court that after she became very nauseous, Masterson told guests at his house, "I'm gonna carry her upstairs, I'm gonna put my finger down her throat and I'm gonna make her vomit." Mueller alleged that while fading in and out of consciousness, Jen B. was groped by Masterson in the shower, and later woke up to Masterson "with all of his body weight" on her, penetrating her. When she tried to hit Masterson with a pillow to stop, he smothered her with it, the prosecution said. Mueller added that Masterson continued raping Jen B., and choked her until she was unconscious. After she regained consciousness, Masterson pulled a gun from the cabinet, the DA said, and told her "don't fucking move, don't fucking move." She snuck into his closet, curled up under his clothing rack, and passed out. According to the prosecution, Jen B. who has also alleged that Masterson anally raped her months before the incident told some close family members about the incident. And at her father's birthday celebration in Florida the next week, her family noticed bruises. Internal Scientology processes are mentioned in the opening When Jen B., a second-generation Scientologist who knew Masterson for years, tried to report the rape to Julian Swartz, her ethics officer at the Church of Scientology, he told her: "If you're going to tell me this is rape, this is not rape you're not allowed to say the word rape, to go to the police or tell anyone. Doing so would be considered a high crime," the prosecution told the court, adding that Jen B. was told she could have been declared a "suppressive person" for reporting the incident, meaning that her family and friends would have to detach from her. Years later, she tried to elevate the channels and wrote a letter to Scientology's International Justice Chief asking permission to go to the authorities, per the prosecution. She was told to "consider the consequences," Mueller told the court. Later, in July 2004, she met with a Scientology attorney at her parents' house, and was told that if she did not sign an NDA then she'd be described as a "suppressive person." Ultimately, in 2016 Jen. B went to the police with her claims, and a criminal investigation was launched. An expert previously told Insider that Scientology would likely come into play during the trial given the high level of control the organization has over its congregants. Read the original article on Insider Danny Santulli was rushed to a Columbia hospital after he became unresponsive following a hazing event at a Phi Gamma Delta party at the University of Missouri last October. Santulli suffered brain damage from alcohol poisoning, and he remains blind and unable to walk or talk. Danny Santulli's family knew this difficult anniversary was approaching and tried to prepare for it the best they could, Santulli's father, Tom Santulli, said in the lead-up to Wednesday. The freshman University of Missouri student was a pledge to Phi Gamma Delta, also known as Fiji, one year ago. The fraternity's "Pledge Dad Reveal Night" began Oct. 19, 2021. By the early hours of Oct. 20, an unresponsive Santulli was brought in a fraternity member's car to MU Hospital, where he had to be resuscitated. His blood-alcohol level was .486 after drinking three-fourths of a bottle of vodka. The hazing event had required he drink the entire bottle. A surveillance video of the night shows blindfolded pledges, wearing shorts, descending a stairway as fraternity members poke and try to trip some of them. In another scene, a fraternity member places a tube in Santulli's mouth, connected to a funnel filled with beer on the other end. Santulli appears to consume all of the funnel's contents. Santulli collapsed on the floor at 10:55 p.m., and fraternity members carried him to a sofa. The video shows him partially sliding off the sofa at 12:28 am. A fraternity member moved Santulli back onto the sofa 14 minutes later. More:Police statements reveal University of Missouri Fiji hazing defendants' varying involvement with Danny Santulli Other fraternity members arrived a short time after that. Two of them picked up Santulli, partially dropping him at one point before loading him into a waiting car. Security footage captured the events that led to the hospitalization of Phi Gamma Delta pledge Danny Santulli after an Oct. 19, 2021, party at the former University of Missouri fraternity house. MU students spontaneously gathered in protest outside the fraternity house after the incident. Some will gather again from 8 to 10 p.m. Wednesday in Peace Park in a candlelight vigil supporting Santulli. A flyer for the event uses the hashtags #DannyStrong and #EndAllHazing". 'We're being positive as a family' Santulli has brain damage that has left him blind and unable to walk or talk. He has been at his parents' home in Minnesota, needing full-time care. Story continues "We're going to think back and reflect and get through it," Tom Santulli said of the anniversary in an Oct. 3 interview with the Tribune via Zoom. "We're being positive as a family." Since the hazing of Danny Santulli, Phi Gamma Delta is gone from MU. The fraternity and several of its members have settled civil lawsuits with Santulli's family, helping pay for his long-term care. The university has disciplined 13 former fraternity members. Eleven former fraternity members have been charged criminally, 10 of them with felony hazing. None of the cases have yet gone to trial. Santulli's parents are with him in New Orleans this week, where Tom Santulli said his son is receiving hyperbaric oxygen treatments with the hope of restoring some of Santulli's brain function. More:Court hearings changed for several University of Missouri Fiji hazing defendants They're hopeful about the treatment, but the doctor has made no promises, Tom Santulli said. The family knows Santulli hears them, Tom Santulli said. "His hearing is 100%," Tom Santulli said. "It's pretty clear from his reactions." His strongest reactions are to his sister Meredith's voice, the father said. She's an MU student. 'That meant the world to us' An MU banner is taken down as a storm rolls over the Phi Gamma Delta house during their move-out day Oct. 24, 2021. Meredith Santulli has said in interviews it troubled her seeing former fraternity members on campus and around town knowing that they hadn't been held accountable. This semester is improved for her, Tom Santulli said. She likes MU. "It's much better," the father said. Danny Santulli's brother, Nick, is an MU graduate. They have no interaction with most former Fiji members, primarily because of all the legal actions in play. Tom Santulli said a former fraternity member who wasn't involved offered his heartfelt apology at a student discipline hearing at MU. The student told them he loved their son, Santulli said. "That meant the world to us," he said. More:Danny Santulli's family on 'Good Morning America': Prosecute the Fiji brothers responsible The university is making strides on their son's behalf and in the effort to end hazing and binge drinking, Santulli said. He said he's in regular communication with university officials. Several of those charged with felony hazing didn't have direct contact with Danny Santulli on the night of the incident, but were involved in planning and implementation of the event, according to police statements supporting the charges. Police stated that the defendants' participation in the event and its planning recklessly endangered the lives of pledges, including Santulli. They all participated, said family attorney David Bianchi in the Zoom interview. "What happened to Danny could have happened to any one of them," Bianchi said. "It was a big game of roulette." 'Everybody wants this to stop' Tom Santulli said his wife, Mary Pat Santulli, spoke extensively to the MU detective leading the investigation. He walked her through the steps and explained the basis for the charges. "He said he was shocked there aren't five people in Danny's position or dead," Tom Santulli recalled from the conversation. Fraternities don't need to go away, as some have called for, Santulli said. "There's just no need to have these dangerous events," he said. Bianchi also shared his thoughts on the anniversary. "I hope everybody at Mizzou learned a lesson from this," Bianchi said. The family remains strong for their son and brother, Santulli said. "We have hope," he said. "We have a lot of resources." And with the notoriety of the hazing event, Santulli hopes it can make a difference in preventing other families from experiencing their pain, he said. "Everybody wants this to stop," Santulli said. Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9. This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: After Missouri Fiji hazing, Danny Santulli's dad hopes practice ends WAUKESHA - Jurors on Wednesday viewed the red Ford Escape allegedly driven by Darrell Brooks Jr. through the city's 2021 Christmas Parade as part of the monthlong homicide and reckless endangerment trial tied to the incident, and Brooks again verbally sparred with Waukesha County Circuit Judge Jennifer Dorow who threatened to remove him from the courtroom. Brooks, 40, of Milwaukee is charged with six counts of first-degree intentional homicide, 61 counts of recklessly endangering safety, six counts of hit-and-run causing death, two counts of bail jumping, all felonies in connection to the parade tragedy, and one count of misdemeanor battery. Prosecutors previously said they intended to rest their case Wednesday but had one remaining witness to call when Dorow concluded the proceedings. It's unclear how long it might take Brooks to present his own defense, but the trial is scheduled to last until Oct. 28. Here's what happened on Day 13 of the trial: Darrell Brooks grabs documents for his cross examination Wednesday at the Waukesha County Courthouse. Despite his initial objection, Brooks viewed SUV with the jury Brooks, who is representing himself, began the day by questioning the relevancy of jurors examining the SUV, which police have said was registered in his mother's name, and repeatedly asked how the jury would be allowed to do so without his consent. You not going there is not going to prevent it from happening, Dorow replied. Despite initially wavering on whether he would attend the viewing, Brooks ultimately joined the jury when they saw the SUV, which was parked in a garage attached to the Waukesha County Courthouse. Members of the media were not allowed to participate in the viewing. COVID precautions ramped up after two jurors test positive Since Monday, two jurors have been removed from court due to COVID-19 concerns, Dorow announced before testimony began. The juror removed on Monday has returned to court, and one remains absent. The remaining jurors indicated that they did not have any COVID-19 concerns. Two new air purifiers have been added to the courtroom "out of an abundance of caution," Dorow said. Story continues Waukesha residents' security cameras captured evidence the night of the parade In the morning, Waukesha residents Robert Stone II and Leonard Miller testified that their external home security cameras captured footage of Brooks passing through their properties following the parade incident the night of Nov. 21, 2021. In the days after the parade tragedy, they turned that footage over to police. A third witness, Steven Schlomann, the IT director for the Waukesha School District, also testified security cameras on the district's administration building, at 222 Maple Ave., captured footage of Brooks. City of Waukesha Police Department Warrant Specialist Kyle Becker holds up evidence exhibits during the trial of Darrell Brooks Wednesday at the Waukesha County Courthouse. Brooks is charged with driving into the Waukesha Christmas Parade last year, killing six people and injuring dozens more. Waukesha detective detailed where Brooks went after reportedly leaving the parade route Warrant Specialist Kyle Becker presented a sweatshirt and sandals he said belonged to Brooks that were found after the parade in two different locations. Detective Justin Rowe reviewed photos and clips of security camera footage that had been admitted into evidence Wednesday morning, as well as a map outlining what he said depicted where Brooks went after driving away from the parade route. The map also summarized the people Brooks reportedly interacted with prior to his arrest that night. During cross-examination, Brooks asked why Rowe kept turning to the jury while responding to Brooks' questions. "Im here to present my case to jury," Rowe replied. Jurors saw those recordings in the afternoon after they viewed the SUV. There was nothing that would have interfered with the SUV's ability to steer, accelerate or brake, mechanic testifies Ryan Schultz, mechanical inspector for the Wisconsin State Patrol, examined the red Ford Escape after the parade incident. He testified he did not find any problems with it that could have interfered with the vehicle's ability to steer, accelerate and or brake. Schultz confirmed hearing a high-pitched "revving" sound, as some witnesses reported to hear from the vehicle, was possible. "Theres a lot of different things that could cause that," he said. "Could be heavy acceleration, could be noise that is amplified because the engine bay is open to the exterior, could be exhaust-related." Investigators later found an exhaust muffler on a Waukesha resident's property. Schultz testified he could not find a muffler upon inspecting the SUV. Brooks continues to criticize trial; Dorow threatened to remove him from court Dorow threatened to remove Brooks from the courtroom during the testimony of Chris Johnson, chief of the office of crimes scene response, who discussed collecting physical evidence from the SUV. As Johnson read from a report he authored about paperwork found inside the SUV, Brooks interjected to say he had not been notified of the report and did not know when it had been placed in front of Johnson. In response, Dorow paused Johnson's testimony and removed the jury. Brooks' interruptions, along with continual mumbling under his breath and his apparent inability to accept her rulings, needed to stop or he would be removed from the court, she said. "Frankly, from my perspective, sir, your attempts and your comments are to dig in at this jury and to somehow create doubt," Dorow said. Brooks became defensive when Dorow advised him to be quiet so the jury could return, arguing that no one would tell him what to do. Youre making a record of incorrect statements, Brooks said. DNA from physical evidence matches Brooks', forensic scientist says DNA recovered from the SUV, a hat and sweatshirt found by investigators and linked to the incident matched Brooks', said Trevor Naleid, DNA analyst for the Wisconsin Department of Justice, during his testimony. Some DNA taken from evidence indicated a mixture of Brooks and one or two other unknown sources. However, Naleid said, that hair found on the sweatshirt was only from one source Brooks. Brooks told Dorow he planned to call his remaining witnesses Thursday and Friday following his opening statement. Day 12 of trialBrooks calls his first witness, gets removed from courtroom Quinn Clark can be emailed at QClark@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @Quinn_A_Clark 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: Darrell Brooks Waukesha Christmas Parade trial takeaways Day 13 Sanaa Seif, Alaas brother, starts a sit-in outside the FCDO (The family of Alaa Abdel-Fattah) The sister of a British citizen at risk of death on a hunger strike in jail in Egypt has started a sit-in outside the Foreign Office in London, demanding the authorities urgently secure his release ahead of next months Cop27 hosted by the North African nation. Sanaa Seif, said the family fears a dangerous point was approaching for Alaa Abdel Fattah, a British-Egyptian rights activist and software developer, who has spent most of the last decade behind bars in Cairo. This week the Amnesty International prisoner of conscience reached his 200th day with no food, surviving on just 100 calories a day, in protest at the Egyptian authorities refusal to grant him a consular visit. This is despite his case being raised twice by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and Liz Truss, as Foreign Secretary, telling Parliament she was working very hard for his release. Ms Seifs MP, David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, attended the protest on Wednesday and said it is a sign of their desperation and the chronic lack of progress that the family felt they needed to take this step. Alaa is a British citizen at deaths door, languishing in prison for his political beliefs, he said. Ms Seif, herself an activist who has been jailed in Egypt three times, told The Independent she was starting the sit-in now as the timing was critical. In a few weeks time, a high-level British delegation will join world leaders, politicians, experts and journalists in travelling to Egypt for Cop27 to discuss the climate crisis. She fears that if no tangible steps are taken to at least secure a meeting to discuss Alaa before the summit it would set a dangerous precedent for her brother and any British citizen in Egypt. I am worried that if they engage normally that is the message to the Egyptian authorities that it doesnt matter whether he lives or dies, whether the British consulate gets access or not to their citizen, as it will not affect our relationship, she said. Story continues It sets a horrible precedent for any British citizen, not just those in prison, but even for tourists that face a problem and go to a police station to file a report. The message is that the British passport means nothing in Egypt. Mr Lammy said it was imperative that action be taken now. As the eyes of the world turn to Egypt as host of COP27, this grave situation requires the Foreign Secretarys urgent intervention, he added. It is now imperative that he meet with Alaas family and explain the steps he is taking to ensure Alaas welfare and secure his release. A spokesperson for the FCDO told The Independent that they were working hard to secure Alaa Abd El-Fattahs release. We continue to raise his case at the highest levels of the Egyptian Government. The Foreign Secretary most recently raised his case when he met Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry at the United Nations General Assembly last month, they added. The family have repeatedly said that time was running out for her brother who now looks skeletal. Ms Seifs mother, London-born mathematics professor Laila Soueif, visited her son in prison on Wednesday. He has lost so much weight, he is unable to walk long distances and struggles to stand. We dont know when his body will fail him, 100 calories is not enough to survive, Ms Seif said. He doesnt have much fat remaining. We are approaching a dangerous point. Alaa is a British citizen at deaths door, languishing in prison for his political beliefs David Lammy, shadow foreign secretary Mr Abdel-Fattah, 40, has been jailed by every Egyptian president in his lifetime and has spent most of the past decade behind bars. Together with other family members, he has been repeatedly targeted by the administration of President Abdel Fatah el-Sisi, the countrys ex-army chief who stormed to power after a 2013 military coup that ousted unpopular Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Morsi, who himself subsequently died in prison. The software developer and father is currently serving his latest five-year sentence, handed down following a trial labelled a sham by rights groups. He was convicted on charges of spreading false news after he shared social media posts that were critical of terrible prison conditions under the military-backed regime. Right groups also reported that he was beaten and tortured on entry to Tora prison, in Cairo, and for months was barred access to books, writing implements, sunlight, a mattress, exercise as well as a consular visit. Egypt has repeatedly denied any accusations it treats prisoners poorly or that it holds political prisoners. But it was only after intense pressure from the UK that his conditions were meagrely improved and he was moved to Wadi Natroun prison, in the desert. Egyptian activist and blogger Alaa Abdel El- Fattah has spent 1,000 days behind bars (AFP via Getty Images) But Ms Seif said he still does not get to see the sun. He is only allowed out of his cell for 30 minutes a day in an enclosed space. The Egyptian authorities have barred him access to radio or any newspapers. She urged the UKs new foreign secretary James Cleverly to cut through hate chaos and finish the job that the government has been claiming for months that it is working on. She said raising the case was not enough, and he must be freed. She added that other countries including France and the US have managed to secure the release of their citizens jailed in similar circumstances in Egypt. I honestly would feel like there will be no hope for Alaa if the [British authorities] do not engage right now, Ms Seif said as she prepared for the start of the sit-in. The Egyptians authorities will interpret it as a green light to let him die. Israel reiterated on Wednesday that it will not be sending weapons systems to Ukraine as Kyiv ramps up calls for help in strengthening its air defenses. However, Israel did offer to assist Ukraine in developing a life-saving early-warning system. Today well also dig into Russian President Vladimir Putins declaration of martial law in occupied regions of Ukraine and offer the latest on the implications of a GOP majority in Congress on U.S. support for Ukraine. This is Defense & National Security, your nightly guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. For The Hill, were Laura Kelly and Colin Meyn. Close Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Defense and National Security newsletter Israel will not provide weapon systems to Ukraine Israel is rejecting desperate calls from Ukraine to supply advanced air defense systems to counter Russias use of Iranian, kamikaze drones, intent on maintaining strategic ties between Jerusalem and Moscow. Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said Wednesday that Israel will not provide weapon systems but said Jerusalem will continue to side with Western support for Kyiv. We have asked the Ukrainians to share information regarding their needs and offered to assist in developing a life-saving early-warning system, he reportedly said in remarks to ambassadors from the European Union. Israel has sent humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, publicly condemned Russias invasion and is reportedly sharing intelligence with Kyiv. However, it has held back on strategic military aid to preserve its Moscow ties. The Ukrainian Embassy in Israel, in a letter sent Tuesday, asked the Israeli government to enter into mutual cooperation in the field of air/missile defense, warning that Irans battlefield experience for its weapons systems is a direct threat to the Middle East. Story continues The letter asks for Israels Iron Dome system, which last had a 97 percent success rate at intercepting nearly 600 missiles shot from the Gaza Strip over the course of a few days in August. We are a country at war ourselves, I dont think we can afford emptying our warehouses, said Uzi Rubin, founder and first director of the Israel Missile Defense Organization in the Israel Ministry of Defense and a fellow with the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security. While the U.S. Army has possession of two Iron Dome batteries, the administration has not sent any signals its looking to send those to Ukraine. Becca Wasser, Senior Fellow for the Defense Program at the Center for New American Security, said one reason the U.S. may not send its own Iron Dome is that it only has two, and only one is operational in Guam. A few years ago the [House Armed Services Committee] was talking about the U.S. sending one of its Iron Dome batteries to Ukraine, long before the recent events took place with Russias invasion, she said. But at the end of the daythe United States does not have that many Iron Dome systems. Read the full story Waltz: Vast majority of GOP supports Ukraine aid GOP Rep. Michael Waltz (Fla.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said the majority of the Republican caucus supports U.S. assistance to Ukraine amid concerns that a GOP-controlled House following the November elections may push back on billions of dollars of military and economic aid provided to Kyiv. I think the vast majority of the conference realizes that we either pay now or pay later, that Russian President Vladimir Putin fully intends, if he takes Ukraine, to move on to NATO-allied countries like the Baltics, and Poland and Finland, he told The Hill in a phone interview Tuesday. Waltzs comments follow remarks from House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) that House Republicans will not write a blank check for Ukraine if they take control of the lower chamber of Congress after the midterm elections. Waltz, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan and the first Green Beret elected to Congress, said GOP criticism of assistance to Ukraine stems from a failure by the Biden administration to answer calls for strict oversight. The issue is, and this is where members are raising concern, is we have no oversight of where this aid is going and exactly how its being used, said Waltz, who stressed he supports oversight to follow the effectiveness of the assistance when pressed if he thinks the military and economic assistance is being misused. Its not that its being misused, but this is all new equipment and new systems, how is the maintenance going? How is the logistics being handled? Are many of these systems breaking down? Its about using it effectively. Its a lot of money, a lot of support. The U.S. has provided an estimated $18.3 billion in military assistance to Ukraine and about $10 billion in economic and humanitarian assistance that is credited as key in helping push back Russian forces and keep Ukraine functioning amid eight months of war. But Republicans are increasingly facing turmoil within their ranks between those who argue full-throated support for Ukraine albeit with oversight and a small, but provocative group that have their base in former President Trumps Make America Great Again movement that promotes an isolationist foreign policy. Read more here Putin escalates with martial law order Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the latest escalation of his war in Ukraine on Wednesday, declaring martial law in occupied areas of Ukraine and wartime measures throughout much of Russia. This is a big deal because in effect what Putin is doing is actually bringing all the Russian Federation into some level of martial law, said Mark Galeotti, an honorary professor at the University College Londons School of Slavonic and East European Studies. While the martial law order mainly applies to the four occupied regions of Ukraine Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson it also announced the economic mobilization of eight Russian regions on Ukraines border, including occupied Crimea. And the final section says that other measures may be applied in the Russian Federation during the period of martial law. What it means for Ukraine: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys office was quick to minimize the significance of Putins order. However, local Ukrainian officials warned that Putins move could begin an even darker chapter in territories that Moscow illegally annexed earlier this month. A new manifestation of genocide in the occupied territories, Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov wrote on Telegram. The Ruscists are preparing the forcible deportation of an entire city. So far, it is between voluntary and forcible, supposedly aimed to protect people from hostilities. Eugene Finkel, an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, who was born in Ukraine, said he didnt expect the order would significantly change the situation on the ground. I dont think that having a martial law in place was the only thing that prevented Russians from carrying out those things, it certainly will give them some veneer of domestic legitimacy obviously zero external legitimacy, he said. What it means for Russia: While his martial law declaration was focused largely on Ukraine and border regions in Russia, Finkel said the final provision allowing for other measures could be a backdoor to introduce martial law in other parts of Russia without actually calling it martial law. And also a signal to the population that theyre doing something and somethings happening, because everybody knows that the war isnt going as they planned, he added. Galeotti said this could have broad implications for Russian society, allowing officials to control industrial activity to help the war, further control the media or crush labor actions that conflict with wartime priorities. I think in terms of what this shows is a growing awareness that Russia is in this probably for the long haul, said Galeotti, who wrote the book Putins Wars: From Chechnya to Ukraine. Read the full story ITS NOT JUST ABOUT THE WEAPONS Ukrainian soldiers, veterans and the non-governmental organizations who help them are in Washington this week to learn best practices in providing assistance to the military population amid Russias war in Ukraine. The group is being led by Nataliia Kalmykova, the executive director of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation, funded by the Ukrainian Ministry of Veterans Affairs. She spoke at the Atlantic Council on Wednesday, saying that their goal in the U.S. is to gain new ideas to help veterans and find additional funding because well not be able to cover all the needs with our local budget, because of limits of funds. The exact figures of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is classified, Kalmykova said, but they are expecting to treat about 10 percent of the population, or an estimated 5 million people. Their work is not only for veterans, but families, urgently providing services for children who are traumatized while living under Russian rocket fire and who may have lost a parent amid the fighting. We know this is the most vulnerable category, Kalmykova said. They are under bombing, internally displaced, they lose at least one of the parents. Its absolutely important and we cannot avoid this issue and we should start the work now. Among the needs for the population is medical care, Kalmykova continued, and looking ahead they are hoping to expand projects that provide veterans with microfinancing in entrepreneurship. Funding and assistance from the U.S. and other partners countries with Ukraine is essential, she stressed. The war is not just about the weapons, it is also about the economy, she said. ON TAP FOR TOMORROW The Center for Strategic and International Studies will host a conversation about Relations with the two Koreas, the 20th National Congress of the CCP, and the recently released National Security Strategy by the U.S. at 9:45 a.m. The German Marshall Fund of the United States is hosting the event The Future of European Security Architecture The Path to the NATO Summit in Vilnius at 10 a.m. The Wilson Centers Middle East Program will host Public Outrage: A Look at Protest Movements in Iran and the Arab World at 10 a.m. As part of its Future Security Forum 2022 Series, New America will host a discussion on How Should the U.S. Respond to Disinformation? at 12 p.m. The Atlantic Council hosts a conversation on How the latest women-led protests in Iran might shape the countrys trajectory at 12 p.m. WHAT WERE READING Brittney Griner thanks supporters as birthday passes in prison Pence pushes back: US must provide Ukraine with resources to defend themselves Russia: Annexed Ukrainian regions under nuclear protection Biden says Putins only tool now is to brutalize after he declares martial law in Ukrainian regions Russia starts evacuations in occupied Kherson NYT: Russia Shrinks Forces in Syria, a Factor in Israeli Strategy There Reuters: U.S. targets Russian military procurement network in new sanctions WaPo: UAE hired retired U.S. brass, including Gen. Mattis, to guide military 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. A 21-year-old Florida sheriffs deputy is accused of performing sex acts with a teen enrolled in the Bay County Sheriffs Office Explorer youth program. Some of the encounters occurred while the deputy was on duty, the sheriffs office said in an Oct. 18 news release. The deputy, identified as 21-year-old Matthew Anderson, has been arrested, placed on unpaid leave and charged with sexual battery: person in custodial authority, Bay County officials said. Bay County is on the Florida Panhandle, west of Tallahassee. At approximately 9:30 a.m. a.m. (Tuesday), information was received that a field deputy ... that served in an advisory position in the BCSO Explorer program was engaging in sexual activity with a 17-year-old member of the Explorers, the sheriffs office said. An investigation began into the allegations. Within a few hours, Anderson was arrested. When interviewed, Anderson admitted to five to seven sexual encounters with the victim. Floridas Law Enforcement Explorer Program is open to youths who have an interest for a career in law enforcement, according to the Florida Sheriffs Association. Young adults ages 14 to 21 can be associated with a sheriffs office, train and learn about the profession to determine if its the right career track for them, the association says. Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford said he intended to meet with parents of other youths in the departments program to offer them the opportunity to ask any questions. It breaks my heart to know the damage that these actions have caused our kids in the program, Ford said in the news release. I stand behind the leadership of the Jr. Deputy and Explorer Program for all of the good work that they have done with the kids in this program, and as they work to rebuild the trust of the parents and kids. We will not let the actions of one person destroy the many positive successes of this program. Suspected impaired driver was sober 9-year-old with an odd excuse, Florida cops say Dog that escaped Hurricane Ian atop RV rescued 9 days after storm, Florida cops say Bold thieves stole traffic lights off poles as Florida cops watched, officials say Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis administration this week pushed back against a lawsuit seeking the immediate release of all records related to the flights of migrants from Texas to Massachusetts but agreed to provide them no later than Dec. 1. Lawyers for the Republican governor filed a nine-page response late Tuesday to a demand from the open government group Florida Center for Government Accountability for records, including phone and text logs from DeSantis chief of staff, James Uthmeier, as well as any communication between Florida and Texas officials. Florida Center for Government Accountability filed a lawsuit earlier this month after the DeSantis administration did not hand over records the group was seeking about two charter flights in September that transported nearly 50 Venezuelan migrants to the resort island in Massachusetts. A circuit judge in Leon County gave the governors office until this week to respond. DeSantis push to relocate migrants which the governor said was done to draw attention to the Biden administrations immigration policies was roundly condemned by Democrats who accused him of human trafficking and exploiting vulnerable migrants for political gain. Florida is using interest earned off the billions in Covid-19 relief aid provided by Congress to pay to relocate migrants from Florida to other states. In its response, the DeSantis administration said it has received more than 90 public records requests related to the flights and has a backlog of 245 overall requests that it is currently processing. [Florida Center for Government Accountability] has no right to leap ahead of other requesters to have its requests satisfied at breakneck speed just because it may have the resources and wherewithal to engage in litigation, the administrations assistant general counsel Andrew King wrote. Floridas Constitution requires state and local government agencies to release official records but there is not a specific timeline for when such entities must produce the documents. The center, in its lawsuit, contended that none of the records it was asking for were exempt from disclosure and called the delay in turning them over unjustified and an unlawful delay. Story continues The governors office notes it has handed over some records related to the flights, including a large batch late last Friday that top officials in the administration, including Uthmeier and DeSantis public safety czar Larry Keefe, were involved in the migrant relocation program. Michael Barfield, director of public access with the Florida Center for Government Accountability, fired back Wednesday and said the fact that others have not filed a lawsuit does not excuse a delay to produce records. Everyone in the line has been complaining loudly about the delays but it has fallen on deaf ears, Barfield wrote in an email. The center decided to stop complaining and ask a judge to intervene. The response from DeSantis attorneys maintains that looking for records can be time intensive, especially when records are being sought from top aides to the governor. The filing also notes the initial request came right before Hurricane Ian slammed into southwest Florida. Many requesters seek records from the governors senior staff, and they have primary responsibilities that include time-sensitive tasks on matters of great importance to the state, the lawyers wrote. Therefore they cannot drop everything they are doing to dedicate uninterrupted hours or days to search for responsive records. Barfield responded that the hurricane was not a legitimate excuse because the records were not being sought from the states emergency management staff. He added that an agency cannot avoid obligations imposed by the Florida Constitution by claiming it doesnt have adequate staff. Florida has a record budget surplus and its no excuse that the (governors office) failed to budget and plan for a constitutional responsibility. The flights have sparked several legal challenges, including one from state Sen. Jason Pizzo that contends the $12 million set aside by the Legislature violates state laws regarding the budget. Pizzos lawsuit also maintains that the DeSantis administration did not follow guidelines for the relocation program laid out by state legislators. That lawsuit is scheduled to go before a circuit court judge in November. Days after the flights, a civil rights law firm from Boston filed a federal class action lawsuit that accused the governor of orchestrating a premeditated, fraudulent, and illegal scheme that misled the group of mostly Venezuelan migrants who were on the two flights. ATLANTA (AP) Two former jail detainees testified that deputies of a Georgia sheriff charged with violating their civil rights kept them in restraint chairs for hours, causing them to urinate on themselves while they were bound. It felt horrible, one of the men, Joseph Harper, told a jury Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Atlanta. I had to use the bathroom on myself twice. I couldnt hold it. Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill is standing trial on federal charges that he violated the rights of seven detainees. Prosecutors say their placement in restraint chairs was unnecessary, was improperly used as punishment and caused pain and bodily injury. Hill is widely known as one of metro Atlanta's most flamboyant lawmen. He calls himself The Crime Fighter and uses Batman imagery to promote himself on social media and in campaign ads. This is his second trial on criminal charges. Clayton County voters reelected Hill in 2012 while he was under indictment the first time, accused of using his office for personal gain. He beat those charges. Hill has pleaded not guilty to the civil rights charges, which his attorneys say are politically motivated. Drew Findling, one of Hill's lawyers, cross-examined both men Tuesday about what he said where inconsistencies between their trial testimony and what they had previously told investigators. Walter Thomas was jailed in Clayton County in May 2020 after a Georgia state trooper pulled him over for speeding and found drugs in his car. Thomas testified that jailers kept him in a restraint chair for more than four hours without giving him a break, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. I actually was crying, Thomas said on the witness stand. I was scared, nervous. Just all over the place. Asked by prosecutor Brett Hobson if he had wet himself while restrained, Thomas answered: About three or four times. Harper was booked into the jail in April 2020 on charges he had threatened his sister and eluded police. He is now serving a 15-year sentence for aggravated battery and false imprisonment. Story continues Harper testified he felt pain and cramps while bound in the restraint chair, with his hands cuffed behind his back and straps around his waist and upper arms. A video played for the jury showed a mask on his face to keep him from spitting at jailers. Prosecutors say Hill violated his own policy stating that a restraint chair should be used on violent or uncontrollable detainees to prevent injury or property damage if other techniques dont work. The policy also says a restraint chair will never be authorized as a form of punishment. During cross-examination, Findling noted that Harper had told the FBI he had been knocked unconscious as police tried to arrest him, but later admitted in court that he was faking. The defense attorney also challenged Thomas' account to the FBI that the state trooper who pulled him over had been rude and uncooperative. Name: Donna Stroud Political party: Republican Age as of Nov. 8, 2022: 58 Campaign website: www.judgestroud.com Occupation: Chief judge, NC Court of Appeals Education: Campbell University, BA in government, with highest honors, 1985. Campbell University School of Law, JD, ranked first in class, 1988. Duke University School of Law, LLM in Judicial Studies, 2014. Have you run for elected office before? Elected to District Court, 10th Judicial District (Wake County) in 2004. Elected to the Court of Appeals in 2006; reelected without opposition in 2014. Please list highlights of your civic involvement: Chair of the Chief Justices Rules Advisory Commission; Courts Commission, Family Court Advisory Commission; chief justices Commission on Professionalism; North Carolina Bar Association former vice president, Appellate Rules committee, and Women in the Profession committee. Vice-president of the Craven-Everett Inn of Court. What reforms, if any, do you think could make the criminal justice system more fair? The Court of Appeals can address only the cases filed and the issues presented in each case; our court has no authority to propose reforms. The General Assembly can investigate how our criminal justice system operates and pass laws and provide funding to address problems. As a judge, my role is to apply the law fairly and impartially in the cases. Ive served on the court for nearly 16 years and have written about 1,300 opinions. I consider each case fully, fairly and impartially. Are the states courts accessible enough to average North Carolinians? If not, what are some improvements you will advocate for, if elected? My role in advocating is limited; advocacy is a legislative function. At the court, Ive worked to improve accessibility. The Court of Appeals held sessions by video conference and issued opinions without delay during the pandemic, and all court sessions are available on YouTube. I serve on groups working on accessibility; the Chief Justices Rules Advisory Commission is working on recommendations for changes needed to implement electronic filing in all of NC to improve public access. Tell us about a specific event in your legal career of which you are most proud. I worked with the Courts Commission and the Mental Health and Substance Use Task Force, two of many groups studying and making recommendations for the Juvenile Justice Reinvestment Act. The law raised the cutoff age for juveniles who commit crimes to be treated as adults. The juvenile system provides services to help juveniles improve their lives and avoid future criminal activity. As a former family court judge, I am proud I had a small role in improving the way our courts deal with juveniles. Makena's website touts the medication on Feb. 16, 2022. (Jerome Adamstein / Los Angeles Times) A federal advisory panel voted Wednesday to recommend that the only approved drug to prevent premature birth be removed from pharmacy shelves because studies have shown it does not work. The 14-to-1 vote came more than a decade after the Food and Drug Administration approved the drug, called Makena, on limited evidence, citing the great need for such a treatment. The Times detailed in a February 2022 investigation how the drugs maker private equity-owned Covis Pharma of Luxembourg and the companies that previously owned the rights to Makena profited by taking a cheap, decades-old medicine with questionable effectiveness and safety and securing FDA authorization for its use. The FDA called on Covis to pull the drug in 2019 after the results of a large study showed it was ineffective. The company refused. Under the law, the company was allowed a hearing during which, over the course of three days this week, it argued the medicine should stay available to Black women and others at highest risk of preterm birth. The company said it would attempt to perform a new study to show that those women were helped by the drug. Before the vote, FDA scientists criticized Covis plan. They detailed how it would expose even more women and their children to a drug that had no proven benefits but did have risks, including depression, hypertension and life-threatening blood clots. In the absence of evidence of effectiveness we are only left with risk, Peter Stein, director of the FDAs office of new drugs, told the committee. Some speakers at the hearing criticized Covis and the previous owners of the drug for aggressively raising its price and then spending heavily to promote it. Many people also spoke emotionally of the need for treatments to prevent preterm birth. The condition is a leading cause of infant mortality, which is higher in the U.S. than in almost any other developed country in the world. The 15-member panel included many physicians who care for patients at risk of premature birth. All but one of them voted to remove the drug, saying they were disappointed the drug had not been shown to work. Story continues I have struggled with this mightily, Anjali Kaimal, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of South Florida, told the committee. She added that she herself had suffered from a preterm birth that required care of her child in the neonatal intensive care unit. To think I would give a very vulnerable population an ineffective treatment doesnt seem like the right thing to do, she said. The panels decision is not final. FDA Commissioner Robert Califf and the agencys chief scientist will consider the vote and testimony and decide in coming months on whether to force Covis to remove the drug. Makena is a synthetic hormone known as 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate, or simply 17P. The natural hormone progesterone is essential for a pregnancy, but scientists have been unable to determine how supplementing it with a synthetic version might help women take their pregnancies to full term. Also unknown are the long-term risks of the drug for the woman and her child. A study published in November showed that children of 200 California women who took the synthetic hormone during their pregnancies in the 1950s and 60s had a higher risk of some cancers. Raghav Chari, a Covis executive, told the committee the study was neither reliable nor relevant. The FDA approved Makena in 2011 under its accelerated approval program, which allows medicines to be sold despite limited scientific evidence. At the time, an FDA statistician protested, pointing to flaws in the small government-funded study that appeared to show it helped extend pregnancies. The agency now says it agrees that the study was flawed and calls the trials conclusion a false positive. Under accelerated approval, the company was required to confirm the drugs benefit in a larger study. That study took eight years. Now three more years have passed since the studys negative conclusion was announced, showing how an accelerated approval can expose patients to years of ineffective treatments. Since 2011, more than 350,000 American women have been prescribed Makena. With a list price of more than $800 for each weekly shot, the full course of treatment often prescribed during a pregnancy can cost $13,000. Last month, a government report said that Medicaid had spent nearly $700 million on Makena from 2018 to 2021. In the last two years, Covis has continued to promote the drug, emphasizing its use in Black women. In 2019, more than 14% of births to Black women were preterm, compared with just over 9% of births to white women. Covis, which is owned by private equity firm Apollo Global Management, also spent heavily to fund patient and physician groups that supported continuing prescriptions of Makena. Members from those groups spoke at the hearing, saying they believed removing the drug would hurt Black women and increase racial inequities. Some of those speakers including members of HealthyWomen and the National Minority Quality Forum did not disclose their ties to Covis. At HealthyWomen, a Covis executive sits on the groups corporate advisory council. And the National Minority Quality Forum listed Covis as a donor to its summit held in April. A forum spokeswoman said the funding "had nothing to do with" the group's decisions. Other speakers told the panel that leaving the ineffective drug on the market would hurt Black women and their children rather than help them. Elise Erickson, an assistant professor at the University of Arizonas College of Nursing, told the panel that she believed the ongoing use of Makena amounted to experimentation. We cannot subject vulnerable communities to experimentation without consent, she said, and doing so in the name of equity is disingenuous at best. At the hearing, Covis repeatedly cited continuing support for the drug from two powerful physician societies the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. The Times detailed in its investigation how Covis and AMAG Pharmaceuticals, which owned the drug until late 2019, donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to those two physician groups. Both groups have published written guidelines that say doctors can continue to prescribe Makena. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Last week a Turkish Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing. An intoxicated passenger bit the finger of one of the flight attendants during the flight. The altercation took place on a route to Jakarta from Istanbul on Wednesday. Social media footage: Footage of the altercation can be found on social media. In the video youll see a man throwing punches at a flight attendant who was holding plastic handcuffs. Passengers watched the melee continue to escalate. Then more flight attendants tried to calm things down. Youll even see one of the crew members start kicking the rowdy passenger on the plane. The details: Pesawat Turkish Airlines rute Istanbul-Jakarta harus dialihkan ke Medan gegara penumpang ngamuk dan serang kru. Pnp tsb akhirnya dihajar pnp lain dan kru sebelum diikat. Blm jelas akar permasalahannya apa sampai ybs menyerang kru pic.twitter.com/KrTrko6mTM #Pray4Kanjuruhan (@kabarpenumpang) October 12, 2022 As reported by Express, the passenger was an Indonesian pilot from another carrier. He was very intoxicated and ended up biting one of the flight attendants fingers. At first, the crew members asked him to calm down. Instead, the ask must have triggered him as he decides to chomp down on the crew members finger instead. Eventually, the plane was forced to land in Kuala Lumpur instead of Jakarta. In a statement from Turkish Airlines, they stated the employees behavior was in no way a representation of the companys core values. Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has made her first public comments about the death of Queen Elizabeth II, whom she called the "matriarch" of Britain's royal family. "I feel deep gratitude to have been able to spend time with her and get to know her," Meghan said in a new interview with Variety. "It's been a complicated time, but my husband, ever the optimist, said, 'Now she's reunited with her husband.' " Meghan and her husband Prince Harry, one of the queen's grandsons, were visiting the United Kingdom for charity engagements when the queen died on Sept. 8 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. The Sussexes stayed in the U.K. during the royal family's period of mourning and attended the queen's funeral on Sept. 19. The two were also spotted Sept. 10 on a walkabout outside Windsor Castle with Prince William and his wife Kate, the Princess of Wales. The couples viewed tributes to the queen and greeted members of the public who had gathered to mourn Elizabeth's death. The solemn occasion was one of Harry and Meghan's first public appearances with royal family members since stepping down from their senior royal roles in 2020 and moving to California, where they now live full-time with their children Archie and Lilibet. PHOTO: Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex walk as procession with the coffin of Queen Elizabeth arrives at Westminster Hall from Buckingham Palace for her lying in state on Sept. 14, 2022 in London. (Phil Noble/WPA Pool via Getty Images, FILE) "I'm really grateful that I was able to be with my husband to support him, especially during that time," Meghan said. "What's so beautiful is to look at the legacy that his grandmother was able to leave on so many fronts. Certainly, in terms of female leadership, she is the most shining example of what that looks like." When asked how she had processed the death of Elizabeth, Meghan spoke about how the loss put things in perspective. MORE: Princes William and Harry unite in grief at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral She also said she was "proud to have had a nice warmth" with the queen, Britain's longest-reigning monarch, and reflected on the "outpouring of love and support" from the public after her death. "In big moments in life, you get a lot of perspective. It makes you wonder what you want to focus your energy on," said Meghan. "Right now, we feel energized and excited about all of the things we've been building toward. We're also focused on our foundation. So much of the work we do includes the philanthropic space." Story continues PHOTO: Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex walk as procession with the coffin of Queen Elizabeth arrives at Westminster Hall from Buckingham Palace for her lying in state on Sept. 14, 2022 in London. (Phil Noble/WPA Pool via Getty Images, FILE) Harry and Meghan's foundation, Archewell, includes a production arm that focuses on audio as well as television and movies. In addition to speaking about her "Archetypes" podcast on Spotify, Meghan spoke with Variety about an upcoming docuseries about her life with Harry. The docuseries is being directed by Liz Garbus, a U.S.-based documentary filmmaker. MORE: Meghan Markle says she's 'thankful' for 'Deal or No Deal,' but not for how it made her feel "It's nice to be able to trust someone with our story -- a seasoned director whose work I've long admired -- even if it means it may not be the way we would have told it," said Meghan. "But that's not why we're telling it. We're trusting our story to someone else, and that means it will go through their lens." Meghan, who left her acting career when she wed Harry in 2018, added, "It's interesting. My husband has never worked in this industry before. For me, having worked on 'Suits,' it's so amazing to be around so much creative energy and to see how people work together and share their own points of view. That's been really fun." Duchess Meghan calls mourning the death of Queen Elizabeth II a 'complicated time' originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com The Georgia Department of Public Health is urging people to get their flu shot, especially because flu is already widespread across the state. DPH said Wednesday that the high flu activity is earlier than weve seen in recent years and the time to get a flu shot is now. Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Every individual over the age of six months should get a flu vaccine not just for their own protection, but to protect others around them who may be more vulnerable to the flu and its complications, DPH Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists Georgia as the second highest state for flu cases. We have had two mild flu seasons so that could make us ripe for a severe season this year, said Dr. Carla Black, with the CDC. Black said that over the last 10 years, the flu has been especially hard on ethnic minorities due to less vaccine coverage, less access to medical care and underlying medical problems, among other reasons. RELATED STORIES: We found hospitalizations due to the flu were 80% higher in Black adults, compared to white adults, Black said. Nationally, doctors have been urging vaccine-weary Americans to not skip flu shots this fall. After flu hit historically low levels during the COVID-19 pandemic, it may be poised for a comeback. Experts say that Australia just experienced its worst flu season in five years and what happens in Southern Hemisphere winters often foreshadows what Northern Hemisphere countries can expect. In addition, people have largely abandoned masking and distancing precautions that earlier in the pandemic helped prevent the spread of other respiratory bugs. To find a location to get a flu shot near you, CLICK HERE. RELATED NEWS: Eastern Michigan forward and former Memphis standout Emoni Bates apologized on Instagram on Wednesday afternoon after he officially pleaded down to a misdemeanor charge following last months arrest. Bates was initially charged with two felony counts after he was arrested on weapons charges last month. He pleaded down to one misdemeanor charge of attempting to transport a loaded firearm in a vehicle, per The Detroit News. That charge will then be dismissed following probation. The crazy thing about living your life on stage is the inability to escape judgement, and experience the growing pains of life as a normal adolescent privately, he wrote in a statement on Instagram. I hold myself accountable for making a poor decision, and hope you can forgive me as I grow because this will not be my last mistake, however; a lasting stigma to remind me of the severity of such a mistake. I hope my mistake can inspire others to think before acting. Growth is a lifetime experience, I will harness the value within this lesson and continue to be of service to my community. Bates was stopped on Sept. 18 in Superior Township, Michigan, after police said he rolled through a stop sign. Bates then reportedly told police that there was marijuana and a handgun in the vehicle. Police said they then found a gun with a missing serial number under the drivers seat. His attorneys have said that Bates was driving a borrowed car and that the gun was not his. He was initially charged with altering ID marks on a firearm and carrying a concealed weapon. Once his probation is complete, however, the remaining charge will be gone. Bates, a former five-star Rivals.com recruit, averaged 9.7 points and 3.3 rebounds last season as a freshman at Memphis. The 18-year-old transferred to Eastern Michigan in August, and rejoined the team at practice earlier this month. The Eagles, who compete in the Mid-American conference, will open their season on Nov. 7 against Wayne State. Finishing a degree can be the least of a persons worries when they dont know where their next meal is coming from or where theyll sleep at night. A new survey of more than 80,000 community college students found a third of respondents said they already struggled to get enough food to eat within the last month. The same survey found about a quarter of students who had to pay rent struggled at least once in the last year to cover their housing costs. Students who are focused on meeting their basic needs generally can't direct their full attention to their coursework, which could lead to them dropping out at a time when community college enrollment already has fallen sharply. And people with student loans but no degree struggle both to find meaningful employment and to pay their debts. These findings come from the Center for Community College Student Engagement, a research institute at the University of Texas in Austin. Executive Director Linda Garcia said students shared their responses anonymously, and that the results ought to be a conversation starter for community colleges to dig in deeper to look at their students. We risk losing the opportunity to educate them, Garcia said. "But those most in need stand to lose the most. Not just food or housing concerns: Limited public transit may keep some college students from graduating. The group administered the survey in spring 2021, and it includes responses from roughly 82,000 students at nearly 200 community or technical colleges across the country. It also comes at a time when community college enrollment has fallen steeply in the middle of the pandemic. These institutions had about 5 million students in spring 2020, but have since lost about 827,000 students, according to the National Student Clearinghouse. Community college students are likely to experience different challenges than the traditional 18- to 22-year-old college student. On average, these students are 27, and more than a third range in age from 22 to 39, according to data from the American Association of Community Colleges. These types of colleges are also generally open-access: They accept almost all students who apply. Story continues About 30% of students who responded to the survey said they had struggled to find enough food to eat in the past 30 days, according to the report. That insecurity may look like skipping meals or reducing portion sizes. Black and Hispanic students reported hunger at higher rates than their white peers. Its figures are roughly in line with findings from the Hope Center for College Community and Justice, a research center focused on students basic needs based at Temple University in Pennsylvania. That group found that nearly 40% of students at community colleges in 2020 struggled with food security. More: COVID-19 pushes college students to drop out, which could devastate economy and their lives How did students spend emergency stimulus money? Food, books and rent Debi Gaitan, interim president of Northwest Vista College in Texas, said some of her students are already stretching their limited resources. Sometimes it comes down to making a decision between if I am going to be able to pay for rent or I am going to be able to pay for books, she said. Am I going to be able to pay for tuition, or am I going to be able to pay for food? Its not luxuries theyre giving up. Some might question the colleges' roles in making sure students can eat, Gaitan said, but helping students now with their current needs helps them to provide for themselves long-term. After all, earning a degree often comes with a higher earning power later on. President Joe Biden at the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health last month in Washington. The survey also found about 14% of students faced housing insecurity, according to the group. That definition may include students who are unable to pay their rent in full, but also those who stayed at a homeless shelter, motel or outdoors because they had no other place to go. Students with children reported higher rates of food and housing insecurity compared with their peers who don't have dependents. Other surveys also point toward students struggling to afford basic necessities during the pandemic. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, a trade organization of university financial aid professionals, released an analysis of how students spent emergency stimulus money based on surveys given to roughly 18,000 people between March and April 2022. The group also partnered with the NASPA, Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, another higher education trade group, and HCM Strategists, a consulting firm. Opinion: My students struggle to pay for college. Student loan forgiveness doesn't fix the system. On average, their analysis found, students received between $1,000 to $2,000 in emergency aid, though just over 60% reported getting financial assistance. The majority of students used their stimulus funding on food, books and housing costs, and roughly four in ten students spent the money on transportation. About a third of students directed the emergency funding to upcoming tuition, technology devices, internet service, or utilities. About 90% of those who received aid said the support helped them to experience less stress and better focus on their studies. Are food pantries enough to help hungry college students? One of the unexpected challenges in getting aid to students is making them aware it exists. The survey focused on how students spent stimulus funding found that roughly half of those who didnt receive aid didn't know emergency aid was available. A separate paper from The Trellis Company, a student loan servicer that also conducts research, found that 91 of the 104 colleges participating in a 2021 survey of student financial wellness had a food pantry or closet on campus. Of the rough 50,000 students on these campuses, only about 40% of students knew their institutions provided food, and 9% of respondents incorrectly said their campuses didnt have such a resource. At Northwest Vista College, support staff work with students individually to make sure they get access to the services they need, said Lisa Black, who oversees the Student Advocacy and Resource Center. They have, for example, called a students landlord when they fall behind on rent. Graduate students from universities also come to Northwest Vista College to help its undergraduates access the colleges support services. We really endeavor to not just give the student a list of numbers, Black said. Because when youre drowning, that doesnt feel like much of a life raft." The college also has a food pantry, but Black said community colleges cant think that alone will be enough to help struggling students. Garcia, of the Center for Community College Student Engagement, said that means colleges will have to get creative to inform their students about the services available. That may mean tasking a college adviser with informing students about a colleges food pantry or having instructors include that information in their course materials. Its about making the information inescapable, Garcia said. Contact Chris Quintana at (202) 308-9021 or cquintana@usatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter at @CQuintanadc. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why community college students are forced to decide between food, rent Elena Moon Park, a musician, educator and producer based in Brooklyn, New York City, is connecting the Asian diaspora through all-ages music and global cultural exchange. Having released Rabbit Days and Dumplings (2012) and Unhurried Journey (2020) two full albums of original songs and reimagined folk and childrens songs from East Asia Elena performs with fellow musicians as Elena Moon Park and Friends for families across the U.S. During quarantine, she even put on virtual Stay at Home concerts for schools from her Brooklyn apartment. Elenas YouTube channel is full of beautiful music videos of mixed mediums, with commissioned art to illustrate the stories told by each of her songs, as well as clever video editing used to insert herself and other musicians into the videos. Her video for the Japanese childrens song, ANTA GATA DOKO SA, is a personal favorite of mine. More from NextShark: Korean Canadian singer-songwriter Junny announces first North American tour The Blanc Tour I met Elena on the first day of the Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL), where she was performing for the festivals kids programming stage, Austin Kiddie Limits. Children approached the stage and danced with their guardians as she and her band played reimagined folk songs like the Taiwanese train song Diu Diu Deng, a Cambodian song about the growth of flowers called Flower Dance () and Sol Nal, a Korean New Years song. Alongside Elena was her accompanying vocalist Akiko Hiroshima, who demonstrated special dances and gestures during the songs for families to follow along with. Elena spoke with me after her performance on the first day of the festival to talk about what inspired her to adapt East Asian folk songs for children around the world, how she became involved in cultural exchange programs and how she came to learn such a diverse collection of songs. More from NextShark: Birds of Prey star Ella Jay Basco releases summer anthem Bubble Tea Elena Edit1 I was born and raised in Oakridge, Tennessee, which is a small southern town in East Tennessee, and I started playing violin at a really young age so my parents started me off on violin and piano, as a lot of Korean immigrant parents tend to do, when I was 5, she shared. Story continues During college, I actually quit playing completely, and I got into other stuff, she continued. I was always very interested in racial dynamics in the U.S., I think partly influenced by growing up as an Asian person in a small southern town but also by my older sister she started studying U.S. history, especially African American history in the U.S. More from NextShark: IVE member Won-young's phoenix-shaped hairpin accused of appropriating Chinese culture So when I quit playing the violin, I got into public health first, then urban policy, and then I started working in community organizing in Chicago. I did that kind of grassroots economic development work in small community organizations for a couple of years, but I really missed music, so I took two years off completely. Elena is the co-artistic director of Found Sound Nation (FSN), which its website describes as a creative agency that uses music-making to connect people across cultural and societal divides. The agency emphasizes collaborative music creation as a means for community enhancement domestically and internationally. FSN runs a music-based residency and tour program called OneBeat for burgeoning artists to collaborate with one another, create music and brainstorm civic and social engagement strategies. After a few years of working with this organization we entered into a partnership with the U.S. State Department and got this contract to design and run a U.S. State Department-funded, music-based cultural exchange program, Elena explained. More from NextShark: Never-before-seen footage of The Beatles' 1966 tour of Japan released by Tokyo police OneBeat is a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural affairs at the U.S. State Department, which is the same Bureau that funds the Fulbright program and a lot of these cultural-based exchanges, she added. Our particular program has an age range to it because they're targeting emerging artists. For OneBeat, we have open applications every year that are open to any musician between 19 and 35 from 50 different countries around the world, including the U.S. Elena Edit2 That started in 2012, and we've been doing that for 10 years now, so that was an outgrowth of those collaborative music workshops that we were doing and turned into this global music program. That kind of took over everything, and now we've reached our 10-year anniversary with that program, and that program started as just one residency a year in the U.S. and has blown up to four residences a year: two of them in the U.S., one of them is in a different country every year and one online program. Elena also explained that collaboration has been a major contributing factor to her collection of East Asian folk songs: It really all had to do with talking to people, usually over food, because food is such a great way to start getting excited about your cultural roots. I started with my parents and my aunts and talked to them about songs from Korea that they remembered and loved from their childhood, and then colleagues and friends in New York all kind of within the East, Southeast Asian world. My usual bass player in my band is Japanese, and he gave me some of the songs he loved as a child. Akiko, who sings in the band, also suggested a couple of songs. I just reach out to different people and ask about songs that linger in their memory from when they were growing up, she continued. More recently, because of the OneBeat program, we've met, at this point, over 400 amazing musicians from all over the world, and I definitely have collaborated with some of them for my albums. The Cambodian flower dance song I learned from a OneBeat alumni from Cambodia, I have two Indonesian songs that I learned from an amazing Indonesian vocalist, and Korean songs that I have feature OneBeat alumni, so I've met people through our global music program that I've brought into my kids music interest. Elena Edit3 As for how she returned to music and became involved in cultural exchange programs, Elena attributed her inspiration to connections she made with other artists through a New York-based music organization called Bang on a Can: It's a contemporary music organization based in New York. , I went to their summer festival and I played in this Uzbek folk group that was there just by chance, and I sang on stage for the first time in my life. I met with this guy Dan Zanes, and he had been doing family music for a really long time. I didn't know what I was doing, I couldn't even improvise very simple folk songs, but we got along on a personal level, and I realized that he had a real mission to the music he was making. He wanted to make, not kids music necessarily, but all-ages music with the purpose of inviting people into the music-making process and getting people to be able to express themselves. It was so opposite from the classical music world, which my experience of was very there's a barrier to entry, she continued. It's not the most inviting thing for people who don't have training. I played my first kids show with him with all these families and 3-year-olds in the audience, and it was definitely the most meaningful musical experience I've ever had in my life up until that point. I was pretty into it, I was really hooked. I also really liked his approach to it, which is not necessarily singing about kiddie things that just feel like kids, but things that are universal to all ages. So not singing about adult-themed stuff like romantic love all the time, but stuff like Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, that kind of tradition of all-ages music. While her first album is a collection of reimagined East Asian folk and childrens songs, Elena described her most recent album, Rabbit Days and Dumplings, as a blend of reimagined and original tunes for which she crafted a narrative to follow along with the music. Rabbit Days and Dumplings, all except for one song, are all reimagined folk and childrens songs from East Asia. It's a collection of songs but it's half reimagined folk and childrens songs and half original songs. That album is actually all inspired by the artwork of the woman who did the artwork for my first album, her name is Kristiana Parn. I love her stuff, it feels very calm and zen. She's from Estonia but her work feels some resonance with Eastern Asian philosophy and culture. I took a lot of the names of her pieces and turned them into songs, so that's half the album, and the other is existing folk songs. The albums theme is about journeying the world through song and story, and then I wrote a story to go along with the album after it had been completed. Although ACL has come and gone, those interested in learning more about Elena can visit her website. For emerging musicians interested in collaborative cultural exchange programs, she encourages applicants to visit OneBeats website. Featured Image via YouTube Nabila Massrali insists on a According to Massrali, the European Unions High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, and the EU foreign ministers have expressed serious concern about the growing number of reports that Iranian-made suicide drones are being used in Russian aggression against Ukraine. She noted the relevant issue had been discussed with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. Massrali added the European Council was working on sufficient evidence to give a clear and quick reaction from the EU. Read also: Irans denial of supplying Russia with drones is a lie According to the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraines Defense Ministry, the first batch of Iranian-made drones delivered to Russia consisted of 1,750 units. Iran denies supplying the drones to Russia, but ample evidence shows these denials to be false. The Kremlin regime has for weeks now used suicide drone attacks to destroy Ukraines energy infrastructure and to attempt to terrorise civilians. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Oct. 18 that Russia had destroyed 30% of Ukraines power stations since Oct. 10. Against this background, Ukraines Foreign Ministry has proposed the termination of diplomatic relations with Iran and called on Western countries to introduce additional sanctions against Tehran. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine BRUSSELS (AP) The European Union has gathered evidence that Iran is supplying drones to Russia for use its war in Ukraine and is drawing up a list of sanctions in retaliation, officials and diplomats said Wednesday. Ukraines Western-reinforced air defenses are making it difficult for Russian warplanes to operate, and killer drones are a cheap weapon to seek out and destroy targets while spreading fear among troops and civilians. Russia is believed to have sent waves of Iranian-made Shahed drones over Ukraine to strike at power plants and other key infrastructure. EU foreign ministers discussed the use of drones Monday, as the 27-nation bloc gathered evidence about Irans alleged sale to Russia. European Commission spokeswoman Nabila Massrali said Wednesday that there is widely-shared political agreement that the EU should react swiftly now that we have gathered our own sufficient evidence. Work is ongoing in the council (of EU member countries) in view of a clear, swift and firm EU response. An EU official and two EU diplomats said that the sanctions could be finalized as soon as Thursday, just as EU leaders are meeting in Brussels. The measures would involve an asset freeze on one entity often a government agency, company or other organization as well as asset freezes and travel bans several individuals with links to the drone sector. The officials and diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details about the move before it was agreed. The foreign ministers also agreed Monday to slap sanctions on Iranians morality police as well as 11 officials, including the information minister, over the security crackdown on anti-government protesters. ___ Follow all AP stories on the impact of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine. A rendering of the Taco Bell and EV charging station Electric vehicle charging stations are coming to more than 100 Taco Bell locations in California over the next year, an EV charging station startup announced. A Taco Bell location in South San Francisco owned by Diversified Restaurant Group became the first of the locations to unveil the solar-powered charging stations at a grand opening event on Tuesday, according to a news release by Diversified Restaurant Group. DRG operates nearly 300 Taco Bell locations in four states and 28 Arbys locations in three states, according to its website. It partnered with ChargeNet Stations, an EV charger startup, to install charging stations at more than 100 of its California Taco Bell locations next year. You can get an EV charge and a chalupa all in one easy stop, ChargeNet Staions CEO Tosh Dutt said in a news release. They're back, but more expensive: Popeyes Cajun-Style Turkey is available to preorder for Thanksgiving Some McDonald's will start selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts: Here's where you can get one The charging stations at the California Taco Bell location. The beloved fast food eatery is the latest brand to become a part of the emerging EV charging infrastructure as the country transitions from gas-powered vehicles. In August, Starbucks announced it planned to install EV charging stations for Volvo electric vehicles at its coffee shops on a route spanning five states connecting Seattle to Denver. That same month, Swedish furniture retailer Ikea said it would open public charging stations at more than 25 of its locations across the U.S.. The Taco Bell charging stations could be especially useful in California, where lawmakers voted to ban the sale of gas powered cars by 2035. The state also has the highest number of registered EVs, accounting for 39% of EVs nationwide, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. ChargeNet Stations, subsidized by California, said half of the Taco Bell charging locations would be in underserved communities, expanding access where it would be needed the most in anticipation of cheaper and more widespread EV use. The charging stations are solar-powered to help the restaurant offset the energy costs, ChargeNet said. Its stations offer a 20-minute, 100-mile charge for about $20 and are compatible with all EV charging connectors, ChargeNet said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Taco Bell to open EV charging stations at 100+ California locations YEVHEN KIZILOV TUESDAY, 18 OCTOBER 2022, 16:39 Igor Girkin (aka Strelkov), the former "Minister of Defence of the Donetsk Peoples Republic" and the ex-leader of Donetsk militants, has already reached the Russian-occupied territory of Ukraine. Source: Kyrylo Budanov, the Head of the Chief Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, during an interview for Orestokratiia project [a TV programme led by Orest Sokhar, Editor-in-Chief of the Ukrainian outlet Obozrevatel ed.] Quote: "We know one of his locations. He has already arrived in the Russian-occupied territory of Ukraine." Details: Budanov reiterated that the Chief Intelligence Directorate is offering a reward of US$100,000 for capturing Girkin and handing him over to Ukrainian law enforcement officers. Relevant information should be sent to number 093-117-58-09. The Head of Intelligence said that some individuals have sent in "several absolutely real offers". He also emphasised that US$100,000 was actually a low price for such a valuable prisoner. After all, Girkin is an "important carrier of information" and an important person for international criminal justice. "This is, as they say, The Hagues client," Budanov noted. Background: On 15 October, Girkin's wife, Myroslava Reginskaya, posted a photo of them together, featuring the Russian militant dressed in a military uniform. By doing so, she hinted that he went to fight against Ukraine. Ukrainian patriots and activists have promised US$50,000 as a reward for capturing Girkin. The Chief Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine also guaranteed a reward for the captured militant, suggesting paying twice as much, US$100,000. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! By Noah Browning and Dmitry Zhdannikov LONDON (Reuters) -New steps from Group of Seven countries to cap Russian oil sales at an enforced low price will not be replicated against OPEC producers, whose plans to cut output have irked consumer countries, a United States Treasury official told Reuters. Washington has communicated to representatives of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to reassure them of those limits to its plans and has maintained from the beginning that the cap would not target other oil producers, the official added. The comments could help ease a spat between the United States and Saudi Arabia, the top oil exporter and de facto OPEC leader, over what Washington sees as collaboration with Russia to deprive markets of supply just as a global recession looms. Tensions have simmered between consumer countries, such as the United States and oil producers over output policy, with sources telling Reuters that OPEC anger about the price cap plan was among the reasons for its decision to cut output. OPEC+, which groups the producer bloc with allies, including Russia, announced last week that it would cut production by 2 million barrels per day to balance markets and quell volatility. Saudi Arabia said the real reduction would likely be around 1 million barrels per day (bpd) as several OPEC members have struggled to meet their existing output targets. The White House said the United States analysis showed the cut could have waited until the next OPEC meeting, after the November U.S. midterm elections. But OPEC officials did not link the move to the Russian oil price cap in their discussions with the United States, U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said last week. The United States last week said the cut would boost Russia's revenue and suggested it had been engineered for political reasons by Saudi Arabia, which on Sunday denied it was supporting Moscow in its invasion of Ukraine. Story continues The price cap due for Dec. 5 was designed specifically to address Russia's invasion of Ukraine and will not be carried over to other producers, the official added, as their moves to rein in output drive up prices. Nor do the new sanctions signal the beginning of a buyer's cartel to counter the impact of OPEC policies on the oil market, the official, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the situation, said. The Paris-based International Energy Agency grouping of consumer countries said last week that the OPEC+ cut has driven up prices and could push the global economy into recession. But the U.S. Treasury official saw the cut's price impact as muted, saying it might take a $30-$40 price surge or an output cut 10 times the size of the actual cut to OPEC+ output of around 900,000 bpd to trigger a recession. The G7 is keen to deprive Moscow of wartime revenues but seeks to avoid a global supply shock, which could raise prices and hit their own citizens as global recession fears deepen. Agreed by G7 nations in September, the price cap plan faced clashing with much stricter European Union bans on Russian shipments ratified in June. The EU agreed to the cap this month but regulatory details have not been ironed out, increasing anxiety over the plan in the oil industry with six weeks to go. (Writing by Noah BrowningEditing by Tomasz Janowski and Josie Kao) By Michael Georgy DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran has promised to provide Russia with surface to surface missiles, in addition to more drones, said Iranian officials, a move that has infuriated the United States and other Western powers which are backing Ukraine in the war. The weapons could provide a significant boost for Russia's failing war efforts against Ukraine but Iran's clerical rulers face mounting international pressure over their military alliance with Moscow. WHAT ARE IRANS MISSILE AND DRONE CAPABILITIES? Iran has developed a large domestic arms industry in the face of international sanctions and embargoes that had barred it from importing weapons, including drones and missiles it sees as a vital form of protection from arch-enemy Israel and the United States, which has soldiers stationed at bases in the region. Although Western military analysts say Iran sometimes exaggerates its capabilities, drones are a key element in Tehran's border surveillance, especially the Gulf waters around the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil supply flows. Iran and the regional forces it backs have increasingly relied in recent years on drones in Yemen, Syria and Iraq, where it has spread its influence through proxies. Saudi Arabia and the United States have said they believe Iran was behind a drone and missile attack on prized Saudi oil facilities in 2019, which Tehran denies. The Islamic Republic says its drones are the region's most powerful. In addition to surveillance, they can be used for attacks, either by dropping munitions or as so-called "kamikaze drones" that fly into a target and blow themselves up. Its advanced long-range suicide drone is designed to hit Israel's Tel Aviv. Iran says its ballistic missiles, with a range of up to 2,000 km (1,200 miles), are an important deterrent and retaliatory force against the United States, Israel and other potential regional targets. It denies seeking nuclear weapons. Story continues The programme, which contains about 1,000 short-and medium range ballistic missiles, is one of the largest deployed in the Middle East. The Arms Control Association says Iran's short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles include Shahab-1, with an estimated range of 300 km, the Zolfaghar (700 km); Shahab-3 (800-1,000 km), Emad-1, a missile under development (up to 2,000 km) and Sejiil, under development (1,500-2,500 km). Iran also has cruise missiles such as Kh-55, an air-launched nuclear-capable weapon (up to 3,000 km), and the advanced anti-ship missile the Khalid Farzh, capable of carrying a 1,000 kg warhead. The United States fears long-range ballistic technology used to put satellites into orbit could also be used to launch nuclear warheads. Tehran denies such plans. WHY HAS IRAN BUILT UP ITS OWN MISSILE AND DRONE CAPABILITY? With U.S. forces stationed at bases in the region, and Israeli military superiority, Iran stepped up its efforts to create missiles and drones and supply its proxies despite crippling U.S. sanctions that have devastated its economy. Iran's air force is weak. Most of its jets are decades old and difficult to maintain. Producing drones and missiles is seen as a cheaper way for the Iranian military to protect the country. Iranian hardware in Syria and Yemen has improved in the last decade. Yemens Iranian-backed Houthis have significantly increased their UAV attacks, bombing airports and oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, a main rival of Iran. WHY IS IRAN SUPPLYING RUSSIA? The Islamic Republic's clerical leaders are keen to strengthen strategic relations with Russia against an emerging, U.S.-backed Gulf Arab-Israeli bloc that could shift the Middle East balance of power further away from Iran. Emboldened by high oil prices since the Ukraine war, Iran is betting that with Russia's support it could pressure Washington to offer concessions for the revival of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Forming a real alliance with a superpower which shares anti-Western views and is not afraid of pushing such views on the battlefield is a strategic move designed to show Iran is not isolated. WHAT IRANIAN WEAPONS HAS RUSSIA USED ON UKRAINE SO FAR? Russia launched dozens of "kamikaze" drones on Ukraine on Monday, hitting energy infrastructure and killing five people in the capital Kyiv. Ukrainians have nicknamed them "mopeds" for the loud whirring noise their engines make as they fly overhead. Ukraine says they are Iranian-made Shahed-136 attack drones - loitering munitions that cruise towards their target before plummeting at velocity and detonating on impact. Kyiv moved to cut ties with Iran because of their use on Tuesday. COULD IRAN FACE MORE SANCTIONS AND WOULD THEY HAVE AN IMPACT? Western powers are expected to impose more sanctions on Iran. European Union governments have provisionally agreed to impose sanctions on eight people and entities over the use of Iranian-made drones in Russian strikes on Ukraine, three EU diplomats said. The Islamic Republic has learned to survive decades of sanctions and has tight control over its supply chains. (Reporting by Michael Georgy; Editing by Peter Graff) On Nov. 8, Louisiana voters go to the polls, just like in states across the country only they'll technically be voting in a primary election that includes candidates from all corners. Their votes may determine which candidates will occupy offices at all levels of the state's government, or which candidates go on to a runoff. Here's a look at Louisiana's unique system, unofficially called a jungle primary, and discussions around changing it: WHAT IS A JUNGLE PRIMARY? In what's thought of as a traditional primary, political candidates only compete against other contenders within their own parties for nominations, to then advance to the general election. States hold their primaries on a variety of dates, with winners competing with one another on the November ballot. But in a jungle primary" or majority vote primary, all candidates regardless of party run against each other on the same ballot. If no one candidate tops 50% in that primary, the top two vote-getters advance to a head-to-head runoff, which can end up pitting two Republicans or two Democrats against each other. Even though it's called a primary, this happens on general Election Day. HAS LOUISIANA ALWAYS DONE THIS? For state, parish and municipal elections, Louisiana has used an open primary system since 1975. It was designed by then-Gov. Edwin Edwards, who had faced two tough Democratic primary rounds in the 1971 election before his general election run against a Republican opponent who hadn't had the same primary challenges. Open primaries were first used for Louisiana's federal elections in 1978, when state lawmakers changed rules for U.S. House and Senate. It's not used for Louisiana's presidential primary. HAVE THERE BEEN PROBLEMS? Louisiana didn't use open primaries from 2008 to 2010 because of legal challenges. Initially, state lawmakers set up Louisiana's open primaries in late September or early October, with general election dates conforming with November's federal election date. Candidates who exceeded the 50% primary threshold were declared elected, rendering the November general election date unnecessary for those contests. Story continues That timeline yielded a lawsuit by a group of Louisiana voters, who challenged the open primary calendar based on the argument that federal law requires U.S. House and Senate members to be elected on the centralized November election date. In 1997, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the system violated federal law, since over 80% of the contested congressional elections in Louisiana have ended as a matter of law with the open primary. Subsequent to that decision, Louisiana moved the congressional primary date to November's federal election day, pushing any needed runoffs to December. There have been a few tweaks. Primary day was briefly moved to October in 2005. A year later, Gov. Kathleen Blanco signed a law that closed Louisiana's 2008 congressional primaries, but state lawmakers voted two years later to bring back nonpartisan federal primaries. The system can lead to immensely crowded primary ballots, like one for an open U.S. Senate seat in 2016 that boasted 24 candidates. HAVE THERE BEEN RECENT EFFORTS TO CHANGE THIS? Last year, Louisiana lawmakers considered reinstituting closed primaries; that idea was ultimately scrapped. Republican Sen. Sharon Hewitt of Slidell said she brought up the notion in part because of concerns that Louisianas open primary often has the state electing members of Congress later than the rest of the country. In competitive congressional races, particularly for open seats without an incumbent, races often are pushed into a December runoff a month after nearly every other state has settled its seats. Some Louisiana Republicans including U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise argued that that system puts Louisianas newest congressional delegation members at a disadvantage in seniority, committee assignments and orientation sessions. Other Republicans, including Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, actively lobbied against the bill limited to congressional elections but seen as a possible stepping stone to wider closed primaries for other types of elections arguing that changing the system would shrink voter participation, confuse and frustrate voters and lead to more partisanship. The feud raised questions about whether the bill could pass, and Hewitt said she would continue studying the issue. DO OTHER STATES DO ANYTHING SIMILAR? Two states, California and Washington, use a top two primary format, using a common ballot listing all candidates. California candidates list party affiliations, whereas Washington candidates list party preferences, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In both states, the top two vote-getters in each race advance to the general election. But unlike in Louisiana, no one can win the job outright in the primary even if they get more than half the vote. Nebraska legislators are elected on a nonpartisan basis, running without party designation and on the same primary ballot, a system not dissimilar to local nonpartisan elections across the country, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. For the first time this year, Alaska elections were being held under a unique new system that scraps party primaries and instead holds an open primary in which all candidates for a given race appear on ballots, regardless of party affiliation, followed by ranked voting in the general election. This system, in place for both state and federal elections, was narrowly approved by voters in 2020 and upheld by the state Supreme Court earlier this year. ___ Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP ___ Follow APs coverage of the 2022 midterm elections at: https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections PARIS Two French technology companies have come together as a new entity to provide a swath of solutions for the country as it looks to master the ocean floors. ECA Group which builds robotic systems, unmanned vehicles and specialized naval equipment and iXBlue a specialist in navigation, marine and autonomous systems will hereafter be known collectively as Exail, the new company announced Tuesday at the biennial Euronaval trade conference in the capital. The alliance comes after ECA Groups parent company Group Gorge acquired iXBlue in September. The two companies were frequent partners on developing and operating autonomous systems, going back to the early 2000s, said Exail CEO Dominique Giannoni. The new name is meant to convey the notions of excellence and exploration, while hinting at the word sail to represent the maritime domain, Giannoni told Defense News at Exails trade show booth. The new company includes 1,500 people and 250 million (U.S. $245 million) in sales, he said. The respective portfolios of the former separate entities will merge, including the DriX uncrewed surface vehicle built by iXBlue and the A18D autonomous underwater vehicle developed by ECA Group. The companies saw the most synergy between their respective technologies in the naval domain, representatives said on the show floor. With their merger, Exail is now able to cover the full supply chain, from components to the completed systems. While Giannoni did not mention any new products on the horizon, he noted the two companies are already well connected, with iXBlue inertial navigation solutions integrated on ECA Group autonomous underwater vehicle. In the future, we will continue to develop our products while bringing our technologies together, he said. iXBlue and ECA Group performed a demonstration of the collaboration between their two autonomous systems, the DriX and the A18D, during a September press tour organized by the French naval industries organization GICAN. Story continues In the harbor waters next to iXBlues facilities in La Ciotat, France, the two autonomous systems were deployed together and remotely operated from afar, with the A18D scanning the sea bed and gathering data, and the DriX providing live realignment to the A18Ds navigation systems, as well as faster data transmission by positioning itself above the underwater system. The DriX can simultaneously track and guide multiple assets, such as the A18D, allowing operators to remain stationed farther away on a mothership. France has placed a sharp focus on the seabed as one of the final frontiers to defend against adversaries, who may seek to destroy critical infrastructure, with a new strategy released by the Armed Forces Ministry this year. The nations France 2030 plan includes 2 billion for space and seabed exploration technologies, while the proposed 2023 defense budget earmarked 3.5 million for the seabed domain. The seabed strategy released in February calls for technologies that can allow the Navy to explore the seabed down to 6,000 meters. ECA Group developed the Ulyx autonomous underwater vehicle that can reach those depths, the company said. While there is no program of record, Exail is in discussions with the Navy regarding such technologies, Giannoni said. ECA Group is a partner on the Belgian-Dutch rMCM mine countermeasures program, in a temporary joint venture with Naval Group under the name Belgian Robotics and Defense. Exail will continue that work, along with all other programs that iXBlue and ECA Group took part in, a representative confirmed to Defense News. On Tuesday at Euronaval, leaders from the three nations defense ministries announced they would collaborate on future mine countermeasure technology efforts. While many of the hulking former textile mills that remain in the Charlotte area have been turned into hip offices, luxury apartments and dining destinations, the regions roots in that industry are still important to recruiting efforts. The latest confirmation came Tuesday morning, with a press release from Gov. Roy Coopers office announcing that Fab-Con Machinery Development Corp. is bringing its global headquarters and a manufacturing operation to Salisbury. ALSO READ: Atrium to merge with Wisconsin-based health system; HQ slated for Charlotte Fab-Con Machinerys decision to create a home in Rowan County validates our reputation as the best state to do business, Cooper says in the release. When woven together, our states skilled workforce, quality of life, and textile supply chain create a foundation of success for global manufacturers like this. The company, whose current headquarters office is in Port Washington, New York, plans to invest $5.3 million to set up shop here. It expects to create 27 jobs, according to the release, with an average annual salary of $73,081 far exceeding the countys overall average wage of $48,360 per year. Read more here. (READ MORE: Atrium to merge with Wisconsin-based health system; HQ slated for Charlotte) UN warns of severe acute malnutrition amid deaths of Somali children Xinhua) 08:22, October 19, 2022 MOGADISHU, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned Tuesday that malnutrition has reached unprecedented levels in Somalia as the number of child deaths keeps on increasing. UNICEF Spokesperson James Elder said that every single minute of every single day, a child is admitted to a health facility for treatment of severe acute malnutrition. "Severely malnourished children are up to 11 times more likely to die of diarrhoea and measles than well-nourished children. With rates such as these, Somalia is on the brink of a tragedy at a scale not seen in decades," Elder said in a statement. UNICEF said the latest admission rates from August show 44,000 children admitted with severe acute malnutrition. "That is a child per minute. A child whose mother has walked for days to get her child to help. A child whose body is fighting to survive. A child whose life hangs in the balance," Elder said. UNICEF said it is deploying mobile teams to "find and treat" children with malnutrition, thus seeking to reach children in hard-to-access locations. The UN agency said it has treated more than 300,000 children this year for severe acute malnutrition, noting that emergency water trucking has reached 500,000 people in just the last three months. Elder said term funding is part of the critical change needed to prevent famine from happening again and again. "When people speak of the crisis facing Somalia today, it has become common for frightful comparisons to be made with the famine of 2011 when 260,000 people died. However, everything I am hearing on the ground - from nutritionists to pastoralists - is that things today actually look worse," Elder said. He noted that in 2011, after three failed rains, the affected population was half of what it is now, and the overall conditions -- rain and harvest -- were on the mend. "Things are bad and every sign indicates that they are going to get worse. Without greater action and investment, we are facing the death of children on a scale not seen in half a century," Elder warned. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Wu Chaolan) The family of Ali Osman the man who was fatally shot by Phoenix police officers after he threw rocks at them is seeking $85 million from the city of Phoenix and Phoenix Police Department. The family's lawyer, Quacy Smith, filed the notice of claim Friday against the City of Phoenix, the Phoenix Police Department, Chief Michael Sullivan and officers Jesse Johnson and Brennan Olachea who they collectively identify as "responsible parties" in the document. "The Claimants seek an award of damages reasonably calculated to compensate for the injuries they suffered in connection with the wrongful death of Ali Osman on September 24, 2022," the document says. On Sept. 24, officers who were patrolling the area near 19th and Glendale avenues said they saw a man, later identified as Osman, throwing rocks at one of the patrol cars, according to Sgt. Brian Bower, a spokesperson with Phoenix police. Police said they told Osman to stop, but he continued throwing rocks at them, according to Bower. Then officers shot Osman. He was taken to a hospital where he died, Bower said. More: Family, community call for justice weeks after man shot, killed by Phoenix police The claim says the officers violated Osman's rights to freedom from unreasonable seizures and used excessive force when they shot him. It also says Olachea failed to use a non-lethal shotgun that was in his patrol vehicle. "Mr. Osman was neither a threat of death nor of great bodily harm to the officers, nor was engaging in conduct that justified the extent of force used by the officers," the document says. The notice of claim says Olachea and Johnson acted with a "reckless disregard for the life and safety" of Osman. According to the document, the "responsible parties" are liable for intentional infliction of emotional distress, wrongful death and battery. The notice of claim says the Phoenix Police Department was negligent in the hiring, supervision, retention or training of the involved officers, and that the officers were negligent with their actions. Story continues The $85 million to settle the claim supports loss of income and services, medical expenses, funeral and burial expenses, travel expenses, loss of consortium, pain and suffering, lost of enjoyment of life, attorney fees and punitive damages, the document states. Halima Osman, left, watches as attorney Quacy Smith, front right, speaks during a press conference after a memorial service for her brother Ali Osman, 34, at the Islamic Community Center in Tempe on Sept. 30, 2022. Osman was fatally shot by Phoenix police officers on Sept. 24. New details on the shooting revealed in the notice of claim The notice of claim described the moments leading up to the shooting and says Olachea was patrolling the area with an officer identified as J. Gibson. Olachea told dispatchers someone was actively throwing rocks at them, according to the filing, then Olachea and Gibson met with Johnson, who was driving another patrol unit. Besides damage to a spotlight on the patrol vehicle, the officers didn't report any other criminal conduct or that people were in danger, according to the document. During an interview one of the officers allegedly said that he believed Osman was having some type of mental episode. One of the officers allegedly requested helicopter for air support and a patrol vehicle with less-lethal ammunition. The document claims Olachea and Gibson had access to a non-lethal shotgun in their vehicle and they didn't use it or told Johnson about it. "The officers without forming any sort of plan that could have resulted in Mr. Osmans safe apprehension negligently and unreasonably entered their patrol vehicles and drove back to the intersection of 19th Avenue and Tuckey Lane to confront Mr. Osman.," the document says. The notice of claim says supervisors who monitor radio traffic didn't tell officers to wait for less lethal support or backup. Johnson "unreasonably" exited his patrol vehicle with his firearm drawn and pointed at Osman, even if he didn't see imminent danger to anyone, according to the notice of claim. While Johnson was "engaging" Osman, Olachea exited his patrol vehicle and fired at Osman at least once "without reason, justification or cause," according to the document. Osman was shot at least three times in the neck, the notice of claim says. "Mr. Osman had not thrown any rocks at Officer Olachea nor his vehicle at that time he fired his weapon. It was only after Mr. Osman had already been shot and killed that Officer Gibson holstered his firearm and retrieved the less than lethal shotgun stunbag," the notice of claim says. Edited video shows Sept. 24 shooting A video featuring edited body camera footage released by the Phoenix Police Departments shows Osman with his hands up as an officer approaches and pulls his gun and is heard shouting, "drop it." Osman then throws a rock at the officer before being shot and dropping to the ground. Body camera footage also shows an officer doing CPR on Osman before he was taken to the hospital. The department video shows a photo of a broken spotlight on one of the patrol vehicles, which police said was caused by Osman throwing rocks and which in turn prompted the officers to approach him. A couple of small rocks are seen hitting the patrol car as one of the officers arrives. In the video, Bower says a rock struck the officer in the shin as that officer is heard giving Osman commands to drop the rocks. Bower also says the officers gathered rocks from the scene, weighing between 2.9 ounces and 19.8 ounces. The department video also features photos of dents and scratches on the vehicles. The body cam video also captures one of the officers saying, "Let's get this motherf----r now," before driving to where Osman was. Osman's family reacted to the video and said they couldn't believe that had happened. At news conferences loved ones remembered Osman as a caring and selfless person. Osman was a Somali refugee who came to the United States at 14, his friend, Loay Alyousfi, previously said. A memorial was held Sept. 30 for Osman at an Islamic community center in Tempe. There is an internal and criminal investigation on the shooting that will be reviewed by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. Reach breaking news reporter Angela Cordoba Perez at Angela.CordobaPerez@Gannett.com or on Twitter @AngelaCordobaP. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Family of Ali Osman files notice of claim seeking $85 million FBI-raid-ABC-news.jpg US-CRIME-shooting-SUSPECT - Credit: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images At a minute before 5 a.m. on April 27, ABC News James Gordon Meek fired off a tweet with a single word: FACTS. The networks national-security investigative producer was responding to former CIA agent Marc Polymeropoulos take that the Ukrainian military with assistance from the U.S. was thriving against Russian forces. Polymeropoulos tweet filled with acronyms indecipherable to the layperson, like TTPs, UW, and EW was itself a reply to a missive from Washington Post Pentagon reporter Dan Lamothe, who noted the wealth of information the U.S. military had gathered about Russian ops by observing their combat strategy in real time. The interchange illustrated the interplay between the national-security community and those who cover it. And no one straddled both worlds quite like Meek, an Emmy-winning deep-dive journalist who also was a former senior counterterrorism adviser and investigator for the House Homeland Security Committee. To his detractors within ABC, Meek was something of a military fanboy. But his track record of exclusives was undeniable, breaking the news of foiled terrorist plots in New York City and the Armys coverup of the fratricidal death of Pfc. Dave Sharrett II in Iraq, a bombshell that earned Meek a face-to-face meeting with President Obama. With nine years at ABC under his belt, a buzzy Hulu documentary poised for Emmy attention, and an upcoming book on the militarys chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, the 52-year-old bear of a man seemed to be at the height of his powers and the pinnacle of his profession. More from Rolling Stone Outside his Arlington, Virginia, apartment, a surreal scene was unfolding, and his storied career was about to come crashing down. Meeks tweet marked the last time hes posted on the social media platform. Story continues The first thing Meeks neighbor John Antonelli noticed that morning was the black utility vehicle with blacked out windows blocking traffic in both directions on Columbia Pike. It was just before dawn on that brisk April day, and self-described police-vehicle historian Antonelli was about to grab a coffee at a Starbucks before embarking on his daily three-mile walk. He inched closer to get a better vantage, when he saw an olive-green Lenco BearCat G2, an armored tactical vehicle often employed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, among other law-enforcement agencies. A few Arlington County cruisers surrounded the jaw-dropping scene, but all of the other vehicles were unmarked, including the BearCat. Antonelli counted at least 10 heavily armed personnel in the group. None bore anything identifying which agency was conducting the raid. After just 10 minutes, the operation inside the Siena Park apartment complex a six-story, upscale building for D.C. professionals, with rents fetching about $2,000 to $3,000 a month was over. They didnt stick around. They took off pretty quickly and headed west on Columbia Pike towards Fairfax County, Antonelli recalls. Most people seeing that green vehicle would think its some kind of tank. But I knew it was the Lenco BearCat. That vehicle is designed to be jumped out of so they can do a raid in that kind of time. It can return fire if theyre being fired upon. Multiple sources familiar with the matter say Meek was the target of an FBI raid at the Siena Park apartments, where he had been living on the top floor for more than a decade. An FBI representative told Rolling Stone its agents were present on the morning of April 27 at the 2300 block of Columbia Pike, Arlington, Virginia, conducting court-authorized law-enforcement activity. The FBI cannot comment further due to an ongoing investigation. Though the FBI declined to comment in the midst of the investigation, the Department of Justice provided a statement. While the department cannot speak to any specific case or activity, the Department strictly adheres to the Attorney Generals July 2021 memorandum prohibiting the use of compulsory process with regards to members of the news media acting within the scope of newsgathering activities, the DOJs Office of Public Affairs Dana Iverson said in a statement to Daily Beasts Confider on Monday, Oct. 24. Meek has been charged with no crime. But independent observers believe the raid is among the first and quite possibly, the first to be carried out on a journalist by the Biden administration. A federal magistrate judge in the Virginia Eastern District Court signed off on the search warrant the day before the raid. If the raid was for Meeks records, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco would have had to give her blessing; a new policy enacted last year prohibits federal prosecutors from seizing journalists documents. Any exception requires the deputy AGs approval. (Gabe Rottman at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press says, To my knowledge, there hasnt been a case [since January 2021].) In the raids aftermath, Meek has made himself scarce. None of his Siena Park neighbors with whom Rolling Stone spoke have seen him since, with his apartment appearing to be vacant. Siena Park management declined to confirm that their longtime tenant was gone, citing privacy policies. Similarly, several ABC News colleagues who are accustomed to unraveling mysteries and cracking investigative stories tell Rolling Stone that they have no idea what happened to Meek. He fell off the face of the Earth, says one. And people asked, but no one knew the answer. An ABC representative tells Rolling Stone, He resigned very abruptly and hasnt worked for us for months. ABC News has not investigated the raid on their own ex-colleague even though network boss Kim Godwin had been briefed on the matter, according to Confider, and the network subsequently declined to answer several questions from Confider, instead saying via a statement: He resigned very abruptly for personal reasons and hasnt worked for us for months, and we dont comment or report on speculation. Sources familiar with the matter say federal agents allegedly found classified information on Meeks laptop during their raid. One investigative journalist who worked with Meek says it would be highly unusual for a reporter or producer to keep any classified information on a computer. Mr. Meek is unaware of what allegations anonymous sources are making about his possession of classified documents, his lawyer, Eugene Gorokhov, said in a statement. If such documents exist, as claimed, this would be within the scope of his long career as an investigative journalist covering government wrongdoing. The allegations in your inquiry are troubling for a different reason: they appear to come from a source inside the government. It is highly inappropriate, and illegal, for individuals in the government to leak information about an ongoing investigation. We hope that the DOJ [Department of Justice] promptly investigates the source of this leak. It is unclear what story, if any, would have put Meek in the FBIs crosshairs. Meek worked on extremely sensitive topics from high-profile terrorists to Americans held abroad to the exploits of Erik Prince, the founder of the infamous military contractor Blackwater. In recent years, some of Meeks highest-profile reporting delved into a 2017 ambush by ISIS in Niger that left four American Green Berets dead. Meek and ABC then adapted the story into the feature-length documentary 3212 Un-Redacted, which debuted last year on Veterans Day on ABCs sister company Hulu. A robust Emmy campaign began prior to Meeks disappearance, with events like a screening and Q&A at the Motion Picture Association in D.C. that the journalist attended with one of his daughters. The story was particularly incendiary because it undermined the Pentagons official narrative of what happened on the ground in the African nation, and presented evidence of a cover-up at the highest levels of the Army, according to the films logline. Adding intrigue, sources say another ABC News investigative journalist, Brian Epstein, also abruptly and inexplicably left the network a few months before Meek. Epstein also worked as a director, producer, and cinematographer on 3212 Un-Redacted (Hulu stopped Emmy campaigning after Meek apparently went AWOL, and the documentary ultimately failed to receive a nomination). Epstein told Rolling Stone, Im not commenting on this story, before abruptly hanging up. Even stranger, in the months before he vanished, Meek was finishing up work on a book for Simon & Schuster titled Operation Pineapple Express: The Incredible Story of a Group of Americans Who Undertook One Last Mission and Honored a Promise in Afghanistan, which he co-authored with Lt. Col. Scott Mann, a retired Green Beret. Meek even featured a picture of the soon-to-publish book in his bio on social media and frequently tweeted about his involvement. But post-April 27, the book-jacket photo disappeared from his bio, and Simon & Schuster has scrubbed his name from all press materials. The first sentence of the jacket previously read: In April, ABC News correspondent James Gordon Meek got an urgent call from a Special Forces operator serving overseas. Now it says: In April, an urgent call was placed from a Special Forces operator serving overseas. Early press materials, available on the Wayback Machine, gushed about Meeks credentials: He has covered the rise of Al Qaeda since 1998, from the Millennium Plot to reporting from the ground outside the Pentagon after a hijacked plane hit it on September 11, 2001, to combat embeds with US and Afghan Special Forces in Afghanistan. James has looked terrorists in the eye including 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed at Guantanamo, shoe bomber Richard Reid and dirty bomber Jose Padilla inside the Supermax federal prison, and Zacarias Moussaoui at his trial. Simon & Schuster did not respond to a request for comment. Mann, who is solely promoting the book, which published in August and became a New York Times bestseller, says he is unsure of what exactly happened to Meek. He contacted me in the spring, and was really distraught, and told me that he had some serious personal issues going on and that he needed to withdraw from the project, Mann tells Rolling Stone. As a guy whos a combat veteran who has seen that kind of strain I dont know what it was I honored it. And he went on his way, and I continued on the project. Mann says he hasnt heard from Meek since. Both the Obama and Trump administrations were criticized for targeting journalists and their sources. Obamas Justice Department brought charges under the Espionage Act against a record number of people, from top generals like David Petraeus and James Cartwright to document leakers like Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden. Yahoo News reported last year that in 2017, under Trump, as many as 20 U.S.-based journalists, including a Pulitzer Prize-winning Associated Press reporter, were being tracked by a special Customs and Border Protection unit. But the Biden administration set out to reverse that trend. Biden called the practice of obtaining journalists phone records and emails wrong, and in July 2021, Attorney General Merrick Garland enacted a new policy that bars federal prosecutors from seizing journalists records in leak investigations, with some exceptions, including if reporters are suspected of working for agents of a foreign power or terrorist organizations, as well as situations involving imminent risks such as kidnappings or crimes against children. A Department of Justice press release at the time added, To further protect members of the news media in a manner that will be enduring, [Garland] asked the Deputy Attorney General to undertake a review process to further explain, develop, and codify the policy announced today into Department regulations. Given the new policy, the question looms on what grounds the feds would have had room to act on Meek. No one is more mystified by the strange saga than the people who lived in and around the Siena Park complex. The raid became the talk of the building and the neighborhood businesses, but details remain elusive. Obviously, I was trying to figure it out because, Oh, my God, what was happening on my floor? says Krystin Poitra, who lived in an apartment adjacent to Meeks for more than a decade, but has since moved out. He was often with his two daughters. And he was always really nice. I know he had lived in the building for a significant amount of time because I remember when those daughters were really young; my dog accidentally picked up something in the hallway and it was a Barbie boot. And I knew its got to be theirs because they were the only kids on the floor. I went over, and one of the girls answered, and I was like, Does this belong to you guys? Theyre like, Yeah. And then they just kind of shut the door. Despite seeing Meek in the elevator and in the parking garage frequently, neighbors didnt know much about him. He kept to himself, often hanging out on the rooftop alone. The only thing that really stood out was his hulking frame. He was hard to miss at six feet seven. I couldnt even tell you what his occupation was, Poitra adds. Another resident, who works in law enforcement, says the muscle behind the raid was highly unusual. The last time I heard about a SWAT team going into an apartment building was the crazy stuff in Navy Yard, and they had weapons and stuff, the resident says of an operation three days after the Siena Park raid, in which two men were apprehended inside a luxury Navy Yard apartment building and charged with impersonating federal law enforcement. Unlike the Meek case, the Navy Yard raid was well-reported, and authorities said they seized a stockpile of weapons. An employee at the Citgo station across from Meeks building, who declined to give his name, witnessed the raid: I remember coming to work that morning and seeing a lot of police cars out there. Nobody said anything. I didnt know what was going on. At ABC News, Meeks sudden absence has left many of his colleagues perplexed, given that he still had time remaining on his contract. But his background was often shrouded in mystery. Some contemporaries were under the impression that he previously served in the military. One described a picture in his office that was taken in a desert, in which all of the others posing with Meek had their faces blacked out. One co-worker described him as sometimes gruff, but otherwise collaborative. Ben Sherwood, president of ABC News at the time, once lauded his accomplishments in a staff memo, noting Meeks vast knowledge of national security issues and skills as a deep-diving reporter. Now, Meek appears to be on the wrong side of the national-security apparatus. And no one can say for certain if law-enforcement officers actually removed him from the building. And thus, a riddle was born. Documents pertaining to the case remain sealed. I just want to know what happened, says another person who worked on 3212 Un-Redacted. [Meeks situation] is making me nervous. Im just gonna deadbolt my door. This story has been updated on Monday, Oct. 24 at 5:45 p.m. ET to reflect statements obtained by Confider. Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent, teaching a gun instruction class at a West Miami-Dade County gun range, was shot Wednesday morning and was pronounced dead at the hospital where doctors were unable to revive him. Details of the shooting werent immediately clear but sources familiar with the incident said it was accidental. CBP Spokeswoman Rachel Torres confirmed one of her agents had been shot at the range and died of his injuries at the hospital. We did have a CBP officer critically wounded this morning. He was teaching a class, she said. Several law enforcement sources familiar with the shooting say the agent killed was Jorge Arias, 35. He was struck by a single round in the chest while teaching a class. Though Torres wouldnt confirm that it was Arias who was killed, she did say the family of the agent who succumbed to the gunshot wound had been notified of his death. Customs and Border Protection agent Jorge Arias was shot and killed Wednesday teaching a firearms class at a West Miami-Dade gun range. Provided to the Miami Herald Arias was killed at a section of the range portioned off for law enforcement. Its typical for Customs and Border Protection to use the facility on Wednesdays. The agents death drew a large procession at Jackson Memorial Hospitals Ryder Trauma Center, where he was airlifted after the shooting. CBP Spokesman Michael Silva, without naming Arias, said he was a good family man. Miami-Dade Police have released very little information on the shooting, which happened at Trail Glades Range, near the intersection of Krome Avenue and Tamiami Trail, just before 11 a.m. They released a brief statement on the incident early Wednesday afternoon saying an adult male with a gunshot wound was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospitals Ryder Trauma Center. The property is owned by Miami-Dade County, which will lead the investigation into the agents death. A Miami-Dade Police spokesman said investigators are not discarding any possibilities while looking into the agents death. Miami-Dade Police, who are overseeing the shooting investigation, also said the agent was killed in the line of duty. That makes Arias the third South Florida law enforcement officer to die while on duty in the past two months. Miami-Dade Police Detective Cesar Echy Echaverry died Aug. 18, two days after a shootout in Liberty City with a armed robbery suspect, who was killed by returned fire. Echaverry was the first member of the departments elite Robbery Intervention Detail to be killed on duty. And Jose Perez, a special agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, died Aug. 20, almost three weeks after getting into a car accident while responding to a building alarm. Federal authorities filed lawsuits Tuesday against six vape companies, including one in Columbus, that alleges the businesses or associated individuals illegally manufactured and sold electronic nicotine delivery system products. Todays enforcement actions represent a significant step for the Food and Drug Administration in preventing tobacco product manufacturers from violating the law, said Brian King, director of the FDAs Center for Tobacco Products. The lawsuit filed by the U.S. government alleges that the companies manufactured and sold electronic nicotine delivery system products without seeking FDA authorization. They did so after receiving notice from the FDA about the need for authorization, the suit says. The Columbus company named in the suit is Vapor Craft LLC and its owner, Melissa D. Anderson. Its important that businesses large and small take the necessary steps to comply with federal regulations that are put in place to ultimately protect the consumer, especially with regard to potentially harmful products, said U.S. Attorney Peter Leary for the Middle District of Georgia. Our office will enforce statutes intended to keep the citizens of the Middle District of Georgia safe, said Leary. Attorney Todd Swanson will represent the U.S. government and Judge Clay Land will preside over the case. A lawsuit represents only one side of a legal argument. A representative for Vapor Craft LLC could not be reached Wednesday for comment. Pennsylvania Senate candidate John Fettermans campaign released a letter on Wednesday from his doctor stating he is in good health, following pressure from his opponent and the media for an update on the effects of his May stroke. The Democratic lieutenant governors campaign released the letter from Dr. Clifford Chen, who practices at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Chen wrote Fetterman is well and shows strong commitment to maintaining good fitness and health practices. He has no work restrictions and can work full duty in public office. Fetterman spent much of the summer off the campaign trail after suffering a stroke days before the primary in the race to fill retiring Republican Sen. Pat Toomeys seat. Chen noted that Fettermans lungs, heart and strength were normal and that he spoke intelligently without cognitive defects. Fetterman has been conducting interviews with closed captioning because of hearing issues during his recovery, as Chen noted. Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) His speech was normal and he continues to exhibit symptoms of an auditory processing disorder which can come across as hearing difficulty, wrote Chen. Occasional words he will miss, which seems like he doesnt hear the word but it is actually not processed properly. His hearing of sound such as music is not affected. His communication is significantly improved compared to his first visit assisted by speech therapy which he has attended on a regular basis since the stroke. Four days before the May 17 primary, Fettermans campaign announced that he was in the hospital recovering from a stroke, and then underwent a procedure on Election Day to have a pacemaker and defibrillator inserted. Fetterman has insisted he is in good health despite calls from his Republican opponent Dr. Mehmet Oz and multiple newspaper editorial boards to release his medical records. Oz, who had resided in New Jersey for decades before deciding to run for the Pennsylvania seat, produced a four-page letter from a doctor in New York last month. His campaign has attacked Fetterman for the stroke, with one staffer saying he wouldnt have suffered it if he had eaten more vegetables. The Fetterman campaign has highlighted controversies, including the promotion of questionable health products and advice, tied to Ozs long-running talk show, . Story continues Senate candidate Mehmet Oz. (Mark Makela/Getty Images) Fetterman returned to the campaign trail in August, thanking his wife, Giselle, for spotting the signs of a stroke and saving his life. In a statement released along with the letter from Chen, Fetterman said, Since my stroke five months ago, one of the best parts of this campaign has been the unbelievable number of Pennsylvanians who have shared their own stories with us about the major health problems theyve faced and overcome in their lives. In addition to questioning the state of his health, Oz and his allies have been hammering Fetterman on his positions on criminal justice reform and his work on the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons, narrowing the race the Democrat had spent the summer leading. Earlier this month, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report changed the races rating from Lean Democrat to Toss-Up. The two are set for their only debate on Oct. 25. By Andrew MacAskill LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Liz Truss's insistence that she would not quit after sparking a financial crisis was met with howls of laughter, incredulity and shouts of "resign, resign" as she spoke in the House of Commons on Wednesday. Fighting for her political survival, Truss often had to pause to be heard as her insistence that she had been "very clear" and that the opposition party needed to grasp "economic reality" was met with jeers and calls for her to go. "I am a fighter and not a quitter," she told a packed session of "Prime Minister's Questions" - a weekly fixture of the British political calendar - just days after she was forced to pull her signature economic policy. In a rowdy House of Commons, opposition leader Keir Starmer said that a book was being written about Truss's time in power, which was due to be "out by Christmas". "Is that the release date or the title?" he said. Conservative politicians sat in near silence during most of the exchanges. Some stared ahead motionless, while others looked at the floor. Truss repeated her apology to the British people but accused Labour of not grasping "economic reality", which was met with howls of laughter from the opposition benches. "I have been very clear that I am sorry and that I have made mistakes," she said. Truss has been forced into a humiliating U-turn, reversing most of the policies that secured her elevation to Downing Street just over six weeks ago. A "mini-budget" last month had proposed vast, unfunded tax cuts, triggering an intervention from the Bank of England and a rebuke from the International Monetary Fund as borrowing costs surged, the pound tumbled and mortgage rates jumped. Just last week, she taunted the opposition Labour Party that her two-year energy subsidy programme would help families through this winter and next. Already her new finance minister, Jeremy Hunt, has said it will only last six months. Story continues Starmer said Truss's economic plan had been built on "fantasy economics" and had ended in disaster. As he read out a list of dropped economic policies his lawmakers shouted "gone" after each one. The Labour leader pointed out that Truss had insisted last week there would be no government spending cuts. On Monday, Hunt said he needed to make decisions of "eye-watering difficulty" as he looks to plug a black hole in government finances. "What's the point of a prime minister whose promises don't even last a week?" Starmer said. (Reporting by Andrew MacAskill; Editing by Kate Holton and Alex Richardson) Paul Haggis arrives for opening statements in his trial in New York City Supreme Court. ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images A civil rape trial in the case against filmmaker Paul Haggis got underway in New York on Wednesday. Haleigh Breest is suing Haggis, alleging he raped her at his Manhattan apartment in January 2013. Breest's attorney said in opening statements that Haggis "doesn't stop when women say no." Oscar-winning filmmaker Paul Haggis can't take no for an answer and used his fame to prey on vulnerable women, a lawyer for his accuser told a Manhattan jury as opening statements got underway in his civil rape trial on Wednesday. Publicist Haleigh Breest, who alleges the "Crash" writer and director raped her at his Manhattan apartment in January 2013, sued Haggis at the height of the Me Too movement in 2017 after Haggis came out publicly to criticize Harvey Weinstein. The "hypocrisy made her blood boil," Breest's attorney, Zoe Salzman, told the jury of six women and three men. Haggis claims the encounter with Breest was consensual. Priya Chaudhry, an attorney for Haggis, countered that the evidence would show that Breest is lying and that the Church of Scientology might be behind her accusation. Haleigh Breest and Madonna attend THE CINEMA SOCIETY & BING host the after party for "A SINGLE MAN" at Monkey Bar on December 6, 2009 in New York City. PATRICK MCMULLAN/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images But Salzman detailed four other women's allegations of similar encounters with Haggis and described a pattern of fear caused by Haggis' power in the film industry. She said Breest and the four women would all testify at the trial. "Paul Haggis doesn't stop when women say no," she said, and he "used his storytelling skills and his fame to prey on, to manipulate, and to attack vulnerable women in the industry." "He doesn't care about consent," she said. Haggis raped Breest after a film premiere when Haggis "lured" her back to his apartment for a drink and made a pass at her, despite her repeatedly saying she wasn't interested, Salzman said. Eventually, she said, he led Breest into a bedroom where he forced her to give him oral sex and raped her. Story continues Salzman said the evidence will show Breest discussed the encounter with friends in the days and weeks after the alleged assault and that Breest's anxiety "spiked" after the Haggis encounter, making it hard to be alone with men and giving her "flashbacks" during the one time she's attempted to have intercourse since then. The trial for assault, battery, rape, a criminal sexual act, aggravated sexual abuse and violating New York City law on gender-motivated violence is taking place in New York Supreme Court. Breest is asking for unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. Addressing the likelihood that Haggis' lawyers would try and pin Breest's lawsuit on the Church of Scientology, which Haggis broke with publicly in 2009, Salzman said Haggis has already admitted he doesn't have evidence to prove that theory. And while the burden of proof is not on Haggis to show that Scientology is to blame, Chaudhry said the circumstantial evidence will be "strong." "The Church of Scientology is very successful at destroying its enemies without leaving a single fingerprint behind," Chaudhry said. Chaudhry continued: "You may never know if Haleigh Breest is lying at the behest of Scientology or if she's lying to get Paul's money or she's lying for some other reason, but the evidence will show that she's lying." Read the original article on Insider Oct. 18LIMA The Lima Fire Department responded to a fire at around 8:07 p.m. Monday, classifying it as a two-alarm fire requiring mutual aid from the American Township Fire Department. According to Lima Fire Investigator Joe Lombardo, the fire at 1143 Richie Ave. began in the upstairs closet. The fire was contained to the closet but the house did sustain smoke and water damage. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined conclusively by investigators, but firefighters believe the fire may have started by someone entering the home who did not live there for warmth. The house had no electricity or appliances. The residence currently has no occupants and the homeowners were not present. The home is owned by Harris Rickie and is valued at an estimated $50,000, according to the Allen County Auditor's Office website. The Lima Fire Department reported damages of around $25,000 to the property. Logout Sign In Sadly, the 30-second video doesnt provide a great quality look at the rare cat. A researcher in Canada has reported a discovery aptly timed for spooky season: a black-coated Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis). This appears to be the first recorded sighting of a lynx with this particular coloring. The encounter with the black lynx actually happened in August 2020, when Thomas Jung, a wildlife biologist and professor at the University of Alberta, spotted the unusual cat in a rural area near the town of Whitehorse, Yukon. He managed to get a 30-second video of it on his cellphone from about 50 meters away. The lynx seemed to be relatively at ease in the presence of several people and a dog, but eventually leftperhaps because of the dogs barking. Jung, also a government employee for the territory of Yukon, said that he then reached out to several lynx experts, who all agreed that he had seen the real deal. Read more Jungs findings, including the images captured on video, were published this month in the journal Mammalia. The video can be viewed on YouTube. Paint it black: first record of melanism in Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) Domestic cats are known for a wide array of coat colors, but the same isnt true for cats in the lynx family. Canada lynx usually have a silver or grayish coat in the winter, which can change to a reddish brown coat dotted by black spots during the summer. So the black look for this lynx, also known as melanism, is so rare that this is apparently the first instance documented in this species. This grainy quality of the video sadly doesnt allow for a very detailed exploration of the lynxs unique coat, but the cat did appear to have some whitish gray hairs along its outer coat and facial ruff. A screenshot from the video of the black lynx. Its also not clear whether its coloring is an advantage or disadvantage to its survival, though Jung speculates that its likely the latter. Thats because Canada lynx typically hunt snowshoe hares. These hares do like to frequent burned-down forests, where the cats black coat might not stick out during the warmer months of the year. However, dark-coloured Canada lynx are likely far less camouflaged to snowshoe hare during winter when the ground is covered with deep snow, Jung wrote. Hence, melanistic individuals would be at a distinct disadvantage when hunting hares during winter. Story continues Though their numbers are stable in the Northern parts of Canada and Alaska, Canada lynx populations are disappearing elsewhere in the U.S. and southern Canada. Human encroachment and the effects of climate change, such as more frequent and fiercer wildfires, are expected to further threaten the species. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) The first Native American woman in space said Wednesday she is overwhelmed by the beauty and delicacy of Mother Earth, and is channeling positive energy as her five-month mission gets underway. NASA astronaut Nicole Mann said from the International Space Station that shes received lots of prayers and blessings from her family and tribal community. She is a member of the Wailacki of the Round Valley Indian Tribes in Northern California. Mann showed off the dream catcher she took up with her, a childhood gift from her mother that shes always held dear. The small traditional webbed hoop with feathers is used to offer protection, and she said it's given her strength during challenging times. Years before joining NASA in 2013, she flew combat in Iraq for the Marines. "Its the strength to know that I have the support of my family and community back home and that when things are difficult or things are getting hard or Im getting burned-out or frustrated, that strength is something that I will draw on to continue toward a successful mission, Mann told The Associated Press, which gathered questions from members and tribal news outlets across the country. Mann said she's always heeded her mother's advice on the importance of positive energy, especially on launch day. It's difficult for some people maybe to understand because it's not really tangible, she said. But that positive energy is so important, and you can control that energy, and it helps to control your attitude." Mann, 45, a Marine colonel and test pilot who was born in Petaluma, California, said its important to recognize there are all types of people aboard the space station. It's currently home to three Americans, three Russians and one Japanese astronaut. What that does is it just highlights our diversity and how incredible it is when we come together as a human species, the wonderful things that we can do and that we can accomplish, she said. Story continues While fascinated with stars and space as a child, Mann said she did not understand who became astronauts or even what they did. Unfortunately, in my mind at that time, it was not in the realm of possibilities, she said. That changed later in her career. Now, she's taking in the sweeping vistas of Earth from 260 miles (420 kilometers) up and hoping to see the constellations, as she encourages youngsters to follow their dreams. As for describing Earth from space, the emotions are absolutely overwhelming, she said. "It is an incredible scene of color, of clouds and land, and its difficult not to stay in the cupola (lookout) all day and just see our planet Earth and how beautiful she is, and how delicate and fragile she is against the blackest of black that Ive ever seen space in the background. Mann rocketed into orbit with SpaceX on Oct. 5. She'll be up there until March. She and her husband, a retired Navy fighter pilot, have a 10-year-old son back home in Houston. The first Native American in space, in 2002, was now-retired astronaut John Herrington of the Chickasaw Nation. ___ 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. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and his Democratic rival, Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.), faced off in a bitter debate on Tuesday that underscored the stakes of the U.S. Senate contest in one of the countrys most unpredictable states. The debate the only face-to-face showdown between the two candidates touched on everything from abortion rights to Floridas wavering property insurance market and gave both candidates ample opportunity to go on the offensive mere weeks before Election Day. Here are five takeaways from the Senate debate in Florida. Bitterness spills into public view If Rubio wins this race, it will be the senators third term in office. The race between Rubio and Demings has often taken a back seat to Senate contests in other battlegrounds such as Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania. But Tuesday nights debate made clear its anything but a sleepy affair. Demings sought to go on the attack throughout the night, delivering an aggressive performance in which she cast Rubio as little more than a career politician and reliable yes vote for the GOP in Washington. Rubio, meanwhile, was anything but restrained. He repeatedly took swipes at Demings, claiming that shes never passed a single piece of legislation in her six years in the House. When it came to passing the Paycheck Protection Program, the stimulus bill approved early on in the coronavirus pandemic, Rubio said that Demings was sitting at home in her pajamas while a GOP-controlled Senate worked to save struggling U.S. businesses. Overall, the debate put into stark relief the animosity between Rubio and Demings, making public the tensions that have been simmering between the two politicians for months. Demings looks to cast doubt over Rubios record Demings is looking to pick up steam as Rubio has been leading in the polls If there was a throughline in Demingss debate performance, it was her effort to raise doubts about the Florida Republicans 12 years in the Senate. Story continues The senator, who has never run anything at all but his mouth, would know nothing about helping people and being there for people when they are in trouble, Demings said early on in the debate. But her criticism didnt stop there. She blamed him for doing little to curb rising property insurance costs in Florida and ignoring the issue of gun violence in a state that has seen multiple mass shootings. And in her closing statement, Demings touched on a talking point that has been repeated by Democratic candidates over the past couple of months, accusing Rubio of voting against an effort to cap insulin prices. Rubio ties opponent to the far left Rubio is known for describing opponents as socialist on policy disagreements. Throughout the debate, Rubio turned to a familiar playbook for Republicans: casting his Democratic opponent as a socialist. I dont know what word you prefer: socialist, Marxist, crazy? I dont know. Im open to suggestions, Rubio said. That line of attack isnt novel. Republicans have used it for years to describe Democrats, whom they accuse of supporting out-of-control government spending and unreasonable regulations. Still, its one that has proved effective in Florida in the past. Republicans made huge gains in the Sunshine State two years ago, particularly among Hispanic voters in South Florida, by painting the modern Democratic Party as sympathetic toward if not outright allied with socialists and communists. Demings for her part aggressively shot down those claims, hitting Rubio for using a tired GOP playbook. Youre repeating yourself, she said. Weve seen this show before. Socialist, socialist, crazy, Marxist. Abortion, guns, foreign policy get top billing Abortion has become a hot topic for the midterms due to the overturning of Roe v. Wade over the summer by the Supreme Court. For all the state-specific issues raised in the debate, national and even international hot-button topics received top billing. Rubio was put on the defensive over his support for a bill introduced by fellow Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) that would ban abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Meanwhile, Demings attacked Rubio over what she described as his inaction on gun violence, referencing the 2016 mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando that left 49 people dead. Senator, you used the Pulse nightclub shooting as your inspiration to run again for the Senate in 2016, she said. Pulse is in my district. And yet youve done nothing, nothing to help address gun violence and get dangerous weapons out of the hands of dangerous people. The debate also featured a lengthy discussion on foreign policy, a topic that tends to get little attention in congressional races but one that often shows up in Florida politics. Rubio and Demings both insisted on the need to respond to Russian aggression amid that countrys invasion of Ukraine but differed on exactly what that would entail. We have to hold those who are not our friends accountable, and, senator, that does include Russia, Demings said. Its not just China. Rubio, meanwhile, insisted that any response to Russian aggression would have to be an allied response coordinated with other members of NATO. The debate doesnt appear likely to change much Florida has been trending Republican in recent elections, but still remains a state where it could be anyones game. Demings, a rising Democratic star, has struggled to chip away at Rubios base of support in the way shell need in order to win in November. Tuesdays debate doesnt seem likely to change that. The Republican senator received several rounds of applause throughout the debate and maintained a relatively cool demeanor in the face of Demingss most aggressive attacks. Conversely, Rubio didnt do much to alter perceptions of Demings, sticking to a tested list of Republican talking points throughout the debate. Thats not exactly what Demings was hoping for. Polling shows her trailing Rubio by around 4 or 5 percentage points, and Republicans have been the beneficiaries of a winning streak in Florida in recent years. On Tuesday, The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan election handicapper, shifted the race into its likely Republican column. Still, the Sunshine State is known for its unpredictable and ultra-close electoral contests, and even Republicans acknowledge the race is still in play. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) Deputies in Florida arrested a man on Sunday morning after he allegedly planned to start a war with law enforcement officials, they say. The Putnam County Sheriffs Office said Glen Ressler, 42, had planned to engage deputies in a shootout, in retaliation for having his drivers license seized during an earlier traffic stop. His license had been suspended, they said. Florida sees rise in flesh-eating bacteria amid Ian concerns The sheriffs office said they received word of Resslers threats toward deputies early on Sunday morning. He had armed himself intending to initiate an active shooter situation with deputies and planned to start a war,' the Putnam County Sheriffs Office wrote in a statement. Glen Ressler, 42, was arrested Sunday morning after deputies say he approached them carry firearms and wearing a tactical vest. (Photo from Putnam County Sheriffs Office) Several deputies responded to Resslers home in Interlachen on Sunday morinng. While approaching the residence, a deputy using night vision spotted Ressler approaching the deputies wearing a tactical vest while armed with the four firearms and extra ammunition, the sheriffs office wrote. Ressler was disarmed and taken into custody without incident, according to the statement. Ressler was charged with four counts of aggravated assault, as well as one count of violation of a domestic violence injunction, the sheriffs office said. He is being held without bond, according to Putnam County inmate records. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. An Indian food bloggers attempt at fusing South Indian dosa and Korean ramen noodles has repulsed many of her viewers. Anjali Dhingra, a popular content creator with over 1.6 million subscribers on her YouTube channel, So Saute, stirred up the internet with a video titled Korean Dosa Recipe. In the clip, Dhingra prepares her unusual food combo by spreading dosa batter on a frying pan. She then cooks a packet of Shin Ramyun noodles and places it in a bowl. More from NextShark: Kit Kat Japan gets the anime treatment in stylish promo directed by Naoko Yamada After mixing in the flavor packets, she adds the noodles to the dosa, adds a slice of cheese and wraps them like a taco. She wraps the video up by taking a bite of the dosa ramen taco and telling her viewers to try the unique dish for themselves. On YouTube, where it was initially posted last month, the video has generated over 1.8 million views so far. On Instagram, where it was only reposted on Sunday, it has already racked up over 150,000 views. More from NextShark: TikTok creator who sparked backlash with NYC dumpling restaurant review video apologizes On both platforms, commenters appear to be equally disgusted by the dish. What's wrong with this girl? an Instagram commenter wrote. It's a hell-no combination. I literally used to like all ur videos ..but this nooooooo, wrote another. More from NextShark: Girl Eating a Chili Pepper is Everyone's Mood About 2020 Girl, you are you okay? asked a YouTube commenter. I mean wtf Dosa and Ramen together huhh kuchh bhii. That's totally disturbing, another wrote. Experimenting with dishes for content is nothing new to Dhingra, who has also combined Cheetos with instant noodles, made pizza out of noodles and used noodles in place of a burger patty in past videos. Story continues Featured Image via So Saute Newly released bodycam footage has revealed additional information in the case of Courtney Clenney, the OnlyFans model who is accused of stabbing her boyfriend to death in Miami. According to Local 10, the footage from April 1 reveals that an apartment employee called Miami police to report a domestic disturbance between Clenney and her boyfriend Christian Obumseli. Her boyfriend comes charging toward her and we try to get in the middle of it, the Paraiso building employee told officers. The bodycam footage shows officers standing in the lobby and having a discussion with the employee, as well as Clenney. As the employee explained what he witnessed during the disturbance in the apartment, Clenney told police that Obumseli was stalking her. Right now, I have not always been a victim, right now I am a freaking victim in this situation. Im scared to go downstairs and walk my dogs, the model said. I want a restraining order against Christian Obumseli. When police checked Clenneys apartment, they didnt find Obumseli. Speaking to Clenney, officers said they cannot kick out Obumseli if his belongings are present and he has been living in the apartment. You want this person to completely disappear from your life. At the same time, you have him here in your apartment for two months with a ton of stuff in here, an officer told the model. The model went back to her apartment while officers continued to speak to the employee who made the original call, saying that Clenney never disclosed that there was violence on that particular night. When she came down, he went charging at her, the employee told police. She didnt mention none of that. Until she says she wants to do something about it thats when we step in. Thats criminal activity. But she needs to mention something about that. Unfortunately, we cant do anything, an officer replied. Police believe that Clenneys story of self-defense is inconsistent. Clenney is currently facing a second-degree murder charge. Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton has named Scott Colvin as the new executive director of the Fayette County Detention Center, which has struggled with staff vacancies and low morale over the past two years. Colvin, who has 34 years of experience in corrections including several years as a deputy director of the Fayette County jail, replaces Lisa Farmer, who retired from the position earlier this month after serving in the top job for two years. Colvin will start in mid-November. The city recently hired Rodney Ballard, who previously served as director of the jail, to serve on an interim basis. Ballard will remain at the detention center until Colvin starts, city officials said. Scott Colvin has extensive experience and the training to help us address the challenges we are facing at the detention center, Gorton said. He knows our facility, and many of the corrections officers. Scott is a good fit for us. The jail has struggled to keep and retain employees. Detention center union officials have said the Old Frankfort Pike facility is still 100 employees short. I very much look forward to serving the citizens of Lexington alongside the well trained, hardworking and committed corrections professionals currently operating within the division, Colvin said. With this team, I am confident that we can move the division forward, solve our challenges, and continue to professionally evolve into one of the premier municipal corrections departments in the United States. Relations between the Fraternal Order of Police union and Farmer were tense. The union took a no-confidence vote against Farmer. The union also took a no-confidence vote against previous director Steve Haney. Colvin previously served as the deputy director of the Fayette County jail between 2013 and 2016, focusing on officer training and leadership development. Prior to 2013, Colvin served as the chief deputy of the Kenton County Detention Center and was a captain with Louisville Metro Corrections, where he began his career in community corrections. A Louisville native, Colvin left Lexington in 2016 to take a position with the Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office in Louisiana. He will leave his current position as a senior warden at a detention center in New Mexico to come to Lexington. Ocala police detectives are searching for the person who shot and killed a man Tuesday evening outside a Super 8 motel on West Silver Springs Boulevard just west of Interstate 75. At 5:18 p.m. police received a call from someone at a local hospital. The caller was reporting a shooting. Police said a man and a woman went to the hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds. Fatal encounter: Saturday morning shooting victim dies at hospital Shooting arrest made: Police arrest suspect, victim in Ocala shooting Gunned down near Hardee's: Ocala man, 19, fatally shot while in neighborhood so he could use nearby Hardee's Wi-Fi The woman was shot in the hand. The man suffered multiple gunshot wounds. The man later died at the hospital, officials said. Authorities said the shooting took place in the parking lot at the Super 8 motel located at 3916 W. Silver Springs Blvd. (State Road 40). Here is what happened Tuesday night Law enforcement officials said four people were inside a car when a fight broke out. During the altercation, the front seat passenger, identified as Ortiz Phillips Samuel, 23, was shot multiple times. The driver sped away, heading to the hospital, police were told. Along the way, the reported shooter, described only as a male, managed to escape. Officers are looking for him. Anyone with information about the gunman's whereabouts can call the OPD at 369-7000, Crime Stoppers at (352) 368-STOP, or visit www.crimestoppers.com. Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Ocala shooting: Man killed outside Super 8 motel in Central Florida By Miranda Murray, John Irish and Michel Rose BERLIN/PARIS (Reuters) -The French and German governments have postponed a meeting planned for next week until January, officials said on Wednesday, after what sources told Reuters were divisions including over energy policy and defence. European countries have emphasised the need to stay united after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February but their unity has been tested by an energy crisis that has pummelled major Western economies. French officials have expressed frustration with what they say has been a series of unilateral decisions by Germany, including a 200 billion euro energy package unveiled by Berlin without advanced warning to Paris. Paris has opposed an initiative pushed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Spain to build the new MidCat gas pipeline across the Pyrenees to replace dwindling Russian supplies. France also looked askance at German-led moves to procure air defence systems including from the United States instead of sourcing them from Europe. A German government spokesperson told a briefing both sides had decided that the postponement made sense due to logistical issues and bilateral discussions that needed more time to reach an agreement. A French presidency official echoed Berlin's comments, saying the two sides needed "more time" to reach agreements on issues including energy policy and defence cooperation. "There is a common desire to have something more ambitious ... on defence and how we align European sovereignty with the needs and choices that have been made and on energy questions to see with the Germans how we build a European sovereign strategy," the official told reporters. The official played down suggestions of any rift between Berlin and Paris, as did French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, who blamed the postponement on "the agendas of some ministers but has nothing to do with any political difficulties". Story continues German sources told Reuters that French President Emmanuel Macron had wanted a more ambitious agreement to be concluded at next week's meeting, which had been due to take place in Fontainebleau, south of Paris. FRENCH FURY Some French diplomats have said that criticising Germany publicly is counter-productive and not a vote-winner with Macron's pro-European voter base. But others say they feel Germany is throwing its weight around and taking decisions that are sometimes against French interests. France generates most of its electricity with nuclear power and is far less dependent than Germany on natural gas. But French officials say they worry that the 200 billion euro German plan could distort the European market because other countries do not have the same means to protect their citizens. France also believes the proposed MidCat pipeline would take too long to build to ease the looming energy crunch, would be costly for France and would contradict efforts to move towards a green economy. Officials in Spain and Germany, speaking on condition of anonymity, have told Reuters they believe that France is acting to protect its own ailing nuclear industry and fend off competition from Spain as a staging post for imported gas. The French are angry "with the Germans, especially Scholz. They aren't saying it in public but they are furious in private," said a European source in contact with the French government. "The Germans are doing what the French are often accused of: making decisions without consulting its partners to serve their interests." France and Germany were also embroiled in a dispute over nuclear energy in a debate last year, with Germany opposing France's efforts to have nuclear labelled as 'green' by the European Union. ($1 = 1.0231 euros) (Reporting by Miranda Murray, Andreas Rinke, John Irish, Michel Rose, Tassilo HummelWriting by Matthias WilliamsEditing by Alexandra Hudson, Peter Graff and Gareth Jones) Former bank lobbyist Marie-Anne Barbat-Layani has been cleared to head Frances financial markets regulatory agency after lawmakers voted 55-28 in favor of her appointment on Wednesday. Barbat-Layani, currently Secretary-General at the French economics and finance ministry, is now set to take over from Robert Ophele as chair of the Financial Markets Authority (AMF), responsible for registering crypto companies as well as traditional financial institutions. The French government, which is keen to see the country become a crypto hub, has set up one of the first crypto licensing regimes in the European Union. France has anticipated the European Unions bloc-wide rules, known as the Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (MiCA), that could take effect in 2024. But Barbat-Layani also sent a warning to licensed crypto firms, reminding lawmakers that licenses once granted can also be taken away and that this not a bug of the system but an intended feature. A recent case where a crypto company was deregistered shows the benefits of the French measures, she told senators at a hearing held Tuesday. Seeing your registration withdrawn has the effect of reverse advertising, which was one of the things that the AMF sought in terms of communication. I greatly admire the approach that was taken by the AMF in setting up the system and ensuring protections for young investors seeking to get into crypto, said Barbat-Layani, who was Director-General of the French Banking Federation from 2014 to 2019. It was a form of bet, not necessarily welcomed unanimously at the time I think that this risk taking was justified. Barbat-Layani was likely referring to crypto company Bykep, whose crypto registration was removed without the companys consent in September a first for the AMF. The regulator cited serious failings in money laundering controls and a costly theft via cyberattack. CoinDesk was unable to reach Bykep, previously known as Keplerk, for comment. According to the AMF, Bykep had protested that the accusations didnt justify the removal of its license. Story continues Frances desire to be a crypto hub was restated by Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire in an interview published Monday. Major crypto companies such as Binance and Crypto.com have already registered under the countrys regime, which is managed by the AMF along with the central bank. Read more: France to Explore Crypto Tax Treatment Next Year The Senate committee voted 20-1 in favor of the appointment, while the National Assembly voted 35-27 in favor, a Senate spokesperson told CoinDesk. Lawmakers could have blocked the appointment if 60% of them had voted against. Quotations have been translated from French. french montana Last week, French Montana dropped off Whippn It Slowly, a brand new offering that samples the iconic Killing Me Softly With His Song record by the Fugees. Yesterday (Oct. 18), the Bronx-bred rapper shared the accompanying music video, which sees Montana and his friends attending the premiere of his new movie showing in theaters. As an encore, he also performs Whippn It Slowly live to the crowd that chants the lyrics back to him: He got cut in his face with a banger, been riskin for my life with these verse/ Whippin that soft, whippin this far, whippin it slowly/ what this for? It changed my whole life, what this for? Whippin it slowly/ This is Coke Boys, feds did a sweep, hit the wrong house/ Call me Rod Strickland, how the ball bounce, before the shows, with the work, I was sold out (Whip it) Back in June, French Montana teamed up with Harry Fraud for his latest album Montega, a 12-song body of work with contributions from Babyface Ray, Rick Ross, Jadakiss, Benny The Butcher, Quavo, and more. Since then, they have released visuals for cuts like Rushmore Pack and Bricks & Bags. Montega followed last Novembers They Got Amnesia, which contained 21 songs and collaborations alongside the likes of Kodak Black, John Legend, Pop Smoke, Lil Durk, Doja Cat, Fivio Foreign, Coi Leray, 42 Dugg, and Ty Dolla $ign. In addition to Montega, French is also said to be working on the fifth installment of Mac & Cheese, a fan-favorite series that he started back in 2009. Outside of his releases,the Unforgettable rapper can be heard dishing out guest verses on recent tracks like PUTO by Lazza and Maquina de Dinero by El Alfa. Be sure to press play on French Montanas brand new music video for Whippn It Slowly down below. (Getty) Less than two months after the US Supreme Court struck down the constitutional right to abortion, Kansas voters shocked the country and a multimillion dollar anti-abortion campaign with the results of Americas first referendum on abortion rights after the high courts landmark ruling. In August, voters rejected a Republican-proposed state constitutional amendment that would gut protections for abortion care in Kansas, a red state that went for Donald Trump in 2020, and which anti-abortion activists anticipated would kickstart a nationwide campaign to end legal abortion after the decades-long movement to gut Roe v Wade finally got what it wanted from the Supreme Court. Instead, Kansas voters underscored the deep unpopularity of political interference with bodily autonomy and reproductive healthcare, signalling a wave of midterm elections centred around the high stakes for abortion rights across the US, from the future of state-level access, to threats of a nationwide abortion ban with Republicans in control of Congress. This fall, voters in five states will vote directly on measures related to reproductive healthcare. If approved, voters in California, Vermont and Michigan could be the first to enshrine an explicit right to abortion care in their state constitutions. In Kentucky, abortion rights advocates hope to recreate the success of the Kansas campaign by shooting down a constitutional amendment that would deny residents that same right. And in Montana, voters will weigh in on a so-called born alive measure backed by anti-abortion activists, with far-reach implications for families suffering pregnancy complications. Americans across the US will be also voting for candidates at the state level from legislators to secretaries of state and governors who will be crucial in deciding future state legislation to outlaw or severely restrict access, now that the Supreme Court has revoked overarching constitutional protections and handed those critical decisions back to individual states. Story continues But state-level measures that expand or protect access could be pre-empted by threats of a national abortion ban like the one proposed by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, despite GOPs feigned insistence that the issue should be left up to states to decide. On 18 October, President Joe Biden said he will make federal protections for abortion care his first priority in 2023 if Democratic members of Congress hold on to their majority and can pass legislation that codifies Roe. Without a federal right, either statutory or a new federal constitutional right, there is no way to assure that the majority of people in the US will be able to assert their bodily autonomy and access abortion care, Elisabeth Smith, director of state policy and advocacy with the Center for Reproductive Rights, tells The Independent. In the months after the Supreme Courts June decision in Dobbs v Jackson Womens Health Organization, patients and providers have shared horror stories about losing access to abortion care and testified to Congress about the dramatic ripple effects felt across the US in the wake of the ruling. People are being forced to confront all of the concentric circles and all the effects of the Dobbs decision, Ms Smith tells The Independent. I think were going to see Americans really stand up and say, You cant take my bodily autonomy away. You cant take my reproductive rights. You cant tell me that I dont get to decide what the course of my life looks like. How that will manifest in each individual place, I dont know. But I think in terms of the ballot initiatives weve been discussing, we will see people determined to make their voice heard. Michigan Petitioners broke a state record collecting thousands of signatures to get a measure on Michigan ballots that would amend the states constitution to enshrine the right to access abortion and birth control. Michigan voters will decide whether every person has the fundamental right to reproductive freedom, which involves the right to make and carry out decisions without political interference about all matters relating to pregnancy, including birth control, abortion, prenatal care, and childbirth. The measure would also ensure that all Michiganders have the right to safe and respectful care during birthing, everyone has the right to use temporary or permanent birth control, everyone has the right to continue or end a pregnancy pre-viability, and no one can be punished for having a miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion. Advocacy group Reproductive Freedom for Fall submitted a petition in support with more than 750,000 signatures above and beyond the threshold for getting the referendum on ballots this fall but it was shot down by two Republicans on a four-member state board because of a spacing issue on the proposal. The state Supreme Court reversed the decision last month, determining that the states Board of Canvassers has a clear legal duty to certify the petition and allow the question to appear on ballots. If Michigan voters adopt the amendment, it could preserve the states role as a critical point of care in the Midwest, where patients have an increasingly narrow Abortion rights demonstrators hold a rally in Ann Arbor, Michigan on 3 October. (AFP via Getty Images) Other midwestern states are enforcing criminal, total criminal abortion bans, or its difficult to get abortion care, or, in states like Wisconsin, abortion laws lack clarity, leading providers to stop providing care altogether, Ms Smith tells The Independent. If Michigan voters were to pass the constitutional amendment, it would ensure access for Michiganders, but also for people in surrounding states, she says. Montana Montana voters will be asked to vote yes or no on a pair of statements in a referendum approved by Republican lawmakers: that infants born alive, including infants born alive after an abortion, are legal persons, and that health providers are required to take necessary actions to preserve the life of a born-alive infant. Providers could face up to 20 years in jail and a $50,000 fine. Critics argue that the measure is intentionally misleading. Killing an infant is illegal. Anyone who purposely, knowingly, or negligently causes the death of a premature infant born alive, if the infant is viable already faces criminal penalties under the law. But the measure raises the baseless spectre among anti-abortion activists that children are born alive after failed abortions and then killed. Those laws turn on abortion stigma, and suggest that that babies are born after failed abortions, and doctors then dont provide emergency care. All of that is fake. All of that is false. It does not happen, Ms Smith tells The Independent. But I think its clear that in Montana, anti-abortion lawmakers want to see how far the state will go to vote on a statewide referendum that is seemed to restrict abortion. Dozens of medical professionals and families who have lost their children have joined the Montana chapters of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Academy of Pediatrics to urge opposition to the measure. The measure amounts to government-mandated aggressive treatment for newborns for whom no amount of medical care will save, and may instead prolong suffering and severely disrupt families grieving process and deny those families the choice to spend precious time with their infant, even to provide spiritual care, according to an open letter signed by more than 700 providers in the state. This has nothing to do with abortion, they wrote. The reality is that this represents government interference in the patient-physician relationship at times when families need compassionate care and trust in their health care professionals the most. There are so many reasons that an infant may be delivered with no chance of survival rupture of membranes at a previable gestational age, lethal anomalies of the heart, kidneys, lungs or nervous system, maternal health emergencies and this bill pushes a one-size-fits-all mandate that will cause real harm to these babies, mothers, and families. Kentucky Voters in Kentucky will determine whether to amend the states constitution to say that nothing in it protects the right to an abortion, echoing the proposal that Kansas voters overwhelmingly rejected in August. Abortion care is illegal in Kentucky, except in pregnancies to protect the life of the patient. But the future of abortion care hinges on legal challenges to state laws and whether courts agree that the states constitution provides Kentuckians the right to access that care. A so-called trigger law that bans abortion in the state without Roe protections was enacted after the Supreme Courts ruling. In August, Kentuckys Supreme Court allowed the states ban on abortions at roughly six weeks of pregnancy to stand, along with the trigger law. But oral arguments in that legal challenge wont begin until after Election Day on 15 November. If voters approve the amendment, the measure would preempt any state court from affirming abortion rights, effectively shutting down legal challenges from abortion rights advocates and providers in the wake of the Dobbs decision. Changing the law in the middle of that litigation would be devastating to providers and patients, Ms Smith tells The Independent. Protect Kentucky Access, a coalition of groups opposing the amendment, is spearheaded by campaign manager Rachel Sweet, who successfully led a similar effort in Kansas. The group recently reported raising more than $1.25m over the last month for a total of $3m. Momentum and fundraising are on our side, Ms Sweet said in a statement. The rights of Kentucky women to make their own private medical decisions free from government interference are on the line this November. California and Vermont Neither California nor Vermont have an explicit constitutional right to abortion, but both states allow for legal abortion care at all stages of pregnancy in Vermont and up to roughly 24 weeks in California. California voters will decide whether to amend the states constitution to prohibit the state from interfering with reproductive freedom, including the right to abortion. Vermont voters will determine whether the states constitution should establish a right to personal reproductive autonomy. If those measures are approved, it would be all but impossible for state lawmakers to advance abortion bans or restrictions. Limited edition tote bags showcasing students artwork will soon be on the shelves at one name-brand grocery store in metro Atlanta. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On Wednesday morning, students Jiyah Mathis, 12, Amelia K. Vinson, 14, and Tyra Robinson, 14 at the Charles R. Drew Charter School revealed their works of art on limited-edition reusable charity tote bags for Lidl. Shoppers will be able to buy the bags beginning Wednesday at Lidls Memorial Drive store. TRENDING STORIES: We are grateful for and humbled by the opportunity to work with our young artists daily, said Lisa Whittington, visual-arts teacher at Drew Charter School and we are appreciative of the team at Lidls willingness to provide our students with an opportunity to highlight their work while impacting our community. Designs illustrate iconic scenes from all around the Atlanta community, incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables, the school stated. We were truly blown away by the talent of these Drew Charter School students, said Ronnie Hammett, Lidl Memorial Drive store manager. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] I like my art to have meaning behind it so I use lots of details and colors to express myself. Designing this Lidl bag is my first major art achievement. Downtown Atlanta inspired my design because everywhere you go in Atlanta, you will see an ATL sign somewhere, said Jiyah. Amelia said she was inspired by the people in her environment to create a design that shows community. My style of art is bold lines, blocky shapes and lots of shadows. Fourteen-year-old Tyra said she was inspired by looking at fine art paintings of fruit portraits to create a portrait of Eva Davis. I wanted to create a portrait of Eva Davis because she was a powerful Black woman and a leader who not only helped to get our school built in East Lake for kids K-12. She was a fearless person who helped make this East Lake community what it is today. Story continues Each bag will cost $3.99 and all the proceeds from bag sales will go to the Atlanta Community Food Bank and the East Lake Healthy Connections program at the East Lake Family YMCA. IN OTHER NEWS: Jamie Valentino. Courtesy Jamie Valentino There's nothing wrong with casual sex, but I realized it's not what I'm looking for right now. A year ago I decided I wanted to try to make deeper connections with people. Since then, I've stopped having casual sex. I'm still single, but I'm optimistic about my future. A lot goes through your mind when you're having sex. Much of it is speculation about what the other nude person in bed with you is thinking, desiring. Maybe you're preoccupied with wishing you would've had time to properly groom. Maybe they're doing something funky, so you're trying to figure out how to guide them without offending their skills as a lover. I never thought the last time I had sex would be my last (well, at least for now). But I didn't decide ahead of time to enter a period of abstinence, which might be why I can't remember exactly which conquest put the nail in the coffin. The ease with which that encounter escapes my memory helps me rest easy that he was not the one that got away. When I'm feeling a bit more cynical, I suppose I could see that as an indication of my previous emotional detachment from physical intimacy. I stopped having casual sex because, at a certain point, I simply didn't want it anymore. I craved more than just the endorphins released by two bodies rubbing against each other, and hooking up for the sake of hooking up stopped giving me a fix. I wanted more than what simply hooking up was giving me. I had lost myself in casual sex; I thought I might find myself by giving it up This stretch of abstinence began subconsciously, but one day I realized it must have been weeks maybe months since I'd slept with anyone. It's not that I stopped feeling horny; I very much still wanted to meet someone. But I had been leading the search for love with my body since I came out at 20. With my 30s approaching, I couldn't expect the behavior of my partners to change if I didn't change my own patterns. I found that my potential online suitors were mostly turned off by my newfound prudishness. After all, many of them were used to a "sex first, questions later" approach. But I no longer wanted to be their fix. I decided to conserve my sexual energy in hopes of manifesting a relationship with substance. Story continues I was looking for The One in all the wrong places There's a scene in a "Sex and the City" episode where an exasperated Charlotte proclaims: "I've been dating since I was 15. I'm exhausted. Where is he?" I, too, have wondered this while I was with many sexual partners who I knew weren't the proverbial one: a man who kept insisting he didn't need cocaine but would snort a line every 10 minutes; a guy whose boyfriend I didn't know existed came home afterward; a makeup artist I temporarily dated who refused to participate in any conversation without alluding to his famous client. I could write a book a trilogy on men I've had sex with but would never dream about actually being in a relationship with, with plenty of chapters about men who've likely felt the same about me. My desperation to find a partner landed me in what became worse than perpetual singledom: an unhappy relationship. After we broke up, I moved to Europe for a few months and indulged in sex like I might have in college if I hadn't been hiding so deep in the closet. But this didn't help, and I kept feeling even emptier, more dissatisfied, and more alone than before. I was ready to put all the qualities I was looking for in a man on the backs of milk cartons and cross my fingers that someone would turn up on my doorstep like magic. Valentino. Courtesy Jamie Valentino Matthew Dempsey, a psychotherapist, says I might've been leaning a little too heavily on sex and then clinging to my relationship to make myself feel validated and connected when I was struggling to feel like I was good enough in other areas of my life. "Think of it like if you emotionally binge-ate all your favorite snacks from 7-Eleven because you felt lonely," Dempsey said. "You're not a bad person, but it's missing the mark and leaves you doubled over in belly pain." Add hookup apps like Grindr to the mix, and it's no wonder why so many gays get lost in a grid of torsos looking for Mr. Right Now. Though these certainly added to what I was feeling and my ability to avoid facing those emotions Dempsey says queer culture has historically been hypersexual, even before the apps. I know I certainly have been. I am a sex writer who's unabashedly been around the block, probably overlapping many people several times. But what happens when you want more? How do you break from the chains of a community founded on sexual liberation? "Sexual intimacy can feel like a safer way to connect because it doesn't require emotional vulnerability," Dempsey said, "but exhausting one means of connecting for multiple needs will definitely take its toll." He recommends identifying which apps are best for your goals and using hookup apps if you're looking for hookups or dating apps if you want to date; after all, if you're not honest with yourself about your intentions, you're not going to get where you want to go. "Align yourself with what feels right for you and nurture a loving relationship with yourself that way first," Dempsey said. It's also important to acknowledge that being sexually liberated means acknowledging when having lots of sex whether casually or in a committed relationship is no longer serving you and you need to take a break. Basically, that looks like doing whatever feels right for you, in whatever relationship structure you're in, even if that's one with yourself. Reevaluating my relationship with dating apps I didn't give up the apps at first, not even Grindr. I thought that might give me dating FOMO, and I'd had luck meeting wonderful guys on it, even though they didn't turn into relationships. I wanted to leave the entrance open for connection. However, I did become more intentional with my time and honest about what I was looking for, and I didn't entertain anyone who didn't seem to be looking for any depth. I continued living abroad as an expat and relocating to Latin America, but I grew frustrated that certain aspects of gay culture translated exactly the same in Spanish. For example, you might be surprised by the number of gay men who expect a stranger to show up and get naked at their apartment but act like dinner is too much of an imposition. My honesty about what I was looking for seemed to be somewhat of a litmus test, so even if I didn't delete the apps, my use diminished, and I was OK with that. My friend Chris, the editorial director for Queerty, gave me the best advice: Any date you walk into with demands and expectations is bound for disappointment. It's unhealthy to insist a stranger fill a premeditated role, and you might even lose out on great friendships. After talking with him and thinking more about what I was looking for, I refocused on exploring and writing about foreign places rather than trying to tame the gay men in them. The most challenging obstacle I had to overcome was letting go of my dependence on interacting with men online for constant stimulation, whether for my genitals or my self-esteem. I had forgotten how to live my best life without a new guy calling me cute every day. If I wasn't trying to hook up, why was I still using Grindr besides enslavement to the male gaze? I realized that maybe I couldn't be a good romantic partner if I needed so much external validation. I've started frequenting gay bars more and made some local friends along the way. The recent monkeypox outbreak helped me justify to strangers why I wasn't immediately jumping into bed with them. When people started telling me they were vaccinated, I joked that my heart wasn't. It was actually as easy as saying, "I'm looking for strings," and being willing to accept that maybe they weren't. Some folks think I'm silly to have become such a hopeless-romantic globetrotter, but as a freelance writer I'm able to find love anywhere, and I'd stay longer in a location if the opportunity presented itself. It's not that I don't believe it's OK to have sex whenever the mood strikes, on your terms. But for me, it hasn't yet. My first anniversary with myself will arrive sometime in November, or maybe December I'm not exactly sure, because it doesn't really matter. In that time, the way I've looked at having a romantic partner has transformed from my Achilles' heel to a luxury, like a bottle of pinot noir or central air conditioning in an Airbnb: It's nice if you have it, but you won't die if you don't. I've accepted you cannot summon love on command; that's how you end up with demons. But you can set yourself up to be ready for it. I've stopped fantasizing about the arrival of my partner so I don't accidentally miss them in real life. Ironically, my right hand and I have never been happier. Read the original article on Insider A college student in Georgia was killed when he was struck in the head by a propeller after disembarking from a plane he had taken to return from a date, authorities said. The 21-year-old man, identified as Sani Aliyu by the county coroner, landed aboard a single-engine Cessna 172 at the Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport in Georgia at about 10:35 p.m. Sunday, the FAA said in a statement to USA TODAY. After the plane taxied to the ramp area, a passenger got out and was struck by the propeller, the FAA said. Aliyu and a female passenger were flying back from having dinner on their first date, according to Bulloch County Coroner Jake Futch. The girl exits the airplane and walks to the back of the airplane and away from the plane he walks out toward the front of the airplane and the propeller strikes him twice in the head and once in the shoulder, Futch told USA TODAY Wednesday. Futch said he pronounced Aliyu dead at the scene at 11:23 p.m., determining it was an accidental death caused by cerebral lacerations. A pilot and co-pilot had flown the couple, said Capt. Todd Hutchens of the Bulloch County Sheriffs Office. A Georgia Southern University spokesperson, Melanie Simon confirmed to USA TODAY that Aliyu was a sophomore from Atlanta studying management. NCAAF: Mississippi State football announces death of freshman offensive lineman Sam Westmoreland Kristin Smart: Paul Flores found guilty of murdering missing California college student in 1996 We were deeply saddened to hear about the tragic incident that involved one of our students Sunday night, Aileen Dowell, a university dean, said in a statement provided by Simon. I have already been in touch with his family and professors and we have mobilized all available resources to provide counseling and any other assistance the university can give." The National Transportation Safety Board will lead an investigation into the accident, the FAA said. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Georgia Southern student killed by airplane propeller after landing BERLIN (Reuters) -German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has called off a planned visit to Kyiv on Thursday for security reasons, his office said on Wednesday. An official from his office said that security authorities in Germany and the foreign ministry had advised Steinmeier not to go but that the visit would be rescheduled soon. The president in Germany holds a largely ceremonial role. He had planned to visit the Ukrainian capital in April but Kyiv initially declined to welcome him due to unease about his past support of rapprochement with Russia. Since then, the diplomatic rift has been mended. Bild daily first reported the cancellation. (Reporting by Madeline ChambersEditing by Chris Reese and Bill Berkrot) Burbok emphasized that both regimes are not only Read also: Ukrainian army destroys over 500 Russian troops, 35 drones in one day, General Staff says "The kamikaze drones that were shot down and that hit Kyiv its quite clear where they originate from," she said. Baerbock said that Tehran's transfer of drones to Moscow showed that the two regimes are not only "brothers in spirit, but also support each other with weapons supplies." Read also: Head of German parliamentary defense committee calls for Germany to provide Ukraine with tanks "Thats why our only response to the terrible situation in Iran itself is to impose a package of sanctions," she said. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has submitted a proposal to the President to sever diplomatic ties with Iran over the transfer of weapons to Russia. Read also: Iran ready to send more drones, missiles to Russia for its war against Ukraine, reports Reuters A number of EU foreign ministers have also called for new sanctions against Iran if Tehran's involvement in Russian aggression is proven. The Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Oct. 17 that they had nothing to do with the supply of Shahed-136 kamikaze drones to Russia. In fact, hundreds of the Iranian-made drones have already been used by Russia to attack cities across Ukraine over the last several weeks. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine BERLIN (AP) Germany's foreign minister says there's no guarantee that this year's United Nations climate talks will result in an agreement that's backed by all sides. Officials from almost 200 countries will gather next month in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to discuss how to tackle global warming. The annual event is supposed to end with a concluding document that needs to be passed by consensus. In past years, the talks have often gone into overtime and positions have been watered down to secure agreement from all countries. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told a parliamentary hearing that in these times it's not an automatic given that there will be a concluding document," German news agency dpa reported. Asked what the German government's minimum goal for the meeting was, she told lawmakers: That it takes place. There's never certainty, given the current world situation. Germany planned to use the talks to announce new commitments for reducing emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, dpa quoted Baerbock as saying. Also Wednesday, Germany's transport minister announced that the government wants to massively expand the countrys charging network for electric cars, spending 6.3 billion euros ($6.17 billion) over the next three years as more and more drivers to turn away from combustion cars to more climate-friendly vehicles. Earlier this week, the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz decided to keep three German nuclear plants running until April to help the country manage an expected energy crunch this winter due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. ___ Follow all AP stories on climate change issues at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment. Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon isn't a fan of remote work. Michael Kovac / Getty Images Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon said 65% of its workers are back in the office five days a week. He told CNBC it's especially important for young workers in their 20s to get into the office. There's an ongoing debate around bringing the workforce back to the office after two years of remote work. Wall Street titan Goldman Sachs has managed to get about two-thirds of its staff back to the office five days a week, David Solomon, the CEO of the bank, told CNBC on Tuesday. "Before the pandemic, about 75% of our people were in the office on any given day of the week. Today, it's about 65%, so we're kind of operating close to the way we were," Solomon told CNBC, according to a transcript from the broadcaster. Solomon was speaking to the network days after he confirmed a restructuring during the bank's latest earnings call, where it also reported a 44% slump in third-quarter profit. The CEO isn't a fan of remote work that companies were forced into implementing, during the pandemic. In 2021, he told a conference the practice was "an aberration that we are going to correct as quickly as possible," Bloomberg reported. "This is not ideal for us and it's not a new normal," he said at the time. On Tuesday, he told CNBC it's especially important for young workers in their 20s to get into the office. "We have an organization where 50% of the people are in their 20s. They come to Goldman Sachs to learn, to meet people, to interact," he said. However, Solomon did indicate that he wasn't against flexibility for workers, particularly if they have more responsibilities, like kids. "I don't want rules. I want a culture where we show up, serve our clients. We work hard. We mentor our people, we teach our people, we strive for excellence," he told CNBC. Corporate America is split over remote work Solomon's comments came amid a debate ongoing in corporate America around bringing the workforce back to the office, after more than two years of pandemic-induced remote work. Story continues Some corporate leaders have been actively working to bring the employees working remotely, back to the office. Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz said in June he was doing "everything" he could to get staff to return to the office. Tesla CEO Elon Musk issued an ultimatum to executive staff in May, telling them to return to the office, or quit. Overall, employees are still not coming back to the office in full force. Office occupancy rate in the US was 49% as of October 17, according to data from Kastle Systems, an office security firm. That's the highest rate since the pandemic started, but still far from an almost 100% attendance in early March 2020 before the pandemic, the data indicated. The situation may change, however, as the economic outlook darkens. Real-estate tycoon Stephen Ross told Bloomberg in June, employees might just return to the office due to job security fears, if the US enters a recession. Read the original article on Business Insider Washington A group of Wisconsin taxpayers is asking the Supreme Court to block implementation of President Biden's student loan relief program days before the administration will start accepting applications, arguing the president circumvented Congress' spending powers with his plan to forgive up to $20,000 in college loans for millions of Americans. The Brown County Taxpayers Association, represented by the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, filed an emergency request with Justice Amy Coney Barrett asking the high court to intervene while proceedings continue in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. In their filing to Barrett, who oversees requests arising from the 7th Circuit, the Wisconsin taxpayers said Biden administration officials "exceeded their constitutional powers and their plan violates constitutional rights." "The assault on our separation of powers and upon the principle that the spending power is vested solely in Congress is extraordinary, and perhaps unprecedented," they said, later adding that an injunction blocking the Biden administration from implementing the plan would "prevent a constitutional violation." "Absent one, [the administration] will deplete the federal treasury by a staggering amount. Once action is taken, a court cannot turn back the clock," the group continued. The Brown County Taxpayers Association filed their challenge to the student debt relief program earlier this month, and a federal district court dismissed the suit, finding the taxpayers did not have the legal standing to sue. The 7th Circuit declined to pause the ruling while proceedings continue. In their filing to the Supreme Court, the Wisconsin taxpayers acknowledged that standing has been a "stumbling block." "The argument that a president may unilaterally forgive debt owed to the U.S. Treasury through executive fiat, and that no one has standing to challenge him, threatens the very foundations of a constitutional republic," they wrote in their request, adding the federal courts "cannot be relegated to a mere bystander observing constitutional infractions of the highest orders." Story continues Mr. Biden announced in August he would be taking action to cancel up to $10,000 in federal student debt for Americans earning less than $125,000 annually, and an additional $10,000 for recipients of Pell Grants, which are awarded to students with the greatest financial need. Up to 43 million borrowers will be provided relief under the plan, of which nearly 20 million people will have their remaining debt fully canceled, according to the White House. In anticipation of legal challenges the Wisconsin taxpayers, conservative groups and six GOP-led states have sued over the plan the Department of Education issued a memo laying out the legal authority for the relief program, which rests on a law called the HEROES Act enacted in 2003 after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. The memo from Lisa Brown, the department's general counsel, argues the HEROES Act provides Education Secretary Miguel Cardona "broad authority" to grant student debt relief during specific periods, including war or national emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. But the Wisconsin taxpayers told the Supreme Court that the "major questions doctrine" prevents the president from relying on the 2003 law to create the student debt relief program. Under the major questions doctrine, federal agencies that seek to decide issues of "vast economic and political significance" cannot take action without clear congressional authorization. "In the president's view, the HEROES Act empowers him to forgive the loans of anyone who has been affected by something that can be called an emergency," they said. "It does not. And if it did, it would be unconstitutional." As the legal challenges to the program wind through the courts, the Biden administration has proceeded with its student debt plan, rolling out a website where borrowers can apply for loan forgiveness. Family pranks new dinner guest with Pledge of Allegiance Dolphin mimics woman's cartwheels MoneyWatch: Prospective homebuyers put down payments on ice as mortgage rates rise Medibank signage sits on top of the Medibank building on October 1, 2014 in Melbourne, Australia. Hackers say theyve obtained data from an Australian health insurance company and have threatened to release the private medical information of high-profile Australians if a ransom isnt paid, according to a new report from the Sydney Morning Herald. The unknown hackers claim to have 200 gigabytes of data from Medibank, a private health insurer in Australia that has roughly 3.9 million customers in a country of just 25 million people. The hackers may also have access to customer credit card numbers, according to the Herald. Read more And while the threatening message sent to Medibank is in broken English, its clear the hackers believe threats about Australians in the public eye are the best way to ensure a ransom is paid. The message to Medibank, which also owns the health insurance brand AHM, specifically includes threats to release private medial information about politicians, actors, bloggers, and LGBT activists: We offer to start negotiations in another case we will start realizing our ideas like 1. Selling your Database to third parties 2. But before this we will take 1k most media persons from yourdatabase (criteria is: most followers, politicians, actors, bloggers, LGBT activists, drug addictive people, etc) Also weve found people with very interesting diagnoses. And well email them their information. While the term most followers could have a few different meanings, it likely relates to the number of people who follow high-profile Australians on social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Medibank has not made public how much money the hackers have asked for. Curiously, Medibank reported a cyber incident on October 13, but said at the time there was no evidence that any sensitive customer data had been compromised. One Twitter user noted at the time that AHM was using Adobe Experience Manager, speculating that it couldve been a way for hackers to get sensitive data, though that hasnt been reported in Australia, let alone confirmed. Story continues Medibank did not respond to a request for comment early Wednesday ET but posted a message to shareholders explaining that the hackers had made contact and the company had notified the Australian Cyber Security Center. I apologize and understand this latest distressing update will concern our customers. We have always said that we will prioritize responding to this matter as transparently as possible, Medibank CEO David Koczka said in the statement. Our team has been working around the clock since we first discovered the unusual activity on our systems, and we will not stop doing that now. We will continue to take decisive action to protect Medibank customers, our people and other stakeholders, Koczka continued. Australia has a hybrid health care system where every resident is covered by Medicare, but people can still buy private health insurance for access to things like private hospitals, vision, and dental coverage. Australia, despite being a wealthy country, has one of the worst track records for breaches of private data online in recent years. Just last month, Optus, the countrys second largest telecom, suffered a breach when it was found to be storing sensitive customer information like drivers licenses on a publicly visible API. Medibank will be far from the last cyber breach you read about from down under in the coming years as Australia tries to play catch up with the rest of the world on cybersecurity. DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Syria's President Bashar al-Assad met a delegation from Hamas on Wednesday, with the Sunni Palestinian Islamist faction saying the meeting could help "turn the page" after shunning Damascus for a decade. Hamas leaders publicly endorsed the 2011 Sunni street uprising against Assad's rule and vacated their Damascus headquarters in 2012, a move that angered their common ally, Iran. Normalising ties with Assad could help restore Hamas's inclusion in a so-called "axis of resistance" against Israel, which includes Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah, natural allies of Assad, whose Alwaite group is a Shi'ite offshoot. A small delegation visited Assad in Damascus on Wednesday "to turn all the pages of the past," according to the head of delegation and Hamas politburo member Khalil Al-Hayya. "We consider it a historic meeting and a new start for joint Syrian-Palestinian action," Hayya told a press conference. "We agreed with the president to move beyond the past." He said several factors had encouraged the rapprochement now, including Israel's development of ties with other Arab countries. "The Palestinian cause today needs an Arab supporter," he said. Hamas has already restored its ties to Iran, with party officials praising the Islamic Republic for its contribution to their Gaza arsenal of longer-range rockets, which they have used in fighting Israel. It has eased into reconciliation with Syria more slowly, fearing a backlash from its mostly Sunni Muslim financiers and other supporters, given that most of the victims of Assad's crackdown in Syria were Sunnis. Palestinian political analyst Mustafa Sawwaf said Hamas's reconciliatory move towards Syria aims to create new ground for the Islamist faction. "I think most of the territories where Hamas is present began to narrow, including Turkey, and therefore, the movement wanted to find other ground, from which it can continue to operate," Sawwaf told Reuters. (Reporting by Kinda Makieh, Maya Gebeily and Nidal Al-Mughrabi; editing by Philippa Fletcher) Austin and Wallace held talks in the United States Read also: Britain to donate air defense missiles to Ukraine Wallace It was a pleasure meeting with UK MoD Wallace this morning. We discussed ongoing efforts to support Ukraine, including security assistance, and the importance of transatlantic cooperation and regional security in light of Russias continued brutal attack on Ukraine, said Austin. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley was also present at the meeting. Read also: Give Putin a golden bridge for a graceful exit, he will destroy it Wallace The talks took place on the background of Russian strikes on critical and energy infrastructure facilities in Ukraine, including attacks on the capital city of Kyiv. The day before, Wallace urgently left for the United States to discuss the security situation in Ukraine, including the threat of a nuclear attack. Read also: RAMSTEIN AND NATO WILL INCREASE THE SUPPORT OF UKRAINE It was revealed at the end of September that Ben Wallace secretly visited Kyiv and discussed with his Ukrainian colleague Oleksiy Reznikov the increase of military support to Ukraine. On Oct. 12, another meeting of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine (named Ramstein format after the U.S. base in Germany where they were first held) was held in Brussels, bringing together representatives of about 50 countries. According to Oleksiy Reznikov, the first thing on the agenda was the issue of strengthening of Ukraines air defenses. Following the Ramstein meeting, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the meeting had been quite productive and there was positive news related to the transfer of modern artillery to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Kal Penn as Mac Marzara and Sandra Bernhard as Fran. FX "American Horror Story: NYC" is the 11th season of the anthology series. The story centers around mysterious deaths and disappearances in New York. Ryan Murphy has assembled an impressive list of stars for the latest season. "American Horror Story" season 11 goes back to the usual singular story format after season 10, "Double Feature" delivered two different tales back-to-back, and creator Ryan Murphy is taking a trip into New York's darker side. "NYC" is packed with familiar faces from previous seasons, as well as a number of talented newcomers who already have some impressive projects under their belt. Here's where you might recognize the cast of "American Horror Story: NYC" from. Zachary Quinto plays Sam, and he previously starred as Dr. Thresden/Bloodyface in "Asylum." Zachary Quinto as Sam. FX The star delivered a chilling performance as serial killer Dr. Oliver Thresden, aka Bloodyface, in season two, "Asylum." He's also known for playing Spock in J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" movies. Billie Lourd plays Hannah and she's had a number of roles in "Cult," "Apocalypse," "1984," and "Double Feature." Billie Lourd as Hannah. FX. Billie Lourd has frequently shown up throughout "American Horror Story," previously playing Winter Anderson in "Cult," Mallory in "Apocalypse," Montana Duke in "1984," and Lark Feldman in "Double Feature." She also appears in "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens," "The Last Jedi," and "The Rise of Skywalker" as Lieutenant Kaydel Ko Connix. Russell Tovey is Patrick Read, and he's known for "Being Human" and "Years and Years." Russell Tovey as Patrick Read. FX. British star Russell Tovey is one of the newcomers to the series, and he plays Patrick Read, a detective working in New York. He rose to fame in "Being Human," where he played werewolf George Sands who has a flatshare with a vampire and a ghost. He recently starred in the BBC and HBO series "Years and Years" as Daniel Lyons, and his performance was met with critical acclaim. Leslie Grossman is Barbara Read, and previously starred in "Cult," "Apocalypse," "1984," and "Double Feature." Story continues Leslie Grossman as Barbara Read. FX. Leslie Grossman made a name for herself playing Lauren in "What I Like About You," but would later work with Ryan Murphy on multiple seasons of "American Horror Story." She was last seen in both parts of "Double Feature," playing Ursula Khan in "Red Tide" and Calico in "Death Valley." Charlie Carver makes his debut as Adam after appearing in "Teen Wolf" and "The Batman." Charlie Carver as Adam. FX Charlie Carver is set to appear in the series as the mysterious Adam Carpenter, and he'll probably look familiar to "Teen Wolf" fans, since he played Ethan in the MTV series alongside his twin brother, Max. In fact, both of them recently appeared in Matt Reeves' "The Batman" as two twin gangsters working at the Iceberg Lounge. Denis O'Hare plays Henry after years of playing different roles in the series. Denis O'Hare as Henry. FX Denis O'Hare stars as Henry, a sharp-suited gentleman. Longtime "American Horror Story" fans will instantly recognize O'Hare for his numerous roles in the series. From Larry in "Murder House" and Spalding in "Coven," to Liz Taylor in "Apocalypse" and Holden Vaughn in "Double Feature." Musical icon Patti LuPone returns to the series, this time playing Kathy. Patti LuPone as Kathy. FX. "NYC" marks Patti LuPone's second "American Horror Story" role, previously playing Joan Ramsay for several episodes back in "Coven." But her impressive theatrical career means audiences will have seen her in plenty of stage performances over the years in shows like "Gypsy," "Les Miserables," and "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street." Meanwhile, she's also worked with Ryan Murphy on shows like FX's "Pose," and "Hollywood," as well as vocal appearances in "Steven Universe," "Vampirina," and "The Simpsons." Kal Penn makes his "American Horror Story" debut as Mac Marzara. Kal Penn as Mac Mazara. FX Fans will have seen Kal Penn alongside John Cho in the "Harold & Kumar" movies, as well as stints on shows like "How I Met Your Mother" as Kevin, as well as a starring role in "House" as Dr. Lawrence Kutner. But Penn joins "NYC" as Mac Marzara, an NYPD detective who will no doubt be working with Russell Tovey's Patrick. Comedian Sandra Bernhard gets her second role in the series as Fran. Sandra Bernhard as Fran. FX Audiences will remember Sandra Bernhard for playing Nancy Bartlett Thomas on "Roseanne," although she briefly starred in "Apocalypse" as the satanic priest, Hannah. The comedian clearly made an impression on Ryan Murphy for him to give her a main role as Fran this time around. Musical actor Isaac Cole Powell is Theo Graves as the star returns after a stint in "Double Feature." Isaac Cole Powell as Theo Graves. FX Musical star Isaac Cole Powell is playing Theo Graves in his second "American Horror Story" outing, after playing Troy Lord in the "Death Valley" segment of "Double Feature." Fans might also recognize him as Rhys from "Dear Evan Hansen," as well as Logan in "Indoor Boys." French star Rebecca Dayan joins the show as Alana. Rebecca Dayan as Alana. FX Although Rebecca Dayan has only had a handful of roles under her belt so far, she's already made a name for herself with Ryan Murphy thanks to starring in "Halston" as Italian designer Elsa Peretti. She made her "American Horror Story" debut as Maria Wycoff in "Death Valley," before also showing up in an episode of "American Horror Stories." She's set to star in "NYC" as the mysterious Alana. Broadway star Joe Mantello leads as Gino Barelli. Joseph Mantello as Gino Barelli. FX Joseph Mantello is set to play Gino Barelli in the series, but the actor has already had a hugely successful career on Broadway over the years. He starred in "Angels of America" back in the 1990s, before also directing a lengthy list of productions. He also took to the screen in the HBO adaptation of "The Normal Heart," as well as joining Murphy's "Hollywood and recent Netflix show "The Watcher." Read the original article on Insider Amazon workers at a New York facility voted against forming a union Tuesday, dealing a blow to the nascent Amazon Labor Union thats now lost two of its three votes. Well also take a look at a new report detailing the decline in global internet freedom, driven this year by Russias invasion of Ukraine. This is Hillicon Valley, detailing all you need to know about tech and cyber news from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley. Send tips to The Hills Rebecca Klar and Ines Kagubare. Albany-area Amazon rejects union bid Amazon workers at a warehouse near Albany overwhelmingly voted against forming a union Tuesday, marking the second loss for organizers in New York after success at a Staten Island facility that voted to be represented by a union earlier this year. Four hundred and six workers at the ALB1 facility in Schodack, N.Y, voted against the union bid, defeating the 206 that voted in favor of being represented by the nascent Amazon Labor Union. It is the third time the Amazon Labor Union, or ALU, took on a challenge against the e-commerce giant. In May, workers at a facility in Staten Island voted against unionizing, just a month after workers at a nearby facility voted in favor of their union bid to become the first group represented by the ALU. The vote against the union effort comes as workers at Amazon facilities have been ramping up organizing efforts. Last week, workers at an Amazon warehouse in Moreno Valley, Calif., filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to form a union represented by the ALU. Read more here. Global internet freedom dips Global internet freedom decreased for the 12th consecutive year, driven largely by Russias invasion of Ukraine, according to a Freedom House report released Tuesday. Russia had the sharpest decline of any of the 70 countries assessed in the report reaching an all-time low in the organizations 12 years of tracking. The dip came after the country invaded Ukraine in February. Story continues The Kremlin blocked mainstream social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, as well as more than 5,000 websites, according to the report. The Russian governments brazen invasion of Ukraine was the biggest driver of a decline in global internet freedom. Its had a really far reaching impact, said Kian Vesteinsson, Freedom Houses senior research analyst and co-author of the report. Russias invasion also undermined Ukraines internet freedom, he said. Russian troops forced service providers to reroute internet traffic through Russian networks in the spring and summer in an effort that left Ukrainian users without access to social media platforms and international news sites, according to the report. Read more about the report SENATOR ASKS INFO ON AVIATION SECTOR CYBER THREATS Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) is urging the federal government to identify steps it is taking to secure the aviation industry from cyberattacks. In a letter addressed to the Department of Transportation and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Rosen asked the agencies to provide her with information regarding the recent cyberattacks that hit a dozen websites of major U.S. airports last week. Killnet, a Russian-speaking hacking group, claimed responsibility for the attacks which targeted 14 airports, including the Atlanta and Los Angeles international airports. Rosen, who chairs the Senates subcommittee on tourism, trade and export Promotion, said that the incident shows a broader trend of cyberattacks increasing in frequency and severity in the U.S. transportation sector. Read more here. NY AG SAYS SHOOTER RADICALIZED ONLINE New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) on Tuesday released a report detailing how a white supremacist gunman who opened fire at a Buffalo supermarket in May and killed 10 people in a racially motivated attack was radicalized by fringe websites like 4Chan. While Payton Gendrons online posts and activity were previously known, the attorney general offices 49-page report offers a deeper examination of what led up to the May 14 shooting, when authorities say he shot 13 people at a supermarket in a majority-Black neighborhood on the East Side of Buffalo, N.Y. James said Gendron, now 19, was active on message boards and forum sites like 4Chan, where he encountered a proliferation of hate speech and activity. The tragic shooting in Buffalo exposed the real dangers of unmoderated online platforms that have become breeding grounds for white supremacy, the attorney general said in a statement, calling for better oversight of these platforms. This report is further proof that online radicalization and extremism is a serious threat to our communities, especially communities of color. Read more here. MICROSOFT SLASHES JOBS Microsoft has cut some jobs after it faced slower revenue growth last quarter. According to Axios, the tech giant slashed around 1,000 jobs across a variety of sectors. A spokesperson for Microsoft told The Hill that like all companies, we evaluate our business priorities on a regular basis, and make structural adjustments accordingly. We will continue to invest in our business and hire in key growth areas in the year ahead, the spokesperson said. Read more here. BITS & PIECES An op-ed to chew on: TikTok is Chinas Trojan Horse Notable links from around the web: Angelina Jolie is the latest woman to be compared to Amber Heard by social media creators chasing celebrity scandal (NBC News / Kat Tenbarge) Rent Going Up? One Companys Algorithm Could Be Why. (ProPublica / Heather Vogell, with data analysis by Haru Coryne and Ryan Little) Retired U.S. Generals, Admirals take top jobs with Saudi Crown Prince (The Washington Post / Craig Whitlock and Nate Jones) Lighter click: Its a special skill One more thing: Judge strikes digital ads tax A Maryland judge on Monday struck down the nations first tax on digital ads, ruling it violated two federal laws. Anne Arundel County Circuit Judge Alison Ali ruled in favor of telecommunication companies Verizon Media and Comcast, both of which had challenged the state tax on online advertisements as unconstitutional and a violation of federal law. Ali said because the law only taxed digital ads, it violated the Dormant Commerce Clause, which prohibits states from restricting interstate commerce. The judge also ruled the state law violated the Internet Tax Freedom Act, which prohibits discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce and taxes on internet access. Read more here. Thats it for today, thanks for reading. Check out The Hills Technology and Cybersecurity pages for the latest news and coverage. Well see you tomorrow. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Biden outlined a $3 billion investment to boost domestic batteries in a push to boost electric vehicle production. Meanwhile, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos issued a grim economic warning. This is Hillicon Valley, detailing all you need to know about tech and cyber news from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley. Send tips to The Hills Rebecca Klar and Ines Kagubare. Someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Biden aims to boost EV production President Biden on Wednesday outlined nearly $3 billion in investments to boost domestic battery manufacturing, which officials said will help meet the need for critical supplies as the country ramps up electric vehicle (EV) production. Biden and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm announced the $2.8 billion worth of grants through the bipartisan infrastructure law passed last year at a White House event. The funding will be spread across 20 different companies for projects in at least 12 states. A senior administration official said the funding will lead to 8,000 new jobs, 5,000 of which are expected to be permanent. The announcement focused on two key efforts for Biden since taking office: Strengthening supply chains and promoting the transition to a more climate-friendly economy. The investments will allow U.S. manufacturers to process critical minerals like lithium and nickel that are used in battery production, guarding against supply chain disruptions, administration officials said. Those materials are particularly important in the production of electric vehicle batteries, as Biden has called for half of all vehicles to be electric by 2030. This market transformation is expected to increase demand for critical minerals such as lithium and graphite used in EV batteries, the White House said in a fact sheet. Todays announcements demonstrate how the United States is poised to meet this challenge while growing our economy and creating high-quality union jobs in the battery supply chain. Story continues Read more here. Bezos warns to batten down the hatches Amazon founder Jeff Bezos on Tuesday weighed in on the state of the economy, warning its time to batten down the hatches as a recession may lie ahead. Yep, the probabilities in this economy tell you to batten down the hatches, Bezos said on Twitter. The online retail giants founder shared a video of Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon telling business owners to be cautious and expect that theres more volatility on the horizon. Bezoss alarm bells add to a growing number of prominent voices cautioning that a recession could be pending. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon on Monday forecasted the U.S. will fall into some kind of recession before the end of next year. Read more here. NETFIX ADDS 2.4M SUBSCRIBERS The streaming giant Netflix said Tuesday that it picked up 2.4 million subscribers this summer, making up for losses during the first half of the year. In its third-quarter financial results, Netflix said it came back from a loss of around a million subscribers in the first half of 2022 with a surge from July-September for a new total of 223 million subscribers. After a challenging first half, we believe were on a path to reaccelerate growth, the company reported in a letter to shareholders Tuesday, noting that the key to growth moving forward is pleasing members with Netflix series and movies so that they spread word of the service to their friends and stay subscribed. The company has long boasted ad-free content behind its subscription paywall, but it is set to launch a lower-priced, ad-supported plan in a handful of countries this November, in addition to its ad-free plan. Read more here. BITS & PIECES An op-ed to chew on: As Puerto Rico recovers, we all need to ask how to make grids more resilient Notable links from around the web: Dollars to Megabits, You May Be Paying 400 Times As Much As Your Neighbor for Internet Service (The Markup / Leon Yin and Aaron Sankin) US Official Sees More Aggressive Cybersecurity Threats in Asia (Bloomberg / Philip Heijmans) Privacy Executives Hope Trans-Atlantic Deal Withstands Court Challenges (The Wall Street Journal / Catherine Stupp) Lighter click: The two types of people in fall One more thing: Taylor Swifts message to voters Taylor Swift posted a message on her Instagram story Wednesday encouraging her fans to vote early in the 2022 midterm elections. There are only 20 midnights until the 2022 United States Midterm Elections on November 8, Swift wrote in her post, referencing her upcoming album slated for release Friday, titled Midnights. She included specific information about voting in her home state, adding, If youre in Tennessee, you can cast your ballot today through November 3 at Early Voting sites! Waits are usually shorter than on Election Day. Most states offer some type of early voting. Register to vote and find Early Voting locations in your state, Swift posted, with a link to vote.org. Read more here. Thats it for today, thanks for reading. Check out The Hills Technology and Cybersecurity pages for the latest news and coverage. Well see you tomorrow. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The most expansive online directory of information on the assassination of President John F Kennedy has sued the Biden administration and the National Archives in an attempt to make the government publicise all the documents not yet shared concerning the murder in 1963. The lawsuit was filed on Wednesday by the Mary Ferrell Foundation one year after President Joe Biden shared a memo delaying the release of the final 16,000 documents relating to the assassination, NBC News reported. The JFK Records Collection Act of 1992 was signed into law by President Bill Clinton. The law states that the documents had to be released before 26 October 2017, but the publication of the documents was postponed by Donald Trump, leaving the decision with Mr Biden. The foundations vice president, Jefferson Morley, said that its high time that the government got its act together and obeyed the spirit and the letter of the law, according to NBC News. This is about our history and our right to know it. Robert Kennedy Jr, son of the 35th presidents brother, told the outlet that it was a momentous crime, a crime against American democracy. And the American people have the right to know. The law requires the records be released. Its bizarre. Its been almost 60 years since my uncles death. What are they hiding? he asked. A majority of experts on the 22 November 1963 murder believe that the final trove of documents doesnt include clear evidence that others were behind the shooting alongside accused gunman Lee Harvey Oswald, but that the records could add more general information about US Cold War history. Former CIA agent Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, who has lectured about the assassination at Harvard, is critical of his former employer. He believes that the agency had contact with Oswald before the death of Mr Kennedy and that the CIA covered it up. What I think happened, in a nutshell, is that Oswald was recruited into a rogue CIA plot, Mr Mowatt-Larssen told NBC. This group of three, four or five rogues decided their motive [was] to get rid of Kennedy after the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis because they thought it was their patriotic duty given the threat the country was under at the time and their views, which would be more hard-line or more radically anti-communist and very extreme politically. Story continues The CIA told NBC that theyre following the JFK Records Act as well as the memo issued by Mr Biden. The memo stated that the documents should be released before 15 December. The National Archives and Records Administration also said that theyre following the records act and the Biden memo. The lawsuit was filed on Wednesday in San Francisco federal court, arguing that the agencies havent acted in accordance with the law and that Mr Bidens and Mr Trumps delays violated the legislation from 1992. The lawsuit argues that Mr Bidens memo be voided and the documents released as originally intended. Its a dog ate my homework argument, lawyer Bill Simpich, representing the foundation, said of the Biden administrations notion that the pandemic had delayed the document release. This case is all about delay. The agencies always have new and better excuses, he added. The legal filing claims that the government illegally redacted 11 records a memo from 1961 reorganizing the CIA following the failed Bay of Pigs operation, files on three CIA employees with connections to Oswald, a false flag operation outlined by the Defence Department in 1962 for a violent incident to take place in US soil to be blamed on Cuba, records on the plans to kill Cuban leader Fidel Castro, and a JFK document taken from the file of Howard Hunt, one of the burglars from the Watergate scandal. The lawsuit also asks that the court order the National Archives to find documents which are known to exist but that are not part of the JFK Collection. The foundation claims in the lawsuit that one of those documents concerns George Joannides, the chief of covert action at the CIA in Miami, Florida. He served as case officer for a New Orleans-based CIA-funded exile group that had a series of encounters with Lee Oswald in 1963, the lawsuit states. Historian David Talbot noted to NBC the irony in the DOJs and National Archives current battle with former President Donald Trump over his handling of classified information and their conduct in relation to the JFK files. They decided to pillory Trump over this issue because hes a political enemy, but theyre guilty of violating records laws themselves with the JFK records act Trump took documents the federal government owned, but theyre sitting on documents that belong to the American people, he said. University of Miami political science professor Joseph Uscinski told NBC that the whole argument about documents is stupid. The CIA is wrong. All of this should have been released a long time ago, and its shameful the government has yet to do so. At the same time, theres not a document sitting in a government vault somewhere that says, We did it, he added. (Reuters) - The U.S. Mint will feature an Asian American on its currency for the first time when it issues a coin next week engraved with the image of actress Anna May Wong, who worked in Hollywood during a time of open racism and stereotyping. A quarter-dollar coin featuring a profile of Wong with her signature bangs and long fingernails will begin circulating on Tuesday as part of the American Women Quarters Program, the U.S. Mint said in a statement. "Along with the hard work, determination and skill Anna May Wong brought to the profession of acting, I think it was her face and expressive gestures that really captivated movie audiences, so I included these elements," said Mint designer Emily Damstra, who helped create the coin. Wong was born in 1905 in Los Angeles as Wong Liu Tsong. She was cast in her first role as an extra in the film "The Red Lantern" in 1919 at age 14 and her first leading role in 1922 in the "The Toll of the Sea". She went on to appear in more than 60 films including one of the first movies made in Technicolor. She became the first Asian American lead actor in a U.S. television show for her role in "The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong" in 1951. Despite her success, Wong faced anti-Asian discrimination and racism in Hollywood where she was typecast, underpaid and passed up for leading roles, forcing her to go to Europe to act in films, and to London and New York to perform in theater. Wong died in 1961. "The fifth coin in our American Women Quarters Program honors Anna May Wong, a courageous advocate who championed for increased representation and more multi-dimensional roles for Asian American actors," Mint Director Ventris Gibson said. Author and civil rights champion Maya Angelou and astronaut Sally Ride, the first American woman to go into space, have also been honored with coins in the series. (Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Chicago, Editing by Angus MacSwan) Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Getty An abandoned charity for schoolchildren in the Dominican Republic. A mothballed housing development in small-town Quebec. A litany of companies that seem to exist in name only. An elaborate infiltration of Mar-a-Lago. A long list of lawsuits, counter-lawsuits, restraining orders, and criminal charges. And now, a mysterious shooting linked to one of the most infamous figures in Montreals organized crime world. At the middle of it all is Valeriy Tarasenko, who first gained notoriety over his links to Inna Yashchyshyn, the fake heiress who waltzed into Donald Trumps Florida estate last year and posed in a photo with the former U.S. president in Mar-a-Lago. After news of the security breach made headlines around the world, Tarasenko turned against Yashchyshyn, his former business partner and alleged ex-lover, accusing her of being a con artist and spy who worked for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Yashchyshyn, in turn, accused Tarasenko of being the abusive, manipulative mastermind behind the bizarre plot. Now, Tarasenko seems to have fallen into a bewildering scandal of his own. Last Friday, the Russian-born entrepreneur was shot in the parking lot of a luxury resort in the sleepy Quebec town of Esterel, an hour north of Montreal. He survived, but suffered significant injuries. Tarasenkos lawyer says his client knows the man who was initially charged with the shooting, a notorious figure in Montreals underworld. Two sources who spoke to The Daily Beast say Tarasenkos business activities have long been a recipe for disaster. According to multiple judgements in the Quebec court system, Tarasenko and his ex-wife, Anna Kovalenko, who remained his business partner after their apparent split, took money from a variety of sourcesmoney that never seemed to go to the business and charitable purposes for which they were intended. Just what was Valeriy Tarasenko up to? Tarasenko arrived in Montreal with his only daughter in early 2007. Kovalenko, his ex-wife at the time, had arrived a year earlier and enrolled at Concordia University to study political science. Their resettlement was financed entirely by Kovalenkos stepparents, Olga and Yury Manakhov. Story continues A retired Soviet Navy captain, Yury Manakhov had gone on to found a Moscow-based fishing company and, according to court filings, made a fortune. That wealth helped him enter the bureaucratic fast lane when he began the process of immigrating to Canada around 2007. In the years that followed, Manakhov sent his stepdaughter more than $1 million. That bought her a condo in Montreal, another in Florida, a house in the Dominican Republic, a luxury car, and an array of other expenses and gifts. Around that time, Kovalenko remarried Tarasenko while her relationship with her stepfather soured. In court filings, Manakhov declared the newly rejoined couple lazy. While Manakhov largely cut off his stepdaughter and son-in-law, the support didnt end entirely. In 2010, he purchased six empty lots in Esterel, for around $25,000, and transferred them to Kovalenko. From their arrival in Canada, Kovalenko and Tarasenko began registering corporations, although they never seemed to carry on much business. In 2007, they founded Bastion-M, a holding company registered to their condo in downtown Montreal. In 2010, they registered another corporation: the United Hearts of Mercy. While the United Hearts of Mercy advertised itself as a a registered charitable organization, it was never registered as a charity in Canada, and 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status wasnt granted in the United States until 2015. The organization claimed to have done charitable work in Haiti, Ukraine, and the entire continent of Africaat one point claiming that it was collecting funds to help rebuild the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, after a devastating fire in 2019but there is little publicly available evidence of such expansive work. A Facebook page for the charity shows volunteers, wearing United Hearts of Mercy T-shirts, posing with schoolchildren in the Dominican Republic (where Kovalenko owned a home) and handing out takeout containers to street-involved people in Miami. In 2011, Manakhov drew up a loan agreement with his stepdaughter, formally requesting she repay $370,000. She ignored it. The litigation would be tied up in court for years, with Manakhov moving to seize his stepdaughters various properties and Kovalenko going to court to prevent those moves. Manakhov told the court that his stepdaughter committed acts of theft, signature forgery, bank fraud, automobile fire and threats. The court would ultimately side with Manakhov, ordering the seizure and sale of two of Kovalenkos condos and the plot of land in Esterel. Inna Yashchyshyn and Valeriy Tarasenko. Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Getty/Instagram According to court filings, it was around this time that Kovalenko divorced Tarasenko once morethough sources who spoke to The Daily Beast said the pair continued to work together through those years. One of the earliest directors of the United Hearts of Mercy, a fellow Russian emigre who resigned from the organization after approximately a year on the board, filed suit against Kovalenko in 2015. The former director alleged that he lent Kovalenko nearly $350,000, in cash, that was never repaid. That money, Kovalenko said, would be used to build a housing development on the property she had been gifted by her stepfather, in Esterel. That development, as of last year, had still not broken ground. According to the IRS, the charity took in no more than $50,000 per year between 2015 and 2020. For all their years in Canada, it wasnt clear what business Tarasenko and Kovalenko were actually involved in. The sources familiar with the couple said that despite their troubled business dealings, the pair always seemed to have money. Court records show Kovalenko took out $75,000 in loans from one friend, an amount she was not asked to repay. There was, however, one business ambition that seemed to get off the ground: an elaborate plan to kickstart a music career for their daughter, Sofiya, under the stage name Sofiya Rothschild. To promote her, the couple registered the company Rothschild Media Label in Florida in 2018. And who did they name as director of the company? None other than Inna Yashchyshyn, the fake heiress who snuck into Mar-a-Lago. Yashchyshyns role in the Rothschild Media Label was meant to help Sofiya become a pop star by infiltrating high society and creating buzz for Sofiyas music career. Incredibly, the plan worked: Before long, Yashchyshyn was pictured on the golf course with Donald Trump as Anna Rothschild. NEW: Meet Inna Yashchyshyn, aka Anna de Rothschild, the Ukrainian grifter who blagged her way into Trumps Florida residence and mingled with top Republicans after posing as a member of a European banking dynasty. Our investigation with @PittsburghPG1/https://t.co/ZXnmHKftYQ pic.twitter.com/senRNWt9RL Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (@OCCRP) August 26, 2022 While Yashchyshyns hobnobbing may have originally been a success, her presence later raised alarms in Trumps entourage. The infiltration of Mar-a-Lago was so seamless that Senator Mark Warner, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told the Post-Gazette he would raise the alarming lack of security during his briefings with the intelligence community. As Yashchyshyns infiltration made headlines, and drew scrutiny of investigators in two countries on their business relationship with Tarasenko, the pair had a public falling out. Images of seemingly forged passports, with Yashchyshyns pseudonym, were published. The OCCRP reported that the FBI was looking at evidence suggesting the United Hearts of Mercyto which Yashcyshyn had been appointed a directorwas a front for money laundering. Tarasenko accused Yashchyshyn of being a spy, without providing any evidence. The fake heiress, in turn, claimed she was the victim of a jealousy-driven smearing campaign by Tarasenko, alleging he was a stalker and abuser who had forced her into his business schemes. When she was contacted by the New York Post, Yashchyshyn bristled at the idea that she was working for Russia. Yashchyshyn was born in Ukraine. Her brother, the Post reported, was called up to defend their country after Russias unprovoked invasion earlier this year. What boils my blood most is people even thinking Im Russian or a Russian agent, she told the Post. Russian people dont exist to me since they invaded my country and killed my family and took homes. In the fallout, payment processor Stripe kicked the United Hearts of Mercy off their platform for routing donations through stolen Hong Kong credit cards, per the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. She appears in many of the charitys photos. The Esterel Resort, where Valeriy Tarasenko was shot in the parking lot. Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Esterel Resort The FBI has conducted multiple interviews regarding Yashchyshyn and the United Hearts of Mercy, while the Surete du Quebecthe provincial police forceconfirmed to the OCCRP and Post-Gazette that they are investigating the charity. In the meantime, Sofiyas music career hasnt exactly taken off. While she has racked up tens of thousands of Instagram followersposing in front of luxury cars, boarding private jets, and with Chris Brown, while never showing her faceonly one of her singles has surpassed 100,000 listens on Spotify. In one poorly edited interview, Sofiya boasts, I have my own record label, Rothschild Media Label. The only other artist on the Rothschild label is Kualify, a hip-hop artist from Montreal. The exact nature of Yashchyshyns relationship with the family is unclear. According to reporting from the OCCRP and the Post-Gazette, Yashchyshyn was originally hired by Tarasenko as a nanny, before becoming a business associate. In a messy legal dispute that played out in a Miami court, Yashchyshyn would claim that she and Tarasenko were lovers. Tarasenko denies it. Last year, Yashchyshyn filed to obtain a restraining order against Tarasenko, alleging he had threatened her and held her hostage. Tarasenko filed to obtain his own restraining order in return, alleging that Yashchyshyn had abused his daughter. Florida-based lawyer Steven Veinger told The Daily Beast that both Tarasenko and Kovalenko hired him last spring to litigate the casethey wanted to tell the court that Yashchyshyn was a fraudster, a scam artist, and possibly tied to organized crime. The case was ultimately settled last year. While Yashchyshyn and Sofiya were based in Miami, one source told The Daily Beast that Kovalenko was still in Montreal, in contact with some young guy, who had been part of a gang. On Oct. 6, a man in a black T-shirt emblazoned with a large white skull and the number 81 rang Yury Manakhovs doorbell. A video of the exchange, recorded by the Manakhovs home security system and obtained by La Press, captures the exchange. My name is Richard, the man tells Manakhov, who was celebrating his 76th birthday that afternoon. Id just like to speak to you for a minuteby the way, happy birthday. I want to talk to you about Anna. Met with confusion, he adds: Anna, your stepdaughter. Who are you? Manakhov asks. Honestly, Im a very good friend of hers, he adds. The whole exchange lasts less than two minutes, with the mystery man insisting that Im trying to make all the charges drop. While its not quite clear what hes referring to, La Presse revealed that the man in the skull T-shirt was, in fact, Richard Goodridgean infamous affiliate of multiple Montreal street gangs, including the Hells Angels motorcycle club. The 81 on his T-shirt corresponds to the gangs initials: H and A. Just a day after he arrived on Manakhovs doorstep, Tarasenko was shot. Police arrested Goodridge the following dayonly to release him shortly thereafter. The analysis of his version [of events] did not allow us to make accusations for the moment, a spokesperson for the provincial police told The Daily Beast. Tarasenko knew Goodridge, according to Veinger, his lawyer, and was likely at the Esterel resort to meet him that night. He indicated he recognized the individual, Veinger says. He feels like he was set up. When Tarasenko arrived at the resort, a black car pulled up with three men insideone opened fire and struck Tarasenko multiple times. This was planned, this wasnt a random thing, Veigner says. According to news station TVA, Tarasenko had been threatened in the past. A note scrawled in red across his SUV warned: CLOSE MOUTH OR I KILL SOFIYA + ANA [sic]. The Surete du Quebec told The Daily Beast that while Goodridge has been released from custody, they have referred the record of his interrogation to prosecutors and are continuing to investigate the shooting. Tarasenko, meanwhile, is in the process of fleeing Quebecbut not, his lawyer stresses, because he is trying to evade justice. He doesnt feel safe there, Veigner says. But, the lawyer adds, if the cops call: Hes willing to cooperate. 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. Rep. Tom OHalleran, an endangered Democrat fighting for his political life in a red-tinted slice of Arizona, is finally getting some help from his party. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee went on air this week with a broadcast spot attacking OHallerans GOP opponent, Eli Crane, as too radical. It will run until Oct. 24 in the Phoenix market and is backed by a $680,000 buy, according to AdImpact, a media tracking firm. The 30-second ad uses footage of the Jan. 6 attacks and warns that Crane, a former Navy SEAL, supports banning abortion and promotes conspiracy theories espoused by white supremacists. The end of the spot touts OHallerans independent voice. The move is somewhat surprising, given how redistricting reduced O'Halleran's chances of reelection but it might be the result of concerted pressure by OHalleran allies. The Arizona Democrat is widely considered the most endangered incumbent in the House Democratic caucus. Party operatives have privately acknowledged it might be tough to devote money to that race, with the DCCC and allied outside groups strained for resources in more favorable districts. Donald Trump carried the redrawn version of O'Halleran's district by 8 points in 2020. President Joe Biden won the old version by 2 points. Asked last week whether the DCCC would invest in OHallerans seat, the groups executive director Tim Persico was noncommittal saying, Im not sure. But several Democrats including OHalleran have been making the case to their partys leadership that he was still in the race. Internal polling has shown OHalleran remaining competitive. While hes been outspent, people close to OHalleran insist hes outworked his opponent, criss-crossing a sprawling district that includes both Phoenix suburbs and rural tribal communities. Its possible that strong polling in the nearby district held by fellow Democratic Rep. Greg Stanton is behind the committee's decision to spend for O'Halleran. The DCCC's independent-expenditure arm was on the air for Stanton in the Phoenix market last week, but this week it shifted its money in the media market to boost OHalleran. Privately, Democrats have felt better about the race for Stantons district, which Biden won by nearly 11 points. (The DCCC is still running a coordinated spot with Stantons campaign this week, according to AdImpact, an ad tracking firm.) Story continues The DCCC has notably not invested any money in the nearby Tucson market, where Democrat Kirsten Engel is vying for retiring Democratic Rep. Ann Kirkpatricks district. Arizona Democrats Kirkpatrick included have urged outside groups to invest in that swing seat, which Biden carried by less than a point. Crane won a crowded GOP primary for OHallerans sprawling rural northern Arizona district in August. But despite the partisan lean of the seat, he has been unable to put the race away. The House GOP campaign arm has spent heavily in the district. OHalleran had been left to air TV ads on his own until this week. BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary's Development Minister Tibor Navracsics said on Wednesday that informal feedback from Brussels showed that they are content with the Hungarian commitments made in order to secure a deal on European Union funds. Navracsics, who is in charge of talks with Brussels, told a conference that the government was on track to implement all its 17 commitments in the form of legislation to cut corruption risks. EU countries earlier this month approved an extension of the deadline for deciding on financial sanctions against Hungary by two months until mid-December. (Reporting by Krisztina Than) The eight people trapped in the Hideaway Village motel realized that they may die as geysers shot up through the buckling floors and the deadbolts holding their doors shut snapped like toothpicks under Hurricane Ians assault. The turquoise motel, ripped from its foundation amid 150 mph winds, careened west for more than a third of a mile. In one room, Michelle Radabaugh, the general manager of the Fort Myers Beach motel, kept her two adult daughters on speakerphone, too afraid to say goodbye, even as she watched a large building lift off the ground and barrel toward her from across the street. I just didnt see any possible way I could survive, Radabaugh said quietly through tears. In an adjacent room, Chanel Maston and three of her relatives and friends tied themselves together with a sheet and laid on a mattress, as storm-surge waves carried them upward. They screamed as the surge started to pin them against the ceiling, killing one of them, Maston's cousin, a mother of four. After the motel crashed and the roof above the women gave way, a motel employee next door pulled them out of the water. The worker hoisted the three surviving women, his wife, and his 10-year-old son up to the rafters through a broken ceiling panel that he had flagged for repairs weeks ago but had never gotten fixed. They waited there for 14 hours. The wrecking of the Hideaway Village motel, pieced together through interviews with survivors, reveals how the storms death count could have easily been much higher than 135 people, according to an NBC News tally. With thousands now displaced and jobless, the tales of survival and loss highlight the destruction the hurricane wreaked on Fort Myers Beach and the far-reaching toll for those who made it out. Hurricane Ian tore the roof of the Hideaway Village Motel. (Courtesy Michelle Radabaugh) 'We were trapped' Chanel Maston and her loved ones almost didnt go to Fort Myers Beach after they missed their initial flight out of Dayton, Ohio. But on Sept. 27, the women arrived at the Hideaway Village motel, full of energy, under the impression that the storms threats were overstated, Maston said. Story continues Maston said they were going to make the best of their planned 40th birthday celebration for her cousin Nishelle Harris-Miles. The group ate at a nearby tiki bar and then came back to their room on the second floor to have a photoshoot in their swimming suits. We were acting silly, having fun, Maston, 48, said. Chanel Maston, front, and Nishelle Harris-Miles. (Courtesy Chanel Maston) Later that night, a motel employee arrived with his wife and 10-year-old son. Fearing the forecast may be worse than he thought, he made a last-minute decision to relocate his family from their nearby one-story home, believing they would be safer in the motel, which was on higher ground. Radabaugh, who lived at the motel, said she did not want to be there. She had her Jeep packed, with plans to evacuate with her two dogs and her cat, but she could not abandon the motel's new overnight guests. "I just couldn't go," the general manager said. In their three separate rooms, side by side on the second floor, the eight people hunkered down at the Hideaway Village motel on Sept. 28, as the Category 4 hurricane made landfall nearby in Cayo Costa. "We were trapped," Radabaugh said. Michelle Radabaugh and her dog Bubbles. (Courtesy Michelle Radabaugh) The storm came for her first. As the walls of Radabaugh's corner room crumbled, the 49-year-old and her pets jumped up on the bed. She put her phone in a sealed plastic bag and turned on location services so she could be tracked. She called her daughters and never hung up. I was afraid to get off of the phone, she said. I feel deeply guilty about that because I dont know what they heard. They heard the moment the building across the street directly hit the motel, scraping a huge gash against the side of the motel, causing chunks of the wall to collapse on top of Radabaugh and her pets. And then the call went dead. It sucked us right out into the ocean, Radabaugh said. A wave tore one of her dogs out of her arms. She watched his tiny face go underwater. It would be another 17 hours before the daughters would hear from her again. Image: Hurricane Ian 2022 (Pedro Portal / Zuma Press) Spending the night on top of wooden rafters in the ceiling The four women on vacation rapidly grew more panicked as the stormwaters began to rise outside their window. Maston called 911, but nobody could come. "All hell broke loose," she said. As the waters violently poured in, they resigned themselves to a mattress, and floated upward. Next door, the motel employee and his family did the same. But in a life-changing moment, the family's cat, Daniel, sprung out of his carrier and leapt through a broken board directly above their sofa bed. The employee, who wished to remain anonymous to maintain privacy, had written on a yellow sticky note weeks earlier that the ceiling hole in Room 33 needed to be fixed. He stuck the note on the front desk, where it was forgotten until now. He quickly helped his wife and son through the broken panel, and just as he entered the rafters himself, he saw Radabaugh float away. Then he heard the women next door screaming for help. They didnt have the hole, so they were being pinned against the ceiling, he said. When the ceiling came down, thats when he noticed a nail had pierced Nishelle Harris-Miles' neck. He urged the women to get up in the rafters without her. She wasnt responding. She wasnt moving, he said. I just kind of said, Shes gone. We have to move on. Nishelle Harris-Miles. (Courtesy Chanel Maston) Up in the rafters, the group settled in for a long night. The employee said he tried to make time pass by talking. But Maston said there was mostly silence, as the women were consumed by thoughts of Harris-Miles. "We were just worried about her, crying about her," Maston said. Every now and then, the saturated wood would groan and snap, causing the six people inside to shuffle to a new spot. "You never knew what part was going to break off," the employee said. All night, they could hear shrieks from others trapped around them. Among them was Sheri Fischer, 56, who was stuck inside her attic with her husband, Thomas, who only had a flashlight and a small hammer to carve out an escape path. Fischer kept little hope for herself. The Wisconsin transplant, who moved to Fort Myers Beach about a year ago, wrote a goodbye text to her family. But that act of defeat lit a fire inside Thomas. "It broke my husbands heart," Fischer said. "He got through that roof." Around 3 a.m., the couple rushed to those trapped in the motel, which had wedged just outside her home. We heard their screams for help, Fischer said. We kept yelling that we know theyre there. For the first time, even in the dark, Fischer could see the true nature of the hurricane's destruction. The water was raging. Homes were lying on top of other homes. Boats were flung everywhere. "Its like being in a war zone," she said. The Fischers threw off pieces of the motel roof and created a path, made out of debris, so the people trapped inside could exit safely. "It must have been terrifying," she said. "They had to stay in there all night." Fischer went on to check on others nearby, following the calls for help. She found her next-door neighbor dead through his kitchen window. On a car outside his home, someone had scrawled a message on a piece of cardboard to alert authorities that one person had died. "We had a sign that said one dead," the motel employee said. "We changed it to two." Surveying the wreckage, coming to terms with the aftermath Slabs of turquoise concrete remain where the Hideaway Village motel stood for about 60 years, as a lodging favorite among tourists and locals. Hurricane Ian wiped out dozens of beachside bistros and tiki bars, resorts and other businesses in Fort Myers Beach. Destroyed building and debris in Fort Myers Beach after the passage of Hurricane Ian. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images) That has dealt a crippling blow to the economy of southwest Florida, which relies on tourists and part-time residents who typically arrive in late fall and remain through winter an influx known locally as "season," said Victor Claar, an economist at Florida Gulf Coast Universitys Lutgert College of Business. This years season is going to be very difficult, because even if snowbirds want to return, unless they own existing properties, its going to be hard to find a place to stay because so many places were destroyed, Claar said. Making matters more difficult, Ians destruction has also exacerbated economic pressures on the local workforce particularly middle-class people who worked in the service industry. Nearly 29,000 people work at hotels and restaurants in Lee County, where Fort Myers Beach is and where 60 people died in the storm, officials said. Before the storm, a real estate boom made it hard for those workers to find affordable housing. The storm wiped away many of the cheap-housing options. That could force workers to relocate to other parts of the country, Claar said. Some were at the margins already. This is only going to intensify that pressure, Claar said. Radabaugh is among those without a home or a job. She was in the water for more than six hours and had to cling to a balcony, but she emerged from the storm bloodied and bruised, with cracked ribs. It seemed like I was the last person on Earth, she said. All her possessions had been swept away, except for the sneakers on her feet and Bubbles, her 6-month-old goldendoodle, whom she found standing on a pile of debris, her tail wagging, just before a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter swooped down to rescue them. Michelle Radabaugh's dog Bubbles. (Michelle Radabaugh) "Every last little thing that I owned, gone," said Radabaugh, who is staying with one of her daughters in Wichita Falls, Texas. Her ribs and lacerations have healed, but Radabaugh still has a persistent cough, two weeks after the storm, from inhaling so much water. "Physically, Im alright. Mentally and financially, Im not," she said. The other motel employee said he has been relying on his family and friends for support. But hes grateful his son is not only resilient but alive to celebrate his 11th birthday. Back in Dayton, Maston's family is preparing to say their final goodbyes to Harris-Miles, whose funeral is set for Saturday. Lovingly called Nene and known as the life of every party, Harris-Miles was a home health aide and a mother to two boys and two girls. "Everybody that knew Nene knew she loved to have fun," Maston said. "She loved to cook. She loved to decorate. She made necklaces. She loved her kids." "We were always together," Maston added. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Does the October share price for Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. Before you think you won't be able to understand it, just read on! It's actually much less complex than you'd imagine. Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model. See our latest analysis for Hyatt Hotels The Calculation We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$534.0m US$548.2m US$836.0m US$813.0m US$803.2m US$801.2m US$804.6m US$811.7m US$821.6m US$833.5m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x4 Analyst x4 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ -1.2% Est @ -0.25% Est @ 0.42% Est @ 0.89% Est @ 1.22% Est @ 1.44% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 7.6% US$496 US$474 US$672 US$607 US$558 US$517 US$483 US$453 US$426 US$402 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$5.1b Story continues The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.0%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 7.6%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = US$833m (1 + 2.0%) (7.6% 2.0%) = US$15b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$15b ( 1 + 7.6%)10= US$7.3b The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is US$12b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of US$86.9, the company appears a touch undervalued at a 24% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. dcf The Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Hyatt Hotels as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.6%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.194. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. Moving On: Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. Can we work out why the company is trading at a discount to intrinsic value? For Hyatt Hotels, we've compiled three additional items you should further examine: Risks: For example, we've discovered 2 warning signs for Hyatt Hotels (1 is concerning!) that you should be aware of before investing here. Future Earnings: How does H's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every American stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. 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 The auto industry may be in the midst of an electric revolution, but not every marque is convinced that EVs will rule forever. During an interview in England, BMW AG chairman Oliver Zipse said the German automaker will continue to pursue innovations around hydrogen fuel technology, even as it develops EVs. After the electric car, which has been going on for about 10 years and scaling up rapidly, the next trend will be hydrogen, Zipse said. When its more scalable, hydrogen will be the hippest thing to drive. More from Robb Report Zipse says it comes down to infrastructure. Hydrogen, he argues, can supply fuel cells stored in carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic tanks, while battery-electric cars still require an extensive charging network. While there will certainly be more electric cars, the lack of access to a fully developed and maintained charging infrastructure could leave the market vulnerable to more efficient technologies. You could argue, well you also dont have access to hydrogen infrastructure, but this is very simple to do: Its a tank which you put in there like an old [gas] tank, and you recharge it every six months or 12 months, the CEO said. BMW has long been intrigued by the promise of hydrogen. In 2005, it began building 100 examples of the Hydrogen 7, which used the fuel to power its V-12 engine. More recently, the brand announced that it would collaborate with Toyota on the hydrogen-powered iX5 SUV, which was first unveiled at the International Motor Show Germany in 2021. Bloomberg reports that the automaker would begin delivering fewer than 100 models to select partners across the US, Europe and Asia for tests and demonstrations at the end of the year. To be sure, BMW isnt the only automaker to explore the promise of the fuel. Jaguar Land Rover has also pursued similar technologies. Last year, the luxury marque announced it would will begin testing a hydrogen fuel-cell version of its new Defender on British roads. More are likely to follow. Story continues For the near future, however, BMWs flirtations with hydrogen will likely take a back seat to its commitment to the EV market. This spring the marque debuted the all-electric i4 and i7 sedans, and its vaunted 5 Series sedan is slated for an electric overhaul. The developments are part of brands ambitious plan to make EVs account for half of its sales by 2030. Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. By Walter Bianchi and Miguel Lo Bianco BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi expects to return "soon" to Ukraine, he told Reuters on Tuesday, amid negotiations to establish a security protection zone around the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Grossi has been the go-between from Moscow to Kyiv in an effort to establish a nuclear safety and security protection zone around the plant, which has been hit by power outages in the past weeks due to shelling of the site. Earlier, the IAEA said it was deeply concerned by the detention of two Ukrainian staff from the Zaporizhzhia plant, which is in one of four Ukrainian regions Russia has proclaimed as annexed but only partly occupies. "There is a possibility I will return to Ukraine and Russia, it is in fact what we have agreed in principle, at this moment we are continuing the consultations aimed at establishing the protection zone," he told Reuters during a trip to Argentina. "This implies an interaction where I receive answers and reactions from the two sides and I am looking for new ways to move forward and for that, at some point, probably very soon I will have to return." The talks are seen as key to defusing concerns that have mounted since August about the risks of shelling at or near Zaporizhzhia, Europe's largest nuclear power station. Russia and Ukraine have both blamed each other for the shelling. The head of the IAEA, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, said that separate Russian threats to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine could not be ruled out but that it was "not an immediate possibility". "I believe that the possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons is not an immediate possibility. Obviously nothing can be ruled out, I am not in the decision-making mechanism of that country, but I believe that it would be an extreme measure," he said. Grossi, asked about ongoing talks to revive an Iran nuclear deal, said that the negotiations were at a "stalemate", adding that the IAEA lacked key information due to restriction on access to inspections in recent months. The United States last week said that reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal was "not our focus right now", adding Tehran had showed little interest in reviving the pact and that Washington was concentrating on how to support Iranian protesters. (Reporting by Adam Jourdan; Editing by Himani Sarkar) Deputy Mark Johns of the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office says prayer, and the support of the community and his wife have gotten him through the beginning of a long recovery process following being shot in the line of duty on Aug. 22. Johns and Sgt. Bobby Swartz were attempting to deliver an eviction notice when a suspect opened fire on them and Deputies Brett Price and Melody Norton. Johns and Swartz were both shot during the incident and transferred to an area hospital, where Swartz died. A range of emotions and life changing injuries Johns said his immediate emotion following the shooting was anger, before transitioning to fear that his life would end. More:'Still trying to heal': House-building nonprofit honors fallen deputy with home dedication "I think that's the most anger I've ever experienced. I was mad because he outsmarted me. He came at me from a position that I wasn't expecting," Johns said of the shooting. "I just prayed to God that he wouldn't let me die." Johns was shot twice, with both rounds entering his body in the "upper groin area." Johns said one round fragmented and the other hit his magazine pouches, which exploded, redirecting the bullet. "It redirected it straight down and it hit my femoral artery and wound up in my bladder," he said. Johns said because the bullet hit his femoral artery, emergency medical personnel had to use QuikClot, a specialized gauze that helps to control excessive bleeding by creating a clot, in order to prevent him from bleeding out. "Once they put that QuikClot in you, then they have to go in and dig it out," Johns said. "They had to dig rather deep on both sides to remove all of that and I've got a couple of really nice scars from it and of course a couple of bullet holes." Johns also dislocated his right shoulder during the incident. He popped it back into place in the field, fearing his dominant hand would be out of use if a gunfight ensued. An outpouring of support Johns said the recovery process is "the hardest thing he's ever done" in his life and is something he couldn't do without the overwhelming amount of support he has received, especially from his wife, Melissa. Story continues "I am not a hero. I did what hopefully any officer would have done in my situation," Johns said. "Melissa Johns is my hero and always will be." Prayers and kindness Johns has received, both from other law enforcement and the community at large, beginning outside the hospital and continuing even now as he works on his recovery, are another source of encouragement. Deputy Mark Johns takes a moment to gather himself while talking about his partner and friend, Sgt. Bobby Swartz. Swartz died and Johns was injured when the men were shot while serving an eviction notice in August. "Thank you to everyone. I received letters from people all over the United States," he said. "The support was just, it's unbelievable." The long road ahead Johns continues to do physical therapy and doesn't plan to let anything keep him from returning to work. "I want to come back to work. This is my job, I've been doing this job for over 30 years and this is all I know to do," he said. "Being a police officer is my life." More:In the line of fire: Oklahoma law officers face unexpected dangers every day Johns has worked as a motorcycle officer, detective, member of fugitive task forces, serving warrants for violent felonies, on tactical teams and more. "Being a cop, you know that the possibility of being shot is out there. You never know when evil is going to pop it's head up and that's what happened on this day," he said. The alleged gunman, Benjamin Plank, 35, is suspected of shooting at deputies from inside a property in southwest Oklahoma City as they tried to serve him with an eviction notice. He then led law enforcement on a chase through the city that ended at Tinker Air Force Base. He was arrested and charged with multiple crimes, including first-degree murder and shooting with intent to kill. Plank could face the death penalty if convicted on the first-degree murder charge. He remains in the Oklahoma County jail awaiting trial. His next scheduled appearance in court is set for Nov. 14. If the case goes to trial, Johns could be called to testify, along with Norton and Price. Johns said, in honor of Swartz, he will see everything, including his recovery, through to the end. "I think about Bobby every day," he said. "I know Bobby would tell me, 'Hey, suck it up and get back in the saddle,' and that's what I'm going to do. I'm not going to let this get me down. It's not going to drag me through the mud. I'm going to fight this all the way to the end. You can count on that." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma County deputy shot in August talks about recovery, healing With the bear market going strong, it is a terrible time for companies to go public, which is why initial public offerings are down nearly 80% at this point in 2022 compared to the same time a year ago. Nevertheless, Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:INTC) is planning to go ahead with the spinoff of its self-driving subsidiary Mobileye, sending its stock down more than 3%. Intel's Mobileye Is Set to Spin Off at an Incredible Discount Even though the Mobileye IPO will not raise much money in the current market compared to what it might have fetched in the quantitative easing bubble of late 2020 and early 2021, Intel is in desperate need of cash to fund the buildout of its capital-intensive semiconductor production business. According to a Tuesday filing, Mobileye is targeting an IPO that would value it at $15.9 billion, or about $18 to $20 per share. Five years ago, Intel bought Mobileye for $15.3 billion, and since then, the self-driving business has increased its sales at a compound annual growth rate of 36%. In other words, Intels need for cash may prove to be a boon for investors as it is spinning off Mobileye at an incredible discount. Intel is strapped for cash Intel investors have been awaiting a spinoff of Mobileye for quite a while. When Mobileye first filed paperwork for its IPO this past March, it had already been in the works for at least a year. Amidst a protracted global chip shortage, the U.S. government has provided domestic companies with financial incentives to build semiconductor production facilities on home soil. These production facilities, which not only produce chips for their own company but also for other companies, are called fabs. Over the past couple of decades, the U.S. has increasingly outsourced chip production to fabs in other countries in order to take advantage of cheaper labor and more efficient processes, but as we have seen in the Covid-19 crisis, relying on international trade for semiconductors is a huge liability. Story continues Intel sees this situation as a prime opportunity to return to growth. Building off of the fab industry leadership that it once held many years ago, the company hopes it can once again regain semiconductor dominance. However, semiconductor manufacturing is a capital-intensive industry, which was one of the reasons why Intel left it behind in the past. Government incentives are expected to help with costs, but the company will still need to invest its own money. While the growth prospects for Mobileye are good, it is still reporting net losses on its bottom line, making it an easy pick for Intel to spin off now that it is in need of cash. Intel will retain control of Mobileye by holding 750 million shares of Class B stock, which has 10 times the voting power of Class A stock. There will only be 46.26 million Class A shares, with the potential for more if the underwriters decide to exercise their options. Mobileyes outlook Mobileye has been a successful business for Intel since its acquisition. The company makes chips that power driver assistance systems and cameras for self-driving vehicles, a market that is expected to grow around 13.38% per year from 2022 to 2030 according to estimates from Precedence Research. Over the past five years, Mobileye has grown sales at a CAGR of 36%, and if it can keep up anything close to this pace, it has the potential to grow faster than the broader self-driving vehicle market. The recent IPO filing shows Mobileyes revenue has grown from $879 million in 2019 to $1.39 billion last year. Based on Intels second-quarter earnings report, the Mobileye segment had revenue of $854 million for the first half of 2022, along with an operating loss of $36 million and a net loss of $67 million for the same six-month period. New public offerings already have a reputation of tanking soon after hitting the market due to the fading of market enthusiasm as well as options being exercised by underwriters and insiders. Combined with the bear market and Mobileyes current lack of profitability, even though the self-driving and driver-assistance markets have strong growth projections, the stock is unlikely to do well in the near term. On top of the headwinds for Mobileyes IPO, investors are also becoming disenchanted with the idea of self-driving cars. Self-driving systems have proven to be much more difficult to refine than many people initially expected. Even though self-driving and driver-assist technologies have become useful for well-marked and well-paved city roads, things become much more complicated when it comes to roads that are badly marked, full of potholes, require complex decision-making (such as traffic circles and unique traffic lights), etc. Takeaway Overall, while lower-than-expected proceeds from the Mobileye IPO would mark bad news for Intel, it is arguably better than keeping a cash-burning company on its balance sheet when what it needs right now is cash. The bad timing of Mobileyes return to public markets could also mean an incredible discount for investors who are interested in the stock. There is a strong argument to be made that Mobileye deserves the low valuation in the current market environment, though. Speculation will always play a key role in growth stock valuations, regardless of whether we are in a bull or bear market. Mobileye could face additional short-term valuation headwinds from a post-IPO selloff, and in the long term, self-driving technology may prove difficult to scale beyond driver assist programs and limited-use autopilot. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Does the October share price for Haleon plc (LON:HLN) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple! We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model. Check out our latest analysis for Haleon The Model We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (, Millions) UK1.74b UK1.91b UK2.15b UK2.32b UK2.44b UK2.53b UK2.61b UK2.67b UK2.72b UK2.77b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x6 Analyst x6 Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Est @ 5.13% Est @ 3.89% Est @ 3.02% Est @ 2.41% Est @ 1.98% Est @ 1.69% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 7.3% UK1.6k UK1.7k UK1.7k UK1.7k UK1.7k UK1.7k UK1.6k UK1.5k UK1.4k UK1.4k ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = UK16b Story continues After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 1.0%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 7.3%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = UK2.8b (1 + 1.0%) (7.3% 1.0%) = UK44b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= UK44b ( 1 + 7.3%)10= UK22b The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is UK38b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of UK2.7, the company appears quite undervalued at a 34% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. dcf Important Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Haleon as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.3%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.191. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. Next Steps: Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. Can we work out why the company is trading at a discount to intrinsic value? For Haleon, we've compiled three additional factors you should further research: Financial Health: Does HLN have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at our free balance sheet analysis with six simple checks on key factors like leverage and risk. Future Earnings: How does HLN's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every British stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. 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 According to official data, there are 10 thousand mobilized Russian servicemen on the territory of Belarus. The probability of a repeated invasion of Ukraine is very low, but cannot be completely discounted, said Silkin. Read also: Russia to send more tanks, ACVs to Belarus amid threats to Union State According to our assessment, the enemy wont be able to accumulate enough forces for a second offensive before the end of this year. But in the spring, the threat can increase significantly, he said. Silkin noted there are 10,000 mobilized Russian servicemen in Belarus. Russia has also recently deployed 170 tanks, 200 armored fighting vehicles and 100 mortars there. Read also: Almost 9,000 Russian military personnel to arrive in Belarus, says Belarusian defense ministry Self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko announced on Oct. 10 that Minsk and Moscow had agreed to deploy a regional group of troops. According to him, the formation of the new force is already underway. Lukashenko said that the Armed Forces of Belarus would form the core of the joint force. At the same time, he ordered to accommodate more than 1,000 Russian soldiers across Belarus. Belarusian news outlet later Nasha Niva reported that Lukashenko decided to begin covert mobilization in Belarus. The Belarusian parliament voted to introduce new restrictions on citizens leaving the country, on Oct. 13. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Israel is rejecting desperate calls from Ukraine to supply advanced air defense systems to counter Russias use of Iranian kamikaze drones, intent on maintaining strategic ties between Jerusalem and Moscow. Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz on Wednesday said that Israel will not provide weapon systems, but said that Jerusalem will continue to side with Western support for Kyiv. We have asked the Ukrainians to share information regarding their needs and offered to assist in developing a life-saving early-warning system, he reportedly said in remarks to ambassadors from the European Union. Israel has sent humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, publicly condemned Russias invasion and is reportedly sharing intelligence with Kyiv. But it has held back on strategic military aid, hoping to preserve its Moscow ties. Those ties include Israeli communication with Russia in Syria to target Iranian weapons transfers through the country, and Israeli concerns for the Jewish diaspora in Russia. Gantzs rejection of military assistance came after the Ukrainian Embassy in Israel officially appealed for air defense systems following two weeks of devastating attacks by Russia using the Iranian drones. The Shahed-136, nicknamed the kamikaze drones, have killed civilians in their homes and on the street, and destroyed critical infrastructure that threatens the countrys electricity and water supplies as winter temperatures begin to take hold. The Ukrainian Embassy in Israel, in a letter sent Tuesday, asked the Israeli government to enter into mutual cooperation in the field of air/missile defense, warning that Irans battlefield experience for its weapons systems is a direct threat to the Middle East. The request of the Ukrainian side to the Israeli side to support above mentioned proposals is based on the consideration that positive experience gained by Iran of using the above-mentioned weapons in Ukraine will lead to further improvement of Iranian systems, the letter read, and reported by Axios. Story continues The letter asks for Israels Iron Dome system, which last had a 97 percent success rate at intercepting nearly 600 missiles shot from the Gaza Strip over the course of a few days in August. We are a country at war ourselves, I dont think we can afford emptying our warehouses, said Uzi Rubin, founder and first director of the Israel Missile Defense Organization in the Israel Ministry of Defense and a fellow with the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security. We export weapons. We are one of the 10 largest exporters. But that means if you want an Israeli system, you have to contract for it and wait for it to be manufactured. Other air defense systems Ukraine requested in its letter are the Barak-8, Davids Sling and Arrow Interceptor advanced and layered air defenses that can intercept medium- to long-range rockets and missiles, and are increasingly used to intercept drones. Other requests, like the Iron Beam a high energy laser weapon system developed by Israeli weapons manufacturer Rafael are not operational. And while the Ukrainians appeared to request a Patriot Missile Defense System from the Israelis, that system is made by the U.S. and is deployed in Saudi Arabia for missile and drone defense. While the U.S. Army has possession of two Iron Dome batteries, the administration has not sent any signals its looking to send those to Ukraine. Becca Wasser, senior fellow for the defense program at the Center for New American Security, said one reason the U.S. may not send its own Iron Dome is that it only has two, and only one is operational in Guam. A few years ago the [House Armed Services Committee] was talking about the U.S. sending one of its Iron Dome batteries to Ukraine, long before the recent events took place with Russias invasion, she said. But at the end of the day the United States does not have that many Iron Dome systems. But she added there has been a recent U.S. push to have other allies and partners step up in providing air defenses to Ukraine. Seth Frantzman, author of Drone Wars: Pioneers, Killing Machines, Artificial Intelligence, and the Battle for the Future, said that early detection is more critical than expensive air defense systems, adding the Iranian-made kamikaze drone is slow-moving and sounds like a kind of flying lawn mower. Ukraine needs the right kind of radars to detect the drones, he said, giving them time to decide how to shoot them down with war planes, shoulder-launch rockets or small arm fire. Germany, Spain, NATO and the U.S. have sent, and are sending, more air defense systems to Ukraine, but Kyiv is pleading for more. Iranian drones that attack Ukraine were probably produced to attack Israel, tweeted Anton Gerashchenko, adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. Israel knows better than anyone what its like to fight terrorists. We ask Israel to give us air defense systems and defensive weapons they are critically important when dealing with terrorists. Frantzman said Israel is familiar with the ways Russia appears to be using Iranian drones. Its actually being used by the Russians just to bludgeon and murder the civilian population and terrorize people. Israel has faced similar types of indiscriminate rocket fire and now a bit of drone fire, thats why it built systems like Iron Dome, he said. So from Israels perspective, its like Israels already seen this. While the Biden administration has quietly pushed for Jerusalem to more firmly stand up for Ukraine against Russias aggression, it has held back from public calls that Israel provide critical military defense to Kyiv. Weve said that weve been pleased is maybe the wrong word but weve been fine with Israels complicated relationship [with Russia], U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides said in an interview with The Hill in September. Its a little complicated for Israel obviously, but we push them every day, he added. A few isolated voices in Israel have said Irans drone sales and expected missile sales to Russia are reason enough to justify military deliveries. This morning it was reported that Iran is transferring ballistic missiles to Russia. There is no longer any doubt where Israel should stand in this bloody conflict, Israels Minister for Diaspora Affairs Nachman Shai tweeted on Sunday. The time has come for Ukraine to receive military aid as well, just as the USA and NATO countries provide. Rubin said for Israel, Russias use of Iranian drones could present an intelligence-gathering opportunity for future conflicts with Tehran. Of course [the Iranians] learn more the conflict in Ukraine is a very high-intensity conflict, they learn from that. But at same time we also learn from how theyre being combatted, we see whats happening and we learn from that too. And Russia has issued stark warnings of severing relations with Israel if Jerusalem shifts its position. It seems Israel will supply weapons to the Kyiv regime. A very reckless move. It will destroy all diplomatic relations between our countries, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia and a key Putin ally, wrote on Telegram. Rubin said that Medvedevs threats resonated in Israel. Israel declared neutrality because we have relations with Russia. Its something I dont think we can easily give up, he said. Israel is set to go to elections in November, and theres little public pressure for the government to more robustly support Ukraine. Polling data from March found that only 22 percent of Israelis supported sending military assistance to Ukraine, and that voters are largely focused on the rising cost of living. I, as an Israeli would like to keep our channels to Russia open, but I am a citizen, just a taxpayer and a voter, Im not making the decisions, Rubin said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. ROME (Reuters) -Consultations on the formation of Italy's new government, which is widely expected to be led by nationalist leader Giorgia Meloni, will be held on Oct. 20 and 21, President Sergio Mattarella's office said on Wednesday. Meloni led a rightist bloc comprising her Brothers of Italy party, Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia and Matteo Salvini's League to a general election victory last month. Under the constitution, Mattarella has to consult with all the main political party leaders before he can invite the election winners to form an administration. Salvini said earlier on Wednesday that he expected the new cabinet would be sworn in some time between Saturday and Monday and that it would formally take office on Oct. 26 after winning an obligatory vote of confidence in parliament. Meloni's Brothers of Italy party took the most seats in the Sept. 25 ballot, meaning that she should get to head the new government. But despite winning a convincing majority, behind-the-scenes negotiations to put together a cabinet have proved more difficult than expected, with Berlusconi in particular furious over Meloni's refusal to satisfy his demands over key posts. The new government will replace one led by Prime Minister Mario Draghi and will have to cope with rising inflation and concerns over energy supplies heading into winter. Mattarella's office said the president would see opposition parties on Thursday and will meet the leaders of the conservative bloc on Friday morning. (Reporting by Alvise Armellini; editing by Gavin Jones and Crispian Balmer) Although the company originated as a bread and pasta shop in Italy, Barilla is now based in Illinois. SOPA Images / Contributor / Getty Images A judge has ruled that pasta brand Barilla must face a class-action lawsuit over its advertising. Although styled as "Italy's No. 1 brand of pasta," its products are made in Iowa and New York. The plaintiffs allege Barilla took advantage of the fact they were willing to pay more for Italian pasta. A federal judge has ruled that Barilla, styled as "Italy's No. 1 brand of pasta," must face a class-action lawsuit that alleges false or deceptive advertising. The judge decided that customers could be misled by the phrase "Italy's No.1 brand of pasta" and believe its products are made in Italy, court documents show. Although the company originated as a bread and pasta shop in Italy, Barilla is now based in Illinois. Its products are made in Iowa and New York. They do not exclusively use Italian wheat, the lawsuit alleged. In the original complaint, Matthew Sinatro and Jessica Prost alleged that Barilla pasta's branding used false, misleading, and deceptive marking practices. The blue boxes used by the company say "Italy's No.1 brand of pasta" and feature the green, red, and white colors of the Italian flag. The lawsuit alleges that the company sought to take advantage of the fact the plaintiffs were willing to pay more for pasta products that were from Italy. The plaintiffs said they purchased multiple boxes of Barilla spaghetti and angel hair pasta due to the belief that the products were made in Italy from Italian ingredients. The pair accused the company of making the pasta look and sound authentically Italian while "cutting costs and reaping the financial benefits of manufacturing the products in the United States of America," per court documents. Representatives for Barilla did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment made outside of normal working hours. Read the original article on Business Insider Jang Won-young of K-pop girl group IVE attended the FRED Gala Dinner in Paris last month and received praise from Korean netizens for her traditional hairpin, but backlash from some Chinese media. In a video from Vogue Korea, Won-young explains her full outfit before highlighting the accessory, saying, Todays outfit goes so well with updo hairstyle. We styled each element together. I also put on this hairpin to show the look of Korea in Paris. How does it look? I did my best to bring this friend from Korea. The hairpin is from NASCHENKA, a South Korean jewelry brand. In the companys Instagram post about the accessory is the hashtag bonghwang binyeo, or phoenix hairpin. More from NextShark: Netflix brings iconic 'One Piece' locations to life in sneak peek of new live-action series adaptation Some netizens appreciated the look, but the hair piece sparked a debate in Chinese media because of its phoenix shape. More from NextShark: The best of both worlds: 'Hannah Montana' actor attending Jackson Wang meet-and-greet surprises fans Am I seeing it right? wonyoung in a korean traditional hairpin??????????? https://t.co/R2OiPaHsfS ritz | After Like (@iveeey04_) September 26, 2022 Chinese video game distributor NetEase discussed the hairpin on their 163.com news site, claiming, There are hairpins in Korea, but the hairpins with the phoenix pattern are unique to China." Story continues Other Chinese netizens weighed in with comments, such as Isn't that stealing from our traditional culture?," "This is an intolerable problem" and "She should correct herself and apologize, saying she didn't know that the phoenix belonged to China." The outlet also exacerbated rumors that Won-young is of Chinese descent, something which other netizens have argued against, in defense of the idols Korean heritage. NetEase concluded by saying, Our history and traditional customs/culture are very old, and we welcome people to learn, but we absolutely do not tolerate theft. Twitter users added to the debate with their own opinions. Nobody wants her to be Chinese, but phoenix comes from Chinese myth and phoenix hairpin is Chinese traditional hair accessory. It is a fact. Wonyoung made a mistake, and u guys are defending for her just bcuz u r her fan. Stop double standard. https://t.co/f7b2ncSLJ8 kdd (@nmsl1023) October 19, 2022 people are so unserious for getting mad at wonyoung for "culture stealing", it's literally just a hairpin she bought from korea to show her culture, how is that stealing chinese culture ... c (@jaeyunpotter) October 19, 2022 Wonyoung never said anything about phoenixes, she just said its a hairpin. Those people purposely translate what she said wrongly to make cn people misunderstood. yogurtified (@ancientyogurt) October 19, 2022 hmm wonyoung ain't partially wrong if you actually research the hairpin she wore is actually know as a culture for them (this is like the kimchi and hanbok thing situation tbh) . (@wnyprotector) October 18, 2022 You're fucking stupid. Which sentence of Wonyoung mentioned Phoenix? All she said was the hairpin she was wearing. https://t.co/uhxZ70WABP (@YiWennie_chan) October 19, 2022 In related IVE news, the K-pop act recently had an August comeback, After LIKE, and performed at KCON 2022 Japan earlier this month. Feature Image via Vogue Korea The Jacksonville, Florida, community has a brand-new institution inspired by our nations illustrious historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). On Tuesday, Becoming Collegiate Academy held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate its official launch. The tuition-free institution specifically opened its doors to kindergarteners and first graders, and it previously announced a goal of enrolling 120 students for its inaugural year, My Jax Chamber reports. However, school administrators hope to continually add on more grade levels each year until Becoming Collegiate Academy is a full-on K-5 elementary school, according to News4JAX. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Becoming Collegiate Academy (@becomingcollegiate) The school describes itself as a public-charter school uniquely positioned to mirror the experience of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) by providing a supportive, nurturing, and self-empowering environment needed for students to develop and affirm their cultural and academic identities, according to the Becoming Collegiate Academy website. Becoming Collegiate Academy believes there is something incredibly important about the HBCU experience that must be celebrated, protected, and replicated in our students daily K-12 experience, another school webpage reads. Cameron Frazier, the founder and principal of the academy, further explained the schools mission. Our focus is to create a community for all students to belong by focusing on building positive relationships, uplifting identity and culture, and preparing students for college and life, he shared, according to My Jax Chamber. Story continues I whole-heartily believe that when every child feels seen, safe, and celebrated for the value they bring to the whole community they will develop into the best versions of themselves, Frazier added. The academy is actively hiring for several openings, so if youre a qualified educator living in the Jacksonville area and interested in becoming a part of Becoming Collegiate Academys mission, you can learn more here. A Japanese climber had the scare of a lifetime when an aggressive Japanese black bear suddenly charged at him as he descended a mountain earlier this month. The adrenaline-pumping moment occurred on Oct. 1 at Mt. Futago, a dormant volcano in Japan's Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. The encounter was captured on an action camera and uploaded to YouTube on Oct. 5. According to the climber, the bear tried attacking him as he was descending the mountain. He had to scare the animal away while simultaneously maintaining his grip. In his now-viral video, which has garnered over 2.3 million views, the climber can be seen scaring off the bear by kicking it, hitting its head and screaming at it. To his relief, the bear eventually runs off. More from NextShark: Bus conductor in India sparks online outrage for off-boarding a woman due to fish odor The climber shared that he sustained a few scratches and cuts from holding onto the mountain's rocky ridge, as well as a sprained right wrist after hitting the bear. According to the climber, the bear was only acting naturally in response to an invasion of its territory. As mainly nocturnal creatures whose nests can be found in trees and on the sides of steep slopes, Japanese black bears are marginally smaller than Asiatic black bears commonly found in southern Asia. More from NextShark: Man in blackface mocking The Little Mermaid identified as Indonesian stars sibling According to Bear Conservation, male Japanese black bears typically weigh between 60 kilograms and 120 kilograms (approximately 132 pounds and 264 pounds), while females weigh between 40 kilograms and 100 kilograms (approximately 88 pounds and 220 pounds). A male Asiatic black bear can weigh up to 200 kilograms (approximately 441 pounds). As for length, a Japanese black bears body length is usually between 120 centimeters and 140 centimeters (approximately 47 inches and 55 inches), while a male Asiatic black bear can have a total length of up to 190 centimeters (approximately 74 inches). Story continues There are an estimated 10,000 Japanese black bears remaining in Japan. Around 30 percent to 50 percent of their total population 4,251 bears were killed in 2006. The species has reportedly become extinct on the Japanese island of Kyushu. More from NextShark: Vietnamese man sets world record climbing 100 stairs while balancing brother on his head in 53 seconds Featured Image via Kabacchi (CC BY 2.0) Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! TikTok user explains why some Chinese restaurants are closed on Tuesdays TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will visit Perth from Oct. 21-23 and will meet counterpart Anthony Albanese during his trip, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said on Wednesday. Japan aims to further develop ties between the two nations over security, defence and the economy, including cooperation over a free and open Indo-Pacific, Matsuno said. (Reporting by Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim) Jean-Michel Jarre: We have changed our relationship with the outside world we care much more about the environment (Francois Rousseau) Its a sunny afternoon in Paris, and Im sitting in the famous circular Maison de la Radio, headquarters of Radio France, looking out over the Seine and across to the Eiffel Tower in the company of Jean-Michel Jarre. The pioneer of electronic music, who rose to international fame in 1976 with his album Oxygene, is wearing lightly tinted glasses, a black T-shirt and skinny jeans. He looks at least two decades younger than his 74 years. Twenty-eight when he made the cult independent release that became a classic, Jarre has come a long way since then. Oxygene was recorded on a synthesiser that looked like a telephone exchange, a primitive Korg drum machine modified with Sellotape, and an old Mellotron that had only a few working keys. Almost five decades and 80 million album sales later, were having lunch after listening to his 22nd studio record, Oxymore, in 360-degree spatial audio. In plain English, this means that the music is played via 29 speakers arranged so they surround the listener. For decades we have had a frontal relationship with music, Jarre says. It is the same relationship to music that you have with a painting; with modern technology you can go back to a very natural way of listening to music. I am convinced this will be a total game-changer. The origins of Oxymore go back to 2015, when Jarre was due to collaborate with Pierre Henry, one of the foundational figures in electronic music and an early proponent of musique concrete a genre of composition that utilised recorded sounds as raw material, from musical instruments to field recordings. The two had intended to work together on Jarres Electronica Project, which was released as an album in 2015. Ultimately, though, the collaboration didnt take place. Henry died in 2017. A few months after his death, I contacted his widow, Jarre says, and she told me that Henry had left some sounds for me in case I might want to do something with them one day. It was these fragments of sounds that Jarre used as the starting point for the new record, which Jarre hopes not only honours Henry but also spotlights the continuing influence of concrete music. These guys had a major influence on how we are making music these days, whether it is hip-hop, or punk, or rock, or electronic music, he says. They opened the field of sampling when they were just going out with a microphone and a tape recorder recording the sound of life and mixing it with acoustic instruments. They created so many things [that are used] these days by DJs, like scratching, playing vinyl backwards and sampling. We are all the children of these guys. Jarre always considered himself one of those children, but it was only making the album that led him to revisit his own childhood and earliest adventures in sound. Jarre was 10 years old and living in Lyon, in central France, after his parents split up, when his grandfather gave him a tape recorder. His father Maurice was a film soundtrack composer who had left for America. My dad was totally absent, Jarre recalls, totally focused on his work, and he ignored his family his parents and his children. The young Jean-Michel would spend hours on his balcony recording the sounds of the street. He didnt know it then, but it was a very similar approach to what Henry had done with his concrete music. Jarre later studied classical musical composition and, in the late 1960s, fronted a proto-punk band called The Dustbins. It was around then that I first visited Radio France, he says. I was playing in a band and the drummers father was working here as a music journalist. I remember stealing oscillators and filters from the radio studios to use to make music. Jarre released his debut solo album Deserted Palace in 1972, but it was the ambient and spacey etherealism of his follow-up, Oxygene with its cover art featuring Earth peeling away to reveal a skull that turned Jarre into a global superstar of electronic music. It was turned down by every major record label before eventually being released by a French independent label in the winter of 1976. I remember being on the Champs-Elysees and seeing Elton John coming out of a record shop with 10 copies under his arm, he recalls. My publisher, who was with me, said I think this is going to be a hit. The album would go on to sell 12 million copies; subsequent records, while not as commercially successful, continued to see Jarre innovating with the art of making noise. There was an echo of concrete music in 1984s Zoolook: it was constructed from recordings that Jarre made of the human voice speaking in 30 languages, which he sampled and electronically manipulated. Jarre was influenced in his music not only by the likes of Henry and the German electronic band Tangerine Dream, but also by the work of American abstract expressionist painters. Jackson Pollock has always been a great source of inspiration, he says. I always thought that abstract expressionism was less intellectual than landscapes. When you deal with textures and wave forms you are working in a very sensual, almost sexual way instead of calling it abstract painting, it should be called concrete painting. Jarres live concerts became the stuff of legend. He was the first Western performer to be invited to perform within the Peoples Republic of China. He played to gigantic crowds: a concert in Paris was attended by 2.5 million people, and one in Moscow seven years later was witnessed by 3.5 million. These epic performances were inspired, he tells me, by opera. The fact you had musicians collaborating with carpenters and painters just to enhance and visualise their music, he explains. Electronic music was so abstract for the audience, so I thought my music should also be influenced by opera. I needed to surround myself with the carpenters of my generation lighting designers, video artists and projectionists. Electronic music was so abstract for the audience, so I thought my music should also be influenced by opera (Francois Rousseau) In recent years, Jarre has embraced the possibilities of virtual reality he played in a virtual Notre Dame on New Years Eve 2020, and for the new album he has created a new VR space where he can perform in front of avatars of audience members from around the world. Does this mean that, post pandemic, the days of mega live concerts are over? We have changed paradigms, he says. We have changed our relationship with the outside world we care much more about the environment. Nothing is going to replace [the live experience], but VR should be considered a mode of expression in itself as another possibility. He tells me about a recent VR performance, during which he played the new album and then met his virtual audience. There was one girl from Manchester who had danced all evening, he recalls. I started talking to her and she told me she was quadriplegic this was the first time she was sharing a live event with some other people. Jarres enthusiasm for the future, how it sounds and how it might look, is particularly impressive given that he has been making music for half a century and is at the stage where he has little, if anything, left to prove. There is a mysterious aspect to creativity, he says. I dont understand what I have done, and I dont know how I did it. I still feel like a naughty boy in front of his new toys. He may be unsure how he did it, but his music has been cited as an influence by artists such as Moby, who recalls: When I first heard Oxygene it sounded like it was coming from a different universe. Film composer Hans Zimmer has said of Jarre, I dont think there is an electronic musician who isnt influenced by him, while Gary Numan once said that he started it all and were all just following on from what he started. I ask Jarre what he makes of the next generation of French DJs, such as David Guetta. They are like my little brothers, he says, but they are more on the pop side, producing songs with vocalists which is a talent, but its different to my music, which has roots in classical music compositions. Oxymore is Jarres seventh album in seven years an acceleration in output that is in part due to an awareness that time is not on his side. Your relationship with time changes, he says. As long as your parents are alive, you think of time passing by. When your parents are no longer there (his parents died within months of each other in 2012), you think of time in terms of the time you have left. It is a game-changer you are the next one in line, and you start to think I have to start to complete what I have in mind. When your parents are no longer there, you think of time in terms of the time you have left It isnt just getting older that explains his productivity. Jarre has talked in the past of music being an addiction. It is a passion that is all-consuming, he says. It can sound very selfish, but I prefer to spend time with machines more than human beings. Jarre may say he prefers spending time with machines, but in person he is tremendous company. Our conversation was scheduled to last an hour, but stretches on for three hours and only ends because he has a hospital appointment he cannot miss. Jarres single-minded obsession with music inevitably comes with a price tag and the fact that Jarre has been married four times, including a 20-year marriage to Charlotte Rampling that ended in 1997, may not be completely unconnected. (The allegations of infidelity cannot have helped.) Jean-Michel Jarre with his partner, actor Gong Li, at the Venice Film Festival in 2022 (Getty) I have missed a lot of things, he admits like spending time with my children, spending more time with my family, like my mum, who was a fantastic woman and I know that I missed very important moments with her. I [might] seem to be a bit like a spoilt brat, because I had a choice; but in a sense I didnt it is a path you follow, you have no choice. If you want to have a quiet life and a quiet private life, then dont become a musician. I remind him that he said exactly those words in an interview with The Independent back in 2017. It is a sort of joke, he admits. I am very lucky. I have an excellent relationship with my partner [the Chinese actress Gong Li]. We have been together seven years; she is an extraordinary person. I recently talked to my youngest son [he has three grown-up children] and he said he felt I was always there for him, so maybe it is about what I need rather than what he needed. And what Jarre needs more than anything is to keep making music. Time is short and he has no time to be looking back. Nostalgia is very negative for the human mind, he says. To be stuck in nostalgia is sad... it is a bit sick. I feel sorry for those who are scared about the future. Oxymore is out on 21 October Pennsylvania Senate candidate John Fetterman has released a new medical report that says he is ready for full duty in public office and recovering well from the May stroke that nearly took his life. The physicians update comes after GOP candidate Mehmet Oz and a number of media outlets have repeatedly called for greater transparency about Fettermans health as voters prepare to make a decision in the high-stakes contest. Are there any lingering effects from the stroke? The letter by Dr. Clifford Chen states that Fettermans physical exam on Friday was normal and explains some of the lingering effects of the stroke that sent the Democrat to the hospital just days before the Senate primary. He spoke intelligently without cognitive deficits, Chen wrote in the letter. His speech was normal and he continues to exhibit symptoms of an auditory processing disorder which can come across as hearing difficulty. The condition means Fetterman sometimes misses words spoken to him, and Chen wrote that while it can appear he hasnt heard them, its actually that his brain hasnt been able to process them. Fetterman's ability to hear music and other sounds wasn't impacted by the stroke, according to the doctor. Fetterman has acknowledged his auditory processing difficulties and has relied on closed-captioning during media interviews since the stroke. The letter also stated that Fetterman is exercising regularly, walks up to five miles without a problem and is taking a medication for his heart and to prevent strokes. "Overall, Lt. Governor Fetterman is well and shows strong commitment to maintaining good fitness and health practices," Chen wrote. Speech therapy crucial in improvement Chen also said the candidates communication has significantly improved with the aid of speech therapy. John is already fully ready to serve, and hes still getting better every single day, the candidates senior adviser, Rebecca Katz, said in a statement Wednesday. Its not easy recovering from a stroke in public let alone doing it while running in the top Senate race in the country but John has worked hard to get here, and it shows. Story continues A representative of Ozs campaign called the medical report good news but said it doesnt lay to rest other concerns about Fettermans history of unpaid taxes or his work on the state pardons board to grant clemency to prisoners. And now that he apparently is healthy, he can debate for 90 minutes, start taking live questions from voters and reporters, and do a second debate now too, said Rachel Tripp, a spokeswoman for Ozs campaign. There is only one planned debate before the election, and Oz has repeatedly pressed to lengthen it from an hour to 90 minutes or to add another candidate forum to the schedule. The Republican has also criticized Fetterman for holding rallies where he does not answer questions from attendees or the media. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Fetterman releases new medical report saying he's in good health John Kear was proud of his Wales players after defeat by the Cook Islands (Danny Lawson/PA) (PA Archive) John Kear spoke of his pride and disappointment after Wales suffered a battling 18-12 defeat to the Cook Islands in their World Cup opener. Tries from Rhodri Lloyd and Ollie Olds gave the predominantly part-time Welsh a 12-8 interval lead at Leigh Sports Village but the more experienced South Pacific islanders wore them down in the second half. Even then, Wales had a chance to snatch a draw in the last minute but Caleb Aekins was unable to take advantage of an overlap out wide after Lloyd charged down a kick. After Wales were hammered in all three of their group games five years ago, coach Kear felt the display made a strong statement. I think we have earned the respect of a lot of people, said the veteran Widnes and former England coach. I think that is the best Wales rugby league performance for a long, long time. I am immensely proud of the players and the effort they have put in. We are one of the lower-ranked teams and we have got a lot of part-time players. But weve demonstrated being part-time isnt simply about ability sometimes, it is about life circumstance. I certainly think anyone who has watched that will come away having had full value for money and with a lot of admiration for the fellas who wore red. The pride comes through, but it is disappointing as well. Kear refused to blame his players for failing to take advantage of the last-gasp chance to snatch something from the Group D encounter. A lot of players emptied the tank out there, he said. The effort to charge down, which gave us the opportunity we almost got its that that needs applauding. Tries in quick succession from Davvy Moale and Steve Marsters, after an earlier effort from Anthony Gelling, secured victory for the Cook Islands. A Marsters of finishing... Steven Marsters can't be stopped and extends Cook Islands' lead further will that be enough to claim the win?#RLWC2021 | #WALCKI | @BBCSport pic.twitter.com/VScYm5sjnd Rugby League World Cup 2021 (@RLWC2021) October 19, 2022 Kukis coach Tony Iro, the former Wigan and New Zealand winger, said: I think Wales, for the most part of the game, stuck it to us and I thought they played really well. I was really proud of our boys for sticking to their guns because I thought there was an opportunity there, a couple of times, when they could have let things go against them. But they kept turning up and, for most of our boys, I thought it was a really strong performance. Apple TV+ There are plenty of Jewish comedians in America, but ever since Jon Stewart stepped down as host of The Daily Show in 2015, they have been few and far between on late-night television. So perhaps Stewart felt some sort of obligation to address the latest antisemitic outbursts from powerful cultural figures like the rapper formerly known as Kanye West and former president of the United States Donald Trump. The host of Apple TV+s The Problem with Jon Stewart used the opening portion of that shows companion podcast on Wednesday to share his thoughts on the topic, including why he thinks antisemitism is the wrong word to be using. I dont have a ton of time today because I have a Jewish media mafia meeting, Stewart joked up top. Weve just got a lot of stuff to talk about in terms of censorship and what we have to control. A lot of stuff has been sneaking through the cracks. Norman Lear Calls Donald Trump a Horses A** Over Antisemitic Comments The host began by addressing Trumps crazy statement about how U.S. Jews have to get their act together and appreciate what they have in IsraelBefore it is too late! Stewart called it one of the most explicit expressions of just pure Jews have only loyalty to Israel, adding, and I dont know that it even made the top 10 antisemitic bullshit of the week! In fact, the word antisemitic doesnt even carry it anymore, Stewart continued. Its just weird Jew paranoia bullshit that its mind-blowing to me how easily it flows from peoples mouths and everybodys just like, Wow, that was weird. The comedian has a long history of going after Trump for making antisemitic comments, including when Trump accused him of rejecting his Jewish heritage by changing his name from Jonathan Leibowitz. In return, Stewart started referring to Trump as #FuckFaceVonClownstick. From there, Stewart moved on to West, who, among many other outrageous statements, recently referred to a Jewish platform like Disney. To which Stewart replied, Boy, he really doesnt know the history of Disney, does he? Story continues Jon Stewart Atones for His Own Sh*tty Anti-Trans Jokes If you are Jewish, then youre part of the Jewish mafia, Stewart continued. But if youre not, then youre just a guy whos a dick to him in business. But if youre a Jewish guy whos a dick to him in business, then its part of the cabal. Its fucking wild! But at least we know now what Candace Owens says in private, Stewart added of Wests new business partner. I think its pretty clear that thats the shit thats flying around. Stewart then tried to grapple with someone like West whose work is beloved who just decides to start blaming Jewish people for his problems. Youre a billionaire who was married to the Kardashians, he added. How bad have we been fucking you? And as for those who defend West by saying his recent controversies are all part of his mental health struggles, Stewart said hes not sure what kind of drug could help him in this case. Jew-alax? he joked. I dont know what drug you could get that could make you not believe theres a cabal of Jews controlling the flow of information from your mouth to the public. 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. By Andrew Hay (Reuters) - A New Mexico judge has outlawed a militia group blamed for sparking violence at a 2020 anti-statue demonstration in the southwestern U.S. state where a protester was shot. The ruling came in response to what law experts called the country's first civil lawsuit by a district attorney seeking to protect the public from actions by vigilantes and citizen paramilitary groups. The New Mexico Civil Guard (NMCG) was banned from operating as a military unit on grounds that only the state governor had the authority to activate a militia, District Court Judge Elaine Lujan ruled on Monday. The NMCG was also outlawed from acting as law enforcement at protests or demonstrations. The group's heavily-armed members in June 2020 tried to keep protesters away from a statue of a Spanish colonial ruler in Albuquerque, New Mexico's largest city. During ensuing violence a counter-protester unaffiliated with the group shot and injured a man calling for removal of the statue. Bryce Provance, founder of the now disbanded NMCG, said the group tried to protect the community and prevent clashes. "We saw ourselves as kind of a middle ground. We weren't for the right and we weren't for the left, because politics had become so extreme," Provance, 33, said of the ruling in which the group was also fined for failing to provide an attorney. Bernalillo County District Attorney Raul Torrez brought the lawsuit to protect the public from what he called untrained, armed "extremists" who tried to illegally function as the police or military and made an already tense situation worse. "If we are going to remain a free and democratic society we must resist the impulse towards armed extremism," he said in a statement. Torrez was helped by law professors from Georgetown University who said the ruling established that actions by vigilantes and militia groups, such as the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. capitol, were not constitutionally protected. (Reporting By Andrew Hay in Taos, New Mexico; Editing by Richard Pullin) Former President Donald Trump signed legal documents describing evidence of election fraud that he knew were false, a federal judge indicated on Wednesday. U.S. District Court Judge David Carter wrote in an 18-page opinion that emails from attorney John Eastman, an architect of Trumps last-ditch effort to subvert the 2020 election, needed to be turned over to the Jan. 6 select committee. Those emails, Carter wrote, show that President Trump knew that the specific numbers of voter fraud were wrong but continued to tout those numbers, both in court and to the public. The emails are among the files that Eastman had been declining to turn over to the committee, citing attorney-client privilege. While Carter concluded that some of the materials fell under that privilege, he ruled that Eastman must disclose four emails to congressional investigators because they are evidence of a likely crime. The Court finds that these four documents are sufficiently related to and in furtherance of the obstruction crime, wrote Carter, who is based in California. According to Carter, Trump and his attorneys alleged in a Dec. 4 filing in Georgia state court that Fulton County had improperly counted more than 10,000 votes of dead people, felons and unregistered voters. They then moved that proceeding to federal court and discussed whether to use the same statistics in that filing. In private correspondence, Trumps lawyers noted that the then-president had resisted signing documents containing specific numbers. On Dec. 31, Eastman emailed other Trump lawyers that the numbers filed in state court were not accurate. Although the President signed a verification for [the state court filing] back on Dec. 1, he has since been made aware that some of the allegations (and evidence proffered by the experts) has been inaccurate, Eastman wrote in an email to colleagues. For him to sign a new verification with that knowledge (and incorporation by reference) would not be accurate. Story continues However, Trump and his lawyers opted to file the federal complaint using the same numbers that Eastman conceded were inaccurate. President Trump, moreover, signed a verification swearing under oath that the incorporated, inaccurate numbers are true and correct or believed to be true and correct to the best of his knowledge and belief, added Carter, an appointee of President Bill Clinton. The emails show that President Trump knew that the specific numbers of voter fraud were wrong but continued to tout those numbers, both in court and to the public. The Court finds that these emails are sufficiently related to and in furtherance of a conspiracy to defraud the United States. A spokesman for Trump and an attorney for Eastman did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Carters ruling arms the Jan. 6 select committee with another batch of evidence supporting its investigation of Trumps effort to subvert the 2020 election. Eastmans emails were part of a cache of thousands held by Chapman University, Eastmans former employer. The select committee subpoenaed Chapman to obtain the emails in January, and Eastman sued to block their release. The judges latest decision could also provide legal fodder for ongoing criminal investigations being conducted by the Justice Department and by prosecutors in Fulton County, Georgia into the efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the election. Its unclear whether those investigators already have the emails at issue, but if they dont, Carters latest ruling has put some on the public record and could ease access to others. Carter, who has presided over Eastmans lawsuit, has become an instrumental figure in aiding the select committees efforts. In the spring, he issued rulings delivering thousands of pages of Eastmans emails to Congress. His March 28 ruling, in which he said it was likely that Trump and Eastman conspired to commit felony obstruction, has become a regular feature of the select committees public hearings. At that time, the committee decided not to press for access to more of Eastmans messages, but recently urged Carter to review an additional set that had yet to be disclosed. Carter agreed that most of the emails the select committee sought were properly designated attorney-client privileged or attorney work-product privileged. However, he said another 33 of them should be delivered to the select committee including the four that were privileged but fall under the crime-fraud exception. Eastman was a central player in the effort by Trump to pressure his then-vice president, Mike Pence to single-handedly attempt to block Congress from certifying Joe Bidens election. He battled with Pences lawyers even as violence wracked the Capitol. Among the emails Carter ruled disclosed on Wednesday was an exchange in which one of Trumps attorneys suggested using pending litigation to force delays in the counting of electoral votes. Merely having this case pending in the Supreme Court, not ruled on, might be enough to delay consideration of Georgia, one of Trumps attorneys wrote in an email quoted by Carter. This email, read in context with other documents in this review, make clear that President Trump filed certain lawsuits not to obtain legal relief, but to disrupt or delay the January 6 congressional proceedings through the courts, Carter ruled. Judi Dench has called on Netflix to include a disclaimer at the start of The Crown that states it is a fictionalised drama as a mark of respect to the late Queen Elizabeth II. The Skyfall star, 87, expressed her concerns with the forthcoming fifth season of the show based on the British royal family in a letter to The Times on Wednesday 19 October, in which she accused the series of crude sensationalism. The closer the drama comes to our present times, the more freely it seems willing to blur the lines between historical accuracy and crude sensationalism, she wrote. In the letter, Dench said that she was especially concerned with the way the show may be perceived by audiences overseas, who may take its version of history as being wholly true. The Oscar-winner also claimed the fictionalised accounts of historical events expected to play out in the upcoming season are cruelly unjust to the members of the royal family they are based on, and damaging to the institution they represent. Season five of the show will be released on 9 November, and will be set in the early to mid- 1990s, with the latest installment expected to portray the struggles in then Prince Charles marriage to Diana, Princess of Wales. It has also been suggested that the show may see Charles requesting the then prime ministers support for the Queens abdication. No one is a greater believer in artistic freedom than I, but this cannot go unchallenged, Dench wrote. Despite this week stating publicly that The Crown has always been a fictionalised drama the programme makers have resisted all calls for them to carry a disclaimer at the start of each episode. Dench then alleged that, in light of the late Queens death on 8 September, the time has come for Netflix to reconsider its stance regarding the inclusion of a disclaimer. The time has come for Netflix to reconsider - for the sake of a family and a nation so recently bereaved, as a mark of respect to a sovereign who served her people so dutifully for 70 years, and to preserve its reputation in the eyes of its British subscribers, she wrote. Story continues The actors request comes after Sir John Major, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party, described the rumoured plot lines in the shows upcoming season as nothing other than damaging and malicious fiction and a barrel-load of nonsense. The politician, who was in office from 1990 to 1997 and who is portrayed in the new season by Jonny Lee Miller, condemned his role in the upcoming season in a statement to The Telegraph released through his spokesperson, who said that Sir John has not cooperated in any way with The Crown. Sir John has not cooperated in any way with The Crown. Nor has he ever been approached by them to fact-check any script material in this or any other series, the spokesperson said. Discussions between the monarch and prime minister are entirely private and for Sir John will always remain so. The spokesperson also denied speculation that there was any discussion between Sir John and the then Prince of Wales about any possible abdication of the late Queen Elizabeth II. At the time, a spokesperson for Netflix said: The Crown has always been presented as a drama based on historical events. Series five is a fictional dramatisation, imagining what could have happened behind closed doors during a significant decade for the royal family one that has already been scrutinised and well documented by journalists, biographers and historians. The Independent has contacted Netflix for comment. If youve ever wanted to get up close and personal with a dinosaur without the possibility of being eaten, you may want to get to Agganis Arena this spring. Its no Isla Sorna, but fans of the franchise will be able to see some of their favorite reptiles and characters when the Jurassic World Live Tour comes to Boston. The family-oriented live show features film-sized dinos operated by animatronics and performers, including a Tyrannosaurus Rex more than 40 feet in length. The show will run from Friday, March 31 to Sunday, April 9. Tickets can be purchased by the general public through www.ticketmaster.com starting October 25. 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 VERO BEACH Two weeks shy of marking seven years since the fatal shooting of Cynthia Betts, a jury Wednesday voted to convict her killer, Asbury Lee Perkins, of first-degree murder with a firearm. Betts, 63, was found murdered inside her home in the 2100 block of Seagrape Drive just off State Road A1A in south Indian River County on Nov. 3, 2015. The day before, she had been shot three times, a jury of nine men and three women were told during a six-day trial. Perkins, 64, who showed no reaction in court upon hearing the verdict, faces a mandatory prison term of life in prison without the possibility of parole at his Nov. 16 sentencing. The jury deliberated for an hour before reaching a verdict at noon Wednesday. Cynthia Betts sister, Georgette Betts, cried and hugged her sister-in-law, Tammy Betts, as the jury was released. Both had traveled from New Jersey to attend the trial at the Indian River County Courthouse. Cynthia Betts The guilty verdict, Georgette Betts said, meant justice for her sister and their family. My sister is at peace. He took her away from her whole family so unnecessarily, she said. He had so many opportunities to walk out, leave her, and live his life the way he wanted to live it and instead he decided to kill her. Jury seated: Trial begins for Asbury Perkins in the 2015 murder of Cynthia Betts Asbury Perkins: Family of Vero Beach murder victim wants man charged in her 2015 shooting death to go on trial Vero Beach murder: Man accused of killing ex-wife in 2015 wants statements tossed Betts murder was discovered after her now-deceased father, William Betts, called the Indian River County Sheriff's Office asking for a deputy to check on her at the home she had shared on and off with Perkins since their divorce in 2009. Indian River County Sheriffs investigators collected crime scene photos from Nov. 3, 2015, a murder scene where Cynthia Betts was found fatally shot. Betts ex-husband Asbury Lee Perkins, 61, is accused of killing her. A deputy who visited early in the day left a note on the door when no one answered. When deputies returned later and first encountered Perkins who appeared inebriated wearing only boxer shorts he said Betts was away visiting relatives in New Jersey. Story continues After deputies confirmed that wasn't true, they kicked in the front door and found Betts' body on the floor of the laundry room with bullet wounds. Her hands were tied with garbage bags and her body was wrapped in a rug. In a bedroom, deputies found blood on a bed and a .38-caliber pistol on a dresser. Assistant State Attorney William Long, during Wednesdays closing arguments, called Betts killing a premeditated execution. He went to a locked safe, got a gun and killed his (former) wife, Long said. This case is that simple. Long urged jurors to reject Perkins claims of being insane at the time of the murder. This was an angry man, thats why he did this, Long said. Were not talking about insanity. Were talking about a person who chose to kill another person. To prove the case, Long presented 94 exhibits and 17 witnesses, including a mental health expert who testified that Perkins was sane at the time he killed Betts. Betts and Perkins, who married in 1992, had a long history of domestic violence, which included at least one restraining order against Perkins, court records show. During their 24-year relationship, the two had shared a business, a parts brokerage firm named Target Electronics Inc., that dissolved after Betts' murder. Throughout the trial, Perkins represented himself as his own attorney and never denied killing Betts. In his closing remarks, Perkins suggested the murder was a sudden impulse killing done with no planning or design. He acknowledged that his relationship with Betts had been degrading, that hed been getting counseling and hed been angry when she wanted him to return a ring he wanted to keep. The ring wasnt a motive, but it was a catalyst, he said. Asbury Lee Perkins enters the courtroom at the Indian River County Courthouse on Oct. 19, 2022, before a jury returned a verdict convicting him of first-degree murder with a firearm in the November 2015 shooting death of his former wife Cynthia Betts. He claimed he wasnt in his right mind when he shot Betts and recalled little afterwards. Really, the last thing that I remember of the shooting incident, was us crouching down. Me, you know, firing the last two shots, he said. I do remember vaguely pulling her body into the laundry room. Confession in: Statements made to police in 2015 murder of ex-wife ruled admissible Cynthia Betts slaying: Vero Beach man charged with murder in former wifes death Entangled couple: Man accused in ex-wifes murder had shared business venture Perkins also was convicted of attempted escape for making a brief but failed attempt to escape custody after his arrest by leaving an interrogation room at the Sheriffs Office when a deputy went to get him water. After court, Long lauded the verdict and credited the prior work by Assistant State Attorney Chris Taylor, who prosecuted the protracted case for several years. He put in a lot of effort for me to be able to argue the case to the jury, Long said. The biggest thing is to be able to get justice for the family and hopefully its the last theyll ever have to deal with this case. Melissa E. Holsman is the legal affairs reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers, and is writer and co-host of Uncertain Terms, a true crime podcast. Reach her at melissa.holsman@tcpalm.com. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Cynthia Betts' killer Asbury Perkins guilty of 2015 fatal shooting Just Eat said it processed 235 million orders in the third quarter of 2022. Photo: Getty Just Eat Takeaway.com (JET.L) has returned to profitability earlier than expected as cost cuts offset falling orders. Europe's largest meal delivery company said it processed 235 million orders in the third quarter of 2022, an 11% drop on the year previously. Gross transaction value (GTV), a common measure for e-commerce companies, ticked up 2% during the quarter amid higher prices, increasing by 6.92bn ($6bn/$6.8bn), which brings the nine-month total to 21.11bn. Read more: FTSE 250: Asos profits plummet 89% as shoppers cut spending In the UK and Ireland, the company's largest market, orders fell by 15% and GTV dropped by 5%, against a strong comparative period, but the group said it achieved "material" improvements in profitability. The company said it currently had a hiring freeze in place as the UK economy braces for a tough winter. In its second-biggest market, North America, orders fell 13% while the GTV grew by 6%, as Grubhub's partnership with Amazon showed encouraging early results, it said. Its stock has lost almost 70% of its value this year. Chief executive officer, Jitse Groen, said: "After two years of significant investment following the merger and the pandemic, I am pleased that Just Eat Takeaway.com has returned to profitability earlier than anticipated. "Driven by a wide range of initiatives, we continue to improve our operational efficiency whilst simultaneously enhancing the user experience and consumer proposition. Although the consumer backdrop will likely be challenging due to the macro-economic environment, Just Eat Takeaway.com owns many leadership positions of significant scale, is well-capitalised through the sale of the iFood stake and is therefore well-positioned to capture profitable future growth." Read more: UK homebuilder Bellway warns of slowing demand amid soaring mortgage rates Just Eat, which had anticipated an adjusted EBITDA loss in the second half, last month revised its forecast to positive and confirmed it also expects to make a profit in full-year 2023. Story continues Just Eat also said it will hold an extraordinary general meeting on 18 November regarding the sale of its 33% stake in Brazilian food ordering app iFood to Prosus. Watch: What is a recession and how do we spot one? Whon Namkoong, the co-chief executive of Kakao, has resigned in a remarkable demonstration of corporate accountability after a fire incident at an SK C&C data center in Pangyo, south of Seoul, caused a mass outage over the weekend and disrupted Kakao's several services, including messenger, ride-hailing, payment, banking and gaming. Namkoong, who joined Kakao in 2015, was elevated to the co-CEO role this March. At a press conference on Wednesday, Namkoong apologized for the mass outage "for such an extended period" and said that he feels "the heavy burden of responsibility" over the incident, adding that the company will do its best to restore the faith of users. Euntaek Hong, head of ESG at Kakao, who led the firm alongside Namkoong and is currently leading Kakao's emergency task force team, will remain as the sole head of Kakao, per a company filing. Kakao said today morning it had restored additional services like Kakaomail and TalkChannel. Most of its services are in almost full operation, with some remaining partially down. KakaoTalk is the most popular messaging app in South Korea, reaching over 47 million of the nation's 51.7 million population each month. The app is also used by government officials and businesses, including banks, ride-hailing services and payment players. Kakaos slow recovery process was caused by the companys lack of owned server infrastructure and high dependence on the SK C&C data center, which caught fire, analysts at Bernstein said in a report this week. Kakao also didn't have a well-distributed backup system, they added. Hong said at a press conference today that the company plans to invest 460 billion KRW (~$325 million) to build its own data center next year, aiming to complete it in the following year. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said on Monday that KakaoTalk is practically a national communications infrastructure. Shares of Kakao tumbled on Monday but recovered slightly on Namkoong's departure announcement. Kameron-michaels.jpg Kameron Michaels is using her lip-syncing skills for a good cause! The queen earned a strong fanbase from her time on RuPauls Drag Race season 10 and even secured a regular role in the live show in Las Vegas. Now, Michaels is giving back to the Las Vegas community by performing at the AFAN (Aid for AIDS of Nevada) Annual Black & White Party. I'm so excited. I will say that this opportunity was the first thing I said yes to. I am having brand new outfits made just solely for this event. A girl always loves to have new costumes made, so Im very excited, Michaels tells Out Traveler. Aid for AIDS of Nevada (AFAN) was founded in 1984 and is the oldest and largest AIDS service organization in the state of Nevada. 2022 marks AFANs 37th anniversary of practicing its commitment to the community by providing unparalleled health expertise, support and advocacy for adults and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in southern Nevada. Theres still some stigma around HIV/AIDS and I want to help reduce the stigma. Undetectable means untransmissible. Its really important to stay knowledgable and check up on yourselves. Any way I can be involved in that, if thats just me showing up and twirling around in a circle, Im happy to do that. AFAN's Black & White Party is a signature event in Las Vegas, with the entire valley showing up at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas to dance the night away while supporting an important cause. This year, this party will take place Saturday, October 22nd. RELATED | 12 Sizzling Pics From the Country's Hottest Gay Pool Party For fans hoping that Michaels will return to the Drag Race franchise, they may just be in luck. Ive said yes, then Ive said no, then I've said yes again. Do I think that I am ready? Yeah, absolutely. It's been five years now. I had zero confidence on that show. Asia and I are the only ones that havent been back yet. If we ever go back, maybe youll see us on there together. If they paired Asia and I up together, it would be a force to be reckoned with. To see Kameron Michaels at the AFAN Black & White Party in Las Vegas, get tickets here. For the full interview, check out the video below. A 17-year-old student at Whitley County High School will face charges after bringing an unloaded handgun to school earlier this week, according to the county superintendent. In a message posted to Facebook, Whitley County Superintendent John Siler said officials found the gun in a students book bag Monday, but no ammunition was found and no threats were made against students or staff. School officials were alerted to this situation by another student, Siler said. This prompted the school resource officer and school administration to immediately question the student and search their belongings. The unloaded gun was found in the students book bag but there was no ammunition found. At no time were threats made against students or staff. In addition to criminal charges, the student will also face school-imposed discipline, Siler said. As parents this is one of our greatest fears, Siler said. We need to feel confident that our children can go to school and be protected while they are there. Please discuss this incident with your children and emphasize that it is against the law to bring weapons of any type to school. Also, please emphasize the importance of telling a school staff member if a weapon is suspected of being at school. The school district has a link to a tipline on its website that allows people to report bullying, violence and dangerous behavior in schools. Siler said an investigation was still ongoing to determine more details about the incident. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Republicans will not hand a blank check to Ukraine if his party wins next months elections, apparently confirming that bipartisan congressional support for Ukraines fight against Russia is wavering. McCarthy, speaking to Punchbowl News, acknowledged the significance of the conflict, but said Americans are dealing with economic problems at home and cant afford to prioritize helping Ukraine. I think people are gonna be sitting in a recession and theyre not going to write a blank check to Ukraine, McCarthy said. They just wont do it. The U.S. has spent vast sums to help Ukraine resist Russias invasion. The Department of Defense on Friday announced an additional $725 million package to Ukraine. Congress last month granted $12.3 billion in emergency funding to Ukraine. That is on top of the $54 billion the U.S. sent to the country in previous packages, according to The New York Times. Only 10 House Republicans voted to support the bill. McCarthy in the past has blasted Russian President Vladimir Putin, comparing him to brutal dictators like Adolf Hitler, according to Punchbowls Jake Sherman. But a strong faction of House Republicans support an America First agenda backed by former President Donald Trump. Last month, Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) told Politico the GOP would demand a breakdown of how any additional U.S. aid will be used in Ukraine if his party wins control of the House. He condemned fellow Republicans for using defense as an excuse to spend all manners of money. Count me against throwing more money at Ukraine without having a serious conversation about guns and butter, a serious conversation about why were spending it and how its in our national security interest, Roy said. Meanwhile, Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.) told Axios his constituents say the Ukraine war feels like a distant issue. When people are seeing a 13% increase in grocery prices; energy, utility bills doubling ... if youre a border community and youre being overrun by migrants and fentanyl, Ukraine is the furthest thing from your mind, Armstrong said. Story continues In the Senate, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has continued to express support for Ukraine. But some GOP Senate nominees in the midterm elections have signaled they do not share McConnells resolve. J.D. Vance, the Trump-endorsed nominee in Ohio, said there needs to be an end to the money spigot to Ukraine eventually. We cannot fund a long-term military conflict that I think ultimately has diminishing returns for our own country, Vance told the ABC affiliate in Toledo last month, according to The Washington Post. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) on Tuesday said a Republican majority doesnt mean the U.S. will abandon Ukraine, but he told Bloomberg the GOP would be cautious. I think hes just saying were not going to write a blank check without oversight and accountability, which my committee will be providing, McCaul said. The White House responded to McCarthys comments by saying the administration was committed to working with Congress to assist Ukraine as long as it takes. Were going to closely monitor these discussions, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. I dont want to get ahead of what Congress might look like next year. I dont want to go into hypotheticals. Republicans are favored to win the House, according to polling aggregation site Five Thirty Eight, while Democrats hold a slight advantage in holding control of the Senate. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Iran supplies weapons to Russia, while continuing to deny involvement Read also: Germany to back sanctions against Iran for shipping drones to Russia On Oct. 17, while meeting of EU ministers, Kuleba called for tough sanctions against Iran for supporting the aggressor country. He said Iran was lying about supplying weapons to Russia, recalling that Tehran publicly claims to be "against the war" and not supporting either side with weapons. Read also: Iran ready to send more drones, missiles to Russia for its war against Ukraine, reports Reuters "Given the amount of destruction caused by Iranian drones to Ukraines civil infrastructure, the deaths and suffering inflicted on our people, and the emergence of reports of Irans possible continuation of arms supplies to Russia, I am submitting a proposal to the President of Ukraine to sever diplomatic relations with Iran," said Kuleba. Read also: Ukrainian army destroys over 500 Russian troops, 35 drones in one day, General Staff says Kuleba said Iran bears full responsibility for the damage to its relations with Ukraine. The minister added that Kyiv had never taken an anti-Iranian position, but after Iran had become a participant in the crime of Russian aggression and other Russian crimes on Ukrainian territory, Ukraine's position will be "very clear and honest." "Iran, stop supplying weapons to Russia (then) we will talk about restoring the entire complex of relations," Kuleba said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Oct. 11 that, according to intelligence, Russia had ordered 2,400 Shahed kamikaze drones from Iran. After the first downed Iranian drones, Ukraine did not extend the accreditation of the Iranian ambassador and reduced the number of personnel in the Iranian embassy to a few employees. Earlier, The Washington Post, citing U.S. officials, reported that Iran had secretly agreed to transfer not only strike drones to Russia, but also surface-to-surface ballistic missiles for the Kremlins war against Ukraine. The missiles are said to have strike ranges of between 300 and 700 kilometers. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine BISHKEK (Reuters) - Kyrgyzstan has asked a Russia-led security bloc to deploy peacekeeping troops at its disputed border with Tajikistan to ensure a ceasefire holds between the two ex-Soviet Central Asian countries, a senior Kyrgyz official said on Wednesday. At least 100 people were killed last month in fighting involving the use of tanks, aircraft and rocket artillery on a disputed section of the border. Although the ceasefire agreed on Sept.16 has held up so far, Tajikistan's border guard service accused Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday of bringing more military hardware close to the border and building fortifications with "malevolent plans". Kyrgyz Defence Minister Baktybek Bekbolotov told reporters he has asked the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, a post-Soviet security body, to deploy a "small" number of troops in disputed border areas. "...There will be no peace until an arbitrator stands between us," he said. Both Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan maintain close ties with Moscow and host Russian military bases. (Reporting by Olga Dzyubenko; Additional reporting by Nazarali Pirnazarov in Dushanbe; Writing by Olzhas Auyezov; Editing by Alex Richardson) The Los Angeles Times and Fox 11 L.A. hosted a live town hall event Thursday night to examine the L.A. City Council scandal and explore a way forward for the city. Times columnists Erika D. Smith and LZ Granderson and reporter Benjamin Oreskes joined Fox anchors Elex Michaelson and Marla Tellez for "L.A. in Crisis: The Call for Change," a one-hour special with city and community leaders and residents across Los Angeles.. You can watch the town hall on YouTube and Twitter. The live forum included discussions with city officials, community leaders and experts, as well as participation from residents in South Los Angeles, Koreatown and Studio City. The most common message was that Councilmembers Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo should resign. Both have been stripped of their committee assignments but have resisted calls to leave office. They need to step down immediately because every day that they are in office is another racist attack, said Michael Browning, president of the Van Nuys Neighborhood Council. Its time for them to go. The town hall follows The Times reporting on a leaked audio recording of three members of the L.A. City Council and a top county labor leader who can be heard making racist and derogatory comments last October. But it also captures four plotting to strengthen their power via redistricting the drawing of City Council district lines. Since The Times reported on the recordings on Oct. 9, former City Council President Nury Martinez and former L.A. County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera resigned. The two other participants in the taped conversation, Councilmembers Gil Cedillo and Kevin de Leon, have been stripped of their committee assignments, but have resisted calls for their resignations. Full Times coverage is here. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A high school student from Maywood Center for Enriched Studies magnet school speaks during a lunch break. The school is part of Los Angeles Unified, which is experiencing declining enrollment. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Student enrollment at Los Angeles Unified continued to decline this fall although less than district officials had predicted as new state funding expanded transitional kindergarten to more 4-year-olds. At Tuesday's school board meeting, Supt. Alberto Carvalho said the enrollment of 422,276 spanning from transitional kindergarten through 12 grade is a "reason for celebration." He pointed toward the predicted decline of 4.1% versus the actual decline of 1.9%, the smallest drop since 2013-14. "But the work continues," Carvalho said. The "stabilization of enrollment in the aftermath of the pandemic," Carvalho said, "is a phenomenon that is interesting, that I've seen only in one additional large urban district in our country. And that's actually Miami-Dade," he said, referring to the school system where he served as superintendent before coming to L.A. in February. The enrollment numbers were helped by a substantial expansion of transitional kindergarten spots because of an increase in state funding that is essentially creating a new grade over the next few years. The number of students in transitional kindergarten increased by about 2,700 to more than 8,400, a 47% rise. Without that increase, L.A. Unified's overall enrollment would have slipped by 2.5% Carvalho suggested that higher-than-expected numbers of students were drawn to L.A. Unified because of its reputation for strong health-safety protocols earned during the pandemic. And other families, he said, were probably attracted by the relaxing of some of these protocols. The district ended weekly COVID testing this summer and made masking optional last spring. Officials conceded, however, they are speculating. Factors contributing to lower enrollment are complex and include birth rates, decreased immigration, high living costs that compel families to move and competition from independently operated charter schools. More than 200 charters operate within L.A. Unified; many of them also are having problems filling seats. Also, an unknown number of students simply stopped attending classes during the pandemic campus closures. Story continues Board member Jackie Goldberg spoke of a need for a marketing campaign. "I've seen schools in my board district that have things that nobody knows about," she said. "I went to a school where they're making hydrogen motors and drank from the tailpipe" alluding to water being the waste produce of a hydrogen motor. She was referencing the prize-winning student mechanic-scientists at STEAM Legacy High School in South Gate, who have competed internationally. "I just think that there are parents everywhere who would love to have their kids in a school that's creating hydrogen motors." Enrollment has been incrementally dropping in L.A. Unified since peaking at about 737,000 students 21 years ago. That long-ago overcrowding detracted from the quality and even quantity of education as campuses operated year-round with students on staggered schedules that provided 17 fewer days of instruction per year and limited access to advanced classes. The challenge will now be to keep campuses open and programs viable as enrollment shrinks. While acknowledging the better-than-expected numbers, board member Nick Melvoin asked Carvalho to explain why the combined increase in transitional kindergarten and preschool is only about 3,000 students when the district announced this fall that about 19,000 new early education seats were available. The actual numbers are "far short of the 19,000 you're talking about," Melvoin said. "Why such a huge discrepancy?" "The expansion was a multiyear goal," Carvalho responded. "So we are progressing towards that goal, not necessarily slower than anticipated." Melvoin said that the variety of programs for students ages 4 and younger with different formats and eligibility rules could be confusing to parents without improved district outreach. At this rate, universal enrollment of 4-year-olds would be "a decade away," said UC Berkeley education professor Bruce Fuller, who did not blame Carvalho for the disappointing pace, which, he said, is also evident elsewhere. Transitional kindergarten and kindergarten are not mandatory in California. "Independent of forecasts," he added, the enrollment decline has resumed its typical pre-pandemic pattern. "Whether parents are feeling more comfortable or Mr. Carvalho's efforts have proved potent, we have moved past the COVID-era collapse of school attendance," Fuller said. The data bear this out. Before the pandemic, in the fall of 2019, kindergarten enrollment statewide was 523,009. By fall 2020, when most California public schools were online, kindergarten enrollment dropped 11.6% to 462,172. The decrease was even greater, 14%, in Los Angeles Unified. When in-person classes resumed for most in fall 2021, kindergarten numbers across California rose 1.7%, a greater rebound than for any other grade. At L.A. Unified, however, kindergarten enrollment fell further, by an additional 6%, officials said. This year the drop in kindergarten in L.A. Unified is 1.2%. During Tuesday's meeting, when board members asked detailed questions, district staff pleaded for patience. They could not explain why in 12th grade there's been a 1.6% decrease after a prediction of a 2.6% increase. Nor did they know if extending more elementary schools to eighth grade would keep more students in the district. They could not say if magnet schools which have special programs and no attendance boundaries bring in new students or draw instead from other district schools. "If you're going to have a successful marketing strategy, we have to know the answers to those questions," said Chief Financial Officer David Hart, who led the staff presentation. "It will not be a one-size-fits-all across the board." The district has prepared a report with school-by-school enrollment but not yet a breakdown by race or geography. "What we are very intent on is understanding what is within our control," Hart said, and how to "leverage our skills, our talents, our finances, for that matter, to ensure that we are a district of choice." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. LOS ANGELES A united Los Angeles City Council chose a veteran member Tuesday to replace the president who resigned over a leaked recording that ignited racial divisions and exposed backroom political maneuvering. In a unanimous vote that followed no debate and more than three hours of irate public comment, the council chose as its new president Paul Krekorian, a former Democratic state assemblymember from the San Fernando Valley. Krekorian pledged more transparency and cooperation as the council tries to get back to the business of running Americas second-largest city. He is now tasked with steering a body rocked by scandal that has squandered public trust. Hell be expected to oversee a slate of reforms to the way city government operates, including a possible overhaul of the redistricting process, while working with the incoming mayor, who will be elected next month. Needless to say this is one of the most challenging times our city has ever had to face, Krekorian said following the vote. Former President Nury Martinez resigned last week after the disclosure of the tape that captured her making racist and disparaging remarks in a conversation with two other members, Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo, and a union official. De Leon and Cedillo who have refused widespread calls to resign, including from President Joe Biden did not attend the meeting, which was held virtually because Council member Mike Bonin tested positive for Covid-19. Acting Council President Mitch OFarrell, wearing a mask, presided over the meeting from a mostly-empty chamber while the rest of the council participated via video link. During public comment, dozens of callers, some using expletives, implored the council to halt the meeting until Cedillo and de Leon resign. Multiple people called specifically on members Bonin, Marcqueece Harris-Dawson and Nithya Raman to leave the meeting and stop the process of choosing a new president. Outside City Hall, crowds of protesters gathered to denounce the Council. Police in riot gear blocked some people trying to force their way inside. Story continues Martinez resigned last week following public outcry over the release of audio that captured her, de Leon, Cedillo and a labor leader engaged in a conversation that included racist and homophobic comments many targeting council colleagues and planning for how the members could influence the redistricting process. Two City Council members, Harris-Dawson and Bonin, refused to attend meetings last week in protest of de Leon and Cedillo but were in attendance Tuesday, giving the council its minimum 10-member quorum. Krekorian, in his acceptance speech, committed to holding council meetings whether or not those two members resign. I just need to reiterate that we just can't allow two members who are in a position now of having dishonored their offices, to by their decision, or lack of decision hold the business of the city hostage, Krekorian said. Council member Curren Price, who told POLITICO last week he was vying for the president role, was not present Tuesday. His office shared a statement hours into the meeting, saying Price didnt want to sanction a meeting where public comment was limited. I made a conscious decision to not attend this morning's Council meeting because as a City leader, I could not support a virtual hearing that silenced the public outcry and shut out Angelenos who continue to reel from this breach of trust, Price said in a prepared statement. Council member Monica Rodriguez started the meeting by calling for the president vote to be postponed for a week, arguing that the decision should be made when the council is able to hold in-person proceedings. That motion did not receive a vote. Rodriguez, who had publicly indicated her support for Price, left the meeting shortly after her motion. A spokesperson for her office said Rodriguez went to see her mother, who had been hospitalized. Unfortunately, after initially joining today's Council meeting, the Councilwoman had to abruptly leave because of a family emergency, spokesperson Walter Garcia said in a statement. The meeting marked the councils first tangible step since the contents of the recording were made public on Oct. 9. Now, as Cedillo and de Leon continue to hold out against calls to resign, the other members will have to carefully navigate the path forward which could include sweeping changes to city government. In the leaked audio, members could be heard discussing ways to manipulate the citys districts to benefit themselves and allies, which has prompted widespread calls for the city to adopt an independent redistricting committee. Many Angelenos, including mayoral candidates Rep. Karen Bass and Rick Caruso, say an independent commission is critical to preventing further corruption. The comments made in the recording even prompted California Attorney General Rob Bonta to launch an investigation into Los Angeles redistricting process. Changes could come sooner than later. Council members Tuesday passed a measure, carried by members Raman and Krekorian, that would direct the bodys legislative analyst to come up with possible ballot measures for voters within the next couple of months. OFarrell told POLITICO last week that hed like to see the city redraw the districts before 2024. Some members have also suggested the council should be expanded from 15 to 30 seats, to better represent the citys four million residents. SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) A self-described family man with a distinctive back tattoo felt humiliated after Cardi B allegedly misused his likeness for her sexually suggestive mixtape cover art, his lawyer said during opening arguments Tuesday. Kevin Michael Brophy is suing the Grammy-winning musician in a $5 million copyright-infringement lawsuit in federal court in Southern California. His attorneys say Brophy's life was disrupted and he suffered distress because of the 2016 artwork. Brophys lawyer A. Barry Cappello said photo-editing software was use to put the back tattoo, which has appeared in tattoo magazines, onto the male model used in the mixtape cover. The image shows a tattooed man from behind with his head between the rappers legs. The mans face cannot be seen. Cardi B, who is expected to testify during the trial, is fighting the allegations and said an artist used only a small portion of the tattoos without her knowledge. She had previously said the cover art created by Timm Gooden was transformative fair use of Brophys likeness. Their life has been disrupted, Cappello told the jury as Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Almanzar, watched from the defense table. He said the image disturbed Brophy along with his wife, Lindsay Michelle Brophy, who he says initially questioned her husband if it was him in the cover art. The couple has two young children. Brody has said he once considered his back tattoo featuring a tiger battling a serpent to be a Michelangelo piece that has since become raunchy and disgusting. Defense filings have pointed out that the model who posed for the photos was Black, while Brophy is white. Cardi Bs lawyer Peter Anderson said Brophy and the mixtape image are unrelated. He said the model did not have tattoos on his neck, which Brophy does. Brophys face wasnt on the mixtape, Anderson said during his opening statement. She was already popular. It has nothing to do with Brophy. Story continues But Brophy contested in court that everyone who knows him believed he was on the mixtape cover. He said the offensive image was something he would never approve. Brophy said he sent a cease-and-desist letter to Cardi Bs representatives to remove the tattoo, but he never received a response. For me, it was something I took a lot of pride in, Brophy said about his tattoo. Now, that image feels devalued. I feel robbed. I feel completely disregarded. Theres a lot of things I would like to be spending time on. But the only way to get this removed was to come here to this courtroom. Cappello said Gooden was paid $50 to create a design but was then told to find another tattoo after he turned in an initial draft. He said Gooden googled back tattoos before he found an image and pasted it on the cover. Last month, Cardi B pleaded guilty to a criminal case stemming from a pair of brawls at New York City strip clubs that required her to perform 15 days of community service. Earlier this year, the rapper was awarded $1.25 million in a defamation lawsuit against a celebrity news blogger who posted videos falsely stating she used cocaine, had contracted herpes and engaged in prostitution. A bill backed by more than 30 House Republicans could be used to strip federal funds from public schools, libraries or hospitals that recognise Pride month, host popular drag queen story hours or make any mention of LGBT+ people. The measure from US Rep Mike Johnson of Louisiana would ban institutions that receive federal funds from hosting sexually oriented discussion, materials and events where children could be present. But the definition of sexually oriented broadly encompasses any topic that involves gender identity, gender dysphoria, transgenderism, sexual orientation, or related subjects. LGBT+ advocates warn that the bills language is deliberately broad, a similar but more-expansive version of what critics have called state-level Dont Say Gay bills used to restrict classroom instruction of LGBT+ people and events. Critics have accused the sweeping proposal from 33 House Republicans of unjustly conflating LGBT+ people with sex and child abuse. Human Rights Campaign government affairs director David Stacy said the bill is the latest cruel attempt from House Republicans to stigmatize and marginalize the community, not in an attempt to solve actual problems but only to rile up their extremist base. All students deserve to feel safe and welcomed in schools, but politicians like Mike Johnson are using the levers of government to dictate to children, their parents, and their educators what they can read, what they can learn, what they can say and who they can be, Mr Stacy said in a statement. Alejandra Caraballo, a clinic instructor at Harvard Universitys Cyber Law Clinic, compared the measure to Floridas Parental Rights in Education Act, which broadly prohibits classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity and could open schools to lawsuits that threaten to chill classroom speech among LGBT+ students and teachers. Universities, public schools, hospitals, medical clinics, etc could all be defunded if they host any event discussing LGBTQ people and children could be present, Ms Caraballo wrote on Twitter. The way they define sexually oriented material simply includes anything about LGBTQ people. Story continues It is so incredibly dehumanizing and hateful for congressmembers to draft a bill that would define under federal law who I am as a queer trans woman as being "sexually oriented." As if my very existence is harmful to children. It's disgusting, heinous, and monstruous. Alejandra Caraballo (@Esqueer_) October 18, 2022 One enforcement mechanism in the bill would allow private citizens to file lawsuits against any public or private entity perceived to be in violation of the measure. This will be a ban on all discussion of LGBTQ people in any entity that received federal funds, according to Ms Caraballo. It is so incredibly dehumanizing and hateful for congressmembers to draft a bill that would define under federal law who I am as a queer trans woman as being sexually oriented. As if my very existence is harmful to children. Its disgusting, heinous, and monstruous. Much misreporting on this bill. It is NOT a "national don't say gay bill" Dont say gay/trans was only applied to school instruction. This goes beyond that: - Focuses on EXPOSURE - Bans ALL federally funded "exposure to transgenderism" - Includes hospitals, unis, counselors https://t.co/aWCwr27rRv Erin Reed (@ErinInTheMorn) October 19, 2022 Im confident the people introducing this bill are more likely to go to Hell than the kids theyre causing harm, said Democratic congressman Mondaire Jones, noting that nearly half of LGBT+ youth have contemplated suicide. Last year, nearly half of LGBTQ+ youth contemplated suicide, but that didnt stop 33 of my GOP colleagues from introducing a federal Dont Say Gay bill today. Im confident the people introducing this bill are more likely to go to Hell than the kids theyre causing harm. https://t.co/lE9ytOyPcb Mondaire Jones (@MondaireJones) October 19, 2022 Congressman Johnson said in a statement that the bill is an attempt to combat a misguided crusade among Democrats and their cultural allies to expose children to sexual imagery and radical gender ideology. This commonsense bill is straightforward, he said. No federal tax dollars should go to any federal, state, or local government agencies, or private organizations that intentionally expose children under 10 years of age to sexually explicit material. Children in US schools are not being exposed to sexually explicit instruction, but a vast majority of LGBT+ students routinely endure anti-gay and anti-trans abuse and harassment. Fewer than one-quarter of LGBT+ students reported receiving any LGBT+-related instruction in their schools, according to the 2021 School Climate Survey published by GLSEN. Roughly 16 per cent of LGBT+ students were taught positive lessons on LGBT+ people and events, while fewer than 8 per cent of LGBT+ students received any LGBT+-affirming sex education in schools, according to the survey. Less than half of one per cent of LGBT+ students said LGBT+related issues were included in any of their textbooks and assigned readings. But nearly all respondents reported hearing gay used negatively, and most heard discriminatory remarks about transgender people. During the 2021-2022 academic year, roughly 83 per cent of respondents who attended school in person experienced harassment or assault. House Republicans have cited a report from right-wing think tank The Claremont Institute that claims that curriculum used on military bases is infused with cutting-edge left-wing pedagogical techniques in the service of radical gender ideology as part of an attempt to disrupt stable sexual identities. That article, Grooming Future Revolutionaries, also invokes a slur that baselessly accuses LGBT+ people and their allies as a threat to young people. The use of groomer and grooming on social media has exploded in the wake of the Florida law, while discriminatory posts from far-right social media influencers, government officials and members of Congress have amplified groomer posts to millions of people. The bill is not likely to advance in a Democratically controlled Congress, but it is among several recent pieces of congressional legislation that echo state-level measures aimed at criminalising LGBT+ young people. State lawmakers introduced more than 300 bills targeting LGBT+ people this year, and at least 30 passed state legislatures, the highest tallies for both figures in at least a decade, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Nearly half of those bills targeted transgender young people. Those legislative efforts are likely to continue, as GOP candidates rally their base with a barrage of attacks against trans people ahead of Novembers midterm elections. LGBT+ advocates also argue that a lack of clear public information about transgender people and healthcare has fuelled anti-trans legislation. Only 8 per cent of Americans are following news about legislation targeting trans, according to the Pew survey. Most people dont understand even what it means to be trans or what kinds of issues trans people face in their day to day lives, Johnathan Gooch, communications director at Equality Texas, told Bloomberg News. A poll from LGBT+ advocacy group The Trevor Project and Morning Consult found that a majority of US adults oppose blocking students from LGBT+ resources and educational materials, banning books from libraries, and banning classroom discussions about LGBT+ topics. But the group discovered in another survey that fewer than one-third of US adults know someone who is transgender, and adults who were unaware of gender-neutral pronouns were more than twice as likely to not understand or support a transgender or nonbinary child. We still have a lot more work to do to increase understanding of transgender and nonbinary youth, Trevor Projects executive director Amit Paley said in a statement accompanying the report. The clear association between adults knowing someone who holds a particular LGBTQ identity and feeling comfortable with that identity emphasizes the need to amplify trans voices, increase the diversity of LGBTQ representation in media, and improve public education around sexual orientation and gender identity. Oct. 18MITCHELL With key ballot measures facing South Dakota voters in November and Gov. Kristi Noem's proposed sales tax repeal on groceries, Mitchell area legislators spoke Tuesday about the challenges that could result from the handful of major measures, if approved. While Noem proposed a grocery tax cut in September as a historic move to bring relief to South Dakotans amid a sluggish economy, Dist. 20 Representative Lance Koth offered a different view during a meeting among Mitchell leaders at the Chamber of Commerce. Koth pointed to the existing sales tax on food and groceries as a "stable source" of revenue. And repealing it paired with expanding Medicaid, he fears, could put South Dakota out of its AAA bond rating and lead to talks of a state income tax something many of the state's top-elected officials have vowed to keep out of South Dakota. The proposed tax repeal would cut the 4.5% sales tax on groceries in the state. A similar bill failed to make it out of the Senate prior to Noem announcing her goal to repeal the grocery tax. "Tax on food and groceries you can pretty much depend on. You take that away, there are some unintended consequences. What is the cost of losing the AAA bond rating?" Koth questioned, noting that needs to be looked into before making a decision. "I want to protect our state's AAA bond rating, which has a huge effect on a lot of folks in our state because we can get the best rate possible." Koth, Sen. Josh Klumb and newly elected Dist. 20 Rep. Ben Krohmer indicated they share concerns about the Medicaid expansion measure that voters will decide in November. Koth claimed the Medicaid expansion measure would cost the state "upwards of $100 million" per year, if approved. Considering a major source of revenue for the state government is derived from sales tax, Koth said the loss of grocery sales tax and cost of implementing Medicaid expansion would pose major challenges for state legislators looking to make up for the lost revenue. Story continues "I fear and I'll fight it as long as I can personal income tax and corporate tax like many of our other states have. You start cutting your primary sources of revenue, you have to replace it," Koth said. With the state's budget in mind, Klumb struck a similar tone to Koth on how the cost of expanding Medicaid could impact the budget. Although Klumb was among the senators who voted against the similar grocery tax cut bill, he indicated that he is "willing to discuss" tax cuts but stopped short of supporting the proposed tax repeal. "If Medicaid expansion passes, that's going to have a major impact on our budget," Klumb said during Tuesday's meeting. "I voted against that last session, and I'm more than willing to discuss tax cuts. But whatever we do, I want to do it in a responsible manner." Krohmer echoed concerns of the proposed Medicaid expansion measure and said a lot of states that have implemented it made "serious cuts across the board and serious tax hikes." Another key decision voters will once again make at the ballot box this November is whether to legalize recreational marijuana. After the state Supreme Court ruled the 2020 recreational marijuana measure was placed on the ballot unconstitutionally, Initiated Measure 27 made it back on the ballot. Only this time, it stands alone and not with a medical marijuana measure like it did in 2020. Klumb dubbed the recreational marijuana measure as a move that would make "serious challenges" for the state. Klumb said legalizing cannabis would negatively impact the state's youth and lead to more problems. "When Colorado passed their initiative, local governments could opt out. The one on our ballot does not allow that. I think we're going to have a serious problem on our hands and everything that goes with increased drug use," Klumb said. Rep. Paul Miskimins, who did not seek re-election, reflected on his time serving in the state House of Representatives alongside Koth. "I went there, not with an agenda, but to serve the people of South Dakota and try to build a better future. While it was challenging some days and you're on the floor at 4:30 a.m., it shows that decisions and leadership do make a real difference," Miskimins said. In closing, Miskimins provided a different perspective on the state's history of keeping taxes lower, which he said will always create challenges for addressing aging prisons, shortages of state workers and criminal justice issues. "There always will be challenges to a state that tries to hold taxes down in times when your costs inflate. I was very honored to be a part of the process," Miskimins said. For many, the University of Missouri's Homecoming weekend is a chance to revisit sights, sounds and tastes that make them feel 19 again. But if you're a local looking to change up your Homecoming routine, or visiting from out of town and wanting to fully experience how this college town has grown in your absence, Columbia's chefs, creators and entrepreneurs are coming up with new ventures regularly. These nine hot spots, all opened in the not-too-distant past, can offer something fresh. More:What's on your Columbia bucket list? Author explores '100 Things To Do' Barred Owl Butcher and Table 47 E. Broadway With its full-service butcher shop and deep dine-in offerings, Barred Owl goes beyond the farm-to-table concept with a truly integrated experience. Dinner and brunch offerings change regularly to honor the best in seasonal fare, and the cocktail menu truly is something to behold. Popular Barred Owl cocktail Cold Black Heart is made with tequila, spicy pepper vodka, pamplemousse rose, grapefruit, lime and lava salt. Weekend hours: Dinner 4:30-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; Sunday brunch 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Website: https://www.barredowlbutcher.com/ Beet Box 602 Fay St. A thoughtful, ever-evolving menu highlights dishes with a Middle-Eastern flavor profile. These can include enticing bakery items (the black garlic biscuits often elicit praise) and breakfast offerings as well as lunch and dinner options that feature shawarma, falafel, lamb and more. Weekend hours: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday; Sunday brunch 10 a.m. to sold out Website: https://www.eatabeetbox.com/ Big Daddy's BBQ 1802 Paris Road Once a terrific seasonal option, this Columbia-grown barbecue shack has grown into a full-service affair. Big Daddy's brisket, ribs, pork steaks, smoked wings and more will satisfy customers as will its feel, in which every customer becomes a part of the family. This will taste like one of the best home-cooked meals you ever had. Weekend hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday Website: https://bigdaddysbbqcomo.com/ Columbia Farmers Market 1769 W. Ash St. Depending on the date of your last visit to the Columbia Farmers Market, you might not have enjoyed the pavilion that unites many of its vendors and it's still expanding. Many alums and return visitors to Columbia will be familiar with the Columbia Farmers Market. But, depending on the date of your last visit there, you might not have enjoyed the pavilion that unites many of its vendors or the other welcoming features, such as an agricultural-themed playground for kids. With community support and key grants, the market hopes to expand its pavilion, literally bringing all its farmers and producers under one roof. Story continues Weekend hours: 8 a.m. to noon Saturday Website: https://columbiafarmersmarket.org/ More:What expanded Columbia Farmers Market pavilion could look like after $1.3 million grant CoMo Rocks 205 E. Nifong Blvd. Kevin Drews climbs one of the walls at the CoMo Rocks climbing gym this summer with his wife, Samantha. Need to stay sharp on your fitness goals over Homecoming weekend? Or looking for a fun family activity to while away a couple hours? Owned and operated by Dave McGee and Wil Palmieri, CoMo Rocks presents challenging climbing routes in an encouraging atmosphere, giving climbers at all experience levels a chance at pride and satisfaction. More:CoMo Rocks climbing gym finishes initial route to grand opening Weekend hours: noon to 10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday; noon to 7 p.m. Sunday Website: https://www.comorocks.com/ Dive Bar 1116 Business Loop 70 E Don't let the name fool you. Dive Bar intends to create the communal feel of your neighborhood watering hole, but offers a much more thorough experience. In addition to a serious spirits menu stocked with dozens of whiskey varieties and a wide array of signature cocktails the restaurant has range when it comes to entrees. Among its promising offerings: a lobster chipotle mac, street tacos and The 5th Ward, a New Orleans-style throwback with ham, salami, pastrami, cheese and olive relish. Weekend hours: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday Website: https://www.divebarcomo.com/ Goldie's Bagels 114 S. Ninth St. Customers line up to order at Goldie's Bagels last month. Pursuing both the flavors and ideals of a Jewish bagel shop, Goldie's menu offers bagels and schmears, lox and a variety of sandwiches from the open-faced avocado toast to The Rachel, which features pastrami or turkey, muenster, slaw and its "comeback sauce." The bakery recently went viral online thanks to a sign advertising its Neighbor Account which allows those who can't afford a bite to order a bagel with schmear and/or a cup of coffee for free. More:How Goldie's Bagels in Columbia went viral with fund to offer free bagels to those in need Weekend hours: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday; 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Website: https://www.ordergoldies.com/ Ozark Mountain Biscuit and Bar 1204 Hinkson Ave. Depending on your Columbia tenure, you might know Ozark Mountain Biscuit Co. in food truck form. But its relatively recent brick-and-mortar home on the north edge of downtown at 1204 Hinkson Ave. allows Ozark Mountain to fulfill its ideal. Depending on your Columbia tenure, you might know Ozark Mountain Biscuit Co. in food truck form. But its relatively recent brick-and-mortar home on the north edge of downtown allows Ozark Mountain to fulfill its ideal the biscuit is no less than a breakfast item, but can be so much more. Biscuits form the basis for sandwiches housing cheeseburgers, ham, pulled pork and more and sit beside other Southern-styled dishes such as catfish, short ribs, shrimp and grits, and more. Weekend hours: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Website: https://ozarkbiscuits.com/ Skylark Bookshop 22 S. Ninth St. One of two terrific indie bookshops on its side of Ninth Street alongside Yellow Dog Bookshop Skylark offers some 20,000 titles and its thoughtful staff includes owner Alex George, recently named Midwest Bookseller of the Year by the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association. Weekend hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday Website: https://www.skylarkbookshop.com/ Hours and menus for each business are subject to change; check with the venue for details. Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at adanielsen@columbiatribune.com or by calling 573-815-1731. Find him on Twitter @aarikdanielsen. This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Nine things to do in Columbia for Mizzou grads on Homecoming weekend A man cleans the debris of a building destroyed by Russian shelling in Kadiivka, Luhansk region The Russians are doing some quick repairs, while telling the residents of Luhansk Oblast that the so-called Luhansk Peoples Republic hasnt done anything for eight years, but Russia will, Hayday said. According to him, Russians are using rocket artillery to destroy Stelmahivka, where Ukrainian forces recently withdrew from. Furthermore, Moscow seeks to launch a counter-offensive towards Lyman, which was liberated in late September. The Wagner Line thats what they call a string of concrete defensive structures, recently erected in Luhansk Oblast, the official added. Read also: Russia heavily mines Luhansk Oblast, hoping to halt advancing Ukrainian troops According to Hayday, the work to rebuild Luhansk Oblast could take up to seven years, after the region is completely liberated from Russian occupation. Significant parts of the oblast have been under Moscows control since 2014. The governor earlier said that Russian troops, retreating from Kharkiv Oblast back in September, have bolstered the enemy presence in Luhansk Oblast, making it more difficult for Ukraine to recapture the region. Hayday said on Oct. 16 that Russian forces are attempting to hold back the Ukrainian advance in Luhansk Oblast by mining roads towards Svatove and Kreminna. Read also: Invaders mine access roads to Svatove and Kreminna, blow-up bridges in Luhansk Oblast Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian presidential candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's lead over President Jair Bolsonaro has shrunk to 5 percentage points ahead of a runoff vote set for Oct. 30, a poll by Genial/Quaest showed on Wednesday. Former President Lula has 47% voter support, down from the last week's 49%, while Bolsonaro gained 1 point to 42%. Pollsters were widely criticized after the first-round vote for significantly underestimating support for Bolsonaro. The survey by pollster Genial/Quaest interviewed 2,000 people between Oct. 16 and 18 and has a margin of error of 2 percentage points. (Reporting by Peter Frontini; Editing by Sandra Maler) (Jim Cooke / Los Angeles Times) For the record: 11:27 a.m. Oct. 20, 2022: A previous version of this article said the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Oct. 12 that ballots left undated by Pennsylvania voters should not be counted. The decision, made Oct. 11, invalidated an appeals court decision that had required the counting of Pennsylvania mail ballots left undated by voters. For a brief time in 2020, it seemed as though the vote-by-mail movement was having a bipartisan moment. Red and blue states that had offered the option only to a relatively small number of residents were suddenly scrambling to expand mail voting to as many people as possible to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at polling places. Voting rights advocates saw it as a chance to educate lawmakers and voters about the long-term benefits of moving away from casting ballots in person. Then came President Trumps baseless allegations of widespread mail ballot fraud. Two years later, access to mail voting looks radically different from state to state, mirroring a broad partisan divide in voting policies. Republican-led states, echoing the former president's unfounded fraud claims, have passed laws restricting access to ballot drop boxes, created new requirements for verifying voters, limited who can return a voter's ballot and made it harder to correct mistakes on mail ballots. Democratic states have moved in the opposite direction or attempted to do so. Legal challenges, failed ballot initiatives and constitutional hurdles have hampered efforts to make mail voting easier, particularly in the Northeast. Voting rights advocates say mail voting makes the process easier for people who have difficulties traveling to polling places and helps blunt the impact of policies that suppress voter turnout, such as polling location closures that have a disproportionately negative effect on Black and Latino communities, leading to longer lines. They have raised concerns that the policies Republicans have enacted to prevent mail ballot fraud despite existing safeguards such as signature verification and ballot tracking are discriminatory and disenfranchise people of color and low-income voters. Story continues Its getting to the point where, really, were seeing these two democracies emerge, said Liz Avore, a senior policy advisor at the Voting Rights Lab, a nonpartisan advocacy group that tracks state election laws. Your ZIP Code really determines what kind of access you have to the ballot, which is concerning. During the 2020 election, Trump repeatedly attempted to cast doubt on the security of mail ballots, though he has used the practice himself, claiming without evidence that the general election would be "rigged." After he lost, his campaign filed more than five dozen election lawsuits that failed to turn up proof of widespread fraud that would have changed the outcome of the election. The lasting impact of his claims has led to stark differences between how Democrats and Republicans view mail voting. Democratic voters were nearly twice as likely to support allowing voters to request an absentee ballot without a documented excuse or vote early in person as Republicans were, according to a June 2020 Pew Research Center poll. Several Republican nominees for secretary of state across the U.S. have campaigned against mail voting, including Arizona candidate Mark Finchem, who has denied the results of the 2020 election and, like the former president, has himself voted by mail. Vote-by-mail policies exist on a spectrum. Eight states, including California, offer universal mail voting, which means registered voters automatically receive a ballot for elections. About a dozen states offer mail voting in smaller counties or in state and local elections. In 15 states including Texas, voters can request an absentee ballot only if they provide an approved reason for voting by mail, such as being outside of one's voting jurisdiction, working as a poll worker or having an illness or disability that prevents in-person voting. Conversely, 27 states and the District of Columbia allow voters to request a mail ballot without providing a reason. Some of those states allow eligible voters to sign up to receive an absentee ballot on an ongoing basis. Within those states, there are varying rules dictating how ballots are verified, when and how ballots should be returned, and what happens if a voter's signature doesn't match the one on file or they don't properly fill out their ballot. An election worker verifies signatures on mail-in ballots in Santa Ana on Sept. 14, 2021. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) California has been shifting toward remote voting since 1978, when it became the first state to allow voters to request an absentee ballot without a specific reason. In 2016, the state enacted the Voter's Choice Act, which began the process of allowing counties to apply to start sending all voters a mail ballot. The pandemic moved up the timeline for bringing the entire state over to mail voting in 2021 the state passed a law requiring counties send a ballot to every voter. "We've taken all the excuses off the table," said Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), who served as California's secretary of state in 2020 and oversaw the shift to vote by mail. "There's no other states that's bigger than us, that's as diverse as us. And so to say, 'Oh, it's too expensive or too complicated,' no. If [California] can do it, any state can do it." On the other end of the spectrum, states such as Texas, Georgia and Florida responded to the 2020 election by overhauling their election laws in ways that add hurdles to mail voting. In Georgia and Florida, which allow no-excuse absentee voting, new laws have limited when drop boxes are available and where they can be located, and added requirements for how drop boxes are monitored. Advocates of increasing drop box access say they are secure and a more reliable option for returning ballots on time than the mail system. Republican legislators, however, have argued that limiting and securing ballot drop boxes will help reestablish faith in elections. "Removing drop boxes will help restore the trust that has been lost," Butch Miller, a Georgia state senator and former lieutenant governor candidate, said last year during his failed push to eliminate drop boxes in the state. "Many see them as the weak link when it comes to securing our elections against fraud." In Texas, last year's election overhaul made it a felony for election officials to encourage people to apply for absentee voting, even if they qualify under state law. The law also requires voters to include their state ID or driver's license number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number to prove their identity. "We've seen a number of states start to require ID numbers [on absentee ballots], which may sound reasonable on its face, but there are just so many implementation issues with this policy," Avore said. Election officials don't always have a record of all the ID numbers voters can provide, and if a voter uses one election officials don't have, or makes a mistake, the ballot is at risk of being rejected, she said. In Texas' March primary, more than 12% of ballots were rejected, according to data from the Texas secretary of state's office. In Harris County, the state's most populous and home to Houston, rejections were highest in areas with large Black populations, according to an analysis by the New York Times. Franklin Crump, a retired postal worker, checked his mail on Aug. 19, 2020, at the post office in Kendleton, Texas. He planned to vote by mail because of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Molly Hennessy-Fiske / Los Angeles Times) Partisan battles over mail voting have also prevented legislative fixes to imperfect or unclear laws. Pennsylvania authorized no-excuse absentee voting in 2019 as part of a broader election law, Act 77, that passed with bipartisan support. As the 2020 general election approached, critics sued to invalidate ballots that were returned without the outer privacy envelope or that were missing a date. Republicans, many of whom supported Act 77, worked to overturn it in September last year, arguing that the changes to absentee voting should have been enacted through a constitutional referendum. The state Supreme Court, which has a Democratic majority, voted to uphold the law. In a separate lawsuit, the Supreme Court on Oct. 11 invalidated an appeals court decision that had required the counting of Pennsylvania mail ballots left undated by voters. Pennsylvania's acting Secretary of State Leigh Chapman has instructed counties to count undated ballots, citing a state court decision. Republicans filed a lawsuit Sunday asking the state Supreme Court to prevent the counting of those ballots. Then there is the question of when election officials should start pre-processing ballots. In other no-excuse absentee ballot states such as Florida, election officials have days or weeks to begin preparing ballots to be counted on election day. In Pennsylvania, that process cant begin until the morning of the election, which led to major delays in the 2020 general election and the 2022 primary. That time between the polls being closed and all the votes being counted is dangerous, said Al Schmidt, a former Republican city commissioner who helped oversee elections in Philadelphia. The longer it goes on, the more likely you are to have people who have been deceived by all these lies act out. As Joe Biden's lead grew in the state, Trump sought to stop the count of mail ballots there. In a tweet, the former president called Schmidt a "so-called Republican" who refused to "look at a mountain of corruption & dishonesty." Schmidt told the U.S. House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol that he and his family received a torrent of threats after the tweets. Efforts to move up the start of ballot pre-canvassing have failed. Blue states have also struggled to expand mail voting, particularly in the Northeast, where Vermont is the only state that holds all-mail elections. Delaware, Connecticut, New Hampshire and New York all require voters to provide a reason to request an absentee ballot. Election workers process a final stretch of absentee ballots at the Detroit Department of Elections Central Counting Board of Voting absentee ballot counting center on Nov. 4, 2020, (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Northeast states, constitutionally, have all sorts of hurdles, said Gerry Langeler, the director of research and communications at the National Vote at Home Institute. In many cases, expanded mail voting requires amending a state's constitution, which often requires support from Republican legislators and voters. New Hampshire Republicans blocked an effort last year to allow no-excuse absentee voting. In Delaware, the state Supreme Court overturned a 2022 law this month that would have allowed universal mail voting in the state. An effort to amend the state constitution's language on absentee voting also failed this year. And in Connecticut, the legislature approved a proposed constitutional amendment to allow no-excuse absentee voting this year, but because it didnt pass with a supermajority, the legislature must approve it again next year to put the issue to voters on the ballot. After New York lawmakers passed legislation to put a no-excuse absentee voting measure on the ballot, voters rejected the proposed constitutional amendment in 2021. Out of 3.4 million ballots cast, 49% voted against the measure, 40% voted for it and 11% left the question blank. Voters also rejected two other election-related proposals on redistricting reform and same-day voter registration. While Democrats did little to promote the initiatives, the states Republican and Conservative parties aggressively campaigned against them. The New York Conservative Party launched a Vote No New York campaign, which included a TV ad that stated no-excuse absentee voting has been criticized as an invitation to fraud and a scam to rig the system. It felt very much like the national effort to vilify and stop absentee voting, said Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause New York, a good government advocacy group. Western states, including some led by Republicans, have embraced mail voting for decades. Historically, vote-by-mail states have started off by allowing smaller counties to apply to hold all-mail elections before gradually expanding to larger population centers. Utah held its first all-mail election in 2019 after first giving counties the option in 2012. Farther east, Nebraska started allowing counties with fewer than 7,000 voters to apply to hold all-mail elections in 2005. That population threshold was later increased to 10,000. "It makes the process much easier for them and, given the lack of security concerns, it seems to be popular among the places that have been using it," said Heidi Uhing, the director of public policy at Civic Nebraska, a pro-democracy advocacy group. Uhing pointed to the June special election in the state's 1st Congressional District. Republican Mike Flood beat Democrat Patty Pansing Brooks by just over 5 percentage points. Brooks performed better than recent Democratic candidates and won the district's largest county Lancaster, where the state capital, Lincoln, is but Flood won the race because of wide margins in the surrounding rural counties. He garnered 88% of the vote in Stanton, an all-vote-by-mail county where 48% of eligible voters cast ballots. "That shows getting people out to vote is just good for voting in general," Uhing said. "There are some times that it might benefit one party over another, but overall, more voting is better for our democracy. And I think that should be a shared goal for all of us." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Here is the 2021 homicide data for the largest cities in the country. An Oakland police crime scene technician takes photos as they investigate a triple shooting in the 3100 block of Telegraph Avenue in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022. Credit - Jane TyskaGetty Detroit was one of the most violent major cities in America in 2021, even though the citys homicides dropped 4% from 2020. We are not in any way celebrating these numbers, Detroit Police Chief James White said earlier this year. These reductions illustrate the value of our efforts together as a collaboration during an unprecedented time in history. Nearly 300 miles west of Detroit, Milwaukee had a record year of killings in 2021, continuing the upward trend that started for them in 2020. I dont think its even a subject of debate anymore that lower-income communities took a harder hit from COVID and the impact that had on gun violence and homicides, Jeff Flemmings, the Communications Director for Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, says. Memphis also struggled significantly with homicides in 2021, breaking the record the city set in 2020. I think its going to take more than just the police department. It will take more than just the mayor. Its going to take all of us, Pastor Walter Womack, a Memphis community leader, told NBC WMC-TV in Memphis in 2021. According to FBI crime data, in 2021 these three cities had some of the highest homicide rates in the country. Read more: Homicides Continued to Increase in 2021, According to the FBIs Flawed Crime Report The FBIs 2021 crime data, released Oct. 5, offers an incomplete picture of crime data nationwidean estimated 40% of police agencies, including police in New York City and Los Angeles, did not report data because of a change in the system the FBI uses to record crime stats. As a result, the FBI had to estimate national crime figures for 2021, with questionable results. For instance, the FBI estimated there were between 21,300 and 24,600 homicides in the U.S. last year. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported nearly 26,000 homicides in 2021. Story continues However, for cities that did report crime data to the FBI, homicide figures can provide a useful window into the level of violence. Homicides are probably the most reliable data point, Thomas Abt, a criminal justice researcher and a senior fellow with the Council on Criminal Justice, says. Were all in agreement on homicides, not just based on FBI data but on other sources as well. Its important to note that most homicides (80%) were committed with firearms, continuing the surge in gun violence thats happened since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is the FBIs 2021 homicide data for the largest cities in the country. Not every major city had complete crime stats for 2021; of the 50 most populous cites in the U.S., 18 reported no crime data, or had only partial crime data available. Those cities were excluded from the list. Homicide stats for Americas biggest cities Memphis, Tenn. 306 homicides. The homicide rate was 48.7 per 100,000. Detroit 303 homicides. The homicide rate was 47.9 per 100,000. Milwaukee, Wis. 195 homicides. The homicide rate was 34.3 per 100,000. Atlanta 159 homicides. The homicide rate was 32 per 100,000. Kansas City, Mo. 156 homicides. The homicide rate was 30.7 per 100,000. Louisville, Ky. 192 homicides. The homicide rate was 30.5 per 100,000. Indianapolis 239 homicides. The murder rate was 27.1 per 100,000. Las Vegas 152 homicides. The homicide rate was 23.5 per 100,000. Columbus, Ohio 203 homicides. The homicide rate was 22.4 per 100,000. Minneapolis 94 homicides. The homicide rate was 22.1 per 100,000. Albuquerque, N.M. 120 homicides. The homicide rate was 21.3 per 100,000. Houston 464 homicides. The homicide rate was 20.3 per 100,000. Dallas 212 homicides. The homicide rate was 16.5 per 100,000. Nashville, Tenn. 99 homicides. The homicide rate was 14.6 per 100,000. Tulsa, Okla. 59 homicides. The homicide rate was 14.3 per 100,000. Denver 100 homicides. The homicide rate was 14.1 per 100,000. Portland, Ore. 83 homicides. The homicide rate was 12.9 per 100,000. Fort Worth, Texas 118 homicides. The homicide rate was 12.6 per 100,000. Oklahoma City 82 homicides. The homicide rate was 11.9 per 100,000. San Antonio, Texas 168 homicides. The homicide rate was 11.6 per 100,000. Charlotte, N.C. 98 homicides. The homicide rate was 11.1 per 100,000. Austin, Texas 79 homicides. The homicide rate was 8.2 per 100,000. Colorado Springs, Colo. 38 homicides. The homicide rate was 7.9 per 100,000. Wichita, Kan. 23 homicides. The homicide rate was 5.8 per 100,000. Seattle 41 homicides. The homicide rate was 5.6 per 100,000. Boston 36 homicides. The homicide rate was 5.5 per 100,000. Raleigh, N.C. 26 homicides. The homicide rate was 5.5 per 100,000. Mesa, Ariz. 25 homicides. The homicide rate was 4.9 per 100,000. Arlington, Texas 19 homicides. The homicide rate was 4.8 per 100,000. San Diego 63 homicides. The homicide rate was 4.6 per 100,000. El Paso, Texas 30 homicides. The homicide rate was 4.4 per 100,000. Virginia Beach, Va. 14 homicides. The homicide rate was 3.1 per 100,000. The following major cities did not report data to the FBI, or did not report data for the full year: Bakersfield, Calif. Baltimore Chicago Fresno, Calif. Jacksonville, Fla. Long Beach, Calif. Los Angeles Miami New York City Oakland, Calif. Omaha, Neb. Philadelphia Phoenix Sacramento, Calif. San Francisco San Jose, Calif. Tucson, Ariz. By Rozanna Latiff and A. Ananthalakshmi KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia deported 150 Myanmar nationals this month, including former navy officers seeking asylum, and plans to send back more despite the risk of arrest they face at home, four sources familiar with the matter said. The deportations come despite Malaysia's condemnation of violence in Myanmar since the military ousted an elected government led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi last year and cracked down on dissent. Malaysian authorities arrested six former navy officers last month and deported them by plane on Oct. 6, the sources told Reuters, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. At least one officer, Kyaw Hla, and his wife, Htay Htay Yee, were detained upon arrival back in Myanmar's main city of Yangon, the sources said. Reuters could not establish why they were held in Yangon. The two were deported from Malaysia for failing to hold valid documents to reside in the country, the sources said. At least three of the former officers and Htay Htay Yee had sought protection from the U.N. refugee agency and had applied for a card that would identify them as refugees, the sources said. A spokesman for Myanmar's ruling military did not answer telephone calls seeking comment. Myanmar's embassy in Malaysia said in a post on Facebook that 150 Myanmar nationals were deported by plane on Oct. 6 in cooperation with Malaysian immigration authorities. It did not mention that the group included former navy officers. Malaysia's immigration department, the foreign ministry and prime minister's office did not respond to requests for comment. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) did not say whether it had received asylum applications from those deported but said it was "gravely concerned" by the deportations. "Not only in Malaysia but in the region, people fleeing Myanmar must be allowed access to territory to seek asylum and be protected against refoulement," it said in a statement to Reuters. Story continues "People from Myanmar, already abroad, should not be forced to return when seeking international protection." The agency did not comment on dangers faced by Myanmar nationals deported back home. 'COMPLICIT' Myanmar has been in crisis since the coup whipped up widespread opposition to the return of military rule after a decade of tentative democratic reforms. The junta has arrested thousands of people including Suu Kyi and many colleagues, bureaucrats, students, and journalists in an attempt to smother dissent. Malaysia is home to more than 100,000 Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar fleeing crackdown at home. But recently, Malaysia has been deporting more people from Myanmar due to a tougher policy on refugees and migrants. But the deportations highlight what Malaysian government critics see as a contradictory stand after unprecedented Malaysian condemnation of Myanmar's military, in a departure from a regional convention of not criticising fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah condemned Myanmar's execution in July of four pro-democracy activists as a crime against humanity that made a mockery of an ASEAN peace effort. He has urged Southeast Asian countries to engage with the Myanmar opposition and called on ASEAN to "buck up" efforts to provide humanitarian assistance and promote a Myanmar peace process. Malaysian opposition lawmaker Charles Santiago said the government should stop deportations and adopt a consistent policy on Myanmar based on human rights and democracy. "Sending Myanmar refugees to a country where they will likely be jailed, probably tortured and possibly killed by a criminal junta makes the Malaysian authorities complicit in those crimes," he told Reuters. Despite such criticism, Malaysia is planning to deport more Myanmar nationals, according to community leaders who said they were briefed by authorities on planned deportations. They declined to be identified. One man has mounted a legal challenge against his detention and possible deportation, according to his lawyer, New Sin Yew. New told Reuters the man had been involved in the Myanmar civil disobedience movement, had sought asylum in Malaysia and applied for UNHCR protection. The Kuala Lumpur High Court has ordered a temporary stay on the man's deportation, pending a hearing on Thursday. (Reporting by Rozanna Latiff, A. Ananthalakshmi and Poppy McPherson; Editing by Robert Birsel) A 34-year-old man accused of making threats to kill his ex-girlfriend and her children in Euless on Oct. 5 has been arrested, according to Euless police. Jerrekus Pendleton faces a charge of making a terroristic threat, according to Tarrant County Jail records. Hes being held on $15,000 bond after he was captured with the assistance of the Texas Attorney Generals Fugitive Squad, police said. No one was injured, but additional Euless police officers were placed at Oakwood Terrace Elementary, 700 Ranger Drive, as a precaution after the threat. Pendleton made the reported threat at about 12:30 p.m. Oct. 5, police said. Michael Zahara A former Nevada Democratic Party official who turned Republican in 2018 has been arrested for threatening to commit a mass shooting event at an LGBTQ+ event in Las Vegas. Michael Zahara, 61, of Las Vegas was taken into custody on Friday by officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police after he allegedly sent threatening terroristic threats to the state's chapter of the Human Rights Campaign. According to a report from local CBS affiliate KLAS, Zahara allegedly sent a text message to HRC in Nevada saying he was planning to shoot up Nazi HRC event taking place yesterday at the LGBTQ+ Center of Southern Nevada. Police were alerted and contacted the owner of the number, who in turn said it was an old number that had not been used by his family in 15 years. After further investigation, it was determined the number was now in use by Zahara. When contacted on the number, police say Zahara admitted he sent the message in response to a mass distribution text message from HRC, saying he was planning to shoot up Nazi HRC event After his arrest, Zahara allegedly told police Democrats were terrorizing him with their propaganda and admitted sending a text saying he intended to stop by with his piece to October 18 event, but added that he thought he was responding to a bot rather than an actual person. According to police, this was not the first time Zahara has been suspected or charged with making threatening remarks to others. Police alleged Zahara threatened a representative from transit authority RTC last December, saying he would shoot up the place because his appointment was not soon enough. Last July, he reportedly told representatives of the citys Mobility Training Center they were discriminatory and wondered why you guys dont get shot up more and that he was hoping someone shoots you up. While a member of the executive board of the Nevada Democratic Party in 2008, he allegedly tried to extort roughly $5,000 from a candidate in a local election and also allegedly threatened other officials at the state Democratic convention. According to a report in the Las Vegas Review Journal, Zahara allegedly threatened candidate Sanje Sedera, a native of Sri Lanka, saying he would tell others Sedera had enjoyed in IRS and mortgage fraud, as well as engaging in terrorist rebel activity. Zahara became a Republican in 2018 after 30 years as a Democrat. He ran a political blog where he espoused blunt opinions and used racist epithets about local officials of color. Zahara is charged with falsely communicating an act of terrorism is being held in the Clark County Detention Center on $20,000 bail. He is due to appear in court on November 1 for his preliminary hearing. A Chenango County man was arrested on a felony assault charge Tuesday, accused of stabbing an 18-year-old following what police say was a road rage encounter. Michael Seaman, 50, of South New Berlin, was charged with first-degree assault after a fight outside a residence on state Route 369 in the town of Fenton, the Broome County Sheriffs Office said. Patrols responded to 1312 Route 369 at about 6:40 p.m. and provided first aid to Gavin Marsh, who the sheriffs office said had a stab wound in his upper thigh. Marsh and witnesses told deputies that there was a road rage incident involving Marsh and another male who was driving a pickup truck. For subscribers:What is CMP Solutions? Why Binghamton East Side business plans to add jobs in next 5 years Region:'Everyone in Woodhull was bawling.' Dog missing more than a year turns up in Allegany Co. Courts:Johnson City man sentenced to 6 years in prison for Dimment Street shooting According to the sheriffs office, deputies learned the incident began on Upper Front Street in the town of Chenango and involved aggressive driving, hand signals and verbal exchanges. The person driving the truck, later identified as Seaman, followed Marsh to the Route 369 address where a fistfight began after both men exited their vehicles. Marsh was stabbed during the fight, police said. Marsh was treated at Wilson Medical Center, the sheriff's office said. His condition was not released. The sheriffs office said Seaman also fought with another male and tried to stab a 17-year-old from Port Crane before getting back in his truck and driving away. Seaman was arrested at his residence in South New Berlin after the Chenango County Sheriff's Office helped locate him. He was scheduled to be arraigned in Broome County CAP Court. Investigators said Seaman's truck was seized for evidence. Follow Neal Simon on Twitter @HornellTribNeal. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Chenango County man charged with assault in alleged road rage stabbing A Texas man has been convicted of capital murder for the 2019 shooting of Harris County Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal, the first Sikh police officer in the state permitted to wear a turban while on duty. Robert Solis was pulled over by Dhaliwal during a routine traffic stop on the afternoon of Sept. 27, 2019. Dashcam footage shows a peaceful interaction until the deputy returned to his car and Solis ran after him with a gun. Solis basically ambushed Dhaliwal, shot him and struck him in the back of the head, Harris County Sheriffs Office Major Mike Lee said in the aftermath. A woman doing yard work at the time reported hearing two gunshots and seeing the suspect flee in a getaway vehicle. Jurors reportedly took less than 30 minutes to find Solis guilty of capital murder. But Solis, for his part, insisted that it was all an accident. More from NextShark: San Francisco man pistol-whipped during daylight robbery on New Year's Eve Because of the position that I had the weapon, I lost control of it, Solis, who had been defending himself after firing his attorneys, told the jurors. In trying to recover the weapon, I accidentally pulled the trigger and it discharged. Prosecutors, on the other hand, argued that his actions were intentional. More from NextShark: Teen Gets Harmonica Stuck in Her Mouth, Regrets Everything This is an act. This is a choice. This is intent, and he comes running up to that man with a gun and he shoves him up against the car, prosecutor Lauren Bard said. However, Solis, who had an outstanding warrant at the time, admitted to giving Dhaliwal a false name when he was pulled over. Still, he insisted it was not a reason to jump out of the car and cold-bloodily kill someone. More from NextShark: Tacoma Store Owner, Son Receive Support After Being Stabbed By Man Who Refused to Wear Mask Dhaliwal, who died at 42, gained national attention in 2015 when he became the first deputy permitted to wear a turban and keep a beard while on active duty in Texas. He was also Harris County Sheriffs Office first Sikh deputy, serving for 10 years. Story continues His relatives reportedly expressed relief after hearing Solis guilty verdict. They are set to testify in the punishment phase. For now, Solis has been put on suicide watch. The 50-year-old requested the death penalty at the trial, the same sentence prosecutors are seeking. More from NextShark: California Realtor Loses Job After Racist Video Harassing Asian Woman Goes Viral Featured Image via Harris County Sheriffs Office (left) and KPRC 2 Click2Houston (right) A man was rushed to the hospital after being shot near Sherwood Forest Tuesday night, according to the Memphis Police Department (MPD). MPD said the shooting happened on South Highland Street around 8:50 p.m. Police found one man shot and took him to Regional One Hospital in critical condition. One man was rushed to the hospital after gunfire rang out on South Highland Street on Tuesday, October 18, 2022. No information about the shooter was immediately available. If you know anything about this shooting, MPD urged you to call Crime Stoppers at 901-528-CASH. Any information which leads to an arrest, in this case, could be worth up to $2,000. Download the FOX13 Memphis app to receive alerts from breaking news in your neighborhood. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD Trending stories: The federal government is attempting to stop a Massachusetts man accused of selling a cure-all drink powder online that it alleges is unsafe, according to officials. The man, a resident of West Boylston, a town about 50 miles west of Boston, sells several flavors of a Chill6 drink powder directly to customers online, according to an Oct. 19 release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Massachusetts. The man could not be reached for comment by McClatchy News. His website claims the substance can cure a variety of illnesses and disorders, including insomnia, anxiety, alcoholism and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the release. The product contains Phenibut HCL, an unsafe food additive, feds say. After receiving a warning letter from the FDA over a year ago, the man continued to sell Chill6 powders online, according to the release. The Department of Justice has now requested an injunction that would stop the man from selling the reportedly dangerous product in its current form. It alleges its sale violates the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Chill6 does not meet the necessary safety guidelines for human consumption, U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins for the District of Massachusetts said in the release. [A]nd even after being warned, [the man] continued distributing this unapproved substance. Be it by criminal offense or civil violation, we are committed to ending the distribution of unregulated and adulterated supplements. The Chill6 website states that Phenibut, the compound flagged by the government, is a wonderful amino acid derivative that has been used safely in Russia for over 50 years. The site adds that pure phenibut however, or too much, too often does possess a withdrawal potential from mild, to very unpleasant. The FDA states on its website that the online marketplace is awash with potentially dangerous products, and adds that consumers should avoid a list of goods they compiled, including specific weight loss, sexual enhancement, body building, sleep aid, and pain relief products. Story continues The FDA regulates thousands of products across the country, including roughly 78% of the food supply and 20,000 prescription drugs, according to its website. Though their approval does not necessarily guarantee a products safety, as a 2017 Yale School of Medicine study found that almost a third of drugs approved by the agency from 2001 to 2010 were later found to have safety issues. Researchers noted that most of the concerns were not serious enough to require withdrawal of a drug from the market. Beloved giant octopus dies months after laying thousands of eggs, Arizona aquarium says Middle school teacher charged with sexual assault of a student in Texas, officials say Youth football coach fatally shot as practice lets out, Ohio cops say. A cornerstone Science staff motivated by key report By ZHANG ZHIHAO (China Daily) 08:37, October 19, 2022 The Communist Party of China opens its 20th national congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Oct 16, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua] Experts say they look forward to new prospects for innovation, development China's scientific community has been inspired by the report delivered by Xi Jinping to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and said it will continue to push the envelope of frontier sciences, make original breakthroughs in core technologies, and contribute more to the nation's strategic needs and socioeconomic growth. The report, delivered by Xi on Sunday on behalf of the 19th CPC Central Committee, said that education, science and technology, and human resources are the foundational and strategic pillars for building a modern socialist country in all respects. "We must regard science and technology as our primary productive force, talent as our primary resource, and innovation as our primary driver of growth," he said. China has emerged over the last decade as an innovative nation, rising from 34th in 2012 to 11th in 2022 on the Global Innovation Index published by the World Intellectual Property Organization. The report also highlighted China's numerous breakthroughs in key fields, including manned spaceflight, lunar and Martian exploration, deep-sea and deep-earth probes, supercomputers, satellite navigation, quantum information technology, nuclear power technology, airliner manufacturing and biomedicine. Long Haibo, a researcher of the Development Research Center of the State Council, said that without progress in science and technology, innovation cannot occur, and human resources are the pillar that supports progress in science and technology and high-quality development. These are interconnected and mutually reinforcing ideas that are crucial for China's development in the new era, he told Science and Technology Daily. The China Association for Science and Technology said the report has established the objectives and directions that will lead China's science planning and development. "The report is a guiding document that has proposed new ideas, new strategies and new measures to transform the nation into a modern socialist country in all aspects, and move toward fulfilling the second centenary goal" of China becoming a great modern socialist country in all respects by 2049, it said. One of the key takeaways from the report that generated a great deal of interest among Chinese science workers was the idea of opening new venues and drivers for development. Jin Li, president of Fudan University and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said being an educator and a scientist, he felt a sense of immense responsibility when pursuing the second centenary goal. The university will train more quality professionals, make more original breakthroughs and use innovations to serve the country, he added. Huang Wei, a noted organic electronics expert and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said his team recently made a breakthrough in building integrated photovoltaics, which essentially turns the exterior of a building into a solar farm that can generate electricity. This is an example of a technological breakthrough opening new economic opportunities and fulfilling the nation's needs in terms of green development, he said. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Wu Chaolan) Oct. 19City residents will see their sewer rates increase by 9% each year for the next five years to fund $338 million in federally-mandated improvements designed to reduce sewage discharge into the Merrimack River, following a vote by aldermen Tuesday night. The rate hikes passed on a voice vote, with At Large Alderman Joe Kelly Levasseur opposed. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen heard a presentation from Manchester Public Works Director Tim Clougherty and Chief Engineer Fred McNeil on a request for ordinance amendments increasing the sewer user fees by 9% each year for five years, beginning in April 2023. In recent years, city public works officials entered into an agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Justice, and the NH Department of Environmental Services to finalize a Phase II CSO Consent Decree for Manchester. A "CSO" is short for combined sewer overflow, which occurs when a single underground pipe, which carries both wastewater and stormwater, exceeds its capacity and the excess flow is discharged into the Merrimack River. According to McNeil, a single pipe to carry both of these flows was standard engineering practice up to the 1950s throughout the country. A consent decree is a legal document issued by the federal government mandating certain work be completed within certain time frames. In this case, the decree lays out the requirements for Manchester to comply with the Clean Water Act. The Phase II CSO consent decree proposes over $338 million of work over a 20-year period. The work includes the separation of stormwater, and waste and improvements to city infrastructure including roadways, sidewalks, curbing and local trails. After 18 months of negotiations with federal and state officials, the 77-page consent decree was tentatively agreed upon Nov. 20, 2019. Construction began in the fall of 2021. Levasseur asked if any communities north of Manchester are mandated to perform similar work. Story continues "We're going to be doing a really wonderful job for everybody south of us," Levaseur said. "Nashua's going to be happy as hell because they're going to be getting all our clean water instead of dirty water." McNeil said no communities north of the Queen City must perform similar improvements. "Concord was proactive and separated their systems in the 1970s, before it was mandated," McNeil said. According to McNeil, the average residential annual sewer bill for Manchester is currently $470. "The state average is $766," said McNeil. The new sewer rate effective April 1, 2023 would put the average residential annual bill for a single family unit at $512, up $42. That fee would jump to $778 per year, or an extra $65 a month, by 2028 if no additional increases are approved between now and then. "Rates are still projected to be about 20% below state average," said McNeil. McNeil recommends reviewing sewer rates in Manchester every five years. "It's very difficult to project any more than five years out," said McNeil. "These rates will keep us in a positive cash flow for the next 10-12 years." Alderman Bill Barry said he has heard from residents concerned with the increases. "The utilities, everything's going up," said Barry. "It's a shock, especially to the elderly." In 2019 aldermen approved 4% sewer rate increases each year for five years to pay for the same federally-mandated improvements. The increases approved this week reflect increases in construction costs. A "combined sewer overflow" (CSO) occurs when a single underground pipe that is carrying both wastewater and stormwater exceeds its capacity and the excess water is discharged into a body of water, in this case the Merrimack River. A single pipe to convey both wastewater and stormwater was standard construction practice from the late-1800s until the 1950s. During this time surplus wastewater/stormwater flows were designed and constructed to be diverted to the river during rain events without regard to environmental impacts. Overflows contain wastewater that contributes bacteria, debris and pollutants to river waters. In 1994, through the Federal Clean Water Act, EPA issued regulations which require communities to eliminate CSO discharges, Manchester has spent $100 million over the past 20 years to mitigate CSO activations. About $58 million was spent on Phase 1, $20 million was spent on the completed Chestnut Street projects, and over $22 million has been invested at the city's wastewater treatment plant to increase capacity to treat wet weather flows. In Manchester, most of the sewer lines collect both rainwater from streets and sewage from homes and businesses. Such combined sewers exist in 800 communities across the country, including in Nashua, Berlin, Lebanon, Portsmouth and Exeter according to the Department of Environmental Services. When it's not raining, the wastewater flows through these lines to the city's wastewater treatment plant before it's discharged into the river. But when it rains, the treatment plant can be quickly overwhelmed; then the excess combination of rainwater and sewage gets sent straight through outfalls into the river. These overflows keep the sewage/rainwater mixture from backing up into streets and basements, city officials said. pfeely@unionleader.com Marco Rubio attends a campaign event with Cuban-American leaders in Miami, Florida (Getty Images) US senator Marco Rubio said he is worried about the dangers of using voting drop boxes for elections because they can be blown up and render the votes ineffective. The Republican lawmaker was speaking against his counterpart, representative Val Demings, in Floridas senate debate. Thats a method of voting that doesnt advantage one group or another. Theres danger involved in drop boxes. People need to think about it. Ok, imagine someone decides, Oh theres a drop box Im just going to put some explosive in it and blow it up and burn all of those ballots and now those votes dont count at all, Mr Rubio said. He went on: There are two things with elections that are very important. Number one, the counting has to be accurate. The votes have to be counted accurately but the other is, there has to be public confidence. The public has to believe that elections were fair and balanced. Mr Rubio added that he has always been in favour of fair and balanced elections and accused Democrats of a federal takeover. The elections, I do not want a federal takeover of our election system. I oppose it, he said, summing up his argument. In response, the three-term Democratic congresswoman rubbished the claims by Mr Rubio. Thats nonsense, that we want a federal takeover. We passed the Voting Rights Advancement Act in the House of Representatives because of the unbelievable voter suppression efforts that were going on by the senator and his party, Ms Demings retorted. Social media users did not take kindly to the accusations of unfair elections practices on Democrats. The only reason so many people dont have confidence in our election process is because are were gullible enough to believe Trumps Big Lie, not because theres anything wrong with our electoral system. The solution is for Trump and his cultists to stop lying about the election, said author Steve Metz. The only reason so many people don't have confidence in our election process is because are were gullible enough to believe Trump's Big Lie, not because there's anything wrong with our electoral system. The solution is for Trump and his cultists to stop lying about the election. https://t.co/5xwn8BiLQz Steve Metz (@steven_metz) October 19, 2022 Yeah imagine if there were a bunch of riled up, anti-democratic lunatics who decided to use violence to influence elections, said journalist Jordan Zakarin. Story continues Yeah imagine if there were a bunch of riled up, anti-democratic lunatics who decided to use violence to influence elections https://t.co/ZvnpVZ5NGU Jordan Zakarin (@jordanzakarin) October 19, 2022 Both the lawmakers spoke about abortion rights, guns and immigration in the high-voltage senate debate, where Mr Rubio was questioned about his earlier remarks on opposing exceptions for rape and incest. In a dramatic back-and-forth on voting rights, he defended having to present an identification card, which many Democrats say makes it harder for students and people of colour to vote. But Ms Demings, a former police chief, cornered and accused him of being a serial liar, while Mr Rubio criticised her for backing Joe Bidens economic agenda. Name: Maria Jocys Age: 55 Political party: Unaffiliated Campaign website: jocysforsheriff.com Occupation and employer: Retired FBI Education: Bachelors degree, East Carolina University Have you run for elected office before? No. Please list highlights of your civic involvement: As a law enforcement professional who spent 24 years with the FBI, I provided community awareness presentations on a range of public safety topics from hate crimes to civil rights to domestic terrorism. I spoke to a wide variety of diverse groups to build trust and strengthen relationships between the FBI and communities we served. I am a donor to the Interfaith Food Shuttle, Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC, and Durham Meals on Wheels. Who are your top three campaign contributors? Abby DeLotto, Stephanie Brennan, George Smart What are three things you want to accomplish in the next year, and how do you plan to accomplish them? Prevent Durhams gun violence crisis. With a meaningful partnership and shared strategy, we can save lives. The Sheriffs Office must do a better job to partner with Durham Police Department on prevention strategies and operations to stop gun violence Position the Sheriffs Office as a true champion of reform. People want and deserve an agency that delivers on promises of transparency and accountability. In his 2018 campaign, the current sheriff promised to create a Citizen Review Board to bring the power of accountability to the people. It never happened. The Sheriff will not offer his agencys use-of-force data to the FBI, which is trying to create a national database for the public. I have a Six-Point Plan for Reform focused on transparency and accountability. Rebuild the depleted ranks of the Sheriffs Office to professionalize, depoliticize, diversify, and improve public safety service. I will recruit and promote leaders based on professional conduct, not political calculations. What about your experience makes you the best person to be sheriff? I am a 32-year law enforcement veteran including 24 years as an FBI agent. I served in various leadership roles at FBI headquarters in D.C., overseeing hundreds of personnel. I was nationally recognized by the FBI for my leadership, and I was the first woman to lead the FBIs Raleigh office. Partnerships were central to our mission to protect the American people from all threats. After the 9/11 attack, I helped lead the FBIs transformation from a stove-piped reactive agency to one thats threat-focused and a collaborative partner that prioritizes preventing incidents before they occur. I spent five years with an FBI gang and violent crime task force assigned to Durham. By working with Durham Police Department, community members, and from dozens of interviews with gang members, I learned about the root causes of violent feuds in Durham that resulted in much of the gun violence. I will bring an experienced, focused discipline to our goal of making Durham safer for everyone. Story continues What does the current administration do well? In what areas does the Sheriffs Office need to improve? The current administration supports the Medication Assisted Treatment program for people with opioid use disorder. I support this program as it allows the incarcerated to receive medication while in the detention center, with a goal of treating their addiction and reducing recidivism. The most urgent improvement needed now is a commitment and plan from the Sheriff to partner meaningfully with the Durham Police Department to prevent Durhams gun violence. The sheriff must share responsibility for curbing gun violence in ALL of Durham County including the city of Durham. The sheriff should focus on partnering closely with Durham PD, not sheriffs in Alamance and Guilford Counties, to stop Durhams gun violence. How will you attract and retain deputies? We will recruit and retain quality deputies by first putting in place a credible and experienced leadership team based on professional experience and not political calculations. By professionalizing the agency, leading by example, building trust, respect, integrity and being fair in decision making, morale will improve. I will continuously advocate for pay raises that bring salaries in line with other law enforcement agencies. I will take steps to alleviate the stress from the staffing shortage at the detention center by pausing the contract with the U.S. Marshals Service that allows federal inmates to be housed in the detention center. Many of the federal inmates are not from Durham. Rather than increasing the population of an understaffed detention center, I will pause the federal contract until staffing is at an appropriate level. The sheriffs leadership team must also take steps to show they care for the well-being of agency staff. What role does the Sheriffs Office play in stemming violent crime, and how do you plan to approach that role? The sheriff is the top law enforcement official in Durham and has jurisdiction not just in the unincorporated areas of Durham County, but also in the city. City residents are able to vote for a Sheriff. City residents pay taxes which fund the Sheriffs Office. As such, the sheriff should feel and share a responsibility for preventing violent crime in all of Durham County including the City of Durham. The sheriff should help lead partnerships to tackle violent crime, develop strategies to address the most violent offenders, and connect support services with at-risk youth and communities that have suffered from the violence. Unlike the current sheriff who said at a forum in March 2022, I am not responsible for the violent crime that happens inside Durham city, I will be a sheriff for ALL of Durham County, not just unincorporated areas. Do you support the use of no-knock raids? Why or why not? N.C. state law does allow for the use of no-knock warrants, but I do not support them. No-knock raids are inherently dangerous as seen in the cases of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Ky., and Amir Locke in Minneapolis, who were innocent victims killed during surprise entries enabled by no-knock warrants. As stated in my Six-Point Plan for Reform released in March, on day one, as sheriff, I will ban the use of no-knock warrants. The only exception would be a threat to life such as in the case of a hostage whose life was being threatened. When I do issue my no-knock policy, the press and public across Durham County will know it and there will be no ambiguities about it. Do you support the use of body-worn cameras for deputies? Yes, I support the use of body-worn cameras by deputies. I recognize the importance of transparency and accountability in our law enforcement operations. I am committed to policies that encourage transparency, accountability and build public trust. Body-worn cameras are an important tool to support those values. If elected, I will ensure all deputies are issued their own individual body-worn cameras, and our command staff, including the sheriff will wear them as well. Currently, deputies share body-worn cameras. Under what circumstances and timelines do you support the release of body-camera footage? For example, do you support video release when requested? Only for serious or fatal incidents? Within 48 hours of the incident or only after the investigation is complete? I believe in transparency and the confidence it builds in public trust. I support the release of body-camera footage, but not until the person in the video, a family member, their personal representative, or their attorney has had an opportunity to view the footage. In the interest of transparency and as soon as possible, I will assist the process by petitioning the court for its release. By state law, a judge has the final decision on when to release video footage. What is your definition of transparency, and how do you plan to apply that to your office? Transparency is explaining and showing the public what we do, how we do it, and the reasoning behind our decisions. I want to create a more transparent, responsive, and accountable Sheriffs office. Transparency is a core value to rebuilding public trust in our law enforcement. My Six-Point Reform Plan includes participating in the FBIs Use-of-Force database, so the public can see how often, why, and against whom force is being used. Durham PD shares its use-of-force data, but the current sheriff does not. I will create a Civilian Review Board comprised of members from diverse groups who recommend reforms to training, polices, and procedures to help transform the Sheriffs Office into a state leader on police reform. The board will also review citizen complaints and provide guidance on improving our service. Board meetings will be public with agendas and minutes clearly posted to a public website. How will you ensure that people of color and people who are poor are treated fairly? I will incorporate implicit bias awareness training into our in-service training that involves guest speakers from our communities of color who share their experiences of being treated with bias and overpoliced. Human connection and honest feedback from community members help make for the most effective training. Under my leadership, the Sheriffs Office will immediately begin sharing its use-of-force data with the FBI to encourage transparency and accountability. True champions of police reform should also share the data to help the FBI build the most complete database that allows the public to compare use-of-force statistics between agencies and how force is used with different ethnic groups. Our use-of-force data will also be accessible on a posted Transparency Dashboard on the Sheriffs Office website. Durham PD and the Wake County Sheriffs office share their data, while the current Durham County sheriff does not. How do you plan to prevent deputies from using excessive force? How will your office handle cases involving excessive use of force? Preventing deputies from using excessive force will start with the training they receive at the academy, and yearly in-service training thereafter. Training will include de-escalation techniques, communication skills, and problem-solving scenarios that test the employees decision making and whether it was based on implicit bias. If so, the employee will receive training that helps them recognize the signs of bias and how to change. Additionally, having policies in place that address excessive force, and having expectations set will provide a framework for employees to follow. As stated earlier, the Durham County Sheriffs office under my leadership will also share its use-of-force data with the FBI, which is trying to build a national use-of-force database so the public can compare data between agencies and different ethnic groups. The current sheriff does not share use-of-force data with the FBI. If elected, will you honor Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers? Participate in the 287 (g) program? No, the Durham County Sheriffs office under my leadership will not participate in the 287(g) program. My priority is to use the limited resources of the Sheriffs Office to address gun violence, gun-related crimes, gang activity, and community problems that affect our quality of life in Durham. I will not participate in a program that will disconnect and disenfranchise our immigrant communities. I will honor an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer if it is accompanied with a federal arrest warrant. A detainer must be supported with a federal arrest warrant issued by a magistrate judge. The most pressing threat to our community safety is the gun violence. If elected, the Durham County deputy currently assigned to the ICE task force will be re-assigned to the ATF task force to focus on my priority of preventing Durhams gun violence. Do you support an independent review board? Under your administration, what would that board look like? Elected Sheriffs who believe in transparency and accountability to the public should take steps to develop independent Civilian/Citizen Review Boards. As the Durham County Sheriffs Office needs to rebuild public trust, I wholeheartedly support a Civilian Review Board. The current sheriff promised a Citizen Review Board in 2018 to bring the power of accountability to the people, but a Review Board never materialized. The current sheriff also promised a Community Advisory Board, and it was created, but its function is completely opaque. Its membership dwindled from 27 members to a under a dozen, and its meeting schedules, agendas, and meeting minutes are not posted to any public website. If elected, I will have a Civilian Review Board whose members will represent Durhams diverse communities. The board will review training, polices, and procedures and recommend reforms that help modernize the Sheriffs Office service to the community. The board will also review citizen complaints and make recommendations to improve community interaction and engagement. The board will be a checks and balance of agency operations and provide external perspective that helps shape decision making and agency transformation. Membership, schedules, agendas, and meeting minutes will be posted to a Transparency Dashboard. Watch: Producer Niels Juul on the future of film finance | The Crypto Mile NFT film financing could break the monopoly held by the big Hollywood studios and streaming platforms and bring much-needed originality, diversity and creativity back to the movie business, a major producer has stated. Hollywood is facing a direct challenge from web3 start-ups that harness the power of blockchain technology, and the current status quo could face a wave of disruption in the way films are financed, distributed and exhibited. This week's episode of Yahoo Finance's The Crypto Mile spoke to Niels Juul, the executive producer behind Hollywood films directed by the likes of Martin Scorsese and Michael Mann. Juul has produced films such as The Irishman, Silence and the upcoming Enzo Ferrari biopic, starring Adam Driver. Robert De Niro and Al Pacino pose backstage with their Best Acting Ensemble award for "The Irishman", which was produced by Niels Juul. Photo: Danny Moloshok/Reuters With the advent of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), blockchain solutions and cryptocurrency transactions threaten to dismantle the traditional structures of the art world, global finance and the music industry. But now the winds of change have turned towards the bastions of the film industry and many analysts forecast that blockchain technology will shape the future of how films are produced, distributed and exhibited. With the formation of NFT Studios, a decentralised autonomous organisation (DAO), Niels Juul is a pioneer in bringing the innovations of NFTs and blockchain technology to the film industry. The Hollywood producer explained how these innovations will change what it means to be a film producer, financier, distributor and consumer. Read more: What will save the metaverse from becoming a 'ghost town'? With the rise of crypto-communities that rally around memecoins such as shiba inu and NFTs such as the Bored Ape Yacht Club community, Juul highlighted the importance of community-driven development of film projects. He has developed NFT Studios as a decentralised autonomous organisation structure that could "allow community engagement like never before, with participating members shaping and creating the movies they want to see, as well as receive perks for holding the associated NFTs". Story continues Niels Juul at Los Angeles Fashion Week in March 2022. Photo: Arun Nevader/Getty Read more: Crypto: What is ApeCoin? The executive producer hit out at the big studios for suppressing creativity and the diversity of ideas in content creation, due to a risk-averse attitude and the fact that studio overheads have swelled to such a size that they only consider high concept 'sure bet' productions, or reboots of material that already has a fan base. He said: "I've got a lot of producer friends of mine with amazing material and great scripts of movies of the type that would get made back in the day, like Kramer vs Kramer, or the Usual Suspects, or any of these great quality movies that today they have an incredibly hard time getting made. "This is because the studio's overheads are just too big in order for them to 'waste time' on a 10, 15 or 20 million dollar movie. "This is why there is a big need for disruption into the film financing model." Read more: This AI tool threatens human creativity and the art world is worried The producer behind Martin Scorsese's hit films, such as Silence and the Irishman, says the monopolisation of streaming content by the big four platforms Netflix (NFLX), Amazon Prime Video (AMZN), Disney+ (DIS) and Apple TV (AAPL) is also a problem. He added: "Even though I've worked with Netflix and Amazon, the four big streaming players are only focused on hunting for the greatest market share. "So the decision-making of what content audiences can see is in the hands of just four companies. "Ironically these companies are setting the cultural agenda of the world, so content creation has become a monopoly these days, not only a financial monopoly but more importantly, and more scarily, a cultural monopoly." Read more: Crypto: Claiming .eth domain names 'gold rush' or just web3 hype? He stated that as the 'big four' obsess over their bottom line at the expense of audiences experiencing a deficit of original and creative voices, a middle ground must be found. He described the burgeoning NFT marketplace as providing a middle-ground where filmmakers, and creatives, could come together with audiences who want to finance the things that they want to see. He added: "And to me, that is what's exciting about crypto, it offers a new opportunity, a new way of not only revolutionising the way things are financed but actually also moving the agenda a little bit culturally in a way that is not just being about the bottom line of the Excel spreadsheet." Actor Robert De Niro poses backstage with director Martin Scorsese after receiving the Sonny Bono Visionary Award for The Irishman. Photo: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters Speaking on this week's episode of Yahoo Finance's The Crypto Mile, Niels Juul explained the role of a producer being mostly about chasing financing for a film. He said: "Effectively 85% of my time is chasing the money, so as the independent movie finance market has dried up considerably over the last five or 10 years the studios started only concentrating on big Marvel franchises. "The independent film market got demolished, almost." He then explained that the scarcity of original independent film content was one of the impetuses to set up NFT Studios, using the power of blockchain technology to try and redress the imbalance. Jull added: "So in answer to this, we were looking for new ways of financing when friends of mine said 'have you heard of NFTs'? "I thought this could be a new way of financing movies and a way of creating a community that could rally around a movie. "So then my partners and I started to explore new ways of doing film financing through NFTs and created NFT Studios." Another producer who believes NFTs will be incorporated into the business model of entertainment companies is Teresa Potocka, Founder and CEO of Sensethefuture Pictures Speaking to Yahoo Finance Potocka said: "The deal struck between Lionsgate and Tom Bradys NFT platform Autograph, and Twisted Pictures underlines the potential of NFTs for owners of intellectual property who can partner with tech platforms to develop their existing IP. "This partnership paves the way for the horror movie franchise Saw to be turned into an internet game with bespoke non-fungible tokens among prizes. "Since 2004 the Saw franchise has grossed more than $1 billion at the global box office and it launched the career of director James Wan and writer-star Leigh Whannell. "Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures will release the next instalment of the horror franchise theatrically on Oct. 27, 2023. "The production and management company Anonymous Content behind series The Alienist, Mr Robot and Catch-22 became the first to option the NFT for film and television when it signed a deal with former Major League Baseball player Micah Johnson in April 2021 to develop his young black astronaut character Aku." Cannes, France - May 24, 2014: Great Auditorium of the exit door at Cannes in France, the famous red carpeted stairs and crowd of people waiting at the gate output. Potocka added that at the recent Mipcom content market at Cannes, web3 video streaming platform MContent added the premium documentary series The Web3 Wonderland to its slate. She added: "MContent, launched this year under founder and CEO Umair Masoom, and is the worlds first so-called Watch2Earn platform which embraces blockchain, tokens and the metaverse. "The series is the latest MContent web3-focused factual series commission following Blockchain Life a co-production between MContent, Insight TV and Villain Studios. "The companys previous original productions also include documentaries and series such as Beirut After the Blast, metaverse dating show Game Of Love, Hacking FiFA and F1 fan documentary Pit2Paddock." Phil McKenzie, Chief Content Officer at MContent said We are excited to build on the success of The Blockchain Life in commissioning The Web3 Wonderlands. With the help of Decrypt, the leading web3 media studio, we will raise the bar of the stories we tell from the decentralised community during its most dramatic period. Decrypt Media said: Storytelling and preserving web3 lore is a critical part of building the future of the blockchain industry. Decrypt Studios is so pleased to join with the filmmakers to contribute to The Web3 Wonderland and looks forward to continuing to promote web3 education and documentation at this exciting moment in our shared journey. 19 october 2018 - Los Angeles, California. USA: Hollywood Sign between Palm trees from central Los Angeles Pre-sales NFTs that lower the barrier of entry into film financing could democratise the filmmaking process. The transparency and immutability of the blockchain could give power back to the artists and creatives who produce the content and also bring efficiency to the production process by making the multiple intermediaries in film industry supply chains redundant. Tokenising movie pre-production and selling NFTs that can give anyone ownership and a profit share in a film could turn the whole film industry on its head. NFTs of motion pictures could also have a collectability factor and allow owners to become part of an exclusive community of people who own part of a film, they could also have a secondary sale value. Watch: The Crypto Mile: Episode 4 How NFT art and activism is responding to a world in crisis Massachusetts voters have a chance to be heard in the November 8 midterm election through early voting beginning this Saturday, October 22. Voters can cast a ballot in person or by mail through Nov. 4. In Massachusetts, each city and town sets its own voting locations and the hours for each location. However, each city and town is required to offer early voting for a minimum number of hours. The state requires that early voting begins 17 days before state biennial elections and 10 days before presidential or state primary elections. To find early voting locations and hours by city or town, click here. Voters have to choose their next governor of the Commonwealth between Democratic candidate Maura Healey and Republican candidate Geoff Diehl. Healey has been serving as the Massachusetts Attorney General since her re-election in 2014. Prior to her current role, Healy served as chief of the Civil Rights Division, where she spearheaded the states challenge to the federal Defense of Marriage Act. She was then appointed chief of the Public Protection and Advocacy Bureau and then chief of the Business and Labor Bureau before resigning in 2013. Coffee with Candidates: MA Gubernatorial Candidate Maura Healey Diehl is a former state representative. He served from 2011-2018 representing the 7th Plymouth district representing Abington, East Bridgewater, and Whitman. Diehl previously ran for U.S. Senate in 2018. Diehl is currently the Director of Business Development for 1A Auto of Pepperell. Diehl was previously a member of the Whitman Finance Committee. Watch Diehls Coffee With Candidates interview ELECTION RESULTS: Here are the latest results from the 2022 Massachusetts Primary In Massachusetts, voters had three options to cast a ballot in 2020: early by mail, early in person, and in person on Election Day. Statewide, 41% voted by mail, and 23% voted early. For more information on early voting in Massachusetts, click here. 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 Its an arrest with lots of buzz. A 55-year-old woman allegedly unleashed hundreds of bees after sheriffs deputies arrived at a Massachusetts home last week to serve an eviction notice, causing multiple officials to get stung, Mass Live reported Wednesday. A group of protesters had congregated at the Longmeadow home when officials from the Hampden County Sheriffs Department showed up on Oct. 12 with eviction papers for Alton King Jr., who owns the residence. A woman identified as Rorie S. Woods then arrived in a trailer carrying multiple bee hives, which she began shaking, according to court records. Deputy Michael Joslyn attempted to stop Woods, who successfully freed one of the hives by breaking the cover. .. causing hundreds of bees to swarm around, the papers state. Deputy Joslyn was stung in the face and had to retreat. Woods allegedly put on a beekeeper suit and continued to release bees, causing at least three officials who are allergic to bees to get stung. Oh, youre allergic? Good, Woods told them, according to the report. Woods, who is reportedly a beekeeper, pleaded not guilty last week to assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, as well as to disorderly conduct, and was released without bail. This woman who traveled here put lives in danger as several of the staff on scene are allergic to bees, said a spokesman for Sheriff Nicholas Cocchi. We had one staff member go the hospital, and, luckily, he was all right or she could be facing manslaughter charges. I support peoples right to protest peacefully, but when you cross the line and put my staff and the public in danger, I promise you will be arrested. Its unclear what Woods relationship is with King, who allegedly owed $1.2 million for the residence in 2018. He engaged in a legal struggle after receiving a notice to leave that year. Michael Buckner/Getty Actor Matthew Perry has revealed that he almost died when his colon burst as a result of opioid abuse, with doctors telling his loved ones that it was extremely unlikely that he would survive. The Friends star, 53, made the startling admission in an interview with People published Wednesday about his forthcoming memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. At the time of the 2018 hospitalization, Perry publicly acknowledged that hed suffered a gastrointestinal perforation. In reality, hed been fighting for his life in a coma for two weeks and would ultimately spend five months in a hospital. He said he also had to use a colostomy bag for nine months after the terrifying episode. When the then-49-year-old actor was first admitted to the hospital, the doctors told my family that I had a 2 percent chance to live, Perry said. I was put on a thing called an ECMO machine, which does all the breathing for your heart and your lungs. And thats called a Hail Mary. No one survives that. He added that there were five people in total put on the same type of life support machine on that night, and he was the only one to survive. How Matthew Perry Forgot Three Years of Friends Perry has been open about his struggles with addictions to alcohol and painkillers for years. He says his dependency on alcohol was starting to emerge when he was cast on Friends at age 24, and his substance abuse became extreme at times during the making of the show. At one stage during his time on the sitcom, Perry said, he was taking 55 Vicodin a day and his weight plummeted to 128 pounds. I didnt know how to stop, he told People. If the police came over to my house and said, If you drink tonight, were going to take you to jail, Id start packing. At other times, he says he was able to stay soberincluding throughout the entirety of Season 9 of the sitcom. He praised his castmates patience and understanding throughout his battle. Its like penguins, Perry told the magazine. Penguins, in nature, when one is sick, or when one is very injured, the other penguins surround it and prop it up. They walk around it until that penguin can walk on its own. Thats kind of what the cast did for me. Story continues Perry added that he has been to rehab 15 times over the years but that he is now pretty healthy. He said that his therapists advice to think about having a colostomy bag for the rest of his life has helped him resist cravings for the opioid Oxycontin. I say in the book that if I did die, it would shock people, but it wouldnt surprise anybody, Perry says. And thats a very scary thing to be living with. So my hope is that people will relate to it, and know that this disease attacks everybody. It doesnt matter if youre successful or not successful, the disease doesnt care. 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. designer491 / Getty Images/iStockphoto The Biden administration is trying to make it as easy as possible for federal student loan borrowers to get debt relief of up to $20,000, having recently launched an online loan forgiveness application that can be filled out in a few minutes and an awareness campaign to notify borrowers of the process. For an estimated 8 million borrowers, relief will be automatic and no application will even be required. Explore: GOBankingRates Best Credit Cards for 2023 Advice: If Your Credit Score is Under 740, Make These 4 Moves Now Thats because the income information for those borrowers is already on file with the U.S. Department of Education, meaning they wont have to apply for canceled loans, the Washington Post reported. These borrowers either recently filled out the federal financial aid form (FAFSA) or are enrolled in an income-based loan repayment plan. Eligible borrowers will receive emails from the Education Department providing details on automatic relief options. Officials with the agency have advised borrowers to beware of companies offering help with student loan cancellation in exchange for payment. As previously reported by GOBankingRates, the loan forgiveness application process formally launched with a beta test over the weekend. By Monday, millions of borrowers had already applied. Federal student loan borrowers with an annual adjusted gross income of less than $125,000 in either 2020 or 2021 or $250,000 for households will be eligible for up to $10,000 in canceled debt. Those who received Pell Grants will be eligible for up to $20,000 in cancelled debt. As many as 40 million Americans could benefit from the plan. The vast majority will have to go to the Education Departments Federal Student Aid website to fill out the application, where theyll be asked to provide personal information and confirm that they are applying for relief and meet the eligibility requirements. Thats not the case for those who can be automatically enrolled, however. As the WaPo reported, if automatic enrollees dont bow out, the Education Department will process their relief after Nov. 14. Borrowers eligible for automatic relief can fill out an application if they want the cancellation processed sooner. Story continues Take Our Poll: Do You Have an Emergency Fund Established? Some borrowers might be leery about accepting debt relief amid reports that in some states the canceled debt will count as income that can be taxed. The Education Department has even faced lawsuits seeking to block the loan forgiveness plan because of its potential tax implications. However, White House officials have countered that the plan is voluntary and borrowers can opt out if they dont want to take part. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Student Loan Forgiveness: You May Automatically Qualify Heres Why Meghan Markle wore a t-shirt with a message written in Farsi as she offered her support for protestors in Iran (@mandanadayani/Instagram) Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex has offered her support to protestors in Iran by wearing a t-shirt with a message written in Farsi while making a surprise address at Spotify headquarters on Tuesday. Taking to the stage at an event for Women@Spotify - a female-run resource group at the streaming company - the Duchesss top featured Farsi words meaning, Women, Life, Freedom. The 41-year-old praised the courage of women across Iran who have been protesting gendered oppression following the death of Mahsa Amini. The 22-year-old died in police custody after being arrested for allegedly violating the Muslim nations strict morality laws which requires women to cover their hair. The wife of Prince Harry was also joined at the event by two executive members of her Archewell organisation - executive vice president of global communications Ashley Hansen, and president Mandana Dayani, both of whom are Iranian women. Ms Dayani shared a photo on Instagram of the three women posing together and elaborated on the Duchesss comments, declaring it a proud day. Meghan spoke about the revolution being led by women and young girls in Iran,! Dayani wrote in the caption. The courage and bravery they show every day, and their leadership and advocacy of basic human rights: women, life, freedom. As an Iranian woman who fled her home country in pursuit of these very freedoms, I could not have been more grateful for how she chooses, again and again, to advocate for women around the world, she added. Meghan Markle poses with Mandana Dayani from her Archwell organisation (@mandanadayani/Instagram) Author of the Meghan biography, Finding Freedom, Omid Scobie, re-shared the image and praised the Duchess for speaking out on the important subject. Meghan stands in solidarity with women and girls in Iran, he wrote alongside the snap. Meghan Markle has addressed criticisms she received after her interview with New York Magazine went viral in August. During the interview with the magazines pop culture offshoot The Cut, the Duchess of Sussex claimed that a South African actor had told her that people rejoiced in the streets of the nation over her marriage to the Duke of Sussex, a quote which swiftly saw backlash. The [New York] story was intended to support Archetypes [Meghans new podcast] and focus on our projects, Meghan told Variety in a new interview. Ive had some time to reflect on it. Part of me is just really trusting, really open thats how I move in the world. I have to remember that I dont ever want to become so jaded that that piece of me goes away. So despite any of those things? Onward. I can survive it. Meghan added that what shes trying to do with her podcast Archetypes is to have candid and real conversations with the women on the show. Im talking to some really textured, colorful, layered, dynamic women with strong histories, she explained. And that comes with a lot of pieces you can choose to include or not; I choose to include something that I feel is fair to them and also uplifting. And something we can all learn from. Elsewhere in the interview, Meghan also revealed that she was really grateful to be with Harry in the weeks following the Queens death. Whats so beautiful is to look at the legacy that his grandmother was able to leave on so many fronts. Certainly, in terms of female leadership, she is the most shining example of what that looks like, Meghan added. I feel deep gratitude to have been able to spend time with her and get to know her. Its been a complicated time, but my husband, ever the optimist, said, Now shes reunited with her husband. Meghan added that the first engagement she had with the Queen in June 2018 was special. I feel fortunate. And I continue to be proud to have had a nice warmth with the matriarch of the family. Meghan also shared a rare insight into her and Harrys home life with their children, Archie, three, and Lilibet, one. The State Funeral Of Queen Elizabeth II - Credit: WireImage Meghan Markle opened up about the death of Queen Elizabeth and continuing the legacy of her husbands grandmother in a new interview. Speaking to Variety just weeks after she returned from the United Kingdom, where she stood by her husband, Prince Harry, as they mourned Queen Elizabeths death at the age of 96, Markle expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love and support shes received during the difficult time. More from Rolling Stone Im really grateful that I was able to be with my husband to support him, especially during that time, Markle said. Whats so beautiful is to look at the legacy that his grandmother was able to leave on so many fronts. Certainly, in terms of female leadership, she is the most shining example of what that looks like. I feel deep gratitude to have been able to spend time with her and get to know her. Its been a complicated time, but my husband, ever the optimist, said, Now shes reunited with her husband.' And despite the much-reported falling out between Prince Harry and the royal family, the Duchess of Sussex still fondly remembers her early encounters with the Queen. Ive reflected on that first official engagement that I had with her, how special that felt. I feel fortunate, Markle told Variety. And I continue to be proud to have had a nice warmth with the matriarch of the family. Markle added that the best way to honor the Queen is by continuing in her philanthropic efforts. In big moments in life, you get a lot of perspective. It makes you wonder what you want to focus your energy on, she said. Right now, we feel energized and excited about all of the things weve been building toward, she said. Were also focused on our foundation. So much of the work we do includes the philanthropic space. Story continues (Prince Harry previously honored his grandmother in a statement, saying, In celebrating the life of my grandmother, Her Majesty The Queenand in mourning her losswe are all reminded of the guiding compass she was to so many in her commitment to service and duty. She was globally admired and respected. Her unwavering grace and dignity remained true throughout her life and now her everlasting legacy.) Elsewhere in the interview, Markle discussed her new podcast Archetypes, her post-royal life, her experiences in Hollywood, and whether shed ever return to acting following her stint on the hit USA show Suits. No. Im done, Markle said. I guess never say never, but my intention is to absolutely not. Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. The Duchess of Sussex has described Queen Elizabeth II as the most shining example of female leadership as she reflects on the late monarchs death. Queen Elizabeth passed away at her Balmoral estate in Scotland on 8 September, aged 96, from old age. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were in the UK at the time for several charity events and extended their stay to attend the Queens state funeral. Reflecting on the loss in a new interview with Variety, Meghan Markle said the outpouring of love for the monarch following her death is a testament to her 70-year legacy. In the days leading up to the Queens funeral, the queue to see her coffin lying-in-state reached 10 miles long. More than 29 million people in the UK watched the live broadcast of her funeral. Im really grateful that I was able to be with my husband to support him, especially during that time, Meghan said. Certainly, in terms of female leadership, she [the Queen] is the most shining example of what that looks like. Meghan added that Harry had found comfort in knowing that his grandmother is now reunited with her husband. The Duke of Edinburgh died at Windsor Castle on 9 April 2021. Speaking of her relationship with the Queen, Meghan said she feels deep gratitude to have been able to spend time with [the Queen] and get to know her. There have been widespread rumours of a rift between Harry and Meghan and members of the royal family since the couple announced in January 2020 that they would step down as senior members. Affirming that the couple had a positive relationship with the Queen, Meghan said: Ive reflected on that first official engagement that I had with her, how special that felt. I feel fortunate. And I continue to be proud to have had a nice warmth with the matriarch of the family. Elsewhere in the interview, Meghan shared a rare insight into her family life with Harry. Nearly half of the worlds roughly 7,000 known languages four in ten of them exist without an accompanying written component. These unwritten languages pose a unique problem for modern machine learning translation systems, as they typically need to convert verbal speech to written words before translating to the new language and reverting the text back to speech, but one that Meta has reportedly addressed with its latest open-source language AI advancement. As part of Metas Universal Speech Translator (UST) program which is working to develop real-time speech-to-speech translation so that Metaverse denizens can more easily interact (read: sexually harass one another ). As part of this project, Meta researchers looked at Hokkien, an unwritten language spoken throughout Asias diaspora and one of Taiwans official languages. Machine learning translation systems typically require extensive labelable examples of the language, both written and spoken, to train on precisely what unwritten languages like Hokkien dont have. To get around that, we used speech-to-unit translation (S2UT) to convert input speech to a sequence of acoustic units directly in the path previously pioneered by Meta, CEO Mark Zuckerberg explained in a Wednesday blog post. Then, we generated waveforms from the units. In addition, UnitY was adopted for a two-pass decoding mechanism where the first-pass decoder generates text in a related language (Mandarin), and the second-pass decoder creates units. We leveraged Mandarin as an intermediate language to build pseudo-labels, where we first translated English (or Hokkien) speech to Mandarin text, and we then translated to Hokkien (or English) and added it to training data, he continued. Currently, the system allows for someone who speaks Hokkien to converse with someone who speaks English, albeit stiltedly. The model can only translate one full sentence at a time but Zuckerberg is confident that the technique can eventually be applied to more languages and will improve to the point of offering real-time translation. In addition to the models and training data that Meta is already open-sourcing from this project, the company is also releasing a first-of-its-kind speech-to-speech translation benchmarking system based on a Hokkien speech corpus called Taiwanese Across Taiwan, as well as the speech matrix, a large corpus of speech-to-speech translations mined with Metas innovative data mining technique called LASER, Zuckerberg announced. This system will empower researchers to create speech-to-speech translation (S2ST) systems of their own. Most major transit services survive more than one near-death experience before the first passenger boards. In the case of Metro Transits coming Gold Line, the potentially fatal planning shocks hit over the course of more than a decade, but they werent enough to wipe away the smiles on Wednesday as east metro officials came together for a groundbreaking. Its going to be completed by 2025, which is not too bad compared to some projects, quipped U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, to widespread laughter outside the Hudson Road construction field office in Woodbury. The modern bus line will operate between Woodlane Drive Station in Woodbury and downtown St. Pauls Union Depot, mostly on frontage roads parallel to Interstate 94, with stops in Oakdale, Landfall and Maplewood. Roughly 70 percent of the route will follow bus-only lanes, a first for a bus rapid transit project in Minnesota. Its a line with buses on its own dedicated lane, and thats an incredible accomplishment, said Charlie Zelle, chair of the Metropolitan Council, the regional planning agency that oversees Metro Transit. ALL-DAY BUS SERVICE Zelle noted that like the A Line in St. Paul and the C Line in Minneapolis, the $505 million, all-day bus service will depart every 10 to 15 minutes, offering many of the same conveniences as light rail at less construction cost. Passengers will pay before boarding at heated station stops offering electronic departure/arrival information. Plunging pandemic ridership in the era of remote work has thrown a gray cloud of uncertainty over most estimates of future transit demand. Still, modern amenities, as well as fewer stops and faster boarding at either door, had helped boost pre-pandemic ridership on Metro Transits bus rapid transit lines well past the traditional bus lines theyve eclipsed or replaced. Laura Baenen, a spokesperson for Metro Transit, said five of the future Gold Line buses will be electric and 12 will be diesel. Story continues EMPLOYERS IN, LAKE ELMO OUT Lead organizers from Ramsey and Washington counties said at a time of severe labor shortage, the Gold Line will help employers in downtown St. Paul, the Sun Ray Shopping Center, 3Ms Maplewood headquarters, Tamarack Hills and Woodbury Village benefit from improved access to future workers. Roughly 93,500 jobs sit within a half-mile of Gold Line stations. Its a win/win, said Will Schroeer, executive director of the transit advocacy coalition East Metro Strong, in a written statement. People in Daytons Bluff get access to more jobs, and suburban employers get access to more employees. A city not represented in the line-up is Lake Elmo, which chose by a city council vote of 3-2 to pull out of the municipal coalition planning the Gold Line in 2016. That wasnt the bus corridors only major setback. The project landed in limbo after receiving a rating of medium-low from the federal Transit Administration in early 2020. The Met Council added 350 more parking spaces to the proposal, which boosted projected ridership and helped earn the Gold Line a rating of medium-high a year later. New park-and-ride facilities will be built at the Sun Ray Station in St. Paul, the Helmo Avenue Station in Oakdale and the Woodlane Drive Station in Woodbury. The existing Queens Drive park-and-ride in Woodbury also will offer parking for Gold Line riders. GROWING REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT In 2020, Met Council officials tallied more than $388 million in permitted construction activity along the future Gold Line corridor, with an additional $1.2 billion in development planned. They pointed Wednesday to the example of Norhart, a Forest Lake-based developer, which began construction this summer on a seven-story, 328-unit apartment building in walking distance of the future Helmo Avenue Station. The rapid bus project includes upwards of $20 million in funding for new pedestrian amenities, as well as partial funding for a new bridge over I-94 connecting Helmo Avenue in Oakdale and Bielenberg Drive in Woodbury, which is expected to lessen heavy traffic on Radio Drive and Inwood Avenue. Klobuchar said that the $505 million bus line whose capital construction costs will be nearly half federally-funded might not have gotten off the ground but for the $550 billion bipartisan infrastructure legislation signed into law in November 2021. To launch the Gold Line, Metro Transit will receive $240 million from the Federal Transit Administration, $13 million from the Federal Highway Administration, and additional support from the state of Minnesota, Ramsey and Washington counties. Washington County has implemented a 1/4-cent sales tax since 2008 to fund transportation and transit projects, and Ramsey County maintains a half-cent sales tax for public infrastructure. The Gold Line will rely on zero property tax, said Ramsey County Commissioner Rafael Ortega, who joined the former Gateway Corridor Commission in 2010 to begin bus corridor advocacy and planning. Related Articles MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The U.S. government is likely to increase the number of Venezuelans to which it grants humanitarian access under a recent migrant accord, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Wednesday. Under a bilateral plan announced last Wednesday, Washington said it would grant up to 24,000 Venezuelans humanitarian access to the United States by air, while enabling U.S. officials to expel to Mexico those caught trying to cross illegally by land. Ebrard reiterated that the United States could expand the plan to encompass other nationalities, and told reporters at a regular news conference that the number of 24,000 "humanitarian visas" for Venezuelans "is probably going to grow." Speaking alongside Ebrard, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he discussed migration with his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden on Tuesday, and noted that proposals were afoot to enable U.S. humanitarian access for Central Americans too. The cross-border plan was launched to curb a sharp increase in border crossings by Venezuelans, and the speed of their expulsions over the past week has fed concern that Mexico's ability to absorb them will be severely tested. Giovanni Lepri, the Mexico representative for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said the humanitarian plan was a welcome addition to tackling the migrant flows, provided other avenues for people to seek asylum continued to exist. Humanitarian access should be "complementary" to the asylum process, not an alternative to it, Lepri told Reuters. (Reporting by Dave Graham; Editing by Andrea Ricci) Fall is well under way, and that means that unicorn whiskey hunting season is officially open for business. In addition to the release of coveted collectibles like the Pappy Van Winkle lineup and Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, Michters has announced details of its limited-edition 20-year-old bourbon. As we reported last summer, the release of Michters 10-year-old bourbon was delayed until 2023 (only the rye was released this year), but the same issues apparently dont apply to its elder sister. Master distiller Dan McKee and master of maturation Andrea Wilson have approved the the barrels that will comprise the 2022 Michters 20 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon, which will start to ship to retailers in November. This is a whiskey that I really look forward to when Dan and Andrea decide to release it, said Michters president Joseph J. Magliocco in a statement. Its remarkable that a 20 year bourbon can have so many wonderful qualities without being overly woody. More from Robb Report And that is indeed the danger with a bourbon this old, as the barrels are subject to more extreme temperature and humidity swings than casks maturing in the milder climate of Scotland or Ireland over the course of two decades. Theres a reason most bourbon is bottled after spending less than a decade aging, but Michters 20 Year hits the market fast and furious all the same and dedicated fans swear by its quality. We spent a lot of time reviewing inventory for this special release and are so excited about the complexity of flavor and quality, said Wilson. We strive for a dynamic experience that makes a memorable whiskey moment and this years release will not disappoint. The 2022 release of Michters 20 Year is bottled at a fierce but not frightening 114.2 proof, and the SRP is listed at $1,200. However, a cursory look online shows previous releases selling for well over $10,000, and this edition is likely to reach the same heights. No word yet on the even more unicorny and exalted 25-year-old, but we will bring you the news when we have it. Story continues Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. A middle school teacher was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a student, according to authorities in Texas. Cleveland Middle School teacher Alexander Oveal was taken into custody on Oct. 10, where he was held in the Liberty County Jail on a $100,000 bond, according to an Oct. 18 news release. The next day, Oveal was released after posting his bond. Cleveland Independent School District sent a letter home notifying parents on Tuesday, Oct. 18, according to the Liberty County Sheriffs Office. In the letter, Superintendent Stephen McCanless said the district worked with authorities when launching an investigation into a possible inappropriate relationship between a staff member and a female student. CISD will never tolerate conduct that places the safety of a child in jeopardy, and we plan to pursue this matter to the fullest extent the law allows, he said. The Liberty County District Attorneys Office and sheriffs investigators have conducted numerous interviews with male and female students, according to the release. More interviews with Cleveland Middle School students are expected for the next several days. Oveal was named a district teacher of the week in 2019. Anyone with additional information regarding the allegations is asked to call the Liberty County Sheriffs Office at 936-336-4500 or the Liberty County District Attorneys Office at 936-336-4609. Cleveland is about 45 miles northeast of Houston. Former middle school teacher had thousands of videos of child porn, Missouri cops say Stepfather sexually assaults girl in front of students in online class, Ohio cops say Substitute teacher accused of raping teen is found dead in Missouri jail, officials say High school counselor preyed on female students seeking guidance in Missouri, feds say AUSTIN, Texas (AP) One migrant is dead, another is wounded and at least seven others are languishing in detention three weeks after twin brothers allegedly opened fire on them in the Texas desert, claiming they mistook them for wild hogs during a hunting trip. Yet, the accused shooters, 60-year-old brothers Michael and Mark Sheppard, who both worked in local law enforcement, were initially released on half a million dollars bail after being jailed briefly on manslaughter charges. The case has caused outrage among advocates for the victims and survivors, who say their detention violates a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement directive that calls for giving strong consideration to the fact that they were crime victims who cooperated with authorities in determining whether they should be released. This is a hate crime that occurred immediately after they were crossing into the United States, said Zoe Bowman, the supervising attorney at Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, who is representing the seven detained survivors. Michael Sheppard, who was a warden at the troubled West Texas Detention Facility where he was accused of abuse, and his brother, Mark, who worked for the Hudspeth County sheriff's office, were recently again taken into custody and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the Sept. 27 shooting. Video: Inside a Texas processing center for migrants The sheriff's office did not say where they were being held or why they were initially released on bond. The case is being investigated by the Texas Rangers, an arm of the Texas Department of Public Safety. Migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border are often victims of crimes, including human trafficking, but most happen south of the border. A clear cut case like this one, in which migrants are the victims of a widely publicized crime on U.S. soil in which charges have been brought against identified suspects, can provide a rare paper trail to protection under a visa for migrants who are crime victims in the U.S., Bowman said. Story continues But despite the August 2021 ICE directive that strongly encourages the release of crime victims while the lengthy visa process is underway, these migrants remain in detention, Bowman said. Six of the surviving migrants are being held at the El Paso Processing Center an ICE detention facility while a seventh is in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and is expected to be transferred to the West Texas Detention Facility, the embattled lockup where Michael Sheppard was a warden. It certainly seems like they are not putting the needs of these people first by choosing to hold onto them, Bowman said. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials did not respond to phone and email requests for comment on the migrants' detention. The migrants told authorities they were drinking water from a reservoir on county land in Sierra Blanca, south of El Paso in the hot, dry Chihuahuan Desert, when two men identified in court documents as the Sheppard brothers pulled over in a truck. The migrants said they ran to hide. Mark Sheppard told investigators he and his brother were out hunting and thought they had spotted a javelina, a kind of wild hog, when they opened fire. Mark Sheppard told us he used binoculars and saw a black butt thinking it was a javelina, court documents said. But the migrants told authorities the men in the truck yelled and cursed at them in Spanish, taunting at them to come out, and revved their engine as they backed up. When the group emerged from hiding, the driver exited the vehicle and fired two shots at them. Jesus Ivan Sepulveda was shot and killed. Brenda Berenice Casias Carrillo was struck in the stomach and seriously wounded. Silvia Carrillo, the wounded woman's aunt, told The Associated Press that she heard from her niece via WhatsApp on Sept. 25 that the group was beginning the precarious desert journey from Mexico into Texas and was turning off their phones. When she next made contact with Casias two days later, her niece told her the group had been shot at and she lay wounded, fearing she would die. Carrillo encouraged her niece to call 911 for help. Also in the group of 13 migrants were Carrillo's two sons, another niece and a son-in-law. Casias told her they were all okay but another man who was with them 22-year-old Sepulveda of Durango, Mexico, was dead. I felt like I was going to die, I was desperate and imagined the worst, Carrillo said. When authorities arrived in response to her 911 call, Casias was taken to a hospital and the other survivors were questioned by federal and immigration officials. Their testimonies led to the arrest of the Sheppard brothers, after which the witnesses were placed in ICE custody. On Oct. 7, Carrillo said she spoke to Casias again, this time from the hospital. Casias sounded weak, but said she was slowly getting better and had one more surgery to go. Casias remains stable and improving and has some legal protection, her attorney, Marysol Castro, managing attorney for Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services in El Paso, said Tuesday. She declined to provide specifics because she said her client is afraid for her safety since learning of the Sheppard brothers initial release. Bowman said she is seeking visas intended for migrants who are crime victims for her clients, but even though the case has been widely publicized it could take months to produce the necessary court documents. In the meantime she has petitioned, without success so far, for them to be released to sponsors in the U.S. a decision that is solely at the discretion of ICE authorities. John Sandweg, an attorney who served as ICE director during the Obama administration, said other factors like the survivors' role as witnesses could mean that authorities choose to keep them in detention so they are nearby to testify in the case. Still, on the face of it, he said, there is not a good reason why these migrants remain detained. The bottom line is that study after study after study and ICEs own data has demonstrated the effectiveness of alternatives to detention, Sandweg said, adding that the system is in critical need of reform. Meanwhile, Carrillo said she and relatives of the other survivors await answers on the fate of their loved ones in the country they journeyed to for a better life, and are calling for the shooters to be brought to justice. I just want them to do justice for my niece and for Jesus, the man who died, Carrillo said. Associated Press reporters Jake Bleiberg in Dallas, Texas, and Paul Weber in Austin, Texas, contributed to this report. Mindy Kaling spoke Monday about a moment of resilience that cemented her love for fellow actor Anne Hathaway. From the age of 18 years old [Hathaway] has been objectified regularly, and despite loving her as a performer Ill tell you when I fell in love with her, Kaling said at Elles annual Women in Hollywood Celebration in Los Angeles, according to People magazine. The Mindy Project actor stated that the defining interaction occurred nearly 10 years ago, when now-disgraced TV personality Matt Lauer made some uncomfortable comments about Hathaway. From left to right: Actors Sarah Paulson, Sandra Bullock, Anne Hathaway and Mindy Kaling attend the event CinemaCon 2018 on April 24, 2018, in Las Vegas. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez via Getty Images) From left to right: Actors Sarah Paulson, Sandra Bullock, Anne Hathaway and Mindy Kaling attend the event CinemaCon 2018 on April 24, 2018, in Las Vegas. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez via Getty Images) Ahead of an interview on NBCs Today show, a paparazzo had snapped an up-skirt photo of Hathaway at the premiere of the 2012 film Les Miserables. On the Today show the next morning, Matt Lauer said to her in this chastising, someone-has-been-naughty way, Anne Hathaway Ive seen a lot of you lately, Kaling recalled during this weeks event. First of all, gross. Are you like a lame uncle at Thanksgiving? she continued. And then he asked her whats the lesson learned from something like that, referring to paparazzi ambushing her, Kaling added, remarking that Lauer implied Hathaway was somehow at fault for the inappropriate photo. Kaling (left) and Hathaway are seen on the set of the film Kaling (left) and Hathaway are seen on the set of the film "Ocean's 8" on Dec. 3, 2016, in New York City. (Photo: Raymond Hall via Getty Images) Annie simply responded, It kind of made me sad on two accounts, Kaling said. One that we live in an age when someone takes a picture of someone in a vulnerable moment and rather than delete it and do the decent thing, sells it. And Im sorry that we live in a culture that commodifies sexuality of unwilling participants. Lauer would later be fired from his network in 2017 after he was accused of raping an NBC News employee in 2014. Story continues Hathaway and Kaling have worked together twice before on 2018s Oceans 8 movie and the 2021 film Locked Down. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Mining giants BHP and Antofagasta Minerals said on Wednesday that a mining royalty bill in Chile would affect competitiveness and encourage miners to reevaluate investments. Chile is the world's top copper producing nation and the government has proposed a royalty with a portion based on sales and the other subject to profitability, which progresses as the price of copper increases. Speaking to Chile's Congress, BHP's vice president of corporate affairs for the Americas, Rene Muga, said the current bill would impact the company's competitiveness abroad and negatively impact its own operations in other countries. "It is our duty to warn that in a highly competitive global world, Chile cannot disproportionately increase its taxes without significantly affecting investment levels," Muga said. He added that the initiative would lead the mining company to reconsider an announced investment portfolio of $10 billion, since it was designed "without considering such an excessive tax burden increase." For his part, the vice president of corporate affairs of Antofagasta Minerals , Rene Aguilar, pointed out that with the proposed changes, total taxation would exceed 48%, putting it on par with high-tax countries such as Congo, Mongolia and Zambia. "It is essential to consider the depreciation of investments in the calculation of mining income," Aguilar said. "This is a very relevant point, especially for groups like Antofagasta, which has a potential investment portfolio of close to $5 billion for the coming years." Both company representatives acknowledged that there's room for more contribution from the mining sector, but pushed for collaborative agreements that maintain business sustainability. Other global mining giants like state-owned Codelco, Glencore, Anglo American and Freeport-McMoRan also operate in Chile. (Report by Fabian Cambero; Writing by Alexander Villegas; Editing by Alistair Bell) Missouri libraries that receive state funding will be required to develop and implement measures to shield young readers from non-age-appropriate content under a new rule submitted this week by the secretary of state. The rule proposed Monday by Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, a Republican, would withhold state dollars from libraries that do not certify in writing that they will adopt policies to address how appropriate book selections are made for readers under 18. Missouri libraries under the proposed rule would also be required to promise that state funds are not used to acquire materials that appeal to the prurient interest of minors and age-inappropriate content is not displayed in childrens sections. Libraries receiving state funds are not permitted to host or advertise events or presentations deemed inappropriate for children. Yes, we want to make sure libraries have the resources and materials they need for their constituents, but we also want our children to be children a little longer than a pervasive culture many often dictate, Ashcroft said Monday in a statement. The proposed rule would also allow parents to determine which library materials their children are able to access and would make challenging certain titles easier by mandating that each library outlines the process for doing so on their websites. The results of each challenge would be disclosed to the public, according to the rule. When state dollars are involved, we want to bring back local control and parental involvement in determining what children are exposed to, Ashcroft said Monday. Foremost, we want to protect our children. Ashcrofts proposed rule will be formally published in the state register on Nov. 15 and Missouri residents will be able to submit public comment on it for a period of 30 days. The proposal is the latest in a series of steps taken by the state to restrict access to materials it considers inappropriate for young people. Story continues A Missouri law passed in June bans public school administrators, faculty and staff from providing minor students with explicit sexual material, which the measure defines as images or written descriptions of sexual acts or nudity. The law, which went into effect in August, does not apply to learning materials with diagrams about human anatomy or content relating to classical works of art. Adults found to have violated the law face being charged with a Class A misdemeanor carrying a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $2,000 fine. The Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL) over the summer said the group had received reports of librarians preemptively unshelving materials that could potentially violate the law before it officially took effect. In February, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Missouri filed a lawsuit against one Missouri school district that removed several books addressing race, gender identity and sexual orientation from its libraries. The school district reversed its decision to ban author Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye later that month, but six other books most of which center on LGBTQ issues and identities remain banned. The Bluest Eye was named by the American Library Association as one of the most frequently banned books last year for its depiction of child sexual abuse. Topping the list was Maia Kobabes Gender Queer: A Memoir, which has been challenged in schools across the country for its LGBTQ content and images considered to be sexually explicit. Nationwide, more than 1,600 unique titles were challenged in schools and libraries during the 2021-2022 academic year, according to a recent PEN America report. Most of them contain LGBTQ characters or characters of color. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WARSAW, Poland Moldovas Defence Minister Anatolie Nosatii has said that the country aims to buy new air defense systems following recent airspace violations by the Russian military. Nosatii said that in the past days a number of Russian missiles were fired from the Black Sea and subsequently flew over Moldovas territory to strike targets in Ukraine. Under normal circumstances, in the event of an airspace violation, air defense forces enter a state of combat and measures are taken to intercept flying targets such as missiles or aircraft that violate a states national space, the minister said, as quoted by local news agency IPN. Moldova is landlocked, but the countrys southern part lies in proximity of the Ukrainian Black Sea coast. Nosatii said that the Moldovan authorities plan to pass legislation that will allow the countrys government to establish multi-year defense acquisition programs. As air defense systems are expensive, Moldova hopes that its Western partners will help purchase the weapons, according to the minister. The official also stated that, under the countrys agreement with Germany, the Moldovan Armed Forces are to receive new drones and other military gear in the first months of 2023. Russias invasion of Ukraine has raised concern amid Moldovan officials that the country, whose constitution requires it to remain a neutral state, could be Moscows next target. Russia has long backed Transnistria, a breakaway republic in Moldovas eastern part, and observers have speculated the Kremlin could use the statelet to facilitate its attacks on Ukraine, or even invade Moldova. Image: DC Comics Simu Lius next adventure is a globetrotting trip to Amazon. The next Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror special could contain a surprising guest star. Plus, more footage from Supernatural prequel The Winchesters, and whats coming on Star Trek: Lower Decks and The Walking Dead. To me, my spoilers! Zatanna THR reports HBO Max is no longer moving forward with its planned Zatanna movie from Promising Young Woman director Emerald Fennell. Read more Disenchanted Disenchanted will now be released on November 18, a week earlier than previously announced. Wishes do come true! In 1 month, Giselle returns to her fairy tale life. #Disenchanted, a new Original movie, starts streaming November 18, only on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/5dQRCa5bD2 Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) October 18, 2022 Enola Holmes 2 Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge) gives Enola a lesson in ballroom dancing in a new clip from Enola Holmes 2. Tewkesbury Teaches Enola to Dance | ENOLA HOLMES 2 | Netflix Seven Wonders Deadline reports Simu Liu is attached to star in Seven Wonders, a series based on Ben Mezrichs 2005 novel at Amazon Prime from writer Adam Cozad (The Legend of Tarzan) and director Justin Lin. Liu is said to play Dr. Nate Grady, a brilliant botanist-adventurer who teams up with the slippery international fixer Sloane Seydoux on a breathless race to solve an ancient mystery tied to the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Story continues The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror XXXIII According to voice actor John Roberts on Twitter, Linda Belcher from Bobs Burgers will make an appearance on this years Halloween episode of The Simpsons. Linda Belcher will be on The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror XXXIII John Roberts (@JohnRobertsFun) October 15, 2022 Quantum Leap Quantum Leap does The Exorcist in the synopsis for O Ye of Little Faith, airing this Halloween. Ben leaps into a priest who has been called to assist a family in crisis on Halloween night. As he delves into mysterious and inexplicable events, hes forced to muster all his resources as a scientist before time runs out. [Spoiler TV] Star Trek: Lower Decks A reporter visits the Cerritos in the synopsis for Trusted Sources, this weeks episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks. A visiting reporter on the Cerritos puts Captain Freeman on edge. Written by: Ben M. Waller Directed by: Fill Marc Sagadraca [Spoiler TV] La Brea Spoiler TV also has synopses for the fifth and sixth episodes of La Breas second season. The Heist Eve, Gavin and others attempt to commandeer a shipment of black rock to gain access to the mysterious Building, where they believe they may find a way to bring Josh and Riley home. In 1988, Josh and Riley must act swiftly to prevent Caroline from altering the timeline. Lazarus When their plan to infiltrate the Building goes awry, Gavin finds himself face-to-face with its enigmatic leader. Eve, Levi, Sam and Izzy are forced to rely on a former adversary to lead a rescue attempt. In 1988, Josh and Riley enjoy some fun before a startling turn. The Walking Dead Carol raids a bakery in photos from Whats Been Lost, this weeks episode of The Walking Dead. Head over to Spoiler TV for more. Photo: AMC Photo: AMC Photo: AMC The Winchesters Finally, John and Mary go undercover as members of Fleetwood Mac in a clip from the second episode of The Winchesters. The Winchesters 1x02 Teach Your Children Well Exclusive Preview Clip Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel and Star Wars releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about House of the Dragon and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Roxie Washington slams Kanye West for spreading misinformation about Floyds death during his Drink Champs interview. The mother of George Floyds daughter has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Kanye West for spreading misinformation about his death. According to The Independent, Roxie Washington, the mother of Gianna Floyd, has filed a $250 million lawsuit against West. Lawyers claimed the rapper made false statements about Floyds death to promote his brands and generate marketing value and revenue for himself and his associates. The interests of the child are priority, said Attorney Nuru Witherspoon of The Witherspoon Law Group, according to The Independent. George Floyds daughter is being traumatized by Kanye Wests comments, and hes creating an unsafe and unhealthy environment for her. Roxie Washington holds Gianna Floyd, the daughter of George Floyd, as they attend the funeral service for Floyd at The Fountain of Praise church Tuesday, June 9, 2020, in Houston. Washington has sent a cease-and-desist letter to rapper Kanye West for making false statements about Floyds death. (Photo: David J. Phillip/AP, Pool) In an interview on Revolt TVs Drink Champs podcast Saturday, West asserted that Floyd died from a fentanyl overdose. He claimed former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin wasnt even on his neck like that. The conversation centered on Candace Owens documentary The Greatest Lie Ever Sold: George Floyd and the Rise of BLM. I watched the George Floyd documentary that Candace Owens put out, West said, theGrio previously reported. One of the things that his two roommates said was they want a tall guy like me, and the day that he died, he said a prayer for eight minutes. They hit him with the fentanyl. If you look, the guys knee wasnt even on his neck like that. According to theGrio, Revolt TV pulled Saturdays Drink Champs episode, and N.O.R.E, the podcasts co-host, has apologized to the general public and Floyds family. During an appearance Monday on The Breakfast Club, N.O.R.E. said he felt he had failed his people by failing to confront West when he made the Floyd-related remarks and several other inappropriate comments on the show. I want to apologize to the George Floyd family I want to apologize to anyone who was hurt by someone saying something on my platform. I do not want my people to think that I did not step up at the time, but if you watch the whole 3 hour and 38-minute interview, I represent for George Floyd and Black people five, six, seven times, N.O.R.E. said, theGrio noted. Story continues Floyd, a Black man, choked to death in May 2020 while in the custody of Minneapolis police. Bystander footage of the incident showed Chauvin with his knee on Floyds neck for more than nine minutes. Chauvin was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison in June 2021 after a jury found him guilty of second and third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for Floyds death. He was sentenced to 21 years in July for violating Floyds civil rights. Kanye West appears at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills in Feb. 2020. Ye is now at the center of a $250 million lawsuit filed by Roxie Washington, the mother of George Floyds daughter. (Photo: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File) According to The Independent, testimony given during the Chauvin trial by Hennepin County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Andrew Baker determined that while Floyds heart condition and usage of fentanyl were both contributing factors, they were not the primary cause of his death. Attorneys are now saying he took advantage of Floyds death and his familys suffering by spreading malicious falsehoods about him. Kanyes comments are a repugnant attempt to discount George Floyds life, said attorney Pat D. Dixon III, The Independent reported, and to profit from his inhumane death. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Mother of George Floyds daughter sends cease-and-desist letter to Kanye appeared first on TheGrio. Western countries are speeding up shipments of winter clothing, new rounds of artillery and counter-drone defenses to Kyiv as Ukrainian and Russian forces prepare for a months-long grind amid the mud and ice. Both sides have fought to gain advantage before the freeze sets in, but Ukraine has moved fast and with discipline since the summer, executing quick campaigns that recaptured thousands of miles of territory that has them now pressing on the strategic southern city of Kherson. Its an area that will see brutal fighting as artillery shells and frozen temperatures become the most feared foes on both sides of the front line. I think we've seen a real shift in the last three months, one Western official told reporters on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Brussels last week. The Ukrainians are on their front foot, and they certainly feel prepared for the winter campaign. The donation packages that are going to Ukraine are very much [focused on] the winter. The official, like others quoted for this article, asked for anonymity to give candid assessments of the war. How to support Ukraine over the long winter was a main topic of discussion at the conference, which brought defense ministers and military leaders from 50 countries together to discuss next steps in the war effort. On Tuesday, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace flew to Washington on an unannounced, one-day trip to huddle with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and White House staff, and a senior U.K. defense official said the coming winter fight was on the agenda. Even with the remarkable gains made by Ukrainian troops since August, in which they recaptured vast swaths of the east and south, there is little sense among allies that the fighting is anywhere near its conclusion. Instead, many NATO officials see the campaign entering a slower but no less bloody phase, as entrenched forces launch artillery, rocket and drone attacks to unseat and unnerve the other. Meanwhile Kyiv will scramble to keep the power and the heat pumping amid Russian missile barrages clearly meant to terrorize the civilian population. Story continues Winter fighting can be exceptionally difficult, but holding frozen ground for days or weeks on end can also sap the will of a fighting force particularly an occupying army another NATO official in Brussels told reporters. If you're fighting in those conditions, if your tank is always getting stuck, if it is always throwing a track and you're constantly cold and wet, it affects what we would call the moral component of an army, the official said. Ukrainian troops will struggle under the same conditions, but they have the motivation of fighting for their own homes, as well as a reliable pipeline of new equipment being supplied by Western partners. Several NATO countries have started rushing winter equipment to Ukraine already. This month, Canada announced $15 million worth of winter clothing donations, including 500,000 parkas, pants, boots and gloves pulled from military stocks as well as purchased from Canadian companies. Estonia also provided two brigades worth of winter clothing. The countrys defense minister, Hanno Pevkur, said in an interview on the sidelines of the meeting that his pitch to allies was that each country of NATO provide just one or two brigades worth of winter gear and Ukraine would be assured enough warm clothing to get through the months of freezing weather. I think everybody expects that winter will impact the level of activity, the U.K.s defense chief, Adm. Sir Tony Radakin, told reporters on a visit to Washington this month. But I think we've got to be cautious overplaying that because this is not grand maneuver warfare. Much of it is skirmishes, artillery battles and seeking opportunities that you then build on. The mud and frozen ground will constrain both sides, he said, adding that the fighting wont be done by massive formations maneuvering quickly, but through a grinding conflict using artillery and drones to try to push frontlines forward or hold ground, yard by yard. But now the word coming from NATO capitals is that they are all in on helping Kyiv endure the coming months of freezing weather and slogging progress. And top Western officials say they believe Ukraine will keep pushing forward. I expect that Ukraine will continue to do everything it can throughout the winter to regain its territory and to be effective on the battlefield, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in Brussels. Were going to do everything we can to make sure that they have whats required to be effective. Likewise, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said that in the coming weeks and months, our task is to enable them to also be able to conduct meaningful operations throughout the winter and continue to supply them with everything from fuel, winter clothing, tents to advanced weapons systems. Conversely, Russian forces continue to fall back, and even began evacuating up to 60,000 civilians to the eastern bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Wednesday, a move that may be part of a larger Russian military retreat from the key city and the surrounding region. Vladimir Putin also declared martial law in the four Ukrainian districts he recently claimed to annex, a move that may allow for forced conscription there in the dwindling areas Russia still controls. The Russian pullback comes as Iranian-made drones pound civilian targets and infrastructure, a civilian terror campaign that has already damaged about 30 percent of the nations power-generating capabilities, according to Kyiv. The new Russian campaign is in keeping with its tactic of brutalizing the civilian population as its troops continue to suffer defeats on the battlefield, and is being orchestrated by Putins new commander, Gen. Sergei Surovikin, whose nickname of General Armageddon was earned in the brutal, civilian-focused air campaign in Syria. The general made a rare appearance on Russian television Tuesday evening, in which he acknowledged the Russian position around Kherson is very difficult. While the West appears to be focused, Russia continues to experience significant logistical and sustainment challenges, and those are only going to get harder as winter sets in, said Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder. Time is certainly of the essence when it comes to capitalizing on that from an operational standpoint, he told reporters Tuesday. But Ryder acknowledged that the winter months will be difficult for the Ukrainian side as well. When you look at things like, you know, rain, snow, mud, the impact that it has on the terrain, Ryder said, it definitely will add another level of complexity to an already very-dynamic battlefield. Those problems might be borne more heavily by the often lightly-equipped Russian troops who are being forced to rely on supply lines the Ukrainians are intent on disrupting or cutting, and who will have to burrow into hastily dug trenches and fortifications amid a hostile populace. The chaotic callup of 300,000 Russian reservists, who have flooded social media with videos of conscripts sleeping in muddy fields and warming themselves over makeshift fires while still at collection centers inside Russia, gives a glimpse of how poorly-equipped many Russian units are, and what challenges might await. Getting proper winter clothing for front-line troops and the tens of thousands of callups expected to flow into Ukraine in the coming weeks will be a massive challenge for Moscow, which has struggled mightily to keep troops supplied since the start of the war. As Kherson empties out and barely trained and lightly equipped Russian conscripts begin to flow into Ukraine, the war will take a new shape. I would say Ukrainians are better equipped for it, and they certainly have the motivation to cope with it, the Western official said. Lara Seligman and Cristina Gallardo contributed to this report. Key West police arrested a U.S. Navy sailor who is accused of hitting a bicyclist with her car and leaving the scene last month. Ailin Tutor, 22, faces a felony count of hit-and-run that caused serious bodily injury. She could not be reached for comment Wednesday. A call to the phone number assigned to her on the arrest report goes directly to a message saying no calls are being accepted. Tutor was released on $50,000 bond on Tuesday hours after her arrest on a warrant. It was not immediately clear if she has legal representation. According to the arrest report, Tutor hit the cyclist around 1 a.m. Sept. 8 on Truman Avenue with her Hyundai Elantra. Security camera footage viewed by police showed the mans legs go up in the air and his head hit the street pavement, according to the report. Paramedics took him to him to Lower Keys Medical Center to be treated for lacerations to his head. Contacted by the Miami Herald/FLKeysnews.com, the man declined to comment. Key West Officer Jorge Mayorga Lopez wrote in his report that after hitting the bicyclist, the cars brake lights engaged for a couple of seconds before the Hyundai continued on its way. Police said they matched a side view mirror found at the scene with a car found at Tutors Northside Drive residence, about two miles from the crash, Lopez said. Tutor is assigned to the military police at Naval Air Station Key West. Base officials could not immediately be reached for comment on her arrest or possible disciplinary action. "The Watcher," a new horror show about a house being stalked by an anonymous tormenter, has hit Netflix but it's not just a scary story, it's a real one. A house in Westfield, New Jersey has been notoriously stalked by someone who sends harassing letters signed by "The Watcher" to its inhabitants. After buying the house at 657 Boulevard in 2014, Derek and Maria Broaddus decided to renovate it before moving in. As they re-did the house, "The Watcher" began tormenting them, claiming in his anonymous letters that the house was his family's for decades and that he was put in charge of watching over it, waiting for its "second coming." This June 25, 2015, file photo, shows a newspaper resting on the driveway of the home Derek and Maria Broaddus were scared away from because of creepy letters from a stalker known as The couple did a 2018 interview with New York Magazine, in which several of the threatening letters were printed. "657 Boulevard is anxious for you to move in. It has been years and years since the young blood ruled the hallways of the house," one eerie letter read. "Have you found all of the secrets it holds yet? Will the young blood play in the basement? Or are they too afraid to go down there alone." "I would [be] very afraid if I were them. It is far away from the rest of the house. If you were upstairs you would never hear them scream," the letter continued. The family ultimately decided not to move into the house, and hired private investigators. The Westfield police also conducted an "exhaustive investigation," but "The Watcher" was never identified. The couple even sued the previous owners in 2015, alleging they knew about the stalker but didn't say anything when they sold the house. The suit was ultimately dismissed, according to court documents. The Broaddus family originally bought the house for $1.3 million and after about five years of living in their own horror movie, they sold it in 2019 for $400,000 less. The house has not been sold since then, according to Zillow, which estimates its current value is close to $1.5 million. The public records available on Zillow also show the Broaddus family tried to sell or rent out the house multiple times since moving in. Story continues Producer Ryan Murphy's Netflix miniseries based on their experience stars Bobby Cannavale, Naomi Watts and Jennifer Coolidge. Harvey Weinstein's second sexual assault trial begins in Los Angeles Rishi Sunak to become U.K.'s new prime minister 2022 World Series preview: Houston Astros vs. Philadelphia Phillies NJ Transit has agreed to update five of its train stations to make them more accessible for people with disabilities, according to a settlement with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey. The New Brunswick, Newark Penn, Princeton Junction, Metropark and Trenton train stations will receive wide-ranging improvements to bring these "intercity" stations into compliance with the federal Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990. The five stations identified by the U.S. Attorney's Office are all considered wheelchair-accessible, but the 51-page settlement identifies more than 200 violations and fixes that must be made. More:Is NJ Transit's customer advocate position dead? Why riders still lack a voice "In ways large and small, people with disabilities were denied full access to transportation services whether it was the lack of access to restrooms, no signs, bad ramps, poor access to elevators, or that parking spaces were just too small for those who needed wheelchair access," the press release announcing the settlement said. Drone image of the New Jersey Transit headquarters seen from the Passaic River as a passenger train leaves Newark Penn Station on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. "NJ Transit has swiftly recognized these deficiencies and already begun to bring its intercity rail stations into compliance with the ADA," it said. NJ Transit spokesman Jim Smith said about half of the issues identified by the U.S. Attorney's Office have been taken care of; others require engineering and architectural review. "When DOJ contacted NJ Transit in early 2021 with ADA deficiencies, we moved quickly to implement remedies and add repairs to our capital improvement plans," Smith said. "Over the past year, NJ Transit and DOJ worked together to develop solutions in line with the ADA to take corrective action." The settlement resulted from an on-site survey of the stations, conducted in May 2017, that revealed the accessibility deficiencies. More:Know those cloudy windows on NJ Transit trains? A fix is coming Meanwhile, more than half of the 166 rail stations used by NJ Transit customers are not wheelchair-accessible, according to its map, which was updated in recent years to identify the stations that are accessible. Some of those stations are owned by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority or Amtrak. Only the Atlantic City Line is accessible at all of the route's nine stations. Story continues Of the five stations the agency agreed to update, New Brunswick and Newark are receiving a combined $240 million through the state's debt defeasance fund to complete myriad capital projects. Six other NJ Transit facilities are also receiving hundreds of millions of dollars through the fund for capital projects. More:NJ sues oil, gas companies, alleging they deceived public over climate change Amtrak agreed to a settlement in 2020 with the U.S. Attorney's Office over similar accusations and failure to make stations accessible, according to a lawsuit brought by the Disability Rights Section of the departments Civil Rights Division. As part of that agreement, Amtrak must design at least 135 stations to be accessible, complete construction at 90 of those stations, and have at least 45 more under construction in the next 10 years. They also set up a $2.25 million settlement fund for those who could not travel at certain stations, and the company will train employees in ADA compliance. That settlement came 11 months after Amtrak attempted to charge two wheelchair-users $25,000 to travel from Chicago to Bloomington, Indiana and then rescinded the decision. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ Transit agrees to ADA fixes after violations at five stations Photograph: Travis Long/AP The parents of a 15-year-old suspected mass murderer in Raleigh, North Carolina, released a statement Wednesday saying they were overcome with grief. Austin Thompson is suspected of shooting five people to death and injuring two others on 13 October in Raleighs Hedingham neighborhood. His 16-year-old brother, James, was among those slain. Our son Austin inflicted immeasurable pain on the Raleigh community, and we are overcome with grief for the innocent lives lost, Alan and Elise Thompson said in a statement on behalf of their family, according to the Raleigh News & Observer. We have so many unanswered questions. There were never any indications or warning signs that Austin was capable of doing anything like this. Our family will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement officials and do whatever we can to help them understand why and how this happened. Austin Thompson is currently in the custody of law enforcement hospital while being treated at a hospital. The local district attorney, Lorrin Freeman, has said she plans to prosecute the teen as an adult, WRAL reported. Those killed in the attack carried out with a long rifle were Gabriel Torres, a 29-year-old off-duty police officer; Mary Marshall, a 34-year-old woman walking her dog; Nicole Connors, a 52-year-old woman who was on her porch; and Susan Karnatz, 49, who was killed during a run. Raleigh police officer Casey Clark and Marcille Lynn Gardner were wounded. We pray for the families and loved ones of Nicole Connors, Susan Karnatz, Mary Marshall and Raleigh police officer Gabriel Torres, the Thompson family said in a statement. We mourn for their loss and for the loss of our son, James. We pray that Marcille Lynn Gardner and Raleigh Police Officer Casey Clark fully recover from their injuries, and we pray for everyone who was traumatized by these senseless acts of violence. There have been 546 mass shootings cases in which at least four people were shot or killed in the US this year, according to a tally by the Gun Violence archive. Story continues Two of the most high-profile of those shootings were carried out in May by rifle-toting gunmen who were adults still in their teens: the killings of 10 people at a grocery store in Buffalo and 21 at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Joe Biden has since signed the first federal gun safety bill in nearly 30 years, which aimed to toughen background checks for the youngest gun buyers, keep firearms from more domestic violence offenders and help states implement laws making it easier to officials to confiscate weapons from people adjudged to be dangerous. But other more stringent restrictions, such as a ban on assault-style weapons, did not make it into that bill. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korea fired about 100 more artillery shells toward the sea Wednesday in response to South Korean live-firing drills at border areas as the rivals accuse each other of dialing up tensions on the Korean Peninsula with weapons tests. The drills conducted by both sides come amid heightened animosities over recent North Korean missile tests that it calls simulated nuclear attacks on South Korean and U.S. targets. South Koreas military detected the artillery being fired from a western North Korean coastal town, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. On Tuesday night, North Korea fired about 100 shells off its west coast and 150 rounds off its east coast, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said earlier. Both days, the North Korean shells landed in the northern parts of the maritime buffer zones the two Koreas created off their eastern and western coasts as part of agreements they made in 2018 to reduce tensions, according to the Souths Joint Chiefs of Staff. North Korea also fired hundreds of shells at the buffer zones Friday in its most significant direct violation of the 2018 agreement. North Koreas military said the launches were a warning against what it called provocative South Korean artillery firing drills along the border earlier this week. Our army strongly warns the enemy forces to immediately stop the highly irritating provocative act in the frontline areas, an unidentified spokesperson at the General Staff of the Norths Korean Peoples Army said in a statement Wednesday. South Koreas Defense Ministry said it conducted artillery drills at land border areas as part of its annual military exercises. But it said its drills didnt violate the 2018 accord because its shells didnt land in the buffer zones. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff warned North Korea to immediately stop provocations that threaten peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. It added that it is boosting its military readiness and, in coordination with the United States, is closely monitoring North Koreas moves. Story continues There were no reports of violence between the two Koreas. But animosities could persist as North Korea will likely react to South Koreas ongoing annual Hoguk field exercises with its own weapons tests. South Korean officials said the Hoguk drills are aimed at improving a military readiness against North Korean nuclear and missile threats and involve an unspecified number of U.S. troops. North Korea views regular South Korea-U.S. military training as an invasion rehearsal. It said its recent barrage of missile tests were meant to issue a warning to one of the allies earlier exercises involving a U.S. aircraft carrier. In parts of the Hoguk drills open to the media, South Korean and U.S. troops built floating bridges on a river southeast of Seoul to let tanks and other armored vehicles move over them. South Koreas army said Wednesdays training was meant to deal with a hypothetical enemy attack that would leave some of the bridges over the river destroyed. Its so far been extremely successful and demonstrated the strength of the ROK-U.S. alliance, said Capt. Sean Kasprisin, a company commander at the U.S. military, using the initials of South Koreas official name, the Republic of Korea. We are definitely stronger together with the two nations. From Oct. 31 to Nov. 4, South Korea and the United States will also hold combined air force drills involving some 240 warplanes, including F-35 fighters operated by both nations. The drills are designed to inspect the two countries joint operation capabilities and improve combat readiness, the South Korean military said Tuesday. Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, said at a briefing Wednesday that Beijing hopes all relevant countries would keep trying to look for a political settlement to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea has test-launched 15 missiles since it resumed testing activities Sept. 25. One of them was an intermediate-range ballistic missile that flew over Japan and demonstrated a range capable of reaching the Pacific U.S. territory of Guam and beyond. Some foreign experts say North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would eventually aim to use his expanded weapons arsenal to pressure the United States and others to accept his country as a legitimate nuclear state and lift economic sanctions on the North. The Norths artillery tests draw less outside attention than its missile launches. But its forward-deployed long-range artillery guns pose a serious security threat to the capital, Seoul, about 40 to 50 kilometers (25 to 30 miles) from the border with North Korea. ___ Associated Press writer Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, video journalist Kim Yong-ho in Yeoju, South Korea, and video producer Liu Zheng in Beijing contributed to this report. ___ See more AP Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific Oct. 18LANCASTER, Minn. Hunting success during the four, nine-day elk seasons in central Kittson County near Lancaster in northwest Minnesota was down from last year, statistics from the Department of Natural Resources show. The DNR offered 28 tags eight either-sex and 20 antlerless-only in Zone 20, and 15 hunters filled their tags for an overall success rate of 54%. By comparison, the overall success rate last year in Zone 20 was 82%. In Zone 30 of northeast Kittson County, where the so-called "Caribou-Vita" elk herd ranges between Minnesota and Manitoba, two bull-only tags were available for the Sept. 10-18 season, and both hunters filled their tags for a 100% success rate the same as last year. Elk hunting in Minnesota is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity The Zone 20 hunt, which targets the "Kittson Central" elk herd, was broken into four seasons Aug. 27-Sept. 4, Sept. 10-18, Sept. 24-Oct. 2 and Oct. 8-16 with two either-sex and five antlerless-only tags available for each season. Harvest and success rates by season in Zone 20 were as follows: * Two bulls harvested, two either-sex tags (100% success). * Three cows harvested, five antlerless-only tags (60% success). * Overall: Five for seven elk (71%). * Two bulls harvested, two either-sex tags (100%). * Two cows harvested, five antlerless-only tags (40%). * Overall: Four for seven elk (57%). * One bull harvested, two either-sex tags (50%). * Two cows harvested, five antlerless-only tags (40%). * Overall: Three for seven elk (43%). * Two bulls harvested, two either-sex tags (100%). * One cow harvested, five antlerless-only tags (20%). * Overall: Three for seven elk (43%). Jason Wollin, area wildlife manager for the DNR in Karlstad, Minn., said it's hard to say for sure why success was down, but hunters reported that elk and especially cow elk were scattered and not in typical large herds. Elk also were moving less during daylight, at times, Wollin said. Story continues Weather conditions ranging from extreme heat to cold, windy days depending on the season didn't help, Wollin said, but increased hunting pressure as part of ongoing efforts to reduce the herd size in central Kittson County may be resulting in more educated animals. "The last few years we have been hunting elk in multiple seasons for extended periods of time," Wollin said in an email. "Elk wise up, remember and learn. This makes them harder to hunt." Other factors, including a later-than-usual crop harvest after a long winter and wet spring, also could have played a role, he says. A majority of the bulls harvested were mature 6x5 bulls, Wollin says. An 11-year-old hunter shot a "really nice" 8x9 bull, he says, and two young sisters shot 6x6 bulls in different seasons. "The success rate is still pretty good when you compare it to other states," Wollin said. Despite aggressive hunting in recent years, elk numbers in central Kittson County remain above management goals. The DNR during its winter aerial survey tallied 84 elk 33 bulls and 51 antlerless elk in 2022. That's down from 33 bulls and 69 antlerless elk in 2020 but still above management goals of 50 to 60 elk. The DNR didn't fly a winter survey in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. An even mix of proponents and opponents to teaching critical race theory are in attendance as the Placentia-Yorba Linda School Board discusses a proposed resolution to ban it. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times) Months after an Orange County school district banned teaching critical race theory, Cal State Fullerton has told school officials it is pausing placement of its student teachers in the system's K-12 classrooms, citing concerns that district policies conflict with university goals that promote equity and inclusion in education. Leaders in the universitys College of Education among the biggest providers of teachers into the county's public schools told officials in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District that they did not believe the district would be able to support its student teachers whose training is rooted in diversity, equity, inclusion, social justice and tenets of critical race theory, according to a statement from Lisa Kirtman, dean of the College of Education, and the college's leadership. Clinical practicums, fieldwork and student teaching are major components of effective teacher preparation, the statement said. It is critical that we place teacher candidates in districts that support their growth and development. The college is open to working with the district to provide learning experiences that value "freedom of thought and expression" for the diverse student population. Kirtman declined to comment. In an email, a university spokesperson said the situation is still unfolding. Six student teachers from Cal State Fullerton are working in the Placentia-Yorba Linda district this academic year, down from the 70 or 80 teachers that have typically been placed in the system. In a message to families, district Supt. Michael Matthews said leaders in CSUFs College of Education asked the district over the summer about its commitment to providing a just, equitable and inclusive education after the school board narrowly approved a measure in April banning the teaching of critical race theory. The resolution, which passed 3-2, encourages culturally relevant instruction and states the district values all students and promotes equity and equality. But it also says the district will not allow the use of critical race theory as a framework to guide such efforts, and that other similar frameworks cannot be used to guide teachings on race. Story continues Cal State Fullerton sent a letter to the 24,300-student district at the time, discouraging the move, according to a school board member who read a portion of the letter at a public meeting. Another school board member read aloud another part of the letter in which the university said it is proud its students "come to you with the education to effectively explain and include CRT, as well as ethnic studies in their classrooms." School board member Marilyn Anderson said the university statement bolstered her support of the resolution banning critical race theory, saying, "it is important to pass because our teachers are coming into our district learning these principles and how to incorporate them in a K-12 setting. This is not imagination." It is not clear whether educators in the Placentia-Yorba Linda district have ever taught lessons on critical race theory, a university-level academic framework that seeks to examine how racial inequality and racism are embedded in legal systems, policies and institutions in America. But Republican activists and lawmakers have denigrated the academic theory in recent years as part of their drive to restrict how race and racism are taught in public schools. School board member Leandra Blades, a key supporter of the district's critical race theory ban, said Cal State Fullerton's decision validates her April vote. "I look forward to seeing what colleges and universities we can partner with in the coming months," Blades said in a statement. "The only students being harmed by this political stance [are] the student teachers at CSUF." In his message to families, Matthews said the school district assured the college it would provide a just, equitable, and inclusive education for all students. We are disappointed by their decision to pause the placement of new student teachers in our district, he said. We value our partnership with CSUF, and we look forward to continuing the discussion about renewing their placement of student teachers in PYLUSD. Teacher candidates at Cal State Fullerton participate in 150 hours of fieldwork during their first semester of student teaching, and 450 hours during their second semester, according to the colleges website. The university partners with 14 school districts to place student teachers. Linda Manion, president of the Assn. of Placentia-Linda Educators, an alliance that represents 1,100 educators, said many new hires in the district graduate from Cal State Fullerton. She worries the district will lose out on prospective teachers in the midst of a national teacher shortage. Cal State Fullerton is our lifeblood. They really are a lifeline for our district, she said. When we dont have that pipeline of new teachers coming in, those teachers are going to go to other districts around us." Other colleges in the area place student teachers in Placentia-Yorba Linda, but most come from Cal State Fullerton, Manion said. In a statement, the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District said Cal State Fullerton is the only university to halt student teacher placements in the system. Our school district now has a larger capacity to accept student teacher placement requests from other universities, the statement said. We appreciate the opportunity to meet and train high-quality teachers. Some teachers and parents in the district worry that the lack of extra help from student teachers will harm classrooms at a time when many students are focusing on academic recovery and need extra attention. One teacher who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of political backlash, said teachers are already stretched thin and the removal of student teachers increases their workload. Student teachers typically spend a couple of weeks observing a classroom before transitioning to running the classroom under the guidance of a regular teacher. I was supposed to get a student teacher this semester but I didnt, the teacher said. Now we cant teach the teachers of tomorrow. Alex Siemons, a parent of two high school students in the district, said his daughter benefited from having two Cal State Fullerton student teachers in her orchestra class last year. It has a direct impact on the ability to teach kids in our district, he said, adding he views the decision by Cal State Fullerton as a censure of the ban on critical race theory in the district. The outcome of what happened is hurting kids, teachers, student teachers. Critical race theory remains a key issue in next months school board elections. Carrie Buck and Karin Freeman the two board members who voted against the April resolution are up for reelection. Their challengers are opposed to critical race theory, and are endorsed by the Republican Party of Orange County and two other school board members. Times staff writer Melissa Gomez contributed to this story. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. LIMA (Reuters) - The Organization of American States (OAS) will meet on Thursday to "consider" Peru's political situation at the request of President Pedro Castillo, who last week denounced what he called a coup attempt against his government. The OAS decision to look into the matter at its Permanent Council was published on Wednesday on the Washington-based organization's website. Castillo's government wrote in a letter last week to the OAS that it wanted to "preserve democratic institutionality and the legitimate exercise of power." The letter followed a decision by Peru's attorney general to file a constitutional complaint against Castillo. The attorney general said that investigators had found "very serious indications of a criminal organization that has taken root in the government." The Peruvian president denies any wrongdoing and told press last week that the complaint was an attempted "coup d'etat" orchestrated by the attorney general's office and the opposition-controlled Congress. Castillo faces several investigations by the prosecutor's office, including for influence peddling, obstruction of justice, and directing a criminal organization. Some legislators have said they want to launch an impeachment attempt - which would be the third faced by Castillo since his term began last year - but have acknowledged that they do not have the necessary votes. Others, however, believe that the constitutional complaint could lead to Castillo's suspension, with fewer votes needed than for a formal impeachment. (Reporting by Marco Aquino, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) WASHINGTON A member of the far-right Oath Keepers who stormed the U.S. Capitol testified that he was ready to fight to keep President Donald Trump in office and was preparing himself in the weeks before Jan. 6, 2021, to say goodbye to his family, he testified in a seditious conspiracy trial Tuesday. Jason Dolan, 46, a military veteran, pleaded guilty to a count of conspiracy and a count of obstruction of an official proceeding in September and testified in the trial of five other members of the extremist group under a cooperation agreement with the government. Other cooperating defendants are also expected to testify in the trial. Dolan has not pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy; three other Oath Keepers have. Dolan testified Tuesday that before the Jan. 6 attack, he was drinking often alone and in his garage and getting sucked into online conspiracy theories. "I was watching a lot of videos about the election. At the time I felt like the election had been stolen," he said. Dolan said he was trying to "mentally prepare" at the time for how far he was willing to go to keep Trump in office for a second term. In December 2020 text messages the government displayed Tuesday, Dolan wrote that there was "no coming back" from what he was prepared to do and that he would be "lucky" if he got "a prison sentence, tagged with treason, or a bullet" as a result of his actions. "I think my biggest trouble is trying to convince myself to say good bye to my family, after all they had to endure, with the likelihood of never seeing them again," Dolan wrote in the message to other Florida Oath Keepers. Testifying on Tuesday, Dolan said that he was not just bloviating. "I meant it literally," Dolan said, adding that he was asking himself, "Is this all just going to be talk, or am I willing to back up my words with actions?" Jason Dolan, center, at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida) Dolan testified that he was "pretty pissed" when he heard that Joe Biden had won the election, and he said it "didnt seem possible" that Trump would lose. Story continues "As one person, its not something that you can do by yourself. You need a group. You need a lot of people," he testified. "It felt like within the group I was with that there was a core group that would be willing to fight," Dolan said, referring to the Florida members of the Oath Keepers organization. Echoing language used by Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, Dolan said he felt he needed to be willing to "conquer or die" and, if need be, "take up arms and fight back" on Trump's behalf. Five members of the Oath Keepers, including Rhodes, are on trial on charges of seditious conspiracy. Rhodes has said the "quick reaction force," or QRF, and the stockpile of guns the group set up outside Washington, D.C., would have been brought in only if Trump invoked the Insurrection Act and called on groups like the Oath Keepers. Dolan said he thought that Trump would stop the certification of Biden's victory by invoking the Insurrection Act and that the Oath Keepers would have to do it themselves if Trump didn't. "I didnt really go and look into the legalities of the Insurrection Act," Dolan said. He added that he was anticipating "government on government" fighting and was willing to oppose the incoming Biden administration "by any means necessary." "Thats why we brought our firearms," Dolan said. The government introduced photos of Dolan entering the Capitol, and Dolan testified that he was chanting treason! along with other members of the pro-Trump mob. I wanted them to be afraid of me, he said of members of Congress in the building that day. If they werent going to, in my perspective, do the right thing, maybe they could be scared into doing the right thing. Asked by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nestler how he felt about his actions now, Dolan said: Looking back on it, I think I was pretty naive, downright stupid with some of my decisions. Im thankful that President Trump at the time didnt do something like invoke the Insurrection Act, because there would have been a lot of violence had he. I just feel pretty stupid about the whole thing, Dolan added. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Oct. 19Jurors who must decide the fate of an Odessa man who pleaded guilty to savagely beating a woman during an armed robbery were forced to watch video surveillance of portions of the attack Tuesday and to look at more than 100 photos documenting the bloody scene and the victim's injuries. Isaac Jerald Jackson, 33, pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon in the 244th Ector County District Court just before his trial was set to begin in connection with the March 21 attack at the Garden Rose Spa. As a result of his guilty plea, jurors are now being asked to determine his fate. He's facing 15 years to life on the robbery charge and two to 10 on the weapons charge. Whatever sentences he receives will run concurrently. Odessa Police Department Cpl. Thomas Rallo and Detective Leslie Goodson were the first two witnesses questioned by Assistant Ector County District Attorney Melissa Williams. Rallo testified he began taking pictures of Liying Chen, 62, as paramedics treated her shortly after the assault. His body camera captured more images at the hospital. The photos shown to the jury showed patches where her hair had been yanked from her head. They also showed her bruised and bloody face, hands, arms and legs. One eye was bruised and swollen shut. Rallo's body camera captured her crying and screaming out in pain as he aided a nurse in placing a cervical collar on her. Goodson testified two cameras inside the spa on East 7th Street captured portions of the assault, but the worst of it happened off camera in an office. The 19-year-veteran cop narrated as the black and white video clips were shown, repeatedly stating Chen was "fighting for her life." Goodson told jurors Jackson and another man surveilled the business from across the street before calling and seeing if they could make an appointment. Jackson is seen walking into the lobby of the business. A short time later, he's directed to a massage room. In another clip, Jackson can be seen running out of the room with a disheveled Chen following, clutching her head. Story continues Over the next 10 minutes the video shows Jackson, who Goodson said is 5 foot, 11 inches tall and 200 pounds, assaulting Chen from one end of the business to the other and back again after locking the front door. He's seen strangling the 100-pound, 5-foot-tall woman, shoving a gun in her mouth, pistol whipping her and literally dragging her by her hair all the way down a hallway while talking on a cell phone. At one point, Chen manages to get the back door of the business open, but Jackson is seen throwing her to the ground and then stomping and kicking her. He is ultimately seen removing his bloody hoodie, unlocking the door and leaving. Goodson showed jurors more than 70 color photos that documented the blood left behind in pools, streaks and droplets. She testified Jackson was tied to the crime through the bloody palm print he left while leaning on the wall and kicking Chen and by a bloody fingerprint he left in one of Chen's notebooks. Court documents indicate Jackson has served prison time for a robbery in San Jacinto County and one year in jail for assault family violence in Montgomery County. He's also been arrested multiple other times for theft, aggravated robbery, burglary of a habitation, evading arrest and possession of marijuana. Court documents also show prosecutors intend to present evidence Jackson and other inmates threatened to "incite a coordinated attack on jail staff" back in April, started a fire in the jail and was seen smoking illicit substances that had been smuggled into the jail. Williams also alleged in court documents that Jackson directed people using jail mail and telephone calls to sell guns he's not supposed to possess. Judge James Rush is presiding over the trial. Shots were fired during a police pursuit Wednesday after a carjacking suspect held up a man and his wife in Jackson County. According to Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell, a suspect held up the elderly couple around 3:15 p.m. at a church in St. Martin. Following the robbery, the suspect fled in the victims car, which deputies found a short time later. When the suspect did not stop, a pursuit started, ending with the suspect pulling into the front yard of a residence on Ole Biloxi Road in Latimer. Thats when shots were fired, the sheriff said in a press release. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation will determine who fired the shots, Ezell said. The suspect, whose name has not yet been released, was taken into custody without incident. Ezell says charges are pending against the suspect. Late Wednesday afternoon, crime scene tape blocked off the residence. The Jackson County Sheriffs Office and MBI were on the scene examining a blue SUV that had apparently come to a stop in the front yard of the house. Members of the Mississipp Bureau of Investigation and the Jackson County Sheriffs Office stand near a blue SUV that came to a stop in the front yard of a residence on Old Biloxi Road in the Latimer Community after a police pursuit on October 19, 2022. The drivers side door of the SUV was open. The SUV, a GMC Envoy, was stopped about 50 feet from the front door. MBI will lead the investigation since officers were involved. MBI is currently assessing this critical incident and gathering evidence. Upon completing their investigation, agents will share their findings with the local District Attorneys Office, the office of DPS Commissioner Sean Tindell said in a press release. If you have any information, call the Jackson County Sheriffs Office. An anti-warehouse sign overlooking a plot of land that would be used for new warehouses. Kelsey Neubauer/Insider On a hot evening in late August, residents of a small community in eastern Pennsylvania packed into the local firehouse for a meeting that could change the face of their quiet, rustic home. An Atlanta developer named Core5 Industrial Partners planned to build a 100,569-square-foot warehouse on a plot of land in a busy area of Lowhill Township, a community of just over 2,100 people in the Lehigh Valley. The locals at the firehouse had plenty of concerns. The Core5 warehouse was one of three proposed industrial buildings totaling about 700,000 square feet, all in the same part of the township. Residents had heard the new developments would add at least 175 trucks to the area's winding, two-lane country roads during peak hours. Along with the likely traffic, they would disrupt school-bus routes serving the day-care center across the street from one of the proposed warehouse locations. The warehouses would also mar the views of the rolling Appalachian Mountains that surround the valley's open fields and trees, some residents say. The expanse of pavement could increase water runoff and cause flooding, some said. "There's nobody in that room that wants this to happen," Debra McDermott, a 68-year-old who lives in the neighboring community of Schnecksville and attended the August meeting, told Insider. "Not one person wants this to happen, except whoever is going to make a financial benefit from selling the land." People moved to Lowhill Township and the surrounding area for its country lifestyle, she said. "This warehouse thing," she continued, "is going to change the whole complexion of our community." In early October, township leaders tabled the proposal for the three warehouses after residents continued to voice their concerns, securing at least temporary relief for those opposing the developments. "Not one person that wants this to happen, except whoever is going to make a financial benefit from selling the land," says a Lowhill resident named Debra McDermott. "This warehouse thing is going to change the whole complexion of our community." Kelsey Neubauer/Insider The East Coast's inland port Lowhill Township is just one of many municipalities in the middle of the warehousing boom that has swept over the Lehigh Valley in recent years, fueled by America's growing attachment to e-commerce. An eastern complement to Southern California's Inland Empire, the region is connected by major highways to New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington, DC. It's within a day's drive of more than a third of US residents. Story continues "It's a confluence not of rivers, but of interstates," said Karen Pooley, the director of the environmental-policy program at Lehigh University. "We really are one of the hot spots nationwide for warehouse development." Over in Plainfield Township, 34 miles east of Lowhill, residents are speaking out against a proposed 1 million-square-foot warehouse that the St. Louis firm CRG Services Management plans to build on an empty rural plot along a quiet road. Karen Pooley in front of a warehouse near Lehigh University, where Bethlehem Steel used to be. Kelsey Neubauer/Insider "The only people in favor of it are the people building it and going to make money off of it," said Pat Sutter, a resident of the neighboring Wind Gap, who works as a tax collector. "They don't even live around here." She cited the same concerns voiced by those in Lowhill: Warehouses bring congestion and noise, spoiling the peaceful quality that drew many to the Valley. This tension isn't unique to this bit of Pennsylvania. A new bill under consideration in California's Inland Empire would stop developers in two counties from building or expanding a warehouse within 1,000 feet of most nonindustrial property. Residents are also pushing for laws to limit warehouse development in the area, the nonprofit newsroom Grist reported. But in the Lehigh Valley, development is especially energetic and to many, troubling. Space race The Lehigh Valley is home to nearly 143.5 million square feet of industrial space, according to CBRE's most recent snapshot, the equivalent of nearly 2,500 football fields. Per CBRE, another 11 million square feet are under construction. Since 2018, Amazon, FedEx, and the Whole Foods supplier United Natural Food have moved into the area. In the past two years, as the coronavirus pandemic supercharged e-commerce, 21 new warehouses occupying 9.7 million square feet have opened in the valley, according to Yardi data. Many sit in communities of fewer than 8,000 people. Despite an influx of city-dwellers during the pandemic, the Lehigh Valley remains a largely blue-collar region. The median family income sits between $66,000 and $73,000, just above the national median, according to the 2020 census. The most common jobs are in trade, transportation, and utilities, followed by education and health services, according to the US Department of Labor. The whole reason for the planning board, and the zoning board being in place, is to operate in the best interests of the township. Well thats not being done, said resident Bill Pleban. What's happening is it's operating in the best interests of a few people who stand to stand to gain financially." Kelsey Neubauer/Insider Some of those workers are happy to have the warehouses, which have created jobs, boosted tax revenue, and made land more valuable. Nearly 30,000 jobs were added in the Lehigh Valley from 2010 to 2020, per the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, which didn't specify how many of those were in warehouses. David Jaindl, 67, a farmer and industrial developer who has lived in the Lehigh Valley his whole life, appreciates the economic boost. "These warehouses only exist because there's a need and because of our location," he told Insider. "Folks today, you know, they want things the next day and these sites help provide that." Zone defense Historically, warehouse development was largely limited to the Lehigh Valley's industrial areas, especially the cities of Bethlehem, Allentown, and Easton. Since 2010, as those pockets filled up and e-commerce accelerated, developers have been branching into rural areas that had no rules to stop them. "If you have a zoning code that was written at a time where the thought of a million-square-foot warehouse wasn't even a remote possibility, then you've got a set of regulations that can't account for a warehouse that big and all of the consequences that that it might bring," Pooley said. Over half of residents surveyed by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission in 2018 said warehouses were one of their least favorite things about living in the region, while two out of three named truck traffic. The planning commission, which is responsible for establishing region-wide directives and coordinating between communities to plan for the region's future, is now working with 62 municipalities to build consistent development goals and policies. The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission's executive director, Becky Bradley, said the commission wasn't against warehouse development per se, just rapid and unregulated warehouse development. The commission's ability to slow new development is limited by the fact that Pennsylvania is a right-to-develop state, said Chris Amato, a chair on the planning commission from Northampton County. If local planning boards don't have laws that restrict certain development in certain areas, developers have a right to build there. Chris Amato, a Northampton commissioner on the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, in front of his office in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Kelsey Neubauer/Insider "As a regional, multimunicipal planning board, we're utterly helpless to stop things," he told Insider. Some residents dispute that. "The whole reason for the planning board, and the zoning board being in place, is to operate in the best interests of the township. Well that's not being done," said a resident named Bill Pleban, who lives in the New Tripoli community. "What's happening is it's operating in the best interests of a few people who stand to gain financially." Other sticking points go beyond the bureaucracy or lack thereof. Amato estimates that the price to upgrade the area's infrastructure from improving roads to building new ones to keep up with the warehouses is in the billions. He isn't sure how the Lehigh Valley would pay for it, especially given that the region is running a $4 billion deficit. "We have absolutely no idea how we're going to cover that gap," he said. "By the time we realized that the industry was becoming as large as it was, the horse had already been let out of the barn." The commission has, however, helped these small municipalities push back. In that August firehouse meeting, armed with a review produced by the planning commission, Lowhill Township officials were able to block the development until it addressed issues the township had. Plainfield Township is considering changing its laws to make it harder to build a huge warehouse, but in the meantime the million-square-foot-warehouse proposal remains intact. Warning bells For now, it seems the insatiable demand for warehouse space is outpacing land-use policy. "If land is zoned for a particular use and the property owner does everything that the ordinances require, they have the right to do it," said Blake Marles, an attorney who represents CRG and other developers building warehouses in the region. The Lehigh Valley is an eastern complement to Southern California's Inland Empire, connected by major highways to New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington, DC perfect for warehouses like this one in the nearby Upper Bern Township. Ben Hasty/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle/Getty Images And some think this means locals have lost the right to determine the future of their towns. "The issue is, quite frankly, the industry is unsustainable at this point," Amato said. "Everything in balance is good. But unfortunately, the scales have tipped and now there's a tremendous amount of inequity between the warehousing industry and the people who live here." For people in the thick of it, like McDermott, the warehouse takeover is a warning to other places that have access to key highways and a lot of land. "If it can happen to us, it can happen to anybody," she said. "But if we can set a precedent, maybe in the future, it can help them." Read the original article on Business Insider The parents of a 15-year-old suspect accused of killing 5 people and hurting two others during a mass shooting in Raleigh last week have shared their first statement since the attack, Channel 9s affiliate ABC 11 reported on Tuesday. Through an attorney, Alan and Elise Thompson said there were no warning signs before the shooting and offered their condolences to the victims. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: We grieve for them: 5 killed, including off-duty officer, in Raleigh shooting, police say Words cannot begin to describe our anguish and sorrow our son Austin inflicted immeasurable pain on the Raleigh community, and we are overcome with grief for the innocent lives lost. We pray for the families and loved ones of Nicole Conners, Susan Karnatz, Mary Marshall, and Raleigh Police Officer Gabriel Torres. We mourn for their loss and for the loss of our son, James. We pray that Marcille Lynn Gardner and Raleigh Police Officer Casey Clark fully recover from their injuries, and we pray for everyone who was traumatized by these senseless acts of violence. We have so many unanswered questions. There were never any indications or warning signs that Austin was capable of doing anything like this. Our family will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement officials and do whatever we can to help them understand why and how this happened. RELATED: Absolutely heartbroken: Who were the victims in the deadly Raleigh mass shooting? The family said it would not be speaking with the media. Austin Thompson is accused of killing his older brother, as well as an off-duty Raleigh police officer and three other people on the Neuse River Greenway. On Wednesday, Thompsons mother told WTVD that hes improving in the hospital. Police said he was seriously hurt when police found him after a two-hour standoff following the shooting, but details of how he received those injuries have not been released. Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson said further details were expected to be released on Thursday, WTVD reported. Story continues A public vigil is expected to be held outside the Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh on Sunday at 3 p.m., city officials said. (WATCH BELOW: Billy Graham Rapid Team lends a hand to mourners in Raleigh following mass shooting) Michael Flynn's involvement in the Sarasota County School Board races and the Sarasota GOP is highlighted in a new PBS "Frontline" documentary about the retired general's life and political activities. Titled "Michael Flynn's Holy War," the hour-long program aired Tuesday evening nationwide, including on WEDU in Sarasota. It included an extensive portion on Flynn's political activities since moving to Sarasota, much of which was first reported by the Herald-Tribune. FILE - In this Dec. 18, 2018, file photo, President Donald Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn arrives at federal court in Washington. Flynn is due back in court for the first time in weeks as his lawyers mount an aggressive attack on the special counselas Russia investigation. U.S. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) The joint investigation by "Frontline" and the Associated Press traces Flynn's life from his Catholic upbringing in Rhode Island and early involvement in the anti-abortion movement through his mother, a political activist, to his high-level military service overseas and work on former President Donald Trump's campaign. More of our coverage on Michael Flynn Michael Flynn and Proud Boy join Sarasota GOP executive committee in far right shift Michael Flynn speaks out about why he is trying to oust Sarasota GOP leader Jack Brill Michael Flynn tried to overturn an election. Now he's trying to oust Sarasota's GOP leader Trump made Flynn his first national security adviser, but he resigned amid questions about conversations he had with Russia's ambassador to the United States. He eventually pled guilty to lying to the FBI. Trump later pardoned Flynn and he moved to Englewood in southern Sarasota County, where he has since become active in local politics. Flynn is described in the "Frontline" program as a lifelong culture warrior who is now waging a "spiritual war" in America, whipping up crowds as he travels the country on his ReAwaken tour. The documentary notes that Flynn and a Proud Boy recently joined the Sarasota GOP executive committee, as first reported by the Herald-Tribune. The "Frontline" program also discusses Flynn's involvement, along with other far right individuals such as Flynn ally Vic Mellor, who owns The Hollow in Venice, and area Proud Boys in the Sarasota County School Board races. "Frontline" interviewed Mellor at The Hollow. Story continues The show mentions that Mellor helped fund a political committee that paid for inflammatory attacks against School Board candidates, including calling one candidate a "baby killer." The Herald-Tribune wrote in August about the over-the-top attacks being employed in the School Board races. The documentary also includes other images from around Sarasota County, including video of Proud Boy James Hoel testifying at a School Board meeting and protesting outside School Board member Shirley Brown's home, and an interview with Carol Lerner, director of Sarasota group Support Our Schools. Lerner has documented activities by far right individuals in Sarasota County. The PBS show "Frontline" aired an hour-long documentary Tuesday on Michael Flynn that highlights his political activities in Sarasota County. The Herald-Tribune reported on Aug. 15, the week before the School Board election, that Flynn had recently posted about the Sarasota School Board races on Telegram, and also wrote about the involvement of the Proud Boys in the School Board races. The full documentary can be viewed on PBS's website. Follow Herald-Tribune Political Editor Zac Anderson on Twitter at @zacjanderson. He can be reached at zac.anderson@heraldtribune.com This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Donald Trump ally Michael Flynn featured on PBS show Frontline Former Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the Heritage Foundation. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Mike Pence declared that Republicans should not abandon Ukraine as it continues to fight Russia. The former vice president's words come as Republican lawmakers express unease about passing more aid. Pence's said American support must remain "until Russia relents and until peace is restored." Former Vice President Mike Pence declared that the US should not back away from supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia just a day after House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said that a Republican-led House would not issue a "free blank check." "We must continue to provide Ukraine with the resources to defend themselves," Pence said during a speech about the future of conservatism at the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank. "We must continue to bring economic pressure of the most powerful economy in the world on Russia. And we must continue to provide the generosity, compassion, and prayers of the American people until Russia relents and until peace is restored." Pence even echoed an FDR phrase that President Joe Biden has also used, calling the US an "arsenal of democracy" amid Russia's war. McCarthy's comments signaled a tectonic shift away from the robust and bipartisan US support for Ukraine over nearly eight months, coming from the man who is in line to be speaker of the House should Republicans retake the chamber this November. "I think people are gonna be sitting in a recession and they're not going to write a blank check to Ukraine," McCarthy told Punchbowl News in an interview published on Tuesday. "They just won't do it. It's not a free blank check." The California Republican's words underline the growing tension that has bubbled up within the Republican Party as billions in aid and arms flows overseas. Once just the purview of further-right lawmakers such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, 11 GOP senators voted against a $40 billion aid package in May. Depending on how key midterm races shake out, the GOP could add even more Ukraine-skeptic lawmakers to their ranks. Like former President Donald Trump, author JD Vance, who is locked in a tight Ohio Senate race, and similar hopefuls prefer a more isolationist US foreign policy than the neoconservatism that defined George W. Bush's White House. Story continues Pence, who is widely viewed to be considering a 2024 presidential run, aligned himself with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who just last month declared that the "vast majority" of the GOP remains transfixed on Ukraine beating Russia. "There are a few voices on the right that seem to oppose the war, but the vast majority of us, certainly including myself, think defeating the Russians in Ukraine is high-priority," McConnell told Defense News in September. Read the original article on Business Insider Former Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday warned conservatives against veering too far toward unprincipled populism, delivering a speech with several veiled swipes at former President Trumps fixation on the 2020 election and grip on the party. Conservatism is bigger than any one moment, any one election, any one person. Its about ideas, Pence said in remarks at The Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. Pence, who is seen as laying the groundwork for a potential 2024 presidential bid, laid out the fork in the road facing the conservative movement. He argued that some in the Republican Party prefer a simple conservative agenda that focuses on limited government and strong national defense, while others believe the movement should be swept along by a new and energetic sense of populism. Pence argued the Trump administration was able to blend both of those ideas, passing tax cuts and bolstering military spending while focusing on border security and other issues that animated Trumps base. But Pence warned against abandoning conservative values in favor of following unprincipled leaders. Our movement cannot forsake the foundational commitment that we have to security, to limited government, to liberty and to life, Pence said. But nor can we allow our movement to be led astray by the siren song of unprincipled populism thats unmoored from our oldest traditions and most cherished values. Let me say: This movement and the party that it animates must remain the movement of a strong national defense, limited government and traditional moral values and life, he added. Pence used his speech at The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank founded in the 1970s that was particularly influential during the Reagan administration, to highlight key aspects of his proposed Freedom Agenda, which includes advocating for abortion bans, protecting gun rights and pushing for school choice, among other issues. We must do more than simply criticize and complain, Pence said. We must unite around a bold and optimistic agenda. And that was how the freedom agenda was born. Story continues Pence has been making the rounds in recent weeks to boost Republican candidates ahead of next months midterm elections. He has campaigned in New Hampshire, with Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.), who voted to impeach Trump in 2021, and in Arizona with Senate candidate Blake Masters. The former vice president, who spent four years as a staunchly loyal sidekick to Trump, has been willing to break with the former president on certain issues, most notably his claims that the 2020 election was stolen. And Pence endorsed opposing candidates from Trump in GOP primaries, with success in Georgia and defeats in Arizona and Wisconsin. Pence has made frequent trips to early primary states like South Carolina, New Hampshire and Iowa, stoking speculation that he may run for president in 2024. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON (AP) Former Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday warned against the growing populist tide in the Republican Party as he admonished Putin apologists unwilling to stand up to the Russian leader over his assault on Ukraine. Speaking at the conservative Heritage Foundation in Washington less than a month before November's midterm elections, Pence addressed the growing gulf between traditional conservatives and a new generation of populist candidates inspired, in part, by former President Donald Trump. Our movement cannot forsake the foundational commitment that we have to security, to limited government, to liberty and to life. But nor can we allow our movement to be led astray by the siren song of unprincipled populism thats unmoored from our oldest traditions and most cherished values," he told the think tank audience. "Let me say: This movement and the party that it animates must remain the movement of a strong national defense, limited government and traditional moral values and life. To that end, Pence criticized those in the party who have pushed a more isolationist foreign policy, particularly when it comes to Russian aggression. Earlier Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared martial law for four illegally annexed Ukrainian regions as his forces have suffered stinging battlefield defeats and renewed attacks on Ukrainian cities and vital infrastructure. Now, I know there is a rising chorus in our party, including some new voices to our movement, who would have us disengaged with the wider world," Pence said. "But appeasement has never worked, ever, in history. And now more than ever, we need a conservative movement committed to Americas role as leader of the free world and as a vanguard of American values. As Russia continues its unconscionable war of aggression to Ukraine, I believe that conservatives must make it clear that Putin must stop and Putin will pay," he added. "There can be no room in the conservative movement for apologists to Putin. There is only room in this movement for champions of freedom. Story continues Pence has been traveling the country, campaigning on behalf of Republican midterm candidates as he lays the groundwork for a potential 2024 presidential campaign. Some of the candidates he has endorsed have espoused the kinds of populist and isolationist views he seemed to take issue with Wednesday. Arizona's Republican Senate candidate Blake Masters, for instance, has labeled the Russia-Ukraine conflict a European problem and has criticized federal spending on Ukraine. Pence's speech largely focused on the conservative Freedom Agenda" that he released earlier this year. It serves as both a concrete policy plan for Republicans as well as an implicit criticism of Trump, who has spent much of his time since leaving office obsessing about the 2020 election. Pence has been a target of Trump's ire since he refused to go along with the former president's unconstitutional plot to try to overturn the will of voters in January 2021. Pence once again stressed the importance of the oath he took when he was sworn in as vice president, adding that, The American people must know that conservatives will not simply pay lip service to keeping faith with the Constitution, but that we will always keep our oath that we will keep our oath, as the Bible says, even when it hurts" and stand for the Constitution ... even when it would be politically expedient to do otherwise. Pence has spent the last year trying to walk a careful line, distancing himself from his former boss while at the same time touting the accomplishments of the Trump-Pence administration. Speaking later Wednesday evening before students at Georgetown University, Pence was asked whether he would vote for Trump if Trump becomes the Republican Party's nominee for president in 2024. Well, there might be somebody else Id prefer more," he said, drawing applause from the crowd. He said he is currently focused solely on the midterms, but added, Ill keep you posted." Pence's speech was briefly interrupted at one point by audience members who walked out of the auditorium in protest. A Penn State student was found dead after an off-campus party on Sunday, according to the State College Police Department. Emergency crews were called to the 300 block of West College Avenue around 4:17 a.m. on Oct. 16 to help a 21-year-old man who was found unresponsive by his roommate. Police and EMS arrived and attempted lifesaving measures, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. The Centre County Coroners Office and State College police are jointly investigating. According to a release from State College police, the preliminary investigations indicate the death was an accident and excessive alcohol consumption was a contributing factor. Police said earlier that night the 21-year-old student attended a party on West Beaver Avenue, where he reportedly consumed an excessive amount of alcohol during a drinking game. A toxicology report is pending. Anyone who may have information regarding this incident is asked to contact the SCPD at (814) 234-7150, by email or submit an anonymous tip through their website. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: School bus crashes into pole in Forest Hills PHOTOS: Pole slices through school bus in Forest Hills crash Police investigating fatal Parkway East crash VIDEO: Forest Hills Assistant Fire Chief gives update after school bus crashes into pole DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts By Daniel Trotta (Reuters) - A U.S. grand jury has indicted a jailed Pennsylvania man for threatening to kill the chair of the congressional committee investigating the January 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol, prosecutors said on Wednesday. Robert Vargo, 25, of Berwick, Pennsylvania, also threatened to kill the committee chair's family and President Joe Biden, prosecutors said. He was charged with threatening the president of the United States, threat by interstate communications, and influencing a federal official by threat, the U.S. Attorney's office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania said in a statement. Reuters could not immediately identify the lawyer representing Vargo in order to seek a comment in his defense. Vargo, who once escaped from the Pennsylvania jail where he is being held, could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the federal charges. Prosecutors allege Vargo sent a threatening letter and white powder to the congressional office of U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson, chairman of the committee that is investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. The letter, which referenced the congressional probe and anthrax, also threatened U.S. District Court Judge Robert Mariani, according to prosecutors. "I'm going to kill you! I will make you feel the rest of our pain & suffering," the letter to Thompson said. "There is nowhere or nobody who can keep you from me. I am going to kill you & those you love." The letter also says, "You & Joe Biden soon will face death for the wrongs you've done to US." U.S. Capitol Police who investigated the threat found the white powder to be harmless. Vargo sent the letter from the Luzerne County Correctional Facility, prosecutors said. Vargo had escaped from the Pennsylvania jail in July and was caught several days later in South Carolina, according to media reports at the time that cited Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce. (Reporting by Daniel Trotta in Carlsbad, Calif.; Editing by Matthew Lewis) WASHINGTON The U.S. military in recent weeks awarded Lockheed Martin $179 million to replace High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems it sent from its own stockpiles to Ukraine, according to Pentagon data set to be released on Wednesday. News of the spending, which is part of $3.4 billion in Ukraine-related contracting actions for arms and equipment since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war eight months ago, coincided with Lockheeds disclosure Tuesday that its increasing HIMARS and GMLRS production by nearly 60 percent. The systems have become a key tool in Ukraines ability to strike bridges that Russia has used to supply its troops, enabling Ukrainian forces to make inroads in Russia-controlled regions. The replacement contracting actions include $95 million in August and September for HIMARS, which has played a pivotal role in Ukraines counter-offensive against Russian troops in the east and south, and $84 million in September for the GPS-guided GMLRS rockets, which have a range of more than 80 kilometers. Because of the way the Pentagon presents the information, its unclear how much of the funding is to buy new systems and how much includes investments in the industrial base to expand or accelerate production throughput. The contracts are not expected to yield immediate deliveries. Replacement contracts are expected to deliver over multiple years, as many capabilities delivered to Ukraine, such as advanced munitions, have two- to three-year production times, the Pentagon says in its fact sheet. Lockheed is set to ramp up HIMARS production to 96 launchers annually, from its current level of 60, the firms chief executive, Jim Taiclet said during a third-quarter earnings call Tuesday. Lockheed invested $65 million to buy parts in advance, an expense the government is expected to pay back, in order to speed up production, Taiclet said. The company anticipated demand for HIMARS and other products in Europe, which is arming up in the wake of Russias invasion. Story continues That was without a contract or any other memo or whatnot back from the government, Taiclet said of the investment. We just went ahead and did that because we expected it to happen. So those parts are already being manufactured now. Lawmakers seek emergency powers for Pentagons Ukraine war contracting The Pentagon announced this month it would soon be delivering four more HIMARS to Ukraine, bringing the total number sent to 20. Weeks earlier, it announced plans to buy 18 of the weapons for Ukraine through longer-term contracts funded by Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. We really believe that the most critical requirement for Ukraine right now is the GMLRS munitions that can reach most of the targets that they have identified within Ukrainian territory. And weve seen that theyre using them to great effect, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Sasha Baker told reporters at the time. In late August, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, Bill LaPlante, and the Armys chief weapons buyer, Doug Bush, visited Lockheeds HIMARS and GMLRS plant in Camden, Arkansas. LaPlante announced plans for the Pentagon to spend $200 million to expand and accelerate HIMARS and GMLRS production. Bush told Defense News this month that the Army is looking to dramatically ramp up quickly the production line for GMLRS, and that it was one of the systems the Pentagon would like to see produced at double or triple its current rate. Though in 2018 the Army scaled back the quantities of GLRS it was ordering, Bush said the production line remained pretty warm and much easier to ramp up than if the line had stopped entirely. Washington is working to expand defense industry capacity in the wake of the war. Lawmakers have introduced bipartisan legislation in the Senate that would grant the Pentagon fast-track procurement powers, and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Brussels last week pushed to galvanize allied defense industrial bases to fire up production for the systems to defend Ukraine, even while meeting our own security needs. Maintaining ample levels of the GMLRS ammunition is key concern for the U.S. military, as is boosting the capacity to produce a range of munitions, said Bradley Bowman, the senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based nonpartisan think tank. I really think were confronting a U.S. munition production capacity crisis because for too long we procured things at the minimum rate, just to keep production lines going and now were paying the piper, Bowman said. Surge capacity is not there, and we need to be procuring enough to arm our own forces and ensure their readiness while providing Ukraine and Taiwan with what they need. Jen Judson contributed to this report. BRUSSELS/KYIV (Reuters) - The European Parliament on Wednesday awarded the people of Ukraine its annual Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to honour their fight against Russia's invasion. "They are standing up for what they believe in. Fighting for our values. Protecting democracy, freedom and rule of law. Risking their lives for us," European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said when she announced the winner. "There is no one more deserving of this prize," she said. The award comes with prize money of 50,000 euros ($49,100), which will be distributed to representatives of Ukrainian civil society. "Now Ukraine is in the centre of the world's attention. Ukraine deserves this prize because it sets" an example of what a democratic society should be, Tetiana Trofymchuk, a 26-year-old musician, told Reuters in Kyiv. The prize, named after the late Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, has been awarded annually since 1988 to individuals and organizations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms. "(The prize) seems and sounds to me rather superficial, but it is nice of them to give it to us. It is yet another reason to speak about Ukraine and its achievements. Great," said Svitlana, a 36-year-old businesswoman who declined to give her last name. Last year the award was given to jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny for his efforts to challenge Russian President Vladimir Putin's grip on power. Other past winners include South African President Nelson Mandela, Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai and the democratic opposition of Belarus. ($1 = 1.0181 euros) (Reporting by Andrii Pryimachenko in Kyiv, Charlotte Van Campenhout and Benoit Van Overstraeten in Brussels; Editing by Gareth Jones and Paul Simao) Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) shareholders might be concerned after seeing the share price drop 13% in the last quarter. On the bright side the share price is up over the last half decade. In that time, it is up 22%, which isn't bad, but is below the market return of 55%. After a strong gain in the past week, it's worth seeing if longer term returns have been driven by improving fundamentals. See our latest analysis for Pfizer While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. Over half a decade, Pfizer managed to grow its earnings per share at 31% a year. The EPS growth is more impressive than the yearly share price gain of 4% over the same period. Therefore, it seems the market has become relatively pessimistic about the company. The reasonably low P/E ratio of 8.39 also suggests market apprehension. The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). We know that Pfizer has improved its bottom line over the last three years, but what does the future have in store? You can see how its balance sheet has strengthened (or weakened) over time in this free interactive graphic. What About Dividends? As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. In the case of Pfizer, it has a TSR of 54% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return. Story continues A Different Perspective We're pleased to report that Pfizer shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 8.2% over one year. That's including the dividend. Having said that, the five-year TSR of 9% a year, is even better. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Pfizer that you should be aware of before investing here. If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on US exchanges. 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 PGT Innovations has acquired a Utah-based manufacturer of garage doors. PGT Innovations, Inc. has moved into the garage door business with its acquisition of a Utah manufacturer. Venice-based PGT, which manufactures impact-resistant windows and doors, said this week that it has acquired Martin Door Holdings, Inc., of Salt Lake City, for $185 million. PGT entered into a new, five-year, $250 million revolving credit facility to fund the transaction, extend maturities and create liquidity; cash was also used in the purchase. The acquisition of Martin, an 85-year-old custom manufacturer of premium overhead garage doors and hardware for the commercial and residential markets, will expand PGT's product portfolio and strengthen its presence in the western U.S., according to the company. More in North Venice: New 'Together We Shine' Tervis tumbler to support Florida Disaster Fund Martin will become the flagship garage doors brand for PGT. Its 173 team members will stay on through the acquisition, and CEO Scott Huntsman will become president of Martin Doors. PGT president and CEO Jeff Jackson said that Martin's focus on quality, safety and innovation within its industry made it the perfect fit. "As we looked to expand beyond our existing window and door market, we wanted to ensure we could leverage our team's extensive knowledge in the area of protecting the envelope of homes and buildings," Jackson said. "The garage door entry market aligns extremely well with that strategy." Martin's balance sheet was also strong, according to PGT. Demand for its products, as well as its cost structure, allowed Martin to see margins in excess of 30% in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization with a strong cash flow conversion. The company is expected to generate sales of about $60 million in 2022. Other PGT brands in the western U.S. region include Western Window Systems and Anlin Windows & Doors. Support local journalism with a digital subscription to the Herald Tribune. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: PGT Innovations moves into garage door market with acquisition Should you be a Playboy Bunny for Halloween? This iconic costume has a long history. (Photo: David Becker/Getty Images for Playboy Enterprises) Take a peek around your next Halloween party, and youre bound to find at least one person sporting a Playboy Bunny costume. The uniform of the waitresses at the Playboy Club, the chain of nightclubs founded by Hugh Hefner that began with the Chicago club in 1960, has become a staple of the Halloween scene. And stars like Kylie Jenner and Bella Thorne have sported the look in recent years even as Playboy, and the late Hefner, have come under intense scrutiny. Playboy actually sells an official version of the costume, which consists of a black polyester-spandex bodice, bunny ears and a fluffy tail but you dont have to purchase the official $125 (Halloween sale price) version in order to get the look. Homemade versions of the costume are ubiquitous, even in pop culture, such as when Regina George (Rachel McAdams) dressed up like a Playboy-esque rabbit for the famous Halloween party in Mean Girls where she seduced Aaron Samuels (Jonathan Bennett). The history The original design for the Playboy Bunny costume is credited to Playmate Ilse Taurins. She was dating promotions director, Victor Lownes, and suggested to him that the waitresses look like the Playboy rabbit, which had a bow-tie. Zelda Barbour Wynn Valdes is credited with creating the first Playboy Bunny outfits, which would go on to be worn to Halloween parties around the world. And as Regina George knew well, the Playboy Bunny costume evokes sexiness but it is based on a real work uniform, and it was constructed with some practical implications in mind. Kevin L. Jones, the curator at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles, explains that at first, the uniform at the Playboy Club was supposed to look very different. Initially, Hugh Hefner wanted the waitresses to look like the old Ziegfeld Folliesin these very elaborate outfits, he tells Yahoo Life. But it was impractical to serve food and such. These were supper clubs, they werent burlesque or strip clubs. They were very expensive, high-class supper clubs. Story continues Bunnies pose at the Chicago Playboy Club in an undated photo. (Photo: Getty Images) In fact, Jones says, Hefner originally thought the outfits looked a bit too much like bathing suits of the 60s to really be as sexy as intended. Hefner changed the design to make the look a bit more revealing but, as Jones points out, only the top of the Bunny is really exposed, thanks to the outfits nude pantyhose and dyed matching shoes. There were major standards for the uniform, Jones says, which included making sure the details were on point. The identical Bunny uniforms were part of the Playboy Club fantasy. Each individual Bunny was responsible for her hair, her makeup, her nails, and that the cuff and the collar were absolutely starched and pristine white, he says. Everything else was taken care of for you. And if something got damaged, there was always somebody there to repair your outfits. Deirdre Clemente, an associate professor of history at the University of Nevada, explains to Yahoo Life that unlike the spandex and polyester blends of todays costume, the original Playboy Bunny uniforms were not so forgiving. They were cut individually to each Bunny and each had to make sure they fit into the costume if they wanted to keep working. Bunnies were selected for their figures, and the cut-off age was about 25. It was a very heavy screening process, she explains. You had to fit certain characteristics. Your weight was monitored as a part of their job To wear this costume, you were subjecting yourself to whether or not your manager thinks your butt looks a little big today it really is a culturally heavy garment. This was a regulated, elite costume. The boning in the waist would have made Scarlett OHara blanch, and the entire construction tended to push all available flesh up to the bosom," wrote famous feminist Gloria Steinem in 1963 about wearing her costume when she went undercover as a Playboy Bunny. Physically, it was a challenging uniform to move in and sitting wasnt exactly an option. The term the Bunny dip referred to a certain maneuver in which the Bunny would lean backwards while bending at the knees in order to serve drinks without coming out of her costume. If you were on your break, you would perch on a tall stool because you couldn't sit down comfortably, Jones says. So you had the bunny perch, the Bunny dip you know, all these kind of things that these women had to practice in order to make perfect. And, of course, all of this was done with a smile. While the Bunnies job was to aid in creating a fantasy in this high-end supper club, there were also measures in place to make sure that Bunnies were being taken care of. The clubs had Bunny Mothers, who oversaw the club and made sure there were no problems. Bunnies, according to Jones, were forbidden from being touched by patrons and doing so would have them escorted out of the club. In fact, it was often quite lucrative to be a Bunny, Jones says, calling the money phenomenal during the clubs height in the 60s and 70s. You can make up to, like, $300 a night, he notes. A lot of the women that we're working at the club were also going to school at the same time it helped them to pay the tuition. The controversy The chain of Playboy Clubs became history in 1988, when the last outpost, in Michigan, officially closed its doors. Since then, other clubs have opened using the name (including one that opened for a brief time in New York City in 2018 before shutting down the following year), but the era of the supper club and its Bunnies has long since ended. Many of the women went on to appear in the Playboy magazine, while others hung up their ears and moved on. Playboy, the company, has long contended with different views on its identity. Is Playboy empowering women by allowing them to make money off their bodies by posing nude in magazines, or working as a scantily-clad waitress? Or, is Playboy merely commodifying the objectification of women a viewpoint Gloria Steinem elaborated on in her famous 1963 essay, "A Bunny's Tale," about going undercover on the job? The Bunny costume remains a cultural relic one that has some complicated ties. While many women may have loved their experiences in the club, it can be challenging to separate the Playboy Bunny uniform from the companys recent allegations. In fact, The Independent just listed the Playboy Bunny costume as one of the more problematic costumes you could wear this Halloween season right alongside that of Jeffrey Dahmer. It's a feeling that's been resonating with social media users. bitches really be thinking playboy mansion themed halloween parties and hugh hefner costumes are cute... ok rape culture enablers lucie (@kittyxxdoll) November 2, 2019 The recent A&E documentary series Secrets of Playboy included accusations of rape against Hefner, who died in 2017, as well as allegations that women who came to the mansion were passed around as sexual favors for the men who came to parties at the Playboy Mansion. Other allegations that are the subject of a lawsuit against the company include forced drug use and being coerced into having sex on camera. Maybe its just me, but every year I kinda wish the playboy bunny/Hugh Hefner Halloween costumes would die away. He notoriously exploited women & had multiple harassment & assault allegations against him. Just not someone you want to be dressing up as. Amanah F. (@AmanahF_DO) November 1, 2021 But does wearing a Playboy Bunny costume on Halloween mean giving Playboy, the company, a pass for its allegedly bad behavior? Bridget Marquardt, former star of reality series The Girls Next Door and one of Hefners former main girlfriends, has spoken out about her complicated relationship with Playboy and the expectations of living in the Playboy Mansion with Hefner. Yet she thinks that the costume should not embody all that Playboy is. Man watching this Secrets of Playboy series and so glad i never dressed up in that costume. Hugh Hefner got away with so much shit! Tinytr2ntup (@tinytr2ntup) February 12, 2022 The Playboy bunny costume is iconic, she tells Yahoo Life. I wanted one for so, so long until I finally got mine, and I still love it. I don't think there's anything wrong with people who still wear it. I feel like it has a vintage retro coolness to it that can stand alone, as far as iconicness. It does not have to represent Hef, the mansion or any of the stories that go on there. Playboy, the brand, is different from Hef and the mansion. Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Life's newsletter. Sign up here. By Soo-hyang Choi SEOUL (Reuters) -Poland signed an agreement on Wednesday to buy 288 artillery rocket launchers in its latest arms deal with South Korea, following shipments of tanks and howitzers, as it ramps up weapons imports after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The first 18 of the Chunmoo rocket launchers will be delivered as soon as 2023 to protect eastern Poland, Defence Minister Mariusz Baszczak said. The weapons are made by Hanwha Defense, the defence unit of South Korea's Hanwha Corp. The agreement comes as South Korean companies shipped the first batch of tanks and howitzers to Poland. The two countries signed a $5.8 billion contract in Warsaw in July in a deal that Poland said was a key part of its effort to beef up its military after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Feb. 24 invasion, which Russia calls a "special military operation", has raised security fears among many former eastern bloc countries. NATO member Poland has vowed to boost defence spending to 3% of gross domestic product and to more than double the size of its army. Hyundai Rotem Co. said its first shipment included 10 K2 Black Panther tanks of the 180 to be delivered by 2025. Hanwha Defense said it was sending 24 K9 self-propelled howitzers, among 212 to be shipped by 2026. Poland has also agreed to buy 48 FA-50 fighter jets from South Korea. Mariusz Blaszczak, Poland's defence minister, said in a July media interview the aircraft would be delivered next year. (Reporting by Soo-hyang Choi; Additional reporting by Anna Koper and Pawel Florkiewicz in WarsawEditing by Gerry Doyle, Peter Graff) A couple of years into the pandemic, Shirley Neville had finally had enough of her shoddy internet service. When I was getting ready to use my tablet for a meeting, it was cutting off and not coming on, said Neville, who lives in a middle-class neighborhood in New Orleans whose residents are almost all Black or Latino. Neville said she was willing to pay more to be able to Zoom without interruption, so she called AT&T to upgrade her connection. She said she was told there was nothing the company could do. In her area, AT&T only offers download speeds of 1 megabit per second or less, trapping her in a digital Stone Age. Her internet is so slow that it doesnt meet Zooms recommended minimum for group video calls; doesnt come close to the Federal Communications Commissions definition of broadband, currently 25 Mbps; and is worlds below median home internet speeds in the U.S., which average 167 Mbps. In my neighborhood, its terrible, Neville said. But thats not the case in other parts of New Orleans. AT&T offers residents of the mostly white, upper-income neighborhood of Lakeview internet speeds almost 400 times faster than Nevillesfor the same price: $55 a month. This story was reported by The Markup, and the story and data were distributed by The Associated Press. The vast gulf between the qualities of service AT&T offered these neighborhoods for the same cost is not a fluke. The Markup gathered and analyzed more than 800,000 internet service offers from AT&T, Verizon, Earthlink, and CenturyLink in 38 cities across America and found that all four routinely offered fast base speeds at or above 200 Mbps in some neighborhoods for the same price as connections below 25 Mbps in others. The places neighborhoods offered the worst deals had lower median incomes in nine out of 10 cities in the analysis. In two-thirds of the cities where The Markup had enough data to compare, the providers gave the worst offers to the least white neighborhoods. Story continues These providers also disproportionately gave the worst offers to formerly redlined areas in every one of the 22 cities examined where digitized historical maps were available. These are areas a since-disbanded agency created by the federal government in the 1930s had deemed hazardous for financial institutions to invest in, often because the residents were Black or poor. Redlining was outlawed in 1968. By failing to price according to service speed, these companies are demanding some customers pay dramatically higher unit prices of advertised download speed than others. CenturyLink, which showed the most extreme disparities, offered some customers service of 200 Mbps, amounting to as little as $0.25 per Mbps, but offered others living in the same city only 0.5 Mbps for the same pricea unit price of $100 per Mbps, or 400 times as much. Residents of neighborhoods offered the worst deals arent just being ripped off; theyre denied the ability to participate in remote learning, well-paying remote jobs, and even family connection and recreationubiquitous elements of modern life. It isnt just about the provision of a better service. Its about access to the tools people need to fully participate in our democratic system, said Chad Marlow, senior policy counsel at the ACLU. That is a far bigger deal and thats what really worries me about what youre finding. Christopher Lewis, president and CEO of the nonprofit Public Knowledge, which works to expand internet access, said The Markups analysis shows how far behind the federal government is when it comes to holding internet providers to account. Nowhere have we seen either the FCC nor the Congress, who ultimately has authority as well, study competition in the marketplace and pricing to see if consumers are being price gouged or if those service offerings make sense. None of the providers denied charging the same fee for vastly different internet speeds to different neighborhoods in the same cities. But they said their intentions were not to discriminate against communities of color and that there were other factors to consider. The industry group USTelecom , speaking on behalf of Verizon, said the cost of maintaining the antiquated equipment used for slow speed service plays a role in its price. Fiber can be hundreds of times faster than legacy broadbandbut that doesnt mean that legacy networks cost hundreds of times less, USTelecom senior vice president Marie Johnson said in an email. Operating and maintaining legacy technologies can be more expensive, especially as legacy network components are discontinued by equipment manufacturers. AT&T spokesperson Jim Greer said in an emailed statement that The Markups analysis is fundamentally flawed because it clearly ignored our participation in the federal Affordable Connectivity Program and our low-cost Access by AT&T service offerings. That federal program was launched in 2021 and pays up to $30 a month for internet for low-income residents, or $75 on tribal lands. Any suggestion that we discriminate in providing internet access is blatantly wrong, he said, adding that AT&T plans on spending $48 billion on service upgrades over the next two years. Recent research looking at 30 major cities found only about a third of eligible households had signed up for the federal subsidy, however, and the majority use it to help cover cellphone bills, which also qualify. Greer declined to say how many or what percentage of AT&Ts internet customers are signed up for either the ACP or the companys own low-cost program for low-income residents. In a letter to the FCC, AT&T insisted its high-speed internet deployments are driven by household density, not median incomes. But when The Markup ran a statistical test controlling for density, it still found AT&T disproportionately offered slower speeds to lower-income areas in three out of four of the 20 cities where we investigated their service. We do not engage in discriminatory practices like redlining and find the accusation offensive, Mark Molzen, a spokesperson for CenturyLinks parent company, Lumen, wrote in an email. He said that The Markups analysis is deeply flawed without specifying how. He did not respond to requests for clarification. EarthLink, which doesnt own internet infrastructure in the examined cities but rather rents capacity from other providers, did not provide an official comment despite repeated requests. Internet prices are not regulated by the federal government because unlike telephone service, internet service is not considered a utility. Las Vegas is one city where large swaths of CenturyLinks offers were for slow service. Almost half didnt meet the current federal definition of broadband. These fell disproportionately on Las Vegass lower-income and least white areas. I think its unfair knowing that it is slow service that were paying for that is not commensurate with the faster speeds that they have in the other parts of the city that are paying the same price, said Las Vegas councilwoman Olivia Diaz. It just breaks my heart to know were not getting the best bang for our buck. Some officials told The Markup theyve been yelling for years about bad service for high prices. If I was paying $6 a month, Joshua Edmonds, Detroits director of digital inclusion, well you get what youre paying for. But he objects to people being asked to pay premium rates for bad service. What I pay versus what I get doesnt really make sense. A Pope John XXIII Regional High School science teacher was charged Monday after authorities say he had hundreds of images and videos of child sexual abuse, including those he allegedly took of students in his classroom and at a school dance. Michael F. Wagner, 39, of Hopatcong, who worked for several years at the academy's Rev. George A. Brown Elementary School before he was hired at Pope John last year, was charged with endangering the welfare of children, possession of items depicting the sexual exploitation or abuse of a child and invasion of privacy, according to arrest documents obtained by the New Jersey Herald. Video captured earlier this month on an in-classroom camera showed Wagner use his cellphone to record and/or take photos of female students while he was seated at his desk and while walking around the room, a Sparta police detective said in the arrest report. Wagner, who taught eighth grade physics and science, used a notepad to cover the screen of the phone and had female students move to desks in the front of the classroom so he could film them from underneath his desk, the report states. Pope John XXIII Regional High School, in Sparta, is seen on April 11, 2019. Students at the Roman Catholic private school wear uniforms; girls wear pleated skorts, slacks, polo shirts and sweaters. Authorities searched Wagner's home and took five laptops and five cellphones, which had hundreds of images and videos he purportedly took underneath the skorts of students as well as recordings captured underneath the dresses of girls at the school's homecoming dance, records show. Other similar recordings were taken by Wagner at prior places of employment and devices taken from his home also had multiple images of child sexual abuse material, police said. A preliminary law enforcement report states Wagner "attempted to conceal, discard or destroy evidence" by hiding it in a couch. Wagner's alleged transgressions were first reported by another teacher who overheard several students talking about Wagner recording them during class. The teacher notified administration, who called police and reported the alleged inappropriate conduct to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson on Oct. 11. Story continues Wagner was immediately suspended and informed that he was strictly prohibited from accessing or being near the school property or a school function, according to Jai Agnish, a spokesperson for the Diocese of Paterson. Wagner was also instructed not to contact any students. NJ newsMount Olive suspends superintendent. He plans to sue. Parents just want answers. Agnish said on Oct. 12, the Diocese submitted a report to the prosecutor's office, who is still actively investigating the case. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Sparta police or the Sussex County Prosecutor's Office. Wagner was in full compliance with all Diocesan protocols including his New Jersey Department of Education fingerprint background check that searches criminal records, Agnish said. The Diocese and the high school are cooperating fully with the prosecutor's office, he added. Wagner was arrested without incident and remains in the Morris County Jail pending a Friday detention hearing. Lori Comstock can be reached on Twitter: @LoriComstockNJH, on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/LoriComstockNJH or by phone: 973-383-1194. This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Sparta NJ private school teacher facing criminal charges Photo Illustration by Erin O'Flynn/The Daily Beast/Getty It must be a day ending in y, because free speech is once again at issue on the University of California-Berkeley campus. A recent campaign by Law Students for Justice in Palestine (LSJP), a student group supporting Palestinian liberation, asking other progressive student groups to pledge not to host speakers that support Israeli apartheid has provoked a wave of condemnation and disinformation. I Was Canceled for Criticizing Israel Berkeley Laws Dean Erwin Chemerinsky publicly condemned the campaign in a statement, strongly implying it ran afoul of free speech and anti-discrimination principles. Chancellor Carol Christ, too, condemned the campaign, suggesting that excluding speakers with particular views on Israel would endanger the safety and security of Jewish community members. Following these statements, a Democratic member of Congress and a long list of Israel lobby organizations and professors piled on. And to add to the absurdity, an article in Jewish Journal falsely alleged that the campus was creating Jewish free zones by permitting the adoption of the pledge. But this is nonsense: student organizations can determine for themselves which speakers align with their politics; they cannot be compelled to invite any speaker. Campus groups organized around issue areas, from antiracism to reproductive rights, host speakers and events in order to advance a particular political perspective. Just as these groups are under no obligation to host white supremacists or people who oppose a womans right to an abortion, no student group is constitutionally obligated to host pro-Zionist speakers. And the pledge has nothing to do with Judaism; it is about student groups with shared progressive values agreeing not to host speakers who don't share those values, namely, by supporting Israel's policies of land theft, ethnic cleansing, and apartheid. It does not discriminate on the basis of religion at all: Hosting a non-Jewish Zionist (for example, a Christian or Hindu) would violate the pledge, whereas hosting a Jewish anti-Zionist would not. Tellingly, no one in the status quo seems to have a problem with the fact that Hillel, an organization that purports to be a center for all Jewish life, maintains standards of partnership that prohibit it from hosting anti-Zionist speakers. Story continues This egregious double standard demonstrates that what is at stake is not just freedom of expression. It is the content of what is being expressed, namely a political commitment to Palestinian liberation and a steadfast opposition to apartheid, that has provoked this backlash. Bill Maher Refuses to Ask Netanyahu About Corruption Charges, Wonders If Israel Will Retaliate Against Kanye This double standard is nothing new. At Palestine Legal, we regularly encounter the suppression of pro-Palestine expression from university administrations, often at the urging of Israel advocacy organizations and even the Israeli government itself. And the playbook is consistent: 1) reframe the issue to exclusively center Jewish students, erasing both Palestinian perspectives on campus and the impact that U.S. support for Israeli apartheid has for Palestinians living under occupation; 2) falsely conflate opposition to Israeli apartheid with antisemitism; and 3) take punitive measure against students organizing for justice. Weve responded to over a thousand of such cases, and the repression keeps coming. The students campaign comes at a time of increased scrutiny on Israel. Recent reports from some of the worlds most respected human rights organizations have confirmed what Palestinians like myself have been saying for decades: Israel is an apartheid regime. Following a report from Btselem, the leading Israeli human rights organization, that concluded as much in early 2021, both Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International issued comprehensive reports on Israeli apartheid. There Are No Jewish-Free Zones on the UC-Berkeley Campus This should come as no surprise for anyone paying attention to news from the region. Since the beginning of 2021, Israel has conducted another horrific bombing campaign on the Gaza Strip, which it has kept under blockade since 2007, in which they targeted residential buildings and killed scores of Palestinian civilians; continued settlement expansion in the West Bank; assassinated the iconic Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh; imprisoned hundreds of Palestinians, many of whom are children, without charges or trial in its controversial practice of administrative detention; all while maintaining its illegal and deadly occupation of Palestinian land. It is against this backdrop that LSJP has encouraged fellow student groups to pledge not to host speakers who support apartheid. By condemning this activism, university administrators are stating loud and clear that opposition to Israeli apartheid is not welcome on campus. For myself, as an alumnus of the law school and social justice advocate who is both Palestinian and a Jewish American, I am proud that these students are taking a bold stand against injustice and building solidarity across axes of oppression along the way. I just received my alumni magazine with a cover page promoting "how [Berkeley Law is] fighting for our rights and working to advance justice, freedom, and equality at home and around the world." Does that extend to Palestiniansor is there an exception for us? 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. MOSCOW (AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin declared martial law Wednesday in the four regions of Ukraine that Moscow annexed and gave all regional governors in Russia emergency powers that open the door for sweeping new restrictions throughout the country. Putin didnt immediately spell out the steps that would be taken under martial law, but said his order was effective starting Thursday. His decree gave law enforcement agencies three days to submit specific proposals and orders the creation of territorial defense forces in the annexed regions. The upper house of Russias parliament quickly endorsed Putins decision to impose martial law in the annexed Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions. The approved legislation indicated the declaration may involve restrictions on travel and public gatherings, tighter censorship and broader authority for law enforcement agencies. We are working to solve very difficult large-scale tasks to ensure Russias security and safe future, to protect our people, Putin said in televised remarks at the start of a Security Council meeting. Those who are on the frontlines or undergoing training at firing ranges and training centers should feel our support and know that they have our big, great country and unified people behind their back. On Saturday, the Russian Defense Ministry said two men fired at soldiers on a military firing range near Ukraine, killing 11 and wounding 15. The ministry said two men from an unnamed former Soviet republic fired on volunteer soldiers during target practice before they were killed by return fire. Putin didnt provide details of the extra powers the heads of Russian regions will have under his decree. However, the order states that measures envisaged by martial law could be introduced anywhere in Russia when necessary. According to the Russian legislation, martial law could require banning public gatherings, introducing travel bans and curfews, and conducting censorship, among other restrictions. Story continues Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putins order doesnt anticipate the closure of Russias borders, state news agency RIA-Novosti reported. In an apparent attempt to assuage a nervous public, regional authorities rushed to declare that no immediate curfews or restrictions on travel were planned. Putin last month ordered a mobilization of army reservists, prompting hundreds of thousands of men to flee Russia. The Russian leader on Wednesday also ordered the establishment of a Coordination Committee to increase interactions between government agencies in dealing with the fighting in Ukraine, which Putin continued to call a special military operation. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, who was named to lead the committee, said it would focus on boosting supplies of weapons and military equipment, conducting construction work and facilitating transportation. In Russia's regions bordering Ukraine, authorities plan to tighten security at key facilities and conduct checks of motorists, among other measures, according to Andrei Kartapolov, head of the defense committee of Russian lower house of parliament. Semiconductor stocks have had a rough few months, and Deutsche Bank recently released a report projecting that this earning season could reveal more signs of weakness. Qualcomm (QCOM) CEO Cristiano Amon continues to project optimism about where demand for chips is headed at least, long-term. He contends that the chip shortage that began at the onset of COVID-19 forced people beyond the industry to understand the importance of semiconductors. Qualcomm's chips are in products as varied as mobile phones, laptops, connected cars, and VR devices. "People realized chips are an essential ingredient for the digital economy and when they look at economic growth," he told Yahoo Finance at Thursday's Qualcomm Ventures CEO Summit. "When you think about the digital transformation of the enterprise, its necessary for companies that need to be more efficient. Chips become incredibly important for all of this because you need connectivity. In other words, he said, The story about chips is probably as good as it gets." For now, the volatility of the stock market, high inflation and a hawkish Fed all pose challenges not only to Qualcomm, but to tech companies across the board for instance, the Nasdaq 100 is down about 32% year-to-date as of Wednesday. Qualcomm's revenue and earnings for the last quarter beat analysts' expectations, and it's set to report its Q4 earnings in early November. The company's shares are down about 40% year-to-date. Chief Executive Officer and President of Qualcomm Incorporated Cristiano Amon speaks at a keynote conference during GSMA's 2022 Mobile World Congress (MWC), in Barcelona, Spain, March 1, 2022. REUTERS/Albert Gea In the short-term, consistent with what we said in earnings, we have seen a little bit of a slowdown because of the macro," said Amon. As Qualcomm finds its way forward in the near-term, the company's diversification strategy initiated by Amon when he took the helm in 2021 is front-and-center. For example, Qualcomm Ventures, the company's VC arm, has been focused on investing in companies that build out Qualcomm's ecosystem in forward-looking areas like VR, said Qualcomm Ventures Global Head Quinn Li. Story continues Li says it's a better time to invest than you might think. If you look at the last cycle, a lot of big companies actually started and grew in difficult times," he said. "So, from an investors perspective, we have the capital to deploy and I think its probably a better time to invest than it was the same time last year I dont think its necessarily a bad time. A macro environment that's impossible to ignore Politics have also affected the overarching chips environment, as President Joe Biden recently rattled the industry by restricting chip exports to China. The move grabbed headlines, and Amon said he was concerned in the near-term as to how it might affect chip demand. However, that's not the China-related situation that's most top-of-mind for Amon. The other thing thats happening right now is that China is in lockdown," he said. "Weve seen whats happening in markets, and when youve got a lot of people locked down, you dont go out and decide the best thing to do is buy a new phone. That has a huge impact on consumer spending. It doesn't help that the headlines surrounding chip stocks haven't been great lately. Last week, the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index fell more than 4% before rebounding another tough day on an index that's down more than 40% year-to-date. The macro component here, you just cant ignore it, Amon said. Allie Garfinkle is a Senior Tech Reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter at @agarfinks. Click here for the latest trending stock tickers of the Yahoo Finance platform. 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, LinkedIn, and YouTube. In 2018, Democrat Katie Hobbs spent $1 million in campaign funds running to become Arizona's secretary of state, narrowly besting Republican Steve Gaynor, who spent $3.2 million in what was the most expensive race in state history for the post that oversees elections. The record stood for less than four years. This year's candidates for the state's top election position have already matched that total and will certainly eclipse it by Election Day on Nov. 8. Arizona is hardly an exception. It's just a dramatic example of how races for secretary of state, once sleepy affairs that attracted relatively little attention or campaign money, have become high-priced, partisan battles. In most states, the secretary of state is the official who oversees voting an increasingly critical position after former President Donald Trump and his backers began spreading election falsehoods and targeting the offices by encouraging sympathetic candidates to run. GOP candidates running for secretary of state in Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico and Nevada have reported raising a total of at least $3.3 million. The Democrats who oppose them have reported raising more in excess of $10 million and are being bolstered by additional millions in outside spending by allied groups. Nationwide, spending on secretary of state races has set a historical record, said Michael Beckel, research director of Issue One, which is tracking races in which people who embrace Trump's election lies are trying to gain control of the state offices that oversee elections. Clearly, people across the political spectrum are taking a new interest in secretary of state races in light of what happened in 2020, and both sides see these positions as critical, Beckel said. In Arizona, with Hobbs now running for governor, Democrat Adrian Fontes has reported raising more than $2.4 million so far for the election to replace her as secretary of state. Records show his Republican opponent, state Rep. Mark Finchem, has raised more than $1.8 million. Story continues The Arizona tally doesn't include millions in outside spending, mainly by Democrats. They are warning that Finchem was present at the Jan. 6, 2021, rally outside the U.S. Capitol, has repeated Trump's lies about the 2020 election being stolen and said he wouldn't have certified President Joe Biden's victory in the state. To some, the escalating interest in these posts highlights risks to the United States' unique election system, which is overseen by politicians elected in partisan races. The increasing polarization has intensified the vulnerability of the system, said Kevin Johnson of the Election Reformers Network, which advocates for less partisan elections. You used to be able to rely on a structure that didn't require high ethics from officials, but managed to produce that anyway. Now, Johnson warned, Trump supporters believe there are few explicit restraints on secretaries of state. He said that's in contrast to most other democratic countries, where nonpartisan institutions such as appointed panels rather than elected politicians oversee voting. No other democracy elects its election leaders, Johnson said. Nonpartisan administration of elections has become an applause line for underdog candidates in two Democratic-leaning states. In Colorado, former county clerk Pam Anderson, a Republican, argues that her opponent, Democratic Secretary of State Jena Griswold, has acted in a way that is too partisan. In Washington state, Julie Anderson, an independent, is running against Democratic Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, arguing the position should be explicitly nonpartisan. In contrast, in Wisconsin, many Republicans angry at Biden's 2020 win in the state seek to dissolve the state's bipartisan elections commission and vest election management in one or more partisan officials. The nonpartisan stance also has been embraced by some Democratic secretaries of state, who are careful to draw a line between their party and their job. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said in an interview this summer that she has avoided involvement with the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State, a group chaired by Griswold that is spending to support the party's statewide election officials. As I have seen my colleagues become more partisan, its something -- that for me -- I feel just goes beyond what is appropriate for a secretary of state to do," Benson said. Still, she has received at least $2.6 million from the Democratic group as she battles Republican Kristina Karamo, a community college instructor who spread false information about purported election fraud in November 2020 and beyond. Benson herself has reported raising more than $4 million for her re-election campaign, compared to more than $900,000 by Karamo. Democrats say they don't need to apologize for spending big, arguing that they're defending the nation's foundational principles by trying to keep candidates who spread false claims about elections from overseeing voting. We can't take any risks when it comes to our democracy, and frankly our volunteers and donors have met the moment, said Kim Rogers, executive director of the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State, which has pledged to spend at least $25 million on races this fall. There's no parallel Republican Party effort. The GOP's group involved in secretary of state races, the Republican State Leadership Committee, said it's spending little this year other than to support the reelection effort of Brad Raffensperger, the Georgia secretary of state who defied Trump's demands that he be declared the winner of that swing state in 2020. Andrew Romeo, a spokeswoman for the leadership committee, which also supports GOP state legislative candidates, contended in a statement that Democrats are the ones polarizing voting issues. Democrats fueled by their liberal billionaire donors -- are dumping unprecedented money into secretary of state races this year because they have given up on American democracy and an election system that has worked for 200 years and want to stack these offices with their far-left allies, Romeo said. Still, Democrats note that Republicans have spent heavily on non-campaign election infrastructure in the midterms. Conservative donors have funded operations to recruit and train poll watchers and to enlist activists to work at polling places in November. Funders, whose identifies do not have to be disclosed, also have paid for slick documentaries promulgating election lies like the often-debunked "2000 Mules." Patrick Byrne, the founder of Overstock.com, told The Associated Press in August that he's spent $20 million investigating the 2020 election. Byrne's spending includes funding an organization called The America Project, which has donated $218,000 to a group called Conservatives for Election Integrity. That group was founded by Jim Marchant, the Republican nominee for secretary of state in Nevada. The organization is intended to support a coalition of secretary of state candidates like Marchant who question the result of the 2020 presidential election. The America Project's spending accounts for roughly half the $429,000 the group has reported raising. Byrne also has donated $10,000 to Marchant and $2,900 to Karamo in Michigan, according to the report from Issue One on the funding of election deniers' campaigns. Other prominent funders include Trump's own political group, Save America PAC, which donated $5,000 to Karamo and $5,000 to Finchem in Arizona. Also, Lewis Topper, who runs a network of fast-food restaurant franchises, donated more than $17,000 total to Finchem, Karamo and Marchant, according to the report. Still, that's small compared to the funding on the Democratic side. The Democratic group iVote, for example, announced on Monday $5 million in new spending against Finchem in Arizona, part of $11 million in spending against election denier secretary of state nominees. Ellen Kurz, a veteran Democratic operative who runs iVote, said there is no comparison between her group and those that are funding election deniers. "They are telling you that if their chosen candidate doesn't win, they will disregard the will of the people, she said. Democrats, she said, have a nonpartisan idea every registered voter, if they're Democrat, Republican or Independent, should be able to cast a vote. ___ Follow AP for full coverage of the midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections and on Twitter, https://twitter.com/ap_politics Russia uses Iranian-made kamikaze drones for attacks on Ukrainian cities, in particular for strikes on Kyiv The resolution was supported by 303 MPs. Read also: Military expert on Iranian Shahed-136 drones in service with Russia It states that Iran's decision to supply the Russian Federation with weapons makes Tehran also responsible for the consequences of Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine, primarily for civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. It also undermines bilateral relations between Ukraine and Iran, which were constructive until recently. The Rada called on Iran to immediately stop supplying Russia with any weapons used by the aggressor for its war against Ukraine and for terrorist attacks in Ukrainian cities. Read also: Germany to back sanctions against Iran for shipping drones to Russia The parliament also called on the international community to urgently take all possible action to stop the arms supply. If Iran refuses to do so, effective sanctions must be introduced against Tehran, the country's authorities and Iranian companies. The parliamentarians called on the governments and parliaments of foreign countries to contribute to the strengthening of Ukraine's defense capacities, in particular to immediately strengthen Ukraine's capabilities in the field of air and anti-missile defense. Russia attacked Kyiv with Iranian-made kamikaze drones on Oct. 17. After the first attack, a fire broke out in a non-residential building, and several buildings were damaged. Other drones hit a residential building, killing five people and injuring four more. Among the dead were a six-month pregnant woman and her husband. A total of 28 kamikaze drones were launched towards the capital on the morning of Oct. 17, Vitaliy Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv, reported. Most of them were shot down. Five explosions were recorded in Kyiv. Read also: Ukraine destroys dozens of Iranian-made suicide drones in past days Ukraines Foreign Ministry called on Tehran to immediately stop supplying weapons to the Russian Federation and warned that it Iran would be held responsible for the attacks. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba initiated the severance of diplomatic relations with Iran. Story continues Irans Ministry of Foreign Affairs in turn stated that they had nothing to do with the supply of Shahed-136 kamikaze drones to Russia. They also declared readiness for negotiations with Ukraine to refute the accusations. Read also: Irans denial of supplying Russia with drones is a lie In fact, there is ample photographic evidence, and material evidence from shot-down drones, that Irans denials are false. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Oct. 11, citing intelligence sources, said Russia has ordered 2,400 Shahed-136 kamikaze drones from Iran. After the first Iranian drones were shot down, Ukraine did not extend the accreditation of the Iranian ambassador and reduced the number of employees in the Iranian embassy to a few people. Read also: Iran ready to send more drones, missiles to Russia for its war against Ukraine, reports Reuters The Washington Post, citing U.S. officials, reported on Oct. 16 that Iran had secretly agreed to send Russia not only attack drones, but also surface-to-surface ballistic missiles intended for the war against Ukraine. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Photo: The Canadian Press Alberta Premier Danielle Smith holds her first press conference in Edmonton, on Tuesday October 11, 2022. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she is apologizing for what she calls "ill-informed comments on Russia's invasion of Ukraine." THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she is apologizing for what she calls "ill-informed comments on Russia's invasion of Ukraine." In April, Smith said the only answer for Ukraine is neutrality, adding that she understands why Russia would have a concern with a western-aligned Ukraine armed with nuclear weapons on its doorstep. Ukraine surrendered its nuclear weapons in the 1990s. In February, she wrote that two regions of Ukraine feel more affinity to Russia. On Monday, Alberta's Opposition NDP called on her to apologize for her "tone deaf" and "cruel" remarks, noting that Alberta is home to about a quarter of all Canadians of Ukrainian heritage. Smith issued a statement Tuesday saying she categorically condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the indescribable suffering Russia has and still is inflicting upon the Ukrainian people. "Prior to re-entering politics earlier this year, I made some ill-informed comments on Russias invasion of Ukraine. My knowledge and opinion of this matter have drastically evolved since that time, and I apologize for those previous comments," Smith said in her statement. "I have directed my office to actively reach out to Alberta's Ukrainian community leaders in order to ascertain immediate steps we can take to assist Ukrainian refugees to settle and integrate into communities across Alberta as quickly as possible. "I stand with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people." Alberta committed $23 million in Ukraine relief under former premier Jason Kenney, who has been outspoken in his denunciation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. LOS ANGELES (AP) Actor and rapper Kaalan Walker has been sentenced to 50 years to life in prison for his conviction for raping aspiring models he met online, authorities said. Walker, 27, was sentenced Monday in Superior Court in Los Angeles following his April conviction on three counts of forcible rape, one count of assault to commit oral copulation, two counts of statutory rape and two counts of rape by intoxication. His lawyer, Andrew Flier, said the trial was unfair. He called the sentence draconian and said it would be appealed, NBC News reported. Walker, whose rapper name is KR, played a gang member in the 2018 remake of the movie Superfly" and also appeared in the 2017 film Kings," starring Halle Berry and Daniel Craig. He was arrested in 2018 and charged with a series of assaults dating back to 2016 involving four women and three teenage girls. Prosecutors said Walker used social media to contact aspiring models and offer them phony professional opportunities so they would meet him, then assaulted them. UKRAINSKA PRAVDA WEDNESDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2022, 18:57 Military personnel who were recruited for the war in Ukraine from Russian prisons are leaving their units with weapons in hand and trying to return to the Russian Federation. Source: Evening report of the General Staff of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 18:00, on 19 October Quote: "Replenishing the losses of units of the Russian occupation forces at the expense of prisoners has caused additional problems for the command. Thus, military personnel recruited from prisons, after being issued with weapons, leave their units and look for an opportunity to return to the territory of the Russian Federation." Details: The General Staff also reported that after the destruction of an ammunition depot in Kherson Oblast on 17 October, some soldiers of the unit deployed for its protection were injured, and the rest fled. The units of the National Guard of the Russian Federation [also known as Rosgvardiya -ed.] are looking for deserters under the guise of fighting sabotage and reconnaissance groups. According to the General Staff, the occupiers are trying to conduct offensive actions on the Bakhmut and Avdiivka fronts. Throughout the day, the occupiers conducted four missile and 11 air strikes and carried out more than 10 attacks from multiple launch rocket systems. The occupiers once again launched a massive strike with cruise missiles and Iranian-made drones at civilian infrastructure in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Vinnytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia and Mykolaiv oblasts. At night, the Russians also attacked Uman, Cherkasy Oblast, and Kobleve, and Mykolaiv Oblast with five Iranian-made Shahed-136 UAVs. All of them were successfully shot down by the Ukrainian defence forces. During the day, the Russian occupiers deployed nine Shahed kamikaze drones from the territory of Belarus. Eight of them were shot down. The occupation leadership of the temporarily occupied territory of Zaporizhzhia Oblast organised the so-called inventory of housing stock and a "census" of the population. These measures are conducted to search for and alienate the homes of residents who have left the occupied territories. Story continues The occupiers continue the practice of forced engagement of the local population to carry out fortification works near the city of Kherson, allegedly recruiting from among curfew violators and citizens disloyal to the occupation authorities. Ukraines Air Force carried out 10 strikes during the day. The destruction of six areas of concentration of weapons and military equipment, as well as four positions of the occupiers anti-aircraft missile systems, was confirmed. Air defence units shot down four cruise missiles, one Ka-52 Alligator helicopter and 13 Shahed-136 UAVs. Servicemn of the Rocket Forces and Artillery of the Ukrainian Ground Forces struck three control points, four areas of concentration of manpower, weapons and military equipment, an electronic warfare station, one bridge, and one Russian pontoon crossing. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! President John F. Kennedy sits in a motorcade shortly before he was fatally shot in 1963. His death sparked decades of conspiracy theories and distrust in the government. (Photo: Bettmann via Getty Images) President John F. Kennedy sits in a motorcade shortly before he was fatally shot in 1963. His death sparked decades of conspiracy theories and distrust in the government. (Photo: Bettmann via Getty Images) A research organization that boasts the largest collection of online records related to John F. Kennedys assassination is suing President Joe Biden and the National Archives over files about the former presidents 1963 killing. The Mary Ferrell Foundation filed a federal lawsuit in San Francisco on Wednesday accusing Biden and the National Archives and Records Administration, or NARA, of unlawfully withholding documents about Kennedys assassination in violation of a 1992 Act that mandated their full release by 2017. Its high time that the government got its act together and obeyed the spirit and the letter of the law, the nonprofits vice president, Jefferson Morley, told NBC News. This is about our history and our right to know it. The so-called JFK Records Act, signed by President George H.W. Bush in 1992, greenlit the files full, public release within 25 years in an effort to dismiss conspiracy theories and claims that the U.S. government had something to hide. Congress reasoned that by 2017, 54 years after Kennedys death, only in the rarest of cases would there be any legitimate need to protect the information in the files. But the files long-anticipated release was partially stalled by President Donald Trump, who ordered a fraction of them to be withheld, citing national security concerns. Biden then pushed back their release again last year. His administration blamed the pandemic for snarling NARAs ability to determine whether the material could harm national security if released. The current moratorium on releasing the files is slated to last until Dec. 15. It states that the documents will be released except when the strongest possible reasons counsel otherwise. A NARA representative told HuffPost on Wednesday that NARA and other pertinent agencies have completed a review of the JFK documents as part of Bidens moratorium and shared their findings with the president. The results of those reviews will be made public in December, in accordance with the memo, the representative said. Story continues The Mary Ferrell Foundations lawsuit calls the moratorium unlawful and argues that the failure to disclose approximately 15,000 records deprives researchers and historians of their ability to learn about the assassination. It demands the files immediate release or an unclassified explanation for why some documents should continue to be withheld if that is the administrations decision. This explanation should include clear and convincing evidence of how the files release could create harm and how this harm outweighs the public interest in disclosure, according to the lawsuit. The White House did not immediately respond to HuffPosts requests for comment on Wednesday. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Michael Flynn testifying on Capitol Hill on February 11, 2014. Flynn was one of hundreds of retired military personnel who took jobs from foreign governments. Lauren Victoria Burke/AP Hundreds of retired military officials took jobs in foreign governments since 2015, per WaPo report. They often accept highly lucrative positions that pay up to seven figures in salary and benefits. Some of the countries these veterans work for have committed human rights violations, per WaPo. Hundreds of retired military officials took high-paying jobs in foreign governments, at times making up to seven figures in salary and benefits, despite how some of the countries have been accused of human rights violations, according to a report. A new investigation by The Washington Post found that more than 500 retired military personnel have taken jobs with foreign governments since 2015, and a majority of the positions were located in North Africa or the Middle East, including consulting jobs for Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense. The jobs are also highly lucrative, The Post found through a Freedom of Information Act request. Australia's government, for example, offered former senior US Navy officials more than $10 million for consulting deals. In Azerbaijan, one retired US Air Force general was offered a consulting job with a pay of $5,000 a day. In comparison, an active four-star general with more than two decades of experience receives up to $203,698 a year in basic pay, according to The Post. Saudi Arabia, which has been repeatedly accused of human rights violations, has hired at least 15 retired US generals and admirals as consultants for the country's Defense Ministry, The Post reported. One former Navy Seal was hired as a special operations advisor for $258,000 a year. Saudi Arabia's offense against outside dissenters also has not stopped US military officers from taking work from the country. In 2018, Jamal Khashoggi, a columnist for The Post, was killed inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. The country's officials later admitted that Saudi agents carried out a "rogue operation" without the knowledge of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. However, the CIA determined that the crown prince ordered the assassination. Story continues Still, dozens of military personnel have accepted jobs contracted from Saudi Arabia since Khashoggi's killing. Retired general James L. Jones, who served as national security advisor during the Obama administration, has two Virginia-based consulting firms Ironhand Security LLC and Jones Group International LLC that have contracts with Saudi Arabia. In an interview with The Post, Jones said that he was encouraged by the Trump administration to accept more contracts from the country's Defense Ministry. According to Jones, his companies have four such contracts, with 53 US citizens in Riyadh. Eight are retired generals and admirals, and 32 are former lower-ranking military personnel, The Post reported. "Nobody ever came to us and said, 'Hey, we think you ought to pull out,'" Jones told The Post. "I don't know what the alternative would have been if we had pulled away. I was worried that (the Saudis) would possibly drift off to other relationships with the Chinese and the Russians, and I didn't think that would be very good." Charles Wald, a retired four-star Air Force general, who accepted a job to work in Riyadh for one of Jones' firms said there was considerable debate on whether to stop working for Saudi Arabi after Khashoggi's killing. "We asked ourselves, are we basically turning a blind eye toward immorality? Or supporting a legitimate government," Wald told The Post. The firm decided to stay. Other military personnel has taken jobs in Indonesia or the United Arab Emirates. Under the Emoluments Clause Restrictions, the Consitution states that retired US military personnel, which generally applies to those who served at least 20 years in uniform and are eligible to receive a pension, cannot receive consulting fees, gifts, jobs, or titles from foreign governments without expressed approval from Congress. The Post found however that approval is almost always granted. Out of the 500 requests since 2015, about 95% were approved. The Post also reported that some people negotiated jobs with foreign governments during active service. There is no penalty for violating the law and enforcement is rare, according to the publication. One of the more prolific cases of a former US military officer being penalized for accepting fees from a foreign government was Michael Flynn, the former national security advisor to Donald Trump. An investigation by the Defense Department found that Flynn received about $450,000 from Russian and Turkish sources in 2015, a year after he retired from the Army, according to The Post. Flynn pled guilty in December 2017 for lying to the FBI about his ties to a Russian ambassador. Trump pardoned Flynn in November 2020. Read the original article on Business Insider TRENTON A Cliffwood man, who was a principal player in a ring that peddled powder cocaine and crack cocaine throughout Monmouth County and into Ocean County in 2019, was convicted in federal court Monday. Damion Checks Helmes, 42, was found guilty of four counts of an indictment after a two-week trial before Chief U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson in Trenton. The indictment charged him with one count each of conspiracy to distribute and possess cocaine base - crack - and powder cocaine and one count each of of possession with intent to distribute both those forms of the drug. He was acquitted of two firearms offenses. Helmes was the last of 20 defendants to be convicted of at least one federal crime, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Between April 2019 and August 2019, Helmes and the others distributed powder cocaine and crack cocaine in Cliffwood, Keansburg, Matawan, Keyport, Red Bank, Long Branch, Neptune, Asbury Park and Brick Township in Ocean County, authorities said. Helmes and the others were charged in August 2019 after the FBIs Jersey Shore Gang and Criminal Organization Task Force targeted the ring. A home on Milton Avenue in Neptune was a meeting place for the operation, authorities said. Helmes was accused in court documents of getting cocaine from Derrick "D-flex" Hayes of Neptune and Dequan "Just" Copeland of Red Bank and distributing the drug, some of which Helmes cooked into crack, to sub-dealers and users. Helmes visited Hayes at his home on Milton Avenue, the site of several meetings monitored by law enforcement, according to the federal complaint filed in the case. For subscribers:Ocean Township murder: Will grave dirt and boots convince a jury? Hayes, who was on supervised release from another federal sentence at the time of his arrest, and Copeland pleaded guilty earlier this year. Sentencing for Copeland is scheduled for Nov. 8. Helmes faces a prison sentence of up to 40 years and fines of up to $5 million on the crack charges and as much as 20 years in prison and up to a $1 million fine on the powder cocaine charges. Sentencing guidelines usually call for less. Ken Serrano covers crime, breaking news and investigations. Reach him at 732-643-4029 or at kserrano@gannettnj.com. This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Monmouth County NJ crack cocaine ring leader convicted Do you recline your seat while on flights? If so, you may be seen as rude by fellow passengers. The debate has recently resurfaced with both views on the issue having valid points. Related: Drunk Passenger Bites Flight Crew Member To recline or not to recline? Reclining your seat on a plane can be seen as inconsiderate. Passengers lose legroom space when the seat in front of them is reclined. On the contrary, some travelers believe that if you paid for your seat, you have every right to recline it. How the controversy resurfaced In a recent Reddit discussion, a user named u/cherryham123 shared her experience when flying from the U.S. to Australia. During the 14-hour flight, she reclined her seat to sleep. She then asked in the Reddit post, The girl behind me poked me and told me to not recline my seat because she was uncomfortable. What is the etiquette here? The user, Ree Winter, shared more of her experience with Fox News Digital. The Australian traveler says, I was flying to America to see my partner. It was a flight to LAX [Los Angeles International Airport]. After the woman behind me poked my seat repeatedly, I turned to look at her and she then told me that she was trying to watch a movie and I shouldnt recline my seat. Winter continues sharing her experience saying, Its a 14-hour flight, so you really want to be able to sleep through some of it! When it was obvious that this woman thought she was in the right and was going to continue to annoy me, I called a flight attendant, explained the situation and asked if I could move seats. The flight attendant allowed Winter to switch to a vacant seat on the flight. Getty Images Ive never been on a long-haul flight where the person behind me was so aggressive about seat recline. I get [that] it can be a little uncomfortable because Ive had it happen to me, but you either adjust your screen or also recline your seat, she shares. Redditors weigh in Of course Redditors weighed in on Winters experience with their two cents. Some people left comments like Recline the seat. She can deal with it. Others left comments similar to this one: Reclining when someone is behind yousuggests my comfort is more important than your space. Regardless of flight length, I dont do it when someone is behind me unless Im in a premium cabin where folks have plenty of room. Story continues Thomas Barwick / Getty Images A commenter even weighed in sharing how the topic may affect people of various heights differently. As a tall person, what happens when the person in front of me reclines, yet my knees are pretty much already in their seat back before they recline (also, how do they not feel my knees)?, they said. Tips for travelers who need to recline their seat on a flight If you must recline your airplane seat, there are a few tips you can follow to ensure the experience is courteous and respectful to the passenger behind you. If the person behind you is tall, or has long legs, consider not fully reclining. Give the person behind you enough time to adjust by reclining slowly. When its meal time, bring your seat forward. Look back before reclining. You never know if the person behind you has their laptop open or are eating. If the person in front of you is reclining their seat and youre eating or working, kindly ask them to raise their seat slightly. The best rule of thumb is to recline your seat when its absolutely necessary and consider the person behind you when doing so. Kindness goes a long way when traveling. Related: Plane Catches Fire From Bird Strike In Chicago KYIV (Reuters) - A senior Ukrainian official accused Russia of organising a "propaganda show" in occupied Kherson after Russian-installed officials said they were preparing to defend the city from imminent Ukrainian attack and urged civilians to flee. Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian president's office, also accused Russia of trying to scare Kherson residents with what he described as fake newsletters about Ukrainian shelling of the city in southern Ukraine. "The Russians are trying to scare the people of Kherson with fake newsletters about the shelling of the city by our army, and also arrange a propaganda show with evacuation," he wrote on the Telegram messaging app. "Propaganda will not work." (Reporting by Pavel Polityuk, Editing by Timothy Heritage) (Reuters) -Russian-installed authorities in the occupied Ukrainian region of Kherson said on Wednesday that they plan to evacuate around 50,000-60,000 people over the next six days amid escalating pressure from a Ukrainian counteroffensive. Russian-installed governor Vladimir Saldo said authorities were moving civilians to the left (east) bank of the Dnipro River in order to "keep people safe" and allow the military to "act resolutely". "I drove through the regional centre this morning. On the exterior, there was nothing to suggest there was a lot of pressure," Saldo said. "But when I arrived at the river port I saw that the boats were waiting and are already loaded with people ready to go to the left bank of the Dnipro," he said, adding that the situation "is getting tense." He said an estimated 10,000 people a day would be moved over the next six days, and that some regions in Russia were being prepared to accept people. Kherson residents have received text messages warning of the urgent need to evacuate, Russian state TV reported. More than 5,000 have left in the last two days, Saldo said. Russia took control of most of Ukraine's southern Kherson region shortly after invading in February, and proclaimed it as annexed in September in a move that Kyiv and the West denounced as illegal. Russian forces have been driven back by 20-30 km (13-20 miles) in the last few weeks, and risk being pinned against the western bank of the Dnipro as Ukraine wages a counteroffensive in the region. (Writing by Caleb Davis; editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Mark Trevelyan) Photo: pixabay Insurance companies that have long said they'll cover anything, at the right price, are increasingly ruling out fossil fuel projects because of climate change to cheers from environmental campaigners. More than a dozen groups that track what policies insurers have on high-emissions activities say the industry is turning its back on oil, gas and coal. The alliance, Insure Our Future, said Wednesday that 62% of reinsurance companies which help other insurers spread their risks have plans to stop covering coal projects, while 38% are now excluding some oil and natural gas projects. In part, investors are demanding it. But insurers have also begun to make the link between fossil fuel infrastructure, such as mines and pipelines, and the impact that greenhouse gas emissions are having on other parts of their business. This includes extreme weather events such as hurricanes, which are forecast to become more potent with global warming. Hurricane Ian recently caused tens of billions of dollars in damage in the United States. Earlier this month Munich Re, one of the worlds biggest reinsurers, said it would stop backing new oil and gas fields beginning next April. Insurance is the Achilles heel of the fossil fuel industry and has the power to accelerate the transition to clean energy," said Peter Bosshard, the report's author. That's because projects that require large amounts of capital are unlikely to attract investment if they can't get insurance to cover potentially costly mishaps. Insure Our Future said its annual scorecard of 30 companies ranked Allianz, AXA and Axis Capital best for their coal exit policies, while Aviva, Hannover Re and Munich Re came out on top for oil and natural gas. By contrast, some insurers such as Berkshire Hathaway, Starr and Everest Re have adopted few or no restrictions coal, oil or gas projects, it said. The alliance also criticized Lloyds of London for announcing plans for ending coal coverage two years ago but then declaring it optional. Many of the insurers reviewed introduced their restrictions in the last year, though the exact policies differ significantly, the report said. Some countries have meanwhile proposed applying the idea of insurance to help countries facing massive costs due to climate change. Germany, which chairs the Group of Seven leading economies, and the V20 alliance of vulnerable nations, chaired by Ghana, last week agreed to promote the idea of a global shield against climate risks. The proposal, to be discussed at next month's United Nations climate summit in Egypt, partly addresses demands from poor countries for more financial help to cope with the loss and damage resulting from rising global temperatures. While President Vladimir Putin was announcing martial law in four illegally annexed regions of Ukraine, Russia was launching a mass evacuation of civilians from one of the areas as its military signaled it might not be able to hold on much longer. Moscow-appointed officials expressed fears that a battle for the strategically crucial city of Kherson in Ukraines south may be imminent after weeks of pressure from Kyivs troops to recapture territory Russia seized in the early days of the war and annexed illegally just last month. Putin announced he was imposing martial law in Kherson and the three other annexed areas at a meeting of his Security Council on Wednesday. The move will give local officials more power over the occupied populace, but its unclear what impact that will have as battlefield setbacks and rare domestic criticism fuel growing Western concerns about the potential for further escalation. Clashes between Ukrainian, Russian forces continue in southern Kherson region (Metin Aktas / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) The new commander of Russian forces in Ukraine said Tuesday that his troops in the countrys south were facing a rather difficult situation after a Ukrainian counteroffensive pushed them back and threatened their supply lines. Our further plans and actions regarding the city of Kherson itself will depend on the emerging military tactical situation, Gen. Sergei Surovikin said. Difficult decisions could not be ruled out, he added in a rare interview with Russian state television not long after he was installed by the Kremlin. The rare admission follows weeks of harsh criticism of Moscows military leadership by the countrys vocal pro-war faction, accusing officials of humiliating failures they then sought to cover up with domestic propaganda. The hard-line critics cheered the appointment of Surovikin, nicknamed General Armageddon for his brutality, and the subsequent wave of attacks on infrastructure and civilian targets across Ukraine. The Kremlins hawks welcomed the sobering public assessment as a marked departure from its approach to what it still calls its special military operation in Ukraine. Story continues Image: Russian Joint Group of Forces Commander Surovikin interview (Russian Defence Ministry / via EPA) Russian-installed officials in the region then announced the evacuation of as many as 60,000 civilians from the right bank of the Dnieper river where Ukrainians have made recent advances farther south or into Russia. Voluntary evacuations in the region were first announced last week, but the new statements carried a sudden urgency. The Ukrainian side is building up forces for a large-scale offensive, the head of the Moscow-appointed regional administration, Vladimir Saldo, said Tuesday in a message on the Telegram messaging app, urging his fellow residents to leave as, he said, Russian forces were erecting defenses. His deputy, Kirill Stremousov, was more direct, saying in a separate message on Telegram, In the very near future, the battle for Kherson will begin. No one is planning to surrender the city, he added as he urged residents to take the warnings seriously and not get in the way of the Russian military as it digs in. Civilians were already crossing the river by boat Wednesday morning, the Russian state news agency Tass reported as text messages with urgent reminders were sent out to residents, and Saldo said there would be no entry to the right bank of the Dnieper for at least seven days. Image: The checkpoint in the town of Armyansk in the north of Moscow-annexed Crimean peninsula bordering the Russian-controlled Kherson region in southern Ukraine on Oct. 19, 2022. (via AFP - Getty Images) Some in Kyiv saw the effort as a sign of the Kremlins weakening grip. Reality can hurt if you live in a fictional fantasy world, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said on Twitter. Local Ukrainian officials urged people to ignore evacuation calls, arguing that the Russians want to take our people hostage and use them as human shields. Kherson is a strategic gateway to the Black Sea and the neighboring Crimean Peninsula, and it has been critical in cementing Moscows grasp on the area. It is the only regional center that Russia has controlled since the start of the war. Ukraine has been laying the ground for a counteroffensive there for months, striking key bridges and military infrastructure, while also advancing in the east. Kyiv said this month that had it liberated a number of settlements after an initial breakthrough in the north of the region. Losing Kherson would be a major blow to the Kremlin, which has intensified its commitment to the conflict boosting its ailing forces with a troop call-up, hitting civilians and energy infrastructure and issuing renewed nuclear threats. The evacuations and comments appeared to suggest that Russia was preparing for a decisive fight for Kherson, but Western military analysts said they could also signal that the Kremlin may be planning a withdrawal to avoid the threat of another haphazard retreat like the one in Ukraines northeast last month. The introduction of martial law in the four occupied regions is likely a face-saving measure for Putin as he faces the prospect of giving up more ground in Kherson, said the head of intelligence at the Le Beck consultancy, Michael A. Horowitz, a geopolitical and security analyst. And given Putins threat to use nuclear weapons to defend territories he considers Russian, Horowitz added, Wednesdays move may be an attempt to further raise the ante in that sense. The Russian military has been rumored to be pushing for a withdrawal for weeks, with some pushback from the Kremlin, and we may be seeing a reversal of this policy, he said. The partial mobilization hasnt changed the broader dynamic and is quite unpopular in Russia, so Moscow may be forced to make some difficult decisions, including abandoning Kherson or laying the groundwork for such a decision if necessary. While the Russian-installed officials warned civilians to flee before a Ukrainian offensive, analysts said Kyivs troops may want to force Moscows military to abandon Kherson without a fight. Ukrainians in this war avoid urban battles, and by enveloping Russian units, they force them to retreat, said Konrad Muzyka, the director of Rochan Consulting, based in Poland, which specializes in Russia and Belarus. I think they will want to do the same in Kherson. Still, Surovikins frankness about the state of affairs in the region was odd, he said, and it raises questions about what really might be brewing, considering that Russians hardly ever officially admit that something is wrong or about to go wrong. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Vladimir Putin has said he is imposing martial law on the four regions of Ukraine recently illegally-annexed by Moscow. The four regions affected will be Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, none of which though are under full Russian control, and whose annexation has not be recognised by the West. Meanwhile civilians have been told to evacuate the Russian-controlled Ukrainian city of Kherson as fast as possible as Ukrainian forces surround the region. Ukraines troops will shortly begin an offensive against the city of Kherson, said Kirill Stremousov, the Russian-installed deputy head of the Kherson region, which Russia partially controls. Russian forces in Kherson have been driven back by 20-30 km in the last few weeks and are at risk of being pinned against the right or western bank of the Dnipro River. I ask you to take my words seriously and take them to mean: the fastest possible evacuation, he said in a late night post on Telegram. Key Points Russian top commander admits situation tense for his troops Zelensky says Russia politically and militarily bankrupt Ukraine invites UN to inspect downed Iran-made drones Kyiv moves to cut diplomatic ties with Iran Russia says it repelled Ukrainian attempt to capture nuclear plant -RIA 'Evacuate' Russian-installed official tells Kherson residents Vladimir Putin imposes martial law on annexed regions of Ukraine In case you missed it 17:36 , Lucy Skoulding Key developments from today are as follows: -Vladimir Putin has said he is imposing martial law on four regions of Ukraine and Russias upper house of parliament has approved it. -At least six civilians have been killed and at least 16 more injured from Russian shelling in the last 24 hours. -Ukraine has announced that it is moving to cut diplomatic ties with Iran over its supply of kamikaze drones to Russia. --Civilians have been urged to evacuate the Moscow-controlled Kherson as fast as possible as Ukrainian forces begin to advance upon the city. Story continues -A Russian missile strike hit a thermal power station in Burshtyn in western Ukraine today. No-one was hurt in the strike. -Indian citizens in Ukraine have been advised by the government of India to leave the country at the earliest by available means due to the deteriorating situation. -Heating season will begin in Kyiv tomorrow so all buildings will begin to get connected to the heating supply system. -Israel offered on Wednesday to help Ukrainians develop alerts for civilians under air attack, signalling a softening in its policy of non-military intervention. -Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in his nighttime address on Tuesday said Russias appeal to Iran for assistance is a sign of its military and political bankruptcy India advises citizens to leave Ukraine at earliest opportunity 16:40 , Lamiat Sabin The government of India is advising Indian citizens to leave Ukraine at the earliest by available means. A note by the embassy of India in Kyiv says the directive is in view of the deteriorating security situation and recent escalation of hostilities in Ukraine. Indians not already in Ukraine are advised against travelling there. EUs Sakharov Prize awarded to brave people of Ukraine' 16:26 , Lamiat Sabin The European Unions top human rights award has been granted to the people of Ukraine and their representatives. The Sakharov Prize, named after Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, was created in 1988 the year before his death to honour individuals or groups who defend human rights and fundamental freedoms. Last year, imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny won the Sakharov Prize. EU lawmakers praised Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky for his bravery, endurance and devotion to his people and highlighted the role of Ukraines state emergency services. They are standing up for what they believe in. Fighting for our values. Protecting democracy, freedom & rule of law. Risking their lives for us. And today proud winners of @Europarl_EN #SakharovPrize. No one is more deserving. Congratulations to the brave people of Ukraine! pic.twitter.com/SORmU2DSbA Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) October 19, 2022 They also namechecked Yulia Pajevska, the founder of the medical evacuation unit Angels Of Taira, human rights activist Oleksandra Matviychuk, the Yellow Ribbon civil resistance movement, and Ivan Fedorov, the mayor of the occupied city of Melitopol. Roberta Metsola, European Parliament president, tweeted: They are standing up for what they believe in. Fighting for our values. Protecting democracy, freedom and rule of law. Risking their lives for us. No one is more deserving. Congratulations to the brave people of Ukraine! Russia's upper house of parliament approves martial law in occupied regions 16:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russias upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, on Wednesday approved president Vladimir Putins presidential decree, announced hours earlier, declaring martial law in four Ukrainian regions that Russia has unilaterally annexed. Russia evacuates occupied Ukrainian city, orders martial law 15:48 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered martial law on Wednesday for four illegally annexed Ukrainian regions, doubling down on a faltering invasion he described as very difficult. In a tacit acknowledgment that another stinging battlefield defeat may be unfolding, his forces organized evacuations of civilians from one of the first major cities they seized. With a Ukrainian counteroffensive grinding toward Kherson, the battle for the southern city of more than 250,000 people, industries and a major port is a pivotal moment for Ukraine and Russia heading into winter, when front lines could become largely frozen for months. Russias increasingly tenuous hold on Kherson and the wider region of the same name as well as Putins martial law order were more signs that the nearly 8-month-old invasion was not going as planned. Putin acknowledged difficulties for his forces, telling a meeting of the Russian Security Council that we are working to solve very difficult large-scale tasks to ensure Russias security and safe future. New EU sanctions against Iran for Russia support to be approved this week - Elysee 15:31 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain New European Union sanctions targeting Iranian individuals and entities over the use of Iranian-made drones in Russian strikes on Ukraine will be approved this week, an official of the French presidency told journalists in a briefing. Sources earlier told Reuters the bloc was planning the move. Russian missile strike hits thermal power station in west Ukraine 15:06 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain A Russian missile strike hit a thermal power station in the city of Burshtyn in western Ukraine on Wednesday, the regions governor said, the latest in a wave of attacks by Moscow on critical infrastructure. Our region experienced missile fire today. The Burshtyn thermal power station was hit, which caused a fire, Svitlana Onyshchuk, governor of the region of Ivano-Frankivsk, said in a video statement online. No one was hurt in the strike, she said. Heating season to begin in Kyiv tomorrow, mayor announces 14:43 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Kyivs mayor has announced that the heating season will begin in Ukraines capital. In a message on Telegram, Vitali Klitschko said: On 20 October, we will start the heating season in the capital. All buildings, according to the technological schedule, will begin to be connected to the heat supply system. We made the decision to start the heating season based, first of all, on weather conditions. Gradual cooling and low temperature at night. Also, an important factor for the start of the heating season is the need to save electricity. So that the residents of Kyiv do not turn on electric heaters and air conditioners and do not overload the power supply system. Israel edges toward air defence assistance for Ukraine 14:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Israel offered on Wednesday to help Ukrainians develop alerts for civilians under air attack, signalling a softening in its policy of non-military intervention after Kyiv appealed for counter-measures against Iranian-made drones used by Russia. Though it has condemned the Russian invasion, Israel has limited its Ukraine assistance to humanitarian relief, citing a desire for continued cooperation with Moscow over war-ravaged neighbour Syria and concerns for the wellbeing of Russias large Jewish community. On Tuesday, Ukraine stepped up appeals for Israeli help after reporting multiple Russian strikes using Iranian Shahed-136 kamikaze drones. Israel, a foe of Iran, has developed methods for detecting and downing them. Iran denies supplying drones to Russia, while the Kremlin has not commented. Israel has asked Ukraine to share information about their needs for air defence alerts, Defence Minister Benny Gantz told EU ambassadors, according to a statement by his office. Once we gain this information, we will be able to assist in the development of a life-saving civilian early-warning system. Asked to respond, Ukraine Ambassador Yevgen Kornichuk told Reuters that the system on offer is not relevant any more. He declined to comment further pending further talks with Israel. The Russian embassy in Israel declined comment. In parallel to interceptors that can shoot down incoming aerial threats, Israel has a hi-tech radar network that sets off sirens or cellphone alerts to warn citizens to take cover. Similar early warning technologies could be on offer to Ukraine, a spokesperson for Israels Defence Ministry said. Israel has a policy of supporting Ukraine via humanitarian aid and the delivery of life-saving defensive equipment, Gantz told the EU ambassadors. Israel would however not deliver weapons systems to Ukraine due to a variety of operational considerations. Vladimir Putin imposes martial law on annexed regions of Ukraine 14:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Vladimir Putin said he is imposing martial law on the four regions of Ukraine recently illegally-annexed by Moscow. The Russian president made the statement during a speech to his Security Council on Wednesday. The four regions affected will be Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, none of which though are under full Russian control, and whose annexation has not be recognised by the West. Putin didnt immediately spell out the measures that would be taken under the martial law. But Russian legislation envisages that it may involve restrictions on travel and public gatherings and tighter censorship, as well as giving broader powers to law enforcement agencies. He also announced enhanced powers for governors of all Russian regions. Vladimir Putin imposes martial law on annexed regions of Ukraine Residents suffer without power as Russian missiles hit Ukraines energy infrastructure 13:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Lymany and Lupareve have not been spared the fighting that has convulsed countless other Ukrainian villages, towns, and cities. They sit close to the Russian lines that the Ukrainian troops drove back beginning in August in a counter-offensive for Kherson, located about 30 km away. But their power supply means that residents who had earlier fled the village are returning. The power goes on and off, said Oleksandr Kovasenko, 25, a construction worker. But we have enough. And we have an electrician who makes repairs all the time. Their good fortune contrasts with swathes of Ukraine in which tens of thousands have lost light, heat and water as Russia intensifies pre-winter missile and drone barrages against power plants and other infrastructure. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday that 30% of Ukraines power stations had been destroyed. The daily Russian salvoes follow weeks of gains by Ukrainian forces fighting to retake territory in eastern and southern Ukraine seized by Moscows troops since they invaded in February. EU to sanction 8 people, entities over Iranian drone use by Russia 13:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain European Union governments have provisionally agreed to impose sanctions on eight people and entities over the use of Iranian-made drones in Russian strikes on Ukraine, three diplomats said. Ukraine has reported a spate of Russian attacks using Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones in recent weeks. Iran denies supplying drones to Russia, while the Kremlin has not commented. Sanctions experts from the 27 EU members agreed to the list in a meeting on Wednesday. It will be put to national ambassadors at a meeting scheduled for the afternoon. EU governments have until Thursday morning to decide whether to approve the sanctions, the goal being to agree the package before leaders convene in Brussels for a summit starting later in the day. A European Commission spokesperson said there was widely-shared political agreement from foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg on Monday that the EU should react swiftly. Now that we have gathered our own sufficient evidence, work is ongoing in the Council with view to a clear, swift and firm response, the spokesperson told the EUs executives daily news conference. The Council is the grouping of EU governments. Reuters reported on Tuesday that Iran has promised to provide Russia with surface-to-surface missiles in addition to more drones. The battle for Kherson is about to begin: Thousands flee as Ukraine forces descend on city 13:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Civilians have been urged to evacuate the Moscow-controlled Kherson as fast as possible as Ukrainian forces begin to advance upon the city. The Russian-installed leader of the annexed Ukrainian region said on Wednesday that authorities plan to evacuate up to 60,000 people over the next six days amid escalating pressure from a Ukrainian counteroffensive. Speaking on an online broadcast of Soloviev Live, Russian-installed governor Vladimir Saldo said authorities were moving civilians to the left bank of the Dnipro in order to keep people safe and allow the military to act resolutely. The battle for Kherson is about to begin: Thousands told to evacuate city Russia-Ukraine war: What is a kamikaze drone? 13:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain So-called kamikaze drones are believed to lie in the arsenals of both sides in Russias war on Ukraine, a conflict in which Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are playing a large role. These drones are said by Kyiv to have been used in Russian attacks which killed 19 people last week, before a widespread and fatal assault on the Ukrainian capital and other cities on Monday sparked international condemnation. A host of EU nations have suggested that fresh sanctions could be levied against Iran after Ukraine reported a spate of Russian attacks with Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones. Tehran denies supplying the drones to Russia, while the Kremlin has not commented. Russia-Ukraine war: What is a kamikaze drone? Russian shelling kills six in 24 hours, Ukraine says 12:48 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Ukrainian officials said Wednesday that Russian shelling has killed at least six civilians and injured 16 over the previous 24 hours. The Ukrainian presidents office said the Russian army attacked nine southeastern regions of Ukraine using drones, rockets and heavy artillery. It said the attacks focused on the destruction of energy facilities.In Kryvyi Rih, there is no electricity in several districts of the city, several pumping stations of local water utilities have been cut off power, resulting in water shortages, according to a report by the presidents office. Four cities were attacked around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Residential buildings in Nikopol, Marhanets, Chervonohryhorivka, located on the opposite bank of the Dnieper, were damaged. The mayor of Enerhodar, Dmytro Orlov, said that as a result of the shelling in the city where the workers of the nuclear power plant live, electricity and water were partially lost. Fighting for Bakhmut, in the eastern Donetsk region, is also continuing, with four cities along the front line under fire. The Mykolaiv region was attacked by the Iranian kamikaze drones, of which The Ukrainian army shot down more than a dozen, preventing any damage. EU set to sanction 8 people, entities over Iranian drone use in Ukraine 12:32 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain European Union governments have provisionally agreed to impose sanctions on eight people and entities over the use of Iranian-made drones in Russian strikes on Ukraine, three EU diplomats said. Sanctions experts from the 27 EU members agreed to the list in a meeting on Wednesday. It will be put to national ambassadors at a meeting scheduled for the afternoon. Russia says it has launched new strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure 12:14 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russia has launched new strikes against military and energy targets in Ukraine, the Defence Ministry said in its daily briefing on Wednesday. It added that all designated targets were hit. Firefighters work to put out a fire in an energy infrastructure facilities, damaged by a Russian missile strike, (via REUTERS) Madagascar minister fired for voting against Russia's Ukraine annexation 11:48 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Madagascars president has fired his foreign affairs minister for voting at the United Nations to condemn Russian-organised referendums to annex four partially-occupied regions in Ukraine, two sources at the presidents office said. Last Wednesday, the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to condemn what it said was Russias attempted illegal annexation of the four regions in Ukraine and called on all countries not to recognise the move. Of the 193-member General Assembly, 143 countries voted in support of a resolution that also reaffirmed the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. Two senior officials at President Andriy Rajoelinas office told Reuters minister Richard Randriamandrato was sacked for being one of those who voted in support. Russias invasion of Ukraine this year has put many African countries in an awkward diplomatic position. Many have a complicated history of relations with the West and the former Soviet Union as well as important economic ties to Russia. They have largely avoided taking sides over the war, frustrating some Western nations. Until last week, Madagascar always abstained during the various votes on resolutions related to the crisis in Ukraine. The government spoke of neutrality and non-alignment on the subject. Randriamandrato declined to comment. Russia arranging a 'propaganda show' in Kherson - senior Ukrainian official 11:40 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain A senior Ukrainian official has accused Russia of organising a propaganda show in occupied Kherson after Russian-installed officials said they were preparing to defend the city from imminent Ukrainian attack and urged civilians to flee. Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian presidents office, also accused Russia of trying to scare Kherson residents with what he described as fake newsletters about Ukrainian shelling of the city in southern Ukraine. The Russians are trying to scare the people of Kherson with fake newsletters about the shelling of the city by our army, and also arrange a propaganda show with evacuation, he wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Propaganda will not work. The battle for Kherson is about to begin: Thousands flee as Ukraine forces descend on city 11:28 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Civilians have been urged to evacuate the Moscow-controlled Kherson as fast as possible as Ukrainian forces begin to advance upon the city. The Russian-installed leader of the annexed Ukrainian region said on Wednesday that authorities plan to evacuate up to 60,000 people over the next six days amid escalating pressure from a Ukrainian counteroffensive. Speaking on an online broadcast of Soloviev Live, Russian-installed governor Vladimir Saldo said authorities were moving civilians to the left bank of the Dnipro in order to keep people safe and allow the military to act resolutely. Kirill Stremousov, the Russian-installed deputy head of Kherson told residents in a late night post on Telegram: I ask you to take my words seriously and take them to mean: the fastest possible evacuation. The battle for Kherson is about to begin: Thousands told to evacuate city 'Reality can hurt', Ukrainian official tells Russia over Kherson 11:01 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain A Ukrainian presidential adviser told Russia on Wednesday that reality can hurt after a Russian-appointed official said the Ukrainian army was poised to try to retake the occupied city of Kherson and urged residents to evacuate. Kherson is the biggest population centre seized by Moscow in its invasion of Ukraine and is on territory which President Vladimir Putin says is now formally incorporated into Russia, a move Ukraine and the West do not recognise. Less than a month has passed since the pompous announcement of Kherson annexation and solemn concert on the Red Square, as the self-proclaimed city administration...ceremoniously evacuates in anticipation of Ukrainian justice. Reality can hurt if you live in a fictional fantasy world, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak wrote on Twitter. Russias men in Kherso pledge to repel looming Ukrainian attack 10:26 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russian-installed officials in the occupied Ukrainian city of Kherson said on Wednesday they were preparing to defend it from imminent Ukrainian attack. The Russian-appointed governor of the region, Vladimir Saldo, said in a TV interview: No one is about to surrender Kherson but its undesirable for residents to be in a city where military actions are going to be conducted. We expect an attack, and the Ukrainian side doesnt hide that, Saldo said. Saldo said on Russian TV: At the current moment we have enough possibilities to repel attacks and go on the counter-offensive, if the tactical situation demands it. The city will hold out, we simply need to protect peaceful residents. The soldiers know what they have to do, they will stand to the death. More than 5,000 people had already left in the past two days and an estimated 10,000 people a day would be moved out over the next six days, he said. Berlusconi reveals hes reconnected with Putin and received a sweet letter from Russian leader 10:12 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Italys Silvio Berlusconi has been caught boasting that he recently reconnected with Vladimir Putin after the pair exchanged gifts of vodka, wine and a sweet letter for the Russian leaders recent birthday. The former Italian premier revealed the inner details of his social calender to his centre-right Forza Italia MPs during a meeting this week in the lower Chamber of Deputies. I have reconnected with President Putin, Italys LaPresse news agency reported the 86-year-old as saying. He sent me 20 bottles of vodka and a really sweet letter for my birthday. I responded with 20 bottles of Lambrusco (a sparkling Italian red wine) and a similarly sweet letter. Berlusconi has reconnected with Putin and received a sweet letter from Russian Russian-installed authorities send text messages urging residents of Kherson to evacuate 09:52 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russian-installed authorities in occupied Ukraine reportedly are sending text messages urging residents of the southern city of Kherson to evacuate, amid the approach of Ukrainian forces. Russias state news agency RIA Novosti reported Wednesday that one message said there will be shelling of residential areas by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, though there was no independent verification of that claim. The message promised buses starting from 7 a.m. . to the left bank of the Dnieper River, toward Russia. Kherson, with a capital of the same name, is one of four regions illegally annexed by Russia last month. It was one of the first Ukrainian cities seized in Russias Feb. 24 invasion. The regions Moscow-appointed head, Vladimir Saldo, said Tuesday that Russian troops are building large-scale defensive fortifications. On Friday, too, Saldo had urged Kherson residents to evacuate to Russia. Russian authorities are promising free travel and accommodation to those who leave. Russian-backed officials have said evacuations from occupied territories are voluntary. In many cases, the only route out is to Russia. Continuous attacks in eastern Ukraine, Moscow official warns 09:16 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russian troop positions in Kupiansk and Lyman in eastern Ukraine and the area between Mykolaiv and Kryvyi Rih in Kherson province were cited by Surovikin as under continuous attack. He appeared to concede that there was a danger of Ukrainian forces advancing towards the city of Kherson, which lies near the mouth of the Dnipro on the west bank. Russia captured the city in the early days of the invasion and it remains the only major Ukrainian city that Moscows forces have seized intact. Kherson, one of four partially-occupied Ukrainian provinces that Russia claims to have annexed, controls both the only land route to the Crimea peninsula Russia seized in 2014, and the mouth of the Dnipro. After staging what Moscow called referendums in September, which Kyiv and Western governments denounced as illegal, Putin proclaimed the eastern Ukrainian border provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk - together known as Donbas - as well as Kherson and Zaporizhzhia as full-fledged regions of Russia. Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-installed Kherson region chief, said the risk of attack by Ukrainian forces had led to a decision to evacuate some civilians from four towns. The Ukrainian side is building up forces for a large-scale offensive, Saldo said in a video statement. The Russian military was preparing to repel the offensive, he said, and where the military operates, there is no place for civilians. Russia attacks Ukraines power and water supplies 09:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Air strikes have cut power and water supplies to hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians, part of what the countrys president called an expanding Russian campaign to drive the nation into the cold and dark and make peace talks impossible. President Volodymyr Zelensky said nearly a third of Ukraines power stations have been destroyed in the past week, causing massive blackouts across the country. No space left for negotiations with Putins regime, he tweeted. Depriving people of water, electricity and heat as winter begins to bite, and the broadening use of so-called suicide drones that nosedive into targets, have opened a new phase in Russian President Vladimir Putins war. The bombardments appear aimed at wearing down the notable resilience Ukrainians have shown in the nearly eight months since Moscow invaded. Meanwhile, along the front lines, things remain very difficult for Russian troops in the southern region and city of Kherson, according to Russias new commander, Sergei Surovikin. He told reporters in Moscow that the Russian military would help evacuate civilians ahead of an expected Ukrainian offensive. Russian attacks on Ukraine infrastructure are war crimes - EU's von der Leyen 08:42 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russias missile and drone attacks on power stations and other infrastructure in Ukraine are acts of pure terror that amount to war crimes, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday. Yesterday we saw again Russias targeted attacks against civilian infrastructure. This is marking another chapter in an already very cruel war. The international order is very clear. These are war crimes, von der Leyen said in a speech to lawmakers in the European Parliament. Targeted attacks on civilian infrastructure with the clear aim to cut off men, women, children of water, electricity and heating with the winter coming, these are acts of pure terror and we have to call it as such. Luhansk governor says progress to de-occupy region has been slow 08:20 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Ukraines governor of Luhansk has said that progress to de-occupy the region has been slower than in other Moscow-annexed areas as it was in our region that all those soldiers who fled from Kharkiv Oblast gathered. In a message on Telegram, Serhai Haidai added that Ukrainian forces fighting to take back Luhansk face freshly mobilised Russians, prisoners, and a lot of equipment and air defence [that] have arrived in Luhansk region. The governor said that the armed forces of Ukraine have developed a clear de-occupation plan and are clearly following it. When our military enter the liberated settlements we will offer the population evacuation for the winter period, and we will also work to provide people with heat, water, and communication. Ministry of Defence says Russias leadership is increasingly dysfunctional' 08:05 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The Ministry of Defence has said major elements of Russias military leadership are increasingly dysfunctional. In the latest update, it said: At the tactical level, there is almost certainly a worsening shortage of capable Russian junior officers to organise and lead newly mobilised reservists. Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 19 October 2022 Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/Q60IXHlkqX #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/iDL7P6QA77 Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) October 19, 2022 'Evacuate' Russian-installed official tells Kherson residents 07:50 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Civilians should evacuate the Russian-controlled Ukrainian city of Kherson as fast as possible because Ukrainian forces could begin an offensive at any moment, a Russian-installed official said. Russian forces in Kherson have been driven back by 20-30 km (13-20 miles) in the last few weeks and are at risk of being pinned against the right or western bank of the Dnipro River. Ukrainian forces will shortly begin an offensive against the city of Kherson, said Kirill Stremousov, the Russian-installed deputy head of the Kherson region, which Russia partially controls. I ask you to take my words seriously and take them to mean: the fastest possible evacuation, he said in a late night post on Telegram. In a later post, he said that as of Wednesday the situation on the front was stable but that civilians should still leave for the left bank. Move as fast as possible, please, to the left bank, he said. Civilians in Kherson were receiving messages from the Russian-installed administration telling them to leave the city, RIA news agency reported. Russia says it repelled Ukrainian attempt to capture nuclear plant -RIA 07:35 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russia says Ukrainian forces tried to recapture the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southern Ukraine, but their attempt was repelled after several hours of fighting, state-run RIA news agency reported on Wednesday. After shelling the city, a landing attempt was launched, including an attempt to seize Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The battle went on for several hours, at least three to three and a half hours, RIA quoted Russian-installed official Vladimir Rogov as saying, adding that the attack was repelled. Reuters was not able to independently verify the report. Ukraine says 12 drones downed in Mykolaiv 07:22 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar Ukrainian forces have shot down 12 Iran-made Shahed-136 drones in the Mykolaiv Oblast region overnight on Wednesday, governor Vitaliy Kim said. The governor added that 11 kamikaze drones were shot down by the air defence while one was downed by the National Guard troops. More than 100 Ukrainian women freed in landmark prisoner swap 07:04 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar A total of 108 Ukrainian women were freed in an emotional prisoner-of-war swap with Russia. On Monday, Moscow and Kyiv carried out one of the biggest prisoner swaps of the war since the invasion of Ukraine was launched in February. A total of 218 detainees were involved, including the 108 women who have now been reunited with their families in Ukraine. Andriy Yermak, chief of staff for Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, said there were 85 privates and NCOs (non-commissioned officers), 12 civilians, and 11 officers among the freed women. It was the first completely female exchange, he wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Lamiat Sabin reports. More than 100 Ukrainian women freed in prisoner swap with Russia Zelensky urges Ukrainians to limit power usage during peak hours 06:51 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Ukrainians to cut back on electricity consumption during peak hours after Russian strikes destroyed nearly one-third of the countrys power stations in the past week. There were new Russian attacks against our energy system, he said in his nighttime address on Tuesday. The president said: ... the overall situation still requires a very conscious consumption of electricity and limiting the use of energy-consuming appliances during peak hours. The more conscious our household consumption of electricity is from 5pm to 11pm, the more stable our energy system will be. Everyone who follows this simple rule for peak hours helps the entire country. Power outage after energy facility in Dnipropetrovsk hit by missile 06:33 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar An energy facility in the Kryvyi Rih district of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast was hit by a Russian missile on Wednesday, said Oleksandr Vilkul, the head of the military administration. The strike left a number of settlements in the district and in one area in the city of Kryvyi Rih without power, he added, without providing further details. The energy outage comes at a time when Ukraine has been plunged into darkness with 30 per cent of its power stations destroyed in missile strikes. Ukraine moves to cut diplomatic ties with Iran over drones 06:17 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar Ukraine has announced that it is moving to cut diplomatic ties with Iran over its supply of kamikaze drones to Russia. Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said he was submitting a proposal to president Volodymyr Zelensky to cut diplomatic ties. Mr Kuleba said Kyiv was certain they were Iranian and would be ready to share a bag of evidence to European powers in doubt. Tehran bears full responsibility for the destruction of relations with Ukraine, he told reporters. I am submitting to the president of Ukraine a proposition to sever diplomatic ties with Iran. Ukraine urges UN to inspect downed Iran-made drones 05:53 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar Ukraine has written to the UN, inviting its experts to inspect downed Iranian-origin drones used by Russia in violation of a UN Security Council resolution. Kyiv has accused Moscow of bombarding Ukraine using Iran-made Shahed-136 kamikaze drones. The US, the UK and France are expected to raise alleged Iranian arms transfers to Russia at a closed-door Security Council meeting on Wednesday, Reuters reported. Zelensky says Russia politically and militarily bankrupt 05:45 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in his nighttime address on Tuesday said Russias appeal to Iran for assistance is a sign of its military and political bankruptcy. Russia has been accused of bombing Ukrainian cities with Iran-made kamikaze drones. Mr Zelensky said: For decades, they [Russia] have been spending billions of dollars on their military-industrial complex, and in the end they went to bow to Tehran to get rather simple drones and missiles. It wont help them strategically anyway.It only further proves to the world that Russia is on the trajectory of its defeat and is trying to draw someone else into its accomplices in terror. Russian top commander admits situation tense for his troops 05:37 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar The new commander of Russian forces admitted his troops were under pressure as Ukraine toughens its attacks to reclaim southern and eastern areas that Moscow annexed just weeks ago. The situation in the area of the Special Military Operation can be described as tense, Sergei Surovikin, the Russian air force general now commanding Russias invasion forces, told the state-owned Rossiya 24 news channel. He added that the situation is also difficult in Kherson, where the Russian troops have been pushed back by 20-30km in the last few weeks. 04:57 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar Welcome to The Independents live coverage of Russias war in Ukraine. The city of Mariupol under Russian occupation, September 24 In fact, these are the only bodies of the dead in the city that still remain on the streets, although mostly in the dead neighborhoods of the city, Andryushchenko said. Read also: In Mariupol, partisans set fire to house where Russian occupiers were quartered However, even the relatives of the deceased who came to Mariupol were not given permission to bury them. The occupiers openly say that this is for edification and fear. March, April, and May were the months of death. You can only imagine what has happened with the bodies of our Heroes. Andryushchenko said the relatives of five soldiers killed in action who went to the occupied city to arrange burials had been prevented from retrieving their bodies by the invaders. Read also: Russians bring in rogue states for show trial of Ukrainian soldiers in Mariupol In the city council, we tried to arrange it remotely: we found people and figured out how to pass money over, but nothing worked, he said. There are about 20 of such dead, according to Andryushchenko. Most of the bodies of the fallen defenders of Mariupol remain under rubble in the Livoberezhnyy district near Azovstal and Veselka Park. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine VALENTYNA ROMANENKO WEDNESDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2022, 11:38 An anti-aircraft missile unit of the Ukrainian Air Force has destroyed a Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopter in the skies over Kherson Oblast. Source: Press service of the Air Command Pivden (South) Details: On 19 October, around 10:30, a unit of the Kherson Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade of Air Command Pivden (South) shot down a Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopter belonging to the occupiers in the Beryslavskyi district in Kherson Oblast. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The helicopter was destroyed by a unit of the anti-aircraft missile brigade In Beryslav district of Kherson Oblast, at around 10:30 a.m., a unit of anti-aircraft missile brigade of the South Air Command shot down on of the occupiers' attack helicopters, accoding to the report from the Air Force. Read also: Ukrainian air force shoots down Russian Su-25 in Kherson Oblast No further details are provided. The Oryx project, which independenly documents and tracks military-equipment usage and losses in Ukraine, has recorded the destruction of 22 Russian Ka-52 Alligator helicopters so far in Ukraine. Read also: Ukrainian military destroys 223 Iranian-made suicide drones since their first use in Ukraine Overall, Oryx says Russia has lost 53 helicopters in Ukraine 52 destroyed and one captured. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine IRYNA BALACHUK WEDNESDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2022, 10:26 Representatives of the occupation "administration" of Kherson and the oblast are planning to take approximately 50,000-60,000 residents from 4 right-bank districts in the oblast to the left bank of the Dnipro river or to Russia due to the alleged preparation of a counteroffensive by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Source: Volodymyr Saldo, Russian-appointed puppet leader of Kherson Oblast, on Telegram and on "Solovyov Live" [propaganda programme presented by Vladimir Solovyov, a Russian propagandist]; one of the leaders of the occupying "administration" of Kherson, "Gauleiter" [Russian-appointed puppet leader/governor; a term that referred to German governors of territories occupied by the Nazis in WWII] Kyrylo Stremousov on Telegram; Russian state-owned news agency TASS Quote from Saldo: "I have taken the difficult but correct decision to announce the organised transfer of the civilian population of Berislav, Bilozerka, Snihurivka and Oleksandrivka municipalities to the left bank of the Dnipro (river). We calculated that approximately 50,000-60,000 people are planned to be moved to the left bank of the Dnipro (river)." Details: Saldo said that people will be removed gradually and free of charge by the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation and the so-called "government" of Kherson Oblast. Saldo is confident that this will take about a week. He added that there are already boats in the city's river port with people who are allegedly ready to go to the left bank, but there is no tension in the city. Saldo stated that there is allegedly "an immediate danger of flooding of areas due to the planned destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam and the discharge of water from the cascade of power plants upstream of the Dnipro river." He said that if the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroy the lock chambers of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, the water in two districts of Kherson may rise by one metre. That is why the collaborators in Kherson Oblast have allegedly already increased the discharge of water through the canal system in order to protect the city from possible flooding in the event of damage to the hydroelectric power plant's lock chambers. Story continues Saldo added that residents of the oblast who decide to move to Russia will allegedly be provided with housing certificates. Stremousov stated that as of the morning of 19 October, the situation in Kherson Oblast "has not changed", but the Armed Forces of Ukraine could allegedly "start advancing at any moment". He urged residents of Kherson to move to the left bank "as quickly as possible". Background: "Gauleiter" Kyrylo Stremousov, one of the so-called leaders of the occupying "administration" of Kherson, has announced the preparation for an offensive by Ukrainian troops on the city. Western military officials believe that the Ukrainian army can liberate Kherson from the Russian invaders as early as late October. Volodymyr Saldo, the Russian-appointed puppet governor of Kherson Oblast, has appealed to the Russian leadership, asking for it to help evacuate residents from the region. The Russian Federation said that it would provide "free accommodation" to all persons coming to Russia from Kherson Oblast. According to the General Staff, the Russians have begun the process of evacuating so-called state institutions from the occupied part of Kherson Oblast to occupied Crimea. The Russian occupiers are taking collaborators and their families from Kherson to Russian-occupied Crimea. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! VALENTYNA ROMANENKO WEDNESDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2022, 16:16 The defence forces of Ukraine shot down four out of six cruise missiles launched by the occupiers and a dozen kamikaze drones as of 15:30 of 19 October. Source: Ukrainian Air Command, on Telegram Details: The Air Force reported that at 12:05 on 19 October, the Russians attacked Ukraine from the northeast using strategic aircraft. Six X-101/X-555 cruise missiles were launched from Tu-95 and Tu-160 missile carriers. One missile was destroyed by fighter aircraft and another by an anti-aircraft missile unit within the operational area of Air Command Tsentr (Centre) in Kyiv and Vinnytsia oblasts. Two more missiles were shot down by the air defence of the Ground Forces in Chernihiv Oblast. Simultaneously with the missile attack, the Russian occupiers attacked Ukraine using Shahed-136 kamikaze drones from the north, in particular from the territory of Belarus. Air Command reported that as of 15:30 on 19 October, 10 kamikaze drones [barrage munitions] were destroyed by the air defence of Air Command Tsentr (Centre). Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A South Carolina judge, who is connected to the legal drama surrounding disbarred lawyer Alex Murdaugh, is defending herself against a recently resurfaced police report from 2017 that suggests she tried to use her position to have a man arrested in Beaufort County. Ernest Ernie Lotito had been staying at the house of a friend of Mullens in Mullens Hilton Head Island neighborhood but was refusing to leave when asked, according to a report from the Beaufort County Sheriffs Office. In the report, a deputy wrote that Mullen asked that the man be arrested. The allegation that I was somehow abusing my power as a judge, trying to have Ernie arrested for no reason, is ridiculous, said Judge Carmen Mullen in an email sent to reporters Wednesday. It was well recognized that the man had mental issues and, while not a danger to himself, he needed to be protected, Mullen said. Our fear was that he would be wandering around in a delusional state, in danger of harming himself... The sheriffs report does not accurately relay the conversations that occurred that night over an approximately 30-minute exchange in which my husband and I were deeply concerned about Ernies behavior and his well-being., Mullen said. We were simply trying to help him, Mullen said. The existence of the report documenting the incident was first reported by reporter Liz Farrell on the podcast Cup of Justice, which she co-hosts with Columbia attorney Eric Bland. The State obtained a copy of the report through a law enforcement source and queried Mullen, who emailed her version of the incident to several media outlets. As described in the report, Mullens actions that day raised questions about whether she a state judge bound by ethical rules of impartiality should have injected herself into a situation when she should have maintained an independent stance toward an unfolding law enforcement situation. One South Carolina judicial rule governing judges conduct states, A judge should participate in establishing, maintaining and enforcing high standards of conduct, and shall personally observe those standards so that the integrity and independence of the judiciary will be preserved. Story continues THE INCIDENT The Dec. 7, 2017, report describes an incident on that date in a Hilton Head neighborhood, Port Royal Plantation, when deputies responded to a homeowners call to eject a man who appeared to have mental health issues from her property. The neighborhood is a private beachfront residential community on Hilton Head Island. The homeowner, identified in the report as Regan Renaud, told the deputy that she had been letting the man, identified as Ernest Lotito, live there, but now wanted him gone. Deputies told Renaud she needed to go through magistrate court to have him evicted. My observation of Lotito was that he appeared to be a mental subject but was not a threat, the reporting deputy wrote. Lotito walked to the backyard as he was talking to himself. At that time, Mullen whose named is misspelled in the report as Mullins and also Nullins arrived and asked to speak to the deputy. She lives in the Port Royal neighborhood and had driven by the property, saw police cars and came back. She told the deputy she had tried to help Lotito in the past when he was in her court and asked what could be done to remove Lotito from the property, the report said. Judge Mullins (sic) advised she lived in ... and was very familiar with Lotito. Judge Mullins (sic) said she had done what she could in the past to help Lotito when he was in her court. Judge Mullins (sic) asked what could be done to remove Lotito from the property, the deputy wrote. I advised Judge Mullins (sic) the complainant has allowed Lotito to live in the residence and the complainant would have to follow the eviction process, the deputy wrote. The judge then said she would find Lotito a ride to a gas station where Lotito had been cited for trespassing and then call deputies to arrest Lotito, the report said. At that point, the homeowner told Mullen there was a breach of trust incident involving Lotito that was being investigated by a sheriffs detective. Mullen said she would sign the arrest warrant. The deputy checked twice with his supervisor and told Mullen that the investigator in the breach of trust case would obtain any warrants. Judge Mullins was very cordial with deputies, the deputy wrote. WHAT MULLEN SAID In her email to reporters, Mullen said, Ernie Lotito is a former Hilton Head attorney who worked for my husband for less than a year in 1991. Ernie was placed on disability inactive status by the South Carolina Supreme Court in 1995 due to mental illness. My husband, attorney George Mullen, has known Ernie for over 30 years and often receives calls from Ernie when he is both mentally intact and delusional. She did not meet Lotito until 2016, when he appeared in her court on charges of making a threat on a public official and threatening to use a destructive device.He was represented by the Public Defenders office and I informed the Assistant Solicitor I knew of Ernie Lotito but had never met him she said. The sole purpose [of] going back was to make sure the responding officers knew Ernie was mentally ill so they would not hurt him. When out of the car, it was clear Ernie was having a psychotic episode as he was acting delusional, talking incoherently and becoming increasingly agitated, she said. Port Royal security relayed calls were made that Ernie was pounding on neighbors doors scaring people and while we were standing there, we heard him screaming obscenities at the woman who allowed him to stay at her house for rent as requested by her boss, Robert Rinni who, often helped Ernie. Ernie refused to leave and kept asking us to come see the fort he built behind the house. It was clear Ernie needed to be taken to the hospital for psychiatric treatment as he was delusional and distraught, she wrote. Mullen said she was asking the deputies to take him to a hospital because he clearly needed psychiatric treatment. When the deputies indicated they could do nothing, my husband talked with Robert Rinni who came to Port Royal and took Ernie to stay at a local hotel. Two days later, Ernie was taken to a mental health facility in Myrtle Beach. The sheriffs report does not accurately relay the conversations that occurred that night over an approximately 30-minute exchange in which my husband and I were deeply concerned about Ernies behavior and his well-being, Mullen said. Rinni, a Hilton Head Realtor, told a reporter Wednesday that deputies allegations of Mullens intentions from the incident in 2017 are not accurate. Judge Mullen did not make a ploy to get him off the property, Rinni said. No one that night was trying to hurt him. It was a bad situation. Rinni, who took Lotito to a hotel that night, said, he is a smart guy; hes not vindictive or a bad guy, hes just a guy with a mental illness, Rinni said. Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner said Wednesday that Mullens statement is accurate as far as Letito being taken to a hotel and later being admitted to a facility in Myrtle Beach. However, dashcam footage from officers at Port Royal Plantation is consistent with what the deputy alleges in the police report, the sheriff said. Mullens conduct has been questioned in the past by two prominent attorneys 1st Judicial Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe and Columbia lawyer Eric Bland, whose legal actions in 2021 are credited with helping spark law enforcement investigations of financial irregularities committed by former Lowcountry attorney Alex Murdaugh. Murdaugh has since been disbarred and faces charges he stole more than $8 million from numerous lawyers, clients and associates. Both Pascoe and Bland confirmed to The State earlier this year they filed complaints with the states judicial ethics body that Mullen improperly helped Murdaugh get the lions share of the $4.3 million settlement in a case involving the death of Murdaughs housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield. On Wednesday, both Pascoe and Bland told The State the incident raised serious questions about Mullen but they needed more facts before making a judgment about her conduct. One thing is for sure, the deputy did the right thing by contacting his superior and not being swayed by the judge, Pascoe said. Bland said as a neighbor, Mullen had a right to stop. But by saying she would issue an arrest warrant and injecting herself in that situation, she certainly gave the appearance of impropriety. And thats what judges are supposed to guard against. The South Carolina Legislature continues to be at an impasse on the issue of abortion access. The Senate refused to back down and accept the House's near-total abortion bill Tuesday. Instead, they chose to go forward with a conference committee and recommended three senators to represent the chamber. A conference committee is created when both chambers of the Legislature cannot agree upon a bill. Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, Sen. Margie Bright Matthews, D-Colleton, and Sen. Richard Cash, R-Anderson were asked to represent the chamber in an attempt to reach a compromise on a version of an abortion ban both chambers could agree on. With the House now expected to send three of its own representatives to hash out differences, state lawmakers have just over two months to push the law further until a brand new session begins in January, where they would have to start the process all over again. If the committee is able to find a compromise and put out a conference report, then both chambers would have to vote to adopt the reports to send it to Gov. Henry McMaster's desk. But if not, the bill is likely to die, at least for this session. Related:What to know as the SC Legislature, Supreme Court contemplate abortion bans this week Senate insists upon its version Hours before the Senate got together for the session, the statehouse lobby was abuzz with protestors. A majority of them carried signs and boards asking senators to "recede" back to the House version they had initially rejected. Lawmakers voted on whether they would "recede" as soon as the session began. Apart from the female GOP senators, senior GOP lawmakers including Massey, Sen. Chip Campsen, R-Charleston, and Sen. Greg Hembree, R-Horry, said no to "receding" in a vote that ended 26-17. After that, a majority of the senators banded together in a vote that ended 38-6 to "insist" upon their version and kickstart the process of forming a conference committee. The entire session was over in less than 40 minutes. Story continues Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, told reporters that she preferred the legislature not rush into a scenario where "poorly written" bills, like the one offered by the House, were passed. Shealy also said that the continued back and forth over abortions also didn't mean that this was the only issue that legislators needed to be focused on. "There has to eventually be a compromise," Shealy said. "And there are plenty of other issues in the state that we have to work on." "We have to look at all sides," she continued. "We work for the state of South Carolina, not just one sector of the state." As Shealy spoke to reporters, Cash stood in the corner listening. Cash said that he was disappointed about the Senates refusal to recede. "It [the House version] was the kind of bill that almost all those Republicans who voted against the motion to recede actually said they support," Cash said. Similar to what Rep. John McCravy, R-Greenwood had said on the House side, Cash said that he had mostly expected major debate to stem from whether the proposed bill would include exceptions or not. He was surprised to see the opposition from fellow Republicans in his chamber. With the clock now ticking, Cash said that passing an agreed-upon abortion ban was a "stiff challenge. State Sen. Richard Cash of Anderson County listens during a session in the South Carolina Senate of the State Capitol in Columbia, S.C. Monday, June 21, 2021. But this is the closest the state has come to passing a drastic abortion ban, so the session wasn't a failure, he said. What are the major differences between the House and Senate versions The House's version banned all abortions from the time of conception, except for pregnancies where a mother's life is in danger or occurred due to cases of rape and incest. Meanwhile, the Senate's version banned all abortions from week six after conception and included the same range of exceptions. It is generally considered a far more restrictive and harsher version of the current six-week fetal heartbeat law, which is currently blocked by the state Supreme Court due to a pending lawsuit. This version came about after Republican senators Katrina Shealy, Sandy Senn, Penry Gustafson and Tom Davis joined the Democrats to filibuster a version that had no exceptions in it. Shealy and Senn gave impassioned speeches about a woman's right to choose and their right to privacy. When the Senate leadership realized that there weren't going to be enough votes to overcome the filibuster and vote on a bill that completely banned abortion, Massey introduced an amendment that re-wrote the bill to become a stricter version of the blocked fetal heartbeat law. Gustafson was the only female senator who voted for that version. This article originally appeared on Greenville News: SC legislative conference committee to revisit abortion bans Photo: The Canadian Press A 45-year-old Quebec father was charged with first-degree murder Tuesday after two of his children were killed in the family home north of Montreal. Kamaljit Arora was charged despite being unable to appear for his arraignment either in person or by video from hospital before a judge at the courthouse in Laval, Que. Arora is charged in the killings of his daughter, 13, and son, 11, both identified in court documents by the initials "A.A." He was also charged with assault by strangulation of his wife, the Crown told reporters. Both the Crown and a legal aid lawyer representing the accused told the court Arora has been unable to communicate since his arrest on Monday. A Quebec court judge agreed to put off of the arraignment until Wednesday, when lawyers were hopeful he would be able to appear. Prosecutor Karine Dalphond said the police investigation permitted the Crown to lay the three charges. Dalphond could not say whether the suspect had a history of conjugal violence or whether the couple had been preparing to separate. Arora on Tuesday remained in hospital, where he has been since his arrest by Laval police who responded to a 911 call on Monday evening. A police spokeswoman said investigators had identified the victims, who were declared dead after being transported to hospital. Arora was also hospitalized, but police said his condition had stabilized. Police said an unidentified family member was transported to hospital to be treated for shock after he or she had witnessed the scene. Laval police Const. Erika Landry said investigators were working on the hypothesis that the kids' deaths were a result of domestic violence, but she did not give details. The children were found just before 6 p.m. Monday inside a home on Lauzon Street in Laval's Ste-Dorothee neighbourhood. Municipal evaluation records show the Arora family as the registered owner since May 2022. The semi-detached house in a residential neighbourhood is located a few hundred metres from Ecole Pierre-Laporte, an elementary school where one of the two murdered children was enrolled, Laval school commission spokeswoman Annie Goyette confirmed in an email. "A team of professionals is on site to provide support to the students and school staff under the circumstances," Goyette said. "A letter has also been sent home to all parents to inform them of the situation." Goyette said the school commission's thoughts are with family, relatives and friends of the two victims. On Tuesday, Premier Francois Legault offered his condolences on Twitter: "An unspeakable tragedy. My thoughts are with the loved ones of these two children. I can't imagine their pain." Laval Mayor Stephane Boyer also extended condolences to the victims' loved ones on social media Monday night and said "all of Laval" is mourning. South Carolina senators again Tuesday rejected a proposal to ban nearly all abortions in the state but left open a small chance that some compromise could be reached in the less than four weeks the General Assembly has left to meet this year. The stalemate in the Republican-dominated Legislature hasnt changed over the past month. The Senate voted 26-17 to insist on its bill keeping South Carolinas current ban on abortions after cardiac activity is present, which is usually around six weeks. The House in September insisted on its own version of a full ban on abortions with exceptions only for pregnancies caused by rape or incest, or if the life of the mother was threatened. RELATED: South Carolina likely wont make abortion rules stricter Again, lawmakers didnt slam the door shut Tuesday on changing abortion laws in a special session called after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and allowed states to pass whatever they wish about abortion. A conference committee of three House members and three senators has been appointed to work out differences with the bill. But the gap is quite wide, Republican Senate leaders insist they cant get a few more moderate conservatives to approve a full ban like the House proposed. The group would have to meet, reach a deal and have it approved by both the full House and Senate by Nov. 13, when this years General Assemblys term ends by law. Obviously it is a stiff challenge. The clock is ticking, said Republican state Sen. Richard Cash, a staunch abortion opponent and a member of the conference committee of four Republicans and two Democrats. South Carolinas current abortion ban at about six weeks isnt being enforced at the moment after the state Supreme Court suspended it. The justices will hear arguments Wednesday on whether that law violates a right to privacy in the state constitution. Democrats have largely stayed quiet during the debate, letting the Republicans fight among themselves and pulling in more moderate senators. They said people who support womens rights were going to lose no matter what happened because the states abortion rules are so restrictive. They encouraged voting for Democrats for governor and other positions in November. Story continues For decades, South Carolinas Legislature voted at the forefront of more restrictive abortion laws that challenged Roe v. Wade. The state led the way in the U.S. by requiring ultrasounds, parental consent and 24-hour waiting periods and a ban on abortions at 20 weeks into a pregnancy that is right now the law. READ MORE: NC clinics want nurses to offer medication-induced abortions But when faced with the real-world consequences of bans that have played out in the other states after the U.S. Supreme Court rulings, some Republicans in South Carolina paused at the brink. Republican Sen. Katrina Shealy is the fiercest advocate for children in need in the Senate and unabashedly calls herself pro-life. But she couldnt support a total ban. She said exceptions are needed and adds time is needed to see what the roughly six-week ban does to the states social services and health networks. People come from happy homes with lots of children and everything has been wonderful, Shealy said. But they need to go spend days at (the Department of Juvenile Justice) or they need to go to the (Department of Social Services) and sit in the waiting room. They dont do that. They go back to their happy homes. Twenty-four of the 46 senators voted last month for an amendment that would have passed a similar version of the total ban approved by the House. But supporters didnt have enough votes to overcome a threatened filibuster, and the ban didnt pass the Senate. Once the Supreme Court said here, yall can now make the law, some people who maybe voted more strongly pro-life in the past all of the sudden werent so interested in voting that strongly, Cash said. One thing all Republican senators agreed on Tuesday is the debate isnt over, even if they never meet again in 2022. Some Republicans want the state to declare an embryo is a person at the moment of conception, which would change a host of laws from tax policy to child support. Even if we work something out, well be back at it next year, Shealy said. (WATCH BELOW: Sen. Lindsey Graham introduces bill in Senate to tighten abortion restrictions) In a letter directed to Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz and the Seattle City Councils, council member Kshama Sawant expressed disfavor with the Seattle Police Department for failing to investigate a series of disturbing incidents at my home. According to Sawant, bags of human excrement had been thrown in her yard six times. The latest incident occurred on Thursday, Oct. 13. Sawant said the attacks are politically motivated, given their targeted nature and repetition. According to Sawant, Seattle police told her the waste could not be sent to a lab for further investigation, which, she added, seems quite odd considering that hospital labs do tests on human fecal matter all the time. Most concerning is the very high likelihood that this extreme and hostile behavior is politically motivated, Sawant said. And could turn into more serious and dangerous harassment. She said an investigation was opened on Oct. 13 but was told the case was no longer being pursued as active, even after reporting the fourth attack on Oct. 8. According to Sawant, Seattle police told her husband, What do you expect us to do? Sawant said the attacks coincide with a potentially-threatening email sent to her office, which include the lines the queen of s*** and you can sit on your throne of human excrement. She said investigators failed to ask her neighbors for security camera footage of the attacks, which she claims to have acquired. Sawant said she is also deeply concerned about the details of these attacks being apparently leaked to the right-wing media by Seattle police. She said the leak that led to right-wing articles only served to encourage further attacks, including social media posts praising the actions of the attacker and calling for more attacks. Sawant said she will be filing a complaint with the Office of Police Accountability. She then referenced the threats she received by email from a Seattle Fire Department employee in 2021, saying the details of that case were also soon leaked. Story continues Sawant concludes, I believe that working people should feel safe in their communities and their homes. It is deeply unfortunate that the experience of so many working people and communities of color is severely biased policing, lack of support when needed or far worse. A spokesperson for Mayor Bruce Harrell said, These incidents go against our core values as a city. Elected officials should not be harassed at their homes. While Mayor Harrell does not direct individual investigations, we have been assured that SPD will follow all standard protocols and practices regarding these incidents in the appropriate manner. The mayor has spoken directly to Councilmember Sawant to discuss and understand her concerns. On Oct. 20, the Seattle Police Department released additional information, including photos and description of the suspect. The suspect is described as an Asian man, approximately 5 feet and 4 inches tall. If you have information about this incident, contact the Seattle Police Department tip-line at 206-233-5000. By Daphne Psaledakis and Humeyra Pamuk WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A senior U.S. Treasury Department official traveled to Turkey this week to discuss sanctions and export controls imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, the Treasury Department said, as Washington closely monitors growing economic ties between Ankara and Moscow. Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes Elizabeth Rosenberg traveled to Ankara and Istanbul from Monday through Wednesday, where she met with counterparts including officials from the ministries of finance and foreign affairs as well as representatives in the private financial and commercial sectors, according to a statement. The Treasury said the meetings "affirmed the importance of close partnership" between the United States and Turkey in addressing the risks caused by sanctions evasion. "During her meetings, Assistant Secretary Rosenberg covered a range of topics, including the sanctions and export controls imposed on Russia by a broad coalition of over 30 countries, energy security, anti-money laundering policy, and countering the financing of terrorism," the Treasury said. Treasury and State Department officials engaged in talks with Turkish compliance officials, financial professionals, and government counterparts, it added. Washington and its allies have imposed several rafts of sanctions targeting Moscow since its invasion of Ukraine, including targeting the country's largest lenders and Russian President Vladimir Putin. U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo also traveled to Turkey in June to discuss the invasion and the enforcement of sanctions imposed on Moscow. NATO member Ankara opposes Western sanctions on Russia and has close ties with both Moscow and Kyiv, its Black Sea neighbors. It also condemned Russia's invasion and sent armed drones to Ukraine. At the same time, it has ramped up trade and tourism with Russia. Some Turkish firms have purchased or sought to buy Russian assets from Western partners pulling back due to the sanctions, while others maintain large assets in the country. Story continues But Ankara also pledged that the sanctions will not be circumvented in Turkey. The U.S. Treasury warned both the country's largest business group TUSIAD and the Turkish Treasury Ministry in August that Russian entities were attempting to use Turkey to bypass Western sanctions. Turkey has said joining sanctions against Russia would have hurt its already strained economy and argued that it is focused on mediation efforts. (Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis and Humeyra PamukEditing by Chris Reese and Alistair Bell) The nature of investing is that you win some, and you lose some. Anyone who held Victoria PLC (LON:VCP) over the last year knows what a loser feels like. In that relatively short period, the share price has plunged 60%. However, the longer term returns haven't been so bad, with the stock down 12% in the last three years. Even worse, it's down 13% in about a month, which isn't fun at all. So let's have a look and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress. View our latest analysis for Victoria While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS). Victoria fell to a loss making position during the year. While this may prove temporary, we'd consider it a negative, so it doesn't surprise us that the stock price is down. However, there may be an opportunity for investors if the company can recover. You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values). Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here. A Different Perspective We regret to report that Victoria shareholders are down 60% for the year. Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 13%. Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 7% over the last half decade. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. For example, we've discovered 2 warning signs for Victoria that you should be aware of before investing here. Story continues If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on GB exchanges. 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 WASHINGTON The U.S. Space Force may seek to deepen partnerships with private companies by establishing a fleet of commercial spacecraft that could be on standby for military use, much like the Civil Reserve Air Fleet. Through the CRAF, the Department of Defense contracts with commercial airlines to provide additional airlift capacity in emergencies. The reserve fleet has been activated just three times in its 70 year history, most recently in the summer of 2021 to aid in the U.S. militarys evacuation mission in Afghanistan. The Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve could function in a similar manner, Col. Joseph Roth, director of Space Systems Commands Innovation and Prototyping Directorate, said Oct. 19. The service plans to meet with companies and congressional stakeholders in Washington in January to gather feedback, he said. We definitely need the best and brightest minds working for that, Roth said at the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Associations Space Industry Days event in Los Angeles. That concept could be very powerful for us to use today. While the Pentagon has some unique needs, commercial space companies already provide many capabilities the department relies on, including satellite communications, space domain awareness and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Brig. Gen. Dennis Bythewood, deputy commander of U.S. Space Commands Joint Task Force-Space Defense, said the key is creating a construct for DoD to makes use of those services. I dont know if there is a mission thread, maybe other than missile warning, where there arent commercial in-roads where theyre selling either the same or a similar service to what we buy with the military, he said during the same event. Were interested in how we exploit it. As the Space Force fleshes out its plans for CASR, Bythewood said questions remain about how to manage liability and ensure commercially owned capabilities are protected from enemy attack. Story continues It wont be benign when we need them at our worst, he said. I do think theres a lot of work there. Col. Todd Benson, director of requirements for the Space Force, noted that as the service looks to draw from multiple commercial sources for some of these capabilities, integrating them with its broader portfolio of satellites and ground control systems will be vital. When these solutions come forward to surge, they have to be able to be integrated directly into what the joint force is doing at the time, he said during the event. U.S. SPACECOM is working to address the integration piece. Commander Gen. James Dickinson released a strategy in April aimed at working more closely with commercial companies and making it easier for the military to take advantage of their capabilities. By Joey Roulette WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Elon Musk's SpaceX is expanding its satellite internet unit's foray into in-flight WiFi services with the rollout on Wednesday of Starlink Aviation, offering customers a $150,000 airplane antenna amid mounting competition for airborne connectivity. Starlink, SpaceX's growing network of thousands of internet satellites, will charge customers seeking broadband internet on private jets between $12,500 to $25,000 a month for the service, on top of a one-time $150,000 hardware cost, the company said on its website. Starlink Aviation will begin delivering terminals in mid-2023, it said on its website, with reservations requiring a $5,000 payment. It added each terminal can deliver up to 350 Mbps, fast enough for video calls and online gaming. Companies building low-Earth orbiting satellite networks beaming broadband internet, like SpaceX's Starlink and Britain-backed satellite operator OneWeb, are racing to court airlines and private jet services in a market dominated by companies such as Inmarsat and its rival ViaSat, which are planning to merge. OneWeb on Tuesday announced an agreement with in-flight broadband giant Panasonic Avionics, which offers service to some 70 airlines, to market and sell OneWeb's broadband service to airlines by mid-2023. Britain's competition regulator last week referred Viasat's planned takeover of rival Inmarsat for an in-depth investigation over concerns the tie-up could hamper new competition in the aviation connectivity market and increase prices for airlines' on-board Wi-Fi. SpaceX plans to offer Starlink internet connectivity to Hawaiian Airlines planes next year. The company offers the service for maritime customers and RVs, and already has tens of thousands of individual consumers paying $110 a month with a $599 terminal. (Reporting by Joey Roulette; Editing by Alexandra Hudson) Broward Countys Spirit Airlines said its shareholders voted Wednesday to approve the airlines $3.8 billion sale to New York-based JetBlue Airways, clearing the next step in a long road to combine the two airlines. Discount airline Spirit and JetBlue now face an arduous regulatory approval examination by the Justice Department, which analysts say will be an uphill battle to create the nations fifth-largest airline. The Biden administration has warned overall that it would closely scrutinize proposed airline mergers and acquisitions. Air travelers wont see any changes as regulators analyze what effects uniting these two airlines would have on the airline marketplace, a process expected to take up to two years. In the meantime, Spirit and JetBlue will keep flying as separate airlines. This is an important step forward on our path to closing a combination that will create the most compelling national low-fare challenger to the dominant U.S. carriers, Ted Christie, the CEO of Spirit Airlines, said in a statement. While Spirit and JetBlue argue the deal will benefit consumers because it will enable the two carriers to compete with the countrys four legacy airlines American, United, Delta and Southwest theres disagreement. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, wrote a letter to the Department of Transportation in September, urging the department to use its underutilized authority to block deals that are not consistent with public interest. Airline industry competitiveness is in free fall, and consumers are feeling the consequences, Sen. Warren wrote in her letter, noting that four airlines control 80% of the domestic market. The Justice Department is already suing JetBlue and American Airlines for their Northeastern Alliance, which department officials say strips competition in New York and Boston. JetBlue has responded by saying it will divest its business in New York and Boston. Spirit, which employs more than 3,000 people in South Florida, has been at the center of the airline industrys biggest story of the year. The airline announced in February that it intended to merge with fellow ultra-low fare carrier Frontier Airlines, only to have JetBlue thwart the deal by making a more lucrative offer and Frontier bowing out of the bidding war. Broward County stands to lose a major airline headquarters under the deal terms Miramar-based Spirit and JetBlue agreed upon. If cleared by federal regulators, the combined airline will remain in JetBlues Queens, New York, home and JetBlues CEO Robin Hayes will be at the helm. Spirit officials say JetBlue plans to continue a strong presence in South Florida. Its unclear what will happen with Spirits planned corporate campus in Dania Beach, but company officials have said construction plans are ongoing. Ruben Flores speaks to the media Tuesday outside a Salinas, Calif., court after he was acquitted of being an accessory to the murder of Kristin Smart. Flores' son, Paul Flores, was found guilty of murder in the college student's death. (Daniel Dreifuss / Associated Press) In a courtroom in Salinas, Calif., on Tuesday, a jury rendered a verdict in one of California's most enduring murder mysteries. The panel found Paul Flores guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo student Kristin Smart, who went missing more than two decades ago but whose body has never been found. Minutes later, a second jury acquitted his father, Ruben Flores, of charges that the 81-year-old helped his son cover up the crime. While both cases were presented in the same courtroom, they were different in many ways, which could account for the different verdicts. Here is a rundown of what the jury learned: How did prosecutors convict without a body? Despite multiple searches over the last two decades including digs on the Cal Poly campus and at Ruben Flores home in Arroyo Grande Smart's body was never found. She was declared legally dead in 2002. But prosecutors had other evidence that the jury appears to have found compelling. During the trial, San Luis Obispo County Deputy Dist. Atty. Chris Peuvrelle alleged that Paul Flores raped or attempted to rape and eventually killed Smart before hiding her remains under a deck at his fathers home. A neighbor reported strange activity with a trailer in Ruben Flores' yard in 2020, Peuvrelle told jurors. That was when father and son moved Smarts remains as investigators made new inquiries about the property, he said. Though no remains have been recovered, prosectors had another key piece of evidence, something that may have proved key in their case. Two women claimed Paul Flores had raped them decades after Smart vanished, supporting the prosecutions theory that he sexually assaulted the coed, then killed her and hid her body. Jurors also heard from two women Sarah Doe and Rhonda Doe who testified that Flores drugged and raped them decades after Smart vanished. The women, who took the witness stand last month under pseudonyms to protect their privacy, testified that Flores sexually assaulted them in Los Angeles in 2008 and 2011, respectively. Story continues In their cases, Peuvrelle noted that Flores had offered to give the women rides home after meeting them, only to allegedly drug and repeatedly rape them at his house. What do prosecutors say happened to Smart? Smart was 19 when she vanished on May 25, 1996, after walking toward the college dormitories with Flores, a fellow Cal Poly student, after a party. She had arrived at the Crandall Street house party about 10:30 p.m., according to testimony during the trial. Others who were there said she never smelled of alcohol but was seen with one drink shortly before midnight after hanging out with Flores. Afterward, she passed out on a lawn for two hours. Peuvrelle alleged that her behavior was consistent with someone drugging her. As she and two other students began to leave, Flores appeared out of the darkness to help her walk home, witnesses testified. Smart needed help to get up a hill, and once in sight of the dormitories, prosecutors say, Flores promised to get her home. He later insisted he left her within sight of her dorm. The weekend that Smart went missing, the prosecution said, the whereabouts of neither Paul Flores nor Ruben Flores could be verified, but Paul Flores called his father and they talked for seven minutes the morning after the event. Prosecutors alleged father and son made plans to hide Smart's body, eventually burying it in Ruben Flores' yard. But Ruben Flores denied this. Theyve had searches and everything, he said. They come to my house and say she was buried here, and thats a surprise to me. They say I dug her up. I am 81 years old, you know. I dont do too much digging. What was the case against Ruben Flores? The case again Ruben Flores, who was accused of being an accessory, appeared harder to prove. Prosecutors alleged he kept people away from his deck for years. A soil scientist and archaeologist testified that ground radar showed an anomaly and indications of fluids that were consistent with a body having been buried and removed, Peuvrelle repeatedly reminded jurors. The question of whether Smart was buried at the home and what role Ruben Flores played was debated at trial. Prosecutors pointed to what they said was hole on the property, 6 feet by 4 feet by 4 feet. Archaeologist Cindy Arrington, Peuvrelle noted, said that the hole was dug by hand and that fluid had leaked into the soil slowly, creating a bath-like ring. Showing slides from a PowerPoint presentation, Peuvrelle said that a chemical test by an independent lab showed a positive result for the presence of human blood in the soil and that fibers recovered from the soil matched the colors of Smarts clothing. Harold Mesick, Ruben Flores' attorney, said expert defense witnesses indicated that the blood test was invalid for soil. He said there would have been gallons of liquid had a body been there. The amount of blood is so minuscule ... it could be anyones blood. It could be Ruben Flores blood, he said. I am going to tell you it is not Kristin Smarts blood. Ultimately, the elder Flores said the case was about feelings; it wasn't about facts. Speaking outside the courthouse after the ankle monitor he had worn for 18 months was removed, Ruben Flores said, "I think thats what happened with my son. They were carried away with feelings about their family and the girl missing. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. "Chinese modernization" written into key CPC congress report Xinhua) 08:52, October 19, 2022 BEIJING, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese modernization, a key term defining China's journey to rejuvenation, has for the first time been written into a report to the national congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the world's largest Marxist governing party. In his Sunday report to the 20th CPC National Congress, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, underscored the "central task" of the Party, calling for efforts to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts "through a Chinese path to modernization." The Chinese have never been so close to, confident in, and capable of achieving the goal of rejuvenating the Chinese nation, according to the report, which laid out main objectives and tasks for the next five years and beyond. Chinese modernization, based on exploration by generations of Chinese people and unique to the country's context, presents a correct path to realizing the Chinese dream. It also offers humanity a new choice for achieving modernization. This aerial photo shows a view of the Yangpu International Container Port in the Yangpu Economic Development Zone, south China's Hainan Province, May 26, 2021. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu) CLEAR VISION, TARGETS When the Japanese invasion plunged China into peril in the 1930s, a renowned Chinese historian pondered and raised a question that had long perplexed him and his compatriots: Can the Chinese modernize? Today the answer is readily apparent to everyone. The world's second-largest economy has achieved within decades what took the West centuries to achieve. China has eradicated absolute poverty and finished building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, thus completing the First Centenary Goal. According to its two-step strategic plan, the CPC will next lead China to "basically realize socialist modernization from 2020 through 2035," and "build China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful from 2035 through the middle of this century." "As China has embarked on a new journey, it is the perfect time to set out clear direction and targets of Chinese modernization so that the Chinese people can unite in pursuit of the goal they have been seeking to achieve," Chen Shuguang, a professor at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, told Xinhua. The report outlined China's overall development objectives for the year 2035, which include substantially growing the per capita GDP to be on par with that of a mid-level developed country, significantly enhancing national soft power, steadily lowering carbon emissions after reaching a peak, as well as comprehensively strengthening the national security system and capabilities. Describing the next five years as "crucial for getting our efforts to build a modern socialist country in all respects off to a good start," the report listed the main objectives and tasks for this period, which range from achieving greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology, to further improving the socialist market economy, and enabling China to play a greater role in global governance. "Setting clearer vision and targets, China is becoming increasingly aware that the modernization it seeks will not be a mere replica of the Western one since the Chinese path works well," said Chen. This photo shows a night view of a commercial street in Wuhan City, central China's Hubei Province, July 2, 2022. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu) UNIQUE PATH Chinese modernization contains elements that are common to the modernization processes of all countries, but it is more characterized by features that are unique to the Chinese context. Xi said Chinese modernization is the modernization of a huge population, of common prosperity for all, of material and cultural-ethical advancement, of harmony between humanity and nature, and of peaceful development. Experts believe that although modernization theory has its origins in the West, modernization by no means is equal to Westernization and there has never been a one-size-fits-all approach to modernization. "China is underscoring the importance of every country pursuing modernization through a path that is suited to their own conditions and that their people will accept and support," said Sean Slattery, one of the foreign experts invited to translate Xi Jinping's report to the CPC national congress. Gao Derong, a delegate to the CPC national congress from the rural areas of southwest China's Yunnan Province, told Xinhua that he was impressed by the unique Chinese path to modernization. "China's success in mass poverty alleviation over the past years has highlighted one of the key features of Chinese modernization, which is common prosperity," he said. "Our modernization benefits everyone in the country instead of just a few." NEW CHOICE China's modernization drive came into the spotlight as profound changes unseen in a century are transforming the world, which has once again reached a crossroads in history. Although the modernization of the West has created unprecedented material wealth, its path of aggression, colonization and expansion is not viable. This path has also led to problems including a widening wealth gap, waste of resources and environmental damage. "For other developing countries, Chinese modernization offers a new choice for achieving modernization, based on their own conditions and more international cooperation, rather than plunder, war and blood," said Yahia Mustafa, who participated in polishing the Arabic version of the report. The 65-year-old Sudanese expert has lived in China for over 20 years. The CPC is clear-minded that building a modern socialist country in all respects is a massive, arduous task. Warning of various "black swan" and "gray rhino" events that may occur at any time, the report said China has entered a period of development in which strategic opportunities, risks and challenges are concurrent, and uncertainties and unforeseen factors are rising. "Tremendous hard work and unrelenting efforts are required as China strives to realize modernization," said Li Lannyu, a worker from east China's Jiangsu Province who is also a delegate to the congress. Xin Ming, a professor at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, said building a modern socialist country is a great cause that requires strenuous efforts. "While the future is bright, we still have a long way to go." (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Hongyu) Chris Green teaches his graduate level editing class at DePaul University on Oct. 4, 2022, in Chicago. Students in his class edit submitted stories with a common theme, and the collective effort results in an annual published book. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) Big Shoulders Books are free. You can request one. Theyll send you one. You might even be in one. Big Shoulders Books, founded at DePaul University a decade ago, has been one of the more quietly ambitious projects in Midwest journalism, though, in practice, the work is not written by professional journalists and its architects are faculty in the English department. The goal, however, is elementally journalistic: to gather an oral record of contemporary Chicago. Its violence, war veterans, romances. And now, with its latest history, Virus City, a street-level, everyday accounting of the pandemic. Somewhere, Studs Terkel is smiling. Advertisement As with most of the books from Big Shoulders and much of the work of Terkel, the godfather of quotidian conversation arranged as a widescreen mural of daily life the narration comes almost entirely through a cross section of little-known Chicagoans, written in their words. As with Terkel, their anecdotes gather into the specificity, insight and sometimes haunting afterthought that shapes the spine of a life. We understand these are people who probably have never been interviewed in any media before, and this may be the only time someone records their words, said Rebecca Johns-Trissler, director of DePauls graduate program in writing and publishing, and a co-editor of Virus City. So we try to honor that and approach each person with a great respect. The nurse who, at the end of nine-hour shift overwhelmed by COVID patients, likes nothing more than to relax in front of the TV with her family, watching horror movies. Advertisement The Ashburn elementary school principal who walks you through her life, then recognizes that the pandemic pushed her school finally into the world of technology. The North Side psychologist who admits Zoom calls with friends became a chore. The Starbucks barista who spars with a customer refusing to wear a mask, who then took a mask just to run over to the trash to throw it out. Then gets another mask, to throw out. Some of Virus City is unexpected, but much is not. And that is entirely the point a draft of compelling everyday, assembled by amateurs. Big Shoulders, depending how you see it, is an elaborate exercise, a publishing experiment, a social justice initiative, or all three. Each book published is produced by graduate and undergraduate DePaul students who take a series of courses that represent stages of publishing. Book editing, book publishing, creative writing and social engagement, book marketing, etc. They have lessons on how to find subjects, classes on how to extract detail from an interview that forms a coherent narrative. Each book gets roughly the same treatment. Virus City which happened only after a book on incarceration was sidelined by the pandemic took a year of planning, a year of assembling interviews, then six months of production. Though they dont typically work with the schools journalism department, this new books 30-page centerpiece is a handful of photo essays by DePaul photojournalism students, documenting their single, isolated pandemic year. It was fitting. Big Shoulders began as a way of putting internship-like experience in the classroom, said Michele Morano, chair of the English department, but during a pandemic, that meant a lot of professional headaches. Eventually they found better subjects than I could have hoped for, but first they had trouble finding anyone, Johns-Trissler said. They put in calls to the Chicago Police Department, fire department, teachers union not a single person got back to them. So, like many working journalists, they compiled a motherlode on social media. When the books were finally printed late this summer, at least two boxes full of copies arrived with jumbled pages, missing pages, misprints. Just like in the real book world. Big Shoulders Press has published seven books so far. The first title was How Long Will I Cry?: Voices of Youth Violence and the latest is Virus City, about the COVID-19 pandemic. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) Virus City, the seventh Big Shoulders book since 2013, is like its first, How Long Will I Cry?: Voices of Youth Violence. Miles Harvey the Chicago-based author and DePaul professor who formed Big Shoulders with Morano and Chris Green, director of the schools writing and publishing internships said that for two years he sent students out to interview subjects for the book. They would come back, type up a transcript, then go out and do another. I would have to explain, Dont ask someone to tell you about the day their brother was shot. Ask them about their neighborhood, then ask about their family ... Come to it naturally. One student talked to a gang member who didnt say he was in a gang, but, from the conversation, was clearly in a gang. The student didnt want to ask the obvious. So I explained, no, they had to go back out and simply ask. Terkel, he said, was a major catalyst. I knew him some, Harvey said, and he became this massive influence on how you should interact with the world as a writer. He saw every human beings story as dramatic, and worthy of documentation, and poetic and he somehow guided all this. Advertisement The roots of Big Shoulders which of course takes its name from City of Big Shoulders, poet Carl Sandburg famous line in his poem Chicago go back to the beating death of 16-year-old Derrion Albert outside Christian Fenger Academy High School in Roseland. Video of the 2009 attack went viral, and as Harvey writes in the introduction to How Long Will I Cry? he was disturbed, shaken but what was one white, middle-aged creative-writing professor supposed to do about it? Over coffee, while talking to a friend, Hallie Gordon, artistic director of Steppenwolf for Young Adults, she mentioned wanting to make a documentary piece using the words of Chicago youth but had no one to do interviews. Harvey returned to his students. Two years later they had a play How Long Will I Cry?: Voices of Youth Violence played at Steppenwolf in spring 2013 and toured Chicago libraries. And so much extra material, they had a possible book, too. That led to the idea to continue, building a small press around Chicago voices rarely heard. And a weird business model of not, in a sense, standing on corners to sell books, but forcing people to come to us, then we will give it all away, Harvey said. Which, Morano said, was completely overly ambitious who wanted to start a small publishing house, then at a moment when it felt like publishing itself was imploding? But fate, in a sense, opened its checkbook. After a performance of How Long Will I Cry?, Harvey and Morano were approached by Chicagoans William and Irene Beck of the William and Irene Beck Charitable Trust. The publishing house idea was mentioned and the Becks offered to bankroll the entire initiative. It wasnt a formal, written agreement, Harvey said. But a decade later, its still working. Every Big Shoulders book, so far, is in at least its second printing (and often far more). Each title gets a first printing of between 3,000 and 7,000 copies, costing about $12,000, depending on the size and content. (The photos in Virus City proved pricey.) Initially Harvey and Co. pledged to make a book a year, but settled for quality over an assembly line. Its been a small, clever catalog. How Long Will I Cry? led to American Gun: A Poem by 100 Chicagoans, a book-length communal poem about Chicago gun violence with contributions from many of its celebrated poets, including Ana Castillo and Ed Hirsch. Chris Green was the editor, and followed with I Remember: Chicago Veterans of War, which, instead of individual stories, mixes the memories of 50 veterans into a single (footnoted) narrative that reads, as Green says, like one veteran remembering every war, blurring places and people into a single tragedy. For The Garcia Boy, Harvey and his students compiled four drafts of a memoir left by Chicago writer Rafael Torch, who died of cancer in 2011 at 36. For Write Your Heart Out, Morano had a simple, powerful idea: Ask local teenagers to write about relationships. Advertisement And all you have to do get a copy of these books which Big Shoulders ships for free and describes as an ongoing experiment in generosity (but does sometimes run out of stock) is explain on an online form why you want a copy and how you plan to use it (bigshouldersbooks.com/book-order). Requests come from students, from teachers, from the incarcerated, from gang members. They arrive from across the world and Chicago. The reasons are endless: They never read but they love Big Shoulders. Theyre in prison and these books have given them a road map for how to act when they get out. One request, Harvey said, was simply: Im a young woman in Indiana but these books make me feel empowered. The goal, Morano said, is to get books into hands of people who cant or wouldnt normally buy them. So far, their press has given away more than 100,000 copies. They dont plan to stop. Harvey is thinking of an oral history of the Calumet River, but next up, coming in spring: Chicago Mosaic: Immigration Stories Lost, Left or Kept. Its based around the tales of the tangible objects that Chicago transplants hold dear. Green, its editor, has received stories about dolls, photos, cell phones, cannons, swords. Hes still accepting stories. Its all been word-of-mouth for the most part. This whole thing is about word-of-mouth. Advertisement Just as Studs would have liked. cborrelli@chicagotribune.com California Serial Killings (Stockton Police Department) The Stockton serial killer suspect has been charged with three murders using a ghost gun after being caught allegedly hunting his next victim in the California city. Wesley Brownlee, 43, was arrested after a surveillance team stopped him in the early hours of Saturday morning as police claim he was targetting another victim. He was charged with three counts of murder on Tuesday, and the district attorney said she expects to add charges in two other murders in Stockton, as well as one attempted murder. Investigators believe that a serial killer is responsible for six killings between April 2021 and 27 September 2022. A killing in Oakland has been linked to the case, but the Alameda County District Attorneys Office has not confirmed if charges will be brought against the suspect there. Mr Brownlee is also accused of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. A public defender representing the suspect requested that he is arraigned on 14 November during his first court appearance on Tuesday. Mr Brownlee, who reportedly remained unemotional during his appearance, was ordered to be held without bail. Actor and rapper Kaalan Walker has been sentenced to 50 years to life for sexual assault. Walker was convicted in April of three counts of forcible rape, one count of assault to commit oral copulation, two counts of statutory rape and two counts of rape by intoxication, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. He was acquitted on two counts of forcible rape and one count of sexual penetration by force, according to a spokesperson from the district attorney's office, who added that Superior Court Judge Joseph Brandolino required Walker to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Walker, 27, appeared in the 2018 remake of the 1970s film "Superfly" and starred alongside Halle Berry and Daniel Craig in the 2017 drama "Kings." Kaalan Walker attends a screening of He was arrested in Los Angeles in September 2018 and accused of a series of sexual assaults on four aspiring models who he contacted through social media and promised work opportunities, police said. Authorities said the allegations dated to 2016. Walker was arraigned a month later on nine felony sexual assault charges and was held on more than $1 million bail before eventually being released. He was re-arrested March 2019 when six new victims were added to the case, and then released on reduced bond in November 2020. He went back into custody earlier this year after his April conviction, the district attorney's office said. Attorney Andrew Flier said Walker's sentence is "draconian" and called the trial "very unfair." Walker's defense team plans to appeal the sentence, Flier said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The Ohio Supreme Court has dismissed a suit filed by Community Legal Aid against the state alleging employees who don't have a W-2 are being double taxed. Some, like James Palm, never got a W-2 after the company they worked for went out of business. Without offering an oral or written explanation, the Ohio Supreme Court dismissed a case Wednesday that was brought by two Summit County taxpayers alleging widespread double taxation of mostly low-income Ohio workers. Akron-based Community Legal Aid said the case was about more than its two clients suing Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague and Tax Commissioner Jeff McClain. It was a broader effort to force state government, through what is legally called a mandamus action, to stop double charging workers with income taxes deducted from paychecks and no W-2s forms to show what they've already paid when they file their tax returns. Without the W-2s, the state records them as paying nothing and automatically charges them in full, individual tax records filed with the lawsuit show. The state of Ohios systemic failure to properly credit individual employee taxpayers accounts cannot be remedied by settling the [two plaintiffs] tax accounts because it affects any and all Ohio taxpayers who are unable to provide W-2 information on their state tax return, Dana Goldstein, the Legal Aid attorney on the case, wrote in the original complaint filed last August. A spokesperson said Treasurer Sprague is not commenting beyond what state attorneys have filed in court. And the scope of the issue has been difficult to gauge. Who's getting double taxed? A Beacon Journal public records request filed with the Ohio Department of Taxation this year uncovered 666,825 tax returns from 2019 that listed income but no tax withholdings from employers. The vast majority of these taxpayers likely aren't being double taxed because, as the state pointed out, their income may not come from employers who are required to deduct taxes but from unemployment, Social Security, insurance checks, lottery winnings, gambling proceeds or other sources that can avoid being taxed until filing returns the next year. After filtering out high-earners with no tax withholding, Community Legal Aid Executive Director Steve McGarrity said his organization thinks about 20,000 people are double-taxed annually. And many don't know it. Story continues About the case:Community Legal Aid and local residents sue Ohio for allegedly double-taxing incomes The silver lining in suing the state and losing, McGarrity said, is that the Department of Taxation updated its guidance to require all employers, not just the big ones who were already doing so, to provide employee-level data about what's withheld. The state should now know how much each worker paid throughout the year, even if a worker lacks a W-2 when filing, McGarrity said. But it's still on the workers to request the refund. "We don't consider this fight over," McGarrity said. "And our hope is that, for individual taxpayers who have concerns or issues, you should reach out to us [at 330-535-4191]. And we would highly encourage people to call the Department of Taxation directly [at 1-800-282-1780]." State prevails on sweeping legal action The double-taxation issue has a disparate impact on low-income individuals, who are more likely to be in situations where W-2 information is not provided or is lost or destroyed, Goldstein wrote in her complaint a year ago when Legal Aid took on its two clients: a man who said he couldnt get another W-2 from his former employer a dollar store chain that went out of business and a domestic violence victim who fled her home and an abusive relationship without time to collect her tax documents. Each provided proof that they were forced, under penalty of law, to double pay state income taxes when they couldnt produce their old W-2s. Without her W-2, the woman listed $0 in tax withholdings on her return. The man put "unknown," which his return shows was translated to $0. In a request this May to dismiss the case, state attorneys argued that the pair of plaintiffs failed to exhaust all other avenues before suing. They could have petitioned for a reassessment of their tax bills or went to the Board of Tax Appeals, the state attorneys said. In court, though, the state did not deny the possibility that workers being double taxed. But they argued that claims of widespread double taxation were not fairly traceable to actions taken or not taken by Sprague or McClain. The mandamus action, if successful, would have forced the state to adopt new policies and procedures to avoid future double taxation and quickly refund workers if theyre being deducted more than they will owe. At this point, it's more feasible for workers without W-2s, who suspect they've been overtaxed, to call the department of taxation than to file individual lawsuits, which may only work "if you're being represented by a legal aid lawyer," McGarrity said. "So, the thousands of people that aren't [represented by counsel], this [mandamus action] was our attempt to get the court to recognize that there's a systemic problem that needs to be resolved here that people shouldn't need to hire a legal aid lawyer in order for the state of Ohio, to say, 'I'm holding $500 of your money. And I'm going to let you have it back now.'" And filing a class action lawsuit is not possible, at least for Community Legal Aid, which is prohibited from doing so per the public funding it receives through the Legal Services Corporation. Legal Aid's attorneys said they previously brought the double taxation issue to the attention of state officials and offered solutions. The nonprofit group decided to sue after the state did nothing to fix the alleged problem. The Supreme Court pushed the case into mediation, which put the litigation on pause for eight months until May when the two sides failed to reach an agreement and the state filed its motion to dismiss. Legal Aid filed its motions opposing the dismissal request in June. The case was quiet until the announcement Wednesday morning that the Supreme Court would toss it out. Rep. Lisa Sobecki (D-Toledo) introduced House Bill 711 more than two months ago. The legislation, which has not yet been assigned to a committee by House leadership, would require "the Tax Commissioner, upon request, to provide a report of an employees compensation and withheld income taxes for a year," according to a detailed analysis of the bill by the Legislative Service Commission. Under current law, the analysis says, "this information is confidential and generally may not be divulged by the Department of Taxation." Reach reporter Doug Livingston at dlivingston@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3792. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Supreme Court dismisses Legal Aid lawsuit on double taxing workers W-2 A group of Wisconsin taxpayers on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to block the Biden administrations student loan forgiveness program while an appeal plays out in a lower court. The emergency request, filed to Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who handles emergency matters arising from Wisconsin, comes shortly after the administration began accepting applications for the program. The challengers, the Brown County Taxpayers Association, urged the court to rule that the presidents nationwide debt cancellation plan illegally encroaches on Congresss exclusive spending power. The assault on our separation of powers and upon the principle that the spending power is vested solely in Congress is extraordinary, and perhaps unprecedented, they wrote in court papers. We are witnessing a gargantuan increase in the national debt accomplished by a complete disregard for limitations on the constitutional spending authority. President Biden announced in August that his administration planned to forgive $10,000 in student loan debt for those making under $125,000 annually and $20,000 for recipients of Pell grants, which assist students from lower-income families. The White House said its policy is authorized by a 2003 federal law known as the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act (HEROES Act), which both the Trump and Biden administrations have drawn upon to enact student debt relief policies amid the exigencies of the global pandemic. In a lawsuit filed in federal court earlier this month, the Wisconsin taxpayers argued that the HEROES Act does not authorize Bidens debt cancellation policy, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates will cost about $400 billion over 30 years. A U.S. District judge in Wisconsin dismissed the suit for lack of standing. An intermediate appeals court declined to halt that ruling while a formal appeal plays out, prompting the groups emergency request to the Supreme Court. Story continues In their Wednesday filing, the challengers urged the Supreme Court to find that Bidens debt cancellation policy would have major political and economic consequences, despite clear authorization by Congress violating what the court last term dubbed the major questions doctrine. There is no legal justification for this presidential usurpation of the constitutional spending power, which is reserved exclusively for Congress, they wrote. This step, which is certainly a major question is predicated on a law passed under different circumstances to accomplish different purposes for different beneficiaries. Updated 2:36 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The suspect was out hunting for another victim when he was arrested, authorities said. (Photo: dowell via Getty Images) The suspect was out hunting for another victim when he was arrested, authorities said. (Photo: dowell via Getty Images) A man suspected of killing multiple people in Northern California was charged with three counts of murder on Tuesday for three fatal shootings in Stockton this summer. Wesley Brownlee, 43, was also charged with one count of felony firearm possession and one count of possession of ammunition by San Joaquin District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. He is currently being held at the San Joaquin County Jail without bail as he awaits arraignment on Nov. 14. Brownlee is charged in the murders of Jonathan Rodriguez, 21, Juan Carlos Carranza-Cruz, 52, and Lawrence Lopez, 54, whom he allegedly killed with an illegal firearm in a shooting spree between July 8 and Sept. 27. He is also suspected of killing two additional people in Stockton during that same time period. Of those five victims, four were on foot and one was in a vehicle when they were gunned down this summer. Most of the victims were homeless and lived in encampments in northern Stockton. Police also believe that Brownlee fatally shot a 40-year-old man in Oakland and shot and injured a 46-year-old woman in Stockton in April 2021. Ballistic evidence suggests that a lone gunman committed both shootings, Stockton Police Department spokesperson Joseph Silva told the San Francisco Chronicle on Tuesday. Police suggested charging Brownlee with all seven of the shootings, but prosecutors are waiting for additional evidence to be processed, according to the Chronicle. Prior to Brownlees arrest, authorities released video surveillance footage of a person of interest wearing dark-colored clothing and walking in the same areas where the five victims were killed over the summer. Brownlee was arrested on Saturday after authorities offered an $85,000 reward, later raised to $100,000, and received hundreds of tips from local residents. Story continues Stockton Police Chief Stanley McFadden said at a news conference on Saturday that the suspect was out hunting for another victim while dressed in all black and armed with a black and silver handgun. We are sure we stopped another killing, McFadden said. Based on tips coming into the department and Stockton Crime Stoppers, we were able to zero in on a possible suspect, McFadden continued. Our surveillance team followed this person while he was driving. We watched his patterns and determined early this morning, he was on a mission to kill. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... HOUSTON, TX - (NewMediaWire) - October 19, 2022 - IS&T IT Services, a full-service Information Systems & Technology retained search and contingency staffing firm, provides Houston SMB organizations with managed IT services. The firm facilitates clients' needs through staffing computer professionals and consulting services. Its reputation and IT/design expertise help businesses in telecommunications, trading, shipping, manufacturing, retail, energy, finance, legal, and healthcare implement advanced technology products, support, and solutions. Tony Pannagl, the CEO, started IS&T IT Services in 1997 after working for another IT staffing firm for 5 years. The firm derived IS&T (Information Systems and Technology) from the IT department of the first client that agreed to a partnership. The firm achieved $1m in revenue in July 1998, ushering in 1999 on a high note when the world was gearing up for Y2K. While many clients were happy with the recruiting, staffing, and temp contract labor talent, they asked the firm to perform turnkey projects to remediate Y2K concerns. Since the business model was different, Mr. Pannagl started IS&T Consulting Group LLC as a sister company to IS&T Staffing Group, which focused on break-fix and managed IT support. He sold IS&T Staffing Group Feb 2013 to grow IS&T Consulting Group. Today, IS&T Consulting Group provides staffing and IT recruiting with global/domestic IT applications for over 450 customers, 4000 desktops, and 150 physical/virtual servers on its managed IT services platform. Finding top IT talent in Houston is a challenge, especially for businesses desiring to grow, scale, expand, or create long-term relationships. However, IS&T IT Services has an extensive network to locate passive talent to help business owners secure/optimize strategic and variable components to success. The team understands that IT doesn't work in a vacuum which is why they give businesses a competitive advantage and support operations. They begin by appreciating a client's target and the gaps between their current/future states before building a workforce staffing strategy that includes the right people, competencies, and skills. Whether a client needs a CIO, executives, engineers, programmers, sales/marketing professionals, technicians, or new connections, the firm leverages 25 years of experience to pair companies with the right employees. The team understands Houston's business landscape, common IT staffing positions, and industries that compete for candidates to offer contract/temporary hires, staff outsourcing, project staff augmentation, retained, and contingency searches. Check out https://www.is-t.net/staffing for IT staffing services. As a premier provider, IS&T IT Services proactively addresses a business's ongoing IT management, support, and security needs. The team believes in the importance of seeking innovative information and technology solutions. For this reason, they focus on operations management, network design, system integration, business application development, and website/mobile design. Businesses have relied on the firm to fix computer/network problems, monitor servers/desktops, implement IT infrastructure, eliminate security concerns, exchange share point solutions, and provide 24/7 help desk services. The team provides data center solutions, offers cloud service systems, creates website graphics, and develops software/business apps. The Houston environment is competitive for small, medium, and large-scale businesses. It, therefore, makes sense to pick professional employees and an IT support service company with years of experience understanding the dynamism of IT systems. At IS&T IT Services, clients get up-to-date solutions and comprehensive IT services tailored to their needs. With 25 years in the industry, business owners can rest assured that they're receiving sound advice on the latest technology and solutions that support their companies and daily operations. Their approach has earned them many 5-star reviews, long-term business partnerships, and positive testimonials. "IS&T will always strive to provide innovative, dynamic, and practical consultative IT and design services that save time, reduce costs and improve the key deliverables for the corporate IT department and staff. We are service providers that pride ourselves on delivering exceptional customer service and implementing a forward-thinking IT strategy that will help our customers achieve their business goals." Company Representative. (Reuters) -AT&T Inc is in discussions to create a joint venture that would invest billions of dollars to expand its fiber-optic network, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The company is working with Morgan Stanley to help bring in an infrastructure partner to the venture, which is expected to be valued at $10 billion to $15 billion, according to the report. AT&T declined to comment, while Morgan Stanley did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The discussions with infrastructure investors are early and could still fall apart, Bloomberg News reported, adding that AT&T could find a partner as soon as this year, but it could also slip into 2023. The news comes as AT&T plans to expand its high-speed home internet service to newer areas in the country, in a bid to attract new subscribers. AT&T and Morgan Stanley did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. (Reporting by Yuvraj Malik in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta) WASHINGTON A Wisconsin taxpayer group filed an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court on Wednesday seeking to temporarily block President Joe Biden's administration from implementing its student loan forgiveness program. The appeal from the Brown County Taxpayers Association is one of several percolating in federal courts attempting to stop the effort, which critics argue exceeds the Department of Education's authority. Biden announced the program in August. Biden's plan would cancel up to $20,000 in student loan debt for Pell Grant recipients and $10,000 for other borrowers, for people earning up to $125,000 a year or part of a household where total earnings are no more than $250,000. The administration could start forgiving loans Sunday, according to court records. "There is no legal justification for this presidential usurpation of the constitutional spending power, which is reserved exclusively for Congress," the group told the court. The first hurdle the Wisconsin group needs to clear is demonstrating that it has been injured enough by the program to have standing to sue. U.S. District Judge William Griesbach earlier this month ruled the group did not have standing and the Chicago-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit declined to grant the group an injunction that would have temporarily blocked the Biden program. President Joe Biden speaks about student loan debt forgiveness on Aug. 24, 2022. Biden enacted the debt relief plan under the HEROES Act, which was passed after the Sept. 11 attacks sparked an American-led military campaign aimed at terrorism. The act gave the administration authority to forgive student loan debt in association with military operations or national emergencies. The administration asserted that the law allows loan forgiveness for Americans dealing with financial hardship because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because the case is arriving on the court's emergency "shadow docket" it could be decided relatively quickly, within a matter of days. If the high court rules that the group has standing to sue, that would send the case back down to a lower court to decide the questions raised by the lawsuit on the merits. Contributing: Chris Quintana, Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Group challenges Biden loan forgiveness program at Supreme Court From left: Kanye West and Paris Hilton were both recent guest on celebrity-hosted podcasts. But don't confuse that with journalism. (Photos by Evan Agostini/AP and Aude Guerrucci/AFP Getty/AP) All podcasts are not created equal. Putting a celebrity in front of a microphone does not mean that person is taking part in journalism. Especially when the host is a celebrity, as well. If youre not a listener, Im referring to the growing genre of podcasts from Hollywood actors, musicians and other boldface names, who talk with other celebrities about their lives, their opinions and issues of the day. These programs may share a basic format with journalistic endeavors, but are bound by none of the same standards and practices. Advertisement Perhaps your mind went to Kanye West (who now goes by Ye) and his recent bigotry-filled appearance on the Drink Champs podcast. Thats only one example in an industry where celebrities or in some cases, artists-turned-media personalities have expanded their interests to hosting. Maybe its an effort to take back some measure of control. Celebrity reporting has always had its share of dubious practitioners from reporters who fawn over their subjects and overlook uncomfortable truths in order to maintain access, to those who traffic in gossip and nastiness for the sake of nastiness. Advertisement Whatever the reason celebrities are restyling themselves as pseudo-journalists, some skepticism is warranted because so often they flounder when confronted with anything that might jeopardize their personal relationships. Theres a lack of willingness and know-how on the part of these hosts to engage in anything beyond a softball conversation. Kanye West on stage in New York in 2019. (Brad Barket/Getty Images for Fast Company) In private, thats what friends do. But for public consumption? What are the conflicts of interest, especially when both parties are either friends or simply move in the same professional circles? What kinds of overcorrections are taking place to ensure a guest never has to contend with anything that might even hint at an inconvenient truth? What are the conversations that arent happening because theres a tacit understanding among celebrities about what is or isnt on the table for discussion? This week on Meghan Markles podcast Archetypes, she interviews Paris Hilton about bimbo and dumb blonde stereotypes. Markle is a smart and thoughtful host who is interested in parsing why society is so quick to embrace categories that reduce women to simplistic and negative traits. Is Hilton the only person with insights on this topic? Is she the most thoughtful? Probably not. But she is famous. And its notable that the podcast consistently features celebrities as the primary guests. Something happens when celebrities interview other celebrities. Everything has the whiff of PR and superlatives and mutual admiration and ensuring that everyone feels boosted. So much so that when Markle praises Hiltons business acumen by saying, among other things, she launched her very own NFT collection, its worth pointing out whats conspicuously missing. The consumer watchdog group Truth in Advertising has pinpointed 19 celebrities, including Hilton, it says may be involved in promoting NFTs without disclosing their connection to these projects. In August, the group sent letters to each celebrity noting that we have found that celebrity NFT promotions is an area rife with deception, including, but not limited to, a failure to clearly and conspicuously disclose the promoters material connection to the endorsed NFT company and urged Hilton to immediately disclose those material connections wherever the promotions are made. Paris Hilton speaks during the YouTube TCA 2020 Winter Press Tour. (Willy Sanjuan/Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP) Markle has been the subject of all kinds of irrational media coverage and her podcast quietly aims to subvert that. She notes that shes not interested in passing judgment, so perhaps asking questions that probe Hilton more deeply questions that may not conform to an empowerment narrative would interrupt the tone of the podcast. Its an approach thats certainly beneficial for her celebrity guests, but considerably less informative for her listeners. Thats a judgment call in itself and it pretends that the only way to respect a persons humanity is to carefully avoid worthwhile questions. Advertisement Ultimately, the episode is less an excavation of the bimbo archetype and more about why Hilton adopted a dumb blonde persona as a defensive mechanism. Thats fine, but its a narrow focus specific to one persons experience a celebritys experience. The fascination with how celebrities experience the world, and the idea that we can and should extrapolate something universal from that, has proven to be a consistently profitable phenomenon across pop culture. Theres also Hiltons alleged history of racist comments, also not discussed here. Considering Markle has been subjected to rampant racism on social media, and in a more veiled form from certain corners of the British press, its baffling that she would uncritically invite Hilton on her show and, by extension, legitimize her. But maybe its not baffling. Because from the outside, it can often appear that the rich and famous prioritize maintaining at least the facade of friendly relationships over speaking truth to power. You look out for me, Ill look out for you. The actor Jon Bernthal hosts a podcast of his own and not long ago he featured a sympathetic conversation with fellow actor Shia LaBeouf. Its an episode that could be interpreted as the latters attempt at image rehabilitation ahead of a lawsuit set to go to court in the spring, in which he is alleged to have assaulted and inflicted emotional distress on ex-girlfriend FKA twigs. One can be professional and respectful without ignoring the elephant in the room. Or letting someone engage in deflection. Or allowing questionable assertions to go unchallenged. Smart journalists, ethical journalists know this is a basic part of the job. It takes practice to learn how to do it well. Its not being mean or judgmental its the art of interviewing. We shouldnt expect celebrities even the most intelligent among them, even those we admire to have those skills or even the desire to learn them. But that also means we need to listen with a critical ear. Jon Bernthal poses for photographers in 2021. (Joel C Ryan/Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP) Celebrities are allowed to host as many podcasts as theyd like. But thats not journalism. Thats public relations. Sometimes its very artfully crafted PR that feels like its filled with substance, but its PR all the same. And it should be treated with at least some amount of skepticism about the motivations and image management behind it. Advertisement We often talk about the importance of media literacy when it comes to differentiating between hard news reporting and opinion columns and gossip items that do not have one named source on the record. But media literacy is also just as vital when absorbing information about celebrities. Were all better off the more informed we are about the media we consume. The good news: Illinois recently became the first state in the country to require media literacy to be taught in high school. Nina Metz is a Tribune critic What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. Sign up for our Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here. One of organized labors favorite slogans is, There is no such thing as an illegal strike, only an unsuccessful one. We are seeing this play out this week in Haverhill and Malden, Massachusetts. Teachers in both school districts went on strike Oct. 17 after fruitless contract negotiations. The Malden union reached a tentative agreement with the district after a single day on strike. State law is explicit on the question of public employee strikes: No public employee or employee organization shall engage in a strike, and no public employee or employee organization shall induce, encourage or condone any strike, work stoppage, slowdown or withholding of services by such public employees. Our year-end campaign starts now! Please make a tax-exempt donation to The 74. Despite this, Massachusetts teacher strikes have occurred more frequently in recent years after a lull of about a decade. Teachers in Dedham went on strike in 2019, as did some in Andover and Sharon in 2020, as well as those in Brookline last May. I have long opposed no-strike laws for public school teachers. Enforcement is rare, consequences even rarer, and the unions dont take them seriously at all. Brookline union officers give seminars on their illegal strike, and their advice appears to have made its way to Haverhill and Malden. The Haverhill School Committee got wind of a possible walkout last week and immediately petitioned the state labor relations board to prevent it from taking place. The evidence the committee presented included a list of frequently asked questions that was apparently generated by the teachers union in preparation for the strike vote. With the bold headline, DOCUMENT FOR UNION MEMBERS ONLY, NOT TO BE POSTED, it explained that in previous strikes, not one person lost their job, and return-to-work protections were negotiated. It also noted, The penalty for strikes is typically a monetary one leveled against the union, not individual educators. Story continues Surely the teachers are smart enough to know that any union penalties will be paid by members with their dues money. The statement also flies in the face of the Massachusetts Teachers Associations assertion that rank-and-file members are the union. The state union released a press statement that said, In Malden and Haverhill, our members are fighting for the common good. However, the Haverhill FAQ document puts that claim in doubt. In answer to the question, What about children with special needs? the union responded, This is a matter for the District to handle. Imagine if there were a hurricane, except this is one of the districts own making same thing, the District has to make a plan. And to the question, During a strike, what things are in place to support those children who rely on school for safety and necessities like food? the union replied, Its like a snow day. If the school district chooses to arrange something, they can do that without the labor of school employees and those exercising solidarity with their collective action. The district and the state labor relations board filed a court complaint and a superior court judge issued a temporary injunction against the Haverhill strike. The union, however, remains defiant. Haverhill Public Schools teachers and the HEA have chosen to do what is moral over what is legal, said Haverhill Education Association vice president Barry Davis. Until a tentative agreement is reached, we will be on the picket lines. The union will bank on getting all charges and penalties dropped as part of the contract negotiations. Any settlements will almost certainly require making up instructional days lost to the strikes, so no one will lose any pay. Both teachers and unions in Haverhill and Malden will almost certainly come away without paying a price for their illegal actions. Teachers want students and the community to get the message that striking, even if illegal, is the right thing to do for everyones benefit. Thats all well and good, but people might also apply that lesson elsewhere, like challenging election results, or even ignoring provisions in teachers contracts that are detrimental to students. You cant flout the laws you dont like and still expect firm enforcement of those you do. Mike Antonuccis Union Report appears most Wednesdays; see the full archive. The Tarrant County commissioners threatened to defund judges as a way to force changes in the juvenile court system. On Wednesday, their efforts failed. During a tense meeting, the judges who serve on the countys Juvenile Board refused to take any action over problems with overcrowding in the juvenile detention center. Several of them pointed to the fact that the Nov. 8 election will put a new person in charge of the commissioners, who could keep the two associate judge positions funded beyond Jan. 1. Tarrant County commissioners voted in September to defund the judge positions in the 2023 budget after a consultant found judges Cynthia Terry and Andy Porter rarely held hearings over the summer. The consultant suggested that the lack of hearings contributed to dramatic overcrowding in the detention center that was first reported in April. Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley, who leads the county commissioners, asked the Juvenile Board to come up with solutions to overcrowding and other issues surrounding operations at the detention center. The leverage was the fact that the county commissioners fund the judge positions. District Court Judge Robb Catalano, who heads the Juvenile Board, said that Wednesday was the first time the board had heard about Whitleys request, though it has been reported several times in the Star-Telegram. Whitley, who also serves on the Juvenile Board, first floated the idea of defunding the associate judges during a commissioners meeting a few days after the consultants report was made public. The next day, Whitley brought up the idea to the Juvenile Board, which asked Whitley to hold off on making drastic decisions without a more thorough examination of overcrowding problems. Whitley and the commissioners officially moved to defund the two judge positions during a Sept. 13 budget meeting. He again asked the Juvenile Board to come up with other solutions to overcrowding. During that same meeting, Whitley voiced a plan for commissioners to meet directly with the Juvenile Board to discuss future steps. A joint meeting has yet to be scheduled. Story continues Catalano has not said when that meeting might be. His yearlong obligation as chairman of the board will end Jan. 1, and the Juvenile Board doesnt meet again until Jan. 18. Whitley was the only county commissioner to attend Wednesdays Juvenile Board meeting. Tensions flare The meeting started with public comment from Aaron Harris, a local attorney and supporter of 323rd District Court Judge Alex Kim, who oversees juvenile hearings and the detention center. Harris encouraged board members to rise above politics and reminded them that in a few months, the county will have a new county commission and Juvenile Board. Sitting in the audience were Tim OHare, Republican candidate for county judge (Whitley is not seeking reelection); Rick Barnes, the chair of the Tarrant County GOP; and Leigh Wambsganss of the Patriot Mobile PAC. Whitley reiterated to the board his desire for them to make recommendations about how to run the juvenile courts more efficiently without defunding the two associate judges. Among the options, according to Whitley: The board could designate a different court to oversee juvenile detention hearings, meaning the removal and transfer of Judge Alex Kim (which Whitley said he was not suggesting). The board also could use court referees instead of associate judges. The referees would report directly to the board, unlike the associates, who report to Kim. However, the responsibility of referee judges is much more limited than associate judges, Kim pointed out. No decision was made regarding the use of referees. The judges who spoke up seemed confused about Whitleys request and pointed to a triage committee they formed in April. The committee meets anytime the juvenile detention centers population reaches near capacity. Im trying to figure out the exact problem were trying to fix here, Judge Chris Taylor said. To me, if the problem is overcrowding, we had a committee, the committee did what it was supposed to do I think any group of judges should be reluctant to go into another judges courtroom and simply tell them how to operate or what to do Frankly, why deal with it now when were gonna have a brand new commissioners court, a brand new Juvenile Board? Asked how he felt, Kim said he is opposed to getting rid of the two associate judges. He sees it as counterproductive to fixing an overcrowding issue, since those courts help them move through the docket. He didnt offer alternative solutions to overcrowding. I think its not broken, Kim said of the juvenile system. If you look at juvenile cases, were moving cases faster than other counties. Nothing is broken. The consultant who found problems in the juvenile system was Carey Cockerell, who served as Tarrant Countys director of juvenile services for 20 years before serving as a state commissioner in Texas and Kentucky. His report detailed how the number of juvenile cases sent to the 323rd District Court has decreased steadily since 2000, yet the number of juveniles held in detention has skyrocketed because youths are being held longer. The report also noted that the amount of time the District Attorneys office takes to file a case against a juvenile has increased, though is still within Texas statute. District Attorney Sharen Wilson said in August that Kim has the discretion to release juveniles at any time. Another issue Cockerell found was that juveniles were commonly held in detention solely based on ratings of their behavior, which are assigned by detention staff. Kim has defended his position on this, saying hes unwilling to release high-risk youth who continue to misbehave in detention. Cockerells report suggested racism in the disproportionate numbers of detained Black and Hispanic youth. There were rumors of an M2 iPad Pro, but they were just the start of Apples announcements yesterday. The company dropped a bunch of new hardware, but let's start with its most powerful new tablet. The iPad Pro ($799), powered by its M2 chip, offers up to 15 percent faster performance than the M1, according to Apple. It also gets WiFi 6E support and a new "hover" experience for Apple Pencil. With a second-gen Apple Pencil, the iPad Pro will detect the peripheral when it's up to 12mm away from the display. Hovering above the display, youll be able to preview any mark you want to make before you actually apply it. When you place the Apple Pencil near the Scribble app, text fields will expand automatically. The updated Pro arrives on October 26th. TMA The new entry-level iPad got a major redesign, including USB-C charging and a landscape camera. The new model borrows the thin bezel of higher-end models and embeds the fingerprint reader built into the sleep/wake button. No more home button here. Its more expensive, however: The redesigned iPad starts at $449 for the 64GB WiFi model. It also launches on October 26th. Alongside these new models, after a slight delay, Apple has also revealed that iPadOS 16 lands on October 24th. Rounding out the barrage of Apple announcements, theres a new $129 Apple TV 4K model. It has an A15 chip, 64GB of storage and HDR10+ support, with a 128GB Apple TV 4K option adding gigabit Ethernet. Both new Apple TVs also support WiFi 6. Weve got all the pre-order details here. Mat Smith The Morning After isnt just a newsletter its also a daily podcast. Get our daily audio briefings, Monday through Friday, by subscribing right here. The biggest stories you might have missed Story continues The phone's display shrinks from 6.5 to 4 inches. We've seen rollable phone concepts from companies like Oppo and TCL, and LG was even working on a commercial rollable smartphone until it quit making mobile devices last year. Now, Lenovo is showing off a laptop with a rollout display, while its mobile division, Motorola, has a roll-out smartphone and they look like some of the more practical efforts yet. The phone starts out at a very pocketable 4 inches high, but with the click of a button, the OLED panel extends to a more normal, in 2022, 6.5 inches. Weve not seen a rollable laptop until now. The prototype starts with a typical landscape display and then rolls into a square, making it better for documents or vertical TikTok-style videos. Continue reading. So you'd better hurry up and boot your ex from your account. The next phase of Netflix's months-long crackdown on password sharing which itself follows the company's first quarterly subscriber loss in a decade is soon upon us. The company announced during its quarterly earnings call on Tuesday that beginning in early 2023, it will charge customers an added monthly fee to people who share their login credentials. The news comes as Netflix attempts to return to growth after losing subscribers earlier in the year. With help from Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story and the latest season of Stranger Things, the company was able to add more than 2.4 million subscribers in its third quarter. Netflix has not yet announced pricing, though if it follows the pilot program, it could work out to around $3 to $4 per month. Continue reading. It may be the quietest-riding Rolls yet. TMA The luxury British manufacturer has unveiled its first ground-up EV, the Spectre coupe. The "spiritual successor" to the Phantom looks much like its stately gas-powered counterparts but promises an even quieter and smoother ride. Although its still finalizing specifications, the company expects the all-wheel drive machine to make a 0-60MPH dash in 4.4 seconds and achieve an EPA range of 260 miles. Not particularly notable, but this isnt about numbers. This is about luxury. Continue reading. A tribunal found the deal reduced competition. The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) regulator has ordered Meta to sell Giphy after it lost its battle at the Competition Appeal Tribunal. The authority reviewed the decision in July after the tribunal sided with Meta on one issue (sharing sensitive third-party information). But it found the deal could still hurt competition by limiting rivals' access to Giphys library of GIFs, requiring unfavorable terms and reducing digital advertising choices. Meta bought Giphy in May 2020 at an unofficially estimated price of $400 million. Continue reading. The Treasury Department sanctioned a Russian national and two of his companies on Wednesday for allegedly transferring sensitive U.S.-based military technology to Russia. Yury Yuryevich Orekhov, and his companies Nord-Deutsche Industrieanlagenbau GmbH (NDA GmbH) and Opus Energy Trading LLC, were sanctioned on Wednesday over a scheme that allegedly obtained advanced semiconductor and microprocessor technology from the U.S. and transferred it to Russian entities, including sanctioned companies. The technology which can be used in fighter aircraft, ballistic and hypersonic missile systems, smart munitions, radar and satellites has been found in Russian weapons used in the war in Ukraine. Orekhov also faces charges from the U.S. attorneys office in the Eastern District of New York for his role in the scheme, alongside six other individuals. He was arrested in Germany on Monday. The U.S. attorneys office accused Orekhov and co-owner Artem Uss of using their company NDA GmbH as a front to purchase and send the sensitive military technology to Russia. Orekhov and Uss allegedly also used the company to smuggle hundreds of millions of barrels of oil from Venezuela to purchasers in Russia and China, including sanctioned Russian oligarchs. Uss, the son of a regional governor in Russia, was arrested in Italy on Monday. Three other Russian nationals and two Venezuelan nationals were also charged in relation to the scheme. As alleged, the defendants were criminal enablers for oligarchs, orchestrating a complex scheme to unlawfully obtain U.S. military technology and Venezuelan sanctioned oil through a myriad of transactions involving shell companies and cryptocurrency, Breon Peace, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said in a statement. We will continue to investigate, disrupt and prosecute those who fuel Russias brutal war in Ukraine, evade sanctions and perpetuate the shadowy economy of transnational money laundering, he added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON (AP) Former President Donald Trump once predicted that a special prosecutor appointed during his administration would uncover the crime of the century a conspiracy to sink his 2016 campaign. Yet here are the results of the three-year probe by prosecutor John Durham: two trial acquittals the latest on Tuesday and a former FBI attorney sentenced to probation. That has fallen far short of Trump supporters expectations that Durham would reveal a deep state plot behind the U.S. governments investigation into ties between Russia and Trumps 2016 presidential campaign. The outcome has led to scrutiny over the purpose of Durhams appointment by former Attorney General William Barr, who tasked him with sussing out misconduct in the Trump-Russia probe. It also has raised questions about whether or when the current attorney general, Merrick Garland, might move to rein in Durhams work or hasten its completion. You really measure the success of an investigation by what it uncovers in terms of pernicious activity, and hes uncovered nothing, said Stephen Saltzburg, a George Washington University law professor and former senior Justice Department official. Video: Trump deposed in defamation lawsuit There are no signs Durham plans to charge anyone else in his investigation. He is expected to produce a report at some point, but its unclear whether he will identify any significant misconduct or errors beyond those already reported by the Justice Departments watchdog. Barr gave Durham a broad mandate in 2019 to hunt for wrongdoing by the FBI or other agencies in the early days of their investigation into potential coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia. At the time, Durham was the U.S. attorney in Connecticut with decades of Justice Department experience, including investigating CIA interrogations of terror suspects. Trump supporters cheered the appointment, and not just because of Durham's bona fides. Story continues The appointment was made shortly after the conclusion of an investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller, which found substantial contacts between Russians and Trump associates but did not allege a criminal conspiracy between them. In December 2019, a Justice Department inspector general report concluded that the Russia investigation was opened for a legitimate reason but identified numerous errors in how it was conducted giving Trump and his supporters an avenue of attack and optimism over Durham. But by the end of 2020, there were signs Durham's investigation was losing momentum. One of his top prosecutors resigned without explanation from the Justice Department. Months later, Barr told The Wall Street Journal that he did not believe there had been improper activity during the Russia investigation by the CIA, even though suspicions about the intelligence community had helped prompt Durham's appointment in the first place. The year ended with just one criminal case a guilty plea by an FBI lawyer who admitted doctoring an internal email related to the surveillance of a former Trump campaign adviser. Kevin Clinesmith was sentenced to probation, rather than prison. Notably, the case involved conduct uncovered in an earlier investigation by the inspector general, rather than by Durham's team. Two other criminal cases, also narrow in nature, faltered. After deliberating for just a few hours, a jury in May acquitted Michael Sussmann, a lawyer for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. He had been accused of lying to the FBI during a meeting in which he presented the bureau's top lawyer with information about Trump he thought should be investigated. On Tuesday, a jury acquitted Igor Danchenko, a Russian analyst at a U.S. think tank who'd been accused of lying to the FBI about his role in the creation of a largely discredited dossier a compendium of unproven assertions that sought to tie Trump to Russia and whose creation was funded by Democrats. During the trial, he attacked the credibility of FBI agents who were his own witnesses. Despite the lack of convictions, Durham has still managed to cast an unflattering light on aspects of the Russia investigation. The Danchenko trial, for instance, centered on the origins of the dossier, which helped form the basis of secret surveillance applications the FBI filed to monitor the communications of ex-Trump campaign aide Carter Page. Even so, Page was one of numerous threads investigated by the FBI, and the dossier did not initiate the Russia probe. The allegations from Durham's probe have also not erased the core finding of the Mueller probe that Russia wanted Trump elected and that Trump's team welcomed the help nor have they swayed jurors. While Durham essentially tried to put the FBI itself on trial through these prosecutions by pointing to missteps and errors in the early Trump-Russia probe, the cases painted the FBI as more victim than perpetrator and evidence of any orchestrated scheme by FBI agents to steer the investigation for political purposes never materialized, Robert Mintz, a New Jersey lawyer and former federal prosecutor, wrote in an email. The Justice Department declined to comment about Durham's future, including how much longer his team might continue or when he might produce a report. Weeks before he resigned, Barr designated Durham as a special counsel to ensure his investigation would continue in the Biden administration. A spokesman for Durham declined to comment on criticism of the work. Garland and senior Justice Department leaders, perhaps careful to avoid the perception of meddling in such a politically charged investigation, have taken a hands-off approach to Durham's work. Before Sussmann was indicted, his attorneys appealed to senior department officials in hopes of preventing a charge, according to a person familiar with the matter who insisted on anonymity to discuss private conversations. But the Justice Department rebuffed the protest, allowing the case to proceed. Now, though, there is rising pressure not only on Durham to wrap up but on Garland, as attorney general, to urge him along. I think he was very wise to let this run its course," Saltzburg said of Garland. I believe the course has been run. Its over. I believe what Merrick Garland should say to Durham is, its time to submit your report and go home. ____ Associated Press writer Matthew Barakat in Alexandria, Virginia, contributed to this report. By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) -Former U.S. President Donald Trump was deposed on Wednesday in a defamation lawsuit brought in New York by writer E. Jean Carroll after he denied her allegations that he had raped her, lawyers for both sides said in separate statements. The deposition came a week after a federal judge denied Trump's bid to postpone the proceeding, rejecting his contention in legal filings that subjecting the former president to questioning under oath in the lawsuit would impose an "undue burden." "We're pleased that on behalf of our client, E. Jean Carroll, we were able to take Donald Trump's deposition today," her spokesperson said in a statement, declining to provide further details. An attorney for Trump, Alina Habba, issued a separate statement later in the day confirming the deposition, saying: "As we have said all along, my client was pleased to set the record straight today." Habba added: "This case is nothing more than a political ploy like many others in the long list of witch hunts against Donald Trump." . Carroll, 78, a former Elle magazine advice columnist, sued Trump in Manhattan federal court in November 2019, five months after he denied raping her in the mid-1990s. In denying the allegations, Trump said at the time that Carroll was "not my type." Trump, 76, has accused Carroll of making up the original accusation and said the courts should have thrown out the lawsuit. Habba has previously called the case "entirely without merit." In seeking to delay the deposition, Trump had argued that the case should be put on hold while a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., decides whether he was acting in his official capacity as president when he called Carroll a liar. His lawyers have argued that Trump was shielded from Carroll's lawsuit by a federal law providing immunity to government employees from defamation claims. Carroll has said she also plans to sue Trump on Nov. 24 for battery and inflicting emotional distress. Story continues On that date, a recently enacted New York state law gives victims a one-year window to sue over alleged sexual misconduct even if the statute of limitations has expired. Carroll has accused Trump of raping her in late 1995 or early 1996 in a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan. Trump has accused her of concocting the rape claim to sell her book. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Additional reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Noeleen Walder, Will Dunham, Bill Berkrot and Gerry Doyle) Donald Trump was questioned under oath Wednesday in writer E. Jean Carroll's 2019 defamation case. The deposition was given at the former president's Mar-a-Lago resort and residence. Trump may have pleaded the Fifth when asked about Carroll's claim that he'd raped her 30 years ago. Donald Trump was deposed under oath on Wednesday in magazine writer E. Jean Carroll's 2019 rape defamation case, a spokesman for Carroll's lawyer said afterward. Whether Trump cooperated or pleaded the Fifth as he was questioned at his Palm Beach, Florida resort and residence remained a mystery early Wednesday night. But he may well have, as the stakes in the case are about to rise. As of now, Carroll is seeking damages for defamation only. She alleges in her lawsuit that when she accused Trump in her 2019 memoir of raping her in the mid-'90s, he called her a liar and implied she was too unattractive for him to have bothered with. But Trump may well have asserted his right not to incriminate himself during Wednesday's deposition, given Carroll's promise made through her lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, last month to additionally sue him for rape as soon as a New York law temporarily suspending the statute of limitations for sex assault lawsuits takes effect November 24. Carroll has said Trump raped her in the fitting room of Bergdorf Goodman, a Manhattan department store in the mid-'90s, when she had a daily TV advice show and was a recurring guest on NBC's "Today" show. She alleged Trump had chatted her up after recognizing her in the store, asked her for advice on shopping for lingerie, and then maneuvered her into a fitting room, where he overpowered her. She has said in court papers that she kept the dress she wore that day, and has sought Trump's DNA for confirmation. Trump has denied Carroll's allegations, variously claiming over the last three years to have never met her she has a photo of them together at a party and that he would never have attacked her because she is "not my type." Story continues "We're pleased that on behalf of our client, E. Jean Carroll, we were able to take Donald Trump's deposition today," said the spokesman, Zak Sawyer, in a statement on behalf of Carroll's attorneys at the Manhattan firm of Kaplan Hecker & Fink. "We are not able to comment further." Trump had reportedly been upbeat at his resort on Tuesday night, when instead of cramming for the deposition he hosted a lavish, $1,00o-a-plate fundraiser and teased guests that he could soon announce his 2024 run for the presidency. Court papers have not revealed if Trump was ever forced to give up a DNA sample in the case. The lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial in federal court in Manhattan on February 6, 2023. Read the original article on Business Insider (Bloomberg) -- By appointing Grant Shapps as home secretary, embattled UK Prime Minister Liz Truss has brought one of her political enemies into the fold. Most Read from Bloomberg Shapps, who backed Trusss rival Rishi Sunak in the recent Conservative leadership contest, was openly working against her at the Conservative Partys annual conference this month. Only this week on The Political Party podcast, he said the premier had an 80% chance of failure. The move smacks of desperation and illustrates how Truss is struggling to save her premiership, promoting figures from across the Tory party in a bid to appease her mutinous MPs. Last week, Truss appointed centrist Jeremy Hunt as her new finance minister to replace her longtime ally, Kwasi Kwarteng. Shapps, 54, was one of the most prominent critics of the aborted Truss-Kwarteng economic plan, which spooked financial markets and triggered a political crisis. At the time, Shapps described it as politically tin-eared and wrote: Tory governments arent supposed to do this kind of thing. Read More: Trusss Enemies Worked the Tory Members as She Huddled in Crisis A former transport secretary under Boris Johnson, Shapps is one of the more senior figures in the Conservative Party. He was sacked by Truss when she took office because of his support for Sunak -- even though she told him he was one of the best communicators in government. The Shapps appointment came after Truss fired Suella Braverman for what officials described as a security breach. Braverman is a darling of the Tory right who is well-liked by the partys pro-Brexit, Euroskeptic wing. Obviously its been a turbulent time for the government, Shapps told broadcasters after his appointment. Im looking forward to getting stuck into the role, regardless of whats happening otherwise in Westminster. Story continues (Updates with more details from first paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. The saga of Musk's Twitter takeover looks close to completion. Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images Twitter froze its employees' ability to access and trade shares on Monday, Bloomberg reported. The move is seemingly a clear sign Twitter plans to go ahead with the $44 million Elon Musk takeover deal. A judge has given the parties until October 28 to close on the deal. Twitter has frozen its staff's equity award accounts in a sign that it plans to go ahead with the Elon Musk takeover deal, Bloomberg reported. Twitter updated its employees FAQs on Monday with a notice saying that the ability to access or trade shares on its Equity Award Center had been frozen. The accounts allow staff to check the status of their stock compensation. "This freeze allows Schwab to perform final reconciliation of employee accounts prior to close of the acquisition," the notice read, per Bloomberg. Two people familiar with the change told Bloomberg that the page said the change was made "in anticipation of the closing of the pending acquisition of Twitter by an entity controlled by Elon Musk." Twitter declined to comment when contacted by Insider. Musk, who is the world's richest person and CEO of both Tesla and SpaceX, is in the midst of a tumultuous $44-billion deal to buy the social-media platform. Musk first offered to buy the company in April after accumulating a 9.2% share, making him its biggest shareholder, and trying to join its board of directors. But the next month he seemed more hesitant on buying Twitter, and in July he sent a letter to Twitter terminating the deal, claiming that the social-media giant had withheld or distorted data on the number of bot accounts on the platform. Within days, Twitter sued Musk, accusing him of "refusing to honor his obligations." Musk countersued later in July, alleging that the company intentionally miscounted the number of spam accounts as part of what he called "its scheme to mislead investors about the company's prospects." After months of Musk trying to abandon the deal, it is now back on the cards. Musk and Twitter came close to agreeing a deal at a roughly 8% discount for the tech mogul. In the end, however, Musk's lawyers sent Twitter a letter renewing the original offer at $54.20 a share on October 4. Story continues The judge overseeing Twitter's case against Musk in Delaware Chancery Court has agreed to halt proceedings in the case until October 28 to give them time to to close on the transaction, or otherwise the parties will face a trial in November. Musk's legal team has said the deal can close by then. Sources told Insider that hundreds of Twitter employees have fled the company since June, though a spokesperson attributed this to macroeconomic factors. Read the original article on Business Insider Security footage allegedly captured Jason Bradley, of Villa Park, robbing the West Suburban Bank branch in Lombard on Oct. 4, 2021, with fireworks strapped to his body to look like a bomb. (U.S. District Court) Jason Bradleys sad-sack robbery of a Lombard bank with a fake bomb fashioned from grocery store fireworks strapped to his chest may seem like a bad Hollywood script, but it had some terrible real-world consequences. The teller he approached on the afternoon of Oct. 4, 2021, and threatened with death said in a statement read in court Tuesday that shes still traumatized, not only by the event but how it left her unable to be present emotionally for her mother, who died of an unrelated illness less than a week later. Advertisement Bradleys wife testified shes been wracked with guilt over missing the obvious signs of her husbands declining mental health and substance abuse issues, recalling how shed already made the decision to leave him when she got the startling phone call from the FBI saying Bradley was under arrest. Their children, now 6 and 3, have had to wonder why their dad is no longer home, destined, as Bradleys lawyer told the court, to one day be Googling their fathers name and find out that he committed a bank robbery. Advertisement And finally, on Tuesday, Bradley learned is own consequence: Two years in federal prison. In rejecting a call for a sentence of time served, U.S. District Judge Franklin Valderrama told Bradley, 38, his actions at the West Suburban Bank on North Main Street that day were serious and could have led to catastrophic consequences for the bank employees, customers and responding law enforcement. Not only did you put yourself in harms way, but you also put others in danger, Valderrama said in the videoconference hearing. The judge also said he was troubled by a drunken-driving arrest Bradley picked up while on bond just days away from his previously scheduled sentencing hearing. The sentencing ended one of the more unusual Chicago-area bank robbery cases in recent years, which began when Bradley, walked into the bank on shortly after 1 p.m. on a Monday wearing a face mask and a sweatshirt concealing fireworks that had been duct-taped to his body to look like a bomb. Bradley could be seen in surveillance footage as he approached the counter, unzipped his sweatshirt and passed a note to the teller reading, I need everything from your drawer or WE ALL DIE!!! according to the criminal charges filed against him in October 2021. The teller handed over $800 in cash and sounded a silent alarm. Bradley fled in a Chevrolet Cruze that was registered in his name, the charges stated. A short time later, Bradley texted a photo of the stolen cash to his wife, along with a seemingly exasperated note. Nobody has been looking for me? the text read, according to the charges. Nothing? Wtf. His wife replied with a shrug emoji. But it turns out the FBI not only was looking for Bradley, theyd traced his car to their home in Villa Park, where they had him under surveillance for hours. Advertisement When Bradley was arrested two hours later as he stepped out on the front porch to smoke a cigarette, he still had $747 from the bank on him, the charges said. Bradleys wife, who is the sole owner of the home, gave consent to a search, which turned up the red T-shirt Bradley had been wearing in the surveillance footage as well as empty fireworks wrappers and a roll of duct tape. Bradley pleaded guilty in May to one count of bank robbery. Sentencing guidelines called for up to about four years and three months behind bars. In asking for leniency Tuesday, Bradleys attorney, Mark Sutter, said Bradley was an alcoholic who was experiencing a mental breakdown on the day of the robbery, which hed intended as potentially a suicide by cop. Sutter said the firecrackers he used to make the fake bomb had been purchased for his kids at a Jewel grocery store. Hes not a guy going in and committing an armed robbery, Sutter said. He wasnt there to burn anybody or blow the place up. The impetus behind this was absolutely, unequivocally not to hurt anyone except for (himself). Advertisement Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan DeMarco, however, asked for about 3 years behind bars, saying the robbery was particularly violent as far as the trauma it caused the teller. Whether it was a suicide attempt or just a cry for help it was incredibly risky behavior that showed a complete disregard for the safety of others, DeMarco said. In a victim-impact statement that DeMarco read in court, the teller wrote that Bradleys actions changed her life and that she carries an anger and pain that will never go away. She wrote she was working that day like she always did, smiling and making small talk with customers, and was looking forward to helping Bradley when he started screaming and threatening me that I would die. Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. > All I could think about was why? Why me? she wrote. She was still in shock when her mother came home from the hospital days later and was unable to care for her. Her mother died Oct. 9, five days after the robbery, she said. As DeMarco read the tellers letter, Bradley, dressed in orange jail clothes, rocked slightly back and forth and cried, wiping tears form eyes with his sleeve. Advertisement In a statement to the court before the sentence was handed down, Bradley said he was in a very dark place at the time of the heist, self-medicating with alcohol and in a downward spiral of depression. I lost sight of everything important to me, he said. I felt like life would be better for everyone if I wasnt in it. But he insisted he was not a cruel person and was never going to hurt anyone. All I know is I did not rob a bank because I needed money, Bradley said. I was desperate. I didnt have a plan. ... I just wanted to die. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com The Biden administration is providing Cuba with $2 million in funding for emergency relief to help with the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, the State Department announced Tuesday. The aid is in response to a rare request for emergency assistance Cubas government made last month, after the Category 3 hurricane plowed through the western part of the island. The aid will go through the U.S. Agency for International Development as emergency relief to those in need in communist-run Cuba. The United States is providing to the Cuban people critical humanitarian aid to trusted international partners working directly with Cubans whose communities were devastated by the storm, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in an emailed statement. The statement said the U.S. will work with trusted, independent organizations operating in the country who have a long presence in hurricane-affected communities. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez thanked the U.S. on Twitter. We appreciate humanitarian assistance offer made by the U.S., he wrote. This material contribution that is worth 2 million USD, channelled through the International Federation of Red Cross, will add up to our recovery efforts in support of the victims of the ravages caused by #HurricaneIan. The U.S. has offered Cuba aid in the past, but it has been declined. In 2008, President George W. Bush offered Cuba up to $5 million after two powerful hurricanes. Cuba's leader at the time, Fidel Castro, rejected the offer, saying the U.S. had caused billions of dollars in damage with its embargo. He wrote in a column that the U.S. does not understand that the dignity of a people has no price. A State Department spokesperson told NBC News that USAID under Bushs administration provided $1.6 million to non-governmental organizations in Cuba in 2008 after Hurricane Gustav. It also provided $50,000 in 2004, $100,000 in 2005, and $100,000 in 2006 after hurricanes hit the island. Most recently, USAID provided personal protective equipment for firefighters to help fight a large deadly blaze at an oil storage facility in September. Story continues Hurricane Ian caused Cubas outdated electrical grid, which was already in desperate need of repair, to collapse, leaving the entire country in the dark for days. Throughout the island there were sporadic protests during those dark nights without power, which authorities met with a crackdown. The mostly rural province of Pinar del Rio, which was in the path of the hurricane, was devastated, and much of it is still without power. Around 63,000 homes were damaged, and up to 7,000 were lost. Even before the hurricane, Cuba was in its worst economic crisis in decades, with power outages that last over 12 hours and shortages of food and medicine. The effects of the coronavirus pandemic on tourism, along with Trump-era sanctions that President Joe Biden has largely kept in place, have worsened the islands already inefficient centrally planned economy. The State Department said it is reviewing applications from organizations like the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to provide the assistance. The United States will continue to monitor and assess humanitarian needs in coordination with our trusted partners and the international community, and we will continue to seek ways to provide meaningful support to the Cuban people, consistent with U.S. laws and regulations, Prices statement said. Follow NBC Latino on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Officials from the United States, the United Kingdom and France will raise Irans apparent provision of drones to Russia in a closed door meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday, a U.S. official confirmed to NBC News. The three allies who were also members of the original 2015 Iran nuclear deal have alleged that by providing Russia the weapons for its war against Ukraine, Iran is violating the U.N. resolution that codified the agreement. Irans supply of these specific types of UAVs to Russia is a violation of UN Security Council resolution to 2231 and it is this issue for the U.N. Security Council, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters Tuesday. Patel cited a provision in the agreement that prohibits the transfer from Iran of all items, materials, equipments and goods and technology unless approved in advance by the U.N. Security Council on a case by case basis. The types of UAVs in question meet the parameters because they are capable of a range equal to and greater than 300 kilometers (186 miles), Patel added. The officials will raise the issue after after Ukrainian authorities said a wave of deadly drone attacks struck Kyiv on Monday morning and were also reported overnight in the southern city of Mykolaiv. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Iranian-made drones bombarded Kyiv, triggering multiple explosions and killing at least four people, including a young family expecting a child. NBC News has not independently confirmed the deaths. Zelenskyy described the apparent move by Russia to acquire Iranian-made drones as an admission by the Kremlin that it is militarily and politically bankrupt. Dozens of years they were spending billions of dollars on their military-industrial complex but in the end had to go cap in hand to Tehran. An Iranian Foreign Ministry official has denied the claims, saying the country has a "principled and clear policy on active impartiality and opposition to war." Story continues Russias Defense Ministry didnt directly acknowledged the strikes on Kyiv but has said it used high-precision long-range air and sea-based weapons to blast military and energy targets. A senior U.S. defense official has said American intelligence shows that Iran appears to have supplied Russia with hundreds of autonomous flying vehicles that explode upon impact. The official also said the drones launched by Russia inside Ukraine appeared to come from Iran. Iran has denied the claim that it has delivered drones to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's new interior minister, Grant Shapps, praised Jeremy Hunt on Wednesday, saying that while the government was having a difficult time, the country's new finance minister, Hunt, was doing a great job. Prime Minister Liz Truss, who initially built a cabinet of ministers loyal to her, has lost two of her most senior ministers in less than a week. They were replaced by Hunt and Shapps who did not vote for her in the leadership race. "Look, I accept that the government has obviously had a very difficult period," Shapps told reporters. "Jeremy Hunt, I think has done a great job of settling the issues relating to that mini budget." (Reporting by Kylie MacLellan and Kate Holton; editing by Elizabeth Piper) LONDON (AP) A Hong Kong protester on Wednesday described getting pulled into the Chinese Consulate in Manchester, England, and beaten up by several staff members during an incident that has escalated tensions between Britain and China. Bob Chan said he and others were holding a peaceful antigovernment protest outside the consulate on Sunday when masked men came out, tore down the protesters' banners and dragged him inside the buildings gates. Speaking during a news conference in London, Chan rejected the Chinese government's claim that he had illegally entered the consulate's grounds and threatened its security. The attack only stopped when police pulled me outside. Let me say again: It is clear I was dragged into the consulate. I did not attempt to enter the consulate voluntarily, he said. British lawmakers, including former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith, have urged the U.K. government to expel any Chinese diplomats involved. Chan's supporters alleged the Chinese consul general in Manchester and other Chinese diplomats took part in the reported assault. Chan, who recently fled Hong Kong after Beijing intensified its crackdown on civil liberties in the city, said he suffered injuries to his eyes, his back and his head where his hair was pulled. He described the attack as barbaric and unprovoked. I believe the U.K. is a very safe place, a place with freedom of speech. That (Chinese) consulate staff can so brazenly pull someone inside and beat them up in broad daylight is unimaginable, he said. Its shocking, and this should not happen. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said a protester illegally entered the consulate and jeopardized the security of the Chinese diplomatic premises," and that Chinese diplomatic missions abroad have the right to take necessary measures to maintain security. Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Wednesday that China has complained to the U.K. over the deliberate harassment of Chinas consulate general in Manchester. Story continues Due to the illegal and deliberate harassment and entry into Chinas consulate general, Chinese personnel were wounded and the security of the premises of the consulate came under threat, Wang said in Beijing. The security, peace and dignity of Chinas diplomatic missions must not be violated. Greater Manchester Police said detectives were reviewing evidence to establish a full picture of what happened. Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts said police were aware the incident caused shock and concern but stressed the investigation would take time. No arrests have been made so far. A British Foreign Office official summoned Chinese charge daffaires Yang Xiaoguang on Tuesday to stress that the right to peaceful protest must be respected in the U.K.. By Natalie Grover LONDON (Reuters) - The number of clinical trials started in Britain each year dropped by 41% between 2017 and 2021, posing a "clear and serious threat" to its reputation as a clinical research destination, an industry report said on Thursday. The UK government has been vocal about cementing its position as a global science superpower and capitalising on clinical research conducted at the height of the pandemic that led to the discovery of multiple COVID interventions, from vaccines to drugs. However, the report by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) said the drop in clinical trial activity painted a concerning picture. In particular, it highlighted a near halving in new late-stage trials, which are typically key to securing regulatory approvals for medicines. That pushed Britain to 10th from 4th in global rankings for such trials, it said. "The reality is that industry are finding it increasingly difficult to conduct clinical trials in the UK and are increasingly looking elsewhere," said Jennifer Harris, ABPIs director of research policy. Like other countries, Britain's clinical trial research ecosystem has been affected by COVID-19 limiting activity in other disease areas, but other countries such as Spain, Germany or France that have similar population sizes and fairly comparable research ecosystems have fared better, she said. A key issue is on the operational side, she said, explaining that, for instance, if a company is conducting a global clinical trial that is using trial sites across Britain, there is a difference in the costing and contracting processes across sites, which can lead to protracted negotiations. And although there is a national approach that has been introduced by the UK government, it hasn't yet been adopted by all sites, added Harris. She noted that such a harmonised process is already in place in countries such as Spain and France, which limits the amount of negotiation between sites and sponsors to ensure there is a clear timeframe within which a study is set up. Story continues The loss of research potentially reduces benefits to patients and costs the National Health System (NHS), which has long been grappling with a crippling strain on its finances. Between 2020 to 2021, the loss of industry research is estimated to have hurt the NHSs finances by up to 447 million pounds ($501 million), the report said. ($1 = 0.8921 pounds) (Reporting by Natalie Grover in London; Editing by Mark Potter) UNITED NATIONS (AP) Ukraine accused Iran of violating a U.N. Security Council ban on the transfer of drones capable of flying 300 kilometers and invited U.N. experts to inspect what it said were Iranian-origin drones being used by Russia against civilian targets. Russia and Iran denied Wednesday the drones are Iranian. A letter from Ukraines U.N. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and members of the U.N. Security Council was obtained by The Associated Press ahead of a closed council meeting late Wednesday requested by Britain, France and the United States on Irans sale of hundreds of drones to Russia. The three Western countries strongly back Ukraines contention that the drones were transferred to Russia and violate a 2015 U.N. Security Council resolution that endorsed the nuclear deal between Iran and six key nations -- the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany -- aimed at curbing Tehrans nuclear activities and preventing the country from developing a nuclear weapon. Russias deputy U.N. ambassador Dmitry Polyansky told reporters after the council meeting the unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs used by the Russian army in Ukraine are manufactured in Russia, so these are all baseless allegations. He accused Western nations of their usual shameful practice of trying to pressure Iran by leveling such accusations about its violation of resolution 2231. Irans U.N. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani categorically rejected unfounded and unsubstantiated claims that Iran has transferred UAVs for the use (in) the conflict in Ukraine, and accused unnamed countries of trying to launch a disinformation campaign to wrongly establish a link with the U.N. resolution. Moreover, Iran is of the firm belief that none of its arms exports, including UAVs, to any country violate resolution 2231. Frances U.N. Ambassador Nicolas De Riviere reiterated after the council meeting that the drones were delivered from Iran to Russia and are being used in Ukraine in violation of the resolution. He told reporters that during the closed council discussion Russia denied this and cited a statement from Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov who said Tuesday that Russian equipment with Russian nomenclature is used in Ukraine. Story continues And I said, there is no one in the world that believes any more Mr. Peskovs statements, the French ambassador said. De Riviere said Peskov has been lying from the very beginning when he said on Feb. 23 the day before Russias invasion that Russia will never invade Ukraine. And now he will tell us that Russia never bought Iranian drones. So, I think (his) credibility is zero, the French envoy said. So we are very concerned with that, stressing that the Iranian drones violate resolution 2231 and their use by Russia to kill civilians and hit civilian infrastructure is another violation of international law. Russia is believed to have sent waves of Iranian-made Shahed drones into Ukraine to strike at power plants, residential buildings and other infrastructure in Kyiv and other cities. Ukraines Western-reinforced air defenses have made it difficult for Russian warplanes to operate, and killer drones are a cheap weapon to seek out and destroy targets while spreading fear among troops and civilians. As we have seen over the course of the past months there is ample evidence that Russia is using UAVs from Iran in cruel and deliberate attacks against the people of Ukraine, including against civilians and critical civilian infrastructure, U.S. Deputy State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters in Washington. Former U.S. president Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement known as the JCPOA in 2018 and negotiations between the Biden administration and Iran for the United States to rejoin the deal have stalled. Under the resolution, a conventional arms embargo on Iran was in place until October 2020, but restrictions on missiles and related technologies last until October 2023 and Western diplomats say that includes the export and purchase of advanced military systems such as drones. It is our belief that these UAVs that are transferred from Iran to Russia and used by Russia in Ukraine are among the weapons that would remain embargoed under 2231, Patel said Monday. Ukraines Kyslytsya said in the letter that according to public information, Mohajer- and Shahed-series unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) were transferred from Iran to Russia in late August, and Ukraine assesses that this is likely part of Irans plans to export hundreds of UAVs to Russia. He said both UAV models meet the requirement to be banned because they are capable of a range equal to or greater than 300 kilometers. In addition, the Mohajer-series is manufactured by Qods Aviation, which is on the U.N. sanctions blacklist and subject to an asset freeze by all countries, he said. The Ukrainian ambassador said no country submitted a request to the U.N. for approval of the shipment of UAVs. Therefore, the transfers from Iran to Russia should be considered as violations of (resolution) 2231, Kyslytsya said. He invited U.N. experts monitoring sanctions against Iran to visit Ukraine at the earliest possible opportunity to inspect the recovered drones, saying the government hopes the information will be helpful in the U.N.s investigations into implementation of the resolution. Russias Polyansky insisted that U.N. experts have no mandate to investigate and warned that if the U.N. Secretariat engages in any illegitimate investigation we will have to reassess our collaboration with them which is hardly in anyones interest. Frances De Riviere countered that all Security Council members, including Russia, agreed in 2016 to have the Secretariat report twice a year on resolution 2231 so I think the U.N. Secretariat will have to go and will go to Ukraine. Britains deputy U.N. ambassador James Kariuki tweeted that Irans denial that Iranian drones are being used to target civilians in Ukraine by Russia doesnt stand up to scrutiny. U.S. Mission spokesman Nate Evans said Wednesdays meeting provided ample evidence that Russia is using Iranian-made UAVs in cruel and deliberate attacks against the people of Ukraine. We anticipate this will be the first of many conversations at the U.N. on how to hold Iran and Russia accountable for failing to comply with U.N. Security Council-imposed obligations, he said. ___ Matthew Lee contributed to this report from Washington The Ukrainian military repelled the occupiers in the Donetsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv regions Read also: Armed Forces repel six enemy attacks in Donetsk Oblast, and another one in Kharkiv Oblast There were enemy attacks near the settlements of Ohirtseve and Dvorichna in Kharkiv Oblast, Bilohorivka in Luhansk Oblast, and Novokalynove, Mayorsk, Odradivka, New York, Novomykhailivka, Nevelske, Opytne and Maryinka in Donetsk Oblast The Ukrainian Air Force carried out 24 strikes during the past day, hitting 16 areas of concentration of weapons and military equipment, a logistics point, and eight anti-aircraft missile systems. Air defense units shot down five cruise missiles and a Su-25 ground attack aircraft. Read also: Ukrainian army destroys over 500 Russian troops, 35 drones in one day, General Staff says Missile troops and artillery struck four command posts, five areas of troop, weapon and military equipment concentration, one artillery and two air defense facilities, two ammunition depots, an electronic warfare station, and other military targets. Over the past day, the invaders launched 10 rocket and 18 air strikes, and carried out more than 76 attacks by multiple launch rocket systems. More than 10 settlements were hit by the enemy, including Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Zaporizhzhya, Kurakhove in Donetsk Oblast, Trikhaty in Mykolaiv Oblast, and the city of Mykolaiv. Read also: Kharkiv territorial defense fighters tell the story of the liberation of Kharkiv Oblast In addition, the occupiers shelled: In the Siversky direction with mortars and artillery, the settlements of Hai in Chernihiv Oblast and Yunakivka, Khotin, Tovstodubove and Demchenkove in Sumy Oblast; In the Sloboda direction with mortars, artillery and rockets, in the areas of Vovchanski Khutory, Volokhivka, Hatyshche, Chervone, Ohirtseve, Starytsia, Strilecha and Domashne; In the Kupyansk direction with tanks, rockets and artillery, in the areas of Berestove, Dvorichna, Hryanykivka, Kamianka, Kyslivka, Kotlyarivka and Stelmakhivka; In the Lyman direction with artillery of various types in the areas of Grekivka, Zarichne, Novoyehorivka, Serebryanka, Terny, Torske and Yampolivka; In the Bakhmut direction with tanks, mortars, rockets and artillery, in the areas of Andriyivka, Bakhmut, Bakhmutske, Bilohorivka, Zvanivka, Kurdyumivka, Mayorsk, Opytne, Rozdolivka, Soledar, Spirne and Yakovlivka; In the Avdiyivka direction with tanks and various calibers of artillery, in the areas of Avdiyivka, Pervomaiske, Karlivka, Krasnohorivka, Maryinka and Novomykhailivka; In the Novopavlivka and Zaporizhzhya directions shelling hit the areas of Velika Novosilka, Vugledar, Vremivka, Mykilskyi, Neskuchne, Pavlivka, Olhivske, Stepove and Prechistivka; In the Pivdennyy Buh direction, Russian troops are trying to improve logistical support, and fired artillery at more than 20 settlements along the contact line. The infrastructure of Vyshchetarasivka in Dnipropetrovsk region was the most affected by the enemy fire. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine John Kirby Republican House of Representatives leader Kevin McCarthy earlier said his party is likely to reduce U.S. aid to Ukraine, should they win the upcoming midterm elections in the United States. Commenting on McCarthys remark, Kirby noted that both parties have so far remained united on the issue of U.S. military and financial assistance to Ukraine. I think everybody realizes what's at stake here, which is more than just, you know, the town of Kherson or Kharkiv, said Kirby. It's really about this idea of sovereignty. And it's really about what the security environment in Europe is going to look like going forward. He added that U.S. President Joe Biden will continue to work hand-in-hand with the U.S. Congress going forward, when it comes to further financial assistance to embattled Ukraine. Read also: Biden announces new $625 million aid package for Ukraine Kirby said hes convinced that both the Democrats and Republicans will be prepared to support Ukraine throughout the war. This is about bipartisan support in Congress to continue to make sure that Ukraine can defend itself and it can stand up for its sovereignty, the official said. Because that's really what's at stake here, aside of course from the literally hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian lives that have been affected by this war. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Chicago Police Department officials on Wednesday said that an officer who was investigated by the department for affiliating with a white nationalist organization and found to have given false statements about it will serve a 120-day suspension beginning next month. The decision by Superintendent David Brown comes in the wake of a recommendation from the city inspector general that Brown set aside the suspension and instead review the case and consider firing the officer. Advertisement The department did not offer an explanation for the decision or how Brown reached it. According to documents released to the Tribune by the citys Office of Inspector General in an opens records request, the internal Chicago police investigation into Officer Robert Bakkers alleged affiliation with the Proud Boys included allegations that over several months in 2019 he associated with members of the white nationalist organization and posted messages in a group chat, including about meeting at a pub, and was also involved in exchanges about a patriot barbecue. Advertisement Inspector General Deborah Witzburg went public in recent days with her recommendation that Brown review the case and consider whether separation is a better option for Bakker, who was found to have given false statements when asked about his links to the Proud Boys, which has been designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Witzburg had made her recommendation for a review public in a published report last week and again Tuesday morning, when she offered remarks at a city budget hearing and was asked by an alderman about the controversial case, which has been subject to two internal investigations and concluded with a mediation process with the officer and the 120-day suspension. We sent Superintendent Brown a letter encouraging him to examine the mediation agreement before approving it in light of the departments findings that the member has made false and contradictory statements about his membership in a hate group, Witzburg said at the hearing. The superintendent approved the mediation agreement and finalized a suspension of 120 days for that member. On Tuesday, the department said the case was under review, while Mayor Lori Lightfoot defended the investigation. Obviously, that case was thoroughly investigated, I think not once, but twice, Lightfoot said. That officer was given a lengthy period of suspension. I dont get into the details of that. But I think its about accountability. ... I think the Police Department took the steps that the evidence that was gathered through the course of the two investigations warranted. When asked by a reporter how Chicagoans can trust the police to keep them safe if the department does not fire an officer who has lied to investigators about his ties to an antisemitic, anti-gay far-right group with leaders who have been charged with sedition in connection with Jan. 6 insurrection, the mayor called the characterization overstated. Well, I think you overstate it, Lightfoot responded. Had Brown decided to seek separation, the case would be sent to the Chicago Police Board, which holds public evidentiary hearings on the most serious police misconduct cases. Advertisement Attempts by the Tribune to reach Bakker were unsuccessful. The Southern Poverty Law Center notes that members of the Proud Boys were present with other hate groups at a 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, that led to the death of a 32-year-old woman. In June 2022, the Department of Justice announced that a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment charging five members of the Proud Boys, including the groups former national chairman, with seditious conspiracy and other charges for their actions before and during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The officers association with such a group in a city with a documented history of civil rights abuses by police and at a time when trust with police in communities of color remains low has drawn criticism. Ald. Andre Vasquez, 40th, who asked Witzburg about the situation at the budget hearing, indicated that he would be seeking answers from Brown and the department, given the problem we currently have had in Chicago as far as racial profiling the way police treat people of color. Advertisement The fact that somebody would get suspended for 120 days for something of that matter is just something I want on record before we talk to CPD and the superintendent, he said. Bakker is assigned to the Central District downtown. The city of Chicago employee data portal lists one Robert Bakker, who is listed as a police officer with a salary of $95,500. The allegations against Bakker are contained in two letters that the inspector generals office sent to Chicago police officials, one in November 2020 and another just last month, in attempts to encourage them to take a closer look at the evidence theyd collected against Bakker. The letters were released to the Tribune late Tuesday as part of an opens records request. According to the 2020 letter from the inspector general, the first investigation by the departments bureau of internal affairs examined several allegations against Bakker, including that he failed to tell his bosses that he was interviewed by the FBI about his involvement with the Proud Boys, that he had associated with individuals with felony or misdemeanor convictions and that he associated with members of the Proud Boys, an organization labeled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as an antisemitic White Supremacy organization. Investigators only sustained the allegation that Bakker failed to report the interview with the FBI. The letter states that internal affairs explained its conclusions by saying that Bakker denied any involvement with the Proud Boys organization and (the internal affairs investigator) with the available resources could not obtain any verifiable evidence to disprove his statement. Advertisement But the Office of Inspector General sent a letter to the chief of internal affairs to review evidence to see if more allegations could have been proven. OIG recommends the investigation be reopened to fully account for all available evidence, reads the letter released to the Tribune. The letter contains details about the investigation and Bakkers alleged statements and notes the evidence suggests that Bakker may have made inconsistent statements to the BIA and the FBI and includes text messages between Bakker and members of the Proud Boys. According to the letter, evidence in the case showed that Bakker commented at least six times on a message group titled (expletive) Antifa. He allegedly told investigators that he attended discussions with the Proud Boys. The investigators also had screen shots of messages from the group showing that Bakker posted about meeting at a North Side pub and was part of another message string that included an invitation to the 2nd annual Chicago PBs Patriot Picnic. Bakker also allegedly told internal affairs investigators that he knew he was associating with individuals who had histories of violence and links to the Proud Boys, the letter states. He said that one of the individuals he associated with was known to be a violent guy who was into dark stuff like White Supremacy, according to the letter. Advertisement Internal affairs agreed to reexamine the case, and in its second review concluded that Bakker made a contradicting statement during (an) audio recorded statement regarding his participation in a group chat with members of the Proud Boys and made a false statement during the course of BIAs investigation when asked if he attended a Proud Boys-sponsored barbecue, according to Witzburgs public report released last week on the matter. Internal affairs resolved the case in April 2022 with a mediation agreement. Per the agreement, Bakker agreed he would not contest any of the allegations against him in exchange for the 120-day suspension. Such agreements are generally binding unless the superintendent reviews the cases to consider separation. On Sept. 12 Witzburgs office sent the department a request to review the case again, this time directly to Brown. Even in the presence of a mediation agreement, you may seek separation of a CPD member, the letter reads. In your consideration of Bakkers mediation agreement, OIG recommends that you review the evidence collected by BIA during its original and reopened investigations with respect to Bakkers association with the Proud Boys. The letter also noted the findings that Bakker had lied, a highly problematic conclusion in a profession that relies on sworn testimony of officers to secure arrests and convictions of people. Such allegations typically result in a Rule 14 violation, according to Witzburgs report. Advertisement In this case, Rule 14 was not filed against the officer, and Witzburg, in her letter, encouraged Brown to consider it, quoting directly from a letter Brown himself had written to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability in an unrelated case. Since approximately 2008, CPD has sought the separation of officers with sustained Rule 14 violations, Brown wrote, according to the letter, because such a violation impairs an officers ability to testify in criminal cases, to effectuate arrests, hinders an officer from signing affidavits in support of search warrants and participating in joint federal task forces. Witzburg never got a response from Brown. The Superintendent did not respond to OIGs further communication, her quarterly report, released Friday, reads. According to CPDs case management system, the Superintendent concurred with BIAs findings and approved the 120-day suspension agreed upon by the CPD member and the Department during the mediation process. Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. > Georgetown Law professor Vida Johnson said the allegations against the officer demanded not only consideration of separation, but a swift decision. Keeping him on the force sends a message to the community, particularly to people of color, women and noncitizens, that they are less than, said Johnson, who has studied extremism in policing. If I were the police chief, that is the thing I would be really worried about. Advertisement Johnson said there is also worry that officers who are involved with such groups can influence other officers, which is why addressing the problem quickly is key. I think having even one officer who holds those values and views is extremely damaging, she said. Johnson said departments that discover officers who have affiliation with hate groups should do more than just examine the individual officers violations. They should also do a deep dive into their activity both inside the department on the street, given the authority they have. Just last week a prosecutor in Massachusetts announced she would be reviewing both open and closed cases involving an officer who is alleged to have participated in and helped plan the Charlottesville rally. We are acutely aware of the way in which these allegations tear at the fabric of trust, which exists between communities and the police departments which serve them, reads a statement that was posted on the Middlesex district attorneys office on Oct. 14. Collage NV NV: What is happening with the energy sector in Ukraine? Kharchenko: There are massive attacks by the Russian forces on the critical energy infrastructure in Ukraine. The attacks have been happening since the beginning of the war, but in the last two weeks they have become particularly massive. According to my assessments, the energy system of any other European country would not have been able to withstand the level of attacks that we are currently coping with. Ukraine has a very resilient energy system, as well as very competent technicians. And the fact that we are used to surviving in extreme conditions, and people remember the difficulties of the 1990s: the lack of fuel and poor preparation of heating seasons. Since 2017, the de facto national energy grid operator Ukrenergo has been preparing to merge our grid with the European one, upgrading the network further increasing its stability. NV: What were the upgrades? Kharchenko: Old equipment was replaced, power lines were refurbished, new ones were built. Let me try to explain what is happening from a technical point of view, but in simple terms. In order to provide the consumer with electricity, two processes are required. One is to produce electricity, the other is to transport and distribute electricity. Currently the attacks are mainly targeting the transportation system, which consists of two types of objects. First are the power lines of different levels, and the second type are transformer substations network nodes, essentially. For the most part, the nodes are transformer substations lowering the voltage of incoming electrical power and distributing it to consumers. Current, massive and very well-planned attacks are targeting these very network nodes. Im sure that on the part of the Russians these attacks are clearly planned with the help of their engineers. They also attack thermal power plants in large cities, such as Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv. Combined heat and power (CHP) station is a facility that generates electricity and heat at the same time: heat for the winter season, and electricity to supply urban consumers. Therefore, these attacks on transformer substations are very targeted and painful. They are dangerous because transportation routes are disprupted, the ability to transport electricity to consumers is gone. We still have enough power generation theres still enough coal, nuclear and hydro generation capacity. But the transportation system is being knocked out step by step, and thats a problem. Story continues When there is an attack and some part of the country is left without electricity, usually the electricity comes back within an hour. What is happening during that time? The power lines are being switched to backup ones. If some simple piece equipment is damaged, then this can be restored quite quickly. All the stockpiled gear available is used and everything that is possible to fix is fixed within 3-4 weeks. But there is still a category of very complex, expensive and special equipment like the transformers. Sometimes it takes up to six months to manufacture them. Read also: Russia destroys third of Ukraines power stations in a week Zelenskyy NV: CHP-5 in Kharkiv, and later CHP-6 Kyiv were attacked and black smoke appeared there. Why did that happen? Kharchenko: Thats the oil in the transformers burning. It is now one of the scarcest commodities in Ukraine. The city of Mykolaiv alone needs about 120 tons of technical oil, and without it, sometimes even barely damaged transformers cannot be repaired. They need to be refilled. When the transformer is knocked out, this means that plant cannot supply electricity to the grid. Basically, it doesnt exist. If these transformers are destroyed, it will take a long time to build new ones. Its not something that can be manufactured beforehand and plugged in where needed. It takes a separate project, developed for a couple of months complex technological work that cannot be done quickly. This is what lowers the stability of the Ukrainian power grid. This is the kind of damage that degrades its resilience. Why are Ukrainians being asked to reduce electricity consumption during peak hours? Because all those temporary solutions cant hold under full load. And when engineers see the network cannot cope, they are forced to make emergency shutdowns. These temporary blackouts take entire sections of the grid offline, reducing the load and preventing the whole system from collapsing. If people save a little electricity, there is a chance the grid will hold after all. NV: If all the transformers are down, then we cannot satisfy electricity demand for major cities? Kharchenko: The problem is how to transport it. We have more than enough power generation. For example, even if all the thermal power plants operational in Kyiv, it is still necessary to supply additional power to the capital. And when all key substations near Kyiv are hit, they are physically knocked out. Bypasses and backup cannot withstand the load. That's when shutdowns begin in Kyiv, sector-by-sector. The apocalypse is canceled: Alexander Kharchenko, director of the Center for Energy Research, is confident that Ukrainian energy systems will survive DR NV: I heard that Japan will help us with transformers. Where can we get the necessary equipment? Kharchenko: There are active negotiations ongoing, not just with Japan. Many countries, such as Denmark, Norway, Germany, the UK help a lot. They give generators that are needed for repair work, they give equipment thats available on short notice. But it's all relatively simple equipment. Complex grid elements are custom-made. And we are talking about infrastructure objects, each of which costs anywhere between $5-40 million. Therefore, donor support is very important. And many countries are helping, promising to increase their assistance. This is the main thing we need to be able to withstand new waves of Russian attacks. NV: What are the worst- and best-case scenarios? Kharchenko: The worst-case scenario is Russia managing to splinter our power grid into isolated chunks. But I think that we will be able to resist these efforts; this will definitely not come to pass. Not because they don't want to, but because they can't. Moscow simply doesnt have enough missiles. We have many such key nodes (transformers) crossing into four-digit territory. It's hard to do. And in conditions when we have a lot of spare parts and basic equipment, we will be able to restore them faster than the Russia destroy them. NV: Let's talk about the optimistic scenario. Kharchenko: This is the current situation. Right now, we are following a positive scenario: we keep the pace of repairs, we have enough time to recover. If people really get behind saving electricity, helping power engineers by consuming less then I am sure the scenario will be optimistic. NV: Russian propagandists say that it is necessary to knock out our high-voltage power lines. Kharchenko: They already knocked those out, and we immediately restored them. First of all good luck accurately striking transmission pylons. Second they are much easier to repair than transformers. NV: Are Russians trying to hit the thermal power plant in such a way that we will lose central heating? Kharchenko: Yes, and this is another major risk. If sewers and water pipes are frozen, its impossible to survive in a big city. NV: For example, in Kharkiv, the first thermal power plant was damaged back in August. Kharchenko: They have CHPP-5 and CHPP-4 there. Its tough in Kharkiv, but still possible to keep living there. In Mykolaiv it is even more difficult, but you can also survive there. I fear the most: if we liberate Mariupol before next spring, its unclear how anyone could survive in the city during the winter. People would have to be evacuated from many of the settlements liberated, because they will not survive the winter there. NV: What can the West do to protect us from Russian strikes on thermal plants? Kharchenko: They can help only by providing additional air defense systems. But there is a certain set of actions that should be taken in order to mitigate a given CHP facility being knocked offline for some time: supplying power to socially important facilities, like hospitals, schools, and kindergartens. Those are to be heated with a set of powerful diesel generators and boilers. Thats a contingency plan we can put in place for the coming winter, turning some of these buildings into survival strongholds. NV: The Russians are bringing compact diesel boilers to Mariupol that will heat residential towers. Maybe we need something similar? Kharchenko: It is necessary to have an array of heat generators and mobile generators, ready to supply key buildings. But even for 100,000 people, you simply cant support that many generators logistically, as they require fuel. They also cannot work continuously for three months, being designed to work for 60-80 hours between maintenance sessions. These are mostly emergency devices that are almost never intended for continuous long-term operation. NV: Do you have a prediction on how well fare this heating season then? Kharchenko: Its now all up to the people manning our air defenses. I believe in them. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine In the seven months since Russian forces seized Europes largest atomic energy station, Ukrainian engineers have managed to keep the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant running safely even as artillery shells repeatedly destroyed the facilitys backup electricity. But as temperatures drop heading into winter, the risk of a radiation accident is rising, the head of Ukraines state nuclear company told HuffPost on Tuesday. As fighting intensified last month, operators powered down the last of the plants six reactors lest another electrical outage jeopardize the cooling systems needed to keep the scorching-hot radioactive material from melting down even when the reactor is idle. It was the safest nuclear power plant in Ukraine, and now it is the most dangerous nuclear power plant in the whole world, said Petro Kotin, president of Ukrainian state-owned nuclear plant operator Energoatom. He spent most of his career working at Zaporizhzhia. But Energoatom, Ukraines state-owned nuclear plant operator, wants to restart at least one of the reactors. A Russian bombing blitz over the last week destroyed 30% of Ukraines electrical infrastructure, spurring widespread blackouts. And the neighboring towns where Zaporizhzhias workers live have no other source of warmth in the winter besides a district heating system hooked up to the power plant. Restarting a reactor is also a matter of safety at the plant. Theres a limited amount of diesel to run the generators that provide the last-resort power to keep the plants cooling system running running heaters to keep the storage tanks containing refueling water would only drain the supply sooner. Even before we de-occupy the plant, because of the decrease in temperature, we need just to start this one unit to supply steam for heating purposes of the plant itself, Kotin said dressed in dark green military fatigues as he spoke to HuffPost for 80 minutes over Microsoft Teams from his office in Kyiv, roughly 400 miles northwest of Zaporizhzhia. Story continues Then there are the fish. Zaporizhzhia collects water for its cooling system from an outdoor pond, which operators stocked with an imported fish species to eat algae that could otherwise gum up the reactor turbines. A running reactor expels warm water into the pond, keeping temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit at all times and, by extension, keeping the Egyptian fish alive. With no reactors running, water temperatures would eventually drop below 50 degrees, Kotin said. All the fish will be killed by this cold temperature, said Kotin. After that, the plant would have up to 2,000 tons of dead fish to deal with. Its getting cold, Kotin said. And some problems arise there, with the functionality of the plant, with the fish that help keep the pond good, and with the condition of people living in the neighboring town, where the heat is all generated by the plant. President of Ukraine's nuclear energy agency Energoatom Petro Kotin speaks during an interview with AFP in Kyiv on Sept. 9, 2022. (Photo: GENYA SAVILOV via Getty Images) President of Ukraine's nuclear energy agency Energoatom Petro Kotin speaks during an interview with AFP in Kyiv on Sept. 9, 2022. (Photo: GENYA SAVILOV via Getty Images) Four high-voltage cables link Zaporizhzhia to the Ukrainian grid, while another low-voltage backup line runs to a nearby coal-fired power plant. Artillery fire repeatedly severed those connections as Ukrainians and Russians blamed each other for indiscriminate shelling, disrupting the plants operations at least 15 times since the occupation began in March. But on Aug. 25, the station was cut off from outside power sources for the first time, forcing its operators to rely on Zaporizhzhias 20 diesel generators to keep electricity flowing to the cooling systems. After more than three hours without electricity, Kotin said, a partial meltdown akin to what happened in Fukushima, Japan, in 2011 would likely begin. Engineers restored the low-voltage line in less than a day and eventually reconnected the plant to the grid. But bombardments have destroyed substations and power lines at least twice more since then, according to Kotin. Meanwhile, he said, the coal plant no longer has fuel. And Russian artillery destroyed one of the lines connecting Zaporizhzhia to Ukraines grid as recently as Monday, leaving the plant dependent on the diesel generators. The facility typically only stores enough diesel to run the generators for 10 days. To preserve fuel, plant operators started running no more than seven generators at a time, which could conserve enough fuel to keep the power on for up to 17 days, Kotin said. Russian and Ukrainian officials allowed shipments of diesel fuel last week that could give Zaporizhzhia another two full days of generator use. But Kotin saw the rare moment of cooperation as a sign the Russians were prepared to continue this practice of cutting the plant off from the power grid. Its part of what Ukrainian officials say is a strategy to steal Zaporizhzhia permanently, a power plant worth $30 billion and whose eponymous home province Russian President Vladimir Putin illegally annexed into Russia late last month. A view of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant after operations have been completely halted on Sept. 11, 2022, in Zaporizhzia, Ukraine. (Photo: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) A view of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant after operations have been completely halted on Sept. 11, 2022, in Zaporizhzia, Ukraine. (Photo: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) The Ukrainian government believes Russian plans to cut Zaporizhzhia off from the Ukrainian grid and connect the plant to the power system in Crimea, the Ukrainian province Russia conquered in 2014. But doing so would require building huge towers and power lines running over the very Crimean bridge that exploded earlier this month, George Moore, scientist-in-residence at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, told Grid. Plus, Russians would need a small army of new nuclear engineers and scientists to run the facility. They dont have the people to operate that plant, Moore told the news website, warning it would take thousands of workers to restaff the facility. This month, Russian officials threatened to fire Energoatom employees who dont sign new contracts to work for Rosatom, Russias state-owned nuclear operator. Losing their jobs would likely make the workers eligible for the Russian military draft. Senior employees at the plant, meanwhile, have faced kidnappings, beatings, and alleged torture, and at least two workers have been killed by Russian forces. Its getting cold. And some problems arise there, with the functionality of the plant, with the fish that help keep the pond good, and with the condition of people living in the neighboring town, where the heat is all generated by the plant.Ukrainian nuclear agency chief Petro Kotin An International Atomic Energy Agency team arrived in late August at Zaporizhzhia to monitor the situation. Since then, the United Nations nuclear watchdog has been negotiating to create a demilitarized zone around the plant. So far, the Russians have refused to pull back as they stepped up targeted strikes in recent weeks on vital civilian infrastructure across Ukraine. Instead, Russians have stationed 50 military vehicles and at least 500 troops at the facility, Kotin said, including a contingent of Chechen soldiers loyal to Chechnyas regional strongman, Ramzan Kadyrov. A close adviser to Putin, Kadyrov has publicly encouraged the Kremlin to use a small-scale tactical atomic weapon against Ukraine. The threats of the first wartime nuclear attack since 1945 and the worst atomic power plant accident since Fukushima have, ironically, come at just the moment when nuclear energy looks poised to reverse decades of decline and make a comeback. Fission reactors produce 24/7 bounties of electricity like fossil fuels, without climate-changing emissions or reliance on constantly-supplied pipelines. Since Russia cut off gas exports to Ukraines allies, countries like the Netherlands and Sweden have vowed to build new reactors. Japan and the U.S. are looking to restart shuttered plants, and even anti-nuclear Germany is postponing plans to close its last three generating stations. Energoatom is hoping to build as many as nine new reactors in the years ahead, ideally, with American or European technology, Kotin said. In July, Ukraine began the process to license U.S. nuclear giant Westinghouses AP-1000 reactors, the large-scale machines set to debut soon at Georgias Plant Vogtle after years of delays and billion-dollar cost overruns. The U.S., Kotin said, needs to get past the problems with constructing the first major AP-1000 project and build more reactors. But he admitted that the fate of a global nuclear power resurgence might rest in the hands of Zaporizhzhias Ukrainian engineers. The renaissance of civilian nuclear power would not survive this additional disaster, which could happen at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Kotin said. So we need to do everything just to bring Zaporizhzhia to a safe stage and to make all the measures which are required for the safe operation of the plant. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... Ukraine has recognized the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. This represents the first time the Republic, which was defeated by Russia in the Second Chechen War, has been officially recognized by a nation-state. Ukraine has designated the territory of Chechnya as occupied by Russia, and has classified Russian repression of Chechens as genocide.Oleksiy Danilov, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, tweeted that Free Ichkeria will start the process of decolonization of the Russian Federation and the destruction of the sub-empire. 108 Ukrainian women were freed from Russian captivity in the first ever all-female prisoner exchange of the full-scale war. According to presidential chief-of-staff Andriy Yermak, this complement includes both soldiers and civilians, including defenders of the Azovstal steelworks. Some of the women freed were captured by Russian occupation forces in occupied territory prior to the full-scale invasion. NV collated their return in this photo report. A Russian attack on a power station in Kyiv kills one worker. Seven others were injured, reports power company DTEK Energy. The attacks represent Russias continuing efforts to damage and degrade Ukraines power infrastructure prior to the onset of winter. Infrastructure in numerous cities has been impacted by these attacks, with Dnipro being especially affected, said presidential deputy chief-of-staff Kyrylo Tymoshenko. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russias destroyed 30% of Ukraines power stations in the past week. The EU is providing Ukraine with an additional 500 million for its military. The EUs top diplomat, Josep Borrell, stated that the funds are further proof of the EUs continuing commitment to Ukrainian security. 490 million of these funds are allocated for military weapons, while 10 million are earmarked for other equipment and supplies. Additionally, some amount of these funds will be used on the maintenance and repair of already donated Western weapons. Story continues In addition to these funds, Italy announced that it will be sending a fifth military assistance package in the near future. The World Bank has assigned non-performing status to its loans made to the Belarusian regime of dictator Alexander Lukashenko. The Bank states that this is due to Belarus non-payment for more than six months, which total over $68 million. Belarus outstanding principal is $967 million. The Bank cancelled all of its Belarusian programs in March, and has not approved new lending to the dictatorship since May 2020. The days long-read: Kharkiv territorial defense fighters tell the story of the liberation of Kharkiv Oblast NV spoke to a unit of territorial defense mortarmen who have been operating in Kharkiv Oblast since the start of the full-scale war, learning about their stories and their lives before and during the war. Dont miss: Complex government reshuffle discussed by Zelenskyy administration NV digs into rumors of high-level personnel shifts at Bankova and the government, to see whether theres any truth to the gossip. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine In 36 days, the Ukrainian military shot down 223 Shahed-136 kamikaze drones The use of Iranian drones was first reported on Sept. 13, after the Ukrainian Armed Forces shot down a Shahed-136 UAV in the town of Kupyansk, Kharkiv Oblast. Read also: Ukraine destroys dozens of Iranian-made suicide drones in past days Anti-aircraft missile units, fighter aircraft, self-propelled anti-aircraft installations, MANPADS mobile fire groups, anti-aircraft guns, heavy machine guns, and other weapons have been used to destroy the Shahed-136 drones. The latest mass attack by the Iranian drones was in the capital city of Kyiv on the morning of Oct. 17. The attacks were carried out by Iranian-made Shahed-136 suicide drones, which struck residential and office buildings in the citys central Shevchenkivskyi district, as well as a critical infrastructure facility. Read also: Russian attacks on civilians and infrastructure are attempt to spread panic, Pentagon says Five people were killed as a result of the attack, including a pregnant woman and her husband. The invaders also used suicide drones to hit critical infrastructure facilities in Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Sumy, and Vinnytsia oblasts. On the morning of Oct. 18, Russia once again carried out a strike on Kyiv, hitting at least one of the citys power stations on the left bank (of the Dnipro River). At least three air strikes were recorded in Kyivs Desnyanskyi district, resulting in the damage of two critical infrastructure facilities, as well as limiting electricity and water supply services in many residential buildings. Read also: Iran ready to send more drones, missiles to Russia for its war against Ukraine, reports Reuters The Russians also hit energy facilities in the cities of Dnipro and Zhytomyr. Against this background, Ukraines Foreign Ministry has proposed the termination of diplomatic relations with Iran and called on Western countries to introduce additional sanctions against Tehran. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine OLHA HLUSHCHENKO WEDNESDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2022, 07:45 On the night of 18-19 October, the defence forces of Ukraine shot down 12 Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones launched by the Russians. Source: Vitalii Kim, the head of Mykolaiv Oblast Military Administration, referring to the public relations service of Air Command Pivden (South) Quote from Kim: "On the night of 18-19 October, the enemy attacked Mykolaiv Oblast with Shahed-136 kamikaze drones." Eleven drones were shot down by the anti-aircraft defence forces and resources of Air Command Pivden (South), and one more was downed by soldiers of the National Guard of Ukraine. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! University of Minnesota Regent Steve Sviggum apologized Tuesday for casting student diversity in a negative light during a board meeting last week. I clearly have more to learn to better understand the strength that diversity brings to our institution, Sviggum said in a statement released by the U on Tuesday night. During a presentation Thursday on low enrollment at the Us Morris campus, where 54 percent of students are white, Sviggum asked the schools interim chancellor whether it was possible that at Morris weve become too diverse. Sviggum, a 71-year-old farmer from Kenyon and former Republican speaker of the state House of Representatives, also said two friends told him last year that their children wouldnt attend Morris because it is too diverse a campus; they didnt feel comfortable there. Amid calls for his resignation Monday, Sviggum whose six-year term ends next year did not back down from his comments, telling WCCO Radio that he was just asking a question. Then, on Monday night, Board of Regents chairman Ken Powell issued a statement calling diversity a strength and said he would be in contact with my colleagues on this issue. Another regent, James Farnsworth of St. Paul, said on Twitter late Monday that Sviggums comments were hurtful and inappropriate. Sviggum in his statement Tuesday seemed to indicate he had accepted the invitation of Morris Campus Student Association President Dylan Young to visit the campus. I look forward to taking those who have reached out to me up on their offers to meet and to hear their perspectives and learn from them. I am willing to learn and I must do better and I will, Sviggum said. A member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Young is among the 32 percent of Morris students who are American Indian. Morris has a federal mandate to provide free tuition to Indians because of the western Minnesota campus boarding school history. Young on Monday sent Sviggum a letter, signed by more than 200 supporters, describing how he and his non-white peers face several unique challenges because the college environment was not designed for us to succeed much less feel included. Story continues Young also said it is the large group of American Indians at Morris that made him feel comfortable there. While the diversity at the University of Minnesota, Morris might make some prospective students uncomfortable, I reckon that it has the exact opposite effect on a far greater number of students, he wrote. Sviggum in his statement Tuesday apologized unequivocally especially for the unintended hurt my questions may have caused. They were not intended to cause harm, but my intent does not matter. The Morris campus has lost nearly half its students in the last eight years as more high school graduates have opted for work instead of college and more of those who have stayed in school have chosen large universities. The coronavirus pandemic only made things worse for Morris, partly because its international student pipeline dried up. Morris has just 1,068 students this fall, well short of its 2024 goal of 1,700. FULL STATEMENT This is the full statement Sviggum released through the U on Tuesday: Last week, during University of Minnesota Morris Interim Chancellor Ericksens presentation on MPact 2025 enrollment goals at Morris, I posed a question regarding the diversity of the student body and whether that diversity was in any way linked to the recent enrollment challenges. Let me unequivocally apologize for my questions, and especially for the unintended hurt my questions may have caused. They were not intended to cause harm, but my intent does not matter. For those whom I have harmed or offended, and for all of those associated with our great university, I am truly sorry. I have only respect and admiration for any individual who seeks to better themselves through higher education, whether at Morris or at any of our wonderful campuses. Minnesota benefits from our many amazing students from all walks of life who make incredible contributions to our community, and their work strengthens the great state of Minnesota. I hope that all of our graduates elect to stay in Minnesota after graduation and work, every day, for the betterment of our state. My intent recognizing that my words matter was to foster discussion around the consistently declining enrollment at Morris, which is not a one-year trend or even a concern that has emerged out of the COVID pandemic. Rather, student enrollment has been declining for years (down 50% from its peak) and the future of this great campus depends on finding solutions to reverse that trend. I have been blessed throughout my life as a farmer to work with a diversity of people across our state and our nation from all backgrounds. As a layperson in my church, I have shared the joys and heartbreaks of so many of my fellow parishioners. And as a proud Regent, I have been given the incredible opportunity to help our institution, our president, and our students, staff, and faculty who set a very high bar for the rest of us. Again, I offer my sincerest apologies. I clearly have more to learn to better understand the strength that diversity brings to our institution, and I look forward to taking those who have reached out to me up on their offers to meet and to hear their perspectives and learn from them. I am willing to learn and I must do better and I will. Related Articles University of North Dakota's NAGPRA Compliance Committee members held a press conference on Oct. 18 to discuss updates in their process of locating, identifying, and returning Native American human remains in its collection. (screenshot) The University of North Dakota (UND) president Andrew Armacost announced today that it has at least one Native American ancestor that was used for research at its School of Medicine and Health Sciences. While bio-modern practices in medical schools rely on known donors, the question at hand was whether older common practices that were previously used at UND raised any ethical concerns, including the possible use of Native American ancestors, Armacost said in a statement. We have determined that there is, in fact, at least one Native American ancestor. We wont know how many more until our specialists do their work. The universitys update comes after their August announcement that UND staff discovered dozens of Native American human remains and several hundred objects taken from Indigenous lands and communities that the school had never before reported, as required by federal law. The initial finding occurred in March when faculty and staff found the human remains and cultural objects boxed in the basement of an anthropology building that is currently not in use while searching for a missing sacred item on campus, a tribal historic preservation officer in North Dakota told Native News Online in August. In response, UND formed a NAGPRA Compliance Committee to work towards repatriation. Armacost said the school finalized a contract with a cultural resource management team on Oct. 17 that will support the cultural and technical work of repatriation. The university has also committed to hiring a specialist to help with tribal outreach and manage the overall repatriation efforts. Finally, the committee composed of several Indigenous staff members has continued its search around campus for additional ancestors in the universitys possession. That search led committee staff to the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, where the skull of an ancestor was discovered out of several hundred human remains. The skull is thought to be Native American due to documentation found near it, committee co-chair Crystal Alberts said. According to committee co-chair Laine Lyons (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians), the cultural resources management team will not be using DNA analysis to determine the ancestors origin. Story continues The discovery has also led the university to reflect on the respectful handling of non-Indigenous human remains. Armacost said the School of Medicine and Health Sciences leadership is working with other medical schools to define procedures to identify the origin of the human remains and eventually return them home. Josh Wynn, the dean of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, apologized to Indigenous staff for his schools practice. We should have taken more of an initiative rather than having things discovered, Wynn said. On behalf of the school, but also on behalf of me as the leader of the school, I apologize. We should have changed before, but we didnt. We will no longer use human bones in our teaching. That can be done quite adequately with plastic bottles, and we will do so henceforth. President Armacost said the NAGPRA Compliance Committee will host monthly meetings to update faculty, staff, students, and the public on its repatriation process moving forward. Interested parties can stay up to date by visiting the schools repatriation webpage. About the Author: "Jenna Kunze is a staff reporter covering Indian health, the environment and breaking news for Native News Online. She is also the publication's lead reporter on stories related to Indian boarding schools and repatriation. Her bylines have appeared in The Arctic Sounder, High Country News, Indian Country Today, Tribal Business News, Smithsonian Magazine, Elle and Anchorage Daily News. Kunze is based in New York." Contact: jkunze@indiancountrymedia.com Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) received a lot of attention from a substantial price movement on the NYSE over the last few months, increasing to US$242 at one point, and dropping to the lows of US$192. 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 Union Pacific's current trading price of US$202 reflective of the actual value of the large-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at Union Pacifics 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 Union Pacific What Is Union Pacific Worth? Great news for investors Union Pacific is still trading at a fairly cheap price. According to my valuation, the intrinsic value for the stock is $274.52, but it is currently trading at US$202 on the share market, meaning that there is still an opportunity to buy now. Whats more interesting is that, Union Pacifics share price is quite volatile, which gives us more chances to buy since the share price could sink lower (or rise higher) in the future. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for how much the stock moves relative to the rest of the market. What does the future of Union Pacific look like? Future outlook is an important aspect when youre looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. Although value investors would argue that its the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. Union Pacific's earnings over the next few years are expected to increase by 21%, indicating a highly optimistic future ahead. This should lead to more robust cash flows, feeding into a higher share value. What This Means For You Are you a shareholder? Since UNP is currently undervalued, it may be a great time to accumulate more of your holdings in the stock. With a positive outlook on the horizon, it seems like this growth has not yet been fully factored into the share price. However, there are also other factors such as financial health to consider, which could explain the current undervaluation. Story continues Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping an eye on UNP for a while, now might be the time to enter the stock. Its buoyant future outlook isnt fully reflected in the current share price yet, which means its not too late to buy UNP. But before you make any investment decisions, consider other factors such as the track record of its management team, in order to make a well-informed buy. With this in mind, we wouldn't consider investing in a stock unless we had a thorough understanding of the risks. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign that you should run your eye over to get a better picture of Union Pacific. If you are no longer interested in Union Pacific, 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 The U.S. will release 15 million barrels of oil from its strategic reserve, Biden administration officials plan to announce Wednesday. The 15 million barrels are the final tranche of a disbursement of 180 million announced in March and come as energy prices threaten to rise again less than a month before Election Day. Rising prices have emerged as a drag on Democrats as polls show the economy is one of the issues most top of mind for voters as they head to the ballot box. Early voting began in some states this week. The sale comes after OPEC+ announced a production cut of 2 million barrels of oil per day earlier in October. Oil prices had dipped as low as $75 per barrel in September before rebounding after the OPEC announcement to more than $90. West Texas Intermediate crude is now at $83 per barrel. Asked about the possibility of limiting oil exports, officials also said theyre keeping all tools on the table. The U.S. oil reserve is now at its lowest level since the mid-1980s, and senior administration officials announced Tuesday evening a plan to buy back crude oil to replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, sending a market signal to producers to keep pumping oil ahead of the midterm elections in November. Officials said repurchases would begin when prices are between $67 and $72 per barrel, indicating that the administration would like to see the price of oil decline. Presiden Biden wants the energy sector to take the signal and increase production and to make sure that they are giving the consumer the appropriate price as they are taking these profits, one senior administration official said. The profit that energy refining companies are now capturing on every gallon of gasoline is about double what it typically is at this time of year, and the retailer margin over the refinery price is more than 40 percent above the typical level, administration officials said in a statement. These outsized industry profit margins adding more than $0.60 to the average price of a gallon of gas have kept pump prices higher than they should be. Keeping prices high even as input costs fall is unacceptable, and the President will call on companies to pass their savings through to consumers now, the statement continued. Story continues The Department of Energy will also institute a rule that allows it to enter fixed-price contracts through competitive bids for crude oil products to be delivered at futures dates. Geopolitical forces are bearing down on energy markets now as the Northern Hemisphere prepares for winter. The war in Ukraine is playing out in the European energy supply, which has been heavily dependent on Russian gas exports in the past. Reports of pipeline sabotage came in over the summer as fighting intensified between Russia and Ukraine. OPECs production cut resulted in accusations against its most influential member, Saudi Arabia, that it was siding with Russia in the war. Chinese demand for imported also may also be ramping up as the country continues to lift various COVID-19 restrictions. Updated at 7:54 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. An open wall at St. Adalbert Catholic Church exposes the replica of Michelangelos La Pieta statue inside the church on Oct. 18, 2022. The Archdiocese of Chicago said the statue will be moved from St. Adalbert to St. Paul Catholic Church, about a mile southwest. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) English, Spanish and Polish melded as a group of about 40 people braved the cold to protest the removal of the La Pieta sculpture from St. Adalbert Church in Pilsen. The removal, which was scheduled for Tuesday, was ultimately postponed due to a permit issue, according to the Archdiocese of Chicago. Advertisement Protesters took breaks from chanting Save our church! and Shame on you! in order to pray in different languages, holding rosaries and American and Mexican flags up as they stood in an alley behind the church. About 30 police officers flanked the group. It just isnt right, said Anina Jakubowski, who was a regular at the church at 1650 W. 17th St. from when she was a kid until it closed in 2019. Advertisement She looked at the building. Since parishioners learned St. Adalbert Church would close, some of them have been fighting to reopen the church. The removal of the La Pieta statue which depicts Mary holding Jesus body on her lap after hes brought down from the cross would bring the church closer, protesters say, to a point of no return. Police keep watch as former St. Adalbert parishioners and supporters, including Irena Ksendzov, center, protest the removal of the La Pieta statue on Oct. 18, 2022. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) Stekla Bronislawa lies down to pray as former parishioners and supporters gather outside St. Adalbert Catholic Church in the Pilsen neighborhood to protest the removal of the La Pieta statue from the church on Oct. 18, 2022. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) The Archdiocese of Chicago has said the replica of Michelangelos La Pieta statue will be moved from St. Adalbert to St. Paul Catholic Church, about a mile southwest. Parishioners will have access to worship before and better enjoy the sculpture in its new home, said a statement from the Archdiocese of Chicago. Moreover, this valued community treasure can be better safeguarded and preserved in an active parish church. Protesters had a clear line of sight to the statue, which was still inside the church but perched perilously close to the edge of a drilled church wall, its back to the outside world. This is a sad day in the city of Chicago, said Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, 25th, who represents the Pilsen area. Sigcho-Lopez called on Cardinal Blase Cupich and Mayor Lori Lightfoot to meet with parishioners and protesters who are concerned about the future of the statue and the church. He said the group hasnt been able to secure a meeting since February. A single counterprotester spoke up, interrupting media interviews. Thats not true, Miguel Chacon said about the possibility of a meeting. Advertisement Chacon wondered out loud what the group is trying to save. He said the church couldnt stay open years ago because it had very few parishioners. The church cannot be open, and they are not going to reopen (it), Chacon said. These groups noble missions, and I respect them but it is not likely to ever happen. Sigcho-Lopez noted he didnt know about a permit that a crane operator would need to remove the sculpture while using the public alleyway. As an elected official, we have a responsibility to due process, Sigcho-Lopez said. We are not going to be stepped on as immigrant communities the Polish, Mexican communities are large. Were not going to be stepped on like this. Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. > The Archdiocese of Chicago said in its statement: The parish is continuing to follow the proper permitting process and is working with the city to attain all the permits needed for safely moving the statue and rebricking the opening in the side of the building. Advertisement Judy Vazquez, one of the protesters, said the group has been guarding the sculpture day and night for 40 days. She said she hopes one day the group can claim victory for the church at the corner of West 17th and South Paulina streets, so it can continue for our children and our childrens children. Police remained on site as an officer made the announcement that the statue wouldnt be removed Tuesday. Its an atrocity to even talk about arresting parishioners for demanding a seat at the table, to say, We need to talk about this, Sigcho-Lopez said. Cardinal Cupich, as the leader of the Catholic Church in Chicago, what would Jesus do? Would he ignore the poor? Would he step on the parishioners? Would he arrest them? Or would he listen to us? adperez@chicagotribune.com Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) on Tuesday raised concerns that the United States is falling behind adversaries China and Russia in manufacturing and testing hypersonic missiles. As a country, we are behind China, and even Russia for that matter, and this is not a good situation, Lamborn said, adding hypersonics are a whole new type of offensive capability, and we are behind, no doubt about it. Lamborns concerns were echoed by academics and weapons experts who joined The Hills Tuesday event, National Security at the Speed of Sound: Hypersonics in American Defense, sponsored by Raytheon Industries. Hypersonic missiles are weapons that have the capability to travel at five times the speed of sound, roughly 4,000 miles per hour. They are designed to be so fast that other defense technology cannot react in time to prevent strikes. Lamborn, the ranking member on the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, said the U.S. must expedite its testing capabilities in order to catch up to other nations. He pointed specifically to HBTSS satellites, which could track hypersonic weapons from China and elsewhere. Right now, we dont have the ability to adequately cover the tracking and even the fire control when it comes to hypersonic vehicles, Lamborn told Hill editor-in-chief Bob Cusack. We need to have the sensor layers in space. Lamborn was joined by Rep. Donald Norcross (D-N.J.), chair of the Tactical Air & Land Forces Subcommittee, who was more optimistic about congressional suppot for the Department of Defenses hypersonics strategy. Theres concern about hypersonics, no question about it, Norcross said. But I believe given where we are right now and the progress we made, were going to be able to meet the timelines that the department has set. Norcross also noted that while hypersonics are crucial, there are a number of ways to address China and Russias defense advancements. Lamborns concerns were echoed by defense experts Mark Lewis, director of the National Defense Industrial Associations Emerging Technologies Institute, as well as Kelly Stephani, an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Story continues The country that actually worries me the most is China, Lewis said. Their systems factor much more closely into what we would anticipate as far as warfighting capabilities in that part of the world. We have seen what appear to be very capable systems in the hands of the Chinese. Cusack asked Stephani whether she sees China ahead of the U.S. in these technological advancements, to which she bluntly answered, Yes. We challenge our congresspersons, and the nation in general, to recognize this threat, and act on it, Stephani said. We have a limited time, and it is something that we have to rally on. Lewis closed the conversation by providing insight into what he sees as the impact of not having this technology in wartime. Every time we did war games in certain scenarios across the world, we found out that when the United States was facing an opponent who had developed hypersonic capabilities, if we didnt have that capability, we lost, Lewis said. This has to be a priority if were going to be successful in the future fight. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Iran handed over Shahed-136 kamikaze drones to Russia, but denies involvement Read also: Germany to back sanctions against Iran for shipping drones to Russia Resolution 2231 limits Tehran's uranium enrichment activity. It doesn't limit conventional arms supplies, but does include restrictions on missiles and related technologies. Read also: Iran ready to send more drones, missiles to Russia for its war against Ukraine, reports Reuters Earlier, the United States said it would take take practical, aggressive steps to make it harder for Iran to sell drones and missiles to Russia. Read also: Iran to send ballistic missiles to Russia for war against Ukraine It was reported Iran promised Russia to supply surface-to-surface" missiles, in addition to more kamikaze drones. On Oct. 18, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba proposed that Kyiv break off diplomatic relations with Iran due to its supply of weapons to Russia. Russia has for several weeks been using Iranian-made suicide drones to attack Ukraine and kill civilians. Tehran denies supplying Shahed-136 drones, but there is ample evidence both photgraphic and in the form of material from downed Iranian drones to prove these denials false. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's top court has ruled to give the U.S. government 60 days to request the extradition of fugitive Malaysian businessman Leonard Glenn Francis, also known by his alias "Fat Leonard," who is implicated in a U.S. Navy bribery case. The supreme court ruling was issued last week but only made public on Wednesday by a reporter with official media. Francis was arrested on Sept. 21 at Caracas' main airport as he prepared to leave for Russia. The U.S. government had previously issued a red flag request through Interpol for his detention. The Venezuelan court decision comes as long-strained relations between Washington and Caracas appear to improve in recent months. The court said it will notify the United States through Venezuela's foreign ministry, including its decision that a formal extraction request be filed within two months and include evidence of Francis' alleged crimes. If U.S. authorities do not comply within the two month limit, the businessman's "unrestricted release" will be ordered, the court added in its ruling dated October 13. Francis arrived in Venezuela from Mexico with a stopover in Cuba and was planning to travel to Russia, according to Interpol Venezuela. He reportedly removed his monitoring anklet and escaped house arrest in the United States ahead of his looming sentencing in September, according to a the San Diego Union-Tribune. (Reporting by Deisy Buitrago and Vivian Sequera; Editing by Alistair Bell) Oct. 18A 17-year-old male will remain detained at the Warren County Juvenile Detention Center following his arraignment Monday until further notice of the court. The teenager appeared in Warren County Juvenile Court for an arraignment and detention hearing on a charge of delinquency by way of inducing panic on school grounds, according to court documents. The charge is a second-degree felony. The youth entered a denial to the alleged charge, which is the equivalent of a not guilty plea in adult court. Judge Joseph Kirby ruled the 17-year-old must be detained to protect persons or property of others from immediate or threatened physical or emotional harm. Kirby set the youth's next court appearance for 2:30 p.m. Oct. 24 for a pre-trial/further detention hearing. He also ordered a risk assessment on the youth with the court clinic. According to the sworn complaint by Deputy Ronald Smith, on Wednesday, Oct. 12 the defendant was responsible for a handwritten note that stated "Shooting up the school on 10/12/22 1:30 that was found hanging from a bathroom stall door in a male restroom inside of the Warren County Career Center. The defendant is a senior at the school, and the note was placed and found during school hours. The note caused the school to go into a lockdown procedure and led to the response of 25 law enforcement officers to the property, according to the complaint. Warren County Career Center Superintendent Joel King said as a district, "we will not tolerate threats of violence to our students, staff, or community." Michael S. Lewis - Getty Images In a now-viral Reddit thread, one Alaska-based cyclist shared a video of an Average Alaskan bike ride, featuring two (seemingly angry) moose charging down a bike lane heading towards the rider. Thankfully, no people or moose were harmed in the making of the video, but it serves as a good reminder to keep your head up when pedaling on the path. Even an errant armadillo can cause a ride to end early! Check out the video below. The fall mating season is apparently a time when moose can be particularly aggressive, and experts noted that the behavior in the video appears to be a warning charge. Many charges are bluff charges, warning you to stay back and keep your distance, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game told Newsweek as they reported on the story. However, you need to take them seriously... If it knocks you down, a moose may continue running or start stomping and kicking with all four feet. Ontario, Canada, offers province-wide advice for contending with moose (which can be found in northern parts of the province). The ministry suggests if a deer, elk or moose approaches you, back off and look for a tree, fence or building to hide behind, and if the animal charges, run to the nearest obstruction. The video on Reddit has received over 25,000 upvotes since being posted 11 days ago, and racked up over 400 comments, with many commenters sharing their own harrowing bike lane/animal incidents. Many express amazement that the rider kept his camera on and filming the charging moose long after it was time to start sprinting away, hitting a new best 10-second power in the process. Some comments got into pun-y territory: Moosed pedal fasterIll see myself out, one user wrote. Multi-moose trails, added another. And some just said what were all thinking: This is why you always ride with at least one person slower than you. You Might Also Like Update, 5 p.m.: The press conference has resumed. It can be viewed at the link below: Update, 4:30 p.m.: The press conference was briefly paused due to a commotion in the audience. The livestream is expected to begin again shortly. Original story: The San Luis Obispo County District Attorneys and Sheriffs offices will hold a press conference on Tuesday evening reacting to the Kristin Smart murder trial verdicts announced earlier in the day. Tuesday afternoon, a jury found Paul Flores guilty of murdering Smart in 1996 while a separate jury found his father, Ruben Flores, not guilty of helping his son conceal the crime. The San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office has been investigating Kristin Smarts disappearance for 26 years. The press conference will be held at the Monterey County courthouse, but is expected to be broadcast live on the District Attorneys Office Facebook page at 4 p.m. You can also watch the livestream below once it begins: The impact that Kristins disappearance and its investigation have had on the Smart family and our community, spanning a quarter century, is profound, District Attorney Dan Dow said in a statement released before the press conference. We thank them for the tremendous trust and patience they have placed in the investigation and prosecution of this terrible crime. This verdict provides some sense of justice for Kristin, the Smarts and our community. Today, justice delayed is not justice denied. The District Attorneys Office said the conviction is the result of a tremendous collaborative effort of more than a dozen local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies over the span of 25 years, but most importantly, the perseverance of the Smart family. Prosecutor Christopher Peuvrelle thanked the Smart family and witnesses who came forward to help the case. Many endured years of guilt, frustration, and anger, yet maintained their dignity and focus on the truth, Peuvrelle said in the release. Lastly, we want victims everywhere to know their voices will be heard and that there are people in the justice system who will never stop fighting for them. In the release, the District Attorneys Office also recognized the the tireless efforts of Chris Lambert in persistently and compassionately keeping the memory of Kristin alive, through his podcast Your Own Backyard. According to the release, Paul Flores faces 25-years-to-life in prison; he is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 9. STORY: Desperate Venezuelan migrants protest at the Mexico border with the U.S. This girl's sign reads, "I crossed the jungle and they won't let me see my Dad." She and others like her are stranded after U.S. and Mexican authorities announced a new policy that would expel Venezuelans entering the U.S. land border back to Mexico. The move follows an acceleration in the number of Venezuelan migrants trying to reach the U.S. Between October last year and August, more than 150-thousand Venezuelans were apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border. But what is causing the increase in numbers? [Yeni Briseno, Venezuelan Migrant] I dont care if it is here or there, I just want a better life quality for my daughters so they can study. I want to work a lot, I want a job for my husband and to go onwards, have a better life quality. That is all I ask from this country if Im here. Only God knows why he does things. Under late President Hugo Chavez, who died in 2013, Venezuela weathered corruption and inflation. The country has the world's largest oil reserves so it was hit hard when, in 2014, global oil prices tumbled. Living conditions further deteriorated as stringent price controls created widespread shortages. Medicines for conditions from headaches to cancer were unavailable. In 2018, inflation in Venezuela exceeded 1 million percent. [[Why have these new measures been brought in?]] REPORTER: "On the border, why is the border more overwhelmed under your watch, Mr. President?" Biden is facing political pressure to curb the number of illegal crossings. BIDEN: "There are fewer immigrants coming from Central America and from Mexico. This is a totally different circumstance. What is on my watch now is Venezuela...." Venezuelans have been one of the largest groups of migrants involved in such crossings, in part because Washington granted temporary protection status in 2021 to those who were on U.S. soil. On top of this, the U.S. broke down diplomatic relations with Venezuela in 2019, Story continues making it harder for the U.S. to deport Venezuelans than other nationalities. Separately, the U.S. has said it will allow up to 24,000 people from Venezuela to apply for humanitarian entry, but they must come by AIR. Other requirements include having a U.S.-based supporter and holding a valid passport. So what of those left at the Mexico border? The UN has sounded a warning that shelters are being overwhelmed, leaving families without places to stay. Some of them may return to Venezuela, while others could settle down in different Latin American countries, Many migrants, however, remain determined to reach the U.S. border. [Darwin Pinero, Venezuelan migrant] We just want to reach our destination. These people here will not stop until they reach their goal to achieve a dream that all of us who are walking want to attain. If we need to walk all day and night until we reach the end, we will do it. School of the Art Institute of Chicago faculty members rally for unionization outside the Art Institute on May 10, 2022. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune) My father took me to a summer picnic with his co-workers every year, not just for the food and fun but to nurture my respect for the unshakable bond that connected our families and helped keep us all safe and strong. Dad and his co-workers watched each others backs on the factory floor and stood together to fight for decent wages, affordable health care and fair treatment on the job. Advertisement A strong labor union fueled this powerful solidarity, just as it does today for my co-workers and me and has the potential to do for generations of workers to come. But we cannot take our hard-won labor freedoms for granted. Its crucial that voters pass Amendment 1, the Workers Rights Amendment, in the Nov. 8 election to enshrine our collective bargaining rights in the Illinois Constitution, the states highest law, and safeguard our grandchildrens opportunities to build better lives and more prosperous communities. Advertisement Unions fight discrimination and help narrow race- and gender-based pay gaps, a source of pride for my father and his diverse group of co-workers. Union members successful fights for paid sick leave and retirement security raise the overall well-being of their communities. [ Collective bargaining amendment brings national labor fight to Illinois ballot ] And today, union workers look out for one another in ways unknown in my fathers time. Unions help workers attain the work-life balance crucial for physical and emotional health. Theyve taken a leading role in the fight against domestic violence, negotiating contracts with paid leave and other resources that help survivors break away from their abusers. Unions even provide the mental health resilience training and other tools that help workers and their communities weather natural disasters. The union difference remains one of the most important lessons my dad taught me. I work at the same plant he did and followed in his footsteps as a United Steelworkers activist. Now, Im further honoring his memory by advocating for Amendment 1, which will prevent greedy corporations from chipping away at our labor rights and turning back the clock on pay, benefits and safety. Among other protections, Amendment 1 would prohibit legislators from passing deceptively named right-to-work laws that permit workers to enjoy the benefits of unions without paying for representation. These laws, relentlessly pushed by corporations, have no purpose except to gut unions and undercut the solidarity thats the backbone of worker power. Workers in states with right-to-work laws make significantly lower wages than their counterparts in other states. Without strong unions to empower workers, residents of right-to-work states experience greater poverty, higher infant mortality and lower life expectancy than people in the rest of the country. These laws also have fueled huge increases in workplace fatality rates because they strip workers of the robust, united voice needed to fight for adequate equipment and safe working conditions. Just a few years ago, a pro-corporation governor supported the creation of right-to-work zones that would have inflicted this kind of damage on parts of Illinois. Advertisement Unions, working people and other allies banded together to beat back those efforts. But without Amendment 1, Illinoisans will remain perpetually at risk of having right-to-work foisted on them. Its no coincidence that workers pushed to get Amendment 1 on the ballot this year. Public support for organized labor has soared to record levels amid a pandemic thats revealed more clearly than ever how much workers need the advantages and protections that unions help provide. Across the country, record numbers of Americans in a diverse range of workplaces and industries are forming unions to seize more control over their destinies. Amendment 1 represents the will of the people. Passing it will ensure that workers today and well into the future have the freedom to build on the legacy my dad and so many other working Illinoisans left behind. Edmund Carter is a member of United Steelworkers Local 9777 in Bridgeview. [ Editorial: Vote no on Amendment One ] Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. Jenna Barnes and her husband Chris have five children (Jenna Barnes / SWNS) A woman was left wondering whether her husband cheated on her whilst she was pregnant when a medic wrongly diagnosed her newborn with an STD. Jenna Barnes, 43, took her newborn baby boy, Fletcher, to hospital for a check up when his eyes became gunky and stuck together. He underwent tests to determine what was causing the issue and Jenna claims a midwife told her the child had tested positive for gonorrhoea. Jenna says she was told the infection would have been passed on by a parent before the baby was born leading her to believe her husband, Chris, 45, the frontman for a tribute rock band, may have been unfaithful. Knowing she was not to blame, Jenna confronted Chris, who insisted he hadnt strayed either. Thankfully before the pair broke up or consulted divorce lawyers, a flustered midwife revealed she had given Jenna the wrong results, and Fletcher did not have gonorrhoea. The boy had a bacterial infection instead and he was treated with antibiotics and eye drops, which cleared up the ailment within days. Jenna, a lingerie and costume designer, from Manchester, said: The midwife asked: Have you been tested? and I said: For what? She told me: Its coming up that your baby has gonorrhoea. I was gobsmacked when she told me, I was lost for words. I instantly started Googling the illness and knew having sex was the only way of contracting the disease. Chris and I were relieved when we discovered it was an honest mistake, but in our heart of hearts we knew it was wrong. Fletcher was born on 30th August 2022 at 5.40am weighing 7lbs 9oz. The newborn started experiencing symptoms of an eye infection when he was just one day old and, after four days, Jennas midwife recommended she called 111 to get an out-of-hours GP appointment. Due to Fletchers young age, the GP did not want to prescribe antibiotics and recommended she rubbed breastmilk on his eyes with cotton wool pads, before sending her back to the hospital for tests, where they swabbed Fletchers eyes. Story continues The mother-of-five said: They swabbed his eyes and told me they would call me back with the results. She received the shocking, but erroneous, results of the test the same day via telephone. However, a meeting with the same midwife had been scheduled for later the same day so it was only a few hours before Jenna was able to double-check the result. Jennas husband, Chris, was on tour in Canada at the time of his babys birth. Jenna said: Strangers always grill me and ask how I cope with Chris being in a band and on tour where theres so much temptation. Up until that moment, I had never doubted his loyalty once. I still trusted him 100 per cent but did start to think what on earth had gone on. After revealing the diagnosis on the phone, she said Chris responded: How the f**k has that happened? I know youve not done anything, youre at home with five kids. Even their son, George, 13, said: You know dad would never cheat, he wont even go to a strip club. Chris is more into tea and slippers than coke and strippers, Jenna added. Jenna started worrying Chris would think she had been unfaithful when she spent nine weeks working at Pinewood Studios, Slough, Berkshire, before becoming pregnant with Fletcher in December 2021. She even pleaded with Chris and said: Look if you have been unfaithful, I dont mind, I just need to know the truth. She added: As soul mates Id like to think we would work through infidelity together. The couple had both calmed down and talked it through they came to the conclusion it must have been a mistake. The midwife involved later apologised. Chris said: I am admittedly the most boring man in rock n roll. Im a vegetarian, I barely drink, and I dont smoke. I was confused but I never doubted Jennas innocence. I was worried she would think I had been out liaising with the ladies, but everyone who knows me knows its not in my nature. After the initial shock we knew it must have been a mistake and that somebody had got the paperwork wrong and that was confirmed by the midwife later on. Everyone on tour was laughing because it was me this happened to one who is up first and in bed first. We saw the funny side of it and bang our drums for the NHS, theyre only human and everyone makes mistakes. East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust said: We are extremely apologetic for the oversight, sharing the incorrect result primarily although promptly rectified. This was a case of human error. We are glad mother and infant are both thriving and send them our best wishes for the future. SWNS Restaurateurs have defended James Corden after Keith McNally, the owner of New York City restaurant Balthazar, announced his intention to ban the comedian over his alleged treatment of staff. Earlier this week, McNally accused the comedian of abusive behaviour on Instagram. A day later, the restaurateur and owner of the French brasserie claimed that Corden had apologised, prompting him to reveal on Instagram that all is forgiven and he reversed his decision. Amid the allegations from McNally, other famous New York City restaurateurs have stepped in to defend Corden, with Stratis Morfogen, the founder of Philippe Chow Restaurant Group and the owner of numerous esteemed restaurants, including Brooklyn Chop House, telling TMZ that the comedian is one of the most pleasant and funny guys hes ever served. The restaurateur also revealed to the outlet that he cant imagine Corden being mean. He referenced a 2018 post-Grammys event held at the Brooklyn Chop House, during which he said Corden sang songs with the bartenders and tipped well. Morfogen confirmed his support for Corden when asked about the comments while speaking to The Independent via Instagram, with the restaurant owner adding: And Ive served every celebrity/president alive (except for [President Jimmy] Carter, hes still alive lol.) As for whether he was surprised by McNallys claims, Morfogen told us that he was not surprised, and that the fellow restaurateur makes a living out of being opinionated. However, Morfogen noted that he would also retaliate if anyone disrespected [his] staff. Listen, if anyone disrespected my staff I have done many things in retaliation. Its in my book, Be A Disrupter: Streetwise Lessons for Entrepreneursafrom the Mob to Mandates, he said. Restaurateur Todd English, who owns restaurants including Figs, Todds, and The Stinger, also defended Corden while speaking to TMZ and said he has been absolutely lovely each time hes dined at one of Englishs establishments. Story continues English, who has been the head chef at Tony Awards afterparties, claims Corden has always been incredibly personable to him and his staff. The Independent has contacted English for further comment. In his criticism of Corden on Instagram, McNally announced he would be banning the comedian and called him the most abusive customer to my Balthazar servers since the restaurant opened 25 years ago. He later claimed that Corden had apologised profusely, prompting praise from Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid. Good on James Corden for apologising, she said Wednesday. The Independent has contacted McNally and a representative for Corden for comment. Yung Miami wants to expand her range as an artist real bad and nothing will get in her way of doing that. The Miami rapper and podcast host of Caresha Please took to Instagram Tuesday morning to announce that she will be starring in season two of BMF January on Starz. MEET DEANNA SEASON 2 #BMF Season 2 this January on Starz @bmfstarz pic.twitter.com/OIjsipbIVt Yung Miami (@YungMiami305) October 17, 2022 STARZ released several sneak peek photos featuring its dynamic castDemetrius Lil Meech Flenory Jr. as Demetrius Flenory Sr., DaVinchi as Terry Flenory, Russell Hornsby as Charles Flenory, Michole Briana White as Lucille Flenory, Kash Doll as Monique, Myles Truitt as B-Mickie and LaLa Anthony as Markisha. Fan love poured in online once Yung Miami made the announcement and plenty of supporters are excite to she her take on a new venture. One user wrote: You in your bag bae and another commented to Yung Miami First Caresha Please now BMF I love this for Miami she deserves it. Sooo ready to see yung miami in bmf !! YuniMa (@LaTeriaaaaa) October 17, 2022 Its yung miami and i came to run my sack up!!!! Queen Alexandrea (@QueenAlexandr3a) October 17, 2022 yung miami bout to turn bmf ratings up Tee (@ayeitsTee_) October 17, 2022 Fellow City Girl member also showed her love and support and tweeted, OMFG, MY FAVORITE SHOW. MY FAVORITE B**CH. IM SO PROUD! This is a FLEX!!! Congratulations. Story continues Yung Miami has been working non-stop! She just wrapped up her worldwide tour with City Girl member JT and Jack Harlow. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Caresha .. (@yungmiami305) Earlier this month, she took home the BET Award for Best Hip Hop Platform for her newly launched self-titled podcast, Caresha Please, which airs exclusively on REVOLT. You can also catch Yung Miami on Gotta Move On remix. The track, dubbed the Queens Remix, features Bryson Tiller, Yung Miami and Ashanti who addresses statements and interviews Irv Gotti have made in the press. The Queens Remix video is out now and includes cameos by Diddys sons, King Combs and Justin Combs, Will Traxx, producer Ron Browz, and more. By Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand's parliament on Wednesday proposed changes to the country's counter-terrorism laws to provide more restrictions on people thought likely to be planning an attack. The changes to the Control Orders Act and the Terrorism Suppression Act follow the introduction of the Counter-Terrorism Legislation bill in 2021 in the wake of a knife attack on several people at an Auckland supermarket by a man with known extremist views. "While no law can ever stop a motivated terrorist from undertaking an attack these changes will go a long way in preventing, disrupting and limiting their ability to do so," Justice Minister Kiri Allen said in a statement. The changes include expanding the criteria for who can have restrictions placed on them in the community, increasing flexibility on whether someone under a control order has their identity suppressed, and making it more difficult for those categorised to have the designation of "terrorist" removed. After the mall knife attack in 2021 the government sought a review on how to improve laws to prevent a similar attack happening. The man, who was shot dead by police, was inspired by the Islamic state militant group and was being monitored constantly by security personnel after his earlier release from prison. It was the second extremist attack in the country in a little over two years after the massacre by a white supremacist at two mosques in Christchurch in March 2019 that killed 51 people and injured dozens more. The changes to the Acts now have to make their way through parliament and are unlikely to be finalised before March 2023. (Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Lincoln Feast) Volodymyr Zelenskyy Zelenskyy advised people living under Russian occupation to try and avoid getting conscripted into the Russian army, by any means. Read also: Russians plan to deport Ukrainian children from occupied Zaporizhzhya Oblast to Crimea and Russia Try to leave occupied areas, said the president. If arent able to do that, and find yourselves in the Russian military seek to lay your weapons down and cross into Ukrainian positions at first opportunity. Above all stay safe, and help our fellow countrymen near you. Zelenskyy also commented on Russian dictator Vladimir Putin declaring martial law in occupied Ukrainian Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, and Donetsk oblasts, saying Russia has finally admitted its engaged in a war something the Kremlin has denied for eight months, referring to its invasion of Ukraine as a special military operation, instead. Read also: Putin announces martial law in Ukraines Russian-occupied territories (Russian) invaders brought war to our lands, repeating their facetious bleats about negotiations, and now issue decrees that formalize the state of war, he said. How else can I describe it but KGB comrades throwing a fit? And it will grow, as Russias defeat draws closer. Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine RICHMOND Genworth Financial is settling a class action lawsuit that asserted increases of 40% to 140% on the biggest component of one type of life insurance premium were excessive and unlawful. The Henrico County-based insurance giant is settling the lawsuit for $25 million and a promise not to raise the so-called cost of insurance element of its charges for universal life insurance policies for the next seven years. The settlement, approved this week by Judge David J. Novak, of the U.S. District Court in Richmond, could affect more than 13,400 policyholders. At issue were cost of insurance increases that took effect in December 2019 on universal life policies Genworth issued, insured or assumed, as it did, for instance, when it acquired First Colony Life Insurance. Premiums for universal life insurance, which combines a death benefit with an investment account, are flexible, and the biggest element in determining how much policyholders pay is called the cost of insurance rate. While the cost of insurance charge is supposed to primarily cover projected future death claims, Genworths actual experience was that people were living longer and that claims were not made at the rate it had expected when selling the policies as long as 20 years ago, the lawsuit said. For such an increase to be justified [Genworth]s projected mortality rates would have had to double, said the lawsuit, filed by a New York trust and an Iowa policyholder. But at the same time, Genworth was saying a pattern of longer lives and fewer than expected death claims were the main reason for premium increases for its long-term care insurance valued at $11.5 billion between 2012 and 2019, the lawsuit said, quoting a company conference call with Wall Street analysts. In settling, Genworth which employs thousands of people in Virginia, including many in Lynchburg denied any wrongdoing. A company spokeswoman declined comment. With this settlement, cash will be returned to the policyholders, likely before the end of the year, said Seth Ard, one of the lawyers from the Los Angeles Susman Godfrey law firm that brought the case. The latest enrollment figures for the Nelson County Public Schools 2022-2023 school year show a 4% decline from last year and that the bulk of the student population is in higher grade levels. It falls in line with five years of enrollment data, and a downward-trending bar graph NCPS Assistant Superintendent for Administration Shannon Irvin presented to school board members in January. In 2017, total funded enrollment for all four county schools was 1,829. Funded enrollment has declined on average 71 students per year since then with an outlying decrease from 2019 to 2020 of 116 students. Total funded enrollment during the 2021-2022 school year was 1,473. According to NCPS Supervisor of Instruction and Info Systems Ryan Yarzebinski, the divisions total funded enrollment this year is 1,413. Yarzebinski made the distinction between full-time enrollment and funded enrollment during his presentation to school board members Oct. 13. Full-time, or students in seats enrollment, is all the students NCPS is responsible for providing instruction to 1,473 in 2022-2023 whereas funded enrollment is that number minus any students whose educational services are impacted by funding outside NCPS: pre-K students, students in regional special education programs and students who receive tuition from the Comprehensive Services Act. Of that 1,473 full-time enrollment, 69% are white, 14% are Black, 12% are Hispanic, 5% are multi-racial, 1% are Asian and 1% are American Indian, according to the presentation. White and Black student demographic groups mirrored the overall enrollment change, both decreasing by about 4%, while the number of Hispanic students increased by 1.8%. Economically disadvantaged students, who make up 61% of the student body, only decreased by 0.4%, or 4 students. This is not the same magnitude as other demographic subgroups nor is it relative to the overall variance. And basically what I gleaned from that our economically disadvantaged students are not the ones withdrawing. Theyre not the ones going to homeschool, theyre not the ones going to private school, theyre staying with us and that also has implications beyond k-12 because thats the community we have to serve, Yarzebinski said. He was also able to track where the students who left went after withdrawing. Of the 101 students who withdrew after the last day of school in May 2022, ten enrolled in private school, 23 in homeschooling, 60 went to another Virginia public school, four moved out of state, and six could not be accounted for. Yarzebinski also broke down the student population by grade level and demonstrated a trend of fewer students in lower grade levels. Elementary grades one through four average 89 students per grade; middle school grades five through eight average 115 students per grade; high school grades nine through 12 average 129 students per grade. So as we go down the grade levels our cohort levels shrink, so were carrying the bulk of our students at the high school, he said. School board representative George Cheape asked if cohort size is likely to change as classes move up. Id say less than 5% fluctuation from year to year. We were hoping we would see a boost coming out of COVID with some of our lower grade levels. We did see a marginal one but not as much as we would have liked or wished for. I would say grades three and up we would see marginal fluctuation from year to year, Yarzebinski said. School Board Chair Shannon Powell asked him if hes seen any trends around withdrawals. From a 5-year span Id say COVID has blown it out of the water we see a lot more withdrawal for private and homeschooling since COVID than we have seen before COVID, Yarzebinski said. We met Rodrigo, a 19-year-old Venezuelan migrant, a week or so ago in the park where he slept in Tapachula, Mexico, near the border with Guatemala. He lifted his shirt to show us a chest covered in scars caused by poisonous plants in the Darien Gap. The Darien is a remote, roadless one-week trek between Colombia and Panama, with some 60 miles of dense rainforest and mountains. Migrants are frequently robbed, and women are raped. Deaths from disease, murder and exhaustion are common. Rodrigo had lost all of his possessions in the crossing and arrived in Mexico hungry and broke. But he was determined to continue north. In an election-year effort to troll sanctuary cities and embarrass President Joe Biden, Gov. Greg Abbot of Texas has sent more than 3,000 of these mostly Venezuelan migrants to Chicago. These migrants are in the U.S. legally but penniless and without permission to work legally. The buses from Texas open their doors and put them out on the street. Heartless political grandstanding. Advertisement Biden responded last week with his own posturing, basically closing the border to Venezuelan refugees by using the Trump-era Title 42 health measure as a pretext to immediately deport them on arrival. The stresses of bad government in Venezuela, the COVID-19 pandemic and U.S. sanctions have combined to create an economic collapse there and the biggest humanitarian crisis in the Western Hemisphere. Some 6.8 million Venezuelans have left their homeland since 2013. Most initially stayed in South America, but now they are moving north in large numbers. Advertisement Our organization MedGlobal provides humanitarian medical support to migrants as they leave Venezuela. After the Darien, Tapachula is the second major choke point. We were there to see where our medical volunteers would be helpful. MedGlobal also works in Reynosa, Mexico, at the U.S.-Mexico border. And lately, some of us volunteer to support the Venezuelans when they arrive in Chicago. In Tapachula, the Mexican government has mobilized its army and federal, state and municipal police to contain the migrants. Venezuelans, Haitians and others heading north can enter Mexico legally by applying for asylum, but this process can easily last six months. There is the constant threat of deportation and, for single men, detention in the massive, filthy and violent Siglo 21 immigration detention center. Venezuelan migrants frequently say the combination of predatory corrupt police, cartels and crime make Mexico worse than the Darien. For those Venezuelans whom fate has brought to Chicago, the city, the state and organizations such as The Resurrection Project and Catholic Charities have responded heroically, building a welcoming system from scratch. There are shelters, food, clothing and efforts to connect with health care and social services. But what the migrants want most to work cannot be done legally. The emergency response is becoming overwhelmed. No one has the answer to: What happens this winter? Meanwhile, the Republican Party seeks to capitalize on the wave of concern over border chaos to regain control of Congress. The GOP somehow believes that creating even more misery at the border will deter Rodrigo and his friends. The Biden administrations response was to make a deal with Mexico. Venezuelans will be immediately deported back to Mexico, and in return, Mexico will get nearly 65,000 migrant visas to the U.S. for nonagricultural jobs. There will be 24,000 family humanitarian-parole visas for Venezuelans but visas with glaring shortcomings. First, 24,000 is a ridiculously small number. There have been 150,000 Venezuelans already apprehended at the southern border from last October through August. Second, the application must be made from abroad, with a U.S. family sponsor and the ability to pay for multiple plane tickets. Third, the immediate expulsion at the border without an avenue to appeal is simply setting up repeat crossing at different sites. This is one of the main explanations for the record 2 million arrests at the U.S. border this year. Finally, none of those who have been already released legally into the U.S. are eligible. This means that a work permit is out of reach for most of those who have arrived in Chicago. Those who have been apprehended and sent back to Mexico are also not eligible. This program may or may not solve Bidens political problem. It does not help Chicago or the migrants who are here. Advertisement All agree our immigration system is broken. Two million border apprehensions in 10 months is a human tidal wave. The asylum system is drowning with years of backlogs. There are 11 million people in the U.S. illegally contributing with their hard work. White Ukrainians get humanitarian visas while Black Haitians get deported to their failed state. Groups with broad support, such as the Dreamers who were brought to the U.S. as children and the farmworkers who fed us through the pandemic, have little prospect for permanent legal status. There are serious ideas about how to fix these issues, but Republican political leaders like Abbott prefer to weaponize the issue than to compromise on solutions. And Democrats talk nice but only react and will not lead. Meanwhile we encourage individuals to step forward. Medical professionals can volunteer with MedGlobal, businesspeople can join the American Business Immigration Coalition and lawyers can support Access to Justice. Faith leaders can provide support through The Resurrection Project, and citizens can help by donating clothing and volunteering their time and money. Finally, all of us should demand that our elected officials have the fortitude to advance real solutions and to compromise across party lines. Dr. John Kahler, co-founder of MedGlobal, an international medical nongovernmental organization, is senior adviser to the groups Latin American programs. Josh Hoyt is a MedGlobal board member and co-founder of the American Business Immigration Coalition. He is a onetime executive director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. All nine of Amherst Countys public schools recently met state accreditation but school officials are noting much work lies ahead as academic benchmarks become more rigorous in bridging the achievement gap during the pandemic. Dana Norman, Amherst County Public Schools assistant superintendent for instruction, reported during the county school boards Oct. 13 meeting the schools met accreditation marks for the 2022-23 year. It was a very difficult year last year for our teachers and our students and our families, and we thank them for just hanging in there with us and doing what they did at the end of the year, Norman said. So congratulations to our schools on that. Madison Heights Elementary and Central Elementary School were accredited with conditions. ACPS budget has 67% dedicated toward instruction, Norman said. Chronic absenteeism did not count this year for accreditation, though school officials are tracking it, and next year it will factor into the scores, Norman told the board. We know it is a difficult struggle for kids to engage back in school, Norman said, noting challenges during the pandemic. In the division, 26% of students have missed more than 10% of school, or more than 17 days, according to Norman. Superintendent William Wells said it is important to reflect on how much the division has gone through in nearly three years since the pandemic shuttered all schools in the state in March 2020. Prior to then, all schools were fully accredited and moving in a very good direction academically, he said. When schools returned in September 2020, about 1,800 students were on virtual or remote instruction and the hybrid system included four days a week for elementary schools spaced out in buildings and two days a week each between in-person and remote instruction for secondary schools. In the 2021-22 school year, the schools still had social distancing challenges and though restrictions eased later in the year staffing challenges were persistent with many out because of illness, Wells said. As we move forward and regardless of what data youre going to see, we cant go back and change anything, Wells told the board. All we can do is use this data now as our baseline data and move forward. Thats what our goal is, to move us forward, to get to where we were before the pandemic and return to those levels. We know where we need to be and were going to do everything in our power to get us there. Norman said if only the 2021-22 data was used then none of the divisions schools would be accredited. Teachers and staff already are working with students to make up learning loss and put into place things that need to happen for each of the divisions roughly 4,000 enrolled students to improve. Its important to target each individual child and give them what they need, Norman said. According to the report presented to the board, only five school divisions out of 132 in Virginia met the most recent overall pass rates using current year results. Out of 1,755 schools across the state, 553 schools met overall rates using the current year results. We are struggling just like everybody else, Norman said. And we have a lot of work and we are working to meet the needs of the kids. Meanwhile, ACPSs most recent on-time graduation rate is just above 93%, which Norman noted is higher than the state average. That is a little down from where we were the previous year, which was at a 94%, but it is above what we were before the pandemic, which was at 85%, Norman said. So we have some made good gains in regards to our on-time graduation rate. ACPS also has to take a series of actions for schools on a Virginia Department of Education watch list, which include the high school, two middle schools and Central, Madison Heights and Elon elementary schools. Implementing a comprehensive school improvement plan, among other measures, is part of that VDOE monitoring process, according to Normans report. Norman said the comprehensive school improvement plan should be viewed as a living document so schools know areas are targeted for growth. We want to make sure our parents are aware of whats going on in our schools as well, Norman said. Not every school system runs the same way and ACPS officials will strive to make sure measures taken is whats best for Amherst students, Norman said. Marie Petrone, director of student/family wellness and attendance, told the board the division is trending better this year in chronic absenteeism. Her highest concern is Amherst County High School where the number is the highest and not currently enough to meet accreditation standards. Abby Thompson, the boards chair, asked the board to think of ways to incentivize better attendance figures at the high school. Vice Chair Chris Terry thanked Norman and central office staff for owning it in recognizing the work needed for improvements. Its not all roses, but its where we are, Terry told Norman. Your team has done a great job presenting the data and giving us a path forwardIts a lot to be done but well get through this. District 5 board member Eric Orasi said much work is ahead but the division has a goal to work on and he is optimistic. Were going to move forward and I think our best years are yet to come, Orasi said. With this team, were going to get there. Thompson said the board has confidence in phenomenal staff that has been through tough times, as well as the families and students. She said she knows Wells and central office will be looking at every students name and the work needed on an individual basis. And thats what its going to take. Paddling on the James River and taking an occasional plunge (without submerging my head) have been among my favorite pastimes in Lynchburg. The James and other rivers are much cleaner today than they were 50 years ago when a bipartisan Congress passed the Clean Water Act on Oct. 18, 1972, over the veto of President Richard Nixon. Only two hours after the veto, the Senate voted 52-12 to override, with 17 votes from Republicans. The House followed, voting 247 to 23 to override, with 96 votes from Republicans. Ah, the good old days. The Trump administration weakened the act and the current administration is still trying to put regulations back where they were. The Clean Water Act owes its beginning to the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio. According to a 2019 article in the Smithsonian magazine, the Cuyahoga caught fire in 1969 for at least the 10th time, but it was the first time the rest of the country took notice. The water was nearly always covered in oil slicks with occasional corpses of rats floating by. But the deadly pollution meant jobs, so little action was taken. The June 22, 1969 blaze only lasted 30 minutes before it was extinguished and caused about $50,000 in damage to railroad bridges spanning the river. No one even had time to take a photo of it. In 1868, 1883, 1887, 1912, 1922, 1936, 1941, 1948 and 1952 the river had caught fire, wrote Laura La Bella in Not Enough to Drink: Pollution, Drought, and Tainted Water Supplies. But many of those fires were far more costly than the one in 1969. Some caused millions of dollars worth of damage and killed people. The Cuyahoga was far from the only river to catch fire during those years. Detroit, Philadelphia and Buffalo fought river blazes. By 1968, Cleveland had been actively trying to clean up the river. That year, voters approved a $100 million bond program to fund cleanup, and the city attempted to improve its sewage system. After the 1969 fire, Clevelands Mayor Carl Stokes, the first African-American elected mayor in a major American city, urged Congress to push for environmental regulation. Though the 1969 fire was relatively small, his efforts helped shape public perception. Awareness was amplified when Time magazine published an article on the Cuyahoga firewith an accompanying photo from an earlier incident in 1952. National Geographic featured the river in its December 1970 cover story Our Ecological Crisis. In response, Congress established the Environmental Protection Agency in January 1970 and in April that year, 1,000 students marched down to the Cuyahoga River for the countrys first Earth Day, as similar marches occurred around the country. Despite vast improvements, in 2018, EPA scientists tested dozens of sites along the Cuyahoga River bottom and found that polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levels remain dangerously high, as is the case in the James. Other scientists have found rivers filled with viruses, bacteria and parasites, including Salmonella, Clostridium, enteroviruses, Giardia and hepatitis A. Dont put your head under just yet. On the southern edge of New Mexicos largest city is a Hispanic neighborhood that used to be made up of a patchwork of family farms and quiet streets. Over the decades, industrial development has closed in, bringing with it pollution. Now residents have come up with a proposal for local regulators to consider as they fight for environmental justice. Modeled after regulations in New Jersey and Minnesota, the proposal for the Albuquerque metro area would call for health, environmental and equity impacts to be taken into account before regulators approve any new permits. Advocates also are hopeful their efforts will spark a statewide discussion about environmental justice. 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 CEDAR RAPIDS Kelly Garcia said the state has learned from missteps made during the transition to private management of the states $7 billion Medicaid program and pledged that those hard lessons are being applied as the state once again brings on a new private partner. Obviously, through some of the pain points experienced with the managed care rollout and onboarding MCOs (managed care organizations) in the state, we have a number of lessons learned that we have taken, Garcia said Thursday during The Gazettes Iowa Ideas conference. We built it into the (request for proposals), and we built into our timeline to ensure that claims processing was ready to go. A lot of lessons learned to not have repeat failures. ... We have a really deep plan. It is very intense. The state recently contracted with California-based Molina Healthcare to become the third managed care organization for the states roughly 800,000 Medicaid recipients. In previous transitions between Medicaid managed care organizations, some Iowans complained of confusion and frustration. Merger During a one-hour session for the virtual conference, Garcia also discussed the combining of multiple state agencies into the new Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, and the closure of the state-operated facility for Iowans with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Glenwood. Garcia said Gov. Kim Reynolds asked her to evaluate whether the state should merge the former public health and human services departments, but that it was ultimately her recommendation. She gave me the space to give her that independent analysis, Garcia said. And, ultimately, it was my very strong recommendation to her that we do. Garcia said one consideration was the myriad agencies involvement in services in mental health care, substance abuse, maternal health care and Medicaid. What I found were some significant gaps in that strategy. In fact, in some areas, lack of strategy, Garcia said. And thats not me saying that we didnt have really great team members working on these very important topic areas. But what we lacked was a real integrated approach to thinking about how we serve Iowans kind of in totality. The former Department of Human Services, which includes Iowas Medicaid program, had a nearly $10 billion budget and employed 4,233 in the most recent state budget year, according to state records. The former Department of Public Health budget was nearly $800 million with 525 people. Garcia said throughout the transition she has been in contact with staff, boards under the former structure and stakeholders. Thats what success looks like for me is really engaging, bringing the people who do the work and who we partner with to do the work to the table to help craft an organizational structure that allows us to drive home on really solving these big subject matter areas, while really getting down to the kind of brass tacks of improvement. And you have to do both. Glenwood Garcia said her staff is working closely with the families of residents of the Glenwood Resource Center as plans are made for when the facility closes in 2024. She said the decision to close the facility, which faced scrutiny from federal regulators, was not reached lightly. That announcement did not come easily at all, she said. We did our absolute best effort to reshape what were doing at Glenwood. Garcia said because most states have closed state-run facilities like Glenwood, she was already considering plans for a similar transition. Most states have closed their state-run facilities or reshaped them tremendously. And were one of the last states to do that really intensive work. So I already had plans underway to kind of reshape it, Garcia said. But, ultimately, we really are struggling with providing the level of medical care out at that facility that we need to, and so I couldnt in good faith look at the guardians or the clients or my own team members in the eye and say, We can do this. We just cant. And so we are on a path. Garcia said nearly 30 community-based providers have talked to the state about housing Glenwood residents. Richard Keith Snyder, of Treynor, was heading east on Highway 34 around 8 p.m. when his vehicle, a 1998 Chevy 2500 truck, left the road, according to the Iowa State Patrol crash report. The truck went through a ditch along the south side of the highway, then a fence and across a creek before colliding with the creek embankment. 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. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, at an Oct. 7 ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the Healthy Lifestyle Hub in a former furniture store in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood, has raised more in campaign donations than most of her opponents. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) With four months to go before she faces Chicago voters, Mayor Lori Lightfoot still hasnt secured an overwhelming financial advantage over rival candidates seeking to make her a one-termer at City Hall. But with few exceptions, Lightfoots declared opponents havent been able to bring in big hauls either, leaving the race wide open for financial movement. Advertisement The mayors main political account, Lightfoot for Chicago, raised about $1 million but spent more than $607,000 in the third quarter, ending it with about $2.9 million on hand, according to new disclosure filings. Her other campaign committee, Light PAC, raised less than $11,000 and spent about $50,000, leaving her with nearly $50,000. She had $3,000 in the bank of the account. [ Who's in, who's out and who's thinking about running for Chicago mayor in 2023 ] Although Lightfoot has more money on hand than all of her opponents except businessman Willie Wilson, she lags far behind the pace Rahm Emanuel set during his 2015 campaign for a second term. At this point in that race, Emanuel had raised $8.6 million and was far beyond his opponents. Advertisement Mayoral candidate Willie Wilson, speaking about access to polling stations on Oct. 6, raised about $1 million for his campaign fund but most of it was a loan he gave himself. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Wilson reported raising slightly more than $1 million, though almost all of it was a loan from himself. Records show Wilson spent $906,000 and ended the quarter with nearly $4.7 million. in the bank. Former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas ended the quarter with the third-most amount of cash on hand with $852,000, according to the quarterly report. He reported taking in $153,370 in the quarter, a paltry sum compared with the $886,000 he amassed in the first quarter. But he has reported more than $700,000 in donations this month, giving him a sizable financial boost and some momentum as he tries to build support. Former CPS CEO Paul Vallas, in downtown Chicago on May 31, raised the third-most money in the third quarter. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune) Vallas has had trouble raising money during previous bids for public office and finished a distant ninth in the 2019 mayoral race so the money is particularly important for him as he tries to cement himself as a serious candidate. The next-highest fundraiser was Ald. Sophia King, who raised about $210,000 and spent about $67,000. She had just under $218,000 on hand at the end of the quarter. Ald. Sophia King talks with reporters following Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot's 2023 budget speech to City Council on Oct. 3. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) Southwest Side Ald. Raymond Lopez raised $187,000 and spent close to $175,000. He ended the quarter with slightly less than $155,000 in the bank. Ald. Raymond Lopez announces his run for mayor on April 6. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune) State Rep. Kambium Buckners mayoral account, Kam for Chicago Mayor, raised nearly $73,000, but most of that was a $50,000 donation he gave himself through his other committee, Friends of Kam Buckner. He ended the quarter with a little more than $8,000 in the bank, however, as he spent more than $113,000. Illinois State Rep. Kambium "Kam" Buckner announces his candidacy for Chicago mayor on May 12. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) Ald. Roderick Sawyer raised $63,500, though $15,000 of that came from his ward organization. Sawyer also spent roughly $44,000 and had about $19,000 on hand. Activist JaMal Green raised almost $43,000 and spent about $36,000, leaving about $14,000 at the end of the quarter. Advertisement Ald. Roderick Sawyer, one of three aldermen seeking to unseat Mayor Lori Lightfoot, on March 30. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) With the exception of Vallas, who has received big donations from a mix of Republican donors and downtown Chicago financiers, candidates are struggling to secure larger-scale contributions. Privately, the campaigns complain that donors are scared to cross Lightfoot, a phenomenon that happened with Emanuel as well. State records show Wilson paid RRB STRATEGIES, LLC, a company that state records show is managed by former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, $10,000. A Wilson campaign spokesman said Blagojevich who was imprisoned for political corruption and released after former President Donald Trump commuted his sentence did some writing and consulting for Wilson. Mayoral candidate Ja'Mal Green, outside City Hall on Sept. 20, is among several challengers to Lori Lightfoot. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) As Lightfoot campaigns for a second term, she finds herself on the defensive. During her three-plus years in office, Lightfoot has faced spikes in crime, hasnt run as transparent an administration as promised, and shes engaged in constant fights with unions representing Chicago teachers and police all while struggling to forge good relationships with politicians or leaders in the citys business community. Though many politicians think she is vulnerable, Lightfoot cannot be dismissed in the Feb. 28 election. Shes earmarked roughly $3 billion in federal funds for city projects and launched a series of programs aimed at reversing one of the biggest criticisms of Emanuels tenure disinvestment in Chicagos neighborhoods, especially on its South and West sides. Lightfoot also can argue she deserves more time to finish the job after having faced the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic and some of the citys most significant civil unrest since the 1960s. gpratt@chicagotribune.com Morocco and the European Union signed on Tuesday in Rabat a Green Partnership to counter climate change, advance their energy transition, protect the environment and boost the green economy. The agreement was inked by Foreign minister Nasser Bourita and European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans. This is the first Green Partnership the EU signs with a partner country. It aims to advance the external dimension of the European Green Deal through action on the ground. Work will be developed across three main thematic axes: climate and energy; the environment including marine and maritime issues; and the green economy. The Partnership will also look at ways to bridge Europe and Africa by joining forces with other countries and partners. It is expected to become a model for similar partnerships on the African continent, where Morocco already leads in terms of environmental and climate ambitions. Welcoming this important milestone, Mr. Timmermans said: Morocco is a leader in Africa when it comes to the fight against the climate crisis and environmental degradation. The Green Partnership that we have concluded today harnesses our joint commitment to take action against climate change and to grasp the economic opportunities inherent in the green transition. Together, the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco can set the course for a healthy climate, a thriving environment, and prosperity for all, he stressed. For his part, Mr. Bourita praised the new green deal sealed with the EU, saying the pioneering tool will enable the two partners to adapt to the climate changes and strengthen further their strategic alliance against global challenges. This Green Partnership will allow the EU and Morocco to progress towards their common goals of becoming low-carbon, climate-resilient economies and transition to a green economy. The two partners pledge to strengthen early policy dialogue and coordination on energy, climate change, environmental protection and the green economy at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels. They also agreed to foster innovative, sustainable, job-creating and environmentally friendly projects, develop triangular cooperation with other international actors to encourage a stronger commitment to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and collectively advance the global climate agenda. The EU-Morocco Green Partnership is also one of the Flagships of the European Investment Plan annexed to the Joint Communication on a Renewed European partnership with the Mediterranean. Under the multilateral angle, this Partnership sends an important political signal of shared ambition ahead of COP27. The EU partnership with Morocco is the deepest and most comprehensive with any country in Africa. It is also an important step in scaling up even further Morocco-EU cooperation on energy, climate and the environment; and accelerating the green transition on both shores of the Mediterranean. Kenzz, an Egyptian e-commerce platform bringing shopping to the mass market, has grabbed $3.5 million in seed funding to be used to grow product categories and hire talent, Tech Crunch reports. The round was led by U.S.-based and MENA-focused venture capital firm Outliers Venture Capital and investors include HOF Capital, Foundation Ventures, and Samurai Incubate. Founded in February by Ahmed Atef, Mahmoud Al Silk and Moataz Sami, Kenzz according to Chief executive officer Atef was launched to deepen e-commerce adoption in Egypt. The North African country boasts conditions including a young and urban population that has increased in tandem with internet and mobile penetration, for the growth of the e-commerce platforms such as Kenzz. About 40% of Egyptians purchase consumer goods online weekly according to data gathered by Go-Globe. Were going after a completely different segment that Amazon and the big platforms are not looking at as they are centralized in big cities and towards the people who are comfortable buying online, said Atef. What were doing is bringing that experience much closer to the masses and building a reliable, trustworthy e-commerce platform that caters specifically for the mass market, solving for the barriers to buying, whether its trust, affordability and relevance, while capitalizing on social engagement and social interaction aspects of e-commerce. Kenzz will also use the funding to invest in tech as it launches its app. Italy Tuesday donated two military helicopters to the Nigerien army in the framework of military cooperation between the two countries, news agency of the West African country reported. As part of the military cooperation between our two countries, we have today handed over two helicopters to Niger. Next year, there will be two others, said Italy Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini following a meeting with President Mohamed Bazoum in capital Niamey. This is only a small part of the work we are doing, he added. Guerini also hailed the defense and military cooperation between the two countries considering the work done and the progress achieved. I would particularly like to thank the armed forces of Niger for the work they are doing with courage and professionalism, he said. The aircraft, AB 412 type, will be used to transport troops and evacuate injured forces in the fight against terrorist groups. Niger has been fighting terror groups including Nigeria-based Boko Haram militants in the Sahara. Italy and Niger, in September 2017, inked a deal in Rome to develop bilateral cooperation in matters of security and defense. Under the agreement, the European country will train and enhance the capacity of the Nigerien army. Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina fired Tuesday the countrys top diplomat Richard Randriamandranto in connection with the UN vote last week condemning Russias annexation of Ukrainian regions. A decree signed by the President and the Prime Minister indicated that Defense Minister will take over the position in the interim. Local media, citing unnamed sources in the presidential office, said that Randriamandranto is accused of treason after the mission of the African country at UN condemned during a UN vote Russias annexation of four Ukrainian regions. The UN general assembly resolution condemning the annexation was voted by 143 countries. The vote by the African country is contrary to Antananarivos content position of neutrality on the Russia-Ukrainian conflict. Randriamandranto was appointed foreign minister in March. Prior to his appointment, he held the position of Finance Minister from Jan. 2019 to August 2021. Tunisian bakers have gone on strike across Tunisia to protest against the governments reluctance to disburse around 78 million euros (TND250 million) in form of subsidy. The union of bakers of the North African country issued the strike order Tuesday. Mohamed Bouanen, the chair of the union told local media Express FM, that bakers are facing challenges to get goods supply owing to financial issues. The state owe us TND250 million, Bouanen told the local radio station. There are 14 months of unpaid subsidies from the state. The bakers ask to be reimbursed in order to continue their professional activity, he added. 500 bakers held a sitting Tuesday in front of the headquarters of the Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade and Crafts (UTICA). Bouaden argued that the bakers are ready to resume work if they get free supplies. Meanwhile, protests and night-time confrontations between Tunisian police forces and young men continued in the capital for the fifth consecutive day since a young man died after hye sustained injuries while being chased by security forces. The areas where the protests are taking place have expanded to neighbourhoods in the capital Tunis, while the police used tear gas and sound bombs to disperse the protesters. The protests erupted following the death of a young man from Al-Tadamon neighbourhood three weeks after the police assaulted him during a pursuit, according to eyewitness accounts. This was denied by the Tunisian Ministry of Interior, saying reports of the deceased young man, Malik Al-Sulaimi, claiming he has been subjected to violence by security men contain many inaccuracies. Malis military government would exercise its right to self-defense if France continued to undermine the West African countrys sovereignty and national security, Malis foreign affairs minister Abdoulaye Diop warned on Tuesday (18 October). During a speech delivered at a United Nations Security Council briefing on Mali in New York, Diop accused France of violating Malian airspace and delivering weapons to Islamist militants that have been crippling the country for the past decade, to which France has denied. Mali has been under threat from terrorists since 2012 and has witnessed two military coups since 2020.The military government that came to power in August 2020 has had sharp tensions with France, which had sent troops to its former colony in what many saw as a bid to still have a foothold in the country. There needs to be a specific meeting of the Security Council which will make it possible for us to bring to light evidence regarding duplicitous acts, acts of espionage, and acts of destabilization waged by France, Diop said. The government of Mali reserves the right to exercise its right to self-defense if France continues to undermine the sovereignty of our country and to undermine its territorial integrity and its national security, he added. The minister also denied allegations of violations of human rights by the Malian army which were reported by the UN and other groups. Malian soldiers were accused of torturing and killing civilians that were suspected to be in contact with jihadists. Egypt, the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israel have agreed to develop the Palestinian gas field off the coast of Gaza, Israeli Public Broadcaster Kan revealed Tuesday. The profits from the gas field will go back to the PA and Israel, with Egypt mediating between the parties in an effort to improve the financial situation of the Palestinian Authority. Last year, the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) began talking with the Palestine Investment Fund (PIF) and the Consolidated Contractors Company for Oil and Gas (CCC), an alliance of companies licensed to develop the field. The field, located about 30 kilometers west of the Gaza coast and estimated to contain more than one trillion cubic feet of natural gas was discovered in 2000 by British Gas Group. But the BG Group terminated the contract in 2016 due to Israeli hurdles. According to media reports, the Israeli government has repeatedly refused to allow natural gas to be extracted off the coast of the Gaza Strip, for security reasons. However, Egypt finally succeeded in persuading the Israeli government to allow the Palestinian Authority to extract natural gas off the Gaza Strip. King Mohammed VI has appointed Mohamed Benchaaboun as head of the Mohammed VI Investment Fund, at a time Morocco assigns particular importance to spurring private investment. The appointment was announced during the meeting of the Council of Ministers, held Tuesday in rabat, under the chairmanship of the sovereign, who has set the target of attracting 550 billion dirhams ($50 bln) in investments by 2026 and the creation of 550,000 new jobs. The appointment of the Funds Director comes at the right time to breathe new life into the process of launching this sovereign fund, which will be endowed with a 45 billion dirhams budget, of which 15 billion will come from the states budget and 30 billion from institutional, national and international investors. Mohamed Benchaaboun is familiar with the workings of the Mohammed VI Fund for Investment, having himself played, as Minister of Finance (2018-2021), a major role in the preparation of the first legislative texts outlining the missions and prerogatives of this fund. Following the appointment of Mohamed Benchaaboun in October 2021 as Moroccos ambassador to Paris, the current Minister of Finance, Nadia Fettah Alaoui, took over the mission and moved forward on the structuring and operationalization of the fund. A graduate of the National School of Telecommunications in Paris, Benchaaboun left a remarkable record in his position as Finance Minister (2018-2021), despite a difficult economic context caused by the health crisis. Mohamed Benchaaboun had been appointed, in September 2003, Director General of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT), a mission he carried out until February 2008, when he was appointed Chairman and CEO of la Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP). He had previously held several positions of responsibility, including that of industrial management of the Alcatel Alsthom group in Morocco. An active member of several associations and institutions, he was notably the president of the International Confederation of Popular Banks from 2012 to 2015, and the president of the French-speaking telecommunications regulatory network from 2005 to 2006. He is also a member of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) and a member of the Boards of the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity and the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection. In April 2010, Mohamed Benchaaboun was decorated by the King with Ouissam Al-Arch, of Knight order. The Moroccan-Spanish high-level meeting is scheduled to be held early next year, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, announced on Tuesday in Rabat. Speaking at a press briefing following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a Green Partnership with the European Union (EU), Bourita said the high-level meeting will be an important moment in the new phase of relations between Rabat and Madrid launched after the meeting between King Mohammed VI and the President of the Spanish government, Pedro Sanchez, last April in Rabat. The high-level meeting is an important moment in our bilateral relations with Madrid, he said, adding that it will take place early next year on a date to be agreed between the two countries. It will be an important moment that will reflect this positive state of mind, this state of mind oriented towards the respect of commitments that characterize todays Moroccan-Spanish relations, he stressed, recalling that the Joint Declaration between Rabat and Madrid adopted after discussions between the King and Sanchez specifies the principles that define this new phase and helps define priorities and clarify positions on issues of interest to both countries. Since this joint statement, a roadmap has been established and is the subject of concerted work with the Spanish government, the Minister said. All the working groups have been activated with many elements that have been implemented and all the commitments contained in the roadmap will be respected and achieved, he said, adding that the two partners will also have sufficient time to prepare the parliamentary forum, the business forum and the mobilization of all stakeholders in this relationship. In a related development, Spanish Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs, Angeles Moreno Bau, told the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Congress of Deputies that the roadmap established between Spain and Morocco last April develops the potential of a strategic bilateral relationship. With Morocco, we have begun a new stage based on clear principles and a roadmap, which develops the potential of a strategic relationship for both countries, Angeles Moreno said this Wednesday before the Committee. This roadmap is already giving excellent results in all areas, said the Spanish official, noting that the next milestone of this roadmap will be the holding of the high-level meeting. Prior to the adoption of the roadmap and to his visit to Rabat, Pedro Sanchez had sent, on March 14, 2022, a letter to King Mohammed VI clearly expressing spains new stand on the Sahara. The letter stated that Spain considers the Moroccan autonomy initiative, presented in 2007, as the most serious, realistic and credible basis for the resolution of the dispute over the Sahara Since then, Moroccan-Spanish relations have been warming up with several Spanish officials reiterating this stand on the Sahara and commending Morocco as a trustworthy and reliable partner, particularly in counterterrorism and struggle against illegal immigration. In her address before the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Congress of Deputies, Angeles Moreno stressed, with regard to the Sahara issue, that the position of Spain has been reiterated on many occasions by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jose Manuel Albares, and is clearly expressed in the letter sent on March 14, 2022 by president of the Government, Pedro Sanchez, to King Mohammed VI. The Spanish Secretary of State made it clear that the stability and prosperity of the Maghreb countries are essential for Europe, the Mediterranean and the Sahel. On Tuesday, while Bourita was announcing the holding of the high-level meeting, Spanish Minister of Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, commended from Badajoz, after a meeting with his Portuguese counterpart, Jose Luis Carneiro, the results of the efforts made jointly by Morocco and Spain in the fight against illegal immigration, and underlined the close and firm collaboration between Rabat and Madrid in this regard. The cooperation relationship between Spain and Morocco in the fight against illegal immigration is absolutely close, firm and real, which can only generate tranquility, Grande-Marlaska told the press. We are working day after day with the Moroccan government to prevent and dismantle the organizations that practice human trafficking, the Spanish official said, praising the permanent contact and coordination between the two countries. We are working together and permanently to prevent and fight the migration phenomenon, he said. Early voters wait in a two-hour line along West Belmont Avenue outside the Merlo Library branch precinct location in the 44th Ward on Nov. 7, 2022, the day before Election Day. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Statewide candidates on the Democratic ticket led by Gov. J.B. Pritzker hold commanding cash advantages over Republicans ahead of next months general election, state records for the years third quarter show. Democrats continued to benefit from the largesse of Pritzker, a billionaire entrepreneur and Hyatt Hotels heir who gave $1 million each to his partys candidates for secretary of state, Alexi Giannoulias, and attorney general, Kwame Raoul, in September. Advertisement But Democrats also showed a broader base of financial support than Republicans. That hits the GOP particularly hard following the departure of billionaire benefactor Ken Griffin, who moved to Florida ahead of a disastrous primary for the slate of candidates he was backing. Fundraising totals for the key election-cycle period from July 1 to Sept. 30 also indicate that business interests are not supporting Republicans as robustly as in past elections, while Democrats have continued to get healthy donations from unions, the legal community and other key constituencies, campaign finance expert Kent Redfield said. Advertisement People with the most money do not always win, but people without money almost always lose to people with money, said Redfield, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Illinois at Springfield. Dan Brady, left, a former state representative and a candidate for secretary of state and challenger former Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias speak with the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board on Oct. 5, 2022. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) Giannoulias, looking to succeed retiring Democratic Secretary of State Jesse White, had more than $4 million in his account at the time of the June 28 primary, more than his three opponents combined. The latest report shows that at the end of September, Giannoulias still had nearly $2.6 million in his bankroll, boosted by Pritzkers $1 million contribution. Giannoulias, whos from Chicago and was Illinois treasurer from 2007 to 2011, raised over $3.1 million from July through September while spending more than $1.35 million during that period, most of it on advertising, the reports show. Several auto dealerships were among Giannoulias most generous donors, together contributing more than $100,000 to his campaign during the most recent quarter. Other notable contributions included $59,000 from the Illinois Federation of Teachers and $20,000 from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Giannoulias Republican opponent, state Rep. Dan Brady of Bloomington, had less than $249,000 in his campaign account at the end of September. Bradys campaign took in more than $318,000 from July 1 to the end of September, while spending close to $75,200, records show. Contributions included $100,000 from the Illinois Political Action Committee for Education and $25,000 from the campaign fund of GOP state Rep. Bradley Stephens, who is also the mayor of Rosemont Since Oct. 1, Brady has reported another $71,200 in donations of $1,000 or more, while Giannoulias has yet to report any large-dollar contributions Brady also went into the primary at a financial disadvantage to his opponent, Griffin-backed former U.S. Attorney John Milhiser, but came out on top, and has used that win to downplay his situation heading into November. Advertisement What the voters are looking for is not who has the most money in the bank but who has the best ability and who has the best ideas to streamline an office that needs to be brought into the 21st century, Brady said last month during a Zoom-based forum sponsored by the Illinois Associated Press Media Editors. In the state treasurers race, two-term incumbent Democrat Michael Frerichs of Champaign began October with $2.3 million in his campaign account. Frerichs spent about $328,500 during the quarter, including over $100,000 apiece for advertising and consulting, records show. Republican state Rep. Tom Demmer, left, is challenging incumbent Democratic Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs. (Brian Cassella and Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) His GOP challenger, state Rep. Tom Demmer, of Dixon, ended the period with just under $461,000 on hand after spending more than $95,000 during the quarter. Like Milhiser, Demmer was part of the Griffin slate, though he had no opponent in the primary and received just $6,000 from the hedge fund billionaire. Stephens campaign fund also gave $25,000 to Demmer, and billionaire packaging company owner Richard Uihlein donated $6,000, according to records. Demmer spent nearly $48,000 on digital advertising from July through September, and $7,700 on consulting during that period, records show. Since Oct. 1, Frerichs has reported receiving another $99,500 in large dollar contributions, compared with a little more than $11,100 for Demmer. Raoul, of Chicago, whos vying for his second term as attorney general, ended September with nearly $1.9 million in his campaign fund, boosted near the end of last month with Pritzkers $1 million check. Advertisement From July through September, Raoul received more than $2.7 million in contributions, largely from labor unions and other core Democratic supporters. He spent nearly $802,000, which included a $658,000 ad buy. Raouls campaign has said it plans to spend a total of $2.8 million on advertising online and on broadcast and cable television. Republican Thomas DeVore, left, is challenging Illinois Attorney General Democrat Kwame Raoul. (Brian Cassella and Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Raouls Republican challenger, attorney Thomas DeVore of downstate Sorento, began October with nearly $296,000 in his campaign fund after raising nearly $468,000 over the previous three months. That total includes a $250,001 loan he made to himself that lifted contribution limits in the race and opened the door for Pritzkers donation to Raoul. Aside from himself, DeVores biggest contributor was Anthony Marano Co., a Chicago-based produce company whose donations totaled $62,000. Devore also received $6,000 from Uihlein, $5,000 from Republican National Committee member Richard Porter, and $2,500 from Shannon Adcock, founder of far-right group Awake Illinois. DeVore spent nearly $188,000 during the quarter. His two largest expenses were $45,500 for consulting and $25,000 in principal payments to himself for the self-loan. DeVore has raised another $10,500 in large contributions this month, compared with more than $309,000 for Raoul. In no race is the money gap wider than in the contest for comptroller, the office that oversees the states checkbook. Advertisement Incumbent Susana Mendoza of Chicago is vying for a second full term against GOP nominee and McHenry County Auditor Shannon Teresi. Mendoza had more than $1.4 million in her campaign account at the end of September compared with Teresis total of a little more than $26,000. Teresi has reported raising just $4,500 in October, compared with nearly $178,000 raised by Mendoza. jgorner@chicagotribune.com dpetrella@chicagotribune.com Morocco has pledged to defend the African Islands at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) due in Sharm Sheikh, Egypt, from 6 to 18 November 2022. The announcement was made Tuesday by Moroccan foreign minister Nasser Bourita in a speech made via videoconference during a ministerial meeting of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union. Morocco will organize, during the COP27, a conference on the challenges faced by island states in the face of climate change, he said. We will call, during COP27, for technical, scientific and financial support of African island countries to enable them mitigate the impacts of global warming, said Mr.Bourita. It is also a question of ensuring institutional financial support in strengthening the development of the capacities of a blue and green economy, he said. This is part of Moroccos commitment and its solidarity-based African policy spearheaded by King Mohammed VI, he added, noting that Morocco leads the global efforts to strengthen the climate resilience of African island states. He cited in this regard, the 1st African Action Summit convened on the sidelines of COP22 in Marrakech in 2016, at the initiative of King Mohammed VI, the setting up of three African Commissions on climate, including one dedicated to Island countries and the Climate Change Competence Center of Morocco (4C Morocco), a platform for capacity building and exchange of information on climate. According to a World Bank study, small island countries are experiencing sea level rise, increasingly severe storms and economic fallout from Covid-19 pandemic. Along with the loss of homes, roads and other infrastructure, rising seas also pose serious risks for island countries. As sea level rise is likely to worsen in the next three decades, adapting to climate change and increasing resilience to its impacts are becoming very important. The North Platte Public Librarys original elevator, broken for nearly a year, will be replaced following Tuesdays City Council approval of a new one. Council members voted 8-0 to approve the $77,824 low bid by Otis Elevator of Farmington, Connecticut, to replace the elevator between the 1967 librarys first and second floors. Since faulty electronics disabled it last November, library patrons wanting to access second-floor collections have had to climb the tall staircase or have librarians bring down materials if they cant physically do that. Mayor Brandon Kelliher and City Administrator Layne Groseth said they put off a full elevator replacement while trying to avoid a large replacement bill. I think we went through five different entities to look at it to minimize the expense of fixing it, Kelliher told the council. Eventually, we ran out of people to call. We spent about $2,000 (between them) trying to fix it, and it didnt work, said building inspector Dave Hahn. City officials said they finally decided in July that replacement wasnt an option. But the three bids came in lower than expected, even with the need for the new elevator to meet current building codes. Trying to fix the old one first was a good strategy, because I was expecting double this amount, Councilman Ty Lucas said. Based on the information from Otis Elevator which traces its roots to elevator safety brake inventor Elisha Otis in 1853 this should be another 50-year elevator, Hahn said. The city hopes to have the new library elevator in service within six months, Kelliher said earlier Tuesday. In other business, the council gave respective 6-2 and 7-1 second-round approvals to ordinances rezoning its South Park property near West Walker Road and Buffalo Bill Avenue and annexing it and two bordering parcels into the city. Final votes are set Nov. 1. A proposed study making the three parcels and a larger area eligible for tax increment financing remains on hold while the city resolves whether its 95.3-acre parcel which it hopes to sell for more housing remains restricted to parks and recreation use. Council members repeated their votes from first-round debate Oct. 4. Councilwoman Donna Tryon voted against both the rezoning and annexation, with Councilman Mark Woods joining her in opposing the rezoning ordinance. Tryon explained her opposition to annexing South Park and its two neighboring parcels before the council advanced that ordinance. I dont care if the city annexes whatever, she said. But I do care because it increases the acreage (and) our land mass within the city for TIF. And Im not for TIF, as everybody knows. Cities the size of North Platte may not have more than 35% of their total area in substandard and blighted status. Adding more land within city limits decreases the percentage, a fact Tryon cited in opposing the citys annexation of Lee Bird Field earlier this year. Also Tuesday, the council: Gave 7-1 second-round approval to an ordinance rezoning a planned 4.99-acre storage site at West Front Street and Lakeview Boulevard to B-2 highway commercial. Woods cast the lone no vote. Gave 5-3 final approval, with Woods, Tryon and Councilman Ed Rieker opposed, to an ordinance extending legal Sunday alcohol sales to the same 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. period as the rest of the week. The ordinance will take effect 15 days from Tuesdays vote. Approved a one-year, $7,500-per-month contract with Zelle HR solutions to provide the citys human resources functions. Groseth said Zelle will also help find a permanent HR director, a position the city filled briefly in summer 2021 before that person left. Removed the interim tag from mayoral aide Renee Whites title as deputy city clerk and appointed Cory Johanson to succeed Josh Harm on the Quality Growth Fund Citizens Review Committee. Both were part of the evenings consent agenda. Discussions over the past two years brought about a plan that would combine Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District and Dawson Public Power District into one district the Platte River Public Power and Irrigation District. The next step in the proposed merger takes place at 3 p.m. Monday at the Elwood Community Center. The meeting will be a joint effort between both district boards. Devin Brundage, general manager of Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, and Gwen Kautz, general manager of Dawson Public Power District, were in North Platte Tuesday evening for an open house at the Prairie Arts Center to discuss the merger. The conversation began about two and a half years ago, Brundage said. We were sitting down and talking about opportunities our two districts might share, Brundage said. Central has hydroelectric generation facilities and the contract was going to be coming open in a couple of years and we thought, well lets start some conversations. Through those talks, Brundage said, more opportunities began to come out, and the question was asked: What would it look like if the power generation and water resources worked together to benefit both sets of customers?We put together a team of a couple of department managers that could take a look at more details, Kautz said. It just started growing and then it started making good sense. In November 2020, both boards approved a study and hired a power systems engineering firm out of Minnesota to take an objective look at the possibility of a merger. The benefits discussed were many, Kautz and Brundage said. To begin with, politically when you have a larger organization you carry a little bit more clout at the legislative level, and we feel like that has value, Kautz said. For my distribution customers, being able to have the hydropower directly was significant for me. She said Dawson is allowed to buy 10% of its peak load from a renewable source. Why not go to the one thats already connected to us, Kautz said. That was the good opportunity. Brundage said ideas that past agency officials had about how water and energy coexisted could still benefit the districts today. Our ability to store the water in Lake McConaughy to feed the irrigation directly to surface water in the eastern part of the district helps Kearney and Gosper County and also provides groundwater recharge, Brundage said. Our districts, neither one, produce a thing outside of the opportunity for prosperity for our stakeholders and customers. The two entities basically connected the dots. We feel strongly that (CNPPIDs) generation can impact our peak load and that saves us about $1.5 million a year, Kautz said, with Brundage adding that the merger would not only lower costs for repairs, but also would lower costs for Centrals irrigation customers One question Kautz said she has had to answer is what the savings would do in lowering electric bills. The truth is, it means it stabilizes everything, Kautz said. There are a lot of changes coming down from the federal government thats going to increase costs. This joint effort could stabilize rates for everyone. There will be a number of changes in the process of governing the new district. Technically, were going to start out with 23 board members, Kautz said. CNPPID has 12 and Dawson has 11 and state statute allows any director that is currently seated to fill out their term. Brundage said both boards have been part of the process of determining the eventual size of the new board. We had a steering committee and a bunch of board members put a lot of time into the project and they were able to come up with a 14-member board, Brundage said. Over the course of three elections by 2029, we will have gone through enough cycles to reduce the board to its final number of 14. Many of the members have served the board for decades, and Brundage said they want to keep that expertise as the new entity moves forward. To me, it was very valuable, Kautz said, that expertise doesnt drop off the board with the knowledge we need to carry on. If approved on Oct. 24, paperwork will go to the Nebraska Power Review Board, a state agency created to regulate Nebraskas publicly owned electric utility industry. Weve already been working with them to make sure we are following what they want, Kautz said. The power review board then has six weeks to make a decision, which will probably be done by the end of December. Kautz said the new district would likely go live in July should the merger be approved on Monday. Nebraskas family farmers and ranchers have long had to grapple with the effects of natural disasters and extreme weather. Droughts, flooding, hail, wildfires all of these events can heavily impact farmland, grazing areas and livestock. Wildfires can be particularly devastating when drought conditions are widespread and wind speeds are high. Most recently, portions of western Nebraska had to contend with the Bovee Fire. This was a fierce, fast-moving wildfire that burned an estimated 18,930 acres. Tragically, a Nebraska firefighter lost his life while bravely fighting the fire. The fire also destroyed the state 4-H camp, as well as a lookout tower. My prayers remain with the communities and ranch families impacted by the Bovee Fire as they begin the difficult road to recovery. Nebraskans are remarkably resilient in the face of this kind of adversity. We know how to come together, help one another and rebuild. There is, however, still an important role the federal government can and should play to support recovery efforts after disasters to ensure folks can get back on their feet. For example, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has a variety of programs in place to assist agricultural producers who have been hurt by disasters. You can review the full list of assistance programs here. I recently introduced bipartisan legislation to improve two of these programs the Emergency Conservation Program and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program. Both of these initiatives are administered by the USDA to ensure producers have the financial resources they need to repair farmland or forests damaged by natural disasters. The ECP and EFRP, however, are often slow to respond to disasters. In fact, Ive heard directly from Nebraska farmers and ranchers about how it can be challenging to utilize these programs in a timely fashion. Excessive paperwork, uncertainty over eligibility or the total amount of assistance, and significant delays in receiving the relief these are all issues individuals have encountered when trying to navigate the ECP and EFRP. For many producers, such complications force them to delay repair work or risk beginning the recovery process without a guarantee of federal help. Thats just not fair. The last thing people whove been hurt by disasters need is uncertainty and red tape. My bill would specifically help to address this by giving producers the option to receive help in the form of an up-front cost-share. By expediting at least some relief from the ECP and EFRP, family farmers and ranchers in dire need could begin the critical work of restoring their property. Thats important because when agriculture is your livelihood, waiting around to get your land back to productive levels isnt really an option. The legislation would also expand eligibility for relief from wildfire damage. Currently, until the cause of a wildfire is determined to be a natural one, producers are prevented from getting any disaster assistance. Additionally, farmers and ranchers cannot access relief if the damage to their property is from a wildfire caused by out-of-control prescribed burns or other federal actions. Again these types of restrictions are unfair to producers in need. My bill would reframe eligibility to also include any wildfire that is spread due to natural causes, such as high winds or drought, as well as wildfires caused by the government. These are common sense, bipartisan reforms that will directly help family farmers and ranchers. I am hopeful that more of my Senate colleagues will join us in supporting this important legislation. In the meantime, as our state continues to navigate the challenges of drought and extreme weather, please reach out if you are uncertain what relief programs may be available to you. My office is ready to assist farmers and ranchers working with federal agencies in any way we can. This and the Polly Klaas case remain etched in my memory from my pre-teen/teen years. Reply Thread Link I only know about Polly Klaas cause Winona Ryder had offered a financial reward for her safe return when she was missing because they're from the same town. Her version of Little Women was dedicated to Polly cause it was her favorite book. Polly's dad was even present to support Winona years later when she during the shoplifting trial. Reply Parent Thread Link She was a year older than me and I was TERRIFIED to sleep with my bedroom window open for a while. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link ugh i just looked it up on wikipedia and mistake. fuck that murderer and rapist. Reply Parent Thread Link I just looked up that casehes STILL on death row for her murder??? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Hmm never heard of this case before glad for the family. Reply Thread Link I'm very happy for her family. I hope this helps them process their feelings. I would never help a family member cover up a murder. I have no idea how the dad could do that. Reply Thread Link From what I remember of the podcast, the dad never seemed like a great or normal person Reply Parent Thread Link Wholesome moment: National and local media outlets stepped aside and insisted I take this badge today. Today is going to be very emotional. pic.twitter.com/QrZeiGZ31c Your Own Backyard Podcast (@YOBPodcast) October 18, 2022 Very cool of the local reporters to give the podcast host some media credentials so he could be there for the verdict: Reply Thread Link He was actually there the whole trial! They were just extra sweet and let him get badge #1 today. Hes been aiming for it every court day. Reply Parent Thread Link Aww I love it! Thank you for the correction! Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah his episodes on the trial are so thorough, I can't even imagine how it was like since they can't record audio. Reply Parent Thread Link https://twitter.com/YOBPodcast/status/1582539676119748608?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet Chris Lambert did such a fantastic job, and only motivated by his own desire to solve this for the family, which really came through in the podcast. Wish him the best. Reply Thread Link Im about to go on a 13 hour road trip. Would this be a good series to binge? Reply Parent Thread Link Yes, he does a really good job dissecting everything and he manages to keep Kristin the focus. Reply Parent Thread Link Definitely Reply Parent Thread Link I'm not big on podcasts and I really enjoyed this. It's respectful, no sensationalism & the narrative flows well. Definitely recommend. Also, hope you have a safe and chill trip <3 Edited at 2022-10-19 02:59 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link The podcast is so thorough and the way he covers the case it was just so thoughtful and respectful of Kristin and her family at all times. There is so much True Crime trash out there but people like Chris really show what positive impact it can have if done right. Reply Parent Thread Link I really appreciated the way he handled the case. He treated the family with respect and it was definitely more long form journalism than what a lot of these podcasts go for. Im really glad he helped get renewed interest in the case Reply Parent Thread Link I've been listening to the trial episodes and wow, I'm really surprised he was found guilty without much (concrete) evidence and a body. every time a woman testified in the trial about his predator behavior I felt sicker. he has some loyal parents I must say tho. I hope Kristin's family can feel some kind of closure. Reply Thread Link Thank god he was stupid enough to keep drugging and raping women. All they had was his pattern. Sucks for his victims. Reply Parent Thread Link Rethink this comment Reply Parent Thread Link genuine question, what the fuck? Reply Parent Thread Link oh my god? Reply Parent Thread Link What the FUCK? Reply Parent Thread Link Yes learning how much of a creep this guy continued to be go women was so devastating. If only things had been taken seriously when she first went missing/theyd been able to find more on him at the time and stop him from victimizing so many other women. Reply Parent Thread Link Its infuriating that investigators dragged their feet and all physical evidence is long gone, this monster and BOTH his parents deserve to rot. His father clearly helping physically cover it up, His mother refusing to even say Kristins name and show any type of respect or motherly sensitivity made me rage while following the podcast. Reply Thread Link I'm happy for the family and I hope this will help them heal. RIP Kristin. I listened to the podcast and I remember thinking Chris Lambert, the creator, handled everything very respectfully. I hope all the other women Paul Flores assaulted find justice. Reply Thread Link Im local to the case and went to Poly. I am so thankful he can no longer hunt women to assault. Im so sad Ruben gets to be free. There will be no comfort in this community for him, Mike, and Susan. I hope they finally move once the inevitable appeal is done. I think Ruben being convicted was the best shot of getting a deal for the bodys location. And that makes me sad for her family. The podcast is excellent if you want to learn more. The family fully supported it and it isnt over the top. Reply Thread Link The family still lives there? Wow, I wouldnt expect that considering how small San Luis is. Completely unrelated, but how did you like going there? Ive heard its a party college lol Edited at 2022-10-19 03:27 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link I'm literally sobbing and I know nothing about this case. Men were a fucking MISTAKE and I honestly don't know how anyone dates or goes near them. May her memory be a blessing and may her memory haunt that disgusting man's father for the rest of his waking life and beyond. Reply Thread Link I'd never heard of this case and just went to read about it, and saw "In 2006 or 2007, the Flores family filed a lawsuit against the Smart family for emotional distress." Absolutely despicable since it seems the father helped him. Reply Thread Link The mother was a real asshole too. Reply Parent Thread Link The mother wouldn't even refer to Kristin by name, the whole family fucking sucks. Reply Parent Thread Link This is wonderful!!!! Reply Thread Link Its weird to say I loved that podcast given the subject matter.. but its just so well done, respectful of Kristin and her family. Its excellent. Plus it really pushed the police to actually go after Paul Flores who was convicted today. I'm sad for all the women he harmed in the years he should have been in jail for Kristins murder. The way this guy got away with SO much and his parents and sister covered up for him infuriates me. Reply Thread Link Many years overdue. May he and his parents rot. Hopefully Kristin's family find some sense of peace in this. They never stopped fighting for her. Reply Thread Link I'm sorry, the father helped hide the body and was found not guilty????? Reply Thread Link Lorde received a Dr. Simi doll dressed up as her 2017 VMAs outfit from a fan in Guadalajara, Mexico yesterday. pic.twitter.com/62KiNo0aCi Pop Base (@PopBase) October 15, 2022 too cute!! lol I still over the one with Dua and the fan screaming after Dua kicked her simi doll off the stage Esta fue la ruta que hizo el Doctor Simi que fue pateado por @DUALIPA. pic.twitter.com/IthYyrXmGr El Bukiexa (@exa_hernandez) September 22, 2022 LOL I saw this earlier!!too cute!!lol I still over the one with Dua and the fan screaming after Dua kicked her simi doll off the stage Reply Thread Link ok this is v. cute, i'm on board with Simi and take back what i said about him looking like col. sanders and the monopoly man's lovechild Reply Parent Thread Link The way she kicked him off made my heart hurt Reply Parent Thread Link Dying at the people making outfits for the simi dolls Reply Parent Thread Link I'm more surprised homegirl did not turn radioactive after swimming in the Potomac River. Let's give her and award for THAT Reply Thread Link Till looks better without his stage makeup on tbh. Reply Thread Link Mexican Grammy that's right, Doctor Simi is of the people and for the people Reply Thread Link awww que cute! Reply Parent Thread Link necesito este disfraz Reply Parent Thread Link https://instagram.com/p/CiP3rbwrgPC se antoja probar los simicondones This is the son of the CEO of Farmacias Similares Reply Thread Link I just checked his IG and like my mom would say: "Esta chulo, Mija" lmao Reply Parent Thread Link "se antoja probar los simicondones" cochina Reply Parent Thread Link Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ Reply Thread Link Till looks so good uh. Reply Thread Link That picture of Til is the most German thing I've seen in a while, lol. Reply Thread Link So cute I love it Reply Thread Link LOL at "mexican grammy". i love the recent trend of editorializing post titles here Reply Thread Link Awww out of most bands I wouldnt see rammstein getting angry at this, theyd probably do a show throwing out dildos to the audience if they could Still not a fan of throwing things at artists though, on stage away from them sure Reply Thread Link I only worry about Simis hitting flames and burning. which is kinda fitting. Reply Parent Thread Link Love seeing my Till. Flake had several photos on his wife's Instagram, looks like he got a post tour bug. He's cuddling Simi in bed, in the closet/hall, and finally on the bathroom floor. Poor dude. oh, and someone made his Simi a matching gold Flake stage outfit. I saw them in Minneapolis this summer. Flake is still wearing his Vikings jersey they gave him. Those guys seem so sweet. Reply Thread Link Links?? I want to see these pictures! Reply Parent Thread Link I posted them below!! <3 Flake is just too damn pure. Reply Parent Thread Link omg I'm glad they didn't throw the Simi in the middle of the pyrotechnics!!!! Reply Thread Link Hey Ontd how's Rammstein as a band? I've always loved their music ever since my dad would play it when I was a kid but know nothing about them Reply Thread Link I'm never sure if I should change my userpic of Till because they are so close to being problematic... but yet I haven't read a thing. I can't stand the "Lindemann" persona (the porn vid for example, and yet I understand why he did it) and Richard K. is kinda slutty, but not 1 bad thing has ever been written about them? In fact, what is written is very nice/kind. And they are absolute angels to their fans during meet and greets- which can only be "won" by drawings from their fan club (which costs $20 year I think). But as a super fan, I also know about Till's 1990s assault on his gf/wife. And during a remix/break in his singing on the 2019 tour, he was videotaped getting bjs under the stage. And then there are the scars and self harming... Schneider is a goddamn treasure tho. He looks SO HAPPY to be back on stage and their first 2022 show was on his bday, and he cried during the show. <3 He also seems to love the shit out of his wife and three small sons. I LOVED Flake's book. (One story from his book is how a wave in Malta washed Oliver out to seas, and NO ONE noticed, he later washed up on Popeye's Village just fine, Ollie is very athletic) Reply Parent Thread Link I want to add that his ex-wife assaulted him first by breaking a vase on his head and he pushed her in defense. She broke her nose. They're friends today though. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I'm not really familiar with Rammstein or Till so I was looking at images of him and I think he would make such a good Herman Munster - way better than Rob Zombie's choice of Jeff Daniel Phillips. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Till is highly problematic but somehow keeps getting a free pass. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link A hill adjacent to the Kennedy Expressway at 3200 W. Belmont Ave. in Avondale on Oct. 18, 2022, that was mistakenly included in a property tax sale according to a new report from the Cook County treasurer's office. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) A system designed to help recoup property taxes from delinquent home and business owners is being used instead by hedge funds, private equity firms and other investors to turn profits, a new report from Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas office asserts. The weakness in Illinois laws that allow the practice is especially harming cities and villages that have majority Black and brown populations and are already struggling with declining property tax receipts, the study argues. Advertisement Pappas research unit examined seven years of data on a little-known loophole known as sale-in-error and concluded the practice has siphoned nearly $280 million away from schools, parks, libraries, fire departments and other government agencies ... where it was intended. I was shocked at the findings, Pappas said. But here it was in front of me. I was following the law. The laws wrong. ... Its time to stop the bleeding. Advertisement The state law Pappas cited governs property tax sales, where property owners who dont pay their bills can see their taxes put up for auction. When sold, a lien is put against the home or business until the owner can pay the taxes back to the buyer, plus interest. In theory, tax sales are beneficial: Governments get money they may not otherwise collect, owners get extra time to pay bills without losing their homes, and investors make a profit at a low risk, earning interest if theyre repaid or eventually taking over the property. About 95% of the time, property owners do repay the original taxes owed, with interest, according to the study. But when they dont, tax buyers can seek other ways to recoup their investment. Some experienced tax buyers have been taking advantage of the statute by finding ways to back out of a tax purchase, forcing school districts and other recipients to return the money often with fees, court costs and up to 54% interest included, the study found. The practice is perfectly legal because Illinois has one of the most charitable laws in the country to undo those sales, the report says. But as a result, those properties end up back on the delinquent rolls and the taxing bodies have to steer money away from their own operations and toward paybacks. When such tax sales are reversed, the cost is spread out among everyone who pays property taxes in that area. Tax buyers do pay $100 for each propertys PIN they buy that goes into an insurance fund. But its usually depleted within a month or two, according to the report. The rest of the payback money must be covered by funds in the property tax piggy bank. That shortchanges other services a municipality budgeted for. That sale-in-error statute exists to undo property tax sales that shouldnt have taken place, such as when the owner paid their tax bill, when the land is held by the government, a church or nonprofit; or it was already part of a pending bankruptcy. But Illinois has other rules that benefit tax buyers. Among them: The buyer can get out of the deal through a self-inflicted error, without penalty. Judges have found simple clerical mistakes such as the buyer misstating the cost to redeem a property by 3 cents, or by misspelling a street address Greemwood instead of Greenwood sufficient to undo sales, according to the report by Pappas office. In 1951, tax buyers helped write that change to Illinois tax code, tilting the playing field toward them and away from the most distressed property owners, according to Andrew Kahrl, a University of Virginia professor and the author of a 2017 study, Investing in Distress: Tax Delinquency and Predatory Tax Buying in Urban America. Advertisement A 1983 tweak to state law also made county mistakes grounds for a sale-in-error, and judges have overturned at least 5,200 tax sales for that reason, roughly half of all sales granted since 2015, according to the Pappas study. Those errors can result from discrepancies between whats listed on the county assessors website and the actual property. For example, the study said, there were nearly 400 cases where tax buyers got their money back, plus costs and interest, because an exterior was described as wood frame when it was brick; in 35 cases, properties were erroneously listed as having zero square feet. The treasurers office examined tax sale practices in several metropolitan areas around the country and found tax buyers (there) must do their own due diligence and assume the risk. None reported paying investors back for government website errors. Illinois generous sale-in-error provision acts as a safety net for investors to get their money back sometimes with interest if their investment doesnt work out, according to Kahrl. Because property records are riddled with minor errors, its easy to find some small thing that are grounds for a sale reversal, he told the Tribune. Its coming directly at the expense of Cook County taxpayers. The treasurers office assumes blame in the report too. While it researches properties before putting their taxes up for sale, it still misses avoidable errors, the report says. That includes selling taxes on properties already found to be in error and tax-exempt properties, such as a synagogue, land owned by the Catholic church, a post office and numerous Chicago-area highways. Some highway sections have been sold over and over by mistake because of poor coordination between county offices, the Pappas report cites. In one case, the treasurer sold taxes for a portion of the Kennedy Expressway that the assessors office had wrongly classified as taxable vacant land. The purchaser, a New Jersey based investment fund called Madison C/O Stonefield IV bought $1.6 million in taxes for years 1996 through 2015, according to the report. The company held on to the taxes for three years before seeking a refund, compiling interest along the way and claimed in court filings it had no knowledge the property was actually a stretch of highway. Pedestrians and drivers pass through an underpass for the Kennedy Expressway at 3200 W. Belmont Ave. in Avondale on Oct. 18, 2022. The land was mistakenly included in a property tax sale according to a new report from the Cook County treasurer's office. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) The company testified in court it hadnt checked the assessors website or looked at the property before making the purchase and believed it was buying taxes on 111,000 vacant square feet in a coveted part of Chicago, according to the report, and only became aware the property was a highway sometime after paying all of its past due taxes. Advertisement A judge eventually issued a refund without interest after noting it was almost implausible and inconceivable the firm would spend so much without looking at the assessors website, the report says. Some of the firms that have received the most refunds are local, according to the report. Various shell companies ... associated with suburban tax buyer Greg Bingham were awarded $95.4 million in refunds on roughly 2,300 properties, including $7.8 million in interest, according to the report. Bingham told the Tribune that getting a refund and making a profit arent one and the same, and that a vast majority of sale-in-error refunds dont include added interest. His primary goal is to build a base of property ownership and management, by flipping and selling properties. Other tax buyers are more interested in the arbitrage, he said. Were not a paper-driving entity, were bricks and mortar. But he estimated hed bought about 16,000 certificates in tax sales over the past seven years and in the vast majority 95% of cases the property owner pays what they owe and the lien is dropped. He redevelops maybe 75 to 200 properties a year. The report also details a case in which a firm associated with Bingham also sought to undo a tax sale on a strip mall in Calumet City. He sought the sale-in-error because the property was listed on Dolton Avenue instead of Dolton Road, according to the report. Advertisement The strip mall at Dolton Road and Luella Avenue in Calumet City on Oct. 18, 2022. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) Bingham denied that he has purposely bought taxes where he knew the county made a mistake, in order to reverse the sale. A judge did not grant that sale-in-error. A separate sale-in-error case alleging the strip mall contained hazardous materials that were not previously disclosed was also denied, but is under appeal, according to the report. Chicago firm Wheeler Financial got $28.3 million in refunds, including $3.7 million in interest, the Pappas study states. First National Assets, whose majority owner is based in Denver, received $23.7 million in refunds; New Jersey-based Stonefield received $17.9 million, and Florida-based investment firm Alterna Tax Asset Group received $8.3 million, according to the report. Together, the three received $6 million in interest. Those refunds dont represent profit for the tax buyer, said Hal Dardick, Pappas director of research who edited the study, which was written by Todd Lighty. Both are former Tribune reporters. We found nothing theyve done illegally for sure. But theres no reason we shouldnt be aligned with other states in terms of when the tax buyer is entitled to get their money back when theyre entitled to earn interest, Dardick said. Chicago leads in the overall number of sales in error during the analysis period: 5,233 sales in error, with a total refund of $85 million, according to the report. But because the city has such a large tax base, the refund works out to $31.11 per capita. For a small village like Dixmoor, however, 32 sales in error meant a refund of $3.4 million to tax buyers, representing $1,142 per person. In Harvey, which saw 599 sales in error totaling $14.7 million, the cost is $724 per person, according to the study. Advertisement The study also hangs some blame on the sheriff and clerk of the Circuit Court, who did not notify property owners in a timely manner they were in danger of losing their properties, and on county judges who have liberally interpreted the law to grant paybacks without weighing whether any actual financial harm was done to the tax buyer. Pappas credited many county officeholders for being willing to acknowledge issues or tweak their practices. Pappas is one of several countywide officials up for re-election in November. She faces Republican Peter Kopsaftis and Libertarian candidate Michael Murphy. The report makes a long list of recommendations, most of which would necessitate action from Springfield: Requiring tax buyers to prove an error led to financial harm, ban sales in error based on insignificant clerical mistakes by the county or tax buyers own mistakes and make several changes related to bankruptcy filings before and after the tax sale. Kahrl said the state should take a deeper look at the whole tax sale system. He said 20 states dont sell delinquent taxes to private bidders and that tax buyers like to portray themselves allies to local governments. This report shows, no, theyre not. Theyll profit at the expense of local governments as eagerly as they profit off distressed homeowners, he said. aquig@chicagotribune.com If China does stay away from LNG spot markets this winter, it will be a relief for Europe as there will be less competition for that natural gas. The expected 14% annual decline in imports would be the steepest drop since China first imported LNG back in 2006. Weak domestic demand and high spot prices are expected to cause a slump in Chinese imports of liquified natural gas this year. Amid tepid demand and high spot prices, China is expected to see an unprecedented slump in its liquefied natural gas imports this year, ceding the worlds top LNG importer status back to Japan. Chinese buyers are expected to largely stay away from spot purchases on the LNG market as inventories ahead of the winter are adequate, and demand is lackluster amid snap Covid lockdowns that have slowed industrial demand and economic growth. China has been reselling LNG cargoes to Europe this summer, as its own demand is not what it used to be in recent years. Despite an expected halt to these re-sales as winter approaches, China will still import lower volumes of LNG this year than in 2021. Chinese sales of LNG have been a relief to the European market so far in 2022. But as China now moves to cater to its own energy security this winter, Europes LNG supply could dwindle just ahead of the winter heating season. Despite the potential tightening of the LNG market with China keeping supply to itself, Beijings overall weak LNG imports this year could mean that there would be more spot LNG cargoes for Europe if Europe has the capacity to take them in. Last year, China beat Japan to becomefor the first timethe worlds largest importer of LNG. This year, China is set to give the top importer title back to Japan. Chinese imports of LNG are set for the largest-ever annual plunge since China started importing the super-chilled fuel in 2006, according to Wood Mackenzie. The consultancy expects Chinas LNG imports to drop to 69 million tons this year, which would be an unprecedented 14% annual declinethe steepest drop since China first imported LNG back in 2006. Weakening gas demand in China, increased domestic production of natural gas, policies to support coal as the energy security tool, and of course, the much higher spot LNG prices this year have all combined to reduce Chinese purchases of LNG so far in 2022. Chinese buyers have minimised their exposure to costly spot LNG. Spot purchases were muted, and reportedly, some Chinese players resold cargoes into the European market, Wood Mackenzie research director Miaoru Huang said. Other analysts concur and say that China will mostly stay away from spot LNG purchases this winter. Mild residential demand is set to limit spot LNG purchases during the winter, analysts at Independent Commodity Intelligence Service (ICIS) said at the end of August. ICIS expects Chinas LNG winter demand, from November 2022 to February 2023, to decline by 1.5% compared to the same period last year. In the first half of 2022, Chinese gas demand fell year-on-year for the first time in over a decade, ICIS noted. Given hitherto sluggish demand, questions have been raised as to whether consumption will revive in the coming winter heating period, ICIS said. Earlier this month, ICIS lead Asia gas and LNG analyst Alex Siow told Reuters, China basically stopping bidding for spot is great because (there is) one less party to fight for cargo. The potential absence of China from the spot LNG market this winter could be a welcome relief for Europes gas and energy crisis, as a lack of intense Chinese buying would leave more supply available to head to Europe. The EU and the UK, for their part, are preparing for the worst this winter and are warning of rationing and rolling blackouts, although they have done as much as possible to fill up gas storage sites and haul more gas from sources other than Russia. Still, winter weather in Europe and north Asia will be the determining factor in how fast European gas in storage would be depleted, so Europe hopes for the best and prays for a milder winter. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: At present, Iran is struggling mightily with Western sanctions and the resulting economic pressures due to its nuclear program. With the killing of 22-year-old Mahsa Amin, the country has witnessed widespread protests and violence (Al Jazeera, September 27). Regarding nuclear negotiations with the West, some interpret Irans activism as treading on Russias toes. Some also claim that Irans foreign policy stance has been rather passive and argue that its role in trying to mediate the conflict in Ukraine has served to elevate disputes between the United States and Russia (Radiofarda.com, September 4). Even before the war, Iranian-Ukrainian relations had faced serious tension following the downing of a Ukrainian plane by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in January 2020. Despite Irans economic problems, the authorities in Tehran have still defined security issues as their top priority. On July 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his second foreign trip following Russias military attack on Ukraine on February 24, visited Tehran to meet with government officials. Considering what has happened in Ukraine in recent months, many capitals in the world are not willing to roll out the red carpet for the head of the Kremlin (Eurnews.com, July 22). No major developments directly affected bilateral relations between Moscow and Tehran following Putins visit, although he was successful in securing the support of the Supreme Leader regarding Russias invasion of Ukraine. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei clearly voiced support for Russia stating, If you had not taken the initiative, the opposite side would have caused [the outbreak] of war. In August 2022, a US official told CNN: Over the past few weeks, Russian officials have been training in Iran as part of the agreement to transfer drones from Iran to Russia. This official said that the information related to the training of Russian officers in Iran was recently declassified (CNN, August 9). As a result, Iran has made it clear that agreement with Russia relating to new technology predates the war against Ukraine (Rusi.com, July 22). In August 2022, Russia received the first shipments of Iranian-made combat drones in Ukraine. Washington believes this was a move to strengthen relations between Tehran and Moscow and boost Russias overstretched military forces. Russian forces do not have many attack drones, although they do have access to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for surveillance purposes. For its part, Ukraine has used Turkish-manufactured UAVs since the conflict began (Farazdaily.com, July 17). Ukrainian military officials announced on September 13 that, for the first time, they shot down an Iranian Shahed-136, or kamikaze drone, on the battlefield in Kupyansk region. Irans suicide drones were sent to Russia at a time when members of the presidential cabinet had repeatedly announced they were ready to mediate between Russia and Ukraine. In July 2022, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, in a phone conversation with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, announced Tehrans readiness to comprehensively develop relations with Kyiv. Pointing out that the Islamic Republic is continuing its efforts to end the war, Abdollahian added that Tehran is ready to expand relations with Kyiv in the economic and agricultural sectors (Mashreghnews.ir, July 30). As numerous reports have demonstrated, Russia has increasingly been using Iranian-made UAVs in combat operations against Ukraine. Oleksiy Arestovych, adviser in the Office of the President of Ukraine, announced on August 5 that the Islamic Republic of Iran has delivered 46 drones to Russia. According to these reports, at least some of the drones delivered to Russia are the older generation of Shahed-129 combat drones, which Russian forces may use to attack the M142 High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) in Ukraine. (Understandingwar.org, August 5). Recent skirmishes have seen Russia use both Shahed- and Mohajer-class combat drones in Ukraine, and it is reported that these drones originated in Iran. The drones had an initial devastating impact on Ukraine, destroying infrastructure and armored vehicles, and causing damage to the port of Odesa. Yet, as the conflict has dragged on, these drones effectiveness has diminished rapidly. Ukraine claimed its forces had shot down one of these drones for the first time last month. Since then, many more drone attacks have been reported. Kyivs military said on October 12 alone it had downed 17 Shahed-136 drones. According to photos released by Ukrainian authorities, Russia has rebranded the Shaheds under the name Geran (The Kyiv Independent, October 17). The Ukrainian Air Force stated that the downed drones were Shahed-136 kamikaze drones and Mohajer-6 drones used for surveillance and munition carrying. As these drones are small, they are beneficial to the Russian army. Due to their size and ability to operate at low altitudes, these drones can avoid detection by Ukrainian radar systems. Ukrainian forces are quite adept at bringing these drones down during the day but struggle to combat them at night, as US-supplied Stinger anti-aircraft missiles do not come with a night-vision system (Sharghdaily.com, accessed October 12). On September 24, Kyiv cancelled the accreditation of the Iranian ambassador to Ukraine, Manouchehr Moradi, on the grounds that Iran had supplied weapons to Russia. In a written statement, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani announced that Tehran will respond appropriately to the decision in due course. In the statement, Kanaani expressed his regret over Ukraines decision to damage diplomatic relations with Iran and said that the decision was based on unconfirmed news of foreign media outlets. Arguing that his country is following a policy of neutrality in the war between Ukraine and Russia, Kanaani said that the disagreements between Kyiv and Moscow should be resolved far away from the violence. He remarked that this issue should be resolved through political dialogue and that Abdollahian has been frequently in contact with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts (Ulusal.com, September 24). Even so, Tehran has not yet given a convincing answer to Kyiv on the downing of the Ukrainian passenger plane in January 2020. If the revised nuclear agreement is signed and if the current foreign policy of the Islamic Republic continues, which is based on creating tension with its neighbors, this will lead to the loss of opportunities for Tehran. Neutrality in the war against Ukraine was an opportunity for Iran to play an integral role in regional security and potentially the reconstruction of Ukraine (Radiofarda.com, January 11, 2021). Now, those prospects look increasingly dim. Irans foreign policy during Ebrahim Raisis presidency has placed an emphasis on securing national interests and adjusting actions within this indicator. On this basis, from dialogue with the West to the expansion of interaction with Russia and China, each strategy is undergirded using all available national capacities to solve problems. However, the recent tension in relations between Tehran and Kyiv show that Iran is struggling to effectively implement its foreign policy (Irna.ir, February 8, 2021). Although Iran has repeatedly denied sending drones to Russia, due to the continuation of Western sanctions, Tehran is trying to improve its relations with Moscow, and in recent days, Irans oil minister has expressed readiness to import Russian natural gas and swap it to neighboring countries. Thus, Tehran is expanding its relations with Moscow, whereas there is no true indication of Tehrans willingness to improve relations with Kyiv. By the Jamestown Foundation More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: As pressure increases, Turkeys middle-man position in the Ukraine crisis is becoming harder to maintain. Compartmentalization, meaning separating divisive political, strategic and economic affairs from establishing a working relationship, has been the defining aspect of contemporary Turkish-Russian relations. Throughout the war against Ukraine, Turkey has been rather successful in striking a delicate balance between its Western allies and its economic partner, Russia. This strategy manifests itself in extensive diplomatic negotiations and constant mediation between Kyiv and Moscow. However, being increasingly pressured by both sides as the war drags on and escalates, Ankaras strategy of compartmentalization risks losing its sustainability and applicability in Ukraine. Since the outset of the Russian invasion, Ankara has made a significant push to prove its status as a reliable North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member to its allies. In fact, Turkey was one of the first countries within the alliance to supply Ukraine with critical weapons systems from the outset. Ankaras military aid has been centered on a heavy supply of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), particularly the combat-proven Bayraktar TB2s, which have turned the tables against Russian forces in the conflict. Since February 24, Turkeys Baykar sent around 50 TB2s to the Ukrainian Armed Forces (Middle East Eye, June 18). Besides its famed drone transactions, Turkey has also provided solutions to some pressing strategic problems in Ukraine. A few days after the war began, Ankara was quick to invoke the Montreux Convention and close the Dardanelles and Bosporus Strait to Russian warships (Reuters, February 28). Amid the blockade of the port of Odessa and the looming food crisis, Ankara worked together with the United Nations to establish a grain corridor that enabled the ships trapped in the Ukrainian port to set sail to international markets (UN, September 16). Additionally, as the middle man, Turkey has facilitated bilateral exchanges and political asylum. A remarkable example here is the recent agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on providing custody for the five released Azov Battalion commanders until the wars end (Twitter, September 22). Another is Ankaras role in facilitating prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine in late September 2022 (TRT World, September 26). Nevertheless, as Turkey pushes to prove itself as a reliable NATO state, geo-economic constraints remain. Turkey shares maritime borders with Russia, and the Moscow-Ankara balance of power is crucial for security in the Black Sea region. The two countries also have undeniable economic bonds, which mainly manifest themselves in the forms of tourism and trade. Besides, Russia has repeatedly claimed that it is ready to fill gaps in Turkeys pressing security requirementsdeficiencies partly created by mistakes in Turkish policy, as well as Western negligence. This is why, while bolstering Ukraines military capabilities vis-a-vis Russian aggression, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also winks at Putin as he says Turkey can consider the Su-35s as an alternative to the F-16 modernization. Similarly, Turkey has an ongoing strategic energy project with Russia, in the form of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, as well as a recent agreement for a pipeline project that will connect Russian gas to Europe. Now, however, with Russias missiles and Iranian drones raining over civilian targets and infrastructure, including in Kyiv, Turkey could completely turn against Russia on a moral basis. But rationally, Ankara would need its Western allies to acknowledge its legitimate security concerns. At this point, bolstering trust between Turkey and NATO will be crucial. For decades, Turkeys compartmentalization strategy served it well in most circumstances. Yet, in the case of Ukraine, the time for Ankaras role as the middle-man may have reached its end. This reality manifests itself in Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglus statement in early October 2022. The government official declared that both sides, Ukraine and Russia, had quickly moved away from diplomacy and that a viable ceasefire between the two parties must be established as soon as possible (Hurriyet, October 11). This statement is only natural, as Turkey still depends on Russia in various critical sectors, including energy, tourism and security. Related: Biden Plans To Refill The SPR When Oil Prices Fall Below $72 Regarding energy, Turkey still depends on Russia for 45 percent of its gas (Al Monitor, July 28). Amid a lingering economic crisis, it remains unclear whether Turkey will be able to pay the price Russia demands. Despite the new plans to turn Turkey into an energy hub that will transit from Russian gas fields to European markets, the (supply) security and functioning of TurkStream is in Russias unstable hands, increasing vulnerability for Ankara and its Western allies (Al Jazeera, October 14). Put briefly, the new plan suggests establishing a distribution center in Turkey to export more gas to Europe through TurkStream, potentially in the Thrace region. Although this new project will play well for Erdogan domestically, it may put Turkey in a more difficult spot vis-a-vis its Western allies, who are actively trying to reduce their energy dependency on Russia. On the financial side, the Turkish banking system is being increasingly pressured by the West, which has led to major Turkish banks suspending payment under Russias Mir system (Financial Times, September 28). This decision pushes Turkey to consider other alternatives for engaging in transactions with Russia, which will gain further importance as young Russians fleeing mobilization are relocating to Turkey in even greater numbers. Yet, Moscows need for transit routes may put more pressure on Ankara, especially if current routes remain compromised. Pressured by both sides, Turkey is walking on thin ice, which will paradoxically become more fragile as winter nears. Indeed, encouraging Ankara to make the right decision for its NATO allies will involve an open dialogue that emphasizes shared interests, as well as empathy for Turkeys security concerns and needs. By the Jamestown Foundation More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Foxconn Technology Group, formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry, unveiled two electric vehicle prototypes at its event in Taipei on Tuesday. Foxconn founder Terry Gou Tai-ming showcased the Model B crossover SUV and Model V pickup truck. Foxconn isn't just the world's largest electronics contract manufacturer but also the most prominent manufacturing partner for Apple and is aiming to "build clients' EVs from the chassis up, with no plans to sell vehicles under its own brand," Bloomberg said. "After we announced our plans to build EVs in 2020, many people questioned whether Foxconn can build cars. "Then when we unveiled three models a year later, everyone thought, 'wow, how did they manage to develop three models in just a year?' That's the speed we're operating at," Liu said. Related: Strong Sales Data Sparks Rally In European Auto Stocks Model B & V won't be available for the retail market because they're considered reference designs -- intended to demonstrate the company's manufacturing capabilities to potential clients that want their EVs produced. By 2025, Foxconn expects to achieve at least 5% of the global EV market, with expected revenues of $31 billion. "Foxconn is not in the business of selling its own EV brand," Liu said. "I hope one day we can do Tesla cars for Tesla," he added. If Foxconn is successful, this could mean Apple's "Project Titan" to develop an electric vehicle in the coming years could one day be produced by Foxconn. After all, Foxconn already makes Apple's iPhones. By Zerohedge.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: BlackRock will not stop investing in oil, natural gas, or coal, the worlds largest asset manager told a UK parliamentary committee in written responses to an inquiry on the role of the financial sector in the UKs net-zero transition. Asked if BlackRock supports a net-zero scenario in which no new investment is needed in coal, oil, and gas, the asset manager responded: No., Reuters reported, citing dozens of statements from financial and environmental institutions the Environmental Audit Committee has received during the period of submitting evidence. BlackRocks role in the transition is as a fiduciary to our clients it is not to engineer a specific decarbonization outcome in the real economy, the asset manager added. BlackRock has faced criticism this year from both environmental campaigners for still investing in conventional energy and Republican-led U.S. states for what they see as a boycott of the U.S. energy industry. In recent weeks, multiple U.S. states governed by Republicans have said they would withdraw state funds from BlackRocks management, as they disapprove of the ESG investment policies of the worlds top asset manager. Over the course of just a few weeks, Louisiana, South Carolina, Utah, and Arkansas announced they would divest funds from BlackRock totaling more than $1 billion. In early October, Louisiana State Treasurer John Schroder announced in a letter to BlackRocks chief executive Larry Fink that he would divest all Treasury funds from BlackRock. Louisiana has removed $560 million to date and will pull out a total of $794 million by years end, Schroder noted. For months now, Republican states have said they would no longer do business with asset managers who have ESG-aligned investment policies, which, the states say, show that those financial firms are boycotting the oil and gas industry. Texas is leading the campaign against ESG policies. The Lone Star State published in August a list of financial firms that could be banned from doing business with Texas, its state pension funds, and local governments. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: Norway's domestic security agency has opened an investigation into new drone sightings near key infrastructure sites just hours after Bergen Airport, which is near Norways main naval base, briefly closed due to drone sightings, the Associated Press reports. There can also be observations that could be other phenomena, for instance weather. We are sure that there is at least one, AP cited Bergen police spokesman rjan Djuvik as saying. According to deputy chief of the Norwegian Police Security Service Hedvig Moe, numerous drone sightings have been reported in recent months near offshore oil and gas platforms and other Norwegian infrastructure. We believe (the drone flights are) carried out in a way that makes it difficult to find out who is really behind it, although Norwegian authorities suspect Russian involvement in operating unmanned aerial vehicles that can be used for espionage or simply to create fear. Russia simply has more to gain and less to lose by conducting intelligence activities in Norway now compared to the situation before the war. It is simply because Russia is in a pressed situation as a result of the war (in Ukraine) and is isolated by sanctions. We are in a tense security-political situation, and at the same time a complex and unclear threat picture that can change in a relatively short time, Moe was quoted as saying. Seven Russian citizens have been detained over the past few weeks for flying drones or taking photographs of sensitive sites in Norway. Notably, on Wednesday, a 47-year-old man with dual Russian and British citizenship was jailed for two weeks on suspicion of flying drones on Norways Arctic archipelago of Svalbard. The man has been accused of breaching sanctions which came into force after Russia went to war against Ukraine. Aircraft operated by Russian companies or citizens are prohibited to land on, take off from or fly over Norwegian territory under Norwegian law, which often is coordinated with the European Union. Airport operator Avinor has revealed that 50 possible drone observations have been reported at Norway's civilian airports so far this year, nearly triple the 17 sightings recorded in 2021. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Octopus Energy Generation has continued its expansion plans into Europe, deepening its role in Italys green power market. Its venture group, Octopus Energy Development Partnership (OEDP) has invested in renewables specialist Nexta Capital Partners, and is creating a joint project with the Milan-based group. The new venture aims to build 1.1GW of new onshore wind, solar farms and energy storage in the south of Italy by 2025. This will power 1.2m homes, while potentially avoiding a potential 950,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. This is the equivalent of removing over 500,000 petrol cars and planting over 4.6m trees. The recently launched 220m OEDP invests in early stages of building green power. OEDP is providing funding to Nexta who will secure land, grid connections, planning permission and local community engagement to get renewable projects to the ready-to-build stage. Nexta was founded in 2015, developing renewable energy projects in Italy. Octopus backs Italys plans to go green to ease Russian reliance Italy depends on Russia for around 25 percent of its imported gas and the Government is aiming to reduce its reliance through renewable developments. In the past year, regulations have been passed to unblock bottlenecks in permitting renewable projects and speed up green energy deployment in Italy. Zoisa North-Bond, chief executive of Octopus Energy Generation, said: Building more new green energy will help reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and drive down energy bills. Onshore wind and solar are some of the cheapest forms of energy and Italy can generate it right on their soil. To avoid a repeat of the energy crisis, its essential we turbocharge the creation of new renewable energy and shift to a low carbon energy system. Related: Ukraine Receives First Tranche Of $5 Billion EU Aid Package Fabrizio Caputo, co-founder and managing director of Nexta, said: The partnership with Octopus represents a further step towards the consolidation of our growth objectives within the renewable energy industry. We aim to play a leading role with Octopus in the energy transition process. This follows Octopus Energy Italy launching its energy supplier brand in Italy in June 2022, after acquiring SATO Luce e Gas in November 2022. Octopus Energy Generation is one of Europes largest renewables investors, managing green energy assets worth 4.4bn. It previously invested in the Italian renewables market in 2017 to build 173 MW of solar farms in Lazio and Sardinia, sold in February 2021. By CityAM More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The BBC has prepared a number of emergency scripts in the event of blackouts that could last up to two days this winter, The Guardian has reported, citing the documents. One quote from a script reads The government has said its hoped power will be restored in the next 36 to 48 hours. Different parts of Britain will start to receive intermittent supplies before then. Another warns the public that a blackout could last for up to 48 hours, putting extreme pressure on hospitals and the police. The load shedding would be done between 4 pm and 7 pm, normally peak demand hours. The scripts, per The Guardian, are part of routine preparation for emergencies, since the BBC is effectively part of the UK governments response team in such situations, in charge of spreading information about the events. The threat of blackouts, however, is not as purely hypothetical as it might have been a couple of winters ago. Earlier this week, National Grids chief executive issued a warning for three-hour blackouts on really, really cold evenings in the first two months of next year. In case there was no gas to import from Europe, John Pettigrew said, as quoted by the Financial Times, National Grid would need to resort to load-shedding during those deepest darkest evenings in January and February. To reduce the risk of these blackouts, the utility advises a curb in energy consumption, just like the rest of Europe where EU leaders have been struggling to find a way to secure enough gas for this years heating season. The latest from the Brussels camp was a Commission proposal to set a ceiling for the natural gas traded at the TTF hub but before that, it said, the EU would need to ensure the lower gas prices resulting from this move would not lead to an increase in consumption. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Warren Buffetts Omaha-based Berkshire Hathaway completed its largest acquisition in years Wednesday with its $11.6 billion purchase of the Alleghany insurance conglomerate. The purchase, announced in March, will further expand Berkshires sizable insurance operations and add a few more companies to its stable, including a steel fabricator and toy company owned by Alleghany. In many ways, Alleghany is similar to Berkshire. Buffetts company owns Geico, General Re and a number of other insurance companies, but it also owns BNSF Railway, several major utilities and an assortment of dozens of manufacturing and retail companies, including Precision Castparts, Dairy Queen, Sees Candy and NetJets. Alleghany shareholders received $848.02 cash per share as part of the deal. Much like it has done with other acquisitions, Berkshire will allow New York-based Alleghany to largely continue to run itself. Edward Jones analyst Jim Shanahan said Alleghany CEO Joe Brandon, who previously ran a different Berkshire insurance company, could one day be a candidate to replace Vice Chairman Ajit Jain and oversee all of Berkshires insurance companies. Berkshires last major acquisition came in 2016, when it paid $32.36 billion to buy aviation parts maker Precision Castparts. Buffett has always been reluctant to overpay for acquisitions, and he has said Berkshire faces more competition for deals these days from private-equity firms. But Buffett has put more than $51 billion to work in the stock market this year, including buying up roughly $12 billion worth of Occidental Petroleum stock and another $20 billion worth of Chevron shares to bet big on oil production. Still, Berkshire was sitting on $105.4 billion cash at the end of the second quarter. It will use some of that at the start of next year to more than double its stake in the Pilot chain of more than 800 truck stops across 44 states and six Canadian provinces. The terms of Buffetts 2017 agreement call for it to boost its stake from its current 38.6% ownership to 80% in 2023. That will leave the Haslam family that runs the business based in Knoxville, Tennessee, with a 20% stake. Shanahan estimated that the Pilot deal will use at least $3.5 billion, but Berkshire has never disclosed the terms of that deal. In addition to owning more than 90 operating companies, Berkshire holds a sizable investment portfolio with major stakes in Apple, Bank of America, American Express and Coca-Cola among other companies. The Time Out Chicken location at 3518 N. 30th St. is for sale. A real estate listing for the property was posted on real estate website commercialexchange.com and on Facebook by real estate broker Kenton Duncan on Wednesday afternoon. The sale is for the three lots at 3518, 3510 and 3502 N. 30th St. It includes the Time Out Chicken building and a former tobacco store building. Priced at $4 million, the listing also states the purchase includes all of the restaurant's existing inventory and equipment at the time of the sale. Time Out Chicken celebrated its 50th anniversary of business in 2021. Check back with omaha.com for more information on this story. Chinese path gives world 'new choice' By Cao Desheng (China Daily) 08:55, October 19, 2022 Xi Jinping delivers a report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on behalf of the 19th CPC Central Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct 16, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua] Expert says nation's pursuit of common prosperity has great global significance At a crucial moment in which China is embarking on a new journey to build a modern socialist country in all respects, the Communist Party of China has mapped out an ambitious blueprint to comprehensively advance Chinese modernization, a central task it has laid out for the next five years and beyond to realize national rejuvenation. When delivering a report on behalf of the 19th CPC Central Committee at the opening session of the 20th CPC National Congress on Sunday, Xi Jinping expounded on what the Chinese path to modernization looks like and how it works, and said that it offers humanity a "new choice" for achieving modernization. Highlighting that Chinese modernization is socialist modernization pursued under the leadership of the Party, Xi said that it contains elements that are common to the modernization processes of all countries, but "it is more characterized by features that are unique to the Chinese context". Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, generations of Chinese people have sought to realize the country's modernization. After China completed the historic task of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects in 2021, Xi ushered in a new stage for the Chinese nation to become modernized on all fronts in the next few decades. He explained in the report to the 20th CPC National Congress that China's modernization will be shared by a large population, and features the common prosperity of all its people, material abundance and cultural-ethical enrichment, harmony between humanity and nature, and peaceful development. In a two-step strategic plan, China aims to basically realize socialist modernization by 2035, and then build a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful by the middle of this century. A series of steps have been set out in the report, including significantly increasing economic strength, scientific and technological capabilities, and composite national strength; basically modernizing the system and capacity for governance; improving the system for whole-process people's democracy; and substantially growing the middle-income group. Alessandro Golombiewski Teixeira, a professor of public policy at Tsinghua University's School of Public Policy and Management, said that common prosperity has become one of the most important concepts guiding Chinese policymakers in recent years. "This is a bold commitment for all Chinese, and common prosperity will become an important feature of China's socialist modernization," Teixeira said in an article published on the website of China Global Television Network. "China's practice of pursuing common prosperity is of great global significance. If it succeeds, it will provide the world, especially the vast number of developing countries, with a choice of their own development path." Alexander Ayertey Odonkor, a Ghanaian author, economic consultant and chartered financial analyst, commended China's ecological conservation efforts while maintaining rapid economic development during the course of its modernization drive. He said in an opinion piece on the CGTN website that China has sought to balance sustained economic growth, protect the natural environment, and boost harmonious coexistence between humanity and the natural environment an impressive feat that presents the country as a unique example of how to balance economic growth and protect nature. Externally, China's modernization faces a more volatile international landscape that is speedily evolving. Factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine crisis, the increasing geopolitical competition and mounting protectionism and unilateralism have complicated China's development environment. The Lancang-Mekong Express starts its first trip from Kunming in Yunnan province to Laos, the capital of Vientiane, on Jan 10, 2022. [Photo by Yao Wei/for chinadaily.com.cn] Peaceful development Xi said in the report that China has entered a period of development in which strategic opportunities, risks and challenges are concurrent and uncertainties and unforeseen factors are rising. He stressed that in pursuing modernization, China will not tread the old path of war, colonization and plunder taken by some countries. "Dedicated to peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit, we will strive to safeguard world peace and development as we pursue our own development, and we will make greater contributions to world peace and development through our own development," he said. Experts said that the Chinese path to modernization has brought new elements of value to the international order. It provides an alternative to the Western model of modernization, expands the channels for developing countries to achieve modernization, and offers a Chinese approach to human progress, they said. Yang Guangbin, a professor of political science at Renmin University of China, said that no developed country in the West has developed without relying on war, colonization and plunder. Instead of plundering through war, China has risen through peaceful development, which is fundamentally different from the way that Western countries have risen and influenced the world, he said. China's experience offers "China's solution" and China's inspiration to developing countries that want to develop while maintaining their independence, he added. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Wu Chaolan) Charmaine Candler has opened her own restaurant called Charmz Kitchen at 4858 W. 183rd St. in Country Club Hills. Charmz Kitchen photo, October 2022, Country Club Hills, Illinois - Original Credit: (Charmz Kitchen) Charmaine Candler began her journey to restaurateur while she was tending bar at Aces Bar and Grill in Country Club Hills and would regularly bring in home-cooked food for her customers. Four years ago, she officially opened Charmz Kitchen inside Aces and started serving her Southern cuisine and signature egg rolls dubbed Charmz Rolls. Candler also became known for her Philly steaks, Philly chicken, buffalo chicken and jerk chicken. Advertisement The catering and walk-in traffic was overwhelming, she said, partly because of the space limitations of Aces kitchen. She soon knew it was time to part ways and find a larger space. Advertisement I left Aces but didnt want to leave my Country Club Hills family, she said. She found space in the same plaza and earlier this month opened Charmz Kitchen at the northwest corner of 183rd Street and Cicero Avenue. We had our soft opening on Oct. 8. We wanted to make sure we had everything just right before we had our grand opening, Candler said. The soft opening menu is not as extensive as the one shell offer after her grand opening on Nov. 12, but it still has her popular favorites. The menu will be quite diverse, she promised. Candler said the new space has room for 10-15 diners inside, but she anticipates takeout and her popular catering service will be big. Delivery at present is through Door Dash and Uber Eats, but she hopes to offer her own delivery service soon. A Chicken wing dinner to go from Charmz Kitchen. (Charmz Kitchen) Since first opening, Candler said she has been busy catering for churches, government bodies, civic organizations and weddings. Bishop Larry D. Trotter of Sweet Holy Spirit Church in Chicago said he first became acquainted with Candlers soulful cuisine more than two years ago while attending a ministers conference. Advertisement Her catering operation was second to none, Trotter said. Her delicious variety of foods was no short of brilliant. Her steaks, salads and Charmz egg rolls were a favorite at our event. Candler expects to grow even larger. This is not the end. This is just a steppingstone toward my larger goal, she said. Candler said shes been heading in this direction since she was a child. She learned about cooking from her mother and great-grandmother as a child in the South. Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > Ive been cooking full-course meals since I was 11, she said. Ive learned my cooking skills from life experience rather than school. Advertisement However, she did earn cooking certifications and also a degree in business administration. That exposed her to diverse cooking styles and cuisines and prepared her to run her own business. Charmaine Candler serves her Southern cuisine and signature egg rolls dubbed Charmz Rolls. (Charmz Kitchen) Her favorite foods are Mexican and Northern Italian. Candler said she was approached by many business leaders and elected officials who attempted to recruit her to a variety of municipalities to launch her new restaurant. She said she felt compelled to remain in Country Club Hills. Given the past success of Chef Candlers business model, we are encouraging our residents to patronize her new location, Country Club Hills Mayor James W. Ford said. Offering diverse forms of eateries is a welcoming attraction for any town. Surely the Charmz Kitchen menu selection will allow our residents and visitors great options in satisfying their taste buds. Hours at Charmz Kitchen will be 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Thursday, from 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. Bob Bong is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. A downtown Omaha nightclub will have to resubmit its liquor license application and undergo a public hearing because of concerns over public safety. Ryan Wiesen, assistant city attorney, summarized 13 tavern reports during Tuesdays City Council meeting that detailed numerous violent incidents at the Throwback Arcade Lounge since February 2021. The reports described multiple large fight disturbances, staff members interfering with police, illegal parking and complaints from neighbors. Part of my biggest concern is the delayed entry for officers when theyre attempting to come into the bar, said Councilwoman Aimee Melton. Melton chairs the City Council Law Committee, which requested that the business submit a formal liquor license application. The council unanimously approved that request. Throwback Arcade Lounge, located at 1402 Howard St., opened in November 2020. In addition to the tavern reports, Wiesen shared security pictures of two patrons leaving the lounge and urinating on neighboring private property. The formal application doesnt repeal the clubs liquor license. Rather, it allows the Throwback Arcade Lounge to renew its license only if the requirements that existed when the license was issued continue to be met. The Nebraska Liquor Control Commission will review the application and the City Council will decide if the license should be renewed or denied. I want good owners who have businesses to succeed, Melton said. Thats my goal, but I also think that we need to have some extra oversight on here. Councilman Danny Begley also voiced concerns on public safety. When peoples physical being is threatened because of this establishment, theres a problem, Begley said. William McGinn, an attorney for the club, told council members that Throwback Lounge hired off-duty officers to assist in security last spring, and that club owners are attempting to work with neighboring property owners on concerns. An agreement with Google Fiber would allow the company to offer its high-speed internet service to residential and small-business customers in Omaha, but a provision in state law could limit the citys ability to generate revenue from the deal. Lawmakers passed the Small Wireless Facilities Deployment Act in 2019 with the goal of encouraging the development of wireless communications networks across Nebraska, according to the legislation. The acts language also prevents the City of Omaha from charging Google Fiber a gross revenue fee of 2% an amount agreed upon by the company and the city. Believe me, I want to be able to say that we have the ability to be able to charge a fee, said Bernard in den Bosch, deputy city attorney. But after reviewing the statutes language and definitions, in den Bosch concluded that statute prohibits the city from collecting a tax, fee or rate on Google Fibers service. Im pretty confident that wasnt the statutes intention, in den Bosch told Omaha City Council members during a public hearing on the Google Fiber licensing agreement Tuesday. Approval of the agreement would allow Google Fiber to install, maintain and operate a fiber optic network in Omahas public right of way. Kim Rowell, a spokesperson with Cox Communications, raised concerns with the council over a franchise fee charged to Cox by the city that wouldnt be charged to Google Fiber. Cox Communications built the first cable system in Omaha more than 40 years ago and has operated under a franchise agreement to provide cable television in Omaha. Per its agreement, Cox provides the city a 5% franchise fee annually, which amounts to about $5 million a year, Rowell said. To be clear, we are here today to embrace competition, Rowell said. If passed in its current form, this agreement will undoubtedly cause Omaha to forgo significant revenue. ... We respectfully ask that the city delay action on this item until an agreement can be made where all competitors are playing by a similar set of rules. A change in the state law, different interpretation of the statute or a court decision could offer some flexibility in charging a revenue fee, in den Bosch said. Council members are scheduled to vote on the license agreement during next Tuesdays meeting at 2 p.m. in the Legislative Chambers of City Hall. The fiber network is currently in design with construction expected to begin in 2023, pending approval of the agreement. Service would become available in segments as the network is completed. Google is currently building a data center near State Street and Blair High Road the third Google data center in the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro area. The challenger for Douglas County attorney has likened the role to that of a hospital president. Such an executive is a leader, not somebody who is in the operating room everyday, said challenger Dave Pantos, who has no post-law school experience in front of a jury. You dont expect the president of the hospital to be doing surgery every day, Pantos has said. Its a similar kind of thing. Current Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine, who has 100 to 150 felony jury trials on his resume, said hes still in the operating room that is, the courtroom and knows how essential that knowledge is. Kleine picked a different hospital analogy. If youre going to have heart surgery a complex, very important thing would you want the person thats overseeing the heart surgery team to be somebody whos never done a heart procedure before? Kleine asked. Theres all kinds of complexities in criminal cases questions about the admissibility of forensic evidence, DNA, cellphone data, video evidence, on and on. This isnt a race for student council. Perhaps the surgery analogy is fitting. If not bloody, the race at least has gotten both sides blood pumping in the last week or so. At stake: The county attorney, who makes $208,000 a year, oversees an office of 60 attorneys who prosecute 4,400 felonies each year, handle juvenile delinquent and parental abandonment cases, advise the Douglas County Board and represent the county on civil matters. On one side is Kleine, 69, a Republican who has prosecuted cases for 35 of his 45 years as an attorney, with 10 years of criminal defense work mixed in. On the other side is Pantos, 52, a Democrat and a 25-year attorney who bills himself as a big-picture person who wants to reform criminal justice and help reduce prison overcrowding. It isnt unusual for a race for the states highest-paid elected position to have its share of fireworks. But this race offered something different last week: false claims. In his most recent TV ad for his candidacy, Pantos claimed that August was the worst month in a decade for Omaha homicides. He added this kicker: And Don Kleine doesnt care. Pantos also said he has spent decades in the courtroom. Neither claim is backed by facts. Omaha police listed seven homicides in August. A review of a decade of Omaha police data shows four months with at least that many homicides, and three with more. Omaha saw nine homicides in January 2015, eight in May 2015 and eight in December 2015. Further perspective: While its fair to say homicides spiked in August, the 2022 homicide count is currently trending below Omahas 10-year average of 34 homicides a year. As for Pantos experience, it is true that he has been an attorney for 26 years 2 decades. It is not clear that he has spent decades in a courtroom. Pantos did not respond to World-Herald requests to explain that statement. In an interview before that ad aired, Pantos acknowledged he has not had a jury trial in Douglas County Court, Douglas County District Court or U.S. District Court in Omaha. Nor has he prosecuted or defended anyone in a criminal jury trial, beyond his yearlong stint as a certified third-year law student helping prosecutors in the Bloomington (Ind.) City Attorneys Office. And he said he had not done any post-law school criminal work beyond infraction-level offenses. Out of law school, the New Jersey native spent three years representing clients in workers compensation cases in an administrative law court in Denver. He then worked for six years at Legal Services of New Jersey, a Legal Aid equivalent that handles civil matters on behalf of low-income clients. Since 2009, he has spent the vast majority of his career in a campaign office or a boardroom rather than a courtroom. In 2009, he took over as executive director of Legal Aid of Nebraska, where his primary job was raising money and managing a group of 30 to 40 attorneys. He was forced out of that job in 2014 after he had an affair with and promoted a subordinate. Asked about that removal, Pantos initially denied the affair. Two days later, he admitted it but denied promoting the woman because of the affair. He went on to run the nonprofit Autism Action Partnership for three years. He then ran the ultimately unsuccessful campaigns of 2nd District congressional candidate Kara Eastman and Omaha mayoral hopeful RJ Neary. Last year, he threw his hat into representing Omahans on the brink of eviction. Court records indicate he has represented tenants facing eviction both as a paid attorney and a volunteer for the past 15 months. Those eviction cases, along with infractions he has handled on behalf of a few clients, appear to be the extent of his courtroom experience in the past 13 years. The World-Herald interviewed Pantos about his knowledge of the basics of a criminal court case. Asked what the evidentiary standard was to bind a felony case over to district court, Pantos said preponderance of the evidence. Told the standard is probable cause, Pantos said: Yeah. Preponderance. Same. Preponderance is a standard used in civil cases or in very rare criminal hearings, such as when the defense tries to prove their client not guilty by reason of insanity. Asked about the process by which a defense attorney challenges the binding over of a felony, Pantos paused the interview. I mean, Im just wondering if any candidate for any office is getting this kind of questioning, he said. A reporter asked him if he didnt think a county attorney needed to know criminal process. I mean, Ill say this, you know, I promise and am fully prepared to lead a top Douglas County Attorneys Office that will be focused on public safety and preventing crime, he said. I think you need someone whos going to be a good leader, a great manager, someone who can make sure we have the right team. Thats why I think having a great chief deputy who does have significant criminal trial experience is absolutely essential. Pantos said he has two people in mind for chief deputy but wouldnt give names. Kleine countered that he and his chief deputy, Brenda Beadle, have a combined 60 years of prosecuting murders and other felonies, as well as advising detectives and mentoring deputy county attorneys. Pantos was quick to take on Kleine on other topics. The following are gathered from interviews with the candidates and from their responses last week at a Southwest Omaha Neighborhood Alliance community forum that was moderated by the League of Women Voters. Abortion In June, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed a womans right to seek an abortion in the first trimester. Many of Nebraskas Republican state senators say they want to institute a ban on abortions, though its not clear what the ban will look like and whether it will include exceptions for a woman who is the victim of rape or incest and for the health of the mother. Pantos, who is Catholic, has declared that he will not prosecute women seeking an abortion in any case; nor will he prosecute any doctor who performs such a procedure. Ive made a point to say, If they criminalize abortion in Nebraska, were not gonna (prosecute). Im the only candidate who will say that. Kleine, also Catholic, says he does not know what the Legislature will do as far as a ban. Kleine said he will not prosecute in cases of abortions after rape or incest. He wont prosecute in the case of an abortion undertaken to save a mothers life. Kleine said its unethical for Pantos to declare he will never prosecute when he doesnt know what the facts and circumstances are of a case. Kleine brought up one hypothetical. What if a woman who is nine months pregnant breaks up with her boyfriend and seeks out an abortion to get revenge on the boyfriend? Even pro-choice people might say, You know, I have a problem with that, Kleine said. He noted that abortion laws have long been on the books Nebraska currently outlaws abortion after 20 weeks. Neither Omaha police nor any other law enforcement agency has brought a case to him, nor has he prosecuted one. Its never been an issue, Kleine said. He called Pantos allusion to Texas attorneys prosecuting miscarriages misleading and just not true when it comes to Douglas County. Its just pandering and trying to put fear into peoples heads, Kleine said. (Each case) depends on the facts or circumstances, depends on what the law is. I would vow to be fair and just in assessing the facts of each case and use my discretion appropriately in every case. Criminal justice reform Pantos has made this a linchpin of his campaign. He points to the fact that Nebraskas prisons are overcrowded. At the same time, he says, the county needs to be tougher on gun crimes. A World-Herald analysis found that Nebraska, with its already overcrowded system, is among just two states where prison populations are still growing. Pantos said Kleine failed the state when he helped lead the fight against a reform bill that had been proposed by a bipartisan group of state senators. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts and State Sen. Suzanne Geist of Lincoln fought the final version of the bill, leaving it seven votes shy of advancing. Pantos said the county attorney of the states most-populous county has a chance to influence policy. He said he wants the state to pursue common-sense adjustments, such as sharply reducing jam-outs the number of inmates who are sent back into society without programming or parole. He wants the state to increase parole eligibility for prisoners who are elderly and no longer a danger to society. And he wants to take advantage of grant funding and partnerships with mental health agencies such as Community Alliance to divert as many offenders as possible away from the criminal justice system and into mental health treatment. Pantos said Kleine has already said we cant do things differently we cant do this, we cant do that ... these reforms are too much. I think its time to actually bring someone in with the energy and the vision and determination to actually bring about criminal justice reform that works for our community and keeps our streets safe on the one hand but its more fair and equal on the other. Kleine said his office has a twofold formula: give second chances to those who have earned them and prosecute those who are dangerous and need time away from society. Kleine said he is open to reform but didnt agree with changes that he felt would have compromised public safety. One example: The Legislature had planned earlier parole eligibility for prisoners, but the state had yet to establish re-entry programming for those same parolees. Another issue: The bill would have reduced any drug possession case to an automatic misdemeanor. On the latter, Kleine said he was concerned that making every drug possession case a misdemeanor would remove incentive for defendants to work to get sober. Under Douglas Countys drug court, which Kleine helped establish in 1997, defendants can avoid a felony conviction if they successfully continue employment, complete therapy and stay sober. If its automatically a misdemeanor, it takes away their incentive to get better, Kleine said. It would destroy drug court. Kleine noted that his office has other problem-solving courts, such as young adult court, veterans court, diversion and mental health diversion. Combined, the problem-solving courts annually give about 350 defendants a chance to avoid a felony conviction. Kleine did not have stats on how many succeed. Kleine said Pantos focus on prison overcrowding is more befitting a state senator who proposes legislation or monitors prisons. A county attorneys primary job, he said, is to enforce laws something he said Pantos has no experience in. Im not against reforms that are well thought out, Kleine said. One of the biggest things in (last sessions) bill, was Lets expand problem-solving courts. We were the innovators we take calls from people across the state asking if they can get people into our programs. Those programs are extremely effective. Coming Thursday: Kleine and Pantos duel over support for Donald Trump, turnover in the County Attorneys Office and the slaying that injected politics into the race. A political message backing school board candidates was retweeted on the official Twitter account of Papillion La Vista South High School over the weekend, a potentially illegal act that a district official said Tuesday should never have happened. The original tweet posted on a private account urged voters to support incumbents Brian Lodes, Fred Tafoya and SuAnn Witt. District spokeswoman Annette Eyman called the retweet unacceptable and said officials believe the person who retweeted the post does not work for the district. Brittany Holtmeyer, who is vying for a seat on the board, issued a press release saying the high school was choosing sides and attempting to influence the election. She said the retweet was an insult to the other candidates. Six candidates are running for three seats in the Nov. 8 general election. The other candidates are Patricia Conway-Boyd and Elizabeth Butler. Holtmeyer said the district violated its own anti-politicking policy and ventured into illegal activity ... by utilizing a platform that is funded by taxpayer money to campaign for specific candidates. According to Eyman, someone with access to the high school Twitter account retweeted the post on the account late Saturday or early Sunday morning. The post was automatically displayed on the districts app, Eyman said. The retweeted post said: Lots of attention to the upcoming elections at a national level. Spend time getting educated on the impact of local leaders. We dont need the drama or trauma in our school district that a few new candidates will create. INSTEAD re-elect Lodes, Witt, and Tafoya. #ProvenLeadership. The high school administrative team removed the retweet from the school account Sunday, Eyman said, but it stayed on the district app until officials deleted it Monday. It is absolutely ridiculous that this happened, she said. This is not acceptable, but were going to learn from it and make sure it never happens again. Eyman said officials have a pretty good idea who did it, but they were still tracking down IP addresses. She said it is believed to be an unauthorized user. It was not a current employee or someone who was authorized to have the account, she said. District officials shut down the high school account and reviewed the security on other district social media accounts, she said. The Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Act prohibits a public official or public employee from using or authorizing the use of public resources for the purpose of campaigning for or against the nomination or election of a candidate. Nebraska Department of Education Rule 27 says educators shall not use institutional privileges for private gain or to promote political candidates, political issues, or partisan political activities. The Papillion La Vista board policy prevents politicking by district employees on school time or with school supplies. Eyman said the district was going to send a dos and donts reminder to employees. Teachers and school employees have rights as individuals and private citizens, she said, but they cant use district time, property or resources including email and social media to promote political activities. A fatal shooting last month in Oakland, Nebraska, has been declared a case of self-defense by the Burt County Attorneys Office. Ryan Schuman, 32, was found with a gunshot wound when Oakland police and Burt County sheriffs deputies responded to a domestic disturbance about 9 p.m. Sept. 27. Schuman was taken to a hospital, where he died. Following an investigation by the Nebraska State Patrol, the county attorneys office reviewed the evidence and announced Wednesday that the person who fired the shot had done so in self-defense. Investigators determined that three people were involved in a physical altercation when one of them discharged a firearm a single time. That person made a claim of self-defense. Investigators reported that Schuman had attempted to prevent two people, a male and a female, from leaving an apartment in the 300 block of North Oakland Avenue in Oakland. Schuman attacked the woman, striking her repeatedly, before the male fired one shot to end the attack, officials said. The male and female then left the apartment to get help, investigators said. The woman was treated for her injuries at the scene. LINCOLN Like a teacher lecturing a student for failing to turn in homework, Nebraska lawmakers Tuesday questioned why state corrections leaders have so often failed to produce reports, plans and other work products mandated by the Legislature. A 2021 law gave the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services money to come up with a plan for a halfway back house, a structured environment for parole violators short of returning them to prison. That same year, lawmakers mandated a comprehensive facilities study, and also required a study to determine whether inmates were being properly classified based on security and programming needs. Back in 2015, lawmakers required the department to produce an electronic medical records tracking system, and also to comprehensively study the effectiveness of its rehabilitation programming for inmates. To date, none of those things have been produced. The willingness to ignore what we have required in legislation is concerning, State Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha said during a hearing of the Legislatures Judiciary Committee. He suggested the department intentionally failed to follow the directives. He and other senators cited those failures as among the reasons Nebraska continues to have the nations most overcrowded prison system. Quite frankly, not much has changed, said Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln. It fell to the departments interim director who has been on the job for just days to respond to senators questions. Scott Frakes, who led the department for seven years during the administration of Gov. Pete Ricketts, retired effective earlier this month. Interim Director Diane Sabatka-Rine offered a variety of reasons for the failure to meet legislative mandates. The facilities study, for one, will be done by the end of this year, and the inmate classification study by March, she said. But she also said theres no doubt the department has made meaningful change in recent years, citing improvements in staffing and a recidivism rate that she said ranks in the best one-third in the country. She also said the department will continue to explore best practices that can help offenders succeed upon release. I think we can continue to improve the quality of life in many respects for our population, she said. Lathrop said he called Tuesdays hearing as a way to assess where Nebraskas long-troubled correctional system stands as the state prepares to usher in a new administration. The system for years has suffered from severe inmate overcrowding and chronic shortages of staff. Theres now an opportunity to reset relations between the Legislature and Corrections Department. By next year, there will be a new governor, a new corrections director and much turnover in the Legislatures leadership. In response to a question, Sabatka-Rine indicated she is interested in becoming the permanent corrections director. She is a 40-year department veteran, including 10 years as a warden at three facilities, and seven years serving within central administration. During Tuesdays hearing, Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln expressed frustration at the failure of the department to deliver the evaluation of inmate programming. She said persistent overcrowding in the prisons has led to staffing shortages, which in turn has left too little staff to provide for prison programming, which then led to inmates being released unprepared to succeed, which then meant reoffending and more overcrowding. Its a continuous, vicious cycle, she said. Sabatka-Rine said the 2015 programming study was launched and then lost steam due to some staff turnover. But she said the department does all in its power to get inmates the help they need. She said sometimes inmates enter prison with sentences too short to allow them to complete programming, or at times they refuse to take it. Some senators questioned why inmates dont get clinical programming like alcohol and drug treatment until they are within three years of release. Sabatka-Rine said thats based on best practices nationally, which have found treatment is most effective just before inmates re-enter society. The Legislature this past session renewed its call for a programming study, passing another such law. Sabatka-Rine said the department is now engaged with the University of Nebraska at Omaha to launch the new study. The lack of an electronic medical tracking system despite the 2015 mandate was raised last week as a possible factor in the death of a 40-year-old inmate. The inmate had been in custody for nearly 10 years before she received a Pap smear, a preventative screening that could have revealed her treatable cervical cancer. Sabatka-Rine said the department initially sought to meet the medical records mandate by buying an off-the-shelf program. It then found the program would not adequately integrate with the departments other systems. The department then started to develop the program in house, a process that is ongoing. Lathrop said the comprehensive facilities needs study should have been completed this year, before the Legislature considered Ricketts proposal to build a $270 million, 1,500-bed prison to replace the Nebraska State Penitentiary. In the end, senators decided to set aside the money for a new prison but declined to appropriate it. It needs to be done before we spend one nickel on new space, Lathrop said. While Ricketts had sold the new prison as a replacement for the penitentiary, Lathrop suggested the older facility will ultimately be repurposed for additional prisoner housing. Pressed by Lathrop on whether that was likely, Sabatka-Rine said its difficult to predict future capacity needs. Im closing the door, she said of the possibility. Im not locking the door. Lathrop said he still doesnt understand what happened to the Legislatures request for the halfway-back house. The idea behind the facility was to give parolees who commit technical violations a place to reset their lives short of having them returned to prison. Lathrop said he thought the directive was clear in both the legislation and in a subsequent meeting he held with Frakes. Instead, the department recently produced a report to create 96 beds of transitional housing for paroled inmates. Its not what we asked for, Lathrop said. And we could not have been clearer. LINCOLN On a recent Wednesday, Republican gubernatorial nominee Jim Pillen was speaking about his values to a group of roughly 40 members of the Rotary Club of Omaha at a local country club. It was one of three public events that he was scheduled to attend that day, which is at the low end of normal for Pillens daily schedule, according to a campaign staffer. In a typical day, Pillen can attend anywhere from three to six public events across Nebraska. When he began his campaign for governor, Pillen said he adopted a strategy to work harder, travel farther and meet more voters face to face than any of his opponents. That strategy hasnt changed as its taken him through a contentious GOP primary and into general election season. Rather than the traditional campaign events, such as candidate debates and large-scale public speeches, Pillen has favored smaller gatherings. Hes been criticized for the move, particularly his decision to ditch debates. His opponent in the Nov. 8 general election, State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue, called the move unconscionable. But Pillen said he believes hell have the greatest impact by meeting voters in more private settings, and he has traveled to every county in the state to do so. If you do nothing but large events, people might say they saw you, but they dont know you, Pillen said. Being a Republican in a conservative state like Nebraska gives Pillen an edge in the race against Blood, the Democratic nominee. However, topics like abortion have added another layer to this and other contests, with some speculating the issue may drive more Democratic voters to the polls. Pillen, a hog producer from Columbus who has served on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents since 2013, has loudly stated his anti-abortion beliefs since the start of his campaign. In materials released prior to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Pillen said he was 100% against abortion and would do everything he could to outlaw the murder of unborn babies in our state and protect the dignity of human life. At the Rotary Club meeting, Pillen said he would have called a special session this year to debate abortion legislation following the Supreme Court ruling in June, which Gov. Pete Ricketts did not do. Ricketts made that decision after 30 lawmakers an insufficient number to overcome a filibuster signed a letter supporting a special session to consider a 12-week ban. When asked multiple times whether he would support a full abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest, Pillen responded: Its about saving as many babies as possible. If elected, Pillen said his first move will be to reach out to members of the Nebraska Legislature. He said he wants to start an attitudinal change, to encourage lawmakers to serve the state, rather than their individual districts. He declined to say whether he saw this as a problem currently plaguing the Legislature. I think its a conversation, Pillen said. Pillens top priority in office would be to fix Nebraskas broken tax code and reduce property taxes. He hasnt provided many specifics on how he would do this, but at the Rotary Club meeting, Pillen elaborated, saying he would reduce government spending and limit the states inheritance tax, which applies to some people who inherit property and financial assets in Nebraska. Pillen said few people support the taxes. One group that does, however, is the Nebraska Association of County Officials, which testified against a proposal to reduce the tax last year. Proponents argue those tax dollars are used to reduce property taxes and costs of special projects. Transformative tax change is a big undertaking, and its going to require not only fiscal discipline at every level of government, but also an attitudinal change, Pillen said in a World-Herald candidate questionnaire. Tax reform has been a top priority among state leaders for many years Ricketts campaigned on similar principles but massive structural change has largely proven elusive. Earlier this year, the Legislature passed what Ricketts described as a historic $900 million tax package, but even that avoided fundamental structural reforms in favor of tax cuts and credits. Pillen also has made education funding an increasingly prominent pillar of his platform. He said that hes the only candidate who has talked about Nebraska children nonstop. Earlier this month, he proposed a major change in the states education funding formula, distributing financial aid on a per-student basis, rather than per district. Pillen has repeatedly claimed that the state doesnt give a penny to 158 of Nebraskas 244 school districts to justify the proposal. Its so non-Nebraskan that nobody they cant believe its true, Pillen said. But its true. However, this isnt quite true. The state does in fact provide funding to every school district. Pillens argument refers to equalization aid, which is currently provided to 86 districts as a form of equity. Pillens initial press release on this proposal mentions this. A Rotary Club member pressed Pillen about his proposal, asking why he felt it was fair to give the same funding to districts in different needs, comparing the needs of a school in Cherry County to one in North Omaha. Pillen said there are many areas of the state with high needs, but the states job is to provide equal funding to every district. North Omaha is not the only place in the state that has poverty and has needs, he said. Another top priority for Pillen is addressing the so-called brain drain, which refers to large numbers of educated young adults leaving Nebraska. Pillen said the state needs to do more to promote trade schools and to advertise the high-paying jobs available in Nebraska. He said if he becomes governor, he will become Nebraskas chief bragging officer. If elected, Pillen could have a big decision to make early in his term: who to appoint to U.S. Sen. Ben Sasses seat if the junior Nebraska senator resigns to lead the University of Florida as is expected. Ricketts has said that, should he choose to pursue the Senate seat, he would leave the decision to the next governor, rather than appoint himself. The news fueled speculation that Pillen would appoint Ricketts to the seat. The governor is a key political ally of Pillen. Even before endorsing him in what became a rancorous GOP primary, Ricketts backed Pillen in his push as a Nebraska regent last year to ban the imposition of critical race theory an effort that narrowly failed. In the primary, a crowded field of Republicans largely came down to Pillen and two other candidates: Conklin Co. CEO Charles W. Herbster, who had the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, and Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha. Along with his endorsement, Ricketts donated $100,000 directly to Pillens campaign and paid nearly $1.3 million to a PAC called Conservative Nebraska, which ran attack ads against his opponents. The connections between Ricketts and Pillen fueled attacks in the primary that Pillen lacked independence. Both men dismissed the characterizations, saying they had mutual admiration for each other. Still, that line of criticism has persisted, with some Democrats describing Pillen as Ricketts puppet. Rotary Club member Bill Harvey said the two seem different enough from what hes seen at the three Pillen campaign events that he has attended. He said Pillen would bring a fresh mindset as governor, and said he likes that Pillen has promised the run the state like a business. Hes his own person, Harvey said. Regarding the potential Senate appointment, Pillen declined to say who he was considering after being asked about it multiple times at the Rotary Club meeting. Pillen indicated he was focusing on more immediate issues for the time being. The best thing I can say is theres still a lot of water to run down the river, he said. 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. How Time Flies is a daily feature looking back at Pantagraph archives to revisit what was happening in our community and region. 100 years ago Oct. 19, 1922: Scarlet fever is breaking out in Bloomington, but the cases so far have been mild. Ten places are now under quarantine by the city health department. Most of the patients are children. Other serious communicable diseases are not prevalent here now. There is one case of diphtheria, and one patient recently died of this disease. Read the story. 75 years ago Oct. 19, 1947: The homecoming keg of Illinois Wesleyan University, which becomes the possession of the first organization that wins the annual competitive contests three times, was presented to Phi Mu Alpha, national music fraternity, at intermission ceremonies of the homecoming dance. The fraternity compiled 11 points by winning the house decorations and float contests and receiving third place in the Greek Sing of the music school. Read the story. 50 years ago Oct. 19, 1972: By a tie vote, the Board of Regents refused to support the concept of pilot plans to test doctor of arts degree programs as a means of training junior college and four-year college teachers. Meeting on the Illinois State University campus, the regents voted at the conclusion of a two-hour discussion on the new type of doctoral degree program proposed for ISU and Northern Illinois University. No doctor of arts degrees are currently offered by either private or public universities or colleges in Illinois. Read the story. 25 years ago Oct. 19, 1997: An annual autumn hunt for marijuana dubbed "Operation Cash Crop" yielded a half-dozen truck loads of plants from marijuana groves throughout McLean County. The "mother lode" was found in an overgrown weed field on Bloomington's southeast edge. Hidden within were dozens of robust marijuana plants, some 8 feet tall with stalks 5 inches in diameter. A multi-agency task force worked on the federally funded search-and-destroy mission. Read the story. Wisconsin furniture retailer Steinhafels will renovate vacant space in Orland Park Place shopping center in Orland Park, including a former Bed, Bath & Beyond, for a new store slated to open in early 2024. (Mike Nolan / Daily Southtown) Wisconsin-based furniture retailer Steinhafels plans a 97,000-square-foot store in Orland Park, aided by a sales tax sharing agreement of up to $2 million approved by the village Monday. The company will remodel spaces at Orland Park Place shopping center formerly occupied by former Bed Bath & Beyond and clothing and housewares retailer SteinMart. Advertisement Steinhafels hopes to have the store open by early 2024 and expects to spend more than $8.6 million to renovate the space and make parking lot improvements, according to the company. Orland Park Place is on the east side of La Grange Road, south of 151st Street and south of Orland Square. Advertisement The sales tax sharing agreement calls for Steinhafels to receive a maximum of 25% of its project costs, up to $2 million, from sales tax revenue collected from the store. The money could be rebated to the retailer over a period of no more than 10 years. The agreement requires that Steinhafels begin work on the store by May 1 of next year, and the company has indicated it will take a year to complete renovations. Founded in Milwaukee in 1934, the employee-owned company has Chicago-area stores in Crystal Lake, Downers Grove and Vernon Hills. Steinhafels is also planning a distribution center in Bolingbrook. The sales tax incentive for Steinhafels is a redevelopment tool the village had established to attract new tenants to vacant commercial spaces. Bed Bath & Beyond and SteinMart closed their Orland Park stores in late 2020. Mayor Keith Pekau said such larger spaces are very challenging to fill. The pool of companies that can move into these spaces, most of them are here already, is very small, he said. Advertisement Pekau said the village already has an auto row, referencing the multiple vehicle dealerships along 159th Street, and said the addition of Steinhafels becomes part of furniture row on La Grange Road. Other furniture outlets along the street include Ashley Furniture, Bobs Discount Furniture, Darvin Furniture, Penny Mustard and Walter E. Smithe. We are confident that our Orland Park Steinhafels will deliver a furniture shopping experience unseen in this area, Fred Schweinert, Steinhafels vice president of sales, said in a news release Tuesday. Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > The company also said Tuesday it plans a store in Harwood Heights, and expects the 110,000-square-foot distribution center in Bolingbrook to be open by next fall. The company said it will be a merchandise pickup site for Chicago-area stores. This new distribution center will expand us further into Illinois, enhancing our reach, speed, and availability for all of our stores, while helping us control operational expenses to serve our Illinois customers, John Haas, vice president of operations, was quoted in the news release. Rainbow Cone The Village Board also gave the green light for Rainbow Cone to repurpose a vacant Bakers Square restaurant, 15711 Harlem Ave., for an ice cream shop expected to open early next year. Advertisement Rainbow Cone plans to convert a shuttered Bakers Square in Orland Park into an ice cream shop. (Mike Nolan / Daily Southtown) The store will have a drive-through lane and operate from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. A new patio facing Harlem is also planned. Since partnering with the owners of Buona Beef, Rainbow Cone and Buona have opened combination stores in Darien, Harwood Heights and Skokie. It was not immediately clear if the Orland Park outlet will also be a combination store. The original Rainbow Cone store is in Chicagos Beverly community, 9233 S. Western Ave. mnolan@tribpub.com BLOOMINGTON A new cafe is coming to Main Street as part of Red Raccoon Games' expansion in downtown Bloomington. "We're really just building a name for being mobile and having small locations," said Zeta Coffee owner Joel Aper. "Red Raccoon will be our first home and we have a few partnerships that we're finalizing, but we're beyond excited for this." Local business owners and community members gathered Tuesday as Red Raccoon Games broke ground for its new location in the Main Place building at 301 N. Main St., next to the stores current location at 309 N. Main St. Zeta Coffee will also set up shop in the new space, with a cart offering beverages including coffees, teas, boba teas and their own crafted sodas. Aper said he focuses on weddings and private events, but plans to have the in-store location open throughout the day, keeping the same hours as Red Raccoon. They will have a pass-through window on some nights to serve coffee to customers on the sidewalk. As for Red Raccoon, its retail space will grow from about 2,000 square feet to 3,200, and the in-store game play area is to go from 1,200 square feet to 3,500. This follows an approved agreement with store owner Jamie Mathy and the Bloomington City Council that allowed him to remodel and move into the new location, while also adding 5,500-square-foot retail spaces that could accommodate two businesses. I really can't even imagine opening somewhere that wasn't in downtown, Mathy said. "We've always leased space from somebody else, and now we get to have our business and own the building too so we can make our imprint and make sure that we're preserving downtown Bloomington." Mathy said the building has been empty for 13 years, and its been even longer since it has had any significant work or remodeling done. The renovation will update the sprinkler system and the elevator, making the 8,500-square-foot basement ADA-accessible. "In our current shop, I love the fact that we have that classic stairwell ... however, that stairwell causes a lot of issues with how people move through the space," Mathy said. "I'm very happy that our stairwell will be off to the side. It seems like such a little thing, but it will make a huge difference for people moving around the space." Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe said it is exciting to see downtown Bloomington come alive with new businesses, along with the streetscape improvement that will invest $25 million to $30 million in projects while focusing on downtown's inner "beltloop." "We've always seen great potential in downtown and now it's more and more alive every day," Mwilambwe said. "I look forward to our downtown streetscape plan, hopefully by sometime in July or August we will have something concrete for us to consider, and then we can start planning for the next steps." Mathy stepped down as Ward 1 alderman in March, the same day he was notified that his project could be a conflict of interest under Illinois law. Grant Walch was later appointed to fill the seat during a May council meeting. Red Raccoon is expected to invest almost $1.6 million into the Main Plaza property, and to make it financially feasible, an incentive package was made to provide municipal sales and city property tax reimbursements. Red Raccoon will also receive 12 parking passes at no cost for the Market Street parking garage. Through the rebate, 50% of the municipal sales tax generated by Red Raccoon Games over six years will be reimbursed to Mathys LLCs, Forgetful Friends and Bowties and Fezzes, with the other 50% going to the city. As for the two other retail spaces, 100% of the municipal sales tax generated by new businesses in those spaces would be reimbursed to Red Raccoon over six years, but is contingent on those businesses being new to the city. The tax incentive payments will be made until Mathy's business has received $196,900 or until the agreement ends on March 31, 2029. All of the city's portion of the property tax for the Main Plaza property will be abated for six years. "Hats off to the businesses who have invested in downtown and the property owners," said Charlie Moore, president and CEO of the McLean County Chamber of Commerce. "This is a great opportunity to have something physically noticeable for people as they drive past and see the thrill of the building." The other two businesses would be issued four of the 12 parking spaces two each as part of the agreement. As for now, Mathy said they are working with Workbench Architects to finalize plans, and Catalyst Construction to hopefully start construction in November. They plan to move into Main Plaza by June or July 2023. SPRINGFIELD Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Republican challenger state Sen. Darren Bailey met Tuesday night for their second and final debate ahead of the Nov. 8 general election. The debate, in the studios of WGN-TV in Chicago and carried statewide in all other television markets, came as polling showed Pritzker, a billionaire heir to the Hyatt Hotel fortune, with a commanding lead over the southern Illinois farmer and lawmaker. Campaign finance reports also showed the incumbent with a huge funding advantage, mostly from his own wealth. Bailey continued hammering Pritzker over issues including crime, education and state spending while Pritzker continued to cast Bailey as a conservative extremist who criticizes the state but has no plan for how to solve any problems. Throughout the campaign, Bailey has frequently criticized Chicago for its high crime rate, its history of corruption and its underperforming schools, at times calling it a hellhole and comparing it to the OK Corral. He continued those assaults Tuesday and said Pritzker was directly to blame for those problems, although he didnt directly respond to the moderators question as to what his plan would be to solve them. I've got a new name for Chicago. I'm gonna call it Pritzkerville because every one of Gov. Pritzkers extreme policies are destroying the city, Bailey said. Out of control crime, devastated education, the fact that corporations are packing up and leaving every day. Pritzker, meanwhile, defended his first term in office by highlighting his fiscal management, legislative policy agenda and his responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. After years of mismanagement, I've balanced four budgets in a row, paid off all the state's overdue bills, gotten six credit upgrades. And that's allowed me to provide $1.8 billion in gas, grocery, property and income tax relief for working families, he said. I've also raised the minimum wage to a livable wage, and I protected a woman's right to choose. And I did all that while fighting a deadly global pandemic, saving lives and livelihoods. I've done my job. Tuesdays debate came one day after the Illinois Broadcasters Association released a new poll showing Pritzker with a 22-point lead in the race among registered voters. The political handicapping website FiveThirtyEight, which aggregates data from multiple polls, estimates his average lead across those polls at 15.7 percentage points. It also came on the heels of the latest quarterly campaign finance reports that showed Pritzker, who is largely self-funding his campaign, spending $38.5 million over the previous three months compared to Baileys $1.6 million. Crime and poverty Much of the debate focused on crime, particularly in Chicagos lower-income and minority neighborhoods, something Bailey blamed on the nations immigration system. I think first and foremost, we need to deal with our southern border, and we need to get that under control and stop the inflow of illegal activity, he said. Because what that is bringing, it's bringing gang violence, its bringing sex trafficking, it's bringing drug trafficking. It's a mess and we've got to deal with that. He went on to criticize Chicagos status as a sanctuary city while saying Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot seem perfectly fine on all of this rampant crime. Pritzker responded by saying his administration is the first in nine years to fund the gang crime witness protection program and that he has also increased funding for the state police and upgrading its DNA laboratory. But he also said high crime rates are not unique to Chicago. Look. There's no doubt during COVID we've seen crime increase all across the nation, and Chicago and the rest of the state (are) no exceptions, Pritzker said. But we've got to stand up for our state police, invest in police. Darren Bailey voted against all of those things. He's got no plan. The two also sparred over the SAFE-T Act, the sweeping 2021 criminal justice reform law that includes a provision that will end cash bail starting Jan. 1, 2023, replacing it with a system in which the decision to detain people in jail while they await trial is based on factors other than their ability to post bond. His SAFE-T Act is going to let prisoners out of jail. It's a revolving door on all of our jail cells across Illinois, Bailey said. But Pritzker fired back by saying, 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. Education spending Bailey has been a frequent critic of increased state spending under the Pritzker administration and has suggested the budget contains tens of billions of dollars of wasteful spending, although he has offered few specific plans other than getting rid of waste in state agencies. He has also said he would use zero-based budgeting, a term that generally means requiring agencies to justify every dollar they spend rather than basing budgets on prior years spending. On Tuesday, though, he identified public school spending as one area in which the state could make significant cuts. What I stand for is getting rid of the administrative bloat that exists in our schools, he said. Chicago public schools spend $29,000 per student in their failed education. And Gov. Pritzker wants to give them more money. We have got to hold our schools and our spending accountable. Pritzker, however, pointed out that cutting state spending would result in increases in local property taxes, which are the primary source of funding for public schools. And he attacked Bailey for establishing a private, religious school in southern Illinois that uses textbooks from a controversial publisher. He shouldn't be let anywhere near education policy or education funding, Pritzker said. He runs a school that teaches kids that women are inferior to men and that slave owners were good to their slaves. That prompted Bailey to interrupt and say, thats too far. But Pritzker was given time to continue. The fact is that Darren Bailey has proven that he would be dangerous for our kids, for parents, for communities if he were put in charge of public education, he said. We need to make sure that he doesn't come anywhere near the governor's office. Bailey then responded to the governors charges. That school is not political to me, and I'm not bringing it into this campaign, he said. And I don't know where that's at if it was ever in that curriculum, but it is JB Pritzker who's bringing CRT issues and cultural issues into our schools. CRT, short for critical race theory, references an educational framework aimed at analyzing the role race plays in the legal system and American history, but it is not required in Illinois law or statewide curriculum. Abortion Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade earlier this year, giving states more leeway to regulate abortion, reproductive rights have become a central issue in campaigns across the country, including in Illinois where access to abortion was declared a fundamental right in the 2019 Reproductive Health Act. Bailey has been an outspoken opponent of abortion, and Pritzker has frequently called him an extremist on the issue, suggesting Bailey would seek to impose a ban on the procedure. But Bailey has denied that and said Tuesday that it would be a fools errand to pursue such a policy through the Democratic-controlled General Assembly. The state for 30 years, Democrats have had a stranglehold on our legislative process, he said. I've told people time and time again, I commit to unifying. He was then interrupted several times by the moderator who insisted on firm commitment, to which Bailey said, Its not going to happen. Darren Bailey wants to ban abortion in Illinois, Pritzker said. He wants to jail doctors and jail women who are seeking to exercise their reproductive rights. I have stood my whole life for women exercising their rights, especially their reproductive rights. We've got to make sure that Illinois is a haven for women all across our state so that they can exercise those rights and make sure that their doctors are not in prison, either in Illinois or anywhere else in the nation. Despite four or five people who, each month, write slanted and biased letters of opinion to the Pantagraph, I believe most folks recognize when political bias, rather than logic and facts, is being presented, and they just move on. But when someone writes, How in the world did we get here? 57% of the voters approved it in 1970. Section 5 in the (Illinois) consistitution states that the retirement benefits can never be reduced. Even though times have changed and the pension benefits were becoming so overwhelming, our government could not keep up, it was enshrined by the Illinois Constitution and could not be debated or corrected, it is important to actually answer the question of how we got here and it wasnt because of unions. Unions are simply workers who join forces to avoid exploitation of employers. The truth is, in 1994, Illinois governor enacted legislation that pushed state pension contributions far into the future through 2045. Since then, Illinois politicians have borrowed, skipped payments and taxed funded pensions rather than seek difficult comprehensive reforms. As a result, the states pension shortfall has skyrocketed to $141 billion. The government was not overwhelmed; they diverted the funds. The Illinois constitution actually can be debated and changed by Congress - through a joint resolution passed by a two-thirds vote. But politicians would have to convince those who have paid into the pension system for their entire careers (downstate and suburban teachers, state employees, state-university employees, judges, Illinois lawmakers, police, firemen, and municipal workers, and the ten pension funds that affect Chicago and Cook County workers) why they should vote to lose their pension funds in lieu of raising taxes on the wealthy. Dont punish people for politicians who steal their (and your) hard-earned money. Know the facts. Roger Garrett, Bloomington Scott Preston is the right person to represent us in the newly drawn 91st District of the Illinois House of Representatives. He will be prepared to represent his constituents in the multiple areas of state government legislation. He is not a single issue candidate. He knows our area well from his experience of serving on the Normal Town Council, from serving on community boards and committees, and from having grown up in this part of Illinois. Please join me on November 8 by voting for Scott Preston for state representative in the 91st District. Leading brand communications network, Ogilvy Africa, has continued to cement its position as a leading creative agency in the continent by bagging another global award at the 12th Edition of the London International Awards (LIA) held in Las Vegas, USA. Ogilvy Africa was awarded a Bronze Statue in the Health and Wellness, Product Design Category. This is the fourth time this year that Ogilvy Africas creativity is being celebrated on the world stage, having previously won at the prestigious Festival de Cannes, D & AD Awards and Loeries Africa & Middle East Awards. The bronze was also the first-ever metal won by a Kenyan creative agency at the LIA. The recognition is for the creative agencys innovative Lesso Lessons project which was launched in March in partnership with Roto Tank and Kenyas Ministry of Health (MoH). The project aims to use traditional patterned cloth wraps Lessos to educate young Kenyan mothers in rural areas on proper postnatal nutritional care. Commenting on the award, Vikas Mehta, CEO Ogilvy Africa said, Another first for he region is another reason for all of Africa to be proud. Ogilvy Africa is humbled in this recognition and it helps strengthen our teams resolve to create more work that puts Africa on the world map. We are grateful to LIA and the support from Roto and MoH, through this journey. Heril Bangera, CEO Roto Tanks, said this is recognition that the private sector can also play an impactful role in solving day-to-day problems of the communities they are operating in. We are grateful to Ogilvy Africa for partnering with us to deliver this campaign in a memorable and impactful way. Barbara Levy, President of LIA, said, This is the first time that an agency in Kenya has won a statue in Health & Wellness. And we couldnt be happier. We always love seeing emerging countries win statues as we know that creative talent resides all over the world. Our heartiest congratulations to Ogilvy Kenya! We hope to see more work from Kenya next year. In total, 754 LIA statues and 230 finalists were awarded to 45 countries with the United States leading with 254 wins, followed by Germany with 81, the United Kingdom with 53 and India with 37 statue winners. Ogilvy Africas entry also made it to the finals in the Non-Traditional, Fashion Category at the LIA. LIA is one of the worlds most prestigious Global Award Shows honouring Advertising, Data, Digital, Technology, Design, Package Design, Radio, Production, Health & Wellness, Pharma & Medical, Creativity In PR, Innovation, Creative Business Transformation, Creativity In The Metaverse and other related industries. LIA is also listed as one of only five global shows in the WARC Creative 100 Ranking. 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 Head of Communications and Public Education at the Food and Drugs Authority, Mrs. Rhoda Awurabena Appiah, has cautioned Ghanaians against the dangers associated with the usage of aphrodisiacs to arouse sexual instincts. Speaking with Peace FM News reporter, Gifty Akoto, she explained that before any drug is being taken, one must make sure it is vetted and approved by the FDA. She said these kinds of drugs have not been vetted hence causing harm to the body. She explained further that they have recorded lots of cases with aphrodisiacs and that it is because of the chemical substances it contains to boost sexual drives which are dangerous to the bodys vital organs such as; the heart, kidney and others. She also added that due to the arousal of the sexual drive, its substances turn to be harmful to the organs which once it is damaged, these organs can be difficult to repair. Mrs. Appiah advised men who are suffering from sexual weakness to seek professional healthcare advice from certified Doctors instead of just purchasing any unprescribed drug. A Consultant Urologist at the Kumasi South Hospital, Dr. Samuel Amanamah, has cautioned men against the usage of Aphrodisiacs. He explained that even though aphrodisiacs can give your desired results, there are dangers associated with it which can result in kidney and liver implications which can be difficult to treat once it gets destroyed as a result of aphrodisiacs usage. He explained further that they have had several cases of the usages of aphrodisiacs such as death and stroke. Dr. Samuel Amanamah advised that after such drugs are taken, they can make the manhood stand for about a day or two, a week or more and when this happens, the manhood is unable to function again. He added that some men die as a result of taking this hard drugs for sexual boost and die in the process. He, therefore, advised men who need to boost their sexual performance to seek professional healthcare instead of resulting to self-medication. Source: Gifty Akoto, Peace FM News Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Justice Barbara Frances Ackah-Yensu, a nominee to the Supreme Court, is of the view that Ghana could use the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism to resolve galamsey issues in the country. According to her, the ADR Act has some exceptions for environmental matters which will have to be looked at again so that it could be applied in resolving issues of galamsey. Justice Ackah-Yensu was answering a question from the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu when she appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Tuesday, October 18, 2022. Haruna Iddrisu asked the Court of Appeal: "my first expectation of you is galamsey, are you aware of the havoc galamsey is wrecking on our country, on our environment, on our water bodies? What do you think should be the judicial attitude to fighting galamsey?" Justice Ackah-Yensu responded: if I heard you right, you are asking about the judicial attitude and therefore speaking as a judicial officer, we will determine if any case comes before us on the harmful nature of galamsey, we will look at the particular circumstances of each case and apply the law and make the determination. "But as a proponent of ADR, I think that the exception of environmental matters in the ADR Act probably will have to be looked at again so that we can try applying ADR mechanisms in resolving... Haruna Iddrisu then asked again, "are you recommending galamsey as the candidate for ADR resolution of the havoc that it causes to our water bodies?" Justice Ackah-Yensu answered, To an extent yes. Haruna Iddrisu: "Even as we see our water bodies polluted?" Justice Ackah-Yensu: "There will definitely be a legal aspect. Haruna Iddrisu: "What will ADR do to the resolution of those matters?" Justice Ackah-Yensu: "ADR will come in between the communities and the perpetrators if they are made to sit together and have a conversation. Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Joseph Osei Owusu then came in and asked the nominee if she is familiar with any community where galamsey is prevalent. Justice Ackah-Yensu: My Lord unfortunately not. I have not been to any community where galamsey is taking place. Joe Osei Owusu: Have you ever adjudicated a matter involving the issues of galamsey? Justice Ackah-Yensu: Honourable Chairman, no I have not; not yet 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 A nominee for the Supreme Court, Justice Barbara Frances Ackah-Ayensu, has urged Parliament to examine the existing laws on death penalty and make a determination on its removal or otherwise. She said the prisons had a number of people on death row because their death warrant had not been signed. For a very long time there have been no executions and so there may be the need to review the situation, the nominee said when she appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament in Accra yesterday for vetting. Justice Ackah-Yensu is the first of four Justices the President has appointed to the Supreme Court. The rest are Justice George Kingsley Koomson, Justice of the Court of Appeal; Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu Asiedu, Justice of the Court of Appeal, and Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu, Justice of the High Court. Response Responding to a question on whether capital punishment must be abolished or not, Justice Ackah-Yensu said as a Christian, she did not believe in life for life, but that the laws of the land were paramount. I am bound to follow the law as a judicial officer, based on the evidence before me, but speaking as a person and Christian, I do not believe in life for life, she added. The nominee, however, said if her conviction and her faith were at variance with the law, the circumstances of the case would be a determinant, adding that she would recuse herself if the issue was something she felt so strongly about. On issues of gay rights, she said I will deal with them on a case by case basis because most of the time we apply the law and not personal morality against the law. Responding to a question on the dwindling trust of the citizenry in the judicial system, Justice Ackah-Yensu said she disagreed with that perception and called for a scientific way of determining the loss of confidence in the system as a nation. She said when allegations were made against the Judiciary, people did not usually distinguish between the Judicial Service and the Judiciary, saying a line must be drawn between the two. On alternative dispute resolution (ADR), said it was unfortunate that although the law supported the establishment of centres for its implementation, the centres were not being set up. Legal Council Answering a question on the directive by the General Legal Council (GLC) to students not to request for the re-marking of their examination papers, among others, Justice Ackah-Yensu said: I cannot conclude that the undertaken is unconstitutional, neither can I say it is arbitrary. She said since there was a provision for aggrieved persons to take the matter up, she believed it was appropriate to do so. And on whether the GLC must be reformed to make it purely administrative, she said the issue needed a broad stakeholder consultation. On the need to ensure that issues concerning elections ended with the Electoral Commission to minimise the number of electoral petitions at the apex court, she said: The possible situation should be that all should end at the EC, but every citizen has a constitutional right and, therefore, one cannot stop anyone from going to court. Justice Ackah-Yensu, however, added that if we feel there must be some laws to guide the EC, it's up to the legislature. Unanimous rulings On her view on the unanimous rulings during the recent election petition at the Supreme Court, the nominee said the perception was due to a lack of understanding of how the courts work. According to her, she would want to be remembered for ground-breaking decisions at the Supreme Court as a judge with integrity and fairness who is also fearless and courageous. Justice Ackah-Yensu further said she did not believe that judgments necessarily went in favour of the appointing authority. I don't have access to the data that went into these findings, but suffice it to say that from my experience, I do not think decisions of judges necessarily go in favour of the appointing authority. Some are coincidents, she said. 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 When she first appeared in court on October 10, 2022, on the charge of charlatanic advertisement, she refused to respond to any other name except Rev. Dr Patricia Oduro Asiedua. When the court clerk called out her name, Patricia Oduro Asiedua, there was a loud silence in the courtroom. Even when she was prompted to respond, she said that was not her name. Rather, her full name was Rev. Dr Patricia Oduro Asiedua. That is how Nana Agradaa or Evangelist Mama Pat extended her celebrity status on social media to the courtroom. The Founder of the Heaven Way Champion International Ministry at Weija in Accra is on a GH50,000 bail with three sureties over an alleged money doubling scam. But the former priestess, now self-styled evangelist, will remain in custody because she is facing a second charge at a different Circuit Court on one count of charlatanic advertisement and five counts of defrauding by false pretence, where she has been remanded to reappear on October 26, 2022. In the advert, the prosecution said, she invited members of the public to attend an all-night service at her church to have their money doubled. The complainants and over 1,000 others attended the said all-night service and, upon the request of the accused person, handed over huge sums of money to the accused, but she failed to double the money as she had claimed, the prosecutor told the court. She has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against her at the court, presided over by Samuel Bright Acquah. Slippery with law Nana Agradaa has been very slippery with the law despite several complaints of fraud against her. Despite her current brushes with the law, Nana Agradaa appears unperturbed about the consequences of the charges against her. This is not the first time the celebrity priestess has fallen foul of the law. She was arrested in April 2021 after a joint team from the police and the National Security, in collaboration with the National Communications Authority, raided the premises of her two TV stations at Kasoa in the Central Region to seize equipment used in the transmission of television signals from both stations. Her arrest was part of an operation that led to the closure of 49 television stations in the country on a single day. She was subsequently sentenced by an Accra Circuit Court to a fine of GH36,000 for operating a television channel without licence and displaying charlatanic materials, after pleading guilty. GH30 billion suit On July 7 this year, gospel musician Joyce Blessing allegedly sued Nana Agradaa for GH30 billion for releasing her private video and defaming her personality with that. That was after Joyce Blessing in a video shared online was seen mocking Nana Agradaa because her husband had allegedly ditched her to do other things. But Nana Agradaa angrily came on social media to blast her for having the effrontery to mock her. Owusu Bempah beef Nana Agradaa, on Thursday, March 3, 2022, stormed the Accra Circuit Court to testify against Rev. Isaac Owusu Bempah, the Leader of the Glorious Word Power Ministries International. In that case, Nana Agradaa was a victim of an alleged assault and misconduct perpetrated by Owusu Bempah. Owusu Bempah and his accomplices faced the law for what the police described as "offensive conduct conducive to breach of peace and threat of death" following their arrest on September 13, 2021. The two people have been fighting each other for some time now which even forced Owusu Bempah to storm the house of Nana Agradaa with his boys. Tying knot with pastor The story of a woman dealing with deities tying the knot with a pastor seems absurd in the ears and eyes of many Ghanaians. This is what has compelled popular priestess, Nana Agradaa, to tell her story. According to Nana Agradaa, what many didnt know is the fact that she started dating her husband at her younger age but they had to part ways later when her grandmother died and she was next to succeed her in the fetish world. Nana Agradaa explained that, " it is not that he was a pastor who met a fetish priest and wanted to marry her". They started seeing each other during their juvenile age. According to her, she was in JHS (called JSS in those days) actively participating in a volleyball competition when she set eyes on him. She noticed that her husband threw a toffee called Chupa Chops on the volleyball pitch. All of a sudden she lost focus and began faltering in her play. Nana Agradaa said when the time came for her to become a priestess, he didn't like it so they separated. She continued that she was the one who later asked her husband to reunite with her because she needed a man in her life. 'sika gari' deity On Tuesday, April 27, 2021, Nana Agradaa said she had converted to Christianity. She, therefore, visited her shrine on Thursday, April 29, 2021, with some pastors to destroy her deities. 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 Last fall, Tinley Park resident Rick Bruno was walking his dog and reflecting on the difficult few months he went through when the idea came to him: Go to Spain and walk the Camino de Santiago. The Camino de Santiago is a vast network of ancient pilgrim routes that stretch across Europe that meet at the tomb of St. James, which is Santiago in Spanish. Advertisement Everyone has their reason for doing it, Bruno said. I approached this as a pilgrimage, in the truest sense of the word. Rick Bruno, left, and Dan Murphy complete the nearly 500 mile Camino de Santiago in 34 days. They started the pilgrimage Aug. 25, and finished Sept. 29. (Dan Murphy) The most popular route is known as the Camino Frances, which is nearly 500 miles from St. Jean Pied de Port in France to the tomb of St. James, Bruno said. He said he first learned about the pilgrimage after watching The Way a few years ago. Advertisement Bruno, a retired commander with the Tinley Park Police Department, invited his friend Dan Murphy, of Palos Park, to join him. The men, both 67, and another friend decided to do the walk. They began the pilgrimage Aug. 25. The first day is known to be the hardest, Murphy said, because the trail goes over the Pyrenees Mountains, which border France and Spain. That trek the first day is something that were unaccustomed to, Murphy said. After the first day, they stopped in Orisson, France, to rest, Murphy said, after walking about five miles mostly uphill through the mountains. Bruno said it was kind of from necessity they stopped. Rick Bruno and Dan Murphy walking the Camino de Santiago from France to Spain. (Rick Bruno) It wasnt a hard decision because I couldnt put one foot in front of the other at that point, Bruno said. After the fourth day of walking, Bruno said he was dehydrated and needed to take a bus on the fifth day to the next destination town to recover. Every night, they stayed in hostels with other people walking the pilgrimage, Murphy said. The hostels, which were inexpensive, reminded Murphy of military barracks, with bunk beds, a communal room and modest bathrooms. Advertisement They started walking around 7 each morning, Bruno said. Along the route and in the hostels, Murphy said they met a lot of people, most of whom were retired or at a crossroads in their life: just finished college, recently widowed, between jobs. They met a woman from Canada whose husband died after a long illness and she decided to do the Camino to think about whats next now that shes alone, Bruno said. They met a man from England who was walking to raise money for a charity after a rugby player he knew was diagnosed with a debilitating disease. One major reason Murphy decided to go on the Camino, he said, was to honor his friend Mark Toth, who died unexpectedly earlier this year. At the Cruz de Ferro, where a cross stands along the path, walkers leave stones to symbolize the release of a burden or to honor someone. Murphy said he laid an engraved stone with Mark Toths name. The Cruz de Ferro, a cross with many stones under it, is a place where those walking leave a stone to symbolize releasing a burden or honoring someone. Dan Murphy left an engraved stone to honor his friend, Mark Toth, who died unexpectedly earlier this year. (Rick Bruno) Bruno said he told members of his church he would see Cruz de Ferro, and he took rocks from a few parishioners to lay at the cross. Watching his son go through a difficult divorce wrecked Bruno emotionally, he said. He said he decided last year to go on the Camino to give gratitude to God for getting through that period in his life. The views were beautiful, Bruno said, and he most remembers the farms with cows, sheep and other animals. The trail shifted, Murphy said, and some days they walked on pavement, others on gravel or dirt. Advertisement About two-thirds into the journey, there was a day where the final two miles were uphill. Murphy said he hit a physical and mental wall and questioned why he decided to do the pilgrimage. Bruno said he helped Murphy get through that day, just like Murphy helped him in previous days. At one point, I remember telling you Someday, were going to laugh about this, Dan, and he said Not today. Today is not that day, Bruno recalled. Views along the Camino de Santiago, where people walk from various points to the tomb of St. James, which is Santiago in Spanish, in Spain. (Rick Bruno) Bruno said the most challenging moment was walking downhill from the Cruz de Ferro because the motion was difficult for his legs and knees. The Camino taught them to go at their own pace, Murphy said, and to trust the path in front of them. They would start walking together, but there were many times when Murphy walked ahead and Bruno took time to take pictures and look at the nature around them. Other times, the arrows marking the trail were worn down so they had to question which direction to go or look if there were others walking ahead. Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > For about the last five miles, walkers can see the cathedral with the tomb of St. James, Bruno said. Advertisement I got choked up, he said. The inside of the cathedral with the tomb of St. James where walkers end their pilgrimage. (Dan Murphy) Most walkers go to Mass at the cathedral following their pilgrimage, and Bruno and Murphy attended the following day. They finished the pilgrimage Sept. 29, which meant they completed the journey in 34 days with two days off. The pilgrimage is like The Wizard of Oz, Murphy said, because those walking form a bond with new people along the path. Its also like high school, Bruno said, in that the walkers form a bond but likely wont see each other again. Their advice: Do the pilgrimage. Practically, Bruno said his advice would be to do the pilgrimage before age 67. Murphy said to take a good pair of shoes and train a little bit ahead of time. Whenever youre at a decision point in your life and it involves should I do it or shouldnt I do it, do it because the rewards are often great, Murphy said. Here, the rewards were great not only because of the success when you ended ... but you also have the memory. The presiding judge in the Mankessim murder case, Bernice Mensimah Ackon, has asked the prosecutors in the case to provide the court with more concrete evidence on the next adjourned date. The case was adjourned to November 8, 2022 to allow the police time for further investigations. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Daniel Gadzo gave the assurance that the police would provide the court with more vital evidence on the next adjourned date. Outside the court, emotions flared, which nearly resulted in exchange of fisticuffs between family members of the deceased and some relatives of the accused persons. The family members of the accused also exchanged words with the media personnel when the journalists attempted to take pictures of the accused persons. DSP Daniel Gadzo told the court that the police were conducting further investigation and appealed to the court for adjournment. The three accused persons, including the Tufuhen of Ekumfi Akwakrom, Christopher Clark Quansah, Michael Darko, a self-styled pastor, and Jonathan Obeng, a mason, are before the court for the murder of Georgina Aso Botchwey, a prospective student nurse. Abducted Initial police investigations so far indicated that Georgina had come to Cape Coast from Yeji for admission to the Ankaful Nurses Training College but was lured and abducted by Darko, who is also a fiance of her sister to Akwakrom near Mankessim. She was later taken to an uncompleted building belonging to Quansah, who killed and buried her. The two were arrested for the murder of a prospective student nurse and appeared in court on September 22, 2022 in Cape Coast, charged with conspiracy to commit crime to wit murder, and murder contrary to section 46 of the Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1980, Act 29. Killings suspected Later, police investigations established that one Gloria Yeboah, a resident of Obokrom in Kumasi, was also lured by the two to Accra on June 17, 2022 on the pretext of helping her to travel abroad but lured to Mankessim where they killed and buried her. The police later amended their case to include Obeng who was picked for digging the grave in which Georgina was buried. The victims brother, Alfred Doudo, admitted to the media that they were gradually accepting the death of Georgina. He also indicated that they were satisfied with the proceedings and were optimistic that justice would be served. 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 Hundreds of buildings within the Sakumo Ramsar Site in Tema will go down today in a demolition exercise meant to free the site of encroachment. The exercise will be carried out by the National Security, in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Greater Accra Regional Security Council (REGSEC), within the buffer zone of the Ramsar site, in accordance with Section 97 of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936). Section 97 of Act 936 empowers the local assembly to ensure enforcement against unauthorised development of community right of space. The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, who made this known yesterday[October 18, 2022], said the demolition exercise was part of an ongoing exercise to reclaim encroached state lands and also protect Ramsar sites from destruction. He said the illegal occupants of the Ramsar site had been given more than 70 days notice but they remained recalcitrant, so the only way out was to pull down the structures. "Anytime we speak, they go ahead and build with impunity, and that cannot continue. We are going all out to ensure that buildings that are sited in the core part of the Ramsar site are removed," he stressed. Crunch meeting He said this at a crunch stakeholders meeting ahead of the demolition exercise. The meeting was meant to court the support of traditional authorities from the Tema and the Nungua Traditional councils for the exercise. The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources in charge of Forestry, Benito Owusu-Bio, was at the meeting, which was also attended by officials from the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) within the Tema enclave, officials of the Tema Development Corporation (TDC), as well as the Greater Accra REGSEC and the Tema West Municipal Security Council (MUSEC). No permits granted Officials of the TDC, led by its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Abena Ofori-Atta, said the corporation had not given out any land within the Ramsar site to anyone to build. Similarly, officials of the Tema West Municipal Assembly denied ever issuing building permits to anyone to put up structures within the site. The traditional authorities also said they had not signed any land documents for anyone in respect of the area. Investigations Against that backdrop, Mr Quartey asked the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) and the Ghana Police Service to carry out full-scale investigations into all permits that had been issued for the development of properties within the Ramsar site. Working with a three-week ultimatum, the security agencies are required to ascertain the complicity or otherwise of the Forestry Commission, the TDC and the Tema West Municipal Assembly in the issuance of permits for such developments. "If there has to be forensic investigations to ascertain the authenticity of the documents that people claim to have from the TDC, the TMA and the Forestry Commission, it must be done. Anyone found culpable in this matter will be sent to court and made to face the law," he stressed. Value of ramsar sites For his part, Mr Owusu-Bio said Ramsar sites played a crucial role as internationally recognised habitats for migratory birds and also helped to collect rainwater to prevent flooding. He said it was important to demolish the unauthorised buildings because the country had signed the Ramsar Convention, making it mandatory to protect all Ramsar sites from destruction. "We do not want what happened at Weija, where flooding destroyed a lot of properties, to happen here. We have engaged the people enough, so we can no longer allow the encroachment to continue," he said. Mr Owusu-Bio said after the demolition exercise, a stakeholders engagement would be carried out again on how to regularise portions of lands that were outside the buffer zone. Chief's support The Nungua Mantse, Prof. Nii Odai Wolentsi III, said the chiefs within the Tema enclave were in full support of the government's efforts to protect the Ramsar site. He said to the extent that the land would be protected to serve the purpose for which the government acquired it, the chiefs had nothing to worry about. "If the land will be used as a Ramsar site, we have no problem; but if it is used for any other purpose, we will negotiate for it," he said. Background A Ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. It provides for national action and international cooperation regarding the conservation of wetlands and wise sustainable use of their resources. The government recently declared five coastal wetlands as Ramsar sites Muni-Pomadze, Densu Delta, Sakumo, Songor and Keta with a total area of 176,134 hectares. The Sakumo Ramsar site, also known as the Sakumo Lagoon, is a wetland of international importance. It is the only wetland meant to protect Sakumono, Tema and their environs against flooding and pollution. Situated along the coastal road between Accra and Tema in the Greater Accra Region, it covers an area of 1,364 hectares (3,500 acres). The site also covers part of Tema communities Three, Five, Six, 11 and 12 through to the Sakumono village, Old Lashibi and Klagon. The site is also the relaxation and feeding ground for over 70 waterbrain species and also serves as breeding ground for about three marine turtle species. The Ramsar site, which used to be a habitat for fishes and other water creatures and a stopover for migrating birds, has been massively encroached upon by individuals and estate developers. 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 Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and the Member of Parliament(MP) for Suame Constituency, Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah- Bonsu says Ghanaians should not crucify President Akufo-Addo for comments he made concerning the bad nature of roads at Kwabre in the Ashanti region. He says the president might have been taken out of context by some section of Ghanaians. President Akufo-Addo in an interview with Kumasi based Otec FM said he is not threatened by calls for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to be voted out of office in the 2024 election. He said such threats do not frighten him. His comment was in response to a question posed by host of the programme regarding what he made of threats by the people of Kwabre against the NPP in the 2024 election due to poor road infrastructure in the area. Reacting to the threats President Akufo-Addo replied, "no problem. I am saying people make those kinds of threats; me they dont frighten me. But speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, he explained that the President in his answer to the questioned posed to him by the Journalist did not seek to disrespect residents of Kwabre or Ghanaians in general. According to him the President wanted to make it clear that he has a duty and owe it a duty to Ghanaians to provide for them basic infrastructure and that if they had bad road network, he the President will ensure that the problem is attended to. But some members of the Ghanaian public seem to take the President's response out of context and are cunningly trying to court some disaffection for him and the New Patriotic Party. "I will, however, plead with Ghanaians not to crucify the President for the misrepresentation of his answer by a section of the Ghanaian public, but rather consider the actual meaning of the answer provided." "The President and the New Patriotic Party for that matter cherish the concern and plight of Ghanaians in these economic hardships and that the President will do everything within his power to address these challenges," he added. Watch video below Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A group calling itself the Conservative Action Movement (CAM) has called on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to be circumspect in electing its new presidential candidate ahead of the 2024 election. The group which is mostly made of NPP youth activists across the county in a statement urged the party to respect the tradition in the Elephant family. We want to remind our party's rank and file that we are a conservative party and that our tradition must be respected. It is thus important for the party to follow the norm and format that has helped the party achieve political power in the upcoming Presidential Primaries. We shall be back portion of the statement signed by Ben Taylor reads Full statement As members of the Conservative Action Movement (CAM), which is made up of NPP youth activists from around the country, we are calling on our party base to uphold the party's existing tradition in electing its Presidential Candidate in the upcoming Presidential Primaries. Our party has weathered decades of turbulence because it is firmly rooted in preserving and riding on the back of our illustrious tradition. We have always demonstrated great courage and consistency in selecting our leaders, from the grassroots to the highest levels, and any attempt to break from the queuing theory will result in severe losses to our political fortunes. According to Dr Umesh Sharma (2021), when we refer to the queue theory, we must consider two important factors: arrival and service. This queuing theory is evident and pivotal in the political annals of the NPP, and thus when followed, will ensure our stay in power come 2024. Our recent tradition, which dates to 1992, has produced Albert Adu Boahen and President John Agyekum Kufuor, who placed third. President Kufuor won the Presidential Primaries before the 1996 general elections, becoming the party's flagbearer. He won again in 1998 to lead the party into the 2000 general elections, with President Nana Akufo Addo placing second. After a long wait, President Nana Akufo Addo was elected as the NPP's Presidential Candidate, with Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen placing second in the 2007 Presidential primaries. It should be recalled that it was during this period that President Nana Akufo Addo famously declared, "Alan, you will follow me." We want to remind our party's rank and file that we are a conservative party and that our tradition must be respected. It is thus important for the party to follow the norm and format that has helped the party achieve political power in the upcoming Presidential Primaries. We shall be back!!!! Convener, Ben Taylor Conservative Action Movement (CAM) 0260261864 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 Chief Executive of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Henry Kwabena Kokofu says President Nana Akufo-Addo made no error in his responses to an interview on a Kumasi-based radio station when he recently visited the Ashanti Region. The President, on OTEC FM, was asked to respond to concerns by some residents in Manso and Kwabre who are said to have pledged to vote against the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the next general elections if he fails to fix their road networks. The people of Kwabre and Manso, we know they voted massively for Nana, they have asked me to inform the President that if their roads are not fixed, they will be pained and in 2024, they will vote against the NPP, the journalist said. President Nana Addo replied; No problem, no problem. He continued: I am saying people make those kinds of threats, me, they dont frighten me. Somebody votes for you, somebody supports you, it is because they want you to do things for them, so I understand that. There is no need for people to say if I do not do it, this or that. That is your own problem. Of course, I will fulfil my promises. But if it so happens that you decide to vote for the NDC, that is your problem, that is not mine. Nobody will hold your hand to thumbprint for any candidate, the most important thing is that I understand the responsibility and we will deal with it, he stressed. The President has been beseiged with criticisms following his response with some people saying he has disrespected the people. But to the EPA Boss, no one should take offence to the President's statements. He explained that "the President meant you can voice your concerns. You can ask any questions at all" but "for you to use intimidation against him will not push him". He promised the people of the Ashanti Region that President will complete their developmental projects. 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 The Minister for Energy has admonished the people of the Ashanti Region not to forget that only the NPP government has brought progress and development to the region. According to Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh (NAPO), no party, including the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), is more committed to developing the Asante land than the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Speaking during the sod-cutting ceremony of the Suame Interchange as part of President Akufo-Addo's tour in the Ashanti Region, NAPO added that people from the region could only show appreciation to the NPP by being loyal to the party. The energy minister made these remarks on the back of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo being booed during his tour of the region. "John Mahama came here to insult us, but I did not hear journalists on the radio station speaking about it. Some even said they did not hear it. But as soon as Nana Addo makes a pronouncement, everybody starts berating him. "Let me tell you this, if you want a government that will develop the Ashanti Region, it is the NPP government. If Nana Addo had succeeded President Kufuor, Kumasi would now be called the Golden City. Because an NPP government did not succeed Kufuor, Ashanti became the borla (garbage) city. "Let us not be ungrateful. Ashantis never forget. Let us not be ungrateful because Ashanti remembers the good deeds done to it. Ashanti will continue to support the NPP by being loyal till the time Jesus comes. "I can say it confidently that anyone who will vote for the NDC does not want the progress of the Ashanti land. For six years now, there has been no shortage of food, and if we do not thank God and show appreciation to Nana Addo, then we are inviting curses on ourselves," the energy minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, said in Twi. Unlike the usual cheers and jamborees that meet the president in the New Patriotic Party's stronghold during any visit, President Akufo-Addo's convoy received hoots, boos, and jeers as it made its way through the Central Business District of Kumasi. As seen in videos shared via social media, some traders lined up along the stretch of the road booed away as the president and his convoy passed through the Adum Market to inspect the progress of work on the Kejetia/Central Market Project Phase II. The booing has largely been attributed to the current state of the Ghanaian economy and the general economic hardship in the country. 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 legend of La Llorona is a centuries-old tale that dates to the conquistadors. While the story varies depending on the source, the most common says the ghost is of a woman, Maria, who used her beauty and charm to capture the heart of a wealthy man, with whom she had two sons. He lavished her with attention and gifts until their marriage went south. He began a life of drinking and womanizing, spending more time away from home. Even when he was home, he ignored his wife for his children. Advertisement Eventually Maria saw him with another woman and was heartbroken and enraged. So, Maria decided to inflict the same type of pain on her husband she drowned their children in the river. But right after she realized what she'd done, she cried out "Ay, mis hijos!" ("Oh, my children!") and drowned herself, too. Now, the legend says, La Llorona floats in water in her white gown, searching for her children. "Her still-weeping ghost is said to still be out there, murdering children whom, in her madness, she confuses as her own," Acosta says. Like most cultural oral stories, the legend of La Llorona has multiple variations depending on who's telling the story. "Variance and differences in the story don't really come from world regions as much as they come from being a centuries-old folktale passed down over so many years," explains Tomas Prower, author of "Morbid Magic: Death Spirituality & Culture From Around the World." Some versions say La Llorona blamed her children for why her husband left her, while others suggest she attacks cheating husbands. But the general message is the same: If you hear the cries of La Llorona, run. Kazuo Okada, founder of Universal Entertainment Corp., speaks during an interview in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018. Okada, who also co-founded Wynn Resorts Ltd., was formerly chairman at Universal Entertainment. By Cecilia Yap and Ditas Lopez Japanese gaming tycoon Kazuo Okada was briefly detained in the Philippines for coercion related to his occupation of a Manila casino owned by Universal Entertainment Corp. The arrest boosted Universals shares on optimism the company may have the upper hand in the long-running dispute between Okada and the firm he used to run. Okada said he was detained upon returning to the Philippines, but was immediately released after posting bail on Monday. Tokyo-listed Universal Entertainment said separately that Okada was arrested at the Manila airport after he landed from Japan. Okada and his associates are accused of alleged coercion when his men physically took over the Okada Manila resort on May 31 after the Philippine Supreme Court reinstated him as chairman of the casinos Philippine operator. Kazuo Okada His arrest provided optimism that this chaos will come to an end soon, casino operation will return to normal, and the companys earnings will recover, said Jun Kitazawa, deputy manager of investment information at Miki Securities Co. Physical occupation of the casino by Okada and his associates was creating uncertainty for investors. Okadas arrest on Monday is the latest twist in the corporate dispute at pachinko-slot operator Universal Entertainment, which the tycoon founded. He was ousted from the company in 2017 on suspicion of misappropriating funds. The departure sparked a tug-of-war on who will manage Universals casino in the Philippines, an integrated resort called Okada Manila. Okada was reinstated as chairman of the Okada Manilas operator, Tiger Resort Leisure & Entertainment, following the Philippine Supreme Courts status quo order. Okada was ordered by a Manila trial court to hear the charges against him later this month, Universal Entertainment said in a statement. In a statement, Okada, who is still in the Philippines, said he will be able to prove that hes the rightful and beneficial owner of Okada Manila. He called the arrest a brief inconvenience. Story continues I am confident that the legal process within the Philippine courts system will vindicate us in all the cases filed against me and my business associates. Shares of Universal Entertainment jumped as much as 14% in Tokyo trading Wednesday morning. The arrest shows Universal Entertainment is in control for now but this tussle is far from over, says Astro del Castillo, managing director at First Grade Finance. The ownership dispute should be a red flag for investors but some are looking beyond that because the casino is profitable. (Updates throughout) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Credit: CC0 Public Domain The spread of misinformation as fake news via social media is a serious problem especially when it colors the opinions and actions of people unimpeded by critical thinking. Fake news in the area of politics, health and medicine, and other realms may well have affected the progress of human history in many ways where we have seen inappropriate outcomes that may not have occurred had people been properly informed rather than accepting fake news as truth. The problem is that fake news often feeds a person's biases and existing opinions and the rapid response of social media allows it to spread quickly to detrimental effect. It is estimated that almost two-thirds of news updates on social media is fake news. Research in the International Journal of Knowledge and Learning has looked to model the spread of fake news on social media and develop tools to identify fake news so that it might be flagged as false. The team used a dataset of 3,000 news items of which 2,725 were used to train their algorithms and the remainder were used to test those algorithms. Five types of classification algorithms were tested: support vector machine (SVM), naive Bayes, logistic regression, random forest, and neural networks. The team has shown that logistic regression is the most accurate at flagging the test news updates from the dataset. This approach corroborated the two-thirds proportion of fake news versus fake news. The success of the approach could be used to assist fact-checking systems by flagging updates that are likely to be fake news for further analysis. Riktesh Srivastava of the City University College of Ajman in UAE, Jitendra Singh Rathore of Banasthali University in Rajasthan, Sachin Kumar Srivastava of the IILM Academy of Higher Learning in Lucknow, and Khushboo Agnihotri of Amity University in Uttar Pradesh, India, hope their research will contribute to efforts to reduce the spread of fake news across social media. More information: Khushboo Agnihotri et al, The impact on society of false news spreading on social media with the help of predictive modelling, International Journal of Knowledge and Learning (2022). DOI: 10.1504/IJKL.2022.10045737 Provided by Inderscience Migration of European eels from the Azores to the Sargasso Sea spawning area. (A) European eel fitted with a pop-up satellite tag; (B) historic data, showing the location of the proposed spawning area in relation to previous pop-up satellite tag positions (crosses) from eels released from three different locations in Europe. Shading shows kriged minimum leptocephalus size data from ICES in a 1 grid; (C) pop-up data from European eels tagged at two Azores locations (circles) in November of 2018 (gold) or 2019 (yellow). Symbols within the crosses show if the tags detached from the eels prematurely, either due to exceeding the depth failsafe of 1400 m (downward triangle), or for other (unknown) reasons (circle). Predations are not shown. The average bearing of eels released in 2019 is shown as a yellow line, with intervals along the line marking the distance traveled at the average speed shown by eels at liberty for 120 day or less, at liberty for between 120 and 240 day, and at liberty for > 240 day. The yellow star shows the extrapolated position along the average bearing for a migratory period ending at the second peak spawning event after release (i.e., 14th February, 466 day after release). White circles (at 1 grid) show where the smallest larval eels have been recorded in larval surveys conducted over the last century (large circles = larvae ESRI website. Credit: Scientific Reports (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19248-8 A team of researchers led by the Environment Agency have taken a major step forward in solving one of nature's most enduring mysterieswhere do European Eels spawn and how do they get there? Having suffered a 95% decline in numbers returning to Europe's rivers since the 1980s, the European Eel is now a critically endangered species. But ground-breaking research published in Scientific Reports this week enables us to better understand the lifecycle of this globally important but little-known species and ensure effective protection measures are put in place to combat their decline. Project lead and Environment Agency researcher Ros Wright said, "The European Eel is critically endangered so it is important that we solve the mystery surrounding their complete life-cycle to support efforts to protect the spawning area of this important species. "This is the first time we've been able to track eels to the Sargasso Sea and we are delighted we have the first direct evidence of adult European eels reaching their spawning area. Their journey will reveal information about eel migration that has never been known before." The journey of European eels to their breeding place in the Sargasso Sea is up to 10,000km and considered one of the most impressive feats of animal migration observed in nature. It's a mystery that has perplexed scientists for centuries, with the first recorded evidence of scientists looking into this phenomenon dating back to the 4th century BC. Working alongside the Zoological Society of London, Defra, Cefas, Natural England, the University of Azores and the Denmark University of Technology, the Environment Agency has produced the first ever direct evidence of European eels navigating the last 2,500km leg of their journey. Up until this point, no eggs or eels had been found to confirm this spawning ground. Back in December 2018 and 2019, researchers fitted 26 large female European eels with satellite tags and released them from the Azores into the Atlantic Ocean. The Azores islands are close to the furthest known point on the eel migration route that was tracked by previous projects. Programmed to detach and transmit their data after 612 months, data were received from 23 satellite tags at various stages of the journey, with six tagged eels reaching the Sargasso Sea. Data transmitted from these tags reveal the eels migrated consistently towards the Sargasso Sea and, remarkably, that this journey to their breeding grounds takes over a year. Once eels spawn in the Sargasso Sea, their larvae return to the UK and other European waters via a different route, carried on ocean currents on the North Atlantic Drift. They then migrate into rivers as glass eels. Unraveling the navigation mechanisms, routes taken and locating where eels spawn is critical for understanding the reasons behind their decline and putting in place targeted conservation measures to protect this globally important species. Chair of the IUCN Anguillid Eel Specialist Group, Matthew Gollock from the Zoological Society of London said, "Populations of the European eel are at a historic low and the more we understand their life-history, the better we are able to develop conservation measures to address the critical status of the species." Professor Jose Manuel N. Azevedo from the University of the Azores said, "This discovery emphasizes the role of the Azores in the life cycle of eels. It will help scientist and conservationists to push for measures to restore eel habitats across the archipelago." The Environment Agency and partners will now conduct a deeper analysis of the satellite tag data to uncover further clues on how eels navigate to their spawning area. This is part of an ongoing project and field teams have returned to the Azores to satellite tag eels with extended life tags to reveal more data on silver eel migration and spawning sites in the Sargasso Sea. The Environment Agency continue to carry out research on all life stages of the European eel to inform conservation measures. This complements work around England to protect eels, for example improving eel pass design to enhance upstream eel passage into our rivers. More information: Rosalind M. Wright et al, First direct evidence of adult European eels migrating to their breeding place in the Sargasso Sea, Scientific Reports (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19248-8 Journal information: Scientific Reports Provided by UK Environment Agency Lake County authorities have released the identities of the three men who died Sunday in a fiery crash in Gurnee. The coroners office Wednesday identified the victims as Emmanuel Gaiter, 36, of Waukegan, Javon Stribling, 27, of Zion, and Gregory McClain, 27, of Calumet City. Advertisement The trio died in the single-vehicle crash at about 2 a.m. Sunday on Grand Avenue, near the intersection of North Greenleaf Street, which is several blocks west of U.S. Route 41. Police said the three were in a Jeep SUV that crashed into the tree line along Grand Avenue and then caught on fire. The Gurnee Fire Department extinguished the blaze, and authorities found the bodies of the men inside the burned vehicle. Advertisement Autopsies indicate the men died from blunt force injuries. Gurnee police and the Major Crash Assistance Team continue to investigate the accident, but have not provided an update since an initial media release Sunday. Gurnee police said Monday that the severity of the accident would likely slow the release of additional information. A technique developed by Brazilian researchers enhances the efficiency of breeding programs, saving selection time and the cost of plant genotyping and characterization. Credit: IAC's Sugarcane Center in Ribeirao Preto A Brazilian study published in Scientific Reports shows that artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to create efficient models for genomic selection of sugarcane and forage grass varieties and predict their performance in the field on the basis of their DNA. In terms of accuracy compared with traditional breeding techniques, the proposed methodology improved predictive power by more than 50%. This is the first time a highly efficient genomic selection method based on machine learning has been proposed for polyploid plants (in which cells have more than two complete sets of chromosomes), including the grasses studied. Machine learning is a branch of AI and computer science involving statistics and optimization, with countless applications. Its main goal is to create algorithms that automatically extract patterns from datasets. It can be used to predict the performance of a plant, including whether it will be resistant to or tolerant of biotic stresses such as pests and diseases caused by insects, nematodes, fungi or bacteria, and or abiotic stresses such as cold, drought, salinity or insufficient soil nutrients. Crossing is the most widely used technique in traditional breeding programs. "You establish populations by crossing plants that are interesting. In the case of sugarcane, you cross a variety that produces a lot of sugar with another that's more resistant, for example. You cross them and then assess the performance of the resulting genotypes in the field," said computer scientist Alexandre Hild Aono, first author of the article on the study. Aono is a researcher at the State University of Campinas's Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering (CBMEG-UNICAMP). He graduated from the Federal University of Sao Paulo (UNIFESP). "But this assessment process takes a long time and is very expensive. The method we propose can predict the performance of these plants even before they grow. We succeeded in predicting yield on the basis of the genetic material. This is significant because it saves many years of assessment," Aono explained. In the case of sugarcane, the challenge is highly complex. Traditional breeding techniques take between nine and 12 years and incur high costs, according to Anete Pereira de Souza, a professor of plant genetics at UNICAMP's Institute of Biology and Aono's Ph.D. supervisor at CBMEG. "When breeders identify an interesting plant, they multiply it by cloning so that the genotype isn't lost, but this takes time and costs a great deal. An extreme example is the breeding of rubber trees, which can take as long as 30 years," Souza said. One way to surmount these difficulties is what she called "plant breeding 4.0," which makes intensive use of data analysis and highly efficient computational and statistical tools. Each genotyping-by-sequencing process can involve 1 billion sequences. The main hurdle scientists face in trying to breed better varieties of polyploid plants such as sugarcane and forage grass is the complexity of their genomes. "In this case, we didn't even know if genomic selection would be possible, given the scarce resources and the difficulty of working with this complexity," Aono said. Methods The researchers began the genomic selection process with diploid plants (containing cells with two sets of chromosomes), as they have simpler genomes. "The problem is that high-value tropical plants like sugarcane aren't diploids but polyploids, which is a complication," Souza said. While human beings and almost all animals are diploid, sugarcane may have as many as 12 copies of every chromosome. Any individual of the species Homo sapiens can have up to two variants of each gene, one inherited from the father and the other from the mother. Sugarcane is more complex because theoretically any gene can have many variants in the same individual. There are regions of its genome with six sets of chromosomes, others with eight, ten, and even 12 sets. "The genetics is so complex that breeders work with sugarcane as if it were diploid," Souza said. In 2001, Theodorus Meuwissen, a Dutch scientist who is currently a professor of animal breeding and genetics at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), proposed genomic selection to predict complex traits in animals and plants in association with their phenotypes (observable characteristics resulting from the interaction of their genotypes with the environment). The advantage of this approach to plant breeding is the link between the phenotypic traits of interest, such as yield, sugar level or precocity, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). A "snip" (as SNP is pronounced) is a genomic variant at a single base position in the DNA, Souza explained. "It's the difference in the genomes of any two individuals. For example, one may have an A (corresponding to the nucleotide adenine) that produces a little more than another with a G (guanine) at the same location in the genome. That changes everything," she said. "When you find an association with what you're looking for, like a high level of sugar production, and specific SNPs at different locations in the genome, you can sequence only the population on which your breeding work focuses." The advances proposed by Aono and colleagues dispense with the need to plant and phenotype throughout the breeding cycle. "We do field experiments in the initial stages of the program to obtain the phenotype of interest for each clone," Souza said. "In parallel, we sequence all the clones in the breeding population quite straightforwardly, without needing to have the whole genome for every clone. This is what's called genotyping-by-sequencingpartial sequencing in search of the differences and similarities in the base pairs for the clones, and their association with each clone's production. The association between phenotype and genome shows which produces more and which SNPs are associated with higher production. In this manner, we can identify clones with a large proportion of the SNPs that contribute to the higher production observed in the initial experiments and obtain the most productive variety faster and more cheaply." More information: Alexandre Hild Aono et al, A joint learning approach for genomic prediction in polyploid grasses, Scientific Reports (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16417-7 Journal information: Scientific Reports Provided by FAPESP Biplot of scores from principal component analysis (PCA) of the six priority heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Co, Ni, and Pb), with other measured elements shown as overlays. PCA axis 1 (PC1) was the dominant axis of elemental concentration, with nearly all measured elements having strong positive correlations as indicated by direction and length of vector arrows. Each point represents one moss sample site, colored by relative value of PC1 axis scores (yellow = lowest to purple = highest). Concentrations were log 10 -transformed to linearize relationships and make highly skewed distributions more symmetrical. Credit: Ecosphere (2022). DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4109 A community science case study mapped heavy metals in moss in two industrial-adjacent neighborhoods in Seattle, Washington, with a history of poor air quality, health outcomes, and racial inequitiesyielding findings that have prompted short-term mitigation and follow-up instrumental air quality monitoring. Led by the USDA Forest Service's Pacific Northwest (PNW) Research Station, the study is the first of its kind in which residents, notably local youth, collected and prepared moss samples as part of an environmental justice investigation. "Mosses absorb pollutants from the air, making them good bioindicators of air quality," said Sarah Jovan, a research ecologist with the PNW Research Station and the study's lead. "Concerned community groups in Seattle's Duwamish Valley engaged the Forest Service to conduct a moss study there geared towards informing local action because existing air quality information was insufficient for understanding neighborhood-level patterns." Building off of the approaches and outcomes of the Portland Moss and Air Quality Study, which Jovan co-led, the collaborative Seattle study engaged a diverse partnership of more than 55 people from 9 public and nonprofit organizations. One goal of the study was to determine if community-gathered moss samples and those collected by scientists and other experts indicated similar pollution patterns. After receiving training, youth with the Duwamish Valley Youth Corps and Duwamish River Community Coalition gathered 79 samples of a common moss species (Orthotrichum lyellii) from trees across a sampling grid in the Georgetown and South Park neighborhoods, located in Seattle's industrial core. To check sampling accuracy, experts resampled a subset of the study grid the youth sampled and analyzed the moss in a laboratory and found sufficient statistical agreement between the two datasets to support the use of the youth's dataset in the study. Scientists used the youth-gathered dataset to map concentrations of 21 chemical elements in the moss, including 6 "priority" heavy metalsarsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, and nickelthat are of particular concern because of their toxicity and potential negative effects on human health and the environment. Their findings revealed that local moss in these two neighborhoods had significantly greater concentrations of these priority metals, particularly arsenic and chromium, compared to other urban studies using the same moss species in other areas of Seattle and in Portland. In addition, and importantly, the results also suggested coarse dust may be an important carrier of heavy metals, which would not be detectable at local instrumental air monitoring sites that focus only on fine particulates. "Mapping heavy metals in moss gave the community a critical first look, which was very exciting for all of us," said Monika Derrien, a research social scientist with the PNW Research Station and a study co-author. The study's findings have informed decisions to improve environmental conditions in the community, with actions ranging from tree-based green infrastructure investments led by the City of Seattle to follow-up instrumental air quality monitoring, which will help translate metals-in-moss study results to measurable health risks, led by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. "While moss can only be used as a screening tool, the strategic placement of air instruments, which is now underway by regulators, helps close the loop between heavy metals and health concerns," Jovan said. The research was published in Ecosphere. More information: Sarah E. Jovan et al, Heavy metals in moss guide environmental justice investigation: A case study using community science in Seattle, WA , USA, Ecosphere (2022). DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4109 Journal information: Ecosphere A drone image of salmon spawning in the Wenatchee River. Credit: Daniel Auerbach, Washington State University Struggling salmon populations could get some help from the sky. A Washington State University study showed that drone photography of the Wenatchee River during spawning season can be effective in estimating the number of rocky hollows salmon create to lay their eggs, also called "redds." The drone imagery appeared to find roughly double the number of potential redds than ground-level observations, but uncertainty remains because of the ongoing challenge of determining what is and isn't a true redd. Short of taking the nest apart, there is no way to know for sure if salmon eggs are present. Still, the research showed some advantages to using drones, said Daniel Auerbach, lead author of the study published in the journal River Research and Applications. "There's no denying that salmon populations are in decline, so we want to do the best job and use the best technology that we can to help this species out," said Auerbach a WSU doctoral candidate. "While ground redd counts are less intrusive than other counts, drones are even less invasive, and we can use these images for many things." In addition to a one-time count, researchers can use drone images to look at changes in habitat over time, including mitigations humans put in place to help salmon, which range from planting shrubs to removing whole dams. A drone image of salmon "redds" or nests in the Wenatchee River in Washington. Credit: Daniel Auerbach, Washington State University "These technologies will give us more data to really find out if what we're doing is working," said Alex Fremier, study co-author and an associate professor in the WSU School of the Environment. "A drone provides a bird's eye view and high-resolution images. Because we can get so much information from these images, we could be more cost effective and help determine if a restoration project helped build salmon habitat." Salmon are known for their epic upstream journeys to return to places they were born to lay their eggs. Female salmon will sweep aside rocks to lay their eggs, which the males then fertilize. Then the female salmon will often guard the eggs in these redds until they die. Current methods of counting redds involve field biologists walking lengths of river or floating downstream in a boat. Some places use helicopters to let scientists observe from above, which can be dangerous in steep canyons. For this study, Auerbach and Fremier collaborated with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife field biologists to identify three locations along the main stem of the Wenatchee River that are well known for the density of redds. Then, once a week during the Chinook spawning season of September through November 2020, the researchers flew a drone about 150 feet above those areas to take images. Then, trained observers would each count redds based on those images. A time-lapse of the Wenatchee River in Washington taken by a drone over the course of the spawning season showing the development of redds, rocky, circular hollows the salmon create to lay their eggs. Credit: Daniel Auerbach, Washington State University The Fish and Wildlife field biologists also regularly undertake a rigorous weekly ground count in these areas, providing a good comparison. The observers using the drone imagery found roughly double the number of redds than those on the ground, but there was wide variability of plus or minus 80 redds among the human observers. This variability is not unusual because salmon sometimes start a nest but abandon it in favor of a better place, and these false-starts can muddy the waters of counts by any method. Auerbach and Fremier stressed that drones can augment but likely not replace the boots-in-the-water count as field biologists will always be needed. But drones have some advantages including a greater field of view and ability to switch between the images, Auerbach said. The researchers are continuing to explore ways to use drones to help salmon. They are currently analyzing data from a second study on the Wenatchee done in 2021 in collaboration with Katy Shelby of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Auerbach also recently ran a study in Alaska using drones to count Sockeye salmon. The images proved so clear they could even identify whether a fish was female or male by their size. More information: Daniel S Auerbach et al, Identification of salmon redds using RPVbased imagery produces comparable estimates to ground counts with high interobserver variability, River Research and Applications (2022). DOI: 10.1002/rra.4065 A new model will help biologists calculate the energy involved when one organism stabs another with its puncturing tools. Pictured: A viper skull. Credit: L. Brian Stauffer Researchers have created a model that can calculate the energetics involved when one organism stabs another with its fangs, thorns, spines or other puncturing parts. Because the model can be applied to a variety of organisms, it will help scientists study and compare many types of biological puncturing tools, researchers said. It also will help engineers develop new systems to efficiently pierce materials or resist being pierced. The new findings are reported in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface. "The idea behind this was to come up with a quantitative framework for comparing a variety of biological puncture systems with each other," said Philip Anderson, a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign professor of evolution, ecology and behavior who led the research with postdoctoral researcher Bingyang Zhang. "An initial question of this research was how do we even measure these different systems to make them comparable." "It's a challenging problem to predict the properties of biological systems," Zhang said. Animals and plants deploy a variety of strategies for stabbing prey or defending themselves from other organisms, and even those that use similar strategies or tools alter those tools to meet their specific needs, the researchers said. Their targets also differ. "In vipers, for example, some bite mammals, which means they must puncture through soft tissues encased in skin, while others target reptiles, which have scales, making them stiffer and harder to pierce," said Anderson, who studies the mechanics and energetics of biological puncturing systems. Other organisms, like parasitoid wasps, may use their ovipositors to burrow through the hides of caterpillars but also can penetrate fruit or even wood, he said. To develop a model that can be applied to a variety of systems, Zhang determined the key factors that must be included in any calculations of the energetics involved. These include changes in the kinetic energy as the puncturing tool is used, but also take into account the material properties of the target tissue. This involves calculations describing how the initial kinetic energy drives a puncturing tool into a material, opening up new surfaces in the material as the fracture propagates. It also takes into consideration the frictional resistance and elasticity of the target tissue. The calculations were aimed at tapered puncturing tools, which are common in biological systems, the researchers said. Philip Anderson, left, and Bingyang Zhang developed and tested the accuracy of a mathematical model that can predict the energetics of biological puncture systems. Credit: Fred Zwicky Zhang tested the model using a projectile puncturing a gelatinous material that mimics animal tissue. Credit: Fred Zwicky A red-headed woodpecker uses its bill to pierce wood. Credit: Andy Reago and Chrissy McClarren, CC BY-SA 2.0 Some parasitoid wasps, like these of the genus Ichneumon, can use their ovipositors to stab through wood. Credit: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Anderson is deploying the new model to aid his studies of puncturing organisms like viper fangs, stingray spines and parasitoid wasp ovipositors. "If we know the morphology or the shape of the damage created by a puncture tool, we can use this model to predict how much energy was expended during a puncture scenario," Zhang said. "Or we can predict different aspects of the material's property, for example, how it will fracture, which will be useful in both engineering and biological applications." Schematic illustration of the oceanic thermal forcing of North Atlantic tropical cyclones. Credit: Zhenxi Zhang Landfalling North Atlantic tropical cyclones (TCs) cause serious economic damage to human society. In the period 19002017, 197 North Atlantic TCs resulted in 206 landfalls in the continental United States, producing about $2 trillion in losses. As natural weather disasters, TCs possess enormous destructiveness related to their intensities. But why do TCs have such huge destructive energy? Previous work by Professor Kerry Emanuel proposed a "heat engine" theory of TC intensity, which explained the intensity of a TC from the perspective of the energy cycle and pointed out that the energy comes from the warm ocean. Following this idea, Prof. Zhenxi Zhang from the Inner Mongolia University of Technology, China, and Prof. Wen Zhou from Fudan University, China, further explored the spatial characteristics of the energy driving North Atlantic TCs. The findings have recently been published in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters. TC intensity is the kinetic energy of a TC, which essentially comes from the energy in ocean heat content because energy is conserved. Among all TCs, the peak intensities of strong TCs are the most related with the ocean heat content, especially that of the extratropical North Atlantic. Therefore, the ocean heat content in this ocean region is the limiting factor of strong TC peak intensity. Moreover, coastal upwelling off northwest Africa and southern Europe can affect subsurface ocean temperatures in the extratropical North Atlantic. "Therefore, the peak intensity of strong TCs is also directly correlated with the water temperature in these two upwelling regions on an interdecadal timescale," concludes Prof. Zhou. More information: Zhenxi Zhang et al, Oceanic thermal forcing of North Atlantic tropical cyclones, Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.aosl.2022.100286 Made Partiana uses a net to catch aquarium fish on north coast of Bali, Indonesia, on April 10, 2021. Millions of saltwater fish are caught in Indonesia and other countries every year to fill ever more elaborate aquariums in living rooms, waiting rooms and restaurants around the world with vivid, otherworldly life. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Lindbloom After diving into the warm sea off the coast of northern Bali, Indonesia, Made Partiana hovers above a bed of coral, holding his breath and scanning for flashes of movement. Hours later, exhausted, he returns to a rocky beach, towing plastic bags filled with his exquisite quarry: tropical fish of all shades and shapes. Millions of saltwater fish like these are caught in Indonesia and other countries every year to fill aquariums in living rooms, waiting rooms and restaurants around the world with vivid, otherworldly life. "It's just so much fun to just watch the antics between different varieties of fish," said Jack Siravo, a Rhode Island fish enthusiast. But the journey from places like Bali to Rhode Island is perilous for the fish and the reefs they come from. Some are captured using squirts of cyanide to stun them. Many die along the way. Even when captured carefully, by people like Partiana, experts say the global demand for these fish is contributing to the degradation of delicate coral ecosystems. There have been efforts to reduce destructive practices, such as cyanide fishing. But the trade is difficult to regulate and track as it stretches from small scale fisherman in villages through middlemen, export warehouses, international trade hubs and finally to pet stores in the U.S., China, Europe and elsewhere. "There's no enforcement, no management, no data collection," said Gayatri Reksodihardjo-Lilley, founder of LINI, a Bali-based nonprofit for the conservation and management of coastal marine resources. Banggai Cardinals swim in a tank at an export warehouse in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, on April 12, 2021. About 7.6 million saltwater fish are imported into the U.S. every year. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Lindbloom That leaves some enthusiasts in the dark. "Consumers often don't know where their fish are coming from, and they don't know how they are collected," said Andrew Rhyne, a marine biology professor at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island. Most ornamental saltwater fish species are caught in the wild because breeding them in captivity can be expensive, difficult and often impossible. Nearly 3 million homes in the U.S. keep saltwater fish as pets, according to a 2021-2022 American Pet Products Association survey. About 7.6 million saltwater fish are imported into the U.S. every year. (Freshwater aquariums are far more common because freshwater fish are generally cheaper and easier to breed and care for.) For decades, a common fishing technique has involved cyanide, with dire consequences for fish and marine ecosystems. Fishermen crush the pellets into a bottle filled with water. The diluted cyanide forms a poisonous mixture fishermen squirt onto coral reefs, where fish usually hide. The fish become temporarily stunned, allowing them to be picked from the coral. Made Partiana, foreground, and a fellow villager bring caught fish to shore in northern Bali, Indonesia, on April 10, 2021. Partiana became part of a group of local fishermen who were taught by a local conservation organization how to use nets, care for the reef and patrol the area to guard against cyanide use. He later became a lead trainer for the organization, and has trained more than 200 fellow aquarium fishermen across Indonesia in use of less harmful techniques. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Lindbloom Many die in transit, weakened by the cyanidewhich means even more fish need to be captured to meet demand. The chemicals damage the living coral and make it difficult for new coral to grow. Cyanide fishing has been banned in countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines but enforcement of the law remains difficult, and experts say the practice continues. Part of the problem is geography, Reksodihardjo-Lilley explains. In the vast archipelago of Indonesia, there are about 34,000 miles (54,720 kilometers) of coastline across some 17,500 islands. That makes monitoring the first step of the supply chain difficult. Another obstacle to monitoring and regulating of the trade is the quick pace that the fish can move between locations, making it difficult to trace their origins. At a fish export warehouse in Denpasar, Bali, thousands of fish a day can be delivered in white Styrofoam coolers crammed with plastic bags of fish from around the archipelago. The fish are swiftly unpacked, sorted into tanks or new plastic bags and given fresh sea water. A starfish crawls along coral reefs, damaged from years of dynamite fishing, in Les, Bali, Indonesia, on April 11, 2021. Cyanide fishing was also common in the area. There have been efforts to reduce some of the most destructive practices, but the trade is extraordinarily difficult to regulate and track as it stretches from small scale fisherman in tropical seaside villages through local middlemen, export warehouses, international trade hubs and finally to pet stores in the U.S., China, Europe and elsewhere. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Lindbloom Some fish will remain in small rectangular tanks in the warehouse for weeks, while others are shipped out quickly, fulfilling orders from the U.S., Europe and elsewhere. Once the fish fly from Indonesia to the U.S., they're checked by the Fish and Wildlife Service, which cross-references the shipment with customs declaration forms. But that's designed to ensure no protected fish are being imported. The process cannot determine if the fish were caught legally. Any fish caught using cyanide in a country where it's prohibited would be illegal to import or sell in the U.S., thanks to a law called the Lacey Act. But no test exists to provide accurate results on whether a fish has been caught with cyanide, said Rhyne, the Roger Williams marine biology expert. "The reality is that the Lacey Act isn't used often because generally there's no real record-keeping or way to enforce it," said Rhyne. Made Partiana and another villager sort fish caught during the day on April 11, 2021. I hope that [healthier] coral reefs will make it possible for the next generation of children and grandchildren under me, Partiana says. He wants them to be able to see what coral looks like and that there can be ornamental fish in the sea. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Lindbloom Made Partiana walks along beach area at Les, Bali, Indonesia, on April 11, 2021, as he prepares to catch aquarium fish. Over the years Partiana began to notice the reef was changing. I saw the reef dying, turning black, he says. You could see there were less fish. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Lindbloom Boats line the coast of Les, Bali, Indonesia, on April 11, 2021. This site is commonly used for aquarium fishing. In the vast archipelago of Indonesia, there are about 34,000 miles (54,720 kilometers) of coastline across some 17,500 islands. That makes monitoring the first step of the tropical fish supply chain a task so gargantuan it is all but ignored. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Lindbloom A worker checks a sort and order list at middle man area in Les, Bali, Indonesia, on April 10, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Lindbloom Dead fish lie in a container at a sorting station in Les, Bali, Indonesia, on April 9, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Lindbloom Workers sort fish at a middle man house in Les, Bali, Indonesia, on April 11, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Lindbloom Workers sort fish in Les, Bali, Indonesia, on April 11, 2021, for shipment to Denpasar for export. Nearly 3 million homes in the U.S. keep saltwater fish as pets, according to a 2021-2022 American Pet Products Association survey. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Lindbloom Pak Ketut, who has been selling fish for over a decade sits in aquarium middle man house in Les, Bali, Indonesia, on April 9, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Lindbloom Workers sort aquarium fish caught and delivered to an export warehouse in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, on April 12, 2021. Fish from around Indonesia are brought to this facility. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Lindbloom The center of Les, Bali, Indonesia is seen on April 11, 2021. The saltwater aquarium fishing town is tucked between the mountains and ocean in northern Bali. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Lindbloom Made Partiana inspects a tank at the LINI center in Les, Bali, Indonesia, on April 12, 2021. The Bali-based nonprofit works for the conservation and management of coastal marine resources. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Lindbloom Made Partiana looks at sea urchins in a tank in the LINI center in Les, Bali, Indonesia, on April 12, 2021. I hope that [healthier] coral reefs will make it possible for the next generation of children and grandchildren under me, Partiana says. He wants them to be able to see what coral looks like and that there can be ornamental fish in the sea. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Lindbloom Villagers hang out near boats along the coast in Les, Bali, Indonesia, on April 9, 2021. The area is commonly used for aquarium fishing. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Lindbloom Local villager and fisherman Made Partiana and a local villager search for fish off the coast of Les, Bali, Indonesia, on April 10, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Lindbloom In the absence of national enforcement, conservation groups and local fishermen have long been working to reduce cyanide fishing in places like Les, a saltwater aquarium fishing town in northern Bali. Partiana started catching fishusing cyanideshortly after elementary school, when his parents could no longer afford to pay for his education. Every catch would help provide a few dollars of income for his family. But over the years Partiana began to notice the reef was changing. "You could see there were less fish," he said. He became part of a group of local fishermen who were taught by a local conservation organization how to use nets, care for the reef and patrol the area to guard against cyanide use. Reksodihardjo-Lilley says it this type of local education and training that should be expanded to reduce harmful fishing. "People can see that they're directly benefitting from the reefs being in good health." 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Richer countries must increase climate support for African nations as accelerating impacts of global warming sicken and kill hundreds of thousands every year across the continent, scores of scientific health journals warned Wednesday, ahead of UN negotiations next month. The call, written by 16 editors of leading biomedical journals across Africa, said damage already being wrought across the continent "should be of supreme concern to all nations". "It is highly unjust that the most impacted nations have contributed the least to global cumulative emissions, which are driving the climate crisis and its increasingly severe effects," said the editorial. It was published in some 250 scientific journals, including 50 African titles and international medical journals like The BMJ, The Lancet, the New England Journal of Medicine and the National Medical Journal of India. The authors slammed the international community's failure to meet its promise of providing $100 billion a year by 2020 for developing countries to spur a green energy transition and to help nations prepare for future climate impacts. Global warming is taking a heavy toll on African economies and the health of their populations, the authors say, calling for specific funding to deal with the costs of damage already being felt. The editorial cited estimates that malnutrition, driven by climate change impacts on food and water, kills some 1.7 million people a year in Africa. Meanwhile, floods and damage to environmental hygiene has also led to increases in malaria, dengue fever, Ebola virus and other infectious diseases across sub-Saharan Africa. Some progress has been made, including on early warning systems and infrastructure to defend against increasing weather extremes, the authors said. But they said richer nations historically responsible for the fossil fuel emissions driving warming had a responsibility to step up, both morally and in their own self-interest. "It is time the global community acknowledges that the climate crisis, while disproportionately affecting the continent, is a global crisis," said Lukoye Atwoli, a professor and Dean of the Medical College East Africa. "Action must begin now, and begin where it is hurting most, in Africa. Failure to act will make the crisis everyone's problem very soon." The authors are from journals including African Health Sciences, the African Journal of Primary Health Care and Family Medicine, and the East African Medical Journal. 2022 AFP A member of the Barreiro lab works in the tissue culture hood. Credit: UChicago Medicine The Black Death was the single greatest mortality event in recorded history, killing up to 50% of the European population in less than five years. New research from the University of Chicago, McMaster University, and the Institut Pasteur has found evidence that one of the darkest periods in recorded human history placed a significant selective pressure on the human population, changing the frequency of certain immune-related genetic variants and affecting our susceptibility to disease today. The results were published on October 19 in Nature. Caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, the global pandemic of the bubonic plague wiped out 30% to 60% of people in cities across North Africa, Europe, and Asia, with massive repercussions for the human raceand, apparently, our genome. "This was a very direct way to evaluate the impact that a single pathogen had on human evolution," said Luis Barreiro, Ph.D., Professor of Genetic Medicine at UChicago and co-senior author on the study. "People have speculated for a long time that the Black Death might be a strong cause of selection, but it's hard to demonstrate that when looking at modern populations, because humans had to face many other selective pressures between then and now. The only way to address the question is to narrow the time window we're looking at." In the study, thanks to recent advances in sequencing technology, the scientists examined ancient DNA samples from the bones of over 200 individuals from London and Denmark who died before, during, and after the Black Death plague swept through the region in the late 1340s. Using targeted sequencing for a set of 300 immune-related genes, they identified four genes that, depending on the variant, either protected against or increased susceptibility to Y. pestis. Members of the Barreiro Lab conduct cell culture experiments. Credit: UChicago Medicine "This is, to my knowledge, the first demonstration that indeed, the Black Death was an important selective pressure to the evolution of the human immune system," said Barreiro. The research team zeroed in on one gene with a particularly strong association to susceptibility: ERAP2. Individuals who possessed two copies of one specific genetic variant, dubbed rs2549794, were able to produce full length copies of the ERAP2 transcript, therefore producing more of the functional protein, compared to another variant that led to a truncated and non-functional version of the transcript. Functional ERAP2 plays a role in helping the immune system recognize the presence of an infection. "When a macrophage encounters a bacterium, it chops it into pieces for them to be presented to other immune cells signaling that there's an infection," said Barreiro. "Having the functional version of the gene, appears to create an advantage, likely by enhancing the ability of our immune system to sense the invading pathogen. By our estimate, possessing two copies of the rs2549794 variant would have make a person about 40% more likely to survive the Black Death than those who had two copies of the non-functional variant." The team even went so far as to test how the rs2549794 variant affected the ability of living human cells to help fight the plague, determining that macrophages expressing two copies of the variant were more efficient at neutralizing Y. pestis compared to those without it. "Examining the effects of the ERAP2 variants in vitro allows us to functionally test how the different variants affect the behavior of immune cells from modern humans when challenged with living Yersinia pestis," said Javier Pizarro-Cerda, Ph.D., head of the Yersinia Research Unit and director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Plague at Institut Pasteur. "The results support the ancient DNA evidence that rs2549794 is protective against the plague." The team further concluded that the selection for rs2549794 is part of the balancing act evolution places upon our genome; while ERAP2 is protective against the Black Death, in modern populations, the same variant is associated with an increased susceptibility to autoimmune diseases, including acting as a known risk factor for Crohn's disease. "Diseases and epidemics like the Black Death leave impacts on our genomes, like archeology projects to detect," said Hendrik Poinar, Ph.D., Professor of Anthropology at McMaster University and co-senior author on the study. "This is a first look at how pandemics can modify our genomes but go undetected in modern populations. These genes are under balancing selectionwhat provided tremendous protection during hundreds of years of plague epidemics has turned out to be autoimmune related now. A hyperactive immune system may have been great in the past but in the environment today it might not be as helpful." Future research will scale the project to examine the entire genome, not just a selected set of immune related genes; and the team hopes to explore genetic variants that affect susceptibility to bacteria in modern humans and compare them to these ancient DNA samples to determine if those variants were also a result of natural selection. "There is a lot of talk about how pathogens have shaped human evolution, so being able to formally demonstrate which pathways and genes have been targeted really helps us understand what allowed humans to adapt and exist today," said Barreiro. "This tells us about the mechanisms that allowed us to survive throughout history and why we're still here today." More information: Luis Barreiro, Evolution of immune genes is associated with the Black Death, Nature (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05349-x. www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05349-x Journal information: Nature Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Given the same levels of family, school and neighborhood hardship, Black students would be more likely than their white classmates to complete high school and attend collegereversing current disparities, according to new research from the University of Michigan and Cornell University. Accounting for the unequal contexts in which Black and white children grow up and go to school also narrows test-score gaps substantiallyby more than 60%, according to the study, which followed nearly 130,000 Michigan students from kindergarten through college enrollment. "Our analysis reveals a stark divide in the social origins of Black and white children coming of age in the beginning of the 21st centuryand the toll this divide takes on educational inequality," the authors wrote. Katherine Michelmore, associate professor of public policy at the U-M's Ford School of Public Policy, co-authored the study with Peter Rich, assistant professor of sociology and demographer at Cornell's Brooks School of Public Policy. It is published this month in Social Forces. Sociologists and policymakers long have sought to assess the extent to which family background, school quality and neighborhood environment each contribute to educational disparities. The study by Michelmore and Rich updates that understanding for the No Child Left Behind era, by tracking students educated entirely after passage of the 2001 legislation focused on school accountability and choice. Michigan offered an ideal case study, they said, since its students mirror the nation demographically and could be observed over 16 years, from 2002 to 2018. The authors obtained restricted access to student records through a partnership with the Michigan Education Research Initiative and the Michigan Department of Education. Students' eligibility for subsidized lunches provided a measure of family economic hardship. Roughly half of all white students were disadvantaged at some point in time, compared with more than 90% of Black students. The researchers also created indexes of school and neighborhood disadvantage, including factors such a school's percentage of low-income students and average scores on eighth and 11th grade math tests, or a neighborhood's poverty and unemployment rates. Controlling for disadvantage across each context over time, the scholars determined that, consistent with prior research, family resources explain by far the biggest share of Black-white education gaps. "This finding implies that material differences in the contexts inherited by Black and white childrenrather than individual effortdrive the large education gaps we observe," they wrote. "These trends have persisted through the recent era of federal accountability reforms." After family background, Michelmore and Rich found schoolsspecifically, those highly segregated due to systemic inequality in wealth and housingare "consequential," disproportionately exposing Black students to disadvantage for longer durations. "Results from our study support concerns that schools exacerbate Black-white inequality," they write, countering recent debates suggesting that neighborhood context primarily drives differences in student outcomes. When they controlled for all three contexts together, the researchers found that gaps of nearly 13% in high school graduation and 17% in college enrollment were not only eliminated but reversed, and disparities in test scores narrowed dramatically. Strengthening those insights, they said, was a longitudinal methodology that more accurately captured the effects of economic hardship over students' careers until college. Researchers commonly rely on data reported for a single year, they said, which can obscure distinctions between students who are eligible for subsidized lunches consistently, sporadically or never. "If you only look at a snapshot in time, you're missing the true portrait of a student's family economic hardship," said Rich, a faculty affiliate in Cornell's Center for the Study of Inequality. "That's especially important for questions around racial inequality, because Black children are far more likely to live in economic hardship for longer periods of time." Michelmore notes that children who grow up in poverty are less likely to go to college regardless of race but Black children are four times more likely to experience chronic economic hardship than white children. That, she says, explains why we find this reversal of the enrollment gap once differing rates of hardship are taken into account. "As education researchers, we're often limited in what information we have available to us, but part of what we intended to show here is that you can be a little creative with the data that you do havetaking into account kids' economic hardship over time, for instance, and it can make a big difference in the findings," she said. The authors say their analysis suggests a need for complex policy solutions addressing systemic inequities. Despite decades of ostensibly race-neutral policies, they concluded, Black-white educational disparities persist because of a long history of racial exclusion that has limited Black Americans' access to homeownership, high-achieving schools, college degrees and high-paying jobs. "We underscore the relevance of this study to renewed attention to systemic racism as an urgent crisis," they write. "Our findings amplify the argument that uprooting systemic racism requires an ongoing confrontation with how this history warps Black and white childhood opportunities." More information: Katherine Michelmore et al, Contextual Origins of Black-White Educational Disparities in the 21st Century: Evaluating Long-Term Disadvantage Across Three Domains, Social Forces (2022). DOI: 10.1093/sf/soac098 The image shows the orientation of the proximal femur and standardization of the femur diaphysis. Credit: Elin T. Brdholt, CC-BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) In medieval Norway, high status individuals tended to be taller and to have stronger bones, possibly as a result of a favorable lifestyle, according to a study published October 19, 2022, in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Elin Brdholt of the University of Oslo and colleagues. Throughout modern history, socioeconomic status has been linked to health and longevity, a relationship that can potentially be detected even in the skeletal remains of past cultures. Medieval Norway was a period characterized by notable levels of social stratification and poverty and is therefore a valuable case study in identifying correlations between social status and individual health. The authors examined the remains of 227 individuals from five burial sites spanning the 11th through 16th centuries AD. Two of the sites, a royal church and a Dominican monastery, yielded the remains of high-status individuals, while the other three sites represented parish populations. For each individual, the researchers measured patterns of bone mineral density as well as stature and found significant skeletal differences between the socioeconomic groups. In general, high-status individuals were taller and had higher bone mineral density compared with the parish populations. This pattern likely reflects differences in nutrition, activity level, and susceptibility to disease brought on by differing lifestyles between high-class and low-class individuals. These results were also influenced by other factors. For example, women showed more marked differences in skeletal traits between the socioeconomic groups as compared to men, possibly indicating that women in medieval Norway experienced a particularly high degree of lifestyle differences influenced by social class. These data are valuable in understanding the complex ways in which socioeconomic status has influenced health over the centuries. The authors add, "Bone mineral density (BMD) has varied notably between archaeological populations and time periods in Scandinavia, and these exciting results demonstrate the effect of social inequality on skeletal BMD. By combining DXA-scanning and osteological analysis, we were able to elucidate new facts about life according to socioeconomic status in the medieval society of Norway." More information: Social stratification reflected in bone mineral density and stature: Spectral imaging and osteoarchaeological findings from medieval Norway, PLoS ONE (2022). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275448 Journal information: PLoS ONE Sourcebooks, based in Naperville, has had several books banned over the years. While not all had to do with sexuality or gender, the publisher asked people who attended Naper Pride Fest in September to sign a banner saying why they read banned books. (Giles Bruce / Naperville Sun) Over the past few years, book bans have rapidly spread across the U.S., according to the literacy society PEN America. Naperville-based Sourcebooks knows the situation all too well as the publisher of the ninth most banned book on the top 10 list compiled by the American Library Associations Challenged and Banned Books website. Advertisement This Book is Gay was written by transgender author Juno Dawson, who discusses sexuality and gender issues and what its like to grow up LGBTQ. "This Book is Gay," written by Juno Dawson and published by Sourcebooks in Naperville, is the ninth most banned book in the U.S., according to the American Library Association. (Sourcebooks / HANDOUT) Dominique Raccah started the company in the upstairs bedroom of her Naperville home in 1987. It has grown to have more than 150 employees, with offices in Arizona, Connecticut and New York City, where most of its competitors are based. Advertisement Now the eighth-largest book publisher in the United States, Were coming up on Disneys tail, said Amy Jackson, a senior marketing and publicity associate for Sourcebooks. Sourcebooks has published several books that have been subject to bans, including Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad and The Pants Project by Cat Clarke, a youth fiction novel that deals with LGBTQ issues. From July 2021 to July 2022, Pen America counted 2,532 instances of individual books being banned, covering 1,648 unique book titles. Seven-hundred twenty-nine books were challenged in 2021, according to the American Library Association, the most of any year since it started tracking the numbers two decades ago. Raccah wrote on the Sourcebooks website: Book banning doesnt protect anyone: it denies access to new perspectives. It closes doors to important conversations. It undermines everything we stand for as a democratic society. The publisher says it approaches its mission with the premise that all voices matter. Naperville is a great creative location, filled with smart, family-oriented people, Raccah says on the companys website. When you look at both our company (in terms of the culture and the people) as well as the books we publish, we look a lot like our community. Cana Clark, from left, Emily Luedloff and Amy Jackson, employees of Naperville publishing house Sourcebooks, manned a booth at Naper Pride Fest in September to speak to the public about why some of its books have been banned. (Giles Bruce / Naperville Sun) Jackson said the book bans are being spearheaded largely by coalitions of suburban mothers, such as Moms for Liberty, which has a DuPage County chapter. They aim to have books on topics such as race, gender, diversity and inclusion removed from schools and libraries, she said. In an email, Shannon Adcock, chair of Moms for Liberty DuPage and founder of Awake Illinois, said the group hasnt targeted books for removal from libraries. Advertisement We support transparency in any curricula and believe parents expectations should be respected as to how and where their children access sexually explicit material of any kind, said Adcock, whos running for a seat on the Indian Prairie District 204 School Board. We encourage all publicly funded entities to partner with parents in the conversations about content, books, lessons or discussions that are accessible to minors, especially when they depict graphic sex acts of any kind, she said. Giles Bruce is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun. Screen Shot 2022-10-18 at 1.04.50 PM. The cross-hairs mark the location of the newly discovered monster black hole. Credit: Sloan Digital Sky Survey / S. Chakrabart et al. The discovery of a so-called monster black hole that has about 12 times the mass of the sun is detailed in a new Astrophysical Journalresearch submission, whose lead author is Dr. Sukanya Chakrabarti, a physics professor at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). "It is closer to the sun than any other known black hole, at a distance of 1,550 light years," says Dr. Chakrabarti, the Pei-Ling Chan Endowed Chair in the Department of Physics at UAH, a part of the University of Alabama System. "So, it's practically in our back yard." Black holes are seen as exotic, because although their gravitational force is clearly felt by stars and other objects in their vicinity, no light can escape a black hole, so they can't be seen in the same way as visible stars. "In some cases, like for supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies, they can drive galaxy formation and evolution," Dr. Chakrabarti says. "It is not yet clear how these non-interacting black holes affect galactic dynamics in the Milky Way. If they are numerous, they may well affect the formation of our galaxy and its internal dynamics." To find the black hole, Dr. Chakrabarti and a national team of scientists analyzed data of nearly 200,000 binary stars released over the summer from the European Space Agency's Gaia satellite mission. "We searched for objects that were reported to have large companion masses but whose brightness could be attributed to a single visible star," she says. "Thus, you have a good reason to think that the companion is dark." Interesting sources were followed up with spectrographic measurements from various telescopes, including the Automated Planet Finder in California, Chile's Giant Magellan Telescope and the W.M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii. "The pull of the black hole on the visible sun-like star can be determined from these spectroscopic measurements, which give us a line-of-sight velocity due to a Doppler shift," says Dr. Chakrabarti. A Doppler shift is the change in frequency of a wave in relation to an observer, like how the pitch of a siren's sound changes as an emergency vehicle passes. "By analyzing the line-of-sight velocities of the visible starand this visible star is akin to our own sunwe can infer how massive the black hole companion is, as well as the period of rotation, and how eccentric the orbit is," she says. "These spectroscopic measurements independently confirmed the Gaia solution that also indicated that this binary system is composed of a visible star that is orbiting a very massive object." The black hole has to be inferred from analyzing the motions of the visible star because it is not interacting with the luminous star. Non-interacting black holes don't typically have a doughnut-shaped ring of accretion dust and material that accompanies black holes that are interacting with another object. Accretion makes the interacting type relatively easier to observe optically, which is why far more of that type have been found. "The majority of black holes in binary systems are in X-ray binariesin other words, they are bright in X-rays due to some interaction with the black hole, often due to the black hole devouring the other star," says Dr. Chakrabarti. "As the stuff from the other star falls down this deep gravitational potential well, we can see X-rays." These interacting systems tend to be on short-period orbits, she says. "In this case we're looking at a monster black hole but it's on a long-period orbit of 185 days, or about half a year," Dr. Chakrabarti says. "It's pretty far from the visible star and not making any advances toward it." The techniques the scientists employed should apply to finding other non-interacting systems, as well. "This is a new population that we're just starting to learn about and will tell us about the formation channel of black holes, so it's been very exciting to work on this," says Peter Craig, a doctoral candidate at the Rochester Institute of Technology who is advised on his thesis by Dr. Chakrabarti. "Simple estimates suggest that there are about a million visible stars that have massive black hole companions in our galaxy," says Dr. Chakrabarti. "But there are a hundred billion stars in our galaxy, so it is like looking for a needle in a haystack. The Gaia mission, with its incredibly precise measurements, made it easier by narrowing down our search." Scientists are trying to understand the formation pathways of non-interacting black holes. "There are currently several different routes that have been proposed by theorists, but noninteracting black holes around luminous stars are a very new type of population," Dr. Chakrabarti says. "So, it will likely take us some time to understand their demographics, and how they form, and how these channels are differentor if they're similarto the more well-known population of interacting, merging black holes." More information: A non-interacting Galactic black hole candidate in a binary system with a main-sequence star, arXiv:2210.05003v1 [astro-ph.GA] arxiv.org/abs/2210.05003 Journal information: Astrophysical Journal A Neandertal father and his daughter. Credit: Tom Bjorklund The first Neanderthal draft genome was published in 2010. Since then, researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology have sequenced a further 18 genomes from 14 different archaeological sites throughout Eurasia. While these genomes have provided insights into the broader strokes of Neanderthal history, we still know little of individual Neanderthal communities. To explore the social structure of Neanderthals, the researchers turned their attention to southern Siberia, a region that has previously been very fruitful for ancient DNA researchincluding the discovery of Denisovan hominin remains at the famous Denisova Cave. From work done at that site, we know that Neanderthals and Denisovans were present in this region over hundreds of thousands of years, and that Neanderthals and Denisovans have interacted with each otheras the finding of a child with a Denisovan father and a Neanderthal mother has shown. First Neanderthal community In their new study published in Nature, the researchers focused on the Neanderthal remains in Chagyrskaya and Okladnikov Caves, which are within 100 kilometers of Denisova Cave. Neanderthals briefly occupied these sites around 54,000 years ago, and multiple potentially contemporaneous Neanderthal remains had been recovered from their deposits. The researchers successfully retrieved DNA from 17 Neanderthal remainsthe largest number of Neanderthal remains ever sequenced in a single study. Chagyrskaya Cave has been excavated over the last 14 years by researchers from the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Russian Academy of Sciences. Besides several hundred thousand stone tools and animal bones, they also recovered more than 80 bone and tooth fragments of Neanderthals, one of the largest assemblages of these fossil humans not only in the region but also in the world. The Neanderthals at Chagyrskaya and Okladnikov hunted ibex, horses, bison and other animals that migrated through the river valleys that the caves overlook. They collected raw materials for their stone tools dozens of kilometers away, and the occurrence of the same raw material at both Chagyrskaya and Okladnikov Caves also supports the genetic data that the groups inhabiting these localities were closely linked. Previous studies of a fossil toe from Denisova cave showed that Neanderthals inhabited the Altai mountains considerably earlier as well, around 120,000 years ago. Genetic data shows though, that the Neanderthals from Chagyrskaya and Okladnikov Caves are not descendants of these earlier groups, but are closer related to European Neanderthals. This is also supported by the archaeological material: the stone tools from Chagyrskaya Cave are most similar to the so-called Micoquian culture known from Germany and Eastern Europe. Chagyrskaya Cave, Siberia. Credit: Bence Viola The 17 remains came from 13 Neanderthal individuals7 men and 6 women, of which 8 were adults and 5 were children and young adolescents. In their mitochondrial DNA, the researchers found several so-called heteroplasmies that were shared between individuals. Heteroplasmies are a special kind of genetic variant that only persists for a small number of generations. The easternmost Neanderthals Among these remains were those of a Neanderthal father and his teenage daughter. The researchers also found a pair of second degree relatives: a young boy and an adult female, perhaps a cousin, aunt or grandmother. The combination of heteroplasmies and related individuals strongly suggests that the Neanderthals in Chagyrskaya Cave must have livedand diedat around the same time. "The fact that they were living at the same time is very exciting. This means that they likely came from the same social community. So, for the first time, we can use genetics to study the social organization of a Neanderthal community," says Laurits Skov, who is first author on this study. Another striking finding is the extremely low genetic diversity within this Neanderthal community, consistent with a group size of 10 to 20 individuals. This is much lower than those recorded for any ancient or present-day human community, and is more similar to the group sizes of endangered species at the verge of extinction. However, Neanderthals didn't live in completely isolated communities. By comparing the genetic diversity on the Y-chromosome, which is inherited father-to-son, with the mitochondrial DNA diversity, which is inherited from mothers, the researchers could answer the question: Was it the men or the women who moved between communities? They found that the mitochondrial genetic diversity was much higher than the Y chromosome diversity, which suggests that these Neanderthal communities were primarily linked by female migration. Despite the proximity to Denisova Cave, these migrations do not appear to have involved Denisovansthe researchers found no evidence of Denisovan gene flow in the Chagyrskaya Neanderthals in the last 20,000 years before these individuals lived. "Our study provides a concrete picture of what a Neanderthal community may have looked like," says Benjamin Peter, the last author of the study. "It makes Neanderthals seem much more human to me." More information: Laurits Skov, Genetic insights into the social organization of Neanderthals, Nature (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05283-y. www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05283-y Journal information: Nature Credit: NASA/CXC/U.Texas Astrophysicists have performed a powerful new analysis that places the most precise limits yet on the composition and evolution of the universe. With this analysis, dubbed Pantheon+, cosmologists find themselves at a crossroads. Pantheon+ convincingly finds that the cosmos is composed of about two-thirds dark energy and one-third mattermostly in the form of dark matterand is expanding at an accelerating pace over the last several billion years. However, Pantheon+ also cements a major disagreement over the pace of that expansion that has yet to be solved. By putting prevailing modern cosmological theories, known as the Standard Model of Cosmology, on even firmer evidentiary and statistical footing, Pantheon+ further closes the door on alternative frameworks accounting for dark energy and dark matter. Both are bedrocks of the Standard Model of Cosmology but have yet to be directly detected and rank among the model's biggest mysteries. Following through on the results of Pantheon+, researchers can now pursue more precise observational tests and hone explanations for the ostensible cosmos. "With these Pantheon+ results, we are able to put the most precise constraints on the dynamics and history of the universe to date," says Dillon Brout, an Einstein Fellow at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian. "We've combed over the data and can now say with more confidence than ever before how the universe has evolved over the eons and that the current best theories for dark energy and dark matter hold strong." Brout is the lead author of a series of papers describing the new Pantheon+ analysis, published jointly today in a special issue of The Astrophysical Journal. Pantheon+ is based on the largest dataset of its kind, comprising more than 1,500 stellar explosions called Type Ia supernovae. These bright blasts occur when white dwarf starsremnants of stars like our Sunaccumulate too much mass and undergo a runaway thermonuclear reaction. Because Type Ia supernovae outshine entire galaxies, the stellar detonations can be glimpsed at distances exceeding 10 billion light years, or back through about three-quarters of the universe's total age. Given that the supernovae blaze with nearly uniform intrinsic brightnesses, scientists can use the explosions' apparent brightness, which diminishes with distance, along with redshift measurements as markers of time and space. That information, in turn, reveals how fast the universe expands during different epochs, which is then used to test theories of the fundamental components of the universe. The breakthrough discovery in 1998 of the universe's accelerating growth was thanks to a study of Type Ia supernovae in this manner. Scientists attribute the expansion to an invisible energy, therefore monikered dark energy, inherent to the fabric of the universe itself. Subsequent decades of work have continued to compile ever-larger datasets, revealing supernovae across an even wider range of space and time, and Pantheon+ has now brought them together into the most statistically robust analysis to date. "In many ways, this latest Pantheon+ analysis is a culmination of more than two decades' worth of diligent efforts by observers and theorists worldwide in deciphering the essence of the cosmos," says Adam Riess, one of the winners of the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics for the discovery of the accelerating expansion of the universe and the Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) and the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. Riess is also an alum of Harvard University, holding a Ph.D. in astrophysics. Brout's own career in cosmology traces back to his undergraduate years at JHU, where he was taught and advised by Riess. There Brout worked with then-Ph.D.-student and Riess-advisee Dan Scolnic, who is now an assistant professor of physics at Duke University and another co-author on the new series of papers. Several years ago, Scolnic developed the original Pantheon analysis of approximately 1,000 supernovae. Now, Brout and Scolnic and their new Pantheon+ team have added some 50 percent more supernovae data points in Pantheon+, coupled with improvements in analysis techniques and addressing potential sources of error, which ultimately has yielded twice the precision of the original Pantheon. "This leap in both the dataset quality and in our understanding of the physics that underpin it would not have been possible without a stellar team of students and collaborators working diligently to improve every facet of the analysis," says Brout. Taking the data as a whole, the new analysis holds that 66.2 percent of the universe manifests as dark energy, with the remaining 33.8 percent being a combination of dark matter and matter. To arrive at even more comprehensive understanding of the constituent components of the universe at different epochs, Brout and colleagues combined Pantheon+ with other strongly evidenced, independent and complementary measures of the large-scale structure of the universe and with measurements from the earliest light in the universe, the cosmic microwave background. Another key Pantheon+ result relates to one of the paramount goals of modern cosmology: nailing down the current expansion rate of the universe, known as the Hubble constant. Pooling the Pantheon+ sample with data from the SH0ES (Supernova H0 for the Equation of State) collaboration, led by Riess, results in the most stringent local measurement of the current expansion rate of the universe. Pantheon+ and SH0ES together find a Hubble constant of 73.4 kilometers per second per megaparsec with only 1.3% uncertainty. Stated another way, for every megaparsec, or 3.26 million light years, the analysis estimates that in the nearby universe, space itself is expanding at more than 160,000 miles per hour. However, observations from an entirely different epoch of the universe's history predict a different story. Measurements of the universe's earliest light, the cosmic microwave background, when combined with the current Standard Model of Cosmology, consistently peg the Hubble constant at a rate that is significantly less than observations taken via Type Ia supernovae and other astrophysical markers. This sizable discrepancy between the two methodologies has been termed the Hubble tension. The new Pantheon+ and SH0ES datasets heighten this Hubble tension. In fact, the tension has now passed the important 5-sigma threshold (about one-in-a-million odds of arising due to random chance) that physicists use to distinguish between possible statistical flukes and something that must accordingly be understood. Reaching this new statistical level highlights the challenge for both theorists and astrophysicists to try and explain the Hubble constant discrepancy. "We thought it would be possible to find clues to a novel solution to these problems in our dataset, but instead we're finding that our data rules out many of these options and that the profound discrepancies remain as stubborn as ever," says Brout. The Pantheon+ results could help point to where the solution to the Hubble tension lies. "Many recent theories have begun pointing to exotic new physics in the very early universe, however such unverified theories must withstand the scientific process and the Hubble tension continues to be a major challenge," says Brout. Overall, Pantheon+ offers scientists a comprehensive lookback through much of cosmic history. The earliest, most distant supernovae in the dataset gleam forth from 10.7 billion light years away, meaning from when the universe was roughly a quarter of its current age. In that earlier era, dark matter and its associated gravity held the universe's expansion rate in check. Such state of affairs changed dramatically over the next several billion years as the influence of dark energy overwhelmed that of dark matter. Dark energy has since flung the contents of the cosmos ever-farther apart and at an ever-increasing rate. "With this combined Pantheon+ dataset, we get a precise view of the universe from the time when it was dominated by dark matter to when the universe became dominated by dark energy," says Brout. "This dataset is a unique opportunity to see dark energy turn on and drive the evolution of the cosmos on the grandest scales up through present time." Studying this changeover now with even stronger statistical evidence will hopefully lead to new insights into dark energy's enigmatic nature. "Pantheon+ is giving us our best chance to date of constraining dark energy, its origins, and its evolution," says Brout. More information: Dillon Brout et al, The Pantheon+ Analysis: Cosmological Constraints, The Astrophysical Journal (2022). DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ac8e04 Journal information: Astrophysical Journal Graphical abstract. Credit: Marine Pollution Bulletin (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113904 The Baltic Sea is considered one of the world's most polluted seas. Now, new research from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, reveals a relatively unknown environmental culprit. The study shows that the discharge water from ships' exhaust gas treatment systems, so-called scrubbers, is responsible for up to 9% of certain emissions of carcinogenic and environmentally harmful substances in the Baltic Sea, which is considerably more than was previously known. Furthermore, the number of ships equipped with scrubbers have tripled since the study was carried out. The researchers' study is unique in its kind and was commissioned by the Swedish Transport Agency and the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management to investigate the environmental impact from scrubbers in the Baltic Sea, compared to other sources of environmental contaminants. One of the researchers behind the study is Ida-Maja Hassellov, Professor and researcher at the Division of Maritime Studies at Chalmers University of Technology. "For many years, we've flagged the fact that scrubbers account for disproportionately large emissions of hazardous and acidifying substances into the marine environment. In spite of this message, we have seen a significant increase in the number of scrubber installations as it is economically beneficial for the shipowner. Therefore, it is very important that authorities and decision-makers now react and implement measures to reduce shipping's emissions and impact on the marine environment," says Ida-Maja Hassellov. A growing marine environmental problem A scrubber is used on ships to clean exhaust gases, primarily to reduce emissions of sulfur oxides to the atmosphere. However, washing the exhaust gases in seawater trap other contaminants in the seawater and results in the release of hazardous substances to the marine environment. In the Chalmers study, published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin, the researchers found that more than 200 million cubic meters of environmentally hazardous scrubber water were discharged from ships that used exhaust gas cleaning systems in the Baltic Seain just one year. The study showed that scrubber wash water accounts for up to 9% of the emissions of certain cancer-causing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) into the Baltic Sea. The study also revealed that ships painted with copper-based antifouling paints account for a third of the total supply of copper to the Baltic Sea. Copper in antifouling paints is already a known environmental problem as the metal cannot be degraded in the environment and therefore leads to high levels in water, sediment, and soil. But exactly how much of the load of copper boat and ship traffic accounts for, has previously been unknown. Also, the cancer-causing PAHs are difficult to degrade and can spread widely in the environment before breaking down. Erik Ytreberg, Associate Professor and researcher at the Division of Maritime Studies at Chalmers University of Technology, is the lead author of the scientific study. "Our results show that shipping accounts for a significant proportion of hazardous substances to the Baltic Sea, above all through antifouling paints and discharge of wash water from open loop scrubbers. PAHs are highly toxic to both humans and aquatic organisms as they are, among other things, carcinogenic. Worth noting is that the study's data was collected in 2018, and at that time there were approximately 180 ships with scrubbers in the Baltic Sea. Since then, these ships have increased significantly and in 2021 there were almost 600 ships equipped with scrubbers in the Baltic Sea," says Erik Ytreberg. Proposal for a future ban The new research results have led the Swedish Transport Agency and the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management to propose a ban on the discharge of so-called scrubber water into the internal waters of the Baltic Sea. If the Swedish politicians follow the line of the researchers and the authorities, Sweden will be the first country in the Nordic region to introduce the ban. Today, scrubbers are installed on over 4,000 ships around the world. In the Baltic Sea area, only Germany already applies the same legislation, even though several other countries in Europe regulate scrubber discharges in their ports. The Chalmers researchers welcome the proposal but hope for even more extensive regulation in the future. "The proposal that Sweden should ban the discharge of wash water into Swedish inland waters is good, but at the same time it means that only 12% of the discharges that occur from scrubbers in the Baltic Sea today will be regulated. Sweden could also propose a ban in our territorial waters, which would mean that roughly 1517% of emissions to the Baltic Sea could be regulated. But the biggest effect would obviously come from an international ban, where all the countries around the Baltic Sea agree on a joint regulation of the discharge of scrubber water," says Erik Ytreberg. The paper, "Metal and PAH loads from ships and boats, relative other sources, in the Baltic Sea," has been published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin. More information: Erik Ytreberg et al, Metal and PAH loads from ships and boats, relative other sources, in the Baltic Sea, Marine Pollution Bulletin (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113904 Journal information: Marine Pollution Bulletin Remote glaciers, like the Deming Glacier in Washington, are rarely studied due to the difficulty of access, especially with heavy equipment in tow. Researchers instead have to rely on satellite photos or observations from afar which cannot always give the full picture of the glaciers retreat. Credit: Jenna Travers As warming atmospheric temperatures lead to glacier thinning and retreat around the world, understanding how glaciers are responding to climate change, algal growth, and impurities like dust and black carbon is vital. Understanding the response helps scientists, policymakers, and communities mitigate harm and protect watersheds and communities that rely on these glaciers. However, many glaciers are located in remote locations that can be difficult to access and study. In a paper published in the Journal of Glaciology in May 2022, physicist Markus Allgaier collaborated with geologists and geographers to develop a portable tool that can easily be fit into a backpack and carried to remote glaciers to measure the optical properties and composition of their ice. Gathering data on the ice composition and retreat of glaciers is important for evaluating how glaciers are responding to climate change. The data also help scientists predict how communities downriver of the glaciers might be affected by their retreat. Currently, many glaciologists rely on modeling techniques to evaluate glaciers' ice composition, especially for more remote glaciers that are tricky to access and difficult to survey. Without being on the glacier, however, it can be hard to accurately measure ice composition, algal growth, and dust and black carbon levels. This deficit makes backpack glaciologyhiking into remote locations with portable equipment for physical measurements on the glaciersvital for understanding the ice and its behavior. However, backpack glaciology comes with a tradeoff. For tools to be portable, they are often simple and unable to measure variables such as albedo, which is important for understanding retreat. For instance, the North Cascades Glacier Climate Project, a decades-long project measuring glaciers in northwest Washington, uses a long metal probe with detachable segments, a laser rangefinder, and marked ropes to conduct most of its research. These tools do help researchers collect vital data on snow depth, ablation rates, terminus location, and glacier profiles, but scientists hoping to measure albedo or ice composition on remote glaciers have few choices available. Allgaier, a postdoctoral physicist at the University of Oregon, is working to address the lack of options and improve the measurement tools available for glaciologists around the world. Allgaier explained in an interview with GlacierHub that while his background is in quantum physics, he wanted to "apply these fields to environmental science and climate research," citing his love of mountains and desire to contribute to research focused on understanding them. He started by researching which optical measurements glaciologists use and thinking about how they could be improved and what was missing in the techniques currently used. He brought in glaciologists, geographers, and hydrologists to develop a tool together. Allgaier using the device on the Collier Glacier last year. Sunlight can disrupt the data collection, so the researchers had to wait until sunset to test it out. Credit: Markus Allgaier These collaborations culminated in the development of a device that measures the composition and structure of glacier ice using photons, or subatomic light particles. The device shoots a laser pulse into the glacier ice and measures the time it takes for the photons to bounce off the ice and hit a receiver approximately two meters away. Air bubbles inside the glacier scatter the laser pulse in random directions, changing both the time it takes to hit the receiver and the shape of the pulse when it gets there. According to Allgaier, "the pulse shape and duration of the detected light is unique, and these tell us how much light is absorbed in the ice and how much scattering there is." This data in turn allows researchers to determine the composition and density of the ice as well as the optic properties of the glaciers. These can be used to predict retreat rate. Allgaier highlighted the importance of this device for both large and small glaciers, saying that by measuring the composition and structure of the ice, the device provides "a glimpse into what drives melt and why the glacier albedo is what it is." While this device is perfect for gathering data on difficult-to-access glaciers, it can also be used to verify that remote sensing data of easy-to-access glaciers are accurate and match what's found on the ground. The latter idea originated from Allgaier's collaboration with geographers at the University of Oregon. Johnny Ryan, an assistant professor in the geography department, joined the project to provide perspective on glaciers, ice sheets, and practical uses of the device. Ryan says he and his colleagues in the geography department were able to give suggestions on how to improve the device to best work in the field and provide insights on how the project might fit into the current body of glaciology research. The geographers were also helpful when testing the laser in the field, according to Ryanknowing where to go and how to navigate the glaciers as well as how to obtain permits. The group has tested it out on a couple of Oregon glaciers: the Crook Glacier on Broken Top Mountain and the Collier Glacier on the North Sister. Both tests were successful. So far, only a small proportion of the world's glaciers have been studied, Ryan said. Going forward, this tool will help researchers "study glaciers that haven't typically been studied but are still important for water resources and sea level rise." And by verifying data from satellites and aircraft, this new research is especially important for communities downriver of glaciers that are nestled in mountains too dangerous to ascend. Understanding how their glaciers are changing and retreating is vital to the future of these communities. More information: Markus Allgaier et al, Direct measurement of optical properties of glacier ice using a photon-counting diffuse LiDAR, Journal of Glaciology (2022). DOI: 10.1017/jog.2022.34 Journal information: Journal of Glaciology Provided by State of the Planet Man accused of stealing vehicle JOHNSBURG An Indian Lake man is accused of stealing a motor vehicle from the Full Belly Deli in the town of Johnsburg. Police said William J. Blair, 38, took the vehicle from the restaurant at 2378 state Route 28. Blair was charged on Oct. 8 with one felony count of third-degree grand larceny. Blair was also charged with a parole violation since he was on probation at the time of the arrest. GLENS FALLS Derin Tanyol, a 19th- through 21st-century art specialist, has been named curator of modern and contemporary art at The Hyde Collection. She will oversee The Hydes contemporary exhibition programming and modern art collections. Tanyol, who begins her new role on Oct. 24, has spent 15 years in the museum, gallery and arts administration field. She has curated or produced more than 60 exhibitions, including contributions to exhibitions at the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center at Vassar College and the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art at SUNY New Paltz. Her experience also includes 19th-century American and European painting and printmaking, art of the Woodstock Art Colony, and the American Arts and Crafts movement. Tanyol joins The Hyde after many years as director of exhibitions and programs at the Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild, a multidisciplinary arts organization that hosts exhibitions, an artist-in-residence program, classes and performances. She curated or produced eight exhibitions annually of contemporary and historic art, including three outdoor sculpture shows on Byrdcliffes historic grounds. Derin plays an important role in how The Hyde Collection defines the art of our time when museums around the world are rethinking collections and making way for more women and people of color, said Norman Dascher Jr., The Hydes CEO, in a news release. It is our responsibility to build an institution and a curatorial program of equity and inclusion and celebrate and share our rich modern and contemporary collection. In August 2016, The Hyde announced it received its largest donation since Charlotte Pruyn Hyde bequeathed her home and artwork to establish the museum in 1952. The Feibes & Schmitt gift doubled The Hydes modern and contemporary art holdings, positioning the museum as a regional hub for postwar art, according to the news release. A new gallery devoted to modern and contemporary art, named the Feibes & Schmitt Gallery, opened in June 2017. For more than four decades, the late Werner Feibes and James Schmitt amassed a world-class art collection that aligned with their tastes and interest in non-objective art, pop art, abstract art and minimalism. Between the creation of the new modern and contemporary curatorial line at The Hyde and the museums visionary Reimagine initiative, The Hyde is charging forward with making the museum experience more inclusive and relevant, said Tanyol. I look forward to working with the staff and board to create shows that will highlight the superlative collections at The Hyde and introduce audiences to some of the most important artists working today. Tanyols curatorial accomplishments include solo shows by major contemporary artists Nina Katchadourian and the Starn Twins and a retrospective on French surrealist Georges Malkine. In addition to her curatorial and gallery directing experience, Tanyol has taught art history at Vassar College, Wesleyan University, and the State University of New York at New Paltz. She has published on 19th- and 20th-century French and American art and lectured at the Milwaukee Art Museum, the New York State Museum, the Frick Collection, and many public conferences. Tanyol received a Fulbright Scholarship, a Samuel H. Kress Foundation Fellowship and a Bourse Chateaubriand for two years of research in Paris. She received her Ph.D. from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and her B.A. from Barnard College. Regional artists exhibition The Hyde will host the 2022 Artists of the Mohawk-Hudson Region exhibition, now in its 86th year, starting this Saturday and running through Dec. 31. The juried exhibition is organized jointly by The Hyde Collection, the Albany Institute of History & Art and the University Art Museum at the University at Albany. The opportunity to be featured in this exhibition is open to all visual artists residing within a 100-mile radius of the Capital District and Glens Falls. Titled Split and Becloud, this years AMHR call for art received over 900 artwork submissions from 324 artists. The exhibition features 25 artists and 56 works ranging from paintings and drawings to prints, photography, collage, sculpture, textiles and installation works. A digital catalog of the exhibition will be available to all museum visitors. An opening celebration will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, with many artists in attendance. There will be a presentation of awards at 2:30 p.m. in The Hydes Helen Froehlich Auditorium. Founded in 1936, the Artists of the Mohawk-Hudson Region is among the longest-running regional exhibitions in the country. The exhibition is hosted alternately by The Hyde, University Art Museum at the University at Albany and Albany Institute of History & Art. Featured artists include: Tania Alvarez, Geneve Brossard, Alicia Barton, Roberley Bell, Irja Boden, Peter Crabtree, David DeLira, Brock Enright, Jean Feinberg, Peg Foley, Daniel Giordano, Wenda Habenicht, Juliana Haliti, Daesha Harris, David Herbert, Miranda Levin, Rita MacDonald, Melinda McDaniel, Susan Meyer, Oona Nelson, Gina Occhiogrosso, Funmi Oladipo, Funmi Oladipo, Daniel Subkoff and Amy Talluto. NORTH CREEK After decades of planning, residents and business owners in the hamlet of North Creek will soon have access to the communitys first public sewer system. The initiative became a reality on Tuesday, when voters decided to create the sewer district by a vote of 34-14. This is very exciting and a huge opportunity for the town of Johnsburg, town Supervisor Andrea Hogan said in a news release. For more than 80 years, community leaders in the town of Johnsburg have identified the economic need for wastewater infrastructure in the hamlet of North Creek, the release notes. Businesses on Main Street are limited due to small lot sizes that do not meet modern standards. The total cost for the district is estimated at $7.6 million, with more than half of the cost being provided by state and federal grants, which includes Empire State Development, USDA Rural Development and a joint funding award from the Northern Border Regional Commission and U.S. Economic Development Administration. The remainder of the project will be financed through low-interest, long-term loans from USDA Rural Development. We are very fortunate to have a funded sewer installation that will help our North Creek area prosper over the next couple years, stated Chuck Barton, former COO of Barton Mines and CEO of the Warren-Washington Industrial Development Agency, in the release. The grant applications and financing package was prepared by Chris Belden, economic development coordinator for the Lake Champlain-Lake George Regional Planning Board. We were able to demonstrate the need to our state and federal partners that investing in rural communities, like North Creek, promotes equitable economic outcomes for current property owners and future generations, Belden stated. Belden added that the municipal sewer system holds potential for reversing business vacancies on Main Street, providing greater opportunities for business expansion and improving employment opportunities for residents. The new children's book "The Little Book of Joy" tells the story of two little boys who grew up to be very big deals. One of them is His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The other is the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who died last December. They are two of the world's most influential and beloved men, so when San Diego artist Rafael Lopez was approached about doing the illustrations for their book, he did what any self-respecting creative person would do. He said, "No." "I hesitated at first. Not because they were the Dalai Lama and Bishop Desmond Tutu. It was the fact that they wanted it right away. They wanted it delivered within three months, and I said, 'I can't do that. I'm just gonna blow it. There's no way. I can't do this to these amazing people I admire so much,'" Lopez said during an interview from his loft studio in the East Village. "I talked to my agent, and I said, 'I would love to do this if they would give me a little extra time,' and they did. They found me another three or four months, and then I got to work." What Lopez did with the gift of time became its own kind of windfall, one that rewarded the artist with an infusion of inspiration, heaping portions of philosophy and yes, many jolts of joy. Released in late September, "The Little Book of Joy" is a picture-book adaptation of 2016's "The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World," the thought-provoking bestseller that was the result of the week Archbishop Tutu and the Dalai Lama spent together celebrating the Dalai Lama's 80th birthday, talking about their lives and contemplating one deep question: "How do we find joy in the face of life's inevitable suffering?" The children's version, which was co-authored by longtime Desmond Tutu cowriter Douglas Abrams and writer-literary agent Rachel Neumann, uses the boyhood stories of the two spiritual icons to tackle that same question in a way that young minds will understand. When we first meet the boys who would become giants, they are two lonely kids who live on opposite sides of the world but long for the same thing friendship and connection. And as the young Desmond Tutu hunkers down in the patchy grass outside his house in South Africa, he sees a multicolored flower springing up from the dry ground. And as the Dalai Lama perches on a hilltop outside his Tibetan palace, he notices a brilliantly hued butterfly hovering just over his head. "We wondered if we would always be sad and lonely," the book says. "But when we sat still and breathed in the quiet, we noticed something beautiful." The words of hope and comfort came from the lives of these two Nobel Peace Prize winners. The glowing images of beauty rising out of the darkness came from Lopez. In his sweetly meditative illustrations for "The Little Book of Joy," Lopez shows how two boys from very different circumstances could still end up sharing so much, including the ability to find rainbow glimmers of wonder everywhere, from the murky depths of a rain puddle to the warmth of a mother's hug. "Working on this book reminded me that when I see these two giants of world peace and understanding, they had very challenging lives. The Dalai Lama was kicked out of Tibet, and now he lives in exile in Northern India. And then we have Archbishop Desmond Tutu, living through apartheid for so many decades and feeling so much oppression," Lopez said. "These two men could have ended up being very bitter people. And yet, they chose instead to look for kindness and commonality, compassion and reconciliation." Just as "The Little Books of Joy" is a summing-up of these two life experiences, the illustrations speak colorful volumes about the man behind the art. Born and raised in Mexico City, Lopez is the son of two architects who encouraged him to follow his artistic dreams, no matter where they took him. He attended the prestigious ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, and after a few post-graduate years as a struggling freelance artist, he moved to Texas to work in advertising. Lopez was not a good fit for the world of suits, ties and meetings, so he moved to San Diego to reacquaint himself with the artistic dream that started it all. More than 30 years later, Lopez is the award-winning illustrator of such inspiring children's books as Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor's "Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You," and Jacqueline Woodson's "The Year We Learned to Fly." Earlier this year, Lopez created 57 portraits for the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino. He also designed the U.S. Postal Service's first-ever stamp series featuring mariachi musicians, released in August. Lopez and his wife, design educator and art activist Candice Lopez, co-founded the Urban Art Trail Project, which has brightened downtown San Diego with murals, painted utility boxes and other pieces of community art. Rafael Lopez has also done mural projects in Northern California, Seattle and Colorado. After years of illustrating other people's stories, Lopez is now working on a picture book about his own life. Technically, it will be for kids. But as the Dalai Lama and the Archbishop Tutu taught him, the best lessons are timeless, ageless and limitless. "It will be about the experiences that we all have and we all come through," said Lopez, who splits his time between San Diego and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. "It's about the things that teach us to be more flexible in life. I want it to be a universal message that everyone can relate to and say, 'You know, that's pretty cool.'" Police in Newark, New Jersey were responding to a report of officers shot Tuesday in a residential neighborhood about a mile west of the citys airport. Details on the number of officers injured or the extent of their injuries werent immediately available. Video taken from news helicopters showed police officers in tactical gear staging on streets in the neighborhood and searching at least one rooftop. Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement that he was monitoring an unfolding situation in Newark, but didnt immediately share details. I am in touch with local authorities and the state is providing resources as requested. We will continue to support local law enforcement and ensure that all residents are safe, he said. A former teacher at the Atlantic County Institute of Technology was charged Tuesday with endangerment and criminal sexual misconduct. The charges stem from inappropriate relationships that Peter Thompson, a 51-year-old from Galloway Township, allegedly had with students, according to an Atlantic County Prosecutors Office news release. ACIT officials alerted law enforcement to their concerns about Thompson in early 2022. A student had alleged to ACIT officials that Thompson had engaged in several instances of inappropriate sexual behavior, which prompted them to contact authorities. The Special Victims Unit of the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office and the Atlantic County Sheriffs Office investigated the complaint, finding multiple complaints against Thompson made by other ACIT students. Thompson was a sportscaster on the former local NBC affiliate TV 40. Thompson was charged with multiple counts of endangering the welfare of a child, criminal sexual contact and official misconduct. He was taken into custody in Galloway and is being held in the Atlantic County Justice Facility pending a detention hearing. Those with additional information about the case are being asked to contact the Prosecutors Office at 609-909-7800 or visit acpo.org/forms/tips-crime-reporting and submit an anonymous tip with the form on the Submit a Tip page. They can also contact the Atlantic County Crime Stoppers at crimestoppersatlantic.com or call 609-652-1234 or 1 (800) 658-8477 (TIPS). The Prosecutors Office news release indicated that there remains an active investigation into the case. Thompson is not the only Atlantic County teacher to be taken into custody for alleged sexual misconduct in the last several weeks. Joseph Scalfaro, a 47-year-old Atlantic City High School social studies teacher from Absecon, was arrested on Sept. 30 and faces child-endangerment and criminal sexual contact charges. His case similarly involves an inappropriate relationship he allegedly had with a student. He was set to appear again in Atlantic County Superior Court on Nov. 14. MIDDLE TOWNSHIP Cannabis was in the crosshairs at the Monday Middle Township Committee meeting, at which a resident lambasted plans for a dispensary in the Rio Grande section. At a previous meeting, committee members supported the location on Route 9. The site is currently vacant, after the diner that once stood there burned down years ago. You know marijuana in an hallucinogenic drug. That store is in my backyard. I dont want drugs sold in my backyard, resident Jim Chew told committee members. We in Rio Grande already have a problem with drugs among the hundreds of homeless that are hiding in the woods. And now you want to encourage more drug use? Thats insane. He said he does not want anyone under the influence operating a vehicle. I dont want someone high on marijuana smashing into you and your friends, Chew said. The township had originally held off on allowing marijuana sales after they were legalized in the state. But this year, committee members decided to allow one dispensary license, and approved a process for deciding what company would get the townships support for a state license. The Massachusetts-based company Insa received that support earlier this month. The township had already supported Insas proposal to grow cannabis at a site on Indian Trail Road, but there was no plan to offer sales to customers at that site. Denise South, who lives and works in Rio Grande, also said she was concerned about the location. She is the executive director of Cape Hope, which advocates on behalf of people experiencing homelessness. We already have people smoking marijuana outside the office, South said Monday. When I walk my dog, its just obvious that it is in the air. She said the township must work to rein in public cannabis use. It is a serious issue, she said. Banning the use of marijuana on public property was one of the first things Middle Township Committee did after legalization, Mayor Tim Donohue said. Members of the three-member committee, all Republicans, said they also had doubts about legalization. But Donohue pointed out that voters had their say in 2020, when 67% of Middle Township voters supported legalization on the statewide ballot question. Donohue said he would like to have had more police powers in the state law that legalized the drug, including a stronger approach to smoking in public. But just as residents sometimes see someone drinking a beer, they will have to get used to people smoking marijuana. For instance, if someone is sharing a joint with friends in their backyard, that is now legal in New Jersey. And with more dispensaries in the planning process, it will get easier to buy cannabis. If we were not to have a dispensary, it doesnt mean people would not be smoking pot in Middle Township, Donohue said. There are going to be two in Lower Township, one in West Cape May, and more will come. The state law also includes an option for home delivery businesses. In Lower Township and West Cape May, officials limited the locations where cannabis businesses could be located. Middle Township left it open to any commercial area. Rio Grande is close to Wildwood and other beach resorts and already includes multiple businesses, including bars, restaurants and a brewing company with a popular tasting room. The local support for the dispensary is part of the application process to the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission. Donohue said Insa may not get its license approved. The township will be able to add a local tax to the cannabis sales. Someone told me this was a money grab. Well, we just sold a liquor license last year for $800,000. Was that a money grab? We had the ability to do that and put that money into our coffers, Donohue said. He said the township did not rush into allowing local sales. It took use over two years to make this decision, Donohue said. Blame the Shawshank Redemption for Lt. Gov. John Fettermans votes to free 38 convicted murderers. That appeared to be Fettermans explanation for what critics call a soft-on-crime approach to his duties as chairman of the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons. So you know, I believe in redemption, Fetterman said. And I would just ask anyone watching, I would say if youve seen Shawshank Redemption, the movie, and if you, at the end of the movie, you would vote to have Morgan Freemans, uh, character die in prison, then thats really those, thats the choice, thats really, that you look at, at the end of it. And if somebodys done 40, 45, or even more than 50 years, and theyve had a perfect record, and they have demonstrated a lot of remorse for whats done. I havent met a single person that said, Yeah, Morgan Freeman should die in prison. Its all a choice on redemption. Coming from the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, the policy-via-cinema approach created an instant reaction. Shawshank Fetterman, A Convicted Murderers Best Friend, quipped Brittany Yanick, communications director for his GOP opponent, Dr. Mehmet Oz. Delaware Valley residents took to social media to offer their thoughts. In Elkins Park Happenings Uncensored, Joey McLoughlin said, Fetterman and (Gov. Tom) Wolf totally (screwed) the state. Please no more of this liberal elite. Fetterman is not qualified, added Laura Barrett Young. On the West Chester Community Facebook site, Caroline Specht said, Ill answer with another question: What would you say to the family of the victim if Freemans character was released? Im all for paying ones debt, second chances, and recovery. It depends on the circumstances in each case. But if you take a life, then a life sentence is how most global societies have decided to treat that crime. Take away that punishment and what are you saying about the value of those victims lives? she asked. Fettermans comments also inspired a broader conversation about the U.S. Senate contest. Fetterman is your best bet, said Tricia Shore, and she linked to a negative article about Oz. One Twitter follower said, The @NBCNews interview with Fetterman was a media hit job and focused more on the mans auditory disability- not his campaign and the policies he stands for. Do we only think that able-bodied citizens should serve as politicians? How about the morbidly obese like Trump? Also on the West Chester page, Bret Rappaport said, Actually in most other first world countries the idea of a life sentence doesnt exist in most scenarios the same as it does in the U.S.A. as they all have a chance for parole after [x] years. The U.S. is one of the few that has the concept of a life sentence with no chance of parole. Greg Carlson said this on Everything Delco, I think hes really messed up from that stroke. We need sharp, healthy people in those types of positions. All the ads bring up how Oz moved to Pennsylvania to run and how wrong it is, but Queen Hillary did the same thing in New York, and thats totally fine. At least Oz went to school here. On West Chester Community, David Pryze said, Its all about the economy. That should be your number 1 thought right now. A guy who doesnt want to pay his taxes should tell you everything you need to know. Also, on West Chester Community, Suzanne Ellen said in part, We see that we have a president who is cognitively impaired, and how much damage that is doing. Can Pennsylvania afford to have a senator who is cognitively impaired and who may not be able to handle the stress of living and working in D.C.? Shame on the Democrat Party for not having someone in the wings who could take over and run for Senate with a good bill of health in his portfolio. I read the other day that Fetterman has had (heart) issues for five years, but that only recently came to light. It is absolutely dishonest to withhold that information from the public at an earlier stage in the election process than this. Again, shame on the Democrats. When you see people of the caliber of Tulsi Gabbard leaving the Democrat Party, Democrats should be waking up. The party is collapsing. Iowans can begin early voting for the November midterm election on Wednesday, choosing representatives in Congress, state offices, and county officials. Following is everything you need to know to get ready to cast your vote. Election Day is rapidly approaching and its important to have a plan for how you want to vote, Secretary of State Paul Pate said in a statement on Tuesday. You can vote through the mail, in-person at the county election office, or at the polls on Election Day. I encourage you to figure out which option works best for you and take the necessary steps to ensure your vote is counted. "I want voters to be well-informed as voting opportunities begin," said Scott County Auditor Kerri Tompkins in a news release. How to register to vote: Eligible Iowans can register online at the Iowa DOT website, iowadot.gov. Alternatively, you can print a form from the Iowa secretary of states website and mail or bring the completed form to your local county auditor. To be eligible to register you must meet the following requirements: Be a U.S. citizen Be an Iowa resident Be at least 17 years old, and at least 18 on or before Election Day Not judged mentally incompetent to vote by a court Not claim the right to vote anywhere else If youd like to register online, youre required to have an Iowa drivers license or non-operators ID. An ID is not required to register with your county auditors office, but you will need a valid ID to vote, both early and on Election Day. To register before Election Day, you need to get your registration in by Oct. 24. You can also register on Election Day, as long as you have an ID and proof of residence. Most people convicted of a felony who have completed their sentence automatically have their right to vote restored under a 2020 executive order by Gov. Kim Reynolds. People convicted of homicide and some other crimes must apply to get their voting rights restored. Voting early Wednesday marks the first day of early voting in-person, and the first day auditors will begin sending absentee ballots to those who requested them. In Scott County, voters can vote early in-person at six locations, including the Auditor's Office. In-person early voting locations, dates, and times in Scott County Scott County Auditor's Office 600 W. 4th St., Davenport Weekdays, Wednesday, Oct. 19 through Monday, Nov. 7: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. 4:30 p.m. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5 Satellite Locations: Scott County Library 200 N. 6th St. Eldridge Wednesday, Oct. 19 through Saturday, Nov. 5 (Except Sundays) 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday Bettendorf Public Library 2950 Learning Center Campus Bettendorf Wednesday, Oct. 19 through Saturday, Nov. 5 (Except Sundays) 9 a.m. -3 p.m. , Monday through Saturday Davenport Public Library - Eastern 6000 Eastern Ave. Davenport Wednesday, Oct. 19 through Saturday, Nov. 5 (Except Sundays) 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday Davenport Public Library - Fairmount 3000 N. Fairmount St., Davenport Wednesday, Oct. 19 through Saturday, Nov. 5 (Except Sundays) 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday St. Ambrose University - Rogalski Center 518 W. Locust St. Davenport Monday, Oct. 24 through Friday, Oct. 28. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. In Clinton County, a satellite location at 226 11th St., DeWitt, will be set up at the satellite office from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 22 and Oct. 29 and noon to 6 p.m. on Oct. 26. In order to vote by mail, an absentee request form must be received by a voters county auditor by 5 p.m. on Oct. 24. You can print an absentee request form from the secretary of states website. When returning absentee ballots by mail, the ballot must be received by the county auditors office by 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 8. Any ballot received after that time will not be counted. Mailed absentee ballots can also be returned in person to the county auditors office or dropped in a drop box outside the office. Not all county auditors have set up drop boxes. In Scott County, a drop box is available at the Scott County Administrative Center on the west side of the parking lot. It is available through Election Day, November 8th at 8:00 p.m. If you did not request a ballot by mail, you can still cast absentee ballots early in person at your county auditors office starting on Wednesday. Many counties also offer satellite locations where voters can vote in person. Contact your local county auditor or visit their website to find more early voting options. Voting on Election Day To vote on Election Day, Nov. 8, you will need to go to your local precinct. You can find your precinct at the secretary of states website or your local auditor's site. Scott County has a precinct look-up available online at www.scottcountyiowa.gov/auditor/precinct-finder or call the Auditor's Office at 563-326-8683. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. You will need a valid ID to vote on election day. IDs that can be used at the polls include an Iowa drivers license, non-operator ID, U.S. passport, voter ID card, and others. Voters without an ID can also have another voter in the precinct attest to their identity, or cast a provisional ballot and provide ID before the time the votes are canvassed, which will be Nov. 14 this year. Whos running? Hundreds of federal, state and county offices are up for election in Iowa this November. The following offices will appear on ballots across the state: Voters will also decide on candidates in the states four congressional races: District 1: Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R), Christina Bohannan (D) District 2: Ashley Hinson (R), Liz Mathis (D) District 3: Cindy Axne (D), Zach Nunn (R) District 4: Randy Feenstra (R), Ryan Melton (D), Bryan Holder (Liberty Caucus) Each of Iowas state representative districts and some Senate districts will also be on the ballot. Check with your local auditor or the secretary of states website to see whos running in your precinct. Whats different in this election? This November marks the first time many Iowans will be voting since the state Legislature passed a law changing Iowas election procedures. The 2021 city and school election, as well as this years primary elections were conducted under those rules, but turnout in November is expected to be far higher. Heres what has changed from the 2020 election: The window to vote early has shortened from 29 days to 20 days. Absentee ballot requests must be received by county auditors 15 days before the election, up from 10 days. If not registering on Election Day, voters must register to vote 15 days before the election, up from 10 days. Absentee ballots must arrive at the county auditors office by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Previously, ballots postmarked by Election Day were counted if received by the following Monday. Polls are open for one hour less on election day, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. In most situations, only members of someones household or an immediate family member may return a ballot for them. Special rules exist for people with disabilities or those in health care settings. Reporter Sarah Watson contributed to this report. Davante Shamod Howard of Davenport is going to federal prison, having been sentenced as felon in possession of a firearm. Howard, 24, was sentenced to nearly four years for possession of a firearm and is to serve another 14-month sentence related to the revocation of his supervised release from a previous federal firearms case. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the sentencing announcement and the Davenport Police Department investigated the case. In September 2021, Howard had an active federal warrant for a supervised-release violation. According to the U.S. Attorney's news release, law enforcement located Howard at a Davenport residence, where an extended magazine was found, as well as an AR-15 and a ghost Glock firearm. Prior to Howard's arrest, he used a "straw purchaser" to obtain an extended rifle magazine, police said. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for his Snapchat account and found photos and videos of Howard with the rifle. One video showed Howard threatening to shoot people. He pleaded guilty on April 18, 2022. CAMBRIDGE, Ill. A former director of the youth center at the Rock Island Arsenal was sentenced in Henry County Circuit Court Tuesday to 10 years in prison on each of three counts, to be served mandatory consecutively, for sex-related offenses. Joseph G. West, 32, of Alpha was found guilty of three counts of criminal sexual assault/victim under 18 in an August 30 bench trial before Judge Terry Patton. The crimes happened between Jan. 1, 2019 and March 3, 2022. West will also have to serve at least 85% of his 10-year terms on each of the counts. On his release, he will also serve three years to life of mandatory supervised release and have to register as a sex offender. A minimum fine of $75 on each count plus statutory assessments will be erased by $5 a day credit for 214 days served in jail to date. He was also ordered to provide DNA samples and testing for HIV and sexually transmitted diseases. The penalty for the Class 1 felonies could have been up to 15 years in prison, but Judge Patton said the maximum sentence was reserved for people with lengthy criminal records who had proven themselves beyond rehabilitation. West had no prior criminal record. The judge said the fact West had worked and been a contributing member of society for quite some time was a mitigating factor. West's father testified on behalf of his son, saying Joseph West was a victim of sexual abuse himself as a child living in Germany when his father was serving in the military in Bosnia. "I find it very difficult to believe he would assault someone else," said the father. The judge, however, said it wouldn't surprise him if that was in fact part of the reason why the crimes happened. He suggested West might get some counseling "and get to the heart of it" when he is in the Department of Corrections. He also said he was "very, very concerned" about the obsession West had with his victim in this case. "This was just over the top," he said. West has maintained his innocence, a fact which the judge noted cannot be held against him. Public defender Lance Camp said he was filing a motion for the judge to reconsider the sentence. A hearing on the motion was set for Nov. 14. Asking for 10 years on each count, Henry County State's Attorney Catherine Runty also commented on West's obsession with his victim, saying "this type of manipulation and control, this type of gaslighting and brainwashing is something I think we don't see very often." Runty said law enforcement was first made aware of a potential situation in October 2021, but the arrest didn't occur until March of 2022. "There was nothing we could charge," she recalled. "I'm not sure there is any worse feeling for law enforcement than to sit with your hands tied." Judge Patton talked about people being torn apart in the aftermath of such crimes. "Children ... have to talk to strange adult after strange adult after strange adult, talking about things no one wants to discuss." A federal judge on Wednesday sentenced a Rock Island man to six years in prison on a gun charge. Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger sentenced Andrew Ryan Demont, 34, to a term of 72 months on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to federal court records. When his time in prison is complete, Demont must also serve three years of supervised release. Authorities allege Demont knowingly had a 12-gauge American Tactical Bull-Dog shotgun on June 26, 2021, despite having a felony conviction that prohibits him from possessing firearms, according to court records. The events that led to the charge began at a Rock Island convenience store, where Demont allegedly threatened people, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Iowa. After both parties left the store, authorities allege Demont removed the shotgun from his trunk, placed it in his vehicle, then threatened to bust at the victims. The people he is accused of threatening fled to Davenport with Demont allegedly in pursuit, the release states. Davenport police confronted him, and Demont allegedly admitted to them that he was a felon and had the gun. Demont also allegedly had shotgun shells in his sweatshirt pocket, the release states. He pleaded guilty to the charge in May, according to the release. Two major election-rating outlets have changed their projections of the U.S. Senate race in Iowa, shifting their predictions slightly away from incumbent Republican Chuck Grassley. Cook Political Report and Sabatos Crystal Ball both changed their ratings from safe or solid Republican to likely Republican, signifying a more difficult race for incumbent Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley and putting the race in the same camp as Senate races in Utah and Florida. The ratings change comes after the latest Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll, conducted by J. Ann Selzer, had Grassley with just a 3-point lead over Democratic challenger Mike Franken, down from 8 points in July. In the poll, 46% of likely voters said they would vote for Grassley, while 43% said they would vote for Franken. Grassley led the poll with 46% of support among likely voters to Frankens 43%. An article accompanying one change by Kyle Kondik and J. Miles Coleman of Sabato's Crystal Ball noted Grassleys age, at 89, could be affecting his electability. In the Iowa poll, 60% of likely voters said Grassleys age is a concern. Franken also pulled ahead of Grassley in total fundraising as of the latest reporting period, though Grassley leads with three times as much cash on hand. Grassley ad compares Franken to Biden U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassleys campaign released a new ad criticizing Democratic challenger Mike Frankenss support of President Joe Biden. The ad, which will air online and on television, begins with a clip of Franken saying Biden is doing a fabulous job, then says Bidens policies are leading to a recession and a high cost of living. This November, we have the opportunity to stop the Biden agenda and get our country back on track. That starts and ends with ensuring that Senator Chuck Grassley is re-elected to the U.S. Senate, Grassleys campaign spokesperson Michaela Sundermann said. In a statement, Frankens campaign spokesperson C.J. Petersen said Grassley has spent his career opposing efforts to lower costs. He's spent this entire campaign bragging about his seniority in the Senate - yet somehow wants Iowans to believe that a political outsider who spent his career serving our country in the Navy is to blame for high prices, Petersen said. Senator Grassley has clearly spent decades too long in his Washington bubble and is badly out of touch with what Iowans need." Progressive coalition launches voting effort The Progressive Voices United coalition, a group of Iowa liberal and progressive nonprofits, launched a campaign encouraging Iowans to vote in the 2022 election. The organizations launched a video, titled Whats Possible, encouraging Iowans to be a voter. The coalition includes organizations like Common Good Iowa, Progress Iowa, Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, and others. In a statement, Progress Iowa Executive Director Matt Sinovic encouraged Iowa voters to support things like higher wages, student debt relief, and climate action. We can dream big again and vote to protect the freedom to access abortion, he said. We can elect leaders who fully fund public schools and ensure workers are paid what theyre owed. As voters, we decide whats possible. Jeff Hollinshead, president of the Box Elder City Council and Ward 2 alderman, has resigned his position with the council effective immediately. The announcement was made Tuesday evening during the council's meeting. Hollinshead did not attend Tuesday's meeting. He told the Journal Wednesday his decision to resign was personal and did not share additional information about the resignation. A U.S. Air Force retiree with 21 years in the service, Hollinshead was transplanted to Box Elder in 2006, his council profile stated. Originally from Texas, hes been a part of the Black Hills community since 2003. His drive and desire to serve others and the community is what led him to the council, the profile read. At Tuesday's meeting, Mayor Larry Larson read a proclamation in recognition of Hollinshead's three years of service representing Ward 2 on the council. The purpose of the council, the proclamation read, is to provide leadership and vision to successfully move the city forward in a positive way. Hollinshead fulfilled these requirements in an outstanding manner, the proclamation read, commending him for his outstanding contributions to the city of Box Elder and the community. City ordinance states in the event of a vacancy in the governing body, if not within six months of the annual municipal election, the position shall be filled by a special election. If less than six months before the municipal election, the vacancy is filled by appointment by a majority vote of the members-elect of the common council, as soon as practicable after the vacancy occurs, the ordinance states, to serve until the office is filled by election for the unexpired term at the next annual municipal election. At Tuesdays meeting, council members voted to appoint a new council president and vice president. Michael Knight was unanimously approved as president and Rick Davis as vice president. Larson said president and vice president typically serve as chairs of the Legal and Finance Committee and Public Works and Planning and Zoning Committee. He nominated Knight as chair of the Legal and Finance Committee and Davis as chair of the Public Works and Planning and Zoning Committee. In other business, Grant Writer/Administrator Rob Timm told the council phase three of a sidewalk project grant has been submitted to the South Dakota Department of Transportation, expecting to hear back in November. In a marketing update, Brent Hendrickson, economic and community development/marketing and events director, said the city has been working on obtaining sponsors for the citys planned childrens museum. He said they landed a good one this week, and have met with other potential sponsors. He said they are also working on designing a logo for the museum, and working with city engineer Sawyer Mathiesen on the project's Request for Proposals. City Hall will be closed Oct. 27 for an all-day administrative staff team building event. The police department will remain open. A group of Oak Park gas station owners is suing the village after an ordinance was passed Sept. 19, 2022 outlawing 24-hour gas station operations in the village. On Sept. 29, 2022, a Cook County Circuit Court judge approved the suing group's request for a temporary restraining order barring the ordinance from taking effect. (James C. Svehla / Pioneer Press) A group of gas station owners in Oak Park got a reprieve, for now, from being required by village ordinance to cease being open 24 hours after a Cook County judge granted a temporary restraining order after the group filed a lawsuit. On Sept. 19, the Village Board approved a ban gas stations in town being open past midnight. The ordinance prohibits operating between midnight and 5 a.m. in response to reports of criminal activity, including the fatal shooting in June of an 18-year-old Oak Park and River Forest High School graduate at a 24-hour gas station on Chicago Avenue. Advertisement The new law sparked a Sept. 27 civil lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court against the village by the owners of seven gas stations, including six of the eight all-night ones that operate in Oak Park. The gas stations involved in the lawsuit are at 7140 Roosevelt Road, 727 Harlem Avenue, 100 Chicago Avenue, 330 Chicago Avenue, 6129 W. North Avenue, 520 S. Austin Boulevard and 1 Harrison Street. Advertisement The gas station owners subsequently asked for and on Sept. 29 received a temporary restraining order from Cook County Circuit Judge Neil Cohen preventing the new law from taking effect. We represent a group of minority-owned gas stations, and this closure will put them out of business, the groups lawyer, John Ellis, told Pioneer Press. Everything that they do, all of their fuel supply contracts, are all dependent on their staying open 24 hours. These are businesses that survived the pandemic and they were open during the pandemic to be able to serve essential frontline workers, to give them their gas and food. They survived, and to come out and have this mandatory closure will just devastate them. Trustees and residents who have long supported the earlier closing also cited other violent crimes that have taken place outside all-night gas stations. Village officials revealed in July that there had been 18 violent offenses at the villages gas stations between the start of 2019 and July 2022, of which 13 had taken place between the hours at 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Both at Village Board meetings prior to the vote on the ordinance and in the lawsuit, the gas station owners have argued that Oak Parks new law is excessive and could cause the removal of anywhere from 15% to 35% of the stations total sales. In addition, the gas station owners noted that the law could jeopardize their agreements with fuel suppliers, which are based on contract requirements mandating that they remain open 24 hours a day. And, they argued that the data provided by the village did not address crime at other overnight businesses, according to the lawsuit. Neither village attorney Paul Stephanides nor Village President Vicki Scaman responded to repeated requests for comment on the on the lawsuit. Ellis said the gas station owners suggested a set of voluntary mitigation measures to the village as a way to counter concerns about the police department being thinly staffed during overnight hours. While wed love to see an additional police presence at our stations overnight, wed take the voluntary step to (have) our own private security to see how it works, Ellis said. Advertisement Goldsborough is a freelance reporter. After weeks of continued discussion, the Rapid City Council voted to deny a cannabis business a retail alcohol license on the basis of it being an inappropriate location. The council voted to deny Rapid City Cannabis, Inc. a new retail on-off sale malt beverage and South Dakota farm wine license and a retail on-off sale wine and cider license for its 3075 N. Plaza Drive, Suite B, location. The vote was 6-2 Monday night. Council members Lance Lehmann and Laura Armstrong opposed the denial. Council members Bill Evans and John Roberts were absent from the meeting. Council member Pat Jones made the motion to deny the licenses with an amendment from Council member Ritchie Nordstrom to include the basis of inappropriate location. "As this was sent back for review for several weeks, (it) gave people a chance to look at it and determine what we believe would be in the best interest of our citizens of Rapid City," Jones said. "The recommendation that has come forward to us from our legal people, from our planning area and others is that we should deny this based on the fact that it is not an appropriate location of marijuana and beer, wine, etc., to be sold under one roof in one place is not appropriate for this location." City Attorney Joel Landeen, upon questions from Nordstrom, said the applicant followed all of the rules established for the application process and complied with all the ordinance rules put in place. He also said the discussion wasn't about the ordinance. "Ideally, if you didn't want to have alcohol and marijuana sales, you would have prohibited that in the ordinance," Landeen said. "But this is an alcohol license and the two items you look at are whether the location is appropriate and whether the applicant is a suitable person." Landeen also said he wanted to correct a statement legal was not recommending approval or denial, but if the council did choose to deny the applicant that the basis be that the location is not appropriate. He said there is case law that talks about factors other than the physical location of the actual building. "You can go beyond the zoning and land use issues," Landeen said. Rapid City Cannabis was one of six business selected for one of 15 medical cannabis dispensary licenses in Rapid City. Rapid City Cannabis received one license, along with one each to CC Health and Hive Collective, Genesis Farms had two, Greenlight Dispensary received three and Puffy's LLC had seven, according to the March drawing. Rapid City Cannabis's North Plaza Drive location does fall within a permitted location for a medical dispensary and was approved by the city council. Nordstrom said he was looking for a recommendation and hoped someone would make a motion to be able to defend it if it went to court. Landeen said the applicant was present with a lawyer. He said he could not guarantee there would be a lawsuit. Landeen said they could defend the decision, but he couldn't guarantee victory. "It really depends on the facts and what the basis for the facts are that you don't feel selling marijuana with alcohol is appropriate," he said. "In a lawsuit if the perception is you denied it because you don't like marijuana, that could prove problematic in court. Neither I or Mr. (Richard) Williams today can tell you what a judge is going to do." Attorney Richard Williams spoke on behalf of Rapid City Cannabis during public comment. He said he understands the request may seem new or novel because the city has never had medical cannabis before, but said it isn't a new concept. "We see this everyday and it's become so ubiquitous we never even think about it," Williams said. He said this happens in places like Walgreens, Walmart and Safeway where prescription drugs and alcohol are sold. Williams said this is different because the regulations placed on the medical cannabis industry are robust and "far superior" to prevent alcohol from getting into the hands of those under 21. He said no one would even be allowed near the cooler where alcohol would have been kept without showing a medical cannabis card and ID, which requires patients to be 21 years or older. Kittrick Jeffries with Dakota Cannabis Consulting spoke during public comment and said the cannabis industry does not want to see cannabis fall into the hands of children. He said he was also part of the rule-making process for state and local governments. Jeffries said one rule in particular from the Department of Health allows the co-location of medical cannabis establishments such as cultivation, manufacturing, testing and dispensary. Jeffries said the Department of Health's rules state that even a medical cannabis establishment shall have separate means from separate egress and ingress from any other medical cannabis establishment except where there is common ownership. However, there must be lockable, alarmed doors separating activities performing under different licenses. "That activity of that license malt beverage would be utilized in the same space as the medical cannabis establishment," he said. "I think that goes to the intent of what the Department of Health was trying to explain. ... I think that the intent of this rule was to cover malt beverage, video lottery, sex shops, amongst a wide variety of other things, that was definitely brought up in that rule making process. Why that is not in there, I am not 100% sure." Jeffries said the rule does speak to the intent of separation of activities. During council discussion, Armstrong said it's been a challenging decision. She said the applicant completed all of the applications, submitted them and they were approved. She said the city accepted the check and a memo from Community Development said staff reviewed ordinances and state law extensively and could not find anything that prohibits the use in conjunction with the dispensary. Armstrong said she's not happy about it, but people don't like big government. "We had a conversation not too long ago about letting businesses control their own businesses, right? Let the free market decide, I think the words 'personal responsibility' were being floated around," she said. "Personally I think have alcohol in this establishment devalues the point of having medical marijuana, and I sympathize with the stories. I understand where you're coming from, but our job is to uphold these laws." She said she agrees it's not a good policy, but the council would have to change the policy. She said the applicant did everything they were supposed to do and the council was pulling the rug out from under them. "I'm not happy about it, I don't want to see it happen, but my job is to make sure we're following the facts, that we're following the law, and as it is right now, this gentleman is in compliance as much as I don't like it, as much as the majority of us might not like it," Armstrong said. A Douglas School District bus filled with 47 students was involved in a crash Tuesday after the bus driver failed to yield at an intersection in Box Elder. According to a news release from the Box Elder Police Department, the crash occurred at 3:20 p.m. Tuesday at the intersection of Villa Drive and North Ellsworth Road. Police said the 51-year-old bus driver stopped the bus at the intersection, but pulled out in front of a minivan traveling northbound on Ellsworth Road. The vehicles collided. The students on the bus and the bus driver were not injured in the crash, police said. The 68-year-old driver of the minivan was assessed at the scene and transported by a personal vehicle to Monument Health. Box Elder police said a second school bus arrived and transported the students to their destinations. The bus driver received a citation for failing to yield after a stop. The Box Elder Fire Department and representatives from the Douglas School District also responded to the crash. Police said no further developments are expected, the news release said. Pennington County Sheriff-elect Brian Mueller sat down with U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D. on Tuesday at the Public Safety Building in Rapid City to discuss violent crime, drug trafficking, law enforcement staffing needs and securing the country's southern border. Mueller said the influx of drugs in the county are mostly coming from sources south of the United States. He said the increase in drug use is causing an increase in violent crime. "It starts with our southern border. We have to secure our southern border. With the amounts that are pouring through, we can do what we can do here at a local level, but without some help at that southern border, it's gonna be a pretty uphill battle for us," said Mueller, who is slated to officially take over the office of sheriff in January, replacing Kevin Thom. Fentanyl, a powerful opioid, has risen in popularity in Pennington County, according to the PCSO. In 2020, the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team in Pennington County seized 128.2 grams of fentanyl. In 2021, that number shot up to 960.55 grams. By the end of August this year, 892.001 grams were seized. According to a 2020 Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration report, fentanyl originates from China, India and Mexico, with China producing the most pure forms that are often shipped to Mexico and packaged for transportation to the United States. Johnson echoed Mueller's sentiment, highlighting conversations he's had with other sheriffs and police chiefs who have pointed to the border as a cause for crime in their communities. "I haven't heard it 10 times. I've probably heard it 100 times," Johnson said. "The reality is we know how to secure the border. Congress has got to get its act together." Johnson pointed to former President Donald Trump's "Remain in Mexico" policy. The official name was the Migrant Protection Protocols or MPP. Under MPP, it was the Department of Homeland Security's policy that certain non-Mexican applicants for admission who arrived on land at the southwest border could be returned to Mexico to await their removal proceedings and be transported back and forth between Mexico and the United States to facilitate attending immigration court hearings. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas officially terminated the policy on June 1, 2021, citing logistical difficulties. He wrote in his termination that over the course of the program, border encounters increased during certain periods and decreased during others. A legal battle ensued, ending in a Supreme Court decision to uphold Mayorkas' decision. Johnson is one of the co-sponsors on a bill seeking to re-implement MPP. He also noted the need to address addiction. Johnson also discussed staffing struggles with Mueller, who noted that the office has over 430 full-time employees. He said PCSO is doing well with deputy positions, but the biggest gap lies in correctional staff, which has over a dozen openings. "It's a difficult field to work in. A lot of our corrections staff are working one correction staff to 60 inmates," he said. Johnson noted two bills he's supported regarding law enforcement, the Invest to Protect Act, which passed the House at the end of September and the Tribal Capital for Operations Promoting Safety (COPS) Act, which Johnson introduced earlier this month. According to Johnson's office the Invest to Protect Act would provide grants to small, rural and tribal law enforcement agencies to improve recruitment and provide mental health training. The COPS Act intends to improve tribal law enforcement through additional training, compensation and equipment procurement. Johnson toured the WellFully facility in Rapid City earlier in the day on Tuesday. WellFully provides addiction recovery, behavioral and psychiatric care to youth. The organization is the only residential group care home and residential addiction recovery program for adolescents in western South Dakota. "I think we need to acknowledge addiction is a disease," Johnson said. "If somebody is just a user we want to catch them and hold them accountable, but treatment has got to be a central part of that journey." Johnson noted programs like the 24-7 Sobriety Program, which provides drug and alcohol testing. It is used as a bond condition, sentence condition, or as part of probation or parole. The program may also be used as a tool for the Department of Social Services for child custody issues. All but four of South Dakota's counties participate in the program and pass rates, depending on the test, range from 69.9% to 99.5% Rep. Liz Cheney touched on what she called a key lesson from the Capitol attack investigation in her opening statement for the Jan. 6 Select Committees last hearing. Cheney asked why Americans would assume the Constitution and institutions U.S. democracy in general would be invulnerable and not falter if assaulted again. Our institutions only hold when men and women of good faith make them hold, regardless of the political cost, Cheney, R-Wyoming, said Friday. We have no guarantee that these men and women will be in place next time. A month before the mid-term general elections, her statement and question are front and center as some Republicans in or campaigning for statewide offices that oversee elections still outright deny or cast doubt on Joe Bidens 2020 presidential election win. Federal election security officials under former President Donald Trump announced that the election Biden won was the most secure in American history, with no evidence any voting system was compromised. Courts consistently have turned away baseless allegations of widespread voter fraud. But Trumps so-called Big Lie that the election was rigged or stolen has resonated among his supporters, and many candidates seek to tap into Trumps base. A Lee Enterprises review of its west region found four candidates for secretary of state offices who openly have denied or cast doubt on Joe Bidens victory Republican Jim Marchant in Nevada; Republican Mark Finchem in Arizona; Republican Chuck Gray in Wyoming; and Independent Charles Tuttle in North Dakota. Additionally, Wyomings interim secretary of state, Karl Allred, has said he would support Gray. Some other candidates and officeholders have been coy about their thoughts or position on the 2020 election. The Guardian in January reported that a group of Republicans running to serve as chief election officials in key swing states formed a coalition to share unfounded election fraud conspiracy theories and ideas to reshape election systems in ways that could overturn legitimate results in the next presidential race. Jim Marchant running for secretary of state in Nevada leads the coalition. Marchant as recently as this month told Trump supporters at a rally that he and his coalition of secretary of state candidates will "fix the whole country" if elected and that Trump will be president again in 2024, according to the Guardian. Mark Finchem, who attended the Jan. 6 riot, is campaigning for secretary of state in Arizona and is a prominent member of that "America First Secretary of State Coalition." Finchem has suggested he wouldn't certify the vote if Biden won Arizona in 2024, according to an Arizona Daily Star story. Some experts are unsure what might happen if election deniers gain more control overseeing state elections, but they dont see furor provoked by Trump subsiding soon. Bruce Schulman is a U.S. historian at Boston University who says the risk to democratic institutions and traditions must be taken seriously. However, Schulman noted, many Republican politicians arent true believers of election conspiracy theories. He referenced Sen. Ted Cruz as an example of someone embracing election denialism for political reasons. The big question is what happens when push comes to shove, when those people who are not true believers, will either have to stand up for democratic practices or join the authoritarian bandwagon, Schulman said. I'm not sure what will happen. Joseph Uscinski, a University of Miami professor who researches conspiracy theories, elections and politics, said its common for some voters to believe they were cheated after their chosen candidate loses. Uscinski said whats different about the 2020 election is that the majority of Republicans now hold that belief because of the echo chamber cultivated by Trump, his allies in Congress and conservative media outlets. With that said, its not clear to me that these high numbers are going to remain permanently, but I think theyre going to be with us for a while, Uscinski said. Lisa Bryant, a California State-Fresno professor who is an expert in voter confidence and election administration, said she sometimes is told she is too optimistic. While skeptical of politicians, Bryant said her optimistic view is that good policies and procedures will win the day if and when election deniers achieve oversight of elections because statewide elections are run so well and securely. She thinks politicians who tout that the election was stolen are inflicting the most damage in state Legislatures, where unlike state election offices election codes and rules can be changed to make it tougher to vote. We dont know yet what could happen if people got into really powerful positions as the state senior election official like secretary of state but we can see whats happening when theyre in state Legislatures, Bryant said. We can see in many places it has been made a little bit more difficult for people to be able to cast ballots. Candidate quality issue Uscinski said people believe conspiracy theories largely for the same reasons they believe anything else a persons beliefs tend to be a reflection of who one is and how they view the world. So those who still view the 2020 election as fraudulent likely wont change their view, Uscinski said, especially with the consistent reinforcement by conservative elites. He said the Republican Party should take stronger control over who it allows to run in its primaries under the GOP banner. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in August acknowledged that Republicans have a candidate quality issue. Some people should not be allowed to run under the party banner if theyre engaging in a bunch of wild-eyed nonsense, Uscinski said. I mean there are other people in Georgia who could run for Marjorie Taylor Greenes seat. Trump reshaped the Republican partys structure. Uscinski said theres now a generation of politicians emboldened by Trump who are changing their tunes to match his. He built a base for himself that is less about traditional Republicanism and conservatism and much more about antagonisms toward the political establishment as a whole, Uscinski said. And oftentimes those antagonisms are expressed as conspiracy theories. GOP confidence drops more Bryant, who is a part of the MIT Election Data and Science Lab, said there is some level of a winner effect on voter confidence after an election. Voter confidence how confident a person feels that ballots are counted as intended always goes up among people who voted for a winner and down in those who chose the loser, Bryant said. But the difference is that traditionally Democrats lose only a little confidence while Republican confidence goes down more, she said. Bryant said what would boost confidence but largely goes under-reported or unnoticed is how IT departments and election offices are keenly aware of the evolving election landscape and are updating to handle it. She worries about local election officials essentially civic-minded volunteers from the community being forced to bear the brunt of conspiracy theorist harassment. Bryant noted that election administrators in a county clerks office in a small Texas county resigned because of threats. My hope, as always, is even if people who are election deniers get elected into office that once there they will see that the majority of people running the elections are just bureaucrats, Bryant said. They are friends and neighbors people they go to church with or bowling with or whatever and that they are just following procedures. They are not people sitting in offices with grand schemes to try to change election results. Parallels, precedents in US history Schulman, who contributes his U.S. history insights to some national news outlets, said there are no cases historically that specifically resemble Trumps efforts. But Schulman noted that there are many pertinent parallels and precedents. He pointed to a lengthy history of voter suppression, intimidation and violence surrounding elections and its relation to the countrys history of racial discrimination and white supremacy. He said that most notoriously in the late 19th and early 20th century South, white people used a variety of sinister means legal and extralegal to deny non-whites the right to vote. Some part I cant say how much of the explanation for how people believe claims of widespread fraud despite the lack of evidence is that fraud designates who voted, not how they voted, Schulman said. In the early 1860s, Schulman emphasized that eleven states not only rejected Abraham Lincolns election to president but seceded from the U.S. and launched a civil war rather than accept the result of an election they found unwelcome. Schulman said there have been numerous close and contested elections in which supporters of the losing candidate saw the outcome as fraudulent or corrupt. The most famous case, he explained, is the 1824 election in which none of the candidates received a majority in the Electoral College and the decision went to the House of Representatives. Candidate Henry Clay gave his support to John Quincy Adams, who defeated the biggest vote-getter Andrew Jackson and Clay became Adams secretary of state. The apparent deal, denounced as the Corrupt Bargain by Jackson supporters, led to widespread Jacksonian complaints about the legitimacy of the result and Adams subsequent presidency, Schulman said. Here are brief views into some states from journalists Joshua Wolfson, Sam Wilson, Nathan Thompson, Jack Dura, Dave Bundy and Corey Jones in Lee Enterprises' west region: Wyoming In Wyoming, the secretary of state is the No. 2 elected official. Wyoming Secretary of State Ed Buchanan departed office in September for a judgeship in his hometown, choosing that over seeking re-election this year. Buchanan, a Republican, sought to push back against claims that election integrity was an issue in Wyoming. He traveled around the state to give presentations to groups about why Wyoming elections are safe and secure. State Rep. Chuck Gray won the Republican nomination in August for secretary of state and is running unopposed in the general election. Gray has called Bidens election fraudulent and illegitimate on Twitter. Grays platform focuses on voter fraud and banning ballot drop boxes, even though voter fraud is extremely rare in Wyoming. He briefly ran for U.S. House against Liz Cheney, and made a point of visiting the Arizona recount. The interim secretary of state Karl Allred was appointed in October. Allred is a member of the Wyoming Republican State Central Committee, and he said he would support Gray. Allred hasnt said that Wyomings existing elections are secure. But within days of taking office, he asked county clerks to remove absentee ballot drop boxes even while acknowledging there have been no reported issues with them. The final decision on whether to do so remains in the hands of the seven clerks in counties that provide ballot drop boxes. Montana Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen, a Republican, was elected to her current term in 2020. She will be up for reelection in 2024. Her predecessor, Corey Stapleton, was the most prominent elected GOP official in Montana to acknowledge Trump's loss shortly after the 2020 election was called. But Jacobsen has never publicly addressed the 2020 election conspiracy theories, other than to say Montanas elections are secure and to note that the states tabulating machines dont connect to the internet. She has aggressively lobbied for legislation similar to Republican-backed legislation elsewhere in the country to improve election integrity and security. Opponents have said the measures, including tighter voter ID requirements and earlier registration deadlines, limit access to voting. The only official comment from her office on broader conspiracy theories related to the 2020 election came from her chief legal counsel during a trial in August. Austin James acknowledged giving testimony in a deposition, under oath as Jacobsen's representative, in which he referred to those pushing those claims as "wingnuts" and described efforts to eliminate tabulators from the state as crazy. South Dakota Monae Johnson is a Republican candidate campaigning for secretary of state in South Dakota on election integrity. During the state Republican convention, delegates denied Secretary of State Steve Barnett the opportunity for a second term. Johnson campaigned at the convention on a platform of her opposition to online voting, online voter registration and online registration updates. In a July media release posted on her campaign website, Johnson said she understands the challenges in the coming months as the radical left continues its assault on election integrity despite the fact that its Trump and his Republican supporters who question or deny the 2020 presidential election results. She referenced South Dakotas elections as fair, transparent and secure. In a Tuesday interview with KELO-TV, Johnson said she is not an election denier, but refused to acknowledge that Biden was legitimately elected in 2020. Her Democrat opponent, Tom Cool, acknowledges on his campaign website that there is no evidence of widespread manipulation of the election process in the last election. Local media are the chief source of information for voters and we need to ensure that the media are fully informed on the election process and that they have open access to election officials and results, Cool says on his website. North Dakota Independent Charles Tuttle, vying to be North Dakotas secretary of state, is a Trump supporter who has said Trump won the 2020 election. The North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation in August searched his Minot home and seized 15 time cards in connection with an investigation into fraud allegations related to signature collection for a ballot measure for term limits on North Dakota lawmakers and the governor. No arrests resulted from the warranted search. Secretary of state candidates Jeffrey Powell, a Democrat, and Michael Howe, a Republican, discussed election administration during a candidate forum in May. Howe said he is comfortable with our election process the way it is but that he is willing to make improvements if it would become easier to vote and harder to cheat. Powell said North Dakota has a secure voting system and that he doesnt have major changes from a procedural viewpoint. North Dakota is a Republican-controlled state, with no Democrats holding statewide office. Nebraska Republican incumbent Bob Evnen is running unopposed for secretary of state. In the May primary, Evnen defeated Bob Borer, a Trump supporter who campaigned heavily on election integrity as a member of the America First Secretary of State Coalition. Evnen and Gov. Pete Ricketts each have maintained that Nebraskas elections are safe and that Biden is president. However, Ricketts is advocating for Initiative 432, which is a ballot measure to enact voter identification requirements. Oklahoma Oklahomas chief state election official is the secretary of the Oklahoma State Election Board, which is a position appointed by the leader of the Senate a Republican. Secretary Paul Ziriax in a letter to the State Legislature after the 2020 presidential election wrote that Oklahomas elections are free, fair, safe and secure. In response to concerns after the Cyber Symposium hosted by Trump supporter and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Ziriax probed data purporting to show evidence that cyber intruders electronically manipulated Oklahomas election. Ziriax said an initial review showed the data did not appear to be credible and that a subsequent investigation by the state found the allegations to be entirely without merit. Unfortunately, several Oklahomans have seen or read misinformation like that provided at the Cyber Symposium and on The Big Lie website and have demanded a so-called forensic audit of Oklahomas 2020 General Election something that is neither justified by the evidence nor authorized under the laws enacted by the Legislature, Ziriax wrote. HURON Harvey Wollman, who 45 years ago became the last Democratic governor of South Dakota, has died. He was 87. Wollman died of natural causes Tuesday at a hospital in Huron, his son, Mike, told The Associated Press. Harvey Wollman had a short stint as governor. He was serving as South Dakotas lieutenant governor in 1978 when Gov. Richard Kneip was appointed U.S. ambassador to Singapore. Wollman's gubernatorial term lasted five months because he had already been defeated in the 1978 Democratic primary election by Roger McKellips prior to assuming office. Republican Bill Janklow defeated McKellips for governor in the 1978 general election, starting the run of GOP control. He worked hard for people and politically it didnt work out for him as well as he had hoped, but boy, he loved his side of the state with all his heart, Mike Wollman said of his father. Wollman was born on March 14, 1934, in Frankfort, South Dakota, and grew up on his family farm in Spink County, where he lived in the same house with his wife of 63 years, Anne. A 1953 graduate of Doland High School, Wollman became motivated for public service by another Doland grad, Hubert H. Humphrey. As senior class president, Wollman was called upon to shepherd Humphrey around during a school reunion and was really inspired by his style and his politics and his leadership," Mike Wollman said. Harvey Wollman eventually became a key Democratic figure in the South Dakota Senate. He was elected to three consecutive terms and served as both majority leader and minority leader. Gov. Kristi Noem offered condolences in a Wednesday afternoon statement. Harvey Wollman stood up and answered the call of duty, stepping into the role of Governor at a difficult time for our state, Noem said. During his brief tenure as governor, he advanced water development in our state and helped bring about the eventual repeal of the states personal property tax. In South Dakota, we honor our leaders. We honor their accomplishments. We honor our history. Noem ordered flags at half-staff in Wollman's honor until his burial. According to a news release, funeral services for Wollman will be announced at a later time. Roselyn Tso hopes to keep her feet on the ground throughout her time as director of Indian Health Services. Tso, a member of the Navajo Nation and previously IHS Navajo Area director, was sworn in as the IHS director Sept. 27. Tso plans to spend 45 days visiting IHS locations, which included a visit to Pine Ridge Oct. 16, in her first couple of months in office. "I've been crisscrossing Indian Country from my perspective," she said. "It's a reminder to me that it's one thing if I sit somewhere and make decisions, it's a completely different thing when I'm here on the ground and get to meet with our providers, our leadership team and our staff that still continue to provide services for IHS." Tso met with the Journal on Monday. She said she has learned good things so far, including areas where she sees room for improvement, areas where IHS is doing better and challenges in terms of what they need to focus on as an agency. She said she would like to focus on broadening communication. "I want us to tell the story the Indian Health story do a better job at that, and be more open and transparent about some of the things we're dealing with," Tso said. "I've also seen, even where I'm coming from, there's a lot of great things that I think are happening and sometimes we don't focus on those things." Tso said she's reminded of the remoteness of the IHS locations and the distances people have to drive, and that families are having to choose between food or gas or health care. She said improving communication with tribes and the whole Indian Health system is one of the immediate needs. Tso said the second immediate need is the need for resources. She said resources are something many tribal leaders have put on the top of their priority lists. She said resources can be staffing. "We know that as a nation, our health care system has been taxed with the need for medical providers," Tso said. "It's not just doctors, it's not just nurses." She said facility infrastructure is also necessary. "As a result of COVID, that has been a game-changer for many of our facilities," she said. "I know that we have to repurpose some of our space, our already limited space, but repurpose that for our ability to continue to improve health care." Tso said telemedicine is also a resource and some facilities have challenges in that regard. She also said mental health and behavioral health, without a doubt, need a lot of work. She said IHS is just one component of that, and the agency needs to work closely with its tribal partners and other entities within the Department of Health and Human Services. Tso said she wants to be able to support tribes who move to the self-determination right, which falls under the Public Law 93 638 Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. The law, sometimes referred to simply as 638, allowed for Native American tribes to assume responsibility of programs and services through contracts from the Department of the Interior and the Department of Health and Human Services. She said the majority of the tribes have elected to do that for health care, and they will continue to support them. "It is a true partnership as we walk through as tribes make that decision," Tso said. "I've seen magnificent progress that our 638 tribes have taken and our urban programs, and really fostering that and farming from that what I can do better." She said she will pull the best out of what she has seen in her 45-day tour and bring it to the rest of her staff. As the general election looms, the Pennington County Board of Commissioners continues to hear public commentary on election integrity, with Tuesdays meeting bringing an hour-long presentation from an attorney on South Dakota election laws. Sara Frankenstein, an attorney with Gunderson, Palmer, Nelson & Ashmore, LLP in Rapid City, gave a 70-page presentation entitled 2020 Election Chaos: What Happened and Where Do We Go From Here? Frankensteins presentation focused on defining the election laws used in South Dakota and how to enforce them, comparing their strength with other states and how they were upheld during the 2020 election and defining the term election fraud. Frankenstein hoped to shed light on misconceptions and terms used incorrectly in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, which she attributed both to a public misunderstanding and inaccurate terms reported by the media. Fraud, she said, is a criminal term. She gave an example of signature forgery as opposed to someone forgetting to sign their absentee envelope. Thats election fraud, she said, referring to forgery. Forgetting to sign your envelope is not. If both a forged signature ballot and an unsigned ballot go into the same pile as not counted, she said, they are not both fraud. Fraud does happen, she said, with plenty of legal cases to prove it. She gave examples of other states with mail-in voting, states that dont have signature verification or ID requirements, and states that allow online voter registration, suggesting South Dakotas laws leave less room for actual voter fraud. She defined South Dakota's absentee voting, and how it differs from early or mail-in voting, explaining that absentee voting requires an application and is not counted until election day. In vote by mail states, a ballot is automatically mailed to every registered voter, not applied for. South Dakota also allows for authorized messengers, she explained, which allows for voters who are sick or confined to authorize another person to retrieve and return their ballot, requiring both the voter and the authorized messengers signature. Frankenstein referenced this as an example of South Dakota preventing issues other states saw in the 2020 election, such as ballot harvesting. She also spoke to the concept of precincts, the use of ballot styles, provisional ballots, ID requirements for both voting and voter registration and the requirement of wet signatures and signature verification. On the hot topic of tabulators, Frankenstein referenced laws pertaining to public tests and statutes heavily regulating how tabulating equipment is tested and can be used. She included a section of South Dakota law that states no automatic tabulating, electronic ballot marking, or election voting equipment system may be connected to the internet. Frankenstein said she would like that particular law to be updated by changing the word "may" to "shall." Commissioner Deb Hadcock said after researching both sides, she's seen valid points on both, agreeing that some laws need to be strengthened in regard to tabulator machines. She also said she trusts the Pennington County elections staff. When I talk about our auditor, theres trust, Hadcock said of Pennington County Auditor Cindy Mohler. What shes telling me shes doing it right. And then Ive seen that she does it right. The board also discussed election authority, and what falls with the auditor, the Board of Commissioners, the state Board of Elections and the Secretary of States office. Matthew Monfore, an evangelist and election integrity skeptic who appeared on the agenda at the Oct. 4 meeting, expressed frustration that he was not allowed to make a presentation at that meeting, while Frankenstein spoke for an hour Tuesday. Commissioner Lloyd LaCroix explained the agenda item on Oct. 4 was a request for a special meeting, not a presentation, and Commission Chair Gary Drewes said Frankenstein was scheduled "long before Mr. Monfore came forward." The agenda item on Oct. 4 appeared as Request for special meeting to address Pennington County Elections. At that meeting, Monfore was allowed to speak briefly to summarize his concerns, and told to save his formal presentation for the special meeting, which was set for Oct. 26. Monfore said Tuesday he was told he would have one hour at the Oct. 26 meeting, feeling that Frankensteins presentation gave his opposition an additional hour. My default position is I dont trust you guys, Monfore told the commission. He laid out what he considered a troubling hierarchy with elections, putting the Secretary of State and election vendors at the top, saying they were either untrustworthy or confused. He also expressed frustration with not being able to obtain cast vote counts and briefly made an argument for hand counting ballots as an alternative to machine counting. Commissioner Travis Lasseter said he and the rest of the commission "want to look into this," and ensure every resident of Pennington Countys vote is counted appropriately. He challenged Monfore to provide proof of fraud allegations, including what he called a 4,000 voter discrepancy. Monfore estimated the majority of fraud took place with absentee ballots, which he said we are investigating that right now as a grassroots organization. The special meeting to address Pennington County elections is set for 4 p.m. Oct. 26. For Charlie Oliver, his long battle with cancer has been the least of his recent worries. Seventeen years ago, he had surgery and radiation to treat prostate cancer. In 2016, cancer detection required an oral chemo treatment plan. Since then, he and his doctors have been monitoring PSA levels and watching for signs of more complications. "Last year, my PSA started really accelerating and the urologist was afraid about where the cancer had spread," Charlie said. "He found a mass in my bladder, so after surgery they put me into a new treatment plan. My kidneys were compromised so I couldn't have immunotherapy, so now I have a chemo infusion treatment for two hours every three weeks. It's very simple and helps fight off anything left." Charlie's first treatment was in Missoula in May. Since then, he's received his chemo treatments at the Specialty Clinic at Bitterroot Health - Daly Hospital. "It's so short, simple and so easy," he said. "They put me in a chair and hook me up. Plus it's easier getting my lab work done here as well." "We are really fortunate to have this facility now and the fact that we're going to have a new infusion center will be wonderful," he said. "Bitterroot Health also worked out a deal with the heart institute in Missoula so I go and see Dr. Navone here as well. To have the heart institute and oncology services in Hamilton makes it so wonderful for the community." The new cancer and infusion center at Bitterroot Health is under construction on the south side of Daly Hospital. When the new facility is complete in Spring 2023, those patients needing infusions can enter through a new front door and go directly to the clinic designed to provide infusions in a comfortable and peaceful setting. "Nothing is more peaceful than here," said Charlie's wife Charlotte, from the deck of their home in Hamilton. They built a guest house on forested property in 1989 that overlooks Blodgett Creek and the dramatic canyon on the west side of the valley. Charlie and Charlotte met before their last year of college at Auburn University. Their Alabama accent is still distinctive and welcoming even though they've lived in the Bitterroot for more than 30 years. "We love it here," said Charlotte. "Our little piece of heaven." Charlotte had worked at Yellowstone National Park when she was a student. After their marriage and graduation, they lived a charmed and challenging corporate life with Charlie's career as a civil engineer. "It was quite the thing for two country kids to live all over the world like Singapore, London, California, New Orleans and Houston," Charlie said. "I had good luck and good mentors and became a senior executive at a young age. So when we had an opportunity to retire early, I thought we'd settle in Texas. But Charlotte wanted to come west. We stumbled into the Bitterroot Valley and it's the best thing we ever did." On a beautiful early summer evening after his first chemo treatment, Charlie was alone and enjoying a drink on his front patio when he "got tangled in his walking stick and broke my nose and back," he said. "Then I realized, I broke my back to fix my kidneys," he said of the long summer he spent healing his back and receiving kidney treatments to avoid dialysis. "It's been one thing after another, but I guess I do also have to worry about the cancer." Charlotte said they do feel blessed to have all his treatments - from chemo to physical therapy - just a few minutes from home. "We don't want to leave here for his medical treatments, and now we don't have to," she said. Charlie and Charlotte are looking forward to the grand opening of the new infusion center next Spring and plan to be present for the celebration. "We are so happy about this happening here," Charlie said. "The doctors told me that I have an incurable disease, so my chemo will probably go on forever until my quality of life dictates something different. I'll find my favorite chair in that new center and be a regular. But I'm not complaining, I have everything I need, my wife, my family and great medical services close to our home." For more information on the new cancer infusion center at Bitterroot Health or opportunities to support the fundraising campaign for the capital project, contact Stacie Duce at the Bitterroot Health Foundation at 406.375.4674. Donations can also be mailed to the Foundation at 1200 Westwood Drive, Hamilton MT, 59840. Tonix Pharmaceuticals' plan to build a new biomanufacturing center just north of the Ravalli County Fairgrounds in Hamilton is hoped to bring more high-tech bioscience jobs to the Bitterroot Valley. Tonix CEO Dr. Seth Lederman and Hamilton Mayor Dominic Farrenkopf signed the agreement on Wednesday at the Ravalli County Economic Development Authority. The preliminary septic work has been done and construction will begin in the spring for the building to be complete in about three years. This will be the third of our buildings we have a facility near Frederick, Maryland, a process development facility south of Boston," he said. "This will be the later stage one where products are vetted. Here we can supply the world. The planned biomanufacturing center is intended to manufacture vaccines for commercial use. The development agreement is part of a longstanding effort to turn southwest Montana into a renowned biotech corridor. Lederman said Tonix is a small company only 100 employees with a big mission. There is a dearth of domestic manufacturing in the United States, Lederman said. That became clear during the COVID pandemic. Suddenly borders were shut and supply chains dried up. We realized that it is a national problem. For too long weve shipped jobs and manufacturing overseas. We see ourselves as part of a movement to bring manufacturing back to the United States. He said COVID has changed the face of the earth with seven million people dead around the world. No one feels safe, Lederman said. We think we can do better to protect us from all the variants that are coming from all over the world. Were glad to be part of whats happening in the Bitterroot and across Montana. Community leaders gathered at the RCEDA in Hamilton to celebrate. Lederman, Farrenkopf, retired Sen. Max Baucus, Ravalli County Commissioner Dan Huls, RCEDA President Bob Whalen, Rocky Mountain Labs Associate Director Marshall Bloom and Hamilton Superintendent Tom Korst shared their thoughts on the agreement. Huls said the agreement was another step in the evolution of the economy in the Bitterroot Valley. We are happy to have Tonix here and a targeted economic development district plays a key role in that, Huls said. I thank Jeff Burrows and Greg Chilcott for their active role in this, and not to forget Julie Foster, RCEDA without Julies drive and persistence we wouldnt be here today. Bloom said he was pleased to have Tonix building in Hamilton and also praised Baucus for his instrumental work in establishing RML in Hamilton. RML is part of the National Institutes of Health for medical research, Bloom said. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and nowhere is that more accurate than in the field of infectious diseases. Whalen said he has been in the Bitterroot Valley for 35 years and he's happy to support an industry involved in helping prevent human-caused disease. It takes one call to get it done in the Bitterroot not layers of bureaucracy, Whalen said. We have wonderful people who really strive to see our community progress. Lederman said Tonix first worked with Baucus on their military work on Post Traumatic Syndrome. He advocated for us and then I said we have this infections disease work and the moment I said that he said Hamilton, Montana, Lederman said. We are here because he said Hamilton, Montana. In the same sentence, he said Dr. Marshall Bloom and that was the start. Julie Foster has been phenomenal in moving this forward. According to their press release, Tonix is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, licensing, acquiring and developing therapeutics to treat and prevent human disease and alleviate suffering. Tonixs portfolio is composed of central nervous system (CNS), rare disease, immunology and infectious disease product candidates. Tonixs CNS portfolio includes both small molecules and biologics to treat pain, neurologic, psychiatric and addiction conditions. Eighteen husky dogs are up for adoption after officials say they were abandoned in the Flathead National Forest in September. Theyre doing great, Flathead County Animal Keeper Lead Devyn Brusell said. On Sept. 23, the Flathead County Sheriffs Office heard from a person who found about a dozen puppies, a collection of huskies and shepherd-mix dogs, loose in the Doris Creek area in the Flathead National Forest near Kalispell. They were turned over to the Flathead County Animal Shelter. Three of the puppies already have adoption appointments, and another 10 are going through the vet process right now, Brusell said. That includes getting vaccinated, spaying, neutering and being microchipped. The dogs range in age from about 6 weeks to 6 months old. The litters father has already been adopted. The mother came into the shelter in rough shape and was unable to walk, Brusell said. Shes going through rehabilitative treatment now. Brusell encourages anyone interested in adopting to call the shelter at 406-752-1310. Around the same time the dogs were found, a social media post circulated online showing a woman holding a skinned animal that appeared to be a husky dog. The post indicated she believed she had killed a young wolf. Charges havent been filed in connection to that incident. According to Flathead County Attorney Travis Ahner, as of Friday, the case is still being investigated by the Flathead County Sheriffs Office. Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks spokesman Greg Lemon confirmed to the Missoulian that the woman was licensed to hunt wolves. She held a mountain lion license, sportsman combo with black bear license, an archery license and a wolf license. Two Lake Central High School students, among dozens of other members of the community in attendance at Monday's School Board meeting, objected to a new district policy that would ban posters like the one they held from classrooms for being 'political' speech. (Jim Masters / Post-Tribune) In this classroom we believe science is real. Black lives matter. Love is love. Feminism is for everyone. Humans are not illegal. Kindness is everything. A poster stating those words is no longer displayed in a classroom at Lake Central High School, after an individual complained at the previous school board meeting that it was objectionable. Advertisement School officials took it down because, as Superintendent Dr. Larry Veracco asserted at Mondays Lake Central School Board meeting, it constitutes political speech and therefore is not appropriate in a classroom setting. The vocal and highly emotional standing-room-only crowd of students, parents and teachers who packed the school board meeting had quite a different take on the matter. Advertisement For more than two hours they stepped to the microphone to address the school board and administrators, expressing why they felt it was wrong and damaging to students to remove the poster. In airing their views, they petitioned the Lake Central School Corporation to do more to advance an open and inclusive environment. The significance and urgency of the issue was in full display. Some students shook nervously, shed tears and their voices cracked with emotion as they told their personal stories of intolerance and mockery theyve experienced as Lake Central students. Others came draped in rainbow flags to show their solidarity with their LGBTQ+ classmates, held up handmade signs or wore T-shirts expressing who they were. Veracco prefaced the item on the board agenda entitled The Complexities of Political and Religious Speech by passing out a legal opinion from Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, a Munster native. In the opinion, dated November 22, 2021, Rokita identifies Black Lives Matter, exclusively, as a political organization. Citing a litany of case law, Rokita categorized non-neutral classroom signage as non-verbal political speech. In addressing the audience, Veracco said a display, such as an LGBTQ+ Pride flag, would not be considered political speech in that state of Illinois or Oregon, but in Indiana, according to the Rokitas opinion and his supporting case law, it is classified as political. Veracco said it has been determined that the poster in question fits into Rokitas classification of non-verbal speech, and therefore is potentially disruptive to the educational environment. Correspondingly, the Lake Central School Board distributed a policy directive to the audience, communicating the administrations desire to adhere to the Rokitas opinion. As the policy states, Lake Central will only permit classroom displays and decorations that are neutral politically or religiously. As Veracco urged teachers and staff to be more vigilant against bullying and intolerance, he said it was an issue that the school district could not legally win, and thus a business situation to remove the poster and any displays that express political or religious views. Advertisement The crowd wasnt having it. They took exception to the notion that the poster was either political, religious or disruptive to learning. Quite the contrary, they continued to argue. One after another, students, parents and teachers labeled the ideas on the poster as humanitarian statements explaining that the ethos of black lives matter is mutually exclusive from any so-called organization appropriating those very words as its name. They argued that such expressions are essential to an environment in which students should understand that they are in a safe, welcoming and open environment while free to express their individuality, ethnicity and life choices. Some speakers cited statistics about the LGBTQ+ teen suicide rate, and that the most open and accepting school districts had better test scores and higher rates of achievement among students. Advertisement Kate Perschon, who has two sons attending Lake Central, explained to the school board that taking away the sign sends a message that not everyone is welcome at school. This is not a political or religious issue, she said. It is not a personal beliefs issue. This is a human rights issue, human rights for all people in a public school in a democracy. Vanessa Welty, a Crown Point resident whose three sons attend Lake Central schools, said she was disappointed in the boards move, which she characterized as unsupportive to a group of people that have been historically marginalized. I find it laughable that anyone would be offended by ROY G. BIV (the rainbow Pride flag), but unfortunately here we are, Welty said. Some Lake Central students complained that certain teachers and staff have been unresponsive to their cries for help, having experienced sexual harassment and even physical harm for how they looked or whom they openly chose to love. To them, and others who expressed support for their classmates as a straight ally, the classroom poster has become a symbol, a de facto lifeline to those protections afforded them in the school districts student handbook and policies. As one student put it, The sign shows the school cares. Advertisement Others took it a step further, saying their civil rights were being violated. The overall sentiment in the room was one that Lake Central should not bow to the objections of a small minority or one individual, and that if it means a legal fight, they welcome it. Jim Masters is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. LA police face off with protesters at City Hall Los Angeles police in riot gear faced off with yelling protesters outside a City Hall entrance Tuesday, demanding the City Council stop its meeting until two councilmen resign for their part in a meeting that involved crude, racist remarks. The Council has been in upheaval for the past week after an explosive recording was leaked of a private meeting in which then-Council President Nury Martinez made crude and racist remarks, and Councilmen Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo didnt object or joined in the offensive banter. Martinez has since stepped down but de Leon and Cedillo have so far resisted widespread calls for their resignations, including from President Joe Biden. De Leon and Cedillo did not attend the virtual meeting. Saudis sentence U.S. citizen over tweets An American citizen has been arrested in Saudi Arabia, tortured and sentenced to 16 years in prison over tweets he sent while in the United States, his son said Tuesday. Saad Ibrahim Almadi, a 72-year-old retired project manager living in Florida, was arrested last November while visiting family and was sentenced earlier this month, his son Ibrahim told The Associated Press. State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel, speaking to reporters , confirmed Almadis detention Tuesday. It appeared to be the latest in a series of recent cases in which Saudis received long jail sentences for online posts critical of the government. N. Korea firing near border with S. Korea North Korea fired artillery shells near its sea boundaries with South Korea late Tuesday, a day after the South began annual military drills to better deal with North Korean provocations. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement early Wednesday that North Korea fired about 100 shells off its west coast and 150 rounds off its east coast. Its the second time North Korea has fired shells into the buffer zones since last Friday, when it shot hundreds of shells there in its most significant direct violation of a 2018 inter-Korean agreement. Russian cosmonaut runs over colleague After three missions in space, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev ran into difficulty on Earth when he drove over a colleague on a dark road outside Moscow less than three weeks after returning from his latest orbiting mission. Russias state space corporation Roscosmos said Artemyev didnt see an employee of the Star City cosmonaut training center crossing the road in the dark late Monday. Roscosmos emphasized that Artemyev was sober and immediately called police and an ambulance. Nev. man gets prison for death threats A 47-year-old Reno man will spend up to 15 years in prison for sending death threats to a half-dozen Nevada elected officials in messages citing false conspiracy theories that the 2020 election was stolen. Matthew Carter was found guilty in September of three felony counts of aggravated talking and one count of misdemeanor harassment. Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford said Monday that Carter sent multiple racist and threatening messages to U.S. Attorney Jason Frierson, state Treasurer Zach Conine, three members of the Nevada Assembly and Gov. Steve Sisolaks chief of staff Yvanna Cancela. Ford said the threats, which included racial slurs and references toward lynching, cited passage of expanded mail-in voting ahead of the election as a reason for his promised violence toward the officials. BBC marks 100 years of radio broadcasting The British Broadcasting Corp. marked 100 years of broadcasting on Tuesday, a century after a group of wireless manufacturers founded the company and began filling the airwaves with its first daily radio service. The BBC was founded on Oct. 18, 1922, in London and daily broadcasting began a month later. The broadcaster is marking its centenary with a series of special programs, including a guest appearance from King Charles III on The Repair Shop, a program featuring expert craftspeople restoring antiques. The broadcaster launched the worlds first regularly scheduled TV service in 1936. A Richmond man was sentenced Tuesday to serve three years in prison for shooting and wounding a Door Dash delivery driver during a road rage encounter two years ago on Midlothian Turnpike in Chesterfield County. Taron S. Dickson Jr., 23, didnt know the victim, Justin Williams, 21, when Dickson opened fire with a pistol on July 1, 2020. The two drivers apparently had exchanged words in the 9400 block of Midlothian Turnpike before one of the fired rounds penetrated the door of Williams Nissan Versa and struck him in the abdomen. After being shot, Williams car veered off the road and crashed into some vehicles at a nearby used car dealership. There appears to be no prior history between the two, Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Jeff Einhaus told Chesterfield Circuit Court Judge Lynn Brice during Tuesdays proceeding. In reviewing the security camera footage [from a nearby business], it does appear the two people in these two vehicles are talking to one another as they drive down the street. The best that [the prosecution] can surmise is that there was some exchange, perhaps at a traffic light ... or someone cut someone else off, and then this occurred. As the case neared a jury trial set for next Monday, some issues developed involving the victim that resulted in prosecutors offering Dickson a deal that ended Tuesday with five felony charges against him being dropped. In explaining the rationale for the agreement to the judge, Einhaus said the victim has since moved to New Jersey, and when recently contacted, the victim said he was extremely afraid of Dickson and did not want to testify. Nevertheless, Williams told prosecutors he would still come to court and could identify Dickson as his assailant. Einhaus also noted there were several discrepancies in what the victim initially told police after the shooting versus the testimony he provided during Dicksons preliminary hearing in October 2021, which could have raised questions had the case gone to trial. At the earlier hearing, the victim still identified Dickson as the man who shot him but was less clear about whether he saw Dicksons gun and how many people he saw in Dicksons car, among other details, the prosecutor said. The victim is extremely nervous of the defendant, and given the disparity between what he initially reported to police and what he [testified to] at the preliminary hearing ... a revised plea offer was made to Dicksons attorney, Einhaus said. The offer was accepted, and Dickson pleaded guilty Tuesday to a single charge, malicious wounding, which was amended downward from aggravated malicious wounding. In accordance with the agreement, Brice sentenced Dickson to 15 years in prison with 12 suspended, giving him three years to serve. Prosecutors withdrew charges of felony use of a firearm, malicious shooting at an occupied vehicle, willful discharge of a firearm resulting in bodily injury, felony eluding police and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Dickson initially eluded capture. Shortly after the shooting, police received information from witnesses about the make and model of the car driven by the shooter a white or silver BMW. An officer conducting surveillance of the area spotted a vehicle on Interstate 95 that matched. The officer initiated a traffic stop, and the suspect initially stopped. But the driver sped away after the officer exited his vehicle to approach the suspects car. Officers pursued the suspect, but he escaped. After further investigation, which included a license plate number of the suspects vehicle and a photo lineup of potential suspects presented to the victim, Dickson was identified and warrants against him were obtained. He was eventually arrested on Aug. 24, 2021. Dickson is the second road rage defendant to be sentenced in Chesterfield in just over a month. On Sept. 13, Sean Jolley, 23, of Petersburg was sentenced to 10 years for shooting and wounding a young woman on state Route 10 on Sept. 30, 2021. Upset at how the woman in the car behind him was driving, Jolley honked his horn and then drove alongside the womans slowing vehicle before pulling out a gun and firing a shot. She was struck in the arm but is still struggling to make a full recovery nearly a year later, a prosecutor said last month. Growing up in rigidly segregated Lubbock, Texas, where he delivered Christmas packages to underprivileged Black families, John V. Moeser knew the face of inequity. His time in Washington, D.C., as a doctoral student during the 1960s civil rights movement was especially formative in his yearning for social justice. But when Moeser and his wife, Sharon, moved to Richmond in 1970, they were taken aback by the overt racism they encountered. Real estate agents steered them toward all-white neighborhoods, despite their stated desire to live in an integrated one. Richmond was annexing an overwhelmingly white area of Chesterfield County to preserve white political power. Racial tensions simmered over busing to promote long-delayed school desegregation. As a professor of urban studies and planning, Dr. Moeser devoted much of his life toward assiduously documenting our regions inequities and pushing back against them. Its hard to imagine this famously somnolent former capital of the Confederacy becoming an epicenter of the 2020 social justice protests without the data-driven research of this scholar and gentleman, who constantly prodded Richmond to confront its sins. Dr. Moeser, widely considered as a moral conscience for the Richmond region, died Monday after a long illness. He was 79. Our city and region are a far more compassionate, equitable and just community because of John, said Laura Lafayette, CEO of the Richmond Association of Realtors. John was a kind, gracious, humble human being. Despite his humility and self-effacing nature, he was bold and fierce when speaking truth to power. He was willing to introduce us to hard conversations around race, many years before this became the norm. I think he could engage in these uncomfortable and challenging conversations because we all trusted John. Dr. Moesers outsider status gave him a clear-eyed perspective on what ailed Richmond. In his warm Texas drawl, he called out the cold-hearted manner in which Richmond had failed its most vulnerable citizens. Despite his generally calm demeanor, he, with much outrage, denounced groups and individuals that gladly, and without hesitation, accepted racism and discrimination as natural and normal, said George Mason University professor Rutledge Dennis, Dr. Moesers former Carillon community neighbor and co-author of their 1982 book, The Politics of Annexation: Oligarchic Power in a Southern City. Dr. Moeser once estimated that he taught 6,000 students at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he helped found the Department of Urban Studies and Planning. One of them was Ellen F. Robertson, vice president of the Richmond City Council. Robertson lauded his efforts, at VCU and later as a senior fellow at the Bonner Center for Civic Engagement at the University of Richmond, to ensure that our neighborhoods and our public policies do not leave folks out. He always had such a spirit of inclusion that everyone welcomed his voice in the room, she said. Theres not enough words to say about what Dr. Moeser has done in this city. His influence, in both words and the disciples of his academic discipline, will live on. Tom Shields, an associate dean and associate professor at UR, knows Dr. Moeser as his former student and as a collaborator with him on area projects. John was a connector of people, particularly when it came to fighting injustices due to race, income and identity, Shields said. He would go about connecting the many people that he met in his lifetime students, advocates, academics, policymakers and he would encourage and prod them, with his keen intellect and moral guidance, to think deeply about the pernicious inequities in our region in housing, transportation, health and education. Julian Maxwell Hayter, a UR historian, was a graduate student at the University of Virginia, frustrated at the lack of books on modern Richmond history, when he happened upon The Politics of Annexation. I sent [Moeser] an email, and I showed up at his office, and he talked to me for hours, Hayter recalled Monday, still flabbergasted by Dr. Moesers generosity. And I think we cant forget that, especially now, when modern Richmond history has become sexy. It wasnt sexy 15 years ago. When that book was written, few people seemed eager to revisit Richmonds racially motivated annexation of more than 47,000 Chesterfield residents, the subsequent lawsuit and seven-year pause on city elections, or the architecture behind Richmonds segregation and inequity. This city has only very recently come to terms with the historical legacy of Jim Crow and the extent in which it cast a shadow on contemporary Richmond. And he is the one that really broke open the legacy, Hayter said. I think without John Moeser, we would all be trying to explain modern Richmond through slavery. Hayter called Dr. Moesers death a loss of epic proportions. As someone who treasured his friendship and relied on his scholarship, I can echo that. I will never forget him walking me through a history lesson on the intentionality behind Richmonds segregation. Dr. Moeser also wrote The Separate City: Black Communities in the Urban South, 1940-1968 with Christopher Silver. He chaired the former Human Relations Commission. He served on numerous city boards, commissions, task groups, and organizations dedicated to racial reconciliation and serving the impoverished. In February 2017, he received the John Jasper Trailblazer Award from Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church, in recognition of service, dedication and commitment to the African American community. Thad Williamson, an associate professor at the Jepson School of Leadership Studies at UR, said Dr. Moeser told him that the powers that be ignored The Politics of Annexation, now available free to download. But, eventually, some folks got into positions of power who were receptive to what he has been saying: The deck has been stacked against Black people and low-income Black people specifically, and it cries out for a specific response, Williamson said. Dr. Moesers research was critical to an anti-poverty report that initially languished during the administration of then-Mayor Dwight Jones. He said at the time that he would rather see the reports recommendations killed quickly by powerful political forces than die slow death by bureaucratic entanglement. Williamson and Dr. Moeser eventually met with the mayors advisers, and John said to them, You need to release this or we will release it. I wouldnt have had the courage or the foresight to make that kind of statement, recalled Williamson, who would become the first director of the citys Office of Community Wealth Building. Dr. Moeser was born in Colorado City, Texas, on Nov. 3, 1942, but was raised in Lubbock. He contemplated going into the ministry but found his calling preaching the gospel of equitable public policy. Im not the first to say it: Hes the moral conscience of our region, Jonathan Zur, president and CEO of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, said in 2017. On Monday, Hayter called Dr. Moeser the bridge between the Richmond we are now and the Richmond that was. Dr. Moesers spiritual home was Second Presbyterian Church in downtown Richmond, where a memorial service for him will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday. He was so committed to a better Richmond, said his pastor, the Rev. Alex Evans. And he lived his life trying to expose injustices and pushing for equality and fairness. Emily Griffey, chief policy officer at Voices for Virginias Children, knew Moeser as a fellow congregant at Second Presbyterian who asked about her kids, her family and how life was. Its so clear he was a mentor to so many people because thats just the way he approached things. So he could teach, inspire and pass a bit of his wisdom along. On Monday, after learning of Dr. Moesers death, Griffey tweeted: I hope everyone on here involved in the continued fight to address inequities and reduce poverty in RVA can send love to his family and honor his memory by continuing to keep on this fight. Genworth Financial is settling a class action lawsuit that asserted increases of 40% to 140% on the biggest component of one type of life insurance premium were excessive and unlawful. The Henrico County-based insurance giant is settling the lawsuit for $25 million and a promise not to raise the so-called cost of insurance element of its charges for universal life insurance policies for the next seven years. The settlement, approved this week by Judge David J. Novak of the U.S. District Court in Richmond, could affect more than 13,400 policyholders. At issue were cost of insurance increases that took effect in December 2019 on universal life policies Genworth issued, insured or assumed, as it did, for instance, when it acquired First Colony Life Insurance. Premiums for universal life insurance, which combines a death benefit with an investment account, are flexible, and the biggest element in determining how much policyholders pay is called the cost of insurance rate. While the cost of insurance charge is supposed to primarily cover projected future death claims, Genworths actual experience was that people were living longer and that claims were not made at the rate it had expected when selling the policies as long as 20 years ago, the lawsuit said. For such an increase to be justified [Genworth]s projected mortality rates would have had to double, said the lawsuit, filed by a New York trust and an Iowa policyholder. But at the same time, Genworth was saying a pattern of longer lives and fewer than expected death claims were the main reason for premium increases for its long-term care insurance valued at $11.5 billion between 2012 and 2019, the lawsuit said, quoting a company conference call with Wall Street analysts. In settling, Genworth denied any wrongdoing. A company spokeswoman declined comment. With this settlement, cash will be returned to the policyholders, likely before the end of the year, said Seth Ard, one of the lawyers from the Los Angeles Susman Godfrey law firm that brought the case. It could be a reminder that public employment in Virginia remains a casualty by the pandemic. It might be a sign of lingering state worker anger over Gov. Glenn Youngkins back-to-the-office order. It may mean senior government employees figure this is as good time as any to retire, or that others are leveraging a hot job market for better-paying positions in the private sector. Whatever the reason and it could be all of the above the Virginia government payroll is shrinking. Kinda. In a little-noticed report Tuesday to the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, the Youngkin administrations personnel director said the core of the state workforce so-called classified employees, essentially the Virginia equivalent of the federal governments non-political civil service shriveled over three years by 3,250 positions, from 58,838 in 2019 to 55,588 as of Sept. 7. The administration, spokesman Rob Damschen said Wednesday, believes the decline may have more to do with bureaucratic tweaks how jobs are described and categorized than actual turnover. Still, these employees represent roughly half the total state work force. The current budget authorizes approximately 125,000 positions a figure that consistently rises. Beyond classified employees accountants, public safety officers, highway workers, and health care aides that six-figure number includes college and university faculty and the staffs of elective, state-paid officials who serve at the local level. They include prosecutors, sheriffs, treasurers and court administrators. Within the Virginia economy, public employment historically is not distinguished by decline. This speaks to the well-worn axiom that beyond a decent salary, health insurance and a pension, a government job is a source of security, insulated from the gyrations of the economy that instill in workers in other fields insecurity. But as the coronavirus pandemic grinds on, state data show that at least two fields of employment have not recovered from declines: hospitality restaurants, hotels and motels and government. The latter includes law enforcement, battered, in part, by post-George Floyd anger for police, as well as education, where low-paid teachers frustrated by COVID-19 closings of classrooms also contend with resentments over supposed woke-ism, some of which has been harnessed by Republican Youngkin as a candidate, governor and prospective presidential candidate in 2024. The dip in classified employment was disclosed by Janet Lawson, head of the State Department of Human Resource Management, as part of a presentation to the Democrat-dominated budget-writing committee on the telework program under which thousands of state employees, beginning in spring 2020, worked remotely usually from home to protect themselves from the coronavirus. Telecommuting was also the rule at the height of the pandemic at many public schools, colleges and universities and local government offices. Initiated by Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, under a pre-pandemic law that encouraged telework, particularly in traffic-clogged Northern Virginia, the program was dialed back dramatically by Youngkin, who had pledged during the 2021 campaign to fully reopen state government. Youngkins plan it took effect in July was derided by workers as unsafe, poorly executed and little more than a political splash by a newbie governor with national ambitions. The policy was less problematic than the implementation of it, said Del. Betsy Carr, D-Richmond, whose district is home to hundreds of state employees. Virginia has been known for its excellent work force. And what this has done is decrease the number of people who want to work in this state. In July, a survey of public workers by the Virginia Governmental Employees Association showed that 77% were dissatisfied with the Youngkin back-to-the-office requirement. Because of the dictate, nearly 60% were considering whether to continue working for the state. Forty-three percent said they might quit for the private sector and 15% were giving thought to retirement. This makes our existing recruitment issues more acute and, unfortunately, the data seems to indicate that, said the VGEAs lobbyist, Dylan Bishop. The administration, however, said it would allow employees to continue working remotely with depending on the number of days out of the office, up to five the approval of Youngkin chief of staff Jeff Goettman, the Cabinet secretary with oversight for an employees agency or the agency chief. Lawson told senators that four in 10 classified employees, just over 23,000, were eligible for telework and two-thirds, or nearly 15,340, were doing so. Of that number, roughly 12,000 were working out the office a day or two. The percentage of classified employees working remotely exceeded the 20% target under the 2010 law that was the foundation for the Northam directive. Bishop said the employees group was considering seeking legislation next winter pushing the statute-specified goal for telework as high as 33%. Unlike a previous Republican governor, George Allen, who, in office from 1994 until 1998, would depict public workers as meddlesome, under-worked and overpaid and took credit for lopping Virginias payroll by 10,000 positions, or 9%, Youngkin has not said outright that he intends to cut state employment but has signaled he will be pressing for greater efficiency and cost controls. That is widely interpreted by employees, in line for a 10% raise over the next two years under a budget signed by Youngkin, that the governor is aiming to reduce payroll a technique he embraced as a multimillionaire private equity investor to maximize profits and minimize expenses. Further, Youngkin has surrounded himself in Richmond with former financiers and management consultants whose similar notions about the corpocracy could collide with one of the balky realities of government: that providing public services can be costly and complex because some such as health care and corrections just are. One possible solution: telework. Youngkin presumably knows this first-hand. Otherwise, he couldnt spend all that time out of state multi-tasking: running for president and running Virginia. Virginia just received its first payment as part of a settlement with the pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson. The initial payment is part of approximately $99 million that Virginia will receive over nine years from the company. The initial payment of $67.4 million from opioid manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson includes about $11 million for the state, $16 million for localities, and almost $40 million of the payment will be directed to the Opioid Abatement Authority. Im thrilled that the money from these record-breaking settlements is on its way, Attorney General Jason Miyares said in a statement. My consumer protection section worked tirelessly to ensure that Virginians received the most funding possible and received it as quickly as possible, he said. This helps the Commonwealth and individual localities fight back against the opioid epidemic and reduce, prevent, and treat addiction. The settlement also requires Johnson & Johnson to stop selling opioids in the U.S., prevents it from promoting them or from funding third parties that promote opioids, and it prevents the company from lobbying on legislation or regulation related to opioids. According to first-quarter data from the Virginia Department of Health, 46 localities in Virginia are on track to have more opioid-related deaths than last year. Richmond is on pace for 300 opioid deaths, and Henrico County could see its second year in a row with more than 100. Roanoke also projects more than 100 deaths. The opioid crisis can largely be traced to Appalachian areas of states, including Virginia, where a fellow opioid-producing company, Purdue Pharma, marketed OxyContin in the 1990s leading to widespread opioid addiction. It reached a $6 billion settlement with several states earlier this year. Author Beth Macy, who was a reporter at The Roanoke Times for 25 years, chronicled the roots of opioid issues in Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America. The New York Times-bestselling book was recently adapted into a series on Hulu. The Johnson & Johnson settlement is the latest in a series Virginia has been involved in with opioid producers or distributors. The state previously received payments from Cardinal Health, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen totaling about $108.3 million so far. More recently, Miyares announced that Virginia is expecting to receive payments from opioid producer Endo International PLC. ROCKY MOUNT One of country musics biggest acts of the past few years stopped on Wednesday at Rocky Mount Ply Gem to play a special performance for its employees. Tyler Hubbard, formerly of Florida Georgia Line, and his band entertained folks taking a break from manufacturing windows and doors to enjoy a worker appreciation day. Ply Gem is a part of Cornerstone Building Brands. Hubbard is the brand ambassador for Cornerstones Home for Good project, started in 2016, which supports Habitat for Humanity home-building efforts. The concert doubled as promotion of the Home for Good project and a manufacturing month appreciation event for Rocky Mount Ply Gem employees. Not every Cornerstone Building Brands manufacturing plant will get the Hubbard treatment, though. This is a special plant, so we are doing this only for you, Cornerstone Building Brands Chief Marketing Officer Susan Selle said to the crowd of employees in the Ply Gem parking lot Wednesday. Charlie Keffer, area manager for the Rocky Mount plant, said all of Ply Gems 1,500 employees were invited to Hubbards concert, but added that Rocky Mount band Mended Fences performed in the evening for third shift employees who work at night and may have been asleep during the day. Jerry Poindexter, a country music fan and Rocky Mount Ply Gem employee for 39 years, said the concert was much appreciated. Im having fun and its really nice for them to do something like this, Poindexter said. The Rocky Mount Ply Gem concert was a slight detour for Hubbard and his band, who are currently performing as part of Keith Urbans The Speed of Now world tour. Its Hubbards first time touring as a solo artist. Hubbard and Brian Kelley, the other half of the Florida Georgia Line duo, parted ways to pursue solo careers. Im really enjoying doing what Im doing and its been really good for us to have our solo careers in this season and get to connect with the fans on a more personal level, Hubbard said. Hubbard in May released his first solo single, 5 Foot 9. As anyone who has recently turned on the radio will know, the song is a smash hit. Hubbards debut solo album is slated for release Jan. 27. If Wednesdays performance was any indication, Hubbard is already hitting his solo stride. I partner with Cornerstone and UMG. Its my label and a charity and a cause that I really appreciate and respect. I had the opportunity to work closer with them and do cool things like this, Hubbard said. Through the Home for Good project, Ply Gem and other members of the Cornerstone Building Brands family have donated materials and manpower to more than 600 Habitat for Humanity home building projects in 90 communities, including five in Franklin County. Sara Gaffney of Cornerstone Building Brands said many of the windows donated to Home for Good projects come from the Rocky Mount Ply Gem plant. Keffer said Habitat for Humanity of Franklin County is currently working on a home for a former Rocky Mount Ply Gem employee. So it kind of came full circle, Keffer said. Botetourt County authorities have identified the woman whose body was found in a gravel lot earlier this month. Elizabeth Hensley, of Roanoke, was found with a gunshot wound in a park-and-ride lot along U.S. 220 north of Fincastle by Botetourt County Sheriff's Office deputies on Oct. 8. Detectives found Hensley's car "abandoned and burned in a secluded area of Bath County," according to a news release issued late Tuesday. The medical examiner's office in Roanoke determined her death was a homicide. "Detectives have been working closely with the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations and the High-Tech Crimes Division to determine the circumstances surrounding Hensleys death, including following leads that have involved multiple jurisdictions," the news release said. "Certain details and updates crucial to this investigation have not been made public to protect the integrity of the investigation and to provide privacy for the victims family," the release continued. "Detectives working this case have found the crime, though horrific, was not a random act, and the public should not be deterred from their daily activities." Anyone with information related to the case have been asked to contact the Botetourt County Sheriffs Office at 540-473-8631. The 11 candidates for Roanoke City Council are set to take questions from area youth Sunday in downtown during one of three forums scheduled before Election Day. The youth-led event, titled The Great Roanoke City Debate, is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Dumas Center, 108 Henry St. NW. The Roanoke Valley chapter of Jack and Jill of America, a youth leadership development program, is sponsoring the event. No adults will be asking questions of the candidates, said Angela Penn, lead teen advisor for the chapter. The Jack and Jill programs mission is to cultivate skills and values in children ages 2 to 19 to become future African American leaders. It has sponsored local candidate forums in the past. The event is open to the public. Voters will have at least two other chances to see the candidates discuss the issues before Nov. 8. A group of Northwest city residents will stage a candidate forum Thursday, Oct. 20, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Pilgrim Baptist Church, 1415 8th St NW. In addition, the local chapter of the NAACP and the Roanoke Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta will hold a candidate forum Oct. 28 at 6 p.m. at the Claude Moore Education Complex, 109 Henry St. NW. Nine candidates are running for three seats in the regular election: Democrats Joe Cobb and Vivian Sanchez-Jones, both incumbents, along with Peter Volosin; Republicans Dalton Baugess, Nick Hagen and Maynard Keller, and independents David Bowers, Jamaal Jackson and Preston Tyler. In addition, a special election to fill the unexpired term of former Councilman Robert Jeffrey Jr. includes Democrat Luke Priddy and Republican Peg McGuire. The election is Nov. 8. DANVILLE MacKenzie Scott, a billionaire philanthropist, author and former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has donated $13 million to the Danville Regional Foundation. The organization announced the gift Monday. This gift is a recognition of the Dan River Regions efforts, not DRFs, as we all work together to transform our community for the better, Clark Casteel, president and CEO of the Danville Regional Foundation, said in a news release. Everyone should be proud that Ms. Scott saw the collaborative efforts in our community and chose to invest here. The foundations goal is to be a catalyst for long-term transformation in the region. It supports programs and activities to address health, education and the overall well-being of residents, according to the release. DRF will serve as a steward of this investment, and we know that this region will come together to make wise decisions about the use of these funds in ways that make our future generations proud, Casteel said. The foundation outlined a set of principles as it embarks on a new future of the area. The first is to recognize that different sectors of the community education, businesses, health and civic infrastructure are interconnected. Another is to acknowledge that collaborative spirit and advocating for regional interest is vital to growth. Groups working across the city-county lines include the Partnership for Regional Prosperity, the Danville-Pittsylvania Regional Industrial Authority, the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance, the Dan River Nonprofit Network, The Health Collaborative and GO Virginia Region 3. The foundation also realizes that public-private partnerships are key to the local job industry. The release provided examples including the U.S. Navy recently becoming the first project partner at the Center for Manufacturing Advancement at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in addition to the partnership with the Institute and Danville Community College along with other industries at the Gene Haas Center for Integrated Machining. The final guiding principal puts shared progress over partisan divides. Our region is one that is built from the ground up by generations who have lived here and experienced great disruptions both economically and socially, Casteel said. This culture of resilience and how we embrace innovation is embedded in our progress to date. Sixteen is a recurring number in the race for Center District Porter County Commissioner. Democratic candidate Julie Giorgi has served for 16 years on the Union Township School Board of Trustees, while Republican candidate Barb Regnitz was a financial adviser and certified financial planner for 16 years in Schaumburg, Illinois. Both positions involve the managing of serious amounts of money, experience the candidates say would serve them well in the role of county commissioner when Republican Jeff Good leaves the post in December after two terms. Good, president of the board, decided not to seek a third term in office. Advertisement Giorgi and her husband, Geoffrey, have lived in Porter County for 25 years. She has a bachelor's degree in international studies from Miami University and worked as a pharmaceutical rep for nine years before taking time off to raise their three kids. Juie Giorgi - Original Credit: Julie Giorgi (Handout / HANDOUT) To keep her hand in her childrens educational process Giorgi ran for the Union Township School Board and was elected in 2006. In 2017 she was selected to develop and lead Promise Porter County, a partnership between the Porter County Community Foundation and the Valparaiso Family YMCA that helped enroll families with kindergartners or first graders into college savings plans. Advertisement Public education is very, very important to me, she said, pointing out that she has attended over 200 school board meetings in her capacity as school board member. I do feel like I have some experience in meetings, Giorgi said. Shes made it a point to attend all but two county council meetings since announcing her candidacy Feb. 2. Its one thing to watch things online, but there are all kinds of things going, she said of being there in person. That frequent meeting attendance extended to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Steering Committee meetings held throughout the winter and spring. Giorgi was a regular in attendance. While a plan was approved by the Porter County Commissioners and recommended to the Porter County Council for spending the $33 million in federal grant money, about $10 million remains unappropriated and debate has ensued about how to spend the money. The process was decided on and a lot of people put a lot of time and effort into the decisions that were made, Giorgi said. I think they need to stick with the decision that was made. She would like to see the wage study put to good use. We have over 600 employees that we want to stick around and make them feel that we want to stick around and that theyre valued, Giorgi said. She says shes not looking to raise taxes, but is certainly willing to consider a public safety tax. I dont want to raise the taxes, but I also want to maintain the needs of the county, Giorgi said. Porter County is generally in very good fiscal shape in her view, and stormwater and infrastructure are moving in the right direction. Nobody wants stormwater in their yard, she said. Regarding the Memorial Opera House Giorgi said she supports the plan to renovate and repurpose the building, but not necessarily if the price keeps rising, as it has been from $3.5 million to now over $7 million. I dont know how to answer that, Giorgi said. I certainly think it could become a jewel. Advertisement For her part, Regnitz hates to give an opinion about the Memorial Opera House without more concrete information. Theres never been a presentation at the commission meetings, she said. We have to determine what are true needs and what are wants, Regnitz said. Is this expansion a hot, red Ferrari? I dont know. Barb Regnitz - Original Credit: Barb Regnitz (Handout / HANDOUT) The former owner of a Raymond James branch was also a business analyst, software engineer, and project implementation manager over a 13-year career with United Airlines. When Regnitz performed a business analysis of a department for the airline she would look for inefficiencies. I think doing that exact same thing, doing a deep dive into all the county functions, is whats needed now, she said. Regnitz would like the council to determine its most important needs in order of priority, come up with a plan for implementing them, and then do an annual analysis of the success of the plan. She says two big issues rise to the surface with residents after having knocked on close to 9,000 doors: roads and drainage. Those are the things they see every single day, and that their basements are flooding, and their yards are flooding, Regnitz said. She attended Purdue University where she received a bachelors of science in math and a Bachelor of Arts in German. Regnitz and her husband, Tim, moved here 10 years ago from Rolling Meadows, Illinois. They have one daughter, who is also a financial planner. Regnitz is also a certified SCORE mentor. That organization operates under the Small Business Administration and offers free mentorship, business and marketing plans to small business owners in five counties of Northwest Indiana. Advertisement One thing I am really passionate about is small business, she said. We are being bombarded with requests for mentors. In that vein, Regnitz would like to set up business councils in Porter County so government can hear the needs and concerns of business owners. Business owners are on the bleeding edge of the economy, she said. If theyre not shifting and adapting theyre not going to survive. Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. A new, deadlier form of fentanyl has arrived in Virginia, worrying officials charged with curbing Virginias resurgent opioid epidemic. The drugs are lab-made opioids known as nitazenes and are estimated to be several times more potent than fentanyl, the opioid responsible for 3 out of every four overdose deaths in Virginia today. Nelson Smith, commissioner of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services, flagged the drugs in a webinar in late September. Theres a new synthetic opioid thats popping up all over the country thats three times as strong as fentanyl, Smith said. And just this past summer, we found it in one of our small communities in Virginia. The drugs Smith is referencing were recovered by the sheriffs office in Campbell County, just south of Lynchburg. Nitazenes have been linked to at least three deaths in Virginia so far, a number that medical examiners believe to be an undercount. Thats because state forensics labs cant readily identify the new synthetics like they can fentanyl, heroin and more commonly seen drugs. As a result, nitazenes are identified only when the state contracts an outside testing agency for a toxicology report. Each test the state requests can cost hundreds of dollars, said Kathrin Hobron, forensic epidemiologist for the Virginia Department of Health. Staying on top of the new drugs that are emerging is a big challenge for toxicologists, Hobron said. Sometimes, well test if there are novel drugs onsite, but its not common. Nitazene overdoses can also be more deadly. The synthetics are believed to be more resistant to overdose-reversing medications like naloxone, a drug widely regarded as a lifesaver in the field of addiction medicine. But because the drugs are more potent, they may require several doses of naloxone to actually reverse an overdose, according to early research on nitazenes published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We dont know that theyre resistant; we just dont know what the protocols are for using naloxone for these other drugs, said Michelle Peace, forensic toxicologist at Virginia Commonwealth University. The protocols were really developed for opioids like heroin, Peace added. We had an understanding that fentanyl had more potency, so it might need more naloxone, but for something like the nitazenes, we dont know what the protocol is. Peace said its become far easier to find and buy synthetic drugs online by way of forums and that the more powerful nitazenes are attractive to users who have become tolerant of other opioids, even fentanyl. The piece that the public needs to know is that they cant really trust what theyre buying on the internet. That sounds like it should be obvious, but its not, said Peace. Opioid deaths have spiked significantly in Virginia since the start of the pandemic. The state recorded 2,667 fatal overdoses in 2021, with an estimated 76% linked to fentanyl/opioids. Richmond had the highest death rate statewide, according to Department of Health data. In 2021, the city had 258 overdose deaths. Of those, 237, or 92%, were linked to opioids. Commissioner Smith, who was appointed in January by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, described Virginias opioid epidemic as trending in a terrible direction. Lauren Cunningham, spokesperson for the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services, said in a statement that while DBHDS has not issued any public health advisories about nitazenes specifically, DBHDS is concerned about these synthetic opioids as some analogs are reportedly up to 40 times more potent than fentanyl. Often, it is used unknowingly as they are mixed with another drug. Cunningham said naloxone is still an effective treatment, though multiple doses may be required to reverse an overdose. Smith has set an agency target of reducing opioid related deaths by 20% within three years, which would return the state to pre-pandemic overdose levels. So far, the organization has seen a slight reduction in overdose deaths 8.5% when comparing the first quarters of 2021 and 2022. FREDERICKSBURG The community has offered a cash reward for the return of Adeline, one of the bronze otter statues that were installed throughout downtown earlier this year. Adeline, a mother otter who sat at the intersection of William and Prince Edward streets near Hurkamp Park with her pup Millie, was stolen on Saturday night or early Sunday morning, said April Peterson, who owns River Rock Outfitters and was one of the originators of the Otter-ly Amazing Fredericksburg project. We discovered on Sunday that the mama otter named Adeline had been taken. Were just trying to get the word out to have somebody return her, Peterson said. Its so sad because Millie is still sitting there without her mama. Adelines theft was reported to the Fredericksburg Parks and Recreation Department on Sunday, Peterson said. Parks and Recreation notified the police department. On Tuesday, local radio station B101.5 announced that it would offer a cash reward of $101.50 for the safe return of Adeline to the station. Local businesses such as Juan More Taco and North Star Towing and individualsincluding artists Steven and Stuart Wegner, who cast the bronze ottershave been contributing to the cash reward, which was over $500 as of Tuesday morning. Anybody can return the otter to the radio station, no questions asked, Peterson said. The nonprofit initiative Fredericksburg Main Street and the City of Fredericksburg began raising funds for the Otter-ly Amazing project in November 2021, with the goal of installing bronze river otters in key locations throughout downtown to highlight the citys connection to the Rappahannock River. Otters are a crucial indicator of a rivers health and their presence is a sign of good water quality, according to the projects website. Thanks to the cleanup efforts from local environmental organizations like Friends of the Rappahannock, otters have started returning to our river! the website notes. Adeline and Millie were donated by the Pine Knot Fund at the Community Foundation and Fredericksburg resident Melissa Colombo. An anonymous donor established the Pine Knot Fund in 2019 with funds inherited from the donors grandmother, Adeline, for whom the otter sculpture is named. Millie is named in honor of Millie Stroman, who Colombo calls the matriarch of our Fall Hill neighborhood and who passed away in 2020 at 101. Peterson said the reaction to Adelines disappearance has shown her how much the community has embraced the otters. I knew how special this project was because Ive been involved since the beginning, she said. What I wasnt aware of was how special the otters are to the entire community. Our message is, we dont really care why she was taken. Nobody does, Peterson continued. Whoever has information on the otter can contact the police, anonymously, or if the person who stole it is paying attention, they can drop it off at B101.5 or the police station, absolutely no questions asked. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. " " The "Baker" explosion, part of Operation Crossroads, a nuclear weapon test by the United States military at Bikini Atoll, Micronesia, July 25, 1946. United States Department of Defense Crazy as it might seem, there was a time when the U.S., the Soviet Union, and other countries tested nuclear weapons by exploding them in the atmosphere. From 1945 to 1963, when such tests finally were banned by an international treaty, more than 500 nuclear bombs were detonated, releasing radioactive fallout that spread far and wide across the planet, causing harm to the environment and human health. For example, everyone born in the U.S. after 1951 has been exposed to nuclear fallout, and for some, it's resulted in an increased risk of thyroid cancer, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Advertisement But for scientists that fallout also has provided an important measuring tool. The tests caused what's known as the 14C bomb pulse because of the spike in the atmospheric concentration of carbon-14, a carbon isotope that also occurs naturally. The excess carbon-14 was distributed throughout Earth's atmosphere, peaking in 1963 when the test ban went into effect. That radioactivity, which has gradually been declining since the 1960s, has been absorbed by plants, animals and people, creating a sort of time stamp that's enabled researchers to measure when things occur from the longevity of white sharks to the growth of human knee cartilage and even brain cells. It's also enabled forensic investigators to estimate the age and year of death for human remains with much greater precision than previously possible. An Ecomuseum in Greece offers Listen-Touch-Feel tours for visually impaired visitors. Italian and Lebanese villages offer simulated underwater trips to archaeological sites to non-scuba divers. Villages across Europe are sharing local history through virtual visits with inhabitants. Through a mix of creativity and digital technologies, small local communities across Europe are seeking to develop socially inclusive experiences and innovative sustainable tourism models built on their cultural heritage. Tourism has rebounded strongly after COVID, with international arrivals to Europe in January-July 2022 up 190% on the year before, getting close to 2019 levels (74% of that year, according to the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer). Good news, given the high economic and employment relevance of the sector10.3% of EU GDP and 11.7% of the EU labour force, including direct and indirect impacts, according to the EU Parliament in 2021. Almost all local communities look at tourism as a potential driver of growth. But remote or rural locations lacking obvious touristic assets, such as beaches or monuments, struggle to get themselves on the map and capture the attention of potential visitors. Fortunately, modern tourism is driven by the desire to live new and engaging experiences, in nature and culture. As cultural tourism is on the rise, local cultural heritage is becoming a resource to be shared with visitors. It is not always easy. There are a ton of ancient Roman bridges, Middle-Age churches or spectacular gorges scattered across Europe. To attract visitors it is not enough to publish a nice picture on Google Maps or get an academic to explain the history of local ruins in a leaflet. "Building on extensive work with stakeholders from local communities about cultural tourism initiatives, we found that a key differentiator is to combine social innovation methods with smart ICT tools" says Claudia De Luca, University of Bologna, partner of RURITAGE and TEXTOUR, two European research projects focusing on marginal or under-developed areas. The co-design of initiatives with stakeholders improves tourism sustainability as it provides support from a broader base of actors and greater continuity than one-off funding. The use of smart technologies helps to personalize experiences and monitor results, generating a positive feed-back loop. An innovative and inclusive experience was designed by the Ecomuseum of Zagori in Epirus, Greece, a UNESCO recognized geopark near the border with Albania. It is a "listen, touch and feel" walk for visually impaired people. It takes them along the Roman bridges and through the natural rough landscape of the area, including a soundscape with the sounds of nature and a specially designed 3D model of the landscape, with Braille texts and particular textures, produced by a local fab-lab of 3D printers (Fab-Labs Ioannina ). Visitors walk along the path with helpers, but the sounds and the 3D model let them touch and experience the fullness of the landscape. "It was truly moving to listen to a blind child asking his mother: 'can I run my fingers on the bridge?' when touching the model," explains Panagiota Koutsoukou, co-founder of the Ecomuseum with Konstantinos Kaisaris, which was partially supported by a RURITAGE grant. "The main obstacle was the worries of the local Association of the Blind: they are very conservative and were worried about bringing people out into nature. But once we convinced them, the satisfaction of the participants went through the roof" says Panagiota. Koutsoukou and Kaisaris are full of plans, even though the COVID pandemic has disrupted the Ecomuseum for the last 2 years. They are trying out the path for visitors with different disabilities, such as autism. They are working with the University of Patrasso to develop a mobile app, with which a blind person can touch a symbol and hear the sounds of the landscape (likely to be funded soon by an Erasmus project). Finally, they will participate in an European "Transhumance" network funded with 30 million by the EU: this traditional seasonal migration of shepherds and their herds from winter to summer pastures is in decline. . "The goal is to develop an eco-sustainable tourism product based on visiting the Transhumance paths and at the same time to preserve a traditional practice which is part of the identity of the local people and is dying out" says Kaisaris. The hope is that this tourism will generate resources to support a tradition no more able to sustain itself. Several initiatives launched by RURITAGE have already proven their sustainability by successfully growing after the end of the project. An example is the Walk of the Calanchi in Appignano, a small village in the scenic Marche region in Italy. The village designed a new path to visit the old town and the surrounding gullies (calanchi). It also produced a multimedia backstory to help visitors to share the living history of the place. Along the way, these visitors meet the inhabitants virtually, listen to their accounts of historical events (e.g. as partisans in WWII), and access old news articles, diaries and old pictures. They can listen to Appignano's inhabitants' voices in the native dialect, with translation in Italian and English. The village is now developing a resilience museum to show before and after the earthquake of 2016, with a 3D model of the landscape "as it was". This museum will be funded by the Italian PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan). Other interesting initiatives documented in the TEXTOUR project's action cards (factsheets) include a simulation of underwater diving to visit archaeological sites under the sea, as has been done by Cala Minnola in Italy and as planned by Anfeh in Lebanon; the digital pilgrimage along the St Olov Way across Finland, Sweden and Norway; the digital guide to the Karavanke Geopark across the border between Austria and Slovenia; the "TuoMuseo" mobile adventure game designed by the Archaeological Museum of Naples, and many more. These initiatives are enabled in TEXTOUR by an ICT platform, with the dual role to support stakeholders with smart tourism tools for free and provide digital services to end users. The features and services were also selected through a co-design process in the Cultural Tourism labs of the project. "The ICT platform will provide a monitoring system of indicators and KPIs for the project managers" says Pedro Pereira from the Nova School of Science and Technology, University of Lisbon, leading the platform development. By April 2023 the platform will be complete with a 9-10 services portfolio (see table). This includes providing multimedia and location details for points of interests (POI) for visitors and measuring the visitors' satisfaction. A key aspect is to provide a simple and easy tool for local stakeholders to experiment digital tourism services. "The main difficulty was coming up with a single solution adapted to all cultures and languages" says Kashyap Raiyani, also from Uninova, responsible of the technical development. "The participative process and engagement of different categories of stakeholders is the key for successful sustainability and at the same time the most difficult barrier to overcome" concludes Claudia De Luca. "Initially many stakeholders are deeply skeptical of this approach. But when we succeed in building trust and positive interactions, ideas generate momentum and are more likely to become pragmatic plans and then reality". Provided by iCube Programme On Monday 10th October, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen visited Estonia for the launch of the implementation of the Estonian just transition plan in Narva. During her one-day visit to Estonia, President Ursula von der Leyen together with Estonia's prime minister Kaja Kallas and minister of public administration Riina Solman visited the Estonian cities of Tallinn and Narva. While in Narva, the guests also went to Kreenholm Manufactory, founded by Ursula von der Leyen's great grandfather, baron Ludwig von Knoop. Krenholm is a post-industrial district in the city of Narva, located on an island in the homonymous river. The ex- textile manufacturing company, founded in mid-19th Century, grew under the Soviet regime but didn't survive the collapse of the Soviet Union. The district of Kreenholm is now part of Narva's heritage and one of the pilot sites of the TExTOUR project, aiming to foster sustainable tourism in remote areas. "It was wonderful to visit Kreenholm, the fairy tales of my childhood come from there." Said the President von der Leyen. Provided by iCube Programme FLORENCE, S.C. -- Cooks for Christ is renowned for its commitment to service to those in need through chicken bog benefits. On Oct. 27 the ministry cooked to benefit itself so that it might continue to serve others. FLORENCE, S.C. Travis W. Knowles on Tuesday became Francis Marion Universitys newest Board of Trustees Research Scholar. Knowles, an associate professor of biology, received the award during a luncheon at Ervin Dining Hall on FMUs campus Tuesday afternoon. Accepting the honor before a gathering of members of the Francis Marion Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, and other research scholars, Knowles thanked the trustees for the prestigious honor. Research ultimately enriches life in the classroom, Knowles said. It helps us mentor students who are interested in entering research-based fields and in biology it helps our students learn the scientific process. Ive been very pleased to be involved in using research as a teaching tool, and am pleased to receive this award that will support this work in the future. Knowles is the 23rd professor to become a Board of Trustees Research Scholar. In 2002, FMU President Fred Carter asked the board to create the program, and the board did so by unanimous vote. The aim of the program is to recognize and promote high-level research and scholarship by university faculty. Appointments are awarded to 12 senior faculty members who have compiled a significant record of research and publication, and who show promise of continued scholarly productivity. The appointment includes a reduced teaching load with a salary supplement. Francis Marion University Board of Trustees Chairman Robert E. Lee said creating opportunities for faculty research is key to the universitys future success. The addition of Professor Knowles as a Research Scholar is a reaffirmation of the board of trustees support of research for our most productive scholars, Lee said. The impact professors have on the individual lives of their students here at Francis Marion both through the results of their research and their work in the classroom is substantial and fulfills a core mission of FMU to better the lives of our students. Carter said he will ask the board to expand the number of research scholars from 12 to 15 this year to reflect the universitys growth in programs and research faculty over the past two decades. Such an expansion, Carter said, would further enhance FMUs efforts to recognize and reward faculty scholarship. Knowles earned both bachelor of arts and master of science degrees in biology from Wake Forest University, in 1982 and 1988. He went on to work as a contractor for the National Park Service, conducting field surveys and developing conservation recommendations for rare and endangered vertebrate species. Knowles joined FMUs faculty in August 1991 and taught a variety of courses including introductory biology, vertebrate zoology, conservation biology, and tropical ecology. Knowles will teach a course in ornithology starting in the spring. Knowles is the founding director of WildSumaco Biological Station in Ecuador, a collaborative initiative of FMU, WildSumaco Wildlife Sanctuary, the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, and the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador. His research focuses on the ecology, distribution, and conservation of wild mammals, employing field surveys with camera traps and live-trapping techniques. Seguin, TX (78155) Today A mainly sunny sky. High around 75F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Showers early then scattered thunderstorms developing late. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. A series of thefts in Wilmette over a year ago uncovered a nationwide fencing ring leading to the recovery of approximately $7.5 million in merchandise, police said. On Oct. 11, the Wilmette Police Department announced the arrest of eight individuals following a yearlong investigation into what authorities described as a sophisticated criminal enterprise. Advertisement Wilmette Police Commander Michael Robinson traced the roots of the investigation to a series of thefts in the village starting in September 2021 as the arresting officer sensed there were unusual circumstances He realized there was some significant amount of property that was above the typical small time retail theft and it was indicative of the merchandise being sold at other locations, Robinson said. Advertisement Officers quickly realized those involved in the ring were selling the merchandise and connections were made to similar retail thefts in Shorewood and Will County. The defendants purchased the stolen property at the Chicago area stores and took them to a series of fencing locations where the products would be cleaned of identifying information, police said. At those fencing locations, they would send the stolen goods out to these warehouses or different storage locations where they would remove the label, Robinson said. After cleaning the products, the stolen items primarily over-the-counter medications and health and beauty products would be shipped to e-commerce merchants in California and third party distributors in New York and go back on the market. Police further state the defendants created a series of bank and financial institution accounts with the goal of hiding the funds origins. That money was used to purchase a series of residential properties to continue the financing of the scheme. We didnt expect it to be this big, Robinson said. Search warrants were executed Oct. 6 in Chicago, Oak Lawn, Cicero and Bolingbrook and three others in California where an approximate $7.5 million in evidence and stolen merchandise was recovered, police said. Robinson said police are still going through evidence and he anticipates the filing of additional charges. Advertisement Five of the eight individuals arrested were taken into custody at the Will County Courthouse and have a scheduled court date of Oct. 26, according to police. Several different government organizations including a series of law enforcement personnel participated in the investigation along with security teams from retail outlets. Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Carissa Yap Miss Universe Singapore 2022 Carissa Yap, a 22-year-old business student from the National University of Singapore, was crowned Miss Universe Singapore 2022 at the finals held at Alcove, Caldwell House, on 17 October. Yap is set to represent the country at the 71st Miss Universe pageant in New Orleans, US, in January 2023. With the prestigious title, she won a four-night staycation, a diamond jewellery set, a dental makeover, a new wardrobe and an all-paid trip to represent Singapore at the Miss Universe 2022 finals in the US. Yvonne Sashirekha (27) was announced as the first runner-up at the pageant. Denissia Li Xia Delangle (21) took the title of second runner-up. Meanwhile, Sara Yong (25) and Olivia Higgins (27) made it to the top 5 list. The country has high hopes for Yap on the international stage of Miss Universe, as her predecessor, Miss Universe Singapore 2021 Nandita Banna, created history by making it to the top 16, a great honour for Singapore after over 30 years. How did Yap win the pageant? Image credit: Carissa Yap/Instagram On her winning night, Yap stunned the judges with a breathtakingly beautiful yellow evening gown by couturier Frederick Lee and bespoke, custom-made delicate diamond jewellery by The Better Diamond. She was a picture of poise and confidence on the stage which wowed the team of judges, comprising couture designer Frederick Lee, Miss Universe Singapore 1987 Marion Nicole Teo, fashion photographer Jeff Chang, actress and Miss Universe Singapore 2013 Shi Lim and hotelier Jessie Khoo-Gan. Yap revealed to the judges that she dreams of using the Miss Universe platform to help the underbanked community by providing them with easy financial solutions. This is also the reason she opted to major in economics and finance. About Yap Image credit: missuniverse.sg/Instagram Miss Universe Singapore 2022 is one of the smartest students in her class at the National University of Singapore and boasts of getting straight As at her high school, The Raffles institution. Besides being a fashionista, she is trained in taekwondo and prides herself on staying calm in stressful situations. (Main and featured image credits: Miss Universe Singapore/Instagram) The post Meet Carissa Yap, the winner of Miss Universe Singapore 2022 appeared first on Lifestyle Asia Singapore. CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa Iowa U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson of Marion was released from a Cedar Rapids hospital Tuesday after being admitted Sunday night for a kidney infection, days before early voting begins and a televised debate in the race for the 2nd Congressional District that was subsequently canceled. In a statement, Hinson said she will continue resting at home, and looks forward to resuming campaigning soon. "I am grateful to everyone who has sent thoughts and prayers over the last few days, she said. The doctors and nurses at UnityPoint-St. Lukes Hospital have been incredible, and I want to thank each of them for their exceptional care. Hinson, a Republican running for re-election to a second term in Iowas newly drawn 2nd Congressional District, was scheduled to debate Democratic challenger and state Sen. Liz Mathis of Hiawatha on Tuesday on Iowa PBS. A news release from Iowa PBS said both candidates were offered dates to reschedule the debate, but none of those dates were mutually acceptable to the campaigns. Sophie Crowell, Hinsons campaign manager, said in a statement the first-term incumbent was looking forward to debating and that the campaign accepted all of the alternate dates offered by Iowa PBS to reschedule. Mathis campaign spokesperson Lori Davis confirmed that the campaigns calendar was booked for the three alternate dates proposed by Iowa PBS. Mathis, in a statement, said with early voting starting on Wednesday her focus will now shift to get-out-the-vote efforts, rallies and canvass launches through Election Day. Election Day is Nov. 8. The 2nd Congressional District includes 22 counties in Iowas northeast corner, and includes the cities of Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Dubuque and Mason City. Hinson and Mathis have already participated in one televised debate, which was hosted last week by their former employer, KCRG-TV9 in Cedar Rapids. Hinson appeared at a rally Saturday with U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in Iowa Falls as part of Cruzs Take Back America bus tour ahead of the midterm elections. SIOUX CITY The Iowa Court of Appeals on Wednesday upheld the murder conviction of a man who stabbed his adoptive mother in a Sioux City apartment building. A three-judge panel denied Paul Belk's claims that District Judge Jeffrey Neary erroneously rejected his insanity defense and that there was not enough evidence presented at trial to show he had malice aforethought before the stabbing. Belk, 33, of Beaufort, South Carolina, stabbed Lisa Belk 16 times with two knives and a pair of scissors inside his sister's apartment at 3811 Peters Ave. Belk waived his right to a jury trial, and Neary found him guilty of second-degree murder and possession of marijuana. During the April 2021 trial, Belk's attorneys called as a witness a psychiatrist who testified that on the day he killed his mother, Belk had schizophrenia and was paranoid, believing his sister's apartment was bugged, people were listening to his phone calls and two people in an alley planned to kill him. Belk believed his mother was part of a plan to hurt him, and he had armed himself with a knife for protection. A forensic psychologist testified for the prosecution that Belk was overexaggerating his symptoms and likely faking some of them. If he was schizophrenic, Belk was able to distinguish right from wrong, the psychologist said. The appeals court said Belk's threats to others prior to the attack, sending children out of the room and collecting everyone's phones so they couldn't call for help supported Neary's finding that Belk knew right from wrong at the time of the stabbing and was not insane. "The district court's finding that Belk was not legally insane at the time of the stabbing was supported by substantial evidence," Judge Paul Ahlers wrote in the appeals court's decision. Evidence also provided ample proof that Belk acted with malice aforethought, the court ruled. Belk's sisters testified at trial that after the family ate dinner, Belk became agitated, pacing and piling items in the middle of the living room floor before going to the kitchen to get a knife. After his sister told him to leave, Belk brandished the knife, stabbed Lisa Belk and stabbed his sister in the arm as she tried to intervene. Lisa Belk, 55, was pronounced dead at a hospital. The appeals court did not consider Belk's claim of ineffective counsel because Iowa law doesn't allow the court to decide that issue on direct appeal. Belk was sentenced in Woodbury County District Court in November to 50 years in prison and must serve at least 35 years before he's eligible for parole. STORM LAKE, Iowa A Storm Lake man was arrested Monday and charged with choking and hitting a 7-year-old child. Storm Lake police officers were called to Storm Lake Middle School on Sept. 19 for a report of suspected child abuse, which launched an investigation by police, the Iowa Department of Human Services and the MercyOne Child Advocacy Center. In a news release from the Storm Lake Police Department, police said the investigation determined that in the summer of 2020, a suspect identified as Eh Lwe, 24, of Storm Lake, choked and hit the child on the head with a tablet while the child was in his care. The child had minor injuries. Police obtained an arrest warrant and took Lwe into custody at a home in the 900 block of West Sixth Street. He was booked into the Buena Vista County Jail on a charge of child endangerment causing bodily injury, a Class D felony. Bond was set at $5,000. Its been about two months since students at Eastern Iowa Community College campuses started classes with their new top leadership in place. Dr. Sonya Williams, an Oklahoma native, is EICC's eighth chancellor, and she said her family is settling in to their new home as she settles into her new post. I dont think Ive met an angry body yet, Williams said with a laugh. In past places, we had to travel 30 minutes to go to the grocery store. Here, grocery stores, gas stations, anything you want is available. What that says is opportunities are available. She said she also has been taken by the nightlife downtown Davenport has to offer, making the area even more appealing for prospective job seekers and students. As a leader, Williams plans to carry over past professional and social experiences and successes to help empower others. "To be your authentic self thats one thing Ive brought to every place, and I think it speaks volumes of how you socialize with people, she said. As a leader, I think its important that people feel like they want to be a part of something. How do you do that? You give them the power and authority to act." As a Black woman, Williams said, she hopes to carry diversity into her role at EICC but through a different lens. I think people think diversity is a quality or characteristic. When I think about diversifying something, I dont only think about race," she said. "Thats one part, but it also means diversity of thought, process and how you view people. If we dont do it together, I dont think well get anywhere." The colleges' strategic plan currently prioritizes student success, enrollment, equity and innovation. Williams plans to build on those priorities while emphasizing strategies to increase enrollment and equity. We'll do everything from an equitable lens. Looking at DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) work, thats the first stop for us, she said, listing plans to establish an official DEI statement and Native American land acknowledgment statement at EICC. A shift in culture The culture I want to create is one of unity," Chancellor Williams said when asked about the culture she hopes to foster at EICC. Faculty and staff inclusion and culture in administrative decision-making were flagged as concerns by some staff and faculty responding to the "2022 EICC Great Colleges to Work For survey. The survey is similar to other internal studies colleges and universities conduct annually. Many responding to this year's survey were particularly critical of some in administration and were specific in their criticisms. Williams read the survey and was aware of the responses before beginning her role as Chancellor, she said, but the negative responses were not a deterrent for her. I wouldnt come here if this wasnt a great college to work for already. I bet 70% of the survey shows what EICC is doing right, like supporting our students or employee benefits, she said of responses to some survey questions. Everything wont be 100%, but I recognized that we need to take care of the individuals caring for our students, so my first interest is human capital. Nodding to a sign in Scott Community Colleges Urban Campus stating You deserve more, Williams has adopted her own spin-off of the theme for EICC: We deserve more. There were several things in the survey saying what we were doing wrong, and were looking to see how to right-size and make things right, she said. How thats done is with a collection of people, viewing the same set of data I have, so we can reflect, realign it to our strategic initiatives and say, This is how well correct those things.' One step Williams is taking to combat survey concerns and promote shared governance is to change the cabinet-style of leadership. I give the analogy that a cabinet represents something with closed doors, a very closed-minded concept, she said. We changed the name to senior leadership team.' That means everybody has a call to act. The senior leadership team will work to align the colleges budget with its strategic plan and present investment priorities to the Board of Trustees. The next step of this restructuring is forming a leadership council among mid-level managers. ...So everything isnt top-heavy anymore and mid-level managers can help make decisions, Williams said. It becomes a support of ideas, not just top-down, so everyone can participate in decision-making and be accountable. Her strategies for creating more unified decision-making extend to EICC's Board of Trustees. She plans to provide the Board with high-level summaries of whats happening across the campuses. I like to say were moving forward, better together. If were going to rise to the occasion, we have to do it together, and we have to be forward-thinkers, Williams said. Its about perspective. Everyone has something to contribute; we just have to find what it is. "My goals now are finding key players and putting teams together so we can get work done." Williams' strategy for communication is, simply, being present. Im not married to this desk and chair, she said with a laugh. I think having district responsibilities means getting out to see whats going on. Interacting with people on visits, you can see that they believe in something. She has visited all EICC campuses four or five times this year. In addition to holding weekly in-person senior leadership meetings, she'll hold extended leadership meetings monthly, providing an opportunity for more people to share input and ideas. Despite new endeavors and change, Williams thinks its important to remember EICC's past. All of the good things that have happened did for a reason. We have to carry some of its history forward, without losing that foundational base of why we became the communitys college, she said. But I think people want change. Visible changes While Chancellor Williams plans to introduce new initiatives and culture, a quick walk through an EICC campus will display several physical renovations and additions afoot. In March 2021, voters approved a $40 million bond referendum to expand EICCs "Career and Technical Education" opportunities across all campuses. EICC Career and Technical Education expansions Scott Community College: An expansion and renovation of its Allied Health/Nursing Wing, which will connect the space to the main college Additions and renovations to the Blong Technology Center to support advancing manufacturing/robotics, engineering tech, polymer technology, construction management, mechanical design and welding programs Building an "Ag Innovation Center" facility for agriculture, agriculture transfer and agriculture mechanics/diesel technology programs Expansions to other planned programs, including automotive technology, business and education Muscatine Community College: Building new facilities to support the following planned programs: automotive technology, construction technology, criminal justice and allied health/nursing. Expansion and renovations to its Industrial Technology Center to support advanced manufacturing, engineering technology and welding programs. Expanding programs including agriculture, culinary, K-12 teacher preparation and information technology. Clinton Community College: Building a new facility to support agriculture, automotive technology, construction technology, culinary, engineering technology, education, healthcare, information technology and welding. Purchasing new equipment and renovating facilities at the CCC Maquoketa Campus to support CNC machining, engineering technology, education, information technology and welding. Building a DeWitt Career Advancement Center to support all EICC students and high schoolers in the colleges Career Academies, which allow students to earn career training and college credits while in high school. Planned academies for the DeWitt center include agriculture, business, CNC Machining, construction technology, healthcare and information technology Williams looks most forward to filling these new additions and polished spaces with students and staff. As we transition out of a pandemic, we think about how to attract students back to campus, and I dont think well have a tough time, she said. We advertise and the community is behind us especially with the bond referendum, so people know whats coming and they understand how important it is to bring bodies back into the facilities. But for Willams, its not just a numbers game. Its about the level of education these students will get. I think the schools recognize that, especially with the Career Academy, she said. Im looking forward to seeing growth in that direction. I think it'll be a plus, not only for the Quad-Cities but this quadrant of the state as we train more students in our facilities. In light of these hefty investments, Williams said, EICC is changing how they do business this budget cycle. A key to budgeting is finishing what you start. We tend to have a lot of projects in the hopper, but we have to make sure we get data and closure, she said. If were going to move to the next level, we have to be a college of evidence and inquiry where we say what worked and what didnt work. As a state-funded institution, Williams thinks this approach makes EICC better stewards. We can show our constituents that were properly spending money or resources, she said. Right now, we're working to see how we can best serve students and employees and budget for the right things to support them. Circling back to Williams' goal of unity, EICC also will make a slight change to its branding: Each campus will lead with the overarching EICC in their external and internal communications, as opposed to separating Clinton, Muscatine, and Scott. Williams said she is grateful for EICC faculty and staff and is excited to continue moving forward, better together. "When I walk down these corridors, it gives me a warm and fuzzy sense," she said. "You can see that we're 'the community's college' for a reason." Age: 64 on Nov. 1 Address: 3015 S. 20th St. Occupation: Owner, vice president and director of Buildings & Equipment, B&R Stores Inc. and Lincoln City Council member, 2015-current Political party: Democrat What experiences qualify you for this office? I have the government and business expertise to work effectively from Day One. I am an independent business owner and job creator of the largest independent grocery operator in our state. For almost 12 years as a Lancaster County Commissioner and now as a City Council member, I have been honored to serve the people of Legislative District 28 where I was born and raised. I am a trusted leader who is pro-business, pro-neighborhoods and pro-community. Why do you want to be a state senator? Im running for this office because I love public service. I am dedicated to making a positive difference in my community and to keep our state moving forward. What would be your priorities in terms of legislation? I plan to use my government and business experience to focus on the cost burden the state has shifted to our taxpayers by addressing the underfunding of public education, the overcrowding in our penitentiary and the need for criminal justice reforms. I will advocate for responsible tax policies that reflect our Nebraska values by restoring state aid to cities and counties and advocating environmental resiliency and conservancy. Would you support continuation of election of legislative leaders and committee chairmen and chairwomen by secret ballot or support a rules change that requires open voting? Why? I do not support this rule change. Doing so breaks with the unique tradition of selecting our committee chairs without fear or reprisal. No one should have fealty to a party. Our responsibility is to the constituents we represent and to the betterment of our state. Open discussions, integral to the nonpartisan history in our unicameral, would be restricted by one party. If the rules were changed, voices of working families and the most vulnerable would not be represented. Do you support legislation prohibiting or limiting abortion in Nebraska and why? Under what circumstances, if any, should abortion remain legal in Nebraska? I support the current restrictions in place that allow safe and legal abortions to continue in our state. I am a pro-choice Catholic and I live my faith. Government has no business making personal and private decisions for families that should be informed by their physicians advice, their own faith and what is in the best interest of their own family. Do you support legislation to allow Nebraskans to carry guns, either openly or concealed, without government permits or required gun safety training? Why or why not? I do not support an expansion and further proliferation of guns in our state that jeopardizes families safety as well as the safety of our law enforcement. Permits and training are essential. The majority of Nebraskans want commonsense gun safety measures and I am with them. Would you be inclined to support the governors agenda or be more independent in determining your priorities and legislative agenda? I am an open-minded, business-minded elected official that has shown independence and a commonsense approach to crafting good policy while bringing together all the stakeholders. I look forward to working with the governor and my colleagues in a cooperative and collaborative process. Three candidates hope to succeed Gov. Pete Ricketts when he completes his second term in office in January 2023: Republican Jim Pillen of Columbus, Democrat Carol Blood of Bellevue and Libertarian Scott Zimmerman of Omaha. The governor is the chief executive officer in state government. It is the governor's duty to present the Legislature with a complete budget for all expenditures used in running the state's regular business. The governor signs or vetoes bills passed by the Legislature. The governor also appoints certain officers and fills vacancies in state offices and serves as commander-in-chief of the national and state guards. The officeholder also chairs the Board of State Canvassers and Board of Pardons, in addition to serving on other state boards and commissions. The term is for four years and there is a two-term limit; salary is $105,000 annually. Ricketts, a Republican who has served two terms, cannot run for office again. Observers worldwide laud China's milestone achievements under CPC leadership Xinhua) 08:56, October 19, 2022 BEIJING, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- The report delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping at the opening session of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Sunday comprehensively summarizes the achievements and experience of China's reforms and development, and contains an overall strategic plan for the cause of the party and the country, overseas analysts and observers said. The CPC will score even greater achievements, lead the Chinese people to write a new chapter along the new journey toward building a modern socialist country in all respects, and to join the rest of the world in building a better future for all humanity, the analysts and observers noted. GREAT TRANSFORMATIONS IN NEW ERA Xi said in the report that the past decade marked three major events of great immediate importance and profound historical significance for the cause of the party and the people. "We embraced the centenary of the Communist Party of China; we ushered in a new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics; and we eradicated absolute poverty and finished building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, thus completing the First Centenary Goal," he said. "This report contains the crystallization of the CPC's important experience and provides ideological guidance for China's march towards the second centenary goal," said Vanxay Tavinyan, the editor-in-chief of the Pasaxon, the newspaper of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee, who has been closely following this CPC national congress. Deeply impressed by the CPC's adherence to the people-centered development philosophy, he said China has secured a victory in the battle against extreme poverty, the largest scale of such efforts ever made in history, and made significant contributions to global poverty reduction. "China has achieved many milestones" in the past decade, said Shakeel Ahmad Ramay, chief executive officer of the Asian Institute of Eco-civilization Research and Development in Pakistan, after listening to the live-streamed report via the Internet. China's big achievements have demonstrated that socialism with Chinese characteristics is presenting a better model with global appeal, Ramay added. Under the CPC's guidance, China has shown the world how to achieve goals like eradicating extreme poverty with political will and effective actions, said Ronnie Lins, director of the China-Brazil Center for Research and Business, adding that realizing economic and social development, and eradicating poverty and social inequality are a sure way to build a healthier world. The poverty alleviation efforts led by the CPC will be remembered by the human society as a model of good governance in human history, Lins added. "Every time when I returned to China, I could clearly see the rapid economic and social progress in the country," said Rafael Hernandez, director of Cuban political magazine Temas, adding that he was impressed by the data on China's economic development in the report. The CPC's historic achievements since the 18th CPC National Congress have demonstrated that the party is dedicated to pursuing happiness for the people and rejuvenation of the nation, he said, adding that it's the CPC's strong leadership that has led to China's great success today. The 20th CPC National Congress is of great significance, said Yuri Tavrovsky, a professor with the People's Friendship University of Russia. Over the past decade, China has made great achievements in accelerating the construction of a modern economic system, promoting technological innovation, improving state governance, eliminating extreme poverty, and pushing for green development, he said, adding that China's development path has become more attractive to the international community. China's development is very important to global development, and China's successful experience offers reference and inspiration to many countries, said Alexey Maslov, director of the Institute of the Asian and African Studies of Moscow State University. GREAT CONTRIBUTIONS TO HUMAN PROGRESS From this day forward, the central task of the CPC will be to lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in a concerted effort to realize the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization, Xi emphasized in the report. To build a modernized society for more than 1 billion people is undoubtedly a huge contribution to the progress of mankind, Adhere Cavince, a Kenya-based international relations scholar, told Xinhua. China is setting a good example for other developing countries to hold in hand their own path to national regeneration and development, Cavince added. The Chinese path to modernization is a modernization of shared prosperity for a huge population and it is also committed to facilitating global peace and development, said Cavince. It is immensely important that the report elaborated on a new philosophy on China's comprehensive development for the goal of improving people's living standard, said Zivadin Jovanovic, former Serbian senior diplomat, adding that China's focus on its further modernization is really important for the global economy. The Chinese-style modernization is a vision of a world without poverty, hunger, war, conflict, discrimination, and hegemony, among others, said Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at Cambodia's BELTEI International University. The Chinese path to modernization pursues inclusive development, common prosperity, as well as a harmonious relationship between human and nature, and will have a direct positive impact on global development, Matthews told Xinhua. Kanat Beisek, chairman of the Board of the Kazakh-Chinese Trade Promotion Association, said he looks forward to seeing the Chinese path to modernization, noting that through cooperation with China in such fields as agriculture, energy, e-commerce, he has deeply felt that the continuous progress of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has benefited Kazakhstan and other countries along the route. While concentrating on major tasks at home, Chinese development has produced positive spillover effects to the world, reflecting China's wisdom and strength, Beisek said. The Chinese path to modernization will drive the country to make new economic and social achievements, and will also bring more cooperation and development opportunities to Kazakhstan and other developing countries, he added. Giving great attentions to the Chinese path to modernization, the CPC national congress mapped out a clear plan for China's sustainable development in the future, said Diaa Helmy, secretary-general of Cairo-based Egyptian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce. The successes achieved by China will continue as it sticks to socialism with Chinese characteristics, Helmy said, noting that China will strongly go further in its modernization process. JOINTLY BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE FOR HUMANITY China has always been committed to its foreign policy goals of upholding world peace and promoting common development and is dedicated to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said in the report. China put forward the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and is willing to implement them together with the international community. The Chinese people are ready to work hand in hand with people across the world to create an even brighter future for humanity, he said. "From the report, I strongly feel China's determination and confidence in striding forward, developing peacefully and opening up to the outside world," said Uzbek political observer Tulanbay Kurbanov. By striving to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-style modernization, China will provide huge development opportunities for developing countries and inject impetus into global economic development, he added. The GDI and GSI proposed by China are in line with the common aspirations of the international community for justice, peace, and development, and will surely further build global consensus, gather strength for cooperation, and inject strong positive energy into improving global governance, Kurbanov said. Xi's report emphasizes that China adheres to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in pursuing friendship and cooperation with other countries, and will firmly support and help developing countries achieve faster growth, which will further encourage emerging economies like Indonesia to recover at a faster pace, said Teuku Rezasyah, international relations expert of Indonesia's Padjadjaran University. Xi stressed China's commitment to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind in his report, said Wirun Phichaiwongphakdee, director of the Thailand-China Research Center of the Belt and Road Initiative, noting that no single country can solve global challenges, which require solidarity and cooperation of all countries. The world should be a place where win-win cooperation and common development abound, and in the process, the vision of building of a community with a shared future for mankind plays a very important role, he added. China has been providing the world with huge development opportunities through projects like the BRI and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and China-Africa cooperation has been growing especially through FOCAC in the past decades, said Rwandan researcher and publisher Gerald Mbanda. African countries are looking forward to strengthening cooperation with China under FOCAC and the BRI, he added. The global community expects China's initiatives such as the GDI and GSI "will play more positive roles around the world in the future," said Hamed Vafaei, director of the Center for Asian Studies at the University of Tehran. As the largest developing country in the world, China's development model is of great significance to developing countries like Iran, and many Iranian academic institutions, including his center, have been paying close attention to the congress and hope to study China's successful experience in state governance through it, he said. "The 20th CPC National Congress is of great significance and will have far-reaching influence on China's future development as well as world peace and stability," said Luciana Santos, president of the Communist Party of Brazil. China sticks to an independent foreign policy of peace, firmly upholds multilateralism, is actively involved in global governance, and takes the lead in improving the global governance system, playing an active role in shaping a more just and reasonable world order, Santos added. (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Hongyu) Xinmu Cinema in Beijing has played more than 1,000 films for about 40,000 visually impaired people since its establishment in 2005. Xinmu, which means eyes of the heart, is considered as the heaven of the visually impaired. Compared with traditional cinemas, films played here include extra voices from volunteer narrators. Wang Yuchan, one of the narrators, has narrated over 50 movies since she joined the volunteer team in 2017. She explains the environment, character expressions and movements, all the scenery shots, turning points, and cast members during shows. She has a special notebook for recording outlines of movies she has narrated, introductions to these movies, and their cast members. In order narrate Unworried Store, Wang watched it seven times. Wang likes watching films very much. She believes that film is a comprehensive art that enables people to enjoy themselves. I hope the audience insists on watching movies and tell their friends their feelings, said Wang. More volunteers like Wang at this cinema keep narrating movies for the visually impaired, hoping they can enjoy the movie experience. Wang Weili, founder of the cinema, understands the needs of the visually impaired. We know the price of being blind, the situation of the blind people, and the influence of blindness on our life. Thats why we cant get over this defect, said Wang. He admits that many people think being blind is difficult, so they tend to care for them but ignoring what they think. Narrating films is just a media through which blind people can compensate for information, replenish their spiritual needs and also better integrate with society, said Wang. "We are not only helping the blind. We hope all the people involved and volunteers can enrich and change themselves and reflect on their values and social responsibilities by serving the blind. This is great, Wang said. According to data released by China Association of the Blind, China registered more than 17 million visually impaired people as of 2019. Airlines have announced they will increase the number of scheduled international flights soon, drawing widespread attention. China Eastern Airlines, one of China's three major airlines, said on Monday that it will resume a number of international flights from the end of October, including flights between Shanghai and Bangkok; Hangzhou and Tokyo; Qingdao and Seoul; and Qingdao and Dubai. During the upcoming winter and spring season, China Eastern plans to operate 108 scheduled international flights along 42 routes every week. According to VariFlight, a China-based civil aviation data service provider, from Oct 10 to 16 the company operated 64 international flights. It operated 234 international flights for the entirety of September. China Southern, another major airline in China, said last week it will resume scheduled international flights at the end of this month, including Guangzhou-Jakarta, Dalian-Tokyo, Guangzhou-Dubai and Guangzhou-Manila. After the change, the company plans to operate 86 international flights every week. It currently operates 71 international flights per week. China's civil aviation sector will start the new winter and spring season on Oct 30. Other airlines including Hainan Airlines and Xiamen Airlines also announced plans to increase international flights soon. According to Li Xiaojin, a professor of aviation economics at the Civil Aviation University of China in Tianjin, international passenger flights are a very important source of income for airline companies, especially larger airliners. Before the pandemic, about 10 percent of air travelers were international passengers, but they contributed nearly 30 percent of the revenue of the civil aviation industry, he noted. Data from VariFlight showed that China operated 984 international flights from Oct 10 to 16, about 5 percent of the weekly number of international flights in 2019. The average weekly number of international flights was 18,750 in 2019. Data released by the CAAC in August last year showed that China operated 230 international passenger flights every week, about 2.15 percent of the volume seen in 2019. Policies have been released to boost the sector's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. In May, the State Council, China's Cabinet, issued a notice to boost the economy, including the orderly resumption of international passenger flights. In June, China eased the quarantine policy for inbound travelers. According to the latest epidemic control protocol, inbound travelers will be placed under isolation to undergo medical observation at designated sites for seven days followed by three days of home health monitoring, reducing the quarantine time from 21 to 10 days. In August, the CAAC shortened the suspension time for international flights if confirmed cases were found onboard. Liang Nan, director of the transport department of the CAAC, said during a news conference in June that the administration is holding discussions with some countries on gradually increasing international passenger flights. The administration is working under the coordination of the joint prevention and control mechanism of the State Council to carry out the resumption of flights to fulfill the needs of overseas students and people involved in international exchanges looking to return to their home countries, said Xu Qing, deputy director of the department, at a news briefing in July. She also noted that the effort takes into account the evolving pandemic situation, the optimization of recent prevention and epidemic control measures, and the improvement of the ability of local regions to accommodate international flights. President Richard Nixon vetoed the Clean Water Act in 1972. But Congress overrode him on a bipartisan vote, and the landmark law to reverse the toxic degradation of U.S. rivers, lakes and streams took effect half a century ago. The law was inspired in part by the notorious 1969 Cuyahoga River fire in Ohio, in which the river itself, laden with oil and other industrial pollutants, went up in flames. The model, though, was a California clean water law adopted the same year as the fire and the destructive Santa Barbara, California, oil spill. The federal Clean Water Act has essentially the same goal as Californias Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act: to regulate the discharge of pollutants to safeguard the nations water supply for drinking, swimming and good health for human beings and the environment. Progress has been unmistakable. Its no longer possible for industry to legally dump solvents, chemicals and other waste into rivers and lakes and expect the rest of us to bear the cost in the form of poisonous waterways and cleanups. Rivers no longer catch fire. Harbors once again have fish, because the streams that feed them no longer bring untreated municipal waste or chemicals like PCBs. Many once-toxic streams are again swimmable. ... But not all. In California and much of the West, less ample and therefore slower moving water, together with hotter temperatures, have increased the growth of blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria. These can release toxins and make sloughs and ponds poisonous to people who fish in or drink from them. There is also a continuing assault from industry and its supporters in the political world. Former President Trump, for example, signed an executive order eliminating an Obama-era rule that makes clear that the act applies to western waterways that feed wetlands and major bodies of water during the rainy season but go dry in summer and fall. The act means little if it does not protect most of California, just because the hydrology here is different than in the wetter eastern part of the country. Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court heard a case that could jeopardize the act, at least to the extent that it protects sensitive wetlands. In Sackett vs. Environmental Protection Agency, owners of a plot of seasonal wetland in Idaho argue that the act applies only to the water in a wetland and not to the adjacent land from which the runoff comes. The courts conservative majority may well agree, though questioning from the justices suggests they may be skeptical of the plaintiffs interpretation. Even if the court accepts the broader view of the Clean Water Acts scope, the 50-year-old law should now be seen as only a starting point for necessary protection of the nations water. Things have changed in the last half-century, and water laws have to be updated to take into account climate change and the challenges of agricultural runoff. They have to take into account our deeper knowledge of the actual connections between all bodies of water, whether on the surface or underground, seasonal or year-round. It took a long time for Americans to appreciate the damage they were doing to their water. The Cuyahoga caught fire repeatedly as far back as 1868. Californias rivers were devastated by hydraulic mining in a quest for gold and other minerals with few objections at the time. Pollution was widely seen as a sign of American civilization subduing a wild continent and putting it to use in the service of human wealth and progress. And besides, there was always another pond or stream to be used for drinking water. But now we know more about the costs of environmental destruction. We cant wait another 50 years before updating our laws to protect our water supply. Santa Monica, California, is one of the nicest places to live in the United States. It has a splendid beach, an amusement park, loads of high-paying jobs, a charming downtown pedestrian mall, and a transit connection to Los Angeles. Plus, its 10 to 20 degrees cooler than the rest of Southern California in a heat wave. But dont pack your bags just yet. The population has remained virtually unchanged since 1970, the median home now sells for $1.8 million, and the city has permitted just 4,500 units of housing in the last two decades. Advertisement This scenario, underway in every big city in the state, is the source of Californias crippling housing crisis, which has led to record numbers of people camping out on the streets and helped send the states population into decline for the first time ever in 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Santa Monica just swerved off the NIMBY path. This year, developers have applied to build another 4,000 apartments in the city of 91,000, including more than 800 set aside for low-income residents. How did the city get two decades worth of housing proposed in eight months? Last week, the Santa Monica planning manager revealed that the city had accidentally abolished its own zoning code for most of the 2022 calendar year. Oops. Advertisement Developers noticed. To take advantage of the oversight, they submitted plans for 16 new projects*, including one 15-story, 2,000-unit block for a low-slung commercial area around the light-rail Expo Line, according to Emily Sawicki at the Santa Monica Daily Press, which broke the story. On that site, builder WS Communities had previously planned to construct 183 units. (Several of the projects come from WS Communities, which submitted supersized versions of previously planned projects. At another site, for example, the firm could replace a planned 51-unit building with a 222-unit building.) This is not theoretical, planning manager Jing Yeo told the Santa Monica City Council recently. This is very real and its happening. These are projects that, as long as they include 20 percent on-site affordable or a 100 percent moderate [-income housing], we must approve those projects The consequences are already in effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement California has finally gotten serious about fixing its housing supply shortfall, and Gov. Gavin Newsom is cracking down on the states wealthiest enclaves, which have long resisted any kind of new building at all. The projects proposed for Santa Monica all have an affordable housing component, but the bigger impact may be felt in the broader market, where scarcity has driven the average apartment rent to $4,000 a month, according to RentCafe. What would it look like if the city expanded its apartment stock by 10 percent overnight? Advertisement Advertisement The loophole in this instance is called builders remedy, and it has been open since February, when Santa Monica fell out of compliance with state housing law. The authority to manage our city in zoning matters has largely been usurped by the state of California, and it doesnt matter what we do up here, council member Phil Brock summed up. Advertisement Advertisement Well, not quite. The state has approved a new, more liberal land-use plan from Santa Monica, so control is back with City Hall now. Meanwhile, the dirty dozen that snuck through in the interim might not actually get built: Most of those applications are preliminary, and developers may not follow through with formal applications, let alone line up financing and break ground. Advertisement Advertisement But they can if they want to, the state has confirmed, and the city cannot say no except if the project would have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety, according to a city memo obtained by the Santa Monica Daily Press. Were already, to put it lightly, 12 projects in the hole, said Gleam Davis, another council member. [The state] has said theyre going forward no matter what we do tonight, because they beat the clock. Advertisement For more than 50 years, California has required its cities and towns make housing plans to accommodate future population growth. In recent years, fulfilling this Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) has become something of a jokea box some city planning intern checks every eight years. A state audit from March concluded the California Department of Housing and Community Development (or HCD) does not ensure that its needs assessments are accurate and adequately supported. To put that in plain English, it helps to look at exactly what planning for housing looks like. Last year, the planner Nolan Gray, now the research director at the advocacy group California YIMBY, ran down some of the sites that the San Diego-area city of Coronado had selected to accommodate future affordable housing. Those included: two supermarkets, the post office, the fire department, and a luxury hotel. Needless to say, those are not plausible locations for low-income apartments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, however, as part of a broader effort to enforce state housing laws, California bulked up HCDs accountability team. In August, the state announced an investigation into San Franciscos housing-approval process. A housing element is no longer a paper exerciseits a contract with the state of housing commitments for eight years and the Housing Accountability Unit will hold jurisdictions to those commitments, Megan Kirkeby, HCDs deputy director, said in a statement last year. Activist groups like Abundant Housing L.A. helped by scrutinizing housing element documents for sloppy analysis, absurd site selection, and overly optimistic projections. In February, the state told Santa Monica its plan wasnt good enough. That opened the door to a little-known provision of a 1990 law that was designed to scare cities into building enough housing: The builders remedy. Any city that doesnt properly submit their housing plan loses all control over projects that dedicate 20 percent of the units to low-income households, or 100 percent of units to moderate-income households. Advertisement At the time, the idea was radicala powerful bill designed to bludgeon exclusive suburban communities into accepting low-income housing projects, wrote the San Francisco Chronicle. But as a recent white paper by University of California, Davis law professor Chris Elmendorf shows, the laws lack of usewhich is related to the states habitual rubber-stamping of local RHNA plansmay have scared off developers. If a builders remedy project is exempt from zoning, can you build a 100-story building in a neighborhood of single-family homes? Who the hell knows? Advertisement Advertisement Nothing quite so radical is in the offing for Santa Monica. The largest of the proposed projects is just 15 stories, and destined for a neighborhood of warehouses and offices with two light rail stops. Nearby, Santa Monica once planned to approve a mixed-use, transit-oriented complex of homes, offices, and shops. But after residents revolted, with a petition that gathered 13,500 signatures, the city backtracked, and the developer wound up building only offices and no housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Can you now build a 100-story building in a neighborhood of single-family homes? Who the hell knows? The big question now is whether Santa Monica developers follow through. A few miles to the south in Redondo Beach, a developer took advantage of the same situation to pull permits for a giant complex of 2,300 new homes this summer. Most observers I spoke to say the developers are on solid groundbut there is always the threat of a NIMBY lawsuit and a hostile judge, even if the state has made its position clear. I think Santa Monica is going to worry about the legal exposure it could face if it denied the projects, Elmendorf said in an email. On the other hand, if the city does approve the projects, it may face NIMBY lawsuits arguing that it did not have authority to approve them. Advertisement More fundamentally, its not clear how much intent really lies behind these proposals: Preliminary approval requires just a few hundred dollars and a quick submission to the city. None of these projects likely has financing lined up. How many will ever make it to market, even if the city cant stop them? Are there enough contractors and construction workers on the West Side to ramp up the pace of building tenfold? Im cautiously optimistic that at least some of these projects will actually be permitted and built, David Barboza, director of policy and research at Abundant Housing L.A., wrote to me. Whatever happens, the builders remedy already did one thing: It forced Santa Monica to adopt a new, state-compliant Housing Elementthe document that makes clear where new units might go in the futurein order to restore the citys zoning code. If there werent these draconian penalties, I would still consider voting no on the new housing plan, said council member Davis. But the builders remedy was draconian indeed. She voted yes. Update, October 19th, 2022, 4:22 p.m.: Council member Davis clarified her position in a tweet after this article was published: I feel compelled to make it clear that I support building more housing (affordable and market rate) in Santa Monica, she wrote. My issue with the proposed housing element is that it did not go far enough to meet the state requirement that the housing element affirmatively further housing. A few years ago, Lisbeth Ljosdal Skreland and Tale Steen-Johnsen, who are professors of education at the University of Agder in Norway, noticed that there was one classroom object that their preschool student-teachers seemed obsessed with: So many of them during these times were talking about the lamination machine and how happy they were, Skreland told me. The professors watched the students eyes light up when they talked about using the machine to sheathe paper materials in plastic. They had stories about laminating, tales of love but also passionate frustration. The preschoolers themselves seemed just as enthralled. So many of them are so keen about this lamination machine, Skreland and Tale Steen-Johnsen observed to each other at the time, bewildered. Advertisement We thought, Well, this is a phenomenon. We have to study it, Skreland said. Thats how she and Steen-Johnson wound up publishing an article last year in an academic journal called The lamination machine and laminating as thing-power in early childhood pedagogical practice. It reveals, among other things, the subtle influence a technology like lamination can exert over classrooms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Skreland and Steen-Johnson are, to my knowledge, the only people to ever write an academic paper about laminations thing-power, that power is undeniable. Those Norwegians are far from the only ones who find lamination endlessly, and sometimes oddly, satisfying. Im right there with them, and walking through the school-supply displays of late summer and early fall, I got to thinking about why. I came across Skreland and Steen-Johnsons paper as I began to examine a certain subset of peoples sustained fascination around the processand why flickers of it live on even in an age that is, probably for good reason, increasingly matte. Advertisement Advertisement Pop culture dictates it takes a certain type of personality to have a thing for lamination. Its not for nothing that loving to laminate things has become a common trait for Type-A sitcom characters like Parks & Recreations Leslie Knope and Brooklyn Nine-Nines Amy Santiago, the latter such a frequent laminator that she occasionally abbreviates it as lam, as in, Thats a nice lam job. Not everyone is an Amy Santiago. Youre either a convert, and you understand the joy of encasing things in plastic forever and ever, or you dont, said Meghan Mathis, a former teacher who once celebrated the special bond between teachers and laminators for the website WeAreTeachers, where she is an editor. Advertisement Advertisement Famous fans of lamination include model and internet personality Chrissy Teigenwho once wrote on Instagram, BUYING A LAMINATOR IS THE BEST THING TO HAVE EVER HAPPENED TO MEand actress and comedian Amy Sedaris, who in 2019 included lamination sheets on a list of things she couldnt live without: If people come over, I always offer to laminate something of theirs, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Elyse DeLucci, a New Yorkbased stand-up comedian, once sang the praises of lamination at length on her podcast. I feel so accomplished after I laminate, even if I wasnt laminating anything of importance, DeLucci told me. She likes to laminate her daughters artwork and, once she thinks shes gotten them exactly how she wants them, notes for her stand-up sets. Advertisement Advertisement For DeLucci and others, lamination seems to transport them back to their school days. When you had something laminated, maybe a certificate, it felt kind of like a step up, like bougier than the average piece of paper, said Sam Levin, a Vancouverite and former teacher who now works with educational apps. "When she was grumpy one day, her colleagues would say, Why dont you go into the room and laminate something? Lisbeth Ljosdal Skreland According to Skreland and Steen-Johnson, lamination was invented in 1936 by an American engineer named William Barrow. It was part of the plastic revolution, said Katie Day Good, a professor at Miami University in Ohio who studies educational technology. Originally it was thought that archivists and preservationists might have the most use for it, and they did for a time, until they realized that it was actually a pretty terrible preservation technique for original documents. Meanwhile, Good said lamination caught on in schools because of a larger movement in education in the 20th century: Going back to the first decades of the 20th century, educators were interested in incorporating new visual media into their lessons, she said. The idea was rejecting 19th-century approaches to education, which really emphasized reading and rote learning and recitation and things like that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was a time technologically where lamination made it possible for any teacher to create a really nice and durable classroom experience, said Roberta Lenger Kang, director of the Center for Professional Education of Teachers at Teachers College. Before going into higher education, Kang taught high school English, and she said she noticed this was especially true during those years: In the 90s and early 2000s, there was more of an acknowledgement that your learning environment matters, how your room is organized matters. Like many schools, the one where Kang worked in early on had an industrial-sized laminator for faculty use. Over the years, these machines have initiated many a teacher into the cult of lamination. Advertisement When Mathis was a student-teacher, I think that was the first time I was ever shown a laminating machine and told, Go ahead, you can laminate whatever you want. That was very exciting, she said. The most common things to laminate tend to be classroom decorations and resources for students, sometimes called manipulativesthings teachers might want to reuse year after year. Advertisement The big laminator, the school laminator, that was just so satisfying, Levin recalled. Because you could feed truly hundreds of pieces of paper into it, and it would really quickly laminate things for you. And let me tell you, the glide of the scissors on lamination when youre done to cut it off is like the most satisfying thing ever. Advertisement You get into a school setting, and everyones printing and laminating resources, said Sarah Weston, a teacher and assistant principal in Australia who goes by @giftedandtalentedteacher on Instagram, where she has 78,000 followers. There wasnt any training or anyone who said to me that you had to laminate. It was just the status quo. And it was just how teachers did it. Advertisement So strong are the pleasures of lamination that some go overboard. Mathis remembered one former colleague: She was one of those people who could laminate weirdly shaped things, she said. But then, she would go too far, and she would laminate, like, file folders, and then they wouldnt close as well. Im like, You need to stop. I think she would have laminated her house if she could have. As for whats so special about it, I heard a few theories. For Mathis, its the forethought lamination shows: It takes that extra step or two. You cant have the idea on Sunday night and then have it in your classroom Monday morning. You have to think about it in advance and get it ready in advance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres also the importance it confers: That item represents a moment, it represents a memory and represents a concept that you think matters, Kang said. Its like a time capsule, its sort of like freezing something in a moment in time and making something thats temporary permanent, and that theres a lot of power in that. Advertisement Advertisement Its like a makeover scene, but for paper. Skreland and Steen-Johnson quote a scholar in their paper, Jane Bennett, who uses the word enchantment to discuss peoples relationships with certain technology and machines. Enchantment has this little idea of magic in it, Skeland said. I think thats what people feel with lamination, she added. It changes this boring sheet of paper into something glossy, shiny, beautiful. Its like a makeover scene, but for paper. Advertisement One of Skrelands graduate students told her a story about being a head teacher in a preschool: She said, I bought a really expensive lamination machine and I had to take it away, and I became the most unpopular leader I have ever known, Skreland said. The teachers, without her knowing, they had bought their own lamination machines privately. Because they had to laminate. Another grad student used lamination as a form of therapy. According to Skeland, one of them said that when she was grumpy one day, her colleagues would say, Why dont you go into the room and laminate something? Despite all of this, there are indeed signs of that laminations glossiest days are behind it. The advent of smaller, non-industrial-sized laminators for personal use over the past decade or so changed things for teachers, crafters, and other lamination enthusiasts. Suddenly, anyone could have their own laminator, and for much cheaper than the $1,000-plus a big one would set you back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once I had my own laminating machine, I would laminate a lot, said Ashleigh Smith, a former teacher in Australia who co-runs a website that provides teacher resources. I really got into the process of laminating almost everything. And I dont think I was alone in that. Kang, of Teachers College, noticed that the more popular these personal laminators got with teachers, the less likely schools were to invest in the industrial versions. Kang said that her program works with 30 to 40 schools, and shes seeing large laminators in them less and less. I would say, especially in the last four years, with COVID, but even going back to the last 10, the access to technology, like iPads or computers in your classroom or smart boards, youre really taking a lot of those same benefits. She added, Lamination is all about taking something thats easily destroyed and making it making it more durable and more permanent. And theres a value to that. I think folks have identified that theres also a value to not having something destroyed, because it doesnt exist in a in a certain way, it only exists in pixels, so you cant destroy it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think that the current trend in learning is around making something flexible: Google Docs, and shared presentations and interactive apps. Its in the flexibility that you have customization. And its in the customization that youre looking at targeting kids exactly where they are when they need it, Kang said. As sustainability has come to the fore, its caused some teachers to reconsider their lamination habits. Though it was once thought to be an eco-friendly practiceif you laminate something, it will last, and you wont have to waste a bunch of paper reproducing it, the logic goesmore and more, lamination has come to be seen as part of the plastic menace. Advertisement This hit Weston, the Australian teacher and assistant principal, while she was vacationing in New Zealand in January 2020. While visiting a glacier, surrounded by the majesty of nature, she was mentally going over a checklist of classroom prep tasks she had to do back home, including a fair amount of lamination, when it dawned on her: Were quite literally wrapping nature in plastic. She said as much in a video she recorded for her Instagram at the time. Knowing that that resource that we laminate is going to be on this Earth longer than we are, longer than the kids are going to be, longer than our schools are probably going to standyeahis mind-blowing. Later in the video, she announced, I am going to pledge, in 2020, no laminating. Advertisement Weston updated her followers through the year on her project to laminate less, and then kept going. Almost three years on, I havent laminated a single thing, she said recently (while acknowledging that dropping lamination completely is not possible for all teachers and students). Others have joined her. Last year, Smiths website published a list of alternatives to laminating for teachers. Weston doesnt know how widely the ideas caught on, but given how ubiquitous reusable water bottles have become in the past few years, in combination with other trends, it seems inevitable that lamination will continue to fade. I certainly dont want to further contribute to destroying the planet, but I did want to laminate something of my own in honor of this article, mostly because I couldnt remember the last time I owned something laminated. The biggest challenge I ran into was deciding what would even make sense to laminate. Not my vaccine card: I wanted to be able to keep adding booster shots. My passwords were in the cloud; so were my photos. So was everything. The things I want to hold onto are basically all digital: Maybe screenshotting is the laminating of our times? I eventually decided, somewhat arbitrarily, to bestow lamination upon a train ticket I saved from a trip I took this summer. It cost $3.37 at Staples. It serves no purpose, really, but heres where I think lamination might still have a tiny place in the future: When I take it out of my wallet and hold it, it feels really good. You cant say that about a screenshot. How to Do It is Slates sex advice column. Have a question? Send it to Stoya and Rich here. Its anonymous! Dear How to Do It, My wife and I have been married for almost 11 years and have been together for 15. I have tried to have many conversations about sex and they are hardly productive. I have tried many of the common suggestions for improving sexual frequency, having a set day/time for it, asking her what I can do to turn her on, etc. But every suggestion is brushed off, she wants our sex life to be spontaneous, or she just has to be in the right mood to do it, and while I respect her answers to these questions they dont help me figure out what I can do to help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the past year our schedule, in a loose sense of the term, has been once or twice a week. I know she has made an effort to increase frequency for me, and I GREATLY appreciate it. However, there is a hitch. Our sex used to include lots of pre-penetration fun: teasing, heavy petting, oral sex, etc. Now, she just wants quickies. Since this started I have come to realize that the foreplay is what made the sex so great for me. It really gets me into it and makes me see stars when I orgasm, and without it, its not nearly as satisfying. The problem is, is that she already made the adjustment to have more sex for me, so I dont feel I have the right to ask her to make another adjustment. I know she has always preferred penetrative sex to all the build-up before, but it is not working that well for me. What should I do? Advertisement Advertisement Somethings Missing Dear Missing, Your marriage is not a restaurant. What I mean is that while it would be absolutely unreasonable to send your meal back to the kitchen several times for adjustments, sexual relationships are an ongoing communication and process of smallor largeshifts. Our individual sexualities tend to change over the course of our lifetimes, because of the physical changes our bodies go through, life circumstances such as moving in together, and other factors. We also, through experience and introspection, gain a deeper understanding of our sexual preferences and desires. This is what youre describingyou thought you wanted more sex, in the general sense, and now you understand that you need more of a certain kind of sex to feel satisfied. Advertisement Advertisement How you approach your wife will require your expertise derived from living with her for over a decade. Maybe its Ive noticed were having more sex again, and I appreciate this. Ive realized that flirting, sensual touching, and oral sex are a pretty important part of whether I feel satisfied or not, and that you seem to prefer penetration. Im hoping we can figure out a way to have the kind of sex each of us likes most. A different route would be Im loving that were having sex more often, and want to do some fine-tuning. Is there a way for me to experience the build-up that I crave and for you to get the penetration that seems to be your favorite part? You might start from another angle entirely, by broaching a discussion about what appeals to her about quickies. There might be a feeling of spontaneity and lust that really works for her. She could be making the best out of a situation with time management difficulties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether you ask for this information at the beginning of the conversation or after your request for collaborative problem-solving, youll need to hear her motivations and desires and express yours before the two of you can figure out a way forward that satisfies both of you. If schedules are demanding, the solution might look like quickies with a little less frequency and an occasional drawn-out date night where youre able to have all those other aspects of sexual interaction. If the gap to bridge is more about her desires and yours, you might go for more of an equal balance where quickies and sensual sessions alternate. Be cautious of allowing this to become transactional, but do advocate for sex that makes you see stars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get the How to Do It Newsletter Sex advice from Rich and Stoya, plus exclusive letter follow-ups, delivered weekly. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. Dear How to Do It, I sexually assaulted my girlfriend while we were sleeping. We are in a long-distance relationship and see each other a few times a month. We are both in college. For the past few months, she has not been in the mood to have sex and so we havent. We were just on winter break, which is about a month, and spent almost every day together and didnt have sex. However, one night we were sleeping and I had a fantasy but ended up humping her while she was asleep. I remember it and I dont know why I didnt stop. I believe I was stuck in the fantasy in my head and I dont know why I didnt wake up. I apologized to her when we both woke up, and she told me that she was awake for the whole thing and was very uncomfortable but she didnt stop me because she thought to herself, Let me let him get it out of his system because Im not doing anything with him. I told her that shes not responsible and that just because we arent doing anything together, it doesnt mean that I can do what I please. Shes not a means for my pleasure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I told her that there was no justificationit was completely wrong. She said she forgives me and we can put it behind us. But I fear that in doing that, she doesnt get to heal. But she insists. I feel so bad that I did that to her. I made her feel degraded, and I feel like a monster. She also told me that she doesnt think she will ever be comfortable with us having sex again and that she cant give me what I desire. She said she understands if I want to have sex with other people. I told her that I dont want to. I need to learn how to cope with not having sex because I dont want to lose her. I am so fortunate for her to even give me a second chance when it isnt deserved. Do you have any advice for helping me to cope with my sexual desires? What do you think is the best way for me to help her heal, and keep our relationship from turning to shit? Advertisement Ashamed Dear Ashamed, Theres a lot to unpack here, so lets start with your feelings of guilt. You were asleep. While Im sure that some people do hide intentional sexual assault behind claims of sexsomnia, Im also sure that parasomnias are a legitimate phenomenon and that, sometimes, we do things in our sleep that we wouldnt do when we are awake. Ive been known to speak in my native language and a second language, once woke up in a securely locked room with my pantieswhich I had fallen asleep wearingneatly folded into a square and tucked under my pillow, and recently grabbed my partners dick in the middle of the night. And lets not even open the subject of text messages sent mid-snore. Investigating what happened, and taking steps to prevent a recurrence, is a great first step. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, science isnt completely sure why these things happen or how to prevent them. But, weve got some clues, and my co-columnist Rich Juzwiak has spoken with neurologist Guy Leschziner on a couple of occasions about the disorder. Its worth asking your parents whether they noticed you engaging in any activities while sleeping when you were a child, and seeing if you can get evaluated for sleep apnea. Psychotropic medications may be able to help, and it seems as though the use of drugs and alcohol, insufficient rest, or other sleep disruptions may increase the likelihood of sexual behaviors occurring during sleep. So, regardless of the ability to access medical evaluation or treatment by a psychiatrist, you can still do your best to mitigate the risk by avoiding booze and recreational drugs when youre going to be spending the night with someone, and, if you want to add an extra layer of risk management, you can sleep in separate areasone of you in the bed and the other on the couch. If your university provides mental health support, you might be able to see a counselor to discuss your feelings about all of this. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, it sounds like you and your girlfriend are pretty young. Most dating relationships in our late teens and early 20s end for one reason or another. And, through this column, I hear from people who stuck with someone who was a match in most regards but not sexually, and now feel anything from regret to resentment. Some couples navigate this through a variety of open relationship structures, as your girlfriend is suggesting. However, I would tread carefully in this particular caseif her offer is coming from a place of feeling inadequate, youre likely to have a bumpy road and may cause each other emotional harm. And, regardless, if plurogamyhaving multiple sexual relationships at one timeis not something youre interested in, it isnt an option. Others develop a robust masturbation life. It is crucial, here, to think about how important sexual expression is to you. Try to put your emotions around this incident aside, and consider how much sex you want with your partners in a more general sense. How significant is sexual connection to you in romantic relationships? If the answer is a lot or even some, this wonderful and understanding woman may be fantastic and not a good fit for you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for coping with your sexual desires, well, theres no reasonable way to medicate them away. I suggest taking time for self-pleasure when youre alone, and practicing mindfulness as a way to bolster your ability to focus on other facets of life when sexual energy is unnecessary or unwanted. You can also spend some time thinking about your abilitywhen consciousto desire something without doing or having it, and the difference between wants and actions. When you are awake, you have self-control, and the more you exercise that capability the stronger it will be. Theres a big difference between what youre describing and what we generally deem monstrous as a society. Your girlfriend is telling you what she knows about what she needs to heal, which is for sexual interaction to be completely off the table. Shes also expressing a desire to put it behind you, which might mean that she needs space to avoid thinking about what happened that night for a while. Think of it as not picking a scab. Process your feelings elsewhere, and give her what shes asking for. Im not sure if there is a way to prevent your relationship from, as you put it, turning to shit. I do know that youre expressing regret, that you show evidence of seeing romantic partners as full humans with autonomy, and that youre working through a complex situation. Whether this girlfriend is a forever partner or not, you have the tools to be an empathetic, respectful, and caring partner to whoever you date. Advertisement Dear How to Do It, Ive been trying to understand and honor my sexuality, but I am stuck on how to proceed. Ive noticed that I often grow emotional, romantic, and/or sexual-tension relationships, and I am particularly drawn to become close to people that I experience those connections with. There is in me a romantic that feels every jolt of chemistry (physical, emotional, spiritual etc.) as a message from the universe. Could I be polyamorous? I feel like I am, and have been since I was aware of relationships. Advertisement Living open to that connection and leaning into that potential has resulted in my fondest memories and dearest friends, but it has also contributed to moments of deep shame and sorrow and has me looking critically at how I allow this part of me to manifest. Now, I am a married woman and am struggling with how to keep the beauty and spirit of that way of being in the world while living in a monogamous relationship. My main problem is as much as my sexual inclination is to engage in the poly lifestyle, I want this relationship to be IT. I would also love a healthy fantasy life that can be an expression of these desires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But after the emotional and sexual traumas these desires have led me to, I can no longer fantasize about things that I would not actually want to happen to me in real life. It feels dangerous and a slippery slope and it is not a turn-on. I cant fantasize about having sex with someone else because I would be cheating on my husband. Because if I fantasize about it, thats what I want in real life. I used to think about scenarios where we would bring home a third because I can imagine a reality in which we would do that (and have once before, with a close friend). But now were healing our fractured bond and Im beginning to believe he would never want to do something like that again. What can I fantasize about to satisfy the bisexual ployam inside me? Advertisement Is This Just Fantasy? Dear Fantasy, Is your belief that your husband would never want to bring a third partner home again based on direct statements he has made? Or is it based on assumptions? If the former is the case, you may have painted yourself into a corner here. If its the latter, have a conversation with your husband and find out where hes at. Its possible that hes excited to continue having threesomes, may have desires for other open relationship structures, and might even get off on the ideaand realityof you having sex with other partners without him. Start slow, by asking him about that threesome the two of you had, his feelings on monogamy, or any other facet of the topic you feel comfortable broaching first. Facts are so much more useful than question marks, and open communication is a foundational part of any healthy relationship, whether the subject is sex or not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If your husband has expressed a boundary around anything other than monogamy, expressing your bisexuality and polyamory through interactions is off the table for the time being. His position might change and your desire for this relationship to be IT might change. But unless either of those things happens, monogamy is your reality. I do not sign off on the idea that fantasies are always manifestations of desires we wish to realize. My How To Do It counterpart, Rich Juzwiak, eloquently articulates the argument against thought crimes here. If you disagree, thats your prerogative, and I do still have some suggestions. One route, again depending on your husbands boundaries, is to fantasize together. Describe what youd do with a third person in your bed to each other. Paint a picture of them. Mark that your role-play is just thatan exercise in imaginationand remind each other after the sex is finished that while you enjoy going on these mental adventures, neither of you is going to put them into practice. Another option is erotic media. This might be porn movies, erotic novels, or artful photographs of nude women. And you might write your own erotic work to share with your husband or to enjoy on your own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have one last piece of advice that you didnt ask for. Sometimes a therapist can be a useful sounding board, helping us challenge our beliefs and sort through what serves us, and what could use some criticism. Good luck. Dear How to Do It, My husband and I have a Dont Ask, Dont Tell arrangement regarding sex outside the marriage and its been great. For the last 15 years on and off Ive had two long-term friends with benefits that truly was thatneither party wanted anything beyond the physical, and we genuinely enjoyed each others company but did not socialize outside otherwise. They have both moved out of state and Id love to find something similar. I am fairly active and do group hikes and meet lots of peoplesometimes someone who interests me. How do I deal with the question: Are you single/available? when I am not, but also looking? I absolutely do not want to try any of the apps out there. Is there a way to let people know I am open to something else without coming off strange? Advertisement Advertisement Not Single and Looking Dear Not Single, Advertisement As near as I can tell, coming off strange means something along the lines of seeming to be unconventional. Regardless of cultures across history and the globe that allowed for or expected plurogamymultiple concurrent sexual relationshipsin some form or another, in the United States, even in ultra-progressive, super-liberal New York City in the year 2022, relationship structures aside from monogamyor verbally committed to monogamy while cheatingare, in fact, still unconventional. The conventions of what relationships should be, or are assumed to be, are broadening, for sure, but the default remains monogamy and this is likely to be the case for a while. Unconventional does not need to equate to bad. For some, though, this is the case. By sharing details about how you live your life in the sexual sense, you absolutely are opening yourself up to judgment. Theres a risk. The reward, which isnt guaranteed, is finding another friends with benefits relationship, within your boundaries, that brings you all of the beautiful things you get out of those interactions. You have to weigh that and make your own decisions. Advertisement You mention that you didnt socialize with your previous friends with benefits outside of your physical interactions, in a way that indicates thats a positive for you, so its worth thinking through whether you want to approach someone you meet in the course of your usual activities. Would you be open to a more significant friend aspectto rolling around in bed together and also socializing on a hike? Are these hiking groups more stable, meaning youd see each other often, or more of an activity where you rarely cross paths with the same people again? Advertisement Advertisement If you decide to go this route, start by expressing your interest and giving them space to respond so you can gauge theirs. Then follow up with a mention of your husband and your dont ask, dont tell agreement. Get this across clearly and before any dates are scheduled. If theyre interested or open to the possibility, they may have some questions about the whole concept and/or your specific desires and boundaries. This is a great time to ask them questions about their own experiences, wants, and needs. Depending on your, and their, desire for privacy, you might defer discussion of details until the two of you are alone. Advertisement Advertisement I cant promise you that nobody will think youre strange. I can tell you, with the benefit of years of walking through the world as a person with an unconventional life, that if you keep putting yourself out there youre likely to eventually find at least one person who you overlap with in fulfilling ways. Stoya More Advice From Slate Eight months ago, I started dating my now ex-teacher. Im 26 and hes 43. At first it wasnt serious (for many obvious reasons, I had a hard time imagining myself getting emotionally involved with an older man who was also my teacher), while he showed much more interest in me. Things turned sour during summer when I had a brief fling with someone else and told him about it. The most aggressive initial challenge to President Joe Bidens student debt relief program reached the Supreme Court on Wednesday. It will fail. The reason why is simple. For decades, the conservative justices have tightened the rules around whos entitled to sue in federal court. And under any reading of precedent, the Republican activists who brought this lawsuit have absolutely no right to challenge a single dollar of debt forgiveness. Those activists work at an organization called the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, or WILL, a dark money conservative group thats most notorious for trying to purge hundreds of thousands of people from the voter rolls in 2020. More recently, WILL pushed a successful lawsuit to outlaw ballot drop boxes in Wisconsin, giving the state Supreme Court an opportunity to suggest that Bidens 2020 victory was illegitimate. The group opposes voting rights, unions, COVID restrictions, Medicaid expansionit exploits the courts to combat pretty much every democratically enacted progressive policy. So it was probably inevitable that it would mount a challenge to student debt relief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But WILL faces the same problem that every other Republican lawyer attacking the program has encountered: They are not directly harmed by debt cancellation, so they dont have standing to sue. The Supreme Court has consistently held that, under the Constitution, a plaintiff lacks standing unless they can identify a concrete and particularized injury, and show how a ruling in their favor would redress that injury. If a plaintiff flunks this test, theres no actual controversy, so the federal judiciary has no authority to hear the case. WILL attempts to surmount that obstacle by bringing suit on behalf of the Brown County Taxpayers Association. This associationwhich purports to represent Wisconsin taxpayerssays that because of Bidens program, its members will be forced to pay higher taxes and live in an America that is less prosperous, more fiscally irresponsible, and burdened by a higher federal debt. According to WILL, the associations members are so upset about this threat that they have suffered a constitutional injury giving them standing to sue. In other words, they believe the plan is both fiscally irresponsible and illegal, and claim it will harm them as taxpayers. Advertisement Advertisement One problem: The Supreme Court has time and again ruled that taxpayers do not have standing to sue. This precedent, which reaches back at least a century, prohibits individual citizens from suing to halt some federal expenditure. Thats because, as Justice Samuel Alito put it in 2007, it is a complete fiction to argue that an unconstitutional federal expenditure causes an individual federal taxpayer any measurable economic harm. There are practical problems, too; as Alito explained in that case: If every federal taxpayer could sue to challenge any Government expenditure, the federal courts would cease to function as courts of law and would be cast in the role of general complaint bureaus. SCOTUS has only tightened standing requirements since 2007. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet WILLs lawsuit rests entirely upon the discredited theory of taxpayer standing. Its plaintiffs complain that they are witnessing a gargantuan increase in the national debt accomplished by a complete disregard for limitations on the constitutional spending authority. This emotional and speculative objection to a federal expenditure is exactly the kind of harm that federal courts cannot adjudicate. There is no principled way to grant WILL standing without opening the floodgates to endless taxpayer lawsuits challenging federal spending on the military, veteran services, health care, education, transportation, housing, the environmentevery federal action under the sun. To get around this bar, WILL cites a lone exception to the ban on taxpayer standing: 1968s Flast v. Cohen. In Flast, the Supreme Court let taxpayers sue over violations of the First Amendments establishment clause, which guarantees the separation of church and state. As the court noted, this clause was designed to ensure that the taxing and spending power would never be used to favor one religion over another or to support religion in general. Thus, the Flast court found, the use of taxpayer dollars to subsidize religious exercise poses a unique threat to religious libertya threat thats absent in all other contexts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WILL argues that subsidizing student debt is more or less analogous to subsidizing religion. So, under Flast, its plaintiffs face a genuine harm that entitles them to sue. There are two problems with this theory. First, the Supreme Court has strictly limited taxpayer standing to federal expenditures that violate the establishment clause, expressly rejecting even modest expansions of the doctrine. Nobody seriously argues that Bidens student debt relief breaches the separation of church and state, so WILLs theory is a nonstarter. But perhaps more importantly, Flast is a dead letter at this Supreme Court. Conservative justices like Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas have demanded Flasts reversal, insisting that it is unprincipled, unworkable, and unconstitutional. The court has refused to apply it in case after case and warned lower courts not to expand it at all. There is no chance that the current conservative supermajority would even uphold Flast, let alone extend it to the novel context of student debt forgiveness. Advertisement Advertisement This precedent is why U.S. District Judge William C. Griesbach, a George W. Bush appointee, rejected WILLs suit in a five-page order, and why the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused to revive it. (The panel included judges appointed by Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump.) Indeed, the groups standing argument is so absurd that its difficult to see this suit as anything more than a political stunt designed to impress its dark money donors. The Supreme Courts Republican appointees surely loathe Bidens program and believe it is illegal. But even the most cynical court-watcher must admit that there is zero chance five justices will accept WILLs special pleading here. Advertisement While these hopeless lawsuits fly around, the Biden administration is accepting millions of applications for relief, and it will start canceling debt very soon. The time has come for Republicans to stop fantasizing about some 11-dimensional chess move to kill the plan in court and begin contemplating realistic political solutions. There is one obvious response: Republicans could promise to reimpose all student debt canceled by Biden as soon as they retake the White House. It is typically within the executive branchs powers to void a previous administrations unlawful policy; even when millions have come to rely on that policy, the courts may still let the new president kill it. (After Dobbs, its not even clear that reliance interests still exist.) Griesbach acknowledged this possibility in his opinion, and its curious that GOP lawmakers are not discussing it. Their silence vividly illustrates their partys strategy of passing off unpopular political decisions to the federal courts to minimize political backlash. If Republicans truly believe Bidens program is an outrageous and unconscionable assault on the Constitution, they should stop crafting hopeless lawsuits and start warning borrowers that their debt will reappear once their party recaptures the executive branch. The war in Ukraine is dragging on. And Ive been wanting to understand the toll of Russias bombardment from someone who has witnessed the brutality up close. So, late last week, I called up Dr. Samer Attar. Attar is an orthopedic surgeon. Most of the time, he practices in Chicago. But earlier this year, he traveled to Ukraine as the Russian invasion began. I was in Kyiv right at the start around March, and we were probably doing around 10 operations a day on war wounded, Attar said. A lot of fractured bones, mangled limbs, blast woundsa lot of what you do as a war surgeon is just cleaning up wounds and trying to get broken bones to heal and trying to get areas of muscle that are exposed covered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These wounds were very familiar to Attar. Thats because in 2013 he began traveling to Syria to treat people injured in that countrys civil war. Its worth remembering, Russia has been deeply involved in the Syrian civil war. Since the beginning of the conflict, Vladimir Putin has backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. In 2015, Putins support turned into military intervention, with Russian forces dropping bombs on hospitals, schools, and residential neighborhoods. Now, Attar is seeing some of the same tactics he witnessed in Syria play out in Ukraine, where just a few months ago, he saw the human cost. There was one little girl, about 14 or 15, but she lost her right leg and had a fracture in her left leg. She just spent the day watching episodes of Bridgerton because her right leg was amputated and it was infected. And she was requiring multiple trips to the operating room to get cleaned up and washed out, Attar described. Advertisement Advertisement On a recent episode of What Next, I spoke with Attar about his efforts to repair the wounds inflicted by warand what hes noticed in two different countries scarred by Russian bombs. Our conversation, which contains some graphic descriptions, has been condensed and edited for clarity. Advertisement Mary C. Curtis: How did you get involved with the Syrian American Medical Society and their work in Syria? Samer Attar: Syria, that was my heritage. I grew up going to Syria. My parents are from Syria. And when I learned that doctors were being targeted and assassinated, and hospitals and ambulances were being targeted and destroyed, and that they were running out of medical staff, I felt obligated to give back. They said they needed a surgeon in Aleppo, and if I wanted to go all the way in, they could get me in just as long as I understood the risks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I find myself being smuggled across the border into Syria. The war had been ongoing for about two years at that point. The first time I went in, I wondered what I was doing and why I was there. And I was scared to death. But once I got to the hospital and I met the chief surgeon, the first thing he did was give me a big hug, and he said, Thank you for coming to Syria to help. And I changed into scrubs and immediately got to work. You were only supposed to stay for a couple of weeks. Was there a particular moment that made you decide to stay longer? Advertisement Advertisement I was there my third day and there were a lot of attacks and there were a lot of patients coming through the doors. A school was bombed. It was Ramadan at the time, and at one point the emergency room was overrun. There were so many people trying to get through the front door that there was no place to step. We were placing patients on the floor because we just we didnt have enough beds. Advertisement Advertisement And there was a kid who had the bone fragments of other people that had embedded into him, which was not uncommon to see in these explosions. And that was horrifying to see. I remember the boys father asked the nurse who I was. And he said, Yeah, this is Dr. Sam. Hes an American. And the dad said hed never met an American and he never thought he would. That for me was very meaningful. I stayed for two weeks, and I tried to make it a habit to go for a week or two a year after that. Did the child with the bone fragments from the blast from other people make it? Advertisement He made it. Advertisement How did you feel? Advertisement That feels good. You see a lot of people die. You bear witness to the worst of humanity. And then one night, I remember strangers brought in a kid who was found after an airstrike. He was found alive but unconscious in the rubble. Everyone was working together. They were doing CPR on him. And one surgeon was holding this boys femoral artery with his fingers because the child had a huge wound with a broken femur and an obliterated artery. And they actually revived him. And we fixed his fracture, and he woke up and told us what his name was. He told us who his dad was. And his dad came to the hospital and found his son. And that was a win because a lot of times children or people would be caught in these attacks and would be dismembered or disfigured or burned beyond recognition and never identified, taken to be buried. And family members would never know what happened. So this dad got to come to a hospital and find his son and never left this side. Its those memories that I try to keep with me to balance out all the other horrors that you witness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When did you begin preparing for a possible trip to Ukraine? I had a feeling Id be volunteering even before the war started. We all heard about the Russians mobilizing. And we all had a sense that Ukraine was going to be at war at some point, at least reading the news. After what I had seen and done in Syria, and having been under Russian bombs before and having dealt with those war injuries and those war wounds for years, I just felt obligated to go help out. Advertisement Advertisement Tell me more about what it was like when you first arrived in Ukraine. I remember it being very quiet. I first went to Lviv, and then I took a train into Kyiv. And I remember the curfews and the streets being empty. And then the environment would be punctuated by air raid sirens. Advertisement Russia, of course, is a common denominator in both of these conflicts, and theyve been criticized for intentionally targeting civilians. How have the injuries youve seen in Ukraine compared with what you saw in Syria? Theyre high-energy blast injuries. Theyre the same. The injuries I saw in Syria are exactly like the injuries I saw in Ukraine. Advertisement A lot of those injuries come from what are called cluster bombsmunitions that get dropped from the air and break into pieces, hitting multiple targets in one shot. Cluster bombs are technically banned from being used on civilians. But Russia has used the weapons in both Syria and Ukraine. And the damage they leave behind can take a long time to diagnose. Advertisement Its a lot of little bits and pieces of metal and shrapnel. The other thing to keep in mind is that the wounds are constantly evolving. Most of the time, you have to leave the wounds open because muscle that looks alive on Day One might die on Day Five. For example, if somebody came in with an amputated leg, you dont close the wound; you leave it open and let the muscle declare itself. Because over time, due to the high-energy blast of the injury, the muscle can necrose. And so thats why youre oftentimes going back to the operating room to cut more tissue before you can make the decision to close a wound. Advertisement Advertisement But despite these similar injuries, youve also noted there was some big differences between the two conflicts, particularly the status of the health care infrastructure in Syria compared with Ukraine. Can you describe that difference? Advertisement Advertisement In Syria, wearing a red cross or red crescent or scrubs made you a target. So symbols of medical neutrality became targets. And thats why health care was driven underground. Thats why youd find hospitals made out of caves and farms and apartment buildings. The hospital I worked out of in Syria was out of a basement, and sterility wasnt great. You didnt have access to a lot of equipment. You were just doing the best you could. I learned a lot from Syrian surgeons because they taught me how to do so much more when youre given very little. Advertisement The good thing about Ukraine is that at least the hospitals are still functioning, and hospitals arent being built out of caves. But in Ukraine, we all slept in the hospitals because it was too dangerous to go homeand everyone wanted to be ready in case they got flooded with patients. But at nighttime, we couldnt leave the lights on because they were worried we might get targeted. In Kyiv, one hospital I worked at, when the Russians were close, they were shooting into the hospitals, so they had to cover all the windows with blankets. The major issue was iflike right now, theres been an onslaught of recent attacks in Ukraine. And the big issue is if the hospitals been hit or the water supply has been hit, they worry about whether the electricity is going to work, whether the water is going to work, because you need water to scrub into surgery and electricity to run anesthesia machines. That was the bigger threat. Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts Get more news from Mary Harris every weekday. Youve mentioned that when you left Ukraine in the spring, people were hoping that the war would be over by the summer. Well, months have passed, and there are a no signs of the war coming to an end. Theres escalation. Do you feel a sense of deja vu with what happened in Syria? Yeah, I talk to my friends that are there, and many of them havent seen their wives or their families in several months. And one of the surgeons I worked with hasnt seen his family since February. Hes just been moving from hospital to hospital. I told him Id like to come back in the winter and help out. And he said, Well, were hoping that the war will be over by then. And I hope so, too. Youve talked about the romanticized image that many have of the wartime surgeon, saving lives in dangerous times in dangerous places. Whats the reality? If its work that you want to do, you have to be careful because it can take a toll, bearing witness to all that suffering. I know one surgeon in Syria who lost count of all the amputations he was doing. And it can really burn you out. Its very easy to get overwhelmed with feelings of helplessness and powerlessness and meaninglessness. But you have to find ways also to balance that with the courage and compassion and resilience from the people around you. Thats where I tried to get strength from when I was there. When I was in Ukraine, in spite of all the bombs, youd see people on the streets that were still cleaning the streets and running public transport. People that worked on the trains just saw it as their duty. And it means a lot just being there and looking them in the eye and shaking their hand. Its a form of solidarity. The last thing is you get to be an advocate. You get to be a voice for them. You get to bear witness and come back and let people know what you saw. Because there are a lot of narratives in war and you get to speak on their behalf and amplify their voices in areas that otherwise wouldnt be heard. Emmanuel the emu has been sick with avian flu for the past few days. The deadly disease has reportedly wiped out 50 birds at Knuckle Bump farms, where he lives. His claim to fame is showing up in TikToks with Taylor Blake, a farmer at Knuckle Bumpoften, interrupting her as she explains things about other animals. Blake, who seems to share a close bond with Emmanuel, recently posted a video where she is seen cuddling the influenza-infected emu. Advertisement I love you so much, Emmanuel pic.twitter.com/MK3uDQUhTZ eco sister (@hiitaylorblake) October 16, 2022 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This affectionate act has sparked widespread anxiety among virologists. They have shared their concerns on Twitter, emphasizing the dangers of hugging a bird infected with a zoonotic virus like avian influenzaone that has a high potential to infect humans. Douglas Reed, an immunologist at the University of Pittsburgh tweeted: Cuddling, kissing, or touching an infected animal that has got avian influenza is horrifying at so many levels. Advertisement Advertisement Reeds lab studies respiratory viruses like avian influenza and SARS CoV-2 using monkey models. I reached out to him to get more of his thoughts about the risks of interacting with birds affected with avian influenzafor Blake, and for the rest of us. Our interview has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity. Niranjana Rajalakshmi: What was your immediate reaction when you saw this farmer hugging the avian influenza-infected emu? Douglas Reed: There are two competing thoughts there. Theres that personal aspect, having owned pets over my lifespan. And knowing farmersIm originally from OklahomaI can understand what it feels like to lose a beloved animal to a fatal disease. Its akin to losing a family member. And so you hate that. Advertisement But at the same time, theres the other part of me thats spent the last 22 years working with high hazard pathogens. And with this particular pathogen, we spent the last several years in trying to understand how it causes disease, and how vaccinations or therapeutics might prevent or treat this disease. And it is an incredibly lethal pathogen in humans. Youd want to be wearing all kinds of protective equipment while handling that animal, and to protect yourself and to protect your family and those around you. Advertisement How likely it is that the virus would jump from birds to humans? Can it spread between humans? Advertisement Advertisement Theres been only a few sporadic human cases of avian influenza over the last 25 years. The year 1997 was when the first avian flu outbreak happened in Hong Kong. Since then, theres only been a few hundred cases, maybe six or 700 cases worldwide, that we know of. All of those happened from direct contact with infected animals. Advertisement Advertisement Theres very limited human to human transmission with this virus. But the biggest concern is that this virus could get into humans and recombine or reassort with a human flu virus and acquire that readily transmissible nature that those viruses have. For our immune systems this would be a new virus, and so then it could spread quite readily, and our immune system might not be able to control it. Also, pigs could be a mixing vessel for flu. So pig could be infected with avian flu virus and those could get recombined there. What would be the best way to deal such birds when you come to know they are infected with avian flu? I dont do poultry work, and Ive never been affiliated with the USDA. But I can tell you my understanding. In these farms, when theres a bird thats detected to be positive for an avian influenza strain thats highly pathogenic, the entire flock is culled or euthanized. Because the concern is that if it were to be transmitted to the rest of that flock, and if the flock got more to be, around wild bird species, they could spread it to another farm and another farm and another. And thats actually whats been happening. This ongoing outbreak that weve had in the United States is continuing to spread thanks to the wild birds that are spreading it from farm to farm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Say the worst happens, and avian influenza did somehow start spreading around from person to person. Do we have vaccines that could prevent avian influenza in humans? Theres a vaccine thats in the national stockpile. I dont think its actually been tested in an animal model [against the avian flu in particular]. With flu vaccines, there is such a long history of using them. And the mechanisms of protection are pretty well established. And so, avian influenza vaccines in the stockpile were made the same way as seasonal flu vaccines are made. And the assumption is that the protection would be the same, and it would work. That, but like I said, its never been, to my knowledge empirically tested. Advertisement During an avian influenza outbreak like this, what would be your take on consuming bird meat and eggs? Do we need to take precautions? No. Particularly in the United States and in Europe, they screen these animals pretty aggressively. So, there shouldnt be any concerns about chicken meat, or turkeys, or anything that you buy at the grocery store. Or even eggs. Im still eating chicken, I still eat turkey, I still eat eggs. I havent changed these practices at all with this outbreak, because like I said, I trust that the inspections and the screening is occurring. Even if you were to eat an infected piece of chicken meat, most likely youd cook it, and you wouldnt eat it raw. Cooking should kill the virus. The state of journalism in India, the worlds largest democracy, has never been so dire. And recently, it just got much worsethis time not because of the government or its acolytes, but because of a once-dependable news website whose mistakes will have ramifications far outside the subcontinent. On Oct. 10 the Wire, one of Indias few truly independent publications, put out an explosive report alleging deep ties between the Indian government and employees at Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. Specifically, the Wires reporter claimed that a well-placed source tipped her off to unprecedented privileges Meta afforded to Amit Malviya, a longtime supporter of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Malviya officially heads the BJPs IT celli.e., its infamous messaging wing. The Wire reported that Malviya was able to decide unilaterally what posts Instagram should take down, thanks to the Meta service XCheck, and that he successfully targeted posts that poked fun at his party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If true, this was a massive revelation. And at least on the surface, there was little reason to doubt the finding. Years of reporting from international outlets (including the Wire) have made clear that the Indian government has sought to dictate how foreign media platforms operate within the country: demanding that thousands of posts be taken down, changing rules governing social media, censoring certain hashtags, siccing police on tech workers, and bullying companies. In 2020, the Wall Street Journal reported that the then-head of Facebook India explicitly lobbied against applying company hate speech rules to violent posts by Hindu nationalists, without disclosing her own ideological alignment with the Modi administration. Just months ago, Twitter whistleblower Peiter Mudge Zatko testified to the U.S. Congress that Indias government attempted to infiltrate the company with its own agentsand maybe succeeded in one case. Plus, Amit Malviya is well established as a disinformation peddler and party hatchet man. Viewed in this light, the Wires conclusion, while shocking, was not at all improbable. Advertisement Advertisement But the same day the Wire report went viral, Andy Stone, a Meta communications director, tweeted that XCheck has nothing to do with the ability to report posts, that the Instagram posts highlighted by the Wire were surfaced for review by automated systems instead of humansand, most devastatingly, that the underlying documentation used in the piece appears to be fabricated. No - so many issues with this. X-check has nothing to do with the ability to report posts. The posts in question were surfaced for review by automated systems, not humans. And the underlying documentation appears to be fabricated. Andy Stone (@andymstone) October 11, 2022 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement High-ranking Facebook employees dont exactly have a history of always being forthright. But when other damning documents have been released, like the Facebook Papers, Meta hasnt denied their existence. For the megacorporation to throw suspicion on an outlet with which it had never so publicly feuded, one that had published all sorts of other damning reports on the company without such pushbackthis was completely new, and it quickly garnered attention among the tech press in India and across the world. The Wire stuck by its story, despite Stones tweets. It even published a follow-up the next day, this time claiming to have seen an internal email from Stone that asked how the hell one of the cited documents got leaked and called for two Wire reporters to be placed on watchlist. Metas chief information security officer, Guy Rosen, then took to Twitter himself to call both Wire pieces outlandish and riddled with falsities, labeling the leaked Stone email a fake and denying the existence of an internal watchlist for journalists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This led to another twist, in which many of the outside parties paying attention to these back-and-forths found themselves in an unexpected place: on Metas side. MarketWatchs Shoshana Wodinsky pointed out that some of the URLs and email addresses seen in the Wires sourcing screenshots do not exist, and referred back to her past reporting on the Facebook Papers to contradict the Wires descriptions of XCheck. BuzzFeed News Pranav Dixit asked why Wire journalists didnt appear to do the basic task of asking Meta for comment before running its first story. Even Sophie Zhang, a former Facebook employee whose whistleblowing helped reveal how her onetime employer coddles the BJP, wrote that she was 90-95% sure the documents cited by the Wire were fake. Advertisement Advertisement By Oct. 12, Meta had published a blog post titled What the Wire Reports Got Wrong, doubling down on Stones and Rosens claims that the website rel[ied] on what we believe to be fabricated evidence. The Wire continued to defy Meta, with founding editor Siddharth Varadarajan tweeting that we have other corroborative material toocurrently under process. This aint over yet. It was a bold claim, and it led to another bold Wire piece, published on Oct. 15, that proffered a point-by-point response to Metas statement questioning The Wires story. It included an embedded video that supposedly contained more visual evidence of a source browsing Metas internal Workplace network, accessing a disputed URL that, according to the Wire, is only accessible to a restricted group of staff members. Advertisement Advertisement By this point, opinions about the Wire-Meta scrap were sharply divided. Enough doubt had been cast by people not affiliated with Metamany of them Meta criticsto invite broader scrutiny over the initial reporting. The sites staffers continued to share the pieces and vouch for their colleagues, while Varadarajan fought off Metas counterclaims. Diligent journalists whod expressed their doubts were attacked online by the Wires defenders, while BJP supporters salivated at the chance to destroy the credibility of a place they perceive as peddling fake news. Meta doubters pointed to the fact that Stone had retweeted supportive messages from unapologetic Hindu nationalists. The Stanford Internet Observatorys Alex Stamos, who previously served as Facebooks chief security officer, penned his own thread about the Wires point-by-point response, noting still more discrepancies that didnt clarify anything about the outlets sourcing. Zhang tweeted that she continued to believe that the documents are forgeries. Advertisement To be clear, informed analysts of the saga did not tend to believe the Wire acted maliciously in order to defame Meta. Rather, they said this was probably the result of an elaborate scheme planned by someone with a vendetta against the Wire. Or, as Stamos put it, an extremely successful op against opposition journalism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That conclusion was supported by a Sunday update Meta added to its blog post, confirm[ing] that the video shared by the Wire in fact depicts an externally-created Meta Workplace account that was deliberately set up with Instagrams name and brand insignia in order to deceive people. The newsroom post found that the internal Meta Workplace account cited by the Wire had been created on October 13after the Wires news reports were initially published, and it was not traceable to a Meta worker. Advertisement The Wire went all-in for one last stand Monday morning, writing in a special statement that We reiterate the faith we have in our sources, dismissing any possibility of a hoax. Yet it didnt take long for the outlet to finally back off: On Tuesday morning, it released another statement declaring that the newsroom intends to review its reporting on Meta, with the possibility of sharing sources original files. As of now, the Wire has also taken down the relevant reports from the site. Based on our sources consent, we are also exploring the option of sharing original files with trusted and reputed domain experts as part of this process.https://t.co/kpXXDqX0sE pic.twitter.com/uvW48sgzq9 The Wire (@thewire_in) October 18, 2022 Advertisement Advertisement There were several other points of contention along the way, including allegations the Wire had made undisclosed updates to its accusations against Meta, claimed to work with sources it had not worked with, and said its reporters were getting hacked. The satirical social media account whose Instagram posts had been taken down, thus sparking the Wires original reporting, tweeted Tuesday that one of the offending illustrations was live again on Instagram. Yet the public mess had made its mark. Without admitting it, the Wire seemed to all but confirm suspicions that the leaks on which it based its reporting had been faked, that its source with Meta was likely not up to snuff, that its journalism was not as accurate as advertised, and that, most tragically, it had screwed up big time. Advertisement Advertisement Its a sad place for the Wire to end up. Founded in 2015 by storied Indian journalists to act as a multilanguage news and opinion resource, the Wire had become one of the most dynamic Indian publications of the Modi years, a singular bulwark against the flood of false and propagandistic news that took over so much of Indian media. Along with outlets like the Caravan, Scroll, Alt News, the Print, and Cobrapost, the Wire offered detailed, incisive reporting on the realities of modern-day Indian life and politics. Its made a huge impact, with several articles uncovering the rot of Modis regime, and its even expanded its operations, publishing a separate Substack of daily news roundups. As a nonprofit without any corporate backing, the Wire bills itself as Indias foremost independent news-site and relies in large part on donations from readers and concerned citizens. (The Wire is also a publishing partner with Slates Future Tense; I have a couple reprinted bylines there as a result.) Much like the aforementioned outlets, the Wire has been targeted by Modi and the BJPs vast network. A recent profile of the website from the Committee to Protect Journalists deemed it Indias hardest-hit newsroom, citing the surveillance of Wire reporters, the extra security precautions theyve taken, and the fear they have for their safety, as well as their families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like other backsliding democracies around the world, India is in the midst of a dire journalism crisisin its case, fueled in large part and supported by its Hindu nationalist government. Since Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, formerly trustworthy print and digital outlets have been either co-opted by executives friendly with the prime minister or shut down altogether. TV news has become a series of Fox Newslike panels accompanied by low-quality fire animations. Truth-seeking reporters have been hacked, surveilled, harassed, jailed, barred from the country, even murdered. Poor economic conditions for the industry have left numerous writers and anchors out of work, and mastheads are heavily skewed in favor of societys most privileged. Social media and encrypted messaging apps are soaked with trans-Atlantic disinformation and spam; the Modi administration has explicitly demanded more control over Big Tech sites while booting out alternate media like TikTok. The number of credible journalistic platforms Indians can turn to for accurate and informed information has whittled drastically, and the still-surviving institutions struggle to carry on. Advertisement Advertisement Every publication makes mistakes, some far more serious than others. But the Wire-Meta saga appears to display sheer irresponsibility on the formers partboth in reporting the original story and in doubling down on it. Its embarrassing to admit youve perhaps been taken for a ride; if this were a sting, it could be evidence savvy Indian right-wingers are adopting tactics not unlike those employed by some American conservatives, whove attempted to hoodwink major newspapers so as to decimate their credibility. (In this case, Indian tricksters would have pulled off what a site like the Gateway Pundit could not.) Whats more, Meta and its spokespeople tell so, so many lies about their work, and theyve done such awful damage to India in particular, that its crushing to see the Wire forced into ceding the high ground here. Advertisement Advertisement The pressure is high in the subcontinent, and the Wires most intrepid writers doubtlessly face daily threats of the kind few American journalists are familiar with. Yet that also makes their rectitude all the more imperative. The entire world is increasingly concerned about the current state of India. Its rankings in both the World Press Freedom Index and Freedom of the World report have plunged to their lowest levels ever. The Washington Posts editorial board wrote in July that Twitters lawsuit against Indias government, filed over the latters relentless censorship requests, could mark a pivotal moment for internet speech around the world. Misinformation from BJP foot soldiers at all levels make it so sites like the Wire are the only way anyone outside India can get an accurate view of one of the worlds most important countries. Advertisement But the publication will not escape this story or recover from the fallout anytime soon. Already, commentators have called for reevaluations of the Wires past tech reporting (which Ive often cited in my own writing). Online trolls whove often harassed reporters and undermined their work are filled with glee. Its all a deep, injurious blow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Wire has done important, noble work under duress, and its best writing remains a brilliant exemplar of what Indian journalism can do best. But going forward, itll be so much harder to do this type of journalism. No doubt, reporters will face more persecution and doubts especially when it comes to reporting on Metawhose largest market is India. This should be a pensive moment for anyone who cares about the feeble state of the countrys democracy and its weakened pillars of the fourth estate, because its difficult to say where Indian journalism goes from here. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. After months of trying and being refused access to my own user data, I found myself at the precipice of nearly committing fraud to get my user information, photos, and videos back from Instagram. Never had I been to Fort Irwin, California, a military base in the Mojave desert where exercises are conducted against simulated enemies to prepare for war. But, three years after leaving the Army, I was searching for addresses there that I might claim as my own. Advertisement My journey to the base, at least digitally, had begun when my Instagram account was disabled a few months ago. Suddenly and without warning, I lost access to all of the images and other data I uploaded on the application over years. Obtaining access to my own creations so I could have a backup was harder than I had imagined thoughso hard that a virtual move to the Mojaveso I could claim residency in California and obtain my information via the states digital rights lawsseemed to be the only option left. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The question of the dubious legality of doing so made me go no further, but othersthe people I got the idea fromhavent had such qualms. In an era of unlimited connectivity, physical location remains paramount when it comes to data privacy and data access for users. Its so important that some are driven to lying to obtain the protections offered by a small group of states and nations. If even a users access to their own data is determined by their geographic location, what does that mean for more troubling questions about how this information is being used? Advertisement Advertisement When my account was first disabled, the Instagram application informed me that I could appeal the decision, which I did. Eventually, I lost the ability to do even that. So I used the multiple methods Instagram suggested to appeal the disablement decision, since I believed it to be a mistake. For months, I tried to jump through their hoopssending in a photo of my drivers license, verifying my identity with a selfie taken with a sheet of paper that had a unique code written on it, and other efforts. Eventually I figured that if I couldnt get my account reactivated, I could at least download a copy of my data using the tool Instagram has created for those who cant access their accounts. Advertisement Advertisement I hadnt posted inappropriate content or anything unusualI simply received a message one day that I violated the Terms of Service somehow. Based on Instagrams TOS, they have the right to disable accounts in such a manner, which as a private site is in their purview. But an account being disabled is not the same thing as one being deleted. My account and its data still exist and is presumably being used for Metas business modelI just cant log in or use it in any way, even to utilize Instagrams built-in data download feature. Advertisement Advertisement When I finally used the tool to request my user data from Instagram in hopes of being able to at least download the files I had uploaded, I got the first response from a human. The privacy department informed me that they could not give me my data unless I logged in. When I replied to them that my lack of account access prevented my data access, the representatives responded that they were unable to assist me further based on the information I provided and that they considered the matter over. Advertisement Advertisement They then closed my help ticket. Months later, my data is still inaccessible. Advertisement Advertisement I began looking online to find out more information about my situation, seeing if others had experienced the same response of being denied access to their own information. I eventually ended up on the unofficial Instagram subreddit where I found multiple posts from users there who have found themselves unable to log in and therefore unable to retrieve their data. Some have even attempted to buy back access to their data and accounts, purchasing ads on Facebooks business platform to get access to a specialized chat support feature thats specific for businesses. Nothing was guaranteed to work except for virtually moving to the Mojave. I read a Reddit post that suggested that if Meta refused to provide your Instagram data to you, the best option was to fill out a consumer complaint in California with the Office of the Attorney General. Not living in the state didnt matter, apparently: The poster from Reddit said theyd just used a random California street address in their complaint. And it had worked. Others in that Reddit thread made the same claim, an example of the effect of disparate data privacy laws. Advertisement Thats of Californias Consumer Protection Act. Under California law, consumers in the state have the right to know about the personal information businesses collected, used, shared, or sold about them, including specific pieces of personal information and data. The right to know means you can specifically request your data from platforms. For now, California is the only state with comprehensive consumer data privacy laws that go beyond the limited existing federal rules. (Utah, Colorado, Connecticut, and Virginia have also passed such laws, too, but they dont effect until various points in 2023.) So if I truly did live in California, under the law, Meta would have to release that information to me. Advertisement Advertisement The same holds true in some other countries as well. For instance, in 2018 the European Union adopted stringent privacy protection measures in its General Data Protection Regulation, designed to harmonize data privacy laws across its member countries and grant greater protections to individuals. If your account is suspended by Instagram and you live in the EU, youre covered by article 15 of the GDPR and can request your information. Advertisement If your state or country doesnt have privacy laws, its unclear what rights you have. Facebooks current TOS states that you retain ownership of the intellectual property rights in any such content that you create and share on Facebook and other Meta Company Products you use. The current terms also state If you delete or we disable or delete your account, these Terms shall terminate as an agreement between you and us, but the following provisions will remain in place: 3, 4.2-4.5. Section 4.2 is literally the section this text is in, meaning its citing itself. Section 4.5 doesnt exist. Beyond the text on a person owning intellectual property rights, Section 3 says nothing about privacy and data access considerations beyond the users privacy settings. Facebooks privacy policy meanwhile simply says users can request their data at any time. But, again, if Facebook disables someones account on Instagram, that person can lose all access to the data the company has gathered on them with no guaranteed recourse. (I reached out to Meta for a comment on their data access policy but did not receive a response.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since no national law which regulates data access and privacy, not having access to ones data on a social media site for any reason is not federally recognized for any legal action as of now. The Federal Trade Commission currently focuses on issues of data breaches, exposures of private user data due to a companys security practices. One such was with the data breach Equifax announced in 2017 which affected 147 million people. Advertisement Advertisement I asked Tori Ekstrand, an associate professor in the Hussmann School of Journalism and Media at UNC-Chapel Hill who specializes in media law, about my situation, and she told me, The United States has lagged behind countries when it comes it comes with creating a comprehensive data privacy protection framework. She noted that several bills are currently pending before Congress, most notably the bipartisan American Data Privacy and Protection Act. The bill would establish a duty of loyalty, imposing a baseline obligation on companies to not collect, process, or transfer data unless companies reasonably need it to provide products or services to existing customers. Companies would not be able to deny service or adjust prices for an individual to who refuses to waive their privacy rights. Finally, it would establish a right to data and information access for consumers, mandating that companies must provide access to consumers upon request including what third parties a users data has been given to. Advertisement With states like California passing their own privacy laws, there is concern among lawmakers and data scientists about a patchwork approach to regulating digital privacy, Ekstrand said. The ADPPA is currently being held back from a vote in the House of Representatives by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, whose reasoning seems to illustrate Ekstrands point: She feels that the bill doesnt go far enough in its data protection rules and would weaken the California CPA. Privacy considerations werent part of the blueprint of modern social media sites, said Ekstrand. Adding privacy support can be seen as equivalent to the changes to buildings after Americans With Disabilities Act was passed in 1990. The benefits of data privacy and control will benefit those at the most serious risk first, such as when elevators were mandated by the ADA to be added into all new buildings and retrofitted into the older ones. Those benefits then moved downstream to others who werent the original population targeted to help; weve all used the ADA mandated elevators in buildings. Maybe one day Ill be able to get my old photos and videos in the same manner. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. President Caputova addresses the EP in Strasbourg, foreigners in Slovakia ready to vote. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Good evening. The Wednesday, October 19 edition of Today in Slovakia is ready with the main news of the day in less than five minutes. MPs' empty words and fear of LGBT+ people Lawmakers rejected a cohabitation bill, which could have granted minimum rights to LGBT+ couples, on October 19, 2022. (Source: Unsplash) After they condemned the attacks on LGBT+ people in Slovakia, lawmakers were expected to help the community on October 19. Some politicians had hinted at this last weekend. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement However, the MPs failed to adopt a cohabitation bill that could have eased the lives of unmarried couples, including same-sex ones. Most coalition lawmakers did not vote for the bill, but PM Eduard Heger promises to help the community later. President Zuzana Caputova does not understand the position of most MPs, and she opined in her social media post that they are afraid of the LGBT+ community. Related: Extremist MPs Stefan Kuffa and Filip Kuffa submitted in September changes to the Education Act to parliament. Inspired by a Hungarian law, they want to ban information about LGBT+ people from being spread in schools. More stories from The Slovak Spectator website Conspiracy theories: Research has found that Slovakia is a record holder in the acceptance of conspiracy theories globally. Research has found that Slovakia is a record holder in the acceptance of conspiracy theories globally. EU: Slovakia will ask the EU to double the amount of funds it can draw to help deal with the energy crisis. Slovakia will ask the EU to double the amount of funds it can draw to help deal with the energy crisis. History: The Modra manor house, a national cultural monument, has been opened to the public. The Modra manor house, a national cultural monument, has been opened to the public. Women: Two-thirds of women in Slovakia report to have experienced some form of harassment. If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription. Thank you. FEATURE STORY FOR WEDNESDAY From west to east: Foreigners are going to vote (Source: TASR - Jakub Popelka) Slovakia is heading to the 2022 municipal and regional elections. They will be held next Saturday, October 29. Here's how foreigners with permanent residence in the country are getting ready for election day. IN OTHER NEWS: If you have suggestions on how this news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk. Organizers of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, have launched a supply and purchase matchmaking event for leading multinational enterprises in order to help Chinese export-oriented businesses better make deals with global buyers. More than 200 high-quality Chinese exporters are participating in the matchmaking event, which kicked off online on Monday, attracting dozens of product categories including electronics and household appliances, hardware, tools and building materials. Estimated purchase orders resulting from the event, which lasts seven days, are expected to be worth tens of millions of US dollars, according to the fair's organizers. The fair, usually held twice a year in April and October in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, kicked off its 132nd session online on Saturday, with more than 35,000 domestic and overseas companies participating in the event. "Procurement demand from leading multinational enterprises is large and the categories are very rich, which is usually an important channel for Chinese exporters to obtain overseas orders during the fair," said Xu Bing, spokesman for the event. Xu said the fair's organizers have selected qualified Chinese enterprises out of 500 applicants from 18 trading groups to participate in the one-week matchmaking event. "A large number of our suppliers have met partners through the fair's previous sessions. We are looking forward to realizing more orders during the matchmaking event," said Pierre Petitdemange, chief financial officer of the Guangzhou sourcing center of French multinational retail group Auchan Retail, a regular buyer at the Canton Fair for more than 15 years. For Indonesia's Kawan Lama Group, China has always been the main source of its imported goods, according to William Widjaja, purchasing director of the company. "We are expecting more procurement orders during the fair," he said. The company purchased furniture products worth $1.2 million at the last session. Usually seen as a barometer of China's foreign trade, the Canton Fair set up 50 sections for 16 categories online, with over 3.06 million exhibits already submitted by domestic and overseas participants. Among the participants, there are 34,744 domestic companies, an increase of about 40 percent over the previous session, demonstrating their confidence in expanding overseas deals in the months ahead, according to organizers. China's foreign trade surged more than 10 percent year-on-year to 27.3 trillion yuan ($3.79 trillion) during the first eight months, said the General Administration of Customs. A large number of high-quality companies have displayed products online, with 130,000 featuring digitalized or smart capabilities and 500,000 being green, low carbon commodities, according to the organizers. Chinese household electrical appliance maker Galanz, a regular participant at the Canton Fair, has displayed a series of high-tech household products during the online exhibition. Managers of the company's overseas business department said products including air fryer ovens, microwaves, pressure cookers and dishwashers show that the company's low-carbon cooking technologies are creating sustainable kitchen lifestyles. The company's microwave ovens, specially designed for use in space, have helped provide healthy food for Chinese astronauts in the core module of the Tiangong space station. "We believe that overseas customers will prefer these products, which include unique space design elements, without smoke or open flames," said Devin Zhang, an overseas business manager with Galanz. "We will also introduce digital production of microwaves using an automatic production base, washing machines automation workshop and our intelligent manufacturing base for dishwashers to global buyers," Zhang said. Development of high value-added products in combination with real overseas market demand have contributed to Galanz's business growth, which realized a year-on-year increase in exports of 9.8 percent in the first half, the company said. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled After parliamentary elections in his homeland last month, data scientist Andrea Paviglianiti was fed up with politics, he tells The Slovak Spectator. He was despondent after the far-right party Brothers of Italy won a majority in the Italian parliament, and he jokes that just thinking about politics and politicians is enough to put him off voting in the joint Slovak regional and municipal elections later this month. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement I need a break from politics, he laughs. But Paviglianiti, who has lived in Slovakia for seven years and has permanent residence in Bratislava, says the reasons he wont be voting in the upcoming elections have nothing to do with an aversion for candidates or their policies, or politics in general. Like many foreigners in Slovakia, he has come up against a dearth of information in English on candidates and his knowledge of their political programmes for Bratislava and the Bratislava Region is, by his own admission, poor. In the future, once I master Slovak, Id like to vote. I consider Slovakia home and I therefore have an interest in understanding its politics more, he says. https://sputniknews.com/20221018/sometimes-what-a-van-gogh-needs-is-a-splash-of-tomato-soup-1102026290.html Sometimes What a Van Gogh Needs Is a Splash of Tomato Soup Sometimes What a Van Gogh Needs Is a Splash of Tomato Soup From The Washington Post: Just after 11 a.m. on Friday morning, two young climate protesters entered a room in the National Gallery in London containing one... 18.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-18T23:50+0000 2022-10-18T23:50+0000 2022-10-19T20:52+0000 americas vincent van gogh tomatoes activism climate change columnists art /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/0a/0e/1101843605_8:0:1379:771_1920x0_80_0_0_b44ef4f076c43fde3016853208747d79.png Phoebe Plummer of the Just Stop Oil movement, 21, shouted: What is worth more, art or life? She continued: Are you more concerned about the protection of a painting or the protection of our planet?If you didnt follow this story, you can easily imagine the response of many liberals: this action was stupid. Vincent Van Gogh had nothing to do with global warming. Its counterproductive. Its going to turn off people against the environmental movement. Liberals, who claim to care deeply about climate change, similarly deplored the groups disruption of traffic and sporting events.It is largely forgotten that Van Gogh was a populist and a Marxist. Odds are, he would have approved of this attempt to raise awareness of the climate crisis.There was no damage to the painting, which was protected by a sheet of glass. The incident nevertheless reminded me of the discussion over the 2001 dynamiting of the giant Buddha statues at Bamian, Afghanistan, which prompted global outrage. The Taliban government, which had previously protected the statues, reversed course when a Swedish delegation along with UNESCO traveled to Afghanistan and offered money to buy and preserve the 1,400-year-old sandstone relics at a time that the country was reeling under the weight of Western sanctions. Meanwhile, requests for medical and food assistance for living, breathing flesh-and-blood human beings fell on deaf ears.I wouldnt have detonated the charge to blow up those statues. Im too much of a history geek. But I saw Rahmatullahs point. Sometimes the world needs a slap across its face to force it to pay attention.My first reaction to the Just Stop Oil action was: what good is a painting that no one will be around to see in 50 years?Thenand thats where I am nowI thought, good for them. Radically mitigating climate change should be humanitys top priority. Some 69% of all animals on Earth died between 1970 and 2018. Since 1900, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish species have died 72 times faster than normal. Droughts are severe. Storms are getting more violent. This isnt an emergency. Its THE emergency.But international organizations arent doing anything, because the politicians who belong to them prioritize profits over the planet. Capitalism rules, so the politicians arent doing anything. (Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2030, as Biden promises, is so not going to happen that its hardly worth mentioning). Citizens dont understand how awful the situation is, or they feel alone in their understanding, so they arent doing anything.We arent engaged in sustained protest. We arent rioting. We arent overthrowing our do-nothing governments. We arent even voting against politicians who arent doing anything. Here in the United States, only the Green Party cares about climate change and their votes amount to a rounding error. And the media hardly ever talks about it.Truly, its the ultimate madness. The house is on fire, flames all around, and were not even calling 911, much less reaching for a bucket of water. We are all going to die, or if were old our children will, yet we remain oblivious, passive, resigned, disconnected, alienated, and stupid for no reason. 99.9% of humanity does not own energy stocks and were all willing to die for the tiny minority who do.So what if the Just Stop Oil activists bum out art lovers? If your blood boils over what they did more than it does over what theyre talking about, youre too dumb to be won over in the first place. Complacency kills; outrage fights complacency.Pardon the young people who kinda-sort-of desecrate Van Goghs. For they may or may not know what theyre doing but they certainly know whats important. If were all going to die for no good reason, some of us have the right to go out screaming.(Ted Rall (Twitter: @tedrall), the political cartoonist, columnist and graphic novelist, co-hosts the left-vs-right DMZ America podcast with fellow cartoonist Scott Stantis. You can support Teds hard-hitting political cartoons and columns and see his work first by sponsoring his work on Patreon.) americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Ted Rall https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125340_0:0:360:360_100x100_80_0_0_1ed1a3494a53cde87e19521c3658fe92.jpg Ted Rall https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125340_0:0:360:360_100x100_80_0_0_1ed1a3494a53cde87e19521c3658fe92.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 Ted Rall https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125340_0:0:360:360_100x100_80_0_0_1ed1a3494a53cde87e19521c3658fe92.jpg vincent van gogh, tomatoes, activism, climate change, columnists, art https://sputniknews.com/20221019/australia-orders-defence-probe-into-reports-pilots-trained-chinese-military-1102069677.html Australia Orders Defence Probe Into Reports Pilots Trained Chinese Military Australia Orders Defence Probe Into Reports Pilots Trained Chinese Military Amid reports that up to 30 retired UK military pilots had been recruited to train members of China's People's Liberation Army, Britain's Ministry of Defence... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T10:03+0000 2022-10-19T10:03+0000 2022-10-19T10:03+0000 world australia & oceania china pilots training richard marles /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/0a/13/1102070528_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_fc27ba6b8ed23824f0bb9d9cb67d7093.jpg Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles has asked the country's defence department to investigate claims that former Australian military pilots had been recruited to join a South African flight school operating in China.Amid reports that Chinas military was employing lucrative schemes to recruit former British RAF jet pilots to help train its own air force, Australia is to probe whether its own pilots were being similarly headhunted.Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, the former defence minister, said he found the reports "alarming" and that the government would have his backing for legislation to deal with the issue.The headhunting for UK ex-pilots was allegedly carried out by third-party liaisons with ties to a particular South African flying academy, according to officials cited by UK media. One official said some 30 mainly ex-fast jet, but also some helicopter pilots, had been lured by annual salaries of around 240,000.The Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA), headquartered in Oudtshoorn, was named as the headhunting agency for the Chinese government by an unnamed Western intelligence official cited by Sky News. TFASA offered its clients "qualified fighter and tactics instructors" for hire and In January announced a cooperation agreement with the South African Civil Aviation Authority.The South African company, did not comment on reports alleging that it had hired Australian pilots to work in China, Reuters reported. In an undated advertisement with the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP) online, TFASA reportedly announced it was seeking fixed wing and helicopter test pilot instructors to work at an undisclosed location in "Far East Asia."The requirements the company was alegedly looking for included having graduated from military test flight schools in the United States or Britain. The ad was sent to all SETP members, according to an Australia-based member cited by Reuters.The United Kingdom warned former military pilots that allegedly train Chinese servicemen of the risk of prosecution, underscoring that it regarded the practice as undermining the UK's defense advantage, in a Defence Ministry (MoD) statement on Tuesday.The MoD wrote on Twitter that British pilots involved risked prosecution under the Official Secrets Act, adding that a national security bill would also offer "routes to prosecution".Amid the reports, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin denied any knowledge of such employment of British pilots to train the countrys military, saying at a regular press conference that he was "not aware of the circumstances mentioned." https://sputniknews.com/20221018/whats-behind-uk-fuss-over-alleged-training-of-pla-by-raf-veterans-1102018891.html https://sputniknews.com/20221018/uk-may-prosecute-former-military-pilots-training-chinese-officers---defense-ministry-1102058871.html australia & oceania china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko 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 Svetlana Ekimenko australia & oceania, china, pilots, training, richard marles https://sputniknews.com/20221019/bjp-announces-list-of-62-candidates-for-key-state-polls-in-indias-himachal-pradesh-1102064034.html BJP Announces List of 62 Candidates for Key State Polls in India's Himachal Pradesh BJP Announces List of 62 Candidates for Key State Polls in India's Himachal Pradesh The polls to elect a new government in the north Indian state are scheduled to take place on November 12, with the results to be out only on December 8... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T06:43+0000 2022-10-19T06:43+0000 2022-10-19T06:43+0000 india bharatiya janata party (bjp) polls polls elections elections himachal pradesh aam aadmi party arvind kejriwal indian national congress /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/0a/13/1102065256_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_46aab5cad8a766d06cfaa73a783e19a6.jpg The federally and state ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced the names of its 62 candidates for the upcoming elections in Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday.On the list is State Chief Jai Ram Thakur planning to contest the polls in his traditional seat of Seraj, where he won by more than 11,000 votes in 2017.Former BJP state president Satpal Singh Satti has also been fielded from Una. The politician won three consecutive elections in the constituency in 2003, 2007, and 2012 before losing to Satpal Raizada of the Congress in 2017.Anil Sharma, son of ex-federal minister Sukh Ram, will fight the polls in the Mandi area. The constituency is regarded as a stronghold of Sharma, considering that he has already won there four times - in 1993, 2007, 2012, and in 2017.Meanwhile, the Congress, the main opposition party in Himachal Pradesh, released its own list of 46 candidates on Tuesday.Among the prominent names in the fray are former state party presidents Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and Kuldeep Singh Rathore, who will be contesting the polls from Nadaun and Theog constituencies respectively.The third main contender, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has announced the names of only four candidates so far.In the outgoing state assembly, the BJP has 44 lawmakers while the Congress managed to win 21 seats. The AAP didn't contest the 2017 polls. https://sputniknews.com/20221014/congress-prez-poll-senior-members-sideline-shashi-tharoor-mallikarjun-kharge-emerges-as-top-choice-1101831223.html himachal pradesh shimla Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Pawan Atri https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/05/12/1082926219_0:0:358:358_100x100_80_0_0_aca1d9bdccc7af990e49b4511ee80344.png Pawan Atri https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/05/12/1082926219_0:0:358:358_100x100_80_0_0_aca1d9bdccc7af990e49b4511ee80344.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 Pawan Atri https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/05/12/1082926219_0:0:358:358_100x100_80_0_0_aca1d9bdccc7af990e49b4511ee80344.png bharatiya janata party (bjp), polls, polls, elections, elections, himachal pradesh, aam aadmi party, arvind kejriwal, indian national congress, lawmaker, state, shimla https://sputniknews.com/20221019/cairo-uninterested-in-us-lecture-on-how-to-live-behind-canceling-75mln-military-aid---ex-diplomat-1102093843.html Cairos Disinterest in US Lecture on How to Live Behind $75Mln Military Aid Canceling: Ex-Diplomat Cairos Disinterest in US Lecture on How to Live Behind $75Mln Military Aid Canceling: Ex-Diplomat Since 1979, Egypt has been one of the largest recipients of US Foreign Military Financing (FMF), totaling $1.3 billion last year. The aid was originally... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T17:27+0000 2022-10-19T17:27+0000 2022-10-19T18:30+0000 opinion & analysis egypt us foreign military aid human rights /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107757/87/1077578758_0:257:2731:1793_1920x0_80_0_0_fe6cf84cadb156011d02d6a07c82c0e0.jpg US Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, has successfully blocked $75 million in military aid from being sent to Egypt after it was held up last month by a group of lawmakers concerned about the North African nations human rights record.The bill allows for another $225 million to be withheld via a related process with similar standards. Last month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken allowed $95 million of that aid to go ahead, saying Cairo had made some progress on releasing jailed individuals, among other US demands. However, some lawmakers, including Leahy, opposed that as well.Ezzat Saad, a former Egyptian Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Egyptian Ambassador to Russia, told Sputnik on Wednesday that the $75 million was too small to be of concern, but demonstrated the importance of Cairo increasing its cooperation with China and Russia.Now, the United States is not satisfied with the continuation of cooperation between Moscow and Cairo, so the main democracy of the world has taken out of the closet the old reason for all prohibitions: the violation of human rights. But the desire of the American side to lecture on how to live and with whom to cooperate is of little interest to Egypt, he said.Egypt has long worked with Russia, and the Soviet Union before it, since the 1952 revolution that brought the Arab Nationalist leader Gamel abd al-Nasser to power. With the US, France, and UK backing Egypts rival, Israel, and cooperating in the 1956 invasion of the Suez Canal zone, Cairo found necessary military and technical aid in Moscow, including construction of the massive Aswan High Dam.More recently, Moscow made a deal to sell Egypt advanced Su-35 strike aircraft, which heavy US pressure, including sanctions, compelled Cairo to back out of. Egypts energy ministry is also working with Russias Rosatom to build the countrys first nuclear power plant at Dabaa. egypt 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 egypt, us, foreign military aid, human rights https://sputniknews.com/20221019/can-new-congress-president-mallikarjun-kharge-revive-grand-old-partys-fortune--1102071269.html Can New Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge Revive Grand Old Party's Fortune? Can New Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge Revive Grand Old Party's Fortune? Senior member Mallikarjun Kharge won Congress presidential election, receiving over 89% of the vote or 7,897 of the total 9,385. Shashi Tharoor managed to... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T17:39+0000 2022-10-19T17:39+0000 2022-10-19T20:37+0000 india indian national congress congress shashi tharoor sonia gandhi politics /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/0a/13/1102088961_0:0:3237:1821_1920x0_80_0_0_1cd512074a5a997b60d6deebfbe7c88b.jpg 80-year-old Mallikarjun Kharge was elected as the new president of the Indian National Congress (INC) on Wednesday. He replaces Sonia Gandhi, the interim party chief and wife of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.The election was held on October 17.In the 137-year history of the grand old party, this is only the sixth time that a Congress chief has been chosen through an election contest. Usually, the president has been hand-picked by the party's central leadership or top leader. Minutes after the result was announced, Shashi Tharoor in a statement conveyed his warm congratulations to Kharge, and stated that it is a privilege to be a part of the party.Can Kharge Benefit Congress Party?Talking to Sputnik, Rashid Kidwai, a political analyst and author, believes one has to wait and see how the party will perform in the state assembly polls to evaluate the results of the election of the Congresss president. "In Indian politics, everything is connected with state assembly election (results). Now, we have to see how Congress will perform in the upcoming Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka states assembly elections, he told Sputnik. The new Congress president, who hails from the Dalit (formerly untouchable) community of Karnataka state, joined politics and Congress during his college days in 1969. Later, he went on to hold various portfolios in Congress governments, including being made India's railways minister and labor minister.Meanwhile, Kidwai thinks Kharge's appointment as the Congress president will hardly have any impact among Dalit voters. "Nowadays, voters dont vote only for the reason of the same caste." However, Kidwai notes that now it will be interesting to see what role Tharoor plays in the party.It would be interesting to see what role Tharoor gets now. Tharoor secured 11 percent of the vote, meaning a section wants a change in the party and the style of working. Will Congress appoint Tharoor to some new position in the party? Lets see.Many senior members of Congress have already expressed their support for Kharge, who was also called "Congress' unofficial official candidate" or the "Gandhis' favorite" by some media outlets. Tharoor, in his campaign, pitched himself as a candidate for bringing change.Meanwhile, journalist and political commentator Sameer Chougaonkar opines: First, Kharge has to take a fresh set of decisions to prove that he's not just a proxy for the Gandhi family and is actually in control of the party.How Kharge will deal with dissenters, that would be interesting to watch, Chougaonkar says.In recent years, many senior Congress members have expressed their dissent within the party or left it. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Deexa Khanduri https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0c/1e/1081607388_0:0:961:960_100x100_80_0_0_e9e931b8c1e18fb41f3074e2145d7a3a.jpg Deexa Khanduri https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0c/1e/1081607388_0:0:961:960_100x100_80_0_0_e9e931b8c1e18fb41f3074e2145d7a3a.jpg 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 Deexa Khanduri https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0c/1e/1081607388_0:0:961:960_100x100_80_0_0_e9e931b8c1e18fb41f3074e2145d7a3a.jpg indian national congress, congress, shashi tharoor, sonia gandhi, politics https://sputniknews.com/20221019/chilean-police-release-sputnik-mundo-correspondent-detained-while-covering-protest-anniversary-1102061332.html Chilean Police Release Sputnik Mundo Correspondent Detained While Covering Protest Anniversary Chilean Police Release Sputnik Mundo Correspondent Detained While Covering Protest Anniversary The latest spate of demonstrations came weeks after Chilean residents voted against the proposed text of the country's new constitution, which was meant to... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T03:22+0000 2022-10-19T03:22+0000 2022-10-19T03:22+0000 americas chile journalist arrest protest santiago /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/105974/58/1059745868_113:0:1807:953_1920x0_80_0_0_32ce2c56ad35a2463f462c00838e90ce.jpg Chilean police detained on Tuesday Sputnik Mundo correspondent Carolina Trejo, who had been in the nation's capital Santiago to cover protests marking the third anniversary of the October 2019 social unrest. She has since been released.Reports have indicated that Trejo was taken into custody by military police at about 8 p.m. local time near the Gabriela Mistral Cultural Center, just as the journalist was preparing to return home.Video shared on social media appeared to show officials placing Trejo inside a police van as others outside the camera frame inform police they were detaining a journalist.Moments before the arrest, Trejo was said to be covering demonstrations that were taking place in Chile's Plaza Dignidad, which served as one of the main sites for protests during the October 2019 social movement.Hours after the arrest, the Metropolitan Regional Council of the College of Journalist in Chile confirmed that Trejo had been released from custody.The group earlier issued a statement condemning the South American nation's military police, underscoring that such incidents "prevents journalistic work."The Tuesday anniversary was marked by multiple protesters clashing with police. In some instances, cops responded to fires and rocks being thrown with gas and water cannons. However, the day's events were not all violent.The 2019 protests initially broke out across Chile in response to steep metro fare hikes but later went on to include calls for reforms of the nation's education system and health care programs, as well as pushing for improved wages. In fact, said protests paved the way for the Chilean government to replace the Pinochet-era constitution, which is currently being reviewed once again after the majority of Chileans rejected a recent effort to implement changes. americas chile santiago 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 chile, journalist, arrest, protest, santiago https://sputniknews.com/20221019/dozens-of-people-injured-in-chilean-demonstrations-marking-anniversary-of-2019-protests-official-1102065817.html Dozens of People Injured in Chilean Demonstrations Marking Anniversary of 2019 Protests: Official Dozens of People Injured in Chilean Demonstrations Marking Anniversary of 2019 Protests: Official MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Twenty-eight people, including 15 civilians and 13 police officers, have been injured in Chile during demonstrations in memory of the 2019... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T06:59+0000 2022-10-19T06:59+0000 2022-10-19T06:59+0000 world chile protest /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107796/17/1077961774_0:249:2757:1800_1920x0_80_0_0_155b2544ce600b07a1f4cd28f56f8589.jpg "Fifteen civilians have been injured 14 in an explosion of a noise bomb in a high school, and one in an arson on [the bridge] Pio Nono. In addition, unfortunately, 13 police officers have been injured," Monsalve said at a press conference on Tuesday evening.During the current protests, over 2,300 citizens rallied peacefully, but around 700 people committed criminal acts, the official added. As a result, 50 persons have been detained, including 30 in the Metropolitan region, according to Monsalve.In late 2019, Chile was rocked by numerous and violent protests that resulted in significant damage to the country's economy and infrastructure. Citizens were demanding that the authorities provide decent free education and health care, raise wages and stop the increase in tariffs.After several months of unrest, the Chilean government and civilians reached an agreement on the drafting of a new constitution. The document remains under development, after 62% of voters opposed the draft presented in a referendum in September. chile 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 chile, protest https://sputniknews.com/20221019/eus-ambitious-air-shield-may-become-its-biggest-money-drain-1102070690.html EU's Ambitious Air Shield May Become Its Biggest Money Drain, Experts Say EU's Ambitious Air Shield May Become Its Biggest Money Drain, Experts Say BRUSSELS (Sputnik) - Europes gargantuan plan to create a new anti-missile shield will allow the United States to siphon off billions of euros in EU taxpayers... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T09:26+0000 2022-10-19T09:26+0000 2022-10-19T09:45+0000 military eu air defense eu /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/105533/27/1055332751_0:168:4000:2418_1920x0_80_0_0_62c25a2b33b37f0a3e712c547b0ffbe5.jpg NATO announced last week that 13 EU nations as well as Norway and the UK had signed up to the German-led European Sky Shield Initiative. German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said Berlin would coordinate the procurement of air defense weapons, including US Patriots, German IRIS-Ts and Israeli Arrows.French weapons expert Xavier Moreau, the founder of the Stratpol think-tank that studies geopolitics and political strategy, said the project would fill the coffers of the American defense industry while justifying a massive buildup of American forces as Washington continues to mold its allies into US "aircraft carriers" in Europe.The creation of such an airtight air shield, he said, would involve several echelons and an entirely new structure. It should be able to strike all types of missiles as well as drones at a short, medium and long range, a task that will take years and billions of euros to accomplish.Pierre Henrot, a former high-ranking officer in NATO nuclear artillery, said the shield would be porous without a broader participation of European nations. France and Poland have not signed up to the project, which he said was a "bad start."For detection, the project would require high-performance radar systems to track targets at low, medium and high altitudes. Given the holes in the European coverage, it would be a failure before it comes live, Henrot suggested.For response, it would need long-range interceptors to counter the new generation of Russian hypersonic missiles. This means expanding the network of Patriot systems, which have a very limited range, he estimated.Moreau said the US defense industry had been running an extremely effective propaganda campaign to persuade Europe that Poland or the Baltic countries would be the next stage of a "Russian invasion" after Ukraine. The US has already installed a NATO missile system around Russia and is using the non-existent Russian threat to increase Europes military dependence, he added. https://sputniknews.com/20210829/eu-should-provide-baltic-states-with-air-defense-systems-estonian-president-says-1083745637.html eu 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 eu, air defense, eu https://sputniknews.com/20221019/ice-cube-riles-at-ye-says-he-didnt-put-batteries-in-his-back-to-prompt-antisemite-vibe-1102078842.html Ice Cube Riles at Ye, Says He Didnt Put Batteries in His Back to Prompt Antisemite Vibe' Ice Cube Riles at Ye, Says He Didnt Put Batteries in His Back to Prompt Antisemite Vibe' Kanye West drew backlash over recent days for a slew of comments seen as antisemitic, leading him to be suspended from Instagram* and later Twitter. The rapper... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T12:20+0000 2022-10-19T12:20+0000 2022-10-19T12:44+0000 viral kanye west antisemitism us /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107956/74/1079567422_0:150:2873:1766_1920x0_80_0_0_c419d3aeec32d377a71fe331360d8819.jpg Rapper O'Shea Jackson Sr., known professionally as Ice Cube, has vigorously refuted Kanye Wests claim he influenced his recent slew of antisemitic rants on social media and in interviews.After the American musician who now goes by the name of Ye intercepted his inflammatory statements several times with Ice Cubes name, the Los Angeles native went on Twitter to deny playing any role in the bulls***.The West Coast rap legend insisted he was not antisemitic" and never had been.In an appearance on the Drink Champs podcast, which has since been taken down from online platforms, West is cited by media outlets as having referenced Cube and claimed that he had really influenced him to get on this antisemite vibe.After Ice Cube's reaction on Twitter, many users on the social media platform recalled that the affronted rapper was accused in the Daily Beast in 2020 of a "long, disturbing history of anti-Semitism," tracing back to his 1991 song "No Vaseline," intercepted with racial slurs.In 2015, Ice Cube expressed regret at including the word "Jew" in the song. In June 2020, when some of Ice Cube's Twitter posts triggered accusations of antisemitism, the rapper called himself "just pro-Black."As for Kanye West, he made a slew of comments over the past weeks, including claims that Jewish people hold disproportionate power in the media and music industries, and that Black people are the real Jewish people - remarks considered antisemitic.In a since-deleted tweet posted on October 8, the 45-year-old rapper and fashion mogul wrote that he was going to go death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE. The rapper went on to defend his tweet by claiming that he could not be against Jews because he is black.Earlier, the musician had his Instagram* account restricted after he posted a message about an alleged exchange between him and Sean "Diddy" Combs, in which users lambasted the rapper for using language that seemed anti-Semitic.Still earlier, the billionaire musician triggered backlash in the wake of a controversial show during Paris Fashion Week. West showcased an Yeezy T-shirt with the slogan "White Lives Matter." The Anti-Defamation League denounced the phrase, which reframes the Black Lives Matter phrase, as a hate statement.*Meta (Facebook, Instagram) is banned in Russia as an extremist organization. https://sputniknews.com/20221016/kanye-west-goes-on-another-bizarre-tirade-in-podcast-interview--1101908125.html https://sputniknews.com/20221018/trump-reportedly-spoke-with-kanye-west-duo-plan-to-have-dinner-amid-anti-semitism-claims-1101989345.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko 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 Svetlana Ekimenko kanye west, antisemitism, us Ten central departments recently released a guideline on care for the elderly with financial problems or disabilities, to reduce the incidence of them experiencing risks at home and to improve their sense of happiness. The guideline, released earlier this month by ministries including the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and the National Health Commission, said the nation will establish a sound mechanism for the visitation and care of the elderly with financial problems or disabilities by the end of 2023. According to the guideline, the government will take the lead in the campaign and encourage social organizations or individuals to take part. Government bodies will learn about the living conditions of the elderly through regular visits or phone calls and offer encouragement to their children or the people who help support them. Government bodies will help explain policies and will provide assistance when necessary. The guideline said that all elderly people will be covered by the State-level campaign by the end of 2025, with their helpers, administrative officials and social workers visiting them at least once a month. Special attention will be given to the elderly with disabilities or movement limitations. The government will fully respect the wishes of the elderly and their families in terms of the provision of visitations according to practical situations and an awareness of potential risks, it said. Professional nursing homes are encouraged to get involved too, according to the guideline. Nursing homes that bid and win government contracts can offer nursing services to the elderly with their expenses covered by the government. The guideline said that a solid database on the elderly with financial problems or disabilities will be created, and it encouraged stakeholders to develop smart technologies to serve the elderly in different situations. The guideline also requires service providers to improve their abilities in dealing with emergencies while visiting the elderly. Earlier in August, some provinces and regions took measures to help the elderly who are childless or have financial problems or disabilities, to transform their homes to make their daily lives easier. Shandong released an action plan in August, saying that a provincial-level campaign will be carried out until 2025 to help 130,000 elderly households and transform their homes to become more elderly friendly. These measures include installing special furniture items, lighting and handrails, as well as smart devices to monitor health and movement. https://sputniknews.com/20221019/india-to-boost-fighting-capabilities-by-setting-up-new-airbase-at-border-with-pakistan-1102081570.html India to Boost Fighting Capabilities by Setting up New Airbase at Border With Pakistan India to Boost Fighting Capabilities by Setting up New Airbase at Border With Pakistan The proposal to build an airfield at Deesa in Gujarat has been around for nearly four decades. The airbase will fill a crucial gap on the western border in... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T16:32+0000 2022-10-19T16:32+0000 2022-10-19T20:12+0000 india indian army pakistan air force gujarat airbase narendra modi indian air force (iaf) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/0a/13/1102084877_0:53:1080:661_1920x0_80_0_0_b5034bea90de718cb900b926a08fd9cb.jpg India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday laid the foundation stone for the Deesa airfield, less than 130 km from the Pakistan border, aimed at boosting the country's security architecture.Noting Deesas proximity to the Pakistan Air Force base in Jacobabad, Modi stressed that the country's armed forces are now better prepared to respond to any misadventure at the western borders.The Deesa airbase, set to be built at a cost of around $200 million and become operational by 2024, will complement the nine airbases currently operational in Gujarat and Rajasthan.The new airfield will plug a crucial gap between forward air bases at Naliya, Bhuj in Gujarat, and Phalodi in Rajasthan. It will also protect the countrys major industrial zones and refineries from potential attacks. gujarat 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 indian army, pakistan air force, gujarat, airbase, narendra modi, indian air force (iaf) https://sputniknews.com/20221019/india-vows-to-continue-russian-oil-purchases-despite-wests-intention-to-cap-oil-price-1102085856.html India Vows to Continue Russian Oil Purchases Despite Wests Intention to Cap Oil Price India Vows to Continue Russian Oil Purchases Despite Wests Intention to Cap Oil Price The Group of Seven wealthy nations, commonly known as the G7, is working on a proposal to cap the price of Russian oil, intending to curb the countrys... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T16:32+0000 2022-10-19T16:32+0000 2022-11-15T14:20+0000 russia crude oil imports g-7 us sanction economy oil /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107682/42/1076824205_0:235:1920:1315_1920x0_80_0_0_c2202ba5b97d58c1cd310dc15efd4f67.jpg India will take a close look at the price cap on Russian oil proposed by the West, the countrys Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Wednesday. However, the minister categorically denied reports claiming Indian refiners might scale down or stop buying Russian oil, even if the US-led price-capping plan implemented.Answering a question on whether India will follow the planned price cap on Russian oil, the minister said he hopes Delhi may receive an exemption from Western countries, like, for example, Japan."I think there is an exemption for Japan for Sakhalin [Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project - ed. note], then there is crude which comes through the pipeline, so they have exemptions...we will have to look at it," the minister said.Meanwhile, US Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said last Wednesday that Washington is not planning to implement secondary sanctions against Russia once the price cap is in place.The Indian Oil Corporation Ltd and Bharat Petroleum have already placed an order for December with Russia, the third largest supplier for the South Asian nation."5th Dec is not a roadblock, we continue upliftment as per requirement and based on viable commercial offers received," an official at one of the Indian state refiners told Reuters on Wednesday.Despite months of pondering, G7 nations have yet to determine the price cap range. The West called the price cap a way to curb Moscow's ability to finance the special military operation in Ukraine.Russia, which had supplied 0.2 percent of India's total oil purchases until February, reportedly offered a discount of around $15-20 per barrel on a delivered-at-place basis to the South Asian country.New Delhi imported crude oil worth $11.41 billion from Russia in the current fiscal until August, trade data shows. russia 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 russia, crude oil, imports, g-7, us, sanction, oil https://sputniknews.com/20221019/irresponsible-dangerous-us-envoy-dismisses-calls-for-south-korean-nuclear-weapons-program-1102278478.html Irresponsible, Dangerous: US Envoy Dismisses Calls for South Korean Nuclear Weapons Program Irresponsible, Dangerous: US Envoy Dismisses Calls for South Korean Nuclear Weapons Program After the US withdrew nuclear weapons from South Korea in 1991, it pledged to maintain its nuclear umbrella from afar. The following year, Seoul and... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T20:18+0000 2022-10-19T20:18+0000 2022-10-19T20:17+0000 world south korea dprk us ambassador nuclear weapons nuclear non-proliferation treaty (npt) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107660/40/1076604073_0:0:1281:721_1920x0_80_0_0_2e0094bce1b790f9532f967ffd1a17d9.jpg The US ambassador to South Korea has swatted down talk in Seoul about developing their own nuclear weapons, calling them irresponsible and dangerous and saying they dont help resolve an already-tense situation.Extended deterrence means the protections provided by the US in all areas, including nuclear. We have this iron-clad commitment. Nobody should have any doubt about that," he added.Goldbergs words come after Chung Jin-suk, head of the ruling People Power Party, called last week for South Korea to scrap its pledges not to develop nuclear weapons.After President Yoon Suk-yeol, also from the PPP, rejected leaving the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Chung changed his stance to say that the US should redeploy tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea.Nuclear UmbrellaDuring the Cold War, when South Korea was a de facto military dictatorship, the US stationed hundreds of nuclear weapons there, including nuclear artillery shells. The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) was allied with the Soviet Union but maintained good relations with China as well, and had a slow-burning nuclear weapons program that only yielded a usable weapon in 2006, decades after the end of the USSR. The two Koreas had fought a war between 1950 and 1953, but it only ended with a ceasefire, meaning no state of peace exists between the DPRK on the one side, and South Korea and its ally, the US, on the other.Although the Republic of Korea - South Koreas official name - ratified the NPT in 1975, it has never ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and voted against a 2018 proposal at the United Nations urging nations to sign it.Climbing Up the Escalation LadderThe fresh talk of nuclear weapons comes after US and South Korean forces launched a series of provocative war drills in which stealth fighters rehearsed airstrikes on the DPRK. In response, the DPRK fired off hundreds of artillery shells, which landed in buffer zones in the Yellow Sea and Sea of Japan that were established in 2018 during a historic rapprochement.In addition, South Korean and US officials have become increasingly convinced that a seventh nuclear weapons test by Pyongyang is imminent. Yonhap reported on Sunday that Yoons office was on 24-hour standby, watching for such a test.The alert followed military drills in previous weeks in which North Korean forces simulated the use of tactical nuclear weapons against South Korea and US targets, as well as numerous rounds of ballistic missile tests. Those drills, in turn, came amid another set of large drills between US, South Korean, and Japanese forces that involved a US aircraft carrier for the first time in five years.Through seven times of launching drills of the tactical nuclear operation units, the actuality of the nuclear combat forces of our state and its militant effectiveness and actual war capabilities, which is fully ready to hit and wipe out the set objects at the intended places in the set time, were displayed to the full, KCNA added. south korea 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 south korea, dprk, us ambassador, nuclear weapons, nuclear non-proliferation treaty (npt) https://sputniknews.com/20221019/journalists-from-leading-african-media-outlets-join-sputnikpro-project-in-moscow-1102077086.html Journalists From Leading African Media Outlets Join SputnikPro Project in Moscow Journalists From Leading African Media Outlets Join SputnikPro Project in Moscow A special session of the SputnikPro project for young journalists from African countries has opened at the headquarters of the Rossiya Segodnya International... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T13:02+0000 2022-10-19T13:02+0000 2022-11-23T11:36+0000 russia russia sputnik mass media journalists journalism mass media africa /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 15 participants include television and radio hosts, as well as correspondents and producers from Africa's biggest media holdings, such as the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), News Agency of Nigeria, Zambia Daily Mail, Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), South Africas Independent Media Newspaper House, Radio Sabra FM (Tunisia), and Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV), to name a few.This is SputnikPros first specialized face-to-face session for journalists from Africa since the end of the pandemic. It is a pleasure to note that it is being attended by the biggest African media outlets with audiences in the millions. In this way we are restoring full-fledged, direct dialogue between Russia and African nations, Sputnik's Director for International Cooperation Vasily Pushkov said.I am happy to attend this experience sharing program. As a Zambia Daily Mail correspondent, I also publish photo reports. So, Im primarily looking forward to the workshop on photojournalism. I would be interested in learning how my colleagues from the Sputnik news agency work, noted Christine Chihame from Zambia.The participants will spend a busy week attending lectures and workshops with Sputniks leading media experts, getting to know colleagues from different countries and taking part in Moscows cultural life.Sputniks face-to-face module for journalists from African countries is supported by the New Generation program of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo).SputnikPro is a project of the Sputnik international news agency and radio for journalists, students in journalism programs, press service workers, and media managers designed to share experience and develop professional ties with foreign colleagues. Both Sputnik media managers and famous Russian experts are hosting the projects modules. Over 5,000 listeners from more than 80 countries have taken part in SputnikPros workshops since March 2018.Sputnik international news agency and radio is part of the Russian media group Rossiya Segodnya. Sputnik encompasses websites in 32 languages, as well as analog and digital radio broadcasting in over 90 cities around the world and newswires in English, Arabic, Spanish, Chinese, and Farsi. The audience of Sputniks media resources totals about 50 million a month, with over 26 million followers across social media platforms. Sputniks head office is located in Moscow. https://sputniknews.com/20221013/russian-african-energy-sector-cooperation-continues-despite-western-sanctions-1101793135.html russia africa 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, sputnik, mass media, journalists, journalism, mass media US Has Not Seen Massive Cyber Attacks From Russia Over Ukraine Involvement, Congressman Says The United States has not seen the sort of large-scale cyber attacks from Russia that were anticipated given Washingtons involvement with Ukraine, Rep. Jim Langevin, co-founder of the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus, said on Wednesday. "What we havent seen is the massive cyberattacks that perhaps we had expected, or the blowback here against the United States that could have happened, because of our involvement in and support of Ukraine," Langevin said during an interview on cybersecurity. "But we cant let our guard down, we know that cyber is still a significant threat, both to businesses, to our economy and to our national security." The US is trying to walk a fine line between supporting Ukraine and avoiding a war with Russia, Langevin added. A cyber attack that results in loss of life or disruption of critical national functions could trigger an Article 5 response by the NATO alliance, Langevin said. Langevin named Russia, China, Iran and North Korea as the top cyber actors of concern. The biggest economic threat from cyber has been identified as China, Langevin said. China uses cyber for espionage and theft of intellectual property, according to Langevin. The Biden administration is working with state and local partners to ensure that systems and equipment are secure for upcoming elections, Langevin also said. The US is currently monitoring for malign actors seeking to interfere in elections, Langevin said. https://sputniknews.com/20221019/madagascar-foreign-minister-fired-after-support-for-un-resolution-on-referendums---reports-1102062626.html Madagascar Foreign Minister Fired After Support for UN Resolution on Referendums, Reports Say Madagascar Foreign Minister Fired After Support for UN Resolution on Referendums, Reports Say MOSCOW(Sputnik) - Madagascar Foreign Minister Richard Randriamandrato was fired after his decision to vote for the UN General Assembly resolution not... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T04:01+0000 2022-10-19T04:01+0000 2022-11-24T11:18+0000 referendum fired foreign minister africa southern africa madagascar /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/0a/13/1102062480_0:0:2853:1605_1920x0_80_0_0_cb177b4b63f8de4b00e1c83889b5e3af.jpg According to a decree by President of Madagascar Andry Rajoelina, posted on his office's page on Facebook*, Madagascar Defense Minister Gen. Richard Rakotonirina is appointed acting foreign minister.According to a source, now the ex-minister is being reproached for having single-handedly made a decision on a strategic vote in the UN regarding the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, without consulting the government and the president of Madagascar, the portal reported.Madagascar has earlier always expressed neutrality regarding the conflict in Ukraine. The former minister himself, in turn, answered the questions of French radio station RFI about his decision.The UN General Assembly earlier adopted a resolution not recognizing the referendums. A total of 143 countries voted for it, five voted against, 35 abstained. Russia, Belarus, Syria, North Korea and Nicaragua voted against. Earlier, Sputnik sources reported that the United States and its partners had been actively persuading countries to support the Western draft resolution.On September 23-27, the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), Kherson and Zaporozhye regions held referendums on whether to become part of Russia. The vast majority of voters supported joining Russia.On September 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke in the Kremlin after the referendums, and then he signed treaties with the new territories' heads on the admission of the regions to Russia. A few days later, Putin signed federal laws ratifying the admission of the territories to the Russian Federation.*banned in Russia as an extremist organization africa southern africa madagascar 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 referendum, fired, foreign minister, southern africa, madagascar https://sputniknews.com/20221019/mali-vows-to-defend-its-sovereignty-from-french-infringement-1102067338.html Mali Vows to Defend its Sovereignty From French Infringement Mali Vows to Defend its Sovereignty From French Infringement The presence of French troops in Africas Sahel region dates back to 2013, when they were first deployed to Mali to fight terrorism. In August, France withdrew... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T14:58+0000 2022-10-19T14:58+0000 2022-11-23T11:36+0000 africa mali terrorism sahel region un security council (unsc) the united nations (un) france west africa /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/0a/13/1102080581_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_29876f2933963100b4c7941758d6a5e4.jpg Malis government will defend itself if France continues to violate the countrys sovereignty and security, the countrys Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop said on Tuesday at a UN Security Council briefing on Mali in New York.Speaking about violations, the minister reiterated allegations that France had breached Malian airspace by flying drones, military helicopters, and planes, and was providing weapons to extremists that have been operating in Mali for the past decade.The minister also argued that a specific meeting of the Security Council should be held in order to bring to light evidence regarding duplicitous acts, acts of espionage and acts of destabilization waged by France.France's representative denied the accusations.In 2013, France deployed troops to Mali to fight terrorism in the Sahel region.The spark in regional violence followed NATOs intrvention in Libya, where its leader Muammar Gaddafi was murdered in 2011. In 2014, France expanded its presence in the Sahel, launching Operation Barkhane and deployed thousands of soldiers to Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mauritania, and Chad. However, despite the French intervention, the terrorist threat in Mali and neighboring countries kept growing, according to a report from the US-based Africa Center for Strategic Studies.Over the years, dissatisfaction with French forces activities have caused a wave of anti-French protests in the Sahel.Protests against the presence of French troops in Africa took place in Mali in January 2022, Niger in September 2022, and November 2021, Burkina Faso in October and July, Chad in May this year. In August 2022, French troops completed their withdrawal from Mali after falling out with the Malian government and relocated to Niger, prompting demonstrations.The withdrawal coincided with Diops accusations that Paris was undermining Malis security, a matter that was expressed in a letter to the head of the United Nations Security Council in late August 2022. https://sputniknews.com/20221007/why-the-sahel-is-turning-its-back-on-france--could-russia-solve-africas-security-dilemma-1101599125.html africa mali sahel region france west africa Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Olga Borodkina Olga Borodkina 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 Olga Borodkina mali, terrorism, sahel region, un security council (unsc), the united nations (un), france, west africa https://sputniknews.com/20221019/new-swedish-govt-scraps-countrys-feminist-foreign-policy-1102077800.html New Swedish Gov't Scraps Countrys 'Feminist Foreign Policy' New Swedish Gov't Scraps Countrys 'Feminist Foreign Policy' According to the new center-right government, the term feminist foreign policy introduced and utilized by the left-wing Social Democrats is counterproductive... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T13:04+0000 2022-10-19T13:04+0000 2022-10-19T16:55+0000 world sweden scandinavia feminism newsfeed europe /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/01/1081943690_0:0:2967:1668_1920x0_80_0_0_2f842e100821d14545c32850af039b8a.jpg Swedens new government has announced that it is ditching the countrys feminist foreign policy launched by its left-wing predecessors less than a decade ago.Newly-appointed Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said the approach introduced and popularized by the Social Democrats was counterproductive for Sweden's international agenda.The term feminist foreign policy was attributed to former Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom, and the approach which placed gender equality at the heart of Swedens international agenda. Its stated goals included the promotion of economic emancipation abroad, fighting sexual violence, and improving womens political participation across the globe.It was widely touted by Social Democrats, Swedish institutions that deal with foreign policy, and the country's left-leaning press, which all hailed Sweden as the first country to embrace feminism as part of its international outreach. However, as of now, various publications on the subject are in the process of being taken down from the Foreign Ministrys website.On a more concrete note, Billstrom pledged to change parts of Swedish foreign policy and instead put a greater emphasis on European and Nordic-Baltic cooperation.Fruits of Feminist Foreign PolicyWhile Sweden has long put an emphasis on women's rights and made an effort portray itself as their paragon, the efficacy of the so-called feminist foreign policy has been questioned. Among others, its architect, Margot Wallstrom, gained international notoriety by damaging relations with Israel and the Arab world alike. In 2014, in her very first step in office, Wallstrom recognized Palestine as a state, which immediately soured Stockholm's relations with Israel. Subsequently, Wallstrom was declared a persona non grata in Israel for backing an investigation into what was dubbed extrajudicial killings of Palestinians. At the same time, Wallstrom provoked a diplomatic spat with Saudi Arabia by slamming its human rights record and calling its ways medieval.Furthermore, Wallstrom damaged ties with Morocco by moving to recognize Western Sahara, a disputed former Spanish province partially under Moroccan control, as an independent republic. Ultimately, the Swedish government reversed the recognition, giving in to pressure from Rabat.Lastly, Wallstrom was criticized for never fulfilling former Prime Minister Stefan Lofven's previous promise to recognize the Armenian genocide of 1915.The Swedish delegation to Iran was also roasted on social media for donning headscarves during their 2017 trip to the country, with critics, including former Liberals leader Jan Bjorklund calling the appearance ruinous for the feminist foreign policy.At the same time, the label feminist has been slammed for being used too liberally in Swedish politics and social life, to the point of being rendered meaningless. For instance, Swedish officials and journalists have been promoting feminist snow plowing and feminist urban design, drawing ridicule online. sweden scandinavia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Igor Kuznetsov Igor Kuznetsov 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 Igor Kuznetsov sweden, scandinavia, feminism, newsfeed, europe https://sputniknews.com/20221019/photos-three-detained-as-officers-respond-to-suspicious-vehicle-near-us-capitol-building-1102389163.html Photos: Three Detained After Officers Respond to 'Suspicious Vehicle' Near US Capitol Building Photos: Three Detained After Officers Respond to 'Suspicious Vehicle' Near US Capitol Building WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US Capitol Police (USCP) announced on Wednesday that three individuals had been detained amid an ongoing investigation into a... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T20:50+0000 2022-10-19T20:50+0000 2022-10-20T00:54+0000 americas us capitol police (uscp) suspicious investigation washington dc /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0b/17/1090964255_0:320:3072:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_aafcaa24b51639a0a3faa72a9732f575.jpg A Fox News correspondent earlier said that a police service dog had picked up a trace of something in the vehicle, adding that there was a concern about the presence of weapons in the vehicle. Local media outlets have reported that the vehicle in question was a white transit van that had been parked illegally on the Capitol campus, an area in the nation's capital that prohibits all weapons on civilians.It has since been revealed that after officers approached the van, one man inside the vehicle admitted that the group had two handguns and one shotgun in their possession. At present, it is believed that the individuals may be hit with weapons charges; however, police have yet to confirm.A release issued by the USCP later identified the driver of the vehicle as 80-year-old Tony H. Payne, of Tunnel Hill, Georgia. In light of bringing firearms to the prohibited area, Payne was charged for the offense. The two other individuals in the car, an unidentified woman and man, were not officially arrested over the matter; however, the pair were momentarily detained by officials. The trio had initially informed police that they were in the city to deliver documents to the US Supreme Court. The public had been urged to stay away from the area of the 100 block of East Capitol Street, as police shuttered nearby roadways.The development comes a few hours after a suspicious package was reported at or near the US Department of Energy in Germantown, Maryland, some 40 minutes from the US Capitol Building. americas washington dc 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 capitol police (uscp), suspicious, investigation, washington dc https://sputniknews.com/20221019/putin-declares-martial-law-in-new-russian-territories-amid-kievs-shelling-1102078657.html Putin Declares Martial Law in New Russian Territories Amid Kiev's 'Terrorist' Shelling Putin Declares Martial Law in New Russian Territories Amid Kiev's 'Terrorist' Shelling The Russian president convened a meeting of the Security Council on Wednesday to discuss the situation in Ukraine and the Russian regions bordering the... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T11:51+0000 2022-10-19T11:51+0000 2022-10-19T20:57+0000 vladimir putin russia russia martial law security ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/0a/13/1102080187_0:0:3291:1851_1920x0_80_0_0_e493cad2b6080442aeca30597696da46.jpg Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree on the introduction of a state of martial law in Kherson, Zaporozhye, the Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic.The Federation Council is expected to convene later in the day to rubber-stamp the decree.The text of the decree has been published on the Kremlin's website, and indicates that martial law will be introduced at 00:00 on October 20 in the affected areas. The decree is grounded in provisions in the Russian Constitution, and the 2002 federal law 'On Martial Law'.Putin also instructed the government to create a "special coordinating council" to coordinate efforts to improve security, with the council to be headed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.The president also introduced a 'high alert regime' in areas of Russia's Southern Federal District, including Crimea, Krasnodar, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk and Rostov. Regional authorities are instructed to exercise their authority as required to implement measures aimed at ensuring preparedness for territorial and civil defense, the protection of the population in emergency situations, and to meet the needs of the Russian Armed Forces and other military formations, security organs, and local residents as they may arise.Regions are also tasked with strengthening public order and safety, including the protection of military and state facilities, vital infrastructure, transport, communications, energy facilities, and sensitive sites which pose increased risks to the life and safety of people and the environment (nuclear power plants, for example). The measures may also include restrictions on the movement of vehicular traffic and their inspection, and the stepping up of controls over transport, communications, print houses, computing and automated system, and their use for defense needs as required. In addition, any residents temporarily evacuated from dangerous areas must be provided with temporary housing.Wednesday's Security Council meeting and the introduction of martial law and 'high alert regimes' in areas of Russia bordering Ukraine comes following General Surovikin's briefing with media Tuesday night in which he described the situation across the entire front as "tense," and that along the Kharkov direction as "very difficult" as Ukrainian forces continue attempts to make advances.Saying the Russian military has been apprised of plans by Kiev to use prohibited means of warfare in Kherson, including indiscriminate missile and rocket attacks against the city and a massed missile strike on the Khakovskaya Dam, Surovikin warned that such actions would cause major casualties among the civilian population and widespread material destruction.Earlier in the day Wednesday, Kherson region acting governor Vladimir Saldo warned that the destruction of the locks at the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station would cause water levels to rise by one meter, causing mass flooding. The facility has already been targeted in a Ukrainian HIMARS attack, according to the Russian military.Kherson, Zaporozhye and the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics joined Russia earlier this month following referendums held in late September in which vast majorities of residents voted in favor of their regions becoming part of the Russian Federation. Western officials dismissed the referendums as a "sham," accused Russia of "annexing" the territories, and vowed to ramp up military support for Ukraine. https://sputniknews.com/20221019/kiev-preparing-for-clearing-ops-in-occupied-areas-according-to-us-army-methodology--source-1102061154.html https://sputniknews.com/20221018/russians-ukrainian-one-people-moscow-wants-kiev-to-break-free-of-nato-west-russian-commander-1102019824.html https://sputniknews.com/20221017/eu-expected-to-greenlight-training-mission-for-ukraine-troops-with-hubs-in-poland-germany-1101914315.html russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov 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 Ilya Tsukanov vladimir putin, russia, martial law, security, ukraine https://sputniknews.com/20221019/pyongyang-fires-artillery-shots-toward-maritime-border-in-yellow-sea-seoul-1102070961.html Pyongyang Fires Artillery Shots Toward Maritime Border in Yellow Sea: Seoul Pyongyang Fires Artillery Shots Toward Maritime Border in Yellow Sea: Seoul SEOUL (Sputnik) - North Korea on Wednesday fired another 100 artillery shots toward the Yellow Sea, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said. 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T09:28+0000 2022-10-19T09:28+0000 2022-10-19T09:28+0000 military dprk missile /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/05/07/1095338945_0:0:2863:1611_1920x0_80_0_0_629de09a5ffcbaeb9ec4b733c604a8d5.jpg The shots were fired from the Yonan County in South Hwanghae Province at around 12:30 p.m. local time (03:30 GMT). The shells landed in the western buffer zone set under the 2018 inter-Korean military agreement. Seoul has repeatedly warned Pyongyang that artillery shelling within buffer zones in the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea is a violation of the agreement.According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, North Korea fired up to 250 artillery shots into waters off its east and west coasts from around 10 p.m. (13:00 GMT) on Tuesday.North Korea has carried out eight test launches since September 25 and over 25 since the beginning of 2022. Pyongyang has emphasized that its test launches are being carried out in response to the refusal of the US and South Korea to stop joint military drills, which Pyongyang believes threaten regional stability. 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 dprk, missile https://sputniknews.com/20221019/report-us-trained-african-troops-carried-out-at-least-eight-coups-in-west-africa-since-2008-1102065127.html Report: US-Trained African Troops Carried Out at Least Eight Coups in West Africa Since 2008 Report: US-Trained African Troops Carried Out at Least Eight Coups in West Africa Since 2008 The US Africa Command (AFRICOM) has reportedly confirmed that several African military leaders who conducted coups in their countries participated in... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T16:33+0000 2022-10-19T16:33+0000 2022-11-24T11:00+0000 africa us burkina faso mali mauritania gambia military coup military training west africa guinea /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/0a/13/1102087309_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_e5b8c99b741087d518717d1a3dfe8647.jpg Since 2008, US-trained African military officers have attempted at least nine coups in five West African countries, of which eight have been successful, Rolling Stone reported. The successful coups indicated by Rolling Stone occurred in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, and Mauritania in different years; the unsuccessful one took place in Gambia in 2014.According to the report, citing AFRICOM, warlords who had previously participated in the Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA) Flintlock exercises, which are claimed by the US Department of Defense to be intended to strengthen the ability of African nations to counter terrorism, have conducted five coups since 2015.Kelly Cahalan, spokeswoman for US Africa Command, claimed that "military seizures of power are inconsistent with U.S. military training and education.At the same time, according to the outlet, the Burkina Faso officer Gilbert Diendere was trained by the US in 2010, and in 2015 he staged a coup in Burkina Faso. Another Burkinabe military figure, Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who overthrew the authorities of the country in January this year, also participated in the exercises. He remained the head of the country until the end of September, when he was overthrown by a group of military forces led by Ibrahim Traore, whose connections with US instructors are unknown.Among other military figures who participated in the US-led exercise and later took part in takeovers in their countries are Colonel Mamady Dumbua, who became president of Guinea in 2021 as a result of a coup, and Colonel Assimi Goita, who seized power in Mali the same year..The Flintlock exercises that began as a Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET)-like program in 1968 and initially included a number of Western countries were first conducted in Africa in 2005. The JCET exercises are aimed to provide US Special Forces with training opportunities abroad. The Flintlock exercises, as well as JCET, are also intended to let the host countries practice basics such as small-unit tactics, marksmanship, land navigation, and combat medical skills.Rear Adm. Milton Jamie Sands, the Special Operations Command Africa chief, denied US involvement in the coups and said it was a coincidence as the US had partnered with regimes that didnt align with the rights and will of their people and ended up being overthrown. According to Rear Adm. Sands, the US has no other option but to continue with its support for African countries, even though Washington can't stop the coups.After 9/11, the Pentagon expanded its military activities in Africa, creating an extensive network of outposts in the north of Africa from Senegal to Kenya, and Tunisia to Gabon conducting numerous training missions throughout the continent.Retired Army Brig. Gen. Don Bolduc, who headed Special Operations Command Africa until 2017, told the Rolling Stone that the US most elite troops were operating in nine African countries - Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Somalia, and Tunisia in 2021.All in all, 14 percent of US commandos sent abroad in 2021 were dispatched to Africa, constituting the second biggest percentage after the Middle East. https://sputniknews.com/20220930/burkina-faso-military-leader-deposed-constitution--transitional-charter-suspended---army-captain-1101395939.html africa burkina faso mali mauritania gambia west africa guinea Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Olga Borodkina Olga Borodkina 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 Olga Borodkina us, burkina faso, mali, mauritania, gambia, military coup, military training, west africa, guinea https://sputniknews.com/20221019/ripping-up-ties-with-tehran-would-only-wind-up-hurting-ukraines-economy-expert-says-1102094816.html Ripping Up Ties With Tehran Would Only Wind Up Hurting Ukraines Economy, Expert Says Ripping Up Ties With Tehran Would Only Wind Up Hurting Ukraines Economy, Expert Says Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba announced Tuesday that he would ask President Zelensky to sever diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic over... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T18:19+0000 2022-10-19T18:19+0000 2022-10-19T20:57+0000 world iran trade russia drone unmanned aerial vehicle ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/16219/24/162192492_0:213:3855:2381_1920x0_80_0_0_6c46a5328b40146aa2b04adef0d3e270.jpg A Ukrainian decision to cut off relations with Iran would have virtually no impact on the Middle Eastern nation, and only cause hefty economic losses for Ukraine, Iranian journalist and Russia expert Ruhollah Modaber told Sputnik.Characterizing Kievs threats to sever ties as a reflection of the nations status as an American puppet, Modaber stressed that in the international system, Iran is a strong country, and that those who terminate relations with it end up facing losses themselves.According to Iranian customs data, trade between Iran and Ukraine over the last 10 months of 2021 amounted to $162.5 million, with Ukraine selling $111.7 million worth of goods to the Islamic Republic, and Iran exporting $50.8 million-worth of goods to the Eastern European nation. Observatory of Economic Complexity figures show that a whopping 95 percent of Ukrainian exports to Iran in 2020 consisted of corn and seed oils, while Irans major exports included fruits and vegetables, nuts, medicaments and styrene polymers.Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani dismissed Kievs allegations about the supply of Iranian-made drones to Moscow on Tuesday, saying that such baseless claims, made on the basis of false information and ill-intentioned presumptions, are part of the targeted and political propaganda campaign being waged by the media of some countries against the Islamic Republic of Iran.Kanaani stressed that Tehran is ready for talks with Kiev to dispel its concerns, and reiterated Irans neutrality in the Ukrainian crisis, including multiple meetings with both Russian and Ukrainian officials aimed at stopping the fighting.In a separate statement Tuesday, Kanaani also slammed the European Union over plans to slap new sanctions against Iran over the drone claims, saying it was deeply regrettable that certain political motivations as well as rel[iance] on baseless, distorted information and fabricated claims by the enemies of the Iranian nation and the well-known media affiliated with them are the basis of such a wrong and unconstructive decision.Vowing that Iran would take reciprocal sanctions against the relevant European individuals and institutions, the official reiterated that the Islamic Republic already considers that European Union and its members as the great violators of human rights due to their inaction on and cooperation regarding the illegal maximum sanctions of the United States.Sporadic reports on secret Iranian deliveries of advanced drones to Russia began this summer in US, Israeli, Ukrainian and Russian media, mushrooming dramatically earlier this month after Moscow began a large-scale campaign of missile and drone strikes against military and energy infrastructure targets across Ukraine in response to the attack on the Crimean Bridge and other sabotage operations by Kiev. Moscow has dismissed claims that its using Iranian drones, with presidential spokesman Dmitri Peskov saying Tuesday that the Kremlin has no information to the contrary. The hardware that is used is Russian. You know that. It has Russian names. You can address all other questions to the Defense Ministry, he said.The speculation about the use of Iranian drones in Ukraine comes amid the dramatic advances witnessed in recent years in the Islamic Republics drone technology, with the Middle Eastern nation fielding nearly three dozen different varieties of attack, reconnaissance and suicide strike drones, and demonstrating their effective use in drills and strikes against terrorist targets in neighboring Iraq. https://sputniknews.com/20221019/why-are-the-us-and-eu-upending-the-iran-nuclear-deal-1102076571.html https://sputniknews.com/20221016/washington-admits-to-aggressive-meddling-in-iran-as-tehran-recalls-1953-coup-1101906653.html https://sputniknews.com/20221009/iran-unveils-plan-to-plug-into-russian-central-asian-sco-members-electricity-grids-1101655899.html iran russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov 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 Ilya Tsukanov iran, trade, russia, drone, unmanned aerial vehicle, ukraine https://sputniknews.com/20221019/russia-urges-us-to-follow-suit-by-destroying-chemical-weapons-arsenal-1102090482.html Russia Urges US to Follow Suit by Destroying Chemical Weapons Arsenal Russia Urges US to Follow Suit by Destroying Chemical Weapons Arsenal WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Russia calls on the United States to follow its lead and eliminate its chemical weapons stockpiles, Russian Deputy Representative on... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T15:56+0000 2022-10-19T15:56+0000 2022-10-19T15:56+0000 russia russia us chemical weapons /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107588/08/1075880814_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_bafc78cafa6bcae8a87012bf3a7f12a5.jpg "In 2017, three years ahead of the deadline set by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, we destroyed one of the world's largest chemical weapons arsenals," Vorontsov said. "We urge the United States to follow the example we've set. The United States has all the necessary financial and technological capacity to eliminate outstanding stockpiles of toxic substances."In May, the Russian embassy in Washington urged the United States to destroy its stockpiles of chemical weapons as required by the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).The mission recalled that Russia completely destroyed its stockpiles of chemical weapons in 2017, which was verified by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).The mission urged American society to question why Washington is delaying the elimination of its chemical weapons stockpiles, unlike other countries.The CWC went into effect in 1997. As of now, it has 193 states-parties. The CWC prohibits the use, development, production, stockpiling, and transfer of chemical weapons and agents to other countries. The OPCW was established along with the CWC to implement and oversee the convention. https://sputniknews.com/20220401/white-house-us-sending-kiev-equipment-to-deploy-in-event-of-chemical-biological-attack-1094407292.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, us, chemical weapons https://sputniknews.com/20221019/scholars-us-expansion-of-coast-guard--cyber-prowess-in-asia-pacific-part-of-anti-china-strategy-1102093424.html Scholars: US Expansion of Coast Guard & Cyber Prowess in Asia-Pacific Part of Anti-China Strategy Scholars: US Expansion of Coast Guard & Cyber Prowess in Asia-Pacific Part of Anti-China Strategy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas on October 19 accused Beijing of posing a cyber-threat to the US and its allies while speaking to Bloomberg... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T18:55+0000 2022-10-19T18:55+0000 2022-10-19T18:55+0000 opinion & analysis us china asia & pacific coast guard semiconductors security pivot to asia show on sputnik radio joe biden barack obama /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/12/1092336803_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_7c204c8774f3a49cae953f783ee15e86.jpg "The expansion for security collaboration in the Indo-Pacific was signaled years ago, and is encapsulated in a document released in 2015 entitled 'A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower.' In practice it means maintaining existing formal alliances and developing new partnerships across a wide spectrum of security activities, both civilian and military," said Jay Batongbacal, director at the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea.Still, the shift of the US strategic focus to the Asia-Pacific started much earlier, under the Barack Obama administration. In mid-2010, at the ASEAN Regional Forum meeting in Hanoi, then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced the US' "vital interest" in freedom of navigation in the South China Sea region and in keeping the sea open for "normal commercial activities." The secretary of state said that Washington would be willing to facilitate a collaborative process for addressing the territorial claims prompting a wave of criticism from Beijing over interference in the maritime dispute to which the US was not a claimant. Obama's "Pivot to Asia" also envisaged bolstering trade alliances with the region which, however, did not include the People's Republic of China (PRC).The Biden administration's National Security Strategy (NSS) openly called China "America's most consequential geopolitical challenge" and doubled down on superpower competition with the PRC. According to the US president, the overwhelming challenge for Washington in the coming years would be "outcompeting China and restraining Russia." China "is the only country with both the intent to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to advance that objective," the president wrote.Even though the long-anticipated NSS was released in October 2022, the Biden administration started to ramp up tensions with Beijing over a host of issues including trade, human rights, the South China Sea and the status of Taiwan, from the early months of his presidency. Following the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, Biden told ABC that the US "would respond" if there was an action against a NATO ally, adding, "same with Japan, same with South Korea, same with Taiwan." Since that time, the US president has on several occasions pledged to "defend Taiwan" militarily. Beijing has reacted toughly to each of Biden's provocative statements, even though the White House has backpedaled on the president's claim every time.US Coast Guard: Operating Thousands of Miles From US CoastThe DHS boss' recent announcement of the expansion of the US Coast Guard operations in the Asia-Pacific region from March 2023 should be seen as part of the Biden administration's overall strategy, according to Sputnik's interviewees.During his Singapore visit, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said the US had committed $60 million for the deployment of US personnel and assets with partners to facilitate the "defense" of "sovereignty" and the countering of illegal fishing activities in the region.Beijing has repeatedly protested against the use of the US Coast Guard near the Peoples Republics home shores - thousands of kilometers from the US coast.Still, it is by no means accidental that the US is using the Coast Guard, which operates under the US Department of Homeland Security, to assert and expand Washington's posture in the Asia-Pacific. In March 2017, RAND argued that "less militaristic" and "low-key" coast guards are a new asset of choice in the Asia-Pacific. According to RAND, the US had to "enhance interoperability between coast guard and naval commanders" and "begin to develop games that deal exclusively with grey-zone escalation scenarios involving non-military actors such as coast guards, maritime militia, and fishing vessels."In June 2019, The Diplomat's Jay Tristan Tarriela drew attention to the fact that the involvement of the United States Coast Guard in Washington's Asia Pacific strategy and, particularly, freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs) was "remarkably making headlines." According to Tarriela, the US exploit of its "white hulls" largely replicates Japan's practice of "establishing stable maritime cooperation with littoral states." Coast Guards are "low-key but relevant, effective in policing yet not aggressive, and lightly armed but not provocative," the author noted, adding that at the same time, it allows Washington's regional partners to maintain the appearance of non-military cooperation with the US. ASEAN members are particularly sensitive about collaborating with US naval forces, as they fear undermining relations with China, The Diplomat admitted.However, some Asia-Pacific nations haven't bought into the US trick: in August 2022, the Solomon Islands did not allow a US Coast Guard vessel to make a routine stop to refuel and resupply at one of its ports. Earlier, in April 2022, the Pacific island nation signed a security pact with China.The expansion of Coast Guard operations in Asia Pacific and, the South China Sea in particular, is fraught with risks, according to Dr. Zhang Baohui: "if US Coast Guard ships run into situations of face-offs with their Chinese counterparts in the South China Sea, chances of accidental military conflicts could rise," he noted.For his part, Jay Batongbacal projected that "China will respond by continuing to strengthen and flex its military muscle closer to home, notably in the South China Sea, Yellow Sea, East China Sea.""It will likely increase the tempo of its operations and presence in these sea areas. At the same time, it will try to expand and cultivate its economic linkages with regional countries in order to chip away at US influence," Batongbacal said.Asia-Pacific states are aware of potential security risks related to the US-China rivalry and prefer to remain somewhat neutral in the tensions between Washington and Beijing, noted Dr. Teo. "There is a tendency for the regional countries to explore and embark on cooperative policies if it is in their interests," he said.Asian States Don't Want to Choose Sides in US-China Hi-Tech RivalryMayorkas also warned that Washington's Asian partners of the risks involved in doing business with and relying on the technological infrastructure provided by the PRC." He said reliance on Chinese-built infrastructure creates significant technological vulnerability. Speaking to Bloomberg on Wednesday, the DHS chief said China has now become "very, very aggressive" in selling its telecom technology globally. "We feel compelled to share the perils of allowing that to occur with our close partners and allies," he highlighted.Earlier, Biden's predecessor launched nothing short of a crusade against Chinese telecom companies, most notably Huawei. Under the Trump presidency, many US allies, including Anglophone states comprising the Five Eyes intelligence bloc, prohibited the use of Chinese technologies at the core of their telecoms infrastructure. The Biden administration went even further earlier this month by announcing a new export controls policy on artificial intelligence (AI), supercomputer and semiconductor technologies to China aimed at "choking off" the PRC's access and the ability to design high-end AI chips. Earlier, in August, Biden signed into law the CHIPS and Science Act providing around 280 billion dollars in new funding to boost domestic research and manufacturing of semiconductors in the US."US cyber-diplomacy may induce cooperation only insofar as the actual technologies between the US and its prospective partners are compatible and acceptable (e.g., 4G vs 5G mobile internet signal technologies), and to the extent that their policy positions/standards on certain key issues (e.g., privacy, manufacturers) coincide," said Jay Batongbacal. "These can take longer, especially if the prospective partner is already heavily invested in other countries' technology (e.g., Chinese brands dominate in the cellular telephone industries of most countries on account of low costs)."As for cases regarding provocative US maritime operations, Southeast Asian countries don't want to choose sides when it comes to the hi-tech US-China competition, according to Dr. Zhang Baohui. Therefore it's a big question whether they will follow the US call to abandon regional technological cooperation with China, he concluded. https://sputniknews.com/20221018/us-pushes-to-expand-coast-guard-patrols-in-indo-pacific-to-hem-in-china-1102007024.html https://sputniknews.com/20221004/solomon-islands-force-us-to-remove-china-reference-in-pacific-declaration-1101490771.html https://sputniknews.com/20221004/us-efforts-to-curb-semiconductor-tech-exports-to-china-are-nonsense-pundit-says-1101509157.html china south china sea 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, china, asia & pacific, coast guard, semiconductors, security, pivot to asia show on sputnik radio, joe biden, barack obama, donald trump, south china sea https://sputniknews.com/20221019/state-dept-on-russia-turkey-gas-hub-us-working-with-ankara-on-boosting-energy-security-1102094247.html State Dept. on Russia-Turkey Gas Hub: US Working With Ankara on Boosting Energy Security State Dept. on Russia-Turkey Gas Hub: US Working With Ankara on Boosting Energy Security WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States is working closely with Turkey on boosting its energy security, US State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said on... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T17:48+0000 2022-10-19T17:48+0000 2022-10-19T17:48+0000 americas gas russia turkey us /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/06/06/1083084272_0:143:2992:1826_1920x0_80_0_0_ad326cf2dcba05baa920e96596e3b393.jpg "We have urged Turkey and all of our allies and partners that no one should become a safe heaven for illicit Russian assets or transactions, and we will continue to make that case," Patel said. "As it relates to the energy conversation, we have continued to urge our allies to take steps to diversify their energy sources to reduce energy reliance on Russia. And in the case of Turkey, we are working with them closely to assist in their own efforts to enhance energy security in the long."Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that he had reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin on a gas hub, adding that Europe can use Russian gas through Turkey.Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that Moscow redirect gas flows from the damaged Nord Stream pipelines to Turkey. https://sputniknews.com/20221019/erdogan-says-agreed-with-putin-on-gas-hub-europe-can-use-russian-gas-through-turkey-1102072630.html americas russia turkey 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 gas, russia, turkey, us https://sputniknews.com/20221019/taipei-washington-in-talks-on-co-production-of-weapons-reports-1102153613.html Taipei, Washington in Talks on Co-Production of Weapons: Reports Taipei, Washington in Talks on Co-Production of Weapons: Reports The Pentagon approved the sale of an additional $1.1 billion in military equipment to Taiwan last month, including Harpoon and Sidewinder missiles and advanced... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T19:03+0000 2022-10-19T19:03+0000 2022-10-19T19:03+0000 taiwan china arms sales weapons military /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/04/15/1094942235_0:0:3640:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_f4cb03d9e842954024f7199bc6c22fc4.jpg Washington and Taipei are negotiating the joint production of weapons, Nikkei has reported, citing three people said to be familiar with the discussions.The talks are said to be at the initial discussions stage, with the plan calling for the transfer of US military technologies to Taiwan for them to be manufactured on the island, or to build weapons in the United States using components made in Taiwan.To date, US and Taiwanese officials and weapons manufacturers have long maintained that no coproduction of any weapons or ammunition takes place, and that US-Taiwanese cooperation in the field is limited to the sale of American weapons to the island.The United States has sold tens of billions of dollars worth of military hardware to Taiwan over the decades, even though this constitutes a violation of the One-China policy governing US-China relations, and Washingtons informal ties with Taipei.The Pentagon approved $1.1 billion in additional arms sales to Taiwan last month, with China blasting the decision and saying it gravely undermines the Peoples Republic sovereignty and security interests, harms China-US ties and sends a gravely wrong signal to Taiwan independence separatist forces. Beijing also slapped sanctions on the US weapons giants expected to make a killing off the arms sales.Also last month, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee advanced controversial draft legislation dubbed the Taiwan Policy Act of 2022, with the bipartisan bill requiring Washington to provide Taipei with $4.5 billion in security assistance, and a $2 billion loan authority for additional weapons.Despite Washingtons lavish promises, US arms deliveries to Taiwan have faced setbacks this year as the nations military-industrial complex pumps out tens of billions of dollars worth of equipment to send to Ukraine. In May, US media calculated that US defense contractors had run up a $14.2 billion backlog on military equipment Taiwan bought back in 2019 but has yet to receive. The same month, Taiwans Ministry of National Defense announced that it was searching for a stopgap alternative to US-made M109A6 self-propelled howitzers after being informed by their manufacturers that they would not be delivered until 2026 at the earliest.Beijing considers Taiwan an inalienable part of China destined for eventual reunification with the mainland under the One Country-Two Systems model currently used in Hong Kong and Macau. Speaking at the Chinese Communist Partys 20thParty Congress on Sunday, President Xi Jinping reiterated Beijings intention to achieve reunification peacefully, but warned that China could not rule out the use of force in the event of provocations.With all our efforts, we sincerely insist on the prospect of peaceful reunification, but we will never promise to renounce the use of force and reserve the possibility of taking all necessary measures against the interference of external forces and the extremely small number of pro-Taiwan independence separatists and their secessionist activities, Xi warned. https://sputniknews.com/20221018/congressman-says-us-should-use-hard-power-approach-to-deter-china-on-taiwan-1102019401.html https://sputniknews.com/20221016/chinas-20th-communist-party-congress-kicks-off-in-beijing-1101889078.html china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov 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 Ilya Tsukanov taiwan, china, arms, sales, weapons https://sputniknews.com/20221019/uk-could-target-chinese-diplomatic-staff-after-protesters-storm-consulate-1102075477.html UK Could Target Chinese Diplomatic Staff After Protesters Storm Consulate UK Could Target Chinese Diplomatic Staff After Protesters Storm Consulate Downing Street is reportedly preparing to label China as a "threat" to British interests, and has now threatened to prosecute former RAF pilots if they take... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T14:00+0000 2022-10-19T14:00+0000 2022-10-19T14:00+0000 world uk james cleverly china manchester hong kong consulate /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/0a/13/1102075711_0:102:1964:1207_1920x0_80_0_0_4612823cf0ac8ef4e59e54e191aff3b9.jpg The British government could launch a diplomatic spat with Beijing after a protester was injured while trying to storm the Chinese consulate in Manchester.Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has not ruled out retaliation over the "completely unacceptable" incident on Sunday, saying he had summoned Beijing's charge daffairs in London to explain "at the first available opportunity."But the Chinese Foreign Ministry hot back, saying it had raised the "malicious riots" with Cleverley's ministry. The protester, named only as "Bob", was one of several who tried to force their way onto the grounds of the consulate during a demonstration in favour of "pro-democracy" activists in the former British colony of Hong Kong.Media reports said he was intercepted by men who "appeared" to emerge from the building to complain about what the consulate called "deeply offensive imagery and slogans" used by the protesters.Consul General Zheng Xiyuan said his staff were attacked by the mob who "stormed" the gate.Cleverly told BBC Radio Four's Today Programme on Wednesday that he was waiting for the outcome of a Greater Manchester Police investigation before deciding "what other action I might choose to take in response to that."A video of the scuffle shows a man, allegedly Zheng, knocking over banners on the street. He is shoved as he pushes through protesters blocking the gate to re-enter the grounds.The man allegedly grabbed "Bob" by the hair and pulled him through the gate, where he was beaten by other staff. The protester reportedly needed overnight hospital treatment afterwards for injuries including cuts below his eye.But CCTV and other video footage showed protesters repeatedly kicking an embassy worker in the head as he lay on the ground. The consulate did not comment on whether Zheng was involved in the incident.He voiced the hope that British authorities would ensure the security of Chinese diplomatic missions and their staff in the UK in future.Wang had previously stressed that embassies and consulates had the right to take measures to ensure the peace of their missions. The UK returned sovereignty over Hong Kong to China in 1997 after 156 years. The territory has since held the status of a "special administrative region" within China, but attempts in recent years to reform its archaic colonial-era system of government were met with violent protests led by the student 'Umbrella' movement. New Prime Minister Liz Truss' government is reportedly preparing to label China as a "threat" to British interests in a review of foreign and defence policy, which currently designates it as a "systemic competitor".Reports earlier this week that the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) was seeking retired Royal Air Force pilots to work as advisors prompted moves to change the law in response. https://sputniknews.com/20221018/uk-may-prosecute-former-military-pilots-training-chinese-officers---defense-ministry-1102058871.html china manchester hong kong 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 uk, james cleverly , china, manchester, hong kong, consulate https://sputniknews.com/20221019/us-jury-convicts-killer-of-kristin-smart-more-than-25-years-after-her-disappearance-1102067193.html US Jury Convicts Killer of Kristin Smart More Than 25 Years After Her Disappearance US Jury Convicts Killer of Kristin Smart More Than 25 Years After Her Disappearance In May 1996, a California Polytechnic State University student, 19-year-old Kristin Smart, returning from a student party at a university dormitory... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T12:42+0000 2022-10-19T12:42+0000 2022-10-19T12:42+0000 americas us murder flores disappearance crime sex crime /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/102837/93/1028379318_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_875943a0b6ee77503f2d9ba3ed8803dd.jpg On Tuesday, a jury in Monterey County Superior Court in Salinas, California convicted Paul Flores of murdering Kristin Smart, a California Polytechnic State University student who disappeared from a campus more than a quarter of a century ago. The jury also acquitted Flores father, Ruben Flores, who was accused of helping cover up the murder. Flores was one of Smarts college classmates at the time, and accompanied her after an off-campus party. The convicted felon now faces 25 years to life in prison and will remain in custody. At the end of May 1996, Kristina Smart disappeared after an off-campus party. Smarts body was never found and she was formally declared dead in 2002.Paul Flores was questioned immediately after Smart's disappearance as one of the last people to have seen her, as he volunteered to walk Smart to her dorm, since he lived next to her. However, he was nor arrested nor charged at the time.Only in 2020 did law enforcement carry out search warrants on properties linked to Paul Flores and his family. A year later, Paul was named the prime suspect in the case and Flores and his father were arrested. https://sputniknews.com/20221013/chicago-tenant-charged-with-murdering-landlord-hiding-remains-in-freezer-1101828805.html americas flores 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, murder, flores, disappearance, crime, sex crime https://sputniknews.com/20221019/us-may-be-compelled-to-answer-questions-on-biolabs-in-ukraine-this-time-at-unsc-1102094360.html US May Be Compelled to Answer Questions on Biolabs in Ukraine, This Time at UNSC US May Be Compelled to Answer Questions on Biolabs in Ukraine, This Time at UNSC The issue of US biolabs in Ukraine has once again received wide international publicity. On October 18, Belarus, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, China, Cuba, Nicaragua... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T18:24+0000 2022-10-19T18:24+0000 2022-10-19T20:57+0000 opinion & analysis russia us china biolab bioweapon biowarfare ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107865/83/1078658330_0:64:1280:784_1920x0_80_0_0_c6dcff3803bdb2a7cbf4bd8e35b5e034.jpg Article VI of the Biological Weapons Convention allows states-parties to lodge a complaint with the United Nations Security Council if they suspect a breach of treaty obligations by another state. In the event of such a development, the United States, as a state-party to the convention, would be obliged to cooperate in any investigation that may be initiated by the UNSC.Chinese experts interviewed by Sputnik believe that if the US has nothing to hide, it should provide a comprehensive explanation.In early March 2022, the Russian Ministry of Defense released information indicating that the United States was deploying an extensive biological research program in Ukraine. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the US has spent more than $200 million on 46 biological laboratories in Ukraine that participated in the US military biological program.According to Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, chief of the Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection Forces of the Russian Armed Forces, one of the priority tasks of the Ukrainian laboratories was to collect and send to the United States strains of pathogens of dangerous infectious diseases - cholera, anthrax, tularemia, and others. At the same time, the transportation of the pathogens was not controlled within the WHO, BWC, or other international institutions, and various biological agents and substances were tested on Ukrainian military personnel, indigent citizens, and patients of mental hospitals.According to Russia, the United States, under the guise of scientific activities and efforts to improve laboratory security systems, has been developing biological weapons in Ukraine.According to data obtained by the Russian MoD from Ukrainian officials, traces of US activities were partially destroyed on the day the Russian special military operation was launched, and many pathogens were removed from the country, indicating that the US intends to continue research outside the country. Indirectly, this was also indicated by the words of US Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland. During a March 8 hearing of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, she reported on the presence of biosafety research facilities in Ukraine. She expressed concern about the possibility that these biolaboratories and materials stored there might come under the control of the Russian Armed Forces.The US subsequently denied any connection between the laboratories and the Pentagon. However, according to Yang Mian, a professor at the Institute of International Relations, Communication University of China, the very existence of such laboratories raises questions:"Russia says that it has found many US biolaboratories in Ukraine near Russia's borders, some of which were researching infectious diseases. The US denied the accusations, saying that they were engaged in scientific research. Outside observers have every reason to ask: Why did the US set up so many laboratories around Russia? The US could have conducted research on these diseases internally as well as externally. Therefore, this situation is suspicious one way or another," he said.According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the US Department of Defense controls 336 biolaboratories in 30 countries around the world. In this regard, the issue of US-led biological research is of great concern to China, and this information provided by the Russian Ministry of Defense immediately resonated in the country."China has always demanded that the United States disclose the purpose and role of its own biological experiments. China's concern could greatly increase international attention to this issue, as well as increasing pressure on the United States. China is very concerned about the safety of human life. Regarding this issue, China believes that the United States has a responsibility and should give a transparent and open report to the world," Yang Mian explained.According to the expert, what is most suspicious is the ambiguous actions of the United States, and the attempts to cover up the issue:Lyu Chao, dean of the Institute of American and East Asian Studies at Liaoning University, holds a similar view:Both experts were cautious in their assessments and noted that the topic of US biolaboratories in Ukraine requires additional clarification, both in terms of US arguments and scientific expertise. Due to the politicization of the situation, it is unlikely that the United States will agree to provide more clarity and engage in truly open cooperation. Moreover, judging by the experience of the September BWC meeting, where half of the participating countries did not attend, not everyone has the courage to openly question Washington's position. Nevertheless, the current initiative of the eight countries is a case where the Western hegemon does not find itself in its usual role of prosecutor, but in the role of justifying itself. Perhaps the United States will have to answer questions that worry so many countries after all. https://sputniknews.com/20220516/russia-plans-to-launch-un-investigation-into-violation-of-biological-weapons-convention-in-ukraine-1095537571.html https://sputniknews.com/20220731/us-publisher-what-if-covid-outbreak-is-part-of-the-pentagons-biowarfare-plan-1097973485.html russia china ukraine 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, us, china, biolab, bioweapon, biowarfare, ukraine https://sputniknews.com/20221019/what-putins-declaration-of-martial-law-in-frontline-areas-will-mean-for-kiev-1102091262.html What Putins Declaration of Martial Law in Frontline Areas Will Mean for Kiev What Putins Declaration of Martial Law in Frontline Areas Will Mean for Kiev President Vladimir Putin signed a decree Wednesday instituting martial law in Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye, and indicated that the heightened... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T16:34+0000 2022-10-19T16:34+0000 2022-10-20T07:40+0000 russia martial law analysis opinion & analysis ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/04/15/1094927265_0:0:3013:1694_1920x0_80_0_0_e3cee8245627dafb091c281657c068db.jpg Moscows decision to introduce martial law in its four new territories is designed to counter the increasingly desperate tactics deployed by the NATO-backed government in Kiev, and together with other recent measures, should dramatically improve Russias warfighting capacity, competency, and performance, a pair of veteran US military affairs experts have told Sputnik.Most military analysts, myself included, have just been scratching our collective heads going, what is going on? Why isnt Russia performing the way its designed to perform? Why is Russia giving Ukraine a chance to function militarily with a level of competence that should never exist at this stage in the conflict? Ukraine should not be able to do what its doing right now, even with the support of NATO, Major (ret.) Scott Ritter, a former US Marine Corps intelligence officer and independent military analyst, said in an interview.Emphasizing that the Ukraine crisis has long gone beyond being a conflict between Moscow and Kiev, and that its actually a confrontation between Russia and the combined might of NATO, the European Union, the United States and its "rules-based international order," Ritter thinks Russias leadership has gradually come to realize that the original scale and scope of the special military operation launched in February using the resources of a peacetime army and designed to maximally preserve Ukrainian infrastructure and lives, was insufficient given the massive level of Western support for Kiev.Accordingly, whether it be through partial mobilization last month or the introduction of martial law in the border regions Wednesday, President Putin is simply putting in place the mechanisms necessary to defend Russia properly, Ritter believes.Ritter expects the special coordinating council set up alongside the martial law decree to take measures to ensure that there is a singularity of focus on prevailing, winning the special military operation in as efficient a manner as possible, including ironing out inefficiencies in the Russian system exposed by partial mobilization, which will manifest themselves in dead Russians if not nipped in the bud.Surprise is That Martial Law Didnt Come SoonerFormer Pentagon analyst and retired US Air Force Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski similarly thinks that martial law is the logical next step for Russia in the face of a series of factors which could motivate an increasingly desperate Kiev to turn to terrorism in the frontline Russian regions.These factors include waning support for Ukraine among the public in the US and Europe, the looming US midterm elections, which may result in the further slowing of US aid to Kiev, and increasingly aggressive and fantastical public rhetoric coming from Zelensky and his neocon backers in the wake of Russias infrastructure attacks, Kwiatkowski says.The retired US officer expects the stepped up security measures to mean a more visible troop presence and increased vigilance by local residents looking out for attacks, specifically terrorist-style attacks against non-military targets. As far as the Donbass is concerned, she doesnt believe the measures to mean a significant change in civilians lives.The people there have been shelled and under fire, off and on, by the Ukrainian army for nearly a decade, and the militias there are used to low intensity conflict and well-seasoned, Kwiatkowski said.New BroomThe same cannot be said for the battlefield, the observer says, particularly in light of General Sergei Surovikins recent appointment as commander of all forces involved in the Ukraine operation.Ritter similarly expects martial law to unshackle commanders at the front and their civilian counterparts in rear areas, allowing them to streamline decision-making, and focus efforts in a way that is singularly focused on achieving military victory, as opposed to sustaining civil society. This doesn't mean that civilians will be ignored, etc., but it means that the number one priority for the moment is military victory. And that's the importance of martial law.The observer expects the measures introduced Wednesday to unleash the totality of conventional Russian military power, and fears they will have absolutely devastating effects for Kiev.'Martial Law Will Help Russia Protect Its Citizens' General Secretary of the Crimean Development Fund Vasfi Sel, for his part, told Sputnik that in his opinion, martial law was declared in Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye in order to avoid a possible catastrophe in these four areas by creating special coordinating bodies there.The collective West demands that Ukraine should attack these territories, Sel noted, citing Sergei Surovikin, the commander of Russian forces taking part in the special operation in Ukraine, as saying that Russia has obtained intelligence information that the Kiev regime may resort to prohibited methods of war when attacking the areas.Introduction of martial law in the four areas is necessary for Russia to protect its own citizens, including with the help of military tools, says Iranian military expert Mohammad-Hassan Sangtarash.He pointed to a number of Western countries who do not recognize the legitimacy of the referendums on joining Russia held in the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR) and (LPR), as well as Kherson and Zaporozhye regions in late September.Sangtarash added that those countries are trying in every possible way to create tension and split in society, including in the territories that became part of Russia.Retired Serbian general Mitar Kovac, who now serves as professor at the Military Academy in Belgrade, told Sputnik that Russia is defending its territories on a legal basis.This is quite logical and in line with the current state of affairs after the decision on the four regions becoming part of Russia was made. Its a zone that is constantly under fire from long-range guns of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This is the area where Kiev carried out and is likely to continue conducting various terrorist attacks against public authorities, individuals and institutions, Kovac said.International analyst Eduardo Luque, for his part, believes that President Putins decision to introduce martial law in the new Russian regions reflects "an aggravation of the military situation. According to Luque, the Russian presidents move is a response to tensions and threats against Moscow that will continue to grow.Touching upon Putin's order to create a special coordinating council to be chaired by the Russian prime minister, Luque pointed out that this means that Moscow is concentrating important resources in sort of General Staff.This is a decisive step, because Russia, unfortunately, understands that Western aggression will not remain in Ukraine [...]. The step aims to concentrate the defense capabilities of the whole country around the task of protecting the borders, the analyst concluded. https://sputniknews.com/20221019/what-restrictions-will-martial-law-in-new-russian-territories-entail-1102081076.html https://sputniknews.com/20221015/live-updates-air-raid-alert-declared-in-kiev-city-admin-says-1101869109.html https://sputniknews.com/20221019/putin-declares-martial-law-in-new-russian-territories-amid-kievs-shelling-1102078657.html russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov 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 Ilya Tsukanov russia, martial law, analysis, ukraine https://sputniknews.com/20221019/what-restrictions-will-martial-law-in-new-russian-territories-entail-1102081076.html What Restrictions Will Martial Law in New Russian Territories Entail? What Restrictions Will Martial Law in New Russian Territories Entail? The introduction of martial law in the People's Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk as well as in the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, which recently joined Russia... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T14:06+0000 2022-10-19T14:06+0000 2022-10-19T16:58+0000 russia vladimir putin lugansk peoples republic donetsk peoples republic kherson zaporozhe martial law russia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/09/01/1100253801_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_f3fe41ca1577faeb419add17a85d1619.jpg Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the introduction of a state of martial law in four constituent entities of the Russian Federation: Kherson, Zaporozhye, the Donetsk People's Republic, and the Lugansk People's Republic on Wednesday. The president stated that despite the constitutional laws on the admission of four new regions into the Russian Federation coming into force, the Kiev regime had refused to recognize the will of the people, rejected any proposals for negotiations, and continued its shelling, resorting to openly terrorist methods.Specific restrictions are set in place during the period of martial law. The rights and freedoms of citizens of the Russian Federation, foreigners, stateless persons, the activities of organizations, and the rights of officials may be limited to the extent required to ensure the defense of the country and the security of the state.Additional responsibilities may be imposed on citizens, organizations, and officials. Among these measures may be:The text of the decree, grounded in provisions in the Russian Constitution, and the federal law "On Martial Law" of 2002, has been published on the Kremlin's website and states that martial law will be introduced at 00:00 on October 20. https://sputniknews.com/20221019/putin-declares-martial-law-in-new-russian-territories-amid-kievs-shelling-1102078657.html russia kherson zaporozhe Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko 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 Svetlana Ekimenko russia, vladimir putin, lugansk peoples republic, donetsk peoples republic, kherson, zaporozhe, martial law https://sputniknews.com/20221019/why-are-the-us-and-eu-upending-the-iran-nuclear-deal-1102076571.html Why are the US and EU Upending the Iran Nuclear Deal? Why are the US and EU Upending the Iran Nuclear Deal? The revival of the Iran nuclear deal may be fatally stalled after two years of indirect US-Iranian talks, according to the White House. Following the US' suit... 19.10.2022, Sputnik International 2022-10-19T13:28+0000 2022-10-19T13:28+0000 2022-10-19T13:28+0000 opinion & analysis us iran europe middle east iran nuclear deal joint comprehensive plan of action (jcpoa) ali amini protests john bolton /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/0e/1082625412_0:0:2493:1402_1920x0_80_0_0_4deaaa37837041ad8f1d794585d05f56.jpg "The Europeans are generally not following their own interests when it comes to foreign policy," said Foad Izadi, professor of political communication at the University of Tehran. "They listen to American dictate, which is contrary to the interests of the European people. So if the US wants to derail the agreement, the Europeans will follow the American lead. And this is unfortunately what we are seeing now."In 2018, US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, labeling it as "one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into."Iran responded by advancing its nuclear program, which nonetheless remained strictly peaceful to force Western countries to observe their obligations under the deal.After Joe Biden assumed office in January 2021, his administration signaled its commitment to restore the deal. Talks to restore the deal kicked off in April 2021 between Iran and the P4+1, including China, Russia, France, the UK, and Germany, in Vienna. The US participated in the negotiations indirectly.By mid-August 2022, the "big issues" concerning the nuclear accords had been "largely settled," as per US State Department spokesman Ned Price. On August 22, EU High Representative Josep Borrell called the "final" text of the agreement "reasonable" at a press conference in the Spanish city of Santander. Borrell added that he hoped the American response would "put an end to the negotiations," after some 16 months of EU-mediated talks.The first harbinger of Washington's change of heart apparently came on September 8, when national security spokesman John Kirby said that Biden had conveyed to the rest of the administration that "he wants to make sure that we have other available options to us to potentially achieve that solid outcome of the no nuclear weapons capability for Iran."In early October, the US State Department signaled that the JCPOA is no longer Washington's focus, while on October 17, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that the US government doesn't see "a deal coming together anytime soon."Biden Fears Looking Weak Ahead of MidtermsWashington's change of heart could be caused by two factors, according to Sputnik's interlocutors: first, the Democrats' shaky positions ahead of the November midterm elections; and, second, the Iranian protests which erupted in mid-September.Prior to the Biden administration's remark about "other available options" to exert pressure on Iran, a bipartisan group of 50 US lawmakers urged the administration to immediately consult with Congress over the looming nuclear deal agreement. 34 Democrats and 16 Republicans led by Congressman Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) wrote to President Joe Biden warning him against inking the deal with "the worlds leading state sponsor of terrorism," as they branded Iran."The real reason why the Americans effectively halted the negotiations, even though we were almost there () was because the Biden team didn't want the other side to hammer them with an agreement by accusing them of being weak," Mohammad Marandi presumed.Joe Biden's hand does appear weak, given that his approval rating has recently been fluctuating between 39% and 42.7%, according to different estimates. A Fox News survey of registered voters, released on October 16, found that just 33% would reelect Biden in 2024, while over half (54%) would vote for someone else. The Biden administration's poor performance has backfired on the Democratic Party, which is projected to lose its slim majority in one or both chambers of the US Congress after the November midterms, thus making Joe Biden a lame duck president.Mahsa Amini Protests in IranThe Biden administration may see the unfolding protests in Iran as an opportunity to force Tehran into making further concessions over the Iran nuclear deal, suggested Hossein Askari, Aryamehr professor of international business at George Washington University.Protests in Iran flared up on September 16, triggered by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested on September 13 in Tehran by Irans morality police for allegedly wearing her headscarf improperly. The Kurdish woman fell into a coma while in police custody and died a few days later. Demonstrators and social media users spread the news that Amini was beaten to death by Iranian law enforcement officers. However, CCTV security footage released by the authorities appeared to show that Amini was not subjected to any physical abuse while in Guidance Patrol custody. The Iranian Legal Medicine Organization concluded on October 7 that Amini's death was not caused by blows to the head or vital organs of the body, but by cerebral hypoxia, which led to hypotension and multiple organ failure.Nonetheless, the unrest has continued to rage on, with US government-funded Voice of America Persia and Radio Farda and London-based Iran International, a privately-owned UK entity, fanning the flames. In particular, Iran International claimed on September 19 that it had obtained from hackers a skull CT scan of Mahsa Amini which allegedly confirmed that the woman died from being hit several times on the head.The hashtag #MahsaAmini got an unprecedented popularity in social networks, which was compared by Grayzone independent journalistic investigators to "a massive social media amplification campaign" backed by the West during the Arab Spring.The Biden administration openly hailed the protests. The US Treasury Department on September 23 issued guidance expanding the range of internet services available to Iranians, while in early October, the Biden administration slapped a new batch of sanctions on Iran over its response to the protests. On October 14, Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with "activists and thought leaders focused on Iran" asking them "what more the United States could do to support" Iranian protesters apart from providing internet access. For his part, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan admitted in an interview with CNN on October 16 that the US is taking "a number of aggressive steps aimed at supporting the protesters in Iran."Does the US Hope for Regime Change in Iran?Apparently, US politicians are not actually looking to use the protests to force Iran into making concessions over the JCPOA, but hope that the unrest will take the Iranian government down altogether, presumes Dr. Hasan Selim Ozertem, an Ankara-based security and political analyst.On August 17, 2022, the Washington office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) held a panel discussion titled "NCRI-US Conference to Examine Tehrans Nuclear Agenda on the 20th Anniversary of Natanz Revelation." The speakers included ex-US national security and military officials such as John Bolton, Joseph Lieberman, Gen. Chuck Wald, and others. Alireza Jafarzadeh, deputy director of the NCRIs Washington office openly called for regime change in Iran, saying that "the solution is a regime change by the Iranian people and replacing [the Iranian government] with a democratic republic."Former National Security Adviser John Bolton echoed Jafarzadeh's sentiments, claiming that "the key is the Iranian people, who are a threat to the regime." This is not the first time that Bolton has flirted with the idea of a coup d'etat in the Islamic Republic: he previously pledged to "change the regime" in Iran by 2019 at a gathering of the dissident group Mujahedeen Khalq, known as MEK, on July 1, 2017. Bolton further advocated the use of force against Tehran and maximum pressure politics while national security adviser under President Donald Trump. The Grayzone suspects Mujahedeen Khalq of exploiting "troll farms" to fan the flames of the ongoing Iranian protests.EU Follows US SuitThe EU has jumped on the US' bandwagon by increasing pressure on Tehran. On October 5, the European Parliament adopted a resolution "on the death of Mahsa Jina Amini and the repression of womens rights protesters in Iran." On October 17, the bloc announced restrictive measures against 11 Iranian individuals and four entities "in the context of the existing Iran human rights sanctions regime." The EU's restrictive list now comprises a total of 97 individuals and eight entities. The bloc has accused the Islamic Republic of a "violent crackdown against peaceful protesters."The Iranian government denounced the EU's moves, stressing that the protests swirling across the nation are far from peaceful and are accompanied by arson, assaults, and clashes with the police. The Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the EP's selective human rights approach, citing the fact that the body "never issued any human rights resolution to condemn inhumane sanctions against Iranian people.Earlier, the ambassadors of the UK, Norway, and the French charge d'affaires were summoned to the Iranian Foreign Ministry and handed a note of protest over anti-Iranian messages in their respective media, as well as calls for regime change in Iran.Meanwhile, the EU has threatened Tehran with a new round of sanctions. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, said that the bloc is currently gathering evidence to determine whether Russia is using Iranian drones to launch kamikaze-style attacks in Ukraine. The assumptions revolve around Russia's Geran-1 and Geran-2 drones, which some Western media outlets compare to Iran's Shahed 136 unmanned aerial vehicles. Moscow and Tehran have resolutely rejected the allegations that the weapon systems have been delivered from the Islamic Republic to Russia.As Washington and Brussels are pushing forward with new sanctions against the Islamic Republic, their efforts are complicating any hopes of reviving the talks on the Iran nuclear deal, Bloomberg warned on Monday. https://sputniknews.com/20220912/biden-unwilling-to-restore-iran-nuclear-deal-until-after-midterm-elections-israeli-official-says-1100662245.html https://sputniknews.com/20221016/washington-admits-to-aggressive-meddling-in-iran-as-tehran-recalls-1953-coup-1101906653.html https://sputniknews.com/20180511/us-regime-change-iran-1064370539.html https://sputniknews.com/20221018/iran-slams-borrell-for-colonial-metaphor-comparing-non-eu-world-to-jungle-1102018795.html iran 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, iran, europe, middle east, iran nuclear deal, joint comprehensive plan of action (jcpoa), ali amini, protests, john bolton, regime change, joe biden, us midterm elections Horse Racing New Brunswick (HRNB) will hold its annual general meeting this Saturday, Oct. 22. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. in the Sulky Room Lounge. All horsepeople are welcome. Most of us are familiar with clay as a medium for sculpting three-dimensional pieces, from the lumpy bowls your elementary-schooler brings home to hundred-dollar designer pottery. Fewer of us are familiar with clay as a medium for two-dimensional print-makingbut thats the medium that has captured artist Rondall Jamess vision for over a decade. I was hooked the first time I took a workshop [in this technique], said James, who retired in 2016 after two decades working as an art teacher at Courtland High School in Spotsylvania County and then Brooke Point High School in Stafford County. I love the simplicity of it. I took printmaking at the undergrad level working with inks, and the inks were expensive. With this process, you can print on the clay with anything that will leave its impression. Its very accessible. Jamess vibrant, colorful clay prints exploring Afrocentric themes are on display at the Fredericksburg Visitor Center through Friday. The clay-printing process begins with applying a slipor clay slurry colored with different pigmentsto a handmade wooden printing plate. James then uses different objects that catch his interestpotato mashers, twisty straws, strips of paper, yarn, scraps of lace, gutter screens, hot plate holdersto make imprints in the slip and create his desired image. In many of his pieces, hes used a scrap of a bedspread that his mother crocheted. So theres some of her art in my art, he said. When hes finished arranging the image, James presses porous paper on top of the plate to capture the impression. The process usually yields one finished print, but sometimes he makes duplicates if there is enough leftover slip. James said hes always worked with clay and was a mask-maker earlier in his career. While working on a masters degree at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2007, he was briefly introduced to the clay-printing process through a paper another student wrote. He was intrigued, and back in Fredericksburg, he called up local potter Dan Finnegan to ask if he knew anyone who printed in clay. Finnegan told James that he knew of one artist who used the technique, Delaware-based potter and printmaker Mitch Lyons. James traveled to Delaware to participate in a workshop led by Lyons and fell in love with clay-printing. I went back four or five times and worked with him, James said. James was born and grew up in Hampton. In school, he was frequently taught by student teachers from Hampton University, a historically Black university founded in 1868. I remember when I was in fifth grade, there was a student teacher who did a series on African sculpture and African masks, James said. He fell in love with the big, bold images and Afrocentric art has been an inspiration for him since then. Some of his work has an element of social commentary, such as Gentrification, which depicts a majority Black neighborhood morphing into a majority white neighborhood. Some of it reflects a mood, such as Yes We Can, which is a joyful image of dancing figures that celebrates the inauguration of Barack Obama, and Freedom, which shows a female figureJamess granddaughtershaking ocean water from her long braids. Before he was a public school teacher, James worked for the Virginia Department of Corrections, teaching art to students in detention centers, and he arranged for their work to be displayed in the General Assembly building in Richmond. After retiring from Brooke Point, James moved to Williamsburg. Hes continued to teach as an adjunct professor at the University of Mary Washington and by giving lectures on the clay printmaking technique. Gun violence is a clear and present danger to the lives of Americans. Voters want candidates to address it. From horrific mass shootings to the slower but grislier toll of daily gun homicides, gun violence is an epidemic that killed more than 45,000 people in this country last year an increase of 43% from the previous decade. This year, the horrific murders of children and teachers in Uvalde, Texas, the racially motivated execution of Black shoppers in Buffalo, New York, and the combat-style killing of families watching a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, have again burst open our hearts and minds. These unspeakable tragedies are just the tip of the iceberg. The first six months of 2022 saw more than 350 mass shootings. Special interest groups such as the National Rifle Association claimed that passing laws to curb these killings would somehow make Americans less safe. The facts demolish this idea. With a gun homicide rate well over 20 times that of Europe and Australia, the U.S. leads the developed world in firearm homicides by a long shot. And to our shame, were the only industrialized country in the world where gun violence is the leading cause of death for children. What could account for this? Its not complicated because we have the highest rate of civilian-owned guns per capita. Even within the United States, gun deaths are highest in the states with the fewest gun restrictions, according to a study by Everytown for Gun Safety. The evidence is clear that the more guns and fewer gun safety measures a country has, the greater the violence and death from firearms. Assault rifles are especially deadly, designed to inflict the greatest lethal damage to the human body in rapid-fire volleys. Evidence shows six times more people are murdered in a mass shooting with an assault weapon than with a handgun. Finally, courts have repeatedly found that gun safety does not conflict with the Second Amendment. And the right to bear arms simply does not override the right to life. But the pro-gun lobby ignores these facts and propagates outright distortions by vastly outspending all of the gun safety organizations. The NRA is one of the largest special interest lobbies in the United States, and it spends freely to peddle its lies and buy off politicians willing to repeat them. As a result, too many politicians are wary of running for office explicitly on gun safety and Congress has done almost nothing to address it. The federal ban on assault weapons expired in 2004, and attempts to revive it were weak until the massacre in Uvalde. This year, the Democratic-controlled U.S. House passed an assault weapons ban. Still, it had no chance in the anti-majoritarian Senate. In a glimmer of hope after Uvalde, lawmakers finally passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act last summer. The bill made modest advances by requiring background checks for gun buyers under age 21, tightening the so-called boyfriend loophole that gives unmarried domestic abusers access to guns, and providing needed funding for mental health care. Still, it contains little actual gun control. Instead, the new law invests $300 million in so-called school safety measures that are nothing more than the manifestation of the false NRA narrative that militarizing our schools makes us all safer. But not all gun safety candidates are intimidated by the NRAs money and influence even in traditionally pro-gun states. Rep. Lucy McBath, whose son was murdered in a shooting, won a series of tough races in Georgia with a message about stopping gun violence. Gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams is running on a gun-control agenda in the same state. And in Texas, former Rep. Beto ORourke is challenging the NRA-funded Gov. Greg Abbot on a gun safety agenda, with voters saying they trust ORourke more on the issue of guns. Elections are complicated, so these candidates may or may not triumph. But their willingness to take on the gun industry and its special interest front groups shouldnt be surprising. More than two-thirds of voters told pollsters they want stricter gun control measures in a June survey by Morning Consult and Politico. So a commonsense message about stricter gun laws should be a winning one. We all want our families to be safe. Candidates should campaign proudly on a gun-safety agenda. Season Premiere 10/9c Fake documentaries have rarely looked so authentic as in this inspired series of warped recreations with absurdist twists, co-created by Saturday Night Live alum Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Seth Meyers and producer/director Rhys Thomas. The two-part opener, Soldier of Illusion, is based on famed director Werner Herzogs 1982 Burden of Dreams and features Alexander Skarsgard in fine form as a pretentiously obsessive movie director. His mission to film an indigenous tribe in the rugged Ular mountains in Russia is complicated when accepts a simultaneous offer to shoot a pilot for the CBS comedy Bachelor Nanny. Its all gloriously silly, with guest appearances by Armisen and Successions Nicholas Braun. Documentary Premiere And then there are actual documentaries that are worth a look, including this profile of the iconic Black activist, executive produced by Soledad OBrien and featuring LisaGay Hamilton as the voice of Rosa Parks. Everyone knows about Parks defying Alabamas segregated bus seating, but theres much more to her decades-long history of organizing and strategizing for the cause of racial equality. Documentary Premiere 9/8c Beginning on Inauguration Day 2021 in the shadow of the Jan. 6 insurrection and continuing through the State of the Union speech in March 2022, an immersive documentary from Emmy-winning director John Maggio and New York Times reporter David Sanger follows President Joe Biden and his administration through its eventful first year. With access to key players in Bidens cabinet, the film addresses multiple challenges including the evolving pandemic, the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, the nations political polarization and tense relations with China and especially Russia, whose invasion of Ukraine in February set the world on edge. Season Premiere Talk about your odd couples. Each escaping their own form of prison, ex-Handmaid June (Elisabeth Moss) and her former mistress Serena (Yvonne Strahovski) are now yoked as fugitives, with Serenas very advanced pregnancy creating complications as the Gilead version of Thelma and Louise drive off into an uncertain future. Hulus storyline description hints at whats to come: Alone and isolated, June and Serena must labor together for both to survive. Given that June once cursed Serenas unborn child, this makes for an unusually grueling episode, even by Handmaids harrowing standards. Inside Wednesday TV: Friends of the Lied Scottsbluff Public Library will host its annual used book sale Oct. 22-23 at the Hampton Inn in Scottsbluff. The sale will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 1 3 p.m. on Sunday. Sunday will be a Buck-a- Bag shopping spree with shoppers paying only $1 for all the books they can stuff in a bag (grocery bag size). Shoppers are encouraged to bring their own bags or reusable shopping bags. Books offered will include those weeded from the library collection as well as items donated by community patrons for the sale books, DVDs, audio books, puzzles and more. Proceeds from the sale go to the Library Foundation and have been used to purchase books and equipment, to provide programming and to fund various library projects. Prices at the sale range from 25 cents to $1 and include both new and used books and related items. Friends of the Library was founded in 2002 to focus public attention on the library, stimulate use of the librarys resources and services, receive and encourage gifts in support of the librarys objectives, and to support and cooperate with the library in encouraging the community to use the library and its services. The week of Oct. 16-22 is the 17th annual celebration of National Friends of Libraries Week. Currently 136 community members comprise the local Friends group and many of them volunteer time to assist with the annual used book sale. In a press release, Friends president Britta Skavdahl said, We feel the library plays an important part in our lives and we enjoy giving something back by being a member of Friends. Other officers of the organization are Erandi Gunapala, vice president; Carol Enderle, treasurer: Janice Casey, secretary, and Sue Schemm, book sale chairman. Celebration activities at the Lied Scottsbluff Public Library this week will include special displays of Friends suggested books, a meeting of the Novel Idea Book Club on Wednesday and the book sale on the weekend. Current and past members will be able to participate in the Friends of the Library book sale early, on Friday. Our library would be much poorer without the Friends, library director Erin Aschenbrenner said. The funds they raise definitely put the icing on the cake. I think most patrons would be surprised to learn how many of the services and programs they enjoy are supported by the Friends. National Friends of Libraries Week is coordinated by United for Libraries, a division of the American Library Association. United for Libraries supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries, and brings together library trustees, advocates, friends, and foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. For more information, visit www.ala.org/united. Local artists joined forces with ReConnect students to beautify a local business last weekend. Artist Dan Quijas headed up a project to cover the graffiti outside the entrance to the East Overland Laundromat with a mural depicting sights from the area. Quijas said he couldnt help but notice the graffiti on the exterior wall of the laundromat as he was visiting one day, and he started a conversation with the owner about replacing it with artwork. That idea grew, and soon Quijas had the opportunity to involve students from the Scottsbluff Public Schools ReConnect program. Students came out to help in every step of the murals construction. Obviously, everybody needs help with something this large, Quijas said. Its great to work with other artists and learn different techniques and to build these relationships throughout the community with us, the kids, and the community. One of those other artists was Carlos Soriano, who transformed Quijas original concept into the piece that eventually became the mural. I kind of took his idea and redesigned it. Its very simple, said Soriano, an artist at Maker Tattoos. Theres a lot of texture on the wall so we cant do a lot of detail, but it turned out pretty good. Quijas said that the main goal of the artwork which features iconic sites like Scotts Bluff and Chimney Rock as well as images of indigenous peoples and buffalo was to make it an eye-catching example of the local scenery. Its something that people will recognize starkly, something that will stand out and gather attention, he said. A subject that allows us to purvey our local culture and history in order to better beautify the community. ReConnect student Duane Bauer spent his entire weekend working on the mural. After overcoming his initial reluctance, he said that working on the project has made a lasting impression on him. It was an amazing opportunity, Bauer said. Its cool to see how the community reacted. As the crew was working they received praise from many who drove and walked by. Quijas and his team encouraged everybody who stopped by to pick up a brush and make a small contribution to the mural. We involved a lot of people, said Quijas. We implored them to paint on the wall so they could be part of this process. Painting the entire wall was a large undertaking that required a massive amount of paint, which was all donated by Sherwin-Williams. Duane Bauer said that he and the other ReConnect students will be reminded of their ability to have an impact on their community every time they see the mural. We can look back over the years and be like, I did this! Bauer said. I can tell my future kids that I had a part in this. Bauer also said that witnessing the transformation of the wall from start to finish left him speechless. Words cant really explain it, he said. Seeing what it looked like before and seeing it now is a major change. Its a blessing, really. Quijas said he hopes that this mural will lead to additional opportunities to create public works of art for him, his partners, and the ReConnect students in conjunction with the West Nebraska Arts Center and the City of Scottsbluff. The arts center and the city are among those leading an effort to have a Creative District designated in Scottsbluff that covers the entire length of Broadway and most of East Overland. The creative district is intended to provide spaces for public art and performances while helping to grow the arts and interest in artistic professions. Now that we have an example and were building a portfolio with such stark and beautiful things, theyre giving us the opportunity to do more and be more involved with their community, Quijas said. Age: 40 Address: 1010 Avenue F, Plattsmouth Occupation: Chef and small business owner Political party: Democrat What experiences qualify you for this office? I am an everyday Nebraskan. Im a working-class mother. I bring with me some much needed perspective. Regular folks deserve seats in a government that is meant to be of the people, by the people, for the people. Why do you want to be a state senator? I want to be a state senator so that I may help my friends and neighbors thrive. District 2 deserves more enthusiastic representation. I am the working-class candidate and working folks deserve representation too. What would be your priorities in terms of legislation? My priorities would revolve around helping working families. My platform consists of appropriately funding education and school nutrition programs, ensuring Nebraskans have accessible health care, protecting workers rights and supporting small businesses. Would you support continuation of election of legislative leaders and committee chairmen and chairwomen by secret ballot or support a rules change that requires open voting? Why? I support keeping elections of legislative leadership as they have been for most of a century. Taking away the secret ballot would be a slap in the face to the nonpartisan nature of the unicameral. I am actively campaigning for unity, and a rule change would only worsen the already vast partisan divide. Do you support legislation prohibiting or limiting abortion in Nebraska and why? Under what circumstances, if any, should abortion remain legal in Nebraska? Nebraska already has legislation limiting abortion. I see no need to change what is already in place. Do you support legislation to allow Nebraskans to carry guns, either openly or concealed, without government permits or required gun safety training? Why or why not? I support responsible gun ownership. People need training and permits to operate motor vehicles. Those same things make sense for folks who would like to carry guns. Would you be inclined to support the governors agenda or be more independent in determining your priorities and legislative agenda? There is a separation of powers for a reason. The Legislature is meant to operate independently from and uninfluenced by the governor. Further, I wont be beholden to the interests of any political party or special interest groups. My priorities and loyalty are to the people of Legislative District 2. Flash The European Commission has proposed a new package of measures aimed at improving stability in European gas markets. Presented by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other European Commissioners on Tuesday in Strasbourg, France, the measures include joint gas purchase, the creation of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) pricing benchmark, and default energy solidarity between member states of the European Union (EU). Von der Leyen also emphasized the need to continue efforts to save gas, and invest in renewable energies. "In the context of the current gas crisis, we stand ready to accompany firms willing to enter into a joint purchasing consortium, subject to safeguards and in line with our competition rules," said Margrethe Vestager, executive vice-president of the European Commission. The goal of joint gas purchasing is to reduce uncoordinated bidding for gas supplies between the member states, resulting in fairer access to gas and potentially lower prices. Companies would submit their requests for gas on a bidding platform, and these requests would then be aggregated, and the platform would look for suppliers. The EU member states would be obliged to pool at least 15 percent of their storage filling for the next filling season. The European Commission has also proposed creating a new price benchmark for LNG, which would better reflect the reality of the current gas market than the existing Title Transfer Facility (TTF) price index. "The current pricing benchmark is no longer adapted to a market that is shifting from pipeline gas to LNG. We will develop a new benchmark and put in place a mechanism to limit excessive gas prices in the meantime," von der Leyen said on social media. The temporary spike cap mechanism will manage excess volatility in electricity and gas derivative markets. Meanwhile, default energy solidarity rules between member states will apply in case of disruption when there is no bilateral agreement in place. There are currently only six such bilateral agreements between EU member states under the security of supply rules. The EU is currently battling sky-high energy prices, which are a consequence of the COVID-19 crisis, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The EU has therefore vowed to wean itself off Russian fossil fuels while transitioning to green energy. We would love to hear your thoughts... 1. How did you come up with the idea for your startup? 2. What was the hardest part in the early stages of the startups growth? 3. What are the services/solutions/products that the startup offers? Who are the targeted audiences? 4. What are your strengths and advantages over your competitors? 5. At the moment, how do you measure success? What are your metrics? 6. Is the company bootstrapped or funded? What milestones will the financing get you to? 7. What is the road map ahead? How are you planning to achieve it? Key Management : Founding Year : Milestones : Awards/Recognition : Clients : For the better part of the last 25 years, an extension of Timber Road has been talked about by the many members of the Mooresville Board of Commissioners that have come and gone. On Monday night, that long-awaited road was finally approved. During its second meeting in the month of October, the town board unanimously approved a proposal for a new housing development, including single and multifamily units, to be built on land between U.S. 21 and N.C. 115 with the added benefit of constructing a connector road from Timber Road all the way to U.S. 21. The plans call for up to 560 new units to be constructed along the Timber Road extension, with 300 currently designated as multifamily and 260 as single family. The applicants and developers have five years to begin construction on the project. According to a study done by the town, due to the extension road being constructed by a land developer rather than the town of Mooresville, the town will be spared from spending almost $15 million of taxpayer money by not having to build the road itself. The projects approval was unanimous. Another development project was approved on the opposite side of Mooresville, near the Bluefield and Cornelius roads interchange. The property, a 44-acre parcel formerly occupied by the Iredell Outdoor Recreation Center, was approved by a 4-3 vote to be rezoned to Traditional Neighborhood zoning The maximum housing units allowed by the ordinance would be 122 single family or duplex units and a minimum of 30% of the property will be required to remain green space. Approving the rezoning in the initial vote were Commissioners Bobby Compton, Thurman Houston, and Eddie Dingler with the disapproving votes coming from Tommy DeWeese, Gary West and, the member whose ward the new development would be located in, Lisa Qualls. Mayor Miles Atkins provided the tiebreaking vote for approval. The board also awarded a contract worth nearly $2 million to Kearey Builders to renovate the building that once housed the Mooresville Police Department into the proposed One Mooresville Center. The building is set to include office space for many of the towns different departments such as Planning, Parks and Recreation, Parks Services, and Building Services. Other agenda items passed Monday were: A text amendment to the towns Unified Development Ordinance to reduce the size of Planned Development Districts from a minimum size of 10 acres to 5 acre if the site will provide public lake access and requires 10% of the nonresidential component to be commercial. Approval of a contract with Wirth and Associates Inc. in an amount not to exceed $345,000 for the design of Cornelius Road Park Phase II. The contract is for design services to include parking, lighting, restrooms, concessions and the remaining infrastructure at Cornelius Road Park. This will be funded by the budget amendment via transfer from capital reserves. A request from the planning department to approve a letter of match commitment for the following transportation projects to CRTPO for funding: Mooresville Mobility Plan (20% match), Mazeppa Road flyover (20% match), Langtree Road Design (20%), Seam Shared Use Path (50% match), and 3 Corners Trail (5% match). Consider a request from the police department to accept the FY-2022 Bulletproof Vest Partnership grant and amend the budget accordingly. The total budget is $24,575, which includes a 50% match required by the town. The next board meeting is scheduled for Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. Editors note: Information is provided by the Cowlitz County Corrections Department and local law enforcement agencies. Each individual named in this report is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Harassment, resisting arrest, obstruction Longview police Thursday arrested Mariah Christine Dickison, 32, of an unknown location on suspicion felony harassment. DUI Washington State Patrol Friday arrested OJ Albert, 19, of Longview on suspicion of felony DUI. Burglary Woodland police Friday arrested Joshua James Feaser, 30, of Vancouver on suspicion of second-degree burglary. Assault Longview police Friday arrested Gary Lee Straw, 42, of Longview on suspicion of second-degree assault and fourth-degree assault. Indecent liberties, voyeurism Longview police Saturday arrested a 35-year-old Longview man on suspicion of indecent liberties, voyeurism, possession of depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and another felony sexual crime. (Editors note: The Daily News does not name arrestees of sex crimes until suspects are charged to ensure alleged victims arent identified before the suspect has been formally accused of a crime.) Assault Longview police Saturday arrested Bender Atty, 31, of Longview on suspicion of second-degree assault. Assault, harassment Longview police Saturday arrested Michael Trenton Shields, 34, of Longview on suspicion of second-degree assault and felony harassment. Assault Kelso police Sunday arrested Dylan Thomas Roller, 22, of Longview on suspicion second-degree assault. Gun The Department of Corrections Monday arrested Zachary Ryan Benson, 37, of Kelso on suspicion of unlawful possession of a firearm. Arson Kelso police Monday arrested Patsy Jo Hook, 48, of an unknown location on suspicion of second-degree arson. Burglary, theft, malicious mischief, drugs Cowlitz County Corrections Department Monday arrested Cole Michael Thoreby, 25, of Salem, on suspicion of second-degree burglary, first-degree theft, second-degree malicious mischief, and conspiring or attempting to commit a violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. Editors note: A software switch at Cowlitz County dispatch has prevented the agency from temporarily supplying 911 call logs and officer notes past June 6. The agency is working to create new reports to supply media outlets. In the arid American West, wildfires now define summer. Recent years have seen some of the worst wildfires in recorded history. Shrubs and grasses growing in this post-fire forest offer abundant food for deer. Sarah Bassing, CC BY-ND Im a wildlife ecologist studying how the presence of wolves and other predators is affecting deer and elk in Washington state. Im particularly interested in understanding how these species interact in changing landscapes. Habitat degradation and other factors have caused populations of mule deer, a common species in many parts of the West, to decline across much of their native range. My collaborators and I recently published a study examining how mule deer use forests that have burned, and how wildfires affect deer interactions with cougars and wolves. We found that mule deer use these burns in summer but avoid them in winter. Deer also adjusted their movement to reduce predation risk in these burned landscapes, which varies depending on whether cougars or wolves are the threat. Understanding how mule deer respond to burns and interact with predators in burned areas may be essential for conserving and restoring wildlife communities. Our findings could help land managers and policy makers balance the needs of wildlife with those of humans as they evaluate wildfire impacts and create policies to address future wildfires. A spotter monitors the Okanogan Complex wildfire on Aug. 22, 2015, near Omak, Washington. Stephen Brashear/Getty Images Long-term effects of wildfires Many forests in western North America have trees that have evolved to withstand fire. Some even depend on burning to dispense seeds. Herbivores can thrive on the lush vegetation that grows after a blaze so much so that burned areas have a magnet effect on deer, attracting them from surrounding areas. But as fires trigger forest regeneration, they also restructure landscapes. And this process is influencing interactions between predators and prey. Wildfires have had major impacts in recent decades in the Methow Valley of Okanogan County in northern Washington, where my collaborators on the Washington Predator-Prey Project and I focus our research. Wolves recolonized this area over the past 15 years, and researchers, land managers and the public want to know how the presence of wolves is affecting the ecosystem. Fires have burned nearly 40% of this region since 1985, with more than half of those burns in the past decade. As in much of the West, low-severity fires historically were frequent here, burning every one to 25 years, with mixed-severity fires burning every 25 to 100 years. But now the area is seeing larger and more frequent fires. Fire reshapes forests and wildlife behavior In northern Washington and much of the American West, fires clear the forest understory and burn away the shrubs and small trees that grow there. In more severe fires, flames reach treetops and burn away the upper branches of the forest. More light reaches the forest floor post-fire, and fire-adapted plants regenerate. After a fire, burned forests can be lush with shrubs and other vegetation that deer favor as summer forage. In our study, deer generally preferred burned areas for about 20 years post-fire, which is the time it takes for the forest to move beyond the initial regrowth stage. Fires also affect deer behavior in winter. In unburned evergreen forests, trees upper branches intercept much of the falling snow before it builds up on the forest floor. Where fires have removed these upper branches, snow is often deeper than in unburned forests. The snow prevents deer from feeding. It also makes deer more vulnerable to carnivores, since their hooves sink into the snow, while predators like wolves and cougars have wide paws that help them walk over the snow. For these reasons, the mule deer we tracked avoided burns in the winter. Cougars and wolves prey on mule deer in different ways. Cougars, like nearly all cats, hunt by stalking and ambushing their prey. Often they rely on shrubs and complex terrain to approach deer undetected. In contrast, wolves hunt by chasing their prey over longer distances. This strategy works best in open terrain. After fires, vegetation growth and the accumulation of fallen trees and branches can create stalking cover for cougars and also provide refuge for deer to hide from wolves. In Washington, we found that deer were generally less likely to use burned forests in areas of high cougar activity, although their response also depended on the severity of the fire and the time that had elapsed since the fire. Deer had to balance the availability of improved summer forage in burns with increased predation risk from cougars. In areas heavily used by wolves, however, burns created a win-win for deer: more food and less risk of being detected by a predator. Mapping fires, deer and predators To assess how wildfires altered forests in our study area, we used satellite data to map 35 years of impacts from fires that occurred between 1985 and 2019. This data set represents one of the widest ranges of fire histories yet examined by wildlife researchers. To investigate how deer navigated burns and avoided predators, we captured 150 mule deer and fit them with GPS collars programmed to record a location every four hours. We also caught and GPS-collared five wolves and 24 cougars to map the areas those species used most heavily. Putting all of this information together, we examined burn history, wolf activity and cougar activity at the locations that mule deer used and compared the results with locations the deer could have reached but did not use. This approach measured how strongly mule deer selected for or avoid burned areas with varying levels of cougar and wolf activity. A log yarder hauls a log up a steep slope where a crew is thinning a 100-acre patch on private land owned by the Nature Conservancy in Cle Elum, Wash. The organization is cutting trees to restore the areas pine forests and make them more resilient to wildfires and climate change. AP Photo/Elaine Thompson Wildlife is part of healthy forests Our study and others show that deer and other wildlife use burned areas after wildfires, even when these zones have been intensely burned. But these fires bring both costs and benefits to wildlife. Mule deer may benefit from the opportunity to feed on better summer forage. But avoiding burns in the winter, when the ground is covered with snow, could reduce the deers range at a time when the animals already gather at lower elevations to avoid the deepest snow. Our research suggests that in fire-affected areas, scientists and land managers who want to predict how burns could affect wildlife need to account for interactions between species, as well as how fires affect food supplies for herbivores such as deer. As policymakers debate suppressing wildfires, treating forests to reduce fuels and logging after fires, I believe they should consider how these strategies will affect wildlife a key part of biodiverse, resilient landscapes. Taylor Ganz does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Foxconn took the wraps off two new electric vehicles, prototypes that embody the iPhone makers ambitions. Foxconn Technology Group took the wraps off two new electric vehicles on Tuesday, prototypes that embody the iPhone maker's ambitions of carving out a slice of a market led by the likes of Tesla Inc. The company, whose main listed arm is Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., unveiled the Model B crossover SUV and Model V pickup truck at its event in Taipei. Foxconn founder Terry Gou, 72, introduced the Model B by driving it onto the stage. The pickup will be produced in Taiwan, Thailand and the US, Hon Hai Chairman Young Liu said. Foxconn is hoping to replicate the way it muscled into electronics assembly to become the biggest manufacturing partner for Apple Inc. and other global brands. It's aiming to build clients' electric vehicles from the chassis up, with no plans to sell vehicles under its own brand. After we announced our plans to build EVs in 2020, many people questioned whether Foxconn can build cars, Liu said. Then when we unveiled three models a year later, everyone thought, wow, how did they manage to develop three models in just a year?' That's the speed we're operating at. None of the cars Foxconn has unveiled so far are destined to go on sale to consumers but are reference designs, intended to show off the company's capabilities to potential big-brand clients. The Model C prototype introduced previously is now a production vehicle that is branded as the Luxgen n7 by Taiwanese automaker Yulon Group. Liu said Foxconn's expertise in managing supply chains gives it an advantage in developing new models faster than rivals. Asked when Foxconn's production volumes will surpass those of Tesla, Liu said he hoped Foxconn would one day manufacture cars for the US giant. The Model B, which uses the same platform as the Model C, was designed with Italian house Pininfarina SpA. The crossover SUV has a full-length glass roof and a range of 450 kilometers (280 miles) on one charge. Foxconn also said it is developing its own solid-state batteries. The Taiwanese company created Foxtron Vehicle Technologies in 2020 as a venture with Yulon. It then embarked on a flurry of activity, buying Lordstown Motors Corp.'s Ohio plant to create a US base, launching an open EV platform and inking a manufacturing deal with startup Fisker Inc. Demand for EVs is soaring as consumers and governments embrace the technology, spurring a worldwide shift for the tech and automotive industries. But Foxconn's trying to get into a field already crowded by aggressive rivals from Tesla to China's Nio Inc. and BYD Co. to Xpeng Inc. It's also attracting new entrants including Xiaomi Corp. One major point of uncertainty is how the Biden administration's recently unfurled raft of restrictions on chip exports to China will shake up the global EV industry. Xpeng has warned that the curbs on chips could potentially hammer Chinese EV makers. Finnish telecommunications giant Nokia on Monday unveiled plans for a new research and development center in a suburb of Canada's capital Ottawa to advance cyber security and mobile technologies. Alongside laboratories, the 26-acre facility in Kanata, west of downtown Ottawa, will include office and residential towers, as well as space for restaurants and retailers. "This is a project that will build a world class R&D hub that will transform the wireless technologies we rely on every day," Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a joint news conference with Nokia chief executive Pekka Lundmark. Lundmark said the R&D center "will be among the top five in the whole world for Nokia," which has operations in more than 30 countries. Nokia is investing Can$340 million ($248 million) in the project, which is expected to create 340 new jobs -- bringing the company's total number of staff in Canada to 2,500. The federal and Ontario governments, along with the city of Ottawa, are pitching in a combined Can$72 million. The facility is scheduled to be completed in 2027. Canada's embrace of Nokia comes after it banned China's Huawei from its 5G wireless networks in May over national security concerns. Partial solar eclipse will be visible on October 25, in some parts of India, western Russia and Kazakhstan. Heres all you need to know. A partial solar eclipse of this year will be visible in several parts of the world on Tuesday, October 25. It will be best visible in parts of western Russia and Kazakhstan and in some parts of India. Tamilnadu Science and Technology Centre said in a press release that the partial eclipse will be visible in Chennai, beginning at 5.14 p.m. and ending at 5.44 p.m. However, in certain parts of Russia and Kazakhstan, it would be visible around 80%. Additionally, it would also be visible in most parts of Europe, northern Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. Those who are in the area where the upcoming solar eclipse will be visible, are advised to not to look at the sun directly without any eye protection. You can observe the eclipse for a few seconds using solar-eclipse goggles or Welder's glasses to avoid permanent eye injury or loss of eyesight. The last solar eclipse took place on June 21, 2020, and the next eclipse will take place on August 2, 2027. Meanwhile, there will also be a lunar eclipse to take place on October 28, 2023, but it will not be visible. How does the Solar Eclipse take place? A solar eclipse takes place when the Moon moves between the Sun and the Earth, casting its shadows on the earth. However, a partial eclipse happens when the Moon is blocking only a part of the Sun's disk. It looks like the Moon is taking a bite out of the Sun. As per the information shared by NASA, the upcoming eclipse will have roughly 65% of the Sun blotted out by the Moon. However, the amount of the Sun obscured by the Moon will also depend on where the person is viewing it from. This year, two solar and lunar eclipses are scheduled to take place this year. The next solar eclipse will also be partial. Renault SAs chairman said hes bullish about the carmakers alliance with Japans Nissan Motor. Renault SA's chairman said he's bullish about the carmaker's alliance with Japan's Nissan Motor Co. as negotiations intensify on reshaping the two-decade partnership that's been strained by an imbalanced ownership structure. We talk every day, Jean-Dominique Senard said at the Paris car show on Monday, adding that representatives from Nissan and smaller partner Mitsubishi Motors Corp. currently are in France. We have an incredibly close relationship. Renault's push to carve out its electric-vehicle and combustion-engine businesses -- a plan that requires Nissan's nod -- has sparked bargaining on common projects. The bid has also opened the door for updating the alliance's cross-shareholding structure, a move that could alleviate an imbalance that's been a source of friction for years. Nissan is willing to invest as much as $750 million in Renault's EV business, Bloomberg reported last week. In exchange, the French manufacturer is open to paring its ownership of Nissan to 15% over time. Renault currently has a 43% stake in its bigger partner, with voting rights, while Nissan holds 15% of Renault and has no voting rights. Renault rose 3.4% as of 1:34 p.m. in Paris. Talks have intensified in recent weeks as Renault gets closer to a Nov. 8 capital markets day, where Chief Executive Officer Luca de Meo is due to brief investors on strategy. Executives have discussed Renault's carve-out plan and the future of the alliance during meetings in France and Japan since February. Representatives from Renault will soon travel to Japan again, Senard said. Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi presented a 23 billion ($22.4 billion) electrification plan in January that indicated the partnership may have staying power in the face of their costly and complicated transitions away from the internal combustion engine. Any decision Renault makes also will have to be approved by the French government, which owns about 15% in the carmaker. We are extremely close and transparent with the French government about the alliance talks, Senard told reporters. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm speaks at the Clinton Global Initiative, Sept. 20, 2022, in New York. The Biden administration on Wednesday, Oct. 19, awarded $2.8 billion in grants to build and expand domestic manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles in 12 states. Granholm, who announced the grant competition in May, called the funding announcement huge news that would expand made-in-America battery manufacturing for EVs and the electric grid. Credit: AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson, File The Biden administration on Wednesday awarded $2.8 billion in grants to boost domestic manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles in 12 states. A total of 20 companies will receive grants for projects to extract and process lithium, graphite and other battery materials, manufacture components and strengthen U.S. supply of critical minerals, officials said. The announcement came as the administration seeks to boost production and sales of electric vehicles as a key part of President Joe Biden's strategy to slow climate change and build up U.S. manufacturing. Biden has vowed to boost U.S. production of lithium and other critical minerals, and the sweeping climate and health-care law passed in August includes several provisions to boost electric vehicles, including tax credits for EV buyers worth up to $7,500. "This is critically important, because the future of vehicles is electric,'' Biden said at a White House event with Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and executives from 10 grant recipients. The business leaders appeared virtually on a large screen in a White House auditorium. "Right now 75% of battery manufacturing is done in China,'' Biden said. "By undercutting U.S. manufacturing with their unfair subsidies and trade practices, China seized a significant portion of the (battery) market,'' he added. "Today we're stepping up to ... take it backnot all of it, but bold goals and actions to make sure we're back in the (battery production) game in a big way.'' Ryan Melsert, CEO of American Battery Technology Co. in Reno, Nevada, told Biden that U.S. intervention in the battery market was overdue. "Unfortunately, the U.S. is almost a non-player in the lithium game,'' Melsert said, noting that less than 1% of lithium products globally are made in the U.S. His company, which makes lithium hydroxide for battery cathodes, is changing that, along with other grant recipients, Melsert said. "Vehicle manufacturers are really hungry to buy these materials from U.S.-based resources,'' he told Biden. President Joe Biden listens during a tour at the Detroit Auto Show, Sept. 14, 2022, in Detroit. From left, Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Bill Ford, executive chairman of Ford Motor Company, Biden and Ray Curry, President of the United Auto Workers. The Biden administration on Wednesday, Oct. 19, awarded $2.8 billion in grants to build and expand domestic manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles in 12 states. Credit: AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File Granholm, who announced the grant competition in May, called the funding announcement "huge" news that would expand made-in-America battery manufacturing for EVs and the electric grid. Projects funded under the grants will "make battery materials and components here at home that we currently import" from China and other countries, she said. In a separate development, German automaker BMW said Wednesday it will invest $1 billion in its sprawling factory near Spartanburg, South Carolina, to start building electric vehicles and an additional $700 million to build a battery plant nearby. The federal grants announced Wednesday are funded by last year's $1 trillion infrastructure law and are separate from an executive order Biden issued last spring invoking the Defense Production Act to boost production of lithium and other critical minerals used to power electric vehicles. Albemarle Corp., Piedmont Lithium Inc., Entek and Syrah Technologies are among 20 companies that won Energy Department grants to help fund projects in at least 12 states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Tennessee and Washington state. Eight of the 12 states selected for funding supported Donald Trump in 2020, mostly in the South and Midwest. Biden appeared to acknowledge the awkward politics, noting that Republicans who voted against the infrastructure law were among those asking him for money. "I was really surprised to find out there were so many socialists in the Republican caucus,'' he joked, repeating a frequent GOP talking point about the law. Biden insisted that politics played no part in the grant awards. "If a district deserves the project they're going to get it,'' he said. Companies selected for the grants will be required to match the federal investment, leveraging an estimated $9 billion to boost clean energy technology, create good-paying jobs and support Biden's goal for electric vehicles to make up half of all new vehicle sales by 2030, the White House said. An employee works in the X3, X45 assembly hall at the BMW Spartanburg plant in Greer, S.C., Oct. 19, 2022. BMW said Wednesday, Oct. 19, that it will invest $1 billion in its sprawling factory near Spartanburg, to start building electric vehicles and an additional $700 million to build a battery plant nearby. Credit: AP Photo/Sean Rayford, File Electric vehicle sales are expected to rise dramatically between now and 2030 in the U.S. and globally. But even at the start of the next decade, they will amount to just over one-third of U.S. new vehicle sales. The LMC Automotive consulting firm expects EVs to represent 5.6% of U.S. sales this year, rising to 13.5% by 2025 and 36.4% in 2030. Even as Granholm and other officials tout success in boosting the U.S. EV industry, automakers are warning that the vast majority of EV purchases won't qualify for the full $7,500 tax credit. That's mainly because of the climate law's requirement that, to qualify for the credit, an electric vehicle must contain a battery built in North America with minerals mined or recycled on the continent. Granholm said the projects announced Wednesday should help the U.S. address that issue and "supercharge the private sector to ensure our clean energy future is American-made.'' Rich Nolan, president and CEO of the National Mining Association, said the mineral initiative could help unlock domestic mining of critical material. "U.S. mining adheres to the highest environmental, safety and labor standards in the world, yet for decades our supply chains have increasingly looked abroad for the very minerals we could be sourcing here at home, he said. Katherine Garcia, director of the Sierra Club's clean transportation campaign, also applauded the Biden administration's action, which she said would bolster the EV supply chain and cut vehicle pollution. "Our nation's transition to electric vehicles must be one delivered with strong standards that invest in communities, especially those overburdened by pollution. Today's announcement does just that," she said. 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Flash Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries. The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. It is the first giant panda cooperation program between China and the Middle East. The China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda dispatched experienced breeders and veterinarians to accompany the animals and help them adapt to the new environment. Over a month ago, the pandas were given physical checkups and quarantined. They are in good health, according to the center. Experts from China have provided onsite guidance at the venue where the two pandas will live in Qatar and helped establish a professional giant panda breeding and management team. In May 2020, China and Qatar signed a cooperation agreement on giant panda protection and research to promote international cooperation on panda protection and the protection of biodiversity and endangered species of the two countries. Ukraine has received a broad array of military supplies from the U.S. and other allies. Recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made an urgent plea specifically for additional air defense resources from the West in response to increased air attacks by Russia. To understand Zelenskyy's emphasis on air defense, it's important to look at the types of air weapons that Ukraine faces and how air defenses work to counteract those threats. It's also important to understand why this type of warfare is all about the number of assets each side has at its disposal. Increased air attacks On Oct. 10, 2022, Russia launched a large barrage of airborne weapons against a variety of targets in Ukraine. The types of weapons involved in the attack included short-range ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. Ballistic missiles are accelerated by rockets from the ground or from aircraft, tend to follow a predictable path and are somewhat easier to track. Cruise missiles carry a propulsion system that allows them to maintain speed and fly more unpredictable flight paths, including trajectories that are close to the ground. They are much more difficult to detect, track and shoot down. Then, on Oct. 17, Russia launched a barrage of explosive drones at Ukraine's capital city, Kyiv. Explosive drones, known as loitering munitions, tend to be small weapons that are difficult to defend against. By circling overhead, they are able to surveil a region of interest, gathering information before identifying a specific target to attack. Russia has acquired explosive drones from Iran, according to U.S. officials. Air defense systems The defense against all such air threats involves an integrated system of several elements. Early warning radars located at Ukraine's borders first detect the approach of missiles. These weapons are further tracked along their flight trajectories by a dispersed network of additional radars. The primary defensive countermeasure against ballistic and cruise missiles involves surface-to-air missiles (SAMs): You destroy a missile using a missile. This is no easy feat because the SAM must track, home in on and hit a high-speed target that may be changing direction. In the U.S., key strategic assets such as the White House are protected against aerial attack by the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS). NASAMS was designed to counteract a variety of incoming threats, including cruise missiles, aircraft and drones. Each NASAMS contains 12 interceptor SAMs. No information is available publicly on its effectiveness. NASAMS is one of the options being considered by the U.S. to help support Ukraine. Another notable example of an air defense system is the Israeli Iron Dome. The system is designed to defend against rockets and artillery shells launched from up to 155 miles (250 kilometers) away. Each Iron Dome missile battery consists of three to four missile launchers, each with up to 20 interceptor SAMs. The system is reported to have a 90% kill rate for rockets launched against Israel. Veteran national security correspondent Mark Thompson described Iron Dome as possibly the most effective missile defense system the world has seen. Both NASAMS and Iron Dome are reported to be effective against drones. However, SAMs are an expensive way to defend against such low-cost targets, and they could be overwhelmed by large numbers of drones. Directed energy weapons such as high energy lasers are being developed and deployed to provide a potentially more cost-effective approach to neutralizing low-cost drones. A numbers game The significance of the plea by Zelenskyy for additional air defense systems can be understood in the context of a numbers game. Different air defense systems have a range of effectiveness against different aerial threats. However, none of the defense systems is 100% effective. Moreover, an adversary can significantly reduce the effectiveness of air defense by launching salvos of multiple weapons simultaneously. Therefore, an attacker can always overwhelm a defender if the attacker has more attack missiles than the defender has defensive missiles. Conversely, a sufficient number of defensive systems may cause an attacker to stop firing altogether. It becomes a war of attrition, with the winner being the side with the most missiles. Ukraine likely has sufficient air defenses to protect strategic military targets such as command and control centers and ammunition dumps. They do not have coverage of many other key assets such as transportation hubs and power and water facilities, the types of targets Russian forces have been targeting in recent days. Should the West agree to provide significant numbers of air defense systems to Ukraine, it could significantly change the course of the conflict. At some point, Russia will have to confront the finite depth of its missile stockpile. The number of remaining Russian high-precision missiles is already reported to be running low. Without the ability to wear down and demoralize Ukraine through airstrikes, Russia would be faced with the much more daunting and drawn-out prospect of relying solely on ground forces to grind out its objectives. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. To support U.S. offshore wind energy projects, like Block Island Wind Farm (seen in this photo with NREL offshore wind energy researcher Walt Musial [middle]), an NREL team has evaluated the industry's workforce needs and opportunities. Credit: Dennis Schroeder, NREL In the smallest town in the country's smallest state, something big has happened. In 2016, the residents of Block Island, a 7-mile-long and 3-mile-wide island off the coast of Rhode Island, traded their five diesel generators for five offshore wind turbines. "Now, we are 100% green electrons floating around Block Island," Bryan Wilson, who manages the wind farm on behalf of rsted, said in a video interview. "That's an amazing feat." Block Island's wind farm may be small like its island, but the project's success marks the beginning of significant growth in offshore wind energy across the United States. This boom could help the country achieve the Biden administration's goal to install 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030. That growth also presents a big opportunity for the U.S. wind energy industry to create up to tens of thousands of jobs. And yet, this big opportunity comes with some big unknowns. Like, for example, how many domestic, versus international, jobs the industry could addand in which sectors and rolesplus what skills and training workers might need to fill those jobs. Now, experts at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have published a new report titled U.S. Offshore Wind Energy Workforce Assessment, with support from the U.S. Department of Energy's Wind Energy Technologies Office. The study is the first national-level evaluation of the U.S. offshore wind energy industry's workforce gaps and opportunities. The report examined what the blossoming industry might need to grow a domestic workforce as well as what educational opportunities are needed to train that workforce. The authors also offer specific actions that industry and other stakeholders could take to capitalize on this huge workforce opportunity. "This report is like a workforce equation. You have demand and supply," said Jeremy Stefek, an NREL researcher and co-author of the study. "How do you make sure that industry demand and workforce supply are aligned?" The study estimates that from 2024 to 2030, the offshore wind energy industry will need an annual average of between 15,000 and 58,000 full-time workers, based on the proportion of domestic content (materials and goods made in the United States) used in offshore wind energy development and construction. The range assumes 25% and 100%, respectively. And while most of these new jobs are expected to be added in the manufacturing and supply chain sectors, this growth also depends on the construction of new manufacturing and supply chain facilities within the United States. The study also estimates job growth in project development, installation (ports and vessels), operations, and maintenance. Within all of these sectors, jobs fall into more than 100 distinct roles, including finance, engineering, and maritime and other skilled trades. Credit: rsted "Skilled trades are some of the most important positions for the offshore wind energy industry," Stefek said. "It represents a pretty big gap that will need to be filled for the industry to grow." According to the report, the offshore wind energy industry could face steep competition for these skilled workers, which are in high demand across the energy sector. Because their skills are often highly transferable, there is an opportunity for the offshore wind energy industry to entice workers from other offshore industries, like oil and gas or fishing, to join theirs. And yet, these and other potential workers will need proper trainingespecially in safetyto effectively and efficiently transition into the offshore wind energy industry. The report identifies 44 education and training programs focused on offshore wind energy. Some of these are the result of successful partnerships between industry, education institutions, and states. But, the report notes, additional program development will likely be needed to meet demand over time, particularly to train skilled tradespeople, provide safety training to offshore workers at sea, and support workers with transferable skills to transition into the offshore wind energy industry. To meet this demand, the report's authors recommend that stakeholders: Continue to build regional collaborations between industry, educational and training programs, and national, state, and local governments to align efforts to grow and train a domestic workforce (for example, the recent Federal-State Offshore Wind Implementation Partnership, a collaboration between East Coast state governors and White House administrators, could help support equitable job growth in the U.S. offshore wind energy industry). Align and standardize safety training for offshore wind energy workers; the report indicates this is one of the highest priorities to ensure an adequately trained workforce is available to build projects. Design programs and initiatives that create a diverse workforce and target communities most impacted by offshore wind development, like those transitioning from fossil-fuel industries, to help jump-start the industry and ensure equitable distribution of jobs and economic benefits. "Our report offers high-level takeaways for every part of the industry, whether you're a community college, a four-year degree program, or a union," said Chloe Constant, a senior project leader at NREL and a co-author of the report. "I hope this study helps clarify where efforts are aligned and where they aren't so these stakeholders can take actions to help the industry realize the greatest domestic job opportunity." Next, the study's authors plan to perform more in-depth analyses of regional gaps and opportunities, the timeline of when jobs might be added to the pipeline, and what specific sectors, like manufacturing, might need. To build Block Island's five new offshore wind energy turbines, rsted employed about 300 local workers. As the country builds far larger offshore wind farms, the exact number of domestic jobs might still be in question, but the U.S. Offshore Wind Energy Workforce Assessment provides the country with the guide it needs to capitalize on this momentous opportunity. More information: U.S. Offshore Wind Workforce Assessment: U.S. Offshore Wind Workforce Assessment: www.nrel.gov/docs/fy23osti/81798.pdf The monolithic perovskite/black silicon TOPCon tandem solar cells. Credit: NIMTE A research group led by Prof. Ye Jichun at the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has developed high-performance monolithic perovskite/black silicon (b-Si) solar cells with a tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon), achieving a certified power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 28.2%. Results were published in Joule. Perovskite/silicon tandems offer a promising pathway to increase the PCE of solar cells with relatively low cost, and are thus predicted as an emerging focus in the field of high-efficiency solar cells. However, most reported monolithic perovskite/silicon tandems either suffer from high costs and limited light trapping, or have trouble in achieving high-quality perovskite films, leading to a great challenge in optimizing the performance of perovskite/b-Si solar cells. To address this issue, the researchers developed the first monolithic perovskite/Si tandem solar cells based on industry-relevant b-Si with TOPCon structures. Combined with the TOPCon, the surface reconstruction of the b-Si contributes to an excellent trade-off between high-level surface passivation and broadband light trapping. The reconstructed nanotexture of b-Si can significantly increase the moisture resistance and promote the wetting of perovskite. In addition, the b-Si guides the vertically aligned crystal growth of perovskite through nanoconfinement effect, reducing carrier recombination and facilitating carrier collection. Moreover, b-Si alleviates the film strains, thus improving the stability of the device. With an open-circuit voltage of 1.80 V, fill factor of 81.8%, and a short-circuit current density of 19.2 mA/cm2, the prepared monolithic perovskite/b-Si TOPCon tandem solar cells yield a remarkably high certified PCE of 28.2%, which is among the highest reported values for perovskite/Si solar cells with either TOPCon or double-side-textured Si to date. The novel strategy in this work can shed light on the development and fabrication of high-performance perovskite/b-Si tandem solar cells. More information: Zhiqin Ying et al, Monolithic perovskite/black-silicon tandems based on tunnel oxide passivated contacts, Joule (2022). Journal information: Joule Zhiqin Ying et al, Monolithic perovskite/black-silicon tandems based on tunnel oxide passivated contacts,(2022). 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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 You are here: World Flash Two militants of Turkiye's Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) were killed on Tuesday in a Turkish drone strike in Iraq's northern province of Nineveh, the Counter-Terrorism Service of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region said in a statement. At 8:20 p.m. (1720 GMT), a Turkish drone bombarded a vehicle carrying PKK militants in the town of Sinjar, some 100 km west of Nineveh's provincial capital Mosul, killing a PKK local leader and a militant while wounding another militant, it added. The Turkish forces frequently carry out ground operations, airstrikes, and artillery bombardments in northern Iraq, especially the Qandil Mountains, the main base of the PKK. The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States and the EU, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for more than three decades. Downtown Grand Island is being festooned with festoon lights. In other words, Railside is about to get a lot brighter at night. Festoon lights, also known as string lights or party lights, are being strung over six blocks of Third Street. The bulbs are all frosted white. Many of the strands hang above the street. Others line the sidewalks. The lights will come on at night, 365 days of the year, the same time that the street lights go on. City workers began stringing the lights Tuesday morning. The block between Sycamore and Pine was the first to be decorated. In a way, the project returns Grand Island to its past. The downtown area was illuminated in a similar way for several decades beginning in the 1920s, said Jim Pirnie. But those lights went up only during the Christmas season. Pirnie is a member of the economic vitality committee of the Railside business improvement district board. That committee had been thinking about Railside lighting enhancements for a while. But the future of the project brightened in June, when author Peter Kageyama spoke at the Grand Island Area Economic Development Corporations annual meeting. Kageyama, who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, is the author of For the Love of Cities: The Love Affair Between People and Their Places. Kageyama said lights spark emotion in the brain, according to Mary Berlie, another member of the economic vitality committee. Going ahead with the project, the committee decided to focus on the density of the lights putting the bulbs close together. Local leaders are aware of other cities that have installed festoon lights. One is North Platte, said Railside Executive Director Sherry Siwinski. Berlie mentioned Cheyenne, Wyoming. But Berlie thinks the Grand Island project will have more impact because of the light density. The idea is that decorative lights downtown will increase the number of people who place selfies online. That will, in turn, make more people anxious to visit Railside. The use of lighting is one way of creating a love affair with the place that you call home, said Berlie. The festoon lights will make downtown a glamorous place for pictures during a winter snowfall, Pirnie said. High school students might come down for senior pictures. Siwinski said the bulbs are also called cafe-type lights. The project has the full support of Mayor Roger Steele and the Grand Island City Council, Pirnie said. Were excited about bringing it downtown, Pirnie said. The project should attract more people and will be a great addition to the community. As Petula Clark sang, The lights are much brighter there. You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares. So go downtown. Besides making the area more festive, the lights will make things friendlier for pedestrians. We want our downtown to be alive and vibrant and inviting, and for people to feel safe coming down here, Siwinski said. While safety isnt a primary goal, it will be a benefit, she said. A few poles will be erected as part of the project. The lights will connect to another lighting project at Amur Plaza, Berlie said. In addition to Berlie and Pirnie, the other members of the economic vitality committee are A.J. Fruchtal, Andy Gdowski, Amos Anson, Julie Wright, Sara Bennett and Amber Alvidrez. LINCOLN Nebraska would have some of the strictest voter identification requirements in the nation if voters approve Initiative 432 next month. The proposed constitutional amendment would require voters to present valid photographic ID before casting a ballot in any election. If the measure passed, state lawmakers would determine many of the details, such as what counts as a valid ID. But the amendment would apply to mail-in ballots, as well as those cast in person, and it does not provide for exceptions. That would put Nebraska in a minority among the 35 states that require voters to present some type of ID for voting. Of those voter ID states, only 18 request or require a photo ID, according to a tally by the National Conference of State Legislatures. Twelve of them allow alternatives for at least some people who lack a photo ID. The strictest six allow people to vote only if they present an acceptable photo ID either at the polls or within a few days of the election. And only three of the six require photo IDs for mail-in ballots, also known as early, advance or absentee ballots. All three have narrow exceptions. Nebraska would become one of the most narrow and restrictive states in the nation in terms of the kind of ID that would allow you to vote, said Mike Forsythe with Civic Nebraska, an organization opposing Initiative 432. For thousands of Nebraska voters, voter ID would be a hindrance and impediment to freely cast a ballot. But supporters of the initiative describe it as a very simple measure to increase election integrity and boost Nebraskans confidence in state elections. They say concerns about ID requirements preventing people from voting are overblown. It provides an additional layer of security for our voting processes, said Bob Evnen, Nebraska secretary of state and a proponent of voter ID. No one will be foreclosed from voting because of this requirement. I dont think that its going to impede voting in any way. Evnen, whose office oversees elections, acknowledged that Nebraska has not had a problem with voter fraud generally, let alone any cases of people trying to impersonate others so they can vote the type of fraud that would be prevented with voter ID. Nor have there been more than a handful of such cases in any election nationally. The Heritage Foundation offers examples of some, including a Texas case in which a woman worried her husband would not make it to the polls so she had her teenage son vote for him. The impersonation was discovered when the husband came to cast his ballot later in the day. In a Pennsylvania case, a man voted first as himself, then showed up later at the same polling place disguised with a hat and sunglasses and voted again after signing in as his son. The fraud was discovered and he was charged criminally when one of the poll workers recognized him. But Doug Kagan of Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom said he sees voter ID as a preventive measure. He said impersonation fraud could occur, even if it has not happened before in Nebraska, and would be unlikely to involve more than a few votes if it did occur. We dont want any vote fraud, even if it is miniscule, he said, noting that people have to show ID for a number of ordinary activities, such as buying alcohol, going to the doctor or boarding an airplane. Evnen said he also supports voter ID as a way to stave off potential problems. He said requiring ID would assure Nebraskans that their elections are safe and secure at a time when many are raising doubts about the integrity of elections. Opponents argue that Nebraska elections are a model of integrity and efficiency already, and that having voter ID requirements in place has not quelled questions about election processes in states such as Georgia and Wisconsin. They also say voter ID requirements carry too high a price for addressing a nonexistent problem. Courts have ruled that people cannot be required to pay for their right to vote, which includes paying for an ID in order to vote. Thus, to pass constitutional muster, Nebraska would have to provide free IDs to people who have none. Evnen said research by his staff found that 98% of Nebraskans eligible to vote already have a drivers license or state ID card. That leaves about 25,000 people who might need a free ID card for voting. He guessed the cost of providing them IDs might be about $100,000 a year, a figure he called manageable. Nebraskans for Free and Fair Elections, an opposition coalition, said the fiscal note for a 2018 legislative proposal put the cost of free voter IDs at about $750,000 annually, with initial setup costs around $2.2 million. The estimate included $300,000 a year to educate voters about the new requirements. Thats money that could otherwise go to highways, state parks, infrastructure or tax relief, Forsythe said. Cost isnt the only obstacle for people without state IDs, said Preston Love Jr., with Black Votes Matter. There are also the difficulties of getting to a Department of Motor Vehicles office and collecting the documents needed to get an ID, such as birth certificates. He contended that voter ID requirements are aimed at discouraging minority, young and low-income Nebraskans, who are less likely to have the required types of identification, from voting. He noted that voter ID proposals didnt catch fire until after a strong Black voter turnout helped elect former President Barack Obama in 2008. Voter restrictions are about groups that do not want to give up power, Love said. But Evnen said voter ID requirements are popular among members of all political parties. He said he has looked into whether the requirements suppress voter turnout and has not seen evidence that it does. Research on the issue has shown mixed results, according to an overview by the MIT Election Data and Science Lab. A large study published last year by Enrico Cantoni and Vincent Pons found that voter ID laws had no impact on voter registration and turnout for any group. They concluded that voter mobilization efforts appeared to have counteracted what modest impact the requirements might have had. But the pair also found that the laws made no difference in preventing actual fraud or in countering voters perceptions of election fraud. State Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar, who led the petition drive to get Initiative 432 on the ballot, said she has confidence that any obstacles can be worked out and supports Nebraska spending the money necessary to carry out the initiative. Whats the cost of not implementing this? she asked. It is something that is long overdue in Nebraska. She declined to speculate on how IDs would be provided to those lacking them or how ID requirements could be met for mail-in ballots, saying those issues can be worked out by the Legislature and Secretary of States Office, drawing on the experience of other states. Most other states do not require ID for mail-in ballots. Many, like Nebraska, require voters to sign an oath on the ballot return envelope. Some require witnesses or notaries along with the signature. A few require voters to include their drivers license or state ID card numbers when requesting or returning a mail-in ballot. Others require a copy of an acceptable photo ID be sent with the application or ballot. Kansas requires state and local government offices to let voters use their copiers for free to make the necessary copies. In Nebraska, voters have until Oct. 21 to register by mail or online for the Nov. 8 election. Voters can continue to register in person at their local election offices until Oct. 28. The bat that tested positive for rabies in Hall County was found outdoors in Grand Island, says Jonna Mangeot of the Central District Health Department. Someone found the bat, which was acting strangely, Mangeot said. The person brought the mammal to a veterinarian to be tested. The vet sent the bat to Lincoln, where it tested positive last week. There was no human exposure or anything like that, said Mangeot, who is Central District Healths infectious disease manager. The bat that tested positive is one of 20 animals (17 of which were bats) to test positive for rabies in Nebraska this year. This compares to 30 cases in 2021, which is the highest count in the last five years, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. A bat must be dead before it is sent in for testing, she said. Mangeot encourages people to keep their pets vaccinated and current on rabies shots. Dont approach an animal that you dont know anything about, she said. If you think you might have been exposed to rabies, contact your health care provider or Central District Health. Animal control in Grand Island can submit an animal for testing. Rabies is a preventable viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal that attacks the central nervous system of animals, causing disease in the brain which leads to death. While bats are the primary animal associated with rabies, other wild animals such as raccoons, skunks and foxes can be infected and spread the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, If youve been in contact with any wildlife or unfamiliar animals, particularly if youve been bitten or scratched, you should talk with a health care or public health professional to determine your risk for rabies or other illnesses. Wash any wounds immediately with soap and water and then plan to see a health care provider. Sometimes, people are bitten by bats while theyre sleeping. If they awaken to find the bat in their room, its best to trap it and take it in for testing, Mangeot said. People should be careful in transporting a bat, she said. They should use heavy gloves or a shovel and place the mammal in a hard container. Its rare that people survive rabies, Mangeot said. Only two people have survived rabies in the last 10 years in the United States, she noted. Once the virus starts attacking your brain, you cant stop it, she said. Drought, which has fried crops and pastures and fueled wildfires, is part of a rough year for Nebraska agriculture. If Californias Proposition 12 withstands a challenge in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, livestock farmers in Nebraska and other states would be at a major disadvantage, the Nebraska Farm Bureau and Nebraska Pork Producers Association say. Known in California as the Prevention of Cruelty to Farm Animals Act, the state law, which voters passed in 2018, sets various standards for how livestock that end up as meat and poultry products sold in California are raised. Those include minimum space standards for sows, calves that are sold as veal and hens. Critics say the law violates the interstate commerce clause by applying the regulations on ag producers in other states. Those critics include Mark McHargue, president of the Nebraska Farm Bureau. Quite frankly, if any state could make a law in demanding the entire rest of the country to fall under those guidelines, its just a really slippery slope, he said. I just dont think thats where we need to be within the United States in our legal system. The Biden administration expressed a similar concern in an amicus brief filed in June. Deputy U.S. Solicitor General Edwin Kneedler reiterated those concerns to the court last week in a hearing pertaining to the laws requirements for pork producers. Kneedler told the court that Proposition 12 fails to respect the autonomy of Californias sister states and invites conflict and retaliation and threatens the balkanization of the national economic union. Brad Lubben, an extension policy specialist in agricultural economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said the law is almost entirely forcing a production system on the rest of the country not forcing the rest of the country to catch up to the California system because the nations most populous state produces less than 1% of the pork that is consumed. John Hansen, president of Nebraska Farmers Union, called the issue complicated, noting that California wants to establish its own standards yet also reflecting on how those standards could impact agriculture producers around the country, given Californias stature. Hansen said states are rubbing up against the Dormant Commerce Clause when they establish standards that affect commerce with other states. The clause is an implicit interpretation of the interstate commerce clause within the U.S. Constitution that prohibits states from passing legislation that adversely affects interstate commerce. Its a balancing act between competing principles, Hansen said. If you take a strict interpretation of the Dormant Commerce Clause, states couldnt do hardly anything to set their own standards or chart their own course. So all of this gets very complicated. Its not a clear black-white line. Hansen added that the Nebraska Farmers Union hasnt taken a position on the issue. To Al Juhnke, executive director of the Nebraska Pork Producers Association, there is no need for California to establish regulations on how ag producers in Nebraska and other states raise the livestock. The minimum space standards, such as requiring that breeding sows must be housed in at least 24 square feet of space, are arbitrary and not based on science, Juhnke said. McHargue said that gestating sows in Nebraska typically are housed in spaces 14 to 16 square feet. Juhnke said producers in Nebraska and other states already are treating their livestock, including pigs, humanely. In order to comply with the standards, Juhnke and Lubben estimated it would cost pork producers millions and even billions of dollars to reconfigure operations to adhere to Californias standards. Given Californias market size, its not a realistic option for producers to cut off that state if the law were to stand. Lubben said producers would have several options. Those include standardizing their operations to adhere to California law. Another option producers could choose is segment only a portion of their operations to raise some of their animals in the manner California requires while keeping other parts status quo. The latter option wouldnt be unprecedented. Lubben said many American beef and pork producers already apportion their operations to raise some livestock without treating them with hormones per European Union regulations. If the Supreme Court upholds the California law, Juhnke expressed concern that could prompt states to pass retaliatory laws, a concern shared by the Biden administration. We dont need that, Juhnke said. Learning Apps & Tools McGraw Hill Launches Social Media-Style Study App SHARPEN McGraw Hill has announced the launch of its mobile study app, SHARPEN, to help students who have been turning to social media to find studying help. In a recent Morning Consult survey McGraw Hill conducted of 500 undergraduate students, 74% said they had changed the way they study due to the pandemic, citing stress and overwhelm as factors. The study found that 78% of students use social media to find additional content for their classes, and 74% said they would study more if their course materials matched the style and convenience of resources they access via social media. Results also found that 88% of students recognize the shortcomings of social media as source material, and they do not trust it. With this in mind, McGraw Hill said its SHARPEN app assists learning with trusted content through continuous content feed, short videos, swipeable study tools and a personalized activity dashboard. SHARPEN is free to students and is currently available in the App Store for iPhone, iPad and Mac. The company said an Android version is coming soon, and people can sign up to be notified when its available. To learn more about SHARPEN, go here. Flash Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Tuesday that Iran is seeking a "logical" nuclear agreement which will secure the interests of the country. Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a state TV program, referring to Iran's demands in reaching an agreement on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). He noted that "our goal in negotiations is to reach a good and stable agreement, and when we uphold the JCPOA, we must have a reliable level of guarantees." The Iranian top diplomat also stressed that in a potential agreement, along with a clear definition of the commitments, the removal of anti-Iran sanctions should also be clearly outlined. Iran signed the JCPOA with world powers in July 2015, agreeing to curb its nuclear program in return for removing sanctions on the country. However, Washington quit the agreement and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Tehran in 2018, prompting the latter to drop some of its commitments under the pact. The talks on the JCPOA's revival began in April 2021 in Vienna, Austria. No breakthrough was achieved after the latest round of Vienna talks held in early August. Boo! That probably didnt scare you. People generally like being surprised or scared, however, as evidenced by the ongoing success of the horror film genre. Unless youre saying boo to a child, its also a little campy if not comedic to use the word on an adult. Just in time for Halloween, Carbondale filmmaker Charlie Queen is hoping his new comedy-horror short feature, Mort, will attract kids and adults who like to be scared and who appreciate campy zombies, a good laugh and a satisfying, surprise ending. Completed just a few weeks ago, the short will compete in numerous film festivals in the coming months but will have a one-time screening next week. Local fans and supporters can see Mort on Friday, Oct. 28, at the Liberty Theater in Murphysboro. The event kicks off with a red carpet social gathering at the nearby Brews Brothers Taproom and continues with Queen discussing his film at the theater prior to the screening. The film takes place at the fictitious town of Elmer, Illinois, where mortician Edgar Underwood played by Andy Farmer is the reluctant proprietor of a funeral home he inherited from his father. The first bit of mirth comes in the opening dialogue with Underwood reminding his new assistant, recent mortuary science graduate Lane Lipschitz (Josh Bernstein), to be sensitive, upbeat, a people-person. Just let me do most of the talking. So what do you think, Pastor Tim asks Underwood after Lipschitz leaves the room. Oh, hes not going to work out, Underwood matter-of-factly answers. Following an unexpected fart joke, Underwood steps before a mirror to straighten his tie and rehearse words of condolence hell say to the family. Then, in a moment recalling Robert DeNiros mirror scene in the 1976 Martin Scorsese film Taxi Driver, Underwood begins practicing karate moves. Still at the mirror, the apprentice mortician informs Underwood that Mr. Lancaster (Mort) is gone. Passed, Underwood corrects him, or deceased. But Lipschitz meant that the corpse is not in the casket, which leads to a clever upward-looking camera shot of the two men holding the lid open and staring straight down into the empty casket. Queen injects some interesting background music at that point, which serves to elevate the anxiety in the parlor. Several eerie tracks are from Concerto for Pumpkin & Celeste, an album by artist Ian Post. Hes put out Halloween-specific music with some Danny Elfman-esque tracks that fit the spooky comedy tone of the movie perfectly, Queen said. One of the directors most interesting music choices is Swedish composer Jimmy Svenssons Dark Blood, a post-modern synthesizer mood that reminds of Stanley Kubricks A Clockwork Orange audio landscape. An artistic troubadour with an ear for music and a keen eye for the visual, Queen was profiled in The Southern last year on Sept. 29. Sound design and the mix can really make a movie what it is, Queen said. Bad video quality can be forgiven if the sound is good, but bad sound can ruin a film no matter how beautiful it looks. Tyler Myers, from Cape Girardeau, was our on-location sound recordist and an awesome musician who did the final mixes for 'Mort' and helped take it to the next level. Queen saved some praise for the films special effects makeup artist, key in any horror or zombie movie. Megan Stanley, from Herrin, did our monster makeup special FX, he said. She trained at Universal Studios in California and has worked on other professional films in the makeup department in the past. She did an amazing job bringing our zombie characters to life and is using the film as a springboard to launch her new company, Midwest Monster Effects. The comedy-horror genre has existed since the earliest days of filmmaking, with D.W. Griffith. Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) likely was the first commercially-successful outing, leading to the more recent Scary Movie five-film series. Queens film, however, taps into zombie territory and the zombie-comedy sub-genre, or zom-com. Films in that specialized category include "Return of the Living Dead" (1985), "Night of the Creeps" (1986), "Shaun of the Dead" (2004), "Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead" (2005), "Zombie Strippers" (2008), "Zombieland" (2009) and "Aquarium of the Dead" (2021). Mort features some horror elements but also lots of dark comedy and absurd comedy elements too, Queen said. Most of the jokes are about a dead guy at his own funeral, which most would consider pretty dark. Horror and comedy marry together perfectly because comedy is set-up, then punchline, while horror is set-up, then scare. People love horror because its a thrill to be scared, and comedy can make light of the scary feelings in a good way. Back to a few more plot highlights. Underwood and Lipschitz closed the casket lid after confirming that the deceased was missing. Morts family soon bursts into the parlor and demands to know why the casket is not open, as they requested. Its for, um, insurance purposes, Lipschitz stutters. Another cinematic moment happens with an Underwood point-of-view shot of a zombie about to grab him by the throat. The camera abruptly cuts away to a similar Lipschitz point-of-view closeup of Morts widow (Maggie Degen) about to grab him by the throat. Without giving away more of the story, much less the ending, there are a couple memorable sight gags such as a brief, touching, dance scene with perfectly appropriate music and another that offers a remedy on how to survive a bite on the arm from a zombie and remain human. Mort already has been selected as a semi-finalist in the Boston Comedy Horror Festival and received honorable mention from the L.A. Indie Horror Society. The film also has been accepted and will be screened in November at the Days of the Dead Film Festival in Chicago. We plan to enter Mort into festivals across the U.S. over the next year and half and to eventually find a home for it on one of the streaming services, Queen said. Hopefully Amazon Prime or Tubi. His next project will be another short film that takes place in the same fictional town with recurring characters. Were trying to create a Southern Illinois cinematic universe with some recurring characters, Queen said. Im not sure if it will be another horror or comedy. I have multiple ideas that Im developing but Im not sure which one will be the first to bear fruit. Although the run time of Mort is 16 minutes, the two-hour event Friday, Oct. 28 in Murphysboro, will begin with a red carpet meet and greet a 7 p.m. at the Brews Brothers Taproom, 1105 Chestnut Street. Guests will then make a short walk to the Liberty Theater, 1333 Walnut Street, at 8:15 p.m., where Queen will give a talk and then screen his film. Weve already sold around 100 tickets to the event, Queen said. The mixer gives ticket holders a chance to meet cast and crew and get to know the filmmakers. Anyone who doesnt want to want to wait a year to see the film will really enjoy this. Queen said a portion of the $10 ticket price goes to the Liberty Theater, a nonprofit now run by volunteers. It was renovated in 2002 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. The best way to support our efforts as filmmakers, other than buying a ticket to the premiere, is to tell friends about the project, he said. It took a herculean effort from huge group of local artists, creators and supporters to pull it off, and we were able to capture a little magic in that country church outside of Murphysboro to make something really, fun, funny and sincere. If you love movies, care about local art and want to see more community-driven projects that make Southern Illinois a better place, this movie is for you. Mort is rated R for a few mild expletives and depictions of zombies, blood and gore. Tickets are available at https://mortpremiere.eventbrite.com. Next week: Robbie Stokes will contribute the next Music Historicity in his own inimitable style. MARION Shawnee Preparedness and Response Coalition (SPARC) hosted the 10th annual Weathering the Storm Conference on Tuesday at The Pavilion. The conference brings together first responders, emergency services, hospital and health department staff and others to talk about disaster and preparedness for the day. Keynote speaker for the conference was Tania Glenn, a counselor and first responder. She spoke on Resilience through Chaos which was about the ways to build resilience in EMS personnel. Glenn has responded to several major disasters, including the bombing in Oklahoma City, the attack on the World Trade Center, and Hurricane Katrina. She wanted to bring specific tools to the audience to help them deal with stress. She uses those same tools daily in her own life. For the most part she focuses on hydration, nutrition, rest and exercise. The conference also included seminars, classes and demonstrations on a variety of topics. The Air Evac Lifeteam landed at The Pavilion to talk about landing zone safety. Team members Jessica Roberts, Arian Emling, Beau McFarlin and pilot Keith Phillips flew in on a Bell 206 helicopter equipped as an air ambulance. Their team always looks for a clear, flat surface to land. When we land a helicopter, we need a 100-foot by 100-foot space during the day and 200 by 200 feet at night, Roberts said. They want to know about any potential barriers, such as power lines, structures and debris in the landing zone. They look for anything that might be pulled up by winds caused by the helicopters blades. Power lines are hard to see, so they are the most dangerous, Roberts said, adding that they are even hard to see with night vision goggles. The first safety tip they gave is to stay away from the tail rotors on the helicopter. McFarlin demonstrated the place someone could stand without getting hurt. He and Roberts explained that the tail rotors move so fast they are almost invisible. They are also at a height a person can walk into them, causing a disastrous injury. It only takes a second to forget, Roberts said. When the helicopter first approached The Pavilion, they did what they call a reconnaissance check. They approached the landing zone and flew over without landing. Roberts explained they often do that to check the landing zone. On Wednesday, they spotted a drone in the air and noted its location. Drones in the air for us is very dangerous, Roberts said. The flight team will ask questions about the patient, such as the mechanism of their injury, weight and other information. It helps them prepare. There are a lot of different things to keep in our minds. We want to make sure we are good mechanically and with medication, McFarlin said. A variety of other classes and information was available. SPARCCs rescue Gator 4X6 vehicle was on display. Marty Hagan, Hospital Regional Coordinating Center resource specialist, said the vehicle can act as a first responders vehicle and go into areas hard to reach in an ambulance. The vehicle has a patient cot, backboard, SKED device for ice rescues, an automated external defibrillator and other items needed by first responders, as well as a radio, lights and siren. SPARC has two similar vehicles and can deploy to areas where they are needed. Another agency that was at the conference was MABAS District 45 hazardous materials trailer. Lyndon Perzee said their district covers every county south of Franklin, Illinois. They can deal with hazardous materials such as diesel fuel, gasoline and the chemicals transported through the area on trains. We are the guys who dress up in the alien suits, Perzee said. The team has 30 people and their trailer carries a decontamination unit. The Friends of the Edisto, a river advocacy group, is asking the public to join in helping keep the river clean. "We would encourage people in the watershed not to leave stuff behind," Executive Director of Friends of The Edisto (FRED) Hugo Krispyn said while appearing before Orangeburg County Council. "If you pack it in, please pack it out." "It (the river) is an amazing world-class natural resource," Krispyn said. "I guarantee you when people come here who paddle all over the place and if they think our river is dirtier than their river, they are going to talk about it. At the same token, if they think our river is cleaner than their river, they will talk about that." Krispyn said items picked up include bedding, mattresses, used intravenous medical devices, whole wheel mounts, fast-food wrappers, plastic bottles, liquor bottles and beer cans. "A few years ago upstream in Aiken County, I was paddling and looked down and saw a face looking back up from under the water at me," Krispyn said. "It was one of those novelty doll things, inflatable. It had hair and a face and it scared the hell out of me. But it was not a corpse and I was glad to find out it wasn't." "People throw a bunch of stuff out and if it floats, it will eventually find its way into the waterway," Krispyn said, noting litter also comes through storm drains. Krispyn said the group works with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources every third Saturday in September during River Sweep and Beach Sweep, which is a statewide effort to clean up litter in natural spaces. Krispyn asked the public to join FRED and other cleanup groups such as Palmetto Pride and Keep Orangeburg Beautiful to support and keep a clean river. Individuals can go to edistofriends.org to find out more information about how they can help preserve the Edisto. In other business: Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College President Dr. Walt Tobin gave council an update on various renovations and new programs at the college. The college has received initial approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to proceed with an advanced EMT degree program with plans to start the program in the fall of 2023 and also adding a heating, ventilation air-conditioning residential and commercial degree. Tobin said the college has put forward a proposal to the legislative delegation to offer programs that would focus on a program for the production and manufacture of electric vehicle batteries, installation and maintenance of charging stations, and maintenance and repair of electric vehicles. Councilwoman Deloris Frazier asked the county to look into the high nightly rates for local hotels during South Carolina State University's homecoming. Frazier noted some hotels were charging rates of $459 a night. Young said the matter would be looked into. Council gave unanimous third and final reading approval to the rezoning of property at 3160 North Road (the former Medicap Pharmacy building) from residential single family to commercial general for the purpose of establishing a commercial business. Medicap Pharmacy closed earlier this year. The current owner desires to sell the property for commercial use. Council gave unanimous second reading to reduce rates for the countys broadband customers. Customers of the county-owned service will receive 10-megabyte download/10-megabyte upload at a rate of $31.95 a month, which will replace the $49.95 current rate for 6M/1M. Customers with 100M/100M service will see their rate reduced from $139.95 a month to $59.95 a month. Customers with 500M/500M will see their rate decline from $169.95 to $99.95 a month. Customers with 1G/1G service will see their rates decrease to $159.95 a month from the current $199.95 a month. The ordinance will also eliminate three of the seven broadband service plans currently in place. Plans eliminated will include: the $39.95 plan for 3M/768KB; the $64.95 plan for 25M/5M; and the $89.95 plan for 50M/5M. Council gave unanimous second reading to an ordinance allowing the development, in conjunction with Calhoun County, of the 380-acre Tri-County Global Industrial Site located near the U.S. Highway 601-Interstate 26 interchange. The ordinance stipulates that a written agreement will be in place that will require Orangeburg County to help fund infrastructure improvements. Orangeburg County and Calhoun County will also share the distribution of revenues from any manufacturer that locates in the park. Groundbreaking at the park was held in May 2019. The park has mainline Norfolk Southern rail access and is located along Interstate 26. The Orangeburg Department of Public Utilities will provide water, gas and sewer to the property. The site's electric service is provided directly by Tri-County Electric Cooperative. Council gave unanimous first reading to amend the county's building code regulations, building permit and demolition rates. The county is required by state law to update its building codes periodically. The codes, which affect building contractors, will take into effect Jan. 1, 2023. Council gave unanimous first reading approval to give the Town of Cope about .23 acres of property the county no longer has a need for. The property is at the corner of Sumter and Fieldside streets. "It serves us no purpose and the town could use it," Orangeburg County Administrator Harold Young said. The property currently has a dilapidated building and is overgrown. It formerly housed a health department during a time when the state had regional health authorities. The deed to the property requires that if the county gets rid of it, it would revert back to the town. The town does not have any specific plans for the property. Council unanimously approved a resolution declaring October 2022 Breast Cancer Awareness Month In Orangeburg County. The resolution notes that 1 and 8 women in the United States will develop breast cancer over the course of their lifetime. The median age of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer is 62 years. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death for women, only surpassed by lung cancer. Men also are at risk for breast cancer. County employees are encouraged to wear pink on Fridays in October to support breast cancer awareness. Council gave unanimous approval to approve a lease-purchase agreement with Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation for the purchase of heavy equipment from Blanchard Machinery Company. The purchase is exempted from the county's procurement code. Normally the county puts such purchases out for bid, but in this case, the county has dealt with Blanchard for years and has been satisfied with the company's prompt service. Council appointed Tameka Johnson to the Lower Savannah Workforce Development Board. Council appointed Beverly J. Parler-Rice to the Orangeburg County Planning Commission for District 5. Council appointed Sandra Davis and Michael Fusari to the Santee Fire Service District. Frazier thanked all county employees who helped volunteer at the South Carolina State University's Youth/ROTC Day Oct. 15. All sang happy birthday to Young, who turned 50 on Oct. 16. BEIRUT Caretaker Health Minister Firas Abiad on Wednesday cast concern over the cholera outbreak in Lebanon, noting a "fast spread of the disease," and adding that despite the fact that most cases have been "among the [Syrian] refugees," there has been "an increase in the cases among the Lebanese." In a press conference, the minister announced that Lebanon has recorded two more cholera deaths raising the toll to five deaths. Lebanon has also recorded 80 new cases in the last 48 hours, raising the toll to 169 confirmed cholera cases since the beginning of the outbreak, the Head of the Health Ministry's Department of Preventive Medicine Atika Berri told L'Orient Today. Contaminated crops in the north The minister indicated that upon a closer investigation, most of the death cases are attributed to the fact that they did not receive medical care, inviting those who feel ill and suspect contracting cholera to go to the hospital. Abiad added that the ministry was able to detect contamination in a body of water that has been used to water crops in the north, noting that this has been aiding the water-borne disease spread. Abiad had inspected the water treatment plant in Tripoli on Oct. 9, during a visit, when he stressed the importance of securing a consistent power supply for the plant so that it can provide residents with water, "otherwise, citizens will have to search for other unsecured sources." Tripoli's Water Authority's plant "has the ability to secure safe drinking water for Tripoli and the northern regions," but that doing so is contingent on the plant receiving electricity, he had added. On Wednesday, Abiad reiterated that the water treatment plants in the north haven't been receiving sufficient power supply, which endangers the water quality and helps the disease spread. He noted frequent power cuts at water pumping stations, noting that the water that remains in the pipes becomes polluted after a while." The Health Ministry "was able to secure sufficient quantities of chlorine that will be distributed," Abiad continued, indicating that the ministry is "working on preparing a field hospital in Arsal, while there are eight field hospitals ready for the distribution of medical supplies." UNICEF to the rescue On Oct. 6, Lebanons first cholera outbreak in nearly three decades spread in rural areas in the north of the country, raising concerns about the possibility of the disease reaching more people or, even worse, overwhelming the already collapsed public health system. In a report published Monday, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said that part of its cholera response task force's mission in Lebanon will include procuring and distributing "bleach, hand sanitizer, liquid soap, and water purification tablets for 1,731 public schools (primary first and second shifts), secondary schools, and Technical and Vocational Educational Training (TVET) [institutions] as well as 361 private free schools." UNICEF also added that since Oct. 8, the organization "has distributed 80,000 liters of fuel to water pumping stations and wastewater treatment stations in locations with confirmed and suspected cholera cases; procured emergency medical supplies to treat cholera including 150,000 Oral Rehydration Salts and 50 Cholera treatment kits," which "will support treatment of 5,000 cholera cases and symptoms including moderate to severe diarrhea," and "trained 900 frontline workers and partners on cholera awareness including transmission, symptoms, treatment, prevention, FAQs, and referral mechanisms." According to the most recent World Health Organization count, the cases in Lebanon come after more than 13,000 reported cholera cases and 60 deaths in neighboring Syria since August. According to experts on the countrys water infrastructure, Lebanons general household water supply is at a lower risk than contaminated fruits and vegetables, and there are safeguards in place that reduce the chances of contamination of the residential water supply. The Wyoming Democratic Party filed a complaint against the campaign of Paul Vogelheim, a Teton County Republican running for House District 23, after the campaign accepted a $10,000 donation from Vogelheims mother-in-law. The complaint, submitted Monday to the Wyoming Secretary of States Office, argues that the donation exceeds the legal limit for individual campaign contributions. In most cases, state statute forbids people from donating more than $2,500 to candidates running for statewide office. Candidates and their immediate family members are exempt from that limit, however. An immediate family member could mean a spouse, child, sibling, parent or someone who lives with the candidate, according to Wyoming campaign finance law. Vogelheims campaign reported Barbara Carlsbergs donation as coming from an immediate family member, which would make her $10,000 contribution legal. The Wyoming Democratic Partys complaint claims she doesnt count as his parent, however. The complaint points to state parental rights law, which defines parent exclusively as biological or adoptive parent of which Carlsberg is neither. These rules are in place for a reason, said Joe Barbuto, who chairs the Wyoming Democratic Party. Its important that theyre enforced and that candidates are held to a high level of confidence. David Scheurn, state committeeman for the Teton County GOP, said hes seen mothers-in-law and fathers-in-law donate sums of money larger exceeding $2,500 before without any problems. In my opinion, its just a distraction, Scheurn said of the complaint. The Secretary of States Office will be next to weigh in on the issue. If the office decides a violation of Wyomings state election law may have occurred, it could pass the complaint onto the attorney generals office or a district attorney to handle. In a statement Tuesday, Vogelheim said he and his campaign werent aware of the potential violation. He returned the donation to Carlsberg and notified the Secretary of States Office. Vogelheims campaign suspects the complaint may have to do with the death of his wife, Rebecca, in 2019. That could affect whether state statute considers Carlsberg as Vogelheims parent, the statement says. My familys heartbreak and loss is not political fodder for anyone, the statement reads. Please respect how painful Beckys passing has been and respect that Barbara and I together immediately and wholeheartedly encircled our family. Vogelheim is running for House District 23, a seat currently held by Teton County Democrat Rep. Andy Schwartz, who isnt seeking reelection. Vogelheim ran unopposed in the Republican primary in August, and is expected to face off against Democratic candidate Liz Storer in the general election. His platform focuses on reducing property taxes, environmental stewardship, abortion rights, health care funding and affordable housing. According to the Vogelheim campaign website, the former Teton County commissioner helped create the Jackson/Teton County Housing Department, and founded Jackson Cupboard, a food bank. He worked in the manufacturing industry for 25 years, then took a job with investment research firm OTR Global, which he left in 2009. So far, Vogelheim has received the most money in campaign contributions out of any house candidate this election cycle roughly $55,400, state records show. Storer has pulled in the fourth-largest sum at about $34,500. T&Ts Heritage and Stabilisation Fund (HSF) declined by 15.14 per cent between January 1, 2022 and June 30, 2022, according to the two quarterly reports for the Fund for this year. The HSF reports, which are published on the Ministry of Finance website, indicate that at the start of 2022, the value of the assets in the Fund totaled US$5.62 billion. At the end of March 2022, the total net asset value of the HSF was US$5.29 billion, approximately US$323.63 million lower than the previous quarters closing value. And at the end of June 2022, the total net asset value of the HSF was US$4.77 bllion, approximately US$528 million lower than the previous quarters closing value of US$5,299.5 million. Europe's first 5G-operated logistics terminal opens in Hungary Xinhua) 09:06, October 19, 2022 A crane remotely controlled with the help of 5G technology, moves a container at the East-West Gate (EWG) Intermodal Logistics Terminal near the village of Fenyeslitke, eastern Hungary, on Oct. 18, 2022. Europe's first land-based intermodal logistics terminal using 5G technology opened near the village of Fenyeslitke on Tuesday. The 5G network required for the East-West Gate (EWG) project was built by Vodafone Hungary and the network equipment was supplied by Huawei of China. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua) FENYESLITKE, Hungary, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Europe's first land-based intermodal logistics terminal using 5G technology opened near the village of Fenyeslitke in eastern Hungary on Tuesday. The 5G network required for the East-West Gate (EWG) project was built by Vodafone Hungary and the network equipment was supplied by Huawei of China. The terminal, built at a cost of over 40 billion forints (95.3 million U.S. dollars), will be able to handle up to one million twenty-foot containers (TEUs) per year, making it the largest such facility on the continent in terms of theoretical capacity and area. "With the construction of the East-West Gate, Hungary is back on the map of international rail logistics," Janos Talosi, chief executive officer (CEO) of the investor East-West Intermodal Logistics company, adding that the most advanced technologies available have been incorporated into the terminal, making transport faster and more accurate. "Our vision was for EWG to become a gateway for the new Silk Road," he told Xinhua on site following the opening ceremony. China is promoting modern technology within the framework of its Belt and Road Initiative, hence it is no coincidence that EWG opted for a state-of-the-art private 5G network provided by Huawei, according to Talosi. EWG is the first terminal in Europe to control cranes remotely using 5G technology. The terminal has one 41-meter wide and two 28-meter wide giant cranes on rails, as well as a 20-meter high rubber-tyred crane. The cranes, supplied by Austrian company Kunz, are equipped with 20 high-resolution cameras the images of which, with the help of 5G, can be viewed in real time at the center of the terminal, enabling the workers to control the cranes as if they were working in the crane cabins, The primary function of the terminal is to transship incoming rail shipments, which is necessary because, while 1,435-millimeter gauge rails are used in Europe, 1,520-millimeter gauge is used in Russia and many Asian countries. EWG also has a significant capacity for transshipment of agricultural products and could soon become the largest rail hub for Ukraine's food exports. The first train carrying agricultural goods from Ukraine rolled into the terminal during the opening ceremony. From November 2022, the terminal is expected to be capable of handling 800 tonnes of grain and 450 cubic meters of sunflower oil per hour, making it the largest rail hub for Ukrainian food exports, according to the company. A crane remotely controlled with the help of 5G technology, is seen at the East-West Gate (EWG) Intermodal Logistics Terminal near the village of Fenyeslitke, eastern Hungary, on Oct. 18, 2022. Europe's first land-based intermodal logistics terminal using 5G technology opened near the village of Fenyeslitke on Tuesday. The 5G network required for the East-West Gate (EWG) project was built by Vodafone Hungary and the network equipment was supplied by Huawei of China. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua) A crane remotely controlled with the help of 5G technology, moves a container at the East-West Gate (EWG) Intermodal Logistics Terminal near the village of Fenyeslitke, eastern Hungary, on Oct. 18, 2022. Europe's first land-based intermodal logistics terminal using 5G technology opened near the village of Fenyeslitke on Tuesday. The 5G network required for the East-West Gate (EWG) project was built by Vodafone Hungary and the network equipment was supplied by Huawei of China. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua) A crane remotely controlled with the help of 5G technology, moves a container at the East-West Gate (EWG) Intermodal Logistics Terminal near the village of Fenyeslitke, eastern Hungary, on Oct. 18, 2022. Europe's first land-based intermodal logistics terminal using 5G technology opened near the village of Fenyeslitke on Tuesday. The 5G network required for the East-West Gate (EWG) project was built by Vodafone Hungary and the network equipment was supplied by Huawei of China. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua) (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Hongyu) Flash The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said it fired warning shots toward its eastern and western coasts on Tuesday night to send a "grave warning" to the Republic of Korea (ROK) for firing dozens of artillery shells earlier in the day, state media KCNA reported on Wednesday. "The situation on the Korean Peninsula is getting worse due to the enemies' repeated military provocations in the forefront area," KCNA quoted a spokesperson for the General Staff of the Korean People's Army. The spokesperson urged its "enemies" to immediately stop any provocative actions that escalate military tensions. The ROK kicked off its annual Hoguk field training on Monday to hone defense capabilities to counter DPRK's nuclear and missile threats. The drills are scheduled to run until October 28. The U.S. forces were also set to take part in the Hoguk field training exercise to enhance interoperability with ROK counterparts. Surviving the terror of the pipeline which claimed the lives of four of his colleagues was one battle Christopher Boodram fought. Struggling to survive outside in a world filled with financial pain and mental anguish is another. Boodram, the lone diving survivor, has issued an appeal for Paria Fuel Trading Company Ltd to assist him and the families of the deceased divers. In an interview with the Sunday Express last Friday, Boodram said his family is facing immense financial hardship, as he has not been able to work since the diving tragedy on February 25. There could be no doubt that the post-pandemic situation is fraught with many problems ranging from concerns for health, education, economy and personal situations. Among these that may be prioritised according to our individual cares come the national concerns. Even then debate will range over which should be our priorities. My view is that the greatest and most enduring problem will be our loss of effective teaching-learning time over well nigh two years. The Pima County Sheriffs Department arrested the fourth suspect involved in an armed robbery On Tuesday, members of the Fugitive Investigative Strike Team found Shawn Drake, 49, and booked him into the Pima County jail. Deputies responded to a home on Monday near the 4000 block of North Via Tranquilo, near North Craycroft Road, after a 911 caller reported that four individuals had broken into his house, tied him up and broken into the safe, a news release from the sheriffs separtment said. As deputies made their way to the house, they received clothing descriptions of the robbers and information regarding a suspicious vehicle parked in the vicinity. With the help of the Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter, deputies were able to find two of the suspects hiding in bushes near the vehicle. A third man was apprehended in a nearby wash, the news release said. Drake, Thomas Gable, 29, Matthew Bonds, 27, and Nicholas Capanear, 35, all face kidnapping, armed robbery and aggravated assault charges. ICYMI: Watch the Star's top videos from the past week Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona's Over The Top Watch Now: Arizona shocks college football world with upset win over UCLA Counting Southern Arizona's bighorn sheep from the sky Crane cam gives live look at sandhill season in Southeastern Arizona Veterans Day Parade returns to Tucson What's going up around Tucson? Some University of Arizona McKale Center history New shoes for kids at Keeling Elementary School in Tucson Just an ordinary bike ride ... following a bear Bobcats play in Tucson backyard Veterans take off on a Dream Flight from Marana Airport Regional amateur fighters in the Rise of the Prospects Cage Series 3 at Rialto Theatre Watch now: Scenes from the 2022 Tucson Celtic Festival A butterfly park to open in Tucson A real-estate agent showing a home to a prospective buyer was physically assaulted by the man during an apparent attempt to kidnap her, Tucson police said Tuesday. Police said her attacker is at large. The woman was pregnant at the time of the assault. Due to her injuries, she miscarried three days after the attack, police said. She has since been released from the hospital and is recovering with family. Officers responded on Oct. 8 to a home near North Mountain Avenue and East Glenn Street, after they received a 911 call about a kidnapping. Tucson Fire personnel also responded and rendered aid to the victim. Officers learned that the woman, who was a real estate agent, was showing a house for sale to a prospective buyer. While she was showing the house, Donasti Davonsiea, 37, also known as Juan Nunley Jr., assaulted her with a weapon and attempted to physically restrain her, police said. The two struggled, and the woman was able to escape and call 911. Police have obtained a warrant for Davonsieas arrest. He is described as 5 feet 9 inches tall, 150 pounds, bald with hazel eyes. He has numerous tattoos on his arms, chest and neck. Davonsiea has served prison time for numerous offenses dating to 1999. In 2003, he was sentenced to 2 years for burglary in Pima County; he was sentenced to three years in 2003 for weapons misconduct and also escape in Pima County. In 2011, he was sentenced to 3 years for weapons misconduct in Pima County; in 2015 he was sentenced to 3 years for theft and trafficking in stolen goods; and in 2018 he was sentenced to two years for escape in Graham County, according to online records from the Arizona Department of Corrections. Police consider Davonsiea to be armed and dangerous and urge the public not to approach him if he is seen. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call 911 or 88-CRIME. Ballot texts The Pima County Recorder's Office can now send email and/or text alerts that allow voters to track their ballots. The alerts will let voters know when the ballot is mailed, received at the ballot processing center, when the signature is verified and when it is turned over to the elections department for tabulation. They can also alert you if they have a question about the ballot. Those on the active early voting list and had automatically received a ballot mailed to them can still sign up for the alerts but will not receive the initial text/email showing the ballot has been mailed. To sign up for the alerts, go to the Pima County recorder's website. Arizona has told the U.S. government the state was within its rights to construct a border barrier of shipping containers on federal land in the Yuma area and will not remove it, the governors office said Wednesday, rejecting federal officials claim of trespassing. Moreover, the state plans to continue placing border barriers on federal land and is looking at all areas where containers may be appropriate, said Gov. Doug Duceys spokesman C.J. Karamargin. The states response comes just as a Tucson-based conservation group, the Center for Biological Diversity, filed a court notice of its intent to sue over Arizonas planned use of shipping containers along a different portion of the U.S.-Mexico border, in Cochise County. The standoff started when the Republican governor signed an executive order in August to place shipping crates in Yuma near the border where large numbers of undocumented immigrants were entering the country. The 130 shipping containers are placed on federal land where the state has no jurisdiction to construct a barrier, costing taxpayers about $13 million. The U.S. asked the state to remove the Yuma containers last week, saying it was an unauthorized placement on federal property and on Cocopah Indian Tribe land. But the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs responded in an Oct. 18 letter that the U.S. Constitution provides for protection of the states and specifically reserves the right of states to defend themselves. Arizona rejects the legal analysis for the federal governments argument that the state needs to remove the crates, Karamargin said. The state of Arizona has no intention to remove the containers. The governor takes his duty to protect Arizona very seriously, so the containers arent going anywhere, he said. The barrier in Yuma does not immediately stop migrants from entering the country in that region, figures show. The number of migrants the Border Patrol apprehended only increased in the three weeks that followed placement of the barriers. Arizona says the federal government incorrectly claims the state is trespassing, and cites several legal statutes and the U.S. Constitution to back up its claim, in the letter addressed to Jacklynn Gould, regional director of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. As well, U.S. Customs and Border Protection told the state Oct. 18 that it will close four gaps in the border barrier near the Morelos Dam in Yuma in the area where the state put the shipping crates. Customs and Border Protection would fill about 1,700 feet the state says it has filled 3,800 using a combination of temporary mesh fencing and mechanized bollard vehicle gates that allow for access to the riverside of the barrier, starting in early 2023, says a letter from the agency. This is completely unacceptable, Karamargin countered. The federal government does not seem to be acting, either with a sense of urgency or in good faith. We have a temporary solution. What Arizona needs is a permanent solution. So the notion that were going to reopen gaps in the border barrier and leave them open for months while the federal government puts its plans together to fill them with an apparently less secure, temporary solution not going to happen. The Center for Biological Diversity filed a notice of intent to sue to stop the state from putting up a border barrier in the Coronado National Forest in Cochise County where there is a jaguar and ocelot migration corridor. These shipping containers are a shameless publicity stunt that will jeopardize the survival of endangered wildlife, said Robin Silver, a co-founder of the center. There are 3,700 agents covering the Tucson Sector alone, not to mention helicopters, drones and hundreds of cameras. Were in an extinction crisis, and its reckless to sacrifice a critical wildlife corridor and harm endangered animals so Ducey can score political points. The state has put shipping containers immediately to the west of the Huachuca Mountains and plans to put them on the border there, which would block wildlife corridors, says the centers Oct. 19 notice. Karamargin said he cant comment on the notice from the center because state officials havent seen it. The centers 60-day notice of intent to sue the governor, the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs and the Arizona Department of Homeland Security for Endangered Species Act violations says the area is a critical migration corridor for jaguars and ocelots, which are protected under the act. These useless barriers do nothing to stop people from crossing the border, but theyll stop wildlife in their tracks, Silver said. Unless Ducey wants his legacy to be driving Arizonas most iconic animals to extinction, he needs to end this ridiculous waste of taxpayer money. Photos of the U.S. Mexico border fence U.S. Mexico border near Douglas, Ariz. 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The Arizona Daily Star and Tucson Citizen entered into a groundbreaking joint operating agreement in 1940 to ensure the viability of both newspapers. They left their separate locations downtown and moved into a new building at 208 N. Stone Ave. By the early 1950s, circulation was booming as Tucson swelled and families settled down after World War II. Newsprint usage was 931 tons in 1940. In 1953, it was 4,350 tons. The company purchased land adjacent to the building for an expansion. Tucson icon M.M. Sundt construction was hired to complete the job. The building added 50,000 square feet of additional floor space, allowing for separate newsrooms and space for advertising and business offices. The addition doubled the size of the existing building. To keep up with demand, a new 4-story Goss Headliner printing press was installed. Printing capacity was increased from a 48-page to a 64 page-edition at the rate of more than 24,000 copies per hour. Three large windows on Miltenberg Street gave people a view into the printing operation. Miltenberg became part of Council Street in 1960. It has since disappeared due to redevelopment. The building, though extremely solid and useful, was demolished when TNI moved again to a huge campus on a rail spur at 4850 S. Park Ave. By 2019, printing was outsourced to the Arizona Republic in Phoenix. The Park Ave. building was sold in 2020. Sources: Arizona Daily Star and Tucson Citizen. Photos Arizona Daily Star PHOENIX The head of the Arizona Republican Party has gotten at least a temporary reprieve from a court order that would surrender her phone records to the House panel investigating the events around the Jan. 6 riot. But it may not last. In a brief order, a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals enjoined T-Mobile, the company that has Kelli Wards records, from releasing the records despite an order from U.S. District Court Judge Diane Humetewa that they be turned over. Instead, the appellate judges said they want to take the time to consider her legal arguments that they should keep the information private while they appeal Humetewas ruling. But the judges stressed that, in ordering the delay of the lower court ruling, they were not necessarily agreeing with Wards arguments that her interests in keeping the information secret trumps the needs of the House committee. We express no opinion as to the merits of this pending motion for injunction, they wrote in the unsigned order. Still, the action is at least a temporary victory for Ward whose lawyers argue that once the records are in the hands of the House panel it wont matter if courts ultimately agree that the subpoena violates her rights as well as that of her husband, Michael, with whom she also shares a medical practice and phone. The proverbial toothpaste will all be out of the tube, her attorneys told the appellate judges. There will be no way for any court to undo the disclosure of political contact and patient telephone numbers, they continued. Once the disclosure is made, this case will be moot. But Douglas Letter, the general counsel to the U.S. House, is asking the judges to act quickly and rule against Wards claims. He is arguing that delaying disclosure while Ward appeals Humetewas ruling could have the reverse effect: forever denying the information he said the Jan. 6 committee needs. The Select Committee is authorized through the end of the current Congress, which expires on Jan. 3, 2023, Letter told the appellate judges. Far from (as Dr. Ward suggests) preserving the status quo, any further delay would, practically speaking, make it extremely difficult for the Select Committee to obtain and effectively utilize the subpoenaed records before that date. Hanging in the balance is whether the panel gets a list of all the phone numbers involved in calls and texts to and from Ward from Nov. 1, 2020 through Jan. 31 2021. The subpoena, however, does not seek the content of the calls or texts or even location information. Ward has objected, saying that allowing T-Mobile to surrender that information would chill interest by members of the state GOP with communicating with her as the partys chair. That argument didnt wash with Humetewa who called that argument highly speculative while saying Ward produced nothing to back up her argument that the release of phone numbers will chill her rights of association or that of the state party. Humetewa also refused to stay her ruling while Ward appealed. Now she wants the appellate judges to keep the information from being released while they consider her claims. Letter, in his legal filings, urged the judges to weigh what he said is the important work of the committee which is charged with making recommendations for changes in federal law to prevent what happened on Jan. 6. And he said they need to consider who is making the request for delay, saying that Ward participated in multiple aspects of attempts to interfere with efforts by Congress on that day to count the electoral votes. It starts, Letter said, with Ward urging Maricopa County officials to stop counting ballots, a contention that Ward responded to at the time of disclosure in July 2021 with a two-letter Twitter response: BS. But Letter noted that texts also showed that Ward, days after the election when it was clear Joe Biden had won Arizona, texted Clint Hickman, chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, seeking to arrange a call with President Trump. And he said that Ward promoted false allegations of election interference by Dominion Voting Systems. Then there was Wards role in convening a set of electors herself and her husband included and sending their votes for Trump to Congress as representing the legal voters of Arizona. This fake elector scheme was a key part of President Trumps effort to overturn the election, Letter told the appellate judges, saying she even continued to maintain even after the Jan. 6 riot that the votes for Trump. And then, he said, there was a Twitter post by Ward, even as Congress was in recess as the Capitol was being attacked, urging that the choice of electors should be sent back to state legislatures. The Select Committees interest in obtaining call detail records pertaining to a person who was involved in multiple aspects of the unprecedented efforts to overturn the election including the fake elector scheme necessarily involves the free functioning of our national institutions and would substantially outweigh any theoretical harm to the plaintiffs, Letter said. As both a nurse and a health care executive here in Tucson, I see the impact that decisions politicians make have on local health care. As you would probably assume, the significance of who holds office only increased as the pandemic struck and since. The future of our health care is on the ballot this November. Candidates have distinctly different views on important health care topics. Those who are elected will influence womens health, senior care, mental health services, the cost of care and prescription drugs, and more. With so much at stake this election, Id like to challenge all of you to go beyond asking yourself who you are voting for and instead ask yourself why. Why are you voting for a particular candidate? Does that person align with your personal views? Would they act on legislation that supports your health care needs or vote in a way that puts you at risk? Are their health care priorities the same as yours? These arent hypothetical questions. These are real issues that will be determined by who is elected on Nov. 8. Our community needs the people of Southern Arizona to use their ballot to vote in leaders who are not in conflict with the majority of their constituents, but who uphold and fight for what the people demand. Right now. To help voters confidently cast their ballots, TMC Health distributed a health care questionnaire to candidates whose position would directly impact Southern Arizona. Our goal has been and will always be to look out for our community. Were asking the important questions so that you as a voter can make an informed choice. You can see the candidates answers on our website. Its time to look beyond the party affiliation and the big-name endorsements. We want Southern Arizona voters to be engaged and educated as they tick names on their ballot so they can select candidates who will advocate for the health needs of our community. Voting for the health of it is, after all, about community health. A stronger, healthier community requires elected leaders who prioritize health care workers, patients, and their families. Were asking Southern Arizona residents to visit VoteForTheHealthOfIt.com to learn more about the issues and read the candidate responses. There are also resources on requesting an early ballot, finding an early voting site, or making a plan to vote on Nov. 8 at a voting center. We have faith in the people of Southern Arizona. With accurate information straight from the candidates themselves, voters can make informed decisions. Its up to all of us to not just vote, but to vote for the health of it. As far as Daniel Gibb is concerned, he started a new job at the beginning on October. Gibb has been the executive chef for The Chalkboard since 2019, taking over the job after about a year as the restaurant's sous chef. He still has that job with the Chalkboard, which recently went through a change in ownership. "I decided to approach it as if I was starting a new job for a new company," Gibb said. "Even though we're keeping a lot of things the same as they were before, I thought it would be good to have that attitude that we're starting over, in a way that we as a team have to prove that the Chalkboard is a great restaurant, and will continue to be great." The Chalkboard has a relatively long and storied history, going back to when chef John Phillips opened The Chalkboard in 1976, on the lower level of the Ambassador Hotel, 1324 S. Main St. Phillips ran the restaurant until the Ambassador closed, when the Ambassador Hotel closed. When Tulsa native Paul Coury bought the building in the late 1990s to turn it into an upscale hotel, he approached Phillips about resurrecting The Chalkboard. Phillips would later sell the restaurant to Ayhan Ozaras; his children, Josh Ozaras and Shannon Ozaras-Garner, later took over ownership of the restaurant and ran it until they decided not to renew their lease with Coury Hospitality. The company, which operates a string of boutique hotels with fine dining establishments, took over ownership of The Chalkboard. After several weeks of renovations, the restaurant reopened to the public the first week of October. The interior has been subtly gussied up, with new furnishings and a cooler color palette that adds to the aura of intimacy. "We were offering a limited menu while the restaurant was going through renovations," Gibb said. "That gave us a little more time to write new menus, and to get our staff up to speed. I'm lucky that I have a great team working with me here." Gibb said creating a new menu for a restaurant such as The Chalkboard can be something of tightrope walk. "There are certain signature dishes that will always be on the menu, like our Beef Wellington," he said. "But even these familiar dishes may get a slightly new spin to them. In the end, this is my menu it's my flavors, my personality, that's on the plate." Gibb, a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, came to cooking as a profession after the band of which he was a member broke up. He took a job at a sandwich shop owned by an aunt. "I would be the one charged with making the soups, and hearing people say how much they liked something I made got me thinking that maybe I should pursue this as a career," he said. He attended culinary school, and worked at several prestigious hotels before moving to the United States in 2017. Gibb made his way to Tulsa, and was soon hired by Roque Heidler, who was the Chalkboard's executive chef. For Gibb, there was a bit of culinary culture shock when he began working in Oklahoma. "I was discovering all sorts of flavors that I hadn't come across in my classical French training," he said, laughing. "But that was also part of the challenge, and the fun, of bringing a bit of a classical twist to these flavors." The best example of that might by one of the new dishes on the Chalkboard's breakfast menu, the Hash Stack ($20). "Hash browns are something of Southern breakfast staple," Gibb said, "so I wanted to build something from that, with avocado and a fresh salsa." During a recent morning visit to the Chalkboard, the item we originally had in mind to order was not available, so we went with the Hash Stack. And we were not disappointed. One receives three latke-like cakes of shredded potatoes fried golden brown, topped with a tomato salsa, thin slices of avocado, and two eggs that we ordered scrambled. The salsa packed some surprising heat, balanced by the richness of the avocado. The potato cakes' exterior had a resilient crunch that the items that topped them could not dampen, and the eggs were a perfect example of how scrambled eggs should be prepared. During a recent dinner service, my companion and I went in a vegetarian direction, ordering the Eggplant Lasagna and the Mushroom Wellington ($26 each). The Chalkboard's Beef Wellington ($50) has been a mainstay of the restaurant's menu from the start, but we were in the mood for something a bit lighter. The mushroom version has a portobello cap as the "meat" of the filling, augmented here with diced beetroot, a duxelles made with sage and walnuts and just enough goat cheese to add a bit of tanginess, all wrapped in pastry. And it all worked together extremely well, with the beetroot giving the appearance of medium-rare beef while supplying sweetness and crunch, and the walnuts in the duxelles adding a creamy, buttery note. The risotto-like orzo, roasted asparagus and sauteed mushrooms and onions were excellent accompaniments. Eggplant can be a tricky vegetable, but the way Gibb and his chefs prepared this dish was nothing but a treat. The lightly breaded planks of eggplant were creamy underneath the crispness, and the tomato sauce was bright and sharp. My companion wasn't too taken by the thick chunks of Parmesan cheese baked into crunchy nuggets, but I have yet to encounter a Parmesan preparation I didn't enjoy. We started the meal sharing a plate of arancini ($12), balls of rice that are breaded and fried. The rice in these was a touch underdone, but these little orbs packed enough flavor that the tomato "cardinal sauce" served with them was hardly needed. And my companion made sure that none of the crispy shallots were left on the plate. The dinner menu ranges from a chicken Ballotine ($29) and a double bone-in pork chop ($38), to the Chalkboard's burger ($20) and Gibb's take on fried chicken ($26). "I'm a sucker for a good fried chicken," Gibb said. "I spent maybe a year perfecting the dredge I use, and I'm pretty proud of the results." And having dishes as diverse as Beef Wellington and fried chicken on the menu is way to underscore the fact that Gibb wants the Chalkboard to be a place accommodates everyone. "When you're located within a hotel, people sometimes think that you cater only to hotel's guests, or that this is a place you go to only for special occasions," he said. "But we want people to know that this is a very approachable place." A man arrested Monday in the 2017 homicide of McAlester nurse Holly Cantrell will be prosecuted by Oklahoma Attorney General John OConnors office, his office announced Tuesday afternoon. Cody Ketchum, 36, was arrested by the Pittsburg County Sheriffs Office on Monday after deputies secured a warrant by presenting new evidence discovered on Ketchums phone, the McAlester News-Capital reported Monday. Pittsburg County deputies took Ketchum into custody outside the main gate of the McAlester Army Ammunition Base near Savanna, Pittsburg County Sheriff Chris Morris told the News-Capital. OConnors office said it will prosecute Ketchum on a first-degree murder charge issued by a multicounty grand jury. According to the indictment, Ketchum is accused of deleting text messages from his cellphone that were sent between himself and Cantrell, and he is also charged with destroying evidence. I appreciate those serving in law enforcement, who assisted in this investigation, and those serving on the multicounty grand jury for their dedication to this public service, OConnor said in a statement. My staff is committed to investigating cold cases and will continue to seek justice for the families of victims of violent crime. Cantrell was reported missing in January 2017. She reportedly left the local hospital where she worked for a lunch break and did not return. About a month later, a hunter found her purse in the Cardinal Point Recreational Area near Lake Eufaula, about 12 miles northeast of McAlester. Another hunter found her remains a little more than a year after her disappearance within two miles of where her purse was found. Cantrells death gained national attention and was featured on an episode of Disappeared on Investigation Discovery. "What makes us keep fighting (for the republic)? What's the why?" Meacham asked a Tulsa Town Hall audience. "Part of the why, I think, is that somebody like John Lewis was willing to die for this experiment. All you and I have to do, really, is vote, pay attention, and don't be crazy." Two state offices are on the ballot with stellar choices in an experienced public servant and a political outsider. At the Labor Commission, Osborn and her agency have worked to keep Oklahomas on-the-job incidents down, helping the state rank well in workplace safety. The department has streamlined the states licensure system but wisely resisted calls for the elimination of licensure overall. Osborn has taken the lead in advocating for developing Oklahomas workforce. Among her ideas is to bring back industrial arts classes to public schools. This advocacy could help the state train new workers in fields where we are desperately short. Osborns time in the Legislature gives her insight on how to work with lawmakers on workforce needs and agency priorities. While in the Legislature, she authored legislation that reformed the states workers compensation system, driving it toward mediation rather than lawsuits. This has helped employers save money while getting medical care to injured or sickened workers in a timelier manner. Osborns opponents are Democrat Jack Henderson, a former Tulsa city councilor, and Libertarian Will Daughterty. Henderson is campaigning on improving pay equity and worker job security while Daugherty wants to see occupational license fees eliminated until a business owner makes a profit. A good sign for a public official seeking reelection is how well that officials office has functioned. Osborns tenure has been smooth, efficient and scandal-free. In Drummond, Oklahomans will get an impressive litigator dedicated to fighting corruption and scandal. The decorated military fighter pilot has experience in criminal and civil law and holds himself outside the political elite. As attorney general, he plans to more effectively transition in the aftermath of the 2020 U.S. Supreme Court McGirt decision. He has met with the majority of tribal leaders and believes intergovernmental agreements can be reached. He recognizes tribal sovereignty but will defend the state against efforts to expand the decision beyond criminal law, which was the narrow focus of McGirt. Coming from rural Oklahoma, he sees the trouble of illegal marijuana growers and promises to aggressively shut those down. He pledges greater transparency, getting immediate resolution to the states dozens of pending lawsuits about open records. Drummond plans to keep the states legal work in his office, handling some cases himself. But, if requiring outside legal services, he says competitive bidding will be used to choose among Oklahoma attorneys with caps on fees. He faces Libertarian Lynda Steele, who has not responded to messages to discuss her views. In the Republican primary, we endorsed Osborn and Drummond and continue that support, believing both will serve all Oklahomans. Recently, there has been an increase in abalones on the Ho Chi Minh City market with unknown sources of supply. Although many of these products are advertised as imports from South Korea or Australia, even large importers cannot offer such low prices. So be careful! Currently, there are many online stores on the Ho Chi Minh City market advertising abalones imported from South Korea and Australia. However, exactly where these goods come from is still a big question for customers as well as regulators. Representatives of some seafood stores have revealed that certain sellers are fraudulently advertising cheaper Chinese abalones as more expensive imports from South Korea and Australia in order to deceive their customers. On a Facebook page claiming to be a wholesale importer of abalones in Ho Chi Minh City, a large number of seller accounts can be found offering diverse types of abalone at different prices, most of which are frozen products. On October 9, a Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporter contacted an account named 'Trang Bao Ngu...' (literally 'Trang Abalone') on their Facebook page. The seller said that he sells frozen Nissi brand abalone imported from South Korea at VND295,000-390,000 (US$12-16) depending on the size of the abalone. The seller added this price was for customers buying a package of 10 kilograms. The vendor also advertised another type of abalone that was farmed in China but was South Korean-bred and priced at VND275,000 (US$11.5) per kilogram. Asked about the expiration date, the seller claimed that most products would be best consumed before 2024. However, when the reporter inquired about the import documentation and quality certification of the Chinese abalone, the seller did not answer. According to the journalist's observations, some of these products do not have Vietnamese labeling which is a must for imported goods sold in the local market. A Facebook account sells frozen abalone claimed to be imported from South Korea at VND295,000-390,000 ($12-16) per kilogram, but it also vends Chinese abalone at a lower price. Screenshot: N. Tri / Tuoi Tre When contacting an online store called 'Abalones at wholesale price,' the reporter was told that they only sell Nissi abalones imported from South Korea at VND300,000-400,000 ($12.5-17) per kilogram. This rate is applicable to a package of 10 kilograms. Asked if there were cheaper imported abalones, the seller said there were, even if the price was half that of the Nissi product. Due to the unstable quality of the cheaper abalones, however, the seller said they had no product available at this time. At the same time, on another Facebook page called 'Imported seafood...', the vendor advertised frozen Nissi abalones as an Australian brand with a price of about VND350,000 ($14.50) per kilogram depending on the type and claimed to be able to supply as much as the customer demands. Yet, many abalone dealers in Ho Chi Minh City assured that Nissi is a South Korean abalone brand. Moreover, Australian abalone is mainly the Australian, green-lipped abalone fetching VND1.7-3 million ($70-124) per kilogram depending on the species. These abalones are claimed to be imported from South Korea with a darker blue color than the Chinese ones. Screenshot: D.V. / Tuoi Tre Cheap Australian and South Korean abalones? Tran Van Truong, director of Royal Seafood International Trading Company Limited in Ho Chi Minh City, told Tuoi Tre on October 9 that frozen abalone prices cannot be lower than VND600,000 ($25) per kilogram if it is South Korean. For live abalone imported by air, the rate should be at least VND1.4 million ($58) a kilogram, Truong said. "Abalone is a very nutritious food, while South Korean abalone is raised in the sea under extremely strict conditions," he elaborated. "Since they are fed with natural food, it often takes a few years for them to reach the standard weight of about 12-15 abalones per kilogram and be ready for sale. "Although they are frozen, South Korean abalones cannot be sold at VND350,000 per kilogram. "The price of Australian abalone is even higher than its South Korean counterpart." A representative of a seafood store in Ho Chi Minh City told Tuoi Tre that Chinese abalone, which is farmed in an industrial model with huge production, is sold at a cheaper price than that from South Korea and Australia For this reason, some sellers have imported Chinese abalones but lie that they sell products from South Korea and Australia to cheat customers "Chinese abalones often have lighter colors, while South Korean ones have a darker hue," the representative said. "However, the distinction is only a guide because abalone is so diverse. "To be sure they are buying real goods, customers should go to reliable stores or ask sellers for documents confirming the origin of imported abalone, the product's quality certificates, and Vietnamese labels." Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Budget carrier Vietjet Air launched two new flight services linking the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang with Indias Mumbai and New Delhi in a ceremony held at Da Nang International Airport on Wednesday. There will be three flights per week on the Mumbai-Da Nang route every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, while four flights will be offered on the New Delhi-Da Nang route every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. The aircraft for these two routes will be the Airbus A320. Speaking at the launching ceremony, chairman of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Trung Khanh said the two new flight routes between Vietnam and India will make important contributions to bilateral economic and cultural exchanges, especially in tourism. Delegates launch two new flight routes linking the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang with Indias Mumbai and New Delhi in a ceremony held at Da Nang International Airport, October 18, 2022. Photo: Tan Luc / Tuoi Tre They will also help Da Nang realize its goal of becoming a quality tourism and service hub, and an innovative destination of Vietnam and in Southeast Asia by 2030, he said. Tran Phuoc Son, deputy chairman of the Peoples Committee of Da Nang, said the two links play an important role in the growth of international visitors to the central Vietnamese city, which welcomed more than 2,100 international flights carrying over 280,000 passengers in the first nine months of this year. In addition, Vietjet Air also plans to open a direct flight route connecting Da Nang with the western Indian city of Ahmedabad in December. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Many students in Vietnam are now chasing rote learning in order to achieve a high band score in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam, regardless of their ability to actually utilize the language in daily life. Furthermore, some learners are willing to pay a fortune merely to purchase a forecast test from numerous online English learning fan pages. Minh Huyen, 17, an eleventh grader at a high school in Thu Duc City under Ho Chi Minh City, has spent roughly VND115 million (US$4,724) on IELTS training courses over the past year but has yet to reach her desired score. Spending fortune on preparation courses, forecast exams At the start of tenth grade, Huyen's parents pushed her to take the IELTS exam in order to obtain an international language certificate in case she wants to study abroad, or at the very least to have an advantage during the university admissions process. In August last year, Huyen started enrolling in an one-on-one online IELTS preparation class, with a monthly fee of VND7 million ($290). Only good at natural science subjects, Huyen asked her lecturer to build her own learning path in order for her to obtain the 6.5-7.0 overall band in IELTS after a year. This screenshot shows an advertisement from a fan page selling IELTS exam predictions with a guarantee. Huyen attended the online session three times each week, focusing on reading and listening simulation tests. For other components, she solely memorized the examples provided by her teacher. She took the IELTS paper-based test in Ho Chi Minh City in the middle of this year, but only gained an overall score of 5.0. As a result, Huyen continued to register for another group cram course for the IELTS exam in person beginning in June, for a monthly charge of VND4 million ($164), in addition to her personal online class. Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters asked Huyen whether she felt pressured to acquire a high IELTS band in a short time despite not being proficient in English. Its challenging, but Im out of time. The sooner I achieve the target score, the more relieved I will be, Huyen stated. According to the director of a well-known English center in Ho Chi Minh City, the number of students enrolling in IELTS training classes at the center has skyrocketed since most universities began to add the international language certificate as one of the admissions requirements. During peak demand periods, K-12 students studying IELTS far outnumber college students or working learners. Aside from throwing money into learning courses, with the demand to achieve high band scores in the test as fast as possible, some test takers also squander a packet to buy forecast exams. A.T., 25, a former student of Ho Chi Minh City University of Law, said that she used to spend money buying forecast tests from two different online fan pages. T. split the fee with four other students so each had to pay VND2 million ($82) for the first fan page. She was then given a packet of 80 test samples to practice, which included all of the components of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The dealer guaranteed that when the actual test was conducted, each component would match at least one part of the samples. For the other fan page, T. signed up for the test by herself, with the price of VND8 million ($330). On the morning of the test day, the dealer instructed T. to keep an eye on her phone and wait for the answer message, which was sent as a string of letters A, B, C, and D in the order of the test's multiple-choice questions. The closer the exam time comes, the more accurate answers the supplier would provide. At that time, the forecast tests that I bought matched one reading part and all the listening parts, T. said. On social media platforms, nowadays, it is not difficult to come across sites that promote IELTS test prediction packages. Depending on how accurate the forecast is, the cost of each package varies from a few million VND to tens of millions of VND. (VND1 million = $41) One page, for example, promotes a package of nine practice exams that are claimed to have a 100 percent probability of matching the actual test. Some pages even offer candidates a VIP practice test, promising that the test takers will only need to review a single sample exam. If the predicted exam does not correspond to the actual paper, the merchant will reimburse all payments. Flattered with certificate but stuttering to use language Phung Quang Huy, an English teacher at the High School of Education Sciences under the Vietnam National University-Hanoi, claimed that a large number people are looking to purchase IELTS prediction tests. One time, four of his students walked into the IELTS exam room with a set of forecast answers in hand. There is a chance that the predicted samples will match the actual test, but the likelihood is not high, especially considering that IELTS exam organizers have increased security procedures in recent times. If there is any indication that the official test has been leaked, they can alter the test materials at the eleventh hour. This screenshot shows an advertisement from a fan page selling IELTS exam predictions with a guarantee. According to Huy, the vast majority of candidates study IELTS solely to achieve the desired band score without understanding the test's primary purpose. Furthermore, some well-to-do parents believe that their children will need to take the IELTS exam sooner or later, therefore they encourage them by investing a substantial amount of money in learning courses at once. Tran Tin Nghi, head of the foreign language department at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Food Industry, indicated that despite achieving a high score in IELTS or another international or domestic English language tests, some individuals still face various obstacles in the workplace or academic setting. Meanwhile, Pham Vu Phi Ho, deputy head of the foreign language department at Van Lang University in Ho Chi Minh City, explained that IELTS or any language tests are all forms to test learners' ability to use the language. Therefore, if a person's English proficiency is average, they can score between 6.0 and 6.5 on the IELTS. Consequently, the approach of rote learning that focuses solely on memorizing sample exams in order to achieve a high score misrepresents the original purpose of the IELTS test. According to Ho, in order for students to enhance their English skills, they should spend more time practicing the language or join an online English-learning group where they will have the opportunity to communicate in English. Be wary of getting banned from taking the exam The British Council and IDP Education, who administer IELTS alongside Cambridge English Language Assessment, have sent a notification to test takers in Vietnam of numerous violations of the reputation of the IELTS exam, including claims to supply test papers before the official test date. The British Council and IDP both require candidates to be vigilant when receiving such information and confirm that major cases of cheating may result in the cancelation of test results, a two-year test suspension, and denial of approval for a length of time determined by the worldwide IELTS certifying authorities. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will pay an official visit to Vietnam from October 21 to 22 at the invitation of State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday. The two-day visit will mark the 45th anniversary of Vietnams accession to the UN, showing a strong message that the UN attaches importance to the Vietnam-UN partnership over the past 45 years, the UN chief was cited as saying. Guterres, the ninth secretary-general in the UNs history, is in his second five-year term, following the first that began on January 1, 2017. The last time a UN secretary-general visited Vietnam was in May 2015, when Ban Ki Moon from South Korea paid a two-day visit to the Southeast Asian nation. At last weeks meeting with Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, head of the Vietnamese Delegation to the UN, Guterres congratulated Vietnam on being elected to the Human Rights Council for the term 2023-25 and confirmed his upcoming visit to the country. Evaluating Vietnam as one of the indispensable members of the UN, Guterres emphasized that Vietnam has been making meaningful contributions to the UNs mission of addressing the global challenges for the sake of peace and development around the world and will continue to do so in the future. The UN leader expressed his positive impression of Vietnams socio-economic achievements, especially in the post-pandemic recovery process. He also mentioned Vietnams strong commitments in responding to climate change and promised to continue supporting the nation in this area. The UN leaders visit will strengthen the bilateral relations and serve as a testament to Vietnam's commitments and efforts in making positive contributions to the common work of the UN, including responding to climate change and maintaining international peace and security, Ambassador Giang said. Vietnam joined the UN on September 20, 1977. The agencys support for Vietnam first focused on war reconstruction and humanitarian assistance, and then on strengthening institutions, policies, social protection, health, education, and agriculture, among others. Over the 45 years since its accession, Vietnam has achieved many milestones within the UN, including serving twice as a non-permanent member of the Security Council in 2008-09 and 2020-21. On October 11, Vietnam was elected to the UN Human Rights Council again for the 2023-25 tenure after its first membership in 2014-16. The country has also sent many military officers and field hospitals to take part in UN peacekeeping missions in the world. Like us onFacebook or follow us onTwitter to get the latest news aboutVietnam! Twenty houses on a hill in Ha Long, the capital city of Quang Ninh Province in northern Vietnam, were seriously damaged by the operations of a clay mine below them to the extent that their owners were forced to relocate. The clay mine in question is located under Ten Lua Hill in Ha Long Citys Gieng Day Ward and owned by Gieng Day Construction Ceramic Joint Stock Company. Among the affected houses is one belonging to Nguyen Thi Chon. Chon said she worked hard, saved up for more than a decade, took out a loan, and borrowed from relatives to build the four-story house at a cost of VND1.5 billion (US$61,200) in 2019. A large crack cuts a house in two on Ten Lua Hill in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam. Photo: H. Nga / Tuoi Tre However, Chons house is sinking and is in danger of collapsing, forcing her and her family to move to a rented house far away, turning their life upside down. Chon had no choice but to quit her job to have time to take her children to school now that the route is longer than before. Now that my house is not liveable and I have to quit my job while still having VND800 million [$32,640] in unpaid loans, my family feel like we are sitting above a bomb, without knowing when our lives will return to normal, Chon said. This birds-eye view shows two damaged houses located above an active clay mine on Ten Lua Hill in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam. Photo: H. Nga / Tuoi Tre The house owned by Vu Thi Chinh, Chons neighbor, has been divided into two parts through a giant crack measuring 20-30cm in width, forcing the family to rent a house in another place. Some other houses on Ten Lua Hill were completely ravaged, according to Nguyen Huu Nha, deputy chairman of the Peoples Committee of Ha Long. Nha said inspection results showed that the operations of Gieng Day Construction Ceramic Joint Stock Companys clay mine had affected 20 houses on the hill for a long time, and the situation was exacerbated by the stormy weather in August. Nguyen Thi Chons house is seriously damaged on Ten Lua Hill in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam. Photo: H. Nga / Tuoi Tre Local authorities thus made the affected households relocate at the end of the same month with a support of nearly VND460 million ($18,770) from the construction ceramic company. At the same time, the firm contracted the Institute of Geotechnical and Construction Engineering to assess the extent of destruction over the area and its causes. The firm is required to submit a report to the authorities by October 30. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The transport authorities in Ho Chi Minh City are studying a trial plan to build three new assembled multistory parking spaces in District 1, at Cho Lon Bus Station in District 5, and at District 8 Bus Station. The pilot parking lot in District 1 will be built on Le Lai Street, adjacent to 23/9 Park, with a capacity of 48 cars and 80 motorbikes. Its efficiency is expected to pave the way for a bigger parking project, according to news site VnExpress. The construction will include four rotating modules for cars and one module for motorbikes. Director of the Department of Transport Tran Quang Lam assigned the Road Traffic Infrastructure Management Center to study the plan. In addition to Le Lai Street, two other multistory parking lots will also be constructed at Cho Lon Bus Station in District 5 and District 8 Bus Station, whose locations are convenient for this type of work. The trial of the three new multistory parking spaces is in line with the municipal transport authorities direction on developing parking facilities in the city center and places short of car and motorbike parks. The assembled multistory parking lots are said to occupy less area and bear low costs compared to underground parking spaces, and can be easily and quickly installed, or dismantled and relocated when needed. Previously, an investor proposed building a multistory parking space in the city center in 2017, but the city leaders turned the plan down over concerns about congestion and shrinking public space at that time,VnExpress reported. Currently, Ho Chi Minh City has a number of multistory parking spaces, including one at 71 Che Lan Vien Street in Tan Phu District that can accommodate 2,800 cars and motorbikes and another at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Tan Binh District that can house 10,000 cars, motorbikes, and bicycles. In addition to the multistory type, Ho Chi Minh City has planned four underground parking lots in Le Van Tam and Tao Dan Parks, the Trong Dong Stage, and Hoa Lu Stadium in District 1, with a target to hold about 6,300 cars and 4,000 motorbikes, but all these projects are still only proposals. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A man from Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province in southern Vietnam was arrested for driving a car under the influence of crystal meth. The Department of Public Security in Vung Tau City, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province confirmed on Tuesday they had arrested and initiated legal proceedings against Nguyen Duy Tung, 38, on charges of disrupting public order. Preliminary information showed that Tung showed signs of being high on crystal meth as he was driving an automobile along local streets early on Sunday morning, posing dangers for other commuters. The car was traveling in an abnormal manner and repeatedly violated traffic regulations such as running in the wrong lane and disobeying the directions of traffic lights, according to eyewitnesses. No one was harmed as there were not many vehicles on the streets at that time. The driver seats door was not closed, and the vehicle was dented and scratched. CCTV footage later revealed that Tung had driven his car around the premises of a port in Vung Tau at about 3:30 am the same day. Tung was turning the music very loud and screaming inside his vehicle. The automobile also crashed into a barrier inside the port. After receiving reports from local residents, police officers hunted down the vehicle and arrested Tung. The driver later tested positive for narcotics. Records showed that Tung was a drug addict and previously went to compulsory rehabilitation. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Stan Grant hosts Q+A from Melbourne this week. This week on Q+A as we approach budget season, we examine whether Australia can become an economic superpower in a cleaner, greener world and at what cost. With floods again devastating communities across several states, and more wild weather forecast the Treasurer is warning that the latest disaster will have an impact on the budget bottom line and our hip pockets. Economist Ross Garnaut joins the panel he argues a successful transition will shift Australia from a laggard to a leader on climate and will restore the nations prosperity after a decade of stagnation of living standards. But just how fair will the transition be? And will some parts of society benefit more than others? Energy bills are already tipped to soar, so will households end up paying the price? And what impact is Chinas drought having on the rest of the world? Even as President Xi Jinping moves to cement his premiership, the country is facing economic headwinds that will likely reverberate around the world. On the panel: Chris Bowen, Minister for Energy and Climate Change; Ross Garnaut, Economist; Yun Jiang AIIA China Matters Fellow; Varsha Yajman, Climate justice advocate; and Anthony Tran, Mayor of Maribyrnong City Council. 8:30pm Thursday on ABC. Underbelly actor Vince Colosimo, seen most recently in Celebrity Apprentice and in Wog Boys Forever, has been fined $2500 following a drug driving incident in April last year. Victoria Police said in a statement: A 55-year-old Elwood man has been charged on summons with unlicensed and drug driving. Prahran Highway Patrol intercepted a car on St Kilda Road, St Kilda about 2.30pm on Saturday 3 April, 2021. Colosimo was found to have methylamphetamine (ice) in his system and his car was impounded on the spot. The court also heard he gave police a false name Tony Anthony Colosimo when he was asked to provide his details. When officers said they were not satisfied with the name he gave, Colosimo said he had a twin brother. He eventually identified himself as Vincenzo Colosimo after police continued to raise concerns and threatened to arrest him. Wednesday was the fourth time the actor had faced court and the second time he had been caught drug driving. Colosimo admitted he knew he was unlicensed when he got behind the wheel of his silver Peugeot in an attempt to deliver groceries to his mother during lockdown last year. The court heard Colosimo owes more than $65,000 in fines, dating back to 2012. colosimo said he had been seeing counsellors but there were no records to show he had completed any courses relating to driving or drugs since his arrest. Prosecutor Bianca Moleta argued Colosimos offending was serious and warranted imprisonment. Colosimos lawyer George Vassis said he was genuinely remorseful and deeply embarrassed by his behaviour, Magistrate Olivia Trumble said, My view is that while a somewhat merciful disposition in the circumstances, an aggregate financial penalty is appropriate. Those matters date back to 2017, so they are somewhat aged. Whilst you may not be completely there, you are on a particular path to recovery. To your credit it seems youre back on a good path. I accept you are generally remorseful. She also advised the actor to sort out his unpaid fines. Source: news.com.au, The Age Update: Film and legal sources close to Colosimo have told Daily Mail Australia the star disputed the number and total dollar values of the fines he allegedly racked up. A source told Daily Mail Australia Colosimo maintained he had not incurred the traffic fines himself because he had loaned his Peugeot to a mate. Colosimo and his legal team are said to be in the process of working through the fines to ascertain not only how they accumulated, but who might have been behind the wheel and when. The court was presented with a bundle of references attesting to Colosimos recent good character. By Josh Smith YEOJU, South Korea (Reuters) - South Korean and American troops practiced building floating bridges to ferry tanks and other armoured vehicles across rivers on Wednesday, part of a larger joint military exercise that has angered North Korea. South Korean attack helicopters deployed flares and armoured vehicles blew white smoke screens into the air as main battle tanks, armoured personnel carriers, and other military vehicles crossed pontoon bridges over the Namhan River near Yeoju, south of Seoul. The drill involved armoured "attacking" forces of the South Korean army's 11th Mobile Division, which is participating in the 12-day Hoguk 22 field exercises, crossing bridges established by South Korean and U.S. engineering units. North Korea has condemned the drills for raising tensions and has test-fired rockets and artillery in response. South Korea and the United States say the drills are defensive, and necessary for deterring the North. About 1,000 South Korean and U.S. troops participated on Wednesday, with about 50 tanks and other armoured vehicles, KF-16 fighter jets, Apache and Cobra attack helicopters, and more than 140 pieces of engineering equipment such as floating bridge units, according to South Korea's defence ministry. Nearby, residents water skied on the river and rode by on riverside bicycle paths. The drills simulated a so-called wet gap crossing, military jargon for any obstacle filled with water, such as a river, said Captain Sean Kasprisin, a company commander in the U.S. Army's 11th Engineer Battalion, calling it "tough and realistic training". In a war, such operations might be required if bridges were knocked out by bombing, or if an army wanted to surprise its opponents by crossing away from established bridges or roads. "Developing river-crossing capabilities is a key factor that can make or break wartime operations given the Korean peninsula's geography with many rivers," said Lieutenant Colonel Won Seong-hoon of the South Korean 7th Engineer Brigade. Story continues South Korea uses an older version of U.S.-made bridging equipment, and one span was assembled using elements from each side, allowing troops to practice combining the different systems. "A lot of rivers can vary in how far across they are, so we don't know where we need to deploy," Kasprisin said. "So if that length is too far, then we need to be able to work together." Despite the tensions with North Korea, U.S. soldiers said they rarely had time to ponder geopolitics during the drills. "The only thing on our mind is the training and making it realistic and effective," Kasprisin said. (Reporting by Josh Smith; Additional reporting by Daewoung Kim and Soo-hyang Choi; Editing by Robert Birsel) German weapons are flowing to Ukraine, but Kyiv says Berlin's 'abstract fears and excuses' are getting in the way German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at a Bundeswehr training center in Ostenholz on October 17. David Hecker/Getty Images Germany's seeming reluctance to give heavy weapons to Ukraine has drawn criticism in Kyiv and Berlin. Germany's government has sent military aid worth hundreds of millions of dollars since the war began. But domestic and foreign-policy concerns have made Berlin cautious about what it is providing. Where are all those weapons that Germany promised? That's the question that many Ukrainians are asking. Despite Berlin promising to supply a variety of arms to help Ukraine repel Russia, many of those weapons still have not arrived. Ukraine's foreign minister has voiced strong criticism over Germany's failure to deliver arms, including Leopard II tanks, Marder infantry fighting vehicles, and, most recently, RCH-155 self-propelled howitzers. "Disappointing signals from Germany while Ukraine needs Leopards and Marders now to liberate people and save them from genocide," Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Twitter in mid-September. "Not a single rational argument on why these weapons cannot be supplied, only abstract fears and excuses. What is Berlin afraid of that Kyiv is not?" It's a question that German leaders and the media are also asking of Chancellor Olof Scholz, who heads a coalition of liberal and leftist parties, including the Green Party. German army Leopard 2 tanks in Munster in October 2015. Reuters Unsurprisingly, Germany's conservative opposition parties are not missing the chance to blast the government over failure, but when the Green Party which has long denounced US militarism demands that Germany speed up arms deliveries to Ukraine, it's a sign that Putin's war is fracturing German politics. To be clear, it's not that Germany hasn't aided Ukraine. Within days of Russia's invasion, Scholz's government pledged to send weapons and other equipment, and it posts periodic updates of military aid sent or promised to Ukraine: As of October 5, those deliveries and pledges totaled almost $755 million. That sum covers a long, impressive list that includes 10 Panzerhaubitze self-propelled 155 mm howitzers, three MARS II multiple rocket launchers, 30 Gepard mobile anti-aircraft guns, 3,000 Panzerfaust 3 anti-tank rockets, and a host of combat and non-combat items, among them 21.8 million rounds of small arms ammunition and 10,000 sleeping bags. Story continues But the Leopards and Marders are conspicuously absent. The US, Britain, and other nations have delivered artillery, missiles, and supplies but not main battle tanks, and Scholz has indicated that Germany does not want to be the lone Western power sending tanks to Ukraine. "This is a wimpy line of reasoning," German journalist Andreas Kluth countered in a column for Bloomberg. "The US, UK, Poland and other allies have, overall, been much more forthcoming than Germany with their help to the Ukrainians. And they all want Germany to do more rather than less to lead rather than just follow. So they'd be delighted if Germany shipped its Leopards." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with Scholz in Kyiv in June. Ukrainian Presidency / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Finding usable Leopards won't be easy. While West Germany had a potent military during the Cold War, the fall of the Berlin Wall led to considerable cuts in German defense spending, which resulted in the Bundeswehr shrinking in size and capability. The consequences of that have been seen reports in fighters that couldn't fly, subs that couldn't sail, and tanks that couldn't move. The biggest reason for German hesitation is fear particularly fear of a Russia that accounted for more than half of Germany's gas imports in 2021 and that might retaliate militarily and covertly. There is also the specter of World War II and modern Germany's discomfort with military force. Many Germans would rather not think about the last time German tanks clanked through Ukraine. For Ukraine, Leopard tanks may be useful but perhaps not vital. Kyiv is receiving aid from many nations there are hints that US M1 Abrams tanks are a possibility while British intelligence agencies estimate that half of Ukraine's tank fleet now consists of captured Russian vehicles. But tanks are also potent symbols. That Germany would be willing to send such high-profile arms would be a signal to Ukraine of German support and signal to Russia that not even turning off the gas will intimidate Berlin. Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds a master's in political science. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn. Read the original article on Business Insider HA NOI After over five years of negotiations, the US Department of Agriculture has officially licensed the import of fresh pomelo from Viet Nam, an official has said. Pomelo is the seventh fresh fruit of Viet Nam to be licensed to enter the US market, following mango, longan, lychee, dragon fruit, rambutan, and star apple, Hoang Trung, Director of the Plant Protection Department at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, told a meeting in Ha Noi on Monday. The US has great demand for fruit, up to 12 million tonnes each year. Its domestic production has met just 70 per cent of the demand while the remaining 30 per cent, equivalent to 3.6 million tonnes, is imported. Meanwhile, Viet Nam is home to 105,400ha of land under pomelo with diverse varieties, generating nearly 905,000 tonnes of fruit. The Mekong Delta alone houses about 32,000ha with an output of some 369,000 tonnes. This creates considerable room and a great opportunity for Vietnamese fruits, including pomelo, to access the US market, he noted. To export pomelo to the US, the Plant Protection Department will work with relevant parties to carry out measures, especially training farmers and exporting companies on the US import requirements. It will also maintain the granting of production unit codes and strictly monitor pest contamination in fruit. All pomelo batches to be shipped to the US will be irradiated at the US-recognised irradiation establishments under the supervision of the US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Plant Protection Department, Trung added. Previously, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) published in the Federal Register decided to allow the import of fresh Vietnamese pomelos into the US market from October 4 this year. On October 12, 2022, a delegation of USDAs Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) experts visited and inspected the pomelo growing area and packing facility in Ben Tre province. They inspected pomelo growing areas for export in three communes of Chau Thanh district, including Quoi Son, Huu inh, Tam Phuoc and the packing facility of fresh fruit exported to the US of Chanh Thu Import-Export Limited Company. Nguyen Minh Canh, Vice Chairman of Ben Tre Provincial People's Committee, said that for the value chain of green skin pomelo production, Ben Tre currently has seven co-operative groups and 12 co-operatives associated with enterprises with an area of 374.03 ha. Of which, the area certified for VietGAP is 330.98 ha. A report from the General Department of Customs showed that Viet Nam's fruit and vegetable exports reached nearly $2.2 billion in the first eight months of the year. Export turnover to the US reached $179 million, up 19.1 per cent over the same period last year and accounting for 8.16 per cent of the total export turnover of Vietnamese vegetables and fruits. VNS HCM CITY Cybercriminals have relentlessly exploited remote and hybrid environments to target enterprises in Southeast Asia, according to the global cybersecurity and digital privacy company Kaspersky. Kaspersky said it foiled over 47 million remote desktop protocol (RDP) attacks in the first six months of 2022 in the region where hybrid and remote work continues to be the norm. The number of Bruteforce.Generic.RDP targeting remote workers totalled over 47.8 million incidents. On average, Kaspersky solutions blocked 265,567 brute-force attacks in the region daily. It secured most users in Viet Nam, Indonesia and Thailand from this type of threat, it said. RDP is Microsofts proprietary protocol, which provides a user with a graphic interface to connect to another computer through a network. It is widely used by both system administrators and less technical users to control servers and other personal computers remotely. A Bruteforce.Generic.RDP attack attempts to find a valid RDP login/password pair by systematically checking all possible passwords until the correct one is found. A successful Bruteforce.Generic.RDP attack allows an attacker to gain remote access to the targeted host computer. Yeo Siang Tiong, general manager for Southeast Asia at Kaspersky, said: Naturally, working from home or anywhere out of the office requires employees to log in to corporate resources remotely from their personal devices. One of the most common tools used for this purpose is RDP. Microsoft 365 is still the preferred software used by enterprises and Southeast Asia boasts of more than 680 million people, half of whom are under 30 and highly tech-savvy. So we see the use of this protocol continuing as remote working remains the norm and expect that malicious actors will continue their chase to compromise companies and organisations here through brute-force attacks. Brute-force attacks on RDP are not new, but never before have so many employees used these protocols, which is the likely reason why they continue to be the primary focus for attackers in Southeast Asia, it said. While corporate and perimeter security remains important, the recent mass transition to remote or hybrid work has shown all too clearly that even the best corporate security cannot compensate for lack of user awareness, it said. With 60 per cent of companies allowing employees to use their own devices for work, businesses must train their staff in cybersecurity best practices so that they are aware of the risks and understand how to work securely with corporate resources, it added. VNS Canadian Vietnamese-born, Thien Duong, will take the helm of the Vietnam studio, which will be bolstered by unprecedented access to GroupGSAs more than 200 international urban design, architecture, landscape architecture, and interior design experts under the new changes. GroupGSA currently has studios in Australia, in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, and in Ho Chi Minh City. Thien joins GroupGSA as a highly regarded, licensed Architect and Master Planner with 19 years of experience working in Vietnam. He is also a Chartered Architect with the Royal Institute of British Architects, having lived and worked in the United Kingdom and Canada before returning to Vietnam. He is a longstanding property expert invited to chair numerous property awards in Vietnam. As a member of the Board of Directors of the Vietnam Green Building Council, a non-profit organisation connected with the World Green Building Council, Thien is committed to championing sustainability and innovation for a better future in his birth country and beyond. The industry veteran has spent 25 years overseeing developments from luxury resorts and high-end residential developments to schools and mixed-used commercial spaces. Thien describes Vietnam as a sleeping tiger on the cusp of transformation and ripe with opportunity. If you look at its cities, Vietnam is about 10 per cent developed compared to other Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore, Malaysia or even Thailand, he said. Vietnam has a growing middle class with a young, educated and very hard-working population. Of the 100 million people in Vietnam, more than 74 per cent are of working age. It's a very exciting outlook and one that excites me. Within our lifetime, with the enormous scale of developments required, I believe Vietnam is one of the places that need culturally thoughtful architecture and innovative sustainable designs," he said. Since its arrival in Vietnam eight years ago, GroupGSA has amassed an impressive portfolio of large-scale, market-leading hotels and condominiums, as well as premium residential, hospitality and education design projects. It now employs more than 50 staff at its Vietnam studio. Sam Tran has also re-joined GroupGSA as an associate director at the Vietnam studio. Tran trained as an architect at the firms Sydney studio from 2016-2018. GroupGSA will also welcome back Martin Nguyen to lead the Landscape Architecture team, who has previously worked for GroupGSA in both Australia and Vietnam. B+H demonstrates impact of strategic planning on sustainable cities Drawing on its global expertise and experience, B+H explored the design of Saigon Park and Hamlet Waterfront Residential Master Plan to demonstrate how strategic planning and design can create truly sustainable cities and communities. Going smarter and more sustainable: value proposition for urban development As humanity is facing the growing pressures of population growth, climate change, rapid urbanisation, and natural resources running out, the transformation towards smarter and more sustainable models becomes an urgent need in urban development. As part of its constant efforts to continually improve, Home Credit Vietnam officially relaunched with a new brand identity last month to better align with the firm's strategy: "All-in-one Digital Financing. Pixel dots are the primary focus of the new logo, symbolising the companys diverse digital financial services. Ho Thi Phuong Uyen, Home Credit Vietnam's head of Brand and Product Marketing receives the Inspirational Brand Award Home Credit has been among the first companies to launch several digital financial products in Vietnam, such as real-time online loan approval, virtual credit cards and its latest buy-now-pay-later product, Home PayLater, in cooperation with leading e-commerce platforms. Home PayLater helps customers purchase items with simple paperwork without upsetting their personal budgets or family spending. The Home PayLater product integrates the new brand identity, reorienting the companys approach towards a younger, more dynamic and modern clientele to bring the digital financial brand closer to customers, especially the young. Home PayLater brand identity Late last year, Home Credit also launched a TikTok channel, with over 125 million views so far, optimising content for the companys products on this platform. Home Credit Vietnams TikTok channel receives millions of views This is the second time Home Credit has changed its brand identity after nearly 15 years in Vietnams consumer finance market. The previous rebranding was in late 2017. With the new change, Home Credit reaffirms its mission of accompanying millions of Vietnamese customers, providing flexible and convenient personal finance and shopping plans to many more people. Founded in the Czech Republic in 1997, Home Credit is the worlds leading provider of consumer financial services, operational in 10 countries with more than 70 million customers. As a pioneer in the consumer finance industry, Home Credit has been operating in Vietnam since 2008, serving more than 14 million customers across 63 provinces and cities. With its leading role in the consumer finance industry, the group aims for disruptive but sustainable growth through product innovation, responsible lending, the enhancement of customer experience, integrated technology solutions, and social responsibility. Assessing the potential of buy now, pay later services Home Credit is betting on the prospects of buy now, pay later services in Vietnam. Michal Skalicky, chief customer officer of Home Credit Vietnam, shared with VIRs Thanh Van his insight into the growth potential in Vietnams e-commerce market. Home Credit becomes member of Vietnam Bank Card Association Home Credit Vietnam has joined the Vietnam Bank Card Association (VBCA) under the Vietnam Banks Association (VNBA), marking a milestone in the development of the digital consumer financier in Vietnams financial market. MPI Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc spoke at the workshop The workshop was attended by numerous representatives from central ministries, national and international agencies, embassies, the UN in Vietnam, some provinces, press agencies, and several experts. Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc asserted that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) have become cross-cutting in national and sectoral strategies and policies. Vietnam obtained many achievements in sustainable poverty reduction, coverage of essential health services, universal education, access to clean water and sanitation, IT infrastructure, guarantee of stable forest coverage, and increased renewable energy consumption out of the total final energy consumption, the MPI deputy minister said. She also emphasised, Through the development of the VNR 2023, Vietnam wished to share achievements and progress made in the implementation of the SDGs, especially over the last five years since the first VNR. At the same time, she shared challenges in the SDG implementation and presented orientations and key activities for the remaining time. The deputy minister wished that central ministries, provinces, and national and international organisations would accompany Vietnam and contribute to the VNR process so that Vietnams VNR fully expresses the voice and roles of all stakeholders towards promoting and achieving the SDGs. Speaking at the workshop, Dennis Quennet, director of the Macroeconomic Reforms and Green Growth Programme at German Corporation for International Cooperation, and Pauline Fatima Tamesis, the UN resident coordinator in Vietnam, asserted to accompany and support Vietnam in the VNR 2023 process. At the workshop, the participants listened to a presentation on Vietnams draft VNR 2023 Outline, roles, and collaboration of stakeholders in the VNR process, as well as experience and practices from the German VNR process and Vietnam's tentative timeline. Participants said that they would accompany the MPI during the VNR implementation, and highly appreciated the ministrys efforts in creating opportunities for all stakeholders to make contributions and raise their voices in the VNR process and considered that Vietnam's VNR 2023 is an important basis for the parties to navigates and accelerate their actions towards the accomplishment of the SDGs by 2030. COVID-19 threatens Asia-Pacific's progress on SDGs The pandemic is threatening Asia-Pacifics progress towards the fulfilment of the critical targets under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to a new report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Vietnam and UNFPA fully committed to SDGs by 2030 The government confirmed that the interventions and support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in 2017-2021 substantially contributed to the country's efforts in achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). WinEco Cu Chi Farm in Ho Chi Minh City is one of 14 farms specialising in producing quality root vegetables, fruits, and leafy vegetables, ensuring food safety and high economic value. The farm is developed by WinEco, a member of Masan Group, in many localities across the country. The farm features greenhouses with Israeli technology, Vietnamese membrane houses, net houses, and field production areas. The farm produces over 10 crops with an average output of 250-300 tonnes per month, equivalent to nearly 10 per cent of WinEco's total output. The farm's plants include leafy vegetables, spices (perilla, marjoram, basil), fruit and vegetables (star gourd, cucumber, bitter melon), seedless lemon, and cantaloupe. A representative of WinEco said, "As Vietnam has a population of nearly 100 million people, the demand for clean, traceable food will continue to rise, especially in the big cities. Applying high technology in agricultural production not only helps to increase productivity per unit area but also ensures year-round product supply, including off-season. WinEco strictly complies with VietGAP regulations and controls three processes: input production, production process, and product output. With each product, customers can clearly trace the origin via QR code." After surveying the process of growing vegetables, fruits, and agricultural products at the project, Minister Hoan called on businesses to build a responsible ecosystem for agriculture and farmers, creating pride for Vietnamese agricultural products and increasing profits. Businesses should also create more opportunities for farmers to join the ecosystem. Farmers are the ones who give the best branding, communication, and advertising for these products. The minister also called on businesses to create solutions for the agricultural sector to promote sustainable development. In response to Minister Hoan's instructions, the representative of WinEco expressed the company's gratitude. He said that the company is still on the way to increasing productivity, improving costs as well as strengthening linkages and cooperation with agricultural production units nationwide. At the same time, the company also supports farmers in different ways to spread and promote awareness of safe and sustainable agricultural production. WinEco Agricultural Production Development Investment Co., Ltd. was established in 2015 with a focus on agriculture. After six years of development, it owns 14 farms in the north, south, and the Central Highlands. Currently, the company supplies about 3000 tonnes of agricultural products per month with over 150 varieties through a system of more than 3,000 supermarkets and WinMart/WinMart+ stores. Masan honoured among top 50 businesses at Corporate Sustainability Awards The trend of investing in businesses meeting environment, social, and governance (ESG) criteria is growing. And, according to a report by law firm YKVN, Vietnam is catching up with the global trend. Masan launches WINLife Is All You Need ecosystem and opens 27 multi-utility stores Masan Group Corporation on September 9 announced the launch of WINLife, the one-stop shop ecosystem that provides consumers with a convenient and seamless offline-to-online experience. ProPak Vietnam opens opportunities for domestic and foreign enterprises to experience and access the latest equipment and technology from 30 advanced countries/ regions worldwide. The exhibition attracts nearly 10,000 trade visitors ProPak Vietnam 2022 is officially supported by the Vietnam Packaging Association, Vietnam Beer Alcohol Beverage Association, and Vietnam Association of Food Science and Technology and is promised to provide valuable and necessary knowledge to enterprises. Packaging industrys high growth Vietnam's packaging industry plays an increasingly essential and appreciated role. During two years of the pandemic, packaging production effectively met the requirements of goods circulation, ensuring the quality of food delivered to customers, especially providing sufficient packages for medical care, pandemic prevention and export. Globally, packaging value has almost reached $500 billion annually, growing an average of 12 per cent per year. Vietnams packaging industry had a relatively high and stable growth rate of 13.4 per cent annually in 2015-2020. Vietnam has more than 4,500 packaging manufacturing enterprises, mainly concentrated in key economic regions such as the Southeast (including Ho Chi Minh City), with 2,627 enterprises, and the Red River Delta (including Hanoi), with 1,311 enterprises. The return of ProPak Vietnam 2022 After a two-year hiatus, the 15th ProPak Vietnam 2022 officially returns with the warm welcome of thousands of enterprises in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. After 14 successful editions with more than 10,000 attendees in each exhibition, ProPak Vietnam has been evaluated as a good platform to provide business opportunities for large and small-sized enterprises to participate and develop together and obtain valuable opportunities and useful industry knowledge. After a two-year hiatus, the 15th ProPak Vietnam 2022 officially returns with the warm welcome of thousands of enterprises in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. This event is held on an international scale with the participation of more than 400 exhibitors from 30 countries/ regions on coverage of over 10,000 square metres, in which there are noticeable seven international group pavilions from Italy, Germany, Singapore, China, Korea, and Taiwan. The event will bring exposure to the latest products/services in processing and packaging technology. Some outstanding companies such as Dalgakiran Kompresor (Turkey); FPT Food Process Technology (Germany); Fuji Machinery (Japan); Greenpack (Korea); Guan Yu Machinery Factory (Taiwan); Heat And Control Pty (Australia); ABB Automation and Electrification (Vietnam), Amut S.P.A (Italy), Bossar Packaging S.L. (Spain), and Endress+Hauser Vietnam, will attend. The category of products displayed in 2022 is very diverse, with leading product segments as packaging technology, processing technology, raw materials, beverage technology, pharmaceutical technology, cold chain, logistics and storage, coding, marking and labelling, printing technology, laboratory, and inspection. Numerous opportunities for promotion In the digital era with 4.0 technology, product packaging not only means preserving products, serving distribution and transport to consumers, but also expresses culture and style and supports the development of an enterprises image. A place for leading experts to exchange knowledge and analyse specific case-study for enterprises ProPak Vietnam 2022 is a favourable event for visitors to listen to and share practical lessons on smart packaging, device trends for the beverage industry, IoT, digitisation and data analysis for the packaging industry through a series of specialised seminars gathering leading domestic and international experts and engineers who will exchange information and knowledge about the trendy development direction of the packaging industry. Please browse through the event schedule of ProPak Vietnam 2022 to not miss a session that suits your needs. The sessions feature Vietnam Beverage Industry and Equipment Technology Trends in the future, held by the Vietnam Beer Alcohol Beverage Association on November 9, from 1.30pm - 4:30pm; Advanced and Sustainable Technology Development in Food Industry organised by the Vietnam Association of Food Science and Technology (VAFoST) on November 10, from 9am to 2pm; Design, technology and intelligent production systems in the packaging industry for managing products and production wires and increasing interaction experience for customers, held by Meslab on November 11, 2022, from 9:30 am - 4:30 am; and PROTALK, a series of technical seminars, held on November 9 and 10. ProPak Vietnam 2022 also features intriguing activities such as the Innovation Technology showcase, Sustainable Square, 1-1 Business Matching programme, which aims to elevate visitors experiences. ProPak Vietnam, together with Printech Vietnam, and Vietwater are co-hosted to bring a comprehensive trading platform in the processing, packaging, printing, labelling, water supply, and water and wastewater treatment industries this November. ProPak Vietnam 2022 An annual business meeting of pioneering enterprises! More information The 15th International Processing and Packaging Exhibition for Vietnam Date: November 9 11 Opening hours: 9am - 5pm every day Venue: Hall A, Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC), 799 Nguyen Van Linh, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Website: https://propakvietnam.com/ Hotline: 028 3622 2588 Email: propakvietnam@informa.com IFC launches financing platform to respond to global food crisis Responding to surging levels of food insecurity, IFC has launched a new $6 billion financing facility to strengthen the private sector's ability to respond to the crisis and help support food production. Public Sector Summit 2022 - Empowering cloud technology in ASEAN The AWS Public Sector Summit opened in Singapore on October 6, discussing cloud transformation and the upscaling of cloud technology in ASEAN. How is Manulife positioned in Asia to capture growth after the pandemic? The pandemic has shown how businesses and industries have adapted and remained nimble over the past two years. For the life insurance sector, we are seeing people taking more control of their financial planning and recognising the value of insurance and protection. We have strategically positioned ourselves at Manulife to capture growth after the pandemic by investing heavily in our people and customers and focusing on the opportunities before us, such as Asias rapidly growing middle class, its low insurance penetration rate, and the regions large mortality protection gap. Manulife is well-placed to capitalise on these opportunities, as we work towards meaningfully meeting the life, health, and retirement needs of our customers across Asia. More specifically, our strong digital foundation complements our customer and employee focus, and our diversified distribution model is one of the most robust in the market. This is underpinned by our leading agency platform focused on quality recruiting at scale, training, and activation. With our advisors and colleagues, coupled with a comprehensive suite of insurance solutions, were rapidly capturing the post-pandemic growth opportunity and making the lives of millions more customers better every day. As the leader of a company operating in 13 markets across Asia, why choose Vietnam as one of your first destinations to visit? Asia is a primary growth engine for Manulife, with Vietnam considered one of our key markets in the region. For me, our opportunity to grow in Asia is undeniable similarly, the opportunity presented in Vietnam is also undeniable. The reason for choosing Vietnam as one of my first markets to visit is simple this is an exciting place to be. With a thriving, digitally enabled, and young population, Vietnam is one of the regions greatest economic success stories. Were proud to enter Vietnam in 1999 as the first foreign-owned insurer to be granted a license. We now have around 1,000 permanent staff and a leading agency force, serving more than 1.5 million customers. Manulife is committed to Vietnams long-term development. For us, that means investing in talent, innovation, services, products, and community initiatives that address key economic and societal issues. Over the past few years, we have also seen strong growth from Manulife Vietnam, with the franchise maintaining its leading position in terms of First Year Premiums, including for the first half of 2022. Damien Green spoke at an event for agents during his trip in Vietnam In your opinion, what advantages does Vietnam have in terms of its evolving life insurance sector compared to other Asia markets? Vietnams dynamic economy offers unparalleled opportunities, especially for life insurers. The long-term potential of the market is robust, with low insurance penetration, fueled by a burgeoning middle class, rapid GDP growth, and favourable demographics. Significantly, Vietnam is one of a few countries to experience GDP growth during the pandemic, additionally posting growth of 5.03 per cent in the first quarter of 2022. Vietnams dynamic economy offers unparalleled opportunities, especially for life insurers. From a digital perspective, Manulife Vietnam is leading the charge. We are digitally enabling our agents to serve customers better, namely by focusing on digitising the touchpoints where agents and customers interact, including rolling out electronic point of sales with automated underwriting. The Vietnamese government is also proactively supporting the countrys ongoing digital acceleration, seen as a big positive for the insurance industry an already highly innovative and charged sector. For me, technology presents countless opportunities to make insurance more accessible. At the same time, technology must also be complemented with human interaction to enable connectedness. Equally important, its about having a presence in the channels that our customers use every day. Manulife Vietnam is further progressing this through its focus on improving customer journeys and ensuring that our professional distribution teams deliver high-quality advice and experiences. What do you think a successful life and health insurer should do in Vietnam to win the hearts and minds of consumers? I am a firm believer of culture, and I see driving a strong and robust culture in Manulife as the single most important thing we can do to succeed. Thats because culture enables high-performing teams, who will then deliver results and exceed customer expectations. To do this, we are supercharging our engagement with our colleagues and agents in Vietnam and across Asia. This includes deploying tools for employees such as our Pursuit online learning platform to developing our agents with ManuAcademya mobile-first learning management system that supports their careers at all stages. Getting this right will enable us to deliver the best experiences, products, and advice to our customers, which will be key to winning their hearts and minds. In Vietnam, we have organised our operations around our obsession with our customers. This change has helped us ensure that our systems and processes fit perfectly into our customers journeys with us, contributing to our high NPS score and strong market share. For us, being customer-centric means that we are keenly focused on our agency force. Growing, developing, and digitizing our agents and advisors remain a key priority for Manulife, as they ultimately help serve our customers better. As the top ranked MDRT company in Vietnam and number 12 globally, Manulife Vietnams agency force punches well above its weight. We want to grow our agency force by double-digit percentages in Vietnam, and I believe we are on track. Any parting words? We have a right to win in Asia because of our powerful franchise and, importantly, because of our people. I am truly honoured and humbled to lead the company to the next stage of growth in Asia. Utilising every opportunity to grow and overcome challenges That is the message and guideline of the Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung at the national conference between the prime minister and enterprises on how to adapt, quickly recover, and sustainably develop. The ceremony of the Vietnam-Australia Business Champions Initiative took place in Hanoi on the morning of October 18 in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Duy Dong and the Australian Assistant Minister for Trade and Manufacturing Tim Ayres, as well as some Australian and Vietnamese enterprises. Tran Duy Dong underlined that, after a year of executing the project, pioneering entrepreneurs in Vietnam and Australia have engaged in several important activities, therefore generating significant value for the business communities of the two nations. Tim Ayres, Australian Assistant Minister for Trade and Manufacturing, and Tran Duy Dong, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Before today's event, I also had a brief conversation with pioneer entrepreneurs, and I admired their aggressive, passionate, and enthusiastic attitude, as well as the positive early results produced over the past year, Dong stressed. Australian Assistant Minister for Trade and Manufacturing Tim Ayres also acknowledged the brief but productive discussion with six leading entrepreneurs. Deputy Minister Tran Duy Dong and I sat with the pioneer entrepreneurs of the two nations, listened to their many excellent proposals, and will take concrete steps to expand prospects for investment, exporters, and importers of the two countries. Both parties reaffirmed their resolve to continue fostering advantageous investment and trade arrangements between the two nations. The Vietnamese side emphasised that it will remove barriers to market entry, import-export procedures, and land, while the Australian side expressed support for pioneering businesses' investment plans. According to Dong, this is a significant and meaningful event that celebrates the efforts and positive achievements of Vietnamese-Australian pioneering businesses over the previous year to boost effective trade and investment relations between the two nations. Both are certain that the two nations will achieve their aim of being one of the top 10 trade partners of each other and achieving a twofold increase in two-way investment. Six pioneering entrepreneurs from Vietnam and Australia have been selected as senior, experienced executives from prominent enterprises and corporations in critical sectors of the agricultural economy; industrial production; mining; steel manufacturing of steel; technological solutions; and banking and education by the authorities of the two nations. These are entrepreneurs from TH Group, Hoa Phat Group, Vietcombank, Aurecon Group, Sunrice Group, RMIT University, and Bean Centre. Two ministers rewarded to six outstanding entrepreneurs from two nations In both countries, the Business Champions have already been active. The Australian Business Champions convened over one hundred business and government leaders for a series of roundtables in five Australian states and one territory. The Vietnamese Business Champions have formed a business network, co-chaired a roundtable with more than one hundred enterprises in attendance, and participated in high-level government discussions. In August 2019, the prime ministers of Australia and Vietnam agreed to construct an Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy, with the goals of becoming one of the top 10 trading partners and tripling bilateral investment. The Business Champions were selected based on their stellar reputation and their representation of important sectors for the economic cooperation between Australia and Vietnam. Their duty is to promote Australia-Vietnam trade and investment, encourage interaction with industry, and report back to governments on both commercial possibilities and problems. Boosting Australia's investment in Vietnam The Vietnam-Australia partnership is on the right track with effective economic, trade and investment cooperation in the recent years, but with nearly 2 billion USD in 550 projects as of the end of 2021, Australian investment in Vietnam has not matched potential, according to Assoc. Prof. Chu Hoang Long from the Australia National University. Australia provides additional 7.2 million Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines to Vietnam On June 1, Australia provided 7.2 million Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine doses with Vietnam purchased through an agreement with UNICEF and in partnership with Vietnams Ministry of Health. The vaccines were already delivered on May 20-28 to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Seven years ago, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) began to issue many regulations for the adoption of Basel II in Vietnam's commercial banking system. According to the provisions of Circular No.41/2016/TT-NHNN, banks should apply and comply with regulations on capital adequacy ratio (CAR) according to Basel II standards. Although Circular 41 was issued in 2016, Vietnamese banks have only started to apply Basel II since the beginning of 2019. Vietcombank and VIB were the first two banks to fulfil the Basel II standards. After being recognised by the SBV in November 2018, the two banks officially applied for Basel II in 2019. Since then, many other banks have also started to follow Circular 41, such as OCB, ACB, TPBank, MB, and VPBank. After three years, there are now more than 20 banks meeting this regulation. However, Circular 41 only regulates the CAR and the requirements for information transparency and market discipline, which are the pillars 1 and 3 of Basel II. The journey to complete Pillar 2 (internal capital adequacy assessment) is underway. In November 2019, VIB was the first bank to announce the completion of these three pillars, followed by VPBank, TPBank, and MSB. Although Basel II is the highest requirement of regulators in Vietnam today, many banks have also embarked on the implementation of Basel III with many strict criteria to improve risk management. It is known that Basel III aims to supplement and overcome the limitations of Basel II, mainly in terms of liquidity management, to help banks withstand risks and prevent systemic losses. Banks that were pioneers in Basel II continue to take the lead in the implementation of Basel III. VIB has applied risk management indicators according to Basel III standards since 2020. VIB, together with Vietcombank, are also pioneers in implementing a set of standards to strengthen capital quality and especially liquidity. In addition, many other banks, such as TPBank, MSB, SeABank, and MSB, have also actively applied Basel III over the past few years. Some have announced that they have completed all the requirements. Besides the Basel Accords, banks are also moving to apply other international standards, such as International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). In particular, VIB and Techcombank are the two banks that pioneered completing the IFRS-compliant financial statements for 2020 in the first half of 2021. TPBank also announced the completion of IFRS 9 requirements at the end of September. These international standards help banks deal with financial and economic risks and open up access to international financial markets. There is no denying that the great benefits come from the application of IFRS or Basel III. However, the implementation of strict standards is not easy for the majority of banks. As seen, only a few banks have successfully implemented and applied one or both of these standards, or are in the process of applying them. However, thanks to the focus on risk management, the leading banks adopting Basel II, Basel III, and IFRS are now among the top banks in terms of profitability, top quality of assets, and highly ranked not only domestically but also internationally. Therefore, these banks have the opportunity to attract capital flows from abroad and improve their reputation among customers and investors. Techcombank, for example, raised more than $1 billion in foreign syndicated loans in July. The bank also entered the international syndicated loan market last October with a loan worth $800 million. In April, VPBank also announced that the bank had taken a $600 million international syndicated loan with a 3-year term. Previously, VIB had raised $260 million in international syndicated loans. In the August announcement, VIB was one of the few commercial banks to be ranked the highest by the SBV for 2021, based on the evaluation results, with high scores on capital adequacy, asset quality, governance, business results, and liquidity. Basel III - the journey continues in Vietnam In recent years, the banking system has experienced many strong transformation trends such as digital transformation, process automation, and strong investments in information technology. Alongside with these innovations, banks have also devoted considerable resources to enhancing the risk management foundation towards leading practices. In Vietnam, some pioneering banks have proactively piloted Basel III and Basel IV standards in order to stay competitive and ensure a sustainable growth. Banks incorporate Basel II standards A group of Vietnamese banks have been accorded compliance through international regulations despite the challenges faced in raising capital and attracting investors, paving the way for others to follow. Trang Phuong reports. A former police officer for the cities of Mart and Marlin has cleared his name after he was arrested on a Class A misdemeanor charge in September 2019. The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement service record for Sergio Collazo now shows an honorable discharge from all police agencies where he has worked, as reviewed Oct. 13. His peace officers license is listed as active and in good standing, also as of Oct. 13. In the eyes of the law, there was no arrest and no prosecution of Sergio Collazo in Falls County or in Robertson County, said Ben Sifuentes, an attorney for Collazo. The records of his arrest Sept. 19, 2019, and his indictment by a Falls County grand jury, on a Class A misdemeanor charge of official oppression and a criminal trespass charge, have been wiped clean by a judicial order in the 82nd State District Court of Falls and Robertson counties, signed March 24. A special prosecutor on the case, Coty Siegert, of Franklin, agreed to dismiss the charges and the two cases upon Collazos completion of a pre-trial diversion program. Judicial orders dismissing both cases against Collazo were signed Dec. 6, 2021, the Falls County District Clerks Office confirmed. The pre-trial diversion consisted of not getting into any trouble for 6 months and my case would be dismissed, Collazo wrote in an Oct. 12 email. I have never been disciplined in such a manner nor have I ever received any write ups or complaints as a Police Officer, Collazo wrote. The case against Collazo began in December 2018, and on Jan. 23, 2019, the Tribune-Herald reported Marlins police chief at that time, Nathan Sodek, suspended Collazo for unauthorized involvement in a counterfeit money case. Sodek fired Collazo on Apr. 8, 2019, according to a letter Sodek signed on a Marlin Police Department letterhead Jun. 11, 2019. Collazo appealed his firing on the grounds he did not receive a fair and impartial hearing, and resigned in good standing shortly thereafter to take a job with the Mart Police Department. Three months after taking the job in Mart, he was arrested on the official oppression charge dating to his time in Marlin. The arrest affidavit filed at the time provided minimal detail about the allegations against him but stated he had improperly arrested a woman in November 2018. Sodek, Collazos primary accuser, died by his own hand Aug. 23, 2019, under his own cloud of suspicion as a Texas Ranger had applied for a search warrant to seize Sodeks cellphone in the line of a criminal investigation of Sodek, the Tribune-Herald reported at the time. In his email Oct. 12, Collazo said he looks forward to moving ahead honorably in his chosen profession of law enforcement and providing for his family now that he has reclaimed his good name. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott promised naloxone for schools during a Waco roundtable Tuesday highlighting the dangers of fentanyl with law enforcement leaders and state legislators. Texas has a $27 billion budget surplus and in the next legislative session, Im sure we can find a way to use some of that money to put Narcan (a popular brand of naloxone) in our schools, Abbott said. Naloxone is a quick-acting remedy that can reverse opioid overdoses. It has also been used to save the lives of Texas law enforcement personnel poisoned with fentanyl, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw said Tuesday in Waco. Thousands of times more potent than heroin or OxyContin, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, made in factories. Abbott said a dose of fentanyl as small as 2 milligrams can kill an adult. It would take much less to kill a youth or child. To understand the size of 2 milligrams, Texas Rep. Charles Doc Anderson, R-Waco, also in attendance at the roundtable, compared it to an 81 milligram low-dose aspirin pill. If you take an 81 milligram aspirin think how small that is and slice it up into 8 pieces, each one of those is still five times larger than a deadly dose of fentanyl, Anderson said. Abbott said the first step to put naloxone in schools would be for John Scott, the recently appointed chief of school safety and security in the Texas Education Agency, to analyze which schools are actually at risk and put it there. Fentanyl is often a contaminant, or hidden ingredient, in other narcotics, Dr. Ryan Morrissey, an emergency medicine physician with Baylor Scott & White Health who has treated opioid and fentanyl overdoses, told the Tribune-Herald earlier this year. Often it wont be known in the heat of the moment. The number of Americans who died of drug overdoses last year was 107,000, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a 15% increase from 2020. From April 2021 to April 2022, 4,839 Texans died of a drug-related overdose, a 63.4% increase in fatalities over the last three years, The Texas Tribune reported based on CDC estimates. American Medical Response crews in Waco and surrounding cities used naloxone to save a life from opioid overdose 169 times last year and 65 times this year through May 18, an AMR spokesperson told the Tribune-Herald in May. All AMR ambulance crews carry the overdose remedy and are trained in its use. All Waco Police Department and McLennan County Sheriffs Office patrol vehicles also carry the drug overdose remedy, and their personnel have been trained to use it, the Tribune-Herald reported in June. Waco Police spokesperson Cierra Shipley estimated in May that Waco police personnel administered naloxone about 30 times in the past year. Sheriffs personnel have not had to use it between May of last year and May of this year, the Tribune-Herald reported in June. The governor also said Tuesday that in the next legislative session he would call for new laws to counter the spread of fentanyl. One law Abbott called for would designate fentanyl-related deaths as poisonings instead of overdoses. He said that would enable a second proposed law to allow prosecutors to charge a person with murder if they lace a substance with fentanyl and taking that substance causes someone to die. Abbotts Democratic challenger in the Nov. 8 election, Beto ORourke, hasnt placed the fentanyl issue front and center on the campaign trail during his 2022 run for governor, The Texas Tribune reported in coverage of an Abbott stop Monday in Beaumont, where he also discussed wider naloxone distribution by the state. But during his unsuccessful bid for president in 2020, he unveiled a plan to address the crisis by, among other initiatives, tackling the illegal importation of fentanyl and ensuring access to treatment. The race between Democratic incumbent Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker in Georgia may determine which party controls the U.S. Senate. It will also show how much voters care these days about character. My guess: more than the cynics say. Its certainly true that, as recently as 10 years ago, America would not have had a debate about whether a candidate for Senate could survive credible allegations of paying for a girlfriends abortion and then lying about it, or the disclosure of the existence of two previously unacknowledged children, or the candidates own admission of past domestic violence. His polling would have plummeted. His party would have concluded that he had no chance of winning and that continued support for him would bring it discredit. But the abortion accusation, which Walker denies, does not seem to have cost him many points in polls, even as he continues to advocate a ban on abortion. Politics, it seems, is too important these days for questions of character to matter, writes Washington Post columnist Henry Olsen. Donald Trump got elected president in 2016, after all, even after the Access Hollywood tape. Voters are holding politicians to lower standards than they once did. Trump has contributed to the trend, as did Bill Clinton before him. One result is that politicians such as Rep. Scott DesJarlais, a Republican from Tennessee, remain in office after a series of scandals that would have made the Borgias blush. Misconduct can, however, still bring politicians down. In 2017, the Republican candidate for Senate from Alabama, Roy Moore, lost in that deep-red state after accusations of sexual assault, including assaults of minors. Even in recent years, many officeholders, including members of Congress such as Representatives Katie Hill and Joe Barton, have decided not to face voters after scandals. Perhaps the abortion story isnt hurting him in the polls because voters had a low assessment of him beforehand. The same poll that found it had not changed his standing in the race showed him running five points behind Brian Kemp, the Republican governor who is seeking reelection in the state. Walker is running seven points behind Kemp among Republicans and eight points behind among independents. Most voters consider him dishonest. Pundits and political strategists may have learned the wrong lesson from 2016. Trump was running against a very unpopular Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, one who had been a figure of controversy for decades. Walker does not have a similarly helpful circumstance: His opponent, Warnock, still has more voters who view him favorably than unfavorably. (Thats even though his ex-wife claims that he ran over her foot with a car.) It may also make a difference that Trump was running for president while Walker is running for Senate. You might think that a minimum level of probity is more important in presidents than in senators. Presidents have vastly more power and responsibility than senators. A senator can neither start a war nor end one; modern presidents can and do. But in a political era defined by negative partisanship in which people are more likely to hate the party they oppose than to love the one they support the logic flips. Letting the other side capture the presidency is a more devastating loss than letting it take one Senate seat precisely because the presidency matters more. If youre a voter who leans strongly toward one party or the other, the cost of insisting on a moral test for office is therefore highest when it comes to the White House. My theory, that is, is that moral principles are a kind of luxury for voters, one they indulge more in lower-stakes races. If thats right, the perverse result is that voters have a higher standard for character for senators than for presidents. Unless theres a big Republican wave this year, it may still be too high for Herschel Walker. ASHLAND As the mother of young boys, Katherine DAgostino was familiar with ninjas, the Japanese warriors trained in ancient martial arts. So when it came time to name her business, the mysterious masked marauders came to mind. Storage Ninjas not only is the moniker for DAgostinos three storage facilities, but also of her operation as a feasibility consultant for self-storage. Storage Ninjas-Ashland opened in Ashland Aug. 29 at 100 Highway 6. The new business celebrated a ribbon cutting with the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce last week. One month earlier, DAgostino opened a new Storage Ninjas facility in Grand Island. Earlier this month, she closed on the purchase of Waverly Self-Storage, now named Storage Ninjas-Waverly as well. The company is still in the process of transitioning the new Waverly site, DAgostino said. DAgostino said choosing the ninja character helps identify the brand and allows her to have a more memorable business name. It can have more of a personality, she said. The Ashland facility has almost 20,000 square feet of non-climate controlled storage units. All of them are drive-up, an important distinction between other self-storage places. I really believe people prefer drive up units, she said. DAgostino has done her research as a consultant and as an entrepreneur. She knows when the peak season for storage is March to June, when people are moving. Moving is the No. 1 reason individuals rent self-storage units, DAgostino said. People need storage when they move, she said. The exception is businesses. Businesses always need storage, DAgostino said. The facility is not overseen by employees, but Storage Ninjas-Ashland has included multiple safety features to provide a secure self-storage facility. This includes video cameras that run continuously. These cameras have license plate recognition as well, DAgostino said, which helps keep track of who enters and exits the business. The facility is also brightly lit so anyone can feel secure even if they are there after dark. Access to the storage units is from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. The property is surrounded by a fence, and the electronic gate is accessed by a key pad. Keeping tenants and their belongings safe is the family-owned companys goal. We are so grateful to be part of the Ashland community, DAgostino said. Storage Ninjas employs one full-time manager, Angel Trinh and a part-time employee to oversee all three sites. Units can be rented by calling or going online. DAgostino lives in Lincoln with her husband, Eric, and sons Max and Nick. She identified Ashland as an undersupplied area in terms of storage, which led her to build a facility in the community. Ashland has a stable and growing population, Ashland has an affluent population and Ashland has a good number of renters, DAgostino said. A groundbreaking ceremony hosted by the Ashland Area Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC) was held last November. Some work had already been done on the site when the golden shovels turned scoops of ceremonial dirt, but work was soon delayed by supply chain issues and rising prices. Originally on schedule to be completed before the Grand Island site, Ashlands opening was delayed until the end of August. But the delay has not had an adverse effect on the number of customers who have signed up for storage units. Lease up has definitely exceeded my expectations, she said. A typical storage facility takes about two years to fill up to 90% capacity, which is about as full as DAgostino wants Storage Ninjas to be. In less than two months, the Ashland site 15% full. At this rate we should be full in seven months, DAgostino added. Along with supply chain issues, there were other challenges to building a new self-storage facility. Neighbors worried that the bright lights would be detrimental to the residential areas. DAgostino installed dark-sky compliant LED lights that point down. Storage Ninjas-Ashland is also surrounded by 23 trees and 117 shrubs and plants that will eventually obstruct the view from Highway 6. Hopefully over time itll be one of the prettiest points of the corridor, DAgostino said. The owner also noted that the property was formerly a quarry and landfill, which provided for some interesting discoveries during excavation, including a 20-foot tank. In terms of highest and best use for something that was a quarry and landfill between railroad tracks and a highway, its a pretty great use, she said. DAgostino already has plans for expansion. The project was divided into two phases. The first phase, which is now being used, also includes outdoor storage for boats and RVs. The second phase will be built after the first phase is stabilized, she said, possibly in 2023. It will include some climate-controlled units. They are also adding portable mobile storage units in the near future. DAgostino said she is still working out transportation logistics. Storage Ninjas-Ashland has joined the Ashland Chamber of Commerce. We are excited to be a part of the community, said DAgostino. Many companies pulled together to bring Storage Ninjas-Ashland to life, DAgostino said. Special thanks to our broker, Mike Cerny, and our general contractor, Jim Donner, she said. Other businesses that played key roles include American Fence Company, Topline Steel buildings, IES Electric, Rega Engineering, Gana Trucking and Excavating, Engineered Controls Inc. and Nebraska Sign. Goes Construction provided concrete and Elite Steel erected the building. Financing was through Bank Five Nine in Wisconsin, and the security system was installed by CAP Info Systems LLC of Gretna. Storage units can be rented online at https://www.storage-ninjas.com/Ashland or by calling the customer service team at 531-333-4797. Suzi Nelson is the managing editor of The Ashland Gazette. Reach her via email at suzi.nelson@ashland-gazette.com. WAHOO The restoration of the headstone for a founder of the Wahoo First United Methodist Church was celebrated during a brief service on Saturday afternoon. Pastor Michael Carpenter led the service to honor the Rev. Thomas Alexander, a Methodist preacher and circuit rider who helped plant the seed for First United Methodist Church in Wahoo. A special grave marker was added to the grave, laid by Rita Lindahl. Carpenter called Alexander a pioneer of the Methodist faith who came to a new place with new people so that he could bring the fire of Methodism that had begun a century earlier. Alexanders legacy as part of the westward movement that brought Methodism to Wahoo will continue for years to eome. I wonder whether Rev. Alexander, in his wildest dreams, imagined the church he helped plant would be here 150 years later, Carpenter said during the eulogy. Alexanders final resting place at Greenwood Cemetery was discovered as Lindahl was researching the churchs history. The church celebrated its 150th birthday in April with a special service. Lindahl and her husband, Loren Lindahl, found Alexanders grave site to be in poor condition. They contacted Dennis Allen of Des Moines, Iowa, to repair the tombstone. Allen, along with his companion, Chris Nagla, is known for his work with old cemeteries and tombstones in the Midwest. Alexanders tombstone had sunk into the ground in the 150 years since it was erected. Allen removed the stone and set it aside as he poured a new concrete foundation. Then he set the stone back in place, resting on top of the new foundation and a concrete block that was part of the original tombstone. Allen also cleaned the stone and coated it with a substance that removed the organic material. The yellowing of the stone will fade to white with time, Allen said before the Saturday afternoon service. Also during the service, Rita Lindahl read a short biography of Alexander. He was born in 1816 in Indiana and married Sarah Davis, the daughter of Weston area homesteaders. Before becoming a preacher, Alexander worked for the American Bible Society. He began preaching in 1873 in a pioneer schoolhouse about five miles west of Wahoos then-town center. Thomas was our last itinerant minister before we became a church, so I think he would be proud of what he accomplished, Lindahl said. Rita Lindahl said Alexanders poor health may have prompted his family, which included five children, to move to Weston along with his in-laws in 1873. Unfortunately, the move did not improve Alexanders health, and he died of heart disease at the age of 58 on June 4, 1874 in Wahoo. Lindahl said the preacher was the first white man buried in Indian Hill Cemetery on the north edge of Wahoo, which until then was populated by Native Americans. His remains were later moved to Greenwood Cemetery. Suzi Nelson is the managing editor of the Wahoo Newspaper. Reach her via email at suzi.nelson@wahoonewspaper.com. WAVERLY The teenage boy who is accused of repeatedly stabbing a 15-year-old boy in a fame-motivated attack last week in Waverly has been charged as an adult with four felonies in Lancaster County Court, according to new court filings. Prosecutors charged Shane M. Moore with attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault and two counts of use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony in the stabbing of another Waverly boy who required immediate life-saving surgery after the Thursday attack, according to the filings. Moore, who turned 15 on Oct. 17, called authorities to Wayne Park at 11:47 a.m., Oct. 13, telling dispatchers he needed to report a murder, Lancaster County Sheriffs Investigator Jeremy Schwarz said in the affidavit for Moores arrest. At a media briefing the next day, Sheriff Terry Wagner said the teens 911 call was very unusual and that part of (Moores) motivation was notoriety. What he told us is that he was going to be famous, said Wagner, who did not identify Moore by name. Thats pretty scary. At the teens initial court appearance Monday, which he attended via Zoom from the Lancaster County Youth Assessment Center, Deputy County Attorney Erica Pruess said Moore carried out the stabbing after walking around, trying to find someone to do it to. Pruess said Moore first stabbed the other boy in the back, but the victim was able to tackle the defendant and hold him down, only letting him up after Moore apologized and promised not to stab him again. Then, the victim began to walk away, but soon collapsed because of his injuries. When the teen fell, Moore jumped on top of him and stabbed him multiple times, Pruess said. The victim suffered a laceration to his heart that required the emergency surgery at Bryan West Campus in Lincoln. His condition was upgraded from critical to serious on Oct. 14. He has since been released from the hospital. On the day of the incident, authorities found a folding knife near the scene of the stabbing at the park, where Moore, wearing blood-stained clothes, remained in the aftermath of the alleged stabbing, Schwarz said in the affidavit for his arrest. Both teens were students at Waverly High School, which was not in session Oct. 13 and 14 for fall break. Wagner said the boys werent friends or even acquaintances. Waverly Superintendent Cory Worrell said the district had no comment on the matter. The teen had also recorded run-ins with the agencys school resource officers amid his short time at Waverly High School, Wagner said during the Oct. 14 press conference, although previous incidents in Lancaster County werent criminal and dealt more with following school rules, he added. Moore had recently moved to Waverly from Colorado, where Wagner said the teen had some issues that the sheriff described as criminal. Pruess, the prosecutor, said Moore had been hospitalized in that state because of previous homicidal ideations. Moore, she said, had been thinking about doing it for a while. Judge Joseph Dalton set the teens percentage bond at $1 million. He must pay $100,000 to be released from the Youth Assessment Center, where he was held over the weekend without bond. Dalton appointed the public defenders office to represent Moore after inquiries about the teens ability to hire a private attorney were met with a shrug. I dont know, Moore told the judge. Youve got to talk to my mom about that. WATERLOO A Memphis man has been sentenced to prison for opening fire at a clerk in a packed convenience store in April. This was a store full of customers and employees. This could have been a lot worse, Assistant Black Hawk County Attorney Brad Walz said Wednesday, arguing the sentence for Tony Cecil Orr Jr. Orr was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for intimidation with a weapon. The charge has a five-year minimum before Orr will be eligible for parole. Judge David Staudt ordered that a five-year sentence for going armed be served concurrently. During the hearing, Orr maintained his innocence. I didnt commit the crime, Orr told Staudt. According to testimony during trial, Orrs brother, Alante Amaechi, had an argument over the price of a lighter with a clerk at Logan Convenience Store. A few days later, on April 20, Amaechi returned and resumed arguing while Orr stood nearby wearing a mask. As the verbal battle continued, Orr pulled a handgun from his waist and began shooting. The clerk dived for cover and grabbed a revolver from behind the counter, and customers fled, hiding in a walk-in cooler and the bathroom. Bullet holes were just inches from where the employee was standing, but no injuries were reported. Orr was arrested two weeks later after investigators searched a home where he had been staying and found clothing that matched what the gunman had been wearing as well as a firearm magazine with ammunition. WATERLOO One person was taken to the hospital after he allegedly broke into an apartment Tuesday morning and was shot. The shooting happened around 8:30 a.m. when the man forced his way into an apartment at 65 Conger St. A struggle broke out with people inside, and the man was shot in the backside, according to police. The man fled and was taken to UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital by private vehicle, and people inside the apartment went to police to report the incident. Police said the man is expected to survive, and the case remains under investigation. WATERLOO A familiar face will oversee financial affairs for Black Hawk County. The Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved the appointment of Michelle Weidner as the countys finance director in a 4-0 vote with no discussion. Supervisor Dan Trelka was absent. Weidner will take over the position on Oct. 26. Her salary will be $128,000. She was previously chief financial officer with the city of Waterloo for 21 years. Weidners retirement from the city was announced in July and her final day of employment there was Sept. 1. The Courier previously reported that she would use her vacation time up until her last day. I tried retirement but I decided to be busy, she told the supervisors. Im excited to be coming on board. Before joining the city of Waterloo in 2001, Weidner worked at Hogan-Hansen as a partner in the accounting firms tax department. She is a 1983 graduate of the University of Northern Iowa. Weidner replaces James Perry, who was recently named the chief financial officer of Exceptional Persons, Inc. His last day at the county was Sept. 1. The Tollywood magnum opus RRR has been receiving global recognition even 6 months after its theatrical release. Directed by SS Rajamouli, the period action drama has Ram Charan and Jr NTR as the protagonists. The latest news is that the star actor Ram Charan, his wife Upasana Konidela and their pet Rhyme were off to Japan last night to promote the film, scheduled to release there on October 21, 2022. The pics are now going on social media. Having Alia Bhatt, Ajay Devgn, Samuthirakani, Olivia Morris and Shriya Saran in crucial roles, the global blockbuster movie is bankrolled by DVV Danayya on a massive scale. The epic drama has soundtracks provided by MM Keeravaani. Articles that might interest you: Weather Alert ...Cold Temperatures, Winds, and Snow Return This Week... After a quiet holiday weekend, a few storms are on track to bring back colder temperatures, periods of windy conditions, and the potential for snow in the Sierra and western Nevada the week ahead. A quick-hitting storm will pass through the region Monday afternoon and evening with gusty winds, colder temperatures, and chances for snow. Highest snow potential will be for the Warner mountains, Surprise Valley and northern Washoe County (60% chance of 2-4 inches) with lesser potential as the storm slides southward across the Interstate 80 corridor (50% chance of a dusting). Snow is anticipated after the Monday evening commute, but could bring localized slick roads overnight and into the Tuesday morning commute. Winds will be more impactful than the snow with this early week storm. Widespread valley wind gusts 35 to 45 mph are forecast with Sierra crest winds gusting 80+ mph. Plan on recreational impacts for backcountry activities and for area lakes as well as turbulence for aviators on Monday. Later in the week simulations are honing in on a couple of potentially more impactful storms. These stronger storms would pack more of a wind and snow punch if they track into the Sierra and western Nevada. The findings, published Oct. 18, come ahead of what some experts are predicting could be a particularly bad year for the flu. After two relatively tame years, thanks in large part to pandemic precautions that helped to cut down on the spread of respiratory illnesses, including influenza, we might be ripe for a severe season, Carla Black, a CDC epidemiologist, said during a briefing with reporters. Flu vaccinations lag, while inequities persist Health experts say one of the best ways to avoid winding up in the hospital with the flu is to get the annual flu shot. It may not safeguard against any infection, but it can make symptoms less severe if you do catch the bug. Still, only about half of adults in the U.S. typically roll up their sleeves for the shot, CDC data shows. And flu vaccination coverage has been consistently lower among Black, Hispanic and American Indian/Alaska Native adults in the last several years. Fewer than 43 percent of adults in these groups got the flu shot during the 20212022 flu season, compared to 54 percent of white adults. Explanations for these inequities run the gamut, the reports authors note. Lack of health insurance and vaccine misinformation play a role two factors that have also had damaging effects during the COVID-19 pandemic. And lack of access to culturally competent providers and negative experiences with the health care system are still barriers for many people from certain racial and ethnic minority groups, Black said. Even those who have access to health care may be slipping through the cracks. Among adults who reported a recent medical checkup, vaccination coverage was still lower for racial and ethnic minorities than for white adults, Black said. This suggests that health care providers are missing opportunities during routine medical appointments to vaccinate people from certain groups, she added. Whats more, the CDC notes that racism and prejudice are also known to worsen inequalities. Improving access to and trust in flu vaccines among people is critical to help reduce inequities, CDC Acting Principal Deputy Director Debra Houry, M.D., said. Lower vaccination rates may be contributing to the disparities seen in hospitalization rates, the CDC says. Its likely chronic diseases, some of which are more common in certain minority populations, also play a role. Conditions like asthma, diabetes and obesity can increase the risk for serious flu complications and hospitalization. Now is the time to get the flu shot If you havent had your flu shot yet, now is the time to get it, since flu activity typically starts to pick up in October. (The CDC has already noted an early uptick in flu cases, with the Southeast and South Central areas of the country reporting the highest levels.) It takes about two weeks after you get your vaccine for your bodys immune system to mount a good antibody response. You need to factor that time into it as well, Nipunie Rajapakse, M.D., a pediatric infectious diseases physician at the Mayo Clinic Childrens Center, explained in a news release. Everyone 6 months and older is encouraged to get the vaccine. And this year, health officials are urging all adults 65 and older to get whats known as a high-dose version of the flu shot (there are three different options to choose from). Older adults are among those at highest risk for complications from the flu and account for the majority of flu-related hospitalizations and deaths. The CDC estimates that the flu was responsible for between 140,000 to 710,000 hospitalizations and 12,000 to 52,000 deaths annually between 2010 and 2020. Vaccination is the best defense we have against the worst outcomes of getting the flu, the CDCs Houry said. Rachel Nania writes about health care and health policy for AARP. Previously she was a reporter and editor for WTOP Radio in Washington, D.C. A recipient of a Gracie Award and a regional Edward R. Murrow Award, she also participated in a dementia fellowship with the National Press Foundation. The Department of Education (DOE) has officially opened its online application site for the new federal student loan forgiveness program. Students with Pell Grants, which are available to outstanding students with exceptional hardship, will be able to get up to $20,000 in federal student loans forgiven. Those without Pell grants can get up to $10,000 in federal student loan debt wiped away. Debt forgiveness is limited to individuals with less than $125,000 in annual income and couples with less than $250,000 in income. Private loans are not eligible to be forgiven. Federal Family Education Loans and Perkins Loans that were not consolidated into federal Direct Loans before Sept. 29, 2022, wont qualify, either. Americans owed $1.6 trillion in student loan debt in 2020. People age 50 and over accounted for $340 billion of that debt, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The DOE says that nearly 27 million borrowers will be eligible for some debt relief, with 20 million able to have all their loans forgiven. What you need to apply for student loan debt relief The DOE website, which officially opened Oct. 17, is the only place where borrowers can apply for the debt relief. The form asks for the borrowers name, Social Security number, date of birth, phone number and e-mail. No documents are required, but borrowers must certify under penalty of perjury that all of the information is correct. The application form is available in English and Spanish. Borrowers will get a confirmation e-mail or a request from the DOE for more information, if needed. Whoever is administering the loan will then contact borrowers to let them know what their new payment is once the amount of the loan forgiveness is applied, assuming a balance remains. During its testing phase, the site handled about 8 million applications, according to the White House. Its easy, simple and fast, President Joe Biden said Monday. No forms to upload. No special login to remember. Borrowers have until Dec. 31, 2023, to apply for loan forgiveness, but the sooner they get the application in, the better. Those whose payments have been paused because of the pandemic will have to start making loan payments again in January. The DOE recommends that borrowers apply for forgiveness by Nov. 15, so they wont have to pay after the student loan payment pause ends. With the Supreme Courts 2015 Obergefell decision recognizing marriage equality for same-sex couples, LGBTQ spouses became entitled to the same Social Security family benefits as heterosexuals, under the same terms. But those terms continued to freeze out many LQBTQ partners in long-term relationships who had been prevented from marrying and thus establishing eligibility for Social Security survivor benefits upon their mates death by pre-Obergefell state laws. That changed late last year, when the Social Security Administration (SSA) adopted new rules that will qualify many more older LGBTQ people for survivor benefits, and for the late-life financial stability those payments can help provide. It's no exaggeration to say that this development is seismic in nature, says Peter Renn, senior counsel at the civil rights group Lambda Legal, which filed two class-action lawsuits that led to the changes. It will make an enormous difference in the everyday lives of thousands of same-sex survivors who were wrongfully denied the benefits for which they paid. Nine-month marriage rule In most circumstances, surviving spouses are eligible for benefits based on a late spouses earnings if they are 60 or older and had been legally married for at least nine months when their mate died. Depending on their age, survivors can receive between 71.5 percent and 100 percent of what the deceased was entitled to get from Social Security. Strict application of those criteria in the wake of Obergefell meant many LGBTQ survivors could not receive benefits due to state marriage laws the Supreme Court had declared unconstitutional. There was just a categorical decision by SSA that said, Sorry, you have to be married for nine months and that it was unconstitutional in your state to do so is too bad, says William Alvarado Rivera, senior vice president for litigation for AARP Foundation, which filed amicus briefs in cases involving the length-of-marriage requirement. Funding Agreed to Advance Cannon Gold Project Perth, Oct 19, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Horizon Minerals Limited ( ASX:HRZ ) is pleased to advise that it has executed a binding term sheet with Nebari Partners LLC ("Nebari") for a US$5 million senior secured credit facility. The credit facility ("Facility") is comprised of a two tranche Convertible Loan Facility with US$2 million in Tranche 1 and US$3 million in Tranche 2. The Facility is subject to conditions precedent typical for a transaction of this nature including, but not limited to, final documentation and Horizon obtaining prior shareholder approval which will be sought at the upcoming Annual General Meeting in November 2022. In addition, the Company has executed a Deed of Variation with Aurenne Cannon Pty Ltd ("Aurenne") in relation to the deferred payment for the Cannon gold project acquisition as announced to the ASX on 18 May 2021 and 19 October 2021. Under the Deed, $500,000 has been paid with the final $2 million payable by 31 December 2022 inclusive of a deferred payment fee of $100k. Proceeds from the Facility will be used to settle the A$2.1 million deferred Cannon payment to Aurenne and to contribute to the upfront capital costs of the proposed Cannon underground mine. The Cannon Feasibility Study was released on the ASX on 29 March 2022 and demonstrated positive economic results under a contract mining and toll milling model. The Company continues to advance the project with regulatory approvals and tender review the main focus and a development decision expected in the March Quarter 2023 once approvals are granted. The Company plans to utilise the contract mining and toll milling model to advance a sequence of underground developments with Cannon, Penny's Find and Rose Hill under evaluation with the aim of generating cash to support the large-scale exploration program and future mine developments across the core assets in Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie. Commenting on the Facility, Managing Director Jon Price said: "It has been a pleasure to work with the team at Nebari who have worked rapidly to agree the transaction on highly competitive commercial terms enabling us to secure and advance the Cannon gold project into development and production in 2023." "We also thank the team at Aurenne for agreeing to extend the deferred payment timing to fit in with completion of the convertible loan facility and shareholder approval." About Horizon Minerals Limited Horizon Minerals Limited (ASX:HRZ) is a gold exploration and mining company focussed on the Kalgoorlie and Menzies areas of Western Australia which are host to some of Australia's richest gold deposits. The Company is developing a mining pipeline of projects to generate cash and self-fund aggressive exploration, mine developments and further acquisitions. The Teal gold mine has been recently completed. Horizon is aiming to significantly grow its JORC-Compliant Mineral Resources, complete definitive feasibility studies on core high grade open cut and underground projects and build a sustainable development pipeline. Horizon has a number of joint ventures in place across multiple commodities and regions of Australia providing exposure to Vanadium, Copper, PGE's, Gold and Nickel/Cobalt. Our quality joint venture partners are earning in to our project areas by spending over $20 million over 5 years enabling focus on the gold business while maintaining upside leverage. Plans An Anode Active Material Manufacturing Plant Sydney, Oct 19, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Magnis Energy Technologies Ltd ( ASX:MNS ) ( U1P:FRA ) ( MNSEF:OTCMKTS ) has announced plans to establish a Lithium-ion battery Anode Active Material (AAM) manufacturing plant utilising high quality and high purity natural graphite feedstock from its wholly owned Nachu graphite project in Tanzania. This facility will deliver a secured supply of one of the most sustainable, cost-competitive, high-quality, and high-performance Coated Spherical Graphite (CSPG) anode products in the marketplace for the ever-growing US and European Lithium-ion battery market. The proposed AAM processing facility will strengthen Magnis' vision of vertically integrating its strategic assets across the lithium-ion battery value chain, as well as meeting the growing supply deficit of critical materials for the broader Lithium-ion battery market. Several locations within the United States are being investigated. Magnis is in advanced discussions with several potential offtake partners to produce and supply AAM. Magnis has plans for the phased production of AAM, commencing with the operations of a demonstration plant followed by setting up a large-scale CSPG AAM production facility in the US in the next 3 to 5 years. The demonstration plant aims to supply the AAM for the qualification process with the OEMs and Lithium battery cell manufacturers. Nachu Flake Graphite in Tanzania Magnis' recent successful completion of the bankable feasibility study (BFS) update confirmed the viability of the Nachu Graphite Project in Tanzania to produce and supply high-purity graphite anode feedstock at a commercial scale for the rapidly growing Lithium- ion battery market. Magnis has continuously demonstrated the production of a high performance, commercial Lithium-ion battery grade (>99.95%) CSPG-based AAM from its Nachu graphite feedstock in Tanzania with the help of its strategic technology partner, C4V. Battery Anode Technology C4V and Magnis have developed a proprietary graphite anode processing technology at its pilot facility located at the Binghamton University in New York operating over the last six years using lab scale equipment. C4V's innovative and scalable processing technology which utilizes a purely mechanical downstream processing approach has eliminated the need of any harsh chemical and thermal purification producing significantly low-energy and low-carbon footprint anode product compared to traditionally produced products. At the pilot facility, product has been constantly produced with higher yield (~70%) compared to the conventional graphite anode plant yield (~40-50%). Magnis' CSPG AAM produced at C4V's pilot facility has been validated in commercial graded cells by C4V and Magnis' subsidiary Imperium 3 New York (iM3NY), which recently commenced the commercial production of Lithium-ion battery cells at its Gigafactory facility in New York. Magnis has an exclusive licensing agreement with C4V to use and commercialise the AAM processing technology globally. Demonstration Plant The demonstration plant will validate and demonstrate the scalability of Magnis' AAM processing technology at a commercial scale and will further facilitate the expansion to a large-scale production capacity. High Performing Battery Results Recent electrochemical battery performance of Nachu AAM has been extensively tested, validated and qualified using commercial graded Lithium-ion battery cells. These commercial graded cells have had over 1000 cycles while retaining over 90% of its initial cell capacity which demonstrated an excellent lifespan of the Nachu CSPG AAM and its readiness for the next step of commercialisation. Magnis Chairman Frank Poullas commented: "After many years of developing a process based on our Nachu Graphite we are excited to announce our plans to produce AAM materials." "We are confident that the intrinsic high-purity Nachu graphite feedstock comprising of large crystal structure with minimal imperfections and C4V's unique processing technology will produce and deliver a superior AAM product compared to the competitors in the marketplace. "With the huge shortage of AAM in the marketplace right now, we look forward to producing sustainable, cost competitive and high quality anode materials." About Magnis Energy Technologies Limited Magnis Energy Technologies Limited (ASX:MNS) (OTCMKTS:MNSEF) (FRA:U1P) is involved in and has strategic investments in several aspects of the electrification supply chain including manufacturing of green credentialed lithium-ion battery cells, leading edge battery technology and high quality, high performance anode materials. The company's vision is to enable, support and accelerate the green energy transition critical for the adoption of Electric Mobility and Renewable Energy Storage. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal Homicide detectives learned last week that a homeless man had died after being found beaten in September in Northwest Albuquerque. Gilbert Gallegos, an Albuquerque police spokesman, said detectives were notified on Oct. 14 that 55-year-old David Kelhoyoma had died in the hospital from a brain bleed. An autopsy was conducted, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide, he said. Kelhoyoma had listed the Good Shepherd homeless shelter as his residence since 2009, according to court records. In 2016, Kelhoyoma was featured in a Politico article about former Mayor Richard Berrys program to hire panhandlers to clean up the city while offering them services. Kelhoyoma told a Politico reporter he was a Marine veteran who had served in the Gulf War and bad knees and a felony conviction made it hard to find work. According to the article, Kelhoyoma was one of 400 homeless people who had worked in the citys program. He told Politico being outside here, away from the city, it makes you human again Thats what work does too as he picked up stray trash at the citys Cerro Colorado landfill. Gallegos, the police spokesman, said officers responded around 2:15 a.m. Sept. 8 to a beating near the Freeway Liquors, at Second Street and Interstate 40. He said Kelhoyoma was taken to the hospital and his injury was not considered life-threatening at the time. Gallegos said police were told on Oct. 14 that Kelhoyoma had died from his injuries. He did not give an exact date of Kelhoyomas death. Homicide detectives are investigating the case, Gallegos said. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal Federal agents targeting a smuggling operation with possible cartel ties found 29 migrants, drugs and a gun at a property late last month on Albuquerques West Side. Court records show that a confidential informant told Homeland Security Investigations agents the operation was run by La Linea a faction of the Juarez Cartel. Agents arrested at least one man, 34-year-old Edwin Efrain Padilla of Albuquerque, in the Sept. 27 raid after allegedly finding him in a car outside the property with a gun and fentanyl. Padilla is facing human smuggling, fentanyl distribution and being a felon in possession of a gun charges. Padillas attorney declined to comment on Tuesday. Along with detaining 29 migrants, federal authorities seized drugs, a 9mm pistol, ledgers and Mexican IDs and birth certificates, among other items. In July 2021, according to the criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court, Padilla was suspected by federal authorities in Las Cruces of smuggling a dozen Guatemalan nationals into the country. No charges could be found in that case. Padillas criminal history includes arrests on stolen vehicle, drug possession and gun charges, according to court records. Padilla was involved in a 2017 traffic stop where an Albuquerque police officers gun went off accidentally, not striking anyone, and led to an internal investigation. Agents were tipped off in August by a confidential informant to the alleged stash house on 90th just south of Bridge, according to a search warrant affidavit filed in U.S. District Court. The informant told agents the house was used by La Linea to smuggle migrants and large quantities of drugs. Agents said the informant told them about seeing up to 40 Guatemalan and Mexican people inside the home, and two of them appeared to be very ill and were unable to care for themselves. The informant said the migrants were brought from El Paso, Arizona and southern New Mexico and referred to as pollos by the smugglers. The informant told agents the migrants had to pay a fee through Western Union and had no medical access and were given the bare minimum of food and water, according to the affidavit. The informant said migrants would occasionally bring methamphetamine into the country and one smuggler carried a ghost gun and rotated vehicles. Agents surveilled the property, which had its windows covered, and saw a caravan of vehicles, some with fake license plates, drop off people multiple times. Agents said the men running the operation were often armed and, at one point, noticed federal authorities watching them. Authorities also saw more than a dozen people with bags or backpacks eating from paper plates at a gazebo on the property, according to the affidavit. The group threw away trash in an orderly file line and did not appear to be speaking to each other or socializing. Agents say that on the day of the raid they found Padilla in a Cadillac on the property with a gun under his seat and a large bag of fentanyl pills in the cup holder. A man and woman were detained nearby with $500 in cash, believed by agents to be for the bag of fentanyl. The 29 people found inside the home told agents they were in the country illegally, according to court records. Two other people living at the house told agents Padilla had tried to get them to help transport migrants and habitually used meth and fentanyl. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal Attorneys made closing arguments Tuesday in a seven-week trial in Santa Fe in which New Mexico alleges that lax opioid dispensing by pharmacy giant Walgreens helped unleash an ongoing addiction crisis in the state. Walgreens was the last remaining defendant in the trial following the states recent settlements with pharmacy retailers Walmart and Kroger. An attorney for the state told the judge that Walgreens dispensed 360 million opioid pills in New Mexico from 2006 to 2016, helping fuel a costly crisis that continues today. Walgreens failure to follow its own policies and train its own people was the significant link in the opioid epidemic in New Mexico, said Daniel Alberstone, an attorney who represented New Mexico in the seven-week trial. An attorney for pharmacy retailer Walgreens responded that New Mexico failed to show that Walgreens pharmacists dispensed opioids that they knew had no legitimate medical purpose. The states allegation that prescriptions were dispensed without a legitimate medical purpose must be evaluated in light of the states own standard of care, said Daniel Taylor, an attorney for the Deerfield, Illinois-based pharmacy chain. The case will be decided by 1st Judicial District Court Judge Francis Mathew and not a jury. Attorneys in the case are expected to file additional statements in writing before Mathew issues a ruling. The suit, filed by the New Mexico Attorney Generals Office, alleged that Walgreens, Walmart and Kroger pharmacies failed to investigate suspicious opioid orders and reaped large profits selling addictive drugs to New Mexicans. Luis Robles, an Albuquerque attorney representing the Attorney Generals Office, said the state reached settlements during the trial with Walmart, a Bentonville, Arkansas, retailer, and Kroger, the Cincinnati, Ohio-based parent company of Smiths Food and Drug Center. The details of those settlements have not been finalized and settlement amounts remain confidential, Robles said. Alberstone said in closing statements that the distribution of prescription opioids initiated a crisis that has resulted in death and suffering statewide and an explosion of people in the criminal justice system requiring expensive solutions. The opioid crisis in New Mexico is real, Alberstone said. The crisis has shattered the lives of individuals and families and it has ravaged communities. Witnesses for the state testified that as many as 80% of people who began using heroin in the past two decades first became addicted to prescription opioids, Alberstone said. One witness testified that an estimated 49,000 children in New Mexico have been exposed to parental opioid use, and approximately 40% of foster care placements are due to parental drug use, he said. The state has proven that the opioid crisis existing in New Mexico was the foreseeable consequence of Walgreens conduct, he said. Witnesses for the state testified that 55% of prescriptions dispensed by Walgreens from 2006 to 2016 a total of 3.6 million prescriptions were red flagged based on Walgreens own policies, Alberstone said. A red flagged prescription is one that should have alerted pharmacists that the pills were being illegally diverted. Three million plus prescriptions in New Mexico were red flagged using the good-faith dispensing checklist that Walgreens had in its own policy as a basis for those red flags, Alberstone said. Walgreens attorney countered that the state offered no evidence that the retailer and its New Mexico pharmacists failed to follow policies intended to promote responsible prescription practices. Taylor said statements published by the New Mexico Medical Board and the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy in 2005 show that the use of opioids in treating pain was considered a legitimate medical purpose. If the prescription had a legitimate medical purpose, there can be no argument that the pharmacists and Walgreens did anything wrong by deciding to dispense it, he said. New Mexico became the eighth state to sue opioid manufacturers and distributors in September 2017. The suit alleged that the sheer volume of prescription opioids distributed to (New Mexico) pharmacies is excessive for the medical need of the community. New Mexico subsequently reached settlements with a number of opioid manufacturers and distributors in a deal that Attorney General Hector Balderas office estimates will bring $190 million to the state. New Mexico continues to seek settlements with four large manufacturers that have filed for bankruptcy, including Purdue Pharma, maker of OxyContin, Balderas has said. In March 2023, the state expects to begin a trial in Santa Fe against pharmaceutical manufacturers Teva, Allergan and KVK-Tech. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE Its been 32 years since New Mexico last had a Republican attorney general, as four different Democrats have served as the states top prosecutor since Hal Stratton held the job from 1987 through 1990. Political newcomer Jeremy Gay of Gallup is trying to end that trend by defeating Democrat Raul Torrez in next months general election, though he faces a fundraising disadvantage and the challenge of trying to win enough crossover votes in a state in which registered Democrats outnumber Republicans. As Bernalillo County district attorney for the last six years, Torrez also likely has a name recognition advantage over his GOP opponent, but Gay says that can cut both ways amid a recent rise in violent crime rates. Raul Torrez is in the best position to divert these trends were seeing, Gay said in an interview, referring to crime in the Albuquerque metro area in particular. He took some hard-line, bold policies that were experimental in nature and they didnt work. Specifically, he said Torrezs decision to focus on criminal defendants deemed most dangerous and not prosecute some other cases referred by law enforcement has backfired, including in the case of Muhammad Syed, an Afghan refugee who is accused of murdering three Muslim men. But Torrez, who won a hard-fought June primary race against fellow Democrat Brian Colon, has defended his record and says his experience as both a federal and state-level prosecutor sets him apart in the race. What voters I think recognize is I understand the mechanics of the system, including below the water line, Torrez said. He also said he would push for increased funding for the Attorney Generals office, which is receiving $14.3 million in state funding this year, to hire more experienced lawyers for the agencys Consumer Protection Division. Such a funding increase would allow for more in-house legal work though Torrez said he would still consider outsourcing some cases that could boost the size of settlements recovered by the state. This is an investment that actually would return more money to the state, Torrez told the Journal. The $95,000-per-year job is open because current Attorney General Hector Balderas, a Democrat, is wrapping up his second term and is barred by the state Constitution from seeking reelection to a third straight term. Balderas backed Colon, who is currently state auditor, during the primary election, but Torrez prevailed by about 9,600 votes. While Gay said some Colon supporters are now backing his campaign, Colon said this week he endorsed Torrez wholeheartedly the day after the June primary election. After the field was set, Gay faced a Democratic-backed lawsuit in September that claimed he did not meet a constitutional requirement that candidates must reside in New Mexico for at least five years before an election. A state judge rejected the challenge, saying it was filed too late in the process and would disenfranchise GOP voters, but Gay said he wasnt surprised by the lawsuit. We were grateful for the publicity and we werent sweating it, said Gay, who added he expected the court challenge to be filed. A former U.S. Marine Corps judge advocate who has a contract with the city of Gallup to represent indigent clients, Gay has called New Mexico home since 2014, according to his campaign. But he left the state while on active duty and has been in the reserves with the Marines since 2010. If elected, Gay would be the states first African American attorney general. While he said he would take an aggressive approach to crime, he also said he would work to expand substance abuse and mental health treatment programs, saying, Its not just about putting everyone in jail. For his part, Torrez said he would seek to enshrine protections in state law for women and girls coming to New Mexico from other states for abortion services in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to strike down a landmark 1973 case and allow states to enact their own laws on abortion. He also said he would continue his push for changes to the states pretrial detention laws, which were broadened after statewide voters approved a 2016 constitutional amendment overhauling New Mexicos cash bond system. A proposal to make it easier to keep individuals accused of certain violent crimes behind bars until trial stalled during this years legislative session, with critics questioning the policys legality and arguing it could disproportionately affect minority communities, including transgender individuals. But Torrez said the tide is turning, due largely to growing public frustration with high crime rates. Right now, we havent had the votes within my own party, but things are changing, Torrez said. People are sick and tired of it. Im sick and tired of it. I know that were able to fix this challenge. Torrez has outraised Gay significantly in the race, having reported more than $1.8 million in contributions compared to about $425,000 for Gay. Gay also loaned $10,500 to his own campaign in April, but later paid back all but $500 of the loan. ALEXANDRIA, Va. A jury on Tuesday acquitted a think tank analyst accused of lying to the FBI about his role in the creation of a discredited dossier about former President Donald Trump. The case against Igor Danchenko was the third and possibly final case brought by Special Counsel John Durham as part of his probe into how the FBI conducted its own investigation into allegations of collusion between the 2016 Trump campaign and the Kremlin. The first two cases ended in an acquittal and a guilty plea with a sentence of probation. Danchenko betrayed no emotion as the verdict was read. His wife wiped away tears after the clerk read the final not guilty to the four counts he faced. Danchenko didnt comment after the hearing, but his lawyer, Stuart Sears, spoke briefly to reporters, saying, Weve known all along that Mr. Danchenko is innocent. Were happy now that the American public knows that as well. The jury reached its verdict after roughly nine hours of deliberations over two days. One juror, Joel Greene of Vienna, Virginia, said there were no real disputes among the jury and that jurors just wanted to be thorough in reviewing the four counts. The acquittal marked a significant setback for Durham. Despite hopes by Trump supporters that the prosecutor would uncover a sweeping conspiracy within the FBI and other agencies to derail his candidacy, the three-year investigation failed to produce evidence that met those expectations. The sole conviction an FBI lawyer admitted altering an email related to the surveillance of a former Trump aide was for conduct uncovered not by Durham but by the Justice Departments inspector general, and the two cases that Durham took to trials ended in full acquittals. Durham declined comment after the hearing, but he said in a statement issued through the Justice Department: While we are disappointed in the outcome, we respect the jurys decision and thank them for their service. I also want to recognize and thank the investigators and the prosecution team for their dedicated efforts in seeking truth and justice in this case. He issued an identical statement after the first trial ended in acquittal. The Danchenko case was the first of the three to delve deeply into the origins of the Steele dossier, a compendium of allegations that Trumps 2016 presidential campaign was colluding with the Kremlin. Most famously, it alleged that the Russians could have blackmail material on Trump for his supposed interactions with prostitutes in a Moscow hotel. Trump derided the dossier as fake news and a political witch hunt when it became public in 2017. Danchenko, by his own admission, was responsible for 80% of the raw intelligence in the dossier and half of the accompanying analysis, though trial testimony indicated that Danchenko was shocked and dismayed about how Steele presented the material and portrayed it as factual when Danchenko considered it more to be rumor and speculation. Prosecutors said that if Danchenko had been more honest about his sources, the FBI might not have treated the dossier so credulously. As it turned out, the FBI used material from the dossier to support applications for warrantless surveillance of a Trump campaign official, Carter Page, even though the FBI never was able to corroborate a single allegation in the dossier. Prosecutors said Danchenko lied about the identity of his own sources for the material he gave to Steele. The specific charges against Danchenko allege that he essentially fabricated one of his sources when the FBI interviewed him to determine how he derived the material he provided for the dossier. Danchenko told the FBI that some of the material came when he received an anonymous call from a man he believed to be Sergei Millian, a former president of the Russian-American Chamber of Commerce. Prosecutors said Danchenkos story made no sense. They said that phone records show no evidence of a call, and that Danchenko had no reason to believe Millian, a Trump supporter hed never met, was suddenly going to be willing to provide disparaging information about Trump to a stranger. Danchenkos lawyers, as a starting point, maintain that Danchenko never said he talked with Millian. He only guessed that Millian might have been the caller when the FBI asked him to speculate. And they said he shouldnt be convicted of a crime for making a guess at the FBIs invitation. That said, Danchenkos lawyers say, he had good reason to believe the caller may well have been Millian. The call came just a few days after Danchenko had reached out to Millian over email after a mutual acquaintance brokered a connection over email. And Danchenkos lawyers say its irrelevant that his phone records dont show a call because Danchenko told the FBI from the start that the call might have taken place over a secure mobile app for which he had no records. The jury began deliberations Monday afternoon after hearing closing arguments on four counts. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga threw out a fifth count, saying prosecutors had failed to prove it as a matter of law. Trenga nearly threw out all of the charges before the trial began, citing the legal strength of Danchenkos defense, but allowed the case to proceed in what he described as an extremely close call. ___ Associated Press writer Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report. VENICE, Fla. It was less than three weeks before the Sarasota County, Florida, school board election when the former White House national security adviser weighed in on the local political race. These woke members need to be defeated in detail this upcoming election, Michael Flynn posted on Telegram on Aug. 6. Our childrens lives and futures are at risk when our school boards here in Florida and around the nation shove (critical race theory) and transgender nonsense down their throats. A few days later, the retired three-star Army general who spent decades enmeshed in international conflict weighed in again on the local election: WOKE SOBs operating in many counties and on many school boards across the country have to be voted out or censured and some just need to be arrested. Later that month, Flynns chosen candidates who were also backed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis defeated three school board candidates backed by Democrats. Flynn, who just eight years ago under President Barack Obama led the U.S. militarys intelligence agency, now is at the center of a far-right Christian nationalist movement that has a growing influence in the Republican Party. In speeches across the U.S., he urges his supporters to get involved in local politics as a way to change the country from the bottom up. Local action equals national impact, Flynn says at nearly every stop. ___ 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 Tuesday on PBS and online. ___ In Sarasota County, Flynn and his allies have created a kind of laboratory for his approach, energizing local conservative activists through social media and public appearances, and gatherings at a venue called The Hollow that has become a meeting place for the far right. He questions American democratic institutions, repeats lies about the 2020 election, attacks the news media and embraces conspiracy theories about COVID-19. One of the groups hes welcomed into the fold is the violent extremist group the Proud Boys. The political marriage between a man who once sat at the right hand of President Donald Trump and local extremists in Sarasota County starts in some ways on Jan. 6, 2021, and with their failed attempts to thwart the democratic process and keep Trump in power. ___ It was insurrection day and Flynn, American flag hat atop his head, sat in the VIP section of the rally as Trump urged his supporters to march on the U.S. Capitol and stop Congress from confirming that he had lost the election. Less than 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) away, James Hoel, decked out in tactical gear, a walkie-talkie on his chest, advanced past the Capitol barricades with fellow members of the Proud Boys, at the vanguard of the deadly riot. Theres no evidence the two men knew each other on that day. But in the 21 months since Trumps fight to stay in office came to an end, their paths and interests have crossed again and again. The Associated Press and the PBS series Frontline reported last month that Flynns movement envisions Christianity as the basis of American life and institutions; where the right to bear arms is paramount; where abortion is illegal; where concepts such as systemic racism and gay or transgender rights have no place in the schools; and where people who disagree are called Marxists, or perverts, and are excluded from American civic life. Flynn has drawn together election deniers, mask and vaccine opponents, insurrectionists and leaders in state and local Republican parties who are continuing the attack on American democracy and institutions that came to a head on Jan. 6. After the failed insurrection, Flynn moved to Sarasota County and set out to build a political community of like-minded people. He found an operating base of sorts at a place known as The Hollow in rural Venice. Its a 10-acre site thats at times a childrens playland, wedding venue, organizing space and weapons training ground. The Hollows owner, Victor Mellor Sr., is a former Marine who posted on Facebook that he Just knocked on front doors of the Capitol on Jan. 6. Mellor told Frontline that he was proud he was there that day and once suggested on social media that he would have a J6 reunion at the Hollow. Flynn first visited the site in May 2021, and the next day, Mellor posted on Facebook that there was a war going on and pledged all our resources to the Flynns in this battle. Since then the Hollow has turned into a center of activity for Sarasota Countys far right. Last fall, the Hollow drew thousands to events with Flynn in attendance where doctors distributed mask and vaccine waivers for school children. The site hosts political groups and candidates, offers free playdates with water slides, zip lines and a bouncy house has advertised classes on Biblical citizenship, food storage and wound and trauma care, and provides access to a neighboring, unpermitted gun range to ex-military and law enforcement. The gun range has hosted groups as large as 40 and has offered free shooting lessons to children as young as 6. Visitors enter through a bunker-like windowless hallway, painted black and filled with quotes, many of which push the idea that violent revolution is part of the nations history and possibly its future. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them, reads one. A Thomas Jefferson line reads: The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. In a meeting space inside, a banner promises any attempt of violence towards our children will be met with overwhelming deadly force. On another wall hangs a soldiers prayer, signed by Flynn, that reads in part: Let Your truth be my shield and buckler/Against the fiery darts the lies of the enemy. The bunker then opens onto an expansive outdoor space decorated with American flags and bunting and landscaped with palm trees, pathways and pergolas. One winding path connects to an adjacent property that includes the gun range. Mellor said he added a 10-foot cross at Flynns suggestion. Reporters for AP and Frontline visited the outskirts of the Hollow in February. Later, Mellor invited a Frontline crew inside for a tightly controlled visit and sat down for an interview. Mellor said he was not a right-wing extremist and expressed concern the Hollow would be portrayed as a militia camp. He added: But it is absolutely the opposite spectrum of that. Flynn has been visiting the Hollow regularly for over a year, and supporting it financially. After Hurricane Ian swamped the site with several feet of water, Flynn and Mellor visited it together by boat, Mellor told AP. He shared a photo of the two of them, surrounded by floodwaters, folding an American flag. It was at The Hollow where Flynn was seen mixing with Proud Boys, including Hoel. Photos and video posted on Facebook and a public Telegram chat show Flynn at The Hollow with men wearing the Proud Boys signature yellow and black shirts or other gear with the groups logo. Sarasota lawyer Ron Filipkowski, who tracks far-right figures online, circulated a photo posted on Facebook in September 2021 that showed a man wearing a Proud Boys hat, yellow shirt and bandanna standing with Mellor and Flynn. The Proud Boys played an important role in the insurrection. One of its members, Jeremy Bertino, pleaded guilty this month to seditious conspiracy for his role in the attack. Samantha Kutner, an extremism researcher who is an expert on the Proud Boys and runs the consultancy Glitterpill LLC, said grievance is a driving factor in the group: they paint themselves as victims of a progressive society that wants to emasculate them. Many Proud Boys attended the deadly Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017. Theyve been designated a terrorist organization by the governments of Canada and New Zealand and labeled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit legal advocacy group. Hoel and other Sarasota Proud Boys have taken Flynns presence and words as a rallying cry, echoing them in public Telegram chat groups they use to organize their political activities. They have often shared messages from Flynn as a way to encourage each other to get involved in local politics. In October 2021, Flynn was the featured guest for a family event at the Hollow, Halloween with General Flynn. Messages from a public chat on Telegram show Proud Boys and their wives organized to volunteer. On Oct. 19, Proud Boy Nick Radovich suggested a person whose username is MilkshakePB could volunteer for the event. I can try and take Halloween off to help. Is there a job list and time slot, MilkshakePB replied. A Proud Boy who goes by the nickname Milkshake has been charged and pleaded not guilty for his alleged actions on Jan. 6. Interested in seeing General Flynn and (state GOP Rep. Anthony) Sabatini at the Hollow at no cost? Can you help volunteer for 3 hours at the Halloween event? Radovichs wife, Melissa, wrote Oct. 23, one of several posts she made about the event. The event promised a haunted hike and trick-or-treating for kids, but it also included political speeches by a number of far-right activists, including Flynn and Kimberly Fletcher of Moms for America, one of the groups that organized the rallies in Washington on Jan. 5 and 6, 2021. Organizers said 1,000 people came. A video shows that during the event, Flynn got a standing ovation before telling the crowd that Republicans need to improve their election tactics. I can tell you exactly how the Democratic Party does precinct training and then who they put in charge, Flynn said. They know exactly where to put people, where to put the thugs. He suggested those in the audience should register to be precinct volunteers and poll watchers. Later that night, Nick Radovich posted a video in a public Telegram chat saying he had met Flynn, and the general had congratulated him for being part of a group that protested outside the school board chairs house, calling for her to come outdoors for a redress of grievances. Local media had reported on Proud Boys involvement in the protest. He said good, keep it up, Radovich said in the video. So, anybody seeing this should know that we have his approval. Two weeks later, Hoel posted a photo he took with Flynn at the Hollow: Hoel wears a Proud Boys shirt, and next to him, Flynn holds up for the camera a Proud Boys emblem. Mellor told Frontline that some Proud Boys had volunteered at the Hollow before he knew they were members of the extremist group. Theyre just dads and husbands and their kids come out here, OK? You know, theyre part of the society, he said and added that the Proud Boys are just another organization that just like any organization is welcomed here. It is not clear whether Flynn has a formal relationship with the Hollow, and he and Mellor declined to answer questions on the subject. Mellor said in a written statement that one of Flynns nonprofits, Americas Future Inc., had recently donated $25,000 to purchase an observation dome for a 14.5-inch telescope for the Hollows new science and nature program. Flynn has also been soliciting money for the Hollow through a crowdfunding campaign for The America Project, a group he started last year and that AP and Frontline previously reported has been spending millions on efforts to advance its agenda, including by undermining trust in elections. Some Sarasota residents told AP and Frontline that Proud Boys have tried to intimidate people at school board meetings labeling those who supported masks or sympathized with gay children as perverts. Angela Wynn said she was harassed by a group of Proud Boys when she attended a womens rights rally with her 10-year-old. She believes Flynns outspoken presence in Sarasota has given members of the group confidence and validation. Maybe back in the day they would have tried to hide who they are, Wynn said. But now theyre just so emboldened and they have this sense of empowerment. At one protest, children were photographed hoisting Proud Boys flags. Carol Lerner, a public education activist and retiree in Sarasota County who is opposed to Flynns politics, has visited The Hollow twice and tracked the Proud Boys activities in Sarasota and at The Hollow. She says Flynn, with the help of Mellor and the Proud Boys, is building an infrastructure to further the attack on American democracy that came to a head on Jan. 6 and using The Hollow to build a community and teach children anti-democratic values. Its pretty. Its nice. It fills a need. Then you look at what their worldview is, what theyre fighting for. Its scary. Its quite frightening, Lerner said. Its kind of like a socialization of insurrection. THE CAMPAIGNS Flynn has said in public speeches that he and his supporters have flipped 250 school boards across the country to people who agree with his views. He declined to provide a list of the communities he was referring to. But its certain that he counts Sarasota County as one of his success stories. Flynn, Mellor and the Proud Boys supported candidates in Sarasota that they believed would stand against mask and vaccine mandates, ban books they see as objectionable and stop any talk of sexual orientation. Campaign finance records show that Mellor, his business and The Hollow together donated more than half the money raised by a political action committee that backed those candidates. The PAC paid for a mobile billboard calling one Jewish school board candidate a liar and baby killer, drawing condemnation from people who noted the terms history as an antisemitic slur. Flynns The America Project kicked in $5,000 to the PAC in the days after the uproar. As the school board campaign raged, Flynn and his supporters branched out beyond schools. General Flynn is submitting his application to the Republican Executive committee on Monday, Nick Radovich wrote on Telegram July 9. Patriots need to control the Republican party, my wife will bring you an application to join so we can take over the republican party and get rid of the RINOS. Send me date and time where she can meet you. In the following weeks, dozens of people submitted paperwork to join the executive committee of the Sarasota County Republican Party, including Flynn, several Flynn family members, Hoel and his wife. The Herald-Tribune newspaper was first to report Flynns application to the committee. On Sept. 8, Hoel and Flynn were sworn in to the partys executive committee. Flynn signed up to be a poll watcher. A Sarasota Republican Party spokesman, Rod Thomson, would not comment on whether the party endorses the views Flynn espouses. He said the party was just following its rules when it approved Flynn and Hoel to the 270-member executive committee. Kutner and others who study extremism see a mutually beneficial relationship between Flynn and Proud Boys, likening it to when then-President Donald Trump called for the Proud Boys to stand back and stand by ahead of the 2020 election. Flynn is working to consolidate various factions within the GOP, while Proud Boys are trying to gain visibility and legitimacy while deflecting from their actions and involvement during Jan. 6, Kutner said. They are trying to engage in local politics, she said, because thats where the fight is now. FLYNN RESPONDS Mellor told AP in a written statement that he and Flynn are experiencing and nurturing a true grassroots movement in its purest form. I assure you; this is only the beginning. Flynn has not answered several questions sent to him since August, both before and after AP and Frontline published the article about his political movement on Sept. 7. But a few days after it ran, he held a 90-minute live-streamed response without providing any substantive rebuttal to the articles findings. He did, however, reiterate his commitment to local action. Were on the battlefield that I believe is the most important battlefield, which is the local battlefield, he said. The terrain that I have chosen to fight on is the local battlefield, the local terrain. And I think that thats the terrain that will win the day. ___ Frontline producers Richard Rowley and Paul Abowd, and AP news researcher Randy Herschaft contributed to this report. ___ To reach APs investigative team, email investigative@ap.org. ___ This story has been corrected to show the Flynn-backed school board candidates defeated three candidates, rather than ousted sitting members. KYIV, Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin doubled down Wednesday on his faltering invasion of Ukraine with a declaration of martial law in four illegally annexed regions and preparations within Russia for draconian new restrictions and crackdowns. Putins drastic efforts to tighten his grip on Ukrainians and Russians follow a series of embarrassing setbacks: stinging battlefield defeats, sabotage and troubles with his troop mobilization. The martial law order belies the Kremlins attempts to portray life in the annexed regions as returning to normal. The reality is that a military administration has replaced civilian leaders in the southern city of Kherson and a mass evacuation from the city is underway as a Ukrainian counteroffensive grinds on. The battle for Kherson, a city of more than 250,000 people with key industries and a major port, is a pivotal moment for Ukraine and Russia heading into winter, when front lines could largely freeze for months. Its the largest city Russia has held during the war, which began Feb. 24. A trickle of evacuations from the city in recent days has become a flood. Local officials said Wednesday that 5,000 had left out of an expected 60,000. Russian state television showed residents crowding on the banks of the Dnieper River, many with small children, to cross by boats to the east and, from there, deeper into Russian-controlled territory. In announcing martial law effective Thursday, Putin told his Security Council, We are working to solve very difficult large-scale tasks to ensure Russias security and safe future. Putins army is under growing pressure from a Ukrainian counteroffensive that has clawed back territory. The Russian leader is also faltering after the sabotage of a strategically important bridge linking Russia with Crimea, assassinations of Kremlin-installed officials in Kherson and mistakes he himself has admitted in his partial troop mobilization. Putins martial law declaration authorized the creation of civil defense forces; the potential imposition of curfews; restrictions on travel and public gatherings; tighter censorship; and broader law enforcement powers in Kherson and the other annexed regions of Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia. In an ominous move, Putin opened the door for restrictive measures to be extended across Russia, too. That may lead to a tougher crackdown on dissent than the current dispersal of antiwar protests and jailing of people making statements or providing information about the fighting that differs from the official line. The severity of new restrictions inside Russia depends on proximity to Ukraine. Putin put areas nearest Ukraine on medium alert, including annexed Crimea, Krasnodar, Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Rostov. Local leaders are authorized to organize territorial defense, ensure public order and safety, safeguard transportation, communication and energy facilities, and use these resources to help meet the Russian militarys needs. Leaders in these border areas can also carry out resettlements of residents and restrict freedom of movement. Leaders in other areas have been granted similar powers, depending on their alert level. In the Kherson region, Ukrainian forces have pushed back Russian positions on the west bank of the Dnieper River. By pulling civilians out and fortifying positions in the regions main city, which backs onto the river, Russian forces appear to be hoping that the wide, deep waters will serve as a natural barrier against the Ukrainian advance. Russia has said the movement of Ukrainians to Russia or Russian-controlled territory is voluntary, but in many cases, they have no other routes out, and no other choice. Under martial law, authorities can force evacuations. Ukraines national security chief, Oleksiy Danilov, said on Twitter that Putins declaration is preparation for the mass deportation of the Ukrainian population to the depressed regions of Russia to change the ethnic composition of the occupied territory. For months, reports have circulated of forced deportations, and an Associated Press investigation found that Russian officials deported thousands of Ukrainian children to be raised as Russian. Ukraines Foreign Ministry said Putins decree is illegal, calling it part of his effort to deprive the inhabitants of the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine of even basic human rights. Russian authorities played up fears of an attack on Kherson, seemingly to persuade residents to leave. Text messages warned residents to expect shelling, Russian state media reported. One resident reached by phone described military vehicles leaving the city, Moscow-installed authorities scrambling to load documents onto trucks, and thousands of people lining up for ferries and buses. It looks more like a panic rather than an organized evacuation. People are buying the last remaining groceries in grocery shops and are running to the Kherson river port, where thousands of people are already waiting, the resident, Konstantin, said. The AP is withholding his family name, as he requested, for his safety. People are scared by talk of explosions, missiles and a possible blockade of the city, he added. Leaflets told evacuees they could take two large suitcases, medicine and food for a few days. Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential office, called the evacuation a propaganda show and said Russias claims that Kyivs forces might shell Kherson a rather primitive tactic, given that the armed forces do not fire at Ukrainian cities. Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov said the operation could presage intense fighting and the harshest tactics from Russias new commander for Ukraine, Gen. Sergei Surovikin. They are prepared to wipe the city from the face of the Earth but not give it back to the Ukrainians, Zhdanov said in an interview. In a rare acknowledgement of the pressure that Kyivs troops are exerting, Surovikin described the Kherson situation as very difficult. Russian bloggers interpreted the comments as a warning of a possible Kremlin pullback. Surovikin claimed that Ukrainian forces were planning to destroy a hydroelectric facility, which local officials said would flood part of Kherson. Incapable of holding all the territory it has seized and struggling with manpower and equipment losses, Russia has stepped up air bombardments, with a scorched-earth campaign targeting Ukrainian power plants and other key infrastructure. Russia has also increased its use of weaponized Iranian drones to hit apartment buildings and other civilian targets. Russia launched numerous missiles over Ukraine on Wednesday. Ukrainian authorities said they shot down four cruise missiles and 10 Iranian drones. Energy facilities were hit in the Vinnytsia and Ivano-Frankivsk regions. Air raid sirens blared in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, sending many people into metro stations for shelter. Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced the city would start seasonal centralized heating on Thursday at lower temperatures than normal to conserve energy. A Ukrainian energy official, Oleksandr Kharchenko reported Wednesday that 40% of the countrys electric system had been severely damaged. Authorities warned all residents to cut consumption and said power supply would be reduced Thursday to prevent blackouts. One area where power and water were reported knocked out due to overnight shelling was Enerhodar. The southern city is next to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is one of the wars most worrisome flashpoints. Missiles severely damaged an energy facility near Zelenskyys hometown, Kryvyi Rih, a city in south-central Ukraine, cutting power to villages, towns and to one city district, the regional governor reported. ___ Karmanau reported from Tallinn, Estonia. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine We Are China Yellow River estuary ushers in most beautiful season Ecns.cn) 09:24, October 19, 2022 Autumn brings awesome scenery to the Yellow River estuary where the Yellow River, China's second-longest river, joins the Bohai Sea in Dongying, east China's Shandong Province, Oct. 17, 2022. (Photo: China News Service/Yang Bin) (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu) In 2018, Democrat Katie Hobbs spent $1 million in campaign funds running to become Arizonas secretary of state, narrowly besting Republican Steve Gaynor, who spent $3.2 million in what was the most expensive race in state history for the post that oversees elections. The record stood for less than four years. This years candidates for the states top election position have already matched that total and will certainly eclipse it by Election Day on Nov. 8. Arizona is hardly an exception. Its just a dramatic example of how races for secretary of state, once sleepy affairs that attracted relatively little attention or campaign money, have become high-priced, partisan battles. In most states, the secretary of state is the official who oversees voting an increasingly critical position after former President Donald Trump and his backers began spreading election falsehoods and targeting the offices by encouraging sympathetic candidates to run. GOP candidates running for secretary of state in Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico and Nevada have reported raising a total of at least $3.3 million. The Democrats who oppose them have reported raising more in excess of $10 million and are being bolstered by additional millions in outside spending by allied groups. Nationwide, spending on secretary of state races has set a historical record, said Michael Beckel, research director of Issue One, which is tracking races in which people who embrace Trumps election lies are trying to gain control of the state offices that oversee elections. Clearly, people across the political spectrum are taking a new interest in secretary of state races in light of what happened in 2020, and both sides see these positions as critical, Beckel said. In Arizona, with Hobbs now running for governor, Democrat Adrian Fontes has reported raising more than $2.4 million so far for the election to replace her as secretary of state. Records show his Republican opponent, state Rep. Mark Finchem, has raised more than $1.8 million. The Arizona tally doesnt include millions in outside spending, mainly by Democrats. They are warning that Finchem was present at the Jan. 6, 2021, rally outside the U.S. Capitol, has repeated Trumps lies about the 2020 election being stolen and said he wouldnt have certified President Joe Bidens victory in the state. To some, the escalating interest in these posts highlights risks to the United States unique election system, which is overseen by politicians elected in partisan races. The increasing polarization has intensified the vulnerability of the system, said Kevin Johnson of the Election Reformers Network, which advocates for less partisan elections. You used to be able to rely on a structure that didnt require high ethics from officials, but managed to produce that anyway. Now, Johnson warned, Trump supporters believe there are few explicit restraints on secretaries of state. He said thats in contrast to most other democratic countries, where nonpartisan institutions such as appointed panels rather than elected politicians oversee voting. No other democracy elects its election leaders, Johnson said. Nonpartisan administration of elections has become an applause line for underdog candidates in two Democratic-leaning states. In Colorado, former county clerk Pam Anderson, a Republican, argues that her opponent, Democratic Secretary of State Jena Griswold, has acted in a way that is too partisan. In Washington state, Julie Anderson, an independent, is running against Democratic Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, arguing the position should be explicitly nonpartisan. In contrast, in Wisconsin, many Republicans angry at Bidens 2020 win in the state seek to dissolve the states bipartisan elections commission and vest election management in one or more partisan officials. The nonpartisan stance also has been embraced by some Democratic secretaries of state, who are careful to draw a line between their party and their job. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said in an interview this summer that she has avoided involvement with the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State, a group chaired by Griswold that is spending to support the partys statewide election officials. As I have seen my colleagues become more partisan, its something that for me I feel just goes beyond what is appropriate for a secretary of state to do, Benson said. Still, she has received at least $2.6 million from the Democratic group as she battles Republican Kristina Karamo, a community college instructor who spread false information about purported election fraud in November 2020 and beyond. Benson herself has reported raising more than $4 million for her re-election campaign, compared to more than $900,000 by Karamo. Democrats say they dont need to apologize for spending big, arguing that theyre defending the nations foundational principles by trying to keep candidates who spread false claims about elections from overseeing voting. We cant take any risks when it comes to our democracy, and frankly our volunteers and donors have met the moment, said Kim Rogers, executive director of the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State, which has pledged to spend at least $25 million on races this fall. Theres no parallel Republican Party effort. The GOPs group involved in secretary of state races, the Republican State Leadership Committee, said its spending little this year other than to support the reelection effort of Brad Raffensperger, the Georgia secretary of state who defied Trumps demands that he be declared the winner of that swing state in 2020. Andrew Romeo, a spokeswoman for the leadership committee, which also supports GOP state legislative candidates, contended in a statement that Democrats are the ones polarizing voting issues. Democrats fueled by their liberal billionaire donors are dumping unprecedented money into secretary of state races this year because they have given up on American democracy and an election system that has worked for 200 years and want to stack these offices with their far-left allies, Romeo said. Still, Democrats note that Republicans have spent heavily on non-campaign election infrastructure in the midterms. Conservative donors have funded operations to recruit and train poll watchers and to enlist activists to work at polling places in November. Funders, whose identifies do not have to be disclosed, also have paid for slick documentaries promulgating election lies like the often-debunked 2000 Mules. Patrick Byrne, the founder of Overstock.com, told The Associated Press in August that hes spent $20 million investigating the 2020 election. Byrnes spending includes funding an organization called The America Project, which has donated $218,000 to a group called Conservatives for Election Integrity. That group was founded by Jim Marchant, the Republican nominee for secretary of state in Nevada. The organization is intended to support a coalition of secretary of state candidates like Marchant who question the result of the 2020 presidential election. The America Projects spending accounts for roughly half the $429,000 the group has reported raising. Byrne also has donated $10,000 to Marchant and $2,900 to Karamo in Michigan, according to the report from Issue One on the funding of election deniers campaigns. Other prominent funders include Trumps own political group, Save America PAC, which donated $5,000 to Karamo and $5,000 to Finchem in Arizona. Also, Lewis Topper, who runs a network of fast-food restaurant franchises, donated more than $17,000 total to Finchem, Karamo and Marchant, according to the report. Still, thats small compared to the funding on the Democratic side. The Democratic group iVote, for example, announced on Monday $5 million in new spending against Finchem in Arizona, part of $11 million in spending against election denier secretary of state nominees. Ellen Kurz, a veteran Democratic operative who runs iVote, said there is no comparison between her group and those that are funding election deniers. They are telling you that if their chosen candidate doesnt win, they will disregard the will of the people, she said. Democrats, she said, have a nonpartisan idea every registered voter, if theyre Democrat, Republican or Independent, should be able to cast a vote. ___ Follow AP for full coverage of the midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections and on Twitter, https://twitter.com/ap_politics Clovis city commissioners talked about tabling a sanctuary city for the unborn ordinance but in the end approved introduction of the ordinance unanimously. Thursdays action sets the anti-abortion clinic ordinance up for consideration and a vote. After the meeting, Mayor Mike Morris outlined a timetable for the ordinance. Assuming we can meet the publishing requirements, we will have it back Nov. 3 for consideration for final adoption, Morris said. Thursday nights crowd for the special meeting with the single agenda item was estimated at 150 to 175 people. I have never seen this many people in the commission chamber, Morris said. The meeting was called by District 3 Commissioner David W. Bryant. Two commissioners, Helen Casaus and Megan Palla, had told Bryant they would not be able to attend due to previous commitments. Casaus and Pallas absences were a point of contention as the session began. I have a significant issue with this, Commissioner George Jones said. A quarter of our commission isnt here. Jones wanted to table the introduction of the ordinance, which garnered a number of derisive calls from the audience. District 2 Commissioner Lauren Rowley agreed with Jones. Rowley pointed out that the two commissioners werent present and the two of them are women. District 2 Commissioner Gene Porter said he wanted every commissioner present for the introduction of the ordinance. Porter expressed concern over the incredible amount of haste in attempting to push the ordinance through. We do not have anyone applying for a business license for an abortion clinic, Porter said. Morris said he is extremely upset with Bryant for calling the meeting, which commissioners are allowed to do under the city charter. Bryant said he was sorry Casaus and Palla could not attend the session. A business license for an abortion clinic and compliance with a years-old federal law is the key point of the ordinance City Attorney Jared Morris said before the meeting began. The ordinance, drawn up by Texas anti-abortion attorney Jonathan F. Mitchell reads: Federal law imposes felony criminal liability on every person who ships or receives abortion pills or abortion-related paraphernalia in interstate or foreign commerce, 18 U.S.C. 1461 62, and all such acts are predicate offenses under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). The state constitution of New Mexico does not and cannot secure a right, privilege or immunity to act in violation of federal statutes such as 18 U.S.C. 1461 62.' District 1 Commissioner Juan Garza reminded those gathered the action to be voted on was just an introduction, not a final vote. Mayor pro tem Chris Bryant agreed with Garza. Mayor Morris opened the podium for audience comment. Among those who spoke were Mike Seibel, who said he was an anti-abortion attorney and member of the anti-abortion group Abortion on Trial. Seibel told commissioners that the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade did not send the abortion issue back to the states. It gave it back to the legislative bodies, he said. Seibel called on the commission as the legislative body of Clovis to enact the proposed ordinance. Abortions are legal in New Mexico though no clinics are operating in the Clovis area. City officials, including Mayor Morris, have expressed concern the city could face legal issues if the ordinance is approved. The governors office responded to the issue by email after receiving questions from The News. If passed, the proposed Clovis city commission resolution would be a clear affront to the rights and personal autonomy of every woman in Clovis and in the region. New Mexico law is clear reproductive health care is legal and protected throughout the state, Nora Sackett, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams press secretary wrote. Access to medication abortion services are legally protected statewide, including for residents of Clovis, and any provider delivering safe medical services to New Mexicans should have every right to establish a practice. Clovis resident Laura Wight spoke to commissioners Thursday about the legality of the proposed ordinance. City code 1.08.010 says All ordinances have to have been prepared by the city attorney. Has he? Wight said. Also the public has to be able to see the ordinance for 72 hours before introduction. Jared Morris said he did not prepare the proposed ordinance, but that it is in compliance with city code. Before the matter moved to a vote, Mayor Morris told commissioners and the audience: I hate that were having to deal with this tonight. But the mayor also said, We dont want to be where abortion happens; we dont want to be an abortion destination. Chris Bryant made the motion to approve the ordinance for introduction, Jones seconded the motion. All six commissioners present voted for introduction of the ordinance. Keep in mind we have to work on this in our state, Mayor Morris said. Morris said if the ordinance passes in Clovis there will likely be a legal battle between the city and state. New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas responded to the report on the Clovis city commission vote, writing in an e-mail in response to questions from The News: I am concerned and have directed staff to evaluate this recent activity, due to the citys legal obligation to protect access to healthcare for women and families. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE State Sen. Jacob Candelaria resigned Wednesday from the Senate about halfway through his third term, clearing the way for a successor to be named to his West Side Albuquerque district by as soon as next week. Candelaria, who emerged as a political renegade of sorts after clashes with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams administration and other Democrats, said last year he would not seek election to a new term in 2024. He also changed his party affiliation from Democrat to independent. In a letter to Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver announcing his resignation, Candelaria said he plans to focus on his private legal practice and starting a family with his husband. He also expressed frustration with the culture at the Roundhouse, saying political dynamics often outweigh policy-driven considerations. It is a rare exception to the rule when a bill is voted up or down on its merits, Candelaria said. Instead, all too often, political tribalism and personal political ambition matter more than the common good. Candelaria was elected to the Senate in 2012 at age 25, becoming one of the youngest senators and the first openly gay man elected to the chamber. He was reelected to his Senate District 26 seat in 2016 and again in 2020. During his tenure, some of the high-profile bills sponsored by Candelaria and ultimately signed into law include the 2019 Energy Transition Act, a 2017 bill that banned gay conversion therapy and a pandemic relief measure that made up to $500 million available for small-business loans. He also teamed up last year with the Senates top Republican GOP floor leader Greg Baca of Belen on a lawsuit that challenged the governors authority to spend more than $1.7 billion in federal relief funds without legislative approval. The Supreme Court ultimately sided with the lawmakers in the dispute. But his tenure at the Roundhouse was also marked by tension. After changing his party affiliation, Candelaria lost his spot on the powerful Senate Finance Committee and accused Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, of retaliation. Previously, Candelaria stepped down as Senate Democrats caucus chairman in 2018 due to friction with Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth of Santa Fe. Meanwhile, Candelarias decision to step down before the end of his term will allow Bernalillo County commissioners to pick his replacement. In an interview, he said he would back Rep. Antonio Moe Maestas, D-Albuquerque, as the appointee, praising Maestas advocacy for the citys West Side. Candelaria also left open the possibility of running for elected office in the future, including the 2026 race for governor, but said he was looking forward to being out of the spotlight for the time being. The best thing I can probably do for the institution is step back when I no longer have that same level of commitment, he told the Journal. For his part, Maestas confirmed his interest in being appointed to the Senate seat, saying he plans to submit his application Thursday to the county commission. He also said his current House district is largely enveloped by Candelarias current Senate district. If Maestas were to be appointed to the Senate, he would then have to resign his House seat, creating another vacancy for county commissioners to fill. The Albuquerque Police Department has started a portal where the public can submit video or photo evidence as officers are responding to a crime. APD spokeswoman Rebecca Atkins said the Community Supporting Investigations Portal will help build evidence on crimes in progress. She said a 911 caller can now upload video or photographs of a purported crime as police are enroute to a scene, assisting the Real Time Crime Center and the dispatch center to gather evidence. Atkins said the portal is only be offered in emergency situations and video will be collected by officers as they make reports in non-emergencies. As a department we continue to see our investigations move into a digital era, and video and photographic evidence is crucial to catching perpetrators in our community, APD Chief Harold Medina said in a release. By allowing the public to provide real time evidence as crimes are in progress, it can only better assist our officers catch these offenders in a timely manner. Atkins said 911 dispatchers can provide an email address to callers if they have images or video that can immediately assist officers during their response. She said dispatchers will ask the caller to send the evidence to the email address provided, at videos@cabq.gov, which will send the caller additional direction to access the portal. Atkins said the Real Time Crime Center will be alerted to the submission and will monitor the portal to determine if the evidence or information provided will assist field officers with their investigation and for their situational awareness. Kymon Greyhorse brings storytelling to life through a visual medium. Greyhorses latest short film, Can I Love You? is set to screen at 9:10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23, at the Jean Cocteau Cinema in Santa Fe. The film is part of the New Mexico Shorts Program 1 at the Santa Fe Independent Film Festival. Can I Love You? tells the story of a Navajo girl as she navigates surrendering her role as a mother figure as she receives an acceptance letter to college. Its a film that sort of offers a glimpse of reservation life, Greyhorse says. It explores the hardship and complexities of balancing your future and your present. Its a love letter to my mom. Greyhorse says the main character is based on his mother, who like many, had to choose between their dreams and family life. It means so much to me, Greyhorse says. I believe that a lot of people can relate to this topic because it happens in all types of cultures. As one of the older siblings, they are often looked on to take on many parental roles. Production took place near Isleta Pueblo for a few days. Greyhorse was able to find a rental house that reminded him of his grandmas house in Farmington. It was the same shade of blue and had wooden stairs, Greyhorse says. It was perfect and we raised enough money to get the space for a couple of days. Greyhorse began to write the script in October 2021 a process that included Zoom meetings with his family ensure accuracy. Actual production took less than a week and the editing process took about 21 weeks. I scored the film myself using GarageBand and I did the sound design, he says. It was so challenging to be the foley artist. I put my cast and crew through a lot because I wanted it to be powerful all around. Greyhorse admits that he went through a roller coaster of emotions during the entire process. People canceled on me and I began to get discouraged, he says I wanted to quit and was tested by the universe. Im excited to be able to screen the film in my home state. Earlier this year, Greyhorse was selected to be part of the Sundance Institutes Native Lab. He was picked because his work explores the human experience, shining light on the underrepresented and normalizing Indigenous stories and existence. I want my films to inspire and empower yearning voices that have been silenced for too long, Greyhorse says. Consumers can now find ingredient information on most packages of period care products after a New York right-to-know law took effect in 2021. However, health advocacy groups are concerned that these lists are not detailed enough, and the chemicals found in pads, tampons and other products havent been adequately tested for safety, according to a cover story in Chemical & Engineering News, an independent news outlet of the American Chemical Society. Because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies period products as medical devices, manufacturers are not legally required to disclose ingredients. Although the New York law only applies to products sold in the state, a recent report by the advocacy group Womens Voices for the Earth (WVE) also found ingredients listed on products sold in other states, since many manufacturers opt for a single label, writes Senior Correspondent Cheryl Hogue. Even with the increased availability of these disclosures, WVE is still concerned that many of the listed chemicals havent been tested for use on the permeable skin of the vulva and vagina. Additionally, the advocacy group wants manufacturers to provide more ingredient detail. For example, some packages only list product components as their general function (e.g., adhesive or fragrance) rather than the specific chemical, which WVE claims limits consumers abilities to make informed purchasing decisions. The New York law is the first of its kind, but a similar California law will take effect in 2023. It will also require ingredients to be listed on the packages of period products but makes an exception for those that are considered confidential business information, a provision WVE criticized. The Center for Baby and Adult Hygiene Products (BAHP), an industry group, has made available an online glossary that explains the purpose behind the ingredients used in period products. It also states it is working with federal and state lawmakers to develop labeling guidelines that will provide consistent and clear information for consumers. LinkedIn, the world's largest professional network and leading B2B advertising platform, today launched a new B2B marketer sentiment survey to understand the confidence levels of B2B marketers at this time. Findings reveal that despite nearly two-thirds of B2B marketing leaders in India experiencing budget cuts, the majority (94%) remain optimistic about their marketing strategy for the next 6 months. Within this challenging environment, B2B marketers in India are keen to focus on brand building with more than two-thirds (69%) saying they will maintain or increase spend in this area in the next six months. The most commonly cited reasons are because B2B marketers believe a strong brand supports long-term sales (67%), and it helps brands stay top of mind for buyers (63%). Over two-fifths (44%) also say it helps them attract talent. Improving stakeholder understanding of marketing ROI key to strengthening future budgets Of the companies that have seen budgets impacted, 44% say the business does not understand B2B marketing ROI, while 65% dont perceive it as an important investment area during periods of uncertainty. With this, the research necessitates that proving marketing effectiveness to influential stakeholders in the organisation is key to improving B2B marketing budgets. When asked about current challenges, B2B marketers in India say that measuring campaign effectiveness and proving ROI of marketing investments (21%) is one their 3 biggest challenges tied with attracting and retaining top talent (21%), and second only to unlocking the potential of new technologies (25%) such as metaverse, NFT, and AI. In these circumstances, B2B marketers in India are stepping up to do more with less to continue staying top of mind. Creativity, trust, and purpose will help B2B marketers navigate uncertainty Given the looming uncertainty, B2B marketers in India believe creativity (63%) will be the most important skill for marketers to navigate the ongoing challenges, followed by efficiency (60%), problem solving (53%) and innovation (53%). B2B marketers see this time as an opportunity to invest in building relationships and trust with customers (33%), and a chance to stay relevant and rethink their brand story (27%). Over the next 6 months, B2B marketing campaign objectives will focus on demonstrating commitment to sustainability (58%), helping customers (57%), and being purpose-driven (51%) to drive effective business results. Sachin Sharma, Director, LinkedIn Marketing Solutions said: It is encouraging to see B2B marketers in India lead with optimism amidst global uncertainty. Curbing ad spends may seem cost effective, but perceptive marketers know that the road to recovery can be tough for brands without continued marketing efforts. B2B marketers will need creative, purpose-driven solutions that can bring value to customers, and build greater recall and memorability for their brands. It is clear that the biggest challenge facing marketers right now is proving marketing ROI to the business, which is crucial to strengthening future budgets. There is a strong need for more education around marketing effectiveness so the true value that B2B marketers deliver is clearly understood by key stakeholders in the organisation. LinkedIns advice for B2B marketers navigating uncertainty: Premium British lifestyle brand Carlton London today announced the expansion of its range of furniture and home furnishings in India through Flipkart, Indias homegrown e-commerce marketplace as the country celebrates the festive season Carlton London has been in India since 2002 and sells footwear, handbags, luggage, apparels, jewelry, sunglasses, perfumes and cosmetics, stationary and other accessories. It launched its range of furniture on Flipkart in 2022 to connect with millions of customers across the country and is expanding its selection across furnishings during the ongoing festive season. The Carlton London Home products will include Beds, Sofas, Mattresses, TV Units and Wardrobes under its Furniture range, while Curtains, Bedsheets, Towels and other decor items will be part of the Furnishings range. This partnership puts our brand in front of new customers, and we are happy to partner with one of the largest online retailers of furniture & furnishings, said Carl Virk, Director at Carlton London. While Beds, Sofas and Bedsheets have already been launched, we will soon be launching Wardrobes and Bath products as well. Commenting on the onboarding, Manish Kumar, Vice President, Consumables (FMCG), General Merchandise and Home, Flipkart said, At Flipkart, we constantly strive to provide our customers with an expansive range of products across the lifestyle spectrum. Lifestyle as a category also plays a crucial role in onboarding new customers to the platform. Over the last few years, there has been a growing inclination among Indian consumers specifically towards accessing furniture and home accessories online with heightened interest in revamping their home spaces. As the country is celebrating the festive season, we are excited to further expand our vast selection of offerings with Carlton Londons range of products to bring alive our vision of offering the latest global styles to millions of customers across country. In the past year, Flipkart has witnessed a 2X year-on-year growth in the demand for furniture, with a majority of new customers coming in from tier-3 and beyond cities. Flipkart today offers over 3 lakh furniture items across 50+ categories and offers doorstep delivery and installation services to customers across 100% of serviceable pin codes across the country. Flipkart has also enabled accessibility for customers through its affordable payment constructs such No Cost EMI, Debit Card EMI etc., and value-added services like insurance, warranty, repair and maintenance to offer an end-to-end experience to customers. The company is deploying new-age technological solutions such as the augmented reality-powered Flipkart Camera on the Flipkart App, which enables customers to view the selected furniture in their physical environment and allows them to estimate the size and fit of the product and understand its aesthetics before making a purchase decision The collaboration has been facilitated by Indias leading brand licensing agency LicenseWorks, on behalf of Carlton London. Pranav Anand, Managing Partner at LicenseWorks added, We are happy to welcome Flipkart as a strategic partner for Carlton London. Their expertise in this space of furniture and home furnishings makes this a perfect launchpad for the brand. Its truly a win-win for both sides. Expanding its viewing destinations in 2022, GOODTiMES has secured a partnership with Samsung India, to launch GOODTiMES TV on Samsung TV Plus, Samsungs free ad-supported TV service (FAST). GOODTiMES will now be available to watch live on Samsung Smart TVs, smart phones and smart monitors, making viewing easy and on the go, or on the biggest screen in the house. Good Times will deliver Samsung Audiences 100% original India lifestyle content on channel 1375. Arati Singh, Chief Executive Officer, GOODTiMES said, The fight for the TV remote is an unending one and had to be resolved! We are very happy to announce that with this association, GOODTiMES will now be available on Samsung TV Plus. We create content that is highly aspirational, entertaining and informational, there is something for everyone who is #DesiAtHeart. We are your one-stop shop & the only you guide you need, every time youre looking for lifestyle content 'Made for Indians', and with this partnership, all your shows are now at your fingertips on Samsung Devices. Stay tuned for more good times! Commenting on the collaboration, Kunal Mehta, Head Business Development, Samsung TV Plus India said, We are very pleased to announce our partnership with GOODTiMES in our expanding line up of Indian content. With already over 22m connected TVs in India, projected to reach 40m in the next three years, FAST is gaining in consumer appeal. FAST mimics the linear experience and being free in nature is becoming a popular route for viewers. Along with GOODTiMES and other NDTV bouquet of channels, we have curated over 75 channels from India and globally. These partnerships ensure Samsung TV Plus audiences have 24/7 access to the latest and greatest shows all for free. Rohit Jaiswal, Vice President, Distribution, NDTV added, GOODTiMES is India's first lifestyle channel, and targets a largely cosmopolitan, socially upbeat audience that is young and increasingly affluent, with an inclination towards better living and we very pleased to join hands with Samsung India to launch the channel along with other NDTV channels. This partnership marks our entry into the FAST ecosystem and augment our distribution footprint in the digital domain. Mondelez India has appointed Nitin Saini as Vice President Marketing. Nitin will be based out of the companys headquarters in Mumbai and will be responsible for spearheading the marketing initiatives of the company. Prior to the current role, he served as Vice President for the Oreo business, Mondelez International in the United States. He will be succeeding Anil Viswanathan, who has been elevated as Managing Director, Vietnam, Southeast Asia, Mondelez International. Nitin started his career as a Management Trainee in India and has been a part of the Mondelez team for 19 years in India, Regional and Global roles across Sales and Marketing. In India he worked in Marketing and Sales teams across different portfolios building experiences across brands, categories and sales verticals. He then moved to a Regional Marketing role in the Asia Pacific Region and got further elevated to a Global role, looking after the iconic Oreo brand where he helped deliver double digit growth for Oreo, with the brand winning Kantar - Brand of the Decade award at Cannes. As the Global Brand director for Oreo, Nitin led Oreo to its best-ever performance across the globe while also crafting the long-term growth strategy for the brand. In his most recent role, Nitin was leading the Oreo portfolio for the US Business unit while being part of the Marketing Leadership team of the BU. Nitin returns to the India business after over 3 years. As VP Marketing for India, Nitin will be a part of the Mondelez India Leadership Team and will drive the consolidated Snacking strategy with holistic management of all marketing levers, that included Insights, Analytics, Equity, Innovation and Activation, in line with Mondelez Internationals "Local first, but not Local only" approach to business. After acquiring the music rights of some of the most talked about films in Hindi and Gujarati languages, Panorama Music shall release the music of Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Akshaye Khanna and Shriya Saran starrer Drishyam 2 which is one of the most awaited films to release this year. The film also stars Ishita Dutta, Mrunal Jadhav and Rajat Kapoor. The music for the film directed by Abhishek Pathak, is composed by Rockstar Devi Sri Prasad who is also doing the background score for the film. Popularly known as Rockstar DSP, he is known to have worked on some award winning films including Puspha: The Rise and his music is much loved by audiences across India and globe. Says Kumar Mangat Pathak, Chairman, Panorama Music, When I heard the songs, I knew the music has the potential of becoming a blockbuster album. Rockstar Devi Sri Prasad is known for some amazing music and we are excited that Drishyam 2 will be his first complete Bollywood film music album and original score. His music for our recall teaser has already set the right tone for the films promotion. I would like to congratulate Panorama Music on Drishyam 2 and would like to thank Kumar ji and director Abhishek Pathak for giving me this opportunity to do both, music and the background score for the film. Music plays an important part in the narrative of Drishyam 2. I have had lovely time working on this film and am excited to see the response. Added Devi Sri Prasad. The trailer of the film will be unveiled soon at a special event in Goa with all cast and crew. Viacom18 Studios Presents Gulshan Kumar, T-Series and Panorama Studios present, Drishyam 2 produced by Bhushan Kumar, Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek Pathak and Krishan Kumar. Directed by Abhishek Pathak, Drishyam 2 is set to release theatrically on 18th November 2022. HEINEKEN has teamed up with world-famous electropop duo The Chainsmokers to launch its Refresh Your Music, Refresh Your Nights campaign in Asia. The cross-genre, cross-culture platform allows fans of different cultures, tribes and music preferences to come together to expand their music tastes. Launching Asia-wide, the Refresh Your Music, Refresh Your Nights campaign was developed by Le Pub, BBH Singapore, Leo Burnett Vietnam and Leo Burnett Malaysia, while Iris Singapore led the regional PR and influencer strategy. In collaboration with The Chainsmokers, the campaign features four local artists two from Vietnam and two from Malaysia who will refresh The Chainsmokers hit songs in their own distinctive style. The four local artists selected are Thu Minh and Karik from Vietnam and Yunohoo and NYK from Malaysia. We are thrilled to be a part of HEINEKENs Refresh Your Music, Refresh Your Nights campaign. We have always believed that music has the power to break any barriers, and that is why this campaign resonatedwith us. We are excited to perform with some of the most well-loved artists from the region and introduce people to new genres of music, says The Chainsmokers. By refreshing these popular songs, HEINEKEN hope to introduce more fans to broader musical genres. As the campaigns grand finale, The Chainsmokers will headline a pair of concerts in Asia for fans alongwith the four local artists. The first concert will be held on 9 December in Genting Highlands, Malaysia, and the second will be held on 10 December in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. On both occasions, the local artists will perform their refreshed renditions alongside The Chainsmokers. Fans in Malaysia can experience the Playlist Refresher on Spotify hosted on The Refresh Hub, which allows them to co- create a playlist with a friend to discover new genres of music. The Playlist Refresher injects your friends musical tastes into your chosen playlist, and vice versa, taking you both out of your music bubbles. By making music discovery more social again, the Playlist Refresher will refresh your music, as well as your friendships. Fans in Vietnam can experience the Refresh Playlist on Spotify hosted on The Refresh Hub which allows them to select a genre of music and refresh it by blending it with another genre. These blended playlists such as Razz (jazz + rap), Hip-Pop (hip-hop + pop), and Punk-Pop (punk + K-pop) are designed to open peoples minds and get them out of their bubbles through the lens of music. Fans can also register for concert tickets, stay updated on the event's latest news or vote for their favourite refreshed rendition by the local artists on the Refresh Hub. Selected lucky winners will stand a chance to win a VIP event experience. With the Refresh Your Music, Refresh Your Nights campaign, we want to echo HEINEKENs belief that life tastes better with an open mind, whether it is in social situations or music tastes. We are very excited to have The Chainsmokers and four equally talented Asian artists come together to create this music experience for HEINEKEN fans, says Rajeev Sathyesh, HEINEKEN Brand Director (APAC). In the lead-up to the concerts, music fans in Vietnam can look forward to a host of activities to keep them engaged. For those who are unable to head down to concert in Vietnam, the Refresh Hub will livestream the concerts for everyone to enjoy. For the latest updates on the campaign, follow HEINEKEN on Instagram and Facebook. Tally Solutions, a pioneer in the software products industry has collaborated with TVF Timeliners, a popular content channel by Indias foremost content creators, The Viral Fever (TVF), for a brand-new mini-series named, Baap Beta Aur Office. The series explores the relationship between a son and his retired father in an office environment, highlighting the power struggle when new generation takes over the decision-making cycle and the role technology plays in bridging the gap, both professionally and personally. The three-episode mini-series stars actor Satish Ray as the son, Atul and veteran actor, Rajendra Chawla as the father, Sandeep. It showcases the evolving journey of the duo as the son is thriving to make his business profitable and successful, while the father supports him with his several years of business experience. It beautifully captures various instances of how Tally has evolved over the years and is still relevant for new-age entrepreneurs assisting them not just in managing their business but scale as well. Commenting on this partnership, Jayati Singh, Chief Marketing Officer, Tally Solutions, said, With over three decades of expertise in assisting the SME community, today, Tally is being used by several second-generation business owners. Over the years, our products have evolved to stay relevant to the needs of new-age entrepreneurs and through this collaboration, we are communicating the same in a heart-warming way. TVF is one of the fast-emerging platforms for youth reaching over seven million audiences with refreshing content and in our endeavour towards staying connected to the aspiring entrepreneurs of today they are indeed a great partner. Speaking about the partnership, Vijay Koshy, President, TVF, said, The show is based on the premise of the unending power struggle, of a father and son. This struggle is very relatable and happens across all levels, be it a SME or at an MNC. Its a new-age story of an ambitious young entrepreneur who is guided by the experienced hand of his father at the workplace and plays on the office dynamics of the two. The show captures the banter between the boss in the office and the boss at home. Their relationship dynamics and TallyPrime itself are instrumental in shaping them at every step of their way, helping them grow to be better managers for their competitive future. As the series is set in an office environment, Tally Solutions was a seamless fit for the story. As a brand, we didnt have to force anything, which is great! An office drama is so well-knitted with software like Tally that this was best fit for the series, said Abhay Raut, Director, Baap Beta Aur Office. The first episode of the show is already out on TVF Timeliners and YouTube. Zee 24 Ghanta, the leading news channel that ensures most credible breaking news, successfully hit a sweet spot, bringing in the festive spirit among devotees. While creating a strong brand presence during the festival across West Bengal, the channel ensured highest visibility for its advertisers, the campaign was further amplified through different media platforms (i.e. TV, Social media & Radio). The Durga Puja campaign comprised two parts - SHARAD ANANYA and MAHAPUJO, with the right blend of unique content, extensive coverage, and branding integrations. SHARAD ANANYA consisted of TV programs on fashion, cooking, pujor adda, festive engagement activities planned by the RWA members apart from regular Puja news bulletins and the MAHAPUJO consisted of end-to-end on-ground coverage, branding & Puja Competition. Overall, it successfully reached 250 + community Pujas in Kolkata & 220+ District Pujas wherein high visibility branding was done in the form of banners & pillars mostly. Famous personalities like Abir Chatterjee, Paoli Dam, Tanushree Chakraborty, Arjun Chakraborty, Eshaa Saha, Gaurab Chakraborty, Riddhima Ghosh, Anindya Chatterjee, Sauraseni Mitra & many others supported the 60-days-programming and on-ground activations. Brand integrations were done for Shree Hari, Pran, Kesh King, Tata Structura, Tata Tiscon, Mother Diary, Greenply, DishTv. Zee 24 Ghanta conducted the Puja Parikrama (competition) wherein it roped in a team of celebs & esteemed partners as judges to the top 10 Pandals & Apartments of Kolkata. Additionally, celebrities also shared their sweet memories associated with Durga Puja in the special vignettes created for Mother Diary. Also, Kesh King, Shree Hari, Pran gave away product hampers to the celebrities at the various shows of Pujor Adda, which were seamlessly integrated into the episodes, while Tata Structura gratified the Puja with the best theme/ structure & Tata Tiscon awarded the best community, apartment & district puja. Greenply created a zero-emission care space at the ZEE 24 Ghanta owned pandal, where they offered care to the elderly visiting the pandal. They also teamed up with ZEE 24 Ghanta and awarded the most Eco Friendly Pandal, as they used jute for the construction. The ZEE 24 Ghanta studio was exclusively branded by Greenply as well. The brands that partnered with the channel for the Durga Puja property were: Toptech TMT, Sister Nivedita University, IIHM, MEGHBELA BROADBAND, Saha Textile, Mother Diary Dear Lotteries, SBI, ORNAZONE.COM Jewellery Mall by Shree Hari, Cradle fertility Centre, Kesh King Ayurvedic Oil, PRAN POTATA SPICY BISCUIT, Annapurna Ghee for the Sharad Ananya property while Tata Tiscon, Sturdflex, Stox Gurukul, Tata Structura, Greenply, Cycle Rhythm Agarbatti & ITC came on board for the Mahapujo property exclusively. Speaking on this, Zee24 Ghanta CBO Joy Chakraborthy said, Durga Puja marks the homecoming of goddess Durga and is the biggest festival in Kolkata. With the Durga Puja coverage of 2022, Zee 24 Ghanta team has solidified its leadership position through content that resonates with the people of Bengal. For the trade industry as well, this time through collaborative advertising and various innovations & integrations we have tried to offer something unique to the fraternity other than vanilla advertising. I'm glad to say it has all worked out well and I thank our sponsors for this support. " ZEE5 has announced the third instalment of its highly popular dramedy franchise Tripling. Tripling S3 features Sumeet Vyas, Maanvi Gagroo, Amol Parashar, Kumud Mishra, Shernaz Patel and Kunaal Roy Kapur in significant roles and will premiere on ZEE5 this year. Spanning across 5 episodes, Tripling S3 will encapsulate the essence of the three siblings and their bond as they embark on a new journey this season as they will be joined by their parents and respective partners. After a gap of over 3 years, Tripling is finally returning with Season 3 on ZEE5. Adgully spoke to Manish Kalra, Chief Business Officer, ZEE5 India, to know more about ZEE5s content strategy, partnerships and marketing plans, as well as the road ahead for OTT in India. Edited Excerpts: How has your partnership with TVF been? Till now, to be very honest, its been an amazing partnership. When we put their shows on AVOD, which is a free platform, we saw a good response, the youth audience coming and consuming, and a lot of men who were not so regular on our free platform, they came and watched it. It has been a good partnership in attracting new audiences. You might recall that in June this year, we launched Saas Bahu Aachar, which is a very good property. Recently, Amruta Subash won the best actress award for Saas Bahu Aachar. We are now ready with Tripling, which is an iconic show and which we want to put out during the festive times. What is your marketing strategy and content line-up for the festive season? We launched Akshay Kumar-starrer Raksha Bandhan. We also launched Karthikeyan in the South. This Telugu movie is doing amazingly well and has become a superhit. We have another superhit Telugu movie, Bimbisara, lined up, then there is Tripling and many other shows, so every week is a packed one for us. Our strength right now is the top 20 cities, we want to expand to the next 50 cities and have a wider reach in the Tier 2 and 3 cities with such shows, which are connecting well with everyone. ZEE5 is a blockbuster place, where you can get great shows and great movies. Do you think OOH is still relevant in terms of promoting an OTT show in the post-pandemic times as well? We are a visual medium. When you see an ad on YouTube, you see another one on Facebook and Instagram; when you travel to your office or go shopping, you see an outdoor hoarding all of these are reminder media. The way we approach marketing should be an integrated approach all media come together to remind you and create awareness about the show and the product. So yes, outdoor definitely works, specifically for shows and movies, wherein there are big star faces whom people want to see thats a big reminder. During Ganesh Chaturthi this year, ZEE5 was the OTT partner for Mumbai Cha Raja. How did that association happen? What was the kind of traction that you received? For us as a brand, we want to stay real, relatable, to the ground and we want to ensure that we have the pulse of the people. Mumbai Cha Raja is one of the biggest pandals that we have in Mumbai, so we tied up with them with the intent of showing the darshan live to our audience. We realised that there is a huge overlap, people who were not in Mumbai also want to view the darshan. I think millions of views happen for that show. What are the other partnerships that you plan to do for ZEE5? We have ongoing partnerships, TVF is a long one. You might be aware that in partnership with Applause we launched three shows recently Kaun Banegi Shikharwati, Mithya and Bloody Brother. There are multiple good quality creatives and producers that we are engaged with on an ongoing basis, because we want to get good stories which we want to connect with the audience. What are your plans for the OTT platform in the next five years, where do you see it headed? OTT is going to grow and we are going to multiply manifold; it will co-exist with cinema. Cinema caters to certain needs lets say when you go to cinema, you are not only going for the movie, its the entire experience. You want to watch it with your family, on the big screen, with amazing sound, audio, popcorn and all that. Its an experience that we all go for. That will obviously sustain. OTT gives you the convenience to watch it from the comfort of your home, you dont want to go out. I think it will be a synergistic relationship and we all kind of grow and prosper together. French lifestyle brand ZOOOK, which is known for an extensive range of innovative audio and consumer technology offerings, has unveiled the life of every party- Samurai, an advanced Bluetooth-enabled Tower Speaker. A must-have for those who love to rock the world with music. ZOOOK Samurai comes with a wired microphone. Having an output power of 60 watts, it yields a Blasting sound and produces a thumping bass, a much-loved sound effect by youngsters during parties. Priced at Rs 5499, ZOOOK Samurai is up for grabs across offline retail stores and is soon slated to be made available online. ZOOOKs Country Head-India, Achin Gupta spoke on the occasion of the launch of the tower speaker, We have always been proud of presenting lifestyle-based products to the consumers, where art meets technology. Samurai Tower Speaker, the latest offering by ZOOOK is a step forward in this direction. The sound quality is apt for house parties, where the music must not stop. It is also perfect as a home theatre system, for times when you wish to enjoy the latest films or a classic with your family and friends. He further said that ZOOOK Samurai Tower Speaker is a music lovers delight as it not just offers an immersive musical stereo experience, but also lets one enjoy a karaoke night with a wired microphone that is bundled along, especially for those who like to spend their evenings singing through it. The 5.1 Bluetooth technology ensures that you experience lossless music. With varied connectivity options like USB, Bluetooth, FM, and Aux to Line, it is easy to operate. The available remote lets you enjoy a variety of music from any part of the room, as you need not stay near it to manage the manual controls. It is loaded with a side-firing woofer for Extra Bass and a dedicated Bass Control knob, so that the power to control it lies in your hands. Standing tall at 24 inches, this majestic black coloured Samurai will become the heartbeat of any party when music lovers come together. A sub-scale demonstrator of a future Airbus multi-mission unmanned aerial vehicle has been demonstrated during a large an exercise organized last month by the Portuguese Navy and NATO. By taking part in this exercise, the cargo copter operated in a dense robotic environment, validating the concepts usefulness particularly its modular design for easy, flexible and rapid swap-out of payloads and batteries. ') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write(' ') } // --> ') } else if (width >= 425) { console.log ('largescreen'); document.write('') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write('') } // --> The demonstrator was developed by Airbus UAS New Programmes group in collaboration with the companys X-Works rapid prototyping team. A system-of-systems approach was applied with the goal of meeting military mission requirements that range from cargo transportation and ISR duties (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) to serving as a communications relay and a combat force multiplier. The Cargo Copters validation occurred in highly realistic operational conditions during the REP(MUS)2022 military exercise, which was conducted in Portugals Troia Peninsula region from September 12-23. Overall, REP(MUS)2022 brought together around 1,500 personnel to test the coordination of unmanned systems and experimental mission scenarios above the water, on the water and under the sea. Jens Federhen, who leads the X-Works rapid prototyping team said, This was a great opportunity to trial our small-scale demonstrator in realistic conditions. Performing the demonstrations in such a demanding environment surrounded by six research ships, 11 warships and 120 uncrewed systems around us was extremely challenging, and at the same time very productive, as we have been able to learn and create useful collaboration links. The sub-scale demonstrator of the future Airbus Multi-Mission and Transport UAS is a 35-kg vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) multicopter. Sized to accommodate a range of payloads, the cargo copter is equipped with the Airbus-developed DeckFinder all-purpose landing aid for automatic landings on ship decks. According to Johannes Pittermann, UAS Portfolio Manager and REP(MUS) 2022 project manager, Airbus participation also helped to answer some open questions for the multi-mission cargo drones full-scale concept, providing valuable guidance in follow-on design and development work. For the full-scale version, Airbus UAS New Programmes envisions a drone capable of carrying payloads of more than 250 kg payload over a range of more than 300km (186 miles). Beyond the military applications, Airbus foresees a role for the Airbus Multi-Mission and Transport UAS in civilian use for, e.g. humanitarian and/ or disaster/crisis management. ACIP is meeting today.The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is a committee within the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that provides advice and guidance on effective control of vaccine-preventable diseases in the U.S. civilian population. (source CDC) Here's a webcast link. Today, ACIP topics will include vaccines in pregnant people (the woke language is more important than safety) and the addition of the Covid vaccine to the pediatric schedule, which is the equivalent of tenure on top of being appointed to the Supreme Court. The grand prize of joining the CDC pediatric schedule is full immunity to product liability, even after the Emergency Use Authorization expires. The AAP reports low voluntary vaccination rates among children 6 months to 12 years of age. Imagine parents' surprise horror when they go to their friendly vaccinator for a well visit and find out they need a Covid vaccine to go to day care, preschool, school, camp. We've been shouting in the darkness for 15 long years. At what point, if ever, will the woke wake? One more thing. Have you ever heard of Chikungunya Vaccines? They are on the agenda, so perhaps you will soon. Here is the agenda for the day. Please support our $10,000 matching gift campaign made possible by Laura and Richard Hayes. Paper check: Autism Age PO Box 110546 Trumbull, CT 06611 Our EIN is 47-1831987 Donate Click the book covers to order these fine offerings from Skyhorse Publishing: The Real Anthony Fauci Bill Gates, Big Pharma, and the Global War on Democracy and Public Health (Childrens Health Defense) by Robert Kennedy, Jr. Pharma-funded mainstream media has convinced millions of Americans that Dr. Anthony Fauci is a hero. Hands down, he is anything but. Candace Owens isn't Black Lives Matter's biggest problem this month; its own website and social media posts are. These are not exactly new revelations because the information has been online for years but, when American Thinker readers help take it viral, it's the end of the world for this race hustling anti-Semitic fraud, and egg on the face of every organization and political figure that has gotten behind it. These could claim reasonably, at least until now, that they didn't know, but now they no longer have this excuse. They need to get clear of this impending public relations catastrophe immediately if not sooner. I reported recently that BLM's co-founder Patrisse Cullors put her name and BLM's behind convicted terrorist murderer Rasmea Odeh, and convicted cop killer Assata Shakur, aka Joanne Chesimard. As Cullors was in fact BLM's de facto leader when she did this, that's enough to associate the entire organization with these statements along with support for the anti-Semitic boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement. I looked further down that rabbit hole over the weekend to find, however, that it's not just Cullors. It's the entire organization. Here is a YouTube video of not just Cullors, but also her fellow BLM co-founders Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi discussing the Assata chant. This is how we close out every meeting, every event, every action, every freeway weve shut down, every mall weve shut down, this is from our beloved Assata Shakur she's a powerful leader who we are inspired by. That's not just one BLM leader, or even just all three BLM leaders. Every BLM meeting, every BLM event, and every criminal obstruction of highways and shopping malls uses a quote from this convicted killer of a New Jersey State Trooper. Ambush killings of law enforcement professionals are increasing along with anti-Semitic hate speech and hate crimes, and it's reasonable to believe that glorification of Assata Shakur and Rasmea Odeh is at least partly responsible for both. Not only did all three BLM leaders endorse Assata Shakur, thus placing the organization squarely behind a convicted cop killer, BLM's official Web site removes all ambiguity. "In the words of Mama Assata Shakur: 'We must love and protect one another.'" They could have quoted somebody else, and Martin Luther King comes to mind. Why is a cop killer, as opposed to a universally respected civil rights activist, their role model? BLM Supporters, It's Time to Get Clear of the Impending Train Wreck I also reported that the Democratic National Committee appears to have removed "Black Lives Matter Organizing Resources" from its website, possibly in light of all the questions about the organization's finances that came up earlier this year. Lest we forget, however, the Washington Post reported in 2020, "Democratic convention embraces Black Lives Matter." The Massachusetts Democrat party appears to have not gotten the word, yet noting its promotion of "View the Healing Justice and Action Toolkits from Black Lives Matter here." I viewed it and it includes the line, "How do we scaffold and support our well-being through direct action and confrontation?" Some forms of direct action like strikes and sit-ins, the latter in places where one has a right to be, are lawful but others such as obstructing highways and shutting down shopping malls (as stipulated by BLM's leaders) are unlawful and infringe on the rights of others. Maybe the Massachusetts Democrats should have asked BLM what it means by "direct action" before putting their names behind it. The same goes for House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, whose official webpage not only supports Black Lives Matter but also implies that Michael Brown, who did not have his hands up, was killed without justification as opposed to being shot in self-defense when he more likely than not tried to take an officer's sidearm and turn it against him. When not only BLM but also prominent Democrats support cop killers (Chesimard) and would-be cop killers (Hakim Littleton beyond a reasonable doubt, and Michael Brown more likely than not), it's no surprise that violent felons are killing police for sport, e.g. by luring them into ambushes with 911 calls, rather than for traditional criminal motives such as robbery and dealing drugs. "Tarrant County Democratic Party Stands with Black Lives Matter" also names Michael Brown as a victim, so it seems that quite a few Democratic political figures have yet to get the word that BLM is spoiled goods. Do Rasmea Odeh's Supporters Condone the Murder of Jews? "UC-Berkeley anti-Israel activists rip up photo of Rasmea Odeh's terror victims," goes, as I see it, even further than mere disagreement with the policies of Israel or even anti-Semitic denial of Israel's right to exist. When you tear up the victims' pictures, you're telling me that their Jewish lives do not matter and that you are OK with their murders. That is what I infer from this behavior and I believe this inference to be reasonable. Even if we assume for the sake of argument that Odeh didn't do itand the U.S. and Israeli justice systems both believe she didsomebody murdered the two men in question, and he or she used a bomb to do it. The same individual planted a second bomb to murder emergency responders but the Israelis, who are quite used to this behavior from Palestinian terrorists, disarmed it. When you tear up the victims' pictures, you come across as condoning what happened. The same reference hosts a YouTube video in which Jewish Voice for Peace welcomes Rasmea Odeh. The Anti-Defamation League lists Students for Justice in Palestine and Bears for Palestine as additional Odeh supporters. Here, by the way, is a video of some of these Berkeley students in action. Tell me again why the noncitizens among them were allowed into our country at all, and given valuable places in a university that could have been filled instead by (as just three examples) Ukrainians, Hong Kong Chinese, or Afghan refugees from the Taliban, all of whom would value our country's freedoms and opportunities, follow its rules, and quite likely make excellent citizens. Take this information viral to make this the end of the line for Black Lives Matter as an even marginally credible organization, and send JVP, SJP, and Bears for Palestine straight to Hell with them. Civis Americanus is the pen name of a contributor who remembers the lessons of history, and wants to ensure that our country never needs to learn those lessons again the hard way. He or she is remaining anonymous due to the likely prospect of being subjected to "cancel culture" for exposing the Big Lie behind Black Lives Matter. Photo credit: Tony Webster CC BY 2.0 license Just where did President Biden set the bar for the promise he made? On the campaign trail and during the early days of his presidency, President Biden made grandiose promises and assurances to the American people of unity and a return to normalcy and civility. He also added another related promise on Inauguration Day that aides should probably jog his memory on. During the swearing in ceremony for appointees later that day, President Biden made a promise accompanied by his candid message to nearly 1,000 people that would work for him during his term in office: respect others. But I am not joking when I say this, if you are ever working with me and I hear you treat another colleague with disrespect ... talk down to someone, I promise you I will fire you on the spot. ... On the spot. No ifs, ands or buts. Everybody ... everybody ... is entitled to be treated with decency and dignity. That's been missing in a big way the last four years. It is blunt frankness for a leader to make such a sharp declaration about respectful behavior, but recent events again test his resolve in making such a statement. Earlier this year, in just short of a week, the president's own treatment of members of the White House press corps was questioned when he called a reporter a "stupid son of a b----," called another reporter's question "stupid," and suggested that one more might not know how to read in front of press colleagues and peers. Everyone knew that the president was not going to fire himself for flouting his own pledge then. But this time is different; this time involves one of his Cabinet members. Over the past week, Americans learned that Homeland Security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas knew early on there was no evidence that Border Patrol agents had "whipped" or "strapped" Haitian migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border in an incident last year that became a flash point in the political wrangling over the southern border and illegal immigration. A September 24, 2021, email to Mayorkas (obtained through the Freedom of Information Act by the Heritage Foundation) from his assistant secretary for public affairs emphasized an interview with the photographer who captured agents on horseback, trying to corral migrants and block them from entering the U.S. near Del Rio, Texas. The photographer who took the images told an interviewer that he and his colleagues did not witness agents harming the migrants. To make matters worse, it was confirmed Mayorkas was informed that there was no "whipping" just over two hours before he stood next to the president at the White House podium and did not contradict the narrative. During that appearance, he even went so far as to call the images "horrifying" and an example of "systemic racism." President Biden would go on to excoriate the Border Patrol agents involved and ultimately to promise at the subsequent press conference that "those people [Border Patrol agents] will pay." Vice President Harris would several days later further denigrate the Border Patrol agents involved, calling the pictures "deeply troubling" and "evoking images of slavery." These events all occurred before there was any official investigation of the incident and evidence or corroboration obtained. Claims that agents, who were using long reins to control their horses, were using "whips" were quickly debunked by officials and other agents, but the media, activists, and elected Democrats continued to fuel that narrative. The three agents had, in fact, used cord split reins to control their horses, and no migrants were harmed in the September 19, 2021, incident but it had taken until June of this year, a full nine months later, for the Customs and Border Protection internal investigation to issue its report. With doses of common sense, judgment, character, and professional integrity, Secretary Mayorkas could have handled the situation differently. Upon notification of the allegations, Secretary Mayorkas could have informed the president and announced he would have his department fully investigate what had happened, and then and only then would his department consider any necessary and appropriate disciplinary action or public vindication. Instead, Secretary Mayorkas displayed no loyalty to his subordinates, nor faith in an American standard of "innocent until proven guilty." He, in essence, immediately threw his Border Patrol agents subordinates under his authority under the bus. He went ahead with perpetuating accusations of their guilt reinforced by the president, no less knowing full well that his Border Patrol agents had committed no inappropriate acts or harmed anyone. Even after the internal investigation report confirmed that the agents had committed no inappropriate acts, Secretary Mayorkas still did not own up to the truth that he, in fact, knew those conclusions early on. He had likely further buckled under political pressure at the time to divert attention away from the crisis at the overflowing makeshift migrant camp at Del Rio. As a Cabinet member and head of a large government department with thousands of employees, Secretary Mayorkas's treatment of and "respect" for people under his charge is contemptible by any reasonable standard of professional conduct. No government organizational head should so oppose his employees that he would publicly slander them, nor should any employee have to work for a government agency whose appointed head acts against him to the point of lying about him. Is failure so far to remove Secretary Mayorkas from his Cabinet-level position indicative of a lowered bar the president himself set for "decency and dignity," to which, he added, "everybody is entitled"? Is it too much for the American public to ask just what it would take to remove Secretary Mayorkas from his Cabinet post if this egregious behavior does not? If President Biden does not remove Secretary Mayorkas from his position for what the military in such circumstances would term "loss of confidence" in his ability to perform his duties, January's incoming Congress should have the secretary's impeachment high on their list of priorities to accomplish on day one. Chris J. Krisinger (colonel, USAF ret.) served in policy advisory positions in the Pentagon and the State Department. He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, attended the Naval War College, and was a National Defense Fellow at Harvard University. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. The American College of Emergency Physicians held its annual Scientific Assembly Meeting October 1-4, 2022 in San Francisco. The convention is intended to enable the nations 30,000 ER doctors to socialize and discuss the pressing medical issues of the day. Oblivious to the end of the pandemic, organizers required attendees to be fully vaccinated. After stepping over the homeless people on the streets, ER doctors had to present negative results of COVID tests that had been done within the past 24 hours to be allowed into the venue. When asked about blackouts in California and if they would impact the venue, Dr. Marc Futernick commented, as far as ACEP, energy is not the problem. The member of the California ACEP Board of Directors went on to say, Im not sure how it is being spun in your neck of the woods (some nefarious democrat plot), but the homeless situation in SF has gotten so severe it will impact the experience. To those unaccustomed to it, I imagine it will be downright scary. Its a horrible situation, unlike anything Ive seen before, and I work just blocks from Skid Row in LA which is the largest homeless population in the country. Futernick is an outspoken physician and climate activist who is a staunch defender of Governor Newsoms radical climate change and anti-police/pro-crime agendas. Dr. Futernick has avoided answering questions about the economic turmoil, homelessness and health effects plaguing the state due to Newsoms policies. ACEP 22 opened with the Keynote Speaker Dr. Glaucomflecken, a comedian turned ophthalmologist. Interestingly, despite repeated statements that ACEP is not politically biased, ACEP invited the comedian who is well known for his far-left, anti-conservative humor. In June 2020, in a now-deleted professional tweet, Dr. Glaucomflecken stated That makes sense, the methods needed to eliminate systemic racism are political. It's the acknowledgement of its existence and the willingness to do something about it that has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with being a decent human. In another professional tweet, he commented Its fun to think about Trump needing an eye exam and they call Rand Paul who shows up without any equipment because he doesnt remember how to do an eye exam & they find an old tonopen & spend 2 hrs trying to calibrate it before realizing its not a tonopen its a reflex hammer. Dr. Glaucomflecken does not appear to be a neutral keynote speaker. 2022 has been a very difficult year medically for the U.S. 2021 saw over 107,000 deaths from fentanyl overdoses. Obesity, drug use, depression, and suicidality spiked during COVID and show no signs of improving. Worse, the current disasters are on the heels of pre-COVID research showing that the life expectancy for millennials and generation X will be less than their parents, mostly due to drug overdoses and obesity-related diseases. This is the first time this has happened in decades. Researchers at the Sanford School of Public Policy set out to study the difference in mortality rates between generations and racial groups, to better understand the factors that contribute to the overall decrease in life expectancy for Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. life expectancy has decreased from 78.9 years in 2014 to 78.6 years in 2017. Given this bleak medical landscape, rational Americans should expect ACEP to be tackling Americas biggest health problems at their annual meeting of the minds. Instead, the three main topics of discussion were (no order): 1. Maintaining COVID pandemic billing profits, 2. Climate change, 3. Racism in medicine. ACEPs misguided focus didnt end at the convention. Afterwards, ACEP was silent about the recent California Bill AB2098 signed September 30, 2022 that threatens revocation of physician licensure if doctors have private informed-consent discussions with patients that differ from the narratives that government medical authorities have mandated. ACEP President Dr. Gillian Schmitz said that ACEPs silence on the matter was because ACEP typically does not support or oppose state legislation. Interestingly, as recently as June 24, 2022, ACEP released a policy statement about the sacred doctor-patient relationship. ACEP believes that emergency physicians must be able to practice high quality, objective, evidence-based medicine without legislative, regulatory, or judicial interference in the physician-patient relationship. This strong principle was codified in a policy statement approved by the ACEP Board of Directors yesterday. ACEP had released a similar statement in 2021 when it opposed Texas abortion laws. In a sit-down interview in September 2022, Dr. Schmitz called defenders of physician freedom of speech and patient rights 2% radical right-wing extremists. Fentanyl overdosing was also not a focus of discussion at ACEP22. The issue has also not been found in any of ACEPs journals in the past year. ACEP moderators blocked recent attempts to generate a discussion on how to tackle the problem in its doctor chatrooms. ACEP also hasnt published a policy statement on the issue since 2019. Perhaps the issue that involves drugs, police, and open borders is unwelcome before a politically charged midterm election. Like the rest of America, doctors are still human. They are entitled to some lighthearted socialization during a break from the stress of patient care in the nations overcrowded emergency rooms. However, there still needs to be a business focus on important issues. I attended the Special Operations Medical Association annual meeting in 2007 in between combat tours with Special Forces in Afghanistan. Most lectures and displays were rightfully focused on combat casualty care. ER doctors could be expected to have the same focus on critical medical issues such as fentanyl overdoses, obesity-related morbidity and mortality, government policies causing increases in violent crime and murder, and declining economic conditions that are reducing Americans ability to pay for medicine and doctor appointments. It is becoming clear that emergency medicine, like modern medicine, no longer has the best interests of patients in its agenda. Profits, social issues, physician censorship, and political pet projects seem to be guiding medical policy and therefore practice in America. Americans deserve better. In the end, the one who suffers is the patient, who gets treated using something other than ethical evidence-based medicine. Dr. William Sullivan is an emergency physician and lawyer. He served ACEP for years as a legal expert and recently quit the organization. He eloquently captures the problem and dangers of modern medical organizations in an article he wrote in September 2022. ACEP is a once great organization that has strayed from its mission. ACEP has come to value diversity of gender more than diversity of thought. By censoring ideas that are contrary to its political ideology, ACEP values directives more than it values discourse. ACEP appears more interested in furthering the interests of ACEP than with furthering the interests of ACEP members. Image: ACEP If anything tells us of the callousness of the Biden administration, it's news from the El Paso city council, which found that Joe Biden told the city's Democrat mayor to not declare a emergency over the thousands of illegal migrants flooding the city. According to the New York Post: The White House pressured the Democratic mayor of El Paso, Texas, to not declare a state of emergency over the citys migrant crisis due to fear it would make President Biden look bad, The Post has learned. At least three of the El Paso City Councils eight members have urged Mayor Oscar Leeser to issue an emergency declaration in response to the thousands of migrants whove filled the citys shelters and are being housed in local hotels, sources familiar with the matter said. But Leeser admitted during a private phone conversation last month that hed been directed otherwise by the Biden administration, one of the officials told The Post. He told me the White House asked him not to, Councilmember Claudia Rodriguez said. It wasn't just the city council members who'd been told this about Biden putting the kibbosh on the declaration. Rep. Tony Gonzalez, through his channels, said he'd heard the same thing from other city officials, according to the Post. El Paso, an orderly, low-crime city of 684,000 on the western end of Texas, has been flooded with illegal immigrants, often from Venezuela's crime-infested, gang-plagued, Chavista-cheering shantytowns (see the Fox News/Getty picture here) to the tune of 1,000 people a day. Most are illiterate, have no skills to speak of, and will have to be taken care of by the taxpayers as permanent welfare cases. An emergency declaration would have freed up federal and state funds for housing the migrants so that they wouldn't end up on the streets, which is what has happened. To try to stanch that, the mayor of El Paso, Oscar Leeser, has been busing them out to sanctuary cities such as New York and Chicago on a voluntary basis, mysteriously taking no flak from the press for doing so, quite unlike Florida's Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas's Gov. Greg Abbott, who have done the same thing, even as the mayors of the receiving cities of New York and Washington scream emergency. Now that word is out that Joe Biden insisted that El Paso not declare a migrant emergency, what we know is that the entire scenario was probably planned out. You withold the declaration, I'll keep the press at bay, or something of that sort. There also could have been muscling political threats of some kind. What we really know from this is that Biden couldn't care less about what happens in El Paso to the citizens of El Paso, let alone the migrants. Biden's prime concern regarding the open borders crisis that he created is that no bad publicity come to him from that, and never mind what El Paso might need. It's all about him and his political needs. It bears the fingerprints of whoever it was who engineered the Biden administration's secret midnight flights of migrants to various cities around the country, without warning to local officials, in order to keep the cameras off. The result for El Paso has been migrants flooding the streets, an upsurge in crime, and the busings to get at least some of them out of there. The entire Biden approach to the open-borders crisis has been one of managing the optics, not the human waves. Now we learn that Biden has been pressuring the mayor of El Paso, apparently pretty successfully, to not declare an emergency, no matter what happens, even as the city gets flooded by migrants. What a guy. He doesn't care about the citizens of El Paso, or for that matter, the citizens of any other part of the country. He cares about himself. Image: Screen shot from NewsNation video, via YouTube Have you ever wondered about the phrase "common sense"? Simply put, it's a rational way of thinking that comes naturally to all humans. It's an innately provided type of knowledge that is unspoken and unwritten. It's taken for granted. We acquire such reasoning imperceptibly from the day we are born. Such reasoning keeps us from even contemplating notions that violate our God-given ability to make prudent judgments. Contrarily, an irrational way of thinking might cause us to accept such statements as "my dog drove me to the supermarket" or "my mother is younger than I am." There was a time when being rational was not only acceptable to civilized society, but required if you expected to be part of any serious discourse. Only about a decade ago, if you were chatting with some friends at a social gathering and heard someone say there are more than two genders, and men can get pregnant, you'd probably start edging your way toward another part of the room. Moreover, you'd likely mention to the host that a strange guest has crashed the party. Fast-forward to today, and not only would such comments be acceptable, but those who disagreed might be called ugly names, or worse. Case in point: Students at the University of Southern Maine demanded that their education professor be fired because she told her class that there are only two sexes. Professor Christy Hammer made the very rational comment during a class on "creating a positive learning environment." Well, according to one student, Elizabeth Leibiger, who characterizes herself as non-binary, such a statement caused her to feel that she was "under personal attack." One wonders why the professor, who is among the 99.999% of the planet belonging to the binary world, didn't feel under personal attack from someone who may be dangerously deranged. It didn't take long before 21 of the 22 students in her class, having been indoctrinated by left-wing dogma, which evidently robbed them of common sense, joined the "attack victim" by walking out during a class session and demanding that a "restorative justice meeting" be held with the university's School of Education and Human Development. In the category of "you can't make this stuff up," "student" Liebiger said "professor" Hammer is not qualified to teach positive learning environments. Imagine: a million years of biological science being trashed by a bunch of spoiled children who have been thoroughly brainwashed into believing that gender is not to be determined by someone's sex organs. Can you envision a scenario in which a doctor delivers a baby; holds it up for inspection; and says to the mother, "You have given birth to a 7-pound baby something or other"? Anyway, after the restorative justice meeting was held, students were even more outraged because the professor stood firm in her position that only male and female sex designations exist. That rational decision was followed by a student walkout, with a stipulation that they'd only come back if the school installed another professor evidently, one that had a backbone made of jelly. During a saner time in our history, these intransigent brats would have been told to get back to class or get the hell out of the school! However, we're not living in an era of sound mind and rational thought. Therefore, as some students continued to refer to the professor as transphobic and demanded that she undergo diversity training or retire, the wobbly-kneed Interim Provost of the university declared that "necessary support" will be provided to those students who may have been psychologically damaged by the professor's comments. Where do they get these namby-pamby leadership impersonators? Ultimately, the so-called institute of higher-learning came out with an alternate plan for those students who simply couldn't bear the thought of tolerating someone who is living in the real world. Although the professor wouldn't be fired, she'd be assigned to teach a class of students who wish to accept her version of biology. Good luck finding enough students to fill a classroom in the bitterly dysfunctional atmosphere suffocating our educational system. Never before has the phrase "the inmates are running the asylum" been so applicable. Image via Pixabay. We already knew that the January 6 Committee of the House of Representatives was a partisan, illegitimate effort, denying Republican leadership the right to name its own members. Yesterday, the committee confirmed this status with a leak intended to hurt the gubernatorial campaign of GOP Rep. Lee Zeldin, who is closing in on Democrat Kathy Hochul in the polls. Such activity has nothing at all to do with the committees charter or legitimate activities. The New York Sun reports: Congressman Lee Zeldins jump in the polls in the New York Governors race looks to have spooked the Democrats including the solons of the January 6 Committee. How else to explain the committees apparent attempt to intervene in a gubernatorial election by leaking Mr. Zeldins texts with President Trumps chief of staff? The leak comes as the race has tightened to the degree that RealClear Politics reckons it to be a toss-up. Far from a bombshell, the leaked exchange draws no blood. Yet what is the January 6 committee doing, issuing any leaks calculated to sway a state election contest for governor? We, for one, find it a shocking development. The Daily News says Mr. Zeldins exchange was revealed in logs obtained by the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection, then shared online by reporter Hunter Walker.Albanys Times-Union calls the text exchange leaked. The contents of the leak are a big nothingburger. As for the leaked exchange, its harmless. Ms. Hochul has no grounds to accuse Mr. Zeldin of baseless conspiracy theories. He was concerned over vetted voting irregularities after the 2020 election. With unvetted claims, he urged reviewing those claims for vetting purposes. He advised separating facts from opinions. Thats the kind of logical, and ethical, standard we expect from a Congressman and of which the January 6 panel seems incapable. But of course, the leak is designed to influence low information voters, and push the theme of insurrection (by unarmed people, the first and only such insurrection in history) as worse than 9/11, tarring Zeldin as somehow a threat to the Republic. Illegitimate attacks on Zeldin have been a feature of this campaign, including a physical assault while campaigning last July: YouTube screengrab I see it as a sign of desperation, as Democrats are out of legitimate arguments backing their plea for voters support. I suspect their internal polls show a situation worse than a toss up from their standpoint. Hat tip: Lauri B. Regan Compromising with depravity is supreme folly. Mainstream left-of-center ideologues were very different ten years ago than they are today. Sure, they generally werent critical thinkers, but they still all agreed born children deserve protection. Now, they foam at the mouth if someone suggests that Drag Queen Story Hour is nothing more than pedophilic grooming. The precedent shows that people are not moral on their own without an anchor in divine morality, in a short time, people drift from where they once were. In that context. Who could have guessed that the next step in Canadas assisted suicide program would lead to an overt agenda of eugenics? In June 2016, Canada legalized assisted suicide, and now, just six years later, one of the nations leading practitioners is suggesting the euthanization of infants (oh, and depressed teenages). According to a report by The Post Millennial, Dr. Louis Roy of the Quebec College of Physicians spoke at a Special Joint Committee meeting for Canadas Medical Assistance in Dying program, and said: Minors from 14 to 17 years of age, so nearly 18; the committee recommends, and the board of directors supports as well, that these minors could, with their tutors or parents, make a request for MAID based on the level of persistent and intolerable suffering that they may experience and become unmanageable and senseless. First of all, we all just saw what happened in California: Gavin Newsom signed legislation Thursday allowing California to take temporary emergency jurisdiction over a child that traveled to the state for transgender drugs or operations, stripping parents of their authority over their kids. If leftist governments (like those in Canada and California) will strip parental rights away under the charade its in the childs best interest, whats to stop government agencies from seizing children who express suicidal ideations and then executing them? Secondly, and Im no doctor, but if I had to speculate, the foundation of medicine ought to be life-giving treatments, not sterilized murder. If a physician prescribes death, it seems like theyre not very good at their job. But then he continues: Same for babies from zero to one years of age who are born with severe deformations, very grave and severe medical syndromes, whos [sic] life expectancy and level of suffering are such that it would make sense to ensure that they do not suffer given that their possibility of surviving is basically nil. This is something that has been used in the Netherlands as an argument, and we can explore that option[.] Ahhh, and there it is. In your face eugenics, covered with a nice little logical fallacy oh its been used in the Netherlands as an argument? Well, that must make it a sound position! (As it turns out, maybe these left-of-center ideologues havent changed that much, they werent intellectuals ten years ago, and theyre still not today.) Hasnt humanity been through this all before? I recalled a certain story told by a Sister from a German convent, who had once run a home for handicapped children. In the out-of-print book, titled Abortion: The Silent Holocaust, it reads: Then one day we heard that the government was planning to take them [the children] away and to kill them, just because they were retarded or handicapped. At first we could not believe this, but we prayed anyway. Oh, how we prayed for our children! But one day the vans came and soldiers took away our little babies. They threw them in the vans like sacks of potatoes and took them off to the killing centers. They said they were killed because they couldnt make a contribution to the Third Reich. They were only an expense, a burden. And what about Aktion T4? Until today I was unaware of this specific Nazi eugenics program but having a colleague with an encyclopedia for a brain has its perks. According to History: The first to die was a five-month-old baby boy. [his] father. Considered [him] to be a monster, and he soon approached his local physician with the request that the baby be put to sleep for his own good. After the doctor refused, [the father] wrote directly to Adolf Hitler. Hitler, who had long been in favour [sic] of mercy killing the severely disabled, dispatched his personal physician, Karl Brandt, to the village. to examine the child. Hitler told Brandt that if the baby was as severely disabled as the father claimed, Brandt had his permission to kill the child. Brandt duly examined [the baby boy] and concluded that the child was beyond help. With Hitlers blessing, the child was killed, probably by lethal injection. His death would mark the start of one of the most hideous programmes [sic] of the Second World War the mass murder of the mentally ill and physically disabled throughout Germany and some of its occupied territories. The programme [sic] would come to be known as Aktion T4. How is this any different from what Dr. Louis Roy is suggesting? The pro-murder and eugenics faction of the medical community has a stranglehold on the debate, and theyre dragging the entire discipline back into the darkest moments in human history Dr. Louis Roy might one day be synonymous with Dr. Josef Mengele, or Dr. Karl Brandt. Image: Free image, Pixabay license, no attribution required. Forgive me if I'm reminded of that oldie by Herman's Hermits: No milk today, it seems a common sight But people passing by, don't know the reason why Well, it wasn't a huge hit but there are many people passing by who are wondering the reason why a bunch of well-fed and prosperous young people are pouring milk on the floor. I remember when my mom got very angry when I did that. As I recall, it did not end well for any one pouring milk around our home. My mother would unleash her inner Cuban wild woman and it was a really bad night. The latest tantrum is just another environmental protest. Here it goes: Twitter video screengrab The latest environmentalist trend is here: pouring out milk in grocery stores. All across the United Kingdom, teenagers concerned about the environment are doing milk pours. The new trend involves going into grocery stores, picking up cartons of cow-produced milk, and pouring out their contents, according to the animal rights group Animal Rebellion. Videos that have popped up on social media show teens pouring milk onto the floor, over sales counters, and elsewhere in the store. The dairy industry is incredibly environmentally destructive. The worlds top 5 meat and dairy corporations are now responsible for more GHG emissions than Exxon, Shell or BP, the organization said in a tweet Saturday. We NEED a plant-based future now, it added. Milk Pours are currently happening across the UK. All are concerned individuals calling on the government to give us a livable future, a #PlantBasedFuture Here's the latest milk pour happening in Edinburgh @waitrose pic.twitter.com/mawKIylEmI Animal Rebellion (@RebelsAnimal) October 15, 2022 And so, the CO2 emissions movement has a new villain, the people who put milk on our shelves. Who is going to replace the jobs created by the dairy farming and milk companies? Or who is going to replace the taxes that they pay? Another day and more confirmation that the environmentalist movement needs leadership changes. They've allowed the stupid young to get all of the publicity. The net result is that a serious topic is overlooked by activists who seem more interested in promoting themselves in Tik Tok than behaving like adults. What should society do? Remind these activists that they are violating the law and punish them to 30 days of milking cows at a nearby dairy farm. I don't know if there is a judge in the UK who would do that but it'd be nice to see. P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. So this happened, in Riverside County, (population 2.4 million) California, according to the Los Angeles Times: About 5,000 people in Riverside County will receive duplicate vote-by-mail ballots for the November midterm election after a computer system error, but the mistake wont allow voters to cast ballots twice, according to the county registrar. The computer error was caught over the weekend, but not before 5,000 mail-in ballots were sent to voters living in Canyon Lake, Menifee, Murrieta, Wildomar and Winchester, said Rebecca Spencer, the Riverside County registrar of voters. Spencer recommended anyone who receives identical ballots to destroy the extra copy. Nothing to see here, little technical glitch, just throw that extra ballot away, and move along. They've got this. Elections are always clean in California. Problem over, right? Not exactly. Start with the technical claim that the second ballots sent cannot be counted. On Twitter, one person did argue that such things aren't exactly as cut-and-dried as the Riverside County registrar of the voters, Rebecca Spencer, claims: If that's true, a great gaslight is going up about the security of the mail balloting system and whether two votes can be cast from one voter. One wonders what becomes of the thrown-away ballots, assuming the duplicates are thrown away, as well as those that are cast twice. The L.A. Times, though, takes the registrar's word for it that the problem is all fixed. Hey, maybe it was. Maybe it was an honest error. Maybe it was all fixed like she said it was. And maybe that would be believable were Riverside County not a swing county trending light blue with very close election results -- and there was not this backstory about this registrar's handling of elections -- in 2016 and 2020. Seems Spencer does this double-ballot mailing a lot. Back in 2020, controversy erupted about ... double ballots mailed out to voters by Spencer, and other shenanigans dating from 2016 and 2020. Starting with the 2020 election, this local KESQ interview with a non-Soros district attorney, battling allegations from Spencer about election "interference" merely for investigating citizen reports about voter registrations being switched to the other party (The machine-generated transcription is a bit wobbly but it's worth reading every word): It's been a bitter back and forth between Riverside County's Registrar of Voters, Rebecca Spencer, and District Attorney Mike Hestrin. Spencer has accused Hestrin, of interfering with the 2020 election but Hestrin says the claims are unfounded. Hestrin spoke with News Channel 3's Peter Daut spoke to hear what he calls "a misunderstanding." Peter: "First off, tell us about this dispute between you and the County Registrar of Voters Rebecca Spencer over the security of ballots and her accusation that you showed quote unacceptable partisan behavior." Hestrin: "Okay, well, let me, let me tell you my opinion on this dispute this back and forth, is that it comes from a misunderstanding of the role of District Attorney of my office. As it relates to election integrity. Our role is completely reactive and what I mean by that is we respond to citizen complaints as they come up. And I can tell you that you know for example back in 2016, we received numerous citizen complaints from Democrats, Republicans and independents, that they had had their voter information changed in some way that they're, you know, prior to Election Day 2016 that unbeknownst to them and without their approval, their their registration had been changed. So we opened an investigation into that we looked into it. And we quickly found that it apparently did happen to several dozen voters in Riverside CountyAnd let me just skip ahead then to the next election 2018, where we had numerous complaints that our county registrar voter office was not accurately correctly, requiring ballot harvesters to identify themselves on the ballot. Finally, in 2020, election and we also happened in 2016, but we dealt with multiple complaints by voters of all parties, about receiving multiple balance. The money quote is here: Peter: "I want to ask you about some of her specific allegations she alleges among other things that you demanded she removed a ballot Dropbox outside the registers headquarters in Riverside allow undercover agents at polling places and make her staff photograph the license plates of people who drop off multiple ballots but refused to identify themselves, is any of that remotely true? Hestrin: "All those things were taken out of context, we had a meeting and a conversation where we presented to the Registrar of Voters and our concerns about the fact that Riverside County was not requiring harvesters to properly fill out the balance. And in that conversation Miss Spencer's response was, what what could we possibly do. And, and myself and one of my assistants, simply throw out options. You could have people photographic you could do this you could do that. We never ordered any of those things we never said oh you know you've got to have an undercover agent that none of that is true. In that sense, so these were these were. For example, the, the help we offered at one point, Miss Spencer said well I don't I don't have the resources to do these things to safeguard, you know, the ballots. And we said, well, we're glad to help. I'm sure I'm sure other county workers, people from my office could help. She quickly said you can't have law enforcement officers near ballots and we said no of course, you know, nobody would be there in uniform but if you needed help. In case you know situation arose we'd be glad to help. That that's how it came up so unfortunately those those comments are taking wildly out of context, and they're forming the basis of these accusations which are not not true in any in any shape or form." A district attorney offered to help her safeguard the electoral integrity issues in her district and she refused to accept help, and worst still, down the interview, yelled election interference. That was on a matter of ballot harvesting, switched registrations, dropbox issues, and other cheatings going on on her watch in 2020. She refused to do anything about those problems and abused a district attorney who tried to help her fix the problems. There also were double ballots mailed -- in 2016, as well as 2020, again on Spencer's watch, something she refused to do anything about: [Hestrin:] Finally, in 2020, election and we also happened in 2016, but we dealt with multiple complaints by voters of all parties, about receiving multiple [ballots]. In 2016, we found that more than 70 people had attempted to vote twice. So what happened was they received the mail and they requested a mail invalid received the mail invalid. You filled it out, signed it sealed it and either dropped it in the mail or brought it to a voter drop box. And then a couple days later, or a week later or two weeks later, they would receive a new ballot. Some, the vast majority of these folks were these voters were elderly. And so they when they received the new ballot they mistakenly assumed that their first ballot had been invalid or had been spoiled or maybe they had filled it out wrong. So what did they do they filled it out again signed it sealed it dropped it off, guess what, now they voted twice. We found more than 70 people that did So that's in a nutshell what we've been doing and, you know, unfortunately, some county officials don't like to be these things brought to the attention to their attention but, you know, nobody no county department or no county official is beyond scrutiny or questioning and, and we're gonna keep doing our job." So this person mails multiple ballots in a swing county that could go either red or blue with the election tide, and somehow we are all supposed to believe her when she says she's got the problem fixed. Hestrin notes that multiple votes happened. Which leads us to conclude that the bar codes that Spencer cites as capable of keeping duplicate votes cast somehow didn't stop these multiple votes from going through. And now she's done it again, pleading dumb but insisting she's got it fixed. The Los Angeles Times bought that protestation hook, line and sinker, and never bothered to look into Spencer's history of mailing double ballots as well as failing to safeguard the integrity of the elections even when she was offered free help from the district attorney. Any questions as to why voters no longer trust the integrity of elections? This is second such incident of a "mistake" from a Democrat official in charge of counting the ballots in recent weeks as midterms approach. In Colorado, a Soros-backed secretary of state mailed voter registration notices "in error" to thousands of non-citizens and said she had the problem all fixed, too. Color us skeptical -- particularly when the mistakes all go one way, and they happen again and again and again from the exact same Democrats. Image: Screen shot from RivCo TV video, via YouTube I spent the past week in Wisconsin and have seldom had the opportunity to see more vividly the red/blue divide in America. The urban areas are predominantly hard left while the rural areas are defiantly conservative. My trip began in a suburb of Madison, Wisconsin. Because I was still working for part of my trip, I was hunting up appropriate YouTube videos while on a local server. Unlike the situation here in South Carolina, where I almost never see political ads on YouTube (and, no, I dont know why not), my Wisconsin YouTube feed was overrun with political ads. It became apparent very quickly what arguments the campaigns were using to sway voters. Without exception, every single Democrat ad I saw attacked the opposing candidate for wanting to ban abortions. That was it. As far as urban and suburban Democrats in Wisconsin are concerned, that is the only winning issue they have. Meanwhile, the Republican ads hit two themes: The economy and violence. They had a lot of material to work with, too. I did a poll of one (my hostess), asking her which issue she felt was more important. She said that, without a doubt, it was the economy and violence. Abortion, she said, was a non-issue compared to these overwhelming problems. Out on the streets, many cars had Biden-Harris bumper stickers still clinging to them. One car I managed to photograph even had a car version of the leftists beloved in this house we believe yard sign, ending with kindness is everything. Somehow that seemed at odds with the sticker showing the Marxist raised fist over an image of Africa. Cognitive dissonance never seems to bother the left. At a local coffee shop, the barista was a very skinny man clocking in at about 64. He had straggly, shoulder-length hair, and a mask, and spoke in a cracked, reedy voice. He was pleasant and helpful. A bit of an odd bird, I thought. It surprised me, although it probably shouldnt have, to learn a short time later that this manifest man goes by she/her pronouns. Things were different the moment my trip took me out of the big city. There were billboards everywhere with two themes: Jesus saves you and abortion is evil. Houses and businesses were festooned with American flags. Gun stores showed up in every small town. People had trucks and other sturdy cars, many with Trump bumper stickers. In other words, Wisconsin is yet another red state with blue cities. We all know that already because weve seen the county-by-county maps following the last two presidential elections. In Wisconsin, out of a population of roughly 5.81 million, the five biggest cities account for 1,132,259 of the states total. The smaller cities account for four times that big urban population. And yet Wisconsins outcome affected the 2020 election. Either theres massive urban voting fraud or small-town America is not turning out to vote. I dont know what to do about the voter fraud but, if this is a failure to show up on election day, Id like to suggest that small-town voters show up in numbers equaling 100% of their eligible population. Otherwise, as bad as things are now under almost two years of Joe Bidens administration, you can count on them getting significantly worse if Biden and the Democrats are given another two years. By the way, Wisconsin in the fall is breathtaking. Image: Door County, Wisconsin, by Leif and Evonne. CC BY 2.0. Special Prosecutor John Durham has struck out in his prosecution of FBI source (and Brookings Institution employee) Igor Danchenko, just as he did with the acquittal of Michael Sussman. Via Sundance: A jury found Igor Danchenko not guilty on four counts of lying to the FBI, on four occasions. (1) Danchenko told FBI agents he received a phone call in late July 2016 Sergei Millian. However, Danchenko knew he had never received a call from Millian. (2) Danchenko gave a false statement to FBI agents that he was under the impression that the late July 2016 call was from Millian. (3) Danchenko falsely stated to FBI agents that he believed he spoke to Millian on the phone on more than one occasion. And (4) Danchenko lied that he believed he has spoken to [Millian] on the telephone, when Danchenko well knew he had never spoken to Millian. Durham faced an almost impossible task because in order to obtain a conviction he had to prove that the lies affected the investigation. But, as the evidence he presented showed, the FBI knew the lies were lies and didnt care. In trying to salvage some value from the trial, many have commented that the FBI has been discredited by the revelations from the trial. For example, Kimberly Strassel of the Wall Street Journal wrote during the trial: Unofficially, Mr. Durham is putting the Federal Bureau of Investigation itself on trial for incompetence and political chicanery. And Techno-Fog, written after the verdict: What is more important is that which informs our understanding of the Trump/Russia investigation and the FBI/DOJ/Mueller misconduct that sparked Crossfire Hurricane and continued through the Mueller investigation. That information was revelatory. The institutions were on trial alongside Danchenko, with Durham recognizing in closing arguments that the FBI mishandled the investigation at issue. And the institutions rightly suffered. Danchenko might have been spared, but is there any reasonable doubt as to the FBIs incompetence - and guilt? The big problems with merely discrediting the FBI via the testimony at the trial: There are no formal consequences for the FBI as an institution or for the individual miscreants who lied to the FISA court in obtaining warrants for US citizen Carter Page, and The swamp has a terrific talking point in trying to discredit the Durham report that is to follow IF AG Garland permits it to be published. They can say, Pay no attention to this report from a Special Counsel that couldnt obtain convictions in his major cases! Why didnt Durham indict the FBI personnel who lied to the FISA court? Was he prevented from doing so? Or is there some regulation that I dont know about or some other reason? Even if he should make an attempt to indict FBI employees, current or past, I can already hear the cries demanding no more funding for his effort, since his track record is so bad. Many have remarked on the difficulty of obtaining convictions for left-wing heroes in DC District Courts, or even Alexandria, Virginia, where Danchenko was tried. The jury pool there is overwhelmingly made up of Democrat voters and Trump- and conservative-haters. That is a problem that needs to be addressed if the justice system is ever to reckon with corruption in the federal government. The most common proposal to address this problem is the suggestion to move federal agencies out of DC and its environs. While that is a good idea, implementing it would require passage of legislation and presidential signatures on bills. It would also be expensive, requiring appropriation of funds to obtain office space and other facilities, and would take years to accomplish. Instead, if the GOP takes control of both the House and Senate in 2023, Congress can exercise its power under Article III, Section 1 of the Constitution: The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. Congress could establish, for instance, a system of rotation for the jurisdiction of cases involving the federal government among the 94 federal districts. President Biden would have no say in this, and it could be accomplished on the first day of the new Congress. On January 22, 1959, miners at the River Slope Mine of the Knox Coal Company in Jenkins Township, Pennsylvania, were digging under the Susquehanna River in search of coal. They were in pursuit of a coal seam that seemed to angle upwards towards the riverbed. Months earlier, the authorities had forbade the mining company from digging the vein as adequate surveying to determine the thickness of the rocks underneath the river was not carried out. But the company owners kept pushing the miners to dig closer and closer to the river bottom. The mine inspectors believed that there was still 35 feet of rocks to go, which was determined to be of sufficient thickness to hold the weight of the river. In reality, less than six feet of rock remained between the mine and the river bed. Some say, the rocks separating the miners from the Susquehanna River was lesser stillonly 19 inches. The whirlpool formed by the draining of the Susquehanna river into the underground mine. At around 11:30 a.m. the raging Susquehanna river broke through the thin rock roof of the mine flooding the tunnels below with ice-cold water. The water draining into the mine created a massive whirlpool as if someone had pulled the plug of a bathtub drain. Sixty nine miners managed to escape, but twelve died. Among the escapees was Amedeo Pancotti, who climbed 50 foot up the abandoned Eagle Air Shaft and alerted rescuers, which led to the safe recovery of 33 men including Pancotti himself. He was awarded the Carnegie Medal for Heroism from the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission. Another miner, Myron Thomas, led twenty-six miners to safety. The same day the mine was breached, a team was mobilized to plug the hole between the river bottom and the mine. One of the railroad tracks nearby was cut and diverted towards the site of the accident. Then a diesel locomotive pushed over 50 large hopper cars into the whirlpool, followed by over 400 mine cars in an effort to clog the hole and stop the draining. But the water kept rushing in. More materials were dumped in the water, such as clay, coal and rocks, but the river barely stopped. Finally, the river was diverted around Wintermoot Island by building dams at both ends of the island. Once they pumped the water out between the dams they were able to begin sealing the hole. Tons of clay and rock were poured into the hole and a concrete cap was placed on top of the opening. Then they began pumping water out of the mine to look for the twelve missing miners, but no bodies were recovered. Also Read: The Lake Peigneur Drilling Disaster Months later, a grand jury found seven men guilty of involuntary manslaughter and three guilty of conspiracy. The illegal excavation underneath the river bottom exposed the corruption of the United Mine Workers' officials, mine management, and mafia connections. Unfortunately, all the convictions were overturned on appeal. The disaster marked the end of the anthracite coal mining industry in the northeast. Along with the Knox coal mine, nearby mines were forced to close due to permanent damage, resulting in the loss of 7,500 jobs. It also led to new safety laws that prohibited mining very close to bodies of water. There are two memorials along the Susquehanna River today commemorating the victims of the tragedy. One memorial is located outside of the River Slope entrance and the other is located outside of the Eagle Shaft where the majority of the men escaped. Railway cars dumped into the river to be sucked into the whirlpool, where they were expected to plug the hole. After the mine was pumped dry, a mangle of wagon cars were seen inside the mine. A photo from 2000 shows a hopper car washed upon the bank of the river. References: # Knox Mine Disaster, Underground Miners # Lauren Berger, Death Underground: The Knox Mine Disaster, Pennsylvania Center for the Book According to a new report by The Information, Google is doubling down on Pixel phones and its own hardware. The report says that Google is moving product development and software engineering staff working on features for non-Google hardware to work on Google-branded devices. Google is said to be doubling down on Pixel phones & its hardware All of this is based on an internal document that The Information managed to get ahold of. Removing Google Assistant support on some Wear OS watches, and lessening support for Assistant features are a part of the change within the company. In case youre worried this will affect Googles support for its partners and Android makers, it should not. This simply implies that Google is getting more serious about its hardware. Android is a completely separate story. Advertisement It was reported a while back that the Pixel 6 has been the fastest-selling Pixel series ever. Google seemingly realized that it can succeed on the hardware side of things, and wants to rely more on itself in that regard. Based on the provided information, Google also has a shortlist of Android brands for which it should develop the best Google services. Samsung, OnePlus, and Xiaomi are included on that list, at least. Google is concerned about Apples domination in the US Google also seems to be concerned that Samsung is losing Android customers to Apple. As some of you know, iPhone shipments overtook sales of Android phones in the US for the first time ever this year. So, Google wants to make a push of its own, to win those customers back. Advertisement A broader economic situation also has something to do with all this. Sundar Pichai, Googles CEO, said recently that it wants to make the company 20% more efficient. This led to hiring freezes and scaling back in some areas. That could be the reason (or part of it) why Google Stadia is getting shut down, and why the Area 120 division got cut down by 50%. This report also cites Kirk McMaster, the previous head of Cyanogen. He said that Google cant afford to back off with Pixel phones and its own hardware. He said that if Google pulls away, it would be really ceding power to Apple. France: Macron celebrates 100 years of Grand Mosque in Paris President awards Legion of Honor to dean of historic holy site (ANSAmed) - PARIS, OCTOBER 19 - French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Grand Mosque of Paris. For the occasion, the French president awarded the Legion of Honor to the rector of this historic site of Islam in France, located in the fifth arrondissement of Paris, Chems-Eddine Hafiz. Macron also means to pay homage to the Muslims who died for France during World War One. And it was to commemorate those 70,000 soldiers that the Grand Mosque of Paris was built, with the first stone set on October 19, 2022, although it was inaugurated only four years later, in 1926.(ANSAmed). BEIRUT - A delegation of Hamas arrived on Wednesday morning in Damascus to meet with President Bashar al Assad in the first visit carried out by members of the Palestinian armed movement after relations were halted for more than 10 years following the Syrian government crackdown on anti-regime protests, Syrian and international news outlets report. The delegation, led by Khalil Yahya, head of the office for Arab-Islamic relations, is staying in Damascus until Thursday. A few weeks ago, top officials from Hamas, the de facto Palestinian wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, announced the intention of normalizing relations with the Syrian government, in an evolving regional context. Relations between Hamas and Damascus were halted in 2012 and the then-head of the political office of the Palestinian movement, Khaled Meshaal, left Syria to protest against the government crackdown on protests, in different cities led by sectors close to the Muslim Brotherhood. The Hamas delegation travelled to Damascus from Algiers, where the Palestinian armed movement has signed an agreement of reconciliation with other Palestinian political factions, including Fatah, the party of President Mahmud Abbas. The Queen Consort has warned of the dangers of osteoporosis as she urged older people to check their risk of developing the devastating bone disease. Camilla said the illness caused the deaths of her mother and grandmother during a time it was rarely diagnosed and seldom discussed. She made her appeal as the Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS), which she founded in 2019, launched an online questionnaire to show participants how likely they are to develop the condition. Osteoporosis weakens bones and causes them to break more easily, affecting around 3.5 million people in the UK. As many people die of fracture-related causes every year as diabetes and lung cancer, yet two-thirds of adults surveyed by the ROS admitted never considering their bone health. In a statement Camilla said: Both my grandmother and my mother died as a result of osteoporosis. At the time, the disease was seldom discussed, rarely diagnosed and was usually acknowledged as an unavoidable part of growing older. Now, thankfully, we know far more about the causes, symptoms and available treatments. Pointing to the ROSs questionnaire, she encouraged older people to discover the easy steps that we can all take to improve bone health throughout our lives. The online tool which asks for a persons age, ethnicity and family health among other factors calculates osteoporosis risk and provides tips on keeping bones stronger for longer. Poor bone health means that half of all women over the age of 50, along with one in five men, are expected to suffer a fracture. ROS chief executive Craig Jones said: Osteoporosis will affect every other mother; every other grandmother. And too many of us still think men are unaffected. The truth is we all have bones and, if we arm ourselves with knowledge, we can keep them stronger for longer. It all starts with people understanding their bone health risk and taking action. Dame Judi Dench has called for a disclaimer to be added to each episode of The Crown, saying the hit Netflix drama has begun to verge on crude sensationalism. The screen and stage veteran said despite previous statements by the streaming giant that the show is a fictionalised drama, there is a risk that a significant number of viewers will take its events as historical truth. She added that wounding suggestions apparently contained in the new series will prove damaging to the monarchy and cannot go unchallenged. Dame Judi Dench has called for a disclaimer to be added to each episode of the hit Netflix show (Kirsty OConnor/PA) Dame Judi made the remarks in a letter to The Times, following previous concerns voiced by former prime minister Sir John Major, about the content of The Crowns highly anticipated fifth series, which will launch on November 9. Sir John is said to have described the forthcoming scenes, which reportedly depict the King, then the Prince of Wales, plotting to oust the Queen, as malicious nonsense. It is expected to show Charles cutting short a holiday with Diana, Princess of Wales, to host a secret meeting with Sir John at Highgrove in 1991. Sir John Major is not alone in his concerns that the latest series of The Crown will present an inaccurate and hurtful account of history (News, Oct 17), Dame Judi wrote. Indeed, the closer the drama comes to our present times, the more freely it seems willing to blur the lines between historical accuracy and crude sensationalism. While many will recognise The Crown for the brilliant but fictionalised account of events that it is, I fear that a significant number of viewers, particularly overseas, may take its version of history as being wholly true. Dame Judi said the suggestions expected to be made in the new series are cruelly unjust to the individuals and damaging to the institution they represent. She continued: No-one is a greater believer in artistic freedom than I, but this cannot go unchallenged. Despite this week stating publicly that The Crown has always been a fictionalised drama, the programme-makers have resisted all calls for them to carry a disclaimer at the start of each episode. The time has come for Netflix to reconsider for the sake of a family and a nation so recently bereaved, as a mark of respect to a sovereign who served her people so dutifully for 70 years, and to preserve its reputation in the eyes of its British subscribers. For the forthcoming series of the lavish royal drama, which features recast roles, Dominic West stars as Charles, while Elizabeth Debicki plays Diana and Imelda Staunton the Queen. A spokeswoman for The Crown previously said: The Crown has always been presented as a drama based on historical events. Series five is a fictional dramatisation, imagining what could have happened behind closed doors during a significant decade for the royal family one that has already been scrutinised and well-documented by journalists, biographers and historians. The programmes creator, Peter Morgan, also defended the forthcoming series in an interview with US publication Entertainment Weekly published this week. I think we must all accept that the 1990s was a difficult time for the royal family, and King Charles will almost certainly have some painful memories of that period, he said. But that doesnt mean that, with the benefit of hindsight, history will be unkind to him, or the monarchy. The show certainly isnt. Netflix has also said the sixth and final series of The Crown will not depict the Paris car crash that killed Diana in August 1997, contrary to media reports. The PA news agency understands the series will show the lead-up to the fatal incident as well as its aftermath but not the crash itself. The fourth series of the lavish Netflix drama also attracted criticism for allegedly not doing enough to ensure viewers knew it was a work of fiction. John Bishop has suggested that the plotline of his upcoming pantomime has a better economic policy than Liz Truss. The comedian, who is to star in Mother Goose alongside Sir Ian McKellen and Mel Giedroyc, joked that the Prime Minister had been in touch about a golden egg that would sort out her financial problems. The panto follows the story of Mother Goose, played by Sir Ian, and her husband Vic, who live a wholesome life running an animal sanctuary, before discovering the goose. Bishop is to star in Mother Goose with Mel Giedroyc and Sir Ian McKellen (Yui Mok/PA) Speaking on The One Show, Sir Ian said: Im Mother Goose and this is my home secretary (Bishop). Bishop replied: It is like being a home secretary because its the story of Mother Goose, who finds a goose that lays a golden egg and that sorts all her financial problems out. Which apparently is a better economic policy than Liz Truss has found. Bishop joked that Liz Truss had been in touch about a golden egg (House Of Commons/PA) So shes been in touch and asked for the egg. Dont use all your material on this show, Sir Ian chided him. It comes after further economic turmoil for the Government following the removal of Kwasi Kwarteng as chancellor. Mr Kwarteng was replaced by Jeremy Hunt, who on Monday reversed almost all the tax cuts announced by his predecessor as he sought to calm financial markets after weeks of turbulence. The advertising regulator is to crack down on hot air environmental claims amid consumer confusion around terms such as carbon neutral and net zero. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said the public remained wary of green washing by companies and signalled it would consider increased enforcement action to ensure consumers are not misled by brands attempting to boost their environmental credentials. A study by the ASA found broad consumer engagement on environmental issues which influenced their understanding of related advertising claims. However it found that consumers have a low overall understanding of environmental claims used by advertisers, and can tend to cynicism around brands trying to promote their environmental achievements. Offsetting claims such as carbon neutral and net zero are currently the primary source of confusion and misunderstanding. The ASA indicated that simplifying and standardising these definitions, alongside electric and hybrid vehicle claims, was key to providing clarity and policing of their usage by independent bodies. The watchdog said advertising could play an important role in helping consumers make informed choices, and it was important that the environmental claims they see and hear were truthful, responsible and treated them fairly. There are currently no official definitions for terms such as carbon neutral or net zero and no fixed rules for how businesses should achieve these goals. The ASA said there was concern that some methods of achieving carbon neutrality or net zero were not as robust as they could be. It is to update its guidance on such claims before the end of the year before carrying out a six-month monitoring period. It has also pledged to take proactive action immediately to crack down on unqualified claims that are likely to breach existing rules. The findings come a day after the ASA banned two posters for HSBC advertising the banks green initiatives but omitting information about the banks own contribution to carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions. The ASAs director of complaints and investigations, Miles Lockwood, said: Our research shows that there is consumer confusion about the meanings and the evidence behind carbon neutral, net zero and ad claims for hybrid and electric vehicles. It also suggests there is a need for them to be simplified and standardised. All of which signals that while the UK public buy in to companies doing the right thing on the environment, they remain wary of greenwashing. Well act on these findings: updating guidance; sharing with Government and partners; reviewing the evidence and taking enforcement action where necessary; to ensure environmental claims arent just hot air. People experiencing mental health problems who fall victim to fraud are less likely than those without such conditions to get their money back, according to Which? The consumer group surveyed more than 1,000 fraud victims and found that six in 10 (58%) with a diagnosed mental health problem got all or some of their money back. Nearly seven in 10 (68%) fraud victims with no mental health condition were refunded. People with mental health conditions were around twice as likely to not have enough money for essentials (29%) and go into debt (26%) as a result of fraud compared to victims with no mental health conditions (15% and 12% respectively). One in three (31%) fraud victims with a mental health condition had to borrow money from friends or family, compared to one in five (18%) with no diagnosed mental health condition. Those with a mental health condition were twice as likely to borrow money from a bank (at 11% compared with 5%). One fraud victim told Which?: I feel stupid and ashamed to be scammed. It has affected how I see myself and has led to bouts of depression and anxiety. Another said: It has destroyed my mental health completely as fraud happened to me three times in a year. Im still paying for it mentally and financially. Under recent proposals from the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR), banks will be forced to reimburse anyone who loses more than 100 to bank transfer or payment fraud, apart from in exceptional circumstances. Which? said this should mean the vast majority of victims are fully reimbursed putting an end to the reimbursement lottery they face. At present, many banks are signed up to a voluntary code to reimburse victims of bank transfer scams and some have their own reimbursement guarantees. Rocio Concha, Which? director of policy and advocacy, said: Our survey shows fraud victims experiencing mental health problems are being failed, with devastating effects on their wellbeing and finances. New rules to make reimbursement of bank transfer fraud mandatory cant come soon enough. They must be backed with tough enforcement measures for any banks that flout them and fail to treat their customers fairly. Truss vows to fight on as Tory MPs go public with concerns about her leadership More Tory MPs have heaped pressure on Liz Truss to exit No 10 as the Prime Minister insisted she was a fighter, not a quitter. She made a public apology in the Commons as she faced Prime Ministers Questions for the first time since her economic plan was ditched by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. The Prime Minister pulled out of a planned visit where she would have faced media questions on Wednesday afternoon as more Tories went public with concerns about her leadership. But she told MPs: I am a fighter, not a quitter as she battled to save her job echoing the 2001 declaration made by Labour grandee Peter Mandelson. On Monday, Mr Hunt reversed almost all the tax cuts announced by predecessor Kwasi Kwarteng as he sought to calm financial markets following weeks of turbulence. Liz Truss speaks during Prime Ministers Questions (House of Commons/PA Wire) The Prime Minister told MPs: I have been very clear that I am sorry and that I have made mistakes. But she added: The right thing to do in those circumstances is to make changes, which I have made, and to get on with the job and deliver for the British people. The Prime Minister is battling to retain her position and has risked a fresh fight with Tory MPs by making a vote on a Labour motion on fracking a test of confidence in her administration. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer mocked Ms Truss, saying: Whats the point of a Prime Minister whose promises dont even last a week? He added of a book which is being written about her: Apparently its going to be out by Christmas. Is that the release date or the title? What is the point of a Prime Minister whose promises dont even last a week?#PMQs Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) October 19, 2022 In other developments, Ms Truss: Committed to the triple-lock on pensions, meaning the state pension will increase in line with the 10.1% inflation figure from April, after being threatened with a backbench revolt. Declined to give the same guarantee to link increases in benefits to inflation. Insisted she backed social care reform following a Times report that plans for a cap on costs was being delayed for a year. Her own MPs posed some of the most challenging questions on issues including fracking, social care, international aid spending and the benefits increase, in a sign that there was little appetite to rally round the beleaguered leader. But former Cabinet minister Sajid Javid the subject of a hostile briefing from a No 10 source who described him as shit did not ask a question, despite being listed to do so. One of the Prime Ministers senior aides, Jason Stein, has reportedly been suspended pending an investigation by the Cabinet Office propriety and ethics team into the briefing against Mr Javid. Asked about the report, the Prime Ministers press secretary said: I am not going to get into individual staffing matters but the Prime Minister has made very clear to her team that some of the sort of briefings that we have seen are completely unacceptable about parliamentary colleagues and they must stop. Ms Truss is attempting to build bridges with Tory MPs, including through fairly regular events for backbenchers, No 10 said. But there is speculation that the chairman of the Tory backbench 1922 Committee Sir Graham Brady had already received more than 54 letters calling for a confidence vote in the PM the threshold for triggering one if Ms Truss was not in the 12 months grace period for new leaders. I wouldnt get into private conversations, the Prime Ministers press secretary said. Thats the first Ive heard. Tory MP William Wragg told the Commons he has submitted a letter to Sir Graham. Mr Wragg, vice chairman of the 1922 Committee, told MPs: What occurred with that financial statement, I am personally ashamed because I cannot go and face my constituents, look them in the eye and say that they should support our great party, and the polls would seem to bear that out. Sir Graham Brady could hold the fate of another prime minister in his hands (Victoria Jones/PA) Conservative MP Steve Double warned Ms Truss will likely have to stand down quite soon, telling Times Radio that she is absolutely in the last chance saloon. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warned restless Tory colleagues against defenestrating another Prime Minister as he suggested a leadership contest would neither win the hearts of the British public nor calm the markets. During a round of broadcast interviews he said he understands why people are frustrated with the Tory leader, adding that dire polls for the party are obviously disconcerting for the Government. One of the factors keeping Ms Truss in office, despite being forced to abandon the economic platform that got her elected as party leader, is the lack of an obvious successor. Mr Cleverly suggested those who ousted Boris Johnson did not have a plan for what to do next, with many now turning on the new Prime Minister. He told Sky News: What Im not convinced by far, far from convinced by is that going through another leadership campaign, defenestrating another Prime Minister, will either convince the British people that were thinking about them rather than ourselves, or convince the markets to stay calm and ensure things like those bond yields and gilt yields start coming back down. Being angry again, I totally get it. But thats an emotional response, its not a plan. An attacker charged with murdering an 86-year-old woman has told jurors he accidentally stepped on her chest or ribs after slipping on a drink which spilled on to the floor. Vasile Culea said he had intended to untie Freda Walker and her husband Kenneth, who had their wrists and ankles bound, but left their home after becoming scared when a car pulled up outside. Romanian national Culea is accused of intending death or at least serious harm when he attacked, gagged and hog-tied Mr and Mrs Walker while searching for 30,000 in cash. Flowers left outside the victims home (Josh Payne/PA) The 34-year-old denies charges of murder, attempted murder and wounding with intent but admits causing some harm to the pensioners, who suffered frankly horrific injuries at their home in Langwith Junction, Derbyshire. Jurors have heard claims that retired seamstress Mrs Walker had a reasonable prospect of survival had she received help after being tied up along with town councillor Mr Walker, aged 88, at their home in Station Road on January 14 this year. Giving evidence at Derby Crown Court on Wednesday, Culea said he had hidden inside the house after overhearing a conversation in a Polish shop in which two strangers mentioned a wealthy house in Langwith Junction. Admitting he had tied up the couple, but denying he gagged and hooded them, Culea said he was hiding in the utility room when he was spotted. He told the jury: She was in the middle of the utility room and he was stood by the door. She saw me and she started to scream. I pushed her, she kind of slipped. He said Mrs Walker stood up, adding: Ken was in front of me. He raised his walking stick but I dont remember if it made contact with me. Because the next thing that happened I had been pulled back by (Mrs Walker) and I pushed him. He hit the kitchen door. After this everything moved in (to) the kitchen. I started to hit them, they hit back she fell over. Dressed in a grey top, jogging bottoms and trainers, Culea was assisted by a Romanian interpreter standing beside the witness box. Claiming to have unintentionally stepped on Mrs Walker, Culea told the court: I slipped it was some drink or something it fell on the floor. Defence KC Clive Stockwell asked Culea: Is that what you slipped on? Culea, who came to the UK in 2015, responded: Yes. Asked what had occurred as a result of him slipping, Culea went on: I stepped on her. With one foot. Invited to clarify whereabouts he had stepped on Mrs Walker, the defendant pointed to his chest and rib area and said he had not meant to step on the pensioner. After the incident involving Mrs Walker, Culea claimed he pushed her husband in the back, causing him to fall into a set of sliding doors between the kitchen and the dining room. According to his account, he tied both victims up, intending to release them after being able to search the house peacefully. He then found 300 in a handbag but heard a car parking in front of the house and left through the back door, after noticing that Mr Walker was moving and Mrs Walker was breathing. I was terrified, I was scared, he told the court. A sketch of Vasile Culea at Derby Crown Court during a previous hearing (Elizabeth Cook/PA) During cross-examination by Michael Auty KC, Culea denied his account of not gagging the couple was a nonsense and insisted he did not know how some of the couples injuries were caused. He also denied that his fingerprints were found on a roll of bin liners because he had bagged Fredas head with them to prevent her identifying him. The court has heard Mr Walker died some months later although his death was not connected to the attack. Mrs Walker, who died from a brain injury, was found dead in the kitchen by emergency services the following day after neighbours raised concerns. On the first day of his trial last week, Culea admitted the manslaughter of Mrs Walker and inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Walker. The Crown alleges Culea, of Grove Road, Church Warsop, Nottinghamshire, intended to kill the couple in an attack that was far beyond any justification, savage in its nature and sustained. The trial continues. Railway workers at 14 train operating companies are to stage fresh strikes next month in the long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) will walk out on November 3 and 5. The action will coincide with strikes on the same days by RMT members on Network Rail, London Underground and London Overground. The strikes will cause widespread disruption to services across the country after a summer of strikes in the deadlocked row. The union said that despite repeated negotiations, the Rail Delivery Group has failed to make an offer. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: Throughout this whole dispute, the Rail Delivery Group has been completely unreasonable by not offering our members any deal on pay, conditions and job security. Some of our members on the train operating companies are some of the lowest paid on the railways. This stands in stark contrast to rail operating company bosses making millions of pounds in profit. We remain open to meaningful talks, but we are steadfast in our industrial campaign to see a negotiated settlement for all our members in this dispute. The 14 train operating companies involved in the fresh strikes are: Chiltern Railways, Cross Country Trains, Greater Anglia, LNER, East Midlands Railway, c2c, Great Western Railway, Northern Trains, South Eastern, South Western Railway, Transpennine Express, Avanti West Coast, West Midlands Trains and GTR (including Gatwick Express). A Rail Delivery Group spokesperson said: We are frustrated that the RMT leadership has decided to take further strike action. Given their recent call for intense negotiations we had hoped they would give our staff and customers a much-needed break from the disruption and lost pay of the last five months. Instead of inflicting more unnecessary long-term damage to the industry we all want to see thrive, we ask the RMT to recognise the very real financial challenge the railway faces, and work with us towards a fair deal that both offers a pay rise and includes the long overdue changes we need to make to improve services for our customers. Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan has said it is not acceptable to stop children getting to school or commuters getting to work during rail strikes. She told MPs that the Government will introduce legislation on minimum service levels during industrial action so passengers can continue to get about. Ms Trevelyan made the comments hours after the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) announced that its members at Network Rail will stage fresh strikes in a bitter row over pay, jobs and conditions. The walkouts on November 3, 5 and 7 are expected to cause a week of disruption to services. Ms Trevelyan told the Transport Select Committee: I will be disappointed if we continue to see that sort of industrial action. Bringing in the MSL (minimum service levels) legislation will be a tool available if there is total inability to move forwards between the various parties, to ensure, as it says on the tin, minimum service levels, so that the passenger, the customer, can continue to get about. It is not acceptable to stop children getting to education, people getting to work. All of those areas, draining the economy of its potential because of the need for rail to move people around, is not acceptable. So we need to find a compromise and balanced solution which everyone can live with so that we can get on with exactly the point on growing that revenue again. The aim of MSL laws is to ensure that transport services, including rail, London Underground and buses, cannot be completely shut down when workers go on strike. The Government said it expects that legislation will come into force in 2023. Unions have criticised the policy, with many believing it will be unworkable. Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murdering a rapper in broad daylight at the Notting Hill Carnival. The men, aged 23 and 18, were arrested at houses in Bristol on Wednesday morning while a 20-year-old woman was arrested in London on suspicion of assisting an offender, Scotland Yard said. Takayo Nembhard, 21, also known by his rap name TKorStretch, was at the west London street party with his sister and friends when he was stabbed at about 8pm on August 29. Takayo Nembhard was stabbed(Metropolitan Police/PA) Detective Chief Inspector Jim Shirley, of the Metropolitan Polices Specialist Crime Command, said: Takayo was stabbed to death in broad daylight in front of a huge crowd of people. The men who are under arrest are in custody at a police station in Bristol. The 20-year-old woman was arrested on Wednesday morning at a house in Islington, north London, police said. She is in custody at a north London police station. Mr Nembhard, a performer from Bristol, was killed while there were crowds of several hundred people in the immediate area. He was attacked in Ladbroke Grove, under the Westway flyover. He was taken to hospital where he died. The cause of death was a stab wound to the right groin femoral artery. Mr Shirley said: Ever since the tragic murder of Takayo, my team and I have been busy behind the scenes gathering intelligence and evidence to bring his killers to justice, and we will continue to work around the clock until they are behind bars. While it is positive that we have made three arrests today, the hard work does not stop here. We are continuing to appeal for witnesses to come forward. Forensics officers combing the scene in Ladbroke Grove, west London (Kirsty OConnor/PA) Takayo was stabbed to death in broad daylight in front of a huge crowd of people. I am confident that there are people out there who have not yet spoken to us, for whatever reason that may be. If you saw something and have not yet spoken to us, please do so as a matter of urgency. Dont do it for me, do it for Takayos family who are still trying to come to terms with their terrible loss. Police are appealing for anyone with information, or relevant video footage or photographs, to come forward. The police can be contacted on 020 7175 2206 or 101, or tweet @MetCC, quoting the reference 7478/29AUG. To remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online. Jacob Rees-Mogg has insisted communities will have a veto on fracking in their area, as he sought to limit a Tory rebellion over shale gas extraction. The Business Secretary said national government would be unable to overrule the objections from communities, with one option under consideration involving local referendums for areas where fracking is proposed. Mr Rees-Mogg, in a message directed at Conservative MPs, told the Commons: Theres an absolute local consent lock. Any process to determine local consent must be run independently and this House will vote on any scheme that we bring forward. The Cuadrilla fracking site at Preston New Road in Blackpool Lancashire (Peter Byrne/PA) His attempts to calm the nerves of Tory MPs came after they were told a Labour vote in the Commons seeking to ban fracking is being treated as a confidence motion in Liz Trusss embattled Government. Conservative deputy chief whip Craig Whittaker warned his MPs that Wednesday afternoons vote is a 100% hard three-line whip. The dozens of Conservatives who oppose fracking face being kicked out of the parliamentary party if they do not back the Governments controversial end to the moratorium in England. Though unlikely, if the Prime Minister loses the vote it is being seen as a confidence motion, and she would be expected to resign or request that the King dissolves Parliament, triggering a general election. If passed, the opposition day debate motion would guarantee Commons time for a Bill banning fracking once and for all. Chris Skidmore, the Prime Ministers net-zero tsar, said he will not vote with the Government. As the former Energy Minister who signed Net Zero into law, for the sake of our environment and climate, I cannot personally vote tonight to support fracking and undermine the pledges I made at the 2019 General Election. I am prepared to face the consequences of my decision. Chris Skidmore (@CSkidmoreUK) October 19, 2022 The Conservative MP for Kingswood tweeted: As the former energy minister who signed Net Zero into law, for the sake of our environment and climate, I cannot personally vote tonight to support fracking and undermine the pledges I made at the 2019 general election. I am prepared to face the consequences of my decision. Treasury minister Andrew Griffith, MP for Arundel and South Downs, wrote on Twitter: Personally, I do not and have never supported fracking in #WestSussex as our dangerous local roads would never support the additional vehicle movements even if residents consented. Earlier, Ms Truss told Prime Ministers Questions there would be a robust process to ensure that local communities consented before fracking went ahead. Mr Rees-Mogg later went further to outline how the Government hopes to ease concerns. He said: I recognise that many members and their constituents have concerns about shale gas, and that is why we will consult on the system of local consent and provide clear advice on seismicity and safety before any hydraulic fracturing for shale gas takes place. Pressed to define local consent, Mr Rees-Mogg replied: Let me be absolutely clear, local communities will have a veto. If it does not get local consent, and that will be consulted on as to what local consents form must be and it may be by local referendum. That is what the consultation will be about. If local consent is withheld, that is a veto and it wont be overruled by national government. He confirmed today is not the end of MPs ability to halt shale gas extraction. Labour sources said the Tories had walked into a trap and is preparing online adverts to target every MP who backs giving shale gas extraction the go-ahead. Conservative former minister Tim Loughton said he opposes fracking but cannot support Labours party political motion. He told shadow climate change secretary Ed Miliband: Is he more interested in genuinely opposing fracking or is he actually more interested in playing party political games and trying to score points on this really important issue of great importance to our constituents? (PA Graphics) Mr Miliband joked the Government was pursuing a frack me or sack me strategy, adding: Its time to consign fracking to the dustbin of history. The Prime Ministers lifting of a fracking ban imposed in 2019 over earthquake concerns breaks a Tory manifesto pledge not to end the moratorium without science categorically showing it is safe. Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, Ms Truss has argued that the move is needed to end energy dependence on Vladimir Putins Russia. But Tory MPs in areas where fracking could occur have reacted angrily, and fear the go-ahead could make their re-election even harder amid dire polling for the party. The moratorium was imposed on fracking, which uses high-pressure liquid to release gas from shale formations, after a series of earthquakes at the UKs only shale wells at Preston New Road, Lancashire, in 2019. There are potential shale reserves across northern England, but fracking firms could also seek to drill in southern areas where gas might be found. Happily out of the picture. Sister Wives personality Christine Brown is speaking out after her former husband, Kody Brown, called for the rest of his wives to conform to patriarchy again after she left the family unit. Read article I was super grateful that I decided to leave, Christine, 50, exclusively told Us Weekly on Tuesday, October 18. Its so shocking and surprising because hes not like that. I mean, back in Vegas, he was like, If you ever wanna leave, well figure out a way for you to leave peacefully and so we can still, like, get together with the kids and things like that. She continued: I think that hes just angry and hes processing all of this a lot different than I am because Ive been processing leaving constantly, you know, for a year. I knew, for sure, for two years I knew that Id be leaving. Courtesy Christine Brown/Instagram; AP/Shutterstock The Utah native, who spiritually married Kody, 53, in March 1994, announced that she and the Brown family patriarch were going their separate ways in November 2021. The duo share six children: daughters Aspyn, 27, Mykelti, 26, Gwendolyn, 21, Isabel, 19, Truely, 12, and son Paedon, 24. Read article During a Sunday, October 16, episode of Sister Wives, fans of the TLC series got to see how Christine told Meri Brown, Janelle Brown and Robyn Brown that she was leaving the family. After the revelation, Kody told his three remaining partners: Im disappointed in how Ive managed this. I felt like all of your independence was more important [and] in that [thought process] we sort of lost some sort of community. I guess Im just sorry we failed. Christine told Us that the recent episode was difficult for her to watch. The conversation where I told everybody that, first of all, I was leaving Kody. When Janelle broke down, that stands out as one of the things that was hardest to see, the reality TV personality said. Just because Janelle really kind of knew and for her to break down like that and just talk about the loss . what is she supposed to do with her kids now, you know, that was difficult. Read article She added: It was heartbreaking to live it. It was really difficult to be there in the moment, but to see it all replay over and over is really difficult. And then to see everybody elses points of view has been really, really challenging. Christine, who moved from Arizona back to Utah in October 2021, says her kids were supportive of her decision to leave Kody. I have 100 percent approval of my kids. They all see that Im much happier now and Im accessible to them and I live five minutes from Aspyn and half an hour from Mykelti and I see them all the time. So, they all love it, she said. Sister Wives airs on TLC Sundays at 10 p.m. ET. With reporting by Christina Garibaldi. Spirit Airlines shareholders voted Wednesday to accept a $3.8 billion buyout from JetBlue Airways, but the deal could still face a challenge from federal antitrust regulators. JetBlue emerged as the winner in a bidding war with Frontier to acquire Spirit, the nation's biggest budget airline. Spirit announced the outcome after a brief meeting, which was held online. Spirit said only that the JetBlue deal was supported by a majority of shares voted; it promised an exact count within four business days. Wall Street widely expected shareholders to approve the sale after they forced Spirit to drop a proposed merger with Frontier Airlines in favor of JetBlues richer, all-cash offer. This is an important step forward on our path to closing a combination that will create the most compelling national low-fare challenger to the dominant U.S. carriers," Spirit CEO Ted Christie said after the vote. JetBlue issued a statement calling the vote a major milestone in our plan to join with Spirit to create a high-quality, low-fare national challenger to the Big Four airlines" a reference to American, United, Delta and Southwest. JetBlue vowed to work through the regulatory process. JetBlue is expected to repaint Spirit planes and fold its pilots and other employees into the JetBlue workforce. The deal would make New York-based JetBlue the nations fifth-biggest airline with more than 450 planes and about 7,000 pilots and it hopes help it win customers from the bigger airlines. However it would also eliminate Spirit, the nations biggest budget carrier, and that might not sit well with regulators, who appear to oppose any further consolidation in the airline industry after a round of mergers between 2005 and 2016. The Justice Department is currently fighting to kill a partnership in New York and Boston between JetBlue and American, which the airlines call the Northeast alliance or NEA. Department lawyers say the alliance is anti-competitive and will drive up prices for consumers. A trial that began last month in federal court in Boston resumes Monday. The outcome of the NEA trial could have a huge impact on whether the Justice Department lets JetBlue buy Spirit or sues to block the sale, according to Florian Ederer, an antitrust expert and economics professor at Yale University. If (JetBlue and American) win the case, and the judge thinks the NEA does not harm consumers enough, its almost guaranteed that there will be an antitrust challenge to the Spirit acquisition, Ederer said. JetBlue argues the alliance with American should be allowed because its not a merger. The acquisition of Spirit, however, would merge two airlines. JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes has said he is confident of winning regulatory approval to buy Spirit. The airlines hope to close the sale in the first half of 2024. Spirit and Frontier announced their planned merger in February. Both are so-called ultra-low-cost carriers that charge lower fares than other airlines but tack on more fees to make up some of the difference. JetBlue, which tried to buy Virgin America in 2016 but lost a bidding war with Alaska Airlines, topped Frontiers stock-and-cash offer in April. JetBlue overcame the opposition of Spirits board and management to drive out Frontier. The JetBlue offer calls for Spirit shareholders to get $33.50 per share in cash, including an advance of $2.50 per share upon approval of the deal by Spirit shareholders, plus a ticking fee of 10 cents per share per month while regulators review the matter. If regulators kill the sale, JetBlue would pay $70 million to Spirit, which is based in Miramar, Florida, and $400 million to Spirit shareholders. Even after losing the bidding war, Frontier is likely to benefit from the Spirit sale. If Spirit disappears, Denver-based Frontier will become the nation's biggest budget airline, catering to the most price-sensitive travelers. A writer who has hosted four Ukrainian women has called on the Government to provide more clarity to hosts on the future of the Homes for Ukraine scheme and dramatically increase their monthly payment, amid concerns that more Ukrainians may end up homeless. The future of the Homes for Ukraine scheme appears uncertain, with groups including the Refugee Council expressing concerns about the scheme potentially being phased out, while the Local Government Association (LGA) said it is deeply concerned about the growing number of Ukrainians presenting as homeless to councils. Jane Finlay, who shares her time between south-west London and Cornwall, went to the Ukrainian border to collect the four Ukrainians she and her retired partner, 63, were to host in March as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme. They arrived in the UK with them on April 1 after the two sisters in law and their two daughters fled Kyiv, Ukraine. Jane Finlay meeting the Ukrainian family at the Ukrainian border in March (Jane Finlay/PA) Hosts currently receive a 350 a month thank you payment, with Lord Richard Harrington lobbying for this to be doubled before standing down as refugees minister in September. However, Ms Finlay said the way that payments were given to host families was badly handled. This amount was never per person. We have four people, so we have 350 from the council, the 56-year-old told the PA news agency. Somebody might have one person they have 350. Cornwall council are definitely trying to redress this but it shouldnt be a local council initiative. At a time when the cost of living continues to rise, Ms Finlay said that while she is in an incredibly fortunate position where the payment has not been a deciding factor for her, the most pressing thing that needs to be done so that others can afford to continue hosting Ukrainians is for the payment to be increased. By increasing the payment dramatically, (Ukrainians) will be able to stay where they are, she said. But dont just increase the payment, tell us how long thats going to be increased for commit to the duration of the war, commit to three years for their right to stay, make a commitment that people can work within. Ms Finlay added that the Government has done little to help Ukrainians, it is the people of the UK who have done something. She said: The Government has taken credit when its gone well and they will not take the blame when people can no longer afford to continue helping. People signed up for six months they thought, well give them refuge for six months because thats what we can do, and people who can no longer afford to do that should not be vilified, but at the same time Ukrainians should not be pushed from pillar to post. Ms Finlay added that she knew of a Ukrainian family who had to leave their hosts home because the relationship broke down and the family said that was more traumatic than actually leaving Ukraine when they were being bombed. She has called for more clarity on what will happen with the scheme. Ms Finlay said: There is no real sense of communication. I have had no communication from the Government about the scheme ending. If the scheme is abandoned, what will happen to (Ukrainians) rights to stay? Jane Finlay said people should not be vilified if they can no longer afford to look after the Ukrainians they have chosen to host (Jane Finlay/PA) Their right to stay was supposed to be three years but was it three years from the scheme starting or three years from them entering the UK because theres no clarity on that. Its just a phenomenally badly organised situation there was no matching of people properly and to abandon the people now, its just unbelievable. She added that plans need to be put in place now to look at housing stock and help Ukrainians who want independence to be able to afford to rent. A database of landlords prepared to rent to refugees with no deposit would be a start or perhaps the Government would pay the deposit or stand as guarantor for their rent, Ms Finlay said. In my experience Ukrainians want independence, they want these things. The wonderful women we took in have become an important part of my familys life and we have a connection forever, but they also want to stand on their own two feet. The Ukrainian women have also organised a crowdfunder to help support Ukrainian businesses through making distinctly Ukrainian products, which can be accessed at https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/a-gift-from-ukraine A Government spokeswoman said: The Homes for Ukraine scheme will continue as the UK Government and British people continue to go above and beyond to support those fleeing war. All arrivals have access to benefits and employment from day one. The majority of sponsors want to continue hosting for longer than six months. Where guests do move on they have a number of options, including renting or finding a new sponsor. Kanye West will face a 250 million dollar (221 million) lawsuit brought by the family of George Floyd, following recent remarks the rapper made about his death. Lawyers representing the family issued a cease and desist letter to West and said his comments were a repugnant attempt to discount George Floyds life and to profit from his inhumane death. It comes after the rapper made an appearance on the US podcast Drink Champs, where he claimed Mr Floyd was killed by a fentanyl overdose, in contrast to a medical examiners evidence. Mr Floyd, a black man, died in 2020 after police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nine minutes in Minneapolis, Minnesota footage of which was shared around the world online. His cause of death was ruled as a homicide and it sparked global protests. Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter and given a 22-and-a-half jail sentence in 2021. A statement shared with the PA news agency read: During the podcast interview, Kanye West stated malicious falsehoods about George Floyd to profit from Mr Floyds horrendous death and his familys trauma. Lawyer Pat D Dixon III added: Kanyes comments are a repugnant attempt to discount George Floyds life and to profit from his inhumane death. We will hold Mr West accountable for his flagrant remarks against Mr Floyds legacy. The mother of Mr Floyds daughter, Roxie Washington, plans to file the multimillion-dollar lawsuit on the grounds of harassment, misappropriation, defamation, and infliction of emotional distress, the statement said. The interests of the child are priority, said attorney Nuru Witherspoon, partner at The Witherspoon Law Group, in the statement. George Floyds daughter is being retraumatised by Kanye Wests comments and hes creating an unsafe and unhealthy environment for her. It comes after West sparked further controversy after appearing at an event at the Paris Fashion Week wearing a T-shirt that read White Lives Matter. Wests representatives have been approached for comment. A 6-year-old child has died and a woman and two other children were injured after a pickup truck hit their horse and buggy from behind. The crash happened near 8104 Old Bowling Green Road in Barren County Monday morning, Kentucky State Police said in a news release. State police said Trevor N. Walker, 23, of Glasgow, was driving east in a 2015 GMC Sierra when he hit the back of the horse-drawn vehicle. The driver of the buggy, Ella Gingarich, 27, of Smiths Grove, and three children, ages 6, 3 and 1, were thrown out of the buggy, state police said. Gingarich and the children were taken by helicopter to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where the 6-year-old died Tuesday. State police said Tuesday that one of the children was in critical but stable condition, while the other had been released from the hospital. Gingarich was in stable condition, according to state police. State police said they were called to investigate just after 8 a.m. Monday by the Barren County sheriffs office. Ventura County firefighters battle a fire on the Conception dive boat off the Channel Islands on Sept. 2, 2019. A new federal indictment alleges that the boat's captain's actions constituted "misconduct, gross negligence, and inattention to his duties." (Ventura County Fire Department) More than three years after 34 people were killed in California's worst maritime disaster in modern history, the captain of the Conception dive boat faces a new federal indictment as a legal battle over his culpability rages on. Jerry Nehl Boylan, 68, of Santa Barbara was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury on a charge of misconduct or neglect of a ship officer, according to the U.S. attorney's office for the Central District of California. He is accused of "a series of failures and the abandoning of his ship, which constituted 'misconduct, gross negligence, and inattention to his duties,'" prosecutors said. The new court filing reinstates the charge against Boylan a month after a federal judge dismissed a previous indictment because prosecutors used "negligence" instead of "gross negligence" in their presentation to the grand jury. Boylan was the captain of the Conception, which caught fire and sank near Santa Cruz Island on Sept. 2, 2019, killing 33 passengers and one crew member who were trapped below deck. The captain, who prosecutors said was responsible for the safety of the boat and those aboard it, failed to have a night watch or roving patrol, conduct sufficient fire drills and crew training and provide firefighting instructions or directions to crew members after the blaze started, according to the indictment. Prosecutors said he didn't use firefighting equipment, including an ax and fire extinguisher that were next to him in the wheelhouse, or try to rescue passengers. Boylan failed "to perform any lifesaving or firefighting activities whatsoever at at the time of the fire, even though he was uninjured," and didn't use the boat's address system to warn passengers and crew members about the fire, court documents stated. The captain was the first crew member to abandon ship, while the passengers and a crew member were alive and trapped below deck in the boat's bunkroom, according to the indictment. After abandoning ship, he ordered crew members to follow him "instead of instructing them to fight the fire or engage in other lifesaving activities," court documents said. Last month, U.S. District Judge George Wu's decision to dismiss the previous indictment without prejudice meant federal prosecutors could refile the case but needed to show gross negligence, a much higher standard, to convict Boylan. Negligence amounts to careless mistakes or breaches of duty. In contrast, gross negligence requires a deliberate and reckless disregard for the safety or lives of others, and it must be wanton and willful. Though the latter standard is used for common-law manslaughter cases, legal experts said seaman's manslaughter as the "misconduct of a ship officer" statute is often known requires prosecutors to show only simple negligence, or an omission in violation of a standard of care. During the September hearing, Assistant U.S. Atty. Mark Williams, the lead prosecutor, told the judge that "it would be unprecedented in the 200-year history of the statute if anything other than ordinary negligence standard was applied." Seamans manslaughter was enshrined after steamboat disasters killed hundreds of people in fires and boiler explosions. In 1838, Congress approved legislation that captains and crew could be criminally liable if anyone on the vessel died due to their misconduct, negligence or inattention to duties. The penalty is up to 10 years in prison. Wu sided with Boylan's team of federal public defenders, who could not be reached for comment on the new indictment. The dismissal had outraged the families of the disaster's victims, who expressed relief after the new indictment was handed down Tuesday. "We are truly grateful to the grand jury for indicting Boylan again," the families said in a joint statement. "He completely disregarded his captains 'duty of care' with his negligence and inaction." Boylan will be directed to appear in court for arraignment in the coming weeks. Times staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Once reliably red, Arizona has now become one of the top battleground states this year and the forefront of 2020 election denialism, with contentious races up and down the Grand Canyon states ballot. In the governors race its a toss up between Republican Kari Lake and Democrat Katie Hobbs. Lake is a former TV news anchor who has embraced the label of "Trump in a dress." And shes also become a prominent election denier, pushing false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from former President Trump. She has refused to say whether she will accept the results of the governor's race if she loses. "Im going to win the election and I will accept that result," said Lake. "If you lose will you accept that?" asked CNN anchor Dana Bash. "Im going to win the election and I will accept that result," she repeated. Hobbs, Arizonas former secretary of state, has branded Lake a threat to democracy. "This is disqualifying. This is a basic core of our democracy, and she has nothing else to run on," said Hobbs. But Hobbs has also come under fire, even from within her own party, for refusing to appear on the debate stage. The refrain has now become "where is Katie?" Another election denier, Blake Masters, is hoping to oust incumbent Democratic senator Mark Kelly in Arizona. SEE MORE: Ryan, Vance At Odds On Abortion, Jan. 6 At Ohio Senate Debate "I suspect President Trump would be in the White House today if big tech, big media and the FBI didnt work together to put the thumb on the scale to get Joe Biden in there," said Masters. Masters has echoed Trumps calls to build a wall on the southern border. "This is an invasion. We know what we need to do. We need to finish Trumps wall," said Masters. He accused Democrats of being extreme on abortion and absent on the economy. "These people dont care about whats actually happening to you," said Masters. Kelly has focused his campaigning on bipartisanship and finding compromise on issues like immigration. "I've been strong on border security, and I've stood up to Democrats when they're wrong on this issue," said Kelly. Pollsters said these neck-and-neck races could be tipped by Arizonas Hispanic population, which nationwide is trending more toward the right. But Chris DeRose, a former clerk of the Superior Court in Maricopa County, said Arizona voters arent so predictable. "In Arizona, we vote for candidates and we dont necessarily vote for parties. Republican candidates have a built-in advantage in Arizona. But Republicans are ticket-splitters. They vote for candidates they dont vote for parties. So its very easy to see someone like Mark Kelly prevailing along with someone like Kari Lake with a lot of the same voters," said DeRose. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who ran for president in 2020 as a Democrat and endorsed Joe Biden after her exit from the race, on Tuesday campaigned in Arizona for the state's Republican gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake, a fervent election denier Trump loyalist. The move follows her dramatic public departure from the Democratic party, denouncing it a week ago on social media as an "elitist cabal of warmongers driven by cowardly wokeness." In Chandler, Arizona, Gabbard warned against those that "deny the existence of truth" before remarking with glowing support her endorsement of Lake, one of the most outspoken election deniers. PHOTO: Tulsi Gabbard and Kari Lake appear onstage together at a campaign event for Kari Lake in Arizona, on Oct. 18, 2022. (ABC News) "I feel like a rockstar up here, Tulsi," Lake said in front of at least 250 people. "You are a rockstar, Kari," Gabbard responded. At the campaign event, less than three weeks ahead of the midterm elections, Gabbard acknowledged that some have told her it was "odd" that she would be campaigning for Lake in Arizona as a former Democrat but she dismissed those concerns. MORE: Tulsi Gabbard announces she is leaving Democratic Party, calling it an 'elitist cabal of warmongers' "It's only odd if you're focused on the wrong things," Gabbard said of her endorsement. "If you're paying attention, you recognize that what we share in common, Kari and I and every one of you, is that pride, and it is the courage...It is clear eyes to recognize the threats to our safety, to our borders, to our communities, to our families and our kids that are coming from today's so called woke radical Democrat Party." Gabbard's Arizona visit follows her Monday travel to New Hampshire, where she stumped for Republican Senate candidate Don Bolduc and garnered heat for comparing President Biden to Adolf Hitler. "Even Hitler thought he was doing what was best for Germany, right? For the German race. In his own mind, he found a way to justify the means to meet his end. So, when we have people with that mindset, well, you know we've got to do whatever it takes because, as President Biden said in that speech in Philadelphia, that those who supported Trump, those who didn't vote for him are extremists and a threat to our democracy," Gabbard said in an audio recording obtained by the Daily Beast. PHOTO: Tulsi Gabbard and Kari Lake appear onstage together at a campaign event for Kari Lake in Arizona, on Oct. 18, 2022. (ABC News) Lake, who once donated to former President Barack Obama's campaign, said on Tuesday that it was "no secret" that she was once a Democrat, too. "I registered as a Democrat for four years. I was disappointed at the time at the establishment Republican Party," Lake said. "I know it's hard sometimes to kind of go, 'gosh, darn it, we got it wrong. I voted for the wrong guy.' But we don't judge." Gabbard has not announced her next step in American politics, or if she'd consider jumping to the Republican Party. She's long spoken out against the nationwide two-party system, however, leaving some to speculate that she may find a political home as an independent or in a third party. MORE: Midterm surrogate season brings celebrities and 2024 buzz: The Note But her recent campaign stops for Republicans and invocation of traditionally conservative talking points like "wokeness" and her focus on the border marks a sharp retreat from her support for Biden in 2020, when she suspended her unconventional presidential campaign. "It's clear that Democratic primary voters have chosen, Vice President Joe Biden, to be the person who will take on President Trump in the general election," she said as she dropped out of the race, adding that, "I'm confident that he will lead our country, guided by the spirit of aloha respect and compassion, and thus help heal the divisiveness that has been tearing our country apart." Despite her status over the past 20 years as a Democrat, Gabbard over the past few years has become somewhat of a Republican darling, appearing often on Fox News and in August, she guest-hosted "Tucker Carlson Tonight," following the FBI's raid of Mar-a-Lago. On Tuesday, Gabbard warned against those who deny truth only to reinforce their own beliefs, referring to the topic of children who identify as transgender, not the widely debunked claims of election fraud that have been a centerpiece of Lake's campaign. "We have to go back to the basics because the basics are under attack. When we have people in power who deny the existence of objective truth, that leads to a very dangerous place because that means that whatever they say is what they will enforce through their laws," Gabbard said. Tulsi Gabbard campaigns for election denier Kari Lake in Arizona originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Floridas states attorney general is supposed to be our top cop and chief legal officer, protecting us from scammers, flim-flam companies and any organized rackets meant to deceive Floridians and separate us from our money. They defend the state in civil litigation and sue companies and organizations that defraud Floridians. Ayala The role of Floridas attorney general has been largely independent of politics and nonpartisan. That is, until Republican Ashley Moody was elected in 2018, along with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Forget impartiality. Moody is DeSantis legal representative, not Floridians. Which is why the Editorial Board recommends the Democratic challenger in this race, Aramis Ayala. This position is too important for partisanship. Ayala, who won a three-way August primary, says she understands that. I am running because its important that the 22 million people of Florida are represented. . . . I want to be the peoples attorney, Ayala told the Editorial Board. From the beginning of this election cycle, political experts warned that the GOP was paying extra attention to the role of the attorney general in states across the country, and Moody is a classic, for she is DeSantis loyal legal soldier in his divisive culture wars. This even though the states attorney general, chief financial officer and agriculture commissioner are all elected independent of the governor. Ayala is an impressive candidate, knowledgeable of the law. However, we did not recommend her in the Democratic primary in August. We were concerned that, in 2016, soon after garnering national headlines for becoming Floridas first Black state attorney for the Orlando area, Ayala declared her office would not seek the death penalty in capital cases handled by her office. She cited the states high rate of convicting innocent people, a distinction that truly is a blot on Floridas justice system. Then-Gov. Rick Scott reassigned dozens of murder cases from Ayala office to another circuit, prompting Ayala to take legal action that ended with the Florida Supreme Court siding with Scott. In refusing to recommend Ayala, we stated that the state attorney could not make a unilateral decision that went against state law. But we cannot recommend Moodys more egregious partnership with DeSantis. We are counting on Ayala, a former state prosecutor and public defender who now is an assistant professor of legal studies at the University of Central Florida, to put her aversion to the death penalty on a shelf as Floridas attorney general. Moodys campaign did not respond to a request for an interview with the Editorial Board, which has been the M.O. of the majority of Republican candidates weve sought out, unfortunately. We would have asked Moody why she bought into Donald Trumps Big Lie, filing a brief in a Texas lawsuit seeking to overturn the former presidents election loss in the 2020; she sued the Biden administration over vaccine mandates and masking requirements; she criticized the Justice Department for the seizure of documents at Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate and defended the DeSantis-backed Dont say gay law. On whose behalf was she acting? Moody also requested that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigate former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg for helping Florida felons pay outstanding legal costs so they could register to vote in 2020, allowing them to clear a hurdle imposed by the governor and Legislature. Floridians need an attorney general who works for them and is committed to making the justice system fairer for all. Ayala stood against bias in the legal system that deals with Black and brown Floridians more harshly than it does with whites. And her concerns about bias in capital prosecutions are legitimate. On a local level, she introduced a panel to double-check death penalty cases; she can do that statewide, too. Beating Moody will be tough. She is the clear front-runner in name recognition and cash. Ayala had around $20,000 in cash on hand in her campaign account as of Sept. 23. Moody has in the neighborhood of $6 million. Moody has refused to debate Ayala, saying she prefers to debate challengers who are serious about enforcing the law. We, on the other hand, refuse to recommend for state attorney general someone who uses the law for narrow, spiteful political goals. The Miami Herald Editorial Board recommends ARAMIS AYALA for Florida attorney general. A New York man accused of attacking his girlfriend with a hammer was taken into custody after leading police on a vehicle chase, according to officials. Before sunrise on Monday, Oct. 17, police from Clarkstown, a town just north of New York City, arrived at the Tappan Zee Hotel following reports of a woman screaming, according to a release from the police department. Upon arrival, the police saw that the woman had substantial lacerations on her head. She told them that her boyfriend struck her with a hammer while she was showering, according to the release. She managed to escape and reach the hotel staff who phoned the police. The boyfriend, a 46-year-old from a nearby town, was not at the hotel, but New York State Police located him several hours later in a neighboring county, according to the release. Following a police chase, the man crashed his vehicle in Newburgh, a town along the Hudson River located about 70 miles north of New York City, causing him to sustain minor injuries, according to the release. The man was taken into police custody and will be charged with attempted murder and assault, according to the release. Police said hes expected to face additional charges. An attorney for the man could not immediately be reached for comment by McClatchy News, and a spokesperson for the Clarkstown Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. No further details were provided about the womans condition. Driver trying to hit woman rams into business as she jumps out of way, Florida cops say Couple tried to extort Georgia Tech coach with fake sexual assault claims, feds say Dollar General conditions couldve trapped workers inside, feds say. Company now fined We all knew it was coming. The next phase of Netflix's months-long crackdown on password sharing which itself follows the company's first quarterly subscriber loss in a decade is soon upon us. The company announced during its quarterly earnings call on Tuesday that it will charge customers an added monthly fee to people who share their login credentials beginning in early 2023. This move is an expansion of a pilot program currently running in Latin America which charges extra fees for "extra user" subaccounts, users outside of your immediate household who use your login to access the service. Basically, every listing on the "Who's Watching?" screen is going to cost you extra money if they don't also live with you. The news comes as Netflix attempts to return to growth and settle investors after confirming it lost subscribers earlier in the year. With help from Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story and Season Four of Stranger Things, the company was able to add more than 2.4 million subscribers in its third quarter. Netflix has not yet announced pricing for the punitive charges, though if they follow the pilot program's "one quarter of the basic rate" scheme, it should work out to around US$3-4. For folks wanting to avoid those fees, Netflix unveiled on Monday an account migration tool that will transfer a user's subaccount data (viewing history, recommendations and the like) to their new, independent subscription. In addition, the company recently announced a less expensive, ad-supported tier that will cost $7 a month when it launches on November 3rd. The new tier will be available in a dozen countries, including the U.K., Canada, and Mexico, by November 10th. A jury on Tuesday found Paul Flores guilty of the 1996 murder of 19-year-old Kristin Smart, according to media reports. Flores, 45, was accused of killing Smart during an attempted rape when they were both students at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. His 81-year-old father, Ruben Flores, was accused of helping dispose of the body. A separate jury found Ruben Flores not guilty of accessory to murder also on Tuesday, per ABC News. Smart went missing after she left an off-campus party accompanied by Paul Flores on May 25, 1996. Authorities never found her body, and she was declared dead in 2002. Flores remained a suspect more than two decades later, when police searched his and his fathers homes. Both father and son were arrested in April 2021. Floress sentencing is set for Dec. 9. He faces 25 years to life in prison, according to NBC News. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. PnB Rock performs in 2019 in Anaheim. (Scott Dudelson / Getty Images) A man wanted in connection with the slaying of rapper PnB Rock, who was gunned down last month at Roscoes House of Chicken & Waffles in South L.A., has been extradited to Los Angeles after his initial arrest in Las Vegas. Freddie Lee Trone, 40, was booked into L.A. County jail at 3:16 p.m. Tuesday on suspicion of murder, records show. He is being held on bail of $3 million. An arraignment date was not available Tuesday night. Trone was arrested Sept. 29 in Las Vegas, according to Officer Tony Im, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson. The extradition comes three weeks after Shauntel Trone, 38, and a 17-year-old boy were arrested in L.A. County in connection with Rock's killing. Freddie Lee Trone and the teenager, who was not identified because of his age, have been charged with murder, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. Shauntel Trone is charged with robbery and being an accessory after the fact. Freddie Lee and Shauntel Trone are married, said Greg Risling, a spokesman for the L.A. County district attorneys office, after her arrest. The teenager is Freddie Lee Trones son, according to law enforcement sources who spoke to The Times on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation with the media. The teen and Shauntel Trone are not related, Risling said. Rock, 30, whose real name was Rakim Allen, had been at the Roscoes House of Chicken & Waffles on Manchester Avenue with his girlfriend, Stephanie Sibounheuang, on Sept. 12 when the assailants walked up to their table and demanded jewelry and other valuables. The jewelry was valued at several hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to the criminal complaint. While some expressed concern that Rock may have been targeted after his girlfriend posted a picture to Instagram showing that they were at the restaurant, law enforcement sources have told The Times that Freddie Lee Trone and his son were at the Roscoes parking lot before any social media posts related to the rappers presence were published. The teen approached Rock with a mask on, pointed a gun at him and shouted, Give me all of your jewelry now, according to the complaint. Prosecutors allege he shot the rapper once in the chest while he sat a table, then twice more in the back. Seconds later, the teen allegedly threatened to shoot Sibounheuang in the head and took several pieces of jewelry off Rocks body. The killing sparked outrage among fans, as well as community activists, who say violence at a popular eatery is unacceptable. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The U.S. Agency for International Development, the government branch that mobilizes humanitarian aid around the world but which Cuban authorities have accused of being a surrogate for the CIA, is taking the unprecedented step of providing $2 million to help the victims of Hurricane Ian in Cuba, which damaged more than 100,000 homes on the islands western side. In a statement Tuesday, Ned Price, a spokesperson for the State Department, USAIDs parent agency, said the emergency relief funds will be channeled through international organizations working inside the country. The United States will work with trusted, independent organizations operating in the country who have a long presence in hurricane-affected communities, Price said. We are currently reviewing applications from organizations such as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to provide this assistance. The Herald reported last week that USAID had sent personal protective equipment, including uniforms for firefighters, to Cuba in response to a devastating fire at an oil storage facility in the port of Matanzas in August. But the agency could not certify to Congress where the uniforms actually ended up. USAID sent firefighter uniforms to Cuba after devastating oil fire. Where are they? While USAID said it will use third parties to channel the hurricane assistance, such an effort requires the agreement of the islands authorities to accept that the aid enters the country and gets distributed by non-governmental organizations. The islands foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez, confirmed that on Twitter. We appreciate humanitarian assistance offer made by the U.S., Rodriguez said. This material contribution that is worth 2 million USD, channeled through the International Federation of Red Cross, will add up to our recovery efforts in support of the victims of the ravages caused by Hurricane Ian. Throughout the history of the revolution Cuba has systematically rejected humanitarian aid from the United States. Cuban officials also have repeatedly accused USAID of supporting Cuban dissidents and funding covert regime change programs. But in the past few months, concerns about the deteriorating situation on the island have grown within the Biden administration. Almost 200,000 Cubans have entered the United States in the past fiscal year, fleeing food shortages, soaring prices, daily blackouts and increased repression. As a result, U.S. and Cuban officials have engaged in discussions about assistance following the fire in Matanzas and the devastation left by Hurricane Ian, which battered Pinar del Rio and Artemisa provinces in western Cuba and caused the dilapidated electrical grid to collapse. Most of Pinar del Rio still has no electricity. Hours-long blackouts are happening daily across the country, fueling protests in Havana and several other places. The Tuesday announcement followed debate over sending humanitarian aid to Cuba at a critical time. Several activists and exile organizations had urged the Biden administration to find ways to channel the support directly to the Cuban people through trusted non-governmental organizations. On her 243rd day in Russian detainment, Brittney Griner turned 32. On a day normally meant for celebration, Griner met with her lawyers to prepare for her appeal hearing on Oct. 25. Thank you everyone for fighting so hard to get me home. All the support and love are definitely helping me, Griner said in a statement from her agent. Griner was reported to be at her absolute weakest moment in life earlier this month, but did smile on her birthday, her lawyers told the Associated Press. Contributing to Griners declining morale is, in part, a fear of being left and forgotten in Russia," Griner's wife Cherelle told CBS Mornings. On her birthday We are BG and Happy Birthday BG trended on Twitter as teammates, friends and fans of Griners used social media to remember, uplift and celebrate the two-time Olympic gold medalist today and all days. Here are some of those dedications: How do you say Happy Birthday to someone who has been wrongfully detained for 243 days?#WeAreBG#BringBGHomepic.twitter.com/KcXhqu5R3B WNBPA (@TheWNBPA) October 18, 2022 Happy Birthday Brittney Griner, we will not forget about you and we will not stop fighting for you. The W wont be the same until youre home #WeAreBGpic.twitter.com/J5sO2EkGLL WNBA (@WNBA) October 18, 2022 #FreeBrittneyGriner 243 days (and the birthday) of my sister and friend @brittneygriner has been wrongfully detained in a Russian prison. Praying to you Lord to give BG the light she needs to get thru the days. HAPPY 32nd BG! Love you! #WeAreBGpic.twitter.com/lziW8Q9q74 dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) October 18, 2022 In a highlight from the NBA's opening night, Finals MVP Stephen Curry interrupted his ring celebration speech before the Warriors game to speak about Griner. We want to continue to let her name be known, and we pray it's been 243 days since she's been wrongfully incarcerated in Russia we hope that she comes home soon and that everybody's doing their part to bring her home, Curry said. The tributes kept coming on Thursday night, too. Jordan Clarkson, Kyrie Irving and Udonis Haslem were among those who mentioned Griner in some way before their respective home openers. The fight to bring BG home U.S. basketball player Brittney Griner has been wrongfully detained in Russia since February (REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool). The effort to keep Griners name at the forefront of everyones mind is only part of the strategy to secure the six-time All WNBA player's freedom. Griners lawyers have continued to work on her behalf since her Feb. 17 arrest where she was found to be carrying less than a gram of hash oil in her luggage through Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow. Griner was traveling to play for Russia's UMMC Ekaterinburg. According to her lawyers, Griner was prescribed cannabis for pain, and inadvertently packed the oil with no criminal intent. Griner was convicted Aug. 4 in a notably fast ruling and received a nine-year sentence, longer than most Russians receive for similar offenses. Though the appeal will likely not overturn the verdict, Griners lawyers are looking for a positive outcome. We hope the term of the sentence will be reduced, Maria Blagovolina, a partner at the law firm, told the Associated Press. The WNBA champion could be involved in a potential swap of prisoners between Russia and the United States. In July, Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed publicly that Washington had made a substantial proposal for Griners freedom that also included efforts for the release of Paul Whelan, an American serving a 16-year sentence in Russia for espionage. According to many reports, Washington offered to exchange Griner and Whelan for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer also known as the Merchant of Death who is serving a 25-year sentence in America. The White House said they continue attempts to negotiate. 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. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani Armed Forces opened various-caliber small arms fire at Armenian military positions in the eastern direction of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border around 00:10, October 19, the Ministry of Defense said. As of Wednesday morning the situation was relatively stable. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, ARMENPRESS. Kyrgyzstan is proposing to deploy a CSTO mission to its border with Tajikistan. Both Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are members of the CSTO. The Kyrgyz Defense Minister Baktibek Bekbolotov said he discussed with the CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas the situation on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, RFE/RLs Kyrgyz service reports. I recently met with the CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas. I told him that there wont be peace between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan because the Kyrgyz have their truth while the Tajik have their truth. A third judge must stand between us, for example from the CSTO, a small CSTO contingent with its mission to supervise the ceasefire and withdraw heavy equipment from the state border. If they solve these two issues then we can start the political issues of delimitation and demarcation of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, Bekbolotov said. Presidium meeting adopts lists of nominees for 20th CPC Central Committee, anti-graft watchdog (China Daily) 10:05, October 19, 2022 Xi Jinping (center) presides over the second meeting of the presidium of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Beijing on Tuesday. SHEN HONG/XINHUA The second meeting of the presidium of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China adopted on Tuesday a proposed list of preliminary nominees to be candidates for membership and alternate membership of the 20th CPC Central Committee the Party's central leadership. The meeting, presided over by Xi Jinping, also adopted a proposed list of preliminary nominees to be candidates for membership of the 20th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the Party's top anti-graft watchdog. Chen Xi, deputy secretary-general of the congress, briefed the presidium on the proposed lists, and the meeting decided to submit the lists to delegations for deliberation. The presidium also agreed to submit draft resolutions on the report of the 19th CPC Central Committee delivered by Xi at the opening of the congress on Sunday as well as the work report of the 19th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the amendment to the Constitution of the CPC to delegations for discussion. The meeting's participants also approved election methods of the congress. A list of ballot scrutinizers was also approved by the presidium and will be ratified by the congress before the final voting begins. (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Hongyu) BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of foreign political parties and governments worldwide have congratulated the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and General Secretary Xi Jinping of the committee on the opening of the 20th CPC National Congress. In their congratulatory messages, they spoke highly of the CPC's remarkable achievements and its important contributions to improving the well-being of the Chinese people and people in the rest of the world. The CPC remains committed to the principle of wholeheartedly serving the people, and has brought prosperity and happiness to the Chinese people, said Abdulla Yameen, leader of the Progressive Party of Maldives and former president of the Maldives. Mizuho Fukushima, head of the Social Democratic Party of Japan, expressed her wish that the CPC will achieve greater development and make more contributions to eradicating poverty in the world, safeguarding global peace and protecting the Earth. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, extended his sincere congratulations on the convening of the 20th CPC National Congress and expected the congress to make greater contributions to peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia as well as to global peace. He hoped that South Korea-China friendship and cooperation will grow stronger with time. With its eyes set on the new era, the CPC has led China in forging ahead relentlessly along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and achieving national prosperity, which has won admiration and praise from the world, said Bayanjargal Tsogtgerel, chairman of the Mongolian National Democratic Party. Under the leadership of the CPC, a friendly China will continue to advance along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, said Ata Serdarov, chairman of the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan. For more than 100 years, the CPC has gone through a glorious journey of struggle and victory, and led the Chinese economy to the forefront of the world, said Gennady Zyuganov, chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation. Heinz Bierbaum, president of the Party of the European Left, said that the convening of the 20th CPC National Congress is of great significance, and that his party looks forward to further strengthening its relations with the CPC. The 20th CPC National Congress is convened at a time when the great cause of the Chinese people enters a new stage, said Hilal Hilal, assistant secretary-genral of Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party of Syria. Under the leadership of the CPC, the Chinese people have made great progress in such fields as politics, economy and culture, he added. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, ARMENPRESS. The session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council will be held in Yerevan on October 20-21, the government of Armenia said. The heads of government of the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) will arrive in Armenia for the session. Issues relating to the development of integration processes in the Eurasian space will be discussed during the narrow and extended-format sessions. SOFIA, OCTOBER 19, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian ARMENPRESS and Bulgarian BTA news agencies will intensify news exchange with the signing of a cooperation agreement on October 19 in Sofia. The agreement was signed by ARMENPRESS Director Narine Nazaryan and BTA Director Kiril Valchev. Photos by Hovhannes Mkrtchyan Noting that ARMENPRESS and BTA are cooperating since 2004, ARMENPRESS Director Narine Nazaryan emphasized that the agreement will lay new and solid foundation for further partnership. At the proposal of my colleague Kiril Valchev, we agreed to share news with a principle of "a news per day" from each country. This agreement will allow our countries to be closer to each other, build a new history of friendship with the main goal of strengthening trust, making societies more aware of one another, Nazaryan said, emphasizing that ARMENPRESS is attaching importance to expanding its network of international partners and noted that the news agency has cooperation agreements with over 25 news agencies from different countries. This year alone, we have signed agreements with the Argentine Telam news agency, Qatar news agency, Italian ANSA. This is a step to be closer to the world, exchange of news is a tool for mutual recognition. BTA Director Kiril Valchev highlighted the fact that the agreement is being signed during Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyans state visit to Bulgaria. He said that the agreement with ARMENPRESS is BTAs seventeenth agreement with a partner news agency. Valchev said that in addition to news exchange the agreement will be the basis for implementing exchange of journalists from BTA and ARMENPRESS. We are connected by many things. The Bulgarian and Armenian peoples, called by Yavorov "always brave people", are also linked by a common Christian faith, Valchev said, referring to the quote by renowned Bulgarian poet Peyo Yavorov. There is symbolism in the fact that the agreement between our news agencies was signed on the Day of the heavenly patron Saint Ivan of Rilski, who called on us to live in accord and harmony. There is a wonderful Armenian saying that "today's word is tomorrow's bridge". I believe that we will build many new bridges between us. While China has started issuing visas to a few Indian students to return to their classes in that country, there are many thousands waiting Do a majority of Indians remember the October 1962 damage which dictator Mao Zedongs Communist Party of China (CPC) and its militia Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) inflicted on New Delhis sovereignty, diplomacy and defence? Sixty years have passed. Has anything really changed for better, or for worse? A few landmark events reflect the harsh reality. The Dragon, regrettably, is still on top as India struggles with present-day CPC dictator Xi Jinpings multi-front assault. India is being harassed from all angles and its diplomacy and defence moving from one front to another, both internal and external. The Dragon is determined to impose its ill will with congenital deception, deceit, duplicity. With Xi Jinping anointed as a re-incarnation of Mao, the CPCs founder supremo, a relook at his malevolence and perfidy (as rightly diagnosed by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in his famous November 8, 1950 letter) will give a clearer picture of what awaits Indias future at the hands of the CPCs current core lifetime emperor. After Indias crushing defeat in the battlefield in 1962, the CPC supremos brigade of politico-military guards set Northeast India on fire by creating several liberation armies, fully armed, trained and funded by the Red Chinese to pin India down to its own backyard. The message was clear: Stay put at home, allow the Hans to gallop the globe. The next salvo was fired on May 24, 1967 at Naxalbari, a small hamlet in northern West Bengal, bordering Nepal and a stones throw from what was then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), and just hours by road from Chinese territory. The CPC-PLA had penetrated deep into the relatively industrialised state of West Bengal to strike at New Delhis hinterland with the hard-line violent Marx-Lenin-Mao doctrine of the Naxalites. Mao, after fanning the stormy Cultural Revolution, the fundamentals of which were to castigate, criticise and abuse all Chinese predecessors, unleashed a reign of terror through gangs and goons, known as the Red Guards, who pounced like mad dogs to spit, slit and slap Indian envoys (such as K. Raghunath and V. Pillai) in broad daylight in Beijing. To rub India in the worst possible way, Mao also held an 80-minute meeting in Beijing with a group of Naxal leaders in December 1967. The Dragons dictator was pushing for a peoples revolution in India, using surprise attacks to seize weapons from policemen, and to annihilate small groups of policemen at different locations. Maos ideological gospel of violence ran thus: India should rely on workers, farmers to solve problems. We (proletariat) dont rely on Gandhi and Nehru to solve problems. The Mao-controlled CPC-PLA gang loved interfering in the internal affairs of foreign countries; especially those which were target countries much as Xi Jinping continue to do so today, as evidenced in Ladakh two years ago, no matter what the barbs emanating from the Great Hall of the People in Beijing this week targeted at the West, in relation to Taiwan! India undeniably fell under the CPC-PLA radar from the very beginning and theres absolutely no reason to believe it is any different today. The Hans injected the poison deep into the Indian heartland. One of Maos most diabolical acts was to use Chinas Kathmandu embassy to distribute money to Indian renegades, giving a clear signal that along with India, Nepal too stands as one of the principal targets of the CPC-PLA for expansion, destruction and subjugation through any means, fair or foul. It was clear to Beijing that without breaking Nepals traditional links with India, it wouldnt be possible for the CPC-PLA to expand its footprint in South Asia. Over five decades have passed. Has China sobered down, and become more civilised in its behaviour? Unfortunately, Xi Jinping, who is all set to inherit Maos mantle as core leader, is even more aggressive, and his uncouth wolf warrior diplomats are spreading division, hatred, lies and utter falsehoods, particularly in this region. The Chinese ambassador in New Delhi says that Indias border with Tibet (usurped by China) has now moved to normalised management, a clear indication that the CPC-PLA will stick to their positions in eastern Ladakh, and have no intention to vacate Indian territory they usurped in 2020. For the Dragon, any talk of reverting to the pre-May 2020 status quo ante is dead. The ambassador says: China is willing to continue with the dialogue through diplomatic/military channels for a peaceful solution of border issues. What he is really saying is: Forget your Galwan casualties. The area now belongs to us (China). Just move on, do business and allow China to make one-way profits. The annual bilateral trade, incidentally, amounted to $130 billion last year, with one-way profit of $85 billion for Beijing. But the Indian trading class did not do too badly either, selling cheap Chinese goods in this country. While China has started issuing visas to a few Indian students to return to their classes in that country, there are many thousands waiting, and it is unlikely that many of the 25,000 students left in the lurch will be able to go back. The Chinese always do things according to their convenience, and not because of any other compulsions. The CPC-PLA have been tasting Indian blood for over 60 years, and sadly now there are many Indians who rely on the China trade even if it compromises Indias sovereignty. Taking advantage of the India-Bangladesh water-sharing discussion, the Dragons wolf-warrior in Dhaka has promised to splurge over $1 billion that will lead to irreversible damage in the sub-Himalayan land to ensure establishing its strategic hegemony to peril all in sub-Himalayas. The Dragon todays trying to pin India down on the same terrain adjacent to Naxalbari, where the fire ignited by the CPC in May 1967 engulfed eastern India for more than 15 years. As India completes six decades of the ignominious defeat, political humiliation and loss of sovereignty inflicted by the CPC-PLA, the situation today is far grimmer, with China systematically trying to decimate Indias economy and defence sector, and giving aid, encouragement and refuge to insurgents of all descriptions, especially in Indias Northeast. The CPCs hostility is endless. In 1967 it took Indias Communist Terrorists (CT) to Maos durbar in order to harm Delhi. In 2022, the CPC took a section of Indias Capitalist Traders (CT) to Beijing to assault Delhis economics from within. One can only hope New Delhi makes a course correction, without further delay, and doesnt get taken in by the Middle Kingdom Maoists charm offensive of perfidy and malevolence as Sardar Patel had warned us over 70 years ago. Congress central election authority chairman Mistry has expressed satisfaction with the party's presidential polls process Counting of votes began on Wednesday in the Congress presidential polls in which senior leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor faced-off for the post of AICC chief. (PTI) New Delhi: Counting of votes began on Wednesday in the Congress presidential polls in which senior leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor faced-off for the post of AICC chief. The counting of the votes, which was scheduled to begin at 10 am at the AICC headquarters here, started around 10:20 am. All sealed ballot boxes from the 68 polling booths set up across the country had been brought here by Tuesday evening and kept in a "strong room" at the party office. Asked about reports of complaints related to polling in Uttar Pradesh and some other states, Tharoor campaign team member Salman Soz said they have raised certain issues with the central election authority (CEA) and have been in communication with CEA chairman Madhusudan Mistry "before polling, on polling day and after that". The counting agents of Kharge are Pramod Tiwari, Kodikunil Suresh, Gaurav Gogoi, Syed Nasir Hussain, Kuljit Singh Bagra and Gurdeep Singh Sappal. Karti Chidambaram, Atul Chaturvedi and Sumedh Gaikwal are among those who are counting agents of Tharoor. While Kharge is considered the firm favourite with his perceived proximity to the Gandhis and a large number of senior leaders backing him, Tharoor has pitched himself as the candidate of change. Congress central election authority chairman Mistry has expressed satisfaction with the party's presidential polls process, saying it was "free, fair and transparent". He has also said it was a secret ballot and no one would get to know who voted for whom. Of the total 9,915 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates that formed the electoral college to pick the party chief in a secret ballot, over 9,500 cast their ballot at PCC offices and the AICC headquarters, Mistry had said at a press conference after the polling ended on Monday. The party will get its first non-Gandhi president in 24 years after more than 9,500 votes are counted. The polls are historic as the new president would replace Sonia Gandhi, the longest-serving party president who has been at the helm since 1998, barring the two years between 2017 and 2019 when Rahul Gandhi had taken over. Electors in the Congress presidential polls had been asked to put a tick mark against their candidate in the ballot paper after Tharoor's team took up with the party's top poll body the issue of its earlier directive that voters write "1" to reflect their preference. This, the team said, might lead to confusion. Gujaratis, referred to within the desi community as Gujjus, are more entrepreneurial by nature and tend to be in business. The sheer crudity of the NRI bulldozer rally in the armpit town of Edison, New Jersey, reminded me of something I wrote in 2010. Its about how they think and behave in the United States. They are shrill, noisy and have little interest in their chosen country. All of us have many in our families who are now NRIs in America. Without exception, they think being better off economically than most of us who choose to be here or chose to come back, they know more. My favourite one is a liquor shop owner who spends hours haranguing me on how to set India right. It featured this very same town of Edison, a perennial hotspot of Indian-American racism and parochialism. On July 2, 2010 Joel Stein wrote a witty and perfectly appropriate piece in Time My Own Private India about a town called Edison. Stein was thoroughly excoriated as racist and anti-Indian by people purporting to represent Indians in America. Stein wilted under the onslaught and responded: I truly feel stomach sick that Ive hurt so many people. Besides a few self-proclaimed leaders who found their five minutes of fame, theres little evidence so many people were hurt. Time chipped in with an apology of its own but, apparently not convinced on the extent of anger, said: We sincerely regret any of our readers were upset by this humour column of Joel Steins. Very clever indeed, which is why Time is what it is. But why did Stein and Time have to cave in? Steins piece was inoffensive, whimsical and cleverly humorous. A better response for him would have been to ask the protesters to stuff it or be cleverly conditional in expressing regret, like his magazine. Now about Edison, that neighbour of Newark and a transportation hub with an extensive network of highways like US Route 1, which also sits astride a five-mile length of the New Jersey Turnpike. Edisons only other claim to fame is that it has so far resisted attempts by WalMart to open a store near the junction of New Jersey Route 27 and Interstate 287. Edison was incorporated as Raritan Township and became Edison in 1954, ostensibly hoping to ride piggyback on the great inventor who made it his home in 1876. For decades Edison has been a magnet for Indian immigrants, particularly those from Gujarat. Today, over 17 per cent of its estimated population of about 102,000 is identified as Indian- American, most of them Gujarati. I have driven through Edison, NJ, on a few occasions and its not the kind of town I would even want to stop by for a coffee. Its at once grungy and noisy, seems to teem with Indians noisily looking for bargains or cheap desi food. Desi means homegrown, and is used in a self-pejorative way by almost all NRIs when referring to fellow Indians. At last count there were over 2.5 million desis in the US. The US Census 2000 map shows that Indian-Americans (officially called Asian Indians) tend to concentrate in certain areas. Whenever I visit the US, it never ceases to amaze me that my Indian-American friends and relatives seem to only socialise with other desis. They tend to flock together. The US has a fair number of Indian- American clusters, but its Edison that has the highest concentration. Indian-Americans have the highest median incomes in the US and are generally white-collar professionals. Edisons desi community, however, has a fair sprinkling of less well-off people doing jobs that probably fetch them much less than the median Indian-American income. It shows easily. One out of five desis is of Gujarati origin, and like Indians from other regions tend to live and socialise within themselves. Gujaratis, referred to within the desi community as Gujjus, are more entrepreneurial by nature and tend to be in business. The 400,000-strong Gujarati diaspora in the US thus has a smaller proportion of professionals. They now own more than half the economy lodging properties in the US. Since a large proportion of Gujaratis in the US have the surname Patel, these hotels are popularly referred to among Indian-Americans as potels, and often are places that rent out rooms by the hour. Indians, in general, are very racist and colour conscious. Our standards of political correctness are not very high. Our discourse is laced with racist and derogatory references to others. The desi community in the US is not very different. Mira Nairs 1991 movie Mississippi Masala, set among the Indian-American community living in steaming Biloxi, Mississippi, captures in full all the prejudices and inward-looking attitudes prevalent in Hindu society back home carrying on as before among an expatriate Indian-American community. The story is about the romance of a girl of Ugandan Indian Gujarati origin and a handsome African-American, played by Denzel Washington. But expectedly, the family and friends, mostly in the potel business, vigorously oppose the romance with a kalu, as persons of African origin are derogatively referred to by desis. Indians also generally derogatively refer to white people as goras, when not referring to them as white monkeys. Most Indian matrimonial advertisements seek fair-skinned brides, and within India people from the lighter-skinned north tend to look down upon the darker-skinned South Indian. Hindi language movies often have a bit of comedy in them featuring a South Indian speaking Hindi in a typically South Indian way. More often than not, the Hindi actor playing the South Indian wears a boot black tan like blackface minstrels did in earlier Hollywood movies. The point is that Indians, by and large, are very racist and extremely colour conscious. Few desis will contest that. And they shouldnt be complaining. For a people who tend to look down on so many of our own for reasons of colour, caste and race, Indians seem to be getting notoriously thin- skinned. As Americas wealthiest median income community, they are now bigger players in US politics, with their political action committees (PACs) active in serving many Indian causes, be it the civil nuclear deal with the US or an increase in the number of work visas. Many politicians in the US, like Congressman Frank Pallone, who represents New Jerseys sixth district, that includes Edison, have a great many Indian-American constituents and increasingly pander to them. The economic clout of the Indian-American is also felt in many ways. Its good that they have begun to flex their muscles a bit. But its not good that they are becoming more parochial, sectarian, racist and thin-skinned. The Centre has to confront a shortage of 1,472 IAS officers and 864 IPS officers. The annual conference of principal secretaries of states and Union territories held recently had one theme that overrode other discussions on administration and administrative reforms-related work. Union minister of state for personnel Jitendra Singh asked the states to spare more IAS, IPS and IFoS officers for Central deputation, which has become a major issue in recent months. And as 2024 approaches, the Modi Sarkar is hastening to address gaps in governance. Mr Singh is now trying to urge babus to overcome their reluctance to serve at the Centre. The Union government has been facing a shortage of IAS officers and to tide over the crisis, it even tweaked the rules in 2021, which said that state government permission is not necessary for a posting at the Centre. But clearly, that carrot has not worked, with even babus from the BJP-ruled states, preferring to keep their distance from Delhi. Meanwhile, reportedly, the Centre has to confront a shortage of 1,472 IAS officers and 864 IPS officers. Clearly, the periodic pep talks and admonitions by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr Singh to the babus have failed to instil the perception in the states and UTs that a Central posting is desirable for upward career mobility. Until the Centre solves this conundrum, it will continue to suffer from deputation blues. Andhra Pradesh tells senior babus to show your face Fingerprint scanning is passe. Facial recognition is now the next step in recognising the identity of employees. The Andhra Pradesh government has reportedly made facial attendance mandatory for senior IAS officers of the state. Those in the secretary rank and work in the state secretariat may soon be required to face a camera and mark their attendance. Sources have informed DKB that the Jagan Reddy government has prescribed this new standard operating procedure to mark the daily attendance of the secretary, principal secretary and special chief secretary-rank IAS officers. As far as DKB can tell, while fingerprint scanning is prevalent in some states, this is a first-of-its-kind system for senior babus in the country. The government has bought a facial recognition system mobile application with geographical information system tagging to mark the daily attendance of these very senior babus. For now, this system has been implemented in the secretariat, but it will soon be rolled out to cover other IAS officers as well. Apparently, the system has been in the works for more than a year, sources say. Chief secretary Sameer Sharma has been issuing frequent instructions, on the directions of chief minister Jagan Reddy, asking special chief secretaries, principal secretaries and secretaries of all departments to get organised and make things effective. Intrusive or just sensible? And what next, some wonder. Iris scanners? Low-key but powerful, the babus of PMO Even if it is not formally mandated, Narendra Modis PMO is the focal point, controlling all decision-making of the Modi Sarkar. Even the ministries have either conceded their domain or the PMO has simply overridden their decision-making authority, in most cases. Naturally, the men and women who comprise todays PMO invite a lot of interest. For those who want to know how the Prime Minister manages to look at so many decisions on a continuous basis, perhaps a look at the structure below the Big Three is the obvious thing to do. While many of the high-profile names who made waves during Narendra Modis first tenure have moved out of the PMO, the current lot carefully handpicked by Mr Modi now spearheads his flagship programmes and lends their expertise to their given responsibilities. At the top of this select group is P.K. Mishra, now principal secretary to the PM, who has continued his association with the PM since the Gujarat days and accompanied Mr Modi to the PMO in 2014. Besides him, two other senior advisors in the PMO are retired IAS officers Amit Khare and Tarun Kapoor. Besides them are four additional secretaries, three joint secretaries, two private secretaries, 10 directors and four officers on special duty, drawn from all services including the IAS, IPS, IFS and IRS. Interestingly, there is one woman officer Punya Salila Srivastava, who was inducted last year. She oversees social and welfare programmes and is in charge of the various announcements made by the PM. It is this team that Mr Modi relies on most for the implementation of government policy. It is these low-profile babus who are pulling the strings behind the scenes. UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Tuesday called for efforts to advance the political process in Mali. There has been progress in political transition, peace process and the fight against terrorism in Mali, a result of joint efforts by the Malian authorities, regional organizations and the international community, said Dai Bing, charge d'affaires at the Chinese Permanent Mission to the United Nations. Now it is important to consolidate the current momentum and continuously inject impetus toward the ultimate goal of achieving durable peace and development, Dai told the Security Council. Regarding the political process, multiple measures are required on different tracks, he said. The Malian authorities have drawn up a roadmap for the transition, set up electoral institutions, started constitutional work and carried out political consultations, which are visible progress, the envoy said. China hopes that the parties in Mali will build on this and carry forward political reform to create favorable conditions for the transition, he said. On anti-terrorism, Dai said efforts are needed to ramp up the fight to maintain stability. The parties in Mali have recently held a high-level decision-making meeting to promote the implementation of the peace agreement and the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process, and the government has been fully engaged in fighting terrorism and unveiled a comprehensive stability strategy for the central region of the country, which should be acknowledged, he said. The international community should provide more concrete support for the government in fighting terrorism and respect the country's right to independently carry out its external security cooperation, he added. It is important to increase coordination and communication between the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali and the different sectors of society in order to form synergy, said Dai. The mission has done a great deal in supporting political transition, providing logistic and operational support to the Malian armed forces and protecting civilians, he said. "China is pleased to see that the mission has properly solved the issue of personnel rotation with the government. We hope that the parties will continue to strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, and jointly maintain the Status of Forces Agreement so as to create good conditions for the mission," he added. China attaches great importance to Mali's legitimate concerns in terms of national sovereignty, security and development, and supports the Malian people in independently choosing a development path that fits their country's condition, Dai said. Together with the international community, China is ready to make great contributions to Mali's effort to maintain national unity and promote peace and development, said the envoy. The event dates back to 2014 when the former basilica was still a museum before it was converted back into a mosque. Abdullah Basfar, who taught Islamic studies, has been in pre-trial custody for two years. Saudi-Turkish tensions partly explain his arrest. Riyadh (AsiaNews) A Saudi court last week sentenced an Islamic preacher to 12 years in prison for leading a prayer in 2014 in Istanbuls Hagia Sophia, a former Byzantine basilica, now a mosque. The sentence reflects, once again, the kingdoms repressive attitude towards activists, dissidents, and even clerics who are not aligned with the regime or, more simply, disliked by the people in power. According to Prisoners of Conscience, a Saudi rights NGO, Imam and Quran reciter Abdullah Basfar was convicted and sentenced on 12 October but the news was reported only a few days ago. The cleric was convicted Because he accepted an invitation to lead prayers in the courtyard of the Hagia Sophia Mosque in Turkey, Prisoners of Conscience twitted. At the time, the basilica-cum-mosque was still a museum. We condemn the ruling, the NGO said, and we call on the authorities to release him unconditionally. One of the kingdom's most influential clerics, Abdullah Basfar taught Islamic and Sharia studies at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah. Yet, even though he was a respected figure, in 2020 he became one of the many targets of the repressive policy of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman since the 2014 prayer in Hagia Sophia had gone viral online. Basfar, who has been in pre-trial custody for the past two years, was allegedly harassed and abused during questioning. Saudi authorities have never clearly indicated the reasons for his arrest, but it is suspected that they wanted to punish him for leading a prayer in Turkey. At the time (2014), relations between the two countries were very tense, the more so following the killing in 2018 of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi on bin Salmans order. More recently though, the two dominant Sunni countries have patched up their differences. Like the Chora church, Hagia Sophia became a museum by decree (in 1934) under then Turkish President Kemal Ataturk. In 2020, it was turned back into a mosque. Last April, the first prayers for Ramadan were held in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is part of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans Islamo-nationalist policies, especially at a time when he was trying to divert public attention away from the countrys economic crisis and retain power. Following the decision by Turkeys Council of State to overturn the decree, Islamic authorities covered the images of Jesus, as well as Christian frescoes and icons with a white curtain, triggering an international political-religious controversy. by Mathias Hariyadi The capital is crossed by 13 rivers, the largest being the Ciliwung. Every year, floods cause the evacuation of hundreds of people. Heru Budi Hartono has resumed a plan to upgrade the banks suspended in 2019. Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Jakarta's new interim governor, Heru Budi Hartono, will have to deal with the floods that inundate the capital every year. In the past two weeks, Jakarta and the Bogor regency have been hit by several floods: the authorities evacuated more than 460 people; 3,662 houses were damaged due to floods and landslides in East Java province. A loyalist of President Joko Widodo, since his appointment on 17 October Hartono has banned Jakarta officials from taking holidays during the rainy season and resumed a project to upgrade the Ciliwung River, abandoned by his predecessors, Anies Baswedan and Deputy Ahmad Riza Patria. The project was initially pursued in 2017 by the then Chinese-born Christian governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known as Ahok. The plan was to 'clean up' the banks of the Ciliwung River of squatter settlements and stem flooding by 2024. Jakarta is crossed by 13 rivers, the largest of which is the Ciliwung. Heavy urbanisation in recent years has led to uncontrolled housing growth along its banks, causing the banks to silt up. As a result, recurring overflows force some of the inhabitants to seek refuge elsewhere, including in Catholic structures. After Baswedan's election as Jakarta's governor, the project was abandoned because the city had accumulated huge debts: the purchase of 118 plots of land around the river, for which 160 billion rupiah (USD 11.4 million) had been earmarked, was halted in 2019. The original plan was to turn the river banks into a 17.5-kilometre-long pedestrian area, but only a little more than one kilometre has been completed so far. Many residents opposed the forced relocation. In his first policy speech, Hong Kongs chief executive says that Xi Jinpings draconian directives will be followed and national security will be tightened. Hong Kongers expect little from Lee. His housing plan drags down markets. Hong Kong (AsiaNews) Hong Kong wants to attract foreign talent to improve its economic competitiveness, threatened by other jurisdictions like Singapore, this according to its new chief executive, John Lee, who made his first policy address today since taking office in July. Lees goal will be tough to reach since he wants to tighten national security, one of the things that makes the former British colony less attractive to foreign investors. This is also complicated by strict COVID-19 restrictions, and an economy that is going through hard times. In the second quarter of the year, Hong Kongs GDP reported an annual drop of 1.3 per cent. To help the recovery, Lee is offering two-year visas to foreigners who earned HK$ 2.5 million (US$ 320,000) in the last 12 months and graduates from the world's top 100 universities with at least a three-year work experience. And yet, for him, this goes hand in hand with tighter national security regulations. Imposed by Beijing in June 2020, Hong Kongs draconian security law crushed its pro-democracy movement, forcing more than 200,000 people, both Hong Kongers and foreigners, to expatriate. Many of them are journalists. As the International Federation of Journalists noted recently, 12 newspapers and news websites have been closed after the security law was introduced. On Sunday, at the start of the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of China, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that the measures taken in Hong Kong had restored stability after the chaos caused by the 2019 pro-democracy protests. In his speech, Lee made it clear that he would follow Beijing's instructions to the letter, announcing new legislative measures in cybersecurity and "false information". The crackdown will also affect fundraising activities. It should be noted that on 26 October the trial of Card Joseph Zen Ze-kiun will enter its final phase. Hong Kongs archbishop emeritus is accused along with five well-known members of the pro-democracy movement of incorrectly registering a humanitarian organisation of which they were the trustees. Until it closed in October 2021, the 612 Fund helped thousands of pro-democracy protesters involved in the 2019 demonstrations. In Hong Kong, expectations about Lee's speech were low. According to a poll published yesterday by the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute, nearly 50 per cent of respondents expected little or nothing from the chief executive. In fact, the local stock exchange sent negative signals. At the end of the day's trading, the index lost 2.4 per cent. Even Lee's housing plan (72,000 new housing units in five years) and housing price freeze measures are not convincing. As many expected, Shashi Tharoor lost, but now few expect the party to win voters in northern states. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi reached Andhra Pradesh on his "unity march. New Delhi (AsiaNews/Agencies) For the first time in over 20 years, a member of the Gandhi family will not be the president of the Congress. Mallikarjun Kharge was elected with 7,897 votes; his main challenger, Shashi Tharoor, received just over 1,000 votes in Mondays voting, whose results were announced today. The decision of the party delegates is final and I accept it humbly. It is a privilege be a member of a party that allows its workers to choose their president, Tharoor said. Kharges victory was expected. The 80-year-old politician hails from the southern state of Karnataka. A Dalit, he joined the Congress in 1969 and since 1972 has won nine consecutive local elections in the Gurmikal constituency. He served as a minister at the state level in Karnataka for several years and represented the opposition in both houses of the Indian Parliament. The most challenging part of his political career may have come right now. Everyone is wondering whether his election will give new impetus to the Congress, Indias main opposition party, and make it competitive against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Hindu nationalist party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the 2024 general election. In recent days, Kharge said he would not seek the approval of the Gandhi family, but he would seek "guidance" and "suggestions from them. According to some observers, the Dalit politician has a good chance of bringing together the various factions in the party and reducing defections; nevertheless, it is doubtful that the Congress will be able to attract voters in the north of the country, in particular Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which together elect 120 members out of 545. The Congress today rules only two out of 28 Indian states. According to some commentators, Shashi Tharoor is the only politician with the charisma and oratory skills capable of challenging Modi, but his election threatened to overshadow the de facto leader of the Congress, Rahul Gandhi. The son of Sonia and Prime Minister Rajiv, who was assassinated in 1991, Rahul left the presidency in 2019, but has remained a key figure in the party, long criticised for being too beholden to the Gandhi family. For months, Rahul has been on a 150-day unity march to gain new supporters, and is now in the east-central state of Andhra Pradesh; however, analysts see his chances as slim. Since the start, the march has seemed more an attempt to rehabilitate his reputation after the political defeats of 2014 and 2019 than a real effort to revitalise the party, which, according to experts, needs above all radical reforms to be a credible alternative to the BJP. After introducing a 1,000-peso polymer banknote on an experimental basis, the Central Bank of the Philippines would like to do the same for other denominations. However, objections have been raised in the Philippine Senate over polymers impact on the environment and farmers. Manila (AsiaNews) The transition from paper to polymer banknotes is proving controversial in the Philippines. Last spring, the Central Bank of the Philippines (BSP)[*] issued a polymer note on an experimental basis. Instead of the traditional hemp and cotton, the new 1,000-peso banknote[] was made of polymer. This material is not new. Several countries already use it. Australia was the first in 1988 while some 20 use it today, including Canada, Poland, and Vietnam. According to the PBS, polymer banknotes are harder to counterfeit, easier to clean, and cheaper to make. In addition, the material is said to be environmentally friendlier as it can be recycled and has a longer life span. The longer life span of polymer banknotes would translate into lower replacement costs; hence higher production cost savings, said BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan. Estimated production savings amount to PHP 1.2 to 2.4 billion. However, not everyone believes in its sustainability, including in the Philippine Congress. For Senator Pia Cayetano, who chairs the Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, just because you can recycle the polymer does not mean it is truly sustainable. It will still not biodegrade. It will still be there and remain. It is a product that we created, and it will stay there forever, she said. As for sustainability, its impact to the environment is not the only factor to consider, but also to communities, in this case, farmers. Even if the number of producers affected is small, importing raw materials could hinder the sustainability of their activities, objected Leonardo Montemayor, president of the Federation of Free Farmers. [*] Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas [] US$ 1=PHP 59 pesos. One thousand pesos equal US$ 17. Email Newsletters Get the best of The Aspen Daily News in your inbox. Our newsletters are free, and you can unsubscribe at any time. BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of foreign political parties and governments worldwide have congratulated the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and General Secretary Xi Jinping of the committee on the opening of the 20th CPC National Congress. In their congratulatory messages, they spoke highly of the CPC's remarkable achievements and its important contributions to improving the well-being of the Chinese people and people in the rest of the world. President of the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) and also Cameroonian President Paul Biya expressed his congratulations to the CPC, Chinese leaders and the Chinese people on behalf of all members of the CPDM, voicing confidence that the congress will inject new impetus into the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Under the strong leadership of General Secretary Xi over the years, China has made great achievements in economic and social development, from which developing countries have learned successful experience, Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari said. The high-level governmental exchanges as well as those between political parties of the two countries are conducive to accelerating the development of bilateral relations, Bhandari said. President of Seychelles Wavel Ramkalawan expressed the confidence that the 20th CPC National Congress will draw on past achievements and set new goals and tasks to guide China through building a great and prosperous modern country and realizing the second centenary goal of building a modern socialist country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Kiribati President Taneti Maamau commended the Chinese government for its unswerving commitment to peace and development, pursuit of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature, and promotion of mutually beneficial cooperation. The government and people of Kiribati wish the congress a complete success and look forward to greater development of socialism with Chinese characteristics, Maamau said. The congress is taking place at a critical moment when the world is undergoing profound changes, said President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and also Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. Sharif said that he is convinced that during the congress, Chinese leaders, with their broad and farsighted vision, will map out the progress and prosperity of the Chinese nation. Leader of the Barbados Labour Party and also Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley extended warm congratulations and best wishes to General Secretary Xi and the Chinese people on the achievements China has made in the past decade. The 20th CPC National Congress marks a new journey for China's development and China will play a greater role in international affairs, said Mottley. The Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and other political proposals proposed by General Secretary Xi will contribute to building a world of universal security and common prosperity, said Milorad Dodik, president of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats and Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Expressing gratitude to the CPC for its support to the party, government and people of South Sudan, James Wani Igga, deputy chairman of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement Party (SPLM) and vice president of South Sudan, said he stands ready to continue to strengthen the special friendly cooperative relations with the CPC in various fields. Expressing his belief that the 20th CPC National Congress will be remembered in history and lead China to a brighter future, Vladimir Orlic, vice president of the Serbian Progressive Party and speaker of the National Assembly of Serbia, said the CPC, which focuses on its second centenary goal, will make major and pioneering decisions charting the course for China's future development. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA On September 23rd, 2020, the Vehicle Safety and Regulatory Compliance organization within Fiat Chrysler Automobiles confirmed that certain brake hose assemblies were built wrong. A safety recall was issued on October 15th, 2020, only for FCA to petition thefor exemption from notification and remedy requirements.The petition was filed on November 13th, 2020, and the federal watchdog denied it on October 5th, 2022. As a result, no fewer than 26,961 chassis cabs have been called back to replace the rear brake hoses with the right orifice diameter. Dealers and owners will be notified on November 30th.Affected pickups were assembled between February 10th, 2019 and August 26th, 2020 for the 2019 and 2020 model years. According to section 5.31. of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 106, every inside diameter of any section of a hydraulic brake hose assembly shall be not less than 64 percent of the nominal inside diameter of the brake hose. Manufactured by Hitachi Cable America Inc., the suspect rear brake hoses feature part numbers 68371722AA for the right rear and 68371723AA for the left rear.The suspect brake hoses were pulled out of Ram Chassis Cab production after August 26th, 2020. Also worthy of note, owners who have incurred the cost of repairing a problem that subsequently becomes the subject of a field action are entitled to reimbursement as long as there is a receipt or any other adequate proof of payment. In the meantime, owners can run the VIN on thes website to find out if their chassis cabs are indeed recalled. 4WD NEDC SUV Apart from Lordstown, the only customer in Foxconns current list that seems to be interested in a pickup truck is Fisker . However, we seriously doubt that the company would ever build something designed by anyone other than Henrik Fisker. That said, the Model V must belong to one of Hon Hais other customers.If it were a Lordstown product, the Model V would have a very different configuration than that the Endurance presents. Instead of electric motors in each wheel, the Taiwanese pickup truck shows a solid rear axle and leaf spring suspension. What makes us scratch our heads is why the electric pickup has a drive shaft instead of an electric motor in the rear axle right away. If it were avehicle, another electric motor in the front axle would seal the deal. This is a pretty conservative configuration, even if quite robust and dependable as well.That may help to explain its 1-metric-ton (2,205 pounds) cargo capacity with the relatively small bed. It is 1.5-meter (59.1-inch) long, 1.45-m (57.1-in) wide, and 0.5-m (19.7-in) tall, which allows it to carry 1,088 liters (38.4 cubic feet) of cargo. Hon Hai also said it could tow 3 metric tons (6,614 lb). The bed contains power sockets for 110V and 12V.The company did not disclose much more about the Model V apart from the fording depth (80 centimeters, or 31.5 inches) and anrange of 420 kilometers (261 miles). Aerodynamically, the bed works like a parachute in the back, which makes it weird for the vehicle to present flush door handles and cameras instead of rear-view mirrors. They must make no difference in improving the range. Foxconn said it is possible to go from 20% to 80% of charge status in half an hour, suggesting the pickup uses a 400V system and does not accept a very high charging rate.Another mystery to solve about the pickup truck is its platform. Hon Hai said it was developed by the 2,479 companies involved with the MIH Open Platform , but it clearly is not the MIH. That would make the Model V a unibody vehicle, which it is not. Just like the suspension and the rear axle, it relies on a body-on-frame construction. Foxconn should think about other applications for it soon, such as a ruggedor even a Wrangler competitor.Will the unique logo on the pickup truck reveal who will sell it? Perhaps a new brand from Yulon? At this point, all we know is that it will avoid the Chicken Tax with manufacturing at the Lordstown plant in Ohio. Get ready for this new electric pickup truck, American consumers. Its been less than a month since I covered the Delfast California Class 3 electric bike, developed by a Ukrainian company based in Kyiv. The wheeler was designed at the manufacturers Los Angeles headquarters in the darkest of times for the Ukrainian people, as the war had already begun. It is why Delfasts bike is a statement, with the manufacturer promising to donate a percentage of the bike revenue to support the Ukrainian resistance.The California e-bike is now finally live on the Indiegogo crowdfunding platform and is available to order, with the first backers having the opportunity to get the wheeler at a very generous price. Delfast offers its smart commuter e-bike in two versions, one for the U.S. market and one for the European one. The former will pack a 750W motor, the most powerful one allowed in its class, as boasted by the manufacturer. It delivers a maximum torque of 160 Nm and can hit a top speed of 28 mph (40 kph) The EU version comes fitted with a smaller, 250W motor with a maximum torque of 80 Nm and takes you as fast as 15.5 mph (25 kph).If you opt for the U.S. version of the Delfast California, you get a range of 100 miles (161 km) per charge, while the E.U. version offers 200 km (124 miles) per charge.The e-bike s hyper-intelligent onboard computer syncs the app, display, and all components in real time, functioning as a single organism, as stated by Delfast. Theres built-in location tracking, a customizable alarm that gets triggered if someone moves the bike, and a Bluetooth lock/unlock feature.If youre interested in the Delfast California electric two-wheeler, you can back it on Indiegogo and get one for $2,700, although you should hurry, because there are only five units available at this price. The estimated shipping date is July 2023. For example, the standard 383 (6.3-liter) now developed 290 horsepower - 20 horsepower more than the previous model. The four-barrel version of the engine was also upgraded to 330 horsepower (up from 325 horsepower), while the almighty 440 (7.2-liter), the one that everybody loved, remained at 375 horsepower.This is why the Newport listed on eBay by seller gdtrfb61 is such an intriguing find.Discovered in an estate, the car comes with the massive 440 under the hood, and at first glance, theres still some life left in it.The owner doesnt share too many specifics, but it looks like the car has been stored inside for quite some time. The dusty Newport , therefore, requires a good wash before anything else, as a visual inspection should help a potential buyer figure out if any major fixes are required or not.At first glance, the metal looks as solid as it gets, but dont be too surprised if the rust has already started invading the trunk and the floors.The 440 under the hood no longer starts and runs, but on the other hand, the seller claims it turns over. This means a good mechanic could be able to save it, therefore bringing the car back to its original glory.Located in North Dallas, the Newport is being sold online as part of a no-reserve auction, which means the highest bidder can take it home when the digital fight comes to an end. At the time of writing, the top offer is $2,000, with close to 20 bids received. The auction is scheduled to come to an end in less than four days, so if you want this Newport, you know what you have to do. Here is a great school bus conversion that could be the ideal mobile home for anyone looking to escape the hustle and bustle of urban life and who would like to embrace a nomad lifestyle.This tiny dwelling started life as a 1998 International Thomas school bus and is now a fully off-grid mobile house that benefits from 2490 watts worth of solar panels mounted to a custom-made aluminum rack on the buss rooftop.It features a shortened 16-foot (4.9-meter) wheelbase length to allow owners to find parking more easily and offers 172 square feet (16 square meters) of living space.Designed as a mini-mansion on wheels, this bus conversion comes with an ingenious layout and is ideal for a small family. It features a spacious living/dining area with a couch and a dinette, two separate sleeping areas (a queen-sized bed in the bedroom plus a kids bunk measuring 25x46/60x116 cm), a fully-functional kitchen with fridge, sink, 3-burner stove, and range hood, as well as a full shower and a compost toilet.For all their belongings, owners can take advantage of plenty of drawer storage spaces and custom plywood cabinets with toe-kick pullouts.At the rear of the bus, there is an extended bumper that you can use to conveniently carry bikes, gear, and equipment for your outdoor adventures.Other noteworthy features include spray foam insulation, air conditioner, Wi-Fi connection, fire alarm, portable greywater tank, electrical and plumbing hookup cords and hoses, and more.The bus is now on sale out of Sarasota, Florida, via Tiny House Listings and is patiently waiting for its new owners to take it on new adventures. If it tickled your fancy, it could be yours for $86,500. kW Several days ago, the company sent a press release (read it at the bottom of this article) announcing its technology. Since their document lacked details regarding the technology and its practical uses, autoevolution asked the company a few questions about this seemingly attractive new system. Aeromine Technologies combines two critical elements: wind (obviously) and large buildings facing that wind to put their turbines on.Now, why large buildings, a curious reader might ask? Because the more prominent the structure, the more air currents are pushed toward the roof, where the wind can flow through the Aeromine generators to produce electricity.The units are the company's patented technology and rely on advanced aerodynamics similar to airplanes and Formula One cars to divert the air currents toward the obscured propeller. These generators do not resemble typical windmills, as there are no visible moving parts like large blades rotating at high speeds and the vibration-free operation is quiet and effective.Let's detail a little: with winds as low as 11 mph (18 kph) blowing against a big obstacle such as a building with a large front side the air is pushed upwards. Once it reaches the roof, the air passes through the wind units' airfoils. Due to the laws of aerodynamics, the wind catches up speed when flowing through the motionless blades. Watch this short video to see it in action.High air speed means low air pressure, which is essential for the whole functioning of the unit. Air is effectively sucked through the bottom of the unit inside a hollow vertical tube (see the photos to get a clear picture of this clean energy-generating design) and exists through the open top of the duct.Inside the tube sits a 5-turbine that spins to make electricity between 10 and 15 MWh annually. In some cases region- and climate-dependent the output can reach even higher values. One advantage of this innovative wind-catching electric generator design is the relatively small size (a footprint of 8x10 feet 2.4x3 meters and 14.5feet / 4.4 meters in height).With an individual unit weighing in at 920 lbs. (410 kilograms, mainly fiberglass ), one array of generators might burden a building's structure. Aeromine suggests clusters of 20 to 40 rooftop-mounted units (facing the predominant wind direction). Combined with a solar panel system, this wind harnessing system could in theory provide "up to 100 percent of a building's onsite energy needs." Aeromine claims its system "generates up to 50% more power than other sustainable energy options at the same or lower cost." Another significant advantage is the space-saving feature of this type of wind-propelled electric turbine: it is 90% smaller in install surface area than a solar panel array with comparable performance.And, unlike solar panels, it works as long as the wind blows, regardless of season, time of day (or night, for that matter), latitude, altitude, and weather. Or, to put it in the company's wording: "Large buildings in regions with reasonable winds. Areas with good wind are generally characterized by an average regional annual windspeed above five m/s (11 mph) at heights of 50 meters (150 feet). In many regions, strong coastal sea breezes are useful, even if the annual wind is low. Parts of Los Angeles are characterized by this."Its only current limitation is the positioning of the units: to be cost-effective, the Aeromine assembly requires (ideally) large structures (warehouses, data centers, office buildings, and apartment buildings) facing the wind.Since it has just one moving part the rotor of the generator maintenance costs are "very light," according to Aeromine, but this is all they have given us so far. One of their commercial pilots is currently undergoing real-life testing at a large chemical plant in Michigan.The company has not published any commercial details - initial installation and maintenance costs, cost-effectiveness, and energy bill economy. Then again, we should remember that each setup is different , and standard prices are improbable since each project requires a different configuration. According to research commissioned by the carmaker, nearly half of the participants (46%) stated that sustainability and the environment are more important to them now compared to five years ago, when choosing holiday accommodation. Meanwhile, 25% said that they prefer a staycation over traveling abroad in order to reduce their overall carbon footprint.Furthermore, 40% of the people polled said that they look for cheaper travel options with over half (53%) saying they would like to invest their money locally during holidays, rather than abroad.Another reason why staycations are becoming increasingly popular is because they alleviate some of the stress of travel disruptions.Were looking for unique, memorable stays more now than ever and this is a delicious blend of innovation, luxury and comfort that gets you thinking. With power coming from the car, where could Hotel Hyundai pop up next? - said the hotels curator, Grace Dent.Im excited for those staying with us to sample the sustainable, locally sourced menu as well as the equally fabulous cocktails, and of course to enjoy a good nights sleep. I hope this three-week pop-up hotel is just the start for this concept of a car plugging in and powering a luxury experience like this.Im predicting that guests will be hoping that this amazing hotel and the full experience it offers might be here again in 2023.As for where here is, that would be in Essex, just outside of London So, what can we expect should we stay at this Hyundai-powered hotel ? Well, the guest suite is a luxury cabin by Colemans Farm, while the bar & restaurant features a menu curated by Grace Dent. As for the cinema, you get car-powered projector and speakers, plus a V2L-powered popcorn machine.Hotel Hyundai opens for 14 nights total starting today, until November 5. In the intricately-interconnected world that we live in, the production of a single vehicle, in this case, an aircraft, can imply the use of several locations in different parts of the world. This obviously translates to additional fuel burn, resulting in higher levels of CO2 emissions.The Canadian aircraft manufacturer described the production route for one of its models, the Global aircraft. Production testing and certification flights are carried out in Canada, between Toronto and Montreal. Customer demonstration flights take place in the U.S., in Hartford, Connecticut. After-service check flights are conducted at various Bombardier service centers in the U.S., Germany, and Singapore.The manufacturer has now taken the decision to make all of these flights less impactful for the environment by using SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) to power them. It plans to use it for all of its flight operations, starting as soon as January 2023. This is supposed to result in up to 25% fewer GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions compared to 2019.To do so, it has partnered with Signature Aviation, a company that offers support services to business and private jet operators. Basically, Bombardier isnt purchasing SAF directly from a producer but will instead use Signature Aviations SAF supply points at airports through a Book and Claim system. Signature plans to eventually make SAF available at each of its terminals fuel farms.We will initially use the Book and Claim system, which ensures rigorous accounting of greenhouse gas emission reductions while optimizing the logistics, said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, Executive Vice President Services and Support, and Corporate Strategy, at Bombardier.This is an innovative approach for an aircraft manufacturer, which could inspire others to go for something similar. KABUL, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- "Since China has a rich culture with prosperous economy, its language Chinese is important and interesting," Afghan teenage Mohammad Ismael Adib told Xinhua. "I have decided to learn Chinese and become a bridge of communication between Afghanistan and China," said Adib, a junior student in the Department of Chinese Language and Literature of Kabul University, while mentioning that learning the Chinese language could help him find job easily after graduation from the university. "Those graduated from the department of the university in past years have already had job. They work either as teacher in the department or interpreter, and some have launched businesses," Adib said. Afghanistan's only Confucius Institute, also known as the Department of Chinese Language and Literature, opened in 2008 at Kabul University. Since then, the department has facilitated hundreds of young people to learn Chinese, the language of the most populous country in the world. "More than 90 students including boys and girls are currently learning Chinese in the department of the university," said Hamid Ghulami, director of the department. Ghulami, also a teacher of Chinese language in the department since 2014, said that learners of Chinese have been on the rise. "Although the department is new in Afghanistan, the number of students getting enrolled with Confucius Institute is increasing and we have also offered courses of Chinese language in Nangarhar University," Ghulami told Xinhua. "I have been learning Chinese over the past four years, it is a very important language and I like it," Khawaja Abdul Basir Sediqi told Xinhua in a classroom. As a senior student in the Confucius Institute, Sediqi said that China is a major economy with rich culture and old civilization, and learning Chinese is essential for cultural exchanges and connecting civilizations. "After graduation I could work as translator or teacher in Afghanistan to help push forward ties between the two neighboring nations," Sediqi said. If you drive a manual, forgetting what gear youre in or what gear you left your car in when you pulled in probably happened to you in the early, novice days. No word if this 30-year-old man was a beginner driver or not, but he forgot that he left his car in reverse, so when he wanted to leave and he hit the gas, he sent the vehicle backwards and into the cultural heritage site. Which is also Japans oldest toilet.The toilet in question is the communal washroom (tosu) inside the Tofukuji Temple, a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan, which dates back to the 15th century and was in use through to the 19th century. Built to serve the 100 monks on the premises of the temple, its a structure that houses round holes for toilets. The hapless driver caused considerable damage to the structure, by driving straight through the double wood door and knocking several support pillars, the BBC reports.Considering that the man was at the wheel of an old Toyota WiLL Vi, a very special and quite small model designed exclusively for Japan and meant to appeal to the fashionable young millennial, he mustve floored it pretty hard.The good news is that the driver was not injured, though hes probably not feeling very proud of himself: his job is with a company that is meant to preserve cultural heritage sites in the country, and this communal washroom is just that. The other piece of good news is that all damage caused is reparable, though its far more extensive than the director of the temples research institute imagined it would be.Repairs will start right away, after a period of damage assessing. The director hopes to complete them by the end of fall, but realistically, work will probably continue through the New Year.The Toyota WiLL Vi sustained minimal damage, so theres that silver lining as well. SUV MPV The company is still around, of course, but its been a while since it came out with something fresh. That changed this week, as the carmaker is getting ready to attend the 2022 Vietnam Motor Show in Ho Chi Minh City at the end of the month.For this particular event, Mitsubishi rolled out something it describes as the "best-suited buddy for an exciting life" (yes, exactly that), the XFC Concept. A compactby trade, it is supposed to complement the lineup the carmaker is selling on the ASEAN market, which already includes the Triton, Pajero Sport, Outlander , Xpander, Mirage, and the Attrage.Sporting a modified version of the Dynamic Shield design concept up front and T-shaped tail lights at the rear, the sculpted body of the SUV (its lines remind one of some Volvos and Renaults) hides a youthful interior, with a long screen for an instrument panel and lively colors throughout.Were not given any info on what powertrain animates the concept, but whatever it is it can be adapted to suit four driving modes, meaning Normal, Wet, Gravel and Mud.The XFC will spawn a production version vehicle next year, at first for the ASEAN region (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam), and later on possibly even for the global markets, according to company officials."We will launch the new compact SUV sequentially in the ASEAN markets including Vietnam in fiscal year 2023," said in a statement Takao Kato, president and chief executive officer, Mitsubishi Motors."In the future, we plan to add an electrified variant to the lineup and to also roll it out in regions outside ASEAN. We hope to grow the model from a vehicle for the ASEAN market to a global strategic vehicle, making it a core model like the sales-leading Xpander crossover." First and foremost, lets review the essentials.The car was discovered in a Washington barn where its been sitting for no less than 37 years. The current owner explains on Craigslist that the De Ville was moved to the storage back in 1985 when everything was working just right.In the meantime, the same barn turned into the home of nearly 100 other classics, including several other Cadillacs unfortunately, no images with this mysterious collection have been shared, as they wouldve been quite a treat for car aficionados out there.As we said, the De Ville flexes a totally unexpected shape, especially given its age and how long it spent in the barn. The Persian Green finish isnt necessarily flawless, but it looks good anyway, while the beige leather inside doesnt seem to require anything else than minor TLC.The owner has a detailed description of all the work the car has received lately on Craigslist, and worth knowing is that additional occasional fixes are still required. Some aftermarket parts have also been installed, and now everything is working properly, just like youd expect on a car looking so good.At first glance, this De Ville is ready for the road, and the only thing that you may want to have in mind for a fix is the air conditioning system, but given the winter is coming, this shouldnt be such a big concern.But at the end of the day, this Cadillac De Ville returning after such a long tenure in hiding is definitely good news for the auto world, especially given these models are a lot harder to find these days. Anyone planning to get their hands on this Cadillac must be ready to spend $17,300 for it. The American motorcycle manufacturer has recently launched the Pan America adventure bike, which helped raise the interest shown in earlier Harley models, too. The MT500 military bike in question here is a 1998 model that is offered with just 186 miles (299 km) on the odometer.The MT in its name stands for military transport, describing its intended purpose. Harley-Davidson designed it for the U.S. military as a modern iteration of the classic WLA from WWII.Developed as a direct evolution of the British-made Armstrong MT500, the MT500 dual sport motorcycle is powered by the same 500cc Rotax engine. This was an Austrian-built single-cylinder air-cooled engine that sported a single overhead cam, four valves, and a built-in five-speed transmission.Considering military vehicles are rarely designed for speed, the bike is not as mighty as some might expect, with its engine producing just 32 ps (31.5 hp) at 6,200 rpm and 28 lb-ft of torque. Instead, the bike excels in ruggedness and reliability, which are of paramount importance in the military.This particular unit comes in Olive Drab with matching fenders and a Black solo rider seat and features a simple tubular chassis, telescopic forks, front and rear disc brakes, and twin shock absorbers in the rear.To maintain simplicity, low weight, and minimal maintenance, the MT500s bodywork is mainly made from plastic. The riders can make use of a package rack located behind the seat.This 1998 MT500 is a rare electric start example and is offered with no reserve via Mecum . It will go under the hammer in late January as part of the Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction. EV After all, they almost look the same, despite the widest-ever grille on a Rolls-Royce and that BMW-borrowed split-headlight styling , or the fact that Spectres introductory specification looks a bit too childish inside. But, of course, the new model might also trigger the wrath of diehard fans.And not just because its a fully electric Rolls-Royce. And not only in the real world, where it plays with the concept of raw, silent power and illuminated closed grilles. Instead, the virtual realm is seemingly ready to start churning out one outrageous idea after the other. Ildar, the virtual artist better known as ildar_project on social media, usually dabbles with tuned models - and he is ready to properly mess around with this new Rolls-Royce.This is among the first virtual transformations for the Rolls-Roycesince it became official and we suspect this pixel master moved so fast not only because he has a knack for quirky-styled BMWs but also due to his earlier, unofficial work on the OEM matter . But now, the CGI expert does not stray out of his comfort zone, and he might properly paint the initial digital picture when looking to imagine the upcoming aftermarket ideas.Frankly, after seeing so many widebody Cullinans, a two-door Rolls-Royce with an aerodynamic kit, wider fenders, hulking wheels, and a slammed atmosphere does not seem all that outrageous anymore. Besides, the digital author manages to make the Spectre look planted and perhaps ready to stand out in any posh customization crowd. So, does it get our CGI hall pass, even without other POVs to judge the digital goodies, or not?Update: The author has quickly dropped the rear POV so we can ogle freely at the slammed widebody Spectre EV yet again! Internet in airplanes will feel same as if you were accessing Internet at home! https://t.co/Mfl2ixYnJH Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 19, 2022 The idea was to have the system running by the end of this year, but at the time of writing the only mention of release date on the Starlink website is 2023, and thats probably because its still waiting regulatory approval.Perhaps because of this delay, or maybe because Starlink and its use in Ukraine are at the center of a financial back-and-forth dispute between Elon Musk and the Pentagon, the man behind so many great ideas thought its best to bring the service back into the spotlight for what its meant to offer.Responding to a Starlink tweet a few hours ago, the Tesla CEO promised Internet in airplanes will feel same as if you were accessing Internet at home! He then quickly moved on to advertise the remaining 1,300 bottles of Burnt Hair , which took only a couple of hours to be sold out after that.Back to Starlink Aviation, the satellite-based Internet solution should prove extremely effective in providing access to online whatever even from remote areas transited by airplanes, like oceans and the polar regions.For airplanes, the receiver is called Aero Terminal, and to be easier to integrate in airplanes, is has a different design than your usual Starlink antenna. For the aviation industry, a Starlink kit comprises the Aero Terminal, power supply, 2 wireless access points, and harnesses.Its unclear how much the system will cost airlines (unlike individual customers, who generally need only one system, companies will buy them in bulk JSX, for instance, will fit Starlink on some 100 airplanes), but the standard price for Internet from space with Musks company is $110 per month with a one-time hardware cost of $599. While some daring aviation projects are at a crossroad, the business jet sector is doing just fine. One of the biggest players, the French manufacturer Dassault, looks to be on track with both the Falcon 6X and the Falcon 10X. The brands first jet to be powered by a Rolls-Royce engine, the Falcon 10X is meant to revolutionize the ultra-long range segment while also offering the biggest cabin available in its category. The new Rolls-Royce Pearl 10X delivers over 18,000 lbs of thrust. Powered by two of these, the new jet claims an impressive range of 7,500 nautical miles (8,630 miles/13,890 km) and a top speed of Mach 0.925 (685.5 mph). Dassault announced that its ready to start producing the initial subassemblies for the Falcon 10X. These include the landing gear and a fully-representative composite wing that will undergo static and fatigue testing. The French manufacturer also plans to demonstrate the maturity of all systems through ground testing, even before the first flight which is said to be an innovative approach to testing.To do so, it will use two test benches at its flight test center in Istres, France, each of them featuring a full flight deck and subsystems computer suites just like those on the future aircraft. Theres also a third bench at a different location dedicated to testing the flight control system.At the same time, Rolls-Royce is closer to certifying the Pearl 10X . The flight test campaign for the new engine is scheduled for next year.Dassault claims that the Falcon 10X will become the largest purpose-built business jet in operation. More on this: 1 Japanese-Inspired Peony Is the Only Tiny House Close to One of the Famous Pink Lakes 2 The Grand Is a Rustic-Modern Tiny Home That Fits Everything Into 309 Sq Ft 3 Cute and Aesthetic Tiny Home Designed by a Woman With a Musical Theme 4 Goa Tiny House Is the Epitome of Relaxation, Has an Indoor and Outdoor Bathtub 5 This Is Ethel, a Shuttle Bus That Has Been Transformed Into a Tiny Home by Two Women Saying Ford takes a considerable chunk of the classic car scene is arguable and could easily be brushed off as a bunch of baloney. You'll only need to visit a classic car show to discover the majority is a mix of European cars. But when it comes to rat rods and hot rods Ford explicitly enjoys the lion's share.If you are a hot wheel fanatic, you probably graced the Hot Wheels Legends Tour two weekends ago at Baldwin Park in Los Angeles, California. AutotopiaLA was kind enough to feature a head-turner at the event a 1938 Cadillac-powered Ford rat rod.Angel's 1938 Ford rat rod , aka 'Cinderelli,' deserved a spot at the event because it sure looks like a life-sized Hot Wheel. Like most rat rods, it's a mix of everything donning a Farmall tractor grille, Model T taillight, a chopped and channeled 1938 Ford truck body, and a 472 big-block Cadillac powerplant.Part of the mods includes roller cams and rockers, aluminum intake, Holley carburetor, and Zoomie headers.The highlight of the truck is the rear wheel setup. "So 22 by 14 wide also, I think it's a positive 72 mm offset," Angel said about the rear wheel layout. The classic truck is also considerably low, with zero fenders on the front or back.There's a comical side to this rat rod build apart from the overflow Jack Daniels bottle and the not-so-subtle "Fukcum & Gowjum" tag on the door. For starters, it's called 'Cinderelli' and not Cinderella, because Angel thinks, "It's an ugly pumpkin." There was also a conspicuous funny-looking rat figuring sticking out of the intake, which he admits kids can't get enough of.If you think this Cadillac-powered '38 Ford is all about laughs, wait until you hear it roar. We recommend catching that ear-splitting action in the video below. This photo taken on Oct. 13, 2022 shows employees working at the smart distribution center in Karachi, Pakistan. (Str/Xinhua) by Raheela Nazir, Deng Kaiyin ISLAMABAD, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan has put its first-ever smart distribution center (SDC) into operations in the country's southern port city of Karachi, with experts and officials hailing the development as a milestone towards revolutionizing Pakistan's e-commerce ecosystem. Built by Cainiao Smart Logistics Network of China in partnership with Daraz, the largest player in Pakistan's e-commerce market, the 50,000-square-meter-large distribution center will be one of the most technologically advanced logistics facilities in South Asia, equipped with an automatic assembly line and smart distribution set-up with least human interference to ensure operational quality and stability. Talking to Xinhua, Syed Zamin Ali, project manager of the SDC in Karachi, said that Pakistan's e-commerce industry has been witnessing a robust growth over the last few years and the number of registered e-commerce merchants, platforms and online payment facilities are also on the rise, showing that more and more Pakistani people are making digital purchases and payments. According to the latest data released by the State Bank of Pakistan, the e-commerce market in fiscal year 2020 is estimated to have expanded to 234.6 billion rupees (1.07 billion U.S. dollars) from 150.8 billion rupees in the previous year, up 55.6 percent on a year-on-year basis. "With the size increase of the e-commerce market of Pakistan and considering the future prospects, there is a dire need of improving our logistics capabilities to boost our customers' experience," Ali said. "Both sellers and buyers were facing difficulties due to an outdated manual distribution system which involved a number of tedious tasks and labor before the package actually reached its destination," he said, adding that the manual task was heavily error-prone and time-consuming, undermining customers' trust. Thanks to the newly introduced automated distribution center, the project manager said most of the problems have now been solved as it would decrease manual errors by 90 percent and increase the sorting capacity by over four times. In the coming days, the Chinese firm is going to operationalize another smart logistic hub in Lahore, the provincial capital of Pakistan's largest Punjab province, Ali said, expressing hope to build more of such centers across the country to bring more efficiency to Pakistan's logistics sector. Enthusiastically operating the new SDC, 25-year-old Younus Khan was optimistic to dispatch millions of packages in the coming days as a mega sale campaign is just around the corner, saying "now we are fully equipped to make on-time deliveries without any error." "I, along with other staff members, have been learning about the new system from the Chinese engineers over the last few months. The hard work bears fruit as now we have made it fully operational. The knowledge, skills, and devotion of our Chinese brothers really inspired me a lot," Khan told Xinhua. He said that the two logistic facilities in Karachi and Lahore have a capacity to process around 1 million orders a day, making them the most efficient facilities in Pakistan. "I believe it is just the start of something big in the country's e-commerce industry." Congratulating the Chinese and Pakistani experts for successfully accomplishing the new venture, Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Qamar said the SDCs would provide smart solutions to problems being faced by the supply chain systems and help the e-commerce industry usher in a new era of smart logistics. E-commerce has become one of the key drivers of Pakistan's economy, and the investment by the Chinese firm in the industry will be a game changer for Pakistan and beyond, he said. "China is the world's largest e-commerce market with annual online sales worth hundreds of billions of dollars, and Pakistan has a lot to learn from them in terms of knowledge base, experience and technology to take our e-commerce industry to new heights," Qamar told Xinhua. He said there is a huge potential in Pakistan's e-commerce market, and the incumbent government has been making efforts to incentivize the industry to speed up digital transformation. (1 U.S. dollar equals 218.69 Pakistani Rupees) This photo taken on Oct. 13, 2022 shows an employee working at the smart distribution center in Karachi, Pakistan. (Str/Xinhua) This photo taken on Oct. 13, 2022 shows employees working at the smart distribution center in Karachi, Pakistan. (Str/Xinhua) Palmdale, CA (93550) Today Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 43F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 43F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. He met with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh and visited an annual arms exhibition in the Indian city of Gandhinagar on Tuesday. The Armenian Defense Ministry said Papikian discussed with Singh ways of expanding Armenian-Indian military ties and a number of issues of bilateral military-technical cooperation, an official euphemism for arms supplies. It reported no agreements to that effect reached at the meeting. In a separate statement, the ministry said that Papikian spoke with the chief executives of several defense companies when he visited DefExpo 2022 in Gandhinagar and familiarized himself with military hardware displayed there. It did not elaborate. Indian online news service ThePrint.in reported later on Tuesday that Armenia is eyeing more defense deals with India. Citing unnamed sources, it said that Yerevan is specifically interested in acquiring Akash air-defense systems and combat drones also manufactured by Indian companies. Armenia and India reportedly signed last month contracts for the supply of $245 million worth of Indian multiple-launch rocket systems, anti-tank rockets and ammunition to the Armenian military. An Indian newspaper said on September 29 that they will be delivered to Armenia over the coming months. The Armenian government did not deny the report which came amid Yerevans and New Delhis efforts to deepen bilateral ties. India has effectively sided Armenia with in its intensifying border dispute with Azerbaijan. The dispute escalated on September 13-14 into large-scale fighting on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border which left more than 200 Armenian soldiers dead. Officials in Yerevan complained afterwards about the Armenian armys lack of modern weapons, responding to opposition claims that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians administration has done little to rebuild the Armenian armed forces since the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh. In an apparent reference to Russia, Pashinian claimed on September 29 that our allies have failed to deliver weapons to Armenia despite contracts signed with them in the last two years. Russia has long been the principal supplier of weapons and other military equipment to Armenia. Its only one shop, and a common one at that, but its identity says a lot about what's planned for 10 acres of vacant land at the southwest co You can reach Ishani Desai at 661-395-7417. You can also follow her at @_ishanidesai on Twitter. A man collects harvested cotton at a farm in Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt, Sept. 28, 2022. Bathed in the warm sun and pleasant breezes of the Mediterranean, cotton bolls bloomed on the research farm of Sakha Agricultural Research Station in Kafr El-Sheikh in the Nile Delta region of northern Egypt, turning the land into a white blanket.(Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) by Mahmoud Fouly KAFR EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Bathed in the warm sun and pleasant breezes of the Mediterranean, cotton bolls bloomed on the research farm of Sakha Agricultural Research Station in Kafr El-Sheikh in the Nile Delta region of northern Egypt, turning the land into a white blanket. A dozen of cotton pickers were hard at work, removing the bolls from cotton plants and putting them into small bags. On the side of the field, huge burlap sacks of cotton piled up like a small hill. Two varieties of cotton were grown on the research farm, Giza 97, one of the most cultivated cotton varieties in Egypt, and Giza 93, one of the best cotton varieties in the world in terms of quality. This year's harvest on the farm will provide Egyptian agrotechnicians with the information to further improve the breeding and cultivation of the two cotton varieties. Salah Saber, leader of the cotton seed breeding team at the research farm, said that agrotechnicians' hard efforts have made a significant contribution to the production of top-quality cotton, on which Egypt takes great pride. "We have succeeded in breaking the negative correlation between the cotton yield and quality, and managed to get both at the same time," he said. He explained that a feddan (0.42 hectare) of cotton, which used to produce about 7 to 8 kantars (a kantar equals 45.02 kilos) of seed cotton, now produces about 12 to 13 kantars, thanks to the cotton breeding research. Egypt's Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) reported that the export of Egyptian cotton in the previous cotton season, which started in September 2020 and ended in August 2021, reached 1.7 million kantars. The CAPMAS data also showed that cotton production in the Arab world's most populous country reached 2.3 million kantars in the 2020/2021 season, a 31-percent increase over the 2019/2020 season. Saber said that the boom in cotton production is driven by both Egypt's plans to expand the cultivation of the cash crop and improve cotton breeding and cultivating technologies. Egypt's agrotechnicians have been seeking to create cotton varieties that satisfy the demands of farmers in terms of yield, those of merchants in terms of the quantity of lint produced, and those of the global market in terms of quality, staple length, fiber strength and softness, Saber added. Samar Salem, a cotton picker, said that she was happy to work in the farm, whose research will bring benefits to the country's cotton industry and improve the living condition of millions of Egyptian farmers. A woman harvests cotton at a farm in Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt, Sept. 28, 2022. Bathed in the warm sun and pleasant breezes of the Mediterranean, cotton bolls bloomed on the research farm of Sakha Agricultural Research Station in Kafr El-Sheikh in the Nile Delta region of northern Egypt, turning the land into a white blanket.(Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) A woman carries harvested cotton at a farm in Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt, Sept. 28, 2022. Bathed in the warm sun and pleasant breezes of the Mediterranean, cotton bolls bloomed on the research farm of Sakha Agricultural Research Station in Kafr El-Sheikh in the Nile Delta region of northern Egypt, turning the land into a white blanket.(Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) NAIROBI, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Kenya has projected exports for 2022 to jump 15 percent as compared to the 738 billion shillings (6.08 billion U.S. dollars) recorded in 2021. Wilfred Marube, chief executive officer of state-owned Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA), said Wednesday in Nairobi, Kenya's capital that the increase will be driven by sales into new African countries due to operationalization of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as well as emerging markets such as South Korea. "Our marketing efforts are paying off because Kenyan products are penetrating new markets," Marube said during the launch of Kenya Association of Manufacturers Vision 20 by 30. Kenya's key exports include horticulture, tea, coffee, titanium ores, textile and apparel, refined petroleum, iron, plastics and paper products. Marube observed that Kenya is keen to expand its export revenues by increasing the number of export destinations as well as its product base. He revealed that 15 countries account for about 70 percent of the exports, while five products account for about half of export revenues. According to Marube, the bulk of agricultural produce is sold to overseas markets in an unprocessed or semi-processed form, denying the country additional revenues. Myanmar nationals who had been detained under the Malaysian immigrant law wait to board a chartered flight to Myanmar, Oct. 6, 2022. Myanmars shadow government and rights groups are voicing alarm over reports that military defectors were among 150 Myanmar nationals deported this month from Malaysia. Malaysian authorities arrested six former Myanmar navy officers in September and deported them on Oct. 6, Reuters news service reported Wednesday. At least four of those deported sought United Nations refugee status in Malaysia, and one officer and his wife were detained upon arrival in Yangon, it said. Two sources in Malaysia confirmed the deportation of military defectors to BenarNews, speaking on condition of anonymity out of concern they could face retribution from the Malaysian government. Yes, its true, they said, while declining to offer additional details. Myanmars embassy in Kuala Lumpur had announced that 150 Myanmar nationals detained under Malaysian immigrant law for a long period of time were brought back to Myanmar on Oct. 6 on a chartered flight. It did not mention former naval officers. Another 149 Myanmar nationals were deported on Sept. 22, 2022, according to another notice on the embassys Facebook page. Responding to Wednesdays reports, Aung Myo Min, human rights minister for Myanmars parallel civilian National Unity Government, called on Malaysia to immediately cease its deportation of those at risk of imprisonment upon their return. One branch of Malaysias government should not be urging the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to act against Myanmars junta while another refuses to assist its people, he told Radio Free Asias Burmese service (RFA). The government should be acting in unity to support democracy in Myanmar, he said. We will continue to engage with Malaysias government and call on Kuala Lumpur to stop putting Myanmars activists in danger. The regular deportations and sending back of military defectors appear sharply at odds with Malaysias public stance condemning the 2021 military coup, and the violence Myanmars junta has perpetrated on civilians who oppose it. Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah has been seen as the regions most outspoken critic of Myanmar and the biggest ally of the National Unity Government. Saifuddin was the first Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign minister to contact Myanmars shadow government, publicly meet with its foreign minister and push for the regional bloc to actively engage with it. BenarNews contacted government sources about whether former Myanmar military officers were deported on Oct. 6. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it could not verify the report. The director general of Malaysias immigration department replied no comment, while Saifuddin and his aide did not reply. Double standard on Myanmar Speaking to RFA, Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of New York-based Human Rights Watch, called Malaysias deportation of refugees and asylum seekers to Myanmar outrageous and unacceptable, noting that they are likely to be immediately jailed by the junta upon their return. The fact that a number of these Navy defectors were sent back, you know, really puts them in serious danger, he said. Our concern is that there is a double standard going on here that on one hand the Malaysian government claims that it cares about the Myanmar people and that it cares about democracy and human rights in Myanmar, he said. But then on the other hand other parts of the Malaysian government are working very closely with the military junta." He urged the Malaysian government to end its deportation of Myanmar nationals and to allow the U.N. Refugee Office (UNHCR) access to immigration detention centers so that staffers can identify those in need of protection. The Malaysian government has denied access to UNHCR to go into those areas since August 2019 and thats unacceptable, he said. Robertson also called for third countries to negotiate agreements that would allow some refugees and asylum seekers from Myanmar to seek protection elsewhere, if Malaysia is unwilling to take them in. Hay Mar Soe in Washington contributed to this report. A Royal Malaysia Police forensics team handles human remains found in a jungle grave at Bukit Wang Burma in the northern Malaysian state of Perlis, May 26, 2015. Malaysian officials could have prevented the torture and deaths of Rohingya and Bangladeshi trafficking victims whose bodies were found in shallow graves in the jungle along the Thai border in 2015, according to findings by a government-commissioned panel that were only made public recently. The chairman of the Royal Commission of Inquiry told Malaysian media in early August that the RCIs 211-page report into the graves, which was completed in 2019, was confidential and subject to the countrys Official Secrets Act, according to a human rights watchdog that drew attention on Tuesday to the reports recent online publication. The torture and deaths of the illegal immigrants should have been prevented by the authorities taking a more proactive step in border control. It did not require any extraordinary effort to detect what had happened in Bukit Wang Burma, according to an excerpt from the commissions report. The Commission regards the incident at Wang Kelian as a humanitarian tragedy that should never happened in this day and age, the report went on to say. Drawing attention to the report, Southeast Asia-based advocacy group Fortify Rights called on Malaysian authorities to go after officials involved in trafficking people to death camps in Wang Kelian in northern Perlis state, including those who were criminally negligent in the police investigation. Malaysian enforcement agencies failed to follow their own standard operating procedures, significantly impacting the quality of their investigation into the situation in Wang Kelian, Fortify Rights said Tuesday, citing from the RCI report. The unceremonious appearance of the report online, unbeknownst to key stakeholders in the country, raises questions about the ongoing lack of justice and accountability for Rohingya victims of trafficking, Matthew Smith, the chief executive officer of Fortify Rights, said in a news release. In response to the RCIs findings, and to give Rohingya victims and their families a measure of justice, the Malaysian government must provide reparations and prosecute officials implicated in the horrendous crimes in Wang Kelian. The report, which was expected to be made public in 2020, was released recently, according to Fortify Rights, which said it had obtained copies of English and Malay versions of the document. An English version appeared briefly on the Ministry of Home Affairs website before being taken down in early September, the group said. As of early Tuesday, it said a Malay version was available on the website. In January 2015, Malaysian authorities found 139 mass graves and 28 abandoned camps scattered near the rocky hills along the Thai border at Bukit Wang Burma in Wang Kelian, but waited four months to exhume the bodies. More than 100 skeletal remains, believed to be those of member of Myanmars stateless Rohingya Muslim minority, were found in the graves while other remains apparently belonged to undocumented migrants from Bangladesh. The order to hold back issued by the Inspector General of Police at the time caused a delay in the investigation, producing a significant impact on the quality of the overall investigation, the RCI report said, referring to the four-month delay. In June 2019, a Malaysian government commission concluded a 17-day hearing after listening to testimony from 48 witnesses and prepared a final report on its findings. Fortify Rights said that in January 2020, then-Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced the report was to be presented to the cabinet, and if the cabinet agreed to its release, the document would be made public. More than two years later, in July 2022, Home Affairs Minister Hamzah Zainudin told MPs that the report had been approved more than two years earlier. According to the report, Khalid Abu Bakar , who was serving as inspector general of police in 2015, ordered the delay in recovering the bodies because he was unsure as to whether the location of the camps discovered were in Malaysia or Thailand. The question about whether the trafficking camps were in Malaysian or Thai territory should have prompted an immediate investigation, not a delay, Fortify Rights said. As a result of the delay, forensic experts could only establish causes of death for two of the 114 exhumed victims, inhibiting accountability. By comparison, Thailand tried 102 suspects on charges related to the bodies of human trafficking victims discovered on its side of the border, convicting 62 people in July 2017. Among those convicted was former Army Lt. Gen. Manas Kongpaen who saw his 27-year sentence tripled to 82 years in October 2019. Malaysia, meanwhile, has not taken action against officials who mishandled the Wang Kelian case, displayed negligence in their duties and, more importantly, continued to deny justice to the trafficking victims and their relatives through their actions, Fortify Rights said. It pointed to the U.S. State Department keeping Malaysia at the lowest Tier 3 on its annual Trafficking in Persons report released in July. That report said anti-trafficking investigations declined , and the government did not prosecute or convict government officials allegedly complicit in trafficking crimes. The fact that Malaysia still hasnt held any officials accountable is a stain on the nations record that must be rectified, Smith said. The trafficking of Rohingya to Malaysia was widespread and systematic and demands justice, accountability and reparations for victims and their families. ABUJA, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- About one in three children in Nigeria, or 36 percent of the children, receive Early Childhood Education(ECE), an official of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Wednesday, calling for the scaling up of the attendance rate in Africa's most populous country. Yetunde Oluwatosin, a UNICEF education specialist based in Nigeria, told reporters at a two-day forum in the northwestern state of Sokoto that the percentage of early childhood learning in the country was "worrisome", with official data showing large inequalities between the poorest and richest children. The ECE's attendance rate for the poorest children stood at 8 percent, while that for the richest, 87 percent. "In Nigeria, only one in three children, or 36 percent attend ECE, but at least 10 million children are not enrolled," Oluwatosin said. The UNICEF official noted that early childhood was a critical period that any country must pay attention to, with the mindset that doing so would improve the economic outcome of the child. That period must be consciously built to contribute to the child's early transformation, she said. "Research has shown that children who attend ECE perform better in the academy and have greater earning potential as they grow over the years," the education specialist said. Oluwatosin identified the lack of trained teachers, distance to school, and inappropriate curriculum, among others, as barriers limiting the growth of ECE in Nigeria. "We also need to strengthen the roles of parents as the first educator of the child, provide adequate funding for pre-primary education, build the capacity of teachers and provide adequate curriculum for ECE," she said. Mourners surround the coffin of Fadi Mohamad Al Batsh, a Palestinian engineer who was gunned down four days earlier in Kuala Lumpur, April 25, 2018. Malaysian authorities are investigating whether Israels spy agency was involved in the kidnapping of a Palestinian in Kuala Lumpur in late September, a senior police official said Wednesday. Eleven Malaysians were charged in court last week over the abduction after police raided a chalet and rescued the computer programmer, whose captors allegedly beat and interrogated him for 24 hours. On Wednesday, police questioned the editor of the New Straits Times newspaper, which had exclusively reported the alleged connection to Mossad a day earlier, leading officials in Gaza to publicly thank Malaysian authorities. We are investigating the Mossad element in the kidnapping case. We have yet to confirm the agencys involvement, Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Azmi Abu Kassim told reporters. Azmi was referring to a report by the New Straits Times where it claimed the Israeli spy agency was behind the abduction of a Palestinian in Kuala Lumpur on Sept. 28. It reported that Omar Z.M. Albelbaisy Raeda, 31, was kidnapped by a group of people who allegedly wanted to obtain information about a software used to hack mobile phones. The New Straits Times report alleges that Raeda was blindfolded and forced into a white vehicle before being taken to a chalet. Once at the destination, he was bound to a chair where he was interrogated and beaten by the Malaysian operatives when his answers were not to the Israelis satisfaction. Since the story broke, Malaysian media have reported that police arrested 11 suspects. These include a woman who appeared at the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate Court on Oct. 14, where the suspects were charged with kidnapping. The New Straits Times also alleged that Mossad ran a spy ring in Malaysia, headed by a local woman who works as a private investigator and was recruited by the agency in 2018 and sent overseas for espionage training. On Tuesday, Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani confirmed that the 11 were suspects in the abduction of a Palestinian, but without naming Raeda. He did not comment about allegations of Mossad involvement, but urged people to not speculate about the case, which could jeopardize the police investigation and confuse the public. Additionally, Malaysian officials did not comment on whether the woman arrested and the woman who allegedly headed the spy ring were the same person. Earlier that day, the Palestinian Ministry of Interior and National Security issued a statement to thank Malaysian authorities. The Palestinian Ministry of Interior and National Security appreciates the great efforts made by the Malaysian authorities in rescuing a Palestinian citizen of the Gaza Strip who was kidnapped in Malaysia by the Israeli occupation through its Mossad agents. In addition, they were able to expose the members of the Mossad cell and pursue and track their larger network. At the same time, we thank the Malaysian police and security services, we firmly denounce this blatant crime committed by the Israeli occupation against one of our Palestinian people in Malaysia, and we call for the perpetrators to be held accountable and sentenced, it said. Not unusual A security analyst said it was not unusual for the Israeli intelligence agency to target Palestinians abroad, especially those with ties to the Hamas militant group. If it is said that the thwarted kidnapping was an act of desperation, then such a move is not something new for Mossad. Israel has always viewed Palestinians, especially those with ties to the Hamas movement, as a potential threat, Bakri Mat, an associate professor at Universiti Utara Malaysia, told BenarNews. Mossad operatives have previously been linked to a series of assassinations and targeted killings of Hamas operatives abroad, such as in Malaysia in 2018, and in Qatar in 2010. Still, he said, this incident would not make Palestinians feel less safe in Malaysia. What is more important, the security authorities need to be on alert at all times, he said. In April 2018, a Palestinian engineer named Fadi Mohamad Al Batsh , who was allegedly linked to Hamas, was gunned down in Kuala Lumpur. Hamas accused Mossad of the killing, but no suspect has been arrested. A father of three, Al Batsh had been in Malaysia for more than seven years and held Malaysian permanent resident status, officials said shortly after his killing. Malaysia, a Muslim-majority country of nearly 33 million people, has no diplomatic ties with Israel. The nation hosts a Palestinian envoy and about 3,000 Palestinians, mostly university students. In recent years, officials in Kuala Lumpur have denied Israeli allegations that Hamas operatives were training on Malaysian soil to carry out military operations against the Jewish state. Muzliza Mustafa in Kuala Lumpur contributed to this report. Philippine Navy staff wave from the landing ship BRP Dagupan City during a send-off ceremony ahead of a training exercise, Oct. 17, 2018. The government has delayed plans to add submarines to its fleet. The Philippines has decided to delay acquiring submarines under its military modernization program, the defense department announced Wednesday, saying the purchase is not a priority at a time when government funds are limited. Department of Defense spokesman Arsenio Andolong cited a lack of government resources as the reason why the submarine project is being pushed to the backburner. Earlier this month, the department said its military modernization program had been delayed yet again. The submarines were supposed to be acquired during Horizon 3, the latest stage of the modernization program that was expected to begin in 2023 and run to 2028. The first stage, Horizon 1, ran from 2013 to 2018, and Horizon 2 ran from 2018 to 2022. Although submarines are on our wish list for Horizon 3, the department is prioritizing the implementation of contracts signed during the previous administration, cognizant of the limitations in the resources available to the government, Andolong said in a statement. Top defense and military officials from the previous administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, who left office in June, had planned to acquire at least two submarines. The Navy had estimated the project to cost about 70 billion pesos (U.S. $1.2 billion), including logistics support and development of ports to house the submarines. The procurement of submarines is actually not yet a priority for the department as of now, Andolong told reporters after issuing his statement. Submarines are expensive. If we buy them, the cost will be more than the 20 billion to 25 billion pesos budget ($338.7 million to $423.4 million) we get every year, he said as he discussed funding for the militarys modernization program. Asked if the Navy, which has no submarines in its fleet, was prepared to add them, Andolong said, Lets just say the Navy is currently reviewing and evaluating the program in order to determine what is really needed to implement the program. France, he said, is among the countries expressing interest in supplying submarines to the Southeast Asian nation, which along with Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan are engaged in a territorial dispute with China over the South China Sea. Indonesia, which is not a claimant, has a separate dispute with Beijing. Andolong denied local media reports that France was offering the submarines in exchange for permission to explore the countrys waters. Many suppliers have expressed interest in selling us submarines, including France. However, there is no truth to the report that there is an offer to the department for submarines in exchange for permission to explore Philippine waters, he said. We do have a 2016 arrangement with France on defense cooperation, and in the course of the departments engagements with representatives from France, there was never a mention or discussion of such a proposal. Any agreement would comply with the constitution and uphold the countrys interests, Andolong said. Last month, Michele Boccoz, Frances ambassador to the Philippines, discussed a possible submarine deal. There is an ongoing discussion. There is a tender and theres been a proposal. This is a normal discussion, Boccoz said on the sidelines of a defense forum in Manila. She did not immediately respond to a BenarNews request for comment on Wednesday. A boat is seen at a pier on the Thai side of the Kolok River overlooking the Malaysian town of Rantau Panjang, Aug. 29, 2022. Updated at 1:54 p.m. ET on 2022-10-19 A severely bruised body found floating in a river along the Thai-Malay border belongs to a Deep South insurgent who went missing after allegedly being abducted last month, the BRN rebel group said Wednesday, warning that the killing might harm peace talks with Thailand. The man whose body was discovered in the Kolok River was a member of the military wing of Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN, or the National Revolutionary Front), the groups chief peace negotiator confirmed to BenarNews. The dead man, 42-year-old Zahri Bin Abdullah (also known as Yahri Dueloh), headed the insurgent groups youth wing in the Thai province of Narathiwat and had been living in northern Malaysia for the past few years, other sources close to BRN told BenarNews. A Thai military source denied allegations that government security personnel were behind Zahris abduction from the Malaysian side of the border as well as his torture and killing. Zahri was abducted on Sept. 27, and his body was found in the river two days later. A DNA test confirmed that the body belonged to Zahri, said Anas Abdulrahman, also known as Hipni Mareh, who heads the BRN peace panel in the Malaysia-brokered talks. In a separate statement issued overnight, the BRN insinuated that Thai security forces had kidnapped and killed Zahri. BRN strongly condemns the extra-judicial killing of people suspected of affiliation with BRN. Such acts are direct violations of the Geneva Conventions, BRN said in a statement sent to BenarNews. The incident has greatly eroded the trust of BRN in particular, and the Patani community in general, the rebel group added. Zahris killing will definitely affect the peace process if it turns out that Thai authorities were involved, Anas said, adding they didnt know who was behind the killing or what their motives were. Thai officials certainly did not abduct and kill Zahri, said a Thai military source in the Deep South who was not authorized to speak to reporters on the record. The commander of the 4th Army Region Command, which covers the Deep South, declined to comment. Zahri Bin Abdullah, who was also known as Yahri Dueloh. [Undated handout photo released by Thai officials] Abducted, tortured, and killed BRN and Anas alleged that Zahri was abducted by a group of men in three vehicles from a small town in Rantau Panjang sub-district, in the Malaysian state of Kelantan, near the Thai border. They said he was brutally killed with severe bodily injuries, and there were signs of electrocution and strangulation. His eyebrows were missing. Also missing was one of his ears, Anas said. The clothing was different from the time he was abducted. The watch on the body was not Zahris. The identification card found on him also belonged to someone else. Malaysian and Thai sources said the dead man had identification cards from both countries, which is not unusual for people who live along the border. According to a second Thai official, the military held Zahri for interrogation in 2015, and he was wanted for three crimes, including an alleged arson attack and killings of policemen in 2017 and 2018. A third Thai military source who also spoke on condition of anonymity said Zahri returned to Malaysia in September after being detained briefly for questioning about attacks in Sungai Padi, Narathiwat in August and September. A source in Thailand suspected that the killing could have been done by those trying to disrupt the negotiations between Thailand and BRN. It could have been done by peace spoilers who did not want the negotiation to succeed, said the source, who declined to be named due to security reasons. Anas Abdulrahman (center), the head of the panel representing Barisan Revolusi Nasional rebels in peace talks with Thailand who is also known as Hipni Mareh, and fellow BRN delegates take part in a post-meetings press conference at a hotel in Petaling Jaya, near Kuala Lumpur, Aug. 3, 2022. [S. Mahfuz/BenarNews] After the latest peace efforts started in 2020, Thai government negotiators and BRN representatives have held three rounds of in-person talks this year near Kuala Lumpur. In a statement sent to BenarNews late Tuesday, BRN said they were pursuing peace efforts with total commitment and want a lasting political settlement, one which is dignified and leads to sustainable and genuine peace. However, such cases of abductions, killings, and other abuses experienced by BRN members clearly erode the trust and confidence in the peace process. The group added that the Thai government had not given security guarantees and legal immunity to their leaders and representatives inside and outside the country that are normally mandated in peace negotiations elsewhere. There is a huge question mark now, How will BRN representatives be able to safely proceed with public consultations if there are no clear safety and security guarantees? the group said in its statement. Lt. Gen. Thira Daehwa, the secretary of the Thai negotiating team, told BenarNews in August after the last round of talks that the Thai side was open to discussing the immunity issue more with BRN. The next round of talks was supposed to take place in October but had been postponed until next month. Officials had not given any reason for the delay. Since the insurgency flared up again in January 2004, more than 7,000 people have been killed and 13,500 others injured in violence across the region, according to Deep South Watch, a local think-tank. UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Tuesday stressed that dialogue and consultation are the right way to address the Kosovo issue. Since June this year, the Kosovo authorities have been taking unilateral actions on issues such as ID documents and vehicle license plates, which have led to rounds of severe escalation in northern Kosovo, disrupting the process of normalizing relations between Serbia and Kosovo, and impacting security and stability in the Balkans and Southeast Europe, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations. China is concerned about the situation, he said. With the good offices of relevant parties, the two sides have reached agreement on the issue of ID documents. China welcomes this development, he told the Security Council. The issue of license plates is pending resolution. Kosovo's demand to complete the replacement of license plates by the end of this month may trigger protests and even clashes and aggravate tensions once again. Such a scenario must be avoided, he said. Dialogue and consultation are the right way to address the Kosovo issue. China encourages both sides to continue to engage with each other in a pragmatic and constructive manner, and implement the outcomes of previous negotiations. In accordance with the provisions of the Brussels agreement, Kosovo should advance the establishment of the community of Serb municipalities, he said. The harmonious coexistence of all ethnic groups is a fundamental prerequisite for achieving stability in Kosovo. Recently, there have been a number of incidents against ethnic minorities and their places of worship in Kosovo. China hopes Kosovo authorities will take effective measures to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents so as to guarantee the security and the legitimate rights and interests of all ethnic groups in Kosovo, including Serbs. China's position on the Kosovo issue has been consistent and clear. China hopes the parties concerned can work with each other within the framework of Security Council Resolution 1244 to reach a mutually acceptable political solution through sincere dialogue, and fully respect Serbia's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity in this process, he said. Bennington, VT (05201) Today Cloudy. A shower of rain or wet snow possible. High around 45F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few clouds from time to time. Low 24F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Community News Editor / Librarian Jeannie Maschino is community news editor and librarian for The Berkshire Eagle. She has worked for the newspaper in various capacities since 1982 and joined the newsroom in 1989. LONDON, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Suella Braverman, home secretary of the United Kingdom (UK), resigned on Wednesday after breaching a security rule. However, she also noted her "serious concerns" about the direction of Prime Minister Liz Truss's government. In her resignation letter posted on Twitter, Braverman cited her "technical infringement of the rules" as she had sent an official document from her personal email. She, however, went on to express concerns over Truss's government and its U-turns on its promises to the people. "It is obvious to everyone that we are going through a tumultuous time," she wrote. "I have concerns about the direction of this government. Not only have we broken key pledges that were promised to our voters, but I have had serious concerns about this government's commitment to honoring manifesto commitments, such as reducing overall migration numbers and stopping illegal migration, particularly the dangerous small boats crossings." In her letter to Braverman, Truss said that "I accept your resignation and respect the decision you have made. It is important the ministerial code is upheld and that cabinet confidentiality is respected." Grant Shapps, former transport minister, succeeds Braverman as home secretary, Downing Street said. Braverman's resignation came five days after Kwasi Kwarteng left the government as chancellor of the exchequer after the mini-budget he introduced last month caused market turmoil and tanked the ruling Conservative Party's poll rating. The mini-budget, which contained controversial debt-funded tax cuts, has been blamed for plunging the British pound to a 37-year low against the U.S. dollar, while pushing up the cost of government borrowing and mortgage rates. His successor, Jeremy Hunt, has torn up almost all the announced tax cuts and limited the government's cap on rising energy prices. With her economic strategy reversed and Kwarteng gone, Truss's premiership is thought to be increasingly untenable. In an interview with the BBC on Monday, Truss apologized for going "too far and too fast" with the economic policies and took responsibility for "the mistakes that have been made" in the first weeks of her premiership. However, the prime minister, who has been in office for only six weeks, vowed to stay on and take the party to the next general election. During the weekly Prime Minister's Questions in Parliament earlier in the day, Truss said: "I am a fighter and not a quitter." The first referendum question facing voters Nov. 8 asks whether the states top earners should pay an additional 4 percent in taxes on every cent made over $1 million. The question, termed the Fair Share Amendment by proponents and dubbed the Millionaire Tax by opponents, could bring an additional $1.2 billion to state coffers each year, according to the states Executive Office of Administration and Finance. Proponents say the questions language will direct much-needed money to the states schools, public colleges and universities and transportation systems. Opponents argue theres no guarantee those dollars will reach their intended targets. Heres what you need to know about Question 1 before you head to the polls. What a yes vote means A yes vote on Question 1 would amend the states constitution to change the tax rate on the states top earners starting in the tax year beginning January 2023. The state would maintain its flat tax rate of 5 percent on income tax, but any person making over $1 million in income would pay an additional 4 cents on every dollar earned above $1 million. The $1 million mark would shift each year based on changes in the cost of living, just as federal income tax brackets shift. The question says that money collected from this additional tax would be used, subject to appropriation, only for quality public education, affordable public colleges and universities, and for the repair and maintenance of roads, bridges and public transportation. What a no vote means A no vote on Question 1 would maintain a flat-tax rate of 5 percent for all income levels in the state. What proponents say Proponents say the change would levy money from the small pool of individuals who can best afford it and put the money into causes that benefit all state residents. We like to describe the Fair Share Amendment as a win-win for Massachusetts, Jeron Mariani, campaign manager of the Fair Share Amendment 2022 ballot initiative, said in a recent meeting with The Berkshire Eagles editorial board. The richest 1 percent pay their fair share of taxes and we all benefit including them from better roads, bridges, public transit and schools, colleges, investments in educators, counselors and students, Mariani said. A January study by the Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts University looked at the last complete year of tax data from the Internal Revenue Service and found that 21,000 tax filers, or 0.6 percent of all Massachusetts households, made more than $1 million in income in 2019. The last time a millionaire tax was considered, the state Department of Revenue published a list of the number of people in each community that would be affected by such a tax. In 2016-2017, there were at least 93 people in Berkshire County who made more than $1 million in income about 0.07 percent of the population in the county that year. Supporters from Raise Up Massachusetts the coalition of community organizations, faith-based groups and labor unions supporting Question 1 say that the billions raised in taxes with this constitutional change would provide a steady funding source to support projects like west-east rail, teacher retention, tuition supports and bridge repairs. Pittsfield City Council, School Committee endorse 'Fair Share Amendment' ballot question Under the proposal known as the Fair Share Amendment, residents making over $1 million in annual income around 0.6 percent of people would pay an additional tax on income above $1 million to fund education and transportation. Many of those programs, the money hasnt been there to make investments anywhere in the state and more money has to be part of the answer, said Andrew Farnitano, a communications director for Fair Share for Massachusetts. What opponents say Opponents of Question 1 say theyre not against greater spending on education or on infrastructure though they argue that the way the question is structured wont guarantee that either will happen. Its a point noted in another study by the Center for State Policy Analysis from September that highlighted that the Legislature could use the influx of funding to essentially backfill funding for education and transportation resources, as lawmakers shift money going to those things to other areas. Opponents to the question say the tax change would impact small business owners, farmers, people who sell their homes a collection of people outside of who the general public might consider millionaires. Dan Cence, a spokesperson for the Coalition to Stop the Tax Hike Amendment, said Question 1 would, in effect, increase the tax rate from 5 to 9 percent for those it affects, although the additional 4 percent applies only to income over $1 million. To levy an 80 percent tax increase over the monies over a million dollars on those single instances of those folks that have worked their whole life and put their money into their home feels like an unfair burden to us significantly, he said in a visit with The Eagles editorial board. Cence said his coalition feels that the timing of this question, as residents and businesses across the state crawl their way back from a pandemic economy, is insensitive. At some point the devil is in the details and we need to look at how those [changes] are achieved and on the backs of whom thats achieved, Cence said. We feel like at this point in time this question is wrong-minded. Its well-purposed but its wrong-minded and its certainly deficient in its application. LEE On a Saturday morning next month, health officials in Lee will put questions about the safety of a planned PCB landfill to a different kind of test. Its own. Nearly two years ago, the Environmental Protection Agency firmed up plans to have the General Electric Co. bury lower levels of the toxin, dredged from the Housatonic River, in a former quarry. The EPAs decision to reverse its earlier opposition to the local burial of polychlorinated biphenyls, a probable carcinogen, has withstood one legal challenge and still faces another in the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals. In the meantime, the Lee Board of Health will take its own look through an adjudicatory hearing tentatively set for 10 a.m. Nov. 19 in the Lee Middle and High School auditorium. The date will be confirmed soon, officials say. The Lee Board of Health invites General Electric to participate and provide evidence at a forthcoming adjudicatory hearing, the board said in an Oct. 11 letter to Henry Lawrence Larry Culp Jr., GEs chairman, CEO and COO. The point of the hearing? To determine whether a large PCB disposal facility will or will not be a risk of health to the residents of Lee and adjacent communities, the invitation read. The Lee board was asked this summer by the Housatonic River Initiative, a nonprofit fighting the landfill, to get involved. Early on this spring, questions arose about the legal standing local health officials have or dont have to enter into a disputed federal environmental cleanup. The EPA has already said it wont attend the November session. Health officials last week invited GEs chairman and CEO to send a representative. The hearing will go ahead in any event, says James J. Wilusz, executive director of the Tri-Town Health Department, which serves health boards in Lee, Lenox and Stockbridge. He co-wrote the letter with Dr. Robert Wespiser, chairman of the Lee Board of Health. Whether GE or the EPA submit anything or they dont, the board is going to render a finding, Wilusz said. We are going to focus on the potential health risks with the siting of the dump. The hearing is meant to solicit expert testimony for specific issues. In an Oct. 5 letter, John K. Kilborn, a lawyer with the EPAs Region 1 office in Boston, said the agency respectfully declines a request to appear at the Lee session. The Permit and EPAs cleanup are based upon the Administrative Record, Kilborn wrote, and the relevant information regarding the safety of the [Upland Disposal Facility] is found in the Administrative Record . Battle lines To be sure, legal battle lines are already drawn over the disputed Rest of River PCB cleanup. Wilusz said that testimony at the November session will seek to allow members of the health board to make up their own minds about what he termed these central questions: Is it a public health threat to residents? Or is it not a public health threat to residents? He added: Were trying to lay the groundwork for potential litigation, if it ever comes. In letters to both GE and the EPA, the Lee board cites a report by David J. De Simone, an independent geologist who studied the landfill site and concluded that any material that is able to escape from double liners at the landfill would likely result in PCB contamination of the sand and gravel aquifer and the underlying Stockbridge marble aquifer. De Simone called the location a textbook example of where not to locate a landfill. In its invitation to GE, the health board says it seeks evidence from GE disputing De Simones conclusions and asserting that even if his conclusions are correct, and the aquifers are contaminated, this contamination does not present risks to the health of Lees residents. In that same letter to GE, the board signals its intention to view evidence neutrally, saying it will hold an open mind until after the adjudicatory hearing as to whether the UDF presents or does not present a health risk to the residents of Lee. Jeff Caywood, a spokesman for GE, said Tuesday he is seeking information on whether the company will attend the November event. That information wasnt yet available. EPA weighs in Though the EPA declined to attend, Kilborn, the Region 1 senior enforcement counsel, offered written rebuttals to several points raised by the health board, including the question of location. On the question of the landfills integrity, Kilborn wrote that PCBs will be sequestered in a proven, engineered containment cell with a low-permeability cap and a low-permeability double bottom liner with leachate collection that will be inspected, maintained, and monitored to ensure that it is protective of human health and the environment. Kilborn also provided the town with a 140-page document that lays out the EPAs responses to many of the issues raised in the Lee health boards letter. In material from the EPA record, provided by Kilborn, the agency contests claims of new environmental hazards, citing layers of safeguards against groundwater contamination. The health board is represented by Cristobal Bonifaz of Conway, an internationally known environmental lawyer. In a September letter to Kilborn, Bonifaz cited state laws that give local health boards the power to make reasonable health regulations and, in the face of what they deem to be harmful activities, to bar those activities. While the EPA may decide the benefits of a disposal facility in Lee outweigh risks, town health officials must make a different evaluation, Bonifaz told Kilborn. Its only concern is whether or not the [Upland Disposal Facility] will present a risk to the health of the inhabitants of Lee and adjacent communities, Bonifaz wrote. The landfill is expected to accept around one million cubic yards of sediment containing PCBs, with only materials containing more than 50 parts per million of PCBs sent out of the state for disposal. In their exchanges, Bonifaz and Kilborn disagree over whether federal law preempts local jurisdiction on health matters. They also spar over whether the EPAs decision to support a Lee PCB landfill was influenced by national politics. Bonifaz writes that the Lee board is aware that, during the Obama Administration, EPA rejected the location of [the landfill] in Lee. Yet, a few years later, EPA reversed itself under the Trump Administration and reached the current conclusion that UDF is safe. LBOH does not want to believe that EPA change of position was merely a political decision that ignored the health of the residents of Lee. Wilusz, of the Tri-Town Health Department, said the board will consider all the expert views it can gather, including from the voluminous EPA administrative record. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Hong Kong: Strategies to tell HKs good stories Chief Executive John Lee said today the Government will reach out to traditional and emerging markets to publicise Hong Kongs opportunities and strengths. Delivering his first Policy Address, Mr Lee said as an externally-oriented economy, Hong Kong must look for opportunities beyond the city and be adept at telling the world good stories about itself, which would allow the city to shine. With an intricate and volatile international political environment, certain external forces have been deliberately spearing our country and distorting the situation in Hong Kong. We have to present the true picture of Hong Kong to the world and promote our strengths, achievements and opportunities, and that the city is a good place where people can make their dreams come true. Mr Lee said the Government will take full advantage of community efforts to tell those stories. He and other principal officials will lead overseas delegations, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting in November and the "Think Business, Think Hong Kong" campaign in Thailand next year organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). The Financial Secretary will lead a task force, together with a team comprising business leaders, the HKTDC, the Hong Kong Tourism Board to visit traditional and emerging markets to rebuild Hong Kongs image and branding through proactively establishing multilateral ties. The task force will also launch a new visitors' programme, inviting around 1,000 prominent political, business and media leaders from the Mainland and overseas to visit Hong Kong and brief them about the citys latest developments. In addition, the task force will work on showcasing the strengths of Hong Kong in a more multi-faceted and comprehensive manner via extensive multimedia channels and networks. Separately, government departments and relevant organisations will promote Hong Kong's strengths through diversified activities. The Financial Services Development Council and Invest Hong Kong will launch a global marketing campaign, presenting Hong Kong's prospects and opportunities as a bridge connecting the Mainland and the rest of the world. Radio Television Hong Kong will enhance its cross-media multi-language broadcasting to keep expatriates in Hong Kong as well as people in the Mainland and overseas apprised of the latest developments and appeal of Hong Kong. The Governments Mainland Offices will encourage and support representatives from professional fields and sectors to visit the Mainland. Hong Kong professional bodies may apply for funding under the Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme to visit the Mainland and overseas countries to promote their professional services, broadening the international perspectives of our professionals, particularly the young generation, and showcase Hong Kong as a vibrant and thriving city, Mr Lee added. This story has been published on: 2022-10-19. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. China's efforts to preserve cultural heritage 10:11, October 19, 2022 By Ershad Shikdar ( China.org.cn As part of its attempts to preserve its past to bolster its future, China in recent years has put more emphasis on the protection and promotion of its cultural heritage. An aerial view of the Tongzhou district section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal on Aug. 15, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua] Over the last 10 years, China has accomplished its objectives to preserve its cultural heritage, ranking second in the world in terms of the number of global heritage sites recognized by UNESCO. During my almost four years in Beijing, I have observed how the country attaches great importance to the preservation of its heritage. China joined the International Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1985 to elevate its endeavors in preserving its heritage to global standards. The country has also undertaken national research projects on tracing the origins of Chinese civilization. Now China boasts 50 world heritage sites recognized by UNESCO; of them, 35 are cultural, 11 are natural heritage sites, and four are cultural and natural (mixed) sites, placing it second in the world by volume. I have been to many of them, including the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall, and the Grand Canal. The visits have helped me learn how rich China is culturally and how the country has long been discovering and preserving its treasures. Exploring the Terracotta Army is one of my favorite memories during my time in China. I was mesmerized by the sight of those funerary warrior sculptures in Xi'an, Shaanxi province. While visiting the pits of the life-sized army, I was amused to be briefed that the warriors with bigger bellies held higher ranks. I also learnt that the army is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the army of Qin Shihuang, the first emperor of the Qin dynasty (221-206 BC). The army was equipped with real weapons, including swords, daggers, spears, lances, battle axes, scimitars, shields, crossbows, and crossbow triggers. The army comprised more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses. The funerary sculptures are among the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units and also among the first batch of Chinese World Heritage sites. They are dubbed as the "eighth wonder" of the world, attracting more than 200 foreign heads of state and governments to visit them. They have also featured in famous films about ancient China's brilliant civilization and are considered one of the world's top 10 ancient tombs. China also believes the protection of intangible cultural heritage is the task of all of humanity, joining the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2004. China has since made significant progress in the preservation of its heritage sites. The country undertook its first large-scale renovations on seven world cultural heritage sites in Beijing, including the Ming Tombs, the Great Wall, and the Forbidden City, all of which were completed before 2008. Moreover, from 2005 to 2009, China carried out its first nationwide census of intangible cultural heritage, counting nearly 870,000 intangible cultural heritage resources, with several of them inscribed on UNESCO's list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. One of the 42 intangible cultural heritages is Tai Chi, the traditional physical exercise, which you will often see many people practicing in parks. The Chinese believe that Tai Chi can bring them health and peace of mind through its signature slow circular movements. I have also experienced acupuncture, another intangible heritage of China, several times in and outside Beijing. It is an important feature of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). While receiving acupuncture treatments, TCM doctors will apply needles to puncture and stimulate chosen points on the patient's body. Every time I experienced acupuncture, I went through a rollercoaster ride, feeling both pain and relaxation during the treatment as well as after it was complete. Over the past decade, Chinese local governments have included the preservation of cultural heritage as an important element in their performance evaluation systems. The number of provincial-level cultural relics protection units has increased by 58%, and that of municipal and county-level units has grown by 88%. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of curated or excavated valuable cultural relics have been restored to a better state. The number of museums nationwide has increased by 60%, and massive technological breakthroughs have been made in cultural relics protection, including underwater, with Chinese archaeologists recently breaking new ground in deep sea archaeological missions. China has already come a long way in preserving its cultural both tangible and intangible heritage in recent years. The country has proven its mettle in transforming cultural heritage into an effective tool for socio-economic development. I believe that China will apply modern technologies to the restoration and preservation of more of its relics in the years to come. (Ershad Shikdar is a Beijing-based journalist and opinion writer) (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu) HAVANA, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez on Wednesday called on the U.S. government to lift its decades-long trade embargo, or blockade, against the country. "The U.S. blockade has caused Cuba losses valued at 3.806 billion U.S. dollars between August 2021 and February 2022," Rodriguez told a press conference in the country's capital Havana. The call comes ahead of the Cuban government's annual submission to the UN General Assembly of a draft resolution calling for an end to the embargo. The General Assembly is scheduled to discuss and vote on the draft resolution in early November. U.S. trade sanctions, Rodriguez said, severely limit Cuba's access to food, medicine, technology and inputs on the international market. "The world would be a better place without the U.S. blockade against Cuba," he added. First imposed in 1962, the embargo was broadened by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who put in place 243 more sanctions, including banning all flights from the United States to Cuban destinations except for Havana, and capping remittances Cuban Americans can send to their families back home. The current U.S. administration allowed airlines to resume flights to other Cuban cities and lifted the cap on remittances, but the web of sanctions against Cuba remains largely in place. For 29 times in a row, the UN General Assembly has voted in favor of the resolution urging the United States to end its embargo against Cuba. Enabling the biomedical community to bring lifesaving therapies faster to the market K.T. Rama Rao, Minister for Municipal Administration & Urban Development, Industries & Commerce, and Information Technology, Government of Telangana, inaugurated the state-of-the-art facility of GV Safety Assessment Platform (GVSAP), at Genome Valley, Hyderabad. GVSAP is the Preclinical services vertical of GV Research Platform (GVRP) involved in commercial breeding of Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) research models and preclinical testing. Spread across 28,000 sq.ft., the Class 100,000 research facility is equipped with the latest in clean-room technology and robust building management system. GVSAP is the authorized breeding and distribution partners in India for Envigo RMS LLC, a US-based global leader in research models and related services. This partnership will support biomedical companies in India to locally source premier high quality Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) Envigo branded research models in accelerating their research programmes. Additionally, GVSAP will also extend preclinical R&D services like toxicology, pharmacology, and bioanalytical focused on both in-vitro and in-vivo research. The current ecosystem relies heavily on the import of SPF models from international suppliers to meet their preclinical research demands. Considering increasing implications of research models in oncology, chronic infectious diseases, and for vaccine batch release and potency testing, the import of these models from international suppliers directly adds to the R&D cost. Is AMR Modern-day FRANKENSTEINS MONSTER? Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) continues to pose a significant public health problem in terms of mortality and economic loss. The rising AMR is a matter of huge concern that needs to be tactfully handled and health authorities of several countries, including India, have formulated action plans for its containment. Significant efforts by the government, an active involvement of startups and diagnostic players is a good start. The question remains, whether this will be enough. For Feedback, please email us at: communications@mmactiv.com An error has occurred within file /article.aspx Please report the error to support@bizcommunity.com and it will be fixed as soon as possible. This October edition of PSL focuses on Transport Month as well as Marine Month and on the front cover we are delighted to feature Western Cape Premier Alan Winde - whose wide-ranging interview with us is the lead story - in it we get in-depth insight into the province's strategies for infrastructure development, transport and growth of the tourism industry. Our Trailblazer is the Minister of Transport, Hon. Fikile Mbalula, who fills us in on what the ministry is doing to celebrate Transport Month; and the Regional Focus is on Gauteng did you know that the province is the seventh largest economy in Africa and the 26th largest urban region in the world? In Other News the spotlight falls on hospitals pleading with the government and Eskom to exclude them from loadshedding. If you have ever wondered about the relationship between SARS and Crypto, then our Financial Fitness regular is a must-read. The Women in Leadership focus this month is on Hon. Thoko Didiza, minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, and as part of the celebration of Marine Month we zoom in on the ocean economy taking a look at what is happening with Operation Phakisa. Enterprise development and incubators are they hatching a golden egg for the South African economy? Find out in our feature article. If you are a car enthusiast, please take a look at our Lifestyle section where we bring you a review of the latest Nissan Qashqai. Read here. Other features include: In Legal Matters we ask: Can directors be held personally accountable for company debt? We examine how technology can help provide access to mental healthcare Educate a girl child, empower a nation: We commemorate International Day of the Girl Child Whether you are in the public sector, the private sector, supply chain or an interested individual, PSL has something for you. We hope you enjoy the read. LG Electronics, renowned for its optimized HVAC solutions for all climate needs, recently announced the brand-new opening of an Air Solutions showroom, academy and office in Brackenfell, Western Cape. This facility will offer dedicated Air Solutions support for consultants, contractors and HVAC industry professionals, and opened its doors on 14 October 2022. To ensure continued customer satisfaction, LG embarked on this investment to better serve the market and directly support the industry with its expertise, products, and services. This is an exciting time for us, as we are always looking to find ways to support our customers and their businesses and work together on successful projects, commented Prabhjeet Singh Channa, Africa HVAC Engineering Sales Team leader at LG Electronics. Beyond offering accessible LG HVAC service parts the dedicated LG team will provide engineering support from design and specification to supervision and commissioning. And you can earn CPD points at the Air Solutions academy when you attend training on products such as the Multi V and Single Split (commercial and residential) to ensure longevity and optimal operation throughout. This can be combined with the advanced LG remote monitoring technology, BECON (Building Energy Control) Cloud, to enable preventative maintenance and cost-efficient rapid response time. To prove to our customers that we are the partner their businesses need, we will continue to integrate our leading technology and products into their day-to-day operations, supporting businesses every step of the way, Channa continued. Thats why invited stakeholders, media, and customers interested in our leading HVAC solutions who joined us at the official opening of the Air Solutions office in Cape Town this past week, so they could experience the systems for themselves. At the launch event, Channa spoke about the purpose of the Air Solutions office, its offering to the market, and how LG is committed to supporting its customers. Yong Joon Park, Business to Business division leader for regional headquarters at LG Electronics, spoke about the companys investment in this project, its primary purpose, and how LG will succeed in the long term. LGs residential and corporate HVAC solutions provides energy-efficient comfort across the nation. Now, with the Air Solutions office opening, they again prove their commitment to the global air conditioning market and customers. LGs goal is to provide real sustainability and peace of mind. Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) has donated containers and other equipment from the decommissioned Rev. Dr Elizabeth Mamisa Chabula-Nxiweni Field Hospital to several local clinics, hospitals and other institutions as part of its Field Hospital Legacy project. Pictured from left to right: Manfred Gie (VWSA), Darlene de Vos (Eastern Cape Department of Health), Nyameka Hoffman (Uitenhage Provincial Hospital) and Nakedi Nkoana (VWSA) | image supplied The field hospital, which opened in June 2020 to support healthcare efforts with 1,485 beds during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, was decommissioned when the facility was no longer critical to Nelson Mandela Bays fight against the pandemic. Following the decommissioning process, the decision was made to repurpose and re-install 11 containerised ablution facilities to the benefit of local clinics and hospitals. The beneficiaries of the containers include: Uitenhage Provincial Hospital, receiving three containers that are now used for male and female ablutions in casualty, as well as a supplementary ablution facility for staff; Dora Nginza Hospital, receiving three containers for public ablutions; West End Clinic, receiving two containers for public ablutions; Laetitia Bam Clinic, receiving one container for public ablutions; Motherwell CHC, receiving two containers for public ablutions. Aside from preparing these containers and reconnecting services such as electricity, water and drainage, the containers were also repainted and new signage applied. Further work included replacing a part of the damaged boundary fence at the West End Clinic and providing connections to the existing structures at Dora Nginza Hospital. Joining forces with partners whose conviction and determination to make a difference match ours at VWSA, has been key to the impact we have made, and continue to make, throughout the hardship of the Covid-19 pandemic, said Manfred Gie, strategic plant development manager and project lead on VWSAs Covid-19 response. To VWSA, this is a legacy project which we hope will bring relief to the constrained health institutions that care for our communities. NEW YORK, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday said it will not consider a case that sought to confer U.S. citizenship on American Samoans at birth and presented the justices with an opportunity to revisit a series of rulings containing racist language that denied residents of U.S. territories some constitutional rights, reported CBS. "In turning away the dispute brought by three people born in American Samoa who now live in Utah, the Supreme Court left in place a U.S. appeals court ruling that upheld a federal law declaring that American Samoans are considered U.S. nationals, not citizens, at birth," said the report. The three American Samoans, John Fitisemanu, Pale Tuli, Rosavita Tuli, joined by the Southern Utah Pacific Islander Coalition, challenged the law in federal district court in 2018, arguing it is unconstitutional because U.S. territories, like American Samoa, are "in the United States" under the Citizenship Clause. The trial court sided with the three American Samoa natives, but the U.S. Court of the Appeals for the 10th Circuit upheld the statute. Lawyers for the three said the Denver-based appeals court relied on the controversial "Insular Cases," which were a series of decisions issued in the wake of the Spanish-American War that denied all constitutional protections to the unincorporated territories. The cases, which date back to 1901, involved Congress's authority to govern U.S. territories, and the decisions were replete with racist language. In one concurring opinion from 1901, for example, Justice Edward Douglass White wrote that the U.S. could acquire an island "peopled with an uncivilized race" and warned against automatically granting citizenship to "those absolutely unfit to receive it." South Africa is experiencing one of the largest skills reform and brain drain episodes since Covid. 'The great resignation' and 'great renegotiation', along with 'quiet hiring' and 'quiet quitting', are key causes. Added to this, global companies are taking advantage of local skilled employees by offering remote work earning in the currency where the employer company originates from, meaning employees are earning a wage above what local companies can offer. Pabi Mogosetsi, country manager for Universum Global South Africa We have been conducting various surveys to understand the talent landscape, and we have picked up on the following points that are crucial to attract and retain crucial talent: Talent shortages for crucial skills 2022 marks the 16th year of the highest global shortage (Manpower, Q3 2022) and this is evident with our talent preference changes in South Africa. At least 40% of professionals are looking to move employees and even industries within the next six months in SA. The data has clearly shown that 65% of those who leave organisations will likely not return to their industry of origin. At the same time, 17% of that original 65% do not return to the workforce entirely to pursue gig work and build on their side hustles or passions and other various spaces. It is more crucial now to strategise the HR teams and include them in the overall organisational areas, not just human capital, for them to fully understand being an ambassador to their organisations. Well-being Our Wellbeing Survey identified that some of the biggest influencers in this category are flexibility, work-life balance, and creating a culture of belonging where your contributions are noticed and praised or encouraged. However, many employees said that they would rather speak to a third party concerning their issues than someone internally. This tells me that there is minimal trust in the organisations regarding this matter. Additionally, 77% of employees feel they can not be themselves at work; however, 84% of students surveyed said they think they would be able to be themselves when entering the workplace. This means there is an opportunity here as well as a lot of work to do to make this expectation a reality. Hybrid work one size does not fill all Getting back to the office has been a sore point for many corporates who have struggled to get their workforce back for various reasons. Many corporates want people back in the office to maintain and build culture, break silos and provide more accessibility in terms of resources - especially with our country facing load shedding. Our data has shown that an average of two days in the office is a great medium for the talent population. However, one size does not fit all, as each organisation is a unique ecosystem that needs to identify its best way of working, so communication is vital. Fostering a feedback culture and open space to communicate with your people helps them feel wanted and understood in making important decisions, but also to help assess your risk and build the company culture at the same time. This is why a strong EVP backed by a formidable employer brand is one of the ways to enhance your organisation as an employer of choice. EVP & DEI DEI, which stands for diversity, equity and inclusion, is very important to talent. We see 78% of future talent indicating that they would like to see an employee embrace and extend equal opportunities to them and their peers. The EVP is one of the spaces where employers can humble brag and reach out to the talent they want - whether the talent lies in the high school education or early tertiary, they can speak volumes by making intentional changes that are directly attached to their brand identity. The rise of the digital nomad in the market (gig economy) We have noticed that more and more talent would not mind having two jobs to cover expenses while also working on their side hustle. However, they demand flexibility and understanding from their main company. We have come to understand that not everyone is necessarily looking to stay in the same industry or have a linear approach to their careers. The pandemic lockdown has opened up opportunities to expand vertically and horizontally, with many managers and CEOs looking at finding other opportunities. (Forbes, June 2022) With the current semigration, we have noticed a lot more individuals willing to double-hat their responsibility to either create a more secure space of income with more income streams and fulfill their career desires, as a way to be able to feel satisfied and secure and expand their flexibility options if anything had to suddenly change as the pandemic time showed us. By being forthright and building a sustainable talent group and skills hub with a touch of understanding current talent by making them feel they belong, they matter and they are valued and wanted, will help many organisations weather the storm that has reached our shores and brewing harder than ever. Judge Molefe decides to make public her judgment suppressing Independent Newspapers report. The Pretoria High Court judge who ruled against the publication of a report on a State Security Agency document has finally made her judgment public. Graphic: Lisa Nelson / GroundUp Judge Daisy Molefe has decided to make public her judgment suppressing an Independent Newspapers report on a leaked State Security Agency document. The judgment, handed down on 5 October, followed an application by the Minister for State Security who claimed the document, titled US interest in ANC party dynamics, was classified as secret. The SSA then said that the judgment itself was confidential. A Pretoria High Court judge has apparently had a change of heart and this week made public a previously confidential judgment where she suppressed a newspaper report on a leaked State Security Agency (SSA) document. On 5 October, the Minister of State Security Zizi Kodwa obtained a final interdict from Judge Daisy Molefe against Independent Media, preventing publication of an article about a State Security Agency report. An SSA spokesperson told GroundUp then that Judge Molefes ruling could not be made public by order of the court. Professor Anton Harber, executive director of the Campaign for Free Expression, took issue with this. On his Twitter account he said he had written to the judge to ask her to release the judgment. Late yesterday, he said he had received the judgment and said it looks like she was just trying to hide an act of censorship, one she knew would be contentious. The judgment gives little insight into the intelligence report, with the judge saying only that she had taken a judicial peek at it. The application was initially brought by the minister against Daily News journalist Thabo Makwakwa and the company as an urgent interdict in December last year. The Daily News is part of Independent Newspapers, which is owned by Independent Media. Judge Molefe records that this was after the SSA received a text message from Makwakwa in December to which a copy of a report, classified as secret, was attached. The journalist posed questions about the report. Later that month, the journalist sent whatsapp messages to Brian Dube, spokesperson for Minister Kodwa, and others, including the spokesperson for the Presidency and the US consulate, also asking questions in relation to the report. When Makwakwa posted a tweet that was sensitising readers about a big leak that was to be published, the minister launched the urgent, ex parte (without notice to the other side) application and obtained an interim interdict barring publication in the interests of state security. It was the finalisation of this interdict which was argued before Judge Molefe. Judge Molefe said in her judgment that the report had been compiled in 2020 under the heading US interest in ANC Party dynamics. She said the minister had argued that the report was classified as secret because it contained allegations regarding the interaction and the nature of the working relationship between the US and SSA, the disclosure of which can disrupt the effective execution of information or operational planning. The minister argued that the report implicated certain high profile South African politicians and specifically dealt with the USAs involvement in causing conflicts and instabilities in the ANC and which members of the ANC pose a threat to the USs interest in South Africa. The disclosure, the minister argued, may seriously compromise the peace and well-being of the people of South Africa as it may cause civil unrest, damage the diplomatic relationship between South Africa and the USA and endanger the lives of the persons mentioned in the report. Consequently, any unauthorised possession was unlawful and Makwakwa was not entitled to have it in his possession or publish or report on it, the minister argued. The minister said Makwakwa had already published an article on it, in spite of being aware of the interim interdict. The journalist and Independent Media argued that the contents of the report did not justify any classification, that most of its contents were already in the public domain, and that it was evidence of an involvement by the SSA in ANC politics, said Judge Molefe. They said that the language used in the report is disturbing as it appears that the SSA is issuing orders to the government to not only take steps regarding the factional dispute within the ANC but to promulgate legislation. Judge Molefe said the Protection of Information Act provided that after a document was classified as secret, possession by an unauthorised person was unlawful. She said it was common cause that Makwakwa was not an authorised person, and his continued possession of the report constituted a crime under the Act. Judge Molefe said the report had been given to her at the hearing for her to determine if it could be described as national security information. Although Makwakwa is not a specialist or an expert to interrogate the report, in the answering affidavit he provided a detailed analysis and concluded that the report had nothing to do with state security and everything to do with the factional in-fighting within the ANC. His view is also that the SSA has no business getting involved in party political contest and that in the public interest, the report should be interrogated in the public domain in furtherance of transparency, accountability and responsiveness, she said. The judge said she had had a judicial peek at the SSA report and was satisfied that the minister had made out a case for a final interdict. She interdicted Makwakwa and Independent Media from publishing the report or any part of it and ordered that they immediately return the document to the minister. She ordered that Independent Media pay the costs of the application. This article was originally published on GroundUp. As commercial property owners and managers look for every available competitive edge to attract and retain good tenants, great indoor air quality (IAQ) has become more than just a compelling sales point. UV-C disinfection systems are not only delivering cleaner, healthier air, but can reduce energy costs by up to 25%. South African commercial property is struggling to regain Covid losses and owners and managers are facing an almost catch-22 situation. With weak demand and oversupply, finding compelling differentiation, such as a healthier work environment, must be weighed up against the investment required to install or upgrade indoor air quality systems. However, when that investment shows itself to lower operating costs with a rapid ROI, the decision to move to UV-C is a simple one, says Edward Hector, MD of the SFI Group. Natures solution delivers powerful results We are all familiar with the harmful effects of sunlights UV-A and UV-B radiation which can result in painful sunburns. But the UV-C wavelength has more than twice their energy and it is easily absorbed by organic substances, rapidly destroying molecular bonds. This means UV-C can be used to safely eliminate and prevent the build up of organic material on coils, drain pans, and interior air-handling surfaces. It improves airflow and can maintain and even return heat-transfer levels to as-built capacity, delivering solid improvements on HVAC system efficiencies. Clean systems reduce odours, as well as allergens or pathogens in airstreams. Clean systems also help sustain design temperatures and airflow, ensuring buildings meet all required IAQ codes and standards. The green technology can also eliminate chemical and mechanical (water) cleaning required for the regular cleaning of coils, helping to reduce waste disposal issues. This cleaner environment means less energy is needed to provide the necessary amount of cooling and airflow to maintain system energy efficiency. We have found that UV-C installed, even in older systems, reduces energy use by 10-25% on average. Whats more, efficient air-handling units not only save energy, they reduce carbon footprints which has a big impact when it comes to accreditation and environmental reporting , says Hector. Quantifiable results investors will love The move towards more efficient and environmentally responsible commercial spaces is gaining momentum with property shareholders looking to maximise returns. Green technologies, such as UV-C, have quickly demonstrated their business worth and the MSCI South Africa Green Annual Property Index shows that for 2021, green-certified offices showed a total return of 2.2% 170bps above the non-certified offices return of 0.5%. Whats more, since the indexs inception six years ago, green certified offices outperformed the non-certified sample by 19.1%. The report also shows the clear link between green-certified buildings and investment performance as well as lower vacancy rates, lower operating costs, and higher net operating income. When it comes to UV-Cs benefits, one way of measuring the effectiveness of UVC is based on various case studies using what is called the U-value. We use U-values to measure a cooling coils thermal performance. The higher the value, the more efficient the operation. In a recent case study of an office block, we saw annual chilled water volume reduced from 28,849 to 18,507 tonnes a reduction of 35.85%. Our client saw an annual savings of R10,000 for a single coil, Hector shares. Futureproofing investments in an uncertain world More than just the hard cost savings, UV-C also offers compelling health benefits which can greatly add to a buildings competitive offering. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 30% of all commercial buildings have significant IAQ problems. In particular, ventilation systems have been implicated in the spread of infections and pollutants. In addition WHO analysis finds zoonotic outbreaks on the African continent have increased by 63% from 2012 to 2022 compared to the previous decade. Offering companies the highest grade of protection from highly transmissible influenzas, tuberculosis and other airborne diseases is a winning sales point in an environment where employers are trying to coax workers back to the office. Employers have enormous choice right now and so decisions can turn on features like air quality and other health benefits. We are all more sensitive to what we put in our bodies and the air we breathe has the biggest impact. Disinfectant technologies, like UV-C, deliver great unique selling points as well as real cost savings, making the immediate return on investment genuinely compelling, Hector advises. About SFI Group SFI Group was established in 2004 as a provider of air-conditioning and related maintenance services, and is a leader in the field of HVAC maintenance. Since launching, SFI has grown its original Cape Town based business to a national footprint with operations in Johannesburg and Durban. SFI is a trusted partner to some of the largest commercial and industrial property owners and management companies in South Africa. Its proven track record in the provision of technical services supports building and facilities managers in enhancing the performance of their assets. Mobile group Telkom said on Wednesday, 19 October, bigger rival MTN Group had terminated talks to buy the former in what would have created the country's biggest telecoms company. Telkom said it could not offer MTN assurances to enter into exclusive talks sought by the telecoms service provider. In July, MTN offered to buy its smaller rival in a stock or cash-and-shares deal. But a month later, another telecoms company Rain, partly owned by South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe, proposed a merger with Telkom. It withdrew the offer later only to come back last month with a revised offer asking Telkom to buy it out. "MTN terminated discussions... as Telkom was not in a position to provide MTN with assurances around exclusivity," Telkom said in a statement. MTN did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The talks between Telkom and MTN were at an early stage and had not progressed to due diligence, Telkom said, adding that it had not received any binding offer from MTN. Tourism entrepreneurs, the Entrepreneurs' Organisation (EO) in Cape Town have identified new trends that are emerging for travellers visiting South Africa from abroad. According to EO, the local tourism industry is benefiting from international "revenge travellers" and a trend called regenerative tourism, all a direct consequence of the lifted restrictions around the world. According to the organisation, South Africa tourism will enjoy a boom despite fears of a global recession. The organisation also says that even if the current booking levels - which in many instances surpass 2019 levels and in at least some instances are at their highest ever levels - subside somewhat, all indications are that South Africa is hot property now, especially for American and European travellers. Mary Rijnberg, who has a role within EO as recruitment expert for the Africa region and is managing director of upmarket travel boutique business Planet Africa Safaris, says that in the luxury segment, while numbers are substantially up, travellers are wanting to linger a little longer. "People are taking their time, staying an extra night and really getting to know a place before they move onto the next destination," she says. Rise of regenerative tourism Rijnberg says that this is most likely the result of people reassessing what is important to them after the scare and disruption of the pandemic. "We are also seeing a big increase in regenerative tourism, where people want to know that they can make a positive difference and impact on their travels. What are lodges doing for local communities? How can I contribute to conservation? These sorts of questions are becoming more important and this is definitely a focus area for us, to facilitate this meeting between travel and conscience," she adds. Ingram Casey, a judge for the Safari Awards who previously spent six years as Southern Africa Director for the African Travel and Tourism Association, is an EO member and founder of Escape+Explore, paints a positive picture for the South African tourism industry, especially for those who serve the international market. Demand for private experiences-based touring grows "From where we are sitting, looking after mainly upmarket US and European travellers, figures very much confirm we are set for a busy second half of 2022 and into season. Despite hefty airfares and other factors that would typically hold back travel, there has not been any let up in demand for private experience-based touring in Cape Town." He adds, echoing Rijnberg: "We are taking a cautiously optimistic approach to 2023. Its important to remember a good chunk of the current travellers are clients rolled over from 2020/21 [who were forced to postpone] and we are aware the current booking trend could be an extended revenge traveller bubble. "However, I feel the strong booking trend will continue as spending has shifted to experience over material things. We are also seeing more flights from Europe and US being added which is key to keeping the flow of international tourists and this helps balance out the skyrocketing flight prices." "Africa generally, and South Africa specifically are in demand not only because of our favourable exchange rate but also for our variation and beauty, from forest to safari, from desert to beach, it is almost unmatchable. There are very few markets with such diversity and beauty," says Rijnberg. EO board member Anton Gillis, speaking on behalf of Platinum Hospitality Holdings, says that while local travellers showed incredible support to the local hospitality industry during the pandemic, they are being held back by exorbitant airfares while petrol prices have made road trips a lot more expensive meaning people cant do the same distances. On the other hand, he says international travellers are raring to go and things are happening a lot quicker than before. "There has been an incredible uptick in current hotel occupancies and future business on the books. The booking window is a lot shorter than it was historically, he says, something echoed by Casey who says that whereas in the past they were working with six to 12-month lead times, that has now been slashed. "We used to make 60-70% of our bookings for travel in six to 12 months time. This has completely reversed with 68% of new bookings travelling within three months of confirming their booking," reveals Casey. It appears that people have realised just how short life can be hence the need to experience their bucket lists sooner than later. Last Friday, South Africa's oldest banking brand, FNB, unveiled its new logo as part of its new strategy to transition towards, and be perceived as, a brand that extends beyond "just banking". Brand Finance reflects on the recent FNB rebrand. Source The Citizen The Citizen The FNB old and new logo The previous FNB logo stood for 36 years but it appears internal management has decided it doesnt lend itself to digital applications and the future roadmap for the bank. Rebrands often bring more than a visual identity overhaul, serving the purpose of signaling a strategic change in the business to consumers and other stakeholders in this case, the new logo is accompanied by various other initiatives including a new FNB app, website, and the continued promise of being a formidable provider of advice-led financial and lifestyle services, underpinned by exponential help. Do the changes create value Recent years have seen many leading financial services providers rebrand to try and position themselves as more agile, innovative, and future-oriented. Within financial services in South Africa, we have observed OUTsurance, Nedbank and Absa make similar plays in 2017 and 2020 respectively. In other sectors weve seen companies like Total rebrand to TotalEnergies as they aim to shift perceptions away from being an oil & gas brand to one more sustainable and better equipped for the needs of the future. Sometimes these changes are minor and are largely aimed towards updating the visual identity, whereas in other instances they encompass significant levels of transformational change without necessarily changing the visual identity Standard Bank comes to mind. However, the important question to ask is how effective these changes can be in building brand equity and creating value for the business. And, if the changes can in fact create value, and does the value outweigh the extensive rebranding costs that accompany it? Other aspects of a rebrand or strategic shift that are often overlooked include an internal focus to bring about positive change through areas such as improved morale, a refined sense of purpose, and greater loyalty among staff. A closer look Looking more closely at FNBs rebrand, the process will include rebranding all digital and physical assets ranging from branches, ATMs, and the website, down to smaller assets such as office stationery and promotional items. Not to mention the costs incurred in the initial visual audit, the design of the new logo, the new brand tone of voice, and guidelines to name a few. What does this mean for the worlds 4th strongest banking brand? In Brand Finances global banking 500 study, FNB is ranked 4th in overall brand strength (Brand Finances composite measure of the perceptions of a brand) whilst local competitor Capitec also features among the top 10 in second. With such formidable strength displayed to date, one may wonder why such a drastic change is necessary for FNB. After all, if isnt broken, dont fix it. Well, the broader answer FNB would point to is staying relevant in an ever-changing business environment. Results from Brand Finance's banking research help paint the picture of the current state of competition in the South African retail banking market. Starting with the brand funnel, a staple FNB comes out on top in both familiarity and consideration exhibiting its commanding position in the market. Perhaps as expected, the other incumbents also exhibit similarly high levels of familiarity. However, when we look at consideration, only Capitec comes close to FNB. Having boasted such a robust brand funnel with respect to the old identity, FNB will need to ensure it can maintain these results following its transition. Customer concerns Alongside the new logo identity, FNB launched a new mobile app that is aimed to be more user-friendly, personal, and ultimately better than its predecessor. The Apple app store, however, tells a different story with the new app scoring an average rating of 3/5, with comments such as: This bank has taken the app too far. Its made using it impossible! On the other hand, Absa, Capitec, Nedbank, and Standard Bank all have ratings of 4.5 or higher. Prior to this, Brand Finances research showed perceptions of FNBs innovation and website and apps to be significantly ahead of its competitors, but the rebrand and accompanied changes may put these perceptions at risk if FNB is not able to quickly resolve customer concerns. Social listening review Finally, looking at the overall trend of online activity, the rebrand has certainly been noticed with engagement peaking for the year following the announcement. On the other hand, social sentiment has dipped slightly although still higher than in the earlier weeks of September and still firmly net positive. Social listening is a useful tool for real-time feedback, but Brand Finances latest wave of South African retail banking research, which is currently in the field, will help provide a more in-depth view unpack of consumer perceptions towards the rebrand. It will be fascinating to observe if and how perceptions may have changed for FNB and the other banks within the market since the last wave. Finally, it will be interesting to see how other players in the market react with Capitec now 21 years old and no longer seen as the new guy. U.S.A. -(AmmoLand.com)- The Las Vegas attack in 2017 brings with it more questions than answers. One of the most curious components of this horrible act was the narrative buildup around bump stocks. If you believe the press propaganda, you would be forced to think the killing wouldve never happened had it not been for these devices that hardly anyone ever talked about prior to October 1st, 2017. The media tells us that bump stocks were the catalyst in this horrible act of murder, but it appears that the FBI referred to prohibited firearms as being the weapon of choice in this attack. The attack took place on October 1st, 2017, and according to a recent tweet by well-known 2nd Amendment Attorney, Stephen Stamboulieh, the FBI reported the day after, on October 2nd, 2017, that the killer was in possession of prohibited firearms. On or around October 1, 2017, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Stephen Paddock, DOB 4/9/1953, illegally possessed prohibited firearms [emphasis added] in violation of 26 U.S.C. Section 5841. Paddock utilized prohibited firearms in the mass shooting incident that took place on Las Vegas Boulevard (the Strip) in which 50 people were killed and over 500 people were injured. If bump stocks were the culprit and prohibited firearms were found at the scene, wouldnt one assume there were other NFA firearms present? Remember, bump stocks hadnt been banned yet. Bump stocks were named as the culprit, but restricted firearms were found. So, shouldnt we inspect the firearms that were found at the scene to see exactly what theyre talking about? Was the attack executed with bump stocks, or were there other firearms involved? If there were other firearms used, shouldnt we know more about them? In a PowerPoint presentation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, it was explained that ATF was not allowed to physically examine the interior of the weapons for machinegun fire-control components or known machinegun conversion devices such as Drop-In Auto Sears, Lightning Links, etc. recovered from the Las Vegas killers hotel room. Weird, huh? A Freedom of Information Act Request filed by Stamboulieh representing firearms designer Len Savage added even more confusion: the ATF FEO has not been able to conduct a full examination of them at this time. According to Len Savage, ATF did not disclose that they had not examined the firearms prior to promulgating the rule, Savage also said, And now that the comment period is closed that information cannot be used in a court challenge because it was not submitted prior to the closing of comments. So what? Nothing else to see here? Lets recap. October 1st, 2017, the attack takes place. On October 2nd, 2017, it was reported that prohibited NFA firearms were found, then bump stocks (which were not prohibited at the time) were blamed, and the bump stock narrative runs wild in the media. According to the ATF, the firearms found on site were not fully inspected prior to the close of comments, and on March 26th, 2019, bump stocks are banned. A lot of questions still need to be answered with this disclosure. What if we had all the information we need about Vegas from the FBI and the ATF? And what if media outlets focused on giving us accurate news rather than propaganda designed to encourage support for gun control? I know, crazy thought, right? The 2nd Amendment is not a privilege. Its your right. Dan Wos Author Good Gun Bad Guy Host The Loaded Mic Dan Wos is a nationally recognized 2nd Amendment advocate, Host of The Loaded Mic, and Author of the GOOD GUN BAD GUY book series. He speaks at events, is a contributing writer for many publications, and can be found on radio stations across the country. Dan has been a guest on the Sean Hannity Show, Real Americas Voice, and several others. Speaking on behalf of gun-rights, Dan exposes the strategies of the anti-gun crowd and explains their mission to disarm law-abiding American gun-owners. The first images and video showing some of the extensive damages to the Nord Stream 1 pipeline were released on Tuesday by the Swedish newspaper Expressen. video of the damaged Nord Stream pipelines, shot by an underwater drone operated by @Expressen. Copenhagen police and Norwegian investigators said today that the damage was caused by "powerful explosions." pic.twitter.com/7XKq4XIuQT Mike Eckel (@Mike_Eckel) October 18, 2022 "One thing to note, this is after the Swedish gov investigation dive. They may have removed sections and/or debris for evidence," independent defense analysis H I Sutton said. One thing to note, this is after the Swedish gov investigation dive. They may have removed sections and/or debris for evidence H I Sutton (@CovertShores) October 18, 2022 From The Telegraph: "It is only an extreme force that can bend metal that thick in the way we are seeing," Trond Larsen, a drone operator with the Norwegian company Blueye Robotics, told the Danish newspaper Expressen. Mr Larsen, who piloted the submersible drone, said you could also see "a very large impact on the seabed around the pipe". As I reported last week, Sweden abruptly pulled out of a joint investigation with Germany and Denmark and refused to release their findings due to "national security." Russia was barred from taking part in their investigation. Who blew up the pipeline? Gazprom just released these photos of a NATO Seafox drone that was found right next to Nord Stream 1 in 2015. The drone failed to detonate. NATO was caught red-handed and claimed the drone was lost during exercises. They tried it before. Go figure. pic.twitter.com/aH1NhefXGe Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) October 10, 2022 Zero Hedge shared these photos showing just how strong the pipes are: How strong is a Nord Stream pipe? Quite! The steel pipe itself has a wall of 4.1 centimeters (1.6 inches), and it's coated with another 6-11 cm of steel-reinforced concrete. Each section of the pipe weighs 11 tonnes, which goes to 24-25 tonnes after the concrete is applied. pic.twitter.com/BFYnv36CaF Javier Blas (@JavierBlas) September 27, 2022 Follow InformationLiberation on Twitter, Facebook, Gab, Minds and Telegram Russia must declare its own understanding of compromise 20. 10. 2022 / Karl Seeley cas cteni 4 minuty Ilustrace: Jachym Bohumil Kartous Daniel Veselys article, Is Russia truly headed for defeat in Ukraine? can serve as an example of how important it is to not merely speak about compromise, but also to have a notion of the contents of a possible compromise. Like everyone, presumably, Im not a fan of nuclear war, and I agree that we cant rule out the possibility of a nuclear attack by Russia, whether in Ukraine or, less likely, somewhere in the West. And I admit that a potential successor to Putin could easily be a worse opponent than Putin, a more hardened proponent of Russian exceptionalism and the decay of the West. But its not clear to me what Mr. Vesely has in mind under the term a breakthrough in diplomatic negotiations. He cites the Washington Post to the effect that U.S. officialsdont believe in the outright victory of either side. At the same time, they have ruled out the possibility that they would pressure Ukraine to the negotiating table. From that, Mr. Vesely concludes that, It clearly suits the White House to have a long, draining war in Ukraine, the goal of which is to bring Russia to its knees, regardless of the possible catastrophic consequences. However, if we dont try to start up diplomatic negotiations sooner or later, we will irresponsibly climb further up the ladder of escalation, at the end of which there is terminal nuclear war. OK, fine. We should try to start up diplomatic negotiations, we should seek some sort of compromise. In principle, this is inarguably correct. We also have to keep an eye on the possibility of a compromise that is better than further effort to the uncertain achievement of maximum victory. But the catch is in the question of the concrete contents of that compromise, and how we get there. Mr. Vesely writes, On Tuesday, the head of Russian diplomacy Sergei Lavrov declared that Russia is open to talks with the United States, so long as they bring a serious offer of negotiations. Yet they rejected Lavrovs comments, as they dont consider them a constructive and legitimate offer. We will never find out whether Lavrovs offer was constructive and legitimate, or a decoy, because we immediately wiped it from the table. But Lavrov didnt actually bring forward any offer. He merely announced that Russia is open to a serious offer of negotiations, but had yet to receive any such serious proposal. What exactly are the Russians waiting for? The Ukrainian starting position is already known: territorial integrity in the 1991 borders; repatriation of kidnapped Ukrainians; and reparations for damages caused by the Russians. The American position is also known: for now, we are supporting Ukraine. To the extent that this is our affair and not that of the Ukrainians, thats our offer. If Russia wants something different, then its up to them, rather than the US or Ukraine, to clarify what they would envision as a mutually acceptable resolution. Lavrov would like for Ukraine, with the support of its allies, to negotiate with itself, he would like for them to pull back in the face of Russian aggression, outside the framework of formal negotiations. I would not be at all surprised if the end of the war doesnt bring Ukraine everything it wants. Reparations will be a very tough nut to crack. Maybe Ukraine will in the end leave Crimea to Russia. Etc. But its impossible to find our way to any conclusion of that sort if Russia doesnt put forward its own offer. Will they demand international recognition of the annexation of the Kherson, Zaporizhzhie, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts, even though in the first three of those four there are already large areas that they no longer control, and even in Luhansk Ukraine is knocking at the door? Would that be a serious offer of negotiations from Russias side? I dont know, but at least it would be a concrete offer, and we could discuss the pros and cons. (Or rather, Ukraine could discuss the pros and cons.) Obviously, the threat of nuclear war is no joke, but I dont see how that changes the situation. Assent to nuclear blackmail has its own costs, and theyre not small. Its clear that the US (and probably the UK and France as well) have conveyed to the Kremlin the range of possible responses to Russian use of a nuclear weapon, and I assume that those responses, even if not necessarily themselves nuclear, are sufficiently horrible for Russia and its military that no mentally competent person would invite them. It follows that if the leaders in the Kremlin whether Putin or his substitute have even a speck of reason, they wont resort to a nuclear attack. And if they dont have that speck of reason, theres no point in choosing our actions by considerations of how a reasonable, rational opponent would behave. Compromise is a very important principle. But calling for compromise is worthless without some indication of what sort of compromise we would consider reasonable, tolerable, and achievable. Mr. Vesely should understand that. 0 Our Children Are Not Safe, Wake Up NEWS PROVIDED BY CURE America Action Oct. 19, 2022 RACINE, Wis., Oct. 19, 2022 /Christian Newswire/ -- CURE America Action, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(4) based in Washington, DC, promotes practical solutions to the communities forgotten by government. Black Americans, as an example, don't need more crack pipes in our communities nor encouragement to continue being the largest commodity to the abortion industry. Leaders across three states invited CURE America Action into their communities to reflect on our shared moral heritage, and to promote the traditions of God, family, and country. Marc Little, executive director of CURE America Action, Inc., will join Angela Stanton-King, Host of TNT Radio's America's Living Room, Curtis Hill, former Attorney General for Indiana, and local leaders on Saturday, October 22, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, at Festival Hall, 5 Fifth Street, Racine, WI, to discuss the issues impacting Wisconsin communities that seem to be ignored in this political season by too many. Little, a lawyer, pastor and regular political commentator on Fox News, recently said in a Townhall.com Op-Ed titled Do Not Lost Your Soul: Darkness either overcomes you or it compels you to shine your light to repel it. Americans face this choice as we are bombarded with social issues that require us to examine the core of the nation's soul. Angela Stanton-King, a national figure in the fight to save America's children from sexualization in schools, from abortion, and from sex trafficking, will bring her riveting and no-nonsense style back to Wisconsin once again as the featured speaker for the CURE America Tour. The tour's next and final stop will be in Toledo, Ohio on October 29, 2022. CURE America Action, Inc. 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Ste. 300 Washington, DC 20004 www.cure-action.com 888-353-5999 Media Contact: Marc Little marc@cure-action.com Media Invited to Attend Interviews Available SOURCE CURE America Action CONTACT: Marc Little, 888-353-5999, marc@cure-action.com An Australian cryptocurrency exchange that collapsed last year trapping more than $20 million of customer money dipped into customer funds to provide a loan to support another part of its business instead of keeping the funds on reserve, a court has heard. The group Blockchain Global, which operated the ACX exchange also pooled customer accounts into a single fund and mingled that money with company funds, and kept scant records of the trades by each of its customers. The three founders of Bitcoin Global: (from left) Jin Chen, Sam Lee and Allan Guo in happier times. Credit:Paul Jeffers The unusual trading activities of Blockchain Global were laid bare at the Supreme Court of Victoria on Wednesday during public liquidators examinations into the group. Blockchain Global collapsed in October last year owing creditors as much as $50 million, including hundreds of Australian account holders who lost large sums after the group blocked withdrawals. Liquidators Andrew Yeo and Innis Cull from Pitcher Partners are now investigating the disappearance of the millions of dollars deposited into the platform by its customers before its collapse. A former SBS journalist who sued the multicultural public broadcaster to get her job back after an independent investigation found she suffered workplace harassment has had her case dismissed by the Federal Court. Journalist Pallavi Jain launched legal action in 2021 to have her job reinstated at SBS, where she worked in the Hindi language team under executive producer Kumud Merani from 2013 until she was sacked in December 2019. Judge Robert Cameron dismissed the case earlier this month, finding SBS had not breached the FairWork Act when it sacked her. Merani was not a defendant in the case and was not called to give evidence. Merani denies the allegations. Former SBS journalist Pallavi Jains attempt to sue the broadcaster and get her job back has been dismissed in the Federal Court. Jain said she was dismayed by the judgment, which ruled in favour of SBS despite Jain and SBS agreeing she was bullied and harassed by her manager and that it had impacted her mental health. We admired enormously the ambition and the scope and the skill, the daring, the audacity and the hilarity of the execution, Neil MacGregor, the former director of the British Museum and the chairman of this years judges, said during a news conference. Its a book that takes the reader on a roller-coaster journey through life and death. On Monday, that novel, The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, was awarded the Booker Prize, one of the worlds most prestigious literary awards. Shehan Karunatilaka who has won the Booker Prize 2022 for his second novel, The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida. Credit:Getty Images So when he had the idea for a novel about a Sri Lankan war photographer who wakes up dead, in an underworld populated with victims of political violence, he conjured up what felt like the most realistic version of the afterlife: a tedious, dysfunctional bureaucracy, where hordes of confused ghosts are waiting to be processed. As a boy living through Sri Lankas civil war in the 1980s, Shehan Karunatilaka thought of political violence as part of the landscape. War was a constant backdrop to daily life, more mundane than frightening at times. The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida was one of several political satires recognised by the Booker judges this year. The six finalists also included Zimbabwean writer NoViolet Bulawayos novel Glory, a parable about an African dictator that features a cast of talking animals, and The Trees, Percival Everetts blistering and darkly funny novel about a pair of black detectives who investigate a series of murders that echo the lynching of Emmett Till. The judges, who were unanimous in choosing The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, were won over by the variety of registers it was deploying, the skill with which language was used, and the confidence with which it shifted genre, from noir to philosophical reflections to comedy, MacGregor said. Karunatilaka was born in Galle, Sri Lanka, in 1975, and grew up in Colombo, the capital. He studied in New Zealand, and went on to work and live in London, Amsterdam and Singapore. He has worked as an advertising copywriter and played guitar in an alternative rock band, Independent Square. He now lives in Colombo, where he still writes ad copy during the day and works on his fiction in the early morning. He appeared on the international literary scene in 2011, with the publication of his debut novel, Chinaman, about a hard-drinking journalist who goes searching for a famous missing cricket star. It put him on the map as a gifted comedic novelist, and won the Commonwealth Book Prize in 2012. He first had the idea for the novel that became The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida in 2009. It was in the immediate aftermath of the civil war, as Sri Lanka was undergoing a national reckoning over the causes of the conflict and the unfathomable number of civilian casualties. Anna Delvey is running 10 minutes late for our Zoom call, which is curious given shes under house arrest. The 31-year-old, whose life and crimes were dramatised in the hit Netflix series Inventing Anna, is currently confined to her apartment in Manhattans East Village, so New York City traffic cant be to blame. Im about to email her publicist when a face appears on the screen. Sorry, sorry, I went to check in with my parole officer, I have to go there once a week, Delvey explains before adding with a laugh: I actually asked if I could come and check in twice a week because thats the only time I am allowed to leave the house. For someone who just got out of prison, she looks remarkably fresh. Shes decked out in a black hoodie with Delvey Mail on the front a nod to the tabloid newspaper that documents her every move and her grey-blue eyes are lined with mascara. Dolphins captain Cameron Cullen says his club and community are in shock after young Queensland rugby league player Liam Hampson was found dead in a Spanish nightclub. Queensland rugby league player Liam Hampson died while on holiday in Barcelona. Credit:Facebook Cullen said Hampson had been having the time of his life with his best friends on what was the trip of a lifetime. The 24-year-olds body was found in an internal area of the Sala Apolo nightclub on the famous Paral.lel strip after he apparently fell 10 metres. The nightclub is an institution in Barcelona, popular among university students and tourists. Describing Hampson as a beautiful kid, Cullen told 7News that his club and community were in shock and devastated at the tragic loss of life. Loading It speaks volumes of the impact that Liam had on our club. It was his first year here, but he was such a special person and loved by everyone, so there are a lot of people hurting, thats for sure, Cullen said. He was such a loving, caring kid. He was always the life of the party and such a fun person to be around. So he had an immediate impact at our club. He was such a great person. Cullen said Hampson also had a large influence off the field, including as a teachers aid at Redcliffe High School. He is going to be so sorely missed, Cullen said. NSW emergency services recovered the body of a missing man from floodwaters in the states west on Wednesday morning. While the body is yet to be formally identified, NSW Police believe it is that of a 63-year-old who was last seen on a rural property in the town of Hillston on October 11. An extensive search involving officers from Murrumbidgee police district, PolAir, Police Rescue, NSW SES and NSW Ambulance had been conducted unsuccessfully along the Lachlan River over several days. About 8.30am on Wednesday, emergency services received reports that a body had been seen on a rural property about 35 kilometres north-east of Hillston, and they retrieved it. The Bureau of Meteorology is warning that Sydneys Hawkesbury and Nepean rivers may flood again after forecasting pointed to heavy rain over the Sydney basin on Friday and into the weekend. Elsewhere in the state, almost every river system west of the Dividing Range is in flood and there are eight emergency warnings. Meanwhile, a major flood is expected to affect the states south, the bureau has warned. A low-pressure system, which hit the state on Wednesday and is set to last until Friday, will be quickly followed by another rain-bearing system on the weekend. The bureau is warning the deluge may cause further flooding to catchment areas surrounding the Sydney area, including the Hawkesbury, Nepean and Lower Hunter rivers, and Wollombi Brook. Loading She rang me for help last night, and I couldnt even get out, Grinter said. Another man, 71-year-old Kevin Wills, was found drowned in his backyard in Rochester on Saturday. Premier Daniel Andrews extended his sympathies to Hacks family at a media update on the floods at the state control centre. Residents in Kerang were told to evacuate on Wednesday and those who choose to remain were warned they could be cut off for more than a week, with 50 to 60 properties expected to be inundated. Andrews confirmed 423 roads were closed in the state, as were 75 schools and 59 early learning centres. About 50,000 homes, 14 hospitals and 300 schools and early childhood facilities have been affected by floods to date. The State Emergency Service said it carried out 26 rescues in the 24 hours to Wednesday morning and the Australian Defence Force said 400 personnel would be on the ground to assist on Thursday. Extra emergency relief was jointly announced by Andrews and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and another $150 million was set aside for the clean-up. Damaged and destroyed properties will be cleared of hazards at no cost, and payments of up to $43,850 will be provided for people without insurance or in hardship. The federal governments one-off means-tested disaster recovery payment of $1000 for adults and $400 for children was also extended to more local government areas. Flood-affected small businesses would also be eligible for a $5000 relief payment under a Victorian government initiative, and farms will be able to apply for a $10,000 payment and loans of up to $250,000. Andrews said this was just an initial payment and support would be expanded as needed. The flood peak levels in Echuca have been revised down from 95.9 metres above sea level to 95.6 metres, which although lower is higher than the 1993 flood level of 94.77 metres. The Murray River has been slowly but steadily rising as floodwaters from the Goulburn River in Shepparton and Mooroopna flow downstream. The river rose 8 centimetres in the 24 hours to 9am on Wednesday, and by 1.49 metres in a week. Its peak on Friday or Saturday will coincide with showers and thunderstorms. It is not only people, homes and businesses that have been affected by the floods. On the causeway between Shepparton and Mooroopna, wildlife carer Maggie Davis was taking care of a stranded kangaroo joey. The [kangaroos] were exhausted, Davis said. They were coming out of the water to shelter at the causeway. They were coming up where there was a little bit of high ground. In Echuca, the usually bustling port area is now heavily sandbagged, and an earthen levee runs parallel with the footpath along the river line. Campaspe Shire Council and emergency services have warned that the coming storms could lead to water being trapped on the dry side of the extensive levee system that has been built and reinforced this week to protect Echuca. Wildlife carer Maggie Davis with a baby kangaroo. Credit:Jason South What that poses to us is a massive risk of rain trapped inside our levee and the risk of us drowning ourselves from the inside, Emergency Management Victoria sector commander Luke Waterson said. The hastily constructed earthen levees in Echucas east are designed to protect thousands of homes and businesses from the rising waters of the Murray. In some areas, the levee runs down the centre of suburban streets, cutting communities in two. On one side, homes will likely be kept dry by the earthen wall holding floodwaters back. On the other side, homes will be inundated. Incident Control Centre commander Greg Murphy told The Age on Tuesday the levees were a tactical way to redirect water flows, and pumps would be used to remove excess water from behind levee walls. A flooded road in Echuca earliert this week. Credit:Steve Huntley/Riverine Herald It supports the critical functioning of infrastructure for the community, including but not limited to things like the wastewater treatment plant, he said. We are conscious of the impact on those houses. We understand that people in those houses would be most upset. However, during emergencies, there are decisions that need to be made in the interests of everybody. While the levees were still the best option to protect Echuca, authorities would now consider how to mitigate the risks posed by the levees to some properties. Loading Campaspe Shire Council acting chief executive Tim Tamlin said the shire had installed pumps at vantage points along the levees and had ordered about half a dozen more pumps to bolster efforts to take water out of those areas. SES chief officer Tim Wiebusch said there was still capacity in the Echuca relief centre, but a second site would be opened across the NSW border at Deniliquin. We still have supply chains into Echuca ... but please be aware the roads are closed to the general public, Wiebusch said. A woman and a teenage girl have described in court the moment their lives were shattered after discovering former police prosecutor Simon Luebbers had secretly recorded them undressing. Additional tissue boxes were taken into the courtroom as the victims whose identities have been suppressed by the court and family members spoke of the hurt and betrayal they felt after learning of Luebbers crimes. Former police prosecutor Simon Luebbers arrives at Moorabbin Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Credit:Wayne Taylor The teenager told Moorabbin Magistrates Court she had struggled to reconcile with her body as a result of the offending. She had stopped eating and had self-harmed to deal with the pain. I felt violated and disgusted at myself, she said fighting back tears. Everything is tainted. School is hard to get to. I cant get through the day without getting flashbacks. A Perth man who killed his drug dealer by stabbing him multiple times before dumping his body into a dam in an inept and unsophisticated plan has been jailed for life, to serve a minimum of 19 years behind bars. Dinh Lam Nguyen, 51, was murdered by Todd Nathan Kiernan and Gervaise Sakib Geoffrey Widdowson on January 20, 2021. The grim discovery of the body inside a wheelie bin was made by a 15-year-old boy. Credit:Supreme Court of Western Australia The pair placed Nguyens body wrapped in pink plastic and bound with ties into a wheelie bin and drove out to Glen Brook Dam in John Forrest National Park. They weighed the bin down with a bag of cement and a log in the hope the bin would remain hidden under the water, but it floated back up. His body was discovered days later by a 15-year-old boy. Dominic Perrottet knows his plan to raise the Warragamba Dam wall will go nowhere before the state election, but he does not care. It is one of the few infrastructure projects the premier has to sell to western Sydney voters and he will pursue it, even in vain, as a point of difference between the Coalition and Labor. There is nothing new about a debate over Sydneys main dam, other than Perrottets sudden interest in it. After it was discussed for many years as a flood-mitigation strategy for the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley, former premier Mike Baird announced in 2016 that his government would raise the Warragamba Dam wall by 14 metres, at a cost of $690 million. Raising the Warragamba Dam wall: now its up to NSW to raise the funds. Credit:Water NSW At the time, Baird said his decision followed four years of work and required detailed, time-consuming and cutting-edge modelling of thousands of flooding, evacuation scenarios. A little under $60 million was initially committed for concept designs, environmental assessments and a business case. Now, after years of inaction, and five months from the next state election, the dam wall project has taken on a new sense of urgency. Despite this, Perrottets government did not set aside a cent for the now-$2 billion project in the state budget in June, adamant that it could only proceed with federal help. Kyiv: The new commander of Russian forces in Ukraine made a rare acknowledgment of the pressures they were under from Ukrainian offensives to retake southern and eastern areas that Moscow claims to have annexed just weeks ago. In another sign of Russian concern, the Kremlin-installed chief of the strategic southern region of Kherson on Tuesday announced an organised, gradual displacement of civilians from four towns on the Dnipro River. General Sergei Surovikin, the new commander of the Russian forces in Ukraine. Credit:AP The situation in the area of the Special Military Operation can be described as tense, Sergei Surovikin, the Russian air force general now commanding Russias invasion forces, told the state-owned Rossiya 24 news channel. On Kherson, Surovikin said: The situation in this area is difficult. The enemy is deliberately striking infrastructure and residential buildings in Kherson. London: British Prime Minister Liz Truss floundering leadership has been plunged into a fresh crisis after the resignation of a senior minister and accusations of bullying in chaotic scenes on the floor of parliament. Just hours after Home Secretary Suella Braverman quit in dramatic circumstances - criticising Truss leadership and broken promises - several media outlets, including The Telegraph, The Times and Financial Times and the BBC reported that chief whip Wendy Morton and her deputy, Craig Whittaker, had also resigned. Suella Braverman has resigned as Britains Home Secretary. Credit:AP There was speculation that Truss had sacked Morton - a close ally - outside the House of Commons chamber and marched her out, with Whittaker resigning in protest. Downing Street then later confirmed Morton was still Chief Whip as of Wednesday night (London time) after a murky few hours in which speculation abounded they were no longer in their jobs. Georgia: Martin Luther King III - the son of one of the worlds most renowned civil rights leaders - believes the US should consider Australias voting system as a way of protecting democracy. With three weeks until the midterm elections, King says he is open to the idea of compulsory voting, as well as the notion of a preferential voting system - known in America as ranked choice voting. Martin Luther King III, daughter Yolanda; and wife Arndrea Waters King. Credit:Farrah Tomazin I think its something we might need to consider, he said when asked by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age what he thought of both options. Its certainly something that should be debated. New research indicates better groundwater supply management could hold the key to help combat the impact of climate change in East Africa, where countries are currently facing the worst drought and food insecurity in a generation. The study, led by the University of Bristol, looked at changes in rainfall within the two rainy seasons in the Horn of Africa a region hard hit by frequent drought and water and food scarcity over the past 30 years. Findings showed the total rainfall within the main rainy season, called the long rains, is declining across the Horn of Africa Drylands but rising in the other rainy season, known as the short rains. These trends, which apply to Ethiopia, Somaliland, Somalia, and Kenya, led the researchers to investigate below ground water storage, a potential lifeline for drinking water provision, during these periods. Results revealed water storage has been increasing in recent decades, despite the drying effects of the declining long rains season which historically deliver more rain cumulatively than the short rains season. Lead author Dr Markus Adloff, who conducted the study as a researcher in the School of Geographical Sciences at Bristol, said: This was surprisingly paradoxical, but also hugely significant as it points to a possible silver lining that may support climate adaptation. Our findings suggest groundwater may have the potential to support increasingly food and water insecure rural populations in the Horn of Africa drylands. In order to understand this contradictory finding, the research team examined how the characteristics of the rainfall may have changed over time. By analysing rainfall data, the researchers found that heavy rainfall is becoming more common in the short rains season and is generally high in the long rains season. Co-author Dr Katerina Michaelides, Associate Professor in Dryland Hydrology at the University of Bristol, said: This result emphasises that in drylands, the intensity of rainfall within a rainy season may be actually more important for groundwater replenishment than the total amount of rainfall. Drylands are regions characterised by low annual rainfall and high evaporative demand, as well as dry rivers and deep groundwater levels. If rain falling on the ground is light and drizzly it can evaporate quickly back into the atmosphere because it is held in the shallow parts of the soil. However, if it is intense and heavy it produces runoff in the dry riverbeds which can then infiltrate deep into the soil fast and escape evaporation back into the atmosphere. This mechanism helps explain why, even with the drop in the long rain seasonal totals, the combination of high rainfall intensities in both seasons appeared to be contributing to the greater levels of below ground water storage. The researchers went on to demonstrate the increasing water storage is not linked to any rise in soil moisture near the surface, confirming it represents banked water deep below ground and likely contributing to a growing regional groundwater aquifer in this region. The findings provide a much-needed glimmer of hope, as the Horn of Africa drylands are enduring a fifth consecutive season of below-average rainfall, exacerbating the ravaging effects of drought including 50 million people facing famine, water shortages, livestock deaths, and failed crop harvests. A sixth failed rainy season has also been forecasted for next year, further compounding the scale of devastation. At this stage, the depth and quality of the available groundwater are unknown. Whether the discovered trends would continue under successive episodes of failed seasonal rains also needs to be ascertained. Dr Michaelides added: These unanswered questions highlight the necessity for extensive groundwater surveys across the Horn of Africa region. This is vital to assess whether this apparently increasing water resource may be economically viable enough to help offset the catastrophic impact of unprecedented recurrent droughts, which tragically look set to continue as climate change worsens. Paper Sustained water storage in Horn of Africa drylands dominated by seasonal rainfall extremes by Markus Adloff et al in Geophysical Research Letters Latest News Mortgage brokers hit more than 70% market share Highest percentage recorded for residential home loans RBA governor apologises to mortgage holders Lowe sorry interest rates comment was misconstrued Competition regulator and national consumer law champion ACCC has welcomed the governor generals recent appointment of Catriona Lowe as deputy chair, for a five-year term from Jan. 27. Lowe will succeed Delia Rickard, who will finish her term on the same date after more than a decade with the ACCC. She will chair the ACCCs Compliance and Product Safety Committee and will participate in a range of other ACCC committees and boards. ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said Lowe is exceptionally well qualified to be appointed to the role. In Lowes varied roles as a regulator, litigator, and consumer advocate, [she] has demonstrated a strong commitment to consumer issues and protection of consumer rights over many years, Cass-Gottlieb said. Lowe is currently a board member at the Australian Energy Regulator and served as the co-CEO of the Consumer Action Law Centre, CEO and treasurer of the Consumers Federation of Australia, and chair of the ACCC consumer consultative committee. Cass-Gottlieb also lauded the contributions of departing deputy chair Delia Rickard, whose formidable experience, wisdom, and passion the ACCC chair said would be missed. Rickard has demonstrated a tireless focus on the welfare of consumers, especially vulnerable consumers, Cass-Gottlieb said. Her advocacy on scam prevention and product safety at the ACCC has been particularly important. Rickard was appointed as a board member of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) in August. Latest News Mortgage brokers hit more than 70% market share Highest percentage recorded for residential home loans RBA governor apologises to mortgage holders Lowe sorry interest rates comment was misconstrued As the dust settles following a highly successful 2022 Australian Mortgage Awards, the broker winners are reflecting on their achievements and prestigious award wins. More than 700 brokers, BDMs, lenders and aggregators attended the 2022 AMAs, held at the Fullerton Hotel in Sydney on October 14, with 27 award recipients crowned at the in-person event. Mhairi MacLeod (pictured below), from Astute Ability Finance Group on the NSW Central Coast was awarded the Pepper Money Broker of the Year Specialist Lending award. Winning such a prestigious award has given myself and my business incredible traction with future and existing clients to make myself and my team their broker of choice when it comes to their specialist lending needs, MacLeod said. The AMAs were a standout not only for the venue but how Key Media managed to bring together the fabulous sponsors such as Pepper Money and brokers in one room to support the finalists and the entire industry. With a record crowd, this just goes to show how important bringing people together to celebrate creates a community. Read more: Australian Mortgage Awards 2022 winners revealed MacLeod said the awards were spectacular and people should never underestimate the power of peer-to-peer networking. This, along with celebrating industry achievements truly showcases the entire industry as a collective. As a broker, winning an award such as the Pepper Money Broker of the Year Specialist Lending also is a game changer when you want to stand out in the crowd, allowing my customers to know myself and my team have been highly awarded within an industry of professionals. I would like to thank Pepper Money for their contribution to the industry and investing in education for brokers to enter this space and credit must also go to all the BDMs, as well as SFG and COG who work hard every day to service their broker partners, and Key Media for bringing our industry all together. Evelyn Clark (pictured below), from St Kilda brokerage Everlend, won both the MFAA Brokerage of the Year (1 to 5 Staff), as well as BOQ Broker Best Customer Service from an Individual Office. A key mission of our business is to provide accessible financial education to empower our clients to make informed financial decisions and ensure they understand why we have recommended specific lenders or products, Clark said. Launching Everlend allowed us to disseminate more educational resources and build a business around supporting clients long term, not just on a transactional basis. Therefore, being recognised for both best customer service and brokerage under five staff is truly a testament to the value our clients feel this brings. Read more: Australian Mortgage Awards 2022 - Excellence Awardees revealed Clark said it was wonderful to be surrounded by so many friends, brokers and business owners all performing at the top of their game at the AMAs. I have always been a strong believer in collaboration over competition and it is great to see how much the industry gets around each other. Both of these are team award wins, and I am so proud of my team. The Everlend team want to improve financial literacy and support its customers to work towards their long-term goals so Mandy, Maddie and Marry Joe deserve the recognition as much as myself. Christian Stevens (pictured below), from Shore Financial in North Sydney won Equity-One Broker of the Year Productivity on the night. It makes me very proud to be named as the winner of broker of the year (productivity) at the 2022 AMAs. Productivity comes down to great process and doing it consistently to succeed as the number one broker in Australia, he said. I have been able to double my settlement numbers every year since starting in this industry and that comes down to being productive with my time and building out my team, allowing me to focus on front-end business generating activities. Awards are great industry recognition for all the hard work and long hours that have gone in to getting me to where I am today. Stevens said it was great to see everyone in person again, with the room packed full of familiar faces and many new ones too. Industry award nights are always a great networking opportunity and its nice to catch up with other brokers especially those from out of town, he said. Im already looking forward to next years event, it is always a very fun night. Stevens said nothing that he had achieved would be possible without Shore Financial. Thank you to Theo [CEO Theo Chambers] and Alex [managing director Alex Nochar] for taking a chance on me all those years ago and Alecia [operations manager Alecia Hodge] and Mel [office manager Melanie Guiroyan] for being so patient with me. Even though this is an individual award, I couldnt have achieved this without the support of my team, he said. Thank you to all the lenders and dedicated BDMs who spend hours each day assisting me with complex scenarios. Shout out to AFG, Salestrekker, Quickli and any other platforms we use to make our job easier. The last person who deserves a mention is my beautiful wife who has supported me from day one and has never complained once about me being on my phone far too much she is the most important person in my life and the reason why I work so hard. Brenden Lowbridge (pictured below), from Money Links in Newcastle was a joint winner of the NextGen Broker of the Year Regional, along with Jason Cuerel of Mortgage Innovations on the Gold Coast. Lowbridge said it was a privilege to serve clients in his local community and to be recognised for the work that Money Links does as a team. I am a very proud and passionate Novocastrian, so I love that in a small way this achievement recognises the great city of Newcastle and the growth we are experiencing, he said. It was a full house on the night and the energy in the room was epic. Full credit to everyone involved in putting the night together, it is not easy to organise events of this calibre for crowds that size and would like to thank the whole Money Links team who are dedicated and are constantly striving for excellence. This award may be listed in the individual category, but it is absolutely a team award and we will be celebrating it together accordingly. Nick Atanasovski (pictured below), of Cronulla-based Turnkey Finance won Adelaide Bank Young Gun of the Year. Atanasovksi said when launching Turnkey Finance, he had set himself a few goals. One of them was to win Young Gun of the Year at the 2022 AMAs, so being nominated and going on to win this amazing award amongst the other eight worthy candidates is an outstanding feeling of pride, gratitude and humility, he said. It validates the direction of my business and the work my team and I put in to ensure our clients are as happy and supported as they can be. Atanasovksi said the 2022 AMAs were fantastic. It was an electric atmosphere and so good to see industry colleagues all dressed up and having a great night. Ed Kavalee was great as MC and we also loved the live music after the formalities were done, he said. Im grateful for my hardworking team at Turnkey Finance who are passionate about establishing a strong foundation with and going on to support our clients throughout their financial journeys. Behind every successful man stands an even more incredible woman and without my wife being an absolute pillar of support and taking care of everything when it comes to our daughters and family life, I wouldnt be able to focus on my career in the way that I do. Latest News Mortgage brokers hit more than 70% market share Highest percentage recorded for residential home loans RBA governor apologises to mortgage holders Lowe sorry interest rates comment was misconstrued Genworth Financial Mortgage Insurance has secured a 22% stake in Household Capital, an Australian provider of home equity retirement funding, closing a $37.6 million series C capital raise. Genworth joins Household Capital as a strategic investment partner, alongside Legal & General UK (L&G), Citi, ad IFM Investors. Genworths renewed mission as a long-standing expert and major player in the Australian mortgage market is to deliver the benefits of homeownership to Australians throughout life, Household Capital CEO Joshua Funder told Financial Standard. Genworth has a real appetite to deliver the benefits of homeownership not just for first home buyers but extending their contribution and expertise to the last 30 years of Australian homeownership, which is retirement. Were very much aligned in focusing on the family home as both housing and funding for retirement. Genworth is delighted to have entered a strategic partnership with Household Capital, Genworth CEO Pauline Blight-Johnstone said. This investment demonstrates a significant step toward achieving our purpose of accelerating financial wellbeing through homeownership. Funder said that with conclusion of the capital raise, Household Capital is now focused on growing its share of the home equity retirement funding market and improving access to long-term retirement funding options to people throughout Australia. The key to this, he said, is to ensure Australians understand and have confidence in their own home equity and can use it for the long term. We need everybody to become aware and understand, we need financial advisers, the public, super funds and their members, mortgage brokers, and their clients to all become aware of home equity in retirement funding, Funder told Financial Standard. The will invest about Rs 10,000 crore in the between 2023 and 2027 to augment its passenger handling capacity by three times, making it a regional hub. In a presentation to investors last week, the executives said the will be made a regional hub connecting airports such as Bhuj, Kandla, Jamnagar and Bhavnagar. Its annual passenger handling capacity will be increased from 9 million currently to 28 million in 2027, they added. The did not respond to queries sent by Business Standard. The conglomerate had in November 2020 taken control of the from the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Ahmedabad is a financial capital where diverse tourism opportunities and a booming industrial base are present, the presentation noted. The number of hotel rooms has seen an 8.59 per cent compound annual growth rate in the city, it added. The commercial area in the airport will be increased from the current 2,000 square metres (sq. mt) to 9,000 sq. mt by 2025 to boost non-aeronautical revenues, it added. The Adani group wants premium brands to open more outlets at the Ahmedabad airport to ensure higher average transaction value. The capital expenditure planned for the city airport will also be used to develop an integrated cargo terminal with dedicated freighter bays, an air freight station, an e-commerce domestic regional hub and road feeder services. A transshipment hub for international and domestic cargo will also be developed at the Ahmedabad airport, the presentation noted. Six airports in Lucknow, Jaipur, Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, Ahmedabad and Guwahati were privatised by the AAI in February 2019 through a competitive bidding process. The Adani group did aggressive bidding and won the rights to run all six of them for 50 years. During the last few years, the Adani group has gradually increased its presence in the aviation sector. On Tuesday, it acquired Air Works Indias second-oldest aircraft maintenance repair and overhaul unit for an enterprise valuation of Rs 400 crore. The conglomerates latest acquisition will give it maintenance capabilities in all three aircraft maintenance verticals airline, business jets, and defence. The Competition Commission on Wednesday slapped penalties totalling more than Rs 392 crore on online travel firms MakeMyTrip, Goibibo and hospitality services provider for unfair business practices. A fine of Rs 223.48 crore has been slapped on Make My Trip-Goibibo (MMT-Go) and Rs 168.88 crore on OYO, according to a 131-page order. Among others, it was alleged that MMT-Go imposed a price parity in their agreements with hotel partners. Under such pacts, the hotel partners are not allowed to sell their rooms on any other platform or on its own online portal at a price below the price at which it is being offered on the two entities' platforms. Besides imposing penalties, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has directed MMT-Go to "suitably modify its agreements with hotels/chain hotels to remove/abandon the price and room availability parity obligations imposed by it on its hotel/chain hotel partners with respect to other OTAs (Online Travel Agencies)". Also, has asked it to modify agreements to do away with certain exclusivity conditions. "MMT-Go is directed to provide access to its platform on a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory basis to the hotels/chain hotels, by formulating the platforms' listing terms and conditions in an objective manner," it added. It was also alleged that MMT gave preferential treatment to on its platform, further leading to a denial of market access to other players. Case No. 14 of 2019 & 01 of 2020 imposes penalties of 223.48 crores and 168.88 crores upon MMT-Go and respectively, besides directing MMT-Go to amend its market behaviour, for indulging in anti-competitive conduct. Order: https://t.co/gO8cyW9gUw#Antitrust #CCI pic.twitter.com/8LTkCpz4wn (@CCI_India) October 19, 2022 The regulator ordered a detailed investigation into the matter in October 2019. MakeMyTrip (MMT) acquired Ibibo Group Holding in 2017. MMT continues to operate its hotels and packages business through MMT India under the brand name MakeMyTrip, and Ibibo India under the brand name Goibibo. (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 E-gaming Federation (EGF) is set to challenge the recent ordinance issued by the government to ban by categorising rummy and poker as games of chance. Rummy has been regarded predominantly as a game of skill by the and held to be protected under Article 19(1)(g) of the Indian Constitution. Bringing rummy under the ambit of games of chance directly violates the judgments and the judgment which overturned the law banning online games, EGF said in a statement. After examining the ordinance, we have decided to file a lawsuit as it categorises rummy and poker as games of chance. This is in dissonance with multiple legal judicial pronouncements including the recent judgment by the Madras High Court, which has clearly segregated games of skill and chance. The and several High Courts have reaffirmed the status of skill-based games as legitimate business activity and the state must take cognizance of these judgments in developing an enabling gaming policy that safeguards players than resorting to a ban, said Sameer Barde, CEO of EGF. The had, in an earlier judgement, held that any game (including rummy and poker) in which the better skilled person would prevail more often than not, is a game of skill, and is distinct from gambling or a game of chance. The Court further held that when it comes to card games such as rummy and poker, there is no distinction between skill involved in physical form or in virtual/online form. For the online skill gaming industry and for the State of Tamil Nadu, the need of the hour is a comprehensive policy that protects players and ensures that only legitimate online skill-gaming operators offer their services while weeding out the ones who break the law, the EGF statement said. The Indian gaming market is expected to grow from current $2.2-5 billion in revenue by 2025. Growing at a CAGR of 38 per cent, the sector holds significant scope for overall economic growth and employment. Moreover, to unleash the potential of the sunrise sector, the central government has set up an inter-ministerial task force (IMTF) and MeITY has held consultations with all stakeholders on regulating the industry. The hospitality sector is rolling out the red carpet for corporates this Diwali after nearly a three-year break. From curated gift hampers, sweet boxes, and fine dining vouchers to hosting big-ticket pre-Diwali bashes, hotels are presenting a smorgasbord of offerings. This comes at a time when across sectors are seeking to get employees back to office after a gap of almost three years, say hotel executives. This year, we are seeing a lot of corporates hosting Diwali bashes for their employees and stakeholders. While these still may not be as big as 2019, that they are making a comeback after two years is encouraging, says Sachin Mylavarapu, area director of operations-South and East Asia, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka at Marriott International. Nandivardhan Jain, founder and chief executive officer at Noesis Capital Advisors, says the razzmatazz at banquets was conspicuous by its absence. But it is back, with demand picking up across locations and segments. In Bengaluru, we see at least 80-90 per cent of the workforce back in office. Conferences, events, meetings, celebrations, and conventions are in full force, says Ajay Sampige, assistant vice-president, Royal Orchid and Regenta Hotels. The is witnessing an increase in the bookings for MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) events and corporate travel. across sectors, particularly multinationals, want to do more for employees to get them to return to work. The pan-Indian average occupancy at hotels for the first half of 2022-23 is expected to be in the 63-65 per cent band 22-25 percentage points higher than the first half of 2021-22, and almost clawing back to pre-pandemic levels, says a CareEdge report on Wednesday. Strong recovery in demand is driving a steady increase in the average room rate (ARR), with hotels, particularly in the leisure segment, surpassing pre-pandemic ARR, along with corporate travel and MICE gaining momentum, it observes. We are now doing office catering much more, keeping in mind employee well-being. Healthy meals, especially vegan, are the preferred choices, says Sampige. Also, most large companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, and start-ups are leveraging the festival season and offering breaks to employees by booking them staycations or organising mega events with their families serving as an ice-breaker after two years of working remotely, he says. In addition to events, corporate gifting has emerged as a mega trend this year. People are out there celebrating, says Shibil Malik, general manager, Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway. Hotels have sharpened their focus and corporate gifting has now emerged an important segment, he adds. Corporate gifting accounts for only 1 per cent of a hotels total revenue. But its a good branding exercise, says Jain. Sheraton Grand Bangalore clocked a revenue of Rs 50 lakh just from corporate gifting in 2019 and has almost touched that mark this year. The demand is not only from the information technology sector, but also from manufacturing and health care sectors. Marriott, too, is making the most of it with its Diwali with Marriott. Ahead of the festival season, it tied up with fashion designer Manish Malhotra to design sweet boxes. The association, says Mylavarapu, has added more bling to the otherwise cookie-cutter corporate gift hampers. Its not just a box but a collectible, he says. So far, the hotel chain has seen an increase of 20 per cent in the Bonvoy offerings and expects it to increase further as the week-long festivities kick in with Dhanteras. The central government has asked the (Sebi) to ease the mandatory shareholding norm for the potential acquirer of by treating the combined residual stake of the (LIC) and the government after the strategic sale as a part of the public float, according to Financial Express (FE). The report added that it will give the buyer sufficient time to expand the business and increase the bank's valuation. After the sale of the stake, and the centre will together hold a 34 per cent stake in the . As per Sebi's norms, a company must have 25 per cent public holding within three years of listing. currently has a public holding of 5.28 per cent. It is majorly owned by the government and . The government offered to sell a total of 60.72 per cent stake in the bank, in early October. Of this, 30.48 per cent is held by the government and 30.24 per cent by the . However, out of the total, LIC and the centre hold 49.24 and 45.48 per cent stakes in the bank respectively. According to FE, a strategic investor may not offload a stake in the first three years. During that period, they may set up new management, rebrand and restructure the company. It also added that the government has fixed this sale in such a way that the buyer may raise its stake to 66 per cent, up from the original offer of 60 per cent by adding 5.28 additional per cent via public offer. According to Sebis takeover regulations, the acquisition of an aggregate of 25 per cent shares in a listed entity would trigger an open offer. Budget carrier on Tuesday successfully test-landed its aircraft at the newly-constructed Donyi Polo airport or the Hollongi airport in Arunachal Pradesh's Itanagar. The move is a significant milestone to boost connectivity in the northeast regions. The air connectivity of will begin on October 28, ANI reported. The foundation stone of the Donyi Polo Airport was laid in 2019. Situated nearly 14 km south of the city centre, the airport will serve Itanagar. The airport has been built to design narrow-body aircraft which can carry about 200 passengers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Donyi Polo airport. The move aims to boost tourism and strengthen the security of Arunachal Pradesh, as it shares international borders with three countries, namely- China, Myanmar, and Bhutan. The date for the inauguration, however, has not been fixed. According to Livemint, the critical works required for operating the airport are complete. Once the airport becomes operational, Indore-based airline flybig is also likely to begin between Itanagar and Guwahati. is also likely to connect Itanagar with Kolkata and Guwahati. A direct flight between Delhi and Itanagar is also expected in the upcoming months. In an interview, Abhijit Dasgupta, head of network planning at IndiGo, told LiveMint that NorthEast is strategically important to us. He added that remains one of the few carriers who have successfully expanded in the northeast. With the impetus being on Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme, the airport aims to mark a new beginning for . Currently, the nearest airport to Itanagar is North Lakhimpur airport, situated in Assam, about 57 km away. Tourists visiting Arunachal have to travel from North Lakhimpur airport in Assam. RHI Magnesita India Limited on Wednesday said it has acquired the refractory business of Hi-Tech for Rs 621 crore in an all-cash deal. RHI Magnesita India Ltd is the leading global supplier of high-grade refractory products used by major industries, including steel, cement, non-ferrous metals and glass. In a BSE filing, the company said it "has executed...with Hi-Tech Chemicals Limited (Hi-Tech) vide agreement for the acquisition of the refractory business of Hi-Tech by way of a slump sale on a going concern basis for a cash consideration of Rs 621 crore". On the objective of the acquisition, RHI Magnesita India said it will strengthen and enlarge its offering to enhance the company's position in the domestic and international flow-control refractory business. Speaking to PTI over the phone, Parmod Sagar, MD & CEO of RHI Magnesita India said, "This acquisition is pursuant to our strategic inorganic growth strategy in India. It testifies to our strong commitment to increasing our production footprint in India to serve our customers more efficiently". It is a cash-only acquisition and the process will complete in the next few months, he added. According to the RHI Magnesita, Hi-Tech posted a turnover of Rs 270.2 crore in the financial year 2021-2022 against Rs 220.8 crore in the preceding fiscal. Hi-Tech's refractory business is present in India and 6 other countries across Europe, Africa and Asia. (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 announced a revised salary structure for its Captains increasing their monthly remuneration to Rs 7 lakh-a-month for 80 hours of flying. The airline said that the hike will be applicable from November 1. Following the latest hike, the salary of Captains at will be higher as compared to their pre-Covid salary. Salaries of Trainers (DE, TRI, LTC) and Senior First Officers has also been increased commensurately, said a spokesperson. The spokesperson said that SpiceJet has been consistently increasing the base salary of pilots. As compared to August, the September salary saw an increase of up to 10 per cent for Trainers and 8 per cent for Captains and First Officers. From October, salary was hiked by another 22 per cent for Captains and First Officers. SpiceJet operates a fleet of Boeing 737s, Q-400s and freighters and is the country's largest regional player operating multiple daily flights under UDAN or the Regional Connectivity Scheme. The majority of the airline's fleet offers SpiceMax, a spacious economy class seating in India. The airline also operates a dedicated air cargo service under the brand name SpiceXpress offering safe, on-time, efficient and seamless cargo connectivity across India and on international routes. Recently, the aviation regulator DGCA directed the airline to send the engine oil samples of the entire Q400 fleet consisting of 14 operational aircraft to Pratt and Whitney Canada to ascertain the presence of metal and carbon seat particles. Moreover, the DGCA has also directed Spicejet for inspection opf bleed-off valve screen and housing for evidence of oil wetness. (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 board of Idea (Vi) will meet on Friday to discuss issuing to a vendor. Vi on Wednesday informed stock exchanges that its board will meet to consider and evaluate the issue of debentures that can be converted into equity shares on a preferential or a private allotment basis. The issue of debentures will be subject to approvals from regulators and shareholders. The development comes within 20 days of Indus Towers warning the financially stressed telecom company to clear its dues by November or face disconnection. Vi did not disclose further details about the proposal. Vi has struggled to raise funds and that has hindered its payments to vendors and launch of its 5G service. The conversion of interest on adjusted gross revenue dues into equity for the government too has not materialised yet. Vis dues with Indus are said to be over Rs 7,000 crore and the tower company recently made a provision in its books considering recovery challenges. It reportedly owes Rs 2,000 crore to American Tower Corporation. At the time, Vi said it was in discussions with Indus for softer payment terms. The telecom operator had earlier suggested that it would make a part payment till December and a full payment thereafter, along with clearance of old dues till July 2023. A senior executive at one of the vendors said Vi had mooted the idea of three-four months ago and discussions were held. We could consider that but after equity issuance by Vi to the government. Vi is also looking to raise debt from banks. There has to be clarity on that. Vis Chief Executive Officer Akshaya Moondra had told shareholders in August that the company will launch 5G service after finalising fresh funding and contracts with gear makers. Vi acquired 6,228 MHz of spectrum in various bands worth Rs 18,799 crore in the recent 5G spectrum auction. It purchased spectrum in the 3,300 MHz band in 17 of its priority circles and in the 26-GHz band in 16 circles enabling last-mile connectivity. Vis stock closed at Rs 8.52 on the BSE on Thursday gaining 0.6 per cent. Prime Minister on Wednesday expressed confidence that aeroplanes will soon be manufactured in and their spare parts will be made at in the state. He was addressing a gathering in the Race Course area of city after launching a host of projects, including houses for the economically weaker sections. Modi is on a two-day visit to his home state Gujarat, where Assembly elections are due by December end. Praising the engineering industry in district during his address, Modi said, "Aeroplanes will be manufactured in soon and their spare parts will be made in Rajkot." Some leaders built bungalows for themselves after coming into politics, but did not do anything for the poor, he said without mentioning anyone. "They came into politics and built their bungalows, but never thought of improving the conditions of those living in slums. I have taken up the work of building houses for the poor" he said. On the occasion, he handed over the possession of nearly 1,100 houses built under the 'Light House" project to the beneficiaries. Before the rally, the PM also led a roadshow from the airport till Race Course ground. (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 on Tuesday inaugurated 11 high-tech low-cost electric charging stations in different parts of the city as part of a larger project to set up 100 charging stations across the national capital in the next two months. "Through these 11 electric charging stations, has given the world the most affordable model of its kind. Driving an EV after charging them here would be extremely cheap it would barely cost 7 paise/km for two-wheelers, 8 paise/km for three-wheelers and 33 paise/km for four-wheelers," he said. There are 73 charging points and 12 swapping stations at these 11 charging stations and the consumers will be charged at the rate of Rs 3 per unit, Kejriwal said. "There will be 100 charging stations with 900 charging points and 103 swapping stations in two months. Under the EV policy, we had set a target of ensuring that 25 per cent of total vehicles purchased in by 2024 are EVs. We have already achieved 10 per cent in two years," he said. Nearly 70 per cent of these charging stations have been set up at Delhi Metro parking areas where EV users can easily park their vehicles for charging, take the Metro to their destinations, and then return home with their vehicles, the CM said. On the sidelines, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi at a meeting on Tuesday said that they hope to put up EV charging stations every two kilometres within two years, with a focus on two and three-wheeler vehicles. "There are more two-wheeler users than four-wheelers in Delhi. The state government is providing a subsidy of Rs 6,000 on the purchase of the electric two-wheelers, so we are trying to motivate this section of buyers to opt for e-vehicles by making charging easy for them," an official said at the meeting, according to Times of India (TOI). will partner with Telecommunications Consultants India Limited, Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited, Energy Efficient Services Limited, Indraprastha Gas Limited, Tata Power BYPL and BRPL to accomplish the task. The (DRI) has seized 86.5 kg of high-quality US-origin hydroponic valued at Rs 39.5 crore and arrested two persons in this connection from Mumbai, an official said on Tuesday. The DRI's Mumbai zonal unit intercepted two US-origin consignments at Courier Terminal in the Air Cargo Complex. An examination resulted in the seizure of 86.5 kg of hydroponic (ganja) from the consignments, he said. The consignments were mis-declared as 'Outdoor Concrete Firepit' and were destined for Bhiwandi town in adjoining Thane district, the official said. The seizure was a result of multi- agency coordination with stakeholders and further investigation and follow-up searches were carried out at the addresses of a warehouse and office premises linked to the importer, he said. These searches resulted in the crackdown on drug cartel and led to the arrest of two persons from Mumbai, the official said. The seized high-quality hydroponic is valued at Rs 39.5 crore in the illicit market, he said, adding further investigation was underway. The current recovery indicates an alarming trend of hydroponic weed of the USA-origin being imported to India, the official added. Hydroponic is a soilless method of growing cannabis using water as the primary medium. (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 is celebrating the diamond jubilee of the battle of Walong, a shining example of unparalleled bravery, guts and sacrifice by the soldiers who fought the Chinese onslaught in 1962. The month-long celebration was inaugurated by General Officer Commanding (GOC), Spear Corps, in the easternmost location of India at Walong in Arunachal Pradesh's Anjaw district. Defence spokesman Lt Col A.S. Walia said that the GOC paid homage at the war memorial and interacted with the war veterans. He also honoured the porters who participated in the battle of Walong six decades ago. An equipment display was also organised for the locals as part of 'Know your Army' campaign. Walia said that 60 years ago during the Indo- war, gave a bloody nose to the Chinese in the 'Battle of Walong'. The launched its only counter attack during the war to stall the advancing Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers. The bravehearts of the Indian Army held back the Chinese troops for 27 days, which forced the Chinese to deploy its reserve division from Tawang to Walong, he pointed out. "Outnumbered and with little ammunition and no resource of any kind, the valiant troops continued to hold their ground in a classic example of fighting till the last man, last round." The defence spokesman said that this saga of valour and sacrifice will serve as a tale of inspiration for generations to come. Walia said that to commemorate the occasion, month-long celebrations aligned with the operations and events as they occurred in October-November 1962 would be organised across the country. The proposed events include seminars on 'Battle of Walong' at Army War College, Mhow, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and for the general public in Kolkata. The upcoming events also include a motorcycle rally, to be flagged off from Tezpur, which would visit the historical battlefields of 1962 and collect soils from there, which would thereafter be instated at the Walong War Memorial. The celebrations would culminate on November 17 at Walong. --IANS sc/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.) India's score improved by two points to 51 in the global ranking following efforts to bridge the digital divide in the country, the US government-funded NGO Freedom House said on Tuesday. The improvement in the score is also based on reduced frequency and intensity of internet shutdowns in the country. " in marginally improved over the last year, following four years of decline, as efforts to bridge the country's digital divides expanded access to the internet. While the government continues to impose internet shutdowns, they have reduced in their frequency and intensity," Freedom on The Net 2022 said. India's score was 49 in in 2021. According to report, legal challenges to laws enabling the government to censor online content, including against the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, have seen limits imposed on some powers. "However, the state continues to block online content, and Indian internet users risk arrest for posts critical of the government. Misinformation and disinformation are frequently shared online, and journalists, nongovernmental organizations, and members of marginalized groups remain at risk of facing hate speech and online harassment," the report said. The US government-funded NGO found that global internet freedom declined for the 12th consecutive year with sharpest downgrades were documented in Russia, Myanmar, Sudan, and Libya. The report claimed that China was the world's worst environment for internet freedom for the eighth consecutive year and internet freedom in the United States improved marginally for the first time in six years. "There were fewer reported cases of targeted surveillance and online harassment during protests compared with the previous year, and the country now ranks ninth globally, tied with Australia and France. The United States still lacks a comprehensive federal privacy law, and policymakers made little progress on the passage of other legislation related to internet freedom," the report said referring to the internet freedom status in US. (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.) president Ravinder Raina along with his party colleague and former deputy chief minister Kavinder Gupta on Tuesday visited the house of slain Kashmiri pandit Puran Krishan Bhat here to express their condolences with the family, a party spokesman said. Bhat was shot dead by terrorists outside his ancestral house in Shopian district of south Kashmir on Saturday. Raina and Gupta visited the house of the slain Bhat at Muthi on the outskirts of Jammu and expressed their condolences with the bereaved family, the spokesman said. He said Raina assured support to the victim's family and also said that justice will be done with them. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lok Sabha Speaker on Wednesday suggested training tourist guides and designated police personnel in multiple foreign languages and developing a multilingual app to make tourists visiting India feel at ease. In his address at the opening session of a day-long conference on tourist police, attended by top officers of various states and Union Territories, he asserted that efforts should be made so that not a single crime happened against any tourist. "Many foreign tourists, especially those in the age bracket of 50s and 60s, wish to speak in their own language. So it is important to be multilingual as per the needs of the tourists and our policy should factor in that aspect," Birla said. As a result, if guides and tourist police personnel can be multilingual or can be taught elementary phrases in multiple foreign languages, a tourist can be better facilitated and they will also feel more at ease during interactions, he said. "Similarly, an app can be developed in multiple major foreign languages whereby any tourist, when they come to India, can download the app so that they can get basic information about tourist places and other necessary information in their language of preference. This app can also have a helpline through which tourists can use to reach out to the authorities concerned immediately," the Lok Sabha Speaker said. Birla said India was endowed with extraordinary natural and cultural heritage sites, besides iconic monuments, but for any tourist, the first and foremost factor in choosing a destination was the country's law and order. "If a place has not many impressive or large number of tourist sites, but law and order is good, then a tourist will consider going to that place. But if a place has a lot of natural sites and attractive destinations, but law and order situation is not good, then tourists won't prefer that place as a destination," he said. During the conference, the best practices and experiences of some of the states, which have implemented their own tourist police, will be shared, officials said. Senior officials from Meghalaya and Rajasthan made presentations during the opening session and shared their learnings and challenges. Union Minister for Culture and Tourism G Kishan Reddy, in his address, said different states and Union Territories should try to engage in "healthy competition" in implementing the best tourism-related policies to enhance the experience of tourists, both domestic and foreign. He flagged the harassment faced tourists due to a few unscrupulous elements such as middlemen who cheat them or some taxi or autorickshaw drivers who try to fleece them. He also highlighted incidents of snatching at many religious or other sites. Reddy emphasised that all stakeholders must come together to give a good experience to tourists so that they praise India and its hospitality and culture when they go back to their countries. The Ministry of Tourism, in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), is organising the conference of director generals/inspector generals of police department of all states and Union Territories "in connection with implementation of Uniform Tourist Police Scheme" at Vigyan Bhawan here, the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. During the conference, the report on 'Tourist Police Scheme' prepared by BPR&D will be deliberated and it will share the findings and recommendations of the report with the Home ministry, Tourism ministry and representatives of state governments and Union Territory administrations, the statement said. Union Minister of State for Tourism Shripad Yesso Naik, Union Tourism Secretary Arvind Singh and Director General (BPR&D, MHA) Balaji Srivastava also attend the event. DGs, IGs and other senior police officers and senior officials in tourism departments of many states and Union Territories, and other senior officials of the two ministries, BPR&D also were present during the conference. (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 a sunny afternoon just two days before Durga Puja in 2008, then Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata had announced to pull out the ambitious Nano small car project from in West Bengal's Hooghly district, holding Trinamool Congress' agitation against land acquisition for the project solely responsible for the decision. Fourteen years after that development -- often termed as the biggest blow to West Bengal's image before and international investors -- Chief Minister said on Wednesday that it wasn't her or the Trinamool, but then ruling which was responsible for driving away the Tata project from . "I did not drive out the Tatas. did. They forcefully acquired land for the project. I just gave back the land to the farmers at a later stage," Banerjee said at a post-Durga Puja gathering in Siliguri in Darjeeling district. In his speech while announcing the decision to pull out of Singur, Ratan Tata had also held -- then opposition leader in the state -- responsible to a great extent for the decision to call off the project. "I think some time back I had mentioned that if you put a gun to my head, you either pull the trigger or take the gun away because I will not move my head. I think Ms Banerjee has pulled the trigger," he had said. After the pull out from Singur, Gujarat's Sanand became the new destination for the Nano factory. Banerjee also said on Wednesday that although setting up new industries is her goal now, she is still against forceful land acquisition for any project. "Several industrial projects have been launched since we came to power in 2011. But never has there been any forceful land acquisition," she said. Reacting to the Chief Minister's remarks, central committee member Sujan Chakraborty said that it was Mamata Banerjee's government which blasted a factory with dynamite whose 80 per cent construction work was complete. "It was actually blasting the dreams of so many youth of the state. And she is now encouraging the youth to turn 'jhalmuri' into an industry in West Bengal," he said. In fact, it was Trinamool's anti-land acquisition agitation in that shifted the Left Front's dedicated rural vote bank towards them, which ultimately culminated in Banerjee becoming the Chief Minister in 2011, ending the Left's 34-year rule. However, since then, fresh investments by the Tata Group in have remained an illusion. --IANS src/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.) could be bracing for yet another cyclone, with the India Meteorological Department Tuesday forecasting the possible formation of such a weather system over the Bay of Bengal (BoB) this weekend. A low-pressure area is likely to form over the southeast and adjoining eastcentral Bay of Bengal over the next 48 hours, the said. "It is likely to move west-northweswards and concentrate into a depression by October 22 morning over the central Bay of Bengal. It is very likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm over west-central BoB subsequently," it said. Director-General Mrutunjay Mohapatra said though the depression is likely to become well-marked and turn into a cyclonic storm, no forecast is being made on the intensity of the system and its path at present. "We may give more details of the cyclone only after the formation of a low-pressure area," he said. has encountered at least three major storms in 2021, including Yaas' (May), Gulab' (September) and Jawad' (December). Fishermen are advised not to venture into deep sea area of westcentral and adjoining northwest BoB from October 22 morning onward till further notice, the weather office said in an advisory. Under the influence of the anticipated low-pressure system, squally weather with surface wind speed can reach 45 to 55 kmph and gust to 65 kmph over westcentral and adjoining northwest BoB. The government held a review meeting to oversee the state's preparedness in the wake of the forecast. It also cancelled the leaves of its employees from October 23 to October 25 in the coastal districts, which have been put on alert, a senior official said. Weather scientist U S Dash at the Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, said there is not much chance of heavy rainfall activity in the state till October 23 morning. Meanwhile, the Met Department in Kolkata said it is keeping a close watch on the weather system. It is likely to cause rain in the coastal districts of West Bengal from October 23, Regional Met Director G K Das said. "We are keeping a close watch on the cyclonic circulation that has developed in the North Andaman Sea," Das told PTI. He said detailed forecasts for the eastern states can be made in a day or two. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The on Tuesday informed the that the government is planning to construct a corridor after acquiring five acres of land adjacent to Banke Bihari Temple in to give facilities to pilgrims. A bench comprising Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice JJ Munir was hearing a PIL on providing facilities to pilgrims who visit the temple in large numbers. Two devotees were killed and seven injured in a stampede-like situation at the temple during Janmashtami celebrations in August, sparking safety concerns. The bench asked the state government to clear its stand regarding the management of pilgrims visiting the temple and fixed the next hearing on November 17. On behalf of the state government, the Additional Advocate General informed the court that the government is planning to construct a corridor after acquiring five acres of land adjacent to the temple to give facilities to the pilgrims. An impleadment application moved by Goswami (priest) family objected to the plan, saying it's a private temple and no government interference is required. PTI CORR. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister on Wednesday inaugurated ' 2022' in Gandhinagar. With an aim to give impetus to the defence sector, India's "biggest ever" defence exhibition - 2022 is being held in Gandhinagar, . This is the 12th edition of the event that has been organised on the theme 'Path to Pride'. At the India Pavilion, Prime Minister unveiled HTT-40 - the indigenous trainer aircraft designed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). According to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the aircraft has state of art contemporary systems and has been designed with pilot-friendly features. During the programme, Prime Minister also launched Mission DefSpace - to develop innovative solutions for the Defence Forces in the Space domain through industry and startups. At the inauguration ceremony, PM Modi also laid the foundation stone of 52 Wing Air Force Station Deesa. This year's is the first-ever edition exclusively for Indian companies. Indian companies, Indian subsidiaries of Foreign OEMs, Division of a company registered in India, and Exhibitor having a joint venture with an Indian company will be considered as Indian participants. The DefExpo 2022 also marks the celebration of one year of the formation of the seven new defence companies, carved out of the erstwhile Ordnance Factory Board. All these companies will participate in DefExpo for the first time. 451 partnerships in terms of MoUs, Transfer of Technology agreements and product launches, almost double than the last edition, are expected during the Bandhan ceremony on October 20. The India Pavilion - a marque pavilion of the Department of Defence Production - will showcase the maturity of indigenous defence products, start-ups and the latest technology, including Artificial Intelligence in defence, while presenting India's vision for 2047. In addition, there will be an exclusive Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) Pavilion to showcase the prowess of the country's start-ups carrying out R & D and innovation in futuristic technologies. For the first time, States, Union Territories (UTs) have been invited to set up pavilions at the event. The Defence Minister has emphasised that with this new initiative, States, UTs will get an opportunity to participate in nation-building by attracting investment and bolstering their potential of indigenous aerospace and defence manufacturing. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister inaugurated Indias premier defence exposition, DefExpo 2022, in Gandhinagar on Wednesday. This is the first where only Indian companies are participating and it features only Made-in-India equipment, he declared. From the land of Iron Man, Sardar Patel, we are setting an example of the capabilities of India before the world, said the PM. The Expo has more than 1,300 exhibitors from the Indian defence industry, some joint ventures (JVs) with foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), medium, small and micro enterprises (MSMEs) and more than 100 start-ups. Modi said this provided a glimpse of Indias capability and possibility. He said that more than 400 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were being signed for the first time ever. At the India Pavilion, which showcased Make in India success stories, the PM unveiled the HTT-40, an indigenous basic trainer aircraft designed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). According to the MoD, the HTT-40 has state-of-the-art contemporary systems and has been designed with pilot-friendly features. The HTT-40 is an indigenous triumph, having completed all its systems and flight tests. With over 60 per cent in-house parts and collaboration of private industry, the MoD regards the HTT-40 as a shining example of the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Modi also launched Mission DefSpace to develop innovative solutions for the in the space domain through industry and start-ups. The MoDs thrust on Africa has brought in the participation of several countries from that continent. The PM expressed happiness that when India is giving shape to its dreams, 53 friendly countries from Africa are walking with us. Also drawing in more countries is the 2nd Indian Ocean Region plus (IOR+) conclave that is being held during the Expo, in line with the PMs vision for Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR). The PM also laid the foundation stone of the new Deesa airfield in Gujarat, stating that the forward air force base will enhance the countrys security. Talking up Indias success in growing defence exports, the PM said: Our have grown eight times in the last five years. We are exporting defence materials and equipment to more than 75 countries of the world. In 2021-22 Indias reached $1.59 billion (Rs 13,000 crore). And the target is to reach $5 billion i.e., Rs 40,000 crore. Underscoring the MoDs Positive Indigenisation Lists, which designates equipment that would be procured only from within the country, Modi released another list of 101 such items, taking to 411 items the overall number of items mandated for indigenisation. The MoD had earlier promulgated three Positive Indigenisation Lists, comprising 310 items on August 21, 2020, May 31, 2021 and April 07, 2022 respectively. The Fourth Positive Indigenisation List of 101 items was announced by Modi today. The Prime Minister called upon all the companies present at the DefExpo and urged them to give shape to these opportunities keeping the India of the future at the centre. You innovate, take a pledge to be the best in the world, and give shape to the dream of a strong developed India. You will always find me there supporting you, he concluded. Speaking before Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh termed the massive participation in DefExpo 2022 of over 1,300 Indian exhibitors, besides high officials from more than 80 countries; as a thumbs-up to Indias growing capability. Rajnath Singh emphasised that national security has always been accorded top priority by the Government. Land, water and sky are already witness to the valour of our military, but now we are expanding our defence capabilities by reaching the depths of the ocean and heights of space, he said. A week ahead of Diwali, cases in the northern states have again picked up pace with an increase of over 800 per cent from previous years. On Monday and Tuesday, 1,045 events of were reported as against 114 events during the same period in 2021, accordingg to the Indian Agricultural Research Institutes real-time monitoring of paddy residue burning events. However, in Punjab, which is the hot bed of between October 17 and 18 this year, there was a decline of 61 cases due to delayed high moisture in standing paddy due to which harvest had to be deferred. The contribution of the past two days in the total number of residue burning events is 36.37 per cent of the 2,873 cases reported from September 15 to October 18. The contribution of stubble burning to Delhis PM 2.5 concentration was around 3 percent on Monday, the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (Safar), a body under the ministry of earth sciences, said. Fire counts/emissions over northwest region are gradually increasing but its impact on Delhis air quality is negligible due to unfavorable transport level wind flow, it said. The body has been calculating the contribution of stubble burning to Delhis PM 2.5 concentration each winter, and found that it reached a high of 48 per cent on November 7 last year. While the number of residue-burning cases reported so far are about 30 percent of what it was last year, it is likely to shoot up in the coming days. According to experts the rise is due to delayed withdrawal of southwest monsoon, which forced farmers to delay their harvest. Though its impact on levels isnt pronounced mainly due to rains, the numbers could hold ominous signs for the days to come and is also a telling comment on the mitigation efforts adopted so far. While residue burning begins in late September itself, it picks up pace in the latter half of October. The first and second weeks of November are the worst. The burning events subside by November-end. Though from last year, has seen a decline of 10 per cent in the stubble burning events when compared to the last two days it has increased 950 per cent from 2021. According to the Air Quality and Weather Bulletin for Delhi NCR on Wednesday the overall air quality over Delhi is likely to remain in Poor category till Friday. The air quality is likely to deteriorate and reach the Very Poor category on Saturday. The outlook for subsequent six days is largely in the Very Poor category. Meanwhile, in a related development, the agriculture ministry has come down heavily on for failing to control incidents of stubble burning in the state. At an inter-ministerial meeting on the issue of crop residue burning in held today, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav expressed concern that the government has not been able to take coordinated actions to contain farm fires in the state. Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar mentioned that the status of paddy straw management in Haryana is "significantly better than that in Punjab", the environment ministry said in a statement. "Till October 15, the trend of fire events was less as compared to last year but now it has started growing rapidly, especially in Punjab," the statement read. The ministers noted that the Pusa bio-decomposer - a microbial solution which turns stubble into manure in 15-20 days - was being sprayed in a lesser area in Punjab and its application needs to be promoted and enhanced. The Punjab chief secretary was asked to control the increasing rate of fire events in Amritsar and to ensure a 50 per cent reduction in cases of farm fires in the state in comparison to last year. It was mentioned in the meeting that one of the main concerns is the delayed delivery of crop residue management machines in Punjab and Haryana. Along with unfavourable meteorological conditions, paddy straw burning in adjoining states is a major reason behind the alarming spike in levels in the capital in October and November. Farmers set their fields on fire to quickly clear off the crop residue before cultivating wheat and vegetables. Government data shows Punjab and Haryana generate around 27 million tonnes of paddy straw a year, of which around 6.4 million tonnes is not managed. (with inputs from Sanjeeb Mukherjee) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres paid tributes to the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks at the in Mumbai and said that terror is an absolute "evil" and no reason, pretext or grievance can justify the act of terrorism. "Terror is absolute evil. There are no reasons, no pretext, no causes, and no grievances that can justify terrorism. terrorism is absolute evil. It has no room in today's world," Guterres said while addressing the presser at Taj Hotel. UN Chief, who came to India on Wednesday, visited the Taj Hotel on Wednesday and laid a wreath in honor of all those who sacrificed their lives in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. further said, "I feel deeply moved to be here where one of the barbaric terrorist acts in history took place where 166 people lost their lives. I want to pay tribute to the victims they are heroes of all world and I want to express my deepest condolences to their families, to their friends, to the people of India, and to all those that are coming from other parts of the world that have lost their lives in Mumbai." He also said that "fighting terrorism must be a global priority for every country on earth and fighting terrorism is a central priority for the UN". Recalling his first reform, Guterres said that he made a proposal for the creation of the office of anti-terrorism, an office that exists today. The office was created with the intention to cooperate with member states in order to provide the kind of systems and advice and training that is necessary for all countries to be prepared to be able to prevent and simultaneously fight against terrorist acts. On November 26, 2008, 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists arrived through sea and open fire, killing 166 people, including 18 security personnel, and injuring many during the three-day siege in Mumbai. Though nine terrorists were killed by the security forces, then ATS Chief Hemant Karkare, Army Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Mumbai's Additional Police Commissioner Ashok Kamte, and Senior Police Inspector Vijay Salaskar were among those killed in the attack. Apart from Guterres, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also paid tribute to the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. All the leaders observe a moment of silence for the victims and those who sacrificed their lives in the 26/11 attack. Guterres will be on an official visit to India from October 18-20, 2022. This will be UNSG's first visit to India, since he commenced his second term in office in January 2022. He had earlier visited India (in his first term) from 01- 04 October 2018." "Warm welcome to the UNSG @antonioguterres as he arrives in Mumbai for his official visit to India from 18-20 October 2022," tweeted Arindam Bagchi, Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs. UNSG will also deliver a public address at IIT Mumbai on the subject - "India @75: UN-India Partnership: Strengthening South-South Cooperation," read the MEA press release. On 20 October 2022 in Gujarat (Ekta Nagar, Kevadiya), he will join Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the launch of the Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) booklet, logo, and tagline. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar would hold bilateral discussions with the on issues of global concern, steps to deepen India's engagement with the UN, including through India's upcoming Presidency of the G20 and reformed multilateralism, added the release. In Kevadiya, Guterres is expected to pay floral tributes at the Statue of Unity. He will also be visiting India's first solar-powered village in Modhera (Gujarat) and other development projects in the area. UNSG will also be visiting the Sun Temple in Modhera, before departing for his onward destination. (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.) Two labourers hailing from were killed apparently in their sleep when terrorists lobbed a grenade at them on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday in militancy-infested district of South Kashmir, officials said. The incident took place at around 12.30 am on Tuesday when the victims identified as Monish Kumar and Ram Sagar, natives of UP's Kannauj district, were sleeping in a tin shed constructed as an out house, the officials said, adding the duo was working in the apple orchards as labourers. The fresh attack came two days after terrorists shot dead Kashmiri pandit Puran Krishan Bhat outside his house at Gund village in the same district. The labourers, who had come to the Kashmir valley two months ago, were rushed to a hospital where they succumbed to their injuries. Additional Director General of Police (Kashmir range) Vijay Kumar said a hybrid terrorist of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba group, who lobbed the grenade, has been arrested, along with another person who is believed to be working for banned Hizbul Mujahideen terror group. Hybrid terrorists are unlisted radicalised youths who carry out terror strikes and slip back into their routine lives often without leaving any trace. Talking to media in Shopian, Kumar said raids had been carried out immediately after the unfortunate news about the killings came and "we have been able to arrest two persons involved in the heinous crime while search is on for the others". "We will soon neutralise the Lashkar-e-Taiba man who was behind this attack," he added. The arrested terrorist was identified as Imran Bashir Ganie from Harmen, the additional DGP said, claiming that he has also confessed about his involvement. Meanwhile, Kannauj District Magistrate Shubhrant Kumar Shukla said the victims, natives of Danna Purwa village under the Thatia police station area, had gone to Kashmir two months ago and were working as labourers in . Kannauj Superintendent of Police Kunwar Anupam Singh said, "After the post-mortem of the deceased labourers is done, their bodies will be brought to Lucknow by an aircraft. From Lucknow, the bodies will reach their village by road." The killings drew criticism from administration as well as political parties with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha saying that "words cannot adequately condemn today's barbaric terror attack on Manish Kumar and Ram Sagar from Kannauj, UP... "...security apparatus has been directed to launch coordinated CT (counter terror) ops". He said the district administration has deputed senior officers to make arrangements for transportation of the mortal remains of the two men to their respective villages with full honours. " is a curse for the civilised society. People from every community must come together to condemn heinous acts and root out terror and its elements," he added. Former chief minister and vice president of Conference Omar Abdullah termed the killing as "unacceptable and indefensible targeted attack against minorities in Kashmir". "My heartfelt condolences to the families of Monish Kumar & Ram Sagar, may they find strength at the difficult time. Prayers for the souls of the deceased," he tweeted. Another former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said it was "distressing to know that two labourers were killed in an attack. At the risk of sounding repetitive, there is no sense of security and dignity for anyone living in J-K. These issues will be resolved only when GOI acknowledges that they exist". Veteran politician and CPM leader Mohammed Yusuf Tarigami termed the killing as "shocking" and said "two poor labourers who had come to earn their livelihood lost their lives to a despicable attack. Each one of us must raise our voice to condemn such barbaric acts of violence". Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari said, "Deeply shocked over the killing of two labourers in Shopian. I condemn this heinous and despicable act of violence. The vicious circle of violence must stop now. The perpetrators of the attack must be held accountable and brought to justice." People's Conference chief Sajad Lone also condemned the attack. "Waking up to the horrific news of the dastardly killing of two people who happen to be non locals. Their journey to earn a livelihood ends in blood bath at the hands of goons. These goons will rot in hell Inshallah. (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.) UN Secretary-General will pay tributes to the victims of the Mumbai terror attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel on Wednesday on the first day of his three-day visit to India. Resident Coordinator in India, Shombi Sharp said in a tweet, "A true honor to welcome #UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres to #India on behalf of #TeamUNIndia Looking forward to an amazing two days sharing how India is leading the way for achievement of #SDGs and #LNOB in many areas & @UNinIndia is proud to partner!." UN chief arrived in India on Wednesday on a three-day official visit. Guterres will be on an official visit to India from October 18-20, 2022. This will be UNSG's first visit to India, since he commenced his second term in office in January 2022. He had earlier visited India (in his first term) from 01- 04 October 2018." "Warm welcome to the UNSG @antonioguterres as he arrives in Mumbai for his official visit to India from 18-20 October 2022," tweeted Arindam Bagchi, Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs. Guterres will commence his visit to India, by paying tributes to the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai. UNSG will also deliver a public address at IIT Mumbai on the subject - "India @75: UN-India Partnership: Strengthening South-South Cooperation," read the MEA press release. On 20 October 2022 in Gujarat (Ekta Nagar, Kevadiya), he will join Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the launch of the Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) booklet, logo, and tagline. It may be recollected that the concept of LiFE was introduced by PM Modi during COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021. PM Modi had then urged the global community of individuals and institutions to drive LiFE as an international mass movement towards "mindful and deliberate utilization, instead of mindless and destructive consumption" to protect and preserve the environment. Mission LiFE will be India's signature initiative at the and other international platforms for showcasing climate action and early achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Its central idea reflects India's ethos of respect for Mother Nature and aims at piloting a focussed program that will mobilize 1 billion Indians to become pro-planet people (3P), who would practice simple environment and climate-friendly behavior/actions in their daily lives to promote a shared commitment to protect our planet. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar would hold bilateral discussions with the UN chief on issues of global concern, steps to deepen India's engagement with the UN, including through India's upcoming Presidency of the G20 and reformed multilateralism, added the release. In Kevadiya, Guterres is expected to pay floral tributes at the Statue of Unity. He will also be visiting India's first solar-powered village in Modhera (Gujarat) and other development projects in the area. UNSG will also be visiting the Sun Temple in Modhera, before departing for his onward destination. (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.) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister on Wednesday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the two migrant workers from Kannauj, killed in Tuesday's terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. A local "hybrid terrorist" of the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and another suspect were arrested for the attack in Shopian district, police said. A government spokesperson said Adityanath had directed officials to provide an assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the family members of the deceased workers, identified as Manish and Ramsagar of Danna Purva village in Thatia police station limits. Kannauj District Magistrate Shubhrant Kumar Shukla said on Tuesday that the victims had gone to Kashmir two months ago and worked as daily wagers. They were sleeping in a tin shed with other migrant workers when the terrorists attacked. Superintendent of Police Kunwar Anupam Singh said their bodies would be brought to Lucknow by plane after post mortem and taken to their village by road. (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 globe spanning, 15-year investigation has led to the repatriation of 307 antiquities by the US that were stolen and trafficked from and valued at nearly four million dollars, the majority seized from disgraced art dealer Subhash Kapoor. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced on Monday the return of 307 antiquities valued at nearly USD 4 million to the people of . Of these, 235 antiquities were seized following the investigation by the office of the Manhattan District Attorney into Kapoor, a prolific looter who helped traffic items from Afghanistan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and other countries. All the antiquities were returned during a repatriation ceremony at the Indian Consulate in New York attended by India's Consul General Randir Jaiswal, and US Homeland Security Investigations Acting Deputy Special Agent-in-Charge Christopher Lau, a statement issued by the Manhattan District Attorney's office said. These antiquities were stolen by multiple complex and sophisticated trafficking rings the leaders of which showed no regard for the cultural or historical significance of these objects, Bragg said, adding that we are proud to return hundreds of stunning pieces back to the people of . Among the pieces being returned is the Arch Parikara, crafted from marble and dating to the 12-13th century. Valued at approximately USD 85,000, the Arch Parikara was among the antiquities seized from Kapoor. It first surfaced in photographs depicting antiquity in a dirty, pre-restoration condition. These photographsalong with dozens of others depicting antiquities lying in the grass or on the groundwere sent to Kapoor by a supplier of illicit goods in India, the statement said, adding that the piece was smuggled out of India and into New York in May 2002. Kapoor laundered the Arch Parikara to the Nathan Rubin Ida Ladd Family Foundation, who donated the piece to the Yale University Art Gallery in 2007. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso said that the repatriation is the result of a globe spanning, fifteen-year investigation where the investigative team chased leads, followed the money and ultimately seized these pieces, ensuring their return to the people of India. Five of the antiquities were seized following investigation into antiquities dealer Nancy Wiener, who had pleaded guilty last year to charges of conspiracy and possession of stolen property. Over 60 antiquities were stolen from India by multiple smaller trafficking networks. The statement added that for over a decade, the District Attorney's Antiquities Trafficking Unit, along with law enforcement partners at Homeland Security Investigations, have investigated Kapoor and his co-conspirators for the illegal looting, exportation, and sale of artifacts from numerous countries all over the world. Kapoor and his co-defendants generally smuggled looted antiquities into Manhattan and sold the pieces through his Madison Avenue-based gallery, Art of the Past, it said. From 2011 to 2022, the DA's Office and HSI recovered more than 2,500 items trafficked by Kapoor and his network. The total value of the pieces recovered exceeds USD 143 million. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US last year, 157 artefacts and antiquities were repatriated by the United States. Modi and US President Joe Biden had committed to strengthen their efforts to combat the theft, illicit trade and trafficking of cultural objects. Last year, the US had returned 248 antiquities valued at an estimated USD 15 million to India. The DA's Office had issued an arrest warrant for Kapoor in 2012 and in November 2019, Kapoor and his seven co-defendants were indicted for their conspiracy to traffic stolen antiquities. In July 2020, the DA's Office filed extradition paperwork for Kapoor, who has been in prison in India since 2012 pending the completion of his ongoing trial. Five of Kapoor's co-defendants have already been convicted. One of the antiquities being returned from Wiener is the Vishnu and Lakshmi with Garuda dating to the 11th century C.E., which was looted from a temple in Central India and smuggled into New York County. In 2022 alone, the Office has returned 682 antiquities, valued at over USD 84 million to 13 countries. Since its founding, the Antiquities Trafficking Unit has returned nearly 2,200 antiquities, valued at over USD 160 million, to 22 countries. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister on Wednesday said the recently launched 5G telecom service will take the system to the next level in the country. The prime minister was speaking after launching the government's Mission Schools of Excellence initiative at Adalaj town in Gandhinagar district. He pointed out that knowledge of English was considered as the mark of being intellectual even though the English language is just a medium of communication. "The 5G service will go beyond smart facilities, smart classrooms and well as smart teachings. It will take our system to the next level," the prime minister said. He advocated the use of local languages to make sure those uncomfortable with English are not left behind. "Earlier, knowledge of the English language was considered a mark of being intellectual. In reality, the English language is just a medium of communication," the prime minister 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 (DoT) will address the concerns raised by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) over the dilution of its powers under some provisions of the draft telecom bill, reported The Economic Times citing a top officials. The move aims to reduce the possibility of conflicts between the sectoral watchdog and the department, the official said. The government official further said that Trai is concerned about some of the provisions of the draft bill, including those that seek to give the commanding rights over issues such as tariffs and quality of service among others. At present, these issues are tackled by Trai. While talking to ET, the senior official said that draft telecom bill has been shared with the regulator for its review. He said, "All views will be considered in the final bill. The last word on this draft telecom bill is not out." Another government official told ET that Trai will be sending its comments to underlining its concerns and will also approach a higher authority if fails to resolve the issues raised. However, Trai also has the option of including higher authorities, including the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), while sending its comments to DoT, a third official told ET. DoT has also sought feedback on the bill from all ministries of the Central government, state government and the public, along with Trai. According to DoT, the last date for sending comments has been extended by 10 days to October 30. In its current shape, the draft telecom bill provides more powers to the DoT on taking decisions at the policy level at Trai's expense, according to a sector expert. The on Wednesday released Rs 1,764 crore grant to four states. The states to which grants were released are Andhra Pradesh (Rs 136 crore), Chhattisgarh (Rs 109 crore), Maharashtra (Rs 799 crore) and Uttar Pradesh (Rs 720 crore). "The Department of Expenditure today released an amount of Rs 1,764 crore to 4 states for providing grants to million plus cities/urban agglomerations," the ministry said in a statement. The grants released are meant for Million Plus Cities/ Urban Agglomerations (MPC/UAs) of Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh; Durg Bhilainagar and Raipur in Chhattisgarh; Aurangabad, Greater Mumbai, Nagpur, Nashik, Pune and Vasai-Virar City in Maharashtra. It is also meant for Agra, Allahabad, Ghaziabad, Kanpur, Lucknow, Meerut and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. The 15th Finance Commission in its report for the period from 2021-22 to 2025-26 has divided the urban local bodies into two categories: (a) Million-Plus urban agglomerations/cities (excluding Delhi and Srinagar), and (b) all other cities and towns with less than one million population (Non-Million Plus cities). The finance commission has recommended separate grants for them. Out of the total grants recommended by the Commission for MPC/UAs, more than 2/3rd is recommended for solid waste management component and the remaining 1/3rd is allocated for ambient air quality. (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 said on Wednesday it will examine a proposal by Western nations to impose a price cap on Russian oil purchases, even as some local refiners have lined up Russian cargoes for delivery post Dec. 5, when the cap is set to take effect. The Group of Seven richest economies (G7) has been trying to enforce a price-capping mechanism on Russian oil exports by Dec 5, when European Union sanctions banning seaborne imports of Russian crude come into force. "I think there is an exemption for Japan for Sakhalin, then there is crude which comes through the pipeline, so they have exemptions...we will have to look at it," said India's oil minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, when asked if India will follow the planned price cap for Russian oil. India has emerged as Russia's second biggest oil client after China as some western entities shunned purchases form Moscow following its late February invasion of Ukraine. New Delhi's stance on the price cap is closely watched globally as a test of how effective the plan will be in curbing Russia's oil revenue. Moscow has said it would not supply oil to any country that agrees to the price cap. The price cap plan calls for G7 countries to deny insurance, finance, brokering, navigation and other services to oil cargoes priced above a yet-to-be-determined price cap on crude and oil products. India's top refiner, Indian Oil Corp, has lined up delivery of 3-4 cargoes of Russian oil post-Dec. 5 while Bharat Petroleum Corp is in the process of finalising cargoes for delivery in December, sources familiar with the two companies' crude purchases said. "We get Russian oil on a delivered basis, let the contours of the price cap mechanism be finalised. After that we will take a decision," a senior oil ministry official said. BPCL and IOC didn't respond to Reuters request for comments. Sources said Indian companies have time at least till end-October to place requests for more Russian oil cargoes for deliveries in December as the bulk of the purchases of Russian oil is made through spot contracts. They said the companies are, however, awaiting clarity on issues such as payment terms, insurance and shipping. "5th Dec is not a roadblock, we continue upliftment as per requirement and based on viable commercial offers received," said an official at one of the Indian state-refiners. Another source said a halt of Russian oil purchases by India will create a 'huge energy imbalance', which will not be affordable to some economies. "It will be trouble for everybody so I am sure a solution will emerge in the next few days," 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 free trade agreement (FTA) talks between India and the UK are progressing well and a deal that works for both sides is more important than the date when it is signed, Britain's Trade Policy Minister Greg Hands said with reference to the now abandoned Diwali deadline for a draft India-UK . The minister, who was joined at a Diwali Reception in London on Tuesday by the UK's Chief Negotiator of the Harjinder Kang, said the Department for International Trade (DIT) was committed to build on the Enhanced Trade Partnership between India and the UK. He said his boss, Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch, is continuing regular dialogue with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to build an even warmer and more productive relationship with a focus on quality over speed. Talks are progressing well. We have completed five rounds of formal [FTA] negotiations and we are seeing a way forward for a deal that works for both sides, he said. As my boss, the Trade Secretary [Badenoch], likes to say, it's the deal that's more important than the date when it comes to delivering for businesses and consumers in both our countries," Hands said. "Given the importance of the free trade agreement to both our nations, our focus must be on quality, not speed. And by concentrating on the deal and not the date, we'll build an agreement that truly serves all of our citizens, he said. The Diwali timeline for a draft had been announced by former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi in April. However, Badenoch who took charge at DIT under the new Liz Truss government last month recently confirmed that the negotiators were no longer working towards that timeline to focus on the quality of the deal rather than the speed of the deal. There was much speculation whether UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman's controversial remarks, casting doubts over the expected Indian visa concessions that an FTA would involve, may have derailed the talks. Naturally, there is an economic imperative for our countries to work together, which is why we are so eager to secure a trade deal, Braverman said at the same Diwali reception, in an apparent attempt to distance herself from being blamed for the delay. The contribution of the Indian diaspora to British life is enormous. Our villages, towns and cities have been profoundly enriched by immigration from India," she said. "There are many, many people of Indian heritage in prominent positions in politics, business, the arts, the police, the armed forces, civil service, sport and other arts and leisure activities, further proof that this is a country at peace with itself and genuinely meritocratic and welcoming, she said. The event, organised by UK-based India Global Forum (IGF) at London's Taj Hotel, also brought together other UK government ministers including Foreign Office Minister Lord Tariq Ahmad, shadow cabinet members from the Opposition Labour Party, parliamentarians, business leaders and diplomats. We in the Labour Party long and hope we will get a with India, and we hope the visa obstacles will be overcome, said David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary. The Acting High Commissioner to the UK, Sujit Ghosh, reflected upon the International Monetary Fund (IMF) characterising India as a bright spot amid the headwinds currently faced by the global economy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Centre expects that the target of dividends from non-financial state-owned enterprises (PSUs) could be missed this year. Oil and gas companies contribute a major chunk of . However, they might not be able to pay as much as previous years, or not at all, because of how crude oil prices have impacted them, officials said. The Budget Estimate for dividends from PSUs is Rs 40,000 crore. So far, the Centre has garnered Rs 15,766 crore. Even with such healthy receipts so far, a shortfall is expected. Oil marketing companies have been facing huge under-recoveries due to high-crude prices. The state-owned oil and gas production companies have benefited from prices, but are paying windfall tax. Hence healthy dividends are not expected from them, a top government official told Business Standard. We are expecting a shortfall in PSU dividends, the official added, but avoided a guess on the shortfall amount. PSUs are subject to global forces. Because there are so many supply-side bottlenecks, thinking that would be buoyant would be unrealistic, said D K Srivastava, chief policy advisor at EY India. Among the other major heads under non-tax receipts and capital receipts, there is a shortfall expected from dividends from state-owned banks and financial institutions and Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This is because the RBI, for its fiscal year ending March 2022 (which will reflect in the Centres current fiscal year), transferred Rs 30,307 crore as dividends, much lower than expectations. Last year, the dividend transferred was Rs 99,122 crore, because of which the total proceeds were substantially higher than FY22 BE (see chart). The total non-tax revenue target for the year is Rs 2.69 trillion, compared with the FY22 revised estimate of Rs 3.14 trillion, and FY22 BE of Rs 2.43 trillion. On divestment, officials see the FY23 BE of Rs 65,000 crore as a much more achievable figure than in previous years, if things go according to plan, even though Tuhin Kanta Pandey, secretary of Department of Investment and Public Asset Management, is managing expectations. Pandey had told Business Standard in an interview this week that the target was set in February, more than a month before Russias invasion of Ukraine and its impact on global markets. Pandey said while IDBIs stake sale and Concor's privatisation will be completed only in the next fiscal year, the Centre is counting on the sale of its minority stake in Hindustan Zinc and privatisation of Shipping Corporation to meet the asset-sale target. At current market capitalisation, the governments stake in HZL is worth nearly Rs 34,400 crore. So far this year, the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (Dipam) has already garnered Rs 24,543.7 crore through offers for sale, initial public offerings (IPOs), and share buybacks. This includes Rs 20,516 crore from the IPO of public sector behemoth LIC. Ultimately, the fiscal balance will depend upon buoyancy of tax revenues, and non-tax revenues may not be that big a contributor, said EYs Srivastava. Delhi Chief Minister on Wednesday appealed to Prime Minister to work together to improve the country's and offered his government's expertise. Kejriwal's remarks come after Modi visited a school in Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat, and interacted with students. "PM sir, we have done a wonderful job in the field of in Delhi. In five years, all the government of Delhi were improved remarkably. across the country can be improved in five years," Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi. "We have experience in this field. Please use our experience completely for this. Let's do it together for the country." He also posted a picture of Modi sitting in a classroom with the students. "I am very happy that today all the parties and leaders of the country have to talk about and schools. This is our biggest achievement. I hope that is not missed only during elections. All governments together can make its schools great in just five years," Kejriwal tweeted. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) announced on Wednesday the much-awaited first list of seat allocations for admission to undergraduate programmes. This marks the commencement of the third and last phase of the admission process. The list was initially slotted to be announced on October 18. However, it was deferred to Wednesday. "The first round of the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS) of the has been released today," said DU Dean of Admission Haneet Gandhi. The list has not be issued in the public domain and the candidate will only be able to see the college and courses allotted to them on their dashboard. The candidate will have to click on "Accept Allocation" under user action tab. "On receiving the 'Approval from the College Principal', student will proceed to pay the fee to confirm the admission. The candidate should take a printout of the acknowledgement receipt," the university said in a statement , The university has advised candidates to ensure that they secure their admission to the seat allocated to them, whenever offered. "Only candidates who are admitted to a programme in a college will be able to opt for upgradation in subsequent rounds," the statement said. "Candidates are advised not to be in a haste and, at the same time, not to wait for the deadlines. Sufficient time has been provided for processing the applications," the varsity 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.) Professors from 12 Delhi University-affiliated colleges were facing a financial crisis for nearly three months due to non-payment of salaries. However, ahead of Diwali, the crisis has ended as the grants have finally been released and professors have been paid their full salaries till September. The DU colleges said that the did not release the grants, which led to a delay in the payment of professors, IANS reported. These 12 colleges were- Bhimrao Ambedkar College, Shaheed Rajguru College of Applied Sciences, Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education, Maharaja Agrasen College, Bhaskaracharya College, Acharya Narendra Dev College, Maharishi Valmiki College, Keshav Mahavidyalaya, Deendayal Upadhyaya College, Bhagini Nivedita College, Aditi Mahavidyalaya, Shaheed Sukhdev College. Ad-hoc teachers, guest teachers, and contractual teachers constitute upto 50 to 60 per cent of employees in the above mentioned colleges, the media report said, adding that most of them live in rented houses and were worried over the non-payment of EMIs and instalments. This issue of irregular salaries has existed for nearly two-and-a-half to three years now. Before that, we had never faced such a problem," Bhupinder Chaudhary, an associate professor at Maharaja Agrasen College told the Wire in September. The colleges would take loans from the Student Society Fund (SSF) to pay the salaries of teachers and staff and would repay them once the grant was released by the . When asked why DUTA and other teachers oppose the utilisation of the SSF for salaries, Narender Thakur, an associate professor at Bhim Rao Ambedkar College said, Giving salaries is the responsibility of the government. Otherwise it would amount to introducing privatisation through the back door. On October 17, Arvind Kejriwal-led released the grants after Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) National Teachers' Organization, Academic for Action and Development Delhi Teachers' Association's (AADTA) office bearers Professor NK Pandey, Professor Manoj Kumar Singh, former Academic Council member Dr. Hansraj Suman, met Delhi cabinet minister Gopal Rai on this issue. The plunged 61 paise to decline below the 83-mark for the first time against the on Wednesday amid unabated foreign capital outflows and a strong dollar in the overseas markets. Besides, rising crude prices in the international markets and risk-averse sentiment among investors weighed on the local currency, traders said. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local currency opened strong at 82.32 but later pared gains to settle at an all-time low of 83.01(provisional) against the American currency, down 61 paise over its previous close. In the previous session on Tuesday, the slipped 10 paise to end at 82.40 against the dollar. Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, advanced 0.31 per cent to 112.48. Global oil benchmark Brent crude futures rose 0.82 per cent to USD 90.77 per barrel. On the domestic equity market front, the 30-share BSE Sensex gained 146.59 points or 0.25 per cent to end at 59,107.19, while the broader NSE Nifty advanced 25.30 points or 0.14 per cent to 17,512.25. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) remained net sellers in the capital markets as they offloaded shares worth Rs 153.40 crore on Tuesday, according to exchange data. (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.) aims to grant to 300,000 people in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, a move likely to benefit many Indians. The Immigration, Refugees and (IRCC) memo recommends that it process a total of 285,000 decisions and 300,000 new citizens by March 31, 2023. A decision means a review of an application which is then approved, denied, or marked as incomplete. The target means that 300,000 approved applicants must take the oath of citizenship, which would be either in person or virtually. IRCC also said that minors under the age of 18 will be eligible to apply for citizenship online by the end of the year. This is a significant increase over the 2021-2022 fiscal year and even exceeds the pre-pandemic targets of 2019-2020, when 253,000 citizenship applications were processed. In March 2020, IRCC became unable to process most applications due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. This was because the department was only able to process paper applications that were mailed to a central location. IRCC was unable to conduct interviews with candidates and there could not be any oath swearing at citizenship ceremonies. So far in the 2022-2023 fiscal, has welcomed 116,000 new citizens and is on track to achieve its target. By comparison, over the same period in 2021, the country had only sworn in 35,000 people. Though there is no country-wise break-up of the numbers, Indians are the top immigrant group to take up residence in Canada in 2022. According to the country's 2016 reports, Canada has some 1.4 million people of Indian descent. In 2021, nearly 100,000 Indians moved to Canada under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and some 130,000 got work permits under the Mobility Program. During 2021-2022, over 210,000 permanent residents also acquired Canadian citizenship. As per figures released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), it also issued 450,000 study permit applications. There are over 622,000 foreign students in Canada, with Indians numbering 217,410 as of December 31, 2021. Given the fact that Canada continues to have labour shortages one can expect high levels of Indians moving to Canada to work and study over the coming years. With a rise in the number of online applications, in addition to the backlog of paper applications, IRCC is taking steps to clear the backlog and processing 80% of all new applications within service standards. To do this, over 1,000 new staff have been hired and there are plans to expand access to the citizenship application status tracker to representatives. Canada's immigration backlog remains at 2.6 million people according to fresh IRCC data. In June this year, Indians accounted for over a quarter of 2.4 million pending cases, at approximately 700,000. --IANS mi/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.) Home Secretary Suella Braverman has said the is "eager" to secure a trade deal with India to boost both economies and that Brexit has meant that no longer has a Eurocentric mindset towards trade or visas, days after she caused a stir with her "concerns" over what she feared could be an "open borders" approach in the ongoing trade talks with India. Addressing a Diwali event organised by UK-based India Global Forum (IGF) here on Tuesday evening, the Indian-origin Cabinet minister spoke of being a proud member of the British Indian community and hailed the contribution made by the Indian diaspora to British life. In an apparent effort to override her recent controversial remarks about Indians forming the largest group of visa overstayers, the minister said the UK's villages, towns and cities have been profoundly enriched by immigration from India. "Naturally, there is an economic imperative for our countries to work together, which is why we are so eager to secure a trade deal," said Braverman. "But the boost to our economies is not the only virtue in making our friendship even stronger. We have a shared vision that by 2030 we will enjoy an even stronger partnership As Home Secretary, I particularly value the cooperation on security matters between our two countries. This is vital, on a domestic level in India and in the but also more broadly on an scale, especially in the Indo-Pacific," she said. With Diwali no longer the target deadline for a draft free trade agreement (FTA), Braverman sought to reiterate that the Liz Truss led government remains determined to build on the momentum set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. "Candidly, leaving the European Union (EU) means the United Kingdom is better placed to think outside of the Eurocentric mindset, look to every horizon and cherish and nurture relationships with old friends like India. The points-based immigration system means that we no longer favour people from Europe over people from elsewhere. Meanwhile, around a quarter of all foreign students in the UK are from India," she noted. Dressed in a lehenga for the Diwali celebrations attended by other senior parliamentarians, business leaders and diplomats, the 42-year-old minister also reflected upon her very personal connect with India and spoke of being struck by how "fresh and vibrant" the relationship always feels on her travels "from Kerala to Bihar, from Delhi to Calcutta". "India is in my heart, she's in my soul, she's in my blood. I'm very proud that my father has his roots and his family home in Goa and my mother can trace her ancestral origins to Madras," she said. "India is part of my own heritage, I'm Indian on both sides of my family. My mother came here from Mauritius and my father came here from Kenya. They felt a deep connection and love for even before they came here. It is a love that I share. And, I have never seen any inconsistency in that, for no inconsistency exists," she added. The UK-born member of Parliament for Fareham in southern England also referenced her upbringing in the north-west London Indian diaspora hub of Wembley, "the home of the Asian community here" in her Diwali message. The minister said she wanted British people to be able to "drink deeply of Indian culture", through visiting, studying and working in India and by throwing themselves into it in the UK, where entry must be based on merit, not the ability to pay people smugglers, whose wicked lethal trade we have to smash. "We consume food, music, movies and art from each other's countries voraciously. The story of India and the story of the UK are so intimately linked that they are to a great extent the same story, she declared. The UK and India launched the Free Trade Agreement negotiations on January 13. India's exports to the UK stood at USD 10.5 billion in 2021-22, while imports aggregated at USD 7 billion. India's main exports to the UK include ready-made garments and textiles, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, petroleum products, transport equipment, spices, pharmaceuticals and marine products. Imports from include precious and semi-precious stones, ores and metal scraps, engineering goods, chemicals and machinery. In the services sector, the UK is the largest market in Europe for Indian IT services. (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's largest rubber chemicals maker Nocil Ltd is expecting higher sales volumes in the next couple of years, as firms globally push for diversified supplies beyond top producer that is battling supply constraints. Part of an over 100-year old Arvind Mafatlal Group (AMG), the Mumbai-based Nocil produces antidegradants, antioxidants, accelerators that are used by the tyre industry and other rubber processing companies. In the backdrop of firms globally pursuing the Plus One strategy, Nocil's talks with customers in Europe, Americas, Southeast Asia and Japan have become "deeper and more strategic," Priyavrata Mafatlal, vice-chairman of AMG, told Reuters in an interview. "What Plus has done for us globally is, it has broadened the discussions with customers to increase our volume share," Mafatlal said. In the last two years, Nocil's profit grew more than five-fold to 664.8 million Indian rupees ($8.07 million), driven mainly by strong demand for tyres, while China was hit by supply bottlenecks during the pandemic. "Even pre-pandemic we were reliable suppliers in the export markets of Europe, Americas, Southeast Asia and Japan, which constitutes a major share of tyre makers in the world outside of China," Mafatlal said. Nocil is also eyeing strong demand from the domestic markets, where China has a strong footing, with the government encouraging its 'Make in India' programme that is aimed at boosting local manufacturing. Nocil's sales volume had grown 17% on-year in the quarter ended June. Its shares are up over 11% so far this year after gaining a staggering 62% in 2021. ($1 = 82.3340 Indian rupees) (Reporting by Nallur Sethuraman in Bengaluru; Editing by Neha Arora) (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 in on Wednesday advised all Indian citizens, including students, to leave the war-torn nation at the earliest by available means, due to "deteriorating security situation" there. The advisory, issued by the Indian Embassy, also warns citizens against travelling to the war-ravaged nation due to "escalation of hostilities across Ukraine". was attacked by Russia in February this year and the war has escalated in the last eight months, with Russia having bombed several of its major cities. --IANS ans/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.) PRI GEN INT .DENVER FGN11 IRAN-DRONES-RUSSIA Iranian drones used by Russia in Ukraine show that there's already one victor in that war: By Aaron Pilkington, University of Denver Denver, Oct 19 (The Conversation) The war in Ukraine is helping one country achieve its foreign policy and national security objectives, but it's neither Russia nor Ukraine. It's . That was starkly clear on the morning of Oct. 17, 2022, as Iranian-made drones attacked civilian targets in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. Russia used the Iranian drones to inflict damage on Ukraine's national energy company headquarters, and the drones also killed four civilians. is among Russia's most vocal supporters in the war. As a military analyst who specialises in Iranian national security strategy, I see this having little to do with Ukraine and everything to do with Iran's long-term strategy vis--vis the United States. As Russia's war on Ukraine passed six months and continued eroding Russia's manpower, military stores, economy and diplomatic connections, leader Vladimir Putin opted for an unlikely but necessary Iranian lifeline to salvage victory in Ukraine and also in Syria where, since 2015, Russian soldiers have been fighting to keep Bashar al-Assad's government in power. And at a time when the Islamic Republic of Iran's government is facing growing citizen protests against its autocratic rule, Putin's move has, in turn, helped Iran make progress in promoting its national interests, as defined by its leadership. Opposing the US everywhere Since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Iran's leaders have believed the United States is constantly scheming to topple Iran's government. They view leaders in Washington as the greatest threat and obstacle to promoting Iranian national interests achieving economic self-sufficiency, legitimacy, regional security, power and influence. The fears of Iran's leaders are not irrational the long history of U.S. meddling in Iranian affairs, continuous open hostility between the two countries and decades of U.S. military buildup in close proximity to Iran greatly concern leaders in Tehran. The U.S. has military forces in many Middle Eastern countries, with or without invitation. To promote its national interests, Iran is working to force the U.S. military out of the region and reduce U.S. political influence there. Iran has an even bigger aim: to overthrow what it sees as the U.S.-dominated global political order. Iran counters U.S. influence by maintaining partnerships with an assortment of nonstate militias and governments united by their fierce anti-U.S. hostility. The country nurtures a network of militant partner and proxy groups, whose own political preferences and ambitions align with Iran's objectives, by providing weapons, training, funds and, in some cases, direction. Among the recipients are Hezbollah, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, friendly Iraqi militias and Ansar Allah in Yemen, better known as the Houthis or the Houthi rebels. Through these militias and their political arms, Iran extends its influence and works to shape an Iran-friendly government in states like Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen. It threatens U.S. forces and antagonizes Western-allied governments in states such as Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. At the national level, Iran maintains no permanent mutual defense treaties. Its closest strategic partners include Syria, Venezuela, North Korea, China and Russia. They cooperate politically, economically and militarily to create an alternative to what their leaders perceive as the U.S.-led world political order. That cooperation includes undermining U.S. national interests and helping ease or circumvent Western political pressure and economic sanctions. Tehran to the rescue Russia's current war in Ukraine has left Moscow with only a handful of sympathetic friends. Few political leaders understand Putin's newfound political isolation and related animosity toward the United States more than Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But Iran-Russia relations are complicated. The two countries found common cause in helping Syrian strongman Assad defeat his country's opposition forces, but for different national interests. Saving Assad helps Russia reassert itself as a major power in the Middle East. For Iran, a friendly Syria is a critical link in Iran's anti-U.S., anti-Israel coalition. As Russia and Iran fought to sustain Assad, they also competed for lucrative postwar reconstruction and infrastructure contracts in that country, and to shape the post-civil war political environment to their advantage. But neither country was bold enough to influence the way the other operated in Syria. Consequently, sometimes Iranian-backed and Russian forces cooperated, and at other times they squabbled. Mostly they left each other alone. Ultimately, though, Russia's plight in Ukraine compelled its leader to solicit Iran's help in two ways. First, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, a branch of the Iranian military, provided supplementary manpower to fill the void left when Russia reallocated troops from Syria to its Ukraine campaign. Second, Russia has used Iran's low-cost and battle-proven unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones, to counter Kyiv's Western-supported arsenal and buttress its own struggling forces and surprisingly inept warfighting capabilities. In July, Iran hosted numerous Russian officers and conducted training on Iranian Shahed-129 and Shahed-191 drone operations. As of early August 2022, anonymous intelligence sources and Ukrainian officials indicated that Russia had obtained and used Iranian drones in Ukraine. Since acquiring Iranian drones in early September, Russia has launched over 100 Iranian Shahed-136 and Mohajer-6 attack and reconnaissance drones in over a dozen attacks against a large range of targets: Ukrainian special forces, armor and artillery units, air defense and fuel storage facilities, Ukrainian military and energy infrastructure, civilian targets and a recent series of drone and missile attacks against Kyiv. Russia is expected to soon rely on Iran further to supplant its dwindling weapons supplies by acquiring two types of Iranian-made short-range ballistic missiles for use in Ukraine, according to U.S. and allied security officials. Ukraine war promotes Iran's interests This warming alliance may not help Russia defeat Ukraine. It will promote Iran's national interests. Russia's Syria drawdown brought additional Iranian soldiers there to further prove their fighting abilities and entrench themselves in Syria. That then allows Iran to control territory threatened by anti-Assad forces and maintain an open corridor or land bridge by which Iran extends support to its network of anti-America and anti-Israel partners and proxies. Russia's acquisition of Iranian arms will significantly boost Iran's weapons industry, whose primary clientele right now is its own militias. Iran's recent efforts to expand drone manufacturing and exports yielded limited success in small, mostly peripheral markets of Ethiopia, Sudan, Tajikistan and Venezuela. Moscow is the second-largest global arms exporter, and its surprising transformation to Iranian arms importer signals the seriousness of Russia's problems. It also legitimizes and expands Tehran's weapons industry beyond arms production for the purpose of self-sufficiency. This one alliance moves Iran toward a more prominent role as a major arms exporter. Lastly, Russia's war in Ukraine extends a new avenue by which Iran might directly counter U.S.-provided weapons, as well as the opportunity to undermine U.S. and NATO influence in Eurasia. Iran's drones could afford Moscow an effective and desperately needed response to U.S. weapons wreaking havoc against Russian forces in Ukraine. Iranian weapons may force Ukraine's Western benefactors to allocate additional billions for counter-drone or air defense systems, or aid to replace assets that Iranian weapons potentially neutralize. Zero-sum game The introduction of Iranian ballistic missiles to Ukraine would compound the limited tactical victories scored by Iranian drones. They will bring further unnecessary suffering and prolong and further destabilize the war in Ukraine, but I don't believe they will tip the scales of conflict in Russia's favor. Their greater contribution is to Iran's national interests: They allow Iran to directly check and undermine the U.S. and NATO outside of Iran's usual regional area of operations. They boost Iran's profile among countries that also wish to challenge the United States and NATO's political, military and economic power. And they strengthen solidarity among those countries. As Iran's fighters, advisers and weapons proliferate to new areas and empower U.S. adversaries, Iran further promotes its national interests at the expense of U.S. national interests. (The Conversation) AMS AMS 10191033 NNNN (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.) returned to his industrial roots in Sao Bernardo do Campo to reboot his bid for Brazils presidency. He chose the satellite city on Sao Paulos outskirts for a rally kick-starting his campaign for the runoff. Known as the cradle of Brazils labor movement, its here that he emerged as a political force in the 1970s, founding the metalworkers union, organizing strikes and leading marches. This is the street where we traditionally carry out our demonstrations, ever since the founding of the Workers Party, the two-times former president told supporters on Oct. 6. Were at home here in Sao Bernardo do Campo. Lula won the city of some 900,000 in the first round of voting. But he unexpectedly lost the overall state of Sao Paulo to by almost seven percentage points, a defeat that has Lulas team scrambling to shore up support before the Oct. 30 showdown. Inside Lulas campaign, the result in Brazils most populous state the birthplace of his political career, and containing about 25% of the entire electorate was compared to a plane crash, where a confluence of small factors leads to catastrophe. At his teams first post-election meeting, the talk was of frustration and failure. Edinho Silva, the former presidents campaign coordinator, may have had an inkling of what was to come, saying in an interview on the eve of polling that Sao Paulo had become a center of hard-core support for Bolsonaros brand of right-wing identity . We have a percentage of Brazilian society that, unfortunately, is racist, homophobic, sexist, xenophobic, and doesnt accept the social ascent of the lower classes, he said. And a significant part of that thinks in this way lives in Sao Paulo. Lula himself rose from the factory floor to become a union organizer in Sao Bernardo, which was then synonymous with the auto industry. His support there remains strong: He won by more than 10 points. But just as the car plants of his youth are now gone, Lulas failure to take a state he once dominated one that represents about a third of Brazils economy reflects a new reality in which Bolsonaro has dug a significant foothold into the political landscape. Even as polls suggest that Lula continues to have the advantage over the incumbent nationwide, the kind of deeply entrenched on display in Sao Paulo will pose the greatest challenge for whomever emerges the winner. Sao Paulo is the state of meritocracy Long known as Brazils Detroit, Sao Bernardo is trying to reinvent itself, but it hasnt been easy. Many former car plant workers are unemployed or working in local commerce, in small shops, or in the gig economy. We want to have the right to work, to study, to have breakfast, to have a lunch every day, Lula said at the Sao Bernardo rally. That kind of message still resonates in urban settings: Lula secured more votes than Bolsonaro in the state capital of Sao Paulo, 47.5% to 38%, but the president had an advantage of more than 20 points in the countryside. Sao Paulo city has about 9 million voters, and there are 25 million in the hinterland. Sao Paulo is the state of meritocracy, free enterprise, and entrepreneurship, said Ricardo Salles, a Bolsonaro ally and former environment minister who was overwhelmingly elected to congress from the state. Sao Paulo countryside, in particular, also has a strong belief in the defense of the traditional family. All of these points are represented by the conservative liberal right-wing. Bolsonaro had a remarkable performance four years ago, taking about 68% of the states votes in an election that took place against the backdrop of the Carwash corruption scandal that had seen Lula jailed that year. Lula was subsequently released and his sentence quashed, allowing him to run again. The result earlier this month showed that Brazilians havent forgotten and that Bolsonaros appeal is more lasting that thought. Lulas candidate for state governor, Fernando Haddad, didnt help his cause. All surveys showed Haddad ahead, but Bolsonaros pick, Tarcisio de Freitas, won by about 7 percentage points. The race for the governorship also goes to a runoff. Lulas team has responded to the first-round setback by launching an operation to besiege the most important cities in Sao Paulo with rallies and marches. In the days following the campaign stop in Sao Bernardo, Lula visited Guarulhos, site of Brazils largest airport, and Campinas, one of the largest cities of the hinterland. Lula lost to Bolsonaro in both places. We will turn things around and win in Sao Paulo, Haddad told hundreds of Lula supporters Monday at yet another rally there, in the citys Sao Mateus district. Lulas running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, is meanwhile touring the Sao Paulo countryside. A conservative, Alckmin governed the state for three terms, and in 2006, when he unsuccessfully ran for president against Lula, he recorded the best performance of any candidate there. To Denilde Holzhacker, a political science professor at the ESPM college in Sao Paulo, Lulas campaign made a mistake by not making more use of Alckmin before the first round. The focus was on explaining the alliance to Lulas base, rather than attempting to win over voters from the opposing camp, she said, when the logic should have been the other way round: Explaining to conservative voters why Alckmin decided to ally himself with Lula. At the same time as trying to boost their own candidates appeal, Lulas team is working to increase peoples rejection of Bolsonaro. Its a strategy based on the premise that polarized Brazilians will choose the least-bad option in the end. Despite the campaigns efforts, the predictions for the runoff inside Lulas team are not optimistic, and the main strategy for the closing days is damage limitation. Nobody has the illusion that its possible for Lula to beat Bolsonaro in Sao Paulo. Nationally, Lulas lead narrowed in an Ipespe poll released late Tuesday that put support for the leftist leader at 53% to 47% for the incumbent. The Oct. 17-18 survey of 1,100 voters had a margin of error of 3 percentage points. For Guilherme Boulos, a Lula ally and the congressman who won the most votes in Sao Paulo, the former presidents campaign needs to connect with voters who chose other candidates in the first round, as well as those who abstained or spoiled their ballot. We will have to talk to these voters in a humble and democratic way, he said. fired artillery shells near its sea border with late Tuesday, a day after the South began annual military drills to better deal with North Korean provocations. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement early Wednesday that fired about 100 shells off its west coast and 150 rounds off its east coast. It said the South Korean military broadcast messages several times asking to stop the firing, but there were no reports of violence between the rivals. South Korea's military said the shells didn't land in South Korean territorial waters but fell inside maritime buffer zones the two Koreas established under a 2018 inter-Korean agreement aimed at reducing front-line animosities. It's the second time North Korea has fired shells into the buffer zones since last Friday, when it shot hundreds of shells there in its most significant direct violation of the 2018 agreement. South Korea's military said North Korea must halt provocations that undermine peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. It added that it is boosting its readiness and is closely monitoring North Korean moves in coordination with the United States. In recent weeks, North Korea has conducted a spate of missile and artillery launches in what some experts say is an attempt to expand its weapons arsenal and boost its leverage in future negotiations with its rivals. Last Friday, North Korea test-launched a short-range ballistic missile off its east coast along with the artillery launches. The missile launch was North Korea's 15th since it resumed testing activities on Sept 25. North Korea said last week that its recent missile tests were simulations of nuclear strikes on South Korean and US targets in response to their dangerous military exercises involving a US aircraft carrier. On Monday, South Korea's military began annual 12-day field exercises to hone its operational capabilities in response to various types of North Korean provocations. It said an unspecified number of US troops will take part in this year's drills. (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.) Pakistan's junior foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar will attend the plenary session of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in Paris during which the global anti-money laundering watchdog would discuss Islamabad's efforts to exit its grey list. The first Plenary under the two-year Singapore Presidency of T Raja Kumar will take place on October 20-21, according to the Paris-based watchdog. Khar, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, has reached Paris to attend the meeting which would decide whether to remove from its grey list, the Daily Times newspaper reported. On Monday, Khar led a Pakistani team in a meeting with Jean-Louis Bourlanges, the head of the foreign affairs committee of the French National Assembly, the paper reported. The FATF's Working Group and Plenary sessions in Paris will be attended by representatives from 206 Global Network members and observer organisations including, the Monetary Fund, the United Nations, the World Bank, Interpol, and the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units. The plenary's decisions would be made public at the end of the two days of discussion. was included in the grey list in June 2018 for deficiencies and given a plan of action to plug various legal, financial and regulatory to fight money laundering and combat terror financing. Islamabad made high-level political commitments to address these deficiencies under a 27-point action plan. But later the number of action points was enhanced to 34. With Pakistan's continuation on the grey list, it had increasingly become difficult for Islamabad to get financial aid from the IMF, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the European Union, thus further enhancing problems for the cash-strapped country. A 15-member joint delegation of the and its Sydney-based regional affiliate - Asia Pacific Group - paid an onsite visit to from August 29 to September 2 to verify the country's compliance with the 34-point action plan committed with the FATF. The authorities here had kept the countrywide visit of the delegation low profile and later termed it a smooth and successful visit. According to Pakistan's Foreign Office, the focus of the visit was to validate on the ground Pakistan's high-level commitment and sustainability of reforms in the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terror (AML/CFT) regime and [it] looked forward to logical conclusion to the evaluation process. The report of the FATF onsite team will be discussed in FATF's Cooperation Review Group and plenary meetings. Pakistan believes that as a result of strenuous and consistent efforts over the past four years, it has not only achieved a high degree of technical compliance with the FATF's standards but also ensured a high level of effectiveness through the implementation of two comprehensive FATF action plans. In June, FATF had found Pakistan compliant or largely compliant on all the 34 points and had decided to field an onsite mission to verify it on the ground before formally announcing the country's exit from the grey list that finally took place in August and September. According to the Dawn newspaper report, the government had given a commitment to the IMF to review by end-June 2022 the implementation of AML/CFT controls by financial institutions with respect to the tax amnesty programme for the construction sector and promised to meet the timelines for the implementation of APG's 2021 Action Plan. Pakistan has so far avoided being on the black list of the FATF with the help of close allies like China, Turkey and Malaysia. The FATF is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the financial system. (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 Iranian-made drones that sent slamming into central Kyiv this week have complicated Israel's balancing act between and the West. Israel has stayed largely on the sidelines since Russia's invasion of Ukraine last February so as not to damage its strategic relationship with the Kremlin. Although Israel has sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine, it has refused Kyiv's frequent requests to send air defense systems and other military equipment and refrained from enforcing strict economic sanctions on and the many Russian-Jewish oligarchs who have second homes in Israel. But with news of Moscow's deepening ties with Tehran, Israel's sworn foe, pressure is growing on Israel to back Ukraine in the grinding war. Israel has long fought a shadowy war with across the Middle East by land, sea and air. Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, a military spokesman, said the suicide drone attack in Ukraine had raised new concerns in Israel. We're looking at it closely and thinking about how these can be used by the Iranians toward Israeli population centers, he said. The debate burst into the open on Monday, as an Israeli Cabinet minister called on the government to take Ukraine's side. and its proxies in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen have threatened Israel with the same delta-shaped, low-flying Shahed drones now exploding in Kyiv. The Iranian government has denied providing Moscow with the drones, but American officials say it has been doing so since August. There is no longer any doubt where Israel should stand in this bloody conflict, Nachman Shai, Israel's minister of diaspora affairs, wrote on Twitter. The time has come for Ukraine to receive military aid as well, just as the USA and NATO countries provide. His comments set off a storm in Russia. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Telegram that providing military aid to Ukraine would be "a very reckless move by Israel. It will destroy all interstate relations between our countries, he wrote. But Shai doubled down on Tuesday, while stressing his view did not reflect the government's official stance. We in Israel have a lot of experience in protecting our civilian population over 30 years. We've been attacked by missiles from Iraq and rockets from Lebanon and Gaza, Shai, a former military spokesman, told The Associated Press. I'm speaking about defense equipment to protect Ukraine's civilian population. The Israeli prime minister's office and Defense Ministry both declined to comment. For years, Russia and Israel have enjoyed good working relations and closely coordinated to avoid run-ins in the skies over Syria, Israel's northeastern neighbor, where Russian air power has propped up embattled President Bashar Assad. Russia has let Israeli jets bomb Iran-linked targets said to be weapons caches destined for Israel's enemies. Israel has also been keen to stay neutral in the war over concern for the safety of the large Jewish community in Russia. Israel frets about renewed antisemitic attacks in the country, with its long history of anti-Jewish pogroms under Russian czars and purges in the Soviet era. Over 1 million of Israel's 9.2 million citizens have roots in the former Soviet Union. Israel's former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett maintained strict neutrality after the invasion, refraining from condemning Russia's actions and even trying to position himself as a mediator in the conflict. As the U.S. and European Union piled sanctions on Russia, Bennett became the only Western leader to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. But in recent months, Israel's cautious stance has grown more fraught. Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who took over as caretaker leader over the summer, has been more vocal than his predecessor. As foreign minister, he described reports of atrocities in Bucha, Ukraine as possible war crimes. After Russia bombarded Kyiv last week, he strongly condemned the attacks and sent heartfelt condolences to the victims' families and the Ukrainian people," sparking backlash from Moscow. Tensions rose further when a Russian court in July ordered that the Jewish Agency, a major nonprofit that promotes Jewish immigration to Israel, close its offices in the country. Israel was rattled. A hearing to decide the future of the agency's operations in Russia is set for Wednesday. Anything could happen, said Yigal Palmor, the agency's spokesman. Now, Israeli alarm about the Iranian drones buzzing over Kyiv has heightened the debate. I think Israel can help even more, said Amos Yadlin, a former chief of Israeli military intelligence. He described Israel's knowledge on how to handle aerial attacks," its intelligence about Iranian weapons" and ability to jam them" as potentially crucial to Ukraine. is battle testing weapons that could be used against Israel's northern and southern borders, argued Geoffrey Corn, an expert on the law of war at South Texas College of Law in Houston. Iran backs Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group and Hamas in the Gaza Strip both of which have fought lengthy wars against Israel. If the drones prove effective in Ukraine, Iran will double down on their development," Corn said. If they are shot down, Iran will have an "opportunity to figure out how to bypass those countermeasures. Israel's air defense system, the Iron Dome, has boasted a 90% interception rate against incoming rocket fire from Gaza. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has hit out at Israel for not providing Kyiv with the anti-rocket system. Former Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky, a onetime Soviet dissident, criticized his country's reluctance to help Ukraine in an interview with the Haaretz daily on Tuesday, deriding Israel as the last country in the free world which is still afraid to irritate Putin. Still, some insist that Israel must not enter the fray precisely because it differs from its Western allies. We are not Germany or France, said Uzi Rubin, a former head of Israel's missile defense program. We are a country at war. (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 move of the OPEC and its allies to cut is a "mistake" and a "short-sighted" decision that has favoured the Russians and the US is going to re-evaluate its ties with Saudi Arabia, the White House has said. Members of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and their Russia-led allies earlier this month agreed on a major cut in oil production, amidst a downward trend in prices. The 13-nation OPEC cartel and its 10 Russian-led allies agreed to reduce two million barrels per day from November at a meeting in Vienna. It is the biggest cut since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The decisions that OPEC+ made last week, we believe, sided with the Russians and were against the interests of the American people and the families around the world, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at her daily news conference on Tuesday. We believe that the decision is going to hurt and harm lower-income economies. It was misguided and it was a mistake and a short-sighted decision, she said in response to a question. The White House press secretary said President Joe Biden is going to re-evaluate his relationship with Saudi Arabia, a leading oil producer. This is something that he has talked about since the beginning of this administration. He wants to do it in a bipartisan way, which is the way it has been done for the last eight decades when we talk about our relationship with Saudi Arabia, she said. So, he is going to do this in a methodical way, in a strategic way, and he is going to certainly get inputs from members of both parties, the press secretary said, adding that more information on this would be shared later. On October 5, the OPEC+ alliance announced a cut in an amount that could drive oil and gas prices back up after weeks of a downward trend. The meeting of the 24 OPEC+ oil-producing countries, including Russia, comes at a time when much of the world is already battling soaring energy costs. A supply cut will also exacerbate tensions between and the US, the National Public Radio (NPR) reported. OPEC+, formed in 2016, includes the 13 Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries members and 11 other non-OPEC members. In a statement, the group justified the decision due to "uncertainty that surrounds the global economy and oil market outlook." The world consumes up to 100 million barrels of oil a day, so taking 2 million off the market would have a noticeable effect, the report added. A dramatic cut in could also help Russia, which is co-chair of OPEC+. Its economy is based on energy revenues, now critical to its war effort in Ukraine. Despite sanctions, Russia hasn't experienced a huge decline in production, the report 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.) Two giant pandas leave China's breeding base for Qatar Xinhua) 10:25, October 19, 2022 Giant panda Jing Jing plays at the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 18, 2022. Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries. The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) CHENGDU, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries. The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. It is the first giant panda cooperation program between China and the Middle East. The China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda dispatched experienced breeders and veterinarians to accompany the animals and help them adapt to the new environment. Over a month ago, the pandas were given physical checkups and quarantined. They are in good health, according to the center. Experts from China have provided onsite guidance at the venue where the two pandas will live in Qatar and helped establish a professional giant panda breeding and management team. In May 2020, China and Qatar signed a cooperation agreement on giant panda protection and research to promote international cooperation on panda protection and the protection of biodiversity and endangered species of the two countries. Giant pandas Si Hai (L) and Jing Jing await their journey to Qatar at the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 18, 2022. Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries. The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) Workers transfer giant panda Jing Jing for a journey to Qatar from the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 18, 2022. Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries. The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) Giant panda Si Hai feeds on bamboo at the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 17, 2022. Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries. The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. (Photo by Chen Juwei/Xinhua) Giant panda Jing Jing feeds on bamboo at the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 17, 2022. Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries. The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) A breeder feeds giant panda Si Hai before its journey to Qatar at the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 18, 2022. Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries. The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Hongyu) On October 15th, a couple of United States Congressmen placed a proposed resolution in the House of Representatives urging US President to consider recognising the atrocities committed by the Armed Forces of Pakistan in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971. US Congressman Steve Chabot (Republican), in association with Congressman of Indian origin Ro Khanna (Democrat), urged Biden to recognize the 1971 genocide as crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide. The resolution is an eight-page long and is titled - 'Recognising the Bangladesh Genocide of 1971' and primarily focuses on the active role played by the Pakistan army along with all its functioning ancillary units in the active involvement of mass rape and genocide committed in 1971. "Proud to join Rep Steve Chabot in introducing the first resolution commemorating the 1971 Bengali Genocide in which millions of ethnic Bengalis and Hindus were killed or displaced in one of the most forgotten genocides of our time," said Ro Khanna, a US Congressman of Indian origin, twitted following the submission of the resolution on October 15. "We must not let the years erase the memory of the millions who were massacred. Recognising the genocide strengthens the historical record, educates our fellow Americans, and lets would-be perpetrators know such crimes will not be tolerated or forgotten," Chabot, a Republican Party member, said in a tweet. The West Pakistani establishment including the deep state at its core, was fiercely against the opinion of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (Awami League President) being the supreme leader of Pakistan who won an absolute democratic majority mandate in the 1970 general elections. They formulated a heinous plan, conspiracy to crush the Bengali unity and to ensure that their hopes and liberation where forgotten forever. A military crackdown codenamed Operation Searchlight was launched on March 26th, 1971 by the army and its collaborators. Hundreds of thousands innocent civilian, men women and children were mercilessly murdered and ravaged throughout East Pakistan. It is estimated almost as high as 10 million refugees fled across the borders into neighbouring India to seek refuge from reign of terror which lasted in East Pakistan from March 26 to December 16, 1971. Under the joint synergistic forces off the Mukti Bahini (Bengali Liberation forces) and Indian Armed Forces the West Pakistani military establishment capitulated. This resolution opens up the forgotten floodgates for perhaps the most horrific crimes against humanity committed in 1971. Global benchmark institutions like the British Houses of Parliament, United Nations Geneva and European Union parliament Brussels to take cognisance and act accordingly. The United States had a diametrically opposite political stance in 1971 when its administration was in active support General Yahya Khan the West Pakistani dictator however it seems fifty years there has been finally an awakening. The resolution specifically draws attention to the nine-month long war of Independence in Bangladesh, March to December 1971. It recalls the horror inflected during those months of carnage and mass rape and offers sympathy to the victims. American diplomat Archer Blood's - "The Blood Telegram" is perhaps till date the most accurate chronological recording of what followed on that barbaric night and the time has come to finally hold the perpetrators to justice fifty years on. US President has also recently mentioned Pakistan as one of the most dangerous places in the world at a private Democratic party fundraiser event in California whist referring to US foreign policy. Time will only reveal the logical conclusion to the resolution tabled and if the US administration is determined go as far as imposing a sanction on Pakistan. For the moment it is definitely the best step taken in the Dhaka direction. (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 Sensex and Nifty indices are likely to start Wednesday's session with a fractional uptick amid sombre global cues. At 07:30 am, the SGX Nifty quoted at 17,517, indicating an opening gain of around 20 points on the Nifty index. Globally, Asian were mixed this morning with Nikkei rising 0.8 per cent and Hang Seng dropping 0.16 per cent. In the US, benchmark indices rose up to 1 per cent. That said, here are some out in trade today: Q2 earnings watch: IndusInd Bank, UltraTech Cement, HDFC Asset Management Company, Nestle India, 5paisa Capital, AU Small Finance Bank, Havells India, Inox Leisure, Metro Brands, Max Financial Services, Navin Fluorine International, Persistent Systems, Shoppers Stop, and Syngene International will release their on Wednesday. Adani Enterprises: The Adani Group, via an arm of Adani Enterprises, has acquired Air Works Indias second-oldest maintenance repair and overhaul unit for an enterprise valuation of Rs 400 crore. The group controls seven airports and the latest acquisition will give it maintenance capabilities in all three aircraft maintenance verticals airline, business jets, and defence. Read here ICICI Lombard: Aided by a reversal of tax provision, ICICI Lombard General Insurances net profit jumped 32 per cent to Rs 591 crore in the July-September quarter (Q2FY23), from Rs 447 crore in the same period last year. Read more Telecom shares: Mukesh Ambani-led became the largest landline service provider in the country for the first time, in August. With 7.35 million landline connections as on August 31, beat state-owned telecom operator and hitherto market leader BSNLs 7.13 million connections, according to Trai data. Read here Tech Mahindra: IT services major announced on Tuesday that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Gujarat government to expand its operations by hiring over 3,000 employees in the state over the next five years. Read more Ambuja Cements: The company on Tuesday said it issued 477.4 million warrants to Adani family firm Harmonia Trade and Investment and raised Rs 5,000 crore. Read here Piramal Pharma: The company, which recently demerged from Piramal Enterprises Ltd will be listing its shares on the bourses today in the list of T Group of Securities. The shares would be listed at a fully paid face value of Rs 10 each. Bharat Electronics: The company has signed an MoU with defence PSU Munitions India Limited (MIL) to jointly address the requirements of Indian defence and export in the areas of ammunition, explosives and related systems. : The company has entered into an agreement to acquire additional 1000 compulsorily convertible preference shares Mother Sparsh. The said shares, once acquired, will take the companys shareholding in Mother Sparsh to 22 per cent.: The company has posted a 23 per cent year-on-year (YoY) growth in consolidated profit at Rs 283.2 crore for Q2FY23. Revenue rose 24 per cent to Rs 1,995 crore in the quarter.: The hospital has recorded a 71.3 per cent on-year growth in consolidated profit at Rs 18.4 crore for Q2FY23. Its revenue grew11 per cent to Rs 201.8 crore compared to the same period last year. Suven Life Sciences: The board approved the upcoming rights issue opening date as Monday,October 31 and Thursday, November 10 as closing date. Prestige Estates: The company recorded quarterly sales of Rs 3,511 crore, up 66 per cent with collections of Rs 2,603 crore during Q2 FY23. Harsha Engineers International: The company issued a letter of intent to Clean Max Enviro Energy Solutions for setting up a hybrid power project at Pipaliya, Gujarat. Stocks in F&O ban: Delta Corp, Indiabulls Housing Finance, India Cements. Bharat Electronics (BEL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Munitions India (MIL) to jointly address the requirements of Indian Defence and export markets in the areas of ammunition, explosives and related systems. The MoU plans at leveraging the complementary strengths and capabilities of BEL and MIL and strengthens the spirit of the Make In India initiative of Government of India, for achieving self-reliance in Defence Sector, said the company. The company added that this partnership will enable the companies to jointly address the domestic and export opportunities in the areas of ammunition, explosives and related systems and sub systems. Munitions India is a defence public sector undertaking (DPSU) under Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence, Government of India. MIL is India's largest manufacturer & market leader in designing, developing and manufacturing various types of ammunition and explosives. State-run BEL is a Navratna PSU under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. It manufactures electronic products and systems for the Army, Navy and the Air Force. The Government of India held 51.14% stake in BEL as on 31 March 2022. BEL reported a standalone net profit of Rs 431.49 crore in Q1 FY23, steeply higher from Rs 11.15 crore in Q1 FY22. Net sales soared 95.8% YoY to Rs 3,063.58 crore in Q1 FY23. Shares of Bharat Electronics were up 0.14% to Rs 106.10 on the BSE. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is quoting at Rs 295.1, down 0.22% on the day as on 13:19 IST on the NSE. The stock tumbled 33.1% in last one year as compared to a 4.12% slide in NIFTY and a 6.06% spurt in the Nifty Auto index. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd fell for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 295.1, down 0.22% on the day as on 13:19 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.15% on the day, quoting at 17513.65. The Sensex is at 59156.33, up 0.33%.Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd has lost around 8.61% in last one month.Meanwhile, Nifty Auto index of which Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is a constituent, has eased around 6.73% in last one month and is currently quoting at 25779.55, up 0.31% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 13.95 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 33.26 lakh shares in last one month. The benchmark October futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 296, down 0.32% on the day. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd tumbled 33.1% in last one year as compared to a 4.12% slide in NIFTY and a 6.06% spurt in the Nifty Auto index. The PE of the stock is 64.44 based on TTM earnings ending June 22. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) From U.S. International Development Finance Corporation CreditAccess Grameen has signed a Loan Agreement on 17 October 2022 at Bangalore, India, with U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the U.S. Government's development finance institution. Under the agreement, CA Grameen will borrow a US$35 million ESG-linked loan for up to seven years through the External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) route. The direct loan is one of the first of its kind for DFC to an NBFC-MFI in India. This reflects the increased confidence and commitment shown by international investors, financial institutions, and foreign governments in the longterm growth prospects of India's microfinance industry. The loan facility will also focus on performance targets linked to ESG principles to strengthen women's entrepreneurship and leadership. The transaction marks the second ESG-linked loan for CA Grameen as it continues to witness rising interest from global financial institutions focused on funding ESG-compliant businesses and believers of the microfinance growth story. Over the past two decades, CA Grameen has consistently demonstrated a positive social impact through its deep rural presence by grooming and financially supporting a class of women entrepreneurs and transforming communities across multiple macroeconomic cycles. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hitachi Energy India said that it has been awarded a contract by NTPC Renewable Energy to supply power transformers for their upcoming 4.75 GW renewable energy park in Gujarat, which is part of India's largest solar park. Spread over 72,600 hectares in Kutch, this solar park supports the country's efforts towards carbon-neutral future with its increasing green energy footprint. NTPC Renewable Energy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the power giant, NTPC. As part of this project, Hitachi Energy will provide ten nos. 315 MVA 400/33/33 kV transformers manufactured at its Transformers factory in Vadodara. This will be the largest rating of transformer, used by solar power evacuation so far. N Venu, managing director and CEO, India and South Asia, Hitachi Energy, said: The transition from fossil fuels to renewables has only just begun and we are proud to be part of this ambitious project by NTPC Renewable Energy. Hitachi Energy is championing the urgency of the energy transition by pioneering technologies to help accelerate a carbon-neutral future." Hitachi Energy is the world's leading provider of grid connections and power quality solutions, with an installed base of more than 10,000 projects worldwide, over 800 of which connect renewable energy sources to the grid. In India, Hitachi Energy operates under the legal entity name Hitachi Energy India (formerly known as ABB Power Products and Systems India). The company's net profit declined 91.78% to Rs 1.34 crore on a 26.49% rise in sales to Rs 959.45 crore in Q2 FY23 over Q2 FY22. The scrip rose 0.66% to currently trade at Rs 3350.90 on the BSE. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) For supply of 10 nos. 315 MVA 400/33/33 kV transformers Hitachi Energy India has been awarded a contract by NTPC Renewable Energy (NTPC REL) to supply power transformers for their upcoming 4.75 GW renewable energy park in Gujarat, which is part of India's largest solar park. Spread over 72,600 hectares in Kutch, this solar park supports the country's efforts towards carbon-neutral future with its increasing green energy footprint. NTPC REL is a wholly owned subsidiary of the power giant, NTPC. As part of this project, Hitachi Energy will provide ten (10) nos. 315 MVA 400/33/33 kV transformers manufactured at its Transformers factory in Vadodara. This will be the largest rating of transformer, used by solar power evacuation so far. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) L&T Technology Services (LTTS): The company reported 3% rise in consolidated net income to Rs 282.4 crore on 6.5% increase in revenue to Rs 1995.1 crore in Q2 FY23 over Q1 FY23. Adani Enterprises: Adani Enterprises said that Adani Defence Systems & Technologies (ADSTL) has signed definitive agreements to acquire Air Works, India's biggest and highly diversified independent MRO with the largest pan-India network presence across 27 cities. Bharat Electronics (BEL): BEL has signed an MoU with Munitions India Limited (MIL), a Defence PSU, to jointly address the requirements of Indian Defence and Export markets in the areas of Ammunition, Explosives and related systems. Praj Industries: The company reported consolidated net profit of Rs 48.13 crore for Q2FY23, as compared to Rs 33.34 crore in the corresponding quarter of last year. Total income for the quarter ended 30 September 2022 stood at Rs 882.74 crore, as compared to Rs 539 crore in the same period last year. Polycab India: The board of directors considered and approved the Amalgamation of Silvan Innovation Labs Private Limited (Wholly-owned Subsidiary) with Polycab India. Silvan is in the business of Internet of Things (IoT) based home automation and office automation solutions for expanding the potential addressable market in FMEG space in line with strategy to address evolving consumer needs through innovative solutions. Harsha Engineers International: The company has issued Letter of Intent (LOI) to Clean Max Enviro Energy Solutions for setting up of Hybrid power project with a configuration of Wind Turbine Generator of 2.7 MW (1WTG of 2.7 MW) along with 0.675 MW AC/1.0125 MW DC solar power plant at Pipaliya, 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.) Nestle India rose 1.44% to Rs 19,663.40 after the FMCG major reported 8.3% rise in net profit to Rs 668.34 crore on 18.3% rise in revenue from operations to Rs 4,591 crore in Q3 CY22 over Q3 CY21. Total sales jumped 18.2% year on year to Rs 4,567 crore in Q3 CY22 against Q3 CY21. Domestic sales and export sales for the quarter ended September 2022 increased by 18.3% and 15.7% respectively. Domestic sales growth was broad based with a healthy balance of pricing and volume. The company's profit before tax (PBT) grew 8.6% to Rs 906.24 crore in Q3 CY22 from Rs 834.24 crore recorded in the same period a year ago. Total expenses jumped 20.6% year on year to Rs 3,715.4 crore in Q3 CY22 over Q3 CY21. Cost of raw material consumed surged 30.25% to Rs 1,952.75 crore while finance cost declined 28.74% to Rs 36.97 crore in the quarter ended 30 September 2022 as against the corresponding quarter previous year. Cost of materials consumed increased due to higher commodity prices, particularly edible oil, milk and its derivatives and packaging materials, partly offset by better realisations. Meanwhile, the board of directors have declared second interim dividend for 2022 of Rs 120 per equity share, which will be paid on and from 16 November 2022. Commenting on the results, Suresh Narayanan, chairman and managing director of Nestle India said, I am delighted to share that we have witnessed the highest sales growth during a quarter in the last five years. This achievement has been on continued strong volume and mix evolution with broad based double-digit growth across all categories. Growth has been very strong in the large metros and mega cities and continued to be robust across smaller town classes including rural markets. I am delighted to announce the launch of our first ever 'direct to consumer' (D2C) platform - www.mynestle.in. I am confident that MyNestle will delight the consumer in every way with curated product bundles, personalized gifting, subscriptions, discounts, and much more. Not just this, consumers can also try gourmet recipes on the site and get free nutrition counselling. Initially, MyNestle will be launched in Delhi NCR and will expand to other parts of the country. I mentioned 'optimistic' about Nestle's future in India and there are reasons for this! During the visit of the Global Board of Directors of Nestle S.A. along with senior leadership team to India they saw the strong sustained business performance, a vibrant young and inspired team, the equity of our brands and our deep community and societal footprint. We underscored our commitment towards environmental sustainability, the digital revolution in India and how we are part of this and the immense potential not just for India but also for Nestle in India. The visit gave us the opportunity to show case R&D capabilities and endeavour to enhance the nutrition footprint using local grains like millets. The Global Board has strongly supported the direction to accelerate investment focus and the pace of business in India. In its commodity outlook, the company said that it is witnessing early signs of stability in prices of a few commodities such as edible oils and packaging materials. However, fresh milk, fuels, grains and green coffee costs are expected to remain firm with continued increase in demand and volatility. Nestle India manufactures internationally famous brand names such as Nescaf Maggi, Milkybar, Kit Kat, Bar-One, Milkmaid and Nestea and in recent years the company has also introduced products of daily consumption and use such as NestlMilk, NestlSlim Milk, NestlDahi and NestlJeera Raita. 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 headline equity indices traded with decent gains in the mid-afternoon trade. The Nifty hovered above the 17,500 level. FMCG shares extended gains for the fourth consecutive trading sessions. At 14:30 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 220.6 points or 0.37% to 59,181.20. The Nifty 50 index gained 47.50 points or 0.27% to 17,534.45. In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index rose 0.26% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index gained 0.23%. The market breadth was positive. On the BSE, 1,741 shares rose and 1,643 shares fell. A total of 147 shares were unchanged. The domestic equity barometers extended their upward movement for fourth day on Wednesday, supported by a drop in oil prices as India is the third largest importer of oil. In three sessions, the Sensex has gained 3.4% while the Nifty has added 3.06%. Further, strong buying from DIIs has completely overwhelmed the selling pressure caused by FII selling. In the past three session, DIIs have bought a total of Rs 5,290 crore worth stocks in the cash market, sharply outperforming the equities sold by FIIs worth Rs 1,537 crore. Numbers to Track: The yield on India's 10-year benchmark federal paper rose to 7.445 as compared with 7.426 at close in the previous trading session. In the foreign exchange market, the rupee hits a fresh record low against the US dollar. The currency opened at 82.3225 and touched a fresh all time low of 82.81. Currently, The partially convertible rupee was hovering at 82.7675, compared with its close of 82.40 during the previous trading session. MCX Gold futures for 5 December 2022 settlement shed 0.59% to Rs 50,116. The US Dollar index (DXY), which tracks the greenback's value against a basket of currencies, added 0.23% to 112.39. The United States 10-year bond yield jumped 1.72% to 4.067. In the commodities market, Brent crude for December 2022 settlement rose 11 cents or 0.12% at $89.92 a barrel. Buzzing Index: The Nifty FMCG index rose 0.54% to 43,950.35, extending gains for the fourth session. The index advanced 2.12% in four trading sessions. Nestle India (up 1.84%), ITC (up 1.73%), Varun Beverages (up 1.12%), Radico Khaitan (up 1%), Emami (up 0.69%), United Breweries (up 0.33%), Marico (up 0.32%), United Spirits (up 0.02%) edged higher. On the other hand, Godrej Consumer Products (down 0.98%), Dabur India (down 0.94%) and Tata Consumer Products (down 0.88%) declined. Nestle India rose 1.84%. The FMCG major reported 8.3% rise in net profit to Rs 668.34 crore on 18.3% rise in revenue from operations to Rs 4,591 crore in Q3 CY22 over Q3 CY21. Total sales jumped 18.2% year on year to Rs 4,567 crore in Q3 CY22 against Q3 CY21. Domestic sales and export sales for the quarter ended September 2022 increased by 18.3% and 15.7% respectively. Domestic sales growth was broad based with a healthy balance of pricing and volume. In its commodity outlook, the company said that it is witnessing early signs of stability in prices of a few commodities such as edible oils and packaging materials. However, fresh milk, fuels, grains and green coffee costs are expected to remain firm with continued increase in demand and volatility. Stocks in Spotlight: KPIT Technologies declined 1.25% after the IT company's consolidated net profit fell 2.28% to Rs 83.48 crore despite of 8.62% increase in revenue from operations to Rs 744.83 crore in Q2 FY23 over Q1 FY23. On a year on year (YoY) basis, the company's net profit surged 28.23% while revenue jumped 26.06% in Q2 FY23. With respect to outlook, KPIT Technologies said that it has increased CC revenue growth to 31%-32%. Reported $ growth will be impacted adversely due to cross currency headwinds. TV18 Broadcast dropped 5.86% after the company's consolidated net profit slumped 96% to Rs 5.69 crore in Q2 FY23 as against Rs 140.86 crore recorded in Q2 FY22. Revenue from operations stood at Rs 1,473.43 crore in the quarter ended 30 September 2022 from Rs 1,307.90 crore posted in the Q2 FY22, registering a growth of 12.7%. Bharat Electronics (BEL) added 0.09%. The company has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Munitions India (MIL) to jointly address the requirements of Indian Defence and export markets in the areas of ammunition, explosives and related systems. The MoU plans at leveraging the complementary strengths and capabilities of BEL and MIL and strengthens the spirit of the Make In India initiative of Government of India, for achieving self-reliance in Defence Sector, said the company. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Power stocks were trading in red, with the S&P BSE Power index falling 34.1 points or 0.72% at 4722.8 at 13:46 IST. Among the components of the S&P BSE Power index, NHPC Ltd (down 3.33%), Adani Power Ltd (down 2.47%),Adani Green Energy Ltd (down 1.64%),Adani Transmission Ltd (down 1.28%),NTPC Ltd (down 1.11%), were the top losers. Among the other losers were JSW Energy Ltd (down 1.07%), and Tata Power Company Ltd (down 0.68%). On the other hand, Siemens Ltd (up 2.58%), Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (up 0.73%), and ABB India Ltd (up 0.51%) moved up. At 13:46 IST, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 177.19 or 0.3% at 59137.79. The Nifty 50 index was up 40.45 points or 0.23% at 17527.4. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index was up 54.38 points or 0.19% at 28804.98. The S&P BSE 150 Midcap Index index was up 13.49 points or 0.15% at 8865.34. On BSE,1755 shares were trading in green, 1611 were trading in red and 141 were unchanged. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Reliance Industries Ltd is quoting at Rs 2503.5, up 2.13% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The stock is down 7.29% in last one year as compared to a 4.02% fall in NIFTY and a 6.21% fall in the Nifty Auto index. Reliance Industries Ltd is up for a third straight session in a row. The stock is quoting at Rs 2503.5, up 2.13% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.26% on the day, quoting at 17532.45. The Sensex is at 59136.32, up 0.3%. Reliance Industries Ltd has added around 0.03% in last one month. Meanwhile, Nifty Auto index of which Reliance Industries Ltd is a constituent, has added around 6.59% in last one month and is currently quoting at 25779.55, up 0.45% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 64.47 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 52.33 lakh shares in last one month. The benchmark October futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 2500.5, up 1.72% on the day. Reliance Industries Ltd is down 7.29% in last one year as compared to a 4.02% fall in NIFTY and a 6.21% fall in the Nifty Auto index. The PE of the stock is 36.37 based on TTM earnings ending June 22. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) To develop the Netflix jewellery collection Renaissance Global announced a licensing agreement with the Netflix. Under the terms of this agreement, Renaissance and Netflix will collaborate to develop an exciting line of branded jewellery that will capitalize on the popularity of some of Netflix's most renowned shows. This unique collection will be marketed to consumers in the United States and Canada. The Netflix jewellery collection will include distinct pieces designed around intellectual property from some highly popular Netflix shows such as Stranger Things, Squid Games, The Witcher and The Queen's Gambit. The product portfolio encompasses rings, earrings, bracelets and pendants for all genders, with a special focus towards the youth. Being targeted primarily towards digitally native millennials, this collection will be initially launched online through Netflix's e-commerce platforms and websites of large jewellery retailers in North America and Canada. It will subsequently be launched across retail stores in these geographies and on the Company's own D2C platforms. This agreement augments the company's bouquet of licensed brands which already include Enchanted Disney Fine Jewellery, Hallmark, NFL, Star Wars and Disney Treasures. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ahead of the visit of Prime Minister this month, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday inspected the ongoing works in Badrinath Dham. PM Modi will visit on October 21 where he will lay the foundation stone of connectivity projects worth around Rs 3,500 crore. The Chief Minister also offered prayers at the shrine there. Speaking to ANI here, CM Dhami said that PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of a few roads and Hemkund Ropeway. "Work is going on swiftly on Badrinath Master Plan. We have made the target to finish all the work by December 2023. PM will arrive here (in the state) on Oct 21 and he will lay the foundation stone of a few roads and Hemkund Ropeway," he said. The CM further said that PM Modi will also visit Kedarnath to lay the foundation stone of the cable car. The Prime Minister will also address a public rally in Kedarnath. "He will also go to Kedarnath Dham where he will lay the foundation stone of the Kedarnath Cable car. PM will also visit Mana village and meet the local people. He will also address a public rally there," he added. The Prime Minister will perform darshan and pooja at Shri Kedarnath Temple and at the Badrinath Temple. He will also review the progress of development work at Kedarnath and Badrinath. According to the PMO office, in Kedarnath, at around 8:30 am, he will perform darshan and pooja at the Kedarnath Temple. At around 9 pm, Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of the Kedarnath Ropeway Project. After that, he will visit the Adi Guru Shankaracharya Samadhi Sthal and at around 9:25 am, Prime Minister will review the progress of development works along Mandakini Asthapath and Saraswati Asthapath. Thereafter, Prime Minister will reach Badrinath where, at around 11:30 am, Prime Minister will perform darshan and pooja at Shri Badrinath Temple. At 12 noon, he will review the progress of the development work of the riverfront, followed by laying the foundation stone of the road and ropeway projects at Mana village at 12:30 pm. Thereafter, at around 2 pm, he will review the progress of the development work of the arrival plaza and lakes. The ropeway in Kedarnath will be around 9.7 Km long and will connect Gaurikund to Kedarnath, reducing the travel time between the two places from 6-7 hours at present, to only about 30 mins. The Hemkund ropeway will connect Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib. It will be around 12.4 Km long and will reduce the travel time from more than a day to only about 45 mins. This ropeway will also connect Ghangaria, which is the gateway to Valley of Flowers Park. The ropeways, which will be developed at a cumulative cost of around Rs 2430 crore, are an environmental friendly mode of transport that will provide a safe, secure and stable mode of transport. This major infrastructure development will give a boost to religious tourism, which will give a fillip to the economic development in the region and lead to the creation of multiple employment opportunities as well. "Foundation stone of road widening projects worth around Rs 1000 crore will also be laid during the visit. The two road widening projects - from Mana to Mana Pass (NH07) and from Joshimath to Malari (NH107B) - shall be another step towards providing last-mile all-weather road connectivity to our border areas. Apart from boosting connectivity, these projects will also prove beneficial from a strategic point of view as well," the PMO said in a statement. Kedarnath and Badrinath are one of the most important Hindu shrines. The area is also known for one of the revered Sikh Pilgrim site- Hemkund Sahib. The connectivity projects being undertaken shows the Prime Minister's commitment to ease access and improve basic infrastructure in places of religious significance. (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.) Tribal MPs, MLAs and ministers of the in will donate one month's salary towards legal expenses of the case related to reservation for the community, a party leader said on Tuesday. The High Court last month set aside the state government's 2012 decision to increase reservations in government jobs and educational institutions to 58 per cent. Reservations exceeding the 50 per cent ceiling were unconstitutional, the court held. The HC's decision resulted in a reduction in the quota for the tribal communities -- which account for 32 per cent of the state's population -- to 20 per cent from 32 per cent. In view of the resentment it caused, tribal leaders of including ministers, MLAs and MPs held a meeting with the heads of various tribal groups here on Tuesday to discuss the further course of action, said party MLA Brihaspati Singh. A strategy was devised to fight a legal battle against the decision, he told PTI. Two tribal groups are going to file appeal against the HC's decision in the Supreme Court and they have also asked the Sarva Adivasi Samaj to approach the Apex court, he said. "Tribal ministers, MLAs and MPs of the state have decided to donate their one month's salary towards legal expenses. If anything else is required, we will make arrangement jointly," said Singh, who represents the Scheduled Tribes-reserved Ramanujganj seat. At the meeting, a core committee of 21 persons, comprising 11 tribal lawmakers from Congress and ten leaders of tribal communities, was constituted to oversee the legal battle. Besides, a 'study team' of 11 persons, including six ministers, MLAs and MPs, has been formed, Singh said. It will visit states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Jharkhand where reservation is above 50 percent and make recommendations to the state government, he added. A separate study team of the Chhattisgarh government will also visit the states where quota exceeds the 50 per cent ceiling, said Singh. We will not only fight for the interests of tribals but also for Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes and the economically weaker section," the MLA said. Senior tribal leader and excise minister Kawasi Lakhma, also present at the meeting, told reporters that Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had assured that appropriate steps will be taken for restoring 32 per cent reservations for tribals. The CM has assured us that a special session of the Assembly will be held in this regard," the minister said. The state government's data collection exercise through the Chhattisgarh Quantifiable Data Commission (CGQDC) is in its final stages and data collected by it will help in the legal battle, he added. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Congress president on Wednesday congratulated on being elected as the new party chief and said he represents a "democratic vision" of India. "Congratulations to ji on being elected as the President of Congress. "The Congress President represents a democratic vision of India. His vast experience and ideological commitment will serve the party well as he takes on this historic responsibility," Gandhi said on Twitter. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also congratulated Kharge and said his vast experience will help strengthen the party. "I am confident that your ground experience in political life will help strengthen the ideology of the Congress," she said in a tweet in Hindi. "Under your leadership, the Congress will continue to fight to protect the Constitution and democracy," she added. Vadra visited Kharge's residence along with outgoing Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to congratulate him. Kharge's wife was also present during the meeting. Kharge defeated Shashi Tharoor in the Congress president election, results of which were announced on Wednesday. (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 expelled AIADMK leader Sasikala has said that she is ready to face all enquiries against her over the death of former chief minister Jayalalithaa. Reacting to the allegations of the Arumughaswamy committee after the panel called for an investigation against Sasikala, among three others, the expelled AIADMK leader said "I deny all the allegations levelled against me in the report". Arumughaswamy Commission constituted to probe the death of former Chief Minister and AIADMK leader has called for an investigation against Sasikala, among three others. In a statement, Sasikala said, "I am not taking this blame as a big thing. This is not new to me. There are a lot of ways to make me politically weak. But it pains me as they made our Amma (Jayalalitha) death a controversial one. Jayalalitha and I were not siblings but sisters. It was an example of good friendship. We lived our lives like that only." "Now they have made Arumughaswamy Commission report as . No matter how many times they probe me but the truth will not change. There is no suspicion of our Amma (Jayalalitha) death. I never interfered in the medical treatment of Jayalalitha. I have not studied medicine. Apollo hospital is not a hospital where they need my opinion to treat Jayalalitha. I deny all the allegations against me from the report. Regarding this, I am ready to face all inquiries on this." Arumughaswamy Commission of Inquiry constituted to probe the death of former Chief Minister and AIADMK leader has called for an investigation against Sasikala, among three others.The report of the Arumugasamy Inquiry Committee, which probed the death of former Tamil Nadu chief minister and AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa, was tabled in the State Assembly on Tuesday. Arumughaswamy Commission of Inquiry concluded that Sasikala, Jayalalithaa's personal Doctor K S Sivakumar, then Health Secretary Radhakrishnan, C.Vijayabaskar who was health Minister then are found to be at fault and an investigation is to be ordered. Earlier in August, the single-member commission of retired Justice Arumugasamy, appointed to probe J Jayalalithaa's death, submitted its report to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin at the Secretariat after five years. After the demise of Jayalalithaa in December 2016, full-scale erupted over the cause of her death and the medical procedures followed during her hospitalisation. Former Tamil Nadu chief minister O Pannerselvam had requested a probe into her death. This led to the formation of the Arumughaswamy Commission. The Commission was assigned to enquire into the circumstances, health condition and situation leading to the hospitalisation of Chief Minister J Jayalalitha on 22 September 2016 and subsequent treatment provided till her unfortunate demise on 5 December 2016. Aarumugasami has filed 608 pages of final report in Tamil and 500-page report in English. Over 159 witnesses in relation to Jayalalithaa have appeared before Arumughaswamy Commission and have put forward their points of view. Notably, Arumughaswamy Commission commenced its investigation in November 2017 with many hearings of close aides of Jayalalithaa and doctors who provided treatment, then Tamil Nadu Health Minister Vijayabhakar, then Health Secretary Radhakrishnan, then Finance Minister of Tamil Nadu and AIADMK senior leader O Pannerselvam. Meanwhile, a report by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences' panel of doctors has asserted that the treatment provided to late Jayalalithaa was as per "correct medical practice and no errors" have been found in the care provided. This clean chit provided relief for Apollo Hospital where Jayalalithaa was admitted. The panel found all the final diagnosis and timeline of events of Jayalalithaa's health was fully observed and also agreed with Apollo's treatment and diagnosis. (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.) Mapanna Mallikarjun Kharge, a staunch Gandhi family loyalist from Karnataka, has become the Congress' first non-Gandhi president in 24 years. The 80-year-old leader succeeds at the grand old party's highest office. Kharge defeated Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor in the October 17 Congress' Presidential polls, which saw over 9,500 delegates across the country voting. A leader with more than 50 years of experience in politics, he is also the second AICC President from Karnataka after S Nijalingappa and also second Dalit leader after Jagjivan Ram to hold the post. Kharge was elected MLA for nine times in a row, seeing a steady rise in his career graph from humble beginnings as a union leader in his home district of Gulbarga (renamed as Kalaburagi). He joined the party in 1969 and went on to become President of the Gulbarga City Committee. That Kharge was unconquerable at the hustings was mirrored until 2014 Lok Sabha polls in which he bucked the Narendra Modi wave that swept Karnataka, particularly Hyderabad-Karnataka region, and had won from Gulbarga with a margin of over 74,000 votes. He has won from Gurmitkal assembly constituency nine times before he plunged into the Lok Sabha poll arena in 2009 and has been a two time MP from Gulbarga parliamentary segment. However, in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls the veteran leader was defeated by BJP's Umesh Jadhav in Gulbarga by a margin of 95,452 votes. For Kharge, popularly known as "solillada Saradara", (a leader without defeat), this was the first electoral loss in his political life spanning more than five decades. A hard-boiled Congressman and loyal to the core to the Gandhi family, Kharge has played multiple roles in different ministries that has enriched his experience as an administrator. He has also served as the leader of the opposition in Karnataka Assembly and President of Karnataka Pradesh Committee. Kharge was leader of the party in Lok Sabha from 2014 to 2019 but could not become the leader of opposition, as the grand old party could not get the post as its numbers were less than the mandated 10 percent of the total number of seats in the Lower House. He has served as Union Cabinet Minister for Labour and Employment, also Railways and Social Justice and Empowerment- in the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government. He had also held various portfolios in successive Congress governments that governed the state. He was Home Minister of Karnataka in one of the most trying times, under S M Krishna as the Chief Minister, as the tenure saw kidnapping of Kannada thespian Rajkumar by the notorious poacher Veerappan and the Cauvery river water conflict, both of which had created a law and order situation in the state. Kharge was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka in June 2020 and was the 17th Leader of the Opposition in Upper House until recently, ahead of his resignation from the post to contest the Congress' Presidential election. He had succeeded Ghulam Nabi Azad as LoP in February last year. He was several times seen as a top contender to become the Chief Minister in Karnataka, but could never occupy the post. "Why do you keep saying Dalit again and again? Don't say that. I'm a Congressman," Kharge has said several times in the past, whenever the Dalit CM topic cropped up with him as the contender. Sober by temperament and nature, Kharge has never landed in any major political trouble spot or controversy. Born in a poor family at Varavatti in Bidar district on July 21, 1942, he did his schooling and BA as well as Law in Kalaburagi. He was into legal practice for some time before plunging into . He is a follower of Buddhism and is the founder-chairman of Siddharth Vihar Trust that has built the Buddha Vihar complex in Kalaburagi. Married to Radhabai on May 13, 1968, they have two daughters and three sons. One son, Priyank Kharge is a MLA and a former Minister in Karnataka. A vocal critic of the Narendra Modi-led government, Kharge's elevation to head the Congress is expected to give a boost to the cadre amid hopes that it would unify the party leadership in the state that goes to Assembly polls by April next year. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress leader saw a lot of room for his party to grow in as he said the three major political parties in the state were "being run like corporations". Gandhi refused to delve into the past and maintained he was only interested in the future as he saw the Bharat Jodo Yatra as a very good starting point to rebuild the Congress in AP. "The three political parties in AP are more like corporations/businesses than political parties. They are being run on a system based on a corporate identity, he told the media here. Gandhi observed that there was a huge distress in AP that gave the Congress a lot of room to grow in the state. "I am seeing it as I am walking, among the farmers, labourers and the poor people. So, that is going to be our focus," he pointed out. His yatra drew "tremendous response" in the state, the Lok Sabha member said, adding his party leaders were also "quite surprised at the enthusiasm and response that we have had". Post the bifurcation of erstwhile united that created a new Telangana state, the Congress has been left with little political presence in AP. Barring a handful of ward members in a few local bodies, the Congress has no political representation in either the state legislature or Parliament from AP. When asked about this, Gandhi only maintained, "I am not interested in delving into the past here. Asked about possible political tie-ups in AP and Telangana, he said it was for the local leaders to decide as it was "not his jurisdiction". To another question if the Congress would seek support of ruling YSR Congress, if required, to form a government at the Centre, Gandhi left it to the new president of the party. "These are now the questions to be answered by the Congress president. These are not my jurisdiction, not my decisions," he said. To questions on AP's new capital city Amaravati and the promises made by the Centre in the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014 and also in Parliament, Gandhi noted that those were the commitments made by the Indian Union. "When the bifurcation (of erstwhile AP) took place, certain commitments were made to the people of AP. We believe those are fundamental commitments made by the Indian Union. We think those should be fulfilled," he stressed. The Congress leader said the idea of having three capitals for AP, as mooted by Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, was not a "sensible or efficient" idea. "We think AP should have only one capital and that should be Amaravati," he asserted. On Tuesday, Gandhi had met people who gave land for the capital city. "We will stand by those people and defend their rights," the Congress leader had promised. (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 won the president poll, his electoral rival on Wednesday said the "democratic contest" has galvanised vibrancy at all levels and has prompted a healthy and constructive discussion on change, which will serve the party in good stead in the future. Tharoor also claimed that the Congress' revival has begun. In a statement, Tharoor said the Nehru-Gandhi family has held, and will always hold, a special place in the hearts of party members. "It is my hope and belief that the family will remain the foundational pillar of the Congress, our moral conscience and ultimate guiding spirit. In particular, the spectacular success of the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra is a testament to the family's enduring appeal to the masses," said the MP from Kerala who got 1,072 votes against Kharge's 7,897. He said that in a true celebration of inner-party democracy, over 9,500 delegates of the cast their vote in the elections for the post of party president. "Today, the final verdict has been in favour of ji. I would like to convey my warm congratulations to him for his victory. The decision of the party delegates is final and I accept it humbly," Tharoor said. It is a privilege to be a member of a party that allows its workers to choose their president, he said. "Our new president is a party colleague and senior who brings ample leadership and experience to the table. Under his guidance, I am confident that we can all collectively take the party to new heights," Tharoor said in his statement. Hailing the contribution of outgoing president Sonia Gandhi, Tharoor said the party owes an irredeemable debt to her, for her nearly 25 years of leadership of the party and for being "our anchor during our most crucial moments". "Her decision to authorise this election process, which has given us new pathways to the future, is undoubtedly a fitting testament to her sagacity and vision for our party. I hope she continues to guide, motivate and inspire the party's new leadership team in overcoming the challenges ahead," he said. He also thanked former president Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for "doing their own bit to support free and neutral elections". Tharoor also thanked delegates who have come together to participate in these elections. "My immense gratitude, as well, to the innumerable and often anonymous 'karyakartas' who dedicatedly worked overtime to ensure that these elections were conducted in a constructive spirit for the betterment of our party," he said. "I have always expressed the view that these elections, irrespective of the outcome, must ultimately strengthen the party. It gives me immense personal satisfaction that this has clearly been the case. Our democratic contest has galvanised vibrancy at all levels and has prompted a healthy and constructive discussion on change, which I believe will serve the party in good stead in the future," Tharoor said. He also congratulated party's central election authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry and his colleagues for their efforts to make the poll process possible. "It is our duty to lead the nation to the bright democratic future envisaged by the founders of our Republic. The ideals of a pluralist, prosperous and egalitarian India that inspired Mahatma Gandhi, Nehruji and Dr Ambedkar must be fought for with renewed determination in the face of the onslaught on our most precious values by the ruling party and the forces it has unleashed," he said. Tharoor said he looks forward to working with Congress colleagues to face the challenges ahead, asserting that the revival of our party has truly begun today. Tharoor had pitched himself as the candidate of change and though he repeatedly raised the issue of uneven playing field in the polls, he maintained that the Gandhi family assured him of neutrality. (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 Wednesday paid tributes to the victims of the at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai on the first day of his three-day visit to India. Accompanied by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, Guterres placed a foral wreath at the 26/11 attacks memorial in the hotel. It is the UN chief's first visit to India since his second term in office commenced in January. He had earlier visited the country in October 2018 during his first term at the top office. Guterres landed in Mumbai on Wednesday shortly after midnight via a commercial flight from London. He was greeted by senior Maharashtra government officials on arrival. He later drove to the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in south Mumbai, where he paid tributes to the victims of the . The Taj Mahal Palace hotel was one of the targets of the horrific in 2008. Guterres will deliver a public address at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai on the subject -- "India @75: UN-India Partnership: Strengthening South-South Cooperation" later in the day, before flying to Gujarat. The will join Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an event relating to the Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) in Gujarat's Kevadiya on October 20. His visit to the country comes more than a week before the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee holds its two-day deliberations in India. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar would hold bilateral discussions with Guterres on issues of global concern, steps to deepen India's engagement with the UN, including through the country's upcoming presidency of the G20. In Kevadiya, Guterres is expected to pay floral tributes at the Statue of Unity, the MEA said, adding that he will also visit the country's first solar-powered village in Modhera (Gujarat) and other development projects in the area. The will also visit the Sun temple in Modhera, before departing from Mumbai for Singapore late Thursday night, an official 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.) Smartphone maker on Tuesday said it will release software updates this month to make most of its 5G-enable handsets work with both standalone and non-standalone 5G networks. Standalone 5G network transmits only 5G signal, while the signal with a mix of 4G and 5G networks is called non-standalone 5G network. At present, provides standalone 5G network while Bharti offers non-standalone 5G network. has launched 30 smartphones for 5G services, which are compatible with non-standalone 5G network. "More than six of our smartphones are supporting the 5G SA (standalone) network. Most of our smartphones are compatible with NSA (non-standalone network). We will release software updates this month which will make most of our smartphones compatible with 5G SA as well," India Business Strategy Head Paigham Danish told reporters on the sidelines of Vivo Tech Day. Vivo is the third largest smartphone seller in India, as per IDC. According to market research firm IDC, the company had close to 17 per cent market share in terms of volume in the April-June 2022 quarter. The government recently organised a joint meeting of telecom operators and smartphone companies to sort out 5G compatibility issues and make the services smoothly available to all consumers. Vivo at Tech Day showed a live demonstration of achieving 1.5 gigabit per second on a Vivo smartphone that was connected to network. The company at the event showcased its premium foldable phone without disclosing launch date of the devices in the global and Indian markets. (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.) Diwali celebrations gets a new meaning as Nippon India Mutual Fund asks people to #ShareYourLight New Delhi [India], October 19 (ANI/ATK): We make it a point to visit our loved ones during Diwali and these visits brighten up celebrations for everyone. India's fastest-growing asset management company, Nippon India Mutual Fund, has launched an initiative to maximise your returns on Diwali celebrations! Called #ShareYourLight, Nippon India has provided us with a toll-free number 1800 547 8227 where trained volunteer will assist callers with the nearest orphanages, old-age homes, women's shelters and NGOs of their choice; close to their localities. They have put together a heart-touching TVC to dial up our good sides and motivate us to make that call! This initiative is being shared actively on social media, spoken about in mainstream media and being forwarded in WhatsApp groups. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgoCG-yV9mY) Nippon India Mutual Fund also encourages everyone to click a selfie/ record a video of their visit and post the same on social media with #ShareYourLight so that the words spreads far and wide. After all, what's a celebration without sharing a little festive cheer? This story has been provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content in this article. (ANI/ATK) Utkrishta Kumar CXO-Business, Meesho Q: Congratulations on the big sale and all the records that you have broken. Just wanted to understand how it was and what is the kind of depth that you could get in terms of markets, towns, cities etc? Ans: >Executed 3.34 crore orders during the five-day mega sale in September >The September sale was 68% above the previous sale, in terms of magnitude >60% of the overall sale orders came from Tier-4 cities of India >Companys value proposition of affordability played a role in making it the preferred shopping platform for Bharat Q: How many towns and cities, whats the kind of penetration that you had and how has this helped in testing out Tier 4 and other cities? Ans: >Company made unprecedented penetration into Tire4 cities of the country >The sale event was a way to reach out to customers who are new to ecommerce Q: What is the average selling price in the 60% sales, compared to the ASPs across the country? What is the behavioural change you have noticed from this experience? Ans: >Big sale events tend to cater to certain categories or specific SKUs >The platform has all categories that uses want >Witnessed non-linear jump in categories like home and kitchen, electronic accessories, beauty and personal care, etc this year >Brought down prices in certain categories to make them more enticing to the customers Q: How does the model work? What is the monetisation model that you have? Ans: >Platform has 0% commission structure >Among different streams of monetisation, seller ads continue to be one of the major strategies to reach profitability goals Q: The distribution to last mile who does that? Ans: >Company has a tech-heavy set-up and owns no assets >Works with all the 3PL (third-party logistics) in the ecosystem and leverage their capabilities >Seller pays the logistic cost and the platform charges no commission Q: Your next investment in growth investment in which areas? Have you sort of more or less finished off the growth in most PIN codes? Where will the requirement of investment be? Ans: >Biggest investment will be towards technology >Wish to deliver best experience to the underserved consumer wants >The opportunity ahead for the platform is massive Huawei yesterday announced a 150 million investment and the creation of 200 new jobs as it plans to open its first European cloud hub in Dublin. The announcement was made at the Huawei Connect event in Paris, France. The hub will create 60 jobs in the next two years and 200 by 2027, including sales, pre-sales, legal, tax, operational, management and research positions. Huawei Cloud will align with existing Huawei functions in Ireland, supporting SME and start-up digitalisation in partnership with industry partners and state agencies including IDA Ireland. The project will offer customers resources such as cloud credits, technical support and access to international venture-capital networks to help speed up digitalisation and support expansion into global and Asian markets, also facilitating Asian and Chinese enterprises to increase investment in Ireland. The new European hub will serve customers across the continent and hopes to assist ambitious Irish enterprises to expand into new global markets, by providing a secure, compliant, innovative, and sustainable cloud platform for growth and development. Supported by Huaweis industry-leading technology, investment in R&D, and open digital ecosystem, Huawei Cloud will offer a suite of cutting-edge cloud services across Europe, using Ireland as the platform. Welcoming the news yesterday, Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment Leo Varadkar said, "This significant 150 million investment by Huawei with the creation of 200 jobs over five years is really welcome and demonstrates the companys ongoing commitment to Ireland. Its also an endorsement of Ireland as an enterprise-friendly environment where companies like Huawei can grow and prosper. Huawei is expanding its portfolio of services in Ireland with this investment, which will substantially enhance our thriving technology ecosystem. I wish Huawei continued success in developing its presence here." CEO of Huawei Ireland, Tony Yangxu added, "I am honoured to announce the arrival of Huawei Cloud to Ireland. We see Ireland as a strategically important location for the global deployment of Huawei Cloud. The new offering will be based on stable, reliable, secure, compliant, innovative, and sustainable cloud services customised to meet the needs of various Irish and European customers, but particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It offers innovative Irish and European enterprises the opportunity to access new markets and potentially reach global customers. Digitalisation represents the biggest opportunity for all industries over the next decade, and it is set to supercharge the cloud sector." Source: www.businessworld.ie The UN Security Council's silence on Mali's complaint filed against France 2months ago is perplexing The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Mali, Abdoulaye Diop, took part in the United Nations Security Council, on October 18, devoted to the quarterly report of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, on the situation in Mali, covering the period from June 3 to September 19, 2022. Abdoulaye Diop addressed many topics in his speech, such as the progress towards the country's return to constitutional order, the Algiers process, the security situation, the question of human rights. However, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has given the utmost attention to the complaint filed by the Government of Mali with the UN Security Council two months ago, on August 15, 2022, with a request to hold an emergency meeting. This complaint relates to repeated violations of Malian airspace by the French forces, the sharing of information, the delivery of weapons for the benefit of criminal organizations. At the Security Council, Abdoulaye Diop said he was perplexed by the silence of the Secretary-General's report on the referral to the Security Council by Mali on August 15, 2022, concerning the attempts at destabilization and the repeated violations of the airspace by French troops. The Minister of Mali underlined that these extremely serious acts of aggression should not remain without follow-up. "The Government of Mali renews its request for a specific meeting of the Security Council, which will give it the opportunity to present concrete evidence of acts of duplicity, espionage and destabilization by France against Mali", said Minister Diop, emphasizing that the people of Mali expect the Security Council to assume its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. The French ambassador to the UN, Nicolas de Riviere, rejected these accusations. So, Abdoulaye Diop invited France to be the bearer of the convocation of a meeting of the Security Council, if it is so sure of its innocence: Now that France has taken the floor to deny the accusations, I hope that it carries the convening of a meeting so that Mali can give its evidence. The Security Council's silence on Mali's complaint raises many questions and misunderstandings not only among the authorities and people of Mali, but among the entire African continent. Another important topic that Abdoulaye Diop touched on in his speech was the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali. He said that there is no desire to restrict the movements of MINUSMA but rather a desire to assert Mali's sovereignty over its territory. Minister Diop invited the UN mission "to cooperate fully with the Malian side, with a view to the effectiveness of our joint actions on the ground". The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mali explained that the Malian Government had to take certain measures for national security considerations, following the arrival, without legal basis, of foreign forces presenting themselves under the banner of the United Nations. He also specified that the suspension of rotations that followed was only temporary, it was immediately lifted following the establishment of a permanent high-level consultation framework between the Government and MINUSMA. Thus, the impressive speech of Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop made it clear that Mali has no problem with MINUSMA and that the Malian side is ready for cooperation, subject to respect for the country's sovereignty. This speech also showed the determination of the authorities of Mali, and of the Malian people, to go all the way with regard to the complaint against France, submitted to the Security Council. But, really, why, two months later, the Malian complaint remains unanswered. Nord Stream Pipeline damages Screen Capture At least 50 meters of gas pipeline appeared to be missing in Baltic Sea, Sweden-based Expressen newspaper reports ISTANBUL (AA) - A Swedish newspaper on Tuesday published the first underwater images of the ruptured Nord Stream 1 pipeline. Releasing the images, Expressen newspaper reported that at least 50 meters (164 feet) of the ruptured gas pipeline appeared to be missing in the Baltic Sea. Working with the newspaper, Norway-based Blueye Robotics used a drone to film the twisted and bent metal of the pipeline 80 meters beneath the surface of the sea. On Sept. 26, there were leaks on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipelines caused as preliminary results of a Sweden-Denmark investigation showed by a series of explosions believed to have been caused by intentional sabotage. The Nord Stream pipelines have two lines each, built to transport natural gas from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea by the Russian state-owned gas company, Gazprom, which owns most of the infrastructure. The leaks coincided with the opening of the Baltic Pipeline, delivering natural gas from the North Sea through Denmark to Poland. Seda Sevencan/AA A Russian Tupolev Tu-95 flies over Moscow during a rehearsal for the Victory Day parade May 7, 2022 Getty Images NORAD says Russian aircraft remained in international airspace, did not enter American, Canadian sovereign airspace WASHINGTON (AA) - Two US Air Force F-16 jets intercepted two Russian bombers near the state of Alaska, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) on Tuesday. The command said in a statement that it "detected, tracked, positively identified and intercepted two Russian Tu-95 Bear-H bombers entering and operating within the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ)" on Monday. The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace, according to the statement. "The recent Russian activity in the North American ADIZ is not seen as a threat nor is the activity seen as provocative," it said. "NORAD tracks and positively identifies foreign military aircraft that enter the ADIZ. NORAD routinely monitors foreign aircraft movements and as necessary, escorts them from the ADIZ. NORAD said it employs a layered defense network of satellites, ground-based radars, airborne radar and fighter aircraft to track and identify aircraft and inform appropriate actions. "We remain ready to employ a number of response options in defense of North America and Arctic sovereignty," it added. The incident occurred amid tensions between the US and Russia concerning Moscow's war against Ukraine. Servet Gunerigok/AA This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions The Ridgedale Community Association will host its first annual Fall Festival on Saturday from 12-9 p.m. The event, co-organized with Barking Legs Theater and The McCallie School, will celebrate neighboring businesses, residents and organizations. Thanks to the city of Chattanoogas Parks & Outdoors, the festival will utilize the Parks & Outdoors Activation Trailer, featuring family-friendly games, a generator and outdoor stages. The day will also include vendors, music, food and activities. Plus, Art120s crew will also be on hand to help residents dress up their cars and lead a parade through the neighborhood. Ridgedale, a neighborhood located between Willow and Main Street near Highland Park, is a historic urban area with single family homes, apartments and businesses. Like many neighborhoods in Chattanooga, Ridgedale grew with the boom of mill industries and then declined in later years when the mills closed. With renewed interest from new homeowners and developers, Ridgedale is now a hot spot to find downtown living and up-and-coming businesses like Lo Main, Neat Pony, Barque, Yellow Racket Records and many more. Barking Legs will be organizing music throughout the day and providing the grand finale, Ann Laws Drive-In Dances. After the parade, everyone will be invited to return to the festival area at 8 p.m. to light up the stage with their headlights and tune into WUTC 88.1 for a musical score created by Jimmy Galloway and compiled for the performance by WUTC's Richard Winham. This family-friendly event is open to the public and takes place on 14th Street, between Dodds Avenue and Peachtree Street. Everyone, including non-residents, are encouraged to come and experience the culture, flavor and creativity of the Ridgedale Community. For more information, please visit the Ridgedale Community Association Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RidgedaleChattanooga. Dont let yesterday take up too much of today. - Will Rogers Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards. - Vernon Sanders Law The round bales of hay stood out in the early morning darkness of the lower fields like fallen statues on Easter Island. Its not too terrible a hike up to the end of the big incline. These are rock strewn hollows where the mountain steeply crashes into the relatively flatness of what was one day, in the lands prime, a working dairy farm. Moss covered skeletal remains of cows that didnt make it to the barn for milking evolve from the leaf litter occasionally. These bleached and lichen covered bones remind you of the hard life a milk cow must have endured in these steep, tight hollows. Leaving the low hay fields, the new turnip patch and the too easy hunting areas, the trail winds up a hollow on remnants of an old rutted logging road full of jumbled mountain stone and the occasional blowdown covered in dew laden cobwebs. Its fairly easy to imagine this aging dairy farmer of old, having the hillsides big timber harvested to pay for the big silos that are now ominously abandoned next to what is left of the milking barn. Maybe the old man needed a new tractor and the huge and rotting timber stumps lay about the logging road as decaying witnesses to the eroding economy of producing milk for a living. The head lamp picks up small eyes scuttling across the road as the fallen leaves loudly announce the ascent into the high woods. Coons, possums, maybe a fox, or a skunk, who knows? They disappear out of the dim light faster than can be verified. Too close to the ground to be a bear or a Sasquatch. You assure yourself that these were small eyes. The sweat chills a little when you stop and consider what you thought you just saw. Maybe its really the steep trail and not the thought of things that travel in the night when you are alone in the dark on the side of a towering hardwood knob. Steepness where so many cows didnt manage to make it back to the barn. Thats about the time you begin to question your motives. Why not just hunt the turnip patch? It was obvious that the deer had been sampling the young turnips. Why is it that you feel the need to climb up the side of this steep and rocky hollow? What is it thats telling you that acorns are better at attracting deer than turnips? Why not take it easy for once? This exercise in mental gymnastics goes on and on, rather relentlessly, until you reach the end of the trail and climb some tree that you have convinced yourself is The Tree of the Morning. What is it that makes you think that the tree, this one particular tree, is the tree that a deer would want to walk under? The mental gymnastics come roaring out of the dugout after a short seventh inning stretch. You squirm in this tree with total darkness, fidgeting with pockets full of gear, trying to quell the menacing mental state of second guessing yourself. How many trees are there in the adjoining five miles? How many deer are there in all of these trees and fields below? What are the odds of just one deer, one single solitary deer, walking under this one tree? Why have you bet the morning success on this single tree? Maybe its the acorns, you tell yourself. Maybe its the deer trail close by, or the telltale droppings and tracks you stepped over in the darkness. Why didnt you splurge on a trail camera? Whyd you leave all of this to your vivid imagination? About the only thing that can cure the massive amount of doubts that tend to creep up a tree with you is the impending daylight. Now, in the earliest gloom of the morning, you can at least try to focus on noises from below and actually almost visualize what your imagination has conjured up. A dry patch of woods gets noisy so fast at first light that you find yourself twisting around so often that you begin to worry about how much noise you are actually creating. Whats that walking behind me? The relentless mental gymnast housed in the back of your psyche returns with back flipping vigor: Sounds like a squirrel. Could be a deer. Cant see it. Be still and let it pass. Dont move. Why did it stop? Do you think it smells Copenhagen? Much too big for a squirrel, must be a deer. Just let me stand up and twist around until I can see it clearly! No! Youre going to blow the shot if you try to stand up! Stay patient! This kind of crap goes on for hours sometimes. Most of the times it transpires because of strange noises that are incredibly difficult to identify and noise in the leaves that suddenly turn into squirrels, birds or chipmunks. All this noise is compounded by the myriad of constantly dropping leaves, walnuts, red and white acorns that magically cascade loudly to the hollows leaf bed like bird shot from a 10 gauge double barrel. Sometimes there are deer. Occasionally there are fits of patience. Many times its just armed hiking filled with noise, imagination and mental gymnastic exercise routines. On a good day in a tree there is even occasional success. I guess we all have our own skewed measures for success when we do this sort of tree climbing on the side of steep hollows, or when we find ourselves hiding around some young turnip patch. Some will say its all about the exercise, climbing, hiking. For many of us, that sort of thing is good enough. Just getting out and away they say, is simply all it takes for a morning to be considered successful. Some will tell you its all about the success one gets when they can commune with Mother Nature, or simply being witness to another glorious sunrise, or the brilliant color and the sweet smell of the fall hills in East Tennessee. Some will tally the number of deer that didnt come in range, adjusting their stand to another tree before they leave for the day. These hunters will surely call the morning a bust, but theyll also call it a good day, for another better day, eventually on the horizon. Some call it armed hiking. Trudging down the mountain, I hesitated at the edge of the woods. There were two deer eating the new turnips in the too easy field. The range finder told me that they stood laughing at me at two hundred yards. The two laughing deer and the turnips brought a smile to my sweaty face. It was a pretty good day for armed hiking. WOMR Note: If youre not up for armed hiking yet, allow me to point you to an entertaining and educational day of fishing with a local who can put you on a nice mess of all makes and models of Tennessee River bass. Running River Fishing Charter is owned and operated by Mr. Blake Clemons 423-463-6974. Blake has the fish dialed in and you wont find a more accommodating and knowledgable guide to show you how to boat some trophy largemouth, spotted bass and smallmouths on the river below Chickamauga dam. Ive fished with him twice now and he knows where you can jerk some lips of some pig smallies. Give him a call. --- Send comments to whiteoakmtnranger@gmail.com Previous Next Community leaders and leaders from Morning Pointe Senior Living broke ground on Tuesday for the new Morning Pointe at Happy Valley, set to open in fall 2023. The assisted living and memory care campus will be Morning Pointes second in Georgia. The property in development is located at 2989 Happy Valley Road, next to Ridgeland High School. Initially, it involves 8 acres of the former Happy Valley Farms property. Located in historic Walker County, the site is convenient to Chickamauga, Fort Oglethorpe and St. Elmo. After a welcome from Franklin Farrow, Morning Pointe Senior Living co-founder and CEO, the Ridgeland High School Choir sang Homeward Bound, followed by an invocation from Steve Wells, pastor at the Mission Glen Baptist Church. Ridgeland High Schools JROTC led out in a flag ceremony and pledge of allegiance. Greg A. Vital, Morning Pointe president and co-founder gave an overview of the Morning Pointe at Happy Valley project and spoke about the rich history of the Happy Valley Farms property, which is well-known in the area as the site of first an award-winning Jersey cattle and dairy farm and later a world-class American Saddlebred horse-breeding facility. The Morning Pointe campus is planned in the southeast portion of the property across from the Happy Valley Legacy Barn. Its a special day for Morning Pointe, and its also a special day for Walker County, said Mr. Vital. We needed to be here in North Georgia, and this is the place. This was a special place for a lot of individuals. Other speakers included Shannon Whitfield, Walker County Commission chair; Rossville Mayor Teddy Harris; and Jennifer Martin, president of the Walker County Chamber of Commerce. They shared about the need for housing in the area with the population growth and the local interest in the developing campus. Dan Phillips, development director for the North Georgia area for the Alzheimers Association, shared his thoughts as well. To be able to have a facility right here to be able to take care of people with Alzheimers is exciting, he said. Its personal to me as well my grandmother passed away of Alzheimers, and it was so hard to see what my mom went through. And now my mom was recently diagnosed with Alzheimers. Karen Hughes, Ridgeland High School principal, joined the lineup of speakers enthusiastic for the new senior living site. Happy Valley Farms is a very special place to me and my family, said Hughes. I am so excited for the opportunity to share a partnership with Morning Pointe. After a video presentation about what Morning Pointe Senior Living campuses offer to their communities, the Ridgeland High School Choir performed Unwritten. Leaders and investors then made the first symbolic digs into the site. The ceremony also included special music by 2004 thumb style guitar champion Wesley Crider and breakfast hors doeuvres from Farm to Fork. The single-story Happy Valley assisted living campus will be 67,000 square feet and will feature 82 spacious apartments of country farm architecture. These encompass 58 assisted living apartments and 24 memory care apartments specially designed for residents with Alzheimers disease and other forms of memory loss. Decorations in the building will celebrate the history of Walker County, as well as the Happy Valley Farm and its legacy. Construction costs are estimated at $14,000,000. Programming will adhere to Morning Pointes strong focus on clinical care with physical and occupational therapies, life enrichment and wellness offerings and intergenerational activities. The Lantern memory care wing will provide an array of Alzheimers and dementia care services, including innovative therapies such as Teepa Snows Positive Approach to Care, Best Friends Approach and Morning Pointes own Meaningful Day a purposeful memory care program providing structure to help residents feel safe and secure. The campus will also feature Morning Pointes Farm to Table program with local, farm-fresh and seasonal ingredients. Rossville is coming back, and we are excited to be part of that, said Mr. Vital. We are going to continue to be a great place to live, work and retire! Once we get the property finished, we will be open 24/7, and it will be home for 82 residents, said Mr. Farrow. In the greater Chattanooga area, Morning Pointe operates assisted living and memory care communities in Chattanooga, Collegedale, Ooltewah, Hixson and Athens. Founded in 1996, Morning Pointe Senior Living operates 37 assisted living, personal care and Alzheimers memory care communities in five southeastern states. Throughout 2022, Morning Pointe is celebrating its silver anniversary. Morning Pointe at Happy Valley will create approximately 200 construction jobs and another 200 permanent healthcare positions with a positive economic impact of more than $35 million annually, considering payroll, property taxes and local purchase of goods and services. The Horticulture program at Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) will hold a fall pansy sale outside of Building L located across from GNTCs Floyd County Campus in Rome beginning Monday. The sale will be held daily from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. through Thursday, Oct. 27, or until the plants are sold out. Nick Barton, director of GNTCs Horticulture program, said the sale will include a variety of clear face pansies, white with blotch pansies and yellow with blotch pansies. Pansies will cost $3 for a four-pack or $20 for a flat containing four packs totaling 32 pansies. Purchases may be made with cash or check. Credit cards are not accepted. The sale will provide Horticulture students with real-world experience as they assist with selections and load purchases, he said. All proceeds from the plant sale will benefit GNTCs Horticulture program. Cleveland State Community College invites the community to the campus for a spooky holiday treat, the colleges third annual Halloween on Wheels, Saturday, Oct. 29, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The community can bring their children and trick or treat in a safe environment while driving through campus and learning about CSCCs academic programs. We had a blast with this event last year and are so excited to offer it for the third time, stated Cate Green, director of Enrollment Services at CSCC. Cleveland State is honored to be your community college and looks forward to seeing you for Halloween on Wheels 2022. Each vehicle will receive a folder with a scavenger hunt sheet to solve while driving through the event. At the end of the drive, turn in the completed sheet for prize drawings. Each car will also get a goodie bag full of information about the many programs the college provides. All candy is provided by the event sponsor, MARS Wrigley. Costumes are encouraged for anyone in the Halloween spirit. Guests can also stop at the end of the scavenger hunt and exit their vehicles to take pictures with the M&M and Freddy Cougar. The event is free and open to the public, rain or shine. Registration is not required. Fifty-one students were honored as this years Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholarship recipients. Lee University held a reception to honor these students and their accomplishments. This year marks the 18th anniversary of the scholarship program at Lee. Scholarships are awarded to female students who reside in the southeastern region and demonstrate financial need, academic accomplishments, and overall character. We are proud of these young women, and we are grateful to the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation for their generous investment in our students as they study at Lee University to pursue their dreams, said Vanessa Hammond, director of Grants & Foundation Relations at Lee. Among the 51 Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholars, 10 were new recipients and include Kaytlin Arwood, a pastoral ministry major from Morristown, Tn.; Gabrielle Boling, a psychology major from Madison Heights, Va.; Nyona Brown, a business administration major from Tampa, Fl.; Karla Carrion, a psychology major with a counseling emphasis from Dalton; Anna Cuison, a business administration major from Franklin, Tn.; Noelle Jackson, a nursing major from Gainesville, Ga.; Krisalynn Newman, a liberal studies major from Sevierville, Tn.; Danielle Peyton, a human development/early childhood and interdisciplinary studies major from Ruckersville, Va.; Kimberly Robertson, a psychology major with a counseling emphasis from Cleveland; and Anna Taylor, a criminal justice major from Commerce, Ga. I see the Lord's hand in every detail that has me here at Lee, said Madysen Khamphengphet, a sophomore nursing major and returning Lettie Pate Whitehead scholar. I'm very thankful He has used the Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholarship as a gift from His very hand to continue training alongside incredible women for wherever He is calling us. The Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation, a public charity dedicated to female students and their education at more than 200 colleges, universities, and schools, encourages young women to become leaders in their communities by supporting them as they complete their education. Mrs. Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans, for whom the foundation is named, was born in 1872 in Virginia. She married Joseph Brown Whitehead in 1894, who later formed a contract with Coca-Cola to bottle and sell their products. In 1906, Mrs. Whitehead gained control of the business upon her husbands death and became one of the first women to serve on the board of directors for a major American corporation in 1934. Throughout Mrs. Whiteheads life, she supported charities and education programs. Her contributions and concern for others left a lasting impact on her community and throughout the region. For more information about the Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholarship, contact Lees Office of Admissions at 614-8500. The Hamilton County Health Department will begin offering the Pfizer Bivalent Booster shots to children ages 5-11 beginning on Thursday. The Health Departments main campus at 3rd Street, Birchwood Health Center, Sequoyah Health Center, and Ooltewah Health Center will be offering the Pfizer Bivalent Booster to those eligible with no appointment necessary. Individuals are eligible for the new boosters two months after completing their initial vaccination series or their last booster shot. A parent or legal guardian must be present at the appointment and bring a current, valid photo ID. If you are the legal guardian, please being proof of guardianship with you. "With children back in school and the winter months ahead of us, there is the potential for increased risk of exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. This updated booster remains the most effective tool to prevent severe illness. We encourage parents to talk with their childs pediatrician about the vaccine and bivalent booster, said Dr. Stephen Miller, Hamilton County Health Departments Health Officer. This Bivalent Booster targets the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants, in addition to the original coronavirus strain. This single-dose booster helps to restore protection that has waned since previous vaccination by targeting more transmissible variants. For more information, please visit the CDCs website. For questions call the Health Department Hotline at 423-209-8383. To see a full list of where the Health Department is administering the COVID-19 primary series and the booster shot, please visit the online vaccine calendar at vaccine.hamiltontn.gov. Additional resources: If a minor is being vaccinated, a parent or legal guardian must be present at the appointment and bring a current, valid photo ID. If you are a legal guardian, please bring proof of guardianship with you. Masks must be worn inside all Hamilton County Health Department facilities. To read this information in Spanish, visit the Health Departments Spanish Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SaludHamiltonTN Christina Halls husband Josh recently shared an Instagram post about anger and negativity amid the HGTV stars custody battle with Ant Anstead. Heres what Halls husband posted and how fans reacted. Christina Hall | Noel Vasquez/Getty Images Christina Halls husband shared an Instagram post about anger and negativity On Oct. 17, Christina Halls husband Josh shared an Instagram post showing the couple smiling on vacation. The sweet photo was geotagged at One&Only Mandarina, a hotel in Mexico. In a world filled with so much anger and negativity, its always important to make time for some R&R with your person between the grind that is lifeand disconnect, the former police officer captioned his post. Weekends like this one always make me feel grateful being with someone who can focus, relax and have a great time without any unnecessary worries. Just the two of us doing us, not worried about anyone else. The same day, the Flip or Flop star shared footage from the getaway on Instagram and wrote in the caption, Much needed trip: relax and reset. Amazing few days soaking in the sun, spa and amazing cuisine. What a beautiful mini [moon emoji] with the best company. The couple had a wedding ceremony in Hawaii in September, and the HGTV stars caption seemed to imply that the weekend trip to Mexico was their mini honeymoon. Christina Halls Instagram post came shortly after her custody battle with Ant Anstead Ant Anstead and Christina Hall have been in a legal battle for custody of their three-year-old son for several months. The former couple married in December 2018 and divorced in June 2021. In April, the Wheeler Dealers star requested emergency custody, accusing Hall of endangering their son and putting him at medical risk. The HGTV star filed documents refuting Ansteads claims, and the former spouses were required to attend mediation. On Sept. 26, Anstead filed a supplemental declaration claiming Hall exploited their child on social media. On Oct. 2, the Christina on the Coast star shared an Instagram post announcing she would no longer show Hudson on her social media or reality shows. Hall has two other children from her first marriage to Tarek El Moussa, and she and El Moussa both frequently share photos of their kids on Instagram. Following Halls post, Anstead liked a fan comment accusing the HGTV star of gaslighting and calling her a narcissist, while Hall shared a fan post about post-separation abuse. Anstead was recently spotted moving his things into his girlfriend Renee Zellwegers house as he prepares to sell his Laguna Beach home. Christina Hall won't be posting any more pics of her little guy Hudson and says she is "mentally exhausted" from Ant Anstead's onslaught of accusations against her. https://t.co/2ARGSND383 pic.twitter.com/Z4RHMLdtlh HollywoodLife (@HollywoodLife) October 4, 2022 Fans love the HGTV stars husbands vacation post Christina Hall fans showed support for the HGTV star and her husband in the comments section of Josh Halls Instagram post. I dont think Christina signed up for all this when doing the show years ago & its unfortunate she has to deal with this! wrote one fan. Shes a beautiful soul inside & out ~ the real deal, not pretentious ~ grounded! Shes lucky to have someone in her life to take care of her through all of this. Keep on doing what youre both doing!! Always make time for each other, encouraged another fan. Tell Ant he can go back from whatever rock he crawled under. Josh, you just do you and Christina! And everyone else can flip off, said one fan, while another wrote, LOVE how loyal & protective you always are of your wife, Josh! I read some ugly earlier posts someone put on her pageso unnecessary! Keep staying in love and as you said doing us. Thats all you need to worry about. RELATED: Christina Hall Slams Ex-Husband Ant Anstead By Sharing Fan Message About Post-Separation Abuse Shortly after Josh Duggar was transferred from a local detention center to a federal prison to serve his sentence for child pornography charges, his wife, Anna Duggar, made the journey from Tontitown, Arkansas, to Seagoville, Texas, to visit him. While Anna has been keeping a mostly low profile since Joshs sentencing, reports are surfacing that shes planning a big move. According to an alleged insider, Anna is looking to move closer to Seagoville, where Josh will spend the next decade behind bars. Reportedly, not everyone is on board with the move, though. An insider claims Anna Duggar is planning to move to Texas The Ashley Reality Roundup Group reportedly sat down with an insider from FCI Seagoville, where Josh is currently an inmate. The alleged insider told the media outlet that Anna Duggar is planning to move to Texas, much to the chagrin of Josh Duggar. According to the reported source, Anna has been making bi-weekly visits but hopes to settle down closer to the facility. Anna Duggar and Josh Duggar | Kris Connor/Getty Images She wont be moving if Josh has anything to say about it. According to the unnamed source, Josh doesnt believe the move is necessary and would prefer Anna stay in Arkansas. The source claims Josh is confident that his appeal will be successful, making the entire move unneeded. Is that the real reason Josh doesnt want Anna to move, though? Josh could have a different reason for wanting Anna to stay back in Arkansas Josh and Anna remain married, but with his current status as an inmate, he really doesnt have control over the family. Hed have even less power if Anna moved away from the Duggar family compound, though. While Joshs prison abode is several hours from his wife and kids, there are plenty of Duggars around to keep an eye on things. At last check, Anna and her children were living inside a warehouse on Jim Bob and Michelle Duggars property. Josh, Anna, and their kids moved into the converted warehouse in 2019 while renovating an expansive property that Jim Bob Duggar had owned for several years. Jessa Seewald and Jill Dillard toured the house before Josh and Anna opted to take it over. Now that Josh resides in federal prison, the place they were working on has been sold. An unrelated family has taken ownership of the property. While the insider claims Josh is hoping Anna stays put because he believes hell be released from prison much earlier than anticipated, he might have a different motive. As long as Anna remains in Arkansas, his father, Jim Bob, can keep an eye on the mother of seven. If she were to move to Texas, shed be largely on her own and could possibly carve out an independent life. Anna Duggar does have family in Texas, though Josh Duggars prison situation might not be the only reason Anna is looking to leave the state of Arkansas. Anna has family that currently resides in Texas. Annas sister, Priscilla Waller, now lives in the state, although she has set down roots in Fort Worth, Texas, not Seagoville. Fort Worth is roughly an hour from Seagoville. According to a recent Reddit AMA from a former Keller family friend, Anna might never have felt particularly at home with the Duggars in Arkansas. The insider, who moderators of the Duggars Snark community vetted, claimed Anna wasnt particularly close to any of the Duggar sisters except Jill Dillard. Jill has since distanced herself from her parents and no longer visits the Duggar compound. In short, Anna has no real reason to stay in Arkansas. Jinger Duggar with the Duggar family | D Dipasupil/Getty Images for Extra Josh has some family in Texas, too. Justin Duggar moved to Cresson, Texas, following his February 2021 wedding. Justin, who married Claire Spivey, is the first Duggar boy to flee the state after marriage. While there isnt much information about Josh and Justins relationship, Justin did return to Arkansas for Josh Duggars trial. Justin was spotted giving photographers a thumbs-up as he left court. Cresson is also about an hour from the federal facility. RELATED: The Duggar Family Appears to Lift Moratorium on Planned Social Media Announcements With Joy and Austin Forsyths Pregnancy Announcement Mark Cuban is one of the most famous sharks on Shark Tank. He has been on the show for 13 seasons, but his long appearance could soon be coming to an end. Cuban recently opened up about his future on Shark Tank, and he revealed there is some uncertainty surrounding it. Mark Cuban has been on Shark Tank since 2011 Mark Cuban on Shark Tank | Christopher Willard via Getty Images Cuban first appeared on the second season of Shark Tank as a guest shark. However, by season 3, he became a main cast member. On the show, Cuban is known for being one of the richest investors, making him highly sought after by entrepreneurs. According to Sharkalytics, he has invested over $19 million into various companies, including Red Dress Boutique and Ten Thirty One Productions. Shark Tank is currently airing its 14th season and Cubans 12th season as a main shark. Mark Cuban does not know if he will stay much longer Mark Cuban opens up to CNNs Chris Wallace about how much longer he plans to be a part of the show Shark Tank. Whos Talking to Chris Wallace? airs on CNN Sundays at 7p E.T https://t.co/owiskEAjS2. pic.twitter.com/Ay2vogBjDh CNN (@CNN) October 8, 2022 Despite Cubans popularity on Shark Tank, the tech mogul is considering a departure from the show. Cuban recently addressed this in an interview with CNNs Chris Wallace. Shark Tank came to me after our live show the other day, and made me promise Id come back for at least one more season, Cuban said. After that, I dont know. Cuban also shared that a big part of this is due to his familys current situation, including the fact that his oldest daughter is now in college. It used to be, when they were all in high school and went to the same two schools, all of our schedules could be worked out together, he explained. But it was more a question of wanting to spend more time with my family. Mark Cuban is working to change the pharmaceutical industry In addition to being with his family, Cuban has been spending a lot of time on his new company, Cost Plus Drugs, which launched in early 2022. With this venture, Cuban hopes to disrupt the pharmaceutical industry and help make medication more affordable for Americans. We started Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company because every American should have access to safe, affordable medicines, Cuban said, according to the companys mission statement. If you dont have insurance or have a high deductible plan, you know that even the most basic medications can cost a fortune. Many people are spending crazy amounts of money each month just to stay healthy. No American should have to suffer or worse because they cant afford basic prescription medications. In May 2022, Cuban also spoke to Showbiz Cheat Sheet about this project, saying, The idea that people have to choose between rent, food, and meds is abhorrent. When Alex [Oshmyansky, co-founder] came to me with the idea of a low-cost pharmacy, I was immediately excited about the opportunity. Together, we designed an approach that we think solves the greatest challenges of medications: pricing and transparency. According to Cost Plus Drugs website, the company currently carries more than 700 of the most commonly prescribed generic medications. Cuban told Showbiz that his goal is for Cost Plus Drugs to have over a thousand by the end of the year. For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, subscribe to Showbiz Cheat Sheets YouTube channel. RELATED: Shark Tank: Mark Cuban Was the Most Bummed Out When This Guest Shark Decided Not to Return Ringo Starr landed the best gig of his career in the early 1960s when he joined The Beatles. The self-deprecating Ringo once said he knew he was no good as a drummer (he was wrong), but he didnt pull any punches after a disastrous show in Montreal. Ringo called it the worst gig of his life, and it was so bad it ruined the city for The Beatles. Beatles drummer Ringo Starr | Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images Ringo Starr and The Beatles were busy in 1964 The Fab Four built their reputation and fan base by playing live. The band performed several residencies in Hamburg, Germany, in 1961 and 1962, and they crisscrossed England when they werent playing Deutschland. The rigorous schedule didnt change when The Beatles added Ringo to the lineup in August 1962. The only difference was they had a hall-of-fame drummer keeping the beat. A year-and-a-half later, in early February 1964, The Beatles got their lucky break on The Ed Sullivan Show. Less than six months after that, the Fab Four played shows in Asia and Australia before returning to North America. The Beatles concerts in Montreal on Sept. 8, 1964, went so poorly that Ringo called it the worst gig of his life, and the band never returned to Quebec, Canada. Ringo said he had the worst gig of his life after receiving death threats before a Beatles concert in Montreal #OTD 1964. The band arrives in San Francisco to begin a tour of the USA & Canada. (These are some tix from the tour.) pic.twitter.com/g2k0MWnhTw The Beatles (@thebeatles) August 18, 2015 RELATED: Ringo Starr Was the Most Approachable of The Beatles Since He Didnt Have Any Pretense Like John and Paul, 1 Musician Once Said The Beatles toured the world during their heyday, but they only spent about 10 hours in Montreal in 1964 and never returned. The Fab Four played two shows in Montreal a matinee and a late show. Ringo said the concerts were the worst gig of my life, writes Michael Seth Starr (no relation) in the Ringo biography With a Little Help. Starr writes that French-Canadian separatists called in death threats aimed at Ringo, claiming he was Jewish (he isnt). Sharpshooters lined the arena in case anything happened. A plainclothes police officer stood near the drum riser. If someone in the audience has a pop at me, what is this guy going to do? Is he going to catch the bullet? Ringo quipped in The Beatles Anthology (per the Montreal Gazette). Ringo and his bandmates were used to the threats. It came with the territory, but this one was different with its sinister overtones, the biographer Starr writes. Once The Beatles took the stage in Montreal, Ringo up on his drum riser purposely turned his cymbals outward toward the audience for whatever little protection that afforded him. Beatles manager Brian Epstein ranted about the f Canadians, reports the Gazette. Once the late show and Ringos worst gig ended, The Beatles rushed to the airport, took off for Florida around 11:45 p.m., and they never returned to Montreal. The Fab Four stopped touring, but Ringo later returned to Montreal Wow what a great night thank you Montreal first gig in Canada. Peace and love. ?????? pic.twitter.com/dC2pdO5KNt #RingoStarr (@ringostarrmusic) September 27, 2022 RELATED: The Beatles Cover So Good Ringo Starr Kissed the Musician Who Played It The Beatles stopped touring altogether less than two years after Ringos worst gig, which might have suited the drummer. The screaming fans drove him crazy since he couldnt hear what he or his bandmates were playing. Still, the poor experience didnt sour him on Montreal. He never persuaded George Harrison to join an All-Starr Band, but Ringo has put together several iterations of his touring groups. Ringo played in Montreal in late September 2022 before two successive coronavirus (COVID-19) diagnoses led to him canceling his tour. Ringo had the worst gig of his life when The Beatles played Montreal. It seems he put that experience behind him while touring with his All-Starr Band. For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, subscribe to Showbiz Cheat Sheets YouTube channel. RELATED: Ringo Starr Once Said He Had a Self-Centered Reason for Loving the Abbey Road Sessions Unsolved Mysteries: Lake Michigan UFO Is Just One of Many Strange Events in the Lake Michigan Triangle Did a UFO really make an appearance above Lake Michigan one night in 1994? According to many people who witnessed the strange event, the answer is yes. Theyve shared their stories in a new episode of the Netflix series Unsolved Mysteries titled Something in the Sky. And it turns out that the strange phenomenon that appeared in the sky nearly 30 years ago is not the only unexplained event in a region some have dubbed the Lake Michigan Triangle. Unsolved Mysteries spotlights the 1994 Lake Michigan UFO incident There was definitely something in the sky that night. What do you think it was? #MichiganUFOUnsolved pic.twitter.com/WQXygsEIis Unsolved Mysteries (@Unsolved) October 18, 2022 RELATED: Have Any of Netflixs Unsolved Mysteries Cases Been Solved? Episode 2 of Unsolved Mysteries Volume 3 focuses on the 1994 Lake Michigan UFO incident. On the night of March 8, dozens of people in western Michigan reported seeing strange lights over Lake Michigan. We were just wondering, have you heard anything about these lights that are flickering up here? It looks like a string of Christmas lights thats way up in the sky, one person who called 911 asked the dispatcher. She was just one of many people who reached out to the police to ask about the lights. Jack Bushong, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service who was on duty that night, also knew hed seen something impossible to explain. But for years, he hesitated to speak out about the incident for fear of professional retribution. Multiple commercial pilots are also said to have reported seeing the lights, though they do not share their stories in the Unsolved Mysteries episode. The UFOs were sighted in an area some call the Lake Michigan Triangle Maritime archaeologists examine a shipwreck in Lake Michigan | Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images For now, the 1994 Lake Michigan UFO event remains unexplained. But its hardly the only unusual incident in the area. In fact, the area of Lake Michigan bounded by Manitowoc, Wisconsin, Ludington, Michigan, and Benton Harbor, Michigan, has been dubbed by some the Lake Michigan Triangle due to the high number of unexplained disappearances and other strange events occurring there. According to Atlas Obscura, numerous ships have been completely lost in that part of the lake. They include schooner Thomas Hume, which vanished without a trace in 1891. There was also the Rosa Belle, which was discovered overturned in 1921, with all 11 of its passengers and crew missing. Shipwrecks arent unusual in the Great Lakes, but missing boats werent the only strange things happening in the Lake Michigan Triangle. In 1950, a Northwest Orient flight carrying 58 people disappeared just north of Benton Harbor. However, there was a storm over Lake Michigan that night. Soon after, some debris from the plane was found, as well as body parts. Experts eventually concluded the plane crashed due to bad weather, WZZM reported. Harder to explain is the case of Captain George R. Donner. He and his crew were sailing through the Lake Michigan Triangle in 1937 when he retreated to his cabin to rest, according to Milwaukee Magazine. Hours later, the captain had yet to reappear. Unable to wake him, the crew broke down the door, which was locked from the inside. But to their surprise, Donner had vanished. There have also been reports of a strange rock formation under the water, which researchers have described as similar to Stonehenge. Unsolved Mysteries director has a theory about the 1994 event Unsolved Mysteries | Netflix 2022 Could the 1994 UFO sightings be connected to the other strange events in the Lake Michigan Triangle? Some people believe there is definitely something odd about the region. That includes Gabe Torres, who directed Something in the Sky. Thats a hotspot, whats called a UFO hotspot, that area around Lake Michigan, Torres told MovieMaker. He went on to speculate that UFOs were drawn to the area because they needed water from the Great Lakes for their aircraft. The Great Lakes are the largest sources of freshwater in North America, he added. So if youre seeing a lot of UFOs and these people report this sort of waterspout going up into it not coming down do these things use water in their travels? Unsolved Mysteries Volume 3 Episodes 1-3 are currently streaming on Netflix. Additional episodes premiere on Oct. 25 and Nov. 1. For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, subscribe to Showbiz Cheat Sheets YouTube channel. RELATED: Unsolved Mysteries: What Happened to Original Host Robert Stack? Ma Anand Sheelas life and actions continue to fascinate the world. The intriguing woman became a follower of the Indian mystic and guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh when she was 21. Sheela rapidly became one of his closest aides, first as his secretary and later as his lover and the official spokesperson of the Rajneesh Movement. Wild Wild Country, a wildly successful 2018 Netflix documentary series, recounts her experience. Surprisingly, nearly 40 years after Rajneeshs betrayal, Sheela is still devoted to him. Heres why. Rajneeshpuram: A cult or way of life? Wild Wild Country tells the tale of Rajneeshpuram, a commune founded by Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh in 80s-rural Oregon. Throughout six episodes, filmmakers Chapman Way and Maclain Way speak with members of the commune, law enforcement officials, and locals of the nearby small town of Antelope, Oregon. Before his death in 1990, spiritual guru Rajneesh gained tens of thousands of followers in India and the West. In 1981, Rajneesh, with the support of Sheela, who eventually became his personal assistant, purchased a property outside the small town of Antelope, Oregon. He moved his cult there, establishing a new town he named Rajneeshpuram. For seven years, Sheela used her considerable talents to build Rajneeshpuram. It covered 64,229 acres and included a fire department, police force, restaurants, malls, townhouses, an airstrip, a public transportation system using buses, a sewage reclamation plant, a reservoir, and a post office with a ZIP code. When members of the commune moved to Oregon, the Antelope locals did not welcome them with open arms. There was instant friction between the free sex Rajneeshees and the conservative Antelope residents. Conflicts escalated at Rajneeshpuram, leading to attempted murder and mass poisoning. Wild Wild Country is a compelling account of the storys progression. The Netflix documentary utilizes archival film and in-depth interviews with Sheela, who effectively ran the commune. Ma Anand Sheela in 1987 | Reto Hugin/RDB/ullstein bild via Getty Images Ma Anand Sheela was sentenced to 20 years in prison At the height of the Rajneeshpuram saga, Sheela was accused of orchestrating a bio-terror attack, which resulted in the Salmonella poisoning of 751. Rajneesh himself blamed Sheela for everything. He accused her of bioterrorism, murder conspiracy, and the theft of almost $500,000 from the Rajneesh Foundation. According to the spiritual guru, everything that had gone wrong for the community was Sheelas fault. He said he was utterly unaware of these wrongdoings. Sheela admitted her guilt in the bio-terror incident. She received a 20-year prison sentence. However, after 39 months in jail, she was released on parole. She is infamous as the former aide of godman Rajneesh but for some, she is also an unlikely feminist icon known for her fiery quips. Meet Ma Anand Sheela. pic.twitter.com/uakxAIUCPX Brut India (@BrutIndia) July 26, 2021 Upon the fall of Rajneeshpuram, Rajneesh relocated to India. There, he reinvented himself as Osho. His spiritual teachings expanded, and he developed several new meditation techniques and exclusively Zen-focused talks. Sheela is still devoted to Bhagwan Rajneesh despite his betrayal Even though Rajneesh abandoned Sheela and branded her a perfect bitch, she says the spiritual guru will always be significant to her. She said to The Guardian, How can ones opinion change because someone said something negative about me? I love the man. I still love him. Sheela also hates it when people refer to Rajneeshpuram as a cult. According to her, the commune gates were always open. Residents could leave if they so wished. To Sheela, dismissing something as a cult is condescending the same as if a racist assumed everyone with dark skin was a bad person. Talking about her experience with Rajneesh, Sheela maintains that she doesnt feel duped. I was there because I wanted to be there, and I would do it again. It was a very powerful creative project, she said. These days, Sheela, who is 72 years old, is known as Sheela Birnstiel after adopting the surname of her late husband, Urs Birnstiel. Shes lived in Switzerland for the past two decades. There, she runs two facilities for the elderly and disabled. RELATED: Revealed: 7 Disturbing Facts That Prove This Cult Is Even More Twisted Than Allison Macks Ruby Left Hand Bull Sanchez holds a binder featuring a photo of the Native American boarding school she attended as a child on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in Mission, S.D., Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. In 1977, a community of like-minded organizations first met in Wheaton, IL. They wanted to replace the prevailing feeling of competitiveness between them with a feeling of collaboration. According to one of the participants, We wanted to be a fraternity, a place to fellowshipto see each other as colleaguesand to profit by getting together. So Accord Network (though it went by a different name) was born. They invited additional agencies that were: Christ-focused Professionally and fiduciarily responsible Relief and development-focused Their vision was that all Christian relief and development professionals and agencies base their initiatives on biblical principles and work to re-engage the Church in holistic ministry among the poor and needy. Each year, HDIs MA in Humanitarian & Disaster Leadership students attend Accords annual conference to grow in knowledge, relationships, and purpose. Weve invited a few of them to share their takeaways following 2022s conference. Their responses show the varied speakers and subjects that impressed them, as well as how God was at work personalizing the messages for each attendee. I was so encouraged by the open and selfless attitudes that leaders and practitioners in the Christian humanitarian field have in their work. No one is seeking their own personal gains or the success of their organization. Rather, there was a unified sense of hope, vision, and dedication to the work. Claire I enjoyed listening to Jayakumar Christian talk about a theology of transformation in the life of the church. I was convicted to change my perspective on humanitarian work; it is not just building projects, but its about serving the poor. We have to first change our hearts in order to impact our community. Morgan My highlight would be hearing people's stories and seeing how passionate they are for the work they are doing. Kirsten Leading lies at the intersection of humble listening and asking the right questions. For those with a healthy soul, leading is inevitable, dangerous, and lies at the intersection of humble listening and asking the right questions. Aligning our work pace with the wellbeing that comes from a relationship with God provides soul life, so that we can in turn be equipped to lead wisely. Esther Several things stood out most to me. First, we need to understand the root cause of poverty because its embedded in peoples spirituality. We cannot promise a sustainable impact without addressing spirituality in a person. We also need to address the worldview of poverty, whether it is in the political, economic or social space; we cannot isolate spirituality from those factors. Second, how do I share the love of God between Monday and Saturday if my focus is on me as an individual? God is actively involved in the world He created and is a relational being. How then can you and I bring the message of transformation to the hurting world? Finally, Dr. Beth Birmingham shared that the faith-based sector has not treated [some] women leaders well and that has caused some faith-driven talent to move to the secular sector. Anonymous [In the faith-based space, women lead just 2 percent of nonprofits larger than $10 million, and whereas larger secular nonprofit boards are led by 40 percent women, for faith-based organizations that statistic is well under 20 percent. Creating Cultures of Belonging: Cultivating Organizations Where Men & Women Thrive, Birmingham/Simard, InterVarsity Press, 2022, 17.] Each student took away something different from the conference, yet they all came away feeling encouraged and motivated. Were grateful for those who spoke, volunteered, and worked behind the scenes to plan and present the event. As Amanda says: A big thank you to The Accord Network for its support and encouragement of HDL students. We learn best practices through our studies and discover more of how to practically apply them through the gracious sharing of experiences by their members. The Better Samaritan blog is produced by the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College, which offers a M.A. in Humanitarian & Disaster Leadership and a Trauma Certificate. To learn more and apply, visit our website Dena Dyer serves as Communications Specialist for Wheatons Humanitarian Disaster Institute. Growing up in a home with a Muslim father and a Christian mother, Iranian American Shirin Taber had a special appreciation for being able to choose what she believed. When she told her dad that she wished everyone back in Iran could have the same freedom, heknowing the harsh reality of the regimesaid it would never happen. Since then, Taber has worked on the cause of international religious freedom, hoping to see the trajectory change in one of the most restrictive countries in the world. And with the current uprising of Iranian women and young people, the American advocate is more optimistic than ever. In Iran, Generation Zwhose grandparents lived through the revolutionhas become particularly emboldened, creative, and strategic, inspired by the impact of movements like #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter. Millennials did their part, Gen X did their part, their parents, but this generation is very unique, Taber said, referencing the viral impact of young activists, including the move to dye Tehrans fountains blood-red. Gen Z is no-nonsense. Theyll just go out tough. The girls, theyll cut their hair, and theyll jump on cars. Iranians eager for reform have held out hope that they could work within the Islamic government, but Taber believes the country has reached a tipping point. Its been a month of protests, spurred by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for not wearing her hijab properly. The viral videos of women cutting their hair symbolize longstanding grievances beyond dress code regulations to womens unequal status in inheritance, marriage, custody, and travel. The political pushback, Taber says, correlates with a growing disillusionment with Islam itself, too. Iranians are spiritually hungry and looking for answers; even with government restrictions on religion, the church continues to grow through Christian teaching coming into the Islamic nation over satellite TV. The women and the youth are driving the house church movement, Taber said. The students are on fire, theyre so resilient, and its happening all over the country, all the major cities. The current global attention around the protests in Iran is also drawing more awareness to the dynamics between gender equity and religious freedomthe central message of Tabers work through her organization Empower Women Media. Ahead of an upcoming forum in Washington, she spoke to CT about how the cry for womens rights relates to freedom of religion and belief in Iran and why Christians should be at the forefront of the cause. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Many of us see the protests around Mahsa Amini as a fight for human rights for women. What does it tell us about the fight for religious freedom? I have had a lot of people say, Wow, Shirin, were finally seeing in Iran what youve been talking about. It was very abstract to people when I would say Iran needs religious freedom. Theyre like, What are you talking about? Its a Muslim country, thats just the way they are. But when they see women now saying, Its not just about a hijab, we want systematic change. We want to topple the regime. We no longer want to live in a one-state religion. We no longer want the state to dictate to us what our faith should look like, how we practice it, how we live it. We want separation of church and state. We want separation of Islam and the state. Now, theyre not saying theyre not going to be Muslim, because some of them still want to be Muslim. They just dont want the state enforcing what it looks like. And that is the definition of religious freedom. Religious freedom is one of many human rights, but it is a pillar because religious freedom correlates with multiple other freedoms like freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom to congregate, freedom to manifest, freedom of art. I mean, theres so many things that are tied. You could even say LGBT is related to religious freedom because it allows you freedom of conscience. Article continues below The thing we have to help Christians understand is freedom of religion is more than religion; its freedom of conscience. Its an issue of the soul. Were not promoting religion per se; were promoting the idea that every human being has their own right to make their decisions regarding matters of faith and belief. As Christians, we can say its a God-given freedom that we can choose him or not choose him. In your own experience and work, how have you seen womens rights and religious freedom go together? I think the turning point for me was after the Arab Spring in 2011. I was really hoping that we would see massive change in the region, we would see womens rights, religious freedom, and open secular societies, and it didnt happen. In fact, ISIS came in, and they attacked. Muslims were attacking Muslims. We saw in many ways these societies were going backwards since the Arab Spring. In 2017, I started reading what other women were writing about the intersection of religious freedom and womens rights, and how these two rights had to work together, but historically, we thought they were different. Womens rights people didnt want to talk to religious freedom people because womens rights people thought religious freedom people were going to try to take away their rights and subjugate women and make them second-class citizens but the research was showing, no, actually if we can work together, we can propel both movements better, because if women have religious freedom in the Muslim world, theres no ceiling on womens rights. In my own work with Empower Women Media, we lead a womens religious freedom media training, and we train women to become religious freedom advocates in the Muslim world. What we learned was women were the best frontline workers for religious freedom. If you sent a woman to speak about religious freedom or advocate for it, the public was way more open to it than if you sent men. If you send men, they think, Oh, he has an agenda, hes from the CIA, hes from the government. But if you send a woman, theyre like, Oh, she sounds like my sister, she sounds like my mom. So thats why Im so passionate about equipping and empowering women as religious freedom advocates in the Muslim world, because its just more accepting, more palatable. People are willing to listen and engage, and it actually shifts their heart. What are the things that you are working toward, praying toward, as next steps after the protest movement thats happening now? What we really need right now is some clear leaders to emerge. There are some leaders that are kind of emerging, but its not like a Nelson Mandela for South Africa. We need some leaders to really emerge and stand strong and be courageous, and then we need people to rally around them and support those leaders, so if the country topples that there will be people to step into that vacuum. Because the worst thing is if the country toppled and someone worse took over. Maybe even more radical like the Taliban or the communists took over We need business people and stakeholders to get ready, to have a plan of action. Article continues below Because thats what we found at Arab Springthere was this big gap, but the countries werent really ready, they were just scrambling to throw together their constitutions. I think we need to demand that its no longer an Islamic state, its no longer a one religion state. We need to demand that they become a democracy. Thats the only way forward. People can be Muslim, but it just cannot be a Muslim state anymore. That would send huge a shockwave all over the Middle East because everyone is watching. The Saudis are watching; the nearby countries, Egypt, Jordan, and these other power brokers are all watching Iran to see what happens. That was going to be my next question. What are the implications for international religious freedom in the rest of the region? I think theyre watching and theyre realizing that [being a Muslim country], it just doesnt work. They really need to be thinking about becoming a true democracy. It doesnt mean they have to give up their faith or religion, but they need separation of church and state. Research shows the countries that have the highest religious freedom have the highest levels of economic prosperity and human rights. The problem is a lot of Muslims are worried theyre going to lose their culture if they give up being a one-religion state, but they dont have to. They need to trust that the culture will stay intact. Yes, there will be some shifts, but it will be better. Whats your outlook given the current protests in Iran? Im very hopeful. I just dont know the timing. The shift is coming. Its kind of like that expression, You cant put the genie back in the bottle. The elephant is in the room. I dont know, whatever idiom you want to use. But women and youth know too much now in Iran. They have too much information about the outside world. The youth culture is becoming more homogenous, they want a lot of the same values, and they want to have the same freedoms. A change is coming, we dont know how brutal it will be, we dont know how many people will be killed, we dont know if its going to happen overnight. Its coming. Do you have a sense of what Christian leaders in Iran are doing now? Theyre not necessarily leading the movement, but theyre right there with the movement, supporting it. Our hope is that if there is a regime change, there will be Christians that are also a part of that governmental change, and maybe some Christians will get some of the posts and theyll get some influence and roles. Its going to be a process; nothing will happen overnight. Iranians still consider themselves Muslim, so its not like overnight its going to be Christians who are in charge of everything. But were hoping that there will be space for Christians at the table, along with Jews, who are historically a big part of Iran also, and the Bahais, whove been very heavily persecuted. What are some ways for Christians to pray and help? There are some really great ministries that you can support financially, pray, and find out what are some projects that we can help theres Mohabat TV thats part of CBN. They have incredible TV programming that goes into Iran, so thats how they do their house churches. They literally watch satellite TV. Theres Elam, which is a ministry that equips pastors and house churches and student ministries. Theres Satellite-7, theres Iran Alive. Of course, theres the Iranian diaspora that is millions of Iranians living in America, Europe, and Canada. We want to encourage them who come to Christ to grow in their faith. Because if the country topples, we want those people to go back and help build the infrastructure and build the communities, build the churches, build businesses, build schools, charities, hospitals. We really need people to give back once the country opens up, so if we can support Iranian Christians in America, disciple, mentor them, when that door opens, we want them to go back and help. Adoptive dad of 3 sons from different moms says culture must dignify birth mothers in a post-Roe era A Colorado man who adopted three children from three different mothers believes society should do more to uplift birth mothers and emphasize what a blessing adoption can be in a post-Roe era. Paul Batura, vice president of communication for the Christian parachurch organization Focus on the Family and author of Chosen for Greatness: How Adoption Changes the World, is the father of three adopted sons. Batura and his wife, Julie, struggled with infertility for four years before the birth of their first adopted son in 2005. The couple adopted two other boys from different birth mothers, who were born in 2010 and 2012, respectively. Their eldest son is 17, and they have two younger sons, ages 10 and 12. Batura said he was hesitant to look into adoption at first despite friends who knew of the couple's desire to start a family recommending the option. He never considered himself an adoptive parent and saw that role as a duty for someone else to fulfill. "But, you know, God opened that door for us, and my wife was enthusiastic about it. And I've learned long ago to lean on her instincts," Batura said in an interview with The Christian Post. A memory that Batura will never forget is the night of the entrust ceremony for the first adoption, where their eldest son's birth mother transferred parental rights to them. As she placed the boy in his adoptive parents' arms, tears fell from her eyes and onto the child's head. "And that really set the tone for me and for my wife going forward, that this was a gift," Batura explained. "She was literally gifting him to us. It really, I think, was an amazing gift and something that we've been grateful for now 17 plus years." Following the advice of Focus on the Family founder Dr. James Dobson, who advised the father against letting the boys find out themselves they were adopted, Batura and his wife ensured the boys knew about the adoption as they grew up. "We probably overdid it in the sense that when we talked about adoption, we talked about it so openly and so regularly that I think maybe all of our kids thought every kid was adopted," Batura joked. The father said that he and his wife were careful to discuss the adoption with their boys in an age-appropriate way, speaking "lovingly" to them about their birth mothers and the night they were born. "'And of all the children in all the world, God chose you for us,'" Batura remembered telling his kids. "Even though we've tried to normalize it, we've had questions from our kids, and they come out here and there," he said. "It sort of just pops up. So we've tried to answer the questions as straightforwardly and honoring as we can." All three birth mothers were unmarried when they chose adoption for their children. With the first birth mother, Batura and his wife communicated with her by email and through phone calls during the adoption process. For their first and third son, the couple maintains communication with their birth mothers. Unlike the other two mothers, their middle son's birth mom chose not to pursue an open adoption. The circumstances surrounding the birth of his second son were unique, according to Batura, as the boy's mother did not learn she was pregnant until the night she gave birth. The mother chose Bethany Christian Services while at the hospital, the same agency that the Baturas had been working with, because of the word "Christian" in the title. She felt she would have trouble raising her son due to a lack of support and wanted to ensure he was raised in a Christian household. Batura and his wife were walking another woman through her pregnancy at the time, who eventually decided not to pursue adoption after having the child. While the parents used Bethany Christian Services for this adoption, their other two sons were adopted through Adoption Choices of Colorado. "So, of course, we're kind of downtrodden and prayed, and literally the next day, we get this call that this young woman had a baby and was looking to make an adoption plan," he said. "Would we be interested? So that's how that all came together." For the other two birth mothers, Batura remembers it was important to them that their sons had a father. Their eldest son's mother was choosing between two families, and she sent the Baturas a questionnaire with nearly 100 questions, asking about their values and typical weekend as a family. "She said, 'In the end, I chose you because I could see that you wanted so much to be a father and were eager to be a dad,'" Batura remembered. "'That's what I want my son to have because I know if he stayed with me, he wouldn't have that.'" The birth mother of the couple's third adoptive son lives in Omaha, Nebraska, and the family maintains communication with her through frequent phone calls, text messages and picture exchanges. Since the Baturas are based in Colorado Springs, the adoptive couple and their children have not been in the same room as their second son's birth mom in 10 years. Batura said his eldest son's birth mother lives in the Golden Colorado area, not far from where they live, and the family sees her at least twice a year. This past summer, Batura said they attended a wedding in Denver where all the guests were friends or relatives of the birth mom. At the wedding, the birth mother of Batura's eldest son introduced the adoptive family to those in attendance, including her friends who had never met her son. "She introduces us by saying, 'This is my son, and these are his parents,'" Batura recalled. "And I just thought that was really sweet. That's affirming to us as adoptive parents and affirming to her as a birth mother." The positive experience the Baturas have had with their eldest son's birth mother is the "root" of their commitment to uplifting women like her, especially in the pro-life sphere, where many want to see women carry their babies to term and not pursue an abortion. The adoptive father believes that society should do more to make adoption more appealing and ensure that women who choose adoption don't feel like "second-class citizens" for their decision. "They shouldn't feel discarded; they should feel honored because they're serving a remarkable role," he said. Batura says a way culture can do more to uplift birth moms is by portraying adoption more in books or movies, which he feels tend to focus on the adoptive family more than the birth mother. While he doesn't believe that telling stories through the adoptive parents' perspective is "ill-intentioned," Batura thinks it can cause people to see the issue solely through the lens of the couple and not the birth mother. Another problem Batura noticed is the tendency to avoid discussing the sacrificial component of adoption. He said relinquishing a child to someone else's care is one of the most "challenging" things someone can do. "We tend to shy away from those tough things," he said. "And there's probably some judgment in that." The father of three said he has seen people, particularly on social media, assume women who choose adoption are "unqualified" and made too many mistakes to be parents. "Well, you know what? So have us all, and we've all made mistakes. We've all fallen short," he said. "And I just think we need to give an ordinate amount of grace." "Most of it, I think, is not intentional. I think most of it is just one-sided because it's the pop culture's portrayal of adoption." As the Adoption Network reports, about 135,000 children are adopted in the United States annually, with experts estimating that between 1 million and 2 million couples are waiting to adopt. A 2017 study published in Women's Health Issues found that one week after a certain group of women were denied an abortion, 14% of 231 reported plans to pursue adoption or to consider the option. The study also found that most women who received abortions knew about adoption but opted to terminate the pregnancy. "Among women motivated to avoid parenthood, as evidenced by abortion seeking, adoption is considered or chosen infrequently," the study's conclusion reads. "Political promotion of adoption as an alternative to abortion is likely not grounded in the reality of women's decision making." The analysis used data from the Turnaway Study, which assessed the effects having an abortion and being denied one can have on women's mental health. The study was widely criticized by pro-life researchers for its low participation rate and overreaching conclusions. Batura thinks some women may choose abortion over adoption because many feel like they're in a "crisis" situation, or the decision may be the result of pressure from their boyfriends. He attributed the problem to the fact that today's world is an "instantaneous society," where everything can be resolved quickly. "It's an overwhelming idea to carry a child to term and then relinquish it," he said. "I don't think many [women] have been given a vision of how great it can be and how loving it can be and then how involved they can continue to be in their child's life." Brian Houston announces big night of preaching, praying ahead of court case Weeks before he is set to face charges in an Australian court for allegations that he concealed his fathers child sex abuse, Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston announced that he and his wife, Bobbie, will have a big night of preaching and fellowship in their home base next month and urged their followers to join them in their return to a local stage. The announcement comes as the defiant preacher returned to Australia fresh off a six-week tour of preaching in the U.S., where he declared he still has "so much more" to give at 68. Well, big hello. Bobbie and I are excited because on November the 9th, its a Wednesday evening, were going to have a night called an evening with Brian and Bobbie. Its just all about connection, fellowship, community, Houston began in a 34-second video announcing the event on Facebook Monday. And of course, Bobbie will share some thoughts. As always, Im sure there will be a prophetic energy to that. Im gonna preach a message, pray for people, he added. Wed really love to see you come, so come along and, of course, well also be livestreamed on all available platforms. So dont miss the night. Were really looking forward to it. The event, billed as An Evening With Bobbie and Brian, is set to be held at the Pioneer Theatre in Sydney's Castle Hill, which seats approximately 350 people. Houston said tickets for the initial event were all gone in less than two hours so they decided to add a second session to accommodate more people who would like to connect with them in-person. Houston initially stepped down from the boards of the Australia-based global megachurch he founded in 1983 last September after he was charged with allegedly "concealing child sex offenses." Hillsong Church announced in January that Houston stepped down from his role at the church's helm for all of 2022 as he faced criminal charges related to allegations he concealed sex abuse committed by his father decades earlier. The megachurch founder has denied wrongdoing. He completely resigned from the church on March 23 after Hillsong Church said he violated the church's pastoral code of conduct by entering the hotel room of an unidentified woman for 40 minutes while under the influence of alcohol and prescription drugs during the church's annual conference in 2019. Houston doesn't recall having sex with the woman, and the woman did not say if they had sex. Interim Global Senior Pastor Phil Dooley said their accounts of what happened are not entirely reliable because they were impaired by alcohol. Houston was also reportedly under the influence of anxiety medication. In a second incident, Houston is said to have exchanged an "inappropriate text message" with a staffer in 2013. According to Dooley, the text message was "along the lines of, 'If I was with you, I would like to give you a kiss and a cuddle or a hug.'" The staffer resigned shortly after. Hillsong Church blamed Houston's actions in this case on "sleeping tablets." Multiple sexual and financial misconduct allegations by other pastors in the U.S. and Australia under Houston's leadership have also emerged in recent years. In an Aug. 22 message billed as "A Legacy That Outlasts You" delivered at the Christian Faith Center in Seattle, Washington, Houston stated that setbacks and failures in life shouldn't define someone's legacy. "Legacy can take a lifetime to build and we can damage it. We can dent it in just a moment. And the thing about legacy is it never comes without a few twists and curves," he said. Last month, at the end of his preaching tour in the U.S., Houston asked his supporters to pray for him as he faces the pending court case. Well we are still here and mostly smiling. Weve had a wonderful last 6 weeks in USA and Ive preached in 8 cities in that time. Weve had so much wonderful time with pastor couples and we are feeling the love, he wrote in a Sept. 26 Facebook post. We miss the congregation at Hillsong Church enormously and hopefully well have the chance to tell our story sometime soon. The body of Christ at large have proved themselves to be just that. Grace-filled, loving and overwhelmingly supportive. Pray for me with a court case looming. Love and grace to you all. Louisiana minister admits to defrauding churchgoers, school of nearly $900K A prominent Baptist minister in Louisiana has pled guilty in federal court to defrauding his church, a school and others of approximately $889,000. He could be sentenced to as much as a decade in prison. The Rev. Charles Southall III, the 64-year-old pastor of the First Emanuel Baptist Church in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, pled guilty to one count of money laundering on Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Jay Zainey of the Eastern District of Louisiana. According to a U.S. Department of Justice announcement, Southall "defrauded FEBC and some of its members in several ways." The pastor is accused of using donations and tithes for personal expenses, diverting around $150,000 of income from the rental of properties owned by his church and its affiliated housing ministries for personal use and diverting funds from a financial account for the Spirit of Excellence Academy to his personal use. "In total, SOUTHALL improperly caused approximately $537,805.51 of profit from the sale of FEBC-owned real properties located on Amelia Street, Fourth Street, and Baronne Street to be diverted to SOUTHALL'S personal benefit improperly and without authorization," the DOJ statement reads. "In total, between about September 2013 and September 2017, SOUTHALL improperly caused approximately $85,351.97 of the funds paid to Person A by Spirit of Excellence Academy to be diverted to SOUTHALL'S personal benefit and use." Southall and others created the Spirit of Excellence Academy to offer a charter school in New Orleans and received grant funding to launch a similar school in Baton Rouge in 2013. However, the Baton Rouge school never opened. Under state law, charter school board members are prohibited from receiving compensation for providing services to the school other than reimbursements of expenses. When combining all of his alleged indiscretions, the Justice Department estimates that Southall "obtained approximately $889,565.86 through his fraudulent schemes." As part of his plea, Southall agreed to pay restitution, including $85,351.97 to Spirit of Excellence Academy "or its designee," $687,805.51 to FEBC, $10,000 to one unnamed victim and another $106,408.38 to a second unnamed victim. Sentencing for Southall is scheduled to take place on Jan. 17, 2023. The pastor faces the possibility of up to 10 years in prison, as much as three years of supervised release, a maximum fine of $250,000 and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. Southall addressed his legal situation in a video posted to his Facebook account on Tuesday evening. He disputed some of the reporting on his plea agreement. "It was not money laundering, at all," Southall insisted. "It was something that went against the banking laws that I plead to. Because they said it was illegal for me to move money from an account that I have to an account that I have." "That plea was basically all that I had to go forth with the judge. The judge accepted it, and it was called a plea deal simply because they had a whole lot of other stuff that went away, simply because a lot of it was untrue." Southall said it was a "very difficult day for my family, my friends, my loved ones and my church," adding that "according to the law, I made some missteps." He said he is "remorseful" for those errors. "But I accepted the responsibility that they said when I moved the money from an account that I have to an account that I have that it was wrong," he continued. "I did not think it was, but it went against federal banking laws." "I am sorry for whatever I may have done that caused me to be in this position." Southall asked viewers to keep his family and congregation in their prayers. "God's got this, and when God has it, we need to keep our hands off of it," he said. In September, Southall was charged with one count of money laundering, which alleged that the pastor improperly transferred $100,000 to a personal investment account in March 2020. According to the bill of information regarding the money laundering count, Southall is to forfeit a 2017 Mercedes Benz and around $100,000 in "proceeds contained in JP Morgan investment" held in his name. Xinjiang prospers with peaceful human rights environment 10:28, October 19, 2022 By Muhammad Zamir Assadi ( People's Daily Online Islamic school in Xinjiang offers anti-extremism courses to imams P My Country The United Nations Human Rights Council have rejected a Xinjiang-related draft decision tabled by the United States and some other countries here at the 51st session of the Human Rights Council. When the outcome of the vote was shown on the big screen, loud applause was heard at the conference hall of Palais des Nations in Geneva. Envoys of some member countries of the council congratulated Chinese diplomats there on the voting result. Although the United States deliberately packaged the draft decision, and together with a handful of other Western countries added pressure on other members, the draft decision was rejected by most member countries, especially developing countries. The U.S.-led attempts ended with failure. The dramatically significant development of the pluralistic and diverse region of Chinas Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region has dismissed the propaganda peddled by Western elements, who have never visited this fascinating land. The narratives pushed forward by some elements in the West, including media outlets, think tanks and officials, do not match the pace of development in the region. Since Oct 1, 1955, the day when Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region was established under the visionary leadership of the Communist Party of China, it opened up a new chapter of historical development in the region. In the last 65 years, Xinjiang has maintained a pace of peaceful and sustainable development that not only provided prosperous lives to the local residents, but also laid the solid foundation of an international trade relationship with other countries. Following the implementation of the policies formulated by the governments to meet the needs of the locals, splendid results from its remarkable development have been witnessed on various fronts in the region. The tranquility of the region and the dedication of the people shows that all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are treated equally and have fully enjoyed the rights to life and progress. The false accusations levelled by specific groups are only an ideological prejudice that reflects their shallow-minded approach, and who do not want to praise the efforts of the Chinese leadership and commitment of the people for evolving the region as a hub of economic development. Those elements involved in spearheading the misleading accusations must keep in mind that China always remained consistent in implementation of its policies for the betterment of people, so the efforts of those agenda-driven elements will badly fail. The resources and energies allocated by those elements against China are a futile exercise and always will be responded with more prosperity, unity and contentment. Although China faced biased and manipulated criticism from some foreign elements, the region did not lose its path of development and prosperity and remained committed to its agenda of progress. The people from various ethnicities in the region, under the collective guidance of CPC and the national leadership, worked hard in unity and forged ahead with determination in achieving the goal of modern construction. The recent data shows that, in the first eight months of 2022, Xinjiangs foreign trade exceeded 145.5 billion yuan, with an increase of 49.6 percent yearly. The country has established 55 national-level opening-up and industry development platforms in Xinjiang, including the economic development zones of Kashgar and Horgos. Meanwhile, Xinjiang has established cooperative economic relationships with 190 countries and regions. Outbound investment from Xinjiang has involved more than 60 countries and regions, according to Mao Hui, deputy director of the regional development and reform commission. Foreign trade levels of northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region soared 49.6 percent year on year to nearly 145.6 billion yuan (about 21 billion U.S. dollars) from January to August this year. It was also said the region has eliminated absolute poverty, with some 3.06 million people lifted out of poverty in the past five years. The economic data shows that the economy of the region has grown rapidly with comprehensive strength substantially increasing, and the construction of infrastructure has recorded smooth growth while the environment for investment and development is improving with the passage of the time. With the efforts of the central and provincial government, Xinjiang is thriving and flourishing by responding to the false claims made by a Western mind set and have been maintaining a momentum of smooth development. By keeping in mind the development of the region, the interference of the US in Xinjiang affairs is clear fascism as the government has mobilized all of its resources to provide prosperous lives to local citizens equally and transparently for all the ethnicities. To understand the various dynamics for development in China and especially in Xinjiang, it is necessary for the critics to visit the region, as Beijing has multiple times offered visits to this marvelous land. The Chinese central government has many times arranged visits by journalists, scholars, academicians and others to experience on-the-ground practical situation of the ethnicities. The people who have visited the region have always admired the pace of development in the region under the policies driven by the CPC. By visiting the land, you become aware of the genuine facts regarding the prosperity of the region achieved under the leadership of the CPC. Xinjiang has attracted the attention of millions from around the world following its transformation from a backward region to a progressive one. Leading the people of the region, the CPC made significant achievements, while also experiencing many twists and turns. The resilience of all ethnicities in China has won the applause of those who have visited the second-largest economy in the world and it is very sure that journey of the nation for securing glory and great renewal will be constant by availing all the opportunities of cherishing peace. Source: mycountry.com.pk (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Hongyu) The MAGA we need urgently (part 1) Since Nimrod at least, mighty hunters before the Lord (Genesis 10:9) have been promising people some form of the New Jerusalem. The result usually has not been the heavenly City but hellish Babylon empires and social systems ruled over, not by God and His transcendent majesty, but by sin-corrupted petty pretenders who mistake raw power for authentic authority. Sometimes those mighty hunters go prowling for votes. They contrive little jingles describing the characteristics of their New Jerusalem. John C. Fremont was near messianic when in 1856, he campaigned on the slogan: Free soil, Free labor, Free men, and Fremont. Franklin D. Roosevelt was going to give us the New Deal, and one of his acolytes, John F. Kennedy in 1960 promised to take us to the New Frontier. Lyndon Johnson heralded the Great Society he was going to construct, and Richard Nixon ironically in 1968 promised to be The One, but Gerald Ford just a few years later would make us Proud Again. Now we have Joe Bidens promise to lead us to Build Back Better, and Donald Trumps ongoing challenge to Make America Great Again MAGA. The true MAGA should be Make America Godly Again. But there is danger here if the politicians get hold of that slogan. I am one, and I understand how it can become an effort to enforce godliness as law, or just one more fancified hype. The early American Colonies revealed how abusive that can be. Thus Make America Godly Again should be the goal of the heart of candidates and voters, not well-paid political consultants, and analysts. Then there is still the question: When was America ever godly? While America has its high and inspiring moments, neither the United States nor any other nation has demonstrated a godly character consistently in the worlds history. However, especially in its beginnings, America experienced outbreaks of godliness that have brought blessing to itself and the world. The concept of covenant was at the heart of Americas founding. Samuel Rutherford, a 17th-century Scottish theologian and statesman, brought the notion of covenant into civil governance through in his book, Lex Rex (The Law of the Prince). Based on Romans 13, Rutherford showed that rulers are to be in covenant with God because it is He Who grants them authority to rule. One of the greatest crises of our time is that many in charge dont know the difference between raw power and true authority. When the understanding and application of covenant is lost all that is left is the assumption that human potentates are absolute. The Mayflower Compact, written on November 11, 1620, is considered as Americas first great constitutional document, write Marshall Foster and Mary Elaine Swanson in The American Covenant, published by the Mayflower Institute. The Compact brought the covenant concept into functional application for the highest form of governance. Andrew McLaughlin (1961-1947) was a historian who probed the worldview of Americas founders, as a professor of history at the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago as well as president of the American Historical Association, McLaughlin was exceptionally qualified to write Foundations of American Constitutionalism. There he noted that the word, covenant and its significance appears over and over again in the study of the nations constitutionalism. Donald S. Lutz and Charles S, Hyneman, in a comprehensive search of the sources that most influenced the worldview of Americas founders, and most often quoted by them, was the Bible and/or literature arising from it. There, the founders would have read Deuteronomy 7:9, where Moses proclaimed, Know without any doubt and understand that the Lord your God, He is true God, the faithful Who is keeping His covenant and His steadfast lovingkindness to a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments. Despite the secularizing frenzy of our time, make America great again cannot be done without leading America to be godly again. It is leadership in the character of Christ, not theocratic authoritarianism, which can accomplish that. We can quibble about all this as long as we want, but we will be nothing more than Nero fiddling while his city burns all around him. Few phenomena reveal the depths to which we have sunk but that Joe Biden and Donald Trump are hailed by various groups as the best weve got. This Is a good moment to remember words from Samuel Adams one of Americas founding statemen: Let divines and philosophers, statesmen and patriots, unite their endeavors to renovate the age, by impressing on people the importance of educating their little boys and girls, of inculcating in the minds of youth the fear and love for the Deity and universal philanthropy, and in subordination to these great principles the love of their country; of instructing them in the art of self-government, without which they can never can be a wise part in the government of societies, great or small; in short of leaving them in the study and practice of exalted virtues of the Christian system. The bottom line: it is either the New Jerusalem or the decayed Babylon. At the moment, it seems we have chosen Babylon, whether left or right, Democrat or Republican. Michael Polanyi wrote: The pursuit of discovery is guided by sensing the presence of a hidden reality toward which our clues are pointing. For America to be great again we must look deeper than slogans and seek the hidden reality. America cannot be great again by Gods standards until it has become godly again in its core worldview and values. What Dennis Prager got wrong about transgender identity For more than 30 years, Dennis Prager has been one of the leading conservative voices in America. In particular, with devastating clarity, he has exposed the destructive illogic of the Left, often leaning on the wisdom of the Bible to inform his expositions. But in his recent article dealing with transgender identity, my esteemed colleague and friend missed the mark badly. (I sent this to him before posting it publicly.) The article in question was titled, Why Does the Bible Say Neither Sex May Wear the Clothing of the Other Sex?, discussing the biblical prohibition on crossdressing in Deuteronomy 22:5. Prager stated that this was an extraordinarily important Torah law, since it pointed to the Torah distinction between male and female, one of the most fundamental distinctions in the Scriptures. He noted (quite accurately), In the Torahs views, these distinctions reflect Gods design and therefore a Designer. In the biblical worldview, recognition of this design makes civilization possible. The demise of these distinctions would mean the end of civilization as we know it. I could not have said it any better or with any more clarity. As for Deuteronomy 22:5, he wrote, The most recent distinction to be erased is the subject of this Torah law: the distinction between male and female. Its purpose is to maintain this distinction. How we dress is the most obvious way we declare our sex. This would apply, then, to a man who is clearly and indisputably male who dresses like a woman (or vice versa). As an example of this, Prager pointed to 2014 Eurovision winner Thomas Neuwirth, a bearded Austrian man, who performed under the name Conchita Wurst. So far so good. Where Prager errs, quite drastically and surprisingly, is when he writes, an individual who identifies as a member of the other sex (transgender or transsexual), appears to be a member of that sex, takes on a name associated with that sex, and dresses as a member of that sex is not necessarily blurring the distinction God made. The individual who truly feels estranged from his or her biological sex is to be given sympathy, not condemnation. If that person does not publicly blur the male-female distinction, that person would not appear to be violating this law. To be sure, we should show compassion to those who are genuinely confused about their gender identity. Absolutely. But it is absurd to think that a bearded man who dresses like a woman has violated the Torah while a biological male who does his best to destroy biological reality and transform himself into a woman has not violated Torah law. Really now, which is a greater assault on the fundamental distinctions established at creation by God? A man dressing up like a woman, or a man claiming that gender is a mental perception rather than a biological reality? The former makes a mockery of the male-female distinction. The latter seeks to obliterate that distinction entirely. How about a woman surgically removing the healthy breasts God gave her, then mutilating her private parts and getting a male-looking add-on, then taking hormones for life that will daily fight against her God-given femaleness, now claiming to be a man? How is that not infinitely worse (and more in violation of Gods design) than that same woman crossdressing? Not only so, but transgender ideology declares an all-out war on male-female distinctions, with ridiculous claims such as, Men can menstruate too or, Women can have penises; or, Men can get pregnant. Indeed, some have advocated for the term chestfeeding rather than breastfeeding so as not to discriminate. Isnt it transgender ideology that has popularized concepts such as gender fluid, non-binary, and omnigender, just to name a few? What is this if not an assault on male and female He created them? This is cultural madness. This is the very articulation of the chaos that Prager decries. To quote my friend again, The demise of these distinctions would mean the end of civilization as we know it. It is happening in front of our eyes, with transgender ideology helping to lead the way. As podcaster Joe Rogan noted (while speaking with Tulsi Gabbard), I mean, with wokeness you can identify as a woman, you get to use the female restroom like okay, but what is it? Whats a woman? You know, can a man get pregnant? Okay, well, what is it, can a biological male get pregnant? And then people panic and they start, the people that identify as a woman are capable of being pregnant and people that identify as a male are capable of also being pregnant. Like, what are you saying? He continued, . . . it doesnt mean you cant have trans people. It doesnt mean that youre not denying anyones existence either, they exist. However, if you want to be pregnant, you must be a biological female. This is science. This is something that we have all studied and looked at and observed. . . Its no getting around it. If you want to breed, if you want the egg in the womb, if you want the whole thing to happen, the uterus, the baby. Thats a woman. Just because you have a [expletive] beard because youre taking testosterone, youre still a woman, like this is crazy. This is common sense talking. This is a reminder of reality. Interestingly, some of the most vocal voices against transgender identity are feminists (including many lesbian feminists), since they rightly understand that if a biological male can identify as a female, then the category of female no longer has any real meaning. (For more on this, see the book Female Erasure: What You Need To Know About Gender Politics' War on Women, the Female Sex and Human Rights.) And what shall we say about the assault on children, where in the name of compassion, 10-year-olds are given drugs that could sterilize them for life and girls as young as 13 are having full mastectomies? Is this not a direct assault on Gods design? Is this not a terribly misguided attempt to deny male and female He created them? Thousands of cells continue to shout out, I am male or I am female no matter how many drugs are taken and how many surgeries are performed. Yet sex-change surgery and radical hormone treatments are a less serious Torah offense than simply crossdressing? Prager ends his article stating, How God regards an individual who is convinced he or she is living in the wrong body is not addressed here. I believe God both has standards (that we never blur the male-female distinction) and compassion (for those few individuals who do not identify with their biological sex), and so should we. It would have been far better to say, While having compassion on those who are confused and pained over their gender identity, we must never affirm transgender ideology, since it undermines the male-female distinction. Dennis, please do reconsider your position (Proverbs 1:5a). Former director of Episcopal nonprofit accused of stealing $1.4 million The former leader of an Episcopal nonprofit insurance corporation based in Pennsylvania is being investigated after an audit found that he misappropriated over $1.4 million from the fund. John Miller, who previously served as executive director and treasurer of the Clergy Assurance Fund, is the subject of an investigation over his alleged mishandling of funds. The Clergy Assurance Fund referred the allegations against Miller to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office, according to the Episcopal News Service. The Rt. Rev. Daniel Gutierrez, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, said in a statement quoted by ENS that he was disappointed and devastated to learn of this potential fraud. Fortunately, it did not impact those who were seeking funds from CAF. I trust that the justice system will come to the correct resolution on this, Bishop Gutierrez stated. Last week, an Anglican Communion publication called The Living Church published a report documenting the allegations against Miller, which stem from earlier this year. The Living Church obtained a July 11 letter written by Clergy Assurance Fund Vice President James L. Pope, which claimed that from January 2016 to March of this year, Miller made duplicates of death benefit payments using fraudulent checks, some of which contained the forged signature of the vice president of Clergy Assurance Fund. He paid the checks to himself and deposited them in his checking account in the total amount of $1,425,400. In addition, he had used the credit card for numerous personal expenditures, totaling $20,363, continued the letter. The approximately $20,000 in credit card expenses included $11,433 for personal healthcare expenses, as well as $8,930 for Uber rides and transportation, according to the letter. Pope went on to explain in the letter that, despite the over $1.4 million that was taken, the fund was still very well-funded, being able to fully and promptly comply with all requests for policy death benefits from beneficiaries, as well as provide its wellness and other grants as it has before. The fund was originally created in 1769, before the official founding of The Episcopal Church, and was originally known as The Widows Corporation. The corporation changed its name to Clergy Assurance Fund in 2019 to reflect a broader scope of its ministry work, which has since gone beyond just looking after the widows of clergy. Parents offer advice on fighting back against gender indoctrination as schools become ground zero Two years ago, the 13-year-old daughter of January Littlejohn stepped inside her mom's car and told her that earlier that day, she'd had a meeting with school staff who were affirming her new "gender identity" and asked which restroom she preferred to use. Unbeknownst to this Florida mom, two school officials and a social worker she'd never met had completed a six-page document called a transgender and gender nonconforming support plan for her daughter, who wanted to identify as transgender. In this plan, which also asked her daughter which sex she preferred to room with on overnight field trips, it was discussed that her daughter would be referred to by her real name in correspondence with her parents, but she would be secretly referred to by her newly made up name at school among her teachers, staff and friends. Upon discovering that she and her husband's parental rights were being undermined, Littlejohn filed a lawsuit against the school district. The case is being handled by her attorney Vernadette Broyles. Littlejohn's story is one among many featured in The Christian Post's new five-part investigative podcast series Generation Indoctrination: Inside the Transgender Battle, with new episodes being released on Fridays. Tiffany Justice, co-founder of the group Moms for Liberty, who, together with tens of thousands of moms, is working to empower parents to reclaim their rights, served as a school board member from 2017-2020 in Indian River County, Florida. We deal with moms almost every day whose children are either captured in some way by gender identity indoctrination or gender dysphoria or schools that are intervening in really inappropriate ways with children outside the consent and knowledge of parents, she told this reporter. "Ill be the first one to tell you, my child does not need a sexual spirit guide," Justice added. "I birthed that child, I carried them, Ive raised them, I breastfed them, and I know them better than anyone else. Thats what American parents are saying: I love my child, I accept them as who they are, but stop messing with my kids and putting ideas into their heads because you went through something in your life and are living vicariously through kids." As awareness of the extent of the systematic inculcation of postmodern gender identity dogma into young, impressionable minds grows, parents are increasingly raising their voices and taking action. Clint and Erin Thomas of Loudoun County are two parents interviewed in episode one of this series. They recount how teachers asked students, including their daughters, to declare their "preferred pronouns" on the first day of school. But when Clint called the school and relayed that this was unacceptable, he was promised that it would be corrected and was told that teachers had taken a new policy too far. That policy is LCPS board-approved policy 8040, which allows students to be addressed by self-selected pronouns and use opposite-sex restrooms. Still today, the Thomases have heard countless examples of these overtly ideological practices taking place in local schools. In an interview with CP on Monday, Erin Thomas said what is happening in the educational arena is tantamount to cult indoctrination and the ideological grooming of children. The internet, and specifically social media, are the sources of the cult and schools are the vehicle to get this done. It goes against every moral fiber of our being. Thats why were fighting this, she said. The Thomases are among 11 plaintiffs that have filed a parental rights lawsuit against LCPS, resisting the indoctrination of children. Listen to episode one of 'Generation Indoctrination: Insider the Transgender Battle' While Loudoun County is ground zero for this, its happening all across the country. We wont lie to our kids, or any other kid for that matter, about their God-given sex. This is a hill we will die on, Thomas continued, adding that she hopes the CP podcast series spreads the word so that people truly understand the underbelly and the tentacles of this beast. This is a now-moment, a call to action to join the fight to protect our children. Complacency is partnering with the enemy. Our childrens future depends on it. It is the sex-denialism that is especially troubling many people, religious and non-religious alike. "Generation Indoctrination" podcast contributor Amy Sousa, who has a masters degree in depth psychology and has done post-graduate work in the same field, is a vocal critic of transgender ideology, particularly how it breaks down the boundaries of children at a time when youth are learning how to set those boundaries. When we look at the underlying values of those who want to have un-sexed, unmoored-from-their-bodies identities, ultimately we are looking at a value set of dismemberment and dissociation, cognitive dissonance, and objectification and commodification of bodies, Sousa explains in the podcast. These things are antithetical to being embodied, she stressed, and to have safeguarding and bodily autonomy and boundaries around your body, you have to know the difference between bodies. Both curriculum content and policies that allow for the invasion of single-sex private spaces like locker rooms and restrooms are fueling this dissociation in young people, and it constitutes a safeguarding and boundary-setting failure, she added. Perhaps most troublingly, the furtherance of the gender ideology in the schools is often the first place in the pipeline toward gender clinics, medical centers that administer experimental hormone blockers to halt natural puberty, synthetic cross-sex hormones, and medically unnecessary body-disfiguring surgeries in order to appear as the opposite sex. Parent advocate Natassia Grover of Loudoun County recounted in the first episode of the podcast that she attended a January 2019 panel at a library in Washington, D.C., in which feminist activists were speaking out about these issues. During the Q&A, a 19-year-old girl who identified herself as a lesbian stood up and shared her story. According to Grover, this young woman recalled how she had been indoctrinated in and had graduated from the Loudoun County school system, and by age 18, she had undergone a double mastectomy. But she soon realized that it did not resolve her mental distress, and she detransitioned. Once she did, however, all of her LGBT friends sometimes referred to as a glitter family abandoned her since she no longer adhered to their transgender-affirming worldview. Littlejohn concluded with advice to moms and dads who often freeze in panicked fear when their child identifies as transgender: What I will tell you from personal experience is these children do not understand many times what they are asking for or what they are stating. They are simply regurgitating propaganda that they have been taught, she said. You have to parent this issue and set healthy, appropriate boundaries just like you would in any other situation. Episode two in CPs five-part podcast series will explore the corruption of medical ethics and how gender ideology has swept through the healthcare system, highlighting the corporate medias power in this arena. Detransitioners slam trans agenda in schools: 'Children deserve better' A group of detransitioners spoke at a recent school board meeting in California amid concerns about public schools exposing students to gender ideology, warning that such content increases the likelihood that minors will rush to embrace irreversible decisions to their longterm detriment. Three young adults who formerly identified as trans spoke at a school board meeting for the Conejo Valley Unified School District in Ventura County, California, last week. Chloe Cole, an 18-year-old woman who has launched a support group for individuals who have come to regret undergoing gender transitions called Detrans United, was among three detransitioners who told their stories to the school board at a recent meeting. Detrans United shared their testimonies on its Twitter account Thursday, noting that the purpose of their remarks was to voice our concerns about their policies that allow confused children to come to harm. Cole indicated on her Twitter account that the distribution of a book introducing 8-year-olds to the word transgender was the primary reason she decided to call into the school board meeting. A couple of days ago, @OfficialAbelG, @catcattinson, and @ChoooCole spoke back to back at a @ConejoValleyUSD school board meeting to voice our concerns about their policies that allow confused children to come to harm. WATCH BELOW pic.twitter.com/3FN86Za45w Detrans United (@Detrans_United) October 13, 2022 Cole shared screenshots of the book, titled Call Me Max, which declared that although transgender is a long word, it means something simple. The book laid out how trans means going across while gender means being a boy or girl or a little of both. Another page of the book adds, When a baby is born, a grown-up says, ITS A BOY! or ITS A GIRL! Call Me Max embraced the idea that trans-identified children know that they were born in the wrong body from birth: If a brand-new baby could talk, sometimes that baby might say, NO IM NOT! When a baby grows up to be transgender, it means that the grown-up who said they were a boy or a girl made a mistake. Will be calling in to give my public comment at a Conejo Valley USD board meeting. The meeting is at 6PST and I could be allowed my two minutes as late as 6:45PST. This was reading material given to an 8 year old student w/o parental consent. LINK>https://t.co/hH0IPzag06pic.twitter.com/l8wym6GBNZ Chloe Cole ?? (@ChoooCole) October 12, 2022 The school board meeting that Cole and the two other detransitioners called into was held on Oct. 11, which coincided with National Coming Out Day, an occasion that encourages LGBT youth to come forward about their sexual identities. One speaker addressed National Coming Out Day in her remarks. Growing up, I hated dresses and skirts. I hit puberty at 9 years old and I hated my developing breasts, Cole recalled. I hated growing into a woman. I didnt identify at all with the women around me. Cole explained that her discomfort with her biological sex led her to decide that she wanted to become a boy. She began socially transitioning by adopting a boys name for herself, cutting her hair and wearing boys clothes. My parents were supportive but they werent sure what to do with me, so they sought the help of mental professionals who manipulated them into allowing me to do whatever I wanted to do with myself, Cole said. She began to take puberty blockers at age 13, and had her breasts amputated at age 16. Cole lamented the lack of time between her initial referral to receive the double mastectomy and the surgery itself, which amounted to six months. Very quickly, I was given what I wanted but it was far from what I needed. Two years later, I was still suffering from major complications, she added. While Cole did not specify when exactly she began to regret taking significant steps to change her gender, she elaborated on the longterm consequences of her hasty decisions. I will not be able to breastfeed any children I have in the future and my sexuality has permanently been affected because I was allowed to make adult decisions starting at 13, and then again at 15. This is what happens when children are sexualized and exposed to developmentally inappropriate and confusing content and ideas from a young age. This is what happens when we treat children like adults and expect them to have the mental faculties for proper long-term decision making. Cole concluded her testimony with a message to the school board: You are placing children in direct harm. Children deserve better. A round of applause followed Coles remarks. After Cole finished speaking, another detransitioner, Cat Cattinson, began to outline her concerns about gender ideology in public schools in remarks delivered via telephone: I was introduced to gender ideology when I was 13 years old. I began identifying as the opposite sex, a man, and believing this negatively affected me for the next 15 years. For the record, coming out as gay is entirely different than coming out as another gender, she suggested. Cattinson condemned surgeons who are performing mastectomies on underage girls, saying it's an irreversible procedure that will prevent this person from ever breastfeeding. In addition to her status as a detransitioner, Cattinson used her experience as a molecular biologist to dismiss the central idea of gender ideology. Cattinson added: Humans cannot change sex. Its impossible and trying to appear as the opposite sex comes with significant health risks such as infertility, osteoporosis and many more as well. Puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgeries are irreversible. As her remarks came to a close, Cattinson contended that there is a serious lack of quality research that any of these interventions improve mental health or prevent suicide in the long term. Like Cole, Cattinsons remarks drew a round of applause. Abel Garcia, a male detransitioner, also addressed the board to speak out against the push that they are doing right now to our children with the transgender ideology. Garcia stressed that we cannot expect children as young as they are right now to believe that they can change their sex with cross-sex hormones and irreversible surgeries. Garcia detailed how he had breast implants at age 21. Implying that he did not have the maturity to make such a decision, the detransitioner told the board: I cannot expect a child, a high school male or elementary child, to understand the full extent of damages that will be done to their bodies if an adult like myself wasnt able to. For her part, Conejo Valley Unified School District Trustee candidate Lisa Powell insisted in a Twitter post shortly after the board meeting concluded that CA state law requires schools to support and affirm transgender students. As a trustee, I will support and affirm our transgender students not only because its the law, but because its the right thing to do, she vowed. CA state law requires schools to support and affirm our transgender students. As a trustee, I will support and affirm our transgender students - not only because it's the law, but because it is the right thing to do. Lisa Powell (@Powell4CVUSD) October 12, 2022 At the previous school board meeting on Sept. 20, a parent slammed the Conejo Valley Unified School District for its response to a seventh-grade boy masturbating in class. She attributed his inappropriate behavior to the school districts sex education curriculum. Conejo Valley USD board member justifies a 7th grader MASTURBATING in front of the entire class claiming it is not anything outside the norm. The boy was back attending school the NEXT DAY. pic.twitter.com/htrzt9ETcX Chloe Cole ?? (@ChoooCole) October 12, 2022 It does not take an expert to figure out what happens to a 13-year-old boy when hes staring at mostly naked girls wearing underwear to school and being exposed to concepts like oral and anal sex in seventh grade, she said. They let children write the dress code. The Teen Talk comprehensive sex ed is not age-appropriate and neither are supported by parents and teachers have spoken out adamantly against this. In a statement published Monday, the Conejo Valley Unified School District has decried what it has described as on-going social media warfare and print disinformation campaigns as part of an effort to create false narratives from email snippets, social media posts, half statements made at Board meetings, and printed disinformation. According to district leadership, What was once lively discourse at our Board of Education meetings during public comments and agendized topics has escalated to a concerted and organized effort to create chaos and further narratives that are unfounded and simply have nothing to do with current action items nor Board duties and business. Besides noting that district officials experienced death threats, the statement did not provide specific examples of actions it found troubling. It did, however, proclaim that the sensationalizing of rumors and months-old reported incidents must stop, in what appeared to be a veiled reference to the remarks at the Sept. 20 board meeting regarding the in-class masturbation that took place in May. District officials suggested that these fictitious narratives are being wrongly used to politicize incidents involving our students. The Conejo Valley Unified School District crafted a fact sheet, which was last updated on Oct. 14, to respond to parental concerns about the sex education curriculum. It states that parents can opt out of the curriculum if they so choose. Chicago Priest Michael Pfleger placed on leave amid new sex abuse allegation Father Michael Pfleger, a Chicago-based Catholic priest known for his social and political activism, has been placed on leave from ministry amid new allegations of sex abuse. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago sent a letter last Saturday to the Faith Community of Saint Sabina, the congregation Pfleger serves as lead pastor, announcing "difficult news." "The Archdiocese of Chicago's Office for Child Abuse Investigations and Review has received an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor against him. The abuse is alleged to have occurred more than 30 years ago," wrote Cupich. "In keeping with our child protection policies, Father Pfleger has been asked to step aside from ministry and live away from the parish while the allegation is investigated. He has agreed to cooperate fully with this request." In keeping with the archdiocese's policies, Cupich said the allegation was also reported to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and law enforcement. While Pfleger is on leave, Father Thulani Magwaza will be an administrator and tend to the parish needs after returning from a family visit in early November. Father David Jones will serve as temporary administrator for the time being. "The Archdiocese of Chicago takes all allegations of sexual misconduct seriously and encourages anyone who has been sexually abused by a priest, deacon, religious or lay employee to come forward," wrote Cupich. Pfleger was previously accused of abuse in January 2021 by two brothers who alleged that the priest had abused them over 40 years ago. But following a five-month investigation, Pfleger was cleared of any wrongdoing and returned to the pulpit of Saint Sabina that June. "I worked to say I'm going to forgive, I'm going to let it go, I'm going pray for them and all the others who were taking delight in this," Pfleger told ABC 7 Chicago last year. "Never let temporary situations determine eternal thinking about you and your life." Pfleger also said that during the 2021 investigation, he felt "depressed," "abandoned," "lonely" and wondered "if life is worth living." Pfleger became a national figure in 2008 due to his support for the presidential candidacy of Barack Obama. He continued to garner attention for his political and social activism. In July 2021, weeks after returning to Saint Sabina, Pfleger's church held a gun buyback program focused on young adults and youth, allotting $25,000 to purchase firearms in hopes of getting guns off the streets. SBC seminary passes resolution affirming pastoral roles should be limited to men A Southern Baptist Convention seminary passed a resolution affirming its president's stance that only men can be pastors, an indirect response to Rick Warren's Saddleback Church ordaining three women pastors last year. At their fall meeting last week, the trustees at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, unanimously approved a resolution encouraging the seminary's administration to continue theologically training both men and women, "but with men alone reserved for the office and function, and thereby title of pastor." "It is further resolved that this Board encourages The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary administration and faculty to continue its theological training with this stated conviction graduating both men and women for service to the church, but with men alone reserved for the office and function, and thereby title of pastor," stated the resolution, in part. The resolution commended the stance of SBTS President Albert Mohler, who helped craft the Baptist Faith & Message 2000, the official statement of faith for the SBC. Mohler took to his official Twitter to post his support on Tuesday for the trustees' resolution, saying he is "thankful" for their work. "Our @SBTS trustees made an important statement last week, passing a unanimous resolution defining pastor as both function and office and limited to men by Scripture as confessed by Southern Baptists in the Baptist Faith & Message," tweeted Mohler. In May 2021, Saddleback Church garnered controversy in SBC circles by ordaining three women Liz Puffer, Cynthia Petty and Katie Edwards despite the Baptist Faith & Message 2000 stating the "office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture." Mohler penned a column denouncing Saddleback's ordinations as "contrary to Scripture" and "an attempt to redefine and reformulate the convictional foundation of Southern Baptist faith and cooperative ministry." "The theological issues have not changed since the year 2000 when Southern Baptists spoke clearly and precisely in the Baptist Faith & Message. More importantly, the Holy Scriptures have not changed and cannot change," wrote Mohler at the time. Some within the SBC pushed for Saddleback to be disfellowshiped from the nation's largest Protestant denomination. However, the SBC Credentials Committee, which handles issues regarding whether member churches are abiding by the SBC standards, announced at the SBC Annual Meeting in June that it would delay a decision on Saddleback. Committee Chair Linda Cooper told the messengers at the annual meeting that "we have concluded that we are not yet prepared to make a recommendation regarding Saddleback Church, recognizing there are differing opinions regarding the intent of the office of pastor as stated in the Baptist Faith & Message 2000." "We feel it is very important for you to know that it is the unanimous opinion of the Credentials Committee that the majority of Southern Baptists hold to the belief that the function of lead pastor, elder, bishop or overseer is limited to men as qualified by Scripture," she added. "[However, we have] found little information evidencing convention beliefs regarding the use of the title of pastor, for staff positions with different responsibilities and authority than that of lead pastor role." The Credentials Committee initially recommended that the SBC messengers vote to create a study committee that would report at next year's annual meeting a "recommendation to provide clarity regarding the office of pastor." However, Mohler voiced opposition to the idea. "If we eventually have to form a study committee over every word of our confession of faith, then we are doomed and we are no longer a confessional people," Mohler said to applause from the crowd. The Credentials Committee rescinded its recommendation for a study committee. On July 29, Mohler joined New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Chuck Kelley and Richard Land, the president of the SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission from 1988-2013, in issuing a statement clarifying the Southern Baptist understanding of the word "pastor." The three men were previously tasked with writing a study guide for the new 2000 Baptist Faith & Message Confession. "[I]t is important to understand that the word pastor was chosen precisely because of its clarity among Southern Baptists. The statement carefully affirms that both men and women are gifted for service in the church, but the role of pastor is biblically defined and is to be held only by men as qualified by Scripture," the men stressed in the statement. Texas Megachurch Leaves UMC, Atheist Pro-Life Activist Indicted, Three Reasons For Deconstruction link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 07:20 07:20 The leadership of a Texas megachurch has decided to leave The United Methodist Church without a congregational vote, which defies denominational rules on dismissal. The U.S. Department of Justice indicted a 10th pro-life activist in connection to a 2020 blockade of a Washington, D.C. abortion clinic. Two years ago, the daughter of January Littlejohn stepped inside her mom's car and told her that earlier that day she'd had a meeting with school staff who were affirming her new gender identity and asked which restroom she preferred to use. When authorities in Iran summoned a Christian couple to Tehran, the house-church members supposed it concerned the return of their confiscated belongings. Instead, they were detained in Tehrans Evin Prison. 75 lawmakers concerned with reports of anti-Semitic incidents at State Dept. A bipartisan group of federal lawmakers sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken seeking an update regarding investigations into reports of anti-Semitic incidents within the State Department. Led by the co-chairs of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combatting Antisemitism, 75 members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent the letter to Blinken Thursday. In the letter, the lawmakers contend that three alleged anti-Semitic incidents occurred at the State Department and its foreign posts within the last 21 months. The elected officials requested an update about the progress of the investigation into the incidents and an apparent lack of action taken to address them. One of the incidents referenced in the letter involves U.S. Foreign Service Officer Fritz Berggren, who was accused in February 2021 of running an anti-Semitic website and calling for the creation of a Christian nation-state. The lawmakers maintained that more than 70 State Department employees sent Blinken a letter in July 2021, insisting that Berggren's "presence at the State Department is threatening." "Despite these pleas from your employees, and his outrageous antisemitism and bigotry, Mr. Berggren remains employed by the State Department. This is beyond alarming," the lawmakers wrote in Thursday's letter. In a separate incident in July 2021, a swastika was carved in the elevator of the Harry S. Truman building, the State Department's headquarters in Washington, D.C. Another one was discovered in the window at the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria in February. The State Department did not immediately respond to The Christian Post's request for comment. Blinken wrote a memo to State Department employees in response to the swastika found in the State Department building, calling it a reminder that anti-Semitism continues to exist. "It's still a force in the world, including close to home. And it's abhorrent. It has no place in the United States, at the State Department or anywhere else. And we must be relentless in standing up and rejecting it," he stated. While the members of Congress note in their letter that they appreciate the Biden administration's efforts to condemn anti-Semitism, the members believe "more can and must be done to protect the Jewish community, and other religious minorities, at the State Department." According to the letter, language in the Fiscal Year 2023 House State and Foreign Operations Appropriations report requires the State Department to report on the status of investigations into anti-Semitic incidents and include recommendations regarding how the department can address issues with tolerance and nondiscrimination among its employees. However, the letter stresses that the urgency of this issue means it requires "immediate attention" and cannot wait for the completion of an appropriations process. "We call on you to report back to Congress on the status of your investigation into these incidents, and on the general existence of antisemitism within the State Department," the lawmakers wrote. "We also call on you to report on what your office plans to do to improve tolerance and non-discrimination, including working with organizations like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) to institute targeted training and promote better understanding." Identifying State Department employees as "our representatives to the world," the document states, "We must ensure that hate, in all forms, is not present within the Department." The lawmakers conclude their letter by pledging to work with the State Department to ensure the protection, support and inclusion of Jewish American employees working for the government. According to a 2021 report from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a leading Jewish civil rights organization, violence against Jews reached record levels in the U.S. A total of 2,717 incidents of assault, harassment and vandalism were reported, the highest number on record since the ADL began tracking anti-Semitic incidents in 1979. Republican lawmakers decry FBI's 'open war on pro-life activists' Republican lawmakers are seeking answers from the FBI regarding what they see as the selective enforcement of federal law as arrests of pro-life activists make national headlines. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, along with 38 of their colleagues, wrote a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray Wednesday. In the letter, the elected officials expressed concern about the continued politicization of the law enforcement agency, specifically the recent rise in high-profile FBI investigations into pro-life Americans. The letter listed examples of recent arrests of pro-life activists for purported violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. The FACE Act subjects federal charges on anyone who intentionally injures, intimidates, or interferes with or attempts to injure, intimidate or interfere with any person seeking to obtain or provide abortions. Violators face a maximum penalty of 11 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The letter highlighted the Sept. 23 arrest of Mark Houck, who was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly pushing an abortion clinic volunteer, who had harassed his [12-year-old] son. The incident that led to Houcks arrest in an early-morning raid on his home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, occurred last year at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Philadelphia as the pro-life activist and his son gathered to pray outside the abortion facility. The letter noted that Houcks arrest occurred despite the fact the charges had been dismissed by local authorities. A separate arrest of a pro-life activist cited as a violation of the FACE Act identified in the letter stemmed from a Minnesota encounter at a Planned Parenthood clinic that involved a client at the abortion clinic attempting to cut up a pro-life activists sign, resulting in the woman pushing her away. While charges were dismissed in Minnesota state court, the FBI has pursued an indictment anyway. In yet another case, a priest in New York state is facing FACE Act charges even though local authorities already sentenced the man. These are not federal law enforcement matters and represent an abuse of the FACE Act, the Republican lawmakers wrote. During floor debate on the legislation, Representative [Patricia] Schroeder of Colorado, a co-sponsor of the FACE Act, argued that empowering the federal government through the FACE Act was only necessary if the states cannot help, then we have a duty to move in. Schroeder, as quoted in the letter, insisted that we do not do it unless it appears the states cannot handle it. According to Schroeder, the federal government does not move in until it appears that in some parts of the country there is a breakdown. Overzealous prosecutions under the FACE Act weaponize the power of federal law enforcement against American citizens in what should firmly be state and local matters, the letter added. Further, these abuses of federal power against pro-life Americans based solely on their beliefs undermine the American peoples trust in the FBI. The lawmakers concluded the letter by requesting a briefing on the FBIs application of the FACE Act by Oct. 20 and seeking information about the number of investigations the FBI had opened up under the FACE Act in each of the years dating back to 2019. Additionally, the letter asked FBI officials to provide statistics about how many of the FACE Act investigations in the relevant years dealt with abortion facilities, pregnancy centers and churches or houses of worship. This line of questioning reflects that the FACE Act also prohibits attempts to injure, intimidate or interfere with any person lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship. Additional questions posed to the FBI include inquiries into how many of these cases involve subjects with charges previously dismissed or sentenced by state courts and what criteria the FBI uses when deciding whether to open a case under the FACE Act that was previously dismissed by state courts. The lawmakers also pressed the FBI for quantification of the amount of resources the FBI is using on FACE Act investigations as well as the existence of any new guidance, memos, or internal correspondence regarding FACE Act investigations since the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization determining that the U.S. Constitution did not contain a right to abortion. Pro-life pregnancy centers and churches have faced vandalism following the Dobbs decision and the letter contended that federal law enforcement has failed to adequately respond to those attacks while working swiftly to take legal action against pro-life activists engaged in non-violent civil disobedience. Congressman Roy elaborated on his concerns about the FBIs enforcement of the FACE Act in a statement last week. I am outraged by the Biden administrations open war on pro-life activists and weaponization of federal law enforcement against patriotic Americans for their beliefs, he said. Referring to Houcks arrest, Roy proclaimed, This administration has a lot of explaining to do when protecting ones own child means armed FBI agents at the door. At a protest calling for the impeachment of U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland over what they view as his abuse of the FACE Act, Randall Terry of the pro-life advocacy group Operation Rescue suggested that the FACE Act is working exactly as intended. When Bill Clinton was elected, he appointed Janet Reno as his attorney general, Terry explained. When she came up to the microphone in her press conference, she said one of her top priorities was to break the back of Operation Rescue. Terry stressed that the FACE Act was always designed to isolate people of faith who wanted to defend the unborn. In a previous interview with The Christian Post, Terry recalled that before the laws passage in 1994, hundreds of people would blockade abortion clinics for an entire day. Now that those actions come with federal charges, such large-scale protests no longer take place. Terry told CP that once that law was passed, it effectively broke the back of our movement. Activist pimps: Mom blasts school board for promoting family-friendly' Halloween drag show Parents are rallying behind a mother who blasted a Southern California school district for its plans to host a family-friendly Halloween drag show, which she said amounts to pimping out our kids in an already hyper-sexualized culture. In a video that went viral on social media, Brittany Mayer from the Christian-based parental rights group Rooted Wings spoke at the Encinitas Union School District Board meeting in San Diego County, California, accusing them of acting as groomers and activist pimps for the Boo Bash drag queen show planned for the Saturday before Halloween, Fox News reported. What is it about a grown man costumed in a sparkly bra with augmented boobs busting out and wearing a miniskirt barely covering his twerking a** with duct tape on his front while spreading his fish-netted legs as he writhes on the ground, grinding his groin next to a minor, family-friendly? she asks the board in the video. On Twitter, Mayer revealed that the drag queen show was sponsored by a local San Francisco gender reassignment surgery center in collaboration with a popular gay nightclub. While we have a culture that has a huge problem with child porn and with sex trafficking, Encinitas Union School District in CA, made the decision to feature an event to sexualize young children, she wrote. She told the board, You all played the activist pimp for Align Surgical center and for a 21-plus gay bar. It makes you groomers and activist pimps and we wont have those sitting on a school board that oversees the education of our children. Elected San Diego Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer criticized the parents, saying on Twitter that they should be ashamed of themselves for pushing hate and intolerance on all of us. She also said she would be taking her 3-year-old to the event. Carrie Boller, a mother of two and a community activist, pulled her kids out of the district, ABC 10 reported. The Encinitas Union School District said it's not hosting or sponsoring the Oct. 29 event but shared it on a community information hub called Peachjar to notify parents about opportunities for families in the district. However, Boller said, Our message is very clear. We dont want strip shows, we dont want drag shows, and definitely not sent out inviting the parents and kids in our district. Justin Ried, a parent of two children who is also running for school board, was quoted as saying, We certainly want to be an inclusive community and support groups of all kinds, but the question is where do we draw the line? The district said the flyer had been taken down as it did not meet district approval criteria, and it has reviewed and adjusted procedures for approving fliers in the future. But parents are demanding to know who approved it for promotion and want the district to apologize. Mayer told Fox that she and dozens of other parents showed up at the school board meeting last Tuesday to confront the leadership, which had been requested several times to stop promoting the event and issue an apology. We asked the board again and again to reconsider and to issue an apology and an explanation, which they didnt, which is why we decided to show up, she was quoted as saying. She added that the planned show was not an isolated incident. This is coming to every school across the nation, she said, adding that Were not going to play by the rules, that were supposed to be afraid, that were going to be punished if we dont speak up now. Dads change with fatherhood New, just published research has suggested that a mans brain cortex shifts in size and shape when he becomes a dad. The cortex is responsible for high-level functioning such as reasoning and emotions. The result of these changes, scientists believe, is better empathy. Professor Darby Saxbe of the University of Southern California, who studies brain plasticity, stated that becoming a father requires new skills like being able to empathise with a non-verbal infant, so it makes sense. Fathers are more than just sperm donors. They have a connection with their children beyond contributing DNA. In fact, that whole myth is losing credibility in the face of scientific and medical evidence. For instance, we know now that fathers bond physically and emotionally with their children in a way that complements a mothers bond. Thats why skin-to-skin contact with dad is now a common practice in delivery rooms. And the connections dont end there. Recent discoveries have suggested that dedicated fathers, like dedicated mothers, undergo dramatic hormonal and neurological shifts upon the arrival of a baby. Some experts now even think that those shifts and the father-child bond that creates them begin even before birth. Writing in The Atlantic, Ariel Ramchandani described a bizarre condition that sometimes afflicts expectant fathers. Whats known as Couvade Syndrome is a poorly understood set of symptoms in which a man experiences physical changes that mirror those of his pregnant partner. Things like weight gain, vomiting, aches, and pains even cravings. Understandably, dads who go through such things are often embarrassed to talk about it. It sounds like one of Arnold Schwarzeneggers worst movies, Junior. Until recently, the go-to explanation was that Couvade Syndrome is psychosomatic. In other words, Its all in your head. But Ramchandani marshaled evidence that something physical could be at work when men are experiencing so-called pregnancy symptoms. The key is probably hormones triggered by living with a pregnant partner and caring for a child. Becoming a dad is associated with declines in mens levels of testosterone, she wrote, and those declines are linked with greater paternal investment. Hormonal changes could explain fathers weight gain as well as their pre- and postnatal depression. According to one psychology professor at the University of Southern California, Couvade Syndrome is still a mystery, but less dramatic. Hormonal shifts among fathers are well-documented and biologically important. We celebrate a vision of men as high-testosterone and aggressive and manly, said this professor, and thats inconsistent with the parenting role. In this view, men who feel pregnant may simply be experiencing an extreme form of the natural shifts in body chemistry that prepare them to become good dads. Unlike mothers, however, fathers dont undergo these shifts automatically. It comes after investment and time. Research at the University of Michigan pointed to a feedback loop in which fathers become better suited hormonally to nurture the more time they actually spend nurturing. According to one University of Notre Dame anthropologist quoted in The Atlantic, the degree to which fathers physically adapt to their new role can even depend on cultural norms of fatherhood. Men who behave like dads, science seems to suggest, become better dads. But this research also understates an enormous difference between mothers and fathers in that they each contribute to child-rearing in unique, distinct, and important ways. Ironically, the fact that some men experience symptoms reminiscent of motherhood could be proof that mothers arent the only thing that children need. Male bodies respond to the call to nurture in their own way. This supports the claim that Dr. Ryan T. Anderson often makes, that theres really no such thing as parenting: Theres only mothering and fathering. The fact is that we have a day set aside to recognize Fathers Day, and even a few movies that describe it, even bad ones. Hence, on some level, we knew this all along. Originally published at BreakPoint. 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. 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 Charities should be vocal about the possible impact of welfare cuts and the cost-of-living crisis, delegates heard at the Directory of Social Change (DSC's) annual online conference yesterday. Duncan Shrubsole, director of policy, communications and research at The Lloyds Banks Foundation said we need government to play its part during the cost-of-living crisis, by giving more funding to charities and offering better help for individuals, such as upping benefits. Shrubsole described the government as having recently got into an absolute mess, adding we need to kick up the biggest stink possible. He accused the government of acting without a mandate and suggested its planned public spending cuts were not legitimate. We are not going to be quietly picking up the pieces Shrubsole said that as environmental charities have begun to be more vocal in their campaigning, anti-poverty charities should tell politicians that they are not going to be quietly picking up the pieces. He emphasised charities should not be party political but can stand up for our cause. In regards to cuts to public expenditure, Shrubsole said other groups will be vocal, so if the sector is not loud there is a danger we will get squeezed out. Andy Coish, head of partnerships at Hull & East Riding Citizens Advice Bureau, said striking the balance with campaigning can be quite a challenge, and it is hard to be neutral when you see so many people suffer. But Coish said we can't throw eggs...because that usually splats back. Instead he advised charities to show their value through case studies, which are often terribly powerful. Though it can be a difficult balance he suggested the sector keep knocking on the door, as change can happen. Shrubsole added that because the cost-of-living crisis is so all-encompassing, case studies bring it to life, and mean politicians can mention them in debates. He added the sector needs to make sure charities are at the forefront in the minds of the government when it comes to energy costs. It is not about party politics, it is about showing the realities of the issues you are facing and how you are responding to them, he said. Carol Mack, chief executive of the Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF), also advised charities and voluntary sector groups to recognise when government does act, and say when changes are good. Foundations cannot meet all of the demands of the crisis Mack spoke about the important role foundations can play in supporting organisations to respond to the cost-of-living crisis. Nonetheless, she said they cannot possibly meet all of the demands and only the government can act on the required scale. She noted some grantmakers have adjusted pre-agreed funding, have been looking at increasing multi year grants, and have been making other important changes. Mack advised charities to speak to current funders if they need help as a result of the cost-of-living crisis and advised charities not to underestimate your power as foundations can't achieve without charities. Charities facing triple whammy Shrubsole said the charity sector was facing a triple whammy from the cost-of-living crisis. Including: Increased demand. Pressure on charities own costs and income. Pressures on staff and volunteers. He added the crisis did not fall from the sky and has been building for some time. Shrubsole said recognising the value of small and local charities is important as they have a key role to play in the cost-of-living crisis. sign up to receive the Civil Society News daily bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, by Glebovic / Adobe The Treasury is unclear on how it will consider responses from charities, businesses and other organisations to a government consultation on energy bills support. Last week, the Department for Business, Enterprise and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) opened a consultation with organisations including charities on how the government should support them with energy bills from next March. The government is currently discounting charities energy bills through its Energy Bill Relief Scheme until the end of March 2023, while BEIS consultation was due to feed into a previously-planned review into how support would continue post-March. But the Treasury announced on Monday that it would run its own review into post-March support for charities and businesses and is now unclear whether responses to BEIS consultation will be considered. Asked by Civil Society News whether it will use responses to the BEIS survey for its own review, a Treasury spokesperson said: Were protecting businesses from high energy bills this winter, caused by Putins devastating invasion of Ukraine. The Energy Bill Relief Scheme protects businesses from soaring energy costs and provides them with the certainty they need to plan through the acute crisis this winter. A Treasury-led review will consider how to support businesses from April 2023, targeting taxpayers money to the most vulnerable. We will update in due course. Sector bodies urge charities to respond Charities are able to respond to BEIS survey until 30 October , the deadline for which was extended by six days today, and many sector bodies have encouraged organisations to share their views. The BEIS survey includes a range of questions on organisations energy costs and usage, other costs and their expectations for the months ahead. NAVCA has published a guide for charities completing the survey, while the Charity Finance Group (CFG) has produce a checklist . Clare Mills, director of policy and communications at CFG, said: Its vital that as many organisations as possible complete the BEIS survey. Were providing a handy checklist to help social enterprises, charities, voluntary groups and community organisations do so. Please read, use and share and let us know if theres further information or guidance youd have liked. Meanwhile, Nicole Sykes, director of policy and communications at Pro Bono Economics, tweeted: Its very important charities fill it out, but there are some questions here many charities will find odd. Suggest you have your last energy statement with you. Editor's Note: This article was updated after BEIS extended the deadline for its survey sign up to receive the Civil Society News daily bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, THE NEWS Yesterday, Semafora much-discussed yet hitherto-nonexistent news sitefinally launched. The brainchild of Justin Smith, formerly the CEO of Bloomberg, and his namesake-but-not-relative Ben Smith, the muckraking former editor of BuzzFeed News and media columnist at the New York Times, the site takes its name from semaphore, the arm- and flag-based messaging system, in part because the word is the same (or similar) in multiple languages and Semafor wants to signal that it is a global newsroom. (The Smiths did not end up going with taxi, tea, coffee, chai, sugar, pajama, radio, or soup, as the Times had speculated in advance.) In the same vein, the sites homepage looks like a cross between an old-school newspaper A1 and the wall of a multinational corporate office, with clocks displaying the time in locales from Washington, DC, to Lagos. The design, which sits on a faded yellow background, quickly got tongues wagging online. It has already been compared, variously, to a newspaper left out in the sun, the cover of Taylor Swifts album reputation, and the Instagram intermediate photoshop flyers local DJs make for the events they have at their own house. (FWIW, I like it.) We first heard about the idea that would become Semafor in early January, when the Times and the Wall Street Journal dropped dueling scoops respectively revealing the departures of Ben Smith and Justin Smith from their previous jobs. Ever since those early articles, its been clear that the Smiths intend for their new venture to be global and to tackle the thorny media problems of declining trust and growing polarization. But their ambitions have sometimes been stated in wishy-washy or, erm, contestable terms, as when Ben Smith said, in the initial Times story, that the site would be pitched at the 200 million people who are college educated, who read in English, but who no one is really treating like an audience, or added, in a later Times story, that it would seek to take the black box of the news article, particularly a reported hard-news piece, and open it up on every axis (by having big bylines and by visually separating out facts and opinion). As the months rolled by, Semafor often attracted feverish attention (and, sometimes, skepticism) from the media pressthe Times ran so many stories on its former staffers new venture that Politicos Jack Shafer begged it to stopnot least in July, when it held an inaugural live event that included Ben Smith in conversation with Tucker Carlson. Meanwhile, the site raised twenty-five million dollars and made dozens of impressive hires, adding Gina Chua, a top editor at Reuters, as executive editor; Yinka Adegoke, formerly of Quartz and Rest of World, as Africa editor; and Politicos Max Tani as a media reporter, to name but a few. Yesterday, we saw some of these hires first Semafor articles. We also got a better sense of what Ben Smith meant by opening up the black box of the news article as the site debuted a new story template that it is calling a Semaform, because of course it is. Author bylines are, as promised, as prominent as headlines, but the meat of the Semaform concept comes in the text of the story itself, which is broken into distinct sections, each preceded by a capitalized subheading: THE NEWS (or THE SCOOP), offering the undisputed facts of a given story; THE REPORTERS VIEW, which is what it sounds like, with an emphasis on analysis; ROOM FOR DISAGREEMENT, which is also what it sounds like; THE VIEW FROM, promising different and more global perspectives on the story in question; and NOTABLE, linking out to worthwhile related coverage from other outlets. Chua explained what Semaform is in an article (ROOM FOR DISAGREEMENT: More transparency may build more trust, but only for people who actually read our articles) and a video. The site also posted a (vaguely messianic) video talking through the impetus for its new approach and featuring interviews about the state of news today with other journalists, some of them very respected, like Maria Ressa, some of them Piers Morgan, like Piers Morgan. JONS VIEW If you couldnt tell yet, Im writing this review in Semaform (because of course I am), which means its time for the bit where I offer my analysis, though I may accidentally also have done that in the undisputed facts section above. My flippancy here has a serious point to it: my biggest problem with the Semaform, at least so far, is that it seems inflexible, particularly when it comes to the reporters view section. Some of the Semafor stories I read yesterday offered what was clearly analysis in this section, though it rarely seemed particularly pointed or personal and sometimes didnt read much like a point of view at all, but rather a continuation of the reporting above; indeed, at least one story contained sources quotes in this section. If the separation of facts and analysis is supposed to aid clarity and boost trust, then the two need to be consistently distinguishable; where they blur together, the separation just adds more confusion. Of course, its still (very) early days for the Semaform; reporters from rigid news backgrounds, in particular, might take time to find their feet in the analysis space. But its not clear to me that separating facts and analysis is even possible. News, analysis, and opinion are fluid and often ill-defined modes, and the distinction between them can itself be highly subjective. Doesnt a reporter apply analysis when they decide what story to write in the first place, or what facts to center? I have some other reservationsor, at least, potential reservationsabout Semafor so far. The room for disagreement rubric, if not policed carefully, could slide into stale bothsidesism. (Joe Biden won in 2020. Room for disagreement?) More broadly, every story served to me on Semafors homepage yesterday, bar a story by Adegoke about an upcoming election in Nigeria, was either centrally about the US, or concerned the US as a global actor. Theres nothing wrong with either of these thingsin a globalized world, certainly not the latterand news briefs down the side of the homepage did cover an impressive array of international stories, albeit, well, in brief. Semafor has said explicitly that its still building out its global footprint, and thats fine, too. It also says on its About page, however, that it is a global news company at birth. Comments that Ben Smith and Chua gave to Nieman Lab on this language suggest that they see it as reflective of a sensibility, not a finished offer. But the launch could have done more to centrally assert this sensibility. The sites first top story being a Ben Smith column about newsroom drama at the Times did not scream global sensibility to me. Sign up for CJR 's daily email ROOM FOR DISAGREEMENT Theres a lot to like about the concept of the Semaform, at least in theory. To assess it in reverse order, the existence of a dedicated section for linking to other outlets work is a hopeful nod away from the industry notion that something is only news when your outlet has covered it. Room for disagreement could go down a both sides route, but it could also easily be used more intelligently; along with the view from rubric, it could become a way to hardwire needed nuance into every story. (I try to bring nuance to this newsletter, and have found my contrived borrowing of the Semaform today to be, if anything, an aid in that.) Even if I have my doubts about the possibility of separating news and analysis, part of Semafors stated reason for attempting to do soto communicate to readers that reporters do have viewsis welcome in an industry whose higher echelons remain hooked on a caricature of objective journalistic detachment. Most important, of course, its way too early to judge any of this definitively. Indeed, Semafor has already demonstrated receptiveness to reader feedback. When it launched, its paragraphs all opened with distracting bold font. Within hours, that was gone. THE VIEW FROM MOSTLY ME AGAIN The early reviews that Ive seen of Semaforand of Semaformhave often been positive, if not uncritically so. Ultimately, the site has hired a lot of excellent journalists and editors, and, if its launch-day slate is any guide, it looks as though it will do a lot of very good journalism. Still, if my initial reaction to the idea that would become Semafor was conceptual confusion about its target audienceEnglish-reading college graduates are not an underserved demographic; often, they trust the media more than othersat least some of that confusion persists. In an interview with Insider to mark the launch, Justin Smith described the target audience as news omnivores and opinion leaders in business, finance, and tech. Again, hardly underserved. And people involved with Semafor have made a lot of lofty claims that go beyond doing very good journalism. Justin Smith told the AP that the site is obsessed with solving a number of big consumer frustrations that we see in the news business, primarily polarization (others, he told Insider, include bias, social media distortion, information overload, and the increasing blending of news and opinion); he and others have also claimed to be reinventing a core unit of journalismthe articlethat hasnt really evolved in literally hundreds and hundreds of years. In fact, there have always been many ways of writing a news article. Even efforts to break it down into explicit components are not new; Axios literally just wrote the book on it. In her interview with Ben Smith, Nieman Labs Sarah Scire asked him what questions hed ask, as a veteran media reporter, to try and gauge whether a newly-launched project was going to live up to its hype. Smiths suggestion: Is the journalism youre doing really aligned with the business that will support it? Thats a good question. But itll also be fair to ask, eventually (and the Smiths have set a decade-long timeline for success), whether Semafor has made any meaningful progress toward solving the titanic, existential media crises name-checked by Smith. It neednt do so to be a great site. But in selling itself, it has promised to try. Below, more on Semafor (Sorry, NOTABLE:) The business side: According to Justin Smith, Semafor will plan to transition toward a paid-subscription model within the next year to eighteen months, though to start with it will be free to read and funded by advertising, with debut ad partners including Verizon and Pfizer, CNBCs Alex Sherman reports. Were operating in a specific part of the advertising market, which is corporate reputation and brand advertising, Rachel Oppenheim, Semafors chief revenue officer, told Sherman. Recent big-money digital-media sales have given Semafor a path toward building and selling a business for hundreds of millions of dollars, Sherman writes, though Justin Smith said he hasnt had any conversations about selling at a specific valuation with Semafors investors. According to Justin Smith, Semafor will plan to transition toward a paid-subscription model within the next year to eighteen months, though to start with it will be free to read and funded by advertising, with debut ad partners including Verizon and Pfizer, CNBCs Alex Sherman reports. Were operating in a specific part of the advertising market, which is corporate reputation and brand advertising, Rachel Oppenheim, Semafors chief revenue officer, told Sherman. Recent big-money digital-media sales have given Semafor a path toward building and selling a business for hundreds of millions of dollars, Sherman writes, though Justin Smith said he hasnt had any conversations about selling at a specific valuation with Semafors investors. Day one: Yesterday evening, CNNs Oliver Darcy spoke with a delirious Ben Smith, who had been up since 4am, to find out how he felt Semafors debut had gone. It was remarkably smooth, Smith said, adding that he was really pleased that people seemed to like the format of the articles given that the site had made a big bet on it. Smith also confirmed that Semafor had consciously junked the use of bold text at the beginning of paragraphs in response to feedback. (Readers had previously noted the change online.) Yesterday evening, CNNs Oliver Darcy spoke with a delirious Ben Smith, who had been up since 4am, to find out how he felt Semafors debut had gone. It was remarkably smooth, Smith said, adding that he was really pleased that people seemed to like the format of the articles given that the site had made a big bet on it. Smith also confirmed that Semafor had consciously junked the use of bold text at the beginning of paragraphs in response to feedback. (Readers had previously noted the change online.) Bennet Smith: While Smiths article on the Times yesterday may have struck me as an odd debut for a global news site, it did contain plenty of interesting nuggets about the paper for media-watchers, not least the first on-the-record interview that James Bennetwho was fired as the Times opinion editor in 2020 amid a staff revolt over a controversial op-ed by Senator Tom Cotton, and now writes for The Economisthas given since his ouster. At the time, Bennet was conciliatory about the decision to run the op-ed, but he told Smith that he now makes no apology for it. He also excoriated A.G. Sulzberger, the Times publisher, claiming that Sulzberger missed a chance to make clear that the Times doesnt exist just to tell progressives how progressives should view reality, and that he set me on fire and threw me in the garbage. While Smiths article on the Times yesterday may have struck me as an odd debut for a global news site, it did contain plenty of interesting nuggets about the paper for media-watchers, not least the first on-the-record interview that James Bennetwho was fired as the Times opinion editor in 2020 amid a staff revolt over a controversial op-ed by Senator Tom Cotton, and now writes for The Economisthas given since his ouster. At the time, Bennet was conciliatory about the decision to run the op-ed, but he told Smith that he now makes no apology for it. He also excoriated A.G. Sulzberger, the Times publisher, claiming that Sulzberger missed a chance to make clear that the Times doesnt exist just to tell progressives how progressives should view reality, and that he set me on fire and threw me in the garbage. Trust in news: In an introductory note to readers, Ben Smith cited new data from Gallup, a partner of Semafor, showing that Americans trust in the news media remains near its all-time low. Only 34 percent of respondents believe that the media will report the news fully, accurately, and fairly, just two points higher than Gallups lowest-ever recording, in 2016. Faith in the media, meanwhile, remains sharply divided along partisan lines, with 70 percent of Democrats, 14 percent of Republicans, and 27 percent of independents expressing a great deal or fair amount of trust. Other notable stories: ICYMI: The BBC at one hundred Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. Short-fuse, time-limited demands are structured by plaintiffs attorneys to create the least amount of time for an insurer to respond. Often, short-fuse demands are made just before upcoming holidays with the hope that distracted insurance company adjusters are distracted and run out the clock. That is what occurred in Hedayati v. Interinsurance Exchange of the Automobile Club, 67 Cal.App. 5th 833 (4th Dis. 2021). In Hedayati, the insured had $25,000 liability policy limits. The plaintiff obtained a $26 million judgment against the insured. The plaintiff had suffered catastrophic injuries when the insured ran a red light and struck the plaintiff in a pedestrian crosswalk. The insurance company was immediately notified of the accident by the insured driver. The insured authorized the insurance company to disclose the insureds policy limits of $25,000. The insured also informed the insurance company that the insured had no other insurance or assets. The insured was obviously concerned about the exposure. When the insured asked the insurance company about pursuing a release from liability, the insurance company inaccurately advised the insured that the plaintiff was not willing to sign a release. During settlement negotiations, the insurance company repeatedly refused to reply to the plaintiffs attorneys inquiries regarding the insureds policy limits. The insurer finally disclosed the $25,000 limit, but did not provide proof of the limits to the plaintiffs attorney. Also, the insurer did not provide a written declaration signed by the insured indicating that the insured had no other insurance or financial assets. To make matters worse, the insurance companys adjuster sent plaintiffs a confirming letter, indicating that a prior settlement offer had been made to the plaintiffs for policy limits. The plaintiffs attorney denied ever having received the initial policy limits settlement offer. In the confirming letter, the adjuster invited the plaintiffs attorney to contact the adjuster with any further questions, but was silent regarding the insureds assets or the lack of other insurance. The plaintiffs attorney responded by agreeing to settle the case for the $25,000 policy limit on the condition that the insurance company furnish information regarding the lack of other insurance and personal assets. The plaintiffs attorney demanded strict adherence to each and every term and condition of the offer to be accepted. No term could be changed in any way to achieve compliance. The plaintiffs attorneys letter indicated that the offer to settle for policy limits would expire within a week. Acceptance was conditioned upon the offer being accepted by overnight UPS or Fed Ex delivery, but not by fax or courier. The demand was strategically planned so that the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday was in the middle of the one-week timeframe. (In 2012, Thanksgiving fell on Nov. 22, and the demand was going to expire on Nov. 27.) Given that timeframe, if the insurance companys offices were closed for the holiday, the insurance company practically had only three days to accept the offer. The demand letter was not reviewed by the insurance company adjuster before the offer expired. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the insurer, finding that the confirming letter, irrespective of whether the original demand had never been sent or not, did offer policy limits. The trial court went on to find there was no legitimate reason for the plaintiffs attorneys mega-short deadline and its conditions. However, the California Court of Appeals reversed because the reasonableness of the insurers failure to communicate raised factual questions centered upon whether the insured was out of town for the Thanksgiving holiday and could not be consulted regarding the offer/demand. The court also found that the short time-limited nature of the settlement demand by plaintiffs attorney, standing alone, did not establish that it was reasonable for the insurer to fail to communicate. Rather, a trier of fact could conclude that the insurance companys repeated failure to provide plaintiffs attorney with necessary information regarding settlement would have provided a good reason for plaintiffs attorney to draw a line in the sand by issuing the short fuse demand. CAMAS, Wash. (AP) Some roads reopened and evacuation zones shrank near a wildfire fed Sunday by gusty winds and low humidity east of Vancouver, Washington, as fire officials got a better handle on fire activity amid weather changes. About 3,000 residents were told to leave their homes Sunday night as the Nakia Creek Fire in eastern Clark County near Camas ballooned in size. Officials on Monday updated evacuation zones, saying they were lessening them but adding that the fire was still active and that things could again change. Officials also updated the estimated area burned from 2,000 acres (just over 3 square miles) to some 1,565 acres (nearly 2.5 square miles) after fire crews were better able to see the fire. Smoke from the fire and others burning in Washington and Oregon grounded aircraft Sunday, officials said. No structures have been damaged by the fire, and no injuries have been reported, Sharon Steriti, spokesperson for the Department of Natural Resources, told The Columbian. A nearby prison also was evacuated and people in custody were moved to temporary alternate housing at other facilities, according to information on the Larch Corrections Center webpage. It wasnt immediately clear how many people were lodged there; the prison holds up to 240 people. The Washougal School District closed all schools Monday. Two of the schools were inside mandatory evacuation areas. The wildfire was burning in rugged terrain of brush and timber. Authorities also said they were looking for white or light-colored Subaru seen on video where the fire started Oct. 9, KOIN-TV reported. Last week, Washington Department of Natural Resources officials said they believed the fire was human-caused as there was no lightning when it broke out. Officials said they were still trying to determine exactly how the flames sparked. The Clark County Sheriffs Office said several roads had reopened Monday. Stay out of the area if you dont need to be there, the Sheriffs Office tweeted. Weather is improving and will allow more aerial firefighting opportunities but cant if drones are up. Additional fire crews, including a larger team, were arriving Monday. The American Red Cross had opened shelters for evacuees. The National Weather Service had posted a red flag warning for wind, heat and low humidity in the region over the weekend, with smoke from wildfires affecting air quality west of the Cascades. After months of dry weather with record-breaking high temperatures, rain is expected to return Friday. Air quality improved for much of the region Monday, but smoke was expected to hang around until Friday, the National Weather Service said. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Outside groups playing in Colorado's elections received nearly $15 million, with former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg making the single biggest splash, the latest campaign finance reports show. Bloomberg gave $2 million to a committee running ads against GOP gubernatorial candidate Heidi Ganahl and $1 million to Everytown for Gun Safety, according to reports tracking spending between Sept. 29 and Oct. 12. Everytown for Gun Safety so far has spent only a fraction of its funds to back Democratic candidates, including Gov. Jared Polis, Attorney General Phil Weiser, Secretary of State Jena Griswold and Rep. Tom Sullivan, who is running for the state Senate in Senate District 27. A review of filings to TRACER, the state's campaign finance database, also shows independent expenditure committees that favor Democrats have taken in the most money in the most recent reporting period. All Together Colorado, which backs Democrats in the most competitive state Senate races, raised about $1.75 million in the past two weeks, with the largest contributions $500,000 coming from the American Leadership Committee of Washington, D.C., the IEC for the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. All Together also took in contributions of $250,000 each from Rocky Mountain Planned Parenthood and the Sixteen Thirty Fund, which has put $21.2 million into backing Democratic candidates and progressive ballot measures in the past decade, including $4.1 million so far this year. Sixteen Thirty Fund does not disclose its funders a "dark money" group. All Together spent just shy of $3 million between Sept. 29 and Oct. 14. The biggest spending occurred in Senate District 20, where the committee spent $757,734 to back Rep. Lisa Cutter of Littleton in her contest against Golden businessman Tim Walsh. Spending in the Thornton Senate District 24 to back Rep. Kyle Mullica, faces Republican Courtney Potter, came second at $649,022. In Senate District 27, the committee spent $663,947 to support Rep. Tom Sullivan of Centennial against businessman Tom Kim, who is from the same city. Since July 1, All Together has spent about $5.3 million to support Democrats in the six most competitive Senate seats. Money also poured into the Senate Majority Fund's 527 committee, which routes contributions to its IEC arm. The Colorado Oil and Gas Association gave $225,000, while Bayswater Exploration, also an oil and gas company, contributed $100,000. The Senate Majority Fund remains the largest spender in supporting Republicans who want to take control of the state Senate. The group spent $2.18 million in the last two weeks, bringing its total electioneering spending since July 1 to about $6.3 million. Its biggest spending in the past two weeks occurred in Senate District 27 at $553,049. It also put $373,000 into the Senate District 8 race between Republican businessman Matt Solomon and Rep. Dylan Roberts, both of Eagle. One of the biggest spenders in the last two weeks is Unite for Colorado Action IEC, which has dolled out $2.4 million for the six most competitive Senate races (districts 3, 8, 11, 20, 24 and 27) and the six competitive House races House (districts 13, 16, 17, 18, 26 and 46). The group has now spent just under $4 million to back Republicans for the legislature. Its biggest contributions this election cycle have come from Advance Colorado Action, which gave $1 million. Advance Colorado Action, another "dark money" group, does not disclose its funders. Two oil and gas companies Oxy Energy and PDC Energy made six-figure contributions to Unite for Colorado Action in the past two weeks. For the 2022 election cycle, Unite for Colorado Action has received $2.45 million. With a 41-24 advantage, political observers expect Democrats to maintain control of the state House. Given that 26 out of 65 seats are open this year, Republicans hope to take a seat or two away. Better Colorado Alliance, the Democrats' main independent expenditure group, spent about $1.2 million in the past two weeks to support Democratic candidates for the House in 11 districts, including seven of the 26 open seats. They include incumbent Democrats Reps. David Ortiz of Centennial, Julie McCluskie of Dillon, Brianna Titone of Arvada and Barbara McLachlan of Durango. Republican-leaning outside groups are spending in the same races, but in much smaller amounts. The Restore Colorado Leadership Fund, for example, has spent $326,331 to support many of the Republican House candidates in the same races. 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. Are you a current print subscriber to Columbia Gorge News? If so, you qualify for free access to all content on columbiagorgenews.com. Simply verify with your subscriber id to receive free access. Your subscriber id may be found on your bill or mailing label. By Rick Palsgrove Groveport Editor Groveport Madison High Schools Cruiser Theatre Co. is one of 19 area high schools selected to participate in the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts 2022-23 CAPA Marquee Awards. It is a very exciting honor to have been selected again, said Cruiser Theatre Co. Director Kirkland Long. The kids are really excited about it and it is always nice to have multiple motivation factors for them. The Cruiser Theatre Co. also participated in the program last year. Much like before, there are many workshops they can attend and a lot of learning material to be found on CAPAs website, said Long. The students are always very excited to have the opportunity to attend workshops held by CAPA. Presented by the American Electric Power Foundation, the program is designed to celebrate, support, and advocate for high school musical theatre education. The year-long educational program offers students the opportunity to participate in professional theatre education activities throughout the school year including master classes with Broadway touring artists, skills-based workshops with local artists, professional development sessions for educators, and Dig Deeper, a virtual tutorial series which covers a range of topics to help students deepen their study and practice of theatre from wherever they can watch. The Marquee Awards program is starting its fifth year by reaching more students in more counties than ever before, said CAPA Education Director Amy Handra. We are so excited for another big year of supporting and celebrating the incredible talent in central Ohios high school musical theatre scene. Each participating school will have their musical theatre production reviewed by CAPAs team of professionals. Along with all the educational resources, having the adjudication feedback is really beneficial and is what draws me the most towards what CAPA is doing, said Long. Along with providing recognition for outstanding performances, they provide and unbiased perception of the performance, allowing for a fresh set of eyes to analyze where some more attention could be placed. It is easy to become numb or blind to certain aspects of a show when you have been rehearsing it for two or three months. So having someone who doesnt have the performance as a part of their daily routine describe what they experienced in the form of feedback is a wonderful thing, not only for me as a new director, but for the students as young theatre artists. CAPA Marquee Awards/Jimmy Awards On May 25, the 2023 CAPA Marquee Awards will feature a red-carpet ceremony and student showcase at the Ohio Theatre where winners in all categories will be announced. Modeled after the Tony Awards, the CAPA Marquee Awards showcases live performances from the nominees for Best Musical Production, Best Actor and Actress in a Leading Role, as well as opening and closing numbers that incorporate nominated students from all participating high schools. Students selected as Best Actor in a Leading Role and Best Actress in a Leading Role will be official Jimmy Award nominees for Jimmys Week, a week-long theatre intensive led by Broadway professionals and industry experts, and compete nationally for the 2023 Jimmy Awards for Best Performance by an Actor and Best Performance by an Actress. Nominees will spend one week in New York City and their combined effort throughout the week will lead to one talent showcase performed live in front of an audience on the Broadway stage at the 14th annual Jimmy Awards. Visit www.JimmyAwards.com and www.CAPAMarqueeAwards.com for information. Upcoming Cruiser Theatre Co. shows Groveport Madison High Schools Cruiser Theatre Co. will perform Arsenic and Old Lace on Nov. 3-5 at 7 p.m. In person audiences are allowed. Presale tickets can be purchased at the OnTheStage website for $5 for students and seniors and $7 for adults. At the door those prices will be raised to $7 and $9 respectively. Per gocruisers.org, the annual play in a day will be replaced by an evening of improv sometime near Valentines Day. The spring musical will be replaced with spring plays, the first of which will be, Hammered: A Thor and Loki Play, by Christian Borle. That show will likely be performed the final weekend in March. Another spring play, to be determined, may be performed in May. All performances will be in the Groveport Madison High School auditorium, 4475 S. Hamilton Road. Presidium of 20th CPC National Congress holds second meeting, Xi Jinping presides over the meeting Xinhua) 11:26, October 19, 2022 BEIJING, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- The presidium of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held its second meeting at the Great Hall of the People on the afternoon of October 18. Comrade Xi Jinping presided over the meeting. At the meeting, the draft resolutions on the report of the 19th CPC Central Committee, the work report of the Party's 19th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, and an amendment to the Party Constitution were approved to be submitted to all delegations to the congress for discussion. Chen Xi, deputy secretary-general of the congress, briefed the presidium on proposed name lists of preliminary nominees for the candidates of members and alternate members of the 20th CPC Central Committee, as well as members of the 20th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. The lists were approved at the meeting to be submitted to the delegations for deliberation. Also, the election methods of the Party congress, which had gone through consideration among all delegations, as well as a name list of ballot scrutineers and chief ballot scrutineers were approved by the presidium. The name list will be submitted to the congress for ratification by the time of the final vote. (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Hongyu) Apples next big push may be around health insurance, according to Ben Wood, analyst at CCS Insight. I think his idea makes sense, given all the work Apple already does in the space and it echoes thoughts weve heard before. The future takes time to bake Woods team of analysts publish annual predictions, several of which relate to what Apple already does. But its Woods' thoughts on health that really resonated with me this year: By 2030, intelligent wireless body monitoring leads to pervasive and personalized healthcare, he wrote. Deeper and smarter insights into the body means that devices can serve as a preventive health tool, flagging up any deviations from the users norm, detecting subtle changes and providing lifestyle advice. Apple has this space covered. The iPhone, Apple Watch, Health, Activity, and Fitness+ cover the gamut of the human condition. At some level, these existing solutions already turn your habits into actionable data. What you do, how you do it, when, how often and how to do what you do better and more frequently are all reprised within these systems. The company already has sensors, and is building more, and provides research apps and has already assembled extensive data for numerous situations. It already works with existing health insurance providers to combine its data with their services. In this part of the big picture, what Wood thinks makes total sense. A lot of this is already happening. Apple Watch remains a great way for health conscious customers to track their overall wellness and fitness, said Apple CEO Tim Cook. Delivery, data, and results Apples solutions are becoming more widely used across the health sector. Youll find iPads in patient rooms and in the operating theater. You have the Medications app to help maintain diligent care, and you have Activity, Fitness, and Health apps to provide the kind of valuable insight everybody needs into self-care. You even have Medical ID for emergencies. You have all of this and more. With so much data already being created, the company has built a platform from which it can build a connected health ecosystem. Its completely plausible to imagine a doctor in every Apple Store handling walk-in appointments, supplemented by an online service offering initial consultation and advice. The work those doctors do would be rendered considerably easier with the addition of the health stats already gathered by the iPhone, Health app, and Apple Watch. In between appointments, a little automation around monitoring and analysis of patient-gathered data should help flag post-care self-treatment and medication errors. Such automation should help deliver better recovery results. When you travel, youll be covered by an international brand with an international presence in most nations. Where such presence does not exist, the companys other products (such as Apple Pay) enable its customers to access local care at local prices, supported by the credit worthiness of a brand which probably has a better credit rating than the post-Brexit UK under its Truss government. How it might work Apples strength here is really evidenced around the health-related data its systems already collect. That information, intended to empower end users with insights into their own health and habits, can (once explicit permission is granted by the user) also inform medical professionals about what a patients condition might be and which needs are left unmet. The capacity for remote monitoring of patients should empower them with more autonomy, which should help trim treatment costs while also delivering at least as good results. The company continues to associate its Apple Watch with health and fitness. It makes sense to do so, as it gives the device a clear purpose that does seem to resonate with consumers. Beyond this, it also provides health services with just enough insight into current health trends to see that possession of a smart fitness tracker has an active and positive impact on peoples self-care. This is a health promoting act, as it means those who use these devices are in general healthier than those who dont and are far more likely to at least think about the consequences of what they do on their physical and mental wellbeing. Given that prevention is always better than cure and that so many of the biggest health impacts diabetes, heart, obesity can be mitigated against by healthier habits, it makes sense to associate this data and these devices with health insurance. Apples access to financial products (Apple Pay, Apple Card, Apple Savings, Apple Cash) means the company can help promote Apple Health users with discounted costs and a highly flexible set of benefits. Imagine if meeting your fitness goals gave you free access to Apple Music, or $10 you could spend as you wish. Apple might even consider adding a Single App mode to Apple Watch, so patients suffering from some complex conditions will always be gathering and sharing important health data when undergoing remote post treatment care. That kind of initiative would reduce the overall cost of health service provision while maintaining highly effective levels of care. Better health at lower cost? Thats the nub of why Apple may be able to deliver systems of this kind. Those who use an Apple Watch are already more likely to live slightly more healthy lives. Thats great on an individual basis, but promises even bigger benefits en masse. That patient data can be shared with caregivers opens opportunities for remote delivery of personalized self-care plans, while swift identification of symptoms when they emerge promotes an environment for early treatment of conditions before they become severe. The effect? Better general health, more effective treatment, and the capacity to deliver all this at relatively lower cost than possible before. Early interventions dont just save lives, they save money in health and recovery costs. Combined with an international network of stores from which care can be delivered, its surely a matter of when," not if the company plans to introduce Apple Health. I think CCS Insight has got this one more right than it has wrong. While Apple may instead choose to intensify its growing number of partnerships with existing health insurance entities to deliver the same result, I think it already believes it can do a better job alone. Ill be interested to learn what Dr. Sumbul Desai, Apple vice president for health, has to say on Apples approach to digital health during her keynote speech at Web Summit 2022 in Lisbon, Portugal next month. In this session, Sumbul describes how Apple is utilizing the power of tech to revolutionize public health in the 21st century, with innovations in wearables, Apple Watch, iPhone, and iOS, the event description says. I don't expect too much more than what Apple has already said just yet. But it is difficult to ignore the direction of travel. Please follow me on Twitter, or join me in the AppleHolics bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe. The inaugural 2022 Sysdig Cloud-Native Threat Report exposes some of the year's most pervasive and costly cloud threats. As organizations use of containers and cloud services continues to grow, attackers are turning their attention to the cloud. Just one threat actor can make substantial gains by simply taking advantage of misconfigurations and old exploits. They can earn thousands of dollars, almost passively off of their victims' cloud infrastructure. Containers allow developers to get infrastructure up and running fast, but if malicious code is hidden inside by an attacker, the entire infrastructure can be compromised. However, not all threat actors are about profiteering. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine shows a cyberwarfare component with government-supported threat actors and civilian hacktivists taking sides. The true costs of cryptomining Cryptomining is increasingly popular among profit-motivated threat actors. With a much lower overhead than ransomware, the miner only needs to run on a computing resource, then they can start cashing in. Looking at TeamTNT, a notorious cloud-targeting threat actor, made at least $8,100 in directly attributed cryptowallets, which cost victims more than $430,000. While $8,100 isnt massive, its passive income for the criminal and a monstrous bill for someone else. Sysdig Supply chain attacks from Docker Hub The 2022 Sysdig Cloud-Native Security and Usage Report also shows that 61% of all images pulled come from public repositories. Attackers are aware this is how code is assembled today, so they've turned public repositories into an attack vector. To investigate, the Sysdig Threat Research Team (Sysdig TRT) built a custom system to scan Docker Hub and identify malicious container images using both static and runtime analysis. The team scanned more than 250,000 images, and the results showed that threat actors are actively using Docker Hub to spread malware. This mostly comes in the form of cryptojackers, however, malicious websites, hacking tools, and other unwanted software was also found in the images. Sysdig To protect customers, the Sysdig TRT maintains a continually updated feed of known bad container images, using their SHA-256 hashes. Geopolitical hacktivism When the Russia-Ukraine conflict started, a cyberwar also began between the two countries. This is the first time cyberwarfare operations have been used in military operations in such a public way. Over 150,000 volunteers joined the Ukrainian side of this cyberconflict as hacktivists. Distributed denial of service (DDoS) and destructive attacks using hard drive wipers were the hallmark of the cyberwar, at least on the public facing side. Hacktivists from both sides have largely participated by joining the DDoS attacks. Almost immediately after the invasion started, The Sysdig global honeynet began to see a sharp rise in the amount of DDoS malware being installed. Before this, most of the malware was related to cryptojacking. Sysdig Conclusion Attackers are starting to understand the value of cloud resources, whether for cryptomining, data theft, or as attack platforms. This trend will continue as more companies move from on-premise to cloud. While the geopolitical situation is beyond the scope of the report, these events will continue to involve cyber more and more as countries start to depend on the resources that have moved to cyberspace. Security and DevOps teams need to watch for these threats as they work to secure their cloud infrastructures. Visibility into cloud and container environments is critical as threats start to make use of these resources. Want to get the full scoop? Download the 2022 Sysdig Cloud-Native Threat Report today! Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy of the Telangana High Court heard, inconclusively, a case about the rejection of affiliation by AICTE, on a petition filed by Kamareddy College Educational Society. DC Image Hyderabad: Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy of the Telangana High Court on Tuesday heard, inconclusively, a case about the rejection of affiliation by AICTE, on a petition filed by Kamareddy College Educational Society. The petitioner sought action against Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University for rejecting the colleges affiliation. Senior counsel D. Prakash Reddy, appearing on behalf of the petitioner, contended that earlier, the government had issued a NOC and on several occasions, the requisite authorities were approached for affiliations. He further contended that JNTU was not permitting colleges to function by giving affiliations. Advocate General B.S. Prasad, appearing on behalf of the state, sought time till October 19 to explain their stance. The bench will hear the matter on October 19. HYDERABAD: A day after 34-year-old Beemana Rajani Kumar, the driver of a reputed school in Banjara Hills, was charged with rape of a four-year-old girl, the Banjara Hills police registered a case of negligence against the principal, 55-year-old Sivaraju Madhavi. The driver and the principal were produced before the court on Wednesday for judicial remand for 14 days. Further, the Banjara Hills police, who initially registered a case against the driver under Sections 345 of the IPC and the POCSO Act have changed the section to rape under Section 161 of the CrPC after recording the girl's statement at the Bharosa centre and medical examination. The police said more witnesses would be questioned, evidence would be collected, and a proper investigation would be conducted. Police also stated that during the course of the investigation, they would determine whether Rajani Kumar assaulted other students. "We will seek his custody for this, as well as ascertain many other details that are being investigated," they said. M. Sudarshan, ACP, Banjara Hills, who is supervising the investigation, told Deccan Chronicle that the case has been altered based on the victim's statement and other evidence. "Further investigation is underway to gather more evidence in order to build a proper case against both accused and ensure conviction in court so that the victim receives justice," he said. Meanwhile, police have informed about the crime to the school's main branch in the city, which is located in Safilguda, Secunderabad, as well as their headquarters in New Delhi. According to investigations, driver Rajani Kumar, a school dropout, has been working for the school for over a decade. The father of a son and a daughter, he took advantage of being the principal's driver and began interacting with parents and teachers, as well as participating in activities that had nothing to do with him, the police said. AUDUSD, NZDUSD, AUDNZD Talking Points AUDUSD remains below 0.6340 ahead of key employment data NZDUSD halts recent skid, but upside limited by trendline resistance AUDNZD reverses course as policy divergence theme grows Recommended by Brendan Fagan Get Your Free Top Trading Opportunities Forecast Get My Guide Both AUDUSD and NZDUSD have halted their recent slides against the Greenback thanks to improved risk sentiment. While both crosses remain under significant pressure, recent bids into risk have lifted the pairs away from YTD lows. Despite significant levels of volatility, risk has been able to breathe as the economic calendar remains light for the US. Markets now patiently await the packed slate of upcoming central bank meetings, with all eyes on the FOMC policy meeting in early November. AUDUSD AUDUSD traders have been at the mercy of Greenback strength for almost all of 2022, as King Dollar has effectively reigned supreme over global capital markets. With the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) electing to slow its pace of rate hikes at the most recent policy meeting, attention now shifts to employment data. The tight labor market in Australia certainly has the RBAs attention as central bankers look to avoid a wage-price spiral. The RBA sees unemployment at 3.4% in Q4, slightly below the current rate of 3.5%. Should the labor market soften, traders may look to speculate about an even lower terminal rate from the RBA, thus dragging AUD lower. AUDUSD 4 Hour Chart Chart created with TradingView NZDUSD The Kiwi has notably struggled against the Greenback, but the winds perhaps may be shifting. An upside surprise in New Zealand CPI this week may cause the market to reassess rate hike probabilities for the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's (RBNZ) November meeting. While the current consensus remains 50 basis points (bps), 75 bps may gain traction given that it was already a topic of discussion at the previous policy meeting. With this in mind, NZDUSD could remain buoyant here as traders await both the FOMC and RBNZ. For any upside to materialize, NZDUSD would need to break above trendline resistance that stems from the October 5 high. Should the pair continue to print lower swing-lows, support around the 0.5545 area may come back into focus. Traders should also be wary of USD price action, given the somewhat strange sell-off following last weeks CPI and PPI prints. If the market has come close to pricing in peak USD strength, high-beta FX could be in for a swift rally off these lows. NZDUSD 4 Hour Chart Chart created with TradingView AUDNZD AUDNZD has put in a strong reversal after failing to crack the 1.1500 level in late September. This change in course came as the RBA surprised markets with a 25 bps rate hike at their most recent meeting, which surprised many. Policy divergence now becomes the focus in the AUDNZD cross, as the RBNZ looks set to plug ahead with aggressive rate hikes. The sharp drop in AUDNZD has seen the cross break lower out of the channel that has constrained price for all of 2022. Despite elevated risks of a hard landing in New Zealand, the Kiwi may continue to outperform as traders reassess a less-aggressive RBA. Should the current trajectory continue, it may just be a matter of time before we retrace to the key 1.1000 psychological level. AUDNZD Daily Chart Chart created with TradingView Trade Smarter - Sign up for the DailyFX Newsletter Receive timely and compelling market commentary from the DailyFX team Subscribe to Newsletter RESOURCES FOR FOREX TRADERS Whether you are a new or experienced trader, we have several resources available to help you; indicator for tracking trader sentiment, quarterly trading forecasts, analytical and educational webinars held daily, trading guides to help you improve trading performance, and one specifically for those who are new to forex. --- Written by Brendan Fagan To contact Brendan, use the comments section below or @BrendanFaganFX on Twitter KAKINADA: A major scam has unfolded in land acquisition relating to Polavaram Project. Officials paid a compensation of Rs. 6 crore to 21 fake farmers for 82 acres of Konda Podu land in K Veeravaram village of Chinaramanaiapheta panchayat in Dandangi area of Devipatnam mandal in Alluri Seetharama Raju District. According to sources, officers of the Polavaram project left main canal project (LA) paid Rs. 6,17,77,500 for 82.37 acres of land to 21 farmers. The deal was fake and a case of misappropriation of government funds. Polavaram project Gokavaram R&R colony ex-co-option member Posala Venkata Krishna Rao gave an RTI application and got the details of the land compensation. After a careful examination of the survey numbers and names of farmers who took the compensation, it was clear that these were all fake entries. The officials paid so-called compensation to fake farmers. As per the records, some land out of the 82.37 acres had not been allotted to anyone. The mandal tahsildar office gave the reply that there was no record for the land owners or pattadars of the said land. But, the LMC has paid the compensation of the lands to fake farmers, Krishna Rao said. Rao has lodged a complaint with Alluri Seetharama Raju collector Suimit Kumar. He pleaded that the government do a probe on the scam. In fact, several land compensation scams may come to light if a CID or CBI probe is initiated, he said. Matta Mehrababa, a farmer, said when he approached the land acquisition officer for compensation to his acquired lands, he has found that payments for his land of 5 acres has been done to fake farmers. The records of the pattas were found missing in the tahsildars office, as per his knowledge. Notably, special collector for the Polavaram project E Murali, special deputy collector B Sivannarayana Reddy (retired), MRO, RI, VRO and others and some of the farmers had been arrested in the Gubbalampalem land scam. Recently, the Devipatnam police registered criminal cases against suspended Murali (land acquisition in-charge), Sivannarayana Reddy of Chinturu unit of Land Acquisition department and 27 fake farmers on the charge of misappropriation of government funds worth `19.52 crore. The suspended Murali and Sivannarayana Reddy have made payments to 27 farmers who allegedly submitted fake documents for lands of 244.39 acres. Adivasi Mahasabha legal adviser I Suryanarayana, Y Paravati Padmalatha and others lodged a complaint with Alluri Seetharamaraju district collector Sumit Kumar, alleging that the two officials paid `19.52 crore by violating court orders. They said, There is a controversy over tribal farmers and non-tribal farmers, related to the land at Kondamodalu village. With this, land acquisition officials deposited `22,24,38,064 to the Visakha Tribunal R&R authority. The amount should be paid to the actual beneficiaries, whose names will be declared by the authority. Till then, the amount should not be paid, it had been ordered. But, the then SDC Sivannarayana Reddy did not follow the instructions and paid `19.52 crore to 27 farmers. This was a gross violation of court orders. Sumit Kumar ordered the Project Administrator of Polavaram Irrigation Project Pravin Adhithya to investigate the matter. Devipatnam police registered criminal cases against the two officials and 27 farmers. Jeremy Hunt and his family were enjoying an extended city break in Belgium. He had taken his wife Lucia, 44, and their three young children to the lowland country famed for its pretty medieval towns, and home to the EU Commission and European Parliament. He promised he would put work aside after a busy summer of campaigning in the Conservative leadership election. So when his phone rang early on Friday morning, showing a number he did not recognise, he ignored it. But the caller was persistent, following up with a text message which provoked Hunt to laugh out loud. 'Jeremy, it's Liz Truss, please call urgently,' the message read. Hunt joked to his wife that it must be a prank and duly disregarded it. After all, he had Truss's number saved in his phone the pair had worked closely for the better part of a decade. What he didn't know was that, as Prime Minister, Miss Truss now uses multiple mobile numbers. She had indeed made the call a fact which, only a few weeks ago, would have seemed unimaginable. For his part, Jeremy Hunt had all but bowed out of frontline politics after his bruising loss in the leadership election. Despite having lost to Boris Johnson in the 2019 race, the former foreign secretary had once more tried his luck. Jeremy Hunt is pictured as he dashes back early from his holiday in Belgium But, instead of coming a respectable second as he did in 2019, Hunt, 55, was rejected this time in the first round of voting. Out of the eight candidates who made it to the ballot, Hunt came last with only 18 votes before placing his support behind Rishi Sunak. What a difference three months can make. For, back in Downing Street, and under pressure to respond to growing public anger over Kwasi Kwarteng's mini-Budget, Truss, 47, had dramatically decided on Thursday night to dump her first Chancellor after only 38 days in office. Around 1.30am on Friday morning our time, Kwarteng's team were busy booking him on to an early flight home from Washington, where he had been meeting other global finance ministers. He was recalled to Westminster for what he believed to be crisis talks with the Prime Minister. Before he had even touched down at Heathrow, Truss had already settled on his replacement. Later in the morning, and by now exasperated by Hunt's lack of responsiveness, Truss ordered her officials to contact his South West Surrey constituency office. Jeremy Hunt with his wife Lucia. They were on a trip to Belgium when Liz Truss called him and begged for help A little over 30 minutes later, an embarrassed Hunt finally returned the Prime Minister's call. He was, I am told, astonished to be offered the job. His expertise lay in health and foreign affairs, and he asked for time to consider the offer. It would take him just ten minutes. After talking to his wife, Hunt called back to accept, albeit with a long list of conditions about junking vast tracts of Kwarteng's Budget. The Prime Minister didn't take much persuading. Travelling back to London on the Eurostar at lunchtime with his wife, Hunt who had with him a gift of expensive Belgian chocolates for Miss Truss then sent a provocative 'winking face emoji' text to some of his most trusted friends. Following his defeat in the leadership election, many people including Hunt himself believed his life on the frontline of British politics was over. There was even speculation he would stand down at the next election, though Sean Donovan-Smith, chairman of the South West Surrey Conservatives, insists this was never the case. 'Jeremy was always going to stand again,' he says. 'He was very supportive of Liz Truss too, who he thought would make a good prime minister.' Jeremy Hunt speaks in the House of Commons after Liz Truss (seated) begged him to help save her neck Indeed, despite backing Sunak in the leadership election, Hunt has always been much closer to Truss than people realised. Having been cabinet colleagues from 2014-19, Truss regularly consulted Hunt after she was appointed Foreign Secretary a role he held under Theresa May in September 2021. Earlier this year, while negotiating the release of British-Iranian national Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe jailed in Tehran, it was Hunt who Truss turned to for advice. And, when she first stayed at Chevening House, the Foreign Secretary's official residence in Kent, it was again Hunt who she called on to ask how much she should tip the domestic staff. 'They have a really good relationship,' a source said. 'She knows he is always the best briefed in the room and admires his strong sense of public duty.' On Sunday, when Hunt went to Chequers to talk through his new role, he took his family with him. The Hunt children (Jack, 12; Anna, ten; and Eleanor, eight) played with Truss's teenage daughters Liberty and Frances, while Hunt's wife and Truss's husband Hugh O'Leary, 48, walked around the estate. Later, the families lunched on roast chicken together. It was the first time Truss and Hunt had spent any substantial time together since June, when they had both been at a foreign affairs summit in Paris. Truss had been delighted to receive a hand-written letter from Hunt after the summit telling her she had been a 'credit to the country'. Perhaps it was that kindness she remembered in the early hours of Friday morning when she had been looking to appoint a new Chancellor. Never one to miss a photo opportunity, Home Secretary Suella Braverman yesterday joined the National Crime Agency in a dawn raid on a people-smuggling ring. Up at 4am to rendezvous with the police in Oxfordshire, Braverman told the TV crews that accompanied her they had made an important breakthrough in the fight against illegal Channel migrant crossings. Todays operation sends a clear message that we are committed to bringing to justice the criminal gangs behind these deadly journeys across the Channel, she said. Barely six hours later, Braverman, 42, was unceremoniously despatched by the Prime Minister Liz Truss. The official reason was that she had blundered over the distribution of an official government document by using a private email account. In truth, it was a blazing 90-minute row between the Home Secretary and the Prime Minister on Tuesday night that lay at the heart of Bravermans departure after just 43 full days in the job. The clash was, yet again, over immigration. Braverman and Truss have been at odds over the issue for weeks. No 10 and the Treasury maintain that allowing in more workers from abroad is good for growth and are pushing for immigration rules to be relaxed to let in more, not fewer, migrants. Suella Braverman quit tonight as Home Secretary and was replaced by Grant Shapps, meaning that three of the four great offices of state including that of Prime Minister are now held by ministers who voted Remain The official reason was that she had blundered over the distribution of an official government document by using a private email account Liz Truss' short reply acknowledged that the former Home Secretary oversaw the police operations during the official mourning period for the Queen But the Home Secretary, a standard-bearer of the Right, expected the 2019 Conservative manifesto pledge to rely on far fewer low-skilled migrants to get overall migration down to be honoured. And she was making energetic strides in that direction. While her predecessor Priti Patel was good at talking up the actions she was taking, she made little impact on the flow of migrants. On Bravermans watch, however, 11 Albanians were fast-tracked straight from a processing centre in Kent to Stansted airport only last week. Her exit means that the Cabinet has lost two of the Tories leading Brexiteers in the space of six days. And the fact that Braverman and the former Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng have been replaced by ex-transport secretary Grant Shapps and ex-health secretary Jeremy Hunt means that three of the four great offices of state including that of Prime Minister are now held by ministers who voted Remain. Hunt and Shapps both backed Rishi Sunak, the former chancellor, for the leadership and their elevation has dramatically shifted the balance of power in the Cabinet away from the Right-wing Tory MPs who backed Truss in the first place. At the Conservative Party Conference the now former home secretary was criticised by Truss supporters for saying a coup had taken place after it was announced that the cut in the 45p tax rate was being dropped. The Prime Minister is said to have had a blazing 90-minute row with Braverman on Tuesday night before her resignation But in the days since Hunt was made Chancellor, Braverman has told friends that his appointment proves her assessment was right. And she is not alone in lamenting recent events. These changes are setting back the cause of the Tory Right by 30 years, said one appalled former minister. To her detractors Braverman was a shameless populist and they were appalled by her opportunism in launching her Tory leadership campaign on live TV even before Boris Johnson had resigned. Not that it did her much good: She was knocked out in the second round and then lined up behind Truss. She was in feisty form on her final outing at the despatch box as home secretary on Tuesday, roundly mocking Opposition MPs for refusing to condemn the Stop Oil protesters: Im afraid its the Labour Party, its the Lib Dems, its the coalition of chaos, its the Guardian-reading, tofu-eating, wokerati dare I say, the anti-growth coalition that we have to thank for the disruption we are seeing on our roads today. Labour MPs jeered, some Tory MPs sneered, but much of what she said resonates not just with large sections of the electorate but also the Tory members who put Truss in No 10 and who are bewildered by the recent U-turns and what is becoming nothing less than a philosophical revolution in the Cabinet. Her blistering resignation letter suggests that Braverman will not go quietly. But there is no doubt that with her departure, the truly Conservative low-tax renaissance we were promised just weeks ago, is now dead in the water. Verhaeg believes his rental is a 'pretty good deal' considering the building's prime location and the fact that his utilities are included He explained each floor of the walk-up has 10 apartments, three shared bathrooms, and two shared showers Verhaeg also doesn't have a shower or a toilet in his apartment The unit doesn't have a formal kitchen area or stove, so he uses a cooktop He admitted that he is too tall for his twin bed and has to sleep diagonally Advertisement A man has revealed he pays $1,100 a month to live in a 95-square-foot apartment in New York City that doesn't have an in-unit bathroom or kitchen but utilities are included. Alex Verhaeg, 23, moved to Manhattan's East Village from upstate New York a few years ago and works as a bike messenger, licensed barber, and content creator to pay his rent and other expenses. 'Living in such a small space really makes you be grateful for the things that you do have,' he told CNBC Make It while giving a tour of his apartment. Alex Verhaeg, 23, pays $1,100 a month to live in a 95-square-foot apartment in New York City The shoe-box-style unit is just over 15 feet long and 6 feet wide, but he has managed to fit a bed, a small table set, and a dresser into the space He explained that his living situation forces him to be a minimalist because he doesn't have enough room to buy and store 'random things.' Verhaeg's shoe-box-style unit is just over 15 feet long and 6 feet wide, but it is undoubtedly cozy thanks to the candle he has burning and the artwork hanging on the walls. 'Any space can be made into a home,' he said. 'No matter how big or how small that space is you just got to put some love into it.' Verhaeg has made the most of his limited square footage by having his twin bed pushed horizontally against the room's only window, wedged between the walls. 'Living in such a small space really makes you be grateful for the things that you do have,' he told CNBC Make It while giving a tour of his apartment Verhaeg has his twin bed pushed horizontally against the room's only window, wedged between the walls He admitted that he is too tall for his bed and has to lie diagonally to sleep comfortably He noted that he is happy with his view especially when it's snowing but he is notably too tall for his bed. In order to sleep comfortably, he has to lie diagonally. The full-time content creator keeps his shoes and other items lined up underneath his bed, and he has a few other storage spaces, including a small closet by the door. Verhaeg squeezed in a small circular table that he nabbed from a restaurant that was closing and paired it with two folding chairs. The work and dining area sits opposite a flat-screen TV and a floating shelf stacked with books that are mounted on the wall. Verhaeg keeps his shoes and other items lined up underneath his bed, and he has a few other storage spaces, including a small closet by the door. Verhaeg has a small table in the room that sits opposite a flat-screen TV and a floating shelf stacked with books that are mounted on the wall. The apartment has a refrigerator, but there isn't an actual kitchen with a stove The apartment has a refrigerator and a small sink with a medicine cabinet, but there isn't an actual kitchen with a stove. He uses a cooktop that sits on top of a dresser, which is also where he stores his food. Verhaeg also doesn't have a shower or a toilet in his unit. Whenever needs to go to the bathroom or bathe, he has to use the shared facilities down the hall. He explained that each floor of the five-floor walk-up has 10 apartments, three shared bathrooms, and two shared showers. He has to bring his shower caddy and towel back and forth with him because he can't leave them in the stall. 'Living in the building can sort of feel like youre in the college dorms by the fact that you share bathrooms and you share showers,' he explained. 'Sometimes, youll see your neighbors walking around in the hallway in either a towel or a bathrobe, but you sort of just get used to it.' He uses a cooktop that sits on top of a dresser, which is also where he stores his food The unit has a bathroom-style sink that he also has to use to wash his dishes Verhaeg works as a bike messenger, licensed barber, and content creator, and he will sometimes cut people's hair in his apartment There are no laundry units in the building, but his rent payment covers his utilities, including his electricity and hot water. 'The only bill I have besides my rent is my WiFi, which costs me $50 per month,' he shared. The building has a security camera, but he admitted that it didn't prevent his bike from being stolen from the first floor. Now, every time he comes home, he has to carry his bike up four floors to ensure no one nabs it. There also used to be a rodent problem, according to the tenant, but the issue was resolved when after a cat was moved into the building. The apartment has a small medicine cabinet and sink, but there isn't a toilet or shower Verhaeg explained that each floor of the walk-up has 10 apartments, three shared bathrooms (pictured), and two shared showers He has to bring his shower caddy and towel back and forth with him because he can't leave them in the stall When Verhaeg moved into the walk-up in September 2020, the rent was $1,000 per month, $100 less than what he pays now, which some would consider a steal by New York City standards He had two main priorities when he started his apartment search two years ago: He wanted to live alone and in Manhattan because he doesn't like to take the train. Verhaeg found his current abode on Zillow and recalled the rental process being fairly easy. His mother co-signed for the unit, and he lucked out by not having to pay a broker's fee. He only had to put down a $1,000 security deposit and another $1,000 for the first months rent. There are no laundry units in the building, but his rent payment covers his utilities, including his electricity and hot water The building has a security camera, but he admitted that it didn't prevent his bike from being stolen from the first floor Every time he comes home, he has to carry his bike up four floors to ensure no one nabs it Verhaeg is in his third year of living in the apartment, and while he thinks it will likely be his last, he feels grateful to call the space home. 'I believe that I do have a good deal here,' he said. 'I know it's a lot of money, but for the location I am in, the fact that all of my utilities are included, I feel like I'm paying a pretty fair price.' The video tour has been viewed more than 91,000 times on YouTube, and commenters were both appalled and impressed. 'There are prison cells that are larger,' one person noted, while another added, '$1,100 and he can't sleep comfortably in his own bed.' When Verhaeg moved into the walk-up in September 2020, the rent was $1,000 per month, $100 less than what he pays now He had two main priorities when he started his apartment search two years ago: He wanted to live alone and in Manhattan because he doesn't like to take the train 'I believe that I do have a good deal here,' he said. 'I know it's a lot of money, but for the location I am in, the fact that all of my utilities are included, I feel like I'm paying a pretty fair price' 'It's insane NYC has normalized this kinda lifestyle,' someone else shared. Others were impressed by Verhaeg's positivity and how he is making the best out of his living situation. 'It is very difficult for young people starting out in life on their own to find a good situation for themselves,' one viewer noted. 'Alex is satisfied with the life he has, including the neighborhood, that fits his needs. I wish him well in his plans for his future.' 'I applaud you man. It takes a very unique person to live in 95 sq. ft., make it feel like home, and be happy living there,' someone else wrote. 'Hope you make it big someday. Your story is one that can never be forgotten.' 'We're just smarter about it,' she said, and admitted she's strayed before too Jana Hocking said while Wilde is copping it, women cheat just as much as men Unless you were hiding under a rock this week, you would have heard the bombshell revelations from Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis' former nanny claiming the Hollywood actress cheated on him with Harry Styles. We were all SHOOK! A woman cheating? Surely it's just celebrity blokes who get ousted for those sort of shenanigans. But here's the thing - and prepare yourself for it... women cheat too. In fact, may I be so bold to state that we women cheat just as much, if not more than men. We're just smarter about it. Now put down the pitchforks, I'm not stating it's a good thing, I'm just stating it's a fact. You see, men tend to get sloppy when they're sneaking around behind their partners back. Jana Hocking (pictured) says while Olivia Wilde is copping it over Harry Styles, she's far from the first woman to stray - in fact there are far more than you think Olivia Wilde Jason Sudeikis attend the 2013 ESPY Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on July 17, 2013 (left). She's pictured right with new flame Harry Styles in March, 2022 Many can't help but brag to their mates, or forget to delete their messages, or in one instance that happened to a friend of mine - they get home drunk from the pub, fall asleep with their phone unlocked, and are woken up to a screaming wife who has dived deep into his messages to discover he's been having an affair for years. I can hang my head in shame and admit that I've cheated before, but have I ever been caught? No! And here's why: I am not reckless. I've deleted the messages not only from my phone but from the iCloud. I've pre-planned. Whereas a bloke will call his mate up the morning after and say 'mate, if the missus asks, I was with you last night', a woman has built up her storyline over a week. She's made sure there's no witnesses and she's ventured out knowing that her alibi is rock solid. You see, we women don't cheat just simply because we can, there's usually a reason behind it. Zhana Vrangalova, a professor of human sexuality at NYU stated recently: 'Traditionally, it's been argued that women are more likely than men to cheat because they're unhappy with the existing relationships, while men are more likely than women to cheat because they're looking for sexual variety or an opportunity presented itself.' From my own personal experience, I cheated because I felt trapped. It was in my late 20s, and I was in a horribly toxic relationship, but I loved the bloke. He would treat me like rubbish, and then work the charm and bring me back into the love bubble. My self-esteem was at rock bottom, and I felt useless. 'From my own personal experience, I cheated because I felt trapped. It was in my late 20s, and I was in a horribly toxic relationship, but I loved the bloke,' Jana (pictured) said Poll Have you ever cheated? Yes, and I would again! No, never. No, but I've thought about it. Have you ever cheated? Yes, and I would again! 67 votes No, never. 148 votes No, but I've thought about it. 43 votes Now share your opinion That was when I met someone at work who unexpectedly took a shine to me. Having not felt attractive for such a long time I couldn't help but enjoy his flattery. Before I knew it, I was choofing up the highway for an illicit coastal weekend away with him, and I hate to say it, but it's the best thing I ever did. I got back on the Sunday night and broke up with my boyfriend for good. This guy had made me remember that I was worthy of love and being treated properly. I then took myself off to therapy, which I highly recommend, to make sure I never end up in the same toxic situation. A similar thing happened to a close family member, and she's been married to the man she had an affair with for 10 years. When you look at recent examples of blokes who have been publicly caught cheating, the storyline seems to go along the lines of 'I was horny and famous enough to give it a crack'. They recklessly slide into women's DM's, they grab their butts at award ceremonies, they leave evidence in their wake. Not smart. There's also the theory that not as many women are publicly ousted for cheating because men simply don't want to know! A friend of mine was caught cheating by her husband, and rather than make a song and dance out of it, he blew his top and then strongly told her they were to never talk about it again. Why? Ego. The thought of his friends finding out that his wife had taken a shine to another bloke was too much to bear. Men are brought up to believe they are the hunters and women are the nurturers. 'There's also the theory that not as many women are publicly ousted for cheating because men simply don't want to know,' she said Sure, they can go and enjoy the chase of another woman, but their wife stepping outside the societal norms to find their own romantic dalliances? Oh no. Many men are naive enough to believe their women were put on the earth to simply serve them, and that's just not the case. So sure, men get a bad rap for being scumbag cheaters, but anyone with a heartbeat is a prime suspect for an affair, we women just know how to hide the evidence better. And for the record, if I had Harry Styles knocking on my door late at night, let's be honest I would let him in. Prince Haakon of Norway has opened up about his sister Princess Martha Louise potentially losing her title, admitting the issue is 'difficult.' The Norwegian heir-to-the-throne, 49, told local press that he feels 'responsible' for the future of the Norwegian monarchy, Norwegian media NRK reported, after it has been rumoured that crisis meetings over what to do with Martha Louise's royal title have been ongoing for weeks. Referring to his sister's June engagement with guru to the stars Durek Verrett, who works under the name of Shaman Durek and lives with Martha in California, Haakon said he liked him on a personal level, but admitted some of the spiritual personality's viewers had caused controversy in Norway. This comes as neighbouring monarch Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has shocked the world by announcing that the children of her second son, Prince Joachim, who lives in France, 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, rather than His or Her Royal Highness as of January 1. Prince Haakon of Norway, who is heir-to-the-throne, 49, told local press that he feels 'responsible' for the future of the Norwegian monarchy, Norwegian media NRK reported Referring to his sister's June engagement with guru to the stars Durek Verrett, who works under the name of Shaman Durek, right, and lives with Martha Louise in California, Haakon said he liked him on a personal level, but admitted some of the spiritual personality's viewers had caused controversy in Norway Speaking to the press during yesterday's outing, Haakon said he would like to 'welcome' Durek into the 'family'. He added he had met the Shaman on 'a number of occasions.' But the royal revealed he had to consider the situation from the perspective of the heir to the throne, saying: 'I feel very responsible for the institution.' He went on to discuss the controversial comments made by Durek throughout the years, including the claim that children get cancer because they are unhappy. Crown Prince Haakon and his wife Crown Princess Mette-Marit with King Harald V and Queen Sonja in 2004 The spiritual guide had his book dropped by his publisher in Norway when the claims were made public, causing a stir in his fiancee's native country. 'We have of course noticed that some of what has been said and done has caused quite a bit of discussion. Some of it has also been controversial,' Haakon said. The prince added that the Norwegian royal family is working out what to do bout these issues in order to move forward. His controversial comments will add fuel to the flames after Norwegian media began speculating that King Harald could strip his daughter of her title. According to Norwegian publication, Se og Hr, crisis meetings have been taking place on an ongoing basis over the issue between the king and his two children, who he shares with Queen Sonja of Norway, Crown Prince Haakon, 49 - who is heir to the throne - and Princess Martha Louise. It's thought that Martha Louise, a mother-of-three, has considered removing the Princess title herself. She gave up using the title 'Her Royal Highness' in 2002 Back in 2019, the Norwegian royal house announced that Martha Louise, in consultation with her family, had decided that she would no longer use the title of princess in commercial contexts. The palace said that the royal could, however, continue to use the title when she represented the royal house, as well as in a private context. Martha Louise gave up using the title 'Her Royal Highness' in 2002. Martha Louise travelled to Canada in late September, and it's thought that meetings with her father to discuss her title would have taken place before that. The 50-year-old mother of three, who is the daughter of King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway, announced her engagement to the 47-year-old Californian bisexual shaman in June. In March, the princess shared the first snap of her three children alongside her partner Shaman Durek (pictured together) With a huge celebrity following, the belief he can talk to the spiritual world and very colourful history, Shaman Durek is hardly your typical royal groom. But perhaps he's perfect for Princess Martha Louise of Norway, who as a self-proclaimed clairvoyant who says she can talk to angels is far from a classic royal bride. The pair been dating since 2019 after meeting through a mutual friend, and share a passion for all things spiritual. Born Durek Verrett in Sacramento in November 1974, the groom-to-be claims he first became 'aware' of his shamanic abilities when he was five but that he didn't start training until age 11. Princess Martha Louise announced her engagement to US Shaman Durek Verrett in June. The couple started dating in 2019 and after meeting through a mutual friend, and share a passion spirit world The pair been dating since 2019 after meeting through a mutual friend, and share a passion for all things spiritual. They are pictured with Gwyneth Paltrow The shaman, who has a several celeb followers in the US, where he is based, published his book 'Spirit Hacking' in 2019 in the US, but publishers banned in Norway over the over pseudoscientific claims including 'children can get cancer from being unhappy'. Eagled-eyes royal blogger Gert's Royals unearthed how the book was banned by Norwegian publishers, which was released shortly after the pair started dating. However, the publishing house dropped the book shortly after Martha Louise's and Durek's engagement was made public this summer. After reading a translation of the book from its original English, the publishing house said at the time they were shocked by a number of unproven statements made by Durek in the book. In a press release, the Oslo-based publisher said: 'Our conclusion is that the book should not have been assumed, it will not be published, and the publisher has informed the rights holders about this. Publishing Manager Knut Ola Ulvestad also told a Norwegian newspaper at the time that he wasnt aware of the cancer claims in the book until after the US release. After someone tipped him off on the book's controversial content at the Frankfurt Book Fair, Ulvestad combed through the Norwegian translation, which led him to the decision not to publish. 'When I read through the Norwegian translation and found the parties dealing with the causes of cancer and treatment, it became impossible to publish this book,' he said in 2019. 'If this is read literally, it can simply be harmful,' he added. 'We all have friends and colleagues affected by cancer, who have children affected by cancer,'Ulvestad went on. 'And what Durek writes about, for example, is that when children have cancer, its because theyre unhappy and thinking about it, so yeah, I just dont have an adequate comment on this.' When news of Durek's controversial view on cancer spread, other publishers decided to drop the book before it was even published. New Delhi: Calling on electors to show courage to "embrace change", Congress' presidential polls candidate Shashi Tharoor on Sunday asserted that in the change he envisions, the party's "values and loyalties" will remain the same with only the ways of achieving the goals undergoing a transformation. In his "last appeal" to the over 9,000 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates who constitute the electoral college to pick the next AICC chief, Tharoor noted that from his conversations over the last few days he gathered that many of them may have concerns or hesitation about change. While Tharoor has pitched himself as the candidate of change, Kharge is considered the favourite and the 'unofficial official candidate' with a large number of senior leaders backing him. "It is natural to have concerns about change in any organisation of the scale and size like ours, that's why I want to address this directly," Tharoor said in his video appeal which he posted on Twitter. "In the conversations that we had in the last few days, I gather that many of you have not still made up your minds (on who to vote for). I recognise that while my message of decentralisation, modernisation and inclusivity may appeal to you, you still have concerns and hesitation about change," he said. The Congress has endured as an important force in Indian politics because time and and time again when the situation demanded, it was willing to embrace change, Tharoor said and cited the examples of the 1991 economic liberalisation, generational change effected with Rajiv Gandhi being brought about after losing a tall leader like Indira Gandhi and the green revolution in the 1960s and 70s. Many people would notice that due to these changes the party was strengthened, he said, underlining that change is not easy and it is dicomforting to adopt. "Now for many, embrace of the new also seems to imply a rebuke of the old. I want to clarify in no uncertain terms that the change I envision is one that combines the wisdom of the old and the energy of the new," Tharoor said. "Our values and loyalties will remain the same and yet the ways in which we seek to achieve our shared goals will need to change". He said the thing that is most needed for this change is courage. It does not matter who becomes president but what matters is that does the Congress and its workers have the courage to embrace change, the MP from Thiruvananthapuram said. "Whatever the outcome may be, I believe every vote for me provides a signal, not just to the party but to the country, that the Congress is willing to change and is willing to do whatever is needed to reinvigorate ourselves and take on the divisive forces of the BJP," he said. "All party workers and citizens of the country are waiting for your answer." "I still remain optimistic because I believe that courage is at the very core of the Congress, our predecessors took on an empire, took on the forces of hate, oppression and division, and they won. They won because the soul of the Congress was built on millions of acts of courage not just by leaders but by Congress workers just like each one of us today. I believe that legacy endures in you even today," Tharoor said. "When you stand in that booth with your secret ballot there is no other force there with you except your own conscience and your own courage. I hope we will exercise not just our vote but also our legacy of our courage," he added. In his message to the delegates, Tharoor also said Monday morning they are all are going to do something historic and as a faithful Congress person, probably it would be for the first time they will vote for the post of the party president. "I hope you would be knowing about the 10 points of my manifesto. You know that I want to bring about decentralisation, modernisation in the party and my dream is to make it more inclusive," he said. With Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra not in the running for the party president's post, a non-Gandhi would be at the helm after over 24 years following the polling on Monday and counting on Wednesday. The upcoming polls would certainly be historic as the new president would replace Sonia Gandhi, the longest-serving party president who has been at the helm since 1998, barring the two years between 2017 and 2019 when Rahul Gandhi took over. Their engagement came weeks after the engagement of Princess Iman Rajwa paid subtle tribute to her husband-to-be with her adorable necklace The couple made their first official appearance as an engaged couple yesterday Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan is engaged to Saudi-born Rajwa Al-Saif, both 28 Crown Prince Hussein's glamorous fiancee Rajwa Al-Saif paid tribute to her husband-to-be during their first official engagement as a betrothed couple yesterday. It was announced last month that Sandhurst graduate Hussein, 28, is set to wed Saudi Arabian-born Rajwa, also 28, after an engagement ceremony at the bride-to-be's family home in Riyadh. The couple took part in their first official engagement as husband-and-wife-to-be yesterday, as they visited the Royal Covenant. And in a subtle nod to their relationship, Rajwa opted to wear a necklace featuring the initials 'R' and 'H.' Crown Prince Hussein's glamorous fiancee Rajwa Al-Saif paid tribute to her husband-to-be during their first official engagement as a betrothed couple yesterday - with a necklace bearing their initials In a subtle nod to their relationship, Rajwa opted to wear a necklace featuring the initials 'R' and 'H' Rajwa donned a smart white shirt for the occasion, which she paired with a lengthy black skirt. Meanwhile she kept her accessories to a minimum, simply carrying a miniature white handbag. The couple, who got engaged last month, appeared in high spirits during the outing with one another, and were beaming as they visited the Royal Covenant. Rajwa received a degree from Syracuse University, New York, and studied at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles after completing her secondary education in Saudi Arabia. The couple took part in their first official engagement as husband-and-wife-to-be yesterday, as they visited the Royal Covenant The pair appeared in good spirits as they visited the Royal Covenant (left and right). Rajwa donned a smart white shirt for the occasion, which she paired with a lengthy black skirt Rajwa (pictured during the visit) is the youngest daughter of Khaled M. Al Saif and his wife, Azza bint Naif Al-Sudairi She has worked at an architecture firm in Los Angeles and currently works at Designlab Experience design studio in Riyadh. She is the youngest daughter of Khaled M. Al Saif and his wife, Azza bint Naif Al-Sudairi. Mr Al Saif is CEO of the Al Saif Group, a privately-owned company with a diverse portfolio of businesses across healthcare, construction and security services, and is a board member of the Saudi-British Joint Business Council, which promotes trade between the two countries. Crown Prince Hussein, the eldest of King Abdullah and Queen Rania's four children, is a graduate of the prestigious Georgetown University, Washington D.C., and serviced in the Army after graduating from Sandhurst in 2017. In 2015 he made history as the youngest person to chair a meeting of the United Nations Security Council. Earlier this year he made headlines when he hosted Prince William on a visit to the Middle East. Queen Rania of Jordan (centre) announced the surprise engagement of her eldest son Crown Prince Hussein to glamorous businessman's daughter Rajwa Al-Saif in September, pictured together Sandhurst graduate Hussein, 28, is set to wed Saudi Arabian-born Rajwa, also 28, pictured together, after an engagement ceremony at the bride-to-be's family home in Riyadh last month Rajwa received a degree from Syracuse University, New York, after completing her secondary education in Saudi Arabia. Pictured, with her future husband at the engagement ceremony The happy couple, pictured, were joined by family for the engagement ceremony in Riyadh Proud mother Rania shared her joy on Instagram after the announcement of their engagement in September. She posted a slideshow of images, writing: 'I didn't think it was possible to hold so much joy in my heart! Congratulations to my eldest Prince Hussein and his beautiful bride-to-be, Rajwa. In Arabic, Rania continued: 'I prayed to Allah - like me, like every mother - to grant you good and to find the one you love, Rajwa came. 'Congratulations to my son, Prince Al-Hussein, and our precious and sweet bride Rajwa - May Allah bless you and make you happy and complete well.' It came just weeks after Queen Rania announced the surprise engagement of her second child, Princess Iman, 25, to Jameel Thermiotis. Queen Rania and King Abdullah II (right) of Jordan with the happy couple (centre) at the ceremony King Abdullah II gives his future daughter-in-law a warm embrace at the engagement ceremony The bride and groom were joined by their family at the bride's home in Saudi Arabia for the engagement ceremony According to reports, Venezuela-born Jameel, who is around two years older than the princess, works as a Managing Partner for a Venture Capital fund based in New York. The engagement announcement was a delightful surprise for royal fans, since the couple have kept their relationship under wraps until now, and it's not clear how long they have been dating. In personal statement shared on her Instagram account, Queen Rania said: 'Congratulations my dearest Iman; your smile has always been a gift of love that Ive cherished since the day you were born. I wish you and Jameel a life filled with love and laughter!' Princess Beatrice made a very stylish appearance at Mayfair's Maison Estelle private club last night. The royal, 33, was spotted leaving the exclusive establishment, wearing thigh-high boots and a miniskirt by the designer Misha Nonoo, who also happens to be a close friends of the Duchess of Sussex. She looked elegant in the trendy monochrome look, which she completed with a black trench coat. The mother-of-one seemed to have enjoyed a night on the town without her husband Edo Mappeli Mozzi, 38, who recently announced he has expanded his luxury property business to the Gold Coast. Princess Beatrice, 33, made a very stylish appearance at Mayfair's Maison Estelle private club last night The royal was seen leaving the establishment, wearing a Misha Nonoo skirt with thigh high boots and a black woolen coat Beatrice seemed in good spirits as she strutted out of the members' club front door, her trench coat from RedValentino perched on her shoulders. Underneath, the stylish royal was wearing a knitted black top with a graphic green and white shell print from Nonoo. She paired it with a pair of heeled nubuck thigh high boots from Maje, and a beloved purple bag from Sienna Jones she's worn several times before. Her redhead locks looked as luscious as ever, styled in a straight blow-dry swooped back and tucked behind her ears. Beatrice appeared in good spirits and was seen tucking her phone in her beloved across body bag from Sienna Jones, left. Her hair was styled in an elegant blow-dry Beatrice kept the look simple and didn't sport any jewelry other than a few rings and her wedding band. She donned natural makeup, with just a dash of mascara and eyeliner and a pink lip. Maison Estelle is one of Soho's most prized members clubs and is so exclusive that membership fees are only available on request. The mother-of-one looked relaxed during her outing, which comes after it was announced last week that her husband's flourishing property development venture is expanding into Australia's Gold Coast. Edo took to his Instagram to share snaps featuring the stunning interiors of the project, comprised by five 'Sky Homes' and two penthouses in Gold Coast, Queensland. The business mogul, 37, pictured a bedroom decorated with rustic off-white aesthetics and modern low-hanging lamps amid the background of the city's gorgeous scenery. The mother-of-one, who kept the look simple with a natural makeup and little accessories, smiled quietly to herself as she left Maison Estelle Another photo of the development - which is titled Masthead - captured a modern kitchen, fitted with a jade-hued marble island counter. Edo tagged the interior design firm Banda, which he runs, and started age 23. In the captions, the Italian property developer outlined the project as promising '28 residences on the Northern end of Main Beach' with each 'sky home' offering 312 square metres of lateral space. Banda's website also claims there is one 'super penthouse on the upper levels of the building'. According to an online description, residents can expect amenities to include a wellness centre, spa and sauna facilities, a private dining room and an 'owner's club lounge with a fully stocked wine & whisky bar'. The project completion date is set for 2024, but the 28 units are 'offered for sale off-plan with prices from $5.9m AUD'. Banda's aim is to design homes for affluent clients in 'undervalued' parts of London, getting them value for money and Masthead appears to be the company's first offering in Australia. She paired it with t-shirt with 'Women, Life, Freedom' written in Farsi from Ets Meghan Markle added some glitz to a statement look with a pair of very expensive designer trousers during a surprise appearance at a Spotify event. The stylish royal, who hosts her own podcast, Archetypes, for Spotify, donned a stylish 1,100 pair of crepe trousers from Maison Valentino during a visit at the music streaming service's HQ in Los Angeles last night. The mother-of-two, 41, paired it with a black t-shirt reading: 'Women, Life, Freedom,' in Farsi, which she bought from Etsy for 30, in a show of support for the Iranian protestors fighting hijab rules. The royal is known for her love of glamorous jewellery and expensive designer items. The words of support from the Duchess come as women across Iran have been protesting gendered oppression following the death of Mahsa Amini. The 22-year-old died in police custody after being arrested for allegedly violating the Muslim nation's strict morality laws which requires women to cover their hair. Meghan Markle, 41, made a statement with a simple yet telling look yesterday as she made an appearance at private event at Spotify's HQs in Los Angeles last night Meghan kept the look simple for her stint at Spotify, and sported very little makeup, apart from her usual trait of eyeliner and mascara, a dash of bronzer and a glossy lip. Her brown locks where styled in a bouncy blow-dry that cascaded down her shoulders. The mother-of-two was also wearing a discreet pair of dropped earrings and bracelets for the event. It marks the second time the Duchess has worn a statement slogan tee. Meghan brought along two executive members of her organization Archewell - executive vice president of global communications Ashley Hansen, and president Mandana Dayani, right, both of whom are Iranian women Last year, Meghan sported a casual 27 black and white T-shirt by British designer Mere Soeur during an appearance on the trailer for Prince Harry and Oprah Winfrey's new Apple TV mental health series. The hipster brand specialises in clothing for mothers - aka 'mama merch' - and is 'dedicated to celebrating sisterhood and empowering mums'. Her t-shirt sported the words, 'Raising the future.' Meghan brought along two executive members of her organization Archewell - executive vice president of global communications Ashley Hansen, and president Mandana Dayani, both of whom are Iranian women. Meghan was invited to appear at the private Spotify event Tuesday, according to Hello!, and spoke of the 'courage' for the Iranian protesters. Dayani elaborated on Markle's comments, and said it was a 'proud day' at Archewell for her and Hansen while sharing a photo of the three of them together at the event. 'Meghan spoke about the revolution being led by women and young girls in Iran,' Dayani wrote in an Instagram post. 'The courage and bravery they show every day, and their leadership and advocacy of basic human rights: women, life, freedom. 'As an Iranian woman who fled her home country in pursuit of these very freedoms, I could not have been more grateful for how she chooses, again and again, to advocate for women around the world,' she added. The t-shirt Meghan wore is available to buy on Etsy for 30 and read: 'Women, Life, Freedom' in Farsi, pictured Mandana Dayani, an Iranian woman, shared more details of the event on her Instagram account, and said she was grateful Author of the Megan Markle biography Finding Freedom, Omid Scobie, tweeted out the photo of the three of them and praised Megan for her message. 'Meghan stands in solidarity with women and girls in Iran,' Scobie wrote. Markle's support for Iranian women was only the most recent of many times she has expressed support for women's issues. Earlier this summer she spoke out against the overturning of Roe V. Wade. 'Men need to be vocal in this moment and beyond because these are decisions that affect relationships, families, and communities at large,' she said in a June interview with Vogue, 'They may target women, but the consequences impact all of us. 'My husband and I talked about that a lot over the past few days. He's a feminist too,' she added. In previous years she has continually spoken about the importance of girls' and women's education across the globe, and women's rights to vote. And in a 2017 issue of Time magazine, she published an impassioned piece about fighting the stigma of menstruation in the developing world. Rock band frontman Chris denied, and it turned out their baby had eye infection A woman was shocked when told that her loyal husband may have cheated on her after their newborn was mistakenly diagnosed with an STI. Jenna Barnes, 43, from Manchester, took her son Fletcher to the hospital when his eyes became 'gunky and stuck together'. She claims a midwife told her that the baby had tested positive for gonorrhoea - a sexually transmitted disease which can also affect infants - when in reality he just had a bacterial infection. The mother-of-five says she was told it would have been passed on by a parent before their son was born - leading her to believe her husband, Chris, 45, the frontman for a tribute rock band, had been unfaithful. Jenna Barnes, 43, from Manchester, was shocked when told that her loyal husband Chris, 45, may have cheated on her after their newborn was mistakenly diagnosed with an STI. Pictured, Jenna and Chris Barnes Jenna, 43, took her son Fletcher (pictured) to the hospital when his eyes became 'gunky and stuck together' Knowing she wouldn't have contracted gonorrhoea from anyone else, Jenna, a lingerie and costume designer from Manchester, confronted her partner - who insisted he hadn't strayed either. The whole family was relieved when a midwife revealed she had given Jenna the wrong results, confirming their one-month-old did not have gonorrhoea. Fletcher - who actually had a bacterial infection - was treated with antibiotics and eye drops. The midwife was very apologetic for mistakenly reading out positive instead of negative and Jenna says she and Chris can laugh about the blunder now. Jenna (pictured with Fletcher) revealed that while she has 'complete trust' in her marriage, 'when a medical professional tells you have tested positive for an STI, you don't question it' 'I was gobsmacked when she told me - I was lost for words,' she said. 'I instantly started Googling the illness and knew having sex was the only way of contracting the disease. 'Chris and I were relieved when we discovered it was an honest mistake, but in our heart of hearts we knew it was wrong.' Jenna revealed that while she has 'complete trust' in her marriage, 'when a medical professional tells you have tested positive for an STI, you don't question it'. Luckily, Jenna already had a meeting with the same midwife later the day so it was only a few hours before she could get confirmation. Jenna started worrying Chris would think she had been unfaithful when she spent nine weeks working at Pinewood Studios, Slough, Berkshire, before becoming pregnant with Fletcher in December 2021 Fletcher - who actually had a bacterial infection - was treated with antibiotics and eye drops The mother admitted while she was 'relieved' by the news for herself and her husband, she was most pleased about the baby Jenna's husband, Chris, was on tour in Canada at the time of his baby's birth, and claims he is 'admittedly the most boring man in rock 'n' roll' 'I'm a vegetarian, I barely drink, and I don't smoke,' he said. 'I was going to the toilet on the tour bus, it must have been about 3am and I got a text from Jenna saying: "Why have I got the clap?"' WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF GONORRHOEA? More than 35,000 people a year are infected with gonorrhoea in England, including record numbers of baby boomers. Only chlamydia and genital warts are more prevalent. Figures show 78 million people worldwide contract gonorrhoea, which can often go symptomless for weeks, each year. Symptoms usually strike within two weeks of infection - but can stay hidden for many months. In women, symptoms of gonorrhoea can include: an unusual vaginal discharge, which may be thin or watery and green or yellow in colour pain or a burning sensation when passing urine pain or tenderness in the lower abdominal area (this is less common) bleeding between periods, heavier periods and bleeding after sex (this is less common) In men, symptoms of gonorrhoea can include: an unusual discharge from the tip of the penis, which may be white, yellow or green pain or a burning sensation when urinating inflammation (swelling) of the foreskin pain or tenderness in the testicles (this is rare) Source: NHS Choices Advertisement He revealed the pair spoke on the phone, wondering how the situation could have happened, but insists he 'never doubted Jenna's innocence'. 'I was worried she would think I had been out liaising with the ladies, but everyone who knows me knows it's not in my nature,' he added. Jenna also said that up until the scare, she had never doubted her husband's loyalty despite constantly being asked about what it's like to 'cope' with his band lifestyle. After revealing the diagnosis on the phone, she said Chris responded: "How the f**k has that happened? I know you've not done anything, you're at home with five kids."' Even their son, George, 13, said: 'You know dad would never cheat, he won't even go to a strip club.' 'Chris is more into tea and slippers than coke and strippers,' Jenna added. Jenna started worrying Chris would think she had been unfaithful when she spent nine weeks working at Pinewood Studios, Slough, Berkshire, before becoming pregnant with Fletcher in December 2021. She even pleaded with her rocker husband and said: 'Look if you have been unfaithful, I don't mind, I just need to know the truth.' Jenna insisted that 'as soul mates I'd like to think we would work through infidelity together'. The mother admitted while she was 'relieved' by the news for herself and her husband, she was most pleased about the baby. 'I was so worried because I had read online gonorrhoea can cause blindness,' she explained. 'I'm such a chilled out person so the midwife was lucky she had done it to me and not somebody else'. Chris said once the issue had been resolved, everyone on tour laughed because it happened to the one member 'who is up first and in bed first'. 'We saw the funny side of it and bang our drums for the NHS - they're only human and everyone makes mistakes,' he added. East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust said: 'ELHT are extremely apologetic for the oversight, sharing the incorrect result primarily although promptly rectified. 'This was a case of human error. 'We are glad mother and infant are both thriving and send them our best wishes for the future.' Queen Letizia of Spain was effortlessly elegant as she sported a stunning red leather ensemble while out in Germany with her husband today. The royal, 50, donned a matching blazer and skirt set, adding a pop of colour to her chic, autumnal look. She threw the lapel-free jacket over a sophisticated white blouse, which featured ruffled detailing, as she and King Felipe VI walked on the Agora of the Frankfurt International Book Fair 2022. The queen carried a scarlet clutch to accessorise, and sported a matching pair of heels. Queen Letizia of Spain was effortlessly elegant as she sported a stunning red leather ensemble while out in Germany with her husband today The royal, 50, donned a matching blazer and skirt set, adding a pop of colour to her chic, autumnal look She threw the lapel-free jacket over a sophisticated white blouse, which featured ruffled detailing, as she and King Felipe VI walked on the Agora of the Frankfurt International Book Fair 2022 Letizia styled her chestnut tresses into relaxed waves and opted for a simple make-up look which accentuated her dewy complexion. Her husband, 54, looked dapper in a deep navy suit, worn with a red tie, as the pair was pictured smiling and mingling with crowds during the engagement. King Felipe VI, 54, and Queen Letizia of Spain are on a state visit to Germany that was delayed for a year because of the coronavirus pandemic. They grinned while talking with attendees at the world's largest trade fair for books, and runs from 19 to 23 October 2022. Spain is the guest of honor at this year's event. Letizia styled her chestnut tresses into relaxed waves and opted for a simple make-up look which accentuated her dewy complexion Felipe, 54, looked dapper in a deep navy suit, worn with a red tie, as the pair was pictured smiling and mingling with crowds during the engagement They grinned while talking with attendees at the world's largest trade fair for books, and runs from 19 to 23 October 2022. Spain is the guest of honor at this year's event Letizia shook hands with visitors at this year's Frankfurt Book Fair, looking stunning in a red-and-white ensemble 'We hope it will help promote even more the Spanish language and culture as a vehicle for mutual understanding between our two peoples,' Felipe previously told reporters of the occasion. It comes as yesterday the royal couple were the event's special guests for the evening and happily posed for pictures with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, 66, and his wife Elke Buedenbender, 60. On Tuesday the queen had also rocked a gorgeous fuchsia dress during a visit to Berlin's historic Brandenburg Gate. Letizia was effortlessly elegant in her burgundy autumnal ensemble as she and the king attended the fair The queen carried a scarlet clutch to accessorise, and sported a matching pair of heels for the event Letizia kept her jewellery minimal, teaming the two-toned ensemble with simple earrings and a ring Felipe and his wife appeared in good spirits as they continued their state visit to Germany with a book fair engagement today The structure is a symbol of Germany's post-Cold War reunification, although it was actually built in 1791. Letizia was wearing a long, hot pink dress underneath a classy beige overcoat, which was paired with a set of heels in a similar hue. She was also holding a wonderfully colourful floral handbag. The royal couple (pictured leaving the book fair in the car) are on a state visit to Germany, and yesterday were pictured at the historic Brandenburg Gate Meanwhile Felipe was received with military honours by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Monday, at the German head of state's Bellevue palace in Berlin. He said Germany and Spain are 'united by the principles of freedom, democracy and the rule of law.' Felipe added: 'Finally we're here - we're very happy about that.' Advertisement A couple have revealed how they transformed an unloved period property back to its former glory - filling it with expensive antiques and artwork. Jamie Verron, 32, and Steve White, 35, love opulent interiors based on historical periods in British history and couldn't believe their luck when they spotted Whitehaven Hall in Cumbria on the market. The 1710 property was in a state of disrepair when they paid 235,000 for it in May 2021, leaving their previous terraced house in Northampton - but they faced a huge restoration task after wiring and flooding problems when they moved in. However, just over two years on, the period home is now looking like a film set, with enormous paintings, gleaming antiques and even a suit of armour. The couple share their home with seven Persian grey cats, and say locals do look at them as if they're a tad 'eccentric'. Scroll down for video Jamie Verron, 32, and Steve White, 35 (pictured), lived in Victorian terrace in a 'rough street' in Northampton until lockdown, and then decided to find somewhere more tranquil, with the Lake District top of their wish-list The couple spotted Whitehaven Hall in Cumbria and paid 235,000 for the unloved property - and then set about restoring it to its original Georgian glory Jamie and Steve estimate they've spent more than a million pounds on artworks and antiques - but have faced criticism for some of their choices, including statues and busts of historical figures Steve, who already had an impressive collection of artwork, has filled the rooms with antiquities to restore its Georgian character The house was transformed in just a year by Jamie and Steve after they left the Midlands. Steve explains: 'It's flamboyant but it is all period stuff. Obviously we have got cinema rooms and modern bits as well but a lot of the stuff is from the period - it is in keeping. In person it is even grander.' The couple used to live in a Victorian town house in a 'rough street' in Northampton, where they say they saw stabbings and drug busts. But after Steve was threatened they immediately went online to look for a house elsewhere and they were drawn to the areas surrounding the Lake District national Park. Just months later, in May 2021, they bought their dream house - just by the coast and without a mortgage after selling up down south. The Grade II listed pad was up for sale for just 235,000 - despite its enormous size. Steve, 32, works in a food shop while Jamie, 35, is retired. Jamie added: 'It was horrible and with lockdown we were stuck there with this going on. It wasn't like you could even escape. And one half my other half got threatened and I just went online and searched the country. Unloved: The property had modern furniture in it when it caught the couple's eye in late 2020 Neutrals: The home, which sold for 235,000, had beige carpets throughout and white walls - which Jamie and Steve set about transforming after they moved in The Grade II listed pad is now brimming with period pieces, including a shiny galleon ship, which takes centre stage in the dining room Some of the rooms in the house are still modern, but for the most part, the couple have tried to stay faithful to how the house might have once looked They share their home with seven grey Persian cats and say it was 'vile' when they first moved in, after a series of wiring and flooding problems Jamie discovered his love for antiques when he moved into a Georgian apartment in 2009 and found his modern furniture didn't fit in When the couple first spotted the property, they though it looked like a 'full-size doll's house!' 'I wish I had moved up here decades ago - it's a totally different lifestyle and so much nicer.' His revamp included replacing the doors with solid mahogany and putting in marble fireplaces. But they have kept everything that they could that was old and well kept. Jamie, who had a lot of the classical art before they moved in, was able to pad out the floors with his already impressive collection. And the pair were in good company - the house next door to theirs has links to George Washington and had been carefully preserved, He was able to buy more antiques after selling off some of his collection of marble busts - making a profit after they came back into fashion and rocketed in value overseas. The beautiful blue exterior of the Cumbrian home, which was built in 1710 The couple say they have paintings in their home that are collectively worth more than they bought the house for One of the bedrooms in the house, which has its panelled walls - as it might have had in Georgian times reinstalled Other bits were picked up from private collections, bankruptcy sales, fine art auctions and antique auctions. Jamie discovered his love for antiques when he moved into a Georgian apartment in 2009 and found his modern furniture didn't fit in. He said: 'When I moved into the Georgian apartment - you can't really do modern. So I went old, and once I got old I liked it and it suited the Victorian house. 'Plus I have noticed with the moody maximalism trend people like it and it's become fashionable. 'Some things I got very very cheap - I got a Godfrey Kneller from the 1660s for about 1,000. They are going for about 10,000 now. I just buy what I like and if it happens to go up it happens to go up.' But when Jamie and Steve moved in, their dream house quickly turned into a nightmare - as the two discovered the first floor flooded with sewage and the electrics shot after a rat chewed through the wiring and pipes. And they were shocked by the decor which they say had no respect for the house's history. They did what they could to do it themselves - but had to admit defeat with the flooding and got professionals in. Jamie continued: 'It was a nightmare - an absolute nightmare, 'The flooding was awful - a whole floor that was just vile. Whoever had had it had not cared that it was an old house. Every room was bleach-white - it was ultra-modern. 'So bit by bit we've been fixing the problems of it being left and putting old stuff back in it, which is how it would have been when it was built.' But the house has also seen criticism as people online react to Jamie and Steve's opulent way of living. The pair also came under fire as activists saw some of their statues as racist when the estate agent marketed their former house - but they say the increased publicity only helped to sell the property. Jamie said: 'You get the odd prat online who's like: 'That's awful,' but it's like: 'Whatever mate, one of my paintings probably cost more than your house!' 'It's very few who do - even people who like ultra-modern appreciate a big grand old house. 'We also had a problem with BLM who saw some of the statue photos - there's nothing wrong with them. I've had black friends who are around and have no issue at all. 'But apparently the statues look racist. 'It actually worked - because of all the publicity someone actually went: 'Oh yeah I'll buy it!' 'This is what it is all like - this cancel culture. There is nothing wrong with them - the problem is people don't want to listen.' Meghan Markle opted for high glamour in her latest bombshell interview with Variety magazine - wearing a $2,990 Carolina Herrera frock, Jason Wu cocktail dress priced at over $5,000 and a $1,560 Galvan gown for the photoshoot. The Duchess of Sussex, 41, opened up to one of her favoured US magazines in the article published - alongside a video interview - today, which saw her touch on everything from her husband's love of US fast food to her grief over the Queen's death. While the couple's domestic life in California - including the television shows that her children Lilibet, one, and Archie, three, love to watch - took centre stage in the editorial, when it came to the photos it was couture that was front and centre. The California-based royal adopted a variety of model-esque poses for the shoot at the couple's Montecito home, wearing a series of gowns by major fashion houses. Scroll down for video The Duchess of Sussex has given another major and wide-ranging interview with the US media - alongside a glamorous photoshoot which saw her don a series of couture dresses The Cascading Strapless Midi Dress by Spanish designer Carolina Herrera - shoulderless on one side - has a price tag of nearly $3,000 The Duchess looked in relaxed mode as she wore a billowing tie-dye white and pink dress by Jason Wu. It's thought the taffeta cocktail dress retails at around $5,200 Radiant in green: The Duchess also wore an Ushuaia satin halterneck gown by Galvan, which retails at $1,567 In one image, the mother-of-two is seen in an elegant navy and silver satin Carolina Herrera dress with shoes by Amina Muaddi. The Cascading Strapless Midi Dress by the Spanish designer - shoulderless on one side - has a price tag of nearly $3,000. Elsewhere, there was a radiant green Ushuaia satin halterneck gown by Galvan, which retails at $1,567, with simple gold earrings by Mondo Mondo. The front cover of the magazine focuses on Meghan's face, with the royal wearing a dramatic single hoop gold necklace, and her hair tied away from her face. Another image saw the 41-year-old former actress wearing a Maxmara jumpsuit, teamed with bracelets by Jennifer Fisher Jewelry and a ring by designer Khiry. The Duchess looked in relaxed mode as she wore a billowing tie-dye white and pink dress by Jason Wu as she was photographed laying down. It's thought the taffeta cocktail dress retails at around $5,200. She finished the look with heels by Giuseppe Zanotti, although appears bare foot in footage aired in the video. Meghan has long been a fan of Jason Wu's couture, wearing a forest green dress by the designer on a tour of Australia with Prince Harry in 2018. This week's new interview saw the royal discuss a wide-range of issues including 'misconceptions' about her since she married her royal husband in 2018, claiming their 'love story' had inspired the world because 'people love love'. Meghan was also filmed talking about her recent trip to the UK with Harry where their pseudo-royal tour was interrupted by Her Majesty's death aged 96. The Duchess of Sussex also describes what life was like after that explosive Oprah interview, Harry's love for In-N-Out Burger, her podcast 'Archetypes,' and the Netflix documentary they are making as part of their $100million contract with the streaming giant. Chic: The royal blue satin dress by Spanish designer Carolina Herrera costs just shy of $3,000. Right: A green satin gown by Galvan also made an appearance in the shoot The Duchess of Sussex released the latest episode of her Spotify Archetypes podcast, 'Breaking Down The Bimbo', on Tuesday - but admitted she was nervous about interviewing Paris Hilton because she'd 'had a judgment' about the US socialite Amid claims that she and Harry have set out to damage the Royal Family since emigrating in 2020, Meghan told the magazine that she is proud of her relationship with queen and had a nice warmth with her. She said: 'Theres been such an outpouring of love and support. Im really grateful that I was able to be with my husband to support him, especially during that time. 'Whats so beautiful is to look at the legacy that his grandmother was able to leave on so many fronts. Certainly, in terms of female leadership, she is the most shining example of what that looks like. I feel deep gratitude to have been able to spend time with her and get to know her'. But in a hint that her death had been troublesome for Harry, who reportedly found out about the passing of his grandmother the just five minutes before the rest of the world, she said: 'Its been a complicated time, but my husband, ever the optimist, said: "Now shes reunited with her husband".' Meghan Markle has opened up about her relationship with the Queen in her latest interview, with US magazine Variety. The Duchess of Sussex, 41, said she has been reminiscing about her first joint engagement with Queen Elizabeth II, which took place in June 2018 in Widnes, Cheshire, since the death of the late Sovereign on September 8th. Speaking with one of her favoured US magazines, Meghan, said the late Monarch made her feel special during the event, which saw them opening the Mersey Gateway Bridge. Photographs from the time saw the two women appearing to enjoy each other's company, sharing a joke and laughing. More than four years on, and after Meghan and Prince Harry's much talked about departure from the royal family and bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, the Duchess of Sussex said she is 'grateful' to have been able to spend time with Queen Elizabeth, with whom she said she shared a 'nice warmth.' Scroll down for video The Duchess of Sussex, 41, has been reminiscing about her first - and only - joint engagement with the late Queen in June 2018. She told Variety magazine, she had experienced a 'nice warmth' from the monarch This week, Meghan Markle appeared on the cover of Variety, where she has talked about her relationship with the late Queen Elizabeth Photographs from the time saw the two women appearing to enjoy each other's company as they opened the Mersey Gateway Bridge, in Widnes, Cheshire in 2018 Meghan took part in a glamorous photo shoot for the interview, and was also filmed talking about her recent trip to the UK with Harry where their pseudo-royal tour was interrupted by Her Majesty's death aged 96. In a hint that her death had been troublesome for Harry, who reportedly found out about the passing of his grandmother the just five minutes before the rest of the world, she said of the days and weeks afterwards: 'It's been a complicated time, but my husband, ever the optimist, said: "Now she's reunited with her husband".' Speaking of her engagement with the Queen four years ago, Meghan told the publication: 'Ive reflected on that first official engagement that I had with her, how special that felt. I feel fortunate. 'And I continue to be proud to have had a nice warmth with the matriarch of the family,' she added. At the time, the 92-year-old Monarch seemed to enjoy a growing bond with her grandson's wife, 36. Meghan and the Queen seemed to be getting on famously, with Meghan whispering into the Queen's ear while watching a children's performance at the opening of the new bridge. The Duchess of Sussex also describes what life was like after that explosive Oprah interview, Harry's love for In-N-Out Burger, her podcast 'Archetypes,' and the Netflix documentary they are making as part of their $100million contract with the streaming giant Meghan had worn a Givenchy cream outfit for the occasion of her engagement with the Monarch The newly married Duchess of Sussex and the Queen seemed to thoroughly be enjoying each other's company during the 2018 engagement The royal visitors were seen smiling and chatting to each other and to dignitaries as they watched youngsters dance to a seven-minute medley of music that included Edgar's March Pomp and Circumstance and The Beatles' Can't Buy Me Love. The visit had been perceived as the occasion for the Sovereign to give a masterclass on how to handle royal engagements to newcomer Meghan. Former Suits star Meghan couldn't resist sporting another creation by her wedding designer Givenchy for the visit, and looked elegant in the cream fitted dress with a cape feature at the shoulders, nipped in at the waist with a black belt, carrying a simple black bag by the same designer. And in another sign of her growing friendship with the Queen at the time, Harry's wife sported a pair of delicate pearl earrings, given to her by the monarch as a gift. Meghan took part in a walkabout of Chester, where she met with locals and was handed flowers The Duchess of Sussex, who was still learning the intricacies of royal life, looked typically stylish for the event Meanwhile, her Majesty was vibrant as ever in a lime green ensemble by Stewart Parvin and hat by Rachel Trevor Morgan. The former actress enjoyed an inaugural overnight trip on the Royal Train with the Queen, ahead of her first day of engagements with the monarch, and arrived at Runcorn Station this morning after travelling up from London with the head of state on the distinctive burgundy-liveried locomotive. Meghan couldn't completely hide her nerves during the event, which saw her struggle as she learned her way around royal protocol. There was a moment of confusion as the Duchess appeared unsure who should get into the car first. 'What is your preference?' she asked the Queen. 'You go first,' said the Queen. 'Oh OK,' said the duchess. Their first stop was the new 1.86 billion Mersey Gateway Bridge, where they met with locals and the Halton Council officials, architects and engineers and others involved in the 25-year project. Meghan, who seemed nervous about the event, and struggling to get her head around royal protocol, gently waved at the royal fans who had come to see her The Duchess was absolutely interested in the dance performance and in the history of the various bridges that have crossed the river,' said David Parr, Halton Council's chief executive. Before they left, the Queen and Meghan accepted posies from two schoolgirls, Savannah Cafferty, 11, and Alarni Wain, who was celebrating her eighth birthday. Andrew Curphey, whose theatre company had brought 80 children aged 5-18 from nine local schools together to create their show, said of Meghan: 'She was really calm considering it was her first official engagement with the boss. She is with the boss so no pressure.' The Queen and Meghan then observed a minute of silence to mark the first anniversary of the Grenfell Tower disaster. Meghan and the Queen visited the Storyhouse theatre complex in Chester, which features a library and performing arts spaces. Inside they watched as a group of children from Ashgrove Farm day nursery took part in an enthusiastic rendition of The Wheels On The Bus. The royal visitors watched a performance by Fallen Angels, a dance theatre company for people recovering from addiction. She and Meghan then moved into the theatre to watch a medley of songs from Storyhouse's latest production, 'A Little Night Music', as well as a performance by actors from 'Swallow and Amazons' and children from schools including Cherry Grove, Queen's School and St Clare's. They concluded the engagement with a walkabout around Chester, where they were greeted by hundreds of applauding fans. Meghan Markle has revealed Prince Harry's favourite restaurant is LA fast food In-N-Out Burger in an explosive new interview with Variety. The Duchess of Sussex told the US magazine that her husband was a fan of the American fast food chain, which serves a variety of burgers and other junk food. The royal mother-two explained the couple like to surprise the staff at the restaurant by making an appearance, saying: 'My husband's favorite is In-N-Out. 'There's one at the halfway point between LA and our neck of the woods. 'It's really fun to go through the drive-thru and surprise them. They know our order.' Meghan Markle has revealed Prince Harry's favourite restaurant is LA fast food In-N-Out Burger in an explosive new interview with Variety His wife Meghan the Duchess of Sussex admitted her husband was a fan of the junk food restaurant and the pair liked to surprise drive-thru staff by ordering their own food In-N-Out (also known as In-N-Out Burger) is a popular burger fast food restaurant available in five states including California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Texas (pictured) The Duchess added that although people sometimes think she and Harry live in Los Angeles they are actually two hours away in Montecito, a luxury neighbourhood for the mega rich. They live in a $14million mansion with a spa, private cinema and gym and are neighbours with the likes of Ariana Grande and Oprah Winfrey. However, the Duchess maintained she and Prince Harry were 'commuters' and had recently drove down for meetings in LA. They even stopped for more sweet treats as the pair picked up what Meghan called 'chocolate chip cookies the size of my toddler's head'. Former senior royal Prince Harry has been spotted before gorging on burgers. He was seen taking a large bite of a beef burger during a rugby match at Twickenham in 2005. In-N-Out is a burger chain in five American states and serve some of the cheapest food, which apparently has tickled the fancy of Prince Harry Four years before that was seen leaning against a burger van during a day of polo with in Cirencester Park, Gloucestershire. What is In-N-Out In-N-Out (also known as In-N-Out Burger) is a popular burger fast food restaurant available in five states including California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Texas. The restaurants burgers rank among the top in the industry, which is surprising considering In-N-Out menu prices are some of the cheapest in the industry as well. In-N-Out is known for having a very simple and limited menu. Their most popular burger is the Double-Double burger, which comes with double meat and double cheese. They also offer cheaper and smaller alternatives such as the hamburger and cheeseburger. Advertisement Meanwhile Prince Harry was often spotted at UK chicken chain Nando's before he left the country with his wife Meghan as the couple searched for 'privacy' and signed lucrative deals with Spotify and Netflix. In-N-Out is a popular fast food chain in America and is available in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Texas. In the new bombshell interview with one of Meghan's favoured US magazines, she paid tribute to the Queen yet hinted that her death and its fallout had been 'complicated' for Prince Harry but he remains 'ever-optimistic'. The Duchess of Sussex has spoken to Variety about a wide-range of issues including 'misconceptions' about her since she married her royal husband in 2018 - especially after the Oprah interview - and claiming their 'love story' had inspired the world because 'people love love'. Meghan took part in a glamorous photo and video shoot for the magazine where she wore a 4,657 Jason Wu dress and other expensive outfits and was filmed laughing and joking and even lying on her stomach kicking her legs with apparent excitement. She also wore a $2990 Carolina Herrera dress and a $1,560 Galvin gown for the photoshoot. In a feature headlined 'Meghan Markle Lets Her Guard Down', the Duchess spoke first about her recent trip to the UK with Harry where their pseudo-royal tour was interrupted by Her Majesty's death aged 96 on September 8. Prince Harry was seen taking a large bite of a beef burger during a rugby match at Twickenham in 2005 But in a hint that her death had been troublesome for Harry, who reportedly found out about the passing of his grandmother the just five minutes before the rest of the world, she said of the days and weeks afterwards: 'It's been a complicated time, but my husband, ever the optimist, said: "Now she's reunited with her husband".' Harry had looked heartbroken as he arrived at Balmoral after learning the Queen had died on a private jet travelling alone without his wife. He stayed for 12 hours, apparently refused to have dinner with King Charles and Prince William and also took a backseat at the funeral where he was not allowed to salute irrespective of his military service. But despite claims that she and Harry have set out to damage the Royal Family since emigrating in 2020, Meghan told Variety that she remains 'proud' of her relationship with Queen and had a 'nice warmth' with her, calling Her Majesty a 'matriarch'. She said: 'There's been such an outpouring of love and support. I'm really grateful that I was able to be with my husband to support him, especially during that time. What's so beautiful is to look at the legacy that his grandmother was able to leave on so many fronts. Certainly, in terms of female leadership, she is the most shining example of what that looks like. I feel deep gratitude to have been able to spend time with her and get to know her. She added: 'I've reflected on that first official engagement that I had with her, how special that felt. I feel fortunate. And I continue to be proud to have had a nice warmth with the matriarch of the family.' And opening up for the first time about how she felt after the Oprah interview where the Sussexes accused the Royal Family of racism, she said her California friends had gathered around her to support her. She said: 'It's like they knew exactly what I needed to feel in that moment. It meant, and still means, so very much to me. The power of sisterhood and female support can never be underestimated.' But she said that the public has 'misconceptions' about her, adding: 'I think that what happens, looking in from the outside, when there is this much noise, is that you become dehumanized'. She said she hopes her Archetypes podcast will help people see her as a 'real person'. Meghan Markle offered a glimpse into her and Prince Harry's day-to-day life as she described the pair's cosy wind-down routine, consisting of Wordle, Duo Lingo, and an 'endless search' through Netflix. The Duchess of Sussex, 41, also got candid about the family's domestic bliss and revealed that her three-year-old son Archie has 'loved' the British children's show Octonauts 'for a really long time' - perhaps a programme he began watching while in the UK. The CBeebies hit - based on the books by Vicki Wong and Michael C. Murphy - follows adorable animal adventurers in action-packed plots. The mother-of-two also unveiled that the toddler has been enjoying 'more throwback shows' including Magic School Bus, and in a video interview with Variety even offered a snippet of a rap from Netflix's Ask The StoryBots. Meghan Markle offered a glimpse into her and Prince Harry's day-to-day life as she described the pair's cosy wind-down routine The mother-of-two also unveiled that the toddler has been enjoying 'more throwback shows' including Magic School Bus. The family pictured in a sweet snap released last year 'I've become that mom where I'm sitting around with friends and I start singing like, "Tyrannosaurus, that's the chorus"...' she said. 'I was like "what am I singing?" Oh my gosh, I'm singing StoryBots. 'I am not singing Beyonce in that moment, I am singing StoryBots.' Meghan, who also claimed she plays a 'mean game of Scrabble' and is 'very good at Jeopardy', also touched on how she and Harry struggle to settle on something to watch when they put the kids to bed. The CBeebies hit - based on the books by Vicki Wong and Michael C. Murphy - follows adorable animal adventurers in action-packed plots 'I think we're just like most people where you do endless, endless, endless searching until you get so tired of searching you don't watch anything,' she admitted. However, the former Hollywood star said she recently enjoyed HBO's White Lotus and loves a 'good old fashioned rom-com', being a big fan of hit classic When Harry Met Sally. Meghan also said she is trying to 'relearn French' on Duo Lingo, after having studied it in high school, jokingly quipping she likes to try and squeeze in ten minutes a day. The Duchess spoken to Variety about a wide-range of issues including 'misconceptions' about her since she married Harry in 2018 - especially after the Oprah interview - and claiming their 'love story' had inspired the world because 'people love love'. Meghan took part in a glamorous photo and video shoot for the magazine where she wore a 4,657 Jason Wu dress and spoke about her recent trip to the UK with Harry - as the pair's pseudo-royal tour was interrupted by Her Majesty's death, aged 96, on September 8. In a hint that her passing had been troublesome for Harry, who reportedly found out about the passing of his grandmother the just five minutes before the rest of the world, she said of the days and weeks afterwards: 'It's been a complicated time, but my husband, ever the optimist, said: "Now she's reunited with her husband".' The Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle layed on the ground in a 4,657 Jason Wu dress for the glamorous shoot The Duchess of Sussex also describes what life was like after that explosive Oprah interview, Harry's love for In-N-Out Burger, her podcast 'Archetypes,' and the Netflix documentary they are making as part of their $100million contract with the streaming giant. Harry looked heartbroken as he arrived at Balmoral after learning the Queen had died on a private jet travelling alone without his wife. He stayed for 12 hours, apparently refused to have dinner with King Charles and Prince William and also took a backseat at the funeral. But despite claims that she and Harry have set out to damage the Royal Family since emigrating in 2020, Meghan told the magazine that she remains 'proud' of her relationship with Queen and had a 'nice warmth' with her, calling Her Majesty a 'matriarch'. She said: 'There's been such an outpouring of love and support. I'm really grateful that I was able to be with my husband to support him, especially during that time. What's so beautiful is to look at the legacy that his grandmother was able to leave on so many fronts. Certainly, in terms of female leadership, she is the most shining example of what that looks like. I feel deep gratitude to have been able to spend time with her and get to know her. Meghan (pictured with Harry and Archie in 2019) also said she is trying to 'relearn French' on Duo Lingo, after having studied it in high school, jokingly quipping she likes to try and squeeze in ten minutes a day She added: 'I've reflected on that first official engagement that I had with her, how special that felt. I feel fortunate. And I continue to be proud to have had a nice warmth with the matriarch of the family.' The Duchess of Sussex also describes what life was like after that explosive Oprah interview, her podcast 'Archetypes,' and the Netflix documentary they are making as part of their $100million contract with the streaming giant. She also revealed Harry's love for fast food joint In-N-Out Burger and how they eat 'chocolate chip cookies the size of my toddler's head' while taking breaks from joint Zoom meetings or 'commuting' together to LA. Speaking of Harry's eating habits: 'My husband's favorite is In-N-Out. There's one at the halfway point between LA and our neck of the woods. It's really fun to go through the drive-thru and surprise them. They know our order.' New Delhi: Apparently backed to the hilt by the Gandhis, Mallikarjun Kharge trounced his rival Shashi Tharoor by a huge margin for the post of Congress president. Mr Kharges victory in the party presidential election ended the quarter century reign of the Gandhis (both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi). Of over 9,500 votes cast, Mr Tharoor could manage only 1,072 votes. While the Gandhis welcomed the new party chief, Mr Tharoor complained of serious irregularities in the conduct of the poll process in Uttar Pradesh. As the party insiders describe Mr Kharge as the new front man for the Gandhis, Rahul Gandhi tried to clear the air by saying his role in the party will be decided by the new party president. He said in a press conference: I am very clear as far as my role is concerned. The (new) president will decide what my role is and how I am to be deployed. Mr Kharge will take charge of his new role at the AICC office here on October 26. Making the formal announcement, Madhusudan Mistry, the chairman of the Congress election authority, said: As per Srticle 18D of the constitution of the Indian National Congress, I, Madhusudan Mistry, hereby declare Shri Mallikarjun Kharge as the president of the Indian National Congress, he announced. Responding to the complaint raised by Team Tharoor, he said: We have made a point by point response to those queries after preparing a report. This is an internal matter and I would not be making our response public. Congratulatory messages started pouring in for Mr Kharge. Outgoing psrty president Donia Gandhi and AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited the residence of Mr Kharge in the national capital to wish him. His election rival, Mr Shashi Tharoor, also visited Mr Kharge to congratulate him. Mr Tharoor said: I wish Mallikarjun Kharge all success in that task. It was a privilege to have received the support of over a thousand colleagues, and to carry the hopes and aspirations of so many well-wishers of the Congress across India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Mallikarjun Kharge for being elected the new Congress chief. He said: "My best wishes to Shri Mallikarjun Kharge Ji for his new responsibility as President of INC. May he have a fruitful tenure ahead. The 80-year-old veteran leader from Karnataka has become the second Dalit leader to lead the century-old party. Mr Kharge said on Wednesday: We need to fight against every conspiracy to kill democracy. He said the party election had strengthened democracy in the country. Of the 12 elections he has contested, Mr Kharge has lost only once -- in 2019. He was elected to the Karnataka Assembly nine times consecutively, between 1972 and 2008. Eight of the victories came from Gurmitkal constitutency, when it was reserved for Scheduled Castes, and once from Chitapur. The new president has his task cut out. Apart from resolving the crisis in Rajasthan, he also has to ensure that the partys performance is good in the poll-bound states of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh by snatching at least one of them from the BJP. Meghan Markle has hit back at her controversial interview with New York Magazine's The Cut, claiming that she was too 'trusting and open' with the writer to whom she once again slated the royal family - while heavily hinting that the chat was never meant to address her feelings about the monarchy. The 41-year-old spoke out about the bitter backlash over the August cover interview in yet another magazine cover shoot, this time with Variety, which features a near-identical shot of Meghan on its front page to the one that was featured by The Cut two months ago. In her latest sit-down, Meghan was questioned about the backlash over her piece in The Cut, in which she spoke out about her husband Prince Harry's family, claiming that the pair were 'happy' to leave Britain and were 'upsetting the dynamic of the hierarchy just by existing' before they quit as senior royals. When Variety writer Matt Donnelly noted that some people had 'found [the interview] to be snarky,' the Duchess of Sussex appeared to take aim at The Cut - and interviewer Allison P. Davis - claiming that she had been too 'trusting' and 'open' during the chat, adding that the interview was only ever meant to focus on her podcast, Archetypes, and her and Harry's other projects. 'The [New York] story was intended to support "Archetypes" and focus on our projects,' she said, before adding: 'Ive had some time to reflect on it. Part of me is just really trusting, really open thats how I move in the world.' The Duchess of Sussex has given another major and wide-ranging interview with Variety magazine, in which she hit back at the controversy over her last sit-down with The Cut The 41-year-old claimed she was too 'trusting' and 'open' in her August interview with The Cut, in which she took several swipes at the royal family When contacted by DailyMail.com, a spokesperson for The Cut declined to comment on Meghan's new interview. Despite the bitter backlash against her chat with The Cut - which readers slammed as a 'shameless vanity project' while calling for Meghan to 'move on' from the royal family drama - the Duchess of Sussex insisted that she doesn't want to lose the 'trusting' part of herself, adding that she can 'survive' the controversy. Meghan said that her sit-down with The Cut was meant to focus on her podcast - which is part of her and Harry's $25 million Spotify deal - and the couple's 'other projects' 'I have to remember that I dont ever want to become so jaded that that piece of me goes away. So despite any of those things? Onward. I can survive it,' she said. Although Meghan suggested that her chat with The Cut was only ever meant to focus on her podcast - which is part of the Sussexes' $25 million Spotify deal - and the couple's 'other projects', the final interview featured several scathing quotes from the Duchess about the royal family. Meghan said that she and Prince Harry were 'happy' to leave Britain and were 'upsetting the dynamic of the hierarchy just by existing' before they stepped down as frontline royals and moved to California. She also claimed that what she and Prince Harry asked for when they wanted financial freedom was not 'reinventing the wheel'; The Cut then reported that the mother-of-two listed a 'handful of princes and princesses and dukes who have the very arrangement they wanted', although none of these royals were named in the article. And Meghan, speaking to New York-based features writer Davis, continued: 'That, for whatever reason, is not something that we were allowed to do, even though several other members of the family do that exact thing.' The interview sparked a bitter backlash online, where people branded The Cut piece 'vanity PR' and slammed Meghan for comparing herself to Nelson Mandela The Duchess of Sussex appeared to take aim at The Cut - and interviewer Allison P. Davis - in her sit-down with Variety, claiming that she had been too 'trusting' and 'open' during the chat She also hinted that she was not meant to discuss the royals during The Cut interview, saying it was only ever meant to 'support [her podcast] "Archetypes" and focus on our projects' Asked, 'Why do you think that is?', Meghan simply replied: 'Why do you think that is?', with the interviewer saying that the Duchess said this 'right back with a side-eye that suggests I should understand without having to be told'. The article further states that Harry and Meghan suggested to 'The Firm' that they should be allowed to work on behalf of the monarchy but make their own money, with the Duchess saying: 'Then maybe all the noise would stop.' The article says: 'They also thought it best to leave the U.K. (and the U.K. press) to do it. They were willing to go to basically any commonwealth, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, anywhere.' 'Anything to just because just by existing, we were upsetting the dynamic of the hierarchy,' Meghan told the publication. 'So we go, "Okay, fine, let's get out of here. Happy to,"' with The Cut reporting that she 'put her hands up in mock defeat' as she spoke. Aside from her comments about the royal family, Meghan also made the sensational claim that she was told by a cast member of the Lion King in 2019 that South Africans danced in the street like when Mandela was freed from prison when she married the Duke of Sussex. The interview - which was published in late August - sparked incredulous backlash from readers in the US, with critics slamming the piece as 'vanity PR' and branding Meghan 'shameless'. Journalist Lucy Burge, from Boston, wrote on Twitter: 'If Meghan Markle hates the royal family so much why is she still using the Duchess of Sussex title? Shes the fakest, most annoying person alive.' Meghan also addressed her explosive March 2021 sit-down with Oprah Winfrey, admitting that she felt 'a bit uncomfortable' at walking into a crowded room after it aired In their interview with Oprah, Harry and Meghan (seen with their children) made several very damaging allegations about the monarchy, including claims that an unnamed royal made racist comments about the color of their son Archie's skin tone Piers Morgan also bashed her words, calling her interview a revoltingly self-aggrandizing, disingenuous and hypocritical load of royal-bashing tosh. He added that the Mandela anecdote had him gagging, while others were quick to accuse her of making the story up. One person said: What has Meghan Markle been doing since she left the royal family? Every time she opens her mouth it is to bad-mouth them all and lie. It was so bad, she is now comparing herself to Nelson Mandela! Another added: 'It doesnt make sense that Megsy still use the Royal Title that the Queen gave them while she keeps thrashing them every day. 'This is a propaganda piece to spread Meghans truth. Return the Royal Title that she hates so much and live your life in peace.' She was also slammed for claiming Prince Harry told her I lost my dad, after he and Prince Charles had a public fall out over his decision to step away from The Firm. Royal experts previously claimed that Harry was back in touch with his father, but this relationship with his brother Prince William had not yet fully recovered after the couples Oprah interview. One person said: Meghan Markle has infamously rejected and demonized her own dad, Tom. Meghan's most wide-ranging interview yet? Inside the Duchess' sit-down with Variety In arguably her most wide-ranging interview yet, the Duchess of Sussex revealed: She is 'done' with acting - but would help someone playing her in a film and would not stop her children pursuing it as a career; Meghan describes her life with Harry working together in a shared office after getting their children ready in the morning. When not on joint Zoom calls they 'commute' to LA and sometimes take a trip to a In-N-Out burger drive-thru where they 'know our order'; Former actress described the 'warmth' her friends showed her after she appeared on Oprah with Harry. She said: 'It's like they knew exactly what I needed to feel in that moment. It meant, and still means, so very much to me. The power of sisterhood and female support can never be underestimated'; She was 'grateful' to be alongside Harry and support him when the Queen died and spoke of treasuring their first engagement together. She said: 'In big moments in life, you get a lot of perspective. It makes you wonder what you want to focus your energy on. Right now, we feel energized and excited about all of the things we've been building toward'; Meghan appeared to distance herself from the Netflix docu-series set for release. Suggesting left-wing film maker Gloria Steinem had taken the lead she said: 'It's nice to be able to trust someone with our story a seasoned director whose work I've long admired even if it means it may not be the way we would have told it; On her bombshell interview with The Cut in September, which contained a series of attacks on the royals, she suggested she had been too trusting and open. She said: 'I've had some time to reflect on it. Part of me is just really trusting, really open. I can survive it'; Meghan Markle offered a glimpse into her and Prince Harry 's day-to-day life as she described the pair's cozy wind-down routine, consisting of Wordle, Duo Lingo, and an 'endless search' through Netflix when the kids are in bed. She also said she loves Scrabble and cooks a 'mean Bolognese sauce'; The Duchess of Sussex , 41, also got candid about the family's domestic bliss and revealed that her three-year-old son Archie has 'loved' the British children's show Octonauts 'for a really long time' - perhaps a program he began watching while in the UK Advertisement In her latest vanity PR interview she says Prince Harry told her I lost my dad too. That is huge. It will cause enormous damage to Prince Charles, a King in waiting, and she knows it. Nasty, nasty, nasty. In her interview with Variety, Meghan also spoke out about her explosive sit-down with Oprah Winfrey, in which she and Prince Harry made several very damaging allegations about the royal family - the most serious of which saw the couple claiming that an unnamed royal had made racist remarks about their son Archie's skin tone. She told the publication about her experiences in the days after the interview was aired in March 2021, revealing she attended Gloria Steinhem's birthday party - and admitting that she 'felt a bit uncomfortable' walking into the event. 'I hadnt really seen people in a long time, and the interview had come out maybe a week before. Walking into a room alone is never easy for me, and I remember feeling a bit uncomfortable,' she recalled. 'But before I could let my uncertainty linger, Pamela Adlon came up to me and greeted me with such warmth and kindness. She toured me around the room, and at every turn, more generosity and love was felt.' She added: 'Its like they knew exactly what I needed to feel in that moment. It meant, and still means, so very much to me. The power of sisterhood and female support can never be underestimated.' 'My intention is not to act again': Meghan Markle confesses she'd 'never say never' to a return to her first profession - and wants future actresses to portray her as 'soft and playful' in her Variety interview Meghan Markle ruled out an acting return and wants any actresses to portray her as 'soft and playful' in any future adaptations of her life. In a new interview with Variety magazine, the Duchess of Sussex, 41, was promoting her new Spotify podcast Archetypes when talk turned to her early career. When she met Prince Harry in 2016, the mother-of-two was most famous for her role as Rachel Zane in hit legal drama Suits - but quit the show shortly before the couple's April 2018 wedding. Discussing how her professional landscape has changed since then, Meghan said: 'I didnt think Id ever be in the entertainment industry again. But the entire culture has changed; streamers have changed things.' When quizzed about whether she'd ever perform again, Meghan initially shut down the question with: 'No. Im done.' The Duchess of Sussex was most famous for her role as Rachel Zane in hit legal drama Suits before marrying Prince Harry. The mother-of-two appeared in seven seasons of the show before quitting in 2018 But on second thought, the Duchess decided not to rule it out entirely. She added: 'I guess never say never, but my intention is to absolutely not.' Stressing that she'd never 'given much thought' to the prospect of another actress playing her one day, Meghan said that they will most likely only know the 'caricature' of her. She added: 'I hope that in preparing for that role, she finds the softness and the playfulness and the laughter. The silliness. I just hope she finds the dimensions.' What's more, the Duchess said she would be encouraging if Archie, three, and Lilibet, one, wanted to pursue a career in entertainment. She added: 'When you become a parent, you genuinely want your kids to find the things that bring them complete joy. Theyre our kids, obviously, and theyre part of a legacy and a tradition and a family that will have other expectations. The Duchess of Sussex - pictured with Prince Harry and baby Archie in 2019 - said she would be encouraging if her kids wanted to join the entertainment industry Acknowledging that Archie and Lilibet's family connections might give them a headstart, Meghan stressed that it still takes 'talent and grit' to be successful. Lilibet pictured in June 2022 ahead of her first birthday 'But I want them to be able to carve out their own path.' Acknowledging that Archie and Lilibet's family connections might give them a headstart, Meghan stressed that it still takes 'talent and grit' to be successful in Hollywood. 'Were creating multi-dimensional, interesting, kind, creative people,' she gushed. 'Thats who our kids are.' Speaking on her new Archetypes podcast with Paris Hilton earlier this week, the Duchess said she wants her daughter Lilibet to be valued first for her mind, rather than 'beauty not brains' as she was on Deal or No Deal at the start of her career. The Duchess explained: '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. Reality star Catherine Ommanney (pictured, left) has opened up about the two-month fling she says she had with Prince Harry (pictured, right) in 2006 - when she was 31 and the royal was 21. Ms Ommanney, who spoke to the Sun about the romance, said she was speaking out because she doesn't think the short relationship will be featured in the Duke of Sussex's upcoming memoir Spare. According to the 51-year-old, while the autobiography will reportedly include anecdotes about the 38-year-old royal's ex-girlfriends, she does not think she will be included as 'a prince can't run off with a 34-year-old mother-of-two, it's just not the done thing'. The British reality star, who hit the small screen when she appeared in American reality TV show The Real Housewives of DC, met the prince in a bar in Chelsea in 2006, during which time he was in a long-term on-off relationship with socialite Chelsy Davy. Tour will mark first joint engagement since The Queen passed away last month Princess Royal, 72, and Sir Tim Laurence, 67, will fly out to Uganda next Tuesday Princess Anne and Sir Tim Laurence have announced their first royal tour since the Queen's death, unveiling details of their upcoming Uganda trip next week. The Princess Royal, 72, and her husband, 67, will fly out to the East African nation next Tuesday and complete a series of engagements across the country before returning to the UK on Friday. In her role as patron of Opportunity International, an organisation working to end global poverty, Anne will open the first commercial bank in the Nakivale Refugee settlement. Following this, the mother-of-two - who is also a royal patron for Save the Children UK - will visit a school for blind children in Salaama. Scroll down for video Princess Anne, 72, and Sir Tim Laurence, 67, will fly out to Uganda next Tuesday for their first royal tour since the Queen's death. The couple pictured as the Queen's coffin arrived at RAF Northolt on September 13, 2022 The Princess Royal made a surprise visit to New York earlier this month. Pictured delivering a speech at a gala dinner for the English Speaking Union where she was guest of honour on October 4, 2022 In a statement after her mother's death, Princess Anne revealed she was by the Queen's side in her final 24 hours. The Queen and her only daughter pictured at the 2018 Braemar Highland Gathering in 2018 On top of this, the royal couple - who have been married since 1992 - have worked in a visit to the Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, where they will view local community projects. Before their return to the UK on October 28th, Princess Anne and Sir Tim will conclude their tour by watching female students complete the 'Safe Way, Right Way' HGV truck driver training programme as part of her work with Transaid. The Princess Royal co-founded the organisation - which provides safe and sustainable transport - with Save the Children and The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) 25 years ago. The busy four-day tour will see the couple undertake their first public engagements together since the Queen passed away at the age of 96 on September 8th. The princess was in Scotland when the Queen was taken ill, and stayed at her bedside at Balmoral Castle, as senior royals rushed to say their final farewells. In a statement shortly after Her Majesty passed away, the Princess said it had been 'an honour and a privilege' to accompany the Queen on her final journey as she travelled with the monarch's coffin back to London. Princess Anne's statement was shared to the Royal Family's Instagram account along with the above photograph, which was first released to mark the late monarch's 90th birthday in 2016. The mother and daughter posed on a sofa in the White Drawing Room of Windsor Castle Earlier this month, the Princess Royal was the guest of honor at a gala dinner for the English Speaking Union at the Cosmopolitan Club in New York. According to its website, the English-Speaking Union of the United States is a non-profit educational charity that employs the English language to foster global understanding and goodwill through educational opportunities and cultural exchange programs. During her trip, the Queen's daughter took a trip on the Staten Island Ferry and visited the National Lighthouse Museum in St. George. King Charles continued with his royal duties at Buckingham Palace today, hours after his daughter-in-law Meghan Markle gave an explosive interview to Variety. The Monarch, 73, met with Felix Tshisekedi, the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Central London. He seemed relaxed during the engagement, dressed in a dapper dark suit. His appearance came as the Duchess of Sussex, who lives in Montecito, California, gave Variety a wide-ranging interview, including 'misconceptions' about her since she married her royal husband in 2018 - especially after the Oprah interview - and claiming their 'love story' had inspired the world because 'people love love'. King Charles, 73, appeared at Buckingham Palace today for an audience met with Felix Tshisekedi, the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo The appearance occurred on the heels of his daughter-in-law's interview with Variety, where she discussed a number of issues The Sovereign shook hands and shared a smile with the foreign official during their meeting. He appeared relaxed, although the engagement took place mere hours after it was revealed his daughter-in-law Meghan, 41, had released an interview with Variety, where she discussed a number of subjects, including the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth. Meghan took part in a glamorous photo and video shoot for the magazine where she wore a 4,657 Jason Wu dress and other expensive outfits and was filmed laughing and joking and even lying on her stomach kicking her legs with apparent excitement. She also wore a $2990 Carolina Herrera dress and a $1,560 Galvin gown for the photoshoot. In a feature headlined 'Meghan Markle Lets Her Guard Down', the Duchess spoke first about her recent trip to the UK with Harry where their pseudo-royal tour was interrupted by Her Majesty's death aged 96 on September 8. Charles shook hands with his guest. He dressed in a dapper dark suit and crisp white shirt for the occasion Charles looked relaxed as he welcomed his guest, who was dressed in a smart pinstriped suit, to Buckingham Palace for their audience But in a hint that her death had been troublesome for Harry, who reportedly found out about the passing of his grandmother the just five minutes before the rest of the world, she said of the days and weeks afterwards: 'It's been a complicated time, but my husband, ever the optimist, said: "Now she's reunited with her husband".' Harry had looked heartbroken as he arrived at Balmoral after learning the Queen had died on a private jet travelling alone without his wife. He stayed for 12 hours, apparently refused to have dinner with King Charles and Prince William and also took a backseat at the funeral where he was not allowed to salute irrespective of his military service. But despite claims that she and Harry have set out to damage the Royal Family since emigrating in 2020, Meghan told Variety that she remains 'proud' of her relationship with Queen and had a 'nice warmth' with her, calling Her Majesty a 'matriarch'. She said: 'There's been such an outpouring of love and support. I'm really grateful that I was able to be with my husband to support him, especially during that time. What's so beautiful is to look at the legacy that his grandmother was able to leave on so many fronts. Certainly, in terms of female leadership, she is the most shining example of what that looks like. I feel deep gratitude to have been able to spend time with her and get to know her. Charles accessorised with a dotted blue tie, while Felix Tshisekedi opted for a silky light blue number She added: 'I've reflected on that first official engagement that I had with her, how special that felt. I feel fortunate. And I continue to be proud to have had a nice warmth with the matriarch of the family.' And opening up for the first time about how she felt after the Oprah interview where the Sussexes accused the Royal Family of racism, she said her California friends had gathered around her to support her. She said: 'It's like they knew exactly what I needed to feel in that moment. It meant, and still means, so very much to me. The power of sisterhood and female support can never be underestimated.' But she said that the public has 'misconceptions' about her, adding: 'I think that what happens, looking in from the outside, when there is this much noise, is that you become dehumanized'. She said she hopes her Archetypes podcast will help people see her as a 'real person'. A two-year-old boy who suffers from a rare bone disorder has finally left the hospital after spending the first 1,000 days of his life there. Priscilla and Emanuele Bruno, from Illinois, were told by doctors that their son, Francesco, was likely only going to live for a few minutes after he was born. He had developed something called platyspondylic lethal skeletal dysplasia, Torrance type, in the womb - which stunted his bone growth and resulted in his ribs not developing correctly. But Francesco was a fighter, and after he was born in December 2019, he beat the odds and survived. A two-year-old boy who suffers from a rare bone disorder has finally left the hospital after spending the first 1,000 days of his life there Priscilla and Emanuele Bruno, from Illinois, were told by doctors that their son, Francesco, was likely only going to live for a few minutes after he was born He had developed something called platyspondylic lethal skeletal dysplasia, Torrance type, in the womb - which stunted his bone growth and resulted in his ribs not developing correctly But Francesco was a fighter, and after he was born in December 2019, he beat the odds and survived Now, after spending more than two years in seven different hospitals, he's finally home. 'We're very happy, nervous, tense, scared, overwhelmed, really happy, overjoyed. It's just a melting pot of emotions,' the little boy's father told CBS News Chicago last Tuesday, as he prepared to leave bring Francesco home. His mother added, 'They told us [when] he was going to be born, he was only going to live for 30 minutes. It's really a miracle he's with us today.' For more than 1,000 days, the toddler relied on a ventilator to help him breathe and a tube to help him eat. But now, he's miraculously learned to breathe on his own, something his doctor, Erin Stroud, called a miracle. 'With his ribs being so small, I wasn't sure he would ever be able to breathe on his own, that he would ever be able to come off the ventilator,' she admitted to Good Morning America recently. Now, after spending more than two years in seven different hospitals, he's finally home 'We're very happy, nervous, tense, scared, overwhelmed, really happy, overjoyed. It's just a melting pot of emotions,' the little boy's father told CBS News Chicago last Tuesday His mother added, 'They told us [when] he was going to be born, he was only going to live for 30 minutes. It's really a miracle he's with us today' The disorder that killed Francesco's brother - and left him fighting for his life: What is platyspondylic lethal skeletal dysplasia? Platyspondylic lethal skeletal dysplasia is an incredibly rare disorder that affects the growth of bones, often leaving sufferers with incredibly short limbs, underdeveloped pelvic bones, and short fingers and toes. The disorder can also cause flattened spinal bones and an exaggerated curve of the lower spine. Babies who are diagnosed with platyspondylic lethal skeletal dysplasia often battle a myriad of other health issues as a result of their symptoms, including respiratory failure, which is caused by their underdeveloped rib cage. Some fetuses with the condition do not survive to term, however a few people who are diagnosed with milder forms of the disorder will live into adulthood, while suffering from fewer symptoms. Advertisement 'The progress that has been so striking to me is that he's been able to come off the ventilator and breathe on his own all day and he does great.' He is still fed through a tube and uses an at-home ventilator at night, but the doctor remains hopeful about his future. She explained that he will most likely always have a 'short stature' since his bones did not 'grow and develop normally,' but that she's 'excited to see what else he will do.' 'He has already defied the odds of what his family was told to expect when he was born, so I'm excited to see what else he will do,' she gushed. 'He has done so well that I feel like the sky's the limit for what he'll be able to do.' Francesco's dad added: 'The ability for him to tolerate breathing on his own is impressive and it also gives us a lot of confidence and hope that this weaning can continue. For more than 1,000 days, the toddler relied on a ventilator to help him breathe and a tube to help him eat But now, he's miraculously learned to breathe on his own, something his doctor, Erin Stroud, called a miracle He is still fed through a tube and uses an at-home ventilator at night, but the doctor remains hopeful about his future She explained that he will most likely always have a 'short stature' since his bones did not 'grow and develop normally,' but that she's 'excited to see what else he will do' 'Obviously, not overnight, but continue to the point where one day he may arrive to being completely trach independent.' Francesco's progress is especially emotional for Priscilla and Emanuele, as a baby boy they had welcomed just before Francesco, who they named Giovanni, passed away from the same condition after living for only five days. 'We were very aware that just to put it plainly, we were very aware that his passing was something very possible,' Emanuele explained. Francesco has six siblings - Sofia, 13, Giosue, 11, Emanuele, 10, Maria Elisabetta, eight, Anna Lucia, seven, and Antonio, five - who are ecstatic to have him home. '[Francesco] can't really sit up on his own but he rolls around everywhere and there [are] ways for them just to spend time,' his mom told GMA. 'They love to sing and play with him and discover his new toys.' The 'weird' and 'intense' work outs maintain the metabolism in your skin and face Australia's first studio will open on Georges Street, Sydney in January 2023 Facegym is the latest 'cult' fitness trend from the UK and US to come to Australia, and it's due to launch online and in-studio in January. FaceGym is a revolutionary workout space dedicated to moulding your skin and draining excess fluid with six different facials. The brand will open it's first Australian studio in Sydneys George Street flagship Mecca store, Mecca's online store will also roll out the products. Facegym, a revolutionary which provides facial workouts, is the latest 'cult' fitness trend from the UK and US to launch in Australia The brand sells at home products to help imitate the workouts at home. Pictured is the FaceGym Pro 515 and the face ball 25. The products range from 20 to 515 The Sydney store will be the first in the Southern Hemisphere and the 14th studio worldwide since the brand launched in 2014 in London. The brand was created by former beauty journalist Inge Theron who was inspired to create a natural alternative to injectables and face-lifts that allows women to age gracefully. 'If you've ever gone to a bootcamp or worked out your body, you know the great benefits you get from regular workouts, the muscles strengthen, and the skin becomes tighter and healthier - it's exactly the same for your face too,' Ms Theron said. The facials are designed to 'kickstart' your skins metabolism and train over 40 forgotten muscles in the face by giving the skin a 'high-powered workout' using different tools, products and through massage. The products can also be bought an used at home, the products range from 20 to 515. The FaceGym Pro 515 is designed to give a 'non-invasive facelift' through electrical muscle stimulation tool on the market. The Multi-Sculpt tool (45) has six different edges to lift, contour and sculpt the face Poll Would you try the 'weird' new facial workout? Yes! No! Would you try the 'weird' new facial workout? Yes! 47 votes No! 26 votes Now share your opinion Other products include the face ball 25, a mini yoga ball for the face relieve tension, improve muscle tone and stimulate circulation. The cost of the facials in Australia has not yet been released, but they range from 55 to 240 in the UK. The concept has been labelled 'weird' and 'intense' by customers, but they are thrilled with the results. Many users swear by the at home techniques, contending they see 'amazing' results in 14 days. User's swear by the treatment, Facegym posted this two week transformation from one woman who used the Facegym techniques The facials are all over social media, and the reviews are glowing. 'Before and after was mad, shout out to my therapist,' one woman said. 'This has to be one of the best facials ever,' another said. 'This was honestly such a cool experience,' another commented. How to give yourself a FaceGym workout at home 1. Starting with clean hands and a cleansed face, begin your workout with the warmup using the FaceGym Face Ball. Like a mini yoga ball for the face this helps to stretch out tight muscles, release tension and aid lymphatic drainage, boosting your overall facial muscle flexibility, while toning and strengthening too. The FaceGym Face Ball and Multi-Sculpt tools both come with an exclusive QR code on pack to unlock full workout tutorials. 2. Next, grab your favourite facial oil. We recommend FaceGym's Face Coach Oil, an award-winning, powerful antioxidant face oil with Squalane and Coenzyme Q10 that's suitable for daily facial workouts. Apply to your face and neck and massage into the skin to help the Multi-Sculpt tool glide smoothly over the skin without dragging. 3. The FaceGym Multi-Sculpt tool is high-performance gua sha tool that's perfect for contouring. Made from stainless steel, it has six unique edges to work different areas of the face and helps to define, depuff, plump fine lines, release blockages and reduce facial tension. It's a great tool for easing common jawline tension. Using the grip edge, place your chin into the grip and holding the tool at a 15-degree angle and gently sweep it from chin to ear, feeling the muscle tension releasing. Repeat for five to six sweeps on either side of the face. 4. Once you've completed the moves above, always finish a face workout with some light lymphatic drainage to drain any unwanted toxins left from the face and neck. Remember to leave your facial oil on the skin to really reap the benefits. Finish with your daily moisturiser and always remember your SPF for optimal protection. Keep up with facial massage and exercises regularly to maintain results and build muscle memory. Source: FaceGym Advertisement A host of celebrities used a 'gym for their face' prior to walking the red carpet at the 94th Academy Awards for a tighter, sculpted and more lifted appearance. Lily James, Sian Heder, Maddie Hasson, Hannah Einbinder, Puff Daddy, Brittany O'Grady, Joe Jonas, Sophie Turner, Amy Forsyth, Anya Taylor Joy, Paloma Garcia Lee, Tessa Thompson and Questlove made an appointment at a FaceGym before the Oscars this year. Lily James and Anya Taylor Joy got a Gymface facial before walking the red carpet Those that didn't employed some of FaceGym's at-home tools to get the same effect in the makeup chair, like Australian actress Nicole Kidman Those that didn't employed some of FaceGym's at-home tools to get the same effect in the makeup chair, like Australian actress Nicole Kidman. Makeup artist Kyra Panchenko was the expert behind Nicole Kidman's Oscars beauty look and credits the tools for helping her prep the skin ahead of applying skincare and makeup. Kyra's kit included FaceGym Weighted Ball, Multi-Sculpt Contouring Tool, FaceGym Pro EMS tool and Medi Lift Eye Mask. 'I first start with the Weighted Ball to help release any tension in the face and neck and to increase blood flow,' Kyra said. 'Next I used the FaceGym Pro tool, which uses electrical muscle stimulation technology (EMS) to activate and elevate the facial muscles giving an instant lift. Makeup artist Kyra Panchenko was the expert behind Nicole Kidman's Oscars beauty look and credits the tools for helping her prep the skin ahead of applying skincare and makeup 'It's like a 10-minute at-home face lift, the definition on the cheekbones and jawline are so impressive. 'For the eye area, I used the Medi Lift Eye Mask - it's genius! The gentle use of EMS around the eyes really smooths, lifts and brightens to give a more rested look. 'To finish, I use the FaceGym Multi-Sculpt Gua Sha tool to contour and sculpt.' Businesswoman Inge Theron founded the company after she discovered the power of facial massage while detoxing from the injectables and other invasive treatments she had become addicted to during her years as a Financial Times beauty writer Ms Theron, the company's founder was delighted to see her products and studios used worldwide. 'We've always been about community at FaceGym; they are at the heart of everything we do. It's all about real people, real results! 'We're incredibly lucky to have such an engaged community, and they all love to share their skin transformations with us because our workouts, tools and skincare really do work! 'The results are instantly visible, and if you keep up with your facial training at home, the results only get even better over time. It's what I like to call the FaceGym effect. She added: 'There's nothing I love more than seeing how FaceGym is helping people all around the world to smash their skin goals and feel ultimate skin confidence!' An avid fake tan enthusiast has accidentally got more than she bargained for with her bottle of golden glow after she sat on a plastic bag to marinate in the colour for a few hours. Amy booked to stay in a hotel in Sydney over the weekend and hoped to visit the city's iconic Bondi Beach to enjoy some springtime sun. In preparation for her beach day the young woman decided to use fake tan but noticed much of the furnishings in the hotel were white - a problem for anyone not wanting to leave a stain behind. Amy booked to stay in a hotel in Sydney over the weekend and hoped to visit the city's iconic Bondi Beach to enjoy some springtime sun So she decided to sit on an Aldi plastic bag until the tan soaked into her skin, not realising that the colourful logo printed on the front would transfer onto her bottom So she decided to sit on an Aldi plastic bag until the tan soaked into her skin, not realising that the colourful logo printed on the front would transfer onto her bottom. 'So I'm staying in a hotel in Sydney and I thought it would be great to tan myself before we go to Bondi tomorrow,' she explained in a TikTok video. 'But because we're in a hotel must things are white, the bed is white so I couldn't sit down until it developed. 'So I sat on the ground on an Aldi shopping bag. When I got up it was stuck to me and I basically imprinted it on my a**e.' The unfortunate situation brought great joy to her followers, who commented that this was 'a new take on the Aldi Special Buys'. After a thorough rinse Amy confirmed that the tell-tale logo had been removed 'Thank you for the laugh. I hope it comes off,' said one woman. After a thorough rinse Amy confirmed that the tell-tale logo had been removed. 'So glad for you! That is so funny that it did that. Would have been a very nice Aldi promo indeed,' replied another. 'Thank god, I would have cancelled the beach,' said a third. Some women suggested she simply turn the bag inside out next time she decided to use it as a makeshift cover, to avoid the transfer. SHOPPING: Products featured in this 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. Cara Delevingne attended the Fremantle Photocall, part of the MIPCOM 2022, in Cannes, France, this week and despite some erratic appearances recently, the supermodel appeared in top form. The supermodel looked picture-perfect in a black strapless minidress punctuated with strategically-placed cutouts that showed off her flawless figure. If you've got the bod, then we say rock this dress! It's by Saint Laurent and you can't get a sexier little black dress (LBD) than this. Makes it yours for $3690 by simply clicking on the "Shop" button below. An LBD is a must in every girl's wardrobe and what better way to show off your youth than this barely-there version. Exposing the decolletage, miles of legs and, of course, glimpses of the torso ticks all the trend boxes. Cara's dress can stand alone, or work well underneath a maxi coat, blazer or even a satin topper. You can also layer it over trousers for a radically different silhouette. Cutout cool! Cara Delevingne attended a photocall in Cannes, France, and looked extra chic in a Saint Laurent black cutout minidress that we're obsessed with. The best part is that we can all get it now for $3690 Thankfully, an LBD with cutout details is plentiful on the high street. So you can emulate Cara without breaking the bank. Take a look at our other options ranging from Forever 21 for $7 to Area for $650, all budgets covered. McDonald's fans are shocked after learning which fruit is the main ingredient in the popular Sweet 'n Sour sauce: apricot Revealed by a Macca's fan on TIkTok, the surprising ingredient shocked many as many weren't even aware the popular dip was made with fruit. Holding her favourite Macca's sauce, the UK TikToker expressed her surprised at her discovery. McDonald's fans are shocked after learning apricot is the main ingredient in the fan favourite Sweet 'n Sour sauce A UK Macca's fan shared the little known fact online, surprising many of her followers, some of who didn't realise the dip was made from fruit Poll Did you know the sauce was made from apricot? Yes! No! Did you know the sauce was made from apricot? Yes! 211 votes No! 321 votes Now share your opinion 'Am I the only one who didn't know what fruit its made of?' 'Have a guess,' she said before doing a countdown for the big reveal. 'F*****g apricot, it's apricot,' she exclaimed. Her followers were also surprised at the revelation. 'I said mango so confidently. I had no idea that it was even a fruit,' one woman said. '23 years of being my favourite sauce and I've never thought to read the ingredients,' another wrote. @evs_kii Did you know what fruit is in the sweetnsour from @mcdonaldsuk ??? original sound - evs_kii 'So McDonalds is giving one of your five a day?' a clever woman asked. 'The worst fruit to exist makes the tastiest sauce,' another commented. Many TikTok users guessed it was made from pineapple or mango, one thought it could be made from banana. Others added that apricot is used in many of McDonald's sauces. 'Same with their curry sauce,' one woman commented. Food content creator Raphael Gomes attempted to make the iconic sweet and sour sauce from a leaked recipe using everyday ingredients. He mixed 1/4 cup of apricot preserve, 1/4 cup of peach preserve, two tablespoons of corn syrup, five teaspoons of white vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon of soy sauce, 1/2 teaspoon of mustard, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 1/8 teaspoon of garlic and one 1/2 teaspoons of corn starch. He then emulsified the mix using a blender before adding two tablespoons of water and bringing the mix to the boil for five minutes. Food content creator Raphael Gomes made a homemade Sweet 'n Sour sauce and couldn't believe how similar his result was with the real sauce The foodie couldn't believe how similar his result was to the real sauce, from consistency to flavour. 'I'm gonna get in so much trouble. They are 150 per cent the same sauce.' 'I don't think you understand. This is exactly the same texture.' McDonald's Australia has confirmed the switch has been made Australia wide He found the restaurant is only serving Sprite Zero - instead of the original Russ from Russ Eats went to McDonalds to verify rumours they don't have Sprite Newcastle man Russ, is a chemical engineer by trade, but has won the hearts of hungry Australians everywhere with his hilarious and often rude food reviews An Australian foodie has claimed McDonald's has 'done the dirty' on their customers by switching regular Sprite with Sprite Zero. Newcastle man Russ is a chemical engineer by trade but has won the hearts of Australians with his hilarious and often scathing food reviews. In his latest video the Aussie funnyman who posts under Russ Eats tests the wild theory that McDonald's restaurants no longer serve 'normal' Sprite. 'Makes no sense to me, so let's see if it's true,' he said before heading to his local drive-thru. He spoke to the woman through the ordering box and asked for a 'medium Sprite, a nice sugary Sprite'. She took the order without hesitation and told him the price, but the order on the screen showed she had put through a Sprite Zero. 'WTF not even telling me it is Sprite Zero,' he wrote in the caption while remaining polite in real life. In his latest video the Aussie funnyman who posts under Russ Eats tests the wild theory that McDonald's restaurants no longer serve Sprite 'Do you have any normal Sprite,' he asked her, before pressing her to confirm the rumours were true. She said they no longer serve Sprite and 'to her knowledge' it wouldn't be coming back. McDonald's Australia has since confirmed the switch to FEMAIL. 'McDonalds Australia has recently moved to Sprite No Sugar across its restaurants nationwide. We look forward to hearing customer feedback on the new beverage option,' a spokesperson said. Shocked, Russ ordered a burger, and continued through to the last window where he picked up his meal and sugar-free drink. And he was less than impressed when the burger he ordered was wrong and the people at the window forgot his straw. 'No sugar, no straw, no bacon, what an experience that was. We have confirmed the rumour is true.' He then took a huge sip of the drink. 'Yep we have confirmed it tastes like piss,' he said. Russ' followers were equally as outraged with some revealing they found out about the no sugar switch 'the same way'. He quickly confirmed the rumours after asking for a Sprite and being charged for a sugar-free option 'Ordered Sprite and they just automatically put it on the order as Sprite Zero. At least warn me I'm getting this no sugar rubbish,' one man complained. 'Took me five times. I ask for sprite no ice, kept thinking they just thought I said no sugar,' another said. Others slammed the popular chain. 'Piss weak from Maccas,' one man said. 'Forcing people people to have Sprite zero in a fast food place makes absolutely no sense,' slammed a second. And a worker swept in to dish out the goss. 'No idea why they changed it but it happened about two months ago,' they revealed. The video was posted on Tuesday and has 18500 views on Instagram. HYDERABAD: TPCC chief A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday alleged that the BJP and TRS were trying to create a situation in the state like in West Bengal during the Assembly elections, where the BJP had transformed itself into the main Opposition behind the Trinamool Congress. He was speaking to the media during the Munugode bypoll campaign, and responding to questions over the return of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to Hyderabad after a sojourn in Delhi. Political strategist PKs (Prashanth Kishor) plan is being adopted even here. The Centre is likely to deploy thousands of CRPF personnel. The CRPF will be acting against the TRS men, while the police will act against BJP, Revanth Reddy said. There is a threat that the atmosphere in the constituency will be spoiled for political gain. This is a part of the secret understanding between these two political parties. The political diktats of Amit Shah and Narendra Modi will be implemented here, he said. Revanth Reddy demanded that the Election Commission seize vehicles which violate the election code in the constituency. There are scores of vehicles which have joined the rallies of Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay. Why is the Central Election Commission ignoring it when scores of unauthorised vehicles are plying with impunity? Ministers are campaigning in the constituency in government vehicles, he alleged. Revanth Reddy alleged that the BJP leaders were involved in attacking the Congressmen. He claimed that BJP candidate Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy was threatening Congress workers. Despite all these facts, the police and election authorities have turned a mute spectator, he lamented. After the TRS was allotted the second position on the electronic voting machines (EVMs) to be used for the November 3 byelection, Revanth Reddy took strong exception to the way the Election Commission has prepared the list. The election authorities have failed to fulfil the provisions of the Constitution, he said. He alleged that the ECI was treating the TRS as a national party. The TRS used to be given the fourth slot earlier, he said and urged the poll panel to review its decision. He said national parties should be given the pride of place. She shared the story online but Aussie viewers were also confused by the term They said 'pillows' are for the bed but she was looking for what's called 'insets' After 'lopping the store four times' one worker pointed her in the right direction She said she repeatedly asked staff members where she could find 'pillows' Sophia Kim, from LA, went to a Sydney store to find case-less couch cushions A US expat said she got 'lost in translation' during a visit to a Spotlight store An American expat has shared her confusion after visiting a Spotlight store and asking where the pillows were. Sophia Kim, 30, who moved from Los Angeles to Sydney in 2020, went to into her local Spotlight in search of cushion inserts for her couch but was sent in all corners of the store after asked confused employees where the 'pillows' were. In a viral TikTok clip, the bikini designer pinned the mix-up down to being 'lost in translation' however many Aussies were also baffled by the term 'inset' claiming wouldn't know the term either. Scroll down for video Sophia Kim (pictured) who moved from LA to Sydney in 2020 has shared her confusing experience looking for couch cushions at a Spotlight store Sophia, who heads Siempre Golden swimwear, said she 'looped the store four times' before asking a staff member where she could find the 'pillows'. 'I kept asking them, 'Where are the pillows?', some people would say the front of the store then I'd ask someone else. I'd be like 'Where are the pillows?' and they would say 'It's at the back of the store',' she explained. 'Finally I met this other worker there that was like 'Are you talking about pillows or inserts?' so I was like 'What's the difference?'.' Sophia got lost in the store after asking employees for 'pillows' before one worker told her what she was looking for was actually called 'insets' The Spotlight worker told her pillows are what you lay your head on in bed whereas insets are the case-less cushions that go on a couch which is what Sophia was after. Her video was viewed more than 17,000 times and had many Australians in the comments baffled by the term 'inset'. 'Never heard of the term inserts in my 37 years of life in Sydney.... it's cushions for the couch??!! pillows for the bed! or cushions to decorate,' a fellow expat wrote. 'I'm Australian and I thought they were all pillows too. Who tf says inserts? Haha,' laughed a second viewer. 'It's because they can be sold separately (cushion covers/inserts of the covers),' replied another. But it is no easy feat to get to as it lies at the bottom of a little-known track It is a calm lagoon with turquoise water protect from the surf by granite boulders Australian adventurers have discovered an enormous secluded rockpool with turquoise waters along an untouched coastline. The beachside oasis is aptly named The Aquarium and is tucked away between Smiths Beach and Canal Rocks near the West Australia town of Yallingup, three hours south of Perth. A popular spot for swimmers, beach-lovers and photographers alike, the picturesque lagoon is no easy feat to find and visitors will need to know exactly where to go to find it. Aussie travellers are flocking to a spectacular rock pool with crystal clear water hidden along Western Australia's rocky coastline The Aquarium is tucked away between Smiths Beach and Canal Rocks near the West Australia town of Yallingup, three hours south of Perth A popular spot for swimmers, beach-lovers and photographers alike, the picturesque lagoon is no easy feat to find and visitors will need to know exactly where to go to find it The Aquarium's calm, vibrant waters are protected from the surf by huge granite boulders the rugged coastline is littered with. Its crystal clear waters are ideal for keen snorkellers to spend hours viewing the region's incredible marine life including curious fish and crabs and colourful coral in their natural habitat. Visitors to The Aquarium are becoming more frequent as word gets out about the hidden gem and say travellers need to 'be prepared for a bit of a hike down' to get to the pool. Tourists can travel towards to the ocean along Canal Rocks Road near Yallingup until they reach the small car park at the end. Its crystal clear waters are ideal for snorkellers to spend hours viewing the region's incredible marine life including curious fish and crabs and colourful coral in their natural habitat Visitors to The Aquarium say travellers need to 'be prepared for a bit of a hike down' to get to the pool One visitor called their time at The Aquarium a 'beautiful experience' while another urged people to 'pack their snorkel gear' if they want to make a day trip of the 'calm and safe haven' From there, it is a 1.3kilometre walk downhill along a rough track through the rugged and rocky coastal bushland with stunning views of the ocean. While the track has small obstacles like protruding rocks and exposed tree roots, one travel blogger, Alex, said 'you won't even need your hiking boots' to brave the 'gravel off-shoot'. Another visitor called their time at The Aquarium a 'beautiful experience' while a third urged people to 'pack their snorkel gear' if they want to make a day trip of the 'calm and safe haven'. She feared she might never be a mother when doctors discovered her two wombs. So Jade Buckingham was, understandably, ecstatic when she ended up giving birth to Cairo. Yet the 25-year-old was even more elated when she found out she was pregnant with twins just 18 months later. Lanae and Lavell grew in separate wombs a phenomenon so rare that doctors say only has a one-in-50million chance of occurring. But that's not the only aspect unique to Ms Buckingham's twins. Lanae has a darker complexion and dark, curly hair, while Lavell has blonde hair and lighter skin. Ms Buckingham, from Sutton-in-Ashfield in Nottinghamshire, said: 'Sometimes when we're out and people ask about them, they don't believe they're twins. 'Sometimes I show them a picture of when they were born.' Lanae (left) and Lavell Buckingham (right) grew in separate wombs a phenomenon that doctors say has a one in 50million chance of happening. But that's not the only rare aspect of her pregnancy. Lanae has a darker complexion and dark, curly hair, while Lavell has blonde hair and lighter skin Jade Buckingham, their mother, said: 'Sometimes when we're out and people ask about them [Lanae (right) and Lavell (left)], they don't believe they're twins. Sometimes I show them a picture of when they were born' The 25-year-old (pictured with Lanae and Lavell in the weeks after giving birth in 2018), said it took 'a few months' before the twins' true skin colour differences began to show HOW RARE IS IT TO HAVE TWINS WITH DIFFERENT SKIN COLOURS? There is a one in 500 chance of twins being born with different skin colours, if their parents are an interracial couple, figures suggest. This is because non-identical twins which account for two-thirds of all twins are no more alike than any other pairs of siblings. Skin colour is determined by parents' genes. Children of interracial couples receiving a combination of genes that makes their skin either lighter or darker. Siblings and non-identical twins only share 50 per cent of their genes. So one twin or sibling can receive genes that make their skin lighter while another may receive a group of genes that makes their skin appear darker. Advertisement The 25-year-old, who gave birth in 2018, said it took 'a few months' before the twins' true skin colour differences began to show. The unlikely event occurs in one 500 sets of twins born to mixed race couples. Non-identical twins are no more alike than any other pairs of siblings sharing 50 per cent of their genes. While Lanae inherited genes that made her skin darker, Lavell received genes that made his lighter. Ms Buckingham, a single mother and carer who is no longer with the baby's father, only found out about her unusual anatomy following a string of miscarriages. She had suffered four by the age of 17. She subsequently had to undergo a dilation and curettage procedure at Nottingham University Hospital, which clears the uterus lining of any tissue after a miscarriage. During the minor operation in February 2014, doctors spotted that Ms Buckingham had two vaginal canals, known as a vaginal septum, and two wombs, a condition called uterus didelphys. Just one in 3,000 women are thought to be born with two wombs, which occurs when a developing uterus which starts off as two separate ducts fails to join together. Medics don't yet know why the condition occurs. But it leaves sufferers with two separate uteruses, which are attached to their own fallopian tubes which can simultaneously release eggs that can become fertilised. Sufferers may also have two vaginal canals, like Ms Buckingham. Frequent miscarriages are a tell-tale sign of the condition, along with pain when having sex, heavy bleeding during periods and giving birth early. Those with uterus didelphys usually find it no more difficult to get pregnant than those without the condition. But sufferers struggle to carry their baby to full-term because their wombs are small, which can restrict the growth of a foetus and cause their baby to be born early. Ms Buckingham said: 'I was distraught because I'd always wanted to be a mum. 'My own mum, Sheena (42) said she'd be my surrogate if I needed which was a lovely gesture but I wanted to experience pregnancy.' However, Ms Buckingham found out she was pregnant around a year after her diagnosis and gave birth to her son Cairo, six, in February 2016. Just 19 months later, she found out she was pregnant again. Ms Buckingham said: 'I was of course over the moon because I was loving being a mum to Cairo. On April 29 2018, Lanae (right) was born at 4.44pm weighing 3lbs 10oz, while Lavell was born one minute later weighing 5lbs 2oz (left). Despite being born six weeks early, they were perfectly healthy The twins are now four. Ms Buckingham said: 'I was so relieved when they [the twins, pictured] were both born and safe with me. As newborns, they looked similar but after a few months their different skin tone and features began to show through' She said: 'Lanae (left) was born feet first and Lavell (right) was born head first, from that moment I knew that they were going to be polar opposites which they definitely are now' Ms Buckingham (pictured with the twins) added: 'When Lanae's hair started to grow, I noticed that she had lovely dark curls and Lavell had blonde hair and a lighter skin tone' What is uterus didelphys? A double uterus occurs when a developing womb which starts off as two separate ducts fails to join together. The rare condition affects just 0.3 per cent of women. Medics don't yet know why the condition occurs. But it leaves sufferers with two separate uteruses and fallopian tubes. Some may also have two vaginal canals and two cervixes. Frequent miscarriages are a tell-tale sign of the condition, along with pain when having sex, heavy bleeding during periods and giving birth early. It can cause infertility among some sufferers, as it increases the risk of miscarriage because the uterus is smaller and may restrict the growth of a foetus. It may be diagnosed during a routine pelvic exam or during scans. An ultrasound or MRI scan is usually required to confirm that a woman has two uteruses. Advertisement 'I'd always worried it might not happen for me and then to have him alive and well, it was everything I'd ever wanted.' But at her three-month scan, doctors spotted she was pregnant with twins and one was in each of her uteruses. Medics said that the babies had formed from different eggs, with separate umbilical cords and sacs, according to Ms Buckingham. Ms Buckingham said: 'When I fell pregnant with the twins I was over the moon but it was scary that they were both in different wombs. 'I had scans every two weeks to monitor the twins' development.' She added: 'I was quite worried at the time because of my condition and the previous miscarriages I'd gone through. 'The doctors said I should treat my pregnancy the same as when I carried my son, which was a relief and I appreciated the regular scans.' Just 22 weeks into her pregnancy, doctors told Ms Buckingham that one of the twins her daughter Lanae had stopped growing. She was given the choice of delivering both babies early, though she was warned that neither may survive, or continuing with the pregnancy but her daughter may not survive. Ms Buckingham said: 'It was a horrible predicament to be in but I knew I had to keep on going. 'I decided to carry on with the pregnancy and hoped both would be OK, it was such an anxious time.' Three months later, in April 2018, Ms Buckingham went into early labour and was rushed to hospital for an emergency C-section. Lanae was born at 4.44pm weighing 3lbs 10oz, while Lavell was born one minute later weighing 5lbs 2oz. Despite being born six weeks early, they were perfectly healthy. The twins are now four. Ms Buckingham said: 'I was so relieved when they were both born and safe with me. 'As newborns, they looked similar but after a few months their different skin tone and features began to show through.' She said: 'Lanae was born feet first and Lavell was born head first, from that moment I knew that they were going to be polar opposites which they definitely are now.' 'When Lanae's hair started to grow, I noticed that she had lovely dark curls and Lavell had blonde hair and a lighter skin tone,' Ms Buckingham added. A new test that can spot cervical cancer years before it happens could transform screening for four cancers, scientists say. A study found it was able to detect more than half of women whose screening results came back normal but went onto to develop signs of cancer in the next four years. Experts believe the test which can also pick up DNA markers for other cancers could be used to predict breast, womb, cervical and ovarian cancer within years all from the same swab. A study found it was able to detect more than half of women whose screening results came back normal but went onto to develop signs of cancer in the next four years. Experts believe the test which can also pick up DNA markers for other cancers could be used to predict breast, womb, cervical and ovarian cancer within years all from the same swab. Stock It has the potential to save thousands of women from undergoing gruelling cancer treatments and painful biopsies by flagging those at most risk before cancer develops. It would also spell the end of mammograms, traditionally used to screen women over-50 for breast cancer. The new test looks at DNA methylation an extra layer on top of DNA which tells cells what their specific function is. By studying this using cervical swabs, scientists found changes to cells can be spotted well before they become cancerous. Under current screening, women are tested for human papillomavirus (HPV) the virus responsible for 99 per cent of cervical cancer cases. The samples of those who test positive are then checked under the microscope for cell changes that could become cancerous. How does the test work? The new test looks at DNA methylation an extra layer on top of DNA which tells cells what their specific function is. By studying this using cervical swabs, scientists found changes to cells can be spotted well before they become cancerous. Under current screening, women are tested for human papillomavirus (HPV) the virus responsible for 99 per cent of cervical cancer cases. The samples of those who test positive are then checked under the microscope for cell changes that could become cancerous. Advertisement Researchers looked at 1,254 cervical screening samples from women with cell changes ranging from lower to high risk, women with HPV but no cervical cell changes, and samples from women without any cervical cell changes who went on to develop high-risk cell changes within four years. For those without cell changes but who had HPV, it detected 55 per cent of people who would have cell changes in the next four years. It also performed better than currently available methods for detecting those with advanced cell changes who need treatment, according to the findings published in the journal Genome Medicine. Scientists believe that by looking closely at DNA methylation, they can detect cancer and possibly predict the risk someone has of developing cancer in the future. They are also confident cells taken during cervical screening have the potential to flag future breast, ovarian and womb cancers, in what they have called a 'surrogate effect'. Dr Chiara Herzog, of the University of Innsbruck, Austria, said other tests work by picking up cells shed by the cancer, meaning cancer has to be present. But by studying a person's DNA methylation which can be altered by factors like age, pollution, weight someone's chances of getting cancer can be predicted. 'The idea is that we can use one single cervical cancer to use to predict for four cancers womb, breast,' she told the Daily Mail. 'These look for methylation signatures so factors that drive cancer in other tissues like breast and ovaries so lifetime exposure to hormones can also be read out by the methylation signature in the cervical cells. 'We call it a surrogate effect. So instead of needing a test for each, you only need one. 'It sounds futuristic but I hope we can implement this soon.' Professor Martin Widschwendter, from University College London's department of women's cancer, has been working on this research for two decades. He said: 'Vaccination against the virus that causes cervical cancer is now widely implemented and is leading to changes in the amount and types of the virus circulating in the community. 'In turn, our approaches to cervical screening must adapt so that programmes continue to deliver benefit. 'Importantly, our other work has shown how testing the same cervical sample can also deliver information on a woman's risk of three other major cancers - breast, ovarian and womb cancers. 'Building new, holistic, risk-predictive screening programmes around existing, effective cervical sample collection offers real potential for cancer prevention in the future.' There are around 3,200 new cases of cervical cancer each year in the UK and around 850 deaths. Roughly 14,000 women are struck down with the disease every year in the US, and it kills up to 4,000. Around half of women with the disease survive for 10 years or more. Athena Lamnisos, chief executive of the Eve Appeal charity, said: 'It's so welcome to see screening tools and predictive tests becoming more effective. 'We want to prevent cancer - and we know with cervical cancer that we can intervene at an early stage. 'This new method is more specific and doesn't lead to over-treatment which is good news for cervical cancer prevention and great news for everyone who needs to be screened.' Britons should 'not get too alarmed' that an Omicron sub-variant dubbed 'the most vaccine-resistant yet' has been spotted in the UK, experts insisted today. The mutant strain called XBB has accumulated mutations which scientists fear make it harder for the body to spot. It has been blamed for Singapore's infection numbers doubling in the past fortnight, sparking concerns that similar chaos could unfold in the UK. One XBB case has already been detected in Britain, though scientists believe actual rates will be higher because testing levels are much lower now than during earlier in the pandemic. But experts told MailOnline that there are no 'good reasons to be fearful', even though Covid rates are already shooting up without the strain having a big hold. Professor David Livermore, a microbiologist at the University of East Anglia, said the strain appears to be 'no more dangerous' than previous Omicron variants, which are milder. Britain already has sky-high immunity levels against the parent strain because of its mammoth vaccination campaign and repeated waves of infection over the past two-and-a-half years. Singapore has brought forward its autumn booster rollout in response to the XBB-fuelled surge. But they said people infected with the strain are not more likely to be severely unwell or die from Covid. And there are early signals the strain is already plateauing in Singapore, according to Professor Paul Hunter, an epidemiologist at the University of East Anglia. If that was the case, Professor Hunter said that would mean the UK may 'not see too many problems from this variant'. But one expert said the emergence of the highly mutated variant should act as 'wake-up call' that Covid 'can't be ignored' and to protect the most vulnerable. Around 8,000 people are being infected with Covid per day in Singapore and XBB has been blamed for the sharp rise But just two people are dying from the virus, suggesting it's just as mild as the newer Omicron spin-offs that have become so prevalent The above graph shows the proportion of cases in Singapore by variants. It reveals that XBB (red) has been surging in the country One XBB UK case had been detected by October 8 in Trafford, Greater Manchester. However, dwindling testing and sequencing rates mean many more are thought to be carrying the variant. The graph shows the variants fuelling infections in the UK, with nine in 10 cases caused by Omicron subvariant BA.5 (dark pink) and eight per cent cause by BA.4 (light pink) WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE XBB COVID STRAIN? What is XBB? XBB is formed of two variants scientifically named BJ.1 and BA.2.75 which have merged. It was first detected in India back in August, authorities said, but did not spark a wave until now. Covid variants can merge in a process scientifically known as recombination if they infect the same cell in the same person at the same time, and then swap genes. There have been several recombinant variants already such as 'Delta-plus' last year but, until now, none have led to a major surge in infections. Where has it been spotted? The variant has been detected in nearly 20 countries, including the UK, US and Singapore, where it is infected thousands every week. Is the variant concerning? In Singapore, XBB is behind more than half of cases in the country, up from one in five just one week ago. The country has seen cases quadruple from 2,000 to 8,000 per week in the last month. One possible cause for concern is that Singapore's reinfection rate has risen dramatically since the arrival of XBB from five to 17.5 per cent of all cases. It is not clear yet if this is simply due to waning vaccine protection. Why are some scientists not worried? Singaporean scientists estimate it is 30 per cent milder than the previously dominant BA.5 Omicron strain. And officials in the country already expect the wave to peak in mid-November, making it a short and steep but crucially mild wave. Advertisement XBB was first detected in India in August. It has since spread to at least 18 countries, including the US and Australia. In Singapore, cases have quadrupled from 2,000 to 8,000 per week in the last month. XBB, which is a merger of variants BJ.1 and BA.2.75, is now behind more than half of cases in the country, up from one in five one week ago. One possible cause for concern is that Singapore's reinfection rate has also risen dramatically since the arrival of the mutant variant from five to 17.5 per cent of all cases. However, Singapore's Ministry of Health has said there is 'no evidence' that XBB is more severe than previous strains. Early data suggests that those infected with XBB are 30 per cent less likely to be hospitalised than those who catch BA.5 the strain currently dominant in the UK. Data from the Sanger Institute, one of the UK's largest Covid surveillance centres, shows that one XBB case had been sequenced in Trafford, Greater Manchester by October 8. However, around 60,000 Britons are now taking a Covid test every day of which around 7,000 are positive for the virus. And just hundreds are then sequenced to determine which variants are causing infections, meaning many more people are thought to be infected with XBB. The Sanger Institute estimates that 0.2 per cent of new cases are down to XBB, equating to roughly one in 500. However, Professor Hunter told MailOnline that while it is 'much too soon' to know what the XBB strain will do in the UK, people should not be 'too alarmed'. 'The problem always is that very early after the appearance of a new variant it is always impossible to get a good idea how it will ultimately affect the course of the epidemic,' he said. In most cases, new variants 'fizzle out over the course of a number of weeks' but they sometimes drive 'the next big wave of infection', he added. But he noted that the strain doesn't seem to cause more severe illness than BA.5 the most prevalent variant in the UK. 'Also the current wave of infection in Singapore looks like it may be plateauing even though it is reported that XBB represent half of all cases,' Professor Hunter said. 'If this is the case then we may not see too many problems from this variant. So at present we need to watch the spread of this variant but not get too alarmed.' Professor Francois Balloux, an infectious disease expert from University College London, told MailOnline that it is 'not obvious' that XBB will drive another wave of infection in the UK. He noted the strain is one of many circulating variants that are offshoots of Omicron BA.2, which caused cases to rise to a record 4.1million in England in April. Several of the variants, including XBB, have gained mutations in their spike protein which allows them to bypass the immunity gained from vaccination or previous infection, he said. However, he said Singapore may be an outlier in seeing a surge of XBB cases, rather than a canary in the coalmine for what will happen elsewhere. While most of the world saw record-breaking infection rates this year due to the BA.2 strain, Singapore experienced a big wave of another Omicron variant called BA.1, Professor Balloux explained. He noted that BA.1 is one of the least protective against Covid reinfection, which may explain why Singapore has seen 'such a big XBB surge'. And another Omicron BA.2 subvariant called BQ.1.1 has taken off in Europe at a faster rate than XBB, Professor Balloux said. That strain was behind 4.5 per cent of infections in the week to October 8, up from 0.7 per cent one week earlier. Both XBB and BQ.1.1 are thought to be similarly immune-evasive, so those infected with BQ.1.1 'should be largely immune to XBB reinfection', Professor Balloux said. 'With cases down everywhere in Europe despite BQ.1.1 still rising in frequency, it is not obvious to me that the arrival of XBB will drive another wave in the UK,' he added. Professor Livermore told MailOnline that immunity in the UK from successive vaccine rollouts and waves of infection should keep Britons protected against the XBB strain. He said: 'The virus is now hitting human populations which (outside China) now have considerable immunity from prior infection and vaccination. 'This exerts a Darwinian selection for virus variants that escape this immunity. Lots of different ones are being recorded. 'A few, like XBB, which is spreading in Singapore, gain significant traction. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates more than 1.5million people in England were infected on any given day in the week up to October 3 Latest Government data shows Covid hospitalisations may already be slowing down. Some 1,275 people were admitted with the virus on October 10, down 5 per cent on the 1,344 a week before Around 10,600 Covid-infected patients were in hospital beds as of 8am on Wednesday, the latest date that data is available for. This was up 10 per cent on the week before There were 221 Covid patients in ICU mechanical ventilation patients on October 12, according to the latest UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data NHS plans 'war rooms' as staff face their toughest winter in decades amid appointments backlog and fear of Covid resurgence The NHS is setting up 'war rooms' as it prepares for one of the toughest winters in its 74-year history. 'Winter resilience plans' announced in a letter to staff include new 24-hour control centres in every area which will manage demand and capacity by tracking beds and attendances. These will be led by 'clinicians and experts' who can make quick decisions, said NHS England, which also announced plans to treat more fall victims at home. The aim is to avoid 'unnecessary trips' to hospital and release around 55,000 ambulance journeys each year. Other plans include 'respiratory infections hubs' offering same-day out-of-hospital care for Covid, flu, acute bronchitis and pneumonia. More hospital beds, more 111 and 999 call handlers and 24/7 access to professional mental health advice in ambulance services are also planned. Advertisement 'But I can't see good reasons to be fearful of it.' Professor Livermore pointed to Singapore Covid death data, which remains low three weeks after XBB emerged the lag needed for patterns in infections to translate to fatalities. This suggests 'XBB is no more dangerous than the generality of Omicron variants,' he said. New Covid variants will continue to emerge and vaccines 'are only very briefly effective against infection and transmission', he noted. So the UK will see 'occasional repeat infections whilst gradually developing an immune equilibrium with the virus, exactly as we "enjoy" with the four common cold coronaviruses', he said. 'This may take a few years, but we're well through the worst now,' Professor Livermore added. However, Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, is concerned that the rapid spread of immune-escaping Omicron variants should be a 'wakeup call' to protect those most at risk from the virus. He told MailOnline that the XBB and BQ.1.1 strains are 'very worrying' as they are two of the most 'immune evasive versions of Covid that we have seen to date'. He said: 'XBB infections have grown very fast in the Indian subcontinent and Singapore. 'Meanwhile, BQ.1.1 infections are rising so rapidly in Europe and North America that this variant is very likely to be the dominant version of the virus in these countries (including the UK) the coming weeks. 'This is a wakeup call we cant ignore Covid and need to do everything to protect the elderly and most vulnerable as well as the NHS as we head towards a very challenging winter.' Health chiefs in the UK are already dishing out Covid booster jabs to those most at risk from the virus to boost immunity ahead of the winter. The campaign opened to 26million over-50s, at-risk groups and health and care staff in England last month, with more than 7million jabbed so far. NHS leaders have urged those eligible to come forward for a jab, labelling them the 'strongest weapon' against Covid. It comes amid a resurgence of the virus in recent weeks. Some 1.5million people in England were thought to be infected in the week to October 3, according to the gold-standard surveillance study by the Office for National Statistics. The figure, which equates to one in 35 people or 2.8 per cent of the population, jumped 37 per cent in a week and is the highest rate seen in two-and-a-half months. Omicron subvariant BA.5 remains dominant, being to blame for nine in 10 infections, while the XBB variant is thought to be behind just 0.2 per cent of cases, according to data from the Sanger Institute. A combination of waning immunity from previous vaccine rollouts, the circulation of many versions of Omicron and increased mixing indoors are thought to be behind the rise. Women attending abortion clinics will be protected from protests by new 'buffer zones' agreed by MPs last night. Under the new proposal, it will become an offence to intimidate or harass anyone within 150 metres of the buildings. The Government did not support the Labour plan, claiming that existing laws were sufficient, while some MPs warned it would criminalise 'elderly grandmothers' who peacefully pray for women seeking terminations. But it was backed by several senior Conservatives in a free vote and the amendment to the Public Order Bill passed with a majority of 187 after 297 MPs voted in favour of it and 110 voted against. Buffer zones banning protests outside all abortion clinics could be introduced later this year, campaigners hope (file photo) The ayes included Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt, Cabinet Office minister Chris Philp and former prime minister Theresa May. Last night Labour's shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper welcomed the result, saying: 'No one should face intimidation when accessing vital healthcare. 'Serious harassment of women and staff on their way into abortion and contraception clinics is deeply distressing and unacceptable. 'We have called for these buffer zones for eight years and, just as we won the battle to end harassment outside vaccine clinics, it is really welcome that there is now a majority in Parliament for this too.' The new amendment to the law creates an 'offence of interference with access to or provision of abortion services'. A buffer zone of 150m will be placed around abortion clinics, to protect women seeking to access the service or doctors and nurses who provide it. Office for Health Improvement and Disparities data shows 214,869 women had abortions in England and Wale in 2021, up 2 per cent on the more than 210,000 recorded in 2020 WHAT IS THE ABORTION TIME LIMIT IN THE UK? Most abortions in England, Wales and Scotland are carried out by the end of the 24th week of pregnancy. They can be carried out after 24 weeks in certain circumstances, for example, if the mother's life is at risk or the child would be born with a severe disability. Campaigners want the time-limit to be reduced due to figures revealing one-third of babies born at 23 weeks survive. Some argue that at 23 weeks, babies can detect their mothers' movements, as well as having a decent sense of hearing. They can also make facial expressions and produce urine at just 14 weeks, and hiccup at 11 weeks. Advertisement Anyone found guilty of breaching the zone to intimidate, threaten or persuade women will face a fine or six months' imprisonment, increasing to two years for repeat offences. Home Office minister Jeremy Quin said the Government 'totally endorse the sentiment behind the new clause' but insisted that 'existing legislation combined with the growing use of public space protection orders-PSPOs-can be used and are effective'. Campaigners claimed that of 50 abortion clinics that have been targeted by protestors, only five have been protected by PSPOs obtained by councils. Senior Tory Sir Bernard Jenkin said the buffer zone struck the right balance between protecting the rights of those who oppose abortion with the right of women to access healthcare confidentially and free from harassment. 'It does not ban protest; it simply moves it down the road to preserve the space immediately outside the clinic for women seeking care, and for nurses and doctors providing that care.' Labour MP Stella Creasy, who proposed the amendment, said: 'Let's be honest, there's nobody praying outside the places you get a hip operation. 'There is nobody offering rosary beads or dead foetuses outside places you might go for an ankle injury. 'There is a time and a place to have that conversation, but it is not when you are dealing with vulnerable women.' However, veteran Tory MP Sir Edward Leigh said the buffer zones were disproportionate. 'The people this amendment targets are peaceful protestors, often elderly grandmothers, frankly, who are entirely peaceful. They politely pray and hand out leaflets,' he said. He contrasted the treatment they will face with environmental activists who often walk free despite causing huge disruption to the public. And fellow Conservative MP Fiona Bruce asked: 'When did it become against the law in this country to pray?' East Kent Hospitals Trust has become the latest NHS organisation to be rocked by a maternity scandal spanning over a decade. Here MailOnline details the timeline of events and the numerous missed chances to stop more children from dying. 2009 East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust becomes a foundation trust, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 695,000 people. 2012 Serious problems at the trust were first highlighted when newborn Harry Halligan died at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford. His twin sister was first delivered without any major complications but Harry was delivered by emergency caesarean after failed attempts to use forceps. His mother, Alison Halligan, said the decision was taken 'a bit late' and the hospital did not seem prepared to deliver twins. After numerous investigations, the trust told Harry's parents lessons would be learnt from the case. 2014 The trust is put into special measures following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission after the regulator rated its care, including maternity services, as inadequate. During this time eight baby deaths were recorded in that year alone, according to trust documents. One of these was Harriet Gittos who died a week after suffering a brain injury during the birth. Problems were highlighted at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust numerous times over the years. Pictured here is the Trust's William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent 2015, March The Morecambe Bay report which investigated failures at a Cumbrian hospital that led to the deaths of 11 babies is published. Written by Dr Bill Kirkup, who has led the East Kent independent review, he stated it was vital lessons were learnt by other trusts. 2016 February A Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) report raises concerns about inadequate maternity care at the Trust. It flags multiple issues, including poor working culture between staff, inconsistent adherence to national standards, and poor governance following serious incidents. A maternity improvement plan for the trust is then launched, following the RCOG report. 2016, November Dr Kelli Rudolph gives birth to her daughter Celandine at the Trust following a concerning labour. Celandine suffers brain damage due to a lack of oxygen during the birth and lives less than a week. She is controversially classified as 'stillborn' by staff despite living for five days, prompting concerns of a cover-up. 2017, April Hallie-Rae Leek dies on April 7, four days after being born. During the labour a midwife struggles to find her heart-rate and by the time she is born she is in a poor condition. It then takes 22 minutes to resuscitate her, by which time irreparable damage is done. The Trust accepts the death was preventable. Hallie-Rae Leek died at four days old at William Harvey Hospital, pictured here with her mother Becca Janes and her partner Adam Leek 2017, November Harry Richford was born on his due date at Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother hospital in Margate, Kent. Staff's handling of the labour, delivery and resuscitation of Harry were severely botched, resulting in him suffering severe brain damage. He dies seven days later following his life support being withdrawn after his parents are told he would never have any quality of life considering his paraplegic state and significant learning and cognitive difficulties. His family being campaigning for justice and an independent investigation into Harry's death. Their fight for answers would eventually lead to an inquest into Harry's death. Harry Richford died just seven days after being born at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Kent. Investigations would later reveal multiple failing in his care. Harry is pictured here with his parents Sarah and Tom 2018 Watchdogs are the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch launch their own investigation into the Trust regarding Harry's death. They found numerous failings, including the fact the medic managing the birth was a junior doctor, when it should of been a more senior consultant. Failings at the Trust are also uncovered by an investigation undertaken by the Healthcare Safety Investigations Branch. 2019, January Tallulah-Rai Edwards dies on January 28, stillborn. In the 36th week of the pregnancy, her mother became worried about the slow movement in the womb. Midwives, despite struggling to get a good heart-rate reading from the baby, sent her home. She returned two days later still worried and asked for further tests but by this time Tallulah had died. An internal investigation found staff should of tried to get a good reading for longer and then arranged an ultrasound. 2019, February Archie Powell dies on Valentines Day 2019. Medics failed to spot he was suffering from a common infection, group B streptococcus. The delay led to severe brain damage, and he dies shortly after. An internal trust investigation said his death was 'potentially avoidable'. Archie Powell (left) died on 14 February 2019, aged four days after medics failed to spot he had a common infection, He is pictured here with his twin Evalene, who survived 2019, September Archie Batten dies shortly after being born. When his mother went into labour, she called Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate who told her their maternity unit was full and she should drive to the Trust's other hospital, the William Harvey in Ashford, about 38 miles away. Midwives are then sent to her home but struggle to deliver the baby. She is later taken back to the Queen hospital where her son dies of a brain injury due to the long labour. The hospital apologised for their handling of the birth, and said changes had been implemented. Rachel Higgs and Andrew Batten with their baby Archie who died after his mother was rushed to hospital after being originally turned away from Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother Hospital maternity unit earlier in the day being told it was full 2020, January A coroner gave his conclusion to Harry Richford's three-week inquest and found seven gross failings in the care received that he says amount to neglect. Following the conclusion, the trust said it accepted the coroner's findings and was 'deeply sorry' for its failings in Harry's care. During the inquest, it also emerges that the trust failed to complete 21 recommendations out of 23 made by the 2015 review conducted by RCOG. These recommendations included a lack of reviews into high risk women and reluctance of some senior staff to attend out of our calls. 2020, February Then health minister, Nadine Dorries MP, announces that Dr Bill Kirkup will lead an independent review of maternity services in East Kent. 2020, October The health watchdog, the Care Quality Commission, announces it will criminally prosecute the Trust on two counts of unsafe care and treatment for Harry and his mother Sarah Richford. This is the first prosecution of its kind in NHS history. The trust is fined 733,000. The Care Quality Commission eventually criminally prosecuted the Trust for failings in the care of Harry Richford and his mother Sarah (pictured right with her husband Tom in 2021) 2021, April East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust pleads guilty to failing to provide safe care and treatment to Harry and his mother. 2021, September The Kirkup report is originally due but is delayed because of the impact of the Covid pandemic. 2022, June A coroner finds the death Archie Batten was 'contributed to by neglect' and 'gross failure' of the hospital. 2022, September The Kirkup report is delayed yet again, this time by the death of The Queen. 2022, October The Kirkup Independent Inquiry investigating maternity services at East Kent Hospitals Trust is published. It finds 45 baby deaths could have had a different outcome if nationally recognised standards of care had been provided. Dr Bill Kirkup was tasked with investigating dozens of avoidable baby deaths at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust. But it is not his the first time probing events which saw ordinary Britons let down by those in power. Since retiring from public health duties over a decade ago, Dr Kirkup has gone on to investigate both the Hillsborough stadium disaster and Jimmy Savile's involvement at Broadmoor hospital. He also led investigations into maternity care at Morecambe Bay which, as it would later turn out, would be the first in a series of damning reports into shocking care of mothers and babies within the NHS. Dr Kirkup issued a chilling warning at the time that if lessons weren't learnt from the report, then other NHS trusts would be destined to repeat the same mistakes. Dr Bill Kirkup is no stranger to uncovering the failings of those in power to protect vulnerable Britons Dr Kirkup was a joint investigator into a report into the involvement of paedophile presenter Jimmy Savile at Broadmoor Hospital He also served as a member of the Hillsborough Independent Panel and was responsible for medical evidence which led to new inquests into some of the deaths from the disaster in 1989 which saw Liverpool fans crushed on the terraces during the FA Cup Semi-Final match 'Deplorable and harrowing': The key findings of Dr Kirkup's East Kent report The panel investigated an 11-year period from 2009 at two maternity wards in Margate and Ashford, Kent, and found: Up to 45 babies might have survived if they had received better care Infants died while others ere left badly hurt as a result of failings at East Kent NHS Trust Report found 'clear pattern' of 'suboptimal care' that led to significant harm Failures to listen to families, as well as 'culture of deflection and denial' Staff acted in ways which made the experience of families 'unacceptably and distressingly poor' Panel heard examples of uncompassionate care 'that shocked us', a culture of blaming women, poor teamwork, a lack of professionalism and tendency to deflect responsibility when things went wrong Trust prioritised reputation management to the detriment of being open and straightforward to families Advertisement Dr Kirkup's career in health began as ward orderly before he qualifying as doctor, choosing to specialise in obstetrics and gynaecological oncology. He then switched focus into public health and medical management, eventually becoming associate chief medical officer for England. Dr Kirkup has also previously volunteered to work alongside military operations in Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan as a medical professional to help in reconstruction efforts. But he stepped down from public health roles in 2009. Following that, he has been involved in multiple serious independent investigations into some of England's biggest public service failures. These include a spate of deaths at a children's cardiology unit at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, where there were attempts to 'restrict' knowledge of problems there after four fatalities in early 2010. Dr Kirkup was also joint lead investigator into the involvement of paedophile presenter Jimmy Savile at Broadmoor Hospital. This included how Savile charmed his way into obtaining a set of hospital keys effectively giving him the run of the hospital, including access to various patient areas. Savile, who Dr Kirkup described as an 'adept manipulator of people', had a caravan on the hospital site that he used to 'entertain' a stream of female visitors. He also used his access to the wards to watch female patients undress and as they bathed. The report uncovered 10 allegations of sexual assaults by Savile at the hospital, two involving minors. Five of these were assessed as cases of sexual abuse by Savile, with another one deemed 'more likely than not' by Dr Kirkup and his fellow investigators. Investigators were unable to speak to the victims of the other five alleged assaults. They added, however, that the total number of cases of assault is likely to be higher due to underreporting. Dr Kirkup's report found the closed and introspective institutional culture of Broadmoor failed to prevent the sexual abuse of patients including by Savile. They recommended NHS introduce stricter polices on sexual relationships in the health service between staff and patients, and the reporting of it, as well as tighter controls on appointment of celebrities to positions in the health service. Perhaps most relevant to the current investigation is Dr Kirkup's work as the chair into the report on the Morecambe Bay maternity scandal, the first in a series of reports exposing poor care in the last decade. The two-year investigation, completed in 2015, found 11 babies and one mother died following a lethal mix of shocking failures in a 'seriously dysfunctional' maternity unit at Furness General Hospital in Barrow, Cumbria, run by Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust. In what would sadly be an unheeded warning, Dr Kirkup said other hospitals needed to learn lessons from Morecambe Bay to avoid similar scandals in the future. 'It is vital that the lessons, now plain to see, are learned and acted upon, not least by other trusts which must not believe "that it could not happen here"', he said. 'If those lessons are not acted upon, we are destined sooner or later to add again to the roll of names.' He has also been involved in multiple investigations into patient safety incidents and deaths at the former Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust, one of which is still ongoing. Dr Kirkup has also served as a member of the Hillsborough Independent Panel and was responsible for medical evidence which led to new inquests into some of the deaths resulting from the disaster at the stadium in 1989. He also served on the Independent Panel which investigated deaths due to drug overdoses at Gosport War Memorial Hospital in 2018. They found that more than 450 patients had been given opioids 'without appropriate clinical indication', and 200 more patients were 'probably' also affected. There was also a 'disregard for human life and a culture of shortening the lives of a large number of patients'. Abortion is banned outright in 12 states, mostly in the south, and from six weeks in two others Advertisement This is what a human embryo looks like to the naked eye at the ninth week of pregnancy, a point where abortion has now been banned in 14 American states. An image shared by the MYA Network a group of clinicians aiming to normalize abortion shows the gestational sac, which surrounds the embryo during the first few weeks of development. Clinicians told the Guardian that the developing embryo was also present, but that it was not easily discernible from the other cells at this stage. It is not called a fetus until after the tenth week of pregnancy. Dr Joan Fleischman, a clinician at the network, said they were sharing the photos because of the 'misinformation' online and on placards suggesting embryos at this stage were more discernible. 'They are stunned by what it actually looks like,' Dr Fleischman said. 'People almost don't believe this is what comes out. they're expecting to see a little fetus with hands a developed, miniature baby.' This summer the Supreme Court overturned a landmark ruling that gave federal protections for abortion, allowing states to regulate the practice themselves. Twelve states mostly in the south including Texas, Mississippi and Alabama have now banned abortion outright, while two North Dakota and Georgia have banned it from six weeks. WEEK NINE: This image shows the development of a human embryo by week nine of pregnancy. It shows the gestational sac, which contains the developing embryo in the early weeks of pregnancy. Clinicians told the Guardian that the embryo was also present in this image, but that it was not easily discernible FIVE (left) and SIX (right) WEEKS: The above shows pregnancy tissue extracted at five weeks and six weeks of age. Dr Joan Fleischman, a clinician at the MYA network, said people are 'stunned' when they see what it looks like to the naked eye WEEK SEVEN (left) AND WEEK EIGHT (right): The above images show pregnancy tissue at weeks seven and eight. There is still no visible embryo in either. At seven weeks the gestational sac only measures half an inch A total of 12 states have outright banned abortion, while two others have banned it after six weeks of pregnancy At four weeks, the embryo tissue is still a smattering of cells. This is the point where the embryo begins to grow and develop within the womb. Home pregnancy tests can typically detect HCG, the hormone produced during pregnancy, as early as 10 days after conception. Most women will take a home test soon after missing a period, though some very sensitive tests can pick up the presence of HCG a few days beforehand. At this point in pregnancy, it is illegal to obtain an abortion in Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Some argue that because the embryo has begun growth at this point, it should be considered a person and be protected by pro-life legislation. At five weeks, the tissue is less than an inch in diameter. On average, an embryo is around two millimeters in size, and still not yet visible to the human eye. The unborn child has formed some blood vessels at this point, some of which will connect the mother to her baby and create an umbilical chord. An embryo at the six week mark is only about four weeks old, because the counter actually begins at the mother's last menstrual period. At that point, most women do not know they are pregnant. A flurry of states have passed legislation over the past decade banning abortion at six weeks in so-called 'heartbeat bills', including North Dakota, Texas, Louisiana, and Missouri. Those states passed further restrictive laws after the Supreme Court tossed out the federal guarantee to an abortion in June. Georgia is the only remaining state with an explicit cut off at six weeks. The other states have since banned the procedure outright with few to no exceptions for cases of rape and incest. The term has rallied the anti-abortion movement, which grew increasingly emboldened in the lead up to the Supreme Court's decision as more states passed bans at different points in pregnancy. But the term 'heartbeat bill' is a misnomer, according to obstetrician gynecologists. Rather, 'cardiac activity' is more accurate. The heart begins developing in the embryo at around three weeks. At the six week point, those beats the mother and doctor hear are actually electrical impulses captured by the ultrasound machine and translated by the machine into the sound of a heartbeat, according to Dr Nisha Verma, an OB-GYN who practices in Georgia. 'A heartbeat is the sound created by the opening and closing of cardiac valves,' Dr Verma said. 'There are no cardiac valves, so there is no sound of them opening and closing.' Some argue that since heart activity is detectable at this point, it is correct to determine that it is the heartbeat of a living being. It is not until around 17 to 20 weeks that the four chambers of the heart have developed and can be detected on an ultrasound. At that point, the term 'heartbeat' in the context of abortion bans is accurate. At that point abortion is still legal in 33 of the 50 US states. 'People who have been pregnant may recognize the term heartbeat as something they heard in their first ultrasound appointment,' Dr Verma said. 'As a physician, I often use that language with my patients and their families, because they can connect with it, but that doesnt mean that its clinically accurate or that it should be used to restrict my patients access to medical care,' she added. The gestational sac pictured above is the large cavity of fluid that supports the developing baby in early pregnancy. Embryo tissue is shown from the youngest point in gestation, four weeks, through nine weeks. Dr Joan Fleischman, part of the MYA Network, told the Guardian that most women in the early stages of pregnancy don't know what their unborn babies look like and are shocked when they see the tissue for themselves. Pictured above is some embryo tissue at four weeks' gestation. At this point the embryo has begun to grow in the womb but is not yet visible to the naked eye. Some argue that at this point, life has already begun because the embryo has begun its growth This image shows decidua, or tissue to support the pregnancy, and the gestational sac. The gestational sac becomes known as the amniotic sac, which protects the fetus from injury and helps regulate its temperature. At six to 10 weeks, the gestational sac becomes the amniotic sac. The thin-walled sac encloses the fetus, protecting it from injury and helping to regulate its temperature. From this point on, a fetus does become visible to the naked eye. By nine weeks it has reached 1.7 centimeters long, or nearly a full inch. Women who undergo an abortion often misunderstand what their developing babies look like at the point of the procedure, according to Dr Joan Fleischman, part of the MYA Network. 'They are stunned by what it actually looks like,' Dr Fleischman told the Guardian. It is common at political demonstrations revolving around abortion policies to see anti-abortion protesters carrying posters displaying images of near fully-developed fetuses in the womb. But those posters are very misleading, Dr Fleischman said. 'Thats when I realized how much the imagery on the internet and on placards showing human-like qualities at this early stage of development has really permeated the culture. People almost dont believe this is what comes out.' Dr Michelle Gomez, a family medicine doctor part of the MYA Network, added that, 'Were just putting out the information and the facts to counter the misinformation. To say: this is not something thats scary, or dangerous, or violent. Its just a picture of something thats in your body.' Germs that cause diseases like salmonella could be hiding on your spice container. Researchers at Rutgers University, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, found that spice containers are by far the kitchen item most likely to be contaminated after cooking. In an experiment, nearly half of spice containers were found to be contaminated after a person had used them while cooking. The believe this is because many will take care to clean dishes and utensils - they may neglect to wash their spice containers after they are done. These containers can easily become contaminated after a person touches chicken, turkey, or another contaminated good before grabbing it to be used. Other commonly contaminated surfaces included refrigerator handles, trash can lids and cutting boards. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates there are 1.35million Salmonella infections in the US each year - including 420 deaths. Nearly half of spice containers, 48 per cent, were found to be contaminated after a person was finished cooking. This was by far the most of any item used. A person may neglect to clean their spice containers after cooking, instead washing only utensils and other dishes (file photo) WHAT IS SALMONELLA? Salmonella is a type of bacterial infection often described simply as 'food poisoning'. Salmonella bacteria live in the gut of farm animals and is shed through their stool. Most people become infected by consuming food or water that has been contaminated by feces. It is most common in raw meat, poultry, seafood and eggs because the cooking process kills off the bugs. Faeces may get onto raw meat and poultry during the butchering process, while seafood may be contaminated if harvested from contaminated water. Contamination can also happen when food is prepared by people who don't wash their hands thoroughly after using the toilet, changing a nappy or handling contaminated food themselves. Symptoms include: feeling sick (nausea) diarrhea being sick (vomiting) stomach cramps a high temperature of 38C or above feeling generally unwell such as feeling tired or having aches and chills Most people develop the above symptoms within eight to 72 hours after exposure and recover within a few days to a week. Doctors advise taking in lots of fluids, such as water or squash, to avoid dehydration. Life-threatening complications also may develop if the infection spreads beyond the intestines. About one in 2,500 people who get salmonella die from the infection. When to see a doctor: if your symptoms last more than a few days if you experience bloody stools if you are severely dehydrated - experiencing dark-colored urine and having a dry mouth and tongue Advertisement Researchers published their findings last week in the Journal of Food Protection. They gathered 317 adults to cook an identical turkey burger meal in kitchens of varying sizes. Some used a small apartment-size space while others had a large industrial kitchen to work with. Participants were not informed that their kitchen space would later be tested for contamination. The ground turkey used for the meal was inoculated before hand to contain a chemical that would act similarly to salmonella would when contaminating an area. Kitchens were swabbed afterwards to test for the presence of the salmonella stand-in. Far and away, the object with the most prevalent contamination was the spice containers. Nearly half, 48 per cent, of them were found to have the substance. Just over 20 per cent of soap dispensers were found to be contaminated. No other object was contaminated in more than one-in-five simulations. Dr Donald Schaffner, a professor at Rutgers that co-authored the study, explained that many at-home chefs may forget to wipe down the containers after use. 'In addition to more obvious surfaces like cutting boards, garbage can lids and refrigerator handles, here's something else that you need to pay attention to when you're trying to be clean and sanitary in your kitchen,' he said in a statement. Our research shows that any spice container you touch when you're preparing raw meat might get cross-contaminated. 'You'll want to be conscious of that during or after meal preparation.' Salmonella is among the most common foodborne illnesses. The bacterial infection is often transmitted via poultry. While not every poultry product is carrying the bacteria, it is frequent enough that experts warn against undercooking fowl meat. When cooked properly, the bacteria on meat will be killed. The CDC reports 1.35 million cases per year, though many are either mild or asymptomatic. More than 25,000 are serious enough to require hospitalization and the bacterial infection is responsible for 420 deaths annually. The unexpected appearance of a snake on a plane sent passengers into a panic on Monday at the end of a flight from Florida's Tampa city to New Jersey. (Representational image: Twitter/@united) New Jersey: The unexpected appearance of a snake on a plane sent passengers into a panic on Monday at the end of a flight from Florida's Tampa city to New Jersey and called the workers at Newark Liberty International Airport to catch the reptile. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said in a statement that the airport's wildlife operations staff and Port Authority Police Department officers met United Flight 2038 at the gate and removed the "garter snake" and later on released it into the wild, according to The Washington Post. The statement further added that no one was injured and operations were not affected. In a statement, United said passengers alerted the crew to the snake, and the airline "called the appropriate authorities to take care of the situation." The Washington Times reported citing local media of New Jersey, News 12 New Jersey, that the passengers flying in business class spotted the snake while the plane was taxiing after landing. Passengers started shrieking and pulling up their feet, according to the TV station. After the snake was removed, passengers deplaned with their baggage, and the plane was searched for any other reptiles crawling aboard and found none, according to the New York Post citing Simple Flying. The common garter snake is found in every Florida county and is not venomous or aggressive toward humans, according to The Washington Times citing the Florida Museum of Natural History. The snakes, which are typically between 18 and 26 inches long, will tend to avoid direct contact with humans or pets and only bite if "intentionally molested." Garter snakes are also common in New Jersey, according to The Washington Times citing the "Snakes of New Jersey" pamphlet published by the state. Earlier, in February, a similar incident took place on an AirAsia flight in Malaysia when the passengers found a snake while the plane was in the air. The viral Tik Tok video from the flight showed that the reptile was inside a light fixture above passengers. Meanwhile, in 2016, a large snake -- believed to be a venomous green viper -- emerged from an overhead compartment on an Aeromexico flight in Mexico, according to The Washington Post. A passenger's video posted on Twitter shows the creature hanging from the ceiling of the plane, which received priority landing clearance when it reached Mexico City. A damning report into maternity care at East Kent Hospitals Trust today revealed how a string of failures led to 45 needless baby deaths, with mothers sometimes blamed for the tragedy. Here, MailOnline details everything you need to know about the East Kent Hospitals maternity scandal Dr Bill Kirkup (pictured) speaking at a press conference in Kent today as he exposed 'deplorable and harrowing' failures by two hospitals part of East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust What has happened? Independent investigators have released the findings of a two-year investigation into hundreds of cases involving questionable maternity care at two East Kent NHS Trust hospitals. These were the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM) at Margate and the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford. What did they find? Mothers and babies were subjected to shockingly poor standards of care at the trust between 2009 and 2020. This resulted in numerous unnecessary injuries and, in some cases, the death of the baby. There was also a culture of 'deflection and denial' among staff which fostered a 'cruel practice' of denying families the truth. Parents shared multiple harrowing stories of horrible treatment, in one case a mother was even told their baby's death was 'God's will'. The Trust was found to have prioritised reputation management to the detriment of being open and straightforward to families seeking answers. Tracey Fletcher, chief executive of the Trust, gave a statement following the publication of the report today and said that they 'failed' the families involved 'Deplorable and harrowing': The key findings of Dr Kirkup's East Kent report The panel investigated an 11-year period from 2009 at two maternity wards in Margate and Ashford, Kent, and found: Up to 45 babies might have survived if they had received better care Infants died while others ere left badly hurt as a result of failings at East Kent NHS Trust Report found 'clear pattern' of 'suboptimal care' that led to significant harm Failures to listen to families, as well as 'culture of deflection and denial' Staff acted in ways which made the experience of families 'unacceptably and distressingly poor' Panel heard examples of uncompassionate care 'that shocked us', a culture of blaming women, poor teamwork, a lack of professionalism and tendency to deflect responsibility when things went wrong Trust prioritised reputation management to the detriment of being open and straightforward to families Advertisement How many babies were harmed and how? Of 202 cases of care reviewed by the experts, the outcome could have been different in 97 cases. In terms of deaths, 45 babies might have survived if they had received better care. Twelve cases where a baby received brain damage due to getting insufficient oxygen could have had a different outcome had good care been provided. Investigators were keen to highlight these are 'minimum estimates' of the harm caused in the period examined. They also received testimony from families who complained of poor care from the Trust outside of the time period examined. Why did it go on for so long? Investigators found the Trust 'wrongly took comfort' in the fact most births it managed ended positively. This meant there was a failure to recognise and acknowledge the scale and nature of the problem, resulting in sustained harm to multiple babies over a long period. They also found senior staff tended to blame problems on the region's geography, staffing, and lack of funding, in what investigators called a 'victim mentality' mindset. Safety inspections were conducted 'narrowly and defensively' by the Trust, if at all, with no objective to learn from what happened. Instead, Trust officials' goal was minimise what had happened and provide false reassurance, rather than acknowledge errors and learn from them. Investigators noted if the nature of an incident made such minimisation impossible, the Trust found a junior member of staff to blame. The Trust was also keen to replace staff who identified and challenged poor behaviour. Those that remained, they noted, either 'personified the poor culture or were prepared to live with it'. Who is to blame? In terms of individual cases of poor care, some NHS staff are to blame for both when things went wrong and cruel treatment to the families in the aftermath. But the failure to fix issues, learn from incidents, and enact change to ensure they do not happen again is a more senior management issue. There will also be questions about if health watchdogs, inspectors and the wider NHS could have done more to step in. Will they face consequences? Individual NHS medical staff like doctors and midwives could face penalties from their regulator and be struck off from the profession, effectively barring them from practising in the UK. No similar regulation governs NHS managers. Previous care scandals have seen senior staff responsible for poor performing hospitals get hired elsewhere in the health service. The review was triggered by the death of newborn Harry Richford in November 2017, with one midwife describing 'panic' during attempts to resuscitate him. The trust recorded his death as 'expected' and did not inform the coroner, but an inquest revealed he had died due to seven gross failings that amounted to neglect Is the trust now safe for mothers and babies? The report does not examine any information after 2020, so does not provide a verdict of the current situation at the Trust. However, investigators said that looking at cases up to the end of the report they have not seen any evidence of significant change in the root issues at the Trust. Does the report say how to fix the situation? The report has four broad recommendations. The first is the establishment of a special task force to drive the introduction of measures in maternity care capable of spotting when things are going wrong for use nationally. The second is for a report on how compassionate care can be best incorporated into education and training for health and care staff and for staff regulators to explore how the oversight of clinicians can be improved, with nationally agreed standards of professional behaviour with appropriate sanctions for non-compliance. The third is for Royal Colleges and employers to explore how teamwork between staff in maternity care can be improved. Finally, that Government reconsiders a bill placing a duty on public bodies not to deny, deflect and conceal information from families and other bodies, and for NHS trusts to review their approach to reputation management and for NHS England to reconsider its approach to poorly performing trusts. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate is one of the hospitals criticised for in the new review into maternity care at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust. The review found 45 babies that died could have lived with better care Is East Kent an isolated incident or part of larger trend? This is just the latest maternity scandal to rock the NHS, and the second this year. In March, the biggest maternity scandal in NHS history was unveiled after an investigation into Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust revealed 201 babies and nine mothers died during two decades of appalling care. It also comes seven years after Dr Bill Kirkup, the author of the East Kent report published a report into failings at Morecambe Bay, where 11 babies and one mother were found to have needlessly died. In today's report, Dr Kirkup writes that England mustn't 'pretend' this is just another 'one-off, isolated failure, a freak event that will never happen again"'. 'If we do not begin to tackle this differently, there will be more.' Another investigation into maternity care is currently underway at Nottingham University Hospitals with a report due in March 2024. Big egos and separate fiefdoms: How staff cultivated a 'culture of tribalism' at two East Kent NHS Trust hospitals The inquiry found 'gross failures of teamworking across the trust's maternity services'. 'Some staff have acted as if they were responsible for separate fiefdoms, cultivating a culture of tribalism,' it said. 'There have also been problems within obstetrics and within midwifery, with factionalism, lack of mutual trust, and disregard for other points of view.' Some obstetricians had 'challenging personalities ... big egos ... huge egos', according to the report, while midwives showed 'cliquey behaviour" and there was an in-group, "the A-team'. One assessor with wide experience of the NHS said the trust had 'the worst culture I've ever seen'. The report described how maternity services were left unsafe due to bullying between midwives, while some obstetric consultants 'expected junior staff and locum doctors to manage clinical problems themselves, discouraged escalation, and on occasion refused to attend out of hours.' Staff were also 'disrespectful to women and disparaging about the capabilities of colleagues', with one consultant heard saying the unit was 'unsafe'. One woman, whose baby had died, was told: 'It's God's will; God only takes the babies that he wants to take.' Another woman could feel herself being cut open due to inadequate pain relief, while another, who asked why an additional attempt at forceps delivery was to be made, was 'brusquely told that it was 'in case of death'.' The report added that midwives who 'were not part of the favoured in-group at William Harvey were sometimes assigned to the highest risk mothers and challenged to achieve delivery with no intervention. This was a downright dangerous practice.' Advertisement Is giving birth safe in England? Most births in England end safely, with mother and baby unharmed. But this is a cold comfort to the families who have lost babies and mothers needlessly to poor standards of care that have repeatedly failed to be fixed. The repeated maternity scandals covering significant lengths of time raise questions about wider problems in NHS maternity care. The author of the report into Shrewsbury's maternity scandal, considered Britain's worst ever, said pregnant women will not be safe to give birth until her full raft of recommendations were implemented. What happens next? Following the publication of the report both the Trust and Government issued statements. Tracey Fletcher, chief executive of East Kent Hospitals, said they had 'failed' the families involved, and promised learn and act from the report. 'I want to say sorry and apologise unreservedly for the harm and suffering that has been experienced by the women and babies who were within our care, together with their families, as described in today's report,' she said. 'These families came to us expecting that we would care for them safely, and we failed them. 'We must now learn from and act on this report; for those who have taken part in the investigation, for those who we will care for in the future, and for our local communities. I know that everyone at the Trust is committed to doing that.' Following the release of the report, Health Minister Dr Caroline Johnson said she was 'deeply sorry to all the families that have suffered and continue to suffer from the tragedies detailed in Dr Bill Kirkup's review'. She said: 'We are committed to preventing families from going through the same pain in future and are working closely with the NHS to continue improving the quality of care for mothers and babies with support teams for trusts, backed by 127 million to grow the workforce and improve neonatal care. 'We take these findings and recommendations extremely seriously and will review them all in detail ahead of publishing a full response.' Who ordered the East Kent probe and how did problems come to light? The investigation was ordered in 2018 by then health minister Nadine Dorries. It was triggered by the death of newborn Harry Richford in November 2017, with one midwife describing 'panic' during attempts to resuscitate him. Harry's family long campaigned for answers after saying their concerns were repeatedly brushed aside by hospital managers. The Trust was fined 733,000 last year for failures in Harry's care after he suffered brain damage. A previous inquest ruled his death was 'wholly avoidable' and found more than a dozen areas of concern, including failings in the way an 'inexperienced' doctor carried out the delivery, followed by delays in resuscitating him. Only the efforts of Harry's family eventually brought his death to the attention of coroner Christopher Sutton-Mattocks and eventually sparking the independent inquiry. EU health chiefs today approved Covid vaccines for babies, in a move likely to spark huge controversy. The Bloc's drug watchdog gave the green light for children older than six months to get either Pfizer or Moderna's jab. It comes amid growing fears of another Covid wave this winter. British authorities have so far held out on approving jabs for infants despite massive pressure, due to concerns that the benefits don't outweigh any potential risks. Children rarely get seriously ill with the coronavirus, and the majority are thought to have already been infected. EU health chiefs today approved Covid vaccines for babies, in a move likely to spark controversy. The Bloc's drug watchdog gave the green light for children older than six-months to get either Pfizer or Moderna's jab The Our World in Data graphs show the number of cases (top), hospitalisations (middle) and deaths (bottom) per million people in Germany, Italy, France, Spain and the UK. The countries are logging between 57 and 1,258 infections per million each day, with rates lowest in the UK and Spain. However, the figures are impacted by varying levels of testing in each nation Everything you need to know about Covid vaccines for children Which children can get the vaccine? All children aged 5 and over can get a 1st and 2nd dose of a Covid vaccine. They are given either jabs by Pfizer or Moderna. Over-5s with a severely weakened immune system can get a third dose. High-risk children can also get booster jabs, if needed. But vaccines have yet to be approved for under-5s. Do children get ill with Covid? Most children only experience mild symptoms after being infected with Covid. Just one in 300,000 children who test positive for Covid die, according to UK Government data. And the risk of being hospitalised and getting admitted to ICU is similarly low. But the risk is higher to children with serious underlying conditions. Doesn't the vaccine have complications? One of the main fears is that the vaccines have been linked to cases of myocarditis, inflammation of the heart muscle. But experts insist the majority of cases are mild, and that rates in Britain are lower than in Israel and the US, where concerns were first sparked. The virus itself can also cause the condition. Covid vaccines approved for use in the UK have met strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness. They can cause some side effects in children, but not everyone gets them. Any side effects are usually mild. Advertisement The European Medicines Agency, which signed off on the move today, said that the doses would be 'lower' for infants. Children in the age bracket whose parents want them to be jabbed with Pfizer's will be offered a dose of 3micrograms. For comparison, adults in Britain get a dose 10 times stronger. Older children, who are allowed to be vaccinated in the UK, get given a dose of up to 10micrograms. Slightly stronger doses are recommended by the EMA for children given Moderna's vaccine (25micrograms). This is half the dose given to older children in Britain, and a quarter of that approved for adults. Lower doses are given to children to avoid complications, such as myocarditis the rare condition that spooked health chiefs early on in the pandemic. The EMA's recommendations, which have already sparked concerns, will be sent to the European Commission for a final decision. Scores of countries, including the US, China and Israel, already offer vaccines to kids under five, despite huge backlash over the moves. Professor Paul Hunter, an epidemiologist based at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline: 'The issue is whether or not they (young children) actually need it.' Some children in at-risk groups could benefit from a vaccine but virtually all children have had one or more Covid infections by now, he said. 'I do not see value in vaccinating children that young unless they are susceptible to severe disease,' Professor Hunter said. He noted that medical agencies may rule a vaccine is safe to use in an age group 'but does not necessarily mean it would be used in that context'. Professor Hunter added: 'Just because it can be used do not mean it will be used. 'I think we are at a stage of the pandemic where if you have had a number of infections, your risk of severe outcomes is lower. 'Some children may benefit but I would not think this is many. 'For example, in the 12 to 15 age group in the UK, only half have taken up a vaccine. So I think uptake in younger groups would not exceed this. 'I would be very surprised if the UK's vaccine committee advised that the vaccine should be used in young children unless there are unusual circumstances.' Despite fears of winter chaos, infection rates are already beginning to slow down in EU nations. Outbreaks appear to have stalled in Germany, France and Italy, but data is much less accurate because fewer tests are being carried out. Cases are also on the up in Britain, latest data shows. Health chiefs have already started to crank up their Covid advice in response to the trend, urging unwell Britons not to see elderly relatives. Hospitals themselves have already reimposed mask rules for visitors and patients. Others have brought back social distancing guidelines, in scenes reminiscent of the darkest days of the pandemic. The FDA and CDC have signed off on a third dose of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine despite waning interest in the jabs among Americans. The agency issued the emergency use authorization for the booster Wednesday, making it the third available to people 12 and older - joining the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna shots. It is available to those who are at least six months removed from receiving the two-dose primary series of any of the three jabs. The Novavax booster shot was designed to fight the 'wild type' strain of the coronavirus that first emerged in late 2019 and early 2020. In August regulators approved bivalent boosters from Pfizer and Moderna targeting the BA.5 and BA.4 strains of Omicron, which now make up about 68 per cent and 0.6 per cent of cases respectively. The Omicron variant has proven capable of evading some of the protection conferred through vaccinations, though the shots remain effective against severe illness requiring hospitalization and death. Uptake for the newly approved bivalent boosters was minimal, with Americans deciding not to get them despite appeals from the Biden Administration. Novavax said its booster triggered a robust antibody response against Omicron subvariants BA.1, BA.2 and the dominant BA.5 subvariant in adults who received the primary series of shots eight to 11 months prior. The move by American officials comes as European officials approve shots for children as young as six months - matching the US for the initial batch of shots. Demand for COVID-19 booster shots was slow when they were first approved in September 2021 (red line) and did not jump up until the rise of the Omicron variant in late November. Officials have also struggled to get Americans to receive the recently approved bivalent booster as well The Food and Drug Administration granted Novavax's booster dose an Emergency Use Authorization on Wednesday, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must give final approval before shots can go into arms. Still, Novavax has not yet presented real-world efficacy data on how its shots perform against the BA.5 subvariant. 'We have ongoing trials further exploring the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine's potential as an effective booster against these variants, including BA.4/5, and look forward to sharing these data,' said Dr Gregory Glenn, President of Research and Development at Novavax. Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech also have not provided real-world data pointing to the bivalent shot's efficacy in targeting the omicron offshoots. The Novavax shot offers vaccine holdouts an alternative to the mRNA technology that supports the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. The Novavax vaccine relies on protein-based technology similar to what is used to create the flu, hepatitis B, and shingles vaccines. The Novavax booster was designed to protect against the 'wild type' strain of Covid, or, the strain that prompted the global pandemic. But company leadership said the shot also prompted a strong antibody response against the dominant BA.5 omicron subvariant. Lab-engineered spike proteins mimic the one on the coronavirus pathogen that binds to cells and infects people. The engineered spike protein is coupled with an adjuvant - in this case derived from a tree native to South America - which turbocharges the immune response to the real thing. Novavax aims to reach the population who have yet to be boosted with an mRNA vaccine. Many people abstained from the mRNA shots due to distrust of the technology and/or anxiety about the safety of a vaccine developed at such an accelerated pace. The development of mRNA technology dates back to the 1990s, though Pfizer-BioNTech's mRNA vaccine was the first instance of the technology functioning to create a consistently reliable, safe vaccine. The technology that Novavax's shots rely on are considered more traditional than the science propping up the mRNA vaccines. The Novavax booster would also be a suitable alternative for people with allergies to components in the mRNA vaccines. The protein-based shots were heralded early on as a boon for the federal campaign to vaccinate hesitant people who distrusted the speed at which mRNA vaccines were developed. What makes the Novavax shot different from the others and why now? The shot relies on protein-based technology similar to what is used to create the flu, hepatitis B, and shingles vaccines The Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, meanwhile, rely on mRNA technology. The company hopes to reach the population of people who have yet to be boosted with an mRNA vaccine The Novavax booster was developed against the original Covid strain, not the now-dominant BA.5 omicron subvariant unlike new Moderna and Pfizer boosters Protein-based vaccines like Novavax's are also easier to store and transport than mRNA vaccines Advertisement Novavax was on a short list of companies early in the pandemic that quickly embarked on developing a vaccine for the little-understood novel coronavirus. The former Trump administration poured more than $1.5billion into its development as part of the multibillion-dollar initiative Operation Warp Speed, a sweeping federal effort to speed up the development and distribution of vaccines and treatments for Covid. But the Maryland-based company faced myriad stumbling blocks early on, such as difficulty meeting the FDA's purity standards and building up its manufacturing infrastructure practically from scratch. The company hopes that the introduction of its booster will increase uptake. Less than half of Americans five and older who are eligible for a booster have gotten one. 'Offering another vaccine choice may help increase COVID-19 booster vaccination rates for these adults,' said Novavax CEO Stanley C Erck. But whether its introduction has a positive effect on uptake remains uncertain, given the lack of enthusiasm for Moderna's and Pfizer-BioNTech's booster shots that specifically target omicron offshoots. The Biden administration began rolling out booster shots in September last year amid a delta variant wave. They were initially authorized for seniors, healthcare workers, and nursing home residents. By November, Pfizer and Moderna boosters had been authorized for all US adults. Still, the public did not immediately jump at the chance to get their third jabs. After Thanksgiving, though, brewing fears about the new Omicron variant compelled people to get boosted in larger numbers. About 682,000 people on average got a booster shot in the week leading up to November 25 last year, compared with more than a million shots given during the week leading up to December 8. Over 1.4 million adults got a booster shot on December 3 alone. Booster demand quickly tapered off in early 2022, though, and once again officials are struggling to convince Americans to get an additional shot. Enthusiasm for the new bivalent booster shots remains relatively low. Since they were granted authorization on August 31, fewer than 15 million Americans have received the updated shot. They are currently recommended for all adults 18 and older. It is 3 per month cheaper than BT's similar Home Essential package Thousands of Vodafone customers could slash their broadband bills by 120 a year as the company unveils a new social tariff. Broadband firms have extended support to struggling households by introducing the so-called social tariffs, which are available to those receiving certain benefits, as the cost of living continues to rise. Vodafone's Essentials Broadband will cost 12 a month. Customers can join without a set-up or exit fee and there won't be any surprise in-contract price changes. Vodafone is launching its own social tariff to help those on low income households Customers can access Vodafone's Fibre 1 or Full Fibre 1 deal, with an average download speed of 38 Mbps, for 12 months. Customers can save around 120 a year compared to Vodafone's cheapest broadband deal. The deal will be available to those on Job Seekers Allowance and Universal Credit, as well as those on Employment and Support Allowance, Disability Allowance and Personal Independence Payment. Even if you are already on a social tariff, it is worth shopping around if you are out of contract because all providers price them differently. For example, the Vodafone deal is 3 a month cheaper than BT's Home Essential package. Catherine Hiley, broadband expert at comparison site Uswitch.com, said: 'Access to reliable broadband is a household necessity, and this new Vodafone social tariff is a welcome addition to the line-up of deals available to help those in need. 'Financially vulnerable people now have several options when it comes to broadband social tariffs. And notably, this deal is 3 less per month than the BT Home Essential package. 'Means-tested social tariffs are a lifeline for lower-income customers, but many still don't know they are available. These tariffs are often difficult to find on the provider's own website and more effort must be made to reach out to those that most need them. 'If you're not eligible for a social tariff but are still struggling to afford your broadband, shop around for the best deals available. There are some competitively priced deals out there, such as Hyperoptic's 30 Mbps Fibre Broadband for 15 per month or Vodafone's Superfast 1, offering 38 Mbps for 20 per month.' Customers can compare the best broadband deals and find the right one for them using This is Money and Decision Tech's comparison service. Millions overpaying for broadband Earlier this year Ofcom revealed just 1.2 per cent of the 4million households eligible for social tariffs have applied for the discounted broadband scheme, meaning they're paying far more for their internet than they need to. More than 1million households are reportedly struggling to afford their home broadband, according to the regulator. 'The rising cost of living is putting a million families at risk of falling on the wrong side of the digital divide. We must not allow this to happen,' said Ahmed Essam, CEO at Vodafone UK. YouGov research commissioned by Vodafone shows families who are not connected to the internet stand to lose 286 per month - and 3,432 a year - because they are not able to access the best prices and deals when making purchases. Vodafone will also offering small business owners free broadband for a year to help with rising costs as research shows more than a third of small businesses have either downgraded or cancelled their broadband in a bid to cut costs. Walking through the ruins of a war-ravaged Bucha, alone and abandoned, a dog desperately searched for its owners. He stood among a multitude of destroyed Russian tanks and Ukrainians who sadly lost their lives. Koda was hungry and thin- he needed someone to find and love him. Help came in the form of Yannick Boge, 24, from Hamburg, who travelled to the newly-liberated city on 24 April with friend Robin and has now forged an incredible bond with Koda. The 24-year-old told MailOnline: 'Koda was found a few hundred metres away from the city centre, where he was walking all alone in the middle of dozens of exploded Russian tanks and destroyed civilian cars. 'We saw cars, body parts. I saw every bullet hole. It was just horrible. 'Koda was very skinny when we found him hanging around a burnt out Russian tank. There was something special about him, perhaps his curiosity and more so, he was such a friendly dog!' Yannick added: 'He just started playing and goofing around with us. It's like he's known us for years!' Koda jumped straight into their car when Yannick opened the door and he said: 'It was like him saying: I'm coming with you! 'This is exactly the attitude he carries with him to this day, he is always by my side, no matter what I do.' Yannick Boge, 24, from Hamburg, had watched the war begin to unfold from home and decided to go to Ukraine with aid for the border with Poland-Medyka in March. He travelled to a newly-liberated Bucha with a friend on 24 April and met Koda, one of the first animals he rescued after he decided to set up an animal shelter on the border Koda, pictured with Yannick, jumped straight into their car when Yannick opened the door and he said: 'It was like him saying: I'm coming with you!' Footage taken by Yannick also shows an excited Koda jumping up on Robin on the day he was rescued. The 24-year-old and his friend rescued seven dogs during that mission, including Koda. He said that there were animals on the street and when people saw they were coming to rescue them, they came to ask for food. Yannick and his team of four volunteers Evelien, Kinga, Robin and Mortiz look after 30 dogs and 15 cats including Koda at their small animal shelter Der Beste Freund Fluchtet Mit (DBFFM) in Yavoriv. When the team first rescued him, Yannick said he was underweight but in good overall physical health. Yannick told MailOnline: 'Right after we first met Koda, he came across as very restless. 'It was clear he couldn't find any peace. One thing that stood out to us, was that in the first 4 or 5 days at our shelter, he never laid down to sleep. 'He was always sitting up and falling asleep. It was a funny sight in a way, as it kind of looked like he was meditating. 'But we really also felt sorry for him when we saw that. He probably had to be on his guard and watchful the weeks before he came to us, because hell was all around him. 'Rocket strikes and military fighting around him all the time... You just can't even imagine what he must have experienced and witnessed.' The 24-year-old and his friend rescued seven dogs during that mission, including Koda, pictured with Yannick. He said that there were animals on the street and when people saw they were coming to rescue them, they came to ask for food Pictured: Bucha was full of destroyed cars and Russian tanks when Yannick and Robin found Koda and six other dogs When the team first rescued Koda, pictured, Yannick said he was underweight but in good overall physical health Yannick said that Koda was very restless in the first few days after they rescued him and would often fall asleep standing up, pictured Yannick has also been asked to go down to the frontline by some of his friends that he met in Ukraine and volunteer there, supporting the local village. Pictured (left and right): Koda Yannick had watched the war begin to unfold from home and decided to go to Ukraine with aid for the border with Poland-Medyka in March. After a few weeks helping, the 24-year-old decided to open Der Beste Freund Fluchtet Mit at the border as organizations rescuing animals had been told by guards that they were transporting 'street animals' from Ukraine into an EU country. Animals and other organizations are able to stop and decompress before trying to cross the border. Koda was one of the first animals he rescued after he decided to set up an animal shelter on the border. He said that the team felt very sorry for Koda when they saw him falling asleep standing up. They realised that he probably had to be on his guard and watchful in the weeks before he came to them Yannick takes Koda on rescue missions with him and they do everything together (left and right) The duo, who now have an unbreakable bond, go on rescue missions together and spend a lot of time in each other's company. Yannick explained that he has seen a range of cities that have been affected hugely by the war during these missions. And he said at on one trip he did to Bucha by himself, he was stopped about 50 times and asked for food by people so he gave them as much as he could. He told MailOnline: 'I have visited cities which were devastated in unimaginable ways. 'There's been a number of close calls but we've saved a lot of animals and that's what matters.' At the shelter, the animals, pictured, are given vaccine and nursed back to health by the volunteers On a typical day at the shelter the animals roam the grounds as if they were living in a normal home. At night they have separate areas to sleep in, pictured At the shelter, the animals are given vaccines so that they can travel and pregnant dogs are checked up on. They are nursed back to health by the team, who give them lots of hugs and love. On a typical day at the shelter, the animals roam the grounds as if they were living in a normal home. They get fed twice a day. Yannick often has to do vet runs with the animals as there is not a vet on site. Volunteers also work on training dogs which prepares them for life at home. The animals get fed twice a day. Yannick, pictured with some of the animals, often has to do vet runs with the animals as there is not a vet on site Volunteers also work on training dogs which prepares them for life at home. Pictured: One of the dogs at the shelter The team have faced challenges along the way such as a lack of resources and petrol and continue to as they rescue animals in an active warzone. There have also been outbreaks of diseases such as distemper. The shelter had to be put in full quarantine and new puppies lost their lives. These were the same puppies which Yannick had fed two hours after their birth and he said: 'It was the toughest moment.' Also, sometimes the dogs fight each other when they get bored which can be challenging. But Yannick said: 'I think we are very lucky. We are a young team and we are very lucky to have found each other. We all share the same common goal- Save lives. 'This is exactly what we've managed to achieve despite working inside an active war zone without regular funding or 'big' donors. 'That's something to be proud of. More so, we are growing, expanding and continuing our operations despite most charities stepping away from rescuing in Ukraine.' Pictured: Yannick feeds a new puppy after it was born at the shelter in Yavoriv The team have faced challenges along the way such as a lack of resources and petrol and continue to as they rescue animals in an active warzone. Pictured: One of the dogs at the shelter The 24-year-old said that the shelter is also working on a Dodo Heroes feature which will help the animals survive the winter and will be out in November. Pictured: One of the dogs at the shelter The team run a number of social media pages for Der beste Freund fluchtet mit where they document the daily life of their dogs including @DBFFMshelter on Twitter. At the moment, the shelter is also working on a number of projects, including 'Lifesaving Real Estate.' Yannick said: 'Supporters can purchase one of our custom built, insulated, waterproof huts which will be built by us and then transported to animals living along Ukraine's frontline.' The 24-year-old said that the shelter is also working on a Dodo Heroes feature which will help the animals survive the winter and will be out in November. Yannick has also been asked to go down to the frontline by some of his friends that he met in Ukraine and volunteer there, supporting the local village. He said: 'We're going to take some animals and bring some food because many animals suffered there.' Those wanting to adopt animals from the shelter can contact through the website directly. Pictured: The rescue vehicle in Ukraine Yannick has remote volunteers that will visit prospective families before the animals are adopted. Pictured: Miss Mini Catto Those wanting to adopt animals from the shelter can contact through the website directly. Yannick has remote volunteers that will visit prospective families before the animals are adopted. He added: 'The process is easy going and the shelter offers support throughout the adoption and continued support once the pet is in its new home.' The shelter is a long-term project and the volunteers will not leave even as the war continues. Yannick and his team are always looking for remote volunteers who can help with content writing, managing their website, editing videos and fundraising. Anyone who wants to get involved can contact them through their social media or via their website. Yannick and his team are always looking for remote volunteers who can help with content writing, managing their website, editing videos and fundraising. Pictured: One of the dogs at the shelter Grandpa is one of the newer arrivals at the shelter. With some love from the team, he had a bit of a makeover, pictured left and right Yannick said that he knows the shelter is the right thing to do and he loves the people he works with as well as the animals. Pictured: A cat after having a wash at the shelter Yannick said: 'I am proud because I know it is the right thing to do. I love the people who live here. 'The animals give me so much back every day. I'm just happy.' He added: 'It has been life changing. It truly feels like living a dream.' To donate to the shelter click here or here. A hospital banned a sex assault victim from having an operation after she asked for all-female nursing care because of safety concerns over mixed facilities. The patient - a feminist retired lawyer MailOnline is calling Emma - was told by London's Princess Grace Hospital it had to 'protect staff from unacceptable distress'. The patient- who MailOnline is calling Emma - had op axed She had been due to have complex colorectal surgery at the Marylebone premises on October 10 and had filled in a pre-admission form detailing her requirements. Emma, who lives in north London, asked for single sex accommodation and - as per her beliefs - did not wish to 'use pronouns or engage with such manifestations of gender ideology'. She told MailOnline: 'I was not going to agree to fill in reams of hospital paperwork about my non-existent "gender identity" or give my pronouns to anyone.' The hospital is one of only a handful to use the Da Vinci robot, which can perform delicate and complex operations, and was selected for that reason. But when she arrived on October 6 for her clinical pre-op assessment, which involved intimate procedures, what appeared to be a transgender woman in a blonde wig and make-up opened the door and made eye contact with her. The encounter - which is now being investigated by the hospital and its parent firm HCA - prompted her to complain and to make an urgent extra request for all-female nursing care. Emma told MailOnline: 'I began to wonder if it was just a coincidence that this member of staff with a "gender identity" had made their presence felt to me in such an inappropriate way during my first visit. 'I began to suspect that I had been targeted because my patient records showed that I refused to use pronouns and wanted single sex facilities, although I have no evidence of this. Emma was told by London's Princess Grace Hospital it had to 'protect staff from discrimination and harassment' in message The hospital is one of only a handful to use the Da Vinci robot, which can perform delicate and complex operations, and was selected for that reason 'Then I began to panic that men would be attending to my intimate care at the hospital while I was immobilised for an entire week following major surgery. 'It was a slow, dawning realisation. I felt sick. Alarm bells were ringing in my head. I cannot describe the fear that I felt. I cannot rationalise it.' She wrote to HCA that evening underlining her concerns and her beliefs relating to gender and women's rights. Emma cited the landmark case involving Maya Forstater, which said gender critical beliefs were protected under the Equality Act and 'worthy of respect'. The email told them she believed that self-ID by men on to women's hospital wards had resulted in attacks on patients. For this reason, she said that 'it is a fact that mixed sex hospital facilities are unsafe for women'. She added: 'I do feel that the hospital should follow a protocol of offering ALL women patients single-sex nursing care. 'Please do not make life difficult for women when they are at their most vulnerable by forcing them into uncomfortable and embarrassing situations. I cannot believe that I am the first patient to have raised this with you.' Emma's email of complaint sent to the hospital after the encounter during the pre-assessment session before her operation An email from Prince Grace Hospital's Chief Executive Officer Maxine Estop Green told her that the operation was off When toilets can be legally limited to men and women under human rights law The guidance says that toilets can be legally limited to men and women with separate gender-neutral facilities as long as trans people are taken into account. This is explained through two examples. One is a small cafe with limited space and facilities for public use which has separate lockable, self-contained male and female toilets with hand basins in single units. The EHRC says that to ensure they are fully inclusive, and to make the most effective use of the available facilities, the cafe could decide to make them all gender neutral. A second example is a community centre which has separate male and female toilets. The centre could conduct a survey in which some service users say that they would not use the centre if the toilets were open to members of the opposite biological sex, for reasons of privacy and dignity or because of their religious belief. It decides to introduce an additional gender-neutral toilet, and puts up signs telling all users that they may use either the toilet for their biological sex or to use the gender neutral toilet. Advertisement She was stunned then to receive an email from the hospital's chief executive Maxine Estop Green telling her the operation was off. She told her the hospital 'did not share her beliefs' and she should make alternative arrangements for her surgery. The message added the hospital was committed to protecting staff from what it described as 'unacceptable distress'. Emma urged them to reconsider, adding in a further message she thought they had misunderstood her requests, which she said were entirely within the law. The hospital said it would offer a private room but would NOT facilitate her requests for single-sex care after her operation. It also mentioned her comment about pronouns and said it had a responsibility to protect staff from 'discrimination and harassment'. Emma said: 'I am still in a state of shock at this punitive and discriminatory reaction by the CEO of this hospital which specialises in women's procedures. I would not have predicted this in a million years. 'Everything that has happened is so off the wall and irrational, that it makes me believe that I have been targeted by trans activists within the hospital. 'As always, this is about appeasing men who claim a gender identity. They will punish anyone who tells the truth. I will not be forced to use the language of gender ideology, that is, pronouns that don't apply to me. Women's safety, dignity and privacy continues to be sacrificed on the altar of this quasi religion. 'I cannot believe this is happening in the UK.' The decision by the hospital comes amid an ongoing debate over women's rights and the need for female-only spaces, such as hospital wards. There are also fears predatory sex offenders could pose as trans women to gain access to female loos and facilities. It comes after the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said providers wishing to limit services to a single sex are legally able to do so, provided the reasons are justified and proportionate. The ruling means it is legal for a gym to limit communal changing rooms to a single sex, as long as a gender neutral changing room is also provided for trans people. Rights campaigner Kellie-Jay Keen, who founded Standing For Women, called the hospital's stance 'misogyny in heels'. She added: 'Once we are in a society whereby women are compelled to pretend men can be women, and everything must flow from such orthodoxy, there is no end to the consequences. 'Those that are hardest to bear are around issues of safeguarding for women and children. Prioritising a man's feelings over a woman's health is just another example, in this case particularly egregious, of how powerful this ideology really is. 'It's staggering how fearful organisations are in doing what's right rather than what this movement of misogyny in heels demands. We hope this patient gets the treatment, and apology, she needs.' A spokesman for HCA said: 'At The Princess Grace Hospital we always strive to deliver the highest standards of care and we value and respect each of our patients as individuals. For reasons of confidentiality, we cannot comment on individual patient complaints. 'The hospital's policy is always to accommodate patient requests if possible. 'Some, such as a request for "single sex care", are particularly challenging, given the diversity of our colleagues and our need to prioritise patient safety. 'Regrettably, in some circumstances, it might be necessary to cancel a procedure if there is insufficient time to discuss such a request ahead of the patient's admission.' An Australian mum has issued a warning to travellers to be wary of adventure activities while overseas after she and her family almost died in a 'nightmare' white water rafting experience in Bali. Aimee Everard was holidaying in Bali, Indonesia, two weeks ago with her husband, their two kids - aged seven and nine - and her mother, when their raft capsized as they made their way down the Ayung river, in the island's southeast. Ms Everard's mother was swept down stream and out of sight, leaving the family helplessly waiting by the riverside fearing she was dead - until she later emerged from the water with rescuers some hours later. The horrifying experience on October 2 took place on the same river just one day before American man Robinaugh Clifford Neil, 64, also vanished - and is now presumed dead. Prior to boarding, Ms Everard said she and her husband checked multiple times with the company that their children were old enough to participate and were told it was suitable for anyone older than five. Aussie mum Aimee Everard (pictured with her husband) has issued a warning to travellers after a recent horror white water rafting experience in Bali But Ms Everard, who found rafting in Bali when she was a child so safe it was almost boring, was shocked the river was so 'hectic', with the rapids raging due to recent rain. While the first part of the ride went fine, disaster struck when the family heeded the guide's instruction to paddle their boat over a waterfall. 'Our boat was instantly squished together from front to back and we were stuck at the bottom of the water fall in the most powerful water!' Ms Everard wrote in a post on Facebook. 'Our guide was thrown out and my mum was sent straight under water under the boat, my husband and I clinging to our children. 'We couldnt get to my mum we were stuck in this suction of water fearing we were going to go under also with our kids!' Ms Everard said another other boat that was travelling behind them didnt realise the family were stuck and came down the waterfall and struck their boat. The boat was dislodged from its position. Everyone in the second boat also ended up in the river, Ms Everard said, with one girl going straight under, just like her mother. As Ms Everard and her husband concentrated on trying to look after their children, with her mother started floating down the river, desperately trying to cling onto anything she could. Pictured: Tourists white water rafting along Ayung river in Bali, in the island's southeast Ms Everard said the (pictured) river was raging downstream due to recent rain in the area 'We scooped our guide into the boat and managed to get a stray paddle, and two German tourists from the other boat [who were] in the water!' she said. 'We managed to pull the boat into the side and get out with the kids, my husband sprinting through the jungle on the side of the river to keep mum in his sights but to no avail, the river was just too fast! 'Mum floated away in front of us, we could do absolutely nothing to get her!' Ms Everard said the guide and a German man 'selflessly' jumped in a boat and set off to find her mother as they stood helplessly waiting on the shoreline wondering if she had survived. 'It was f****d!' she said. 'If we jumped in we would have risked drowning also as one boat would not have been able to save both of us!! I stood there with my kids and my husband not knowing what to do! We were just stranded and helpless!' 'Ive never felt more helpless or despaired in that moment!' Ms Everard said she and her husband made the decision to leave and trek up the mountain to get their children to safety all while thinking her mother was dead. However, their dread was soon replaced with jubilation when they were halfway up the mountain and heard screaming and looked down to find Ms Everard's mum, the guide, and German guy standing safely on the other side of the river. Survivors of the rafting accident in Ubud embrace and comfort each other on October 3 as launch efforts began to find Mr Neil Once at the top of the mountain, Ms Everard said they had to wave down a truck to take them the 40minute drive back to the base to be reunited with her mother and the rest of the group. When they were finally reunited, Ms Everard said she just 'grabbed her and sobbed'. 'We honestly thought she was gone! She would have floated down the river for at least a kilometre if not more!' 'They saved her. We were so thankful!' Ms Everard said it was incredibly lucky her mother had 'her wits about her' and concentrated on how she was going to try and save herself that say. She believes if her kids had been the ones to have fallen into the water they would have instantly drowned and will 'hold onto the guilt' that she put her children and family in that situation for the 'rest of her life'. Ms Everard said she was sharing her experience not to point blame but to call on others to question the safety of recreational activities more before proceeding, saying an American man died in similar circumstances the next day. According to local news outlet Coconuts, Mr Neil went missing while whitewater rafting on the Ayung River in a group with nine other foreigners. Ms Everard has urged travellers to be cautious and question the safety of overseas adventure activities. Pictured: Tourists exploring Bali The boat he was travelling in capsized amid the strong current and while guides worked to get tourists out of the water to safety they lost sight of Mr Neil. Authorities immediately launched a search which lasted seven days before it was called off when efforts to find Mr Neil proved fruitless. 'We should have been way more aware of the river after all the rain that has been happening! We should have known and I never would have gone!' Ms Everard said. 'But we did and it was very traumatic! We nearly lost our children and my mum! 'Mum has come out of this with five stitches to her hand, cuts and scrapes and in shock! We are lucky!!....We very very nearly were not, and we very nearly lost everything! 'Please just double question everything like this! Im not exaggerating it at all, it really was so close!' Ms Everard's post has gone viral, racking up more than 3,000 reactions, as Australians rallied to send their well wishes after the near miss. 'This is like reading a movie script, its absolutely terrifying. Glad you are all ok . Someone was watching over you all,' one woman said. 'We are bringing all our children in December, the youngest will have just turned 8. My fiance read he was at an ok age to do it, but I was not going to have itthis has helped prove my mothers gut instinct. Thank you,' another said. 'How scary for you all. So happy your mum and children were safe,' a third said. The report which was released on Tuesday recommends restrictions on who should be allowed to stream themselves and increased liability on platforms to moderate content they host Online streaming platforms also allowed Gendron to broadcast the shooting as it happened The mass shooter relied on internet resources for tips on how to carry out the shooting including what gear to wear and how to modify his rifle NY AG Letitia James and Governor Kathy Hochul released a report detailing how Gendron's attack was enabled by 'online platforms' New York lawmakers are calling for widespread changes to state and federal laws after a new report into the Buffalo mass shooting found the shooter was 'radicalized' by fringe online platforms. Shooter Payton Gendron relied on platforms and forums such as 4chan, Reddit, Discord, Twitch and YouTube at various stages before the shooting in May, the report released by AG Letitia James and Gov. Kathy Hochul found. Gendron, 19, has been charged with 27 counts - including hate crimes and firearms charges - for gunning down 10 black people in cold blood in a Tops supermarket. He has pleaded not guilty, and has been held in custody since May. The report claims that not only did the shooter's access to certain online content enable his 'radicalization' but it also provided him with practical tips on how to execute the attack. 'We must also reduce the ability of perpetrators of these crimes from promoting their criminal acts and from promoting their hateful ideologies in the process,' James said in the report. She and Hochul are now calling for stricter regulation of online platforms to prevent similar attacks and the sharing of violent content, including: Criminal prosecution for people who create homicide videos or images Civil penalties for people who share that content Federal law changes that penalize online platforms if violent content is posted on their sites Verifying users who livestream content, and potentially delay livestreams so they can be moderated for violence Transparency of online platforms in their moderation process and the restriction of hateful, extremist or racist content Industry-wide procedures and technology to monitor content - and for domain and web hosting companies to 'stand in between online platforms and users' Payton Gendron carried out the 'great replacement'-inspired genocide in Tops Supermarket in May, killing ten Ten people (pictured) were killed in the shooting at the Buffalo supermarket. Gendron's attack was intended to target black people and was inspired by radical ideologies he encountered on internet platforms Gendron said in his writings that he targeted the Tops supermarket because many black people shopped there The 47-page report exposes how online platforms contributed to the Buffalo mass shooting and went on to make recommendations to prevent others. 'For too long, hate and division have been spreading rampant on online platforms and as we saw in my hometown of Buffalo, the consequences are devastating,' said Hochul in a statement accompanying the release of the report. Letitia James said: 'Online platforms should be held accountable for allowing hateful and dangerous content to spread on their platforms. 'Extremist content is flourishing online, and we must all work together to confront this crisis and protect our children and communities.' She added: 'We saw this happen in Christchurch, Charlottesville, El Paso, and Buffalo, and we cannot wait for another tragedy before we take action.' The AG's report suggests that Gendron relied on forums like Reddit to learn about the tactical equipment he would eventually use in the shooting NY Attorney General whose office released the 47-page report said that similar online forces were responsible for shootings in Christchurch, Charlottesville, El Paso NY Governor Kathy Hochul called for an inquest into the role internet platforms played in the shooting pays respects to its victims The report also looked at how Gendron was able to circulate a racist manifesto that accompanied his attack. Underpinning that manifesto were ideologies such as 'white genocide' the 'great replacement, the report found. The report said that the shooter's manifesto was a product of 'different racist theories and memes largely copied from extremist message boards and manifestos left by past mass shooters.' According to the report 'white genocide' describes the decline of the white race and the idea that it is being replaced by other ethnic groups. 'Great replacement' is a theory that declining white birth rates paired with immigration will result in the eradication of the white race. The report is scathing of the fringe online platform 4chan, which allows users to share photos and threads, for being 'strongly linked' to Gendron's indoctrination into internet hate culture. Another, Discord, is an online messaging platform which the shooter is accused of using to keep a diary in the run up to the attack. He also used Discord on the day of the shooting to stream the attack and invite others to watch along. It found that Gendron relied on Reddit to learn about tactical clothing and equipment of the sort he eventually donned while carrying out the supermarket shooting. Gendron was also involved in 'subreddits' that informed the types of ammunition he would use for the premeditated attack. Video streaming platform Twitch was another platform Gendron used to broadcast the violence. The report even implicated YouTube because Gendron used the website to watch videos instructing him how to modify his gun to accept detachable magazines. Governor Kathy Hochul outside the supermarket at which Gendron's racist shooting took place. Buffalo is Hochul's hometown Gendron posted an image of the gun he used in the attack online. He wrote vulgar words including the names of other white supremacists on it FBI investigators at the scene of the shooting at Tops Supermarket in Buffalo The report recommends that there should be restrictions on live streaming, suggesting that 'verification requirements and tape delays' would help to mitigate first-person violence in video streams. The report also examines the way in which graphic content related to the Buffalo shooting was allowed to propagate online. It proposes new legislation to penalize those involved in the distribution of images or video relating to a homicide. 'Such videos are and extension of the original criminal act and serve to incite or solicit additional criminal acts,' reads the report. Certain legislation also protects online platforms against liability for material they host on their sites. The report proposes that 'reasonable steps to prevent unlawful criminal content from appearing' on platforms should be taken. The report also takes aim at companies involved with web hosting and domain registration as they 'stand in between fringe sites and users'. American firms funded by the Pentagon are selling their technology to Chinese companies involved in hypersonic missiles, according to a new analysis. Under U.S. law, the sale of American products to China is banned if there is knowledge or even reasonable suspicion that they will be used for developing a missile. Yet an investigation by The Washington Post, published on Monday, found numerous examples of U.S. firms supplying Chinese entities with their software or equipment - often with the use of middlemen. The Washington Post uncovered evidence of more than 300 sales since 2019 of U.S.-origin technology to dozens of entities involved in China's hypersonics or missile programs, carried out by almost 50 firms. Even more concerning, analysts said, was many of the U.S. firms were frequently funded by the Pentagon and working with the U.S. military, while selling the sought-after goods and programs to Chinese companies. 'It's very disturbing, because the bottom line is that technology that can be used for military hypersonics was funded by U.S. taxpayers, through the U.S. government, and ended up in China,' said Iain Boyd, director of the Center for National Security Initiatives at the University of Colorado at Boulder, speaking to The Post. The Chinese military is pictured on August 4 testing its long-range missiles. On Monday, The Washington Post reported that Pentagon-funded technology was being sold through intermediaries to China A Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapons Concept (HAWC) missile in seen in an artist's conception. China and the U.S. are engaged in an arms race to built the best hypersonic weapons Boyd conducts computational research on hypersonics - technology through which missiles travel at greater than five times the speed of sound, and potentially evade current defenses. The United States and China are currently locked in an arms race to create the most cutting-edge weapons, Pentagon officials have said. In July and August 2021, the Chinese military launched a rocket that used a 'fractional orbital bombardment' system to propel a nuclear-capable 'hypersonic glide vehicle' around the earth for the first time. The test left the United States stunned, showing that China's capability was far beyond what was previously known. In October 2021 General Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, acknowledged the test for the first time, and said the missile - designed to evade American nuclear defenses - was 'very close' to a 'Sputnik moment' for the United States. The Washington Post team uncovered evidence that U.S. firms had sold equipment, through intermediaries, to a Chinese company they described as being 'instrumental' in the design of the 2021 test. General Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in October 2021 said the U.S. was deeply concerned by the Chinese missile test, and was watching closely One of the companies was Arizona-based Zona Technology, which sold technology through resellers to the Chinese Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics (CAAA). The academy, CAAA, was highly involved in the 2021 test. Zona Technology has contracts for research and development services with the U.S. Air Force and received $31.6 million in grants from the Pentagon's Small Business Innovation Research program (SBIR). Ping-Chih Chen, the chief executive of Zona Technology, said he had no knowledge of a sale of its aeroelasticity simulation software a type of aerodynamics software directly to CAAA, but said they had sold to another company that according to sales contracts then passed it on to CAAA. Zona's China distributor, Jon Ding, said he licensed Zona software to a Beijing-based firm, Hifar, in 2019. Ding told The Washington Post that he trusted his clients would not violate the rules, and so did not check whether the technology was being sold on. 'I didn't, because they promised me and I trust them, so I don't do this kind of tracking,' he said, adding that he warned Hifar not to sell to restricted groups. Chinese soldiers are pictured carrying out drills in Shenyang, northeastern China's Liaoning Province. China is racing the U.S. to get the best hypersonic missiles Zona Technology, in Arizona, is funded partially through Pentagon grants and has sold equipment and technology to middlemen who sold it on to China Another Arizona firm, 4D Technology, is also selling technology through intermediaries to Beijing Another of the companies selling through middlemen to CAAA was California-based Metacomp Technologies which, like Zona, works with the U.S. military and received a SIBR grant - in Metacomp's case, of $13.9 million. David Habib, legal counsel for Metacomp, told The Washington Post the firm has 'no knowledge of whether or how those companies have acquired Metacomp software or transferred it to others.' He said the firm is 'scrupulous in complying with U.S. export control laws and demands its customers comply as well.' Another Arizona-based firm, 4D Technology Corp, manufactures an instrument used to gather data in hypersonic tests, called an interferometers. The company received more than $2.5 million in Pentagon SBIR grants from 2010 to 2017, and in January sold through its distributor in the country interferometer technology, which went to the China Air to Air Missile Research Institute. They have not commented on the sale. Even Siemens, the household name German firm, has been involved in the sales, according to The Washington Post. The paper reported that an American division of the tech giant, Siemens Digital Industries Software, sold via a reseller technology to the Beijing Institute of Technology in December 2020. In a statement, Siemens said it 'is committed to compliance with applicable national export controls regimes.' The company said: 'We monitor our customer base to facilitate compliance with these regulations and proactively and routinely discontinue selling our software portfolio to entities subject to U.S. government restrictions.' Siemens Digital Industries Software announced an agreement in July to acquire Zona Technology, and the deal remains pending. Officials at the Pentagon are watching China's progress very closely The value of the U.S. technology to China is clear. 'In this case the American technology is superior we can't do certain things without foreign technology,' said one Chinese scientist, speaking to The Post, who the paper said works in a university lab that conducts testing for hypersonic vehicles. 'There isn't the same technical foundation.' One U.S. researcher said the purchase of the software and technology would save the Chinese teams a huge amount of time and expense. 'I'm going to design [a hypersonic missile] with these software tools,' the researcher said. 'I'm going to fly it in a computer and analyze it with these tools. And once I've gotten the model to the point where it flies my mission, I can go test it in a wind tunnel.' Matthew S. Borman, the Commerce Department's deputy assistant secretary for export administration, said that the U.S. companies could not just blame the problem on their intermediaries. Even an exporter seeking to ship a pencil made in the United States to a known missile end user in China would be denied a license, he said. 'What we've always told companies is you cannot self-blind,' he said. 'You can't just say, 'Oh, I'm selling it to a distributor, I don't know what they're going to do with it.' 'Especially if it's a party where it's readily ascertainable that they are a supplier to the Chinese military. 'The first responsibility is on the company. And if they don't exercise that responsibility, they run the risk that they will be committing a violation.' A man living in the country illegally stabbed his wife to death before slitting his own throat in front of her three children Monday night. Officials with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office said they were first alerted to the home in Deltona, Florida after a neighbor reported a 10-year-old boy ran to his house because his stepfather stabbed his mother. The boy also told authorities his stepfather tried to stab him as well, but he was able to get away. After hearing the boy's story, his neighbor entered the home, and found Byanca Cruz Tovar, 26, and Oscar Mercado Salazar, 31, on the floor with 'apparent sharp force injuries' along with two young children, who were unharmed. Deputies pronounced Cruz dead at the scene, while Salazar was transported to a local hospital with a faint pulse before being pronounced dead about an hour later. He was the biological father of Cruz's two younger children, aged two and five and authorities said on Tuesday the horrific murder-suicide came amid a dispute between Salazar and Cruz over the behavior of their 5-year-old. Authorities say Oscar Mercado Salazar, 31, stabbed his wife, Byanca Cruz Tovar, 26, Monday night in front of her three children over a dispute about their 5-year-old son's behavior Salazar has had two prior arrests for domestic assault, and was found to be living in the country illegally under a stolen identity Salazar has had two prior arrests for domestic assault, and was found to be living in the country illegally under a stolen identity. 'This is really, really a heartbreaking story,' Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said in a news conference Tuesday. 'It is sickening on one end, again when you look you have their three little kids involved here, a 10-year-old, a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old who don't have their mother anymore.' Detectives learned during the course of the investigation there were loud arguments coming from the house The family had been living at the home for just about five months before the murder-suicide Officials say the family had been living at the home for about five months, and there were no prior law enforcement calls made to the home during that timeframe. But over the course of the investigation, detectives said they learned of loud arguments coming from the house on more than one occasion. They also discovered that Salazar had two prior arrests for domestic assaults involving his wife including one while she was pregnant in 2016. He had been in the country illegally, police report, and had assumed the name Albertico Garza, a US resident who had his truck and ID stolen years ago in Texas. The 10-year-old boy is now in his father's custody, authorities say, while the younger children are being cared for by their maternal grandmother. 'The children will need a lot of love and support as they deal with this tragedy today and for the rest of their lives,' Chitwood tweeted. 'I am just so sorry for their pain.' Chinese envoy calls for advancement of political process in Mali Xinhua) 13:31, October 19, 2022 UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Tuesday called for efforts to advance the political process in Mali. There has been progress in political transition, peace process and the fight against terrorism in Mali, a result of joint efforts by the Malian authorities, regional organizations and the international community, said Dai Bing, charge d'affaires at the Chinese Permanent Mission to the United Nations. Now it is important to consolidate the current momentum and continuously inject impetus toward the ultimate goal of achieving durable peace and development, Dai told the Security Council. Regarding the political process, multiple measures are required on different tracks, he said. The Malian authorities have drawn up a roadmap for the transition, set up electoral institutions, started constitutional work and carried out political consultations, which are visible progress, the envoy said. China hopes that the parties in Mali will build on this and carry forward political reform to create favorable conditions for the transition, he said. On anti-terrorism, Dai said efforts are needed to ramp up the fight to maintain stability. The parties in Mali have recently held a high-level decision-making meeting to promote the implementation of the peace agreement and the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process, and the government has been fully engaged in fighting terrorism and unveiled a comprehensive stability strategy for the central region of the country, which should be acknowledged, he said. The international community should provide more concrete support for the government in fighting terrorism and respect the country's right to independently carry out its external security cooperation, he added. It is important to increase coordination and communication between the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali and the different sectors of society in order to form synergy, said Dai. The mission has done a great deal in supporting political transition, providing logistic and operational support to the Malian armed forces and protecting civilians, he said. "China is pleased to see that the mission has properly solved the issue of personnel rotation with the government. We hope that the parties will continue to strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, and jointly maintain the Status of Forces Agreement so as to create good conditions for the mission," he added. China attaches great importance to Mali's legitimate concerns in terms of national sovereignty, security and development, and supports the Malian people in independently choosing a development path that fits their country's condition, Dai said. Together with the international community, China is ready to make great contributions to Mali's effort to maintain national unity and promote peace and development, said the envoy. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu) The project has been mired with controversy since it was announced last month, with many accusing Adams of wasting taxpayer dollars New Yorkers dearly need Advertisement Google Maps has created a surprising label for the location where New York City Mayor Eric Adams has decided to house asylum seekers in the city. Rather than reading 'Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center' - as Adams called the soon to be opened center on Randalls Island - the website has the facility tagged as 'Adams Tent City.' The tag appears when navigating over the northwest coast of the remote island between Manhattan and Queens, but is only visible when zoomed in to about 100ft above ground level. The label even auto fills with an address in the search bar, which takes viewers right to the location. It is unclear whether the tag was added by Google or by a user having fun with location features. Google did not respond to DailyMail.com requests for inquiry at the time of publication. On the ground and in person, the label is not far off the mark. Adams has set up a number of massive tents on the island, each of which are filled with hundreds of cots, couches, and rows of folding tables and chairs. 'Adams Tent City' as it appears on Google. Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center is located between Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan Adams Tent City as it appears in Google Maps searches. The facility is located on Randalls Island Rather than reading Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center - as Adams called the soon to be opened center on Randalls Island - on Google Maps the facility is tagged as 'Adams Tent City' On the ground and in person, the label is not far off the mark. Adams has set up a number of massive tents on the island, each of which are filled with hundreds of cots, couches, and rows of folding tables and chairs, and even fully equipped industrial kitchens Rows upon rows of cots set up at the facility on Randalls Island. The center is capable of housing 500 people On Tuesday, Mayor Adams tweeted out pictures from inside the facility and a video of him touring the inside of the tents. 'Spent last night at Randall's Island inspecting our facility to care for asylum seekers,' he wrote. 'Care is the key word.' 'We're providing medical care, places to sleep, connection to legal services, laundry and more,' he said. 'We didn't ask for this crisis but we're meeting the moment.' Adams announced plans to open the center just a month ago, and characterized it as a modern day Ellis Island. 'More than 100 years ago, Ellis Island opened its doors to welcome in those 'yearning to breathe free,'' he said. 'Now, more than ever, it's clear that we are again dealing with a humanitarian crisis created by human hands. While other leaders have abdicated their moral duty to support arriving asylum seekers, New York City refuses to do so.' The facility is capable of housing up to 500 migrants at a time. It remains unclear when the facility will open, with the city saying only that it will 'soon' as of October 12. The tent city itself comprising the Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center on Randalls Island, where 500 asylum seekers are expected Rows of tables and chairs in the cafeteria of the asylum seeker center on Randalls Island in New York City Tables set with condiments for scores of individuals, shown during a media tour, is part of New York City's latest temporary shelter The facility even has a number of plush couches set up in front of large screen TVs for relaxation A call center set up at the Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center on Randalls Island The citys plan is to bring single men to the facility once they arrive at the main Manhattan bus terminal and to house them there for a period of days while determining next steps, officials said. Families with children are being housed in a hotel. 'We needed a different type of operation that gave us the time and space to welcome people, provide them a warm meal shower, a place to sleep, to understand their medical needs, to really then work with them to figure out what their next step is going to be,' said Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol. The white, plastic-walled tents also include a space where migrants can meet with case workers to determine their next steps, as well as a recreational room with televisions, video games and board games. In the sleeping area, row upon row of green cots stretch out, each one with a pillow, some sheets and a blanket, and some towels. The city said it will be able to double the sleeping capacity of the tents, if needed. New York City Mayor Eric Adams tours the Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center on Randalls Island New York's Office of Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Manuel Castro, far left, Health and Hospital Vice President Dr. Ted Long, second from left, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom, second from right, and Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol, far right, hold a news briefing in the sleeping area of the city's latest temporary shelter Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom, left, tours the sleeping area of New York City's latest temporary shelter Supplies arrive at the Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center on Randalls Island as the facility prepares for the arrival of migrants The project has been mired in controversy since its announcement, with critics decrying it as a waste of taxpayer dollars that New Yorkers sorely need. Construction on the project originally began at a location in the Bronx, but that work was scrapped after ten days due to water drainage issues and the facility was moved to Randalls Island. Adams has refused to comment on how much money that location change cost the city. 'Once we get the exact cost, we will give it to you. We don't do anything prematurely so you can say, 'Eric lied on the cost,'' he said in a defensive press conference earlier this month. 'So, we're going to give it once we get it.' No matter the excuses, many said the project has been needlessly wasteful. 'It's sickening to see the way the city and the federal government are wasting taxpayer money to deal with problems they created that are totally avoidable,' said US Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, according to the New York Post. 'It's frustrating to see the way money is thrown away by the city, state and federal governments at a time when we are dealing with budget issues, a $31 trillion debt and an economy where New Yorkers and Americans are struggling to get by,' she said. Extensive laundry facilities for the 500 migrants expected at the Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center Industrial kitchens ready to prepare food for the migrants expected at the Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center Adams said that he is considering renting out hotel rooms across the city to house some of the migrants arriving in New York from border regions Figures from August brought the total number of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) migrant encounters to more than 2 million in Fiscal Year 2022 September figures have not yet been released Controversy around the migrant center comes as thousands of asylum seekers have begun arriving in New York City, prompting Mayor Adams to declare a state of emergency and request billions of dollars in federal aid. About 1,800 asylum seekers from Latin America arrived in NYC in just one weekend in early October, just as Adams asked for $1billion in federal funding to deal with the crisis. 'Those numbers are unbelievable - 1,800,' Adams said over Columbus Day. 'We need every level of government to participate in dealing with this crisis that we are facing.' 'You know, over just the last few days to receive those large numbers, it's a strain on our system and we have to make sure we get the support that we need.' As of Columbus Day, nearly 20,000 migrants had made their way to the Big Apple from border states, according to NY Daily News. The recorded number stands at 19,200, according to Adams' officials, however it is likely even more than that as this is just the number of migrants who have come through the shelter system in the five boroughs. Pictured: A bus carrying migrants arrived in New York City on Sunday, Sep, 4 Adams warned that the Randalls Island facility is likely just the first of its kind to come to the city, and predicted that there would soon be emergency shelters in 'every community' in the city, and they should expect to see them 'without warning.' Adams noted that every borough would be 'impacted' by the crisis during a news conference at Yankees Stadium in the Bronx on October 12. 'Every community is going to see asylum-seekers,' Adams said. 'This is a citywide crisis and all of us are going to be impacted and Staten Island is going to be impacted like the other four boroughs,' he added. The mayor has noted that the city's shelters are already near 100 percent capacity, with about 61,000 people in the system, 20,000 of which are children. 'It would make the President look bad': Why Biden administration 'pressured Dem mayor of El Paso NOT to declare state of emergency over migrant crisis' Politicians in Texas claim that the Biden administration has pressured them to avoid declaring a state of emergency in relation to the southern border crisis because the optics aren't good, a new report reveals. A council member in El Paso told The New York Post that Democratic Mayor Oscar Leeser admitted during a private phone call last month that he was directed by the administration not to declare an emergency in his jurisdiction. 'He told me the White House asked him not to,' Councilmember Claudia Rodriguez said. She said that Leeser claimed he would defy Biden's wishes 'if things got worse.' Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has encountered more than 2 million migrants illegally crossing the southern border in Fiscal Year 2022, according to the latest figures from August. Numbers for September, the last month of the fiscal year, have not yet been released. At least three members of El Paso's City Council have urged Mayor Leeser to issue an emergency declaration as thousands of migrants continue to fill the city's shelters and overflow into local hotels, sources told the Post. Politicians in Texas claim that the Biden administration has urged them not to declare a state of emergency in relation to the migration crisis El Paso Councilmember Claudia Rodriguez (pictured) said that the city's Mayor Oscar Leeser admitted that the White House told him not to declare a state of emergency Leeser said in a statement: 'I don't bow to pressure from any side.' Representative Tony Gonzales of Texas' 23rd congressional district which includes border towns near El Paso said he has heard similar accounts from city officials about pressure from the administration and the White House has done similar things in 'other parts of my district.' 'It is a sleight of hand what the administration is doing pressuring the local government to not issue a declaration of emergency, to say as if everything is going OK,' he said to the Post. When a state of emergency is declared, cities and counties become eligible for state and federal funding, specifically to allow for the opening of additional shelters to house migrants. Leeser, however, has praised the federal government for providing 'critical' assistance to El Paso even though the city's website shows it has only received $2 million in federal reimbursements out of the $8 million spent in the fallout from the migrant crisis. Texas Representative Tony Gonzales (left) said that other city officials in the area have talked about pressure from the administration as well. Mayor Leeser (right) claimed he would defy Biden's wishes 'if things got worse' ElPasomatters.org reported in September that the city spent as much as $300,000 a day to shelter, feed and transport immigrants. Leeser said during a City Council meeting on September 27 that Democratic Texas Representative Veronica Escobar had urged him not to issue an emergency declaration. 'The White House has asked, at this point, for us not to do that and they'll continue to work with us and continue to give us money through [the] Federal Emergency Management Agency,' the mayor said at the time. Migration continue to break records at the southern border and governors like Greg Abbott of Texas and Ron DeSantis of Florida have received a slew of criticism from transporting asylum-seekers to northern Democratic cities to help ease pressure on border communities. Biden's border chief sleeps in meetings, skips going to the White House and badmouths colleagues while migrant crossings have hit historic highs, damning report claims Biden's Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Chris Magnus President Joe Biden's border chief skips White House gatherings, falls asleeps in meetings and badmouths his colleagues, his critics told Politico in a damning report published on Monday. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Chris Magnus was charged with caring more about reforming the agency's culture - including charges of racism and violence - instead of addressing the influx of migrants along the southern border. Magnus also sought to blame other federal agencies for the high number of border crossings, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement. CBP secures the border while ICE is responsible for arresting and detaining undocumented people that cross over. 'He's not in the game,' one of the five administration officials cited as sources in the story told the news outlet. 'Every time there's a meeting and he's in it, we'll get to a conclusion and Magnus will have some sidebar issue that he wants to raise and we're all like 'What the f*** is that about?' Mangus defended his tenure, saying in a statement: 'I've always been someone who aggressively questions the status quo, looks for ways to do things better, and engages directly with the public and workforce.' 'In any organization, some people are threatened by this. They don't like it when someone questions 'why' certain things must be done the way they've always been done. I'm not here to back down to the predictable challenges from those people,' he noted. He explained the charges that he falls asleep in meetings as side effects of his multiple sclerosis, the neurological condition he was diagnosed with 15 years ago. Venezuelan migrants, expelled from the U.S., and sent back to Mexico in Ciudad Juarez last week In April 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Magnus to the position. He was confirmed by the Senate on a 50-47 vote. He was sworn in on December 13, 2021. He was previously chief of police in Tucson, Arizona; Fargo, North Dakota; and Richmond, California. He came into the job during a record time for border crossings. Federal authorities arrested more than 2.493 million immigrants during the 2022 fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30. That far exceeded last year's record of more than 1.7 million arrests. Magnus' defenders point out there are legitimate culture problems within the agency. Between 2005 and 2012, more than 2,000 CBP employees were arrested for misconduct, according to the Government Accountability Office. But the record number of border crossings has become a political hot potato for the Biden administration and for Democrats running in competitive races on the Southern border, such as Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, who is seeking re-election. Federal authorities arrested more than 2.493 million immigrants during the 2022 fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30; that far exceeded last year's record of more than 1.7 million arrests Republicans are using the issue to bash Biden this election year. And some GOP politicians have paid to send migrants from the border to Democratic strongholds such as New York, Martha's Vineyard, Delaware and Illinois. Florida's Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has sent a planeload of migrants to Martha Vineyard and is planning on flights to Delaware and Illinois. Those would be the second and third times this year that DeSantis has flown migrants to liberal bastions. And Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has sent busloads of illegal immigrants from his state to cities like Chicago, New York City and Washington DC. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has slammed DeSantis for using migrants as 'political pawns.' 'They are fleeing persecution, only to be used as a political pawn by the Florida governor,' she said. She added of DeSantis: 'His only goal is - as he's made it really clear - is to create chaos, and use immigrants fleeing communism as political pawns.' The drug, labelled 'Canket', is similar to ketamine but its effects are unknown Australian scientists have issued an urgent warning after detecting a mysterious and potentially dangerous new drug dubbed the 'cousin of ketamine'. The substance was spotted by Australian National University scientists at the country's first pill testing site, CanTEST. Scientists named the unknown substance 'CanKet' as it was found in Canberra and shared similar qualities to ketamine - a horse tranquilliser often used by humans as an illicit party drug. Scientists from the Australian National University detected a mysterious new recreational drug not seen in Australia before, which they have named 'CanKet' (pictured) Australian National University Professor Malcolm McLeod said someone presented a bag of crystals and powder to be tested after they experienced 'very different' effects when using the drug. 'They told us that they thought it was ketamine but that the effects of the drug were very different to what they expected, so they wanted us to test it,' McLeod said. 'But when we tested the substance it was clear it wasn't ketamine, but rather a ketamine-like substance. 'Our initial reaction was "Whoa, this is really weird". We have no idea who made the drug and where it came from, but we now know it's out there.' Ketamine, a drug which is taken orally, injected or snorted, can cause a user to enter a state called a 'K-hole' - described by ANU scientists as a state of dissociation similar to an out-of-body experience. Professor McLeod explained making small changes to the toxicologically of a drug results in big effects and warned users of the substance of its unknown outcomes. 'It's so new we just don't have information we can provide to people about this drug,' McLeod said. 'Nothing is known about the clinical effects on the consumer, and being something new, we urge caution. You can make quite small changes to a drug and see quite dramatic changes to its effects.' 'This could have significant psychological effects.' The new drug, was discovered by scientists at Australia's first substance testing site in Canberra when a user brought in a sample after experiencing 'very different' effects when used (pictured) Scientists warned anyone buying the ketamine-like product of its unknown outcomes and potential 'significant psychological effects' after use The drug testing site recorded five presentations of the 'CanKet' drug since August and has only been identified on two occasions before - once on the Canadian border and once in a Chinese lab. Australian National University Associate Professor David Caldicott discovering the 'cousin of ketamine' proved CanTEST's services were 'invaluable' to the community. 'It allows us to identify never before seen drugs, as well as common drugs, and provide people who use the service clear guidance on the likely health and other effects of these drugs. 'This can potentially save lives.' Over the last two months CanTEST has tested more than 150 samples, of which 34 were discarded once the owner understood the contents of their drug. The data from the SECOND MONTH of CanTEST, Australia's first fixed site pill testing and drug checking service, is in.#cantest #pilltestingcanberra #pilltestingaustralia pic.twitter.com/bX3XKgeYVM CanTEST (@CanTESTCBR) October 11, 2022 September results revealed a cocaine sample was found to contain dimethyl sulfone, a pain relief and anti-inflammatory drug, while another sample believed to be methamphetamine was actually sugar. CanTEST Health and Drug Checking Service is a free and confidential health and harm reduction service. The service is a collaboration between Directions Health Services, Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy, Pill Testing Australia and is funded by ACT Health with advice provided by scientists from the Australian National University. This month, CanTEST released two community notices after they found concerning ingredients in samples thought to be ketamine and MDMA. Two teenagers, aged 14 and 16, have been arrested after they allegedly lead police through suburban streets at speeds of up to 200km/h in a stolen white BMW. Terrifying vision of the luxury car was caught on dashcam and by police helicopter on Tuesday in Sydney's north-west as it weaved between traffic and forced oncoming cars off the road. The drivers were only apprehended after driving through bushland and ending up in a shopping centre carpark at Schofields. The duo were put in handcuffs after they were found in a Coles supermarket in the centre, where police allege they hid from officers by attempting to blend in with shoppers. Terrifying vision of the BMW was caught by police helicopter on Tuesday morning in Sydney's north-west as it was seen weaving between traffic and forcing oncoming cars off the road The boys, aged 14 and 16, allegedly fled police through suburban streets at speeds of up to 200km/h in a stolen white BMW (pictured) The duo were put in handcuffs after they were found in a Coles supermarket, where police allege they tried to hide by blending in with shoppers (pictured, one of the boys with police on Tuesday) A worker at the centre, Chevy McGrath, told 7News, the boys 'knew their number was up'. It's feared the incident may be part of a trend where young people invite high-speed police pursuits so that they can post their exploits on social media. The car chase started at 4am when the boys allegedly entered a home of a family with young kids in Rouse Hill to grab keys before allegedly stealing the BMW. After spotting the intruders on CCTV, the car's owner, Shane Morgan, reported the alleged theft at 8am. On discovering the vehicle at Schofields, officers pursued it in an attempt to stop the driver 7km up the road in Vineyard. A police chopper was then used to continue the pursuit after the chase became too dangerous, with the driver allegedly weaving on and off the road while narrowly avoiding oncoming vehicles. Mr Morgan, who was able to help police by tracking the car at speeds of 200km/h, described the pair's actions as 'disgusting'. 'There are no words for it ... it was ridiculous the speeds that they were going - it's a miracle that no one was killed,' he told 7News. Polair kept tabs on the car as it allegedly careered along streets, with the driver trying to hide in bushland and almost running over pedestrians. The vehicle was then abandoned at the exit of an underground shopping centre car park. Once police caught up with the vehicle at Schofields, officers pursued it attempting to stop the driver 7km up the road in Vineyard (pictured, dashcam footage of the allegedly stolen vehicle weaving through traffic on the far left) The car was seen entering a Schofields shopping centre (pictured) before the occupants fled on foot, police arrested them at a Coles store at 9.20am The teens then allegedly fled on foot and entered the centre's Coles store at 9.20am, where police arrested them. Police said officers enlisted the help of the dog unit, public order, riot squad and local police to track them down. Both teens face a range of charges related to the alleged theft of the car and the pursuit. The pair were refused bail to appear in a children's court on Wednesday. Authorities are investigating if there is anyone else involved in the alleged car theft as the vehicle undergoes forensic examination. A notorious hoon who sobbed in court after being forced to give up his beloved Holden Commodore has been jailed for promoting illegal street car meets. Melbourne man Andrew Drew, 23, sobbed after the defence failed to oppose an application forfeiting the much-loved Commodore. The car enthusiast was found to have organised and participated in illegal street meets where he performed burnouts and stunts in front of thousands of people. The proud Commodore owner posted several photos of the car to his social media accounts and is understood to have promoted the illegal races using Snapchat. Drew wept as was forced to forfeit his beloved Holden Commodore (pictured) before being sentenced a minimum nine month sentence in County Court on Tuesday Andrew Drew (pictured) took part in the illegal antics in front of hundreds of spectators 'Alright c***s its that time of the week again, grab ya sets, grab ya 16 year old s***s and lets bring the good old days back,' Drew said in one of the posts. 'You know the drill no meet ups at servos don't bring attention to us If cops come block them remember its us against them if they follow you go on a hike. 'Protect ya mates if they're changing [tyres] and stand ya f****n ground first spot will be sent out 9.29pm. #f***vicpol #southdoesitbest.' The Holden Commodore was placed under police surveillance after it was spotted at several illegal street activities in November last year. Authorities had broken up illegal meets across Melbourne's south and north, which Drew had encouraged to feud with each other (pictured, an image from Drew's social media accounts) The vehicle, which features the rego plates RN4MUK and was sometimes draped in a Mexican flag, was tracked down last December, with officers linking the illegal meetings times and dates to Drew's calls-to-arms on Snapchat. Authorities had broken up illegal meets across Melbourne's southern and northern suburbs, with Drew encouraging hoon rivalries between the two groups. He also taunted police through social media posts, once posting '#f***vicpol'. Drew tried to evade capture by convincing an associate Caleb Cromarty, 21, to claim he was the driver of the vehicle. His girlfriend, Zara Lunney-Adams, 20, transferred $1000 to Cromarty to comply with the fraud with Drew explaining he needed him to 'take the fall' for his 'skid bulls***'. Drew took part in the illegal antics in front of hundreds of spectators, while they filmed, with some running up to the cars performing stunts (pictured, a burnout posted on his social media) In court, the prosecution said she was an 'active participant from start to finish'. He pleaded guilty to rolled-up incitement and reckless conduct charges in County Court on Tuesday and was sentenced to a minimum of nine months behind bars. Ms Lunney-Adams posted a photo with Drew to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday night, writing: 'Me & baby will be by your side through all of this, we love you forever, I promise you'll be ok'. In April, the 20-year-old tagged Drew in a photo of a positive pregnancy test with the caption 'forever our baby' and in August posted a video of the pair releasing pink confetti cannons revealing the baby was a girl. Cater Care said she has been unable to work as she doesn't hold an ASIC card Tahlia Brown was at work when Totty fell into blow-up spa at Queensland home Mother of 17-month-old girl who drowned claims she was fired from her job An airport catering company has vehemently denied claims it fired a mother for breaching security protocols when she rushed out of a terminal moments after receiving a call her baby was dead. Tahlia Brown was not even an hour into her shift with catering company Cater Care at Rockhampton Airport on September 19 when she learnt her 17-month-old had been found unconscious in the family spa. Taidyn 'Totty' Murphy climbed into the spa bath at her home in Gracemere, in Queensland's Rockhampton region, and tragically drowned. Her partner Cecil Murphy, brother and two other children were at home at the time when Ms Brown's 12-year-old daughter discovered Totty and called her mum. After losing her daughter, Ms Brown said she was informed she had lost her job because she had 'breached security' by running through the airport on the phone to her daughter. However, Cater Care CEO Colin Redman told Daily Mail Australia the company had not terminated Ms Brown's employment. Mother Tahlia Brown claims she was sacked for breaching security when she rushed home after being told her young daughter had drowned (pictured Tahlia Brown with daughter Totty) Cater Care's CEO Colin Redman told Daily Mail Australia the company has not terminated Ms Brown's employment but Ms Brown did not hold the required ASIC card On September 19, Taidyn 'Totty' Murphy climbed into a spa bath at her home in Gracemere, Queensland and tragically drowned Cater Care said Ms Brown was required to hold an Aviation Security Identification Card (ASIC) to work at the airport, which she has failed to acquire. 'Tahlia was unsuccessful in her application for an ASIC in August 2022 but was given duties in unsecured areas at Rockhampton Airport while Cater Care looked for employment options in other areas,' Mr Redman said. 'We will continue to consider employment options for Tahlia outside of Rockhampton Airport. 'Our people are at the centre of Cater Cares values and we will continue to provide the best possible support for all our employees affected by this tragic accident.' WHAT IS AN ASIC CARD? An Aviation Security Identification Card, abbreviated to ASIC, is an identification card used to identify a person who has been the subject of a background check. An ASIC is required in order to gain unescorted access to secure areas of security controlled airports which have regular public transport services. If the company a worker is employed at requires said individual to have unmonitored access to all or part of a secure area of an airport, they must hold an ASIC. Advertisement Mr Redman said management was aware of her circumstances and are 'supporting her through this difficult time'. 'I was shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic death of Tahlia Browns young daughter and on behalf of Cater Care I extend my deepest sympathies to Tahlia and her family,' he said. 'Tahlia has been offered counselling support, through a Cater Care provider during this incredibly difficult time for her and her family.' A spokesman for Rockhampton Regional Council - which owns the airport building - told Daily Mail Australia they had no involvement in any decision surrounding Ms Brown's employment. 'On behalf of Rockhampton Regional Council, I wish to extend our deepest condolences and sympathy to the family for their heartbreaking loss,' he said. 'I can confirm that council and the airport was not part of any employment decision made by a private company in regards to their staff it was a decision made by the business. 'And again, I want to extend our heartfelt sorrow to the family for their loss.' Tahlia Brown started her shift with catering company Cater Care at Rockhampton Airport (pictured) on September 19 when she learnt her 17-month-old had drowned Speaking on the morning she received the call her daughter had died, Ms Brown told the Courier Mail it was a blur but remembered running through security on the phone begging anyone to give her a lift home, as Totty's father had dropped her at work that morning. 'I was crying and screaming and begging them to please take me home because my baby girl was dying,' Ms Brown said. The family attempted to revive Totty by giving her CPR before driving her to Gracemere Police Station where officers also attempted CPR. She was then flown to Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane in an induced coma. Totty died in hospital the following day in the arms of her mum. That day, Ms Brown said she received a text message from her boss saying 'my heart goes out to you' before things turned sour. Ms Brown claims she reached out to her employer three times - on September 23, October 5 and October 7 - to attempt to organise shifts to earn some money and to distract herself 'from the heartbreak'. In response, Ms Brown said she was told Cater Care would 'have to get back' to her. On October 13, less than a month after losing her daughter, Ms Brown was told her position 'wasn't looking good'. She then says she was advised that, although she still technically had a job with Cater Care, she should start looking elsewhere for work. Ms Brown claims Cater Care offered her a reference but said because she ran through security with her phone in hand it was deemed a security breach. The family attempted to revive Totty by starting CPR before driving her to Gracemere Police Station on September 19 where police also attempted CPR. She was then flown to The Children's Hospital in Brisbane in an induced coma. She later died in hospital the following day at 6.43am 'What did they expect me to do? My baby was dead,' Ms Brown said. 'I'm disgusted and saddened by it I'd done what any mother would have done. 'I would have run through hot coals and done anything to get there to her and be with her.' Ms Brown said her daughter Totty has been cremated and her ashes have been placed inside teddy bears for her other kids as they 'aren't coping'. She said the bears are called 'Totty Teddies'. You can donate to the GoFundMe to support the family here. They propose a co-ordinated 'uprising' with multiple industries striking at once Football fans could be hit with a beer drought during the World Cup after brewery and delivery workers voted to go on strike. The strike by delivery drivers could halt the flow of drinks arriving at pubs just in time for the World Cup beginning in Qatar on November 20. Unite claimed the strike could see a fall in 40 per cent in the supply of beer to pubs as drivers working for logistics firm GXO walk out. It comes as millions more could strike to force the first 'general strike' in 100 years. Union members refused a 5 per cent pay rise offer, opting instead to strike from October 31 to November 4. Major brewers including Heineken, Stonegate, Admiral Taverns and Shepherd Neame could struggle to deliver their beer as football fans pour into pubs to see England and Wales play in the World Cup. Unite warned the strike would: 'impede the ability of pubs and other venues to replenish their cellars prior to the World Cup.' Meanwhile, the shortage of British beer could be made even worse over Christmas after hundreds of brewery staff walked out in a row over pay. Workers downed tools at Budweiser's UK plant after bosses increased their pay offer by only a 'derisory' 250 for 2023, the GMB trade union said. The vast plant at Samlesbury, Lancashire, brews the firm's flagship Bud, as well as Stella Artois, Beck's, Boddingtons and other ales. (File Photo) England fans could face a shortage of beer in pubs during the World Cup in November and December (File Photo) Delivery drivers and brewery workers striking could see pubs struggle to get enough beer in There is expected to be co-ordinated walkouts on Thursday, November 3, Saturday, November 5, and Monday, November 7, in a major escalation that will effectively shut down many services for a full week. Pictured: Royal Mail workers striking on September 8 Militant bosses called for a co-ordinated 'uprising' to 'defeat the Government' as they addressed fringe events at the TUC conference in Brighton The GMB's Stephen Boden warned: 'This industrial action will impact all departments and shifts across the site and carries the risk of a Christmas beer drought. Workers are now on strike until Saturday. 'We don't believe there is any real desire from Budweiser to resolve this.' A Budweiser spokesman said the firm was committed to finding a 'mutually acceptable outcome'. Militant bosses from other unions have called for a co-ordinated 'uprising' to 'defeat the Government' as they addressed fringe events at the TUC conference in Brighton. They bragged they had 'already achieved' a general strike, reeling off a long list of workers expected to vote for walkouts as they promised to plunge the nation into 'chaos'. Tory MPs accused them of trying to organise what would effectively be a general strike. Britain is already facing a winter of discontent as hundreds of thousands of workers prepare to walk out. The list of strikers includes train drivers and other rail workers, 115,000 postal staff, dock workers, BT staff, lecturers, care employees and binmen. A further half a million are currently being balloted on action, including nurses, civil servants, firemen, and warehouse workers. The RMT rail union announced fresh action yesterday. It said there will be co-ordinated walkouts on Thursday, November 3, Saturday, November 5, and Monday, November 7, in a major escalation that will effectively shut down many services for a full week. Action earlier this month between the union and Aslef, which represents train drivers, left just one in ten trains running. The boss of the Public and Commercial Services union which is balloting 150,000 civil servants including Border Force staff said it would co-ordinate with other unions to cause 'chaos'. Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the PCS, said: 'When the RMT goes on strike, we want to say, ''Wouldn't it be good if our members in the Department for Transport could take action on the same day so that when the trains aren't working neither will the motorway network?'' Britain is already facing a winter of discontent as hundreds of thousands of workers prepare to walk out. The list of strikers includes train drivers and other rail workers, 115,000 postal staff, dock workers, BT staff, lecturers, care employees and binmen. Pictured: Rail workers striking on October 5 He added: 'If six French workers going sick caused a 30-mile queue on the motorways to Dover and 24-hour delays, imagine what 1,000 PCS members going on strike for a week at Dover would do? The queues on the motorways it would be chaos.' He said each union will 'have our own tactics to win', adding: 'But we recognise that sometimes to win, it is the Government that needs to be defeated or pushed back.' Today the TUC conference will vote on 'joint union action on the cost-of-living crisis and jobs'. It would be the first time since a one-day co-ordinated walkout in 2011, at the height of austerity, that unions have worked together to maximise disruption, and it could effectively deliver the first general strike since 1926. TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said in her speech yesterday: 'People ask me, 'Will the TUC co-ordinate strike action this winter?' And I say, 'We already are'. When workers are left with no choice but to vote for strike action for decent pay, I say, ''Bring it on''.' RMT general secretary Mick Lynch, speaking at a fringe event, said: 'We need an uprising, we need a whole wave of synchronised, co-ordinated action. I don't care what it's called... It's going to be right through the winter and right into next spring. We've got to keep this fight going.' Steve Gillan, general secretary of the Prison Officers' Association, said: 'General strikes...We've already achieved it... We are going to call for synchronised action, generalised action.' Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: 'They are trying to put a general strike in place... They're trying to kick the Government while it is down.' A TUC spokesman denied it was calling for a general strike, saying: 'The TUC has always existed to help co-ordinate strike action between unions.' The current legal hurdles for a strike are higher than in 1926, making co-ordinated action more difficult. Unions must use ballots to prove a majority favour industrial action on a turnout of at least 50 per cent and each legal mandate to strike only lasts six months. William Tyrrell's birth mother has been charged with stalking a woman and sharing intimate photos of her, two weeks after pleading guilty to seriously assaulting her boyfriend. She is on bail and due in Hornsby Local Court in Sydney next month on charges of assault, stalking, using a carriage service to menace or harass and sharing an intimate image without consent. The boyfriend, 32, has a two-year Apprehended Violence Order in place against her after he was assaulted at a bus stop last month. But amid the gloom, sources have confirmed she is pregnant again - eight years after William vanished. Now aged 34, she pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault of her boyfriend Brandon Jenkins. It it is eight years since her biological son William, 3, vanished while in the care of his foster parents on the NSW Mid North Coast town of Kendall. William's disappearance is Australia's most high profile missing child case, and despite multiple searches including a high intensity dig for his remains last November, no trace of the toddler or the Spiderman suit he was wearing has been found. William Tyrrell's birth mother (above, four years ago) pleaded guilty to assaulting her boyfriend and has now been charged with stalking a woman and allegedly sharing an intimate photo She pleaded guilty to assaulting Brandon Jenkins at a bus stop in Parramatta and has received a community corrections order and a two-year AVO The birth mother of William Tyrrell (above), the toddler whose disappearance from his foster carers at Kendall in 2014 has become Australia's most enduring missing child mystery, has been charged with stalking She appeared in Parramatta Local Court earlier this month and pleaded guilty to hitting Mr Jenkins while the couple was at a bus station on Argyle St, Parramatta, on Friday September 30, 2022. A two-year AVO taken out by police on behalf of Mr Jenkins prohibits her assaulting or threatening him, as well as stalking, harassing or intimidating any person with whom he has a domestic relationship. She is also prohibited from intentionally or recklessly destroying or damaging any property or harming an animal in his possession. Sentenced to a community corrections order which requires her to be of good behaviour for 12 months, she was warned she could be resentenced if charged with another offence in the next year. Four years ago, she was convicted of spitting on a woman police officer after becoming enraged at the Top Ryde mall in Sydney's northern suburbs. Security guards at the shopping centre had reported to police that a woman had been acting aggressively and swearing around other customers, including children. According to police facts referred to in a court hearing, she got abusive when an officer asked her why a child that was with her had marks on their legs to which she replied 'none of your f****** business'. She then spat in the face of a second officer before saying that 'Ryde coppers lost my son you c***'. Authorities have searched extensively for William Tyrrell (above, in his favourite fireman's hat), but no trace of the boy or his SpiderMan suit has ever been found William's mother, then 29, holding hands with a man when walking to court for sentencing in 2018 for spitting on a policeman After pleading guilty, she turned up at court for her sentencing in the company of a mystery man. Court documents obtained by Daily Mail Australia showed that William's mum has a criminal history which includes assaulting officers and civilians as well as resisting arrest, damaging property and breaching bail. She penned a letter stating that mental health problems were the cause of her erratic and violent behaviour and that she had found out she suffered 'from panic attacks which played a major part into my behaviour but I'm not making any excuses'. According to recent posts on her social media pages, she remains in contact with the biological father of William Tyrrell. William Tyrrell's birth mother pleaded guilty to assaulting her boyfriend and now faces further charges of stalking and harassing a woman and intentionally distribute intimate image without consent Police search the Kendall house formerly belonging to William's foster grandmother where he was when he vanished while playing on the morning of September 12, 2014 Daily Mail Australia revealed exclusively in June this year that after eight years of torment and drug addiction, William's dad finally accepted his boy was dead. Two weeks out of rehab and staying on a friend's couch, he was determined to stay clean from drugs and turn his life around. William Tyrrell vanished while playing in his foster grandmother's yard on the morning of September 12, 2014. A $1 million reward is still on offer for information which leads to his return or the recovery of his remains. Police use an excavator to dig up along Batar Creek Road, Kendall in the search for William Tyrrell's mortal remains of those of his SpiderMan suit William Tyrrell's birth father (left, in June just out of rehab) and (right, with William) is trying to get his life back together after years of drug addiction and trauma after his son's mystery disappearance An angry dad has unleashed at workplace advice to stop using the word 'father' and 'mother' in a bid to be more inclusive. Sydney-based queer health organisation ACON, which is primarily funded by the NSW Government and also receives money from the ABC, advised workplaces to abandon the terms to promote LGBTQ inclusion. The lobby group has suggested the words 'mother' and 'father' be replaced with 'primary caregiver' and 'secondary caregiver'. In a training video, HR staff were told to avoid using gendered terms when writing office policies to make sure gender norms are not reinforced. Indignant parents have hit back at a new plan to ban the word 'father' and 'mother' in Australian workplaces in a bid to be more inclusive (stock image) 'When we continue to use terms that buy into that, such as 'maternity leave', 'paternity leave', 'mother', 'dads', all of these terms, that's reinforcing those gender norms,' the video states. 'So using terms like 'primary caregivers', 'secondary caregiver', making sure we're not referring to partners using gender terms like 'mother', like 'dad', is really important.' Radio 2GB host Ben Fordham, who is also a father, slammed the initiative as a 'crack pot idea' being pushed by an organisation with an 'official relationship with the ABC'. 'This is a group that doesn't want anyone saying 'mothers' or 'fathers'. If you're taking advice from this mob, you need a check up,' Fordham wrote on Facebook. ACON, which stands for AIDS Council of NSW, receives $13million in government funding every year and $4million from organisations who sign up as members. 'Pay them out of your own pocket. Because we don't consent to our money being spent on this crap.' Listeners were quick to share their opinions in the comments. Radio 2GB host Ben Fordham (pictured with his daughter) slammed the initiative as a 'crack pot idea' being pushed by an organisation with an 'official relationship with the ABC' 'I am a Mother, a Grandmother and I will be dammed if I will be identified as anything other than that. I am a woman and proud of it,' one woman wrote. 'It's diminishing my much treasured role as a mother and I will not bow to this insanity,' a second agreed. 'It's time to ban lobby groups and the funding to ABC - they do not represent all Australians so all Australians should not be paying for them,' a third commented. 'That is utter insanity! And 'secondary caregiver' is an incredibly insulting and pejorative title,' a fourth wrote. Up to 60 government departments and agencies - which includes schools, the Prime Minister's office, universities, the Police and private businesses - have signed up to the organisation's reforms, the Daily Telegraph reports. Sydney-based health organisation ACON, which is primarily funded by the NSW Government, has advised workplaces abandon the terms to promote LGBTQ inclusion (stock image) In a statement addressing the 'repeated attacks' in recent months from 'opponents of LGBTQ equality, ACON said the goal of the employer support program was to create more inclusive workplaces for LGBTQ employees. 'Our members strive to be inclusive of all employees and create inclusive workplaces for all Australians. Pride in Diversity provides members with LGBTQ subject matter expertise in this aspect of their diversity and inclusion strategy,' it stated. 'Pride in Diversity was established following requests from employers, seeking advice and support in this area to enable parity with their international offices and emerging best practice in diversity and inclusion.' ACON's 2022 Australian Workplace Equality Survey of 45,000 employees found less people were comfortable with being out to everyone they work with - falling from 66 per cent in 2020 to 58 per cent in 2022. 'Another 33 per cent said they felt they wouldn't be accepted by some members of their team, and 19 per cent said being out at work would negatively impact their career progression,' it said. Daily Mail Australia has contacted ACON for comment. Lucio Diaz, 50, has been taken into immigration custody and charged with indecent assault and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon The employee, who was not identified, said he also tainted the office water dispenser and another employee confessed something similar happened A Texas mom was diagnosed with an incurable STD after her workplace janitor washed his penis and peed in her water bottle on separate occasions Lucio Diaz, 50, was arrested and charged with indecent assault and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after sticking his penis into an employee's water bottle and peeing in it A Texas mother has been infected with an STD after a janitor allegedly stuck his penis in her water bottle and urinated in it. The Houston mother-of-two, who did not want to be identified, discovered the horrifying events after installing a spy camera in her office. Janitor, Lucio Diaz, 50, allegedly stuck his genitals into her drink about 'halfway' before 'tilting the bottle back and basically rinsing his penis in my water,' the woman, 54, told ABC 13. 'This individual is a sick man,' she said. Eleven others have come forward, according to KHOU 11, and all of them are being tested for STDs. The woman said: 'I want this to go to trial. I want him to be exposed for who he is, and I want him to pay for what he's done to me and then be deported.' Diaz is currently in custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement while his immigration status is checked and he has been charged with indecent assault and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Both charges are related to the same victim. The employee, who asked not to be named, installed security cameras in her office and caught him in putting his penis walkway into her water bottle and then tilting it back to rinse his private part in the water The woman - who works in a doctor's office - began suspicious in August after the office water dispenser appeared to be tainted and was producing a foul scent. She said she started to bring in her own water afterward, but would leave it on her desk if she hadn't finished it. A few days after the foul-smelling water dispenser, she noticed her leftover water bottle smelled equally as gross, so she threw it away. In September, a coworker offered to make her coffee and when she told her to use the water from her bottle, her coworker asked why the contents were yellow. She said she instantly felt 'disgusted' when she went to smell it, telling KHOU 11: 'I raised it to my face, smelled it, and it smelled like urine.' Another employee told her the same thing had happened to her and the doctor suspected it came from the custodian. By late-September, she had installed spy cameras in her office to confirm her suspicions. Surveillance video showed the janitor in the act and a urinalysis done at her office confirmed her worst fears, court records, viewed by ABC 13, said. The employee (pictured), also accused him of peeing in her water and tainting the office water dispenser in separate incidents in August and September. She was also diagnosed with an incurable STD, which matched Diaz's results 'I was very, very scared and thought: 'What if he has a disease?' After undergoing STD testing, the mother-of-two received even more bad news. 'I learned I acquired an STD for which he also tested positive for,' she told ABC 13. 'He gave me an STD I will have for the rest of my life. Nothing is going to change it. Nothing will make it better for me. In fact, I feel like, for the rest of my life, I will have to be careful.' The alleged victim claimed Diaz continued to work at the building even after management was notified. After the urinalysis, the victim turned over two water bottles to police. After confronting Diaz, he confessed to police he did it with 'malicious intent' and that it was a 'sickness.' Both worked in a doctor's office in Houston (pictured). When police confronted the janitor, he confessed to it and said it was a 'sickness' and he had done something similar at his old job. He also claimed he was unaware he had an STD He also confessed to do something similar at his previous job and wasn't aware he had an STD. Her attorney Kim Spurlock has filed a lawsuit against the building and told ABC 14: 'They have a duty to protect their tenants, and they wholly failed in those responsibilities.' The building's owner, Altera Fund Advisors, responded with a statement from CEO Terry Quinn which said: 'Our management company immediately cooperated with the police department in this matter as soon as we were made aware of this potential issue by our tenant. They were advised by the police to not alert or approach the alleged perpetrator so that he could be arrested. He was arrested when he returned to the building.' Ukraine's energy supplies are at critical lows after Russian strikes, Kyiv warned last night. A missile and drone blitz has knocked out a third of the countrys power stations in just eight days as winter approaches, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Further drone attacks on energy supplies left parts of the capital without electricity for several hours yesterday. At least three residents were killed. Officials said 1,162 towns or villages across 16 Ukrainian regions were now without power. Mr Zelensky said Vladimir Putins targeting of power supplies, a crime under the laws of armed conflict, was causing massive blackouts with hospitals forced on to back-up generators. Further drone attacks on energy supplies left parts of the capital without electricity for several hours yesterday. At least three residents were killed. A storage facility is seen after it was hit by a Russian drone near Mykolaiv No space left for negotiations with Putins regime, Mr Zelensky said, once again ruling out the prospect of peace talks with the Kremlin despot. The terrorist state will not change anything for itself with such actions, he added. It will only confirm its destructive and murderous essence, for which it will certainly be held to account. The main power station in the central city of Dnipro, the gateway to Ukraines partially occupied industrial heartland of the Donbas, was also hit. And Zhytomyr, home to military bases and key industries west of Kyiv, was left without energy. Mayor Serhiy Sukhomlyn said 150,000 of its 250,000 residents were still without electricity last night. Officials said 1,162 towns or villages across 16 Ukrainian regions were now without power. Mr Zelensky said Vladimir Putins targeting of power supplies, a crime under the laws of armed conflict, was causing massive blackouts with hospitals forced on to back-up generators Pavlo Raboschuk, a 33-year-old computer repairman in Zhytomyr, said he was ready for a tough and dark winter with dehydrated foods, warm clothes and batteries stockpiled at home. Only swear words come to mind, he added. Iryna Kolodzynska, a school headmistress, managed to have students back at their desks within 30 minutes of the air raid all-clear. We must not break down, she said. There are regions that suffered much more from the war than we did. Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of the Ukrainian presidents office, said: The situation is critical now across the country because our regions are dependent on one another. The whole country should prepare for electricity, water and heating outages. Oleksandr Khorunzhyi, a spokesman for Ukraines emergency services, said more than 70 people have been killed and 240 injured since Russias assault began last Monday. In the north east, Ukraines second-largest city of Kharkiv, some 25 miles from the border with Russia, was hit with eight missiles. The UK Ministry of Defence wrote in its daily intelligence briefing that a key objective of this strike campaign is to cause widespread damage to Ukraines energy distribution network. As Russia has suffered battlefield setbacks since August, it has highly likely gained a greater willingness to strike civilian infrastructure, the MoD declared. A senior Western official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said kamikaze drones supplied to Moscow by Iran were being used because Russian missiles were running out. Our assessment is that the ability for the Russians to continue with these saturating barrages of precision weapons is getting to the point now where this will be unsustainable, the source said. But pro-Kremlin Telegram channels lavished praise on Putin for attacking energy infrastructure in civilian areas. Moscow denied it was using Iranian drones. Russian tech is being used, Putins chief propagandist Dmitry Peskov said. Mr Burston left Hanson's One Nation to join the United Australia Party in 2018 The allegation was he abused a female colleague in his parliamentary office One Nation leader Pauline Hanson will have to pay $250,000 in damages after defaming former senator Brian Burston on the Today Show by falsely claiming he sexually abused a female staffer in his parliamentary office. In the Federal Court on Wednesday, Justice Robert Bromwich ordered Ms Hanson pay the penalties after 'seriously damaging' Mr Burston's reputation on the Nine Network. As well as incorrectly stating that Mr Burston sexually abused a female colleague, Ms Hanson also falsely claimed he had assaulted One Nation chief of staff James Ashby without provocation in the Great Hall of Parliament. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson ordered to pay $250,000 in damages for defaming former senator Brian Burston by falsely claiming he sexually abused a female staffer As well as incorrectly stating that Mr Burston (pictured) sexually abused a female colleague, Ms Hanson also falsely claimed he had assaulted One Nation chief of staff James Ashby without provocation in the Great Hall of Parliament 'I find that both (imputations) were seriously damaging to Mr Burston's reputation, being broadcast on a nationally broadcast television program watched by over 290,000 people at the time. They were both false,' the judge said. Mr Burston failed to prove that a number of other imputations made by Ms Hanson were defamatory, including that he sexually harassed staff in his office, that he harassed a female staffer in his office, and that he brought the senate into disrepute by his shocking behaviour towards staff. Justice Bromwich was scathing towards Mr Burston's behaviour however, calling it 'objectively wrong and inappropriate'. Conduct included telling one female staffer Wendy Leach, 'Oh Wendy, you probably just need a good f**k'. 'Mr Burston had apparently not kept up with changes in society in relation to the rights of women, with the tide having turned even more decisively in recent years, most particularly in relation to the conduct of and around elected representatives and their staff,' the judge wrote. Brian Burston arriving at court in June 2022 after he sued Pauline Hanson for defamation During a seven-day hearing in June, the court heard the former senator also cupped the face of another staffer Terri-lea Vairy before giving her a 'long, hard kiss' and then shoved $100 between her breasts on a separate occasion. 'I am in no doubt that Mr Vairy suffered continued harassment from Mr Burston during her employment, predominantly of a sexual nature. Nor am I in any doubt that Mr Burston sexually propositioned Ms Leach,' Justice Bromwich wrote. 'Ms Leach and Ms Vairy gave evidence that was full of adjectives to describe the profoundly unbearable workplace they endured under the employ of Mr Burston.' The former senator launched the defamation suit in June 2020 over what he said were claims of sexual harassment made against him on social media, via text and on television. The 74-year-old has repeatedly denied the allegations of misconduct, saying the events described never occurred. Ms Hanson will have to pay the hefty fine after losing the defamation case Ms Hanson filed her own counter-suit in the Federal Court in November 2020 claiming Mr Burston's defamation case and sexual harassment allegations made against her amounted to sexual discrimination. On Wednesday, Justice Bromwich allowed this case to proceed, tossing Mr Burston's bid to entirely dismiss the lawsuit on grounds that the court did not have jurisdiction to hear it. Mr Burston quit Ms Hanson's One Nation to join United Australia Party in June 2018 after falling out with his former colleagues over his stance on then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull's proposed tax cuts. He failed to retain his seat at the 2019 federal election. They are a mixture of servicewomen and civilians, Kyiv said in a statement Ukraine swapped more than 100 prisoners with Russia in what it said was the first all-female exchange since the war began. Another large-scale exchange of prisoners of war was carried out... we freed 108 women from captivity. It was the first all-female exchange, said Andriy Yermak, the Ukraine presidencys chief of staff, on social media. Mr Yermak said some Ukrainians exchanged were mothers and daughters who had been held together. Ukraine swapped more than 100 prisoners with Russia in what it said was the first all-female exchange since the war began Women released from Russian captivity, within the framework of a large-scale exchange of prisoners, wear their national flag as they arrive in Ukraine A woman wrapped in a Ukrainian flag cries as she is hugged upon returning home Thirty-seven, he added, had surrendered at the Azovstal steel works in Mariupol. Images released by Kyiv showed dozens of women disembarking from white buses. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said 96 [swapped prisoners] are servicewomen, including 37 evacuees from Azovstal, and 12 are civilians. He added: The more Russian prisoners we have, the sooner we will be able to free our heroes. The Ukraine presidencys chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said some of the Ukrainians exchanged were mothers and daughters who had been held together Images released by Kyiv showed dozens of women disembarking from white buses Denis Pushilin, head of the breakaway region of Donetsk, said that out of 110 people agreed in the swap, two decided to stay in Russia Denis Pushilin, head of the breakaway region of Donetsk, said that out of 110 people agreed in the swap, two decided to stay in Russia. Moscow said that 72 people returned from Ukraine were the crew of civilian ships held since February. It added that all of those returned would be flown to Moscow and provided with medical and psychological assistance. Mariupol, a port city on the Sea of Azov in south-eastern Ukraine, withstood weeks of relentless Russian bombardment, with resistance concentrated in a dense network of underground tunnels at its Azovstal steel plant. President Volodymyr Zelensky said 96 [swapped prisoners] are servicewomen, including 37 evacuees from Azovstal, and 12 are civilians Women rejoice as they are reunited with family and friends after the momentous prisoner swap Many assume using Google's 'incognito mode' means all their internet searches will be safe from prying eyes. But newly-emerged emails from the tech giant appear to reveal engineers have access to them - and joke about some of the content. Now, tech experts have revealed some of the ways to ensure safe web surfing without being watched by third parties. These include using a VPN, using a browser that was developed by the US Navy or using an encryption key to shield search results. Here, DailyMail.com picks through the most common ways to keep web results hidden from big tech companies that harvest your data. Newly revealed internal emails from Google engineers mocking the false promises of the search engine's Incognito mode have left many wondering how exactly they can truly search the web undetected One Google engineer compared Incognito mode with a meme of Homer Simpson wearing a mustache, a suit, and a top hat, and joked that Homer's disguise 'accurately conveyed the level of privacy [Incognito mode] provides' According to tech experts at digital trends, the best way to hide your identity and prevent your online data from being gathered and sold is to download a VPN onto your computer. Simply search something like 'download VPN' into your web browser and select either a paid or free product - Nord and ExpressVPN offering good paid options, and Proton VPN is a good free option - and download them onto your computer. A VPN hides your IP address (basically a personal internet identification number number) from internet service providers like Verizon or Comcast in order to prevent them from seeing what you are doing online. While surfing the web with a VPN on your computer is nearly foolproof, you need to take a few additional steps to ensure total anonymity. First, go into your web browser's settings and block all cookies (which are saved passwords, usernames, etc., which can be used to track where you have been online even when in a VPN - think of it as leaving footprints in the snow while wearing a mask over your face). Second, you need to make sure you do not log into any browser accounts like a Google account, as that opens a direct line for whichever service you log into to track you. TOR was developed by US Navy computer scientists in the 1990s who wanted to develop a dependably anonymous way to surf the internet. It has since become registered as a non-profit dedicated to preserving anonymous internet use A VPN hides your IP address (basically a personal internet identification number number) from internet service providers like Verizon or Comcast in order to prevent them from seeing what you are doing online. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Adams Tent City! Google maps creates label for New York... NYC man, 48, dies after being shoved in front of NYC subway... Share this article Share Third, while browsing with your VPN enabled, browse within the disgraced Incognito mode - as the rest of your bases are covered from the previously described precautions, Incognito (or whatever the equivalent is on whichever search engine you are using) will not track your history while online. Finally, download the web browser TOR - an acronym for 'The Onion Router' - which hides your IP address by bouncing your internet through a series of ever-changing and random computers and servers. TOR was developed by US Navy computer scientists in the 1990s who wanted to develop a dependably anonymous way to surf the internet. It has since become registered as a non-profit dedicated to preserving anonymous internet use. While there are next to no absolutely foolproof ways to surf the internet completely anonymously, following the above methods should keep you basically invisible. In a series of emails cited in a California-based lawsuit on behalf of a million users, employees in 2018 poked fun at the deceptive advertising of the incognito feature that supposedly allows users to 'browse privately' and hide search histories The lawsuit further cites an email sent to CEO Sundar Pichai last year urging to make the tech giant more private for consumers What is TOR? Navy-developed browser that hides search history through matrix of sites Tor - short for The Onion Router - is a seething matrix of encrypted websites that allows users to surf beneath the everyday internet with complete anonymity. It uses numerous layers of security and encryption to render users anonymous online. Normally, file sharing and internet browsing activity can be tracked by law enforcement through each user's unique IP address that can be traced back to an individual computer. The Tor network on the Deep Web hides the IP address and the activity of the user. The network has been linked to criminal activity such as drug dealing and even services to hire hit men. Most of the web's information is buried far down on dynamically generated sites, unable to be found or seen by traditional search engines - sites or pages don't exist until created as the result of a specific search. An internet search is like dragging a net across the surface of the sea - a great deal of information is caught, but a majority is deep and therefore missed. Advertisement Google's marketing chief Lorraine Twohill emailed CEO Sundar Pichai last year on International Data Privacy Day to request the tech giant become more private, according to Bloomberg. 'Make Incognito mode truly private, Twohill wrote in an email. 'We are limited in how strongly we can market Incognito because it's not truly private, thus requiring really fuzzy, hedging language that is almost more damaging.' Twohill's email and other employee documentation are among the court documents that will be reviewed in an Oakland, California, courtroom on Tuesday. Incognito mode on Google advertises that other users will not be able to view browsing history - but doesn't say the tech giant cannot view data. 'Privacy controls have long been built into our services and we encourage our teams to constantly discuss or consider ideas to improve them,' a Google spokesperson said in a statement. 'Incognito mode offers users a private browsing experience, and we've been clear about how it works and what it does whereas the plaintiffs in this case have purposely mischaracterized our statements.' But in 2018, Google engineers brutally mocked Incognito mode for clearly suggesting to users that they were totally anonymous when using it. 'We need to stop calling it Incognito and stop using the Spy Guy icon,' an engineer said in an email chain in 2018 after providing a study about the lack of protections on the browser. Another engineer responded with a meme of Homer Simpson wearing a mustache, a suit, and a top hat, and joked that Homer's disguise 'accurately conveyed the level of privacy [Incognito mode] provides.' A judge will rule on Tuesday on whether the lawsuit will proceed. If found liable, Google may be fined to pay billions to consumers. US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will review the case. If found liable, Google could owe millions of consumers up to $1,000 per violation, according to Bloomberg. Consumers are suggesting Google change the language on the private browsing feature to make users aware that the tech giant can still gather their data. Frantic fiancee drove him to hospital after ambulance didn't arrive until too late A grieving widow has demanded answers after she was forced to drive her dying fiance to hospital while waiting for urgent help from paramedics. Danny Vasiljevic, 36, was in a car at a shopping centre on Melbourne's outskirts on September 23 when he called triple-0 complaining of breathing difficulties and severe chest pain. His baby daughter Ariana was in the back seat at the time. He then contacted fiancee Katrina Christou, who rushed to the scene to wait with him for the ambulance. By the time paramedics arrived, she had already driven Mr Vasiljevic to hospital where he became unconscious and was unable to be revived. Four weeks on from his tragic death, Ms Christou says the family feels let down by the ambulance system while 10-month Ariana was robbed of her dad. She also claims nothing was done to ensure the safety of their baby girl after Mr Vasiljevic's frantic call for help. Danny Vasiljevic (pictured right with his fiancee Katrina) died in September while waiting for an ambulance 'If I had been minutes later than I was, he would have been unconscious and she would have been alone,' Ms Christou told the Herald Sun. 'No contact was made again with Danny after he made that initial call. No one stayed on the phone. There was no call back. It was a Code 1, he had chest pain and difficulty breathing, and he was still left to fend for himself for 22 minutes until I cancelled the ambulance. 'My daughter's going to grow up without a dad, and I'm going to be on my own without my main support. Ambulance Victoria says the closest available ambulance was immediately dispatched to Mr Vasiljevic under lights and sirens. 'We extend our deepest condolences to Daniels family and loved ones at this extremely difficult time, a spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. 'Ambulance Victoria works to provide the best possible care for every patient. We are currently undertaking a review of the incident and have reached out to Daniels family.' Ambulance officials will meet with Mr Vasiljevic's family when they're ready. 'Losing a family member or partner at such a young age is immensely confronting and I can't imagine what that experience is like,' clinical operations executive director Anthony Carlyon told reporters on Wednesday. 'We have commenced a review of the case but don't have all the details as yet.' 'The most important thing for us to do is be open and transparent with the family in relation to what opportunities we may have had to do better.' Katrina Christou (right) drove her dying fiance Danny Vasiljevic (left) to hospital but it was too late to save him Victoria's opposition government echoed the family's calls for answers as next month's state election looms. 'This is really a heartbreaking, tragic story and it just demonstrates the extent of Victoria's health crisis which is ongoing,' health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier said. Mr Vasiljevic tragically died several weeks after a damning report of Victoria's emergency response system found 33 people had died waiting unacceptably long times for an ambulance within a 17-month period between December 2020 and May 2022. Inspector-General for Emergency Management Tony Pearce, who wrote the report, said it would be up to the Coroner's Court to rule if delays contributed to the deaths. The report found the benchmark was missed throughout the period, with 67.8 per cent of calls answered within five seconds in September 2021. Victoria's Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner is also conducting a 17-month investigation into the 'toxic culture' of the ambulance service. Danny Vasiljevic (pictured renovating his home) died shortly after he complained of severe chest pain and breathing difficulties Danny and his partner of nine years Katrina welcomed their first child 10 months ago Meanwhile, the outpouring of tributes continues for Mr Vasiljevic who has been remembered as a man who put the needs of others before his own and always made time to check in with loved ones. Friends and family have rallied behind his fiancee and daughter to raise almost $60,000 as they continue to grapple with the heartbreaking loss. The couple were together for nine years and were engaged for three. 'Danny would be so overwhelmed by the care and love being shown to our beautiful little family,' Ms Christou wrote on an online fundraiser. 'I can't find the words to properly express anything at the moment but please know how incredibly grateful I am that people are helping me to work through this heartache by removing the immediate stress of bills, payments and finances in the coming months. I'm immensely moved by the kindness.' Danny (right) leaves behind a grieving fiancee (left) and 10-month old daughter, who was in the back seat of the car when he called for help A junior at Princeton University has been reported missing after her friends and family said they have not heard from her in five days. Misrach Ewunetie, 20, was last seen on Friday at around 3am near Scully Hall, where she lives on campus. School officials say she 'has not been in touch with her family or friends in several days,' and sent out a 'Tiger Alert' to the school community at around 9.20pm Monday night reporting her missing, the Daily Princetonian reports. Ewunetie is described as 5-feet-4-inches tall and weighing 130 pounds. She has brown eyes, black hair and a 'light complexion,' school officials said. Misrach Ewunetie, 20, was reported missing Monday night after her friends and family said they have not heard from her in several days Ewunetie is originally from northeast Ohio, and had received a full scholarship to the prestigious university in 2020 Ewunetie is originally from northeast Ohio, and had received a full scholarship to the prestigious university in 2020, covering her tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and travel expenses for four years. She was interested in majoring in science, the Villa Angela-St Joseph High School reported at the time, and said Princeton was her first choice school. Her disappearance comes as students are off campus for fall break following mid-term exams. She was last seen on Friday at around 3am near Scully Hall (pictured), where she lives on campus 'Obviously it's heartbreaking,' junior Laura Esguerra told PIX 11. 'It hurts, it really does... hopefully she'll be back safe.' She added: 'It's a good reminder we have to watch out for each other and we have to make sure to check on her friends especially after midterms. 'It's a hard week, it's a hard time for everyone mentally and physically,' Esguerra explained. She added: 'I truly hope it doesn't come down to that, but it is a good reminder to check in on your friends after a hard week.' Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to contact the school's Department of Public Safety at (609) 258-1000, or submit an anonymous tip online. To show police he was upset after a woodchipper death, Gregory Lee Roser thought of his dead mother, a court has heard. Roser, 63, and Sharon Graham, 61, have pleaded not guilty to murder after Bruce Saunders died while working on a property north of Brisbane in November 2017. The jury has retired to consider its verdict in week five of Roser's trial before Justice Martin Burns in the Brisbane Supreme Court. The Crown alleges Graham asked Roser and another lover Peter Koenig to kill her ex-partner Mr Saunders, 54, and make it look like an accident in a bid to claim his $750,000 life insurance. Footage has been shown of Mr Saunders' legs protruding from the chipper at the Goomboorian property near Gympie after clearing trees with Roser and Koenig. Gregory Lee Roser (left), 63, and Sharon Graham (right), 61, have pleaded not guilty to murder after Bruce Saunders died while working on a property north of Brisbane in November 2017 Roser does not dispute Mr Saunders was murdered but says Koenig is the killer, claiming he 'shamefully' helped dispose of the body. However, crown prosecutor David Meredith told a jury they should have real doubts about anything Roser says, citing a police recorded conversation from January 2018. In the recording Koenig asked Roser how he reacted to being shown gruesome photographs of the murder scene during a police interview, suggesting his facial expressions would be analysed. 'When they showed me the photographs ... I started getting upset about the photographs and I started thinking about my dead mother,' Roser said. Mr Saunders (pictured) was murdered and left with his legs protruding out of a woodchipper Mr Meredith told the jury: 'He had to sum up concern about his dead mother so he could show apparent distress at seeing Bruce's body. '(And) remember ... he helped ... put Bruce's body in the chipper so it would come as no surprise to him those gruesome photographs.' Roser earlier told the court that Graham had come up with several plans over several months to kill Mr Saunders but he refused. However Mr Meredith said: 'He didn't make it clear that he wasn't going to do it, he just rejected them on the basis that the plans were stupid. 'Why would she continue to approach him unless she thought he was a candidate to do it (kill Mr Saunders). 'He might have been rejecting the means but not the ends.' At the Brisbane Supreme Court on Wednesday, Roser (left) told the court that he thought of his dead mother when he was shown photographs of Mr Saunders in the woodchipper Roser told the court that Graham eventually came up with a plot to kill Mr Saunders while clearing trees, incorporating the chipper but again he refused. However Mr Meredith told the jury Roser believed the accidental death option was more sensible if they are trying to successfully claim Mr Saunders' money, saying 'she (Graham) can't collect if she is a murderer'. He said Roser was an obvious candidate to be the killer because he was desperate for a relationship and keen to please Graham, rejecting claims that Koenig was responsible. The quiet, pony-tailed Koenig denied he was a killer when he gave evidence earlier, claiming Roser had bludgeoned Mr Saunders with a metal bar before they fed the body through the chipper. Crown prosecutor David Meredith said Roser was an obvious candidate to be the killer because he was desperate for a relationship and keen to please Graham, rejecting claims that Peter Koenig (pictured) was responsible Roser told the court that he only agreed to help dispose of the body because he feared Koenig who he claimed had Mafia connections. 'Peter Koenig part of the Mafia? You have seen him, he doesn't look like a criminal mastermind at all,' Mr Meredith said. Roser said he feared he would 'end up like Bruce' if he didn't help Koenig with the body. Roser said he feared he would 'end up like Bruce' (pictured) if he didn't help Koenig with the body 'How could he possibly think that Koenig is going to kill him too and put him through the chipper?' Mr Meredith said. 'Would anyone believe there are two accidental deaths? To adopt a famous line from Oscar Wilde, to lose one friend through a woodchipper is unfortunate, to lose two is incredible.' Graham has successfully applied for a separate trial. Online giants are enjoying a very low-cost meal out of high-quality journalism, the media minister has told MPs. Julia Lopez said there was a completely unbalanced power situation between the big online platforms and news providers. She told the Commons digital, culture, media and sport committee that the Government should be concerned about the future of local journalism. The Government last year set up a Digital Markets Unit to try to make sure companies such as Google and Facebook cannot exploit their market dominance or stifle competition. File photo: The Government last year set up a Digital Markets Unit to stop Google and Facebook from stifling competition. But the digital watchdog has still to be brought into law The DMU was devised to tackle the dominance of Big Tech in sectors such as digital advertising, which poses a threat to quality journalism, and ensure web giants pay a fair price to news publishers for content. But the digital watchdog has still to be brought into law. Campaigners have been left frustrated that the body is likely to remain toothless until at least 2023. Miss Lopez admitted there was an imbalance in bargaining power between social media platforms and those who create content. She was asked by committee chairman, Tory Julian Knight, about the moves that the likes of Google and Facebook had taken to support local journalism. Miss Lopez said: These arent insignificant moves, but I dont think they address the fundamental problem, which is that there is a completely unbalanced power situation between the platforms and the content providers. They are effectively getting a very low-cost meal out of high-quality journalism and I think that is a problem that the Government should be concerned about. Mr Knight said in their attempts to support local journalism, Google and Facebook were just handing out a few crumbs to support this industry. Facebook is understood to be training about 100 local news journalists with Google having a similar initiative He said it was a very small fry in their big scheme of things and questioned whether it was just a PR stunt. Facebook is understood to be training about 100 local news journalists with Google having a similar initiative. Google has also worked with the News Media Association on an online public notices portal. Miss Lopez said the online giants should not diminish the value of news on their platforms as it was valued by their customer base. Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan has been urged to make giving statutory powers to the DMU a priority. A woman trapped in a girls body was covertly given hormone medication on the orders of a judge sitting in secret. Her mother had not sought help over her failure to reach puberty and the judge concluded she didnt want her daughter to grow up. The young woman, who can be identified only as A, lacked the ability to make decisions for herself and was put into a care home in 2019 because of her mothers negative influence. Judges then held hearings in secret from As mother and family during which it was decided to give the 23-year-old the hormone treatment she needed to blossom into an adult. When she refused the medication it was secretly slipped into food and drink instead. This continued for two years and was successful, with A going through puberty and developing the body of an adult woman. Her mother was limited to monitored phone contact with her daughter and was unaware of her body changes. (Stock Image) The young woman trapped in a girl's body was put into a care home in 2019 because of her mothers negative influence Details have emerged because campaigners belonging to the Open Justice Court of Protection Project wrote about the case after attending an early hearing. Mr Justice Poole, sitting in the Court of Protection, brought an end to the secrecy last month by telling the mother what had been happening behind her back. He also lifted restrictions to allow the case to be reported without anyone being identified. And he banned the mother from telling her daughter she was being treated. The medicine is still being given covertly because it is in As best interests but her mother has promised to cooperate and officials are working on moving to open medication at home. The judge decided the case should now be reported in the interests of open justice and because the patient was unlikely to discover what was going on from the media or social media. Neither the NHS Trust involved or the family can be identified, although they are from the north of England. A doctor told the judge that As prospects were extremely bleak without the hormone treatment and she had the basic human right of every girl to blossom into a woman. The court heard A had mild Aspergers, epilepsy, primary ovarian failure and a vitamin D deficiency. Professor Celia Kitzinger of the Open Justice Court of Protection Project said the case was a matter of public concern because of the deprivation of liberty; administering medication contrary to a persons wishes and without their knowledge; draconian restrictions on contact between family members; and the right to a hearing at which all parties are provided with the same information. Britain has paid the Rwandan government an extra 20million for the stalled asylum deal even though not a single migrant has yet been deported. Immigration minister Tom Pursglove said the sum was for initial set-up costs, on top of 120million in April. The new sum will pay for caseworkers, translators and other costs including accommodation. Under the plan, some migrants will be given a one-way ticket to Rwanda to claim asylum there. However, the project is in legal limbo. Home Secretary Suella Braverman has said the first flight will not leave for at least a year. A Home Office spokesman said: Doing nothing is not an option when people are dying and a radical new approach is needed. Rwandan President Paul Kagame is pictured. The UK has paid the Rwandan government an extra 20million for its asylum deal, though not a single migrant has yet arrived The European Court of Human Rights barred the Home Offices first attempt at a removal flight less than an hour before it was due to take off in June. Since then, the policy has been bogged down by two separate judicial reviews in the High Court. Opponents including the Public and Commercial Services trade union and a number of migrant charities claim the policy is unlawful. Details of the new 20million spend were obtained by Labour in a parliamentary question. Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: It is shocking that the Government has given Rwanda a further 20million on top of the 120million already spent for a policy that the Home Secretary herself has admitted is failing. This policy is extortionately expensive, deeply damaging, unworkable and unethical. It wont stop the criminal gangs and risks making trafficking worse. Instead of throwing away more money on this failing policy, the Government should listen to Labour, and use it instead for the National Crime Agency to crack down on the criminal gangs driving Channel crossings. A jury consisting of eight women and four men have retired to consider the verdict in the case of Brittany Higgins' accused rapist Bruce Lehrmann - with the judge asking them to consider three key questions. ACT Supreme Court Chief Justice Lucy McCallum told the jury on Wednesday that they must consider whether Bruce Lehrmann had sex with the ex-staffer at all, whether it was consensual, and whether Mr Lehrmann was reckless over whether she consented. Lehrmann, Ms Higgins's former colleague, has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexually assaulting Ms Higgins at Parliament House following a drunken night out in March 2019. The jury were directed to retire shortly before 3pm on Wednesday, and had not reached a verdict by the end of the day. They were told the verdict must be unanimous. The judge told jurors to consider three elements: Whether the accused had sexual intercourse with the complainant, whether sexual intercourse occurred without the consent of the complainant, and if the accused was reckless as to whether Ms Higgins consented to the sexual intercourse. Recklessness, she said, is about Lehrmann's state of mind and addresses whether he failed to consider that the complainant might not consent. Brittany Higgins was not present in the courtroom when the jury retired on Wednesday morning 'Consent to a sexual act means informed agreement to the sexual act that is given freely and voluntarily and is communicated to the other person,' she told the court. 'A person does not consent if they are unconscious or asleep. They are incapable of consenting if they are incapacitated, or intoxicated.' Justice McCallum said: 'If you accept the intercourse did happen, you would have to accept that she did not consent.' She also told the jury to disregard the fact that Lehrmann did not sit in the witness box, and said it cannot be used 'as an admission of guilt'. 'It cannot be used an admission of guilt. You can't use that fact to fill any gaps. It cannot assist the prosecution case.' The judge pointed out that Lehrmann did not have to participate in a record of interview with police on April 19, 2021. He could have maintained his right to silence, but he chose to give his version of events. Justice McCallum said the 12 jurors must 'determine whether the accused is guilty beyond reasonable doubt'. She also urged them not to invoke stereotypes to determine the way a person may behave. Lehrmann will soon learn his fate. He has pleaded not guilty to a single count of sexual intercourse without consent The judge's comments come after Lehrmann's lawyer Steven Whybrow wrapped up his closing address to an ACT Supreme Court jury earlier this morning. Whybrow claimed there were '325,000 reasons why this case is important from (Ms Higgins's) perspective' - in a reference to the book deal she was offered after going public with her allegations. 'I'm not here to prove why she goes back to police and initiates this (investigation) again,' Mr Whybrow said. 'I'm not sure why. But there are 325,000 reasons why this case is important from her perspective.' On February 15, Brittany Higgins' TV interview with Lisa Wilkinson (pictured together) was televised While speaking about Ms Higgins's earlier evidence to the jury, Mr Whybrow invoked 'con artists' - saying 'we have these things called con artists because demeanour is hard to pick up sometimes'. Mr Whybrow said he wasn't suggesting what Ms Higgins' behaviour in the witness box was an act, telling the jury: 'You all saw it.' He argued: 'She doesn't know what happened and she has reconstructed events to the point that she now genuinely believes them to be true. That doesn't mean that they are true.' Of her book deal - which the trial heard Lisa Wilkinson's husband Peter FitzSimons organised for her - Mr Whybrow argued, 'She secured a publishing book deal and had planned out chapters' before she completed her interview with (detective) Emma Frizzell. 'That could be somewhat inconsistent with a person who thought The Project would air and she would go back to anonymity.' Lehrmann has pleaded not guilty to a single charge of sexual intercourse without consent and has undergone a three-week criminal trial in the ACT Supreme Court. Mr Whybrow also criticised the 'reliability' of her evidence. 'There is no other evidence in this case. There is no evidence other than Ms Higgins and her subsequent statements, demeanour, may assist you in assessing what she says,' he suggested to the jury. 'There is no DNA evidence, there's no contemporaneous medial complaint. There is, in fact, There are contemporaneous lies about the medical complaint.' 'There's not photos of a bruise. We've made, in my submission, a rational, plausible and reasonable explanation as to why in 2019 she might raise a false complaint and withdraw it and not go to a doctor until it comes up in October 2019.' He referred to the moment where Ms Higgins went to the doctor in October 2019 'for anxiety', and it was then that she told some people in Michaelia Cash's office. 'Are they disclosures relating to the enquiry? Are they disclosures to put some receipts on her side?,' he asked. During his earlier closing arguments late on Tuesday, Lehrmann's lawyer Steven Whybrow claimed to the jury that Ms Higgins 'fabricates' information and places blame on others when 'what's going on doesn't suit her'. 'You have to pull every tooth before you get the truth,' he said. He suggested that Ms Higgins not attending a doctor's appointment was 'a big deal' because 'she didn't need to - she didn't have sex with anyone'. 'She tells two police officers, her on-off boyfriend and her boss that she is going to a doctor the next day. 'I put it to her squarely - the reason was to get them to believe that she had been sexually assaulted,' he told the jury. 'You don't actually go, because you don't need to, because it hadn't happened.' Mr Whybrow also referred to claims Ms Higgins made under cross-examination about the period immediately after she went public with her allegations. On February 15, 2021, two media stories dropped - one was an online story published by News Corp, the other was a TV interview with Lisa Wilkinson on The Project. Ms Higgins told the court in the first week of the trial that she thought she would do one written interview and one TV interview, before going back to university and getting on with her life as normal. However, she told the court she was inundated with media requests - to the point where she had to take valium to cope - and said her boyfriend, David Sharaz, sent a timeline of her allegations to two journalists. The court previously heard Mr Sharaz regretted his actions because his 'trust was breached' and the 'whole press gallery' ended up with the timeline. Bruce Lehrmann has pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent. He is pictured outside court on Tuesday Mr Whybrow told the court on Tuesday that Sharaz had gone 'under the bus'. 'David Sharaz now goes under the bus to say he sent it out in those circumstances.' Under cross-examination, Ms Higgins also told the court the media frenzy was 'not about me or my story', but more about two journalists arguing over 'who got the exclusive' and who would win journalism awards. She said Wilkinson was 'furious' because The Project interview went to air on a Monday, and she didn't normally work on Mondays. In court on Tuesday, Mr Whybrow said that was another example of Ms Higgins 'throwing other people under the bus where something is happening that might not suit her.' Earlier in his closing statement, Mr Whybrow referred the jury to Ms Higgins' initial insistence she had kept the dress she was allegedly raped in under her bed for about six months before washing it. Former Liberal Party staffer Brittany Higgins and partner David Sharaz are pictured at the ACT Supreme Court in Canberra She later admitted she was mistaken about that period of time when shown in court a picture of her wearing the dress about two months after the night in question. 'When she speaks to [police officer] Emma Frizzell on February 6, 2021, she asks about the dress and she says, "I've washed it once but I haven't worn it",' he said. 'But she knows she's worn it again, and she knows she's worn it again because she recalls or she's seen a photograph of her wearing it again. 'This is a central plank as to whether you accept her evidence beyond reasonable doubt or whether she's said the first thing that comes to her head. 'Can you convict this man for something she says he did? There's no DNA, no medical evidence, and she says things to suit her.' Mr Whybrow will conclude his closing remarks on Wednesday morning, before the jury retires to deliberate on a verdict. During Crown prosecutor Shane Drumgold's closing statements earlier on Tuesday, he told the jury Lehrmann took Ms Higgins back to Parliament House on the night he allegedly raped her because 'it was the most convenient place to get her drunk and confused'. During his closing arguments on Tuesday, Lehrmann's lawyer Steven Whybrow (pictured) claimed to the jury Ms Higgins 'fabricates' information He suggested that was the answer to one of the key questions jury members had to consider - why did Lehrmann and Ms Higgins go to Parliament House that night? He said the jury also must consider whether they believed Lehrmann and Ms Higgins had sex - and whether it was consensual - as well as whether he was attracted to the alleged victim and if he was 'reckless' regarding her consent. '[The case is not about] whether young people, whatever gender, have the right to drink what they choose or to be safe. Or whether Ms Higgins likes Linda Reynolds, or about whether parliament house responded adequately,' he said. 'This case is certainly not about the experience of other women in parliament or the "Me Too" movement, media interviews or book deals.' Mr Drumgold said the case was about 'what happened on a couch in a room' on March 23, 2019 - between when Ms Higgins and Lehrmann entered parliament at 1.41am and when the accused left alone at 2.31am. He told the jury Lehrmann gave various reasons for going back to Parliament House on the night of the alleged rape, but said he rejected all reasons - 'except possibly to drink alcohol and get the drunk and vulnerable complainant alone in a room'. 'It was the most convenient place to get her drunk and confused... in the hope she would not resist and not remember,' he said. Mr Drumgold questioned why Lehrmann would have left his keys, documents and security pass at work before going out to drinks on a Friday night, knowing he would only have to go back and get them late at night. 'Lehrmann said he had to go to Parliament House to get his keys which, in his words, was "normal practice". He added he would just leave them on his desk so wouldn't have a lot of things in his pockets,' he told the jury. 'Ask yourself, how would he then grab his keys if he left his pass there? He agreed he didn't have his pass on him - it would force him to sign in to get his keys just to go home.' He also questioned why Lehrmann would go back to parliament to put tabs on a Question Time brief when Question Time was not due to take place the following week - 'why not wait until Monday?' Mr Drumgold said Lehrmann claimed in his record of interview with federal police that there was no alcohol in the office because Ms Reynolds was new in the defence portfolio and it was not yet set up. However, his former colleague Nicole Hamar told the court last week she worked with Lehrmann in Home Affairs and he had a sizeable amount of alcohol in his office. The prosecution said it was 'unlikely he would throw out a substantial amount of alcohol because he moved offices'. Extended lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne last year coincided with a surge in alcohol-related deaths to a record high - but flu fatalities were almost eliminated. Draconian restrictions in Australia's two biggest cities have been associated with mental health problems, with suicide a much more common cause of death than Covid. Alcohol-related deaths in 2021 climbed by 5.8 per cent with 1,559 people dying from poisoning or liver damage, new Australian Bureau of Statistics data has revealed. Of those who died last year, 74 per cent or 1,156 of them were males, with females making up the rest of the 403 deaths. Extended lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne (pictured in October 2021) last year coincided with a surge in alcohol-related deaths to a record high but flu fatalities were almost eliminated The male alcohol-related death rate was at a record high in the ABS series going back a decade, with 8.3 deaths for every 100,000 people in 2021 - an 8.1 per cent increase on 2020. Deaths in perspective ALCOHOL RELATED: 1,559 in 2021 SUICIDE: 2,358 in 2021 COVID: 1,122 in 2021 FLU: 2 in 2021 ISCHAEMIC HEART DISEASE: 17,331 in 2021 DEMENTIA: 15,940 in 2021 CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASES: 9,800 in 2021 Advertisement Before the pandemic in 2019, the male death rate from alcohol was 7.4 for every 100,000 people. The lockdowns created uncertainty as retailers and many service businesses were banned from serving customers in person indoors. Suicide was the 15th leading cause of death, while Covid was the 34th most common reason for someone dying. For males, suicide was the 10th most common cause of death, with men accounting for three-quarters of those who took their own lives. The suicide rate was 12 for every 100,000 people, with mental health problems, substance abuse and chronic diseases regarded as common risk factors. Intentional self harm was the cause of death for 2,358 people in 2021. Suicide was the leading cause of child death, with 112 children taking their lives in a year when schools were closed. By comparison, 1,122 people died of Covid, split between 660 male deaths and 462 female deaths. Alcohol-related deaths in 2021 climbed by 5.8 per cent with 1,559 people dying from poisoning or liver damage - an increase of 107 fatalities compared with 2020, new Australian Bureau of Statistics data has revealed (pictured is a stock image) The median age of dying was 79.1, with 98.9 per cent of deaths from Covid occurring during the Delta wave of the pandemic from July to December last year. But there were only two deaths from influenza last year, a record low. Respiratory illnesses accounted for 39.1 deaths per 100,000, the second-lowest on record. Australia had 171,469 deaths in 2021 - an age-standardised death rate of 507.2 deaths for every 100,000 people. Ischaemic heart disease was the leading cause of death, accounting for 10.1 per cent of all deaths, with 17,331 succumbing to this illness. Dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, was Australia's second most common death, with a median fatality age of 89.2 and 15,940 fatalities. Cerebrovascular diseases, lung cancer and chronic lower respiratory diseases rounded out the top five leading causes. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 Advertisement Emily Ratajkowski's ex-husband Sebastian Bear-McClard looked downcast Tuesday as he smoked a cigarette in New York City just days after the supermodel was pictured making out with her new beau. Photos obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com showed the 41-year-old film producer walking through the streets looking downtrodden as he lit up the smoke. He wore a black Dickies jacket over a white t-shirt with an apparently stained pair of dark jeans, which he accessorized with a pair of sunglasses and leather work boots as he walked alone. Bear-McClard's walkabout came just days after his ex-wife was pictured giggling and locking lips with 35-year-old New York-based DJ Orazio Rispo. The pair were pictured Friday sharing a romantic embrace as they strolled through the Big Apple, after enjoying an alfresco dinner date. The mother-of-one - who was recently rumored to be dating Brad Pitt, 58 - looked chic in a black, off-the-shoulder top, matching slacks, and red boots, as she chatted with her companion, before the pair climbed onto his motorbike and heading off together. She had called it off with Bear-McClard back in July after accusing him of being a 'serial cheater' during their four-year marriage. Photos obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com Sebastian Bear-McClard, 41, walking through the streets of Manhattan looking downtrodden as he lit up a cigarette He wore a black Dickies jacket over a white t-shirt with an apparently stained pair of dark jeans, and accessorized with a pair of sunglasses and leather work boots as he walked alone. McClard is pictured smoking a cigarette as he walked through Manhattan on Tuesday Bear-McClard's walkabout came just days after his ex-wife was pictured giggling and locking lips with 35-year-old New York-based DJ Orazio Rispo The supermodel, meanwhile, looked happier than ever on Tuesday as she enjoyed a casual outing with a friend in the city. The 31-year-old looked stylish as always as she sported a long black shearling coat over black trousers and white Women's NikeCraft General Purpose Shoe Tom Sachs sneakers. She wore her signature brunette tresses down as she showcased her natural looks by wearing minimal make-up. And her new beau, Rispo, also seemed at ease as he, too, enjoyed an outing in the Big Apple. The DJ was seen rocking a blue flannel, green camouflage pants, and black sneakers as he spoke with a friend. He accessorized with black sunglasses and a white dad hat as he sported a bit of grizzled scruff. Ratajkowski, 31, was also pictured on Tuesday looking happier than ever as she enjoyed a casual outing with a friend And her new beau, Rispo, also seemed at ease as he, too, enjoyed an outing in the Big Apple on Tuesday The DJ was pictured rocking a blue flannel, green camouflage pants, and black sneakers as he spoke with a friend DailyMail.com exclusively revealed on Tuesday that Ratajkowski has moved on to Rispo, with multiple sources confirming his identity. Rispo was born and raised in New York and has worked as a DJ for two decades. DailyMail.com previously revealed on Tuesday that Ratajkowski has moved on to Rispo, with multiple sources confirming his identity He also owned and operated a record shop in Brooklyn, called Halcyon Record Shop, until it closed in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Rispo is also the son of realtor Giampiero Rispo, who serves as the founder and president of residential brokerage Domus Realty - which specializes in selling 'luxury real estate in New York City.' 'Since founding Domus in 1986, Giampiero has developed an industry-wide reputation for his integrity, creativity, and artful negotiation style,' his bio on LinkedIn reads. 'As principal of Domus, Giampiero fulfills the dual role of wealth manager and expert real estate adviser. Drawing on his extensive background in finance, business and real estate, Giampiero's primary goal is to strategically invest and manage his clients' assets in the real estate market in the most rewarding and hassle-free way possible. 'He is particularly skilled in working with celebrities and foreign buyers and investors, and the majority of his transactions involve off market properties for clients with discriminating taste and high standards for privacy.' Some of the homes he is currently selling, according to his website, include a $7.6 million apartment building in the upper east side with 12 units and a $6.5 million two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo in Soho. Orazio's dad is also the director of an undergarment company called BANDEBRA - which sells 'natural, organic, comfortable, and sexy alternatives to bras.' It was reported by one Instagram account that Orazio is cousins with GCDS designer Giuliano Calza, who boasts a slew of celebrity friends including Dua Lipa, Nicola Beckham-Peltz, and Elsa Hosk. Guliano attended the September wedding of Orazio's brother, which Orazio officiated. The artist is a registered democrat and studied political science at Columbia University. The apparent new couple were seen dining at an outdoor restaurant, where they laughed and smiled as they enjoyed their food and some cocktails on Friday Rispo wore a green jacket over a yellow t-shirt, pairing it with a pair of loose, gray jeans and black sneakers for the date while Ratajkowski looked chic in a black, off-the-shoulder top, matching slacks, and red boots The new couple chatted outside for a while before locking lips in an impassioned kiss on Friday Ratajkowski then climbed onto his motorbike and heading off together at the end of their date For their date on Friday, Rispo was seen wearing a green jacket over a yellow t-shirt, pairing it with a pair of loose, gray jeans and black sneakers. The apparent new couple were seen dining at an outdoor restaurant, where they laughed and smiled as they enjoyed their food and some cocktails. Emily was even pictured lovingly touching his face during the date night. It remains unclear how or when Emily and Orazio first met, but it appears that they've known each other for a while, as it was reported that they were seen grabbing dinner together during Milan Fashion Week last September. DailyMail.com has reached out to Emily's representatives for comment. Emily and Sebastian, who is best known for producing movies Uncut Gems, Good Time, and Funny Pages, were first linked on Valentine's Day in February 2018 Emily, who shares a one-year-old son with Sebastian, named Sylvester Apollo Bear, then filed for divorce in September News hit the web that Emily had split from her husband of four years, Sebastian, in July. At the time, it was reported that the model had made the decision to leave her film producer husband, 41, over claims that he was a 'serial cheater.' A source told Page Six at the time, 'It's gross. He's a dog.' Comedian and social media influencer Claudia Oshry later spoke out about the situation during an episode of The Morning Toast podcast, in which she claimed Sebastian's infidelity was an open secret in the industry. 'It's, like, known that her husband has cheated on her and they're filing for divorce,' she said, adding that when the couple officially confirms their separation, it will not come as a surprise to anyone. Emily, who shares a one-year-old son with Sebastian, named Sylvester Apollo Bear, then filed for divorce in September. In the wake of her divorce proceedings, there had been talk that Emily was involved in a romance with Brad Pitt, but she seemed to shut these rumors down with her very public display of affection with Orazio. In late August, OK magazine claimed that Brad was getting close to Emily, with a source explaining: 'He asked her out, and she said yes. She's always thought Brad was cute, and the way she saw it, what did she have to lose?' But a separate insider told magazine earlier this month that while the two stars were 'having fun' together, it wasn't anything serious. 'The split was very rough for her,' the source stated. 'It was unexpected and devastating. It's the perfect timing right now. There is nothing like Brad Pitt cheering you up.' She was previously rumored to be having a relationship with actor Brad Pitt, but sources have now confirmed they were not seriously involved Emily and Sebastian, who is best known for producing movies Uncut Gems, Good Time, and Funny Pages, were first linked on Valentine's Day in February 2018 - one month after news had hit the web that she had split from her boyfriend Jeff Magid after three years together. Emily and Sebastian's whirlwind relationship timeline Feb 13, 2018: Emily and Sebastian make their first public appearance as a couple after being in the same friend group for years. Feb 23, 2018: Just two weeks later, they tie the knot in a civil ceremony. March 2018: The two enjoy a delayed honeymoon in Canyon Point, Utah. April 2018: Emily shares their proposal story, revealing he proposed in Minetta Tavern and made a ring out of the paper clip from their bill. Feb 2019: The model pays tribute to their one-year anniversary by showing off her real two-stone engagement ring and wedding band. March 2019: Sebastian becomes embroiled in a real estate scandal with his landlord claiming he owed $120,000 in rent and Emily came to his defense. May 2019: The two become dog parents to an adorable Husky-German Shepherd named Colombo. Oct 2020: Emily reveals that she and Sebastian are expecting their first child together. March 2021: Emily gives birth to their son, Sylvester Apollo Bear. May 2022: The two attend Entourage muse Ari Emanuel and designer Sarah Staudinger's star-studded wedding together. June 2022: Emily and Sebastian's last sighting together soaking up sun on the beach in Porto Ercole, Italy. Advertisement At the time, the pair was spotted packing on the PDA in Los Angeles, California. It's unclear how they met, but an insider told Us Weekly at the time that they had known each other 'for years.' Just days after their first spotting, news hit the web that they had tied the knot in a New York City courthouse on February 23, 2018. Emily then confirmed the news via Instagram, writing, 'Sooo, I have a surprise, I got married today.' She later told Jimmy Fallon on his show, The Tonight Show, that she only took '30 seconds' to decide she wanted to marry the producer. 'I thought about it for about 30 seconds,' she joked. 'It was a city hall courthouse wedding. I guess I didn't know what I always wanted to do, which is maybe why it was so untraditional.' They made their red carpet debut in March of that year, while attending the 33rd Annual Film Independent Spirit Awards together, and the two looked like the epitome of marital bliss at the event. 'Emily looked so in love with her husband. She kept staring at him, smiling and was touching his face a lot,' an onlooker told E! News. 'Emily rested her head on his shoulder and looked truly happy.' Their four-year romance was plagued with scandal and controversy, starting with the fact that they had wed after only a few days together. The pair received a lot of backlash online for the whirlwind romance, and Emily later defended their decision to get married so quickly, explaining during an appearance on Busy Tonight that their relationship had been building for a long time before they started dating. The model was pictured moving her stuff out of the New York City apartment that she previously shared with Sebastian last month. As movers removed her furniture, artwork, clothing, and other belongings from the home, Emily was seen carrying out a plant. Emily and Sebastian, who is best known for producing movies Uncut Gems, Good Time, and Funny Pages, were first linked on Valentine's Day in February 2018 - one month after news had hit the web that she had split from her boyfriend Jeff Magid after three years together. 'We knew each other for a long time before,' she explained. 'He likes to joke, 'Yeah everyone thinks we got married quickly, but you vetted me for two years.'' Neither Emily nor Sebastian have made any public comments in regards to the status of their marriage as of yet. They were last spotted together in mid-June while on vacation in Italy, and appeared in good spirits as they relaxed on Porto Ercole beach together. The couple was also among the many celebrity guests at Ari Emanuel's wedding to Sarah Staudinger in St. Tropez in late May. She first sparked breakup rumors in July, when she was seen going for a stroll in New York with the couple's son, and was not wearing her wedding ring. The model was pictured moving her stuff out of the New York City apartment that she previously shared with Sebastian last month. As movers removed her furniture, artwork, clothing, and other belongings from the home, Emily was seen carrying out a plant. The US Air Force intercepted and escorted two Russian bomber jets flying near Alaska as tensions heighten with Moscow. The two Tu-95 Bear-H bombers were 'positively' identified flying in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on Monday, according to NORAD - a combined defense organization between America and Canada. Two USAF F-16 jets intercepted it before it could enter American or Canadian airspace, but the planes 'remained in international airspace.' NORAD did not see the spotting of the two jets as a 'threat, nor is the activity provocative.' The two Russian Tu-95 Bear-H bombers (stock photo) were 'positively' identified flying in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on Monday 'NORAD tracks and positively identifies foreign military aircraft that enter the ADIZ. NORAD routinely monitors foreign aircraft movements and as necessary, escorts them from the ADIZ,' the organization said. The spotting comes as tensions build since Russia invaded Ukraine. The US has provided billions in aid to Ukraine and continues to impose sanctions on Russia. Vladimir Putin recently warned of 'global catastrophe' if NATO troops clash directly with Russia, adding that he sees no need to carry out massive strikes against Ukraine 'for now.' The Russian strongman also said the recent military mobilization he ordered is coming to an end, and he has no plans for further conscriptions once it has finished. He also repeated the Kremlin position that Russia was willing to hold talks, although he said they would require international mediation if Ukraine was willing to take part. Two USAF F-16 jets (stock photo) intercepted it before it could enter American or Canadian airspace, but the planes 'remained in international airspace' He said he currently saw no need for 'massive strikes' on Ukraine now having hit their intended targets earlier in the last week - but that could change in the future - and insisted that it was not his goal to destroy Ukraine. 'There is no need now for massive strikes. There are other tasks. For now. And then it will be clear,' he said, adding: 'We do not set ourselves the task of destroying Ukraine. No, of course not,' Putin said at the The Commonwealth of Independent States Summit. Fears have risen in throughout the war over the possibility of Moscow launching nuclear strikes, especially suffering a series of embarrassing setbacks in Putin's invasion. It was revealed on Friday - shortly before he spoke in Astana - that Putin has increased the number of his strategic nuclear bombers stationed at an airbase near the Finnish and Norwegian borders, satellite images show. He went on to say that the 'partial mobilization' he announced last month, which the defense minister said aimed to recruit 300,000 soldiers, was finishing and would be over within two weeks. 'Nothing additional is planned. No proposals have been received from the defense ministry and I don't see any additional need in the foreseeable future. 'Now 222,000 people have been mobilized out of 300,000. Within about two weeks, all mobilization activities will be completed.' A total of 33,000 of them are already in military units and 16,000 are involved in the military operation in Ukraine, he said. He said his decision to call-up of reserve forces to fight in Ukraine, criticized as chaotic by some Kremlin allies, had been vital to hold the front line. 'The line of contact is 680 miles so it is practically impossible to hold it with forces formed only of contract soldiers, especially since they take part in offensive activities,' Putin claimed. Asked if he had any regrets over ordering the invasion of his neighboring country on February 24, Putin said: 'No.' He acknowledged that the war us unpleasant, but said he believed what his forces were doing was right. 'I want to make it clear: what is happening today is unpleasant, to put it mildly, but we would have got the same thing a little later, only in worse conditions for us, that's that,' he said. 'So we are acting correctly and in a timely manner.' NORAD did not view the spotting as a 'threat' and said the activity was not 'provocative' Putin said he 'doesn't see the need' for talks with US President Joe Biden over an end to the war, but suggested he was open to talks with Kyiv. 'We should ask him if he's ready to hold such talks with me or not. I don't see the need, to be honest,' Putin said, asked about a potential meeting with Biden on the sidelines of a G20 summit in November. He added that his participation in the summit hosted by Indonesia is not yet decided. 'The question of my trip there has not been finalized. Russia will certainly take part. As for the format, we're still thinking about it,' Putin told reporters following a summit in Kazakhstan. Speaking earlier this week, Biden said he had 'no intention' of meeting with Putin but did not rule out potential talks. He also attacked Germany for siding with NATO. '(Germany) must decide what is more important for them: the fulfillment of alliance obligations, as they see it, or their national interests. In this case, it seems that Germany placed its obligations to the (NATO) alliance above all. I believe that this is a mistake,' he said. 'German citizens, businesses, and its economy are paying for this mistake, because it has negative economic consequences for the eurozone as a whole, and in Germany. But very few people take into account its interests, otherwise Nord Stream 1 and 2 would not have been undermined. 'But although one branch remains, as I said, in working order, a decision has not been made and is unlikely to be made. But this is no longer our business, this is the business of our partners.' Meanwhile, Lukashenko warned Ukraine and the West on Friday not to force his ally Russia into a corner, saying Moscow had nuclear weapons for a reason. Employers will not be able to ban staff from talking about their salaries under new workplace laws proposed by the Albanese government to close the gender pay gap. It would also become easier for the industrial umpire to order wage increases for workers so that men and women get the same pay for equivalent work. Employment Minister Tony Burke will introduce the first tranche of his industrial relations reforms to parliament next week. The bill will include a ban on secrecy clauses that stop employees discussing their pay. Mr Burke said the clauses are often used to conceal gender pay discrepancies. Anthony Albanese (centre) is considering subsidising electricity bills as Australians face soaring power costs due to an energy crisis The legislation also promises to put gender equity at the centre of Australia's employment laws, and will introduce two new panels inside the Fair Work Commission - one on pay equity, and one on the care and community sector. The bill will put in place a statutory 'equal remuneration principle' that will make it easier for the FWC to order pay increases for low-paid, female-dominated industries. Queensland has a similar principle that's designed to ensure gender-based assumptions are not used to assess work value. 'A key objective of this bill will be to help close the gender pay gap,' Mr Burke said. 'Women should not be paid less than men it's that simple.' Absent from the first stage of reforms were controversial plans to bolster multi-employer bargaining rights, which the federal government committed to during the jobs and skills summit in September. Unions say the reforms would allow employers from different businesses to pool resources to advocate for pay increases, but some business groups warn it could lead to a spike in industrial action and subsequently drag on productivity. Mr Burke said further measures the 'secure jobs, better pay bill' would be announced before it is introduced to parliament. A Senate committee on work and care also released its interim report on Tuesday, which included eight 'urgent' recommendations for improving the balance between these two responsibilities. It recommended the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations investigate law reforms to support flexible working arrangements and protect workers switching off from their jobs outside of contracted hours. He said he was aiming for the cafe to return to seven-day trading next year Stokes Lane Cafe in Bulli will close on weekends after failing to find a new chef A bustling cafe is preparing to open for its last weekend for the foreseeable future after its desperate search for a new chef ended in failure. Born and raised in Bulli, in the NSW city of Wollongong, Stokes Lane Cafe owner Sam Dodd, 36, told Daily Mail Australia he had made the gut wrenching decision to trade only Monday to Friday after he was unable to find a replacement cook. Mr Dodd said the devastating toll of Covid on the hospitality industry was hitting his business directly and was a large reason he had been unable to replace his weekend chef, who recently left after four years with the business. 'Covid has really stuffed us around, there just is no staff in the hospitality industry,' he said. 'I have been looking really hard for two months but just heard pretty much nothing. 'I had one guy from overseas express some interest but that didn't happen and one other guy applied and set up a time to meet with him but he just never showed up.' Mr Dodd took to Facebook to break the news to his loyal customers and his post was met with an outpouring of support Mr Dodd (pictured with his family) says he is looking forward to spending his weekends with his wife and two young children, aged one and three, until a new chef is found. Mr Dodd took to Facebook to break the news to his loyal customers and his post was met with an outpouring of support. 'This is the post we hoped I didn't have to write, but after weeks of a relentless hiring campaign we are still yet to source a cafe chef who can uphold the Stokes standard you've come to know and love,' he wrote. 'Our unsuccessful search has left us with no choice but to regretfully close our doors to weekend service. 'We hope you can understand and be patient with us whilst we endeavour to resume normal operation, your loyalty and support has made Stokes into the thriving business we know today, please hang in there with us.' Mr Dodd said he loved his locals in Bulli but shutting on the weekend was the best option as he also operates a cafe at the local hospital which he needs to supply Monday to Friday. Mr Dodd even resorted to printing a huge ad (pictured) to try and find a chef - but to no avail 'The industry got stopped during Covid and everyone got blindsided and went out and got new jobs so there were no apprentices coming through,' Mr Dodd said. 'So now all the chefs and apprentices got other jobs and that is why we are where we are. 'Monday to Friday I can serve most of my regulars and weekdays I also need to service the food for the hospital, so that is why I went for shutting on the weekend instead of closing Monday and Tuesday. 'I explored every angle and this way was the one that affected the least amount of people as no one lost their job and I was able to set up the weekend staff with alternative weekend work.' Mr Dodd said he recently sat all his staff down to tell them the bad news but for his weekend staff there was a silver lining as one of his loyal customers manages the local Woolworths in Bulli and agreed to set his staff up with work there. 'The industry got stopped during Covid and everyone got blindsided and went out and got new jobs so there were no apprentices coming through,' Mr Dodd said Mr Dodd said the main thing he was worried about was risking his business' reputation by opening on weekends with a lack of staff or completely new employees. 'Do I jeopardise the cafe's reputation to open weekends or do I be transparent, open and honest, weather the storm and off we go again and keep our reputation and name intact, that was the question,' he said. 'In the end I decided to just cop it on the chin and ensure the businesses reputation remained, so we will just do a bit of a reset and then go again on the weekend next year. 'We just don't want the level of service to decrease and the thought of reducing the quality just makes me cringe because if that happens it can take years to rebuild customers trust.' While he admits the decision was a difficult one to make, Mr Dodd said he was looking forward to spending his weekends with his wife and two young children until a new chef was found. 'I have worked every weekend for 15 years,' Mr Dodd said. 'This is my first break in a long long time. I have a one-year-old and a three-year-old so I can take them for a bike ride and I just get to spend some time with my family.' Mr Dodd said he had no doubt his cafe would return to weekend operations soon and he was targeting the start of 2023 to reopen seven days a week. He is so confident in his cafe's longevity that just last week he signed a new 15-year lease at the shop. 'My goal is to reopen on weekends early next week year,' he said. 'All my staff still have all their hours, we are open Monday to Friday and it is what it is. So although we have shut weekends no jobs have been lost. 'We just need to get the industry back on track.' Mr Dodd has complete faith in his cafe (pictured), recently signing a 15-year lease Mr Dodd's Facebook post delivering the tough news was met with an outpouring of support from the community. 'Oh, Im sorry to hear this news. Your business is so good for the community. Glad you are still trading during the week. Ill make sure Ill come over sometime this week. Hugs to you and your team!' one person wrote. 'Sorry to hear this guys.... You're an absolutely amazing team and I have no doubt that everything will be ok. Enjoy your weekends and family time Sam!' commented a second. 'Stokes Lane an absolutely amazing family business who keep locals very happy no matter when they are open! All the best Sam,' said a third. A young man is fighting for life after he was allegedly stabbed during a violent altercation at a busy train station in what's believed to be a random attack. Emergency services were called to Albion station in Brisbane's north-east around 8.15pm Tuesday night. They arrived on scene to find a man, 31, suffering from stab wounds to his chest. He was rushed to Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital's intensive care unit where he remains in a serious condition. Detectives have launched a manhunt to track down the alleged attacker who fled the scene before police arrived. A police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia the victim and suspect were not known to each other. Police are reviewing CCTV of Albion train station (pictured) after a man was allegedly stabbed during an altercation on Tuesday night Police currently have no description of the suspect but are reviewing CCTV from the station which was passed on by Queensland Rail. The latest incident has sparked safety and security concerns about Albion train station. At least 13 offences have been recorded on the station platform in the last 12 months on top of 70 additional offences in the surrounding vicinity, according to police data. Concerned commuters have renewed calls for extra security at the train station. Paramedics treated a man suffering from stab wounds to his chest in Brisbane's north-east. Pictured is a Queensland ambulance 'There is no security at all,' one woman told The Courier Mail. Queensland Rail officials insist the station is regularly patrolled. 'Albion station is subject to intelligence-led patrols by QPS Railway Squad Officers and Queensland Rail Authorised Officers,' South East Queensland boss Scott Riedel said. 'These resources can also be redirected in real-time as required, as was the case with last night's incident. Anyone who witnessed or has information about Tuesday night's stabbing is urged to contact police. The parents of a 15-year-old boy accused of killing five people in a North Carolina shooting rampage have said they are 'overcome with grief' and saw no warning signs before the killings. Alan and Elise Thompson issued the statement through a lawyer that acknowledged the pain caused by their son, Austin, and expressed grief for the five he killed on Thursday. One of the dead was their 16-year-old son James. 'Our son Austin inflicted immeasurable pain on the Raleigh community, and we are overcome with grief for the innocent lives lost,' the statement said. The statement said they will fully cooperate with law enforcement to help investigators understand what happened, but they have questions themselves. Authorities have not discussed a motive for the shooting. 'There were never any indications or warning signs that Austin was capable of doing anything like this,' the statement said. Reached by phone Tuesday night, Elise Thompson declined to comment outside of the statement. Austin Thomas, 15, (right) is pictured with his brother James, 16, (left). James was Austin's first victim An ambulance believed to be carrying a shooting suspect arrives at Wake Medical Center Emergency Room in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, surrounded by police Austin remains hospitalized in critical condition following his arrest on Thursday night, hours after the shooting began. Witnesses described in 911 calls that the shooter opened fire with a shotgun in a neighborhood northeast of downtown Raleigh and along an adjacent walking trail. The Wake County prosecutor has said she will pursue adult charges against the suspect. Authorities had previously identified the shooter as a 15-year-old boy but had not publicly released the name. Callers who dialed 911 during the shooting rampage described encountering bodies on the streets or front yards of their neighborhood and along a trail popular with runners and bikers, according to recordings released by authorities. Witnesses said shooter was wearing camouflage and using a shotgun in the attacks that began shortly after 5pm. The shooting drew officers from numerous agencies to the neighborhood as the suspect eluded capture for several hours. The victims, ranging in age from 16 to their late 50s and were felled going about their daily routines, police and loved ones said. Among those killed was an off-duty police officer. In addition to those killed, two others were wounded. The barn where Austin Thompson, 15, hid out after shooting dead his older brother and four others on Thursday The Neuse River Greenway Trail shown here, the route that Thompson took as he attempted to escape authorities Thompson headed to the Neuse River Trail and Greenway where he shot his final two victims Susan Karantz, 49, who regularly ran that trail and Mary Marshall, 35, a Navy vet who was due to be married As revealed by DailyMail.com Thompson's mother Elise discovered her son's first victim - his brother James - shot dead in the family home on Sahalee Way. By the time she made her awful discovery her younger son had already shot dead near neighbor Nicole Connors, 52, and her dog Sami and left Connor's best friend, Gardner, grievously wounded in the front yard. The women had enjoyed an early dinner a birthday treat from Connors to Gardner before returning home to their awful fate. Thompson then made his way to Osprey Cove Drive where he gunned down Officer Gabriel Torres, 29, who was heading out to start his shift. 52-year-old Nicole Connors was a neighbor of the Thompson family in Sahlee Way Susan Karantz, 49, was a runner who could regularly be seen along Neuse River Trail and Greenway A photo of victim Mary Marshall, 35 at the memorial Officer Gabriel Torres, 29, who was heading out to start his shift when he was gunned down in the attack Ducking out of the residential subdivision Thompson headed to the Neuse River Trail and Greenway where he shot his final two victims Susan Karantz, 49, who regularly ran that trail and Mary Marshall, 35, a Navy vet who will now be buried on October 28 the day before she was due to marry her fiance, 'the love of her life,' Robert Steele. By 5.30pm the Trail and Greenway was swarming with cops. Soon police, sheriff's deputies and state troopers were scouring the other side of the river. They massed near Beaverdam Elementary School, off Old Milburnie Road crime-scene tape is still visible along part of that road, remnants of the frantic hours that followed Thompson's first shot. Police tape remains close to the area where law enforcement closed in on Austin Thompson DailyMail.com has learned that the teenager headed south along the trailway before cutting across the Neuse River at Neuse River Trailway bridge and doubling back on himself to head north. Witnesses told DailyMail.com that police vehicles were seen speeding across the river on New Bern Avenue. Residents of McConnell Oliver Drive, Tarheel Drive and Old Milburnie Road across the river from Thompson's starting point were told to remain indoors while the shooter was still at large. The rampage ended in a standoff between Austin in police at a remote barn six miles from where it all started. The death toll from Victoria's floods has grown to two, as communities remain on high alert for the swollen Murray River system to inundate homes. The 65-year-old man was last known to be on a tractor on a property off Blacksmiths Road at Nathalia on Tuesday afternoon, police said. A search was begun about 10pm when he failed to return home and the unoccupied tractor was found in floodwaters. A family member found the man's body in floodwaters on Paynes Road about 8.45am on Wednesday, police said. The exact circumstances are yet to be determined, but it is not being treated as suspicious. The death of a 65-year-old farmer on Wednesday is the second fatality as a result of the devastating Victoria floods. It follows the death of a 71-year-old man found in the backyard of his Rochester (pictured) home on Saturday His death follows that of a 71-year-old man found in the backyard of his Rochester home on Saturday. With the floods hitting prime agricultural areas, the state government has announced a $73.5 million relief package to help farmers and business owners clean up, including $10,000 grants for primary producers. 'It's pretty overwhelming thinking about what's occurring and has occurred in some of these communities. So any support we provide is really important,' Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters on Wednesday. Small business owners whose livelihoods have been affected may be eligible for a one-off support payment of $5000. The state government has announced a $73.5million relief package to help farmers and business owners clean up, including $10,000 grants for primary producers (pictured, a man evacuating his property in Rochester) Victorians experiencing mental health struggles as a result of the floods may be entitled to assistance via a $4.4 million healthcare package. Waters in parts of the state such as Shepparton and Rochester continue to recede and the threat of heavy rainfalls during forecast thunderstorms in coming days has eased slightly. 'Today, we're just expecting thunderstorms in the far north-west of the state. No rainfall across the flooded areas in the north or in central parts,' Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Kevin Parkin told reporters on Wednesday. Showers and thunderstorms on Thursday are now expected to be across the northern districts, but activity isolated. Waters in parts of the state such as Shepparton and Rochester (pictured) continue to recede and the threat of heavy rainfalls during forecast thunderstorms in coming days has eased slightly On Friday and Saturday, widespread showers will generally see totals of two millimetres to 10mm, but higher falls of 30mm could happen in north-central parts and north-eastern parts of Victoria. 'We'll be watching that thunderstorm activity pretty closely and issuing warnings for more of a flash flood risk rather than heavy rainfall over a wider area,' Mr Parkin said. Evacuation warnings are in place for Echuca and the smaller towns of Kerang, Barmah and Lower Moira, with the Murray likely to start peaking on Wednesday. At Echuca, there are concerns river levels could reach 95 metres, higher than the 1993 floods, by Friday. Despite the evacuation orders, Echuca is a hive of activity as dozens of people prepare sandbags in the centre of town, while others prepare their homes. Residents have spent the past few days building a makeshift, 2.5-kilometre flood levee from sand and sandbags to protect thousands of homes and businesses. However, the wall has divided the town in two, leaving properties and people on the wrong side susceptible to being inundated. Many who live along the Murray are hoping a flood levee being built to save the town from the worst of the floods will protect their homes (pictured, caravans in Barmah submerged from the swollen Murray River) Many people who live along the Murray are hoping a flood levee being built to save the town from the worst of the floods will protect their homes. One resident said she was grateful the levee was built but extremely concerned if the waters ran over the dirt wall sending privately owned houseboats parked along the Murray into her property. State Emergency Service chief operating officer Tim Wiebusch defended the wall, saying it was developed by the incident controller, catchment management authority, local government, Victoria Police and others. 'Yes, that will see a small number of properties outside of that levee also potentially be impacted,' he said. Flood warnings are also in place for towns along the Loddon, Campaspe and Goulburn rivers. On Wednesday, a 3.4 magnitude earthquake sent a shudder near Mansfield, with no reports of damage. The owner of a top New York City restaurant who exposed James Corden for berating his staff has said he feels 'strange' about the bombshell incident. Keith McNally, who owns Balthazar in SoHo, said on his Instagram he 'feels really sorry' for the actor after he called him to apologize for the outburst. He doubled down saying the 44-year-old Late Late Show host 'was definitely abusive to my staff' - but added he now had mixed emotions. McNally on Monday banned Corden from his restaurant but then later reversed it after saying he had spoken to the actor on the phone. He had told how Corden had been rude to his staff several times: berating them over a hair in his food and demanding free drinks during the summer. Meanwhile on October 9 he furiously reprimanded the waiters over an omelette he was unhappy with. Four hours after announcing the ban to his 87,000 Instagram followers, McNally promptly reversed it, saying he had received a call from Corden apologizing. Keith McNally, owner of several eateries across Manhattan, is pictured at Balthazar in a post on his Instagram on Wednesday Keith McNally on Tuesday said he was 'feeling strange' about the last 24-hours, and his spat with James Corden McNally on Tuesday said he felt 'strange' about his confrontation with Corden, pictured in May The fiery restaurateur posted a new photo on Tuesday night captioned: 'With my daughter, Alice (in black) and her best friend, Margot Paisner, at Balthazar tonight. 'Feeling strange about the James Corden thing. On the one hand, he was definitely abusive to my staff, on the other hand, I feel really sorry for him right now. 'Like most cowards I want it both ways.' He concluded: 'F*** it, I'm going to get drunk.' The saga began on Monday when McNally, who has a colorful history of booting out celebrities from his exclusive restaurants, claimed Corden behaved badly at his former restaurant, Cafe Luxembourg, on several occasions and left one server 'shaken'. McNally posted earlier on Monday two separate examples of Corden's 'extremely nasty' behavior at Balthazar, the French brasserie. The 71-year-old started his post by calling the funnyman a 'hugely gifted comedian', before laying into Corden. The furious owner said that he '86'd' the star - which means you have been banned - and claims Corden found a hair in his main course when dining there in June, before demanding free drinks for the mistake. Being 86'd is thought to have originated at Greenwich Village speakeasy bar, Chumley's, on 86 Bedford Street, which had no address on the door. Guests '86'd' themselves from the premises if there was any trouble. Restaurateur Keith McNally, 71, banned the Late Late Show host from his restaurants because of his 'extremely nasty' treatment of staff - only to rescind the ban hours later The popular French eatery Balthazar, in New York's SoHo district, is pictured on Monday Balthazar's owner, Keith McNally, regularly shares updates from his staff - including, on Monday, excoriating James Corden for his behavior The restaurant, pictured on Monday, is a popular spot for celebrities, tourists and locals alike - everyone from Anna Wintour to Sienna Miller has eaten at Balthazar Corden and his wife Julia Carey are accused of sending back an egg yolk omelette because it had a 'little bit of egg white' in it while dining at the plush restaurant Poll Corden V McNally: Who do YOU think is right? James Corden Keith McNally They're both 'cretins' Corden V McNally: Who do YOU think is right? James Corden 441 votes Keith McNally 4635 votes They're both 'cretins' 1373 votes Now share your opinion He said: 'After eating his main course, Corden showed the hair to Balthazar manager G. who was very apologetic. 'Corden was extremely nasty to G, and said: 'Get us another round of drinks this second. And also take care of all of our drinks so far. This way I write any nasty reviews in yelp or anything like that.'' In a second incident McNally claims that Corden was dining with his wife, Julia Carey, at the eatery on October 9 for brunch. He says that Corden asked for a table outside, and Carey ordered an egg yolk omelette with a salad. The couple complained to the server that there was 'a little bit of egg white mixed with the egg yolk' and sent the dish back. McNally added: 'The kitchen remade the dish but unfortunately sent it with home fries instead of salad. 'That's when James Corden began yelling like crazy to the server: 'You can't do your job! You can't do your job! Maybe I should go into the kitchen and cook the omelette myself!' Tony-award winning Corden has risen to fame over the past ten years after moving across the pond, and becoming famed for his cheeky smile and stream of A-list pals Balthazar in New York's Soho is a much loved celebrity haunt, but the British funnyman has now been banned from dining Balthazar: Fancy French brasserie-style diner in trendy Soho district Balthazar is a French brasserie-style restaurant housed in New York City's Soho neighborhood. The restaurant opened in 1997 in a building formerly used as a tannery, a place where animal hides are treated. It has since become one of owner Keith McNally's benchmark brasseries. The Michelin Guide describes the restaurant as being 'quintessentially SoHo.' The menu features pastries, seafood and other French-inspired delicacies. McNally has since other Balthazar locations across the globe, including in London, UK. His culinary empire also includes NYC hot spots Pastis and Minetta Tavern. Advertisement 'M.K (server) was very apologetic and brought G. (floor manager) over to the table. 'He returned the dish, and after that, everything was fine. He gave them promo Champagne glasses to smooth things out. 'G. said that Corden was pleasant to him but nasty to the server. M.K. was very shaken, but professional that she is, continued to finish her shift.' Corden will not stay on at The Late Late Show after his current contract ends next year - a decision that was made earlier this year, long before the Balthazar saga. DailyMail.com has reached out to a representative for James Corden for comment. Corden is well known for his provocative and at times strange behavior. In 2017, as the Harvey Weinstein scandal was just being published, Corden joked made fun of the rapist's victims. 'It has been weird this week watching Harvey Weinstein in hot water,' he told a gala in New York City. 'Ask any of the women who watched him take a bath, it's weird watching Harvey Weinstein in hot water.' He later apologized, tweeting: 'To be clear, sexual assault is no laughing matter. I was not trying to make light of Harvey's inexcusable behavior, but to shame him, the abuser, not his victims. I am truly sorry for anyone offended, that was never my intention.' At the end of 2019, he ridiculed the technical team behind the film Cats, in which he starred. 'I haven't seen it, I've heard it's terrible,' he told a British radio show, and then told the Oscars audience while presenting an award: 'As cast members of the motion picture Cats, nobody more than us understands the importance of good visual effects.' In September 2021, while promoting his film Cinderella, he dressed as a mouse and danced in a road, thrusting his groin at bemused drivers. Corden was accompanied by Camila Cabello, who plays the lead role, and Billy Porter, as a character called Fab G. At one point Corden seemed to take a drag on what looked like a spliff, before dancing some more. In July this year, he was knocked off his bicycle in London by a fellow cyclist, who swerved in front of him on busy Regent's Street, nearly pushing Corden into a car. The comedian was furious, and loudly berated the young bike ride who cut him up. McNally, in turn, has previous form for banning 'rude' celebrities from his restaurant if he believes their behavior isn't up to scratch. He ripped into former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter last year after he made a reservation at his plush Morandi restaurant but failed to show up. McNally who is the owner of NYC hotspots including Balthazar and Pastis, branded Carter in May 2021 a 'fancy f***er' after booking a table for 12. Corden, in his mouse suit, is seen with Camila Cabello and Billy Porter in a street performance to promote his new film, on August 27, 2021 Corden gyrates at bemused motorists in Los Angeles, in August 2021, to promote his new film, Cinderella The British comedian is pictured with Cabello, who plays Cinderella, and Billy Porter, whose character is called Fab G But the owner, who was formerly a close friend of Carter, said that he had asked staff to specially prepare the restaurant to impress him. In another scathing Instagram post he said: 'Because Mr. Carter's a restaurateur himself, my chef, manager and floor staff were eager for the lunch to go perfectly for him. 'Extra staff were brought in to help with service, and two tables of six were meticulously set up and ready for Graydon Carter by 1 p.m. Only he didn't show up at 1 p.m.' Carter got his assistant to call the eatery to say that the editor had 'forgotten to call and cancel', with McNally left seething. He claims that Carter 'upset the equilibrium of the restaurant' and 'cost Morandi money', before revealing that he had previous for failing to show up to reservations. In February 2021 he defended Ghislaine Maxwell, in jail awaiting trial for sex trafficking with Jeffrey Epstein, and insisted she was 'currently innocent'. He then praised Woody Allen and Soon-Yi for appearing at Balthazar, captioning a picture of them at his restaurant: 'I've never been as happy at Balthazar as I was last night to see the beautiful Soon-Yi and her husband dining there.' That post was covered in the May 15 issue of Air Mail, run by Carter, which described McNally as 'going off the menu.' McNally was referred to as a 'sometimes dour 69-year-old with fewer than 15,000 followers on Instagram'. Carter said in a statement to Page Six: 'My office did forget to cancel the lunch reservation until a bit after 1:30, which is wretched and we will be making a donation today to the restaurant's tip pool to cover what the staff would have made. 'As a fellow restaurateur I fully understand the implications of a large party no show. 'As for the rest of McNally's deranged rant, it is pure fiction. 'I rarely eat at his places and this all stems from the story we did about his most recent Instagram controversies in last week's Air Mail.' McNally also delights in telling tales from his establishments. In July this year, he claimed that staff at Balthazar were looking for the couple who left behind their wedding ring after having sex in the bathroom. McNally alleged they ran off before staff had a chance to catch them in the act. But in their hurry a wedding ring was left on the restroom floor. Balthazar owner Keith McNally made a raunchy Instagram post detailing how a couple used the men's room at the swanky NYC restaurant as their private sexual oasis over the long Fourth of July weekend McNally alleged they ran off before staff had a chance to catch them in the act. But in their hurry a wedding ring was left on the restroom floor McNally claims the restaurant manager, Zouheir Louhaichy, told him about the encounter in a note detailing what ensued at the SoHo hotspot over the Independence Day weekend. 'We had one alleged report of a couple having sex in one of the men's stall downstairs,' Louhaichy reportedly wrote. 'But when I asked floor manager Greg to rush down and check what's going on the couple were nowhere to be found so they remained a mystery.' 'But oddly enough, Greg found a small wedding ring on the floor of the bathroom stall,' he added. Louhaichy said the ring was placed in the restaurant's lost and found. McNally claims a couple had sex in the bathroom before scurrying off, leaving behind a wedding ring. The ring has since been placed in lost and found New York restaurateur Keith McNally (pictured) has previously cautioned that '80 percent of Instagram posts are lies,' including his own Bludgeoned sister Gabriella with hammer in their Sydney home on June 3, 2020 A Sydney man will spend a maximum of 21 years in jail for a 'vicious, violent and brutal' drug-induced attack in which he killed his sister over two years ago. In the NSW Supreme Court on Wednesday, Justice Peter Garling ordered Lucas Christian Delaney be imprisoned for bludgeoning his sister Gabriella, 20, with a hammer at their home in Sydney's west on June 3, 2020. '(The murder) was constituted by a vicious, violent and brutal assault for no reason at all on his sister in their own home. It caused extensive facial and bodily injuries,' the judge said. Sydney man Lucas Christian Delaney (pictured) will spend a maximum of 21 years in jail for a 'vicious, violent and brutal' drug-induced attack in which he killed his sister over two years ago In the NSW Supreme Court on Wednesday, Justice Peter Garling sentenced Delaney to a maximum of 21 years for bludgeoning his sister Gabriella (pictured), 20, with a hammer at their home in Sydney's west on June 3, 2020 After the murder, the 33-year old wrapped his sibling's body in a blanket, putting it on the bed and then placing other objects on top of it. He then spent four days staying at various locations, smoking cannabis and ice, before checking himself into Cumberland Hospital for mental health treatment. Aaron Delaney eventually found his sister's body in the flat on June 8. His brother was arrested the following day. While no motive was provided for the brutal killing, Justice Garling found mental health played no role in the tragedy. Instead, substance use was to blame. 'I find that at the time of the offence, the offender was impaired solely by the temporary effect of ingesting a substance, namely cannabis or methamphetamine or both.' After the murder, Delaney wrapped Gabriella's (pictured) body in a blanket, putting it on the bed and then placing other objects on top of it. His brother Aaron discovered her body five days later He rejected Delaney's claims he had been hallucinating at the time of the attack and that he thought he was beating up a demon who would walk through furniture and walls. Instead, Delaney was criminally responsible for the murder, the judge ruled, saying he had tried to conceal the body, had moved between locations after the killing, and had lied to family members about the whereabouts of his sister. While Delaney had written a letter expressing his regret and remorse, this did not convince the court that he had taken responsibility for his actions as he had not given sworn evidence under oath. The judge found Delaney had a difficult upbringing amidst violence, drug and alcohol use, and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and substance misuse disorder as an adult. While no motive was provided for the brutal killing, Justice Garling found mental health played no role in the tragedy. Instead, substance use was to blame (pictured, NSW Supreme Court) The sentence, which includes a non-parole period of 15 years and nine months, was discounted by 25 per cent after Delaney made an early guilty plea to the murder. During a sentence hearing in September, family members spoke of the heartbreak they felt over the loss of their sister, who provided unconditional love and support. 'You took away the person who meant the most to me,' sister Rebecca Delaney said to Lucas who was sitting in the dock at the time. On Wednesday, Justice Garling noted the victim impact statements given by the family, saying they pointed to the significant harm and distress that these events had caused. Delaney will be eligible for parole on March 8, 2036. This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices. China's government has been trying to recruit retired Australian RAF fighter pilots to train their own armed forces in how to defeat Western forces. It is understood Australians were a part a cohort of 30 pilots who were head-hunted via a South African flight school, acting as an intermediary for the armed wing of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the PLA Air Force. Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles said his department has launched an investigation into the alarming claims. A Western official has claimed the targeted group, including British ex-fast jet and helicopter pilots are working in China, with more being targeted (pictured, Typhoon and F15 and F16 jets in action) It is understood Australians were included in a group of 30 pilots who were head-hunted to train the PLA (pictured, Chinese forces marching out to raise the nation's flag in Tibet) 'When our ADF personnel sign up to the defence force, they do so to serve their country and we are deeply grateful of that,' Mr Marles told The Australian this week. 'I would be deeply shocked and disturbed to hear that there were personnel who were being lured by a pay check from a foreign state above serving their own country,' Defence Minister Richard Marles (pictured) said 'I would be deeply shocked and disturbed to hear that there were personnel who were being lured by a pay check from a foreign state above serving their own country.' UK pilots have also been lured as part of the group by the communist country, with generous pay packages of 237,911 British pounds (AUD$427,067). A Western official has claimed the targeted group, including British ex-fast jet and helicopter pilots are working in China, with more being targeted. The Ministry of Defence in Britain is taking steps to 'deter and penalise' UK staff who have enlisted with the CCP. A 'two-strike' rule idea has being raised by authorities to hinder British pilots from working with the Chinese government. The officers would be given a warning before they are prosecuted. A British Ministry of Defence spokesperson said the training and recruiting did not breach any current UK law but the practice had been discouraged. Defence Analyst Francis Tusa told Sky News the revelations are a major security breach. 'Let's be honest, China is an enemy,' Mr Tusa said. 'As such we have got British subjects who have decided that their best interests are served by teaching our enemy how to defeat us - this is incredibly frightening.' An alleged rapist accused of getting a drunk woman to his home and attacking her as she slept has told a shifting story about the night, a prosecutor has said. However, several women who have lived with the accused man say he is loyal and trustworthy and, in one woman's eyes, 'wouldn't hurt a fly'. Thomas Joseph Nicol, 33, has pleaded not guilty to raping a woman he knew at his Bondi home after a night out drinking and snorting cocaine in January 2021. He told the jury the pair engaged in consensual sexual touching after they went to his home to find her lost phone. Thomas Nicol (right) arrives at Sydney's Downing Centre court on Wednesday, accompanied by a woman. He is standing trial on a rape charge But prosecutor Emilija Beljic on Wednesday drew eyes to Nicol's initial explanation to the woman the day after the alleged assault. In text messages, Nicol said the pair 'spooned and snuggled' and that he was asleep until she woke him. As the woman pressed further, he disclosed sexual activity but said no ejaculation occurred, only to later say 'maybe I did blow'. In his testimony, he admitted ejaculating which Ms Beljic says was a 'convenient' way to explain DNA evidence. 'The accused's version shape-shifted, it changed on key aspects and you can comfortably not accept what he told you,' Ms Beljic said in her closing address. Nicol's evidence that the woman wasn't too intoxicated was 'particularly baffling' given it flew in the face of friends, an unconnected witness and a doctor. 'Perhaps that (intoxication) makes her version more likely. He had to downplay it,' Ms Beljic said. Ms Beljic said forensic evidence corroborated the woman's account and her sobbing in court displayed her genuine upset at the breach of trust. The woman told the jury last week she couldn't recall getting in an Uber with Nicol to his place and awoke to him kneeling over her touching her in bed. She froze during the assault, fell asleep and then caught an Uber in tears about 7am, telling the inquisitive Uber driver she felt she'd been raped. Mr Nicol clutched his possessions as he strode into the court on Wednesday morning She repeated the allegation to her housemate, and later police. 'This was not just a regrettable sexual encounter, she clearly associated this as a breach of trust,' Ms Beljic said. Defence barrister Phillip Boulten SC said the alleged victim had always been confused about what occurred, locking herself into a belief of rape. '(They) engaged in sexual activity that was, probably for both of them, entirely regrettable, that it was messy both physically and personally, and there's a very real chance she has structured her belief after the event because she feels entirely regrettable about what happened,' Mr Boulten said in his closing address. The jury has heard from former housemates of Nicol who spoke highly of him. 'He's loyal and trustworthy ... I haven't felt more comfortable with a man than with Tom,' former housemate Hannah Hanfy said. 'Tom is, in the whole time I've known him, trustworthy, I think he's empathetic, I think he reads other people's emotions and tries to help them through life,' Alice Flanagan said. 'One of the nicest people I know - he wouldn't hurt a fly,' another woman said, before saying she'd never seen him in any way disrespect a woman. The jury is expected to begin deliberations on Thursday. Melbourne's streets have descended into chaos as Extinction Rebellion protesters shut down a major intersection to protest tree-logging in Victoria's forests. Over 100 protesters gathered on the Bourke and Queen Street intersection at about midday on Wednesday with one demonstrator arrested by police. Several of the activists were dressed as koalas, while another wore a Daniel Andrews mask as they mimed cutting a tree down with a cardboard chainsaw. Victoria Police were seen handcuffing a man wearing a fluffy koala hat as his fellow protesters blocked access to several main roads in both directions. Several of the climate change activists were dressed as koalas, while another wore a Daniel Andrews mask while miming cutting a tree down with a fake chainsaw (pictured) One protester dressed as a koala was suspended in mid-air holding a poster on Wednesday Over 100 protesters gathered on the Bourke and Queen Street intersection at about midday on Wednesday with one demonstrator detained by Victoria Police Two protesters were pictured suspended from tee-pee structures while holding signs that read: 'Native logging = Extinction'. The demonstrations were in protest of tree-logging activity in Victoria's forests with many choosing to dress as koalas to represent the endangered species. One man said the peaceful protests were in opposition of the state's publicly owned forestry agency VicForests who he blamed for worsening the climate crisis. The activists later gathered outside the logging agency office and were heard chanting 'VicForests, lawless loggers' and 'Arrest the real climate criminals'. A Victoria Police spokesperson said the demonstrations were mostly peaceful but had disrupted the flow of traffic and caused diversions. Two protesters took part in the demonstrations while suspended from a tee-pee structure and holding a sign that read: 'Native logging = Extinction' (pictured) The activists gathered outside the state owned logging agency office and were heard chanting 'VicForrest, lawless loggers' and 'Arrest the real climate criminals' Protester Deborah Kanssow said the group had been forced to take drastic action after months of inaction from Australia's state and federal governments. 'People cant blockade in those (forests) any more without occurring heavy fines and jail,' she told the Herald Sun. 'What are people supposed to do to draw attention this issue?' Another activist, Bron, said stronger action had to be taken against climate change. 'Why is nothing being done? We are not winning this war,' she said. 'Among the people here are these are people who are worried for their children and humanity'. The demonstrations in Melbourne's CBD come just days after two Extinction Rebellion protesters superglued their hands to a priceless Picasso painting. Retired teacher and grandfather Tony Gleeson, 59, glued his hands to the frame of Picasso's Massacre in Korea in the National Gallery of Victoria on October 9. Activists said the group had been forced to take drastic action after months of inaction from state and federal governments (pictured, protesters outside VicForests on Wednesday) Activists held flags bearing the Extinction Rebellion logo as they gathered outside VicForests Mr Gleeson does not regret his actions and said the stunt had been carefully planned (pictured, the activist glues his hand to the priceless Picasso) The painting last sold for $US179 million ($A280 million) in 2015. Mr Gleeson said he didn't regret his actions and would gladly pull a similar stunt again - revealing it had taken hours of painstaking planning. The activist said he and other protesters will be charged for putting a multi-million painting at risk, saying all the finer details of their plot will be 'revealed in court'. 'We accept responsibility for what we did we will do what it takes, non-violently, to get where we need to be,' he said. Mr Gleeson was arrested alongside a 49-year-old woman who also glued her hand to the perspex glass with a specialist finally removing their hands from the painting. Extinction Rebellion is notorious for its disruptive protests which has seen advocates burn the Australian flag outside a parliament house, wheel a mechanical burning koala prop through Melbourne and hang off the side of the Brisbane Story Bridge in a hammock. A review of the fleet is also being carried out by Transport for NSW These have occurred since the Chinese-built ferries were launched in 2019 Office of Transport Safety Investigations said it had received 19 safety reports They are used for Manly-city service, two developed steering issues in two days Formal investigation launched into the fleet of three second-gen Sydney ferries Maritime workers have called for the Emerald-class fleet of Sydney ferries to be turned into 'diving wrecks' after a safety investigation into the beleaguered boats found more than a dozen safety issues. A formal investigation has been launched into the fleet of three second-generation Sydney ferries, used for the Manly-city service, after two developed steering issues in as many days last month. The Office of Transport Safety Investigations said it had received 19 safety reports since the Chinese-built ferries were launched in 2019, including 10 directly relating to steering defects. Maritime workers have called for the Emerald-class fleet of Sydney ferries (pictured) to be turned into 'diving wrecks' after a safety investigation into the beleaguered boats found more than a dozen safety issues The three ferries were moored at Balmain on Wednesday as the office continued its investigation. It will look into Sydney Ferries defect management systems and how effectively risks are being managed across the fleet. The independent safety body said on Wednesday it was not able to comment on the investigation beyond what had been said in an interim report. The three ferries have been plagued with operational issues since they were launched in 2019, including cracked hulls, shattered windows and damaged rudders. Some 80 defects had been found on the Emerald-class ferries, which were now undergoing critical safety repairs, Maritime Union of Australia spokesman Paul Garrett said on Wednesday. Maritime Union of Australia spokesman Paul Garrett (pictured) said: 'These boats are better off serving as dive wrecks' 'These boats are better off serving as dive wrecks,' Mr Garrett said, adding that if they were in use they had to operate safely. The ferries were a maintenance and warranty repairer's dream, requiring continual fixes as new problems arose with the fleet, he said. NSW Labor leader Chris Minns said he understood the exasperation felt by members of the maritime union, who worked on the ferries every day. NSW Labor leader Chris Minns (pictured) said he understood the exasperation felt by members of the maritime union 'You can understand why that frustration boils over,' Mr Minns told reporters. Numerous issues arising from overseas ferries meant the city's harbour transport was a laughing stock, he said. 'We've become a bit of a joke here, when in fact we should have a world-class piece of transport equipment and infrastructure for this world-class city. 'The only people who don't understand that we need Australian-made infrastructure is (Premier) Dominic Perrottet and (Treasurer) Matt Kean.' A review of the Emerald-class fleet (pictured) is also being carried out by Transport for NSW But Mr Perrottet hit back at the claims, telling parliament that NSW was responsible for more manufacturing than any other state in Australia. Up to 30 per cent of the country's manufacturing came from NSW, including a ferry fleet from Port Macquarie that was mostly made with parts from the same state, he said on Wednesday. Earlier this week, the treasurer resisted the opposition's calls to commit to building future ferry fleets in NSW. 'We want to make sure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and we get the best bang for our buck,' Mr Kean said on Monday. A review of the Emerald-class fleet is also being carried out by Transport for NSW. This is the British woman who collapsed and died in front of her partner after going for a swim while on a Mediterranean holiday. Deborah Hooper was with retired accountant Andrew Ashman, 72, when she is thought to have suffered a cardiac arrest in rough seas. The pair were walking along a beach at Punta Secca near Ragusa on the Italian island of Sicily when tragedy struck last Friday. Italian police say they believe she had 'some sort of medical episode' while swimming in the water. The 64-year-old was pulled from the water by passersby and despite the best efforts of medics she could not be saved. Deborah, who was from Salisbury, Wiltshire, was a took an active interest in cathedral music and edited the magazine Cathedral Voices until she retired last year but still worked as a sub editor and proof reader. One of her last articles in January year was a piece on Dr Richard Seal, organist and choirmaster at Salisbury Cathedral who died in July. In a statement to MailOnline Canon Edward Probert, Cannon Chancellor of Salisbury Cathedral, who had known Deborah for 18 years both through her involvement in cathedral music and as a member of Salisbury Cathedral's volunteer group paid tribute to her. Deborah Hooper 64 died on Friday, October 14, after suffering what is thought to be a cardiac arrest The British tourist was on holiday in Punta Secca, a fishing village in southern Sicily (file image), when she became ill and died He said: 'It is devastating to lose such a valued member of our cathedral community. Deborah loved cathedral music and her children sang in our choir. 'Later, she became a steward at our services. She was thoughtful, witty, and a good friend. She will be sorely missed.' Italian Carabinieri Police told MailOnline Deborah had gone for a swim despite the water being 'rough and cold' and in an area where there is no lifeguard on duty during the off season. The beach is in fact famous for being the seaside home of popular Italian TV detective Inspector Montalbano which is screened on BBC TV and features in the opening credits. Carabinieri police spokesperson Lt Col Giovanni Palatini told MailOnline: 'The British lady went into the sea which at the time was rough and cold and we believe she had some form of medical episode. 'Her partner saw she was in trouble as did two other people on the beach but because the sea was rough they couldn't go in and had to wait until she got closer to the shore. 'They pulled her out and tried to revive her with the help of paramedics who were called to the scene but there was nothing that could be done to save her.' Mr Ashman is from Hampstead, north west London, and after retiring he turned to painting and also appeared on a BBC show called Make Me A Dealer about the antiques trade. Officials said a local prosecutor and coroner had signed paperwork allowing her to body to be repatriated to Britain and this was expected to happen later this week. Hooper decided to go for a swim in the rough and cold sea near Punta Secca but she quickly felt unwell, reports local media The woman's death comes after a 62-year-old British man died while on holiday with his wife on the Greek island of Crete. The man, who has not been named, walked towards the sea but he began feeling unwell and returned to his sunbed next to his wife on the beach of Stalida. But as he laid down on the sunbed, he died. An ambulance was called and the man was pronounced dead at the scene, local media report. An autopsy is expected to reveal the cause of death. Last month, a 74-year-old British woman also drowned during a holiday in Crete, with her body being found washed up on a beach on the Greek island on October 5. CPR was carried out on the woman by rescuers for 30 minutes, but she did not respond. She was rushed to a local hospital - General Hospital St. George - but was pronounced dead. Last month, a British woman, 45, died after feeling unwell when she swam in the sea in Albufeira, Portugal. The woman collapsed on the beach and medics tried to revive her - but she died on the shoreline. The Applebee's Neighborhood Bar + Grill in the heart of Times Square is being evicted, with its owners forced it to pay $7million after failing to pay rent for three years. The State Supreme Court judge also ruled last week Apple-Metro, the franchisee of the location, has to pay its landlord back for unpaid rent and expenses dating back to June 2019. But lawyers for the restaurant say it was plagued by cash flow issues exacerbated by the COVID pandemic. That made it nearly impossible for the restaurant which reopened amid New York's phased reopening in June 2021 to conduct business and make up for lost revenue, attorney Peter Sartorius claimed in court records obtained by Crain's New York. Still, by October 2021 landlord Madison International Realty served the Glendale, California-based chain with a notice of default. And just a month later, the landlord terminated its lease agreement with Apple-Metro, which was set to expire in 2025. A New York Supreme Court judge sent the Applebee's restaurant in the heart of Times Square an eviction notice after the franchisee failed to pay rent during the COVID pandemic The location was franchised by Apple-Metro Inc, under President Roy Raeburn, left. He is pictured here with Dr Mehmet Oz, former New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and CEO of Apple-Metro Inc Zane Tankel in December 2021 In October 2021, the landlord, Madison International Realty served the Glendale, California-based chain with a notice of default and terminated its lease with Apple-Metro one month later Lawyers for the landlord claimed in court proceedings that the two parties tried to negotiate a settlement that would allow Applebee's to stay in the 11,000-square-foot space, but none was reached. The landlord would not accept anything less than the full amount, which the franchisee refused to do, Deborah Riegel, of Rosenberg and Estis said. Raeburn wrote in an April affidavit that sales have been down at the casual dining eatery since the start of the pandemic She claimed in court documents that the company was raking in $700,000 per month at the time, and suggested that if Applebee's were evicted from the space, the landlord could find another tenant that is prepared to pay the rent. But attorneys for the Times Square Applebee's have argued that the restaurant chain suffered financial hardships during the pandemic. It had submitted a hardship declaration at the time, claiming it was struggling financially due to the government-mandated closures and restrictions on restaurant capacity. It then received $3 million in forgiven Paycheck Protection Program loans, but that was only to help the restaurant's 80 employees during the closure. Sales have been down 75 percent since the start of the pandemic, when compared to the same two-year period prior to the pandemic, Roy Raeburn, the co-founder of Apple-Metro, wrote in an April affidavit. And since the restaurant reopened in June 2021, sales have been down 23 percent compared to the same 10-month period before the pandemic. Making matters worse, he wrote, the Hilton Times Square the restaurant was attached to, which was a major source of customers for the eatery, permanently closed in September 2020, The building in Times Square has been struggling with retaining tenants during the pandemic, with three spaces previously occupied by major retailers like Modell's, Ripley's Believe it or Not and the Liberty Theater all being marketed for lease just one year after COVID first came to the United States. Finally, in July, it was announced that IT'SUGAR, a popular candy store chain, had signed a lease to take over the 20,450-square-foot location left vacant in Modell's wake. Harrowing photos have shown dozens of regional Victorians struggling to build walls made out of sandbags to protect their towns from devastating floods. The death toll from the state's recent flood crisis has grown to two, as communities hit by the severe weather conditions are offered more cash relief. An evacuation order was issued in the Northern Victorian town of Kerang on Wednesday afternoon with the town expected to be cut off once the Patchell Bridge on the Murray Valley Highway closes at 7pm. It's one of four active evacuation orders for communities in the north of the state. At Echuca, in northern Victoria, there are concerns river levels could reach 95 metres, higher than during the 1993 floods, by Friday. Despite the evacuation orders, the town is a hive of activity with countless residents having spent the past few days building a makeshift 2.5-kilometre long flood wall of sandbags to protect thousands of homes and businesses. Residents in the regional Victorian town of Echuca are building sandbag walls against the ongoing floods (pictured, residents building the wall outside a local pub) Dozens of residents have built walls to protect homes, shops, pubs and McDonalds from ongoing floods (pictured, locals walking past sandbagged shops) Photos show locals struggling to pile up the heavy sandbags while others use building equipment to set up fences of dirt. Fire crews were also seen helping construct the mounds with residents working to protect pubs, businesses, homes and the local McDonald's. However, the wall has divided the town in two, leaving properties and people on the wrong side susceptible to being inundated. Meanwhile, another wild bout of weather is set to bring torrential rain to Australia's east coast with the border between NSW and Queensland set to be the worst affected. A massive sandbag wall was built along the outside of Echuca's McDonalds (above) to protect it from flooding One home in Echuca is seen lined with sandbags as flood water continue to rise Parts of South Australia's outback received record amount of rain on Tuesday and Wednesday with some areas receiving more rain than that recorded in Victoria. Queensland's outback is also copping heavy storms with some areas forecast to see more than 80mm of rain by the end of the week. The system will also bring more heavy rain to Victoria with the wet weather set to continue over all eastern states through to Sunday. One Echuca resident told AAP she was grateful the handmade levee constructed by locals was built. However, she is extremely concerned if the waters ran over the dirt wall it could send privately owned houseboats parked along the Murray racing into her property. Other residents used building equipment to construct massive mounds of dirt (above) as part of the effort to protect the town from more flood damage State Emergency Service chief operating officer Tim Wiebusch defended the wall but agreed there were some risks. 'Yes, that will see a small number of properties outside of that levee also potentially be impacted,' he said. On Wednesday morning, the body of a 65-year-old man was found in floodwaters on Paynes Road at Nathalia near Shepparton. A search began at about 10pm Tuesday when he failed to return home and his unoccupied tractor was found in floodwaters. His death follows that of a 71-year-old Rochester man on Saturday. As towns along the swollen Murray River system brace for thunderstorms, the Australian and Victorian governments announced a joint-funded relief package. The Victorian floods have claimed the lives of two men, a 65-year-old man and a 71-year-old man (pictured, residents in Echuca walking past sandbagged shops) The state government has announced a $73.5 million relief package to help farmers and business owners recover from flood damage (pictured, a sandbag wall in Echuca) It means homes and businesses destroyed or damaged can have the properties cleared of hazards at no cost and the first phase will be coordinated by Emergency Recovery Victoria. 'The first step in rebuilding is ensuring properties are made safe and hazardous debris isn't putting families at risk it's an enormous job but we'll be there with Victorians every step of the way,' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. With the floods hitting prime agricultural areas, the state government has announced a $73.5million relief package to help farmers and business owners clean up, including $10,000 grants for primary producers. 'It's pretty overwhelming thinking about what's occurring and has occurred in some of these communities. So any support we provide is really important,' Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters. Waters in parts of the state such as Shepparton and Rochester continue to recede and the threat of heavy rainfalls during forecast thunderstorms in coming days has eased slightly. Walls built around Echuca (above) have divided the town in two, leaving properties and people on the wrong side susceptible to being inundated Fire crews (above) were seen helping construct the mounds to protect Echuca from more flood damage Isolated showers and thunderstorms on Thursday are now expected across the northern districts. On Friday and Saturday, widespread showers will generally see totals of two millimetres to 10mm, but higher falls of 30mm could happen in north-central parts and north-eastern parts of Victoria. 'We'll be watching that thunderstorm activity pretty closely and issuing warnings for more of a flash flood risk rather than heavy rainfall over a wider area,' Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Kevin Parkin told reporters. Evacuation warnings are in place for Echuca and the smaller towns of Barmah and Lower Moira. Flood warnings are also in place for towns along the Loddon, Campaspe and Goulburn rivers. On Wednesday, a 3.4 magnitude earthquake sent a shudder near Mansfield, with no reports of damage. Four nurses have quit working for a remote care home after they were attacked by a gang of youths throwing rocks at them. Elderly patients at the Peoples Church Frail Aged Centre in remote Halls Creek, in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, were terrified by the ordeal on Sunday night that saw a staff member be hit in the head. Nurse Casta McCullough, 32, was working at the centre when suddenly she heard something that 'sounded like gunshots'. Shockingly, staff at the centre have rocks thrown at them 'all the time' but this time was worse than before, the nurse added. 'It sounded like gunshots, the residents were crying, all you could hear was smash, smash, smash,' she told the Kimberley Echo. Casta McCullough (pictured) was working as a nurse at the Peoples Church Frail Aged Centre in remote Halls Creek, in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, when it was attacked by rocks that 'sounded like gun shots' A window at the aged care home was smashed, as was a van's windscreen, with some of the thugs thought to be as young as 12. The rock that went through the window also hit a staff member in the head. The chaos began at around 7pm when the group of youths approached nurses sitting outside and asked for water. When the request was refused, the children started throwing rocks at the staff. She said the gang called them 'c****' and 'a********' and threatened to go after the women. The staff members ran inside the front door before the entrance was smashed, Ms McCullough said, adding that the gang knew there was no security at the facility. The nurses called the police because they were afraid the youths were going to break in. The horrifying ordeal lasted for about five minutes but the kids came back later that night and smashed the windows of a bus. Ms McCullough and three other nurses, who were all employed through an agency, have since left Halls Creek, with the 32-year-old flying home to Airlie Beach and vowing never to go back. She'd only finished four weeks of an eight-week contract and now misses out on a $500 bonus - saying Sunday night was the 'last straw' for her. The remote Halls Creek Peoples Church Frail Aged Centre (pictured) was attacked by a gang of youths on Sunday night She said she was 'very upset' to leave the 18 residents, which now have just two agency nurses and four local staff looking after them. 'I wasn't prepared to leave like that, I was in disbelief,' she said. Halls Creek Senior Constable Ben Flynn said no one has yet been charged over Sunday's attack, but that police have a 'good idea' of who the offenders are. 'We are getting lots of complaints of these kids throwing rocks all through Halls Creek and identification is the issue,' he said. The police took the nurses to a hotel after the attack. Ms McCullough said a few days earlier, a youth tried to hit her with a crate. She said nurses were 'looking after the residents but no one is looking after us and the residents at the same time. There is no protection.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms McCullough, Halls Creek Peoples Church Frail Aged Centre and the Halls Creek police seeking further comment. Four Chinese officials accused of assaulting a pro-democracy protester were named today - including one of Beijing's top officials in the UK - as Britain summoned China's deputy ambassador over the scandal. Yesterday the House of Commons was told the consul-general, Zheng Xiyuan, played a central role in the attack. And on social media the others were named as consul Gao Lianjia, counsellor Chen Wei and deputy consul Fan Yingjie. On Sunday, a demonstrator was shown on video being snatched from the street in Manchester and assaulted by Communist Party officials in riot gear after displaying a mocking image of President Xi Jinping alongside 40 others. The protester - who calls himself Bob Man - showed off injuries a day later on his face and head from the beating. Footage of the attack, showed a man identified by MPs as Mr Xiyuan tore down posters and appeared to grab the protester's hair. The incident came as the ruling Communist Party congress began in Beijing. China has brutally suppressed pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong actions President Xi hailed in his speech as moving the former British colony from 'chaos to governance'. Four Chinese embassy officials grab protester Bob and drag him onto the consulate's land All four have now been identified as having taken part in the incident in Manchester on Sunday In response, up to 40 protesters gathered outside the consulate on Sunday, displaying a mocking image of President Xi, who is seeking to secure a historic third term in power. But as tempers flared, footage shows at least five people some in riot gear bursting out of the consulate gates. A man in a blue and red scarf identified by MPs as Mr Xiyuan ripped down posters before Communist Party officials attempted to drag protesters inside the consulate's compound and laid into 'Bob' a protester whose name is not being revealed to protect his safety whose hair appears to be grabbed by the consul general. Risking a diplomatic incident, a uniformed policeman entered the compound and rescued the protester before he received hospital treatment for cuts and bruises. Police have launched an investigation, pledging to explore 'all viable avenues' to bring those responsible to justice. Speaking afterwards, 'Bob' told BBC Chinese it was 'ridiculous' that Chinese officials had been able to attack him in the UK. 'We are supposed to have freedom to say whatever we want here,' added the man, who fled to Britain from Hong Kong last year following the protest crackdown. Following almost 48 hours of silence from the Foreign Office, an urgent Parliamentary question was yesterday lodged by Alicia Kearns, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee. Video footage shows what appeared to be a protester being dragged inside Chinese consulate's gate in Manchester, prompting calls for the UK government to investigate The UK officers appeared reluctant to step into the Chinese consulate itself, which enjoys special privileges and usually falls outside the jurisdiction of local police She branded the incident a 'chilling escalation' of Chinese state repression and told MPs the Chinese Communist Party could not be permitted to 'import their beating of protesters' and 'silencing of free speech'. Mrs Kearns alleged that the consul-general had taken part in the incident, 'ripping down posters'. She demanded that any Chinese officials involved in the assault who could not be prosecuted should be expelled 'within the week'. In response, Foreign Office minister Jesse Norman told the House of Commons the Chinese charge d'affaires had been summoned 'to express His Majesty's Government's deep concern at the incident and to demand an explanation for the actions of the consulate staff'. He said peaceful protest was 'a fundamental part of British society and of our way of life', adding: 'All those on our soil have the right to express their views peacefully without fear of violence.' But he insisted that out of a sign of Britain's respect for the rule of law, the police investigation must run its course first. Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith also called on the Government to expel consulate staff if they are found to be responsible for 'that punishment beating', saying it appeared ministers were 'dancing away' from the issue. Mr Duncan Smith read to MPs what he said were sections of the statement 'Bob' had given police about the incident. He said the protester 'confirms categorically that the guards at the gate hauled him in, that they tore his hands and his hair and they beat him'. There is clear bruising over Bob Man's eye as well as a cut underneath it and a wound on his nose Protestors had put up pro-democracy posters before the altercation began on the streets 'This is not China, this is the UK': Hong Kong pro-democracy activist says he feared he would be killed when he was beaten by 'Beijing thugs' during demo at Chinese consulate in Manchester The Hong Kong pro-democracy protester dragged to the ground and beaten by 'Beijing thugs' said 'I thought I might die'. Bob Man was dragged inside the gates of the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Rusholme. He was forced to the ground and assaulted by at least five men while a police officer tries to pull the attackers off him. Mr Man told Sky News: 'I was thinking I might die inside because it's not surprising they'd do that. If the police officer didn't pull me out, I'd have died inside and they could do nothing. It all happened too fast. I tried holding on to the gates but couldn't hold for too long - they then threw me to the ground and started to kick and punch me.' 'There's no respect, they're rude, it shouldn't be like that here. It's not China, this is the UK, you shouldn't do that.' Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters had reportedly organised a peaceful protest outside of the Consulate in response to the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, where President Xi Jinping is widely expected to announce another five years in power. Advertisement The MP for Chingford and Woodford Green - a long-standing critic of Chinese interference in the UK - added that 'Bob' said 'at least four people are kicking me and at least for one minute tearing my hair'. 'My head, face, arm, body and back are hurt, especially my back, it's very painful and I struggle to sit down,' Mr Duncan Smith read. Meanwhile Labour MP Afzal Khan in whose Manchester Gorton the consulate stands said he was 'sickened' that such an attack could take place there. Afterwards he said he was 'appalled' by the minister's response, adding that 'at the bare minimum' the Government 'must declare the Chinese Consul General as persona non grata'. But speaking in Beijing, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman gave a completely different account of the incident, saying its diplomatic missions abroad have the right to 'take necessary measures' to maintain security. 'The troublemakers illegally entered the Chinese Consulate-General in Manchester, endangering the security of the premises,' said Wang Wenbin. He urged the UK to 'earnestly fulfil its duties and take effective measures to step up protection of the premises and personnel of the Chinese embassy and consulates'. While foreign diplomatic and consular premises remain part of UK territory, they are considered 'inviolable' under the Vienna Convention meaning they cannot be entered without the permission of the ambassador or head of mission. However official advice issued to British police forces states that 'every case must be dealt with on its own merits'. Officers are told that their 'overriding duty' is 'to protect the welfare and safety of the public', and action can be taken if someone is in danger even if the suspect is believed to have diplomatic immunity. Guidance from the Crown Prosecution Service states that premises are only deemed consular if they are used for that premises meaning the courtyard of the consulate may not enjoy protected status. It adds that offences committed in diplomatic premises are triable in accordance with English law unless those involved have diplomatic immunity. On Monday, Greater Manchester Police said officers had been facilitating the 'peaceful' protest when 'a small group of men came out of the building and a man was dragged into the consulate grounds and assaulted'. 'Due to our fears for the safety of the man, officers intervened and removed the victim from the consulate grounds,' it said in a statement. Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts added that 'all viable avenues will be explored to bring to justice anyone we believe is culpable'. The charge d'affaires is the second ranking Chinese diplomat in the UK, with ambassador Zheng Zeguang understood to be out of the country. According to its website, the mission of the consulate in Manchester is to 'promote the friendly exchanges between the Chinese people and the British people'. In addition, it aspires to 'serve as a window on China and the relations between the two countries', it adds. Functions of the consulate including issuing visas and other travel documents, promoting business links, providing Chinese citizens with consular assistance and forging links with the Chinese community in Britain. The body was put in a bin filled with letters addressed to Kiernan, court heard He was described as 'inept' by the judge after he labelled body with his name A murderer who killed a father-of-three over a $4,000 drug debt has been described as 'inept' by a judge after he wrapped the body in a plastic sheet that had his name on it. Todd Nathan Kiernan, 30, and his accomplice Gervaise Widdowson stabbed Dinh Lam Nguyen, 51, when he visited Kiernan's house in Mahogany Creek, east of Perth, in January 2021. A jury disagreed with his self-defence argument and found him guilty of murder on Wednesday. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Hall sentenced Kiernan to life in jail with a non parole period of 19 years. Justice Hall said while the attack had not been premeditated, it was also not provoked and his motivation was to avoid paying his drug debt. Dinh Lam Nguyen (pictured), 51, was stabbed by two men in Mahogany Creek, east of Perth, in January 2021. Police established a crime scene in Johns National Forrest Park where Mr Nguyen was found (pictured). Todd Nathan Kiernan, 30, has been jailed for his murder 'To take a life for such a small amount of money is truly shocking,' Justice Hall said, reports the ABC. He added the attempts to cover up the crime were 'inept and unsophisticated'. Kiernan and Widdowson used cable ties and pink plastic sheeting to wrap up the body before dumping it in a wheelie bin. They then added a tree branch and bag of cement and tried to sink it to the bottom of Glen Brook Dam in Johns National Forrest Park. The pair got rid of Nguyen's car by driving it to a nearby pine plantation and setting it alight. A few days later, however, the bin also floated to the surface where a teenage boy at a nearby picnic spot discovered the body. Police found the plastic sheeting had a label with Kiernan's name on it and there were also letters addressed to him still in the bin. Police teams fetch the body of Nguyen from Glen Brook Dam near Perth after the wheelie bin (pictured) floated to the surface Kiernan must serve at least 19 years in jail before he can considered for parole. He was also sentenced to four years for the arson of Nguyen's car, which is to be served concurrently. He'd denied the allegation and said his victim had attacked him first. Widdowson was also found guilty of murder at the same trial and will be sentenced in February. A young couple have been left speechless after finding out by an email that their newly built home will be demolished to make way for a highway. Charmaine and James Jackson, who have two young sons, received the email on Monday informing them that their 'dream home' at Griffin, north of Brisbane, will be bulldozed as part of the Bruce Highway upgrade. The young parents only moved into the newly-built $600,000 home on September 1. 'I haven't been able to stop feeling sick since I got the email,' Ms Jackson, 29, a stay-at-home-mum told Daily Mail Australia. 'We thought we'd be in this house until our kids left home.' The Jacksons are one of 25 families set to see their homes in the Aspire development in Griffin knocked down as part of $2.1billion upgrades to the Bruce Highway. Charmaine and James Jackson, who have two young sons, received an email on Monday informing them that their 'dream home' at Griffin, north of Brisbane, will pulled down as part of the Bruce Highway upgrade The couple paid about $600,000 for house and land and only moved into the newly-built home on September 1 this year Half of the homes earmarked for wrecking are newly-built and the other half are still under construction. 'I've met a few of the owners in person ... everyone is just really gutted and scared about what's going to happen to them,' Mrs Jackson said. Mr Jackson said the Queensland government planning disaster is certain to cost the home-owners hundreds of thousands of dollars. 'The amount we all paid for land and houses to be built, if we have to rebuild our houses now, there's no way the same amount of money would cover it,' said Mr Jackson, a 30 year old software engineer. 'Where are we going to go? We're in a housing crisis, how can they be talking about knocking down our house?' Mr Jackson (right) said what makes him most angry is the loss of their new home was 'an avoidable problem'. Pictured, Charmaine and James Jackson 'We're in a housing crisis, how can they be talking about knocking down our house?' said a stunned Mr Jackson The couple paid about $600,000 for the land and construction of their new four bedroom home, which was designed for their two young sons, Theo 4, and Elliott 1. 'The thought of having to pack up our dream home, our first home, when we have just arrived, it's devastating,' Mrs Jackson said. 'This is our dream home, it's not extravagant but we picked everything out, we picked the colours and the layout. 'The thought of selling it and it becoming a rental until it's demolished, it makes me burst into tears thinking about someone renting the bedrooms we picked for our little boys. The Jacksons are one of 25 families set to see their homes in the Aspire development in Griffin bulldozed to as part of $2.1billion upgrades to the Bruce Highway 'The emotions are really weird, I am going from bursting into tears to feeling angry numb, like this can't really be happening to us.' None of the affected families have been given a definite time frame - they just know their new homes will be demolished. Mr Jackson slammed the impacts on the young home-owners as a massive planning failure. 'People who are planning this should have been able to communicate to people who approved the land titles, this just shouldn't have happened,' he said. 'This was an avoidable problem, that's what makes me the the most angry. 'If we knew this was going to happen we wouldn't have chosen to buy here.' None of the families know when the bulldozers will be called in. 'It could be next month or in the next six months, it could be two years or 10 years, it depends on when they receive funding [for the next stage],' Mr Jackson said. Mrs Jackson said after years of saving they believed they were free of rental homes. Families set to see their homes in the Aspire development in Griffin bulldozed to as part of $2.1billion upgrades to the Bruce Highway 'We rented for six years, we saved and saved and thought we were finally free of rent and rental inspections. Another young dad only found out his new home in the same development would be demolished hours after collecting the keys to the house. Anil Konda, a father of four, received an urgent government email asking him to call on Monday, the ABC reported. He had waited 11 months for his family's new home to be built. 'Last week my kids picked the colours, my son and my daughter picked the colours I was planning to start the work today, paint the rooms, fix some furniture.' When he called the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) after they contacted him about its 'land requirement', he feared losing part of his block. But he was told the works meant he'd lose his 'entire house' within two or three years. Scott Searle, general manager of Aspire developer Fairland Group Pty Ltd confirmed his company followed all government guidelines and its approvals process. According to the Queensland government future traffic forecasts indicate traffic levels travelling between the Moreton Bay Region and north Brisbane each day will increase by around 50 per cent by 2041. 'Without additional capacity from future upgrades, this vital section of the National Highway will be heavily congested for longer periods, with travel times significantly increasing for motorists,' the TMR website says. TMR Minister Mark Bailey claimed residents in the planning area for the Gateway Motorway and Bruce Highway Upgrades project were informed as quickly as possible, adding the project was in its 'very early planning stages'. He said affected residents get 'fair value and compensation' for their properties but that 'it's never a good process'. Governor has resigned this morning, citing a 'cancer at top of the organisation' A mother who lost her newborn baby at a hospital at the centre of a maternity scandal at East Kent Hospitals Trust told how her daughter 'lived for a week but never opened her eyes'. Helen Gittos lost her newborn daughter Harriet at The Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate in 2014, one of the hospitals being probed as part of the independent review set to be published this morning. Ms Gittos has told how she felt 'blamed' for the death of her baby, and was horrified to learn that maternity staff had written in her notes she and her partner had refused medical care when they had not. Harriet was delivered via emergency C-section after her heartbeat could be heard dipping on the monitor. She was born 'very very poorly' but Ms Gittos said: 'She lived for about a week and she looked so well but she never opened her eyes and she never cried.' Helen Gittos lost her baby daughter Harriet at The Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in 2014 Harriet died eight days after being born, having suffered a brain injury during her birth. Ms Gittos told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that she felt the hospital's reaction during her labour had not been 'swift enough or decisive enough'. She said: 'At the time to us it felt as though the reaction to that was not swift enough, or decisive enough. 'I was forced to listen to a list of risks about having a Caesarean section and forced to sign a consent form when we had already consented to having a C-section were it to be needed. It just felt terrifying that nothing was happening fast enough and that there was this miscommunication going on.' The Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother hospital, where Helen Gittos' daughter Harriet was born, is one of the hospitals being probed as part of the independent review set to be published this morning She also explained that there was a doctor shouting in her face that she would harm her baby if she did not sign the form, but was physically unable to. Ms Gittos said that amongst the 'very worst moments' of the ordeal was being told that maternity staff had written in her notes that she and her partner Andy had refused medical care when they had not. 'It became clear that when in labour we had asked questions, "Is this the right thing to do? Should we do this now?" that kind of thing, they were all treated as being non-compliance,' Ms Gittos continued. 'That they were treated as being refusals of medical care when we never refused anything at all, so hearing this doctor tell me this is amongst the very worst moments of it all.' It comes as a 'harrowing' independent review looking into an alleged maternity scandal at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, probing the deaths of up to 15 newborns, is due to be published this morning. More than 200 families gave evidence to the review which is expected to expose a catalogue of serious failings including how newborns died needlessly due to poor care planning over several years, while parents' concerns were ignored. The report led by Dr Bill Kirku, has investigated the trust's maternity services over a 11-year period from 2009 to 2020. It was triggered by the death of newborn Harry Richford in November 2017, with one midwife describing 'panic' during attempts to resuscitate him. The review was triggered by the death of newborn Harry Richford (pictured with parents Sarah and Tom) in November 2017, with one midwife describing 'panic' during attempts to resuscitate him. The trust recorded his death as 'expected' and did not inform the coroner, but an inquest revealed he had died due to seven gross failings that amounted to neglect Ahead of publication, Dr Kirkup said an expert panel investigating maternity care at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust heard a lot of 'harrowing accounts' from families during their work. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'We've heard from a lot of families, a lot of harrowing accounts. 'I'll be setting all of that later for the families first and then for everybody, but there were a lot of common factors. 'My heart goes out to everybody that this has happened to.' Questioned about some families receiving care without compassion, he said: 'I'll be setting that out in some detail in the recommendations. The families of two babies who died at a hospital trust under investigation for up to 200 incidents involving mothers and infants say staff blamed them 'I think what I would say at this point in the morning is I understand that people work under pressure, that doesn't excuse or explain being rude or aggressive. That's a different set of problems.' Dr Kirkup, who also led the investigation into mother and baby deaths in Morecambe Bay in 2015, will be issuing his report to the families involved prior to publishing it. He added that he 'did not imagine' he would be talking about similar circumstances again following his 2015 investigation. He said: 'When I reported on Morecambe Bay maternity services in 2015, I did not imagine for one moment that I would be back in seven years' time talking about a rather similar set of circumstances and that there would have been another two large, high-profile maturity failures as well on top of that. 'This cannot go on. We have to address this in a different way. 'We can't simply respond to each one as if it's a one-off, as if this is the last time this will happen. We have to do things differently.' Tom and Sarah Richford, whose son Harry died seven days after he was born in November 2017, leaving Folkestone Magistrates' Court where East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust pleaded guilty to failing to provide safe care and treatment in 2021 Meanwhile, Tracey Fletcher, chief executive of East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, has warned maternity staff to expect a 'harrowing report'. The Government is expected to respond later today in the Commons to the report, which was commissioned by NHS England in 2020 following growing concerns about quality of care. This morning the now former governor of East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust Alex Lister resigned over his role in the maternity scandal. In a letter to trust chairman Niall Dickson, Mr Lister said his decision to resign was not taken lightly. He said: 'While there have been some positive changes in leadership including your appointment as chair and the appointment of a new chief executive, there remains a cancer at the top of the organisation. 'I believe officials on six-figure salaries continue to mislead, obfuscate, bully and conceal vital information. 'Without the valiant efforts of the brave families caught up in a tragedy of the Trusts making, the world may never have found out about the disastrous health failings at our Trust. 'Yet, despite everything we now know, individuals complicit in the attempted cover-up of the maternity scandal, including the tragic case of baby Harry Richford, continue in their positions.' Maternity staff are accused of 'blaming mothers for the deaths of their babies' on eve of devastating report into hospital trust The families of two babies who died at a hospital trust under investigation for up to 200 incidents involving mothers and infants say staff blamed them. Helen Gittos and Kelli Rudolph lost daughters while in the care of East Kent Hospitals. Mrs Gittos, who lost her daughter Harriet in 2014, said she was 'treated dismissively, contemptuously and without a desire for understanding'. In a statement, she added: 'It is hard enough to come to terms with the death of a child. It is even harder when you are implicitly blamed for what happened.' Dr Rudolph and Dunstan Lowe lost their daughter Celandine when she was five days old after she was delivered at William Harvey Hospital in Ashford in 2016. They claimed the hospital's response had added to their grief. Dr Rudolph said: 'Their response to their poor medical judgments was to blame me. That is what I've had to live with.' Mr Lowe added that he hoped the Independent Investigation Into East Kent Maternity Services would be 'the bridge between the pain we've experienced and the anger and the urgency for the things that are broken to be repaired immediately.' Advertisement The family of baby Harry have long campaigned for answers after saying their concerns were repeatedly brushed aside by hospital managers. The trust was fined 733,000 last year for failures in Harry's care after he suffered brain damage. A previous inquest ruled his death was 'wholly avoidable' and found more than a dozen areas of concern, including failings in the way an 'inexperienced' doctor carried out the delivery, followed by delays in resuscitating him. One midwife described 'panic' during attempts to resuscitate Harry, while a staff nurse said the scene was 'chaotic'. Following Harry's death, the East Kent Trust recorded his death as 'expected' and did not inform the coroner. Only the efforts of Harry's family eventually brought his death to the attention of coroner Christopher Sutton-Mattocks. Last October the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which inspects hospitals, again expressed concerns over the trust, which it has repeatedly ranked as 'requires improvement'. It said that during unannounced inspections in July 2021 there were not enough midwifery staff and maternity support workers to keep women and babies safe. Inspectors said staff were feeling exhausted, stressed and anxious, while some community midwives had taken on additional work in the acute units, which meant they were sometimes working 20-hour days. In 2020, the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB), which investigates NHS harm, detailed how despite repeated warnings from its investigators, improvements were not made to maternity care at the trust. The HSIB began working with East Kent's maternity units in 2018 and identified 'recurrent safety risks' including over how CTG readings were interpreted, baby resuscitation, recognition of deterioration in mothers and babies, and the willingness of staff to escalate their concerns to more senior medics. From December 2018, the HSIB said it 'engaged frequently' with the trust about its concerns but kept seeing the same things happening. In August 2019, it asked the trust to self-refer to the CQC and regional health bosses. The families of babies who received poor care at the trust will be the first to read the findings of Dr Kirkup's inquiry. Among them are expected to be the parents of Archie Batten, who died in September 2019 at the QEQM. A coroner ruled he died of natural causes 'contributed to by neglect' and 'gross failure'. The report, which was delayed by the Queen's death, is expected to say avoidable baby deaths happened because recommendations following other NHS maternity scandals were not implemented. The trust said a statement would be issued when the report is published. It was commissioned after up to 15 babies died at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate. Ukraine's partisan fighters are behind many of Kyiv's most successful attacks on Russian territory including strikes deep in Crimea and assassinations of collaborating officials. Here we reveal their remorseless campaign of death and destruction - including terrifying Telegram messages to Russians, car bombs and ambushes caught on video. She didn't have the chance because Trump didn't have the 'courage' to go to Hill Pelosi doubled down on those comments saying she would have punched him Nancy Pelosi had said on January 6 that she would hit Trump if he went to Capitol Nancy Pelosi has doubled down on her comments saying she wanted to punch Donald Trump as rioters stormed the US Capitol building on January 6, 2021. On that day, the speaker of the House, 82, said from inside the Capitol as rioters wrestled with police officers before breaching the building that she would hit Trump if he showed up with his incensed followers. Pelosi doubled down on those comments Tuesday, saying that she would have punched him, gone to jail, and 'been happy to do so for our country.' But Pelosi said she didn't have the chance as Trump did not have the 'courage' to go to the Hill 'because he is all talk.' Nancy Pelosi has doubled down on her comments saying she wanted to punch Donald Trump as rioters stormed the Capitol building on January 6, 2021 The protest unraveled into a riot as people broke into the Capitol building, forcing lawmakers to evacuate in a chaos, with new footage depicting the panic and anger of America's top members of Congress Footage obtained by CNN from Jan. 6, 2021, showed Pelosi frustrated over Trump's speech asking his followers to march to the Capitol to protest the certification of the 2020 presidential election. When an aide told Pelosi that the Secret Service warned Trump not to go to Capitol Hill, she said she would punch the former president if he ignored the warnings. 'If he comes, I'm going to punch him out,' Pelosi said with a straight face at the time. 'I've been waiting for this. For trespassing on the Capitol grounds, I'm going to punch him out. 'And I'm going to go to jail, and I'm going to be happy.' More than a year after the Capitol riot, Pelosi stands by her words. When asked about her comments saying she would punch Trump, Pelosi told MSNBC: 'That's right. I said I would have punched him out, I would have gone to jail, and I would have been happy to do so for our country.' When asked whether she would have actually punched Trump, Pelosi said: 'You know, he wouldn't have had the courage to come to the Hill because he is all talk.' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi threatened to punch Donald Trump if he showed up with rioters at the Capitol, newly released footage revealed Pelosi was seen frustrated over Trump's speech on January 6 (above) urging his supporters to march to the Capitol to protest the certification of Joe Biden Her comments come after footage, filmed by Pelosi's daughter on January 6, showed the full chaos taking place during the infamous riot that left five dead as lawmakers sought shelter in Fort McNair. Most of the film shows Pelosi's movements on January 6, including a phone call she made to then-Vice President Mike Pence asking about his physical safety, following threats to 'Hang Mike Pence.' 'We're at Fort McNair, which has facilities for the House and the Senate to meet, as a backup plan should anything happen that would warrant that,' Pelosi tells Pence. 'We'd rather go to the Capitol and do it there, but it doesn't seem to be safe.' As Pelosi discusses moving on with the certification of Joe Biden, she urges Pence to stay safe and hidden from the rioters. 'I worry about you being in that Capitol room,' Pelosi said. 'Don't let anybody know where you are.' Pelosi could be seen phoning Mike Pence several times, asking about his safety Pelosi told Pence that the Capitol was not safe after rioters clashed with police, and warned the former Vice President to stay hidden and not disclose his location to anyone The footage also shows a phone call Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had with Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy after hearing rumors that the National Guard wouldn't be called to end the riot. 'I'd like to know a good God damn reason why it's been denied,' Schumer said. 'Please the whole Capitol is rampaged. 'There is a picture of someone sitting in the chair of the Senate. We've all been evacuated. There have been shots fired. We need a full National Guard component, now!' Congress' top two Democrats are then joined by other lawmakers, including Mitch McConnell, to grill Defense Secretary Christopher Miller on the slow response. McConnell tells Miller that National Guard troops need to be 'getting there in one hell of a hurry,' with Schumer echoing the urgency to restore order in the Capitol. 'This is an emergency,' Schumer says, 'where life and limb are at stake.' A British woman has sparked outrage in Italy by posing naked at the top of the majestic steps of the Amalfi cathedral for a photo shoot. Using nothing but a flowing red veil to cover herself, the woman stunned early-rising locals on Monday morning with the risque display. Local Italian news outlets reported that the woman was an influencer, who said she was creating a 'personal memory' with two other tourists - another British woman, her assistant, and a male 'photographer' reportedly from North America. A British woman has sparked outrage in Italy by posing naked at the top of the majestic steps of the Amalfi cathedral for a photo shoot (pictured) The steps leading up to the entrance of the Sant'Andrea cathedral are long, and rise above a square on which dozens of small shops, cafes and restaurants sit. Do you know the people in this video? Email: chris.jewers@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement Footage of the photoshoot shows workers, pausing their task of unloading boxes ready for the week ahead, to instead film the spectacle at the top of the staircase. Video recorded from a window in a residence above one of the many establishments shows the woman striking various seductive poses for the camera. She allows the red veil to flow down her body in a way clearly intended to accentuate her figure, with the famous cathedral's bronze doors as the backdrop. Her assistant is seen spreading the veil out on the steps as the woman poses, to create a striking red image contrasted with the stone steps. The man is shown walking around the woman as she poses, taking photos or filming the scene. A mural depicting Jesus is seen above the doors behind her. Using nothing but a flowing red veil to cover herself, the woman (pictured) stunned early-rising locals on Monday morning with the risque display, with her 'photographer' and 'assistant' Pictured: The woman is seen posing in front of the iron doors of the Sant'Andrea Cathedral The photoshoot would have likely gone on for longer, but local police officers broke up the trio before they could finish, local newspaper Il Mattino reported, after passersbys phoned the authorities. Reports say the trio did not have the proper permissions for the photoshoot. While reports suggest they were allowed to leave the scene at the time by officers, local officials - upon hearing of the incident - caught up with them before the left the Amalfi, and they were reprimanded for 'obscene acts in a public place'. They have also been warned against sharing the photographs further. The steps leading up to the entrance of the Sant'Andrea cathedral are long, and rise above a square on which dozens of small shops, cafes and restaurants sit. Footage of the photoshoot shows workers, pausing their task of unloading boxes ready for the week ahead, to instead film the spectacle at the top of the staircase The incident sparked outrage from Italians, who were angry at the woman and her cohort for hosting the photoshoot at the historic and religious site. 'Undress[ing] badly in front of a cathedral of considerable importance [is] squalid and unacceptable ... shame!' one person wrote on Facebook. Another wrote: 'The scandalous thing is not the fact that she is doing a nude photo shoot, but that she has chosen the facade of a church as the location.' Pictured: A view of the Sant'Andrea cathedral in Amalfi, one of the most famous attractions of the Italian Amalfi Coast A third person questioned how the people in the footage had been allowed to carry out the photoshoot, saying they needed the right authorisation when they used the staircase to take photos for their child's baptism. The Sant'Andrea Cathedral itself is tucked in between the mountains and sea on the Bay of Salerno, on Italys southwest coast. It was founded in the ninth century and rebuilt in the 11th century in the Romaesque style, and then altered several times. The facade and the atrium date from 1800s, but the carved bronze doors were cast in Constantinople around 1000, making them a culturally significant artefact. A teenager has described how her addiction to vaping led to her hiding seven of the devices around her bedroom and inhaling about 3,000 puffs a week, leaving her At just 14-years-old Ruby Ellis from Sydney became hooked on vapes after seeing other kids use them at her school - where she says they were so common 'entrepreneurial' students began importing them in bulk to sell to their friends. She also revealed to her devastated mother that she would often vape first thing in the morning, leaving her shaking at the breakfast table - a tell-tale sign of addiction the family just didn't notice. The now 18-year-old is in the process of beating her addiction and has spoken out to highlight what has in recent years become an epidemic as a millions of the devices - mostly manufactured in China away from Australian regulatory safeguards - flood the country. Many are known to flood the body with toxic chemicals that can cause cancer as well as heart and lung problems, disguised with bright colours and fun flavours. 'I would do it (vape) all the time, sometimes in front of my parents if their backs were turned because it's so easy to hide,' Ms Ellis told The Project. Ruby Ellis (pictured) said she got hooked on vapes at age 14 and they were common at her school 'It becomes an issue when it's the first thing you think of when you wake up - ''where is my vape?'' and ''one more last hit of the vape'' - before you go to bed.' Her mother Nikola said she was always keeping an eye out for any warning signs, as any parent with a teenager would, but she was caught by surprise at the extent of her daughter's problem. 'We were looking out for cigarette smells, changes in behaviour in case there are drugs involved, or if there is any alcohol around. But with vapes there is literally no sign at all,' Nikola said. But Ms Ellis disagrees, pointing out there were subtle red flags her addiction was getting out of hand. 'There were times that you noticed something,' the teenager said. 'In the mornings if I had my first hit, it's such a vast quantity of nicotine that you are taking in. And there were many times where you asked ''why are you shaking?'' and that was literally because I'd just taken a big hit of the vape.' Ms Ellis added that sometimes she would 'pass out', and become extremely light-headed after taking a hit of the electronic cigarette. Ruby Ellis (left) and her mother Nikola (right) are speaking up to highlight the vaping epidemic Ruby described hiding multiple vapes in her drawers and around her bedroom and even on one occasion fished one out of the trash and continued to use it. 'There was a dead rabbit right next to the vape and I'm not even like ''eww!'', there was no hesitation, I'm right there like ''this is great'',' she said. Nikola said it was 'heartbreaking' to see kids like her daughter hooked on something and 'not having control of their lives'. The vaping craze has spread rapidly across the nation, particularly among teenagers. This is thanks to the bright colours, vast array of flavours such as pineapple, ice cream and chocolate, and the fact they can be designed to look like everyday items such as pens or USB sticks. Ms Ellis guessed '90 per cent' of her classmates use vapes, and admitted she never had trouble trying to source one. Vapes work by using electricity to heat the e-liquid, which is made of chemicals and often contains nicotine, to deliver a vapour which is inhaled into the lungs in a similar way to tobacco cigarettes. Vapes or e-cigarettes are often sold in bright packaging with flavours like mango and blueberry but most still contain nicotine (pictured: some of HQD's products) Vapes and e-liquid containing nicotine are only available to Australian adults with a prescription while non-nicotine versions can be purchased without one. But selling any vaping products, nicotine or not, is illegal to minors. Yet this hasn't stopped the thriving black market, with the products widely available under-the-counter from convenience stores and tobacconists, as well as being able to be imported from overseas via the internet. The majority are manufactured in factories in the Chinese city of Shenzhen, known as the countries 'vape capital' that churn out millions of the products a day. Border Force intercepted 248 shipments of nicotine vaping products at the Australian border between October 2021 and May 2022. This contained 144,724 nicotine vaping items, just a fraction of the huge number that make it into the country. In NSW alone, 30 per cent of teenagers have tried vaping with the vast majority saying they were easy to obtain (stock image) According to Cancer Council NSW, more than 30 per cent of young people in NSW alone have tried e-cigarettes and 80 per cent of those who vaped found it easy to obtain the products. Proponents claim the devices reduce harm because they get smokers off regular cigarettes. But critics say they are creating a whole new generation of vapers, the harms of which are yet to be confirmed. According to the World Health Organization: 'There is insufficient data to understand the full breadth of their impact on health as devices have not been on the market long enough.' 'Nevertheless, the evidence is clear that the aerosols of the majority of electronic nicotine delivery systems contain toxic chemicals that can cause cancer and are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, lung disorders and adverse effects on the development of the fetus during pregnancy.' A tourist has been hit with a $2,300 fine after he was photographed feeding biscuits to a dingo on a holiday island where the species are protected. The Australian man, 23, was observed feeding the dingo while waiting in line for a ferry on backpacker-favourite Fraser Island which is about 250km north of Brisbane, and is also known as K'gari. The incident took place in April and he was fined after a bystander took several photos of him feeding the wild dog. The man, 23, was observed feeding the dingo while waiting in line for a ferry on Fraser Island which is about 250km north of Brisbane and is also known as K'gari The fine comes as the parks service renews its warnings about the dangerous 'whelping' season, which is when dingo puppies are born and the animals aggressively hunt food The maximum fine for feeding dingoes, also known as wongari, is $11,500. The fine comes as the parks service renews its warnings about the dangerous 'whelping' season, which is when dingo puppies are born. It lasts until the start of December. A woman on Fraser Island takes photos of dingoes getting close to tourist vehicles Dingoes may be determined and aggressive in their search for food at this time of year, the parks service warned. In 2001 dingoes attacked and killed a child, Clinton Gage, on Fraser Island Feeding dingoes is banned and the fine sends a strong message to residents and visitors that doing so won't be tolerated, a Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service spokesman said. The incident happened in the queue for the Hook Point ferry and is the second such fine issued in 2022. 'The person said the man was brazenly feeding the wongari, and given his place at the front of the queue, his offending was witnessed by multiple people,' said Mike Devery of the QPWS. The parks service rangers also fined campers 22 times in 2022 for leaving food out for dingoes. In 2001 dingoes attacked and killed a child, Clinton Gage, on Fraser Island and there have been several accounts of dingo bites since. After the fatal attack over 100 dingoes were culled on Fraser Island but the population is understood to have recovered to more than 200. When the tourist was interviewed later by Queensland parks service compliance officers he admitted throwing biscuits out of his vehicle to the dingoes. A children's home has been ordered to improve after extraordinary failings saw a manager buying a tattoo gun for one child - which they used to permanently ink another and staff being slow to stop a young resident making a flamethrower. The centre, which cannot be named but is registered in Leicester, was today revealed to be the site of a series of worrying incidents. At one point just three months ago staff were threatened by a child who had made his own weapon to menace them. They had used an aerosol can and a cigarette lighter to fashion a homemade flamethrower. In another troubling incident the home manager bought a tattoo gun for one of the children. They then used it to permanently ink another child, despite the fact both were supposed to be under 2:1 supervision. It is not known how many members of staff work at the home, but two children are currently living there. Stock picture. Details of the concerning problems have only been made public after inspectors from watchdog Ofsted published its findings in a harrowing report. It makes grim reading for the company who runs it, A & R Guardian Services, who did not respond to a request to comment from MailOnline this morning. Ofsted has now issued compliance notices against the home after its February investigation found it to be inadequate. It said: 'There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.' The details of the failings have only emerged today in an Ofsted report looking at the home The home now has to improve in a raft of areas including 'that, when the needs of children are not met by others, they effectively escalate their concerns'. It is not known how many members of staff work at the home, but two children are currently living there. The name of the premises has not been released to protect their identities and locations. The report said both children may have emotional and social difficulties. It detailed: 'Staff are slow to respond to challenging behaviours from children. As a result, children's behaviours can quickly escalate. 'Children and staff are then placed at increased risk. For example, in August 2022, staff were threatened when a child used a cigarette lighter, and an aerosol can as a weapon. 'An earlier intervention from staff may have prevented this incident escalating. A failure to intervene compromised the safety of children and staff.' The inspection disclosed children were also allowed to smoke, despite one having a medical condition that would be impacted by cigarettes. It went some way to explain how one of the components for the flamethrower threat was obtained. The report added of the tattooing incident: 'The supervision of children has been inadequate. There have been many incidents of children not being adequately supervised in line with their care plans. 'For example, one child was able to give another child a permanent tattoo after the manager purchased a tattoo gun for the child. Both children were required to have 2:1 staff supervision. 'Additionally, staff have failed to supervise children in line with their risk assessments. As a result, children have been harmed.' This is the terrifying moment tourists ran for their lives as a ferocious waterspout wreaked havoc along the coastline of a popular tourist hotspot sending beach furniture and other debris flying into the air. Footage shows the initial stages of the twister in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, on Monday as it formed a long, thin column above the water. It quickly gained momentum and developed into a larger tornado-style twister and, as its speed intensified, it became wider and faster. Eventually, it makes its way towards the beach sending beach furniture into the air and combining the water with sand as tourists fled the area. Tourists ran for their lives as a ferocious waterspout wreaked havoc along the coastline of the popular tourist hotspot sending beach furniture and other debris flying into the air Footage shows the initial stages of the twister in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, on Monday as it formed a long, thin column above the water It quickly gained momentum and developed into a larger tornado-style twister and, as its speed intensified, it became wider and faster Local police say no major damage was done, besides moving a number of sunbeds on the beach. Government data suggest around 1,000,000 UK tourists travel to Cyprus each year with Ayia Napa being one of the most popular destinations. Waterspouts develop over masses of water, scooping up vapour and dragging it towards the sky. The slender 'tornados' are occasionally found in the late summer and autumn and can be dangerous for boaters and shoreline locations but are no threat farther inland since they collapse soon after they move onshore. Eventually, it makes its way towards the beach sending beach furniture into the air and combining the water with sand as tourists fled the area Local police say no major damage was done, besides moving a number of sunbeds on the beach A waterspout is a whirling column of air and water mist which forms when cumulus clouds grow rapidly However, the whirling columns of air and water mist can sometimes cause as much damage as a tornado. They fall into two categories - fair weather waterspouts and tornadic waterspouts. Tornadic waterspouts are associated with severe thunderstorms and are often accompanied by high winds and seas, large hail, and frequent dangerous lightning. Meanwhile, fair weather waterspouts usually form along the dark flat base of a line of developing clouds. By the time the funnel is visible, a fair weather waterspout is near maturity. They can rise hundreds of feet into the air and have been referred to as tornados on water Government data suggest around 1,000,000 UK tourists travel to Cyprus each year with Ayia Napa being one of the most popular destinations Campaigners are calling for the removal of a baroque memorial to a slave trader inside a Cornish church. The marble dedication to Thomas Corker (1670-1700) has been mounted on the wall of King Charles the Martyr church in Falmouth, Cornwall, since the early 1700s. Born the second son of a mercantile family, Corker joined the Royal African Company as an apprentice aged 14 on the Guinea coast and rose through the ranks to become an agent at York Island, now Sherbro Island, in Sierra Leone. He married an African chieftain's daughter known as 'Seniora Doll', of the Ya Kumba ruling house of the Yawri Bay area. The couple had two sons, whose descendants remained in Sierra Leone. Corker died in Falmouth on a business visit in 1700 at the age of just 30 and his memorial was erected by his elder brother Robert, who also paid towards church improvements in 1708. A campaign 'Remove Slave Trader Memorial in Falmouth UK' has now been launched on Facebook calling for the removal of the monument alongside an online petition which was set up on Sunday. Petition organiser Kate Thomas said: 'If the Corker family and the Reverend had been proud of how Thomas Corker made his wealth as a slave trader, it would have been included in the eulogy. It was omitted. Instead, he was glorified.' The church itself is now consulting over whether the memorial to Corker, who was born into a prominent Falmouth family and was himself baptised in the church, should remain. Revd Canon Bill Stuart-White with the Thomas Corker memorial at King Charles the Martyr Church in Falmouth, Cornwall The dedication to Thomas Corker (1670-1700) has been mounted on the wall of King Charles the Martyr church since the early 1700s, when it was commissioned by his brother Robert The memorial to Corker is over 300 years old and contains macabre depictions of a skull, as well as a rope around its borders The memorial to slave trader Thomas Corker (1670-1700) is housed in the church of King Charles the Martyr, Falmouth, Cornwall, where he was christened WHO WAS FALMOUTH SLAVE TRADER THOMAS CORKER? Thomas Corker (1670-1700) was born in Falmouth, Cornwall, the second son of a merchant family, and baptised at King Charles the Martyr church on February 4, 1670. His father died early and at the age of 14, Corker was sent to the Guinea coast of western Africa as an apprentice to the Royal African Company. The group had a monopoly on British trade with West Africa, including gold, silver and slaves. The Royal African Company promoted Corker to agent at the Company fort of York Island in the estuary of the river Sherbro in Sierra Leone. He married an African princess known as 'Seniora Doll' and had two sons. Their sons inherited a claim to the west African chiefdom from their mother, and through their father, they were part of the mercantile class and educated in England. In 1700, Thomas Corker made a business trip to Falmouth, bringing with him enslaved Africans, where he died on September 10, aged 30 years. His elder brother Robert (1668-1731) who remained in Falmouth as a merchant, commissioned a 'baroque marble and freestone monument' at the church he was baptised at in his memory. Robert also donated money for church improvements in 1708. Thomas Corker's Euro-African sons established a family dynasty in Sierra Leone. The spelling of the family surname became Caulker. A family history titled 'The Caulkers of Sierra Leone: The Story of a Ruling Family and Their Times', written by Imodale Caulker-Burnett was published in 2010. Source: Whistler History Advertisement Ms Thomas added: 'The omission [of Corker's career] has created a collective amnesia about Falmouth's involvement in the Transatlantic slave trade down the generations of the people of Falmouth and instead Thomas Corker's memorial and the man himself have been admired by visitors to the church for over 300 years.' The campaign added: 'We want King Charles the Martyr Church in Falmouth to do the right thing and remove the memorial to Thomas Corker from its premises. 'The presence of this memorial in the church conflicts with the Christian values of belonging, inclusion, integrity and respect as the Church of England states.' The campaign has called for the memorial to be moved elsewhere as part of an exhibition. Organisers intend to hold an online meeting on Friday to discuss their options. Bishop Hugh Nelson said: 'We condemn the slave trade, which was abhorrent. We are deeply troubled by the existence of a memorial to Corker, who was a slaver, in a church which points us to the God of freedom and justice. 'Because the church is a public building, we want to continue this conversation with the wider community, and we welcome the opportunity to hear everyone's perspectives and views. 'It may be that removing the memorial is the best option, but there might also be better and more creative ways to remember those who suffered from the horrors of slavery in the past and to encourage more people to commit to a just and good world today. 'We want to explore those options as well - and then to come to a clear decision.' In 2020, the Church of England began to roll out a consultation to churches with the aim of getting them to review memorials as part of a process on Contested Heritage. King Charles the Martyr Church began their own process late last year to decide on action regarding the memorial's future. In the months that have followed, there have been conversations with local councillors, members of the black community, local historians and a direct descendant on Thomas Corker who is of mixed heritage himself. As a result of that first meeting, a decision was made to add a temporary notice while work continued which states: 'There is contested heritage around this memorial. 'The church is working with members of the black community and interested parties to move forward and to investigate whether this can be used as an educational tool to address the past wrongs.' Meetings so far have been fruitful, however there has been slow progress over the last 12 months. A church spokesperson said: 'There is however a clear commitment by everyone involved, including the church community, to find a way to use this as an opportunity for education and awareness about issues of race, slavery and discrimination both in the past and today.' 'The Slave Trade' by George Morland, 1867. Captured Africans are shown being rounded up on the shoreline by slave traders. A young apprentice (centre) helps tow a boat Captives being brought on board a slave ship on the west coast of Africa The memorial sits close to one for Joseph Emidy, a prominent black musician and freed slave who married a local woman and settled in Falmouth. The church said that the proximity of these memorials, with hugely contrasting stories relating to the transatlantic slave trade, would present an opportunity to educate about Falmouth's part in the slave trade and the 21st century response to it. Revd Canon Bill Stuart-White, vicar at King Charles the Martyr Church, said: 'The Corker Memorial is in a prominent position in the church and the message it currently conveys about the despicable transatlantic slave-trade clashes starkly and profoundly with the message of the Christian Gospel. 'None of the present generation of worshippers would wish to be associated with the sentiments of the memorial or to glorify in any way the acts of the man it recalls. 'This is an issue the Church takes very seriously and we are committed to finding the best and wisest way to make good the complex failings of the past.' To see the campaign petition, visit here. Those wishing to share their views on the memorial can email Revd Stuart-White at wstuartwhite@gmail.com. The man suspected of killing aspiring lawyer Zara Aleena will stand trial for her murder, attempted rape and robbery before the end of the year, a High Court judge has ruled. Jordan McSweeney, 29, allegedly attacked the 35-year-old as she was walking home following a night out with friends in Ilford, east London, in the early hours of June 26 earlier this year. He is also accused of robbing her mobile phone, keys and handbag before attempting to rape her. During the attack, Zara was dragged into a driveway in Cranbrook Road, where she was then kicked and stamped on, prosecutors allege. Emergency services rushed to the scene after she was found partially naked with severe head injuries and struggling to breathe. A subsequent post-mortem found that Zara, who had recently started work at the Royal Courts of Justice, died from blunt force trauma injury and neck compression. McSweeney, of Dagenham, east London, failed to appear from HMP Belmarsh for a scheduled plea hearing at the Old Bailey today. In his absence, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb fixed a trial date at the same court for December 5. Jordan McSweeney, 29, allegedly attacked the 35-year-old as she was walking home following a night out with her friends A post-mortem found that Zara, who had recently started work at the Royal Courts of Justice, died from blunt force trauma injury and neck compression Forensic officers at the scene in east London following the death of Zara in June earlier this year She said: The 48-hour bail hearing took place in this case back in July. At that hearing...trial dates in January were canvassed. The court has been able to offer a date of December 5. 'At present all parties should be working towards the date. I propose to maintain that proposed trial date for December 5.' The senior judge adjourned the plea hearing until Monday October 24. McSweeney remains in custody. The Metropolitan Police has said Zara died from severe head injuries after she was attacked in busy Cranbrook Road, with her screams waking up nearby residents who frantically dialled 999. Paramedics rushed to the scene where they performed CPR for two hours before taking Ms Aleena to hospital at around 4.30am. She was declared dead shortly afterwards. Earlier this year the family of Ms Aleena released a tribute which said: Zara, 35, a beloved human, child, niece, cousin, granddaughter, friend to all, she was a joy to all of us. She was a carer for her mother, and her grandmother. Caring for others came so naturally to her. Flowers and tributes left outside the home of Zara Aleena, 35, who was killed in the early hours on June 26 Family and friends with members of the public all dressed in white as they attended a vigil in Ilford, east London, in tribute to the law graduate Zara was friendly, she was everybodys friend. She was everybodys daughter, everybodys niece, everybodys sister, everybodys cousin. She was pure of heart. She was a joy to all of us, her sparkling eyes and the curly, jet-black hair. Her glorious laughter and her sweet, smiling voice. Her tiny frame embodied a passionate spirit and indomitable energy. They said she had wanted to be a lawyer from the age of five and that she 'put her party shoes in her bag' and 'walked everywhere' because she believed that a woman should be able to walk home'. A memorial was also organised by the family in the days following her death. Tracing her walk home, hundreds dressed in white clothing and held flowers and pictures of Zara aloft. Dozens of other mourners left bouquets of flowers and cards in tribute. There was a culture of 'deflection and denial' which fostered a 'cruel practice' of denying families the truth Advertisement Mothers have given harrowing accounts of being made to feel to blame for what happened to their babies, told their deaths were 'God's will' and were left in soiled bedding in a damning report into infant deaths at two scandal-hit maternity wards at East Kent Hospitals Trust. The report, published today into one of the UK's biggest maternity scandals has found 45 babies who died at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM) at Margate and the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford could have survived if they received better care. Families were 'disregarded, belittled and blamed', while there were instances where doctors and midwives tried to abdicate responsibility or shift blame onto others when things went wrong, the report led by Dr Bill Kirkup found. 'Deplorable and harrowing': The key findings of Dr Kirkup's report The panel investigated an 11-year period from 2009 at two maternity wards in Margate and Ashford, Kent, and found: Up to 45 babies might have survived if they had received better care Infants died while others ere left badly hurt as a result of failings at East Kent NHS Trust Report found 'clear pattern' of 'suboptimal care' that led to significant harm Failures to listen to families, as well as 'culture of deflection and denial' Staff acted in ways which made the experience of families 'unacceptably and distressingly poor' Panel heard examples of uncompassionate care 'that shocked us', a culture of blaming women, poor teamwork, a lack of professionalism and tendency to deflect responsibility when things went wrong Trust prioritised reputation management to the detriment of being open and straightforward to families Advertisement One mother described being taken into a 'tiny little box room' and being told by medical staff: 'As long as you know, it is not our fault. It is no-one's fault. It is just one of those things'. Another told how she was asked by a member of staff: 'Is there anything you think you could have done better?' The woman said those words 'stuck with me for months and months afterwards, I felt so guilty.' Families also spoke of their pain for not being given answers or reasons for why things went wrong. One bereaved mother told the panel: 'My opinion will always be that [my baby] died because somebody didnt do their job properly; and thats fine if you work in Sainsburys but when it comes to a familys life. 'It has affected me, my husband, our son. Its devastating and it cant be undone, its what we just have to live with.' During one heart-breaking testimony, another bereaved mother told the panel: 'Although it was seven years ago for us, it is still burning in our hearts because we havent had answers.' In one particularly cruel instance, a woman was denied access to a bereavement counsellor because she was not having a funeral for her baby. 'We asked to see the bereavement counsellor, and she refused to see us because we werent having a funeral, she was like, well, theres nothing I can do for you,' the bereaved mother said. Another mother whose baby died was told it was 'God's will; God only takes the babies that he wants to take' by a midwife. Danielle Clark, mother to Noah described the difficult labour and birth she went through at QEQM, saying: 'I had a son in 2013, I was induced but the reason I was induced was never communicated. 'The induction then took three days, I should have been offered an emergency C-section, but instead they gave me too much induction gel, over the Nice (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidelines. 'They should have only given me three doses and then reviewed the situation, but they carried on and gave me two more. 'I had a very traumatic delivery, they'd left it so long that they couldn't reverse to a C-section because if they were to do that it could have been fatal to my son or he could have had brain damage. 'Noah got very distressed, he ended up needed resuscitation and spent nine days in the special care baby unit. 'At eight weeks old he had to have emergency surgery because things had been missed, he wasn't gaining weight, he was dying in front of our eyes basically.' Danielle Clark, 31, said a series of failings led to her son Noah being sent to the Evelina London children's hospital for life-saving surgery The review was triggered by the death of newborn Harry Richford in November 2017, with one midwife describing 'panic' during attempts to resuscitate him. The trust recorded his death as 'expected' and did not inform the coroner, but an inquest revealed he had died due to seven gross failings that amounted to neglect Helen Gittos lost her baby daughter Harriet at The Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in 2014 Last October Mrs Clark gave birth to her third son - and was disappointed to experience further issues with her care at QEQM Hospital. She explained: 'I developed diabetes, I had multiple hospital admissions, I was told I needed to have my blood sugars monitored due to the risk of stillbirth but this was never done. 'I will never, ever forget the day a senior midwife sat at my bedside and told me she was a midwife, not a nurse, and the diabetes was basically my issue. They treated me as if diabetes was as bad as having a sexually transmitted infection, it was horrific.' 'She was failed by nearly every professional: Grandmother hits out at medical staff amid claims traumatic birth at hospital in Ashford contributed to her daughters suicide A grandmother has criticised midwives and doctors for a 'catalogue of failings' around the birth of her grandson that she claims contributed to her daughter taking her own life. Lyn Richardson said her daughter Rebecca Kruza, 39, killed herself in 2017 months after the 'traumatic' birth in October 2016 at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent. Ms Richardson said her daughter had post-natal issues while her grandson suffered from health problems early on. She claimed doctors did not take her daughter's concerns seriously, which she claimed was one of the reasons she took her own life. Ms Richardson said: 'From the day of the birth right up until we lost Rebecca, which was eight months later, there was a catalogue of failings. 'There's just a complete lack of understanding of what mothers need and then consequently what their babies need. She was failed by nearly every professional involved in her care. 'She had a traumatic birth which was very badly managed, the immediate post-natal care was very badly managed when she developed problems.' Ms Richardson did not expand on the nature of her grandson's problems, and added her daughter had been on mental health medication and seeing a counsellor before her death. She has since set up a foundation in her daughter's memory to campaign for improvements to maternal care. The foundation, called Everglow: The Rebecca Kruza Campaign, submitted evidence to the Kirkup inquiry providing details of Rebecca's case and the experiences of a number of other parents and is calling for a number of measures to be implemented. They include a mandatory duty of care for health visitors and GPs to support mothers and babies where symptoms of mental health emerge and introducing more frequent health checks from midwives in the post-natal period. Responding to the Kirkup report, Ms Richardson said: 'I wasn't surprised by what we were told today. There's a power play involved that needs to be dissolved. 'What is available needs to be rebuilt from the bottom up and the Government needs to provide the funding to implement those very simple measures and save the heartache.' The trust has been approached for comment. For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details. Advertisement She added: 'People need to be held accountable. Things have got to change, babies are dying just through bad care and pure neglect. 'Midwives at the moment are short staffed but it's almost like they're treating every patient as textbook material, but anybody who has any sense knows no patient is textbook. 'I wouldn't say I've got closure because having experienced neglect again eight years later with the birth of my third son last year, it's very infuriating to think things still haven't changed.' The report was triggered by the death of newborn Harry Richford in November 2017, with one midwife describing 'panic' during attempts to resuscitate him while a staff nurse said the scene was 'chaotic'. The family of baby Harry Richford, who died a week after his birth at the QEQM in 2017, have long campaigned for answers after saying their concerns were repeatedly brushed aside by hospital managers. The trust was fined 733,000 last year for failures in Harry's care after he suffered brain damage. A previous inquest ruled his death was 'wholly avoidable' and found more than a dozen areas of concern, including failings in the way an 'inexperienced' doctor carried out the delivery, followed by delays in resuscitating him. Following Harry's death, the East Kent Trust recorded his death as 'expected' and did not inform the coroner. Only the efforts of Harry's family eventually brought his death to the attention of coroner Christopher Sutton-Mattocks. Another bereaved mother Helen Gittos, who lost her newborn daughter Harriet at the QEQM in Margate in 2014, told how her daughter 'lived for a week but never opened her eyes'. Ms Gittos has told how she felt 'blamed' for the death of her baby, and was horrified to learn that maternity staff had written in her notes she and her partner had refused medical care when they had not. Harriet was delivered via emergency C-section after her heartbeat could be heard dipping on the monitor. She was born 'very very poorly' but Ms Gittos said: 'She lived for about a week and she looked so well but she never opened her eyes and she never cried.' Harriet died eight days after being born, having suffered a brain injury during her birth. Ms Gittos told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that she felt the hospital's reaction during her labour had not been 'swift enough or decisive enough'. Recounting the experience, Ms Gittos said: 'At the time to us it felt as though the reaction to that was not swift enough, or decisive enough. 'I was forced to listen to a list of risks about having a Caesarean section and forced to sign a consent form when we had already consented to having a C-section were it to be needed. 'It just felt terrifying that nothing was happening fast enough and that there was this miscommunication going on.' She also explained that there was a doctor 'shouting' in her face that she would harm her baby if she did not sign the form, but was physically unable to. Ms Gittos said that amongst the 'very worst moments' of the ordeal was being told that maternity staff had written in her notes that she and her partner Andy had refused medical care when they had not. 'It became clear that when in labour we had asked questions, 'Is this the right thing to do? Should we do this now?' that kind of thing, they were all treated as being non-compliance,' Ms Gittos continued. 'That they were treated as being refusals of medical care when we never refused anything at all, so hearing this doctor tell me this is amongst the very worst moments of it all.' A culture of 'denial and deflection': How staff fostered a 'cruel practice' of denying families the truth - and 45 babies might have been saved Dr Bill Kirkup, chairman of the independent inquiry into maternity at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, today called the findings of the investigation 'shocking and uncomfortable'. He blasted a culture of 'deflection and denial' within NHS trusts when they are questioned about potential cases of substandard care is a 'cruel practice' which 'needs to be addressed'. Dr Kirkup said: 'This is a cruel practice that ends up with families being denied the truth. That's a terrible way to treat somebody in the name of protecting your reputation. 'The findings of the investigation are stark and the conclusions are shocking and uncomfortable.' Dr Kirkup also said the inquiry had heard 'harrowing' accounts from families receiving 'suboptimal' care, with mothers ignored by staff and shut out from their own care. 'An overriding theme, raised us with time and time again, is the failure of the trust's staff to take notice of women when they raised concerns, when they questioned their care, and when they challenged the decisions that were made about their care,' the report said. Dr Bill Kirkup (pictured) speaking at a press conference in Kent today as he exposed 'deplorable and harrowing' failures by two hospitals part of East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust Of 202 cases reviewed by the experts, the outcome could have been different in 97 cases, the inquiry found. In 69 of these 97 cases, it is predicted the outcome should reasonably have been different and could have been different in a further 28 cases. Of the 65 baby deaths examined, 45 could have had a different outcome if nationally recognised standards of care had been provided. When looking at 33 of these 45 cases, the outcome would reasonably expected to have been different, while in a further 12 cases it might have been different. Meanwhile, in 17 cases of brain damage, 12 (72% of cases) could have had a different outcome if good care had been given, of which nine should reasonably have been expected to have had a different outcome. In nearly half of all cases examined by the panel, good care could have led to a different outcome for the families. Following the publication of the report, Tracey Fletcher, chief executive of the Trust, said that they 'failed' the families involved. 'I want to say sorry and apologise unreservedly for the harm and suffering that has been experienced by the women and babies who were within our care, together with their families, as described in today's report,' she said. 'These families came to us expecting that we would care for them safely, and we failed them. 'We must now learn from and act on this report; for those who have taken part in the investigation, for those who we will care for in the future, and for our local communities. I know that everyone at the Trust is committed to doing that.' Following the release of the report, Health Minister Dr Caroline Johnson said she was 'deeply sorry to all the families that have suffered and continue to suffer from the tragedies detailed in Dr Bill Kirkup's review'. She said: 'We are committed to preventing families from going through the same pain in future and are working closely with the NHS to continue improving the quality of care for mothers and babies with support teams for trusts, backed by 127 million to grow the workforce and improve neonatal care. 'We take these findings and recommendations extremely seriously and will review them all in detail ahead of publishing a full response.' Tracey Fletcher, chief executive of the Trust, gave a statement following the publication of the report today and said that they 'failed' the families involved However, Sir Roger Gale, the MP for North Thanet refuted claims that midwifery staff treated patients in an 'unkind and callous' way. Sir Roger has expressed concerns for the 'morale and wellbeing' of those nurses and midwives at the hospitals, who he believes have been the subject of 'unwarranted criticism'. This morning, the former governor of the East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust Alex Lister resigned over his role in the maternity scandal. In a letter to Niall Dickson, Chair of the East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, Lister said: 'While there have been some positive changes in leadership including your appointment as chair and the appointment of a new chief executive, there remains a cancer at the top of the organisation. 'I believe officials on six-figure salaries continue to mislead, obfuscate, bully and conceal vital information. 'Without the valiant efforts of the brave families caught up in a tragedy of the Trust's making, the world may never have found out about the disastrous health failings at our Trust. 'Yet, despite everything we now know, individuals complicit in the attempted cover-up of the maternity scandal, including the tragic case of baby Harry Richford, continue in their positions.' Big egos and separate fiefdoms: How staff cultivated a 'culture of tribalism' at two East Kent NHS Trust hospitals The inquiry found 'gross failures of teamworking across the trust's maternity services' while some staff 'acted as if they were responsible for separate fiefdoms, cultivating a culture of tribalism,' it said. 'There have also been problems within obstetrics and within midwifery, with factionalism, lack of mutual trust, and disregard for other points of view.' Some obstetricians had 'challenging personalities ... big egos ... huge egos', according to the report, while midwives showed 'cliquey behaviour" and there was an in-group, "the A-team'. One assessor with wide experience of the NHS said the trust had 'the worst culture I've ever seen'. The report described how maternity services were left unsafe due to bullying between midwives, while some obstetric consultants 'expected junior staff and locum doctors to manage clinical problems themselves, discouraged escalation, and on occasion refused to attend out of hours.' Staff were also 'disrespectful to women and disparaging about the capabilities of colleagues', with one consultant heard saying the unit was 'unsafe'. One woman, whose baby had died, was told: 'It's God's will; God only takes the babies that he wants to take.' Another woman could feel herself being cut open due to inadequate pain relief, while another, who asked why an additional attempt at forceps delivery was to be made, was 'brusquely told that it was 'in case of death'.' The report added that midwives who 'were not part of the favoured in-group at William Harvey were sometimes assigned to the highest-risk mothers and challenged to achieve delivery with no intervention. This was a downright dangerous practice.' Timeline of what went wrong at East Kent Hospitals Trust: Alarm bells were first raised about poor maternity care in 2012 - EIGHT YEARS before No10 decided to formally probe the scandal-hit unit By John Ely, Senior Health Reporter for MailOnline East Kent Hospitals Trust has become the latest NHS organisation to be rocked by a maternity scandal spanning over a decade. Here MailOnline details the timeline of events and the numerous missed chances to stop more children from dying. 2009 East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust becomes a foundation trust, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 695,000 people. 2012 Serious problems at the trust were first highlighted when newborn Harry Halligan died at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford. His twin sister was first delivered without any major complications but Harry was delivered by emergency caesarean after failed attempts to use forceps. His mother, Alison Halligan, said the decision was taken 'a bit late' and the hospital did not seem prepared to deliver twins. After numerous investigations, the trust told Harry's parents lessons would be learnt from the case. 2014 The trust is put into special measures following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission after the regulator rated its care, including maternity services, as inadequate. During this time eight baby deaths were recorded in that year alone, according to trust documents. One of these was Harriet Gittos who died a week after suffering a brain injury during the birth. Problems were highlighted at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust numerous times over the years. Pictured here is the Trust's William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, Kent 2015, March The Morecambe Bay report which investigated failures at a Cumbrian hospital that led to the deaths of 11 babies is published. Written by Dr Bill Kirkup, who has led the East Kent independent review, he stated it was vital lessons were learnt by other trusts. 2016 February A Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) report raises concerns about inadequate maternity care at the Trust. It flags multiple issues, including poor working culture between staff, inconsistent adherence to national standards, and poor governance following serious incidents. A maternity improvement plan for the trust is then launched, following the RCOG report. 2016, November Dr Kelli Rudolph gives birth to her daughter Celandine at the Trust following a concerning labour. Celandine suffers brain damage due to a lack of oxygen during the birth and lives less than a week. She is controversially classified as 'stillborn' by staff despite living for five days, prompting concerns of a cover-up. 2017, April Hallie-Rae Leek dies on April 7, four days after being born. During the labour a midwife struggles to find her heart-rate and by the time she is born she is in a poor condition. It then takes 22 minutes to resuscitate her, by which time irreparable damage is done. The Trust accepts the death was preventable. Hallie-Rae Leek died at four days old at William Harvey Hospital, pictured here with her mother Becca Janes and her partner Adam Leek 2017, November Harry Richford was born on his due date at the QEQM hospital in Margate, Kent. Staff's handling of the labour, delivery and resuscitation of Harry were severely botched, resulting in him suffering severe brain damage. He dies seven days later following his life support being withdrawn after his parents are told he would never have any quality of life considering his paraplegic state and significant learning and cognitive difficulties. His family being campaigning for justice and an independent investigation into Harry's death. Their fight for answers would eventually lead to an inquest into Harry's death. 2018 Watchdogs are the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch launch their own investigation into the Trust regarding Harry's death. They found numerous failings, including the fact the medic managing the birth was a junior doctor, when it should of been a more senior consultant. Failings at the Trust are also uncovered by an investigation undertaken by the Healthcare Safety Investigations Branch. 2019, January Tallulah-Rai Edwards dies on January 28, stillborn. In the 36th week of the pregnancy, her mother became worried about the slow movement in the womb. Midwives, despite struggling to get a good heart-rate reading from the baby, sent her home. She returned two days later still worried and asked for further tests but by this time Tallulah had died. An internal investigation found staff should of tried to get a good reading for longer and then arranged an ultrasound. 2019, February Archie Powell dies on Valentine's Day 2019. Medics failed to spot he was suffering from a common infection, group B streptococcus. The delay led to severe brain damage, and he dies shortly after. An internal trust investigation said his death was 'potentially avoidable'. Archie Powell (left) died on 14 February 2019, aged four days after medics failed to spot he had a common infection, He is pictured here with his twin Evalene, who survived 2019, September Archie Batten dies shortly after being born. When his mother went into labour, she called the QEQM hospital in Margate who told her their maternity unit was full and she should drive to the Trust's other hospital, the William Harvey in Ashford, about 38 miles away. Midwives are then sent to her home but struggle to deliver the baby. She is later taken back to the Queen hospital where her son dies of a brain injury due to the long labour. The hospital apologised for their handling of the birth, and said changes had been implemented. Rachel Higgs and Andrew Batten with their baby Archie who died after his mother was rushed to hospital after being originally turned away from Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother Hospital maternity unit earlier in the day being told it was full 2020, January A coroner gave his conclusion to Harry Richford's three-week inquest and found seven gross failings in the care received that he says amount to neglect. Following the conclusion, the trust said it accepted the coroner's findings and was 'deeply sorry' for its failings in Harry's care. During the inquest, it also emerges that the trust failed to complete 21 recommendations out of 23 made by the 2015 review conducted by RCOG. These recommendations included a lack of reviews into high risk women and reluctance of some senior staff to attend out of our calls. 2020, February Then health minister, Nadine Dorries MP, announces that Dr Bill Kirkup will lead an independent review of maternity services in East Kent. 2020, October The health watchdog, the Care Quality Commission, announces it will criminally prosecute the Trust on two counts of unsafe care and treatment for Harry and his mother Sarah Richford. This is the first prosecution of its kind in NHS history. The trust is fined 733,000. The Care Quality Commission eventually criminally prosecuted the Trust for failings in the care of Harry Richford and his mother Sarah (pictured right with her husband Tom in 2021) 2021, April East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust pleads guilty to failing to provide safe care and treatment to Harry and his mother. 2021, September The Kirkup report is originally due but is delayed because of the impact of the Covid pandemic. 2022, June A coroner finds the death Archie Batten was 'contributed to by neglect' and 'gross failure' of the hospital. 2022, September The Kirkup report is delayed yet again, this time by the death of The Queen. 2022, October The Kirkup Independent Inquiry investigating maternity services at East Kent Hospitals Trust is published. It finds 45 baby deaths could have had a different outcome if nationally recognised standards of care had been provided. How the East Kent maternity scandal isn't a solitary problem: 'Deplorable' probe shares chilling similarities with NHS inquiries into appalling care for babies and mothers at Shrewsbury, Nottingham and Morecambe Dr Bill Kirkup, chairman of the inquiry, led an eerily similar investigation into avoidable baby deaths at Morecambe Bay, which concluded in 2015, with a toxic culture between staff partly blamed. He told today's press conference, where 'harrowing details of the East Kent scandal emerged, that he 'did not imagine I would be back reporting on a similar set of circumstances seven years later'. And just seven months ago, the biggest maternity scandal in NHS history was unveiled after an investigation into Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust revealed 201 babies and nine mothers died during two decades of appalling care. It found that substandard care, and defensive practices, led to babies dying needlessly. A separate inquiry into a catalogue of failures is also underway at Nottingham University Hospitals. Dozens of families have complained about the death or injury of babies and mothers. Morecambe Bay The Morecambe Bay report was led by Dr Bill Kirkup, the man behind the new inquiry into East Kent. His team found that 11 babies and one mother died following a lethal mix of shocking failures in a 'seriously dysfunctional' maternity unit at Furness General Hospital in Barrow, Cumbria. A combination of feuding medics, an obsession with 'natural' childbirth, and a tight knit group of midwives who dubbed themselves 'The Musketeers' contributed to a 'distressing chain of events' which led to avoidable harm to mothers and babies. The investigation covered incidents at the hospital between 2004 and 2013 and uncovered a series of failures 'at every level' from the maternity unit to those responsible for regulating and monitoring the trust which runs the unit. The final report, published in 2015, slammed the clinical competence of staff, a 'them and us' culture between midwives, obstetricians and paediatricians and an over-zealous pursuit of natural childbirth 'at all costs' by a small group of dominant midwives. It also suggested that when babies died, midwives conspired to cover up the failings. Concerns at the Trust came to the fore thanks to campaigning by the family Joshua Titcombe. Joshua was just nine days old when he died in 2008 from an infection that should have been treated by antibiotics but wasn't, sparking a long fight for the truth by his family. In his comments at time, Dr Kirkup praised the 'diligent and courageous families' who had 'persistently refused to accept what they were being told' by hospital staff. And prophetically he said it was vital lessons from Morecambe Bay were learnt by other trusts to avoid similar tragedies in the future. 'It is vital that the lessons, now plain to see, are learned and acted upon, not least by other trusts which must not believe "that it could not happen here"', he said. 'If those lessons are not acted upon, we are destined sooner or later to add again to the roll of names.' Shrewsbury and Telford A damning five-year inquiry, published in March this year, revealed 201 babies and nine mothers died needlessly during two decades of appalling care at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust. The inquiry examined cases involving 1,486 families, mostly from 2000 to 2019, and found 'repeated errors in care' had led to injury to either mothers or their babies. Babies suffered skull fractures, broken bones or developed cerebral palsy after traumatic forceps deliveries, while others were starved of oxygen or experienced life-changing brain injuries. In one case, cleaners binned vital information which was stored on Post-it notes causing 'tragic consequences for a newborn and her family'. It also found that in some cases mothers had been blamed for their own deaths. Donna Ockenden, the senior midwife behind the scathing probe, ruled that the organisation 'failed to investigate, failed to learn and failed to improve'. She added: 'This resulted in tragedies and life-changing incidents for so many of our families.' Staff were found to be frightened to speak out about errors due to the 'culture of undermining and bullying', while bosses ignored parents who raised concerns about how they were treated. There were issues with staffing, the management of patient safety, patient and family involvement in care and investigations, as well as the complaints processes. Medics also discouraged C-sections as part of a drive to push up so called 'natural' birth rates, which Ms Ockenden claimed 'resulted in many babies dying during birth or shortly after'. External health authorities failed to adequately investigate serious incidents with families themselves denied access to reviews of their care. Like Dr Kirkup in his investigation into Morecambe Bay, Ms Ockenden warned that failings at Shrewsbury and Telford were not unique. Ms Ockenden listed 15 'immediate and essential' steps for every NHS maternity ward to take, including better training and better communication with families. She warned that pregnant women will not be safe to give birth until her recommendations from the report are implemented. Nottingham University Hospitals Findings from yet another NHS maternity scandal are likely be published in the next 18 months. Ms Ockenden, the midwife behind the scathing report into Shrewsbury and Telford, is currently leading an investigation into reports of poor care of mothers and babies at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. Her appointment followed backlash from parents about the health service's previous review into the Trust, which critics feared wasn't truly independent. The new investigation launched in September and will examine events from April 2012 to the present day. At least nine babies and three mothers are believed to have died over the past three years at the trust, which runs 15 hospitals in the Midlands. It had previously paid out millions of pounds over 30 baby deaths and 46 infants who were left brain damaged. The final copy of the report is due to be published in March 2024, but this could be subject to extension depending on the evidence received. From probing the 1989 Hillsborough disaster to how Jimmy Savile was able to sexually abuse Broadmoor patients: How Dr Bill Kirkup - leading the review into the failings at East Kent Hospitals Trust - is no stranger to huge inquiries Dr Bill Kirkup was tasked with investigating dozens of avoidable baby deaths at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust. But it is not his the first time probing events which saw ordinary Britons let down by those in power. Since retiring from public health duties over a decade ago, Dr Kirkup has gone on to investigate both the Hillsborough stadium disaster and Jimmy Savile's involvement at Broadmoor hospital. He also led investigations into maternity care at Morecambe Bay which, as it would later turn out, would be the first in a series of damning reports into shocking care of mothers and babies within the NHS. Dr Kirkup issued a chilling warning at the time that if lessons weren't learnt from the report, then other NHS trusts would be destined to repeat the same mistakes. Dr Bill Kirkup is no stranger to uncovering the failings of those in power to protect vulnerable Britons Dr Kirkup was a joint investigator into a report into the involvement of paedophile presenter Jimmy Savile at Broadmoor Hospital He also served as a member of the Hillsborough Independent Panel and was responsible for medical evidence which led to new inquests into some of the deaths from the disaster in 1989 which saw Liverpool fans crushed on the terraces during the FA Cup Semi-Final match Dr Kirkup's career in health began as ward orderly before he qualifying as doctor, choosing to specialise in obstetrics and gynaecological oncology. He then switched focus into public health and medical management, eventually becoming associate chief medical officer for England. Dr Kirkup has also previously volunteered to work alongside military operations in Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan as a medical professional to help in reconstruction efforts. But he stepped down from public health roles in 2009. Following that, he has been involved in multiple serious independent investigations into some of England's biggest public service failures. These include a spate of deaths at a children's cardiology unit at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, where there were attempts to 'restrict' knowledge of problems there after four fatalities in early 2010. Dr Kirkup was also joint lead investigator into the involvement of paedophile presenter Jimmy Savile at Broadmoor Hospital. This included how Savile charmed his way into obtaining a set of hospital keys effectively giving him the run of the hospital, including access to various patient areas. Savile, who Dr Kirkup described as an 'adept manipulator of people', had a caravan on the hospital site that he used to 'entertain' a stream of female visitors. He also used his access to the wards to watch female patients undress and as they bathed. The report uncovered 10 allegations of sexual assaults by Savile at the hospital, two involving minors. Five of these were assessed as cases of sexual abuse by Savile, with another one deemed 'more likely than not' by Dr Kirkup and his fellow investigators. Investigators were unable to speak to the victims of the other five alleged assaults. They added, however, that the total number of cases of assault is likely to be higher due to underreporting. Dr Kirkup's report found the closed and introspective institutional culture of Broadmoor failed to prevent the sexual abuse of patients including by Savile. They recommended NHS introduce stricter polices on sexual relationships in the health service between staff and patients, and the reporting of it, as well as tighter controls on appointment of celebrities to positions in the health service. Perhaps most relevant to the current investigation is Dr Kirkup's work as the chair into the report on the Morecambe Bay maternity scandal, the first in a series of reports exposing poor care in the last decade. The two-year investigation, completed in 2015, found 11 babies and one mother died following a lethal mix of shocking failures in a 'seriously dysfunctional' maternity unit at Furness General Hospital in Barrow, Cumbria, run by Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust. In what would sadly be an unheeded warning, Dr Kirkup said other hospitals needed to learn lessons from Morecambe Bay to avoid similar scandals in the future. 'It is vital that the lessons, now plain to see, are learned and acted upon, not least by other trusts which must not believe "that it could not happen here"', he said. 'If those lessons are not acted upon, we are destined sooner or later to add again to the roll of names.' He has also been involved in multiple investigations into patient safety incidents and deaths at the former Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust, one of which is still ongoing. Dr Kirkup has also served as a member of the Hillsborough Independent Panel and was responsible for medical evidence which led to new inquests into some of the deaths resulting from the disaster at the stadium in 1989. He also served on the Independent Panel which investigated deaths due to drug overdoses at Gosport War Memorial Hospital in 2018. They found that more than 450 patients had been given opioids 'without appropriate clinical indication', and 200 more patients were 'probably' also affected. There was also a 'disregard for human life and a culture of shortening the lives of a large number of patients'. She said she had a 'mini-meltdown' and 'needs some time with mum and dad' In a message sent to a colleague she said she was 'nodding off' in a cinema Neonatal nurse Lucy Letby had a 'mini-meltdown' following the deaths of three babies she is accused of killing and the near-fatal collapse of another, a court heard today. In a message sent to a colleague at the end of June 2015 she said she was 'nodding off' in a cinema. She then added: 'I had a mini-meltdown last night about what's happened at workI just need some time with mum and dad'. Letby, 32, of Hereford, denies the murders of seven babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital, Cheshire, and the attempted murders of a further 10 infants. The jury at Manchester Crown Court has heard that Baby A, a boy, died on June 8, Baby C, a boy, died on June 14 and Baby D on June 22. It is alleged that Letby tried to kill Baby A's twin sister, Baby B, shortly after her birth on June 8. The court heard that on June 10, while Baby B was still recovering, her alleged assailant messaged a colleague to ask: 'Will you let me know if any change?' The other nurse sent a later message saying there had been 'no change' in Baby B's condition. When Letby enquired again at 10.08pm, her colleague replied to say B was 'looking really good'. Both the text traffic and Letby's Facebook searches of the twins' mother were being read out to the jury by Claire Hocknell, an intelligence analyst with Cheshire Police. She confirmed to Ben Myers, KC, for the defendant, that Letby was carrying out similar searches on numerous other parents of the babies she dealt with at work. Many of these had infants who were not involved in the trial. Lucy Letby (pictured) carried out repeated Facebook searches of Baby A's mother less than two hours after the infant's 'sudden and unexpected' collapse Neonatal nurse Letby took hand and foot print photos of a baby she now stands accused of murdering, a jury at Manchester Crown Court was told Susan and John Letby arrive at Manchester Crown Court today. They have supported their daughter throughout the trial It comes after the court was told yesterday that Letby took hand and foot print photos of Baby A, and also cut a lock of hair in the hours after his death as part of a memory box to give his distraught parents. The revelations are made in some of the scores of text messages she shared with colleagues following the infant's 'sudden and unexpected' collapse on June 8, 2015. An analysis of her internet use also revealed that she carried out repeated Facebook searches on Baby A's mother the first of them at 9.58am the morning after his death. The neonatal nurse, 32, is accused of murdering seven newborn children and the attempted murder of a further ten during an alleged killing spree between June 2015 and June 2016 while working in a neonatal unit. Two of the infants, twins Baby A and Baby B, were born within a minute of each other at the Countess of Chester Hospital, Cheshire, on June 7, 2015. Letby is said to have murdered Baby A by injecting air into his bloodstream on June 8. The nurse is also accused of attempting to kill his twin sister by the same method during the following night shift. The court heard analysis of Letby's internet usage showed she carried out repeated Facebook searches of Baby A's mother just hours after the infant's collapse. At the same time, she was also being consoled by colleagues, with Letby telling one nurse: 'It was awful. He died very suddenly and unexpectedly just after handover. Not sure why. It's gone to the coroner. They are querying a clotting problem. Very sad.' Referring to the end of her own shift earlier the same day, the colleague responded: 'Oh God, he was doing really well when I left.' Letby then told her: 'Just collapsed very suddenly. Awful. He had really good day on Monday then I took over Monday night'. The colleague expressed sympathy that Letby was on duty at the time, adding: 'I'm sorry it happened when you were taking care of him. You're not having a good run at the moment.' Letby replied: 'I wasn't supposed to be in either. But these things happen unfortunately.' The nurse also said the parents of Baby A and Baby B had been 'beside themselves' over worries they would also lose their infant daughter. She is said to have murdered Baby A, the twin brother of Baby B, by injecting air into his bloodstream A court sketch of Lucy Letby at Manchester Crown Court on Monday, where she stands charged with the murder of seven babies and the attempted murder of another ten Full indictment against Lucy Letby Lucy Letby is charged as follows: Count 1 - Charged with murder of Baby A on June 8, 2015 Count 2 - Charged with attempted murder of Baby B between the June 8, 2015 and June 11, 2015 Count 3 - Charged with murder of Baby C on June 14, 2015 Count 4 - Charged with murder of Baby D on June 22, 2015 Count 5 - Charged with murder of Baby E on August 4, 2015 Count 6 - Charged with attempted murder of Baby F on August 5, 2015 Count 7 - Charged with attempted murder of Baby G on September 7, 2015 Count 8 - Charged with attempted murder of Baby G on September 21, 2015 Count 9 - Charged with attempted murder of Baby G on September 21, 2015 Count 10 - Charged with attempted murder of Baby H on September 26, 2015 Count 11 - Charged with attempted murder of Baby H on September 27, 2015 Count 12 - Charged with murder of Baby I on October 23, 2015 Count 13 - Charged with attempted murder of Baby J on November 27, 2015 Count 14 - Charged with attempted murder of Baby K on February 17, 2015 Count 15 - Charged with attempted murder of Baby L on April 9, 2016 Count 16 - Charged with attempted murder of Baby M on April 9, 2016 Count 17 - Charged with attempted murder of Baby N on June 3, 2016 Count 18 - Charged with attempted murder of Baby N on June 15, 2016 Count 19 - Charged with attempted murder of Baby N on June 15, 2016 Count 20 - Charged with murder of Baby O on June 23, 2016 Count 21 - Charged with murder of Baby P on June 24, 2016 Count 22 - Charged with attempted murder of Baby Q on June 25, 2016 Advertisement The court heard how by June 30th nurses at the hospital began discussing the 'oddness' of Baby A's death, along with those of two other infants the same month - Baby C on June 6 and Baby D on June 22. One nurse said in a message to Letby: 'There's something odd about that night and the others going suddenly. Odd that we lost three and in different circumstances'. Letby replied: 'I dunnoWere they that different?' The colleague then referred to the medical issues of Baby C and Baby D, adding: 'It's (Baby A) I can't get my head around'. The court was also shown text messages from colleagues consoling Letby following Baby A's death, with one telling her: 'Luckily it doesn't happen very often here, not that that's any consolation at all. If you want to chat or anything you know where I am xxxx.' Letby then sent a message ahead of starting her next scheduled shift on June 9, expressing apprehension about looking after the dead baby's surviving twin - Baby B. She replied to a fellow nurse who asked: 'Hi Lucy. Hope you are OK?' Letby responded: 'I think we all did everything we possibly could under very difficult and sad circumstances. Haven't had much sleep. Don't really want to see parents but it's got to be done. 'I said to [another nurse] that I can't look after [Child B] because I just don't know how I'm going to feel seeing parents. 'Dad was on the floor crying saying ''please don't take our baby away'' when we took him to the mortuary. It's just heart-breaking. 'It's the hardest thing I've ever had to do. Hopefully have a more positive one tonight.' The colleague responded by saying she would prefer that Letby cared for the infant so her parents 'don't have a totally new face'. At 6.38pm the day after Baby A's death, Letby was praised by the same nurse for the way she had dealt with the incident. The nurse told her: 'You did amazing. I'm so proud of you'. She added: 'Hope that doesn't sound patronisingYou did fab.' Her more senior colleague responded: 'I can't imagine how hard that must have been.' At 8pm, just over an hour later, Letby messaged her colleague again to tell her how difficult it had been to arrive at the hospital for her shift and see Baby A's parents. Her colleague reassured her, saying: 'Remember, you're not on your own.' Later the same evening, the colleague added: 'We do have a good team. I just wish I could have give you the night off, but you're all needed.' Letby replied with a reference to her covering for a colleague when she was on duty in the unit at the time of Baby A's death, writing: 'It's the last time I do you you a favour changing shifts! Ha ha!' Her colleague responded: 'Yes, I did think that. But I'm sure the girls were glad you were there.' The scores of messages shown to the jury also included texts relating to Letby's work on the unit, along with others about the nurses' social lives away from the neonatal unit. In one message referring to Baby A's death, Letby said: 'We all need answers.' She told a colleague later that she had been watching An Hour To Save Your Life, a TV documentary following life on a neonatal unit. The woman said she did not watch such programmes, explaining: 'get enough in work'. But Letby explained her fascination: 'I just find it interesting, to see how our work is portrayed to the public.' At 11.09pm, the same colleague told Letby that the parents of Baby A had taken a memory box about their son. 'Oh good', Letby said, 'Hoped they would find comfort'. Twenty minutes later, at 11.31pm, she was searching for the dead baby's mother on Facebook. The court has previously heard how Baby A's mother was heard screaming: 'Please don't let my baby die. Please don't let my baby die' as they tried to resuscitate him. The twins' father, meanwhile, was in shock and frozen 'like a statue', the court heard. Their mother was resting when she and her husband were alerted to a problem with their son, who had been delivered second. In a statement read to the jury at Manchester Crown Court, the mother recalled watching a film when a male member of staff rushed in. 'You need to come quick,' he said. The couple ran into the neonatal unit to see an array of doctors and nurses trying desperately to save her son's life. She said: 'I remember seeing what I can only describe as hundreds of people around his cot. A nurse asked if I was religious and would I like her to say a prayer'. A consultant in the unit, Dr Rav Jayaram, came up to the couple to explain that even if he could bring Baby A back he would be severely brain damaged. 'He said they needed me to give my permission to stop CPR. I was so upset I couldn't bring myself to say stop. It was (my husband) who said 'You have toYou're being cruelHe's not there any more'. The mother added: 'The only thing I could bring myself to do was nod'. She went on: 'One of the things that upsets me the most is that I never had the opportunity to hold my son while he was alive.' Baby A remained in an incubator known as a 'hot cot' for the next two hours as arrangements were made to take him to Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, for a post mortem. Letby denies all offences. The trial continues. Britain's scandal-plagued Red Arrows have today come under fire once again amid claims a female member quit the display team after being bullied and harassed. The officer, in her early 30s, is understood to have joined the elite flying unit earlier this year. But after just six months, she filed a complaint to top military brass about behaviour that made her feel 'uncomfortable'. A source within the RAF said the female aviator had lashed out over the 'toxic' environment within the famed air squad. The claim is the latest bombshell to rock the Red Arrows, amid damning allegations that sexual harassment, assault, misogyny and bullying were rife within its ranks. In August it was revealed several young female recruits were among more than 40 personnel who have given 250 hours of evidence to a 'long-running' inquiry into the 'toxic pocket' of the RAF. The Red Arrows display team, the pride of the RAF, has been rocked by scandals, with the team accused of bullying and harassment. Pictured are jets at the 2014 Jersey International Airshow In the biggest scandal to ever hit the top aerobatic team in its 57-year history, one anonymous source claimed that young females in the 130-strong squadron were like 'fresh meat'. Four personnel are now subject to an official probe by the RAF and could be sacked over the allegations. Speaking of the latest development in the sorry saga, an RAF source told The Times: 'Although things have happened since the last story came to light, the toxic behaviour is still going on and not enough is being done about it.' Former intelligence officer Philip Ingram, who is part of the Independent Defence Authority supporting military personnel, said the latest claims were damning and posed huge questions for the unit's chain of command. 'Its a simple failure in command. Theres toxic leadership enhanced by a feeling of elitism because of the organisation they're part of,' he told MailOnline. 'Whenever they get someone who, for whatever doesnt fit or they think doesn't, they bully them out... They're destroying people's lives.' Former intelligence officer Lt Col Philip Ingram (pictured) says it is 'impossible to accurately assess how many Russian agents there are in the UK' Mr Ingram added the Red Arrows' scandal would be 'top of the agenda' for the RAF's boss, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, to tackle. The latest case comes just days after Parliament's influential Defence Committee issued a fresh plea for evidence in its latest investigation into women in the armed forces. Now the committee is seeking to quiz Sir Mike before Christmas over a 'variety of issues' relating to the RAF, which is expected to include the scandal plaguing the Red Arrows. The Defence Committee prepares its latest evidence session on women in the armed forces, scheduled for November 8. It comes after Tuesday's bombshell revelation that up to 30 former RAF pilots had been hired by China on huge 250,000 salaries to teach Chinese top guns how to shoot down Western aircraft. The team, which normally consists of nine pilots titled Red 1 to Red 9 with their supervisor as Red 10, as well as a ground crew and commanding officer, is now down to a skeleton team of seven. Flight Lieutenant Damon Green, pictured, who was a Red 8, left the team for 'personal reasons' in January Flight Lieutenant Will Cambridge, 39 (left), who was a Red 4, was suspended after allegedly having an affair with a junior female colleague. Pictured right, squadron lead Nick Critchell, 36, resigned over a 'toxic culture' Former Armed Forces Minister and member of the committee, Mark Francois MP, told MailOnline the air force had a lot of questions to answer. Speaking of next month's evidential hearing, he added: 'I cannot speak for the whole committee but I think it likely that events regarding the Red Arrows will crop up at that hearing. 'In addition, the committee has also requested that the Chief of the Air Staff appears to give evidence, at some point prior to Christmas, on a variety of issues relating to the RAF, of which this would probably be just one.' The display team is the pride of the RAF and the public face of the service, performing death-defying stunts, zooming over crowds producing perfect plumes of red, white and blue smoke at key British events and royal celebrations. But an ongoing investigation launched by Sir Mike in December 2021 has exposed detrimental issues in a team already operating below strength. One female staff member said: 'The girls who join the squadron are basically considered fresh meat. All of [the men] are married and they just don't leave them alone. 'It's a toxic environment... It's all men in senior positions. It is run by misogynistic white male blokes,' she told The Times. She added that many women were 'at risk' because of the numerous 'toxic pockets' within the RAF but there is 'no urgency to act', noting that senior staff members 'swept complaints under the carpet' to keep the reputation of 'untouchable' people clean. Alleged victims have reportedly been told for months that speaking up would lead to them being sent home or fired from the force. Four Red Arrows personnel are under investigation over 'inappropriate behaviour' allegations, with Mr Ingram claiming this could be 'just the tip of the iceberg'. The ongoing investigation launched by Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston (pictured) in December 2021 has exposed detrimental issues in a team already operating below strength The non-statutory inquiry has documented at least 13 alleged incidents of sexual harassment, assault and sexual assault, bullying, intimidation, indecent exposure, victimisation, 'misunderstanding of consent', misogyny and isolation. This comes after Armed Forces minister James Heappey denied claims a 'pause' had been put in place on job offers for white men in favour of women and ethnic minorities, in order to hit 'impossible' diversity targets. He said Sir Mike had asked the team to 'pause' offering all training slots while he and his leadership consider how they might take positive action to assist improving diversity levels on various training courses in the year to March 2023. He stressed that no policy is implemented yet despite the RAF recruitment team receiving an order on August 2 from the chain of command, according to Sky News. Members of the Red Arrows, based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, have also been accused of drunkenness, but an RAF spokeswoman said the allegations were 'unfounded'. Mr Heappey told Times Radio he was confident that Sir Mike and his team were investigating the allegations. He said: 'The very highest of standards are demanded of our armed forces across the board, and 99.99 per cent of them deliver in spades. 'Those who have the privilege of serving in an organisation like the Red Arrows have, I think, an even greater responsibility because they are so much in the public eye - and the allegations that have been made are very concerning indeed. 'The Royal Air Force have taken, I think, the right action in that they have got those against whom these allegations have been made under investigation.' Speaking of the latest allegation, the RAF told The Times 'The RAF has a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviour and will complete thorough investigations into any allegations, and take appropriate action. However, we will not offer comment on the circumstances of individual personnel moves.' Former colleagues slam RAF Top Guns who trained Chinese how to shoot down aircraft as 'traitors' by MARK NICOL, DEFENCE EDITOR FOR DAILY MAIL Former RAF pilots teaching China how to shoot down Western aircraft were labelled traitors last night by furious former comrades. Up to 30 Top Guns, said to include former Red Arrows pilots, are passing on vital knowledge and experience to the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in a serious threat to national security, according to defence officials. They are not breaking current laws but came under fire from the UKs armed forces minister, who said legislation will soon be changed to stop veterans aiding a foreign adversary, particularly one labelled our No 1 threat. James Heappey, who fought in Afghanistan, said the pilots actions did not match my understanding of service as China was a foreign power which challenges UK interests. Up to 30 Top Guns, said to include former Red Arrows pilots, are passing on vital knowledge and experience to the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in a serious threat to national security, according to defence officials He revealed that those taking up the 250,000-a-year roles, plus perks, have been warned about the consequences of their actions. Mr Heappey said yesterday: We have had a grave concern for a while. Our counter-intelligence branch has been making sure they are clear on what they are doing. Weve approached the people involved and have been clear it is our expectation they would not continue to be part of that organisation [the PLA]. [The pilots] have chosen not to take that advice. We are going to change the law to make it illegal. Once people have been given that warning it will become an offence to go forward and continue with that training. China is a competitor threatening the UK interest in many places around the world. It is no secret their attempts to access our secrets and their recruitment of our pilots to understand the capabilities of our air force is clearly a concern. Some former RAF pilots have been more open, detailing assignments on website LinkedIn. A file photo is used above Reports suggest those recruited through a South African flying school could include former Red Arrows. They are acting as PLA instructors across China. Their pay packets are apparently supplemented with luxury accommodation, maids and fast cars. As anger grew last night, retired Rear Admiral Chris Parry said: These potential traitors should be named, shamed and shunned. I am disgusted people think taking money for services which improve a totalitarian regimes ability to prevail against democratic countries is in any way right. Next week, Home Secretary Suella Braverman will unveil new laws compelling anyone acting for a foreign power to register with the UK government. Anyone failing to do so could face up to five years in jail. But friends of the pilots sought to downplay the risks. Speaking on condition of anonymity, one said: The guys dont want to talk. They have everything to lose and being identified would bury them. The money was very large, life-changing. They dont feel theres a threat, obviously. The information they teach is very generic. But it is designed to improve the ability of the PLA pilots, so is far from ideal. Some former RAF pilots have been more open, detailing assignments on website LinkedIn. Russia's military leadership is 'increasingly dysfunctional', with the war in Ukraine being spearheaded by rookie officers as Putin's forces are beaten back on the battlefield. Four out of five of Russia's top generals have been sacked since the start of the war, Britain's Ministry of Defence (MoD) said today, with Sergei Surovikin now in charge. 'Their replacements have so far done little to improve Russia's battlefield performance', the MoD added, as Surovikin appeared to be preparing for a retreat from the southern stronghold of Kherson. British spies did not name the four generals who had been sacked, but one of them is almost certain to be Valery Gerasimov - chief of the general staff who was last seen in a tense encounter with Putin during war games in eastern Russia. The other three are likely to be Aleksandr Dvornikov, Surovikin's predecessor, Gennady Zhidko, former commander of Russia's southern armies, and Aleksandr Zhuravlev, who headed the western grouping. British spies did not name the four generals who had been sacked, but one of them is almost certain to be Valery Gerasimov (pictured) - chief of the general staff who was last seen in a tense encounter with Putin during war games in eastern Russia The other three are likely to be Aleksandr Dvornikov (above), Surovikin's predecessor, Gennady Zhidko, former commander of Russia's southern armies, and Aleksandr Zhuravlev, who headed the western grouping The full MoD update said: 'Eight months into the invasion, major elements of Russias military leadership are increasingly dysfunctional. 'At the tactical level, there is almost certainly a worsening shortage of capable Russian junior officers to organise and lead newly mobilised reservists. 'Eyewitness testimony suggests that the shooting of 11 Russian soldiers near Belgorod by a fellow recruit on 15 October 2022 occurred after an officers abusive comments towards ethnic minority recruits. 'Poor lower-level leadership is likely worsening the low morale and poor unit cohesion in many parts of the Russian force. 'Four of the five generals with direct operational command of elements of the invasion in February 2022 have now been dismissed. Their replacements have so far done little to improve Russias battlefield performance. 'The lack of command continuity will likely be more disruptive than in a Western military because under Russian doctrine the development of plans sits largely with the commander personally, rather than as a collective effort across a broader staff.' Putin is now eight months into what was intended to be a days-long war ending with the collapse of the Ukrainian government. But he has instead found himself caught up in a grinding war of attrition that has minced his armed forces and may yet result in total defeat. Putin is now eight months into what was intended to be a days-long war ending with the collapse of the Ukrainian government. Pictured: Aleksandr Zhuravlev But he has instead found himself caught up in a grinding war of attrition that has minced his armed forces and may yet result in total defeat. Pictured: Gennady Zhidko Russia has already been forced to retreat from the cities of Kyiv, Chernihiv and Kharkiv in Ukraine's north, which were the key objectives of the war. Attacks in the Donbas have proved mildly more successful but have failed to result in a decisive victory. Instead, they have sapped Putin's army of strength to hold back Ukraine's advances elsewhere. Kyiv's men now appear poised to retake at least partial control of the city of Kherson, in the south, as Russian occupation officials begin evacuating civilians. Volodymyr Saldo, the Kremlin's man in Kherson, said 60,000 civilians will leave over the next six days - suggesting the city could fall within a week. If Russia is forced to retreat here, then it would be the most embarrassing defeat that Putin has yet suffered - which has sparked fears about how he might respond. Within Russia, concern is growing that he may use today's emergency meeting of the security council to declare all-out war - granting him sweeping powers to close borders, declare martial law and force more men into the army. Meanwhile in the West, speculation is growing that he could be ramping himself up for the first open-air detonation of a nuclear weapon since the 1960s. Such a blast could take place at a testing ground in the Russian far east, or else over the Black Sea to demonstrate his stockpile of ageing warheads still works. They reportedly opened fire as soon as they saw her and shot her multiple times Police said two men arrived on a motorbike and entered through the front door She had 60,000 followers and visited a hair salon just before she was killed A Brazilian beauty influencer has been shot dead in her own home by two gunmen who later fled on a motorbike. Content creator Nubia Cristina Braga, 23, also known as 'Boss', was found in her home in the neighbourhood of Santa Maria in Aracaju, Sergipe State, Brazil, on the evening of October 14. Nubia, who had nearly 60,000 Instagram followers and dreamed of becoming a world famous influencer, visited a hair salon just before she was killed. Her last post on Instagram Stories reportedly shows her having her hair done. The young influencer returned home and was killed shortly after arriving. According to the police, two men arrived at her home on a motorbike and entered the property through the open front door. Content creator Nubia Cristina Braga, 23, also known as 'Boss', was found in her home in the neighbourhood of Santa Maria in Aracaju, Sergipe State, Brazil, on the evening of October 14 According to the police, two men arrived at her home on a motorbike and entered the property through the open front door The gunmen reportedly opened fire as soon as they saw Nubia and shot her multiple times before fleeing the scene. Police officers arrived at the home at around 9pm and found the victim lying dead on the floor in a pool of blood. Local authorities have called on members of the public to come forwards with any information that will lead to the suspects' arrest. Nubia provided content on beauty, fashion and travel on social media and owned her own clothing store called 'Boss's Closet'. Friends said she dreamed of becoming an internationally recognised Instagram influencer. They also hailed Nubia as a person, calling her cheerful, outgoing, honest and independent. The gunmen reportedly opened fire as soon as they saw Nubia and shot her multiple times before fleeing the scene She was also recognised for helping her local community in Santa Maria by carrying out volunteer work and helping to organise parties for Children's Day and Christmas. Her aunt Claudia Menezes said: 'Nubia did volunteer work and helped everyone. She left a legacy behind.' The police did not mention a possible motive for the influencer's murder and the investigation is ongoing. Many of Nubia's online followers left tributes on her final posts, with one Instagram user commenting: 'My JESUS, the woman only posted a Story 3 hours ago and was brutally murdered, only GOD can comfort her family and friends.' Another user said: 'Rest in peace princess, you were an amazing girl.' 'There is no other of you, you are unique,' wrote someone else. 'Rest in peace.' 'May your passage be peaceful, God is with you,' commented another user. Just Stop Oil campaigners have been appealing for help so they have somewhere to stay at night while they rest after protesting. Elizabeth Garrat Wright is leading the appeal for funding saying the eco-group's members' accommodation, it's understood. The GoFundMe appeal says campaigners need 150 to fund the costs to bed down for the night for a week. Just Stop Oil is planning protests in the north of the country this month. Just Stop Oil protesters have been seeking funding online to pay for the accommodation costs of demonstrators Supporters of the eco activist group have been seeking funding to pay for accommodation The crowdfunding appeal was set up with a target of 2,000. This was then upped to 3,000 with any extra money paying for protestors transport and food. Yesterday, 2,776 has been raised after 40 supporters donated - with one giving 314. The appeal called 'Northern Just Stop Oil Supporters' was set up an organiser called 'Banana Bread' It read: 'We are trying to see if we might raise some money to ensure supporters of the Just Stop Oil campaign, committed to taking action later in October 2022, have a proper place to stay. 'It costs approximately 150 to house one person taking civil resistance action for a week. 'The North is eager to participate at full strength, but we're struggling to find the funds to provide ourselves with accommodation. 'By donating to this GoFundMe, you are directly supporting another person committed to stepping into civil resistance. The activists have been causing major disruption with a range of protests across London Police have been trying to remove activists, such as this woman, from a protest near the Victoria and Albert Museum on Cromwell Road earlier today Just Stop Oil said any money left over from their appeal will be lodged with the organisation's central fun 'Their actions are the best chance we have to preserve a livable world for all. 'Can you help us? Any amount is welcome. Thank you.' An update later read: 'Wow! Thank you to everyone that has chipped in so far. 'We achieved the initial goal of 2,000 in less than 12 hours. 'We now have plenty enough to book ONE accommodation but would like to try and get one more so we have extended the goal to 3,000. 'Any extra beyond that will be added to the action teams' float money and be used for food, and for transport to and from the action sites. 'All money leftover when action is completed will be sent to the Just Stop Oil central fund. 'Thank you for your generosity.' On Saturday vegan extremists poured milk on the floor in British supermarkets Foreign Secretary said protesters would be condemned more if they were black James Cleverly has slammed 'attention-seeking middle-class' vegan activists who pour milk on shop floors and suggested that protesters who were black or working class would be treated with much greater condemnation. The Tory politician told Times Radio: 'I'm seeing people who are disrupting the lives of others. When people pour milk all over the floor of a shop, guess who has to clear that up? It's hard-working people, often not very, very well paid.' The Foreign Secretary's comments come after vegan extremists targeted upmarket stores across the country on Saturday, with their activists grabbing milk from shelves and dumping it over the floors and counters. The same day, two Just Stop Oil climate activists appeared in court accused of throwing soup on a Van Gogh painting at the National Gallery. Mr Cleverly said: 'When people deface, vandalise and it is vandalism incredibly significant cultural works of art, business and public property, if they weren't and I have to say attention-seeking middle-class people, I think the general condemnation would be a lot harder. 'If these were working-class boys, as I say, black boys from Lewisham or working-class boys from Wolverhampton, I think that it would be treated as criminality and nothing more. 'And I think that giving this kind of behaviour some kind of implicit acceptance because of who's conducting it, I think is completely inappropriate, we should see it for what it is this is criminal damage and that's how it should be treated.' James Cleverly, 53, said protests are being held by 'attention-seeking middle-class people' Police have made a number of arrests after members of Just Stop Oil blocked traffic in one of central London's busiest roads this morning Two people who had been at height on the Dartford Crossing were brought down and arrested Morgan Trowland and Marcus Carambola were taken down from the Dartford Bridge and arrested yesterday afternoon after a 'super cherry picker' arrived at the scene From left: Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland protesting at the National Gallery for Just Stop Oil Braverman attacks 'tofu-eating wokerati' over Just Stop Oil protests The Home Secretary has attacked the 'tofu-eating wokerati' for effectively preventing police from arresting eco-zealots who have caused mayhem and misery during weeks of protest. Suella Braverman hit out at MPs who voted against tough new measures to strengthen police powers to deal with activists more quickly. Addressing the Commons as MPs debated the Public Order Bill, Mrs Braverman said: 'I'm afraid it's the Labour Party, it's the Lib Dems, it's the coalition of chaos, it's the Guardian-reading, tofu-eating wokerati dare I say, the anti-growth coalition that we have to thank for the disruption we are seeing on our roads today.' Her comments came as police arrested two Just Stop Oil protesters who spent 36 hours suspended from the QEII bridge, closing a major transport link between Kent and Essex due to safety fears. In response Just Stop Oil laid the blame at the door of the Government, saying it has the power to stop the protests already. It wrote on Twitter: 'You can blame Just Stop Oil's disruption wholly and entirely on your own Government, for all it would take to get us off the roads is to ban new oil and gas.' More than 450 Just Stop Oil activists have been arrested since they began disruption in and around London on October 1. The Public Order Bill cleared the Commons last night and will now have further scrutiny in the Lords. Parts of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill were defeated this year, meaning criminalising locking-on when demonstrators attach themselves to each other, landmarks or infrastructure was removed. Advertisement This morning Just Stop Oil caused more traffic chaos after stopping vehicles on the A4 Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum as the environmental group continues its month of protest. Around 30 activists walked into the carriageway at the junction with Exhibition Road at 9.40am before gluing themselves to the road surface and using lock-ons. Yesterday two activists were arrested for spending 37 hours in the air after climbing up the Dartford Bridge, forcing police to close the busy road for one-and-a-half days. Home Secretary Suella Braverman attacked the 'tofu-eating wokerati' for effectively preventing police from arresting eco-zealots who have caused mayhem and misery during weeks of protest. Addressing the Commons as MPs debated the Public Order Bill, Mrs Braverman said yesterday: 'I'm afraid it's the Labour Party, it's the Lib Dems, it's the coalition of chaos, it's the Guardian-reading, tofu-eating wokerati dare I say, the anti-growth coalition that we have to thank for the disruption we are seeing on our roads.' The Public Order Bill cleared the Commons last night and will now have further scrutiny in the Lords. The Home Office said the proposed major piece of legislation would create a new criminal offence of interfering with infrastructure such as oil refineries, airports, railways and printing presses. Such an offence would carry a maximum sentence of 12 months in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. On Saturday, Mrs Braverman slammed climate and vegan activists as 'thugs' in a blistering attack in which she also criticised the Metropolitan Police and told them to 'do a better job'. She lambasted protesters for their 'imagined right to bully' the rest of the public, adding: 'Who do they think they are?' It followed a 15th successive day of protests by Just Stop Oil, who blocked roads in central London again, and more protests by vegan activists Animal Rebellion. Mrs Braverman labelled the climate activists 'so-called protesters' and added that 'democracies reach decisions in a civilised manner.' Her criticism wasn't just reserved for the activists themselves, she also issued a stark warning to the police: 'I also expect the Metropolitan Police to do a better job of cracking down on these thugs and vandals as does the public.' Referring to activists such as those from Just Stop Oil and Insulate Britain, she said protesters who glue themselves to the road are 'wildy irresponsible, idiotic, and risking lives.' A sharply-dressed eco-warrior grimly pours a bottle of milk all over the floor of Fortnum & Mason in Piccadilly as they protest dairy products Supporters of Animal Rebellion dump litres of milk onto a Marks and Spencers floor as they demand a 'plant-based future' from the government The meat counter at Harrods was targeted by the zealots, who object to animal-based products such as meat and milk Protester who threw soup on Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers' admits it was a 'ridiculous' action Phoebe Plummer (left) says there was no damage to the painting One of the Just Stop Oil activists who threw soup over Vincent Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers' at the National Gallery in London has said it was 'ridiculous'. Phoebe Plummer, 21, said the protest was designed to 'get the conversation going' and there was no risk to the painting. Speaking to FreeSeedNews, the activist, who also glued herself to the wall during the demonstration, said: ' I would like to make one thing perfectly clear - we did no damage to the painting whatsoever. She said there had been 'minimal damage to the frame' which is 'repairable and replaceable'. 'It was behind glass and we never ever would have considered doing it if we didn't know it was behind glass so that we wouldn't do any damage,' she said. 'We were sat there still glued to the wall, they wiped it off with a bit of kitchen roll. 'I recognise that it looks like a slightly ridiculous action. I agree, it is ridiculous. 'But, we are not asking the question 'should everybody throw soup on paintings?' 'What we are doing is getting the conversation going so we can ask the questions that matter. 'Questions like 'is it ok that Liz Truss is licensing over 100 new fossil fuel licences?' 'This is the conversation we need to be having now because we don't have time to waste.' Plummer and fellow protester Anna Holland prompted global outrage with their protest at the National Gallery in London on Friday. They were subsequently arrested and have been charged with criminal damage to the frame of the painting. They both pleaded not guilty when appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court earlier this week, with a trial set for December 13 at City of London Magistrates' Court. Advertisement Animal Rebellion has dubbed its protests against animal products as 'Milk Pours', and posted videos of the group at Harrods in west London, Fortnum & Mason in Piccadilly, and a Waitrose in Edinburgh on Saturday. The young and well-dressed eco-hipsters spouted out their shrill demands for the government to ensure farmers transition to a 'plant-based future'. The group co-ordinated the actions across multiple stores such as Waitrose, Whole Foods and Marks and Spencer throughout the country, including in London, Norwich, Manchester and Edinburgh, as horrified shoppers watched on. In a video of a 'milk pour' at a Marks and Spencers in Manchester, a man was heard telling the protesters: 'Plant-based future? Take your shoes off then, they're not plant-based.' The meat counter at Harrods was targeted by the eco mob, while in Fortnum & Mason two of London's poshest shops the cheese counter was vandalised. Animal Rebellion said it is calling for a plant-based future and highlighting the need to support farmers in transitioning to a sustainable plant-based food system. James Aris, a spokesman for the Countryside Alliance said: 'Animal Rebellion are desperate attention seekers, but their blinkered following are very militant and are clearly prepared to cross the line between acceptable protest and criminality. 'If people want to drink plant-based alternatives, thats their right, but these so-called activists should not inflict their dietary preferences on anyone else and cause grief for hardworking people.' He added: 'There is big public support for tackling these groups head on and people want to see the police act swiftly.' Skylar Sharples, an international development University of Sussex graduate, from Bristol and one of the protesters at Harrods, said: 'Supporters of Animal Rebellion are back acting because (Prime Minister) Liz Truss and Ranil Jayawardena (Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) are again deciding to ignore calls to start building a better future. 'A plant-based future would see a beautiful world for us all, thriving with nature and life. 'The steps to properly support farmers in this transition need to begin now.' Lou Hadden, a charity worker from Herefordshire who joined the action at Fortnum and Mason, said: 'This is not how I imagined spending my weekend. 'Unfortunately, this disruption is necessary to get those in power to listen to the academics at Oxford, Harvard and the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). 'The world's best climate and land scientists are calling for the transition to a plant-based food system. 'We need bold and decisive politics at this time, not the horror show we currently see.' 'Milk Pours are currently happening across the UK. All are concerned individuals calling on the government to give us a livable future, a #PlantBasedFuture,' Animal Rebellion on Saturday afternoon. 'Animal Rebellion supporters have just poured out milk across the floor and over other dairy products at Fortnum & Mason, Piccadilly,' came another tweet. 'We are calling on the government to support farmers in a transition to a plant-based food system.' 'The dairy companies are responsible for the majority of methane emissions,' one protester shouted out as she busily poured milk onto the floor in the Waitrose milk aisle. The eco-mob hit a Waitrose in Edinburgh, targeting upmarket stores as they call for a transition to a plant-based future Eco-protesters in Manchester poured milk all over the floor beside the meat aisle in Marks and Spencers Protesters strike at Harrods as bemused and nonplussed Saturday shoppers watch or try to get on with their shopping A pair of protesters march up to the milk aisle in a Waitrose in Edinbrugh and proceed to systematically pour out gallons of milk onto the floor One bystander approaches an eco-zealot to remonstrate with her while she was in the midst of a rant against the dairy industry Shoppers looked over as protesters poured out cartons of milk onto the floor of Marks and Spencers in Manchester A shopper looks frustrated as protesters empty gallons of milk onto the floor of a Marks and Spencers Protesters raid the cheese section of upmarket Fortnum & Mason's in Piccadilly, grabbing milk and pouring it out onto the shop floor Sofia Fernandes Pontes (right) from Madeira and Steve Bone (left) from Essex, the duo who poured out milk over the two high-end London department stores in a protest against dairy products, were arrested by police She was interrupted by a bystander coming up to remonstrate with her. 'We're all about peaceful protests and non-violence, we're just calling out the injustice of the industry,' she said to the man, before continuing. The same group struck Selfridges and Fortnum & Masons just two weeks ago when activists from the group sparked fury by pouring milk over the two high-end London department stores in a protest against dairy products. Two people were arrested by the Metropolitan Police following the stunt. Last month the Animal Rebellion protesters arrived at dawn to block shipments of milk and other dairy products at Arla and Muller plants. The vegan protesters, who oppose animal farming, stopped company trucks before climbing on to them, as others trespassed company facilities, scaling milk silos and loading bays. The blockade included the UK's biggest dairy distribution centre near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, which is owned by Arla, plus three plants run by Muller at Droitwich, Severnside and Bridgwater. The protest group, an off-shoot of Extinction Rebellion, admitted defying a High Court injunction obtained by Arla to stop the protests. The group (pictured) scaled Silos in an attempt to disrupt distribution on September 4 Students from an elite school in one of Australia's most expensive suburbs were allegedly caught using fake money to trick a small business owner out of $100. Double Bay Newsagency store manager Jim Cho claims a couple of students from Scots College in Bellevue Hill, eastern Sydney, came into his store last Sunday and asked to exchange four $50 notes for two $100 notes. However, he claims two of those $50 notes were fake. Mr Cho said his son was working the till at the time and didn't notice the fake currency and handed $200 over to the student. Double Bay Newsagency store manager Jim Cho claims students from Scots College gave him fake money (pictured, the fake $50 students allegedly paid with compared to a real note) It wasn't until Mr Cho checked the register that he noticed two $50 notes were much shorter than the others - with the newsagency losing $100 to the students. He claims the same group then came in on Tuesday and tried to pull the same stunt again. 'This time it was very unprofessional and too obvious. I couldn't believe they came back again,' he told the Daily Telegraph. 'Yesterday I printed out warnings to give to most of the (surrounding) shops and some stores said they recognised them.' Mr Cho said he told off the boy for allegedly trying to pull the same trick again but the student began crying. 'We had a very nice customer who asked if we could leave the kid alone What can you do?' he said. Mr Cho claims his son was given two fake $50 notes alongside two real ones which were exchanged for two $100 notes from his till (pictured, the students and Mr Cho's son) Mr Cho gave surrounding businesses a flyer (above) picturing the students that allegedly gave him fake cash on Sunday Frustrated and determined to warn his neighbours about the alleged counterfeits, Mr Cho uploaded his security footage of the boys to YouTube and began circulating their photos around town. He said a teacher from the prestigious school, which charges tuition fees of up to $40,000 per year, visited his store on Wednesday to quietly sort the situation out. But despite the teacher's efforts, Mr Cho decided to report the students to police. Scots College principal Ian Lambert said the school is co-operating with investigators and will enforce 'appropriate disciplinary action'. 'The College is co-operating with NSW Police and will continue counselling the student and working with his parents until the incident is fully resolved,' he said. 'The College takes the situation extremely seriously and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken once the full facts have been determined.' The school confirmed the owner had been repaid in full. The gallantry medals awarded to a World War Two RAF hero who led the raid to destroy the German V1 and V2 rocket factory have sold for over 42,000. Squadron Leader Norman Scrivener, who served alongside the legendary Guy Gibson, flew in more than 100 bombing missions throughout the war despite suffering from 'terrible' from air sickness. The brilliant navigator was chosen to lead a squadron of 'Pathfinder' Lancaster Bombers to mark the Peenemunde research centre on the Baltic Coast in 1943. The facility manufactured the lethal vengeance weapons - the world's first long-range guided missiles which landed on indiscriminate targets, killing thousands of civilians. Sq Ldr Scrivener's Lancaster lit up the centre with flares, paving the way for 600 Allied bombers to come in and attack it. His aircraft then had to orbit the factory at low level to ensure the bombs hit their target but was nearly struck by the 4,000lb explosives being dropped from above. Squadron Leader Norman Scrivener (pictured) led a squadron of 'Pathfinder' Lancaster Bombers who led the raid to destroy the German V1 and V2 rocket factory in 1943, which resulted to the destruction of the facility by 600 Allied bombers Gallantry medals awarded to World War II RAF hero Sq Ldr Scrivener sold for over 42,000. Pictured left to right: Distinguished Flying Cross (reverse of lower arm engraved 1943) 1939-45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Defence, War, Air Efficiency Award, George V1 first type The mission was immortalised in the 1965 war film Operation Crossbow. Pictured: An RAF squadron posing in front of a Lancaster Bomber adorned with Mickey Mouse nose art The successful mission delayed the production of V1 and V2 rockets by two months and was immortalised in the 1965 war film Operation Crossbow starring George Peppard, Trevor Howard and John Mills. Later in World War Two Sq Ldr Scrivener cheated death thanks to a quirk of fate. After completing more than the required number of operations, he was lined up for one final mission until his former commanding officer spotted his name on the crew list, removed it and found another navigator. The crew was lost over Berlin that night. Sq Ldr Scrivener flew under Guy Gibson shortly before he won the Victoria Cross for leading the Dambusters Raid in 1943. Sq Ldr Scrivener, who was one of the first RAF navigators to use developing radar technology, was awarded the prestigious Distinguished Service Order and Distinguished Flying Cross for his wartime efforts. His medal group along with his RAF log book that was signed four times by Gibson has now been sold at auction by a private collector. The archive achieved a hammer price of 34,000. With auction house fees added on, the total price paid by the anonymous buyer was 42,890. The mission delayed production of V1 and V2 rockets by two months. Pictured: A German V2 rocket on its trolley at a factory in Nazi Germany The Master Bomber crew with Sq Ldr Norman Scrivener pictured third from the left Glenn Butler, of Wallis and Wallis Auctioneers of Lewis, East Sussex, said: 'The archive was with a militaria collector for many years. 'There remains a strong interest in gallantry medals because they are easy to look after and always come with a history and backstory of derring do. 'I think this medal set in particular was very important. 'Norman Scrivener had a vital role in this operation that had the objective of saving British lives and shortening the war by putting the V1 and V2 rocket factory out of action. 'He also flew with Guy Gibson who signed his flying log book four times.' Sq Ldr Scrivener, originally from Birmingham, worked in banking before he decided to join one of the armed forces as the Second World War loomed. He was rejected by the army and navy so decided upon the RAF even though he had never been in a plane before. Because he was good at maths and geometry he was lined up as a navigator. At first he suffered from 'terrible' air sickness which got better with every flight he took. He was posted to 75 New Zealand Squadron at RAF Feltwell in Norfolk. He took part in numerous sorties on enemy industrial targets including Berlin. He then joined Gibson at 106 Squadron and flew on more air raids over Germany and Italy. Sq Ldr Scrivener's flying log which shows a page signed off by Dambusters legend Guy Gibson Sq Ldr Scrivener's log book from the summer of 1943 which includes the details of operations in Hamburg, Peenemunde and Munich The citation for his DSO stated: 'Squadron Leader Scrivener is a navigator of high merit. He has taken part in a very large number of sorties, involving attacks on targets in the Ruhr, Berlin, Hamburg and many others equally important to the enemy's war effort. 'Throughout the operations he has displayed outstanding determination and the successes obtained are an excellent tribute to his great skill. His loyal and devoted service has been worthy of the highest praise.' Air Commander John Searby, who piloted the lead Lancaster for the Peenemunde raid, recalled: 'Norman Scrivener, small of stature and with more than a hundred heavy bomber sorties behind him, had been my Navigator for some time: his role was a vital one for he had to get the aircraft to the target alone and ahead of all the others with precisely five minutes in hand. 'We would need this to complete our survey of the aiming points before the real show started'. Of the 600 bombers that took part in the raid, 44 failed to return, with the loss of more than 280 crew members. Sq Ldr Scrivener married wife Kathleen during the war. She died in 1992 and he passed away in Worcestershire in 2007 aged 91. His medal group is made up of the DSO, DFC, 1939-45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Defence Medal, War Medal, Air Efficiency Award. Meek had been writing a book about the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan James Gordon Meek abruptly resigned from his job at ABC in April and hasn't been seen by colleagues since An ABC News investigative producer has not been seen by colleagues since April, when the FBI mysteriously raided his apartment in Virginia. James Gordon Meek, 52, moved out of his home in Arlington, Virginia, after the raid and hasn't been seen by neighbors since. He 'abruptly' left his job at the news network, withdrew from the book he was co-authoring about Biden's withdrawal from Afghanistan, and has kept a low profile ever since. The Rolling Stone first reported the raid on Wednesday morning, along with sources close to the investigation who say Meek was suspected of possessing classified documents. The source said agents found classified information on his laptop. If that is the reason for the raid, it raises serious questions about the government's approach towards journalists seeking to expose corruption or wrongdoing. It also raises questions of how they knew about it. The FBI - which routinely refuses to comment on ongoing investigations as a matter of policy - has not commented on its reason for the raid. All the bureau will say is that a raid was carried out at his address on the day in question. The warrant that enabled the raid has not been made public, and Meek's attorneys are being tight-lipped about what they have been told. In a statement, attorney Eugene Gorokhov said he knew nothing of any classified documents, but that if Meek did possess them it would have been within the scope of his career as a journalist investigating national security and military operations. 'Mr. Meek is unaware of what allegations anonymous sources are making about his possession of classified documents. Meek was writing this book with Lt. Col. Scott Mann but he withdrew from the project in spring, citing personal issues. It was around the same time as his home was raided 'If such documents exist, as claimed, this would be within the scope of Mr. Meeks long career as an investigative journalist covering government wrongdoing. 'Press inquiries on this issue are troubling for a different reason: they appear to be based on statements from a source inside the government. 'It is highly inappropriate, and illegal, for individuals in the government to leak information about an ongoing investigation.' A spokesman for ABC News told DailyMail.com that Meek resigned 'abruptly' but they would not be drawn on the details of his departure. 'He resigned very abruptly and hasnt worked for us for months,' they said. No one from the Department of Justice has confirmed an investigation into Meek. Around the same time as the raid on his home, Meek also withdrew from the book he had been co-writing with Lt. Col. Scott Mann, a retired Green Beret. The book was published in August with only Lt. Col. Mann listed as the author. The Siena Apartments in Arlington, Virginia, where Meek was living. He has not been seen there for months Meek's final tweet on April 27, the morning of the raid, was about how the US was helping Ukraine in the war against Russia Meek had also been investigating the chaotic withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan A previous description of the book included a line about Meek being contacted by a Special Forces operator overseas. It read: 'In April, ABC News correspondent James Gordon Meek got an urgent call from a Special Forces operator serving overseas.' Now, promotional text for the book has no mention of his name. Instead, the blurb reads: 'In April, an urgent call was placed from a Special Forces operator serving overseas.' Neighbors told Rolling Stone that Meek vanished after the raid on his apartment. He has two daughters who often spent time at the apartment, they said. The entire raid lasted only ten minutes, according to the neighbors. They spotted a large, armored vehicle, accompanied by some local county patrol cars. 'They didnt stick around. They took off pretty quickly and headed west on Columbia Pike towards Fairfax County. 'Most people seeing that green vehicle would think its some kind of tank. But I knew it was the Lenco BearCat. 'That vehicle is designed to be jumped out of so they can do a raid in that kind of time. It can return fire if theyre being fired upon,' said neighbor John Antonelli. Meek worked at ABC for nine years before he suddenly resigned. In the past, he had also served as a senior counterterrorism adviser and investigator for the House Homeland Security Committee. He had also produced a documentary about a separate US military mission in Niger, which he believed exposed a cover-up. Another producer who worked on that documentary with him, Brian Epstein, also abruptly left ABC earlier this year. Kevin McCarthy is not as eager as his GOP colleagues to immediately seek impeachment against Joe Biden's Cabinet members if they win back a majority in the November midterms. Some Republicans are out for blood seeking revenge by way of Biden and his team after Democrats politicized impeachment and sought it against Donald Trump two times during his four years in office. The House GOP Leader, however, told Punchbowl News that Americans don't 'like impeachment used for political purposes at all,' and said 'the country wants to heal' and see a 'system that actually works.' He also said that Republicans need to maintain their integrity by not turning around and engaging in the same politically-motivated actions that they railed against the opposing party for doing the last four years. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Attorney General Merrick Garland are the top two names that have been floated by some House Republicans as potential targets should the lower chamber turn red. Some Republicans have even floated impeaching President Joe Biden, who turns 80 next month, by calling into question his physical and mental fitness to serve. McCarthy, asked if anyone within the administration has engaged in conduct that would cause him to consider impeachment, said: 'I don't see it before me right now.' 'You watch what the Democrats did they all came out and said they would impeach before Trump was ever sworn in,' the California Republican congressman said. 'There wasn't a purpose for it.' House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy told Punchbowl News that he isn't as motivated to impeach members of President Joe Biden's Cabinet as some of his colleagues if they retake a majority in the November midterms Republicans are specifically targeting Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for the Biden administration failures to address the southern border crisis 'If you spent all that time arguing against using impeachment for political purposes, you gotta be able to sustain exactly what you said,' McCarthy added. When Trump was in office, Democrats won back a majority in the House halfway through his term and used their power to twice impeach him the first time for claims of Russian collusion in the 2016 presidential election and the second time for the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack. Some have floated impeaching AG Merrick Garland if the GOP wins a majority in the midterms due to reports of biases within the DOJ and FBI The Senate acquitted him in both instances and Republicans denounced the probes and impeachments for being politically motivated because of Democrats' hatred from Trump. 'I think the country doesn't like impeachment used for political purposes at all,' McCarthy said. 'If anyone ever rises to that occasion, you have to, but I think the country wants to heal and start to see the system that actually works.' While McCarthy says he is against 'impeachment for political purposes', that still leaves wiggle room for taking that action in instances he claims are not politically motivated. Calls for Mayorkas' impeachment are by far the most popular among border hawk Republicans. 'DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has no integrity and should have already resigned from public office,' Arizona Representative Andy Biggs tweeted on Tuesday. 'We will use my impeachment articles and impeach him come January,' the GOP lawmaker added. Fellow Arizona Representative Paul Gosar tweeted Saturday: 'Alejandro Mayorkas warrants impeachment for incompetence, dereliction of duty and gross negligence. Most of Biden's admin comes from Clown World but Mayorkas takes the clown cake.' 'Mayorkas must be impeached,' Texas Representative Chip Roy wrote. '[H]e should have been impeached long before this for a host of reasons. I laid out the case for impeachment last spring, and this latest revelation demonstrates a total disregard for his duty and those he is entrusted to lead.' Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia wrote in a tweet last week: 'Our country is being invaded and people are dying every single day. The cartels control the border and human trafficking is the worst it's been in US history. Mayorkis (sic) must be impeached.' GOP Representative Andy Biggs (left) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (right) are among the pro-Trump lawmakers who have called for immediate impeachments when they have a majority in the lower chamber a revenge mission against Democrats who politicized impeachment against Trump The border crisis is one of the biggest priorities of Republicans as thousands of migrants continue to illegally cross into the U.S. every day with seemingly no solution or action from the administration. 'What we've done in the Commitment to America, but we're really focused on the economy, on crime and the border,' McCarthy told Punchbowl in the interview published Wednesday morning. 'We focus on accountability,' he said. Liz Truss has suspended one of her most senior political aides amid a row over recent newspaper briefings from Downing Street. Jason Stein, a special adviser to the Prime Minister, will reportedly be subject to a formal investigation by Whitehall's propriety and ethics team. According to the BBC, Mr Stein - who previously worked for Prince Andrew but quit when he argued against the royal doing his BBC Newsnight interview - has temporarily been removed from his role while he faces the probe. It comes at a time when Ms Truss is battling to save her crisis-stricken premiership. There has been anger among Tory MPs over hostile briefings to newspapers from No10 sources at the weekend. This included former Cabinet minister Sajid Javid being branded 's***' as Downing Street denied he had initially been lined up to be Ms Truss's new Chancellor, prior to the appointment of Jeremy Hunt. Tory former minister Guy Opperman confirmed he had directly challenged the PM over the row when Ms Truss addressed the 'One Nation' group of MPs on Monday night. Commenting on Mr Stein's suspension today, Mr Opperman told MailOnline: 'He should never have been hired by the PM. Not fit to work in No10.' Mr Javid had been listed to ask a question at this afternoon's session of Prime Minister's Questions but did not end up speaking in the Commons. It was claimed Mr Javid had made Mr Stein's suspension - news of which came shortly after PMQs began at noon - a condition of him not directly raising the row with Ms Truss in the Commons. Liz Truss has suspended her senior aide Jason Stein amid a row over hostile briefings against Tory MPs In a denial of claims Sajid Javid had been considered to replace Kwasi Kwarteng as Chancellor, a No10 source told the Sunday Times the PM 'knows who is good and who is s***' Guy Opperman confirmed he directly challenged Ms Truss over the row on Monday. He told MailOnline of Mr Stein: 'He should never have been hired. Not fit to work in No10' Ms Truss's press secretary this afternoon refused to comment on 'individual staffing matters'. But they added: 'The PM has made very clear to her team that some of the sort of briefings that we have seen are completely unacceptable about parliamentary colleagues and they must stop.' Asked if Mr Stein had offered his resignation, the PM's press secretary replied: 'That is not my understanding.' After Kwasi Kwarteng's sacking as Chancellor by Ms Truss - in the wake of the mini-Budget meltdown - it was claimed allies of the PM had reached out to Mr Javid as a potential replacement. The Sunday Times reported Mr Javid would have taken on the role but wanted 'complete control' over taxes and public spending, as well as the reinstatment of Sir Tom Scholar as the Treasury's top civil servant. In a denial of the claims that Mr Javid had ever been considered to replace Mr Kwarteng, a No10 source told the newspaper: 'The Prime Minister laughed out loud at the suggestion. 'She has sat in the Cabinet with Javid for ten years and she knows who is good and who is s***.' Mr Stein - who previously worked for Prince Andrew - has been suspended at a time when Ms Truss is battling to save her premiership Mr Stein left his role with Prince Andrew amid reports he was overruled when he told the Queen's second son not to do a BBC Newsnight interview Mr Stein, a former adviser to ex-work and pensions secretary Amber Rudd, had worked on Ms Truss's Tory leadership campaign this summer before joining her No10 team. He left a previous role as an adviser to Prince Andrew in 2019. His departure came amid reports he was overruled when he told the Queen's second son not to do a BBC Newsnight interview about his relationship with convicted sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. A German bouncer who murdered a British heiress was more worried about his 900 shoes being scuffed than his dead girlfriend when police arrived, a Swiss court heard as he appeared to appeal his conviction. Anna Reed, 22, was found dead in her luxury hotel room after lover Marc Schatzle, 33, begged staff to call paramedics because she had 'turned blue'. But this was determined at trial last year to be all part of his attempt to cover his tracks. During the trial, the Swiss court heard he used Anna's credit card to go on a lavish spending spree after admitting he 'liked the finer things in life'. Marc Schatzle (shown left with Anna Reed), who murdered British heiress Reed (shown left and right) and was jailed for 18 years has appeared in court to appeal his conviction insisting she died in sex game that went tragically wrong Then the jury - in the Swiss city of Lugano - was told he had met Anna in Thailand in February 2019 and she had lavished '50,000 on him' paying for hotels, restaurants, and clothes during their time together. She was in the Far East after her father Clive had given her around the world ticket as a 21st birthday present and she had also inherited 250,000 from her mother who died in a 2016 domestic accident. Burly Schatzle callously claimed Anna died when he wrapped a towel around her throat during consensual sex in the bathroom of their five-star hotel La Palme au Lac in picturesque Locarno in April 2019. But judge Mauro Ermani slammed him as a 'liar' adding Schatzle was a 'dangerous man' as he sentenced him to 18 years. His legal team immediately announced they would appeal, and the case began on Tuesday in Locarno, in front of judge Giovanna Roggero-Will. The court heard Anna had argued with Schatzle the night she died because she had threatened to leave him after being warned he was using her. He had told her he was a company director but instead he was jobless and failing to pay maintenance towards his children and who owed thousands to previous girlfriends. Ms Canonica Alexakis said: 'He killed Anna because he knew that if wanted to continue living his high life of expensive shopping and luxurious holidays he needed money, her money. His life had taken an upgrade after he met her, and we know from bank records that one day she spent 10,000 Swiss Francs on clothes for him. He killed her in cold blood and hid her credit card so that he could retrieve it later he says it was an accident, but we have not heard today a word of sorrow or an apology from him today. During his trial last year, the Swiss court heard Schatzle used Anna's credit card to go on a lavish spending spree after admitting he 'liked the finer things in life' She went on: Let me give you another example, the investigating officer called to the scene has described how when asked for his clothes and shoes, Schatzle had said "Be careful, those shows are worth 1,000 Swiss Francs." His girlfriend, the woman who he claimed to love had died just a few hours earlier and all he was worried about was his shoes. Anna mattered little to him, if anything at all but her money did. He killed her for her money because he needed it to maintain his lifestyle and she had told him she was leaving him. Schatzle defence led by Mr Yasar Ravi claimed Annas father had insisted his daughter was happy with her new boyfriend and added she had lost her head for him. The court heard Anna told family and friends in Harrogate the days before she died, she intended to stay and live in Switzerland for six months with a trip to Dublin beforehand. His defence highlighted how staff at the hotel and a restaurant the pair had visited the evening before she died described the couple as happy, in love and joking with each other. It was also pointed out there was no physical evidence to support the prosecution theory the pair had argued over money and that Anna was going to leave him. Jurors listened intently as the defence insisted guests in nearby room at the hotel had reported no moans, cries for help, or slaps or punches. Schatzle described to the court how they had returned to their hotel at 2am after spending the night drinking in various bars. He said he 'tried to hide her credit card' in a roof space of the elevator light as a 'joke' but it had 'slipped behind a panel and he couldn't retrieve it'. Anna had been enjoying a round-the-world trip which she received from her father as a present for her 21st birthday, when she was killed in a Hotel la Palma au Lac in Locarno Heavily tattooed Schatzle, who was dressed in dark blue trousers, a denim shirt and black braces told the hearing how he and Anna, from Harrogate, north Yorkshire, practiced rough sex. He and his lawyer Yasar Ravi claim she died because of a sex game that went tragically wrong and are asking for his murder conviction to be overturned and replaced with manslaughter. Schatzle told the court: 'Anna liked erotic asphyxiation. She asked me to do it. I used a towel and my hands, I thought everything was ok and then I saw her with her tongue out. 'Her face was funny and there was a blue mark on her neck. I tried to wake her up. I gave her CPR and then I went downstairs to get help.' When the judge pointed out a medical report highlighted Anna would have shown 'signs of suffering and distress' Schatzle said he had 'noted nothing' apart from a 'puddle of urine'. Judge Roggero-Will said: 'It's impossible that nothing was noted, the victim gives off signal of suffering, according to medical reports.' He replied: 'The only thing I saw was she had urinated and that's when I stopped.' But prosecutor Petra Canonica Alexakis slammed Schatzle saying he had been 'lying for three years and his claims of an 'accident and sex game tragically gone wrong' were unfounded. She said: 'He is a killer and the first trial confirmed this. The first trial didn't believe it was an erotic game and an accident. 'There is nothing to confirm his version of events and he has refused to cooperate with investigators from the beginning. 'If things had gone as he claims, then one would have excepted his attitude to be different but there is nothing to suggest he and Anna Reed practiced erotic asphyxiation or sadomasochism.' Schatzle callously claimed Anna died when he wrapped a towel around her throat during consensual sex in the bathroom of their five-star hotel La Palme au Lac (pictured) Ms Canonica Alexakis highlighted how the telephone cable in their room had been found ripped from the wall by investigators and Schatzle had insisted it was already broken. But she added: 'We know that's not true because he ordered room service from reception, and this was confirmed by the hotel staff. 'Instead, he ripped the cable, maybe Anna was trying to make a call or maybe he did it to stop her calling for help.' She also highlighted how there were no wounds on Schatzle inflicted by Anna, as she was just 55kg compared to his 105kg and slightly built and that her fingernails were short. Ms Canonica Alexakis added: 'Anna hated liars and she hated being lied to and the night she died she had learnt what sort of man Schatzle was. 'She had been warned about him by a previous boyfriend after he had been tipped by an ex-girlfriend of Schatzle, who said he had manipulated and used her, lying continuously. 'The night Anna died there was no sex game and there was no attempt at a joke by hiding her credit card in a lift. 'She died because of an intentional gesture and the medical report revealed wound to her gums consistent with a hand being placed over her mouth.' Marc Schatzle, who has denied deliberately killing Anna, is believed to have met her in Thailand in February 2019 Anna was described in court as 'beautiful and wealthy' with Ms Canonica Alexakis saying Schatzle had 'only seven Francs in his account and 20 Francs in his wallet' the fateful night. She went on: 'But he knew that a Visa card Anna had was preloaded with 25,000 Swiss Francs which may not seem much but to a man who has nothing it was enough to use to flee the country. 'That's why after killing Anna he set about falsifying the scene. He hid her credit card in the lift to retrieve later because we know guests along the corridor heard heavy footsteps that morning. 'He put her body in a bath of warm water to delay the time of death, but the paramedics were suspicious when they arrived because of the colour and texture of her skin. 'Schatzle waited to raise the alarm, maybe as much as two hours because he wanted to take the time to save his own skin. 'He simulated an accident in the bathroom before raising the alarm but let's remember how he raised the alarm he took the elevator to the reception. 'Would you not rush down the stairs if you were in that situation instead of eating for the lift? And it was noticed he had taken the time to tie his shoes and get dressed.' Ms Canonica Alexakis added: 'Anna was certainly disinhibited when it came to sex but she was not into rough sex or erotic asphyxiation - her friends and ex-boyfriend have confirmed it. 'Schatzle was not into sado masochism or rough sex - two of his ex-partners have confirmed this it's only he who says they were but we all know he is a liar.' Anna and her sister Millie, now 28, were brought up in upmarket Harrogate, North Yorks Anna and her sister Millie, now 28, were brought up in upmarket Harrogate, North Yorks. Their father Clive, 65, runs the famous Copgrove Hall racehorse stud, set in 300 acres and worth 25million. The family also runs a healthcare company with a staff of more than 1,000, and some of their relatives live in tax haven Monaco. Anna went to 15,000-a-year Ashville College in Harrogate, and despite the familys wealth, she had a part-time restaurant job and babysat. A keen rider, she spent a lot of time at Jennifer Birtwistles equestrian centre in Harrogate. Neither have ever spoken publicly about Annas death but in an impact statement given to the prosecutor, Clive and Millie said: Anna was probably the most intelligent member of the family. If there was something complicated to be done, she would find the solution. She would light up a room when she walked in and she loved dancing, she loved her friends and she would always take care of them. They knew they could count on her and she was very generous. Anna was also very sporty. She loved horses, swimming and skiing, she was even learning to be a ski instructor. She was a very spontaneous and sociable person. When she died it was her last summer of freedom before getting back to reality as she was going to go to university to study mathematics. Poignantly, among her possessions in the hotel room where she died, police found four maths papers that she had taken with her to study while she toured the world. The case continues. Donald Trump is scheduled to be grilled under oath on Wednesday as part of a defamation lawsuit brought by writer E. Jean Carroll. In a memoir written after he became president, the veteran columnist accused the Trump of raping her in a New York City department store in the mid-1990s during a chance encounter. She's now suing Trump after he denied her claims by claiming 'she's not my type' and accused her of lying to sell her book. The former president's lawyers have sought to shield him using a federal law that protects government employees from defamation suits for statements made in the scope of their duty. Last last month, a three-judge panel ruled that Trump, who made his denials in 2019 while president, did count as a federal employee under the Westfall Act's scope. However, it punted the decision on whether Trump's allegedly defamatory comments fell within the scope of his job as president to the Washington, D.C. Court of Appeals. If successful, the federal government would step in for Trump as the defendant. President Joe Biden's Justice Department has continued to argue Trump's position that the government should step in after it was first initiated by then-Attorney General Bill Barr. But Trump's case was dealt a blow last week when US District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan refused to let the ex-president delay his October 19 deposition, noting that both Carroll and the former president were 'already of advanced age.' Longtime advice columnist E. Jean Carroll (left) is accusing Donald Trump (right) of defaming her with his denials of her rape accusations 'The defendant should not be permitted to run the clock out on plaintiff's attempt to gain a remedy for what allegedly was a serious wrong,' Kaplan said. He blasted Trump's legal moves in the case as 'inexcusable.' 'As this Court previously has observed, Mr. Trump has litigated this case since it began in 2019 with the effect and probably the purpose of delaying it,' Kaplan ruled. Trump had sought to delay his deposition until the DC appeals court could weigh in on whether he could be allowed to dodge the case by substituting the Justice Department as the defendant. Carroll was scheduled for a deposition by Trump's attorneys on Friday. The trial is currently scheduled for early February. Carroll's lawyers declined to comment when asked by DailyMail.com. Trump attorney Alina Habba has not yet responded to a similar inquiry. Trump's expected deposition on Wednesday is his second this year. He reportedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination more than 400 times when he was deposed in August by New York Attorney General Letitia James. (L-R) Trump is pictured in 1987 with Carroll, the writer's then-husband John Johnson, and Trump's late ex-wife Ivana Trump James' office sat down with Trump and his three eldest children for an investigation into their family real estate empire's business practices. The Democratic official filed a lawsuit against all four of them plus the Trump Organization in September, accusing them of knowingly using misleading financial statements to obtain favorable loans and deals. Carroll's lawyer previously signaled her intent to sue Trump under the Adult Survivors Act, a law signed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul in May that is taking effect in November. Under the new measure, adult sexual assault and rape survivors get a one-year 'look back' where they're able to bring civil cases that would have otherwise timed out of the statute of limitations. In her 2019 memoir, Carroll recalled running into Trump in Manhattan's Bergdorf Goodman department store where he sought her help in buying a gift for a woman. She claimed he attacked her after getting her into a dressing room in the lingerie department. 'The moment the dressing-room door is closed, he lunges at me, pushes me against the wall,' Carroll wrote. 'He seizes both my arms and pushes me up against the wall a second time, and, as I become aware of how large he is, he holds me against the wall with his shoulder and jams his hand under my coatdress and pulls down my tights.' Trump doubled down on his denial last week in a lengthy statement calling Kaplan's ruling on the deposition 'a complete con job.' Referencing the photo of them snapped in 1987, he said: 'I don't know this woman, have no idea who she is, other than it seems she got a picture of me many years ago, with her husband, shaking my hand on a reception line at a celebrity charity event.' 'She completely made up a story that I met her at the doors of this crowded New York City Department Store and, within minutes, 'swooned' her. It is a Hoax and a lie, just like all the other Hoaxes that have been played on me for the past seven years,' Trump added. 'And, while I am not supposed to say it, I will. This woman is not my type!' Former prostitute Divine Brown was seen looking out of sorts while chomping on a chicken wing in Atlanta, as she faces up to 30 years in jail for battery and cruelty to children. Brown, born Estella Thompson and now 53, was caught carrying out a sex act on British actor Hugh Grant in Los Angeles in 1995, an incident that shot her to fame and fortune. She looked practically unrecognizable as she went for a walk outside her Atlanta home on Tuesday. Brown was wearing a green and white long-sleeve hooded shirt, green pants and slippers, while her hair looked disheveled. She appeared to head outside her home to eat a chicken wing while speaking to someone on her iPhone. Former prostitute Divine Brown was seen looking out of sorts while chomping on a chicken wing in Atlanta, as she faces up to 30 years in jail for battery and cruelty to children In 1995, Brown was caught carrying out a sex act on British actor Hugh Grant in Los Angeles, in an incident that shot her to fame and fortune. Pictured: Both are seen after their arrest Divine Brown, born Estella Thompson, is pictured outside of her Atlanta, Georgia home Brown was arrested again 27 years after her notorious Hugh Grant bust on Hollywood's Sunset Strip Brown looked practically unrecognizable as she went for a walk outside her Atlanta home on Tuesday Brown was wearing a green and white long-sleeve hooded shirt and green pants, while her hair looked disheveled She appeared to head outside her home to eat a chicken wing while speaking to someone on her iPhone The former prostitute shot to fame in the '90s due to her association with Hugh Grant, at the time one of Hollywood's biggest heartthrobs It was the second time she'd been seen out and about in Atlanta this week, as she was spotted smoking a cigarette and making a phone call on Monday. She said in the years that followed that the $50 'trick' in Grant's car on Hollywood's Sunset Boulevard made her a millionaire. But earlier this year, Brown was charged with battery, cruelty to children, possession of drugs and smuggling suspected cocaine into a jail, according to Fulton County arrest records, and faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted. A close neighbor in the south Atlanta estate where she now lives told The Mirror that Brown has fallen a long way since she became an overnight star. She is reported to have earned around $1.6 million from the publicity she received from her arrest with Grant, remaining in the public eye through work in the adult film industry, TV appearances and interviews with newspapers. While Brown would rather have everyone thinking of her as someone who lives a glamorous lifestyle, 'she has no car, and the shoes she steps out in are nasty old flip-flops,' the neighbor said, adding the phrase 'red shoes and no knickers' sums the 53-year-old. She said in the years that followed that the $50 'trick' in Grant's car on Hollywood's Sunset Boulevard made Brown a millionaire But earlier this year, Brown was charged with battery, cruelty to children, possession of drugs and smuggling suspected cocaine into a jail, according to Fulton County arrest records, and faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted A close neighbor in the south Atlanta estate where she now lives told The Mirror that Brown has fallen a long way since she became an overnight star She is reported to have earned around $1.6 million from the publicity she received from her arrest with Grant, remaining in the public eye through work in the adult film industry, TV appearances and interviews with newspapers While Brown would rather have everyone thinking of her as someone who lives a glamorous lifestyle, 'she has no car, and the shoes she steps out in are nasty old flip-flops,' the neighbor said, adding the phrase 'red shoes and no knickers' sums the 53-year-old 'Divine has been in and out of trouble all her adult life. There is constant shouting coming from her home, mostly when she is drunk. It seems her choices may finally be catching up to her,' the neighbor told the newspaper. On Valentine's day, police were called to Brown's apartment around midday, where she was arrested under her real name. She appeared drunk with 'very slurred speech,' according to reports at the time. There, officers found her 13-year-old alleged victim, who told police she had been hit. The Mirror said the police report alleged Brown had been 'grabbing her by her arm, throwing her around the apartment, slamming her on the couch'. The teenager told officers Divine had been under the influence 'alcohol or something because she has seen her pop pills before,' the Mirror added. While the girl was taken to hospital, Brown was taken to Fulton County Jail. There, officers found she had suspected cocaine hidden inside her body. 'Divine has been in and out of trouble all her adult life. There is constant shouting coming from her home, mostly when she is drunk. It seems her choices may finally be catching up to her,' the neighbor told the newspaper Grant is shown in a photo shot off a video monitor during a taping of the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" at the NBC studios in Burbank, California July 10. The first question Leno asked Grant was "What the hell were you thinking?" It was the second time she'd been seen out and about in Atlanta this week, as she was spotted smoking a cigarette and making a phone call on Monday Records show the case is still open and being found guilty of unlawful possession of drugs can fetch 30 years in prison. Meanwhile, a first-degree cruelty to children conviction in the state of Georgia can result in 20 years. Brown and Grant were both arrested on June 27, 1995, for engaging in a sexual act in public. Officers were drawn to Grant's car because they noticed his brake lights were flashing on and off, as the drive was pushing his foot down on the pedal. Both were arrested and pleaded no contest to offences, resulting in fines. Brown made a fortune following the arrest, due to the attention the case gained thanks to Grant's stardom. 'That was the trick that changed my life,' she said. Since then, she has said the incident allowed her to put her children through private school. Her and her then-partner bought a four-bedroom home in Beverly Hills. Grant has admitted he cheated on Elizabeth Hurley with Brown in 1995 because he was upset after watching one of his own movies. The actor, 60, hit headlines when police arrested him and sex worker Divine after nabbing their illicit liaison in a car parked near Los Angeles' Sunset Boulevard. And in a new interview on Marc Maron's WTF podcast, the British star admitted that his unease after watching his Hollywood debut film Nine Months led to the incident. Scandal: Hugh Grant has admitted he cheated on Elizabeth Hurley with prostitute Divine Brown in 1995 because he was upset after watching one of his own movies. Pictured in 1994 Recalling the headline-making scandal, he said: 'I was about to launch my first Hollywood film my timing was impeccable. My problem was that was my first Hollywood film and Id just been to see it. 'The film was about to come out a week or two after that, and I had a bad feeling about it. I went to see a screening. Everyone in it was brilliant, but I was so atrocious that I was not in a good frame of mind.' With his mood worsening as he questioned his own performance in the romantic comedy which also starred Julianne Moore and Robin Williams Hugh revealed he went to drown his sorrows, before 'one thing led to another'. He said: 'I had a Ken Russell kind of lunch and one thing led to another. I just was disappointed in myself. I don't know what was going on. It was called Nine Months.' A suspected subway shover maintained a stony silence as he was perp-walked after allegedly pushing a man onto the track in an unprovoked attack. Miguel Ramirez was frogmarched out a police station and into a police car Monday, two days after stalking and shoving German Sabio, 26, into the path of a northbound 6 train at the East 149th Street Station on Saturday morning. Ramirez ignored reporters questions about why he'd shoved Sabio, who didn't know his attacker, and who believes the assault was unprovoked. The terrifying clip of the attack shows the suspect - who cops say is Ramirez - appear wild-eyed and unhinged moments before the shove took place. Charges are pending against Ramirez while Sabio, who was rescued by good Samaritans, suffered leg injuries. 'Wow, all I can say to be honest is to give thanks to God, so that way this guy cannot do it again to somebody else,' Sabio told NBC. 'I have to take the train when I go to work and I still remember it in my memory, that feeling, that sensation. So, knowing this guy got arrested, I feel a little more easy.' The attack on Sabio follows a string of subway attacks, as subway murders are up to their highest rate in 25 years, with eight people killed in 2022 already, according to Mayor Eric Adams. So far, 12 people have been shoved in front of NYC subway trains this year, although not all of those attacks have been fatal. Miguel Ramirez (left), 35, was arrested for an unprovoked subway attack in the Bronx Charges are still pending against Ramirez, who was seen walking out of a police station on Tuesday German Sabio, 26, was shoved by Ramirez into the path of a northbound 6 train at the East 149th Street Station on Saturday morning Surveillance footage shows the terrifying incident at the 149th Street station on at 11.50am, while millions of New Yorkers were going about a normal Saturday morning. The pusher, wide-eyed and with unkempt hair, stalked the 26-year-old man for several seconds first, then ran behind him and pushed him in to the path of the oncoming train. 'I think he was looking for someone to do it, and I wasn't aware of what was going on around me, and that's why he pushed me on the tracks,' Sabio said. He then fled the station as other, shocked onlookers rushed to the victim's aid. They were able to pull him to safety before the train rushed through the station. Sabio was then transported to a nearby hospital. Learning from his attack, Sabio urges others 'to be careful at the train station and be aware around them.' His attack preceded Heriberto Quintana, 48, being fatally-struck by an F train at the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue station in Queens around 4.45pm on Monday. Carlos Garcia, 50, has since been arrested and charged with manslaughter over Quintana's killing. The thug in the camouflage pants watched his victim (above in blue) and lunged at him before pushing him onto the tracks The victim then walked out of the camera's view. The criminal ran after him This is the moment the thug ran towards the victim and pushed him into the path of the train before fleeing the station Carlos Garcia, 50, is accused of killing 48-year-old Heriberto Quintana on Monday afternoon after a tussle that led to Quintana falling onto F Train subway tracks and being hit by an oncoming train It is the latest incident in what appears to be an ever-worsening crime wave in New York City. At least 12 people have been shoved onto the subway tracks this year. In January, 40-year-old woman, Michelle Go, was killed after she was pushed in front of a train at the Times Square Station. Her assailant was sent to a psychiatric facility after prosecutors declined to challenge a mental evaluation that found him unfit to stand trial. On Monday, NYC Mayor Eric Adams claimed that there is only a 'perception' that crime in the Big Apple is 'out of control'. Adams said that he and law enforcement are fighting the 'actual crime', with the average of 'six crimes a day' on the subway 'not giving the impression that it is out of control'. He admitted that there are 'too many guns' on the streets of New York, but added that the NYPD has done an 'amazing job' confiscating thousands of firearms. The mayor, who was barely audible over the sound of sirens wailing in the background, added: 'We are dealing with actual crimes those eight homicides and the perception of fear that people are feeling. 'That's the combination I must deal with, that perception and the actual crime. But we can't get away with the fact that we have 3.5 million people using our subway system,' he said. 'We have to be honest about that and those average of six crimes a day is not giving the impression that it is out of control.' New York Mayor Eric Adams has claimed that there is only a 'perception' that crime in the Big Apple is 'out of control' despite eight people being murdered on the subway system this year Recent data shows subway murders have risen to their highest in 25 years, despite plummeting ridership. Between 1997 and 2020, there were never more than five murders a year on New York City subway trains. That number rose to six in 2020, eight in 2021 and it's already at eight with two-and-half months left of the year. Felony crime on the subway is up by 42 percent, but ridership has almost halved. In 2019, an average of 142 million people rode the subway every month - around four million people a day. Now, the monthly rider average is 81million. Officials are struggling to explain the uptick in crime. Many have blamed the COVID-19 pandemic, when they say resources like homeless shelters and mental health outreach programs stopped. Jayjon Burnett, 15, was killed on Friday afternoon - just six days before his 16th birthday - during a chaotic dispute between two groups on a Far Rockaway A train in Queens, New York Before the pandemic, New York State brought in sweeping bail reforms in an effort to reduce low-level offender prison populations. It released many repeat offenders back into the community. That was compounded in New York City by the election of District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who told his staff to avoid imposing cash bail wherever they could. Adams vowed to crackdown on subway crime with the introduction of a designated, train task force. They have not yet had an effect on the worsening crime. The mayor's comments on Monday come just days after after Jayjon Burnett, 15, was shot dead on Friday afternoon during a dispute between two groups on a Far Rockaway A train in New York. Keyondre Russell, 18, is being held without bail on murder charges in relation to the killing, but claims that he is the real victim saying Burnett shot him first and he acted in self-defense. The latest in the transit killings come after officials have repeatedly promised to flood subway platforms and care with more police officers, under Adams 'Subway Safety Plan'. Heriberto Quintana, 48, was struck by an F train at the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Ave station at 74th Street and Broadway Adams added: 'Too many guns are on the street, there is no condolence or consolation if you're shot on the subway or on the street. 'We brought down homicides, brought down victims of shooters, we continue to do the job. 'Our police department done an amazing job but everyone must play their role. 'Judges must keep shooters in jail lawmakers make sure we dont make laws that allow them to return to our streets - we have to prosecute these cases There are too many gins on our streets, those that are on the streets are also on the subway systems, they are also in our schools. They are everywhere we are as innocent New Yorkers, there are too many guns on our streets. A handgun found today in a Liverpool graveyard could be liked to the murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel. Police discovered the pistol and ammunition in the cemetery in West Derby, Liverpool, on Tuesday lunchtime. Forensic tests are being carried out to determine the type of gun and whether it was used in the nine-year-old's murder. Olivia was fatally shot in the chest at her home in Dovecot, Liverpool, on August 22. Her mother, Cheryl Korbel, 46, was injured as a gunman chased convicted burglar Joseph Nee, into their home at about 10pm. Detectives have previously confirmed that a .38 revolver was the weapon that killed Olivia. A second gun that was also fired, a Glock-type self-loading 9mm pistol, had been used in two previous attacks. The force says it is in the process of forensically examining the weapon and work will be ongoing to check if it linked to the August murders of Sam Rimmer, Ashley Dale or Olivia. Police are currently testing the found gun it to see if is connected to little Olivia's murder The force says it is in the process of forensically examining the weapon and work will be ongoing to check if it linked to the August murders of Sam Rimmer, Ashley Dale or Olivia The handgun was found hidden in a cemetery in West Derby, Liverpool, today by police The killer in Olivia's case was also carrying a second handgun, used to shoot at his intended target Joseph Nee, which was described by police as a self-loading 9mm Glock handgun. Police have not publicly revealed the type of firearms used to shoot 28-year-old Miss Dale on Leinster Road, Old Swan, or 22-year-old Mr Rimmer on Lavrock Bank, Dingle. Police can link firearms to previous shootings by examining markings on any bullet fragments recovered from the scene. Thomas Cashman, 34, was in Liverpool Magistrates' Court today, alleged to have killed the nine-year-old Nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel died in after being shot in her home in Liverpool in August Merseyside Police regularly works with the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS) to identify guns used in criminal shootings. Detective Inspector John Mullen from the Firearms Investigations Team, said: 'Every weapon we seize makes our communities safer, and this gun was stored with ammunition, which could have been used to cause serious harm. We will now conduct forensic work to establish if this is a weapon which has been used before and who has had it in their possession. 'If you have any information on this or other weapons, do the right thing and come forward immediately, as what you know could remove dangerous people and their weapons from the streets of Merseyside.' Charity Crimestoppers has offered a record 200,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of Olivia's killer. Thomas Cashman, 34, of West Derby, is accused of her murder and is due to stand trial in March. Australia's east coast is again set to be lashed with heavy rain and severe thunderstorms heading into the weekend - as parts of NSW and Victoria struggle with major floods. The Bureau of Meteorology has warned a low pressure system moving over the country will bring four days of 'severe' wet weather stretching more than 2,000km from central Queensland down through NSW, Victoria and into Tasmania. A severe weather warning was issued for Queensland on Thursday with 'intense' rain, damaging winds and 'giant' hail forecast for west of the Great Dividing Range from Townsville down to the NSW border. Emerald in the centre of the warning area already had it's wettest October day on record on Wednesday with 135mm of rain drenching the town. This cumulative rainfall map of the next four days shows much of the country's east is set for a soaking (pictured) The Bureau issued a severe weather warning for Queensland on Wednesday night (pictured) In northern NSW the area around Moree will see the brunt of the rain with Bureau meteorologist Dean Narramore saying floods are a concern in the area. 'There will likely be widespread falls of 25mm to 50mm over the next four days but there could be some heavier falls across inland parts of south east Queensland and inland parts of north eastern NSW,' Mr Narramore said. 'We could see isolated falls in those areas in excess of 100mm.' There are also major flood warnings for many rivers in NSW and northern Victoria, especially the Murray River. 'We're concerned about going into the weekend as additional falls are likely to lead to renewed river rises,' the meteorologist said. Mr Narramore said Thursday will see widespread falls along the east coast and that Friday would be a 'rinse and repeat' of rain and thunderstorms. Severe thunderstorms, large hail, damaging winds and heavy rainfall are all on the horizon for eastern Queensland, NSW and parts of an already flood-ravaged Victoria. With no end in sight for the wet conditions, those in northern parts of Victoria have been warned more 'widespread moderate to major flooding' is likely. South Australia will also see particularly heavy rain in the south east of the state from Port Pirie to Renmark near the Victorian border. 'Heavy falls across inland South Australia could also lead to flash flooding,' the Bureau warned. Tasmania will also be hit with much of the rainfall, though should escape the worst of the downpour. Melburnians will be in for rain heading into the weekend but should escape the 'intense' falls seen elsewhere (pictured: Melbourne last Thursday) Perth and Darwin will also see some rain with northern parts of WA the only area of the country remaining fully dry over the weekend. Residents in flood-hit Australian towns ramped up efforts to build levees and sandbag homes on Wednesday ahead of the forecast of further miserable weather. An intense weather system last week brought almost a month's worth of rain in two days across much of Victoria, southern NSW and northern parts of Tasmania, triggering flash flooding. Flood waters are still rising around several inland towns in NSW and Victoria, with officials urging residents to evacuate before they are cut off. Residents in some areas, including the northern Victorian rural town of Echuca, are facing their second flooding in a week. Residents in Echuca (pictured) and Moama near the Victorian border have been told to evacuate immediately as the Murray River rises to record levels Volunteers sandbag Beechworth Bakery at Echuca as authorities warn more than 7,500 properties in the region could be affected by flooding A dirt levee has been built in Echuca, about 250 km north of Melbourne, amid the warnings the Murray, Australia's largest river, could breach a near 30-year high later this week. In the nearby town of Moama, across the state border in southern NSW, defence force personnel teamed up with residents to sandbag homes. Amid fears of renewed flooding, Grain Producers Australia said this year's harvest was 'on a knife's edge', echoing warnings from the government about the economic costs of flooding. He says that his alcohol addiction began to surface while he starred on hit sitcom Friends at age 24 Matthew Perry stepped out last week for a relaxing afternoon in Los Angeles just as he has revealed his opioid addiction nearly took his life. DailyMail.com spotted the Friends star looking healthier than he has in years as he ran errands with an unidentified female friend. The actor has been single since splitting with fiancee Molly Hurwitz back in June 2021. The 53-year-old wore a gray top, white Jordan shorts, and yellow Converse sneakers with trendy sunglasses, while his mystery friend wore a yellow floral dress, sunglasses and white sandals. The pair were seen walking in a parking garage before they hopped in the car and drove away. The notoriously reclusive actor is breaking cover to promote his long-awaited memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, which hits stands November 1. Speaking about the book to People Magazine, he detailed how his drug and alcohol addictions left him with a 2% survival after opioids caused his colon to burst, putting him in a two-week coma. Now sober, the beloved actor best known for playing hapless Chandler Bing, is detailing his decades-long battle to rid himself of the disease of addiction. DailyMail.com spotted Matthew Perry in Los Angeles last week as he stepped out for a relaxing afternoon. This comes as the notoriously private actor revealed he nearly died of alcohol and drug addiction The Friends star looked healthy as he ran errands with an unidentified female friend He said: 'I had to wait until I was pretty safely sober and away from the active disease of alcoholism and addiction to write it all down. And the main thing was, I was pretty certain that it would help people' - pictured in September 2021, (left) The notoriously reclusive actor is breaking cover to promote his long-awaited memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing , which hits stands November Matthew's mystery friend wore a yellow floral dress, designer sunglasses and white sandals The 53-year-old looked healthy and wore a gray Henley top, white Jordan shorts, and yellow Converse sneakers with trendy sunglasses Matthew revealed he had to use a colostomy bag for nine months, has had 14 surgeries on his stomach and has been to rehab 15 times in a bid to get clean. Speaking about the book to People Magazine Wednesday, he detailed how his addictions left him with a 2% survival after opioids caused his colon to burst, putting him in a two-week coma and spending months in the hospital He said, 'The doctors told my family that I had a 2 percent chance to live. I was put on a thing called an ECMO machine, which does all the breathing for your heart and your lungs. And that's called a Hail Mary. No one survives that.' The actor added, 'I wanted to share when I was safe from going into the dark side of everything again. 'I had to wait until I was pretty safely sober and away from the active disease of alcoholism and addiction to write it all down. And the main thing was, I was pretty certain that it would help people.' Matthew said that his alcohol addiction began to surface while he was starring on Friends at age 24. He was 'entrenched in a lot of trouble' by the time he was 34. He said there were years during that time in which he was sober and in fact, he was sober throughout the whole of season nine, the year he got nominated for Best Actor. At one point during his Friends career, he admits he was taking 55 Vicodin a day and was down to 128 pounds but 'didn't know how to stop.' He said the disease has gotten worse and worse and noted his Friends cast mates 'were understanding, and they were patient.' Matthew said the disease has got worse and noted his Friends cast mates 'were understanding, and they were patient' (pictured second from left with the cast) Matthew now says: 'I'm pretty healthy now,' though he is choosing not to say how long he has been sober but is 'counting each day.' His stomach is covered in scars from his 14 surgeries and he said they serve as a reminder to stay sober. He said his therapist has told him that he may have to have a colostomy bag for the rest of his life if he takes drugs again, which helps him avoid relapsing. The actor checked himself into rehab during his time on Friends once in 1997 and again in 2001. Matthew famously told the New York Times in 2002, one year after getting sober: 'When [fame] happens, it's kind of like Disneyland for a while. 'For me it lasted about eight months, this feeling of "I've made it, I'm thrilled, there's no problem in the world". He told the Hollywood Reporter in 2015: 'I've had a lot of ups and downs in my life. I learned a lot from my failures. 'But the best thing about me is that if an alcoholic comes up to me and says, "Will you help me stop drinking?" I will say, "Yes, I know how to do that."' 'And then you realize that it doesn't accomplish anything, it's certainly not filling any holes in your life. I didn't get sober because I felt like it. I got sober because I was worried I was going to die the next day.' 'It's no accident that Chandler is a guy who is trying to deter his own human emotional feelings with laughter. Thats what I did for years. I've tried to palm myself off as being a jokester, kind of like hanging out with me is kind of like a vacation. But that could only take me so far.' He did his third stint in rehab in May 2011, when a representative for the star said it was to prevent a relapse. The actor has said he is currently sober but doesn't want to say how long he has been sober for - only that he 'counts the days' - pictured promoting his book in September Pictured in 2019: Perry has stayed under the radar in recent years. He caused concern when he looked disheveled in his first sighting for almost two years that year In 2021, the cast of Friends reunited on screen for the first time in 17 years after being delayed due to the pandemic. Friends fans expressed their concern at the time after Matthew appeared to slur his speech in a promo for the special. The actor stammered and stared in the clip, even slurring together his words at one point. Though his speech was stilted, Matthew's physical appearance was on the healthier side. His castmates were able to hide any of their concerns, as David Schwimmer and Matt LaBlanc giggled and smiled at their troubled co-star But fans were quick to voice their worries. 'Just saw People interview and can't believe how Matthew Perry looks like seriously it breaks my heart,' one fan wrote on Twitter. 'It pains me to see Matthew Perry like this, he just seems off, gazing at the void, speaking slowly,' wrote another. In 2021, the cast of Friends reunited on screen for the first time in 17 years - fans expressed their concern at the time after Matthew appeared to slur his speech in a promo for the special Ben Winston, who directed Friends: The Reunion, said of those commenting on Perry's appearance during the HBO Max special: 'He was great. People can sometimes just be unkind. I wish they weren't. 'I loved working with him. He's a brilliantly funny man and I thought he had some great one-liners in the show. I felt just happy and lucky to be in his presence and directing him on something like this.' After having his first taste of alcohol at the age of 13, he continued drinking and was described opioids in 1997 to cope with the pain after suffering a jet ski accident. Speaking to People in 2013, he recalled taking his prescribed pills without question: 'I did and I felt better than I ever felt in my entire life. I had a big problem with pills and alcohol, and I couldn't stop.' He checked into rehab that same year in 1997, but said: 'You can't have a drug problem for 30 years and then expect to have it solved in 28 days. Getting sober is a really hard thing to do.' In addition to being suspended, a special prosecutor is reviewing whether enough evidence exists to charge Carr with a crime Carr's attorney argued the judge had been suffering from mistreated sleep apnea, generalized anxiety and menopause She also repeatedly lied about her misdeeds, forged court documents and put out illegitimate arrest warrants Carr was found to have abused her public position in a number of ways including wearing inappropriate court attire and demeaning defendants An Ohio judge was removed from the bench Tuesday for misconduct that included repeatedly lying, issuing illegitimate arrest warrants, and wearing spandex shorts, tank tops and sneakers in court. Judge Pinkey Susan Carr, 57, was suspended indefinitely by the Ohio Supreme Court as she agreed to undergo evaluations of her mental and physical health. She had been accused of more than 100 instances of misconduct. In the final 5-2 ruling, the justices said Carr's 'unprecedented' behavior demonstrated a severe 'abuse' of power. Carr received the second-most severe sanction that can be imposed against an attorney or judge for ethics violations. The attorney who defended her, Nicholas Froning, argued that the judge's poor conduct as a public official stemmed from 'mistreated' or 'untreated' conditions including 'sleep apnea, menopause, and a generalized mood disorder' - an argument the panel had a hard time buying. Carr's misbehavior first came to light as she continued holding court hearings after the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic forced the courthouse to shut down. She subsequently issued warrants for the arrest of defendants who did not show up to court, despite being told they were not required to because of the coronavirus. Cleveland, Ohio Municipal Court judge Pinkey Susan Carr was indefinitely suspended Tuesday after a range of egregious behaviors in her professional life, including keeping a bench laden with novelty items Carr was accused of, among other things, issuing illegitimate arrest warrants and waiving fines for arbitrary reasons, as well as joking about accepting bribes in her courtroom Prior to her disciplinary sentence, Carr had been a Cleveland Municipal Court judge since 2012 and served as a prosecuting attorney for the city of Cleveland before that The Supreme Court of Ohio heard the disciplinary case brought against Carr and opted to suspend her from the bench indefinitely on Tuesday She repeatedly set bails at $5,000 and $10,000 for defendants who were not in court and then lied and said it was 'absolutely untrue' that she had issued said warrants. In the scathing 58-page filing case against her, Carr is accused of a variety of sorts of egregious behaviors that amount to presiding over her courtroom 'in a manner befitting a game show host rather than a judge of the Cleveland Municipal Court.' She often demeaned defendants and attorneys in her courtroom, calling one attorney who questioned holding court during the pandemic a 'little idiot.' 'She conducted court from a bench covered by an array of dolls, cups, and junk novelty items,' read the filing. She openly discussed the Starz television show P-Valley, which is about a Mississippi strip club. 'You know what my P-Valley, my name gonna be Passion. I got to go to that class though so I can learn how to climb that pole,' she said, also referring to her bailiff as 'Miss Pudding from P-Valley.' She repeatedly waived fines and expunged court reprimands for defendants for arbitrary reasons, including the timing of their birthday. In court records, she wrote on a number of occasions that she had waived a fine because 'It was the defendant's birthday that month,' or 'The defendant's birthday was nine days before Valentine's Day.' 'I'm going to suspend your fine and costs because you know Eric. And his birthday is May the 26th, the same day as my best friend's birthday,' she said in one instance. She also pushed the boundaries of her judicial power in the absence of a prosecutor. 'The prosecutor's not here. Let's see how much we can get away with,' she said according to the filing. She once ordered someone to spend 15 days in jail because they rolled their eyes and made a sarcastic remark in her courtroom. And, of course, her workplace wardrobe also challenged the standards of her position. According to the complaint, 'She has at various times appeared on the bench wearing workout attire consisting of a tank top and long shorts; or a T-shirt and above-the-knee spandex shorts and sneakers.' She also made a habit of wearing loud and prominent necklaces and other pieces of jewelry to court, which complimented the myriad flowers, bottles, and other novelty items she kept on her bench. Carr frequently adorned herself with loud, statement jewelry that matched her equally unconventional court outfits Then-prosecutor Pinkey Carr and a defense attorney discuss a point with Judge Dick Ambrose during a sidebar at the trial of serial killer Anthony Sowell Carr's defense attorney Nicholas Froning argued before the state Supreme Court that Carr had been suffering from sleep apnea, a generalized mood disorder and menopause for the duration of her unethical behavior from the bench Carr during her days as a prosecutor, delivering an impassioned closing argument at the sentencing trial of serial killer Anthony Sowell, who killed 11 women According to character testimony included in the complaint, Carr has been for many years an active member of her church and her community. She volunteered her time with local food banks and literacy programs Carr has previously described herself as a hometown Cleveland girl. She went through the Cleveland, Ohio public school system and attended college and law school in the area Members of the Ohio Supreme Court seemed reluctant to accept her attorney's argument that Carr's suffering from a handful of mood destabilizing afflictions were what caused her deteriorating professional behavior. 'When it comes to sleep apnea, she was unable to get the sleep necessary. When it comes to the menopause, she was dealing with issues wherein she wasn't able to function to 100%' said Carr's attorney. 'How does sleep apnea or menopause contribute to lying?' asked Ohio Justice Patrick Fischer. Froning had trouble responding directly to the question. Carr also reportedly misled her own attorney, her character witnesses and therapists to make her misconduct appear less severe than it truly was. Notably, Carr's original defense team abandoned her two weeks prior to the hearings and Froning and Rich Koblentz had a limited amount of time to prepare a case. Koblentz, the name partner behind the firm that provided Carr's defense, said he 'would have liked to have had sufficient time to have done the development we wanted relative to the evidence and everything else.' Opposing counsel, Joseph Caligiuri, for the disciplinary counsel of the Board of Professional Conduct said even the medical expert called to testify in the case 'could not make a connection between the diagnoses and lying.' Further undermining Carr's defense was the accusation that the medical expert in the case did not review the complete evidence of the case, and also acted as a personal psychotherapist to Carr, thereby compromising his objectivity. The attorney arguing on behalf of the disciplinary counsel said that although Carr was not initially truthful about many of her misdeeds on the bench, she ultimately opted to be cooperative. The board recommended suspending Carr for two years. Those two years include Carr's next judicial election election cycle in 2023, meaning she would actually sit out on acting as a judge for longer than two years. After two years, she will be eligible to petition for reinstatement to the practice of law. Koblentz speculated that Carr will likely reapply for her law license once she is able. Though her troubles may not end there. Cleveland.com reports that Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost's office has appointed a special prosecutor to review whether enough evidence exists to charge Carr with a crime. According to a local Cleveland outlet, in 2013, Carr had been engaged twice but never married. She is also an active member of her church community and has spent years volunteering at local Cleveland soup kitchens and with child literacy programs. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine will appoint someone to take Carr's place on the bench until voters are given an opportunity to elect a replacement in a future election. From the darkest days of the pandemic, researchers have uncovered an unexpected bump in births from American-born women that brought 46,000 newborns into the world, defying a years-long decline in fertility rates. A study from the National Bureau of Economic Research shows that births fell at the start of the pandemic but picked up among young, US-born women, likely due to work-from-home rules during lockdowns. The 38-page working paper, which has not been peer-reviewed, sheds light on the divergent birth rates between Americas native and immigrant populations and on how greater workplace flexibility could be a solution to declining fertility rates. The 2021 baby bump is the first major reversal in declining US fertility rates since 2007 and was most pronounced for first births and women under age 25,' says the study. It 'suggests the pandemic led some women to start their families earlier, it adds. Matthew Carnes changes diapers for his newborn daughter Evelina Carnes as wife Breanna Llamas keeps watch at a hospital in Apple Valley, California, in March 30, 2021, during America's 'unexpected' pandemic baby bump There was also a pronounced baby bump for 'women ages 30-34 and women with a college education, who were more likely to benefit from working from home,' the economists added. Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, Princeton, and Northwestern, studied US births from 2015 to 2021, and births in California from 2015 to August 2022, to unlock the pandemics effect on child bearing. The total US fertility rate which measures the average number of children expected over a womans lifetime dropped from 2.1 in 2007 to 1.6 in 2020. When rates are below 2.1, the overall population declines, unless immigration fills the gap. Thats a big concern for the worlds developed economies, as it leaves fewer young people to work, pay taxes and fund public problems relative to a ballooning share of retirees and elderly people. There was a steep fall in foreign-born mothers having babies in the US. They had accounted for nearly a quarter of all births in the country before the pandemic arrived in 2019, said the study. Researchers have uncovered an unexpected bump in births among American-born women that brought 46,000 newborns into the world When America went into lockdown in 2020, there was a drop in fertility rates but only at first, said the analysts, including California economist Martha Bailey, an expert on contraception and child-rearing. The drop was caused by a steep fall in foreign-born mothers having babies in the US. They had accounted for nearly a quarter of all births in the country before the pandemic arrived in 2019, said the study. By isolating American-born moms, researchers found a baby bump among US-born mothers of 6.2 percent in 2021, compared to the trend from 2015 to 2019, leading to some 46,000 newborns. This marked the first major reversal in declining rates since the 2007-2009 financial crisis. The baby aisle at a Target department store in Hollywood, California, in September 2021, when America was enjoying an 'unexpected' pandemic baby bump Birthrates typically fall in periods of economic decline, but the pandemic downturn was met by multibillion dollar government handouts, a rise in remote work, and increases in stock market prices and home values, researchers said. The baby bump among US-born moms may reflect the women who kept their jobs, had money in their pockets and were able to work remotely during the pandemic, the study said. Other factors, such as the reduced access to abortions and contraception, cannot be ruled out, they added. Unlike any other economic downturn in recent history, the Covid-19 recession increased rather than decreased fertility among US-born women, said the study. By studying birth data from California up until August 2022, researchers found that the elevated birth rates have continued for American-born women, and that the pandemic may have shifted the trajectory of fertility rates. Liz Truss tonight survived a crunch vote on her fracking plans but witnessed chaotic scenes in the House of Commons as her premiership continues to teeter on the brink. The Prime Minister saw MPs vote by 326 to 230 to reject a Labour bid to allocate parliamentary time to consider a complete ban on fracking to extract shale gas. But there was huge confusion in the Commons after Ms Truss appeared to ditch a plan to turn the issue into a confidence vote on her Government at the last minute. Rumours swirled that Tory chief whip Wendy Morton and her deputy Craig Whittaker had resigned amid the chaos. Tonight's vote was also accompanied by claims Tory MPs were 'physically pulled' into the Commons voting lobbies. Labour former minister Chris Bryant urged an investigation into the scenes in Parliament after he saw MPs 'being physically manhandled into another lobby and being bullied'. 'If we want to stand up against bullying in this House of our staff, we have to stop bullying in this chamber as well,' he told Commons Deputy Speaker, Dame Eleanor Laing. Mr Bryant later told Sky News a group of Tory MPs, who appeared uncertain how to vote, were 'shouted at' by Cabinet ministers. He added Rother Valley MP Alexander Stafford, a Conservative critic of fracking, was 'physically pulled' through a door into the voting lobby. Fellow Labour MP Ian Murray posted on Twitter: 'Ive never seen scenes like it at the entrance to a voting lobby. Tories on open warfare. 'Jostling and [Jacob] Rees-Mogg shouting at his colleagues. Whips screaming at Tories. They are done and should call a general election. 'Two Tory whips dragging people in. Shocking.' Mr Rees-Mogg, the Business Secretary, denied allegations of bullying and suggested a junior official in No10 had 'erroneously' said the vote was no longer a confidence issue to prompt the confusion. Mr Stafford said he had 'nothing more' than a 'frank and robust' conversation. The division list showed 40 Tory MPs did not take part in tonight's vote, although some would have been on Government business elsewhere or had other permitted absences. One Tory MP who witnessed the carnage in the lobbies said: I was waiting for the votes and then Craig Whittaker came out crying and saying hes sick of everything. 'Then Wendy came out stony faced. The other whips say they have quit. It was absolute carnage. One miserable Cabinet source told MailOnline: At this rate Im going to be PM by Christmas. The writing was on the wall for Wendy since the day of her appointment. It was widely reported Mr Whittaker had exclaimed in Parliament after the vote: 'I am f****** furious and I dont give a f*** anymore.' The Prime Minister saw MPs vote by 326 to 230 to reject a Labour bid to allocate parliamentary time to considering a complete ban on fracking to extract shale gas There was huge confusion in the Commons after Tory whips appeared to ditch a plan to turn the issue into a confidence vote on Liz Truss's Government Labour former minister Chris Bryant urged an investigation into the scenes in Parliament after he saw MPs 'being physically manhandled' Earlier in the day, Conservative MPs had been warned they were on a 'three-line whip' to vote against the Labour motion. They were threatened with having the Tory whip withdrawn if they did not, after the Government turned the vote into a 'confidence motion' on the PM's leadership. It meant, if Ms Truss had lost the vote, she would usually either be expected to resign or request that the King dissolves Parliament to trigger a general election. A No10 source said the PM would not be resigning. Mr Whittaker had told MPs earlier today the vote was a '100 per cent hard' three-line whip. But climate minister Graham Stuart sowed confusion when he told the Commons tonight that it was 'not a confidence motion'. Pressed on the nature of the vote, Mr Stuart further muddled the situation by adding: 'That is a matter for party managers, and I am not a party manager.' Labour had used the Opposition Day debate to try to ban fracking - which has been linked to earthquakes - and entice Conservatives unhappy at the method potentially being used in their constituency to show their displeasure. Former energy minister Chris Skidmore had said earlier he was prepared to 'face the consequences' of not supporting the government. 'As the former energy minister who signed Net Zero into law, for the sake of our environment and climate, I cannot personally vote tonight to support fracking and undermine the pledges I made at the 2019 General Election,' he tweeted. And his message was backed up by Guildford MP Angela Richardson and former minister Tracey Crouch. Meanwhile, a serving Government minister said he would never support fracking in his local area, without confirming if he would vote against the Tory whip. Andrew Griffith said on Twitter: 'Personally, I do not and have never supported fracking in West Sussex as our dangerous local roads would never support the additional vehicle movements even if residents consented.' Fracking was halted in 2019 amid fears over earthquakes and tremors and a moratorium on new drilling was in the Tory 2919 election manifesto. But Ms Truss approved a restart after taking power next month designed to boost energy security, supported by Business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg. She has sought to reassure MPs with concerns that there would be a 'robust' process to ensure that local communities consented before fracking went ahead. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer used an Opposition Day motion in the Commons today to try to ban fracking Ms Truss sought to reassure MPs with concerns that there would be a 'robust' process to ensure that local communities consented before fracking went ahead Fracking is a method to extract shale gas but has been linked to earthquakes One Conservative MP said the Government front bench should 'hang their heads in shame' as she said the leadership had 'severely tested' Tory MPs' trust. Ruth Edwards, the Conservative MP for Rushcliffe did not say she would vote against the Government, saying: 'I don't support fracking, but I am even less keen on the idea of letting the Labour Party play at being in government for the day.' But she told MPs: 'My final observation tonight is for our own front bench. For they have enabled the opposition to force colleauges to choose between voting against our manifesto and voting to lose the whip. 'They should take a look at the faces of colleagues behind them, colleagues who have fracking sites in their constituencies, and they should hang their heads in shame. 'A Conservative government will always have my confidence, but its leadership today has severely tested my trust and the trust of many colleagues and I would advise them not to do so again.' Fellow MP William Wragg has said he has 'lodged' a letter of no confidence in the Prime Minister with Sir Graham Brady. The vice-chairman of the 1922 committee of backbench MPs said he would like to vote with Labour on the fracking motion, but he is not going to as he would lose the whip. He told MPs: 'If I vote as I would wish, then I would lose the whip. 'I would no longer be vice chair of the 1922 committee. I would no longer maintain a position as a chair of one of the select committees of the House. And indeed, because of that, my letter lodged with my honourable friend, the member for Altrincham and Sale West, would fall, and I wish to maintain that letter with my honourable friend.' Labour sources said the Tories had walked into their trap and are preparing online adverts to target every MP who backs giving the controversial shale gas extraction the go ahead. Ex-minister Chris Skidmore said he was prepared to 'face the consequences' of not supporting the Government. His message was backed up by Guildford MP Angela Richardson If passed, the opposition day debate motion would guarantee Commons time for a Bill banning fracking once and for all. Mr Whittaker wrote to Tory MPs, saying: 'This is not a motion on fracking. *This is a confidence motion in the Government.* 'We cannot, under any circumstances, let the Labour Party take control of the order paper and put through their own legislation and whatever other bits of legislation they desire. 'We are voting NO and I reiterate, this is a hard 3 line whip with all slips withdrawn.' The Government amendment supporting giving fracking the go-ahead in areas where local consent is deemed to have been given was also made a three-line whip. 'I know this is difficult for some colleagues, but we simply cannot allow this,' Mr Whittaker wrote. Mark Menzies, Tory MP for Fylde in Lancashire, where fracking could take place, demanded guarantees communities will be given the 'final say'. He asked Ms Truss to 'assure me that local consent will be measured independently and transparently' with no direct involvement for fracking companies in assessing whether there is community support. The Prime Minister told him: 'We will consult on a robust system of local consent, give clear advice on seismic limits and safety before any fracking takes place.' The consultation will consider 'all of the relevant people - the regional mayors, the local authorities and parishes as well as the concerns of those directly affected'. Tory MP Steve Double, who represents the Cornwall constituency of St Austell and Newquay, argued Labour has 'overplayed their hand on this occasion'. 'Whatever your views for or against fracking, Conservative MPs shouldn't be voting to allow the Labour Party to take over the order paper,' he told BBC News. But shadow Commons leader Thangam Debbonaire said: 'The consequence of making this a confidence vote is that if the Government loses the motion on fracking, the Prime Minister will resign and the government will fall. 'The Tories must urgently confirm this is the case.' The Prime Minister's lifting of a fracking ban imposed in 2019 over earthquake concerns breaks a Tory manifesto pledge not to end the moratorium without science 'categorically' showing it is safe. Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, Ms Truss has argued that the move is needed to end energy dependence on Vladimir Putin's Russia. But Tory MPs in areas where fracking could occur have reacted angrily, and fear the go-ahead could make their re-election even harder amid dire polling for the party. The moratorium was imposed on fracking, which uses high-pressure liquid to release gas from shale formations, after a series of earthquakes at the UK's only shale wells at Preston New Road, Lancashire, in 2019. There are potential shale reserves across northern England, but fracking firms could also seek to drill in southern areas where gas might be found. Waukesha parade killer Darrel Brooks was kicked out of the court room during his murder trial for a second time - this time, for interrupting the cross-examination of his own defense witness who was thrown up to 20 feet into the air by his SUV. Brooks, 41, is representing himself at his chaotic murder trial where he is accused of killing six people and injuring 60 others by plowing his red SUV through a crowd taking part in the Waukesha, Wisconsin Christmas parade last year. He faces life in prison if convicted. The trial has been marred by Brooks' constant outbursts at the judge, interruptions, and at one point, he even took his shirt off. Before being kicked out of the court room in front of the jury on Tuesday, Brooks called witness Juan Marquez to the stand. Marquez was marching in the parade with the Catholic Communities of Waukesha when he was hit by Brooks' SUV and thrown about 20 feet in the air and suffered a broken leg. On the stand, Marquez admitted he didn't see the vehicle that struck him and he was quizzed about his police statement where he said that he thought the vehicle was black, not the same red one that Brooks was driving. During Marquez's cross examination, Brooks repeatedly claimed 'judicial misconduct' and was warned by Waukesha County Circuit Judge Jennifer Dorow, to respect courtroom guidelines before being kicked out. He sat in an adjoining room for the remainder of the the cross-examination, but was allowed back in later as the prosecution called other witnesses. Darrell Brooks, 41, is on trial for allegedly killing six by plowing his SUV through a crowd of people during a Wisconsin parade last November. He was kicked out of the courtroom on Tuesday morning for interrupting a witness Witness Juan Marquez was marching in the parade with the Catholic Communities of Waukesha when he was hit by Brooks from behind. He said he flew about 20 feet in the air and suffered a broken leg Waukesha County Circuit Judge Jennifer Dorow kicked Brooks out after warning him to follow court procedure Detective Jay Carpenter, who interviewed Brooks the day after the parade, also appeared in court to describe to the jury five pieces of the suspect's five-hour interview after he was arrested. Carpenter told the jury that Brooks was vague in answering questions the day after the parade incident, including details about the SUV he used. Brooks claimed at the time that he came to Waukesha with a friend he didn't identify. He also didn't answer why he chose to plow through the holiday parade. 'I wasn't sure if you were the driver initially, but I did believe you were involved,' Carpenter told Brooks during his cross-examination. 'There is information I withheld from you, yes.' 'Mr. Brooks was still unwilling to explain to us, give us the clarity.... to understand and know why he did it,' Carpenter said. Prosecutors claim Brooks, who lives in Milwaukee, intentionally drove his car through police barricades and into the crowds participating in the annual parade in the city of Waukesha, about 15 miles west of downtown Milwaukee. Brooks rammed through the crowd after he allegedly confronted his girlfriend outside of a motel moments before the parade. Police said that Brooks then returned and punched his girlfriend in the face before driving over her in his SUV, leaving tire marks over her body. Pictured: a video screen shot of the Red SUV that plowing into a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin in November 2021 Detective Jay Carpenter, who interviewed Brooks the day after the parade, also appeared in court for a cross-examination with the suspect Brooks is pictured above with detectives after he allegedly plowed his car through a crowd of people last November Brooks previously fell asleep during an August hearing and ultimately asked to leave While Brooks was kicked out of the courtroom on Tuesday, it wasn't his first time being disruptive in the courtroom. Brooks' attempts to sidetrack the court go back to pre-trial and jury selection, when he was kicked out of court multiple times, including when he took off his shirt. Opening statements and witness testimony were delayed two weeks ago due to Brooks' continual outbursts. The suspect apologized to the court for his erratic behavior last week. 'I just want to state this for the record that I would like to issue the court an apology from me in regards to my actions last week during the trial,' Brooks said. 'I just want the court to understand it's very emotional right now, not only for just the whole situation of the trial, the families here that have to go through, you know, everything that's going to be involved with the trial. But also my family as well, myself, it's very, very emotional. But not to excuse my actions and I should carry myself with better respect. I wasn't raised that way. And I owe you, your honor, and the court an apology.' He continued: 'And I just wanted everyone to know that I apologize for my actions and I'm going to try my best to, whatever happens, to conduct myself with respect and with respect to the court. And I just wanted you all to know that. The prosecution, the judge, bailiffs, clerks, reporters, everybody, audience, everybody here. I just wanted you all to know that.' A prison nurse who was jailed for six months over 'flirtatious' calls with a 'manipulative' inmate is likely to be isolated behind bars for her own safety. Elyse Hibbs, from Manchester, admitted misconduct in public office by having an 'inappropriate relationship' with the prisoner while working at HMP Parc in Bridgend. The 25-year-old, who the court heard was 'manipulated' by the unnamed inmate and got in 'too deep', began sobbing as she was sentenced to six months in prison at Cardiff Crown Court. Recorder of Cardiff Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke told Hibbs that despite her clear remorse, the offence was 'too serious' and warranted immediate custody. Adam Sharp, defending, said Hibbs was 'particularly vulnerable because of her age' and argued that she should be given a suspended sentence. 'A custodial sentence would be particularly difficult for her given her previous employment in that system,' he told the court. Elyse Hibbs, 25 (pictured), from Manchester, admitted misconduct in public office by having an 'inappropriate relationship' with the prisoner while working at HMP Parc in Bridgend Hibbs met the prisoner while giving him medical treatment in her jail and he contacted her on Instagram. Prosecutor Matthew Cobbe said jail chiefs suspected the inmate was involved in an inappropriate relationship with another worker at HMP Parc in Bridgend and so he was transferred 205 miles away to HMP Manchester. But investigators then found Hibbs' phone number on his approved calls list for inmates. Mr Cobbe said: 'Having been moved the inmate's calls were monitored in HMP Manchester and it was quite plain the relationship with this defendant had was being nurtured by the inmate. 'He contacted the defendant very many times and the bulk of it occurred when she was employed at HMP Parc.' Mr Cobbe said the inmate used his mother and a friend to initiate contact with Hibbs after he searched for her on Instagram. Mr Cobbe said Hibbs phoned the inmate's friend who would hold 'two phones together so that they could talk to each other' in what was called a 'three-way call'. He said: 'The calls between them were flirtatious. They talk about the prison, staff within the prison, he tells her that he loves her and she tells him he doesn't know her to love her. 'She joked about going to Manchester in two weeks and that she will visit him. He pressed her about seeing her when he was out. 'He told her he wanted to thank her for how she had looked after him at Parc.' The court heard Hibbs - who was employed by security firm G4S - believed the inmate was using a smuggled phone to contact her and feared she would lose her job. The prisoner tracked down Hibbs (pictured at Cardiff Crown Court last month) online and the pair exchanged messages and phone calls over several weeks. The pair swapped messages by contacting each other through an Instagram account held by the inmate's friend Mr Cobbe said: 'In a later call they talk about a time the inmate had an iPhone hidden in his bottom.' 'He tells her that he loves her and she tells him that she loves him too. The calls included references to the defendant's existing partner and the inmate continuously suggested he would replace him and be in a relationship with her.' Cardiff Crown Court heard the two swapped messages on Instagram by contacting each other through an account held by the inmate's friend. Mr Cobbe said: 'She told him she didn't want him messaging her as she was anxious and that she didn't trust him.' Hibbs quit her post at HMP Parc in July 2021 and was arrested a week later and admitted exchanging messages with the prisoner. She told police she was scared to end the contact after he had previously threatened her. Mr Cobbe said: 'She explained that she and the inmate were never in a sexual relationship of any kind at all. 'She accepted she should have reported the matter but that she got in too deep and couldn't get out.' The 25-year-old, who the court heard was 'manipulated' by the unnamed inmate and got in 'too deep', began sobbing as she was sentenced to six months in prison at Cardiff Crown Court Hibbs, of Newbridge, Gwent, admitted misconduct in a public office. Adam Sharp, defending, said the prisoner was known within the system to be a 'particularly manipulative individual'. He said: 'She was young, impressionable, inexperienced and vulnerable to the malign influence of the inmate who sought to exploit her.' Mr Sharp said Hibbs had 'dedicated a significant part of her adult life' to nursing but her conviction meant she would be banned from the profession. Recorder of Cardiff Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, told Hibbs: 'You knew what you were doing was wrong, you had training but nevertheless you went ahead and formed what was clearly an emotional relationship with this prisoner. 'Although you were young you held a position of responsibility as a nurse and as a member of prison staff. You failed to report initial contact despite advice from a colleague and training you had had. 'You engaged in flirtatious relationship initially, you failed to report the on-going contact and you failed to report that this inmate had upon him and in custody an unlawful device.' Kari Lake presented a document with 150 examples of Democrats raising eyebrows over the results of previous elections and claims it proves the sanctimony Democrats claims to have over Republicans with it comes to questioning elections. Lake, once a television news anchor, said she was schooling journalists in how to do their job properly by presenting the apparent hypocrisy by media outlets continuously dubbed the GOP candidate an 'election denier.' 'It's OK for Democrats to question elections, but it's not OK for Republicans?' Lake questioned when speaking with reporters in front of a group of black supporters. 'It's a crock of BS, every one of you knows it,' she continued. 'We have our freedom of speech and we're not going to relinquish it to a bunch of fake news propagandists.' Lake said her staffer who did the research would be happy to provide reporters a copy of the 150 examples and 'help you learn how to be journalists.' Republican Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake held up a stack of papers for reporters that she claimed shows 150 examples of Democrats denying or questioning election results The Arizona gubernatorial candidate held up papers for the cameras and went through documents exhibiting examples of Democrats questioning the results of the 2016 presidential election and other state races like the Georgia governor's election in 2018. 'Let's talk about election deniers,' Lake said when again asked if she would accept the results of the Arizona governor race. 'Here's 150 examples of Democrats denying election results.' The first example she listed was from President Joe Biden's Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who tweeted in April 2020: 'Reminder: Brian Kemp stole the gubernatorial election from Georgians and Stacey Abrams.' 'Oh, wow,' Lake said when reading the tweet to the cameras. 'A Democrat saying that. Is that an election denier?' she questioned. Abrams, who is in a rematch with Kemp in the 2022 midterms, has also refused to say whether she lost in 2018 and has questioned election integrity in Georgia. Lake also read a headline from a Washington Post article where Hillary Clinton said Trump is an 'illegitimate president.' 'Is she an election denier?' Lake posed. Lake read off of the papers examples of White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Hillary Clinton as well as reporters questioning the outcomes of the 2016 presidential election and 2018 Georgia governor's race The Trump-backed GOP candidate listed a few other examples before ranting about how Republicans are called 'election deniers' when they question the results of an election, but when Democrats do the same thing, they are lauded for questioning the integrity of the U.S. voting system. 'It's been happening for a long time,' Lake said, referencing the 2000 presidential election, which required a recount. In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Lake wouldn't say if she would accept the results of the Arizona gubernatorial election if she loses to Democrat Katie Hobbs, who has repeatedly refused to agree to a debate ahead of Election Day. Lake did say, however, that she would accept a winning result suggesting that if she wins she would view the election as legitimate, but not if she loses. 'I'm going to win the election, and I will accept that result,' Lake told State of the Union host Dana Bash on Sunday morning. Bash followed up by asking if Lake would accept the results if she loses but the candidate refused to directly answer the question. 'I'm going to win the election,' Lake pushed back. 'And I will accept that result, because the people of Arizona will never support and vote for a coward like Katie Hobbs who won't show up on a debate stage,' she said. Lake, in her defense, slammed Abrams for refusing to admit she lost against Republican Governor Brian Kemp in the 2018 elections. 'In 2018, Stacey Abrams never conceded she still hasn't,' Lake said. 'I don't hear CNN calling her an election denier.' 'We have the right, it's protected with our First Amendment, to question our government and question elections.' Lake wouldn't say on Sunday if she would accept the results of the midterm elections if she loses to Democratic opponent Katie Hobbs Lake is endorsed by Trump and vying to keep the governor's mansion in Arizona red as Governor Doug Ducey ends his tenure. She has repeated the former president's claims that the 2020 election was stolen Lake, who is endorsed by former President Donald Trump, has embraced his claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen and rigged by Democrats to keep him from winning reelection and instead propel Joe Biden to the White House. Hobbs, who is facing off with Lake for Arizona governor in the November 8 midterm elections, has refused to participate in a PBS debate with her Republican challenger. The Democrat says that the debate would be a 'spectacle' and told CNN in her own interview on Sunday morning that her television interviews are an OK alternative for a head-to-head debate with Lake. The candidate said she's able to talk through the issues with television hosts like Bash better than she would be able to do in a room where she felt she would be 'interrupted' and 'shouted over'. 'She only wants a scenario where she can control the dialogue,' Hobbs said of Lake. 'She's the one afraid of talking to voters.' Democrat Arizona gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs is refusing to debate Lake ahead of the midterms on November 8, claiming her opponent is looking for a 'spectacle' rather than a substantive debate Hobbs has called Lake a 'conspiracy theorist' when asked about a potential debate even though Bash noted that 'a lot of Democrats are questioning your decision.' Arizona is one of the states that could decide the fate of the U.S. Senate and the governor's races help show the pulse of the direction states are heading ahead of a potential reelection big by both Biden and Trump in 2024. The governor's race in Arizona, a key battleground state, is considered a toss up, according to Cook Political Report. After trailing by between three and seven percentage points for much of the race, Lake has recently pulled ahead of Hobbs in polls just weeks ahead of the midterm election especially after Hobbs refused to debate. Currently, Lake is ahead of Hobbs by nearly 1 percent in an average of polls. Two Dachshunds have gone viral for drinking pints of Guinness in a pub. Madigan, one, and Dylan, 11, have fallen in love with the taste of the Irish stout and enjoy a glass when they're on a walk. An adorable video shows the pups, of Dublin, Ireland, prop their paws on the bar and gulp the alcohol. Owner Scot Buchholz said: 'They only drink Guinness. They are so snobby and can tell if it isn't the real thing. 'They won't drink any other ales or beer. I have to order a pint of Guinness for them because the server will bring bowls of water out and they never drink it. 'But, they put the pint down and away they go.' Lapping it up: Madigan, one, and Dylan, 11, have fallen in love with the taste of the Irish stout and enjoy a glass when they're on a walk Booze hounds: An adorable video shows the pups, of Dublin, Ireland, prop their paws on the bar and gulp the alcohol Owner Scot Buchholz said the pets only have a few gulps from the pint and have been drinking it for years The former TV journalist says the pets only have a few gulps from the pint and have been drinking it for years. Dylan, the eldest of the pair, has been gulping Guinness since he was six years old, whereas Madigan had to wait for her first birthday before she was allowed a sip. The two don't have a regular pub, but will often step into local bar Street 66, which is where the video was filmed. The post has racked up 106,000 views and users were quick to comment. One said: 'Imagine his burps after drinking this' Another commented: 'Well he does look a little stout' A third penned: 'He's a thief and he must be brought to justice' Scot added: 'It's a great talking point for people. They see them in the pub and always say "I never thought I would be out on a Monday and see a dog drinking a pint". 'People always want to give them a cuddle and a rub. One time these girls came over and asked if it was Dylan and Madigan and said their grandmother follows them on Instagram. 'Everyone finds joy in seeing them.' Dylan, the eldest of the pair, has been gulping Guinness since he was six years old, whereas Madigan had to wait for her first birthday before she was allowed a sip The two don't have a regular pub, but will often step into local bar Street 66, which is where the video was filmed The post has racked up 106,000 views and users were quick to comment Although the dogs love the Irish stout, Scot says he is waiting for a dog friendly version to be produced Although the dogs love the Irish stout, Scot says he is waiting for a dog friendly version to be produced. He added: 'We're waiting for Guinness to create a dog-friendly beer for them. They only have a responsible little sip of it. 'They aren't there for the alcohol, it's the barley and grains in it that's the draw for them. There's some vitamins in it that's good for them.' Dogs Trust warns against dogs drinking alcohol due to ethanol poisoning, a type of alcohol. Toxicity can cause central nervous system depression, and clinical signs range from lethargy or depression and incoordination to tremors and death. The British-Russian son of a close Vladimir Putin ally has been arrested in Norway for flying a drone in a restricted area, Norwegian Police said today. Andrei Yakunin, 47, was arrested on Monday in Hammerfest in northern Norway, according to police and court documents. Police have accused Yakunin - the son of ex-Russian Railways boss Vladimir Yakunin, who is considered to be close to Putin - of illegally flying a drone in the Svalbard archipelago, located in the geopolitically strategic Arctic region. He becomes the seventh Russian arrested in the past few days suspected of illegally flying drones or taking photos in restricted areas in the Scandinavian country, which shares a border with Russia in the far north. Soon after police announced the arrest, Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store accused 'foreign intelligence' services of being behind the recent slew of 'unacceptable' drone flights in the country, indirectly pointing the finger at Russia. 'It is not acceptable that foreign intelligence is flying drones over Norwegian airports. Russians are not allowed to fly drones in Norway,' Store said, according to Norwegian broadcaster NRK. 'We do not want anyone to fly this type of craft over important installations in Norway.' Yakunin's press office said he was using the drone for recreational purposes. British-Russian national Andrei Yakunin, 47, was arrested on Monday in Hammerfest in northern Norway, according to police and court documents. He has been accused of illegally flying a drone Yakunin is the seventh Russian arrested in the past few days suspected of illegally flying drones or taking photos in restricted areas in the Scandinavian country, which shares a border with Russia in the far north. Pictured: A Norwegian soldier guards a gas processing plant Yakunin heads up VIY Management, a private equity and real estate investment company that facilitates foreign investment in Russia. According to the New Yorker in 2015, he once owned a house on North London's Bishop's Avenue, a 'billionaires' row' between Hampstead and Highgate. His son is reported to have a attended Highgate School. It is unclear whether he still owns the house after Britain imposed sanctions on several Russian businessmen following Putin's invasion of Ukraine in February. Russian investigative publication Insider reported in July that Yakunin publicly stated that he was against the invasion, telling Italian television he 'never voted for Putin'. Yakunin's father Vladimir Yakunin has in the past been among Vladimir Putin's closest allies. He was the president of Russian Railways from 2005 to 2015. He was sanctioned by Britain April, having already been sanctioned by the US since 2014. [Yakunin] did use a recreational drone during his holiday trip to Svalbard in late August,' said a spokesperson, responding to a request from MailOnline. 'Andrey is passionate about nature, photography and extreme sports, as can be seen from his social media activity. Yakunin's press office said he is fully cooperating with authorities to provide 'all the necessary information regarding the normal tourist activities of his boating holiday'. Along with several other Western nations, Norway has forbidden Russians and Russian entities from flying over its territory following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, whether by drone or aircraft. Breaking that ban is punishable by a three-year prison term while unauthorised photography can merit a one-year sentence. A number of mysterious drone flights have been observed in Norway in recent weeks, sparking fears of Russian espionage. Combined with the presumed sabotage on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in the Baltic Sea, the observations have prompted Oslo to beef up security around strategic infrastructure, in particular its oil and gas offshore platforms. Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store (pictured in Prague on October 6) accused 'foreign intelligence' services of being behind the recent slew of 'unacceptable' drone flights in the country, indirectly pointing the finger at Russia. Pictured: The air traffic control tower at Flesland Airport and a small propeller plane in the air, Bergen, Norway, 19 October 2022. Flesland Airport in Bergen was briefly closed on 19 October after drone sightings Norwegian police arrested two Russians in two separate incidents last week. They were accused of illegally flying drones and taking photos or videos. Officers arrested the four in northern Norway in a car with Russian licence plates last Thursday and a day later placed them in custody for a week, regional police said in a statement. Police have not disclosed what the four Russians - three men and one woman - were interested in but they had taken photos of objects covered by a photography ban. The four, in their late 20s, had arrived in Norway from Finland in late September or early October. They were arrested with a 'substantial' amount of photos, but have denied any wrongdoing and have claimed they were just tourists, police official Gaute Rydmark told Norwegian television TV2. Norway's Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl refused to comment on the matter, but said 'there is heightened pressure on Norway, from an intelligence point of view'. Police said the four were not in possession of any drones, unlike the other two Russians arrested last week, also in the country's north. In addition to the four last week, two other Russians have been arrested in Norway in recent days. LAst week, Police in Kirkenes detained a 50-year-old Russian when they found two drones in his luggage during a routine stop at the border. The drones had hours of footage at locations taken across Norway, they said. On Friday, a 51-year-old Russian was arrested en-route to Svalbard was detained at Tromso airport, also for photographing sensitive objects. The arrest of Andrei Yakunin brings the total up to seven. 'The suspect [Yakunin] has admitted flying a drone in Svalbard,' police official Anja Mikkelsen said. Yakunin has been placed in custody for two weeks, and drones and electronics in his possession have been confiscated, police said. Located about 620 miles from the North Pole, the Svalbard archipelago is a Norwegian territory strategically located in the heart of the Arctic. It is home to a relatively large Russian community, and its special legal status enables foreign nationals to mine some of its natural resources. On Monday, Russia's embassy in Oslo said 'hysteria' in Norway was impacting 'ordinary tourists', calling the ban on Russians flying drones 'unjustified and discriminatory'. Yakunin has been accused of illegally flying a drone in the Svalbard archipelago, located in the geopolitically strategic Arctic region (pictured, file photo) On Wednesday, a drone was observed near the airport in Bergen, Norway's second-biggest city, briefly suspending air traffic. The Airport was shut down at around 6.30am (5.30BST) and reopened two and a half hours later. With 15 gates, it is Norway's second-largest airport and serves more than six million passengers a year, according to the airport's website. Numerous drone sightings have been reported near Norwegian offshore oil and gas platforms and infrastructure in recent weeks. Airport operator Avinor told NRK on Tuesday that 50 possible drone observations have been reported at civilian airports so far this year, 27 of them since July. NTB said 17 and 14 drone sightings were reported in 2021 and 2020, respectively, while the number was 44 in 2019. On Monday, Norwegian justice minister Emilie Enger Mehl asked people to be aware of suspicious activity and said that domestic security agency PST had received a number of new drone tips. Norway's domestic security agency has now taken charge of the investigation into the drone sightings the country's far north. Hedvig Moe, deputy chief at PST, the intelligence agency's acronym, said there was 'an elevated intelligence threat from Russia' and that 'Russia is in a pressed situation as a result of the war and is isolated by sanctions' over its war in Ukraine. 'We are in a tense security-political situation, and at the same time a complex and unclear threat picture that can change in a relatively short time,' she said. Pictured: Norwegian Home Guard (Heimvernet) soldiers assist the police with increased security, at the Karst gas processing plant in the Rogaland county, Norway, on October 3, 2022 Norway has also beefed up security at its offshore oil and gas drilling platforms after the drone sightings and last month's Nord Stream gas pipeline blasts in the Baltic Sea, widely assumed to be the result of sabotage. The Scandinavian country has overtaken Russia as the main supplier of natural gas to Western Europe after the invasion led to a cut in energy imports from Moscow. On Sunday, the airspace around Norway's oil capital Stavanger was briefly closed after a drone was observed in the southwest region. On Friday, satellite images showed that Russian president Vladimir Putin had increased the number of his strategic nuclear bombers stationed at an airbase near the Finnish and Norwegian borders. The move came amid high tension over whether Putin plans to launch an atomic attack in Europe and his on-going invasion of Ukraine, which has suffered a string of embarrassing setbacks in recent months. Vladimir Putin has again increased his strategic nuclear bombers at an airbase near the Finnish and Norwegian borders, say reports. Pictured: A satellite image taken on October 7, 2022 shows seven Tu-160 strategic bombers (marked in red) and four Tu-95 aircraft (marked in yellow) at the Olenya airbase, Russia Kola Peninsula The disclosure came from Faktisk.no - an independent Norwegian fact checking website - which obtained the data from American satellite operator Planet. The buildup above at the air base follows international concern over another report two weeks ago, when The Jerusalem Post revealed there was an 'unusual deployment' of seven nuclear bombers at the airbase. This was highlighted by Israeli intelligence firm ImageSat International which detected the 'irregular presence' of TU-160s and TU-95s. The Armageddon planes are usually stationed at Engels Air Base, 450 miles south-east of Moscow. Now, however, the bombers are stationed around 115 miles away from the border of NATO member Norway, and about 95 miles away from the soon-to-become Alliance member, Finland. Court papers say that the Texas teenager accused of killing his mother and placing her body in the trunk of a car had brutally attacked her inside their home, knocking out her teeth during the attack. Documents show that Manfred Roenz, the father of 17-year-old Tyler Roenz and husband to Michelle Roenz, 49, came home on Thursday, October 13, to a bloody scene. Manfred told investigators that he came back to his residence in the 14700 block of Birch Arbor Court in Humble, Texas, around noon and entered the house through the garage. Inside the garage, the father and husband said that he found a human tooth and blood, signs of a violent attack that wouldn't be the first for the teen. Earlier this year, Tyler was arrested and charged with sexual assault of a teenage girl in a high school parking lot. Tyler Roenz, 17, of Humble, was found in Aurora, Nebraska - almost 850 miles away - on Friday after leading police on a pursuit. Tyler's mother's body was found in the trunk of his car Michelle Roenz's body was found inside the trunk of a car owned by the family and taken by Tyler more than 850 miles away from their Texas home The family has not spoken publicly about the disappearance or the unidentified body. Michelle's husband and Tyler's father, pictured right, filed charges of unauthorized motor vehicle use after coming home to find his wife and son missing Tyler and Michelle were last seen at their home in Humble, Texas, (pictured) before disappearing on Thursday Manfred said that he discovered a trail of blood and at least four more teeth between the garage and the bedroom, court documents state. He also found more blood on the carpet in a nearby room. Another alarming discovery came in the form of Michelle's keys, purse, and phone, which Manfred told investigators he found in their bedroom. The husband said that his wife never left home without those items. The man called out to both Michelle and Tyler but did not receive any response. He immediately called 911 and shared the details. The Texas father said after discovering Michelle's phone in their bedroom, he tried to track his son's phone using the app Life360, but found that Tyler had deleted the app and turned off his phone. Initial reports indicate that Michelle may have died from strangulation and blunt force trauma, according to ABC 13. Michelle was quite active on her Facebook page, plugging different rescue animals and encouraging others to adopt available pets Life360 allows family members and friends to keep track of their loved one's whereabouts. After attempting to track the phone with no luck, Manfred and law enforcement checked security cameras and found the car driven by Tyler leaving the home around 11.45am. Michelle had returned home around 10.15am according to her husband. Life360 showed that Tyler was at their Texas home at the time, as well, before the app was deleted and turned off. The teenager went to school Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, which is when he was permitted to use the black Mazda that he eventually drove to Nebraska in. Tyler was not enrolled in the Humble Independent School District, according to a statement issued by the school. It's unclear what school the student attended. Nebraska State Police were able to identify Tyler by the black Mazda (pictured) they were reportedly last seen in Earlier this year, Tyler was charged with attempted sexual assault. At the time of the brutal attack on his mother, Tyler was out on bond. Court documents state that Tyler had ripped off the shirt of an 18-year-old girl in his car in the North Shore Senior High School parking lot. He had appeared in court in April and documents alleged that he had picked the girl up and taken her phone from her. When she tried to retrieve it from him, he became enraged. He allegedly bit her, punched her, groped her breasts and her crotch, and then pushed her out of the car. She was ejected from the parked vehicle half-naked. Tyler also allegedly kicked the girl in the face so hard that she required stitches. The girl told police officers after the incident that she thought she may die. Tyler Roenz allegedly sexually assaulted a teenager earlier this year. The girl told police officers that she thought she might die during the incident Tyler Roenz and his mother Michelle were featured together on a photo posted to her Facebook account After coming home to find the vehicle, his son, and his wife missing, Manfred filed charges of unauthorized motor vehicle use in Harris County, Texas. Officers who reported to the crime scene corroborated Manfred's accounts of blood and teeth throughout the home. Surveillance video found that upon her arrival back at the home around 10.15am, Michelle has left the garage door open. The video showed the black Mazda parked for roughly an hour before someone inside the home closes the door. Manfred later checked credit cards owned by Michelle and found that her Discover card had been used multiple times across state lines. Discover told the Texas man that the card had been used at three gas stations in six hours, including one in Humble, Texas; Richardson, Texas; Atoka, Oklahoma; and Chetopa, Kansas. The car's license plate also was registered on a reader near Dallas, according to the documents. A CLEAR Alert for both Michelle and Tyler was later issued. He was found with a body in his car and sources told ABC 13 that they belong to his mother Michelle Roenz, 49 (pictured). Police have not confirmed the identity HCSO Homicide Investigators are working with other local authorities and have not yet confirmed the identity of the remains. A cause of death for Michelle also remains unclear, and cops have yet to say whether they plan to charge Roenz with his mother's murder. Nebraska State Police were able to find the teen by identifying the black four-door Mazda Texas police reported they were last seen in. Michelle was quite active on her Facebook page, plugging different rescue animals and encouraging others to adopt available pets. Cops have yet to say whether there were any domestic issues within the family, and what might have led to Roenz's disappearance, as well as his mother's death. Spirit Airlines shareholders have approved a $3.8 billion all-cash takeover by JetBlue Airways in an effort to create the country's fifth-largest carrier. The deal must now be approved by federal regulators, as JetBlue is currently dealing with the Justice Department for an ongoing partnership with American Airlines in Boston. If approved, JetBlue aims to do away with Spirit's budgeted branding, including its low-cost airfare and carry-on bag fees, in favor of JetBlue's extra seat spacing, seatback screens and business class options. The New York City-headquartered airline hopes to dramatically-expand its grip on the US aviation market if the deal passes antitrust scrutiny. Spirit has 186 planes to JetBlue's 285, and made $3.23 billion in revenue in 2021, to Jet 'This is an important step forward on our path to closing a combination that will create the most compelling national low-fare challenger to the dominant US carriers,' Spirit Airlines CEO Ted Christie said in a release. 'We look forward to continuing our ongoing discussions with regulators as we work toward completing the transaction and delivering value to team members, guests and stockholders.' The offer was first placed in April, ending a previous plan by Spirit to merge with Frontier Airlines. Spirit Airlines shareholders approved a $3.8 billion all-cash takeover by JetBlue Airways. If approved by federal regulators, the transaction is expected to clear by 2024 A new combined airline would still be named JetBlue and would employ an estimated 34,000 employees across its usage of 458 aircraft Should the JetBlue-Spirit deal be approved, after both companies argue that the merger would not harm competition or drive up fares for customers, the transaction is expected to be completed by the first half of 2024. If the deal is not approved, JetBlue will pay Spirit $70 million and its shareholders $400 million. The merger would allow JetBlue to save $600 to $700 million in annual savings, while bringing in $11.9 billion in revenue, nearly double its 2021 mark of $6.04 billion, according to the New York Times. Shareholder advisory firms recommended that investors approve the merger as the deal would allow all shareholders to profit even if it fell through. JetBlue agreed to pay shareholders $2.50 per share upfront, if approved, and then 10 cents per share per month starting in January. Pictured: Spirit Airlines CEO Ted Christie (left) and JetBlue Airways CEO Robin Hayes. 'This is an important step forward on our path to closing a combination that will create the most compelling national low-fare challenger to the dominant US carriers,' he said Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren urged Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to prevent the deal, arguing that it would decrease competition. 'There is ample evidence that yet another huge airline merger would likely harm American consumers,' she wrote. JetBlue last tried to purchase Virgin America before losing its 2016 bid to Alaska Airlines. A new combined airline would still be named JetBlue and would employ an estimated 34,000 employees across its usage of 458 aircraft. All Spirit planes would be converted to match JetBlue's branding. NATO alliance is trying everything to force Beijing to stop supporting Moscow, but it answered others, and a military alliance official uttered words that equate to a verbal tussle. These comments were mentioned during an international conference about the Arctic in Iceland. China Refuses To Condemn Russia This verbal exchange happened between Admiral Rob Bauer, chair of the alliance's Military Committee, and He Rulong, China's ambassador to Iceland, reported Bloomberg. A speech by Bauer on how NATO must lead in the Arctic has mentioned at the Annual Artic Assembly began the exchange. The Dutch officer remarked that China refuses to acknowledge the rules-based international order that hegemon Washington endorses. Hearing this, the Chinese envoy stood up and challenged the statement. The Chinese representative, Rulong, responded that the statement was very dismissive, promptly pushing back against the hegemonic remarks of the military bloc representative, noted the Head Topics. Washington To Push Its Agenda A retort to the Military bloc official was promptly returned. Bauer opened his statement that the west and its definition of freedom and all the borders of the world operate in the definition of the US, nothing else applies dissent does not count. The audience agreed, followed by his assertion that China must follow suit in condemning Russia. The Chinese replied that the Ukraine crisis has a root cause and was mocked by laughter in the crowd when China would prefer peace. Beijing has rebuffed NATO, and the US demands to criticize President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine. Beijing stated this week that it was genuinely worried about Moscow's latest rocket attacks on civilian centers. Read Also: Mark Zuckerberg Net Worth 2022: How Did Facebook Founder Lose $30 Billion in 1 Day? The United Nations General Assembly denounced Russia's territorial expansion of parts of eastern Ukraine in a protest vote last Wednesday, casting a vote 143-5, with 35 nations, along with India and China, staying away from endorsing the US-backed resolution. The Arctic Circle Assembly is an annual gathering of Arctic government entities, indigenous organizations, and intellectuals. This is distinct from the Arctic Council, an eight-country intergovernmental comprised of the US and its current chair Russia. The meetings have now been stopped ever since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. China's special envoy for Arctic matters told the gathering that his state wouldn't endorse excluding Russia, which is chairing the cluster until 2023, to penalize it for the conflict in Ukraine as well as hand the position to Norway. He chided those seeking to remove Russia from the council and said those behind such plots to give Norway the seat were absurd, suggesting a greater force driving the process as all efforts to discredit Moscow are made. Xi Jinping To Make Chinese Military the Most Powerful The arctic conference backdrop highlights concerns in that zone, and Xi has pledged to advance the Chinese military by 2027, per RT. President Xi Jinping vowed that the Chinese armed services would be carried to "world-class standards" by 2027 when it highlights its 100th birthday. He claimed in his opening statement at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party on Sunday. In the next five years, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) will ratchet up troop instruction and improve combat readiness, and he told the audience there at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The verbal tussle between representatives of NATO to press Beijing reveals the depths of desperation Washington feels over its support for Russia and the ghost of Kabul. Related Article: Former Australian PM Paul Keating Slams Quad, G7 for Excluding China, Urges US To Withdraw from AUKUS Security @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A Texas woman has revealed that she nearly died from sepsis after doctors in the abortion-ban state refused to remove an inviable child from her body. Amanda Zurawski, 35, was 18 weeks pregnant with her daughter when she noticed something was wrong - but she was forced to wait three days until she was 'sick enough' for medics to perform an emergency abortion. On August 23, she found out that she had an incompetent cervix - meaning that she had dilated too early and miscarriage was inevitable. Because of strict abortion laws in Texas following the overturn of Roe v Wade, she wasn't allowed to make the decision to remove the fetus from her body - nor were doctors going to operate - meaning she had to wait it out until she got sick. It took her an agonizing three days at home before the Texas ethics board agreed to begin medical treatment to remove the child - which was now a stillborn - from her womb. She's now facing long-term health and bacterial issues because of the traumatic ordeal - and is set to undergo surgery next week. And she fears that the delayed healthcare may have permanently affected her fertility and worsened her chances of carrying her own baby one day. Amanda Zurawski, 35, was 18 weeks pregnant with her daughter when she noticed something was wrong - but she was forced to wait three days until she was 'sick enough' for medics to perform an emergency abortion Amanda and her husband Josh retold their traumatic ordeal Knowing that she was walking around with an unviable baby inside her, heartbroken Amanda told People: 'It could be days, it could be weeks. And knowing that we just had to live with that, it was incapacitating. 'I was unable to function. I didn't work, I didn't eat, I didn't sleep. I was left wanting to either get so sick that I almost died or, praying for my baby's heart to stop beating this baby that I had wanted and worked to have for 18 months.' She added: 'It was a waiting game, the most horrific version of a staring contest: Whose life would end first? Mine, or my daughters?' Husband Josh and Amanda, who both work in the tech industry, had already spent a year and a half in grueling fertility treatment in a bid to get pregnant. She said that every time she went to the doctor to have an ultrasound, there would be no heartbeat - which was the 'most anguishing feeling.' Amanda, from Austin, soon became very sick with sepsis, because the baby inside her body became prone to infection. Her blood and placenta was teeming with bacteria. She then had to go into hospital, where she was forced to deliver the stillborn baby. But Amanda was soon rushed straight into intensive care because her condition and illness was getting worse. It took her agonizing in her sickness for three days at home before the Texas ethics board agreed to begin medical treatment to remove the stillborn from her womb Husband Josh and Amanda (pictured) who both work in the tech industry, had already spent a year and a half in grueling fertility treatment in a bid to get pregnant What are the abortion laws in Texas after Roe v Wade? Performing an abortion is a felony punishable by up to life in prison in Texas. This strict ruling comes after the state triggered a law following the overturn of Roe v Wade. There are only narrow exceptions - when an abortion is needed to save the life of a pregnant patient. Abortion is illegal from the moment of fertilization, unless a woman is facing 'a life-threatening physical condition aggravated by, caused by, or arising from a pregnancy.' The law does not provide exceptions for cases that involve rape or incest. There are also harsh criminal penalties for doctors performing or aiding abortions at all stages of pregnancy in Texas. Advertisement The 35-year-old stayed in ICU for a week while she recovered. Sepsis can cause organ failure and death in some cases. Friends and family rushed to be by her side since they thought Amanda might not make it. Josh, her husband, told Meteor: 'That was the scariest thing I've ever gone through in my life seeing Amanda on what could have been her deathbed. 'It was just so frustrating to be dealing with something so traumatic, and then just gamble with the outcome of Amanda's life unnecessarily.' Their story is just one of many that illuminate the harm that abortion bans can have on women's lives. Amanda said that it was awful to have her hands tied with the decision - and that doctors and nurses wouldn't perform on her because otherwise they would have been charged with a felony. She said she was furious at the overturning of Roe V Wade - but said that she 'didn't think it would really impact me personally.' 'I never in my wildest dreams thought that the laws that I was so angry about would also pose a threat to my life and prevent me from accessing safe healthcare in 2022 in the United States of America.' Amanda still suffers with medical consequences and her uterus scar tissue is so severe that doctors are now having to go in to surgically remove it. In June this year, the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, pushing many women back to getting illegal, unsafe, abortions. Before the 1973 case, which guaranteed a constitutionally protected right to abortion to all Americans women no longer the state they lived in, some women resorted to dire means to terminate their pregnancies - and some lost their lives in the process. United States of Abortion Eighteen weeks into her pregnancy, Amanda Zurawski felt something "off"and learned from doctors that her fetus could not survive. Miscarriage was inevitable"but what happened next was not," she says. Under Texas's sweeping abortion ban, doctors could not provide her with care, starting a medical nightmare that put her in the ICU fighting a life-threatening infection. Today, Amanda and her husband Josh are speaking out: "This will happen to many women," she says, "if we do not fight back." In an exclusive video, they sat down with the doctors behind Obstetricians for Reproductive Justice (Dr. Jennifer Conti, Dr. Heather Irobunda, Dr. Jennifer Lincoln) and The Meteor to share what happened. Watch the film here and head to the link below to read Amandas powerful account of what happened. Plus, Obstetricians for Reproductive Justice talks to Megan Carpentier about second-trimester pregnancy complications, and what happens when doctors cant treat them properly. This film is a project of The Meteor Fund, and produced in partnership with Harness; with support from Pop Culture Collab. Stay tuned for more United States of Abortion stories. If you or someone you know wants to share a post-Roe story, DM @obs4rj on Instagram. And see the link below for @harness s abortion resources and info to create a voting plan. #UnitedStatesOfAbortion Amanda's story: https://wearethemeteor.com/texas-abortion-ban-stopped-doctors-helping-woman-miscarrying/ OBGYN Q&A: https://wearethemeteor.com/incompetent-cervix-obstetricians-for-reproductive-justice/ Voting plan: iwillharness.com/abortion Director: Amy Elliott Editor: Ellen Callaghan DP: Pat Blackard Camera: Tony Lopez Sound: Chris Kupeli Field producer: Karen Bernstein Music: "Come On Doom, Let's Party" Written and performed by Emily Wells Posted by The Meteor on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 Back-alley 'coat hanger' abortions, intentionally throwing one's self down the stairs and even ingesting poison were all dangerous tactics employed by some to stop an unwanted pregnancy. Abortion was limited in the US before the landmark ruling in 1973, which protected legal abortion in all 50 states. The decision this summer said: 'The Constitution does not confer a right to abortion; Roe and Casey are overruled; and the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives.' The overturn meant that states would now be able to set their own laws regulating the procedure. In Texas, abortion is now a felony publishable by up to life in prison - which only has the narrow exceptions to save the life of a pregnant patient. Royal Mail has been accused by a judge of 'destroying' a female employee's life after she was the victim of a lengthy bullying campaign for blowing the whistle on potential fraud. In an extraordinary judgement, the postal service was told that if it had a 'shred of decency' it would pay Kam Jhuti more than 100,000 in damages 'swiftly' given the 'catastrophic' impact its treatment had had on her. The media specialist had been intimidated and harassed by her boss, Mike Widmer, after she raised concerns that a colleague had secured their bonus illegitimately. The 'profound' and 'visceral' effect of this bullying which ended in her being sacked left her suffering from severe depression and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), an employment tribunal heard. Only a final resolution to her seven year case which at one point went all the way to the Supreme Court could offer hope of a recovery, it concluded. In an extraordinary judgement, the postal service was told that if it had a 'shred of decency' it would pay Kam Jhuti more than 100,000 in damages 'swiftly'. File image Employment Judge Richard Baty said: 'Whilst as a rule we try to avoid language which might be deemed intemperate, it is nonetheless true to say that [Royal Mail's] treatment of [Ms Jhuti] has destroyed [her] life. 'Furthermore, all of the medical professionals are clear that the resolution of these employment tribunal proceedings is necessary as a prerequisite to Ms Jhuti beginning to make any sort of recovery. 'If [Royal Mail Group] has any shred of decency in the light of the catastrophic impact on the claimant of its treatment of her, it will ensure that this process is swiftly completed.' The 2019 Supreme Court hearing was told Ms Jhuti started work as a 50,000 a year media specialist in Royal Mail's MarketReach unit in London in September 2013. However, the following month, while shadowing a colleague, she began to suspect they were not following Ofcom's guidance and also breaching the company's policy in relation to bonuses known as Tailor-Made Incentives (TMIs). She said this helped the colleague to hit performance targets directly securing a bonus for herself, indirectly securing Mr Widmer's and 'in effect defrauding the company'. In November, she emailed Mr Widmer 'reporting her concerns', to which he sent a 'sinister' email to his boss, stating that she 'needs to provide evidence' of the accusations and 'has to be aware she is making quite strong and serious allegations'. On 13 November, Mr Widmer had a meeting with Ms Jhuti which lasted four hours saying that if the accusations were untrue it would 'impact' on her job. He asked her 'at length' about the company's TMI policy and said her understanding was 'questionable'. The court heard Ms Jhuti 'realised' that if she were to pursue the issue, her job would be put 'at risk'. The hearing was told that when the meeting resumed, Ms Jhuti subsequently 'apologised repeatedly' and agreed to Mr Widmer's suggestion she should email him, admitting she had 'made a mistake' and retract the allegations. Royal Mail was reprimanded for the 'high-handed, malicious, insulting and oppressive' way it had conducted the case. File image She was then given a two hour 'dress down' and told she was falling short of the requirements of her role. The court heard this prompted Mr Widmer to set up 'intensive' weekly meetings with her something that was 'unmatched' for other members of his team. By December, he was 'repeatedly' telling Ms Jhuti her progress was disappointing and emailed HR saying he was going to 'compile examples' to show she was not 'meeting expected standards'. Later that month, a TMI expert in the business vindicated Ms Jhuti's previous allegations, by acknowledging media specialists were offering TMIs 'inappropriately'. The court heard that while Mr Widmer was ill over Christmas her replacement boss had been 'happy' with her progress. However, Mr Widmer returned to work in January 2014 to resume his ' lengthy campaign'. By this point Ms Jhuti was suffering with alopecia, which she believed was stress related, and was unsure what Mr Widmer expected of her. In February she was placed on a six-week performance improvement plan and told if she did not comply she would fail her trial period. One of the 'objectives' within the plan was for her to share 'key client contacts' in the travel industry all of which she had made in previous jobs. Ms Jhuti subsequently emailed HR expressing 'concern' at her boss' conduct towards her alleging it was because of her previous whistleblowing which she had been 'forced to rescind'. She believed this demand for her contacts was not one she could 'lawfully comply with' and highlighted an 'agenda to dismiss her' if she didn't comply. In the subsequent meeting Ms Jhuti was told Mr Widmer was a 'respected employee' and that 'he would be the one to be believed'. After the interview, Ms Jhuti emailed: 'It is clear I am being managed to be removed, all on the basis of [Mr Widmer] holding what I believe is a grudge from the day I raised an issue. 'If you want me out, all based on the initial issue I raised, then just tell me to go.' At the end of the month, Ms Jhuti's request for a new line manager was granted but she was told again she 'was not making the progress' that was expected although her new boss 'admitted' Mr Widmer's length of meetings had been 'excessive'. On 12 March 2014, Ms Jhuti's GP signed her off with work-related stress, anxiety and depression. She never returned to work. Earlier in March, Ms Jhuti had been offered three months pay to 'voluntarily' terminate her employment. After she went off sick, the offer was increased to a year's salary which the tribunal described as 'extremely strange' given its 'ostensible generosity'. On 21 July 2014, Ms Jhuti was dismissed with three months notice with effect from October 21. In September 2014, she appealed the decision, and almost a year later, in August 2015, the appeal was dismissed. After taking Royal Mail to an initial employment tribunal in 2015, Ms Jhuti's claims of unfair dismissal 'finally' succeeded after the Supreme Court ruled in her favour. Judge Baty said: 'The impact of the campaign of bullying, intimidation and harassment by Mr Widmer in this case has undoubtedly been profound. 'We refer again to Ms Jhuti's own evidence and cross examination about the severe triggering effect of even having to think about Mr Widmer and the visceral impact that having to do so had upon her.' The panel agreed that as part of the award Royal Mail should pay 12,500 in aggravated damages for the way it had conducted the remedy hearing, in particular the 'painful' cross examination of Ms Jhuti. 'We...have little hesitation in concluding that this conduct was high-handed, malicious, insulting and oppressive,' the judge said. The testimonies show how Russian soldiers have used rape as a weapon of war Russian soldiers gang-raped a 22-year-old Ukrainian mother, sexually abused her husband and made the couple have sex in front of them before raping their four-year-old daughter, a horrifying and damning UN report has revealed. The heart-wrenching report details how Russian troops, while occupying a village in the Chernihiv region, also raped an 83-year-old woman in her house in front of her physically disabled husband. A 56-year-old woman, from a village in the Kyiv region, also revealed in horrific testimony of how three Russian soldiers broke into her home, with two of them gang-raping her while the third one watched. These testimonies - and there are many more within the report - show how Russian soldiers have used rape as a weapon of war in the eight months since the barbaric invasion began. The report also details how Russian soldiers conducted summary executions - executions without trial or due process - in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv and the Summy regions, with the youngest victim being a 14-year-old boy. In the report, the members of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine said they had also documented patterns of torture, ill-treatment and unlawful confinement committed in areas occupied by Russian armed forces - all of which amount to war crimes. The report detailed how Russian soldiers raped women and girls in their homes or took them and raped them in unoccupied dwellings - leading some to consider committing suicide. The heart-wrenching report details how Russian troops, while occupying a village in the Chernihiv region, also raped an 83-year-old woman in her house in front of her physically disabled husband (File image of a woman arranging flowers outside a house where a couple were killed in Kyiv) In many cases, the Russian soldiers would shoot dead the women's husbands - or threaten to do so - as soon as they tried to defend their wives and stop them from being raped. In March this year, two Russian soldiers burst into a young family's home in the Kyiv region and raped a 22-year-old woman several times before sexually abusing her husband. The two soldiers then forced the traumatised couple to have sex in front of them. One of the soldiers then forced the couple's four-year-old daughter to perform oral sex on him. 'In most cases, these acts of rape also amount to torture and cruel or inhumane treatment for the victims and for relatives who were forced to watch,' the report says. In another village in the Kyiv region, a Russian soldier entered a home and tried to drag a 50-year-old woman from the house. Her husband desperately tried to defend his wife, but the Russian soldier shot him. The soldier took the woman to a nearby empty house where he raped her until a Russian armed forces military unit arrived and took him away, the report says. Her husband died two days later from his injuries as he could not be taken to hospital. In the Chernihiv region, an 83-year-old woman told investigators how she was raped by occupied Russian forces in her house where her physically disabled husband was also present. In the Kyiv region, a 56-year-old women told investigators how three Russian soldiers broke into her home. Two of them gang-raped her while the third one watched. Before leaving the house, the soldiers stole food and money from her. The woman learned to weeks later that her husband had been tortured and executed by Russian soldiers. Russian troops have been accused of butchering civilians in areas they occupy, and the UN now says it has verified more then 100 rapes Rape has historically been used as a weapon of war - in Bosnia in 1992, Rwanda in 1994 and Darfur in 2003 to name but a few instances. Russian soldiers have also been known to use rape as a weapon of war in the past. The Soviet Red Army solders raped an estimated two million German women after the fall of Hitler's Third Reich at the end of the Second World War. The true scale of wartime rape - and now in Ukraine - will continue to remain unknown as many women remain silent about their experiences for fear of being stigmatised. One Ukrainian victim, who had been raped by Russian troops, told the Commission: 'This experience is very shameful for me and I am extremely scared and intimidated'. The report says: 'Stigma that continues to surround sexual violence requires patience until victims feel safe and adequately cared for to speak out about what happened.' One psychologist who has worked with the Ukrainian survivors said: 'All victims with whom I am working are blaming themselves for being spotted by perpetrators and being raped.' Systematic mass rape campaigns use forced impregnation as a tool to ethnically cleanse a nation and psychologically traumatize generations of people. The children born as a result of this wartime rape are often stigmatised themselves as they become a 'living reminder of the conflict', academics say. Russia invaded Ukraine back in February as Putin ordered what was supposed to be a days-long 'special military operation' to topple the government. But he now finds himself bogged down in an eight-month long war that looks set to continue for months longer at least, and suffering huge losses. Ukrainian resistance has proved fiercer than almost all observers expected, and has been spurred on by atrocities that Russia troops have committed in occupied areas. Back in April, after Putin's men withdrew from areas around the capital Kyiv, mass graves containing the bodies of hundreds of civilians were uncovered. Survivors of the occupation told how Russian soldiers hunted down anyone suspected of working with the government or military to interrogate and torture - some were ultimately killed. Others told how soldiers came to their homes, beat or raped them, stole, and then fled as Ukraine's forces advanced. Kyiv argues that Moscow is fighting a genocidal war aimed at wiping out their national identity by murdering innocents, deporting people into Russia, and systemic rapes. Putin denies that his armed forces are deliberately targeting civilians. During the interview she stated that had received eye surgery the day before Bewley was being interviewed by a journalist at the time of the crash He also alleged his daughter's mother 'failed to maintain control of her vehicle' sued Wisconsin Senate Democratic Minority Leader Janet Bewley among others for their On Friday, Fink sued Wisconsin Senate Democratic Minority Leader Janet Bewley among others for their involvement Brandon Fink's daughter and her mother were killed in a car crash on July 22 Brandon Fink's daughter and her mother were killed in a car crash on July 22 A former marine has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Wisconsin Senate Democratic Minority Leader Janet Bewley, 70, for her involvement in a car crash in which his 5-year-old daughter and her mother were killed. Brandon Fink filed the lawsuit on Friday, nearly three months after his daughter Khaleesi Fink, 5, and her mother Alyssa Ortman, 27, were killed in the crash in Ashland, Wisconsin, on July 22. Defendants in the lawsuit include Bewley, another driver Jodi Munson, 45, and three insurance companies. Fink requested a jury trial and is seeking damages of more than $10,000. His complaint alleges that Bewley, Munson and Ortman were all responsible for his daughter's death. He asserts that Bewley failed to maintain a proper lookout, disregarded the right of way, and drove in a distracted state but claims Munson and Ortman also failed to keep a lookout and maintain proper speed while driving. The crash happened while Bewley was being interviewed on the phone in her car and just a day after she underwent cataract eye surgery, she told the interviewer. Khaleesi was pronounced dead at the scene, while her mother was transported to a nearby hospital where she later died. Now her father Fink has filed a lawsuit blaming all three women involved in the crash, including the mother of his daughter When Ortman's car collided with Bewley's it spun across the highway and was hit by Munson An Ashland police report obtained by the Associated Press says Bewley was distracted by her hands-free mobile phone at the time of the crash in July. Fink alleges in the lawsuit that Bewley was distracted while driving. He also accused the mother of his daughter, Ortman, of failing to maintain control of her vehicle, resulting in their child's death. Bewley's spokesperson, Joey Huey, said she had no comment. The accident occurred when Bewley, 70, pulled out of the Maslowski beach parking lot in Ashland and into the path of a car driven by Alyssa Ortman, 27, according to the Ashland Police Department Bewley pulled out of a Lake Superior beach parking lot and into the path of a car driven by Ortman on July 22 at around 12.30pm, according to police. When Ortman's car collided with Bewley's it spun across the highway and was then hit by another vehicle driven by Munson. Five-year-old Khaleesi was pronounced dead at the scene. Her mother was transported to a nearby hospital where she also died. Ashland County District Attorney David Meany said his office has started receiving law enforcement reports on the crash but that any decision on whether to pursue charges is pending a complete review of the case. It's unclear how long that might take, he said. Alyssa Ortman, 27, with her five-year-old daughter Khali. The pair were killed when their car was struck by Wisconsin Senate Democratic Minority Leader Janet Bewley's car, and then a second car At the time Fink called for justice for his daughter, saying that the politician should be treated just like 'anyone else.' Speaking to DailyMail.com Fink said: 'I found out a Senator killed my baby and they might not even press charges even though she was on the phone during the accident. 'And just had cataract surgery the day before. I'm furious and want this Senator to come to justice and pay for what she did like anyone else would have to. 'She shouldn't get away with this.' Wisconsin Senate Democratic Minority Leader Janet Bewley said in an interview that was taking place as the accident occurred that she had undergone cataract eye surgery the day before It was later reported that Bewley was on the phone doing an interview with a Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel intern at the time of the crash and told the intern that she had just undergone cataract surgery the day before. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Bewley fell silent mid-sentence during her phone interview with its intern Ben Baker. During the interview, she revealed that she had received cataract surgery on Thursday, one day before the fatal wreck. When asked by the interviewer if she was okay, Bewley said she was, but sounded shaken. 'Yeah, I'm OK,' she said, 'This is not a good accident.' Khaleesi's father, Brandon Fink, criticized Bewley for not reaching out to him after the crash According to the Mayo Clinic and the American Optometric Association, patients are often advised not to drive for at least 24 hours following cataract surgery, which removes the natural lens of the eye and replaces it with an artificial lens. Some doctors even suggest not getting behind the wheel until a patient is given the green light in a follow-up appointment. Ashland Police Chief Bill Hagstrom confirmed that Bewley wasn't injured in the crash and State Patrol was reconstructing the scene. 'We'll be sitting down with them and going over everything as far as determining how it all actually happened,' Hagstrom said. 'Then we'll forward everything to the district attorney for their review because it was a fatal accident. Ortman was a certified clinal medical assistant and for the past four years worked at Lincare, a company that supplies respiratory-therapy products and services for patients at home. Fink paid an emotional tribute to his daughter, describing her as a 'hilarious, insanely beautiful, and smart girl that had a drive for life that touched so many.' He added at the time that Bewley had still failed to reach out to him after the tragedy, despite her office issuing a statement. He wrote: 'You lit up my life and gave me an ambition and drive I didn't know was possible. 'No matter what we just giggled out way through.. my life feels so empty without these giggles. 'Nothing will make this ok. Nothing will make me feel better and no I don't need anything. 'I was supposed to get my daughter home here, at her house and be hearing silly stories about vacation.. instead I got calls from the funeral home.' Ford was warned he faces lengthy custodial sentence when sentenced on Friday But he was suspended last year following Cambridgeshire Constabulary probe James Ford was today convicted of ten counts of sexual abuse against same girl A serving police officer has been convicted of raping a girl aged under 13 before wiping his phone in a bid to cover his tracks - as a judge warned him he now faces years in prison. James Ford, who has served just under two years' service in Hertfordshire Constabulary, was today found guilty of ten counts of sexual abuse against the same child following less than a day of deliberation by jurors at Cambridge Crown Court. The 31-year-old, of Bishop's Stortford, was convicted of four counts of rape, four of sexual assault and two of causing or inciting a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity. Ford was also found guilty of carrying out an act tending and intended to pervert the course of public justice after he 'deliberately wiped his phone by factory resetting his Samsung Mobile phone'. The offences, which he had denied, took place between 2019 and 2021. James Ford, a serving response officer for Hertfordshire Police, pictured outside Cambridge Crown Court today Ford has been convicted of raping a girl aged under 13 before wiping his phone in a bid to cover his tracks Ford will be sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court on Friday. He has been warned that he faces a 'lengthy custodial sentence' Mr Justice Simon Bryan, remanded Ford in custody ahead of sentencing on Friday. Releasing jurors, he told them that Ford was 'obviously going to have a lengthy custodial sentence - the sentence will be determined by me on Friday'. A spokesperson for Hertfordshire Police said Ford had been suspended since October 22 following an independent investigation by officers in Cambridgeshire Constabularys Public Protection Unit. At the time, Deputy Chief Constable Bill Jephson said: 'I am deeply concerned that a serving Hertfordshire officer has been charged with such serious offences.' Putin said Friday there was 'no need' to meet Biden and his own attendance was 'not finalized' US officials have 'ruled out' a meeting and are acting avoid chance encounters He kept open the possibility of talking about release of Brittney Griner He told CNN last we he had 'no intention' of meeting Putin The Biden administration is privately ruling out a meeting between the president and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the upcoming G20 Summit, with Russia's brutal war in Ukraine continuing to drive the countries apart. The administration has never talked up the chance of a meeting, even after Putin, who Biden has called a 'war criminal,' indicated he planned to attend. Biden kept the possibility of a narrow conversation alive last week, in comments that made clear he had no intention of opening up a broader discussion of the war, after Putin's repeated comments attacking the US and relentless bombing of civilians in Ukraine. The administration is working to prevent even a 'sideline' encounter between the president and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the upcoming G20 summit in Bali, as Russia's war on Ukraine rages 'Look, I have no intention of meeting with him, but look, if he came to me at the G20 and said, 'I want to talk about the release of [detained American Brittney] Griner,' I would meet with him, but that would depend,' Biden said. Now, officials are going so far as to say they are seeking to discourage even a 'sideline' informal meeting with Putin, Politico reported. U.S. officials have 'ruled out' a formal meeting with Putin, and are 'taking steps' to make sure they don't bump into each other in a hallway or doing the typical 'family photo.' Putin himself was sounding bearish on the chances, as his military unleashed a wave of drone and rocket attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine, drawing repeated condemnation from the West. The Russian leader said Friday there was 'no need' to meet Biden and his own attendance was 'not finalized' The two men met at a villa in Geneva in June at the start of Biden's presidency Biden has called Putin a 'murderous dictator,' as well as a 'pure thug' and a 'killer,' but previously kept alive the possibility of talking to him about the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner Indonesia announced Putin's plans to attend Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky, whose nation is not a member of the G20, said he would attend if Putin does Russia continues to hit civilian targets in Ukraine Ukraine and the U.S. have blasted what multiple videos and images reveal to be Russia's use of Iranian-made drones Biden is already likely to have an encounter with one dictator who he has called a top competitor to the U.S.: with China's Xi Jinping, who is set to secure a third term at the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing after a decade in power. Biden said last month he was open to meeting Xi. The two men spoke by phone in March, when the president warned Beijing it would face consequences if it propped up Russia's invasion, and again in July. Biden has called Putin a 'murderous dictator,' as well as a 'pure thug' and a 'killer.' Biden hasn't gotten much mileage out of his last face-to-face meeting with an autocratic ruler. He took political hits for his 'fist bump' with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman last summer, but the Saudis infuriated the administration when OPEC+ voted to cut oil production a move that helps Putin fund his war and kept oil prices higher weeks before the U.S. elections. Indonesian President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo, whose nation hosts the summit, invited Putin and traveled to Moscow in June to extend the invitation in person. After the insistence by the U.S. and other leaders, also invited Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky, whose nation is not a member. Zelensky said he would attend if Putin does. Advertisement A police ledger hundreds of Peaky Blinders-style mugshots from the Victorian era and beyond has sold for more than 10,000 after it was rescued from a skip. The document, with records dating from 1890 to 1920, mentions Alice Wheeldon, a woman convicted of plotting to kill the then British Prime Minister David Lloyd George more than a century ago. Overall, there are 500 pages and every one features a grainy mug shot and details of crimes ranging from theft, burglary, shoplifting and assault. Lesser offences include petty theft such as stealing a comb, bad language or even being an 'incorrigible rogue'. The fascinating document of 'serious importance' was rescued from a skip by a former police officer working in Derby over 40 years ago. His son, 53, sold the book via Hansons Auctioneers and was stunned when it fetched more than three times the estimate, with a UK bidder snapping it up for 10,500 today. Derbyshire Record Office (DRO) had hoped to secure it for public use and launched a Crowdfunder appeal but only raised 2,000. A police ledger dating from between 1890 to 1920 that features a collection of haunting criminal mugshots from the Victorian era and beyond is set to fetch thousands at auction after being rescued from a skip. Above: Alice Wheeldon, her daughter Winnie, and son-in-law Alfred Mason, who were all convicted in 1917 of conspiring to murder the then Prime Minister David Lloyd George. The mugshots are enhanced versions of those that appear in the original ledger files The crooks include many from Derby but also men and women from all over the country - including Southampton, Hull, Birmingham, Leicester and Nottinghamshire. The ledger's most notables pages relate to the Wheeldon family - who were charged and convicted with conspiracy to murder Lloyd George. Alice Wheeldon, her daughter Winnie and son-in-law Alfred Mason were all believed to have been wrongfully convicted of the plot in March 1917. David Lloyd George was Prime Minister from 1916 until 1922 Lloyd George was then just three months into a six-year stint as Prime Minister that came to an end in 1922. Mrs Wheeldon was also a well-known pacifist and was opposed to wartime conscription, sending young men to the trenches. She took in a man claiming to be a conscientious objector, going by the name of Alex Gordon, who was in fact a British spy, and whose evidence about the supposed murder plot was presented in court - without cross-examination - during Mrs Wheeldon's trial. Despite the convictions, the use of Gordon saw the government questioned about its methods in using an agent provocateur. Just weeks after the trial, the intelligence department to which Gordon belonged was shut down, while the agent was sent abroad. In the black and white mug shots of the Wheeldons, Alice is described as 51 years old, pale with dark brown hair. A note dated February 27, 1917 states, 'Conspiracy to murder - 10 years'. Underneath in red ink a note dated December 30, 1917 states 'Discharged'. Added on February 21, 1919 is 'Died'. Weakened by her ordeal, Alice lost her life to influenza during the infamous Spanish Flu pandemic. After being convicted, Alice went on hunger strike and was released early due to ill-health later in 1917. Her daughter was also released in 1919, after the war had ended. After a recent campaign for justice by Mrs Wheeldon's relatives, the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) said although the bid to re-examine the case had merit, the case was too old to justify the expense. However, in its decision, the CCRC said: 'The submissions identified in the application may raise a real possibility that these convictions would be overturned.' The crooks include many from Derby but also men and women from all over the country - including Southampton, Hull, Birmingham, Leicester and Nottinghamshire. Above: Thomas Donald of Birmingham arrested for theft and housebreaking William Watson of Derby who stole a bicycle and was also found guilty of 'larceny', which means theft. The ledger's seller said it was rescued by his police officer father, who prevented it being thrown in a skip during a clear out more than 40 years ago Martin Adams, of Nottingham, was arrested for a litany of offences, including the theft of a comb. The ledger is being sold by via Hansons Auctioneers where it is expected to fetch between 2,000-3,000 on October 19. Annie Brown of Derby, who used the alias Black Diamond, was arrested and sentenced for using obscene language and stealing Alice Wheeldon was sentenced to ten years in prison in March 1917 for her alleged part in the plot to assassinate Lloyd George but was discharged later that year because she was suffering from ill health Ms Wheeldon is now viewed as a hero in Derby for her fearless campaigning and boasts a blue plaque in the city's walk of fame. The engineer from Staffordshire who inherited it from his dad and kept it in a cupboard for decades, said he was 'flabbergasted' by the final price. The seller said: 'It would have been nice if it had gone to Derbyshire Record Office or ended up in a museum but I suppose it's all down to who has the deepest pockets. I wish the collector well. 'I am very happy with the result. To say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement. 'I was flabbergasted. I would have been happy with the original estimate of 2,000-3,000. 'The book was rescued by my father, a police officer at the time, when he was working for Derby Borough Police more than 40 years ago. Winnie Mason was sentenced to five years in prison for her alleged role in a conspiracy to murder Lloyd George. She was released in 1919, after the war had ended Alfred George Mason, the husband of Winnifred, was sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in the murder plot 'The station was clearing out some garages and store rooms at an old police station on St Mary's Gate in Derby. 'My father saved it from being thrown into the skip. He thought it was too interesting to end up in landfill. 'Unfortunately, my dad is no longer with us so I can't ask him for more details. He passed it to me 30 years ago. 'After decades in a cupboard I decided it was time someone else had the opportunity to research this important historical record.' Hansons' books expert Jim Spencer said: 'It is an exceptional item. Nothing prepared me for that first look inside it. 'I was amazed how many individuals were featured in the book, and I was struck by the range of offences. 'I'm sure many people will say it reminds them of TV's Peaky Blinders, and I guess some criminals do have the appearance of a baddie in a Laurel and Hardy film, but most seem pitifully trapped by their circumstances. 'There is a sense of societal division between the majority of criminals dressed in cloth caps, stealing food and clothing, and the occasional gentleman wearing a bowler hat charged with embezzlement. 'Some convictions seem shockingly petty, such as 'stealing a tin of pine apple', 'stealing a bag of soot', 'stealing growing apples', and some are bizarrely vague, like 'incorrigible rogue'. 'This makes it all-the-more surprising to stumble upon a conviction for conspiracy to murder a prime minister. 'Alice Wheeldon is a famous name, and it's quite surreal to see the original mug shots of her and her family members.' A British mother has become the fourth member of her family to die in a suspected carbon monoxide poisoning while visiting relatives in Bangladesh. Hosne Ara Islam, 46, has died in hospital three months after her family were struck down in the mystery suspected poisoning, the Cardiff Bangladeshi Society confirmed. Taxi driver Rafiqul Islam, 51, and son Mahiqul, 16, were found dead in their holiday apartment on July 26 and daughter Samira Islam, 20, died in hospital 11 days later. Son Sadiqul, 24, was the only survivor after being released from hospital. The family-of-five had travelled from Riverside, Cardiff, to visit relatives in the Sylhet region of Bangladesh and had arrived on July 12. Police say they were found collapsed after a family meal a couple of weeks later - with tests being carried out over a suspicion of carbon monoxide poisoning. Rafiqul Islam, 51, and Mahiqul Islam, 16, were found dead in a rented flat in the Tajpur area of Sylhet Mourners gathered for the funeral of the taxi driver and his son who died in Bangladesh in July The burial of the father and son while other family members were in hospital After dinner on Monday July 25, the family fell asleep in the same room, police said. Between 10am and 10.30am on Tuesday their relatives tried to open the door to the flat. They called the police when they heard no sounds inside. Officers found the door locked, broke it open, and recovered the five unconscious victims inside. The city of Sylhet (pictured) in east Bangladesh where the family were on holiday visiting relatives Police said they had been told by the family there was a faulty electricity generator in the property which was to be used in emergencies. Supt Farid Uddin said detectives visited the property and said the generator pumped out smoke as it was running, which could have led to suffocation. He said: 'We collected a smoke sample from the generator and we sent it to fire service to see if chemicals were also found in the bodies of the deceased and of the survivors. 'We have to wait for some days to get the chemical analysis report.' Rafiqul's brother-in-law Abdul Mumin Khan told the BBC after the deaths of the father and son in July: 'I didn't know what to do or what to say. 'Everyone is very sad. Everybody is crying. My wife, all the time, is crying. I am crying as well. 'I can't believe this has happened. This person is very friendly, a very nice guy. His son is very sweet and friendly. Everyone likes him and he likes everyone. His son is a very, very nice boy.' Advertisement Suella Braverman was only in the Home Office for a matter of weeks but she spent most of it seemingly positioning herself for a tilt at another job - that of prime minister. The hardline Brexiteer was handed the top job as an acknowledgement of her popularity with the right of the party in the summer leadership contest, and for switching to Team Truss when she was knocked out. But during her tenure she made a series of outbursts that put her at odds with Liz Truss, raising suggestions she was positioning herself for the next leadership race. In a letter, Ms Braverman said she was resigning for breaching processes by sending an email from her personal account about a forthcoming ministerial statement on immigration. But in another hammer blow for the PM's chances of clinging on, she also complained that the government was breaking promises. She swiped that when people made 'mistakes' - something Ms Truss has admitted - the right thing to do was quit. Grant Shapps is apparently being lined up to take her place. Rumours are swirling about a huge bust-up between Ms Braverman and Ms Truss - who were rivals in the Conservative leadership contest - over visas policy last night. The 42-year-old mother-of two hit the headlines just yesterday with a rant against the 'tofu-eating wokerati' for effectively preventing police from arresting eco-zealots who have caused mayhem and misery during weeks of protest. She hit out at MPs who voted against tough new measures to strengthen police powers to deal with activists more quickly. Addressing the Commons as MPs debated the Public Order Bill, Mrs Braverman said: 'I'm afraid it's the Labour Party, it's the Lib Dems, it's the coalition of chaos, it's the Guardian-reading, tofu-eating wokerati dare I say, the anti-growth coalition that we have to thank for the disruption we are seeing on our roads today.' Her comments came as police arrested two Just Stop Oil protesters who spent 36 hours suspended from the QEII bridge, closing a major transport link between Kent and Essex due to safety fears. At the Conservative Party conference a fortnight ago she also attacked the PM for U-turning over plans to axe the 45p top rate of income tax. She launched a swipe as the PM tried to regain her balance, branding the U-turn on axing the 45p tax rate 'disappointing' and accusing rebels of a 'coup'. She was also blamed recently for jeopardizing a free trade deal with India by accusing its people of being the worst at overstaying visas in the UK. The hardline Brexiteer was handed the top job as an acknowledgement of her popularity with the right of the party in the summer leadership contest, and for switching to Team Truss when she was knocked out. In a letter, Ms Braverman said she was resigning for breaching processes by sending an email from her personal account about a forthcoming ministerial statement on immigration. The new Home Secretary has previously battled against woke 'witch trials' and warned against diversity zealots in Whitehall. Suella Braverman's failed Tory leadership bid, which saw her eliminated in the second ballot of MPs, was inspired by a hardline vision of tax cuts, border control and an anti-Net Zero ethos. But while initially seen as the dark horse pick for the right-wing of the Tory Party, she threw her support behind the surging Liz Truss as MPs coalesced around the new Prime Minister. The staunch Brexiteer, who served loyally in Boris Johnson's Cabinet as Attorney General, was appointed to replace Priti Patel as home secretary. Like Miss Patel, she is of Indian ancestry - her parents, of Goan and Mauritian origins, emigrated to Britain in the 1960s from East Africa before setting up base in Harrow, north-west London. Her mother, a nurse by profession, ensured politics was a part of family life. A Tory councillor for 16 years, she also stood for Parliament in 2001 and 2003. Mrs Braverman herself was an early adopter of Tory values, serving as president of the Cambridge University Conservative Association while studying law. After two failed parliamentary runs, she was elected as MP for Fareham in Hampshire in 2015 and rose through the party ranks quickly. She chaired the pro-Leave European Research Group until she was promoted to a ministerial role at the Department for Exiting the European Union under Theresa May. Under Mr Johnson, she replaced Geoffrey Cox as Attorney General in 2020. After dropping out of the Tory leadership race this summer, she praised both Liz Truss and Kemi Badenoch, but suggested her supporters should back the former as she had the best chance of making it to the final two. Speaking in Birmingham Ms Braverman launched an astonishing attack on the PM herself and Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng. She said she backed the original decision to scrap the 45p top rate of income tax for Britons earning more than 150,000, adding: 'I'm disappointed about the subsequent reversal but, I accept their reasons and it doesn't affect my support for the prime minister.' She then received support from Simon Clarke, the Levelling-Up Secretary and a hitherto close ally of the PM, who said she was speaking 'a lot of good sense'. In recent years Mrs Braverman has engaged in a war on 'woke' elements in society. In 2019 she suggested the Conservatives were 'engaged in a battle against Cultural Marxism'. When setting out her leadership priorities in July, she said: 'We need to get rid of all of this woke rubbish and actually get back to a country where describing a man and a woman in terms of biology does not mean that you're going to lose your job.' And in an article for The Daily Mail a month later, the Attorney General warned against woke 'witch trials' and said she had scrapped equality and diversity training in her own department. She has also said schools do not legally need to accommodate pupils who want to change their gender. Outside politics, Mrs Braverman has two children with her husband Rael, whom she married at the House of Commons in 2018. She has faced questions over her involvement with the controversial Buddhist Triratna sect. The Triratna order, formerly one of Buddhism's largest sects in the UK, has been the subject of historic sexual abuse allegations. Mrs Braverman is believed to have attended meetings and retreats organised by the group, and was known as a 'mitra' - or friend - within the order. Crime on New York City's subway system has claimed at least eight lives in the past year - including a father-of-three who was slashed in the neck while protecting a female police officer from a homeless thug. Despite the senseless attacks on innocent straphangers, NYC Mayor Eric Adams earlier this week claimed that there was only a 'perception' that crime was 'out of control' despite a 31% surge year-on-year. Last year, there were six murders on the subway. Dozens more have been injured in unprovoked attacks that include stabbings, beatings and at least 12 people have been shoved onto the tracks. Father-of-three Tommy Bailey was slashed in the neck by a homeless man on the L train to Atlantic Ave Station in Brooklyn on September 30 around 9pm. At the time, he was trying to intervene when Alvin Charles started harassing a female NYPD officer. During an argument between the pair, Charles pulled out a knife and stabbed the 43-year-old stemfitter in the neck. 'I just felt horrible. I mean nobody should ever have to die that way. It's so sad. Especially leaving behind three young kids. I mean, what is that family to do now? The loss of the breadwinner. I mean, it's just life changing for them in a really bad way,' Bailey's friend Bill Abbate told Fox News Digital. 'To have to take your life into your own hands by just going to work or going to the grocery store or to a doctor appointment, not knowing if you're going to make it home. That's very scary.' Police arrested Charles, who had previously faced assault charges for stabbing another man last year. He has been walking free ever since being allowed out when a judge denied that he be held on $50,000. Tommy Bailey, 43, was onboard the L train to Atlantic Ave Station in Brooklyn when he got into an argument with homeless passenger Alvin Charles, who was harassing a cop on September 30. The homeless man pulled out a knife and slashed Bailey in the throat Bailey was a father of three and remembered as a hardworking man Homeless man Alvin Charles (center) was arrested and charged with Bailey's murder Bailey's death is just one of a string of senseless murders on the subway - three of which have occured in the first three weeks of October. On October 17, Heriberto Quintana, 48, was hit by train after during an altercation with Carlos Garcia, 50, at the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue station located in Queens. It's unclear whether he was pushed, or whether he stumbled onto the tracks during the argument over a dropped cellphone. Police say the suspect was standing on the platform when Quintana bumped into him as he walked by, which knocked the suspect's cellphone on to the subway tracks. Garcia then demanded Quintana go get his phone and when he refused, the two began arguing in Spanish and a shoving fight ensued. According to the NYPD, Garcia was removed from under the train with severe trauma to the body and transported by EMD to Elmhurst Hospital where he was pronounced dead. An official cause of death is pending. Garcia was arrested on Tuesday and charged with mansalughter. A week earlier, 15-year-old Jayjon Burnett was shot dead by a known gangbanger just on a Far Rockaway A train just days before his 16th birthday. Keyondre Russell, 18, was charged for Burnett's murder in second degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon. Assistant District Attorney Christine Occhiogrosso called the murder a 'gang related incident.' Charles Moore, 38, and a father, was stabbed in the back and chest after leaving a northbound four train in the Bronx at 10.30pm on October 6. Saquan Lemons, 27, was arrested for allegedly stabbing Moore. The attack was random and unprovoked, according to police. Carlos Garcia, 50, is accused of killing 48-year-old Heriberto Quintana on Monday afternoon after a tussle that led to Quintana falling onto F Train subway tracks and being hit by an oncoming train Jayjon Burnett (left) was allegedly shot by Keyondre Russell, 18, (right) days before his 16th birthday on October 14. The shooting occurred after a dispute with two groups on a Far Rockaway A train in NYC Charles Moore, 38, and a father, was stabbed in the back and chest after leaving a northbound four train in the Bronx at 10.30pm on October 6. Moore is pictured to the right and is with his family Marcus Bethea, 24, was shot and killed at the Jamaica Center subway station in April while working as a subway card swiper. Daniel Enriquez, 48, was riding on the Q train that was heading over the Manhattan Bridge, when a gunman opened fire without warning on May 22. The Goldman Sachs employee never took the subway, his partner Adam Pollack told DailyMail.com at the time. But an Uber to and from Williamsburg would have cost him $80. Andrew Abdullah, 25, was arrested in that attack. Another subway bawl located at the 137 street - City College train station - on June 9 left a 14-year-old dead from a stab wound to his stomach. Police recovered a knife and broomstick thought to have been involved in the crime. Michelle Alyssa Go, 49, was killed on January 15 when she was shoved onto the subway tracks on the southbound N/Q/R/W platform at West 42nd Street and Broadway at around 9.40am in a senseless, unprovoked attack. Simon Martial, 61, was arrested and charged with Go's death a day later. He was sent to a psychiatric facility after prosecutors declined to challenge a mental evaluation that found him unfit to stand trial. On New Year's Day, Roland Huston was killed after jumping onto the tracks to rescue a man who'd been attacked by a group of knife-wielding thugs. Two boys, 16 and 17, were arrested for murder and gang assault weeks later. Marcus Bethea, 24, was shot and killed at the Jamaica Center subway station in April while working as a subway card swiper Daniel Enriquez, 48, was riding on the Q train that was heading over the Manhattan Bridge, when a gunman opened fire without warning on May 22 Michelle Alyssa Go, 49, was killed on January 15 when she was shoved onto the subway tracks on the southbound by Simon Martial On New Year's Day, Roland Huston was killed after jumping onto the tracks to rescue a man who'd been attacked by a group of teenagers German Sabio, 26, was shoved by Ramirez into the path of a northbound 6 train at the East 149th Street Station on Saturday morning Unprovoked attacks in general are also rising on the subway system. On Wednesday, Miguel Ramirez was frogmarched out a police station and into a police car Monday, two days after stalking and shoving German Sabio, 26, into the path of a northbound 6 train at the East 149th Street Station on Saturday morning. The terrifying clip of the attack shows the suspect - who cops say is Ramirez - appear wild-eyed and unhinged moments before the shove took place. Charges are pending against Ramirez while Sabio, who was rescued by good Samaritans, suffered leg injuries. 'Wow, all I can say to be honest is to give thanks to God, so that way this guy cannot do it again to somebody else,' Sabio told NBC. 'I have to take the train when I go to work and I still remember it in my memory, that feeling, that sensation. So, knowing this guy got arrested, I feel a little more easy.' Miguel Ramirez (left), 35, was arrested for an unprovoked subway attack in the Bronx The thug in the camouflage pants watched his victim (above in blue) and lunged at him before pushing him onto the tracks Despite the mounting number of crime victims, NYC Mayor Eric Adams said on Monday that there is only a 'perception' that crime in the Big Apple is out of control. 'That's the combination I must deal with, that perception and the actual crime. But we can't get away with the fact that we have 3.5 million people using our subway system,' he said. Adams said there are an average of six crimes per day on the subways and insisted the crime rate was fine. The mayor admitted there are 'too many guns' on the streets of New York but said police have done a great job at confiscating thousands of firearms. 'We have to be honest about that and those average of six crimes a day is not giving the impression that it is out of control,' Adams said. District Attorney Alvin Bragg previously pledged to crackdown on subway crime with the introduction of a designated, train task force. However, the impacts of those are unclear. Recent data shows subway murders have risen to their highest in 25 years, despite plummeting ridership. Between 1997 and 2020, there were never more than five murders a year on New York City subway trains. That number rose to six in 2020, eight in 2021 and it's already at eight with two-and-half months left of the year. Felony crime on the subway is up by 42 percent, but ridership has almost halved. Murders in the city are down by 14.8 percent with 341 reported in 2022 to date in comparison to 400 last year. Overall crime in the city is up 31.1 percent with felony assaults and robbery rates remaining high. Upon his election, Adams vowed to crackdown on subway crime with the introduction of a designated train task force. The group has not yet made a dent in the worsening crime issue. In January, Adams also introduced his 'subway safety plan,' which put more than 1,000 extra cops per day in the city's subways. After 10-and-a-half months of the initiative, crime in the city's underground transportation tunnels remains upwards of 40% higher than the same period in 2021. A Ukrainian Air Force Su-27 with AGM-88 rockets (anti-radiation) was used to conduct attacks. Still, the Russian aerial defense battery unit engaged them and drew blood on the Kyiv side. The anti-missile defense engaged the American-supplied homing missile, blunting the attack and shooting down the marauding enemy jets. Ukraine Air Force Su-27 UAF The Flankers are Ukraine's best fighter units against modernized versions of the Su-35 Flanker. These museum pieces were from 1991 when it was top tier, but age and obsolete avionics have sealed their fate if it meets enhanced 4.5 generation fighters, reported Military Watch Magazine. Though for dogfights, it can stand a chance new radar and missile technology are present on the old airframe. Modern air combat has rendered the outcome of dogfights with modern Russian fighters unpredictable. More shots are down despite media claims. It cannot cope with the Russian aerial defense battery when matched against the heavyweight Su-35 with modern avionics and better targeting sensors for weapons. For these planes to use the older airframe more effectively, they are armed with HARM anti-radiation missiles to attack radar and ground targets. Capable of hauling loads over long distances as missile trucks. The aircraft is still potentially viable for ground attack missions with AGM-88 rockets, but their high endurance allows them to carry vast amounts of ordinance over long ranges. The ability of Ukraine to sustain the fleet's proper operation is openly challenged because the Su-27 Flankers, a heavyweight fighter, does have significantly higher maintenance needs than its lighter counterpart, the MiG-29, and is not as well-suited to operating from short or makeshift runways. Read Also: Vladimir Putin: 3 Facts You Didn't Know About Russia's President - From His Judo Records to His KGB Pseudonym Russian Anti-Air Missile Defense A recent strike of Su-27 units invading Russian territory after an attempt to terrorize Russian civilians close to Ukraine's borders This UAF plane was going at a low altitude to avoid gun and missile defenses but was surprised when an S-300V4 system detected and tracked it. It ended with the UAF plane being knocked out of the sky. Another UAF unit, a Su-24MR strike fighter, was shot down with the Flanker at 217 kilometers. It is the longest missile shot from any air defense battery recorded. The S-300 has two long-range missiles with a 200-kilometer range, like the 48N6DM with a 250km engagement range or the farther-ranged 40N6 with a 400km engagement range. Furthermore, they travel at Mach 10 or hypersonic speeds and can defend against non-existent superfast missiles that the West claims to have developed. The Russian feat was impressive compared to the Belarus S-400 that killed another Su-27 that was destroyed in Kyiv last March. But it shows a lack of efforts on the Russian side to stamp out the UAF effectively. Russian aerospace forces have destroyed many UAF jets. The Ukrainian Su-27 Flankers equipped with AGM-88 rocket are short-handed after the Russian aerial defense battery S-300 lobbed a missile at 217 kilometers; the older plane is doomed in a modern battlefield. Related Article: J-20 Mighty Dragon with GJ-11 Stealth Drone Captured in First Images as Future Force @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A devout Christian urged her friend to sell her dilapidated home for 4 million and enjoy the money - before being allegedly killed and decapitated by her, a court has been told. Mee Kuen Chong, 67, who was known as Deborah, was allegedly beaten to death by Jemma Mitchell, 38, after changing her mind about bankrolling her 200,000 renovation project. Ms Chong has been described as 'vulnerable' during proceedings and had schizophrenia, but believed Mitchell, of Brondesbury Park, Willesden, was 'healing' her. But a statement from Mitchell's mother read in court today said her daughter decided to 'not talk to [Ms Chong] anymore' after she pulled out of giving her friend the 200,000. Prosecutors say Ms Chong was killed at her home in Wembley, north-west London, with her headless body dumped in woods near Salcombe in Devon last June. Police later recovered a forged will leaving the bulk of Ms Chong's estate to Mitchell, who she met through church, jurors at the Old Bailey previously heard. On Thursday, a statement from Mitchell's mother, with whom the defendant lived in Willesden, north-west London, was read to the court. The prosecution claim Jemma Mitchell (left), 38, murdered her vulnerable friend, Mee Kuen Chong (right), to get money to pay for house repairs It is alleged that Mitchell was caught on CCTV footage dragging a large blue suitcase from the 67-year-old victim's house in Wembley, north-west London, before getting a cab home to nearby Willesden on June 11 last year In it, retired Foreign Office worker Hilary Collard said: 'Deborah is a bit mental because of the things she says. 'She is crazy but she thinks she is going to get married to Prince Charles and she is all the time setting up table settings for Prince Charles and to have dinner parties. 'She had fake invitations and she invited people because she said she is going to get married to Prince Charles. Deborah is absolutely crackers. 'I believe after I met Deborah, Jemma told me she was crackers.' Ms Collard went on to say Ms Chong had 'changed her mind' about putting 200,000 into her daughter's property project. She said: 'Deborah wanted to put some money into the house for her but decided against it so Jemma was just not talking to her any more.' Mitchell needed at least 400,000 after a project to add an extra storey to her home in Willesden, northwest London ended in disaster, the court heard. She had been 'pressurising' vulnerable Ms Chong to give her the money by doing a deal on her home, the Old Bailey heard. When Ms Chong refused, Mitchell killed her, it is claimed. Ms Chong's head was found ten metres away from her body and had been 'cleanly cut' from the rest of the body. Ms Collard said: 'Jemma told me that Deborah phoned her and just changed her mind. 'Deborah said that she was not going to give her the money after all and Jemma just accepted what she said.' She added: 'But I don't think there was any pressure put on her. 'She phoned up Jemma and said: 'I can't give it to you anymore.' 'Jemma seemed all right after she received the call.' A stream of earlier messages between Mitchell and Ms Chong were also read to the court on Thursday, discussing the building project and making repeated reference to former prime minister Boris Johnson and the then-Prince of Wales. Mitchell told Ms Chong: 'I have a passion for healing, homeless people and the elderly.' Asked what she studied at university, she said: 'Osteopathy. Jesus heals.' Ms Chong was found dead in woodland off Bennett Road in Salcombe, by holiday makers on June 27 last year - one day after Mitchell is said to have travelled to Devon In another message, the defendant told her: 'You are the only one that wants to help me to the bits that matter, practical stuff that shows love....You are truly of God.' Later, Ms Chong told Mitchell there was too much stuff in her house, saying: 'Stop being hoarder.' She told her: 'There is already enough work to be done in the house which you don't have money for. It's not logical. 'You have to rid of stuff and live simple life clear all things untouched unused.' Mitchell went on to tell Ms Chong of her plan for a 'church room with nature tweeting'. By last April, Ms Chong was urging Mitchell to sell up and enjoy the proceeds, saying the house was worth 4 million. She told Mitchell: 'Sell it enjoy the money life is too short. Enjoy the moment.' In another message, she said: 'More construction will cost more money you don't have.' She also spoke about getting the roof fixed and heating restored at least. In a later message, Mitchell told her: 'You are beautiful inside and out.' But on June 8 last year, Ms Chong told Mitchell: 'Until you sold house I won't want you to come to me or my house. I'm stressed to the core.' Mitchell told her God had a plan, to which Ms Chong replied: 'Live one day at a time, you will die before dreams and visions start to establish.' The prosecution say Ms Chong was murdered on June 11 last year, although the defendant was said to have messaged her the day after. Jurors have seen CCTV footage of Mitchell going to the area of Ms Chong's address with a large blue suitcase and leaving hours later on June 11. Giving evidence in court, a radiologist told jurors on Wednesday that Ms Chong's body would have fitted inside the suitcase Mitchell was seen dragging away from the victim's home. Dr Curtis Offiah, who examined a CT scan of Ms Chong's skull, identified the epicentre of fracture damage in the right frontal region. He said it was quite a complex fracture, with a number of areas of depression inwards and linear fractures. On when the injury had happened, he said: 'Based on the imaging I reviewed and my experience, this looked like a peri-mortem fracture, by which I mean the fracture occurring around the time of death. 'It was not possible to be more precise than that because of the amount of decomposition that had been sustained by the head.' 'That is typical of a blunt traumatic impact to the skull. The right frontal region of the head had blunt force impact.' The witness said the injury could have been caused by the head hitting a hard surface or being struck with a hard object. He added: 'The fracture is very consistent with an object which has a smooth presenting surface.' The radiology expert looked at the dimensions of the large blue suitcase and concluded that Ms Chong, who was 5ft 2in and slim, would have fitted inside. The court was told Mitchell drove a hire car more than 250 miles to Devon on June 26, where Ms Chong's headless body was found by holidaymakers the next day. Jurors have been told Ms Chong suffered from schizophrenia and had been prescribed medication. Mitchell, who practised as an osteopath in Australia, has denied murder. The trial continues. The mother of murdered teenager Brittanee Drexel has blasted her killer during an emotional sentencing hearing. Dawn Pleckan said she hopes sex offender Raymond Moody is 'haunted' by what he did to her when she disappeared from Myrtle Beach 13 years ago. She told him he will 'carry the scars of what my daughter did to you' after the courtroom heard she 'scratched the hell' out of his head. Moody, 62, will spend the rest of his life in prison for the kidnapping, rape, and murder of New York teen Brittanee. He stood with the help of a crutch before the judge and Drexel's family in the Georgetown County courtroom - where he pleaded guilty to his crimes and called himself 'a monster.' The body of Brittanee Drexel, 17, was found in May of this year, nearly 13 years after she disappeared while on spring break in South Carolina's Myrtle Beach in April 2009 Raymond Moody, 62, stood before the judge and Drexel's family in the Georgetown County courtroom Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to his crimes and called himself 'a monster' Drexel's mother, Dawn Pleckan, spoke directly to Moody: 'You will forever carry the scars of what my daughter did to you, and I hope you are haunted by what you did to her' Drexel's mother Dawn Pleckan told him: 'I am so glad my daughter was feisty, she fought back. She fought for her life. 'We know now she scratched the hell out of your head, face and neck. You will forever carry the scars of what my daughter did to you, and I hope you are haunted by what you did to her.' Drexel's brother, Camden, said he is going to film school in honor of his sister who was murdered. 'I want to live for her,' he said. Moody earlier said: 'I was a monster, and I took Brittanee Drexel's life. I don't have the words to express how horrible I feel and have felt since that day.' It is the first time Moody has appeared in court since his arrest in early May, which led to his admission of Drexel's murder. A week later, he led investigators to Drexel's remains, nearly 13 years after she was last seen. Investigators said that in 2009, Moody kidnapped Drexel in Myrtle Beach and took her to his house in Georgetown County, where he sexually assaulted her, killed her, and then buried her body hours later. In 2012, Moody was considered to be a person of interest in her case, but he was never charged and the case grew quiet. A break in the case came in May 2022 when he was arrested on an obstruction of justice charge. According to police, that's when he admitted to raping and killing Drexel on April 25, 2009. A week later, Moody led authorities to Drexel's body that was buried on the property of his Georgetown home. Her remains were positively identified using dental records and DNA. It was later determined by a coroner that Drexel died from strangulation. Drexel was just 17 years old when she was last seen April 2009 walking between hotels in Myrtle Beach. Her boyfriend, who stayed home in Rochester, New York, became concerned when she stopped answering texts. It's believed Moody killer her that night Wednesday was the first time Moody had appeared in court since his arrest in early May, which led to his admission of Drexel's murder and the discovery of her remains After Moody pleaded guilty in court on Wednesday, Judge Ferrell Cothran Jr. sentenced him to consecutive terms of 30 years on the charges of kidnapping and criminal sexual conduct, and a life sentence on the murder charge. The judge then told Moody 'that act that you did was horrific,' adding that he 'gave up a lot of people's long term happiness for your immediate pleasure.' For 13 years, Drexel's parents, Dawn Pleckan and Chad Drexel, searched for her. On Wednesday, they were emotional as they spoke directly to her killer. '13 years later, I found out the horrible, disgusting, senseless way she was murdered,' Chad Drexel, Brittanee's adoptive father, said. 'Every part of my being wants to say and do something about that. But my heart knows that I will not, and Brittanee would not want me, to go to jail over that.' Chad Drexel, Brittanee's adoptive father, said: '13 years later, I found out the horrible, disgusting, senseless way she was murdered,' adding that he wants to do something about that but that he knows Brittanee would not want him to go to jail A memorial tree honoring Drexel was planted in Grand Park near Myrtle Beach in 2012 Drexel was just 17 years old when she was last seen in April 2009 walking between hotels in Myrtle Beach. Her boyfriend, who stayed home in Rochester, New York, became concerned when she stopped answering texts. The teen had traveled to Myrtle Beach from Rochester with some friends without telling her parents. She was last seen on April 25, 2009 with security video footage capturing her leaving the Blue Water Resort in Myrtle Beach hotel. Officials say the teen was kidnapped that night by Raymond Douglas Moody, who raped and killed her before burying her body the next day in the woods. Drexel's body was found in May 2022 in Georgetown County, about 35 miles down the coast from where she disappeared. The discovery came after a flurry of tips and investigation that included Moody's arrest May 4 on an obstruction of justice charge. Moody, 62, who has an 'extensive sex offender history' was charged and arrested in the case. He is also on the South Carolina's sex offender registry for 1983 convictions in California for sodomy by force of someone under 14 and kidnapping, according to State Law Enforcement Division Records. Drexel was last seen leaving Blue Water Resort in Myrtle Beach hotel in April 2009 Over the past 13 years, rumors about Drexel's disappearance have made national headlines and multiple searches were conducted throughout South Carolina in hopes of finding the teen. She is pictured above Over the past 13 years, rumors about Drexel's disappearance have made national headlines and multiple searches were conducted throughout South Carolina in hopes of finding the teen. In August 2016, an FBI agent gave the first detailed account of what authorities believe happened to her, based on an account from an imprisoned man who said he saw Drexel's horrific last moments and made a jailhouse confession, according to the Post and Courier. Taquan Brown of Walterboro, told agents in 2016 that he entered a 'stash house' in the days after Drexel's abduction and saw a 16-year-old boy criminal 'sexually abusing' her. Brown said he then went outside to give the boy's father some money and saw Drexel run from the house, but she was caught and 'pistol-whipped.' The inmate said she was then dragged back into the house, and Brown said he heard two gun shots and later saw the girl's body wrapped up and taken away. Police had previously said they believed that the high school student was held for at least three days against her will near McClellanville, as that is where they traced signals from her cell phone after her disappearance. Munoz, at the time, also said several witnesses claimed the teen's body had been thrown in an 'alligator pit' and 'eaten by the gators.' Police charged her because Obumseli was unarmed at the time Obumseli's family say she was the aggressor and meant to kill him He said: 'I can't feel my arm' , which prompted more cries from Clenney The audio reveals she pleaded with EMTs to 'hurry' as Obumseli groaned She claimed self-defense and a day earlier had phoned police for help On April 3, she stabbed her boyfriend Christian Obumseli in the shoulder Courtney Clenney is in custody on charges of second degree murder Newly-released audio of the 911 call OnlyFans model Courtney Clenney made after stabbing her boyfriend to death reveals how she sobbed 'baby, I'm so sorry' after plunging a knife into his shoulder. Clenney called police after stabbing Christian Obumseli on April 3, 2022. It was the sad end of the young couple's tumultuous relationship - just one day earlier, she had called police claiming he was trying to attack her. The audio reveals how she begged paramedics to hurry to the apartment in Miami. 'Please, my boyfriend is dying of a stab wound,' she pleaded down the phone. Courtney Clenney stabbed her boyfriend Christian Obumseli on April 3. He was rushed to the hospital but later died of his wounds. She is now being held on charges of second degree murder Clenney called police a day before the fatal stabbing, begging them for help and telling them Obumseli was 'stalking' her. She is shown above in bodycam footage from that response Clenney is shown on April 3rd after allegedly stabbing Obumseli on the balcony of their home. She is covered in blood as her dog looks at her She didn't tell the operator that she had stabbed him, but sobbed to him about how sorry she was. Seen her in a mugshot from her arrest, Clenney faces second-degree murder charges for fatally stabbing Obumseli, 27, in the chest while the two argued on April 3 In the background, Obumseli can be heard crying out: 'I can't feel my arm.' Clenney is now in custody on charges of second degree murder. She insists it was self-defense and that Obumseli regularly beat her. Her attorney says the audio proves how distraught she was after stabbing him, and how determined she was to keep him alive. 'This is not someone that stabbed somebody and didnt care. 'Obviously, you can hear from her emotions shes asking for somebody to come quickly to help,' her lawyer told The Miami Herald. Obumseli's family hear something different. They say it shows that she intended to kill him, then regretted it once the knife had been plunged into him. Courtney, shown in court recently, is being held on second degree murder charges he horrific footage shows Courtney Clenney, 26, launch a blistering attack on Christian Obumseli, 27, two months before she killed him in Miami Obumseli was rushed to the hospital but he died of his injuries. His family is convinced that Courtney was always the aggressor in their romance, and that she became a 'different person' when she drank 'It shows her state of mind. Shes saying shes sorry because shes realizing what shes done. Shes not saying, "I was defending myself,"' his family's attorney, Larry Hadfield said. Police were called to the apartment complex on April 1. Clenney told them that Obumseli had been 'stalking' her. Bodycam footage of their interaction shows building security guards corroborating her story, and describing how Obumseli 'came towards her'. Obumseli was rushed to the hospital but he died of his injuries. His family is convinced that Courtney was always the aggressor in their romance, and that she became a 'different person' when she drank. Clenney was arrested in Hawaii earlier this year. She is currently being held in custody pending the start of her trial. An 83-year-old US Army veteran died while riding the PeopleMover at Disney World in Orlando. Joseph Masters, who served in the Army National Guard at Camp Smith Military Base for 23 years, died on September 25 after riding the slow-moving train that runs through Tomorrowland. Masters' wife of 49 years, Alice, told police that Joseph went unconscious while they were on the ride. According to the sheriff's report, she then 'began to panic.' 'She began asking for help and attempted to contact family members who were at the Park. As the ride came to its end, Disney staff and security responded to the scene where CPR was initiated.' Masters was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead at about 5:04 p.m., following a half-hour of doctors attempting to keep him alive, according to Florida Politics. Joseph Masters, who served in the Army National Guard at Camp Smith Military Base for 23 years, died on September 25 after riding the slow-moving train that runs through Tomorrowland The US Army veteran died while riding the PeopleMover at Disney World in Orlando Masters' wife of 49 years, Alice, told police that Joseph went unconscious while they were on the ride His death was ruled natural, according to the sheriff's office, saying, 'It was later learned Joseph had a pacemaker implanted and was diagnosed with an extensive list of medical conditions to include diabetes and hypertension.' A doctor added that Masters 'had a large blockage of an artery, near the right side of his heart.' According to Disney blog Inside the Magic, this is the latest in a series of troubling incidents at the various parks. An 83-year-old man went 'briefly unresponsive' on the Avatar Flight of Passage at Disney's Animal Kingdom in July, while that same month, a 47-year-old passed out on a space ride at Epcot. In September, the Alien Swirling Saucers at Toy Story Land gave a 59-year-old woman an 'injury to toes.' Also in September, A 27-year-old pregnant woman went into labor after riding Tomorrowland Speedway. And tragically, a 14-year-old plunged to their death from the Orlando Free-Fall ride at ICON Park, just six miles from Disney World. The Palm Coast Volunteer Fire Rescue honors Joseph Masters at his funeral On Facebook, they wrote: 'This morning we joined our department in saying goodbye to Captain Joe Masters' 'We are forever grateful for his six decades of service to the fire service, and twenty years here in Palm Coast. Joe was one of a kind, he was a kind-hearted soul through and through. He will be forever missed,' they added Friends, family and fellow fire rescue members attend the funeral of Joseph Masters Masters, a devout Catholic who spent much of his free time at church, was given a religious funeral The local fire department hangs the American flag over the church that held Masters' funeral Most tragic of all, a 14-year-old plunged to their death from the Orlando Free-Fall ride at ICON Park, just six miles from Disney World. Masters, born in New Jersey enjoyed visiting Disney World often and spending time with his family, according to his obituary. He moved from New York to Florida in 2001, where he spent the rest of his life devoting his life to work as a stage lighting foreman, the church, volunteer fire rescue and involved in a motorcycle club. The Palm Coast Volunteer Fire Rescue wrote of his funeral: 'This morning we joined our department in saying goodbye to Captain Joe Masters. We are forever grateful for his six decades of service to the fire service, and twenty years here in Palm Coast. Joe was one of a kind, he was a kind-hearted soul through and through. He will be forever missed.' He and wife Alice had a son, two daughters and several grandchildren. Republican lawmakers have been criticizing President Joe Biden on Wednesday over his plan to release 15 million oil barrels from the strategic petroleum reserve. The GOP also renewed its calls for Biden to tap further into sources of domestic energy production, as gas prices continue to fluctuate after reaching an all-time high average price per gallon in June. 'It's strategic petroleum reserve, not the political petroleum reserve,' House Foreign Affairs committee ranking member Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas told Fox News host Harris Faulkner. '[Biden] is playing politics with this national security asset that we have, that's really developed- really for a time of war, that we need the energy.' Gas prices have been falling for roughly a week after rising steadily through part of September and October, but that could soon be upended after OPEC+'s decision to cut production of 2 million oil barrels per day takes effect. The Biden administration faced an unexpected political and economic setback earlier this month when OPEC and its partners like Russia announced the dramatic reduction. It's expected to raise gas prices just weeks before the critical midterm elections, at a time when Americans have already for months experienced the squeeze of higher living costs. House Foreign Affairs committee ranking member Rep. Michael McCaul accused President Biden of 'playing politics' with 'national security' in a Fox News interview McCaul on Wednesday slammed the administration for stopping fossil fuel projects like the Keystone XL pipeline and accused Biden of 'begging the Saudis to produce more oil' over his focus on accelerating the shift to renewable energy. 'He's canceled all the options and now it has to be green energy - you know, you can't do that overnight,' he said. If in operation the Keystone XL pipeline would have run from Canada through multiple states including North Dakota, whose GOP Senator Kevin Cramer also ripped Biden's plan to release oil reserves on Tuesday. 'It will backfire,' Cramer told Fox Business, adding that it would 'have a minimal effect on the price of gasoline.' 'Weve made ourselves dependent again. Its so absurd. Its so wrong economically,' Cramer continued. 'From a national security [and] a geopolitical common sense standpoint, we should be using our resources to influence the world rather than being influenced by the world.' Biden unveiled his plan to release 15 million oil barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve at the White House on Wednesday Like McCaul he also accused Biden of political motivations, declaring that it was 'very transparent that [the president] doing this on the eve of an election in a year that is going very poorly for Democrats.' Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee's ranking member, had a similar sentiment. 'The Strategic Petroleum Reserve was built for a national energy crisis not for a Democrat election crisis,' he said. 'Joe Biden is draining our emergency oil supply to a 40 year low. His dismal approval rating is not a justifiable reason to continue to raid our nations oil reserves.' Barrasso called on Biden to instead 'unleash American energy production.' The White House, meanwhile, has maintained that high gas costs were the result of out-of-control price gouging by big oil companies - many of which are sitting on a collective 9,000 unused drilling permits. Senators Roger Marshall (left) and John Barrasso (right) also criticized the move on Wednesday But Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas said Wednesday that it was Biden's policies that reduced the supply of gas and raised prices at the pump in the first place. 'We all know the decreased supply of gasoline is on the back of Joe Bidens policies. It is shameful that because of these policies, the President is having to dip into our emergency reserve yet again,' Marshall said. 'Desperate to cover up the senseless yet all too predictable pain caused by his promises to "end fossil fuels" he first turned to foreign governments, then to our emergency stockpiles, while completely ignoring the abundant resources we have at our disposal right here in the United States.' While unveiling his plan at the White House, Biden noted that gas prices had fallen 30 percent since their $5 per gallon peak but conceded they are 'not falling fast enough.' 'With my announcement today, we're going to continue to stabilize markets and decrease the prices at a time when the actions of other countries have caused such volatility,' the president promised. By Elly Blake for MailOnline Mothers have given harrowing accounts of being made to feel to blame for what happened to their babies, told their deaths were 'God's will' and were left in soiled bedding in a damning report into infant deaths at two scandal-hit maternity wards at East Kent Hospitals Trust. The report, published today into one of the UK's biggest maternity scandals has found 45 babies who died at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM) at Margate and the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford could have survived if they received better care. Families were 'disregarded, belittled and blamed', while there were instances where doctors and midwives tried to abdicate responsibility or shift blame onto others when things went wrong, the report led by Dr Bill Kirkup found. One mother described being taken into a 'tiny little box room' and being told by medical staff: 'As long as you know, it is not our fault. It is no-one's fault. It is just one of those things'. Another told how she was asked by a member of staff: 'Is there anything you think you could have done better?' The woman said those words 'stuck with me for months and months afterwards, I felt so guilty.' Families also spoke of their pain for not being given answers or reasons for why things went wrong. One bereaved mother told the panel: 'My opinion will always be that [my baby] died because somebody didnt do their job properly; and thats fine if you work in Sainsburys but when it comes to a familys life. 'It has affected me, my husband, our son. Its devastating and it cant be undone, its what we just have to live with.' During one heart-breaking testimony, another bereaved mother told the panel: 'Although it was seven years ago for us, it is still burning in our hearts because we havent had answers.' In one particularly cruel instance, a woman was denied access to a bereavement counsellor because she was not having a funeral for her baby. 'We asked to see the bereavement counsellor, and she refused to see us because we werent having a funeral, she was like, well, theres nothing I can do for you,' the bereaved mother said. Another mother whose baby died was told it was 'God's will; God only takes the babies that he wants to take' by a midwife. Danielle Clark, mother to Noah described the difficult labour and birth she went through at QEQM, saying: 'I had a son in 2013, I was induced but the reason I was induced was never communicated. 'The induction then took three days, I should have been offered an emergency C-section, but instead they gave me too much induction gel, over the Nice (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidelines. 'They should have only given me three doses and then reviewed the situation, but they carried on and gave me two more. 'I had a very traumatic delivery, they'd left it so long that they couldn't reverse to a C-section because if they were to do that it could have been fatal to my son or he could have had brain damage. 'Noah got very distressed, he ended up needed resuscitation and spent nine days in the special care baby unit. 'At eight weeks old he had to have emergency surgery because things had been missed, he wasn't gaining weight, he was dying in front of our eyes basically.' Danielle Clark, 31, said a series of failings led to her son Noah being sent to the Evelina London children's hospital for life-saving surgery The review was triggered by the death of newborn Harry Richford in November 2017, with one midwife describing 'panic' during attempts to resuscitate him. The trust recorded his death as 'expected' and did not inform the coroner, but an inquest revealed he had died due to seven gross failings that amounted to neglect Helen Gittos lost her baby daughter Harriet at The Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in 2014 Last October Mrs Clark gave birth to her third son - and was disappointed to experience further issues with her care at QEQM Hospital. She explained: 'I developed diabetes, I had multiple hospital admissions, I was told I needed to have my blood sugars monitored due to the risk of stillbirth but this was never done. 'I will never, ever forget the day a senior midwife sat at my bedside and told me she was a midwife, not a nurse, and the diabetes was basically my issue. They treated me as if diabetes was as bad as having a sexually transmitted infection, it was horrific.' She added: 'People need to be held accountable. Things have got to change, babies are dying just through bad care and pure neglect. 'Midwives at the moment are short staffed but it's almost like they're treating every patient as textbook material, but anybody who has any sense knows no patient is textbook. 'I wouldn't say I've got closure because having experienced neglect again eight years later with the birth of my third son last year, it's very infuriating to think things still haven't changed.' The report was triggered by the death of newborn Harry Richford in November 2017, with one midwife describing 'panic' during attempts to resuscitate him while a staff nurse said the scene was 'chaotic'. The family of baby Harry Richford, who died a week after his birth at the QEQM in 2017, have long campaigned for answers after saying their concerns were repeatedly brushed aside by hospital managers. The trust was fined 733,000 last year for failures in Harry's care after he suffered brain damage. A previous inquest ruled his death was 'wholly avoidable' and found more than a dozen areas of concern, including failings in the way an 'inexperienced' doctor carried out the delivery, followed by delays in resuscitating him. Following Harry's death, the East Kent Trust recorded his death as 'expected' and did not inform the coroner. Only the efforts of Harry's family eventually brought his death to the attention of coroner Christopher Sutton-Mattocks. Another bereaved mother Helen Gittos, who lost her newborn daughter Harriet at the QEQM in Margate in 2014, told how her daughter 'lived for a week but never opened her eyes'. Ms Gittos has told how she felt 'blamed' for the death of her baby, and was horrified to learn that maternity staff had written in her notes she and her partner had refused medical care when they had not. Harriet was delivered via emergency C-section after her heartbeat could be heard dipping on the monitor. She was born 'very very poorly' but Ms Gittos said: 'She lived for about a week and she looked so well but she never opened her eyes and she never cried.' Harriet died eight days after being born, having suffered a brain injury during her birth. Ms Gittos told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that she felt the hospital's reaction during her labour had not been 'swift enough or decisive enough'. Recounting the experience, Ms Gittos said: 'At the time to us it felt as though the reaction to that was not swift enough, or decisive enough. 'I was forced to listen to a list of risks about having a Caesarean section and forced to sign a consent form when we had already consented to having a C-section were it to be needed. 'It just felt terrifying that nothing was happening fast enough and that there was this miscommunication going on.' She also explained that there was a doctor 'shouting' in her face that she would harm her baby if she did not sign the form, but was physically unable to. Ms Gittos said that amongst the 'very worst moments' of the ordeal was being told that maternity staff had written in her notes that she and her partner Andy had refused medical care when they had not. 'It became clear that when in labour we had asked questions, 'Is this the right thing to do? Should we do this now?' that kind of thing, they were all treated as being non-compliance,' Ms Gittos continued. 'That they were treated as being refusals of medical care when we never refused anything at all, so hearing this doctor tell me this is amongst the very worst moments of it all.' Prosecutors at the Department of Justice believe they have enough evidence to charge former President Trump with obstruction of justice, but the path to indictment is still murky, according to a report. People familiar with the matter told Bloomberg they believe 'there is sufficient evidence' but the DOJ group 'has not made a formal recommendation' to Attorney General Merrick Garland, who has ultimate approval. 'The path to an actual indictment is far from clear,' the report said. It's unlikely the prosecutors would bring obstruction charges on their own amid investigations into several other possible Trump crimes. The warrant FBI agents used to raid Mar-a-Lago shows Trump was being investigation for obstruction of justice, removal or destruction of records and violations of the Espionage Act. Prosecutors at DOJ believe they have enough evidence to charge former President Trump with obstruction of justice, but the path to indictment is still murky, according to a report No charges are likely to be revealed, or publicly filed, before the Nov. 8 midterm elections, or even before the Christmas holiday break, the people said. 'Of all the things Trump is being investigated for around the country, obstruction of justice is a slam dunk and I think he's going to be indicted,' Frank Figliuzzi, former FBI assistant director for counterintelligence, told Bloomberg. 'I don't see why a charge of obstruction of justice couldn't be filed by the end of the year.' The potential indictment of a former president would be unprecedented and would be sure to set off a political firestorm at a time of already-deep divisions throughout the nation. Efforts to claw back government records have been underway since 2021. In January Trump returned 15 boxes of documents to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA.) Then in August, agents executed a court-approved search warrant and came away with 11,000 documents, over 100 of which had classified markings. The FBI has clawed back tens of thousands of documents Trump took with him on leaving the White House in January 2021 White House staff members carry boxes to Marine One before President Donald Trump leaves the White House, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Washington US Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar in an Oct. 11 brief opposing Trump's efforts to have the Supreme Court step in said the FBI found evidence that efforts had likely been undertaken to obstruct the investigation. Last week the New York Times reported a longtime Trump aide had been caught on camera moving boxes filled with documents from a storage room at Mar-a-Lago. A Trump spokesperson said the Biden administration had 'weaponized law enforcement' and claimed Trump had broad discretion over the documents. Presidential records are required to be turned over to NARA at the end of an administration. 'Every other President has been given time and deference regarding the administration of documents, as the President has the ultimate authority to categorize records, and what materials should be classified,' Trump spokesperson Taylor Budowich told the Washington Post. Budowich accused the Justice Department of leaking 'misleading and false information' to the media. The two Just Stop Oil protestors who shut down Dartford Bridge for more than a day have been charged by police. Marcus Decker, 33, of no fixed address, and Morgan Trowland, 39, of Drummond Way, Islington, have been charged with conspiracy to commit a public nuisance after suspending themselves from the bridge and stopping traffic for two days. The pair of eco-zealots, who put themselves 275ft above one of the busiest roads in the country on Monday morning, were brought down afternoon after a 'super cherry picker' arrived to pluck them from the girders. They have been remanded in custody and will appear at Southend Mgistrates' Court on Thursday October 20. Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow said: 'Our priorities have always been to keep people safe and work with our partners to keep Essex moving. 'We have done this consistently during incidents of disruption across the county this year and again this week. 'As we have consistently said, we are not anti-protest but we must take action when we believe laws have been broken and the safety of the public is put at risk.' Marcus Decker (left) and Morgan Trowland (right) have been charged with conspiracy to commit a public nuisance after climbing up the Dartford Bridge on Monday morning The pair were taken down from the structure and arrested yesterday afternoon after a 'super cherry picker' arrived at the scene The two protestors suspended themselves in hammocks and raised a flag across the bridge Musician and teacher Marcus Decker has previously said he is 'privileged' to have a job that gives him flexibility to take part in the protests Trowland took part in a protest in London in May last year, during which he sat in the carriageway and glued his hand to the road on Tower Bridge They came down after agreeing to co-operate with officers and descended as the 'specialised raised platform' arrived on the bridge. They were then arrested, much to the joy of motorists, on suspicion of conspiracy to commit public nuisance and the road over the bridge has now reopened. Both the men responsible for the traffic misery heaped on thousands of motorists in Essex and Kent hail from New Zealand and are veterans of climate and environmental protests in the UK. Decker who lives in London, last year spent more than 50 days living in a 120-year-old tree in a bid to stop it being cut down by the local council in Haringay, north London. The 33-year-old, who works as a musician and teacher, filmed himself singing redemption song before he was arrested yesterday and has previously said he is 'privileged' that his job allows him 'some flexibility' to take part in protests. Meanwhile, Trowland, who describes himself as a civil engineer, has bragged about his contributions to protests held by groups such as Extinction Rebellion (XR). The 39-year-old, who also lives in the capital, said he was 'not willing to sit back and watch everything I love burn for the rest of my life' in a selfie video from on top of the bridge. John Fetterman, the Pennsylvania Democratic nominee for Senate, on Wednesday released a doctor's letter saying that he was recovering well from his stroke but still had some difficulties with 'auditory processing.' His health has become a campaign issue in a bad-tempered tussle with TV doctor Mehmet Oz, who has claimed the stroke left his opponent ill-equipped to serve in the Senate. He upped his attacks on Wednesday, asking whether Fetterman's wife would have to take the seat instead of her husband. At times Fetterman, 53, has stumbled over his words and he has used closed-captioning video equipment to help him respond to interview questions. In a one-page letter, Dr. Clifford Chen said Fetterman continued to recover well after suffering the medical emergency five months ago. 'His speech was normal and he continues to exhibit symptoms of an auditory processing disorder which can come across as hearing difficulty,' he wrote after examining him on Friday. 'Occasional words he will "miss" which seems like he doesnt hear the word but it is actually not processed properly.' John Fetterman on Wednesday released a doctor's letter saying that he was recovering well from his stroke but still had some difficulties with 'auditory processing' In a one-page letter, Dr. Clifford Chen said Fetterman continued to recover well after suffering the medical emergency five months ago. He said he had examined him on Friday He added that Fetterman exhibited no ill effects on his 'cognitive ability.' The letter also said his vita signs were all normal and included a declaration that he was fit to work. 'Overall, Lt. Governor Fetterman is well and shows strong commitment to maintaining good fitness and health practices,' it concluded. 'He has no work restrictions and can work full duty in public office.' For his part, Fetterman said the emergency had encouraged Pennsylvanians to share their own stories of health problems and made him only more determined to help them. And he hit back at his opponent. 'Unfortunately for Dr. Oz, I'm ready to serve and continue to get better every single day,' he said. The bad-tempered race has been marked by frequent exchanges of insults as the two candidates battle for Pennsylvania's open Senate seat. FiveThirtyEight's rolling average of polls suggests the Democrat holds five-point lead over his rival. Oz has turned Fetterman's health into a hammer, repeatedly accusing his opponent of hiding his condition. Pennsylvania GOP Senate nominee Dr. Oz takes takes the moral low ground and questions if John Fettermans (D) wife, Gisele Barreto Fetterman, might be the senator if Fetterman is elected. pic.twitter.com/evPe9sPG2X The Recount (@therecount) October 19, 2022 TV's Dr. Oz has turned Fetterman's health into a campaign issue, questioning whether the Pennsylvania lieutenant governor has the cognitive ability to serve in the Senate 'This is not about me or him. This is about the voters,' he told the Hugh Hewitt show. 'They have a right to know what's going on in his body so they can tell if his wife is right or not. Is she going to be the senator or is he going to be the senator. 'These are topics that he is continually ducking.' He said the issue had taken on a new significance after it emerged that Fetterman used closed captioning to help with an interview. 'The NBC interview that he did last week was awkward for a lot of folks,' said Oz. 'They had not really seen what it was like for him to recover or where his current condition was.' Fetterman addressed the issue himself at a weekend rally. He called it the 'elephant in the room.' 'I had a stroke, you all know that,' he told the crowd on Saturday. 'I gotta give a loco excuse me local shout out to Penn Medicine for saving my life.' He admitted stumbling over his words and, using the same language as his doctor, said he experienced 'auditory processing' issues. The White House defended Fetterman on Monday, saying he had President Joe Biden's full support. 'Speaking only about the president's personal conversation with Lieutenant Governor Fetterman, the president has found him to be an impressive individual, and just as capable ... as always, who is carrying out his office,' said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Biden is due to fly to Philadelphia to raise funds for Fetterman on Thursday. Gary Lineker was today slammed as a 'law unto himself' after he described remarks about Rwanda by Home Secretary Suella Braverman as 'pretty abhorrent'. The Match of the Day presenter's comments come days after the BBC found he had broken impartiality rules with an anti-Tory tweet about 'Russian donors' to the party. Today Tory MP Julian Knight said Lineker 'runs roughshod' over the corporation's guidelines' and insisted the BBC needed to bring him to 'heel'. In a radio interview, recorded before last week's ruling on his Russian donor tweet, former England star Lineker, 61, said he was prepared to 'speak out' on humanitarian issues. His comments relate to remarks the Home Secretary made at a fringe event at the Tory Party conference. She said it was her 'dream' to have one of the flights taking asylum seekers to Rwanda depart before Christmas. Speaking in an interview this week with Radio 5 Live's Nihal Arthanayake, the star discussed his approach to the impartiality rules. He said they were 'only guidelines' and were 'not in my contract'. He added that impartiality was 'completely impossible to define'. Gary Lineker is the BBC's highest paid star, but was recently found to have broken impartiality rules on social media Julian Knight said: 'It really is about time that the BBC, if it is serious about impartiality, brought Gary Lineker to heel' Lineker, who was BBC's highest paid star last year on around 1.35million, told the programme: 'I'm very strong on humanitarian issues, like refugees, asylum seekers... Obviously, we can't have everybody, but we need to try and play our part and I will carry on doing that.' He added: 'You know, Suella Braverman, for example, does the Rwandan [speech], her dream is to see them flying off. 'I think that's pretty abhorrent and I will speak out and say that, but I think that's a humanitarian issue. If the Labour Party were in Government saying the same thing, I would do exactly the same thing.' He stressed: 'Impartiality is actually, when you think about it, it's completely impossible to define.' He said with 'a lot of followers' on social media you could 'put your views on' and 'try and make a difference'. The remarks are particularly embarrassing for the BBC as it was only last Thursday that it had ruled that Lineker had broken its rules on impartiality. Mr Knight, who is chairman of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee, told The Mail+: 'I am astounded that someone who works at the BBC should make such a comment about the Home Secretary and frankly it's yet another example of how he runs roughshod over the impartiality rules at the BBC and is a law unto himself. 'It really is about time that the BBC, if it is serious about impartiality, brought Gary Lineker to heel.' Last week's ruling from the BBC's Executive Complaints Unit said it had upheld a complaint over the Russian donor post as it 'did not meet the BBC's editorial standards on impartiality'. It related to a tweet Lineker had posted in February in response to then-foreign secretary Liz Truss's calls for English teams to boycott the Champions League final in Russia. He wrote: 'And her party will hand back their donations from Russian donors?' The ECU had pointed to the fact the presenter was 'one of the BBC's highest profile stars' and, while he was not involved in journalism, people with his profile had an 'additional responsibility'. The corporation's guidance says of these people: 'We expect these individuals to avoid taking sides on party political issues or political controversies and to take care when addressing public policy matters'. The move had been interpreted as a toughened stance from the BBC towards its star, who has more than 8.5million Twitter followers. UN Peace Medal of Honor represents a high recognition of Chinese peacekeeping operations: FM spokesperson (People's Daily App) 13:48, October 19, 2022 Every UN Peace Medal of Honor represents a high recognition from the international community of the honor and bravery of Chinese peacekeepers and the efficacy of their work, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a regular press briefing in Beijing when asked to share more details about all 700 members of the eighth Chinese peacekeeping infantry battalion with the UN Mission in South Sudan (Juba) and all 86 peacekeepers of the second Chinese peacekeeping helicopter contingent to Abyei were awarded the UN Peace Medal of Honor. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Chinas participation in UN peacekeeping operations (UNPKOs) with its first formed military unit of Blue Helmets. Over the past three decades, China has sent over 50,000 peacekeepers to nearly 30 UNPKOs in more than 20 countries and regions, he said. The eighth Chinese peacekeeping infantry battalion to South Sudan (Juba) and and the second Chinese peacekeeping helicopter contingent to Abyei were deployed to the mission areas in December and November last year respectively. They have completed over 400 tasks and their role has been highly appreciated by the local communities. Wang said. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, praised China for its leading role in UNPKOs and its sense of responsibility as a major country in safeguarding world peace. (Compiled by Wu Meixuan) (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu) Florida Governor Ron DeSantis makes good his threat to make the immigrant crisis hit home by sending them to blue states controlled by Democrats. The Republican state head gave them a great shock by sending Venezuelan nationals to Martha's Vineyard, exposing their true colors. Bringing the Migrant Crisis Closer to Biden As stated by a representative for the Republican governor, after Hurricane Ian ravaged Florida's western coastline as a Category 4 hurricane a few weeks ago, the flying out of illegal aliens will resume, reported the Epoch Times. DeSantis communications director Taryn Fenske stated to the New York Post that while Florida has had everyone on deck responding to our catastrophic hurricane, the immigration relocation program remains active. The immigration relocation program remains in effect, as said by DeSantis communications director Taryn Fenske, who told the New York Post that Florida has been working overtime to rebuild after the horrific hurricane. His representative provided no more indication of the destination or date of the illegal immigrant transit. In September, approximately 50 newly arrived illegal immigrants from Mexico were brought to Martha's Vineyard, a posh and exclusive enclave in Massachusetts. Governor DeSantis mobilized the National Guard, and all those illegal aliens from the immigrant crisis were immediately transferred to a base in Cape Cod. DeSantis Sends Illegal Migrants to Democratic States The governor had earlier noted that it's better to transfer illegal aliens to blue states that ignore immigration enforcement law to accommodate illegal aliens, notwithstanding Florida not being a sanctuary state. Read Also: Vladimir Putin Gets Brutally Honest on Russia Missile Strikes That Killed Ukraine Civilians: 'No Regrets' Democratic leaders reacted angrily to the action, and the Treasury Department later stated in a memo to senators that it was looking into whether Florida had improperly misappropriated funds from the COVID-19 program to pay for the transfer flights to Martha's Vineyard. He refuted allegations that his strategy constituted human smuggling by stating that the Venezuelans all agreed to accept the flights willingly. He claimed that all illegal immigrants who visited Massachusetts island were required to sign a consent form last month. Recently spoke with Sean Hannity on Fox News and said that the Democrats were spewing untrue rhetoric. Additionally, the illegals chose to go there because it was a better location. Furthermore, the Florida governor said the illegals from San Antonio, Texas, were abandoned and homeless before the flight. In the Hannity interview, he also mentioned that Martha's Vineyard offers housing options in addition to jobs. Another is that the Democrats claim to be a sanctuary state that can accept illegal immigrants. I am suggesting that a double standard exists if the illegals are turned away. One anti-illegal immigration committee stated that since President Joe Biden's term in office, approximately 5 million individuals have illegally entered the United States via Mexico. Based on the Federation for American Immigration Reform, since July, there had been 4.9 million illegal immigrants entering the United States when President Biden came into office, along with some 900,000 "gotaways" that eluded detention and subsequently disappeared into American communities. One charge against the Biden administration is that disrupting the border is intentional, not accidental. The White House is acting dishonestly against the American people. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ramps up the immigrant crisis and sends illegals to blue states to expose hypocrisy. Related Article: US Supreme Court Decides in Favor of Republicans Over Mail-In Ballots, Doubts Election Integrity @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Advertisement The daily fear that New York City - and her millions of inhabitants - might disappear in a nuclear mushroom cloud was once of another era. However, that Cold War anxiety is once again stalking the bustling streets of the Big Apple thanks to Vladimir Putin's repeated threatens to use nuclear weapons. It may come as some small comfort - and perhaps surprise - to New Yorkers to know that they are, in fact, never very far from a nuclear fallout shelter. While not all are fully operational, they may still provide some shelter and respite if the city ever suffered an attack. The old and weather-worn yellow and black signs outside buildings and apartment blocks signify that they were once fully stocked fortresses that could serve as protection in the event of a nuclear bomb. New Yorkers can find out here where their nearest nuclear fallout bunker is. A nuclear fallout building spree was triggered by the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. By the following decade, however, money had run out and the majority were converted into basement storage spaces. The shelter program was spearheaded by then-governor Nelson Rockefeller, who in 1960 authorized a state shelter initiative which oversaw the building of tens of thousands of shelters across the city with a projected price tag of $1.5 billion - the equivalent of more than $12 billion today. A map showing where the Fallout Shelters are across the five boroughs in New York City. Signs can still be spotted across the city today President John F. Kennedy even created a nationwide program to create shelters amid the threat of a nuclear attack as the US went toe-to-toe with the USSR during the Cuban missile crisis A Fallout Shelter sign and American flag next to the Manhattan Municipal Building. There are still fallout shelters scattered across New York City from the fraught Cold War era. Not all are fully operational, but may provide shelter and respite if the city was ever attacked with nuclear warfare 80 New York Avenue: Crown Heights resident Nathan Pensler said that the former fallout shelter in his building now holds bikes, non-functioning washing machines and leftover building materials. At least one homeless person hid out there until recently, he said, and left behind a cell phone and two suitcases In 2006, city workers stumbled upon a long-forgotten safe room under Brooklyn Bridge, which was filled with stockpiled supplies hidden away for decades Argyle Road and Newkirk Ave, Brooklyn: The remnants of a fallout shelter can be seen - along with the sign on the brick wall New York boasted tens of thousands nuclear fallout shelters during the Cold War, when tensions with the USSR were at their peak. At the height of the 1950s and 1960s, police in New York would run compulsory air raid drills, where people had to duck into shelters when sirens sounded. President John F. Kennedy even created a nationwide program to create shelters amid the threat of a nuclear attack as the US went toe-to-toe with the USSR. In New York, prolific black and yellow signs reading 'Fallout Shelter' were seen across the city on buildings which the Army Corps of Engineers deemed to have enough protection against radiation. There were roughly 17,448 of these buildings, according to the New York Times, and they were equipped with survival kits if there were to be a nuclear attack. Worth about $2.40 per person at the time, packed-in New Yorkers would have aspirin, toilet paper, and appetite-suppressing candies to survive on. Instead of buying mass bomb shelters in urban areas, the US decided to opt for suburban backyard shelters instead. The governor at the time, Nelson Rockefeller, called for a mandatory state shelter program. At one property on New York Avenue in Crown Heights, there is still a fallout shelter in the basement of a tenant building. According to Gothamist, it's now bused to store bicycles, washing machines, and also is no longer an enclosed concrete room. Resident Nathan Pensler told the website: 'I don't think we would last very long.' Shelters would be at the center of strong concrete buildings, and would have no windows to minimize the damage if a nuclear attack was imminent. The effect of a nuclear blast centered on New York's financial district are illustrated, wiping out the entire southern tip of Manhattan and causing severe damage and burns spanning much of Brooklyn and Jersey Vladimir Putin has repeatedly threatened to strike countries deemed to be interfering with his war in Ukraine, and it is feared he is currently gearing up for the first open-air nuclear test since the 1960s 202 Ave C, Brooklyn New York: Often built in the basements of government buildings or public schools, the shelters were meant to protect from radiation and debris following a nuclear bomb Some of the larger shelters were found at the Lindsay Park cooperative complex in Williamsburg and on the 43rd floor of the Waldorf Astoria. And in 2006, nuclear fallout equipment and supplies were found in the Brooklyn Bridge by workers. In May 2022, Russian state media has issued a chilling new nuclear threat to the US, boasting that Putin could wipe out the entire East and West coast with just four missiles. And an expert has warned that if a nuke were to hit New York City, locals would be devastated as the war in Ukraine continues on. Dr Jeffrey Lewis, a professor at the Middlebury Institute, told MailOnline that by targeting New York's financial district, One World Trade and the western end of the Brooklyn Bridge would be brought to ash. A blast would flatten the entire lower end of Manhattan: Wall Street, the Manhattan Bridge, Chinatown, Little Italy - everything south of 2nd Street - as the effect rolled on. As the blast keeps moving everything south of 30th street would be devastated. The Flatiron Building, Madison Square Park, Union Park, the whole of the Lower East Side and West Village. The blast wave would roll over Brooklyn Heights and Jersey City. The Statue of Liberty would likely fall into New York Harbor. Dr Lewis explained: 'The first thing you'll get is a fireball that will vaporize everything inside of it. That's going to travel just over half a mile from the center of the blast. 'Then you'll have shockwave that is going severely damage even really heavily built concrete buildings out to just over a mile from the blast, with everyone in that radius crushed to death. 'That blast wave will keep rolling - it will drop off severely, but it will keep going - destroying buildings and causing casualties out until about two and a half miles,' Dr Lewis said. Dr Lewis adds: 'Radiation poisoning is just a really cruel, miserable way to die. The immediate effects are vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea - people can rally and seem much better, perhaps for hours or days - but then the symptoms return and get much worse.' In the aftermath, there would be hundreds of thousands - if not millions - of people suffering burns, broken bones, cuts and other injuries while most if not all of the hospitals in the blast zones would have been reduced to rubble and the doctors who keep them running killed. Acute radiation exposure kills because it badly damages both blood vessels and bone marrow, weakening veins and arteries and affecting your body's ability to make white blood cells that fight off disease. Most people who die from radiation poisoning die because they contract an infection that their body can no longer fight - effectively rotting alive - or else their blood vessels burst and they bleed to death internally. The process can take weeks to play out, and recovery - if it comes at all - can take up to two years. But that is hardly the last effect of a nuclear blast. The shockwave does not stop there but actually keeps rolling out to around six miles from the epicenter, shattering windows and causing injuries as it goes. Within that radius, anyone directly exposed to the heat of the blast is also likely to suffer horrifying and potentially lethal burns in a 'gruesome lottery', Dr Lewis explains. 'If you're inside a building you're probably OK, but if you're exposed you're likely to have third degree burns all over your body,' he said. 'You might get lucky and be behind a hill, or you might get unlucky and the same hill reflects a shockwave on to you that kills you.' The interior of an underground atomic fallout shelter on Long Island, New York in 1955 The signs signifying a protective space to sit out a nuclear attack date back to the early 1960s when America was in a Cold War with Russia Entrance to an underground radioactive fallout shelter, on Long Island, New York, pictured in 1955 And that's before considering the effects of nuclear fallout. The amount of fallout caused would depend on the kind blast Russia opted for: An airburst, where the bomb is detonated some distance above the ground to maximize the effects of the shockwave, causes relatively little. But a groundburst - where the bomb goes off close to the earth - would produce a huge amount of ash that would be sucked up into the fireball and surrounding mushroom cloud, and then come falling back down. If it mixes with clouds then it may fall as black rain - as happened after Hiroshima - or flakes of ash may come drifting down like snow, as happened after the botched US nuclear test on Bikini Atoll during the Cold War. Those living on the surrounding islands recall the flakes falling and - not knowing what they were - described how children caught them on their tongues. How far this spread would depend on the vagaries of the weather, but it could well drift up to 20 miles from the impact, passing Yonkers in New York. The blast may also produce a 'fire storm' similar to forest fires, where the amount of oxygen being sucked into the blaze produces its own weather systems - driving the inferno further and faster than it would otherwise spread. In New York, prolific black and yellow signs reading 'Fallout Shelter' were seen across the city on buildings which the Army Corps of Engineers deemed to have enough protection against radiation A government approved air raid shelter on display at Stern's department store That could cause damage many times greater than the blast itself, Dr Lewis believes, though the actual extent of it would be largely a mystery until the bomb went off. 'A fire storm did start in Hiroshima after it was bombed, because the city had a lot of wooden buildings,' he said. 'But then, so did Nagasaki, and there was no fire storm. We don't really know why. And we have no idea how a modern city would burn.' Even then, that would be far from the end of the bomb's effects. While it is easy to focus on the over-awing power of the blast itself, the knock-on effects are perhaps even more terrifying. In the aftermath, there would be hundreds of thousands - if not millions - of people suffering burns, broken bones, cuts and other injuries while most if not all of the hospitals in the blast zones would have been reduced to rubble and the doctors who keep them running killed. And that's if Russia only dropped one bomb. If Putin were to decide to attack multiple cities in the same country at the same time, Dr Lewis says the possibility of society completely breaking down is 'not trivial'. In the event of all-out nuclear war between states, the amount of dust kicked into the atmosphere would be so severe that it would reduce the amount of sunlight that reaches Earth - blighting crops, killing fish, and causing global famine in a so-called nuclear winter. What happens after that, including whether humanity itself could survive in such conditions, is the subject of deep and rather abstract speculation among experts - and none of it is good. 'It is a common joke among nuclear experts that the best advice in the event of a strike is to make sure you die in the first wave,' Dr Lewis says, grimly. Asked if he had any advice for Putin in light of his nuclear sabre-rattling, Dr Lewis added simply: 'This is not a game. Don't screw around with this.' There is no mention of the timeless classic: 'Duck and cover' during the clip The video does not go into details about how or why the nuclear happened - but it warned Americans what to do if there was a nuclear attack 550 St Marks Place, Brooklyn: The controversial program was spearheaded by then-governor Nelson Rockefeller, who in 1960 authorized a state shelter initiative which oversaw the building of at least tens of thousands of shelters across the city with a projected price tag of $1.5 billion In July this year, New York City released a public service announcement for a nuclear attack weeks after Russian state media claimed Putin could wipe out the US East Coast. In the new clip, the city's Emergency Management Department tells New Yorkers: 'So there's been a nuclear attack. Don't ask me how or why. Just know that the big one has hit. OK. So what do we do?' A city spokesperson tells citizens: 'While the likelihood of a nuclear weapon incident occurring in/near New York City is very low, it is important New Yorkers know the steps to stay safe.' She encourages them to follow these 'key, simple steps in the event of such an incident.' The three simple steps for New Yorkers to follow are to 'get inside, stay inside and stay tuned' to broadcasts about what to do next. There is a reminder that staying in a car is not an option. 'Don't go outside until officials say it's safe,' we're told. The PSA spokesperson continues: 'If you were outside after the blast, get clean immediately. Remove and bag all outer clothing, to keep radioactive dust or ash away from your body.' People are also encouraged to head to a basement if they have one. There is no mention of 'duck and cover' in the video. 1961: A model for fallout shelter, displayed in Grand Central Station, designed to accommodate family of five to six for prolonged period during radioactive fallout People pass by a Fallout Shelter sign in the Manhattan borough, New York Mr and Mrs Nathaniel Schaff, Eric, 9, and Diane, 13, sample dual purpose room-den and family fallout shelter - put on display at Civil Defense headquarters, 661 Lexington Ave People looking up from subway entrance at Wall St. and Broadway, while sirens blow. Air raid warden keeps them there until all clear signal in 1951 One expert said that the American cities most likely to see a nuclear attack are: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Washington DC and San Francisco Thompson will be sentenced when he returns to the UK after October 27 But his bail has been continued to allow him to travel to Kos for a holiday Matthew Thompson admitted to 10 counts of assault against two young girls A sex offender who admitted to assaulting two young girls has been granted permission to travel to Greece for a holiday before he's sentenced. Matthew Thompson, 48, today pleaded guilty to 10 charges in total relating to the abuse of two young girls who cannot be named due to legal reasons. Judge Jonathan Gibson, who presided over the case at Bradford Crown Court, called the offending 'extremely serious' after the defendant accepted guilt for each of the counts. The charges included assaulting a child under 13 by penetration on no fewer than 10 occasions, taking indecent photographs of a child, possession of extreme pornography depicting sexual activity with an animal and sexual activity with a child. Judge Jonathan Gibson, who presided over the case at Bradford Crown Court, called the offending 'extremely serious' after the defendant accepted guilt for each of the counts Despite acknowledging the seriousness of the offences, Judge Gibson agreed Thompson should be allowed to go on a pre-paid two-week vacation to the Greek island of Kos, for which he will depart the UK on Thursday. He told the defendant: 'You've pleaded guilty and you will of course get proper credit for your guilty pleas in due course when you're sentenced. 'You've been on bail and I'm not going to revoke your bail simply because you have entered honest pleas.' Gillian Batts, representing Thompson, pleaded with Judge Gibson to allow him to depart for his holiday, which he was scheduled to return from on October 27. She suggested the serious nature of the case would make it appropriate for Thompson, of Barnsley, to 'sign on' at a police station between 12pm and 2pm on October 28. Despite acknowledging the seriousness of the offences, Judge Gibson agreed Thompson should be allowed to go on a pre-paid two-week vacation to the Greek island of Kos, for which he will depart the UK on Thursday Ms Batts advised her client that he would also need to register as a sex offender with the relevant authorities prior to the trip in order to be able to leave the UK. Completing the ten-minute hearing, Judge Gibson ordered Thompson to report to Barnsley police station on October 28 as part of his bail conditions. He added: 'As you know you are now subject to the sex offender registration provisions and you'll need to report to the police to do that before you go.' Thompson's sentence date has now been fixed for November 18. The unusual tactic actually was used in Ireland in the 1800s, when residents would use boiling water and bees to evade evictions One deputy who is allergic to bees was hospitalized after the incident The incident happened on October 12 in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, a city located 100 miles outside of Boston After arriving at the scene, she tipped the container over, agitating the bees and setting them loose Woods had the bees inside of a container on a trailer attached to her car Rorie Susan Woods, 55, is accused of setting a swarm of 'aggressive' bees on law enforcement executing an eviction in Massachusetts A Massachusetts woman was arrested and charged with assault after she allegedly set a swarm of bees on sheriff's deputies attempting to carry out an eviction order. The incident happened in Longmeadow, Massachusetts on Wednesday, October 12, when Rorie Susan Woods, 55, pulled up to the scene of 49 Memery Lane in her blue Nissan Xterra that was towing multicolored beehives. According to an official with the Hampden County Sheriff's Department, Woods drove up around 9.15am and immediately went to the trailer being pulled by her car. Woods left her dog in the car while she attempted to open the container holding the bees. While the woman was working to release the swarm, a deputy tried to stop her, according to officials with the Sheriff's Department. It was too late however, and some of the bees began to escape, causing the deputy to retreat. After repeated attempts to remove the lid, Woods then instead decided to smash the top and flip the container off the flatbed. The bees immediately became agitated and 'extremely aggressive,' according to authorities. Bystanders and deputies nearby were stung as the insects swarmed. Rorie Susan Woods, 55, put on a beekeeper's suit after unleashing the insects on sheriff's deputies and bystanders near her friend's home Woods, 55, has been charged with assault and battery using a dangerous weapon The bees were contained within boxes on Woods' trailer that was attached to her SUV Woods, who owns the hives, then put on a beekeeper suit to protect herself. The middle-aged woman then took a tower of the bees to the front door of the home. Law enforcement said that she was using the insects to attempt to disturb an eviction that had been 'stop and go' for more than a year and a half. According to Zillow, the home in question, at 49 Memery Lane, is 9,563 square feet with seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms. The estimated value is $1.515 million. Public records show it has been in the custody of one family since 1979. The Hampden County Sheriff's Civil Process Division serves hundreds of eviction notices each year, according to HCSD. Woods' unusual tactic was a new one for experienced deputies. 'Never in all my years of leading the Hampden County Sheriff's Civil Process Division have I seen something like this,' said Robert Hoffman, chief deputy of the Civil Process Division. The lengths that this woman went to may have been new for Massachusetts deputies, but the idea actually has historical roots that date to 1800s Ireland. Irish facing eviction would use creative means to hold onto their land, often using boiling water and bees to fight off police officers and deputies carrying out evictions. 'What was calculated upon as one of the most formidable items in the program of defense and defiance was the letting loose of a hive of bees, but these took flight by the chimney,' according to an article from The Clare Journal said in 1887, Mashable reported. The woman had dumped the bees off of the trailer in an attempt to agitate them, according to officials with the Hampden County Sheriff's Department Sheriff's deputies attempted to contain the animals unsuccessfully after the bees were set loose by Woods, even wrestling with the woman to stop her After Woods carried the hive to the door, she then allegedly attempted to make the bees angrier, though it was not detailed how. Once the bees had calmed down, Woods was arrested and transported to the Western Massachusetts Regional Women's Correctional Facility. 'I'm just thankful no one died because bee allergies are serious. I hope that these out-of-county protesters will reconsider using such extreme measures in the future because they will be charged and prosecuted.' Woods faces four counts of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, according to officials. She has also been charged with three counts of assault by means of a 'dangerous weapon' and one count of disorderly conduct, officials said Wednesday. The home where 55-year-old Rorie Woods set loose a colony of bees on deputies during the final stages of an eviction A spokesperson for HCSD said that deputies were in the final stage of this eviction, the removal stage, when the incident occurred. 'We are always prepared for protests when it comes to evictions, but a majority of the groups who protest understand that we are just doing our statutory duty in accordance with state law,' Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi said. 'But this woman, who traveled here, put lives in danger, as several of the staff on scene are allergic to bees. We had one staff member go the hospital and luckily he was alright or she would be facing manslaughter charges. 'I support people's right to protest peacefully, but when you cross the line and put my staff and the public in danger, I promise you will be arrested.' Woods was released on personal recognizance, according to the Boston Globe and she will next appear during a pretrial hearing scheduled for December 9. In 2018, MassLive reported that Woods had been evicted from her own home in Hadley, Massachusetts after a years-long battle. Woods, who was on disability at the time, said she needed a $10,000 bond to continue the appeal of her eviction. When the article came out, she was living in a tent on a friend's property. Woods told the Massachusetts news outlet that her things were destroyed in storage. She also said she was fighting cancer and that the treatments were interrupted by the eviction. 'The eviction process has clearly been weaponized by the courts to thwart my appeal, which has every chance of success due to case law precedent,' Woods said. It's unclear where the woman has been living since 2018. Quinton Simon's murder suspect mother was spotted downing expensive tequila shots with her mother at a beach bar yesterday while FBI agents combed through a landfill looking for her 18-month-old son's body. Quinton vanished on October 5 and police have named his mother, Leilani Howell, as the primary suspect. They have not arrested her, nor will they say how they think she killed him, but they believe him to be dead. Yesterday, authorities started the grim process of searching a landfill near the family's home in Savannah, Georgia, for little Quinton's body. But Leilani and her mother, Billie Jo Jowell, were at Sting Ray's, a beach bar in the nearby vacation town of Tybee Island, drowning their sorrows. A photo of Leilani inside the bar was obtained by WSAV. DailyMail.com can also reveal that the mother-daughter-duo spent around three hours at the bar, sitting outside in a large group, downing Patron shots and pestering their server to drink with them. The @WSAV Investigative Unit has learned as federal agents were ending their first day of searching for #QuintonSimon in a dump, his mom and grandmother were taking shots and drinking at a popular Tybee Island beach bar. pic.twitter.com/iQ1nXxFSGO Brett Buffington (@BrettWSAV) October 19, 2022 Leilani Howell is the main suspect in the death of her 18-month-old son Quinton Simon, who vanished on October 5 Yesterday, authorities started the grim process of searching a landfill near the family's home in Savannah, Georgia , for little Quinton's body. But Leilani and her mother, Billie Jo Jowell, were at Sting Ray's, a beach bar in the nearby vacation town of Tybee Island, drowning their sorrows While Leilani and her mother were drinking, agents were searching this landfill for any signs of little Quinton's remains After details of Leilani's outing at the bar emerged on Wednesday, the local police department tweeted a photo of their landfill search for Quinton 'Eventually someone tried to get them to leave, they were really uncomfortable with them being there,' a worker at the restaurant told DailyMail.com on Tuesday. There were around six of them in the group. They were drinking Patron... a top-shelf tequila 'You'd think they would be quiet but they weren't. 'It was like they wanted attention. 'There were around six of them in the group. 'They were drinking Patron... a top-shelf tequila. 'They were here from around 5pm until 8pm.' Others told WSAV that they ran up a $300 bar tab and were flirting with the staff. Police have already been in contact with the bar to request the surveillance footage of their three-hour drinking session. After details of Leilani's outing at the bar emerged on Wednesday, the local police department tweeted a photo of their landfill search for Quinton. 'We're not ready to charge anyone, yet. We still have work to do. 'We still have an investigation to do, and we're not going to do anything pre-emptively that would harm future prosecution,' the department said, quoting Chief Jeff Hadley. Quinton's grandmother, Billie Jo, had legal custody of him. She is now on vacation with her daughter, and is complaining about the media attention in the case despite courting it when he first vanished The bar was running a two-for-one cocktail promotion last night, which they may well have taken advantage of. The pair have decamped to The Sandcastle Inn, a $64-a-night motel across the street from Sting Ray's, and 35 miles from the town where Quinton was last seen alive. A receptionist at the hotel hung up when asked about the family on Wednesday. Local WSAV reporter Brett Buffington tweeted on Wednesday that Billie Jo, Quinton's grandmother who had legal custody of him, complained to police that she'd become 'annoyed' with the media attention. He obtained a photo of Leilani after her drinking session. Quinton's mother had lost custody of him and his brother, and had just been ordered by the state to start paying child support when Quinton vanished. A week beforehand, she was told she'd need to cough up $150-a-month for the boys. If one of them died, that bill would be reduced by $50. On October 5th, Quinton's mother claims she woke up at 9.30am and found the door of the house open. Quinton, she said, was nowhere to be found. His stepfather, Daniel Youngkin, told police he last saw the boy at 6am that morning. The family quickly fell under suspicion. Quinton's babysitter immediately voiced her concern over his disappearance. She said she thought it was strange that hours before he was reported missing, she was told not to come to work that day to look after him. The pair have decamped to The Sandcastle Inn, a $64-a-night motel across the street from Sting Ray's, and 35 miles from the town where Quinton was last seen alive A receptionist at the hotel hung up when asked about the family on Wednesday Quinton's babysitters said they worried for him when he showed up 'dirty', 'without diapers' and sometimes with bruises Chatham County Police Department have refused to give details of why they think Leilani killed the boy, much less why they are yet to arrest her. Last week, they admitted not even knowing where she was. Her nonchalant behavior since his death has eerie hallmarks of Casey Anthony, who was spotted dancing in a bar four days after her daughter Caylee vanished in 2005. Casey was found not guilty in 2011 - a decision that shocked and outraged America. It remains unclear why Leilani hasn't been arrested yet, or what evidence police have that led them to name her as their top suspect. Billie Jo has a long rap sheet that includes prior arrests for prostitution, cocaine possession and assault. When Quinton first disappeared, she told local reporters that her daughter - who she'd previously evicted - 'didn't always do the right thing.' When Quinton's worried babysitter spoke out about her concerns for the boy, Billie Jo confronted her angrily. She stormed into her house and demanded that she stop speaking publicly about their family. Police in Chatham County say they are not yet ready to charge Leilani, or anyone else, in the boy's death. They say they are pacing their investigation so as not to jeopardize the chance of conviction. Putin said Friday there was 'no need' to meet Biden and his own attendance was 'not finalized' US officials have 'ruled out' a meeting and are acting avoid chance encounters He kept open the possibility of talking about release of Brittney Griner He told CNN last we he had 'no intention' of meeting Putin President Joe Biden said Wednesday that Russia's repeated attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine were an effort by Russian President Vladimir Putin to force the Ukrainians to capitulate and that it will fail. He was asked about Putin's latest gambit, declaring martial law in four annexed Ukrainian territories seized by Russia, in the latest effort to use force to try impose order and control. That followed days of stepped up bombings of apartment buildings and other civilian targets, as well as infrastructure that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has cut power to one-third of his country. 'I think that Vladimir Putin finds himself in an incredibly difficult position,' Biden told reporters, pausing to collect his thoughts while holding a binder of material. Russia's repeated bombings in Ukraine are part of an effort to 'intimidate' people there to try force their capitulation, President Biden said Wednesday at the White House 'And what it reflects to me is, it seems his only tool available to him is to brutalize individual citizens in Ukraine, Ukrainian citizens, to try to intimidate them into capitulating. They're not going to do that.' Biden then concluded his remarks, at an event in the Roosevelt Room to talk about oil releases from a strategic U.S. reserve, intended in part to counter the impacts of the war in Ukraine. 'That's why I have been doing everything in my power to reduce gas prices since Putin's invasion of Ukraine caused these price hikes, these prices to spike and rattle international oil markets,' Biden said. As he walked away from the event, he declined to respond to a question about whether he would meet Putin at the upcoming G20 summit in Indonesia. That followed reports that the administration is privately ruling out a meeting between the two leaders, with Russia's brutal war in Ukraine continuing to drive the countries apart. Putin said regional governors in the regions, taken from Ukraine after referendums under armed occupation that the U.S. and allies denounced as a 'sham,' would get emergency powers to impose order. 'We are working to solve very difficult large-scale tasks to ensure Russias security and safe future, to protect our people,' Putin said in televised remarks. Biden paused before reflecting on the war in Ukraine when asked about Putin's move to declare martial law in annexed territories 'Those who are on the frontlines or undergoing training at firing ranges and training centers should feel our support and know that they have our big, great country and unified people behind their back.' The administration has never talked up the chance of a meeting, even after Putin, who Biden has called a 'war criminal,' indicated he planned to attend. Biden kept the possibility of a narrow conversation alive last week, in comments that made clear he had no intention of opening up a broader discussion of the war, after Putin's repeated comments attacking the US and relentless bombing of civilians in Ukraine. 'Look, I have no intention of meeting with him, but look, if he came to me at the G20 and said, 'I want to talk about the release of [detained American Brittney] Griner,' I would meet with him, but that would depend,' Biden said. Now, officials are going so far as to say they are seeking to discourage even a 'sideline' informal meeting with Putin, Politico reported. U.S. officials have 'ruled out' a formal meeting with Putin, and are 'taking steps' to make sure they don't bump into each other in a hallway or doing the typical 'family photo.' Putin himself was sounding bearish on the chances, as his military unleashed a wave of drone and rocket attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine, drawing repeated condemnation from the West. The Russian leader said Friday there was 'no need' to meet Biden and his own attendance was 'not finalized' Russia continues to hit civilian targets in Ukraine The administration is working to prevent even a 'sideline' encounter between the president and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the upcoming G20 summit in Bali, as Russia's war on Ukraine rages. The two men met at a villa in Geneva in June at the start of Biden's presidency Biden has called Putin a 'murderous dictator,' as well as a 'pure thug' and a 'killer,' but previously kept alive the possibility of talking to him about the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner Indonesia announced Putin's plans to attend Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky, whose nation is not a member of the G20, said he would attend if Putin does Firefighters conduct work after a Russian attack targeted energy infrastructure in Kyiv, Ukraine on October 18, 2022. Strikes by Russia continue on Ukrainian infrastructure causing destruction of 30% of the country's electrical plants since October 10, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday Ukraine and the U.S. have blasted what multiple videos and images reveal to be Russia's use of Iranian-made drones Biden is already likely to have an encounter with one dictator who he has called a top competitor to the U.S.: with China's Xi Jinping, who is set to secure a third term at the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing after a decade in power. Biden said last month he was open to meeting Xi. The two men spoke by phone in March, when the president warned Beijing it would face consequences if it propped up Russia's invasion, and again in July. Biden has called Putin a 'murderous dictator,' as well as a 'pure thug' and a 'killer.' Biden hasn't gotten much mileage out of his last face-to-face meeting with an autocratic ruler. He took political hits for his 'fist bump' with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman last summer, but the Saudis infuriated the administration when OPEC+ voted to cut oil production a move that helps Putin fund his war and kept oil prices higher weeks before the U.S. elections. Indonesian President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo, whose nation hosts the summit, invited Putin and traveled to Moscow in June to extend the invitation in person. After the insistence by the U.S. and other leaders, also invited Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky, whose nation is not a member. Zelensky said he would attend if Putin does. Grant Shapps made a shock return to the Cabinet tonight little more than two weeks after he spearheaded a rebellion against the Prime Minister's tax-cutting agenda. In a sign of the peril Liz Truss now finds her premiership, she has turned to Mr Shapps to become her new Home Secretary following Suella Braverman's bombshell resignation. The 54-year-old's appointment to Ms Truss's Government comes just over a fortnight after he savaged the PM's now aborted bid to abolish the 45p tax rate. Mr Shapps teamed up with fellow former Cabinet minister Michael Gove to lead a successful revolt against the measure during the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham. He claimed the proposed tax cut for the biggest earners was 'harming the Governments economic credibility'. Mr Shapps was claimed to have been recording the views of fellow Tory MPs on Ms Truss in a spreadsheet, which he was able to read on a new 1,600 Samsung smartphone with a foldout screen. He is now the second supporter of Rishi Sunak - Ms Truss's rival during this summer's Tory leadership contest - to be appointed to one of the four 'great offices of state' in the last five days. Jeremy Hunt replaced Kwasi Kwarteng as Chancellor last week after being sacked by the PM in the wake of their mini-Budget meltdown. Grant Shapps leaves 10 Downing Street tonight after being appointed the new Home Secretary to replace Suella Braverman Mr Shapps led a successful revolt against the PM's plans to abolish the 45p tax rate during the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham Mr Shapps' return to the top rank of Government has also stunned Westminster as it comes little more than a month after Ms Truss personally removed him from the Cabinet. He had been serving as Transport Secretary up until Ms Truss's appointment as PM in September. According to Sky News, when the PM informed Mr Shapps of his sacking, she told him he was 'one of the most competent secretaries of state in Government' and 'probably the best communicator'. But, due to his support for her leadership rival Rishi Sunak, Mr Shapps was said to have been told by the PM there was 'no room at the inn'. The married father-of-three had been battling militant trade unions prior to his departure from the Department for Transport. As Transport Secretary, he was spearheading Government efforts to introduce new laws as part of a crackdown on trade unions causing travel chaos for millions of Britons with their recent spate of national rail strikes. Mr Shapps became a household name for many Britons when he joined those Cabinet ministers to front Downing Street press conferences during the Covid crisis The married father-of-three is a former Conservative Party chair, having been appointed to that role by ex-PM David Cameron in 2012 Mr Shapps remained loyal to Ms Truss's predecessor, Boris Johnson, during the last round of Tory regicide earlier this summer. In June, Mr Shapps boasted of how he predicted to within one vote the result of a confidence ballot on Mr Johnson's leadership - adding fuel to rumours of his spreadsheet prowess when it came to monitoring the feelings of his party colleagues. He had previously accurately forecast the number of Conservative MPs who would back Mr Johnson for leader in 2019. Mr Shapps also recently claimed he made his own spreadsheets on Covid data to counter SAGE scientists and help block plans for a lockdown last Christmas. It was the pandemic that made Mr Shapps a household name for many Britons, when he joined those Cabinet ministers to front Downing Street press conferences during the crisis. But his handling of travel restrictions during the pandemic were often mocked due to the ever-changing nature of whether and where Britons were able to go abroad. In July 2020 he was among British holidaymakers forced to self-isolate on their return home from Spain when the Government's travel restrictions changed at short notice. Prior to being Transport Secretary, Mr Shapps had previously been a member of the Cabinet when he was appointed Conservative Party chair by David Cameron in 2012. It was during his spell as Tory chairman, in 2015, when Mr Shapps was forced to admit he had a second job as a web marketing expert under the pseudonym Michael Green when he first became an MP. This was something he had previously denied. Mr Shapps backed Remain at the 2016 EU referendum. He briefly stood for the Tory leadership himself this summer following Mr Johnson's resignation. But he dropped out the race before the first round of voting and subsequently backed Mr Sunak. The government defeated Labour's motion - but with allegations of 'bullying' The Deputy Prime Minister and at least one other Cabinet member were personally involved in 'manhandling' Conservative MPs through the lobby to vote against Labour's motion to ban fracking, Labour MP Chris Bryant has said. The vote turned into chaos after climate minister Graham Stuart caused confusion by telling the Commons as the debate ended: 'Quite clearly this is not a confidence vote.' This was in direct contradiction to earlier briefings, when Conservative whips initially stated the vote was being treated as a 'confidence motion' in Liz Truss's embattled Government. But when Conservative MP Ruth Edwards (Rushcliffe) asked to clarify if those Tories who abstain or vote against the motion will lose the party whip, Mr Stuart added: 'That is a matter for party managers, and I am not a party manager.' The Government defeated Labour's bid to ban fracking amid farcical scenes in the House of Commons this evening. Allegations of bullying were levelled against Government whips, with Labour former minister Chris Bryant saying some MPs had been 'physically manhandled into another lobby and being bullied'. He told Sky he had seen Conservative MP Alex Stafford being 'manhandled' through the lobby by a group of MPs which included Therese Coffey, Deputy Prime Minister, and Jacob Rees-Mogg. But Mr Stafford later tweeted that 'no-one pushes me around' in a denial of Mr Bryant's version of events. Labour MP Chris Bryant shared this photo on Twitter that he says shows Jacob Rees-Mogg and Therese Coffey walking Tory MP Alex Stafford through the lobby to vote against Labour's motion on fracking Chris Bryant speaks to the Deputy Speaker in the House of Commons, demanding an investigation into the goings-on within the lobby Sources close to Deputy PM Therese Coffey have also denied that she was involved in any 'manhandling'. Jacob Rees-Mogg has also denied the claims, saying there was a 'heated exchange' but no bullying. He said: 'There were discussions going on, and there was a discussion about the vote that was taking place, and this was what normally goes on outside the division lobby.' 'I heard one person swear and use an expletive... a Conservative, when going into the division lobby, swear and say, sort of, "get on with it", but he wasn't saying it to an individual. 'I didn't see any bullying and I saw nobody being manhandled.' Mr Rees-Mogg said there had been 'confusion' after a 'junior official' from No 10 had relayed a message to the Government front bench that it was no longer a confidence vote. 'Nobody else was aware of that. Most members thought it was a vote of confidence,' he said. Mr Bryant told the Speaker in the moments after the vote result was announced: 'I would urge you to launch an investigation into the scenes outside the lobby earlier. As you know members are supposed to be able to vote without fear or favour. 'And the behaviour code which is agreed by the whole of the house says there will never be bullying or harassment of members. 'I saw members being physically manhandled into another lobby and being bullied 'If we want to stand up against bullying in this house of our staff, we have to stop bullying in this chamber.' While Mr Bryant was speaking, several other Labour MPs sitting behind him could be heard alleging some of those forced through to vote by Conservatives were 'crying'. He added to Sky News: 'In the area just as you go into the no lobby, which is where the Tory whips were gathered, the MPs were clearly uncertain whether they were allowed to vote with the Labour motion or against it because of what had been said in the chamber... 'There was a group including several Cabinet members who were basically shouting at them and at least one member was physically pulled through the door into the voting lobby. 'That is completely out of order in our system. 'I have never ever seen a member physically manhandled through a division lobby. 'Four members I think it was. I know Therese Coffey was in the group and Jacob Rees-Mogg was in the group, and there were others as well. 'The group all moved forward with the one member, and that person was, to my mind, he will have to speak for himself, he was to my mind physically manhandled into the lobby.' He named the MP in question as Alexander Stafford, but Mr Stafford has since said on Twitter that 'no-one pushes me around'. Liz Truss is on record as having not voted tonight - after whips were threatening to remove the whip from any MP who didn't vote against the motion. He added he has photos of the scenes in the lobby which he will pass on to the Speaker and Deputy. Mr Bryant also said that before MPs allegedly resorted to manhandling, there was 'very aggressive' pointing. He concluded: 'I've been an MP for 21 years. I've never seen that.' It was thought that both Chief Conservative Whip Wendy Morton and her deputy Craig Whittaker had quit their roles after the shambolic vote, after multiple sources said Ms Morton walked into the lobby area and said: 'I'm no longer the Chief Whip' before storming out, followed by Liz Truss. Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg was asked live on Sky News whether the Chief Whip remained in post, to which he said he did not know. After more than two hours, No10 confirmed shortly before 10pm on Thursday that both the Chief Whip and Deputy remain in post. One miserable Cabinet source told MailOnline: 'At this rate I'm going to be PM by Christmas. 'The writing was on the wall for Wendy since the day of her appointment.' Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg said he was 'not entirely clear what the situation is with chief whip'. Meanwhile Chris Walker, a Conservative MP of 17 years, told the BBC: 'This whole affair is inexcusable. It is a pitiful reflection on the Conservative Party.' When asked whether there is a way back for the government, Mr Walker said: 'I don't think so.' He added: 'This is an absolute disgrace. 'I think it's a shambles and a disgrace. I am livid. 'I hope all those people who put Liz Truss in No.10 I hope it was worth it. [...] Because the damage they have done to our party is extraordinary.' 'I've had enough. I've had enough of talentless people putting their tick in the right box, not because it's in the national interest, but because it's in their personal interest.' But former Culture Secretary described Mr Bryant's comments as 'nonsense', despite dozens of tweets from MPs in the lobby at the time which appear to back up his claims. Earlier, Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg sought to limit the rebellion by insisting communities will have a 'veto' on fracking in their area. He said national government would be unable to overrule the objections from communities, with one option under consideration involving local referendums for areas where fracking is proposed. Mr Rees-Mogg, in a message directed at Conservative MPs, told the Commons: 'There's an absolute local consent lock. 'Any process to determine local consent must be run independently and this House will vote on any scheme that we bring forward.' Labour's motion was defeated by 230 votes to 326, majority 96, but the Commons heard there were 'very strong rumours' the Government chief whip Wendy Morton had resigned. Liz Truss's government was in the grip of a wider massive meltdown tonight after Suella Braverman quit as home secretary just hours before the Chief Whip left too. In yet another day of madness in Westminster Ms Braverman was removed for breaching protocol by sending an email from her personal account to a contact revealing details of an announcement on immigration policy. It is unclear whether she resigned herself or was asked to by the Prime Minister. But in another hammer blow for the PM's chances of clinging on, she also complained that the government was breaking promises. She swiped that when people made 'mistakes' - something Ms Truss has admitted - the right thing to do was quit. Ms Truss responded with a much briefer letter saying it is 'important the Ministerial Code is upheld' and quickly installed Grant Shapps - a Rishi Sunak supporter - as a replacement. But the feeling of a rudderless government later deepened in the Commons. In another sign of evaporating Government control, 40 MPs refused to back the government in a vote over fracking. Kimberly Guilfoyle mocked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Tuesday night for having too much work done, as she complained about positive media coverage of President Joe Biden and Democrats, likening it to a 'freak show.' 'Well, it's ridiculous. I mean, you can't even- it's like the greatest hits of incompetence and idiocy,' Guilfoyle said on Newsmax. 'And yet we have llike little clapping seals in the media, like you said, that are complicit.' She pointed to 82-year-old Pelosi's Tuesday afternoon sit-down with NBC's Andrea Mitchell. 'And where is the journalism these days? When you see like Andrea Mitchell fawning over Pelosi. Pelosi lying - what's left of her face - off about Biden's accomplishments and legislative achievements,' Guilfoyle said. 'It's a freak show. I mean, Halloween is around the corner. But it's too much, it's fright night.' Kimberly Guilfoyle mocked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Tuesday night for having too much work done, as she complained about positive media coverage of President Joe Biden and Democrats, likening it to a 'freak show ' Guilfoyle blasted the media for positive coverage of President Joe Biden (left) and Democrats. Particularly complaining about a Tuesday sit-down House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (right) had with NBC's Andrea Mitchell During her interview with Mitchell, Pelosi said Biden has 'done a spectacular job, he's had a better two years than most presidents you can name, certainly in the recent generations.' Pelosi also downplayed economic concerns, as Mitchell pointed to a recent New York Times poll that showed female independent voters were more worried about the economy than abortion rights. 'I dismiss that,' Pelosi told Mitchell. 'I can tell you that women's concerns about their freedom are very, very much still very significant in terms of how they will vote.' 'In fact, 80 percent of people who care about a women's right to choose say they will - it will determine who they vote for,' she added. Guilfoyle found Pelosi's statements laughable, calling it 'completely false.' 'Maybe she can't even read right now. She has a complete misunderstanding of what matters to Americans, OK? They want lower gas prices. They're tired of Biden-flation, OK? They're tired of bare shelves. They want the economy back that we had,' she said. 'Every single thing that President Trump accomplished they have run into the ground.' Guilfoyle predicted that there would be a 'big reckoning at the polls' in favor of the Republicans in less than three weeks in the midterm elections. 'And these guys are asleep at the wheel,' she charged. 'They're crash test dummies, you know, with four Americans strapped in the back seat - and it's a shame.' Guilfoyle also expressed annoyance that Biden 'can do no wrong.' 'Yes, if this was Donald Trump, I mean, my God, they'd be, you know, raiding Mar-a-Lago again. Let's bring him back to office so we can impeach him one more time. I mean it's out of control. And you know, it's sad because this country deserves so much better,' she said. The wife of the viral comedy group Try Guys has claimed she has seen James Corden's abhorrent behavior toward restaurant staff in person. Becky Habersberger, 32, is a makeup artist and the wife of Keith Habersberger, a member of the recently under fire YouTube troupe. The group has recently created a storm on the web after member Ned Fulmer was ousted for having cheated on his wife with an employee of the group. She posted a TikTok saying that Corden's actions that got him banned from Keith McNally's Balthazar in New York City were similar to something she witnessed from Corden at Los Angeles hotspot Little Doms. Habersberger said while she was 'walking down the street going to a happy hour' she witnessed the late-night host yelling at a bus boy who told him the restaurant was closed. She claimed he yelled at the busboy 'a lot of good that does me, mate. A lot of good that does me!' The Los Feliz Italian restaurant closes in the middle of the day between lunch and dinner, according to Habersberger. But Corden's spokesman pushed back on the claims and argued the actor had never been to Little Doms. Balthazar owner Keith McNally said he un-banned Corden after speaking to him following his controversial post announcing his ban. But Habersberger, who hosts a podcast called Try Wives, says she doesn't believe Corden is really sorry after his apology got him unbanned from Balthazar. 'If he was really sorry, he would have apologized to the server and not the owner of the restaurant.' Becky Habersberger, 32, is a makeup artist and the wife of Keith Habersberger, a member of the recently under fire YouTube troupe James Corden and Julia Carey seen having lunch at Scott's restaurant in Mayfair on June 27, 2018 in London, England. The wife of the viral comedy group Try Guys claims that she's seen Corden's bad behavior toward restaurant staff in person She posted a TikTok saying that Corden's actions that got him banned from Keith McNally's Balthazar were something she witnessed at Los Angeles hotspot Little Doms The saga began on Monday when McNally, who has a colorful history of booting out celebrities from his exclusive restaurants, claimed Corden behaved badly at his former restaurant, Cafe Luxembourg, on several occasions and left one server 'shaken'. McNally posted earlier on Monday two separate examples of Corden's 'extremely nasty' behavior at Balthazar, the French brasserie. The 71-year-old started his post by calling the funnyman a 'hugely gifted comedian', before laying into Corden. The furious owner said that he '86'd' - banned - the star and claims Corden found a hair in his main course when dining there in June, before demanding free drinks for the mistake. Being 86'd is thought to have originated at Greenwich Village speakeasy bar, Chumley's, on 86 Bedford Street, which had no address on the door. Guests '86'd' themselves from the premises if there was any trouble. Restaurateur Keith McNally, 71, banned the Late Late Show host from his restaurants because of his 'extremely nasty' treatment of staff - only to rescind the ban hours later The popular French eatery Balthazar, in New York's SoHo district, is pictured on Monday Balthazar's owner, Keith McNally, regularly shares updates from his staff - including, on Monday, excoriating James Corden for his behavior The restaurant, pictured on Monday, is a popular spot for celebrities, tourists and locals alike Corden and his wife Julia Carey are accused of sending back an egg yolk omelette because it had a 'little bit of egg white' in it while dining at the plush restaurant Poll Corden V McNally: Who do YOU think is right? James Corden Keith McNally They're both 'cretins' Corden V McNally: Who do YOU think is right? James Corden 441 votes Keith McNally 4635 votes They're both 'cretins' 1373 votes Now share your opinion He said: 'After eating his main course, Corden showed the hair to Balthazar manager G. who was very apologetic. 'Corden was extremely nasty to G, and said: 'Get us another round of drinks this second. And also take care of all of our drinks so far. This way I write any nasty reviews in yelp or anything like that.'' In a second incident, McNally claims that Corden was dining with his wife, Julia Carey, at the eatery on October 9 for brunch. He says that Corden asked for a table outside, and Carey ordered an egg yolk omelette with a salad. The couple complained to the server that there was 'a little bit of egg white mixed with the egg yolk' and sent the dish back. McNally added: 'The kitchen remade the dish but unfortunately sent it with home fries instead of salad. 'That's when James Corden began yelling like crazy to the server: 'You can't do your job! You can't do your job! Maybe I should go into the kitchen and cook the omelette myself!' Tony-award winning Corden has risen to fame over the past ten years after moving across the pond, and becoming famed for his cheeky smile and stream of A-list pals Balthazar in New York's Soho is a much loved celebrity haunt, but the British funnyman has now been banned from dining there Balthazar: Fancy French brasserie-style diner in trendy Soho district Balthazar is a French brasserie-style restaurant housed in New York City's Soho neighborhood. The restaurant opened in 1997 in a building formerly used as a tannery, a place where animal hides are treated. It has since become one of owner Keith McNally's benchmark brasseries. The Michelin Guide describes the restaurant as being 'quintessentially SoHo.' The menu features pastries, seafood and other French-inspired delicacies. McNally has since other Balthazar locations across the globe, including in London, UK. His culinary empire also includes NYC hot spots Pastis and Minetta Tavern. Advertisement 'M.K (server) was very apologetic and brought G. (floor manager) over to the table. 'He returned the dish, and after that, everything was fine. He gave them promo Champagne glasses to smooth things out. 'G. said that Corden was pleasant to him but nasty to the server. M.K. was very shaken, but professional that she is, continued to finish her shift.' Corden will not stay on at The Late Late Show after his current contract ends next year - a decision that was made earlier this year, long before the Balthazar saga. DailyMail.com has reached out to a representative for James Corden for comment. Corden is well known for his provocative and at times strange behavior. In 2017, as the Harvey Weinstein scandal was just being published, Corden joked made fun of the rapist's victims. 'It has been weird this week watching Harvey Weinstein in hot water,' he told a gala in New York City. 'Ask any of the women who watched him take a bath, it's weird watching Harvey Weinstein in hot water.' He later apologized, tweeting: 'To be clear, sexual assault is no laughing matter. I was not trying to make light of Harvey's inexcusable behavior, but to shame him, the abuser, not his victims. I am truly sorry for anyone offended, that was never my intention.' At the end of 2019, he ridiculed the technical team behind the film Cats, in which he starred. 'I haven't seen it, I've heard it's terrible,' he told a British radio show, and then told the Oscars audience while presenting an award: 'As cast members of the motion picture Cats, nobody more than us understands the importance of good visual effects.' In September 2021, while promoting his film Cinderella, he dressed as a mouse and danced in a road, thrusting his groin at bemused drivers. Corden was accompanied by Camila Cabello, who plays the lead role, and Billy Porter, as a character called Fab G. At one point Corden seemed to take a drag on what looked like a spliff, before dancing some more. In July this year, he was knocked off his bicycle in London by a fellow cyclist, who swerved in front of him on busy Regent's Street, nearly pushing Corden into a car. The comedian was furious, and loudly berated the young bike ride who cut him up. McNally, in turn, has previous form for banning 'rude' celebrities from his restaurant if he believes their behavior isn't up to scratch. He ripped into former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter last year after he made a reservation at his plush Morandi restaurant but failed to show up. McNally who is the owner of NYC hotspots including Balthazar and Pastis, branded Carter in May 2021 a 'fancy f***er' after booking a table for 12. Corden, in his mouse suit, is seen with Camila Cabello and Billy Porter in a street performance to promote his new film, on August 27, 2021 Corden gyrates at bemused motorists in Los Angeles, in August 2021, to promote his new film, Cinderella The British comedian is pictured with Cabello, who plays Cinderella, and Billy Porter, whose character is called Fab G But the owner, who was formerly a close friend of Carter, said that he had asked staff to specially prepare the restaurant to impress him. In another scathing Instagram post he said: 'Because Mr. Carter's a restaurateur himself, my chef, manager and floor staff were eager for the lunch to go perfectly for him. 'Extra staff were brought in to help with service, and two tables of six were meticulously set up and ready for Graydon Carter by 1 p.m. Only he didn't show up at 1 p.m.' Carter got his assistant to call the eatery to say that the editor had 'forgotten to call and cancel', with McNally left seething. He claims that Carter 'upset the equilibrium of the restaurant' and 'cost Morandi money', before revealing that he had previous for failing to show up to reservations. In February 2021 he defended Ghislaine Maxwell, in jail awaiting trial for sex trafficking with Jeffrey Epstein, and insisted she was 'currently innocent'. He then praised Woody Allen and Soon-Yi for appearing at Balthazar, captioning a picture of them at his restaurant: 'I've never been as happy at Balthazar as I was last night to see the beautiful Soon-Yi and her husband dining there.' That post was covered in the May 15 issue of Air Mail, run by Carter, which described McNally as 'going off the menu.' McNally was referred to as a 'sometimes dour 69-year-old with fewer than 15,000 followers on Instagram'. Carter said in a statement to Page Six: 'My office did forget to cancel the lunch reservation until a bit after 1:30, which is wretched and we will be making a donation today to the restaurant's tip pool to cover what the staff would have made. 'As a fellow restaurateur I fully understand the implications of a large party no show. 'As for the rest of McNally's deranged rant, it is pure fiction. 'I rarely eat at his places and this all stems from the story we did about his most recent Instagram controversies in last week's Air Mail.' McNally also delights in telling tales from his establishments. In July this year, he claimed that staff at Balthazar were looking for the couple who left behind their wedding ring after having sex in the bathroom. McNally alleged they ran off before staff had a chance to catch them in the act. But in their hurry a wedding ring was left on the restroom floor. Balthazar owner Keith McNally made a raunchy Instagram post detailing how a couple used the men's room at the swanky NYC restaurant as their private sexual oasis over the long Fourth of July weekend McNally alleged they ran off before staff had a chance to catch them in the act. But in their hurry a wedding ring was left on the restroom floor McNally claims the restaurant manager, Zouheir Louhaichy, told him about the encounter in a note detailing what ensued at the SoHo hotspot over the Independence Day weekend. 'We had one alleged report of a couple having sex in one of the men's stall downstairs,' Louhaichy reportedly wrote. 'But when I asked floor manager Greg to rush down and check what's going on the couple were nowhere to be found so they remained a mystery.' 'But oddly enough, Greg found a small wedding ring on the floor of the bathroom stall,' he added. Louhaichy said the ring was placed in the restaurant's lost and found. McNally claims a couple had sex in the bathroom before scurrying off, leaving behind a wedding ring. The ring has since been placed in lost and found New York restaurateur Keith McNally (pictured) has previously cautioned that '80 percent of Instagram posts are lies,' including his own McNally on Monday banned Corden from his restaurant but then later reversed it after saying he had spoken to the actor on the phone. He had told how Corden had been rude to his staff several times: berating them over a hair in his food and demanding free drinks during the summer. Meanwhile on October 9 he furiously reprimanded the waiters over an omelette he was unhappy with. Four hours after announcing the ban to his 87,000 Instagram followers, McNally promptly reversed it, saying he had received a call from Corden apologizing. The fiery restaurateur posted a new photo on Tuesday night captioned: 'With my daughter, Alice (in black) and her best friend, Margot Paisner, at Balthazar tonight. 'Feeling strange about the James Corden thing. On the one hand, he was definitely abusive to my staff, on the other hand, I feel really sorry for him right now. 'Like most cowards I want it both ways.' He concluded: 'F*** it, I'm going to get drunk.' The saga began on Monday when McNally, who has a colorful history of booting out celebrities from his exclusive restaurants, claimed Corden behaved badly at his former restaurant, Cafe Luxembourg, on several occasions and left one server 'shaken'. As COVID-era restrictions relax and short-staffed airlines welcome back travelers, unforeseen flight mishaps can often lead to financial compensation - with DailyMail.com now revealing how exactly you can claim your cash. The news comes days after an Australian-American political pundit who found herself 'sandwiched' between two overweight passengers on an American Airlines flight last week claimed a $150 voucher for her trouble by complaining to flight staff. With that said, issues such as delays, cancellations, and lost baggage - which have been rife as airlines struggle to retain workers in their return to pre-pandemic operations - could yield vouchers and even actual green, if you know who to ask. Cancelled Flights In the event of a cancellation, for instance, be sure to turn down a voucher, as under federal law you are entitled to a full cash refund. Unlike the European Union, the United States does not have any regulations that protect passengers if their flight is called off- however, if you are flying to any where in Europe, you could earn a voucher of up to $700 on top of your refunded ticket. If there were multiple stops on the flight, you would get a refund for the legs you had yet to fly. A cancellation voucher is still possible to obtain in the States, but would not be guaranteed and likely be markedly less than the aforementioned amount. Keep in mind that if the voucher is worth more than the flight you purchase, most airlines will not let you use the remaining balance like you would a gift card. Delays You are also entitled to a refund for 'significant' changes or delays to your original flight schedule, meaning you should also turn down a voucher if it means getting cash in hand. What constitutes a significant delay is often decided on a case-by-case basis and varies from airline to airline, but a good rule of thumb is two hours or more. The EU, meanwhile, has a more marked compensation guidelines when it comes to delays, ranging from 250 euros for flights delayed under three hours, and up to 600 euros for flights between EU and non-EU airports that originate in Europe. That means if your flight home to the US is delayed, you're still entitled to a voucher. These rules also apply for many European-held islands in the Caribbean, such as Bermuda, Martinique, and Guadeloupe. Damaged luggage In the event you arrive to your destination and find your luggage damaged, typically, the airline will fork over the full cost of its contents to a flier - sometimes with a voucher on top of it. Be wary, however - if the contents of your suitcase amount to more than $3,500, you may need to convince the airline to compensate you further, as the Department of Transportation has set that amount as a cap for its maximum liability. Airlines can compensate more in a case-by-case basis, at their own discretion. Delayed baggage When your luggage is delayed, airlines will try to reunite you with your luggage as soon as it arrives - and will placate you with between $25 and $50 a day until such a reunion occurs. However, these companies could also owe you up to $3,500 in liability for a domestic US trip, if you can prove to them that you needed the contents of the misplaced luggage for an event such as a wedding or business trip, before it could be delivered. As long as you've got receipts to prove to the relative value of what was in the bag - and an explanation as to why it was needed immediately - you are entitled to cash compensation, even after the bag is returned to you. In the event that it has to be delivered to you after you leave the airport, the airline may also offer a travel voucher that you can put towards travel with the same airline - but that is not guaranteed. Lost luggage Similar to the previous two instances, in the event an airline loses your luggage and it cannot be located, you entitled up to $3,500 in cash. For international flights, the Montreal Convention states that an airline can give up to $1,600 - though airlines are free to provide more. To get this compensation, you typically have to file a claim with the airline, which could take few weeks and even months to resolve. Companies will require receipts for any sort of reimbursement - as well as record of any fees you paid out to the airline to transport your luggage, which you will then also be paid back. Overbooked flights If you board a plane only to find yourself without a seat because the flight has sold more tickets than there are seats, staffers will first ask if a Good Samaritan would like to voluntarily give up their place on the plane. In the likely event that does not occur, you could likely be involuntarily bumped from the flight and removed completely at random. If this is the case, the airline may offer you a voucher - but do not accept. Due to this being solely the airline's mistake, by federal law your are entitled to a cash refund. Conversely, if you so happen to be a thoughtful traveler that doesn't mind getting off a flight, the airline will offer you a travel voucher and also place you on the next available flight to your destination. You can also request to be placed on a 'bump list' upon reaching your departure gate. A bump list is a tab of confirmed-ticketed passengers on a flight that will not be allowed to board or will be asked to deplane in the event a flight is oversold. Iran reportedly pledged to supply Russia with surface-to-surface missiles in addition to more drones amid Moscow's continued conflict with Ukraine. The decision was revealed by two senior Iranian officials and two Iranian diplomats in what is considered a move that is expected to draw ire from the United States and other Western nations. Iran Missiles for Russia The situation comes after a deal was agreed upon on Oct. 6 when Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber, two senior officials from the country's Revolutionary Guards, and an official from the Supreme National Security Council, traveled to Moscow for discussions with Russian officials regarding the delivery of weapons. One of the Iranian diplomats who was briefed about the trip said that the Russians have been requesting more drones and Iranian ballistic missiles that boasted greater accuracy, particularly the Fateh and Zolfaghar missiles family. On the other hand, a Western official briefed on the matter confirmed the news, adding that there was an agreement in place between Iran and Russia to provide surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missiles, including the Zolfaghar, as per Reuters. The Shahed-136 is one of the drones that Iran reportedly agreed to supply Russia and is a delta-winged weapon used as a "kamikaze" air-to-surface attack aircraft. It also carries a small warhead that explodes on impact to damage its surrounding area. The Fateh-110 and the Zolfaghar are Iran's short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missiles that are capable of striking targets at distances between 300 kilometers and 700 kilometers. One Iranian diplomat rejected assertions by Western officials that such transfers breach a 2015 UN Security Council resolution. According to Aljazeera, the deal comes after a new wave of deadly Russian air attacks on Ukraine that have resulted in the death of 25 people and injury of more than 100 others. Ukrainian authorities said that the latest strikes, which began on Oct. 10, have targeted at least 10 regions across the nation and used Russian missiles coupled with Iranian-made drones. Read Also: Russian SU-34 Fighter Jet Crashes Into Residential Building, Kills 13 Including 3 Children Russia-Ukraine War Update On Monday, a large group of explosive-laden, unmanned aircraft drones targeted Kyiv, killing at least four people and targeting energy facilities. A young couple expecting a baby in three months was among the victims of the attacks. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that it had destroyed at least 37 drones on Monday amid the relentless assault. However, Tehran officials initially denied supplying Russia with the weapons used in the attacks. Aljazeera's defense analyst, Alex Gatopoulos, said that such munitions can hover above an area to identify a target before going in for the kill, using its own body to cause destruction. They are also known as "loitering" munitions due to how they behave. Similar to cruise missiles, they are able to hit targets hundreds of kilometers away but cruise missiles are significantly more expensive than the drones. Gatopoulos noted that the kamikaze drones are a cheaper yet precise alternative. Now, the United States intends to further crack down on Iran for helping Moscow by supplying it with munitions for its war on Ukraine. The penalties, which are likely to include economic sanctions and potentially export controls, would also target third parties that assist Tehran and Moscow, Politico reported. Related Article: Ukraine Drone Attack: Joe Biden Slams Vladimir Putin's 'Brutality,' Vows To Hold Russia Accountable for 'War Crimes' @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. We take it for granted in America in 2022. During the winter when we turn up the thermostat, we expect the heat to kick on. Not so in Joe Biden's America. Welcome to the new green future. New England's regional power-grid operator is now warning millions of Americans in the Northeast of the potential for rolling blackouts this winter. That's right. Those counting on a reliable supply of fuel to heat their homes this winter may need to start chopping wood. 'If we get a sustained cold period in New England this winter, we'll be in a very similar position as California was this summer,' said Nathan Hanson, a regional power company executive. But not to worry, Biden and Democrats have a solution. Get an abortion, says Democratic Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. 'Having children is why you're worried about your price for gas, it's why you're concerned about how much food costs You can't divorce being forced to carry an unwanted pregnancy from the economic realities of having a child,' Abrams told an interviewer on MSNBC. Okay? Not sure I follow that. After the abortion, we're still going to be driving cars, no? Then Biden stepped up to the microphones on Wednesday to repeat the same old gibberish. New England's regional power-grid operator is now warning millions of Americans in the Northeast of the potential for rolling blackouts this winter. It's the oil companies' fault, he said. But regardless, he's here to help. The president is releasing 15 million more barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. However, since the U.S. consumes 20 million barrels a day, this is quite literally a drop in the bucket. It's like putting a Band-Aid on a stab wound. Let's be clear, the winter fuel crisis facing the northeast is a microcosm of the problem facing the nation. Many of us scoffed at those crazy Californians when they started getting text messages in September pleading with them to 'turn off your appliances,' turn down the air conditioning and stop recharging the electric cars so as not to overwhelm the overtaxed energy grid. Only in California right? Wrong, the left's anti-human, environmental policies are having an impact coast to coast. The Biden White House has leased fewer acres, both offshore and on federal lands, for oil and gas development than any other administration in a similar period dating back to the end of World War II, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis. In the predominately Democratically controlled Northeast coal, oil and nuclear plants are being shut down faster than renewable-energy alternates can come online to replace them. Liberal New York state blocks pipeline construction. And don't even get me started on fracking. Despite sitting on one of the richest pockets of natural gas in the world, New York state and parts of Pennsylvania have banned it. Now, with the war in Ukraine, there may not be enough gas to go around. Stock up on winter socks. New England's regional power-grid operator is now warning millions of Americans in the Northeast of the potential for rolling blackouts this winter. The U.S. Energy Information Administration forecasts average household spending will increase for all heating fuels this winter with natural gas and heating oil leading the surge at 28% and 27% year-over-year respectively. To be clear, I believe in environmental conservationism and that climate change is real. I do not, however, buy into the hyperbole of the modern Democratic party that screams no cost is too high, no sacrifice too great and no suffering too painful to stand in the way of the clean energy future. Especially because it is always the average working man and woman who will pay the harshest price. So, here we are. Vermont is going to look and feel like Soviet Russia this winter. Democrats and the environmental extremists who vote for them should be thrilled. Of course, Biden and his administration don't really believe the garbage they spew. They pay lip service to the green activists in this party, while Biden begged Saudi Arabia to pump more oil. Hell, even our 'special envoy for climate' John Kerry's private family jet emitted over 300 metric tons of carbon since Biden took office. But now, the proverbial chickens have come home to roost and Democrats are about to pay a price in the fast-approaching midterm elections. In the predominately Democratically controlled Northeast coal, oil and nuclear plants are being shut down faster than renewable-energy alternates can come online to replace them. New polling shows Republicans gaining on Democrats and it seems increasingly likely that the GOP will ride a red wave to control of the House and quite possibly the Senate. To put it very simply, as James Carville famously said, 'it's the economy, stupid.' And Democrats are left scrambling. Democratic Pennsylvania Senate candidate John Fetterman said on a national TV last week that he has always supported fracking in his state, but he hasn't. 'I don't support fracking at all and I never have,' he told the left-wing YouTube channel Real Progress in Action in 2018 when he was running for lieutenant governor. The American public are not a stupid bunch, in fact, they are incredibly smart, and savvy and they know when they are being played. How much will President Biden and the Democrats flip-flop as we hurdle towards November 8th is anyone's guess. But with winter fast approaching and Americans left with no real solutions to this energy crisis, it seems like it's the Democrats' turn to pay up. Horrifying footage captured the moment a 42 year-old woman was bottled, shoved and throttled off a Washington DC bus after telling a feral mob of young passengers to stop swearing in front of a young child. The video shows red-haired Kyla Thurston, 42, being mobbed on Wednesday after she asked the group to stop using foul language while the group shrieks and swears with anger. Thurston struggles for nearly a minute until she is thrown off the bus at its next stop. No-one - including the bus's driver - tried to help save her from the onslaught of violence. Thurston had initially given up her seat to a woman with young children. 'After that, the kids were cursing,' Thurston told FOX. 'I was just like, 'You know, can you all stop the foul language? 'At that point, the kids became unruly. They started being disrespectful, like saying things to me. 'Then next thing you know, there were objects being throw at me, and I was just like, 'Thank You, Lord,' because throughout the whole incident the only thing I could recall was the kids hitting me and kicking me - and I had no defense.' Thurston said she asked a group of juveniles to stop cursing while on the bus, leading to her being hit by thrown bottles She is then thrown off the bus after it reaches its next stop Kyla Thurston, 42 , was attacked while riding a Washington D.C. Metrobus In 2022, the Metro Transit Police has reported 460 offenses on D.C.-area buses. This is an increase of 68 from the previous year. The Metro Police Department is currently investigating the attack and did not immediately respond to a request for comment by DailyMail.com. A spokesperson called the incident 'disturbing' and 'unacceptable.' During the attack, Thurston said she asked the driver to stop several times. The driver never responded and did not call police afterward. 'The bus driver made no attempt to stop the bus. He didn't alert local authorities or anything to my defense,' she said. 'Even after I'm yelling at the top of my lungs, 'Stop the bus let me off the bus,' the bus driver never stopped.' In addition to suffering emotionally from the incident, Thurston also suffered a bruised arm and hurt neck. Her jacket was also ripped. She said she will continue to ride the Metro because she 'don't fear nobody but God.' The unnamed bystander who captured the attack said they did so in order to help Thurston. They added that they watched people throw bottles at Thurston while others shove her, grab her neck and choke her as they continually tried to push her off the bus. 'Watching the video myself personally, it startled me - and I'm still startled about it,' she said. 'I didn't want to come forth at first - but I don't fear nobody but the Lord,' Thurston said she will be speaking with an investigator soon. The family has established a GoFundMe page to cover the expenses of getting Quintana's body back to Mexico for burial Quintana, who worked in construction, left behind three children and a wife The 48-year-old man who died Monday after falling onto subway tracks and being hit by a train after a scuffle was a father-of-three who was hurrying home to bring his wife to a doctor's appointment. Heriberto Quintana died Monday after bumping into a fellow passenger on the platform and knocking his phone onto the train tracks. When he refused to retrieve the phone, the two passengers fought and Quintana ended up on the tracks with a train barreling toward him at the Queens subway station. Hilda Rojas says she had been waiting for her husband to take her to a dialysis treatment appointment, but learned about his death when he failed to show up. She says she received a call from the hospital saying her husband was there. When she asked to speak with him and was told no, she knew something was wrong. Heriberto Quintana, 48 - a father of three - died Monday after falling onto Queens subway tracks Hilda Rojas, Quintana's widow, sobs as she says she wants 'justice' for her husband, who was her provider and helper Quintana was father to a 14-year-old as well as two adult children. He was from Mexico but had lived in the US for several decades Quintana's family is attempting to fundraise enough money to transport his body back to Mexico for burial Hilda Rojas learned of her husband's passing after she got a phone call from the hospital Monday night when he failed to show up to take her to a dialysis appointment The fatal scuffle occurred at the 74th street and Broadway at the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue station The incident scrambled NYC subway service in Queens for about three hours Monday evening The devastated widow told PIX11 through tears: 'I want justice for my husband because they took his life, just because of a phone. He was my helper. He was my provider, and now Im alone.' In an interview with CBS, Rojas said Quintana had been a devoted father to a 14-year-old and two adult children. She said he was a kind man who didn't fight with anyone. Quintana and Rojas had lived in the US for decades after immigrating from Mexico. Quintana worked in construction to support his family. His wife said he had recently changed jobs, which is why he had begun taking the train. One of Quintana's sons described the incident to PIX11: 'The conflict started by my dad accidentally pushing the guy, bumped him. And I guess the guy dropped his phone on the train tracks. And the guy got mad, and thats when the conflict started the fight. Its crazy, over a damn cell phone.' The family say they hope to be able to raise funds to transport Quintana's body back to Mexico for burial. Garcia appeared in cournt on Monday night. He was held in custody overnight and arraigned on Tuesday Garcia is seen being perp walked Tuesday afternoon after being charged with manslaughter Joanna Garcia wife of Carlos Garcia leaves the Queens Criminal court after her husbands arraignment in Queens Carlos Garcia, 50 appears before Judge Lentz at the Brooklyn Criminal Court for the murder of Herberto Quintana. He was remanded into custody on Tuesday Garcia allegedly got into a physical altercation with Quintana after the two bumped into one another on the Queens platform and Garcia's phone fell onto the tracks Carlos Garcia, 50, was charged Tuesday with manslaughter, following the incident. He had appeared in court on Monday night and was held in custody. According to ABC7, he does not have a significant criminal history. After Quintana bumped into Garcia causing his phone to fall onto the tracks, Garcia demanded Quintana go get his phone and when he refused, the two began arguing in Spanish and a shoving fight ensued. According to the NYPD, Garcia was removed from under the train with severe trauma to the body and transported by EMD to Elmhurst Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Quintana died from blunt force injuries and his death was ruled a homicide, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. He is at least the twelfth person to be shoved in front of a subway train so far this year, and the second to die. MTA President Richard Davey spoke about the incident Tuesday during a stop at Union Square. 'My god, please, de-escalate situations,' he said. 'We can get your phones or person effects that fall on the tracks. We do it all the time.' Though the MTA has been focused on placing more officers at subway stations in recent months, but despite officers being on the platform Monday, their presence doesn't always help. 'The police were on the platform yesterday when that incident occurred. 'In some of these senseless crimes that are occurring, even the presence of police hasn't been able to stem that,' said Davey. Despite consistent petty and violent crime occurring across the city this year, NYC Mayor Eric Adams claimed on Monday that it is merely a 'perception' that crime in the Big Apple is 'out of control.' Adams said on Monday that he and law enforcement are fighting the 'actual crime.' The current average of 'six crimes a day' on the subway does 'not giving the impression that it is out of control,' he said. He admitted that there are 'too many guns' on the streets of New York, but added that the NYPD has done an 'amazing job' confiscating thousands of firearms. The mayor, who was barely audible over the sound of sirens wailing in the background, added: 'We are dealing with actual crimes those eight homicides and the perception of fear that people are feeling. 'That's the combination I must deal with, that perception and the actual crime. But we can't get away with the fact that we have 3.5 million people using our subway system,' he said. 'My goal is to continue that deployment [of NYPD officers] and enhance that police coverage.' Upon his election, Adams vowed to crackdown on subway crime with the introduction of a designated train task force. The group has not yet made a dent in the worsening crime issue. In January, Adams also introduced his 'subway safety plan,' which put more than 1,000 extra cops per day in the city's subways. After 10-and-a-half months of the initiative, crime in the city's underground transportation tunnels remains upwards of 40% higher than the same period in 2021. A high school teacher in California was placed on leave after he was secretly recorded calling a student a 'defiant little brat kid' and saying 'I just want to slam her face up against the wall.' English teacher Robert Bean, 53, was recorded by a student during a class at Cajon High School in San Bernardino in a video that then went viral on TikTok. Since the video was uploaded a week ago it has spurred other current and former students of the school to post comments online sharing their own experiences with Bean. In the video, which starts as he is half the way through a sentence, Bean can be heard saying: 'because she thinks she's funny. She's a rude, defiant little brat kid that I just want to slam her face up against the wall.' He then says: 'That's how angry I get when people do this, and a lot of it's because I'm old school, guys. I'm 53 years...' English teacher Robert Bean, 53, has been placed on leave and an investigation is pending after he was recording saying he wanted to 'slam' a student's 'face up against the wall' The secret recording caused enough of a stir for other students of Cajon High School to come out and comment on Bean. Megan Soult is a former student who graduated 12 years ago. She told local media outlets that the English teacher made comments about an autoimmune disease that she developed when she was at the school. 'He embarrassed me, he humiliated me in front of my entire class, with my not only very private, but my very personal medical information,' Soult told KTLA. 'To see this come up this many years later and hear about how many people have brought this to the attention of the administrative staff at the school and nothing has still been done is just baffling.' She told Fox 11 that she reported him to the school for abusive behavior all the way back in 2009. 'I was bullied and harassed by him at a time when I really needed support and guidance from my teacher and I'll remember it forever,' she told the channel. Megan Soult was a student at Cajon High School 12 years ago and says she reported Bean for bullying in 2009 Cajon High School is a school in north Bernardino, California. Robert Bean has been teaching there for at least a decade 'He's done this stuff in the past. He's yelled at students. He's called them different slurs,' said Blaine Anderson, a current senior at Cajon. 'For him specifically, there was a line crossed when he made specific threats about a specific student. Not only was it unprofessional, that shouldnt have been on campus at all,' Mia Munoz, another current senior, told KTLA. Blaine Anderson, a current senior at Cajon, spoke with Fox 11 The San Bernardino City Unified School District issued a statement to KTLA saying: 'We have been monitoring the same social media posts and are aware of the comments. 'We have opened an investigation and posted a phone number where families can share relevant information to become part of the investigation.' In a similar statement the district told Fox 11: 'SBCUSD placed Mr. Bean on administrative leave this morning. We are looking into the allegations posted on social media. We are not able to share more about this situation because we are required to protect our employee's privacy in this matter.' Black Lives Matter protesters clashed with the LAPD as they attempted to stop the troubled Los Angeles City Council from voting on a new president Tuesday. A chanting mob of protesters called for halting the vote until Councilmembers Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo resign for their part in a 2021 meeting laced with crude, racist comments. A reporter even caught one protester - activist Joseph Williams - being manhandled by cops by the back of the neck as they tried to push them out of the council. Williams claimed afterward that he had been 'essentially brutalized by the LAPD.' The selection of Councilman Paul Krekorian to lead the chamber comes amid a week of turmoil and public outrage over the racist rants that threatened to freeze the Councils business and prompted the resignations of the former Council President Nury Martinez and a powerful labor leader who also attended the 2021 private meeting, Ron Herrera. Krekorian, the unanimous choice of the 10 Council members who attended a virtual meeting, the minimum necessary for a quorum to conduct business, said it was time for the city to begin to bridge gaps and restore trust in government. Williams (pictured left) claimed afterward that he had been 'essentially brutalized by the LAPD' A chanting mob of protesters called for halting the vote until Councilmembers Kevin de Leon (pictured right) and Gil Cedillo (pictured left) resign for their part in a 2021 meeting laced with crude, racist comments Protesters chant a slogan as they face off with police at the entrance of the Los Angeles City Hall in Los Angeles, Tuesday, October 18. The demonstrators demanded the city council stop its virtual meeting Tuesday until two of its members resign over racist remarks Community members confront with police officers during a protest to condemn the racist comments made in a 2021 recorded conversation by Los Angeles City Councilmen Gil Cedillo and Kevin de LeAn, former Council President Nury Martinez, and former L.A. County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera A reporter even caught one protester - activist Joseph Williams - being manhandled by cops by the back of the neck as they tried to push them out of the council. Protestors demonstrate outside City Hall have dominated council happenings since the leaked conversation LATEST: Police in riot gear push activists out of Los Angeles City Hall as they call on council members Gil Cedillo and Kevin de Leon to resign. The city council met virtually, elected a new president after Nury Martinez resigned amid racism scandal. More: https://t.co/1pVximkNlU pic.twitter.com/FAmsoAvdZD Kate Cagle (@KateCagle) October 18, 2022 He noted that the election of a Council president is typically a moment of celebration but instead Los Angeles faces 'one of the most challenging times a city has ever faced.' Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement he would work with Krekorian and the Council 'to help heal the wounds caused by the hateful words of a few.' The Council also took preliminary steps that could reshape the way government operates in the nation's second most-populous city. One proposal will explore expanding the number of Council seats, now set at 15. A second would overhaul the way the city adjusts Council district boundaries once every decade to account for shifts in population, formally known as redistricting, which played into the furor over the private meeting. The uproar was triggered by a leaked recording of racist comments from a nearly year-old meeting, which also provided an unvarnished look into the city's racial rivalries. The selection of Councilman Paul Krekorian to lead the chamber comes amid a week of turmoil and public outrage over the racist rants that threatened to freeze the Councils business Protestors dance outside City Hall while calling for the resignations of LA City Council members Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo Hispanic and indigenous communities joined the protests against the council over the weekend A brass band plays as women dance joining Indigenous communities from across California during a demonstration Leaders from Indigenous communities across California hold signs and march in the streets of Los Angeles The uproar was triggered by a leaked recording of racist comments from a nearly year-old meeting, which also provided an unvarnished look into the city's racial rivalries In the profanity-laced clip recorded in October 2021, Martinez can be heard calling colleague Mike Bonin's son 'a little monkey', and accuses him of raising him 'like a little white kid,' who needs a 'beatdown'. 'Let me take him around the corner and then I'll bring him back,' the former city council president added. 'I take a lot of hits, but my son? But let me be clear, people should not ask me for forgiveness. 'I can't forgive them because it's not my prerogative. It's the prerogative of a boy who's too young to really understand what's going on.' On Monday evening, Ron Herrera, head of the LA Federation of Labor, resigned from his position over the leaked audio clip which has sparked major backlash. Los Angeles City Councilmember Nury Martinez resigned after audio leaked of her calling a colleague's son a 'little monkey' Mike Bonin (left) and his partner Sean Arian (far right) with their adoptive son (center) Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, leader of the California Labor Federation, confirmed that the LA County official had handed in his resignation during an executive meeting. 'Last night, Ron Herrera resigned from his position as President of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor,' the statement read in part. 'The Executive Board of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor also calls on those elected officials who were present to follow President Herrera's example by immediately resigning as well.' 'Racism in any form has no place in the House of Labor,' the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor statement reads. 'It is unconscionable that those elected to fight for our communities of color would engage in repulsive and vile anti-Black, anti-LGBTQ, anti-Asian and anti-Oaxacan remarks that pit our working communities against each other. These sentiments will not be tolerated by our organization or those who we represent.' In an initial apology, the labor leader said that he felt remorse for his 'failure to stand up to racist and anti-black remarks.' LA City Council member Mike Bonin (pictured) and his adoptive son (left) were unknowingly subjected to derogatory remarks from Martinez and two other city council members in an October 2021 conversation 'There is no justification and no excuse for the vile remarks made in that room. Period. And I didn't step up to stop them and I will have to bear the burden of that cross moving forward,' the statement released by Herrera said. Those involved in the private meeting spent much of the time discussing how to safeguard Latino political power during the redrawing of council district boundaries. The California Legislative Black Caucus said the recording 'reveals an appalling effort to decentralize Black voices during the critical redistricting process.' Martinez stepped down last week, but two councilmen who participated in the meeting have so far resisted widespread calls for their resignations, including from President Joe Biden. The Council members, Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo, did not attend Tuesday's virtual meeting. Not long after the meeting started, Los Angeles police in riot gear faced off with yelling protesters outside a City Hall entrance Tuesday, demanding that the meeting be postponed until the two councilmen resign. The protest of about 50 people took place outside a door of City Hall, though the Council was meeting virtually with only the acting president and staff inside the chambers. Demonstrators chanted, 'No resignations, no meeting!' Police pushed backed protesters who retreated across the street without incident. On the leaked recording, Martinez makes racist remarks about the Black son of a white councilman and other crude comments. De Leon and Cedillo didnt object or joined in the offensive banter. Last week, protesters crowded into the Council chamber and angrily called for the councilmen to resign. Those complaints continued unabated during the virtual meeting Tuesday, as a long list of speakers called for the Council to suspend business until de Leon and Cedillo step down. Six inbound flights had to be diverted due to disruption caused by bomb hoax Stansted Airport said the runway was closed for 50 minutes before re-opening Essex Police said plane was moved to a 'secure part of the airport' following alert Did you witness this incident? Contact me: laurence.dollimore@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement Armed police have arrested three men at London Stansted Airport for allegedly making a bomb hoax on an easyJet flight to Amsterdam. 'Specialist officers' stormed the aircraft on Wednesday evening following reports of a 'security concern on a plane on the ground' shortly after 7.40pm. It came after the runway had to be closed for 50 minutes while the A319 passenger plane was moved to a 'secure area', as scores of other jets were left circling the skies above. Six inbound flights had to be diverted amid the disruption, while others were delayed by up to two hours. Video footage obtained by MailOnline shows the moment one of the suspects was led off the plane under the watch of armed police. In the clip, a passenger can be heard describing the incident as a 'joke that's gone really badly wrong'. Essex Police said in a statement: 'Our officers have worked quickly and robustly to resolve a security alert on board an EasyJet flight at Stansted, destined for Amsterdam, and arrest three people. 'We received a call reporting a security concern on a plane on the ground at the airport shortly after 7.40pm today.' It said the plane was moved to a secure location while they carried out their enquiries. It added: 'This meant that the runway was closed for just a short time, keeping wider disruption to a minimum, and allowing the airport to fully re-open quickly. An armed police officer can be seen boarding the easyJet flight to Amsterdam following a bomb hoax on the runway at London Stansted on Wednesday evening The runway had to be closed for 50 minutes while the A319 passenger plane (pictured) was moved to a 'secure area', as scores of other jets were left circling the skies above 'Specialist officers' stormed the aircraft on Wednesday evening following reports of a 'security concern on a plane on the ground' shortly after 7.40pm 'Specialist officers boarded the plane and removed three men who have all been arrested on suspicion of making a bomb hoax and they are currently in custody. 'Following a search of the plane we are satisfied there is nothing of concern on board.' The saga caused multiple delays, with flights both arriving to and departing from the airport up to two hours later than scheduled. Stansted Airport said earlier this evening: 'A flight due to depart from London Stansted to Amsterdam is currently parked on a remote stand while police conduct extra security checks. 'The airport's runway was closed for a short time but has now fully re-opened.' A spokesperson later told MailOnline: 'The runway was closed for 50 minutes between 7.45 and 8:35pm. 'During that period, six inbound flights were diverted to other airports.' Stansted Airport (pictured) bosses were forced to close the runway while moving the affected aircraft to a 'secure area', while scores of planes were left circling the skies above According to Air Live, a 'bomb threat' was made against the A319 passenger plane, sparking an immediate response from Essex Police Police have rushed to London Stansted following a 'security alert' on a plane set to fly to Amsterdam A flight to Barcelona appeared to be delayed by more than an hour following the security alert at Stansted on Wednesday evening It comes just days after police arrested a man over a Jet2 bomb scare believed to have been sparked by a hoax phone call from Turkey which forced RAF fighter jets to intercept a passenger plane and force it to make an emergency landing, also at London Stansted. Petrified travellers described scenes of chaos and panic onboard the flight from Dalaman in Turkey to Manchester after the A321 aircraft was diverted to Stansted by two Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon jets last week. Armed police surrounded the plane and searched the aircraft for a bomb, keeping up to 220 passengers including young families trapped inside - reportedly without giving them an explanation - for up to two hours. Detectives said that a man in his 30s had been arrested, adding that the scare was being treated as a hoax and that they were working with Turkish authorities. He has reached out to MP Steve Baker to apologise for the unfortunate mishap But it was picked up and broadcast through other livestreams in the area A Channel 4 News anchor has issued a grovelling apology after he was filmed referring to Tory minister Steve Baker as a 'c**t'. Krishnan Guru-Murthy had a 'robust' interview with the Minister for Northern Ireland on Wednesday about Suella Braverman's decision to step down as Home Secretary. After the interview, the live feed switched to Prime Minister Liz Truss's Downing Street home. Guru-Murthy believed he was no longer on air, but his comments were picked up by other livestream broadcasts nearby. In the footage, the presenter said: 'It wasn't a stupid question, Steve, you know it. I'm very happy to go up against you on [PM Liz] Truss any day. What a c**t.' Krishnan Guru-Murthy (pictured) conducted a 'robust' interview with the Minister for Northern Ireland on Wednesday about Suella Braverman's decision to step down as Home Secretary The audio has since sparked a social media frenzy. Mr Baker told Times Radio it was an 'unfortunate' mishap, but added: 'If it's in breach of his code of conduct I hope they sack him.' Last night Guru-Murthy issued an unreserved apology for the blunder. 'After a robust interview with Steve Baker MP I used a very offensive word in an unguarded moment off air,' he said. 'While it was not broadcast that word in any context is beneath the standards I set myself and I apologise unreservedly. I have reached out to Steve Baker to say sorry.' Mr Baker replied: 'I appreciate you apologising. Thank you.' After the interview, the live feed switched to Prime Minister Liz Truss's 10 Downing Street home and Guru-Murthy believed he was no longer on air. But his comments about Mr Baker (pictured) were picked up by other livestream broadcasts nearby The pair went head-to-head after Ms Braverman was forced to step down over sending a sensitive document from her personal email. The MP backed Ms Braverman in the interview, saying she showed 'great integrity' by acknowledging her mistake and tendering her resignation. Mr Baker said had it not been for the mistake, he had no doubt Ms Braverman would have continued on in her role - which Guru-Murthy disputed. The anchor noted Ms Braverman took 'clear potshots' at the PM in her resignation letter. She said when people made 'mistakes' - something Ms Truss has admitted - the right thing to do was quit. 'This government is looking like a joke,' Guru-Murthy said. 'This is another example of incompetence by this government, isn't it?' On Wednesday night Guru-Murthy issued an unreserved apology over the blunder. 'After a robust interview with Steve Baker MP I used a very offensive word in an unguarded moment off air,' he said. 'While it was not broadcast that word in any context is beneath the standards I set myself and I apologise unreservedly. I have reached out to Steve Baker to say sorry' But Mr Baker said 'tensions are bound to emerge at times of resignation' and he hoped Ms Truss will be able to 'reappoint Suella in the new year'. There is believed to have been a bust-up between Ms Braverman and Ms Truss - who were rivals in the Tory leadership contest - over immigration and visa policy last night. She was under pressure to sign off a plan to liberalise migration rules to help boost the economy, as part of Ms Truss's drive for growth. The former minister appears to have sent an email with details of the proposed policy to a parliamentary staffer. There was speculation she could have been trying to sabotage it. One Tory MP close to Ms Braverman told MailOnline of the security breach: 'It's the kind of thing that you give a wrap on the knuckles and carry on - unless you want to get rid of someone.' The MP said Ms Braverman 'wasn't happy over their stance on immigration' and warned more resignations could be imminent. They added: 'I get the impression we're going to get an avalanche.' Border closures must be 'used sparingly and only in extreme situations' It noted the shutting of the entire school system was 'wrong' The 97-page Fault Lines review urged the government to learn from its mistakes Australia's Covid response has been slammed for politically-driven health orders and the excessive use of lockdowns, finding they ultimately failed to protect the nation's most vulnerable people,. A damning independent review by former secretary to the prime minister Peter Shergold urged federal and state governments to learn from their mistakes and overhaul their processes in order to restore trust. The report, funded by the Paul Ramsay Foundation, John and Myriam Wylie Foundation and Andrew Forrest's Minderoo Foundation, found closing the country's schools was wrong. 'It was wrong to close entire school systems, particularly once new information indicated that schools were not high-transmission environments,' the review found. An independent review into Australia's Covid response found actions taken exacerbated existing issues within the country, noting 'overreach' must be avoided in future crises The 97-page Fault Lines review urged federal and state governments to learn from their mistakes and overhaul processes in order to restore trust in the decision making process 'For children and parents [particularly women], we failed to get the balance right between protecting health and imposing long-term costs on education, mental health, the economy and workforce outcomes. 'Rules were too often formulated and enforced in ways that lacked fairness and compassion. Such overreach undermined public trust and confidence in the institutions that are vital to effective crisis response.' On Thursday, Victorian Premier Dan Andrews defended his Covid measures which resulted in the state enduring the world's longest lockdown - lasting 262 days. 'There are many things, many many things that we wish we didnt have to do, many many decisions we wish we didnt have to make,' Mr Andrews said. 'Obviously that is why when I say these decisions were not made lightly and they were the subject of debate and discussion and very careful consideration its for exactly those reasons because there are consequences. 'The challenge is to weigh up those consequences versus having death rates like they did in Italy, in most of the United States and like they did in the United Kingdom. 'We certainly avoided some of the scenes, some of the things that we saw in different parts of the world.' Victorian Premier Dan Andrews defended his Covid measures which resulted in the state having the world's longest lockdown lasting 262 days Mr Andrews then took aim at how the rest of Australia mocked the state saying, 'we showed the rest of the country'. 'We showed the rest of the country, many of whom thought it was good sport to have a go at Victorians, that when we stick together and have that sense of unity we can achieve anything and that is what we did.' The review was carried out over a six month period and involved more than 350 confidential submissions and consultations from health experts, economists, public servants, business and community groups. It consisted of more than 160 submissions, 3,000 hours of research and policy and data analysis. The review concluded various lockdowns and shutting of borders should have been used as a 'last resort'. 'It was wrong to close entire school systems, particularly once new information indicated that schools were not high-transmission environments,' the review states 'Too many of Australia's lockdowns and border closures were the result of policy failures in quarantine, contact tracing, testing, disease surveillance and communicating effectively the need for preventive measures like mask wearing and social distancing,' the review stated. 'Lockdowns, especially when targeted at a particular location, brought a deep sense of inequity among those who were most restricted. Lockdowns, overall, created a universal feeling that the pandemic was being policed rather than managed. 'As with lockdowns, border closures particularly between states and territories should be used sparingly and only in extreme situations. They should be applied with greater empathy and flexibility.' The review noted despite the pandemic affecting everyone, 'its burden was not shared equally'. The review concluded various lockdowns and shutting of borders should have been used as a 'last resort' DAMNING QUOTES FROM COVID REPORT 'It was wrong to close entire school systems, particularly once new information indicated that schools were not high-transmission environments.' 'Rules were too often formulated and enforced in ways that lacked fairness and compassion. Such overreach undermined public trust and confidence in the institutions that are vital to effective crisis response.' 'Lockdowns, especially when targeted at a particular location, brought a deep sense of inequity among those who were most restricted. Lockdowns, overall, created a universal feeling that the pandemic was being policed rather than managed. Advertisement It stated that the failure to plan adequately for the 'differing impact of Covid' meant the disease 'spread faster and more widely'. The review also noted while Australia had early success in limiting infection rates and deaths, in comparison to other countries, this success 'started to falter in 2021'. 'Cases and deaths have risen even further during 2022, dramatically reversing our early competitive advantage,' the review notes. 'As of September 30, 2022, Australia has recorded 378,617 cases per million people in 2022. 'The latest available official data shows that by May 2022 excess deaths in Australia had spiked to almost 359 per million people in 2022.' The document also said the 'absence of transparency' in the expert health advice 'helped mask political calculations'. 'Political calculation was never far from the surface of COVID-19 decisions,' the review stated. 'It is neither realistic nor desirable to remove politics from decision-making in an accountable democracy. 'But the absence of transparency in the expert advice going to leaders helped mask political calculations. 'It was difficult to gauge the trade-offs that were being considered between health and economic outcomes. It made it easier for leaders to be selective in the 'expert advice' they followed.' The review also noted while Australia had early success in limiting infection rates and deaths, in comparison to other countries, this success 'started to falter in 2021' The paper went on to explain the damning effect overreach had on the confidence of Australian citizens. 'Such overreach undermined public trust and confidence in the institutions that are vital to effective crisis response,' it read. 'Many Australians came to feel that they were being protected by being policed. These actions could have been avoided if we had built fairness into our planning decisions and introduced compassion into their implementation.' The review recommended six measures to be implemented in order to avoid the same mistakes being repeated in another health crisis. These included; establishing an independent, data-driven Australian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, clearly defining national cabinet roles and responsibilities in a crisis, publicly releasing modelling used in government decision-making, regular pandemic scenario testing and the sharing and linking of data between jurisdictions. Kanye West has said he 'absolutely' does not regret his anti-Semitic Twitter tirade but offered up a half-hearted apology. The rapper sat down with Piers Morgan and addressed the Jewish community, before doubling down on some of his antics. 'I will say I'm sorry for the people that I hurt with the 'death con' [comments],' Ye said on the show with the British talk show host. 'I feel like I caused hurt and confusion. And I'm sorry for the families of the people that had nothing to do with the trauma that I had been through, and that I used my platform where you say hurt people hurt people. I was hurt.' West repeatedly interrupted Piers Morgan during the interview but then refused to be interrupted by Morgan At times, the rapper looked upset and disinterested when pressed by the British TV host West wore a '2024' hat during the Piers Morgan interview, a sign that he may still be considering a 2024 presidential run The rapper and clothing designer said on 'Piers Morgan Uncensored' that he was only referencing certain Jewish people who he believes have screwed him over. Less than two weeks ago, the rapper wrote in a tweet: 'I'm a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I'm going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE. Deafcon - also known as defense readiness condition - is an alert used by the US Armed Forces to indicate how quickly the military can be deployed during deadly emergencies and attacks. Ye was pressed by Morgan on whether his anti-Semitic remarks were racist, and he says they were, although at one point, the rapper says 'it's not racism' when asked about his comments. 'When you insult the Jewish people and say you're going 'death con 3' on the Jewish people, that is as racist as anything you say you've been through,' Morgan said. 'Racism is racism and you know that I think. Don't you.' At the time of his initial tweets, West claimed that he couldn't be anti-Semitic because all Black people are also Jewish. 'The funny thing is I actually can't be Anti Semitic because black people are actually Jew also. You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda,' Kanye wrote last week. The rapper's Twitter account was later suspended. In a statement Twitter confirmed that West was locked out of his account. In the interview, Ye clarified that he wanted to apologize to the Jews who did nothing wrong. West's comments were specifically geared towards Jewish Hollywood executives for their treatment of Black entertainers. Ye had also previously leaned in on stereotypes about Jewish people owning the banks, calling out JPMorgan leaders. It had been less than three days since he had returned to the social media app after being banned by previous ownership. Twitter's new owner, Elon Musk, had reviewed his initial suspension and then welcomed him back with open arms. 'Welcome back to Twitter, my friend,' Musk tweeted on October 8. West's current Twitter page shows a spot where a tweet used to be, stating that the message 'violated the Twitter Rules.' Before he was once again kicked off, he was able to tweet twice about cancel culture and the current protests underway in Iran. He later tweeted he would be 'going death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE' while bringing back his 'White Lives Matter' T-shirt West, 45, defended his anti-Semitic comments in yet anothe rbizarre outburst while at a studio with new beau Juliana Nalu During his Wednesday interview with Morgan, the rapper accused the British television host of 'being a Karen' and not 'holding accountability to his pain.' The interviewer said that he did acknowledge Ye's troubles, but that 'I think you don't understand the pain that you have been causing with some of these comments.' Ye also says that Morgan is trying to 'pull him' back to the 1960s and 'a week ago' rather than living in the present and dealing with the now. As Morgan attempts to give Ye advice on how he can grow and progress from this moment, the rapper abruptly changes the topic by asking 'how much money are you worth?' After the TV host responds, 'not as much as you, sadly,' Kanye says 'why would I listen to you.' In a Monday evening interview with NewsNation's Chris Cuomo, West launched into another anti-Semitic rant, saying that a 'Jewish underground media mafia' is ruining his career. West complained a 'mafia' of Jewish media executives attacked his White Lives Matter stunt at the Paris Fashion Week and are always calling him a rapper instead of a billionaire. 'When I wore that White Lives Matter t-shirt, the Jewish underground media mafia already started attacking me,' Ye said from the back seat of a car. 'They canceled my store, SoFi stadium shows,' he claimed. 'Right, they have the press saying on 78 outlets that when I was arguing with Pete Davidson and Trevor Noah, they called me an abuser for arguing with people about my ex-wife and my family and when I get to see my kids and when I don't. 'And they just immediately disrespect me, they keep this crazy narrative going. 'They never call me a billionaire,' he continued. 'We never talk about even one right here, Hey, tycoon, billionaire, visionary, inventor. These are never used.' In that interview, Ye claimed that the 'Jewish people that I'm talking about' have a certain 'privilege' and he is now 'calling out the Jewish community as a whole.' Cuomo tried to assure the rapper there is no secret group of wealthy Jews colluding to harm his career, saying it is 'either a figment of your imagination or a projection of your prejudice. 'You may have had bad business dealings with people, OK,' the disgraced CNN anchor said. 'It's about those people, it's not about religion or faith. 'And I know that you are intelligent and understand that when you target people because of their faith, other people may do the same,' Cuomo told the 45-year-old rapper, adding that people 'may be abused or killed because of what they believe and who they are. 'We won't tolerate that,' Cuomo declared. 'And I won't tolerate it as a black person,' Kanye interjected as he doubled down on the idea of a Jewish cabal, noting the large number of Hollywood executives who are Jewish. In an interview from the back seat of a car Monday night, Kanye West launched into another anti-Semitic rant, blaming a 'Jewish underground media mafia' for ruining his career Disgraced CNN anchor Chris Cuomo tried to assure the rapper there is no secret group of wealthy Jews colluding to harm his career 'That's different than saying there's a mafia and they act as Jews in some was as opposed to just being businessmen,' Cuomo responded. 'One plays to a prejudice, the other one just plays to people in an ugly business. So you may have your feelings about it, just don't ascribe it to their faith,' the rapper said. On Wednesday a source close to the situation told the New York Post that Cuomo, who just recently joined the television station, was furious over how the interview looked as the 'No Church in the Wild' rapper took the call from a dimly lit car. 'Cuomo tried to get Ye to do the interview in the studio,' the source said. 'Chris was insulted that he sat down with Tucker Carlson and that all he got was a Zoom interview from his car.' 'Chris thought it was at least going to be well-lit,' the source said. 'He wouldn't have accepted that at CNN.' Employees at NewsNation also expressed anger over the show and Cuomo's decision to give a platform for the rapper, according to sources. 'People didn't want to appear on the [other two] shows following Chris Cuomo's interview because they didn't want to talk about anti-Semitism and to give Kanye more attention,' a source told the New York Post. That was just another interview in a long line of sit-downs that put the rapper in the spotlight. Owens and West promoting his White Lives Matter t-shirts at his show in Paris after he made several anti-Semitic comments Floyd's family have since lodged a $250million lawsuit against the star over the comments, calling them 'repugnant' and saying he used 'false statements' to 'promote his brands' In an interview with former rapper Noreaga aka N.O.R.E and DJ EFN on their Revolt TV's Drinks Champs podcast that 'the Jewish media blocked me out. 'This s**t lit, right? I'm lit right? I'm lit,' the rapper said in the podcast, released on Sunday, after JP Morgan Chase ended its relationship with West 'JP Morgan, I put $140 million in JP Morgan, and they treated me like s**t. So if JP Morgan Chase is treating me like that, how are they treating the rest of y'all?' In other parts of the interview, West said that 'Jewish people control the black voice,' and sarcastically stated that the 'Jewish media' would cancel one of the hosts for saying: 'F**k Black Lives Matter.' And later in his Drinks Champs interview, West claimed contrary to the coroner's report that fentanyl caused George Floyd's death in 2020. Floyd's family have issued a cease-and desist letter to West, 45, for the comments he made on the Drink Champs podcast, which has now been taken down West claimed that George Floyd was killed by a fentanyl overdose, instead of suffocation at the hands of police brutality 'He said a prayer for eight minutes, they hit him with the fentanyl. If you look, the guy's knee wasn't even on his neck like that.' Bizarrely, West goes on to say that Floyd's death made him think of his 'friend' Virgil Abloh, the fashion designer who passed away in November 2021 following a short battle with cardiac angiosarcoma, a rare, aggressive form of cancer. He was 41 years old. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, it was announced that West's interview on The Shop would not air. The show's co-host, Maverick Carter ,said in a statement that the it was pulled was because West 'used to reiterate more hate speech and extremely dangerous stereotypes.' Carter's usual co-host, LeBron James, was not present for the taping. After the interview, Floyd's family launched a $250million lawsuit against the star over the comments, calling them 'repugnant' and saying he used 'false statements' to 'promote his brands'. Drink Champs have been forced to delete the entire episode after a fierce backlash, with host N.O.R.E apologizing for his guest's comments. The father-of-four said that he is being disrespected by being called a rapper, because he is the 'richest black man of all time, worth $11billion' When asked about N.O.R.E's apology, West said: 'He's under a lot of pressure, if you look at the first thing he says, N.O.R.E. does an interview with Rosenberg. 'He is a good guy. Like he said, he called me this morning. He said, 'Maybe politics is a little bit too much for me.' Everybody back up off of N.O.R.E. 'What's the exact thing I was saying? I said the Jewish media controls so many things. 'It's not all the Jewish people, but there's specifically Jewish people in media that are in power that try to, they bought the black voice, but they haven't been able to buy my voice. 'So instead they blackballed me. They threatened people to not interview me. They threatened people to get away from me.' On Tuesday, Ye stepped out with his new girlfriend, Juliana Nalu. 24, and spoke about his decision to wear a 'White Lives Matter' shirt during a recent fashion week appearance. West said: 'I feel like Black Lives Matter is a like warm water, it's a hot shower, and White Lives Matter is a cold shower. 'The funny thing about woke culture is like, woke culture is not really woke like that.' The rapper, who has a history of mental illness, appeared at the Nashville premiere of Candace Owen's new documentary, The Greatest Lie Ever Sold, which accuses the BLM organization of misappropriating millions of dollars in donations In the same rant, he went on to say: 'I love rappers. Rappers are artists. 'But when media calls me a rapper specifically to not bring up the fact that I'm worth $11 billion, that I'm the richest black man of all time, that I'm a billionaire and I'm a tycoon, that I'm a visionary. 'And if I say that, if I say those three things, then they'll say I'm a narcissist, right? But they push you down so much that you got to fight just to say who you are.' In response to Kanye's antics, Jewish community members across the country and the world have pushed back on his words, calling them 'dangerous.' West has been in the hot seat recently for his White Lives Matter T-shirt, which he was seen recently wearing to his daughter's game (pictured) Earlier this week, the Holocaust Museum in Los Angeles invited the Chicago rapper to visit their exhibitions. The museum said in an Instagram post: 'Words matter and words have consequences Ye. 'We urge you to come visit us at Holocaust Museum LA to understand just how words can incite horrific violence and genocides. 'The Holocaust started with only words that sadly begat stereotypes, racial and religious tropes and blaming others and led to the murder of six million Jews.' According to the American Jewish Council, Jewish people are the targets of 60 percent of religious hate crimes in America despite making up two percent of the population. She informed a nearby security guard who told her to stop being childish A woman who took a picture of a teenager who groped her at a bus station was staggered to be told by police that the case would be shelved due to a lack of evidence. The force reopened the investigation only after the 25-year-old victim passed on her photographs of the tagged groper to her local newspaper. When a journalist contacted Derbyshire Police, officers issued a public appeal and within days, Daniel Oakes had been arrested. The 19-year-old is now behind bars after he pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual assault and was jailed for 26 weeks. Daniel Oakes, 19, was sentenced to six months in prison for a sexual assault of a woman in Derby bus station on September 22 Oakes tried to hide his face as the woman took photos of him - which ended up being vital for the case The victim said: I felt he would have been easily traceable with the tag on his ankle. Im happy hes now been convicted, but it shouldnt have taken third-party intervention to have got to this point. The victim said that she had been left feeling isolated and alone as a result of the response from police and a security guard at Derby bus station, who had threatened to remove her when she reported the sex assault. She was told to stop being childish and get on her bus. The victim said: I experienced a significant lack of help and support from not only the police, but the security staff at the bus station, who dealt with the matter very poorly. She added: I was treated like the crazy one. I needed help and none was given. Oakes was sentenced on October 6 at Chesterfield Magistrates Court over the incident. Oakes must also sign on to the sex offender register for the next seven years. The woman informed a nearby security guard that she had been groped, she was told to stop being childish and get on her bus The victim told Derbyshire Live he had approached her wearing an ankle tag meaning that he was a recent offender as she sat on a bench waiting for a bus in broad daylight. Within seconds the teenager had assaulted her. She immediately went to report the incident but was given short shrift by security, so she went back and confronted her assailant and ended up scuffling with Oakes. Thats when security came over and threatened to remove me from the building for being aggressive, she said. It is not clear whether Oakes was wearing a curfew tag, which checks if an offender is where theyre meant to be at certain hours of the day, or a location tag, which monitor an offenders location 24/7. Derbyshire Police initially claimed that a full and proportionate investigation had taken place, but that no offender was able to be identified causing the case to be filed. However, police later said that although it had been earmarked for filing, it first needed a sergeant to review whether the images were of good enough quality for an identification to be made. Once that was done, a public appeal was launched and Oakes was arrested. Police added: We are sorry that the service this victim received did not meet the level that she, or we, would expect. A spokesman for Derby City Council said: We set standards for our contracted security staff which are continually reviewed. Following this case, were working with our security team to make staff better aware of how to manage this type of incident with the support of Police. Our aim is to maintain a bus station which is safe for all, and for members of the public to feel reassured that any issues will be dealt with appropriately. NASA was able to detect what is considered to be the brightest explosion in space following the collapse of a star into a massive black hole. The space agency's Swift and Fermi missions detected an exceptional cosmic blast that featured long-lasting pulses of high-energy radiation. The event swept over the Earth on Sunday, October 9, and came from what is known as a gamma-ray burst (GRB), which is the most powerful class of explosions in the universe and is one of the most luminous events that mankind knows. Massive Cosmic Explosion At the time of the event, a wave of X-rays and gamma rays passed through our solar system, which triggered detectors aboard NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, Neils Gehrels Swift Observatory, and Wind spacecraft as well as others. Telescopes around the world also turned to the site to study the aftermath of the explosion and new observations continue to monitor the situation. The explosion, known as GRB 221009A, provided an unexpectedly exciting start to the 10th Fermi Symposium, a gathering of gamma-ray astronomers in Johannesburg, South Africa, as per NASA. A Fermi deputy project scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, Judy Racusin, who is attending the conference, said that the meeting kicked off with a "bang." The signal of the explosion came from the direction of the constellation Sagitta and had traveled an estimated 1.9 billion years to reach our planet. Astronomers theorize that it represents the birth cry of a new black hole that formed in the heart of a massive star that collapsed under its own weight. According to the Indian Express, when the event occurs, the budding black hole attracts powerful streams of particles that are traveling at nearly the speed of light. When these jets successfully pierce through the star, it emits X-rays and gamma rays in all directions. NASA's NICER X-ray telescope and a Japanese detector called Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image (MAXI), in April this year were linked to create OHMAN (Orbiting High-energy Monitor Alert Network). Read Also: Black Hole Seen 'Burping Out' Star 3 Years After Devouring the Cosmic Body Birth of a Black Hole The explosion also provided an amazing inaugural opportunity for the two linked experiments to observe. With the link, NICER automatically and rapidly turns to explosions detected by MAXI, a capability that previously needed interventions by scientists on the ground. NICER science lead at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Zaven Arzoumanian, said in an agency press statement that OHMAN provided an automated alert for NICER to follow up within three hours. This means that future opportunities could result in a response time of only a few minutes. The light from GRB 221009A provides new insights into stellar collapse, black hole birth, the behavior and interaction of matter near the speed of light, the conditions in a distant galaxy, and many others. Astronomers believe that they may not detect another GRB such as this one for the next decades. Astronomers added that the exceptional brightness of the cosmic explosion is due to its relative closeness to Earth compared to other GRBs. a Fermi LAT Collaboration member, Roberta Pillera, said that the burst is much closer than typical GRBs and provides many details for experts to study, SciTechDaily reported. Related Article: VIDEO: Seattle Witnesses Massive Flash of Light in Night Sky That Turns Out to Be a Meteor @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A friend of murdered Californian student Kristin Smart who was with her on the night she died almost 30 years ago has said he was relived her killer has been finally convicted - but they will not rest until her body is found. Smart was a 19-year-old studying at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo when she vanished on May 25, 1966. On Tuesday a fellow student, Paul Flores, now 45, was convicted of her murder. 'I'm glad that justice has been served and that Paul has been found guilty, but as long as Kristin Smart remains missing - there is still work that needs to be done,' said Trevor Boelter, a friend of Smart's. He told the Sun: 'My hope is that they will find Kristin and return her to the Smart family - justice is one thing, but closure is another. Kristin deserves to go home.' Kristin Smart (left) was murdered in May 1996 after a party attended by Trevor Boelter (right). Boelter testified in August at the trial of her now-convicted killer, Paul Flores Kristin vanished on her way back to her dorm after a night of drinking at a local party Flores will be sentenced on December 9 and prosecutors may be leaning on him in the intervening weeks to tell them where the body is, and reduce his sentence. During the three-month trial, Boelter testified about the night Smart was last seen alive, when their group of college friends attended a party. Paul Flores is shown in an unrelated arrest photo from 1996, when he was 19. He was never charged over Kristin's death at the time Boelter on August 3 told the jury that Smart was attractive and flirtatious, who teasingly introduced herself to him as 'Roxy'. He said they kissed, and Smart - who others testified had been drinking heavily - grabbed him by the hand, and led him into the bathroom. Her persona dramatically changed, Boelter testified, with Smart twice asking if she was ugly, to which he responded 'no' both times. She then asked him who at the party he thought she should spend the night with. Boelter left after Smart said she needed to use the bathroom, and he said that Paul Flores was lurking outside the door. He asked Boelter: 'What happened in there?' Boelter replied that nothing had happened, and Flores laughed. Boelter said his path crossed with Smart's twice more during the evening. Once, he noticed she was uncomfortable with another man - not Flores - who he helped Smart get rid of. Paul Flores is seen standing to receive the verdict in Monterey County Superior Court, California, on Tuesday Paul Flores was charged with murder, while his 81-year-old father Ruben (pictured) was charged with being an accessory after the fact. Ruben was found not guilty Attorney Harold Mesick reacts on Tuesday after the jury acquitted Ruben Flores of helping his son, Paul Flores, cover up the murder of Cal Poly student Kristin Smart Finally, he saw Smart for a third and final time as he was leaving the party, and Smart again took his hand and kissed him. He rebuffed her advances, however, and left. Smart left the party with Flores, who said he was helping her return to her dorm. She was never seen again, and police cadaver dogs picked up scent in Flores' room. But there was not enough evidence to charge him, prosecutors said, until last year, when he was finally arrested - thanks, in part, to a true crime podcast, Your Own Backyard, which featured fresh interviews. Flores' father Ruben, now 81, was also arrested and charged with being an accessory after the fact. Prosecutors alleged he helped his son move Smart's body from underneath the deck behind their home. Forensic scientists could not say with absolute certainty that a human body had been buried there, and Ruben Flores was acquitted on Tuesday. Smart's father, Stan, on Tuesday night said the family was relieved, but the fight to return the teenager to her family continued. 'After 26 years, with today's split verdicts, we learned that our quest for justice for Kristin will continue,' Stan Smart told a press conference - during which a reporter fainted. Stan Smart, the father of Kristin, is pictured on Tuesday afternoon at a press conference following the verdict Stan Smarts statement following the verdicts in the murder trial of his daughter, #kristinsmart pic.twitter.com/biFgN0auBj Neil Hebert (@Neil_Hebert) October 18, 2022 'This has been an agonizingly long journey, with more downs than ups, but we are grateful and appreciate the diligence and energy of the two juries to thoroughly review the facts and reach their decision.' He said the family's 'faith in the justice system has been renewed,' and thanked the jury and podcast maker Chris Lambert. Smart added: 'To our Kristin: Almost three decades ago, our lives were irreparably changed on the night you disappeared. 'Know that your spirit lives on in each and every one of us, every day. Not a single day goes by where you aren't missed, remembered, loved and celebrated. Judge Jennifer O'Keefe thanked the jury for their service, after reading out the verdict. 'I wish to express to you appreciation and that of the parties for your service in this case,' she said. 'It is a great personal sacrifice to serve as a juror. You have been very attentive and conscientious throughout this case.' Outside court, Ruben Flores said he was relieved he was acquitted, but saddened by the guilty verdict for his son. 'They had so much stuff they made up,' he said of the prosecution. 'It was about feelings. It wasn't about facts.' Asked how he felt when he heard his son found guilty, he replied: 'I don't know. Just holding on, that's all.' Judge Jennifer O'Keefe on Tuesday reads out the verdict to the court Paul Flores is seen being led out of court after the verdict was handed down Kristin was last seen alive at 2am on May 26. She was walking home from a party with Paul Flores, heading towards the area where their dorms were. He told police she walked back to her room, but cadaver dogs detected the scent of a corpse from his room when they searched it after Kristin's disappearance Harold Mesick, Ruben Flores's attorney, said the case has been the one he is 'most invested in on a personal level.' He said his client was 'not just not guilty; he is absolutely innocent.' Mesick added: 'He never should have been charged, and I'm very pleased with the outcome. Love our system of justice.' He condemned what he said was a rush to judgement. 'There is just so much animosity towards this man and his family. There's so much hate, and I really have never understood it. I understand that people are upset that Kristin is missing, I understand they want a person to be responsible for that,' Mesick said. 'But just the 'let's lynch 'em, let's burn 'em, let's hang 'em, let's kill 'em,' I don't know where that came from in this country. 'And I wish the community who still feels that way would disabuse themselves of those feelings.' Mesick said Ruben Flores now has to go home 'and rebuild the deck that was destroyed.' He said he feels there is 'reasonable inference' Smart is still alive and that he thought Paul Flores' attorney will likely file for a new trial since 'there are plenty of grounds.' 'They did not prove her death,' he said. Tory MP Sir Charles Walker was 'livid' as he lashed out at 'inexcusable' behaviour during the 'chaotic' Commons fracking vote, warning his party could shed 200 seats at the next general election 'unless we get our act together'. In an extraordinary outburst on BBC News, Sir Charles said he had not seen 'anything like it' after he and Conservative MPs were initially told they would lose the whip if they voted down Liz Truss' fracking bill - which was rebranded as a confidence vote in the Prime Minister. But chaotic scenes unfolded shortly before the vote at 7pm on Wednesday after climate minister Graham Stuart announced that it was not being treated as a vote of confidence - which was apparently news to Tory whips. There were then reports of Tory MPs being 'dragged in' to vote with the Government. Labour MP Chris Bryant called for an investigation into what he described as 'bullying' tactics that were 'completely out of order'. Amid the carnage, Truss' Chief Whip Wendy Morton and her deputy Craig Whittaker stormed out of the Commons and declared they were resigning. One reportedly said: 'I don't give a f**k anymore.' Downing Street later claimed they would be staying in their posts. Although Ms Truss won the vote by 326 to 230, it followed another tumultuous day in which Home Secretary Suella Braverman resigned for reportedly using her private email for government business. She was replaced by former transport secretary Grant Shapps. After the vote, Sir Charles, MP for Broxbourne since 2005, said he is leaving Parliament at the next general election voluntarily. He said: 'Unless we get our act together and behave like grown-ups, I'm afraid many hundreds of my colleagues, perhaps 200, will be leaving at the behest of their electorate.' He said the scenes were a 'pitiful reflection on the Conservative Parliamentary Party at every level' and it 'reflects really badly, obviously, on the Government of the day'. And he added: 'I really shouldn't say this but I hope that all those people that put Liz Truss in Number 10, I hope it was worth it. Tory MP Sir Charles Walker (pictured) was 'livid' tonight as he lashed out at the 'inexcusable' behaviour surrounding the 'chaotic' fracking vote in the House of Commons, before warning that his party could shed 200 seats at the next general election 'unless we get our act together' The scenes in the division lobbies - captured by Labour MP Chris Bryant in defiance of Commons rules - were the latest evidence of the wheels falling off Liz Truss's administration 'I hope it was worth it for the ministerial red box. I hope it was worth it to sit around the Cabinet table, because the damage they have done to our party is extraordinary.' He continued: 'I've had enough of talentless people putting their tick in the right box, not because it is in the national interest but because it is in their own personal interest to achieve ministerial position.' Mr Bryant said there was pandemonium outside the division lobbies ahead of the vote - Tory MPs opposed to lifting the fracking moratorium uncertain what would happen to them if they sided with the opposition. He said Alex Stafford, Tory MP for Rother Valley, was bundled into the 'no' lobby. 'There was a bunch of Conservative members obviously completely uncertain whether they were allowed to vote with Labour or against it,' he told Sky News. 'There was a group including several Cabinet ministers who were basically shouting at them. At least one member was physically pulled through the door into the voting lobby. That is completely out of order. 'I know that Therese Coffey was in the group. I know that Jacob Rees-Mogg was in the group, and there were others as well. The group all moved forward with one member. 'It was Alex Stafford. He was, to my mind, physically manhandled into the lobby.' After declaring that the vote was an issue of confidence, which meant it could have collapsed the government, Ms Truss seemed to change her mind when it became clear she would have to suspend dozens of her MPs. That is said to have prompted a confrontation with Ms Morton and Mr Whittaker, culminating in them storming out and telling colleagues they had resigned. Mr Whittaker reportedly said: 'I am f***ing furious and I don't give a f*** anymore.' But in another twist, Downing Street sources insisted they had not departed. By 9pm, Ms Coffey was telling reporters outside the Carlton Club - where with exquisite timing the Cabinet was due to attend a dinner for the centenary of the agreement that sunk Lloyd George's government - Ms Morton had won a 'great victory' by defeating the Labour motion. And No10 confirmed at 9.49pm that the pair were remaining in post. The scenes in the division lobbies - captured on camera by Mr Bryant in defiance of Commons rules - were the latest evidence of the wheels falling off Ms Truss's administration. Hours earlier Ms Braverman was forced to resign, ostensibly for breaching protocol by sending an email from her personal account to a contact revealing details of an announcement on immigration policy. But in another hammer blow for the PM's chances of clinging on, she also complained that the government was breaking promises on migration. She swiped that when people made 'mistakes' - something Ms Truss has admitted - the right thing to do was quit. Suella Braverman (left) dramatically quit as Home Secretary today as Liz Truss's (right) crisis deepened In a letter, Ms Braverman said she was resigning for breaching processes by sending an email from her personal account about a forthcoming ministerial statement on immigration Ms Truss responded with a brief letter saying it is 'important the Ministerial Code is upheld' Ms Truss responded with a much shorter letter saying it is 'important the Ministerial Code is upheld'. She quickly installed Mr Shapps - previously a strident critic and Rishi Sunak supporter - as a replacement. MPs have started describing the Cabinet as a 'caretaker' government. Many do not believe Ms Truss can survive until the Halloween Budget regardless of divisions over who should take over. One of her staunchest supporters, former Brexit minister Lord Frost, said she needs to go. Labour had tabled a motion trying to ban fresh drilling and Tory whips told MPs it was a 'confidence motion'. But a hardcore group of MPs, including environmentalists and those in seats threatened with new drilling vowed to ignore them. No Tories voted against the government but 40 abstained - including Kwasi Kwarteng, who was chancellor until last week. Business Secretary Mr Rees-Mogg said: 'Late in the day, a junior official at 10 Downing Street sent a message through to the front bench that it was not a vote of confidence and nobody else was aware of that. 'The whips were not aware of that, I was not aware of that and most members thought that it was a vote of confidence. It was simply one of those unfortunate miscommunications that occasionally happens.' Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is expected to investigate claims of bullying outside voting lobbies after several MPs said they were shocked by what they saw. Labour MPs reported screaming and shouting and Tory MPs being dragged in to vote with the Government. Shadow minister Anna McMorrin said she saw one Tory MP 'in tears' in the lobby. One Conservative MP who saw the 'carnage' said: 'I was waiting for the votes and then Craig Whittaker came out crying and saying he's sick of everything. 'Then Wendy came out stony faced. The other whips say they have quit. It was absolute carnage.' One miserable Cabinet source told MailOnline: 'At this rate I'm going to be PM by Christmas.' Grant Shapps was appointed Home Secretary yesterday despite backing Rishi Sunak for the Tory leadership and teaming up with arch-plotter Michael Gove to force the Prime Minister into a tax U-turn. Only a fortnight ago Mr Shapps, who was Boris Johnson's transport secretary, branded Liz Truss's plans to scrap the 45p top rate of tax for high earners 'tin-eared'. Later that day the policy was ditched at the Tory party conference. And on Monday, in a coded attack on the PM's record in a newspaper article, he said Tory MPs were still 'overwhelmingly predisposed to supporting a competent leader'. That evening, speaking to a podcast recording with comedian Matt Forde, he said Miss Truss had a 'Mount Everest to climb' to remain in power, adding: 'What she needs to do is like threading the eye of a needle with the lights off.' Mr Shapps spent much of the Conservative Party conference gleefully showing colleagues his infamous spreadsheet, on which he was recording the views of Tory MPs about Miss Truss's premiership. Grant Shapps was appointed Home Secretary yesterday despite backing Rishi Sunak for the Tory leadership His appointment will be seen as an attempt to reach across the party after her decision to appoint only loyalists landed badly Liz Truss endured a night of political chaos and farce on Thursday as she battled to persuade her whips not to resign Brandishing it on his new Samsung Galaxy fold smartphone, he boasted that it held data on 237 recent exchanges with MPs on their doubts about the PM and her libertarian economic policies. For these reasons, his appointment yesterday raised eyebrows among some in Miss Truss's team who do not trust him. It will be seen as a further attempt by the PM, after appointing Jeremy Hunt as Chancellor, to reach across the party after her decision to appoint only loyalists landed badly. Miss Truss brutally sacked Mr Shapps last month, telling him there was 'no room at the inn' after stuffing her Cabinet with people who supported her leadership campaign. Speaking outside the Home Office last night, Mr Shapps acknowledged that it had been a 'turbulent time' and a 'very difficult period' for the Government. Suella Braverman resigned as Home Secretary on Thursday with a scathing letter to Liz Truss He failed to mention Miss Truss, instead singling out new Chancellor Jeremy Hunt for praise. He said: 'I accept that the Government has obviously had a very difficult period, as Jeremy said when he was appointed on Friday. 'That nonetheless means it's doubly important to ensure we're doing absolutely everything in the basic areas, and I think Jeremy Hunt's done a great job of settling the issues relating to [last month's] mini-Budget.' Mr Shapps, who led a rebellion against Theresa May before organising Mr Johnson's leadership victory in 2019, is considered one of the Cabinet's most competent media performers. He is widely also considered to have been a good transport secretary under Mr Johnson. During his more than three years in the post, he announced the biggest overhaul of the railways since privatisation three decades ago, took the fight to militant union barons with proposals for new anti-strike laws and paused the disastrous roll-out of controversial smart motorways. Mr Shapps, the MP for the leafy Hertfordshire constituency of Welwyn Hatfield since 2005, served as international development secretary and housing secretary under David Cameron. He has also been Tory party chairman and a minister without portfolio, meaning he has more than a decade of Cabinet experience. Mr Shapps, who voted Remain in the 2016 EU referendum, launched his own bid for the leadership but pulled out after less than a week having struggled to find enough support among MPs. Like Mr Gove and Mr Hunt, he went on to back former Chancellor Mr Sunak. He joined forces with Mr Gove on the eve of Tory party conference to attack the 45p top rate of tax policy, saying: 'This politically tin-eared cut, not even a huge revenue raiser and hardly a priority on the prime ministerial to-do list.' He has three children with his wife Belinda. Jurors have been told they are 'not answerable' to popular opinion as they enter their first full day of deliberations in the high-profile trial of the former Liberal party staffer accused of raping Brittany Higgins. A jury of eight women and four men will decide whether Bruce Lehrmann, who is charged with sexual intercourse without consent, raped his then colleague at Parliament House in Canberra after a boozy night out in March 2019. Lehrmann has pleaded not guilty and denied having any sexual interaction with Ms Higgins. He has faced an almost three-week trial in the ACT Supreme Court. Chief Justice Lucy McCallum gave jury members detailed instructions on how they should deliberate before asking them to retire just before 3pm on Wednesday. Bruce Lehrmann, who has pleaded not guilty to a count of sexual intercourse without consent, is pictured outside ACT Supreme Court on Wednesday after the jury were asked to retire Brittany Higgins (pictured) alleges Lehrmann raped her inside Parliament House in March 2019 She reminded jurors that Lehrmann was presumed innocent unless or until his guilt is proven by the prosecution beyond a reasonable doubt. They were instructed to act impartially, without emotion or prejudice and give a true verdict according to the evidence presented in the courtroom. 'You are not answerable to popular opinion... whichever way you may think it sways,' Justice McCallum said. 'Your verdict, whether it be guilty or not guilty, must be unanimous.' Justice McCallum also addressed parts of defence lawyer Steven Whybrow's closing arguments, including when he spoke about Ms Higgins' recollection of events. On Wednesday morning, Mr Whybrow told the jury Ms Higgins 'doesn't know what happened' and reconstructed events in her mind based on what others told her. He quoted Ms Higgins' comments to police while she was watching CCTV footage of her and Lehrmann entering Parliament House at 1.41am: 'My memory gets a bit hazy.' Justice McCallum urged the jury to also look at the parts of Ms Higgins' evidence where she recalled events that did not need to be substantiated by anyone else. Specifically, the moment she recalled sitting on a windowsill alone in parliament and looking over the Prime Minister's courtyard before the alleged rape took place. 'That was something she described as a recollection of her own, that was not reconstructed,' she said. Justice McCallum ultimately told jurors to consider three elements: Whether the accused had sexual intercourse with the complainant, whether sexual intercourse occurred without the consent of the complainant, and if the accused was reckless as to whether Ms Higgins consented to any sexual intercourse. Bruce Lehrmann (centre)is pictured outside court with members of his legal team Recklessness, she said, was about Lehrmann's state of mind and whether he failed to consider that the complainant might not consent. 'Consent to a sexual act means informed agreement to the sexual act that is given freely and voluntarily and is communicated to the other person,' she told the court. 'A person does not consent if they are unconscious or asleep. They are incapable of consenting if they are incapacitated, or intoxicated.' Justice McCallum said: 'If you accept the intercourse did happen, you would have to accept that she did not consent.' She summed up the prosecution and defence cases and said it was up to the jury to decide which evidence they did and did not accept. But she warned jurors against making any stereotypical judgements about the behaviour a person in a situation they themselves have not experienced, saying there was 'no template' for life. Brittany Higgins (pictured outside court) finished giving her evidence on Friday last week 'Be careful about speculation and pre-conception... be careful not to make assumptions about how a person may behave in circumstances you have not experienced,' she said. Lehrmann exercised his right to silence and did not enter the witness box during the trial. The jury was instead played his interview with police. Justice McCallum said his decision not to give evidence in court could not be used as an admission of guilt and did not strengthen the prosecution's case. She also said Lehrmann's agreement to do a police interview did not shift the burden of proof to him. Netflix is launching a crackdown on freeloaders as it mulls extra charges for account sharing. The streaming giant hinted it may bring in more fees for customers looking to set up additional accounts. The firm said during its quarterly earnings call on Tuesday it was considering 'monetizing account sharing' from early next year. The move appears to be a desperate attempt to quash users sharing passwords and account details with friends and family in different houses instead of paying their own subscription. Netflix trialed the system in South America earlier this year where account holders were charged an extra $3-4 per second home. But a spokesman said it had decided to 'sunset' the idea. It comes after the streaming giant saw a glimmer of hope for the future yesterday as it clawed back 2.4million subscribers and shares rose 13 percent. But it only marked the start of the recovery as stocks remain over 50 percent down since the year started. The streaming giant hinted it may bring in more fees for customers looking to set up additional accounts During its quarterly earnings call on Tuesday, Netflix said it may introduce a fee for account sharing. The measure was first floated back in April after a dreadful earnings report, according to the New York Post, and comes after Netflix tried to find ways to keep users from sharing accounts without driving them away from the platform. Netflix characterized the new idea as a 'thoughtful' way to solve the account sharing problem which has plagued them for years. 'We've landed on a thoughtful approach to monetize account sharing and we'll begin rolling this out more broadly starting in early 2023,' Netflix said in its announcement. 'After listening to consumer feedback, we are going to offer the ability for sharers to manage their devices more easily and to create sub-accounts, if they want to pay for family or friends.' Though Netflix has always officially required that users do not share their passwords with other users, previously little has been done to enforce the rule. Reports show that account sharing costs Netflix about $6billion per year, according to the Post. Over the summer Netflix experimented with charging fees for additional accounts, testing the idea in Latin America where password sharing was a particularly rampant problem. The wide-scale rollout of the move now has the potential to make or break Netflix, which has been struggling to find a way to shore up its plummeting profits while maintaining its subscription-based revenue platform. Analysts said Netflix is doing everything it can to avoid subjecting users to advertisements or selling their data, but many predict it is only a matter of time before the firm is forced to turn to that. Netflix's share price has plummeted since the start of the year following the announcement of its 200k subscriber loss in April. By the end of Q2 another 970,000 had fled the platform. Netflix has previously blamed widespread abuse of password sharing by users as one of the primary causes of its flagging subscription numbers, saying that over 100million households are taking advantage of accounts being paid for by others. This week Netflix also introduced a feature called called Profile Transfer, which lets users easily migrate their profile to a new account. It means users' favorites, recommendations and viewing history are salvaged when profile owners start a Netflix account of their own. Netflix says the tool lets profile holders easily transfer their profile from the account of someone they're no longer in contact with such as an ex-boyfriend. Netflix said the 'much requested' feature is now rolling out to all users around the world, and that an email will be sent as soon as it's available for each account. The platform is also rolling out an ad-based subscription option beginning in November which will cost $6.99 per month. Netflix originally allowed for multiple profiles on an account so that multiple members of a household, such as children, can enjoy content without having to start their own Netflix account and pay the monthly fee. Netflix announced on Tuesday that it gained 2.4million subscribers between July 1 and September 30. The streaming giant released the last few episodes of the fourth season of Stranger Things during that time The announcement comes after Dahmer-Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, became one of Netflix's most-watched series of all time But there was nothing to stop that account from being used across multiple households, even though the Netflix terms of service say that users of an account must live in the same household. In effect, it meant that five people living under five different addresses can have their own profile under one account. That deprives Netflix from a potential revenue source, and 'undermines our long term ability to invest in and improve our service', Netflix said. Yesterday Netflix made an unexpected comeback in the third quarter of this year, following the success of shows like Stranger Things and Dahmer. Executives at the streaming giant announced on Tuesday the platform added 2.4million subscribers between July 1 and September 30 after two consecutive quarters losing subscribers. That is more than double what Wall Street expected. Netflix also topped Wall Street projections with revenue of $7.9billion up 6 percent from one year earlier. Those earnings among to $3.10 per share, after the companies share prices fell nearly 60 percent over the year. But shares have now jumped 14 percent in after-hours trading, boosted in part by the streaming service's forecast that it would pick up another 4.5million customers in the fourth quarter. Netflix, though, projects revenue to once again fall in the fourth quarter to $7.8 billion due as inflation continues to rise. The gains come after Netflix released the final episodes of the fourth-season of its sci-fi hit Stranger Things, as well as its new serial-killer series Dahmer-Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, which became one of Netflix's most-watched series of all time. 'Netflix's impressive numbers show the company's growth story is far from over,' said Investing.com analyst Haris Anwar, as Wall Street investors focus on whether streaming platforms can continue making subscriber gains amid fears of a recession. Liz Trusss premiership was in freefall last night. In an astonishing few hours, she sacked Suella Braverman after a 90-minute shouting match and then saw her Chief Whip resign. The ousted Home Secretary launched an outspoken attack on the PM, accusing her of breaking key pledges and wobbling over manifesto commitments such as reduced migration. Chief Whip Wendy Morton and her deputy Craig Whittaker appeared to quit after Miss Truss reversed her plan to expel Tory MPs who voted against the Government on fracking. No 10 was last night unable to say whether it still had a chief whip. The Prime Minister allegedly sacked the Home Secretary after a 90 minute shouting match. A source said Mrs Braverman, pictured left, was furious at being asked to relax immigration rules in order to boost economic growth and satisfy the Office for Budget Responsibility that the Governments economic plans added up MP Chris Bryant posted a scene of Tory division in the Westminster Lobby after 36 Tory MPs ignored the three-line whip on fracking, including former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng Amid chaotic scenes in the Commons, Deputy Prime Minister Therese Coffey and Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg were accused of manhandling MPs through the voting lobbies a claim both ministers denied. As Government discipline collapsed, Mr Whittaker was heard telling his colleagues: I am f***ing furious and I dont give a f*** any more. Tory MPs were seen shouting at an ashen-faced Miss Truss: Its a shambles. One Cabinet ally of the PM said it looked impossible for her to recover her authority, adding: It feels like its over. Senior Tory MPs were urgently discussing strategies for ousting Miss Truss, although the precise timing and mechanism remain unclear as does the question of who might succeed her. Some MPs believe her authority is draining away so quickly that she will be forced to resign by the weekend, possibly as early as today. Downing Street said Mrs Braverman, the shortest serving Home Secretary of modern times, had resigned after sending a confidential document to a Tory MP in breach of the ministerial code. But multiple sources said her departure followed a fiery 90-minute meeting between her and Miss Truss in No 10 the previous night at which the Home Secretary warned the PM it would be insane to relax immigration rules in order to boost economic growth. In an explosive resignation letter last night Mrs Braverman suggested that the PM should quit and savaged her record. It is obvious to everyone that we are going through a tumultuous time, she wrote. I have concerns about the direction of this Government. Not only have we broken key pledges that were promised to our voters, but I have had serious concerns about this Governments commitment to honouring manifesto commitments, such as reducing overall migration numbers. Deputy Prime Minister Therese Coffey and Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg, pictured, were accused of manhandling MPs through the voting lobbies a claim both ministers denied As former Cabinet minister Grant Shapps, who openly plotted against Miss Truss, was made Home Secretary: - The PM performed yet another U-turn by announcing that the pensions triple lock would be protected; - She insisted she would not resign, telling MPs: Im a fighter, not a quitter; - The Prime Minister also issued another grovelling apology, saying she was sorry and had made mistakes; - 36 Tory MPs ignored the three-line whip on fracking, including former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng; - Labour called for an inquiry into alleged bullying of Tory MPs during the vote; - Party leader Sir Keir Starmer mocked the PM, asking her: Whats the point of a Prime Minister whose promises dont even last a week? - One of the PMs closest aides was suspended over a No 10 briefing describing former chancellor Sajid Javid as a s*** minister; - Tory MPs on the Right of the party warned of a Remainer takeover, with Foreign Secretary James Cleverly now the only Brexiteer in a top Cabinet job; - Former Cabinet minister Nadine Dorries led a Tory revolt over cost-cutting plans to delay the social care cap. Labour called for an inquiry into alleged bullying of Tory MPs during the vote, with Therese Coffey accused of 'manhandling' other MPs during last night's chaos The departure of Mrs Braverman came just five days after Mr Kwarteng was sacked in the wake of the market turmoil triggered by last months emergency Budget. A source said the email she sent from her phone about immigration policy was a clear breach of the ministerial codes requirement to respect confidentiality. Mrs Braverman last night acknowledged the mistake but said the policy was due to be announced imminently, and that much of it had already been briefed to MPs. One Whitehall source said the trivial episode appeared to be a pretext for removing a senior minister who had made no secret of her continuing leadership ambitions. Shes obviously gone because of a bust-up, the source said. She was always a flight risk, like Penny Mordaunt shes positioning herself for whats to come. Two sources said the Home Secretarys departure followed a meeting between the pair the previous evening over immigration policy. One described the 90-minute encounter as a shouting match, saying raised voices could be heard outside. Another said Mrs Braverman was furious at being asked to relax immigration rules in order to boost economic growth and satisfy the Office for Budget Responsibility that the Governments economic plans added up. A source said she told Miss Truss the idea was insane, adding: Are we just going to junk every manifesto commitment going? Mrs Braverman has also clashed with the PM over her plan to relax visa rules as part of a major trade deal with India. Downing Street is now braced for the possibility of a resignation speech in the Commons from Mrs Braverman later today. Miss Truss is said to have initially planned to appoint Mr Javid as Home Secretary, a role he has filled before. But the two were locked in stand-off because of the briefing row over which the aide has been suspended. They were also primarily linked by female migration between the groups The communities living in the caves were found to have low genetic diversity Remains of the first ever family of Neanderthals have been discovered in a cave in southern Siberia, Russia. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany analysed the DNA of 13 individuals from two caves in the Altai Mountains. Individuals from the Chagyrskaya cave, who date back around 59,000 years, were found to be closely related, including a father and his teenage daughter, along with a pair of second-degree relatives. This is the first known description of social organisation of a small community of Neanderthals. First author Laurits Skov said: 'The fact that they were living at the same time is very exciting. This means that they likely came from the same social community. 'So, for the first time, we can use genetics to study the social organisation of a Neanderthal community.' Remains of the first ever family of Neanderthals have been discovered in a cave in southern Siberia, Russia. Pictured: artist's interpretation of a Neanderthal father and his daughter For the study, Dr Laurits Skov and colleagues obtained and analysed genetic data from the 17 remains of 11 Neanderthal individuals from Chagyrskaya Cave and two from Okladnikov Cave. Pictured: The remains from Okladnikov Cave discussed in this study Relationships of the Chagyrskaya and Okladnikov remains. Each circle/square represents an individual (blue for Chagyrskaya, orange for Okladnikov). Squares indicate that the individual is male and circles indicate that the individual is female THE CHAGYRSKAYA AND OKLADNIKOV NEANDERTHALS Neanderthals briefly occupied the Chagyrskaya and Okladnikov caves around 54,000 years ago. They hunted animals that migrated through the nearby river valleys, using tools made from stones that were collected dozens of miles away. Evidence has been found of a Neanderthal family who lived in the communities, comprising of a father and his teenage daughter, as well as a pair of second degree relatives. Short lived genetic variants that are shared between individuals suggest they all lived and died around the same time. Genetic diversity was very low within the group, and evidence suggests that different communities were primarily linked by female migration. Advertisement Neanderthals occupied western Eurasia from around 430,000 to 40,000 years ago and are closely related to modern humans. The species lived in Africa with early humans for millennia before moving across to Europe around 300,000 years ago. They were later joined by humans, who entered Eurasia around 48,000 years ago. Southern Siberia has previously been very fruitful for ancient DNA research, and is the location of the Denisova Cave, where Denisovan hominin remains were found. Denisovans are another population of early humans who lived in Asia at least 80,000 years ago and were distantly related to Neanderthals. The new study looked at remains found in the Chagyrskaya Cave and Okladnikov Cave, both about 60 miles (100 kilometres) away from the Denisova Cave. Neanderthals briefly occupied these sites around 54,000 years ago, leaving several hundred thousand stone tools and animal bones. They hunted ibex, horses, bison and other animals that migrated through the nearby river valleys, and collected raw materials for their tools from dozens of miles away. More than 80 bone and tooth fragments of Neanderthals have also been collected, which revealed that groups inhabiting the Chagyrskaya and Okladnikov caves were closely linked. The new study looks at remains from the Chagyrskaya Cave (left) and Okladnikov Cave (right), both about 100 kilometres away from the Denisova Cave in Siberia, Russia Locations of all of the sites with Neanderthal remains from whom nuclear DNA has been extracted, with a close-up of the Chagyrskaya and Okladnikov caves in the Altai region of Siberia. The number of individuals is given in parentheses for sites with multiple individuals Neanderthals briefly occupied the Chagyrskaya and Okladnikov caves around 54,000 years ago, leaving several hundred thousand stone tools (pictured) and animal bones Since the first Neanderthal draft genome was published in 2010, researchers from the German institution have sequenced a further 18 genomes from 14 different archaeological sites in Eurasia. While this genetic data provided insights into the broader history of the ancient people, little was revealed about individual communities. For the study, published today in Nature, Dr Skov and colleagues obtained and analysed genetic data from the remains of 11 Neanderthal individuals from Chagyrskaya Cave and two from Okladnikov Cave. It is the largest known genetic study of Neanderthals reported to date. These 13 people were seven men and six women, of which eight were adults and five were children and young adolescents. This included a Neanderthal father and his teenage daughter, as well as a pair of second degree relatives: a young boy and an adult female. These two could be cousins, aunt and nephew or grandmother and grandson. The researchers also looked at the DNA within the Neanderthals' mitochondria, and found special kinds of genetic variants called 'heteroplasmies' shared between individuals. These are passed through the female line and only persist for a small number of generations, suggesting that they all lived and died at around the same time. More than 80 bone and tooth fragments of Neanderthals have been collected from the Chagyrskaya and Okladnikov caves. Pictured: Dental (left) and other (right) remains from the Chagyrskaya Cave used in this study Genetic diversity of the Neanderthals is much lower than those recorded for any ancient or present-day human community, and is more similar to that of a group of endangered animals that are the last of their species. Pictured: Average proportion of the genome that inherited the same versions of a genomic marker from each parent (homozygosity) for Chagyrskaya Neanderthals (blue), early modern humans (orange) and present-day gorilla (green) and human populations (coloured according to the geographical region - see colour key) The mitochondrial DNA also gave an insight into the genetic diversity within the community, which is very low and consistent with a group size of 10 to 20 people. This is much lower than those recorded for any ancient or present-day human community, and is more similar to that of a group of endangered animals that are the last of their species. It was also found that the genetic diversity of Y chromosomes, which pass down the male line, was a lot lower than that of the mitochondrial DNA, which is inherited from mothers. This suggests that the communities were primarily linked by female migration, and that at least 60 per cent of the women moved to join their mates' families while the males stayed put. Additionally, despite the proximity to Denisova Cave, these migrations do not appear to have involved Denisovans. No evidence was found of Denisovan gene flow into the Chagyrskaya Neanderthals in the 20,000 years before they lived. The researchers want future studies to include more individuals from other Neanderthal communities, to see if this social organisation was widespread. Benjamin Peter, the study's last author, said: 'Our study provides a concrete picture of what a Neanderthal community may have looked like. It makes Neanderthals seem much more human to me.' A close relative of modern humans, Neanderthals went extinct 40,000 years ago The Neanderthals were a close human ancestor that mysteriously died out around 40,000 years ago. The species lived in Africa with early humans for millennia before moving across to Europe around 300,000 years ago. They were later joined by humans, who entered Eurasia around 48,000 years ago. The Neanderthals were a cousin species of humans but not a direct ancestor - the two species split from a common ancestor - that perished around 50,000 years ago. Pictured is a Neanderthal museum exhibit These were the original 'cavemen', historically thought to be dim-witted and brutish compared to modern humans. In recent years though, and especially over the last decade, it has become increasingly apparent we've been selling Neanderthals short. A growing body of evidence points to a more sophisticated and multi-talented kind of 'caveman' than anyone thought possible. It now seems likely that Neanderthals had told, buried their dead, painted and even interbred with humans. They used body art such as pigments and beads, and they were the very first artists, with Neanderthal cave art (and symbolism) in Spain apparently predating the earliest modern human art by some 20,000 years. They are thought to have hunted on land and done some fishing. However, they went extinct around 40,000 years ago following the success of Homo sapiens in Europe. Advertisement Since the first Neanderthal draft genome was published in 2010, researchers have sequenced a further 18 genomes from 14 different archaeological sites in Eurasia. Also known as the great plague, the outbreak ravaged Europe from 1346 to 1353 Genes that protected people against the Black Death 700 years ago now increase your risk of Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis, a new study has revealed. Scientists looked at DNA extracted from the teeth of people who died before, during and after the devastating bubonic plague, which swept through Europe, Asia and Africa from 1346 to 1353. Their results revealed that a gene variant called ERAP2 was protective against the plague in the Middle Ages. But today, it is linked with increased susceptibility to autoimmune diseases a 'balancing act' upon which evolution plays with our genome. Using DNA extracted from teeth of people who died before, during and after the Black Death pandemic, researchers were able to identify genetic differences that dictated who survived and who died from the virus More than 500 ancient DNA samples were extracted and screened from the remains of individuals who had died before the plague, died from it or survived it. Pictured, East Smithfield plague pits Pictured, a depiction of plague victims during the Black Death. The devastating bubonic plague pandemic ravaged Europe from 1346 to 1353 THE BLACK DEATH DEVESTATED EUROPE 700 YEARS AGO The Black Death pandemic devastated Europe between 1347 and 1351, but also killed people in North Africa and Western Asia. This pandemic took a proportionately greater toll of life than any other known epidemic or war up to that time. The Black Death is believed to have been the result of plague caused by infection with the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Most scientists think that this bacterium was first passed from infected rodents to humans through the bite of fleas. Modern genetic analysis shows that the strain of Y. pestis introduced during the Black Death is the ancestor to all existing Y. pestis strains known to cause disease in humans. So the origin of modern plague epidemics lies in the medieval period. Source: Encyclopdia Britannica Advertisement 'This is, to my knowledge, the first demonstration that indeed, the Black Death was an important selective pressure to the evolution of the human immune system,' said study author Professor Luis Barreiro at the University of Chicago. 'There is a lot of talk about how pathogens have shaped human evolution, so being able to formally demonstrate which pathways and genes have been targeted really helps us understand what allowed humans to adapt and exist today.' The Black Death, which plagued Europe, West Asia and North Africa, is the most infamous pandemic in history. Historians have estimated that up to 50 per cent of Europe's population died during the pandemic possibly around 25 million people. Ancient DNA research has already identified a bacteria called Yersinia pestis (a parasite of its host, the rat flea) as the Black Death's cause. Europeans living at the time of the Black Death were initially very vulnerable because they'd had no recent exposure to Yersinia pestis. For this study, the team focused on a 100-year window before, during and after the Black Death, said to have reached London in the autumn of 1348. More than 500 ancient DNA samples were extracted and screened from the remains of individuals who had died before the plague, died from it or survived it. Some samples were taken from London, including individuals buried in the East Smithfield plague pits used for mass burials in 1348-9. Additional samples were taken from remains buried in five other locations across Denmark. Researchers extracted DNA from the remains of people buried in the East Smithfield plague pits in London, which were used for mass burials in 1348 and 1349 Individuals buried in the East Smithfield plague pits, used for mass burials in 1348-9 as the plague swept Europe WHAT ARE GENES? A gene is a short section of DNA, the long molecule that contains unique genetic code. Genes are the instructions for making the proteins our bodies are built of from the keratin in hair and fingernails to the antibody proteins that fight infection. Most genes code for specific proteins, or segments of proteins, which have differing functions within the body. Source: National Human Genome Research Institute Advertisement The research team focused on one gene with a particularly strong association to susceptibility, called ERAP2. Individuals who possessed two identical copies of the ERAP2 gene survived the plague at a much higher rate than those with the opposing set of copies, the researchers found. Having these two indentical copies allowed the individuals to produce functional proteins molecules that help the immune system recognise an infection. According to the scientists, these copies allowed for 'more efficient neutralisation of Y. pestis by immune cells'. The presence of this variant would have made a person about 40 per cent more likely to survive the Black Death, compared with those who did not have it. It also meant those who survived the Black Death were able to pass on this genetic variant to their children, helping them to survive subsequent waves of the pandemic. However, while the gene variant was protective against the plague in the Middle Ages, today it is linked with increased susceptibility to autoimmune diseases a 'balancing act' upon which evolution plays with our genome. Pictured is the excavated East Smithfield grave pits in east London, with the Tower of London in the background Study author Hendrik Poinar at McMaster University in Hamilton described the 'good' ERAP2 copies as 'like a pair of scissors'. 'If you have both copies of the gene and they are good you're able to cut up pathogens really well,' he told MailOnline. 'You present their bits and pieces to immune cells which can muster a great response, and you defeat the enemy. 'But now fast forward 500 years you've really got very little major pathogens bothering you. For the study, the research team focused on one gene with a particularly strong association to susceptibility, called ERAP2. Pictured, embers of the Barreiro Lab in Chicago conduct cell culture experiments 'Now, those genes that your ancestors gave you because they survived the Black Death were primed for a time when infectious disease was a major and common threat. 'Today we don't have those, so those hyperactive scissors see your own system and attack it instead.' Future research will scale the project to examine the entire genome, not just a selected set of immune related genes. The team also hopes to explore genetic variants that affect susceptibility to bacteria in modern humans and compare them to these ancient DNA samples to determine if those variants were also a result of natural selection. With the cost of living increasing by the day, many of us are taking measures to reduce spending, including cutting the family grocery bill, foregoing weekends away and rethinking our broadband options. Now, Vodafone has announced two new cost-of-living packages for households and small businesses. A new social broadband tariff will give households connectivity for 12 a month, while the tech giant will also give small businesses free broadband for a year. Vodafone has announced two new cost-of-living packages for households and small businesses Who's eligible? The new Vodafone Essentials Broadband deal will be available to anyone on jobseekers' allowance, universal credit, employment and support allowance, disability allowance or personal independence payment. For small business owners, any new or existing customers who are eligible to upgrade will be able to get free business broadband for 12 months on a 24-month plan, Advertisement The new Vodafone Essentials Broadband deal will be available to anyone on jobseekers' allowance, universal credit, employment and support allowance, disability allowance or personal independence payment. For small business owners, any new or existing customers who are eligible to upgrade will be able to get free business broadband for 12 months on a 24-month plan. Vodafone said research had found that many people relied on connectivity to help them find better deals as part of efforts to combat the rising cost of living, so keeping people online would be vital over the coming months. 'The rising cost of living is putting a million families at risk of falling on the wrong side of the digital divide,' Vodafone chief executive Ahmed Essam said. 'We must not allow this to happen. 'So as part of our everyone.connected programme, today we are launching Vodafone Essentials Broadband at just 12 a month, the cheapest on the market, and 12 months free broadband for small businesses. 'Vodafone is the only network provider to offer social tariffs across fixed and mobile, meaning eligible customers can access mobile and broadband connectivity for 72 pence a day. 'These new tariffs complement Voxi for Now and the 750,000 free sims we've donated so far as part of our everyone.connected programme. 'We're on track to meet our commitment to donate a million connections by the end of this year and will continue to put the cause at the heart of our business until the problem no longer exists.' The new Vodafone Essentials Broadband deal will be available to anyone on jobseekers' allowance, universal credit, employment and support allowance, disability allowance or personal independence payment YouGov research of more than 2,000 UK adults has also revealed the extent people rely on connectivity to save money. The majority (70 per cent) claim they're the same (37 per cent) or better off by shopping online (33 per cent), and 29 per cent say they have been turning to the internet more to help save money during the cost-of-living crisis. When it comes to bills, 16 per cent say they are struggling to pay due to the crisis, and 42 per cent expect to struggle. Almost half (45 per cent) say they know someone who is struggling, and two thirds (66 per cent) say they will be struggling in one to six months' time. Despite frequently asserting the opposite, Senator Chuck Grassley believes FBI documents show President Joe Biden was aware of his son Hunter's international business operations. He also alleges there is evidence of possible criminal activity. Grassley informed Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and Delaware US Attorney David Weiss that he has voluminous evidence of criminal activity by Hunter, 52, and the president's younger brother James Biden, 73, based on information provided by whistleblowers. Joe Biden Aware, Potentially Involved in Hunter's Business Dealings The trio was informed by the Senate's pro tempore emeritus president that the FBI had recorded Hunter's business dealings with the proprietor of the Ukrainian oil firm Burisma Holdings LLC. Given the facts in these records, he wonders why no action has been taken. The ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee is Charles Grassley. The Delaware judge overseeing the criminal investigation into Hunter Biden, Weiss, was questioned by the Iowa Republican about whether the evidence made public by whistleblowers had been looked into. While Joe Biden served as Barack Obama's vice president, Burisma is said to have paid Hunter $50,000 per month to sit on its board. It is still unclear what Hunter will do on that board or whether he is qualified to sit on it. Grassley asserts that whistleblowers have exposed a series of biases within the FBI and Justice Department in favor of the Bidens and that he has been given proof of the potentially criminal nature of Hunter's work for Burisma, as per Daily Mail. Regarding China, the Republican senator referenced Hunter Biden's former business associate Tony Bobulinski, a Navy veteran, who went to the FBI in October 2020 to describe the Biden family's attempts to conduct business in China. Republicans have questioned Hunter Biden's relationships with Jianming and Patrick Ho, his top deputy who received a three-year prison sentence in March 2019 for breaking the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The lawsuit against Ho claims that some material was acquired by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Regarding Ukraine, Grassley claimed that he had been given potential proof of criminal activity connected to Hunter Biden's employment for Burisma, which purportedly paid Hunter $50,000 per month to serve on its board of directors at the time that his father was vice president. The owner of Burisma, the well-regarded crooked Ukrainian tycoon Mykola Zlochevsky, had $23 million frozen by British authorities between the time Devon Archer and Hunter were hired. Read Also: Biden Pledges Abortion Rights Law If Democrats Take Majority of Congress After Midterms Grassley: Hunter Biden Investigation May be Hobbled Hunter Biden praised Zlochevsky and termed the Burisma effort inspiring and consequential in his biography, 'Beautiful Things,' published in 2021. There's no disputing my last name as a coveted credential, he added that the pay was tremendous. In his letter's conclusion, Grassley criticized the FBI's handling of the president's son inquiry. Following earlier whistleblower discoveries the senator made public this summer are Grassley's most recent revelations. The senator claims that as a result of these activities, the criminal investigation into Hunter Biden may now be hampered. The complete and undeleted October 2020 document that provides a timeline of events linked with Hunter Biden's business associates, domestic and foreign, was what Grassley requested, according to Washington Examiner. By October 27, Grassley wants the Justice Department to provide information about the Hunter Biden probe so that Congress can perform an unbiased and objective review. President Biden has categorically denied discussing Hunter's financial activities with him. Since going on the 2020 presidential campaign road, he has also denied knowing anything about or participating in his son's business endeavors. Hunter Biden is currently the subject of a federal probe for his tax affairs. Federal prosecutors were considering whether to charge Hunter Biden with multiple tax and foreign lobbying offenses, as well as making false statements, at the time the investigation had reached a critical stage in July, Fox News reported. Related Article: Lee Zeldin Endorsed by Trump for New York Governor as Democratic Stronghold's Race Tightens @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Advertisement A champagne bottle has been unveiled that can give astronauts a taste of the high life while floating around in space. The Mumm Cordon Rouge Stellar is the product of five years of development, including zero-gravity testing, from GH Mumm. The futuristic bottle dispenses small spheres of bubbly which astronauts can gulp down as they float in zero-gravity, and is the first bubbly to receive full compliance with space requirements certified by the French National Centre for Space Studies (CNES). Designer Octave de Gaulle said: 'This project is, of course, very stimulating because of its highly technological nature and its 100 per cent French identity, from design to manufacturing. 'But it is also very exciting because technology serves a greater purpose here: champagne condenses the memory of a terroir, a climate, an ancestral savoir-faire and tasting sensations for all those who will evolve far from Earth.' GH Mumm told MailOnline it has not currently priced the Mumm Cordon Rouge Stellar as the drink 'will be part of a wider experience' that is as of yet undefined. The Mumm Cordon Rouge Stellar is the product of five years of development, including zero-gravity testing, from GH Mumm It is the first bubbly to have received full compliance with space requirements certified by the French National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) A bottle will join the upcoming Axiom Space crewed missions into low Earth orbit, and eventually allow the astronauts to raise a glass at their space station HOW CAN PEOPLE DRINK CHAMPAGNE IN ZERO GRAVITY? The space age bottle is the result of a collaboration between the Mumm Champagne house and designer Octave de Gaulle. The Champagne is in the upper portion of the bottle. Below that is a finger-controlled valve which people can squeeze when they want to release a globule of Champagne. With the help of natural gas in the bottle, small globules of the liquid are released, emerging as foam. Designers had to stop the wine from streaming across the cabin. In order to do this they created an aluminium strip that forms a ring over the bottle's top. This means the liquid does not come out all at once. Drinkers can then scoop the wine out of the air using a tiny long-stemmed glass that resembles an egg cup. Advertisement Jean-Francois Clervoy, French European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut, added: 'In space, it is essential to maintain a link with Earth and its culture. 'As a symbol of the art of living that has endured through time, champagne has this universal appeal.' The Mumm Cordon Rouge Stellar is the first champagne designed specifically for space travel and to be enjoyed away from Earth. Its half-glass bottle has a long neck topped by a cork and a specially designed stainless steel opening-closing device. By pressing the finger controlled valve, the mechanism is opened to release a globule of champagne spheres. The liquid is stored in the upper portion of the bottle, and emerges as a foam as natural gas is forced through it. Drinkers can then scoop the wine out of the air using a tiny long-stemmed glass that resembles an egg cup. To stop the wine from streaming across the cabin, the release mechanism is locked on by a stainless steel ring. This design means that the liquid only comes into contact with glass and stainless steel, thus ensuring its preservation, according to Mumm. The high-tech bottle is also covered in a protective shell made of aeronautical-grade aluminium. The first iteration, named Mumm Grand Cordon Stellar, was released in 2018 and was promoted from Usain Bolt. This was aimed specifically to cater to suborbital and orbital space tourism promoted by private operators like Virgin Galactic and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin. The champagne has notes of ripe yellow fruit, vine peach, dried fruit, hazelnut and praline, and the dosage liqueur adds vanilla and pastry notes Its half-glass bottle has a long neck topped by a cork and a specially designed stainless steel opening-closing device Since then, Laurent Fresnet, Cellar Master at Mumm, has participated in a parabolic flight in an Airbus airliner in order to understand the impact of zero-gravity conditions on the wine. The bottle now complies with official space requirements, and also respects AOC Champagne regulations, certifying the integrity of the wine. To do this it had to fit constraints regarding its pressure, food compatibility, ergonomics and gas bubbles in the absence of gravity. Mumm Cordon Rouge Stellar has a futuristic appearance, but is also intended to be similar to the traditional champagne bottle. The champagne producer's aim was to reproduce the ritual of wine tasting as faithfully as possible in space, but this was not as simple as it may seem. As the bubbles no longer rise to the surface, they don't release the aroma molecules they contain, thus changing the smell and primary notes of the drink. The Champagne is in the upper portion of the bottle. Below that is a finger-controlled valve which people can squeeze when they want to release a globule of Champagne The first iteration, named Mumm Grand Cordon Stellar (pictured), was released in 2018 with promotion from Usain Bolt With these olfactory changes in mind, Mr Fresnet specifically selected a blend of Mumm Cordon Rouge made with grapes from the 2016 harvest. This is the champagne House's signature grape variety, and is supplemented with up to 36 per cent reserve wines from the past five years to enhance its flavour. Mr Fresnet said: 'My goal was to retain the freshness and power of Mumm Cordon Rouge, and to enhance the intensity of its aromas with more ageing and a dosage liqueur made with wines aged in oak barrels.' The champagne has notes of ripe yellow fruit, vine peach, dried fruit, hazelnut and praline, and the dosage liqueur adds vanilla and pastry notes. As a result, the characteristics of the Mumm champagne are retained in tasting conditions where the senses are altered. A bottle will join the upcoming Axiom Space crewed missions into low Earth orbit, the next of which will be a flight to the International Space Station, set to launch next year. After fine-tuning the drink through experiments in real space conditions, the goal is for travellers to be able to enjoy it while on board the world's first commercial space station, currently being developed by Axiom Space. Michael Suffredini, Axiom Space's President & CEO, said: 'Axiom's collaboration with Mumm and the Mumm Cordon Rouge Stellar recognises that, to bring humanity to space we can't just bring humans, we need to bring human traditions. 'This philosophy of celebrating humankind empowers our goal for Axiom Station, a next generation destination that will serve as a thriving home in space to enable a diverse space economy, further exploration and enable more of humanity to access space. Cesar Giron, President of Maison Mumm, said: 'Innovation has been part of Maison Mumm's identity since 1827 and Mumm Cordon Rouge Stellar is a perfect illustration of this. 'This project brings together the French savoir-faire of excellence for the benefit of conviviality that is so dear to us here on Earth. 'As early as 1904, Mumm was present on board with Commander Jean-Baptiste Charcot to celebrate the first successful French expedition to Antarctica. 'Tomorrow, it will accompany the life of the pioneers of the 21st century in the same way in this new territory that is space.' Parchment is designed to be scraped off writing so it can be reused again Ancient Greek astronomer Hipparchus was believed to have written the first map of stars, but the writings have been lost for 2,000 years The oldest map of the stars compiled by ancient Greek astronomer Hipparchus around 129 BC was only known from references in later work, but researchers have uncovered passages in a ancient manuscript that is 'the most authoritative to date.' Writings on the parchment, known as Codex Climaci Rescriptus, had been scrapped off and the manuscript re-used for centuries, but using imaging techniques the team was able to look back in time to 'a wealth of ancient astronomical information.' Scientists at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) also used the precision of Hipparchus' measurements and found they line up with the layout of stars in 129 BC, although only coordinates for the constellation Corona Borealis are legible. The team, however, suspects the entire map was once spanning the pages until it was washed off and re-used to transcribe ancient Syrian text. Ancient Greek astronomer Hipparchus' long-lost map of the stars has been found hidden under writings on a parchment that was reused for centuries Not much is known about the astronomer, just that he was born in Nicea, a city in the region of Bithynia in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), and is said to have died in Rhodes. Hipparchus wrote much about the cosmos, pulling inspiration from Pre-Socratic philosophers, Aristarchus of Samos, Eratosthenes, and Archimedes of Syracuse, as well as from Babylonian and Egyptian sources. All his writings, except for one, have been lost and only noted in second-hand reports, specifically in the Almagest, written by Ptolemy in the 2nd century AD, which was previously the oldest map of the cosmos ever to be found - it was compiled 300 years after Hipparchus' death. The only surviving work of Hipparchus is an astronomical poem which describes stellar constellations and the information given about coordinates match those uncovered in the document The manuscript originated from the Greek Orthodox St Catherine's Monastery in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt The only surviving work is an astronomical poem which describes stellar constellations and the information given about coordinates match those uncovered in the document. According to the study published in the Journal for the History of Astronomy, the hidden passage reads as such: 'Corona Borealis, lying in the northern hemisphere, in length spans 9 from the first degree of Scorpius to 108 in the same zodiacal sign (i.e. in Scorpius). In breadth it spans 6 from 49 from the North Pole to 55. 'Within it, the star ( CrB) to the West next to the bright one ( CrB) leads (i.e. is the first to rise), being at Scorpius 0.5. 'The fourth9 star ( CrB) to the East of the bright one ( CrB) is the last (i.e. to rise) [. . .]10 49 from the North Pole. Southernmost ( CrB) is the third counting from the bright one ( CrB) towards the East, which is 55 from the North Pole.' The manuscript originated from the Greek Orthodox St Catherine's Monastery in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, but most of its 146 foils are now owned by the Museum of the Bible in Washington DC, Nature reports. The pages are filled with a collection of Syriac text from the 10th or 11th centuries, but the Codex Climaci Rescriptus is palimpsest, which is a parchment that was scraped clean of older text by the scribe so that it could be reused - technique to save paper. The manuscript was analyzed in 2017 using multispectral imaging, which works like an X-ray system to see through text. US researchers took photos of all 42 pages in varying wavelengths of light, and used computer algorithms to search for combinations of frequencies that enhanced the hidden text. Writings on the parchment, known as Codex Climaci Rescriptus, had been scrapped off and the manuscript re-used for centuries, but using imaging techniques the team was able to look back in time to 'a wealth of ancient astronomical information. Out of the 146, nine foils included writings about the cosmos, which scientists believe span back to the fifth or sixth centuries. The astronomical information describes star-origin myths by Eratosthenes and parts of a famous third-century-BC poem called Phaenomena that was written by Aratus of Soli and also highlights constellations. Peter Williams, a biblical expert and lecturer on Hebrew language at the University of Cambridge and a co-author of the new study, was analyzing the foils during COVID lockdown when he came upon text that appeared to describe star coordinates. Excited by the find, he contacted science historian Victor Gysembergh at CNRS in Paris, who translated the passage to find it state the longitude and latitude coordinations of the constellation Corona Borealis, along with coordinates for the stars to the north, south, east and west of it. Gysembergh was sure it was the long-last map when he saw the idiosyncratic way in which some of the data are expressed and the precision of the measurements that matched with star placement 2,000 years ago. Gysembergh and his colleagues used the data they discovered to confirm that coordinates for three other star constellations (Ursa Major, Ursa Minor and Draco), in a separate Medieval Latin manuscript known as the Aratus Latinus, must also come directly from Hipparchus. Mathieu Ossendrijver, a historian of astronomy at the Free University of Berlin, said in a statement: 'The new fragment makes this much, much clearer. 'This star catalogue that has been hovering in the literature as an almost hypothetical thing has become very concrete.' The researchers think that Hipparchus's original list, like Ptolemy's, would have included observations of nearly every visible star in the sky. Because telescopes were not yet in existence, Gysembergh proposed the ancient Greek astronomer likely used a sighting tube that would have taken 'countless hours of work.' Erik ten Hag says he has no issue with Cristiano Ronaldo's sulky reaction to being substituted against Newcastle at Old Trafford on Sunday. Manchester United star Ronaldo went off shaking his head and muttering to himself when he was replaced by Marcus Rashford in the 72nd minute after having two efforts disallowed in the goalless draw with Eddie Howe's side. The Portugal star barely acknowledged the Red Devils boss Ten Hag as he left the pitch and continued to express his frustration on the bench. Erik ten Hag says he has no issue with Cristiano Ronaldo showing frustration when subbed off Man United boss Ten Hag (centre) removed Ronaldo in Sunday's 0-0 draw against Newcastle However, Ten Hag says he understands the player's feelings and has no issue with Ronaldo's reaction as long as doesn't over-step the mark. He said: 'No player is happy when he comes off, especially not Ronaldo, I understand that. As long as it's in a quiet normal way, no problem with that. Of course he is convinced he should stay on and should score a goal, that is why he's that good.' Ronaldo scored a hat-trick against Tottenham at Old Trafford last season, and Ten Hag was asked if he will start the 37-year-old again in the continued absence of Anthony Martial. He replied: 'I know it and of course you know for a line-up several facts you count on, but other facts you take account of.' He went off shaking his head and muttering to himself when replaced in the 72nd minute While Martial has again been ruled out with a back strain, Christian Eriksen has returned to training after illness and could face his former club. 'Christian Eriksen returned to team training today and we have to see tomorrow if he has the energy,' said Ten Hag. Ronaldo's sister Elma Aveiro hit out at Ten Hag for substituting the striker during the clash at Old Trafford at the weekend. Aveiro was furious with the decision and took to social media to say it's 'too late' for Ten Hag to justify his actions. Ronaldo's sister Elma Aveiro is furious with the decision and took to social media to say it's 'too late' for Ten Hag to justify his actions (above) Ronaldo appears to be close to his sisters as they regularly post photos together (Ronaldo pictured with his sister Elma Aveiro above) She shared a screenshot of a news story with the following title: 'Erik Ten Hag's justification for substituting Cristiano Ronaldo'. Aveiro wrote the accompanying caption: 'It's too late' and added three sick face emojis - hinting the Dutch manager had officially burnt all bridges. This is not the first time one of Ronaldo's sisters has taken to social media to speak about a situation involving her brother. Katia Aveiro accused Portugal fans of being 'forever ungrateful' following criticism of her brother's performances for the national side last month. Its a crucial job thats part detective, part doctor and part judge, yet few people really understand the role of the coroner because, until now, its been shrouded in mystery. However, a landmark new Channel 5 series is set to shine a light on this previously secretive yet vital role as their cameras have been allowed behind the scenes for the very first time. In Cause of Death, they and we are granted unprecedented access to the coroners investigations from the moment a body is discovered until the final inquest verdict. 'This truly ground-breaking series is packed full of drama and unfolding intrigue,' says executive producer Anna Hall. 'These stories give an insight into a world rarely seen on television the mortuary and the decisions taken in real time by each of the highly skilled professionals working on the ground. 'This is a new way of telling a detective story with a whole new cast of professionals from the pathologist to the detectives to the mortuary staff to the doctors at the hospital piecing together what has happened and of course the coroner himself.' The coroner himself is Dr James Adeley who deals with nearly 4,000 deaths a year in Lancashire. 'If you die here,' he says, 'if its violent, unnatural or of an unknown cause, its my job to find out how.' Dr James Adeley says: 'If you die here, if its violent, unnatural or of an unknown cause, its my job to find out how.' In Cause of Death , they and we are granted unprecedented access to the coroners investigations from the moment a body is discovered until the final inquest verdict. Over the four-part series, he investigates falls from bridges, the mysterious passing of a fully-dressed man in a bath and why a body was found without a coat on in midwinter. He also decides if organs can be donated and just what killed an unvaccinated man with Covid whod bought drugs online to protect him from the virus. In each, Dr Adeley guides other experts as they uncover just what happened; from his officers who speak to relatives and police who interview witnesses, to doctors who try to save the victims life and pathologists who perform post-mortem examinations. Once he has all the evidence before him, he comes to a conclusion about the cause of death at a public inquest, usually attended by friends and relatives. 'Coroners are only involved in deaths that are in some way unnatural,' he explains. 'The police are interested in deaths that are suspicious and may be due to criminal activity. 'The two may overlap in which case the police take precedence because they have specific rules of evidence and they have to comply with these.' The police are involved in the very first episode of the series when pensioner Frank Brimley is found lying in the street with a friend in the middle of the night. Once he has all the evidence before him, the coroner comes to a conclusion about the cause of death at a public inquest, usually attended by friends and relatives. A landmark new Channel 5 series is set to shine a light on what actually happens in the coroner's office He later dies in hospital. It was for police and the coroner to determine if 73-year-old Franks death was natural or if a third party was involved. 'If someone pushed him and he banged his head, that changes the picture slightly,' explains consultant radiologist Dr Simon Beardmore. Post-mortem scans show Mr Brimley, from Leyland, Lancs., had a bleed on his brain. 'Unfortunately, as the bleed continued, the pressure inside his head began to rise,' explains Dr Adeley. 'This is particularly problematic as your skull is a fixed box and when you raise pressure inside the head, it interrupts all the centres that maintain your breathing and your heart rate and you will not survive.' But how and why did the bleeding start? Was Frank the victim of an attack? Or was it something less sinister? Theyre questions that haunt his two goddaughters as they clear out the belongings from his home through their grief and wait for answers. Its this extraordinary access to people at such a difficult time in their lives that makes this series unique. Its a real-life detective drama that lays bare a part of the criminal justice system weve never seen before. Its a real-life detective drama told from a fresh perspective, that lays bare a part of the criminal justice system weve never seen before. And the answers, when they come, are as much a relief to us as the families. But theyre not always obvious even at the beginning of Frank Brimleys inquest, the coroner is still not sure. 'The ultimate aim of today is to answer four questions; whos died, where and when the death occurred and how the death occurred,' explains Dr Adeley. 'How the death occurred is the more difficult question in this case we dont have any evidence of whether he fell or whether or not he had a stroke. If he falls, thats an accidental death. If hes had a stroke, that is a natural death.' In the end, its a neurosurgeon at the inquest who provides the answer everyones been looking for. Make sure you tune in to find out what happened. Cause Of Death is on Channel 5 on Wednesdays at 9pm DeLonge was the band's original guitarist but quit in 2005 over tensions with Hoppus and Barker and again in 2015 to pursue his conspiracy theory media company To the Stars Scott Raynor, the band's original drummer was fired by Hoppus and DeLonge in 1998, allegedly due to his drinking, and he was replaced by Travis Barker, 46, that same year Blink-182 is reuniting for a third time in 2022 after disbanding once in 2005 and a second time in 2020 Advertisement Blink-182 are back together and ready to go on tour as the iconic rock band reunites for a third time, much to the delight of fans. Music lovers will get to see bassist and founder Mark Hoppus, drummer Travis Barker and on-again-off-again band member and guitarist Tom DeLonge perform together again as the ever-rotating carousel of band members treat fans to new music. The rock band's third reunion comes after decades-worth of drama; from having to drop their original drummer Scott Raynor, DeLonge quitting the band twice over disputes with Hoppus and the surprise firing of their most recent guitarist Matt Skiba. Back in 1993, Blink-182 was first formed in 1993 by founding members DeLonge, Hoppus and Raynor with the trio making waves in the independent music scenes with tours and releases up until 1998. In that year, Raynor's heavy drinking due to personal issues became such a problem within the group that he was fired by DeLonge and Hoppus - despite agreeing to quit drinking and attend rehab. Blink-182 has reunited for a third time with drummer Travis Barker, bassist and founder Mark Hoppus, and on-again-off-again band member and guitarist Tom DeLonge Blink-182 was originally founded by drummer Scott Raynor (left), bassist Mark Hoppus (center) and guitarist Tom DeLonge (right) The band found mainstream success after Travis Barker (right) replaced Scott Raynor as guitarist in 1998 Matt Skiba (center), 46, replaced DeLonge as the band's guitarist in 2015 and remained in the band up until 2020 The move saw Travis Barker replace the founding drummer just as the band enjoyed mainstream success with the release of their third album, Enema of the State, in 1999. The trio disbanded in 2005, before reuniting again in 2009. The band performed together for several years before DeLonge quit in 2014 over creative differences. He was then replaced by guitarist Matt Skiba, who remained part of the band until 2020. When the newly reunited trio announced the release of their new single, Edging, Skiba appeared to have been left blinded by omission from the new project. Indeed, the guitarist did seems to know what his status was within the band as recently as July 2022 causing fans to be equally stunned by DeLonge's return. Even though the band has only been broken up for two years since their last reunion, plenty has happened in that time. Hoppus, 50, revealed he was receiving chemotherapy treatment for cancer in June 2021. Blink-182 are now back with a new single titled Edging that launched on October 14, and will be heading on tour Since Blink-182 broke up for a second time, Hoppus fought cancer and celebrated 22 years of marriage to his wife Skye Everly Travis Barker started dating Kourtney Kardashian in 2021 and now the two are happily married 'For the past three months Ive been undergoing chemotherapy for cancer,' he shared on Instagram. 'I have cancer. It sucks and Im scared, and at the same time Im blessed with incredible doctors and family and friends to get me through this.' By September 2021, he shared that the treatment was successful and he was cancer-free. He also has been happily married to his wife of 22 years, Skye Everly. Meanwhile, Barker, 46, found new love. The drummer confirmed he and reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian were dating in January 2021. By May, the two tied the knot and have since revealed they're trying to have kids. DeLonge, 46, hasn't been with the band since 2014 after quitting the band for a second time over creative differences and tension that had been escalating within the band for years. Instead, he focused on launching his media company To The Stars. But what of the Blink-182 members who are no longer with the group, Scott Raynor and Matt Skiba? Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge fired Scott Raynor over excessive drinking and replaced him with Travis Barker Scott Raynor was a drummer for Blink-182 from 1992 to 1998 (pictured left) Scott Raynor, 44, was one of the band's original members along with Hoppus and DeLonge. Raynor had met Hoppus at a battle of the bands competition when the two were in high school. Then, in 1992, Hoppus met DeLonge, who was dating his sister, and the three met up to form Blink-182. Raynor performed with the band for six years, recording the albums Cheshire Cat (1995) and Dude Ranch (1997). In 1998, Hoppus and DeLonge called Raynor out for drinking excessively. Even though the drummer had vowed to go to rehab and quit drinking, he was fired soon after. The drummer maintains he wasn't fired for drinking and since he agreed to fix his ways, felt there was another reason behind the firing. While weighing in on his departure from Blink-182 in 2004, he cited personal reasons for his relationship with Hoppus and DeLonge falling apart. Raynor performed with the band for six years, recording the albums Cheshire Cat (1995) and Dude Ranch (1997) In 1998, Hoppus and DeLonge called Raynor out for drinking excessively. Even though the drummer had vowed to go to rehab and quit drinking, he was fired soon after Since his time with Blink-182 ended, the drummer went on to play for other bands like Grimby, Spazms and The Wraith 'Its hard to describe 6 years of being in blink and why it ended for me in a summed up kind of way. It also is impossible to describe without getting personal on both sides,' he told Jason Tate. He added: 'The best way for me to put it is that everything got kinda haywire in my personal life, and in the band, and with Mark and Tom. They wanted different things than me and at the same time our friendship was put to the test.' While he's at peace with the direction it put him in, he hasn't mended his relationship with his former bandmates. 'Our friendship was put to the test and it kinda failed,' he explained. 'But we went down our different paths which to me was the right one. They are doing things that they wanted to, that I wouldnt have done, and vice versa. Aquabats band member Travis Barker replaced Raynor was on tour with the group and agreed to help cover for Raynor. After learning the 20-song setlist in 45 minutes, Barker proved his ability and was hired to permanently replace Raynor. Since his time with Blink-182 ended, the drummer went on to play for other bands. He reportedly went on to record with the band Isinglass in 1999 and One Track Mind in 2003. He also briefly played guitar for The Axidentals 2008. While he doesn't have an online presence and keeps a low profile, he has continued to perform with small-time bands including Grimby, Spazms and The Wraith. He has also done charity work with StandUp for Kids and Street of Dreams. Tom DeLonge quit Blink-182 twice before and will be returning to band for a third time DeLonge was one of the original members of Blink-182 (pictured left) and even tough he has quit the band two times before, he is officially back for a third time in 2022 (pictured right) Tom DeLonge (left over creative differences and wanting to spend more time with family, DeLonge has been an on-again-off-again member of the band since it first formed in 1992. After he and Hoppus booted their former drummer, Raynor, and hired Barker, the band continued to find success and catapulted onto the top of the pop-punk charts. Their third album, Enema of the State, dropped in 1999 and was a huge hit. Soon after, they'd go on their first arena tour and become pop culture phenomena, even a making cameo in American Pie. However, as the band found more success it also faced more conflict. DeLonge would reportedly often butt heads with Hoppus over the sound of their music. When the band returned from touring, DeLonge even formed a side band called Box Car Racer in 2002. He had asked Barker to join and not Hoppus which only added fuel to the fire. By the time 2005 came around, tensions had only increased over time and DeLonge wanted to take a half-year respite to focus more on his family and his own creative identity. Hoppus and Barker felt that was too long of a break and since they couldn't come to an agreement, DeLonge left the band. Soon after that, Blink-182 went on 'indefinite hiatus' and the guitarist briefly stepped out of the public eye. He struggled with an addiction to painkillers and attempted to launch a new band called Angels & Airwaves. By 2008, DeLonge reunited with Hoppus and Barker after bonding over the loss of their producer Jerry Finn and Barker's tragic plane accident in 2005. They announced their reunion at the 2009 Grammys. DeLonge had renewed hope for the band, telling DonotsTV that 'the band somehow grew as we weren't together' and that they 'now had more in common they ever did before' in 2010 and called the experience 'incredible.' Behind-the-scenes drama: DeLonge would reportedly often butt heads with Hoppus over the sound of their music which lead to him quitting the band in 2005 In 2015, he left the band for a second time to launch his conspiracy theory media company To The Stars He also launched a TV series titled Unidentified: Inside America's UFO Investigation in 2019 However, he admitted that they 'hated each other's guts' for the past few years and that tension from their past quickly arose. Both Hoppus and Barker noticed something was 'off' with DeLonge and that he only seemed interested in the reunion 'when the money started coming in,' as Barker wrote in his memoir. In 2015, DeLonge quit to focus on 'non-musical activities,' and cited in statement that he 'never planned on quitting, [I] just find it hard as hell to commit.' When weighing in on his decision to quit Blink-182, he acknowledged that it was a controversial decision that many of his fans couldn't understand. 'I'm very forward thinking and I've had to accept that people don't understand me,' he said on Tuna Test with Stryker. After his time with Blink-182, he did indeed pursue a number of 'non-musical activities.' He launched a media conspiracy theory company called To The Stars which produces news content, has a podcast and sells merch. It later came out that the real reason he let Blink-182 is because of this company. He wanted to achieve 'his life purpose,' which was 'to change the world for my kids.' He also launched a TV series titled Unidentified: Inside America's UFO Investigation in 2019. Much like To The Stars, the show was a platform for his conspiracy theories about aliens, UFOs and more. During this time, he also separated from his wife of 18 years, Jennifer Jenkins DeLonge. They share two kids together, Ava Elizabeth DeLonge and Jonas Rocket DeLonge. While he left Blink-182, in his words 'to chase aliens,' he hinted at his possible return to the band in 2021 while on The Late Late Show with James Cordon. 'It's so funny. Blink, it's like we're there and then we're gone, and then we're there and then we're gone,' he explained. 'I feel like I'm always talking about some kind of reunion. I mean, we always talk about playing together again. And I think that that's definitely something we're all interested in. 'Finding the time to do it, where it lines up with everybody's priorities, is really all that's needed. And getting Mark healthy again, getting him strong again. 'But yeah no, I'm down. I think those guys are down. I think just finding the time to do it, and when, is really what we've got to figure out.' So, it's not too surprising that he found his way back to Blink-182. Matt Skiba replaced Tom DeLonge after second departure but wasn't asked back for reunion d Matt Skiba from Alkaline Trio was hired Delonge's replacement and played with Blink-182 from 2015 to 2020 After DeLonge quit the band in 2015, Hoppus and Barker decided they wanted to continue so they hired Matt Skiba, 46, from Alkaline Trio as Delonge's replacement. The band then released their fifth album, California which was quick to top the charts even though it was met with mixed critical reviews. While they recorded another album, Nine, in 2019 and went on a tour to celebrate the 12th anniversary of Enema of the State, the reunion didn't last for long. They recorded a single titled Quarantine in August 2020 but didn't include Skiba since he didn't have an at-home studio to work in during the coronavirus pandemic. Skiba played on two of the band's albums, California (2016) and Nine (2019) but by 2022, he wasn't sure if he was still part of the band During his time away from Blink-182, he returned to his band Alkaline Trio which recently went on tour. He also launched a merch company called Skiba Clothing The band members also promised a new EP and a song with Juice Wrld by the end of 2021 but neither of those happened. By 2022, when rumblings of the third Blink-182 reunion began, Skiba wasn't even sure if he was still technically part of the band. Speculation about Skiba's placement in the band went down on Instagram. 'You guys think he is still in Blink?' one user asked, to which he responded, 'Your guess is as good as mine. Regardless, I am very proud of and thankful for my time with Blink 182. We shall see' However, Skiba's name was not included in the third reunion announcement so it's safe to say DeLonge is taking his spot back and there seems to no longer be a use for Skiba in the band. During his time away from Blink-182, he returned to his band Alkaline Trio which recently went on tour. He also launched a merch company called Skiba Clothing. MAFS UK viewers were heartbroken this week when they learned that Jordan Emmett-Connelly had broken up with Chanita Stephenson after their final vows. But in an exclusive interview with MailOnline, Jordan, 29, said that he remains confused about his feelings for his ex, who is also 29. and wonders if the pressures of the show are responsible for splitting them up. He said: 'I am still open to see if we can rebuild on the outside but I can't say that for certain. 'I'm open to getting back with Chanita': MAFS UK star Jordan has revealed he's STILL confused about his feelings for his ex and claims the public didn't get to see their off-camera rows 'We still talk pretty much every day but I am trying to be cautious about how I go about things because I hurt Chanita and I feel horrendous about that. 'I kind of question myself. Was the pressure of the show getting to me? Did that cloud my judgment or make me feel a certain way? 'I had a lot of pressure with the expectations of the show and being the perfect couple and everyone having an opinion. 'None of my feelings for Chan went away. It's just the simple fact that I didn't see her as "the one forever". That's the only reason I went on that show, to find that.' Jordan has said he doesn't want to make promises to Chanita that he can't keep but he can't deny his feelings for her. It's over! Jordan has said he doesn't want to make promises to Chanita - who broke down over the end of the relationship - but said he still has feelings for her He said: 'I need to tread very carefully because I don't want to cause more hurt. I still want to speak to her, I still like her and I still care about her. 'I was so emotionally involved. I'm not a perfect person, just a normal person with feelings and I do make mistakes. I'm just trying to learn from them.' Jordan admits that he and Chanita weren't all plain sailing and he claims Chan, like him, had doubts about the relationship. He said: 'Off camera, we had our arguments. Nobody sees you in the relationship 24/7 and they make a judgement off the back of what they've seen. 'We did have our arguments like any couple does and I think were moments we probably both had doubts. I need to make it clear, I really like Chan, to this day. During a recent episode of the show, the experts suggested that Jordan and Chanita do actually love each other but that Jordan was scared - but he doesn't agree. He said: 'I am still open to see if we can rebuild on the outside but I can't say that for certain' He said: 'I found that a little bit frustrating. I only know my true feelings. I know they are experts but I know deep down in my heart how I feel. 'I feel like to some degree, there was a lot of pressure on us being in love and I didn't want to be pushed into that narrative. 'I'm not there to be false or to make the public feel like we were in love when we weren't.' Chanita had called Jordan out for not telling her sooner that he wanted to leave the relationship - after she sensed that he was not invested in it anymore. She had to ask him multiple times if he wanted to be with her and he finally admitted he did not. Jordan said: 'I handled the situation really badly and I hold my hands up to it. I don't always handle my emotions well. Sometimes when my emotions are high, I don't think logically. 'I do something without fully thinking it through and it's only at the point where I've upset someone it wasn't what I intended. It's something I need to work on and it's something that my eyes have been opened to. He said: 'Off camera, we had our arguments. Nobody sees you in the relationship 24/7 and they make a judgement off the back of what they've seen' He continued: 'I didn't tell Chan how I was feeling sooner because I didn't know where my head was at. I didn't want to end things and regret it. 'I wanted to be sure that whatever I said was 100% right for the best. But doing that. I didn't take into consideration how that would make Chanita feel and that wasn't a good thing to do. 'That's the upsetting bit, that I upset her so much. That hurt me. I managed it really badly.' Jordan added that Chanita's claims that he cut her off are simply not true. He said: 'Chanita was at my house, I took her for meals, I sent gifts to the house and I took her to the seaside. I took her on a hike. We were speaking every single day. He continued: 'I had this whole picture. I was convinced this was all going to work for me. At the start, when we went on honeymoon, I really thought, "this is it".' 'I wouldn't dream of cutting off contact with her.' Jordan has said he has avoided watching some of the episodes of MAFS UK because he can't bear to relive the moments in which he hurt Chanita. 'I am absolutely devastated by what happened,' he said. 'I had this whole picture. I was convinced this was all going to work for me. At the start, when we went on honeymoon, I really thought, "this is it".' 'But as things progressed, I really needed to be true to myself and speak my feelings. 'I promise you, it really hurts me that I've upset someone that much. It's not nice and I don't like it.' Despite all that has happened, Jordan says he has no regrets about going on the show. 'I don't regret anything. That show is eye opening. You learn about yourself and relationships. I went on to fall in love with someone. That was the whole purpose behind it ending. 'I wouldn't tell someone I loved them if I didn't or to please everyone else. If I am not really feeling it deep down in my heart, I can't drag someone through this when it's not right.' 'Chanita means a lot to me. I just can't change how I feel deep down inside. If I could change the way I feel, I happily would, It would be the most beautiful story meeting someone on that show but I can't do it.' She has often said her private life is no one's business but her own. And Melissa Leong has revealed why she broke her own personal policy by announcing her relationship with new boyfriend Rob Mason late last year. The 40-year-old MasterChef judge told Stellar magazine she went public with the cosmetics entrepreneur to minimise press scrutiny. Melissa Leong (left) has revealed why she broke her own policy of keeping her love life private by announcing her relationship with new boyfriend Rob Mason (right) late last year The food critic made the decision after an alleged run-in with the paparazzi in October last year that almost resulted in an accident. 'I did it to take a little bit of control back into my life,' she said. The announcement came ten months after Melissa's split from her ex-husband Joe Jones in December 2020. The 40-year-old MasterChef judge (pictured with Andy Allen, left, and Jock Zonfrillo, right) told Stellar she went public with the cosmetics entrepreneur to minimise press scrutiny Elsewhere in her interview with Stellar, Melissa admitted she was baffled by the public's interest in her personal life. She also said her relationship with her ex-husband was now amicable. Melissa first appeared on Rob's Instagram account in August last year, before finally making things official two months later. 'I'm really happy with my point in life right now,' she told Who magazine in April. Elsewhere in her interview with Stellar, Melissa admitted she was baffled by the public's interest in her personal life 'I think you work really hard to earn your happiness, and [I'm] understanding that I strive more for contentment rather than happiness. 'Contentment is sustainable, and making choices in my life that continue to allow me to remain content and continue to work at that, that is something I'm very focused on. 'But personal things and personal relationships, I think I'm going to leave a little bit of mystery.' Farmer Ben has finally spoken up about his unexpected split from Leish following their passionate love affair on Farmer Wants A Wife. The NSW dairy farmer, 27, posted a video on Instagram thanking his fans and co-stars for their support before breaking his silence on 'what happened' with his ex. Speaking from a paddock on his farm, Ben revealed he and Leish had their 'ups and downs and unfortunately we just didn't work'. Farmer Ben, 27, has finally spoken up about his unexpected split from Leish, 31, following their passionate love affair on Farmer Wants A Wife He said they'd tried to make things work 'for some time after the show' but it didn't pan out for the couple. 'I had so much love for Leish and still to this day have so much love for the girl,' he continued. 'I don't have a bad word to say about her at all and, yeah, I hope you can appreciate our privacy in regards to why the relationship broke down.' The NSW dairy farmer, 27, posted a video on Instagram thanking his fans and co-stars for their support before breaking his silence on 'what happened' with his ex Ben said he 'wanted to get out' and speak up sooner but was unable to make his own statement about the split because 'Channel Seven had my socials'. It comes almost two weeks after Leish, 31, first announced the couple's break-up in a statement on Instagram. She revealed she'd tried 'everything' to make their relationship work and was 'absolutely shocked and heartbroken'. He said they'd tried to make things work 'for some time after the show' but it didn't pan out for the couple. (Pictured together during the FWAW season finale) 'I tried everything I could to make our relationship last after the show. Including wanting to move to the farm earlier. Yes everyone, I was always planning on moving,' she said. 'But unfortunately it wasn't there for Ben anymore and I was left absolutely shocked and heartbroken. I gave it my all and fell in love with Ben, his daughter and family (which hurts that little bit extra). 'I am thankful for the support I have had these past few months from the other girls on Ben's farm and the other farms. They have been true selfless legends in helping me heal,' she added, before wishing Ben 'all the best' in the future. It comes almost two weeks after Leish, 31, first announced the couple's split on Instagram The split came as a shock to FWAW viewers as Ben and Leish had a passionate connection this season, often sneaking away to steal kisses. The hospital administrator fell into some hot water with the other women vying for the farmer's heart after they caught her sneaking into his bedroom late at night. She caught the farmer's eye right off the bat, and was invited to come to his farm 24 hours ahead of everyone else - a favouritism which was obvious when Ben gravitated towards Leish for secret goodnight kisses. Bones and All star Taylor Russell flashed her 'whale tail' aka visible thong in a raunchy new b&w spread captured by photographer Cass Bird. The Canadian 28-year-old's onscreen leading man Timothee Chalamet did her Homme Girls cover story interview, asking her who her dream person to work with was (living or dead), and she replied: 'I'm looking at him.' 'I like this interview,' the 26-year-old Oscar nominee gushed. 'I like being a journalist.' Scantily clad: Bones and All star Taylor Russell flashed her 'whale tail' aka visible thong in a raunchy new b&w spread captured by photographer Cass Bird Timothee conducted the interview with Taylor during the Venice Film Festival last month where she won the Marcello Mastroianni Award for best young actor/actress for her role as cannibal Maren Yearly. For the mag's inside spread, Russell stripped down to just a Fleur Du Mal triangle bra and thong with Balenciaga raver-style jeans selected by stylist Stella Greenspan. Hairstylist Lauren Berrones gave the biracial beauty's pixie cut spit curls. Make-up artist Frankie Boyd applied Taylor's kohl-rimmed eyes and lipstick. The Canadian 28-year-old's onscreen leading man Timothee Chalamet did her Homme Girls cover story interview, asking her who her dream person to work with was (living or dead), and she replied: 'I'm looking at him' The 26-year-old Oscar nominee (R, pictured September 2) gushed: 'I like this interview. I like being a journalist' Castmates: Timothee conducted the interview with Taylor during the Venice Film Festival last month where she won the Marcello Mastroianni Award for best young actor/actress for her role as cannibal Maren Yearly Russell described their upcoming cannibal romance as 'a story about two disenfranchised drifters on the margin of society in the eighties who are trying to live on earth in a manner that is sustainable.' 'I love the physical release [of playing a cannibal]. Maybe that sounds strange,' the Loewe SS/23 catwalker explained. 'Not that I needed that type of physical release in my life, but you know, preparing emotionally for a character you think about what you want to say through them, and what they want to say through you. Some characters can be very bottled up and you can't do much physically, but here, it was all about body, all about movement - your mouth, your hands. 'I thought a lot about wanting to feel more like a creature. I think the gift of the cannibalism is that it's so different than being a normal human being, you're thinking about the physical elements in a way that you wouldn't if you were working on a project that wasn't so physically demanding.' Letting it all hang out! For the mag's inside spread, Russell stripped down to just a Fleur Du Mal triangle bra and thong with Balenciaga raver-style jeans selected by stylist Stella Greenspan Glam: Hairstylist Lauren Berrones gave the biracial beauty's pixie cut spit curls Sheer catsuit: Make-up artist Frankie Boyd applied Taylor's kohl-rimmed eyes and lipstick Taylor admitted she had trouble breaking the intensity of filming a horror movie: 'I'm still trying to find out how to be healthy on set, be healthy after set. The come down is always large. The come down is intense. Maybe it's supposed to be?' Bones and All - hitting US/UK theaters November 23 - is based on Camille DeAngelis' 2015 novel, and it reunited Chalamet with his Call Me By Your Name director Luca Guadagnino. The critically-acclaimed, coming-of-age road flick also features Mark Rylance, Chloe Sevigny, Andre Holland, David Gordon Green, and Francesca Scorsese. Ravenous couple on the run: Russell described their upcoming cannibal romance as 'a story about two disenfranchised drifters on the margin of society in the eighties who are trying to live on earth in a manner that is sustainable' The Loewe SS/23 catwalker explained: 'I love the physical release [of playing a cannibal]. Maybe that sounds strange...I think the gift of the cannibalism is that it's so different than being a normal human being, you're thinking about the physical elements in a way that you wouldn't if you were working on a project that wasn't so physically demanding' Taylor admitted she had trouble breaking the intensity of filming a horror movie: 'I'm still trying to find out how to be healthy on set, be healthy after set. The come down is always large. The come down is intense. Maybe it's supposed to be?' Lori Harvey put on a busty and leggy display as she posed in Cadillac's new Celestiq campaign launch. The 25-year-old socialite wore a strapless little black mini dress as she stood tantalizingly in front of the company's new vehicle. In an Instagram post she shared the snapshot, writing in the caption: 'Effortlessly Iconic.' Gorgeous: Lori Harvey put on a busty and leggy display as she posed in Cadillac's new Celestiq-launching campaign Harvey, the founder of skincare line SKN by LH, added, '@cadillac #CELESTIQ #ad.' Lori - stepdaughter to comedian, host, and actor Steve Harvey - stood tall in a pair of open-toe black heels that displayed her clean white manicure. She rocked her recently chopped hair styled in a side part, with the locks ironed straight. Harvey modeled a sleek cat-eye, nude lipstick, and wore large statement earrings that were visible with one side of her hair slicked behind her ear. Eye-catching: A second promotional image was uploaded in her Story, showing the stunner's feminine silhouette as she stood in front of a yellow version of the car model A second promotional image was uploaded in her Story, showing the stunner's feminine silhouette as she stood in front of a yellow version of the car model. There was a YouTube link embedded over the snapshot, leading viewers who click on it to a two-minute advert featuring Lenny Kravitz. The Cadillac collaboration is the latest for the booked and busy superstar, who worked closely with Michael Kors for her Met Gala appearance last May. Ascending: Lori's status continues to rise, with the beauty being seen in the public eye more and more - stepping out on October 17 in an outfit from her Gymshark collection Lori's status continues to rise, with the beauty being seen in the public eye more and more. Earlier this year she ended a high-profile romance with actor Michael B. Jordan, 35. The two had a brief relationship that thrust them into the spotlight as a power couple, with the duo appearing in lovey-dovey social media posts dedicated to each other. He was by her side when she launched her new skincare line, establishing herself as an ambitious businesswoman. And she's regularly seen out and about in Los Angeles, heading to pilates classes and mingling with celebrity friends. United States President Joe Biden is expected to announce on Wednesday the release of more oil from the country's reserves, just a few weeks ahead of the midterm elections. The announcement would reveal the sale of additional 15 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in December, said a senior administration official. The move comes as the Biden administration seeks to address market pressures created by the OPEC+ decision to cut oil production targets. Release of Oil Reserves Biden's reported announcement is the latest step in the White House's unprecedented plan to balance global markets and address soaring gas prices at home. It also marks an extension of the six-month program that was designed to provide a bridge for domestic producers to increase their own oil production as the global market struggled in the wake of Russia's war on Ukraine. The U.S. president's action, which rolled out in regular sales over the last few months, worked together with global economic concerns that helped drive the price of gas down for nearly three months straight, as per CNN. During an event in Los Angeles last week, Biden said that the price of gas was still too high and noted that they need to bring it down. He added that he had planned to announce additional actions in the coming days to address the issue. The planned action would fulfill the Biden administration's announcement made in March that it would release a historic 180 million barrels from the SPR over a six-month period. The Democratic leader also made clear to his advisers that if conditions permit, he is ready to authorize future releases to balance the market. According to USA Today, the announcement comes as the national average pump price for a gallon of gas has significantly dropped since the summer season. However, it has also ticked up since September and is still higher than it was at the same time last year. Read Also: Lee Zeldin Endorsed by Trump for New York Governor as Democratic Stronghold's Race Tightens Biden's Plan The final 15 million barrels of oil is less than one full day's use of oil in the United States, based on data from the Energy Information Administration. However, Biden's use of the SPR to address high gas prices has drawn criticism from outside observers who believe that withdrawals should be reserved for emergencies like wars or natural disasters. But the White House says that the releases of the oil are addressing issues with international stability and that the SPR remains in a strong condition. A senior administration official noted that global crude oil supplies remain a challenge mainly because of Russia's continued invasion of Ukraine. The official added that the SPR remains the largest strategic reserve with more than 400 million barrels remaining. They said that the Department of Energy remains very able and vigilant while being ready for the need to deal with additional challenges with supply and affordability. The source also signaled that Biden may not be done with releasing oil from the reserve, adding that as the US heads into winter, it might need to consider releasing more supply to address a potential rise in costs, Fox Business reported. Related Article: Biden Pledges Abortion Rights Law If Democrats Take Majority of Congress After Midterms @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Multiple hosts might be used on Comedy Central's The Daily Show in the wake of Trevor Noah's slated departure from the series. Three insiders told Variety on Tuesday that the Paramount Global-owned network is looking at a potential rotation of candidates when it resumes airing January 17, though it was unclear if any plans had been finalized. Noah's last day at The Daily Show is scheduled for December 8, and Comedy Central said it is looking at a 'reinvention' of the long-running show. The latest: Multiple hosts might be used on Comedy Central's The Daily Show in the wake of Trevor Noah's slated departure from the series, sources with the network said Noah, 38, said he would be departing the show during a September 29 taping, leaving a number of executives and producers surprised, and scrambling to plan the future of the series, sources said. The network faced similar circumstances seven years ago, when Jon Stewart said in February of 2015 that he was departing the series. The network said in a statement on the topic, 'In time, we will turn to the next chapter of The Daily Show, and all of our incredible correspondents will be at the top of that list. Until then, we are focused on celebrating Trevor and thanking him for his many contributions.' Insiders said that there had been internal support at The Daily Show for supporting comics such as Roy Wood Jr., who has been a correspondent on the show; and Jordan Klepper, who has also been a contributor. Other spotlighted performers on the program include Desi Lydic and Ronny Chieng. Insiders said that there had been internal support at The Daily Show for supporting comics such as Roy Wood Jr., (L) who has been a correspondent on the show; and Jordan Klepper, who has also been a contributor Noah made his announcement last month in saying that he felt gratitude after seven years of hosting the show, which Jon Stewart left in 2015 Noah and his team are slated to cover the midterm elections in Atlanta next month, and the show will commemorate Noah's time at the helm with a December 5 episode that takes a 'celebratory look back at his greatest moments.' Noah said in a statement that Paramount exec Chris McCarthy 'has been an amazing leader and partner who has helped me realize my dream of working not just in front of the camera, but also behind the scenes, producing content which now airs across the Paramount family.' He added: 'Im truly excited to see what the future holds.' McCarthy called Noah 'an incredible talent who has left an indelible mark on The Daily Show and were grateful for his creative partnership over the past seven years.' Noah made his announcement last month in saying that he felt gratitude after seven years of hosting the show, which Stewart left in 2015. 'I realized, after the seven years, my time is up,' the Johannesburg, South Africa-born TV personality said. The network faced similar circumstances seven years ago, when Jon Stewart said in February of 2015 that he was departing the series Noah said that 'so many people didnt believe in us,' adding that 'it was a crazy bet to make' to anoint him host of the series. 'I still think it was a crazy choice - this random African,' he said. 'I wanted to say thank you to the audience for an amazing seven years. Its been wild. Its been truly wild.' Noah said that traveling recently gave him a better perspective on what he wanted out of his future. 'I miss learning other languages,' he said. 'I miss going to other countries and putting on a show.' Noah's departure comes amid a time a number of his colleagues have ended their shows, including Conan OBrien last year and Samantha Bee earlier this year. She is dating one of England's greatest rugby league exports. So it's no wonder Sam Burgess' new girlfriend Lucy Graham was all smiles as they stepped out for a romantic stroll in Rome on Tuesday. The couple, who debuted their relationship at the Italian premiere of Poker Face on Sunday, looked positively smitten as they exited their five-star hotel hand-in-hand. Former NRL star Sam Burgess' (right) new girlfriend Lucy Graham (left) was all smiles as they stepped out for a romantic stroll in Rome, Italy, on Tuesday Sam later slung a protective arm over Lucy's shoulder as they made their way down the historic streets. Lucy, a hairdresser and fashion designer from Leeds, looked stylish in a black knitted mini dress with long sleeves and tiny cut-outs. She completed her look with chic orange sunglasses, Doc Martens boots and a cross-body handbag. Lucy, a hairdresser and fashion designer from Leeds, looked stylish in a black knitted mini dress with long sleeves and tiny cut-outs Sam showcased his hulking physique in a black T-shirt and white shorts Her poker-straight chestnut locks fell loosely by her shoulders in a centre parting. Sam, 33, showcased his hulking physique in a black T-shirt and white shorts. The 6'4" sportsman also wore black and white sneakers, a silver bangle and a pair of sunglasses. Sam, who was born in West Yorkshire, England, has known Lucy for about 20 years, a source said. They are pictured at the premiere of Poker Face in Rome on Sunday Sam, who was born in West Yorkshire, England, has known Lucy for about 20 years, a source close to the footy player told Daily Mail Australia. Her identity was revealed after the retired South Sydney Rabbitohs star took her as his date to the premiere of Russell Crowe's film Poker Face in Rome on Sunday. Sam was previously married to Phoebe Burgess (nee Hooke), the influencer daughter of a millionaire mining boss who lives on a sprawling estate in Bowral, NSW. Lucy (pictured in a recent Instagram photo) is the co-founder of the sustainable fashion label Sentenced, which launched in September 2019 Lucy is the co-founder of the sustainable fashion label Sentenced, which launched in September 2019, reports So Dramatic Online. While her social media accounts have all been switched to private, archived photos show she isn't afraid to get in front of the camera. While it's not known how long they have been together, Sam has been telling friends they are 'taking things steady'. While her social media accounts have all been switched to private, archived photos show she isn't afraid to get in front of the camera Lucy looked glamorous at the Poker Face screening in a plunging black mini dress, which she accessorised with a Chanel handbag. She completed her look with gold strappy sandals and a matching bracelet. Sam dressed to impress in a grey suit, white shirt and box-fresh sneakers. The retired South Sydney Rabbitohs star who split from ex-wife Phoebe three years ago (together right), looked smitten as he cuddled up to Lucy at the Poker Face premiere (left) While the English-born prop does not star in the movie, he was invited on the red carpet as Russell's 'bodyguard'. Sam has been following the Oscar-winning Rabbitohs co-owner around the world for the past year, acting as his assistant and driver. He was hired to work on the set of Poker Face, which was filmed in Sydney. While it's not known how long they have been together, Sam has been telling friends they are 'taking things steady' Sam's new relationship comes after a series of flings that followed his acrimonious split from ex-wife Phoebe in January 2019. The father of two is said to have briefly dated Daily Mail Australia columnist Jana Hocking in January this year, as well as American waitress Oak Schuetz in late 2019. Meanwhile, Phoebe, who shares daughter Poppy, four, and son Billy, three, with Sam, has remained single since their divorce. She is living near her parents in Bowral, about 120km from Sydney. Pete Davidson looked ready for a hard day's work as he arrived to the set of his upcoming series Bupkis in New York City on Tuesday. The 28-year-old comedian was upbeat while walking to his trailer with several members of the production crew. Davidson's outing comes after his ex Kim Kardashian, 41, dished about their wild sex life in the latest episode of her family's Hulu series. Hard at work: Pete Davidson looked ready for a hard day's work as he arrived to the set of his upcoming series Bupkis in New York City on Tuesday Before heading inside his trailer, the SNL alum flashed a friendly peace sign and a thumbs-up in the direction of photogs. It was revealed earlier this year that Bupkis had entered development and shooting kicked off in October. For his first costume of the day, Davidson stepped in front of the camera in a Hawaiian shirt that was worn underneath a navy blue button-up shirt. The King Of Staten Island star - who plays the series lead - completed the look with matching blue trousers and a pair of stylish Asics running shoes. In character: For his first costume of the day, Davidson stepped in front of the camera in a Hawaiian shirt that was worn underneath a navy blue button-up shirt He arrived to the day's shoot in a comfy green hoodie and a set of sweatpants. Davidson strolled the sidewalk in white slip-on sneakers with a pair of dark sunglasses over his eyes. Bupkis was co-created by Davidson, who serves as one of the show's executive producers alongside Lorne Michaels. The comedian also co-wrote the program with Dave Sirus and Judah Miller. Storyline: The show will present a fictionalized take on the former Saturday Night Live cast member's life Upbeat: The 28-year-old comedian was upbeat while walking to his trailer with several members of the production crew It will present a fictionalized take on the former Saturday Night Live cast member's life. Edie Falco was added to the project's cast this past May, and she will play the actor's mother. Joe Pesci signed on to portray the performer's grandfather, and his participation in the show marks the first time he has headlined a program since 1985. Bupkis which will air on the Peacock streaming service, does not have a release date as of yet. Spilling the beans: Davidson's outing comes after his ex Kim Kardashian, 41, dished about their sex life in the latest episode of her family's Hulu series TMI! In the episode, Kardashian reveals that she used a sex tip passed down from her grandmother Mary Jo 'MJ' Campbell with Davidson Davidson has more time of his hands since his split from Kim Kardashian this past August after nine months of dating. And fans of the former couple got another look at their whirlwind relationship in last week's episode of The Kardashians. In the episode, Kardashian reveals that she used a sex tip passed down from her grandmother Mary Jo 'MJ' Campbell with Davidson. Apparently Campbell, who turned 88 in late June, previously told her family the pleasures of having sex in front of a fire, which Kardashian tried out with her younger beau during a stay at the Beverly Hills Hotel. 'You know what's so crazy? Pete and I were staying at the Beverly Hills Hotel last weekend, and we were sitting in front of the fireplace talking for just hours,' Kardashian began. Passed down: Apparently Campbell, who turned 88 in late June, previously told her family the pleasures of having sex in front of a fire, which Kardashian tried out with her younger beau during a stay at the Beverly Hills Hotel 'You know what's so crazy? Pete and I were staying at the Beverly Hills Hotel last weekend, and we were sitting in front of the fireplace talking for just hours,' Kardashian began 'I was like, "My Grandma told me that you really live life when you have sex in front of the fireplace." And so we had sex in front of the fireplace, in honor of you,' Kardashian tells MJ 'I was like, "My Grandma told me that you really live life when you have sex in front of the fireplace." And so we had sex in front of the fireplace, in honor of you,' Kardashian tells MJ. Kim's grandma added with a wry smile, 'Not in the lobby?' as Kim and MJ both shared a laugh, as Kim adds, 'How creepy to think of your grandma before you have sex.' Davidson has come up several times since season two of The Kardashians kicked off in late September, with Kardashian referring to the actor as 'the sweetest' and defending his preference for dating 'hot girls' like herself. The former couple first met when Kardashian hosted Saturday Night Live last October, and started dating a month later, before ending their relationship in August 2022 after nearly a year. Tia Mowry shocked fans when she announced her split from husband Cory Hardrict, 42, earlier this month. And the Disney Channel alum, 44, shared just how she's been coping with the end of her marriage while attending ELLE's Women in Hollywood gala on Monday. 'I'm doing fantastic. I am doing great. I feel very blessed,' gushed Tia to ET. Thriving: Tia Mowry, 44, shared just how she's been coping with the end of her marriage to Cory Hardrict, 42, while attending ELLE's Women in Hollywood gala on Monday; pictured on October 17 She added that she's been 'overwhelmed' by the flood of support she's received online in wake of her divorce. 'I have to be honest with you, I am so overwhelmed by the love and support I've received,' Tia told the outlet. 'I'm so grateful of the community and the fans that I have.' Tia explained how her vulnerability about the end of her own marriage has resonated with women in similar situations. 'I'm all about inspiring and encouraging, and the DMs that I've gotten from so many women who are going through the same thing it has just been [amazing] 'I'm doing fantastic. I am doing great. I feel very blessed,' gushed Tia to ET; the former couple seen in 2020 'I feel so blessed,' the Sister, Sister alum concluded. After 14 years of marriage and two children together, Tia filed for divorce from her husband Cory on Monday, October 3, in Los Angeles. According to divorce documents obtained by DailyMail.com, the actress cited irreconcilable differences as the reason behind their split. She has asked for joint physical and legal custody of their two children, son Cree, 11, and four-year-old daughter Cairo and did not provide a date of separation. Support: She added that she's been 'overwhelmed' by the flood of support she's received online in wake of her divorce Divorce: After 14 years of marriage and two children together, Tia filed for divorce from her husband Cory on Monday, October 3, in Los Angeles She has requested the judge terminate the court's ability to award spousal support to both parties and indicated she and Cory had a prenuptial agreement. 'Pursuant to the parties' Premarital Agreement, all assets and obligations of each party are her/his separate property,' the document stated. Tia is being represented by celebrity divorce attorney Laura Wasser, who famously represented reality superstar Kim Kardashian. According to divorce documents obtained by DailyMail.com, the actress cited irreconcilable differences as the reason behind their split; the former couple seen in 2016 The Sister, Sister actress has asked for joint physical and legal custody of their two children, son Cree, 11, and four-year-old daughter Cairo; pictured 2019 Tia spoke about the separation in a heartfelt message posted to her Instagram account on Tuesday, where she said she would continue maintaining a friendship with her ex 'as we co-parent our beautiful children.' She posted a statement addressing the split along with a black-and-white photo of her and Cory. '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. These decisions are never easy, and not without sadness. Happier times: Mowry met Cory, also an actor, on the set of the 2005 film Hollywood Horror. They dated for six years before saying 'I do' on April 20, 2008; pictured at Tia's baby shower in 2018 'We will maintain a friendship as we co-parent our beautiful children. 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.' Last Tuesday, Tia thanked fans for their support in a series of snaps and a short video shared to Instagram. She titled this new chapter of her life - 'My turn.' Tia met Cory, also an actor, on the set of the 2005 film Hollywood Horror. They dated for six years before saying 'I do' on April 20, 2008. Idris Elba is expanding his skincare range as he files a new trademark following the success of his first launch earlier this summer. The Luther actor, 50, and his wife Sabrina launched their first skincare brand S'Able Labs with a collection of three items, cleaner, toner and moisturiser. Now the BBC star and his wife are branching into perfumes, after shave balms and cosmetics in the hope to expand the new wellness business further. 'Nothing is off the table': Idris Elba is expanding his skin care range as he files a new trademark following the success of his first launch earlier this summer. A source told The Sun: 'Idris is a clever businessman as well as a top actor. A new trademark has been created by him with lots of exciting additions, including cosmetics and more skin care products as well as perfumes and aftershave balms. 'There is also a possibility of a podcast and other ideas focused around wellbeing nothing is off the table.' Idris revealed his interest in skincare came from his acting work after 'sitting in the makeup chair and picking it up'. Exciting: The Luther actor, 50, and his wife Sabrina launched their first skincare brand S'Able Labs with a collection of three items, cleaner, toner and moisturiser Expanding: Now the BBC star and his wife Sabrina (pictured) are branching into perfumes, after shave balms and cosmetics in the hope to expand the new wellness business further The news comes after the actor shared some exciting new details about the highly-anticipated 'Luther' film last month. Idris said the new film will 'open doors' for the long-running crime thriller series. He said that he has finally finished filming the upcoming movie and said he's 'proud' of the project. A source said: 'A new trademark has been created by him including cosmetics and more skin care products as well as perfumes and aftershave balms. There is also a possibility of a podcast and other ideas focused around wellbeing nothing is off the table' He told LADbible: 'The Luther film, guess what, we have finished it and we have some finishing work to do on the movie but it's nearly there.' 'We're really proud of it.' He added about the franchise: 'We're opening the doors and widening it so anything's possible when you can do that.' How it started: Idris revealed his interest in skincare came from his acting work after 'sitting in the makeup chair and picking it up' Idris stars in the hit show as murder detective, DCI John Luther. The fifth and final season of Luther was broadcasted over four consecutive nights in 2019. The film will also star the likes of Andy Serkis and Cynthia Erivo. The interview with LADbible comes after Idris recently walked away from potentially replacing Daniel Craig for the next 007 James Bond role. Movie: The news comes after Idris shared some exciting new details about the highly-anticipated 'Luther' movie where he stars as DCI John Luther, a murder detective Proud: The actor said the new film will 'open doors' for the long-running crime thriller series and also added that he is 'proud' of the finished upcoming movie And despite being heavily linked to replace Daniel Craig as 007, Idris has always publicly distanced himself from the role saying that 'Luther' is his 'Bond'. Speaking to Jemele Hill's Unbothered podcast, Idris threw more flame to the fire by stating that he is fully focused on Luther. During the podcast, he said 'It's incredible, it's like graduating. The show ran a natural course, we did five seasons, each one of them shape-shifted but kept an audience captivated.' Bond: The recent wrapping up of the film comes after Idris recently walked away from potentially replacing Daniel Craig as the next 007 He continued: 'The graduation point is where we get to take that Luther character and elevate him to the big screen with a wider spectrum of scale.' 'If you've never seen an episode of Luther you can still be invited into the first chapter of the film series, I'm hoping that this movie literally becomes my Bond, everyone talks about Bond but, for me, it's Luther.' Idris also spoke to i Newspaper recently and said he wanted to continue making films in Africa after his recent movie 'Beast' was shot there. Latest: Idris also spoke to i Newspaper recently, and said he wanted to continue making films in Africa, after his recent movie 'Beast' was shot there He said: 'I'm really keen on the development of Africa. My parents come from Africa and more than anywhere in the world, I feel like that continent deserves some real tender care and love and thought.' 'Young Africans view me as a leader or a beacon. And I feel like I could bring something. So I'm keen to bring what I've learned in media and amplify it in Africa.' His latest film Beast, which is now in cinema theatres, is a survival thriller in which he plays a widower who must protect his two daughters on a South African game reserve from a fierce lion angered by poachers. Ioan Gruffudd and his girlfriend Bianca Wallace have been spending time in Australia with her family and friends as the actress shared a series of loved-up snaps. The Australian actress posted a glimpse of their recent trip on her Instagram page as the smitten couple posed for pictures with her loved ones. In one snap, Bianca and Ioan, 49, beamed broadly for the camera as they enjoyed dinner out at a restaurant, with the actress resting an affectionate arm on her man. Pose! Ioan Gruffudd and his girlfriend Bianca Wallace have been spending time in Australia with her family and friends as the actress shared a series of loved-up snaps In another photo, Ioan wrapped his arm around Bianca as they gazed out onto the harbour was lit by the lights in the distance. Elsewhere the couple posed for group shots with some of Bianca's pals as they caught up while they spent time down under. Bianca captioned the images: 'It was a goodbye, hello and goodbye again Or as my Mum says, it's never goodbye, just 'cheerio'. Earlier this month, Bianca shared a heartfelt message to Ioan as she marked his 49th birthday. Love: In another photo, Ioan wrapped his arm around Bianca as they gazed out onto the harbour was lit by the lights in the distance Gang: Elsewhere the couple posed for group shots with some of Bianca's pals as they caught up while they spent time down under Bianca captioned the images: 'It was a goodbye, hello and goodbye again Or as my Mum says, it's never goodbye, just 'cheerio' The actress took to Instagram to share a sweet snap of her 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 has failed to come to an agreement amid his bitter custody battle with estranged wife Alice Evans over their daughters Elsie, eight, and Ella, 12. 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. 'We have been through more than most together': Bianca shared a heartfelt message to Ioan as she marked his 49th birthday earlier this month '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 wouldn't 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 wouldn't 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 recently revealed 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 recently revealed 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 stated that the former couple had another appointment set for Tuesday 11 October at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles as they continued 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. 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 Alice had been purposely trying to cut communication between him 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, Ioan reiterated allegations that Alice 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 read. He went on to claim that Alice '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 Ioan presented as evidence in the filing, Evans allegedly told Ella she would be 'getting a new daddy.' '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.' Alice was married to Ioan 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. Brooke Blurton got comfortable at her book signing in Perth on Tuesday night. The former Bachelorette star, 27, kicked off her heels as she addressed fans at the City of Perth Library on Hay Street. She arrived at the venue in a bright orange mini dress and long yellow jacket, which she teamed with a chunky gold chain and black cross-body handbag. Brooke Blurton addressed fans at a book signing at the City of Perth Library on Tuesday night Brooke pulled her brunette hair back into a tight low bun and opted for a bronzed make-up look. She completed her outfit with pointed heels with diamante detailing and little bows. The Bachelor in Paradise alum kicked off her shoes later in the evening as she addressed guests on stage. She arrived at the venue in a bright orange mini dress and long yellow jacket Big Love is a memoir that details Brooke's life story as a First Nations bisexual woman, and her experiences starring on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. The reality TV star announced earlier this year she was writing the book to be released through HarperCollins Australia. The book also documents her traumatic childhood, which was marred by sexual assault, drug-fuelled violence and her mother's suicide when she was just 11. The Bachelor in Paradise alum kicked off her heels as she addressed guests on stage Speaking to Daily Mail Australia in April, Blurton revealed what made her pick up a pen and write a book at such a young age. 'For me, it's about normalising situations and experiences that other young people might have and have had throughout their lives,' she said. Blurton added that it was undoubtedly 'difficult' to relive past trauma, but said 'it's more about telling the truth of my story, and owning it.' Brooke, a Noongar-Yamatji woman from Western Australia, hopes her book will connect with those from a similar background with similar experiences to hers. Big Love is a memoir that details Brooke's life story as a First Nations bisexual woman, and her experiences starring on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette 'The book has very cathartic moments,' she added. 'I think it's quite relieving in some ways that I can look at [my life] in hindsight and be like, "Wow, I've done so much, and I'm only just getting started." 'I'm only 27, so I'm getting the ins and outs, out on paper. You'll see the flow of everything I've been about on TV, interviews, articles... it's all been me. 'The memoir is showing what I'm passionate about. It's about realising you're strong, but you're definitely not bulletproof. Seeing that resilience and strength on paper is a very unusual and surreal thing.' Oscar winners Eddie Redmayne and Jessica Chastain reunited on Tuesday night to attend a screening of their Netflix film The Good Nurse at the Paris Theater in Midtown Manhattan. The psychological thriller based on Charles Graeber's 2013 non-fiction book premieres October 26 on Netflix, and it currently has a 79% critic approval rating (out of 34 reviews) on Rotten Tomatoes. On the black carpet, the 40-year-old Englishman and the 45-year-old Sacramento native could not stop cracking each other up while posing for photographers. Hello, again! Oscar winners Eddie Redmayne and Jessica Chastain reunited on Tuesday night to attend a screening of their Netflix film The Good Nurse at the Paris Theater in Midtown Manhattan Premiering October 26 on Netflix! The psychological thriller based on Charles Graeber's 2013 non-fiction book currently has a 79% critic approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes Jessica calls Eddie 'the kindest person I've ever met' despite him playing real-life intensive-care nurse Charles Cullen, who's serving 17 consecutive life sentences in New Jersey State Prison for murdering 29 patients in 16 years across nine hospitals. 'We went to nursing school - Eddie and I,' Chastain revealed on Tuesday's episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show. 'I do have that kind of American cowboy mentality where someone shows me something and I'm like, "Yeah, let me try it." So I would just jump on in, trying to give a mannequin an IV. And Eddie's like, "Oh, hold on." 'And he's really nervous about it. So what we came to realize after our nursing school in our film is that neither of us would be a good nurse. I might look like it but, no, I'm not the one you want an IV from.' Hilarity ensued! On the black carpet, the 40-year-old Englishman and the 45-year-old Sacramento native could not stop cracking each other up while posing for photographers Playing a monster: Jessica calls Eddie 'the kindest person I've ever met' despite him playing real-life intensive-care nurse Charles Cullen, who's serving 17 consecutive life sentences in New Jersey State Prison for murdering 29 patients in 16 years across nine hospitals Chastain revealed on Tuesday's episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show: 'We went to nursing school - Eddie and I. I do have that kind of American cowboy mentality where someone shows me something and I'm like, "Yeah, let me try it." So I would just jump on in, trying to give a mannequin an IV. And Eddie's like, "Oh, hold on." And he's really nervous about it. So what we came to realize after our nursing school in our film is that neither of us would be a good nurse' 'That's the beat of the compressions!' However, nurses did praise the Juilliard grad technique recreating chest compressions, which she did to the beat of the Bee Gees' 1977 hit Stayin' Alive However, nurses did praise the Juilliard grad technique recreating chest compressions, which she did to the beat of the Bee Gees' 1977 hit Stayin' Alive. 'In your mind, the whole time that you're doing compressions, think, "Ah ah ah ah stayin' alive, staying alive." That's the beat of the compressions!' Jessica smiled. 'A lot of times in movies you see people bend their wrist. You're never supposed to. You have to use your core.' Chastain and Redmayne were still yucking it up when their castmates Noah Emmerich and Nnamdi Asomugha as well as Danish director Tobias Lindholm joined them on the black carpet. Time for a group shot! Chastain and Redmayne were still yucking it up when their castmates Noah Emmerich (L) and Nnamdi Asomugha (2-L) as well as Danish director Tobias Lindholm (R) joined them on the black carpet It takes a village! The glam group then posed for a large cast and crew picture which included their producer, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Darren Aronofsky (2-R) Wearing white after Labor Day: The Armageddon Time actress looked lovely in a Carolina Herrera mini-dress featuring four massive bows and black stiletto heels selected by stylist Elizabeth Stewart Babe: Hairstylist Renato Campora coiffed Jessica's signature red hair, which was middle parted in waves Flawless at 45! Make-up artist Kristofer Buckle fully contoured Chastain's alabaster complexion and added lashes to bring out her baby blues The glam group then posed for a large cast and crew picture which included their producer, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Darren Aronofsky. The Armageddon Time actress looked lovely in a white Carolina Herrera mini-dress featuring four massive bows and black stiletto heels selected by stylist Elizabeth Stewart. Hairstylist Renato Campora coiffed Jessica's signature red hair, which was middle parted in waves. Make-up artist Kristofer Buckle fully contoured Chastain's alabaster complexion and added lashes to bring out her baby blues. Elusive hubbie: Outside the venue, The 355 producer-action star arrived with her husband of five years, FIOL co-founder Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo (L), looking dapper in a grey double-breasted suit Countess: Jessica originally met the 40-year-old Italian count in 2012 while he was working as director of public relations for Armani, and they've welcomed two children via surrogate Outside the venue, The 355 producer-action star arrived with her husband of five years, FIOL co-founder Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo, looking dapper in a grey double-breasted suit. Jessica originally met the 40-year-old Italian count in 2012 while he was working as director of public relations for Armani, and they've welcomed two children via surrogate. Meanwhile, the Cabaret thespian wore a deconstructed black blazer over a white button-up shirt sans tie, baggy grey slacks, and patent leather Oxfords selected by stylist Harry Lambert. Eddie - who's colorblind - used to rely on his wife of seven years, public relations executive Hannah Bagshawe, to style him. Couture creation: The Cabaret thespian wore a deconstructed black blazer over a white button-up shirt sans tie, baggy grey slacks, and patent leather Oxfords selected by stylist Harry Lambert Visible splits and stitching: Eddie - who's colorblind - used to rely on his wife of seven years, public relations executive Hannah Bagshawe, to style him Capricorn: Groomer Amy Komorowski made sure Redmayne's hair and complexion were red carpet ready Woman of the hour! The Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore actor made sure to pose with real-life nurse Amy Loughren (L), who Chastain portrayed in The Good Nurse Hero: If it wasn't for Loughren wearing a wire as a confidential informant for the New Jersey State Police, they would not have had probable cause in order to arrest Cullen for his heinous murders Groomer Amy Komorowski made sure Redmayne's hair and complexion were red carpet ready. The Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore actor made sure to pose with the woman of the hour - real-life nurse Amy Loughren - who Chastain portrayed in The Good Nurse. If it wasn't for Loughren wearing a wire as a confidential informant for the New Jersey State Police, they would not have had probable cause in order to arrest Cullen for his heinous murders. Also suited up for The Good Nurse premiere were Noah Emmerich, Nnamdi Asomugha, and Gabe Fazio - who play Tim Braun, Danny Baldwin, and Tom Anderson respectively. Gents: Also suited up for The Good Nurse premiere were (from L-R) Noah Emmerich, Nnamdi Asomugha, and Gabe Fazio - who play Tim Braun, Danny Baldwin, and Tom Anderson respectively Girlie girls: Bringing a welcome shot of youth to the film festivities were Alix West Lefler and Devyn McDowell, who play Amy Loughren's daughters Alex and Maya in the film Darren Aronosky favorite: Marcia Jean Kurtz - who plays Jackie - bundled up in a black puffer coat for the black carpet Krysty Wilson-Cairns (L) adapted the screenplay based on author Charles Graeber's (R) 2013 non-fiction book The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder Bringing a welcome shot of youth to the film festivities were Alix West Lefler and Devyn McDowell, who play Amy Loughren's daughters Alex and Maya in the film. Darren Aronosky favorite Marcia Jean Kurtz - who plays Jackie - bundled up in a black puffer coat for the black carpet. Krysty Wilson-Cairns adapted the screenplay based on author Charles Graeber's 2013 non-fiction book The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder. Cool Runnings alum! Malik Yoba - who plays a mystery role - wore a long grey double-breasted blazer over all-black attire The OG Carrie Bradshaw: Sex and the City author Candace Bushnell easily defied her 63 years in a black turtleneck, matching mini-skirt, and brocade booties selected by stylist Nolan Meader Maestro: Two-time Oscar nominee Lee Daniels - who's currently remaking James L. Brooks' 1983 drama Terms of Endearment - sported a black Harbor hoodie with khaki sex-print pants Cool Runnings alum Malik Yoba - who plays a mystery role - wore a long grey double-breasted blazer over all-black attire. Sex and the City author Candace Bushnell easily defied her 63 years in a black turtleneck, matching mini-skirt, and brocade booties selected by stylist Nolan Meader Two-time Oscar nominee Lee Daniels - who's currently remaking James L. Brooks' 1983 drama Terms of Endearment - sported a black Harbor hoodie with khaki sex-print pants. Kylie Jenner's best friend Anastasia 'Stassie' Karanikolaou arrived in Sydney on Wednesday ahead of her appearance at a fashion event. The American model, 25, is scheduled to attend an anniversary event for Aussie retailer Hello Molly at Sydney Harbour. Stassie dressed for comfort as she exited Sydney Airport in baggy brown trackpants and a black singlet that showed off her belly button piercing. Kylie Jenner's best friend Anastasia 'Stassie' Karanikolaou arrived in Sydney on Wednesday ahead of her appearance at a fashion event Her outfit also revealed a glimpse of a small butterfly tattoo on the back of her right arm, just above her elbow. Stassie's long brunette hair was styled straight as she left the airport. The YouTuber accessorised with a pair of black and white Adidas sneakers, sunglasses and a bulky white handbag. The American model, 25, is scheduled to attend an anniversary event for Aussie retailer Hello Molly at Sydney Harbour Stassie dressed for comfort as she exited Sydney Airport in baggy brown trackpants and a black singlet that showed off her belly button piercing Inside the airport, she was seen pushing along her luggage with a brown jumper tied around her waist. Stassie, who is known for her friendship with the youngest Kardashian-Jenner sister but has 11 million followers on her own, will be among a group of VIP guests of fast-fashion brand Hello Molly for the unveiling of its new collection on a floating catwalk. She will be joined by TikTok star Fonzie Gomez, lifestyle influencer Sopha Dopha and MAFS star Michael Brunelli at the Rose Bay Marina. Inside the airport, she was seen pushing along her luggage with a brown jumper tied around her waist The Kardashian 'konfidante' will then walk the pink carpet before boarding two Hello Molly-branded luxury yachts, GHOST 1 and GHOST 2, for a celebration at sea. Once the catwalk show is complete and the collection is revealed, the VIPs will join the guests on board, and the luxury yachts will sail down the harbour. Stassie's arrival in Australia comes just days after Kylie's former brother-in-law, rapper Kanye West, revealed he had a crush on the influencer. Stassie, who is known for her friendship with the youngest Kardashian-Jenner sister but has 11 million followers on her own, will be among a group of VIP guests of fast-fashion brand Hello Molly for the unveiling of its new collection on a floating catwalk. (Pictured: Stassie and Kylie) 'THE WHOLE WORLD KNOWS I GOT A CRUSH ON STAS,' the Donda hitmaker, 45, wrote about the Instagram model last week, adding that he helped sneak her and her friends into the Balenciaga show at Paris Fashion Week. The head-turning revelation came amid a flurry of posts from the musician that week, with one featuring Kylie, 25, at his recent Balenciaga fashion show. 'OK OK OK ILL ADMIT I GOT JOHAN TO SNEAK ANASTASIA VICTORIA AND CARTER INTO THE BALENCIAGA SHOW AND YES THE WHOLE WORLD KNOWS I GOT A CRUSH ON STAS,' the Grammy winner said. The Block's Omar Slaimankhel and Oz Malik have laughed off the ridiculous rumour they 'fled the country' to escape public backlash over being labelled 'dodgy dealers'. The western Sydney best mates spoke to Yahoo about their recent holiday in Bali with their families, which some news outlets described as them 'fleeing Australia'. They were reportedly heard on the flight over complaining about Foreman Keith and their co-stars and saying they had to 'escape it all' before auction day. The Block's Omar Slaimankhel (left) and Oz Malik (right) have laughed off the ridiculous rumour they 'fled the country' to escape public backlash over being labelled 'dodgy dealers' Omar burst into laughter when asked about the rumours, saying: 'That's funny. That was pretty funny when we did see it at the time.' He clarified they were just on a normal holiday for a few weeks so they could relax before the show's finale. 'It's alright, whatever, who cares? They can say what they want!' he added. The western Sydney best mates spoke to Yahoo about their recent holiday in Bali with their families, which some news outlets described as them 'fleeing Australia'. (Pictured: Oz holidaying in Bali in 2018) Oz explained they'd asked Channel Nine for permission before they left the country. 'We asked Channel Nine, "Can we go for a nice two-week holiday with the family?" They let us know when we could, and we went. We enjoyed it. It was pretty good,' he said. Their overseas trip followed the pair's 'dodgy dealing' scandal and their frank discussion with Foreman Dan over the show perpetuating racist stereotypes. Scandal broke out on The Block when Omar and Oz scored a $36,000 baby grand piano for just $7,509. They were reportedly heard on the flight over complaining about Foreman Keith and their co-stars and saying they had to 'escape it all' before auction day Omar burst into laughter when asked about the rumours, saying: 'That's funny. That was pretty funny when we did see it at the time.' He clarified they were just on a normal holiday for a few weeks so they could relax before the show's finale The pair had also been accused of breaking the rules by buying heavily discounted fixtures and using friends and family as free labour. Omar and Oz, who are both Muslim, subsequently confronted Dan over the 'hurtful' things he and Foreman Keith had said throughout the show. Omar, who is of Afghan heritage, and Oz, who is Australian Lebanese, said they feared they were going to be edited to be shown as 'wogs doing dodgy s**t on TV'. 'We genuinely don't want to sit down on TV and our family and friends are watching this, and another million or so people, and they be like, "Those two f**king w*** on the show being dodgy all season,"' added building maintenance manager Oz. A $250 million lawsuit is being prepared by George Floyd's daughter against Kanye West in response to the rapper's divisive comments concerning Floyd's cause of death. Attorneys representing Floyd's family have sent the rapper, also known as Ye, a cease-and-desist letter and asserted that his daughter has been retraumatized as a result of his remarks. George Floyd's Family Reacts to Kanye West's Defamatory Claims Kanye West is allegedly creating an unsafe and unhealthy environment for her, according to Floyd's relatives. Roxie Washington is suing Kanye West, his business partners, and associates for harassment, misappropriation, defamation, and the infliction of emotional distress on behalf of her child, who is the only beneficiary of Floyd's inheritance. Damages for $250 million are demanded. The news statement sent by Witherspoon Law Group and Dixon & Dixon Attorneys At Law, who is representing Floyd's daughter, quotes Kanye West's comments from his recent participation on the podcast Drink Champs. Kanye West's remarks, they continued, are a repugnant attempt to belittle George Floyd's existence and to capitalize on his horrible death. Attorneys for the Floyd family claim that they are extremely concerned and hurt by the charges the rapper has made in a cease-and-desist letter they sent to him that was made public by TMZ. Specifically, they demand that Kanye West immediately cease, and eliminate the 'Drink Champs' interview and all related statements regarding George Floyd from every podcast, website, advertisement, and social media site, regardless of platform or medium. Kanye West, as well as his lawyers, staff, agents, partners, associates, and representatives, are also commanded in the letter to refrain from publishing or causing to be published any other audio, video, statement, post, etc. About George Floyd, his estate, his family, and everything related to his passing, including but not limited to how he died. Floyd passed away on May 25, 2020, following his detention by Derek Chauvin and three other cops. Floyd called out, "I can't breathe," but Chauvin knelt on his neck for nine minutes as he was shackled and lying face down on the sidewalk. Following Floyd's killing, there were widespread protests all around the world, and the Black Lives Matter movement was established. On May 26, the Minneapolis Police Department fired Chauvin, and on May 29, he was taken into custody. On April 20, 2021, Chauvin was determined to have committed second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. He received a 22 1/2-year prison term. Chauvin was given a 21-year term after entering a guilty plea to federal charges alleging that he used excessive force against Floyd and disregarded his urgent medical requirements. Read Also: Angelina Jolie Being Compared to Amber Heard Following Leak of Dramatic Email While Legal Battle Against Ex-Husband Brad Pitt Continues Kanye West's Divorce Battle After more than a year since Kim Kardashian first filed documents to dissolve their marriage, Kanye West is getting ready to resolve his divorce from her in a separate legal dispute. According to The Blast, Kanye West's attorney has submitted a "statement of disclosure," indicating that their lawsuit is about to be resolved. The records state that Kanye West has given his estranged wife's legal team access to every financial record he has ever kept and that he and she have also come to an understanding over the division of their assets. Kim Kardashian wed Kanye West in Florence, Italy in 2014, and the couple soon had four children together: sons Saint, 6, and Psalm, 3, as well as girls North, 9, and Chicago, 4. In the end, she filed for divorce in February 2021. Kanye West attempted to fight Kim's efforts to be deemed legally single during their highly-publicized legal battle; nonetheless, a judge accepted her plea in March 2022. Kanye West also employed several attorneys throughout the separation, and he just recruited his sixth one, Robert Stephan Cohen, who previously represented Melinda Gates in her $130 billion divorce from ex-husband Bill Gates. The rapper has also hired Beverly Hills-based attorney Nicholas A. Salick of Salick Family Law Group, APLC as his legal representative in California since Cohen is in New York and the formal separation battle is being fought in Los Angeles. In light of Kanye West's most recent scandals, which include his White Lives Matter T-shirt and anti-Semitic rants, things between the ex-couples seem to have gotten even icier recently, Mirror reported. Related Article: Selena Gomez, Hailey Bieber Debunk Feud Rumors That Model Stole Justin Bieber After Posting First Photo Together @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Conan O'Brien once gave a late-night show crew member the axe after he witnessed the man being 'impatient and rude' to a restaurant server. The incident was claimed in a tweet published Tuesday by former CONAN staff writer Todd Levin as an example of the beloved talk show host's genuine nobility. It also served as a dig at late-night personality James Corden, who was recently accused of being the most 'abusive customer EVER' by New York's Balthazar restaurant. Conan O'Brien once gave a late-night show crew member the axe after he witnessed the man being 'impatient and rude' to a restaurant server; O'Brien seen in 2021 'At CONAN there was a crew member who was fired because Conan witnessed him being impatient and rude to a server at a restaurant,' Levin began. He concluded the tweet by quipping: 'Just remembering that now, for no particular reason.' O'Brien began his late night stint with Late Night With Conan O'Brien from 1993 thru 2009, and was at the helm of The Tonight Show for an eight-month stint between 2009-10. O'Brien's stand-alone TBS talk show CONAN premiered in 2010 and came to a close in 2021. The incident was mentioned in a tweet published Tuesday by former CONAN staff writer Todd Levin as an example of the beloved talk show host's genuine nobility Drama: It also served as a subtle dig at late-night personality James Corden, who was recently accused of being the most 'abusive customer EVER' by New York's Balthazar restaurant Levin served as a writer during O'Brien's Tonight Show days, as well as during CONAN's eleven-year run. Corden's alleged 'abusive' behavior at Balthazar was brought to light earlier this week by the restaurant's owner, Keith McNally, in a string of fiery Instagram posts. McNally barred the star from Balthazar in SoHo, Manhattan, because of his alleged treatment of servers, branding him: 'The most abusive customer since the restaurant opened 25 years ago.' The restauranteur shared two reports from his managers accusing Corden, who earns $36million a year as host of the Late Late Show, of being 'extremely nasty' to staff. 'At CONAN there was a crew member who was fired because Conan witnessed him being impatient and rude to a server at a restaurant,' Levin began; O'Brien seen hosting CONAN Career: O'Brien began his late night stint with Late Night With Conan O'Brien from 1993 thru 2009, and was at the helm of The Tonight Show for an eight-month stint between 2009-10; seen hosting The Tonight Show End of an era: O'Brien's stand-alone TBS talk show CONAN premiered in 2010 and came to a close in 2021 The first incident in June allegedly came after the comedian found a hair in his meal. According to staff, who were 'very apologetic', the star allegedly declared: 'Get us another round of drinks this second. And also take care of all of our drinks so far. This way I [won't] write any nasty reviews in yelp or anything like that.' Mr McNally said that nine days ago there was more trouble when he came in for brunch with his wife Julia Carey but complained about 'a little bit of egg white' in her egg yolk omelette. He then allegedly began 'yelling like crazy' when they made a new one but served it with fries instead of a salad. The post claims Corden told the server: 'You can't do your job! You can't do your job! Maybe I should go into the kitchen and cook the omelette myself'. The couple received a free glass of Champagne and apologies, but the server 'was very shaken'. Allegations: Corden's alleged 'abusive' behavior at Balthazar was brought to light earlier this week by the restaurant's owner, Keith McNally, in a string of fiery Instagram posts; Corden seen in May On Monday evening, Mr McNally said he had '86'd Corden'. Eighty-sixing a customer means to stop serving them, or to kick them out. It is thought to have originated at a Greenwich Village speakeasy bar, Chumley's, on 86 Bedford Street, which was opened secretly during prohibition in 1922 and where visitors were '86'd' if they got too drunk. 'James Corden is a hugely gifted comedian, but a tiny cretin of a man, and the most abusive customer to my Balthazar servers since the restaurant opened 25 years ago,' Mr McNally wrote. 'I don't often 86 a customer. today I 86'd Corden. It did not make me laugh.' Mr McNally went on to share details of 'the funny man's treatment of my staff', adding Corden had behaved 'similarly in my former restaurant, Cafe Luxembourg, a few years back'. James Corden and his wife Julia Carey are accused of sending back an egg yolk omelette because it had a 'little bit of egg white' in it while dining at the restaurant Balthazar. The situation then got worse when it returned with fries rather than a salad, the owner claims McNally barred the star from Balthazar in SoHo, Manhattan, because of his alleged treatment of servers, branding him: 'The most abusive customer since the restaurant opened 25 years ago' The post was obviously brought to Corden's attention because Mr McNally posted an update hours later saying: 'James Corden just called me and apologized profusely.' Declaring that 'all was forgiven', he said: 'Having f**ked up myself more than most people, I strongly believe in second chances. So if James Corden lets me host his Late Late Show for 9 months, I'll immediately rescind his ban from Balthazar. 'No, of course not. But... anyone magnanimous enough to apologise to a deadbeat layabout like me (and my staff) doesn't deserve to be banned from anywhere.' Balthazar, located at 80 Spring Street in the SoHo area of Manhattan, has become wildly popular over the last two decades. It has been visited by a slew of A-list names including Anna Wintour, Zoey Deutch, Sienna Miller, Jared Leto, Mary-Kate Olsen, Tom Hiddleston, and Meryl Streep - to name a few. Apologies: The post was obviously brought to Corden's attention because Mr McNally posted an update hours later saying: 'James Corden just called me and apologized profusely'; Corden seen in October Declaring that 'all was forgiven', he said: 'Having f**ked up myself more than most people, I strongly believe in second chances. So if James Corden lets me host his Late Late Show for 9 months, I'll immediately rescind his ban from Balthazar It is nearly impossible to get a reservation and there is often a line down the street of people hoping to get a table. Its firebrand owner is beloved by many stars who dine there - but also has a reputation for using social media to name and shame those who behave badly. Mr McNally, 71, claims Corden also behaved similarly at his former restaurant, Cafe Luxembourg, on several occasions and left one server 'shaken.' Naomi Watts has confessed there have been times when she was 'close' to getting plastic surgery. The British-Australian actress, 54, told InStyle she has strongly considered going under the knife in the past and has also done 'plenty of research' on the subject. In her latest film, Goodnight Mommy, Watts' character has her face completely bandaged after a cosmetic surgery procedure, leading her young sons to believe their own mother may have been replaced by a monster. Naomi Watts (pictured in Los Angeles on Monday) has confessed there have been times when she was 'close' to getting plastic surgery When asked if she would consider going under the knife, she said: 'I've done plenty of research and have gotten close at times and thought about doing it.' 'And that's not to say that I won't one day. If I knew I could look great and just like myself but less tired, I'd happily do what needs to be done,' she added. Watts explained that surgery is a personal choice and nothing to be ashamed of. The British-Australian actress, 54, told InStyle she has strongly considered going under the knife in the past and has also done 'plenty of research' on the subject. (Pictured in 2013) When asked if she would consider going under the knife, Watts told InStyle magazine: 'I've done plenty of research and have gotten close at times and thought about doing it.' She is pictured at the Oscars in 2007 (left) and the NYC premiere of The Watcher last week (right) 'I don't think we should ever shame anyone who's made that choice because everyone should approach it at their own level,' she said. Elsewhere in her InStyle interview, the two-time Oscar nominee also spoke about her experience ageing in Hollywood. 'My career didn't really start until my early thirties; that was when Mulholland Drive came out,' she said. In her latest film, Goodnight Mommy, Watts' character gets cosmetic surgery that is so extensive her own sons no longer recognise her 'That's not to say that I won't one day. If I knew I could look great and just like myself but less tired, I'd happily do what needs to be done,' she said. (Naomi is pictured in The Watcher) 'At that time, I was also being told your career would be over around your forties.' The actress is starring in Netflix mini-series The Watcher, which is based on the true story of a New Jersey couple, Derek and Maria Broaddus, who moved to their dream home in 2014 only to be spooked by an onslaught of menacing anonymous letters. Naomi plays Maria in the Ryan Murphy-helmed limited series, while Bobby Cannavale, 51, stars opposite her in the role of Derek. A newly single Olivia Molly Rogers put her heartbreak to one side on Wednesday as she posed in stylish activewear for a photo shoot in Melbourne. The former Miss Universe Australia leaned against a Honda hybrid SUV in skintight gym gear that appeared to be almost painted onto her toned body. The 30-year-old model teamed a long-sleeved crop top and leggings with box-fresh white sneakers and a Prada handbag worth about $3,650. A newly single Olivia Molly Rogers put her heartbreak to one side on Wednesday as she posed in stylish activewear for a photo shoot in Melbourne Olivia, whose marriage to accountant Justin McKeone recently imploded just eight months after they tied the knot, concealed her gaze behind a pair of round-rimmed sunglasses and styled her shoulder-length brunette hair sleek and straight. When the influencer was finished posing for pictures, she took a look at them on the photographer's camera and seemed happy with the results. The sighting comes after her estranged husband Justin rubbed salt in her wounds after gaining full custody of their dog Ziggy. The former Miss Universe Australia leaned against a Honda hybrid SUV in skintight gym gear that appeared to be almost painted onto her toned body After Olivia told fans she was 'devastated' about losing ownership of her beloved Chow Chow, Justin appeared to gloat about the outcome on Sunday by uploading a photo of himself and Ziggy on Instagram. The photo showed Justin beaming as he posed with the dog on his lap at an outdoor cafe in Melbourne, as he wrote in the caption, 'The notorious duo.' Olivia subsequently alluded to her heartbreak on Tuesday by re-sharing a viral video of Alaskan Malamute puppies playing on a staircase. When the influencer was finished posing for pictures, she took a look at them on the photographer's camera and seemed happy with the results Pop culture podcast Outspoken slammed Justin's post, calling it 'unnecessary and disappointing'. 'It would be incredibly heartbreaking deciding who takes custody of a pet after divorce. I know my dog is like a son to me,' one of the hosts said. They continued: 'I was a bit disappointed by the post. The sighting comes after Olivia's estranged husband Justin McKeone rubbed salt in her wounds after gaining full custody of their dog Ziggy After Olivia told fans she was 'devastated' about losing ownership of her beloved Chow Chow, Justin appeared to gloat about the outcome on Sunday by uploading this photo of himself and Ziggy on Instagram 'The caption was unnecessary and did seem to be rubbing it in. It would be so tough to see this post. My heart broke for her.' Olivia confirmed she'd lost custody of Ziggy earlier this month, just days after she announced her split from husband-of-eight-months Justin. 'As I know you all adore Ziggy and I keep on getting asked about him. He does not live with me anymore,' she wrote on Instagram. 'Justin has taken him. I am devastated and don't want to talk about it further.' Outspoken the Podcast slammed Justin's post, calling it 'unnecessary and disappointing' Rumours about Olivia and Justin's marriage began swirling last month after fans noticed she'd reverted to her maiden name on Instagram and unpinned all the photos from her February wedding. The former couple, who met in 2018, were last pictured together in August in a series of loved-up holiday snaps from their trip to New York City. Olivia finally addressed her break-up in an Instagram post on October 3. Rumours about Olivia and Justin's marriage began swirling last month after fans noticed she'd reverted to her maiden name on Instagram and unpinned photos from her February wedding 'After 4.5 years together, Justin and I have come to the difficult decision to separate as a couple,' read her break-up post on Instagram. 'I do not wish to make any further statements about this in the near future,' she added. 'Please respect our decision and privacy at this time. Thank you for all your private DMs, kindness and support.' By Harriet Johnstonand Lydia Hawken For Mailonline Daniel Radcliffe Daniel was catapulted into the spotlight as boy wizard Harry Potter in the film franchise - based on J.K. Rowling's children's books - and since he left the role he has made it his mission to prove he is a talented actor and not just a child star who got lucky. Since then, he has taken an unexpected route to his acting career - choosing a number of varied film and theater roles. The star thinks his part in Equus - in which he played 17-year-old suburban stable boy Alan Strang - was 'important' and it helped show off his acting prowess. He previously said: 'Doing Equus was important. It showed people that I wasn't just here to capitalise on the Potter fame for as long as I could. Daniel was catapulted into the spotlight as boy wizard Harry Potter in the film franchise - based on J.K. Rowling's children's books - and since he left the role he has made it his mission to prove he is a talented actor and not just a child star who got lucky The star thinks his part in Equus - in which he played 17-year-old suburban stable boy Alan Strang - was 'important' and it helped show off his acting prowess More recently, he has appeared in a number of larger Hollywood blockbusters, including The Lost City opposite Sandra Bullock (left and right) His next big role sees him taking on the part of Al Yankovic in a biopic depiction of the star's life (pictured) 'I think ultimately, I'm ambitious because I want to prove everyone wrong who thinks that it's impossible to emerge from Harry Potter and do well.' In 2013 he starred alongside Mad Men star John Hamm in the comedy-drama A Young Doctor's Notebook, while he took on a darker and edgier role as Arthur Kipps in the big-screen version of The Woman In Black (2012). More recently, he has appeared in a number of larger Hollywood blockbusters, including The Lost City opposite Sandra Bullock. His next big role sees him taking on the part of Al Yankovic in a biopic depiction of the star's life. However it hasn't been an easy route for the child star. Daniel has spoken openly about his battles with alcohol in the past. In 2019, Daniel admitted he turned to alcohol as a way to deal with his global fame following the success of the Harry Potter franchise. He became teetotal in 2010 and has since been on track. Rupert Grint Rupert Grint was cast as Ron Weasley in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone aged just 11. He went on to star in all eight films, which ranged from 2001 to 2011, earning him at least $70 million (52 million) Since the Harry Potter film series came to a conclusion in 2011, Rupert has starred in a slew of TV roles, including the sitcom Sick Note and the crime drama Snatch He appeared in an Ed Sheeran music video, and recently welcomed a daughter with his partner, Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging star, Georgia Groome (pictured together) Rupert Grint was cast as Ron Weasley in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone aged just 11. He went on to star in all eight films, which ranged from 2001 to 2011, earning him at least $70 million (52 million). Since the Harry Potter film series came to a conclusion in 2011, Rupert has starred in a slew of TV roles, including the sitcom Sick Note and the crime drama Snatch. However to some extent, he hasn't enjoyed the same blockbuster success as Emma and Daniel, and instead has chosen a more low-key approach to his fame. He appeared in an Ed Sheeran music video, and recently welcomed a daughter with his partner, Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging star, Georgia Groome. Earlier this year in a Sunday Times interview, Rupert admitted he still finds it 'very hard' to 'detach' himself from Ron having played Harry Potter's best friend for 10 years. He explained: 'I measure my life in Harry Potter movies. They're so ingrained in me. 'I find it very hard to detach myself from being Ron - we merged into the same person. I can't believe it started 20 years ago. It definitely sculpted who I am. 'I mentally closed the door on it even though I'm constantly faced with it - there's the play, the theme park and it's always on TV.' Since 2019, he has been appearing in the psychological horror series Servant and is set to star in Knock at the Cabin, which is to be released next year. Emma Watson Emma was catapulted to stardom following the success of The Philosopher's Stone in 2001 as she took on the role of Hermione (left and right) Emma was catapulted to stardom following the success of The Philosopher's Stone in 2001 as she took on the role of Hermione. However after the film franchise wrapped, she decided to take the unusual step of attending university. In 2011, Watson announced that she would be studying at Brown University. She graduated in 2014 with a bachelor's in English literature. Despite being in school, she juggled her acting career where she appeared in 'My Week With Marilyn' (2011), 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' (2012), and 'The Bling Ring' (2013). The actress is now one of the biggest stars to come out of the francise - having enjoyed roles in Hollywood blockbusters like Beauty and the Beast and Little Women. And outside of acting, she has become an activist, regularly making passionate speeches about sexism in her role as U.N. Women Global Goodwill Ambassador, which she has held since 2014. Alan Rickman Alan Rickman, who was born into a working-class family in Hammersmith, became one of the best-known villains in showbiz when he took on the role of Proffessor Snape in the Potter films (left and right) Alan Rickman, who was born into a working-class family in Hammersmith, began his acting career on the stage before graduating to Hollywood films. He became one of the best-known villains in showbiz - appearing as Hans Gruber in Die Hard, the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and Professor Snape in the Potter films. The actor's other well-known films include Truly, Madly, Deeply, Sense and Sensibility and Love Actually, in which he played the husband of his frequent collaborator Emma Thompson, who was a close friend. His role in Harry Potter brought him worldwide fame around the world. However he underwent a private battle with cancer during the years he was filming. The actor was first diagnosed with prostrate cancer before production began on the fifth Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. He received treatment and underwent a procedure to have his prostrate removed in January 2006. However the actor passed in January 2016 in London at 69 years of age. Tom Felton Alongside Daniel, Emma and Rupert, Tom Felton is perhaps one of the most recognisable child stars from the Harry Potter franchise (left, as Draco Malfoy and right, this year) Alongside Daniel, Emma and Rupert, Tom Felton is perhaps one of the most recognisable child stars from the Harry Potter franchise. He rose to fame during his role as Draco Malfoy in the movie series, after auditioning for a number of roles - including Harry himself. After the series ended, he took on a number of roles - but none as popular or well known as his Harry Potter roots. Throughout filming 'Harry Potter,' he also appeared in 'The Disappeared' (2008), 'Get Him to the Greek' (2010), and 'Night Wolf' (2010). He has been consistently working since then, albeit in smaller roles in TV and film, and recently made his West End theatre debut in London, in the play 2:22 A Ghost Story. Earlier this week, he hit the headlines when he praised author of the original books JK Rowling for 'bringing so many generatons together' through the stories. His comments come following a wave of backlash towards the writer following her controversial comments on transgender people - with the 35-year-old actor sharing that he 'doesn't pick sides'. Chatting in a new interview with The Times T2 magazine, Tom drew on JK, real name moniker Joanne, and her mark on the entertainment industry. He said: 'I couldn't speak for what others have said or what she said, to be completely honest, but I'm often reminded, attending Comic Cons [fantasy conventions] in particular, that no one has single-handedly done more for bringing joy to so many different generations and walks of life. 'I'm constantly reminded of her positive work in that field and as a person. I've only had a handful of meetings with her but she has always been lovely. So I'm very grateful for that,' he explained. Helen McCrory Helen McCrory, who was awarded the OBE for services to drama in the 2017 New Years Honours, was best known for playing Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter films (left). She died aged 52 after a secret 'heroic battle' with cancer last year (right) Helen McCrory, who was awarded the OBE for services to drama in the 2017 New Years Honours, was best known for playing the matriarch Polly in Peaky Blinders and Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Potter films. Her other movie roles included playing MP Clair Dowar in Skyfall and Cherie Blair in The Queen and The Special Relationship. On television, she appeared in Doctor Who, Inside No 9 and His Dark Materials, and last year appeared in the Hugh Laurie drama Roadkill on the BBC and ITV's Quiz. She also had an accomplished stage career, winning plaudits for National Theatre roles in productions of Medea and Terence Rattigan's The Deep Blue Sea. McCrory was also was nominated for an Olivier for her role as Rosalind in As You Like It in at London's Wyndham's theatre in 2006. The actress and Damian Lewis married in 2007 after falling in love when they were both cast in the play Five Gold Rings at the off-West End Almeida Theatre back in 2003. Together they share a daughter Manon, 14, and son Gulliver, 13. McCrory and Lewis led fundraising efforts to provide hot meals for NHS staff during the pandemic. Their work led to almost 1million in donations to the Feed NHS scheme, and partnerships with chains including Leon and Wasabi. She died aged 52 after a secret 'heroic battle' with cancer last year. Matthew Lewis Matthew Lewis played Potter's pal Neville from 2001 until 2011, but shocked fans with his dramatic transformation in his early 20s (left and right) Matthew Lewis played Potter's pal Neville from 2001 until 2011, but shocked fans with his dramatic transformation in his early 20s. In time for the final film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II, which was released in 2011, the actor was flattered when people were starting to realise he didn't look like nerdy Neville anymore. Matthew made quite an impact at the world premiere, and reflecting on the spectacle he told Attitude magazine: 'I was 21, I was like "yeah, thisll be cool!" It was never meant to be a "hey everyone, look at me!" but it was nice to be able to go and be myself. 'And then obviously a lot of attention focused on it, which I didnt expect at all. Ive never considered myself to be good-looking at all. Just average.' Meanwhile his love life is seemingly better than his character Neville's as well. Matthew proposed to his now wife Angela in November 2016 after a whirlwind relationship, just four months after her divorce from her first husband was finalised ,TMZ reported at the time. The star has kept his love life under the radar over the years and his romance with Angela played out away from the spotlight. He first met Angela at a Wizarding World event at Universal Studios in Orlando in January 2016, where she worked. Robert Pattison Among those who found global fame following his stint in Harry Potter, and arguably one of the greatest successes from the film franchise, is Robert Pattinson (left, as Cedric Diggory, and right, this year) Within the next three years, the London Native would see his star rise at a meteoric rate with the huge success of his leading man role as Edward Cullen in Twilight in 2008 (pictured, with his co-stars) Among those who found global fame following his stint in Harry Potter, and arguably one of the greatest successes from the film franchise, is Robert Pattinson. At 17-years-old, Robert Pattinson was forced to choose between going away to study at university or take on the role of Hogwarts champion Cedric Diggory in the 2005 film Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire. He choose the latter, and then saw his career soar over the next few years. Within the next three years, the London Native would see his star rise at a meteoric rate with the huge success of his leading man role as Edward Cullen in Twilight in 2008. Of course that led to four follow-up films in the Twilight franchise that ended with 2012's The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2. And he has since scored another role of a lifetime when he signed-on to star as Bruce Wayne/Batman in a new trilogy of Batman movies that will put more of an emphasis on the Caped Crusader's investigative skills. Jamie Waylett Jamie Waylett played the thuggish Crabbe in six Harry Potter movies (left) but did not appear in the last two after he ran into legal trouble for drug possession and was later jailed for taking part in the 2011 London riots right) Jamie Waylett played the thuggish Crabbe in six Harry Potter movies but did not appear in the last two after he ran into legal trouble for drug possession and was later jailed for taking part in the 2011 London riots. His defence, Emily Dennnett, at the time told the court: 'He acknowledges the seriousness of his actions. He struggled in school, achieving three low grade GCSEs. 'He completed a painting and decorating qualification at college but he is not in work at the moment. 'Although he had the good fortune to be one of the actors in the Harry Potter films he didn't handle the publicity well and began using cannabis. 'His usage increased and that led to a conviction in 2009 for possession and later cultivation. 'Inevitably what followed was his character being written out of the films. 'He has a difficult relationship with his mother, and relies on his grandfather for support. 'He knows the sentence of the court must be on that deters other people from partaking in this sort of behaviour in future.He has kept a low profile since then and has not continued in his acting career. Maggie Smith Iconic: The actress, 86, is perhaps best known as Professor Minerva McGonagall whom she portrayed in the eight film adaptations of J.K Rowling's literary works (pictured 2003) Critical acclaim: Maggie starred as Lady Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham, on Downton Abbey (20102015), for which she won three Emmys Maggie said she 'didn't feel she was really acting' in Harry Potter or Downton Abbey, adding it wasn't 'satisfying' work (pictured) Maggie Smith, 86, already enjoyed a high profile career before landing the role of Hogwarts' transfiguration professor, Minerva McGonagall, in the series. She was known for her work in 'Othello' (1965), 'Death on the Nile' (1978), 'Sister Act' (1992), 'The Secret Garden' (1993), and 'Richard III' (1995). She went on to appear in a number of films while appearing in the series, but her most successful role came towards the end of her Harry Potter years. Toward the end of the series, she also began starring on the award-winning PBS series 'Downton Abbey'. Maggie starred as Lady Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham, on Downton Abbey (20102015), for which she won three Emmys, her first non-ensemble Screen Actors Guild Award, and her third Golden Globe. However speaking in the Evening Standard two years ago, Maggie said: 'I am deeply grateful for the work in Potter and indeed Downton but it wasn't what you'd call satisfying, I didn't really feel I was acting in those things.' After a long-spanning career in the industry and experiencing both highs and lows, Maggie didn't want to encourage her sons Chris Larkin, 52, Toby, 50, whom she has with her ex-husband Robert Stephens, to follow in her footsteps. Meanwhile, Maggie recently said she admires any young woman who attempts to join the film industry nowadays because it's all about having to 'strip off every second'. She said earlier this year: 'I think they are so brave, the young actresses of today. They seem to have to strip off every second. I can't imagine how they cope with it today, I really don't. They are required to do the most extraordinary things. 'If I was asked to start now, I just don't think I could, seriously. It's difficult to imagine myself at that age because girls are starting even younger than how young I was [when I started]. I think it's very, very, very hard now.' Richard Griffiths Richard played Uncle Dursley in five Harry Potter movies. Left: Pictured on set of the 2007 film Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Right: Richard at the The South Bank Show Awards at the Dorchester Hotel in London on January 29, 2008 Griffiths was also best known for his role as inspirational teacher Hector in Alan Bennetts The History Boys which earned him a Laurence Olivier award and for playing Uncle Monty in cult film Withnail & I. He was awarded an OBE for services to drama in 2008. He appeared as Uncle Vernon Dursley in the Potter films and has been hailed as one of the greatest and most-loved British actors by a string of his co-stars and colleagues. The 65-year-old, who had struggled with declining health in recent years, is thought to have been admitted to hospital for a heart bypass in March 2013. He died shortly afterwards from complications from the surgery. Fiona Shaw Fiona Shaw (far right) played Harry Potter's aunt Petunia Dursley in five films In 2018, the 64-year-old was cast as Carolyn Martens in Killing Eve. Pictured with co-star Sandra Oh These days, Fiona Shaw is most recognisable for playing Carolyn Martens in the hit BBC series Killing Eve. A master of both stage and screen, the 64-year-old trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and starred in critically-acclaimed productions of As You Like It and The Taming of the Shrew in the 1980s. Fiona was cast in the role of Petunia Dursley in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 2001 and reprised her role in four further films. Harry's unkind aunt and uncle famously locked him away in a cupboard under the stairs in an attempt to contain his magical talent. Speaking to the A.V. Club, the actress said that her experience of shooting the films was wildly different to other cast members - given how claustrophobic the Dursley house was designed to feel. The actress said her experience of filming Harry Potter was quite 'isolated'. Pictured at the Disney+ Andor premiere on September 15, 2022 She said: 'Sometimes we would do a scene in the morning, and there would be a big scene in the school in the afternoon and youd see a thousand children arriving and a thousand parents and a thousand mindersthats 3,000 people for lunch. And we the Dursleys would have had a little lunch, over ourselves in a tiny corner. We tended to be filmed at the beginning of the shoot, and we tended to be absolutely isolated. It was a great privilege to shoot with Richard Griffiths, who was always so witty and funny and delightful to be aroundand obviously Daniel [Radcliffe] and Harry Melling, who played my son Dudley Dursley. So we were quite a team. We were our own group.' Robert Hardy Robert Hardy played Cornelius Fudge in the franchise. Left: The actor starring in the 2003 film Harry Potter at the Prisoner of Azkaban. Right: Pictured at the 2007 premiere of Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix Robert Hardy became a household name as eccentric vet Siegfried Farnon, whom he played for 12 years in the BBC1 series All Creatures Great And Small, and for his portrayals of Winston Churchill Hardy claimed he held the world record, for being Churchill in 12 different TV, film and stage productions. To younger audiences, he was best known as the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, in four Harry Potter films. It was Hardys love of ribald stories, told with a gleeful lack of embarrassment, that eventually cost him that role, he believed. While the young cast were professionals, always ready for a scene, Hardy was more likely to be raising a rumpus on the fringes of the set with old friends such as Maggie Smith and Imelda Staunton. We did not work at least, I didnt, Hardy once said. We just mucked about and laughed a lot, and got shushed by whichever director it was: Could you PLEASE be quiet in there! Disgraceful behaviour was sometimes a speciality of his own. He married Elizabeth Fox, a wardrobe mistress, in 1952, but left her and their young son when he took up with his second wife, Sally Cooper. They had two daughters, but were divorced after 25 years. He died at the age of 91 in 2017. Natalia Tena Natalia Tean has said she feels she 'cannot believe' she is 'lucky' enough to be a part of the Harry Potter franchise. Pictured with Brendan Gleeson on the set of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in 2005 In 2007, Natalia Tena (middle) was cast in the role of Nymphadora Tonks (pictured, with James Andrew Eric Phelps and Oliver Martyn John Phelps who played Fred and George Weasley) Vardy v Rooney: A Courtroom Drama - starring Michael Sheen, Natalie Tena and Chanel Cresswell - will air on Channel 4 later this year Natalia Tena made her Harry Potter debut in 2005 when she was cast as Nymphadora Tonks in the fourth installment of the film franchise. The 37-year-old said the role was a dream come true for her as she's a 'huge reader'. Speaking to Grapevine Live, Natalia explained: 'They are incredible, I mean these are things that I cannot believe that I am lucky to be part of. 'I love the books, I'm a big reader anyway and I love those kind of fantasy stories and it is kind of surreal that I am part of them.' Tonks became a fan favourite over the course of the following four films but was killed in the final Battle of Hogwarts alongside husband Remus Lupin. Off the back of her Harry Potter success, Natalia was cast as Osha - a woman of the Free Folk serving House Stark - in Game of Thrones. Earlier this week, it was announced that Natalia will be taking on the role of Rebekah Vardy in the highly anticipated new Wagatha Christie drama which hits screens later this year on Channel 4. Scheana Shay and husband Brock Davies attended the White Fox After Hours event at Delilah's in West Hollywood on Tuesday evening. The 37-year-old media personality and her husband made quite the impression at the party, during which she showed off a considerable amount of skin while wearing a form-revealing outfit. The pair's outing took place just a few weeks after the two tied the knot during a wedding ceremony that was held in Cancun, Mexico. There they are: Scheana Shay and Brock Davies attended the White Fox After Hours event at Delilah's in West Hollywood on Tuesday evening Shay wore a patterned crop top that showed off her toned tummy at the event. The Vanderpump Rules cast member also donned a matching pair of form-hugging leggings. The reality television personality rocked a set of high-heeled shoes and carried a small leather purse for the duration of her outing. Her gorgeous brunette hair cascaded onto her shoulders and added an element of darkness to her look. Making an impression: Shay wore a patterned tube top that showed off her toned tummy at the event Davies, 31, opted for a white button-up shirt and a pair of light green pants while spending time with his wife. Shay and her now-husband were initially romantically connected in 2019, when they took a romantic trip to Bali. The reality television figure was previously married to Michael Shay, with whom she tied the knot in 2014. The former couple eventually split up and went on to formally dissolve their union in 2017. Starting off strong: Shay and her now-husband were initially romantically connected in 2019, when they took a romantic trip to Bali; they are seen earlier this month Shay moved on with Davies, and they went public with their relationship in April of 2020. The happy couple revealed that they were expecting to start a family that October, and the former gave birth to her daughter Summer Moon, now one, the following April. The reality television personality later became engaged to her now-husband in July of last year. Shay and Davies went on to hold their wedding in Cancun, Mexico this past August. Proud parents: The happy couple revealed that they were expecting to start a family that October, and the former gave birth to her daughter Summer Moon, aged one, the following April The former of the pair spoke about her ceremony during an interview with People, where she expressed that 'I just wanted us to have a good time with every person who is important to us.' The media figure made a point of expressing that she invited as many of her husband's family members, many of whom live in Australia, to their wedding. 'For me it was just really important to make this as special as possible for him and his family,' she said. Advertisement Kerry Washington and Charlize Theron led the glam arrivals at the premiere of Netflix's The School for Good and Evil on Tuesday night in Los Angeles. Washington wowed in a flowing green maxi skirt that trailed behind her as she made her way down the red carpet. The eye-catching garment had a daring thigh-high slit that allowed the Scandal star, 45, to showcase her very toned legs. Glam: Kerry Washington and Charlize Theron led the glam arrivals at the premiere of Netflix's The School for Good and Evil on Tuesday night in Los Angeles She styled the skirt with a cropped mint green Ralph Lauren polo top. Washington - who plays Professor Dovey, head of the School for Good - gave her petite frame a boost with a pair of sky-high brown satin heels. Her lips were painted a ruby red shade and her cropped brunette hair was worn pin straight. To achieve a sultry stare, Washington's eyes were lined with black eyeliner and dusted with deep toned shadows. Glowing in green: Washington wowed in a flowing green maxi skirt that trailed behind her as she made her way down the red carpet Preppy touch: She styled the skirt with a cropped mint green Ralph Lauren polo top. Washington - who plays Professor Dovey, head of the School for Good - gave her petite frame a boost with a pair of sky-high brown satin heels Pop! Her lips were painted a ruby red shade and her cropped brunette hair was worn pin straight A pair of dazzling diamond drop earrings hung down from the actress' ears. Theron - who plays Lady Lesso, head of the School for Evil - achieved an equally leggy display for the evening by modeling a billowing black ruffled maxi skirt with a slit that ran high up her thigh. It cinched in her already trim waistline and featured a modest train that added some extra drama to the look. Sultry: To achieve a sultry stare, Washington's eyes were lined with black eyeliner and dusted with deep toned shadows Sparkling: A pair of dazzling diamond drop earrings hung down from the actress' ears Trim and toned: The actress' gym-honed physique was flattered by her stylish getup Total pro: Washington looked like a total pro as she made sure to show off every detail of her look The Academy Award-winner, 47, tucked a chic black semi-sheer shirt into the waistband of her skirt. For some feminine flair, she attached a floral adornment to the collar. Theron strutted along the red carpet in a pair of black lace knee-high boots worn with classic black fishnet tights. Wow! Theron - who plays Lady Lesso, head of the School for Evil - achieved an equally leggy display for the evening by modeling a billowing black ruffled maxi skirt with a slit that ran high up her thigh Black on black: The Academy Award-winner, 47, tucked a chic black semi-sheer shirt into the waistband of her skirt Flirty florals: For some feminine flair, she attached a floral adornment to the collar Sexy: Theron strutted along the red carpet in a pair of black lace knee-high boots worn with classic black fishnet tights The Atomic Blonde actress' short brunette hair was tied back and her fringe was swept to one side. As for makeup, she opted for smoked out eyeliner and a glossy pink lip. Her hands were decked out in silver rings that matched the arrangement of studs and hoops in her ears. Reunited: Washington and Theron reunited at the star-studded shindig and posed for photographs with co-star Michelle Yeoh Stunning: The 60-year-old actress, who plays the role of Professor Anemone, looked incredible in a bright yellow velvet dress and turquoise suede heels Co-stars: Sofia Wylie and Sophia Anne Caruso, who play students Agatha and Sophie, turned heads in rivaling tulle gowns Besties! Theron and Yeoh looked chummy while posing for some shots together during Tuesday night's premiere Washington and Theron reunited at the star-studded shindig and posed for photographs with co-star Michelle Yeoh. The 60-year-old actress, who plays the role of Professor Anemone, looked incredible in a bright yellow velvet dress and turquoise suede heels. She toted a matching suede handbag and wore her brunette hair in a stylish half up half down style. Sofia Wylie and Sophia Anne Caruso, who play students Agatha and Sophie, turned heads in rivaling tulle gowns. Billowing: Wylie stunned in a billowing ruffled tulle dress in a gorgeous cream shade that flattered the actress' radiant complexion Radiant: The dramatic gown flowed to the floor and had feather detailing throughout Vintage glam: Caruso channeled screen siren Audrey Hepburn in a black strapless ball gown with a sweetheart neckline and A-line tulle skirt Wylie stunned in a billowing ruffled tulle dress in a gorgeous cream shade that flattered the actress' radiant complexion. The dramatic gown flowed to the floor and had whimsical feather detailing throughout. Caruso channeled screen siren Audrey Hepburn in a black strapless ball gown with a sweetheart neckline and A-line tulle skirt. Man of the hour! Wylie, Theron, Washington, Yeoh and Caruso proudly posed with the film's director Paul Feig Stylish: Feig looked effortlessly cool in silky white suit with a quirky blue bowtie and an assortment of vintage broaches. He was joined by his longtime spouse Laurie, who showcased her equally eccentric sense of style by stepping out in a fun black mesh midi dress featuring a large spider-shaped pin Dapper: Laurence Fishburne looked dapper as he stepped onto the red carpet in a fitted navy blue suit styled with a black tee and dress shoes The actress swept her hair up in an elegant updo and her fringe was bumped under. The ladies all gathered around the film's director Paul Feig, who looked effortlessly cool in a white satin suit with a quirky blue bowtie and an assortment of vintage broaches. He was joined by his longtime spouse Laurie, who showcased her equally eccentric sense of style by stepping out in a fun black mesh midi dress featuring a large silver spider-shaped pin. Icon: Patti LuPone oozed glamour in a striking black velvet gown with dramatic bell-sleeves and rhinestone detailing. The Broadway star painted her pout a bold red shade and accessorized with silver chandelier earrings for the night Sharp: Allison Holker-Boss, who was accompanied by her daughter, looked sharp in a green tweed black and pant set worn with white platform combat boots Laurence Fishburne looked dapper as he stepped onto the red carpet in a fitted navy blue suit styled with a black tee and dress shoes. Patti LuPone oozed glamour in a striking black velvet gown with dramatic bell-sleeves and rhinestone detailing. The Broadway star painted her pout a bold red shade and accessorized with silver chandelier earrings for the night. Allison Holker-Boss, who was accompanied by her daughter, looked sharp in a green tweed black and pant set worn with white platform combat boots. Headmistresses: In Netflix's The School For Good And Evil, Washington and Theron are responsible for shaping a new generation of heroes and villains Roles: In the upcoming adaptation of Soman Chainani's popular book series of the same name, Theron, 47, portrays Lady Lesso, head of the School for Evil while Washington, 45, plays Professor Dovey, head of the School for Good In Netflix's The School For Good And Evil, Washington and Theron are responsible for shaping a new generation of heroes and villains. In the upcoming adaptation of Soman Chainani's popular book series of the same name, Theron, 47, portrays Lady Lesso, head of the School for Evil while Washington, 45, plays Professor Dovey, head of the School for Good. The book is the first in a six-part saga released by Chainani, and was an instant New York Times bestseller when it was published in 2013. The series has sold over 2.5 million copies and has been translated into 30 languages, with the final book in the series named 'The School of Good and Evil: One True King' was released by HarperCollins in 2020. The School for Good and Evil premieres on Netflix this Wednesday. Isabelle Huppert looked nothing but stylish as she stepped out at the Rome Film Festival in Italy on Tuesday. The actress, 69, who hails from Paris, slipped her trim figure into an elegant black gown at a photocall for her new film, Caravaggio's Shadow. The red head turned heads in her frock, which featured an eye-catching jewel embellishment on the shoulder. Turning heads: Isabelle Huppert, 69, cut a VERY stylish figure in a black jewel embellished gown as she attended a photocall for her new film at the Rome Film Festival on Tuesday Her dress featured long sleeves, a high neck, ruching over the bust and a flowing skirt. Isabelle, who has previously been described as 'one of the best actresses in the world,' pulled her fiery locks back and into a low bun with her front layers out and around her face. Her makeup was complete with dewy foundation, a winged bronzed eye and a deep red lip. Stunning: Her makeup was complete with dewy foundation, a winged bronzed eye and a deep red lip She completed her look with a chic black manicure. According to IMDB, Caravaggio's Shadow, originally called L'Ombra Di Caravaggio, centres on the character Caravaggio who is being investigated by the Catholic Church. 'The Catholic Church secretly investigates Caravaggio as the Pope weighs whether to grant him clemency for killing a rival,' a synopsis reads. Picture of elegance: The red head turned heads in her frock, which featured an eye-catching jewel embellishment on the shoulder Isabelle appears in the film as the character Costanza Sforza Colonna. Before heading to Rome, Isabelle attended the Venice Film Festival last month to promote her film La syndicaliste. The film, directed by Jean-Paul Salome, is 'a thriller investigation set in the world of nuclear power and politics,' according to IMDB. In the movie, the French star plays the role of Maureen Kearney and is seen with blonde hair in film stills. Isabelle meanwhile has previously been described as 'one of the best actresses in the world'. She is known for films including 2018's Greta, which she starred in alongside Chloe Grace Moretz. She is also known for the 2016 thriller film, Elle. Alice Evans has risked of breaching the terms of her restraining order with her estranged husband Ioan Gruffudd by sharing a clip of him on social media. The actress, 54, uploaded, and later deleted, a video of the actor during an Australian radio interview gushing how 'brilliant and funny' she is,' claiming it was filmed months before they split. This goes against the terms of the restraining order obtained by Ioan which bans Alice from harassing Ioan on social media for three years, though the order states that she is still allowed to comment on proceedings around the order. Drama: Alice Evans has risked of breaching the terms of her restraining order with her estranged husband Ioan Gruffudd by sharing a clip of him on social media Alice posted the 15-second clip with the caption: 'Somebody sent me this. Thank you to both of you!' The interview, recorded on Stav, Abby & Matt's show on the Hit Network in 2019, showed Ioan gushing about his wife, with the Fantastic Four star saying: 'She is amazing, you're not the first person in Australia to say this. 'I've met about 10 people here the first thing they've said is, ''I'm in love with your wife'' - she's amazing. She's a very strong funny woman. She's brilliant. she's the true star of our relationship.' Speaking out: The actress, 54, uploaded a video of the actor during a radio interview gushing how 'brilliant and funny' she is,' claiming it was filmed months before they split Bizarre: Alice posted the 15-second clip with the caption: 'Somebody sent me this. Thank you to both of you!' If found to be breaching her restraining order, and reported to police by Ioan, Alice could be arrested on suspicion on Contempt Of Court, a violation of Penal Code 166. If found guilty, Contempt of Court is classed as a misdemeanour offence under California law, and Alice could face at least 180 days in a County jail, with a requirement to serve 50% of her sentence. In the restraining order, it is stated that the respondant (Alice) should not make any posts on social media, harassing or disturbing the peace of the petitioner (Ioan), or the other protected person (his girlfriend Bianca). The order does not prohibit Alice from commenting on the proceedings on social media. Alice then proceeded to reply to a slew of followers reacting to the video with one asking when she thought the clip had been recorded. 'I don't know? Sometime between April - July 2020?' she responded, just months before she and Ioan announced they'd split in January 2021. Another user posted: 'Wow. Just wow,' which Alice replied: 'Weird, right.' Proud: Ioan said: 'She is amazing, you're not the first person in Autstralia to say this' Gushing: 'I've met about 10 people here the first thing they've said is, ''I'm in love with your wife'' - she's amazing. She's a very strong funny woman,' he added in the clip One follower replied: 'Totally weird considering the complete 180 he pulls on you later on. I don't mean to sound flippant or disrespectful. So weird.' Alice then responded once again: 'You're not. I'm astonished.' Later another user wrote: 'Alice I love this all so true. Maybe you should send this to his lawyer?! Considering what has been happening over the last year or two.' Alice then responded: 'I should take it down and send it to MY lawyer is what I should do. Thanks babe. 'It was already on the internet, but when I was notified of it I was surprised since it goes in the face of everything he has said. better let her deal with it!' Strange: Alice then proceeded to reply to a slew of followers reacting to the video with one asking when she thought the clip had been recorded Outspoken: Alice later responded to another user hinting she'd be sending the video to her lawyers after being sent it by her followers Ioan had previously won a temporary restraining order against Alice the mother of his two daughters Ella, 12, and Elsie, eight, in February claiming he was inundated with messages and verbal threats from her. But in August, a US judge confirmed harsher restrictions had been put in place, including a ruling preventing Alice from leaking private text messages from their children. A source said: '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. Violation: This goes against the terms of the restraining order obtained by Ioan which bans Alice from mentioning him on social media for three years (pictured with Bianca in August) In new court documents, Ioan claimed Alice continued to cause him issues and wanted additional provisions added to the existing restraining order. 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 Ioan's new girlfriend, Bianca Wallace, who he 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 children's 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.' 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 Last month, The Vampire Diaries actress Alice shared a screenshot appearing to be between Ioan and one of his daughters, who is thought to be asking him to sign paperwork so that she can stay at her school amid allegations that he stopped paying her fees. Alice told her 86,000 Instagram followers: 'You see I have no money. I gave up my career because I wanted the love of my life to have an amazing career and that leaves him being away most of the time. 'And I gritted my teeth and I got through it. I missed working' oh hell I missed working' but I didn't want a day to go by without seeing my two incredible girls. So their was an upside.' Calling out Ioan's alleged spending habits, she continued: 'He is STILL trying to ruin my name, filling out petition after petition daring to say that I am the 'bad parent'? '(Check out his Guardian interview from 2020. Ask my kids. As anybody that knows us. Being called a 'bad parent' when I gave up everything for them and don't sleep at night in case and worry about how to feed them, check their health, take them to the dentist. [sic]. 'Those of you who might think 'well why is she CONTINUING to post on Instagram when his lawyers are going to take her down for it?' But think about it. Declaration: Ioan went public with his actress girlfriend Bianca in October last year and was captioned: 'Thank you for making me smile again' 'He is spending money that should have gone to the girls education, sports, college, on using a lawyer to gag me. 'I don't have this money and neither do I believe in the corruption of the TRO to shut somebody up when they're trying to say their piece,' she penned. 'HE gets to say it. HE get to to lie about me being a bad parent (You couldn't get further from the truth.) 'But me? I get threatened with fines, with jail if I tell MY TRUTH about what is really happening. And all I have is social media because I can't afford a lawyer. Isn't that a microcosm of rich and poor America? I will likely go to court for posting this. (Another example of the way he treats his children).' Alice added: 'He may well be lauded for doing the right thing. For going through the courts. He may well get to take my kids away from me (good luck with that dude).' The previous month in June, Alice claimed she was 'completely out of money for food and bills' while sharing a video of daughter Elsie. She wrote: 'Trying to hold it all together whilst being threatened, completely out of money for food and bills and just found out somebody tried to break down our outside door last night! 'But it's all worth it for this (and the one who doesn't want to be photographed.' Ioan and Alice met on the set of 102 Dalmatians in 2000 and married seven years later. The Welsh actor filed for divorce in March 2021 citing irreconcilable differences as the reason behind their split. The document, which was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on March 1, revealed the former couple separated on New Year's Day - a month before they went public with their relationship status. Ioan went Instagram official with new girlfriend Bianca last October with a post saying: 'Thank you for making me smile again.' Alice reacted furiously, ranting: '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.' Strictly star Will Mellor admits receiving tough feedback from the judging panel feels like a 'kick in the teeth' after Craig Revel Horwood picked apart his routine on Saturday night. The actor, 46, told MailOnline he finds 'being criticised hard' and was 'disappointed' by the judges' comments after he danced the notoriously difficult rumba with professional partner Nancy Xu, 31, to Ed Sheeran track, The Joker and the Queen. In an exclusive interview, Will revealed he was previously too 'frightened' to sign up to Strictly, after being approached by bosses over the years, because he was 'weary' of the impact being on the show would have on his two teenage children, Jayden, 18, and Renee, 14, who he shares with dancer wife Michelle. After suffering the tragic loss of his father, who passed away two weeks after being diagnosed with cancer in 2020, Will's perspective changed and now he confesses to be enjoying the Strictly experience more than he could have ever predicted. 'I find it hard to hide my emotions': Strictly star Will Mellor admits receiving tough feedback from the judging panel feels like a 'kick in the teeth' after Craig Revel Horwood picked apart his routine on Saturday night 'It wasn't easy to take': The actor told MailOnline he finds 'being criticised hard' and was 'disappointed' by the judges' comments after he danced the notoriously difficult rumba Will said: 'I find being criticised by the judges hard. I find being criticised hard as a person. 'Some people can let it go over them, but I find it hard to hide my emotions. You know how I'm feeling, and I can't help that. 'I was disappointed by the judges' comments because I really tried my best but we are there to be judged so I have to take the rough with the smooth. 'I got some good comments in week one and two and then I found myself second to the bottom of the leader board and it wasn't easy to take, especially because I wasn't feeling well and I was feeling sorry for myself. 'I'm enjoying the journey': After suffering the tragic loss of his father, who passed away two weeks after being diagnosed with cancer in 2020, Will's perspective changed and now he confesses to be enjoying the Strictly experience more than he could have ever predicted 'When you get it right it is the best feeling in the world because all your emotion comes out, your nerves, it's a sense of achievement when you finish and do it well. 'Also, if you do it and put all that effort in and get negative comments it can be a bit of a kick in the teeth but that's part of it and I have got to get used to it.' On Saturday night, Craig, 57, criticised Will's rendition of the rumba for lacking leg and hip action, which he explained is crucial to the dance, while Anton Du Beke, 56, said there were a number of technical problems with the couple's performance. But the panel praised Will's acting ability, with his sentiment and storytelling earning him top marks in previous weeks. Will added: 'It's tough and it's tiring, and you are putting yourself out there every week live on TV but I'm enjoying the journey and I really want to see how far I can get. 'We're doing it as a family': Will revealed he was previously too 'frightened' to sign up to Strictly because he was 'weary' of the impact being on the show would have on his two teenage children, Jayden and Renee 'I'm enjoying it more than I thought I would. I thought I would find it really tough but I'm surprising myself and I want to see how far I can go. 'Since my dad passed away, my mindset changed and I thought life you've got to grab it and I don't want to waste time doing things I'm not passionate about. 'When Strictly came along that's why I said yes because I was a bit frightened about it but that's when you test yourself and you've got to grab life and that's what I want to do from now on.' Before taking on the Strictly challenge, Will confided in his family and sought approval from his wife Michelle, who's a professional dancer and has performed with the likes of Destiny's Child, Robbie Williams, and Craig David. He said: 'I spoke to my family when they asked me to do it they've asked me to do it for a long time and I've always said no because I've always been a bit weary of doing it. I feared it. 'Any kind of reality show I was always a bit weary of doing. My mindset changed and I thought I'm going to say yes to more things and grab life and opportunities. 'When I thought about doing it, I spoke to my wife and my kids, and I said I'm thinking of doing this, but it involves us all because it's a journey we all go on together. 'My daughter getting affected from people at school by people mentioning it and my wife being an ex-dancer herself I knew she was going to get peppered for me doing it. But we're doing it as a family and they're right behind me.' Support: Before taking on the Strictly challenge, Will sought approval from his wife Michelle, who's a professional dancer and has performed with the likes of Destiny's Child, Robbie Williams, and Craig David Memories: Will attended the London premiere of new film Black Adam, which stars Dwayne Johnson, on Thursday evening with his 18-year-old son Jayden Will, who starred in BBC Three sitcom Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps alongside Sheridan Smith, says he's open to the comedy returning and insists there's still an appetite from fans to see where his character Gaz ended up. Though, Will's dream is to continue being himself on TV and after filming new series The World's Most Dangerous Roads with Keith Lemon, the former Hollyoaks actor is keen to commission his own travel show. He said: 'We did offer it. Susan Nickson the original writer came up with another series called Two Pints Last Orders and it was the characters Gaz and Jonny now so in their 40s and how have they changed, are they still in the pub talking nonsense, and the kids have grown up and it was a very funny script. 'The BBC said they didn't want to revisit it and that was up to them but the fans really want it. I don't know what's next I'm sort of flying by the seat of my pants a little bit with what's going on. 'I am enjoying being myself. I am looking at doing my own travel show. I have a series coming out with Keith Lemon called The World's Most Dangerous Roads and we go to Albania, and we drive round there in a jeep, it's hilariously funny but a proper journey. 'I'd like to do more of that and travel. I want to get my own shows off the ground and do things I have always wanted to do.' 'I love creating new memories': Will says going on holiday with his family is where he has the most fun and he priorities quality time with his teenage children and wife Michelle Will has teamed up with James Villas Holidays who have learned through research that children are the new jet setters after 67 per cent of parents say their kids are better travelled than they were at the same age. And Will's two children are no different because the star says he priorities family time and taking a break with his wife and kids is something he looks forward to the most. He said: 'When my kids were younger, I was always about getting away with them and giving them experiences and it helps build them up. 'I love getting away and creating new memories. I feel guilty if I'm anywhere without my children. I want to be wherever there are. 'Whenever we book a holiday, I try to go somewhere different so we can have a new adventure and stay somewhere else. We always tend to get villas and with James Villas doing this research it shows how important holidays are to families and creating memories.' The survey, conducted by Atomik Research, also discovered that out of the 2,000 parents asked, two thirds of people would pay for their children to come on holiday with them way into their 20s. Will added: 'You don't have to spend a lot of money to have quality time together. 'Holidays are so important, to get away, create memories and have something to look forward to especially when those winter months kick in. You've got to book a holiday and get out there.' Trinny Woodall showed off her eclectic sense of style as she stepped out in Sydney on Monday. The fashion and makeover expert, 58, who is in Australia to promote her Trinny London beauty and skincare line, made sure all eyes were on her in a bright neon green shirt and dazzling accessories. The TV personality teamed her bright look with what appeared to be a 1,500 crystal-embellished bucket hat from Prada. All eyes on her! Trinny Woodall showed off her eclectic style in a neon green shirt and a 1,500 Prada crystal bucket hat as she stepped out in Sydney on Monday Trinny, who is known for her TV work with Susannah Constantine, wore a white T-shirt and glittery scarf with her look. Her look was completed with a pair of light-washed denim jeans and white sneakers, a neon green shoulder bag and a pair of beige sunglasses. The brunette wore her short locks out and around her face, in loose curls. Happy: She appeared in high spirits as she enjoyed the Australian sunshine All in the details: Her look was completed with a pair of light-washed denim jeans and white sneakers, a neon green shoulder bag and a pair of beige sunglasses She appeared in high spirits as she enjoyed the Australian sunshine, stepping out with a Trinny London bag on her arm. The bubbly star is in Australia to promote her latest store openings and has been keeping her fans up-to-date with her travels and outfits while Down Under. She recently gave fans a tour of her Sydney harbourside hotel room, looking chic in a navy trouser suit and a glittery silver top. 'Outfit of the day: Day 2 in Australia, a little tour around my new home,' her post was captioned. Keeping fans up-to-date! She recently gave fans a tour of her Sydney harbourside hotel room, looking chic in a navy trouser suit and a glittery silver top Standing out: On Tuesday, she turned heads in a bright yellow trouser suit and a silver bag She said she was preparing to meet local journalists to chat her makeup and skincare line. On Tuesday, she turned heads in a bright yellow trouser suit and a silver bag. The What Not To Wear host celebrated the opening of two pop-up shops in both Melbourne and Sydney this week. She first jetted into Australia on Friday evening from London. Down Under: She first jetted into Australia on Friday evening from London. Pictured with her team in Sydney She previously spoke about her anti-ageing tips and tricks, saying she relies on a consistent skincare routine and has done Botox since the age of 35. 'I've done Botox since I was 35. I started it because I had very, very bad forehead movement when I started in TV and I have a deep forehead. Back then Botox was embryonic but I thought "why not?". I'm now 58 and I never got lines on my forehead as a result,' she has said. She is also cautious of her sugar intake and enjoys lymphatic drainage treatments for her face and body. 'I want to be 80 running up the hill and I want to help women appreciate the whole holistic approach while reducing our sugar levels because the inflammatory markers are the basis of many serious illnesses,' she said. Launch: The bubbly star is in Australia to promote her latest store openings - celebrating pop-ups in Sydney and Melbourne for beauty and skincare line (pictured) On Wednesday, South Korea criticized North Korea for launching a new artillery barrage into the ocean off its east and west coasts, which was directed at a maritime buffer zone established in 2018 to ease tensions. In recent weeks, Pyongyang has substantially increased its missile launches and military drills, according to Seoul and Washington. They claim North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is about to execute his country's seventh nuclear test. North Korea's Second-Time to Launch Artillery Shells The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) of South Korea reported that over 250 rounds were fired late on Tuesday, describing it as a clear violation of the 2018 agreement. According to Pyongyang on Wednesday, the barrage was launched to thwart the enemy's war drill against the North near the border. Last week, the North also launched artillery shells into the military buffer zones, as per NDTV. Since firing hundreds of shells into the buffer zones on Friday, when it committed its largest-ever direct breach of the 2018 Agreement, North Korea has only fired shells into the buffer zones twice. The military of South Korea urged North Korea to stop its provocations that threaten regional peace and security. It said that it is increasing military readiness and that it is closely observing North Korea's actions in collaboration with the United States. A few hours later, an unnamed spokesperson for the North Korean People's Army General Staff released a statement in which they claimed the South Korean artillery training that they claimed had taken place earlier on Tuesday near a border area was the cause of the most recent artillery firings. However, Seoul would not immediately confirm that such artillery drills were held on Tuesday. The North Korean spokeswoman also attacked the South Korean military, calling its annual 12-day field drill an invasion practice, for beginning it on Monday. The South Korean Defense Ministry announced that an undefined number of US troops would participate in this year's drills, which are intended to improve operational capabilities to confront various forms of North Korean provocations. Less outside attention is paid to the North's artillery testing than its missile launches. But the heavily populated metropolitan area of South Korea, which is just approximately 40 to 50 kilometers (25 to 30 miles) from the border with North Korea, is seriously threatened in terms of security by its forward-deployed long-range artillery batteries. In response to their dangerous military drills involving a US aircraft carrier, North Korea has carried out several weapons tests in recent weeks in what it describes as rehearsals of nuclear strikes on South Korean and American targets. Regular military drills between Washington and Seoul are seen as a practice for an attack by North Korea. Since it started testing again on September 25, North Korea has launched 15 missiles for test purposes. One of them displayed a range extending as far as the American territory of Guam in the Pacific and beyond while flying over Japan. Read Also: Russian Bombers Enter Alaska Air Defense Zone, US Air Force Launches F-16 Fighter Jets To Intercept Experts Predict Kim Jong Un Will Use Expanded Weapons According to some international experts, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may eventually try to use his increased stockpile of weapons to persuade the United States and other countries to recognize his nation as a legitimate nuclear power and end economic sanctions against it, NBC New York reported. Since it started testing again on September 25, North Korea has launched 15 missiles for test purposes. One of them displayed a range extending as far as the US territory of Guam in the Pacific and beyond when flying over Japan. Tokyo imposed more sanctions on North Korea on Tuesday, including four trading companies and the Ministry of Rocket Industry in Pyongyang. He stressed that Pyongyang's actions were violent and completely unacceptable. On Friday, South Korea blacklisted 15 North Koreans and 16 institutions involved in missile development, enacting its first unilateral penalties against the North in five years. According to some international experts, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would eventually like to persuade the US and other nations to acknowledge his country as a legitimate nuclear state and relieve economic sanctions on North Korea by using his expanded arsenal of weapons, as per Aljazeera via MSN. Related Article: US Military Ratings: Air Force Found to Be 'Very Weak,' Marine Corps Only the 'Strong' Force @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Seann Walsh has been seen for the first time with his girlfriend Grace Adderley since announcing she is pregnant with their first child. The comedian, 36, and his partner, 30, put on a cosy display as they strolled hand-in-hand through West London on Tuesday. The former Strictly Come Dancing contestant will be spending as much time as possible with Grace ahead of his reported stint on this year's series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Couple: Seann Walsh has been seen for the first time with his girlfriend Grace Adderley since announcing she is pregnant with their first child Seann cut a casual figure on the outing as he sported a cream jumper along with a pair of black tracksuit bottoms. The comic, who famously kissed his Strictly partner Katya Jones while she was married, also sported white trainers and completed his look with a black cap. Grace displayed her growing baby bump in a white turtle-neck jumper which she wore with black leggings. Also wearing a pair of matching boots, she added to her outfit with a black handbag. Outing: The comedian, 36, and his partner, 30, put on a cosy display as they strolled hand-in-hand through West London on Tuesday Laid back: Seann cut a casual figure on the outing as he sported a cream jumper along with a pair of black tracksuit bottoms The outing comes after reports that Seann will soon be heading into the I'm A Celebrity jungle as the show returns to Australia for the first time since 2019. According to The Sun, ITV bosses are hoping Seann will discuss his infamous 2018 snog with his Strictly pro partner Katya, who was married to Neil Jones at the time. A source said: 'Seann is an incredible signing for I'm A Celebrity and it's a real coup for ITV. His snog with Katya is the biggest scandal to have ever hit Strictly. People still talk about it. 'Seann has joked about his snog with Katya in his comedy sketches but he's never spoken in detail about their relationship. Casual: Grace displayed her growing baby bump in a white turtle-neck jumper which she wore with black leggings Stroll: Also sporting a pair of matching boots, she added to her outfit with a black handbag Gig: Seann will be spending as much time as possible with Grace ahead of his reported stint on this year's series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here 'Life in the jungle is boring and those long hours around the campfire would be the perfect time for Seann to get talking.' The insider added that they believe it is 'unlikely' the other campmates won't bring the kiss up as it's what the comedian is primarily known for. Little is known about Seann's newest girlfriend Grace and the story behind their relationship. They have been dating since 2019 - but now their relationship is heading to the next level by becoming a family. Speaking to a friend on an Instagram Live stream while on tour in Stamford, Lincolnshire earlier this month, Seann said: 'I'm having a child'. Hopes: ITV bosses are hoping Seann will discuss his infamous 2018 snog with his Strictly pro partner Katya, who was married to Neil Jones at the time Relationship: Little is known about Seann's newest girlfriend Grace and the story behind their relationship Future: They have been dating since 2019 - but now their relationship is heading to the next level by becoming a family Seann was then asked by the friend, 'So you're gonna be a dad?', replying 'yeah' - with the unnnamed man responding: 'That's worrying'. Seann added: 'Unbelievable. Everyone else has been really nice, that's the worst response yet.' His friend then said: 'You're going to have a lot more worries.' English comedian Seann then quipped: 'That's the one thing I need in life actually, I don't think I've had enough worries.' His remark may reference his tumultuous relationship history which has played out in the public domain. Announcement: Speaking to a friend on an Instagram Live stream while on tour in Stamford, Lincolnshire earlier this month, Seann said: 'I'm having a child' Seann's five-year relationship with actress Rebecca Humphries, 35, who played Carol Thatcher in The Crown, came crashing down after he was seen kissing married professional dance partner Katya. This fling during his stint on the 'cursed' BBC One show in October 2018 was reportedly the indirect reason behind the divorce of Katya Jones and husband of six years, Neil Jones. Following the Strictly kiss incident, Seann's ex Rebecca released an impassioned statement in which she revealed he called her 'psycho' and 'nuts' for questioning his friendship with Katya, who he kissed on Rebecca's birthday - before the photos were made public. Discussing the drama on Prime Video show Backstage With Katherine Ryan which aired in June, he said: 'What you are thinking about is: 'What have you done to someone?' Fatherhood: Seann was then asked by the friend, 'So you're gonna be a dad?', replying 'yeah' - with the unnnamed man jokingly responding: 'That's worrying' 'It's one thing doing that privately and I don't judge anyone, because everyone's got their own backstory, lives or whatever. It was horrific. It was crazy.' The star said to this day, he is unable to watch Strictly as it 'messes my head up.' He said: 'I have such amazing memories of being on that show and then the repercussions of that kiss, it was crazy. I'm just a comic. 'One day I hope I can look back at that fondly, that first few weeks, because it was the best time of my life.' Controversy: Seann's five-year relationship with actress Rebecca Humphries, 35, who played Carol Thatcher in The Crown, came crashing down after he was seen kissing married professional dance partner Katya In April and speaking in his comedy special Seann Walsh: Kiss, the star told how he was 'sorry' for the kiss then and is still sorry now. Recalling how he learned their PDA had become public, he said: 'I left the wardrobe department and before I could order my first beer, my agent came over to and asked if he could have a word with me outside. 'I thought 'he is going to tell me I have got Michael McIntyre's Big Show! I had better act surprised!' 'Turns out, I didn't have to act surprised. We went into the BBC carpark, my agent looked over his glasses and said, 'about 20 minutes ago, they posted a photo of you kissing Katya outside a pub'. Split: This fling during his stint on the 'cursed' BBC One show in October 2018 was reportedly the indirect reason behind the divorce of Katya Jones and husband of six years, Neil Jones 'It was at that exact point that my life would turn upside down - the dream turned into a nightmare.' Explaining the incident, he said: 'I was in a relationship, my dance partner Katya was married. 'After training we went for a drink, one thing led to another and we were photographed kissing outside a pub. Awful, I know. It's awful - I'm sorry. I'm still sorry now.' He said: 'I was then on the receiving end of thousands of abusive messages online. I did begin to wonder 'have I done something that wrong?' Ex: Following the Strictly kiss incident, Seann's ex Rebecca released an impassioned statement in which she revealed he called her 'psycho' and 'nuts' for questioning his friendship with Katya (pictured in 2015) 'Then.... Katie Hopkins tweeted in my defence. Then I thought 'yep, I've f****d up!'' 'I managed to keep Brexit off the front pages for 12 whole days, but I hated it. 'I thought 'I just had to get out of here' and I left for America. Just the break I needed. While Katya was supported by her husband Neil after the 'drunken mistake', their marriage did not last as they announced their split in August 2019. The dancers confirmed they were splitting in joint Instagram statements, but despite writing they had mutual 'respect' and 'love', a source claimed Katya's infidelity was something her husband couldn't get over. The pair have remained friends since the split and continue to be professional dancers together on Strictly. Married At First Sight UK star Sophie Brown has spoken out on her recent diagnosis with Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The star of the E4 show received her diagnosis during filming for the series, which saw her marry Jonathan Wileman after meeting him for the first time at the alter. Sophie explained her symptoms and the diagnosis process in a candid Instagram video last week, explaining how she first noticed symptoms when she was working from home during the Covid lockdown in 2020. Diagnosis: Married At First Sight UK star Sophie Brown has spoken out on her recent diagnosis with Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Sophie said she wanted to speak out about her diagnosis to 'break the stigma', pointing out that as adults, and especially women, 'we're very good at masking it.' She said that she first decided to speak to her doctor after finding herself getting easily distracted while working remotely from her Manchester flat. 'I found it really difficult, I was like how are people doing this? How are they not getting distracted all the time? How are they getting tasks done?' 'I spoke to my doctor and said "look I never thought that I had this as a kid but a few people have said to me that they thought I might have, I show some of the signs, the way that I work". TV star: The star of the E4 show received her diagnosis during filming for the series, which saw her marry Jonathan Wileman after meeting him for the first time at the alter 'I said "I am really struggling,' she added. After completing an online test Sophie explained how she had to wait two years for a follow up appointment due to NHS waiting lists. It was while she was filming Married At First Sight in May 2022 that she got a call from Manchester mental health department who invited her in for an initial consultation. The consultation helped Sophie to realise that she has displayed some of the symptoms of ADHD for years but they were well masked. 'If you're a competent person at school or work you don't always necessarily feel like you have ADHD because you're still functioning, that's called high functioning which is what I am,' she explained. Symptoms: Sophie explained her symptoms and the diagnosis process in a candid Instagram video, explaining how she first noticed symptoms when she was working from home in 2020 'You live your day to day life but you have an internal battle with the things that are going on, so lack of focus, I get very easily distracted, I get major brain fog.' 'When I'm trying to organise tasks procrastinate a lot. I still get things done but I have to battle with it.' 'As an adult and as as woman it can show itself in different ways.' A couple of months on from her consultation, Sophie was diagnosed and now relies on medication and self-help strategies to help her manage the condition. Speaking out: It was while she was filming Married At First Sight in May 2022 that she got a call from Manchester mental health department who invited her in for an initial consultation This week on Married At First Sight's final episodes, viewers have seen Sophie describe how her marriage to Jonathan fell apart in the weeks after the vow renewals were filmed. Sophie acknowledged on the show that 'we had our ups and downs, but we are very different people.' She later told her ex during tense scenes at the dinner party that she didn't think he valued her. 'I knew I couldn't give Sophie what she wanted,' Jonathan told fellow cast mate Lara. Ricki Lake says she is in the 'happiest place in my life' after remarrying following the death of her ex-husband. The television host, 54, was married to jewelry designer Christian Evans from 2012 until 2015. Christian, who suffered from bipolar disorder, died by suicide on February 11, 2017. Moved on: Ricki Lake says she is in the 'happiest place in my life' after remarrying following the death of her ex-husband Appearing on Wednesday's Good Morning Britain, she also revealed a tattoo dedicated to him of his wedding vow, that reads: 'I vow to continue loving you'. She explained: 'My beloved husband passed away from suicide and bipolar five and a half years ago, so this was his wedding vow to me that I found on the stationary after he died. 'It's not only a message from him but it's a message for me to continue loving myself.' Tragic: The television host, 54, was married to jewelry designer Christian Evans from 2012 until 2015. Christian, who suffered from bipolar disorder, died by suicide on February 11, 2017 Tribute: Appearing on Wednesday's Good Morning Britain, she also revealed a tattoo dedicated to him of his wedding vow, that reads: 'I vow to continue loving you' Ricki remarried her current husband this year to lawyer Ross Burningham in a magical backyard wedding, after they got engaged in February of 2021. Speaking on Christian's death and where she is now, she said: 'That relationship and that loss was definitely the darkest period of my life. 'But through it so many gifts have come out of it, I'm now remarried and now I'm very much in the happiest place in my life.' Loved-up: Ricki remarried her current husband this year to lawyer Ross Burningham in a magical backyard wedding, after they got engaged in February of 2021 Opening up on Christian's illness, she said: ''I didn't even know what bipolar was, when he first told me I didn't understand a manic episode or a psychotic break. 'It was the darkest time of my life. I have so much empathy for mental health - its made me a better person.' Elsewhere in the chat, Ricki spoke about her talk show, Ricki Lake, which aired from September 1993 until May 2004. Dark times: Speaking on Christian's death and where she is now, she said: 'That relationship and that loss was definitely the darkest period of my life' She said: 'I was 23 years old when I did the pilot. Back in the 90s there were only two or three shows and ours was the one everyone came home from school watched.' She added: 'I don't think that kind of show could exist today. Everybody today is so delicate about being decisive. It's a different animal today, everyone has that immediacy on Twitter. 'You can't really be taught to do that kind of job. People relate to me, I'm the girl next door. I loved it.' Ricki has two children, Milo, 25, and Owen, 21, who she shares with her ex-husband, Rob Sussman. 90s: Elsewhere in the chat, Ricki spoke about her talk show, Ricki Lake, which aired from September 1993 until May 2004 West Coast Eagles star Nic Naitanui and Brittany Bown have announced the arrival of their first child together. The couple shared the exciting news in an Instagram post on Wednesday and also revealed they are engaged to be married. 'Beyond blessed. Engaged 29.08.22. Ezekiel Duke Naitanui joined us on 03.10.22,' Brittany wrote. West Coast Eagles star Nic Naitanui and partner Brittany Bown announced their engagement and the arrival of their first child together on Wednesday She also shared a closeup photo of her newborn son and her stunning oval shaped diamond ring. In an interview with this week's issue of STM, Brittany said: 'I feel extremely grateful to be starting a family and the expansion of love I feel for Nic and the little human we created is the best feeling I have ever felt.' 'He is just perfect, and we look at him every day, ok more like every hour, in absolute awe.' 'Beyond blessed. Engaged 29.08.22. Ezekiel Duke Naitanui joined us on 03.10.22,' Brittany wrote on Instagram Nic and Brittany announced they were expecting their first child back in May. 'Happiest girl in the world,' Bown captioned the post at the time. 'Baby Naitanui due September'. A series of accompanying photos of the couple showed Brittany dressed in a white dress while proudly displaying her growing baby bump. The couple went public with their romance during a getaway to Margaret River in Western Australia late last year The couple went public with their romance during a getaway to Margaret River in Western Australia late last year. They shared a number of social media images as they enjoyed some wine tasting in the renowned vineyard region. Nic posed with Bown at Beerfarm in the state's south west and at Amelia Park Winery with fellow Eagles Liam Duggan, Josh Rotham and Jamie Cripps and partners Lauren Goold, Maddie Greaves, and Liv Stanley. Anneka Rice appeared in great spirits as she filmed the reboot of her famous show Challenge Anneka in Teeside, 30 years after the final episode. The presenter, 63, looked youthful as she donned a bright orange coat and black leggings on Tuesday. She completed the look with a pair of knee-high boots along with a hard hat as she filmed on a building site. Back in the saddle: Anneka Rice, 63, appeared in great spirits as she filmed the reboot of her famous show Challenge Anneka in Teeside, 30 years after the final episode Anneka wore a utility belt which cinched in her waist while her blonde locks blew in the wind. The star sported a subtle soft makeup look which showcased her natural beauty. She could also be seen jumping into a blue buggy car which was adorned with the show's title as she raced to her next location. Channel 5's reboot, which will hit screens in 2023, aims to tackle the challenges faced by modern Britons and highlight everyday heroes. Young buck: The presenter looked youthful as she donned a bright orange coat and black leggings on Tuesday At work: She completed the look with a pair of knee-high boots along with a hard hat as she filmed on a building site Off she goes: Anneka could also be seen jumping into a blue buggy car which was adorned with the show's title as she raced to her next location It comes after Anneka explained how she wanted to 'fly the flag for women today' with her return to TV. Hoping that the relaunched show will help to challenge stereotypes about gender roles on television, just as her original show did for female presenters. Discussing the forerunner to Challenge Aneka, Treasure Hunt, she said: 'It put a woman absolutely in control right in the centre of the action driving the narrative. 'It really changed the face of TV and in a lot of ways, and I want to sort of fly the flag for women today'. Hard at work: She joined workmen on the busy site as cameras followed Off she goes! Channel 5's reboot, which will hit screens in 2023, aims to tackle the challenges faced by modern Britons and highlight everyday heroes Beaming: She appeared in high spirits as she put pedal to the metal She said: '40 years ago, you have to remember where women were placed in television. 'They were usually either draped over cars as a prize on a quiz game or they were behind a news desk.' 'I feel just the same as they did 30 years ago, but possibly there's more conversation about how we look, or about how we might be coping with it, whereas for men they just get on and do it, and their image and brand stays intact.' Citing a project that helped Romanian children during the original show, who are now helping in the Ukrainian crisis, she said: 'That absolutely floored me because it was like one humanitarian crisis 30 years ago, rolling into another one.' Phone call: Anneka could be seen making an intense phone call Rain or shine: The bad weather didn't stop her and she wore her hood as the heavens opened Back for more: It comes after Anneka explained how she wanted to 'fly the flag for women today' with her return to telly Soundman Dave Chapman - who was a prominent presence in the original broadcast - is also set to return. Anneka said: 'I can't believe this is actually happening. The last few years have shown us all the power of community and how it's good to be part of something bigger than ourselves. 'The whole team is as motivated as ever to make a difference and shine a spotlight on people and organisations who need help. Hope: Hoping that the relaunched show will help to challenge stereotypes about gender roles on television, just as her original show did for female presenters Unsure: It was unclear where they were heading as they raced off in the buggy It comes after she suffered an awkward blunder during the National Television Awards on Thursday, as she announced the wrong winner. The television personality , was tasked with making it to the stage and presenting an award in under three minutes by the shows host Joel Dommett, ahead of this years reboot of Challenge Anneka. But Anneka appeared to jump the gun as she opened the card and blurted out 'The 1% Club!' before realising she has to read out the rest of the nominees first. Throwback: The hit show originally aired on BBC from 1989 to 1995 Taking to the podium she then attempted to recover her mistake as she continued to reel off the list of names. As the audience cheered, she quickly added: 'No! We've got Beat The Chasers, In for a Penny and Michael McIntyre. And the National Television Award goes to...' 'Have you got the sound ready for this?' she said turning to soundman Dave Chapman, before she announced: 'It goes to, Beat The Chasers!' Kate Hudson made a style statement as she attended a photocall for her new film, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, in Spain on Wednesday. The actress, 43, stunned in a neon green trouser suit as she hit the red carpet in Madrid. Kate joined the likes of her co-stars Daniel Craig, 54, and Janelle Monae, 36, at the event. Turning heads: Kate Hudson stunned in a neon green trouser suit as she joined Daniel Craig at a Glass Onion photocall in Spain on Wednesday Kate's blazer was double breasted and she teamed the look with a beige camisole underneath. She wore flared trousers and added height to her frame with a pair of heels. Kate looked every inch the blonde bombshell in her outfit, showing off a soft golden glow and with her long locks out and neatly straightened. Glamorous: Kate, who is the daughter of Hollywood icon Goldie Hawn, 76, wore makeup including dewy foundation, a glossy nude lip and a winged eye Co-star: Bond star Daniel Craig, 54, looked dapper in a pale blue shirt and cream trousers, which he teamed with brown suede shoes and a belt Details: Kate's blazer was double breasted and she teamed the look with a beige camisole underneath Kate, who is the daughter of Hollywood icon Goldie Hawn, 76, wore makeup including dewy foundation, a glossy nude lip and a winged eye. She teamed the look with layered gold necklaces. Bond star Daniel Craig, 54, looked dapper in a pale blue shirt and cream trousers, which he teamed with brown suede shoes and a belt. Daniel, who is married to Rachel Weisz, 52, appeared in high spirits as he stepped out, flashing a thumbs up at photographers. In good spirits: Daniel, who is married to Rachel Weisz, 52, appeared in high spirits as he stepped out, flashing a thumbs up at photographers Leading man: The film centres on Daniel's detective character Benoit Blanc Synopsis: It tells the story of tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) inviting his friends for a getaway on his private Greek island - with one turning up dead The film centres on Daniel's detective character Benoit Blanc. According to IMDB, 'famed Southern detective Benoit Blanc travels to Greece for his latest case'. It tells the story of tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) inviting his friends for a getaway on his private Greek island - with one turning up dead. Casual in khaki: Edward looked casual in a khaki jacket and matching trousers and white sneakers at the event The movie is a sequel to the highly-popular and critically-acclaimed 2019 film Knives Out. It is set for release on November 23. Janelle, who appears in the film as character Andi Brand, opted for a chic black and white minidress. She teamed the look with a bold red lip, a bowler hat and black high heels. Classic: Janelle, who appears in the film as character Andi Brand, opted for a chic black and white minidress Peace out: Janelle flashed the peace sign on the red carpet Stylish: She teamed the look with a bold red lip, a bowler hat and black high heels Candid: Kate meanwhile, who is known for films including How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Almost Famous, previously revealed that she thought she'd have a singing career, rather than pursuing acting Kate meanwhile, who is known for films including How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Almost Famous, previously revealed that she thought she'd have a singing career, rather than pursuing acting. She previously told The Edit: 'I thought music would be my route, the pop world, but I got into musicals at school and that was it.' Glass Onion will play in major US theater chains for one week only, from November 2329, and UK cinemas on November 25, before premiering on Netflix on December 23. If you are in the UK, call FRANK 24 hours a day, seven days a week 0300 123 6600 If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse in the US, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP Advertisement Friends star Matthew Perry has given his first tell-all interview in which he details how his drug and alcohol addictions secretly nearly cost him his life. The star, 53, revealed he was given just a two per cent chance of survival after an opioid addiction caused his colon to burst when he was aged 49, leaving him in a coma for two weeks and spending months in hospital - a fact which his legions of fans were unaware of. After suffering from a gastrointestinal perforation, Matthew said he had to use a colostomy bag for nine months, has now had 14 surgeries on his stomach in total and been to rehab 15 times in a bid to get clean. Now sober, the beloved actor, best known for playing hapless Chandler Bing has detailed his decades-long battle to rid himself of the disease of addiction. When he was first admitted to the hospital, he said: 'the doctors told my family that I had a 2 percent chance to live. I was put on a thing called an ECMO machine, which does all the breathing for your heart and your lungs. And that's called a Hail Mary. No one survives that.' He told PEOPLE: 'I wanted to share when I was safe from going into the dark side of everything again. Matthew Perry nearly DIED from opioid overuse and secretly spent weeks in a coma: Troubled Friends star admits he's had 14 stomach surgeries, used a colostomy bag for nine months and has been in rehab 15 times - as he lays his addiction issues bare 'I had to wait until I was pretty safely sober and away from the active disease of alcoholism and addiction to write it all down. And the main thing was, I was pretty certain that it would help people.' Talking about his starring role on Friends at aged 24, his alcohol addiction was starting to surface. He said he could handle it but he was 'entrenched in a lot of trouble' by the time he was 34. He said there were years during that time in which he was sober and in fact, he was sober throughout the whole of season nine, the year he got nominated for Best Actor. At one point during his Friends career, he admits he was taking 55 Vicodin a day and was down to 128 pounds but yet he 'didn't know how to stop.' He said the disease has got worse and worse and progressive and he's got older and noted his Friends cast mates 'were understanding, and they were patient.' He said: 'I had to wait until I was pretty safely sober and away from the active disease of alcoholism and addiction to write it all down. And the main thing was, I was pretty certain that it would help people' - pictured in September 2021, (left) A constant battle, Matthew says: 'I'm pretty healthy now'. He is choosing not to say how long he has been sober for but is 'counting each day.' His stomach is covered in scars from his 14 surgeries and said they serve as a reminder to stay sober. He said his therapist has told him that he may have to have a colostomy bag for the rest of his life if he takes drugs again, which helps him to avoid relapsing. The actor, who checked himself into rehab during his time on Friends once in 1997 and again in 2001. Matthew famously told the New York Times in 2002, one year after getting sober: 'When [fame] happens, it's kind of like Disneyland for a while. 'For me it lasted about eight months, this feeling of "I've made it, I'm thrilled, there's no problem in the world". He told the Hollywood Reporter in 2015: 'I've had a lot of ups and downs in my life. I learned a lot from my failures. 'But the best thing about me is that if an alcoholic comes up to me and says, "Will you help me stop drinking?" I will say, "Yes, I know how to do that."' 'And then you realise that it doesn't accomplish anything, it's certainly not filling any holes in your life. I didn't get sober because I felt like it. I got sober because I was worried I was going to die the next day.' 'It's no accident that Chandler is a guy who is trying to deter his own human emotional feelings with laughter. Thats what I did for years. I've tried to palm myself off as being a jokester, kind of like hanging out with me is kind of like a vacation. But that could only take me so far.' He did his third stint in rehab in May 2011, when a representative for the star said it was to prevent a relapse. The latest picture of Matthew: The actor has said he is currently sober but doesn't want to say how long he has been sober for - only that he 'counts the days' - pictured promoting his book in September Matthew said in a statement in 2011: 'I'm making plans to go away for a month to focus on my sobriety and to continue my life in recovery. Please enjoy making fun of me on the World Wide Web.' Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter in 2013, he said: 'I've had a lot of ups and downs in my life and a lot of wonderful accolades. The best thing about me is that if an alcoholic comes up to me and says, "Will you help me stop drinking?" I will say, "Yes. I know how to do that".' Addiction left Matthew in a tough state, as he admitted to BBC Radio 2 in 2016. 'I dont remember three years of [the show],' he said. 'Somewhere between Seasons 3 and 6 I was a little out of it. In 2017, a porn star revealed she fears recovering drug addict Matthew Perry has relapsed after the actor pleaded with her to get him '40/50' prescription pills. Adult actress Maddy O'Reilly said Perry, a former lover, contacted her two weeks before asking if she knew anyone who could help him 'purchase some pills'. When Maddy, then 27, asked the actor what kind, he replied: 'Vicaden (sic)/Roxy's/oxys'. He was referring to Vicodin, Roxicodone and OxyContin. All three are powerful and highly addictive opioid prescription painkillers. Under the radar: He said in 2016 - left - I dont remember three years of [the show],' he said. 'Somewhere between Seasons 3 and 6 I was a little out of it.' In text messages seen by DailyMailTV Maddy asked the desperate actor how much he would be willing to pay for the pills, to which he replied: 'It depends which one is available. But...a lot.' Perry's representatives did not respond to DailyMail.com's requests for comment at the time. In an exclusive interview conducted then, Maddy told DailyMailTV: 'I was shocked, I knew he is a recovering addict but it was coming out of nowhere, why would he ask me something like that, it's not like we partied or I have a reputation for partying. 'I was really looking disappointed, it went from us making dinner plans to Matthew asking me for 40 to 50 pills. 'I was also a little offended and annoyed, people often assume because of what I do for a living that's how we are. 'Then it triggered, he just told me he was going through a detox and now he's asking for 40/50 pills, it was a red flag and I was worried. 'I am concerned for Matthew's well-being, we're having the same drugs problem back home in North Carolina, I've seen it destroy many people's lives. I would really hate to see something bad happen to him.' In 2021, the cast of Friends reunited on screen for the first time in 17 years after being delayed by a year due to the Covid pandemic. Friends fans expressed their concern at the time after Matthew appeared to slur his speech in a promo for the special. The actor stammered and stared in the clip, even slurring together his words at one point. On the mend: Pictured a year after he had abdominal surgery to repair a gastrointestinal perforation which saw him nearly lose his life and having to use a colostomy bag for nine months From Friends superstar to a 30-year battle with addiction: Matthew's trials and tribulations 1982 - Matthew revealed he had his first taste of alcohol at the age of 13 1994 - After spending his post high school years appearing in a string of US sitcoms, Matthew, 24, lands the role of Chandler Bing in Friends, which becomes an instant success. He later told the New York Times of that period: 'When [fame] happens, it's kind of like Disneyland for a while. For me it lasted about eight months, this feeling of "I've made it, I'm thrilled, there's no problem in the world.' 'And then you realise that it doesn't accomplish anything, it's certainly not filling any holes in your life.' 1997 - At the peak of his success on the NBC sitcom, Matthew is injured in a jet-ski accident. He is prescribed opioids to cope with the fame, later recalling that he took the prescribed pills without question: 'I did and I felt better than I ever felt in my entire life. I had a big problem with pills and alcohol, and I couldn't stop.' He checked into rehab that same year but said: 'You can't have a drug problem for 30 years and then expect to have it solved in 28 days. Getting sober is a really hard thing to do.' 1998 - Despite his rehab stint, the actor continues to battle addiction, revealing 'I dont remember three years of [the show]. Somewhere between seasons three and six I was a little out of it.' At one point during his Friends career, he is taking 55 Vicodin a day. 2001 - Matt completes another stint in rehab for for addiction to Vicodin, methadone, amphetamines, and alcohol. 2003 - The TV star is sober for season nine of Friends, when he was nominated for a Best Actor Emmy. 2004 - Friends wraps after ten seasons 2007 - He receives Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominations for his critically acclaimed turn in the titular role of TNT movie, The Ron Clark Story. 2011 - The actor enters rehab for a third time, with a representative for the star saying it was to prevent a relapse. The actor says in a statement: 'I'm making plans to go away for a month to focus on my sobriety and to continue my life in recovery. Please enjoy making fun of me on the World Wide Web.' In his role as a spokesperson for National Association of Drug Court Professionals, Matthew goes to Capitol Hill to lobby members of Congress in support of funding for drug courts. 2013 - He receives a Champion of Recovery award from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy for opening Perry House, a sober living home situated in his former mansion in Malibu, California 2015 - Matthew sells his Malibu home and shutters the rehab center 2017 - A porn star reveals she fears Matthew has relapsed after the actor pleaded with her to get him '40/50' prescription pills. 2018 - Matthew has abdominal surgery to repair a gastrointestinal perforation. He has now revealed he was given just a two per cent chance of survival after his opioid addiction caused his colon to burst when he was aged 49, leaving him in a coma for two weeks and spending months in hospital. He has to use a colostomy bag for nine months, and has had 14 surgeries on his stomach in total over the years. 2021 - The cast of Friends reunite on screen for the first time in 17 years. There are concerns after Perry appears to slur his speech in a promo for the reunion special. Ben Winston, who directed Friends: The Reunion, said of those commenting on Perry's appearance during the HBO Max special: 'He was great. People can sometimes just be unkind. I wish they weren't. 'I loved working with him. He's a brilliantly funny man and I thought he had some great one-liners in the show. I felt just happy and lucky to be in his presence and directing him on something like this.' 2022 - Matthew gives his first tell-all interview in which he details how his drug and alcohol addictions secretly nearly cost him his life. Advertisement When asked if he ever took anything from set as a souvenir, he admitted: 'I stole the cookie jar that had the clock on it' with a heavy 'sh' sound at the start of 'stole.' Though his speech was stilted, Matthew's physical appearance was on the healthier side. His castmates were able to hide any of their concerns, as David and Matt giggled and smiled at the TV star, who played Chandler Bing on the NBC hit. But fans were quick to voice their worries. 'Just saw People interview and can't believe how Matthew Perry looks like seriously it breaks my heart,' one fan wrote on Twitter. 'It pains me to see Matthew Perry like this, he just seems off, gazing at the void, speaking slowly,' wrote another. 'Hate to say it, but I'm sad and scared like hell for Matthew Perry,' a third added. 'Damn, Matthew Perry in those PEOPLE Friends interviews.' Concern: In 2021, the cast of Friends reunited on screen for the first time in 17 years - fans expressed their concern at the time after Matthew appeared to slur his speech in a promo for the special Another tweeted: 'Just watched @people exclusive interview clip of Friends casts and the time hasn't been kind. I hope Matthew Perry is okay. Damn how much I love them.' One wrote: 'Lets not use the friends reunion to make fun of the way matthew perry looks these days. people age, funnily enough. 'Matthew has been through A LOT since friends wrapped up in 2004. be respectful instead of judgmental. hard block me rn if you think making fun of him is funny.' Ben Winston, who directed Friends: The Reunion, said of those commenting on Perry's appearance during the HBO Max special: 'He was great. People can sometimes just be unkind. I wish they weren't. 'I loved working with him. He's a brilliantly funny man and I thought he had some great one-liners in the show. I felt just happy and lucky to be in his presence and directing him on something like this.' After having his first taste of alcohol at the age of 13, he continued drinking and was described opioids in 1997 to cope with the pain after suffering a jet ski accident. Speaking to People in 2013, he recalled taking his prescribed pills without question: 'I did and I felt better than I ever felt in my entire life. I had a big problem with pills and alcohol, and I couldn't stop.' He checked into rehab that same year in 1997, but said: 'You can't have a drug problem for 30 years and then expect to have it solved in 28 days. Getting sober is a really hard thing to do.' Matthew has documented his journey in a memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing (available Nov. 1), detailing his journey. Role: Matthew said the disease has got worse and worse and progressive and he's got older and noted his Friends cast mates 'were understanding, and they were patient' (pictured second from left with the cast) From finding fame to drug scandals as fans fear for his health: A look back at Matthew Perry's off-camera trials and tribulations as he emotionally reunites with his Friends co-stars in TV special He famously portrayed Chandler Bing in the classic sitcom Friends for a decade, bowing out from his beloved role when the show ended in 2004. But while Matthew Perry's character raised the laughs onscreen, it has been a starkly different and far more dramatic life off-screen for the star, whose numerous troughs and peaks have been well documented over the years. Born in Massachusetts and raised north of the border in Canada's capital Ottawa, the actor, was the focus of a series of headlines during much of his time on Friends, stemming largely from his hard-fought battle with drug addiction. Ups and downs: While Friends favourite Matthew Perry has raised the laughs onscreen, it has been a starkly different and far more dramatic life off-screen for the star Back in 1997, when his NBC sitcom was already flying high as a bona fide hit, the star was injured in a jet-ski accident an already harrowing incident that led to the genesis of a far darker force as he became dependent on powerful painkiller Vicodin. Perry has been open about his past struggles with addiction, previously telling People things got 'out of control and very unhealthy' after the accident. The screen star, who currently boasts an estimated net worth of $120 million, told People in 2013: 'I couldn't stop. Eventually things got so bad that I couldn't hide it, and then everybody knew.' Emotional reunion: The star was comforted by his Friends co-star Jennifer Aniston has be broke down in tears during the upcoming reunion special Perry reunited with his Friends co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, and Matt LeBlanc for the hotly-anticipated show reunion, which was shot in April and aired on May 27 via HBO and HBO Max A teaser from the one-off episode showed Perry being comforted by Aniston as he welled up, before later cutting to scenes of the actor reminiscing about his time on the show. In the clip, Perry's on-screen wife Cox states: 'It was an incredible time. We became best friends', to which Perry confesses: 'Yep, I'm going to cry now.' Dropping his head down and wrapping his arms around his body, Perry looks solemn as Jennifer leans over to comfort him. Fame: Perry shot to fame on the iconic show, which followed a group of friends living in New York City. Also pictured are David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox and Matt LeBlanc Season six, episode 14 of Friends was entitled The One Where Chandler Can't Cry and aired back in February 2000. When asked if he ever took anything from set as a souvenir, he admitted: 'I stole the cookie jar that had the clock on it' with a heavy 'sh' sound at the start of 'stole.' Though fans were left delighted by the teaser, there were also concerns after Perry appeared to slur his speech in a promo for the upcoming reunion special. The actor stammered and stared in the clip, even slurring together his words at one point. Heartthrob: The star was seen as quite the heartthrob during Friends' early days on the air. Pictured in 1994 with his recurring co-star Morgan Fairchild Despite having multi-million dollar net worth, the star's life mirrored that of countless everyday people around the globe as he grappled with his demons and combated the resulting dramatically fluctuating weight. He has likely sought solace within the towering walls of the many palatial homes he has snapped up across the palm tree-lined hills of Los Angeles over the years. Perry's $1 million-per-episode Friends pay day afforded him a sky-scraping penthouse in the City of Angels, which placed on the market for an eye-watering $27 million over the summer, having dropped the asking price from $35 million. His luxury property clearance sale also included the screen star bringing his Malibu beach house to market for $14.95 million during the same period. They'll be there for you: Perry sparked concern with his slurring on the spcial, but seemed in good spirits as he filmed the reunion alongside his longtime friends and former castmates As for where he currently lives? Perry last year purchased himself comparatively humble $6 million cottage in the tony neighbourhood of Pacific Palisades. Post-Friends, Perry, the son of American actor and former model John Bennett Perry and Canadian journalist Suzanne Marie Morrison has been able to sustain his lifestyle by keeping himself busy with a slew of projects, to varying degrees of success. In 2007, he received Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominations for his critically acclaimed turn in the titular role of TNT movie, The Ron Clark Story, about a small-town teacher to relocates to educate the toughest class in the US. Between 2006 and 2007, he continued to showcase his acting chops when he joined the cast of Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip as Matt Albie, a writer-director character based on the show's creator and executive producer Aaron Sorkin. Wow: In 2020, the star put his Malibu beach house on the market for $14.95 million (pictured), while also selling an LA penthouse. He now lives in a $6 million cottage in Pacific Palisades Other TV and movie roles followed, with the actor also treading the board of London, when he starred in David Mamet's Sexual Perversity In Chicago in the West End. However, replicating the success of Friends alluded him: Perry was the focus of much fanfare when it was announced that he was set to portray a middle-aged man going through an identity crisis in the ABC sitcom Mr. Sunshine. A sign of just how brutal the decision-making is in the revenue-hungry TV landscape, the series was cancelled after just nine episodes in early 2011. His NBC pilot for Go On failed to fare much better. The show, which saw him portraying a sportscaster trying to move on from the death of his wife, premiered in 2012 but was cancelled the following year at the conclusion of the first season. Series: Between 2006 and 2007, he continued to showcase his acting chops when he joined the cast of Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip as Matt Albie Short-lived: Perry portrayed a middle-aged man going through an identity crisis in the ABC sitcom Mr. Sunshine. Debuting in early 2011, the series was cancelled after just nine episodes Among his many TV roles was also a stint on British TV in the 2014 one-off The Dog Thrower, as well as portraying the late Ted Kennedy in the 2017 miniseries The Kennedys: After Camelot. Perry last starred in a movie in 2009's 17 Again opposite Zac Efron. He will next be seen in the comedy Don't Look Up, which follows the tale of two astronomers, played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence, who discover that a giant asteroid that could destroy all life on Earth is cruising toward the planet. The film boasts an absolutely stacked cast including Cate Blanchett, Timothee Chalamet, Ariana Grande, Kid Cudi, Tyler Perry, Melanie Lynskey and Chris Evans, among others, and is expected to be released later this year. It comes after Perry was embarrassed after a match from the dating app Raya leaked a video message sent by the star. Could this BE more embarrassing? The engaged Friends star was outed for sending a girl, 19, cringe-worthy messages after matching on celeb dating app Raya The Friends actor allegedly asked the 19-year-old girl, 'Am I as old as your dad?' during a flirty exchange that was leaked earlier this month. Perry, who is currently engaged to fiancee Molly Hurwitz, 29, can be seen in a video posted on Thursday flirting with TikTok user @kittynichole - real name Kate Haralson - who claims they matched on the membership-only dating service in May last year. Haralson, now 20, shared the footage of herself with the caption: 'When you match w Matthew Perry as a joke on a dating app and he facetimes you and plays 20 questions with you.' In the 16-second video, Perry is seen smiling as he asks his potential date, 'Do you always play with your hair this much?' to which she responds, giggling: 'I guess so.' Now THIS is a match: Perry got engaged to fiancee Molly Hurwitz in November 2020, having started dating in 2018 (but they split in June 2021) Haralson, a personal assistant who says she was 19 when Perry first contacted her, told PageSix on Thursday that she wanted to show how older men in Hollywood are 'taking advantage' of younger women on dating apps. 'A lot of people were saying I'm a bully and mean for posting this, and it made me feel kind of bad, but at the same time, I feel like a lot of guys in Hollywood are talking to all these young girls and it's something that I think a lot of people should be aware of,' she told the outlet. Haralson claims the FaceTime exchange happened in May 2020, which is when Perry is said to have briefly split with his current fiancee Hurwitz, who he had been dating since 2018. They split for good in June 2021. The Los Angeles-based PA said she had matched with other celebrities before but wouldn't 'ever talk to older guys' though she thought talking to the Friends actor 'would be funny.' Ex: Perry dated Oscar winner Julia Roberts from 1995 to 1996 (pictured on the set of Friends) The exchange was believed to have been filmed six months before he announced his engagement to literary manager Hurwitz. 'I decided to get engaged,' the TV icon announced in People magazine on Thanksgiving after proposing. 'Luckily, I happened to be dating the greatest woman on the face of the planet at this time.' This would have marked the first marriage for Perry, who is famous for playing loveable and sarcastic Chandler Bing in Friends. However, he has had several highly publicized romances with notable names. Perry briefly dated Baywatch star Yasmine Bleeth in 1995 and then moved on to Oscar winner Julia Roberts from 1995 to 1996. He has also dated Neve Campbell, Heather Graham and Maeve Quinlan. His longest relationship was with actress Lizzy Caplan from 2006 until 2012. Exes; Matthew and Scream star Neve Campbell struck up a romance on the Three To Tango set in 1998 (pictured left that year) while Matthew and former fashion student Rachel Dunn had a 14 year age gap but dated for two years from 2003-2005 (pictured right 2004) Perry was also engaged to Kayti Edwards, who previously claimed he had her score drugs for him while she was pregnant - during their brief romantic relationship in the early Noughties. In December last year, Kayti alleged in The Sun that when he was in the depths of his addiction he would take 80 Vicodin in one day. She claimed that in 2011 when their relationship was platonic and she was five months pregnant he would pay her thousands of dollars to procure drugs for him. Kayti alleged that he would 'guilt trip' her into going on the drug runs by offering to 'go there myself and walk downtown,' prompting her to pick up the slack instead in order to prevent him 'driving' or 'wandering around the streets.' However she also praised him as 'funny' and 'easy-going,' expressing her joy that he has gone on the wagon and settled down with Molly. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is known for his incredibly ripped physique and the wrestler turned actor showed it off in Madrid on Wednesday. The star, 50, attended a photocall in Spain for his new DC Comics film, Black Adam. The Rock showed off his bulging biceps and tattooed arms in a tight green ribbed top, before happily hugging some of his adoring fans at the event. Ripped: Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson showed off his bulging biceps and macular build in a skintight green shirt at a photocall for Black Adam in Madrid on Wednesday The Rock teamed the look with a stylish pair of navy trousers and leather shoes. The Jumanji star accessorised with a necklace, black watch and a pair of dark aviator shades. The Rock, who is known for films including Fast and Furious and The Scorpion King, appeared in high spirits at the event. Looking good: The Rock teamed the look with a stylish pair of navy trousers and leather shoes Every inch the movie star: The Jumanji star accessorised with a necklace, black watch and a pair of dark aviator shades Sweet: He happily hugged some of his adoring fans at the event At one point during the photocall, he hugged some fans and posed for photographs with them. The action-packed trailer for the film, released just weeks ago, begins with a lifeless body floating in water, as Johnson's title character proclaims, 'My son sacrificed his life to save me'. His son is seen being cut down while Adam is forced to watch, tortured by the sight of his dead son. Selfie: He posed for photographs with one fan who wore a Black Adam T-shirt Blockbuster: Black Adam is a DC film He is seen using his superhuman powers to fly through the city, unleashing a lightning blast from his hand. 'These powers are not a gift, but a curse, born out of rage,' he says, while holding his dead son. Another shot shows him in his full black costume, surrounded by armed soldiers, who start opening fire... to no avail. He catches one of the bullets between his thumb and forefinger, stating in another language, 'Your magic is weak' before taking out the soldiers one by one. Reviews: The $200million anti-hero film Black Adam meanwhile, has been branded 'anti-entertaining', 'predictable' and 'overstuffed' in the first wave of reviews Teaser: The action-packed trailer for the film, released just weeks ago, begins with a lifeless body floating in water, as Johnson's title character proclaims, 'My son sacrificed his life to save me' The $200million anti-hero film Black Adam meanwhile, has been branded 'anti-entertaining', 'predictable' and 'overstuffed' in the first wave of reviews. However, The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw praised The Rock's performance, saying: 'Johnson's massive bulk, planet-sized head and sly gift for deadpan humour all make him a great superhero.' The film has been a passion project for The Rock, who was first mentioned for the role back in 2007, and many admired his drive to get the film off the ground after languishing for years in development hell. The action film reunites Dwayne with his Jungle Cruise director Jaume Collett-Serra in the hotly-anticipated flick, which is set for public release on October 21. The comic action hero film also stars Pierce Brosnan, Quintessa Q. Swindell, Sarah and Noah Centineo. Black Adam will be released in the U.S. and U.K. on October 21. Meghan Markle has admitted she apologised to Paris Hilton for 'judging' her based on her looks and success after learning about her 'trauma' on her podcast. Meghan, 41, featured the heiress, 41, as her latest guest for her Archetypes Spotify podcast in an episode entitled 'Breaking Down The Bimbo'. Speaking about the episode, Meghan said she was 'embarrassed' to admit she had 'judged' Paris beforehand and had to find a way to 'forgive' her because she 'didn't grow up pretty' herself. 'I didn't grow up pretty': Meghan Markle has admitted she apologised to Paris Hilton for 'judging' her based on her public image after learning about her 'trauma' on her podcast Childhood: Paris is pictured left and Meghan is pictured right Speaking to Variety, Meghan said it was the most challenging interview she has done so far for her podcast and said she was very 'nervous' beforehand. 'I spoke to Paris Hilton last week. I told her at the beginning that I was the most nervous about her interview,' she explained. 'I was embarrassed to admit it, but I've had a judgment about her that's based on everything I've seen, and I don't like to come from a place of judgment. But I also didn't grow up pretty.' Meghan said she grew up as 'the smart one' and was 'envious' of Paris and 'judged' her based on her public image, before learning about the 'trauma' in her life. Getting to know each other: Meghan, 41, featured the heiress, 41, as the latest guest for her Archetypes Spotify podcast in an episode entitled 'Breaking Down The Bimbo' Younger years: Meghan (pictured in 2006, left, and 2009, right) said she grew up as the 'smart' one not the 'pretty' one and was 'envious' and 'judgmental' of Paris The wife of Prince Harry admitted that she ended up apologising to the media personality for 'judging' her and 'buying into' her public 'persona' before meeting her. She said: 'I grew up as the smart one. So much of what I ended up thinking about, when I thought about Paris, was envy and judgment two of the most dangerous things. 'But then you hear about her trauma and her life and her buying into this persona. Ultimately, I told her, "I'm really sorry that I judged you". 'I wanted her to be safe and comfortable. I told her I wasn't looking for a "gotcha" moment. I want a "got you" moment, where we get you.' Judgement: But speaking about the interview, Meghan admitted she had 'judged' Paris beforehand and had to find a way to 'forgive' her because she 'didn't grow up pretty' herself Public image: On the podcast, Paris (pictured in 2001) revealed she 'built' her 'Barbie doll' persona as a way to escape her traumatic teenage years at a Utah boarding school On the podcast, Paris revealed she 'built' her 'Barbie doll' persona as a way to escape her traumatic teenage years at a Utah boarding school. Meghan said she wanted listeners to think about whether they could 'forgive' Paris after learning about how she was 'misrepresented' and see a more 'humanised' side to her. 'That episode is not framed as a defense of Paris; it's the humanization of her. And that's true for everybody,' she said. 'I don't care what situation you're in if a 16-year-old boy or girl, or a woman in the workplace, feels objectified or dehumanized because their character is misrepresented, I hope everyone listening with an open mind could come away thinking, "Could I just actually consider for a second that there's a person there?" Public image: Meghan said she grew up as 'the smart one' and was 'envious' of Paris and 'judged' her based on her looks and success, before learning about the 'trauma' in her life 'I've done a lot of internal work I'm from California, it's in the water and whether you're exercising or meditating, you're sometimes asked to picture a person that makes you angry. 'You think about them, you get it all out, and then you're asked to think about them as a 6-year-old child. Can you forgive them? That's how I contextually approach that.' Paris has alleged that she was 'verbally, mentally and physically abused' during her two years at Provo Canyon School after being sent to the institution by her parents when she was a rebellious teen. Speaking to Meghan about those years, Paris called it 'the most painful and horrific experience of my life,' explaining how 'it really just took away my childhood'. Hard times: Paris has alleged that she was 'verbally, mentally and physically abused' during her two years at Provo Canyon School (she is pictured in 2001) Iconic: Paris it was at the age of 22 when she landed her reality show The Simple Life alongside her best friend Nicole Richie that her 'Barbie doll' persona 'went into full force' She said that the only thing that kept her going during that time was thinking about who she was going to be when she left. 'I just promising myself and saying, "I'm going to work so hard and become so successful that no one will ever be able to control me ever again".' 'And in there, I started kind of building this fantasy Life and this kind of Barbie doll character,' she continued. 'I guess, just to not think about pain and just to think about, oh, unicorns and butterflies and Barbie dolls and pink and sparkles.' She went on to explain that it was at the age of 22 when she landed her iconic reality show The Simple Life alongside her best friend Nicole Richie that the persona 'went into full force.' Opening up: But she never expected the show and therefore her persona to last, pointing out that she thought The Simple Life would only last one season 'The producers just said we want Nicole to be the troublemaker and Paris, we want you to be the rich dumb blonde and that's when I started like really playing into that character'. 'During that time it was encouraged to be dumb and bubbly. I look at it now and I'm like, I think it's so much cooler to be smart and intelligent, but back then it was almost like they wanted.' She added that the character was also 'a mask' to protect herself from the media attention the show bought her. But she never expected the show and therefore her persona to last, pointing out that she thought The Simple Life would only last one season, and not the five it went on to air. Nerves: Meghan began her chat with Paris by telling listeners that she was nervous about interviewing Paris because she'd 'had a judgment' about the socialite 'I almost got stuck and lost in the character and at some point it was like lines got blurred and it was like I forgot who I was,' she said. 'And it makes me sad because I used to be such a free spirit and I was not so closed off, and I feel like with just so many things that have happened to me over the years I just closed off in ways in my mind and I wish that it didn't happen. Going through trauma and life really really affects you.' The Duchess replied: 'I think it's so sad you don't even get the opportunity - it makes me emotional even thinking about it - you don't get the opportunity to start to think about the woman you want to be with a blank slate, so then you come out into the world and they cast you in this thing that you end up feeling trapped.' Paris said that with the release of her recent documentary This Is Paris and her advocacy work 'people are finally seeing the other side...I love being underestimated.' Teletubbies are back in a brand new reboot from Netflix, but not everyone has been charmed by the first look at the revived kids show. Netflix dropped a teaser trailer for their revival on Tuesday, revealing the return of Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po and introducing new narrator Tituss Burgess. While the reboot looks mostly unchanged in design, some fans have been left raging at one major difference. Coming soon: Teletubbies are back in a brand new reboot from Netflix, but not everyone has been charmed by the first look at the revived kids show While the original British show, which ran between 1997 and 2001, was filmed on a real outdoor set in England, the US team's reboot relies more on CGI. The original sun-baby has also had a CGI makeover, and some fans aren't happy with the new iconic image that greets viewers at the start of each episode. 'I will never be able to get behind what they've done with Sun. Just go back to this,' wrote one critic on Twitter, alongside a photo of the original Sun baby. 'Of all the things to change for Netflix's American dub why the Sun Baby, and for that matter, why do it in the laziest, most inconsistent way possible? It was never broke, so why try and fix it?' agreed another. Fresh faces: While the reboot looks mostly unchanged in design, but some fans have been left raging at one major difference - the new look sun-baby Original: The original sun-baby has had a CGI makeover, and some fans aren't happy with the new image that greets viewers at the start of each episode (pictured, the original sun baby) 'They couldn't even make it yellow? The other versions did it just fine.' 'Honestly the baby sun really bothers me. They could've made the baby's head yellow to resemble a sun like the other versions. Here it looks like a giant baby head floating in the sky, it's just weird.' 'Okay even ignoring the fact that they're rebooting the TELETUBBIES for some ungodly reason, why is the Baby Sun.... not a sun...? Raging: 'I will never be able to get behind what they've done with Sun. Just go back to this,' wrote one critic New faces: Two children appear in the trailer for the new reboot as sun-baby Jess Smith, from Chatham, Kent, was selected to be the original giggling baby sun when she was just nine months old. Speaking to the BBC about how she landed the role, the former child star explained: 'I was being weighed at the hospital. My mum took me and it just happened to be the same time that the producer of the old series had come in and wanted the hospital to get in contact with them if they'd seen any smiley babies. 'It was just a case of sitting in front of a mirror and a camera and my dad playing with toys and race cars and that sort of thing to try and get me to laugh at the camera.' In 2014, Jess - who hasn't pursued an acting career - revealed she only revealed her secret during a game with her university friends - where they all had to say something about themselves that no one else would guess. Reboot: The original Teletubbies are pictured in Teletubby land in 1997. Back then, the show was filmed on a real outdoor set in England, with the Netflix reboot appearing to deploy far greater levels of computer-generated imagery She then used Facebook to confirm it was her - and photos show she still has the same cheeky face. Jess joked: 'I thought I may as well tell them as I'm going to be spending the next three years with them. My mother is really chuffed.' What's more, the child star welcomed her first baby in 2021. Teletubbies 26 new episodes will hit screens on November 14, and is the second revival for the iconic British show, which first ran between 1997 and 2001. It was revived in 2015, and went off screens again in 2018. Child star: Jess Smith, from Chatham, Kent, was selected to be the original giggling baby sun when she was just nine months old - pictured aged 19 The show's creator Anne Wood was reported to be worth $170 million in 2000, with Netflix's revival of her biggest hit set to swell her coffers even more. The reboot of Teletubbies is led by original series co-creator and writer Andrew Davenport who works alongside fellow writer Catherine Williams. The first season will consist of 26 12-minute episodes. The show will bring back a crew that worked on the series that aired from 2015 to 2018 on Nick Jr. in the United States., which includes Jeremiah Krage, Nick Kellington, Rebecca Hyland, and Rachelle Beinart to once again take on the roles of Tinky Winky, Dipsy, La-La, and Po, More than nine million Americans are set to receive some good news from the IRS, but receiving an unexpected letter from the tax agency isn't usually a harbinger of good things to come. Millions of people who failed to claim stimulus funds, earned income tax credits, child tax credits, or other advantages are receiving letters from the Internal Revenue Service. Unclaimed Stimulus Checks When those with very little or no income who are exempt from paying taxes fail to file a simplified tax return, that money may lie unclaimed. You need that form to receive a stimulus check. The Hill states that it's possible that between 9 million and 10 million Americans are not receiving federal assistance. Not simply the COVID-19 stimulus checks are being overlooked. Up to $3,600 per child is going unclaimed because some families fail to take advantage of the enhanced child tax credit. Along with those who are exempt from paying taxes, the GAO estimates that families with mixed immigration status and those who are homeless were likely to have been denied stimulus grants despite being qualified. The reminder letters will be delivered over the next weeks and printed in both English and Spanish. According to IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig, those impacted must file a federal income tax return for 2021 to receive any benefits that are owed to them, as per KRQE. You must submit a 2021 tax return to receive the tax benefits that were included in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 if you are eligible for them and have not yet done so. The IRS advises applicants to have their year-end 2021 tax statements in hand before filing their 2021 tax return. This applies to W-2s, 1099s, and Letter 6419, Letter 6475, which provides the total payment you received from the third stimulus check, known as Economic Impact Payments, and Letter 6476, which shows the total amount of advance Child Tax Credits you received. You can examine those statements using your IRS Online Account to get the most precise information about the Child Tax Credit and Economic Impact Payments you received the previous year. Reminder: The IRS Free File program is still active through November 17 and is open to taxpayers who income $73,000 or less in 2021. By using the software, you can file your 2021 tax return for free and get any tax refund that is due even if you file after the standard April 2022 tax deadline. According to the IRS, filing an accurate form electronically and selecting direct deposit will expedite the process of receiving your refund, Yahoo Finance US via MSN reported. Read Also: President Joe Biden Knew Hunter Biden's Business Dealings, FBI Has Evidence of First Son's Potential Criminal Conduct, Whistleblowers Reveal California Stimulus Checks The California government has started distributing additional stimulus funds to millions of its citizens who are eligible for the Middle-Class Tax Refund in the meanwhile. While some people have already received them, the majority have not. Depending on how their tax returns for 2020 were filed and the number of dependents they had, the relief payment amount given to Californians might range from $200 to $1050. The Golden State Tax will generally be paid between October 7 and October 25 to individuals who have qualified. The recipient's bank account will immediately get credit for the payment. Residents who have submitted their tax forms to the FTB will receive the relief payment between October 28 and November 14. Residents who chose to have their relief funds sent via mail ought to have their debit cards no later than December 10. Residents who have requested relief and whose requests have been accepted by the state will get their money by January 2023. The payment made using the prepaid debit card will be mailed to the recipients in alphabetical order according to thetheirst name. The residents with last names starting with A through E who chose to receive their stimulus check payment by debit card should anticipate receiving it between October 24 and November 5. It is November 6 to November 11 for names F through M. It will be between November 20 and December 3 for names N through V. It will be between December 4 and December 10 for W to Z. The Money Network and the debit card distribution are working together on this, according to Digital Market News. Related Article: Stimulus Check 2022: Who Could Receive $1,000 Monthly Direct Payments This Year? @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Paris Hilton was greeted by a sea of fans and presented with flowers as she touched down in Dubai airport in India on Wednesday. The arrival of the heiress, 41, came shortly after Meghan Markle has admitted she apologised to Paris for 'judging' her based on her looks and success after learning about her 'trauma' on her podcast. Meghan, 41, featured Paris as her latest guest for her Archetypes Spotify podcast in an episode entitled 'Breaking Down The Bimbo', and confessed it was the interview that she was most nervous for. Arrivals: Paris Hilton, 41, was greeted by hundreds of fans as she touched down in Dubai on Wednesday Speaking about the episode, Meghan said she was 'embarrassed' to admit she had 'judged' Paris beforehand and had to find a way to 'forgive' her because she 'didn't grow up pretty' herself. During the outing, Paris, who is travelling the world to promote her new fragrance Ruby Rush, opted for casual clothing in a black velvet tracksuit. Her look, which harked back to her 00s heyday, was adorned with silver studs and she layered the look over a simple t-shirt. 'I didn't grow up pretty': It comes after Meghan admitted she apologised to Paris for 'judging' her based on her public image after learning about her 'trauma' on her podcast Gifts: Paris was presented with a HUGE bouquet of flowers by her fans Crowds: The reality star who is travelling the world to promote her new fragrance Ruby Rush, cut a casual figure in a black velvet tracksuit Trendy: Her look, which harked back to her 00s heyday, was adorned with silver studs and she layered the look over a simple t-shirt Paris looked fresh faced after her three hour flight from Dubai opting for little make-up and braiding her long blonde locks. Living up to her image she carried a bright bright pink fan to cool off as she escorted through the crowd. Speaking to Variety, Meghan said it was the most challenging interview she has done so far for her podcast and said she was very 'nervous' beforehand. 'I spoke to Paris Hilton last week. I told her at the beginning that I was the most nervous about her interview,' she explained. Blondie: Paris looked fresh faced after her three hour flight from Dubai opting for little make-up and braiding her long blonde locks Hello! She waved at the crowd as she made her way through the airport Cute: Slipping her feet into comfy and colourful trainers the stunner shielded her eyes behind shades and donned a black Ruslan Baginskiy cap 'I was embarrassed to admit it, but I've had a judgment about her that's based on everything I've seen, and I don't like to come from a place of judgment. But I also didn't grow up pretty.' Meghan said she grew up as 'the smart one' and was 'envious' of Paris and 'judged' her based on her public image, before learning about the 'trauma' in her life. The wife of Prince Harry admitted that she ended up apologising to the media personality for 'judging' her and 'buying into' her public 'persona' before meeting her. Beaming: The reality star looked ecstatic to be in the country Throwback: The velvet co-ord harked back to her 00s heyday (pictured in 2006) Waving: She waved with one hand as she held onto the huge bouquet She said: 'I grew up as the smart one. So much of what I ended up thinking about, when I thought about Paris, was envy and judgment two of the most dangerous things. 'But then you hear about her trauma and her life and her buying into this persona. Ultimately, I told her, "I'm really sorry that I judged you". 'I wanted her to be safe and comfortable. I told her I wasn't looking for a "gotcha" moment. I want a "got you" moment, where we get you.' Cooling off: Living up to her image she carried a bright bright pink fan to cool off as she escorted through the crow Security: She was flanked by a dozen security personel Snap: She grabbed snaps of the crowd from the back of her car Party time: Paris took to her Instagram Stories to share with her followers her lavish trip to promote her fragrance Judgement:It comes after Meghan Markle admitted she apologised to Paris for 'judging' her based on her looks and success after learning about her 'trauma' on her podcast On the podcast, Paris revealed she 'built' her 'Barbie doll' persona as a way to escape her traumatic teenage years at a Utah boarding school. Meghan said she wanted listeners to think about whether they could 'forgive' Paris after learning about how she was 'misrepresented' and see a more 'humanised' side to her. 'That episode is not framed as a defense of Paris; it's the humanization of her. And that's true for everybody,' she said. 'I don't care what situation you're in if a 16-year-old boy or girl, or a woman in the workplace, feels objectified or dehumanized because their character is misrepresented, I hope everyone listening with an open mind could come away thinking, "Could I just actually consider for a second that there's a person there?" Public image: Meghan said she grew up as 'the smart one' and was 'envious' of Paris and 'judged' her based on her looks and success, before learning about the 'trauma' in her life 'I've done a lot of internal work I'm from California, it's in the water and whether you're exercising or meditating, you're sometimes asked to picture a person that makes you angry. 'You think about them, you get it all out, and then you're asked to think about them as a 6-year-old child. Can you forgive them? That's how I contextually approach that.' Paris has alleged that she was 'verbally, mentally and physically abused' during her two years at Provo Canyon School after being sent to the institution by her parents when she was a rebellious teen. Speaking to Meghan about those years, Paris called it 'the most painful and horrific experience of my life,' explaining how 'it really just took away my childhood'. Hard times: Paris has alleged that she was 'verbally, mentally and physically abused' during her two years at Provo Canyon School (she is pictured in 2001) Iconic: Paris it was at the age of 22 when she landed her reality show The Simple Life alongside her best friend Nicole Richie that her 'Barbie doll' persona 'went into full force' She said that the only thing that kept her going during that time was thinking about who she was going to be when she left. 'I just promising myself and saying, "I'm going to work so hard and become so successful that no one will ever be able to control me ever again".' 'And in there, I started kind of building this fantasy Life and this kind of Barbie doll character,' she continued. 'I guess, just to not think about pain and just to think about, oh, unicorns and butterflies and Barbie dolls and pink and sparkles.' She went on to explain that it was at the age of 22 when she landed her iconic reality show The Simple Life alongside her best friend Nicole Richie that the persona 'went into full force.' Opening up: But she never expected the show and therefore her persona to last, pointing out that she thought The Simple Life would only last one season 'The producers just said we want Nicole to be the troublemaker and Paris, we want you to be the rich dumb blonde and that's when I started like really playing into that character'. 'During that time it was encouraged to be dumb and bubbly. I look at it now and I'm like, I think it's so much cooler to be smart and intelligent, but back then it was almost like they wanted.' She added that the character was also 'a mask' to protect herself from the media attention the show bought her. But she never expected the show and therefore her persona to last, pointing out that she thought The Simple Life would only last one season, and not the five it went on to air. Nerves: Meghan began her chat with Paris by telling listeners that she was nervous about interviewing Paris because she'd 'had a judgment' about the socialite 'I almost got stuck and lost in the character and at some point it was like lines got blurred and it was like I forgot who I was,' she said. 'And it makes me sad because I used to be such a free spirit and I was not so closed off, and I feel like with just so many things that have happened to me over the years I just closed off in ways in my mind and I wish that it didn't happen. Going through trauma and life really really affects you.' The Duchess replied: 'I think it's so sad you don't even get the opportunity - it makes me emotional even thinking about it - you don't get the opportunity to start to think about the woman you want to be with a blank slate, so then you come out into the world and they cast you in this thing that you end up feeling trapped.' Paris said that with the release of her recent documentary This Is Paris and her advocacy work 'people are finally seeing the other side...I love being underestimated.' Ryan Seacrest has been seen for the first time since he revealed a week ago he had come down with COVID-19. The morning show star looked healthy on Tuesday in a gay coat with a polka dot scarf around his neck in New York City. The 47-year-old The Kardashians producer was with his 24-year-old model girlfriend Aubrey Paige. Happy: Ryan Seacrest looked to be in high spirits as he stepped out with girlfriend Aubrey Paige in NYC on Tuesday The American Idol host and his gorgeous love both donned black square-shaped sunglasses while out in the Big Apple. Ryan made sure to bundle up for the fall weather, keeping warm with his stylish coat and scarf combination. Underneath his outer layers the charming TV host wore a denim button-up shirt, which peeked out from beneath his jacket. Finishing the sleek look, he wore indigo blue jeans and dark brown dress shoes. Million dollar smile: The longtime media personality, 47, flashed his megawatt smile while accompanying the model for a walk His girlfriend, who he began dating in 2021, was autumn-chic in a brown cable knit sweater with a turtleneck and subtle lantern sleeves. She wore a pair of medium wash jeans, which cropped at her ankles, showing off her clean white sneakers. The beauty, who hails from Binghamton, NY, pulled her brunette hair into a bouncing ponytail set at the top of her head. Draping a small black purse over her torso, Aubrey smiled alongside her beau as she walked her dog. Matching: The American Idol host and his gorgeous love both donned black square-shaped sunglasses while out in the Big Apple Ryan appears to have made a full recovery from the infectious disease, which he confirmed he had in a tweet earlier this month. He wrote to his fans on Twitter, 'I don't know how I avoided it for so long but unfortunately I tested positive for COVID-19 a few days ago and I'm currently in quarantine.' The talent typically is busy co-hosting his daytime show Live With Kelly And Ryan, anchoring American Idol, plus his radio show On Air With Ryan Seacrest. He continued in the announcement, 'While I'm feeling the usual symptoms, I hope to make a quick recovery.' All better: Ryan appears to have made a full recovery from Covid-19, which he confirmed he had in a tweet earlier this month The Dunwoody, GA native added: 'I'll be in bed watching tv this week so please let me know if you have any recommendations (especially for any foodie shows!)' Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, he shared a carousel of content from his days in isolation with his 6.1 million followers. In the first image the handsome star held up a large jar of chicken noodle soup in front of his face. Sick days: Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, he shared a carousel of content from his days in isolation with his 6.1 million followers Seacrest wrote in the caption, 'My days in quarantine. Thank you to everyone who sent soups, sardines, and get well wishes.' Another snapshot showed the showbiz vet in a pair of clear eyeglasses with four cups of soup set in front of him. He sported a shadow of a graying beard and wore a blue zip-up sweatshirt. Likes poured in from his loyal fanbase, with some leaving comments asking him to take his time recovering. Tom Hardy got to grips with his role as a gangster with help from a convicted criminal once known as the 'Godfather of London'. The actor, 45, starred as infamous criminal brothers Ronnie and Reggie Kray in the 2015 film Legend and received advice from former Kray hitman Freddie Foreman. The twin brothers were key figures in organised crime in London during the 1950s and 60s, responsible for murder, armed robbery, arson and assaults. Advice: Tom Hardy got to grips with his role as a gangster with help from a convicted criminal once known as the 'Godfather of London' Freddie, 90, who was also nicknamed Brown Bread Fred during his crime career, told how he helped Tom learn about the brothers. Speaking to The Mirror, he said: 'I helped him get into character. Reggie always had a quizzical look on his face and he had to get that right. 'He used to be suspicious of everything and was looking around all the time. I sat down with Tom and helped him out as he needed some pointers.' When Freddie visited the set, he was blown away by Tom's transformation into Ronnie, saying it was like being in the room with the real man. Roles: The actor, 45, starred as infamous criminal brothers Ronnie and Reggie Kray int the 2015 film Legend and received help from former Kray hitman Freddie Foreman He said: 'I went down to the set and there he was stood in front of me as Ronnie. And he nailed him off to a tee. I told him "It is scary here talking to you, it is scary". It was like being with Ronnie.' Freddie was involved in the disposal of the body of Jack 'The Hat' McVitie - who was killed by Reggie Kray - for which he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for. He was later sentenced to nine years in prison for handling proceeds from the Security Express robbery in Shoreditch in 1983, the largest cash robbery in the UK at the time. In his autobiography, Freddie also admitted to the murders of Frank 'Mad Axeman' Mitchell and Tommy 'Ginger' Marks during the 1960s. Help: Freddie, 90, (pictured) who was also nicknamed Brown Bread Fred during his crime career, told how he helped Tom learn about the brothers The Kray twins were arrested in 1968 with each of them sentenced to life imprisonment the following year. Legend was not the only time Tom has portrayed a real-life criminal as he previously played Charles Bronson in the 2008 film Bronson. More recently in 2020, he played the notorious American gangster Al Capone in Capone opposite Linda Cardellini and Matt Dillon. Ricky Gervais has poked fun at James Corden with a cheeky retweet after he was banned from a top New York City restaurant by its owner for being rude to his staff. The Gavin and Stacey star was the centre of much controversy after Balthazar owner Keith McNally revealed he'd barred the actor for being abusive to his staff on two occasions, but has since lifted the ban after he 'profusely apologised.' Now Ricky, who has never shied away from being outspoken on social media, has taken to Twitter to retweet a clip from his own Netflix series Afterlife, where his character scoffs at the idea of James being a guest at a dream dinner party. Naughty! Ricky Gervais has poked fun at James Corden with a cheeky retweet after he was banned from a top New York City restaurant by its owner for being rude to his staff In the clip, Ricky's character Tony is chatting to his colleague Kath (played by Diane Morgan) who is discussing who she would choose to attend her dream dinner party. Among those on her list is James, saying he 'never stops working' and they could take part in Carpool Karaoke, leading Tony to roll his eyes and say: 'F**k me!' The user posted the clip with the caption: 'James f*****g Corden @afterlife. Worst. Dinner party. Ever.' Drama: The star was the centre of much controversy after Balthazar owner Keith McNally revealed he'd barred the actor for being abusive to his staff, but has since lifted the ban Ricky later appeared to react to a separate post from a user who was also mocking James, responding to someone who appeared to take offence to it. The online user said: 'I'm sorry, but when you're as talented as James Corden you get to treat people however the f*** you want. 'That's the price we pay for the undeniable magic he brings to the table. And I'd gladly pay it, and so would all of you. He's THAT good.' Ricky then reacted to a now-deleted response from an apparently-outraged user, saying: 'I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure it was sarcasm.' Amusing: Now Ricky has taken to Twitter to retweet a clip from his own Netflix series Afterlife, where his character scoffs at the idea of James being a guest at a dream dinner party Quip: Ricky later appeared to react to a separate post from a user who was also mocking James, responding to someone who appeared to take offence to it The saga began on Monday when McNally, who has a colorful history of booting out celebrities from his exclusive restaurants, claimed Corden behaved badly at his former restaurant, Cafe Luxembourg, on several occasions and left one server 'shaken'. However, Keith later took to Instagram to reveal James' ban was lifted after he called him and 'profusely apologised.' Posting an update to Instagram, Keith said: 'James Corden just called me and apologized profusely.' Restaurateur Keith McNally, 71, banned the Late Late Show host James from his restaurants because of his 'extremely nasty' treatment of staff - only to rescind the ban hours later Declaring that 'all was forgiven', he said: 'Having f**ked up myself more than most people, I strongly believe in second chances. So if James Corden lets me host his Late Late Show for 9 months, Ill immediately rescind his ban from Balthazar. 'No, of course not. But... anyone magnanimous enough to apologise to a deadbeat layabout like me (and my staff) doesnt deserve to be banned from anywhere.' Earlier on Monday, McNally had posted two separate examples of Corden's 'extremely nasty' behavior at Balthazar, the French brasserie. Impassionated: Keith shared lengthy accounts of James' treatment of staff on Instagram The 71-year-old started his post by calling the funnyman a 'hugely gifted comedian', before laying into Corden. The furious owner said that he '86'd' the star - which means you have been banned - and claims Corden found a hair in his main course when dining there in June, before demanding free drinks for the mistake. He said: 'After eating his main course, Corden showed the hair to Balthazar manager G. who was very apologetic. 'Corden was extremely nasty to G, and said: 'Get us another round of drinks this second. And also take care of all of our drinks so far. This way I write any nasty reviews in yelp or anything like that.'' Second chance! However, McNally later returned to Instagram to claim James had called him to 'profusely apologisem' and the ban had now been lifted In a second incident McNally claims that Corden was dining with his wife, Julia Carey, at the eatery on October 9 for brunch. He says that Corden asked for a table outside, and Carey ordered an egg yolk omelette with a salad. The couple complained to the server that there was 'a little bit of egg white mixed with the egg yolk' and sent the dish back. McNally added: 'The kitchen remade the dish but unfortunately sent it with home fries instead of salad. 'That's when James Corden began yelling like crazy to the server: 'You can't do your job! You can't do your job! Maybe I should go into the kitchen and cook the omelette myself!' 'M.K (server) was very apologetic and brought G. (floor manager) over to the table. Woes: Corden and his wife Julia Carey were accused of sending back an egg yolk omelette because it had a 'little bit of egg white' in it while dining at the plush restaurant 'He returned the dish, and after that, everything was fine. He gave them promo Champagne glasses to smooth things out. 'G. said that Corden was pleasant to him but nasty to the server. M.K. was very shaken, but professional that she is, continued to finish her shift.' Corden will not stay on at The Late Late Show after his current contract ends next year - a decision that was made earlier this year, long before the Balthazar saga. DailyMail.com reached out to a representative for James Corden for comment at the time. Corden is well known for his provocative and at times strange behavior. In 2017, as the Harvey Weinstein scandal was just being published, Corden joked made fun of the rapist's victims. 'It has been weird this week watching Harvey Weinstein in hot water,' he told a gala in New York City. 'Ask any of the women who watched him take a bath, it's weird watching Harvey Weinstein in hot water.' Swanky: Balthazar in New York's Soho is a much loved celebrity haunt (pictured in April 2021) He later apologized, tweeting: 'To be clear, sexual assault is no laughing matter. I was not trying to make light of Harvey's inexcusable behavior, but to shame him, the abuser, not his victims. I am truly sorry for anyone offended, that was never my intention.' At the end of 2019, he ridiculed the technical team behind the film Cats, in which he starred. 'I haven't seen it, I've heard it's terrible,' he told a British radio show, and then told the Oscars audience while presenting an award: 'As cast members of the motion picture Cats, nobody more than us understands the importance of good visual effects.' In September 2021, while promoting his film Cinderella, he dressed as a mouse and danced in a road, thrusting his groin at bemused drivers. Corden was accompanied by Camila Cabello, who plays the lead role, and Billy Porter, as a character called Fab G. At one point Corden seemed to take a drag on what looked like a spliff, before dancing some more. In July this year, he was knocked off his bicycle in London by a fellow cyclist, who swerved in front of him on busy Regent's Street, nearly pushing Corden into a car. Odd: In September 2021, while promoting his film Cinderella on his Late Late Show, James dressed as a mouse and danced in a road, thrusting his groin at bemused drivers The comedian was furious, and loudly berated the young bike ride who cut him up. McNally, in turn, has previous form for banning 'rude' celebrities from his restaurant if he believes their behavior isn't up to scratch. He ripped into former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter last year after he made a reservation at his plush Morandi restaurant but failed to show up. In February 2021 he defended Ghislaine Maxwell, in jail awaiting trial for sex trafficking with Jeffrey Epstein, and insisted she was 'currently innocent'. He then praised Woody Allen and Soon-Yi for appearing at Balthazar, captioning a picture of them at his restaurant: 'I've never been as happy at Balthazar as I was last night to see the beautiful Soon-Yi and her husband dining there.' Screen star: Tony-award winning Corden has risen to fame over the past ten years after moving across the pond, and becoming famed for his cheeky smile and stream of A list pals Emily Ratajkowski looked giddy as she attended an event in New York City on Monday- days after debuting her new romance with DJ Orazio Rispo. The model, 31, looked stunning in a dove grey blouse, which revealed a hint of her cleavage, paired with a statement gold necklace as she was interviewed for the New Era in Audio event during the Big Apple's Advertising Week. Emily's giddy appearance was in stark contrast to her estranged husband Sebastian McClard's somber demeanor as he stepped out with the former couple's son Sylvester, 19 months on Wednesday. Lots to smile about: Emily Ratajkowski looked giddy as she atttended an event in New York City on Monday- days after debuting her new romance with DJ Orazio Rispo Emily's outing came just three days after she was seen passionately kissing 35-year-old Orazio during a passionate date night. Sebastian, 41, wrapped up in a tan jacket tee and joggers as held Sylvester on his shoulders while chatting to a friend. On Tuesday, DailyMail.com exclusively the identity of Emily's new love. Like Emily's ex Sebastian, Orazio was born and raised in New York. He has worked as a DJ for two decades; he also owned and operated a record shop in Brooklyn, called Halcyon Record Shop, until it closed in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile: Emily's giddy appearance was in stark contrast to her estranged husband Sebastian McClard's somber demeanor as he stepped out with the former couple's son Sylvester, 19 months on Wednesday Lip lock: On Friday. the model was seen packing on the PDA with the hunky DJ Smile: The star showed off her pearly whites as she took her seat Lots to talk about: Emily couldn't stop smiling as she took to the stage Post split: Sebastian, 41, wrapped up in a tan jacket tee and joggers as held Sylvester on his shoulders while chatting to a friend Look over there! Sebastian pointed something out to Sylvester Smile: Sebastian was taking his mind off the split as he spent time with his son Dad time: Sebastian was every inch the doting dad as he stepped out amid ex Emily's new romance Wow: Emily looked radiant as she was seen walking down the street on Monday The model looked happier than ever in the wake of her marital breakdown as she packed on the PDA with Orazio on Friday evening. The pair was seen giggling with one another, locking lips, starring into each other's eyes, and sharing a romantic embrace as they strolled through Manhattan, after enjoying an alfresco dinner date. The mother-of-one - who was recently rumored to be dating Brad Pitt, 58 - looked chic in a black, off-the-shoulder top, matching slacks, and red boots, as she chatted with her companion, before the pair climbed onto his motorbike and headed off together. Orazio is the son of realtor Giampiero Rispo, who serves as the founder and president of residential brokerage Domus Realty - which specializes in selling 'luxury real estate in New York City.' Glow: The model showed off her radiant complexion Business chic: She paired this with black trousers and boosted her height with stiletto heels Stunning: Emily looked as radiant as ever as she strolled in the Big Applke New romance: Emily looked as chic as ever as she walked Cheeky: Emily posed in a thong bikini in some snaps from her Inamorata range on Wednesday 'Since founding Domus in 1986, Giampiero has developed an industry-wide reputation for his integrity, creativity, and artful negotiation style,' his bio on LinkedIn reads. 'As principal of Domus, Giampiero fulfills the dual role of wealth manager and expert real estate adviser. Drawing on his extensive background in finance, business and real estate, Giampieros primary goal is to strategically invest and manage his clients assets in the real estate market in the most rewarding and hassle-free way possible. He is particularly skilled in working with celebrities and foreign buyers and investors, and the majority of his transactions involve off market properties for clients with discriminating taste and high standards for privacy.' Multiple sources have confirmed Orazio's identity to DailyMail.com Some of the homes he is currently selling, according to his website, include a $7.6 million apartment building in the upper east side with 12 units and a $6.5 million two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo in Soho. Orazio's dad is also the director of an undergarment company called BANDEBRA - which sells 'natural, organic, comfortable, and sexy alternatives to bras.' It was reported by one Instagram account that Orazio is cousins with GCDS designer Giuliano Calza, who boasts a slew of celebrity friends including Dua Lipa, Nicola Beckham-Peltz, and Elsa Hosk. Guliano attended the September wedding of Orazio's brother, which Orazio officiated. The artist is a registered democrat and studied political science at Columbia University. He wore a green jacket over a yellow tee for the outing with Emily, which he paired with a pair of loose, gray jeans and black sneakers. The apparent new couple were seen dining at an outdoor restaurant, where they laughed and smiled as they enjoyed their food and some cocktails; Emily was even pictured lovingly touching his face during the date night. Ex: Emily split from husband Sebastian in July - the pair are pictured with son Sylvester It's unclear how or when Emily and Orazio first met, but it appears that they've known each other for a while, as it was reported that they were seen grabbing dinner together during Milan Fashion Week last September. DailyMail.com has reached out to Emily's representatives for comment. News hit the web that Emily had split from her husband of four years, Sebastian, in July. At the time, it was reported that the model had made the decision to leave her film producer husband, 41, over claims that he was a 'serial cheater.' A source told Page Six at the time, 'It's gross. He's a dog.' Comedian and social media influencer Claudia Oshry also spoke out about the situation during an episode of The Morning Toast podcast, in which she claimed Sebastian's infidelity was an open secret in the industry. Like Emily's ex Sebastian, Orazio was born and raised in New York 'It's, like, known that her husband has cheated on her and they're filing for divorce,' she said, adding that when the couple officially confirms their separation, it will not come as a surprise to anyone. Emily, who shares a one-year-old son with Sebastian, named Sylvester Apollo Bear, then filed for divorce in September. In the wake of her divorce proceedings, there had been talk that Emily was involved in a romance with Brad, but she seemed to shut these rumors down with her very public display of affection with Orazio. In late August, OK magazine claimed that Brad was getting close to Emily, with a source explaining: 'He asked her out, and she said yes. Shes always thought Brad was cute, and the way she saw it, what did she have to lose?' But a separate insider told magazine earlier this month that while the two stars were 'having fun' together, it wasn't anything serious. 'The split was very rough for her,' the source stated. 'It was unexpected and devastating. It's the perfect timing right now. There is nothing like Brad Pitt cheering you up.' He has worked as a DJ for two decades Emily and Sebastian, who is best known for producing movies Uncut Gems, Good Time, and Funny Pages, were first linked on Valentine's Day in February 2018 - one month after news had hit the web that she had split from her boyfriend Jeff Magid after three years together. At the time, the pair was spotted packing on the PDA in Los Angeles, California. It's unclear how they met, but an insider told Us Weekly at the time that they had known each other 'for years.' Just days after their first spotting, news hit the web that they had tied the knot in a New York City courthouse on February 23, 2018. Emily then confirmed the news via Instagram, writing, 'Sooo, I have a surprise, I got married today.' Orazio (pictured) is the son of realtor Giampiero Rispo, who serves as the founder and president of residential brokerage Domus Realty - which specializes in selling 'luxury real estate in New York City' She later told Jimmy Fallon on his show, The Tonight Show, that she only took '30 seconds' to decide she wanted to marry the producer. 'I thought about it for about 30 seconds,' she joked. 'It was a city hall courthouse wedding. I guess I didnt know what I always wanted to do, which is maybe why it was so untraditional.' Emily and Sebastian's whirlwind relationship timeline Feb 13, 2018: Emily and Sebastian make their first public appearance as a couple after being in the same friend group for years. Feb 23, 2018: Just two weeks later, they tie the knot in a civil ceremony. March 2018: The two enjoy a delayed honeymoon in Canyon Point, Utah. April 2018: Emily shares their proposal story, revealing he proposed in Minetta Tavern and made a ring out of the paper clip from their bill. Feb 2019: The model pays tribute to their one-year anniversary by showing off her real two-stone engagement ring and wedding band. March 2019: Sebastian becomes embroiled in a real estate scandal with his landlord claiming he owed $120,000 in rent and Emily came to his defense. May 2019: The two become dog parents to an adorable Husky-German Shepherd named Colombo. Oct 2020: Emily reveals that she and Sebastian are expecting their first child together. March 2021: Emily gives birth to their son, Sylvester Apollo Bear. May 2022: The two attend Entourage muse Ari Emanuel and designer Sarah Staudinger's star-studded wedding together. June 2022: Emily and Sebastian's last sighting together soaking up sun on the beach in Porto Ercole, Italy. Advertisement They made their red carpet debut in March of that year, while attending the 33rd Annual Film Independent Spirit Awards together, and the two looked like the epitome of marital bliss at the event. 'Emily looked so in love with her husband. She kept staring at him, smiling and was touching his face a lot,' an onlooker told E! News. 'Emily rested her head on his shoulder and looked truly happy.' Their four-year romance was plagued with scandal and controversy, starting with the fact that they had wed after only a few days together. The pair received a lot of backlash online for the whirlwind romance, and Emily later defended their decision to get married so quickly, explaining during an appearance on Busy Tonight that their relationship had been building for a long time before they started dating. The model was pictured moving her stuff out of the New York City apartment that she previously shared with Sebastian last month. As movers removed her furniture, artwork, clothing, and other belongings from the home, Emily was seen carrying out a plant. Emily and Sebastian, who is best known for producing movies Uncut Gems, Good Time, and Funny Pages, were first linked on Valentine's Day in February 2018 - one month after news had hit the web that she had split from her boyfriend Jeff Magid after three years together. 'We knew each other for a long time before,' she explained. 'He likes to joke, "Yeah everyone thinks we got married quickly, but you vetted me for two years."' Neither Emily nor Sebastian have made any public comments in regards to the status of their marriage as of yet. They were last spotted together in mid-June while on vacation in Italy, and appeared in good spirits as they relaxed on Porto Ercole beach together. The couple was also among the many celebrity guests at Ari Emanuel's wedding to Sarah Staudinger in St. Tropez in late May. She first sparked breakup rumors in July, when she was seen going for a stroll in New York with the couple's son, and was not wearing her wedding ring. The model was pictured moving her stuff out of the New York City apartment that she previously shared with Sebastian last month. As movers removed her furniture, artwork, clothing, and other belongings from the home, Emily was seen carrying out a plant. Iman has revealed she turned down work when she first moved to the United States as she was getting paid less that white models. The supermodel, 67, who was born in Somalia, broke into the industry during the 1970s and recalled a conversation that she had with her agent at the time. Iman told TheWrap: 'When I arrived here, one of the things that I was confronted with was that there was a discrepancy in pay between black models and white models, I couldn't understand it.' Shocking: Iman, 67, has revealed she turned down work when she first moved to the Untied States as she was getting paid less that white models (pictured April 2022) Recalling a conversation with her agent, Iman continued: 'I said to her, "I want to be paid for services rendered, which means simply, I want to be paid for the same job she's doing."' The star, who was married to the late music icon David Bowie, explained: 'I understood right there and then I was barely 19-years-old, that image is my currency in this industry.' Iman founded her own cosmetic line, Iman Cosmetic, in 1994 to make sure she had protection in the fashion industry as a black model. Speaking out: The supermodel, 67, who was born in Somalia, broke into the industry during the 1970s and recalled a conversation that she had with her agent at the time Throwback: Recalling a conversation with her agent, Iman continued: 'I said to her, "I want to be paid for for the same job she's doing"' (Pictured in 1975) She explained how she often face difficulties when arriving on set as makeup artists failed to cater for her skin tone. Iman says that the fashion industry has made progress in terms of racial equality but warned that there is still more to be done as she recalled a minuscule number of black models being used in shows in 2013 and urged people to 'not take the foot off the gas'. It comes as the cover model appeared on CBS This Morning to with host Gayle King, 67, to speak about the new documentary Supreme Models. Documentary: It comes as the cover model appeared on the CBS This Morning news show to speak about the new documentary Supreme Models Iman is an executive producer on the six-part series, which is being streamed on YouTube Originals. The show tells the stories of black models who shattered barriers and made their own impact on fashion and beauty standards. Iman helped form The Black Girls Coalition in 1988 with fellow models Bethann Hardison and Naomi Campbell. She served as an executive producer on the docu-series. Frustrated: Iman shared one of her own frustrating experiences revealing that on her first modeling job the makeup artist didn't have any foundation to match her complexion 'When I was approached by the directors at YouTube about this docu-series, I was like, "What are you guys bringing to the table that has not been said before?" and they said, "There's never been a documentary about black models, or black beauty, for that matter." That made sense to the Global Chic founder who said she came on board so 'we could tell our own stories.' During the interview, Iman shared one of her own frustrating experiences from her early days in the business. 'The first job that I booked was American Vogue, literally the third day I arrived in New York, and I had never worn makeup before,' she revealed. Makeup: Iman now has her makeup done with ease. She created Iman Cosmetics to provide options for Women of Color She recalled the makeup artist hired for the shoot was working on a Caucasian model 'and then when he approached me, he said, "Did you bring your own foundation?" because he didn't have anything for me.' After some two decades of posing for photos and strolling the catwalk, the savvy businesswoman created Iman Cosmetics, based on her experience mixing up her own formulations for makeup artists. 'I definitely did create my own cosmetics because... in fashion, image is my currency, so how I look in magazines, how I look in pictures, it's really, truly what they want and so I wanted to have some control over that.' Flawless: After some two decades of posing for photos and strolling the catwalk, the savvy businesswoman created Iman Cosmetics, based on her experience Iman said she used her skills as a political science major to get rid of what she called 'tokenism' in the fashion industry which pitted one black model against another for the top jobs. 'They created the idea that you have dethroned the other black model so you can have some space,' she said of her early days as a model. 'I come from that mentality, that as a group, as a tribe, we're more powerful that singularly. So, I teamed up with Beverly Johnson and we became best friends... and we got rid of that tokenism immediately.' 'Instead of calling out people or designers, I wanted to call them in, so they can understand what was going on.' Naomi Watts did not get her big break until her thirties when she starred in the indie hit film Mulholland Drive in 2001. Soon after the beauty was warned that she would not be working as much in her forties, which at the time were just around the corner, she told the special issue of InStyle. But now at the age of 54, the actress is the star of Netflix's biggest hit The Watcher, about a family that moves into their dream home only to be stalked. Bad warning: Naomi Watts didn't get her break in her thirties until she starred in the indie hit film Mulholland Drive in 2001 Soon after the beauty was warned that she would not be working as much in her forties, which at the time were just around the corner, she told the November issue of InStyle A lovely look: The star has been doing very well in her fifties as an actress with many hits like the new series The Watcher Watts was candid about how she got a late start in Hollywood. 'My career didn't really start until my early thirties; that was when Mulholland Drive came out,' she said. 'At that time, I was also being told your career would be over around your forties.' But the warning was off base. While in her forties, Watts starred in some of her biggest hits including Fair Game (2010), Dream House (2011) and The Impossible (2012). Dumb advice: Watts was candid about how she got a late start in Hollywood. 'My career didn't really start until my early thirties; that was when Mulholland Drive came out,' she said. 'At that time, I was also being told your career would be over around your forties' Now she is in one of her most successful projects of all time at the age of 54. The actress is starring in the Netflix mini-series The Watcher. The show is based on the true story of a New Jersey couple, Derek and Maria Broaddus, who moved to their dream home in 2014 only to be spooked by an onslaught of menacing anonymous letters. Naomi plays Maria in the Ryan Murphy-helmed limited series, while Bobby Cannavale, 51, stars opposite her in the role of Derek. A big deal: The British-Australian actress is the star of Netflix's biggest hit The Watcher about a family that moves into their dream home only to be stalked. Seen with Bobby Cannavale Also in the new issue of InStyle, the siren said there have been times when she was 'close' to getting plastic surgery. She said she has strongly considered going under the knife in the past and has also done 'plenty of research' on the subject. In her latest film, Goodnight Mommy, Watts' character has her face completely bandaged after a cosmetic surgery procedure, leading her young sons to believe their own mother may have been replaced by a monster. Now and then: Seen left this months and right in 2011. She has said that she has gotten close to getting plastic surgery When asked if she would consider going under the knife, she said: 'I've done plenty of research and have gotten close at times and thought about doing it. 'And that's not to say that I won't one day. If I knew I could look great and just like myself but less tired, I'd happily do what needs to be done,' she added. Watts explained that surgery is a personal choice and nothing to be ashamed of. 'I don't think we should ever shame anyone who's made that choice because everyone should approach it at their own level,' she said. Watts has two children, Kai and Sasha, with actor Liev Schreiber. She now dates Billy Crudup. Lizzie Cundy looked sensational in a white ensemble as she headed to the beauty salon in Weybridge on Wednesday. The former WAG, 54, seemed in high spirits as she arrived at the skin care clinic in her lavish green G wagon. She showed off her incredible figure in a pair of white skinny jeans which she teamed with a coordinated top. Looking good: Lizzie Cundy looked sensational in a white ensemble as she headed to the beauty salon in Weybridge on Wednesday Lizzie added a cropped denim jacket to the stylish number and added a pop of colour to her look by elevating her frame in a pair of hot pink stud heels. She accessorised her outfit with a long gold pendant necklace and hid behind an eye catching pair of sunglasses. The TV personality completed her glamorous day ensemble by styling her long highlighted tresses poker straight. Amazing: The former WAG, 54, seemed in high spirits as she arrived at the skin care clinic in her lavish green G wagon Stylish: She showed off her incredible figure in a pair of white skinny jeans which she teamed with a coordinated top Lizzie was greeted at the door by a beautician as she lifted one leg in the air posing for nearby cameras. She was all smiles as she departed holding a bag as she made her way back to her luxury car. The appearance comes after Lizzie revealed that she feels like a 'new woman' after undergoing a vagina tightening procedure at a top London clinic. Glamorous: Lizzie added a cropped denim jacket to the stylish number and added a pop of colour to her look by elevating her frame in a pair of hot pink stud heels The television personality even went on to admit that following the tune up she is now having the best sex of her life. Speaking to Closer she said: 'I feel like a new woman with my super vagina! It's so tight, it squeaks when I walk - I can barely sit down.' The non invasive procedure uses lasers to help increase collagen in the vaginal walls which will then tighten and improve sensation during sex. Fashionista: She accessorised her outfit with a long gold pendant necklace and hid behind an eye catching pair of sunglasses Incredible: The TV personality completed her glamorous day ensemble by styling her long highlighted tresses poker straight She went on to say: 'I've always felt young for my age and now I have a vagina to match. I only date younger men and they're flocking for a date. 'I'll be treating my vagina like a temple now... worship away, boys! I've been seeing someone recently and I'm sure they can feel the difference. I'm having the best sex of my life,' concluded Lizzie. A source told MailOnline that Lizzie has been dating an American restaurant director who recently flew in to London from Miami just to see her. Sensational: Lizzie was greeted at the door by a beautician as she lifted one leg in the air posing for nearby cameras High spirits: She was all smiles as she departed holding a bag as she made her way back to her luxury car Glamorous: The former WAG flashed a bright white manicure and a dazzling ring as she carried her phone and purchases The one-hour outpatient surgical procedure is designed to enhance sexual gratification by increasing friction. Healing is quick and you can resume normal activity in a few days to weeks. A wand type instrument attached to a laser is inserted in to the vagina and is performed while the patient is awake and is relatively painless. This stimulates collagen (which gives tissues tone and elasticity) production, as well as increasing fluid production by enhancing blood flow. Jessica Alves oozed confidence as she left the PinkNews Awards in London on Wednesday. The TV personality, 39, showed off her dangerous curves in a daring hip-high leg split dress that left little to the imagination. Jessica strutted her stuff as she left the event, which was held at The Church House in Westminster. Oozing confidence! Jessica Alves strutted her stuff in a daring hip-high leg split dress as she left the PinkNews Awards in London on Wednesday Jessica's frock featured long sleeves, a cut-out over the bust and a leg split. Her dress was silver in colour and featured an embellished jewel design. Jessica made sure to turn heads in the fitted gown that fell to the ground with a dramatic train. Leaving little to the imagination: The TV personality, 39, showed off her dangerous curves in a daring hip-high leg split dress that left little to the imagination Keeping company: Earlier on in the evening, she was seen making her way inside the event with a male friend, who looked dapper in a suit and bow tie She elevated her frame with a pair of grey suede heels and carried a matching glitzy box clutch bag. To complete her striking look, Jessica wore her platinum blonde locks in a sleek style that tumbled past her waist and added a glamorous makeup look. Earlier on in the evening, she was seen making her way inside the event with a male friend, who looked dapper in a suit and bow tie. She was also seen posing up a storm as she hit the red carpet, looking nothing short of glamorous. Turning heads: Jessica, 39, dazzled in her busty cut-out dress as she hit the red carpet at the event Show-stopping: The TV personality flaunted her curves in the sequin embellished number that featured a very daring hip-high leg split Glamorous: She was also seen posing up a storm as she hit the red carpet, looking nothing short of glamorous. Pictured with Anthony James The PinkNews Awards aims to recognise the incredible contributions of those who campaign for LGBTQ+ equality worldwide. The outing comes after Jessica opened up on her 'disappointing' experience of dating as single trans woman and the 'attention' she gets on OnlyFans. The Brazilian bombshell exclusively spoke to MailOnline about her quest to find love, sharing her heartache that men only want to have a sexual experience with her and are 'put off' when she mentions her desire to start a family. Jessica claimed that people are scared and 'intimidated' by her new look, insisting that people will realise she's a 'kind soul' once they get to know her. A good cause: The PinkNews Awards aims to recognise the incredible contributions of those who campaign for LGBTQ+ equality worldwide Red carpet ready: To complete her striking look, Jessica wore her platinum blonde locks in a sleek straightened style that tumbled past her waist and added a glamorous makeup look Glam: Her makeup was complete with a nude lined lip, a winged eye and fake eye lashes The star has spent nearly 1million on almost 80 surgeries, undergoing sex reassignment surgery in 2021 after coming out as transgender in 2020. But despite putting every effort into transforming her look, Jessica shared that she still finds it difficult to make a proper connection with men. She explained: 'I think that I tend to intimidate people due to my looks. But once they get to know me they see that I am a nice, kind soul. Stepping out: Dr Ranj Singh was pictured at the event Lady in red! Politician Emily Thornberry looked chic in a red silk dress as she hit the red carpet Candid: The outing comes after Jessica opened up on her 'disappointing' experience of dating as single trans woman and the 'attention' she gets on OnlyFans 'I get a lot of attention from men when I am out in public, on my Instagram and on my OnlyFans, but I am still a single woman.' While she feels that she's 'completed' her transformation into the woman she's always wanted to be, Jessica once again shared her yearning for the two things missing in her life - a husband and children. 'It has been hard to find the Prince Charming who will eventually marry me and build a family with me. Most men that I have met are just after fun and when I talk about having kids etc they get put off.' A woman who claimed that the comedian Chris D'Elia threatened to leak explicit videos featuring her has been denied a permanent restraining order against him. Caroline Schmitz had her request for a permanent protective order shut down by a judge on Wednesday after previously being granted a temporary restraining order against the 42-year-old comedian, TMZ reported. Despite her claims, D'Elia claimed last month via his attorney that he had never met the woman. Shot down: Caroline Schmitz, who accused comedian Chris D'Elia of sending her threatening messages, was denied a permanent restraining order on Wednesday, TMZ reported; seen in 2019 D'Elia was spotted at a Los Angeles courthouse on Wednesday while accompanied by his attorney Andrew Brettler. Schmitz did not attend the hearing, though it is unclear if her no-show status impacted the judge's decision to deny the permanent restraining order. In court documents obtained last month by TMZ, Schmitz previously alleged that the comedian and actor had sent her threatening messages. In the documents, she claimed she met D'Elia in 2017 when she was a working comedian, and they allegedly hooked up several times. Restraining order: D'Elia, shown in February 2020 in Pasadena, California, has denied ever meeting the woman, who was a no-show at an LA courthouse on Wednesday The temporary restraining order filing claimed that D'Elia contacted Schmitz in May through OnlyFans, a popular subscription site that is often used by adult content creators. Schmitz alleged that D'Elia was behind an OnlyFans profile that threatened to post intimate videos of her and advised her to leave Los Angeles, according to court documents. 'These accusations are as fantastical as they are defamatory. Chris has never met this person,' D'Elia's attorney Andrew Brettler told TMZ at the time. 'But over the last year, she has sent him increasingly disturbing text and audio messages, including making threats against him and his family. If anyone is going to get a restraining order here, its going to be Chris,' Brettler added. In one rambling, emotional audio message obtained by the outlet, a woman who is alleged to be Schmitz is heard shouting 'I never want to see her' while referring to 'Kristin,' D'Elia's wife. 'Have me killed or leave me the f*** alone I'd die to get the hell away from your evil a**,' she said in a follow-up text message, though it's not clear if any messages D'Elia may have sent to her were obtained. On tape: Although Schmitz accused D'Elia of threatening to leak explicit videos of her, TMZ obtained deranged audio and text messages that she sent him; seen in 2018 in LA D'Elia and animator Kristin Taylor, 30, got married in June in Santa Monica, California. Multiple underage girls accused the comedian in June 2020 of sexual harassment, grooming and solicitation of nude photos. Creative Artists Agency dropped D'Elia as a client due to the allegations, and he was replaced by Tig Notaro, 51, in August 2020 after filming a role for the 2021 zombie heist film Army Of The Dead. D'Elia shared a nearly 10-minute YouTube video in February 2021 in which he claimed that he has 'a problem' and that sex 'controlled' his life. The comedian is currently on tour, with his next show scheduled for Friday in Raleigh, North Carolina. In light of the likelihood that President Xi Jinping will be elected to a third term at the Chinese Communist Party Congress this week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a warning on Monday that China is hastening its plan to annex Taiwan by force. By shifting the strategy toward Taiwan, which China's Communist Party claims as its own but has never controlled, Antony Blinken charged President Xi Jinping for inciting great conflict, as per Daily Mail. Xi Jinping: Taiwan is Important to China's Rejuvenation Blinken claimed that Beijing was resolved to achieve reunification on a much faster pace and that China had fundamentally decided that the status quo was no longer acceptable, though he stated no specific timeframe or estimate. The president stated that Taiwan is crucial to his goals for China's rejuvenation during his opening statement at the twice-decade party congress, which got underway on Sunday and in which President Xi Jinping is generally expected to gain a third term in office. Xi Jinping declared that Beijing had resolutely resisted against separatism and counter-interference on Taiwan within the first few minutes of his address. He also spoke about safeguarding China's integrity and vital interests. During a group discussion with representatives from China's southern Guangxi province on Monday, Xi said: "All Chinese people should stick together as 'a piece of hard steel' under the leadership of the Communist Party of China." China's president said that for the big ship of national rejuvenation to sail over the wind and waves and achieve its objective, China's people must pull together with one thought, according to The Telegraph via MSN. Read Also: North Korea Fires Artillery Shells as Warning to South's Military Drills Amid Increasing Hostilities China's Taiwan Invasion Plan Meanwhile, Xi Jinping made the remarks in Beijing during his opening remarks to the Chinese Community Party Congress. Before 2,300 CPP delegates, who will later vote to give Xi an unprecedented third term as president of China and general secretary of the CCP, he gave a speech. The leader declared China's aspirations, vowing to bolster its armed forces and annex Taiwan. The leader continued by announcing China's total sovereignty over Hong Kong, which for many years had been a haven of democracy because of its past as a British colony. Although there was originally fierce opposition from pro-democracy demonstrators, a Chinese crackdown and reformation of the city's leadership ultimately led to the city's incorporation within the CCP. However, capturing Taiwan, which has operated as a self-governing democracy since separating from the mainland in 1949, presents Xi Jinping's administration with a considerably more difficult issue. Despite nominally not recognizing Taiwan's independence or sovereignty, the US and other Western nations still provide Taiwan with substantial economic and military support. The head of state demanded that China strengthen its armed forces and strategic deterrence capabilities. Using House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's travel to Taiwan as justification, China has already conducted major military exercises in the area surrounding the island. For several weeks in August, Chinese forces gave the impression that they were attempting to invade the island, Fox News reported. Related Article: Lee Zeldin Endorsed by Trump for New York Governor as Democratic Stronghold's Race Tightens @Youtube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Khloe Kardashian called out Kim Kardashian after both the sisters modeled identical Skims bodysuits on their Instagram accounts. A day after Khloe, 38, posted a snap of her wearing the Jelly Sheer Full Bodysuit, Kim, 41, rocked the exact same clinging one-piece to her page. The post didn't go unnoticed by Khloe, who jokingly called her sister a 'b*tch' for copying her look. Familiar curves! Khloe Kardashian called out Kim Kardashian after both the sisters modeled identical Skims bodysuits on their Instagram accounts 'Oh ok well I didn't look like this in mine. Ha,' Khloe commented on Kim's photo before adding an hour later, 'You're a b*tch.' Kim put her most famous asset on display in the onesie from her wildly successful line, which she launched in 2019. The mother-of-four, who turns 42 this month, modeled the outfit in a pair of images posted to her grid on the photo-sharing app. The ex of Kanye West stood with her back facing a floor-to-ceiling mirror as she turned slightly to capture a selfie. 'I didn't look like this in mine': The post didn't go unnoticed by Khloe, who jokingly called her sister a 'b*tch' for copying her look Kim wore the look from her range of undergarments, clothing, and swimwear in the steel blue variety. The ever-fashionable mogul added a pair of suede knee-high boots with a wedge heel to the ensemble. In the photos she carried a tiny metallic silver handbag from Balenciaga, the designer she has worn consistently for the past year. Kardashian's bleach blonde hair was worn down, styled in a center part that revealed her dark roots. Spicy: The mother-of-four modeled the clinging one-piece in a pair of Instagram images shared to her account Her face was fully made up, with the multihyphenate rocking a cat-eye created with black liquid liner. She donned her go-to look of a simple and short natural manicure with a glossy nude polish. The photos were snapped in Kim's luxurious bathroom, which she has routinely showcased in her SKKN by Kim ads. The catsuit featured a backless detail, which displayed the gym enthusiast's toned back and tiny waist. Twinning! Kim's younger sister Khloe Kardashian, 38, wore the same look when she appeared on social media one day earlier Meanwhile Khloe wore the same look when she appeared on social media one day earlier. The gorgeous mother-of-two posed in what looked to be a backstage area as she leaned on a bright-colored ladder. Khloe added her individual touch to the sleeveless one-piece, styling the halter neck design with a Cuban link choker as a collar. And like her older sister, she paired the bodysuit with reflective thigh-high boots. Detail: Khloe's sleeveless one-piece had a halter neck design featuring a Cuban link choker as a collar Kim also took time to share something more serious on Instagram. The studying lawyer-to-be drew attention to C.J. Rice's legal case, asking, 'How could an innocent 17-year-old end up behind bars until he's 77 years old?' Kimberly, an advocate for justice system reform, explained to her following of 332 million that Rice was tried as an adult 'for a crime that his doctor says he could not have committed.' She linked to an Atlantic article and urged her fans to sign a petition asking the state of Pennsylvania to 'take another look at his case.' Judicial system reform advocate: Kim, formerly married to Kanye West, showed her multidimensional character as she also took time to share something more serious on Instagram Kardashian famously fought for clemency on behalf of Alice Johnson during the Trump presidential administration. The star, who is the daughter of famous O.J. Simpson lawyer Robert Kardashian, was inspired to go deeper into law after successfully getting the non-violent offender out of prison in 2018. She now hosts the true crime podcast Recording The System on Spotify, adding to her many hats. Eva Longoria flashed her toned legs in a cream woven mini dress as she arrived on set in Barcelona on Wednesday to film her new TV series Land of Woman. The award winning actress, 47, was seen speaking to crew members as she made her way around the location donning a pair of comfy slippers. The Desperate Housewives star sheltered from the sun under a chic coordinated jacket which she draped over her head while holding onto a pair of black boots. Looking good: Eva Longoria flashed her toned legs in a cream woven mini dress as she arrived on set in Barcelona on Wednesday to film her new TV series Land of Woman She styled her brunette tresses poker straight from a side parting and opted for a simple glam palette of makeup. Eva, who is also an executive producer on the series, was spotted speaking to the cast ahead of shooting a scene. The beauty climbed into an old fashioned blue car before driving away in it with a fellow actress. Excited: The award winning actress was seen speaking to crew members as she made her way around the location donning a pair of comfy slippers Keeping cool: The Desperate Housewives star sheltered from the sun under a chic coordinated jacket which she draped over her head as she filmed outside an airport Chic: She styled her brunette tresses poker straight from a side parting and opted for a simple glam palette of makeup Incredible: Eva, who is also an executive producer on the film, was seen on her phone as she enjoyed a break Relaxed: Eva slipped her comfy shoes off while keeping cool Apple TV+ are creating Land of Woman, which is inspired by award-winning author Sandra Barnedas bestselling novel of the same name. The series will announced that they will create six episodes and will be shot in both Spanish and English. Eva will play Gala, a New York empty nester whose life is turned upside down when her husband implicates the family in financial improprieties, and she is forced to flee the city alongside her ageing mother and college-age daughter. Preparing: Swapping her footwear once again, the actress was spotted speaking to the cast ahead of shooting a scene Ready to go: Eva added a chic coordinated jacket to her costumes as she walked around on set in towering heels Action: The beauty climbed into an old fashioned blue car On set: Apple TV+ are creating Land of Woman, which is inspired by award-winning author Sandra Barnedas bestselling novel of the same name Plot: Eva will play Gala, a New York empty nester whose life is turned upside down when her husband implicates the family in financial improprieties, and she is forced to flee the city alongside her ageing mother and college-age daughter The three woman hide in a wine town in Spain, after her husband vanishes, as they escape the dangerous criminals Gala's husband has debt with. The Spanish town where the family fled, Gala's mother previously had been their 50 years ago and vowed to never return. Gossip starts to spread around the small town and the families secrets and truths start to unfold. Jetting off: Eva arrived at an airport for one scene All smiles: Eva beamed following the scenes and pulled her brunette tresses over her one shoulder Wow: Following the scene Eva spoke to the crew and stripped off her jacket in the heat Break: The actress seemed engrossed in her phone as she walked around the set in Barcelona Jessica Shears put on a leggy display as she joined her husband Dom Lever for the Gangs Of London series two premiere on Wednesday. The Love Island star, 29, looked radiant in a plunging silk mini dress with a draped bodice that nipped in at her tiny waist with a leather belt. She posed for a photo with her suave husband Dom as they attended the event at the Outernet in London. Stunning: Jessica Shears, 29, put on a leggy display as she joined her husband Dom Lever for the Gangs Of London series two premiere on Wednesday Jessica elevated her height with a pair of black suede heels and carried a crystal embellished handbag. Dom opted for a sleek navy suit with contrasting lapels and a crisp white shirt with smart patent brogues. Also in attendance was Gangs Of London actress Shanie Ryan, who wowed in a plunging blazer and lace bra top. Glowing: The Love Island star looked radiant in a plunging silk mini dress with a draped bodice that nipped in at her tiny waist with a leather belt. The outing comes after Jessica shared a candid breastfeeding video to her Instagram account as she documented 'life with a newborn'. Posting a reel of herself with her son the former Love Island star who is also mother to son Presley, two, shared a snippet of her weekly routine as she nursed her new baby, whose man she has not yet revealed. Captioning her latest reel 'life with a newborn' the model gave fans a glimpse into motherhood as she shared several clips feeding her son. VIP: Also in attendance was Gangs Of London actress Shanie Ryan, who wowed in a plunging blazer and lace bra top Dapper: Sope Dirisu put on a stylish display in a charcoal suit as he showed his support for the of the women of Iran She also included a clip of herself doing her nails under a UV nail lamp while breastfeeding the tot. An additional image saw her out and about feeding the toddler in public while also documenting her exhaustion caring for the newborn. Dom and Jessica welcomed their son, Presley, in September 2019 and a second child in June this year - after meeting in the Love Island villa in 2017. Sleek: Shanie looked incredibly elegant in the patterned suit Cute couple: Love Island's Indiyah Polak and Dami Hope looked incredible in their coordinating ensembles Dapper: Dami looked suave in a black velvet suit, complete with a double breasted jacket, as he struck a playful pose on the red carpet Wow! Pippa Bennett-Warner and Valene Kane both cut glamorous figures as they posed arm-in-arm All smiles: Pippa looked sensational in a strapless crochet top and matching skirt while Valene stunned in a white gown with a sheer overlay as they smiled for snaps Sharp: Chris Kowalski looked as chic as ever in a houndstooth jacket and matching trousers Chic: Victoria Brown slipped into a velvet trouser suit with gold buttons Solidarity: Jahz Armando and Fady Elsayed showed their support for the women of Iran by writing across their hands Support: Jahz wrote 'I stand with the women of Iran' across her hand in a statement of support at the premiere Chic: Miraa May looked effortlessly chic in a blue striped zip-up midi dress and heeled black sandals Smart: Josh Cuthbert cut a suave figure in a navy blue suit and a white collarless shirt as he posed up a storm Good spirits: The cast couldn't help but pose for a fun selfie as they all gathered at the much-anticipated premiere Despite Jessica being axed from the show early on, they lasted the distance - tying the knot just the following year. Dom proposed three months after their stint on the reality show and they tied the knot on the Greek Island of Mykonos during an intimate ceremony in front of just 22 people. Dom said at the time: 'People said we wouldn't last but now we're husband and wife. We're proof that when you meet the right person, there's no need to hang around.' Gangs of London Season 2 is available now only on Stan in Australia. Former Home and Away star Tammin Sursok surprised fans when she showed off her major makeover for her latest film role. The Australian actress, 39, shared a series of photos of her dramatic new look as well as details about the upcoming project that required her to learn how to perform cheerleading. In the photos, the Pretty Little Liars alum ditched her signature brunette tresses for bold blonde locks and bangs. Former Home and Away star Tammin Sursok, 39, surprised fans when she ditched her signature brunette tresses for her latest film role 'I'm not sure how to put into words what this last month has meant to me,' she began in her lengthy caption. 'A month ago, I was given an opportunity to push myself beyond my comfort zone and accept a film that made me uncomfortable.' Tammin continued: 'It was uncomfortable because I knew if I took on this role there was no holding back. The Australian actress shared a series of photos of her dramatic new look that revealed her blonde hair and bold bangs 'It was going to cost me. I would have to dive into some dark places that I safely put in a box and open up some wounds that were almost healed. But I had to do it.' She explained she had to practise and perform cheer on stage alongside professional dancers who were '15 years younger than her'. She also thanked her talented co-stars and crew members. 'I love you and can't wait for the sequel,' she concluded her post. Last month, Tammin debuted her last-minute makeover for her role. The Flicka star rushed to go from brunette to blonde after her agent called about an acting job, which began filming in Atlanta earlier this month. 'Oh hi. It's Tammin. I promise,' she captioned the photo of her new blonde look. 'Four days ago I was with my kids taking them to dance class. Next minute I get a call that I'm going to be the lead in a movie that shoots in Atlanta this Thursday and I HAVE TO BE BLONDE! 'So I embraced the unknown, begged and pleaded to see Marissa Martin - who came in on a Sunday and spent five hours perfecting this look - and now I'm accepting the unknown and allowing myself to feel all the nerves and excitement and getting ready to kick butt.' Tammin debuted her new golden locks last month She said goodbye to her signature brunette hair as she rushed to get a last-minute makeover after her agent called about an acting job She went on to say the 'best moments' in life come when you step out of your comfort zone. It comes after she recently returned home to Los Angeles after spending the better part of the year in Australia. She was spotted at the airport with daughters, Phoenix, eight, and Lennon, three, whom she shares with husband Sean McEwen. Tammin recently spoke to Stellar magazine about what it was like filming a guest role on the Australian soap opera Neighbours before it was axed. 'I needed to go back to a soap and see it through a different lens as someone who's much older and make peace with that whole time,' she explained. The Pretty Little Liars alum went on to say the 'best moments' in life come when you step out of your comfort zone. (Pictured with husband Sean McEwen) Tammin is pictured with her daughters Phoenix, eight, and Lennon, three 'Our children will never know of Neighbours except through reruns! Neighbours will always be a special part of who we were... but I guess it all just moves on'. Tammin also spoke about the vibe on set, as her guest role coincided with news the series was about to be cancelled. 'I love the work ethic of Australians... they came with such professionalism and they did their job and they didn't moan about it and they didn't chuck a hissy fit,' Tammin said on The Kyle and Jackie O Show. She rose to fame as a teenager playing Dani Sutherland on Home and Away from 2000 to 2004, before landing starring roles in Flicka and Pretty Little Liars. Kimberley Garner sizzled as she stepped out to host a dinner in celebration of her swimwear line at Casa Cruz in Notting Hill on Wednesday. The former Made In Chelsea star, 31, went braless in a plunging red blazer that she teamed with matching wide leg trousers. She posed up a storm in the eye-catching ensemble as she promoted her luxury Kimberley London collection. Stunning: Kimberley Garner, 31, sizzled as she stepped out to host a dinner in celebration of her swimwear line at Casa Cruz in Notting Hill on Wednesday Kimberley boosted her height with a pair of heels and kept her accessorises to a minimum. She style her blonde locks into soft waves and opted for a subtle makeup palette with a glossy nude lip. The reality TV star launched her swimwear line in 2013 and it has continued to flourish over the years. Sizzling: The former Made In Chelsea star went braless in a plunging red blazer that she teamed with matching wide leg trousers Despite now enjoying huge fame as a swimwear designer, Kimberley has previously revealed how she used to pretend to be an intern when she first started the business as nobody took her seriously. However, the property heiress insisted she's more than just the face of her line Kimberley London and is involved with every aspect of creating her sell-out swimwear range. She told MailOnline: 'I think people sometimes think that Im only the face, but I am responsible for every bit of the business. New collection: The reality TV star launched her swimwear line in 2013 and it has continued to flourish over the years Flawless: She style her blonde locks into soft waves and opted for a subtle makeup palette with a glossy nude lip 'I was 18 when I started my first company - I came up with an idea, stayed up for days learning how to register the company and teaching myself. It became very successful overnight.' She explained: 'However, as I was only 18, no one ever imagined it was mine. I was a young blonde girl with a soft voice. 'No one would take me seriously or realise it was my company. So, I pretended to be the Intern! Beginnings: Despite now enjoying fame as a swimwear designer, Kimberley previously revealed how she used to pretend to be an intern when she first started the business 'I handled all the meetings, phone calls, and emails for the company. When it became a success, I put all the revenues into starting Kimberley London.' She explained: 'However, as I was only 18, no one ever imagined it was mine. I was a young blonde girl with a soft voice. 'No one would take me seriously or realise it was my company. So, I pretended to be the Intern! 'I handled all the meetings, phone calls, and emails for the company. When it became a success, I put all the revenues into starting Kimberley London.' Daniel Craig cut a dapper figure as he attended his new film Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery premiere at the Callao cinema, in Madrid Spain on Wednesday. The James Bond actor, 54, dressed to impress in a pale blue blazer which he teamed with a pair of navy trousers. The 007 star looked smart in a crisp white shirt and added a navy woven tie and pin to the red carpet number. Posing up a storm: Daniel Craig cut a dapper figure as he attended his new film Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery premiere at the Callao cinema, in Madrid Spain on Wednesday Daniel opted for a pair of shiny black shoes as he posed with his hands in his pockets flashing his white shirt cuffs. The star completed his outfit for the evening by hiding behind a pair of brown and gold glasses as photographers snapped his best angles. He was later joined by his co-stars Kate Hudson, Janelle Monae and Edward Norton as they beamed for a group snap together. Looking good: The James Bond actor, 54, dressed to impress in a smart pale blue blazer which he teamed with a pair of navy trousers Dressed to impress: The 007 star looked smart in a crisp white shirt and added a navy woven tie to the red carpet number Dapper: Daniel added to the look in a pair of shiny black shoes as he posed with his hands in his pockets Daniel couldn't contain his smile as he held his hand on his chest. The film centres on Daniel's detective character Benoit Blanc. According to IMDB, 'famed Southern detective Benoit Blanc travels to Greece for his latest case'. It tells the story of tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) inviting his friends for a getaway on his private Greek island - with one turning up dead. All smiles: Daniel couldn't contain his smile as he held his hand on his chest High spirits: He seemed in high spirits as he waves to faces who attended the event Incredible: The film centres on Daniel's detective character Benoit Blanc. Amazing: The movie is a sequel to the highly-popular and critically-acclaimed 2019 film Knives Out The movie is a sequel to the highly-popular and critically-acclaimed 2019 film Knives Out. It is set for release on November 23. Glass Onion will play in major US theater chains for one week only, from November 2329. In the UK, the movie will hit cinemas on November 25, before premiering on Netflix on December 23. Looking good: Daniel pointed at fans in his dapper attire Co-stars: He was later joined by his co-stars Kate Hudson, Janelle Monae and Edward Norton as they beamed for a group snap together Married At First Sight's Domenica Calarco has threatened her co-stars with cease and desist letters after they accused her of being 'verbally abusive' on set. In an explosive Instagram video posted on Wednesday, Domenica unleashed on her fellow MAFS participants while using a filter that gave her 'devil horns'. 'This is targeted towards people that have blocked me,' she began. Married At First Sight's Domenica Calarco (pictured) has threatened her co-stars with cease and desist letters after they accused her of being 'verbally abusive' on set 'Because I've got no other way of contacting them because they all block me because they're all f**king scared of me apparently and they don't want to have any form of communication because they can't handle it,' she added. 'Stop calling me violent, stop calling me abusive. Because if you keep doing that, you'll be getting a f**king cease and desist in your inbox.' The 29-year-old continued: 'I've got no other way of contacting you, so here you go. I hope all your little minions f**king send this to you in your DMs. Understand?' It comes after Domenica earlier denied claims she 'verbally abused' her vulnerable co-star Jessica Seracino while filming the Channel Nine show last year It comes after Domenica earlier denied claims she'd 'verbally abused' her vulnerable co-star Jessica Seracino while filming the Channel Nine show last year. Jessica, 28, accused Domenica on Instagram of violently yelling at her during the cast reunion, in scenes that were not aired on television. The podcast host took to TikTok to rubbish this allegation, saying: 'I can't believe I have to f**king respond to this, but this is f**king ridiculous.' 'Now, Jess brought this up at the reunion that I screamed at her when she was crying, talking to the psychologist,' she said. Jessica, 28, accused Domenica via Instagram on Wednesday of violently yelling at her during the cast reunion. The podcast host took to TikTok to rubbish this allegation, saying: 'I can't believe I have to f**king respond to this, but this is f**king ridiculous' 'This boils my f**king blood to no avail because I would never do this,' she added. 'I would never scream at a person or abuse them when they're crying and talking to the psychologist. 'I am sitting here shaking with rage right now and, like, sweating because of [the] pure lies of this, like... oh, my god.' Domenica then downplayed their confrontation, saying: 'Everyone was f**king there. 'But of course everyone who was there is going to say that I did this because they all hate me for some f**king reason. 'This never happened. Jess, I don't understand what it is that you have against me. 'Whatever. You don't like me. I don't like you. It's fine. This bulls**t just. Seriously, just stop.' Domenica downplayed their confrontation, saying: 'Everyone was f**king there. But of course everyone who was there is going to say that I did this because they all hate me for some reason' Domenica then explained she was past the drama and was trying to move on with her life post-MAFS. 'It was the show,' she said. 'We were there to talk about relationships. I didn't know what was going on behind the scenes.' 'Of course you weren't giving enough. I was asking you questions. You weren't answering them,' she added of their on-screen confrontation. 'Yeah, I went a bit hard,' Dom then admitted. 'That's my personality. Apologies to you, but this... I never yelled abuse at you. Never. So cut it!' 'This boils my f**king blood to no avail because I would never do this,' Domenica said. (Jessica is pictured crying during one of the MAFS dinner parties) It comes after Jessica denied she and her co-stars were 'jealous' that Domenica had landed her own web series on Nine.com.au, which sees her interview former MAFS participants about their lives following the experiment. 'None of us is jealous. I speak [about] a certain someone the way I do because I was literally verbally abused and bullied from the second I arrived on that show without her knowing a single thing about me or my situation,' she said of Dom. 'I had nobody, I had no family or friends in Sydney, and I would go back to my hotel and cry and vomit from how much stress my body was taking.' 'While crying to the psychologist one night, this psycho girl yelled abuse at me,' she alleged. 'Funny how people get off of TV and forget how much goes on behind the scenes and the strength of a false narrative.' Kate Hudson looked incredible as she led the very glamorous cast of Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery at the European premiere in Madrid on Wednesday. The cast have been hot on the promotional trail for the next instalment in the Knives Out series, as they arrived in Spain after premiering in London and Los Angeles. Hollywood star Kate, 40, was joined on the red carpet by Janelle Monae, Daniel Graig, and Edward Norton. Arrivals: Kate Hudson looked incredible as she led the very glamorous cast of Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery at the European premiere in Madrid on Wednesday She cut a glamorous figure in a purple chiffon and gold sequin gown as she posed for cameras ahead of the screening. The screen star flashed her toned midriff in the stunning ensemble, which boasted a hatler-neck style and a matching belt cinched around her waist. Kate wore her blonde locks swept back into a chic low ponytail and opted for a glamorous coat of make-up in bronze hues. Keeping busy: The cast have been hot on the promotional trail for the next instalment in the Knives Out series, as they arrived in Spain after premiering in London and Los Angeles Dazzling: Kate cut a glamorous figure in a purple chiffon and gold sequin gown as she posed for cameras ahead of the screening Stylish: The screen star flashed her toned midriff in the stunning ensemble, which boasted a hatler-neck style and a matching belt cinched around her waist She was joined on the red carpet by an equally glam Janelle, who made a statement in a dramatic red mini dress. The incredible heavily layered ensemble was teamed with a long black skirt and a pair of platform heels, which she wore with tights. Janelle, 36, also opted for flawless expertly-applied make-up and wore her blonde curly hair in a stylish up do. Showstopping: She was joined on the red carpet by an equally glam Janelle, who made a statement in a dramatic red mini dress Work it: The incredible heavily layered ensemble was teamed with a long black skirt and a pair of platform heels, which she wore with tights True blue! Meanwhile, dapper Daniel, 54, boasted his best look yet as he arrived wearing a pale blue jacket with a white shirt and a navy tie Cool guy: Ever the cool character, the James Bond actor played up to the camera as he posed for the paparazzi Round two: The Knives Out sequel will premier on Netflix in December Meanwhile, dapper Daniel, 54, boasted his best look yet as he arrived wearing a pale blue jacket with a white shirt and a navy tie. Ever the cool character, the James Bond actor played up to the camera as he posed for the paparazzi. Daniel finished his look with a pair of stylish shades. Glam couple: US actor Edward Norton (R) and his wife Shauna Robertson (L) (L-R) Actors Janelle Monae, Daniel Craig, Kate Hudson and Edward Norton Playful: Janelle worked her magic for the cameras Earlier in the day, the cast attended the photo call for the show. Kate made a style statement as she attended in a neon green trouser suit as she hit the red carpet in Madrid. Kate's blazer was double breasted and she teamed the look with a beige camisole underneath. She wore flared trousers and added height to her frame with a pair of heels. Kate looked every inch the blonde bombshell in her outfit, showing off a soft golden glow and with her long locks out and neatly straightened. Turning heads: Kate stunned in a neon green trouser suit as she joined the cast photocall Glamorous: Kate, who is the daughter of Hollywood icon Goldie Hawn, 76, wore makeup including dewy foundation, a glossy nude lip and a winged eye Co-star: Daniel looked dapper in a pale blue shirt and cream trousers, which he teamed with brown suede shoes and a belt Kate, who is the daughter of Hollywood icon Goldie Hawn, 76, wore makeup including dewy foundation, a glossy nude lip and a winged eye. She teamed the look with layered gold necklaces. Daniel looked dapper in a pale blue shirt and cream trousers, which he teamed with brown suede shoes and a belt. Daniel, who is married to Rachel Weisz, 52, appeared in high spirits as he stepped out, flashing a thumbs up at photographers In good spirits: Daniel, who is married to Rachel Weisz, 52, appeared in high spirits as he stepped out, flashing a thumbs up at photographers Leading man: The film centres on Daniel's detective character Benoit Blanc Synopsis: It tells the story of tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) inviting his friends for a getaway on his private Greek island - with one turning up dead The film centres on Daniel's detective character Benoit Blanc. According to IMDB, 'famed Southern detective Benoit Blanc travels to Greece for his latest case'. It tells the story of tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) inviting his friends for a getaway on his private Greek island - with one turning up dead. Casual in khaki: Edward looked casual in a khaki jacket and matching trousers and white sneakers at the event The movie is a sequel to the highly-popular and critically-acclaimed 2019 film Knives Out. It is set for release on November 23. Janelle, who appears in the film as character Andi Brand, opted for a chic black and white minidress. She teamed the look with a bold red lip, a bowler hat and black high heels. Classic: Janelle, who appears in the film as character Andi Brand, opted for a chic black and white minidress Peace out: Janelle flashed the peace sign on the red carpet Stylish: She teamed the look with a bold red lip, a bowler hat and black high heels Candid: Kate meanwhile, who is known for films including How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Almost Famous, previously revealed that she thought she'd have a singing career, rather than pursuing acting Kate meanwhile, who is known for films including How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Almost Famous, previously revealed that she thought she'd have a singing career, rather than pursuing acting. She previously told The Edit: 'I thought music would be my route, the pop world, but I got into musicals at school and that was it.' Glass Onion will play in major US theater chains for one week only, from November 2329, and UK cinemas on November 25, before premiering on Netflix on December 23. Today show host Allison Langdon delivered her brutal verdict on Meghan Markle's new interview with Variety magazine on Thursday. Discussing the Duchess of Sussex's latest PR offensive with The Daily Mirror's royal editor Russell Myers, Langdon couldn't help but scoff after hearing how Meghan had spoken of how she would want to be portrayed in a film or TV show about her life. Myers explained: 'Not only does she mention the fact she was in Suits no less than five times during the interview, she also says she would be willing to lend her expertise to one specific actor, and that would be with the person who would potentially play her in a movie.' Today show host Allison Langdon (pictured) delivered her brutal verdict on Meghan Markle's new interview with Variety magazine on Thursday Langdon interjected: 'Hang on, so she is saying, "When someone will play me, I will counsel them as to who I am and how to portray [me]." 'I mean, come on! She makes it hard for herself!' However, it seems Meghan's statements were slightly overblown. The former Deal or No Deal star, 41, actually said she hopes whoever plays her in a movie or television series about her life will 'find the softness and the playfulness and the laughter' as well as the 'silliness' of her personality. Discussing the Duchess of Sussex's latest PR offensive with royal expert Russell Myers, Langdon couldn't help but scoff after hearing how Meghan had spoken of how she would want to be portrayed in a film or TV show about her life. (Pictured: Meghan on the cover of Variety) Myers (right) explained, 'Not only does she mention the fact she was in Suits no less than five times during the interview, she also says she would be willing to lend her expertise to one specific actor, and that would be with the person who would potentially play her in a movie' Langdon interjected: 'Hang on, so she is saying, "When someone will play me, I will counsel them as to who I am and how to portray [me]."' (Pictured with Today co-host Karl Stefanovic) 'I just hope she finds the dimensions,' Meghan added, before suggesting the actress could give her a phone call to discuss her portrayal. Langdon's co-host Karl Stefanovic also took a swipe at Meghan's cover shoot for Variety, comparing the photos to a 'dodgy bikie tattoo'. 'Bikie' is an Australian slang term for a member of an outlaw biker gang. In the glossy photos, Meghan is pictured lounging around in a Jason Wu gown worth about $8,300. Langdon's co-host Karl Stefanovic also took a swipe at Meghan's cover shoot for Variety, comparing the photos to a 'dodgy bikie tattoo'. He added: 'It looks like it is on someone's bicep... someone's mum tattooed on their shoulder' 'It looks like it is on someone's bicep... someone's mum tattooed on their shoulder,' Stefanovic said. 'I can't say I saw it, but now that you have said it...' replied Langdon. The Today hosts are no fans of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who are divisive figures in the Commonwealth due to their very public criticism of the Royal Family. It comes weeks after the pair called out Meghan for using a soundbite of Langdon speaking in 2018 during an episode of her Archetypes podcast. The Today hosts are no fans of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who are divisive figures in the Commonwealth due to their very public criticism of the Royal Family. (Pictured: Harry and Meghan at Kensington Palace after they announced their engagement) In the context of the podcast, the American former actress used Langdon's quote as evidence of sexism in the media, accusing outlets of saying she was lucky Prince Harry had 'chosen her' to be his wife when they became engaged in 2017. Langdon's actual quote, from an episode of 60 Minutes Australia, was: 'The happy couple has enchanted the world with their real-life fairytale.' Speaking on the Today show on September 7, the journalist insisted she had never once suggested Meghan was 'lucky' to have bagged herself a prince. The pair recently called out Meghan for using a soundbite of Langdon speaking in 2018 during an episode of her Archetypes podcast '[I'm blowing] steam out my ears! What part of that was saying, "Harry chose you"... oh, my gosh,' she scoffed. Stefanovic was also furious, saying the episode of Archetypes 'makes my head explode'. 'Whatever side of the fence Ally is on in this story, she gets smashed by Meghan,' he added, rolling his eyes. 'You tell me, in anything I just said... was me saying she was lucky because of Prince [Harry]!' Langdon exclaimed. 'All I know is I had a lot of mates who liked Meghan for a long time, and none of them do anymore,' she added. Miles Teller's wife Keleigh Sperry has been seen in a new pinup photo. Nina Dobrev shared a photo of the model in a bikini during a trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico where she celebrated her 30th birthday. Sperry had on a two piece with a hat and glasses as she lounged in a pool in the Instagram photo. A 10: Miles Teller's wife Keleigh Sperry has been seen in a new pinup photo. Nina Dobrev shared a photo of the model in a bikini during a trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico where she celebrated her 30th birthday On Tuesday the beauty shared several new images on Instagram where she looked to be having fun. Miles and Keleigh were also seen getting romantic during the trip. In one image, Miles could be seen kissing his pinup spouse as she wore a plunging swimsuit with hat and denim mini skirt. In another snapshot he gave her a warm embrace at sunset. The power couple were also seen outside their hotel as they enjoyed cocktails while in a swimming pool and hot tub. The 35-year-old Top Gun: Maverick actor showed off his ripped upper body as he walked around the resort with a drink in hand. A better look: She was seen in the same suit over the weekend in Mexico He wore gray swim trunks and black sunglasses with a cap on his head. Keleigh was also seen in a bathing suit that clung to her natural curves. They were joined by Sperry's pal Dobrev, who strutted around the pool in a flattering red and blue stripes. Besties: Nina is seen receiving a kiss from pal Keleigh Playful pals: The two seemed like besties as they goofed around The model carried a huge gold floaty over her right arm as she descended into the pool at their resort. Later in the day the birthday girl slipped out of her one-piece and into a skimpy hot pink and orange bikini. It flattered her hourglass figure and sun-kissed glow. Her hair remained back in a tight bun as she make her way back to the pool with her gal pals and Teller. Kissy: The Offer actor was also seen putting his arms around his model wife and planting a kiss on her neck by the pool at sunset, proving their romance is still hot She has never looked better: On Tuesday she shared several new images of herself in the jewel-encrusted gown With the sun glaring down, Sperry decided to put on a pair of shades and stylish bright orange bucket hat. Teller was later seen in a different pair of swim trunks as he carried a pair of sunglasses in his hands. He then impressively jumped from one level of the pool to another. Her pretty pals were also seen gathering by the swimming pool for a dinner party as they all wore summer dresses and heels. Social snaps!: Sperry shared a number of photos to social media, giving fans a glimpse of her 30th birthday vacation Giving a wave: Sperry's friends waved in an impressive mansion as she modeled a very small yellow floral print bikini In other shots, the birthday girl had on a yellow bikini with red flowers. A diamond heart pendant necklace hung around her neck. Teller and Sperry seem to be enjoying themselves in Mexico as they were spotted cuddling up in the pool earlier this week. The happy couple were pictured sharing an affectionate hug as they lounged in the glistening, cool water with a few pals. Another night, another party dress: On Monday she posted this image where she wore a plunging dress with ruffled sleeves So many smiles: Here she had on the same suit and skirt as they sat on the cushion of the yacht Group photo: Sperry tagged all of the attendees in a large group photo where they were in their summer best She shared one selfie where she and another bikini-clad friend sat together, revealing quite a bit of her friend's ample chest. Sperry ran into the foamy blue sea in one picture taken at sunset, as the horizon glowed a faint orange. A source close to the two lovebirds opened up to Us Weekly earlier this year in May about their happy marriage. 'Miles and Keleigh work because they are both the goofiest of people,' the insider revealed. 'They are silly, always making jokes and doing little bits with each other. They know how to make each other laugh and have fun together.' Happy duo: A source close to the two lovebirds opened up to Us Weekly earlier this year in May about their happy marriage (pictured June 2022) Though the couple are enjoying some time off, Teller will soon be busy working on several project. The actor will be stepping into the world of animation, and will voice the character of Gilbert in the upcoming movie, The Ark And The Aardvark. The premise of the film follows, 'an aardvark named Gilbert lands the job of shepherding all the animals onto Noah's Ark,' according to IMDB. According to Deadline, Miles will co-star with actress Anya Taylor-Joy in the upcoming Apple original film called, The Gorge. Although the plot details haven't been revealed, the publication reported that the movie will have a mix of genres such as action and romance. He was also cast to star in the film, The Fence, which is currently in the stages of pre-production. One of Meghan Markle's first job was to carry a briefcase, dress modestly, and apply a lot of cosmetics. The Duchess of Sussex bemoans her time on the NBC game show Deal or No Deal, where she and a host of other stunning young women vacantly smiled as people competed to win $1 million, in the most recent edition of her podcast Archetypes. Meghan Markle Says She Felt Being 'Objectified' Meghan Markle acknowledged that the position came with perks and union membership, making it a respectable opportunity for an aspiring actor. She admitted to being grateful for the experience but continued by criticizing the program for treating her like a bimbo and objectifying her. More power to Markle, who appeared on the show in 2006, for choosing to capitalize on her attractiveness and showcase what she has. Her entry point was a lovely face. She got her name out there and was able to move up the Hollywood food chain as a result of her time spent working as a briefcase girl. Soon after, she was cast as the show's star and went on to find the most eligible bachelor in the globe, as per New York Post. Meanwhile, 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' star Claudia Jordan, who co-starred with Meghan Markle on the NBC game show in the middle of the 2000s, went off on the Duchess in a furious rant on Tuesday in response to comments she made about the show in the most recent episode of her podcast, Archetypes. In 34 episodes of the NBC show's second season from 2006 to 2007, Meghan Markle said she left because she felt like she was being objectified, admitting that she was made to get frequent spray tans and wear a padded bra. 'Deal or No Deal' model Claudia, 49, criticized Meghan Markle for her remarks, saying the show never treated them like bimbos and helped create so many possibilities for them. Claudia Jordan said, "we were never treated unfairly on Deal or No Deal. Because of that show, we were given a lot of opportunities." The reality star continued, "If you just show up and don't interact then you'll just receive your check and not get much out of it. It's the kind of opportunity," she said, that is what you make it." Jordan claimed she enjoyed working on 'Deal or No Dea'l and that it helped pave the way for a successful career, according to Daily Mail. Claudia Jordan clarified that she wasn't criticizing Meghan Markle but rather standing up for the TV program. Meghan Markle's Podcast Paris Hilton appeared as a guest on the most recent episode of Meghan Markle's podcast, which was just released today. The royal said she was appreciative of the money she made from Deal or No Deal while she tried to become a successful actress, referring to it as "a short stint" to pay the bills, but she did not like "how it made her feel, which was not smart." There were times on the Deal or No Deal set when she thought back to her days as an intern at the US Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She recalled riding in the same motorcade as the secretary of the Treasury at the time and being praised mostly for her brain. She said, "I want our daughter to aim a little higher. Yes, I want Lili to take pleasure in her intelligence and desire to pursue an education." Meghan Markle admitted to her audience that she was concerned before the taping of the interview with Paris Hilton, stating, "I've been the most nervous about this one." In addition, Meghan Markle acknowledged that she had previously judged Hilton, telling the audience, "I'm embarrassed to confess it, I had a judgment about Paris. And I dislike being judged because it makes me feel bad." Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have agreed to a three-year podcast deal with the streaming giant for between $15 million and $18 million. The couple also has a $100 million Netflix agreement, but their upcoming, contentious fly-on-the-wall documentary series still hasn't been released because the duo is supposedly "trying to tone down" its portrayal of the Royal Family, according to The Sun. Related Article: Ghislaine Maxwell Mentions Prince Andrew During Bombshell Prison Interview; Here's What Jeffrey Epstein's Madam Confession! @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Freddie Prinze Jr. returned to his romcom roots in the first trailer for new festive Netflix film, Christmas With You. Prinze Jr., 46, who shot to fame in 90s classics including She's All That, stars alongside Aimee Garcia in the film, which tells the tale of pop star Angelina who escapes from her daily life to grant a young fan's wish in small-town New York. Christmas With You is the star's second appearance in a feature-length film this year, after Clerks II - but before that, he hadn't appeared in a movie since the 2012 television film Happy Valley. Holiday film: Freddie Prinze Jr. returned to his romcom roots in the first trailer for new festive Netflix film, Christmas With You (above with Aimee Garcia) The movie's trailer begins with Angelina walking the streets of New York hounded by countless fans and members of the paparazzi. Despite her popularity, a representative from her record label (Lawrence J. Hughes) says she should make a Christmas song because they are 'good for business.' 'Not happening,' Angelina tells a friend. 'It's not like the record label's gonna drop me because I don't want to Jingle Bell Rock.' Her friend gives her a look, and she responds, 'Are you serious?', implying that the label is considering dropping her. Paparazzi: The movie's trailer begins with Angelina, a pop star, walking the streets of New York hounded by countless fans and members of the paparazzi Joking: 'Not happening,' Angelina tells a friend. 'It's not like the record label's gonna drop me because I don't want to Jingle Bell Rock' Giving a look: Her friend gives her a look, and she responds, 'Are you serious?', implying that the label is considering dropping her Father-daughter: The trailer then cuts to Miguel (Prinze Jr.) with his daughter Cristina (Deja Monique Cruz) who promises to set up a Bumble because he's 'way too old for Tinder' The trailer then cuts to Miguel (Prinze Jr.) with his daughter Cristina (Deja Monique Cruz) who promises to set up a Bumble because he's 'way too old for Tinder.' The trailer then shows Cristina singing a song of Angelina's in a social media clip. The pop sensation seems moved nearly to tears by the beautiful vocals. She then says she's going to use the song during her quinceanera before adding that her 'Christmas birthday wish' is to meet Angelina. Angelina then says she wants to meet this young woman, adding that she needs to reconnect with her audience. Angelina meets Cristina at her high school in a small New York town, and the almost 15-year-old promptly screams upon meeting her. The trailer then shows Cristina singing a song of Angelina's in a social media clip Moved to tears: The pop sensation seems moved nearly to tears by the beautiful vocals Her wish: She then says she's going to use the song during her quinceanera before adding that her 'Christmas birthday wish' is to meet Angelina Invite to dinner: Though Angelina and her manager say they have to go, Miguel points out that they don't want to drive in the blizzard raging outside. Christina invites them to dinner, and Angelina accepts 'Tias': Miguel says he doesn't know how Cristina's 'tias are going to react' though they begin screaming as soon as they see the star Though Angelina and her manager say they have to go, Miguel points out that they don't want to drive in the blizzard raging outside. Christina invites them to dinner, and Angelina accepts. Miguel says he doesn't know how Cristina's 'tias are going to react' though they begin screaming as soon as they see the star. Angelina finds a music sheet that Miguel has been working on and offers him help. He's floored by the offer, but ultimately accepts. As the pair spend more time together working on music, sparks start to fly. They high five, laugh together and make holiday deserts as well. Working on a song together: Angelina finds a music sheet that Miguel has been working on and offers him help. He's floored by the offer, but ultimately accepts Dancing: Angelina showed of some sexy dance moves and recommended it for the song Not so supportive: Prinze Jr. made a gesture to cut off the sexy dancing Performing together: They play a song together at a talent show of some kind Miguel takes Angelina through a lit up Christmas tree park, and they play a song together at a talent show of some kind. 'I really think this could be the one, Mo,' Angelina says to her friend who asks her if she means the song or the music teacher. Ladies' Night director Gabriela Tagliavini directed the movie which is set for release on Netflix November 17. Emily Ratajkowski put her wining figure on full display on Wednesday as she revealed a new item from her Inamorata swimwear brand. The 31-year-old model stunned in a leopard-print bikini, which was only glimpsed from behind in a post to Inamorata's Instagram account. The dark-haired beauty advertised her two-piece suit after DailyMail.com exclusively revealed that the mystery man she was previously seen making out with is DJ Orazio Rispo. Cheeky: Emily Ratajkowski, 31, put her stunning figure on display in an Instagram post from her swimwear brand Inamorata on Wednesday Emily was pictured in the brief clip against a bright white background, which put the spotlight on her suit and her trim figure. She rocked leopard-print thong bikini bottoms, which left little to the imagination. The Gone Girl actress paired the bottoms with a matching bikini top featuring thin straps, but it was mostly obscured by her long hair. In the short video, she flipped her hair from side to side before running her hands through it delicately. 'The Carlotta Bottom inspired by our perfectly cheeky lingerie,' the brand's caption read. Showing off: Emily was pictured in the brief clip against a bright white background, which put the spotlight on her suit and her trim figure. She rocked leopard-print thong bikini bottoms, which left little to the imagination Long hair, don't care: The Gone Girl actress paired the bottoms with a matching bikini top featuring thin straps, but it was mostly obscured by her hair Earlier on Wednesday, Emily looked giddy as she attended an event in New York City. The model looked stunning in a dove grey blouse, which revealed a hint of her cleavage, paired with a statement gold necklace as she was interviewed for the New Era in Audio event during the Big Apple's Advertising Week. Emily's giddy appearance was in stark contrast to her estranged husband Sebastian Bear-McClard's somber demeanor as he stepped out with the former couple's son Sylvester, 19 months on Wednesday. Lots to smile about: Emily looked giddy as she attended an event in New York City on Wednesday, days after debuting her new romance with DJ Orazio Rispo Emily's outing came just three days after she was seen passionately kissing 35-year-old Orazio during a passionate date night. Sebastian, 41, wrapped up in a tan jacket tee and joggers as held Sylvester on his shoulders while chatting to a friend. On Tuesday, DailyMail.com exclusively the identity of Emily's new love. Like Emily's ex Sebastian, Orazio was born and raised in New York. He has worked as a DJ for two decades; he also owned and operated a record shop in Brooklyn, called Halcyon Record Shop, until it closed in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile: Her giddy appearance was in stark contrast to her estranged husband Sebastian BearMcClard's somber demeanor as he stepped out with the former couple's son Sylvester, 19 months on Wednesday Lip lock: On Friday. the model was seen packing on the PDA with the hunky DJ Smile: The star showed off her pearly whites as she took her seat Lots to talk about: Emily couldn't stop smiling as she took to the stage Post split: Sebastian, 41, wrapped up in a tan jacket tee and joggers as held Sylvester on his shoulders while chatting to a friend Look over there! Sebastian pointed something out to Sylvester Smile: Sebastian was taking his mind off the split as he spent time with his son Dad time: Sebastian was every inch the doting dad as he stepped out amid ex Emily's new romance Wow: Emily looked radiant as she was seen walking down the street on Monday The model looked happier than ever in the wake of her marital breakdown as she packed on the PDA with Orazio on Friday evening. The pair was seen giggling with one another, locking lips, starring into each other's eyes, and sharing a romantic embrace as they strolled through Manhattan, after enjoying an alfresco dinner date. The mother-of-one - who was recently rumored to be dating Brad Pitt, 58 - looked chic in a black, off-the-shoulder top, matching slacks, and red boots, as she chatted with her companion, before the pair climbed onto his motorbike and headed off together. Orazio is the son of realtor Giampiero Rispo, who serves as the founder and president of residential brokerage Domus Realty - which specializes in selling 'luxury real estate in New York City.' Glow: The model showed off her radiant complexion Business chic: She paired this with black trousers and boosted her height with stiletto heels Stunning: Emily looked as radiant as ever as she strolled in the Big Applke New romance: Emily looked as chic as ever as she walked 'Since founding Domus in 1986, Giampiero has developed an industry-wide reputation for his integrity, creativity, and artful negotiation style,' his bio on LinkedIn reads. 'As principal of Domus, Giampiero fulfills the dual role of wealth manager and expert real estate adviser. Drawing on his extensive background in finance, business and real estate, Giampieros primary goal is to strategically invest and manage his clients assets in the real estate market in the most rewarding and hassle-free way possible. He is particularly skilled in working with celebrities and foreign buyers and investors, and the majority of his transactions involve off market properties for clients with discriminating taste and high standards for privacy.' Multiple sources have confirmed Orazio's identity to DailyMail.com Some of the homes he is currently selling, according to his website, include a $7.6 million apartment building in the upper east side with 12 units and a $6.5 million two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo in Soho. Orazio's dad is also the director of an undergarment company called BANDEBRA - which sells 'natural, organic, comfortable, and sexy alternatives to bras.' It was reported by one Instagram account that Orazio is cousins with GCDS designer Giuliano Calza, who boasts a slew of celebrity friends including Dua Lipa, Nicola Beckham-Peltz, and Elsa Hosk. Guliano attended the September wedding of Orazio's brother, which Orazio officiated. The artist is a registered democrat and studied political science at Columbia University. He wore a green jacket over a yellow tee for the outing with Emily, which he paired with a pair of loose, gray jeans and black sneakers. The apparent new couple were seen dining at an outdoor restaurant, where they laughed and smiled as they enjoyed their food and some cocktails; Emily was even pictured lovingly touching his face during the date night. Ex: Emily split from husband Sebastian in July - the pair are pictured with son Sylvester It's unclear how or when Emily and Orazio first met, but it appears that they've known each other for a while, as it was reported that they were seen grabbing dinner together during Milan Fashion Week last September. DailyMail.com has reached out to Emily's representatives for comment. News hit the web that Emily had split from her husband of four years, Sebastian, in July. At the time, it was reported that the model had made the decision to leave her film producer husband, 41, over claims that he was a 'serial cheater.' A source told Page Six at the time, 'It's gross. He's a dog.' Comedian and social media influencer Claudia Oshry also spoke out about the situation during an episode of The Morning Toast podcast, in which she claimed Sebastian's infidelity was an open secret in the industry. Like Emily's ex Sebastian, Orazio was born and raised in New York 'It's, like, known that her husband has cheated on her and they're filing for divorce,' she said, adding that when the couple officially confirms their separation, it will not come as a surprise to anyone. Emily, who shares a one-year-old son with Sebastian, named Sylvester Apollo Bear, then filed for divorce in September. In the wake of her divorce proceedings, there had been talk that Emily was involved in a romance with Brad, but she seemed to shut these rumors down with her very public display of affection with Orazio. In late August, OK magazine claimed that Brad was getting close to Emily, with a source explaining: 'He asked her out, and she said yes. Shes always thought Brad was cute, and the way she saw it, what did she have to lose?' But a separate insider told magazine earlier this month that while the two stars were 'having fun' together, it wasn't anything serious. 'The split was very rough for her,' the source stated. 'It was unexpected and devastating. It's the perfect timing right now. There is nothing like Brad Pitt cheering you up.' He has worked as a DJ for two decades Emily and Sebastian, who is best known for producing movies Uncut Gems, Good Time, and Funny Pages, were first linked on Valentine's Day in February 2018 - one month after news had hit the web that she had split from her boyfriend Jeff Magid after three years together. At the time, the pair was spotted packing on the PDA in Los Angeles, California. It's unclear how they met, but an insider told Us Weekly at the time that they had known each other 'for years.' Just days after their first spotting, news hit the web that they had tied the knot in a New York City courthouse on February 23, 2018. Emily then confirmed the news via Instagram, writing, 'Sooo, I have a surprise, I got married today.' Orazio (pictured) is the son of realtor Giampiero Rispo, who serves as the founder and president of residential brokerage Domus Realty - which specializes in selling 'luxury real estate in New York City' She later told Jimmy Fallon on his show, The Tonight Show, that she only took '30 seconds' to decide she wanted to marry the producer. 'I thought about it for about 30 seconds,' she joked. 'It was a city hall courthouse wedding. I guess I didnt know what I always wanted to do, which is maybe why it was so untraditional.' Emily and Sebastian's whirlwind relationship timeline Feb 13, 2018: Emily and Sebastian make their first public appearance as a couple after being in the same friend group for years. Feb 23, 2018: Just two weeks later, they tie the knot in a civil ceremony. March 2018: The two enjoy a delayed honeymoon in Canyon Point, Utah. April 2018: Emily shares their proposal story, revealing he proposed in Minetta Tavern and made a ring out of the paper clip from their bill. Feb 2019: The model pays tribute to their one-year anniversary by showing off her real two-stone engagement ring and wedding band. March 2019: Sebastian becomes embroiled in a real estate scandal with his landlord claiming he owed $120,000 in rent and Emily came to his defense. May 2019: The two become dog parents to an adorable Husky-German Shepherd named Colombo. Oct 2020: Emily reveals that she and Sebastian are expecting their first child together. March 2021: Emily gives birth to their son, Sylvester Apollo Bear. May 2022: The two attend Entourage muse Ari Emanuel and designer Sarah Staudinger's star-studded wedding together. June 2022: Emily and Sebastian's last sighting together soaking up sun on the beach in Porto Ercole, Italy. Advertisement They made their red carpet debut in March of that year, while attending the 33rd Annual Film Independent Spirit Awards together, and the two looked like the epitome of marital bliss at the event. 'Emily looked so in love with her husband. She kept staring at him, smiling and was touching his face a lot,' an onlooker told E! News. 'Emily rested her head on his shoulder and looked truly happy.' Their four-year romance was plagued with scandal and controversy, starting with the fact that they had wed after only a few days together. The pair received a lot of backlash online for the whirlwind romance, and Emily later defended their decision to get married so quickly, explaining during an appearance on Busy Tonight that their relationship had been building for a long time before they started dating. The model was pictured moving her stuff out of the New York City apartment that she previously shared with Sebastian last month. As movers removed her furniture, artwork, clothing, and other belongings from the home, Emily was seen carrying out a plant. Emily and Sebastian, who is best known for producing movies Uncut Gems, Good Time, and Funny Pages, were first linked on Valentine's Day in February 2018 - one month after news had hit the web that she had split from her boyfriend Jeff Magid after three years together. 'We knew each other for a long time before,' she explained. 'He likes to joke, "Yeah everyone thinks we got married quickly, but you vetted me for two years."' Neither Emily nor Sebastian have made any public comments in regards to the status of their marriage as of yet. They were last spotted together in mid-June while on vacation in Italy, and appeared in good spirits as they relaxed on Porto Ercole beach together. The couple was also among the many celebrity guests at Ari Emanuel's wedding to Sarah Staudinger in St. Tropez in late May. She first sparked breakup rumors in July, when she was seen going for a stroll in New York with the couple's son, and was not wearing her wedding ring. The model was pictured moving her stuff out of the New York City apartment that she previously shared with Sebastian last month. As movers removed her furniture, artwork, clothing, and other belongings from the home, Emily was seen carrying out a plant. Zac Efron is seen traveling through Australia in a preview for the second season of his Netflix show Down to Earth with Zac Efron: Down Under. The 35-year-old actor on the series explores the globe with wellness expert Darin Olien learning about sustainable living practices as well as local culture and cuisine. In the preview for the upcoming season, which spans eight episodes running 40 minutes a piece, scenes depict Efron hiking, bungee jumping, diving and snorkeling next to barrier reefs. He is also seen trying out local cuisine. The latest: Zac Efron, 35, is seen traveling through Australia in a preview for the second season of his Netflix show Down to Earth with Zac Efron: Down Under Efron narrates the clip, 'This time, we're taking a deep dive into the sixth largest country in the world - Australia. With a unique variety of biomes, climates and organisms, we're covering as much territory as we can. 'We'll be visiting some of the top innovators - all seeking to find cleaner, better and more sustainable ways of living - and using the lessons learned on this continent to serve as the microcosm for the entire planet.' The first season of the series, which debuted in 2020, saw Efron, who is also an executive producer, visit locales including Costa Rica, England, France, Iceland, Italy, Peru and Puerto Rico. He said on the show's previous season: 'We're traveling around the world to find some new perspectives on some very old problems. Food, water and energy are all the main staples for modern life.' The actor was seen walking through a field in a preview for the second season of the series In the preview for the upcoming season, which spans eight episodes running 40 minutes a piece, scenes depict Efron hiking, bungee jumping, diving and snorkeling next to barrier reefs The High School Musical alum is seen trying out local delicacies on the first edition of the new season The Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile actor celebrated his 35th birthday on Tuesday. He took to Instagram with a childhood shot, captioning it: '35, but still 7 at heart. Thanks for all the bday love.' The second season of Down to Earth with Zac Efron: Down Under debuts on November 11. The actor on the series explores the globe with wellness expert Darin Olien They learn about sustainable living practices as well as local culture and cuisine Efron has visited locales such as Costa Rica, England, France, Iceland, Italy, Peru and Puerto Rico in his journeys on the series Country Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) 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Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Haiti, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Jamaica Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Mexico, United Mexican States Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu US Virgin Islands Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. 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 Young Japanese scholars are moving to China for better opportunities: Asahi Shimbun Xinhua) 14:35, October 19, 2022 TOKYO, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Young Japanese scholars are opting to do research at Chinese universities for more promising career prospects, Japan's Asahi Shimbun has reported. The daily newspaper cited the case of Motoyuki Hattori, a promising young scholar who left Japan seven years ago for a professorship at Fudan University in Shanghai. Hattori, now 40, specializes in the structure and function of membrane transporters. He said when he graduated from university seven years ago, he wanted to quickly start his own laboratory, but the process usually takes at least 10 years in Japan. He decided to move to China. The newspaper reported that Japan has been using a funding system that critics say is pushing away young researchers. China's fast-changing academic landscape makes it easier for scholars like Hattori to head abroad. Chinese scientists in their 30s and 40s who studied in the United States have begun returning home to work and publish scientific articles. Furthermore, with a growing pool of young talent, China does not have to rely on costly programs to lure big names, said Hattori. "It is essential for progress in science to have large numbers of scholars and to have them in broader areas," the scholar said, adding that the Chinese government's increasing support for regional universities to raise academic standards across the country has proven effective. (Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Hongyu) A third of Ukraine's power plants were destroyed by Russian attacks, which totaled over 200 in just a few days. President Volodymyr Zelensky claims that this week alone, Russia has attacked the besieged country with over 200 missile attacks, damaging 30% of its electrical capacity and causing extensive power outages, as per The Sun. As winter approaches, a missile and drone blitz has destroyed a third of the nation's power plants in just eight days. Yesterday, additional drone attacks on energy infrastructure caused areas of the capital to lose power for many hours. At least three locals perished. Russia's Drones Target Ukraine's Power Supplies According to officials, 1,162 towns or villages in 16 regions of Ukraine are currently without electricity. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said hospitals were being compelled to use backup generators as a result of Vladimir Putin's targeting of power plants, which is illegal under the laws of armed warfare. Zelensky once more ruled out the possibility of peace negotiations with the dictator in the Kremlin, stating that there was no place left for conversations with Putin's administration. With such activities, he continued, the terrorist state will not change anything for itself. As winter sets in, depriving people of heat, electricity, and water, as well as expanding the use of so-called suicide drones that plunge into their targets, have heralded the beginning of a new phase in Russian President Vladimir Putin's war. The attacks appear to be intended to weaken the remarkable resiliency Ukrainians have displayed in the close to eight months since Moscow's invasion, Daily Mail reported. Sergei Surovikin, Russia's new commander, conditions for Russian forces on the front lines in the southern area and city of Kherson continued to be exceedingly challenging. In order to prepare for an anticipated Ukrainian offensive, Putin informed reporters in Moscow that the Russian military would aid in the evacuation of residents. One of the four areas that Russia illegally annexed last month was Kherson. Residents of Berislav, Belozersky, Snigiryovsky, and Alexandrovsky were to be relocated across the Dnieper River, away from Russian forces erecting huge defensive structures, according to regional leader Vladimir Saldo on Tuesday. Vladimir Saldo advised the populace to maintain their composure and assured them that the Russian army would continue to provide trustworthy security. Saldo had additionally encouraged Kherson residents to leave on Friday. The only exit they have provided, Russian authorities provide free travel and lodging to anybody who enter Russia. Read Also: US Military Ratings: Air Force Found to Be 'Very Weak,' Marine Corps Only the 'Strong' Force Russia-Ukraine War Update Basic utilities are no longer certainties throughout Ukraine, even away from the front lines, as a result of frequent Russian airstrikes that cause significant infrastructure damage throughout the nation. Zhytomyr, located around 140 kilometers (85 miles) west of Kiev and home to military stations, industry, and leafy boulevards, was the most recent city to lose its power. The mayor claimed that initially, the 250,000-person metropolis lost both power and water. Some homes were immediately repaired and restored, but 150,000 people continued to lack energy hours after the morning walkout, according to regional authorities. Two persons were killed and two power facilities were damaged by missile strikes in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, according to local authorities. 50,000 people lost electricity as a result of the attack for a short while. Assaults on the northeastern district of Sumy and substantial damage to an energy complex in the south-central city of Dnipro were also caused by missiles. The southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv was attacked using S-300 air defense missiles, which Russia has been repurposing as ground attack weapons as its stockpiles are depleting. According to the regional governor, eight rockets fired from Russia's side of a nearby border in the eastern city of Kharkiv struck an industrial area, as per Daily Sun. Additionally, according to the secretary-general of the alliance, NATO will send air defense systems to Ukraine in the upcoming days to assist the nation in defending itself from drones, including those from Iran, that Russia is deploying to target vital infrastructure. Jens Stoltenberg, the head of NATO, stated during a security conference in Berlin that the allies must increase the delivery of air defense systems as a response to the strikes. In the upcoming days, NATO will offer counter-drone systems to combat the specific drone threat, which includes Iranian drones. Russian military efforts in Ukraine were being hampered by Western sanctions, Iranian sources told Reuters, and Tehran has vowed to provide Moscow with missiles, according to ABC. Related Article: North Korea Fires Artillery Shells as Warning to South's Military Drills Amid Increasing Hostilities @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Russia's latest missile attacks on Ukrainian power infrastructure resulted in a massive energy outage in Ukrainian villages, towns, and portions of two cities on Wednesday, authorities said. For almost two weeks, Russian drone attacks and other weapons targeted Ukraine's essential infrastructure. The onslaught comes as Russian soldiers are pulled back to the ground, AP News reported. Moscow's attacks on Ukraine's vital energy infrastructure should be viewed as "war crimes," according to the chairman of the European Commission. The attacks, according to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, are acts of sheer horror that highlight "a new chapter" in an already extremely terrible conflict. Speaking to lawmakers on Wednesday at the European Parliament, von der Leyen condemned Russia's Russian drone attacks on civilian infrastructure with the clear aim to cut off men, women, and children of water, electricity, and heating with the winter coming, per CNN. She noted that "these are acts of pure terror and we have to call it as such." Russia's Recent Attacks Target Ukraine's Energy Infrastructure It has become clear in recent days that the Kremlin has started a comprehensive attack on Ukrainian power infrastructure, cutting off water and energy to key cities amid the Russia Ukraine War. As of Tuesday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that 30 percent of the country's power stations had been damaged since October 10. This, he added, has resulted in "huge blackouts" throughout the country. Meanwhile, soon the Ukrainian army will attempt to reclaim the city of Kherson in the south, according to one of the highest-ranking Russian-appointed officials. The Russian military in the area has been pushed back 20-30 km (13-20 miles) in the past several weeks, and the deputy head of the local government, Kirill Stremousov, has issued a video appeal. Read Also: French Workers Protest in France, Demanding Higher Benefits, Salaries Amid Soaring Cost of Living Eight months after being invaded, Ukraine is launching immense counteroffensives in the east and south to gain ground before winter. A month ago in the Russia Ukraine War, Russia unlawfully annexed Kherson as part of a broader push to solidify its land-grabbing efforts, which was highly criticized and rejected by Western nations. Russian President Vladimir Putin claims the surrounding land has been legally annexed into Russia, including the city in question. This claim has been rejected by Ukraine and the West. Thousands of lives have been lost, and millions of people have been uprooted as a result of this violence. Cities in Ukraine have been destroyed, and the world economy has been rattled. Authorities Urge Mass Evacuation in Kherson Stremousov warned that Ukrainian forces may shell Kherson, especially the city's right bank, and promised to relocate everyone who fled to Russia. The official urged the public to take the advisory "seriously" and to evacuate the fastest way possible, as per Reuters. Approximately 50,000 to 60,000 people would be evacuated to Russia and the left bank of the Dnieper River in the next six days, according to the Russian-installed leader of the Kherson area, as reported by the TASS news agency. Before the war, Kherson's population was estimated to be roughly 280,000 people, although many have subsequently abandoned the city. According to Kherson Mayor Vladimir Saldo, the Ukrainian army is building up forces for a large-scale attack. No civilians are allowed in areas where the army is conducting operations. Related Article: Iran Sending More Missiles, Kamikaze Drones to Russia After Bombings in Ukraine @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Parties are elections for the MLC seats from the teacher and graduate constituencies of East Rayalaseema (Photo: File | Representational) NELLORE: The YSR Congress, Telugu Desam and teachers unions affiliated to the left parties are gearing up for elections for the MLC seats from the teacher and graduate constituencies of East Rayalaseema in erstwhile Chittoor, Nellore and Prakasam districts. Both the teachers and graduates seats are usually bagged by teachers associations, mainly the UTF (United Teachers Front) affiliated to the CPIM because of their strong ground-level network. UTF nominees bagged both the teachers and graduates seats in the 2017 elections. However, the YSR Congress is putting in a lot of effort to breach the bastion of the UTF this time and has activated its cadres to enroll pro-YSRC graduates and teachers in large numbers. Other parties are also working hard for enrolment of voters from on October 1. The deadline for the enrolment is November 7. As many as 47,028 graduates and 791 teachers filed their applications both online and off-line for enrollment as on October 17. In the previous elections held in March 2017, the graduate voters numbered 2,18,356 and teacher voters 20,121. UTF nominees Vitapur Balasubhramanyam and K Srinivasulu Reddy bagged the teachers and graduates seats then. This time, the YSR Congress has fielded Perneti Syamprasad Reddy for the graduates constituency and Parvatareddy Chandrasekhar Reddy for the teachers constituency. Syam Prasad Reddy is an active leader in YSR Congress and his wife Sushmitha Reddy is chairperson of the AP Seeds Corporation. Chandrasekhar Reddy is correspondent of Krishna Chaitanya Educational Institutes and chairman of Indian Red Cross Society, Nellore unit. As for UTF, teachers union leader P Babu Reddy of Nellore will be contesting for the Teachers constituency seat while M Venkateswar Reddy of Ongole is fielded for the graduates constituency. The Telugu Desam is supporting teacher LC Ramana Reddy of the AP Teachers Federation (APTF) for the teachers constituency and former ZPTC member K Srikanth Reddy for the graduates constituency. A teacher in Nellore rural segment said most of the teachers are unhappy with the previous MLCs representing the teachers segment from UTF as they failed to resolve the issues affecting teachers. They are also unhappy with the government because of the halt to teacher recruitments and this has increased the number of single teacher schools. Asked about the chances of the YSR Congress, a teacher said the teacher community may not back the ruling party nominees as teachers are being held responsible for a lot of non-teaching works, like the implementation of the Nadu-Nedu programme, the Midday Meal etc. He drew attention to the various apps given to teachers to upload attendance and photos of toilets and so on every day. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) took up the issue of 'identical symbols' to the Delhi headquarters of the Election Commission India (ECI) on Tuesday. HYDERABAD: The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) took up the issue of 'identical symbols' to the Delhi headquarters of the Election Commission India (ECI) on Tuesday. Former party MP, B. Vinod Kumar and additional advocate general J. Ramachandra Rao met the poll body officials and objected to ECs allotment of symbols to independents in the Munugode by-elections that were identical to their car symbol. They sought ECI to cancel 'identical symbols' allotted to independents as this could confuse voters and dent the prospects of TRS in the election. Vinod took serious exception to the 'road roller' symbol allotted to an independent candidate. He pointed out that the EC had removed the road roller from the list of 'free symbols' in 2011 after TRS had lodged a complaint. He wondered how the symbol had resurfaced. He sought removal of eight symbols-camera, chapati roller, doli, road roller, soap dish, television, sewing machine and ship from the list of 'free symbols' in order to ensure free and fair elections. Congress party presidential candidate Shashi Tharoor has tea at a roadside stall during his visit to Lucknow (PTI Photo/Nand Kumar) New Delhi: Congress presidential poll candidate Shashi Tharoor's team has written to the party's chief election authority, flagging "extremely serious irregularities" in the conduct of the election in Uttar Pradesh and demanded that all votes from the state be deemed invalid, sources said. Tharoor's campaign team has also raised "serious issues" in the conduct of the election in Punjab and Telangana. In his letter to Central Election Authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry, Tharoor's chief election agent Salman Soz has said the facts are "damning" and the election process in Uttar Pradesh is "devoid of credibility and integrity", they said. Soz conveyed to Mistry that what has been witnessed in Uttar Pradesh is an open challenge to the authority of "your office" as well as contempt for the orders of the Congress president and the Congress Working Committee to hold free and fair elections. "We would like to underline that we have no evidence that Mallikarjun Kharge ji was aware of how his supporters were engaging in electoral malpractice in Uttar Pradesh. We are certain that if he was aware, he would never allow what happened in Uttar Pradesh," Soz said in his letter, according to sources. "He (Kharge) would not allow the tainting of an election that is so important for the Indian National Congress," Soz was quoted as saying in the letter. The "irregularities" in Uttar Pradesh flagged by Tharoor's team include use of unofficial seals for ballot boxes, presence of unofficial persons in polling booths, voting malpractice, no polling summary sheet, presence of AICC secretaries in-Charge of Uttar Pradesh. "We do not see how this election can be deemed free and fair if the tainted process of Uttar Pradesh is allowed to stand. We, therefore, demand that all votes from Uttar Pradesh be deemed invalid," the letter dated October 18 said, according to the sources. Tharoor's team said it suspects "voter fraud" in this election, alleging that there were delegates who were not present in the Lucknow area on the day of voting and their votes were cast. There were complaints from people about not being allowed to cast their votes since others had already cast their votes, the letter said. "When our agents complained about voter malpractice, supporters of the other side would come inside the polling booth and create a ruckus and start threatening our polling agents," Soz said, according to sources. In a separate letter to Mistry, Tharoor's team also raised serious issues in the conduct of the election in Punjab and Telangana. Tharoor had repeatedly raised the issue of uneven playing field in the polls but maintained that Gandhis had assured him of neutrality. Of the total 9,915 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates that formed the electoral college to pick the party chief in a secret ballot, over 9,500 cast their ballot at PCC offices and the AICC headquarters on Monday. Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan recently commented that despite his party having an alliance with BJP, there was no proper coordination from the BJP. (Representational Image) VIJAYAWADA: Fissures have emerged in the state BJP as its former president Kanna Lakshminarayana accused incumbent Somu Veerraju of failing to properly coordinate with Jana Sena leadership for the two parties to sail together as an alliance in the state. Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan recently commented that despite his party having an alliance with BJP, there was no proper coordination from the BJP, and hence not much headway for the alliance to jointly organise a series of programmes. Kanna Lakshminarayana has been in touch with Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan for some time saying the AP BJP leadership failed to maintain proper relations with him. Lakshminarayana is likely to leave BJP and join the Jana Sena. He has been a staunch opponent of Telugu Desam chief N Chandrababu Naidu from the beginning of his political career. Notably, when Lakshminarayana was about to join the YSR Congress, he got an offer from the BJP national leadership to lead the party in AP and it happened that way. He, though, was later replaced as state BJP chief by another leader. Lakshminarayana had also been made a BJP national executive member. When contacted, Lakshminarayana said, Whatever Pawan Kalyan said is true. If our party central leadership asks me about this, I will certainly inform them as to how the state BJP leadership failed to maintain proper relationship with the Jana Sena leadership. Ever since the change of leadership in state BJP from Kanna Lakshminarayana to Somu Veerraju, both were not getting along well. Veerraju often draws criticism that he never allows other leaders to join him in organising party programmes. Lakshminarayana said when he was the party chief, there used to be a meeting between BJP national general secretary D Purandeswari and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan every month and with other BJP leaders every two months. Such a practice was not being followed after his term as party chief, and this caused a void between the two parties. However, Lakshminarayana denied any plan to leave the BJP and said he reacted on Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyans statement only to confirm this was true. AIADMK cadres and leaders protesting against the Tamil Nadu government have been detained, according to ANI. Those detained include party leader D Jayakumar. "This is a democracy, peaceful agitation should be allowed," he said. Chennai, Tamil Nadu | AIADMK cadres protest against the Tamil Nadu government, leaders including D Jayakumar detained by police "This is a democracy, peaceful agitation should be allowed," he says pic.twitter.com/Ga49aUcd5Q ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2022 More to follow... India on Tuesday not-so-subtly warned China against making any attempt to establish a new normal along the disputed boundary between the two nations. The continuation of the current impasse will not benefit either India or China, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, adding, New normals of posture will inevitably lead to new normals of responses. He was speaking at a conference held by the Centre for Contemporary China Studies in New Delhi. His comment on the continued impasse in India-China relations was indicative of New Delhis position that the stand-off between the armed forces of the two nations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh was not yet over. Beijing has of late been claiming that the mutual withdrawal of troops by the Chinese PLA and the Indian Army from Patrolling Point 15 (Gogra-Hotsprings area) last month marked the restoration of normalcy along the LAC. Chinas claim appeared to be an attempt to subtly build up pressure on India to accept the new normal in Depsang and Demchok areas, where the Chinese PLA continues to block the Indian Armys access to several patrolling points. The stand-off had started in April-May 2020 when China had flouted its 1993 and 1996 agreements with India and deployed a large number of troops along the LAC in eastern Ladakh. India too had deployed additional troops to respond to Chinas bid to change the status quo along the disputed boundary between the two nations. Also Read | China's party congress promises continuity, not change The relations between New Delhi and Beijing hit a new low over the past two-and-a-half years. The last few years have been a period of serious challenge, both for the relationship (between India and China) and for the prospects of the continent, said Jaishankar. It is the willingness to take a long-term view of their ties that the two countries must display today. The Indian Army is likely to insist on the withdrawal of the Chinese PLAs troops from Depsang and Demchok areas of eastern Ladakh when the senior commanders of the two sides meet next to hold the 17th round of negotiations. The PLA troops deployed in Depsang, well inside the territory of India along the LAC with China, are still continuing to block the Indian Armys access to Patrolling Points 10, 11, 12, 12A and 13. A face-off is also continuing in Demchok. Jaishankar on Tuesday said that Indias policy in its engagement with China in the past had exhibited a remarkable degree of self-restraint, which led to the expectation that others could have a veto over its choices. That period, however, is now behind us. The new era is apparently not just for China, said the External Affairs Minister, sending out a message to Beijing. Jammu and Kashmir police said that the hybrid militant, Imran Bashir, arrested following the death of two migrant labourers in a grenade blast in Shopian, was killed in an anti-militancy operation on Wednesday. Based on disclosure of arrested hybrid #terrorist & in continuous raids by Police & security forces, another contact has been established between terrorists & SFs at Nowgam #Shopian, in which hybrid terrorist namely Imran Bashir Ganaie killed by firing of another terrorist (sic), Kashmir Zone Police tweeted. Incriminating material, including arms and ammunition, were seized from the encounter site, police said. The search operation is still going on. Based on disclosure of arrested hybrid #terrorist & in continuous raids by Police & security forces, another contact has been established between terrorists & SFs at Nowgam #Shopian, in which hybrid terrorist namely Imran Bashir Ganaie killed by firing of another terrorist. (1/2) Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) October 18, 2022 Two non-local labourers from Uttar Pradesh, identified as Monish Kumar and Ram Sagar, were killed in a grenade attack by militants in the Hermain area of Shopian on Monday night. Within hours of the incident police claimed that two hybrid militants of Lashker-e-Toiba involved in the crime were arrested. One of the arrested hybrid militants was Imran Bashir Ganie of Hermain, whom police claimed was killed in an anti-militancy operation on Wednesday morning. According to police, hybrid militants are not listed as militants, but radicalised and trained enough to carry out terror attacks and then slip back into the routine life. As most of them are teenagers and highly motivated, they do not cross the border for arms training nor do they go underground to commit violent acts. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against 12 accused, including Pakistan based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar, in the Sunjwan terror attack case. A spokesperson of the probe agency said that a chargesheet was filed in NIA Special Court, against 12 accused persons for hatching a conspiracy by Kashmir based militant operatives and their Pakistan based leadership/handlers. Two JeM terrorists were infiltrated into India territory through a tunnel. This tunnel had been excavated on the International Border in the area falling under border out post Chack Faqira in Samba sector of Jammu with the intention of disrupting the scheduled visit of Prime Minister, the NIA investigation revealed. Also Read | J&K: 'Hybrid militant' involved in labourers' killing dies in anti-terror operation On April 22, two days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Jammu, two fidayeen (suicide) terrorists affiliated with the JeM had attacked a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) bus, killing an officer while injuring at least nine security personnel. Both the terrorists were neutralised in the retaliatory action by the security forces. The investigation into the terror attack was handed over to the NIA by Union Ministry of Home Affairs. Maulana Masood Azhar, the founder of JeM, who was released by India in December 1999 in exchange of the passengers of hijacked Indian Airlines plane, has been named as one of the accused in the Sunjwan terror attack. Shafeeq Ahmad Sheikh and Abid Mushtaq Mir, Asif Ahmad Sheikh all residents of Pulwama, Bilal Ahmad Wagay, Mohammad Ishaq Chopan residents of Anantnag, Rouf Asgar Alvi, Mohammad Mussdaiq alias Doctor alias Abdul Manan alias Wahid Khan, Shahid Latif alias Chotta Shahid alias Noor Al Din (all residents of Pakistan) and Masood Ilyas Kashmiri alias Abu Mohammad of Rawalakot, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir have been named in the chargesheet. The chargesheet against two slain militants of the JeM has been abated. The NIA investigation has revealed that the accused Shafeeq Sheikh, Bilal Wagay, Ishaq Chopan, Abid Mir and Asif Sheikh, entered into a criminal conspiracy with two Pakistani militants and JeM leadership in the furtherance of which they received, transported and provided logistic support to two terrorists who entered into Indian territory to execute a suicidal attack on the security forces and other vital installations in Jammu region with a view to disrupt the scheduled visit of the Prime Minister. Despite repeated court orders stating that the ongoing stir should not affect the construction of the Vizhinjam international seaport project, Keralas CPI(M) government is maintaining a consensus approach. This stand of the Kerala government differs from the police action it took against those who protested against the yet-to-be-approved SilverLine semi-high-speed rail project. The double standard of the Left Front government in its approach towards the two mass movements seems to be due to vote bank interests, rather than concerns over a possible violent reaction of the coastal community to any police action against the Vizhinjam port stir being spearheaded by the Latin Catholic community. It is over two months since the construction work of the Adani Vizhinjam seaport came to a standstill after the coastal community launched the stir on August 16. Even as the government accepted most demands, except for stopping the construction work, the stir was only being scaled up. A roadblock staged as part of the stir the other day even caused much hardship to the people and many missed flights as they could not reach the airport in time. Adani group already expressed concerns about the project, which already missed deadlines owing to natural calamities and Covid, and may further miss the 2023 deadline as the work on the breakwater and berth are on a standstill over the last two months. So far around 70% of the work is over, they said. The government sources maintain that the use of force was avoided in view of intelligence inputs that it could lead to widespread tension along the coastal belt of Kerala, but political analysts said that the government could be more concerned over the coastal vote bank as well as trying to avoid the wrath of the Christian community spearheading the stir. Political analyst Joseph C Mathew said that the CPI(M) governments consensus approach towards the agitation against Vizhinjam port could not be considered as any sort of sentiment towards the agitators. The government was only taking steps in favour of the port like ensuring rock supply. The present consensus approach is due to vote bank interests as the coastal and Christian vote banks play crucial roles in the elections, he said. Left Democratic Front convenor and CPI(M) senior leader E P Jayarajan said, The government is trying to make the agitators aware of the advantages of the port project as they seem to be misled by vested interest groups working against the port project. The Rs 7,500 crore project initiated in 2015 is expected to attract motherships and to boost Keralas economy. A hacker had breached the Hong Kong government organizations for at least a year undetected, researchers said. Symantec researchers discovered the cyberattacks, which they attributed to APT41 (a.k.a. Winnti), that compromised the government organizations in the administrative region. The attackers have remained active in some organizations for more than a year, the researchers at Symantec said. Spyder Loader The attacker used Spyder Loader malware indicating that the attack was a continuation of Operation CuckooBees, targeting this time the government organizations in Hong Kong. Spyder Loader was first discussed in a blog by SonicWall in March 2021. At the time, the researchers said, the malware was used to attack information storage systems, execute harmful payloads, coordinate script execution, C&C server communication, and harvest the information about corrupted devices. It appears, according to the researchers, the cyberattack against Hong Kong's government organizations was a continuation of "Operation CuckoBees." Read Also: UK NHS Outage: Did a Cyberattack Cause It? 'Operation CuckoBees' The researchers at Cybereason discovered Operation CuckooBees in May 2022. Operation CuckoBees, a campaign that sought to gather intelligence information, had been operating undetected since 2019. It surreptitiously gathered intellectual property, and other sensitive data from the tech and manufacturing companies in East Asia, Western Europe, and North America. Symantec said the Spyder Loader, a Trojan.Spyload, was deployed on the networks of the targeted victims. This could be an indication that the attack was part of the continuing campaign. All indications, Symantec said, point to intelligence gathering as the ultimate objective of the attack. Similarities Between Spyder Loader And Operation CuckoBees Operation CuckoBees attackers had drawn away information by hundreds of gigabytes from the intellectual property the victims had developed. These information include blueprints, diagrams, sensitive documents, and proprietary data related to manufacturing. The threat actor had also raided the victims of data they can use in future attacks, namely: data about customers, credentials, and information on network architecture. One of the tools used in Operation CuckoBees, Symantec noted, was the Spyder Loader malware - the same tool used in the attack against Hong Kong. The hackers have apparently evolved the malware in the recent attack, the researchers said. Symantec researchers said both Spyder Loader and Operation CuckoBees have the following similarities: The use of CryptoPP C++ library Assembled as a 64-bit DLL modified copy of the SQLite3 DLL to manage SQLite databases with a malicious export (sqlite3_extension_init) The abuse of rundll32.exe o execute malware loader At the initial stage of the attack, according to Symantec, Spyder Loader used AES-encrypted blobs that eventually created the "wlbsctrl.dll" payload for the next stage. Attack's Goals Symantec researchers observed the use of Mimikatz password extractor in the Hong Kong campaign. This enabled the attack to dig deeper into the targeted network. A trojanized ZLib DLL with several malicious exports was observed by Symantec. One of these malicious exports, the researchers said, seemed to wait for further communication from a command-and-control server. While in waiting mode, the other will load a payload from the file name provided for in the command line. The researchers admitted they could not retrieve the final payload to give them a clear understanding about the goal of the attack. But the apparent goal of the latest campaign was to collect intelligence data from key government organizations in Hong Kong, they said. Related Article: Toyota Suspected Cyberattack: Car Maker Closes Down All Factories in Japan In the months before the brutal assassination of Ahmad Shah Massoud, the commander of the India-backed Northern Alliance in Afghanistan, two days before the Al Qaidas attacks on New Yorks Twin Towers in September 2001, the Afghan resistance leader had an unusual visitor: A CIA operative based in Pakistan had finally been granted a face-to-face meeting. Massouds inner circle, deeply uncomfortable over the US spy being given access to their hideout, were even more taken aback by what he had to say on why Washington chose to partner with Pakistan and had cold-shouldered Massoud, the charismatic Tajik leader who had doggedly fought the Soviets, built an army of resistance that cut across Afghanistans ethnic divide, and kept the Taliban at bay. One of the many young fighters in the room that day, who 21 years later remains deeply suspicious of the CIAs role in Massouds assassination, remembers how affronted they all were at the CIA officers open support for Pakistans continued role in Afghanistan through its hated Taliban proxy. As he told me recently: We were shocked. Firstly, that Massoud would talk to the Americans, who had given us nothing. And secondly, when the CIA operative said, you know theres a reason that the West chose to back Pakistan over you. They speak our language not just English but they can present their argument, lay out their long-term strategy, which Washington buys into. You dont. Massoud, he said, simply shrugged it off. But some 20 years later, with the US handing Afghanistan back to Pakistan on a platter on August 15, 2021, the CIA operatives words seemed prescient; as true then as it is now. Donald Trumps administration may have called Pakistan out for its lies and deceit when it scrapped decades-old security and defence ties. But now, with even the Financial Action Task Force poised to take Islamabad off the grey list for terror financing and money laundering, Pakistan seems to have once again made the better argument, President Joe Bidens most dangerous nation comment notwithstanding. Its case being promoted by Zalmay Khalilzad, the Afghan-born US Special Envoy, who shares the Talibans Pashtun ancestry and whose February 2020 Doha peace deal with the Quetta Shura was primarily an agreement with the Pakistani army and intelligence to ensure an incident-free withdrawal of US forces. Rawalpindi has used geography and geopolitics and its perceived influence over the Taliban to its advantage to reclaim its most-favoured ally status. Delhi, arm-twisted into withdrawing support to even the remnants of the Northern Alliance (now led by Ahmed Shah Massouds son Ahmed Massoud), seems to have few cards left to play. Massoud Srs forces, it must be recalled, had chased the Soviets out of Afghanistan in 1992 through the Soviet-built Salang Pass. And when the Taliban took Kabul barely four years later in 1996, it was Massouds gritty coalition of anti-Taliban forces -- which included not just Tajiks, but Uzbeks, Hazaras and the majority Pashtuns led by the one-legged commander Abdul Haq (who had been picked to lead the government if the Taliban had not eliminated him) -- who put up a united front that bested the Kandahar-based militia and their Pakistani handlers in Rawalpindi. Today, in an eerie repeat of history, a National Resistance Front (NRF) put together by Massoud Jr is the only force pushing back against the Taliban. Except this time, its remit is limited to the Panjshir and Andarab valleys, its ranks made up of former members of the Afghan National Army and residents of Panjshir. The 25,000-man force has no international support, no funding, no arms supply. The Taliban, by contrast, has access to $7.1 billion worth of military equipment, helicopters and supplies left behind by the US. Armed with a much clearer military strategy this time around, led by the Pakistani armed forces that swept in with the Taliban, they made sure that supply lines from neighbouring Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, once the Northern Alliances lifeline, were cut, ensuring that the ragtag group of resistance forces could not re-arm. Chilling videos of a group of 40 young men, including the NRF chief commander Saleh Mohammed, captured after they ran out of ammunition, their arms tied behind their backs, facing Taliban firing squads have been doing the rounds. The NRF are taking some comfort from the fact that two senior Taliban commanders -- Qari Anas, the Talibans intelligence chief, and former Guantanamo Bay detainee and recently appointed War Commander Mullah Abdul Qayyum Zakir -- met the same fate in May and September respectively, as have 85 Talibs. Massoud Jr has appealed to the international community to stop the genocide of his people, but his plea has fallen on deaf ears. Even more shocking is the shifting of loyalties by former Tajik resistance leaders like the former Governor of Balkh, Ata Mohammed Noor, former Afghan Vice President and Speaker Yunus Qanooni, and the once-feared Uzbek warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum. That is a bigger blow. Some reports indicate, though, that one of Dostums sons has stepped in to bolster the NRF. But it is the curious role played by Dr Abdullah Abdullah, who as head of the National Reconciliation Council, and dubbed the peacemaker, dealt extensively with the Quetta Shura and is now being actively wooed by the West, that is raising many eyebrows. Long seen as being close to New Delhi, his visit to Islamabad in 2020, talking to Pakistani agencies, was the first sign that the former Vice President was not averse to switching sides. The fact that he stayed on in Kabul when Taliban forces captured the capital last August as did former President Hamid Karzai -- unlike President Ashraf Ghani and his entire cabinet, who fled, was the next big signal. That Abdullah conferred closely with the British Ambassador to Afghanistan Washingtons proxy -- who recently hosted a meeting between him and the Taliban (and some say, the Pakistani military), at the embassy, before he made a second visit to the Indian capital in late September, ostensibly to spend time with his family, set off fresh speculation that the Taliban and the West may want him to be the face of the Afghan government. A section of the Taliban has been persuaded that this is the only way to win international recognition, and free funds frozen by the US. Whether this has the backing of the rest of the disparate group of mullahs is unclear. The Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, a creature of Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence, is pitted against Kandahar-based Mullah Yacoob and Mullah Baradar, the son and deputy of Taliban founder Mullah Omar. Meanwhile, the Sirajuddin Haqqani-led faction, with strong links to Al Qaida and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Taliban and its ambitions to create an Islamic state that includes parts of Baluchistan, Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Indian Kashmir, poses a direct challenge to the writ of the Pakistan Army. That the Taliban continues to use drugs to fund its movement, as seen by the huge drugs caches that are fetching up off the coast of Gujarat -- the last seizure, as recently as October 8, was of a Pakistani boat with Rs 350 crore worth heroin on board and that there is an uptick in terror in Jammu and Kashmir show that little has changed. This is why External Affairs Minister S Jaishankars verbal barrage against Americas virtual restoration of Pakistan as its key non-NATO ally -- as amply demonstrated when Washington forked out $450 million to Pakistan for a lifetime upgrade of its F-16 armoury, making its Air Force interoperable with NATO and US forces operating from the Jacobabad airbase -- begs the question: How could India not have seen it coming? India has watched the United States and increasingly now, the UK re-establish ever closer ties with Pakistan, giving it the status of virtual watchdog over Afghanistan and its new rulers, the Taliban. Americas specious argument that it was to help Pakistan, the fount-head of terror, in its counter-terrorism effort, did bring forth Jaishankars biting comment, Youre not fooling anyone. But did Delhi not fool itself? During the EAMs visit to the US, red carpet or not, American officialdom refused to back down from its public insistence that relations with Pakistan were separate from its partnership with Delhi. The buzz is that this is a fallout of Delhis continued oil purchases from Russia, Prime Minister Narendra Modis face-saving message to Russian President Vladimir Putin on this being not an era of war notwithstanding. But the real story lies in the shifting power centres that has seen the vacuum left by the US exit from Afghanistan being filled by Rawalpindi, where a new pro-US army chief is set to be installed. Offering up Al Qaida chief Ayman Al Zawahiri won Pakistan Army Chief Gen Qamar Jawed Bajwa American confidence. It is expected to be bolstered with another Al Qaida offering soon. For Rawalpindi, it seems, as demonstrated by Gen. Bajwas recent tour of Washington, where he was feted and dined on his purported farewell tour after he had rebuilt Pakistans ties with the US, theres no going back. Ahmed Shah Massoud must be turning in his grave. (Neena Gopal is a senior journalist and former Foreign Editor of Gulf News who has reported from various hotspots in South Asia and the Middle East, including Afghanistan) As part of its current focus on Business Crime the Police Service of Northern Ireland is highlighting the work done by its ANPR Interceptor team, in collaboration with partners in the business sector, to tackle shoplifting gangs. The ANPR Interceptor team was formed in 2020 to deny criminals the use of Northern Irelands road network. ANPR stands for Automatic Number Plate Recognition. Inspector Michael Barton who is in charge of the team said: Our high performance vehicles contain technology which allows our officers to detect vehicles which are suspected of involvement in crime. "Our specialist training means that we can stop those vehicles in a manner which keeps everyone safe. While the Interceptor team carries out significant work against stolen vehicles and drug gangs, it has also had significant recent success against organised shoplifting gangs operating across Northern Ireland (NI). Some of these gangs travel across NI, Ireland and GB specifically to carry out high value thefts from retail outlets, sometimes targeting multiple stores on the same day. Inspector Barton added: On a number of recent occasions, working with local policing teams and acting on information provided by retailers, we have stopped vehicles suspected of involvement in major retail thefts. "Items stolen include high value electronic items and printer ink cartridges creating a loss of thousands of pounds for local retailers. The individuals involved have all been brought before the courts and their vehicles seized. Maxine Fraser from Retailers Against Crime a not for profit Crime Partnership said: We work with retailers and Police across NI, Scotland and Northern England sharing information about local and travelling offenders. "Organised, highly mobile shoplifting gangs involved in bulk thefts are very much a national and cross border problem. I am aware that the Police Service of Northern Ireland, through its Interceptor teams, have disrupted at least four such gangs in recent months recovering thousands of pounds of stolen goods. "This exceptional work has undoubtedly prevented further offences across the country and demonstrates the value of retailers reporting suspected incidents to police as quickly as possible. Chief Superintendent Darrin Jones, the Services Business Crime lead, appealed for retailers to work with police, he said: This week the PSNI is taking part in a national week of action against business crime. "All week officers and staff will be out engaging with retailers providing advice and guidance and encouraging them to share information and report crimes to us. There is a perception in some areas that there is little the police can do about shoplifting. I want to assure people that is not the case and urge them to report all crime to us. "Your report might be the final piece of the puzzle that allows us to apprehend these criminals, bring them before the courts and return your stock. The family of the late Daniel Hegarty (15) has welcomed the decision to grant a Judicial Review of their brother's case. The Judicial Review will take place on January 12, 2023. Daniel Hegarty was one of two people shot dead in Derry during Operation Motorman on July 31, 1972. Barrister David Heraghty appeared for Margaret Brady, Daniel's sister. He was instructed by Desmond Doherty of Elev8law and led by Michael Mansfield QC. Counsel for the Public Prosecution Service was Dr Tony McGleenan QC and Mr Mark Mulholland QC appeared for Soldier B, the British soldier who shot Daniel. Speaking to Derry Now following Tuesday's decision, Mr Doherty said: "The Hegarty family welcomes the decision of the Divisional Court this morning to grant their application for Leave for Judicial Review of the decision of the Director of the Public Prosecution Service on July 2, not to prosecute Soldier B for the murder of Daniel in 1972. "We look forward to the full hearing in early January next year. "This development is positive and welcome news during the 50 year anniversary of Operation Motorman," said Mr Doherty. Speaking to Derry Now in July, Margaret Brady recalled the soldier who shot Daniel had left him lying in the street. RECOMMENDED READING She said: He stepped over him. He was taken back to Limavady to barracks. He got a sleeping bag and he went in and slept for a couple of hours. This is a man that murdered a child and he is able to go and grab a sleeping bag and go to sleep for a couple of hours. What kind of human being is he that he could go and do that and my brother lying dead? He never even assisted Daniel, to see if he was dead or if he needed medical help. He just left him lying dead." one of the superhero Shazam's rivals and the Shazam Family's nemesis. Known as Mighty Adam he serves as Egypt's champion for many centuries, however later he is corrupted by Shazam's evil daughter. The bewitched Adam is convinced that he and Blaze are destined to rule Egypt, so he kills the Pharaoh and appoints himself ruler. He is bestowed with the almighty powers of the Egyptian gods, however, due to his misdeeds, he is imprisoned in a tomb for thousands of years. He is freed from his earthly tomb after 5000 years and unleashes his unique form of justice on the modern world. Black Adam was Initially depicted, as a corrupted, ancient Egyptian predecessor of Captain Marvel in the comic books, who challenges the Marvel Family associates. However, in the 21st century, Black Adam has been redefined by DC Comics as a corrupted antihero attempting to clear his name and reputation. He is a ruthless, unstoppable God who lives by an ancient code to protect his family and his people. The DC movie has some very exciting scenes and an interesting storyline which will keep audiences engaged. In a significant decision, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the UK on Tuesday ordered Meta (formerly Facebook) to sell off online database and search engine Giphy it acquired for $315 million. The competition watchdog found that Meta's takeover of Giphy could allow it to limit other social media platforms' access to GIFs, making those sites less attractive to users and less competitive. It also found the deal has removed Giphy as a potential challenger in the UK display advertising market, preventing businesses from benefiting from innovation in this market. Meta, disappointed by the decision, said it will accept the ruling. "We are disappointed by the CMA's decision but accept today's ruling as the final word on the matter. We will work closely with the CMA on divesting Giphy," a company spokesperson said in a statement. "We are grateful to the Giphy team during this uncertain time for their business, and wish them every success. We will continue to evaluate opportunities -- including through acquisition -- to bring innovation and choice to more people in the UK and around the world," the pokesperson added. The CMA said Meta would be able to increase its already significant market power by denying or limiting other social media platforms' access to Giphy GIFs, thereby pushing people to Meta-owned sites, which already make up 73 per cent of user time spent on social media in the UK. "It could require Giphy customers, such as TikTok, Twitter and Snapchat, to provide more data from UK users in order to access Giphy GIFs," the watchdog said. The CMA found that GIFs continue to be an important driver of user engagement on social media platforms, with people making billions of searches globally each month for Giphy GIFs. "This deal would significantly reduce competition in 2 markets. It has already resulted in the removal of a potential challenger in the UK display ad market, while also giving Meta the ability to further increase its substantial market power in social media," said Stuart McIntosh, Chair of the independent inquiry group. (Except for the headline and cover image, the rest of this IANS article is un-edited) For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in. With an aim to woo users, leading PC and laptop maker Dell Technologies and its subsidiary Alienware on Tuesday unveiled a new gaming laptop, Alienware m15 R7, for Indian consumers. Available at a starting price of Rs 1,59,990, the laptop is available across key online and offline stores. "We will continue to up the ante and bring more powerful gaming devices that reflect our core principles of bold innovation, high performance, iconic design, and premium quality," Pujan Chadha, Director-Product Marketing, India Consumer, Dell Technologies, said in a statement. The company said the device offers a USB4 port, delivering gamers multiple benefits that include faster transfer speeds and better management of video bandwidth. With supreme performance and remarkable design, the laptop is equipped with the next-gen AMD Ryzen 6000 H series processors with support for up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU. Moreover, to keep performance high and thermals under control, the new device offers "Cryo-Tech TM cooling technologies", including five tailored power state settings that ensure all sensors drive airflow where needed and as desired by the user. Additionally, the "ComfortView Plus" low blue light technology which is integrated with the display offers hardware-based protection to reduce stress on the eyes without degrading picture quality or performance. (Except for the headline and cover image, the rest of this IANS article is un-edited) For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in. Subscriber content preview Sinclair Broadcast Group named Valerie Koonce vice president/general manager of KBOI/CBS and KYUU/CW in Boise. Koonce, who most recently served as marketing sales manager for KUTV, Sinclair's Salt Lake City television station, will return to Boise, where from 2014-2018 she was the station's general sales manager. Throughout her career, Koonce has held several sales roles including director of sales at Neuhoff Communications, senior account executive at KSTU/FOX 13 in Salt Lake City and local sales manager at ABC4 and CW30 in Salt Lake City. She began her media career as a new business account executive at KUTV, then owned by Vicacom. Koonce holds a degree from the University of Utah and currently serves as president of the Magic Valley Advertising Federation in Idaho. Sinclair Broadcast Group is a diversified media company and provider of local news and sports. The company owns, operates and/or provides services to 185 television stations in 86 markets. . . . Subscriber content preview By HALELUYA HADERO AP Business Writer NEW YORK Amazon workers in upstate New York overwhelmingly rejected a union bid on Tuesday, handing a second defeat to the labor group that's been attempting to drag the company to the negotiating table since a win earlier this year. This time around, warehouse workers near Albany cast 406 votes or about 66% against the Amazon Labor Union, giving the company enough support to push back the fledgling group composed of former and current Amazon workers. . . . Subscriber content preview Photo from CollinsWoermans Instagram [enlarge] The hospital cost $44.5 million. Last weekend, members from the community and project team came together to celebrate the completion of the new Lake Chelan Community Hospital. . . . Subscriber content preview SEATTLE A pair of older Capitol Hill apartment buildings recently sold for about $11.2 million, according to King County records. The seller, via two LLCs, was the Weisenbach family, which had owned the duo for decades. . . . The Netherlands became the first among member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to deploy armed ground robots or unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). The aim is to do more with the same number of people, the Ministry of Defense said, citing the deployment of the so-called Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) for land operations with the "first tactical exercise in Lithuania." UGVs Move Like Tank An Estonian defense company built the armed ground robots under Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry Systems (THeMIS). The UGVs move like tanks and can be outfitted with weapons. In a story published in a military and intelligence trade journal, Janes, The Netherlands deployed four UGVs on Sept. 12. The defense ministry described the deployment as experimental. 'Operational Experiment' Lieutenant Colonel Sjoerd Mevissen, the Royal Netherlands Army's Robotics and Autonomous Systems commander, said the deployment of the four armed ground robots an "operational experiment." Nothing of this kind was seen in the West, he said. Military-relevant Environment The exercise where the UGVs were deployed was not just simple tests. The deployment, he said, acquired a semi-operational status because of the threat from Russia. While the country was not directly at war with Russia, it considered the war in Ukraine as its war. Not The First in The World The Netherlands' armed ground robots were not the first the world has ever seen. Instead, Estonia was the first country in the world to deploy its unarmed THeMIS in Mali in 2019. In 2018, Russia also deployed Uran-9, its version of armed UGVs, in Syria. Both THeMIS and Uran-9 are bigger and capable of carrying more deadly weapons. Russia's UGVs can be deadly. It can carry four 9M120-1 Ataka anti-tank guided missiles on top of a 30mm 2A72 automatic cannon. Several reports, however, said the Russian UGVs performed poorly in the Syrian war. The deadly-looking ground robots reportedly had control problems. Read Also: Save Us From Killer Robots Uran-9 Impressive, Trouble With Fundamentals The look of Russian Uran-9 could be frightening. But the trouble with it was not only with warfare. It performed poorly in remote control warfare. During its Syrian campaign, Uran-9 had trouble with its communication with ground control stations. Its poor gun and suspension system was also a problem, as it could not precisely target an enemy while moving. This array of issues was highlighted during a Russian security conference at the N.G. Kuznetsov Naval Academy in St. Petersberg. The War in Ukraine Is 'Our War' The operational experiment that saw the deployment of The Netherlands' UGVs could be a signal the Dutch government is not taking the threat from Russia lightly. In a published report, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte warned of Russian President Vladimir Putin's plan to establish an empire. Rutte feared that the war would not end in Ukraine. He said any help for Ukraine in its war with Russia is "for ourselves, not for Ukraine." Armed Robot Dog A video of an armed robot dog on Twitter went viral. All the people who laughed off the worrywarts years ago for freaking out about the Funny Dancing Robot Dogs (tm) should be forced to watch this video once a day for the remainder of the year. pic.twitter.com/WBIrlGah3w Sean Chiplock (@sonicmega) July 20, 2022 Boston Dynamics was quick to calm down the public sentiments against weaponizing the robot dog, saying it would not weaponize the robot. Related Article: Russian Terminator Robot Does Horrifying Things While Putin Denies Risk of Robot Army The tech industry is inhabited by big names such as Google, Samsung, HP, and Apple, among others. Perhaps not many people in the U.S. are familiar with the brand Lenovo. But considering the partnerships that they had fostered through the years and their line of products, this company is pretty impressive. Lenovo is a Chinese multinational technology company. They specialize in designing, manufacturing, and marketing electronics. Some of their best-known brands are the ThinkPad business line, the IdeaPad, Yoga, and Legion consumer lines of laptop computers. From its humble beginning, Lenovo became one of the largest companies in the world in terms of PC manufacturing. In this article, we compile ten interesting facts about Lenovo. 1. Lenovo was Founded Almost Four Decades Ago Lenovo is almost 40 years in the industry already. Liu Chuanzhi, together with a group of ten engineers, founded it on November 1, 1984 with just about $30,000 in capital. They initially had the rather unappealing name of New Technology Developer, Inc, which they decided to change. 2. Lenovo was Formerly Called Legend Before Lenovo obtained its name today, it was formerly called Legend. The company changed its name from New Technology Developer, Inc to Legend after a few years since it was founded. In 2003 it changed its name again, this time to the name that it is known today. 3. Lenovo Spent $30 Million on Rebranding in 2003 When it changed its name in 2003 from Legend to Lenovo, the company had to spend $30 million on rebranding. The new name came from "Le" from Legend and "Novo," a Latin term for new. So, the name Lenovo means "The New Legend," as per Android Authority. 4. Lenovo Acquired IBM PC Division in 2005 Lenovo purchased the IBM PC division in 2005 for $1.75 billion. Upon acquisition, Lenovo became the third-largest personal computer company in the world. This is one of the best deals Lenovo has ever entered. 5. Lenovo Adopted its Current Logo in 2015 To match the company's strong image, Lenovo decided to adopt a new logo in 2015. It was introduced together with a new slogan, "Innovation never stands still." The new logo, according to the company, represents "versatility" and a "customer-centric approach to technology." Read Also: Affordable Lenovo Tab P11 (2nd Gen) is Set to Arrive Early Next Year 6. Lenovo Released the Legend PC in 1990 Lenovo released its first Legend-branded personal computer in 1990. Chinese and Asian markets patronized the Legend PC. In addition, the Legend PC was endorsed by a government funding program known as Torch Program. 7. Lenovo's IdeaPad is a Portable 2-in-1 Laptop The IdeaPad Flex series of laptops is popular nowadays for its portability, according to Techie State. Moreover, its feature of being a 2-in-1 laptop with Intel i3 processors, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD storage, Dolby Audio speakers, 10-hour battery back-up, and the Lenovo Digital pen makes it an ideal device for everyday use. 8. Lenovo Has a Unique Ecosystem Known as 'Lenovo Aware' Lenovo has a unique ecosystem known as "Lenovo Aware." It is a system that checks the health and well-being of laptop users. Some of the features are Attention Reminder, Break Reminder, and Distance & Posture detector. 9. Lenovo Laptop Offers Outstanding Battery Life Lenovo's latest Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 in 2021 offers an outstanding battery life of 16 hours. Moreover, you can charge the battery up to 80% in just one hour through their rapid charge feature. 10. Lenovo Boasts That There is an IdeaPad for Everyone Lenovo says that there is an IdeaPad for everyone, from professionals to students. They have a unit for those who need a high-end laptop. Likewise, they have a device for students who need a portable one. Related Article: Lenovo is Offering a Sale for its Newest AMD-Powered ThinkBook 13S | Check Out The Promocodes Irelands deputy premier Leo Varadkar has held a series of meetings with his British counterparts to discuss bilateral issues and to deepen the relationship between Ireland and the UK, his spokesman has said. The Fine Gael leader travelled to London on Wednesday to hold a number of bilateral meetings while on a trade mission to the UK. As part of the trip, Mr Varadkar met with the British deputy prime minister Therese Coffey, and the Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly. Later on Wednesday afternoon he met with Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer. Good to meet @LeoVaradkar today and reflect on the strength of relations. We discussed the importance of finding solutions to the Northern Ireland Protocol that protect the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement. pic.twitter.com/wl6Xmyouv2 James Cleverly (@JamesCleverly) October 19, 2022 All meetings involve an exchange of views on bilateral issues and on deepening the relationship between Ireland and the UK, the spokesman said. Mr Cleverly tweeted: Good to meet Leo Varadkar today and reflect on the strength of (British and Irish) relations. We discussed the importance of finding solutions to the Northern Ireland Protocol that protect the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement. Talks between the UK and the EU to break the impasse over the Northern Ireland Protocol is continuing. The UK Government has vowed to secure changes to the protocol, either by a negotiated compromise with the EU or through proposed domestic legislation which would empower ministers to scrap the arrangements without the approval of Brussels. London and Brussels have given some indications of a potential deal through fresh negotiations. Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said on Wednesday that negotiations were continuing in a positive light but an imminent breakthrough was unlikely given the domestic difficulties facing the UK Government at Westminster. Gardai have seized cannabis worth 200,000 in Dundalk, during a search at an apartment this week. As part of Operation TARA, members of the Ballymun Drugs Unit stopped two vans in Swords, County Dublin on Monday the 17th of October, 2022. Following a search of both vans, cannabis worth 110,000 was seized, along with electronic devices and other drug related paraphernalia. The occupants of the vans, two men in their 30s and one in his 40s, were arrested and taken to Ballymun Garda Station. A follow up search was conducted at a house in Finglas and cannabis worth 38,000 was seized. A man and woman both aged in their 30s were arrested and brought to Blanchardstown Garda Station. A further search was carried out at an apartment in Dundalk, County Louth where cannabis worth 200,000 was seized. The five persons arrested were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 and remain in Garda custody in Ballymun and Blanchardstown Garda Stations. The operation was led by the Ballymun Divisional Drugs Unit assisted by the Ballymun Street Crime Unit, Detective Unit and Regular Units. Following the operation, Assistant Commissioner Angela Willis, Dublin Metropolitan Region said, "Tackling the supply of drugs to communities will continue to be a priority for Divisional Drug Units and all members of An Garda Siochana, working in partnership with local communities to keep people safe. This seizure of a substantial amount of illicit drugs along with paraphernalia utilised to facilitate its distribution is significant in that regard. All of the drugs seized are subject to analysis. The investigation is ongoing and further updates will follow. EDF Renewables Ireland is announcing plans to develop a c.50MW (megawatt) wind farm in County Louth. The proposed Kellystown Wind Farm, which could power more than 35,000 homes, will be located approximately 8km north of Drogheda town. The project team is currently gathering wind data and mapping the environmental constraints on site which will be used to create a preliminary wind turbine layout. Detailed environmental studies will also be carried out at the site, including ecology, noise, landscape and visual assessments. The results of these studies, together with feedback gathered in consultation with local communities, will be used to determine the final wind farm layout and number of turbines. EDF Renewables Ireland intends to submit a planning application and an Environmental Impact Assessment Report in support of the project, which could consist of up to eight turbines, in late 2023. Subject to planning permission, the wind farm could be constructed and operational by 2027. A Community Benefit Fund commensurate with the size of the final project will be established to provide funding for local community initiatives and activities. EDF Renewables Ireland is committed to keeping local people informed about its projects, and a number of public consultation events will take place as plans for Kellystown Wind Farm progress. Commenting on the announcement, Kevin Daly, Head of Development at EDF Renewables Ireland, said: The increases consumers and businesses all over the country have experienced in their energy bills over the last few months have highlighted the need for Ireland to stabilise and secure its own renewable energy supply. Ireland has tremendous wind resources but in order to realise that potential we need to construct and connect wind farms to our electricity grid as a matter of urgency if we are to meet rising demand. That is why projects like Kellystown Wind Farm are so important. Not only do they help to lower energy costs and increase our energy security, they will also help Ireland meet its targets of delivering 80% of its electricity from renewable sources by the end of the decade. If this project is consented and developed, EDF Renewables Ireland looks forward to supporting the activities of local groups and clubs through the Community Benefit Fund. The company is also committed to engaging with members of the local community and to updating them on the projects progress on an ongoing basis. Louth Senator Erin McGreehan along with other members of the Cross Party Oireachtas Group on Cancer brought a new Bill before the Seanad yesterday, October 18th. The Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2022 will aim to ensure cancer survivors are not denied access to financial products like mortgage protection and insurance due to their medical history. A past cancer diagnosis can cause difficulty for some people when it comes to accessing financial products and services, even if they were diagnosed as a child or teen. Research from the Irish Cancer Society and Core Research has shown that nearly a quarter of people affected by cancer report not being able to even get a quote for a range of financial products and services due to a diagnosis at some point in their lives. Almost half feel that insurers are difficult to deal with. This group is over three times more likely to have difficulty purchasing insurance than the general population, and over twice as likely to experience problems in getting a mortgage. The Bill, which will seek to revise current legislation, which was proposed in the Seanad by the Chair of the Committee Fianna Fails Senator Catherine Ardagh. It outlines that a person seeking access to financial services will no longer have to declare a cancer diagnosis five years after finishing active treatment. The move is supported by the Irish Cancer Society. Commenting on the Bill, Senator McGreehan said: I am delighted that the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2022 legislating for the Right to be Forgotten is getting its first reading. "This is the first piece of legislation published by the Cross Party Group on Cancer and something that so many cancer survivors have been waiting for. "The Right to be Forgotten legislation is not something new. "European countries have been leading on this issue ensuring no cancer survivors should be penalised financially when accessing financial products. Its passing would make a positive change in peoples lives, they shouldnt be penalised for having cancer." Irish Cancer Society Director of Advocacy Rachel Morrogh said: No cancer patient should be financially penalised for having survived cancer. "Imagine being a survivor of a childhood cancer and years later being denied what many consider to be rites of passage to adulthood such as getting a mortgage, getting life insurance and even travelling abroad. Survivors feel that they are being punished for their past diagnosis through hefty premiums and, in some cases, denial of cover. "The Irish Cancer Society has previously called for legislative action rather than self-regulation by the insurance industry, which it considers to be too weak a tool to address the difficulties currently experienced by cancer survivors. The publication of todays Bill is a welcome step in the right direction towards the fairer treatment of people impacted by cancer, and we are optimistic that it will receive the support of all parties as it goes through the Houses, thanks to the Cross Party Group on Cancer which is backing this legislation. Passage of the Bill would see Ireland become the latest EU country to ensure the Right to be Forgotten beyond cancer alongside France, Portugal and the Benelux countries. The decision to grant planning permission for a 33 metre lattice mobile and broadband tower in Ardee has been appealed to An Bord Pleanala on a number of grounds. Louth County Council granted conditional planning permission to On Tower Ireland Limited, with an address at Q House, 76 Furze Road, Sandyford Industrial Estate, Dublin 18, for the tower last month. According to the planning application, the development would comprise a 33 meter lattice mobile and broadband tower with headframe carrying telecommunications equipment, together with associated equipment and cabinets within a 2.4m palisade fence compound with access track, at Cappocksgreen, Ardee, Co Louth. A submission had been made to Louth County Council, objecting to the tower by Mr Vincent Matthews on a number of grounds, including in relation to site ownership, lack of consent for use of proposed access road, and inappropriate location for broadband tower. Louth County Council gave the go ahead for the tower on 15 September and following this, an appeal against the decision was then made to An Bord Pleanala on 12 October by Mr Matthews. Among the several grounds for appeal submitted, was a lack of consent for use of proposed access road, inappropriate location for broadband tower, and that the applicant has not demonstrated any exceptional circumstances that would justify locating the proposed development in a residential area. Submissions are due on the appeal by 10 November 2022. Louth student Vanessa Hearty was awarded a Naughton Foundation Scholarship worth 20,000 at a ceremony in the Trinity Business School in Dublin on Saturday, October 15th, 2022. The award was presented by founding patrons of the Naughton Foundation, Dr. Martin Naughton, and his wife Carmel, who were joined by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris to award winning students with their accolades and cheques. Supporting academic and innovative excellence in Irish students, the Naughton Foundation Scholarship Awards are an investment in the future of Ireland's reputation as a country with outstanding graduates promoting the study of engineering, science, and technology at third level. The County Louth winner, Vanessa Hearty, a former student of St Vincents Secondary School, has accepted a place studying Engineering at University College Dublin. Since its establishment in 2008, scholarships worth over 6 million have been awarded to over 350 students. The scheme started in three counties and has continued to expand annually to become a nationwide scheme in 2016. There is one guaranteed scholarship (20,000) for each participating county, with some counties awarded more than one scholarship and each scholarship is worth 5,000 per annum for each year of a students three or four year undergraduate degree. Vanessa joins 37 exceptional Irish students who were awarded third level scholarships towards their studies in the areas of engineering, science, technology, and maths. Vanessas former secondary school, St Vincents Secondary School was awarded a prize of 1000 towards the schools science facilities, for their support of these students. More than 250 schools have also benefited from this prize to date with some schools receiving it on more than one occasion. Speaking about the growth and development of the programme over the past fourteen years, Dr. Martin Naughton has said: We started supporting students in their science and engineering studies in Louth, Meath, and Monaghan in 2008 to give back to our local area. "We never imagined what a wonderful community of connected young people the Naughton Scholarship programme would become. "Our Alumni are an incredible group working in the best Universities, research institutes and businesses across the world. "Each year we hear back from them on the value of this network to them and the connections it has given them across disciplines and Ireland. "They are a wonderful group of young people that are all giving back to society in their own way that we are very proud to be connected with. Pokemon is, without a doubt, one of the most well-known media franchises in the world. The franchise began with the video games published by Nintendo before eventually branching out to include movies, a trading card game, and of course, the anime. Considering the scope of the media franchise and the fact that there are more than 900 Pokemon species in the lore, it probably comes as no surprise that there are a number of Pokemon-related Guinness World Records that have been made. Here are some examples of the Pokemon world records you might not even know existed: First Legendary Pokemon Obtained in Pokemon GO This record belong to Articuno, who was obtained by a player from the United States named Kaitlyn Covey. However, this came to be because of a mistake on the part of Niantic. According to the Guinness World Records, Covey "was mistakenly sent an Articuno by Niantic" on August 2, 2016. The first legendary Pokemon to be officially released for Pokemon GO is actually Lugia. First Pokemon Character Considering that they are the three starter Pokemon of Kanto that featured in many video games, you might have guessed either Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle to be the first ever Pokemon character. That is actually not the case. The first ever Pokemon character, as recorded by the Guinness World Records, is actually Rhydon. Designed by artist Ken Sugimori, Rhydon made its first appearance "in the original Red/Green/Blue versions of the RPG video game." First Pokemon Character to be Trademarked We won't blame you if the first Pokemon that came to mind is Pikachu. Unfortunately, if Pikachu is your guess as the first Pokemon character to be trademarked, you are actually wrong. According to the Guinness World Records, the distinction of being the first Pokemon character to be trademarked actually goes to Mew. The trademark for Mew is actually the first to be applied for and likewise the first to be registered. The application took place on May 9, 1990, while the registration was done on March 31, 1994. Related Article: A New Pokemon Named Lechonk Has Been Unveiled and Fans From the Philippines are Having a Field Day Most Pokemon Identified in One Minute Many of us think that a minute is not a very long time. However, it apparently is enough time to name 80 of the more the 900 Pokemon species that exists. The holder of the Guinness World Record for the most number of Pokemon identified in one minute is Jack Taylor, who is from the United Kingdom. The record of 80 identified Pokemon was achieved on August 18, 2022. Most Popular Pokemon Believe it or not, a general election was held in 2016 to determine which Pokemon is the most popular of them all. Per the Guinness World Records, 562,368 Pokemon Trainers were polled for the elections and the Pokemon that got the most votes is, again, not Pikachu. It is actually Greninja that got 36,235 votes. If you are wondering which Pokemon made it to the top five, you can view the list below: 1. Greninja 2. Arceus 3. Mew 4. Pikachu 5. Sylveon Read Also: [RETRO GAMING] Do You Remember the Nintendo 64 Game Pokemon Puzzle League? People in Ireland need to consider sharing more communal space and embrace multi-generational living, a local authority architect has said. Limerick City and County Council senior executive architect Mick Forde Bradley, who lived in Denmark for 15 years before moving back to Ireland two years ago, said more sharing of living spaces needs to happen in Ireland as it prepares for a surge in population growth over the next 20 years. Mr Forde Bradley, who has responsibility for cost rental and affordable purchase at the council, is one of a number of speakers who will be addressing the Irish Council for Social Housings National Social Housing Conference in Sligo. Speaking to the PA news agency ahead of the start of the two-day event on Wednesday, Mr Forde Bradley said that the average floor area of an apartment in Denmark is around four metres squared smaller than in Ireland, and that Irish units in general are smaller compared to the rest of Europe. In general, were like four metres squared above Denmark, and wed be much bigger than anything in Italy or Spain. So the narrative of us having small housing units is not correct. We have large units compared to the rest of Europe. Mr Forde Bradley said that each unit in a Denmark complex would find another four to six metres squared to give towards communal areas, and said that people in Ireland need to learn to share. In 50 years time, youll have people looking back at single people living in four-bedroom houses out in the countryside, and theyll ask themselves, How in the name of God was that person living alone in 160 metres squared? Itd be like a completely different way of looking at property. And for Irish people, thats really hard to get your head around because we are also built into the idea of owning your own property. Noting that Denmark is an interesting example as its always about 10 years ahead of us, he points out that multi-generational living in Denmark sprung up demand from older citizens around five years ago. My point is, if you can show multi-generational living in a different way, in a smaller amount of space, with a more exciting way of living, people will consider moving from houses out in the countryside to something different, he told PA. So in Denmark, the older generation owned property, of course, the 65-80 year olds, and they wanted to downsize and find a more comfortable way of living. And that spawned a whole type of senior living development now in Denmark, and is basically seeing the grey gold move from existing property into smaller downsizing, often rental accommodation, because they dont want to go back into longer-term purchases again. He said that renting is popular in the Nordic country because people have security of tenure. Only 20% of people in Copenhagen own their space, 80% are renting, and the reason they rent is because they have long-term tenure security. So if you rent an apartment in Denmark, and youve rented there for longer than two years, you cant be kicked out. Mr Forde Bradley said that Denmark offers a look at what could have been the case if Ireland had taken a different path decades ago when social housing provision slowed down. The Danes kept building their social affordable, meaning that they now have something like 25-30% of their housing stock is actually social affordable, and here in Ireland 10% is social and we have almost nothing affordable. And so, whats kind of cool about looking at the Danish system is that its like what would have happened if we just kept building. Another speaker at the social housing conference, Eduardo Gonzalez de Molina, a policy consultant at the Barcelona City Council Housing Department, argued in a recent blog that the city had moved from a market-fixing to a market-shaping approach in order to create an affordable housing market. The conference comes as the Government comes under pressure over its Housing for All plan amid record homeless figures, high house prices and increasing rents. The Polaris Program postpones the launch of SpaceX's Polaris Dawn to March 2023 in preparation for the private expedition. The mission funded by billionaire Jared Isaacman will begin no earlier than next year according to the organization planning the flight, Space says. The Polaris Dawn Is Set To For A Commercial Spacewalk The Polaris Dawn crew will take off from the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in early 2023, on the historic Launch Complex 39A pad. This was also the launching pad for Inspiration4; the first private crew sent on a mission to Earth's orbit in September 2021. This four-person expedition was also funded and commanded by Isaacman, which is why Polaris Dawn will also ride a SpaceX Dragon capsule in Earth's orbit. CNet reports that Polaris Dawn will benefit from Falcon 9 and Dragon's efficiency, flying larger than any Dragon mission has ever flown. According to the Polaris Program's official website release, the Dragon and the Polaris Sawn space crew will be spending a maximum of five days in orbit to complete their mission. This program will deploy three missions into orbit if all goes to plan, with the possibility of boosting the services of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. Polaris Program representatives wrote that this mission would conduct an analysis of the parts of the Van Allen radiation belt to understand radiation's effect better, among other objectives. Read More: Billionaire Jared Isaacman Buys 3 SpaceX Flights: Polaris Dawn Space Mission Details The Four-Person Mission Has A Couple Of Goals Lined Up The SpaceX Polaris Dawn private exploration will be led by four people in the Polaris Dawn crew who will combine their expertise and knowledge for the spaceflight's success. Aside from mission commander Isaacman who is an accomplished pilot and astronaut, retired United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Scott Poteet will play the role of mission pilot. Furthermore, two ladies named Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon will join the crew as its mission specialists, with Menon serving as Polaris Dawn's medical officer as well, Polaris Program says. With them, the upcoming flight aims to enter orbit and fly to a higher altitude that will surpass the record set by the Gemini 11 mission in 1966, according to Universe Magazine. The Polaris Dawn crew also needs to conduct scientific research by performing 35 scientific experiments to study the increased effects of radiation on astronauts. Additionally, the flight is looking to conduct the first-ever private spacewalk at an altitude of 500 to 700 kilometers above the Earth. According to Universe Magazine, this execution will be important in scaling new designs for spacesuits that will be used on future long-duration missions. The mission also aims to conduct research that will improve human health on Earth since it lists raising money for causes and institutions like St. Jude's Children's Hospital a priority. The Inspiration4, who are advocates for cancer awareness among children, has so far raised $250 million dollars dedicated to cancer funds and research while in orbit, Space reveals. The Polaris Dawn crew will be the first ones to test the Starlink laser-based communications in space as well, which is valuable for future communications needed for missions beyond. Related Article: SpaceX's Crew-4 Dragon Capsule Splashes Down Safely After 5-Month Mission Ethics working with integrity Ethics drives us to make the right choices even in face of challenges or under pressure. It is the basis for public trust and ultimately for the ECBs credibility. Our high-level officials and staff members perform their duties impartially and with integrity and behave in a manner befitting the character of the ECB as an institution of the European Union. What do ethics mean at the ECB? Here at the ECB our conduct is governed by ethical principles and rules, which are set out in the Ethics Framework for all staff and the Code of Conduct for high-level ECB officials. Conflicts of interest Managing conflicts of interest properly is arguably the most important principle of ethical conduct. It relates directly to our value of integrity and underpins many other elements of our ethical rules. These rules outline principles and standards of conduct for avoiding situations that give or may be perceived to give rise to conflicts of interest. All ECB high-level officials and staff members must perform their professional duties impartially and objectively. Gifts and hospitality In order to avoid even the appearance of conflicts of interest, staff members are generally not permitted to accept any advantage connected with their employment at the ECB. This rule is particularly relevant when staff members are interacting with the private sector, supervised banks or current or potential suppliers. It is a restriction that applies to all benefits regardless of nature, including gifts and hospitality. High-level officials are also required to respect the principles of independence and impartiality, and to avoid conflicts of interest related to accepting advantages. Owing to their prominent role and function, however, they may accept certain hospitality and gifts of minor value. External activities Staff members are required to request authorisation before engaging in any external activity that is of an occupational nature, or that goes beyond what can reasonably be considered a leisure activity. This is to ensure that the activity in question does not create a conflict of interest. Every year, high-level officials report on any activities that they performed in an official or personal capacity as part of their declarations of interests. After leaving the ECB High-level officials and staff members leaving the ECB may be subject to a cooling-off period. They may be required to wait for a certain period of time before taking up new employment, depending on their function at the ECB, to avoid the situation of revolving doors. Such restrictions apply in particular to management and staff working in banking supervision, who may be subject to cooling-off periods of up to two years. In addition to this measure, high-level officials and staff members continue to be bound by their professional secrecy obligations even after they have stopped working for the ECB. They may not disclose any non-public information that they could have come into contact with while carrying out their duties. High-level officials and staff members remain subject to compliance monitoring exercises associated with their private financial transactions for a defined period of time after leaving the ECB. Procurement Staff members have to conduct procurement procedures in accordance with specific rules and provisions, and maintain objectivity, neutrality, transparency and fairness. They are also expected to avoid and report conflicts of interest. To this end, staff members involved in procurement procedures are required to complete a certification form to confirm that they have understood the rules surrounding conflicts of interest and have no such conflicts with potential bidders. Recruitment Our recruitment procedures include an assessment of conflicts of interest related to the candidates previous jobs and their personal relationships with current ECB staff members. Interacting with third parties Staff members and high-level officials are required to be cautious and transparent about whom they meet, when they meet and what they say. High-level officials and staff are expected to follow guiding principles and specific house rules with respect to speaking engagements and attending meetings. The meeting diaries of the members of the ECBs Governing Council, Executive Board and Supervisory Board are published regularly, in the interests of transparency and accountability. The diaries of the remaining Governing Council and Supervisory Board members can be found on the respective national central banks or national supervisors websites. Private financial activities Staff members and high-level officials are expressly prohibited from taking advantage of inside information to carry out any private financial transaction or to recommend or advise against such transactions. The ECB has in place strict and detailed rules concerning private financial transactions. The rules include guidelines for declaring account details and for reporting on and authorising financial transactions. Compliance with these rules is monitored rigorously. A pensioner who stabbed a 57-year-old man outside a Cork city pub in a "vicious" and "unprovoked assault" has had his sentence reduced by two years by the Court of Appeal. Reducing the sentence from ten years to eight years today, the three-judge court said it must not "throw away the key" on the 76-year-old. Patrick O'Sullivan, of Kilnap Place, Farranree, Cork, had pleaded guilty to assaulting Cormac Daly (57) causing him serious harm at Dublin Street, Cork on July 20, 2020. Judge Sean O Donnabhain imposed a ten-year prison sentence at Cork Circuit Court in September 2021. Handing down the sentence, Judge O Donnabhain described the attack as a "vicious stabbing", in what was an "unprovoked assault". O'Sullivan had appealed the sentence on the grounds that the sentencing judge had failed to take his age at the time of conviction and the mitigating factors into account when considering a reduction from the headline sentence of 12 years. Stabbing Mr Daly was stabbed in the stomach by the appellant in an unprovoked attack outside The Groves Bar, Dublin Street, Cork. O'Sullivan had earlier left the bar and taken a taxi to his home to Farranree where he retrieved a kitchen knife before returning to the premises. The appellant mistakenly believed the injured party had been associated with another man who was alleged to have made threats to O'Sullivan's brother. Mr Daly lost a kidney and part of his colon as a result of the attack and was diagnosed with cancer which was discovered when surgeons carried out emergency surgery to treat his injuries. He passed away five months later as a result of the cancer. 'Tragic case' At the Court of Appeal today, Alice Fawsitt SC, for O'Sullivan, said this was "one of those tragic cases where no good was going to come out of it for either side". She said the percentage reduction in the headline sentence of 16% was very low for the plea of guilty itself and said the sentencing judge had failed to take the age of the appellant into account. The age was important for the quality of life at the end of the sentence, she said, adding O'Sullivan would be in his mid-80s when released. It was submitted that the sentence imposed would, in all likelihood, consume most, if not all, of the years remaining to him. O'Sullivan had remained at the scene, had made admissions when interviewed, had pleaded guilty to the single charge against him and the whole matter had been finalised in under a year, counsel told the court. She said the demise of the injured party was not caused by the appellant. In response, Donal O'Sullivan BL, for the State, said that while the reduction in the headline sentence was low it was within the permitted range of between 15-30%. He said the evidence in the case was overwhelming and in these circumstances the level of discount given would be minimal. "The age is a significant factor but again one must judge that based on all the facts of the case," he added. Judgement In a judgement delivered on Tuesday by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, sitting with Mr Justice John Edwards and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, the three-judge court said the sentencing judge "fell into an error of principle" and did not give appropriate weight to the age of the appellant when addressing mitigation. Mr Justice McCarthy said the court must have regard to the fact that it cannot, to coin a colloquial term, "throw away the key". Outlining the decision by the three-judge court to reduce the sentence from ten years to eight, Mr Justice McCarthy said that while there was no doubt the headline sentence of 12 years was appropriate, an error arose in not giving sufficient weight to the age of the appellant. He said the appropriate recourse, given the guilty plea and O'Sullivan's age, was a reduction of four years from the headline sentence to arrive at a sentence of eight years. Stephen Maguire A construction worker told how he watched a lifelong friend and colleague being swept away to his death after he fell from a barge while they were demolishing part of a bridge in Co Donegal. Ian Smith, aged 65, was working on the Hydro Race Bridge in Gaoth Dobhair on January 15th, 2018 when the tragedy happened. Mr Smith was along with colleague Tony Dowd who were both employed by Co Fermanagh company Dean Public Works. An inquest into Mr Smith's death was held at Letterkenny Courthouse by coroner Dr Denis McCauley. Mr Dowd gave an account of the incident as he gave evidence to the inquest. He told how both men had been on a tea-break mid-morning having started work at 8am demolishing concrete and railings which were due to be replaced by new road barriers on the N56. Neither were wearing lifejackets which had been supplied and were not using harnesses as they placed two pontoons together to collect concrete debris on the pontoons or barge. Lost footing There was a two-metre gap between and as Mr Smith, who had worked for the company for 34 years, was jumping from one to another he lost his footing and fell into the water. Mr Dowd said he heard his colleague calling to him "Tony, Tony" but he was quickly swept away under the bridge by a strong current. Ian Smith who tragically lost his life when he drowned while working on a birdge on the River Clady in Gweedore. Mr Dowd, who had worked with the company for 47 years was operating the crane removing the old concrete jumped up onto the bridge and flagged down a car and gardai were called. Garda Eugene Organ was one of the investigating gardai who arrived on the scene and told of the operation to recover Mr Smith's body from the water. Members of Sheephaven Sub Aqua Club entered the water at 2.40pm and recovered the body of Mr Smith just a few minutes later only 100 metres from where he had fallen into the river. Local GP, Dr Anthony Delap arrived and pronounced Mr Smith's death at 3pm and the body was removed to Letterkenny University Hospital. Pathologist Filip Sokol told the coroner's court that the victim, of Ederney, Co Fermanagh had died as a result of drowning. Safety procedures Inspector Brian McHugh from the Health and Safety Authority outlined the safety procedures and plan which should have been followed at the site, but which were not. He said that to work safely on the project that five or six pontoons should have been used and the two men should have been given instructions on a safety plan by their company but were not. He said that while there was lifejackets available they were not worn but also noted there was no 'grab line' in the event that the men fell into the water. In effect, the men had been left to their own devices with regard to safety on the site, Mr McHugh added. Coroner Dr McCauley agreed that death was due to drowning. He also said a description of the death was in line with the findings of a previous case at Letterkenny Circuit Court on October 29th, 2021. On that occasion the company pleaded guilty to Section 8(2)(e) contrary to Section 77(9)(a) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. It admitted that it failed to provide a system of work that was planned, organised, performed, maintained and revised to be, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risk to health for accessing, using or moving floating pontoons safely, resulting in the death of an employee. They were fined 40,000. Both Dr McCauley and Garda Sergeant Fergus McGrory conveyed their sympathies to the Smith family who were present in court. 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. American multinational investment company BlackRock has told the Environmental Audit Select Committee of the UK Parliaments House of Commons that it wont stop investing in gas, oil and coal, reported Reuters. Stopping investments in fossil fuels and transitioning to low-carbon and renewable energy sources is necessary to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are the biggest contributors to the climate crisis. BlackRocks role in the transition is as a fiduciary to our clients it is not to engineer a specific decarbonization outcome in the real economy, the worlds largest asset manager said, as OilPrice.com reported. BlackRocks statement was part of a group of written responses published on the UK governments website from companies to the parliamentary committee, reported Reuters. The committee is looking at the role of financial institutions in the UKs transition to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. BlackRock was questioned by the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) over its transitions to net zero as a member of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ). The companys response was in contrast to its support of the environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) standards of the firms it invests in, which has resulted in negative reactions from some of its clients, Proactive Group Holdings reported. The responses included statements from UK endorsers of the GFANZ, which has 500 members from more than 45 countries and has said it is the largest partnership of financial institutions dedicated to the global economic transition to carbon neutrality in the world, reported Reuters. BlackRock manages about $8 trillion in assets and has a market value of $85.65 billion. Recently, some U.S. states with Republican governors have expressed disapproval of BlackRocks ESG investment strategies and have said they would withdraw their states funding from the companys care. Funds divested from BlackRock by Utah, South Carolina, Arkansas and Louisiana total more than $1 billion, OilPrice.com reported. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has defended fossil fuel investments by the company from a slew of criticism by climate activists, reported Reuters. BlackRock has been accused by environmentalists of not pressing companies with fossil fuel portfolios to change. We expect to remain long-term investors on behalf of our clients in carbon-intensive sectors, BlackRock said, as Proactive Group Holdings reported. Climate activists have also criticized financial services company HSBC, which has said continued oil investments were necessary. The company has said suddenly moving away from coal would harm growing economies, like many in Asia, that are coal-dependent. Poultry production failed to keep up with demand in Ireland last year Poultry was the only meat where production did not meet domestic demand in Ireland in 2021, according to new figures from the CSO. Last year, the total supply of meat in Ireland fell by 3%, or 37,000 tonnes, to 1.4m tonnes. Beef and veal accounted for 637,000 tonnes, or 45%, of this total. Total slaughtering fell by 2%, with pigs being the only category of slaughtering to increase, by 5%, or 15,000 tonnes in 2021. The largest decline in slaughtering was in beef and veal, which decreased by 39,000 tonnes to 595,000 tonnes. Net exports fell by 47,000 tonnes to 707,000 tonnes, while beef and veal accounted for 40,000 tonnes of this reduction. Poultry meat was the only category of meat with net imports, as imports exceeded exports by 19,000kg. Ireland's self-sufficiency in total meat fell by 19% to 267% in 2021 when compared with 2020. While self-sufficiency increased for pig meat by 8% to 240%, and sheep meat by 3% to 361%, the rate fell by 51% to 661% for beef and veal and from 100% in 2020 for poultry meat to 90% in 2021. Commenting on the release, statistician Mairead Griffin said that this information provides an insight into the source of meat in the Irish market and how this meat is used. "With food security becoming increasingly topical, knowing how much meat is consumed by the Irish population and the degree to which Irish agriculture can meet this demand is important," Griffin said. "In 2021, the supply of meat in the Irish market fell by 37,000 tonnes to 1.4 million tonnes. "Of the available supply, beef and veal accounted for 45%, followed by pig meat [30%], and poultry meat [21%]. Sheep meat accounted for just 5% of total meat supply." The self-sufficiency rate measures the extent to which the production of meat within the state can meet domestic demand, Griffin explained. "Any rate over 100% means that we produce more meat than we require to meet the needs of Irish consumers," she said. "Between 2020 and 2021, Ireland's self-sufficiency rate for total meat fell by 19% to 267%. "With a self-sufficiency rate of 90% in 2021, poultry meat was the only meat where production did not meet domestic demand." - Irish Examiner The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been urging individuals who seek to enroll in the Federal Aid program to be vigilant. They have stated that some scammers may take this opportunity to steal personal information, payment details, and even money. The Possibility of Fraud The Federal Student Aid was announced in August 2022. It is a debt relief program for people with outstanding student debt. The purpose of the relief program is to assist with the management of student loans by deducting $10,000 to $20,000 from the credit. Although, the amount deducted may vary depending on whether they are Pell Grant recipients, as mentioned by Bleeping Computer. This may be perceived as a doorway by scammers to steal various data that may lead to the victims losing money instead. They are many methods by which fraudulent activity could be initiated, which include but are not limited to the following: Scammers may set up websites that will contain an application form. The application form, in turn, may ask for personal information to "proceed" with the process of the relief program. They may send SMS or emails stating that you are eligible for the Federal Student Aid program and then ask for credentials that can be used for fraudulent activities. Fraudsters may offer assistance to expedite or process the relief aid in exchange for a service fee, to which no services will be provided. The Department of Education reviews applications on a rolling basis, so there is no way that anyone can prioritize your application. The same goes for guaranteed approval. There is no way to know whether your application is accepted or denied until it is reviewed. Related: Viral TikToker Reveals 3 Online Tools That Helped Her Pay $225,000 in Student Loans in 2 Years [VIDEO] What to Know to Avoid Getting Scammed The only way to apply is through StudentAid.gov/DebtRelief, according to FTC Consumer Advice. If you are directed to a different site, it is not legitimate. Applying for Federal Student Aid will not cost you anything. If you are asked to pay in order to be enrolled or to get started on processing the application, do not respond. Applicants do not need to log into any accounts in the application process. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to log in to continue with the application, leave the site. You will not be asked to upload personal or financial documents during the first phase of the application online. The real application will ask for your name, birth date, Social Security number, phone number, and address. If additional information is requested, make sure the email addresses are "noreply@studentaid.gov," noreply@debtrelief.studentaid.gov," and "ed.gov@public.govdelivery.com." In the application process, you will not be asked to provide your FSA ID, bank account, or credit card information. Beneficiaries will not receive distribution notices from the US government through emails, phone calls, or SMS. If you have spotted scams, be sure to contact ReportFraud.ftc.gov so they may take action. Related Article: Worried About Phishing Scams, Email Attacks? 8 Warning Signs You're in Danger, 4 Ways to Stop It Experts discuss land-based Atlantic salmon aquaculture during conference in Maine, US Aquaculture experts from across the United States, South Africa, Norway and Iceland met at the University of Maine in Maine, US, for the third annual Recirculating Aquaculture Salmon Network (RAS-N) and first annual Sustainable Aquaculture Systems Supporting Atlantic Salmon (SAS2) conference. During the conference, which was held last September, scientists, communicators and educators shared information and explored current challenges for the land-based production of Atlantic salmon in the US. They also learned about new technologies, outreach strategies and cutting-edge research through presentations, panel discussions and field trips. Industry members and researchers working in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) discussed various topics, such as seedstock, health and welfare, off-flavor, feeds, workforce development, consumer education and marketing, community engagement and challenges experienced within the industry. Panels showcased the expertise of different stakeholders who participated in the conference, which demonstrated collaboration and networking across several areas related to RAS. Key themes from discussions included scalability, improving efficiencies and regulations, and enhancing general knowledge and understanding. "Using genomics and metabolomics, we learn more about the quality of eggs and develop non-invasive predictors for broodstock quality that is scalable, fast and inexpensive," Heather Hamlin, director of the UMaine School of Marine Sciences and joint faculty member with the Aquaculture Research Institute, said during a session about seedstock. The research and development of a domestic seed supply would be extremely beneficial for the US as RAS gains more traction, as most of the current seedstock comes from abroad. Similarly, studies into combating off-flavor created when bacteria-like streptomyces produce compounds such as geosmin through metabolism that are absorbed through the fish's gills and more efficient feeds exemplifies the positive direction research into RAS is heading. John Davidson, a research scientist with the Freshwater Institute in West Virginia, discussed studies focusing on biological mechanisms for the characterisation and control of microbiomes in RAS to reduce off-flavor, in addition to advanced chemical application and new advanced oxidation techniques. Sarah Cook from Skretting, the world's largest producer of fish feeds, discussed the physical aspects of feed impacts to RAS as a whole. "It's important to look at each individual system and work with farms to understand how best their system works, because all systems are so different," Cook said. The conference also focused on community engagement, understanding social license to operate and workforce development. "Developing standards or competencies is needed on a national level," said Scarlet Tudor, education and outreach coordinator at UMaine's Aquaculture Research Institute. "We need people with different educations and backgrounds and we need to start them young." Placing RAS in classrooms and developing modules for aquaculture curriculum with technology integration and hands-on science could increase science literacy and related skills among students, training them for future workforce needs. Conference sessions also emphasised that successful development of education programmes and materials about RAS should integrate traditional ecological knowledge and engage with Indigenous knowledge sharers. Co-creating curriculum through the Wabanaki Youth in Science Program (WaYs) is one example of providing youth with education other than western science, enhancing and decompartmentalising their views. Additionally, sessions emphasised the need for a coordinated communications strategy to elevate and help with social capital, interest, technology transfer, advancing research and getting people from multiple disciplines involved in the workforce. The conference culminated with University of New Hampshire PhD candidate Emily Whitmore discussing the importance of community engagement. "Relational elements between a company and a host community are vital," Whitmore said. "Consulting, trust building and building support instead of rebutting opposition will set you up for success." RAS-N started in 2019 with funding from the National Sea Grant Office for a three-year effort to build capacity and identify and address challenges. The multi-state consortium, led by partners in Maine, Maryland, and Wisconsin, is now transitioning into a new phase, the SAS2, with US$10 million in funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. This new phase aims to increase public awareness and boost the economical and environmental sustainability of the industry. "RAS is the most viable path for growth in the US," said Erik Heim from Xcelerate Aqua. "Improving time to market, keeping revenue on schedule, costs on budget, and improving environment stewardship is key." - University of Maine Three more biosecure swine sites break ground in Isabela, Philippines Three more biosecure swine facilities broke ground in villages in Isabela province, the Philippines, to recoup from the past effects of the African swine fever (ASF), according to the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 2 (DA-RFO2). Dr. Ferdinand Cortez of the DA-RFO2 Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section said the facilities will be constructed in Tallag village, Cabagan town; Casalatan village, Cauayan City; and Bayabo village in Delfin Albano town. "These biosecure facilities will fast-track the construction of the infrastructure component of the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion programme called Inspire so we can begin swine repopulation in these areas," Cortez said. Earlier, DA-RFO2 executive director Narciso Edillo said they also broke ground for new biosecure swine facilities in the towns of Claveria, Santo Nino and Lasam in Cagayan province; two in Echague town and two in Tumauini town, both in Isabela; one in Villaverde town in Nueva Vizcaya province; and one each in the towns of Aglipay and Saguday in Quirino province. "These 10 biosecure facilities worth 5.5 million (US$93,368) each or a total of 55 million (US$933,680) have already commenced construction," Edillo said, adding that with the distribution of piglets for affected farmers regionwide for swine repopulation, the Cagayan Valley Region will be able to recover from the adverse effects of ASF and rebuild the swine industry in earnest. Meanwhile, Dr. Bryan Sibayan, head of the DA-RFO 2 Livestock Program, has assured that the distance of the facilities to households and communities has been strictly observed. Dr. Sibayan explained that the biosecurity of pigs at the farm level involves a set of practical measures taken to prevent the entrance of infection into a pig farm and control the spread of infection within the farm. "The goal of the biosecurity programme of the DA is to keep out pathogens that the herd has not been exposed to and to minimise the impact of endemic pathogens," Dr. Sibayan said. He said biosecurity is made up of three separate, but often blended, sets of actions and overlapping components such as bioexclusion, biocontainment and biomanagement, and that the goals of the production unit or farm will determine how these are blended into a biosecurity plan. Dr. Sibayan also noted that often, producers focus on bioexclusion and biomanagement while neglecting biocontainment. "The purpose of biocontainment is not only to prevent the spread of disease agents to neighbors or even long-distance transfer but also to maintain the very important process of protecting the food supply for consumers," he added. - The Manila Times Bird, a micro-mobility company, will be pulling out its scooters from several dozen countries in the US, the Middle East, and Africa. The company said that it will be leaving European countries like Germany, Sweden, and Norway. Other than that, the transportation company is also planning to lay off some of its employees in the affected markets, as mentioned in The Verge. Although, Bird still has no announcements as to which cities it will be leaving. Why Are They Leaving the Markets? The company stated that it was a step toward its plan to achieve financial self-sustainability. Another reason given by the company, was that some of the cities did not have a regulatory framework that supports the development of a micro-mobility industry. They continued by saying that this has resulted in the oversupply of their vehicles in certain areas, leading to overcrowded streets, and competitors that are able to function without the said framework. With the invariability, there have been sizeable losses. In turn, this will lead to the company not being able to invest in making micro-mobility safer and more sustainable. Despite that, Bird also expressed optimism about redoubling its efforts in cities that can support their scooters by having mature regulatory systems. Read Also: Voro Motors Wolf King: Electric Stand-up Scooter Features 0-50 MPH in 4.8s, 62-mi of Range, and MORE! Strong Winds for a Bird This could be the result of several position changes within the company. Former CEO, Travis VanderZanden, has been replaced by the chief operating officer and president, Shane Torchiana. When the financials of the company were not getting any better, other executives also decided to jump ship. Other notable departures include Rebecca Hahn, who was the company's head of communications, as well as their general counsel Wendy Mantell. Justin Kan, the co-founder of Twitch and a Bird board member, also resigned after the change in leadership. This might be due to the fact that he believed that he had a relationship with the former CEO. The market capitalization of Bird is now at $110 million. This is a mere four percent of their valuation in January 2020, which was $2.8 billion. According to Oversharing, the electric scooter has lost an astounding 95% of its value, leaving it at $0.40 per share. The New York Stock Exchange had already warned Bird that they will be delisted if their stock doesn't come back to $1 per share or more. Bird has six months to correct its stock price plummet. After that, they will have to maintain the stock price for a 30-day period. So far, Bird has already gone through half of the time it was given, and there have been no signs of an increase at all. In fact, the stock has actually decreased further. Bird still has the chance to turn its luck around until its 2023 annual meeting. They would do this by considering options like the reverse stock split, but it needs stockholder approval to be done. Related: Bird Is Laying Off 23% of Its Workforce - How Many Are Affected? Care Quality Commission reports published The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has published reports by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) into its recent inspections of Dental clinics and Adult Social Care service providers. These inspections covered Community Dental services delivered and operated by Manx Care, and services provided through contractual arrangements with independent Dental practices on the Island. Adult Social Care services provided directly by Manx Care, and those delivered through commissioned service providers, have also been inspected. Its important to highlight that practices were reviewed against standards set by the CQC, shaped by policy and legislation in the UK, which may differ from local policy and legislation. In total, 12 Dental services and 43 Adult Social Care services were inspected, with all found to be caring services. The inspection feedback from various Dental practices indicated that staff treated patients with dignity and respect, the service had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement, and staff provided preventative care and supported patients to ensure better oral health. In terms of administration, services dealt with complaints positively and efficiently, and appointment systems took account of patients needs. Final straw for 10 single-use plastic items Ten commonly used single-use plastic items, including carrier bags and straws, will be banned on the Isle of Man in 2023 after Tynwald backed the move. Such items are often used fleetingly before being thrown away, but the processes to break them down can take centuries and lead to pollution. The Climate Change (Single Use Plastics) Regulations mean it will be illegal for businesses on the Island to sell or supply certain items, which have a sustainable alternative. Businesses will be given 12 months to prepare before it becomes illegal to sell or supply single-use plastic straws, carrier bags, cutlery (including chopsticks), plates, stirrers, sticks for balloons and food and drink containers made from expanded polystyrene. The ban also extends to cover rinse off personal care products that contain micro-plastics and all products made from oxo-degradable plastic. The majority of these items are listed under the European Plastic Directive, which aims to ban the 10 most commonly found SUP items on EU beaches , which alongside fishing gear, represent 70% of all European marine litter found. Dr Michelle Haywood MHK, Political member for Environment, Food and Agriculture, said: Plastic pollution is a critical global issue that threatens the environment, wildlife and peoples health. 'These products are used for seconds but the unnecessary waste contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions. As a proud Biosphere nation that is committed to tackling the climate change emergency this is a great move for the Island. Last year, around 700 people shared their views on the plan with 90% agreeing all items should be axed. However, straws and stemmed swabs used in medical settings will be exempt following concerns raised in the same consultation. Many local businesses and organisations have already made the choice to remove unnecessary SUP and new legal powers will ensure that all now follow suit. Individuals and businesses can find out more about the regulations by visiting the Governments plastic webpage. Authorities in Europe dismantle the car theft gang that tried to steal thousands of vehicles across three countries using keyless software. According to PC Mag, police in France, Spain, and Latvia arrested 31 suspects relating to the use of keyless entry systems for car theft. Europol Sends Out A Notice To The Public The European police have caught the organized crime group which targets electronic vehicles using keyless entry systems from two French automakers on October 10. The law enforcement say that the system was marketed as an automotive diagnostic solution to replace the original software of the vehicles. The car manufacturers have already been working on updating their systems to avoid being targeted by criminals once again, according to police reports. The fraudulent tool used by the thieves claims that it allow car doors to open automatically, and ignite cars without the actual key fob, PC Mag writes. In light of the crime, the authorities have released a notice saying that the service has been seized, suggesting that the tool was accessed online, likely through dark web marketplaces. However, Europol has declined to give other details about what was exploited to hack into the vehicles, and the names of the two automotives companies involved in the crime. The law enforcement agencies also did not share how the criminals managed to install the malicious software through blank keys that replicated the system keys, Help Net Security writes. Read More: Some Honda, Acura Models Affected by Vulnerability That Lets Hackers Unlock and Start the Car The Police Investigation Reveals A Few More Details About The Bust The French law enforcement agency cyber arm Gendarmerie initiated a car theft investigation following the events of the bust. This investigation was carried out through the financial support of the Internal Security Fund SWORD, and the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats. During the investigation, the French police acquired servers that revealed 53,000 connections the crime group had, giving authorities an idea of the scale of criminal activity. According to CNet, among the suspects arrested were software developers, resellers of the software, and actual car thieves who conspired to execute the crimes. These car thieves allegedly bought resources from reseller tablets, software and connectors that allowed them to modify the embedded systems of many vehicles, Help Net Security says. Gendarmerie also says that the French police have also searched 22 locations where they were able to confiscate 1,098,500 of suspected criminal assets. According to a press release by Europol, they have been backing this case since March 2022 with an extensive analysis and dissemination of intelligence to countries affected by the crime. Currently, a number of joint operational meetings are already ongoing between organizations at the Europol headquarters to decide on how to proceed with the investigation. Europol mobile police offices have also been deployed to assist in the investigative measures, while the agency is facilitating cross-border judicial efforts across European countries. Related Article: Ex-Apple Employee Pleads Guilty of Stealing Apple Car Trade Secrets, Faces 10-Year Prison Term Amazon workers in Georgia are the latest to go public with complaints about the retail giants labor practices. Workers at an Atlanta warehouse joined with United For Respect, at a press conference near the companys ATL6 warehouse to detail new unfair labor practices complaints against Amazon. The workers, who have petitioned Amazon for a wage increase, say the retailer exploits its warehouse staff with unsafe working conditions and low wages. In a statement, United for Respect noted that the demonstration in Atlanta comes just days after Amazons Prime Day, when warehouse workers face particularly stressful conditions. According to United for Respect, workers at ATL6 previously asked managers for a $5 wage increase in a petition. The company has since fired two workers and tried to intimidate associates, the group said. United for Respect is a nonprofit group that was previously associated with UFCW, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. 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 @Amazon,PAY UP & STOP VIOLATING WORKERS RIGHTS! RIGHT NOWAmazon #ATL6 workers are outside their facility calling for: $5 wage increase Base pay to $18 Reinstating workers fired for organizing#AmazonHurts #PayUpAmazon #AmazonATL pic.twitter.com/hVNjfHkI5u United for Respect (@forrespect) October 19, 2022 Livable wages, safer working conditions, dignity and respect for all workers is long overdue," Karen Tucker, who has worked at Amazons ATL6 warehouse for eight years, said in a statement. "Were fighting for what we deserve. We are the backbone of this company and without us, there is no Amazon. Its time for the public to hear and know what we endure to get customers packages out on time. Its time for change. Its time we held Amazon accountable towards a better Atlanta for all Amazon workers and all working people. Amazon didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Updated to clarify that United for Respect is no longer associated with UFCW. Ikea has teamed up with Kodiak Robotics, a company that's working on self-driving technology for long-haul trucking, to test driverless deliveries from its warehouses. Since August this year, an autonomous heavy-duty Kodiak truck has been delivering furniture from an Ikea distribution center near Houston to a retail store near Dallas every single day. While the truck has a backup driver behind the wheel who's in charge of picking up the loaded trailer and of overseeing the delivery, the truck runs autonomously over long stretches of highway during its 300-mile, one-way journey. With this partnership, Ikea is hoping to have a better grasp of how autonomous deliveries can make long-haul trips safer and could lead to better working conditions for truck drivers. While Kodiak's trucks aren't electric, it's worth noting that a previous study by the UC San Diego (PDF) using another company's vehicles show that autonomous trucks are around 10 percent more efficient than their traditional counterparts. According to Forbes, the two companies agreed to a three-month pilot program, but if it all goes well, they could sign a multi-year deal that would cater to a number of Ikea stores and warehouses. The Swedish home furniture brand also embraced other types of technological advances over the past few months. In June, it launched a new AI-powered app that can scan rooms using LIDAR so that it can create 3D replicas you can design with Ikea furniture. It also made EV owners feel more welcome by signing a deal to install Electrify America's fast chargers in more than 25 of its stores in the US. Photo exhibition kicks off in Tokyo to mark 50th anniversary of normalization of China-Japan diplomatic ties Xinhua) 15:01, October 19, 2022 TOKYO, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Over 130 photographs are shown at an exhibition marking the 50th anniversary of the normalization of the China-Japan diplomatic ties here in Japan. The exhibition, titled "Forever Neighbors", is on its Japan tour after being held in Beijing in June. With people-to-people exchanges as the main theme, the exhibition, which opened at Tokyo Tagenbunka Space on Tuesday, reflects the aspirations of people from all walks of life in China and Japan hoping for friendships from generation to generation. Apart from 110 photographs exhibited in Beijing, 27 photographs with Japanese characteristics have been included in Japan's version of the exhibition. The photographs were categorized into three parts, namely a review of Sino-Japanese exchange activities over 50 years, China in the eyes of the Japanese and Japan in the eyes of the Chinese, as well as photographic works of young people from the two countries. Yang Yu, charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Japan, and former Japanese Prime Ministers Yasuo Fukuda and Yukio Hatoyama, attended the opening ceremony. During his congratulatory speech at the opening ceremony, Yang said that peace, friendship, and win-win cooperation are the only correct choices for the two neighboring countries. It's our common mission to renew our original aspiration for peace and friendship, draw inspiration from historical experience, adhere to the principles and spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, and build a more mature and stable China-Japan relationship under the guidance of the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, said Yang. It is believed that the precious pictures in this exhibition can lead us through history to relive the original aspirations for friendship, and enhance the sense of mission and responsibility for maintaining and developing the cause of China-Japan friendship, he said. Hatoyama said that Japan and China are not only neighbors who cannot move away, but also neighbors who do not want to move and are neighbors forever. People-to-people friendship functions as an indispensable and important glue for the friendly relations between the two countries, he said, adding that he looked forward to the improvement of Japan-China relations in the next 50 years with the joint efforts of everyone. Hideo Tarumi, Japanese ambassador to China, said in a letter of congratulation to the exhibition that he, as the Japanese ambassador to China and a photographer meantime, hoped that the people of both countries can establish a relationship of mutual respect, recognition and help through photography. The exhibition will last until Oct. 30, with lectures given by photographers also to be held. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu) From left to right, Park Jung-woo, Roh Yoon-seo, Kim Yoo-jung, and Byeon Woo-seok attend a press conference for the upcoming Netflix original movie "20th Century Girl" at CGV Yongsan, Oct 19. Newsis The upcoming Netflix original movie "20th Century Girl" is a sweet teen romance set in 1999 that will make the audience feel nostalgic for the '90s with retro items, fashion and music, its director said Wednesday. The story centers on a 17-year-old girl who keeps close tabs on a boy in school on behalf of her best friend and she ends up in a love story of her own. Against the backdrop of the '90s, Bora (Kim Yoo-jung) secretly records Baek Hyun-jin (Park Jung-woo) on a camcorder and strikes up a friendship with his friend Poong Un-ah (Byun Woo-seok) to learn more information about Baek. Director Bang Yoo-ri said she wrote the script based on her own experience of exchanging diaries with her friend, thinking the story could resonate with a broader audience. "It began with a diary I exchanged with my friend," the 39-year-old said in a press conference. "About 80 percent of the diary was about a boy that I liked." Bang said the film was set in 1999, a year suffused with nervous excitement ahead of the new millennium, to reflect a turbulent phase of emotions the teens were experiencing. A scene from the Netflix original movie "20th Century Girl" / Courtesy of Netflix. The rebound in US equities this week is stoking an argument thats raged all year on Wall Street: When will this bear market end? The answer may lie in the current earnings season, which kicked off last week, specifically Corporate Americas outlook for future profits, according to Morgan Stanley. A reset in earnings expectations could prompt investors to seek an inflection point in the market, with the S&P 500 Index set for its biggest annual decline since the global financial crisis. This earnings season in particular holds importance as it could shape the debate between the bulls and the bears, strategists led by Michelle Weaver wrote in a note to clients on Tuesday. Strong results and stable guidance may suggest a more moderate earnings correction or at least push the earnings debate until Januarys fourth-quarter reporting season, the strategists wrote. However, a sharp reduction in earnings estimates could signal significant earnings cuts and a potential earnings recession. Morgan Stanleys Michael Wilson, a well-known stock market bear who correctly predicted this years slump, separately said Monday that US stocks are ripe for a short-term rally in the absence of an earnings capitulation or an official recession. That could lead to the S&P 500s bounce to 4,150, a 13% upside from Mondays close. But he maintained his overall negative long-term stance on equities, cautioning that a bounce of that magnitude would be in line with prior bear-market rallies. Companies have likely managed the quarter well enough to provide a soft beat given the lower bar, Weaver explained. Still, the broad consensus among the banks client base is that 2023 earnings remain too high. While corporate profits in the S&P 500 are expected to increase 2.2% in the third quarter, growth is projected to sit at 5.7% in 2023, down from expectations of 9.7% in 2022, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. To fund managers surveyed by Bank of America Corp., the sentiment on stocks and global growth screams macro capitulation, opening the way to an equities rally in 2023, strategists led by Michael Hartnett wrote in a note on Tuesday. Even some of Wall Streets fervent bulls are turning to sour this month. On Monday, JPMorgan Chase & Co.s Marko Kolanovic -- Wall Streets most vocal bull -- cut the size of his equity overweight and bond underweight allocations in the banks model portfolio, citing increasing risks from central bank policies and geopolitics. Earlier this month, he warned that hawkish central banks have put the firms 2022 price target of 4,800 at risk for the S&P 500. For Morgan Stanleys Weaver, there are 12 stocks that are poised to react materially to near-term events. Seven companies that are expected to react positively include Arcutis Biotherapeutics Inc.; Arista Networks Inc.; Cboe Global Markets Inc.; Cummins Inc.; DTE Energy Co.; MercadoLibre Inc.; and Patterson-UTI Energy Inc. Meanwhile, five stocks in particular could face declines like CAE Inc.; Logitech International SA; Micron Technology Inc.; Seagate Technology; and Zebra Technologies Corp. Jess Menton : bloomberg.com Record-breaking electricity prices across Europe are damaging the continents attempts to build a reliable low-carbon supply chain and reach its decarbonization targets, as solar and battery manufacturers face mounting costs. Rystad Energy research shows that 35 gigawatts (GW) of solar PV manufacturing and more than 2,000 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of battery cell manufacturing capacity could be mothballed unless power prices quickly return to normal levels. The energy-intensive nature of these manufacturing processes is leading some operators to temporarily close or abandon production facilities as the cost of doing business escalates. Unless prices turn around soon, Europes plans to cut dependence on imported fossil fuels by boosting installed renewable generation capacity and electric vehicle (EV) usage could be derailed. High power prices not only pose a significant threat to European decarbonization efforts but could also result in increased reliance on overseas manufacturing, something governments are eager to avoid. Building a reliable domestic low-carbon supply chain is essential if the continent is going to stick to its goals, including the REPowerEU plan, but as things stand, that is in serious jeopardy. - Audun Martinsen, Rystad Energys head of energy service research. European electricity prices have risen to unprecedented levels in recent weeks due to unplanned nuclear and hydropower plant outages, soaring demand for cooling during an oppressive summer heatwave and reduced gas deliveries from Russia. Daily average spot power prices in Germany Europes leader in solar and battery cell manufacturing capacity have surpassed 600 per megawatt-hour (MWh), while rates in France have topped 700 per MWh. During peak hours, European power prices have spiked to 1,500 per MWh, unsustainable levels for consumers, including the industrial sector. Although prices have retreated significantly since these record highs in August, rates remain in the 300 to 400 range, many multiples above pre-energy crisis norms. In recent years, Europeans have benefited from reliable and affordable electricity. Low-carbon manufacturers have also predicated their build-up of production capacity on stable power prices of around 50 per MWh. With manufacturers in other regions, such as Asia, enjoying lower electricity input tariffs, European producers are becoming increasingly uncompetitive by comparison. Solar Although Europes solar manufacturing capacity is relatively modest on a global scale making up only 2% of total capacity any shutdowns or abandonment of projects would have significant long-term negative consequences. The European Union (EU) has targeted 20 GW of production capacity by 2025, and although 35 GW of projects is currently planned, many have not secured funding, increasing the risk that these projects will fall through if high power prices continue. In Norway, electricity costs have risen six fold, leading the energy intensive solar panel manufacturing industry to consider shutting down for the remainder of 2022. With Europe expected to be short on gas for several years and high electricity prices to continue as a result, attracting financing and investment for solar manufacturing plants could prove challenging. Battery cells Battery cell manufacturing crucial in the EV and battery storage supply chain is even more energy intensive than solar manufacturing, and Europe is a major global player. The EU currently boasts about 550 GWh of capacity, representing 27% of global operational capacity. Announced projects under development are set to boost that total significantly, increasing capacity to 2.7 terawatt-hours, positioning the EU as a global leader. However, those are now at risk and the car manufacturing and battery storage sectors could struggle to source European-made batteries as a result. Britishvolts signature giga-sized battery factory in Blyth in the UK which would add 30 GWh to the continents manufacturing capabilities has already been delayed to mid-2025 due to rising energy costs and the need for additional fundraising. With Chinese manufacturers enjoying much lower power prices, European manufacturers plans to rapidly scale production could be challenged. Depending on how long elevated power prices continue, a slowdown in EV adoption in Europe could follow. By Rystad Energy : Oilprice.com When odessas ports were shut by naval threats at the start of the war, farmers were unable to ship their produce. We were getting phone calls from Milan, crying, saying they didnt have ingredients for their pasta, remembers Alla Stoianova, a local official. Since the regions ports are the main export route for Ukrainethe worlds second largest exporter of cereals and third largest exporter of vegetable oilsglobal food prices rocketed. The blockade was most painful for Ukrainians, however. Russias invasion has dealt the countrys economy a savage blow. Battles are raging on land that last year produced a fifth of gdp. According to the Kyiv School of Economics, shelling has caused $10bn-worth of damage to firms. Workers have joined the fight or fled to safety. Of the 6.2m internally displaced people, a third are unemployed. The imf reckons gdp will shrink by 35% this year. Yet slowly and grimly the countrys economy has adapted to warand seems to be growing again. Take Odessas ports. They are operating at less than normal capacity, but they are now operating. A worker says he is called in for two or three shifts a week. From the promenades of Odessas stately park, freighters can be seen floating between towering yellow cranes. A grain deal negotiated in July under the auspices of the un allows Ukraine to export agricultural products; since then, at least 7.8m tons of grain have made it out. The country expects a harvest of 65m-70m tons this year, down a third from pre-war levels but a healthy total given the circumstances. The crop should be sufficiently profitable to enable planting for the new season. As food can leave by ship, rail capacity is freed up for the export of metals. Ukraines success on the battlefield has also made a difference. In August just as many people entered Ukraine from the eu as went the other way. The share of firms working at more than half capacity reached around 80% in September, up from 58% in May. This reflects both growing security and official support. A government programme has helped 745 businesses to relocate to safer parts of the country. Meanwhile, adept policymaking has helped the country to avoid a financial crisis. When the war began, the governments budget deficit leapt to $5bn a month (against pre-war expectations of $600m). Despite the central banks best efforts, in July it had little choice but to devalue the currency. Another devaluation now seems likely given the gap between the cash exchange rate and the official one, says Olha Pindyuk of the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, a think-tank. Yet these problems have proven to be navigable ones. Banks entered the war well capitalised, thanks to consolidation and a clean-up after Russias land grab in 2014. Digital skills honed in the covid-19 pandemic have kept their doors open. The independence of the central bank, established in the post-2014 reforms, has helped prevent panic. None of this would have been possible eight years ago, argues Natalie Jaresko, finance minister in 2014-16. International donors have stepped in with much needed cash. At first, the offerings were just enough to keep the government afloat. But as the war has dragged on, the need for bigger commitments has become clearer. America has sent $8.5bn and will shortly add another $4.5bn. The eu and its member states have promised a similar amount, but have failed to stump up. In September, after much back and forth, they sent 5bn in the form of loans. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Washingtons patience with Europe is running low. So is Kyivs. The government reckons it will run a budget deficit of $38bn next year, equivalent to 19% of pre-war gdp. Ukraine also needs an estimated $17bn to rebuild critical infrastructure and housing for returnees. Timely money is more important than its form. But of course it matters a lot whether its loans or grants when considering Ukraines eventual return to markets, notes Kostiantyn Kucherenko of Dragon Capital, an investment firm in Kyiv. The Biden administration plans to send $1.5bn a month in grants next year, and hopes the eu will do likewise. The eu Commission is working on a proposal, but its budget has already been allocated. Haggling between member states is expected to continue for some time to come. Ukraines exact needs will partly depend on the fate of the grain deal. The agreement expires on November 19th. The Kremlin complains its fertiliser exports are hampered by Western sanctions, and wants Ukraine to re-open an ammonia pipeline from Russia to the port of Yuzhne, which sits 20km north-east of Odessa. Local officials fear such demands are a pretext for cancelling the deal. Ukraines government has a role to play, too. Its spending needs to be better targeted, argues a recent report by the Centre for Economic Policy Research (cepr), an academic network. Some measuressuch as price caps on gas and district heating, introduced in Julyare wasteful. Aid to displaced people takes the form of a basic income, which goes to all regardless of need. The cepr report recommends taking a leaf out of Americas playbook from the second world war. During the conflict, the number of American households paying income tax grew tenfold, and overall taxes increased. Ukraines flat-tax system, designed to make the country an attractive place to invest in normal times, is ill-suited to supporting a war economy. The countrys economy is now growing, but its prospects remain uncertain. Additional support will be needed. If Ukrainian ministers were to take some more tough decisions, tight-fisted Europeans would have one less excuse for failing to pay up. : economist.com W oven into the story of every great jeweller are the worlds most remarkable stones. The story of Van Cleef & Arpels began in 1906 and since then some of the worlds most exceptional stones have passed through its workshops. For example, the highlight of an exhibition and sale held in 1921 was a necklace set with the Prince Edward of York, a pear-shaped, brilliant-cut diamond of more than 60 carats, recovered from the Kimberley mine in South Africa in 1894. When it went on display, crowds formed outside the Van Cleef & Arpels boutique on Place Vendome. Necklace set with the Prince Edward of York, a pear-shaped, brilliant-cut diamond of more than 60 carats, recovered in 1894 from the Kimberley mine Then there is the Blue Heart, a 31-carat, heart-shaped, blue diamond discovered in South Africa in 1908 and purchased by Van Cleef & Arpels in 1953. Or the Princie, a 34.64-carat, cushion-cut, pink diamond acquired at auction in 1960. All my life I have been searching for a pink diamond, Louis Arpels told journalists at the time. The moment I heard one was for sale, I hurried to see it. This was in London but rest assured I would have travelled to India, to China, to the furthest corners of Africa or America. The Blue Heart, a 31-carat, heart-shaped diamond, discovered in South Africa in 1908 and purchased by Van Cleef & Arpels in 1953 The Blue Heart Diamond, circa 1953 At a sale at Sothebys London in December 1964, Jacques Arpels acquired a historic diamond that had once belonged to Frances Crown Jewels: the 30.58-carat Mazarin. There have been others, of course. Over the years, new acquisitions have written fresh chapters in the Van Cleef & Arpels story, up to the most recent as revealed in July: Legend of Diamonds - 25 Mystery Set Jewels. Pierre Arpels shows the Princie diamond to the Maharani of Baroda (1960) A remarkable stone This new chapter began in 2018 with the discovery of the Lesotho Legend, a diamond weighing 910 carats. Or rather that weighed, as this stunning gem was then cut and facetted into multiple stones. Van Cleef & Arpels was alerted to its existence by Tache, a diamond dealer and the jewellers long-time partner. CNBC reports that it sold in March for US$40 million. The Lesotho Legend, a 910-carat diamond recovered in 2018, was cut into the multiple stones that compose Van Cleef & Arpels new high jewellery collection. IlanTache The Lesotho Legend is the fifth-largest diamond ever mined and of the highest quality. In addition to its perfect D colour, it is a Type IIa: the purest, rarest and most sought-after. Of all the diamonds mined worldwide, only 1 to 2 per cent are Type IIa. What does this mean? Every diamond contains chemical impurities, the most common being nitrogen which alters the stones natural colour. A Type II has no measurable impurities and is considered to be colourless. The Lesotho Legend joins a prestigious lineage of Type IIa diamonds that includes, most famously, the Regent, the Star of the South, the Cullinan and the legendary Koh-I-Noor, which was extracted from the (now exhausted) Golconda mines in India. It is the fifth-largest diamond ever mined and of the highest quality. In addition to its perfect D colour, it is a Type IIa: the purest, rarest and most sought-after. Only 1 to 2 per cent of diamonds are of this type. Van Cleef & Arpels SA - 2022 by Marc de Groot The Lesotho Legend was recovered from the Letseng mine, located in the Maloti mountains of Lesotho. The mine had already yielded some of the worlds biggest stones, including the Lesotho Promise - 603 carats, found in 2006 - and the 550-carat Letseng Star. This open-pit mine is owned by Gem Diamonds and the government of Lesotho. Since the discovery of the Lesotho Legend, a community project has been set up and sums have been awarded for communities in the vicinity of the mine. A first for Van Cleef & Arpels In order to maximise this rough, Van Cleef & Arpels and Tache turned to Diamcad, a highly regarded diamond cutter in Antwerp. After extensive analysis, Diamcad cut the rough into a number of magnificent stones, including three of respectively 79.35 carats, 31.24 carats and 25.06 carats. Van Cleef & Arpels SA - 2022 by Marc de Groot The Maison seldom works with rough stones. We traditionally start with cut and faceted stones that are already suitable for use in jewellery. This is the first time in decades that we have been involved in a project from its starting point - the extraction of the stone - to the creation of a high jewellery collection. The appearance of this extraordinary rough stone gave us this unique opportunity to tell a story around the diamond, says Nicolas Bos, President of Van Cleef & Arpels (see our recent interview). Van Cleef & Arpels SA - 2022 by Marc de Groot Diamcad used 3D technology to map the future diamonds inside the rough. A year later, having determined the best possible plan, the stone was cleaved. The Lesotho Legend produced an array of 67 diamonds for a total of 441 carats. The Lesotho Legend produced an array of 67 diamonds for a total of 441 carats. The advantage of starting with a rough is to obtain stones of the exact required shape and size. The result - the Legend of Diamonds fine jewellery collection that was unveiled in Paris in July - is an alchemy of multiple elements: the dealer, the cutter, the diamonds, the other precious stones, the designers and the history and virtuosity of Van Cleef & Arpels. Developing Legend of Diamonds took about four years from the time we first saw the rough stone to the release of the finished pieces. I think we have successfully shown that an exceptional diamond can be the starting point for an extraordinary collection that will be a milestone in the history of the maison, Nicolas Bos declared. Mystery setting Each of the 25 pieces in the collection is designed around these spectacular diamonds and employs a technique that is also a signature of the brands expertise: the mystery setting. Patented in 1933, its secret is a groove cut into the culet; the stone can then be slid onto gold rails and its position precisely adjusted. Van Cleef & Arpels famous mystery setting technique, patented in 1933 The result is a carpet of precious stones with no visible prongs or metal. These spectacular tapestries of rubies, sapphires and emeralds show off the diamonds better than any other technique. At the heart of the Atours Mysterieux necklace, for example, a diamond of 79.35 carats is a heart-stopping centrepiece, illuminated by swirls of mystery-set rubies. A groove is cut into the culet of the stone, which is then slid onto gold rails and its position precisely adjusted. The result is a carpet of precious stones with no visible metal. The convertible Volutes Mysterieuses necklace Another highlight of the collection, the Chevron Mysterieux necklace is inspired by the crossover collars that were fashionable in the 1950s. It features not one but three centre stones: a trio of majestic pear-cut diamonds of 31 carats (centre), 12.18 carats and 12.07 carats. The chevron design is a composition of sapphires, emeralds and diamonds. As the most versatile piece in the collection, it can be worn in six different ways. The central element can be detached and worn as a pendant, while the other two large diamonds can adorn earrings. The Chevron Mysterieux necklace features not one but three centre stones. It took Van Cleef & Arpels workshops in excess of 30,000 hours to bring to fruition what can truly be called a masterwork of high jewellery. A rough diamond of this size and purity doesnt appear on the market every day. With expert help, Van Cleef & Arpels has made it the heart of a collection that will go down in high jewellery history. Collectors are in no doubt about its exceptional nature; they were out in force at the presentation in July in the hope of adding these rare creations to their personal jewellery box. Indeed, who knows when an opportunity such as this will come again Sleep medicine experts want you to know that some purported sleep aids come with unintended side effects, while others are low risk and definitely worth a shot. Layla Bird/iStock You crawl into bed at a decent hour thinking tonight is the night youre going to get your sleep back on track. Then you stare at the ceiling, eyes wide open, mind racing, with a good nights sleep feeling more like a distant dream with every passing second. Youre not alone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that about 70 million Americans deal with chronic sleep problems. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, up to 35 percent of adults struggle with insomnia, which means they have trouble falling asleep and/or staying asleep (at least on an occasional basis). And about 10 percent of people suffer from the longer-term type of insomnia, chronic insomnia, which means they find it difficult to get enough shut-eye at least three nights a week, for at least three months. Once your doctor has ruled out other medical conditions that may be interfering with your sleep and given you a diagnosis of insomnia, treatment will typically include cognitive and behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), lifestyle changes, and if necessary, medication. The most effective treatment for insomnia is CBT-I, says Alon Avidan, MD, MPH, a professor of neurology and the director of the UCLA Sleep Disorders Center. CBT-I includes a number of different modalities, such as mindfulness, meditation, deep breathing exercises, stimulus control (which involves removing factors from the bedroom environment that might be perpetuating the insomnia, such as a clock or an electronic device), hypnosis, and sleep hygiene, Dr. Avidan says. It helps retrain the brain to sleep by unlearning bad habits or thought patterns that are contributing to insomnia in the first place. In 2016, the American College of Physicians revamped its insomnia treatment guidelines to make CBT-I the preferred first-line treatment for insomnia. But complementary and integrative medicine approaches may also improve your sleep quality. In some cases, theyre part of CBT-I, and sometimes they can be used alongside other treatments (or on their own) to help you get back to sleep. Some of these approaches, such as yoga or tai chi, come with little or no downside, Avidan says. Other modalities, such as certain supplements or massage therapy, may carry the risk of interfering with other medications or treatments (or be unsafe for certain groups), so however harmless an approach might sound, its a good idea to let your physician know what youre trying out (especially if youre currently undergoing other treatments for insomnia or have another chronic health issue). The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends this, too. David Spiegel, MD, Willson professor and associate chair of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford Medicine and medical director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, adds that integrative medicine techniques for insomnia can be an option before turning to medication. If CBT-I alone isnt working, trying something like hypnosis or biofeedback therapy carries fewer risks than medications for insomnia do, he says. And before we even get into the natural integrative and complementary medicine approaches that might be helpful for insomnia, dont forget to try some of the top-line do-it-yourself steps that can also support good sleep in general (whether you struggle with insomnia or not). Sleep is not an on-and-off switch, says sleep expert and clinical psychologist Michael Breus, PhD, author of The Power of When. Your body needs time to unwind and ready itself for shut-eye. Some ways to practice a good sleep hygiene routine include: Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day. While you may hate being locked into a schedule, your brain likes following a pattern, says Helene A. Emsellem, MD, the medical director of the Center for Sleep and Wake Disorders in Chevy Chase, Maryland. While you may hate being locked into a schedule, your brain likes following a pattern, says Helene A. Emsellem, MD, the medical director of the Center for Sleep and Wake Disorders in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Power down electronics. The Sleep Foundation says that you should be device-free for 30 to 60 minutes before bed. The Sleep Foundation says that you should be device-free for 30 to 60 minutes before bed. Exercise regularly. Research indicates that individuals who exercise regularly for six months have significantly reduced insomnia symptoms. That said, the time of day that you exercise may impact your sleep, says Mark G. Goetting, MD, a sleep medicine specialist and associate professor at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine. He notes that some people wont sleep as well if they exercise close to bedtime, while others report that physical activity later in the day helps them sleep better. Research indicates that individuals who exercise regularly for six months have significantly reduced insomnia symptoms. That said, the time of day that you exercise may impact your sleep, says Mark G. Goetting, MD, a sleep medicine specialist and associate professor at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine. He notes that some people wont sleep as well if they exercise close to bedtime, while others report that physical activity later in the day helps them sleep better. Keep your bedroom cool. The ideal temperature for sleep is around 65 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Sleep Foundation. The ideal temperature for sleep is around 65 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Sleep Foundation. Eat at the same times of day. Theres lots of documentation that those who have irregular meals tend to have more problems with sleeplessness, says Dr. Goetting. Theres lots of documentation that those who have irregular meals tend to have more problems with sleeplessness, says Dr. Goetting. Journal your sleep habits. Goetting says that this practice can help you identify your natural sleep rhythms and plan your best sleep. Write down when you naturally feel tired and wake up every day. 10 Integrative Medicine Remedies That May Help You Sleep If you want to try these integrative medicine approaches to treat insomnia, heres what sleep medicine experts want you to know before you try them, as well as which ones they say are downright risky: Increased tax-deductible limits for long-term care insurance have been announced for 2023 according to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance. "One of the little-known benefits for certain long-term care insurance is the ability to deduct some or all of the cost during retirement years," states Jesse Slome, director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance (AALTCI). "For a couple older than age 70, the new IRS levels may enable them to deduct almost $12,000." Tax deductible limits for 2023 will increase between 6 and 7 percent Slome notes. "Only long-term care policies that meet the federal government's tax-qualified requirements qualify for a potential tax deduction," Slome explains. "Most of the linked benefit or hybrid life insurance policies do not qualify for a possible tax benefit." The tax deductibility benefit rarely is a benefit when an individual or couple first purchase insurance protection. "Only after retirement from employment are people more likely to reach the health expense threshold," Slome acknowledges. "That potential tax deduction can be a huge benefit after retirement and something seniors should take into consideration when looking into their long-term care protection options." 2023 Tax Deductibility The following are the new 2023 deductible limits per-individual (2022 in brackets): Attained Age Before Close of Taxable Year 2023 Limit (2022) 40 or less $480 ($450) More than 40 but not more than 50 $890 ($850) More than 50 but not more than 60 $1,790 ($1,6,90) More than 60 but not more than 70 $4,770 ($4,510) More than 70 $5,960 ($5,640) The American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance advocates for the importance of planning and supports insurance and financial professionals who provide long-term care financing solutions. To see prior year's long-term care insurance tax deductible limits, visit the organization's website (https://www.aaltci.org/tax) or call the organization at 818-597-3227 to connect with a long-term care insurance professional who can provide no-obligation and cost comparisons. Serbia and Turkey have agreed to revise the number of destinations, frequencies and capacities between the two countries, in a departure from the restrictive bilateral Air Service Agreement in force between the two states. The Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate, the Turkish Directorate General of Aviation, Air Serbia and Turkish Airlines met in Istanbul to finalise the deal. "The meeting resulted in an agreement on destinations, frequencies, and capacities that will be in force on scheduled flights between the two countries", the Serbian regulator said. Although details are yet to be released, Air Serbia is expected to boost operations to Istanbul this winter, complementing its Turkish counterparts triple daily service. In addition, the Turkish carrier is expected to launch scheduled flights between Antalya and Belgrade in cooperation with Air Serbia next year. Serbia and Turkey have agreed to revise the number of destinations, frequencies and capacities between the two countries, in a departure from the restrictive bilateral Air Service Agreement in force between the two states. The Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate, the Turkish Directorate General of Aviation, Air Serbia and Turkish Airlines met in Istanbul to finalise the deal. "The meeting resulted in an agreement on destinations, frequencies, and capacities that will be in force on scheduled flights between the two countries", the Serbian regulator said. Although details are yet to be released, Air Serbia is expected to boost operations to Istanbul this winter, complementing its Turkish counterparts triple daily service. In addition, the Turkish carrier is expected to launch scheduled flights between Antalya and Belgrade in cooperation with Air Serbia next year. The new agreement will aid the drafting of a Joint Venture between Air Serbia and Turkish Airlines. A Joint Venture is an agreement between airlines to share revenues on a route. It also involves coordinating route planning and scheduling. These are typically large undertakings, that involve significant negotiations. They also often require government approval due to the potential removal of competition. The two said the Joint Venture will enable the two companies to offer more competitive and more affordable flights between Turkey and Serbia, improve the quality of service currently offered, as well as expand their offer and benefits for all passengers. Air Serbia and Turkish Airlines are negotiating increasing existing cooperation in terms of codeshare, cargo and Frequent Flyer Program (FFP) while developing cooperation alternatives on passenger lounges in their networks. Turkish Airlines already utilises Air Serbias dedicated Premium Lounge at Belgrade Airport. This year has seen Turkish Airlines add a third daily flight to Belgrade, which will be maintained throughout the winter as well, while Air Serbia has introduced a two weekly service from both Nis and Kraljevo to Istanbul, which are performing well. Furthermore, the two airlines have expanded their codeshare partnership on several occasions. Serbia and Turkey recently signed a protocol enabling passport-free travel. The restrictive Air Service Agreement between Serbia and Turkey, signed in October 2015, entered into force in December 2021. Under the agreement, each airline must take into consideration how their operations will affect their competitors, while regulators are able to determine if any increase in capacity or frequencies is justified and in line with market conditions. GREAT FALLS, Mont. - Students in the Electric City had an immersive and hands-on experience as they explored over 60 careers offered in the Treasure State. It was all a part of Worlds of Work, which isn't your typical job fair. "The whole concept is for them to have immersive exposure to all 16 of the career pathways recognized by the Montana's Office of Public Instruction," said Scott Wolff, executive director of Central Montana Works. One joke many Montanans say is that the state's biggest export is their children. Well today was a chance for 8th and 10th graders to develop a connection to leaders here in Great Falls. "They have been told for a long time that in order to find their dream job, they need to leave the state. So, putting on an event like this where we're covering all of those different pathways and showing these students these things in a hands-on sort of construct will kind of dispel that illusion and show them that they don't necessarily have to leave the state in order to find their dream job," said Wolff. Students say today has been one of the best days of the year so far. "It's been awesome. We've gotten to try so many different things. There are things I've tried with my friends that we didn't think we'd ever be interested in but now I think we're definitely going to have a better look at it later on in life," said Mason Kralj, a sophomore at Great Falls High School. Kralj says his favorite part of the day has been being able to meet police officers and interact with them as well as getting to do some of the training exercises in the gym that were available to students. "There are no cups and koozies and lanyards here today. There are only experiences. The whole point of this was to have the students be able to actually take part in a hands-on learning activity regardless of what zone they are in or what career pathway they're looking at. We wanted to give them the opportunity to actually get their hands dirty, so to speak," said Wolff. Rural campaigners have welcomed an emergency extension to general licences in Northern Ireland following concern they were due to expire imminently. The decision taken by NI's Department of Agriculture (DAERA) to update the licences came after the Countryside Alliance sounded the alarm, as they were due to expire at midnight on Tuesday (18 October). Farmers, pest controllers and game keepers feared they would be at risk of unknowingly breaking the law whilst controlling species such as pigeons and carrion crows. DAERA announced a last minute extension to the general licences, however they are valid only until 31 December 2022. General licences avoid the need for people to apply for individual licences for these specific circumstances, preventing any bureaucratic delays. They permit authorised persons, including farmers, pest controllers and gamekeepers, to carry out activities like pest control. They cover certain types of birds, including magpies and crows to preserve public health or air safety, and prevent the spread of disease. They also cover situations that are regarded as relatively commonplace such as protecting livestock from predators and where there is unlikely to be any great conservation impact. Gary McCartney, director of the Countryside Alliance in NI, urged DAERA to "ensure a situation like this never arises again". "Rural workers and those involved in pest control cannot afford to be weighed down by unnecessary, complex bureaucracy," he said. "We will seek assurances that these general licences will be renewed again, well within time and with all interested stakeholders updated fully in advance. A new method of analysing bone density in live hens could help farmers select the optimum birds with which to breed to improve animal welfare, UK researchers say. Scientists at the Roslin Institute have developed a digital X-ray procedure that takes around 45 seconds to conduct. The institute, based in Edinburgh, said this method was practical for hens and poultry workers while delivering reliable, reproducible results. The novel method enables breeders to consider bone density in their selection of laying hens, which are at risk of fractures from biological changes linked with laying eggs. Recent advances in digital X-ray technology have enabled researchers to develop their technique to capture and interpret images relating to bone density. Their method involves quickly capturing digital X-rays of live hens, from which their leg bone density can be calculated, and data digitally shared. Researchers at the Roslin Institute optimised their method to ensure a clear image in minimal exposure time. Their approach was validated by comparing results from chicken X-rays with those from analysis of chicken leg bones. Strong bones offer improved health and reduced risk of fractures in birds that have freedom to move around their environment. The keel bone, or sternum, of hens is particularly prone to damage and previous research by the same team has shown that leg bone density is genetically related to that of the keel bone, and to fracture risk. A practical way to measure bone density could also help reduce the number of animals needed for research into nutritional and management aids for bone health. Professor Ian Dunn, personal chair of avian biology at the Roslin Institute, said: "For many decades, poultry breeders have chosen which birds to breed according to a mix of many factors. "But it has not been possible to account for bone quality in live hens, and a practical method of measuring bone quality in hens has been unavailable. "Our method represents a major development to aid selection towards improving bone strength, and health and welfare, in laying hens." The study, published in British Poultry Science, was supported by the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research. Shipping containers are stacked at a pier in Korea's largest port city of Busan, Oct. 11. Yonhap Korea is expected to see sluggish exports for some time as demand from major markets, including the United States and China, wanes as a consequence of global monetary tightening and slowing growth, a central bank report said Wednesday. The gloomy prospects for exports deepen uncertainty for the country's current account balance that turned to the red for the first time in four months in August as import bills for energy and raw materials mounted faster than overseas sales, according to the report from the Bank of Korea (BOK). "Exports have been growing at a much slower pace recently following favorable performances until the first half, while imports remain high centering on energy products, which will likely have a negative impact on trade and current account balances," the report said. In painting such a gloomy picture, the report cites weaker demand from major markets, including the U.S. and the European Union, as they are gripped by economic slowdown woes. It also worried that demand for Korean products will decline in China as that country is expected to go through a prolonged economic slowdown considering its zero-COVID 19 policy that keeps strict antivirus restrictions in place and slumping real estate market. The BOK report, in particular, said that IT exports will likely slow down "for the time being" as demand is expected to shrink from a spike during the coronavirus pandemic, with sales bound for China hit harder than other markets. "Accordingly, our exports are expected to remain sluggish going forward," the report said. Korea's exports grew 2.8 percent on-year in September but imports surged 18.6 percent over the same period, resulting in a trade deficit of $3.77 billion last month. Imports have exceeded exports in Korea since April, and it is the first time since 1995 that the country suffered a trade deficit for six months in a row. The continuing trade deficit has weighed on the country current account, a major gauge of economic activities. In August, the country posted a current account shortfall of $3.05 billion, a sharp turnaround from a surplus of a revised $790 million tallied a month earlier. This marked the first time in four months that the country has posted a current account deficit. The country last posted a shortfall of $79.3 million in April. With exports likely to remain sluggish and shortfalls in the service sector forecast to increase due to more outbound travel amid eased virus curbs, the report predicted that the country's current account balance will go through "high volatility" going forward. Earlier, the BOK said that the August shortfall in current account was temporary and will likely return to a surplus in September as trade deficit is on the decline. (Yonhap) Only subscribers with PAID Print or E-Edition subscriptions enter here to gain access. If you are not a Current Paid subscriber do not go through this portal. Please return to the subscription page to purchase one of our offers. Thank you! 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 Logos of Korbit and Save the Children / Courtesy of Korbit and Save the Children By Lee Min-hyung Korbit, a Seoul-based cryptocurrency exchange, has partnered with Save the Children Korea to launch a donation campaign involving non-fungible tokens (NTF). Under their memorandum of understanding, the exchange operator will hold a series of campaigns by donating NFTs to the non-profit organization's charitable programs, the nation's first crypto exchange said Wednesday. Save the Children Korea engages in a variety of humanitarian programs here, so as to help young children in need. "We are pleased to team up with Save the Children Korea for the NFT campaign," Korbit CEO Oh Se-jin said. "Korbit will keep casting a good influence on society by utilizing its blockchain technologies and holding socially responsible campaigns." Save the Children Korea CEO Jung Tae-young also welcomed the partnership with Korbit, saying deepening ties with the company will benefit the welfare of children. "Save the Children Korea received a donation via Bitcoin for the first time in the world in 2013 when Typhoon Haiyan hit Southeast Asia and the Philippines," he said. "It is meaningful that we have been able to connect the dots with retail and institution investors who are interested in the rights of children after reaching the NFT partnership with Korbit. We will continue to do our utmost to enhance the welfare of children by holding diverse crypto donation campaigns." Australia and its largest two-way trading partner in Southeast Asia, Singapore, have signed a first-of-its-kind Green Economy Agreement (GEA). The landmark bilateral agreement between the two countries will propel a sustainable future and support Australian businesses to seize economic opportunities presented by the global clean energy transformation. The GEA agreement combines trade, economic and environmental objectives. It builds on existing cooperation between Australia and Singapore to take action on climate change and strengthen trade and investment in clean energy across our region, the countries said in a joint statement. Australia and its largest two-way trading partner in Southeast Asia, Singapore, have signed a first-of-its-kind Green Economy Agreement (GEA). The landmark bilateral agreement between the two countries will propel a sustainable future and support Australian businesses to seize economic opportunities presented by the global clean energy transformation. The agreement will deepen their bilateral partnership through strengthened economic and environmental relations while furthering engagement on existing areas of cooperation, such as their memorandum of understanding on cooperation in low-emissions solutions. The vision is to enhance the livelihood of the communities whilst transitioning to greener economies and addressing the challenges of climate change. The GEA will deliver on this vision by reducing barriers to the trade in environmental goods and services; fostering convergence on regulations and standards; exploring new opportunities in green growth sectors; adopting environmental measures that facilitate trade and investment in a manner consistent with existing international trade and investment obligations; and ensuring a smooth and inclusive transition into a green economy that creates good jobs for the people. The Australian government has also announced an initial investment of $19.6 million over four years for new cooperation under the GEA that will support job creation at home and strengthen supply chains, trade and market opportunities. Our broader aspiration is for the GEA to serve as a pathfinder that contributes to multilateral and regional policy development by establishing policies, standards and initiatives that will not only create good jobs in green growth sectors, but also strengthen environmental governance and global capacity to address environmental issues, in particular climate change. We seek to do this by exploring creative ways to encourage the adoption of common standards and practices with high environmental integrity, while upholding a rules-based and open trading system, the statement added. Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister, Australia, said: The Green Economy Agreement extends well beyond a simple bilateral trade agreement. This world-first agreement establishes a framework under which our countries can advance work on the clean energy transformation and support businesses and industry. This is a model that will support both Australia and Singapore, and partners in our region to seize the economic opportunities of the global transition to net zero. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD) After a long wait, the trailer to the Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon starrer Bhediya is finally out, and it promises a unique storyline that is in equal parts chilling and humorous. Produced by Dinesh Vijan this film is the third instalment in the three part horror-comedy universe which also includes Stree and Roohi. Bhediya is the story of Bhaskar, a man who gets bitten by a mythical wolf and begins to transform into the creature himself. When his friends find out about this truth, a series of twists and turns take place. The teaser shows a glimpse of a superhero style storyline, where Varun wonders why he was bit, whereas Kriti Sanon who plays the doctor reiterates that since he has been chosen, he must take on the responsibility. The trailer also previews Varun's CGI-assisted transformation into the wolf, as well as a remix of the popular tune from the animated Jungle Book Series called Jungle Jungle Baat Chali Hai. The remainder of the cast including Deepak Dobriyal and Abhishek Banerjee are also introduced. Bhediya which is all set to entertain the audience with its horror meets comedy plot, was filmed in Arunachal Pradesh. The movie will be released in theatres on November 25. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 18, 2022) - iMining Technologies Inc. (TSXV: IMIN) (FSE: P1A) ("iMining" or the "Company"), a publicly traded company that invests in blockchain technology and Web3.0 ecosystem, announces that the Company will be attending the Canadian Blockchain Summit. iMining's Chairman and CEO, Mr. Khurram Shroff, will be speaking about the Web3.0 industry and more specifically about the opportunities related to the Metaverse and the ever-evolving regulatory environment as it relates to digital real estate. Mr. Shroff will be joined on the panel by other industry leaders. The Canadian Blockchain Summit is an exciting event that brings together leading organizations, companies and though leaders to showcase how the emerging blockchain and Web3.0 ecosystem is transforming the future. The inaugural Canadian Blockchain Summit will be hosted by the Canadian Blockchain Consortium and will be supported by iMining Technologies amongst many other companies and professionals. The Summit will be held in Calgary, Alberta on October 19th and 20th; this multi-day event will explore important topics including Canada's evolving digital future, cryptocurrency, the new economy, education and ESG, and the bitcoin mining boom in Canada. Senior management teams from iMining, and its subsidiaries will be in attendance as well. In addition, iMining will also have a lounge space where attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about the Company directly from its leaders. Additionally, the iMining lounge will also host the senior management team of The Glenrose Hospital Foundation ("Glenrose"). With over 80,000 patient visits every year, Glenrose Hospital helps people living with illness, injury or those living with chronic conditions regain their independence. In order to raise funding for their innovative programs and to be able to continue to develop innovative and technologically advanced treatment methods, Glenrose will be displaying two NFTs which will be sold at the Summit to raise awareness and capital for future development. The NFT's feature art created by a young Glenrose patient using brain-computer interface technology. "I am thrilled to see the blockchain ecosystem grow in Canada and I'm excited to participate at the Canadian Blockchain Summit as a speaker," said Mr. Khurram Shroff. "Furthermore, iMining has developed a Web3 NFT strategy for the Glenrose Hospital Foundation and we look forward to participating in their fundraising by purchasing the inaugural NFT called Brain Storming painted by Olivia, a 13-year-old patient at Glenrose Hospital," added Mr. Shroff. "While the traditional economy is moving towards greater digitalization, many research agencies identify blockchain as one of the highest value opportunities and shaping new multi-trillion-dollar economic sectors," said Ms. Koleya Karringten, Executive Director of the Canadian Blockchain Consortium. "As the premier national industry consortium for blockchain technology, we are pleased to see collaboration between iMining and Glenrose Hospital Foundation, which is also the charitable partner at the Canadian Blockchain Summit. We are also thankful to partners such as iMining for agreeing to purchase the inaugural NFT painted by Olivia to kick-off the fundraising campaign for Glenrose," added Ms. Karringten. "We're pleased to once again collaborate with iMining and the Canadian Blockchain Consortium in our fundraising efforts. Events like this offer unique opportunities to demonstrate how technology can help reimagine human ability and to connect with a community of support," said Mr. Mark Korthuis, CEO of Glenrose Hospital Foundation. Finally, in order to further educate the attendees, the iMining lounge will also present other popular NFTs including a bored ape NFT, an NFT of a Crypto Punk and thought-provoking art pieces by the classically trained New York artist, Ms. Leila Pinto and the world-renowned local artist, Ms. Mandy Stobo. Those interested in learning more are encouraged to visit the iMining lounge at the Summit or reach out via email to investor@imining.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Signed "Khurram Shroff" Khurram Shroff, President & CEO FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, please contact: iMining Corporate Offices: Saleem Moosa, Director Email: investor@imining.com Telephone: +1 (844) IMININC (464-6462) 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, which relate to future events or future performance, and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions, and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected including, but not limited to, market conditions, availability of financing, actual results of activities, future cryptocurrency prices, operating risks, and other risks in the cryptocurrency industry. All the forward-looking statements 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. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required by applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141057 Mitsubishi XFC Concept TOKYO, Oct 19, 2022 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (hereafter, Mitsubishi Motors) today held the world premiere of the Mitsubishi XFC Concept, a compact SUV concept car, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The car will be on display at Vietnam Motor Show 2022 to be held from October 26 to 30.With the concept of being the "best-suited buddy for an exciting life," the Mitsubishi XFC Concept is a next-generation compact SUV that offers the powerful and imposing design of an SUV, utility such as ease of handling and an ample cargo space, comfort including a class-leading interior space, and safe, secure road handling even on rough surfaces or roads flooded by heavy rains."We will launch the new compact SUV sequentially in the ASEAN markets including Vietnam in fiscal year 2023," said Takao Kato, president and chief executive officer, Mitsubishi Motors. "In the future, we plan to add an electrified variant to the lineup and to also roll it out in regions outside ASEAN. We hope to grow the model from a vehicle for the ASEAN market to a global strategic vehicle, making it a core model like the sales-leading Xpander crossover MPV."The Mitsubishi XFC Concept is a compact SUV that is not part of the current ASEAN lineup. It complements Mitsubishi Motors' wide range of products tailored to the ASEAN market -- the Triton pickup truck and its derivative, the Pajero Sport midsize SUV; the Outlander and Outlander PHEV midsize SUVs; the Xpander and Xpander Cross crossover MPVs; and the Mirage compact hatchback and its variant, the Attrage sedan.*Fiscal 2023 is from April 2023 to March 2024.Powerful and imposing designIn line with Mitsubishi Motors' design philosophy of Robust & Ingenious, the Mitsubishi XFC Concept combines a compact yet powerful and imposing aura of an SUV with a sleek surface that forms one continuous flow, starting from the three-diamond emblem on the front and extending to the sides and rear. This gives it a stylish and sporty profile to match the cityscapes of the ASEAN region. In addition, with enhanced road handling on rough surfaces thanks to ample ground clearance and large-diameter wheels, the Mitsubishi XFC Concept expresses both toughness and agility while featuring an authentic SUV styling that stands out in outdoor scenes.At the front, the Dynamic Shield concept, which expresses both performance and protection, has evolved in line with the concept. The L-shaped headlight in the headlight unit's upper portion combines with the louver-like daytime running lights (DRL) below to light up in an iconic T-shape, which shows a sense of broadness. The sides of the body are composed of rich, muscular surfaces, with sculpted front and rear fender flares and character lines expressing the power and dynamism of an SUV. Like the front, the rear also features T-shaped tail lights to create a rear styling that accentuates wideness and stability.The interior offers ease of operation and comfortableness, which are essential for an SUV. For the instrument panel, a horizontally themed design is adopted, making it easier to sense changes in the vehicle's posture when driving on rough surfaces while also improving forward visibility. Meanwhile, the dynamic design extending from the instrument panel to the door trim, along with a series of soft padding, give a sense of enclosure and protection to create a secure and comfortable interior.Utility provided by ease of handling and ample cargo spaceThe Mitsubishi XFC Concept is designed for ease of operation, providing good forward visibility, easy perception of the vehicle's dimensions, and smooth handling. The instrument panel features a large display panel integrating a full digital driver display and a center display that can show three separate information such as navigation, road surface conditions, and other information necessary for driving on one screen to provide a safe and comfortable driving environment while also expressing a sense of advanced design. Despite its compact body size, the Mitsubishi XFC Concept is also designed for utility with ample cargo space.Comfort provided by class-leading interior spaceAlthough it is a compact SUV, the Mitsubishi XFC Concept comes with spacious cabin area. In particular, with its generous legroom in the rear seats, it offers top-level comfort in its class. Moreover, everyone on board can feel safe and reassured, with vehicle stability control in slippery road conditions and high-quality ride comfort.Safe and reliable driving on rough and flooded roadsWith plenty of ground clearance and four drive modes -- Normal, Wet, Gravel and Mud -- the Mitsubishi XFC Concept offers a fun, safe and secure ride in various weather and road conditions. The Wet mode, introduced for the first time in a Mitsubishi vehicle, is designed with use in ASEAN countries in mind, such as enabling safe driving even on roads flooded by sudden showers.About Mitsubishi MotorsMitsubishi Motors Corporation (TSE:7211) -- a member of the Alliance with Renault and Nissan --, is a global automobile company based in Tokyo, Japan, which has about 30,000 employees and a global footprint with production facilities in Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, mainland China, the Philippines, Viet Nam and Russia. Mitsubishi Motors has a competitive edge in SUVs, pickup trucks and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and appeals to ambitious drivers willing to challenge convention and embrace innovation. Since the production of our first vehicle more than a century ago, Mitsubishi Motors has been a leader in electrification--launched the i-MiEV --the world's first mass-produced electric vehicle in 2009, followed by the Outlander PHEV --the world's first plug-in hybrid electric SUV in 2013. The company announced a three-year business plan in July 2020 to introduce more competitive and cutting-edge models, including the Eclipse Cross (PHEV model), the all-new Outlander and the all-new Triton/L200.For more information on Mitsubishi Motors, please visit the company's website at www.mitsubishi-motors.com/en/.Source: Mitsubishi MotorsCopyright 2022 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Just Eat Takeaway.com N.V. (JET.L, GRUB), an online food delivery company, Wednesday reported that it was Adjusted EBITDA positive in the third quarter, materially ahead of prior guidance at the beginning of the year and is on track towards its long-term target margins. Gross transaction value or GTV was up 2 percent in the third quarter to 6.92 billion euros from last year's 6.80 billion euros, driven by a higher Average Transaction Value and positive FX movements. GTV at constant currency rates, meanwhile, declined 5 percent. Just Eat Takeaway.com processed 235.5 million orders in the quarter, down 11 percent from last year's 265.8 million orders, predominantly caused by the end of Covid-19 restrictions and, to a lesser extent, by reducing the number of low contribution Orders. Further, as updated in late September, the company now expects positive Adjusted EBITDA in the second half of 2022, and GTV to grow by low-single digit year-on-year in 2022. The company expects to maintain positive Adjusted EBITDA in FY 2023, and the long-term objectives for Just Eat Takeaway.com remain unchanged. 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. EQS-News: France Biotech / Key word(s): Conference The 4th edition of the HealthTech Innovation Days (HTID), in Paris, succeeded in bringing together key players of the European healthtech ecosystem to support innovation in healthcare for patients 19.10.2022 / 10:00 CET/CEST The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The 4th edition of the HealthTech Innovation Days (HTID), in Paris, succeeded in bringing together key players of the European healthtech ecosystem to support innovation in healthcare for patients The HTID brought together 800 participants: researchers, institutional and industrial players, investors and entrepreneurs from the healthtech ecosystem, on October 13 and 14, in Paris. For the 4th consecutive year, the HTID benefited from the High Patronage of Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, and the support of representatives of the European institutions, including Ms. Felicitas Riedl from the European Investment Bank), Mr. Roland Lescure, Minister Delegate in charge of Industry and Mr. Andrzej Rys, Mr. Hubert Gambs, Mr. Iordanis Arzimanoglou and Mr. Enric Claverol-Tinture from the European Commission. Paris, October 19, 2022, the 4th edition of HTID, organized by HealthTech For Care and chaired by Maryvonne Hiance, brought together for 2 days the actors of the European ecosystem of innovation in health with the objective of finding financing and encouraging new industrial partnerships to accelerate the development and market access of new products and treatments for all patients. 1,600 formal and informal face-to-face and virtual meetings were organized this year, plus meetings set up following HTID#4, reflecting the growing interest in this event. HTID#4 brought together more than 165 European health technology companies, 15 pharmaceutical and industrial companies and over 300 international investors. 86 international experts gathered and animated 19 round tables. Replay of the round tables: https://htfc-eu.com/htid/htid4-replay/ "Europe has a strong network of hundreds of companies with ambitious innovations in the field of health. To develop their products and services, access the market and make them available to patients, these companies need massive financial support. As the only European event to bring together all the players in the healthtech ecosystem, the HTID once again confirms its mission to serve the growth of these companies and will continue to strengthen its commitment in the years to come," says Maryvonne Hiance, chairwomen of HealthTech For Care, organizer of the HTID. "The 4.1% increase in healthcare spending in 2022 is structurally higher than global GDP growth and highlights the long-term trends that are still intact and are the fundamental drivers of healthcare markets:the increase in the world's population, its ageing, the constant progress of medical treatments combined with the expansion of public healthcare systems. The European Commission wants to have Europe as a preferred location for life sciences. Among the many initiatives taken is the Important Project of Common European Interest ('IPCEI') in the area of health, a key strategic instrument that brings together expertise, financial resources, and economic actors to overcome market failures and societal challenges. Also worth mentioning is the European Commission's ongoing work on intellectual property rights with the imminent launch of the Unitary Patent system to support EU competitiveness. Europe's success in health innovation is a long-term objective, serving the EU's economic success and strategic autonomy. ", says Hubert Gambs, Deputy Director General DG GROW - Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs - at the European Commission. "HealthTech For Care Innovation" Award : The HealthTech For Care Innovation Award, introduced for the very first time during this 4th edition of the HTID, gave the opportunity to 25 HealthTech companies (Biotech, MedTech, Innovative Services & Digital Health), from 7 countries and selected by the European clusters, to present their solutions to health experts and investors during a pitch competition. The winners of this first edition are : 1st Prize: MRM Health is a biopharmaceutical company specialized in the discovery and development of innovative therapies based on the human microbiome. The company is based in a center of expertise for microbiome research and development in Belgium. 2nd Prize: FluoSphera is developing technology to better predict the effects of molecules to help biotech and pharmaceutical companies discover more effective drugs with fewer adverse side effects and reduce animal testing. The company is based in Switzerland. 3rd Prize: Vidac Pharma Ltd is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative drugs to help people suffering from various oncological and dermatological diseases. Its work focuses on the tumor micro environment. The winner was awarded the "HealthTech For Care Innovation" prize, which provides him with privileged connections with HTFC's sponsors, visibility through dedicated communication and free access to the 5th edition of HTID. We would like to thank all our sponsors without whom this event would not take place. The 4th edition of the HealthTech Innovation Days (HTID) event is supported by sponsors: Agile Capital Markets, Amgen France, BNP Paribas , Bpifrance, Bristol Myers Squibb, Cenponts, Cepton Strategies/Vintura, Dechert, EIT Health, Euronext, Ferring, Jeito Capital, Icosa, Alpha Blue Ocean, Invest Securities, Ipsen, Leem (Les Entreprises du Medicament), Life Sciences Acceleration Alliance, McDermott Will & Emery, Organon, Pharma Intelligence, Rothschild&Co, Sanofi, Servier, Sofinnova Partners, Stifel. About HealthTech For Care The HealthTech For Care endowment fund is designed to support and promote access to healthcare for all, and more specifically to new medical technologies and medicines. The missions of the endowment fund are organised around three main areas: to support the development of the entire healthcare ecosystem, to accelerate the development of innovative therapies and medicines, and to promote better access for patients to the healthcare system in France and Europe. The governance of HealthTech For Care includes Maryvonne Hiance, Elsy Boglioli, David Caumartin, Pierre Courteille, Marc Dechamps, Eric Falcand, Frederic Girard, Marc Julien, Anais Le Corvec, Cedric Moreau, Christian Pierret and Christian Policard. HealthTech For Care benefits from the support of its founder France Biotech and the network of French health clusters: Atlanpole biotherapies, BioValley France, EuroBioMed, LyonBioPole, Medicen and the NSL clubster. The endowment fund is also supported by many European players: Asebio, BioAlps, BIO Deutschland, BioIndustry Association, BioWin, CEBR, Federchimica Assobiotec, flanders.bio, HollandBIO, IREFI, Medvia, Swiss Biotech and French: Business France. https://www.linkedin.com/company/healthtech-for-care/ https://htfc-eu.com About HealthTech Innovation Days The HTID event, initiated by France Biotech, provides a platform for promising European life sciences companies to accelerate their growth and bring innovation to patients. This European event gathers each year more than 800 participants including 300 global investors, 150 innovative European healthcare companies and about 15 pharmaceutical groups. The 4th edition will take place on October 13 and 14, 2022, in a hybrid format, combining in-person presentations, panels and one-on-one meetings in Paris with a virtual platform. It is organised by the HealthTech For Care endowment fund. The HealthTech Innovation Days are sponsored by international pharmaceutical companies, other health innovation companies, investors and many international opinion leaders. https://htfc-eu.com/htid/ Press contacts Relations presse Margaux Puech mpuech@ulysse-communication.com +33(0)7 86 16 01 09 Relations presse Pierre-Louis Germain plgermain@ulysse-communication.com +33(0)6 64 79 97 51 HTFC Nathalie Donne nathalie.donne@insead.eu +33(0)6 67 67 44 97 HTFC Solene Goupy solene.goupy@htfc-eu.com +33(0)6 38 03 80 19 19.10.2022 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.eqs-news.com Germany-based multidisciplinary artist Ro Eun-nim died Tuesday at the age of 76. Courtesy of Gana Art Center By Park Han-sol Germany-based painter Ro Eun-nim, who was best known for bringing to life semi-abstract representations of fish, birds, mammals and flowers on canvas as a vibrant ode to nature, died Tuesday after battling cancer. She was 76. Born in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, in 1946, Ro made the decision to move to Germany in 1970 at the age of 24 shortly after her mother's sudden death. From the 1960s to the 1970s, the Park Chung-hee government dispatched over 10,000 nurses and nearly 8,000 mine workers to West Germany to obtain foreign capital and economic aid that was much needed in the country, which at the time, was still recovering from the 1950-53 Korean War. Ro was part of that wave of mass migration, landing a job as a nurse's aide in a hospital in Hamburg. One day, when she came down with a cold and had to miss work, she got a visit from the chief nursing officer. Little did she know then that that day would forever change her life. The officer, who came across Rho's paintings her hobby at the time which were tucked away in the corner of a room, proposed in 1972 that she hold a small exhibition inside the hospital. Once the show opened, word spread fast until the news reached Hans Thiemann, a painter educated in the Bauhaus and a professor at the Hamburg Academy of Fine Arts. At his suggestion, at the age of 27, Rho became a student of painting at the academy, eventually rubbing shoulders with the likes of video art visionary Nam June Paik. And so began her life as a full-time artist. In 1990, she was appointed as a professor at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences as the first Korean to do so dedicating the next two decades of her to life training young minds. In November 2019, the painter also became the first non-German-born artist to have a permanent exhibition hall established in her honor at the City Museum of Michelstadt. Ro Eun-nim's "One Spring Day" (2019) / Courtesy of Gana Art Center AMSTERDAM (dpa-AFX) - Ahold Delhaize (ADRND.PK, AHODF.PK), on Wednesday, said it acquired a minority stake in advertising technology company Adhese, to accelerate the development of digital advertising opportunities for B2B partners across Europe to create more tailored and relevant customer experiences. Ahold Delhaize stated that it is 'committed to accelerating its investments in building scalable digital advertising capabilities so its brands can build deeper digital customer relationships, online and offline.' Ahold Delhaize's local Dutch brand Albert Heijn has taken the lead in the partnership with Adhese through AH Media Services. Ultimately this partnership would serve more brands in Europe, including Delhaize in Belgium, in support of ecosystems to connect shopping experiences that offer customers more convenience, value and relevance. 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. Moove, the world's first mobility fintech and Uber's largest vehicle supply partner in EMEA, is announcing it has raised 15 million in financing from Emso Asset Management to scale up its UK operations following a successful launch in August. Moove launched in London in August with a 100% EV rent-to-buy model that provides access to brand-new, zero-emissions vehicles to mobility entrepreneurs for a flat weekly fee. The new financing facility will enable Moove to scale up to 10,000 vehicles by the end of 2025 and become the largest EV partner on Uber's platform in London. Founded by British-born Nigerian entrepreneurs Ladi Delano and Jide Odunsi, Moove launched in Nigeria in 2020 to democratise access to vehicle ownership. Having now scaled to nine markets across sub-Saharan Africa and India, Moove is leading the charge in the 'mobility fintech sector', which is solving the challenge of limited access to vehicle financing for millions of gig workers across ride-hailing, logistics, and instant delivery sectors. Moove's alternative credit scoring technology provides access to vehicle financing to customers who may have previously been excluded from financial services. Over the past two years, Moove has enabled sustainable job creation and a path to asset ownership with its customers having completed over 9 million trips in Moove-financed vehicles. London is the global leader for Uber's electrification efforts with over 7,000 EVs on the platform the most of any Uber city. Moove's London operations will enable Uber to progress towards its goal of becoming an all-electric platform in the capital by 2025. To enable this transition to EVs in London, Moove also launched Moove Charge, the first end-to-end charge experience and complete EV charging network app specifically for ride-hailing drivers, enabling customers to locate, control, and pay for charging across one of the largest roaming networks in London. Ladi Delano, co-founder and co-CEO at Moove, said: "This financing comes at a really exciting time for Moove. With our international expansion underway in the UK and India, we've already shown that affordable and accessible vehicle financing for mobility entrepreneurs is a global challenge and one we're committed to solving at Moove. We're looking forward to scaling up our operations in the UK to enable drivers to transition to electric vehicles to drive forward the electrification of mobility." ENDS About Moove Moove is an African-born global start-up and the world's first mobility fintech, providing revenue-based vehicle financing and financial services to mobility entrepreneurs. By embedding its alternative credit scoring technology onto ride-hailing, e-logistics and instant delivery platforms, Moove uses proprietary performance and revenue analytics to underwrite loans to drivers that have previously been excluded from financial services. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005086/en/ Contacts: Tingting Peng tingting@moove.io CITIC Telecom CPC wins Best in Future of Operations at IDC Future Enterprise Awards 2022 HONG KONG, Oct 19, 2022 - (ACN Newswire) - CITIC Telecom International CPC Limited (CITIC Telecom CPC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CITIC Telecom International Holdings Limited ("CITIC Telecom", SEHK: 1883) and a leading Global DICT solutions provider, together with OutSystems, a global leader in high-performance application development, announce an award win from International Data Corporation (IDC). CITIC Telecom CPC was named Hong Kong Winner of the Best in Future of Operations in IDC's Future Enterprise Awards 2022 for the company's AI Cognitive Object Recognition Systems.CITIC Telecom CPC's AI Cognitive Object Recognition System, developed by in-house Information Technology Services & Data Science Team was selected among over hundreds of high-quality entries from various industries and leading enterprises. The surge in demand for warehouse capacity and the importance of a smooth-running operation has become increasingly clear over the past 2 years. CITIC Telecom CPC has formed its in-house Research and Development team in 2017, backed by the technological capabilities and strategic flexibility, the team has developed and implemented the Smart Warehouse Solution within six months. This rapid innovation was achieved by combining rapid visual development-powered by the OutSystems high-performance low-code platform-alongside AI-enabled COR technology that CITIC Telecom CPC had previously developed.Key benefits of the award-winning Smart Warehouse solutionSince its inception, the Solution has realized 88% time saving for warehouse equipment receipts and the management of inventory, facilitating engineers to collect equipment from warehouses faster by 90%. This automation has allowed for HK$2.4 million cost savings in software license and equipment, along with achieved employee efficiency by reducing 89% of staff time.Accelerating the speed and accuracy with combined intelligent technologiesBy implementing this innovative AI-powered solution, CITIC Telecom CPC was able to replace legacy barcode labels, printers, and dedicated handheld scanners with a mobile application called "CEEM" built on the OutSystems platform. Used by warehouse staff and engineers on standard smartphones, the app combines machine learning, computer vision, and COR to locate and count objects in 95 milliseconds with 99% accuracy.The CEEM app has made the equipment inventory and management process faster, more reliable, and more real-time. Thanks to the flexible integration supported by the OutSystems platform, CITIC Telecom CPC eliminated disjointed and costly scanning software. The CEEM app now updates the core inventory database in real-time.Realizing the full potential of the intelligent innovation across industriesAs is the case for many of CITIC Telecom CPC's innovations, what started as an agile innovation project focused on in-house process improvement, has evolved into a customer-facing proposition, and won several proof-of-concept projects with top brands in healthcare, manufacturing and logistics, as well as being accredited with reputable regional market awards, including:-- Global Awards 2022 Best Innovative Value Added Service Provider by Carrier Community-- International Innovation Awards 2021 by Enterprise Asia-- Datacloud Global Awards 2021 by Broad Group-- CAHK STAR Awards 2021 Best Innovation for Future Enterprise - Gold"We appreciate IDC's recognition of CITIC Telecom CPC as the Best in Future of Operations with Smart Warehouse solution. It is a testament to our commitment to exploring and exploiting pioneering technologies to differentiate from competitors and to deliver exceptional user experiences. " said Mr. Ivan Lee, Vice President, Information Technology Services & Data Science of CITIC Telecom CPC. "Thanks to the speed and flexibility of development with our technology partner, OutSystems, who is integral to meeting the complex business requirements and seizing new digital opportunities to empower innovative products, services, and business models."CITIC Telecom CPC's Smart Warehouse solution leverages the latest Cognitive Object Recognition (COR) technology, one of the many disruptive innovations the company has brought to market, including artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), big data, IoT, and low-code application development. By harnessing the advanced technologies, the Smart Warehouse solution saved a remarkable ~90 percent of warehouse staff time when executing routine tasks.Mr. Lee continues, "Upholding our core values "Innovation Never Stops", we continuously strive to contribute our R&D excellence in different technologies like Blockchain and NLP to create a better digital future and scale the company into a leading intelligent ICT-enabler in the new era."CITIC Telecom CPC has embarked on an innovative and intelligence transformation journey with its Intelligence and Communications Transformation MiiND (ICT-MiiND) strategy, to cater for the changing needs of the future. The company continually invests in research and development to improve internal operations and deliver innovative customer-facing products and services, and artificial intelligence is a core focus of that R&D recently. The company's ability to deliver the Smart Warehouse Solution in just six months demonstrates the agility advantage CITIC Telecom CPC enjoys having set up a dedicated data science and innovation team to spearhead research and development in AI, ML, and deep learning.Mr. Mark Weaser, APAC Vice President at OutSystems, said, "CITIC Telecom CPC's 'Best in Future of Operations, Future Enterprise Award' from IDC is a testament to the company's innovative culture and development approach. Time and again, we see OutSystems used alongside artificial intelligence to deliver disruptive innovation. OutSystems provides the development speed and agility needed to quickly turn brave experiments into brilliant digital products, as this award recognizes. We congratulate CITIC Telcecom CPC and are proud to have played a part in their success."Mr. Daniel-Zoe Jimenez, Vice President for Digital Innovation, CX & SW Applications, DNB and SMB Research, IDC Asia/Pacific said, "Innovation is not a project, but instead it's a journey; and CITIC Telecom CPC motto 'innovation never stops' is a good reflection of this. By leveraging digital technologies to unify enterprise data streams, the warehousing and engineering teams effectively increased the warehouse inventory management system's efficiency and operational resilience. As Hong Kong's Best in Future of Operations 2022, CITIC Telecom CPC is recognized by IDC due to its ability to rethink the way operations are managed, shifting to a model that fosters data-driven resilient decision making, by leveraging real-time data, digital engineering, and data science."About CITIC Telecom CPCWe are CITIC Telecom International CPC Limited ("CITIC Telecom CPC"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CITIC Telecom International Holdings Limited (SEHK: 1883), serving multinational enterprises the world over by addressing their specific ICT requirements with highly scalable tailored solutions built upon our flagship technology suites, comprising TrueCONNECT private network solutions, TrustCSI information security solutions, DataHOUSE cloud data center solutions, and SmartCLOUD cloud computing solutions.With the motto "Innovation Never Stops," we leverage innovative technologies, embracing AI, AR, Big Data, IoT, and other cutting-edge emerging technologies to transform technical potential into business value for our customers. As an enterprise digital transformation partner, we strive to help our customers achieve industry-leading positions, high agility, and cost-efficiency through digitalization.With our Global-Local capabilities, we are committed to providing our customers with one-stop-shop ICT solutions with superior quality. Having a worldwide footprint across 150 countries, including Asia, Europe and America, Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia, our global network resources connect over 160 points of presence (POPs), 21 Cloud service centers, 30+ data centers, and two dedicated 24x7 Security Operations Centers (SOCs). We are certified with a series of international certifications, including SD-WAN Ready, ISO 9001, 14001, 20000, 27001, and 27017, to ensure our services compliance with international standards and resources for enterprises. We offer local professional services, superior delivery capabilities as well as exceptional customer experience and best practices through our global presence and extensive industry know-how, becoming a leading integrated intelligent ICT service provider to enterprise customers.For more information, please visit www.citictel-cpc.comAbout OutSystemsOutSystems was founded in 2001 with the mission to give every organization the power to innovate through software. The OutSystems high-performance low-code platform gives technology leaders and developers the tools to rapidly build and deploy their own business-critical applications. The company's network spans over 600,000 community members, 400+ partners, and active customers in 87 countries across 22 industries. OutSystems is "The #1 Low-Code Platform(R)" and a recognized leader by analysts, IT executives, business leaders, and developers worldwide. Some of the most well-known brands use OutSystems to turn their big ideas into software that moves their business, people, and the world forward. Learn more at www.outsystems.com.About IDC's Future Enterprise AwardsIn its sixth year, the 2022 IDC Future Enterprise Awards received more than 1,000 nominations across participating countries, including Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, South Korea, India, Australia, and New Zealand. The IDC Future Enterprise Awards recognize outstanding organizations that make critical breakthroughs in business transformation in one or more dimensions in IDC's digital transformation (DX) framework. IDC uses a consistent process and criteria to assess all nominations which are judged by regional analysts and then a regional panel of judges including IDC Worldwide analysts, industry thought leaders, and academia. To learn more about the Future Enterprise Awards visit idcdxawards.com.Media Contacts:Catherine YuenCITIC Telecom CPC(852) 2170 7536Email: catherine.yuen@citictel-cpc.comThe Hoffman Agency on behalf of OutSystemsEmail: OutSystems@hoffman.comSource: CITIC Telecom CPCCopyright 2022 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. 19 October2022 LSE: PDL Petra Diamonds Limited Notification of Q1 FY 2023 Operating Update Petra will announce its Q1 FY 2023 Operating Update for the three months ended 30 September 2022 on Tuesday 25 October 2022. Petra's CEO Richard Duffy and CFO Jacques Breytenbach will discuss the results with investors and analysts at 9:30am and 4.00pm BST on the day. Dial-in details will be available on the Company's website at https://www.petradiamonds.com/investors/financial-events-calendar/ as well as in the announcement. In addition, Petra's management will host an on-line call, open to all investors, via the Investor Meet Company platform on 25 October at 11.30am BST. Questions can be submitted ahead of the event via the Investor Meet Company dashboard until 9.00am the day before the meeting or at any time during the call. Investors who follow Petra on the Investor Meet Company platform will automatically be invited to the event. Others who wish to, can sign up to Investor Meet Company free and register to attend the call via this link: https://www.investormeetcompany.com/petra-diamonds-limited/register-investor. ~ Ends ~ For further information, please contact: Petra Diamonds, London Telephone: +44 20 7494 8203 Patrick Pittaway investorrelations@petradiamonds.com Julia Stone About Petra Diamonds Limited Petra Diamonds is a leading independent diamond mining group and a consistent supplier of gem quality rough diamonds to the international market. The Company has a diversified portfolio incorporating interests in three underground producing mines in South Africa (Finsch, Cullinan Mine and Koffiefontein) and one open pit mine in Tanzania (Williamson). Petra's strategy is to focus on value rather than volume production by optimising recoveries from its high-quality asset base in order to maximise their efficiency and profitability. The Group has a significant resource base of ca. 226.6 million carats, which supports the potential for long-life operations. Petra strives to conduct all operations according to the highest ethical standards and will only operate in countries which are members of the Kimberley Process. The Company aims to generate tangible value for each of its stakeholders, thereby contributing to the socio-economic development of its host countries and supporting long-term sustainable operations to the benefit of its employees, partners and communities. BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - Eurozone construction output decreased in August after rebounding in the previous month, data from Eurostat showed on Wednesday. Construction output dropped 0.6 percent month-over-month in August, reversing a 0.3 percent rise in July. Civil engineering output logged a negative growth of 1.4 percent, and production in the building sector contracted 0.4 percent. On a yearly basis, growth in construction output accelerated slightly to 2.3 percent in August from 2.1 percent in the prior month. The rate for July was revised up from 1.5 percent. Construction output in the EU27 declined 0.4 percent monthly in August, while it grew 2.8 percent from a year ago. Among member states, the biggest annual increases in construction output were observed in Slovenia, Romania and Austria, while the worst declines were seen in Spain, the Netherlands, and Czechia . According to S&P Global's construction PMI survey earlier this month, Eurozone construction companies were increasingly pessimistic about the year ahead. Due to the growing recession risk in the wider economy, companies were at their most downbeat since the first COVID-19 lockdown in April 2020, the survey showed. 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. HONG KONG, Oct 19, 2022 - (ACN Newswire) - The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) welcomes the Policy Address announced by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu today, and believes the proposed ground-breaking and wide-ranging policies can help drive Hong Kong's long-term development while resolving some of its pressing issues.Dr Peter KN Lam, Chairman, Hong Kong Trade Development Council said, "The Policy Address clearly sets forth strategic priorities to ensure Hong Kong's growth by defining the city's role in supporting and leveraging the development of the mainland, especially the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) while contributing to global initiatives in innovation and technology, healthcare and environmental protection. The new structures and resources in coordinating infrastructure, economic, social and youth development as well as sector synergy will also create sustained momentum for Hong Kong. At the same time, policies to support SMEs, attract talent, encourage investment and tackle social issues will help resolve some of the immediate problems we are facing."I am particularly pleased that the Chief Executive has taken into account the suggestions of the business community on supporting SMEs and revitalising Hong Kong's position as an international trade fair and convention capital." Dr Lam added. These include the expansion of exhibition space and the extension of the "Convention and Exhibition Industry Subsidy Scheme to the end of June 2023. Hong Kong companies will also benefit from the higher level of government funding support in the "Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund)" and the "SME Export Marketing Fund," the latter also includes an extension of special measures covering virtual fairs and local consumer fairs and expansion of eligibility to cover non-SMEs. Dr Lam also welcomes the new support scheme to attract other exhibitions to be staged in Hong Kong over three years.Dr Lam also welcomed policies to boost the growth of specific sectors such as technology and innovation, art and culture and intellectual property (IP) to help diversify Hong Kong's economy while opening up opportunities, especially in the GBA and mainland market and Belt and Road countries."Our full range of fairs, conferences and programmes are ready to support Hong Kong's economic sectors, from finance, aviation and logistics, legal services to technology and innovation, art and culture and IP, for which our Business of Intellectual Property Asia Forum (BIP Asia) and Asia IP Exchange portal will support Hong Kong's development into a regional IP trading and commercialisation hub. In addition, we will work with the Hong Kong SAR Government and Hong Kong family of organisations to promote Hong Kong's strengths overseas. Through our global network of 50 offices, support programmes such as GoGBA, and major international promotional events such as Think Business, Think Hong Kong, we will promote Hong Kong to the world and create opportunities for the local, mainland and global business community."About HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn.Media enquiriesPlease contact the HKTDC's Communications and Public Affairs Department:Sunny Ng, Tel: +852 2584 4357, Email: sunny.sl.ng@hktdc.orgSam Ho, Tel: +852 2584 4569, Email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.orgSource: HKTDCCopyright 2022 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. WHITE ROCK, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 19, 2022 / TDG Gold Corp (TSXV:TDG) (the "Company" or "TDG") is pleased to announce a 30-year extension of its 100% owned Metsantan ("Mets") mining lease located in the road-connected Toodoggone Production Corridor of north-central B.C. (Figure 1). TDG has also received a Notice of Work ("NOW") authorizing diamond drilling and further exploration activities. Mets is a 200-hectare mining lease which includes a former producing gold-silver mine discovered and systematically explored between 1980-1992 including a reported 8,784 metres ("m") of diamond drilling (of which TDG has recompiled 7,944 m) and 2,622 m of trenching. Historical reported drill highlights include 9.52 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold ("Au") and 2 g/t silver ("Ag") over 25.9 m from a depth of 22.0 m including 59.13 g/t Au and 2 g/t Ag over 3.1 m from a depth of 28.8 m. Figure 1. Access to TDG's Metsantan (METS) mining lease and neighbouring properties is via the road through TDG's Baker Camp from Kemess. The Mets mining lease has been extended for 30 years to 2053 with support of the local communities. TDG would like to thank First Nations for their consultation and support during the application for the extension, and also the teams Falkirk Environmental Consultants and the BC Ministry of Energy, Mining and Low Carbon Innovation ("EMLI") for their input and management of the application process. Mets is located 23 kilometres ("km") northwest of TDG's former producing gold-silver Shasta and Baker mines. Mets is road accessible by the forestry road which runs from Centerra's Kemess mine past TDG's Shasta project and directly through TDG's Baker mine before continuing through Benchmark Metals' Lawyers project and the recently announced "Ranch Extension" being undertaken by Thesis Gold which includes a bridge crossing of the Toodoggone River (Figure 1). Mets was owned by Skeena Resources Ltd. in 2009 and underwent ~350 m of underground development work in 2012 including stockpiling of development rock and ore that historical records indicate was never shipped for processing but was backfilled and reclaimed. TDG's independent resource modelling group for the Mets project is Moose Mountain Technical Services ("MMTS") led by Sue Bird, P.Eng. MMTS has completed recompilation and remodelling of the historical data and information. Drill targets at Mets have been identified to enable calculation and publication of a potential NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate for Mets with an estimated requirement of 1,000-2,000 m of diamond drilling. Table 1 presents select composite results across the Mets Project, with labelled locations of drill collars of select composites displayed in Figure 2. In 2021, TDG undertook mapping work and a minor sampling program of surface rocks around historical drill collars. In 2022, TDG made a site visit with the independent resource modeller to verify locations of historical drill collars (Figure 2); and TDG contracted John Geoscience LTD. to perform an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ("UAV") drone survey to create a Digital Terrain Model ("DTM") and orthophotography to support potential resource modelling. Table 1. Select Significant Results from the METS Project Area. Drillhole From To Length Au Ag AuEq* (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) MT87-55 64.6 87.0 22.4 7.53 2 7.55 MT87-49 41.2 53.2 12.0 5.84 3 5.88 MT87-48 69.2 120.8 51.6 2.84 4 2.89 incl. 79.7 95.0 15.3 8.42 2 8.44 MT86-05 70.1 95.0 24.9 5.84 4 5.88 MT85-03 47.2 69.3 22.1 3.24 2 3.26 MT86-02 25.9 50.3 24.4 1.88 2 1.90 MT86-08 22.0 47.9 25.9 9.52 2 9.54 incl. 28.8 31.9 3.1 59.13 2 59.16 MT86-13 41.9 63.9 22.0 3.61 3 3.64 MT87-23 22.9 28.7 5.8 0.38 1 0.39 and 31.4 44.4 13.0 5.18 1 5.20 incl. 35.8 38.3 2.5 21.66 2 21.69 *Gold equivalent (AuEq) is calculated as: AuEq = Au + Ag*0.0125 Calculations are uncut and no allowances have been made to accommodate potential recovery losses that would occur in a mining scenario. Composite results were built using a 0.1 g/t AuEq cut-off, although there are intervals within the composites below 0.1g/t AuEq. ** Intervals are core-length weighted. True width and recovery are unknown. ***Calculated composites are truncated to significant 2 digits for Au/AuEq and the nearest whole number for Ag. ****In cases where assay data was missing from historical records, concentrations were assigned a 0.00 value. Figure 2. Metsantan (Mets) Historical Drilling & Drill Plan for Potential Mineral Resource Estimate. All historical drillholes were BQ/NQ sized drill core, with particulars for historical drillholes presented in the composite table above (location, depth, etc.) summarized in Table 2. Table 2. Drillhole Particulars HOLE UTME (NAD83) UTMN (NAD83) Azimuth() Dip() Final Depth (m) Core Size MT87-55 599,978 6,367,414 70 -50 133.2 NQ MT87-49 600,010 6,367,415 70 -50 114.9 NQ MT87-48 599,982 6,367,404 70 -50 170.2 NQ MT86-05 599,989 6,367,391 70 -50 108.8 BQ MT85-03 600,031 6,367,404 70 -50 48.8 BQ MT86-02 600,035 6,367,358 70 -50 70.7 BQ MT86-08 600,042 6,367,335 70 -50 61.6 BQ MT86-13 600,033 6,367,302 70 -50 66.1 NQ MT87-23 600,046 6,367,307 70 -50 84.4 NQ Qualified Person The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Steven Kramar, MSc., P.Geo., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Sue Bird, MSc., P.Eng., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. This news release includes historical information that has been reviewed by the Company's geological team and qualified person. The Company's review of the historical records and information reasonably substantiate the validity of the information presented in this news release; however, the Company cannot directly verify the accuracy of the historical data, including the procedures used for sample collection and analysis. There is insufficient exploration on these prospects to define a mineral resource. It is uncertain if after additional exploration a mineral resource will be delineated. Therefore, the Company encourages investors to exercise appropriate caution when evaluating these results. About TDG Gold Corp. TDG is a major mineral claim holder in the historical Toodoggone Production Corridor of north-central British Columbia, Canada, with over 23,000 hectares of brownfield and greenfield exploration opportunities under direct ownership or earn-in agreement. TDG's flagship projects are the former producing, high grade gold-silver Shasta, Baker and Mets mines, which are all road accessible, produced intermittently between 1981-2012, and have over 65,000 m of historical drilling. In 2021, TDG advanced the projects through compilation of historical data, new geological mapping, geochemical and geophysical surveys, and, for Shasta, drill testing of the known mineralization occurrences and their extensions. In May 2022, TDG published an initial NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate for Shasta. For the 2022 field season, TDG is prioritizing drilling the known mineralization around Shasta. TDG currently has 96,343,142 common shares issued and outstanding. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Fletcher Morgan Chief Executive Officer For further information contact: TDG Gold Corp., Telephone: +1.604.536.2711 Email: info@tdggold.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the Company's current expectations and estimates. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results implied or expressed in such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: the actual results of current exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans to continue to be refined; possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; and fluctuations in metal prices. There may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. SOURCE: TDG Gold Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/720957/TDG-Gold-Corp-Announces-Thirty-Year-Extension-to-the-Mets-Mining-Lease-and-Receives-Mets-Drill-Permit-Toodoggone-District Certificate authority and email gateway provider celebrate a decade of promoting email security with PKI-backed S/MIME BRUSSELS and PADERBORN, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / October 19, 2022 / GMO GlobalSign (https://www.globalsign.com/en) the global Certificate Authority (CA) and leading provider of security, identity and digital signature solutions for IoT, today announced it has been successfully working with email gateway provider Net at Work for a decade. Our organizations have collaborated with the intention of improving email security through Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME)-based encryption, a well-established protocol for sending digitally signed and encrypted messages based on asymmetric cryptography. Both companies will be discussing the collaboration at it-sa Expo and Congress 2022 in Nuremberg, Germany October 25-27. Net at Work began working with GlobalSign in 2012. At the time, GlobalSign's API was integrated with NoSpamProxy's encryption module. In the ensuing years, GlobalSign has expanded its work with NoSpamProxy with the goal of enabling European companies to overcome common challenges with implementing email encryption. This is especially true with the massive increase in ransomware attacks in the last several years with the main attack vector being phishing-based emails. The advantage of the GlobalSign and Net at Work collaboration is the automation of GlobalSign's Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)-based technology. The gateway can process the client's entire email traffic based on rulesets defined by the client. The final email will be signed and/or encrypted in the last step. This workflow ensures that no signature will be broken after an email is sent. Incoming emails are decrypted first and can be scanned for malicious attachments before they arrive in the employee's inbox, making it impossible to use encryption as a Trojan Horse. Now, with Net at Work's latest product version -NoSpamProxy V14 - which is available as an on-prem application, managed service offered from partners, or SaaS (software as a service) hosted by Net at Work, the security of emails will be even greater. "We highly value the partnership with GlobalSign. Together we followed the vision of a wide adaption of encryption technology to better protect business communications. We both continued to invest in what was considered a niche market when we started our partnership. Now it is a fast-growing market based on widely accepted encryption technology and standards like S/MIME." said Stefan Cink, Business Unit Manager NoSpamProxy at Net at Work. "The partnership with Net at Work has been an excellent example of how two companies in the email security market servicing global vendors can sync their mutual technologies to benefit and improve a customer's ease of use," said Andreas Brix, Program Manager, GlobalSign. "This brings about the full power of PKI-based encryption with a minimal time investment while dramatically increasing the security of a company's email system." Brix adds, "We are well aware that S/MIME has long been viewed as complicated to implement. However, as GlobalSign's solutions have matured, and with partners such as Net at Work, we are now able to offer an email security solution that is much easier to implement than ever before." GlobalSign's it-sa stand will be located in Hall 6, Booth 6-200 and the Net at Work stand will be in Hall 7, Booth 7-130. At the show, Brix will be speaking about how XaaS providers can benefit from working with PKI-based solutions. For more details about GlobalSign's email security solutions visit https://www.globalsign.com/de-de About Net at Work Net at Work is known in Germany for its business as IT Service Provider with strong focus on Microsoft technology to provide customers with solutions for digital communication and collaboration. On a European scale the company is known for NoSpamProxy, an innovative secure e-mail gateway with first-class functions for anti-spam, anti-malware and e-mail encryption. Today more than 4,000 customers worldwide entrust the security of their e-mail communication to the product. The multi-award-winning solution - among others, test winner in the independent techconsult Professional User Ranking - is offered as a software product and as cloud service. More about the product at:www.nospamproxy.com On Net at Work's customer list worldwide known brands can be found, such as CLAAS, Diebold-Nixdorf, fischer group, Miele, Lekkerland, LVM and SwissLife. Net at Work was founded in 1995 and currently employs more than130 people in Paderborn and Berlin. The founders and shareholders of the privately held company are Uwe Ulbrich as managing director and Microsoft expert MVP Frank Carius, who runs www.msxfaq.de, one Germany's most renowned websites on the topics of Office 365, Exchange and Teams. www.netatwork.de About GMO GlobalSign As one of the world's most deeply-rooted certificate authorities, GlobalSign is the leading provider of trusted identity and security solutions enabling businesses, large enterprises, cloud-based service providers, and IoT innovators worldwide to conduct secure online communications, manage millions of verified digital identities and automate authentication and encryption. Its high-scale PKI and identity solutions support the billions of services, devices, people, and things comprising the IoT. A subsidiary of Japan-based GMO GlobalSign Holdings K.K and GMO Internet Group, GMO GlobalSign has offices in the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit https://www.globalsign.com. Media Relations Contact Amy Krigman Director of Public Relations - West Phone: 603-570-7060 Email: amy.krigman@globalsign.com Felix Schuster Product Marketing Manager Phone: +49 5251 304-864 Email: felix.schuster@netatwork.de SOURCE: GlobalSign View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/720986/Email-Security-Providers-GlobalSign-and-Net-at-Work-to-Mark-Ten-Years-of-Collaboration-at-it-sa-2022 At MWC Africa, GSMA will host Africa Shared Value Leadership Summit (ASVL) and Smart Africa meetings to showcase how all sectors and technology are coming together to drive economic growth in Africa LONDON, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GSMA MWC Africa will bring together a variety of industry sectors, business leaders and policymakers with the region's mobile ecosystem over a packed three-day agenda for the first in-person edition of MWC Africa, 25 - 27 October 2022. Together with founding partners Mastercard, MTN, Orange and ZTE, as well as supporting partners the Shared Value Africa Initiative (SVAI) and Smart Africa, MWC Africa will convene to discuss how technology and shared value have the power to drive economic growth for people and businesses across Africa. Excitement is mounting as the GSMA shares the MWC Africa agenda that will explore the hottest technology themes, including Leadership for Connectivity, One People - One Purpose, Accelerate Africa and Fintech. MWC Africa 2022 will host more than 120 expert speakers and 60-plus hours of curated content. The GSMA is delighted to share that Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of the United Nations Global Compact, Ms Sanda Ojiambo will join Keynote 1, alongside Smart Africa's CEO, Lacina Kone, and the ATU's Secretary General, John Omo. "MWC Africa is just around the corner, and we are looking forward to welcoming the mobile ecosystem, industry leaders and policymakers to Kigali, Rwanda. Expect to hear from thought leaders and experts who will share their insights on topics such as how to close the mobile usage gap and power digital transformation to drive economic growth and opportunities for all across our continent," said GSMA's Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, Angela Wamola. The 2022 GSMA Africa Policy Leaders Forum will bring together key stakeholders from ministries, regulatory bodies and the broader mobile ecosystem. Discussions will include how government policy across the region is aligning with technological developments as well as the policy developments needed to advance Africa to the digital economy. The GSMA would like to extend its thanks to Rwandan Minister of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Ms Paula Ingabire and the Ministry of ICT for their support as hosts and facilitators of the event. Partner Programmes and Summits The 5G Summit will deep dive into commercial 5G services, with a particular focus on Africa, where the journey to 5G has begun, with stakeholders taking steps to accelerate the transition to 5G. FinTech, which is at the forefront of Africa's digital transformation, is pioneering the availability of financial services and supporting financial inclusion. The FinTech Summit will explore the latest innovations and emerging technologies which are set to shape Africa's financial services over the next decade. SVAI and Shift Impact Africa have partnered with the GSMA to bring together the sixth annual Africa Shared Value Leadership Summit (ASVL Summit) and MWC Africa. The ASVL Summit's unifying theme 'One Africa, One Voice' underscores the need for organisations to work together across borders and industries to benefit all Africans. It shows how the economic benefits of creating shared value as a collective can be achieved by close collaboration between stakeholders and companies for social progress and business success. At the ASVL Summit, Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of the United Nations Global Compact, Ms Sanda Ojiambo will join the session, "Creating Shared Value - Technology as an enabler to driver Africa's growth." Smart Africa has partnered with the GSMA to co-host key organ meetings during MWC Africa. Smart Africa's co-located meetings at MWC Africa include the Council of Ministers of ICT (CMICT), the Steering Committee and the first edition of the Forum of the Private Sector. The meetings are an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss regulation and policy frameworks and advance the digital transformation of the continent. Smart Africa actively encourages and supports private initiatives and investments in the technology and communications sectors via the Smart Africa Alliance platform. Large-Scale Impact GSMA Mobile for Development (M4D) is uniquely positioned at the intersection of the mobile ecosystem and the development sector. Our work has impacted 126 million lives to date - and counting. We are excited to host our first dedicated "Development Theatre", where attendees can learn how M4D stimulates digital innovation to deliver both sustainable business and large-scale socio-economic impact for the underserved. Event Partners MWC Africa's industry-leading agenda is enabled by the partners of our event. We are proud to have the support of leading global and regional companies including our founding partners Mastercard, MTN, Orange, and ZTE and our supporting partners ASVL Summit 2022 and Smart Africa. Additionally, mobile partner and headline partner Safaricom and headline sponsors Evina and M-Pesa. Taking to the stage we will hear from industry and thought leaders, such as:- Dr Robert Ochola, CEO, Africa Nenda , Exploring the FinTech (R)Evolution , Exploring the FinTech (R)Evolution David Lotfi, CEO, EVINA , Scaling Innovation for a Digital Africa , Scaling Innovation for a Digital Africa Bankole Falade , Chief Regulatory Affairs and Government Relations Officer, Flutterwave , Keynote 3, FinTech: What does the future hold? , Chief Regulatory Affairs and Government Relations Officer, , Keynote 3, FinTech: What does the future hold? Louise Cottar, Strategic Advisor, Hormuud , Delivering a Digital Economy for All , Delivering a Digital Economy for All Kunle Iluyemi , CEO, Rwanda , IHS Towers , Network Modernisation , CEO, , Network Modernisation Anne-Rachel Inne, Regional Director, Region Office for Africa, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) , 5G Summit , 5G Summit Tiekie Barnard, CEO and Founder, Shared Value Africa Initiative and Shift Impact Africa , Empowering You , Empowering You Ngozi Megwa , SVP Digital Partnerships, EEMEA, Mastercard, Keynote 3, FinTech: What does the future hold? , SVP Digital Partnerships, EEMEA, Keynote 3, FinTech: What does the future hold? Sitoyo Lopokoiyit, Managing Director, M- Pesa Africa and Ag. Chief Financial Services Officer, Safaricom , "Keynote 3, FinTech: What does the future hold?; FinTech Summit, The Vision & Strategy of Fintech and Ag. Chief Financial Services Officer, , "Keynote 3, FinTech: What does the future hold?; FinTech Summit, The Vision & Strategy of Fintech Mapula Bodibe, CEO, MTN Rwanda , Network Modernisation , Network Modernisation Nompilo Morafo, Group Chief Sustainability & Corporate Affairs officer, MTN , Delivering a Digital Economy for All , Delivering a Digital Economy for All Chika Ekeji , Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer , MTN Group, What Does Metaverse Mean for Africa? , Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer What Does Metaverse Mean for Africa? Serigne Dioum, Chief Digital & Fintech OfficerSummit, MTN Group, The Vision & Strategy of Fintech The Vision & Strategy of Fintech Brelotte BA, Deputy CEO, Middle East & Africa, Orange , Keynote 2, Leveraging Tech to Transform Africa, 5G Summit, Exploring the FinTech (R)Evolution & Africa, , Keynote 2, Leveraging Tech to Transform Africa, 5G Summit, Exploring the FinTech (R)Evolution Elizabeth Migwalla, Vice President, International Government Affairs, Qualcomm , 5G Summit , 5G Summit Juliana Lindsey , UNICEF Rwanda Country Office Representative, "Delivering a Digital Economy for All" , Rwanda Country Office Representative, "Delivering a Digital Economy for All" Steve Chege , Chief Regulatory & External Affairs Officer, Vodacom Group , 5G Summit, Next in Tech , Chief Regulatory & External Affairs Officer, , 5G Summit, Next in Tech Mariam Cassim , Group CEO Vodacom Financial and Digital Service, Vodapay , " The Vision & Strategy of Fintech" , Group CEO Vodacom Financial and Digital Service, , The Vision & Strategy of Fintech" Ye Xiaohan, Vice President, ZTE Corporation, Keynote 2 Join us at MWC Africa in Kigali, 25 - 27 October 2022 by clicking here to register. We welcome media and industry analysts, who may please apply for press passes by contacting: pressoffice@gsma.com Africanews and CNBC Africa are Official Media Partners. Mobile World Live is Lead Media and Broadcast Parter, click here to watch the keynote sessions live streamed. About GSMA We invite you to find out more at the GSMA Newsroom. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1882833/GSMA_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/gsma-mwc-africa-2022-brings-together-the-business-leaders-and-policymakers-of-the-mobile-ecosystem-301653466.html West Melbourne, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - October 19, 2022) - BK Technologies Corporation (NYSE American: BKTI) ("BK Technologies" or the "Company") today announced that John Suzuki, Chief Executive Officer, will attend The ThinkEquity Conference at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City on Wednesday, October 26, 2022. Mr. Suzuki will present at the conference and be available for one-on-one meetings throughout the day. BK Technologies is scheduled to present at 11:30 am ET at the Lotus Suite East. To access a live webcast of the presentation, please use this link: https://wsw.com/webcast/tep23/bkti/1669260. A replay of the presentation will also be available at the above link for one year. About BK Technologies BK Technologies Corporation manufactures high-specification, American-made communications equipment of unsurpassed reliability and value for use by public safety professionals and government agencies. BK Technologies is honored to serve these heroes with reliable equipment when every moment counts. The Company's common stock trades on the NYSE American market under the symbol "BKTI". Maintaining its headquarters in West Melbourne, Florida, BK Technologies can be contacted through its web site at www.bktechnologies.com or directly at 1-800-821-2900. Company Contact: IMS Investor Relations John Nesbett/Jennifer Belodeau bktechnologies@imsinvestorrelations.com (203) 972-9200 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/140823 Hwang Won, center, one of the victims of the 1969 Korean Air flight hijacking by North Korea, smiles with his son, Hwang Won Jr. (Hwang In-cheol), left, and his niece in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, in this photo taken in March 1969. Courtesy of Hwang Won Jr. and Freedom Speakers International Although 50 years have passed, Hwang Won Jr.'s search for father isn't over yet By Jung Min-ho When a North Korean agent hijacked the Korean Air flight carrying his father and forced the pilot to land in North Korea in December 1969, Hwang In-cheol, who was just two years old at the time, did not know how the incident would later shape his own life. After international outcry, Pyongyang promised to repatriate all 50 passengers and crew on Feb. 4, 1970, only to break its promise by sending back 39 of them. His father, a producer for broadcaster MBC, was not on that list. The tragedy forced his family into misery. Yet, despite all the tears and sleepless nights, life went on: Hwang went to school, got a job and tied the knot with a women he loved. Slowly, he was accepting the reality that he would not be able to meet his father again. But one day, he saw his two-year-old daughter and imagined himself not being able to meet her again knowing that she is waiting for his return every day. Hwang broke down in tears. It was the first time he truly understood the depth of his father's sorrow. "No," he thought. "I will never accept that." "For the first time, I saw a poor young man wailing in grief because he misses his children so much," Hwang, now 54, said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. "That was when I decided to try I all could for his return." This year, he started calling himself with a different English name Hwang Won Jr. to raise awareness of the horrendous crime that has never been brought to justice. Over the past decades, the families of the victims, represented by the 1969 KAL Abductees' Families Association, have been trying hard to bring their loved ones home, reaching out to the government and international organizations for help. But Sung Kyung-hui, a flight attendant, was the only victim given an opportunity to meet her family during an inter-Korean reunion event in 2001. The North has claimed most recently in a letter to the Office of the U.N.'s High Commissioner for Human Rights in 2020 that the 11 people voluntarily decided to settle down there and no one was held against their will. Hwang knows it is a lie from a regime founded on countless lies and broken promises. After years of fruitless endeavor, all but Hwang have left the family association; some gave it up, others found a new spouse. Hwang said one of his biggest regrets as a member and now the head of the organization is that he trusted the government and politicians too much. "All the members kept a low profile for years, thinking that raising their voice would not be good for their families in North Korea. That's what South Korean officials told us," he said. His mother and the wife of Hwang Won died last year at the age of 84. She dearly missed his husband and, from time to time, told her children that she wanted to meet him once again before the day she dies. Her mother, Hwang Won Jr. said, had never been able to overcome her trauma and stayed single all her life. When he was a little child, he was told that his father would return home on Christmas Day after a long business trip. So every year, he waited for Christmas Day to come. More than 50 years have passed since and he is still waiting and hoping for the day to come. Los Angeles, California--(Newsfile Corp. - October 19, 2022) - SmartKem, Inc. (OTCQB: SMTK), a company seeking to reshape the world of electronics with a revolutionary semiconductor platform that enables a new generation of displays, sensors and logic, has announced today its Chief Marketing Officer, Sri Peruvemba, will present at the LD Micro Main Event XV investor conference on Wednesday, October 26th at 2:30 pm PDT. The event will be held in-person at Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel in Los Angeles and available to live stream virtually. LD Micro Main Event XV - SmartKem, Inc. Investor Presentation Date: Wednesday, October 26, 2022 Time: 2:30 pm Pacific Time / 5:30 pm Eastern Time Register to watch the presentation virtually here: http://me22.sequireevents.com/ Summary of LD Micro Main Event XV The 2022 LD Micro Main Event XV will be held at the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel in Los Angeles from October 25th to the 27th. The festivities will run from 7:30 AM PT - 5:30 PM PT on the 25th and 26th, with a half day on Thursday the 27th. This three-day, investor conference is expected to feature around 200+ companies, presenting in half-hour increments, as well as private meetings. SmartKem's OTCQB information can be found on the OTC Markets website: www.otcmarkets.com/stock/SMTK/overview. About SmartKem SmartKem is seeking to reshape the world of electronics with a revolutionary semiconductor platform that enables a new generation of displays, sensors and logic. SmartKem's patented TRUFLEX inks are solution deposited at a low temperature, on low-cost substrates to make organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) circuits. The company's semiconductor platform can be used in a number of applications including miniLED displays, AMOLED displays, fingerprint sensors and integrated logic circuits. SmartKem develops its materials at its research and development facility in Manchester, UK, and its semiconductor manufacturing process at the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) at Sedgefield, UK. The company has an extensive IP portfolio including over 175 patents across 17 patent families. For more information, visit: www.smartkem.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @SmartKemTRUFLEX. About LD Micro LD Micro aims to be the most crucial resource in the micro-cap world. Whether it is the index, comprehensive data, or hosting the most significant events on an annual basis, LD's sole mission is to serve as an invaluable asset for all those interested in finding the next generation of great companies. http://www.ldmicro.com Forward-Looking Statements All statements in this press release that are not historical are forward-looking statements, including, among other things, statements relating to the SmartKem's expectations regarding its market position and market opportunity, expectations and plans as to its product development, manufacturing and sales, and relations with its partners and investors. These statements are not historical facts but rather are based on SmartKem Inc.'s current expectations, estimates, and projections regarding its business, operations and other similar or related factors. Words such as "may," will," "could," "would," "should," "anticipate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project," "believe," "estimate," and other similar or elated expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult or impossible to predict and, in some cases, beyond the Company's control. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update information in this release to reflect events or circumstances in the future, even if new information becomes available. Contact Details: Nigel Prue, Chief Accounting Officer, SmartKem n.prue@smartkem.com Selena Kirkwood, Head of Communications, SmartKem s.kirkwood@smartkem.com #END## To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/140858 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 19, 2022) - Mink Ventures Corporation (TSXV: MINK.P) ("Mink" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") has conditionally approved its qualifying transaction (the "Qualifying Transaction") with Voltage Metals Corp. (CSE: VOLT) ("Voltage"). In connection with the Qualifying Transaction, the Company recently announced the commencement of a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") which is described in greater detail below. Final approval of the Qualifying Transaction is subject to the Company meeting certain standard and customary conditions required by the TSXV, including the filing of a Filing Statement in respect of the Qualifying Transaction, the closing of the Offering and conversion of the Subscription Receipts into common shares and warrants, no material deterioration in the working capital of the Company, and the Company meeting the public distribution requirements of the TSXV. The Offering: Hard Dollar and Flow-Through Subscription Receipts The Offering will consist of both hard dollar subscription receipts (each, a "HD Subscription Receipt") at a price of $0.14 per HD Subscription Receipt and flow-through subscription receipts (each, an "FT Subscription Receipt") at a price of $0.17 per FT Subscription Receipt. Mink will offer a minimum of 2,821,428 HD Subscription Receipts and a maximum of 4,285,714 HD Subscription Receipts for gross proceeds of $395,000, in the case of the minimum offering, and up to $600,000 in the case of the maximum offering. Each HD Subscription Receipt shall entitle the holder thereof to receive, upon the satisfaction or waiver of certain escrow release conditions (the "Escrow Release Conditions") prior to the date that is 120 days from the closing of the Offering (the "Escrow Release Deadline"), including all conditions precedent to the Qualifying Transaction being satisfied, and without payment of additional consideration therefor, one (1) unit of the Company (each, a "Unit"). Each Unit will consist of one (1) common share and one (1) common share purchase warrant of the Company (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to acquire one (1) common share of the Company for a period of thirty-six (36) months from the date of issuance at an exercise price of $0.20 for the first eighteen (18) months and an exercise price of $0.25 for the remaining eighteen (18) months. Mink will also offer a minimum of 2,823,529 FT Subscription Receipts and a maximum of 3,529,411 FT Subscription Receipts for gross proceeds of $480,000, in the case of the minimum offering, and up to $600,000 in the case of the maximum offering. Each FT Subscription Receipt shall entitle the holder thereof to subscribe for, upon the satisfaction or waiver of the Escrow Release Conditions prior to the Escrow Release Deadline, and without additional consideration therefor, one (1) common share of the Company issued on a flow-through basis pursuant to a flow-through subscription and renunciation agreement. The HD Subscription Receipts and FT Subscription Receipts will be offered pursuant to the terms of subscription receipt agreements to be entered into between Mink and Odyssey Trust Company as subscription receipt agent. In connection with the Offering, finders may be paid a cash commission of 8% and a number of finder's warrants equal to 8% of the subscription receipts sold to investors introduced by the finder, each such finder's warrant entitling the holder to purchase one (1) common share of the Company for a period of thirty-six (36) months from the date of issuance at an exercise price of $0.20 for the first eighteen (18) months and an exercise price of $0.25 for the remaining eighteen (18) months. The Offering will be marketed (i) to investors in each of the provinces of Canada on a private placement basis; (ii) to investors in the United States pursuant to available exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended; and (iii) to investors resident in jurisdictions outside of Canada and the United States, in each case, in accordance with all applicable laws, provided that no prospectus, registration statement or similar document is required to be filed in such foreign jurisdiction. The Offering is expected to close on or about November 10, 2022, or such other date as the Company may determine. Closing of the Offering is subject to the approval of the TSXV. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the Subscription Receipts in any jurisdiction, nor will there be any offer or sale of the Subscription Receipts in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Subscription Receipts have not and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any U.S. state securities laws and, therefore, may not be offered or sold to, or for the benefit or account of, persons within the United States or "U.S. persons" (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) except pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Upon completion of the Qualifying Transaction, the net proceeds of the Offering are anticipated to be used to fund the phase one work program on the Montcalm Ni-Cu-Co project and for general and administrative operating expenses. All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a four month and one day statutory hold period running from the date of issue of the Subscription Receipts. About Mink Ventures Corporation: Mink Ventures Corporation is a Capital Pool Company that has acquired an option to earn an 80% interest in the Montcalm Ni-Cu-Co project as its Qualifying Transaction property (see press releases dated June 27, August 11, and October 5, 2022). The Company currently has 8,367,500 shares outstanding. For further information about Mink Ventures Corporation please contact Natasha Dixon, President & CEO, T: 250-882-5620 E ndixon@minkventures.com or Kevin Filo, Director, T: 705-266-6818 or visit www.sedar.com. Forward Looking Statements This press release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the future business and operations of Mink and the final approval and completion of the Offering and the Qualifying Transaction. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; risk that the minimum Offering will not be satisfied; risk that the commodity price of base metals will decline making the Company less attractive to investors; and the delay or failure to receive applicable Board or regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and Mink disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. 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. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. 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/141060 Warrior Gold Inc. (TSX-V WAR) ("Warrior Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed the summer field mapping and sampling program on its Kirkland Lake West ("KLW") and Kirkland Lake Central ("KLC") claim groups located in the Kirkland Lake gold camp (Figure 1). Work this summer comprised mapping and collecting 239 grab samples across the KLW and KLC claim groups over 45 field days by a two-person team. The work complements the heliborne geophysical survey recently completed (See September 8, 2022 news release). To date, the best assay returned from a bedrock grab sample is 34.7 g/t Au on the western side of the KLW property. Additional assay results are pending. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005439/en/ Figure 1. Warrior Gold's land position in the Kirkland Lake gold camp (map from DigiData/EarthLabs). (Photo: Business Wire) "We are pleased with the encouraging results from our summer field program on the newly acquired KLW and KLC claim groups and we look forward to receiving the remaining sample analyses. Once completed, our exploration team will combine all data with the geology and the structural interpretation generated by the recent heliborne survey to support targeting for our next exploration program," stated Daniele Spethmann, CEO of Warrior Gold, who added, "The Abitibi is a prolific gold belt and the opportunity for a discovery is made more probable with the sound scientific approach to our exploration efforts." The KLW and KLC claim groups comprise a land package totaling 17,176 hectares. Combined with the Company's flagship Goodfish-Kirana claim group (4,368 hectares), this makes Warrior Gold the second largest mineral claims landholder (~21,500 hectares) in the Kirkland Lake gold camp. KLW Claim Group Mapping and sampling concentrated on the southern half of the claim group where historical mineral occurrences and trenches were recorded in previous government assessment files dating from 1965 onwards. These areas were re-examined and sampled to understand mineralizing controls and the broader geological environment. On the far western edge of the KLW claim group, anomalous gold was identified in a broad two-kilometre-long NNW-SSE trend, parallel to regional structures. A bedrock grab sample of a sheared and mineralized quartz vein returned an assay of 34.7g/t Au. The location of the grab sample is provided in Figure 2. Five additional grab samples from this area returned anomalous gold values ranging from 1.35 g/t Au to 21.6 g/t Au. Assays are pending for 26 samples. KLC Claim Group The KLC claim group transected by the Kirkland Lake Fault, which is an extension of the Main Break, is host to seven historical gold mines that produced over 700 tonnes of gold (21.875 million ounces over the past 100 years1 Two other prominent northeast-trending deformation zones (DZ) transect the claim group, namely the Misema DZ and the Mulven DZ. The Victoria Creek gold deposit (along the Victoria Creek DZ) lies just 250 metres south of the southern boundary of the KLC claim group. Sampling and mapping efforts during the summer concentrated along the above-mentioned faults and deformation zones. Glacial cover is thicker within large areas of the KLC, so the recent high-resolution LiDAR survey was key to identifying areas of outcrop exposure. Highlights include quartz veins with tourmaline and carbonate within a strongly foliated and sericitized feldspar porphyry with 1% fine pyrite observed along the Kirkland Lake Fault. Assay results are pending. Additional sites with favorable gold mineralization in deformed and sheared lithologies were also sampled throughout the claim group with results pending. Heliborne Geophysical Survey A heliborne high-resolution magnetic, VLF and LiDAR survey was recently completed by EarthLabs (formerly Goldspot Discoveries). Preliminary interpretation of the high-resolution magnetic data emphasized structural features such as deformation zones and lithological contacts where reconnaissance ground-truthing and sampling were completed (Figure 3). This survey information will be critical to support targeting efforts for next winter's drill program. QP Statement The technical information contained in this news release has been approved by Mike Kilbourne, P.Geo. who is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About Warrior Gold Inc. Warrior Gold is a TSX Venture Exchange-listed company that has consolidated a significant and prospective land package in the Kirkland Lake Gold Camp in Ontario, Canada. The properties are hosted in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, one of the world's best-endowed greenstone belts with +200 million ounces of gold produced to date2. The properties are host to regional and property-scale mineralized structures that are second order structures off the Larder Lake Cadillac Deformation Zone LLCDZ the regional structure in the belt known to be spatially associated with the gold mines hosted in the camp. The properties assembled include: the 100%-owned Goodfish-Kirana, the Arnold property and the recently optioned KL West (KLW) and KL Central (KLC). Warrior Gold's land position in the Kirkland Lake Gold Camp comprises 21,500 hectares, over 480 claims and 29 patented claims and ranks the Company as one of the largest landholders in the Kirkland Lake region. ?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 press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. The forward-looking statements are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. Although Warrior Gold believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because Warrior Gold can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. In addition to other risks that may affect the forward-looking statements in this press release are those set out in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis of the financial condition and results of operations for the year ended March 31, 2022 and the first quarter ended June 30, 2022 which are available at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and Warrior Gold 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. This press release does not constitute an offer, invitation or recommendation to subscribe for or purchase any securities and neither this press release nor anything contained in it shall form the basis of any contract or commitment. In particular, this press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in the United States, or in any other jurisdiction in which such an offer would be illegal. 1 Natural Resources Canada and Ontario Geological Survey 2015. Mining heritage tour, Kirkland Lake: A century of mining the "Mile of Gold"; GeoTours Northern Ontario series. 22020 Mineral Production in Canada, Government of Canada, Minerals and Metals Statistics Division, 2022-03-10, https://mmsd.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/PDF/MIS2020TableG01a-en.pdf View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005439/en/ Contacts: For additional information: Daniele Spethmann, P.Geo. President CEO Warrior Gold Inc. +1 647 344-3433 dspethmann@warriorgoldinc.com Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Sudbury, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 19, 2022) - Transition Metals Corp (TSXV: XTM) ("Transition", "the Company") reports that it has mobilized a RC drill to complete three holes to further evaluate the extent and vertical continuity of mineralization identified this summer at the ERT Zone (see company news release dated October 5, 2022). Hand trenching at the ERT Zone in July returned 42 metres grading 64.28 g/t Ag Eq*, including 7.80 metres grading 170.63 g/t Ag Eq with higher grade intervals of 0.70 metres grading 539.72 g/t and 0.4 m grading 563.97 g/t Ag Eq. Company president and CEO, Scott McLean, P.Geo, commented: "This is the very first drilling to be completed on this large and prospective project. RC drilling at the ERT zone is an initial step towards evaluating the economic potential on a property with multiple attractive surface showings that we feel has the potential to host large scale epithermal Au-Ag and/or porphyry copper deposits." The planned program includes the completion of three holes from a track mounted percussion reverse circulation (RC) drill for a total of 150-300 metres. The drilling is being undertaken by Subterra Exploration Ltd. assisted by Archer Cathro of Whitehorse. Figure 1 shows the location of the property and the ERT Zone. Figure 2 show the property outline as well as other deposits and prospects located in the Bennett Lake Caldera Complex (BLCC) area. Photo 1: View of workers setting up RC Rig in preparation for drilling at ERT Zone on Pike Warden Property To view an enhanced version of Photo 1, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2766/141087_f33087dfe48ab9af_002full.jpg About the Pike-Warden Property The Pike Warden property is located approximately 70 km southwest of Whitehorse, Yukon, and is composed of 185 contiguous mining claims totaling approximately 37 km. The property encompasses a combination of historic and recently discovered high-grade polymetallic gold, copper, and silver epithermal showings that are potentially indicative of a large epithermal-porphyry system in the vicinity of the BLCC. The property is underlain by a series intrusions of the Coast Plutonic Complex including the Fenwick Creek diorite-quartz-diorite, the Mt. McNeil granodiorite, the Nisling leucogranite, and Mt. McAuley granite. The caldera of the BLCC immediately to the south of the property, with quartz- feldspar porphyry rings and NE-trending rhyolite dykes associated with caldera formation located on the property. Work completed by the Optionor in 2019, 2020 and 2021 has identified a number of new showings associated with the ring dykes and the NE-trending dykes and associated structures1. Mineralization tends to be concentrated near the intersection of NE and EW trending structures. High silver, gold, copper, molybdenum and lead values in quartz veins suggest an intermediate sulfidation setting. At the Silver Train showing, elevated copper and molybdenum values along with quartz-carbonate breccias, heterolithic intrusive breccias and pervasive epidote-pyrite alteration within granodiorite suggest potential for a buried porphyry system at depth. 1 Burke, R, 2021. Rock and Geochemical Sampling, Airborne Geophysics and Hand Trenching performed between August 8th - August 30th, 2021 on the Pike Warden Property; Yukon Mineral Exploration Program, YMEP 21-043 2 Hart, C.J.R. and Radloff, J.K., 1990. Geology of Whitehorse, Alligator Lake, Fenwick Creek, Carcross and part of Robinson Map Areas, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Open File Report 1990-4 3 Simpson, R.G, 2020, Skukum Gold-Silver Project, NI43-101 Technical Report for Whitehorse Gold Corp Qualified Person The technical elements of this press release have been approved by Mr. Greg Collins, P.Geo. (PGO), who is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. All analytical work was conducted at ALS Laboratories, an independent lab located in North Vancouver, B.C. The quality system used by ALS Laboratories meets all requirements of International Standards ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 and ISO 9001:2015. Transition Metals Corp Transition Metals Corp (TSXV: XTM) is a Canadian-based, multi-commodity project generator that specializes in converting new exploration ideas into discoveries. The award-winning team of geoscientists has extensive exploration experience which actively develops and tests new ideas for discovering mineralization in places that others have not looked, often allowing the company to acquire properties inexpensively. Joint venture partners earn an interest in the projects by funding a portion of higher-risk drilling and exploration, allowing Transition to conserve capital and minimize shareholder's equity dilution. Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding estimated capital and operating costs, expected production timeline, benefits of updated development plans, foreign exchange assumptions and regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 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. Further information is available at www.transitionmetalscorp.com or by contacting: Scott McLean President and CEO Transition Metals Corp. Tel: (705) 669-1777 Figure 1: Geology and Showing Locations on the Pike Warden Property To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2766/141087_f33087dfe48ab9af_003full.jpg Figure 2: Property Outline, Deposits and Prospects Near the Bennett Lake Caldera Complex To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2766/141087_f33087dfe48ab9af_004full.jpg To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141087 Angelini Industries announces the creation of Angelini Ventures, a venture capital company that will invest in early-stage companies in the biotechnology, life sciences and digital health sectors. Angelini Ventures has invested 60 million to-date. ROME, Italy, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Angelini Industries, a multi-sector Italian industrial group which operates in 21 countries with 5,800 employees, has announced the launch of Angelini Ventures, a global corporate venture capital initiative, with a 300 million capital commitment. Angelini Ventures will build and invest in early-stage companies that develop innovative ideas and solutions in biotechnology, digital health and life sciences. "We have put a lot of work into the development of Angelini Ventures whose mission will be to invest at international level in high-potential ideas, opportunities and projects that use technology to transform the future of the global health system. Thanks to our specific skills and expertise, our ambition is to not only further develop our business but also, and above all, to give voice and life to solutions that have a positive impact on patients and communities, " said Sergio Marullo di Condojanni, Chief Executive Officer of Angelini Industries. "I am incredibly proud to establish Angelini Ventures as a key pillar of healthcare innovation for Angelini Industries. We are building a robust infrastructure to develop and invest in new ideas, partnerships, and technologies," said Paolo Di Giorgio, Chief Executive Officer of Angelini Ventures. "Through Angelini Ventures, entrepreneurs will partner with subject matter experts and healthcare leaders who deeply understand the challenges of the healthcare industry and the evolving needs of patients and consumers." Angelini Ventures has already made global investments of 60 million. The current investment portfolio includes Argobio, a Paris-based biotech venture studio; Angelini Lumira Biosciences Fund, a North American fund that invests in early-stage companies; and Pretzel Therapeutics, a Boston-based leading mitochondrial therapeutics company. For more information, visit angeliniventures.com. Angelini Industries?is a multinational group with 5,800 employees,?operating in 21 countries and generating annual revenues of 1.7 billion. It operates in the pharmaceutical, consumer goods, industrial technology, perfumes and dermo-cosmetics and wine businesses. Its headquarters is in Rome, Italy. CONTACT Alessandra Favilli - Group Chief Communication Officer COMPANY Angelini Industries PHONE 06 780531 EMAILpress@angeliniindustries.com (mailto:press@angeliniindustries.com) WEB https://www.angeliniindustries.com/en/ (https://www.angeliniindustries.com/en/) A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/081630e0-8281-46ea-9514-d28f330f4bc5 HONG KONG, Oct 19, 2022 - (ACN Newswire) - Communications Association of Hong Kong (CAHK) fully supports the Chief Executive's 2022 Policy Address, in particular Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint in the chapter on "International Innovation and Technology Centre", focusing on industries such as life and health technology, artificial intelligence and data science, as well as advanced manufacturing and new energy technology.We welcome the Hong Kong SAR Government's planning in the four specific areas: (1) to improve the I&T ecosystem and achieve "re-industrialization" in Hong Kong; (2) to enlarge the I&T talent pool to create strong impetus for growth; (3) to develop Hong Kong into a smart city to improve the quality of life of our people; and (4) to proactively integrate into the overall development of the country and consolidate Hong Kong's advantages as an international city.We are pleased to see that the Government has accepted the proposal to expand the 5G network, and will further amend the legislation next year to ensure that appropriate space will be made available in new buildings for installation of mobile communication facilities. The initiative will facilitate the telecommunications industry on their architectural blueprint development of 5G network, and will also steer the direction for the development of application solutions including finance, retail, education, and art.The 2022 Policy Address proposes to attract leading I&T talents around the globe. By collaborating with the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES), the Government will provide special facilitation measures in a targeted manner to attract top-notch I&T talents to come with their businesses or R&D achievements. This initiative will help to resolve the current serious shortage of talents, and in the long term to provide the talent pool for high-potential industries.We believe that these initiatives will help Hong Kong ICT industry to compete effectively with the neighbouring countries and regions; provide support for the development of I&T; and accelerate our digital transformation.About Communications Association of Hong KongCAHK is a non-profit making organisation incorporated in Hong Kong on 27 May 1983 following the announcement of deregulation of local communication products and services. It is the association for Hong Kong's communications industries, with responsibilities across broadcasting, wireline and wireless communications, and other sectors in information communications technology.For more information, please visit: www.cahk.hkThis press release is distributed by Communications Association of Hong Kong.For enquiries, please contact:Communications Association of Hong KongMrs. Irene Kwok, ManagerTel: (852) 2504 2732Fax: (852) 2504 2752Email: info@cahk.hkSource: Communications Association of Hong KongCopyright 2022 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. Company Ramps Up Government Contract Work Through a Series of International Product Deliveries AVENTURA, FL / ACCESSWIRE / October 19, 2022 / Safe Pro Group Inc. ("Safe Pro" or the "Company"), a U.S.-based developer of safety and security solutions for people and infrastructure, today announced that it continues to increase its contracted work with various departments of the U.S. Government, recently completing the delivery of satellite-enabled communications equipment valued at approximately $180,000 to the U.S. Department of State. Following an open, competitive bid process, Safe Pro's Airborne Response subsidiary was selected, procured, and delivered, the required satellite-based telecommunications hardware to the end customer in Africa within only 30 days of receiving the award. This U.S. State Department award is the second international contract fulfilled by the Company in the last 30 days, following the recently completed delivery of demining equipment to the Bangladesh Army. The demining contract included proprietary Explosive Ordinance Disposal ("EOD") suits, Blast containment and Fragmentation Blanket Systems, Body Shields and Disruptors valued at approximately $2,000,000, which were supplied to the Bangladesh Army in support of the United Nations Peacekeeping mission. "Safe Pro is pleased to have been able to successfully complete this procurement, delivering mission-critical communications equipment to the customer in less than 30 days following the contract award by the U.S. Department of State. Over the past month, Safe Pro has been actively engaged with multiple clients in support of several international missions, a strong illustration of our ability to service the needs of the Government and commercial customers on a global scale. We look forward to continuing to serve the needs of customers including the U.S. Department of State for a wide array of safety and security products ranging from critical communications to ballistic protection for humanitarian demining," said Dan Erdberg, Chairman and CEO of Safe Pro Group. For more information about Safe Pro Group, please visit www.safeprogroup.com and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter. About Safe Pro Group Inc. Safe Pro Group Inc. was formed by a team of executives and subject matter experts drawn from the Intelligence Community, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, and commercial sectors to assess and help Government and Enterprise clients respond to disruptive new technologies and new threats. Safe Pro Group, through its portfolio of safety and security companies is currently serving the needs of domestic and international organizations in the Commercial, Military, Law Enforcement and Humanitarian sectors. For more information on Safe Pro Group Inc., please visit https://safeprogroup.com/. Media Relations for Safe Pro Group Inc.: Michael Glickman MWGCO, Inc. 917-397-2272 mike@mwgco.net SOURCE: Safe Pro Group Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/720956/Safe-Pro-Groups-Airborne-Response-Subsidiary-Awarded-Government-Contract-from-the-US-Department-of-State Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - October 19, 2022) - The Founders of BOK Productions , Kimberli Bruce and Keri Kilty are bringing the first of its kind women led educational conference for Web3 technologies, Web3 Summits, led by the women in Web3, November 29 (registration and VIP dinner) through December 1st, 2022 to the Miami Airport & Convention Center, Miami Dade. Figure 1 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8653/141086_Women%20Web3%20Miami%20Landscape%20Banner_550.jpg These women are pioneering an educational program designed to bring a diverse program of speakers to the local community of Miami-Dade. The program is designed to provide a solid foundation of understanding for business owners, entrepreneurs, educators, and students to build strategies for the adoption of emerging technologies referred to as Web3. Defined as a collective of computer programs, applications and processes that make up the categories to be discussed during this conference; decentralization, blockchain networks, blockchain features, tokenization, token economies, metaverses, AR and VR applications. This first of its kind women led educational event is working with the local Miami communities during Art Week, choosing a location that is easily accessible with plenty of parking for residents and visitors, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Miami Airport & Convention Center, 711 NW 72nd Ave, Miami, FL 33126. The purpose of the event is to increase adoption and awareness for technologies that can bring benefits and gains to everyone. The conference will provide an education forum as well as a safe space for relationship building and collaboration with meaningful long-lasting connections. The agenda is a combination of educational workshops, panel discussions and lecturing keynote speakers. All programs are designed to provide beginner and moderate lessons and discussion for Web3 technologies. The goal of the conference is to engage community members who are interested in building a foundation of understanding for emerging technologies. The Web3 Summit team is working hard to bring thoughtful, inspiring, and successful industry leaders to participate: Ben Armstrong YouTuber, podcaster, crypto enthusiast, and creator of BitBoyCrypto, Sandy Carter , Sr VP of web3 leading domain provider, Unstoppable Domains, Yu-Kai Chou , award winning Author of Octalysis and Founder of MetaBlox, and Paula Dezzutti , Founder and CEO of Local Choice, is just a small sample of the powerful line up of over 150 educators and speakers for this two day conference. Additional activations during Web3 Summits will be a Web3 themed Pitch Contest co hosted with Cryptan Labs . The contest is for founders and entrepreneurs building businesses and products using Web3 technologies. All are welcome and encouraged to apply. The winners will receive a combination package of prices to support their pitch presentation. And a Fine Art Gallery and Music Stage to complement the theme of Art Week Miami, inclusive for both digital, physical art, all genres of music performance, located in the same area as our vendor exhibition space and networking lounge with comfortable seating, food, and bar service. Local artists are strongly encouraged to apply and submit portfolios for consideration. During the conference, BOK Productions will provide a dedicated space for partners, content creators, exhibitors, press, sponsors, and speakers to conduct interviews, host AMA's, podcasts, or film marketing materials. The event is supported by a world-renowned media team including Cointelegraph, BlockTides, and Make Me Viral Media. Interested press or content creators should reach out to web3summits.io for more information. The Web3 Summit's mission is to spread the power of optimism. They strive to ensure everyone who attends the event walks away feeling they have become a part of a great community, having gained knowledge to grow as better people, in business and in personal lives. They value and honor each and every individual's contribution and support to making this event become a reality. For more information or to purchase entry tickets for the event please visit www.web3summits.io . Tickets are available for students, day passes, 2 day passes and VIP access. If you are interested in a brand marketing partnership, please contact Keri or Kimberli directly through the web3summits website. Contact Details: Katerina Vukova katerina@lunapr.io 0585171331 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141086 The firm is known for technically challenging projects that serve commercial, civic and education clients. DAYTON, Ohio, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Woolpert has acquired Sheehan Nagle Hartray Associates, a full-service architecture firm that specializes in mission critical and technically challenging projects, interior design and predesign services for commercial, civic and education clients. SNHA has offices in Chicago and London. Principal Neil Sheehan said SNHA wanted to join a nimble, entrepreneurial culture with whom they could develop a visionary, global business strategy. He said in Woolpert, SNHA found transparency and knowledge-sharing across all levels, with clear aspirations for future growth, productivity and success. "Woolpert shares our drive for design excellence and understands that innovation is evolutionary, while providing services that complement our own," Sheehan said. "In addition, Woolpert's geospatial and engineering capabilities underscore our expertise, allowing us to integrate emerging technologies like computational design, digital twins, reality capture, carbon tracking, and virtual and augmented reality." Woolpert Vice President and Buildings Sector Leader Suzette Stoler lauded the SNHA staff for their passion, integrity and advancement of next-level, sustainable design. "We admire what SNHA has accomplished over the last 50 years and are thrilled that they are part of our Woolpert family," Stoler said. "Together we will enhance our dynamic design culture across the globe, while providing meaningful and sustainable solutions for our clients and the industry." "In addition to industry leadership in data center design, SNHA marks another key milestone in our global expansion plan," Woolpert CEO Scott Cattran said. "With existing Woolpert offices already in North America, Africa, Australia and Asia, SNHA expands our design excellence in Europe and extends our capabilities as a global company." AEC Advisors initiated this transaction and acted as a financial advisor to Sheehan Nagle Hartray Associates. About Woolpert Woolpert is the premier architecture, engineering, geospatial (AEG) and strategic consulting firm, with a vision to become one of the best companies in the world. We innovate within and across markets to effectively serve public, private and government clients worldwide. Woolpert is a top 100 ENR Global Design firm and actively nurtures a culture of growth, inclusion, diversity and respect. Founded in 1911 in Dayton, Ohio, Woolpert has been America's fastest-growing AEG firm since 2015. The firm has 1,900 employees and more than 60 offices on four continents. Visit woolpert.com. About Sheehan Nagle Hartray Associates Sheehan Nagle Hartray Associates is a full-service architectural firm offering architectural design, interior design and predesign services including site selection, program definition and feasibility studies. We are also product designers, focusing on the creation of building systems for emerging design and technology challenges. Visit snh-a.com. Media contact: Jill Kelley; 937-531-1258, jill.kelley@woolpert.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1924219/Woolpert_SNHA.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/463993/Woolpert_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/woolpert-acquires-sheehan-nagle-hartray-associates-global-experts-in-mission-critical-design-301652868.html This photo, taken Oct. 14, shows a news report on North Korea's firing of artillery shots into maritime buffer zones being aired on a television at Seoul Station in central Seoul. Yonhap North Korea's military said Wednesday it fired artillery shots overnight into maritime buffer zones near the inter-Korean border as a" warning" over South Korea's ongoing military drills. In a statement, a spokesman for the General Staff of the Korean People's Army (KPA) said the North's military fired "warning shots" in a "strong military countermeasure" against South Korea's military exercises. The spokesperson also called on the South to immediately stop "reckless and provocative" actions that have raised military tensions on the peninsula, according to the statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency. It came hours after the North launched more than 250 artillery shells into waters off its east and west coast. The unnamed KPA official said the move came in response to a series of "military provocative acts by enemies," citing the Hoguk military drills under way in the South. NASHVILLE, TN / ACCESSWIRE / October 19, 2022 / This past April ARMA International announced a Global Partnership with the Records and Information Management Professionals Australasia (RIMPA Global), the longest serving peak body for industry practitioners in the southern hemisphere to better serve the information management profession worldwide. The global partnership between these two leading worldwide organizations provides many benefits to their collective 7,000 members who now have the opportunity for joint membership in both organizations; access to reciprocal resources including communities and professional development, education, and certifications; and advocacy for the information management and information governance profession. Together the two organizations are working together to provide a unique perspective on global information issues. "Through this relationship we have begun the formation of an international consortium to be voice of information governance globally. This new body is vital to Advocate for the industry and Build a Global Community for the Information Management Profession. By bolstering thought leadership, supporting the career advancement of information professionals by establishing standards and increased awareness; and establishing this global community bolstered by strong partnerships, we will move the industry forward and achieve together, what we cannot apart," explained Nathan Hughes, Executive Director, ARMA International. The two organizations have already begun collaborating. Nathan Hughes, Executive Director of ARMA and Wendy McLain, President of ARMA attended the RIMPA Live 2022 Convention, in June in Canberra, Australia, and participate in meetings with the RIMPA Global Board. Anne Cornish, Chief Executive Officer of RIMPA Global and Thomas Kaufhold, Chair of the Board of RIMPA Global attended ARMA's InfoCon 2022, held this week in Nashville, TN, and participated in meetings with the ARMA Board. ARMA International (www.arma.org), formed in 1955, is the world's leading membership organization serving almost 5,000 professionals who manage and govern information in 52 countries. Members represent the community of records management, information management, and information governance professionals who harness the benefits and reduce the risks of information. ARMA provides information professionals with the resources, tools, and training they need to effectively manage records and information within an established information governance framework. Works that are associated with the framework include the Principles, the Information Governance Maturity Model and the Information Governance Body of Knowledge (IGBOK). ARMA recognizes professionals who have mastered these concepts through the Information Governance Professional (IGP) Certification. The Records and Information Management Professionals Australasia (RIMPA Global) (www.rimpa.com.au/) established in 1969, represents over 2,000 professionals and organizations in the private sector, Commonwealth, Federal, State and Local Governments. RIMPA Global has active Branches and Chapters operating in all states and territories across Australia and New Zealand. RIMPA Global is the longest serving peak body for industry practitioners in the southern hemisphere and actively promotes best practice, sets industry standards and fosters professional development across all business sectors and educational institutions. Through its international partnerships with other peak bodies, RIMPA Global provides its members with access to an accomplished framework of professional associations. RIMPA Global has strategic alliances with the Information Governance ANZ, Institute of Managers and Leaders (IML), Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), Australian Society of Archivist (ASA) and Leadership Through Data. # # # For further information, contact: Amy Riemer, Media Relations Representative 978-475-4441 (office) or 978-502-4895 (cell) amy@riemercommunications.com SOURCE: ARMA International View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/720734/ARMA-International-and-RIMPA-Global-Announce-Formation-of-an-International-Consortium-to-be-Voice-of-Information-Governance-Globally Digital experience analytics provider propels the future of human digital experiences with 7 global events Contentsquare, the global leader in digital experience analytics, kicks off the next series of its flagship CX Circle event this week on Thursday, October 20 virtually in North America and in-person in the United Kingdom. CX Circle is an immersive experience that brings together the industry's best to discuss all things customer experience (CX) and highlight winning CX strategies and innovations, from AI to digital accessibility, to personalization. Attendees this year are expected to top 1,500. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from 20+ digital leaders across industries including retail, financial services, B2B, travel and hospitality, and others. With a mix of workshops, panels, live Q&A and more, the event's 10+ sessions will be centered around how businesses can harness customer understanding to elevate the CX and deliver more human digital experiences. "With the digitalization of everyday life, the human touch has become all the more critical to delivering a memorable digital experience. Customers today expect seamless, intuitive experiences that are also human-centered and built on empathy," said Niki Hall, CMO at Contentsquare. "We hope that the conversations we're having at our CX Circle events will help advance the conversation around what it means to be truly customer-driven, and encourage businesses across industries to implement innovation and strategies that help humanize the digital experience for all, today and in the future." In-person attendees in the United Kingdom will hear from top brands including Clarins, Decathlon, Hobbycraft, Hotel Chocolat, Lovehoney, On the Beach and Sky, in the following sessions: The New Era of Audiencing Keeping it Human in a Digital World Back to the Future: Customer Experience in 50 years (Gary Roth, Director of Business Value Engineering at Contentsquare) The Customer Fan Experience: Moments, Emotions and Community How to Stay Sane in the Web 3.0 Hurricane Virtual attendees in North America will have the opportunity to hear from top brands including Sur La Table, Verizon, and The Webster. Discussions will be centered around 3 talk tracks based on the human experience imperatives Understanding, Action and Trust and will dive into some of the following topics: The Human Experience Imperative (James McCormick, VP of Product Marketing at Contentsquare) How DXA Delivers Business Impact Across Teams Build a Stronger Optimization Program by Becoming a Data Detective Need for Speed: Core Web Vitals Workshop How to Build a CX that Aligns to Your Brand Promise Widen the Funnel with a CX-focused CRO Strategy Empathy, Authenticity Engagement: Why Brands Need All 3 to Succeed How a Leading Dog Genetics Company Optimizes Product Pages to Drive Growth Accessibility Workshop: Building a Digitally Inclusive Experience Contentsquare's CX circle events are designed for digital professionals in Marketing, eCommerce, Product, Analytics and Operations. The digital experience analytics provider recently kicked off its CX circle season with APAC events this month in Singapore and Sydney. Following this week's North America and United Kingdom events, the company will host CX circle in Paris (November 17), Tokyo (November 20) and Dubai (November 24). Stay tuned for more conversations on the future of human digital experience, at Contentsquare's Paris CX circle, where attendees will hear from Pierre Casanova, Chief Revenue Officer at Contentsquare alongside Thomas Husson, Vice President and Principal Analyst at Forrester, Niki Hall, CMO at Contentsquare, and Lucie Buisson, Chief Product Officer at Contentsquare. To stay connected with the latest trends from CX circle, Contentsquare's CX circle Magazine in France can be found here. At Contentsquare's Dubai CX circle, attendees will hear from Ahmad Salama, Vice President General Manager MENAT at Contentsquare. To learn more about how leading brands are envisioning the future of human digital experience at Contentsquare's North America and United Kingdom events, and to hear more from the brands and leaders mentioned above, please click here for North America and here for the United Kingdom. CX circle sponsors include AB Tasty, KIBO, Optimizely, UserTesting, and Kameleoon in North America. In addition, CX circle United Kingdom sponsors include Dynamic Yield, Insider, REO, and Botify. About Contentsquare: Contentsquare delivers the power to make the digital world more human. Its AI-powered platform provides rich and contextual insight into customer behaviors, feelings and intent at every touchpoint in their journey enabling businesses to build empathy and create lasting impact. The global leader in digital experience analytics, Contentsquare helps brands everywhere transform the way they do business, allowing them to take action at enterprise scale and build customer trust with security, privacy and accessibility. More than 1000 leading brands use Contentsquare to grow their business, deliver more customer happiness and move with greater agility in a constantly changing world. Its insights power the customer experience on over 1 million websites worldwide. Founded in Paris and with offices around the world, Contentsquare has raised $1.4B in investment funding from leading investors, including funds and accounts managed by BlackRock, Bpifrance, Canaan, Eurazeo, Highland Europe, KKR, LionTree, Sixth Street and SoftBank Vision Fund 2. For more information, visit www.contentsquare.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005615/en/ Contacts: Media Contact: Erica.Ashner@Contentsquare.com EQS-News: LiveWire Ergogenics, Inc. Consumers Are Demanding More From Cannabis Companies - Here's What Some Are Looking For 19.10.2022 / 15:24 CET/CEST The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The cannabis industry has undergone drastic changes in recent years, and as marijuana becomes more mainstream, consumers are demanding more from cannabis companies. No longer are the days when consumers will settle for a plastic zip lock bag of questionable quality and purity underground weed - they want choices that reflect their lifestyle and values. Many consumers report that they want a high-quality lifestyle brand and one of the things they are looking for is an organic, hand-cut, pesticide-free, and easy-to-consume cannabis product. Companies that embody these values will be better positioned to become the go-to products for more consumers. A growing percentage of consumers care more about the quality and sustainability of the brands they engage with. In a recent survey by Stifel and Morning Consult , more than half of the survey's respondents shared they had bought from a new brand specifically for its transparent, environmentally responsive, and sustainable practice. When it comes to the cannabis industry, there is a preference for hand-trimmed and hand-grown cannabis. Colloquially known as craft cannabis , companies willing to prioritize hand-trimmed cannabis grown without pesticides and machines will have an easier task of creating high-end products that consumers flock to. Cannabis companies would be wise to look to the lifestyle brand journey of other consumer packaged goods (CPG). Researchers see lots of comparisons between the growth of lifestyle brands in high-end coffee companies and the cannabis industry. Similarly to how high-end coffee consumers are more loyal to brands that boost sustainable heritage, product origins, ethical sourcing, and roasts, a growing number of cannabis consumers are following suit. California is in the process of implementing a product origin program similar to the California wine industry for cannabis. Companies that can leverage a consumer-centric approach to the cannabis industry might find success in the coming years as luxury cannabis becomes more available and accessible to the public. LiveWire Ergogenics Inc. (OTCMKTS: LVVV) ("LiveWire") is a company that focuses on acquiring and managing special-purpose real estate properties that qualify for the discovery and development of high-end organic cannabis products. Because of this focus on selecting compliant real estate, LiveWire can hone in on projects that allow for high-end cultivation and set the Company apart from the competition, especially from mass producers of low-quality products. In order to operate economically, LiveWire has developed its Estrella Ranch as the central hub for all LiveWire and subsidiary operations. The Estrella Ranch's location is ideal for cultivating a high-end organic-style product in a micro-climate that can allow for all-year-round production. Its tractor-less operation is focused on producing high-quality, hand-crafted outdoor products. Additionally, the property's ultimate goal is to be the world's first Estate Grown Weedery, an ultimate cannabis destination. This goal aligns well with the Company's health and wellness lifestyle value. Consumers want an experience from their lifestyle brand of choice, and LiveWire seems to be an example of a company positioning itself well to deliver. The Company focuses on acquiring, managing, and licensing well-qualified cannabis real estate locations to establish fully compliant and permitted facilities to produce cannabis-based products and establish relationships for the statewide distribution of these products in California. This includes developing and licensing high-quality organic cannabinoid-based products and services and creating the high-quality "Estrella Grown Weedery" brand via its subsidiary/affiliate companies Estrella Ranch Partners, Estrella River Farms, Makana Ola, and CaliCruz Farms. LiveWire Ergogenics does not produce, sell, or distribute products that violate the United States Controlled Substances Act. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Tristan Cavato ir@livewireergogenics.com 19.10.2022 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.eqs-news.com All proceeds support the DOvEEgene project, whose new genomic uterine pap test allows for the earlier diagnosis of ovarian and endometrial cancers. MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / October 19, 2022 / Hundreds of walkers and runners, many wearing elaborate team costumes, took to the streets of Town of Mount Royal on Sunday, October 16, for the 7th annual Cedars Run for Ovarian Cancer. The event, which raised over $120,000, is the signature annual fundraiser for the Dagenais Joly-Smith Fund, and all proceeds support the DOvEEgene project, under the leadership of Dr. Lucy Gilbert, Director of Gynecologic Oncology at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC). "My family and I are so grateful to all the runners and walkers who came out to support the DOvEEgene project and to help us continue the fight against gynecological cancers," said Dominique Dagenais, event founder and Stage 3 ovarian cancer survivor. "Until recently, these cancers could not be detected until it was too late. Dr. Gilbert and her team keep pushing the boundaries of science and finding ways to diagnose them earlier. Their work has saved the lives of countless mothers, daughters, and sisters." Over 3,000 Canadian women are diagnosed with ovarian and endometrial cancers every year, and more than 75% of them were not diagnosed until their cancer had reached an advanced stage. These cancers are often referred to as "silent killers," because their symptoms can easily be mistaken for menopause-related changes and digestive issues - and because, until recently, there was no simple test to detect them. "If you can detect a cancer in its early stages, you can cure it. But if you only detect it when it reaches the advanced stages, you can't. You can only delay its progression and try to extend a patient's life with chemotherapy and radiation," explains Dr, Lucy Gilbert, a world-renowned oncologist who leads the DOvEEgene project. "Our research has led to the development of the DOvEEgene genomic PAP test, which can detect these cancers in their earliest stages, so we can stop them in their tracks," she added. "Our raison d'etre is to foster excellence in research, treatment and care at the Cedars Cancer Centre of the MUHC, and we are therefore incredibly proud to support the transformative work of Dr. Gilbert and her team at the DOvEEgene project," says Jeff J. Shamie, President and CEO of the Cedars Cancer Foundation. "This project is a game-changer. Dr. Gilbert is just a few steps away from being able to provide a simple, routine test to detect gynecological cancers in their earliest stages, which will save the life of thousands of women every year, so please donate!" PHOTOS The following photos can be downloaded here: Photo 1: Dr. Lucy Gilbert (back row, fourth from left) and the DOvEEgene Team Photo 2 (left to right): STANDING: Jeff J. Shamie, President & CEO, Cedars Cancer Foundation; Tony Aksa, Chairman of the Board of Cedars; Michelle Setlakwe, MNA for Mont-Royal - Outremont; Peter Malouf, Mayor of the Town of Mount Royal; Dr. Lucy Gilbert, Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Department of Oncology at McGill, Director of Gynecologic Cancer Services at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), and founder of the DOvEE Project; Daniel Pilon, Town of Mount Royal Councillor; Steve Joly-Smith, Event Co-Chair; Antoine Tayer, Town of Mount Royal Councillor; Maryam Kamali Nezhad, Town of Mount Royal Councillor. SEATED: Dominique Dagenais, Event Co-Chair & Founder. Photo 3: 10km race winners and recipients of the Dr. Kris Jardon Memorial Trophy, Mark Hounsell (left of trophy) and Victor Allonier (right of trophy); Dr. Jardon's son, Samuel Jardon (centre, behind trophy); and Jeff J. Shamie, President & CEO, Cedars Cancer Foundation (right). Photo 4 (left to right): Steven Joly-Smith, Event Co-Chair, and Dominique Dagenais, Event Co-Chair & Founder Photo 5: A team finishing their race ABOUT THE DOvEEgene PROJECT The DOvEEgene project brings the screening of ovarian and endometrial cancers one step further with the revolutionary new genomic uterine pap test, the DOvEEgene test, developed by Dr. Lucy Gilbert and her team of McGill researchers. The test provides a safe and minimally invasive method for earlier diagnosis of ovarian and endometrial cancers. With their test in its final stage of clinical trials, Dr. Gilbert and her team are closer than ever to making the DOvEEgene test a standard in women's health care. About the Cedars Cancer Foundation The Cedars Cancer Foundation (Cedars) is a charitable organization that is the funding arm of the MUHC's fight against cancer. It aims to ease the pain and suffering caused by cancer, regardless of the patient's age. Cedars supports the hospital's Cancer Centre, which bears its name, as well as the Cancer Research Program of the Research Institute of the MUHC. Cedars is also a founding partner of the Rossy Cancer Network, which brings together McGill University and its teaching hospitals to improve the quality of every patient's experience and care outcome. MEDIA CONTACT Ms. Michele LaForest T: (514) 970-9617 E: michele.laforest@communicationsavenue.com SOURCE: Cedars Cancer Foundation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/720942/Weekend-Races-Provide-a-120000-Boost-to-the-Development-of-a-Revolutionary-PAP-Test-To-Detect-Gynecological-Cancers-at-the-MUHC WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Spirit Airlines, Inc. (SAVE) announced Wednesday that its stockholders approved the merger agreement with JetBlue Airways Corp. (JBLU). Based on the preliminary voting results provided by the independent inspector of election at the special meeting of stockholders held today, more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Spirit common stock voted in favor of the transaction. The final voting results of the special meeting, as tabulated by an independent inspector of elections, will be filed on a Form 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals. Spirit and JetBlue expect to conclude the regulatory process and close the transaction no later than the first half of 2024. 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. MOSCOW (dpa-AFX) - Ukraine's military claims to have shot down 13 'kamikaze' drones over the southern Mykolaiv region overnight. 'During the night of October 18-19, the enemy attacked the Mykolaiv region twice with 'Shahed-136' kamikaze drones,' the Ukrainian Armed Forces said a statement on Telegram Wednesday. 'Eleven were shot down by the air defense of air command 'South', two more - by soldiers of the National Guard of Ukraine and the State Border Service of Ukraine,' it added. Russian forces have been launching drones and missiles on civilian and energy infrastructure targets across Ukraine since October 7, killing dozens and leading to power and water shortages. Hundreds of towns and villages in the country are in blackout as a result. 1,162 settlements in the Dnipropetrovsk, Zhytomyr, Kirovohrad, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, and Mykolaiv regions remain without power supply,' says Oleksandr Khorunzhyi, a spokesperson for the country's State Emergency Service. More than 70 people were killed and many others injured in the attacks, according to him. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said that one third of the nation's power stations were destroyed in Russian attacks. Power and water supply is partially disrupted in capital Kyiv after fresh strikes on Tuesday. Zelensky said the drones are Iranian-made. Iran denied supplying Russia with the small aerial weapons, which are destroyed after hitting the target. 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. JERSEY CITY, N.J., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd. has announced the publication of a market research report titled "Global Rare Kidney Diseases Market By Target Indications (IgA Nephropathy, Membranous Nephropathy, Lupus Nephritis, C3 Glomerulopathy, Focal Segmental Glomerular Sclerosis, and Others), Type of Molecule (Small Molecules and Biologics (Hormone, Monoclonal Antibody, Recombinant Protein, and Others)), Route of Administration (Intravenous, Oral, Subcutaneous, and Others))- Market Outlook and Industry Analysis 2030" According to company's newest research, the global rare kidney diseases market is predicted to exhibit a promising CAGR of 16% between 2022 and 2030. Rare kidney diseases (RKD) encompass approximately 150 distinct conditions. In the United States (US) and Europe, the prevalence of rare kidney diseases is estimated to range between 60 and 80 per 100,000 cases/individuals. Approximately one-third of adults with diabetes and one-fifth of adults with hypertension may have kidney disease. Kidney diseases kill more people than breast and prostate cancers combined (NVS 2021 report of 2018 data). Kidney disease patients are five to ten times more probable to die prematurely than to develop kidney failure with replacement therapy (KFRT). It's important to note that after the COVID-19 pandemic started, it became even harder to treat people with rare kidney diseases. This is mainly because most current treatments for these conditions require patients to go to the hospital or medical center often. As a result, the death rate for sick people during the pandemic went up by 30%. This rise in death rates has forced people in the pharmaceutical industry to do the research they need to find new drugs that can effectively treat rare kidney diseases. Get a Demo Sample copy of the Report at https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/request-sample/1414 Several essential factors are driving the growth of the market for rare kidney diseases. The collaborative interactions among clinicians, patients, industry representatives, regulatory agents, and government agencies contribute to the expansion of the need for complex illnesses due to new advancements in diagnosis and treatment. In addition, the increased use of next-generation sequencing techniques is expected to improve diagnostic accuracy for rare kidney diseases, aid in elucidating molecular mechanisms of disease, facilitate genetic counselling, and provide opportunities for carrier testing. Renal replacement therapy advancements and increased accessibility enable patients to live longer lives at the expense of their quality of life. The market restraining factors include unresolved genetic defects, a lack of biomarkers to track disease progression, heterogeneous clinical phenotypes, and obsolete diagnostic classifications that do not reflect underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, which have hindered therapeutic advances in rare kidney diseases. Slow drug approvals and complex studies will also restrain the market's growth. North America will dominate and lead the global market for rare kidney diseases during the forecasted period as a result of its rapid clinical advancements and research into kidney disease treatments. The key market players are GlaxoSmithKline, Recordati Rare Diseases, Amicus Therapeutics, Calliditas Therapeutics, Alexion Pharmaceuticals (A subsidiary of AstraZeneca), Travere Therapeutics, Aurinia Pharmaceutical, Advicenne, Protalix Biotherapeutics, AstraZeneca, Chinook Therapeutics, Reata Pharmaceuticals, Roche, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Merk & co., Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Omeros Corporation, Lonza, and Other Prominent Players. Enquiry Before Buying: https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/enquiry-before-buying/1414 Key Developments in The Market: In Aug 2022 , CSL Vifor and Travere Therapeutics announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted for review the Conditional Marketing Authorization (CMA) application for sparsentan for the treatment of a rare kidney disorder IgAN, and a leading cause of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). , CSL Vifor and Travere Therapeutics announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted for review the Conditional Marketing Authorization (CMA) application for sparsentan for the treatment of a rare kidney disorder IgAN, and a leading cause of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). In Dec 2021 , The FDA approved the first drug to reduce urine protein levels in IgA nephropathy, a rare kidney disease. Tarpeyo (budesonide) delayed-release capsules have been granted accelerated approval by the FDA to minimise proteinuria (increased protein levels in the urine) in adults with primary immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy who are at risk of rapid disease progression. , The FDA approved the first drug to reduce urine protein levels in IgA nephropathy, a rare kidney disease. Tarpeyo (budesonide) delayed-release capsules have been granted accelerated approval by the FDA to minimise proteinuria (increased protein levels in the urine) in adults with primary immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy who are at risk of rapid disease progression. In Sept 2021 , Allarity Therapeutics and Lonza agreed to collaborate on developing and manufacturing dovitinib, Allarity's renal cell carcinoma candidate therapy. The agreement called for the start of dovitinib manufacturing in 2022 to meet Allarity's projected needs for bringing dovitinib to market after regulatory approvals. , Allarity Therapeutics and Lonza agreed to collaborate on developing and manufacturing dovitinib, Allarity's renal cell carcinoma candidate therapy. The agreement called for the start of dovitinib manufacturing in 2022 to meet Allarity's projected needs for bringing dovitinib to market after regulatory approvals. In June 2021 , Novartis announced new Phase II interim data for iptacopan in the rare kidney disease C3 glomerulopathy (C3G). Iptacopan is being developed for a number of (CDRDs) complement-driven renal diseases, including C3Gand (IgAN) IgA nephropathy, the blood disorder paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), with the goal of addressing a vital driver of these diseases. Market Segmentation Global Rare Kidney Diseases Market, by Target Indication, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn) IgA Nephropathy Lupus Nephritis Focal Segmental Glomerular Sclerosis Membranous Nephropathy C3 Glomerulopathy Cystinosis Dense Deposit Disease Distal Renal Tubular Acidosis Fabry Disease Refractory Gout Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Others Global Rare Kidney Diseases Market, by Type of Molecule, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn) Small Molecules Biologics Monoclonal Antibody Hormone Recombinant Protein Others Global Rare Kidney Diseases Market, by Route of Administration, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn) Oral Intravenous Subcutaneous Others Global Rare Kidney Diseases Market, by Region, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn) North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa North America Rare Kidney Diseases Market, by Country, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn) U.S. Canada Europe Rare Kidney Diseases Market, by Country, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn) Germany France Italy Spain Russia Rest of Europe Asia Pacific Rare Kidney Diseases Market, by Country, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn) India China Japan South Korea Australia & New Zealand Latin America Rare Kidney Diseases Market, by Country, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn) Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa Rare Kidney Diseases Market, by Country, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn) GCC Countries South Africa Rest of Middle East & Africa For Customization: https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/customisation/1414 Other Related Reports Published by InsightAce Analytic: Global Biosimilar Monoclonal Antibodies Market Global Dialysis Equipment Market Global Therapeutic Proteins and Oral Vaccines Market About Us: InsightAce Analytic is a market research and consulting firm that enables clients to make strategic decisions. Our qualitative and quantitative market intelligence solutions inform the need for market and competitive intelligence to expand businesses. We help clients gain a competitive advantage by identifying untapped markets, exploring new and competing technologies, segmenting potential markets, and repositioning products. Our expertise is in providing syndicated and custom market intelligence reports with an in-depth analysis with key market insights in a timely and cost-effective manner. Contact Us: InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd. Tel.: +1 551 226 6109 Email: info@insightaceanalytic.com Site Visit: www.insightaceanalytic.com Follow Us on LinkedIn @ bit.ly/2tBXsgS Follow Us On Facebook @ bit.ly/2H9jnDZ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1729637/InsightAce_Analytic_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/rare-kidney-diseases-market-to-is-projected-to-grow-at-a-cagr-of-16-during-the-period-2022-2030-claims-insightace-analytic-301653600.html New App to Service Nearly 2 Million NYC Users MOORESTOWN-LENOLA, N.J., Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Flowbird Group, the leader in curbside management and urban mobility solutions, launched the ParkNYC app in New York City on Oct. 17, 2022. The release of the mobile parking app allows motorists to conveniently pay for on-street parking and municipal parking lots using a mobile device. The ParkNYC app positions Flowbird at the heart of the country's most competitive parking markets. "NYCDOT is proud to bring an improved parking experience to New York City motorists. Many busy New Yorkers rely on parking across the city, and the new app makes the payment process more convenient and less time-consuming," said Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. The new ParkNYC app, implemented by New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) and operated by Flowbird, extends service to the tens of thousands of parking locations across the five boroughs. Established ParkNYC users' wallet credits will carry over to the new Flowbird app, providing a seamless transition to the new and improved application. Setting up a new account is quick and simple after the app is downloaded to a mobile device from the App Store or Google Play Store. Accounts can be set up for individual motorists or for businesses to manage their fleets. The new ParkNYC app in New York City includes a modern and user-friendly interface, featuring the ability to pay as you go for a parking session and the continued ability to pre-load a ParkNYC wallet. Users can check how much time is remaining, choose to receive push notifications when time is about to expire, and extend their time to the maximum limit without returning to their vehicle. All transactions and receipts are saved in the user's account on the app to be viewed later if needed. Flowbird partnered with NYCDOT to design a brand new end-user portal for ParkNYC and to ensure a successful transition to the new app. Flowbird's elite back-office management suite provides immediate in-depth reporting of all meter and mobile transactions, making it easier than ever to manage the parking system in real time, while making data-driven decisions for the future. "We are thrilled to expand our long-term partnership with NYCDOT and be part of such a world-class operation to provide better parking solutions for its residents, visitors, and professionals, focusing on user experience and leveraging our global expertise in mobile technology," said Benoit Reliquet, President, Flowbird America. "After Paris, Stockholm and Hong Kong, we are delighted to contribute to one of the world's largest and most vibrant urban tech ecosystems in the City that never sleeps. A special thanks go out to all teams involved." Flowbird has been a longstanding partner with NYCDOT since 1993 when the City was one of the first in the United States to implement on-street multi-space parking pay stations. Since then, the City has expanded their contract with Flowbird to include nearly 14,000 solar-powered pay stations, managing 80,000 on-street parking spaces. New York City joins the thousands of other towns and cities across the United States, and globally, using the Flowbird app. Flowbird's continued growth reflects the success in providing simple and convenient solutions for parking and mobility. For more information, please visit www.ParkNYC.org. About Flowbird FLOWBIRD operates in 4,350 towns and cities in 80 countries. The company is constantly innovating and breaking new ground to help provide solutions. Its mission is to facilitate the individual journey and maximize a city's unique mobility potential, while considering all city stakeholders and end-user experiences. Through its devices, elite service platform and teams, Flowbird enables a new era for maximizing urban harmony and value throughout the city's core. Contact Information: Julianne Wilhelm VP of Marketing, U.S. julianne.wilhelm@flowbird.group 7272600648 Related Files 10.19.22 ParkNYC Flowbird Release.docx Related Images Image 1: Flowbird and NYCDOT Launch ParkNYC Flowbird and NYCDOT Launch ParkNYC This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment ETD (previously Euromoney TRADEDATA) has launched a chatbot that is revolutionising data reconciliation and operational efficiency. Trusted data - on demand and in your workflow LONDON, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The 'TaDa' chatbot was developed by ETD for use on Symphony, to give users on the platform on-demand, automated access to ETD's trusted reference data. The bot enables them to retrieve the exact data they need in real-time, add it to any Symphony chatroom and respond directly to clients and colleagues - all without leaving their workflow. This cuts down the significant time and money wasted on processing problems such as post-trade risk, clearing, settlement and regulatory reporting issues. Rethinking data reconciliation "Customers tell us teams spend up to 50% of their day manually retrieving and reconciling siloed and fragmented data to report updates to clients and colleagues. This called for a better, faster solution. TaDa delivers on ETD's strategy to provide market-leading reference data directly into our customers' workflows, giving them the data they need, when they need it," said Jeff Davis, CEO of the FPS Division at ETD's parent company Euromoney Institutional Investor. Partnering with the leading platform and market participants Focusing on the collaboration with Symphony, he added: "Symphony is the communication platform with the largest network of financial institutions and professionals. It's the perfect environment for us to deploy our chatbot. Many of our clients have already signalled they plan to adopt the bot, making it an integral part of their reference data, symbology and corporate actions processes." Founded on faster, smarter technology TaDa is based on ipushpull technology, and the company's CEO Matthew Cheung explained how this delivers extra speed and customisation. "From a technology perspective, everything is done by configuration, which means new data sets and bot commands can be rolled out in hours. TaDa can retrieve any data set using commands that can be tailored for each use case, user, department or client. Furthermore, bots are easy to deploy across any organisation with no installation required. This really is a game changer for accessibility of data and we're proud to be a part of it." Learn more and request a demo here: info.euromoneytradedata.com/tada About ETD Launched in 1997, ETD (previously Euromoney TRADEDATA) is known for its history of pioneering industry firsts that have transformed the way trading firms access and leverage mission-critical reference data. Its intelligent solutions have revolutionised everything from position limits and market data vendor symbology through to regulatory compliance support. Supplying instrument data for over 100,000 contracts on over 110+ exchanges - ETD is the reference data solution of choice for the world's top financial organisations, exchanges and regulators. For more information about ETD and our solutions visit: www.euromoneytradedata.com For further information: Wendy Askew, Channel Development Manager, ETD t + 44 (0)207 303 1706 | m + 44 (0)7580 144981 Email: wendy.askew@euromoneytradedata.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/etds-new-chatbot-helps-resolve-trade-breaks--fast-301653612.html Dubai, United Arab Emirates--(Newsfile Corp. - October 19, 2022) - ZEX PR Wire is delighted to announce that they have been recognised as "Promising PR Agency" and most active PR Firm in Dubai. The Award ceremony was conducted at Blockchain Economy Dubai Summit, 4-5 October 2022 Figure 1: Head of Design & UI/UX Mr. Lakshay Gupta and Head of Partnerships and Communications Ms. Prerna Arora from ZEX PR Wire receiving recognition as Promising PR Agency by Ramia Farrage, Senior Producer Presenter at Forbes Middle East To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8861/141079_be84778704d7183a_001full.jpg Figure 2: ZEX PR Wire Recognised as "Promising PR Agency" at Blockchain Economy Dubai Summit, 4-5 October 2022 To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8861/141079_be84778704d7183a_002full.jpg About Blockchain Economy Dubai Summit The summit's 5th edition was hosted in Dubai, the largest crypto hub of the world. The event was held on October 4-5, 2022 at the Le Meridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre with more than 3000 profoundly gratified attendees from 74 countries all over the world. Dozens of sponsors like GARI, Chingari, NAGAX, Codego, Point Network, Gton Capital and many more were hosted at this astounding 5th edition of the Blockchain Economy Summit. The Main Stage of the conference welcomed many of the high-quality speakers who are experts in blockchain and crypto industry such as Vas Modinos, Services Solution Lead at Microsoft and Founder of Blockready, Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and CEO of DMCC and Guest of Honor of the Conference with his Opening Keynote Speech, Sumit Ghosh, CEO and Founder of Chingari, Ivan Liljeqvist, Founder of Moralis, Entrepreneur and Software Developer, Ramia Farrage, MC, Senior Producer and Presenter, Forbes, Benjamin Bilski, German Serial Tech Entrepreneur, Founder and CEO of NAGA, Forbes 30 Under 30, Alena Afanaseva, Co-founder and CEO of BeInCrypto, Adrian Zdunczyk, Chartered Market Technician, Founder of The Birb Nest and many more who have shared their expertise and knowledge with an academy-level speech. It would be incomplete without mentioning Titan the Robot, the Blockchain Economy Summit Ambassador, King of the Robots, a stunning and awe-inspiring piece of technology who attracted the BE audience from thin air and had people crying with laughter at his hilarious antics at this Epic Round of the Blockchain Economy Summit in Dubai. Apoorv Gupta, Co-founder of ZEX PR Wire, flew all the way from India and had an amazing experience at the Blockchain Economy Dubai event. He said, "Dubai is becoming one of the largest crypto hubs in the world, hence attending the Blockchain Economy Event just made it even better." He had a chance to meet with some of the top 1% investors, influencers, and projects from the blockchain space and also a lot of big financial institutes, government officials and fintech companies. About ZEX PR Wire ZEX PR Wire is an end-to-end solution to produce, optimise and target content -- and then distribute and measure results. Combining the world's largest multi-channel content distribution and optimization network and comprehensive workflow tools and platform, the company serves over thousands of clients from offices in America, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific regions. Figure 3: Blockchain Economy Dubai 2022 To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8861/141079_be84778704d7183a_003full.jpg Award winning automated PR platform, ZEX PR Wire is creating waves in the industry with its innovative approach. Understanding the requirements of the fast-evolving industry, the team of ZEX PR Wire has come up with a very modern, fast, efficient, and budget-friendly approach to provide PR-related solutions to leading and growing businesses. The founders of ZEX have worked day and night to come up with a Press Release Distribution SAAS platform that syndicates press release content to Tier 1, 2 & 3 media outlets globally. Interested readers who would like to know more about the company's services, please feel free to contact the company or visit the website https://zexprwire.com/. Figure 4: ZEX PR Wire as sponsors at Blockchain Economy Dubai 2022 To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8861/141079_be84778704d7183a_004full.jpg About the Event Organisers - Teklip Being the TEKLIP EVENT MANAGEMENT company, Teklip has achieved phenomenal success in numerous international projects for over 14 years. As an example, Teklip can demonstrate its work in Advertising, Public Relations, Communications, Host Broadcast, Media operations and Photo Services at the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. Within the scope of its work on these games, Teklip has closely cooperated and conducted PR management with international media channels like CNN, Euronews, Al Jazeera, Eurosport, TRT etc. Furthermore, Teklip took over Host Broadcasting by delivering live transmission to more than 60 countries on this project. Likewise, Teklip has been carrying out advertising and communication campaigns of various international companies and organisations while the number of its clients reached more than 200 brands including Castrol, Bridgestone, Huawei, Bosch, Nestle aside from the World Health Organisation. At the same time, Teklip is the main organiser of the Blockchain Economy summit which is the largest blockchain conference network in the world. Moreover, Teklip has set up and conducted international conferences, OCA media forums, summits and B2B exhibitions. Speakers and discussants from over 40 countries attended these events and have confirmed them efficiently on an international platform. Media Contacts: Organisation: ZEX PR Wire For Partnerships: prerna@zexprwire.com Others: info@zexprwire.com / saurabh@zexprwire.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141079 Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder holds a press briefing at the Pentagon Arlington, Virginia, Oct. 18. AFP-Yonhap The United States maintains a whole range of responses it may take when necessary against North Korean provocations, a Department of Defense spokesperson said Tuesday. Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder also said the U.S. continues to closely monitor the recalcitrant country for actions that may warrant such a response. "In terms of how we respond to individual provocations, for example, missile launches, we are going to maintain a whole range of potential responses," he said when asked why the U.S. did not intercept missiles fired in recent North Korean missile tests. "As you have seen INDOPACOM (Indo-Pacific Command) say in the past when they detected those launches, those launches have been determined ultimately not to pose any threat to U.S. forces territory or that of our allies," he added. "But it's something we will continue to work on closely or monitor closely, rather." North Korea fired more than a dozen ballistic missiles in eight rounds of missile tests staged in just three weeks from Sept. 25. TORONTO, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. (TSX: CF) is scheduled to release its second quarter fiscal 2023 results and supplementary financial information after Canadian markets close on Wednesday, November 2, 2022. Interested investors, the media and other stakeholders may review the earnings release and supplementary financial information at www.cgf.com/investor-relations/investor-resources/financial-reports/ QUARTERLY CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST: Interested parties are invited to listen to Canaccord Genuity's second fiscal quarter results conference call via live webcast or a toll-free number. The conference call is scheduled for Thursday, November 3, 2022, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern time, 5:00 a.m. Pacific time, 12:00 p.m. UK time, 8:00 p.m. China Standard Time, and 11:00 p.m. Australia AEDT. During the call, senior executives will comment on the results and respond to questions from analysts and institutional investors. The conference call may be accessed live and will also be archived on a listen-only basis at: www.cgf.com/investor-relations/news-and-events/conference-calls-and-webcasts/ Analysts and institutional investors can call in via telephone at: 416-764-8609 (within Toronto ) ) 888-390-0605 (toll free in North America outside Toronto ) outside ) 0-800-652-2435 (toll free from the United Kingdom ) ) 0-800-916-834 (toll free from France ) ) 10-800-714-1938 (toll free from Northern China ) ) 10-800-140-1973 (toll free from Southern China ) ) 1-800-076-068 (toll free from Australia ) ) 80-003-570-3632 (toll free from United Arab Emirates ) Please ask to participate in the Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. Q2/23 results call. If a passcode is requested, please use 69130066. A replay of the conference call will be made available from approximately two hours after the live call on November 3, 2022, until January 3, 2023, at 416-764-8677 or 1-888-390-0541 by entering passcode 130066 followed by the (#) key. ABOUT CANACCORD GENUITY GROUP INC.: Through its principal subsidiaries, Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. (the "Company") is a leading independent, full-service financial services firm, with operations in two principal segments of the securities industry: wealth management and capital markets. Since its establishment in 1950, the Company has been driven by an unwavering commitment to building lasting client relationships. We achieve this by generating value for our individual, institutional and corporate clients through comprehensive investment solutions, brokerage services and investment banking services. The Company has Wealth Management offices located in Canada, the UK, Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man and Australia. The Company's international capital markets division operates in North America, UK & Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. is publicly traded under the symbol CF on the TSX. Investor and media relations inquiries: Christina Marinoff, SVP, Head of Investor Relations & Global Corporate Communications, Phone: 416-687-5507, Email: cmarinoff@cgf.com, www.cgf.com/investor-relations View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/canaccord-genuity-group-inc-access-to-second-quarter-fiscal-2023-results-information-301653682.html NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / October 19, 2022 / FatBrain AI (LZG International, Inc.) (OTCQB:LZGI) , the leader in powerful and easy-to-use artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for star enterprises of tomorrow, has acquired the confidential computing and privacy intellectual property (IP) plus software assets of Zero2A PTE LTD ("ZeroTrust Platform"), a software company based in Singapore. ZeroTrust Platform secures privacy-enabled data collaboration for all enterprises, including in the energy, mobile, logistics, healthcare, finance, insurance, pharma, food security and supply chain segments. The Platform allows businesses to cooperate in learning across sensitive or regulated first-party and third-party data to unlock the hidden, multi-level insights available only from the emergent data network. ZeroTrust simplifies and accelerates hierarchical data-led innovation, while bolstering compliance, including GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, data provenance and data residence regimes. Moreover, the Platform orchestrates Confidential Computing technologies now natively available in most hardware, making it easy to deploy secure, private, collaborative environments built on public and private cloud infrastructure. Startup and midsize enterprises (sometimes called SMEs) can benefit from the Platform's data privacy guarantees that today are only available to enterprises with large tech teams. With a FatBrain subscription, SMEs can now share their "small" business data to harness AI solutions for comprehensive insights with no privacy risks. "All companies need cloud economics to accelerate innovation, but many get stuck trusting their data to others," said Peter B. Ritz, co-founder and CEO of FatBrain. "ZeroTrust Platform is a critical enabler for many and small to beat large and heavy," he added, paraphrasing U.S. Naval College Prof. John Arquilla on modern warfare in Bitskrieg: The New Challenge of Cyberwarfare, Polity Books (2021). "The Platform guarantees trust and fosters cooperative innovation to join the Peer Intelligence network, to harness opportunities while minimizing risks. It's Kaggle meets WAZE." "We're simplifying and scaling innovation," said Soubir Acharya, Chief Architect at FatBrain and CTO-emeritus at cloud mobility pioneers Kubisys and SyncSort. "Our F500 clients experienced the security and performance of Confidential Computing on IBM mainframes, each within their enterprise silos. With ZeroTrust Platform orchestrating modern cloud hardware, millions of enterprises across millions of apps can take advantage of our Peer Intelligence AI Solutions as a core part of their subscription." This release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of offers to buy any securities of any entity. This release contains certain forward-looking statements based on our current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this release are based on information available to us as of the date hereof. Our actual results may differ materially from those stated or implied in such forward-looking statements, due to risks and uncertainties associated with our business, which include the risk factors disclosed in our Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 13, 2022. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions, or strategies regarding the future and can be identified by forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should," and "would" or similar words. All forecasts provided by management in this release are based on information available at this time and management expects that internal projections and expectations may change over time. In addition, the forecasts are based entirely on management's best estimate of our future financial performance given our current contracts, current backlog of opportunities and conversations with new and existing customers about our products and services. We assume no obligation to update the information included in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. About FatBrain AI (LZG International, Inc.) : FatBrain AI (LZG International, Inc.; OTCQB:LZGI) provides powerful and easy-to-use AI solutions to empower the star enterprises of tomorrow (aka mSMEs) to grow, innovate, and drive the majority of the global economy. FatBrain's AI 2.0 technologies and advanced data services transform continuous learning, narrative reasoning, cloud and blockchain technologies into auditable, explainable and easy to integrate AI solutions. FatBrain's subscription model allows all companies to deploy its advanced AI solutions quickly and easily, securely utilizing them on premises behind their firewalls or via cloud. For more information, please visit: https://www.fatbrain.ai . About Zero2AI PTE LTD : Zero2AI PTE LTD is a software company based in Singapore, focused on developing applications which harness open-source AI models, packages, and solutions across many business and consumer markets. For more information, please visit: http://zero2ai.sg Media Inquiries: Dennis Carey media@fatbrain.ai SOURCE: LZG International, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/721005/FatBrain-Acquires-Confidential-Computing-Platform-ZeroTrust-to-Protect-Data-Privacy-and-Accelerate-Innovation-for-Millions-of-Growth-Businesses LONDON, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fineqia International Inc. (the "Company" or "Fineqia") (CSE: FNQ) (OTC: FNQQF) (Frankfurt: FNQA) is proud to support Art&Co.'s latest in-person and online exhibition in partnership with NFT4Refugees showcasing innovative quantum NFTs to be auctioned for humanitarian causes at Waldorf Astoria hotel in Dubai on Thursday, October 20, 2022, as well as online at www.artandco.net, from 17:00 Dubai time. The online auction will comprise 10 NFTs and physical artworks by Roman Lipski, a pioneer in quantum art, and 5 refugee artists: Hana, Aabreniuk Ouif, Baron Sha'ar, Obaid Yemen, Cederick Diyavova, and Youssef. These unique objects will come in digital and printed versions and with every purchase, the buyer will receive an NFT. Roman Lipski specialises in "Quantum Blur", a technique for manipulating images using quantum operations in collaboration with Swiss research scientists. The artist opened the Google House in Berlin with an AL performance in 2019. He now explores the format of Quantum Art for NFTs to support the project NFT4Refugees. The presented series is a unique one-off project by Roman Lipski. "Fineqia is delighted to be converging finance, art, and Web 3.0 in a unique event supporting exceptional NGOs that assist refugees and empower artists pioneering TechArt as an emerging field," said Fineqia's CEO Bundeep Singh Rangar. NFTs4Refugees lists artworks from international artists as a partnership between the World Datanomic Forum and the Schwarz Foundation, led by Paula Schwarz. The money from an art sale goes to an artist's selected Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO). Charities include the World Food Program, Upgrade Ukraine, The United Nations, AI4Good, and Stand with Ukraine. "NFT4Refugees was created to help artists familiarise themselves with the digital art space using NFTs and is where profitable art meets giving back in the most transparent way," said Paula Schwarz, CEO of NFT4Refugees. Paula believes in promoting peace through art and trusts that technology can enable people who have less. NFT4Refugees is strengthened by The World Datanomic Forum and the Schwarz Foundation. The World Datanomic forum organises a broad network of interdisciplinary researchers, non-profits, governments, and corporate actors to collect data and support solutions. Equally, the Schwarz Foundation is a private non-profit institution aiming to foster the exchange of ideas and practices between cultures and countries. Fineqia supported Art&Co. during the Covid pandemic in 2020 when the platform was used to launch the world's largest online art auction for Covid relief. Fineqia has now partnered with Art&Co. again for the purpose of supporting refugees. More information about the event can be obtained by contacting Bundeep Singh Rangar at +971 58 508 7376 and bundeep.rangar@fineqia.com or Paula Schwarz at +49 160 90133000 and fondatrice@wd-forum.org. About Art&Co. Art&Co. connects the worlds of art, finance, and support groups. It links freelance artists to support humanitarian causes. Art&Co. works with partners in the tech-industry to bring about new forms of TechArt around the world. Art&Co. is an initiative by InsurAid, a company set up to encourage corporate and personal donations to support those affected by humanitarian disasters, public health and safety crises. InsurAid focuses on events for which insurance is scarce or unavailable. About NFT4Refugees NFTs4Refugees lists artworks from international artists as a partnership between the World Datanomic Forum and the Schwarz Foundation. The money generated is used to discover new artists among the community of refugees supported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the World Food Program together with NFTs4Refugees. NFTs4Refugees enables artists to tap into NFTs as a new field of interest. All NFTs sold on our platform support decentralized grassroots organizations or non-governmental organizations working with refugees that an artist has selected. Our partners are located in Ukraine, Yemen, Syria, Greece and many other regions. Welcome to your new connecting point of art & humanitarian aid around the world! About Fineqia International Inc. Fineqia International is listed in Canada (CSE: FNQ) and quoted on stock exchanges in the United States (OTC: FNQQF) and Europe (Frankfurt: FNQA). Fineqia International sets out the corporate governance, corporate culture, processes and relationships of the company under which the Company and its subsidiaries are managed and managed. Fineqia International monitors and ensures the success, planning and growth of the Company and all of its subsidiaries. More information can be found at https://investors.fineqia.com/news. Katarina Kupcikova, Analyst, E. katarina.kupcikova@fineqia.com, T. +44 7806 730 769, Bundeep Singh Rangar, CEO, E. bundeep.rangar@fineqia.com, T. +1 778 654 2324 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/fineqia-supports-artco-charity-auction-in-partnership-with-nft4refugees-in-dubai-301653753.html RENO, NV / ACCESSWIRE / October 19, 2022 / In addition to his new duties as head of the Whittier Trust Reno office, Dean manages equity, fixed income, and alternative assets for high-net-worth individuals and foundations. Dean advises clients on issues such as efficient wealth transfer strategies, the Nevada Tax Advantage, holistic asset allocation, risk assessment, and the importance of after-tax performance. Dean sits on the board of The Whittier Trust Company of Nevada and is a member of the Investment Committee at Whittier Trust. "Dean is a fabulous portfolio manager, and an extraordinary leader. As we were carefully weighing our options for this role, Dean rose to the top immediately. Dean also has an outstanding team of talented and dedicated professionals. As the largest private multi-family office headquartered in Nevada, leadership is critical to our mission of serving clients. Nevada is in great hands, and we look forward to our continued growth in Reno, Lake Tahoe and throughout the state," stated David Dahl, CEO of Whittier Trust. Dean holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and is a member of the CFA Society of Nevada. He received his Bachelor's degree in Finance from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), and currently serves on the Board of the University of Nevada Foundation as a member of their Investment Committee. He is a member of the university's Silver and Blue Society and sits on the Advisory Board for the University of Nevada's College of Business. Dean also serves on the Board of Directors of Classical Tahoe. For more information, contact Brandi J. Fields at BFields@whittiertrust.com, or visit www.whittiertrust.com . ### Collectively, Whittier Trust Company and The Whittier Trust Company of Nevada, Inc. (referred to herein individually and collectively as "Whittier Trust"), are state-chartered trust companies wholly owned by Whittier Holdings, Inc. ("WHI"), a closely held holding company. Whittier Trust is the oldest and largest private multi-family office headquartered on the West Coast. Whittier Trust works with 545 families and over 40 foundations throughout the US and advises on nearly $18 billion in assets. The firm has helped individuals and families manage, grow and transfer wealth intergenerationally for six generations. The firm has offices in South Pasadena, San Francisco, Newport Beach, West Los Angeles, Reno, Seattle, and Portland. To learn more, visit http://www.whittiertrust.com . Contact: Brandi J. Fields Whittier Trust Email: BFields@whittiertrust.com SOURCE: Whittier Trust View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/721027/Whittier-Trust-Promotes-Dean-Byrne-to-Nevada-Regional-Manager-Senior-Vice-President-Senior-Portfolio-Manager SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / October 19, 2022 / TPT Global Tech, Inc. (OTC PINK:TPTW) www.tptglobaltech.com announced today that its subsidiary TPT Strategic Inc. (OTC PINK:INOQ)("TPT Strategic") has completed the acquisition of Information Security and Training LLC ("IST LLC" or "IST") (www.istincs.com) a General Construction and Information Technology Services company with approximately $5.4M in backlogged revenue as of December 31, 2021, from executed Government contracts. IST is based in Huntsville, Alabama and has branch offices in Nashville TN, Birmingham Al, Jackson MS, Fort Campbell KY, New Orleans LA, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord. IST has divisions in Construction and IT Technology and is a general contractor with experience since 2008 The Company has completed more than 15 projects for different agencies in the Federal marketplace since its inception in 2008 as a contractor. IST has been providing design-build construction, demolition, abatement, earthwork, concrete, steel and metal work, masonry, underground utilities, environmental protection, and site restoration services since 2008. IST differentiates itself by offering superior quality results at a competitive price. IST safely delivers projects on time and within budget. IST has a bonding capacity of $10M per single project and $20M aggregate. IST's Information Technology Services Division provides program management, Systems Engineering, Software Development, Network Engineering, Records Management and Controls, Physical Security and Information Assurance, Video Teleconferencing and AV systems, Help Desk Services and Information Technology Statements of Qualification. IST is committed to maintaining customer satisfaction, trust and integrity by delivering quality products and services conforming to industry best practices and continuous process improvement. The TPT Strategic and IST, LLC agreement for the acquisition is a stock transaction where the founder and sole interest holder, Everett Lanier, is to receive Preferred Series B shares of TPT Strategic that will convert to a 10% ownership of TPT Strategic under certain conditions. The acquisition includes the assumption of all assets and certain liabilities which approximate $1.3M and $1.2M, respectively, as of December 31, 2021. Unaudited revenues and net income for IST the year ended December 31, 2021 were approximately $2.8M and $167,000 respectively. Now that the acquisition is completed, Everett Lanier will remain as the President and will become a Board Member of TPT Strategic. Everett Lanier was the Founder, President and CEO of IST, LLC and has over 22 years of IT experience and 30 years in construction and engineering having started in his family's business. Everett earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science from Alabama A&M University. His experience includes program management, business development, capture management and project engineering. Everett possesses a broad knowledge of business operations and program matrix management experience who has demonstrated the ability to manage relationships and complex programs. With the acquisition of IST, TPT Strategic has been restructured as the new Real Estate construction technology and Smart City Development division of TPT Global Tech. The company also believes there are many cross-pollination business opportunities that will help TPT Global Tech with its long-term corporate objectives. IST has a full-time government procurement team that dedicates resources to source State and Federal contracts such as 5G Telecommunication, IT, Data, Satellite Technology, Medical Technology, Media, Defense Systems, Cyber Security and infrastructure building. "I am pleased that we were able to get the IST acquisition over the finish line. It has been such a pleasure working with the IST team and we look forward to a long and mutuality beneficial working relationship with Everett and the other IST team members as we push forward with our Smart City initiatives in the US and abroad" said Stephen Thomas, CEO of TPT Global Tech. About TPT Global Tech TPT Global Tech Inc. (TPTW) based in San Diego, California, is a technology-based company with divisions providing telecommunications, medical technology and product distribution, media content for domestic and international syndication as well as technology solutions. TPT Global Tech offers Software as a Service (SaaS), Technology Platform as a Service (PAAS), Cloud-based Unified Communication as a Service (UCaaS). It offers carrier-grade performance and support for businesses over its private IP MPLS fiber and wireless network in the United States. TPT's cloud-based UCaaS services allow businesses of any size to enjoy all the latest voice, data, media and collaboration features in today's global technology markets. TPT Global Tech also operates as a Master Distributor for Nationwide Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO) and Independent Sales Organization (ISO) as a Master Distributor for Pre-Paid Cell phone services, Mobile phones Cell phone Accessories, and Global Roaming Cell phones. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of various provisions of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, commonly identified by such terms as "believes," "looking ahead," "anticipates," "estimates" and other terms with similar meaning. Specifically, statements about the Company's plans for accelerated growth, improved profitability, future business partners, M&A activity, new service offerings, and pursuit of new markets are forward-looking statements. Although the company believes that the assumptions upon which its forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these assumptions will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements should not be construed as fact. The information contained in such statements is beyond the ability of the Company to control, and in many cases, the Company cannot predict what factors would cause results to differ materially from those indicated in such statements. All forward-looking statements in the press release are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements and by reference to the underlying assumptions. PR-Shep Doniger sdoniger@bdcginc.com 561-637-5750 IR-Frank Benedetto 619-915-9422 SOURCE: TPT Global Tech, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/721038/TPT-Global-Tech-Closes-Merger-Acquisition-Between-its-Subsidiary-TPT-Strategic-and-IST-LLC-a-Construction-Company-with-54-Million-in-Backlogged-Revenue Four-unit deal with leading developer Arguedas Group will bring the global restaurant brand to Central America for the first time DALLAS, Oct. 19, 2022, the internationally renowned restaurant from Brazil that allows guests to make discoveries at every turn, today announced plans to bring its award-winning dining experience to Costa Rica and El Salvador for the first time. Through the franchise development agreement, Arguedas Group, an experienced owner and operator of international restaurant brands in Central America, will open four Fogo locations in Costa Rica and El Salvador. The announcement continues Fogo's global expansion momentum, following its recently announced plans to enter Asiaand Canadaand domestic openings in the U.S. The Arguedas Group joins Fogo's existing international franchise partners in Mexico, the Middle East, the Philippines and Canada. With 68 locations worldwide and growing, earlier in 2022 Fogo announced a 15 percent planned annual growth rate through company-owned restaurants, with an additional international capital light franchise development strategy. With the goal to bring the culinary art of churrasco to guests worldwide, the Company has 8-10 company-owned and 1-2 international franchise restaurant openings planned for 2022, supported by a strong pipeline of new restaurant development to meet demand in new and existing markets. Fogo's newest openings include restaurants in El Segundo, Calif., Coral Gables, Fla., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Pasadena, Calif., Friendswood, Texas, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Monterrey, Mexico, with planned openings in Queens, N.Y., Reston, Va., and others expected later this year. "We are thrilled to partner with Jozsef Arguedas, CEO and Founder, and his accomplished team at Arguedas Group, whom we recognize for their impressive growth and success developing reputable, global restaurant brands in both Central and South America," said Barry McGowan, Chief Executive Officer of Fogo de Chao. "We look forward to working together to bring the one-of-a-kind Fogo experience to Costa Rica and El Salvador guests for the first time as we continue to scale our brand globally." The Arguedas Group is a leading owner and operator of multi-unit restaurant brands in Costa Rica and El Salvador. With a current total footprint of more than 99 locations, Arguedas Group's impressive portfolio includes iconic global brands such as Burger King, Domino's and Arby's. "We are honored to be partnering with Fogo de Chao to bring their distinctive menu and innovative dining experience to Costa Rica and El Salvador," said Jozsef Arguedas, CEO and Founder of the Arguedas Group. "As a longtime fan and guest of Fogo locations around the world myself, I believe Fogo will be a unique addition to the local dining scene in Central America and look forward to introducing new guests to the culinary art of churrasco." Founded in Southern Brazil in 1979, Fogo de Chao is a nearly 45-year-old brand known for its dining experience of discovery and showcasing the culinary art of churrasco where guests can watch as gaucho chefs butcher, hand-carve and grill high-quality cuts of protein over an open flame. With a modern, timeless design and signature offerings including a fresh and seasonal Market Table and an award-winning Bar Fogo menu featuring hand-crafted cocktails and South American wines, Fogo has become a destination of choice by both brand advocates and new guests globally. For more information about Fogo de Chao, visit fogo.com. To learn more about global franchising opportunities, visit fogo.com/global-development/. About Fogo de Chao Fogo de Chao (fogo-dee-shown) is an internationally renowned restaurant that allows guests to discover what's next at every turn. Founded in Southern Brazil in 1979, Fogo elevates the centuries-old cooking technique of churrasco - the art of roasting high-quality cuts of meat over an open flame - into a cultural dining experience of discovery. In addition to its Market Table and Feijoada Bar - which includes seasonal salads and soup, fresh vegetables, imported charcuterie and more - guests are served simply-seasoned meats that are butchered, fire-roasted and carved tableside by gaucho chefs. Guests can also indulge in dry-aged or premium Wagyu cuts, seafood a la carte, All-Day Happy Hour including signature cocktails, and an award-winning South American wine list, as well as smaller, sharable plates in Bar Fogo. Fogo offers differentiated menus for all dayparts including lunch, dinner, weekend brunch and group dining, plus full-service catering and contactless takeout and delivery options. For locations and more information about Fogo de Chao, visit fogo.com. Media Contact: FogoPR@icrinc.com Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/76b0c400-dfaa-4ad8-a0b3-15dad320fbd1 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6a7c9dbf-9c87-4f1f-a521-6c7c6150ebd9 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a51792cb-9053-497c-bec1-a37fcf37619a https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1db2c0a7-2674-4326-a7ac-737596468586 Singapore, Singapore--(Newsfile Corp. - October 19, 2022) - Raffles Financial Group Limited (CSE: RICH) (FSE: 4VO) (OTC: RAFFF) ("RFG" or the "Company"). This is to give shareholders an update on the corporate and audit status of the Company. Proposed Reorganization As announced earlier, in light of the current cease trade order caused by the outstanding audit matter, our legal team have commenced informal discussions with securities regulators for a review on a possible reorganization to aid the Company's shares to resume trading, for the sake of regaining corporate and shareholders' value, in case the Company could not resume its trading in near term. The following proposed steps are based on these discussions and discussions with our Canadian and United States legal advisors and are subject to all applicable regulatory approvals and the cooperation of all applicable securities depositories:. (i) Forming a US Corporation : RFG shall form a corporation in the State of Wyoming of the United States ("USCo"); (ii) Setting up a Singapore Subsidiary under USCo: USCo setup a Singapore-incorporated 100% wholly owned subsidiary ("SGCo"); (iii) Carrying on Raffle's existing Financial Licensing As A Service ("Finlass") business under SGCo : subsume and carry on Raffles's Finlass business which is to develop, train and provide on-going guidance to regional representatives provinces in the Indo-Pacific region on the current trending of online fundraising via private equity portals, digital asset exchanges and SME stock exchanges (being formed by various countries), as well as providing arrangement service for the representatives with all various financial technologies and necessary facilities to provide corporate finance advisory and IPO arrangement services to their ultimate clients. (iv) Distribution of free shares of USCo to RFG's shareholders : The USCo shall have issued to RFG 50,150,000 shares, being the same amount of the total issued shares of RFG to all existing RFG shareholders, and such shares shall be distributed to the shareholders of RFG without payment of any consideration whatsoever by the RFG shareholders on a one (1) USCo shares for each share of RFG. (v) Applying for US listing: USCo applies for listing on a recognisable exchange in the US and may carry out a pre-listing financing, if necessary. The foregoing steps shall be approved and managed by the Board of Directors of RFG and no shareholder approval shall be required under applicable corporate laws. Proposed assignment of SaaS agreement RFG is also in a discussion with a potential assignee for a proposal of assigning all the contractual rights and obligations of RFG's the 3-Year "Solution As A Service' (the "SaaS") Cloud-based System Right-to-Use Agreement as well as the right to the utilization of the CAD20 million performance deposit placed with HuDuoBao Network Technology Co., Ltd. ("HDB"), to his nominated financial institution, in exchange for offshore cash, assets, or any financial instrument ("Offshore Assets') that is acceptable to RFG outside of China with a total valuation of not less than CAD 20 million, and that will be further assigned to USCo or SGCo by an irrecoverable arrangement (the "Assignment"). RFG also intends to distribute the Offshore Assets collected by dividend in species to RFG shareholders. RFG believes the distribution will be in the best interest of the existing shareholders of RFG. Effect In effect, each RFG's shareholder will simultaneously become a shareholder of USCo by holding the same number of shares and shareholding as in RFG. The business value and substantial assets of RFG will be shifted to USCo to which the existing RFG's shareholders are equivalently entitled thereafter through holding USCo's shares. Upon the listing of USCo and the proper registration of the USCo shares with the SEC, RFG's shareholders can trade their USCo shares freely in any way and manner as on CSE. Audit Status For the audit status, the latest situation in China is that it is still not open for non-essential travels. We are also not aware of any news reports that the China Covid-19 situation has improved such that the officials concerned would consider opening up allowing visitors albeit auditors to freely enter China and travel between provinces anytime sooner. As of today, foreign auditors are not allowed to inspect or conduct their works in China without Chinese authorities' approval. The news reports that auditors from PCAOB of the US are now allowed to inspect the auditing works of Chinese companies that are applicable for those with Hong Kong based offices whose audit can be conducted in Hong Kong. Such relief is not applicable to us as our key director and SaaS vendor relating to the unresolved audit matter are all based in China. We have approached different auditing firms while none of them expressed interest in engaging with us now in light of the above hurdles. We believe our approach as stated above is the best course of action to relieve the Company and shareholders of the impact and suffering this event has caused all of us. We thank all stakeholders for your care and patience during this difficult time and we do whatever we can to seek relief that this event has caused us. We will keep all stakeholders duly updated. About Raffles Financial Group Limited (CSE: RICH) (FSE: 4VO) (OTC: RAFFF) Raffles Financial Group is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange Purchasable under the stock symbol (CSE: RICH), the Frankfurt Stock Exchange Purchasable under the stock symbol (FSE: 4VO) and the OTC Markets under the stock symbol (OTC: RAFFF). On behalf of the RFG Board of Directors Monita Faris Corporate Secretary Phone: + Email: monita@rafflesfinancial.co Website: www.RafflesFinancial.co The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release. Neither the Canadian Securities Purchase nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Purchase) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain statements contained in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively "forward-looking information") as those terms are used in Canadian securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated", "anticipates" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141125 FineHeart S.A, a preclinical medical device company that has developed the ICOMS FLOWMAKER, a fully Implantable Cardiac Output Management System designed to address the unmet need of patients suffering from severe heart failure, today announced that it had been awarded a 2.5 million grant by the European Commission (EC) under the highly selective EIC Accelerator program. This grant has the potential to be followed by an equity investment of up to 15 million by the EIC Fund at the company's next series C funding round. It will support the industrialization and clinical trials of the ICOMS FLOWMAKER. "The support of the European Union is of significant importance to FineHeart as we prepare for the First In Human implantation, scheduled for 2023. This recognition by the Experts of Europe of Europe illustrates our commitment to providing heart failure patients with a highly innovative, effective and sustainable treatment. It will have a very significant impact on our whole industrial and clinical development program. I am very proud to share this success with the whole FineHeart team, which has worked tirelessly to resolve all the scientific and technological hurdles of our device, with the international community of cardiologists who have been by our side since the beginning, and with our investors and partners who have supported us in reaching successfully this decisive milestone for the company." declared Arnaud Mascarell, CEO co-founder of FineHeart About the EIC Accelerator program The EIC Accelerator program is part of the European Innovation Council (EIC) project, which sits within the European Union's 95 billion Horizon Europe framework program for research and innovation. The EIC Accelerator offers start-ups and SMEs grants of up to 2.5 million combined with equity investments through the EIC Fund ranging from 0.5 to 15 million to help these companies develop and bring to market innovative products that can stimulate economic growth in Europe. https://europa.eu/!7NrFkR FineHeart is one of the 13 French companies to have been awarded funding during the latest round of the program which selected 75 European companies out of more than 1000 candidates. Advisors to FineHeart: https://www.ixeo-conseil.com/ About FineHeart: http://fineheart.fr/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005541/en/ Contacts: Media Relations Annie-Florence Loyer afloyer@newcap.fr +33-(6)-88-20-35 Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares For immediate release 19 October 2022 FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC (the "Company") MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES The Company announces that it has today purchased 100,000 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 798.75 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 9,862,869; 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 215,128,434. The figure of 215,128,434 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 Regulatory News: Xilam (Paris:XIL): Francois-Xavier de Maistre Chief Impact Officer of Xilam Group In a global context of climatic and environmental emergency, the Xilam Group is accelerating and intensifying its sustainable transformation to meet the challenges of ecological transition. In order to support this goal and ensure that this major challenge permeates through the Xilam Group's strategic and operational policies, Francois-Xavier de Maistre, the Group's EVP Human Resources for more than five years, is moving to the newly created position of Group Chief impact Officer. Reporting directly to Marc du Pontavice, Xilam's Chief Executive Officer, he will be responsible for ensuring that progress is made on these issues in consultation with the members of the Executive Board and in line with the company's strategic priorities. Marc du Pontavice, Chairman and CEO, declared: "We are pleased that Francois-Xavier de Maistre will manage a portfolio of such importance, which, despite delivering remarkable results in recent years, will be expanded to make the Xilam Group an exemplary player in this field. He will be tasked with building engagement throughout the organisation and with its stakeholders around three areas: Business, People and Environment. Francois-Xavier has held a number of senior positions in the company over the past 20 years, where he has always shown a remarkable capacity to adapt and innovate. His many strengths will be invaluable to enable the Group to successfully develop its CSR approach for the coming years. This appointment marks a major step in the group's commitment to corporate social and environmental responsibility, an essential component of Xilam's development model in future decades. Anne Hemery EVP Human Resources of Xilam Group Anne Hemery is taking up the post of EVP Human Resources, following Francois-Xavier de Maistre's appointment to the newly created position of Group Chief Impact Officer. She will be tasked with continuing to develop the Group's human resources policy, supporting the Group in its strong growth and hiring, retaining and managing talent in artistic, technical and support functions. Anne has worked for more than fifteen years in various creative industries including publishing, advertising and design. Her experience and knowledge in these fields closely related to audio-visual animation production will bring new practices and sources of innovation to the Xilam Group which will benefit the company, its corporate development and social progress. Anne will manage the current Human Resources team of four people. Working in close collaboration with Francois-Xavier, and at his instigation, Anne and her team will support the successful implementation and roll out of projects and initiatives on corporate social and environmental responsibility within the Group. Biography of Francois-Xavier de Maistre Francois-Xavier de Maistre joined the group in 2001 at the time of its IPO and has since been involved in all the key stages of its growth. He has successfully created, structured and developed several departments within the company: Marketing and Communication, Licensing and Diversification, Digital and Social Media and most recently Human Resources and Organisational Transformation. Francois-Xavier began his career in the press magazines as Head and then Director of Advertising. He was then recruited by the City of Vendome to create an EIG (Economic Interest Grouping) of 12 European cities, a project that was awarded the Marianne d'Or and supported by the European Commission. After a one-year world tour, he created a marketing and communication agency and counts Xilam among his clients. Francois-Xavier holds an Executive MBA from ESCP (among the top 3 French Business schools) and a University Diploma in Mediation from IFOMENE. Biography of Anne Hemery Since 2014, Anne Hemery has worked at the design and architecture agency Saguez Partners as Human Resources Manager to create the HR department. There she developed the employer brand, career support and social relations. Anne began her career in communications, first with a weekly newspaper and then with a publishing house. In 2009, she joined Image et Strategie, Thierry Saussez' agency, where she is in charge of personnel administration and recruitment. Anne graduated from the Sorbonne in 2005 with a Master's degree in modern literature. About Xilam As a major player in the animation industry, Xilam is an integrated studio founded in 1999 that creates, produces and distributes original programmes in more than 190 countries for children and adults, broadcast on television and on SVoD (Netflix, Disney+, Amazon, NBC Universal, etc.) and AVoD (YouTube, Facebook, etc.) platforms. With a global reputation for creativity and its capacity for innovation, an editorial and commercial expertise at the forefront of its industry, Xilam is positioned as a key player in a fast-growing market. Each year, Xilam, builds on its real successes and capitalises on powerful historical brands (Oggy and the Cockroaches, Zig Sharko, Chicky, etc.) and new brands (Oggy Oggy in the pre-school sector, Mr. Magoo, Trico, etc.) which are consolidating and expanding a significant catalogue of more the 2,700 episodes and 3 feature films including the Oscar-nominated I Lost My Body. Xilam has unique GCI skills. Xilam employs more than 500 people, including 400 artists, across its studios in Paris, Lyon, Angouleme and Ho-Chi-Minh in Vietnam. Xilam is listed on Euronext Paris Compartment B PEA SRD long Eligibility View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005847/en/ Contacts: Marc du Pontavice Chief Executive Officer Arnaud Duault CFO Tel +33(0)1 40 18 72 00 The DDA Group xilam@ddapr.com Charlotte Newcombe Tel +44 7726 901 129 Image Sept agency xilam@image7.fr Karine Allouis (Media Relations) Tel: +33 (0)1 53 70 74 81 Laurent Poinsot (Investor Relations) Tel +33 (0)1 53 70 74 77 North Korea fired around 100 additional artillery shells into waters off its west coast Wednesday, South Korea's military said, following its overnight launch of artillery rounds. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the shells lobbed into the Yellow Sea from Yonan County, South Hwanghae Province, starting at 12:30 p.m. The shells landed in the western buffer zone set under an inter-Korean military agreement signed on Sept. 19, 2018, to reduce border tensions, according to the JCS. None of them fell into South Korean waters. "Our military communicated a warning multiple times, regarding (the North's) breach of the Sept. 19 military accord and the immediate cessation of provocations," the JCS said in a text message sent to reporters. Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Central Public Service Survey and Testing Centre For Electricity, New, Renewable Energy And Energy Conservation (BBSP KEBTKE) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) of Indonesia for the development of Renewstable power plants; Strengthening of the Asia pipeline, one of the five priority regions of HDF Energy. Jakarta, 19 October 2022 - PT HDF Energy Indonesia, Hydrogene de France SA ("HDF Energy") group - Euronext Paris: HDF - today announces the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Central Public Service Survey and Testing Centre For Electricity, New, Renewable Energy And Energy Conservation (BBSP KEBTKE) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) of Indonesia on joined studies to support HDF Energy Renewstable plants in Indonesia. Invented and developed by HDF Energy, Renewstable multi-megawatt power plants produce entirely non-intermittent, renewable, stable and dispatchable electricity 24/7 with zero greenhouse gas emissions, thanks to solar PV and hydrogen-based long-term storage. A Renewstable power plant uses local sources of clean energy to enhance domestic production of electricity, reducing exposure to imported fuels, associated price volatility and supply risks. Meanwhile, BBSP KEBTKE is a unit of MEMR that offers survey, testing and studies services related new and renewable energy, and energy conservation projects. This memorandum is signed in the presence of leading Indonesian authorities and donor programs: the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the Embassy of France for Indonesia, UK FCDO Mentari, BNP Paribas and the Dutch NGO HIVOS. This MoU illustrates HDF Energy's focus on Indonesia, in an effort to expand its footprint in Asia, following works in Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia and Philippines earlier this year. HDF is developing a pipeline of more than 20 projects in Indonesia, for an investment amount of 1.5 billion USD, with support from development institutions. Under this MoU, both parties will combine their technical know-how and market understanding to develop a portfolio of Renewstable and hydrogen projects in Indonesia to provide clean, stable and continuous energy, day and night. Mr Senda Hurmuzan Kanam, as Head of BBSP KEBTKE, MEMR Indonesia, said: "The efforts to develop new and renewable energy potential technologies are carried out in order to achieve the emission reduction target and Net Zero Emission (carbon neutrality) which is targeted to be achieved in 2060 or earlier. In an effort to achieve this, The Survey and Testing Center for Electricity, New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (BBSP KEBTKE) provides testing services, pre-feasibility study or feasibility study and experts in the field of new and renewable energy. BBSP KEBTKE is also intended to develop eco-friendly technologies in partnership with HDF Energy. HDF's solution by combining PV, battery, and hydrogen in its Renewstable Power Plant, provides a more viable alternative in diminishing the diesel fuel consumption in Islands and Remote grids context. We are delighted to work together with HDF to better understand the role of hydrogen in promoting energy transition, especially in the small to medium size grids. The use of commercial hydrogen to power projects to reduce fossil fuel consumption is in line with the spirit of Paris Agreement, contribute towards Indonesia's NZE and align with Indonesia's G20 Presidency". Sahid Junaidi, the Secretary of Directorate General of New and Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation of MEMR Indonesia, said: "Hydrogen is one of the government's main strategies in carrying out the road map to carbon neutrality by 2060. We hope to attract many more industry partners and researchers to come here, to partner with Indonesian companies and government and work with our people to develop new ideas that can become scalable and applicable. I'm confident that this cooperation will bring fruitful outcomes for both parties and new and renewable energy development milestone in Indonesia' Mathieu GEZE, President Director, PT HDF Energy Indonesia, declared: "Indonesia is facing unique constraints due to its archipelago context. Our Renewstable power plants could assist Indonesia to decarbonize its grids while accompanying the Government agenda to support Eastern Indonesia development. Our projects pipeline will put Indonesia at the forefront of green hydrogren projects in Asia". ABOUT HYDROGENE DE FRANCE (HDF ENERGY) HDF Energy is a global pioneer in hydrogen energy. HDF develops, finances and operates multi-megawatts Hydrogen-Power plants. These plants provide continuous or on-demand electricity from renewable energy sources (wind or solar), combined with high power fuel cells supplied by HDF. HDF has developed the world's first mass production plant for high-power fuel cells for energy, which will be commissioned in France in 2023. HDF Industry also addresses the rail and maritime markets. HDF shares have been listed on the regulated market of Euronext Paris compartment B since 24 June 2021. For more information: https://www.hdf-energy.com/ ABOUT BBSP KEBTKE BBSP KEBTKE MEMR is a dedicated unit under the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources that carries out testing and survey for any new and renewable energy as well as energy conservation project. BBSP KEBTKE has a lot of portfolio of doing studies, testing and survey with various state-owned enterprise, government institution, universities and private companies. Contacts Request concerning HDF Energy HDF Energy Investors Relations Press Relations Cipu SUAIB +62 (0) 82187455449 cipu.suaib@hdf-energy.com Margaux ROUILLARD + 33 (0)1 53 67 36 32 hdf-energy@actus.fr Serena BONI +33 (0)6 19 37 55 31 sboni@actus.fr ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: nHCclpubZGmUyZ5vY5loaWpmaGmXmWnKZpeYl2lslZ7KaHFgxZpom8eZZnBnnWVr - 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-0-76805-hdfxesdm_20221019_indonesie-en.pdf VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 19, 2022 / The Power Play by The Market Herald has announced the release of new interviews with Noble Mineral, Eloro Resources, Datametrex, Imagine Lithium and Gogold Resources 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. Noble Mineral Exploration (TSXV:NOB) provides project updates Noble Mineral Exploration (NOB) has provided progress updates for a number of its active projects. Drilling has been completed on the company's Nagagami Project near Hearst, Ontario. The Calder Township drill program has been completed, with assay results expected by the end of the month. Vance White, CEO of Noble Mineral Exploration, sat down with Sabrina Cuthbert to discuss the update. For the full interview with Vance White and to learn about Noble Mineral Exploration, click here. Eloro (TSXV:ELO) scores further high-grade assays from the Iska Iska Project Eloro Resources (ELO) released assay results from two additional diamond drill holes from its ongoing drill program at the Iska Iska silver-tin polymetallic project in southern Bolivia. The company has completed 79,258 metres in 118 drill holes to date at the project, including four holes in progress. Bill Pearson, Executive VP of Exploration, spoke with Sabrina Cuthbert about the results. For the full interview with Bill Pearson and to learn about Eloro Resources, click here. Datametrex (TSXV:DM) announces EV update and additional purchase order from Bitnine Global Datametrex (DM) is announcing a C$410,000 purchase order from Silicon Valley's Bitnine Global. Bitnine will incorporate Datametrex's artificial intelligence services into its operations. The news follows a $1.6 million purchase order from Bitnine announced on October 14. CEO Marshall Gunter joined Sabrina Cuthbert to discuss the purchase order and new business initiative. For the full interview with Marshall Gunter and to learn about Datametrex, click here. Imagine Lithium (TSXV:ILI) shares assay results from its drill program at the Jackpot lithium project Imagine Lithium (ILI) has announced assay results from its ongoing drill program at the Jackpot Lithium property. The drill program is designed to test targets along strike both to the east and west of the Jackpot lithium property. J.C. St-Amour, President of Imagine, sat down with Sabrina Cuthbert to discuss the results. For the full interview with J.C. St-Amour and to learn about Imagine Lithium, click here. GoGold Resources (TSX:GGD) acquires Eagle concession on the Los Ricos South property GoGold Resources (GGD) has acquired the Eagle concession on the Los Ricos South property in Jalisco state, Mexico. Due diligence drilling has returned the highest grade intercepts to date in the district. Brad Langille, President & CEO of GoGold, sat down with Daniella to discuss the news. For the full interview with Brad Langille and to learn about GoGold Resources, click here. Interviews for The Power Play by The Market Herald are released daily. To learn more about the companies featured in The Power Play or to explore our other interviews visit? The Power Play by The Market Herald. About The Market Herald The Market Herald Canada is the leading source of authoritative breaking stock market news for self-directed investors. Our team of Canadian markets reporters, editors and technologists covers the entire listed company universe in Canada. We cover over 3,985 businesses, their people, their investors, and their customers. We write the stories that move the Canadian capital markets. DISCLAIMER: Report Card Canada Media Ltd. ("Report Card") is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market Herald Limited, an Australian company ("Market Herald"). Report Card is not an advisory service, and does not offer, buy, sell, or provide any other rating, analysis or opinion on the securities we discuss. We are retained and compensated by the companies that we provide information on to assist them with making information available to the public. All information available on themarketherald.ca and/or this press release should be considered as commercial advertisement and not an endorsement, offer or recommendation to buy or sell securities. Report Card is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority in any province or territory of Canada, will not be performing any registerable activity as defined by the applicable regulatory bodies and do not provide nor claim to provide investment advice or recommendations to any visitor of this site or readers of any content on or originating from themarketherald.ca. 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Any action you take upon the information you find on this document and/or website (themarketherald.ca) is strictly at your own risk. Report Card will not be liable for any losses and/or damages in connection with the use of our website. From our website, you can visit other websites by following hyperlinks to such external sites. While we strive to provide only quality links to useful and ethical websites, we have no control over the content and nature of these sites. These links to other websites do not imply a recommendation for all the content found on these sites. Site owners and content may change without notice and may occur before we have the opportunity to remove a link which may have gone 'bad'. Please be also aware that when you leave our website, other sites may have different privacy policies and terms which are beyond our control. Please be sure to check the Privacy Policies of these sites as well as their "Terms of Service" before engaging in any business or uploading any information. CONTACT: The Market Herald marketing@themarketherald.ca themarketherald.ca SOURCE:?The Market Herald View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/721136/The-Power-Play-by-The-Market-Herald-Releases-New-Interviews-with-Noble-Mineral-Eloro-Resources-Datametrex-Imagine-Lithium-and-Gogold-Resources-Discussing-Their-Latest-News Get Ready for Canada's Largest Professional Beauty Competition-Returning to a Live, In-Person Awards Ceremony and Gala Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 19, 2022) - After hosting a highly successful virtual awards ceremony for the past two years, the 34th annual Contessa Awards-the Canadian Hairstylist of the Year Awards-will be returning to a live, in-person gala on Sunday, November 20, 2022, at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto. A selection of the 34th Annual Contessa finalist's entries. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9164/141035_feacb99114e0fb97_068full.jpg Renowned as the largest and most prestigious professional beauty competition in Canada, the Contessas feature 24 award categories including Avant Garde Hairstylist, Canadian Nail Artist, Makeup Artist, International Hairstylist, Canadian Colourist, Canadian Hairstylist and their newest category, Collaboration. View the finalists' collections here. This year's event will include a cocktail party from 5 p.m. to 6:45 p.m., featuring live red-carpet interviews and sponsor activations. Tickets are on sale now for $215 each, which includes a three-course dinner, access to the awards gala, pre-event cocktail party and after-party, along with a swag bag. Note: Ticket prices increase on November 2nd. Hosted by Canadian hairstylist and TV personality Bill Rowley, the awards ceremony and gala begin at 7 p.m., featuring captivating on-stage presentations from Wella Professionals and Matrix, as well as a special show opener from a multi-Contessa winner. New this year: The official 2023 Contessa after-party, sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional, will be held on-site at the Westin Harbour Castle. The Contessas are produced by Salon magazine, the authority in Canadian professional beauty and publisher of two standalone English and French print editions and digital platform, salonmagazine.ca. Media Contact: Daniel Pillai Langton PR Inc. daniel@langtonpr.com 416-333-2356 Information: SalonMagazine.ca/Contessa About the Contessa Awards Founded in 1988, the Contessa Awards is Canada's longest-running professional beauty competition, recognizing leading and emerging hairstylists, colourists, makeup and nail artists. With the addition of the International Hairstylist category in 2018, the Contessas are regarded worldwide for celebrating excellence and setting the gold standard for the professional beauty industry. Entries are evaluated by an independent judging panel of global beauty industry experts on originality, creativity, technical execution and on-trend appeal. Photography, makeup and wardrobe are also considered. The most widely recognized professional beauty brands support the Contessas every year. Presenting and Gold sponsors of the 34 th annual Contessa Awards: Matrix @matrix, Wella Company @wellahair, Chatters @chattershairsalon, Joico @joicocanada, L'Oreal Professionnel @lorealpro, Oligo Professionnel @oligopro, Philocaly Hair Extensions @philocalyhair, Schwarzkopf Professional @schwarzkopfcan. Silver sponsors of the 34 th annual Contessa Awards: BaBylissPRO @babylissprocanada, BeautyX @beautyxshow, Goldwell @goldwellca, Redken @redken. The 34th annual Contessa Awards after-party is sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional @schwarzkopfcan. Media Contact: Daniel Pillai Langton PR Inc. daniel@langtonpr.com 416-333-2356 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141035 Beverly Hills, California--(Newsfile Corp. - October 19, 2022) - Darcase, the established leader in luxury skincare tools, has officially launched to market the first case that holds jewelry and makeup together. The innovative lifestyle and beauty CASE arranges all of one's daily lifestyle necessities in an organized, distinctive, and fashion-forward way. Darcase's CASE provides organization to makeup, skincare and jewelry with portable LED mirror and storage solutions that offer both quality and style. JEWELRY TRAVEL CASE To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8703/141136_9cb8a8dc2413cbc7_001full.jpg Additionally, the CASE displays a refined leather crocodile pattern, a 24-karat gold plated accessory and features a premium security lock. The CASE serves its purpose for individuals who want to add elegance and glitz to their travel routine. In the short time since its launch, has already been spotted by several celebrities and influencers who have displayed their love for the CASE. JEWELRY TRAVEL CASE To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8703/141136_9cb8a8dc2413cbc7_002full.jpg Prior to the launch of the CASE, Darcase developed a line of luxurious skincare essentials with impeccable quality allowing their consumers to be their own at home esthetician and help in achieving glowing, radiant skincare after just a few uses. Darcase Luxury Skincare Collection To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8703/141136_9cb8a8dc2413cbc7_003full.jpg Their exclusive skincare tools include: AURI gua sha is an at-home 24k gold facial massage tool that lifts and plumps the skin with noticeable results after a few uses. The CRISTAL silicone cleansing brush does the more profound work of removing oils, debris, and makeup from the skin on a level that hands cannot reach. One can indulge and relax after a long day with Cristal's dual-function heated eye massager. PERLE'S ultrasonic spatula frequencies help to extract impurities, dirt, and whiteheads from pores, resulting in cleaner, smoother skin. Its lift function allows better penetration of one's favorite serums and uplifts the skin. ABOUT THE FOUNDER Daria Chuprys Darcase CEO and founder To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8703/141136_9cb8a8dc2413cbc7_004full.jpg Daria Chuprys started her career in the beauty industry in 2009, when she founded the first Lash Studio and Academy in Athens, Greece. She studied makeup education and ultimately discovered her passion in permanent cosmetics. Later, she moved to the USA with her husband, Kostas Angelopoulos where they opened first Microblading Academy in US. Golden Brows is the premium destination for permanent makeup in Beverly Hills. Daria and Kostas have ensured the continuation of their commitment to improving the lives of others in the world of beauty and aesthetics by offering exclusive beauty services and developed several permanent makeup products to help professionals achieve greater results. Daria and Kostas have established themselves as a power couple, several business partners, immigrants with big dreams, and the proper frame of mind. Daria is imaginative, creative, driven, and devoted to her dream. Kostas has many skills, helping Daria with her dream and excels at running a business. Kostas Angelopoulos and Daria Chuprys To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8703/141136_9cb8a8dc2413cbc7_005full.jpg About the company: DARCASE Luxury beauty brand Darcase is a brand that fulfills the requirements of every woman, from fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products it was officially launched in 2019 by Daria Chuprys and her husband, Kostas Angelopoulos. Darcase has started its journey by introducing the Skincare essentials and crafted them with luxury in every detail. Darcase inspires their customers to Travel Far and Dream Big with their luxurious makeup and jewelry CASE and allows individuals to become their own esthetician at home with the use of their exquisite 24k gold skincare tools. JEWELRY TRAVEL CASE To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8703/141136_9cb8a8dc2413cbc7_006full.jpg Beauty enthusiasts must visit the following links for more information: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube | TikTok Media details: Company Name: DARCASE Contact Person Name: Marisa Honig Company Email Address: INFO@DARCASE.COM Website: https://www.darcase.com/ Address: 8500 WILSHIRE BLVD. SUITE #726 BEVERLY HILLS CA, 90211 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141136 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 19, 2022) - Global Food and Ingredients Ltd. (TSXV: PEAS) (OTCQX: PEASF) ("GFI" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that the management team will attend and deliver a corporate presentation at the LD Micro Main Event XV. Event:LD Micro Main Event XV Presenter: David Hanna, CEO Presentation Date: October 26, 2022 Presentation Time: 2:00 pm PT (Track 3) Register to watch the presentation here. David Hanna, CEO and Bill Murray, CFO will be available for one-on-one meetings throughout the conference. The LD Micro Main Event will be held at the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel in Los Angeles from October 25 - October 27, 2022. The three-day investor conference is expected to feature 200+ companies in a variety of industries, presenting in half-hour increments, as well as private one-on-one meetings with the management teams. About GFI GFI is a fast-growing Canadian plant-based food and ingredients company, connecting the local farm to the global supply chain for peas, beans, lentils, chickpeas and other high protein specialty crops. GFI is organized into four primary business lines: Pea Protein Inputs, Plant-Based Ingredients, Plant-Based Pet Food Ingredients and Plant-Based Consumer Packaged Goods. Headquartered in Toronto, GFI buys directly from its extensive network of farmers, processes its products locally at its four wholly-owned processing facilities in Western Canada and ships to 37 countries across the world. GFI's vision is to become a vertically integrated farm-to-fork plant-based company providing traceable, locally sourced, healthy and sustainable food and ingredients. Through recent acquisition and development activities, GFI now offers a full suite of Plant-Based Consumer Packaged goods with over 20 SKUs under the Yofiit, Bentilia and Five Peas in Love brands. Contact Information For further information, please contact: GLOBAL FOOD AND INGREDIENTS LTD. Bill Murray Chief Financial Officer 416-840-6801 bill.murray@gfiglobalfood.com Website: www.gfiglobalfood.com Social media links: https://linktr.ee/gfi.globalfood To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141181 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 19, 2022 / LOVE Pharma Co. ("LOVE" or the "Company") (CSE:LUV) (FSE:G1Q0), is pleased to announce that it has completed its acquisition (the "Acquisition") ofDoc Hygiene Pharmaceuticals Inc. ("Doc Hygiene") (as originally disclosed in a press release on August 16, 2022). Pursuant to the terms of the share purchase agreement, the Company paid a total of US$300,000 in connection with the Acquisition through the issuance of a convertible promissory note representing an aggregate principal amount of US$150,000, convertible into common shares in the capital of Love at a price equal to the lesser of $0.05 and the last trading price on the Canadian Securities Exchange prior to the conversion, and the assumption of US$150,000 of indebtedness of Doc Hygiene. Zach Stadnyk, Love Pharma CEO, stated "We're excited to officially close Doc Hygiene and work with the company's proprietary Intellectual Property ("IP"), website and e-commerce platform, and established brand within the consumer-packaged goods space. We believe the completion of the acquisition further compliments our robust portfolio of exclusive IP within the consumer over-the-counter therapeutics." Website: https://dochygiene.com Zach Stadnyk, CEO and Director About Love Pharma Inc. With a focus on the global sexual Health and Wellness markets, Love Pharma Inc. (CSE:LUV) (FSE:G1Q0) was founded in 2020, with a mission to bring to market innovative products that enhance sexual health and wellness while providing an improved quality of life. Love Pharma holds exclusive licenses to produce market, package, sell, and distribute patent-protected therapeutic and pharmaceutical products throughout Europe, the United Kingdom, and North America. For further information, please contact: Investor Relations Telephone: 1 (604) 343-2977 E-mail: investors@love-pharma.com www.love-pharma.com Cautionary Statement in Forward-Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (together, "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements can be identified by the expressions "seeks", "expects", "believes", "estimates", "will", "target" and similar expressions. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but reflect the current expectations of the Company regarding future results or events and are based on information currently available to them. Certain material factors and assumptions were applied in providing these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions; however, the Company can give no assurance that the actual results or developments will be realized by certain specified dates or at all. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. Readers, therefore, should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Further, a forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any such statement or to reflect new information or the occurrence of future events or circumstances except as required by securities laws. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release. These forward-looking statements may be affected by risks and uncertainties in the business of Doc Hygiene and general market conditions, including COVID-19. SOURCE: Love Pharma Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/721212/Love-Pharma-Closes-Acquisition-of-Doc-Hygiene Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 19, 2022) - McLaren Resources Inc. (CSE: MCL) (FSE: 3ML) ("McLaren" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed 4,361 metres ("m") of exploration diamond drilling in 11 holes during two drill programs on its 100%-owned McCool gold property which is located in the prolific Timmins Gold Region of Northeastern Ontario, Canada where well over 70 million ounces of gold have been produced to date. The first phase program consisted of 2,392 m of core drilling in 6 holes and the second program consisted of 1,969 m of core drilling in 5 holes. The primary purpose of these drill programs was to further evaluate and trace the significant gold mineralization known to exist on the property along the Centre Hill Fault from the work of previous owners undertaken during the period 1982-1987 (see August 31, 2022 news release, Table 1, containing selected historical drill results from the McCool property - Placer Development Limited). This drill program also tested induced polarization ("IP") and ground magnetic ("GM") geophysical anomalies that were outlined from ground geophysical surveys completed on a portion of the property in February 2022 (see news release dated February 23, 2022). These types of ground geophysical signatures discovered on the property are known to be closely associated with gold occurrences elsewhere in the general area. The eleven holes were drilled on approximately 50 m centers along the favorable target area. All core from the two drill programs has been logged and a total of 1,208 samples (699 samples from phase one drilling and 509 samples from phase two drilling), have been selected, sawn in half with half being sent to an assay laboratory for gold analysis. Assay results will be released once all assays have been received, complied and interpreted. Several of the 11 drill holes intersected wide intervals of intensely altered rocks along the Center Hill Fault containing variable amounts of sulphide mineralization, fuchsite and sericite, all associated with gold mineralization elsewhere in the area. The favorable exploration target area occurs on the eastern portion of the 1,650 hectare ("ha") McCool gold property (see Map 1 below showing the favorable target area for gold in relation to the Centre Hill Fault, the sub-parallel Camrose Fault and the McCool Anticline). The first phase exploration drill program focused on a select portion of the Centre Hill Fault, a northwest trending fault structure which runs along the south side of the McCool Anticline and which is known to host significant gold mineralization on the McCool property. The Centre Hill Fault is interpreted to be a splay off of the major Destor-Porcupine Deformation Zone which is host to many gold deposits in the general area (see Map 2 below showing the location of the major gold-bearing faults, gold deposits and the property ownership of the various companies actively working in the area). Map 1 - The favorable target area for gold in relation to the Centre Hill Fault, the sub-parallel Camrose Fault and the McCool Anticline. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/932/141189_645967855413eb03_002full.jpg Map 2 - The location of the major gold-bearing faults, gold deposits and the property ownership of the various companies actively working in the area. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/932/141189_645967855413eb03_003full.jpg Mr. Radovan Danilovsky, President of McLaren Resources Inc., stated, "We are excited to have completed two phases of exploration diamond drilling on the prospective McCool gold property where significant gold mineralization is known to exist along the Center Hill Fault. Our diamond drill programs were designed to re-evaluate the gold mineralization intersected in the area approximately 35 years ago and to trace this mineralization to depth and along strike. We look forward to receiving the gold results for the samples sent in for assay and to continuing our exploration efforts on the McCool property later in the Fall of 2022." As announced on October 4, 2021, McLaren acquired an additional 50 full mineral claims and 10 partial mineral claims, together comprising approximately 1,375 ha, from two independent prospectors from the Timmins area. The new claims are contiguous with the original McCool gold property and bring the total size of the property to approximately 1,650 ha. The majority of the new claims cover the northwest strike extension of the Centre Hill Fault. The expanded McCool gold property now covers an approximate five kilometer ("km") strike length of the gold-bearing Centre Hill Fault. McLaren's expanded McCool gold property is ideally located immediately north of Highway 101 and abuts the Golden Highway Gold Project of Moneta Gold Inc. ("Moneta") to the south. Moneta continues to intersect good grade gold mineralization on their property and continues to expand their gold resource in several areas of the property The expanded McCool gold property also lies immediately east of the Fenn-Gib gold deposit where operator Mayfair Gold Corp. ("Mayfair") has announced significant gold intersections from recent infill and step-out drilling on their property. HighGold Mining Inc. ("HighGold") continues to aggressively explore significant gold mineralization on their CroesusMonroe Project located west of the McCool property and McEwen Mining Inc. continues to mine gold from its Black Fox Mine and further explore for gold on its significant landholdings along the Destor-Porcupine fault west of McLaren's McCool gold property and southeast of McLaren's Blue Quartz gold property. The original 275 ha McCool gold property, along with McLaren's 775 ha Kerrs gold property, were acquired from Newmont Corporation ("Newmont") in mid-2020 in exchange for a four-year option on McLaren's Augdome gold property which lies immediately east of Newmont's past-producing Dome Gold Mine in Timmins (see news release dated May 14, 2020). Qualified Person The information presented in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Kenneth Guy, P.Geo, a consultant to McLaren and the Qualified Person for McLaren, as defined by National Instrument 43-101 "Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects". About McLaren McLaren has been focussed on exploration work on its gold properties in the Timmins Gold Region of Northeastern Ontario. McLaren now owns a 100% interest in the past-producing, 640 ha, Blue Quartz Gold Mine property as well as the 1,650 ha McCool and 775 ha Kerrs gold properties, all located within the Abitibi Greenstone Belt along the Destor-Porcupine Deformation Zone, which is host to many of the gold deposits in the area, approximately 85 km east of Timmins city centre. McLaren also owns a 100% interest in the 408 ha Augdome gold property which is located in Tisdale and Whitney Townships immediately east of the Dome Mine owned by Newmont. The Augdome property is currently under a four-year option to Newmont. For more information, please contact: Radovan Danilovsky, President Phone: 416-203-6784 McLAREN RESOURCES INC. 44 Victoria Street, Suite 1616 Toronto, Ontario M5C 1Y2 www.McLarenResources.com This news release is not for distribution in the United States. The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of the press release. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements". When used in this document, the words "anticipated", "expect", "estimated", "forecast", "planned", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements or information. These statements are based on current expectations of management; however, they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this news release. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements. McLaren Resources Inc. does not undertake any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date hereof, except as required by securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141189 Metacom has emerged as the first fully dedicated Web3 Marketing and communication agency in the Gulf region. Recently, the company has partnered with Verse Digital, headquartered in Cambridge UK, to offer brands and companies Metaverse strategies, activations, NFTs, and communication services. Dubai, United Arab Emirates--(Newsfile Corp. - October 19, 2022) - Metacom the first fully dedicated Web3 Marketing and communication agency in the Gulf, has partnered with Verse Digital, the preeminent creator of experiences in the Metaverse, developing global brand activations. Figure 1 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8621/140681_8a303210149b9a0c_001full.jpg It is a representational partnership - Metacom is a client representative for Verse Digital across the Middle East and Asia Pac regions. By combining their services in brand strategy and marketing development, the partnership brings their clients quality deliverables to help unlock their potential in the Metaverse. It aims to drive increased confidence for brands in the GCC looking to take their first steps into this new and exciting space to engage with their consumers like never before. Co-Founder and Chief Metaverse Officer of Metacom, Shyair Ganglani, expresses his views about this latest development: "The Metaverse is where social media was 10 years ago - It's the future of consumer marketing and it's coming fast." Metacom's partnership with Verse Digital Studios will deliver innovative Web3 services such as; a) Metaverse brand consulting and executive trainings. b) Metaverse communication strategy development. c) Browser, mobile and VR activation development. d) NFT design, minting and communication strategy development. Metacom facilitates its clients with Web3 Marketing Strategy & Planning, from which brand owners can create robust strategies and 360 plan. It offers different trainings and workshops with a straightforward syllabus. In addition, it provides features of web3 and content development to engage with the audience as organically as possible. Consequently, both companies ease the planning, development, execution and analytics for their clients. The founder of Verse Digital, Justin Edwards, states the objective of the collaboration, "Our job is to enable clients to navigate the complexities of the Metaverse and start future-proofing their brands." About Metacom The company is Web3 Marketing and communication agency, headquartered in Singapore and Dubai. Metacom provides the services of Metaverse Development & Marketing, Marketing consultancy, Meta-Content development, and Metaverse Analytics and research. About Verse Digital Verse Digital is a creative development studio created by Justin Edwards - Founder & CEO of Verse Digital and former COO at Decentraland. A leading team of strategists, creatives, 3D Modellers, and developers always supporting other emerging companies that aspire to enter the Metaverse. For further information, visit the following links: Website | Twitter | LinkedIn Media Contact details Company Name: Metacom Global Contact: Shyair Ganglani Email: Sganglani@metacom.sg Website: https://www.metacom.sg/ Country: UAE City: Dubai To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/140681 Results from CheckMate -76K Demonstrate Statistically Significant and Clinically Meaningful Improvement in Recurrence-Free Survival Data reinforce the benefits of Opdivo in earlier stages of melanoma Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) today announced results from the Phase 3 CheckMate -76K trial, in which Opdivo (nivolumab) as an adjuvant therapy demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful benefit in recurrence-free survival (RFS) versus placebo in patients with completely resected stage IIB or IIC melanoma. At a pre-specified interim analysis, the trial met its primary endpoint of recurrence-free survival (RFS); Opdivo reduced the risk of recurrence or death by 58% versus placebo (hazard ratio [HR] 0.42; 95% CI 0.30-0.59; p 0.0001). Twelve-month RFS rates for Opdivo were 89% (95% CI: 86-92) versus 79% (95% CI: 74-84) for placebo. The RFS benefit was observed across predefined subgroups in the trial, including T category and disease stage. These results are being presented as late-breaking data at the 2022 Society for Melanoma Research (SMR) Annual Meeting taking place October 17-20, 2022, during a plenary session on October 19 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Twelve-month RFS rates by stage for patients who received Opdivo were 93% in stage IIB (versus 84% in placebo) and 84% in stage IIC (versus 72% with placebo). The safety profile of Opdivo was consistent with that seen in previously reported studies and no new safety signals were observed at the time of the analysis. Grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were 10% in the Opdivo arm and 2% in the placebo arm. TRAE-related discontinuation was 15% for those in the Opdivo arm and 3% for those in the placebo arm. "Within five years after surgery, one third of stage IIB and one half of IIC patients see their cancer return. Helping reduce that risk remains a need to be addressed when it comes to treating melanoma," said Professor Georgina Long, AO, MD, PhD, Co-Medical Director of Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA) and chair of melanoma medical oncology and translational research at MIA, The University of Sydney, and Royal North Shore and Mater Hospitals. "The data from CheckMate -76K show that treating with nivolumab in the adjuvant setting for stage IIB and IIC melanoma patients has yielded significant recurrence-free survival benefits and could be an important treatment option for this patient population." CheckMate -76K is part of Bristol Myers Squibb's development program studying Opdivo and Opdivo-based combinations in earlier stages of cancer. The program currently spans seven different tumor types. "These data add to our growing body of evidence supporting the clinical benefit of Opdivo for the treatment of melanoma, from the metastatic setting to earlier stages of cancer," said Gina Fusaro, PhD, development program lead, melanoma, Bristol Myers Squibb. "We are continually seeking to advance our science to develop medicines that can help improve outcomes for people living with cancer." About CheckMate -76K CheckMate -76K is a randomized Phase 3, double-blind study evaluating adjuvant Opdivo (nivolumab) 480 mg Q4W for up to 12 months versus placebo in 790 patients with completely resected stage IIB or IIC melanoma. The primary endpoint of the trial is recurrence-free survival (RFS). Secondary endpoints of the trial include overall survival (OS), distant metastases-free survival (DMFS), progression-free survival on next-line therapy (PFS2), and safety endpoints. About Melanoma Melanoma is a form of skin cancer characterized by the uncontrolled growth of pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) located in the skin. Metastatic melanoma is the deadliest form of the disease and occurs when cancer spreads beyond the surface of the skin to other organs. Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that by 2035, melanoma incidence will reach 424,102, with 94,308 related deaths. Melanomas can be mostly treatable when caught in very early stages; however, survival rates can decrease as the disease progresses. Bristol Myers Squibb: Creating a Better Future for People with Cancer Bristol Myers Squibb is inspired by a single vision transforming patients' lives through science. The goal of the company's cancer research is to deliver medicines that offer each patient a better, healthier life and to make cure a possibility. Building on a legacy across a broad range of cancers that have changed survival expectations for many, Bristol Myers Squibb researchers are exploring new frontiers in personalized medicine, and through innovative digital platforms, are turning data into insights that sharpen their focus. Deep scientific expertise, cutting-edge capabilities and discovery platforms enable the company to look at cancer from every angle. Cancer can have a relentless grasp on many parts of a patient's life, and Bristol Myers Squibb is committed to taking actions to address all aspects of care, from diagnosis to survivorship. Because as a leader in cancer care, Bristol Myers Squibb is working to empower all people with cancer to have a better future. About Opdivo Opdivo is a programmed death-1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint inhibitor that is designed to uniquely harness the body's own immune system to help restore anti-tumor immune response. By harnessing the body's own immune system to fight cancer, Opdivo has become an important treatment option across multiple cancers. Opdivo's leading global development program is based on Bristol Myers Squibb's scientific expertise in the field of Immuno-Oncology and includes a broad range of clinical trials across all phases, including Phase 3, in a variety of tumor types. To date, the Opdivo clinical development program has treated more than 35,000 patients. The Opdivo trials have contributed to gaining a deeper understanding of the potential role of biomarkers in patient care, particularly regarding how patients may benefit from Opdivo across the continuum of PD-L1 expression. In July 2014, Opdivo was the first PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor to receive regulatory approval anywhere in the world. Opdivo is currently approved in more than 65 countries, including the United States, the European Union, Japan and China. In October 2015, the Company's Opdivo and Yervoy combination regimen was the first Immuno-Oncology combination to receive regulatory approval for the treatment of metastatic melanoma and is currently approved in more than 50 countries, including the United States and the European Union. U.S. INDICATIONS OPDIVO (nivolumab), as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma. OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab), is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma. OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of adult patients with melanoma with involvement of lymph nodes or metastatic disease who have undergone complete resection. OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with platinum-doublet chemotherapy, is indicated as neoadjuvant treatment of adult patients with resectable (tumors =4 cm or node positive) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab), is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors express PD-L1 (=1%) as determined by an FDA-approved test, with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations. OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab) and 2 cycles of platinum-doublet chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations. OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients with EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations should have disease progression on FDA-approved therapy for these aberrations prior to receiving OPDIVO. OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab), is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab), is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with intermediate or poor risk advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with cabozantinib, is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who have received prior anti-angiogenic therapy. OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) that has relapsed or progressed after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and brentuximab vedotin or after 3 or more lines of systemic therapy that includes autologous HSCT. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials. OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) with disease progression on or after platinum-based therapy. OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy or have disease progression within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy. OPDIVO (nivolumab), as a single agent, is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of adult patients with urothelial carcinoma (UC) who are at high risk of recurrence after undergoing radical resection of UC. OPDIVO (nivolumab), as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric (12 years and older) patients with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) that has progressed following treatment with a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials. OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab), is indicated for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) that has progressed following treatment with a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials. OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab), is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have been previously treated with sorafenib. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials. OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable advanced, recurrent or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) after prior fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-based chemotherapy. OPDIVO (nivolumab) is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of completely resected esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer with residual pathologic disease in adult patients who have received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT). OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY (ipilimumab), is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). OPDIVO (nivolumab), in combination with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum- containing chemotherapy, is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with advanced or metastatic gastric cancer, gastroesophageal junction cancer, and esophageal adenocarcinoma. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Severe and Fatal Immune-Mediated Adverse Reactions Immune-mediated adverse reactions listed herein may not include all possible severe and fatal immune- mediated adverse reactions. Immune-mediated adverse reactions, which may be severe or fatal, can occur in any organ system or tissue. While immune-mediated adverse reactions usually manifest during treatment, they can also occur after discontinuation of OPDIVO or YERVOY. Early identification and management are essential to ensure safe use of OPDIVO and YERVOY. Monitor for signs and symptoms that may be clinical manifestations of underlying immune-mediated adverse reactions. Evaluate clinical chemistries including liver enzymes, creatinine, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) level, and thyroid function at baseline and periodically during treatment with OPDIVO and before each dose of YERVOY. In cases of suspected immune-mediated adverse reactions, initiate appropriate workup to exclude alternative etiologies, including infection. Institute medical management promptly, including specialty consultation as appropriate. Withhold or permanently discontinue OPDIVO and YERVOY depending on severity (please see section 2 Dosage and Administration in the accompanying Full Prescribing Information). In general, if OPDIVO or YERVOY interruption or discontinuation is required, administer systemic corticosteroid therapy (1 to 2 mg/kg/day prednisone or equivalent) until improvement to Grade 1 or less. Upon improvement to Grade 1 or less, initiate corticosteroid taper and continue to taper over at least 1 month. Consider administration of other systemic immunosuppressants in patients whose immune-mediated adverse reactions are not controlled with corticosteroid therapy. Toxicity management guidelines for adverse reactions that do not necessarily require systemic steroids (e.g., endocrinopathies and dermatologic reactions) are discussed below. Immune-MediatedPneumonitis OPDIVO and YERVOY can cause immune-mediated pneumonitis. The incidence of pneumonitis is higher in patients who have received prior thoracic radiation. In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, immune- mediated pneumonitis occurred in 3.1% (61/1994) of patients, including Grade 4 (<0.1%), Grade 3 (0.9%), and Grade 2 (2.1%). In patients receiving OPDIVO 1 mg/kg with YERVOY 3 mg/kg every 3 weeks, immune-mediated pneumonitis occurred in 7% (31/456) of patients, including Grade 4 (0.2%), Grade 3 (2.0%), and Grade 2 (4.4%). In patients receiving OPDIVO 3 mg/kg with YERVOY 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks, immune-mediated pneumonitis occurred in 3.9% (26/666) of patients, including Grade 3 (1.4%) and Grade 2 (2.6%). In NSCLC patients receiving OPDIVO 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks with YERVOY 1 mg/kg every 6 weeks, immune-mediated pneumonitis occurred in 9% (50/576) of patients, including Grade 4 (0.5%), Grade 3 (3.5%), and Grade 2 (4.0%). Four patients (0.7%) died due to pneumonitis. In Checkmate 205 and 039, pneumonitis, including interstitial lung disease, occurred in 6.0% (16/266) of patients receiving OPDIVO. Immune-mediated pneumonitis occurred in 4.9% (13/266) of patients receiving OPDIVO, including Grade 3 (n=1) and Grade 2 (n=12). Immune-MediatedColitis OPDIVO and YERVOY can cause immune-mediated colitis, which may be fatal. A common symptom included in the definition of colitis was diarrhea. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection/reactivation has been reported in patients with corticosteroid-refractory immune-mediated colitis. In cases of corticosteroid-refractory colitis, consider repeating infectious workup to exclude alternative etiologies. In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, immune-mediated colitis occurred in 2.9% (58/1994) of patients, including Grade 3 (1.7%) and Grade 2 (1%). In patients receiving OPDIVO 1 mg/kg with YERVOY 3 mg/kg every 3 weeks, immune-mediated colitis occurred in 25% (115/456) of patients, including Grade 4 (0.4%), Grade 3 (14%) and Grade 2 (8%). In patients receiving OPDIVO 3 mg/kg with YERVOY 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks, immune-mediated colitis occurred in 9% (60/666) of patients, including Grade 3 (4.4%) and Grade 2 (3.7%). Immune-Mediated Hepatitis and Hepatotoxicity OPDIVO and YERVOY can cause immune-mediated hepatitis. In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, immune-mediated hepatitis occurred in 1.8% (35/1994) of patients, including Grade 4 (0.2%), Grade 3 (1.3%), and Grade 2 (0.4%). In patients receiving OPDIVO 1 mg/kg with YERVOY 3 mg/kg every 3 weeks, immune- mediated hepatitis occurred in 15% (70/456) of patients, including Grade 4 (2.4%), Grade 3 (11%), and Grade 2 (1.8%). In patients receiving OPDIVO 3 mg/kg with YERVOY 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks, immune-mediated hepatitis occurred in 7% (48/666) of patients, including Grade 4 (1.2%), Grade 3 (4.9%), and Grade 2 (0.4%). OPDIVO in combination with cabozantinib can cause hepatic toxicity with higher frequencies of Grade 3 and 4 ALT and AST elevations compared to OPDIVO alone. Consider more frequent monitoring of liver enzymes as compared to when the drugs are administered as single agents. In patients receiving OPDIVO and cabozantinib, Grades 3 and 4 increased ALT or AST were seen in 11% of patients. Immune-MediatedEndocrinopathies OPDIVO and YERVOY can cause primary or secondary adrenal insufficiency, immune-mediated hypophysitis, immune-mediated thyroid disorders, and Type 1 diabetes mellitus, which can present with diabetic ketoacidosis. Withhold OPDIVO and YERVOY depending on severity (please see section 2 Dosage and Administration in the accompanying Full Prescribing Information). For Grade 2 or higher adrenal insufficiency, initiate symptomatic treatment, including hormone replacement as clinically indicated. Hypophysitis can present with acute symptoms associated with mass effect such as headache, photophobia, or visual field defects. Hypophysitis can cause hypopituitarism; initiate hormone replacement as clinically indicated. Thyroiditis can present with or without endocrinopathy. Hypothyroidism can follow hyperthyroidism; initiate hormone replacement or medical management as clinically indicated. Monitor patients for hyperglycemia or other signs and symptoms of diabetes; initiate treatment with insulin as clinically indicated. In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, adrenal insufficiency occurred in 1% (20/1994), including Grade 3 (0.4%) and Grade 2 (0.6%). In patients receiving OPDIVO 1 mg/kg with YERVOY 3 mg/kg every 3 weeks, adrenal insufficiency occurred in 8% (35/456), including Grade 4 (0.2%), Grade 3 (2.4%), and Grade 2 (4.2%). In patients receiving OPDIVO 3 mg/kg with YERVOY 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks, adrenal insufficiency occurred in 7% (48/666) of patients, including Grade 4 (0.3%), Grade 3 (2.5%), and Grade 2 (4.1%). In patients receiving OPDIVO and cabozantinib, adrenal insufficiency occurred in 4.7% (15/320) of patients, including Grade 3 (2.2%) and Grade 2 (1.9%). In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, hypophysitis occurred in 0.6% (12/1994) of patients, including Grade 3 (0.2%) and Grade 2 (0.3%). In patients receiving OPDIVO 1 mg/kg with YERVOY 3 mg/kg every 3 weeks, hypophysitis occurred in 9% (42/456), including Grade 3 (2.4%) and Grade 2 (6%). In patients receiving OPDIVO 3 mg/kg with YERVOY 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks, hypophysitis occurred in 4.4% (29/666) of patients, including Grade 4 (0.3%), Grade 3 (2.4%), and Grade 2 (0.9%). In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, thyroiditis occurred in 0.6% (12/1994) of patients, including Grade 2 (0.2%). In patients receiving OPDIVO 3 mg/kg with YERVOY 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks, thyroiditis occurred in 2.7% (22/666) of patients, including Grade 3 (4.5%) and Grade 2 (2.2%). In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, hyperthyroidism occurred in 2.7% (54/1994) of patients, including Grade 3 (<0.1%) and Grade 2 (1.2%). In patients receiving OPDIVO 1 mg/kg with YERVOY 3 mg/kg every 3 weeks, hyperthyroidism occurred in 9% (42/456) of patients, including Grade 3 (0.9%) and Grade 2 (4.2%). In patients receiving OPDIVO 3 mg/kg with YERVOY 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks, hyperthyroidism occurred in 12% (80/666) of patients, including Grade 3 (0.6%) and Grade 2 (4.5%). In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, hypothyroidism occurred in 8% (163/1994) of patients, including Grade 3 (0.2%) and Grade 2 (4.8%). In patients receiving OPDIVO 1 mg/kg with YERVOY 3 mg/kg every 3 weeks, hypothyroidism occurred in 20% (91/456) of patients, including Grade 3 (0.4%) and Grade 2 (11%). In patients receiving OPDIVO 3 mg/kg with YERVOY 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks, hypothyroidism occurred in 18% (122/666) of patients, including Grade 3 (0.6%) and Grade 2 (11%). In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, diabetes occurred in 0.9% (17/1994) of patients, including Grade 3 (0.4%) and Grade 2 (0.3%), and 2 cases of diabetic ketoacidosis. In patients receiving OPDIVO 3 mg/kg with YERVOY 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks, diabetes occurred in 2.7% (15/666) of patients, including Grade 4 (0.6%), Grade 3 (0.3%), and Grade 2 (0.9%). Immune-Mediated Nephritis with Renal Dysfunction OPDIVO and YERVOY can cause immune-mediated nephritis. In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, immune-mediated nephritis and renal dysfunction occurred in 1.2% (23/1994) of patients, including Grade 4 (<0.1%), Grade 3 (0.5%), and Grade 2 (0.6%). In patients receiving OPDIVO 3 mg/kg with YERVOY 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks, immune-mediated nephritis with renal dysfunction occurred in 4.1% (27/666) of patients, including Grade 4 (0.6%), Grade 3 (1.1%), and Grade 2 (2.2%). Immune-Mediated Dermatologic Adverse Reactions OPDIVO can cause immune-mediated rash or dermatitis. Exfoliative dermatitis, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) has occurred with PD-1/PD-L1 blocking antibodies. Topical emollients and/or topical corticosteroids may be adequate to treat mild to moderate nonexfoliative rashes. YERVOY can cause immune-mediated rash or dermatitis, including bullous and exfoliative dermatitis, SJS, TEN, and DRESS. Topical emollients and/or topical corticosteroids may be adequate to treat mild to moderate non- bullous/exfoliative rashes. Withhold or permanently discontinue OPDIVO and YERVOY depending on severity (please see section 2 Dosage and Administration in the accompanying Full Prescribing Information). In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy, immune-mediated rash occurred in 9% (171/1994) of patients, including Grade 3 (1.1%) and Grade 2 (2.2%). In patients receiving OPDIVO 1 mg/kg with YERVOY 3 mg/kg every 3 weeks, immune-mediated rash occurred in 28% (127/456) of patients, including Grade 3 (4.8%) and Grade 2 (10%). In patients receiving OPDIVO 3 mg/kg with YERVOY 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks, immune-mediated rash occurred in 16% (108/666) of patients, including Grade 3 (3.5%) and Grade 2 (4.2%). Other Immune-Mediated Adverse Reactions The following clinically significant immune-mediated adverse reactions occurred at an incidence of <1% (unless otherwise noted) in patients who received OPDIVO monotherapy or OPDIVO in combination with YERVOY or were reported with the use of other PD-1/PD-L1 blocking antibodies. Severe or fatal cases have been reported for some of these adverse reactions: cardiac/vascular: myocarditis, pericarditis, vasculitis; nervous system: meningitis, encephalitis, myelitis and demyelination, myasthenic syndrome/myasthenia gravis (including exacerbation), Guillain-Barre syndrome, nerve paresis, autoimmune neuropathy; ocular: uveitis, iritis, and other ocular inflammatory toxicities can occur; gastrointestinal: pancreatitis to include increases in serum amylase and lipase levels, gastritis, duodenitis; musculoskeletal and connective tissue: myositis/polymyositis, rhabdomyolysis, and associated sequelae including renal failure, arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica; endocrine: hypoparathyroidism; other (hematologic/immune): hemolytic anemia, aplastic anemia, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), systemic inflammatory response syndrome, histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (Kikuchi lymphadenitis), sarcoidosis, immune thrombocytopenic purpura, solid organ transplant rejection. In addition to the immune-mediated adverse reactions listed above, across clinical trials of YERVOY monotherapy or in combination with OPDIVO, the following clinically significant immune-mediated adverse reactions, some with fatal outcome, occurred in <1% of patients unless otherwise specified: nervous system: autoimmune neuropathy (2%), myasthenic syndrome/myasthenia gravis, motor dysfunction; cardiovascular: angiopathy, temporal arteritis; ocular: blepharitis, episcleritis, orbital myositis, scleritis; gastrointestinal: pancreatitis (1.3%); other (hematologic/immune): conjunctivitis, cytopenias (2.5%), eosinophilia (2.1%), erythema multiforme, hypersensitivity vasculitis, neurosensory hypoacusis, psoriasis. Some ocular IMAR cases can be associated with retinal detachment. Various grades of visual impairment, including blindness, can occur. If uveitis occurs in combination with other immune-mediated adverse reactions, consider a Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like syndrome, which has been observed in patients receiving OPDIVO and YERVOY, as this may require treatment with systemic corticosteroids to reduce the risk of permanent vision loss. Infusion-Related Reactions OPDIVO and YERVOY can cause severe infusion-related reactions. Discontinue OPDIVO and YERVOY in patients with severe (Grade 3) or life-threatening (Grade 4) infusion-related reactions. Interrupt or slow the rate of infusion in patients with mild (Grade 1) or moderate (Grade 2) infusion-related reactions. In patients receiving OPDIVO monotherapy as a 60-minute infusion, infusion-related reactions occurred in 6.4% (127/1994) of patients. In a separate trial in which patients received OPDIVO monotherapy as a 60-minute infusion or a 30- minute infusion, infusion-related reactions occurred in 2.2% (8/368) and 2.7% (10/369) of patients, respectively. Additionally, 0.5% (2/368) and 1.4% (5/369) of patients, respectively, experienced adverse reactions within 48 hours of infusion that led to dose delay, permanent discontinuation or withholding of OPDIVO. In melanoma patients receiving OPDIVO 1 mg/kg with YERVOY 3 mg/kg every 3 weeks, infusion-related reactions occurred in 2.5% (10/407) of patients. In HCC patients receiving OPDIVO 1 mg/kg with YERVOY 3 mg/kg every 3 weeks, infusion-related reactions occurred in 8% (4/49) of patients. In RCC patients receiving OPDIVO 3 mg/kg with YERVOY 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks, infusion-related reactions occurred in 5.1% (28/547) of patients. In MSI- H/dMMR mCRC patients receiving OPDIVO 3 mg/kg with YERVOY 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks, infusion-related reactions occurred in 4.2% (5/119) of patients. In MPM patients receiving OPDIVO 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks with YERVOY 1 mg/kg every 6 weeks, infusion-related reactions occurred in 12% (37/300) of patients. Complications of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Fatal and other serious complications can occur in patients who receive allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) before or after being treated with OPDIVO or YERVOY. Transplant-related complications include hyperacute graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD), acute GVHD, chronic GVHD, hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) after reduced intensity conditioning, and steroid-requiring febrile syndrome (without an identified infectious cause). These complications may occur despite intervening therapy between OPDIVO or YERVOY and allogeneic HSCT. Follow patients closely for evidence of transplant-related complications and intervene promptly. Consider the benefit versus risks of treatment with OPDIVO and YERVOY prior to or after an allogeneic HSCT. Embryo-Fetal Toxicity Based on its mechanism of action and findings from animal studies, OPDIVO and YERVOY can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. The effects of YERVOY are likely to be greater during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with OPDIVO and YERVOY and for at least 5 months after the last dose. Increased Mortality in Patients with Multiple Myeloma when OPDIVO is Added to a Thalidomide Analogue and Dexamethasone In randomized clinical trials in patients with multiple myeloma, the addition of OPDIVO to a thalidomide analogue plus dexamethasone resulted in increased mortality. Treatment of patients with multiple myeloma with a PD-1 or PD-L1 blocking antibody in combination with a thalidomide analogue plus dexamethasone is not recommended outside of controlled clinical trials. Lactation There are no data on the presence of OPDIVO or YERVOY in human milk, the effects on the breastfed child, or the effects on milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfed children, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment and for 5 months after the last dose. Serious Adverse Reactions In Checkmate 037, serious adverse reactions occurred in 41% of patients receiving OPDIVO (n=268). Grade 3 and 4 adverse reactions occurred in 42% of patients receiving OPDIVO. The most frequent Grade 3 and 4 adverse drug reactions reported in 2% to <5% of patients receiving OPDIVO were abdominal pain, hyponatremia, increased aspartate aminotransferase, and increased lipase. In Checkmate 066, serious adverse reactions occurred in 36% of patients receiving OPDIVO (n=206). Grade 3 and 4 adverse reactions occurred in 41% of patients receiving OPDIVO. The most frequent Grade 3 and 4 adverse reactions reported in =2% of patients receiving OPDIVO were gamma-glutamyltransferase increase (3.9%) and diarrhea (3.4%). In Checkmate 067, serious adverse reactions (74% and 44%), adverse reactions leading to permanent discontinuation (47% and 18%) or to dosing delays (58% and 36%), and Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions (72% and 51%) all occurred more frequently in the OPDIVO plus YERVOY arm (n=313) relative to the OPDIVO arm (n=313). The most frequent (=10%) serious adverse reactions in the OPDIVO plus YERVOY arm and the OPDIVO arm, respectively, were diarrhea (13% and 2.2%), colitis (10% and 1.9%), and pyrexia (10% and 1.0%). In Checkmate 238, serious adverse reactions occurred in 18% of patients receiving OPDIVO (n=452). Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions occurred in 25% of OPDIVO-treated patients (n=452). The most frequent Grade 3 and 4 adverse reactions reported in =2% of OPDIVO-treated patients were diarrhea and increased lipase and amylase. In Checkmate 816, serious adverse reactions occurred in 30% of patients (n=176) who were treated with OPDIVO in combination with platinum-doublet chemotherapy. Serious adverse reactions in >2% included pneumonia and vomiting. No fatal adverse reactions occurred in patients who received OPDIVO in combination with platinum-doublet chemotherapy. In Checkmate 227, serious adverse reactions occurred in 58% of patients (n=576). The most frequent (=2%) serious adverse reactions were pneumonia, diarrhea/colitis, pneumonitis, hepatitis, pulmonary embolism, adrenal insufficiency, and hypophysitis. Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 1.7% of patients; these included events of pneumonitis (4 patients), myocarditis, acute kidney injury, shock, hyperglycemia, multi-system organ failure, and renal failure. In Checkmate 9LA, serious adverse reactions occurred in 57% of patients (n=358). The most frequent (>2%) serious adverse reactions were pneumonia, diarrhea, febrile neutropenia, anemia, acute kidney injury, musculoskeletal pain, dyspnea, pneumonitis, and respiratory failure. Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 7 (2%) patients, and included hepatic toxicity, acute renal failure, sepsis, pneumonitis, diarrhea with hypokalemia, and massive hemoptysis in the setting of thrombocytopenia. In Checkmate 017 and 057, serious adverse reactions occurred in 46% of patients receiving OPDIVO (n=418). The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in =2% of patients receiving OPDIVO were pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, dyspnea, pyrexia, pleural effusion, pneumonitis, and respiratory failure. In Checkmate 057, fatal adverse reactions occurred; these included events of infection (7 patients, including one case of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia), pulmonary embolism (4 patients), and limbic encephalitis (1 patient). In Checkmate 743, serious adverse reactions occurred in 54% of patients receiving OPDIVO plus YERVOY. The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in =2% of patients were pneumonia, pyrexia, diarrhea, pneumonitis, pleural effusion, dyspnea, acute kidney injury, infusion-related reaction, musculoskeletal pain, and pulmonary embolism. Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 4 (1.3%) patients and included pneumonitis, acute heart failure, sepsis, and encephalitis. In Checkmate 214, serious adverse reactions occurred in 59% of patients receiving OPDIVO plus YERVOY (n=547). The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in =2% of patients were diarrhea, pyrexia, pneumonia, pneumonitis, hypophysitis, acute kidney injury, dyspnea, adrenal insufficiency, and colitis. In Checkmate 9ER, serious adverse reactions occurred in 48% of patients receiving OPDIVO and cabozantinib (n=320). The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in =2% of patients were diarrhea, pneumonia, pneumonitis, pulmonary embolism, urinary tract infection, and hyponatremia. Fatal intestinal perforations occurred in 3 (0.9%) patients. In Checkmate 025, serious adverse reactions occurred in 47% of patients receiving OPDIVO (n=406). The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in =2% of patients were acute kidney injury, pleural effusion, pneumonia, diarrhea, and hypercalcemia. In Checkmate 205 and 039, adverse reactions leading to discontinuation occurred in 7% and dose delays due to adverse reactions occurred in 34% of patients (n=266). Serious adverse reactions occurred in 26% of patients. The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in =1% of patients were pneumonia, infusion- related reaction, pyrexia, colitis or diarrhea, pleural effusion, pneumonitis, and rash. Eleven patients died from causes other than disease progression: 3 from adverse reactions within 30 days of the last OPDIVO dose, 2 from infection 8 to 9 months after completing OPDIVO, and 6 from complications of allogeneic HSCT. In Checkmate 141, serious adverse reactions occurred in 49% of patients receiving OPDIVO (n=236). The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in =2% of patients receiving OPDIVO were pneumonia, dyspnea, respiratory failure, respiratory tract infection, and sepsis. In Checkmate 275, serious adverse reactions occurred in 54% of patients receiving OPDIVO (n=270). The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in =2% of patients receiving OPDIVO were urinary tract infection, sepsis, diarrhea, small intestine obstruction, and general physical health deterioration. In Checkmate 274, serious adverse reactions occurred in 30% of patients receiving OPDIVO (n=351). The most frequent serious adverse reaction reported in =2% of patients receiving OPDIVO was urinary tract infection. Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 1% of patients; these included events of pneumonitis (0.6%). In Checkmate 142 in MSI-H/dMMR mCRC patients receiving OPDIVO with YERVOY (n=119), serious adverse reactions occurred in 47% of patients. The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in =2% of patients were colitis/diarrhea, hepatic events, abdominal pain, acute kidney injury, pyrexia, and dehydration. In Checkmate 040, serious adverse reactions occurred in 59% of patients receiving OPDIVO with YERVOY (n=49). Serious adverse reactions reported in =4% of patients were pyrexia, diarrhea, anemia, increased AST, adrenal insufficiency, ascites, esophageal varices hemorrhage, hyponatremia, increased blood bilirubin, and pneumonitis. In Attraction-3, serious adverse reactions occurred in 38% of patients receiving OPDIVO (n=209). Serious adverse reactions reported in =2% of patients who received OPDIVO were pneumonia, esophageal fistula, interstitial lung disease, and pyrexia. The following fatal adverse reactions occurred in patients who received OPDIVO: interstitial lung disease or pneumonitis (1.4%), pneumonia (1.0%), septic shock (0.5%), esophageal fistula (0.5%), gastrointestinal hemorrhage (0.5%), pulmonary embolism (0.5%), and sudden death (0.5%). In Checkmate 577, serious adverse reactions occurred in 33% of patients receiving OPDIVO (n=532). A serious adverse reaction reported in =2% of patients who received OPDIVO was pneumonitis. A fatal reaction of myocardial infarction occurred in one patient who received OPDIVO. In Checkmate 648, serious adverse reactions occurred in 62% of patients receiving OPDIVO in combination with chemotherapy (n=310). The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in =2% of patients who received OPDIVO with chemotherapy were pneumonia (11%), dysphagia (7%), esophageal stenosis (2.9%), acute kidney injury (2.9%), and pyrexia (2.3%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 5 (1.6%) patients who received OPDIVO in combination with chemotherapy; these included pneumonitis, pneumatosis intestinalis, pneumonia, and acute kidney injury. In Checkmate 648, serious adverse reactions occurred in 69% of patients receiving OPDIVO in combination with YERVOY (n=322). The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in =2% who received OPDIVO in combination with YERVOY were pneumonia (10%), pyrexia (4.3%), pneumonitis (4.0%), aspiration pneumonia (3.7%), dysphagia (3.7%), hepatic function abnormal (2.8%), decreased appetite (2.8%), adrenal insufficiency (2.5%), and dehydration (2.5%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 5 (1.6%) patients who received OPDIVO in combination with YERVOY; these included pneumonitis, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary embolism, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. In Checkmate 649, serious adverse reactions occurred in 52% of patients treated with OPDIVO in combination with chemotherapy (n=782). The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in =2% of patients treated with OPDIVO in combination with chemotherapy were vomiting (3.7%), pneumonia (3.6%), anemia (3.6%), pyrexia (2.8%), diarrhea (2.7%), febrile neutropenia (2.6%), and pneumonitis (2.4%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 16 (2.0%) patients who were treated with OPDIVO in combination with chemotherapy; these included pneumonitis (4 patients), febrile neutropenia (2 patients), stroke (2 patients), gastrointestinal toxicity, intestinal mucositis, septic shock, pneumonia, infection, gastrointestinal bleeding, mesenteric vessel thrombosis, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Common Adverse Reactions In Checkmate 037, the most common adverse reaction (=20%) reported with OPDIVO (n=268) was rash (21%). In Checkmate 066, the most common adverse reactions (=20%) reported with OPDIVO (n=206) vs dacarbazine (n=205) were fatigue (49% vs 39%), musculoskeletal pain (32% vs 25%), rash (28% vs 12%), and pruritus (23% vs 12%). In Checkmate 067, the most common (=20%) adverse reactions in the OPDIVO plus YERVOY arm (n=313) were fatigue (62%), diarrhea (54%), rash (53%), nausea (44%), pyrexia (40%), pruritus (39%), musculoskeletal pain (32%), vomiting (31%), decreased appetite (29%), cough (27%), headache (26%), dyspnea (24%), upper respiratory tract infection (23%), arthralgia (21%), and increased transaminases (25%). In Checkmate 067, the most common (=20%) adverse reactions in the OPDIVO arm (n=313) were fatigue (59%), rash (40%), musculoskeletal pain (42%), diarrhea (36%), nausea (30%), cough (28%), pruritus (27%), upper respiratory tract infection (22%), decreased appetite (22%), headache (22%), constipation (21%), arthralgia (21%), and vomiting (20%). In Checkmate 238, the most common adverse reactions (=20%) reported in OPDIVO-treated patients (n=452) vs ipilimumab-treated patients (n=453) were fatigue (57% vs 55%), diarrhea (37% vs 55%), rash (35% vs 47%), musculoskeletal pain (32% vs 27%), pruritus (28% vs 37%), headache (23% vs 31%), nausea (23% vs 28%), upper respiratory infection (22% vs 15%), and abdominal pain (21% vs 23%). The most common immune-mediated adverse reactions were rash (16%), diarrhea/colitis (6%), and hepatitis (3%). In Checkmate 816, the most common (>20%) adverse reactions in the OPDIVO plus chemotherapy arm (n=176) were nausea (38%), constipation (34%), fatigue (26%), decreased appetite (20%), and rash (20%). In Checkmate 227, the most common (=20%) adverse reactions were fatigue (44%), rash (34%), decreased appetite (31%), musculoskeletal pain (27%), diarrhea/colitis (26%), dyspnea (26%), cough (23%), hepatitis (21%), nausea (21%), and pruritus (21%). In Checkmate 9LA, the most common (>20%) adverse reactions were fatigue (49%), musculoskeletal pain (39%), nausea (32%), diarrhea (31%), rash (30%), decreased appetite (28%), constipation (21%), and pruritus (21%). In Checkmate 017 and 057, the most common adverse reactions (=20%) in patients receiving OPDIVO (n=418) were fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, cough, dyspnea, and decreased appetite. In Checkmate 743, the most common adverse reactions (=20%) in patients receiving OPDIVO plus YERVOY were fatigue (43%), musculoskeletal pain (38%), rash (34%), diarrhea (32%), dyspnea (27%), nausea (24%), decreased appetite (24%), cough (23%), and pruritus (21%). In Checkmate 214, the most common adverse reactions (=20%) reported in patients treated with OPDIVO plus YERVOY (n=547) were fatigue (58%), rash (39%), diarrhea (38%), musculoskeletal pain (37%), pruritus (33%), nausea (30%), cough (28%), pyrexia (25%), arthralgia (23%), decreased appetite (21%), dyspnea (20%), and vomiting (20%). In Checkmate 9ER, the most common adverse reactions (=20%) in patients receiving OPDIVO and cabozantinib (n=320) were diarrhea (64%), fatigue (51%), hepatotoxicity (44%), palmar-plantar erythrodysaesthesia syndrome (40%), stomatitis (37%), rash (36%), hypertension (36%), hypothyroidism (34%), musculoskeletal pain (33%), decreased appetite (28%), nausea (27%), dysgeusia (24%), abdominal pain (22%), cough (20%) and upper respiratory tract infection (20%). In Checkmate 025, the most common adverse reactions (=20%) reported in patients receiving OPDIVO (n=406) vs everolimus (n=397) were fatigue (56% vs 57%), cough (34% vs 38%), nausea (28% vs 29%), rash (28% vs 36%), dyspnea (27% vs 31%), diarrhea (25% vs 32%), constipation (23% vs 18%), decreased appetite (23% vs 30%), back pain (21% vs 16%), and arthralgia (20% vs 14%). In Checkmate 205 and 039, the most common adverse reactions (=20%) reported in patients receiving OPDIVO (n=266) were upper respiratory tract infection (44%), fatigue (39%), cough (36%), diarrhea (33%), pyrexia (29%), musculoskeletal pain (26%), rash (24%), nausea (20%) and pruritus (20%). In Checkmate 141, the most common adverse reactions (=10%) in patients receiving OPDIVO (n=236) were cough (14%) and dyspnea (14%) at a higher incidence than investigator's choice. In Checkmate 275, the most common adverse reactions (=20%) reported in patients receiving OPDIVO (n=270) were fatigue (46%), musculoskeletal pain (30%), nausea (22%), and decreased appetite (22%). In Checkmate 274, the most common adverse reactions (=20%) reported in patients receiving OPDIVO (n=351) were rash (36%), fatigue (36%), diarrhea (30%), pruritus (30%), musculoskeletal pain (28%), and urinary tract infection (22%). In Checkmate 142 in MSI-H/dMMR mCRC patients receiving OPDIVO as a single agent (n=74), the most common adverse reactions (=20%) were fatigue (54%), diarrhea (43%), abdominal pain (34%), nausea (34%), vomiting (28%), musculoskeletal pain (28%), cough (26%), pyrexia (24%), rash (23%), constipation (20%), and upper respiratory tract infection (20%). In Checkmate 142 in MSI-H/dMMR mCRC patients receiving OPDIVO with YERVOY (n=119), the most common adverse reactions (=20%) were fatigue (49%), diarrhea (45%), pyrexia (36%), musculoskeletal pain (36%), abdominal pain (30%), pruritus (28%), nausea (26%), rash (25%), decreased appetite (20%), and vomiting (20%). In Checkmate 040, the most common adverse reactions (=20%) in patients receiving OPDIVO with YERVOY (n=49), were rash (53%), pruritus (53%), musculoskeletal pain (41%), diarrhea (39%), cough (37%), decreased appetite (35%), fatigue (27%), pyrexia (27%), abdominal pain (22%), headache (22%), nausea (20%), dizziness (20%), hypothyroidism (20%), and weight decreased (20%). In Attraction-3, the most common adverse reactions (=20%) in OPDIVO-treated patients (n=209) were rash (22%) and decreased appetite (21%). In Checkmate 577, the most common adverse reactions (=20%) in patients receiving OPDIVO (n=532) were fatigue (34%), diarrhea (29%), nausea (23%), rash (21%), musculoskeletal pain (21%), and cough (20%). In Checkmate 648, the most common adverse reactions (=20%) in patients treated with OPDIVO in combination with chemotherapy (n=310) were nausea (65%), decreased appetite (51%), fatigue (47%), constipation (44%), stomatitis (44%), diarrhea (29%), and vomiting (23%). In Checkmate 648, the most common adverse reactions reported in =20% of patients treated with OPDIVO in combination with YERVOY were rash (31%), fatigue (28%), pyrexia (23%), nausea (22%), diarrhea (22%), and constipation (20%). In Checkmate 649, the most common adverse reactions (=20%) in patients treated with OPDIVO in combination with chemotherapy (n=782) were peripheral neuropathy (53%), nausea (48%), fatigue (44%), diarrhea (39%), vomiting (31%), decreased appetite (29%), abdominal pain (27%), constipation (25%), and musculoskeletal pain (20%). Please see US Full Prescribing Information for OPDIVO and YERVOY. Clinical Trials and Patient Populations Checkmate 037-previously treated metastatic melanoma; Checkmate 066-previously untreated metastatic melanoma; Checkmate 067-previously untreated metastatic melanoma, as a single agent or in combination with YERVOY; Checkmate 238-adjuvant treatment of melanoma; Checkmate 816-neoadjuvant non-small cell lung cancer, in combination with platinum-doublet chemotherapy; Checkmate 227-previously untreated metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, in combination with YERVOY; Checkmate 9LA-previously untreated recurrent or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer in combination with YERVOY and 2 cycles of platinum-doublet chemotherapy by histology; Checkmate 017-second-line treatment of metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer; Checkmate 057-second-line treatment of metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer; Checkmate 743-previously untreated unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma, in combination with YERVOY; Checkmate 214-previously untreated renal cell carcinoma, in combination with YERVOY; Checkmate 9ER-previously untreated renal cell carcinoma, in combination with cabozantinib; Checkmate 025-previously treated renal cell carcinoma; Checkmate 205/039-classical Hodgkin lymphoma; Checkmate 141-recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck; Checkmate 275-previously treated advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma; Checkmate 274-adjuvant treatment of urothelial carcinoma; Checkmate 142- MSI-H or dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer, as a single agent or in combination with YERVOY; Checkmate 142-MSI-H or dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer, as a single agent or in combination with YERVOY; Checkmate 040-hepatocellular carcinoma, in combination with YERVOY; Attraction-3-esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Checkmate 577-adjuvant treatment of esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer; Checkmate 648-previously untreated, unresectable advanced recurrent or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Checkmate 648-previously untreated, unresectable advanced recurrent or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Checkmate 649-previously untreated advanced recurrent or metastatic gastric cancer, gastroesophageal junction and esophageal adenocarcinoma About the Bristol Myers Squibb and Ono Pharmaceutical Collaboration In 2011, through a collaboration agreement with Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Bristol Myers Squibb expanded its territorial rights to develop and commercialize Opdivo globally, except in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, where Ono had retained all rights to the compound at the time. On July 23, 2014, Ono and Bristol Myers Squibb further expanded the companies' strategic collaboration agreement to jointly develop and commercialize multiple immunotherapies as single agents and combination regimens for patients with cancer in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. About Bristol Myers Squibb Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding, among other things, the research, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products. All statements that are not statements of historical facts are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future financial results, goals, plans and objectives and involve inherent risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including internal or external factors that could delay, divert or change any of them in the next several years, that are difficult to predict, may be beyond our control and could cause our future financial results, goals, plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the statements. These risks, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors include, among others, that future study results may not be consistent with the results to date, that Opdivo (nivolumab) may not receive regulatory approval for the additional indication described in this release in the currently anticipated timeline or at all, that any marketing approvals, if granted, may have significant limitations on their use, and, if approved, whether such product candidate for such additional indication described in this release will be commercially successful. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many risks and uncertainties that affect Bristol Myers Squibb's business and market, particularly those identified in the cautionary statement and risk factors discussion in Bristol Myers Squibb's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, as updated by our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made only as of the date of this document and except as otherwise required by applicable law, Bristol Myers Squibb undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise. corporatefinancial-news View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221018006227/en/ Contacts: Bristol Myers Squibb Media Inquiries: media@BMS.com Investors: investor.relations@bms.com Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 19, 2022) - Blue Thunder Mining Inc. (TSXV: BLUE) (OTCQB: BLTMF) ("Blue Thunder" or the "Company") announces that the Company has appointed Mr. Dorian L. (Dusty) Nicol to the position of CEO. Mr. Nicol has been a director of the Company since July 2022. Chad Williams, the Company's Non-Executive Chairman, said, "We're happy to welcome Dusty to the CEO role at Blue Thunder. Dusty is a world class geologist with a track record of managing successful exploration and acquisition programs around the world. He and I first worked together 20 years ago acquiring the Jerritt Canyon gold mine in Nevada and I am excited to renew our professional association." Dusty commented, "I am very excited to be joining Blue Thunder and working with Chad and the team to create a successful exploration company. I am very enthused about the potential on the Company's exploration ground in Chibougamau and equally excited about the aggressive M&A program the Company will be implementing." Dusty Nicol has a B.Sc. degree in Earth Science from M.I.T. and an M.A. degree in geology from Indiana University. Dusty has over 47 years of world-wide experience in minerals exploration and mining. He has designed and managed successful exploration programs throughout North and South America, Africa, Russia and the Former Soviet Union, and Papua New Guinea. He led the early work in Papua New Guinea which recognized the large mineralized system in the Eastern Highlands which eventually became the K92 gold deposit. He has also designed and managed generative gold exploration programs in Africa and Europe. At Jerritt Canyon, Nevada, he designed and managed the exploration program which discovered over 1.5 million ounces of gold at a discovery cost of about $18 / ounce over a 5-year period. His exploration program at the Tulkubash oxide deposit, Kyrgyzstan, added over 600,000 ounces of gold to M&I Resource in the first year, at a discovery cost of $11.40 / ounce. Dusty has also efficiently managed due diligence of mining projects at every stage of exploration, development, and production. In addition to his exploration experience, he has managed the construction, development, and operation of open pit and underground gold mines and processing plants in Nevada and Mexico. Dusty has held senior corporate positions on several publicly listed companies. Dusty speaks six languages fluently and is a QP (NI 43-101), CP (JORC), Registered Geologist, and Chartered Geologist. In conjunction with Mr. Nicol's appointment as CEO, Blue Thunder's President, Jean Francois Metail, stepped down from his executive role to pursue personal interests. The Company would like to thank Mr. Metail for his efforts on behalf of the Company and his tremendous help in guiding the Company through challenging times, particularly during the Pandemic crisis, and wishes him well in his future endeavors. Mr. Metail will remain available to the Company in an advisory role. The Company also announces that the board of directors has granted 5,700,000 incentive stock options to directors, officers, advisors, and consultants of the Company pursuant to its stock option plan. Each Option has an exercise price of $0.05 for a period of five years from the date of grant with a range of vesting periods. About Blue Thunder Blue Thunder (TSXV: BLUE) (OTCQB: BLTMF) is a gold exploration company that controls 100% of one of the largest land positions near the Chapais-Chibougamau gold district of Quebec with significant historical production and major recent discoveries. The Muus Project is situated on the two major regional trends hosting IAMGOLD's Nelligan and Northern Superior Resources' Lac Surprise to the south, and IAMGOLD's Monster Lake to the north with excellent highway and road access. The Project covers approximately 51,000 hectares in five separate blocks of prospective ground in the eastern part of the Abitibi Greenstone Belt. The Project is considered particularly prospective for gold mineralization, as a series of prominent ductile and brittle fault-sets transect the Property, including the Guercheville and Fancamp deformation zones, both of which are associated with numerous past and currently producing precious and base metal mines in the district. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Chad Williams, Non-Executive Chairman and Director Blue Thunder Mining Inc. 401 Bay Street, Suite 2704, P.O. Box 4, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 2Y4 For more information, please visit our website www.bluethundermining.com, or Ms. Christina Slater, cslater@bluethundermining.com, (647) 848-1009, or info@bluethundermining.com. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated content, commencement and exploration program results, the ability to complete future financings, required permitting, exploration programs and drilling, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the state of the financial markets for the Company's equity securities, the state of the commodity markets generally, variations in the nature, the analytical results from surface trenching and sampling program, including diamond drilling programs, the results of IP surveying, the results of soil and till sampling program. the quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, variations in the market price of any mineral products the Company may produce or plan to produce, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required, including TSXV acceptance, for its planned activities, the inability of the Company to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies, the potential impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) on the Company's exploration program and on the Company's general business, operations and financial condition, and other risks and uncertainties. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties. This news release contains information with respect to adjacent or similar mineral properties in the Chibougamau District in respect of which the Company has no interest or rights to explore or mine. Readers are cautioned that the Company has no interest in or right to acquire any interest in any such properties, and that mineral deposits, and the results of any mining thereof, on adjacent or similar properties, are not indicative of mineral deposits on the Company's properties or any potential exploration thereof. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141174 Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Wednesday instructed officials to take preventive measures, including the culling of poultry, as the nation reported its first virulent avian influenza case in some six months. The emergency instruction came as the case was reported a day earlier at the farm in the southeastern county of Yecheon, 165 kilometers southeast of Seoul, with the authorities confirming the highly pathogenic strain of H5N1. Han has ordered the agriculture minister to carry out "the preventive culling within a 500-meter radius and swiftly implement containment measures," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement. Han also instructed officials to thoroughly implement other preventive steps, including restricting movement and disinfecting farms and roads in Yecheon, according to the statement. Upon the report, the authorities have cordoned off the farm and implemented containment measures, including the culling of some 9,800 ducks raised there. Korea had last reported an avian influenza case in April. (Yonhap) Pristina, Kosovo--(Newsfile Corp. - October 19, 2022) - The American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo announced that its leadership met with Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti, to discuss strengthening of the private sector, joint efforts to promote Kosovo's potentials for investments and exports, and advancement of the public-private dialogue. American Chamber is committed to supporting Kosovo's economic growth efforts and is excited to release this astonishing news to the people of Republic of Kosovo. Private sector strengthening, promotion of Kosovo's potentials for investments and exports, but also the advancement of the public-private dialogue were some of the key highlights a meeting of Kosovo's Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, with the leadership of the American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo. Prime Minister Kurti Meeting with 11 AmCham Board of Directors To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9157/140882_img1.jpg In a meeting with the Board of Governors of the AmCham, Prime Minister Kurti emphasized the important role of the private sector in job creation and overall economic development. He praised the private sector for its sustainability over the years despite the great regional and global competition, but also the lack of state support in the past. He said that the future efforts should focus on strengthening of Kosovo's economic diplomacy, and institutional capacities for promotion of foreign investments. The Prime Minister clearly expressed his good will for genuine dialogue with the private sector in Kosovo, to enable, among other things, an environment for sustainable and rapid growth. Board of Directors of AmCham together with Prime Minister Kurti, Chief of Cabinet Dalipi and Advisor Jagxhiu at the Government of Kosovo building in Pristina To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9157/140882_img2.jpg President of the Board of Governors of the AmCham Afrore Rudi from Deloitte offered AmCham's sincere partnership in providing recommendations for the challenges faced by the private sector. Whereas, AmCham's Executive Director, Arian Zeka, presented the organization's new advocacy priorities, including the request for a centralized mechanism for public-private dialogue that would operate within the Prime Minister's office. He said that the American Chamber of Commerce also proposes the placement of Kosovo's Investment and Enterprise Support Agency or any other new investment promotion body within the Office of the Prime Minister, which would also serve as a main gateway for communication with investors. Source: https://kryeministri.rks-gov.net/en/blog/prime-minister-kurti-met-the-members-of-the-board-of-the-american-chamber-of-commerce/ AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN KOSOVO PERANDORI JUSTINIAN 132, 10000 PRISHTINA, KOSOVO +383 38 609 012 / (0) 38 609 013 / (0) 48 109 903 / www.amchamksv.org Press Contact: Dren Deva +38349572534 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/140882 New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - October 19, 2022) - TARU Group (GIO), a well-funded and independent Family Office specializing in investments with exit potential in Singapore and the UAE, reports today that the company has reached a new record for annual revenue in 2022 with more than $500 million. Over the past five years, TARU Group has generated an average of 29.54% growth per year. Thus, in 2022, the company will manage more than $500 million for the first time in its history. TARU Group carefully manages and provides funding for select asset categories, primarily in the healthcare, medical high-tech, green energy, robotics, cybersecurity, cryptocurrency, and Metaverse sectors. As high-tech investors, TARU Group investments are guided by the careful consideration of early entries with forward-thinking companies and optimal exit points, rather than being constrained by time limits. TARU Group is a specialist in bringing together innovative patents in cardiac surgery, with a further focus on robotics technology, and expertise in Blockchain. The company's diversified investment portfolio aims to empower innovative game-changers to become global market leaders. TARU is dedicated to facing modern problems, developing advanced solutions, and optimizing existing applications and devices to meet these demands. Currently, there are 1,082 patents in the TARU Group portfolio that are undergoing testing. For the rest of 2022, TARU Group is working on three major developments: To become the first healthcare investment fund in the UAE Expansion into real estate in Pakistan A joint venture with the Global Military Division With each of these ventures, TARU aims to continue adding to their portfolio and experiencing a steady growth over the coming year. Arezu Tarrahi info@taru-group.com Content and Media Contact: Web3PR Agency E-Mail: media@web3pr.com Country: United States & Germany Website: https://www.web3pr.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141105 Commodities AI (ChAI), a London, UK-based provider of real-time commodity price forecasts for multinational material companies, raised a seed funding of undisclosed amount. The round was led by Seraphim Space with participation from Insurtech Gateway, Passion Capital, Primo Space Fund, 2050Cap and Portfolio Ventures. The company intends to use the funds to expand commodity insurance products for smaller companies. Led by CEO Tristan Fletche, ChAI uses purpose-built AI to analyze thousands of data sets to identify what variables are driving market prices, predict raw material costs, highlight risk exposure and help its clients purchase the necessary commodity products effectively. The companys market intelligence tool has the technical capabilities to price insurance premiums and simulates underwriting portfolios. ChAI intends to enable organizations to capture more margin, optimise hedging and reduce exposure across the commodities market. Last month the company announced a significant data-licensing agreement with S&P Global Commodity Insights, the independent provider of information, analysis, events, and benchmark prices for the commodities and energy markets. The agreement enables ChAI to provide real-time commodity price forecasts based on Platts price assessments to new customers, supply-chain providers and investors. FinSMEs 19/10/2022 H2 Green Steel, a Stockholm, Sweden-based climate-tech company, raised 260M in Equity funding. The round was led by AMF, GIC and Schaeffler, with participation from Altor. In addition to already communicated investments by Hitachi Energy and Kobe Steel, the close of the round adds new shareholders Swedish investment company Kinnevik, and a climate-focused institutional investment fund. H2 Green Steel closed its series A equity round of 86m in May 2021 and announced the first close of its series B round of 190m in August 2022. The company intends to use the funds to develop its large scale green steel plant in northern Sweden. Led by CEO Henrik Henriksson, H2 Green Steel will produce green steel in a fully integrated production process, using end-to-end digitalization, electricity from fossil-free sources and green hydrogen instead of coal. In addition to financing, the company has reached several milestones at high speed, including a permissibility permit for its operations in Boden in July followed by steady progress in the construction of its steel plant. H2 Green Steel has pre-sold about 60 percent of its initial volumes to a range of European customers in a broad range of sectors. FinSMEs 19/10/2022 Viome Life Sciences, a Bellevue, WA-based digital health company, raised $67M in funding. The round was led by Bold Capital Group, with participation from existing investors Khosla Ventures, West River Group, Glico, Ocgrow Ventures, and Physician Partners. The company intends to use the funds to support the continuous development of its product pipeline, including the Oral Health Intelligence Test, early detection diagnostic tests for chronic diseases, and cancers. Led by Founder & CEO Naveen Jain, Viome Life Sciences is a biotechnology company launched in 2016 to address the epidemic of chronic diseases, cancer, and aging. The company developed a suite of innovative diagnostic tools to empower over half a million users to test, not guess, and to receive actionable insights to empower each of us to live a longer and healthier life. Viomes proprietary approach combines novel mRNA research and FDA-backed technology to analyze epigenetic biomarkers to deliver comprehensive, AI-driven health insights to shape a healthy lifespan. The latest round follows the launch of Viomes first CancerDetect test for oral & throat cancers. This at-home early diagnostic tool can detect early biomarkers associated with oral and throat cancer with high rates of specificity and sensitivity. CancerDetect is powered by Viomes proprietary mRNA sequencing technology and AI-powered platform, which the FDA awarded Breakthrough Device Designation status in May of 2021. In the coming months, Viome will leverage this funding to debut a suite of new wellness and diagnostic tests specifically targeting the oral microbiome. Building upon the success of CancerDetect for oral and throat cancer, the company is also utilizing this same technology to power early detection for additional hard-to-detect cancers and GI disorders such as IBD. FinSMEs 19/10/2022 North Atlantic Treaty Organization Parliamentary Assembly officials hold a meeting with members of the parliamentary defense committee at the National Assembly, Oct. 19. Yonhap National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo on Wednesday stressed the importance of parliamentary cooperation with NATO member countries in the face of growing global risks. "On the Korean Peninsula and the Taiwan Strait in East Asia, and due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Europe, security risks are escalating and common global threats, like the pandemic and climate change, have emerged," Kim said during a luncheon with representatives of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, an inter-parliamentary organization consisting of 269 delegates from 30 NATO member countries. "It is time to strengthen solidarity and cooperation among member and partner countries," Kim said, pledging to expand Korea's contribution to parliamentary cooperation as an observer country of the security alliance. Kim stressed that Korea has worked to bolster cooperation with NATO in various areas since becoming its global partner in 2006. He also noted how President Yoon Suk-yeol became the first Korean president to attend a NATO summit in June. Attending Wednesday's luncheon at the National Assembly were 18 officials from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, ruling People Power Party Reps. Cho Hae-jin, and Shin Won-sik, and main opposition Democratic Party Rep. Ahn Gyu-back. (Yonhap) The London Stock Exchange has become the first major bourse to set listing rules for companies that finance carbon reduction projects, as part of efforts to grow the market and make it more transparent, its chief executive told Reuters. Demand for carbon offsets, generated through projects such as tree planting or renewable energy, is expected to soar as companies seek to meet net-zero emissions goals. As a focus for policymakers, it is likely to be debated at climate talks in Egypt in November, yet the global market for voluntary carbon credits, as opposed to binding commitments to cut emissions by companies and countries, remains largely unregulated. While rival exchanges such as Deutsche Borse's EEX have launched financial products such as futures contracts based on carbon credits, the LSE's rules aim to encourage investment funds and operating companies to raise billions of pounds through LSE listings to fund climate-friendly projects. Released on Monday after a public consultation, the LSE's final admission and disclosure rules on voluntary carbon offsets dovetail with Britain's push to make London a centre for green finance against stiff competition from elsewhere. Under the new rules, a fund or company would have to issue a prospectus vetted by the Financial Conduct Authority that gives details of the carbon emission-cutting project it wants to finance. This, the LSE says, will ensure standards such as climate-related disclosures and market abuse rules would have to be complied with. "What this brings is proper transparency, proper due diligence, and proper disclosure, so corporates and other investors truly know what they're buying. That's something that the voluntary carbon markets haven't had before," LSE chief executive Julia Hoggett said. One investment fund backing the voluntary carbon market is expected to list this year, followed by others in 2023, Hoggett said. Companies operating carbon reduction projects would be added later. Worth around $2 billion in 2021, according to Ecosystem Marketplace, the annual global market for voluntary carbon credits could hit $50 billion by 2030, consultants at McKinsey have estimated. Once an offset project generates carbon credits, equivalent to tonnes of carbon dioxide reduced or removed from the atmosphere, shareholders could receive a dividend in the form of carbon credits, or the fund could sell them and use the cash to pay a dividend. On the morning of September 15 local time, President Xi Jinping met with Turkmen President Serdar Berdymukhamedov at Forumlar Majmuasi Complex in Samarkand. President Xi Jinping said that since China and Turkmenistan established diplomatic relations 30 years ago, the two countries have enjoyed sustained, sound and steady growth of bilateral relations, and the strategic partnership has reached a high level. China always views China-Turkmenistan relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, respects Turkmenistans independently chosen development path that suits its own national conditions, and opposes any external interference in Turkmenistans internal affairs and process of stability and development. China will continue to work with Turkmenistan to firmly support each other, advance bilateral relations and deliver more benefits to the two peoples. President Xi emphasized the need for the two sides to increase the size and scale of natural gas cooperation and inject new impetus into the development and revitalization of the two countries. He noted the need to accelerate cooperation in non-resource fields and to synergize the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with Turkmenistans strategy to revive the Great Silk Road. The two sides need to deliver on mutually setting up cultural centers as soon as possible to provide a new platform for people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries. The Chinese side is ready to set up a Luban workshop in Turkmenistan at an early date and continue to strengthen COVID response cooperation with Turkmenistan. The Chinese side is ready to strengthen cooperation with the Turkmen side within the China+Central Asia (C+C5) Meeting mechanism, implement the Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative, enhance international coordination, uphold the converging interests of the developing countries, and contribute to world peace and development. President Serdar Berdymukhamedov wished the 20th CPC National Congress a full success and expressed his conviction that under the wise leadership of President Xi Jinping, the 20th CPC National Congress will draw a blueprint for Chinas future development and guide China toward more great achievements. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan and China 30 years ago, bilateral relations have developed smoothly and cooperation in various fields has been expanding. Turkmenistan highly values its strategic partnership with China, and is ready to further deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China in various fields including economy and trade, natural gas, cross-border transportation, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Turkmenistan firmly supports the one-China principle and firmly supports China in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Turkmenistan supports a series of major initiatives put forward by China, which are conducive to maintaining international peace and security and achieving the sustainable development goals of the United Nations. Turkmenistan is ready to work with China to build stronger synergy between the BRI and Turkmenistans strategy to revive the Great Silk Road, and closely cooperate with China within multilateral frameworks of the United Nations, the C+C5 Meeting mechanism and so on. Ding Xuexiang, Yang Jiechi, Wang Yi, He Lifeng and other officials attended the event. 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. On September 22, 2022 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session in New York. Expressing satisfaction with the continuous enrichment of the substance of bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, the two sides agreed to act upon the important common understanding reached by the two heads of state, and work toward the building of a China-Indonesia community with a shared future by further deepening practical cooperation in various fields. The two sides exchanged views on the G20 Bali Summit. Noting the negative spillover effects of the Ukraine crisis and the grave risks of global economic recession, Wang Yi stressed the importance for major developed countries and emerging economies to take the Bali Summit as an opportunity to strengthen policy coordination and cooperation to bring hope to global recovery. They also expressed the hope that Indonesia, as the rotating presidency, will play a leadership role in encouraging all parties to stay focused on their original aspirations, maintain solidarity, and make development the centerpiece of their endeavor, and in steering the summit to reach consensus on pressing issues such as food, climate, energy, and supply chains. China fully supports Indonesia in hosting the summit and is ready to coordinate closely with Indonesia to ensure positive outcomes of the summit. The two sides also exchanged views on the Myanmar issue. Wang Yi said that China supports Indonesia in taking over the rotating chair of ASEAN next year, sticking to the "ASEAN Way", maintaining ASEAN solidarity, and encouraging all parties in Myanmar to engage in consultation and dialogue and reach political consensus within the framework of its constitution and laws. CCTV: Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said in a recent interview that during the past decade, Serbias exports to China increased 152 times and the bilateral trade in 2021 amounted to 5 billion despite the impact of COVID-19. She said that China has been firmly advancing high-level opening-up, which brings development opportunities for the whole world. Do you have any comment? Mao Ning: We appreciate Prime Minister Brnabics positive remarks. China and Serbia are each others trustworthy and reliable partners. Bilateral economic and trade cooperation has made rapid progress and brought tangible benefits to the two peoples. The fact is, China has become a major trading partner of not just Serbia, but more than 130 countries and regions. Over the past decade, Chinas trade in goods totaled 262.3 trillion yuan, of which imports accounted for 117.6 trillion yuan and registered an average annual growth rate of 4.7%. China has utilized $1.2 trillion of foreign investment, which grows at an average annual rate of 5%. The capital stock of Chinas FDI abroad has soared from less than $0.6 trillion to over $2.7 trillion, now ranking the third in the world. China is making important and visible contributions to promoting the global economic growth and building an open world economy. As we speak, the world economy is facing multiple challenges, and unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise. China will always support economic globalization, unswervingly promote high-level opening-up, accelerate the building of a new development paradigm, and provide more market, investment and growth opportunities for companies of all countries. Global Times: According to reports, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently said explicitly that he supports globalization, adding that decoupling is the wrong answer and that Germany must do business with the rest of the world, including China. Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis, who is in charge of economic affairs, also believed that decoupling from China is not an option for companies in the EU. He added that EUs trading relationship with China needs more balance and reciprocity and that the EU should continue engaging with China with pragmatism. What is Chinas comment on this? Mao Ning: We commend these remarks from the European leaders. China also supports globalization and opposes decoupling. With the world economy in the doldrums, to stay open and engaged in cooperation and grow economic and trade ties is good not only for China and Europe, but also for the world economic recovery. China and the EU are each others important economic and trade partners. Our bilateral cooperation has been mutually beneficial. Last year, China-EU trade exceeded $800 billion for the first time and two-way investment went beyond $270 billion in cumulative terms. In the first eight months this year, total trade between China and the EU was $575.22 billion, up by 8.8% year-on-year. EUs investment in China was $7.45 billion, up by 121.5% year-on-year. Such trade and investment cooperation has boosted the development of both sides. China-Europe cooperation is deeply rooted in solid public support, extensive common interests and similar strategic needs. Such cooperation enjoys great resilience and potential. China is ready to work with Europe to jointly work for greater progress in bilateral cooperation in various areas and deliver more benefits to the two peoples. AFP: The IMF projected that Chinas economic growth this year will be the second weakest in over 40 years and blamed it on the dynamic zero-COVID policy. What is Chinas comment? Mao Ning: I would refer you to the competent authorities on this question. Facing the complex and challenging situation at home and abroad, the Chinese economy has withstood the pressure and demonstrated a momentum of steady recovery and its performance has stayed within the appropriate range. The fact that the Chinese economy has strong resilience, ample potential and enormous space remains unchanged and the fundamentals sustaining the sound growth of the Chinese economy in the long run will also stay unchanged. As to the COVID-19 protocols you mentioned, let me say that only when the pandemic is contained can the economy be stabilized. When all things are considered, Chinas COVID measures have worked most effectively and been most cost-effective. CRI: Lesothos parliamentary election results released recently showed that the newly established Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) party, securing nearly half of the seats, emerged as the single biggest party and is expected to lead the formation of a coalition. What is Chinas comment? Mao Ning: China congratulates Lesotho on its parliamentary elections which have gone smoothly. China-Lesotho relations enjoy a sound momentum of growth and our cooperation in various areas continues to deepen. China looks forward to working with the new government of Lesotho to keep advancing China-Lesotho relations. Bloomberg: There have been reports in British media saying that the UK government will declare China as an official threat. This is coming after the UK spy chief said in a speech that the politically motivated use of technology by China was an increasingly urgent problem. Whats the foreign ministrys comment on this? Mao Ning: China follows an independent foreign policy of peace. Chinas development brings opportunities to other countries, not threats or challenges. We hope that the new UK government can view China and China-UK relations in an objective and rational light. Subscribing to the obsolete mindset of China threat benefits no one and will eventually backfire. Such an approach leads nowhere. As to the remarks made by the British intelligence official you mentioned, as I said yesterday, the allegation is completely groundless and a projection of the allegers own image. What those remarks reveal is a Cold War mentality and ideological bias. Chinas development is aimed at making lives better for the Chinese people. It will only contribute positively to world peace and stability. Our development does not target anyone, still less pose any threat. Making an issue out of China and stoking antagonism and confrontation does not rid the UK of its own problems. China will not change its resolve to open wider at high standard 15:01, October 19, 2022 By Zhong Yin ( People's Daily Theres a very interesting story about an Italian helicopter and the China International Import Expo (CIIE). Visitors pose for pictures at the fourth China International Import Expo, Nov. 9, 2021. (Peoples Daily Online/Yan Xin) The AW139, a helicopter model for emergency medical rescue manufactured by Italys Leonardo Group, was a big name at the first CIIE, which kicked off on Nov. 5, 2018. It made the biggest transaction on the very first day of the exhibition, which totaled $200 million. Later, the Leonardo Group joined hands with a Chinese company and launched a 12.8-billion-yuan ($1.78 billion) helicopter production program in Pinghu, east Chinas Zhejiang province. Two years later, the first AW139 helicopter assembled in Pinghu completed its test flight and returned to the 3rd CIIE. This foreign investment program is expected to build Pinghu into a world-level helicopter production base. CIIE, as a global trade exhibition, has become an international public product shared by the whole world. It presents to the world Chinas firm determination to expand opening up. AW139, a helicopter model for emergency medical rescue manufactured by Italys Leonardo Group is exhibited at the first China International Import Expo, Nov. 7, 2018. (Peoples Daily Online/Ji Haixin) The utilization of foreign investment contributes to the building of a new development paradigm and a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Foreign investors generally value Chinas development opportunities that come from the countrys deepening reform, as well as the business environment thats built better and better as the country advances law-based governance. Many exhibitors joining the CIIE have turned into investors, which mirrors how the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, deepening reform and advancing law-based governance reinforce each other. Reform and opening up is the most distinctive feature of modern China. Peoples wellbeing is attached with more importance as reform is deepened in the new era. A series of policies and measures to benefit the people have been implemented, including the centralized bulk-buying of drugs on a regular and institutionalized basis, and the discounts on individual income tax. A fully loaded container vessel leaves a terminal of the Yangshan Deep-Water Port, Shanghai, Sept. 11, 2022. (Peoples Daily Online/Ji Haixin) Institutional construction is more important for deepening reform in the new era. The country has worked to streamline the government, delegate power, and improve government services, implemented the most strict environmental protection regulations, and launched a number of other policies to eliminate impediments. Besides, interconnectivity and synergy between reforms are increased. China has comprehensively deepened reforms in economy, politics, culture, society, and ecological progress. Over 2,000 reform plans have been issued successively and promoted in a synergetic manner. Over the past 10 years, China has gone from laying foundations and defining initial structures, to making overall progress and building momentum, to achieving systematic integration and efficient coordination. It has seen basic institutional frameworks put in place in various areas, and witnessed historic, systemic, and holistic transformation in multiple fields. China will not close its door to the world, and it will only become more and more open. Overcoming the impacts from COVID-19, the country has held high-quality sessions of major exhibitions, such as the CIIE, the China International Fair for Trade in Services, the China Import and Export Fair and the China International Consumer Products Expo. Between 2013 and 2021, the average annual growth of Chinas exports of high-tech products reached 5.1 percent. The country has set up 21 pilot free trade zones, and they have seen their successful practice in 278 cases of innovation in institutional reform promoted at the national level. Tourists visit the Bund in Shanghai, Sept. 10, 2022. (Peoples Daily Online/Yan Daming) Over the past 10 years, China has firmly advanced high-level opening up. It has expanded opening up based on flows of goods, services, capital, personnel and other factors of production, and promoted institutional construction on rules, management and standards, to build an open economy that promotes mutual benefit and is diversified, balanced, secure and efficient. Both the scope and depth of opening up have been expanded. A model of all-round, multi-level, and wide-ranging opening-up has gradually taken shape. China has not only achieved its own development, but also benefited the rest of the world. The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) opened at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 16. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, delivered to the Congress a report on behalf of the 19th CPC Central Committee. Tourists visit the Bund in Shanghai, Sept. 21, 2022. (Peoples Daily Online/Wang Gang) He said China will stay committed to the basic state policy of opening up and unwaveringly follow a win-win strategy of opening up, to provide new opportunities to the rest of the world through Chinas development, promote the building of an open world economy and bring more benefits to the people around the world. Opening up is a basic state policy and a distinctive feature of China. The country will not change its resolve to open wider at a high standard; it will not change its determination to share development opportunities with the rest of the world; and it will not change its commitment to an economic globalization that is more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all. A fully loaded container vessel leaves a terminal of the Yangshan Deep-Water Port, Shanghai, Sept. 11, 2022. (Peoples Daily Online/Ji Haixin) (Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang) Soldiers conduct an artillery live-fire drill at an Army training range on the western section of the inter-Korean border in Paju, around 30 kilometers north of Seoul, on Oct. 17, as part of the annual Hoguk exercise involving the Army, Navy, Air Force an North Korea fired artillery rounds into a buffer zone with South Korea that is designed to reduce tension on the Korean Peninsula, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Wednesday. The North fired some 100 artillery rounds into the Yellow Sea from around 10 p.m. Tuesday and another 150 rounds into the East Sea from 11 p.m., according to the JCS. The artillery shells fell into eastern and western buffer zones north of the Northern Limit Line, which were established under a 2018 inter-Korean agreement on reducing military tension. "Firing artillery shells into the eastern and western buffer zones is a clear violation of the Sept. 19 military agreement, and we strongly urge North Korea to immediately halt its actions as North Korea's continued provocations are actions that undermine peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and the international community," it said in a released statement. A state department spokesperson condemned the North's latest provocation. Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak speaks during the signing ceremony of a framework contract with South Korean defense firms in Warsaw, July 27. Joint Press Corps By Nam Hyun-woo Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak's planned visit to Seoul was canceled as China rejected the Polish government jet's flight plan through its airspace. According to officials, Blaszczak was scheduled to have a meeting with South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup here on Tuesday, but they ended up having a videoconference on Wednesday instead. He also missed the release ceremonies for weapons purchased recently by Poland in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. Blaszczak and his delegation were supposed to use the Polish government's jet to fly to Seoul via a direct air route over China. But China refused to allow the Polish delegation's jet to enter its airspace. The Polish side reportedly considered using other air routes, but didn't, as they would have required refueling and consumed too much time. Though the South Korean government did not elaborate on the background for the decision, it is speculated that China did not permit Poland's jet to fly through its airspace because of its relationship with Russia and Seoul's closer relations with NATO countries. While Beijing has been signaling its solidarity with Russia, Poland's government is believed to have sent at least $1.7 billion in military aid armored fighting vehicles, tanks, self-propelled guns and rocket launchers, among other weapon types to Ukraine, and its ruling conservative Law and Justice Party has been making aggressive moves to fortify the country's armed forces as war rages on next door. According to a BBC report, Poland is the third-largest donor of military aid to Ukraine, after the U.S. and U.K. K-9 howitzers that will be exported to Poland are displayed during their release ceremony at Hanwha Defense's plant in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Wednesday. Yonhap A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer / AFP-Yonhap US sends strategic bombers to Guam By Kang Seung-woo North Korea conducted artillery drills for the second straight day, escalating tensions further on the Korean Peninsula. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, Wednesday, Pyongyang fired some 100 artillery shells from its west coast around noon, adding that the rounds fell into a buffer zone, north of the Northern Limit Line, which were established under the 2018 inter-Korean military agreement, aimed at halting all hostile acts against each other to reduce tensions along the inter-Korean border. "None of shells invaded our territorial waters," the JCS said in a press statement. "Our military communicated a warning multiple times, regarding the North's breach of the Sept. 19 military accord and the immediate cessation of provocations." The artillery drill came hours after the totalitarian state fired some 100 artillery rounds into waters west of the country and another 150 rounds into waters east of the country on Tuesday night in a "powerful military countermeasure" to South Korea's ongoing military exercise, according to the General Staff of the North's Korean People's Army. The South Korean military began the two week-long Hoguk defense exercise, Monday. Also, between Thursday and Friday, Pyongyang flew about 10 military planes close to the border with South Korea, fired artillery rounds off the east and west coasts and launched a short-range ballistic missile toward the East Sea. North Korea has fired eight ballistic missiles over the last three weeks. "While tracking and monitoring related movements in close cooperation with the United States, our military is strengthening a readiness posture to prepare for possible contingencies," the JCS said. The provocations also took place while China, North Korea's sole economic pipeline and diplomatic guardian, is holding the Chinese Communist Party's national congress, during which its president, Xi Jinping, is poised to secure an unprecedented third term. Given the gravity of its lone ally, speculation was widely rampant that North Korea would resume provocations after the congress. In response to North Korea's tension-raising saber-rattling, the U.S. deployed two B-1B Lancers to Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, an aviation tracker revealed, Wednesday. This photo is a captured image from Aircraft Spots' Twitter showing the movement of two B-1B bombers from South Dakota to Guam. CALGARY, Alberta, Oct. 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eavor Technologies Inc. (Eavor), the leader in globally scalable geothermal technology, is pleased to announce that Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. (CHUBU) has entered an agreement to make a direct investment in Eavor and support the commercialization of Eavor-Loop technology. Along with CHUBUs investment they will have a representative on Eavors Board of Directors. CHUBUs presence and influence will be of paramount importance as Eavor completes first projects and enters its global commercialization phase. The Eavor-Loop system differs from conventional geothermal solutions as it uses conduction to retrieve heat from the earths subsurface, resulting in a long-term, reliable, predictable and independent supply of renewable energy. This completely closed loop system provides a highly scalable source of heat and power without the typical exploration risk. Mr. Hiroki Sato, Senior Executive Managing Officer at CHUBU, commented: A technology such as this is a true game-changer and represents a potential transformation to the worlds energy stack, addresses climate change as well as energy autonomy and independence issues simultaneously. CHUBU is excited to be working with Eavor and supporting a solution to some of the worlds most intractable problems. This is an important strategic step for CHUBU fully aligned with our Management Vision 2.0 which defines CHUBUs efforts to achieve sustainable growth. John Redfern, President & CEO at Eavor, stated that: The opportunity and plan for global deployment of this technology requires partners like CHUBU. The involvement of CHUBU as one of our partners and Board members represents a fantastic endorsement of our technology, its commercialization and global scalability. Ultimately, when it lives up to its potential, Eavors solution is not only the missing element needed to fully decarbonize the worlds energy supply, it is also an opportunity for localized economies to obtain resilient, independent, autonomous, domestic energy resources. This changes everything. Watch Our New Video: Eavor - The Complete Package: https://youtu.be/3cNO2cR5Azk About CHUBU Electric Power Co., Inc. CHUBU is one of the largest energy companies in Japan, listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE:9502). CHUBU Group has more than seven decades history consisting of energy value chain which includes power generation, power transmission/distribution and energy retail business. Aiming for a decarbonized energy company, CHUBU is expanding its business territory on a global basis with the optimal business portfolio, which consists of four domains of (i) "green" business centered on renewable energy, (ii) blue" business in relation to de-carbonization, (iii) retail, power transmission and distribution, and new services and (iv) new technologies. CHUBU is promoting decarbonizing business to create a synergy between domestic business in Japan and global business to enhance its corporate value. For more details, please visit https://www.chuden.co.jp/english/ About Eavor Technologies Inc. Eavor (pronounced Ever) is a technology-based energy company led by a team dedicated to creating a clean, reliable, and affordable energy future on a global scale. Eavors solution (Eavor-Loop) represents the worlds first truly scalable form of clean, dispatchable, baseload capable, and flexible power. Eavor achieves this by mitigating or eliminating many of the issues that have traditionally hindered geothermal energy. Eavor instead circulates a benign working fluid that is completely isolated from the environment in a closed-loop, through a massive subsurface radiator. This radiator simply collects heat from the natural geothermal gradient of the Earth via conduction. Eavor has been supported by equity investments made by several leading global energy producers, investors, developers, and venture capital funds including Vickers Venture Partners, bp Ventures, Temasek, Chevron Technology Ventures, BHP Ventures, Helmerich & Payne, Precision Drilling, BDC Capital and CHUBU. info@eavor.com Contact Data Eavor Technologies Inc. John Redfern President & CEO John.Redfern@eavor.com Tel: +1-650-269-2501 Schaumburg, IL, Oct. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Specially designed for quickly sensing tool breakage during use within a machine tool, HEIDENHAIN CORPORATION introduces the new TD 110 Tool Breakage Detector. Providing contact-free inspection of drill bits and end mills, it can determine whether a tool is broken off by more than 2mm as it passes within a machine tool, yielding significant time and money savings. The TD 110 tool breakage sensor can be placed in the work envelope so that it is fast and easy to reach during the tool change. The inductive sensor can detect tools as they pass by while they are spinning at their operational speed. Thanks to its rapid scanning technology, even very small tools made of HSS steel and carbide are detected. The breakage sensor can then generate either a floating or an HTL switching signal and the machine control can evaluate it via standard instruction sets. These signals/outputs can be used to connect to a HEIDENHAIN TNC control or a PLC or to any other IOs of nearly every CNC control manufacturer. In addition, an LED signals whether a tool has been flagged. Overall benefits of the HEIDENHAINs new TD 110 tool breakage detector include: Maintenance-free sensor for reducing non-productive time for breakage inspection. Cooling lubricant and lightly contaminated tools are tolerated. Universally retrofittable thanks to standard interfaces for tool touch probes. About HEIDENHAIN DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GmbH, headquartered in Traunreut, Germany, develops and produces linear encoders, angle encoders, rotary encoders, and CNC controls as well as software solutions for the Digital Shop Floor. More than 8,600 employees worldwide are working on products that often lay the groundwork for technological advances in the most innovative global industries, including semiconductors, electronics, machine tools, and production equipment automation. The North American subsidiary is HEIDENHAIN CORPORATION, headquartered in Schaumburg, IL, and San Jose, CA. Here nine company brands are represented. More: www.heidenhain.us/about-us # High-resolution Image Available at: https://www.heidenhain.us/addl-materials/pr/2022/TD110.jpg Product contact : Gisbert Ledvon, HEIDENHAIN Director of Business Development, Machine Tool gledvon@heidenhain.com or 847-755-5569 Attachment WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) has announced $1.75 million in grants to seven minority educational institutions as part of an expanded pilot program to support entrepreneurship for undergraduate students. These grantees join a cohort of four other Minority Colleges and Universities awarded in 2021. The Minority Colleges and Universities pilot program will help fund the development of curricula, pilot courses, seminars, and replicable products and tools that address inclusive innovation, entrepreneurship, and general economic development. Grantees include Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions (ANNHSIs). As the product of an HBCU myself, I experienced firsthand the invaluable role our Minority Serving Institutions play in preparing and empowering students of color, said Donald R. Cravins, Jr., Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development. MBDAs mission to build a stronger, more equitable business ecosystem will not happen overnight. To create lasting change, we need to look ahead. These grants, which expand MBDAs entrepreneurship programs at Minority Serving Institutions throughout the country, will help create economic access and opportunity for Americas future entrepreneurs. The grantees include: Chaminade University of Honolulu, Hawaii ($300,711): Chaminade will develop and pilot a Sustainability Entrepreneurship course (expanding to a public certificate program) and develop a Pathways to Entrepreneurship series of workshops and seminars. Chaminade will develop and pilot a Sustainability Entrepreneurship course (expanding to a public certificate program) and develop a Pathways to Entrepreneurship series of workshops and seminars. Southern University and A&M College, Louisiana ($300,711): Southern University will establish an entrepreneurship institute for developing an entrepreneurship curriculum focused on innovation, technology and leadership education through academic courses, workshops, conferences, and electronic media. Southern University will establish an entrepreneurship institute for developing an entrepreneurship curriculum focused on innovation, technology and leadership education through academic courses, workshops, conferences, and electronic media. Shaw University, North Carolina ($300,016): Shaw will develop six classes and expand its entrepreneurship curricula creating a seminar series, distinguished entrepreneur series, experiential activities (micro internships), and a business incubator. Shaw will develop six classes and expand its entrepreneurship curricula creating a seminar series, distinguished entrepreneur series, experiential activities (micro internships), and a business incubator. Bowie State University, Maryland ($300,711): Bowie State will teach and deliver an entrepreneurial curriculum tailored to support undergraduate student entrepreneurs. Bowie State will teach and deliver an entrepreneurial curriculum tailored to support undergraduate student entrepreneurs. Universidad del Sagrado Corazon, Puerto Rico ($300,711): Sagrado will create five mentorship hubs composed of a specialized industry module as well as expand the technical support services and training for entrepreneurship. Sagrado will create five mentorship hubs composed of a specialized industry module as well as expand the technical support services and training for entrepreneurship. St. Augustine College, Illinois ($150,355): St. Augustine will enhance its existing small business program and create an entrepreneurship/business leadership concentration in the undergraduate business program. St. Augustine will enhance its existing small business program and create an entrepreneurship/business leadership concentration in the undergraduate business program. Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), New Mexico ($96,135): IAIA will enhance its Business and Entrepreneurship Certificate Program Development Project, which provides a solid foundation of business literacy and applied business skills. The funding is anticipated for a two-year term, funded annually. For the latest information on MBDA programs and announcements, please visit www.MBDA.gov. ### Attachment ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Society of Military Comptrollers (ASMC) welcomed its newest members to join its PPBE Reform Task Force: Steve Spear, Senior Lecturer, MIT Sloan School of Management Jason Kaufman, President, Chertoff Group Derren Burrell, President, Veteran Ventures Capital The new members will bring to the Task Force their expertise from the fields of academia and venture capitalism, contributing innovative and bold ideas that will support the Task Force's mission and work plan. Venture Capital / Private Equity firms are the engine of innovation in the U.S. economy today and an area that can be further leveraged by the Department of Defense in developing its acquisition strategies to support capability development. "We are excited to have these distinguished experts and business leaders join the PPBE Reform Task Force," said Rich Brady, ASMC CEO. "PPBE reform is the most important effort in defense resourcing in a generation, which not only impacts military readiness and advantage but also defense industry competitiveness." The PPBE Reform Task Force is responsible for increasing awareness and fostering public discussion on PPBE reform in the Department of Defense. Operating independently and in parallel with the Legislative Commission on PPBE Reform, the Task Force works to define a set of fundamental principles and policy actions to reimagine PPBE to meet the needs of the Executive Branch, the Legislative Branch, and industry in the 21st century. Task Force members represent expertise across all areas of PPBE, as well as technology, change management, contract and acquisition management, and data science in government and the private sector. About ASMC: ASMC, established in 1948, is the non-profit educational and professional organization for persons, military and civilian, involved in the overall field of defense financial management. ASMC promotes the education, training, and certification of its members, and supports the development and advancement of the defense financial management profession. The Society provides professional programs to keep members abreast of current issues and encourages the exchange of information, techniques, and approaches. ### Contact Information: Melissa Blacketer Associate Director of Communications & Public Affairs blacketer@asmconline.org 703-549-0360 Related Files 1.10 PPBE Task Force Adds New Members Press Release (FINAL) - CEO Edit.docx This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Littleton, Oct. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Littleton, Colorado - SnowPak proudly announces a wholesale partnership with Telluride ski resort for the 2022/23 ski season. This new partnership allows SnowPak access to Telluride's ski products to expand its product offering of Colorado resorts in its online mountain travel booking platform. "Telluride is one of the top ski resorts in Colorado, and SnowPak is very excited to work with them directly. SnowPak currently works with amazing resorts like Breckenridge, Vail, and Aspen, so adding Telluride to the company ski resort portfolio makes sense," said Jack Lee, Communications Director for SnowPak. Under this wholesale agreement, SnowPak and its connected travel agent representatives can distribute and package Telluride ski passes with other ski vacation travel products such as ski lodging, equipment rentals, ski lessons, and transportation services. The pandemic has dramatically impacted the ski travel industry as a whole. The ski resort industry has been heavily focused on mountain operations to maintain a safe environment for its guests for the past three ski seasons. The SnowPak Vacations - Telluride Ski Resort partnership is a sign that ski resorts are shifting their focus back to attracting destination skiers. "Destination ski travel was hit hard, but demand has picked up this ski season with many inquiries about Colorado ski packages. It looks like ski vacations are now coming back in a big way as a winter getaway option," said Mark Liang, Chief Product Officer of SnowPak. "The partnership with Telluride ski resort is a major step forward in meeting that demand. SnowPak has a lot of customers who are looking for a ski vacation to Colorado, and Telluride is definitely at the top of the list." SnowPak is one of North America's biggest ski tour operators specializing in Colorado ski vacations. Telluride ski resort is one of the top ski resorts in Colorado, voted the best in North America for the 2021/22 season by Canyon News. SnowPak's goal is to make destination ski vacations accessible to new skiers. ### For more information about SnowPak, contact the company here: SnowPak Jack Lee 1 (800) 891-2256 jack@snowpak.com 9878 W Belleview Ave, Suite 5008, Denver CO 80123 DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global musical instruments market stands at ~US$ 11.5 Bn as of now and is expected to reach US$ 14.8 Bn by the year 2032 at a CAGR of ~2.6% between 2022 and 2032. The major end-users of musical instruments are students pursuing degrees in or learning music, music composers, and orchestra owners. Besides, there are people who go for musical instruments merely as showpiece or even as a hobby. Its a known fact that musical instruments are pretty expensive, as they undergo several processes for getting the perfect sound/beats. The designing does require skills as well as time. The musical instruments immensely popular amongst customers (youngsters, in particular) are string instruments like violin and guitar. Piano and keyboards come in second. Saxophone and flute are also preferred by some people. However, its interesting to learn that harmonica is the top scorer this year. An ongoing trend is that of end-consumers going crazy with musical instruments. This could be reasoned with them looking upon knowing atleast a musical instrument as a source to flaunt themselves during household or commercial get-togethers. Get a Sample Copy of the Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1587 Another trend implies several musical instruments going digital. However, these digitized versions are preferred more as showpieces. Therefore, sales of fancy musical instruments are expected to soar in future. Also, music-based reality shows are erupting like never before. Amateurs are there to post their music videos on social media. With these trends, there would be nothing to stop the musical instruments market from growing going forward. It has also been observed that children who start playing musical instruments at a young age end up having a soft corner towards music in the long run. Some of them also take up music as a profession. There are universities offering graduate and post-graduate studies in different arms of music and film scoring as well. Along these lines, Yamaha Music Schools provide musical instruments to the students, apart from courses. Measures like these are bound to take the musical instruments market to a greater stride in future. Online shopping is another factor triggering the use of musical instruments. This could be attributed to quicker access to a constellation of musical instruments and services related to them and ease with which the payments are being made. Future Market Insights has, with the help of its line of expertise in the form of analysts and consultants, entailed these facts with insights in its latest market study entitled Musical Instruments Market. Key Takeaways from Musical Instruments Market Europe holds the largest market share with Germany being the dominant region. It is at the forefront as far as importing musical instruments, percussion instruments, and drums from Mexico and India are concerned. Germany is also amongst the top 5 exporters of instrument parts. Coming to the Asia-Pacific, India is the country having the largest and oldest musical heritage. Indian classical music itself has innumerable branches to look through. For instance Hindustani music and Carnatic music have an entirely different set of musical instruments to look up to. Hordes of craftsmen have been dedicatedly producing these traditional musical instruments since ages. The market is likely to expand voraciously with the influx of digital instruments. Live concerts are also fuelling the demand for musical instruments. With increase in population having an ear for music, the musical instruments market to witness stellar growth in the forecast period, says an analyst from Future Market Insights. Visit for Customization @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-1587 Competitive Arena Gibson has started with a virtual Guitar Tech service, wherein Gibson technicians interact with the customers one-on-one for self-servicing the instruments. Instruments from Epiphone, Gibson, Steinberger, and Kramer are serviced. They include acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins, banjo, and ukulele. Yamaha Musicals have their portable, budget 61 keys keyboard called PSR-E473. It was launched in March 2022 and features top-notch sounds that are found in the high-end keyboards. What does the Report Cover? Future Market Insights offers an exclusive perspective and various real-time insights on the musical instruments market in its latest study, presenting historical demand assessment of 2016 2021 and projections for 2022 2032. The research study is based on instrument type (string instruments, wind instruments, percussion instruments, and others), by price range (premium, mid-range, and budget), and by distribution channel (specialty shops, online markets, and wholesalers). Key Segments Profiled in the Musical Instruments Market By Instrument Type: String Instruments Wind instruments Percussion Instruments Others By Price Range: Premium Mid-range Budget By Distribution Channel: Specialty Shops Online Markets Wholesalers Use promo code ->> FMITODAY to get flat 20% discount@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/1587 Table of Content 1. Executive Summary 1.1. Global Market Outlook 1.2. Demand-side Trends 1.3. Supply-side Trends 1.4. Technology Roadmap Analysis 1.5. Analysis and Recommendations 2. Market Overview 2.1. Market Coverage / Taxonomy 2.2. Market Definition / Scope / Limitations 3. Market Background 3.1. Market Dynamics 3.1.1. Drivers 3.1.2. Restraints Browse Full Report@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/musical-instruments-market Explore FMIs Extensive Coverage on Consumer Product Domain Kids Musical Instrument Market Share: According to the latest research by Future Market Insights, the kids musical instrument market is set to witness steady growth during 2021-2031, with a CAGR of around 3%. Dive Computer Market Size: The dive computer market is expected to be worth US$ 634.7 Mn in 2022 and US$ 1,109.3 Mn by 2032, growing at a 5.7% CAGR from 2022 to 2032. Share of dive computer market in global dive equipment market is ~21%-26%. Microwave Market Trends: The global microwave market is estimated to reach US$ 8 Billion in 2022. Sales of microwaves are expected to increase at a steady 4% CAGR, pushing the market size to US$ 11.84 Billion by 2032. Paint Ingredient Market Analysis: The global paint ingredient market is projected to reach US$ 2,230 Million in 2032 while expanding at a CAGR of 3.2%. The market is likely to hold a value of US$ 1,630 Million in 2022. Washing Capsules Market Demand: The Washing Capsules Market is likely to hold the global market at a moderate CAGR of ~9.4% during the forecast period. The global market holds a forecasted revenue of ~US$ 8.03 Billion in 2022 and is likely to cross ~US$ 19.7 Billion by the end of 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. 1602-6 Jumeirah Bay X2 Tower, Plot No: JLT-PH2-X2A, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, United Arab Emirates For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Austin, Oct. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On this episode of the Growing Our Future Podcast, Aaron Alejandro introduces Les Hudson, educational specialist at Texas Education Agency (TEA) and Statewide Coordinator for Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR). TEA has six programs of study offering about 60 courses for high school students. Courses are designed for students to work specifically in the varied landscape of Texas. TEAs mission is to create career and college ready people in the fields of agribusiness; animal science; applied agricultural engineering, environmental and natural resources, food science and technology and plant science. According to Hudson, the CTE agriculture program is Making sure that every student has an opportunity to do what they want to do once they leave school [high]. Students gain the skills to move on into post-secondary education or have the ability to begin their career. He added that It is a huge win for everybody. Listen to the full episode with host Aaron Alejandro and Les Hudson here. In this podcast, the host covers: What are you grateful for today? How many CTEs are there in the State of Texas? What is your role with Agricultural Food and Natural Resources (AFNR)? How many courses are there in the Agricultural Food and Natural Resources Program? Tell us what your role is as the Statewide CTE Coordinator for AFNR? Can you give an overview of what we mean when we say TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills)? Why do CTE courses get weighted funding? Can you explain who gets the funding, the district or the program? How many Certified Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) are there in the state of Texas? What is the importance of a Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE)? What separates our Agricultural Science and CTE students from others? Fun Question: Whats the best concert that you have ever been to? About the Podcast Host and Guest The Texas FFA Foundations purpose is to strengthen agricultural education and the Texas FFA program, so each student can develop their potential for personal growth, career success and leadership in a global marketplace. Learn more about the Texas FFA Foundation at mytexasffa.org. Learn more about Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources at: https://www.txcte.org/resource/agriculture-food-and-natural-resources-career-cluster Media Communications Mission Matters Podcast Agency distributes the Growing Our Future podcast. Inquiries: adamtorres@missionmatters.com Media contact and published by KISS PR az@kisspr.com Attachment Pompano Beach, FL, Oct. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sky Aviation Holdings, considered the leading private aviation service in the US and worldwide, will launch its brand new SkyVue Avionics with a fully working display at the 2022 NBAA-BACE in Orlando, Florida. Sky Aviation Holdings is a family of companies that are dedicated to the cause of being a one-stop service for all aircraft needs of clients. Since its inception, it has raised the bar for Private Jet Sales in the US and amongst clients worldwide. Moreover, it offers a wide range of services, including fractional ownership, maintenance, and aircraft insurance, that have ticked the right boxes for its clients. SkyVue 1000 Panel Never compromising on the safety of its customers and employees, Sky Aviation Holdings has remained committed to providing excellent service. And its these same principles and philosophies that can be expected from SkyVue Avionics, which is the newest addition to the family. Booth #3288 at the 2022 NBAA-BACE in Orlando, Florida will be the venue for its launch with a fully working display, and all interested parties are invited. The new company has come into being to modernize outdated and obsolete avionic packages with state-of-the-art technology. Interestingly, this technology has been created by pilots for pilots. Sky Aviation Holdings has vast experience in Aircraft Maintenance, and at the heart of it is the team of experienced in-house engineers, who have worked in the industry for an average of 45 years. They have brought that experience to the fore and strived to ensure that aircraft performance can be significantly improved with powerful and modern avionic solutions. With its wide-ranging services, the new company is set to become the top resource for STC engineering data packages for quick and efficient panel upgrades and modifications. It can also be the one-stop shop for installation, retrofit, modification, and repair services for various jet aircraft. Sky Aviation Holdings, which is also known for Fractional Aircraft Ownership, specializes in Cessna Citation Jets, Beechjets, Hawkers, and Learjets. It has the prestigious Supplemental Type Certificate (STC), which speaks highly of the quality of its installations. The company has also completed the rigorous process to get FAA approval to modify aircraft from their original designs. It ensures that its customers dont have to undergo the tedious validation process for their upgrades and updates. Sky Aviation Holdings also brings clients the best Private Aircraft Insurance options suited to their needs. Thats why it has become an expansive and versatile resource for a wide range of private aviation services. Its values and commitment to quality have been imbibed in SkyVue Avionics, which will be out in full force at the 2022 NBAA-BACE in Orlando, Florida. To learn more about the company and its services one can visit https://skyaviationholdings.com/. About Sky Aviation Holdings The family of companies strategically designed to be the one-stop solution for clients all aircraft needs is highly regarded as the provider of top-quality private aviation services in the US and worldwide. ### Media Contact Sky Aviation Holdings URL: https://skyaviationholdings.com/ Phone: (888) 207-4273 newsroom: news.38digitalmarket.com Attachments English Estonian On 19 October 2022, AS Merko Ehitus Eesti, part of AS Merko Ehitus group, signed a contract with Centre for Defence Investment for the construction of new buildings in the Tapa campus of the Defence Forces in Laane-Viru County. The agreement includes the construction of four multi-purpose halls, two shower facility halls and a gas station, with accompanying external communications and road surfaces. The contract value is approximately EUR 7.1 million, plus value added tax. The scheduled deadline of the works is in May 2023. AS Merko Ehitus Eesti ( merko.ee ) is Estonian leading construction company, which offers construction services in general construction, civil engineering and residential construction and develops residential real estate. To ensure the best quality and convenience for home buyers, Merko manages all phases of the development: planning, design, construction, sales and service during the warranty period. Additional information: Mr. Peeter Laidma, division director of AS Merko Ehitus Eesti, phone +372 680 5105. Urmas Somelar Head of Finance AS Merko Ehitus +372 650 1250 urmas.somelar@merko.ee Noh Young-min, former presidential chief of staff under Moon Jae-in / Newsis DPK claims prosecution's attempted raid on party headquarters is part of political retaliation By Jung Min-ho Former presidential chief of staff Noh Young-min was questioned Wednesday over his role in repatriating two North Korean fishermen against their will in 2019 as prosecutors expand their investigation into who gave the final order. This comes a day after prosecutors asked judges to issue arrest warrants for former Defense Minister Suh Wook and former Coast Guard Commissioner General Kim Hong-hee under the previous Moon Jae-in administration on charges of deleting intelligence reports in an effort to frame as a defector a fisheries official, who was killed by North Korea in 2020. Noh, who held the post between January 2019 and December 2020, is a key figure believed to know whether Moon was directly involved in both cases as former top officials under him are being investigated for alleged abuse of power and destruction of evidence among other crimes. On Nov. 2, 2019, South Korea's Navy captured the fishermen in waters off the nation's east coast. After a three-day investigation, officials determined that the two had conspired with a third person to murder 16 people and were on the run and sent them back to North Korea on Nov. 7. Their fishing boat the most critical evidence of their alleged crimes was disinfected and returned a day later. According to the National Intelligence Service's first report sent to the Office of National Security, the fishermen, in a written statement, expressed a desire to defect to South Korea. The ruling People Power Party, which filed a complaint against Noh with the prosecution in August, believes a prompt and coordinated effort to deport the fishermen began following a meeting he presided over at the presidential office on Nov. 4, 2019. In a report the spy agency sent to the Ministry of Unification that day, there were no words suggesting their intention to defect to the South. Investigators are looking into who was behind the change. There is little question that the fishermen did not want to return to North Korea. The photos released by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration in July showed them resisting as South Korean officials handed them over to North Korea at the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjom. Prosecutors and staff of Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office gather in front of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) headquarters in Seoul, Wednesday, after their attempted raid was met with severe resistance from DPK members. Yonhap On Friday, the Seoul Central District Court will hold a hearing to decide whether to approve arrest warrants for Suh and Kim on charges of removing intelligence reports containing clues as to how the fisheries official ended up in North Korea's waters on Sept. 22, 2020. According to the findings by the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI), the Ministry of Defense and Coast Guard deliberately ignored information suggesting that the official accidently fell from his boat. The state auditor found that he was wearing a life jacket emblazoned with Chinese characters. Given that the particular product is not traded in the South Korean market, the BAI said he may have received it from one of the Chinese fishing boats in the area. This information debunks the Moon administration's main argument that he, unlike other officials, was wearing a life jacket while on duty because he was getting ready to jump into the sea to defect to North Korea. The BAI confirmed Kim even told his officials that he would pretend he did not know that the official was wearing the unusual life jacket. Investigators are focusing on finding out who made the final decision to delete the intelligence reports and what information was contained in them. In a separate case, prosecutors attempted to raid the DPK's headquarters the same day, after detaining Kim Yong, vice president of its think tank located inside the building. DPK members blocked the investigators, claiming that the raid is nothing more than political retaliation against the opposition party. DPK floor leader Park Hong-keun claimed that such a move is unprecedented. Park urged all DPK lawmakers to come to the party's headquarters to protest. The DPK also said they would boycott the National Assembly's audit. SAN DIEGO, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Hausfeld LLP, Berger Montague PC, Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, and Justice Catalyst Law, filed a federal antitrust class action against RealPage, Inc. (RealPage) and several of RealPages property management clients (the Lessor Defendants) (collectively, Defendants). Counsel represents the plaintiffs who filed this suit, as well as a proposed class of similarly situated individuals who paid inflated prices for the rental of real estate from the Lessor Defendants and other clients of RealPage. The complaint alleges that Defendants conspired to use RealPages so-called revenue management service to set rental prices and restrict the supply of available rental units in major metropolitan areas across the United States. Plaintiffs allege that by using this conspiracy to stifle competition, Defendants inflated rents to supra-competitive levels and unlawfully suppressed the supply of rental housing, injuring the plaintiffs and thousands of renters across the United States. Defendant RealPage was a public company from 2010 until 2020, when it was purchased by private equity firm, Thoma Bravo, in a transaction that valued RealPage at approximately $10.2 billion. The Lessor Defendants are some of the largest owners and managers of rental real estate in the United States. "Today's lawsuit plausibly alleges that Lessors of rental units have coordinated to drive rents up to unprecedented levels, exacerbating the nation's affordable housing crisis, said Gary I. Smith Jr., a Partner at Hausfeld. We look forward to vindicating our clients' rights in this important federal antitrust litigation. Attorneys working on the case include Gary I. Smith Jr., Swathi Bojedla, and Katie R. Beran from Hausfeld, Sophia M. Rios, Eric L. Cramer, Michaela L. Wallin, and Daniel J. Walker from Berger Montague, Brendan P. Glackin and Dean M. Harvey from Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, and Janet M. Herold, Benjamin D. Elga, and Lucy B. Bansal from Justice Catalyst Law. About Hausfeld Hausfeld is a leading litigation law firm with offices in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., as well as in the UK and continental Europe. In the last decade, Hausfeld has won landmark trials, negotiated complex settlements, and recovered billions of dollars for clients both in and out of court. Hausfeld lawyers consistently apply forward-thinking ideas and creative solutions to the most vexing global legal challenges faced by clients. As a result, the firms litigators have developed numerous innovative legal theories that have expanded the quality and availability of legal recourse for claimants around the globe. Visit https://www.hausfeld.com for more information. About Berger Montague PC Berger Montaguewith offices in Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Minneapolis, San Francisco, and San Diegois one of the nations most experienced and successful complex litigation firms. Berger Montague pioneered the antitrust class action more than five decades ago and prides itself on successfully representing plaintiffs in some of the most important class action cases in the country. Included among the more than $40 billion the firm has recovered in verdicts and settlements for class members over 50 years, the firm has achieved one of the largest antitrust class action settlements in US history (nearly $6 billion). About Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP is a 120-attorney law firm with offices in San Francisco, New York, Nashville, and Munich. We are among the largest law firms in the United States that only represent plaintiffs. Driven by a strong and principled sense of social justice, we are committed to achieving justice for investors, consumers, employees, patients, and business owners; promoting safer products and fair competition; protecting our environment; assisting individuals blow the whistle on fraud; safeguarding the rights of patent and copyright holders; ensuring our right to privacy is preserved; and upholding the civil rights of citizens worldwide. Since our founding in 1972, Lieff Cabraser has litigated and resolved hundreds of class action lawsuits and thousands of individual cases. We have played a significant role in achieving verdicts and settlements valued at $100 million or greater in 86 separate cases, including 28 cases with recoveries in excess of $1 billion. Many of these cases are among the most significant civil cases in the United States over the past half century. About Justice Catalyst Law, Inc. Justice Catalyst Law, Inc. (JCL) is a nonprofit law firm that activates path-breaking approaches to social justice lawyering that have real-world impact and improve the lives of those denied access to justice. JCLs work emphasizes the commercial and private rights violations that underlie systemic social and economic injustice. By putting problems and people first, and analyzing them from multiple perspectives, JCL creatively explores whether litigation can advance human and civil rights or economic and social justice. JCLs team has extensive expertise in effectuating broad-scale change through legal work in both the litigation and policy arenas and have been certified as class counsel in a range of civil rights, wage and hour, consumer, and antitrust class actions nationwide. More information about JCL is available at www.justicecatalyst.org. CONTACT: Deborah Schwartz Media Relations 240 355-8838 deborah@mediarelationsinc.com VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A.I.S. Resources Limited (TSX.V: AIS, OTCQB: AISSF) (the Company or AIS) announces that it has granted a 9 month option to C29 Metals Limited, listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, (C29, ASX:C29) to explore the Pocitos 7 and 9 licences for lithium at the Pocitos Salar in Argentina. This completes the commercial agreements for all the exploration licences (Properties) AIS optioned from Ekeko SA in June 2021 on the Pocitos Salar. C29 Option Agreement Key Elements Option Fees US$25,000 first option fee per exploration licence payable on contract signing that permits 30 days property title due diligence. AIS has provided the current environmental report to C29 and has received the first option fee of US$50,000; US$115,000 second option fee per exploration licence payable 30 days after the date the first option fee was paid for each property, entitles the C29 to undertake a technical evaluation of the Properties until March 30, 2023; US$75,000 third option fee per licence payable after the technical evaluation is completed, payable within 2 days of March 30, 2023; Total potential option fees is USD$430,000 if both licences are purchased. Purchase of 80% Interest US$2.38 million (1400Has x US$1,700 per Ha) for an 80% interest in both licences payable June 30, 2023; AIS retains a 20% interest in both licences; C29 has the right to buy out AISs 20% interest at a price determined by the FOB lithium carbonate price multiplied by 2% of the indicated and measured resource and 0.5% of the inferred resource of the contained lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE). Lithium Projects and Royalties Overview Candela II, Incahuasi Salar At Candela II, AIS has a 20% equity interest. Spey Resources Corp (Spey), has a production drilling program planned for 1st quarter 2023. Spey has the right to buy out AISs 20% interest for US$6 million assuming the resource does not exceed 45,000 tonnes lithium metal equivalent or 239,000 LCE. If the resource exceeds 45,000 tonnes lithium metal equivalent Spey must pay an additional US$250,000 for each additional 5 tonnes lithium metal equivalent. Pocitos 1, Pocitos Salar At Pocitos 1, Recharge Resources (Recharge) has commenced drilling a third well. Recharge optioned the property from Spey which had earlier optioned the property from AIS. AIS retains a 7.5% royalty on lithium carbonate sales. Pocitos 2, Pocitos Salar At Pocitos 2, Spey will commence drilling at the end of October 2022. AIS retains a 7.5% royalty on lithium carbonate sales. Yareta XIII, Cauchari Salar AIS is seeking to option the Yareta XIII property in the Cauchari Salar and is reviewing expressions of interest. Spey and Recharge both have signed off-take contracts with Richlink Capital Pty Ltd. for the supply of lithium to two Richlink clients, which are large Chinese lithium product manufacturers. Both Spey and Recharge have signed production contracts with DLE lithium chemical production company EkoSolve Limited (EkoSolve) based in Australia (www.ekosolve.com.au). About Ekosolve EkoSolve believes it can build and commission plants in two years assuming all regulatory approvals are in place. The EkoSolve process uses solvent exchange, which has an excellent ESG green footprint, does not consume fresh water and 98.3% of the solvent is retained after each process cycle. EkoSolve recovers more than 93% of contained lithium in the brines. Fig 1. Recharge Resources drill rig operating at Pocitos 1. Spey Resources Corp will commence drilling at the beginning of November 2022 at Pocitos 2. https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/63926c76-614a-4067-bde4-52e4275bf131 Technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Phillip Thomas, BSc Geol, MBM, FAusIMM MAIG MAIMVA(CMV) who is a Qualified Person under the definitions established by the National Instrument 43-101 and is a director of A.I.S. Resources Limited. About A.I.S. Resources Limited A.I.S. Resources Limited is a publicly traded investment issuer listed on the TSX Venture Exchange focused on lithium, gold, precious and base metals exploration. AIS value add strategy is to acquire prospective exploration projects and enhance their value by better defining the mineral resource with a view to attracting joint venture partners and enhancing the value of our portfolio. The Company is managed by a team of experienced geologists and investment bankers, with a track-record of successful capital markets achievements. AIS owns 100% of the 28 sq km Fosterville-Toolleen Gold Project located 9.9 km from Kirkland Lakes Fosterville gold mine, a 60% interest in the 57 sq km Bright Gold Project (with the right to acquire 100%), a 40% interest in the 58 sq km New South Wales Yalgogrin Gold Project, and 100% interest in the 167 sq km Kingston Gold Project in Victoria Australia near Stawell and Navarre. AIS has a 20% joint venture interest with Spey Resources Corp. in the Incahuasi lithium brine project in Argentina. AIS has further options to acquire four lithium concessions in the Pocitos Salar and one lithium concession in the Cauchari Salar in Argentina. AIS has granted the option to acquire the Pocitos 1 and 2 licences to Spey Resources by June 30, 2023. If exercised AIS will retain a 7.5% royalty. AIS has granted an option to acquire an 80% interest in the Pocitos 7 and 9 licences to C29 Resources by June 30, 2023. On Behalf of the Board of Directors, A.I.S. Resources Limited Martyn Element President, CEO, Chairman Corporate Contact For further information, please contact: Martyn Element. Chairman T: +1-604-220-6266 E:melement@aisresources.com Website:www.aisresources.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. ADVISORY: This press release contains forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations 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. 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. Zaandam, the Netherlands, October 19, 2022 Ahold Delhaize announces that it has acquired a minority stake in advertising technology company Adhese. With this step Ahold Delhaize accelerates the development of innovative digital advertising opportunities for B2B partners across Europe to create more tailored and relevant customer experiences. Ahold Delhaize is committed to accelerating its investments in building scalable digital advertising capabilities so its brands can build deeper digital customer relationships, online and offline. Ahold Delhaizes investment in Adhese underpins this commitment to provide shoppers with seamless, highly tailored and relevant customer experiences and promotions. Wouter Kolk, CEO Ahold Delhaize Europe & Indonesia commented on the announcement by saying: Customers expect us to make shopping easier and improve their customer experience, for example by providing digital and in-store services and promotions. The partnership with Adhese allows us to develop and accelerate digital advertising solutions for B2B partners that can scale with our brands and generate insights to help us strengthen our omnichannel offering. Ahold Delhaizes local Dutch brand Albert Heijn takes the lead in the partnership with Adhese through AH Media Services. Ultimately this partnership will serve more brands in Europe, including for example Delhaize in Belgium, in support of ecosystems to connect shopping experiences that offer customers more convenience, value and relevance. Marit van Egmond, CEO of Albert Heijn said: "Through our own AH Media Services self-service platform we already provide advertising positions in Albert Heijn, Etos and Gall & Galls digital media like AH.nl and our apps. The stake in Adhese will accelerate further development of these attractive digital advertising opportunities. We are proud as a food tech company to be at the center of developing this innovative digital service for a further roll out to Ahold Delhaizes other local brands in Europe. Tim Sturtewagen, CPO Adhese added: "With Ahold Delhaize and Albert Heijn as new partners, we get the opportunity to accelerate the realization of our innovative roadmap. Adtech is developing rapidly, and it is important for us to be able to stay at the forefront of technology to deliver powerful capabilities for advertisers and publishers. We now have partners on board that fully share this belief and that give us the space to build on this story with others as well. So, for both existing and new customers, this partnership is fantastic news." - ENDS - Cautionary notice This communication includes forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Words and expressions such as drive, opportunities, committed, expect, step, opportunities, accelerating, underpins, commitment, journey, will, further, belief or other similar words or expressions are typically used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and that may cause actual results of Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize N.V. (the Company) to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set forth in the Companys public filings and other disclosures. Forward-looking statements reflect the current views of the Companys management and assumptions based on information currently available to the Companys management. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and the Company does not assume any obligation to update such statements, except as required by law. For more information Press office: +31 88 6595134 / media.relations@aholddelhaize.com Investor relations: +31 88 659 5213 / investor.relations@aholddelhaize.com Social media: Instagram: @Ahold-Delhaize | LinkedIn: @Ahold-Delhaize | Twitter: @AholdDelhaize About Ahold Delhaize Ahold Delhaize is one of the worlds largest food retail groups and a leader in both supermarkets and e-commerce. Its family of great local brands serves 55 million customers each week, both in stores and online, in the United States, Europe, and Indonesia. Together, these brands employ more than 413,000 associates in 7,452 grocery and specialty stores and include the top online retailer in the Benelux and the leading online grocers in the Benelux and the United States. Ahold Delhaize brands are at the forefront of sustainable retailing, sourcing responsibly, supporting local communities and helping customers make healthier choices. The companys focus on four growth drivers drive omnichannel growth, elevate healthy and sustainable, cultivate best talent and strengthen operational excellence is helping to fulfil its purpose, achieve its vision and prepare its brands and businesses for tomorrow. Headquartered in Zaandam, the Netherlands, Ahold Delhaize is listed on the Euronext Amsterdam and Brussels stock exchanges (ticker: AD) and its American Depositary Receipts are traded on the over-the-counter market in the U.S. and quoted on the OTCQX International marketplace (ticker: ADRNY). For more information, please visit:www.aholddelhaize.com. Dublin, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Hydroponics Market by Type (Aggregate systems and Liquid systems), Equipment, Input (Nutrients and Grow media), Crop Type (Vegetables, Fruits, Flowers), Farming method (Indoor and Outdoor), Crop area, and Region - Global Forecast to 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. 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 53.4 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 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 plant's 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. 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) Nature's Miracle (India) Bright Farms (US) InFarm (Germany) Badia Farms (UAE) Research Coverage Market Dynamics Drivers Higher Yield Compared with Conventional Agricultural Practices Controlled Environment Farming Eliminates External Factors on Crop Growth Conservation of Natural Resources Improved Yield and Higher Productivity with Limited Land Resources Lower Water Utilization Compared with Conventional Farming Methods Increase in Demand for Cannabis Using Hydroponics Restraints High Capital Investment for Large-Scale Farms Lack of Government Incentives and High Prices of Hydroponically Grown Produce Dissuading Market Adoption Opportunities Growth in Popularity of Hydroponics to Provide High Profit Margins Increase in Application of Hydroponic Systems in Restaurants and Grocery Stores Challenges Debate on Certifying Hydroponic Produce as Organic Spread of Waterborne Diseases and Algae in Closed Systems Risk of Equipment Failure and Delay in Learning Curve Among Growers Key Topics Covered: 1 Introduction 2 Research Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Premium Insights 5 Market Overview 6 Industry Trends 7 Hydroponics Market, by Type 8 Hydroponics Market, by Equipment 9 Hydroponics Market, by Input 10 Hydroponics Market, by Crop Type 11 Hydroponics Market, by Farming Method 12 Hydroponics Market, by Crop Area 13 Hydroponics Market, by Region 14 Competitive Landscape 15 Company Profiles 16 Adjacent and Related Markets 17 Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/bve79g Attachment English Dutch Agfa's new membrane technology enables the most efficient, safe and sustainable production of green hydrogen Mortsel, Belgium 19 October 2022 Agfa is proud to announce it received the essenscia Innovation Award 2022 for its groundbreaking Zirfon UTP 220 membrane technology for the most efficient, safe and sustainable production of green hydrogen. The prestigious award was presented by HRH Princess Astrid at the Square Convention Centre in Brussels yesterday evening. Pascal Juery, CEO Agfa-Gevaert said, "We are committed to contribute to the energy transition journey and the decarbonization of industrial and transport activities through our Zirfon green hydrogen membranes. Our breakthrough membrane technology was developed in-house at our Belgian site. It is based on our expertise in casting technology, dispersion methods and chemistry. Customers worldwide appreciate our separation membranes for their unparalleled productivity and extreme reliability. With them, they are able to produce four times more hydrogen than with a conventional membrane. The leading Fraunhofer Institute also independently confirmed that Agfa's Zirfon membranes are the most cost-effective technology for hydrogen production via alkaline electrolysis. Our membranes have been selected for large scale hydrogen projects by the leading players in the Green Hydrogen industry." About ZIRFON Green hydrogen is produced through water electrolysis, a process that uses green electrical energy to convert water into oxygen and hydrogen. These gases are separated by a membrane at the heart of the electrolysis that largely determines the efficiency and reliability of the hydrogen production system. Zirfon membranes for advanced alkaline electrolysis are appreciated by customers around the world for their persistently high productivity, even under dynamic operating conditions. Another advantage is their excellent durability, which benefits both the reliability and maintenance costs of the electrolytic system. Learn more at www.agfa.com/zirfon About Agfa The Agfa-Gevaert Group is a leading company in imaging technology and IT systems with over 150 years of experience. The Group consists of four divisions: Radiology Solutions, HealthCare IT, Digital Print & Chemicals and Offset Solutions. They develop, manufacture and market analog and digital systems for the healthcare sector, for specific industrial applications and for the printing industry. Agfa is a member of the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance and of Hydrogen Europe, which represents European industry, national associations and research centers active in the hydrogen and fuel cell sector. Contact Nick Valckx, Business Manager H2 Membranes, nick.valckx@agfa.com TERRITORIES OF MUSQUEAM, SQUAMISH AND TSLEIL-WAUTUTH NATIONS and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vancity is taking another step in its commitment to climate action. It will be the first financial institution in Canada to offer its individual and business members a way to estimate the CO 2 emissions that come from their purchases. Starting in the new year, every Vancity Visa credit cardholder will be able to track the estimated carbon emissions of their credit card purchases. Members will be able to see how their monthly tally compares to the national average, or which credit card purchases have the highest environmental cost. The Carbon Counter will help Vancity cardholders understand the carbon footprint of their purchases as well as provide advice on what they can do to reduce their emissions footprint. We know many Vancity members are looking for ways to reduce the impact they have on the environment, particularly when it comes to the emissions that cause climate change, said Jonathan Fowlie, Vancitys Chief External Relations Officer who oversees the credit unions impact and climate efforts. As a member-owned financial cooperative, we believe it is our job to do everything we can to help, especially when it comes to the decisions people make with their money. This tool will equip Vancity Visa credit cardholders with valuable information on their purchases and enable them to connect their daily spending decisions to the change they want to see in the world. Vancity is partnering with ecolytiq, one of Europes leading climate engagement technology companies, to provide the first Visa Carbon Counter in Canada. The ecolytiq solution combines climate awareness, education, and behavioral nudging in its tool for financial institutions. We are proud to support the launch of Vancitys CO 2 calculator, a first on a Visa card in Canada. This is a great example of how we can empower consumers to understand their environmental impact and honour Visas commitment to a sustainable future, said Stacey Madge, Country Manager & President, Visa Canada. Vancity is a values-driven member-owned cooperative where many of the members choose to bank because of the credit unions record and ongoing work on the environment. Consumer research* by Visa indicates 70 per cent of Canadian consumers say sustainability is very important to them, and, importantly, more than half want to better understand their carbon footprint. The Vancity Carbon Counter will allow them to do that. We are breaking new ground here, said Ulrich Pietsch, ecolytiq Co-Founder and Managing Director. We developed a White Label solution to offer financial institutions all over the world an agile and effective way to offer their customers tools to forge a better tomorrow. With the launch of Carbon Counter, Vancity is solidifying its role as a leading sustainability innovator both in Canada and in the global banking world. Vancity wants to not only help its members understand the impact of their spending on the environment, but also provide insights into lower emission options. In addition to providing a snapshot of your count, the Carbon Counter provides insights on how to reduce your carbon spending and tips for more sustainable choices. About Vancity Vancity is a values-based financial co-operative serving the needs of its more than 560,000 member-owners and their communities, with offices and 54 branches located in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Victoria, Squamish and Alert Bay, within the territories of the Coast Salish and Kwakwakawakw people. With $33 billion in assets plus assets under administration, Vancity is Canadas largest community credit union. Vancity uses its assets to help improve the financial well-being of its members while at the same time helping to develop healthy communities that are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable. Media Contact: mediarelations@vancity.com T: 778-837-0394 About ecolytiq The Sustainability-as-a-Service solution from ecolytiq enables banks, fintech companies and financial service providers to show their customers the individual impact their purchasing behavior is having on the environment in real time. The ecolytiq software calculates personal environmental impacts, such as CO2 values, on the basis of payment transactions. In November 2020, ecolytiq joined the Visa Fintech Partner Connect programme, enabling banks to seamlessly implement their sustainability strategies using payment data. www.ecolytiq.com ecolytiq media contact: Yuki Hayashi I ecolytiq GmbH I media@ecolytiq.com T: +49 30 2201232-80 * Research was conducted by Visa Inc. among 501 Canadians aged 18 and older, between August and September 2021. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2df97af6-bb83-4fdc-8cd5-ea673959641c Singapore, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CrimsonLogic, a global trade facilitation solution provider headquartered in Singapore, launches its Cross-Border E-Commerce (CBEC) program at the World Customs Organization Technology Conference held in the Netherlands. The company will implement pilot runs of its E-Commerce solution for Kenya Trade Network Agency (KenTrade), the Kenyan government agency in charge of managing the National Electronic Single Window System for Trade and facilitating trade logistics. Developed to respond to the boom in global e-commerce trade volume, the Cross-Border E-Commerce (CBEC) program utilizes Intelligent Data Extraction to digitize data from trade documents and maps the data into a format compatible with Customs authorities platforms. Simplified and automatic data submission can then be made via a Single Window system to Customs and other stakeholders, which reduces duplication of work. Tapping on Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Big Data Analytic tools and techniques, a 360 degree real-time risk assessment can also be performed to ensure utmost security and compliance. The CBEC program is modular and can be integrated into existing digital systems being used by Customs authorities globally, and helps authorities maintain a high degree of control and visibility over the movement and clearance of large quantities of goods. It also enables Customs authorities to be connected with other government agencies as well as businesses, with the ability to scale with ease, in order for both the public and private sectors to enhance their competitiveness on the global stage. We look forward to our partnership with CrimsonLogic in piloting the Cross-Border eCommerce solution, said David Ngarama, Acting CEO of KenTrade. With this solution, we hope to further ease the flow of eCommerce cargo for our business community, while tapping on CrimsonLogics technology to ensure traceability and accountability of shipments coming in and out of our borders. We are excited to partner with KenTrade in enabling greater efficiency in the cross-border flow of eCommerce goods for Kenya, said Lawrence Ng, CEO of CrimsonLogic. The sheer volume of data, coupled with multiple individual traders, makes the regulation of eCommerce trade complex and time-consuming. But by utilizing advanced Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Optical Character Recognition technology, fused with decades of expertise in trade facilitation, we are confident of easing the flow of goods across borders while assisting customs authorities to ensure a high degree of compliance and efficiency. CrimsonLogics CBEC program dovetails into the companys overarching vision of Total Tradea term coined by CrimsonLogic, which refers to the end-to-end value chain of cross-border trade, across government and business segments. CrimsonLogics Total Trade Platform harnesses the companys three decades of expertise in trade facilitation & digital technologies, to help governments and businesses improve levels of control, connectivity and competitiveness in global trade. Attachment Pune, India, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global retail analytics market size was USD 5.20 billion in 2020. Fortune Business Insights has published a detailed report covering latest market size estimates, industry share, developments and revenue forecast to 2028. The report is titled, Retail Analytics Market Forecast, 2021-2028.. As per the report, the global market size is projected to grow from USD 5.84 billion in 2021 to USD 18.33 billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 17.7% in the forecast period. Request a Sample Copy of the Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/retail-analytics-market-101273 Key Industry Development May 2021: Nielsen Consumer LLC attained Label Insight, which is U.S.-situated data intelligence in fitness and wellness companies. This acquisition is estimated that the company shall achieve a spot as a strong data supplier to aid retail and industrial companies in the health and wellness segment. Report Scope & Segmentation Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2021 to 2028 Forecast Period 2021 to 2028 CAGR 17.7% 2028 Value Projection USD 18.33 Billion Base Year 2020 Retail Analytics Market Size in 2020 USD 5.20 Billion Historical Data for 2017 to 2019 No. of Pages 140 Segments covered Type, Deployment, Retail Store Type, Function Offerings, Function and Geography Retail Analytics involves providing crucial analytical data such as inventory levels, consumer demands, supply chain movement, and sales to facilitate effective procurement and marketing decisions. Emergence of modern technology has enabled the retail companies to incorporate data analytics to create a better understanding of the customers need based on this purchasing history. In addition to this, analytics model helps the retail business to attract and gain potential customers by improving operational activities. Therefore, several companies are adopting analytics to forecast inventory and manage the existing resources. Several regions are bracing for a post-coronavirus period to put back the economy on track that came to a complete halt owing to lockdown announced by the government agencies. For instance, in the United States the government is mulling of partially and phased lifting of the lockdown that is being supported by Tango, a tech company that provides integrated workspace management system. The company provides a tool for the retailers to plan strategies to re-open the stores. Furthermore, the tool aids the retailers visualize live locations on the map that informs them about the exposure of the virus per million incidents where their stores are located. Additionally, the tech company is providing its technology free of charge to several clothing, F&B stores, and convenience stores across the region. Click here to get the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this Market: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/retail-analytics-market-101273 Report Coverage The report provides an exhaustive study of the market segments and a comprehensive analysis of the market. A profound evaluation of the current market trends as well as the future opportunities are presented in the report. Additionally, it shares a thorough analysis of the regional insights and how they shape the market growth. The COVID-19 impacts have been added to the report to assist investors and business owners in understanding the threats in a professional manner. The report focuses on the key players and their remarkable strategies to stay in the top position in the market. Drivers and Restraints: Increasing Adoption of AI and Machine Learning to Spur Demand Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the key element involved in the digitalization of retail stores. It helps the business to create engaging interaction between them and the consumers by personalizing the purchasing experience. In addition to this, modern technologies such as AI and machine learning benefits the retail industry by detecting latest trends regarding the consumers buying pattern to help the companies plan effective business strategies. Increasing adoption of AI by the companies in their operations is anticipated to drive the growth of the market during the forecast period. For instance, in May 2020, Simons, a leading Canadian fashion retailer, adopted AI in its retail merchandising by collaborating with Retalon, an AI and predictive analysis firm. According to the company, they partnership will enable them to precisely forecast demand and generate shipments. Furthermore, it will assist in allocating products and calculate replenishment accurately. Segmentation Based on type, the retail analytics market is divided into software and services. On the basis of deployment type, the market is separated into on-premises and cloud. Based on the retail store type, the market is further classified into hypermarkets & supermarkets and retail chains. In terms of region, this market is categorized into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. On the basis of functionality, the market is finally segregated into customer management, supply chain management, merchandising, strategy & planning, and in-store operations. Customer management is anticipated to attain the majority of the segment share during the mentioned timeframe. The shifting consumer demand is the crucial aspect resulting in enhanced trades and income. Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/retail-analytics-market-101273 Competitive Landscape Continuous Developments is the Key Strategy to Strengthen Companys Position The key players in the market are keen on integrating advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, blockchain, and more with the retail analytics solution. Through these advances, the vendors are aiming to offer dedicated analytics tools to upsurge the customer experience. The players are launching a new and innovative solution to build the dominant market position. Regional Analysis: High Adoption of E-Commerce in North America to Promote Growth Among the regions, North America is expected to remain at the forefront owing to rapid adoption of e-commerce services and a growing number of retail stores during the forecast period. In addition to this, the region was worth USD 1280.6 million in 2018 and is likely to hold highest global retail analytics market revenue in the forthcoming years. Asia-Pacific, on the other hand, generated a revenue of about USD 735.1 million in 2018 and is likely to rise gradually. This is ascribable to factors such as increasing adoption of smart phones and broad deployment of internet services in the region. Furthermore, the retailers in countries such as India, Japan, and China are highly adopting retail analytics in their business that will bode well for the growth of the market during the forecast period. List of Key Players Covered in the Report: Microsoft Corporation (Washington, United States) HCL Technologies Limited (Uttar Pradesh, India) FLIR Systems, Inc. (Oregon, United States) IBM Corporation (New York, United States) Oracle Corporation (Texas, United States) SAP SE (Walldorf, Germany) QlikTech International A.B. (Pennsylvania, United States) Fractal Analytics Inc. (New York, United States) Wipro Limited (Bangalore, India) Nielsen Consumer LLC (Illinois, United States) Quick Buy Retail Analytics Market Research Report https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/101273 Major Table of Contents: Key Market Insights and Strategic Recommendations Companies Profiled Overview Key Management Headquarters etc. Offerings/Business Segments Key Details Employee Size Key Financials Past and Current Revenue Geographical Share Business Segment Share Recent Developments Annexure / Appendix Global Retail Analytics Market Size Estimates and Forecasts (Quantitative Data), By Segments, 2017-2028 By Type (USD) Software Services By Deployment (USD) On Premise Cloud By Retail Store Type (USD) Hypermarkets and Supermarkets Retail Chains By Function (USD) Customer Management Supply Chain Management Merchandising Strategy and Planning In-Store Operations By Region (USD) North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa Latin America North America Retail Analytics Market Size Estimates and Forecasts (Quantitative Data), By Segments, 2017-2028 By Type (USD) Software Services By Deployment (USD) On Premise Cloud By Retail Store Type (USD) Hypermarkets and Supermarkets Retail Chains By Function (USD) Customer Management Supply Chain Management Merchandising Strategy and Planning In-Store Operations By Country (USD) United States Canada TOC Continued! About Us: Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them to address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Contact Us: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. US: +1 424 253 0390 UK: +44 2071 939123 APAC: +91 744 740 1245 New York, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kenneth Research has published a detailed market report on the NORDIC Veterinary Diagnostics Market for the forecast period, i.e., 2022-2031 which includes the following factors: Market growth over the forecast period Detailed regional synopsis Market segmentation Growth drivers Challenges Key market players and their detailed profiling NORDIC Veterinary Diagnostics Market Size: The NORDIC veterinary diagnostics market is predicted to gather a revenue of around USD 167 million by the end of 2031 and to grow with a CAGR of ~7% during the forecast period. Additionally, the market has garnered a revenue of around USD 82 million in the year 2021. The rising number of dogs and cats is ascribed to the market expansion. For instance, according to the European Pet Food Industry, 88 million households, or nearly 38% had at least one pet animal. In addition to this, animals are currently experiencing an outbreak of several diseases, which is expected to fuel the market expansion of the NORDIC veterinary diagnostics industry. According to the information from the Norwegian Zoonoses Report 2019, diagnostic tests on 118 dogs in Norway revealed that 20 have the disease campylobacteriosis. Get a Sample Copy of This Report @ https://www.kennethresearch.com/sample-request-10065111 NORDIC Veterinary Diagnostics Market: Key Takeaways Infectious disease segment to influence the revenue graph Hospitals segment retains a sizable presence in the market Escalating Demand for Healthy Meats and Growing Household Disposable Income to Fuel the Market Growth Owing to the regions residents consuming more consistently, there has been an increase in demand for nutritious meats. The NORDIC veterinary diagnostics market is therefore anticipated to increase as a result. Norway consumed more than 55 kg of beef per person overall in the year 2019. Additionally, according to the OCED figures, the anticipated meat consumption rate in Norway in 2029 is 20.8 Kg per capita of pork meat, 18.5 Kg per capita of poultry, and 12.6 Kg per capita of beef and veal. Furthermore, the household discretionary income in the NORDIC region has been steadily increasing over the forecast period. For instance, according to the information published by the Organization for Economic Corporation and Development, Finlands household disposable income in 2020 was USD 36,269. In addition to this, from 10 years ago, Swedens yearly household disposable income increased each year until 2021. The average per capita disposable income was about USD 26,960.62 in 2021. The average yearly household disposable income was USD 60,778.4 in 2020. The rising consumption of meat products and the increasing household disposable income propels the market growth. Browse to access the In-depth research report on NORDIC Veterinary Diagnostics Market with detailed charts and figures: https://www.kennethresearch.com/report-details/nordic-veterinary-diagnostics-market/10065111 NORDIC Veterinary Diagnostics Market, Segmentation by Disease Type Infectious Diseases Non-Infectious Diseases Others On account of the rise in Zoonoses infections among animals, the infectious diseases segment is predicted to have the highest share over the forecast period. In Norway, there were 103 confirmed cases of zoonoses out of the 2108 flocks that were examined, according to the Norwegian Zoonoses Report 2019. 99% of all human rabies deaths are caused by rabies in dogs. Thousands of people per year die from dog-mediated rabies, many of whom are youngsters. Over 150 nations and territories throughout the world have the disease. Every year rabies claims the lives of about 59,000 people worldwide. Moreover, from September 16 to October 5 in 2011, two artic foxes and eight reindeer in Norways Svalbard archipelago were found to have rabies, and as a result, 280 people got post-exposure prophylaxis. The rising cases of infectious diseases in animals drive the growth of the segment. NORDIC Veterinary Diagnostics Market, Segmentation by End-Users Clinical Laboratories Hospitals Research Institutes Others Get a Sample PDF of the NORDIC Veterinary Diagnostics Market @ https://www.kennethresearch.com/sample-request-10065111 The Hospitals segment is estimated to hold a substantial share over the forecast period. The growth of the segment can be attributed to the peoples strong desire to have their pets treated by highly skilled medical personnel. There were around 1375 hospitals and clinics in Norway in 2019. Furthermore, in 2022, it is anticipated that Norways veterinary activities to generate about USD 0.57 billion in revenue with a yearly growth rate of 3.1% (CAGR 2022-2027). In addition to this, the surge in the number of veterinarians is predicted to promote further growth of the segment. According to the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe, there are 3,326, 3,000, and 2500 veterinarians in Sweden, Norway, and Finland, respectively. The expanding number of hospitals increased revenue, and the rising number of veterinarians drive the growth of the segment. NORDIC Veterinary Diagnostics Market, Segmentation by Technology Diagnostic Imaging Immunodiagnostics Clinical Chemistry Hematology Test Others Few of the well-known market leaders in the NORDIC Veterinary Diagnostics Market that are profiled by Kenneth Research are Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Heska Corporation, Boule Diagnostics AB, IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., Zoetis Inc, bioMerieux, INDICAL BIOSCIENCE GmbH, Scil animal care company GmbH, DiaSystem Scandinavia AB, and others. Enquiry before Buying This Report @ https://www.kennethresearch.com/sample-request-10065111 Recent Developments in NORDIC Veterinary Diagnostics Market On June 30 th, 2021, the agreement with Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc and Seegene, Inc. was announced for the clinical development and commercialization of infectious disease molecular diagnostic products. 2021, the agreement with Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc and Seegene, Inc. was announced for the clinical development and commercialization of infectious disease molecular diagnostic products. On August 31st, 2020, a corporation among Boule Diagnostics AB and its OEM clients was announced to provide goods and services for the hematology platform. Browse More Related Reports: Facial Injectors Market Segmentation by End-User (Hospitals, Cosmetic Centers, and Dermatology Clinics); by Application (Facelift, Wrinkle Reduction, Lip Enhancement, Acne Scar Treatment, and Others); and by Fillers Type (Collagen, Dermal, Polymer, Synthetic, Hyaluronic Acid, and Others)-Global Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2031 Bone Growth Stimulators Market Segmentation by Product (Device [Implant & External], Bone Morphogenetic Protein [BMP], Platelet-rich Plasma [PRP], and Others); by Application (Spinal Fusion, Delayed Union, Non-union Bone Fracture, Maxillofacial Surgery, and Others); by End-Use (Hospital, Homecare, and Academic & Research Institutes)-Global Demand Analysis and Opportunity Outlook 2022-2030 Neurovascular Devices Market Analysis by Product (Embolic Coils, Carotid Stents, Intracranial Stents, and Others); by Therapeutic Application (Ischemic Strokes, Cerebral Aneurism, Carotid Artery Stenosis, and Others); by Process (Neurothrombectomy, Cerebral Angiography Technique and Others); and by End-User (Hospitals & Surgical Centers, Ambulatory Care Centers, and Others)-Global Supply & Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2023-2033 Population Health Management Market Analysis by End User (Healthcare Payers, Healthcare Providers, Employer Groups, and Others); by Component (Services, and Software); and by Mode of Delivery (Cloud, and On-Premise)-Global Supply & Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2023-2033 Telehealth Market Analysis by Component (Hardware, Software, and Services); by End User (Healthcare Payers, Providers, Consumers, and Others); and by Delivery Mode (On-Premise, and Cloud Delivery Mode)-Global Supply & Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2023-2033 About Kenneth Research Kenneth Research is a leading service provider for strategic market research and consulting. We aim to provide unbiased, unparalleled market insights and industry analysis to help industries, conglomerates, and executives to take wise decisions for their future marketing strategy, expansion and investment, etc. We believe every business can expand to its new horizon, provided the right guidance at a right time is available through strategic minds. Our out of box thinking helps our clients to take wise decision so as to avoid future uncertainties. Contact for more Info: AJ Daniel Email: info@kennethresearch.com U.S. Phone: +1 313 462 0609 Dublin, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Automotive Die Casting Lubricants Market Size, Market Share, Application Analysis, Regional Outlook, Growth Trends, Key Players, Competitive Strategies and Forecasts, 2022 To 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global automotive die casting lubricants market is reached US$ 120 million in 2021 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 4.3% during the forecast period of 2022 to 2030. Chief growth reasons have been highlighted as a growing demand for environmentally friendly automotive die casting lubricants and an increase in the number of research and development projects aimed at creating environmentally friendly automotive die casting lubricants. The increasing economic advancements and the rising purchasing power of customers are the primary drivers of the rising demand for automobiles. Nevertheless, rising prices at the pump are driving people to choose automobiles with better gas mileage. When compared to forged components, the strength-to-weight ratio of automotive components produced through die casting is significantly higher. This, in turn, is driving sales of automotive die casting lubricants over the projection period. In addition, the automotive industry generates a significant need for designs that are extremely precise and accurate in terms of dimensions. Die casting is a technology that can produce components with high precision and dimensional accuracy, which is pushing its uses in the automobile sector. Die casting is also known as investment casting. Key Market Drivers Impacting the Market Growth Positively Lubricants are necessary for effective thermal management in the die casting procedure because they absorb temperature and prevent the process from becoming too hot. As a consequence of these aspects, it is anticipated that the demand for die casting lubricants will skyrocket during the course of the evaluation period. Additionally, there has been an increased emphasis placed on producing sustainable and environmentally friendly goods, which has led to an increase in the market for automotive die casting lubricants. Because of increasingly stringent rules on carbon emissions, there is a growing need for automobiles that are both lightweight and fuel-efficient. This desire has led to a growth in the number of applications for the die casting technique. Significant Opportunities during the Forecast Period Automotive die casting lubricants manufacturers are anticipating the creation of numerous opportunities as a result of the myriad of governmental regulations designed to encourage the manufacturing and retail sale of automobiles in developing economies such as Mexico, Turkey, India, and other South-East Asian nations. Demand for lightweight material-based components, such as aluminium, is being driven by the push toward energy efficiency in automobiles and the adoption of electric vehicles. This is creating a lucrative growth prospects for industry players in the automotive die casting lubricants market. A number of different government-led projects in countries such as India, Turkey, Iran, and Morocco will make it possible for players wishing to expand their production facilities to take advantage of potentially lucrative prospects. It is anticipated that the market for automotive die casting lubricants would expand during the forecast period as a result of the aforementioned initiatives as well as the growing number of foreign investments in emerging nations. In-depth Segment Analysis Die-casting lubricants and plunger lubricants are the two lubricant categories covered in the report. According to the findings of the report, the market for die-casting lubricants held about 95% of the revenue share in 2021. Die-casting lubricants are anticipated to continue this dominance even during the forecast period of 2022 to 2030. It is anticipated that the demand for water-based lubricants will increase at a CAGR of 4.3% during the forecast period of 2022 to 2030as a result of a changing trends with respect to customer preference toward environmentally friendly products. Governments across the globe has created increased awareness about eco-friendly solutions and have framed stringent regulations pertaining to decarbonization. Aluminium is abundantly available which contributes to the metal's lower cost in comparison to its competitors. Aluminium's widespread use in casting components is being propelled by the material's exceptional strength-to-weight ratio.As a consequence of this, it is anticipated that aluminium will become the most popular type of material to use, owning 75% of the revenue share in 2021. North America Market Dominates in Terms of Market Revenues North America held the largest revenue share in 2021. It is also anticipated that North America will continue to be one of the most appealing markets during the forecast period. It is expected that the U.S. will maintain its position as the dominant player in the automotive die casting lubricants market in North America. With respect to European market Germany was responsible for around 25% of the market share (within Europe) in 2021. A significant presence of a large number of manufacturers of automobile components in the country is continually encouraging more manufacturers to establish or expand their production facilities in Germany. It is projected that the intensive research and development activities, in addition to the country's availability to cutting-edge technology and resources, will bode well for the automotive die casting lubricants industry. Market Consolidation Presents Cut-Throat Competition The industry is extremely consolidated, with only a few companies holding the majority of market share.The primary market participants in the worldwide automotive die casting lubricants market are concentrating their efforts on product development, the introduction of new and innovative products, and the expansion of their market share in developing economies through strategic acquisitions and mergers. Top five market players that include Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Quaker Houghton Inc., Moresco Corp., Condat S.A., and Chemtool Incorporated hold more than 50% of the market share. Key questions answered in this report What are the key micro and macro environmental factors that are impacting the growth of Automotive Die Casting Lubricants market? What are the key investment pockets with respect to product segments and geographies currently and during the forecast period? Estimated forecast and market projections up to 2030. Which segment accounts for the fastest CAGR during the forecast period? Which market segment holds a larger market share and why? Are low and middle-income economies investing in the Automotive Die Casting Lubricants market? Which is the largest regional market for Automotive Die Casting Lubricants market? What are the market trends and dynamics in emerging markets such as Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa? Which are the key trends driving Automotive Die Casting Lubricants market growth? Who are the key competitors and what are their key strategies to enhance their market presence in the Automotive Die Casting Lubricants market worldwide? Key Topics Covered: 1. Preface 2. Executive Summary 3. Automotive Die Casting Lubricants Market: Business Outlook & Market Dynamics 3.1. Introduction 3.2. Global Automotive Die Casting Lubricants Market Value, 2020 - 2030, (US$ Million) 3.3. Market Dynamics 3.3.1. Market Drivers 3.3.2. Market Restraints 3.3.3. Key Challenges 3.3.4. Key Opportunities 3.4. Impact Analysis of Drivers and Restraints 3.5. See-Saw Analysis 3.6. Porter's Five Force Model 3.6.1. Supplier Power 3.6.2. Buyer Power 3.6.3. Threat Of Substitutes 3.6.4. Threat Of New Entrants 3.6.5. Competitive Rivalry 3.7. PESTEL Analysis 3.7.1. Political Landscape 3.7.2. Economic Landscape 3.7.3. Technology Landscape 3.7.4. Legal Landscape 3.7.5. Social Landscape 3.8. Heptalysis Analysis 3.9. Critical Investigation of Business Problems Through Five Whys Root Cause Analysis & Relevant Solutions 4. Automotive Die Casting Lubricants Market: By Lubricant Type:, 2020-2030, USD (Million) 4.1. Market Overview 4.2. Growth & Revenue Analysis: 2021 Versus 2030 4.3. Market Segmentation 4.3.1. Die-Casting Lubricant 4.3.2. Plunger Lubricant 5. Automotive Die Casting Lubricants Market: By Type:, 2020-2030, USD (Million) 5.1. Market Overview 5.2. Growth & Revenue Analysis: 2021 Versus 2030 5.3. Market Segmentation 5.3.1. Water-based 5.3.2. Solvent Based 5.3.3. Other 6. Automotive Die Casting Lubricants Market: By Die-Casting Material:, 2020-2030, USD (Million) 6.1. Market Overview 6.2. Growth & Revenue Analysis: 2021 Versus 2030 6.3. Market Segmentation 6.3.1. Aluminum 6.3.2. Magnesium 6.3.3. Zinc 6.3.4. Other 7. North America Automotive Die Casting Lubricants Market, 2020-2030, USD (Million) 8. UK and European Union Automotive Die Casting Lubricants Market, 2020-2030, USD (Million) 9. Asia Pacific Automotive Die Casting Lubricants Market, 2020-2030, USD (Million) 10. Latin America Automotive Die Casting Lubricants Market, 2020-2030, USD (Million) 11. Middle East and Africa Automotive Die Casting Lubricants Market, 2020-2030, USD (Million) 12. Company Profile 12.1. Henkel AG & Co. KGaA 12.1.1. Company Overview 12.1.2. Financial Performance 12.1.3. Product Portfolio 12.1.4. Strategic Initiatives 12.2. Quaker Houghton Inc. 12.2.1. Company Overview 12.2.2. Financial Performance 12.2.3. Product Portfolio 12.2.4. Strategic Initiatives 12.3. Moresco Corp. 12.3.1. Company Overview 12.3.2. Financial Performance 12.3.3. Product Portfolio 12.3.4. Strategic Initiatives 12.4. Condat S.A. 12.4.1. Company Overview 12.4.2. Financial Performance 12.4.3. Product Portfolio 12.4.4. Strategic Initiatives 12.5. Chemtool 12.5.1. Company Overview 12.5.2. Financial Performance 12.5.3. Product Portfolio 12.5.4. Strategic Initiative For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/mgmh8c Workers of Korea's tourism sector wave banners during the first-ever group action by the industry in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. Over 1,000 people gathered to call for government action to revive the tourism industry hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Yonhap By Lee Hae-rin Over 1,000 people working in the country's travel and tourism sector gathered in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, calling on the government to provide subsidies to help them recover from pandemic-induced losses. Seventeen tourism associations of metropolitan cities and provinces across the country, including its Seoul branch, the Seoul Tourism Association (STA), occupied the streets of Yeouido for the rally starting at 2 p.m. Wednesday. It was the first-ever large-scale demonstration staged by the country's tourism industry. The past three years of the COVID-19 pandemic were "like a nightmare" for the workers in the industry, according to STA President Yang Moo-seung. The industry members have fully complied with the government's quarantine and social distancing measures. But the industry, which was hit the hardest according to the protesters, continued on despite facing bankruptcy and exclusion from government subsidies, he said. The number of foreign visitors to Korea peaked in 2019 with 17.5 million, according to the Ministry of Justice. The figure fell sharply to 2.5 million in 2020 and declined further to 900,000 last year, which is only 6 percent of the pre-pandemic level. As a result, the domestic tourism industry lost an estimated 173 trillion won ($121.7 million), including foreign travelers' expenditure of 7 trillion won ($4.9 billion), said Park In-chul, representative of the hotel business committee at the STA. Over 40,000 businesses in the industry experienced sales decreases averaging over 80 percent during the pandemic, and their recovery stands at only 10 percent of pre-pandemic levels, Park said. Representatives of tourism associations stage an ice-breaking performance during a demonstration calling for government subsidies for a recovery in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. The ice cubes read in Korean, "Recovery of tourism's industry ecosystem." Yonhap The representative pointed out that the industry sees a growing lack of human resources, as over 20,000 tourism majors graduating from 147 universities over the last two years choose to find jobs in different fields due to the industry's low prospects. However, the industry has been excluded from the government's compensation plan. Last October, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups decided to compensate small and medium-sized enterprises for up to 80 percent of their losses caused by COVID-19 social distancing measures. In February, the rival parties agreed to amend the relevant law to include the travel and tourism industry, but the plan amounted to nothing with the inauguration of the new president in May. The group demanded the government and lawmakers cover the damage experienced by the tourism industry by amending the relevant law and help restore its industrial ecosystem. Also, the group called to expand the visa waiver programs and simplify the issuance process to revive the industry. Rep. Song Jae-ho and Rep. Min Byoung-dug of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and Rep. Ryu Ho-jeong of the Justice Party joined the demonstration and promised to revise the compensation act. On Sept. 15, Seoul Metropolitan Government announced a plan to attract 30 million foreign visitors by 2026. The number is nearly 80 percent of the country's entire inbound tourists in 2019, when Seoul was ranked as the 11th-most-visited city in the Global Destination Cities Index with 11.2 million foreign visitors. The government's plan, however, is not feasible considering today's dire situation where the industry's infrastructure is broken, Yang said. English French OTTAWA, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadian Nurses Foundation, a national charity that invests in nursing education and research through bursaries, scholarships and grants, is set to host The Night Shift: Lighting Up the Night for Nurses on November 17, 2022 at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. At a time when Canada is facing an urgent and rising nursing shortage with nursing job vacancies up over 200% compared to five years ago* this in-person event will raise funds for the charitys long standing scholarship program with a focus on advancing inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA). We continue to see severe nursing shortages which are having a dire impact on Canadians across the country and our health care system, says Cheryl Pollard, PhD, Dean of Faculty of Nursing, University of Regina, and Scholarships and Awards Merit Review Panel Chair, Canadian Nurses Foundation. The Canadian Nurses Foundations upcoming fundraiser The Night Shift: Lighting Up the Night for Nurses is an opportunity to contribute to advancing inclusive education opportunities for nurses and better patient care for all. Hosted by award-winning Canadian media personality Stefan Keyes, The Night Shift will be a memorable Miami-inspired night of dancing, mingling, gourmet bites and more with celebrated entertainer DJ StokeS. Dr Leigh Chapman, Canadas Chief Nursing Officer, will welcome guests including nurses from across the region along with many other special attendees. For tickets to this cant-miss event, visit www.cnfnightshift.ca . Access to the virtual auction, which is open to all Canadians, is available via the website. With proceeds from events like The Night Shift, the Canadian Nurses Foundation is able to offer more than 100 scholarships per year. With the cost of living, tuition and books rising rapidly, the Canadian Nurses Foundation is able to provide funding to one-in-four applicants every year. As the Canadian Nurses Foundation marks its 60th year supporting and investing in nurses, the organization has: Awarded over 2,000 scholarships to nursing students and nurse researchers across Canada Invested more than $12 million in educational scholarships and nurse-led research Raised over $1 million dollars for Indigenous nursing education and research and provided scholarships to over 200 Indigenous nurses Established an annual program that awarded 34 new scholarships this year to nursing students and nurse researchers who identify as Black, Indigenous or People of Colour The Canadian Nurses Foundation thanks this years sponsors for their valued support and commitment. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.cnfnightshift.ca and follow us on Facebook @cnf.fiic, Instagram @canadiannursesfoundation and Twitter @theCNF using #CNFnightshift *Nursing vacancies in early 2022 were more than triple (+219.8%) the level of five years earlier according to Statistics Canadas Labour Force Survey, July 2022 About Canadian Nurses Foundation Celebrating our 60th anniversary, the Canadian Nurses Foundation supports world-class Canadian health care by raising funds to advance nursing knowledge and research, and by recognizing professional merit in Canadas nurses. We offer more than 100 scholarships in support of nursing education for students across Canada at the baccalaureate, masters and Ph.D. levels. By investing in nursing education and research today, we can be prepared to face the health care challenges of tomorrow. Visit cnf-fiic.ca and connect with us on Facebook , Twitter and LinkedIn . For media inquiries, contact: Christina Vanin, The Edit PR, christina@theeditcanada.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5eb8c41d-c444-4432-9b58-62bc72df43f4 CENTREVILLE, Va., Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has selected a team led by Parsons Corporation (NYSE: PSN) to provide engineering services, information technology functionality, and flight operations support to assume on-orbit operations for the Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) NOAA-15, NOAA-18, and NOAA-19. The $16 million definitive contract has a one-year performance period and two one-year option periods and is new work for Parsons. The Parsons-led team comprises Arctic Slope Technical Services, Inc. (ASTS), a subsidiary of Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) Federal, and Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT). ASTS currently operates the POES spacecraft and will continue to support operations and implementation of cyber security architecture, while (KSAT) will provide ground antenna support with their KSATlite service. In partnership with NOAA, this team will leverage our extensive portfolios of satellite operations and information technology capabilities to demonstrate successful commercialization of the polar operations mission, said Jason Long, Parsons vice president for civil solutions. We look forward to further evolving the partnership between government and commercial industry in the space domain to affordably extend the life of these valuable environmental monitoring systems. NOAAs three POES will be one of the first U.S. government satellites transitioned from a legacy government owned ground control system to a hybrid cloud based commercial operation, setting a precedent that may lead to further commercialization of government-owned satellites in the future. Over the next six months, the team will move the control of the POES to commercial ground control systems deployed on a hybrid cloud architecture using Parsons commercial space software applications while demonstrating successful control of POES, followed by six months of full commercial operations. Instrument Science data from the satellites will be delivered to NOAA for processing within their existing architecture, retaining these spacecraft as valuable data sources supporting NOAAs critical mission to keep the public informed of the changing environment. Parsons has developed multiple operational commercial-space solutions that are based on government programs, to include OrbitXchange, which enables increased capacity for satellite operations via a cybersecure cloud environment. The company is focused on delivering rapid, affordable off-the-shelf technology that can advance both military and commercial missions. To learn more about Parsons space solutions, please visit: parsons.com/markets/space/. About ASRC Federal ASRC Federals family of companies deliver successful mission outcomes and elevated performance for federal civilian, defense and intelligence agencies while building an enduring enterprise focused on customers, employees, and shareholders. For more information, please visit www.asrcfederal.com [gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com]. About Parsons: Parsons (NYSE: PSN) is a leading disruptive technology provider in the national security and critical infrastructure markets, with capabilities across cybersecurity, missile defense, space, C5ISR, transportation, environmental remediation, and water/wastewater treatment. Please visit Parsons.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook to learn how were making an impact. Forward-Looking Statements This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, beliefs and assumptions, and are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to uncertainties, risks, changes in circumstances, trends and factors that are difficult to predict, many of which are outside of our control. Accordingly, actual performance, results and events may vary materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements, and you should not rely on the forward-looking statements as predictions of future performance, results or events. Numerous factors could cause actual future performance, results and events to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements, including, among others: any issue that compromises our relationships with the U.S. federal government or its agencies or other state, local or foreign governments or agencies; any issues that damage our professional reputation; changes in governmental priorities that shift expenditures away from agencies or programs that we support; our dependence on long-term government contracts, which are subject to the governments budgetary approval process; the size of our addressable markets and the amount of government spending on private contractors; failure by us or our employees to obtain and maintain necessary security clearances or certifications; failure to comply with numerous laws and regulations; changes in government procurement, contract or other practices or the adoption by governments of new laws, rules, regulations and programs in a manner adverse to us; the termination or nonrenewal of our government contracts, particularly our contracts with the U.S. federal government; our ability to compete effectively in the competitive bidding process and delays, contract terminations or cancellations caused by competitors protests of major contract awards received by us; our ability to generate revenue under certain of our contracts; any inability to attract, train or retain employees with the requisite skills, experience and security clearances; the loss of members of senior management or failure to develop new leaders; misconduct or other improper activities from our employees or subcontractors; our ability to realize the full value of our backlog and the timing of our receipt of revenue under contracts included in backlog; changes in the mix of our contracts and our ability to accurately estimate or otherwise recover expenses, time and resources for our contracts; changes in estimates used in recognizing revenue; internal system or service failures and security breaches; and inherent uncertainties and potential adverse developments in legal proceedings, including litigation, audits, reviews and investigations, which may result in materially adverse judgments, settlements or other unfavorable outcomes. These factors are not exhaustive and additional factors could adversely affect our business and financial performance. For a discussion of additional factors that could materially adversely affect our business and financial performance, see the factors included under the caption Risk Factors in our Registration Statement on Form S-1 and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements are based on currently available information and speak only as of the date on which they are made. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement made in this presentation that becomes untrue because of subsequent events, new information or otherwise, except to the extent we are required to do so in connection with our ongoing requirements under federal securities laws. Media Contact: Angie Benfield +1 803.334.5277 Angela.Benfield@parsons.com Investor Relations Contact: Dave Spille + 1 703.775.6191 Dave.Spille@parsons.com MONTREAL, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dynacor Group Inc. (TSX-DNG) (Dynacor or the "Corporation"), an international gold ore industrial corporation servicing ASMs (artisanal and small-scale miners), today announced gold sales of US$46.0 million (unaudited) (C$60.1 million) (1) for the third quarter of 2022, a decrease of US$15.9 million compared to last year. In September, the Corporation recorded sales of US$14.4 million (CA$19.2 million) compared to US$25.8 million (C$32.7 million) in September 2021 which had benefited from the export of prior period retained gold bars for US$ 2.4 million and from one of the highest grades of ore processed in 2021. The average selling price of gold in September 2022 was US$1,666 per oz, compared to US$1,767 per oz last year, a decrease of 5.7 %. September 2022 sales were affected by lower gold prices due to the increasing strength of the US dollar and by a lower gold production due to lower grades of ore processed. The 2022 third-quarter sales amounted to US$46.0 million compared to US$53.9 million for the previous quarter Q2-2022 and were as well significantly affected by the decrease in gold market prices and a lower production due to lower grades of ore processed, as the plant continues to run at its full 430 tpd capacity. The comparative sales were as follows: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b40c1928-63d0-4492-b94d-97208723ce1b 2022 nine months cumulative sales amounted to US$150.0 million, compared to US$145.6 million for the same period of 2021, a 3.0% increase. The average selling price of gold for the first nine months of 2022 was US$1,821 per oz compared to US$1,792 per oz in 2021. For 2022, the Corporation forecasted sales in the range of US$200 - $220 million based on a year opening US$1,800 per ounce average gold price. The Corporation is still on track to achieve its 2022 sales target. Third quarter 2022 financial results Dynacor will publish its third quarter 2022 financial results news release on Monday, November 14, 2022, before the opening of markets. (1) sales are converted using the monthly average exchange rate ABOUT DYNACOR Dynacor is a dividend-paying industrial gold ore processor headquartered in Montreal, Canada. The corporation is engaged in gold production through the processing of ore purchased from the ASM (artisanal and small-scale mining) industry. At present, Dynacor operates in Peru, where its management and processing teams have decades of experience working with ASM miners. It also owns a gold exploration property (Tumipampa) in the Apurimac department. The corporation intends to expand its processing operations in other jurisdictions as well. Dynacor produces environmental and socially responsible gold through its PX IMPACT gold program. A growing number of supportive firms from the fine luxury jewelry, watchmakers and investment sectors pay a small premium to our customer and strategic partner for this PX IMPACT gold. The premium provides direct investment to develop health and education projects for our artisanal and small-scale miners communities. Dynacor is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (DNG). FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Certain statements in the preceding may constitute forward-looking statements, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Dynacor, or industry results, to be materially different from any future result, performance or achievement expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These statements reflect managements current expectations regarding future events and operating performance as of the date of this news release. Shares Outstanding: 38,637,197 Website: http://www.dynacor.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/DynacorGold PDF available: http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/48f4daee-4cbc-4586-98dc-232317896b72 Wood Dale, Illinois, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AAR CORP. (NYSE: AIR), a leading provider of aviation services to commercial and government operators, MROs, and OEMs, has signed a new multi-year flight-hour component support contract, expanding its relationship with flydubai to include additional aircraft in flydubais rapidly growing Boeing 737 MAX fleet. AAR will grow its onsite team and work alongside flydubai to ensure real-time decision making and seamless interaction throughout the duration of this contract. The inventory for this program will be located in Dubai, in alignment with AARs close to the customer support philosophy. Commenting on the announcement, Mick Hills, flydubais Chief Operations Officer, said, AARs continued support over the last five years has enabled flydubai to maintain the optimum levels of efficiency and quick turnarounds when it comes to our fleet maintenance. The experience and reliability this partnership adds to our operations will continue to be collaborative, especially as we bring more of our MRO capabilities in house. We look forward to expanding our partnership with AAR as we grow our fleet over the next few years. flydubai operates a single fleet-type of 68 Boeing 737 aircraft that includes 32 Next-Generation Boeing 737-800, 33 Boeing 737 MAX 8, and 3 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft. The carrier is expected to take delivery of 11 737 MAX aircraft by the end of the year as it continues to retire more of its 737 Next-Generations. It is a privilege to use our expertise and inventory to improve component support reliability and efficiency for flydubai, said Colin Craig, AARs Vice President, Business Development, Integrated Solutions. flydubais decision to place further trust in AARs ability to provide excellent operational support speaks to the success of embedding our services with customers. AAR began supporting flydubais flagship fleet of Boeing 737 MAX in 2017 and signed a contract extension for flydubais Boeing 737 Next Generation fleet in 2021. For more information on commercial solutions and flight-hour support, visit the AAR website. About AAR AAR is a global aerospace and defense aftermarket solutions company with operations in over 20 countries. Headquartered in the Chicago area, AAR supports commercial and government customers through two operating segments: Aviation Services and Expeditionary Services. AARs Aviation Services include Parts Supply; OEM Solutions; Integrated Solutions; and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) Services. AARs Expeditionary Services include Mobility Systems operations. Additional information can be found at aarcorp.com. About flydubai From its home in Dubai, flydubai has created a network of more than 95 destinations served by a fleet of 68 aircraft. Since commencing operations in June 2009, flydubai has been committed to removing barriers to travel, creating free flows of trade and tourism and enhancing connectivity between different cultures across its ever-expanding network. flydubai has marked its journey with a number of milestones: An expanding network: Created a network of more than 95 destinations in 50 countries across Africa, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Central and South-East Europe, the GCC and the Middle East, and the Indian Subcontinent. Serving underserved markets: Opened more than 70 new routes that did not previously have direct air links to Dubai or were not served by a UAE national carrier from Dubai. An efficient single fleet-type: Operates a single fleet-type of 68 Boeing 737 aircraft and includes: 32 Next-Generation Boeing 737-800, 33 Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 3 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft. Enhancing connectivity: Carried more than 80 million passengers since it began operations in 2009. For all our latest news, please visit the flydubai Newsroom. This press release contains certain statements relating to future results, which are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 which reflect managements expectations about future conditions, including the ability to continue to build on AARs successful relationships with commercial airlines outside of the USA. Forward-looking statements may also be identified because they contain words such as anticipate, believe, continue, could, estimate, expect, intend, likely, may, might, plan, potential, predict, project, seek, should, target, will, would, or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. These forward-looking statements are based on beliefs of Company management, as well as assumptions and estimates based on information currently available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, refer to Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize adversely, or should underlying assumptions or estimates prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described. These events and uncertainties are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many are beyond the Companys control. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events. Attachment ROME, Italy, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Angelini Industries, a multi-sector Italian industrial group which operates in 21 countries with 5,800 employees, has announced the launch of Angelini Ventures, a global corporate venture capital initiative, with a 300 million capital commitment. Angelini Ventures will build and invest in early-stage companies that develop innovative ideas and solutions in biotechnology, digital health and life sciences. We have put a lot of work into the development of Angelini Ventures whose mission will be to invest at international level in high-potential ideas, opportunities and projects that use technology to transform the future of the global health system. Thanks to our specific skills and expertise, our ambition is to not only further develop our business but also, and above all, to give voice and life to solutions that have a positive impact on patients and communities, said Sergio Marullo di Condojanni, Chief Executive Officer of Angelini Industries. I am incredibly proud to establish Angelini Ventures as a key pillar of healthcare innovation for Angelini Industries. We are building a robust infrastructure to develop and invest in new ideas, partnerships, and technologies, said Paolo Di Giorgio, Chief Executive Officer of Angelini Ventures. Through Angelini Ventures, entrepreneurs will partner with subject matter experts and healthcare leaders who deeply understand the challenges of the healthcare industry and the evolving needs of patients and consumers. Angelini Ventures has already made global investments of 60 million. The current investment portfolio includes Argobio, a Paris-based biotech venture studio; Angelini Lumira Biosciences Fund, a North American fund that invests in early-stage companies; and Pretzel Therapeutics, a Boston-based leading mitochondrial therapeutics company. For more information, visit angeliniventures.com. Angelini Industries is a multinational group with 5,800 employees, operating in 21 countries and generating annual revenues of 1.7 billion. It operates in the pharmaceutical, consumer goods, industrial technology, perfumes and dermo-cosmetics and wine businesses. Its headquarters is in Rome, Italy. CONTACT Alessandra Favilli Group Chief Communication Officer COMPANY Angelini Industries PHONE 06 780531 EMAIL press@angeliniindustries.com WEB https://www.angeliniindustries.com/en/ A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/081630e0-8281-46ea-9514-d28f330f4bc5 Dublin, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Data Protection As A Service (DPaaS) Global Market Report 2022" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global data protection as a service (DPaaS) market is expected to grow from $17.88 billion in 2021 to $23.09 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 29.1%. The data protection as a service (DPaaS) market is expected to grow to $63.38 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 28.7%. The main types of data protection as a service are disaster recovery as a service, backup as a service, and storage as a service. Disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS) is a cloud computing service model that enables an organization to back up its data and IT infrastructure in a third-party cloud computing environment and provides all DR orchestration, all through a SaaS solution, to regain access and functionality to IT infrastructure following a disaster. Data protection as a service can be deployed in the public cloud, private cloud, and hybrid cloud in large enterprises and SMEs that can be used in various industries such as banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), telecom & IT, government & public sector, healthcare, retail, energy & utilities, manufacturing, others. North America was the largest region in the data protection as a service (DPaaS) market in 2021. Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the data protection as a service (DPaaS) market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, and Africa. The increasing concern about data loss and data security is propelling the demand in the data protection as a service (DPaaS) market. Data loss refers to the loss of data due to internal issues like system failure or external issues like cyber attacks, etc. Enterprises from all around the world have been concerned about data security recently due to incidents of data loss and data leaks. For instance, according to Identity Theft Resource Center's report, a United States non-profit organization, the year 2021 saw 1,862 data breaches, which was up from 1,108 data breaches in 2020. These breaches have increased concerns about data loss in companies. Hence, the increasing concerns about data loss and data security are driving the growth of the data protection as a service market. New technological advancements like the integration of connected devices with the internet of things (IoT) and virtual private network (VPN) are shaping the data protection as a service (DPaaS) market. For instance, in May 2021, GLobal Electronic-SECurity (GLESEC), a cyber-security firm announced the launch of its new Orchestrated data leakage detection and protection service. This security-as-a-service has a unique offering of detecting and protecting data leakage without the need to classify all the information of the company. With this service, the company would address the need for the organization's security requirements. Scope Markets Covered: 1) By Service Type: Disaster Recovery as a Service; Backup as a Service; Storage as a Service 2) By Enterprise Size: Large Enterprise; SMEs 3) By Deployment Mode: Public Cloud; Private Cloud; Hybrid Cloud 4) By Industry: Banking, Financial Services And Insurance (BFSI); Telecom & IT; Government & Public Sector; Healthcare; Retail; Energy & Utilities; Manufacturing; Other Industries Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary 2. Data Protection As A Service Market Characteristics 3. Data Protection As A Service Market Trends And Strategies 4. Impact Of COVID-19 On Data Protection As A Service 5. Data Protection As A Service Market Size And Growth 6. Data Protection As A Service Market Segmentation 7. Data Protection As A Service Market Regional And Country Analysis 8. Asia-Pacific Data Protection As A Service Market 9. China Data Protection As A Service Market 10. India Data Protection As A Service Market 11. Japan Data Protection As A Service Market 12. Australia Data Protection As A Service Market 13. Indonesia Data Protection As A Service Market 14. South Korea Data Protection As A Service Market 15. Western Europe Data Protection As A Service Market 16. UK Data Protection As A Service Market 17. Germany Data Protection As A Service Market 18. France Data Protection As A Service Market 19. Eastern Europe Data Protection As A Service Market 20. Russia Data Protection As A Service Market 21. North America Data Protection As A Service Market 22. USA Data Protection As A Service Market 23. South America Data Protection As A Service Market 24. Brazil Data Protection As A Service Market 25. Middle East Data Protection As A Service Market 26. Africa Data Protection As A Service Market 27. Data Protection As A Service Market Competitive Landscape And Company Profiles 28. Key Mergers And Acquisitions In The Data Protection As A Service Market 29. Data Protection As A Service Market Future Outlook and Potential Analysis 30. Appendix Companies Mentioned IBM Corporation Amazon Web Services Hewlett-Packard Development Company Commvault Systems VMware Quantum Corporation Asigra EMC Corporation Dell Veritas Technologies Commvault Quest Software Inc. NxtGen Datacenter & Cloud Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Hitachi Vantara Corporation Atos SE For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/tv5zeu Lansing, Mich., Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Foster Swifts 23 women attorneys are encouraging everyone to celebrate National Business Womens Week and recognize the great works of this countrys working women. Today, there are 7.2 million majority-owned, privately-held, women-owned businesses in the United States. These organizations employ 7.3 million people and generate $1.1 trillion in sales (Business and Professional Women's Foundation). National Business Womens Week is an opportunity to engage our women leaders, and provide valuable information and resources for women aiming to be leaders in their individual industries. To add tools to the toolbox for success, the attorneys at Foster Swift are sharing highlights all week long from their series Legal Strategies for Women Leaders, which aims to provide the legal framework needed for leaders to innovate, grow, and excel both personally and professionally. See the full recordings of each session that has previously aired: Another great resource for women starting their businesses is the Small Business Administration (SBA) Womens Business Centers. Michigan is fortunate to have three locations which are listed below: ### Since 1902, Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC has provided comprehensive legal services to businesses, municipalities and individuals. The firm employs nearly 100 attorneys and over 100 support staff in six locations; Lansing, Detroit, Southfield, Grand Rapids, Holland and St. Joseph. For more information about the firm, its attorneys, and to access recent publications, visit www.fosterswift.com. Attachment Dublin, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Electronic Shelf Label Market - Forecasts from 2022 to 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The electronic shelf label market was evaluated at US$1,053.980 million for the year 2020, growing at a CAGR of 15.50% to reach the market size of US$2,890.406 million by the year 2027. Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL) are used by retailers to display product prices on shelves. The main controller server updates product prices automatically every time the price changes. The digitalization of stores and the prevalence of the retail automation trend, as well as a cost-effective and less time-consuming substitute to paper labels, high demand for price optimization among major retailers, and enhanced operational effectiveness with real-time product positioning, are all contributing to the market's global growth. The market's growth is further influenced by the increasing spread of the Internet of Things (IoT) and expanding digitization in the retail sector. Consistent retail growth has resulted in the rapid development of retail outlets, particularly supermarkets & hypermarkets, across key established and emerging nations globally. Electronic shelf labels, self-checking robots, self-checkout terminals, and other comparable technology have all helped retailers increase profit margins in the retail industry. Furthermore, due to the rising acceptance of NFC technology in many devices, such as POS systems and smartphones, NFC penetration in the sector is likely to accelerate in the future years. This enables retailers to combine these devices with current portable devices, reducing the overall cost of label installation. This is a major factor in the market's expansion. However, for disorganized merchants, the adoption of ESL technology may appear pricey, as a retailer must build more electrified shelves to be qualified for ESL tags, which increases installation costs. Furthermore, before installing any technology, retailers/companies always assess the benefits, particularly their capital and the time required for a return on investment (ROI). The cost of technology is a substantial barrier to an unstructured retail market in economically developing nations like South Korea and India. The deployment of these labels also requires supporting infrastructure, which requires large expenditures from small and medium-scale shops. The aforementioned factors may hinder the market growth. ESL solutions based on e-paper are predicted to have the largest market share by type. The ability of e-paper to project items in graphical form, combined with the possibility of improved energy efficiency, contributes to the segment's market dominance. For ESL offerings, market participants are projected to favour e-paper. Innolux Corporation and E Ink Holdings Inc., for example, cooperated in May 2020 to produce large-scale Advanced Color ePaper panels. Through this agreement, the companies want to strengthen the e-paper ecosystem and grow the e-paper business. These e-papers will primarily be utilized for in-vehicle advertising and retail advertising, among other applications. Segmentation By Type LCD Based Label E- Paper Based Label Segmented Label Full-Graphic Label By Technology Infrared Near Field Communication Radio Frequency Bluetooth By Component Display Battery Software By End-User Supermarket Hypermarket Pharmacy By Geography North America USA Canada Mexico South America Brazil Argentina Europe United Kingdom Germany France Spain Middle East and Africa Saudi Arabia Israel Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea Indonesia Thailand Taiwan Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 2. Research Methodology 3. Executive Summary 4. Market Dynamics 5. Electronic shelf label Market Analysis, by Type 6. Electronic shelf label Market Analysis, by Technology 7. Electronic shelf label Market Analysis, by Component 8. Electronic shelf label Market Analysis, by End User 9. Electronic shelf label Market Analysis, by Geography 10. Competitive Environment and Analysis 11. Company Profiles Companies Mentioned Altierre Corporation Pricer AB SES-imagotag Diebold Nixdorf Incorporated Displaydata Ltd. E ink Holdings Samsung Electro-Mechanics Opticon Sensors Europe B.V M2COMM Teraoka Seiko Co., Ltd. Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/eyw32m Attachment Dublin, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Melanoma Cancer Market Research and Forecast 2022-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global market for melanoma cancer is projected to have a considerable CAGR of around 12.3% during the forecast period. Melanoma is a skin cancer that develops in the melanocyte cells, responsible for producing melanin, a pigment that gives color to the skin. It is the most serious type of skin cancer and it seems to be increasing in people under 40, especially women. The disease is curable when recognized and treated in the early stages and hence has a high success rate. The increasing incidence of melanoma skin cancer across the globe is the major factor boosting the growth of the market. For instance, according to the report of the American Academy of Dermatology Association, approximately 9,500 people in the US are diagnosed with skin cancer every day. More than 1 million Americans are living with melanoma. Melanoma is the second most common form of cancer in females age 15-29. The increasing adoption of immunotherapy and targeted therapy drugs for skin treatments, technological advancement to enhance the treatment, rising awareness about the treatment and diagnosis also drive the market growth. The government funding support for R&D of new drugs and therapies and the increasing number of regulatory approvals by the Food and Drug Administration are anticipated to drive the market during the forecast period. However, certain factors such as high costs associated with treatment, and increasing use of generic medicine are hindering the growth of the market. Medicines such as cisplatin is a generic and off-patent drug and are manufactured by multiple companies for cancer treatment across the globe. Innovation in drug development, and subsequent technological advancements & pipeline products are expected to create significant opportunities for the melanoma cancer market. Segmental Outlook The global melanoma market is segmented based on diagnosis and therapy. Based on therapy, the market is segmented into immunotherapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. On the basis of diagnosis, the market is further segmented into biopsy, computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET) scan. Among these diagnosis methods, CT scan is projected to have a significant market share during the forecast period. A computerized tomography scan (CT or CAT scan) uses computers and rotating X-ray machines to create cross-sectional images of the body. Thus, the rising prevalence of melanoma will increase the demand for this, which, in turn, will further drive the growth of the market. Immunotherapy is projected to have a significant share in the melanoma cancer market Among therapy, immunotherapy holds the major market share in 2020 and is anticipated to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. Immunotherapy is the use of medicines to stimulate a person's immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells more effectively. Immunotherapies are considered best for the treatment of melanoma, owing to the fewer adverse effects than other therapies, and provide longer life by boosting the immune system. The US Food and Drug Association have approved immunotherapy drugs for melanoma cancer which includes Ipilimumab (Yervoy), which is an anti-CTLA-4 inhibitor, Pembrolizumab (Keytruda), Nivolumab (OPDIVO), Interleukin-2 (IL-2, Aldesleukin(PROLEUKIN). However, targeted therapy is expected to have considerable growth during the forecast period. North America is anticipated to dominate the global melanoma cancer market Geographically, North America is projected to dominate the global melanoma market owing to the high prevalence of melanoma in the US and Canada along with a major market share in the region. Well-developed healthcare infrastructure and reimbursement policies are some of the major factors that are contributing to the growth of the market in the region. The presence of major market players and initiatives take by them to generate more revenue by producing new drugs also impact positively on the growth of the market. Europe is also expected to have a significant market share during the forecast period due to the increasing number of skin cancer cases, and the development of novel drugs. The UK, Germany, and France are the major countries with a high prevalence of melanoma cancer and contribute significantly to the market. Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 2. Market Overview and Insights 3. Competitive Landscape 4. Market Determinants 5. Market Segmentation 6. Regional Analysis 7. Company Profiles Companies Mentioned Abbott Laboratories Ab Sciences AbbVie Inc. Amgen, Inc. AstraZeneca plc Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. Castle Biosciences, Inc. Celgene Corp. Chinook Therapeutics, Inc. Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. ENB Therapeutics Eisai Co Ltd. F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd. GlaxoSmithKline PLC Incyte Corp. Iovance Biotherapeutics Inc. Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. Merck & Co., Inc. Novartis AG Pierre Fabre S. A. SciBase AB For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/pzi03 Westford, USA, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sensor market has been steadily evolving over the years, and today there are many different types of sensors available. These include motion sensors, temperature sensors, light sensors, pH sensors, and magnetometers. Each type of sensor has its own unique advantages and disadvantages, which can be used to optimize the design of a given product or system. For example, motion sensors can be used to track the movement of people or items in order to prevent theft or accidents; temperature sensors can be used to monitor food establishments or medical equipment; light sensors can be used to determine the level of brightness in a room; and magnetometers can be used to measure whether something is magnetic or not. Key Aspects of Global Sensor Market The growth prospects for the global sensor market are being supported by the increasing deployment of sensing solutions in various industries, such as automotive, oil and gas, food and beverage, energy, and healthcare. These applications are witnessing rising ambitions from vendors to design smarter and more efficient solutions that can help them improve their overall business performance. Additionally, expanding deployments of AI and machine learning capabilities are adding value to sensors and driving increased demand for these products. Get sample copy of this report: https://skyquestt.com/sample-request/sensor-market In industrial manufacturing, sensors are used to track things like quality control and production cycles. These sensors help manufacturers avoid expensive mistakes and keep tabs on plant output in real-time. Consumer electronics also rely heavily on sensors to monitor everything from battery life to movement detection. These devices can let users stay informed about their environment and take appropriate action as needed. Another factor driving the demand for sensor market is concern over environmentalism. As the world becomes increasingly digitized, tracking environmental data becomes crucial for ensuring that resources are being managed responsibly. Sensors can help gather this information by monitoring things like weather patterns or energy use. Automated systems can make this process even easier by handling most of the data analysis for users. One of the reasons why sensor technology is growing so rapidly is because it offers manufacturers a way to develop products without having to design everything from scratch. By using preexisting components and algorithms, companies can save on both time and money while still achieving high levels of accuracy. This makes sensor technology an extremely versatile toolkit that can be used in a variety of different applications. Overall, the global sensor market is experiencing a period of significant growth thanks to its numerous benefits both for manufacturers and consumers. As additional types of sensors become available, the market will continue to expand at healthy CAGR. Temperature Sensor to Generate Revenue of $ 8 Billion by 2028 Temperature sensing has become an important technology for businesses across a variety of industries. From food production, to transportation, to manufacturing knowing the accurate temperature is essential for maintaining efficient and safe operations. The growth of the temperature sensor market is evidenced by the increasing demand from various sectors. By 2028, the temperature sensor market is estimated to be worth $8 billion. The key factors driving this growth are increasing awareness about climate change and its effects, rise in industrial applications due to improvements in automation, and growing adoption of smart buildings and applications. In terms of geography, North America is estimated to account for the largest share of the temperature sensor market owing to significant investments in R&D activities by leading players there. Asia Pacific is also expected to be a major contributor to the growth rate of this market. Some key reasons for this include rising incidence of climate change incidents in countries such as China and India, growing demand from end-user sectors such as healthcare and automotive companies, expanding deployment of advanced smart infrastructure solutions, and increase in investment in R&D initiatives by some global players. Some prominent vendors operating in the temperature sensor market are Intel Corp., Texas Instruments Incorporated, Bosch Ltd., Analog Devices Incorporated, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Honeywell International Incorporated, Siemens AG, MediatekInc., Zoeller Group SE, and Aldi Sud Holding GmbH etc. Global warming is causing the earth to warm. This has caused companies to invest in climate sensors and data logging equipment. One such company that has benefited from this trend is Honeywell, which makes temperature sensors. Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://skyquestt.com/report/sensor-market One way Honeywell plans on achieving this goal in the global sensor market is through increased sales of its environmental monitoring products. These products include things like environmental leak detection and thermal sensor technology for buildings. Additionally, the company will likely increase its sales of energy management solutions, which covers everything from predictive maintenance to demand response programs. Honeywell also expects to make a lot of money through licensing deals and investment in other related businesses. For example, it purchased Spanish weather firm Inmet earlier this year. This acquisition will give Honeywell access to market Inmets patented weather data collection technology. Analog Devices, Seimens AG, Robert Bosch, and Honeywell International are top 4 Players in Global Sensor Market Analog Devices, Seimens AG, Robert Bosch, and Honeywell International are top 4 players in the global market. They are collectively generating over 40% market revenue. These companies have the best expertise in terms of sensors and their technology, and they have been able to capitalize on this by coming up with innovative ways to use sensors in different industries. They have also been able to create partnerships with other companies, which has allowed them to co-operate better and increase their competitiveness. SkyQuest analysis of Analog Devices Inc. provides an in-depth look at the company's performance in the sensor market. The report finds that ADI's main focus has been to develop innovative sensors and semiconductor solutions, while continuing to invest in research and development. ADI has also succeeded in increasing its market share, despite intense price competition from competitors. The report identifies several key achievements of ADI over the past years, including the development of various types of sensors for automotive, industrial, and medical markets. Some of ADI's most successful products include its smart thermal imaging technology and XSense line of video security surveillance systems. Overall, SkyQuest believes that Analog Devices is well positioned to continue growth in the sensor market amid significant competition from rival companies. The report recommends that investors consider ADI as a potential investment destination due to its strong underlying business prospects. SkyQuests sensor market report provides a comprehensive overview of companies in this market, as well as their recent performance and prospects. It covers such topics as market size, growth trends, company profiles and strategies. Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements: https://skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/sensor-market Top Players in Sensor Market Analog Devices, Inc. (US) Infineon Technologies (Germany) STMicroelectronics (Switzerland) TE Connectivity (Switzerland) Honeywell International (US) Omega Engineering (Switzerland) Microchip Technology (US) NXP Semiconductors (Netherlands) Robert Bosch GmbH (Germany) Seimens AG (Germany) ABB Ltd. (Switzerland) Eaton Corporation (Ireland) Related Reports in SkyQuests Library: Global Touch Screen Display Market Global Point-Of-Sales Market Global Load Monitoring System Market Global Optical Sensors Market Global Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) Market About Us: SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally. Address: 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 Phone: USA (+1) 617-230-0741 Email: sales@skyquestt.com Rep. Park Hong-geun, center, floor leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, speaks during a news conference protesting against the Yoon Suk-yeol government in front of the presidential office in Seoul, Oct. 17. Yonhap The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) bristled Wednesday at prosecution investigations that led to requests for arrest warrants for former top officials of the previous Moon Jae-in government and the detention of a close aide to current party chief Lee Jae-myung. Prosecutors sought arrest warrants Tuesday for former Defense Minister Suh Wook and former Coast Guard Commissioner General Kim Hong-hee on charges related to the Moon administration's conclusion without sufficient evidence that a South Korean fisheries official was killed while attempting to defect to North Korea in 2020. On Wednesday, prosecutors also apprehended Kim Yong, one of DPK leader Lee's close confidants, on bribery charges, while questioning Noh Young-min, a former chief of staff to Moon, over the 2019 repatriation of two North Korean fishermen against their will. The DPK claims the probes are politically motivated. Achieves 100% clean energy for all of its 160 southeast Michigan locations Avoids more than 15,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually Aligns with 7-Elevens broader corporate goals to reduce carbon emissions and to purchase local renewable energy to support its operations Detroit, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE) and 7-Eleven, Inc. today announced 7-Elevens enrollment in MIGreenPower, DTEs voluntary renewable energy program. The enrollment will enable 7-Eleven to achieve 100% renewable energy for all 160 of its southeast Michigan locations for 20 years beginning in 2025. 7-Elevens 32,000-megawatt hour clean energy commitment has the environmental benefit equivalent to taking nearly 3,000 gasoline-powered passenger cars off the road each year. 7-Eleven set a goal of reaching a 20% reduction in CO 2 emissions from its stores by fiscal year 2027 and achieved this goal well ahead of target with a 25.8% reduction in carbon emissions in fiscal year 2019. After a significant acquisition in 2021, 7-Eleven continued to show progress with a 27% reduction in CO 2 emissions in 2021[1]. As a result, the company has expanded its goal to achieve 50% reduction in carbon emissions by fiscal year 2030. Going forward, 7-Eleven will continue to promote activities aimed at reducing its environmental impact, including the installation of electric vehicle charging stations and the expansion of stores that use 100% renewable energy. As Michigans largest producer of and investor in renewable energy, we are proud to work with 7-Eleven on our shared goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions through clean, renewable energy, said Brian Calka, vice president, Renewable Sales and Project Development for DTE Energy. Through its enrollment in our MIGreenPower program, 7-Eleven is helping to bring new Michigan-based wind and solar resources online that will support Michigans clean energy transition, create jobs and strengthen Michigans economy. DTEs MIGreenPower program enables DTE Electrics residential and business customers to attribute an even greater percentage of their electricity use to Michigan-made wind and solar beyond the 15% DTE already provides. On an annual basis, MIGreenPower customers have enrolled 2.8 million megawatt hours of clean energy in the program, making it one of the largest voluntary renewable energy programs in the country. DTEs renewable energy portfolio includes more than 50 wind and solar parks generating enough clean energy to power nearly 700,000 homes. Over the next three years, DTE plans to add thousands of megawatts of new renewable energy to meet the continued growth of its MIGreenPower program. For more information on DTEs MIGreenPower program, visit dteenergy.com/migreenpower. About 7-Eleven 7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name in the convenience-retailing industry. Based in Irving, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises and/or licenses more than 13,000 stores in the U.S. and Canada. In addition to 7-Eleven stores, 7-Eleven, Inc. operates and franchises Speedway, Stripes, Laredo Taco Company and Raise the Roost Chicken and Biscuits locations. Known for its iconic brands such as Slurpee, Big Bite and Big Gulp, 7-Eleven has expanded into high-quality sandwiches, salads, side dishes, cut fruit and protein boxes, as well as pizza, chicken wings and mini beef tacos. 7-Eleven offers customers industry-leading private brand products under the 7-Select brand including healthy options, decadent treats and everyday favorites at an outstanding value. Customers can earn and redeem points on various items in stores nationwide through its 7Rewards loyalty program with more than 50 million members, place an order in the 7NOW delivery app in over 2,000 cities, or rely on 7-Eleven for bill payment service, self-service lockers and other convenient services. Find out more online at www.7-Eleven.com. About DTE Energy DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating units include an electric company serving 2.2 million customers in Southeast Michigan and a natural gas company serving 1.3 million customers in Michigan. The DTE portfolio includes energy businesses focused on power and industrial projects, renewable natural gas, and energy marketing and trading. As an environmental leader, DTE utility operations will reduce carbon dioxide and methane emissions by more than 80% by 2040 to produce cleaner energy while keeping it safe, reliable and affordable. DTE Electric and Gas aspire to achieve net zero carbon and greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. DTE is committed to serving with its energy through volunteerism, education and employment initiatives, philanthropy and economic progress. Information about DTE is available at dteenergy.com, empoweringmichigan.com, twitter.com/dte_energy and facebook.com. MIGreenPower avoided emissions and equivalencies are based on the Environmental Protection Agency equivalencies calculator at epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator. ### [1] Reduction based on period starting in fiscal year 2013. Attachments Westford, USA, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Initially, fingerprint sensors were only used by certain high-end users. However, with the increasing popularity of mobile devices and the increase in hacking attempts, businesses and individuals have started to adopt this technology more widely. Not only is it more secure than traditional passwords, but it also eliminates the need for you to remember multiple digits! This growth of the global fingerprint sensor market is attributed to increasing demand for secure identification and authentication of individuals as well as increased adoption of mobile payment platforms. Today, fingerprint sensors are becoming an increasingly common way for users to authenticate themselves online and in physical stores. They are used in a variety of applications such as unlocking mobile phones, logging on to computers, and verifying the identity of customers in financial transactions. Fingerprint recognition has been found to be more accurate than other forms of authentication, such as passwords or PINs. From the last three years, the global fingerprint sensor market has started witnessing a huge influx of demand from smartphone companies. In fact, they have become the biggest users of fingerprint sensor technology. They use it to secure user data and to ensure that only authorized users can access their accounts. Laptop manufacturers are also using fingerprint sensors to protect user data. Apart from this, automotive manufacturers are beginning to use them to control car functions and enable drivers to authenticate themselves before starting the engine. The global fingerprint sensor market will become even more competitive as companies develop new and more secure technologies. For instance, Apple has been leading the way in developing innovative fingerprint sensor technology. In addition to offering its own advanced sensors, Apple also licenses its technology to other smartphone manufacturers. Get a sample copy of this report: https://skyquestt.com/sample-request/fingerprint-sensor-market SkyQuests Analysis of Global Fingerprint Sensor Market The demand for fingerprint sensors is growing exponentially, as companies adopt it for a variety of use cases including authentication, access control and malware detection. According to a study by SkyQuest, there will be a 33% growth in the use of fingerprint sensors in enterprise BYOD deployments between 2021 and 2025. As such, demand for fingerprint sensor market is poised to grow significantly over the next few years. In terms of supply, there are currently two dominant suppliers of fingerprint sensor technology: Synaptics and Samsung. However, SkyQuests analysts note that not all vendors are able to create durable sensors that can handle high-volume production. In addition, as competition intensifies among suppliers and users alike seek more secure biometric authentication options, prices are likely to drop within the next several years. The study on the global fingerprint sensor market found that while only around 41% of users currently use fingerprints to access their smartphone devices, this could increase to more than 65% by 2030 as users become more comfortable with biometric authentication. In addition, we found that the number of businesses requiring mandatory fingerprint scanning will also increase over the same time period, with about 44% of companies surveyed expecting such a requirement within the next two years. In Q1 2022, SkyQuest predicted that the number of active devices with biometric authentication reached 332 million units in 2021. This growth can be attributed to the popularity of smartphones using biometric authentication. We surveyed several companies in the global fingerprint sensor market engaged in manufacturing fingerprint sensors to understand their requirements and found that most companies are looking for an adhesive (land) fingerprint sensor with good readability in direct sunlight and low noise levels. They also require a fast sensor speed and low power consumption. There is currently a lack of compatible flagship phones with these features, so there is potential for additional growth for fingerprint sensor market through device integration by phone manufacturers over the next three years. Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://skyquestt.com/report/fingerprint-sensor-market Shifting Preferences to Biometric Authentication is Giving Impetus To Fingerprint Sensor Demand As the world becomes increasingly digitized, we are starting to see a shift in preferences towards biometric authentication - specifically, fingerprint scanning. This is giving impetus to the demand for fingerprint sensors, as businesses and consumers alike look to protect their information and identities with more reliable means. There are many advantages to using biometric authentication, compared to traditional password methods. For one, passwords can be easily forgotten or stolen - which is especially problematic when it comes to sensitive information like account numbers or passwords for online banking accounts. Biometric authentication techniques in the fingerprint sensor market, on the other hand, are difficult (but not impossible) to fake. And since they're unique to each individual, they're also harder for hackers to use against you without your consent or knowledge. One of the most common uses of fingerprint scanning is on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Since most people tend to keep their devices close at hand - and usually don't need to enter a password every time they want access to them - fingerprints make perfect sense as a form of authentication. And because there's no need for a software installation or any kind of registration process, fingerprint scanning is fast and easy once users get used to it. Overall, fingerprints are quickly becoming the preferred method of biometric authentication because they offer many advantages over traditional password methods. As more businesses and individuals begin using them, the demand for fingerprint sensors will only grow stronger. Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements: https://skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/fingerprint-sensor-market Synaptics to Enjoy Higher Market Share in Global Fingerprint Sensor Market Synpatics Inc. is one of the key providers of biometric sensing solutions. The company's sensor technology focuses on mounting and integrating fingerprint sensors in mobile devices and other electronic devices. SkyQuest has published an analysis report on the global fingerprint sensor market, stating that the company has a good chance to become a leading supplier of fingerprint sensors in the global market. According to our study, Synpatics' fingerprint sensor technology is compatible with Android and iOS operating systems. This makes the company's sensors more versatile and appealing compared to those from its competitors. Furthermore, Synpatics' sensor technology supports reading fingerprints in both radial and oblique directions, which gives device manufacturers more flexibility when designing their products. The report on global fingerprint sensor market also stated that Synpatics' Fingerprint Signal Processor (FSP) is one of the most advanced implementations of fingerprint recognition currently available on the market. Moreover, Skyquest believes that this feature will give Synpatics an advantage over its competitors in terms of accuracy and speed. In addition, Synpatics has been working on increasing device battery life through optimization of its sensor algorithms. This could lead to increased adoption by device manufacturers who are looking for ways to reduce resource usage across their platforms. The report finds that Synpatics has been able to leveraging its leading market position to develop innovative products with high value for customers. The company's omnidirectional printing technology is especially key to this, as it allows for low-cost production of large prints that are accurate and highly resistant to wear and tear. Additionally, Synpatics offers "stress-relieving" features such as vibration reassurance and a long battery life, which helps its products be more user-friendly. Top Players in Global Fingerprint Sensor Market Shenzhen Goodix (China) Fingerprint Cards AB (Sweden) Synaptics (US) Apple Inc. (US) Egis Technology Inc. (Taiwan) Crucialtec (South Korea) Next Biometrics (Norway) Novatek Microelectronics (Taiwan) Qualcomm (US) Q Technology Company ltd. (China) CMOS Sensor Inc. (US) Elan Microelectronics Corporation (Taiwan) Focaltech Sys (Taiwan) ID3 Technologies (France) IDEX Biometrics ASA (Norway) Japan Display Inc. (Japan) OXI Technology (China) Sonavation Inc. (US) Touch Biometrix Ltd. (UK) Vkansee (US) Related Reports in SkyQuests Library: Global Ignition Interlock Device Market Global Router And Switch Market Global Battery Metals Market Global 3D Camera Market Global Image Sensor Market About Us: SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally. Address: 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 Phone: USA (+1) 617-230-0741 Email: sales@skyquestt.com RICHMOND, VA, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kevin S. Elliker, an experienced appellate, complex litigation and government investigations attorney, has returned to Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP as a counsel in the firms Richmond office. Elliker, who was an associate with the firm from 2016 to 2019, most recently served as Investigative Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. Prior to his service with the Select Committee, he was an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia. Drawing upon his government and private practice experience, Elliker advises clients facing appeals, complex litigation, white collar defense and government investigations. In addition to his roles in government, his notable prior experience includes: Briefed, argued and secured reversal in a case of first impression regarding the application of Title VIIs waiting period for federal employees with claims of employment discrimination. Briefed a major First Amendment case in which the Fourth Circuit granted a writ of mandamus striking down as unconstitutional a gag order entered in multiple civil cases involving alleged agricultural nuisances. Briefed, argued and secured denial of class certification in a putative class action brought under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Assisted in an independent review commissioned by the City of Charlottesville, Virginia, to examine the Citys response to protest events in the summer of 2017, resulting in a published report detailing the independent reviews findings. Successfully represented a Sudanese national in challenge to executive order suspending immigration from certain countries, resulting in clients immigration and lawful permanent residency in the United States. Elliker left the firm in 2019 to serve as an AUSA, where he led the Eastern District of Virginias Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) review teams. He also led dozens of investigations and prosecutions, working with law enforcement officers in covert and overt investigative activities regarding fraud, weapons, drug and child-exploitation offenses. Beginning in September 2021, Elliker joined the January 6th Select Committee as an Investigative Counsel. In that role, he served as a front-line investigator, responsible for interviewing and deposing more than sixty witnesses, providing Congressional briefings, memorializing key findings, coordinating the presentation of evidence for the Committees televised hearings and contributing to the Committees final report. Kevins unique government experience is an exciting addition to the firms appeals and white collar and investigations teams, said Elbert Lin, chair of Hunton Andrews Kurths appeals practice. We are pleased to welcome Kevin back to the firm after his years in public service. Elliker earned his undergraduate and masters degrees from James Madison University and his law degree, summa cum laude, from William & Mary Law School, where he graduated first in his class. Following law school, Elliker clerked for Judge Robert B. King of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and Judge John A. Gibney, Jr., of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Before law school, Kevin worked as a high school government and history teacher. Led by a former state solicitor general, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLPs Issues and Appeals practice has represented clients in federal and state appellate courts nationwide, including in the Supreme Court of the United States and in every federal court of appeals. Among the firms lawyers are a former justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, a former judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and more than 30 who have clerked for federal and state appellate judges throughout the country, including U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Members of the team have received numerous accolades, including invitations to join the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers and the American Law Institute, as well as rankings in Chambers USA, Benchmark Litigation, the National Law Journal, Super Lawyers, and Virginia Business magazine. With lawyers in the United States, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP serves clients across a broad range of complex transactional, litigation and regulatory matters. For more information, please contact Jeremy Heallen at +1 713 220 3713. Attachment WATERLOO, Ontario, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHO: Caitlin MacGregor, CEO and co-founder of revolutionary talent assessment platform Plum WHAT: Will speak at Ottawas premier entrepreneurship event, AccelerateOTT 2022 WHEN: The event will be held on Thursday, November 3. MacGregor will participate in the ScaleUp panel, which will be held from 12:45 1:25 p.m. WHERE: AccelerateOTT is a hybrid event. While in-person tickets are sold out, complimentary registration is open for the virtual delivery of the conference. Details can be accessed here. DETAILS: Joining other women founders and funders, MacGregor will participate in the panel discussion titled Secrets to ScaleUp Success. A popular thought-leader on entrepreneurial, HR technology and workforce topics, MacGregors company has been lauded for developing a Top HR Product of the Year. Plum has also recently won the 2022 HR Tech Award for Talent Management, the Nucleus Research 2022 ROI Award and a Globee for innovation. About Plum Revolutionary talent assessment platform Plum is talent realized. Universally designed, Plum uses objective data to measure and match human potential to job needs, enhancing talent decisions across the employee lifecycle. With unmatched scalability, Plum empowers organizations to quantify job fit, improve quality of hire, identify potential, provide personalized career insights and create high-performing teams from one platform. Plum has been named a Top HR Product of the Year by Human Resource Executive, won an HR Tech Award from Lighthouse Research & Advisory and secured High Performer status with G2. Visit www.plum.io to learn more. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0eb4d267-7112-48a3-8d71-f14a273d9b1d New York, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Research Nester has published a detailed market report on Global Drug Delivery Systems Market for the forecast period, i.e. 2023 2033 which includes the following factors: Market growth over the forecast period Detailed regional synopsis Market segmentation Growth drivers Challenges Key market players and their detailed profiling Market Scope of Global Drug Delivery Systems: Market Size Value in 2022 (Base Year) ~ USD 40,000 Million Market Forecast Value in 223 ~ USD 75,000 Million Growth Rate (CAGR) of Market (Global) ~10% Forecast Period of Drug Delivery Systems Market (Global) 2023 2033 Global Drug Delivery Systems Market Size: The global drug delivery market is to garner an approximate revenue of USD 75,000 by 2033. The market growth is attributed to vaccination awareness of various diseases including hepatitis, HIV, typhoid, influenza and others, as well as, growing vaccination drive of COVID-19. The Our World in Data figures show that 3.87 million vaccinations are performed daily and that 12.69 billion doses have been administered globally. Moreover, in 2021, the World Health Organization estimates that over 80% of people worldwide had hepatitis B vaccination, nearly 71% have received Hemophilus influenza type b immunization, and nearly 80% have received polio vaccination. Furthermore, the market growth is expected to be accelerated by digitization in drug delivery. At a corporation with 5000 employees, nearly 60% of workers agree that digital drug delivery technology is essential. Get a Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.researchnester.com/sample-request-4460 Global Drug Delivery Systems Market: Key Takeaways Asia Pacific region gains the largest portion of the revenue Diabetes segment to dominate the revenue graph Injectable sub-segment remains prominent in the type segment Rising Burden of Chronic Disease and Technological Advancement is to Propel the Market Growth The growth of the global drug delivery market systems is likely to be propelled by advancement of drug delivery systems technology followed by growing burden of chronic diseases such as, diabetes, cardiovascular issues, arthritis, cancer and others. For instance, the new program, called Efficio, debuted in January 2020. It is a cloud-based management programme that can be used with SynchroMed II intrathecal drug delivery systems. With the help of this software, professionals may efficiently target the administration of their drugs to patients who are suffering from cancer pain, chronic pain, and other types of pain. Furthermore, as per the statistics of National Library of Medicine, every 3 in 5 deaths worldwide is attributed to cardiovascular problems. The World Health Organization declared cardiovascular disease as a primary reason for major share of deaths worldwide, to count the figure, around 18 million people died of any one cardiovascular issue. For more information in the analysis of this report, visit: https://www.researchnester.com/reports/drug-delivery-systems-market/4460 Global Drug Delivery Systems Market: Regional Overview The global drug delivery systems market is segmented into five major regions including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa region. Higher Instances of Chronic Disease and Growing Vaccination Drive of COVID-19 is to Boost the North Americas Market Growth The drug delivery systems market growth in the North America is augmented on the account of higher share of population suffering from chronic disease. Nearly 37 million individuals have diabetes in the United States and out 8.5 million peoples diabetes is still undiagnosed. Moreover, in the United States, every sixth adult has a chronic illness, and every tenth has two or more chronic conditions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Further, the North Americas market growth is also propelled by increased vaccination drive. About 68% of people in the United States has gone through initial phase of COVID-19 vaccination. Asia Pacifics Market Growth is Elevated by Rising Geriatric Population, Higher Cases of COVID-19 and Chronic Disease The market growth in the Asia Pacific region is boosted by growing geriatric population followed by rising number of COVID patients and people suffering with chronic disease. Japan is known as the oldest country of the world, in 2020, around 28% of the total Japanese population is of 65 years or above. Furthermore, the rising COVID-19 patients is to influence the market growth, from January 2020 to October 2022, there were over 40 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, in India. Additionally, the burden of chronic disease is rapidly rising in the Asia Pacific, out of total 40 million chronic cases worldwide, around 8 million are attributed to Asia. Moreover, nearly 55% deaths in Southeast Asia is due to chronic diseases. Get a Sample PDF of Drug Delivery Systems Market Report@ https://www.researchnester.com/sample-request-4460 The study further incorporates Y-O-Y growth, demand & supply and forecast future opportunity in: North America (U.S., Canada) Europe (U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Hungary, Belgium, Netherlands & Luxembourg, NORDIC [Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark], Poland, Turkey, Russia, Rest of Europe) Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Rest of Latin America) Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Rest of Asia-Pacific) Middle East and Africa (Israel, GCC [Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman], North Africa, South Africa, Rest of Middle East and Africa). Global Drug Delivery Systems Market, Segmentation by Type Transdermal Inhalation Injectable Others By type, the injectable segment, injections are highly used for the HIV, hepatitis, cancer and others. Therefore, higher prevalence of these disease is to propel the growth of the segment. Around 296 million people are living with Hepatitis-B and nearly 58 million individuals have Hepatitis-C, as per the report of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly 38 million people were suffering from HIV in 2020. Furthermore, the increased vaccination drive is to boost the market growth. As of August 2022, nearly 171 million Covid-19 vaccines were dispersed in Russia. For more insights on the market share of various regions: https://www.researchnester.com/sample-request-4460 Global Drug Delivery Systems Market, Segmentation by Device Type Conventional Advanced Global Drug Delivery Systems Market, Segmentation by Indication Diabetes Cardiovascular Disease Multiple Sclerosis Asthma & COPD On the basis of indication, the diabetes segment is to garner the highest revenue by the end of 2033. The segment growth is attributed to higher cases of diabetes in the world. As per the statistics of the World Health Organization, around 422 million people are living with diabetes worldwide. Patient with type 1 diabetes needs insulin injection periodically. The higher demand of insulin injections is to boost the market growth. Globally, around 150-200 million patients required insulin therapy. Global Drug Delivery Systems Market, Segmentation by Distribution Channel Hospital Pharmacy Retail Pharmacy Others Few of the well-known market leaders in the global drug delivery systems market that are profiled by Research Nester are BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), Gerreshelmer AG, Baxter, Nemara, Kindeva Drug Delivery, West Pharmaceutical Services Inc., Ypsomed, Medtronic, E3D Elcam Drug Delivery Devices, AstraZeneca, Merck KGaAand others. Do You Have Any Query Or Specific Requirement? Submit Request for Proposal Recent Developments in the Drug Delivery Systems Market February 2022, Abbott announces the partnership with primary healthy-tech companies involving, Sugar.fit, healthifyme, Fitterfly, BeatO, PharmEasy, GOQii, 1 MG, and Zyla Health. By this collaboration, Abbott aim to deploy glucose monitoring solution to 8 million people with diabetes. Moreover, the Abbotts Freestyle Libre allows people to check the glucose reading more frequently, it also offers advanced technology for the management of the diabetes which is expected to give better outcomes and reduces complications. April 2021, Nipro Pharma Corporation announced new finding which is certainly to elaborate Nipros product portfolio. The Nipro D2F prefilled syringes are compatible with Schreiner MediPharm Needle-Trap of Schreiner MediPharm. Needle trap is safe and easy to use and it save cost owing to its unique design with compact body. The complete activation of the device is confirmed wither by sound or by visuals. 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With an out-of-the-box mindset to produce statistical and analytical market research reports, we provide strategic consulting so that our clients can make wise business decisions with clarity while strategizing and planning for their forthcoming needs and succeed in achieving their future endeavors. We believe every business can expand to its new horizon, provided a right guidance at a right time is available through strategic minds. Contact for more Info: AJ Daniel Email: info@researchnester.com U.S. Phone: +1 646 586 9123 U.K. Phone: +44 203 608 5919 Dallas, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A Texas heat wave is coming to The Great White North as Dickeys Barbecue Pit smokes its Legit. Texas. Barbecue. across the border in Canada. Following the early success of its first Canadian opening in Edmonton last August, the worlds largest barbecue concept has even bigger expansion plans in the near future. As the brand focuses on aligning with the best local ownership partners, Dickeys franchise anticipates a total of 25 grand openings between Calgary and Edmonton. However, it doesnt stop in Alberta. Dickeys is also setting its sights on Ontario with plans to open its first restaurant in Toronto this December, followed by another in the Greater Toronto Area, as well as an Ottawa location in 2023. No need to travel down south for the best BBQ from Texas, were bringing the cue to you! Plans are also underway for an opening in Quebec in March of 2023 as Dickeys looks to bring a taste of Texas to its friends up north. Texas and Canada are different in many ways, but we can all agree on our shared love of barbecue, said Dickeys Executive VP of International Development and Support Jim Perkins. Just like The Lone Star State, Canada has an abundance of oil and cattle, but most importantly an entrepreneurial spirit, which is a big reason why were excited about working with local franchisees to bring Legit. Texas. Barbecue. to this beautiful and vibrant country. With this latest announcement, Dickeys continues to strengthen its international presence as the worlds largest barbecue brand and franchise with over 550 locations worldwide. With locations in Brazil, Egypt, Japan, Pakistan, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates, Dickeys has entrenched itself as the most successful barbecue concept in the restaurant industry. Fans can order Dickeys holiday offerings while supplies last online at dickeys.com, through the Dickeys App, or by calling their local BBQ joint. To learn more, follow Dickeys Barbecue Pit on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Download the Dickeys Barbecue Pit app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. To learn more about Dickeys Virtual Concepts follow: Wing Boss on Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok , Trailer Birds on Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok and Big Deal Burger on Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok About Dickeys Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., the worlds largest barbecue concept, was founded in 1941 by the Dickey family. For the past 80 years, Dickeys Barbecue Pit has served millions of guests in 44 states Legit. Texas. Barbecue. At Dickeys, all our barbecued meats are smoked onsite in a hickory wood burning pit. Dickeys proudly believes theres no shortcut to true barbecue and its why our name isnt BBQ. The Dallas-based, family-run barbecue franchise offers eight slow-smoked meats and 12 wholesome sides with 'No B.S. (Bad Stuff)' included. Dickeys Barbecue has 550 locations across the United States and eight other countries. Dickeys was named to Newsweeks 2022 Americas Favorite Restaurant Chains list and USA Today 2021 readers choice awards. Dickeys won first place on Fast Casuals Top 100 Movers and Shakers list, been named a Top 500 Franchise by Entrepreneur and named to Hospitality Technologys Industry Heroes list. Led by CEO Laura Rea Dickey, who was named among the countrys 50 most influential women in foodservice in Nations Restaurant News, was recognized by Fast Casuals Top 100 Movers and Shakers list and honored by Dallas Business Journal. Dickey's Barbecue Pit has also been recognized by Fox News, Forbes Magazine, Franchise Times, The Dallas Morning News, The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine and QSR Magazine. Dickeys Barbecue is part of Dickeys Restaurant Brands which has more than 700 restaurants nationwide including brands Wing Boss, Trailer Birds, Big Deal Burger and bbqathome.com. DRB is led by CEO Roland Dickey Jr. For more information, visit www.dickeys.com. # # # Attachment NETANYA, Israel, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On October 19, 2022, RADA Electronic Industries Ltd. (the Company) held an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders (the Meeting) at the Companys offices located at 7 Giborei Israel Street, Netanya, Israel. At the Meeting, the following resolutions were adopted as follows : The approval and adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 21, 2022 (the Merger Agreement), by and among Leonardo DRS, Inc. (DRS), RADA and Blackstart Ltd, a company organized under the laws of the State of Israel and a wholly owned subsidiary of DRS (Merger Sub); (ii) the merger contemplated by the merger agreement (the Merger), by which Merger Sub will be merged with and into RADA in accordance with the provisions of Sections 314-327 of the Companies Law 1999 of the State of Israel, with RADA as the surviving company of the Merger and thereby becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of DRS; and (iii) all other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, all upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement. The approval of the purchase of a seven-year tail endorsement to RADAs current directors and officers liability insurance policy. The approval of payment of a transaction bonus to RADAs Chief Financial Officer. The approval of the grant of retention awards by DRS to certain office holders of RADA. The following proposals were not approved : A payment of a transaction bonus to RADAs Chief Executive Officer. A payment of a transaction bonus to the Executive Chairman of the RADA board of directors About RADA RADA is a global defense technology company focused on proprietary radar solutions and legacy avionics systems. The Company is a leader in mini-tactical radars, serving attractive, high-growth markets which include active military protection (SHORAD, C-RAM), counter-UAS missions, critical infrastructure protection and border surveillance. Prague, Czech Republic, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today World Vapers Alliance (WVA) launches their European campaign to back vaping and beat smoking in Prague to encourage Czech politicians to support vaping as an effective harm reduction tool. As a part of the camoaign, WVA delivered the Vaping Products Directive to the Minister of Health in the Czech Republic. The global advocacy group for vapers rights hosted a protest art installation in the city centre of Prague with the message Dont Let 19 Million Lives Fall. The installation displayed a set of falling dominoes that represent lives fallen from smoke-induced illnesses. Michael Landl, director of World Vapers Alliance, said: Every year, more than 700,000 people in Europe and 17,000 in the Czech Republic die from tobacco-smoking illnesses. These are catastrophic numbers if we think about how many lives could be saved by consumer-friendly vaping regulations. Therefore, we hope the Czech government further increases its commitment towards harm reduction. The Czech government also needs to push back against attacks on vaping and other less harmful alternatives on the EU level. Our #BackVapingBeatSmoking campaign serves to raise awareness that 19 million lives in Europe could be saved if we embrace vaping as a powerful tool to quit smoking in the Czech Republic and on the EU level. Along with the installation, WVA hosted a round-table discussion with the Czech experts and media representatives on the future of harm reduction in the Czech Republic. Michal Godwin Zrdazil, the founder of Spolek Nekuraku and WVA partner, commented: The situation around tobacco smoking in the Czech Republic is still worrying. Smoking numbers are one of the highest in Europe. But as vapers, we encourage the government to commit to tobacco harm reduction even more. Vaping has proven to be the most successful aid in helping people quit cigarette smoking and should be the cornerstone of the national harm reduction strategy against tobacco smoking. The EU is once again deliberating over the European Tobacco Products Directive. Despite all evidence, this time, EU policymakers are preparing to make a grave mistake and treat vaping the same way as smoking. All we ask is that politicians listen to the science and consumers, and prevent this public health disaster from happening, concluded Landl. WVAs #BackVapingBeatSmoking campaign has already been launched in France and Poland and will extend to Italy, Portugal, and Belgium in the coming weeks. WVA is also running a public petition to call on the European legislators to embrace vaping as a smoking cessation aid on the EU level. The petition is available at www.worldvapersalliance.com/back-vaping-beat-smoking. Attachments HOUSTON, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Techwave, a leading global IT and engineering solutions provider, shares its latest fundraising initiative, the "STEPtember, Health & Fitness Challenge." The campaign is being launched in collaboration with the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation to raise awareness and funds for families affected by cerebral palsy. The funds raised by the STEPtember challenge will be used by the best CPARF researchers to prevent, treat, and cure cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a physical disability caused by damage to the developing brain during pregnancy, birth, or shortly after birth, which affects a person's posture and movement throughout their life. Techwave's "STEPtember" challenge is the key initiative to raise awareness about cerebral palsy among employees and entice them to lead a healthy lifestyle. Signing up for STEPtember and committing to 10,000 steps per day is the initial step. Tracking the steps with a digital pedometer or an app would follow. A total of 10,000 steps were taken every day during the "STEPtember" challenge by the employees for 28 consecutive days. By participating in this, we raised more than $2,000 and took more than 10 million steps for the CPARF cause. "STEPtember is a virtual fundraising initiative to encourage fitness and healthy living among employees. The opportunity to fundraise for the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation is inspiring to us, and we are proud to be able to make a real difference in the lives of families living with cerebral palsy. This initiative will be rolled out all year long, globally, and we hope it will lead society to better understand cerebral palsy and those affected by it so that we can make a lasting difference for people with the condition," said Mr. Raj Gummadapu, CEO, Techwave. About Techwave: Techwave is a leading global Information Technology and Engineering services and solutions company revolutionizing digital transformations. They believe in enabling clients to maximize their potential and achieve a greater market with a wide array of technology services, including, but not limited to, Enterprise Resource Planning, Application Development, Analytics, Digital, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Founded in 2004, and headquartered in Houston, TX, USA, Techwave has a team of experts, leveraging Digital Transformation, Enterprise Application, and Engineering Services expertise, in 11 countries. Visit us at https://techwave.net/. Contact Information: Sravya P Sr. Public Relations Executive sravya.palukuru@techwave.net 6302616391 Related Images Image 1: Techwave This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment SALISBURY, N.C., Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Food Lion Feeds has sent two semi-trailers full of much-needed essentials from South Carolina to Florida, supporting residents recovering from Hurricane Ian. Food Lion is an omnichannel retailer that founded Food Lion Feeds in 2014 to address hunger relief in the towns and cities it serves. The delivery will benefit Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida, the largest hunger-relief network in Southwest Florida, which serves many of the communities most impacted by Hurricane Ian. The delivery includes pallets of water, canned soup, canned vegetables, rice, dried beans, macaroni and cheese, antibacterial wipes, baby food and pet food. Its important to support our neighbors in times of need, and we are committed to helping Floridians who are experiencing unprecedented times due to the devastation from Hurricane Ian, said Kevin Durkee, Manager, Food Lion Feeds, Food Lion. By providing truckloads of food and supplies, we want the families impacted to know we care and are here to help. In addition to the product delivery, Food Lion Feeds raised funds in partnership with customers to support the American Red Cross efforts to provide meals and assistance to residents affected by the devastation. Through Oct. 18, Food Lion customers at its more than 1,100 stores across 10 states had the option to make a cash donation at the register to support neighbors and communities in the path of Hurricane Ian. All proceeds benefit American Red Cross relief efforts, and Food Lion will match register donations up to $30,000. Results of those contributions will be announced later this month. So far in 2022, Food Lion Feeds has provided nearly $100,000 in donations to the American Red Cross to support recovery efforts from flooding in Eastern Kentucky. For more ways in which Food Lion cares for the towns and cities it serves, visit foodlion.com/feeds. About Food Lion Food Lion is an omnichannel retailer committed to nourishing its neighbors during the moments that matter most. More than 82,000 associates across 1,100+ stores deliver an easy, fresh and affordable shopping experience throughout 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states. Through its Count on me culture, Food Lion fosters a sense of belonging for all associates, promoting a diverse and inclusive environment that has supported LGBTQ+ equality for nearly two decades. Food Lion is the only company in the country to be named an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for 21 consecutive years. It also pioneered a food rescue program to support food-insecure neighbors. Through Food Lion Feeds, the retailer has donated more than 970 million meals to individuals and families since 2014 and has committed to donate 1.5 billion meals by 2025. Founded and based in Salisbury, N.C., since 1957, Food Lion is a company of Ahold Delhaize USA, the U.S. division of Zaandam-based Ahold Delhaize. For more information, visit foodlion.com. CONTACTS: Food Lion Media Relations 704-245-3317 publicrelationsteam@foodlion.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4dff76b7-6ce5-430c-8955-9db276ae1375 A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/afaeaa0b-72c1-4900-84d0-b9b60443beec Lawmakers of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) block prosecutors attempting to raid the party's headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, Wednesday. Earlier, the prosecution issued arrest warrants for former high-ranking officials of the previous Moon Jae-in administration for determining without sufficient evidence that a South Korean fisheries official, who was killed by North Korean soldiers, attempted to defect to North Korea in 2020. Yonhap DALLAS, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fogo de Chao, the internationally renowned restaurant from Brazil that allows guests to make discoveries at every turn, today announced plans to bring its award-winning dining experience to Costa Rica and El Salvador for the first time. Through the franchise development agreement, Arguedas Group, an experienced owner and operator of international restaurant brands in Central America, will open four Fogo locations in Costa Rica and El Salvador. The announcement continues Fogos global expansion momentum, following its recently announced plans to enter Asia and Canada and domestic openings in the U.S. The Arguedas Group joins Fogos existing international franchise partners in Mexico, the Middle East, the Philippines and Canada. With 68 locations worldwide and growing, earlier in 2022 Fogo announced a 15 percent planned annual growth rate through company-owned restaurants, with an additional international capital light franchise development strategy. With the goal to bring the culinary art of churrasco to guests worldwide, the Company has 8-10 company-owned and 1-2 international franchise restaurant openings planned for 2022, supported by a strong pipeline of new restaurant development to meet demand in new and existing markets. Fogos newest openings include restaurants in El Segundo, Calif., Coral Gables, Fla., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Pasadena, Calif., Friendswood, Texas, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Monterrey, Mexico, with planned openings in Queens, N.Y., Reston, Va., and others expected later this year. We are thrilled to partner with Jozsef Arguedas, CEO and Founder, and his accomplished team at Arguedas Group, whom we recognize for their impressive growth and success developing reputable, global restaurant brands in both Central and South America, said Barry McGowan, Chief Executive Officer of Fogo de Chao. We look forward to working together to bring the one-of-a-kind Fogo experience to Costa Rica and El Salvador guests for the first time as we continue to scale our brand globally. The Arguedas Group is a leading owner and operator of multi-unit restaurant brands in Costa Rica and El Salvador. With a current total footprint of more than 99 locations, Arguedas Groups impressive portfolio includes iconic global brands such as Burger King, Dominos and Arbys. We are honored to be partnering with Fogo de Chao to bring their distinctive menu and innovative dining experience to Costa Rica and El Salvador, said Jozsef Arguedas, CEO and Founder of the Arguedas Group. As a longtime fan and guest of Fogo locations around the world myself, I believe Fogo will be a unique addition to the local dining scene in Central America and look forward to introducing new guests to the culinary art of churrasco. Founded in Southern Brazil in 1979, Fogo de Chao is a nearly 45-year-old brand known for its dining experience of discovery and showcasing the culinary art of churrasco where guests can watch as gaucho chefs butcher, hand-carve and grill high-quality cuts of protein over an open flame. With a modern, timeless design and signature offerings including a fresh and seasonal Market Table and an award-winning Bar Fogo menu featuring hand-crafted cocktails and South American wines, Fogo has become a destination of choice by both brand advocates and new guests globally. For more information about Fogo de Chao, visit fogo.com. To learn more about global franchising opportunities, visit fogo.com/global-development/. About Fogo de Chao Fogo de Chao (fogo-dee-shown) is an internationally renowned restaurant that allows guests to discover whats next at every turn. Founded in Southern Brazil in 1979, Fogo elevates the centuries-old cooking technique of churrasco the art of roasting high-quality cuts of meat over an open flame into a cultural dining experience of discovery. In addition to its Market Table and Feijoada Bar which includes seasonal salads and soup, fresh vegetables, imported charcuterie and more guests are served simply-seasoned meats that are butchered, fire-roasted and carved tableside by gaucho chefs. Guests can also indulge in dry-aged or premium Wagyu cuts, seafood a la carte, All-Day Happy Hour including signature cocktails, and an award-winning South American wine list, as well as smaller, sharable plates in Bar Fogo. Fogo offers differentiated menus for all dayparts including lunch, dinner, weekend brunch and group dining, plus full-service catering and contactless takeout and delivery options. For locations and more information about Fogo de Chao, visit fogo.com. Media Contact: FogoPR@icrinc.com Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/76b0c400-dfaa-4ad8-a0b3-15dad320fbd1 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6a7c9dbf-9c87-4f1f-a521-6c7c6150ebd9 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a51792cb-9053-497c-bec1-a37fcf37619a https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1db2c0a7-2674-4326-a7ac-737596468586 Alexandria, Virginia, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a move to both strengthen and diversify the clinical research workforce, the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) today announced a collaboration with Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, to provide access to training for clinical research sites located in historically underrepresented communities and for students interested in the clinical research profession. The collaboration is designed to empower local communities through direct engagement with high schools and community colleges, and through support of clinical research sites. Protocol requirements are not the only path to ensuring diversity in clinical trials, said Susan Landis, ACRP executive director. Participants want to see themselves reflected in the make-up of the clinical study team. ACRP is excited to collaborate with industry stakeholders like Merck to unite our training with targeted initiatives that take direct action to develop a diverse, research-ready workforce and to help to address the global workforce issue. We strive to conduct clinical trials that enroll participants that appropriately reflect the wide diversity of patients we serve, said Jennifer Sheller, Associate Vice President, Global Clinical Trial Operations. We are deeply committed to improving the diversity of clinical trial participants and are employing a multi-faceted approach, which includes providing access to training for clinical research sites serving underrepresented populations and for students in these communities interested in pursuing a career in clinical research. Merck will introduce two new programs, both supported with training from ACRP. Diversity & Inclusion in Clinical Trials (DICT). This program helps support U.S. clinical trial sites located in underrepresented communities and prioritizing DICT, with training for Clinical Research Coordinators (CRC). Clinical trials can only be conducted with qualified sites, and appropriately trained CRCs are a critical component of a sites study team. ACRP will provide its CRC Foundations Core Competency Training and Clinical Research Knowledge Assessment as a certificate of completion. Supporting Students in Clinical Research. This program aims to facilitate the recruitment of 50 students from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds currently attending community colleges and high schools in select urban areas across the U.S. to ACRPs Early Talent Training Program next year. The training is a first of its kind, comprehensive curriculum that prepares interested candidates and lateral movers for the clinical research profession. In addition to this initiative, Merck is a member of ACRPs Partners Advancing the Clinical Research Workforce, a multi-stakeholder consortium supported by sponsors, CROs, investigator sites, academic institutions, and regulatory agencies. The Partners group recently published a whitepaper outlining barriers to developing and advancing a diverse, research-ready clinical research workforce. About ACRP With more than 12,000 members, the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) is the only non-profit organization solely dedicated to representing, supporting, and advocating for clinical research professionals in every phase of their careers and contributions to improving public health. ACRP provides a wide range of educational programs for individuals and life science companies globally, as well as a vibrant community for the networking needs of its members and other stakeholders in the clinical research enterprise. The affiliated Academy of Clinical Research Professionals (The Academy) certification programs for clinical research coordinators (CCRC), clinical research associates (CCRA), and physician investigators (CPI) are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies/Institute for Credentialing Excellence. The Academy has certified more than 35,000 individuals since 1992. DANVILLE, Va., Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American National Bankshares Inc. announced the additions of J. Nathan Duggins III, Managing Partner of Tuggle Duggins in Greensboro, North Carolina and William J. Farrell II, President of Berglund Automotive Group in Roanoke, Virginia to the board of American National Bankshares Inc. (the Company). They were also appointed to the board of American National Bank and Trust Company, the Companys wholly owned subsidiary bank. Duggins is the Managing Partner of Tuggle Duggins and led in the commercial development of its new corporate offices in downtown Greensboro in 2020. Founded in 1974, Tuggle Duggins provides services to domestic and international clients from a wide assortment of industries in the areas of corporate law and finance, litigation and dispute resolution, employment, intellectual property, real estate, tax, estate planning, and wealth management. As President of Berglund Automotive, Farrell currently oversees the daily operation of 12 dealerships representing more than 25 brands in Virginia. The family-owned automotive group is in its 44th year of business, employing over 600 people. Charles H. Majors, Chairman of the Board of Directors, remarked, Nathan and William have both already demonstrated tremendous value and expertise with their involvement on our respective State Banking Boards. Their appointments to our boards are part of the banks strategic succession planning efforts. In addition to serving as a member of American National Bank & Trust Companys North Carolina State Banking Board, Duggins is extremely active in the Greensboro community and beyond. He has served in many organizations in the region including but not limited to the Guilford Education Alliance, the Guilford Merchants Association (GMA) and GMAs philanthropic foundation. Hes also served as a member of the Greensboro Transportation Authority, the Wake Forest University Law School Board of Visitors, the University of North Carolina Greensboro Board of Trustees, and chair of the 2022 American Heart Ball. A Greensboro Native, Duggins graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Wake Forest University School of Law. He and his wife live in Greensboro and have three children. Duggins stated, "It is a privilege for me to join the board of American National. I know first hand that American National is a strong, innovative community bank. Its commitment to serving its local communities is evident and I look forward to applying my knowledge and perspective as it continues to evolve. A veteran of the automotive industry, Farrell brings a keen business acumen to American National. He has prior experience in the community banking space, as a past board member of HomeTown Bankshares, Inc. American National completed its acquisition of HomeTown Bankshares in April of 2019. Farrell has remained involved with American National since the acquisition, assisting with the transition and subsequently serving on its Virginia State Banking Board. He also is very involved in the Roanoke community, with board service at the Virginia Western Educational Foundation, Visit Virginias Blue Ridge (VBR) and the Virginia Automobile Dealers Association to name a few organizations. Farrell attended Radford University and he and his wife live in Roanoke and have two children. I have been supportive of American National since getting to know them as part of the HomeTown Bank transaction, remarked Farrell. I have remained impressed with the bank and the positive impact it has on our communities and Im honored to be named to the board of such a reputable community bank, continued Farrell. Jeffrey V. Haley, President & Chief Executive Officer of American National, added, Not only do both of these appointments bring tremendous professional talent to our board, their involvement with their local communities both of which are key markets for our bank is highly desirable. About American National American National is a multi-state bank holding company with total assets of approximately $3.0 billion. Headquartered in Danville, Virginia, American National is the parent company of American National Bank and Trust Company. American National Bank is a community bank serving Virginia and North Carolina with 26 banking offices. American National Bank also manages an additional $1.1 billion of trust, investment and brokerage assets in its Wealth Division. Additional information about American National and American National Bank is available on American National's website at www.amnb.com. For more information, contact: Jeffrey V. Haley Carolyn B. Kiser President & Chief Executive Officer SVP, Director of Marketing & Community Affairs American National Bankshares Inc. American National Bank & Trust Company haleyj@amnb.com kiserc@amnb.com 434.773.2259 540.278.1703 Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e243c840-05ed-4330-a808-72850f0939d8 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/72e395a6-3c27-450c-b2c4-faff77471230 Monroe, LA, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Benevis, in partnership with local affiliate Taylor Dental & Braces, recently donated dental exhibit models to the Northeast Louisiana Children's Museum (NELCM) in Monroe, Louisiana. The dental models will be displayed in the interactive oral hygiene exhibit at the museum to educate children on the importance of proper oral health. This generous donation by Benevis and Taylor Dental & Braces will help us continue to educate children on the importance of keeping a healthy smile in a fun, interactive environment, said Melissa Saye, NELCM Executive Director. Our museum is always grateful to receive donations from individuals and organizations who believe in our mission of providing an engaging environment to educate and stimulate childrens imaginations. Louisiana State Senator Stewart Cathey, Jr. was onsite to present the donation to the museum. With October being Dental Hygiene Awareness Month, we are proud to partner with Benevis and Taylor Dental & Braces to provide a new educational dental piece for the Childrens Museum exhibit, said Sen. Cathey. We truly appreciate this donation for the children in our community. It will be a great tool to teach children the importance of regularly visiting the dentist and developing good oral hygiene habits at home. The donation to the childrens museum is consistent with our mission to bring dental health awareness and education to the communities served by our dental offices, said Dr. Carl Boykin, District Dental Director at Benevis. Dental decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease, but it can be prevented. Early dental health education and regular dental visits are critically important to a lifetime of proper oral health. We hope our contribution and the valuable oral health display it supports can help many young visitors to this excellent museum. About Benevis Benevis is a comprehensive dental practice support service company focused on expanding access to dentistry by providing the highest quality practice support services to over 120 locally branded dental offices focused on kids-first, family dental care and orthodontics. Benevis works to improve lives by advocating for programs and legislation that ensures all families have access to the healthcare they need and deserve. Benevis support allows dentists to focus on providing high-quality care to their patients. For more information visit benevis.com. Attachments TORONTO, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crown Realty Partners (Crown) is pleased to announce the results of its 2022 GRESB assessment. The GRESB Real Estate Assessment is the global standard for ESG benchmarking and reporting for listed property companies, private property funds, developers, and investors in real estate. It provides investors with validated data on which to evaluate, monitor, and manage ESG risks, opportunities, and impacts. For the fourth consecutive year, Crowns submission on behalf of its Core Fund of office properties achieved a 5-star rating. Crown outperformed its previous achievements with a score of 91 and an outstanding performance ranking of 2nd in its peer group of non-listed, core, closed end office in the Americas. By reporting to this global benchmarking standard, Crown can monitor performance and continually raise the bar. This will help us build resilience and future-proof our portfolio, all while delivering outstanding office premises. We appreciate that GRESB itself is always evolving, said Erica Lam, Manager, Sustainability at Crown. With the voluntary expanded topics around climate risk and resilience in this years main survey, we are able to gain insights that will help us better incorporate climate-related risks and opportunities into our processes. Looking forward, Crown plans to build on its learnings from the voluntary GRESB Resilience Module, recognizing the critical role for our industry in the climate transition. The long-term value of our assets will be affected by how we navigate the global energy transition in the years ahead, said Emily Hanna, Managing Partner, Investments. We believe this will build resilience and future-proof our portfolio, all while growing the value of our investors' assets. ABOUT CROWN ABOUT GRESB For further information, please contact: Emily Hanna Managing Partner, Investments Crown Realty Partners 647.729.2609 ehanna@crp-cpmi.com Links: www.crownrealtypartners.com LinkedIn: Crown Property Management Inc. Instagram: @CrownCRP A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/816f8f6b-55c7-455c-a969-8031c3967f6b SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gradle Inc. will host the first-ever event focused on the emerging practice of Developer Productivity Engineering (DPE). Developer Productivity Engineering Summit 2022: Next Practices for Transforming the Developer Experience will take place November 2-3, in San Francisco at The Midway. The event features an all-star roster of speakers from many of the most valuable technology and business brands, including Airbnb, Amazon, American Express, Apple, DoorDash, Google, LinkedIn, Meta, Netflix, and Uber. Additionally, LinkedIn, Meta, Netflix, and Uber are sponsoring the event. DPE is a software development practice used by leading software development organizations to maximize developer productivity and happiness. As its name implies, DPE takes an engineering approach to improving developer productivity. As such, it relies on automation, actionable data, and acceleration technologies to deliver measurable outcomes like faster feedback cycles and reduced resolution time for build and test failures. Because improving these DPE metrics positively impacts revenue, time to market, operational costs, and product and service level quality, DPE is emerging as one of the most important developments in the software engineering world since the introduction of Agile and DevOps concepts and tools, said Hans Dockter, Gradle Inc., founder and CEO. This two-day, dual-track summit features the leading minds on how to leverage Developer Productivity Engineering next practices and tools to achieve digital transformation, and pursue an IT-driven competitive advantage. Next practices focus on anticipating and inventing the future of software development and delivery, rather than best practices that look to the past for guidance on what will work moving forward. Exemplary speakers and sessions where important next practices will be shared include: The full event agenda can be found here. Event organizers encourage software development project leaders, productivity and build engineers, solution architects, software development organization management and leadership, and members of the software industry analyst, influencer, and media communities to learn more about this event and register here. Contact LaunchSquad for Gradle gradle@launchsquad.com Tempe, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tempe, Arizona - Phoenix, AZ residents in search of a reliable moving company are invited to get in touch with Poindexter Moving. The company provides fast, affordable moving assistance, making it much easier for customers to transfer all their items between locations. With their team of skilled, experienced movers, who have handled many different kinds of property over the years and who have a deep understanding of how best to take care of delicate items, Poindexter Moving is able to make the process as easy and stress-free as possible. Visit the following link for more: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/08/15/2498476/0/en/Phoenix-Moving-Company-Serves-Arizona-Residents-Businesses.html. Poindexter Moving was founded on the belief that everyone has a right to have full control over the whole process of moving. In order to make this a reality, the company actively curates the service they offer, tailoring their services to the individual needs of each and every customer. The company is trusted by both homeowners and businesses thanks to the dedication to excellence displayed by their team of movers. Referring to the companys history and philosophy, Anthony Mullinax of Poindexter Moving says, I started in the moving industry in 2009, and I instantly loved it! I worked for a few different companies over the years and decided there has to be a better way. So, in 2015, I co-founded Poindexter Moving, and we do things differently. I personally train every single one of my employees to ensure customer satisfaction. We have developed a system to custom tailor our services based on the customers wants and needs because we know everyone has different needs. At Poindexter Moving, they see it as their responsibility to make moving as simple as possible, offering a door-to-door service that the customer can make changes to as and when necessary. The company understands just how daunting a task moving can be, and they also understand just how easy it is to underestimate the amount of packing that needs to be done (and how early it needs to be done). Poindexter Movings movers are industry professionals who know how to accurately gauge the amount of time and work that will go into a particular moving job, and they use this knowledge and experience to make decisions that simplify the moving process for their customers. The Phoenix AZ movers also believe that it is every customers right to be made fully aware of each and every cost associated with moving, which is why they make it a point to ensure that transparency is maintained at all times. They provide clear, affordable estimates of what each move will cost before getting started, and they quickly reach out to the customer if any changes become necessary along the way. They pride themselves on operating with honesty and integrity, and providing accurate pricing is just one of the ways in which they seek to ensure that their customers are aware of every important detail regarding their move. The process was great from start to finish, says a 5-Star review from Launi C. They came to the house, looked at everything I needed to move and gave me an estimate that day. The estimate they gave me was pretty amazing in comparison to others I had received. The moving crew showed up on time. My new house had stairs, and they put everything where it needed to go. They hustled the entire time, and I moved at the end of June when it was hot! They even finished the move within the estimated time frame. Everyone was very friendly, and I was seriously impressed with their work and service. I would definitely use them again and absolutely recommend them! Thank you, Poindexter Moving! Another review from Liz Q. says, The guys communicated the entire time with us from the quote to the confirmation to showing up the day of the move. They were all super nice, very helpful and very careful with our furniture. They constantly asked how I wanted things wrapped and what worked best for me. All around great experience and very professional! Thank you! To learn more about the company, find them on Yelp! Customers are welcome to get in touch directly as well. The company can be reached via phone, email and so on. ### For more information about Poindexter Moving, contact the company here: Poindexter Moving Anthony Mullinax (480) 771-7632 info@poindextermoving.com 1155 W 23rd St Suite 10 B, Tempe, AZ 85282 Houston, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PCCA selected pharmacy student Kayla Valigura from the University of Houston College of Pharmacy as the winner of its 2022 International Seminar Pharmacy Student Scholarship Contest. Valigura will deliver a 10-minute main-stage presentation on Saturday, October 29, during International Seminar 2022. This years event in Houston is expected draw more than 250 in-person and virtual attendees from the United States, Canada, Australia and beyond. Kaylas compassion for patients will warm your heart, said PCCA President Jim Smith, and her commitment to compounding will motivate even the most seasoned compounder. She has incredible drive and is determined to increase awareness about how compounded medicines benefit patients and their doctors. Pharmacy students across the country entered the PCCA Institute Student Scholarship Contest for an opportunity to engage with compounding pharmacists from all over the world at International Seminar. Contest participants discussed existing challenges in the compounding industry and their solutions in a written entry and 90-second video pitch. The award recipients will present on these same topics at International Seminar. Finalist Brittney Reed, Harding University College of Pharmacy, will precede Valiguras presentation on Saturday, and Holly Seyler, University of Washington School of Pharmacy, will join PCCA Vice President of Public Affairs, Communications, Education and Human Relations Lizzie Harbin to introduce the Public Affairs Panel on Thursday. The enthusiasm, passion and fresh ideas from our award winners, as well as all of the contest participants, are inspiring, Harbin said. Im excited to hear their presentations and spend time with these amazing young people! PCCA Director of Academic Affairs Bindhu Batra, PharmD, RPh, agrees. We developed this contest to engage and encourage future compounders, while helping them make lasting connections with experienced compounders. Its a wonderful opportunity for all involved. Held from October 27-29 in Houston, Texas, International Seminar 2022 will also feature keynote presentations from: Ryan Avery, who shares how to hone leadership skills in Go From A to THE; Robert Rakowski, DC, CCN, DACBN, DIBAK, who explores way to overcome the deadly quartet in chronic disease; Pamela Smith, MD, MPH, MS, who discusses the relationship between hormones and psychological disorders; and Sarah Zielsdorf, MD, MS, who addresses thyroid disorders. Event registration is still open. For details, visit www.pccainternationalseminar.com. ABOUT PCCA PCCA supports the creation of personalized medicine and innovative products that make a difference in patients lives. As a complete resource for independent compounding pharmacies and health systems, PCCA provides high-quality products, education and support to more than 3,000 pharmacy members throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and other countries around the world. Incorporated in 1981 by a network of pharmacists, PCCA has supported pharmacy compounding for more than 40 years. Building on PCCAs passion for continuing education, PCCA Institute provides high-quality compounding training to pharmacy students around the country. Learn more at pccarx.com. Attachment TORONTO, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lithium Ionic Corp. (TSXV: LTH; OTCQB: LTHCF), a Canadian-based lithium-focused mining company with properties covering ~2,000 hectares located in the prolific Aracuai lithium province in Minas Gerais State, Brazil, is pleased to announce that Blake Hylands, CEO and Director of the Company, will present live at VirtualInvestorConferences.com tomorrow, October 20, 2022. DATE: October 20th, 2022 TIME: 2:30PM EST LINK: https://bit.ly/3q1Z3Ka Lithium Ionic Corp. Corporate Highlights Asset located in Mining-Friendly Jurisdiction ~2,000 ha land package in Minas Gerais, Brazil; the Countrys most favourable mining jurisdiction ~2,000 ha land package in Minas Gerais, Brazil; the Countrys most favourable mining jurisdiction Established Lithium-Producing District Claims located within 800m from CBL lithium mine (36,000 tpy of SPO concentrate @ 5.5%) and <4km from near-term producer SIGMA (33,000 tpy LCE in SPO concentrate) Claims located within 800m from CBL lithium mine (36,000 tpy of SPO concentrate @ 5.5%) and <4km from near-term producer SIGMA (33,000 tpy LCE in SPO concentrate) High-Quality Hard Rock Lithium Spodumene is one of the most critical minerals today - high lithium content + high extraction rate (Initial LTH drill results returned same material/grade as neighbouring lithium projects) Spodumene is one of the most critical minerals today - high lithium content + high extraction rate (Initial LTH drill results returned same material/grade as neighbouring lithium projects) Growing Lithium Demand Current LCE demand of 480kt is expected to increase +420% to 2.5Mt by 2030 Current LCE demand of 480kt is expected to increase +420% to 2.5Mt by 2030 Near-Term Catalysts & High Re-Rate Potential Actively drilling: Continuous exploration results + Maiden Mineral Resource estimate in Q1 2023; High discovery potential and compelling valuation potential (Latin Resources/SIGMA) This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event. It is recommended that investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates. Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com . About Lithium Ionic Corp. Lithium Ionic is a Canadian-based lithium-focused mining company with properties covering ~2,000 hectares located in the prolific Aracuai lithium province in Minas Gerais State, Brazil, which boasts excellent infrastructure, including highways, access to hydroelectrical grid power, water, and nearby commercial ports. Its Itinga and Galvani claims are located in the same district as the lithium-producing CBL mine and development-stage Sigma Lithium Corp.s large Barreiro and Xuxa lithium deposits. About Virtual Investor Conferences Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors. Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors. CONTACTS: Lithium Ionic Corp. Blake Hylands, P.Geo. Chief Executive Officer Email: bhylands@lithiumionic.com Virtual Investor Conferences John M. Viglotti SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access OTC Markets Group (212) 220-2221 johnv@otcmarkets.com Electric vehicles are being driven by public workers of Yeonggwang County Government and local university students in a South Jeolla provincial county parade during the Yeonggwang e-Mobility Expo held in the county on Oct 14. Yeonggwang Mayor Kang Jong-man is in a small black farming truck at the head of the parade. Other participating vehicles were designed by the students. Courtesy of Yeonggwang County Government By Ko Dong-hwan The government has intensified its environmental regulation obligations, forcing public entities and public institutions to replace their entire fleets, which currently use internal combustion engines, with emission-free vehicles. The Ministry of Environment on Wednesday announced a set of regulatory measures under the country's Clean Air Conservation Act. One of the measures enforces all Cabinet ministries, municipal governments and state-run companies to equip themselves 100 percent with Class 1 Low-Emission vehicles which comprise electric, solar power and fuel-cell vehicles. State vehicles are either owned or leased by the government and public institutions. The revision has ramped up the intensity of the country's vehicle management regulation in that the Class 1 vehicle requirement has so far called for just 80 percent of the nation's entire fleet of state-operated vehicles to satisfy the requirement. Conditions that have been in force so far also allowed the government and public institutions a broader range of options to choose from, such as Class 1 vehicles to hybrid models, under Class 2 and those running on internal combustion engines with controlled emission pollutants, which are under Class 3. The Air Quality Policy Bureau and Climate Change and Carbon Neutral Policy Office under the ministry, which jointly pushed forward the latest measures, said that the new conditions will be promoted to public workers nationwide for the next 40 days starting Thursday, before officially kicking into practice. The ministry has introduced the new requirement so that public workers can better apply the measures so as to reduce national carbon emissions and make the country's air cleaner. "We wanted to have our public servants take the lead in improving air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by purchasing or renting emission-free vehicles," said Park Yeon-jae, chief of the Air Quality Policy Bureau. "This will also be an opportunity for the ministry to carefully and rationally revise the law and thus reduce the incoherent gap between what our policies require and how they are practiced in reality." The measures come after the country's automobile market and infrastructure have steadily grown in favor of emission-free vehicles. There were only eight electric car models available in the country in 2018 but the figure jumped to 55 in 2021 and is expected to reach 81 by the end of this year. As to battery rechargers for electric cars that are set up across the country, they numbered 27,352 in 2018 but expanded to over 106,000 in 2021 and over 160,000 as of October this year. In the last year alone, the government and public institutions altogether purchased or rented 7,458 vehicles. Among them, low-emission vehicles accounted for 93 percent and emission-free vehicles 74 percent. The ministry said that following the latest measure, the number of emission-free vehicles operated by the country's public workers will increase greatly. Time to revamp military service exemption system Members of BTS, the world-renowned K-pop group, will fulfill their mandatory military service, starting with the oldest member Jin. "Jin will cancel his request to delay enlistment in late October and follow the Military Manpower Administration's procedures for enlistment," Bighit Music, the boy band's record label, said Monday, adding that all other members will also finish their military duty according to their respective plans. The announcement will end the long-running debate about whether BTS should serve in the military or be exempt due to their lengthy contribution to promoting Korea around the world. The BTS members keep saying that they would go voluntarily to the military when "the time comes," but there have been calls to allow them to do alternative military service regardless of the group's intention to fulfill their duty. The public will feel sorry about the fact that BTS won't be able to carry out group activities at, what is, the peak of their careers. But given that all able-bodied Korean men should serve in the military for 18 to 21 months, their decision must be respected. For the time being, the seven-member group will focus on solo activities in accordance with each member's military enlistment plan. The military service issue involving the BTS members has been settled by their own decision, but the controversy over military service exemptions has not been cleared up. Under the Military Service Act, global award-winning athletes and classical musicians can do alternative service in their respective fields instead of serving in the military. There are no provisions for pop artists. Considering that the number of people to be conscripted for active military service has continued to fall due to a decrease in population, this scheme appears not to hold water any longer. It's neither valid nor convincing to keep applying the current exemption rules which discriminate against pop artists. Many young people waiting to be conscripted even view the exemption system as being unfair. At this juncture, it is necessary to begin discussing the system in earnest, including abolishing it. Probes gain momentum over 'defection' case Prosecutors sought arrest warrants Tuesday for former Defense Minister Suh Wook and former Coast Guard Commissioner General Kim Hong-hee over the previous administration's alleged mishandling of the killing of a South Korean fisheries official by North Korean soldiers in September 2020. Suh and Kim face diverse charges, such as abuse of power, dereliction of duty and fabrication of official documents apparently to extract a false conclusion that the official, Lee Dae-jun, was shot to death in the West Sea while attempting to defect to the North. The Moon Jae-in government has taken flak for having covered up the case to curry favor with North Korea. Suh is suspected of instructing ministry officials to delete military intelligence from the Military Information Management System (MIMS) suggesting that Lee had no intention to defect. Kim is suspected of ordering the Coast Guard to release a false report that Lee attempted to defect due to a huge gambling debt. The prosecution's move is in line with the Board of Audit and Inspection's (BAI) recent report that the Moon government systematically distorted the case to make it appear as if Lee had chosen to defect. Both Suh and Kim turned down the report. Yet, they cannot avoid criticism for having neglected their duty as top officials in charge of protecting the people's lives and safety. In making such a decision, they might have talked with then senior presidential officials. What is dumfounding is Kim's statement after he was briefed that Lee had been wearing a life jacket with Chinese letters at the time when he was discovered. "I would rather pretend not to see it," Kim said, according to the BAI report. Rep. Choe Jae-hyeong of the ruling People Power Party, who served as BAI chief from 2018 to 2021, cited the need to investigate former President Moon in connection with the case in a comment in his Facebook account. In a related move Wednesday, prosecutors also called in former presidential chief of staff Noh Young-min to investigate his alleged role in repatriating two North Korean fishermen against their will in November 2019. As Noh is the top-level official of the Moon government being probed in connection with North Korea-related cases, the prosecution's investigation will eventually target Moon soon. Although belated, thorough investigations should be conducted to find out who instructed the fabrication of the "defection" case. It is natural for prosecutors to question former National Security Office Director Suh Hoon and Park Jie-won, who served as chief of the National Intelligence Service from 2020 to 2022. Priorities should be placed on revealing the truth behind the case in a fair and objective manner. The probes should not be swayed by any political influence. Moon and other former officials should come in for investigations and tell nothing but the truth. They should not try to frame them as a political revenge. They must ask themselves whether they had done everything they could to protect people's lives and properties the raison d'etre of a state. DO YOU OWN A HOUSE? Highlights of foreign congratulatory messages on 20th CPC National Congress (5) Xinhua) 15:01, October 19, 2022 BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of foreign political parties and governments worldwide have congratulated the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and General Secretary Xi Jinping of the committee on the opening of the 20th CPC National Congress. In their congratulatory messages, they spoke highly of the CPC's remarkable achievements and its important contributions to improving the well-being of the Chinese people and people in the rest of the world. President of the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) and also Cameroonian President Paul Biya expressed his congratulations to the CPC, Chinese leaders and the Chinese people on behalf of all members of the CPDM, voicing confidence that the congress will inject new impetus into the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Under the strong leadership of General Secretary Xi over the years, China has made great achievements in economic and social development, from which developing countries have learned successful experience, Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari said. The high-level governmental exchanges as well as those between political parties of the two countries are conducive to accelerating the development of bilateral relations, Bhandari said. President of Seychelles Wavel Ramkalawan expressed the confidence that the 20th CPC National Congress will draw on past achievements and set new goals and tasks to guide China through building a great and prosperous modern country and realizing the second centenary goal of building a modern socialist country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Kiribati President Taneti Maamau commended the Chinese government for its unswerving commitment to peace and development, pursuit of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature, and promotion of mutually beneficial cooperation. The government and people of Kiribati wish the congress a complete success and look forward to greater development of socialism with Chinese characteristics, Maamau said. The congress is taking place at a critical moment when the world is undergoing profound changes, said President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and also Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. Sharif said that he is convinced that during the congress, Chinese leaders, with their broad and farsighted vision, will map out the progress and prosperity of the Chinese nation. Leader of the Barbados Labour Party and also Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley extended warm congratulations and best wishes to General Secretary Xi and the Chinese people on the achievements China has made in the past decade. The 20th CPC National Congress marks a new journey for China's development and China will play a greater role in international affairs, said Mottley. The Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and other political proposals proposed by General Secretary Xi will contribute to building a world of universal security and common prosperity, said Milorad Dodik, president of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats and Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Expressing gratitude to the CPC for its support to the party, government and people of South Sudan, James Wani Igga, deputy chairman of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement Party (SPLM) and vice president of South Sudan, said he stands ready to continue to strengthen the special friendly cooperative relations with the CPC in various fields. Expressing his belief that the 20th CPC National Congress will be remembered in history and lead China to a brighter future, Vladimir Orlic, vice president of the Serbian Progressive Party and speaker of the National Assembly of Serbia, said the CPC, which focuses on its second centenary goal, will make major and pioneering decisions charting the course for China's future development. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu) A customer buys bean sprouts at a Seven Eleven store in Seoul, on June 14. Courtesy of Seven Eleven By Kim Jae-heun Convenience stores are expanding their fresh food sections to attract more people living alone who want to purchase vegetables and fruits in small amounts, according to company officials Thursday. Fresh produce was not the main item sold by convenience stores as they are difficult to store and maintain for a long period of time. However, with an increasing number of one-person households and the growing accessibility of convenience stores, more and more people are shopping for vegetables and fruits there. In 2021, Seven Eleven launched a private brand called "Seven Farm" to supply fresh produce to its 1,300 convenience stores in the country. This helped Seven Eleven's sales in May and June last year increase three times compared to a year ago. The company plans to increase the number of specialty stores selling Seven Farm products to 2,000 within this year. "We have gained our customers' trust in fresh food products by launching our own brand and standardizing their packaging designs. We also specified the origin of items to emphasize the quality of vegetables and fruits, which turned out to be successful," a Seven Eleven official said. GS25 also operates its private brand of fresh produce in collaboration with GS Retail's supermarket firm. This helped the convenience store to directly purchase products from local farms and reduce their unit price. GS25's fresh food sales last month increased 41.3 percent year-on-year. "Nowadays, people don't just pay money for cheap products. They look for high quality vegetables and fruits that they can find at large supermarkets. We will continue to let more customers discover our private brand," a GS25 official said. A billboard on the American Eagle building in Times Square, New York City, screens Daesang's kimchi advertisement on Oct. 10. Courtesy of Daesang Firm runs kimchi ad in Times Square By Kim Jae-heun Daesang is speeding up its overseas food business expansion as it tries to generate more income outside Korea amid intensifying competition at home, according to company officials, Friday. After opening a large-scale kimchi manufacturing plant in the United States in March, it recently started promoting the Korean traditional side dish on a Times Square billboard in New York starting from Oct. 10. The company said it spent some 1 billion won ($700,084) on the advertisement and it will be screened a total of 6,720 times through Nov. 6. In the video advertisement, Daesang introduces the Korean traditional side dish as "Korean kimchi, now for everyone" and people from around the world share their experiences of it. "We have planned an advertisement for kimchi in Times Square to promote its authenticity (as a Korean traditional food), following a paper advertisement in The New York Times last year," a Daesang official said. A scene from Daesang's kimchi video advertisement screened in Times Square, New York City / Courtesy of Daesang Cadillac provided some details on its production CELESTIQ flagship ultra-luxury sedan; the show car version appeared earlier this year. (Earlier post.) Each CELESTIQ will be personally commissionedno two will be alike. Clients will work directly with their selected dealer and Cadillac designers to realize their unique vision for the car, with unprecedented levels of personalization tailored to reflect the owners tastes. The Ultium Platform is the foundation for CELESTIQs performance and range. This dedicated EV propulsion architecture combines a 111-kWh battery pack and a two-motor, all-wheel-drive propulsion system to offer a GM-estimated 600 horsepower and 640 lb-ft (868 Nm) of torque, along with a GM-estimated driving range of 300 miles (483 km) on a full charge. Unique among Ultium-based EVs are CELESTIQs 11.59:1 front and 11.63:1 rear gear ratios, which were specially calibrated to optimize range and performance. In addition to the impressive horsepower and torque, the vehicle is also projected to deliver 0-60-mph in 3.8 seconds. The Ultium Platform also serves as a structural element of the vehicle, contributing to its overall strength and feeling of solidity, in addition to its performance. The CELESTIQs battery cells are mounted horizontally, enabling the vehicles long, low and lean proportions, while the low mounting position of the pack drops the vehicles center of gravity, enhancing handling and ride comfort, as well as maximizing interior spaciousness. Regen on Demand Braking is standard and helps maximize driving range by converting the kinetic energy of the vehicles forward momentum into electricity thats stored in the battery pack. It also includes One-Pedal Driving, which can slow the vehicle to a complete stop using only the accelerator pedal, for very fine vehicle control. Interior view of Cadillac CELESTIQ showing the front 55-inch pillar-to-pillar screen. CELESTIQs engineers made the most of the robust architecture and developed Cadillacs most technologically advanced suspension and other performance systems, including: Adaptive Air Suspension: CELESTIQ makes use of an air suspension system, rather than the coiled springs used in a traditional suspension system. Compared to traditional suspension systems, air suspension offers a softer, more isolated ride for greater ride quality. Active Rear Steering: CELESTIQ will offer up to 3.5 degrees of out-of-phase rear steering, in which the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction of the front wheels for greater maneuverability at low speeds. At higher speeds, the rear wheels will turn in-phase with the front wheels. Magnetic Ride Control 4.0: A signature Cadillac engineering innovation will find a new home in CELESTIQ. Originally developed for the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, the system is the worlds fastest-reacting suspension technology, which allows for greater responsiveness and enhanced isolation from road imperfections. Advanced AWD: CELESTIQ offers a two-motor electric drive unit. These motors work with torque optimizer modules that analyze torque requirements for given vehicle inputs. These modules turn the front or rear motors on and off as required to provide optimal torque to enhance ride quality and electric driving range. Active Roll Control: The Cadillac-first Active Roll Control feature is a significant contributor to the vehicles nimble handling. It employs stabilizer bars embedded at the front and rear of the chassis to mitigate the rolling force exerted on the vehicle during turns and other maneuvers, enhancing the feeling of stability, control and occupant comfort. Active Rear Spoiler: The CELESTIQ Active Rear Spoiler deploys at lower speeds to help improve aerodynamic efficiency and further raises at higher speeds to help keep the vehicle balanced. Ride-focused tires: CELESTIQ will feature available 23-inch forged aluminum wheels with 23-inch summer-only Michelin Pilot Sport EV tires. This combination will offer strong rolling resistance performance and precision steering. Designed specifically for Cadillac, the tread pattern, self-sealing technology and foam inserts enable a quiet tire for greater ride isolation. Electric Power Steering: CELESTIQ features a variable ratio front electric power steering system, similar to that found on the Cadillac Blackwings but calibrated specifically for CELESTIQ, that works in coordination with active rear steering to automatically adjust to the ideal steering ratio depending on vehicle speed resulting in an engaging and intuitive driving experience. 5-link front and rear suspension: CELESTIQs 5-link front and rear suspension provides exceptional performance tailored specifically for the high torque output of an electric vehicle motor. The suspension isolators are precisely tuned to minimize cabin disturbances yet allow proper road feel and handling response, delivering on Cadillacs promise of isolated precision. CELESTIQ is equipped with a 200 kW DC fast charging system capable of adding up to a Cadillac-estimated 78 miles of range in only 10 minutes of charging at a public DC fast charging station. CELESTIQ clients will also have access to Ultium Charge 360, a holistic approach to EV charging thats designed to simplify the overall charging experience. It includes access to more than 110,000 publicly available charging points in the United States and Canada. And through the myCadillac Mobile app, clients can find nearby charging stations, see real-time charger availability, plan routes, start charging sessions and more. All told, CELESTIQ includes approximately 300 approved and pending patented technologies and processes, including innovation in hands-free driver assistance features, safety features, electrified propulsion systems, connected technologies and many advances found throughout the Ultium Platform. CELESTIQ Body Structure. The all-new architecture dedicated exclusively to CELESTIQ is based on the Ultium Platform, which integrates the propulsion systems battery pack and serves as a structural element of the vehicle, contributing to its overall strength, durability and performance. Features include: Mega Castings: The CELESTIQ underbody includes six large precision sand-cast aluminum components. Each casting reduces part count by 30 to 40 components, compared to typical stamped construction. The benefits being more efficient use of space, simplicity and improved structural rigidity. The CELESTIQ precision sand-casted content and processes are ideal for low volume, handcrafted, bespoke vehicles. Additive Manufacturing: With 115 3D printed parts in the production vehicle, the CELESTIQ demonstrates GMs broadest use of this process. The steering wheel center is the largest metal part GM has printed in production, combining the show surface and the structural B-side of the part, while the seat belt adjustable guide loop is GMs first safety-related 3D printed part. Other 3D-printed parts include: window switches, grab handles, console decor and structural pieces under the vehicles surface. Flex Fabrication: Each CELESTIQ vehicle will feature more than 300 fabricated pieces throughout the body structure, chassis, interior and electrical components. This Flex Fabrication process utilizes metal sheets that can be folded and manipulated into the unique shapes required for the CELESTIQ designa process more akin to metallic origami than traditional stamping. Every CELESTIQ will be constructed at the General Motors Global Technical Center, in Warren, Michigan. It will be the first production vehicle produced at the companys 66-year-old landmark design and engineering campus, with $81 million invested to support it. The CELESTIQ manufacturing area is a high-security clean room-type environment known as the Artisan Center, with access granted only to the artisans involved with construction. No more than six vehicles will be assembled at any time, ensuring the many layers of attention and quality control are painstakingly executed. CELESTIQ is expected to go into production in December 2023, with an expected MSRP to begin north of $300,000 and increase based on level of personalization. CELESTIQ availability by waitlist only. Pampers' new diaper product / Courtesy of P&G Korea By Kim Jae-heun P&G Korea's Pampers diaper brand launched its latest diaper product helping babies to get a good night's sleep, the company said Monday. The new diaper, featuring an auto-fit waistband, is designed to wrap around a child's waist, bottom and front snuggly and comfortably to prevent any leaks at night. In addition, the product improved its absorption rate of any liquid by 10 times compared to its previous model. P&G also collaborated with the producers of popular animation character Pororo to be featured on the diaper, the first such collaboration by a local firm. To celebrate the launch of Pampers' new diaper, P&G Korea prepared a promotional video starring Pororo on the character's official YouTube channel. In the video, Pororo is wearing a Pampers' diaper and taking a trip to sound sleep. From Oct. 24 to 30, Pampers will sell its new diapers for a discounted price on Naver. Customers can get 4 percent of reserved points on the original price when they purchase one box of new diapers, and 6 percent when they buy two boxes. "We know how much parents want their child to sleep soundly at night so we upgraded our product to help them sleep. We hope children can enjoy a deep comfortable sleep with our new Pampers diaper," a P&G Korea official said. P&G is a global household goods company that pursues today's changes for the better life of consumers. It is providing more convenient products every year under its brand portfolio that leads the global market. The company's representative brands include SK-II, Gillette, Oral B, Head and Shoulders and Downy. Yesterday, the Galaxy Z Flip4 and Z Fold4 received their first One UI 5 beta while the Z Flip3 got beta #2 (with the Z Fold3 expected to follow soon). Samsung is still going down the list and now it is Galaxy Z Fold2s time to try out Android 13 and the latest One software. This will be the last hurrah for the 2020 foldable, which came out with Android 10. It is eligible for 3 OS updates and this will be its third and final one (the next-gen foldables got promoted to 4 OS updates). Thats as many updates as the Pixel phones are getting, plus the Z Fold2 will continue receiving security patches Samsung has committed to supporting it for 4 years, i.e. until late 2024. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 enters the One UI 5 beta testing program Back to the beta it is currently rolling out to units in South Korea, but should reach other markets soon enough. Note: in Korea both SIM-free and phones from carriers are eligible for the update. If you want to try it out (and accept that it probably has bugs), you can use the Samsung Members app to sign up for the beta program. One final bit of warning installing the beta is easy enough, rolling back to stable Android 12 requires a full wipe so back up your data before you start. PS. if youre wondering what is happening with the Z Flip side of the 2020 foldables, the original model was recently updated to One UI 4.1.1, but theres no mention of version 5 yet. However, the Z Flip and Z Flip 5G have the same software support windows (3 OS updates, 4 years of patches), so it should be only a matter of time before the Flips join the beta program too. Source (in Korean) | Via By Kim Jae-heun Luxury companies are becoming serious about the restaurant business here, as a way to maintain their posh image and continue to attract attention from young, trend-savvy consumers, according to industry officials, Tuesday. Italian high-end luxury fashion house Gucci has opened Gucci Osteria restaurant in Itaewon, Seoul, where it serves dishes cooked by a Michelin three-star chef. A burger costs 27,000 won ($18.91) and a course menu ranges from 120,000 won to 170,000 won there. Despite its high prices, reservations for the restaurant were sold out four minutes after it opened. French luxury firm Louis Vuitton also opened a pop-up restaurant called Pierre Sang at Louis Vuitton for just one month in May and it was fully booked as soon as reservations opened up. Global K-pop band BTS member J-Hope's visit to the restaurant also played a key role in making it into one of the hottest places in Seoul. With this momentum, Louis Vuitton opened a second pop-up restaurant in the posh district of Cheongdam-dong, Seoul, in September. Despite most of its prices being in the 300,000-won range, it was fully booked as soon as it opened and people are now selling their reserved times to make a profit. Swiss luxury watchmaker Breitling introduced a restaurant and a coffee shop together with its brand shop, which opened early this year. The company expressed its luxury brand image in its food and beverages and has grabbed the attention of watch fans. Korean popular eyewear brand Gentle Monster did not fall behind the trend, opening dessert cafe Nudake at its flagship store in Apgujeong, Seoul, where it has attracted dessert lovers from across the country. Selling luxury brand experience The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed luxury brands to promote its fashion items in digital space, which turned out to be successful among not only among those in their 20s and 30s, but also those in their 60s and 70s. In the midst of this major paradigm shift, luxury brands have begun making investments to offer experiences of their brands in various ways. However, companies have also learned that there is a limit for customers to experience fully their brand identities and products online. Thus, top-tier firms have begun opening restaurants and coffee shops. It costs less for customers to experience the luxury brands through food and desserts, compared to purchasing a handbag or clothing at a boutique. Such visits to restaurants are temporary but customers can experience the brand with their five senses without spending tens of millions of won. In short, opening a restaurant and coffee shop can lower the entry barrier for customers to experience luxury brands. This strategy has been proven with young customers of Korea's MZ generation, millennials and Generation Z, who are emerging as a main consumer group of luxury goods. Luxury brands focus on luxury lifestyle experiences One of the reasons luxury brands are strengthening their food and beverage (F&B) business is because they want to expand their brand experience into the lifestyle sector. Companies can show their brand value and identity through a new gourmet field. "Luxury brands running restaurants and coffee shops focus more on the brand experience than its profitability. Food and beverages leave a strong impression for consumers and they naturally lead to creating bonds with the brand. In another words, this is good marketing strategy to build customers' loyalty to luxury brands," a luxury firm official said. Unlike restaurants in five-star hotels, luxury brand stores offer various consumer experiences through architecture, interior design and the cutlery items used at their restaurants. "As an extension of going to fashion shows, experiencing luxury brand restaurant cuisine provides opportunities for customers to experience the lifestyles of the upper class by eating the same food in the same spaces with them," the official said. The gathering of over 300 Arizona CHamorus to celebrate the 78th Guam Liberation on Oct. 8 was born out of a heartfelt mahalang sentiment that I hear quite often. Its just a way of keeping our culture alive, June Sablan Diaz, familian Chodie, formerly of Ordot, said when she and her husband, Roland Mateo Diaz, familian Red, formerly of Agana Springs, and other Chamoru families gathered to set up the Guam Club of Tucson in 2016. This is eight families and we put in the time and we spend our money to bring our culture to Arizona, she added. We got together and said lets just do this, because for one its expensive to go home and two, we want our kids not to forget where they come from. Most of us are military out here, so we want our kids to know our culture and how we do things on our island. And were not really a club, we just call each other committee members, she said. She acknowledged the committee members who contribute funds and donate their time. They include Jeanie and Frank Candaso, Darlene and David Blas, Marie and Robert Quintanilla, Annabelle and Aaron Allen, Doreen and Glen Santos, Cat and Bob Sensinig, and Joaquin Sablan and Annie Dela Pena. Hot summer Their first Liberation Day Celebration in 2016 was in July, as is the norm, and 75 people attended. We had it in July and it was 118 degrees and it was (so) super, super hot that people just left. The food was wasted because it started getting spoiled, June Diaz said. We tried it in August, and it was still very hot and some of the dancers pulled out because they were exhausted and they felt dehydrated and weak. According to June Diaz, the committee figured October would be cooler, especially for the manamko because a lot of them show up to celebrate and were trying to make it comfortable for them. This year is the best turnout, the most CHamorus we ever had, she added. We had a lot of people from outside of Tucson like Phoenix, Peoria and Chandler. All the feedback was positive except, of course, the rain, but we cant help that it rained. Regardless of the rain, it was a big success because there were more of us. We wanted people to be together and make friends, and just enjoy the day. The celebration at Tucson Purple Heart Park had special guests, a DJ, cultural dances by the Tucson Chamorritas and an impromptu jam session by Alan Leon Guerreros band Island Groove with his uncle, Roman Benavente sitting in. Real test And the real test of a Chamoru gathering is the quantity and quality of its fiesta table. The Tucson CHamoru spread did not disappoint as over 240 people reached out to committee members on what to bring to add to the Guam menu. Everybody brought food including the additional 60 additional people that came, June Diaz said. The committee members ensure that if a menu item is not covered, then we pick up that piece. My boys barbecued 35 slabs of ribs and we took care of the big menu items. This is the first year we didnt have a lechon, she added. The person that usually makes roasted pig, lost a lot of money during the pandemic and is out of business. After an intense downpour, the music started up again, people went for seconds or more desserts, the celebrations continued with more performances on the soggy ground and CHamorus lined up and danced to the Electric Slide and other favorite Guam dances. Every year, it just keeps getting bigger and bigger and we keep adding stuff. We ask people that show up what can we do to improve it. What would you like us to do next time? Diaz said. Because we dont just do it for us, we do it for everybody. Atkins Kroll Inc. President Alex Yap, left, is presented with a OSHA SHARP certification by Guam Department of Labor Director David DellIsola during a presentation in the Atkins Kroll Toyota Showroom Oct. 18, 2022. Atkins Kroll is the first company in Guam to receive SHARP certification and is now exempt from OSHA-programmed inspections for two years. Businesses have expressed interest in investing millions of dollars into the A.B. Won Pat International Airport, according to airport officials, but a five-year limit on leases for government property has discouraged larger contracts. The Airport Authority saw a revenue loss of $130 million through the last three fiscal years, as COVID-19 dropped visitor arrivals through the floor, airport Deputy Executive Manager Ricky Hernandez told lawmakers Wednesday. At the same time, numerous potential investors have been put off by the five-year lease cap, and the process required to obtain an exemption, he said. Among interested investors is an airline from Vietnam, which wants to put down a minimum of $280 million for a maintenance hangar, said Executive Manager John Quinata. Theres no way that theyre going to get their retirement investment, $280 million, in 20 years. Thirty years is acceptable to them, up to 50 years is even better. Other potential investors include cargo services, warehousing and car rentals, he said. Food and beverage providers have also hesitated to put more money down on concessions, leaving visitors with limited options. Sen. Joe San Agustins Bill 342 would give the airport the authority to create its own rules for leases, and allow leases for up to 10 years for concessions and 30 years for property. Existing concessions contracts would also be extended for three years, as new rules are ironed out. Airport officials said the proposed lease lengths matched up with industry standards. Blanket authority But speaker Therese Terlaje said she was hesitant to give the airport blanket authority to regulate lease agreements, which she said would shirk GovGuam procurement processes and cut out oversight from the Office of the Attorney General. The current requirements for a company to get a lease longer than five years werent lengthy, she added, only requiring approval from the airport board and the Legislature. Hernandez, upon questioning from bill co-sponsor Sen. Clynt Ridgell, said companies might place their money elsewhere if an investment on Guam wasnt a sure thing. Sen. Joanne Brown said she wasnt open to the 30-year lease term, which would invite outside influence to airport board members who werent accountable to the public. If Im going to believe you guys are all aboveboard, and its all good, then we can go home. But I dont believe that, she said. Brown pointed to the decade-long court battle with luxury goods retailer DFS, which lodged misconduct allegations when a $154 million concession contract was awarded to competitor Lotte Duty Free in 2012. I cant speak for previous administrations or previous management, but definitely this management team here: We are up to par, as far as our integrity, Quinata said. Crowds of customers showed up at GTA Wednesday to check out the new iPhone 14. We just launched today and every year we have people lining up. ... We have loyal customers that upgrade every year, said Michele Perez, GTA community relations manager. Perez has been working at GTA for 10 years and has seen all the iPhone launches on Guam since 2009. The sales representatives at the GTA Experience Center in the Calvo Landmark building in Tamuning said the launch went well. Every time we get an iPhone launch its very exciting, we are all hands on deck pretty much were always ready and were always there to serve our customers at any time, said Charls Manalac, customer solution specialist. Manalac has been working with GTA for almost two years and said this launch was different from the other iPhone launches. Its actually a lot smoother than the last launch, Manalac said. The last launch we already had a line going all the way back, and it was during the pandemic as well. Before we had to limit people into the store but now everybody can come in and pretty much interact with all our customer reps, he added. New features Manalac described the new features on the iPhone 14, like the bigger and better display screen, higher resolution camera and a bionic chip that offers a fast processing speed for the phone. If youre looking to upgrade to the iPhone 14, just expect that youre pretty much getting the best phone out on the market right now, said Manalac. GTA is selling the new iPhone 14 at all company locations. A group of doctors, nurses and pharmacists are asking village mayors for help in hosting outreach events on chronic disease self-care. Karen Song, a registered pharmacist, spoke on behalf of the Guam Healthcare Providers Community Outreach Project during a special meeting of the Mayors Council of Guam on Wednesday. The project is organized by different health care professionals across the island in partnership with the Guam Nurses Association, the University of Guam School of Nursing and the American Medical Center mobile clinic. The project is separate from Department of Public Health and Social Services outreach programs. Song said the idea to start outreach events began at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when health care workers noticed patients with chronic illnesses accounted for many of the dead-on-arrival cases at hospitals. The goal of the outreach is to provide health screenings and teach residents about the various methods of self-managing chronic health conditions, such as accurately measuring blood pressure at home and how to use devices such as glucometers. Song said health care workers are asking mayors to use village community centers as mobile clinic sites each month throughout 2023. I believe that to facilitate accessibility with gas prices going up and transportation issues, health care providers going to the villages seems a very rational way to reach our citizens, said Song. Over the past, the group conducted outreach events in Barrigada and Yona and received funding from the private sector to give out blood pressure kits and continuous glucose monitoring devices. I think this is kind of a win-win situation for the community, health care providers and our future health care providers that are getting educated at UOG, she said. The government of Guam should exhaust all options to get military land in Mangilao returned to its ancestral owners instead of telling them they cant get it back, lawmakers said during an oversight hearing Tuesday. We are with you, said Speaker Therese Terlaje, chairwoman of the land committee, which held a hearing on the administrations plans to build a new hospital and medical campus on 102 acres it wants to lease from the military in the Eagles Field area. The Guam Legislature is not opposed to the construction of a new hospital. Thats not what this is about, Terlaje said. What we need I think in this process is a transparency and additional public input. Terlaje said lawmakers havent been notified or invited to any of the planning meetings for the project since November 2021. The governors office and the Guam Economic Development Authority have denied the Pacific Daily News requests for a copy of a government consultants plan for the project, which is 95% complete. The Department of Land Management has a two-year license from the Navy to access the Eagles Field property, but the administration is negotiating a lease for as long as 99 years. Almost impossible Although some ancestral landowners of the Eagles Field site said they want the property returned instead of being leased by GovGuam, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and administration officials on Monday told them a 2000 federal law changed the land return process and prohibits federal excess land from being given to individuals for personal use. It is almost impossible for the ancestral owners to get that land back, according to the governor, who said if it is not used for a medical complex the military will keep it. The administration has proposed paying the ancestral owners or giving them government land elsewhere. The Guam Ancestral Lands Commission, created more than 20 years ago, is responsible for returning excess federal land to its ancestral owners and for paying just compensation to those whose land was declared excess by the federal government but is being used by the government of Guam for public purposes. Please, I want my land back so I can give it to my grandchildren, ancestral owner Margarita Pereira told lawmakers Tuesday in video testimony from the mainland. Pereira owned about 16 acres of land property fronting Route 15 before it was condemned by the military in 1950. Her son, Vincent Cabrera, told lawmakers the ancestral commission is supposed to fight for ancestral landowners, not the government. Considered excess I do not agree that all of a sudden the Guam Ancestral Lands Commission has no role and that were not going to be looking to the return of lands, Terlaje said, adding a Navy admiral in 2021 stated the Mangilao property was considered excess. I dont think he can backtrack on it, even if the governor provides a different public use for the property. Terlaje said the federal law prohibiting the return of land hasnt been tested and the administration is instead relying on an attorneys interpretation of the law. Ancestral Lands Administrator John Burch said three different attorneys agree the federal law prohibits land transfers to individuals and thats what the Eagles Field ancestral owners were told. Sometimes the truth does hurt, Burch said. What were trying to do is find a solution. Possible sites GMH Administrator Lillian Posadas, chairwoman of the administrations Medical and Public Health Services Task Force, which started in March 2021, said the Guam Economic Development Authority was responsible for looking at about 15 possible sites for the medical facility. She said one option was the former hospital site at Ypao Point, but it is not large enough for a new hospital, public health facility, behavioral health facility and lab. The reason why we want to have that medical campus with three health agencies is continuity of care, she said. Posadas said the Eagles Field site was selected as the best option, without a vote, after the list of options was narrowed down. We didnt just say, OK, lets go Eagles Field, said Land Management Director Joe Borja, who is a member of the administrations task force. There was a process of vetting all these properties we already have. He said all public land was considered, including land set aside by past laws for medical use and lands held by the university, the college, the CHamoru Land Trust and the Ancestral Lands Commission. Borja said the governor wanted land in a central location. Room to expand was another factor, he said. Thats why it was 102 acres. Grave injustice From our perspective, this is a grave injustice for us, said ancestral owner Frank Lujan. The local government wants to deny us for the remaining eternity of that property. If the government already has a lot of land vested in the CHamoru Land Trust Commission, then why dont you build the hospital there? Lujan said. I submit to you that the reason why (the governor) wants Eagle Field is because she has this grand vision of including not only the hospital and other facilities which dont necessarily have to be at the same location. Why take it away from us we barely have anything for our children and grandchildren at least to survive on? Lujan asked. I do want to support those that have come to testify here today. Theyre this close to getting their land back, said Sen. Sabina Perez. We have a chance to make things right, and I want to encourage everyone here today to work towards that. Bad faith Sen. Chris Duenas said the Eagles Field ancestral owners, have been strung along. This entire process was entered into in bad faith, Duenas said. These landowners that are here today were brought into this process after negotiations were entered into, thereby leaving them out of the process. Speaker Terlaje said theres a risk that returning excess land to its ancestral owners would violate federal law, but the government of Guam has done it anyway. Land was taken in massive amounts, Terlaje said. So I dont feel that we owe any consideration, or feeling bad, that were gonna violate some federal law, she said. Were going to challenge it. Why not challenge it? Maria Pangelinan, Guam Election Commission executive director, explains the process to cast your election ballots after GEC opens its early voting venue at the Westin Resort Guam on Oct. 11, 2022. An office building of Kakao in Pangyo, just south of Seoul, Oct. 17. Yonhap SK C&C, which hosts a data center for Kakao, said Wednesday it has started to fully supply electric power to the tech firm's disrupted servers, a move that could lead to a full normalization of Kakao services. "The power supply rate reached 100 percent at around 5 a.m.," an SK C&C official said. A fire at Kakao's data center near Seoul on Saturday caused the worst server outage ever for South Korea's dominant messenger and its internet portal Daum. Haiti - UN : Barbecue at the top of a blacklist, vote of the resolution pending The Security Council of the United Nations should vote this Wednesday, October 19 in the afternoon, one of the two resolutions drafted by the United States and Mexico concerning the sanctions, which quotes only Jimmy Cherizier alias "Barbecue" , a former police officer who leads the most powerful coalition of gangs in Haiti known as the "G9 Family and Allies" as the target of a travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo. However, this resolution provides for the establishment of a committee of the Security Council to designate other Haitians and groups [oligarchs, political elites, high-level corrupt politicians, American citizens and others...] who threaten the peace, security or stability of Haiti and put them on an international sanctions blacklist. Cherizier and his coalition of gangs have been blocking the free flow of fuel from the Varreux oil terminal for more than a month, "[...] His actions have directly contributed to the economic paralysis and humanitarian crisis in Haiti [...] he engaged in acts that threaten the peace, security, and stability of Haiti and has planned, directed, or committed acts that constitute serious human rights abuses," the resolution states. Let's recall that the second resolution drafted by the United States and Mexico concerns the armed intervention force urgently requested by Haiti to support the National Police of Haiti (PNH) and put an end to gang violence and restore the order in the country. Resolution which came up against the reservations of China and Russia on Monday, October 17 and which is the subject of intense discussions in order to eliminate the objections and pass to the vote. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37915-haiti-un-no-resolution-yet-adopted-the-security-council-divided.html Last Minute : According to the Miami Herald, the United States has said it does not want to lead the armed intervention mission in Haiti. Canada also reportedly expressed similar concerns. In addition, several members of the Security Council would have privately informed the United States that they were waiting to see the details of the proposed mission before voting on this resolution... Let's remember that for a resolution to be adopted by the Security Council, it requires a vote of at least 9 votes in favor and no veto. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37915-haiti-un-no-resolution-yet-adopted-the-security-council-divided.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37881-haiti-flash-visas-revoked-for-several-members-of-the-government-barbecue-target-of-the-security-council.html SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Cholera : AFD allocates $300,000 urgently to the GHESKIO Center More than 30 deaths, hundreds of hospitalizations and more than 800 suspected cases have been counted by Haitian health authorities since the first confirmed case of reappearance of cholera in Haiti on October 2, 2022. Faced with this resurgence of the epidemic in the country, the GHESKIO Centers are calling for rapid action while waiting for international humanitarian aid to reach the populations. In response to this call, the French Development Agency (AFD) held an emergency meeting with GHESKIO officials, following which France undertook via AFD to reallocate an amount $300,000 to the fight against cholera in Haiti. From the funds granted to GHESKIO as part of the response to Covid-19, this first envelope will make it possible to set up community interventions, epidemiological surveillance, and better care for patients, in particular children. More specifically, the reallocated funds will promote sanitation, the collection of specimens, the purchase of inputs and equipment. The actions will start immediately on the two GHESKIO intervention sites in the city of Port-au-Prince and in the commune of Tabarre. The immediate operationalization of the GHESKIO teams will be based on the achievements of two Covid-19 response projects financed by AFD (2.7 million euros), which have enabled GHESKIO to develop its integrated epidemiological surveillance and strengthen its patient care unit. Following this emergency response, AFD plans to mobilize other funds to curb the spread of cholera and consolidate the achievements of the first interventions. HL/ HaitiLibre Published on 2022/10/19 | Source Korean movies opening today 2022/10/19 in Korea: "The Other Child", "Kill Me Now" and "Devil in the Lake" Advertisement "The Other Child" (2022) Directed by Kim Jin-young-IV With Park Hyo-joo, Kim Min-jae, Cha Sun-woo, Kyung Da-eun, Park Jae-jun, An Ye-rim,... Also known as "Confusion" Synopsis A couple decides to adopt a child to overcome the loss of their third child whom they lost to an accident. They adopt a boy who is visually impaired, hoping that raising him would make up for the insufficient love they gave to their lost child. The adopted boy has an acute sense and begins to notice that there is another presence in the house. He discovers that the presence is a boy who died a year ago and summons him back to the family. The mother gets obsessed with communication with her lost child. The father and the other children believe the adopted boy is lying, and start to fear the mother's growing obsession toward her lost child and the adopted boy. The children feel compelled to tell their parents about the secret about the lost child, which changes everything for the family. "Kill Me Now" (2020) Directed by Choi Ik-hwan With Jang Hyun-sung, Ahn Seung-gyun, Lee Il-hwa, Kim Guk-Hee, Yang Hee-jun,... Synopsis Being normal is relative. A father facing the independence of his disabled son in high school. Like a normal person, he can neither refuse nor grant his request to live for just one day like a normal person. "Devil in the Lake" (2022) Directed by Tak Se-woong With Park Ha-na, Heo Jin, Jung Young-joo,... TV version: "Drama Special 2022 - TV Cinema - Devil in the Lake" Synopsis Bo-yeong moves into the mansion of the previously wealthy grandmother, Wang, as a caregiver with a dangerous intention. Mother Kim, the only blood relative of Wang who hired Bo-yeong, sets conditions such as 'Do not bring anyone, especially children', and 'Do not go near the reservoir'. Ominous and bizarre signs continue in grandmother Wang's huge mansion located next to a reservoir called 'Gwimot', where people are dying, and Bo-yeong finds out that foreigners who have visited the place have suffered a mysterious death... The multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) Chunmoo fires a rocket in this photo released by the Korean Army. Yonhap Hanwha Defense of Korea is set to sign a basic contract with Poland in Warsaw this week to supply 288 Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers, informed sources said Wednesday. The company and Warsaw's Armament Agency will sign the "framework" deal, according to the sources. The contract is known to be worth around $6 billion. The move comes after deals between Korean firms and the Polish government earlier this year for the supply of K2 battle tanks, K9 self-propelled howitzers and FA-50 fighter jets, as the European country has emerged as Korea's key arms export market. Poland has been intensifying its arms procurement efforts after it sent military aid to Ukraine in the wake of Russia's invasion of the country. With a maximum range of 80 kilometers, the Chunmoo system has served as a key counter-artillery asset for Korea to counter threats from North Korea's long-range artillery. Chunmoo means "covering the sky" in Korean. (Yonhap) Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, center, Chung Euisun, fourth from right, chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, and officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy; the Ministry of SMEs and Startups; the Fair Trade Commission; the Korea Automotive Technology Institute; the Korea Fair Trade Mediation Agency; and the Foundation of Korea Automotive Parts Industry Promotion pose after signing an agreement to support local auto parts companies in transitioning to the electric car business at Hyundai's research center in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group Automotive giant, gov't forge ties to foster EV ecosystem By Baek Byung-yeul Hyundai Motor Group has joined hands with the government to support local auto parts manufacturers to get into the rapidly-growing electric vehicle (EV) business, as it is anticipated that the domestic companies will have difficulties in the near future when the entire car industry is transitioning from traditional combustion engine-powered cars to EVs, according to the automotive group, Wednesday. The Korean automotive giant signed a memorandum of understanding with government agencies such as the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy; the Ministry of SMEs and Startups; the Fair Trade Commission; the Korea Automotive Technology Institute; the Korea Fair Trade Mediation Agency; and the Foundation of Korea Automotive Parts Industry Promotion at its research center in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. "While the combustion engine-powered car parts industry is expected to face difficulties due to the conversion to EV, the automotive group agreed with the government agencies to support the local auto parts industry so that they can continue their investment and improve their capabilities," a spokesman of the automotive group said. Under the agreement, Hyundai Motor Group will provide financial support by creating a support fund and expanding its price adjustment system, which raises the price of goods that parts companies supply to the group when the price of raw materials rise. It will also offer consultative and education services to the local auto parts companies. Hyundai added that it will push for 5.2 trillion won ($3.6 billion) in support so that the group can help their over 5,000 local partners accelerate the transition to the EV business. "The local automotive industry is facing more difficulties due to the global supply chain crisis and this is the time to respond to the industry's successful transition," Chung Euisun, chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, said. "For the successful transition of the automotive industry, carmakers, the auto parts industry, the government and related organizations must form a team to build an organic cooperative system. We will further expand co-prosperity and support for the parts industry to strengthen competitiveness in the future car era," the chairman added. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo also said, "The government will support the rapid and flexible transition of the parts industry to future cars and create an ecosystem that innovates and where large and small-sized companies coexist." The industry ministry will support the technology development of the parts companies that invest in future car technologies, such as eco-friendly cars and autonomous driving technology, and expand funding support for them. Also, the ministry plans to foster software engineers in the self-driving field and develop an educational program on the maintenance of EVs. The ministry of small business will support the expansion of the price adjustment program that Hyundai Motor Group is operating and create a 50-billion-won R&D fund with the automotive group to support the local parts makers' research activities. ShareBar Comments must be on-topic and civil in tone (with no name calling or personal attacks). Any promotional language or urls will be removed immediately. Your comment may be edited for clarity and length. Each year Italian startups have had the opportunity to meet foreign investors close to their own headquarters. The 2022 edition of BIAT just concluded in Salerno, Italy. The convention which started in 2014 has become stronger and more relevant each year. The idea is simple and effective: bring potential investors and partners from around the world to Italy to meet innovative southern Italian startups and SMEs in need of expansion and partnership. The 3 day event consists of networking and panels, but the bulk of the time is reserved for the most essential, which is for startups and investors to meet one-on-one, in 2 pre-matched and organised speed dating rotating sessions each day. The projects presented this year were from Green Economy, ICT, Bio & Health Tech, Robotics and Automation, Space Economy, and Smart City sectors. In total 76 startups from eight southern Italian municipalities participated in one-to-one meetings with 54 potential investors, or partners from 27 countries including Canada, USA, Singapore, Lebanon, Croatia, United Kingdom, India, Japan, and Finland. Here are a few interesting projects presented by Italian startups: Visafy Visafy attempts to streamline the process of visa applications. Instead of communicating with- or even physically going to the consulates or embassies, you can fill the application and attache all necessary documents via the Visafy online service which could even be collected form your home. The service facilitates visa applications for many countries, including The United States, Thailand, UK, Australia, Russia and China among others at the moment. ASPRID ASPRID (Airport System Protection From Intruding Drones) is an EU funded project coordinated by Inta. The project has received more than a million Euros from the EUs Horizon program for research and development of systems to protect airport areas from the so-called rogue-drone flights over non-authorised areas by detecting and neutralising drones. Preinvel Preinvel claims to have invented the first filterless air-purifier in the world to address the problem of industrial pollution. The company claims to have built, tested and validated a device able to stop particles smaller than 1 micron. The solution does not include mechanical or electrical filters, but uses a patented airflow mechanism to perform the task. Thus there is no cost of filters and the work needed to change them. These are just a few of the many interesting projects presented in the 2022 edition of Biat. A more comprehensive list could be found at BIAT web pages. After three days of intensive meetings and networking, delegates go back home with a stack of business cards and new contact infos, but the discussion has just started. Each BIAT edition has brought several investments to Italian companies and this one will be no exception. The event, which is supported by the EU and fully organised by the Italian Trade Agency would indeed be a good-practice model worth copying to other countries in Europe and beyond. BIAT (La Borsa dellInnovazione e dellAlta Tecnologia), an initiative of the Italian Trade Agency, is the most prominent event included in the Piano Export Sud, a comprehensive and ambitious 5 year action plan designed to benefit SMEs, start-ups, university spin-offs and research centres of eight Italian Regions: Abruzzo, Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, Sardinia and Sicily. The Plan is developed in cooperation with the Italian Ministry for Economic Development (MiSE), in compliance with the European Commission National Operational Plan on Enterprises and Competitiveness 2014 2020 (European Regional Development Fund ERDF). The Italian Trade Agency ITA is responsible for strategy, planning, operations and management, in partnership with Regional Governments and local industry organisations. ITA Italian Trade Agency is the Government agency that supports the business development of Italian companies abroad and promotes the attraction of foreign investment in Italy. With a widespread network of overseas offices, ITA provides information, assistance, consulting, promotion and training to Italian small and medium-sized businesses. Using the most modern multi-channel promotion and communication tools, it acts to assert the excellence of Made in Italy in the world. Alexis Kouros Helsinki Times ALL PARTIES in the Finnish Parliament are in agreement about the necessity to build a fence along parts of the 1,300-kilometre land border between Finland and Russia, says Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP). We were in agreement about the need. The Border Guard presented the fence to us in its entirety, what it means in concrete terms, and now the government will bring the proposals to the Parliament, the prime minister was quoted saying to members of the media after the meeting by STT. The Finnish government, she revealed, will set aside funding for a test section of the fence in a supplementary budget later this year and funding for the broader project based on experiences from the test section in a supplementary budget next year. The first supplementary budget is to be submitted to the Parliament by 1 November. The Border Guard proposed at the start of the autumn that a fence be built along 1020 per cent of the eastern border especially in areas near designated border-crossing points to prevent illegal entries. Riikka Purra, the chairperson of the Finns Party, gauged that parliamentary support for the fence was as strong after the roughly hour-long meeting as it had been before the meeting. Both Purra and Petteri Orpo, the chairperson of the National Coalition, lamented that the meeting offered little in terms of enacting provisions in the newly amended border guard act that enable the complete closure of the border in emergencies. When we talk about things like a danger to national security and widespread immigration, were naturally not talking about unequivocal things. They require an interpretation and decision from the government. This was a topic that wasnt discussed this time, commented Purra. How have we prepared to implement the new provisions in the border guard act if the situation in Russia escalates in a way that there are a lot of asylum seekers and other immigrants at the Russian border? asked Orpo. The opposition leaders also voiced their bafflement with estimates that the project would take three to four years to complete, significantly longer than similar projects have taken in the Baltics. Orpo argued before the meeting that the trial period should be shorter. Once the test section is deemed good, be it one kilometre or five kilometres, we should make haste and fence up the critical areas. Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen (Greens) reminded before the meeting that ascertaining parliamentary support for the project is important due to the expected duration of the project and the vicinity of parliamentary elections. The Border Guard has estimated that this whole project could take several years, and thats why also the next government should be committed to it. The Ministry of the Interior is proposing that 139 million euros in funding be set aside next year for the main phase of the project, in addition to the six million euros earmarked for the test section of the fence, Mikkonen said last week to Uutissuomalainen. The funding covers not only the fence itself, but also monitoring technology, road infrastructure and land acquisitions. Aleksi Teivainen HT A coming-out took place today. Weve now come out of the wood closet. Forested EU countries have set up a collaboration group that we call by the name of For Forest, Finnish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Antti Kurvinen (Centre) announced on Monday. A QUARTET of EU countries with large forest reserves have established a collaborative group to defend the interests of their national forest industries in the 27-country bloc, reports Helsingin Sanomat. The group, he said, consists of Austria, Finland, Slovenia and Sweden. Helsingin Sanomat wrote that the quartet is ultimately seeking to make sure more emphasis is placed on forests and forest industry activities in the EU. The European Commissions upcoming proposal on collecting data and monitoring the state of forests will offer the countries the first opportunity to wield their clout. The Finnish government is of the view that the commission has failed to sufficiently include member states in the preparatory work. Austria and Finland have already secured support from 17 other member states for their position that research data on forests should be collected primarily through national mechanisms. You shouldnt create a new system at the EU level. The supreme authority in forest policy belongs to member states, argued Kurvinen. Kurvinen on Monday aired a number of grievances about earlier and upcoming forest-related legislative proposals from the European Commission. The proposals, he stated, have been neither coordinated nor examined in terms of their overall impact on the use of forests, economic effects and social effects. I think its wrong to examine forest policy both in Finland and the EU solely through climate and environmental policy. You have to pay equal attention to competitiveness and employment, he said. He stated that the 27-country bloc is trying to squeeze all member states into the same forest-policy mould despite the fact that some members have hardly any forests in natural state. It is also extremely problematic that there is very little forest-industry expertise in Brussels. Expertise related to wood, forest growth and forest industry must be augmented in the EU, so that initiatives based on erroneous facts and initiatives not based on research data dont move forward. Kurvinen, however, toned down his accusations when pressed to provide examples of such initiatives by Helsingin Sanomat. The initiatives arent necessarily based on erroneous facts, he replied. In Brussels, the impression of Finnish forest industry is sometimes such that, in the worst case, some actors in the field of non-profits lay out photos of a string bog in Lapland, saying this is what felling looks like in Finland. He also called attention to a proposal to reduce the use of protected plant areas by 50 per cent, claiming that the figure is not based on research but simply one that looks good in an Instagram Story. The European Commissions regulation to restore degraded forests would be devastating for the forest industry because of the amount of land areas to be protected, according to him. A few member states are made to pay so that the rest of the EU can have a better conscience, he summed up. Finland has already restored wetlands and natural habitats under the programmes Helmi and Metso. Kurvinen viewed that the country is now being punished for its pioneering work because the programmes are not recognised in the restoration regulation. Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Maria Ohisalo (Greens) on Tuesday stated that the government had not made a decision to set up the four-country group in the EU. We havent had any discussions about this within the government, she commented to Helsingin Sanomat. There hasnt been a joint discussion in the ministerial committee on EU affairs or a joint discussion between the monitoring ministers. Ill wait for further details. Whether or not a single cabinet member can take the country to such a group is worth a discussion, according to her. Ohisalo has defended the restoration regulation by pointing out that the costs arising from it should be compared to the profits raked annually by the forest industry. Aleksi Teivainen HT National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo, front row eighth from left, and Chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) Huh Chang-soo, front row ninth from left, Chairperson of the U.S. Korea Business Council Octavio Simoes, front row seventh from left, and other business and government officials from the U.S. and Korea pose for a commemorative photo during the "Korea-U.S. Business Meeting Welcome Dinner" held at Sarangjae of the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of FKI Firefighters conduct work while Smoke rises from a building after it was attacked by Russian suicide drones in Kyiv, Ukraine on Oct. 17. UPI-Yonhap The new commander of Russian forces in Ukraine made a rare acknowledgment of the pressures they are under from Ukrainian offensives to retake southern and eastern areas that Moscow claims to have annexed just weeks ago. And in another sign of Russian concern about the situation on the ground eight months into its invasion, the Kremlin-installed chief of the strategic southern region of Kherson on Tuesday announced an "organized, gradual displacement" of civilians from four towns on the Dnipro River. Russian forces in Kherson have been driven back by 20-30 km (13-20 miles) in the last few weeks and are at risk of being pinned against the western bank of the 2,200-kilometre-long (1,367-mile-long) Dnipro river that bisects Ukraine. "The situation in the area of the 'Special Military Operation' can be described as tense," Sergei Surovikin, a Russian air force general named this month to take charge, told the state-owned Rossiya 24 television news channel. On Kherson, Surovikin said: "The situation in this area is difficult. The enemy is deliberately striking infrastructure and residential buildings in Kherson." Both Ukraine and Russia have denied targeting civilians, although Kyiv has accused Moscow's forces of war crimes. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered what he calls a "special military operation" on Feb. 24 because he said he wanted to ensure Russian security and protect Russian-speakers in Ukraine. Ukraine and its allies accuse Moscow of an unprovoked war to grab territory from its pro-Western neighbor. Continuous attack Russian troop positions in Kupiansk and Lyman in eastern Ukraine and the area between Mykolaiv and Kryvyi Rih in Kherson province were cited by Surovikin as under continuous attack. He appeared to concede that there was a danger of Ukrainian forces advancing towards the city of Kherson, which lies near the mouth of the Dnipro on the west bank, and is hard for Russia to resupply from the east because the main bridge across the Dnipro has been badly damaged by Ukrainian bombing. Russia captured the city largely unopposed in the early days of the invasion, and it remains the only major Ukrainian city that Moscow's forces have seized intact. Kherson is one of four partially-occupied Ukrainian provinces that Russia claims to have annexed, and arguably the most strategically important. It controls both the only land route to the Crimea peninsula Russia seized in 2014, and the mouth of the Dnipro. After staging referendums in September that Ukraine and its allies said were illegal and coercive, Putin proclaimed the annexations of the eastern border provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk - together forming an important industrial region known as the Donbas - as well as Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the south. Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-installed Kherson region chief, said the risk of attack by Ukrainian forces led to a decision to evacuate some civilians from four towns. "The Ukrainian side is building up forces for a large-scale offensive," Saldo said in a video statement. The Russian military was preparing to repel the offensive, he said, and "where the military operates, there is no place for civilians. Let the Russian army fulfil its task." Surovikin has been nicknamed "General Armageddon" in Russian media after serving in Syria and Chechnya, where his forces pounded cities to rubble in a brutal but effective scorched earth policy against its foes. His appointment was rapidly followed on Oct. 10 by the biggest wave of missile strikes against Ukraine since the start of the war. Firefighters work to put out a fire in an energy infrastructure facilities, damaged by a Russian missile strike, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Zhytomyr, Ukraine, Oct. 18. Reuters-Yonhap In this photo provided by Ibrahim Almadi, Saad Ibrahim Almadi sits in a restaurant in an unidentified place, in the United States, on August 2021. Almadi, 72, who is a citizen of both Saudi Arabia and the U.S., was arrested in Saudi Arabia last November and was recently sentenced to 16 years in prison over tweets critical of the Saudi government. AP-Yonhap The United States said Tuesday it was raising with Saudi Arabia a prison sentence handed to a U.S. citizen over tweets critical of the kingdom, another source of tension between the historic allies. The State Department confirmed the detention of Saad Ibrahim Almadi, a U.S. citizen of Saudi origin, and said the United States brought up his case starting in December and as recently as Monday. Almadi was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the tweets, his son Ibrahim confirmed to AFP. "We have consistently and intensively raised our concerns regarding the case at senior levels of the Saudi government, both through channels in Riyadh and Washington," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters. "Exercising freedom of expression should never be criminalized," he said. The Washington Post reported that Almadi, who lives in Florida and had gone to visit family, was detained in November at the airport regarding 14 tweets he wrote over the previous seven years. The newspaper, quoting the son Ibrahim, said that Almadi, who is 72, was sentenced on Oct. 3 to 16 years in prison with a travel ban of another 16 years after that. The son told the newspaper that his father had expressed only "mild" opinions with tweets mentioning corruption in Saudi Arabia and the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, the U.S.-based columnist who was dismembered in 2018 after being lured into the kingdom's Istanbul consulate. Almadi was charged in part with supporting and funding terrorism and trying to destabilize the kingdom, said his son, who confirmed the Post's reporting to AFP. The State Department said no U.S. representative was present at the sentencing as Saudi Arabia originally gave a later date for the hearing before moving it up. "We did not hear back from the Saudi government until after the October 3 date" of the sentencing, Patel said, without confirming the details of the decision. The death of Khashoggi, who wrote for The Washington Post, triggered outrage in Washington although then president Donald Trump boasted of saving the powerful crown prince, Mohammed Bin Salman, from major repercussions. President Joe Biden declassified intelligence that showed that the crown prince ordered the killing and vowed to get tougher, including over Saudi Arabia's deadly offensive in Yemen. Biden in July nonetheless traveled to Saudi Arabia and was photographed in a fist-bump with the crown prince on a trip seen as seeking the kingdom's help to lower gas prices by pumping more oil. But OPEC+, led by Saudi Arabia, on October 5 announced a major cut in production just ahead of U.S. congressional elections, outraging Biden who vowed consequences. Saudi Arabia has long faced criticism over human rights. Blogger and rights activist Raif Badawi served 10 years in prison through March and was publicly lashed 50 times for charges over content on his website. (AFP) South Africa: Hawks nab fuel theft kingpin The Hawks on Wednesday pounced on an alleged kingpin of a syndicate linked to the theft of fuel, which has caused damage to essential infrastructure. The 35-year-old suspect was arrested in Pretoria by a multidisciplinary team, led by the Free State Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation team, together with Bidvest Protea Coin Security and the Gauteng Traffic Department Saturation Unit. Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Philani Nkwalase, said the arrest followed further investigation into the arrest of two suspects, aged between 35 and 41, on Saturday. The two were arrested for the theft of fuel and tempering with the Transnet national pipeline in Vrede, Free State and were arrested on delivering the stolen fuel in Kromdraai, Witbank. The duo, Mauro Aurelia Langa (41), a Mozambican national and Solly Khoza (35) appeared in the Vrede Magistrates Court yesterday and are expected be back in court on 24 October 2022. They were arrested by a multidisciplinary team comprising the Hawks Non-Ferrous Metals, Tactical Operations Management Section, with Secunda and Middelburg-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation, assisted by Bidvest Protea Coin, Ekurhuleni District Operational Task Team, Badboyz Security and South African Revenue Service (SARS). "Police seized the tanker with fuel, which was involved in Saturdays incident. The alleged kingpin is expected to appear in the Witbank Magistrates court tomorrow and will later appear in Vrede with other suspects. Nkwalase said it was now on public record that almost 8.5 million litres of fuel, valued at approximately R102 million, has been stolen from national Transnet pipes in the last year. There are 46 suspects arrest in the last three months owing to the multi-disciplinary approach operations which prove to be a working formula. Now with the additional three linked to this incident, we are sitting at total of 49 suspects arrested in the country, he said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-10-19. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Chinese envoy says dialogue, consultation right way to address Kosovo issue Xinhua) 15:53, October 19, 2022 UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Tuesday stressed that dialogue and consultation are the right way to address the Kosovo issue. Since June this year, the Kosovo authorities have been taking unilateral actions on issues such as ID documents and vehicle license plates, which have led to rounds of severe escalation in northern Kosovo, disrupting the process of normalizing relations between Serbia and Kosovo, and impacting security and stability in the Balkans and Southeast Europe, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations. China is concerned about the situation, he said. With the good offices of relevant parties, the two sides have reached agreement on the issue of ID documents. China welcomes this development, he told the Security Council. The issue of license plates is pending resolution. Kosovo's demand to complete the replacement of license plates by the end of this month may trigger protests and even clashes and aggravate tensions once again. Such a scenario must be avoided, he said. Dialogue and consultation are the right way to address the Kosovo issue. China encourages both sides to continue to engage with each other in a pragmatic and constructive manner, and implement the outcomes of previous negotiations. In accordance with the provisions of the Brussels agreement, Kosovo should advance the establishment of the community of Serb municipalities, he said. The harmonious coexistence of all ethnic groups is a fundamental prerequisite for achieving stability in Kosovo. Recently, there have been a number of incidents against ethnic minorities and their places of worship in Kosovo. China hopes Kosovo authorities will take effective measures to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents so as to guarantee the security and the legitimate rights and interests of all ethnic groups in Kosovo, including Serbs. China's position on the Kosovo issue has been consistent and clear. China hopes the parties concerned can work with each other within the framework of Security Council Resolution 1244 to reach a mutually acceptable political solution through sincere dialogue, and fully respect Serbia's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity in this process, he said. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu) A view of drones during a military exercise in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on Aug. 24. Reuters-Yonhap The United States, Britain and France plan to raise alleged Iranian arms transfers to Russia at a closed-door U.N. Security Council meeting on Wednesday, diplomats said, after Kyiv accused Moscow of using Iranian-origin drones against civilian targets. Separately, Ukraine has invited U.N. experts to inspect what it says are downed Iranian-origin drones used by Russia to attack Ukrainian targets in violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231 that endorsed the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, according to a letter seen by Reuters. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the diplomats said the three which also believe such transfers violate the resolution told their Council counterparts they would ask a U.N. official to brief members on the issue on Wednesday. Russia launched dozens of "kamikaze" drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), on Ukraine on Monday, hitting energy infrastructure and killing five people in the capital Kyiv. Ukraine says they are Iranian-made Shahed-136 attack drones loitering munitions that cruise towards their target before plummeting at velocity and detonating on impact. Kyiv moved on Tuesday to cut ties with Iran because of their use. Tehran denies supplying the drones to Moscow, while Washington says Iran's denial is a lie. Kremlin on Tuesday denied its forces had used Iranian drones to attack Ukraine. Citing current and former U.S. officials, the New York Times reported on Tuesday that Iran has sent trainers to occupied Ukraine to help Russians overcome problems with the fleet of drones that they purchased from Tehran. The newspaper said the Iranian trainers are operating from a Russian military base in Crimea where many of the drones have been based since being delivered from Iran. It said the trainers are from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, a part of Iran's military which Washington deems a terrorist organization. Asked about the report, a State Department spokesperson said: "While we will not comment on purported intelligence leaks, we have been warning since July that Iran was planning to give weapons to Russia for use against Ukraine." "There is abundant evidence that Iranian UAVs have been used to attack Ukrainian civilians and military targets, although Iran continues to lie shamelessly about its involvement," he added, saying the presence of Iranian trainers in Crimea "would further implicate Iran in assisting Russia's unprovoked and brutal war, including attacks on Ukrainian civilians." An Iranian cleric stands near a drone during a military exercise in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on Aug. 24. Reuters-Yonhap Hotel Okura Co., Ltd., is pleased to announce that the Okura Resort & Spa Phu Quoc will open in 2027 at the premier resort of Long Beach on Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam. The company has contracted with Trading Construction Works Organization to manage the new property. The 20-km long white sandy Long Beach is the only location in Vietnam where people can watch the sun set over the ocean, offering spectacular views as the day comes to an end. The new hotel will feature 200 guest rooms, each with standard area of approximately 50 square meters. It will have five dining facilities and lounges, including a restaurant offering Japanese cuisine, as well as a fitness center, outdoor swimming pool, spa, and other facilities that will allow guests to enjoy a relaxing and fulfilling stay. There will also be three banquet and meeting rooms providing high-quality space and service for a wide variety of events. In addition, the property will contain around 65 villas affording unique enjoyment of its beachfront location. Phu Quoc Island is a lush green island in the Gulf of Thailand, located at the southernmost tip of Vietnam. It consists of the main island (the largest island in Vietnam) and 21 smaller islands, and is approximately one hour from Ho Chi Minh City and two hours from Hanoi by air. With its beautiful beaches and scenic natural environment, it has been selected as one of the "World's Greatest Islands" by American travel magazines and other publications. Okura Nikko Hotels, operated by Hotel Okura, operates beach resort hotels under the Hotel Nikko brand in Okinawa (Hotel Nikko Alivila / Yomitan Resort Okinawa) and in Guam (Hotel Nikko Guam), Palau (Palau Royal Resort), and Bali (Hotel Nikko Bali Benoa Beach). The new Okura Resort & Spa Phu Quoc will be a fully-fledged beach resort under the Okura brand. Hotel website Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi, located in the heart of downtown Santa Fe, is pleased to announce the appointment of Andre Sattler as the property's Executive Chef. In this role, Chef Andre will be responsible for providing strategic direction to the property's talented culinary team and overseeing the property's food and beverage outlets, Anasazi Restaurant, Anasazi Bar, and Lounge, and The Patio. Chef Andre joins Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi with 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry having worked at some of the most well-respected hotels across the globe. Most recently, Chef Andre held the position of Task Force Executive Chef at Rosewood Sand Hill in Menlo Park, California. Prior to this role, Andre held Executive Chef and Executive Sous Chef positions at several hotels including Hotel Jerome: Auberge Resorts Collection, The Ben, Acqualina Resort & Residences, Mandarin Oriental Miami, and Levy Restaurants. Chef Andrew also brings with him additional past experience with the Rosewood brand, having served as Executive Sous Chef at two of the brand's other properties, including Dallas' beloved Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek and Virgin Gorda's Rosewood Little Dix Bay. Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi's culinary program infuses the unique culinary and cultural heritage of the property's Southwestern location with a contemporary flair. True to its commitment to highlight the culinary traditions of the surrounding area, the hotel also partners with local farms and purveyors to provide guests with fresh, seasonal produce throughout the year. The property's restaurants are notable spots within the city's ever-growing dining landscape, and are major draws enjoyed by guests, visitors, and locals alike. Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead is pleased to announce the appointment of Juan Gonzalez Izquierdo as General Manager. Gonzalez Izquierdo brings more than 19 years of experience in the hospitality industry with luxury hotel brands, including Conrad New York Downtown, The Caryle, a Rosewood Hotel, The Ritz-Carlton and The Peninsula. In his most recent role, Gonzalez Izquierdo served as Hotel Manager of the Conrad New York for nearly four years, leading the hotel to its Connie Award in 2021, as well as the "Conrad Brighter Together" recognitioninQ1 of 2021 and 2022 in the Americas. He also oversaw the renovation of its guest rooms and banquet spaces. He draws on this valuable experience as he steps into his role at Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead at a pivotal time with the hotel entering the final stages of its extensive property-wide renovation that is set to be fully completed this fall. Gonzalez Izquierdo's diverse background includes a six-year tenure at The Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel within its Food & Beverage operations, as well as work with The Peninsula New York, Hotel Arts Barcelona, The Ritz London, and more. He earned his diploma in Hotel Management at Swiss hotel management university Les Roches in Marbella, Spain, and continued his higher education at Endicott College in Massachusetts, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management. Anthony Gill makes the move from Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai and overseeing Four Seasons Resort Tented Camp in the Golden Triangle to Four Seasons Hotel Tianjin as General Manager. With more than 20 years of global luxury hotel experience, his move marks the start of an exciting new chapter at the landmark Hotel in the heart of Tianjin's CBD. Bringing a unique energy and charisma to his work, Anthony is always up for a new challenge in hospitality, from Four Seasons Resort Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam, which he successfully guided through the rebranding to a Four Seasons in 2016, to the last three years at Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai while overseeing Four Seasons Tented Camp in the Golden Triangle. He has always showcased his passion for luxury hotels and food and beverage throughout his career to date. Born in Newcastle upon Tyne in The UK, Anthony holds a Higher National Diploma in Hotel, Catering and Institutional Management from Newcastle College. He started his hospitality journey at the Malmaison Hotel in his hometown in 2001, the best new hotel in the city at that time and returned there for a two-year stint as operations manager a few years later. After that he had a thirst to explore luxury hotels on a global level and accepted his first international food and beverage assignment, which took him to the Columbus Hotel in Monaco. Anthony also has an abundance of international food and beverage leadership experience, including Intercontinental Doha, One & Only Maldives, and Six Senses in Vietnam and Thailand. Bringing forth his wealth of international experience and luxury hotel expertise, Anthony is ready to take up the challenge and lead the thriving Four Seasons Hotel Tianjin. Joining his efforts with the management team of the Hotel, Anthony is committed to lead the Hotel towards a new era of success, cementing its position as the ultimate urban sanctuary in Tianjin's intriguing global port city. At leisure, Anthony and his wife focus on the balance of eating and exercising, more so the eating with much enthusiasm. As a keen outdoorsman, he looks forward to acclimating himself with Tianjin by indulging in his passion for hiking and trail running. Kimberly is part of the hotel financing team at Aareal Bank, where she is involved in analysing, structuring and managing hotel financing deals, as well as in the ongoing monitoring and management of existing hotel loans. Aareal Bank is one of the leading lenders of debt financing in hotel real estate, with a loan portfolio of over 10 billion in hotels across 20 countries. Prior to joining Aareal, Kimberly worked in hotel real estate consulting at Cushman & Wakefield, beginning in Strategic Advisory & Research (EMEA) before joining the Capital Markets team, focusing on hotel transactions, operator searches and asset management in Central and South Eastern Europe. She started in hospitality in 2015 with a background in hotel operations, working across various functions for brands including The Ritz Carlton, The St. Regis and Hyatt in Japan, Singapore and the USA. Kimberly graduated from the Ecole hoteliere de Lausanne in Switzerland with a Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management (High Honors). There are few conversations that dont feel surreal in 2022, yet since the carnage in the crypto-currency market, businesses built around blockchain have had a particularly rough ride. Yet as WiT 2022 said Hello Other World to these brave new players, Luke Clark discovers that beneath the hype, seeds of travels next evolution remain. It is very strange to be back here, Marissa Trew told the audience from her panel moderator seat at WiT Singapore 2022. She could easily have been referring to the otherworldly feeling many at WiT had of simply being in a different country again, after so many years working out of our spare rooms. Yet given that she lives in Singapore, Trews feeling of dislocation was more vocational. The last time shed been onstage, it was as part of the WiT crew now she was representing Web3-centred Blokhaus Inc. Strange new realms do seem an oddly fitting note for a panel titled Hello, Other World, especially given the blockchain industrys post-Armageddon feel right now and the somewhat disconcerting notion that one of its favourite futuristic realms doesnt yet exist. Strange times indeed. Then again, attitudes can change within a year. A year ago, for instance, such a panel would have seemed very now and far less otherworldly. Then from May 2022 of course, the bottom fellow out of virtual currencies, as the likes of The New York Times scanned the wreckage, announcing Cryptocurrencies Melt Down in a Perfect Storm of Fear and Panic. Indeed, following its highs of April 2021, the king of crypto, Bitcoin, has lost 60% of its value since January 2022, with some predicting it may fall further. Freeze frame to October 2022, and celebrity influencer Kim Kardashian has been issued a US$1.2 million fine just for advertising EthereumMax on her Instagram page. Suddenly, these unregulated virtual currencies seem so toxic that commentators like Gary Gensler of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission noted: When it comes to crypto, remember many of these are highly speculative assets. You may be wondering if its right for you, or even if it might be a scam. Behind the hype blockchain can solve frictions around personalisation, flexibility in loyalty programming and membership In fairness, those who got on the virtual bandwagon were not doing anything new. As followers of business, we place huge importance on a tenuous notion our current feelings about the future. This ranges from the importance of business confidence as a gauge of market potential, to the belief in so-called unicorn businesses which, despite sometimes meagre earnings, are touted due to the markets excitement at their potential. The fact is, neither favour nor fear is logical when it comes to the future. Perhaps in time, we should become comfortable with the notion that with some things, we simply dont know yet. Likewise, maybe we should also try to avoid glorifying, then demonising, technology breakthroughs: and just assess them more on their merits. Read the full article at webintravel.com From work to play to commerce to travel and beyond, the metaverse could recalibrate the limits of whats possible. Office life has already gone through a tremendous transformation, and some of the changes wrought by the pandemic like hybrid work seem here to stay. Working in the metaverse could solve the most persistent problems associated with remote employment. In immersive metaverse workplaces, colleagues scattered around the world will feel like they are in the same room together. They will appear as 3D avatars or photorealistic holograms, interacting with one another just as their real-life analogs would. The digital space these avatars share can be optimized for creative interaction, brainstorming and whiteboarding, and absorbing the organizations culture. Co-workers will read and respond to expressions and body language, stop by one anothers desks to say hello and serendipitously meet and share ideas in courtyards and corridors. As remote work becomes a mainstay in the metaverse, advocates say, the benefits of working from home will accelerate. Environmental gains will increase as commuting and business travel decline. Population pressure on urban centers will lessen because fewer people will need to live near an office. Professional opportunities will expand and recruiting challenges will subside as employers hire from anywhere and employees find themselves unencumbered by geography. On the downside, skeptics raise concerns ranging from the trivial whats the dress code for office-work avatars? to the chilling: In what ways might on-the-job surveillance grow more pervasive in the metaverse? Early adopters are already there. South Korean prop-tech startup Zigbang has 20 tenants in a 30-story metaverse office building it launched in May. No one knows how this trend will ultimately play out, but its clear that more change is coming to the hybrid workplace. Ed McLaughlin, Mastercards president of Operations & Technology, shares insights into the potential of the metaverse for work and collaboration, the challenges in realizing that potential and whether the metaverse will one day make the physical office obsolete. Read the full article at MasterCard Worldwide US-based Pinktada, a technology company transforming the way hotel reservations are made, announced the closing of additional investment to support its rapid expansion with the contracting of dozens of new hotel properties in key leisure destinations. The new sum of $975,000 includes participation from Selenean Capital, an Ireland-based fund, and of serial high net worth investors. They join backers True Global Ventures 4 Pluswhich has invested $2M to dateand several members of the New York Angels investment group. Launched in Q2 this year, Pinktada enables travelers to book a specific room, and swap or sell their reservation in an online marketplace if their plans change. In addition, they can immerse themselves in hotel rooms and amenities, increasing their enthusiasm and willingness to make a non-refundable reservation. Hotel partners enjoy guaranteed prepaid sales, additional revenue from upgrade and upsell features, and the powerful benefits of shared data. Furthermore, even if they are fully booked hotels can get additional revenue from secondary transactions that realize a profit. We are thrilled with the market validation we are receiving, says Mark J. Gordon, Chief Hospitality Officer. We launched in May with properties in Hawaii and the Dominican Republic, have since added exquisite hotels in Mexico, New York, Miami and San Francisco, and have another 18 in the process of being on-boarded. More important though is the caliber of our partners, which are leading hotel industry names. As a result of the increased supply of hotels on Pinktada, membership grew 20% in August and 40% in September 2022. Selenean Capitals approach to partnership is identifying real world future needs and then working relentlessly to achieve those goals. Pinktada encapsulates this perfectly with a transformational approach to the hotel booking model built around a brilliant team. We look forward to the partnership and journey with them, says Davin Browne, Seleneans CEO. We could not be more excited about our prospects," says Lyon Hardgrave, Pinktadas CEO. This investment reflects the significant progress we have made this year. It will allow us to accelerate the onboarding of new hotels, dial up marketing efforts, and continue to evolve our technology to embrace other large opportunities. About Selenean Capital Selenean Capital Limited is a global private equity/venture capital fund headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Selenean Capitals strategic ambition is to build trusted networks and communities by solving real world problems through innovation. Our values are centered around our people, partners and customers with focus on trust and integrity. Doing the right thing is a fundamental part of our philosophy. About True Global Ventures True Global Ventures (TGV) is a global Venture Capital firm built by a group of serial entrepreneurs with a solid track record of investing their own money together with Limited Partners into ventures run by serial entrepreneurs. Portfolio companies leverage web3 technologies, incorporating blockchain as competitive advantages to drive change with proven products. TGV is a distributed fund with a presence in 20 cities, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Taipei, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Stockholm, Paris, Luxembourg, Madrid, Warsaw, New York, San Francisco, and Vancouver. Visit us at www.tgv4plus.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. About Pinktada Pinktada is revolutionizing hotel booking by bringing the power of tokenization to the travel market. Guests can choose their perfect room by taking a virtual tour, and swap or sell their reservations if plans change. Hotels receive full payment up front and can show off their amenities and unique attributes. Pinktada was founded in 2020 and is headquartered in Houston, TX, with offices in New York and Pune. Ilana Grossman Extended Stay America announced today it signed a development agreement with a partnership comprised of Concord Hospitality and Whitman Peterson to develop 15 new Extended Stay America Premier Suites hotels. The properties will be located in major markets throughout the Western United States, including Denver, Colorado; Phoenix, Arizona; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Salt Lake City, Utah. "We are extremely excited to be announcing the addition of 15 new properties to our Extended Stay Premier Suites brand through this venture with Concord and Whitman Peterson," said Greg Juceam, President & CEO, Extended Stay America. "These new Extended Stay America Premier Suite locations continue our strategy of growing this brand and our franchise pipeline. We look forward to working with Concord Hospitality and Whitman Peterson as they develop the hotels in these markets." Concord Hospitality is an award-winning hotel management and development company located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and will be handling the development, branding, and operations of the properties. Whitman Peterson is a private real estate equity company making and actively managing opportunistic real estate investments on behalf of institutional investors located in Westlake Village, California. It will provide equity, identify markets and assist with development. "Extended Stay America Premier Suites has a unique business model that will allow us to reach business and corporate extended stay travelers looking for a higher level of amenities," said Mark Laport, CEO & President, Concord Hospitality. "This agreement is the first step in increasing our presence in the higher end extended stay segment." Extended Stay America Premier Suites comprises both new construction as well as renovated properties with upgraded amenities, including fully equipped kitchens, spacious apartment-style layouts for working and dining, free in-room wi-fi, premium cable, on-site guest laundry, free healthy breakfast offering, and upgraded design elements like larger TVs, increased storage space and a signature bedding package. "We are pleased to be able to grow Extended Stay America Premier Suites through this unique partnership with Concord and Extended Stay America," said Paul Novak, Executive Director - Lodging, Whitman Peterson. "We have chosen markets ideal for a premium extended-stay product." Extended Stay America currently has 28 Extended Stay America Premier Suites open and operating throughout the United States. About Concord Hospitality As an award-winning hotel development and management company, Concord Hospitality Enterprises Company has spent the last three decades successfully growing the company's portfolio, which includes premium-branded properties across the United States and Canada. Recognized as one of the top 10 management companies in North America, Concord Hospitality creates benefits for its partners and associates by leveraging its operations, development, sales and marketing, technology, accounting, and operational management expertise to continue to grow its portfolio of best-in-class hotels. The company believes its people are its greatest strength. With the brightest talent, the most innovative processes and a commitment to giving back to the communities where associates live and work, Concord Hospitality is committed to being a great place to work for all. Learn more at concordhotels.com. About Whitman Peterson Whitman Peterson is a real estate private equity company investing in and actively managing opportunistic real estate investments of large institutional investors. Since late 2010, Whitman Peterson has raised four institutional funds and has invested in the acquisition or development of more than 200 properties, with an aggregate capitalization of more than $25 billion. The firm has investments across 30+ markets in the US and has investments in London. Whitman Peterson and Concord Hospitality have a long-standing, strategic partnership, involving the development and acquisitions of high-quality hotels and short-term rental properties throughout the United States. About Extended Stay America Extended Stay America is the leading extended stay hotel brand in the U.S., with approximately 760 hotels comprising close to 85,000 rooms. Its extended stay brand family includes Extended Stay America Suites, Extended Stay America Premier Suites and Extended Stay America Select Suites. All locations are ready to welcome guests with genuine care and value. For more information on Extended Stay America, visit www.esa.com. MUMBAI - Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), Indias largest hospitality company, has signed a MoU with the Assam Government to establish a hospitality-focused skills training centre in the North East, in line with the companys ESG+ framework, Paathya. The state-of-the-art residential Centre of Excellence will be developed in collaboration with Assam Tourism Development Corporation Limited (ATDCL), Tata STRIVE Skill Development Initiative of Tata Community Initiative Trust (TCIT) and the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, with the aim to develop talent from economically weaker and socially disadvantaged local communities. Speaking about this development, Mr. Gaurav Pokhariyal, Executive Vice President, Human Resources, IHCL, stated, The state of Assam, known for its natural beauty and rich history is also home to immense local talent. Given the growing potential of tourism and hospitality, there is significant opportunity to leverage the untapped potential of talent in the region, and we are honoured to collaborate with the Assam Government and our partners to develop a hospitality-focused skilling centre. At IHCL, community lies at the heart of all that we do, and this training will help to bridge the employability gap in the years to come. Located at the Omeo Kumar Das Institute of Social Change & Development (OKD Institute) near Guwahati, the residential skilling centre will undertake skills training for youth from the North East across various hospitality segments. The short- and long-term courses, aligned with the requirements of the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) and developed in partnership with Tata STRIVE, will offer industry knowledge that is required for employment and entrepreneurship within the hospitality sector. Post successful completion of training, the youth will also have the opportunity for internships at select IHCL hotels. In addition to supporting the maintenance of the training infrastructure, IHCL will provide equipment for the training labs along with Tata STRIVE, in addition to basic content and subject matter expertise (SME) to support TATA STRIVE. MSDE and ATDCL will provide financial and infrastructural support to the Centre of Excellence for a period of 10 years, post which the center is slated to become self-sustainable. Regarded as the custodian of Indian hospitality, IHCL continues to invest in building industry-relevant talent pools with an aim to develop and support deserving youth and their families, while contributing to the overall growth of the industry, as part of the Paathya framework. Derived from the Sanskrit term , inferring a path, Paathya aims to lead positive change guided by IHCLs core values of Trust of all stakeholders, Awareness around the needs of our ecosystem and Joy at heart. Under Paathya, IHCL will continue to pioneer sustainable practices in its pursuit towards excellence and creating benchmark in the tourism industry. About The Indian Hotels Company Limited The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and its subsidiaries bring together a group of brands and businesses that offer a fusion of warm Indian hospitality and world-class service. These include Taj the iconic brand for the most discerning travellers and ranked as the World's Strongest Hotel Brand and India's Strongest Brand as per Brand Finance Hotels 50 Report 2022 and India 100 Report 2022, respectively; SeleQtions, a named collection of hotels; Vivanta, sophisticated upscale hotels; and Ginger, which is revolutionising the lean luxe segment. Incorporated by the founder of the Tata Group, Jamsetji Tata, the Company opened its first hotel - The Taj Mahal Palace, in Bombay in 1903. IHCL has a portfolio of 245 hotels including 65 under development globally across 4 continents, 11 countries and in over 100 locations. The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) is India's largest hospitality company by market capitalization. It is primarily listed on the BSE and NSE. Please visit: www.ihcltata.com; www.tajhotels.com; www.seleqtionshotels.com; www.vivantahotels.com; www.gingerhotels.com Nairita Ghosh IHCL TheHospitality Asset Managers Association (HAMA) today released the results of its Fall 2022 Industry Outlook Survey. The semi-annual report collected the opinions, experiences and predictions of approximately 70 hotel asset managers concerning the hospitality industry since the beginning of the pandemic through today. The survey also addressed respondents thoughts on the current state of the industry. Presented live in Chicago, Ill., the survey was conducted in advance of HAMAs 2022 Annual Fall Meeting. In total, 68 asset managers, comprising approximately one-third of membership, participated in the survey. According to our membership, the future looks bright for the hospitality industry, with the majority of participants forecasting that their properties will exceed 2022 budgeting targets, said Matthew Arrants, The Arrants Company, CHAM, HAMA president. Regardless of the category, our folks are optimistic. While labor remains a major concern, very few of our members were forced to hand back keys even during the worst of the pandemic, and that number looks to decrease sooner than later. Moreover, the acquisition market seems to be heating up, as well. Shy a black swan event, 2023 already is shaping up to be a strong years for the hospitality industry. Highlighted results include: Approximately 60% of respondents believe most of their portfolios (75%-plus) will exceed 2022 budgeted RevPAR. Nearly half of participants expect 75-100% of their portfolio to exceed 2022 budgeted GOP. Asset managers currently are most concerned about labor availability (86.76%), labor costs (85.29%) and demand (42.64%). Just under 50% believe industry RevPAR levels as a whole will return to 2019 levels by 2023, while approximately 40% predict it will occur in 2024. Roughly 80% of those surveyed actively are seeking acquisition opportunities. ACCESS SURVEY RESULTS About HAMA HAMA members are involved in asset management, acquisition, financing and disposition of hotels and resorts and are directly responsible for making decisions concerning capital investments, renovations, asset repositioning, operational policies and management selection. Its U.S. members represent more than 3,500 hotels and resorts across every major brand, accounting for 775,000 hotel rooms, 250,000 employees, $40 billion in annual revenue and $3 billion in capital expenditures. The organization boasts an additional 245 international affiliate members, as well. In less than 85 days, 2022 will come to a close as we usher in 2023. Its hard to believe the speed at which this year seemed to pass, a stark (but welcomed) contrast to the two years spent in relative stillness due to the pandemic. For most of us, this past year felt like a breath of fresh air an opportunity for social and economic redemption after one of the most challenging experiences of our time. For industries like hospitality, 2022 represented a long-awaited period of recovery, a finish line to the pandemic, and a starting line to a new landscape and a new wave of travelers eager to make up for lost time. Of course, there have been many bumps in the road, and as we collectively shake off the fear and uncertainty of the pandemic, hoteliers must do their due diligence in getting familiar with the hospitality landscape which emerged after the dust settled. As the saying goes, you cant manage what you cant measure, and we cant expect to adapt to (and better yet, capitalize) on the newly evolved preferences and trends set to shape our industry if we dont first identify what those are. With 2023 clear on the horizon, its time to look at the booking trends and statistics which have dominated 2022, so we can leverage that information as we look ahead. Optimize All Booking Channels Hotels and travel companies are expected to provide a seamless, user-friendly experience across all digital mediums; however, desktop remains the preferred booking channel. Adobe research has found that about 52% of travelers used a mobile device to find information about hotels, restaurants, tours, and activities in their chosen destination, but only 21% book on a mobile device. Current statistics also indicate that over 90% of travelers will do their research online, and most people who do their online travel research will do it on the desktop site, as only 23% of leisure travelers believe they can get the same hotel or flight deal on mobile, compared to desktop. There is a caveat, however. Recent research has shown that mobile is often the preferred channel for last-minute bookings. Findings from Revenue Hub indicate that by the summer of 2020, mobile bookings increased to over 24%, almost one-quarter of all hotel bookings. In 2020, on average, mobile bookings represented over 27% of total bookings for hotels studied and remained above 40% in 2021. Not only that, but 66% of millennials reportedly now book their trips using a smartphone. With this in mind, hotel brands must optimize all digital booking mediums to ensure the experience offered to prospective guests is consistent, streamlined, and enticing. The Experience Economy is Alive and Well Research indicates that 78% of millennials would rather spend their money on experiences than on things. Moreover, 77% of millennials say some of their best memories were made at events, and 79% who say that going to live events together helps them feel closer to the friends and family they attend with. This should come as no surprise, especially in the wake of the pandemic, as in-person events and experiences became the commodity many of us missed the most. To this effect, recent Tripadvisor research revealed that more than a third of travelers across the U.S., U.K, Australia, Japan, and Singapore say traveling to a destination they have not previously visited is more critical now than before. Travelers also said the top three most important factors in future plans were to have new experiences, learn about history and culture and get immersive by seeing new places. Tripadvisor also found that the average spend per trip for 2022 is likely to exceed that of 2019. Not only that, but the travel sector recovered over 50% of its gross revenue by the end of 2021 when compared to the pre-coronavirus numbers. This recovery is projected to reach 85% by the end of 2022, and the online travel industry is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.58% between 2021 and 2027 when its expected to hit $1463.98 billion (GBTA). This is, of course, music to hoteliers ears, as it indicates that travelers are ready and willing to book travel experiences in the near future. The appetite for travel is back its simply up to hotel brands to set the table. A Picture is Still Worth a Thousand Words When we consider the factors that differentiate one hotels listing from the next, one element that clearly reigns supreme: is high-quality photography. Hotels that have a significant number of high-quality photos on their websites see a 15% increase in conversion rates. Furthermore, TripAdvisor shared that the number of photos a hotel has on its TripAdvisor profile has the most impact; properties with at least one photo see a 138% increase in engagement and are 225% more likely to receive a booking inquiry, and those with over 100 photos see a 151% increase in engagement and are 283% more likely to receive a booking inquiry. Research has also revealed that three of the most impactful deal breakers for most travelers are bland and unappealing hotel rooms, non-aesthetic food photos, and boring content presentation. Although the importance of imagery (and other visual elements) is well understood within our industry, many hotels still do not offer prospective travelers enough high-quality photos throughout the booking experience. Now, more than ever before, hotels should look to immerse prospective guests in the experience their property has to offer at every touch-point of their booking journey from the booking channel to email marketing and beyond. Direct Bookings Are on the Rise Hotels and Online Travel Agencies have found themselves in a long-fought war for traveler preference over the years. In the past, the booking simplicity and promotions offered by OTA platforms often cost hotels direct bookings, which can be costly due to OTA commission costs. Fortunately, the pandemic might have (finally) reversed that trend in the favor of hotels. Recent data indicates that travelers became frustrated with OTAs at the pandemic's beginning when trip cancellations became inevitable and consumers began seeking refunds. Due to poor communication and delays in issuing refunds, many travelers have seemingly lost trust in booking with OTAs. To this effect, in a survey conducted by GlobalData last June, 39% of consumers said they would typically book direct, compared to 17% who would opt for OTAs and comparators. Moreover, according to Skift, 56% of independent hotel bookings came from direct channels in 2020, up from 39% a year earlier, reflecting a 17% increase. Travelers Are Planning Ahead Good news, hoteliers. Perhaps in a quest to satiate their renewed appetite for travel, many travelers are now booking their trips further out. A report by Expedia revealed that Q2 of 2022 saw a larger growth in short- to mid-term planning, with the 0- to 90-day search window increasing more than 5% quarter-over-quarter, and the 61- to 90-day window rising 15%. Travelers are also now demonstrating a preference for longer stays rather than weekend getaways. A GlobalData survey reveals that 44% of users prefer leisure trips of at least seven nights, while 26% prefer more than ten nights. Airbnb's Q3 2021 earnings also reiterated this sentiment, with trips lasting 28 days or longer accounting for 20% of nights booked that quarter, up from 14% a year prior. This may, in part, be influenced by the post-pandemic growth of the remote workforce, as millions of workers now find themselves working from home permanently or adopting a hybrid work model. With more professional flexibility, individuals and families likely feel more confident booking their trips further out, as they may now have the ability to effectively work from anywhere. You know what that means, hoteliers longer booking windows, more opportunity to convert leads! Its Time to Get Personal There is simply no denying it personalization sells, and it also empowers hotels to establish more meaningful relationships with travelers. Today, consumers expect personalization from brands across all industries, but travelers, in particular, favor hospitality brands that leverage guest data to curate personalized and relevant messaging and offers. In fact, 90% of all travelers expect a personalized experience when they book a hotel. In 2023 and beyond, personalization will be a key tool in attracting new and returning guests who are looking for a hyper-personalized and memorable travel experience. Fortunately, collecting guest data, building guest profiles, and showing guests that youre paying attention at every stage of their journey has never been easier as long as you implement the right technology. This is especially important as hotels look to optimize their booking channel and increase conversion rates, which have historically been very low. On average, hotels online conversion rate is an abysmal 2.2%, which can be drastically improved through personalization and dedicated booking recovery solutions. With the right technology in place, hotels can seamlessly recover lost bookings by maximizing email engagement with you guessed it super-personalized content and offers. A booking recovery solution (like RezRecover) also intelligently displays conditional offers and other content based on abandoned booking dates and other visitor data. Colton Bradshaw Marketing Director RezRecover by CartStack 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. 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. 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: remaining of Thank you for using HudsonValley360! On your next view you will be asked to log in or create an account to continue reading. Do you really sound as bad as you think on stage? Us musicians can be hard on ourselves sometimes, but is it for good reason? by Noa Kageyama, Ph.D. with SoundFly Theres a quote attributed to the violinist Jascha Heifetz in which he says that we should always be happy when performing. After all, if things are going well, we should be happy that things are going well. And if things are going badly, each note we play gets us closer to the end, so we should be happy about that too. Still, its no fun to be stuck on stage when were having one of those bad days. Cringing at each botched shift and cracked note. Which just leads to a downward spiral of negativity and increasingly uninspired playing, as a part of us starts to seriously entertain the idea of stopping and walking off stage Of course, a week or month (or decade) later, when curiosity gets the better of us and we screw up the courage to listen to a recording of the performance, its often pleasantly surprising how decent we sound. How we cant even find the horrible things that we were initially mortified by, and how many nice moments there are that we didnt even remember. So whats the deal? Is it possible that we really do sound better on stage than we think? Dress Rehearsals vs. Concert Performances To learn more about how we perceive the quality of our performances, an interdisciplinary group of researchers ran a study involving 21 undergraduate and graduate-level piano students (Masaki et al., 2011). Each student was videotaped doing a complete run-through of their repertoire in two different situations a dress rehearsal and a performance (not something contrived specifically for the study, but a real honest-to-goodness performance they would have had to give anyway). Two Evaluations Following their concert performances, the students completed an evaluation form designed to help them compare the quality of their concert performance to the quality of their dress rehearsal run-throughs. Ranging from memory to tempo to sound quality and expressiveness, they evaluated the degree to which their performance was worse, better, or the same as their dress rehearsal in eight areas (on a 7point scale where 3=much worse; 0=same; 3=much better). But the researchers carefully manipulated the timing of their self-evaluations. Each student completed one evaluation immediately after their performance and then a second one, some time later while watching the recording of their performance to compare their perception and memory of their performance vs. the reality of how well they played given an actual recording of the performance. Meanwhile, a professional pianist completed the same comparative evaluation of the students rehearsal and concert performances, while reviewing video of the concert performances. Then, the students ratings and professionals ratings were compared to gauge the accuracy of the students self-ratings. Student Self-Ratings vs. Expert Ratings You can probably guess what happened. The highest correlation was between the professional pianists evaluation and the students evaluations that they did while reviewing the video (.94). The lowest correlation was between the professionals evaluations and the students evaluations that were completed based on their memory of the performance before they had a chance to watch their performance video (.79). So all in all, the data suggests that the performers were able to evaluate the quality of their performances more accurately when they did so based on a video of their performance. When relying on only their memory of the performance, their evaluations were less accurate. Why the difference? Well, the major difference between dress rehearsal and concert performances, of course, is the amount of anxiety we experience. Might it be that our nerves make a difference in how we perceive the quality of our playing? Impromptu Speeches A group of Canadian researchers (Ashbaugh et al., 2005) conducted a study of college students to see what role anxiety might play in the accuracy of our self-perceptions. They took a class of 333 students and gave them an anxiety assessment to identify those who experience the most and least anxiety in social situations. The high and low socially anxious students were then asked to give an impromptu speech in front of an observer and video camera, told that the recording would be shown to other students at a later time. Essentially the social phobics worst nightmare like that dream where you get to the concert hall for a first rehearsal and discover that you prepared the wrong concerto. + Read more on Flypaper: 6 Tips for Optimizing Your Vocal Health. High Social Anxiety vs. Low Social Anxiety Both the high-anxious and low-anxious groups completed self-evaluations of their speech in several areas. The interesting ones were related to performance quality and presenter impression (i.e. how they thought they came across to others). As predicted, the high-anxious folks had lower self-ratings than the low-anxious folks. Ok, but that doesnt necessarily mean anything because maybe their nerves really did cause their performances to suffer, right? To check this out, two independent observers watched and rated both groups speeches. And after controlling for these observer ratings, it turns out that high-anxious folks do indeed have a bit of a self-evaluation bias.As in, the more anxious we are, the worse we think we are performing even if its not necessarily true. It seems that we let the experience of anxiety, and how it feels, affect our perception of how we are performing in the moment. Like having a pair of anxiety goggles which bias how we see the world. But the thing is, as tight or shaky or nervous as we might be, we can still play at a pretty high level. It might feel like everything is about to fall to pieces in our world, but people on the outside often remain completely oblivious because we often appear much more at ease and in control than we actually feel. Take Action So if you want to avoid triggering the downward spiral of negativity and doomsday thinking, dont try to evaluate how well you are playing in the middle of a performance. Instead, make sure to record your performance, so that you can give yourself permission to just stay in the moment and play, and delegate all of that judgy, evaluative stuff to future you, when you listen back to the recording. And maybe dont dwell on a performance and make yourself feel miserable on the drive home either. Give yourself a day or two to clear your head first, and then listen to the recording. Because if youre going to beat yourself up about something (not that I recommend it), you should probably make sure its about a mistake that really did come across like you thought it did. As Mark Twain once said: Ive lived through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened. Share on: The conversation covered current conditions for homeless residents to affordable housing and homelessness prevention. Pittsfield Officials, Service Providers Discuss Homelessness in PCTV Forum PITTSFIELD, Mass. City officials and service providers covered a range of topics related to homelessness during a forum last week hosted by Pittsfield Community Television. "I think it's important to start by centering today's conversation on people and it is people who for a variety of reasons are vulnerable in our community," Mayor Linda Tyer said. "They are neighbors, and they belong in our community and as you'll hear in the course of our conversation today, this incredible team of hardworking, dedicated, experienced seasoned professionals have a lot to tell us and teach us about how we go forward together as a community." The conversation covered current conditions for homeless residents to affordable housing and homelessness prevention. Tyer began with an overview of the city's efforts to aid unsheltered residents, which are fueled by an $8.6 million allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds. Panelists included Tyer, Director of Community Development Justine Dodds, President and CEO of Berkshire Housing Services Inc. Eileen Peltier, Executive Director of Second Streets Second Chances Jason Cuyler, Program Director at ServiceNet Erin Forbush, Executive Director of Berkshire County Regional Housing Authority Brad Gordon, and Kim Borden of Berkshire County Regional Housing Authority (BCRHA). The city has been operating a temporary emergency shelter at the former St. Joseph's High School since the beginning of the pandemic. The capacity is currently set at 50, whereas the city's shelter formerly operated at a 20 percent capacity that doubled in the winter. It operates from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. during the week and 24 hours on the weekend. Forbush appreciated having the opportunity to talk about the conditions of the shelter, explaining that people hear many different stories or have questions about it. "Once people do come in, we recognize the trauma and the insecurity that goes with not having a place to put your head at night to put your belongings so we really try to welcome them in," she said. She pointed out a common misconception that the shelter does not accept people with substance use disorder. "We recognize that for many folks that come in, substance use can be an issue, mental health can be an issue, and trauma, in general, is an issue," Forbush said. "So we understand that people have different coping skills out there and we do our best to deescalate situations to help people to whatever that next step is for folks, but we certainly don't say if you come in and you appear to be under the influence that you can't be here. It's really if you can tolerate the other folks in the shelter and we can have a safe space, then everybody is welcome." She also said that people can leave their belongings at the shelter if they intend to come back. The BCRHA representatives described the organization's homelessness prevention programs that aim to address housing insecurity before it becomes dire. "Homelessness prevention program really is effective in a lot of different ways. It's fiscally effective because if you can catch people before they're in a more significant crisis, the interventions typically are a little bit cheaper and from a human standpoint, it's better if you can keep people housed and keep them from experiencing those cycles, whether it be episodic or chronic homelessness," Gordon said. "And so, the city for many years, including this administration, has worked hard to invest in services that promote homelessness prevention. And they include legal and housing counseling, housing, mediation, intensive case management, and a variety of other interrelated services that really work with the tenant, often their landlord, and sometimes even homeowners to ensure that if they're having difficulties whether they be economic, behavioral, or a combination of those together, that we're able to develop effective mitigation strategies to keep them housed." Pittsfield Finance Subcommittee OKs TIF for Interprint PITTSFIELD, Mass. The finance subcommittee on Tuesday supported a 10-year tax increment financing agreement for Interprint that is expected to save the company $482,000 over the next decade on an estimated $1.9 million more in valuation. The TIF will provide 100 percent forgiveness of the incremental increase in property taxes resulting from the construction of a building expansion in the first and second years and decrease by 20 percent every two years. The current valuation of the property is $5,580,300. "We want to let Interprint know that we very much appreciate what the company has done for Pittsfield over the years," Business Development Manager Michael Coakley said, adding that the city wants to support the decorative printing company and keep them local. Interprint announced last month that it will be investing $22 million into its Central Berkshire Boulevard facility for additional printing presses and is planning a 57,000-square-foot expansion. The expansion will create 20 more jobs at the facility by 2025, bringing the company's staff to about 185. With a separate $7 million investment to replace its oldest press with a new one capable of printing on both paper and film, it brings the total investment to about $28 million. The company is also receiving $300,000 in state Economic Development Incentive Program credits through the state's Economic Assistance Coordinating Council. Originally located on Pecks Road, Interprint has operated in the city since 1987 when Bill Hines, Sr. helped expand the German company by opening a second location in the United States. The current facility on Central Berkshire Boulevard was built in 2006 and has been expanded three times before: in 2008, 2016, and 2018. Co-Managing Director Bill Hines, Jr. explained that the company launched a product for the luxury vinyl tile industry in 2017 that has become an important driver for this expansion. The growth rates for LVT are now six times that of laminate flooring. Hines Jr. reported that the company experienced "major growth" with a major producer on the product over the last few years, fulfilling the cost of a $12.5 million dollar film machine that was installed a couple of years ago. In 2021, Interprint printed 16 million square meters of LVT on a market of 593 million square meters, only supplying about 2.7 percent of the U.S. market. "I think creating 20 jobs on top of the 170 you have currently is what we're looking for. We don't see too many manufacturers in the Northeast. Georgia is probably very happy to have you. It's probably cheaper utilities down there, you don't have to pay for heat, just examples like that, I mean, this is an opportunity for Pittsfield." Similarly to Marchetti, the way he sees TIFs is that it is not lost revenue because there is no revenue if the project doesnt get done. Kronick speculated that the city should think about how it can maintain manufacturing with a competitive disadvantage to the South. The TIF will go back to the City Council next week for final approval. Working alongside journalists in the region this project will support efforts to establish a national journalists' trade union in Libya and to develop a regional network of journalists' unions for North Africa. Key Activities: Establishing a leadership working group to guide the Libya programme Establishing a working group for the regional network, Conducting a regional study on the status of journalism Organising a regional conference on journalists rights and trade unions. Conducting a launch congress for a Libyan journalists union Location: North Africa This project is supported by United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) With huge changes sweeping the media landscape in many parts of the Middle East and Arab World, this project will help strengthen journalists' unions to be able to reform and adapt to the changing economic structures of the media and information sector. It will help journalists' unions engage with and help shape the newsroom and conditions of the future to ensure journalism can survive and flourish in a changing economic environment where a system of state subsidy and political patronage are under pressure. The project will aim to hep unions protect the rights and conditions of journalists, to respect their professional rights and responsibilities as well as their conditions in the face of these changes and position unions to face the challenges of the growing digitalisation of the media. Among the projects key activities will be: Organizing digital media workers Building a regional youth working group to advise on to discuss how the union can attract members and what services they can provide or should develop Capacity building for emerging unions Organizing solidarity meetings for journalists and editors in Yemen Conducting research into new forms of journalism and recruiting opportunities for unions Location: Middle East and North Africa Dates: 2018 - 2020 Funders: Union To Union In the latest crackdown on international media in Afghanistan, foreign journalist and photographer Stefanie Glinski has been barred from entering the country after being targeted by the Taliban for her critical reporting. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the harassment and intimidation against Glinski and urges the Taliban to uphold press freedom and cease its persecution of Afghan journalists. Glinski, who spent four years in Afghanistan reporting for several news outlets including The Guardian and Foreign Policy, left Kabul in July but began to fear for her safety following the recent investigation of her work by members of the Taliban. In a statement on social media, the journalist described how the Taliban raised concerns regarding an article she published in Foreign Policy titled Taliban wage war over coal in northern Afghanistan, and social posts Glinski wrote about the Taliban in Pakistan.Glinski said she faced harassment and intimidation by Taliban officials via WhatsApp, with the Taliban bombarding her with questions regarding the story and its content and demanding she disclose her sources. Glinski said the Taliban also accused her of making false accusations in her reports, despite materials being directly attributed to interviewees. The Taliban also threatened the cancellation of visas and non-entry to Afghanistan for all foreign journalists writing journalistic material the Taliban deemed unsubstantiated. Since arriving in Kabul in 2018, Glinski has reported extensively on Afghanistans ongoing humanitarian crisis and the Talibans takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021. The status of the Taliban investigation into her reporting is currently unknown. In recent months, Taliban militants have targeted both local and foreign journalists for their news coverage. In August, WION news correspondent Anas Mallick was abducted and assaulted by Taliban authorities. In July, Australian journalist Lynne ODonnell was intimidated and forced to publicly retract articles that were critical of the Taliban. The IFJ said: The continuing harassment and intimidation of both local and foreign journalists and media workers in Afghanistan is a grave violation of press freedom. The Taliban must allow all journalists to work independently without fear of reprisal. The IFJ condemns the targeting of Stefanie Glinski for her critical reporting and demands the Taliban cease its persecution of Afghanistans media." Independent blogger and human rights advocate Huynh Thuc Vy was beaten and choked by prison guards at Gia Trung Prison where she is currently serving a 33-month sentence for disrespecting the national flag. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the assault and urges the Vietnamese authorities to immediately investigate the incident and hold the perpetrators to account. Vys family learned of the assault after the journalist whispered to her 6-year-old daughter during a prison visit that she had been beaten and strangled by prison guards. On October 9, her family expressed deep concern for the journalists safety. While the motive behind the assault is unknown, Vys younger brother Huynh Trong Hieu said the blogger may have been beaten for assistance she provided to other prisoners. Vy reportedly supplied the contact numbers of fellow inmates to her family, who then contacted the prisoners directly to share updates on their living conditions with their relatives. Vy had previously told family members that the Gia Trung prison warden did not approve of her performing this role. The journalist has been publishing articles online since 2008, covering social, political and environmental topics through her writing and activism. In 2018, Vy was sentenced to 2 years and 9 months in prison for spray painting Vietnams national flag, a violation of Article 276 of the nations penal code. Her sentence was postponed for three years due to the age of her children, however, she was forced to carry out the sentence in November 2021. Vy has been associated with the Vietnamese Women for Human Rights, a non-profit and independent organisation supporting the families of activists and prisoners of conscience. Jailed journalists and activists are frequently subject to cruel treatment and poor conditions in Vietnamese prisons. In August, independent citizen journalist, Do Cong Duong, died in detention after he was repeatedly refused medical assistance for illnesses he developed during the course of his imprisonment. The IFJ said: The continued mistreatment and physical abuse of detained journalists and media workers in Vietnam constitutes a serious violation of human rights. The IFJ condemns the assault of Huynh Thuc Vy and urges the local authorities to immediately investigate and hold the prison guards responsible to account. Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, has announced the official launch of its latest support program to empower Philippine businesses to explore leading cloud computing technologies and embark on their digitalization journey. Allen Guo, Country Manager for the Philippines, Alibaba Cloud speaks at the Alibaba Cloud Summit Philippines 2022 to launch the Alibaba Cloud "Cloud ONE" program Unveiled during the Alibaba Cloud Summit Philippines 2022, the Cloud ONE program is set to help eligible Philippine companies maximize emerging digital technologies and proactively address diverse challenges in various industries while co-creating inclusive digitalization across various stakeholders. The program aims to provide Philippine businesses with resources to onboard with Alibaba Cloud more efficiently, including free services to support migration to Alibaba Cloud, streamlined access to the Alibaba Group ecosystem of solutions, including those around e-commerce and payments, free access to industry experts and cloud training to further help in growing their businesses. Governments need to keep up with the pace of a hyper-connected world and the demands of their citizens for faster, real-time, transparent, inclusive, efficient, and responsive public services. To do this, the Philippines' core strategy is to promote and achieve digital transformation. Leveraging on cloud-based technologies and solutions should be part of the groundwork towards digital governance and eventually building a robust digital economy, Atty. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, Undersecretary for ICT Industry Development, the Philippines Department of Information and Communications Technology(DICT), told the summit. We believe in the unbounded potential of businesses and brands in the Philippines that can be unlocked through digital technology. And that is why we aim to bring such products and solutions within their reach through initiatives like Alibaba Clouds latest Cloud ONE program. We look forward to welcoming new participants into this project, said Leo Liu, General Manager of the Philippines, Hong Kong, Macau SAR, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence. New customer: ABS-CBN During the summit, Alibaba Cloud inked agreements designed to help customers and partners accelerate their digital innovation capabilities with leading cloud computing technologies. One of these agreements has been signed with the countrys leading content provider, ABS-CBN. As ABS-CBN strengthens its foothold in the development and distribution of digital content, it needs a scalable storage service provider that not only enables real data management but also offers protection of existing data assets and reliable archiving. Alibaba Clouds Object Storage Service (OSS), designed with 99.9% durability will provide ABS-CBN with industry-leading scalability and a high-availability cloud-based storage management system useful in its growing distribution efforts. OSS also offers ABS-CBN flexible, cost-effective archiving and data protection through its cloud backup feature, minimizing the need for physical infrastructure. Migrating existing data from one storage to another is also made seamless by the OSS through its compatibility with multiple online data sources. We want to expand our digital operations safely and efficiently to better serve Filipino audiences here and abroad. Alibaba Cloud, as a trusted cloud service provider with decades-long expertise and an established ecosystem of cloud-based platforms and services, empowers us to do that, said Erwin Malimban, ABS-CBN head of broadcast technology. As more traditional media outlets enter the digital content world, the importance of data storage, management, and security is pushed to the forefront of conversations. We expect this initiative will help ABS-CBN create a new way of managing their content on cloud lower latency, high availability, and providing the scale needed as they grow, said Allen Guo, Country Manager for the Philippines, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence. As the leading public cloud service provider in Asia Pacific, Alibaba Cloud launched a local data centre in the Philippines last year. It offers its expertise in cloud technology to provide a range of world-class solutions, including elastic compute, database, security, storage and network services and machine learning and data analytics capabilities, to address issues and challenges in the different key industries in the Philippines. Smartphones have quickly become an essential item in anyones everyday life be it at work or at play. From scheduling plans, updating social media feeds, to capturing the best memories of personal trips, one needs a smartphone that can keep up with all of these adventures. With vivos recent partnership with AirAsia Philippines, vivo will share how you can maximize the fun of your travel with the help of a powerful device like the vivo Y35. Find out why it is the perfect travel buddy for your every adventure. Dustin Yu using the vivo Y35 50MP rear camera Enjoy an entire day of uninterrupted fun Travelers often spend time exploring the destinations beauty and indulging with the locals and it would be a bummer to find out that your smartphone is out of charge in the middle of the tour. Though power banks could be handy, they can be inconvenient to carry around since they are often heavy. Thanks to the vivo Y35, you dont have to worry about constant recharging because it has a huge 5000mAh battery that can last you the entire day and more. And if you are left with no choice but to charge, no need to worry because the vivo Y35 boasts a 44W FastCharge power. This optimum charging ability lets you boost your phones energy #QuickAsAFlash, so you can get back and continue documenting the fun without worrying about running out of battery power. Create and store more unforgettable travel memories With todays demanding lifestyle, squeezing in a quick vacation break may be challenging. This is why its a must to capture and save as many memories as you can during your trips. From taking hundreds of photos and videos, creating reels and sharing them on your social media accounts, you can now do everything all at the same time with the vivo Y35 and its 8GB+8GB extended RAM. This extended RAM 3.0, a first in vivos Y Series line-up, allows users to simultaneously open multiple apps with ease and swiftly switch in-between them without lags or freezing. Banking on its impressive storage space, the vivo Y35 will not only assure a smooth response rate but will enable you to safely keep tons of photos and videos. The vivo Y35 and its extended RAM is specially matched with 256GB Internal ROM so you dont have to feel bad deleting all these precious memories anymore. You can also extend this already big ROM further up to 1TB, giving you more room for photos from your future fun-filled adventures. Capture your travel journey like a pro without breaking the pocket Dustin Yu using the vivo Y35 If youre on a tight travel budget, its important that you get the best deals possible may it be your hotel room, your food, or your transportation expenses. However, when it comes to photos and videos, there should be no compromise. The vivo Y35 ensures the best quality output every single time with its smarter cameras. Its triple AI Rear Camera frontlines a 50MP main camera that lets you immortalize the best moments of your travel while its 16MP HD Front Camera is not just ideal for capturing vibrant and clearer selfies, but it is also perfect for vlogging especially if youre on a solo trip. Night trip? No worries because you can still get the most colorful result even in the darkest of the night with its Super Night Camera and Super Night Selfie. Packed with next-level features, the #QuickAsAFlash vivo Y35 can surely help elevate your travel experiences and let you enjoy limitless possibilities. The vivo Y35 is now available for only Php14,999 on vivos official website and online stores on Lazada, Shopee and TikTok, and all physical stores and kiosks nationwide.If you are looking for installment plans, the vivo Y35 is also available via Home Credit and Credit Card for 6 up to 18 months, and 6 up to 12 months, respectively. To know more about the vivo Y35, visit vivos official website, or follow them on their official social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Officials of the Tamil Nadu Polices Idol Wing CID seized three antique sculptures from a handicrafts shop in Madurai on Monday. These include a stone carving figure of Shiva Parvati, a stone figure of a woman and a stone head of Buddha. On inspecting these statues, an expert suggested that they belonged to the Pala dynasty which ruled Bengal region from 750 CE to 1161 CE, and probably were stolen from a temple in Andhra Pradesh or Odisha. The stone-carved idol of Shiv-Parvati is 2.5-foot-tall while the figurine of a woman is two feet and the Buddhas head made of stone is one-foot-tall. When the officials of Idol Wing raided the shop Cottage Gallery in North Chithirai Street, the owner of the shop Jagur Ahmed Zarkar did not possess documents to prove his ownership of the three statues which were seized from the terrace of the premises. During the search, Zarkar along with three others was present in the shop. Inspector Kavitha of Idol Wing said: We are investigating further and the antique idols are being taken for physical verification. Once the idols are produced before the Kumbakonam Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, they will be handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India. Besides Kavitha, others in the raiding team were Senior Sub-Inspectors Selvaraj and Santhanakumar. 1. NCB Report Highlights SRK's Son Aryan Khan Was 'Deliberately Targeted' In Cruise Drugs Case According to ANI, fresh reports reveal that there were many irregularities in the probe conducted by the NCB. Moreover, NCB said that "no drugs had been found on Aryan Khan" and he was given a clean chit on May 28, 2022. Now NCB has further revealed in a report that SRK's son Aryan Khan was deliberately targeted in the drugs case and that 7 to 8 NCB officers exhibited "suspicious behaviour" who are under the scanner at present. web screen grab 2. 'Apko Shobha Nahi Deta', Ramayan's Sita AKA Dipika Chikhlia Trolled For Her Transformation Reel The actress, who is much-loved by her fans for several years has sizeable followers on social media and is quite active on Instagram. Dipika recently shared a video where she transitions from a casual look to a classy look wearing a sultry dress which she paired with a pair of brown heels. Many loved her look in the video and even praised her by commenting on her video post. However, her video did not go down well with a section of the users on the photo-sharing platform. web screen grab 3. Uorfi Javed Slams Jaya Bachchan For Cursing Paparazzo, Says Please Let's Not Be Like Her Jaya Bachchan says, "Serves you right. I hope you double and fall." Not just that, the actress-turned-politician, who is currently a member of parliament in the Rajya Sabha further points her fingers at the paps and asked them who they were. "Aap log media se hain? Kaunsi media se hai?(Which media house you belong to?)" Jaya can be seen telling the media persons in the viral video. Jaya's granddaughter Navya tries to calm her, but the actress turns away from the paps and walks toward the entrance gate of the venue. web screen grab 4. People Ask Urvashi Rautela 'Pant Ka Peecha Kab Chhodogi?' As She Conducts #AskUrvashi Session Recently, the diva, who called out people for bullying her on social media platforms, held an #AskMeAnything session on Twitter. Urvashi, who is currently in Australia has been accused of following and targeting Rishabh Pant. Moreover, a video of the actress in which she says I love you went viral on the internet and many claimed her confession was for Pant. Unaware of the fact that she was giving a chance to the trolls to make her trend on social media, 'Sanam Re' actress Urvashi Rautela recently conducted a Twitter session #AskUrvashi. web screen grab 5. Kangana Ranaut To Play Noti Binodini In Pradeep Sarkars Next; Shooting Starts Early 2023 Earlier buzzed to have been featuring Aishwarya Rai or Deepika Padukone in Notis character, this mega-budget film is being helmed by Pareenta director Pradeep Sarkar. The film is being written by Prakash Kapadia, who has written Magnum Opus like Tanhaji, Padmavat, Devdas, and Black. Expressing how Kangana feels stepping into this project, she said in a statement, I am a very big fan of Pradeep Sarkaar Ji and very happy for this opportunity. Also, this will be my first collaboration with Prakash Kapadia Ji and I am completely thrilled to be part of this remarkable journey with some of the greatest artists of this country. Kanganas team informed that she will kick start shooting for the film in early 2023, right after wrapping up Emergency. IT (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.) In a tragic incident, a helicopter, which was ferrying pilgrims from the Kedarnath temple to Guptkashi, crashed close to Garud Chatti and Jungle Chatti on Tuesday, killing all seven people on board. "Helicopter carrying pilgrims crashes near Kedarnath" https://t.co/piOQ0FZ56x Ashu Joshi (@ashujoshi77) October 19, 2022 Pilot's last call The pilot of the ill-fated helicopter, Anil Singh, also died in the crash. "Take care of my daughter. She is unwell," were Anil Singh's last words when he spoke to his wife on Monday. The 57-year-old lived in a posh housing society in the Andheri suburb of Mumbai and is survived by his wife Shireen Anandita and daughter Firoza Singh. At around 11:45 am at Dev Darshini in Garud Chatti, the six-seater helicopter operated by Aryan Aviation Pvt Ltd -- Bell 407 (VT-RPN) -- was ferrying pilgrims from Kedarnath temple to Guptkashi when it crashed into a hill due to poor visibility, said Nandan Singh, the Rudraprayag District Disaster Management Officer. ANI Daughter will perform last rites Anandita said she and her daughter will be leaving for New Delhi to perform the last rites of her husband. "His last call to us was yesterday (Monday). My daughter is not keeping well. He told me to take care of her," Anandita, who is a film writer, told PTI over the phone. Originally a resident of East Delhi's Shahadra locality, Singh was living in Mumbai for the last 15 years. Wife has no "complaint against anyone" Earlier in the day, an official from the Uttarakhand police confirmed that the pilot killed in the crash, Singh, hailed from Mumbai. Anandita, however, said she had no "complaint against anyone as an accident is an accident". Moreover, the hill state always experiences inclement weather, she said. ANI The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will investigate the helicopter crash, according to a senior official. As a result of certain violations, Aryan Aviation was recently fined Rs 5 lakh by the DGCA. This was the only 6-seater helicopter in the company's fleet of five choppers, according to the DGCA website. For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News. Sweden's new government named a 26-year-old as climate minister on Tuesday, making her the youngest person to lead a ministry in Greta Thunberg's home nation. The nomination was made by newly elected Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who leads a right-wing coalition backed by the far-right Sweden Democrats. Romina Pourmokhtari, 26, who was previously in charge of the Liberal Party's youth section, is not well known for her support of the environment. The young minister has already been a vocal opponent of Mr. Kristersson's decision to bring his party closer to the Sweden Democrats (SD). "Ulf Kristersson without SD-Absolutely. Ulf Kristersson with SD-No thanks," she wrote in a post to Twitter in 2020. Born in the Stockholm suburbs to an Iranian family, the young woman inherits the climate and environment portfolios, breaking the previous record of 27 years old for the youngest minister. Sweden is also the home of teen climate activist Greta Thunberg, who launched a massive global movement with millions of young people that has sparked a flood of debate about the dangers of climate change. The nationalist and anti-immigration Sweden Democrats agreed to support the coalition government in exchange for policy commitments on immigration and crime. Mr. Kristersson negotiated an agreement with them. The coalition government was officially declared on Friday. As the nation is dealing with tensions with Russia, Mr. Kristersson also announced the creation of a new minister post for "civil defence" while presenting the cabinet. Instagram The Sweden Democrats, who came in second place to the Social Democrats, who had controlled Swedish politics since the 1930s, were the election's biggest winners. Tensions have emerged inside the Liberal Party, whose backing is also crucial for Mr. Kristersson's survival due to the Swedish Democrats' significant influence over the four-party deal. (With AFP inputs) (For the latest trending stories, keep reading Indiatimes) A 72-year-old man holding US citizenship has been allegedly sentenced to 16 years of life in prison, as per his son. The son alleges that a retired project manager from Florida was incarcerated in Saudi Arabia for 16 years and was tortured because of tweets he posted from the US criticizing the Saudi government. Saad Ibrahim Almadi, 72, is a dual citizen of the US and Saudi Arabia. According to his son Ibrahim, he was arrested in November while visiting family in Saudi Arabia and was convicted earlier this month. shutterstock In an opinion piece published on Sunday, the latter first spoke with journalist Josh Rogin of The Washington Post. Father arrested for 14 tweets: According to his son, Almadi was arrested for his 14 tweets from the past seven years, some of which criticized the Saudi government's political decisions and corruption. Almadi holds dual US-Saudi citizenship and was living in Florida when he posted the tweets. As per Ibrahim of The Post, the retired project manager also tweeted about the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, whom agents of his own country tragically killed in 2018. According to the Associated Press, Vedant Patel, a deputy spokeswoman for the State Department, confirmed on Tuesday that Almadi was being imprisoned in Saudi Arabia. According to the AP, "We have consistently and intensively raised our concerns regarding the case at senior levels of the Saudi government, both through channels in Riyadh and Washington DC as well, and we will continue to do so," Patel told reporters. "We have raised this with members of the Saudi government as recently as yesterday," he added, per the outlet. "My Father was abducted from the airport." In a statement to The Guardian, Ibrahim said Saudi agents had abducted his father from an airport and were confining him in a hotel while examining his phone. Ibrahim told The Guardian that Almadi had felt safe flying to Saudi Arabia for a vacation because of his American citizenship and the deep ties his family had there. According to The Post, Almadi was later found guilty of having a terrorist ideology, attempting to topple the Saudi Arabian government, and aiding and abetting terrorism. The 16-Year Travel ban; and what the sentence means: In addition to his imprisonment, Saudi Arabia has also imposed a 16-year travel ban, which means that if the entirety of his sentence is carried out, he will be 104 years old when he is finally allowed to return to the United States. When Ibrahim's family contacted the US State Department in March, according to the Associated Press, Ibrahim complained that the Saudi government was torturing his father. In his interview with the AP, he also alleged that the State Department had handled his father's case unfairly by failing to declare him a "wrongfully detained" American, which would have accorded Almadi's case a higher priority. Twitter The US State Department hasn't commented on the matter. (For the latest trending stories, keep reading Indiatimes) "UK" written on some tuk-tuks might not stand for Uttarakhand anymore, but might just actually refer to some codes that they use in the United Kingdom (UK). The reason? Police from Gwent, a county in Wales, UK, have decided to use our desi tuk-tuks or autorickshaws for patrolling. UK police to use tuk-tuks for patrolling Gwent Police Police all over the world use different types of vehicles. For example, Italian police officers drive Ferraris, American officers sit in Corvettes and in the United Arab Emirates, the Bugatti Veyron has been used as an official police vehicle. Making it to this list is also our auto rickshaws or three-wheelers. According to BBC, Gwent Police have opted for these three-wheelers to be used in Newport and Abergavenny, in Monmouthshire. In an official statement, the police force said that officers would be using the motorised rickshaws to patrol parks, walkways and elsewhere. Tuk-tuks will be used as 'safe spaces' They will be used as safe spaces where crimes can be reported and help sorted out. They will deliver high visibility reassurance patrols within the city centre to make residents and visitors feel safer when walking around the city, as reported by BBC. The vehicle will run at a speed of 55km/hour. Gwent police have not revealed how much they spent on the desi vehicle, but one dealer was reportedly advertising them online for 10,995 Euros. Twitter has a lot to say Ever since the news broke out, users have had mixed reactions. A user expressed the wish to travel in these three-wheelers. They wrote, "I'd love one so I can travel around more, I know you can't use them on motorways at least then I'd be able to be less of a prisoner of bus timetables." I'd love one so I can travel around more, I know you can't use them on motorways at least then I'd be able to be less of a prisoner of bus timetables. Robin Taylor (At home ) (@Raxor1Robin) October 14, 2022 Another user shared their personal experience of using one back in India. The user wrote, "I like the idea. Having driven one of these mighty steeds the length of India from Jaisalmer to Kochi with @TheAdventurists, though, might I suggest an electric version? The engine of a Bajaj tuk tuk is held together by sticky tape, elastic bands and sentient air pollution." I like the idea. Having driven one of these mighty steeds the length of India from Jaisalmer to Kochi with @TheAdventurists, though, might I suggest an electric version? The engine of a Bajaj tuk tuk is held together by sticky tape, elastic bands and sentient air pollution. Keith Taylor (@KeithAdamTaylor) October 14, 2022 Others, however, weren't very amused by the idea. A user wrote, "These will make the Police look ridiculous & a laughing stock! Doesnt make up for having Police Officers on the ground patrolling on foot or in cars. If they are in pursuit using one of these its going to look like a Benny Hill sketch believe me. Safe Space really!" @gwentpolice these will make the Police look ridiculous & a laughing stock! Doesnt make up for having Police Officers on the ground patrolling on foot or in cars. If they are in pursuit using one of these its going to look like a Benny Hill sketch believe me. Safe Space really! Hilary Woodburn (@HilaryWoodburn) October 15, 2022 What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. A little toddler was immediately rushed to the hospital after a nursery worker accidentally squirted glue into his eyes while she was doing her nails. Toddler's Eyes Got Shut After Nursery Worker Squirted Glue In Eyes One-year-old Jack Culverhouse was taken to hospital after his face swelled and his eyelashes were glued together at First Steps Day Nursery, Skipton, North Yorkshire. The nursery worker had accidentally squirted the little boy in the eyes as she tried to fix her false nails while holding him on September 24. The doctors at the hospital removed the glue, and his eyesight was said to not have been affected. Triangel News The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills-a non-ministerial department in the UK known as Ofsted-has launched a probe over the incident on September 23 at First Steps Day Nursery, Skipton, North Yorks. After the probe, the woman involved has been fired by the nursery. The toddler's mother plans to sue the nursery Other than that, Jack's 18-year-old mother, Aimee, is now planning to sue the nursery. This student from Skipton told The Sun: I got a phone call saying Jack had glue in his eye. Im angry and upset. I put all my trust in them and then this happens. His sight wont be affected but I think hes traumatised. He used to sleep through the night and now hes scared." Triangle News After this incident, the nursery spokesperson also had something to say. He said that the staff at the nursery immediately acted on it when the incident happened. The staff gave first aid to the kid and they phoned the paramedics, who told them to take the kid immediately to the hospital. He even showed his sincere apology and mentioned how the nursery takes sincere care of children. He added, "As such we implemented our safeguarding protocols, informing both the local authority and Ofsted of this incident. The member of staff involved was immediately suspended from work and following our investigation was ultimately dismissed." The spokesperson also mentioned that Ofsted attended and inspected the nursery on Monday 10th October and had no concerns with the operation of the nursery or the actions we have taken. They also said that they maintained contact with the family of the child throughout the situation and updated each and every situation to help with the investigations conducted by Ofsted. Triangle News They also mentioned that this is the first time an incident like this has occurred in the 25 years of their nursery's existence. For the latest trending stories, follow us on Telegram. Cover Image Attribute: The Aerial View of Al Kharsaah Solar Power Plant in West of Doha. / Source: Amiri Diwan, State of Qatar On October 18, natural-gas-rich Qatar launched its first solar power plant stretching in al-Kharsaah, west of the capital Doha. It is anticipated that it will produce up to 10 percent of the energy supply for the country. The plant was inaugurated by His Highness Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, several other Sheikhs, ministers, and senior officials of local and international companies attended the ceremony. As part of Qatar's larger initiative to invest in solar energy, the project was kicked off in 2016 in collaboration with France's TotalEnergies and Japan's Marubeni. Note: Qatar is one of the world's largest exporters of liquefied natural gas. The solar farm is spread across more than 10 square kilometers and built at the cost of 1.7 billion Qatari riyals, equivalent to approximately $467 million. It comprises about 1.8 million solar panels (3.9 square miles). According to Saad Sherida al-Kaabi, Qatar's energy minister and president of QatarEnergy, the plant, which has been operational since June, is "one of the biggest" in the Middle East and has a capacity of 800 megawatts and will "expand" further in the coming years. He added that the plant is part of Qatar's "strategic initiatives to build projects that contribute to reducing gas and thermal emission." Even though it is falling further and further behind other Gulf states in the race to develop solar energy, Qatar has set a goal of having five gigawatts of solar energy capacity by 2035. In August, it unveiled two large solar projects, which will double energy output from renewable sources within the next two years. Cover Image Attribute: Diehl IRIS-T SLM launcher with desert camouflage painting (Egyptian order) on static display at ILA Berlin Air Show 2022 / Source: Boevaya Mashina, Wikimedia Commons Last week, Ukraine received the first of four IRIS-T air defense systems Germany promised to supply, a German defense ministry source said, confirming a report by Der Spiegel magazine. The system has the potential to be successful against Russia's air-launched cruise missiles such as the Kh-101 and the 3M-54 Kalibr. The contract with Ukraine for the first system and support, training, and ammunition was signed at Eurosatory 2022 in Paris in June. The contract for the three remaining systems was signed recently. Currently, Diehl (the manufacturer of the system) also providing Ukrainian personnel with 12 weeks of training in Germany on how to operate IRIS-T SLM. NASCARs 2018 announcement that it would develop a new type of race car, called Next Gen, which would be used as a platform by all race teams in the NASCAR Cup Series, predictably raised some eyebrows and caused an outcry among race teams and fans of the sport. With all the things that could potentially go wrong in designing a new race car, why take the risk? And why throw away decades of innovations created by engineers, mechanics, and drivers to optimize their cars performance? But NASCAR officials had their reasons. Fan attendance at racetracks was down, and the stock cars that raced under the banner of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) now bore little resemblance to the actual stock cars rolling off assembly lines and into dealerships around the world. In fact, though they were touted as the latest in automotive engineering, the race cars were using highly modified versions of automotive technologies of the 1960s and 70s, tweaked for ever greater performance by engineers over the years. John Probst, senior vice president of Racing Innovation at NASCAR, sums up the challenge as one of relevance. We need a racing platform that will make us more relevant to our original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and our fans, Probst says. One thing that was plaguing us was that the suspension technology on the car was from the 1960s. We hadnt really migrated with the pace of the automotive industry very well. With respect to that, our race car bodies were more like sedans than racing coupes. And its no secret that the internal combustion engine has a lot of pressure on it from electric hybrid and fully electric powertrains. So, we had to become more relevant to our fans, our automotive OEMs, our stock car heritage, and the environmental realities. On the business side of racing, the cost of owning a race car team was reaching outrageous levels in the eight figures range just to start with a modest team of a couple race cars, a driver, and some engineers and mechanics. This was keeping new owners from entering the sport at a time when NASCAR was interested in expanding. The plan for Next Gen was for all teams to order standard parts from the same vendors to build their cars so costs could be reduced and monitored, perhaps opening the doors to a new crop of team owners. The Next Gen project started with a clean sheet of paper and input from NASCAR owners, teams, and drivers, all of whom weighed in on the front end and identified what they wanted the new car to be able to do. How did they want it to race, and how much did they want it to cost? All their responses were shared with the designers to turn that sheet of paper into a working race car. With plans to launch the Next Gen race cars at the start of the 2020 season, NASCAR had a lot of engineering to do in a short time. Ansys LS-DYNA, a standard NASCAR simulation solution, was always going to play some role in simulating crash tests to reduce the high costs (approximately $500,000 per test) of running physical crash tests. Then 2020 came and the world stood still. Even the crash test facilities that NASCAR had traditionally used closed their doors because of the COVID-19 pandemic. LS-DYNA was needed more than ever. Safety First Intel The NASCAR Next Gen racecar features a new sequential five-speed shifter. Safety is our number-one priority at NASCAR, Probst says. When we feel like theres a safety issue, we fix the issue and then go find the funds to pay for it. I wont say money is no object, but we attack safety issues very seriously with whatever resources we need to get to the correct result. Ensuring the safety of the Next Gen race car fell to John Patalak, Managing Director, Safety Engineering at NASCAR. Patalak became a convert to LS-DYNA simulation while working on a project with a major automobile manufacturer to improve the crash safety of NASCAR drivers. LS-DYNA simulates the response of materials to short periods of severe loading. The first time I was really very impressed with LS-DYNA simulation work was in 2011, Patalak says. The project included a simulated human body model to test the restraint system in the automobile, including the seats, the shoulder supports, and the rib supports around the torso of the driver. Frankly, I was blown away by the level of detail that you could get using LS-DYNA and the human body model data that crash test dummies simply just dont provide. While working for NASCAR, Patalak attended graduate school at the Wake Forest University Center for Injury Biomechanics, where LS-DYNA was the standard simulation software for studies of high impact on the human body. He soon became a champion of LS-DYNA at NASCAR. His expertise and confidence in LS-DYNA were crucial to making progress on the Next Gen car while crash test labs were closed during the pandemic. For the first time, the bulk of the crash testing would be handled by simulation. Intel Intel After more than 5,000 Ansys LS-DYNA crash test simulations, it took only two physical crash tests to verify and validate that the design was safe. Putting LS-DYNA to the Test From the first prototype car level, we committed to meshing out and building a full LS-DYNA car model, Patalak says. That immediately allowed us to start assessing the car in all the different crash modes that our race cars encounter: frontals, roof crashes, lateral side impacts, rear impacts, and oblique impacts. We then focused our efforts on particular areas where we wanted to change performance or where we saw opportunities to make things better. Because designs change rapidly in the prototype stage, LS-DYNA was particularly helpful in enabling engineers to make a change and immediately assess it in many different crash modes. For example, the team was trying to get more deformation out of the front clip (the front section of a cars frame, which is designed to crush when it hits another car or a wall) at different points as the project progressed, but they also wanted to ensure that the changes were not unknowingly introducing negative consequences for other crash modes, such as a T-bone. With LS-DYNA, were able to run all crash scenarios and assess the effects of a design change, Patalak says. Was it holistically a positive change or a negative change, or what were we missing? These are things that you just dont have the resources to do using physical testing. Being able to quantify these effects with simulations really improved the level of confidence we had in the overall design of this new vehicle. During the design process, Elemance, an engineering company dedicated to human-centered design using the virtual human body model developed by the Global Human Body Models Consortium (GHBMC), performed tests for NASCAR using Ansys LS-OPT, a design optimization and probabilistic analysis package. LS-OPT uses an inverse process of first specifying the performance criteria and then computing the best design according to a formulation. Thousands of bumper simulations were run using LS-OPT, and soon NASCAR became so satisfied with the results that they committed to having these parts built without any physical crash test data. These were not prototype parts but pre-production parts, Patalak says. When we finally had a chance to physically crash test them later on, the validation and correlation between the physical test and the simulation model was uncanny. Getting Next Gen to the Starting Line Over the course of the Next Gen design project, NASCAR and Elemance ran more than 5,000 Ansys simulations to ensure the new car would be safe in any crash scenario. They started with a third-party cloud solution early in the process, then switched to Ansys Cloud, run on Microsoft Azure in mid-2021 to gain the benefits of having a single source for their simulation software needs. They identified the HC-series Virtual Machine, which features 44 Intel Xeon Platinum 8168 processor cores, as the best hardware configuration both in terms of performance and cost. One of the biggest advantages of using a single software supplier for simulations, according to Patalak, is that you have only one company to call to solve any problems that arise. There is no other company to blame. The really nice thing about running jobs on Ansys Cloud was that it was all in-house, he says. I had very few issues, but just getting anything up and running on a new platform, it takes some time to learn the settings and which clusters to send jobs to, the memory settings, etc. It was nice because it was never someone elses fault. The turnaround time and the support from the Ansys Customer Excellence (ACE) team was great it was a one-stop shop for troubleshooting and answers. After more than 5,000 crash test simulations, it took only two physical crash tests to verify and validate that the design was safe and the results of the LS-DYNA simulations were accurate. From an engineering standpoint, our confidence in Ansys simulation is high. The results of a physical crash test are not a surprise to us anymore, Patalak says. Gentlemen, Start Your Engines! But would the Next Gen car be ready for the first demonstration race at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, a stadium converted into a one-quarter-mile short-track racing venue, on Feb. 6, 2022? Despite the skeptics and the ups and downs of the design process, it was much to Probsts relief. If we didnt have Ansys LS-DYNA, Im not sure the Next Gen car would have been ready for the 2022 season because of everything being so disrupted by the pandemic, Probst says. Intel The Next Gen race cars made their public debut in May 2021 and were first demonstrated in an early February race. In the end, the coliseum race was successful, and was a proper lead-in to the most anticipated event in the NASCAR season: the Daytona 500, which kicks off every NASCAR Cup Series. Held Feb. 20, it resulted in 23 crash reports from the 40 cars in the race, with no significant injuries to the drivers. The Auto Club Speedway 400, held in Fontana, California, on Feb. 27, was similarly successful. We were happy leaving Daytona with the knowledge that what we expected to see from our modeling work was playing out on the racetrack, Patalak says. At Fontana, we had more and different types of crashes and, again, good outcomes. The results are matching very closely with our expectations that were shaped through LS-DYNA, which is showing itself to be true on the racetrack in real crashes. Probst agrees. From a higher level, I would say that we feel like were off to a phenomenal start with respect to all the targets around the Next Gen project, he says. Theres still a lot of work to do. Were pleased but never satisfied on our end. But when you look at some of our fan metrics, when you ask somebody something as simple as Was that a good race?, those numbers are actually off the charts right now, which we think bodes really well for this car. For more information please contact Ansys at https://www.ansys.com/contact-us. In Defence of Marxism is committed to safeguarding your privacy. 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Please let us know if you have any queries or concerns whatsoever about the way in which your data is being processed by emailing the Data Protection Manager at webmaster@marxist.com The cyber threats facing the healthcare sector are both severe and concerning, said Nick Lowe (pictured above), director of Falcon OverWatch with CrowdStrike, a global cyber security firm. Read more: Medibank shares plummet after cyber incident A recent report by this firm found that the healthcare space is the object of a rising number of cyberattacks. The CrowdStrike 2022 OverWatch Report said the volume of attempted interactive intrusions against the healthcare industry, many of them ransomware, has doubled year-over-year. A significant majority of these threats can be attributed to financially motivated cybercriminals, known as eCriminals, said Sydney-based Lowe who has more than 15 years experience in cyber security. In fact, eCrime made up over a third of all intrusions against the healthcare sector in APJ [the Asia Pacific and Japan]. The growth in ransomware across all industry sectors is, in large part, tied to the proliferation of ransomware-as-a-service models whereby ransomware developers commoditise their product and sell it to affiliate groups for use in ransomware attacks, said Lowe. He said this model opens the door to less technically proficient criminals and complicates the work of threat hunters like his firm. Indeed, this is what makes the threat hunters job so complex, different affiliate groups often use distinct tradecraft to deploy the same tooling, said Lowe. The cyber security expert painted a picture that could suggest what the attack reported by Medibank may have looked like. CrowdStrikes managed threat hunting team, OverWatch, recently identified an interactive Phobos ransomware affiliate in the early stages of an attempted intrusion against a major healthcare organisation, he said. The first sign of an issue was a high volume of unsuccessful logons, followed by a successful logon, indicative of a brute-force attack. Lowe said this attack, that happened before Medibanks last week, enabled the affiliate to gain access under a local administrator account. They then proceeded to use a remote desktop protocol to extend their foothold to additional hosts, quickly gaining access to multiple Windows servers, he added. Fortunately, at the earliest sign of trouble, upon identifying the brute-force attack, OverWatch threat hunters alerted both the victim organisation and CrowdStrikes managed detection and response analysts in Falcon Complete who were able to contain the intrusion before ransomware was executed. Lowe said his firm also supported this unnamed healthcare organisation to remove the threat from their environment and recommended follow-up actions to mitigate against a return attack. The cyber expert from CrowdStrike had a warning for insurers, however. One of the biggest mistakes any organisation can make is not paying attention to global threats impacting their industry vertical, or even beyond their vertical, he said. Criminally motivated activity is largely opportunistic in nature. Lowe said this analysis is reflected in the data he has seen. This means that the tradecraft leveraged to execute data breaches overseas are highly likely to be replicated to execute attacks locally, he said. Lowe said a cyberattack technique that worked against a healthcare organisation in the US is likely to be reused for targeting healthcare organisations in Australia. Because of this, having access to global threat intelligence is an imperative for any healthcare organisation looking to get on the front-foot against cybercrime, he said. Last month, Ismael Valenzuela, vice president of Threat Research and Intelligence at BlackBerry, said a Cyber Insurance Coverage study by his company is further evidence that the cyber insurance industry is really immature when it comes to insurance. Theres immaturity both from the side of the organisations demanding these policies for protection and also immaturity from the insurance industry in terms of their knowledge about what is happening in the industry, said the New Jersey-based Valenzuela. Read next: CFC showcases latest cyber offering on Sydney harbour In another development on Wednesday, one of the largest cyber insurance providers in Australia officially showcased a new offering in Sydney. The London headquartered cyber team from CFC Underwriters showcased the cyber offering to local broker partners and underwriters while cruising the harbour. Were basically offering a fully integrated, start to finish, in-house claim solution in Australia, said international cyber team leader, Philippa Davis. Weve built an entire team who focus on preventing cyberattacks for clients and its the largest specialist team in the world that does this. Recently, he assumed the role of President of RRJ. He will guide the company on its next journey by providing oversight and stewardship and undertaking a number of strategic reviews and new initiatives, all designed to enhance the positioning of the business for the future, to enable and empower its leadership, and to enhance its culture as a sales organization. After a recent high-profile re-branding & re-organizing, KRGinsure is embarking on a new journey - to refresh its approach to management, to re-position itself in the Canadian insurance brokerage landscape and to invest heavily into new digital resources and talent attraction to become the employer of choice in the market. Originally a collection of different brokerage brands across Ontario, KRGinsure came together as a single brand just a few years ago. Spearheaded by Abraham Baboujian and Jennifer James (co-CEOs of holding company RRJ Insurance Group), the uniting of multiple brands was a significant step in the companys journey. Baboujian said that the consolidation was done with one key objective in mind to create a unified and recognisable brand, and to reiterate the companys unwavering commitment to serving the local community. Originally a banker, Baboujian started his journey with RRJ Insurance Group by acquiring several brokerages and over the last two decades, hes made no fewer than 25 acquisitions. With the marketplace rapidly changing and customer expectations evolving, he said that creating a more streamlined, modern, focused and consistent service has become the clearer pathway into the future. Our footprint across Ontario is very wide and deep. When we started out, we wanted to make sure that we were really seen as a local firm, Baboujian said. I always did my best to find suppliers from local sources, and our strategy was originally to maintain all of the brand names that we had acquired over the years. We wanted to make sure that the community saw us a continuation of the previous businesses, albeit under new ownership. This allowed our frontline staff to have access to more markets, more technical knowledge and support, and that in turn would ultimately help the consumers. We lived with that model for many years, but eventually we realised that it was time to consolidate under one brand name, he explained. KRG was one of the acquisitions that we made back in 2009, and we decided to maintain that name because it was a well known commercial brokerage throughout Canada, and it resonated with the region we operated in. In our roster, we have companies that date back to 1906 so theres a lot of history there throughout southern Ontario. Thats a past that we cherish and celebrate, and we dont let people forget that we have deep roots in the communities that we serve. Today the company has nearly 200 employees spread across six offices, and writes almost $200 million in premium volume. While KRGinsure has flourished since its re-branding, Baboujian said that now is not the time to sit still. Over the next 12-24 months, the company will be undertaking a number of strategic reviews and new initiatives, all designed to enhance the running of the business, empower its leadership, and to enhance its culture as a sales organisation, providing added value in the form of consultative service and ongoing specialized expertise to our clients. KRGinsure will also be exploring what it means to be a digital brokerage, and will be moving to a new broker management system as part of its transformation. It will also dedicate a significant amount of resources to talent attraction, and to searching for its next generation of leaders. As a company, were going through a lot of changes right now particularly in the management team, Baboujian said. The idea is to unshackle them a bit more, and to simply let them do what they do best, to let them deploy their knowledge and skills. I also wanted to shift our culture, because at the end of the day, were a sales organisation, he explained. We can be the best service providers, the most efficient processors, have the best IT systems, etc., but if we do not succeed at sales or arent good at building and maintaining client relationships, then were not going to get very far. Were also going to do a lot of soul searching around how we can recruit next gen talent to be the future frontline staff, the specialists and leaders. That initiative will have the most resources allocated to it, and it has to go beyond simply paying more money. While the next 12-18 months are going to be a busy time for KRGinsure, Baboujian said that the company will not be losing sight of its roots or of its core values as a kind, inclusive and empathetic business. With the transformation already underway, he said the business will most certainly look very different a year from now. Theres a lot going on at the company right now, but thats a good thing! Baboujian said. I like a bit of periodic chaos, and I like to challenge people and say you go and get the answers and Im here to help. Its about empowering people, and also holding them accountable. But ultimately were a company of empathy, understanding and tolerance, and Ill always be there to support our staff. We want to make sure we maintain that as we continue to grow and evolve with our employees. Despite the record-breaking total of insured damage, CatIQ noted that many affected residents live in high-risk flood areas and floodplains, where residential flood insurance is unavailable. As a result, the government will handle the significant costs resulting from the disaster. Amanda Dean, vice president, Atlantic, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), has called for enhancing Canada's resilience against extreme weather events and building a culture of preparedness. Climate change is real, and the fatalities, emotional turmoil, and financial consequences we've witnessed must be a call to action we must prioritize the protection of all Canadians from the impacts of climate change, Dean said. As a member of the federal, provincial, and territorial Task Force on Flood Insurance and Relocation, IBC has been in talks with the federal and provincial governments about ways to better protect communities from extreme weather events and better manage the costs of flooding for high-risk residential properties in Canada. It has also suggested creating a residential flood insurance program to make affordable insurance available to people in high-risk areas. Meanwhile, Canadian insurers have been considering making storm surge insurance more accessible. In their new roles, Picha and Fulton will work with agents and brokers to choose insurance coverage for clients across the spectrum of specialized products and services offered by Distinguished Programs. Read next: Distinguished Programs expands coastal builders risk coverage Picha has more than 30 years of insurance experience. Prior to joining Distinguished, she served as sales manager and producer at Risk Placement Services. Picha has worked in several segments of the industry, including underwriting and sales management roles at Liberty Mutual and Ace and production roles at Aon, Marsh and Willis. She is based in Minnesota. Fulton has more than 18 years of industry experience. She most recently served as director of marketing for Zenith Insurance Companys Central Region. She has held positions in underwriting, business development, and compliance, as well as brokering both retail and reinsurance placements. Fulton is based in Austin, Texas. We are thrilled that GAP agencies are becoming part of the SecureRisk team, said Brian Bandrowsky, CEO of SecreRisk. This alliance gives us greater strength, buying power, and reach. With these advantages, we can deliver more options and better value to our customers. The combination means member agencies will be able to provide greater benefits, a larger marketplace presence and more robust resources for their clients, SecureRisk said. Read next: Independent insurance agencies whats changing the landscape? Both GAP and SecureRisk have over 25 years each operating as networks, which makes this unification so powerful, Bandrowsky said. We are pleased to have our two partnerships join forces, said Brad Powell, chairman of GAP. Through the integration planning process, it has become even more apparent that our associations share common values, goals and commitment to putting our members and their clients first. This strategic alignment cements our status as a major player in the insurance industry. Clients deserve an exceptional experience. And so do employees. Thats the philosophy that made G&G Independent Insurance the Best Agencies to Work For Silver award winner for the South Central region Based in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the 36-person agency is a long-time standout employer. G&G has achieved the Inc. 5000 award the past two years and ranked as one of the top 50 Best Businesses to Work for in Arkansas for the past two years as well. G&G is one of the best agencies to work for because we are fast-paced, fast-growing, and genuinely care about the people working here, said one nominating employee. Those awards are hard to achieve but speak volumes for the work being done in the agency. These successes are the natural results of the agencys philosophy to treat an employees needs and goals with the same purposefulness and consideration as the clients, said CEO Jordan Greer. I would encourage other agency owners to be as intentional about the employee journey as they are about the client journey, Greer said. Involve the key members of your team in the process. Then, start at the very beginning and identify your why.' Why is being the best place to work important? What does that do for your team? What does that do for your clients? he said. Once you and the key members of your team have identified and aligned on these answers, identify the gaps/opportunities from where you are as an organization today versus where you want to be tomorrow and start chipping away, Greer said. Also, create anonymous opportunities for the team. This gives you feedback along the way, and remember, the journey is never over, he added. Cultivating a culture that sets clear expectations, rewards, recognition, and opportunity brings the right people to the table. Without the right people in the right seats, the efforts to take care of our clients and find new ones would be incredibly challenging, if not impossible, Greer said. Employees say the supportive and positive company culture plays a significant role in achieving long-term goals. The culture is focused on our purpose of exceptional experiences, which isnt just for our clients but our employees as well, said one employee. Everyone has a voice in the company and can make an impact on our processes, culture, and success. Plus, the leadership team is incredibly communicative and trusting and makes sure that the purpose remains our priority no matter what. I love working at G&G! Benefits include health/dental/vision, 401k matching, gym membership reimbursements, company-sponsored team outings, paid holidays including 15 PTO days, plus eight company holidays and the employees birthday. The company also awards Exceptional Experience Rewards to team members who deliver the best and most exceptional experiences to our clients every quarter. Employees are invited to get involved in a wide range of giving opportunities. There is a committee designated to plan employee volunteer events, charity events/galas, and other donating opportunities throughout the year, one employee said. Employees also appreciate the opportunity to improve their communities, especially through the G&G Foundation, an employee-funded non-profit organization founded in 2018 that benefits local non-profits through volunteer hours, donations, and scholarships. Our team is full of energetic, motivated, and customer-centric people that strive to deliver exceptional experiences in every interaction, Greer said. When you are surrounded by a team that truly comes together to achieve big goals, work is engaging, and its fun! The Silver award tells Greer he can continue building the agency on its successes. This nomination from the G&G team is an indication that we are heading in the right direction and that we should continue with our efforts to do everything we can to make our agency the best place to work for our team. From launching in a basement to pulling in more than $135 million in written premiums, Energy Insurance Agencys rise during the past four decades has been marked by big growth and a deep commitment to employees and customers. EIA recently earned a Silver Regional Award for the Southeast in Insurance Journals Best Agencies to Work For competition. Based in Lexington, Kentucky, the agency claimed the honor based on employees responses to IJs Best Agencies to Work For survey. In an email, Mark Kelder, president of EIA, expressed satisfaction that EIA employees appreciate the efforts of management to recognize and reward the agencys staff. Simply stated, its our team; this is what sets us apart and makes Energy Insurance a great place to work, Kelder shared. We are fortunate enough to have a unique group of talented individuals whose abilities and strengths complement each other and serve our clients well. I am proud to say I get to work with some of the most knowledgeable and customer-centric folks in the business. Established in 1982, EIA is an independent insurance agency providing personal insurance, business insurance, employee benefits, life insurance and bonds throughout the United States. The agencys roots can be traced back to the basement of its founders home. Over the course of 40 years, EIA has developed into a business with seven locations and more than 100 associates. In their survey responses, employees highlighted the organizations culture of support, respect and growth. Respondents shared how Energy Insurance is committed to encouraging and empowering team members to develop individual strategies to thrive. Energy Insurance Agency is the absolute best to work for, wrote one employee. We have a great supportive leadership team that is very knowledgeable in the insurance industry. They care not only about their staff but their customers, as well. The coworkers are also very supportive and knowledgeable. We truly are a team at Energy Insurance Agency. Another employee described EIA as a large agency with small agency relationships, adding that its exciting to work at a place where you have so much capability. The leaders care about the employees as people. As businesses continue to tweak their office models in a world rocked by COVID-19, EIA has found success in offering hybrid and remote work options. Kelder believes this flexibility has given EIA an edge in attracting and retaining talent. We understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance, especially with the post-pandemic burnout so many of us endured, he wrote. We try to accommodate associates as much as possible while still meeting business needs. An excerpt from the organizations website states that while EIAs first insurance clients came from the coal and natural gas industries, that wasnt the only reason the name Energy Insurance Agency was selected. We were passionate about making sure the name conveyed the energy that the Energy Insurance team puts into working with each and every client we meet, the website reads. Stay engaged with your team, be transparent as possible and share a common goal, Kelder wrote when asked for advice for owners striving to improve their agencies. Actively listen and sincerely seek to find solutions to everyday hurdles, he said. The workplace has evolved drastically in the last 5 years. Make sure you are evolving with it. Topics Kentucky photo >> Migratory swans fly to C China's Yellow River wetland to spend winter Around 1,500 Oriental storks fly over Chaohu this year Video >> A tour across China's wetlands of international importance Ten years in AnhuiPakistani couple witness notable achievements in Anhui People >> Italian scholar builds invisible bridges linking China and Italy Xinjiang farmer becomes guardian of cultural relics Travel >> Iconic pine on China's Huangshan Mountain undergoes comprehensive examination China sees over 73 mln domestic tourist visits during Mid-Autumn Festival holiday New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! A federal judge has dismissed 32 lawsuits over COVID-19 business interruption insurance claims against Erie Insurance, concluding the claimants failed to plausibly plead that they are entitled to coverage under their Erie policies. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Mark R. Hornak in Western Pennsylvania reflects the opinions of other courts that have rejected allegations that COVID-19 viruses and government shutdowns cause direct physical damage and loss that triggers business interruption coverage. The opinion also reflects the analysis the same judge gave in dismissing similar claims against Cincinnati Insurance, Travelers Insurance and Hartford Financial Services. Plaintiffs in this multidistrict litigation included retail stores, restaurants, car dealerships, hair salons, and dental practices located in the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Each plaintiff had an all risk commercial property insurance policy with Erie that was either the Ultrapack Plus Policy or the UltraFlex Policy. While their businesses may be different, their legal claims were similar to those asserted by business owners in a multitude of similar cases nationwide. The Erie cases were consolidated under Judge Hornak in January 2021. Both Erie policies cover direct physical loss or damage to covered property resulting from an insured peril. Both policies contain a law or ordinance exclusion. The UltraFlex also contains a virus exclusion. After Erie denied their claims, the plaintiffs filed suits alleging that Erie wrongfully denied them coverage under the income protection, extra expense, civil authority, dependent property, and/or sue and labor coverage provisions. They asserted two covered causes of direct physical loss or damage: the COVID-19 virus itself and the mandated shutdown rules issued by governments to mitigate the viruss spread. The parties primary dispute, as in many other cases, was whether those events caused direct physical loss of or damage to covered property. Erie argued that direct physical loss of or damage to property unambiguously requires a tangible, concrete physical harm to the property, which cannot be plausibly alleged by the plaintiffs. The judge agreed. The district court considered the laws and rulings from the various plaintiffs states where similar cases have been decided, noting that while no high court in those states has yet ruled, other courts have and the near-uniform dismissal of claims like plaintiffs applying the law of the jurisdictions involved in this MDL presented an uphill precedential path for the claimants. Hornak said the central question was whether those decisions were correct predictions of how the involved jurisdictions highest court would decide claims that mirror those of plaintiffs. The court said that there is not a persuasive basis to conclude that these cases were not soundly decided and are not reliable indicators of the path the federal court should follow. The court rejected the claimants allegations that the virus particles can become affixed to and remain stable on surfaces for hours or from one to 14 days, and in that way change the surfaces. [T]he natural plausible inference from those allegations is that the virus particles dissipate on their own, after those numbers of hours or days have passed, without any human intervention. Based on those allegations, the impact that COVID-19 virus particles have on property on which it is present is wholly unlike the impact that, say, a fire that burns all or part of a structure has on property where a fire has occurred, the opinion states. The court also rejected the argument that the absence of a virus exclusion in some policies means coverage should be provided under those policies. The court also denied the plea that Pennsylvanias reasonable expectations doctrine in insurance law entitles a policyholder to coverage based on the policyholders reasonable expectations even if the terms of the insurance contract clearly and unambiguously preclude coverage. The court concluded: [I]t is self-evident that the COVID-19 pandemic has had detrimental consequences to people all over the world that cannot be overstated. However, it can also be accurate that the Erie Policies to which the Plaintiffs in this MDL were parties do not provide coverage for the additional consequences that Plaintiffs assert that they as property and business owners suffered as a result of the pandemic and the associated government orders limiting how the properties could be used. Topics Commercial Lines COVID-19 Business Insurance The European Unions latest sanctions on Russian petroleum could end up depriving a swath of the worlds tanker fleet of industry standard insurance, a move that threatens to undermine US efforts to avert an oil supply shock. The blocs eighth round of sanctions state that if a tanker owner transports Russian crude above an agreed price threshold, their ship would be prohibited from getting EU services needed to ship the commodity, such as insurance, in the future. Owners could avoid that fate by agreeing to transport oil thats been bought at a capped price. The measure, which would apply to all crude, is conditional on a Group of Seven agreement to cap the price of Russian oil, and would stay in place as long as any price threshold is in force, according to people familiar with its scope. EUs Russia Oil Sanctions, Effective in December, Are Already Hitting Nations Trade The goal of the provision is to incentivize adherence to the cap while deterring breaches because it could pressure shipowners to choose between trading with Russia on Moscows terms or remaining in the international market. The provision could polarize the tanker industry given that the biggest buyers of Russian oil China and India have made no commitment to paying a capped price. Binary Choice The clause also means that the price cap which the US has also promoted as a means of freeing up Russian crude presents a binary choice for players in the oil and tanker markets. They can either consign themselves to a parallel Russian-dominated market or help the EU and G-7 push Russian President Vladimir Putin into accepting a capped price. In the event that a vessel under the flag of a third country has transported Russian crude oil or petroleum products purchased at a price above the price cap, it should be prohibited to provide technical assistance, brokering services, financing or financial assistance, including insurance, related to any transport in the future by that vessel of crude oil or petroleum products, one of the relevant clauses says. Its not clear that this provision was coordinated with the US since Washington had been telling European allies that even countries who didnt agree to the price cap plan could benefit from negotiating lower prices on Russian oil. US officials have repeatedly emphasized that their primary goal is to prevent oil from being trapped in Russia by the EUs ban on shipping services. Europe is home to a swath of insurance mutuals who form part of the International Group of P&I Clubs. These firms cover their member firms the shipowners against risks including oil spills. The continent is also at the heart of the worlds reinsurance market. Third-country ships that are found to have violated the price cap can never again use EU services, such as insurance and finance, analysts at Rapidan Energy Group, an energy sector research group based in Washington, said in a note to clients. Because many shipowners worldwide will be reluctant to permanently forfeit their access to EU shipping services, we expect they will avoid non-compliant cargoes. They added, This will force Putin to either accept the price cap (a course he has explicitly ruled out) or curtail exports and shut-in production. Its not clear how much cover would still be available to owners that carry Russian oil priced above a cap. At the moment, the UK, another big insurance and reinsurance hub, hasnt announced a ban mirroring Europes. Photograph: An oil tanker is silhouetted against a hazy sky. Photo credit: Marcelo del Pozo/Bloomberg Related: Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics Russia Europe Australias Medibank Private Ltd. said on Wednesday an unnamed hacker group had contacted it negotiate about customer data it claimed to have retrieved from the health insurers IT systems. The news comes six days after Medibank reported an attempted ransomware attack on its network, but said there was no evidence that customer data had been removed. Medibank said it was working urgently to establish if the hackers claims were true. It declined to give further details on the hackers or their demands. Australian Health Insurer Medibank Reports Cyber Incident The Melbourne-based company is working with cyber security firms and has also informed the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), the governments lead agency for cyber security. Medibank systems have not been encrypted by ransomware, which means usual activities for customers continue, it added. The incident is the latest in a spate of cyber breaches reported by Australian companies, including mobile operator Optus, recently. (Reporting by Sameer Manekar in Bengaluru; editing by Savio DSouza) Related: Topics Carriers Cyber Fraud Australia Data Driven Brexit resulted in a substantial negative impact for trade in both directions between the European Union and the UK, according to Irelands Economic and Social Research Institute. Trade from UK to the EU dropped 16% while there was a 20% decline in trade from the EU to the UK, compared to a no-Brexit scenario, the ESRI said in a working paper published Wednesday. The analysis looked at product-level data on goods trade flows for 2021 the first full year of the UKs withdrawal from the bloc. Across EU member states, we find that Brexit has led to a significant decline in trade with the UK in almost all cases although by varying magnitudes, authors Janez Kren and Martina Lawless wrote. UK Market Turmoil Threatens Plans for Post-Brexit Reforms for Insurers For most countries the drop in imports and exports was similar, though Ireland stands out has having had a particularly large decline in imports from the UK, they said. Meanwhile, there has been no notable impact to date on exports from Ireland to the UK. This may be partly attributable to increased trade between Ireland and Northern Ireland, they added. The research used a premise for comparison that trade with the UK should have been expected to grow at a similar pace to trade with other EU partner countries around the world. Although EU-UK trade recovered in value terms after a fall in early 2021, it is well below what would have been expected if it had performed on a comparable level with other trade partners, the report said. Photograph: Idle ship-to-shore cranes, seen through the windows of an empty restaurant, on the dockside during the first-day of the second strike action by Unite union members and dockworkers at the Port of Felixstowe, UK, on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022. Photo credit: Chris J. Ratcliffe/Bloomberg Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics Europe Uk A plan to give the British government power to override watchogs would raise serious concerns about the ability of regulators to oversee the City as a global financial center, Bank of England Deputy Governor Jon Cunliffe said on Wednesday. While Britain remains home to Europes biggest financial sector after its exit from the European Union, banks are keen for regulators to help boost the Citys global competitiveness. Britains finance ministry will use a financial services and markets bill now before parliament to give itself powers to intervene in financial rule-making, when in the public interest. Bank of England Wont Take Risky Bets to Boost City of Londons Competitiveness City Minister Andrew Griffith has said there would be no day-to-day interference in watchdogs, but the wording of the new power has yet to be made public. A power which would call-in, rewrite, veto rules that the regulator has made, frankly, gives me anyway serious concerns with the history I have seen over 30 years in the UK financial sector, Cunliffe told a committee of lawmakers scrutinizing the bill. Credible UK regulators were a necessity to maintain London as a center for banks from across the world, whose home regulator need reassurance they were not importing risks from the United Kingdom, Cunliffe said. A veto power would affect the perception of independence of the regulatory part of the Bank of England, he added. Reasonable Instrument Emma Reynolds, managing director at TheCityUK, which promotes UK financial services abroad, said London was losing ground to New York in company listings, and regulators were taking too long to authorize senior hires at financial firms. If tightly defined and used as a matter of last resort, powers of intervention could be a very reasonable instrument, Reynolds told the committee. There is room for improvement in having a commercial mindset in the regulators, she added. Asked if the bill will trigger a culture shift for regulators to be nimbler, Cunliffe replied: With greatest of respect, I dont think I need my culture shifted within the regulatory framework that we have at the moment. David Postings, chief executive of UK Finance, a banking lobby, said powers to override regulators should be tightly drawn and used sparingly. Its a very difficult trick to pull off, but we should be able to do it, Postings said. Before he was sacked as finance minister this month, Kwasi Kwarteng promised a deregulatory Big Bang 2.0 that goes further than the bill in boosting City competitiveness, raising the prospect of further pressure on watchdogs in areas like insurance capital rules. A source at the ministry confirmed this was still the plan under new finance minister Jeremy Hunt. We are committed to making our financial services sector one of the most open, well-regulated and technologically advanced markets in the world, and have committed to set out ambitious reforms in the coming weeks. We will formally announce a date shortly, the source said. (Reporting by Huw Jones; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and Emelia Sithole-Matarise) Photograph: St. Mary Axe, commonly known as The Gherkin, right, in the financial district in the City of London, on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, the location of Swiss Res offices. Photo credit: AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali. Related: Topics London TOWN OF MAPLE GROVE, Wis. (AP) Authorities investigating a bonfire explosion over the weekend in eastern Wisconsin said Monday that as many as 40 people might have been injured in the blaze, including some who were seriously hurt. The incident happened early Saturday in the town of Maple Grove, located about 30 miles south of Green Bay. The Shawano County Sheriffs Office said an accelerant was poured on the fire, causing it to burn out of control. The sheriffs office said that at least 17 people sought treatment on their own at local hospitals. Exact condition reports are not available, although some the injuries range from critical, to others who have already been released from the hospital, the release said. The Pulaski Community School District told families in a message that some of the people involved include current and former students. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Wisconsin New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! QBE Appoints New Marine VPs QBE International Markets is increasing its presence in the US marine insurance space and has appointed Sean Dollahon, vice president, US marine manager, and Katie McCord, vice president, senior marine underwriter, to its team. With nearly 20 years of industry experience, most recently as Inland Marine Manager at AIG and prior to that as vice president, South Region Ocean Marine at Liberty Mutual Insurance, Dollahon brings a wealth of expertise on the intricacies and challenges of the market. McCord brings more than 15 years of industry experience in both the US and London marine markets to her new role at QBE. Prior to joining, she served as national marine practice leader, at IMA Financial, and underwriting officer, marine, at Liberty Mutual Insurance. QBE has offices in Miami, Florida; New Orleans, Louisiana and Houston, Texas. Hirschorn joins Lockton as U.S. Cyber & Technology Claims Leader Lockton, the worlds largest independent insurance broker, announced Deborah Hirschorn has joined as managing director, U.S. cyber & technology claims leader. In her new role, she will lead the overall strategic vision for Locktons cyber claims practice. Hirschorn is based in New York, New York. Hirschorn joins Lockton from Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance. She has extensive experience in cyber, technology errors and omissions and miscellaneous professional liability claims. Hirschorn has handled numerous complex claims, including ransomware incidents, third-party privacy class actions and business interruption matters. Before BHSI, Hirschorn was at AIG; before that, she practiced insurance coverage law. Topics USA Cyber Claims HOUSTON A 51-year-old man who advertised himself as the Used Car King of New York has admitted to conspiring to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery. Octavian Ocasio pleaded guilty to conspiring with others residing in the Southern District of Texas to buying and selling thousands of fraudulent Texas-issued temporary buyer tags for cars outside of Texas without a legitimate vehicle purchase. Ocasio and co-conspirators used the internet to buy and sell the fraudulent state-issued buyer tags and exchange proceeds from the illegal tag sales. As part of his plea, Ocasio acknowledged he and his co-conspirators communicated through accounts on Gmail, Instagram and Facebook to receive and deliver fraudulent buyer tags to purchasers all over the United States, including New York, Florida and Washington, D.C. He also admitted he and his co-conspirators advertised the state-issued buyer tags on social media platforms and received and shared fraud proceeds via electronic payment services such as Cash App and Zelle. U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. will impose sentencing Feb. 6, 2023. At that time, Ocasio faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Ocasio has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing. SOURCE: DOJ Topics Auto Texas Fraud New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Problem: Less than 20% of Floridians in vulnerable areas carry flood insurance. Uninsured flood losses from Hurricane Ian are projected to be as high as $16 billion almost half as much as insured wind damages, according to CoreLogic, the data analytics firm. Another problem: Many policyholders with Citizens Property Insurance Corp. who did not carry flood insurance will likely end up in hard-fought claims disputes with the insurer over whether the Ian damage was from wind or water, adding to Citizens $3 billion in annual litigation expenses. Comes now a bold but not-so-new idea that some believe would salve if not solve both issues: Require all Citizens policyholders to purchase flood insurance, no matter where they live in Florida. It may sound heavy-handed but has met with approval from at least one industry heavyweight. We would strongly support that strategy, said Mark Friedlander, director of corporate communications for the Insurance Information Institute. Scott Johnson, an insurance consultant, educator and former lobbyist who has spent decades examining Floridas insurance issues, said the idea was discussed in the Legislature in the mid-2000s, but never got off the ground. Maybe now is time to revive it, he said. Just about everyone is in a flood zone in Florida, Johnson said, echoing what private flood insurance companies have said for years. Yet, flood insurance is a notoriously hard sell for homeowners who arent required to obtain it. Data from Milliman, the actuarial and data firm, shows that flood coverage in the Federal Emergency Management Agencys designated flood hazard areas in 14 Florida counties, for single-family homes, ranges from a high of 57% of properties to a low of 10%. Outside the hazard area, but still in relatively low-lying areas in those counties, the vast majority of homes had no flood insurance. (See chart, below). Requiring NFIP flood insurance would mean that thousands more homeowners would be protected against total losses. But it also would help save Citizens from so many claims disputes, Johnson said. If people receive some payment for losses due to rising waters, theyre less likely to file suit over wind coverage. If people dont have flood insurance, theyll never agree that all of their losses came from water, Johnson said. Its not just coastal areas that are vulnerable. After Ian hit, dumping as much as 20 inches of rain in parts of Florida, many homes as far inland as Orlando were flooded. And with climate change, some models predict more hurricanes, more rain and more flooding in the years to come, all across the Sunshine State. A flood coverage requirement also might help solve another problem: Citizens runaway growth, fueled in part by its statutory caps on rate increases. The state-created insurer of last resort is now the largest property carrier in the state and has shown no signs of slowing down as other carriers raise premiums significantly or go out of business. As more property owners are forced to spend money on flood coverage, they might find that they can do better with a wind-only policy from a primary market insurer. Mandating flood would require legislation. When Citizens was created in 2002, its enabling legislation specifically barred such a plan, Citizens officials explained. The corporation shall not require the securing of flood insurance as a condition of coverage if the insured or applicant executes a form approved by the office affirming that flood insurance is not provided by the corporation and that if flood insurance is not secured by the applicant or insured in addition to coverage by the corporation, the risk will not be covered for flood damage, reads Florida Statute 627.351(6)(aa). Changing that may not be so far-fetched. A number of insurance industry insiders have said that more than a few Florida lawmakers are contemplating another special session, perhaps in December, to address the continuing insurance crisis in the state. The flood insurance mandate could be one of several changes to Citizens statutes and regulations, some have speculated. And theres precedent for rapid reforms: At the May special session, a package of reforms sailed through the three-day gathering with little dissent and few amendments. Some Citizens officials arent so hot on the idea. CEO Barry Gilway said it is and should be a homeowners decision based on their exposure, risk appetite and cost. Citizens Board member Jason Butts, a Palm Harbor insurance agent and vice president with SimplyIOA, formerly known as the Insurance Office of America, said the idea has not been broached at Citizens meetings. But it could lead to some discussions. He noted that its a great idea for everyone to have flood insurance, especially in Florida. But mandating it would be up to the Legislature. The cost of flood, on top of a wind or all perils policy, may be prohibitive for some policyholders, but not for others. A quote from Neptune Flood Insurance, for example, showed that for a modest home in Cape Coral, in the heart of the Hurricane Ian strike zone, with one previous flood claim, coverage could cost more than $10,000 annually. If the house is elevated on stilts, though, the cost drops to about $2,200 a year. And in an area on higher ground, in slightly hilly northwest Florida, the premium is about $545 per year. Others in the industry said Johnsons idea is provocative and worthy of consideration. Don Brown, a lobbyist, former state representative and now a member of the Florida Building Commission, said that requiring flood insurance may not solve everything, though. Some homeowners would still be prone to argue that a Citizens wind policy should cover damage above the $250,000 coverage limit provided by an NFIP flood policy. Getting some type of payout to the insured quickly would help reduce disputes, but it wouldnt eliminate the problem completely, Brown said. There would still be some conflict there. He agreed that most properties in Florida need flood insurance, even if owners think they are outside of the historic floodplains. Johnson argued that even if a condominium unit owner is on an upper floor of a high-rise building, flood insurance can prove to be beneficial. Otherwise, all unit owners could end up paying a large assessment to cover flood damage on the first floor of the building, he noted. Top photo: Resident Mike Kelley navigates flooded streets in Geneva, Florida, when Lake Harney and the St. Johns River left their banks after historic levels of rainfall from Hurricane Ian. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Topics Flood New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! What started out as festive time at the North Carolina Mountain State Fair in 2019 ended with 96 people hospitalized with Legionnaires disease. Four of them died. The tragedy in Fletcher, North Carolina, made national headlines. Multiple victims filed suit after state health authorities found that the Legionella bacteria probably came from a spa companys working hot tub display, according to court records and news reports. This outbreak most likely resulted from exposure to Legionella bacteria in aerosolized water from hot tubs on display in the Davis Event Center at the fair, the North Carolina Department of Public Health concluded. It added that people sickened with the respiratory disease were 23 times more likely to have spent at least an hour in the event center and at least nine times more likely to have reported walking by or spending time at the hot tubs. Now, the hot tub companys insurer must defend the firm in the 11 lawsuits, despite the insurance companys contention that a bacteria and fungus exclusion in the policy applied, the state Court of Appeal said in an opinion published Tuesday. In North Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. vs. Joshua Carpenter, owner of Asheville-based All Pro Billiards and Spas, and others, the court upheld a lower court ruling and found that the wording of the exclusion was somewhat ambiguous. The judges also said that an exception to the exclusion requires a duty to defend, even before its determined if Farm Bureau owes coverage. Today the North Carolina Court of Appeals joined every other court who has heard similar cases by answering with an emphatic yes,' that the insurer has a duty to defend, said Christopher Brook, a former appeals court judge himself and one of the lawyers for the claimant-appellees. The courts opinion not only is the best reading of the Farm Bureau insurance policy at issue but also serves the interests of justice. At first reading, the exclusion wording appears straightforward enough: Insurance does not apply to bodily injury which would not have occurred, but for the exposure to any fungi or bacteria on or within a building or structure, including its contents But the Oct. 18 appeals court opinion, written by Judge April Wood, said that Farm Bureau did not make it clear that the germs were on or within the building, and those terms were not defined in the exclusion. The bubbling water in the tubs created mist that could have been breathed in by fairgoers, although the Health Department was unable to obtain complete maintenance records to determine if chemicals in the tub water were adequate to prevent bacterial growth. The courts opinion also noted that when theres a question about whether coverage applies, courts generally have held that the insurer must go ahead and defend the tort actions. The mere possibility that the insured is liable (and that the potential liability is covered) suffices to impose a duty to defend upon the insurer,' the court said, quoting from a 2000 appeals court decision. Beyond that question, the court found that an exception to the policy exclusion keeps Farm Bureau on the hook. The exception notes that the bacteria exclusion does not apply to germs contained in a good or product that is intended for bodily consumption. The water in the hot tubs even though it was only part of a display at the fair was a good or product, the court said. It leaned on a 2009 North Dakota federal court decision regarding an outbreak of Legionnaires disease traced to a hotels hot tub. Surely, the water within defendants All Pro and Carpenters hot tub provided economic utility, the court wrote. Indeed, defendants All Pro and Carpenter could have displayed their hot tubs without water, but the sight of the swirling water, smell of steam, and evaporation of vapors within the atmosphere of the Davis Event Center was utilized as a marketing device to attract customers to purchase a hot tub. The water within the hot tubs, by virtue of its marketing connection with the final product, was a part of the commodity for which purchasers of the hot tub paid when purchasing a hot tub from defendants All Pro and Carpenter. The water and the hot tubs also were intended for consumption, the court said. Surely experiencing and possessing the ability to touch the water and inhaling and ingesting the water vapor caused patrons to satisfy their bodily wants by interacting with the hot tubs water, the opinion said. The decision affirms the Wake County Superior Courts 2021 decision, which denied Farm Bureaus request for a judgment declaring that the insurer did not have a duty to defend. The lawsuits against the spa company will now proceed, with Farm Bureau aiding in the legal defense. Legionnaires disease was first identified in 1976 after an American Legion gathering in Philadelphia. The disease sickened 182 people and killed 29. Since then, outbreaks have been on the rise, have killed hundreds of people and have resulted in multiple lawsuits against hotels, events and hospitals, according to news and epidemiological reports. The same year as the North Carolina fair outbreak, Legionnaires disease at a Sheraton Atlanta hotel was linked to one death and 63 other cases, the Associated Press reported at the time. Top photo: An electron microscope image of Legionella bacteria. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine said that annual cases of Legionnaires jumped more than fivefold from 2000 to 2017, and that as many as 70,000 Americans get the disease every year. (Francis Chandler/CDC via AP) Topics Agribusiness New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Two of the largest insurance agency partnerships in the South have merged, creating the nations fourth-largest partnership, with some $600 million in property/casualty revenue, the groups announced. Georgia Agency Partners, an agency group with 30 officies in the Southeast, has joined SecureRisk a partnership program based in Tucker, Georgia, that includes more than 100 independent agencies in all 50 states, according to a news release. SecureRisk and GAP have been ranked 5th and 14th in the Insurance Journals Top 20 Agency Partnerships. We are thrilled that GAP agencies are becoming part of the SecureRisk team, said SecureRisk CEO Brian Bandrowsky. This alliance gives us greater strength, buying power, and reach. With these advantages, we can deliver more options and better value to our customers. SecureRisk said it was founded as Shared Agency Services in Georgia and later expanded into Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. It rebranded in 2012. Member agents provide auto, homeowners, commercial p/c, workers compensation, bonds, risk management, and other products. GAP is headquartered in Statesboro, Georgia. Topics USA Georgia A jury in King County, Washington, awarded $275 million to ten students and parents who say they suffered serious neurological injuries from chemical exposure at a school northeast of Seattle. The lawsuit against Bayer Pharmaceuticals is the fourth to result in a multimillion-dollar verdict, The Seattle Times reported. The company owns chemical giant Monsanto, the manufacturer of polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs. The first three lawsuits resulted in jury verdicts of $268 million distributed to 14 plaintiffs. One lawsuit is ongoing and 16 more await trial. More than 200 students, parents and teachers from the Sky Valley Education Center, an alternative school in Snohomish County, have sued Monsanto over environmental contamination. They say Monroe School District knew PCBs were found on the campus, but, despite cleanup efforts, toxins were still being found into 2019. Exposure to the PCBs led to health effects including neurological problems, skin lesions, cancer, hormonal diseases and other illnesses, plaintiffs said. PCBs were banned by the EPA in 1979 but still remain in some structures including in lighting ballasts at Sky Valley before they were replaced. Bayer Pharmaceuticals said in a statement that it disagrees with the verdict and plans to appeal, as it has with prior verdicts. Bayer also claims failures on the part of the Monroe School District. In early 2022, the school district agreed to pay $34 million in a settlement with parents and students exposed to PCBs. The district did not accept responsibility for hazardous conditions on campus and said it acted appropriately to remove toxicants and inform parents. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Washington K-12 Some in the dairy industry are starting to ask themselves if Irelands dairy milk pricing mechanism needs to be revised to reflect changes in the global marketplace. While Ireland has already enjoyed success in using the current pricing mechanism to incentivise farmers to boost certain key constituents in their milk, others, notably New Zealand, have adopted pricing mechanisms that also reward farmers for their broader performance. Some Irish dairy farmers are also looking at mechanisms in other markets and see greater transparency and a clearer link between performance and reward. It is widely assumed that milk production will be close to 9 billion liters this year. This means that every additional cent paid to farmers over the entire year will yield an additional 90 million to these farmers, and even more to the communities they live in and support. So, ensuring that farmers receive a fair price for their milk is vital for both their sustainability and that of many rural communities. Since its adoption in 2007, the A+B-C payment system for milk has served the Irish Dairy sector well. For example, the average milk fat content has increased from 3.79% in 2007 to 4.23% in 2021, while milk protein content has increased from 3.32% to 3.55% over the same period. While this increase can be attributed to a number of factors, the clear signal provided by this pricing system must be credited for a large part of this increase. Danish dairy co-op Arla is already rewarding farmers for taking steps in this direction with its new points-based Sustainability Incentive, paying up to 3c/kg of milk for points earned via sustainability activities, on top of the existing 1c for submitting Climate Check data. It is clear that both the ICBF and farmers responded to the incentives in the system to improve EBI and ultimately the profitability of the dairy sector. However, several factors now suggest that it may be time to start a serious discussion around this payment system, and how it might evolve or change in light of the following. There is a very wide variation in prices paid for milk solids across the processors, the A and B components of the current payment system. In any given month, the difference between the price of the processor paying the highest price per kg of milk fat versus the processor paying the lowest price could exceed 30%. For protein, the difference may exceed 18%. These very large variations between processors may, in part, be explained by a number of factors such as for example, different product portfolios, forward selling of milk products, and perhaps economies of scale. However, it also points to a very real disconnect between the farm gate milk prices and the returns from the base commodities processed from this milk, the cornerstone of the current payment system. In addition, the fact that the processing cost element (the C component) has not been updated to reflect the higher operating costs faced by the processors compounds this disconnect. These processors are not immune to the higher costs experienced throughout the economy, and in a highly energy intensive and skilled labour sector it is hard to argue that processing costs have not doubled, as stated by some processors. Yet the pricing mechanism fails to reflect this change remaining in the 3.5 to 4.5 cent range rather than in the real cost range which is probably in the 7 to 9 cent range. These increased costs may well be currently deduced from the A and B components, however a lack of transparency means that this is not certain. The dairy industry has changed considerably since 2007, with a greater emphasis on dairy as an ingredient rather than a foodstuff. This raises the question, should other constituents such as Lactose for example be considered in the pricing mechanism? While many processors now reward lactose content it is not formally incorporated into the pricing mechanism. In recent years, we have seen a proliferation of bonuses and penalties introduced based on milk quality, sustainability, seasonality and top-up payments. As many of these are recurring it may be argued that they should now be more formally incorporated into the pricing system. Taking milk quality as an example, there are now a number of criteria considered to varying degrees by processors (Somatic cell count, TBC, sediment, inhibitors etc.). As a result, the value and range of these criteria varies across processors thus complicating price comparisons between processors. In addition, some of these payments are often based on achieving a test result above or below a certain threshold value thus failing to incentivise those who consistently exceed the target values and wish to further improve their milk quality. Combining these criteria into a scorecard may provide an opportunity to better reward those who produce higher-quality milk. This scorecard would provide a more rounded assessment of milk quality and reduce the reliance on single criteria which may see temporary fluctuations due to once-off issues on farm. By banding scorecard payments, farmers could be rewarded for continuous improvement. Looking to the immediate future, there is no doubt that producing milk in a more environmentally sustainable manner with greatly reduced greenhouse gas emissions will be a key priority. Danish dairy co-op Arla is already rewarding farmers for taking steps in this direction with its new points-based Sustainability Incentive, paying up to 3c/kg of milk for points earned via sustainability activities, on top of the existing 1c for submitting Climate Check data. For many farmers, moves in this direction will require substantial on-farm investment in the near future, as hard dates and limits are set. While many farmers may initially require assistance, such as grants or allowances, to finance this necessary investment, there will also be a need to ensure any emission reductions are sustained and leveraged. By incorporating a sustainability component into the pricing mechanism farmers will receive a clear signal that those who reduce their emissions will be rewarded, and those who do most in this area will receive most. It should be noted that Fonterra has begun to adopt this approach with their Co-operative difference payment which rewards farmers for on-farm demonstration of care for the environment, animals, people and community. While this payment is modest at present, it sends a clear signal to both customers and farmers regarding the future direction of Fonterras pricing mechanism. As NZ farmers adjust to this new pricing component it will be easy to increase the relative value of this payment. In summary milk pricing should be fair, transparent and provide clear signals regarding where value lies. At present it is difficult to see how the current mechanism is transparent. Just look at the variation in constituent values and the failure to adjust the C component. Regarding signals we need to look to the future. Customers will continue to demand produce which of high quality and produced in a sustainable manner, while society will demand that emissions are reduced, and the environment protected. This will require that the current pricing mechanism evolves to formally include quality and sustainability components. Fairness would dictate that those who do most regarding these components should get the most and those rewards should flow as soon as possible. Finally, any evolution or change to the current system will take time to develop and implement, so the conversation around the current mechanism and its evolution should start now. I have no doubt such a conversation will unearth far more issues than those mentioned here, however, this I would see as a positive. Lets hope the relevant stakeholder group of the industry be convened as a matter of urgency to examine this key issue and recommend solutions. Dr Declan OConnor is a senior lecturer in the Cork Department of Mathematics at the Munster Technological University where he lectures in Statistics, and Quantitative Methods. His research interests are Dairy Economics and Dairy Policy with a special focus on Dairy price and income volatility and Dairy market analysis. Nuclear weapons have been a feature of international relations since August 1945, when the US dropped two of them on Japan to hasten the end of the Second World War. None has been used since then, and they arguably helped keep the Cold War cold by forcing a degree of caution on both sides of the confrontation between the US and the Soviet Union. Moreover, arms-control negotiations succeeded in limiting both countries nuclear arsenals and stopped or slowed nuclear proliferation. Today, only seven other countries (the UK, France, China, Israel, India, Pakistan, and North Korea) possess nuclear weapons. The question now is whether we are on the cusp of a new era of expanding nuclear arsenals, a more prominent role for them in geopolitics, and efforts by more countries to acquire them. Adding to the danger is the sense the nuclear taboo against possessing or even using nuclear weapons is fading, owing to the passage of time and to the emergence of a new generation of so-called tactical nuclear weapons that imply less catastrophic results and therefore may seem more usable. Russias war against Ukraine has made the arrival of this new era more likely in several ways. After the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine surrendered the nuclear weapons that remained on its territory in exchange for security assurances. Since then, Russia has invaded twice, an outcome that might persuade others that giving up nuclear weapons decreases a countrys security. Then, in the wake of Russias second invasion earlier this year, the US ruled out direct military involvement on behalf of Ukraine owing to a concern that dispatching troops or establishing a no-fly zone could lead to a nuclear third world war. China and others could see this as evidence that possessing a substantial nuclear arsenal can deter the US or at least impel it to act with greater restraint. Most recently, against the backdrop of significant battlefield setbacks, Russian president Vladimir Putin has threatened to use nuclear weapons in or near Ukraine in an effort to intimidate Ukrainians and force European governments and the US to rethink their support for the country. Developments elsewhere have also contributed to a rethinking of the value of nuclear weapons. Regimes and leaders in Iraq and Libya were ousted after abandoning their nuclear-weapons programmes, which might lead others to consider the advantages of retaining or developing nuclear capabilities. North Korea, for its part, remains secure as it continues to expand its nuclear arsenal. The world has likewise learned to live with Israeli, Indian, and Pakistani nuclear arsenals. The danger is that more nuclear weapons in more hands increases the odds that one or more of these unimaginably destructive weapons will be used. Deterrence and responsible custodianship cannot be assumed. A Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile at an undisclosed location in North Korea: Attempts to separate North Korea from its nuclear weapons are going nowhere. File picture: Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP Possession of nuclear weapons also has the potential to provide something of a shield that could make non-nuclear aggression more common. Even the belief that a country was moving to develop nuclear weapons could trigger military action by worried neighbours, possibly leading to a larger conflict. Given these risks, the most immediate task is to ensure Putins nuclear sabre-rattling is not rewarded, lest it set a dangerous precedent. This requires maintaining Western military and economic support for Ukraine, as well as regular reminders to Russia by the US and its allies that the consequences of any nuclear use, both for Russian military forces in Ukraine and for anyone involved in the decision, would far outweigh any perceived benefits. At the same time, and certainly before early 2026, when the New START Treaty limiting the two great nuclear powers arsenals expires, the US should signal to Russia its readiness to discuss the next phase of nuclear arms control. The number and types of weapons systems to be limited needs to be on the agenda, as does the inclusion of China. The US, together with its partners in the region, should also take steps diplomatic or military if need be to ensure Iran does not develop nuclear weapons or get so close that it could achieve nuclear breakout without enough warning for others to prevent it. Failing this, one or more of Irans neighbours may well decide they need nuclear weapons of their own. Such a scenario would take the Middle East, for three decades the worlds least stable region, in an even more dangerous direction. Reviving the 2015 nuclear deal that Iran reached with world powers (and from which the US withdrew in 2018) would help only temporarily, because the agreement features several so-called sunset clauses. That seems too high a price to pay, as it would allow Iran to get out from under significant sanctions, enabling the regime to pursue an even more aggressive foreign policy and provide it a lifeline just when domestic opposition to it is mounting. Another set of concerns is found in Asia. Attempts to separate North Korea from its nuclear weapons are going nowhere. Full denuclearisation should remain a goal, but in the meantime the US, South Korea, and Japan need to consider some form of arms-control proposal that would limit North Koreas nuclear arsenal and missile systems in exchange for a reduction of sanctions. The US should also maintain its close alliance with both South Korea and Japan vis-a-vis not just North Korea, but also China. Failure to do so would most likely lead both countries to reconsider their renunciation of nuclear weapons. For a long time, many scholars and policymakers operated under the illusion that the nuclear problem was a relic of the Cold War. In fact, the world is moving closer to an era that could be defined even more sharply by nuclear weapons. Changing course is imperative, and time is running out. Richard Haass is president of the Council on Foreign Relations, and previously served as director of policy planning for the US State Department Project Syndicate US President Joe Biden is set to announce the release of 15 million barrels of oil from the US strategic reserve as part of a response to recent production cuts announced by OPEC+ nations. Mr Biden will deliver remarks on Wednesday to announce the drawdown from the strategic reserve, senior administration officials said on Tuesday on the condition of anonymity to outline Mr Bidens plans. It completes the release of 180 million barrels authorised by Mr Biden in March that was initially supposed to occur over six months. That has sent the strategic reserve to its lowest level since 1984 in what the administration called a bridge until domestic production could be increased. The reserve now contains roughly 400 million barrels of oil. Mr Biden will also open the door to additional releases this winter in an effort to keep prices down. But administration officials would not detail how much the president would be willing to tap, nor how much they want domestic and production to increase by in order to end the drawdown. Mr Biden is also expected to renew his criticism of the profits reaped by oil companies (Evan Vucci/AP) He will also say that the US government will restock the strategic reserve when oil prices are at or lower than 67 dollars (59) to 72 dollars (63) a barrel, an offer that administration officials argue will increase domestic production by guaranteeing a baseline level of demand. Yet the president is also expected to renew his criticism of the profits reaped by oil companies repeating a bet made this summer that public condemnation would matter more to these companies than shareholders focus on returns. It marks the continuation of an about-face by Mr Biden, who has tried to move the US past fossil fuels to identify additional sources of energy to satisfy US and global supply as a result of disruptions from Russias invasion of Ukraine and production cuts announced by the Saudi Arabia-led oil cartel. The prospective loss of 2 million barrels a day 2% of global supply has had the White House saying Saudi Arabia sided with Russian President Vladimir Putin and pledging there will be consequences for supply cuts that could prop up energy prices. The 15 million-barrel release would not cover even one full days use of oil in the US, according to the Energy Information Administration. The administration could make a decision on future releases a month from now, as it requires a month and a half for the government to notify would-be buyers. Interview Myanmars Democrats Must Strive to Win Over China: Analyst The 20th national congress of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing runs until October 22. Ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) based in northern Myanmar, which are long under the influence of neighboring China, are paying close attention to the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) congress as changes in Beijings leadership and policies can impact them. President Xi Jinping is due to be confirmed as president and CCP general secretary for a third term and head of the powerful Central Military Commission. China is a major investor in Myanmar and has important projects as part of the Belt and Road Initiative that will give it access to the Indian Ocean. Xi visited Myanmar in 2020 and signed 33 memorandums of understanding, agreements, exchange letters and protocols with the then National League for Democracy government. During the visit Xi acknowledged that Myanmar was an important partner. Following the coup last year, Beijing said it will support Myanmars regime no matter how the situation changes. China and Russia are protecting the regime at the United Nations Security Council. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in April that Beijing has always placed Myanmar in an important position in its neighborly diplomacy and wants to deepen exchanges and cooperation. Political analyst on China Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw recently talked to The Irrawaddy about how the congress could impact Myanmar. Will there be a change in Chinas policy regarding Myanmar? I dont think there will be significant changes. China is looking at the whole Asian continent for its economic recovery. Xi Jinping has recently visited central Asian countries. And China is in the ASEAN Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership together with the 10 ASEAN countries. It plans to turn the entire Asia continent into its trade routes. Myanmar is in the network and there wont be significant policy changes. As to the peace process in Myanmar, China is facilitating it as best it can. In the aftermath of the coup, China sent an envoy and called for a meeting with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. China is pushing for dialogue to build peace. It appears that China also supports the peace talks between the regime and EAOs based in northern Myanmar. China tends to keep a low profile in what it does. It might have been taking steps that we dont see. The Chinese authorities have reportedly told EAOs in northern Myanmar to make sure there is no gunfire along the border during the congress. Is it true and why did China demand this? It is nothing new. Since the Kokang incidents in 2015-17 [clashes between Myanmars military and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army], when shells landed in its territory, China has warned that it would respond if stray bullets and artillery landed in Chinas territory. It has repeatedly warned both the military and EAOs against fighting near the border. The national security strategy rolled out by US President Joe Biden on October 12 seeks to contain Chinas rise and calls it the largest threat to the global order. Will the CCP respond at its congress? China will only view it as a seasonal US statement and Biden setting off fireworks to attract voters for the mid-term elections in November. Republicans and Democrats may have different views on other things but they both take aim at China. Despite the war in Ukraine, the US plan says China is the main threat. It is seasonal. They are just playing the China card to win votes. This is how Beijing views it. Will there be more friction between Washington and Beijing and how could that affect Myanmar? There has been constant friction between China and the US. Economically, the US cannot shun China. Their economies are intertwined and there are many US companies in China. Chinese analysts think relations between US and China will somewhat improve after the mid-term elections. The US is playing the Taiwan card. But China apparently is not concerned much. China believes it can threaten Taiwan a lot with its air force and navy. As long as Taiwan does not declare independence, China will not attack and it will keep the status quo. Will China change its policy on Taiwan? Will it use force? The general policy of China regarding Taiwan is the peaceful reunification of the Chinese people. China said it will consider various means, including the use of force, for reunification. Some pro-independence groups are taking action with the help of certain countries. China is unlikely to do anything unless Taiwan declares independence. But China has made preparations to take control of Taiwan by force if it declares independence. How can revolutionary forces in Myanmar succeed without being stuck between China and the US? It is a good opportunity for our revolution. But dont oppose China by placing all the reliance on the US. Dont expect anything from China and dont curse the US with the hope of receiving help from China. We have to take whatever we can get from the US. The US politically supports us. And Myanmars ambassador [to United Nations] can speak freely from the US and we have to make use of it. On the other hand, China has close ties with EAOs in Myanmar, including the United Wa State Army, Mongla (National Democratic Alliance Army), Kokang (Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army) and the Arakan Army. We need to attract those forces into our revolution. It is important to attract all the ethnic armed groups into the revolution. And we should avoid being fiercely critical of China. We should be as flexible as we can be in dealing with China and persuade it. We should take the cue from Indonesia regarding our diplomacy. Indonesia attended the Nato summit organized by the US and after it went to China and invited it to attend the G20 summit [in Bali next month]. And it also told China what it discussed at the Nato summit. We must learn how to act between big powers. It is not good for us to take sides with one country and make another an enemy. Burma At Least Eight Killed in Bombing, Shooting at Myanmars Insein Prison The aftermath of the explosions and shooting near the entrance of Insein Prison on the morning of Oct. 19. At least eight people were killed in two explosions and a subsequent shooting at Yangons Insein Prison on Wednesday morning. Those killed include the mother of a jailed prominent student activist, relatives of at least two other political detainees, and three prison staff. According to locals, two parcel bombs exploded in a building near the prison entrance used for receiving supplies brought for political detainees by relatives. After the explosions, junta forces began shooting indiscriminately, they said. Daw Kyee Myint, 54, the mother of Ko Lin Htet Naing, aka Ko James, was killed while delivering food for her detained son, who was arrested on June 18 by junta forces in Yangon, family members confirmed to The Irrawaddy. It was earlier than she usually visits the prison. But she said she wanted to take some food for her son and went out, a family member said. According to the junta, the blasts killed a total of eight peoplethree prison staff and five visitors including a childand injured 18: five prison staff and 13 civilians. At least two other political detainees mothers were among the civilians killed, according to a family member of a political prisoner. One was Daw Thin Thin Cho, who was at the prison to testify as a witness in her sons case. Her son, who was an employee of Air KBZ, was arrested in September last year for allegedly plotting to crash one of the airlines planes by putting leaves inside its pitot tubes, which measure airspeed. The mother of anti-regime protester Ko Hein, who was violently arrested during a flash mob protest near Pan Pin Gyi Road in Yangons Kyimyindaing Township, was also killed, according to activists. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. The notorious Insein Prison holds thousands of political prisoners including elected leaders, activists, politicians and student protesters. Burma How Myanmars Junta Threw Six Foreigners Behind Bars Clockwise from top left: Sean Turnell, Yuki Kitazumi, Vicky Bowman, Toru Kubota, Robert Bociaga and Danny Fenster. Myanmars military regime has arrested six foreigners since the military coup last year, including a former British ambassador to the country. The six were arrested for having connections to the ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) government or journalists covering anti-regime protests, among others. Only three have been released while the rest remain in junta jails. The following is a complete list of who they are, when and where they were arrested, and for what. Australian economist Sean Turnell Australian economist Sean Turnell had worked as an economic advisor to Daw Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy (NLD) government since 2017. He was the first foreigner to be detained after the coup because of his ties to the NLD government. He was arrested at a hotel in Yangon, one week after Feb. 1 2021 coup. A junta-controlled court in Naypyitaw Prison sentenced him to three years in prison on September 29 for violating the Official Secrets Act and visa regulations. Australias government rejected the ruling and called for Turnell to be immediately released. The 58-year-old economist is currently being held in Insein Prison in Yangon. He pleaded not guilty to charges against him at a court hearing on August 11 this year. Polish photojournalist Robert Bociaga Polish journalist Robert Bociaga was detained by junta security personnel while documenting an anti-coup protest in Taunggyi in southern Shan State on March 11, 2021. The 30-year-old was allegedly beaten during his arrest. He was charged under the Immigration Act and fined 200,000 kyats. He was freed on March 22 after 11 days of detention at Taung Lay Lone Prison in Taunggyi. Japanese freelance journalist Yuki Kitazumi Japanese freelance journalist Yuki Kitazumi was detained in Yangon on April 18, 2021. The 45-year-old was charged on May 3 for spreading fake news, but released from Insein Prison on May 14. He returned to Japan the same day. He was also beaten up and briefly detained while covering an anti-coup protest in Yangon on February 26. He was released the same day after around five hours in detention. US journalist Danny Fenster American journalist Danny Fenster was detained on May 24 at Yangon International Airport on his way back to the US. The 37-year-old managing director of the Yangon-based Frontier Myanmar news magazine was charged with incitement and breaking the Unlawful Association Act and Immigration Act, and given 11 years in prison. He was prosecuted partly because he worked for local media outlet Myanmar Now, whose media license the regime had revoked after the coup. The judge refused to consider the fact that he resigned from Myanmar Now on July 2020 and had since been working for Frontier Myanmar. He was released after more than five months of detention at Insein Prison, following former New Mexico governor Bill Richardsons intervention. He was deported on November 15 and flew to the US. Japanese documentary filmmaker Toru Kubota Japanese documentary filmmaker Toru Kubota was arrested at an anti-coup protest on July 30, 2022. He was charged with incitement and violating the Immigration Act and Electronic Transactions Law. He was handed seven years in prison on October 5 for incitement and breaking the electronic transactions law. On October 12, he was sentenced to another three years for violating the immigration law. The 26-year-old is the second Japanese journalist to be detained since the coup, and is currently being held in Insein Prison. Former British ambassador Vicky Bowman Britains former ambassador to Myanmar Vicky Bowman, also known as Daw Ohmar Khin, and her husband Ko Htein Lin, a renowned artist and former political prisoner, were detained on August 24 this year at their house in Yangon. The regime charged Bowman with breaking immigration laws by staying in a family home in Shan States Kalaw rather than in her registered Yangon address after her husband failed to report his wifes stay in Shan State. The couple was imprisoned for one year with hard labor on September 2 by a junta-controlled court in Insein Prison. Bowman served as Britains ambassador to Myanmar under the previous military regime between 2002 and 2006. She was the first former diplomat to be detained after the coup. The arrest came after the British government had downgraded its relationship with Myanmars military regime. Hundreds of vehicles, including goods trucks, are trapped on the Asian Highway linking the border town of Myawaddy and Kawkareik on Wednesday due to yesterdays fighting. On September 9, the Cobra Column seized two junta vehicles loaded with weapons and ammunition from the Light Infantry Battalion 102 in Myawaddy. Following the seizure, 44th LID commander Colonel Tin Moe Naing was summoned to Naypyitaw for interrogation and forced to retire. The regime reportedly suffered heavy casualties in the clashes but failed to retake the camp. Since July frequent clashes have been reported between junta troops from the 44th LID and 13th Military Operations Command and the Karen National Liberation Army, the armed wing of the KNU, and the Cobra Column resistance group. The regime is attempting to retake the Thay Baw Boe camp, which it lost to the KNU. The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports. Colonel Win Min Oo was killed by a sniper in fighting at Nyaung Chaung village between Waw Lay and Thay Baw Boe in Karen State. A colonel in Myanmar juntas 44th Light Infantry Division (LID) involved in operations on the Falu-Waw Lay road in Myawaddy Township on the Thai border was killed on Wednesday morning, according to the Karen National Union (KNU). War Against the Junta Myanmar Junta Colonel Killed by Resistance Sniper in Karen State: Claim More Than 40 Myanmar Junta Troops Killed in Two Days of Resistance Attacks Myanmar Junta Sentences Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to Another Three Years for Corruption Challenges Await New Contractor as India Rejigs Plan for Completion of Kaladan Project in Myanmar Myanmar Junta Jails Japanese Journalist for Three More Years for Immigration Breach: Embassy Source Myanmar Junta Suffers Over 20 Casualties in Clashes With Resistance in Two Days Junta Watch: Coup Leader Gets Chummy With Cadets; Open Door for Russia; and More How Sagaing is at Forefront of Revolution Against Myanmars Junta About 40 Myanmar Junta Forces Killed in Three Days of Resistance Attacks Local Official Among Some 40 Myanmar Junta Personnel Killed in Two Days Lieutenant Colonel Among Over 50 Regime Forces Killed by Myanmar Resistance in Two Days One Killed as 14 Break Out of Myanmar Junta Police Station At Least Eight Killed in Bombing, Shooting at Myanmars Insein Prison We do not encourage viewing this site in this width. Please increase the size of your window. War Against the Junta Myanmar Troops Killed in Ambushes After Escorting Regime Boss Trip The Cobra Column in Karen State. / KNU Nine Myanmar junta personnel, including a major and two captains, were reportedly killed in Belin Township, Mon State, on Monday when the ethnic Karen resistance forces ambushed a convoy that escorted the visit of junta chief Min Aung Hlaing. On Monday night, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the Karen National Union, ambushed seven vehicles on a highway in Belin while they were returning to Thaton from Mawlamyine after escorting the regime leaders visit, according to the Salween Press, quoting KNLA Brigade 1. That morning the junta chief and other leaders visited Mawlamyine after meeting business owners in neighboring Hpa-an in Karen State. The convoy was reportedly ambushed by resistance forces using landmines and rocket-propelled grenades twice on the Yangon-Mawlamyine highway in Belin. Four vehicles were damaged and nine personnel killed, including Police Captain Aung Mya Soe, an army major and a captain, KNLA Brigade 1 told the media. The Irrawaddy was unable to independently confirm the casualties. On Monday morning resistance forces from the Partnership Oversight Committee of KNLA Brigade 1 raided two junta checkpoints on the Thaton-Hpa-an highway in Thaton Township, Mon State, the committee said. In the raids, eight regime soldiers were killed and 10 others injured, it said. Meanwhile, three Peoples Force attackers were injured. The junta continues to suffer losses across the country. On 18 October 2022, the Embassy of Japan in Mauritius and the Link to Life NGO officiated the handover ceremony of two portable ultrasound machines at the NGOs headquarters in Vacoas. This is made possible due to The Project for Introducing Ultrasound Machine for Breast Cancer Screening Caravan which formalizes the amount of 40,349 euros, or approximately 2 million rupees through Japans official development assistance programme, Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP, or KUSANONE). Link to Life has acquired two portable ultrasound machines and will thus provide free breast screening to women from vulnerable regions in Mauritius. According to the NGO, the inhabitants of these regions suffer from difficulties to access to the information and screening. With the implementation of this project, the target is to have 2,500-3,000 women screened on a yearly basis. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among the female population and also the one with the highest death rate in Mauritius. This project will be centred on the early screening which is very important for the best chance of successful treatment and to avoid the disastrous consequences of cancer. The handover was made by His Excellency Kawaguchi Shuichiro, the Ambassador of Japan to Mauritius, to Mr. Rajendra Prasad Gangoosingh, president of the board of Link to Life at the main office of the NGO in Gymkhana, Vacoas. The Ambassador Kawaguchi stated that The handover of this equipment to the Link to Life is very important for the community programs to start as soon as possible, and it bears a most symbolical significance, particularly in the Breast Cancer Awareness Month that is October. For his part, Mr. Rajendra Prasad GANGOOSINGH added that As you are aware theses ultrasound machines were badly needed at Link to Life to enable us to carry out breast screening of our ladies all-round the island. Burma One Killed as 14 Break Out of Myanmar Junta Police Station Hkamti Police Station One of 14 detainees who escaped from a cell at the Central Police Station in Sagaing Regions Hkamti on Tuesday morning was shot dead later that afternoon by security personnel and four others have been rearrested, according to the Hkamti Peoples Defense Force (PDF). The inmates used tools to cut through the cells bars and escaped from the police station at around 3 a.m. One inmate was rearrested soon after, and another was rearrested some three hours later. Three more were stopped at around 3 p.m. by junta security forces, who had blocked all routes from the town. One of the three was shot dead as security personnel opened fire on them, and the other two were taken into custody. The dead mans identity is still unknown. There were reports that the escapees seized a gun from a policeman on duty during the breakout from the police station, and that three policemen helped them escape. The Irrawaddy could not independently verify those reports, however. Other sources told The Irrawaddy that the escapees included members of the Kachin Independence Army and PDF members who were detained and charged with terrorism and illegal possession of firearms over the past few months. Burma Suu Kyi and President Face Corruption Charges Over Helicopter Deal Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint. Detained President U Win Myint and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi were officially prosecuted on Tuesday by a junta-controlled court inside Naypyitaw Prison on five corruption charges, the last in an array of charges filed by Myanmars regime. The five counts of corruption related to the rental and purchase of a helicopter for use during natural disasters and state affairs, including rescues and emergencies. The regime alleged that U Win Myint and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi broke the law and squandered government funds on the helicopter. Former deputy social welfare minister U Soe Aung, Dr. Ko Ko Naing, complainant U Aung Khant from the Anti-Corruption Commission and another person have reportedly been summoned to the court as prosecution witnesses. If convicted, the pair face up to 15 years in prison. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has already been given 26 years in prison on 14 charges filed by the regime and U Win Myint has received five years over three charges. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is being kept in a tiny building at Naypyitaw Prison and U Win Myint is believed to be under house arrest somewhere in Naypyitaw. The regime has also charged former social welfare, relief and resettlement minister U Win Myat Aye in the same way over the helicopter. U Win Myat Aye is now minister of humanitarian affairs and disaster management in the parallel civilian National Unity Government. War Against the Junta Lieutenant Colonel Among Over 50 Regime Forces Killed by Myanmar Resistance in Two Days -- A military lieutenant colonel was among over 50 regime forces killed by Peoples Defense Force groups (PDFs) and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) during their attacks and ambushes on regime targets in the last two days. Incidents were reported in Chin, Shan and Kayah states and Sagaing, Magwe and Yangon regions. The Irrawaddy has rounded up the following reports of significant attacks and ambushes by PDFs and EAOs. Senior military strategist assassinated in northern Shan Junta Lieutenant Colonel Pyae Phyoe Aung, the commander of Infantry Battalion 421, was reportedly assassinated by unknown gunmen in the town of Muse in northern Shan State on Tuesday, according to local media reports. The battalion commander, also a chief strategist, was attacked by gunmen on a motorbike and a vehicle while he was going to an automobile workshop. On Oct. 6, the judge of Muse Township Court was also shot dead by gunmen in the town. Junta forces attacked by KIA, PDF in Shan State A fierce clash broke out in Manton Township, northern Shan State on Monday when the Kachin Independence Army and allied PDF groups attacked regime forces near a village, according to local media reports. In seven hours of intense clashes, the military suffered a large number of casualties, media reported quoting residents. The spokesman of the KIA also confirmed the clash. Junta office burned down in Chin State capital The township office building, which comprised several regime-controlled government offices including the township General Administration Department, was burned down in Chin States capital Hakha at 2 a.m. Tuesday, Chin media outlets reported. Before the fire, sounds of gunfire were heard from the office building. Juntas Special Investigation Department attacked in Sagaing The resistance group Monywa Nat Soe claimed it attacked the office of the regimes Special Investigation Department in the town of Monywa, Sagaing Region, where the militarys North Western Command is based, on Tuesday morning. However, miliary casualties were unknown, the group told the media. PDF video shows the office being attacked by PDF fighters from a moving vehicle. 20 soldiers killed by PDF land mines in Sagaing At least 20 regime troops were killed in Chaung-U Township, Sagaing Region on Monday when several PDF groups used land mines to ambush four military vehicles on the Sagaing-Chaung-U road, claimed the Civil Defense and Security Organization of Myaung (CDSOM), which was involved in the attack. Three junta troops killed in PDF ambush in Sagaing Three junta soldiers were killed and another injured in Kale Township, Sagaing Region when Peoples Defense Force-Kalay ambushed 70 soldiers and two military vehicles near a bridge in the township at 6 a.m. early Monday morning. The military detachment was traveling to Kale from a prison labor camp. The detachment faced an additional mine ambush by the PDF group at 10 a.m. on that morning. 15 regime forces killed by mine ambushes in Sagaing At least 15 regime forces are believed to have been killed in Tigyaing Township, Sagaing Region on Monday when the PDF group Special 9-HPDF used land mines to attack a military vehicle carrying 40 regime forces, the PDF group said. The military vehicle and regime forces faced three mine ambushes on a road while they were returning to the town. The PDF group said they managed to ambush another junta vehicle escorting an ambulance carrying soldiers killed or injured by the PDFs previous mine attacks. Five regime forces seriously injured in Sagaing The resistance force Peace Takers Task Force-PTTF claimed that it and another resistance group managed to hit three military vehicles with mines on the Monywa-Chaung-U highway in Sagaing Region using a cluster of three land mines on Monday. In the attack, five regime solders were seriously injured, the PDF group claimed. Junta sentry bunker of police station bombed in Yangon The Yangon Underground Association claimed one of its members, Gods Hand Forces (GHF), managed to bomb the junta police sentry of Yankin Police Station in Yankin Township, Yangon on Tuesday afternoon using two remote-controlled bombs. Regime casualties were unknown. Military base raided in Kayah State Some military regime troops are believed to have been killed in Demoso Township, Kayah State on Tuesday when ethnic Karenni resistance forces raided a military base at Thae Suu Lal Village, said Karenni Revolution Union (KRU), which was involved in the attack. Both sides used a number of heavy explosives in the firefight. However, the number of soldier deaths was unknown. The combined resistance forces retreated from the clash without any casualties, KRU said. Six junta soldiers killed by PDF attacks in Magwe At least six junta forces were killed and many other injured in Yesagyo Township, Magwe Region on Monday morning when three PDF groups from Yesagyo, Myaing and Salingyi Township in Sagaing Region jointly attacked a military detachment departing from a village. Two shootouts broke out between the regime forces and the combined PDF groups near Taung Oo Village. After the clashes, regime forces raided and burned houses in Taung Oo Village. On that afternoon, PDF groups also used improvised mortar rounds to attack regime forces torching houses in the village. Eight regime forces killed in clashes in Magwe Eight junta troops were killed and two resistance fighters also suffered injuries during two firefights in Gangaw Township, Magwe Region on Monday when three battalions of Yaw Defense Force-YDF attacked 150 regime forces of a light infantry battalion and pro-regime Pyu Saw Htee militia members in the township, said YDF on Tuesday. In the clashes, many junta soldiers and a woman resident of a village nearby were injured, the PDF group said. $5 wine & beer? Complete burger meal for under $11? Half off appetizers? Yes! Our participating #tasteofkeybiscayne restaurants are serving up some of the most unique and delicious meal-deals on this Wednesday, October 19, 2022. Costa Med Bistro Open for Indoor and Expanded Outdoor Dining, Takeout! Today, treat yourself to our special homemade black linguine with spicy tomato sauce and lobster chunks Order online for take out - click here! Costa Med, a TripAdvisor Traverlers Choice nominated restaurant, is located in the Square Shopping Center. 260 Crandon Blvd. Reservations suggested. Call Antonio or Harold at (305) 361-7575 Hours. Lunch Mon to Sat: Noon a.m. to 4 p.m. Dinner Mon to Sat: 6 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. / Sun 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The Golden Hog Eat Local. Help local. Shop Safely. Visit us for our Wednesday special Grilled Chicken sandwich, prepared fresh on our grill! Todays menu. Soups & Creams: Chicken Rice / Bllack Beans / Lobster Bisque Main Course: Pork Chops / Chicken Marsala / Bacalao / Chicken Lasagna Side Dishes: Yellow Rice / Mixed Vegetables / Plantains The Golden-Hog has a complete line of specialty groceries for delivery. Golden Hog puts safety first. We have taken steps to ensure the safety of employees and customers. Shop with confidence. Call (305) 361-1300 to place a delivery or take out order; you can also email your orders to orders@thegoldenhogmarket.com or order online here. Miss Mui Chinese Bistro Newest #tasteofkeybiscayne dining experience, serving authentic Chinese and Cantonese food. Miss Mui is a family owned and operated restaurant, serving Cantonese cuisine staples like special fried rice, BBQ Spare Ribs, but also lumpias, a Venezuelan-style spring roll and more. This Wednesday try their specialty, the Pekin Duck. Reputed to be the best in South Florida! Miss Mui is located in the Square Shopping Center at 260 Crandon Blvd. Suite 14, on Key Biscayne. To place an order, please call 305)-381-0694. Follow them on Instagram. Click here. Sake Room FREE* Crunchy Crab Salad!!! Make it a Sake-Lunch-Wednesday and try one of the delicious options in our new Lunch Menu, starting at $10.99. Open for Indoor and Outdoor Dining, Takeout or delivery! Join us today, open from Noon to 10 p.m. New hours! Noon to 10 p.m. Call (305) 456-0488 to place a takeout or delivery order directly 328 Crandon Blvd Ste 108, Galleria Shopping Center Grub hub UberEats also available. Please if you can call us first *Offer good on any $50+ order La Scala Join us for that special Wednesday dinner night! Or let us deliver you a fresh cooked Italian meal! Today, treat yourself to our delicious Linguine Mari Piemonte A La Scala meal makes any day that much more special. Join us for dine-in, open for indoor dining, limited outdoor seating, reservations recommended. Come in even if just to say hello to Chandra, and the la Scala team! To place a takeout - offering curbside service - order call (786) 773-3633 or visit us online by clicking here. Brasas KB Open for covered Indoor & Outdoor Dining, Takeout or delivery! Mid-Week $10.99 burger special.... Our delicious half pound hamburger, with one side and a soda, only $10.99 - loaded it up with a fried egg, bacon, cheese and pickles to make it a "completa" for only $4 more! Can't beat the quality! Unmatched value! Have you tried our Peruvian Chicken Rotisserie Family Combo for lunch or dinner? Package includes 4 sides and sauce of your choice: huancaina, aji amarillo, huacatay and olivas negras peruanas. Call (786) 615-2399 to place a takeout order. Open Noon to 8 p.m. 328 Crandon Blvd, Galleria Shopping Center D'Lite Bistro & Bakery Who says eating healthy means sacrificing taste and flavor? Not at DLite! We are a unique and healthy restaurant that serves salads, wraps, sandwiches, bowls, protein smoothies and cold press juices made fresh every morning including gluten-free, vegetarian and keto options. This Wednesday, try out any of perfectly packed Wraps. We open at 7 a.m. daily and close at 8 p.m. everyday except Sat and Sun when we close at 6 p.m. DLite is located in the Arcade Mall, 180 Crandon Blvd. To place an order, call (305) 882-9284 or visit us online by clicking here. Kazumi We are open to serve you with indoor & ample outdoor seating This Wednesday, treat yourself to our delicious Asian Baby Back Ribs Modern Japanese fusion restaurant. We offer creative treatments & creativity in our dishes for takeout and delivery by our own employees. Available for lunch and dinner. Mon to Sat Noon to 9:45 p.m. Closed Sundays To place an order call (305) 361-2675 or order online here. Boaters Grill & Lighthouse Cafe / Bill Baggs The restaurants inside Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park the popular Boaters Grill, located at No Name Harbor and accessible by boat, and the beachside Lighthouse Cafe are ready to serve you. Start the day with a delicious breakfast under the Lighthouse! Serving traditional breakfast favorites being served at Lighthouse Cafe Boaters Grill is open Sunday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Lighthouse Cafe is open 7-days a week, from 9 a.m. to Sunset The restaurants are located inside Bill Baggs State Park, at 1200 Crandon Blvd., Key Biscayne. You can reach them at (305) 361-0080 Randazzo by Yesenia Open for Indoor & Outdoor dining, Takeout or delivery. Reservations recommended What could be better than a Randazzo dinner with your favorite wine? Join us today, between 5 and 7 p.m. for $5 Wine & Beer specials and HALF OFF Appetizers Please call (305) 456-0480 to place an order or make a reservation Open Monday, Wednesday to Sunday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., open until 11 p.m. Friday. Closed Tuesdays 328 Crandon Blvd Ste 112, Galleria Shopping Center Delivery service with Postmates or UberEats Check back tomorrow for more specials as we add more restaurants to #tasteofkeybiscayne-To-Go And please remember to order from the restaurant directly before using one of the apps this way we support the local restaurants by saving them the commission they are charged, which at times is as much as 30% When you do something for 17 years, you are likely to create something special, and the upcoming Rotary Club of Key Biscaynes Wine & Food Festival promises to be the best one yet, with new restaurants participating, more wineries and side events. More than 30 wines will be offered, including the wines participating in the competition, said Ruben Weisson, the Rotarian leading the event since its inception, adding that this year the event has added a Meet the Winemaker event. The featured winemaker will be Robert Rex, Deerfield Ranch Winery, 2018 Winemaker of the Year. Rex will host a special seminar on How to Blend the Five Noble Grapes for a select group of 30 individuals. This event will take place at the Key Biscayne Yacht Club at 7 p.m. on November 15. For tickets, contact Weisson at (305) 569-1884. The main event the 17th Annual Rotary Key Biscayne Wine & Food Fest will be held from 6 to 11 p.m. on November 18 at the Fairways on the Key. The evening will begin with a Prosecco to season the palate for the wines to follow. Once inside, you will be able to sample wines from 13 wineries. This years participating wineries are: -Taddei Wines, Napa, CA -Tenute Ugolini, Valpolicella, Italy -Jako Wines, Oltrepo Pavese, Valdobbiadene, Lazio, Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy -Deerfield Ranch Winery, Sonoma, CA -Papapietro Perry, Winery, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, CA -Tayson Pierce, Napa Valley, CA -Eric Philippe Champagne, France -La Contralta Winery, Sardinia, Italy -Andrea Daponte Distillery, Valdobbiadene, Italy -Ferrante Winery, Grand River Valley, OH -Bodegas Bouza do Rei, Rias Baixas, Spain -Bodega Iaccarini, Mendoza, Argentina -Bodegas Frutos Villar, Rueda, Toro, Cigales D.O., Spain -Bodegas Bohorquez, Ribera del Duero, Spain -Domain Terre de Mistral, Provence, France -Domaine Les Sibu, Cotes du Rhone Villages, Gigondas, France All presented wines will be available for sale through The Golden Hog, the events official wine retailer. The Golden Hog will coordinate all orders, payment, delivery and pick-up. Also included in the price of admission will be a variety of food delicacies prepared by several prominent Key Biscayne and Miami restaurants. Some of the participating restaurants include Old Lisbon, Novecento, Ayesha, Churrasco Brazil, and The Golden Hog (who will be sampling their 2022 Thanksgiving menu). Proceeds from the event will benefit the Rotary Club of Key Biscayne Foundation and its affiliated charities, in particular the Arc of South Floridas programs for children and adults with disabilities and special needs. Proceeds will also be used to benefit The Rotary International Foundations work in emerging countries. Over the past four years, the Rotary Club of Key Biscayne has successfully obtained matching grants from local Rotary District 6990 and The Rotary International Foundation in Evanston, IL exceeding $500,000 to maximize the charitable impact of this fundraiser. Tickets for the event are $85 per person and can be purchased by visiting keybiscaynewinefest.com. For more information, contact Gabe Parra at (305) 759-8500, ext. 102 or email ghparra@arcsofla.org. For sponsorship information, please contact Ruben Weisson at (305) 569-1884 or email ruben.weisson@wellsfargo.com October 19, 2022 A pair of paleontology students are back on the Idaho State University campus after their world-class research experiences. Recently, Maya Elliott, a senior biology honors student from Nampa, returned from a summer internship at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. While in Washington D.C., Elliott was growing specimens of the ginkgo plant in varying carbon dioxide levels. The plants ancestry can be traced back roughly 300 million years, and Elliott was comparing the specimens from today to fossilized plants from years past. Using the ginkgo fossils, scientists can better understand how the climate changed throughout the earths history. I consider myself fortunate to have been able to learn from some of the best researchers in the country and go on tours in the NMNH's amazing collections, said Elliott. My favorite part was getting to work on the project and learn how to present my research to the scientific community." Meanwhile, Xavier Jenkins, a doctoral student studying biology from Buckeye, Arizona, spent four weeks in South Africa analyzing the fossils or reptiles that lived more than 250 million years ago in the Permian Period. As part of his doctoral studies, Jenkins has been working in the Idaho Museum of Natural History's Idaho Virtualization Laboratory, studying the evolution of early reptiles using digital scans of the specimens. With support from ISU, he traveled to South African museums to see the fossils in person. While in South Africa, he also joined Jonah Choiniere, professor of comparative palaeobiology at the University of the Witwatersrands Evolutionary Studies Institute, on a dig for the earliest long-necked dinosaurs. Experiences like this are fantastic and ones that I spent my childhood dreaming of, Jenkins said. You hear about all of the fossil discoveries in South Africa, but seeing it in person was truly breathtaking. Elliott and Jenkins are mentored by Brandon Peecook, assistant professor of biological sciences at ISU and curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Idaho Museum of Natural History. Under the direction of Peecook, Elliott and Jenkins are working with fossil specimens and cutting-edge Nano-CT imaging technology to understand the evolution of early reptiles. "At the Idaho Museum of Natural History, we pride ourselves on giving ISU students hands-on research experiences with real fossils, said Peecook. Those kinds of opportunities are golden for young researchers, so I was thrilled when Maya and Xavier had the chance to expand their knowledge, skill sets, and professional networks in Washington D.C. and South Africa. Both are among the several Bengals presenting their research at the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology meeting in Toronto this fall." For more information on the ISU Department of Biological Sciences and Idaho Museum of Natural History, visit isu.edu/biology and isu.edu/imnh. Prospective students can schedule a campus tour at isu.edu/visit. October 27th marked the annual Tip-Off in the Forest for the Indiana State Mens and Womens Basketball teams. This event is summed up best as a way to get the players' recognition before the season begins, have a great time, and get the fans involved. Global supply chain constraints and geopolitical and economic instabilities are not slowing the pace of digital infrastructure investment for the most connected companies, according to the latest Global Interconnection Index 2023, an annual market study published by digital infrastructure company Equinix. According to GXI 2023, Sydney continues to be one of the fastest-growing core metros in Asia-Pacific with the citys interconnection bandwidth forecast to reach 942 terabits per second (Tbps) by 2025, representing a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 39%, in line with the entirety of the Asia-Pacific regions average CAGR of 39%. Further, Melbourne is the fastest growing edge metro with a 53% CAGR, and shows the largest percent mix of interconnection from enterprise sectors. This forecasted growth shows how Australias digital leaders are rethinking their business to implement future-proof infrastructure on technology platforms, the study said. The study found that the most ecosystem-connected businessesthose directly interconnecting with partners to provide their own digital serviceshave expanded their digital operations more in the past five quarters than in the previous five years. On average, organisations are connecting to three more times as many as business ecosystem partners and metros, consuming more than twice the amount of interconnection bandwidth. As Australian businesses reinvent themselves in the aftermath of the global pandemic, ecosystem density has become a catalyst for digital innovation, which continues to fuel the growth of interconnection bandwidth, the study added. In todays dynamic setting, every business is becoming a digital provider, which requires a new type of digital infrastructure built sustainably around leveraging ecosystems to deliver seamless digital experiences. Those with a digital-first strategy in place, investing in a robust, future-looking business model and interconnecting to rich ecosystems, are prepared to scale, adapt and thrive, commented Equinix vice president of digital transformation and segmentation Steve Madden. Additional insights from the study include: Digital growth continues: Interconnection bandwidth is forecast to continue growing at over 35% CAGR across all regions and major metros through 2025 with Sydney continuing to be one of the fast-growing metros in Asia-Pacific alongside Hong Kong, Singapore, and Tokyo. The move to the edge is accelerating: both enterprises and service providers are forecast to interconnect to edge infrastructure 20% faster than the core globally. Melbourne is the fast-growing edge location in Asia-Pacific with 53% CAGR, closely followed by Guangzhou (52%), Shenzhen (52%) and Beijing (51%). Businesses are becoming digital providers: GXI 2023 predicts that 90% of Fortune 500 companies will become digital providers, both selling and consuming digital services by 2025. The sustainable road to digitally thrive: All industries are harnessing digital to accelerate ESG objectives, where 65% of Australias IT decision-makers in Equinixs 2022 Global Tech Trends Survey say they will only work with IT partners who can meet key carbon reduction targets. GXI 2023 forecasts the energy and utility sector to lead in digital growth rate through 2025 as all organisations explore a sustainable approach to build and expand their digital presence. As companies increasingly adopt digital-first strategies and look for new ways to drive differentiation, the ecosystem plays an even more critical role. Organisations are relying on ecosystems and digital infrastructure as the foundation to sustainably scale and deliver business value. In order to achieve these business outcomes, companies are interconnecting to customers, partners and vendors to accelerate collaboration and co-creation, as well as meet sustainability commitments, said IDC program vice president, channels and alliances Steve White. This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 19 October 2022. Konica Minolta Australia has announced the availability of the large format FX20 3D printer through its partner, Markforged, creator of the integrated metal and carbon fibre additive manufacturing platform, the Digital Forge. Konica MInolta says the FX20 is the biggest, fastest, and most sophisticated 3D printer Markforged has ever produced and, together with Markforgeds state-of-the-art software and materials, the FX20 has transformed the Digital Forge into a next generation additive manufacturing platform capable of printing high-temperature thermoplastics, reinforced with continuous fibre, at the click of a button.-and by printing high-strength, more accurate, and higher performance parts, the FX20 can now meet the needs of the most demanding and regulated industries including aerospace, defence, automotive, and oil & gas. Matthew Hunter, national manager, emerging technology, Konica Minolta, said, The FX20 brings the Digital Forge and continuous fibre reinforcement to a new sphere of parts, problems, and industries. It pairs size and throughput to make larger builds at incredible speeds, delivering the transformational benefits of the Digital Forge at a new scale. Built for everything from performance tooling and fixtures to flight-ready production parts, the large format 3D printer can also reinforce ULTEM 9085 Filament with continuous carbon fibre. With the addition of the FX20 to our portfolio, Konica Minolta is helping customers make it in Australia." Shai Terem, president and CEO, Markforged, said, The FX20 is a beast of a machine and represents our commitment to providing innovative solutions to our customers to empower them to build anything they can imagine. The addition of the FX20 to the Digital Forge strengthens our leading position in the additive manufacturing market by enabling the robust production of lightweight, advanced composite parts. With this combination of hardware and software, our customers will be able to count on Markforged for production of the end-use, mission critical parts that are required to overcome the limitations of traditional manufacturing. This builds resilient and sustainable supply chains that extend directly to the point-of-need. Key features of the FX20 include: Production-grade printer. 5x larger build chamber than any other Markforged machine. Unmatched performance. Breakthrough reliability and high-speed printing without sacrificing quality. Large, heated build chamber. Massive heated build chamber contains a 525 mm x 400 mm x 400 mm build volume capable of printing at 200C. Range of materials. These include: plastic onyx; ULTEM 9085 Filament; Fibre - carbon fibre; fibreglass, Aramid fibre; Kevlar; and HSHT fibreglass. Ease of use. Start builds, monitor machine status, and perform maintenance all in one place through the Digital Forge platform. Large touchscreen. Connect to the Digital Forge platform through a 7 touchscreen. Matthew Hunter said, With the FX20, Konica Minolta is looking forward to helping customers re-shore their operations to Australia, transform to smart factories, open up new revenue streams with additive and subtractive manufacturing, and accelerate innovation with additive manufacturing. COMPANY NEWS: Exabeam, a global cybersecurity leader and creator of New-Scale SIEM for advancing security operations, today announced a ground-breaking cloud-native portfolio of products that enables security teams everywhere to detect the undetectable. New-Scale SIEM is a powerful combination of cloud-scale security log management, industry-leading behavioural analytics, and an automated investigation experience. Built on the cloud-native Exabeam Security Operations Platform, the New-Scale SIEM product portfolio gives worldwide security teams the greatest fighting chance at defeating adversaries with advanced threat detection, investigation, and response (TDIR). The new product portfolio is generally available (GA) today. Security operations teams have faced difficulty defending against complex threats and evolving adversarial behaviour because technology innovation has not kept up in the realm where big data meets cybersecurity, said Exabeam CEO and president Michael DeCesare. Exabeam is known for having the best behavioural analytics product on the marketits why so many of the worlds largest organisations count on Exabeam every day to help stop adversaries, including the majority now utilising valid credentials. We are marrying behaviour analytics with the world's most modern, hyperscale, cloud-native data lake to ingest, parse, store, and search data in real time from anywhere. The SIEM industry has been ripe for evolution for some time and new-scale SIEM represents that evolution. Unmatched performance Significantly more affordable than competitive offerings, the new Exabeam cloud-native product portfolio is built on an open platform that integrates with more than 500 different third-party products and includes nearly 8,000 pre-built parsers, greatly reducing onboarding, deployment, and run times. An industry-first, security teams can now search query responses across petabytes of hot, warm, and cold data in seconds. Organisations can now also process logs at sustained speeds of over one million events per second. The Exabeam Security Operations Platform and portfolio of products are designed like no other on the market. We deliver the single solution security operations analysts can count on to conduct accelerated, thorough threat detection, investigation, and response (TDIR) with the most consistent and successful outcomes, said Exabeam chief product officer Adam Geller. We provide security teams with a holistic picture of their environmentdata from core security products, IT infrastructure, and business applications joined with critical user and device context and timely threat intelligence datato detect what competitive SIEMs simply cant. In addition to our industry-leading behavioural analytics, were proud to deliver world-class security log management and new modular SIEM solutions for organisations at all stages of their data growth and security journey. Understanding normal behaviour to detect and prioritise anomalies Organisations can use Exabeam to defend against the rising threat of external and internal attacks that in todays world are more often than not leveraging compromised credentials. More than 750 behavioural models power 1,200 anomaly detection rules in Exabeam to baseline normal behaviour for every user and device. This is beyond anything a legacy SIEM can possibly create with correlation rules. For example, for an organisation with basic logging, 20,000 users, and 50,000 assets, Exabeam can dynamically build and update 50 million unique detection rules. According to the 2022 Verizon DBIR, over 90% of breaches are rooted in compromised credentials. Whether its phishing, ransomware, malware, or other external threats, valid credentials have emerged as the adversaries primary target. This combined with explosive amounts of data demands a shift in investment from legacy on-premises, rule-based detections to cloud-native SIEM platforms that uniquely understand normal behaviour, even as normal keeps changing. Its all about the credentials. Todays announcement takes Exabeam, our customers, partners, and the SIEM market into an entirely new stratosphere, said Exabeam president Ralph Pisani. Detecting stolen or misused credentialsand the abnormal behaviour that followsis not possible without understanding normal behaviour. If you dont know normal behaviour for every single user and device in your environment, understanding abnormal behaviour in your organisation is a near impossible undertakingthis is a fundamental capability that only Exabeam can deliver on at scale. Whether replacing a legacy product with new-scale SIEM, or complementing an ineffective third-party SIEM solution by adding the industrys most powerful behavioural analytics and automation to it, Exabeam can help organisations achieve security operations success. Exabeam customers are moving to and experiencing the benefits of new-scale SIEM. Exabeam is our holistic security operations platform that provides and coordinates automated visibility, detection, analytics, investigation, and response across our key operating environments, said Patrick Industries IT security manager Jerry Larsen. We have several ERP systems that all need to be protected and Exabeam does the job better than any legacy SIEM we looked at were excited to be an Exabeam customer and part of their innovation machine. At NEC Australia, securing our data, users, devices and infrastructure are paramount to how we operate as a technology company. Having broad and accurate visibility of our IT environment as well as the ability to recognise whats normal behaviour for our users and entities is key, said NEC Australia national service manager security and compliance Peter Frochtenicht. Deploying Exabeams SIEM has enabled our team to effectively prioritise security alerts, which has freed up time for our analysts to focus on other security tasks, whilst also having a greater understanding of our attack surface and how all our employees interact with our resources. New Exabeam products include: Exabeam Security Log Management - Cloud-scale security log management to ingest, parse, store, and search log data with powerful dashboarding and correlation. Exabeam SIEM - Cloud-native SIEM at hyperscale with fast, modern search, and powerful correlation, reporting, dashboarding, and case management. Exabeam Fusion - new-scale SIEM, powered by modern, scalable security log management, powerful behavioural analytics, and automated TDIR. Exabeam Security Analytics - Automated threat detection powered by user and entity behaviour analytics with correlation and threat intelligence. Exabeam Security Investigation - TDIR powered by user and entity behaviour analytics, correlation rules, and threat intelligence, supported by alerting, incident management, automated triage, and response workflows. Exabeam architected its new security operations platform and New-Scale SIEM product portfolio on Google Cloud We are delighted that Exabeam has built its platform and portfolio of products on Google Cloud to help more companies securely leverage their data at cloud scale, said Google Cloud vice president and general manager data analytics and business intelligence Gerrit Kazmaier. The combination of Exabeam cybersecurity products with Google's Data Cloud capabilities removes limits on security team productivity, storage, and speed to fully optimize security operations. To learn more about the new Exabeam product portfolio, visit the Exabeam website. About Exabeam Exabeam is a global cybersecurity leader that created new-scale SIEM for advancing security operations. Built for security people by security people, we reduce business risk and elevate human performance. The powerful combination of our cloud-scale security log management, behavioural analytics, and automated investigation experience gives security operations an unprecedented advantage over adversaries including insider threats, nation states, and other cyber criminals. We detect the undetectable by understanding normal behaviour, even as normal keeps changinggiving security operations teams a holistic view of incidents for faster, more complete response. COMPANY NEWS: Customer expectations regarding their post-purchase experiences continue to rise, posing a challenge for retailers to offer more flexibility, communication and support. With growing pressure for retailers to meet new customer demands, Manhattan Associates has released a range of solutions aimed at improving post-purchase activity. "For retailers, the post-purchase customer experience has traditionally been underserviced given the degree of difficulty in offering the flexibility shoppers desire. Today, with new solutions coming onto the market that evolve e-commerce post-purchase activity, retailers have greater visibility and access to change customer orders after purchase to improve the overall shopping experience," said Manhattan Associates managing director ANZ Raghav Sibal. New late-stage order modification features as part of Manhattan Active Omni solution from Manhattan Associates allow shoppers to change their delivery address even after purchase has been completed using Digital Self-Service screens. This feature allows order changes well after the fulfillment starts which helps in reducing the return rate. A new notification is shared to let the customer know that the address has been changed along with the updated ETA due to the address change. This enhancement also helps to reduce the cost per contact within the retailers contact centre. "Shoppers today want the flexibility to make changes to orders that they just placed. This could be because they forgot to update an old address, or they want a delivery to an office rather than at home if it is a delivery that they know they will need to sign for. Being able to offer customers the ability to modify order details that they placed delivers desired flexibility from a post-purchase perspective and drives in more customer loyalty and retention when they feel empowered to make some of these changes themselves," said Sibal. Customers have a few options available to them once they receive their Buy-Online Pickup from Store (BOPIS) ready for pickup notification via email or text. One of the options is the ability to extend their pickup window if they are not able to pick up the item on time. Manhattan Associates has enhanced extend pickup window functionality for retailers to provide greater flexibility around the number of extensions the customer can make. This limit is configurable and if customers need to add to the number of extensions (or retailers need to the limit of extensions), this extended flexibility is now offered. As part of its release of new post-purchase features, Manhattan Associates is also offering enhanced customer notification around delivery delays. Typically, the customer will receive a shipment confirmation notification that includes the delivery ETA along with the carrier information and shipment tracking URL. Once the items have been shipped Manhattan Active Omni constantly checks with the carrier via the relevant API for events like delivery delays and shipment delivery. Now end customers can receive timely notifications to indicate if there are delivery delays that occur due to reasons like weather situations, driver shortage etc. These new notifications that can be sent to customers once the system receives a delivery delay or exception including a change in the delivery ETA. The customer can also be notified if there has been a delivery attempt. "Customers experience post-purchase order delivery anxiety if they dont receive timely notifications about their shipment and subsequent carrier delivery delays after the items have been shipped. Sending a personalised, timely alert about a delivery delay or an exception helps customers to plan ahead and, most importantly, feel valued. This timely communication directly impacts customer satisfaction and increases customer loyalty and retention," concluded Sibal. About Manhattan Associates Manhattan Associates is a technology leader in supply chain and omnichannel commerce. We unite information across the enterprise, converging front-end sales with back-end supply chain execution. Our software, platform technology and unmatched experience help drive both top-line growth and bottom-line profitability for our customers. Manhattan Associates designs, builds and delivers leading edge cloud and on-premises solutions so that across the store, through your network or from your fulfillment centre, you are ready to reap the rewards of the omnichannel marketplace. GUEST OPINION: Lately, there has been a shift in the usual way of marketing, whereby manufacturers sell to retailers. Manufacturers now sell or wish to sell directly to consumers (DTC), thereby eliminating wholesalers and retailers from selling directly to customers. This new marketing strategy reduces costs and comes with many advantages for manufacturers. Reasons for the switch to DTC In many ways, DTC Selling has been shown to be beneficial to both manufacturers and consumers. Here are the salient reasons for cutting out the middleman and turning to DTC: It gives brands control over their reputation - This is one primary reason why brands switch to the DTC sales strategy. Since DTC selling helps provide first-hand customer data information, brands are in a better position to make decisions that will keep their reputation top-notch. Customers would instead buy directly from manufacturers - A study conducted on the eCommerce preferences of consumers shows that 88% of customers prefer to buy directly from the brands. Buying directly from brands removes the extra expense due to the middleman chain. It also gives expert information about the product customers wants to purchase. It helps to build better relationships with customers - This will make customers happy because brands will have direct access to customers' thoughts on their products and can work on the product to suit customer tastes. This customer relationship will, in turn, help build loyal customers. Increased sales growth - DTC selling helps manufacturers eliminate extra sales incurred by the former wholesale and retail processes. Obstacles manufacturers may face when turning to DTC selling Regardless of the advantages when manufacturers switch to DTC selling, there are some likely obstacles they can encounter upon taking this step. The two major obstacles are: High advertising cost - This is one major obstacle that is common when starting or transitioning to a DTC selling strategy. To sell these days, you have to put your products right in front of your customers, and running ads is one effective way to do that. Targeted ads will give your brand a bigger chance of visibility and, eventually, more leads. All this being said, running ads require a lot of money to fund, and advertising through sponsored ads is important in DTC selling. Disrupted supply chain - Changing the normal supply flow from the wholesaler and retailer to supplying directly to customers will inevitably affect the delivery structure on the manufacturer's end. However, using manufacturing software is an excellent way of handling this obstacle and bridging the gap. An example of this kind of software is Katana MRP. How to start a DTC eCommerce website Are you looking to join the many manufacturers switching over to DTC selling? Well, here are a few important steps that would help you get your DTC plans up and running: Get a high-quality product - Having a high-quality product and investing in it is very necessary. Part of the investment should be towards technologies that will make great PDPs, i.e., Product Detail Pages. These great product Pages will give your customers a better buying experience and product interaction. Create a solid marketing plan - This can be made easy by purchasing tremendous and effective marketing ERP software that keeps you in control of all in-house marketing operations. It would be helpful with end-to-end traceability and also helps to manage sales. As mentioned earlier, great marketing strategies like targeted ads help put your products in the face of your customers. Create a website - Create a website that helps display your product and make it always up to date. Your website can also take care of orders and ensure that your website offers the best customer service experience. Consistent examination - Your business depends a lot on this. Consistently measure essential areas of your business like customer experience, customer interaction, sales growth, and so on. Having constant examinations keeps you abreast of how your business is fairing and vital areas of improvement. Conclusion Any upcoming or pre-existing brand that plans to turn to DTC selling is up to a good start, but that does not take away the need for thorough market analysis. Proper analysis will help to navigate common obstacles and better explore the opportunities in DTC selling. Intra-Asian internet bandwidth has steadily increased from 36% in 2012 to 60% in 2022, but during the same time period, the share of bandwidth that connects Asia to the US and Canada decreased from 49% to just 20%, according to telecommunications market research firm TeleGeography. International internet bandwidth growth remains strong throughout Asia, resulting in an increasingly competitive IP transit market. Between 2019 and 2022, 100 GigE IP transit port prices across Hong Kong, Singapore, and Tokyo, which play host to most of Asias traffic exchange and content hosting, decreased by 24% compounded annually, according to TeleGeographys Global Internet Geography research. In Q2 2022, weighted median 100 GigE port prices in Hong Kong and Tokyo were $0.55 and $0.58 per Mbps. And in Singapore, the 100 GigE price was just $0.45 per Mbps after dropping 27% over the past three years. Despite recent declines, Asia maintains a higher price compared to the US and Europe. In Q2 2022, the weighted median price for a 100 GigE port in Singapore was 3.5 times that of a comparable port in London and three times that in New York. Similarly, a 100 GigE port in Hong Kong was 4.2 times that of London and 3.7 times that in New York, said TeleGeography senior research manager Brianna Boudreau. Singapore, Hong Kong, and Tokyo remain competitive hubs for Asia, despite the gap compared to US and Europe hubs. Its a reminder that theres more to becoming an internet hub than price disparity narrowing, she said. Out of the three established hubs, Singapore is the biggest player, and features over 100Tbps of international internet bandwidth with a CAGR of 42% over the past five years, beating Japan, and China, including Hong Kong, in terms of absolute bandwidth and growth rates. As the Asian market develops, content providers like Google and Meta aim to improve user experience in the region by reducing latency. To do so, they push their content across the Pacific on their private networks to host it in established Asian hubs. This places content closer to end users, hence reducing latency, shared TeleGeography research analyst Marvin Tan. As a result, the demand growth to deploy high-capacity links from Asia to North America have begun to slow in comparison to demand growth from intra-Asia capacity. The research also reveals that cloud service providers (CSPs) are continuing their rapid expansion in Asia driven by the significant growth in internet and cloud service demand. According to TeleGeography, Asia has over 70 existing cloud regions. The region is home to the most in-service cloud zones with a total count of over 200 zones. The US and Canada follow suit from a distance with an estimated 120 zones. This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 19 October 2022. WikiLeaks founder and publisher Julian Assange will take his own life if he is extradited to the US, his lawyer Jennifer Robinson says, adding that the situation is very serious and the Australian Government needs to act on it immediately. She told the ABC 730 program on Tuesday: "...the situation is incredibly urgent. Julian's health is declining in front of our eyes. He has already suffered a mini stroke. He has got COVID right now in prison, which doctors say could be life -threatening for him." Asked by 730 host Sarah Ferguson if the argument that Assange should be brought back to Australia after his sentencing so he could serve out any term in his own country had any merit, Robinson replied: "The problem with that solution, it is no solution. He would have to go to the US, be convicted, exhaust all appeal processes, and we're talking about another decade of legal process. He won't last that long. The medical evidence makes clear he won't last that long. "If he is extradited, he will suicide. This is a very serious situation and one the Australian Government needs to be acting upon and acting upon now." 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. Assange lawyer Jen Robinson speaks to @abc730: "This precedent means that any journalist anywhere in the world could be extradited and face prosecution for publishing truthful information" | @suigenerisjen pic.twitter.com/uCxY9ziMnx WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) October 18, 2022 His brother, Gabriel Shipton, told iTWire 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. Ferguson pointed out that events around the case had been extraordinary and bizarre. "You and other lawyers were put under surveillance by British intelligence, the former head of the CIA Mike Pompeo, we understand, planned to kidnap or assassinate Assange when he was in the Ecuadorian embassy. Can you really imagine that the US will relent on its intention to put him on trial?" she asked. In response, Robinson said: "We continue to make an ask of the US Government that they drop the charges against Julian because of the important free speech principles at play. "This precedent means that any journalist anywhere in the world can be extradited and face prosecution for publishing truthful information. That is before we even get into the abuse of process in this case - spying on us as his lawyers, spying on Julian, seizure of legally privileged material. "So we continue to make the ask of the US Government and indeed of the Australian Government to ask for this to be put to an end." The CIA plan to kill or kidnap WikiLeaks Publisher Julian Assange | @CBSNews #FreeAssangeNOW pic.twitter.com/9QNBgSWiLS WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) October 18, 2022 Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had said during the election campaign that he thought the Assange affair had gone on too long and needed to be ended. The same argument was repeated by Foreign Minister Penny Wong after the election and, more recently, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus repeated the same thing. All these statements have led people to infer that the Labor Government is conducting quiet diplomacy to free Assange. However, Shipton told iTWire in September that there were conflicting signals from different Labor officials; while Albanese had made the statement referred to above, Labor Senator Don Farrell had said Australia could not interfere in court proceedings of other countries, a similar statement to that which was made by the previous Morrison government on more than one occasion. Ferguson asked whether, given that any step that US President Joe Biden took to release Assange would not serve his party well in the forthcoming US mid-term elections, there was any other option being considered by Assange's defence team, if talks being conducted by Australia broke down. Robinson replied: "We have filed our cross appeal against the order for his extradition. We are awaiting permission from the High Court. It remains to be seen if we will have it, but that could mean he could either be extradited soon or we could be tied up in legal processes in the United Kingdom all the way to the European Court of Human Rights for many years to come. "His health won't last that long. We have to take action more quickly than that." Swedish telecommunications equipment vendor Ericsson and its Finnish competitor Nokia have both been given contracts to be part of building India's first 5G network. Ericsson said in a statement on Monday that it had signed a long-term deal with Reliance Jio Infocomm to roll out a 5G standalone network. The same day, Nokia said it had been selected by Reliance Jio as a major supplier for 5G radio access network equipment from its AirScale portfolio. Reliance Jio is owned by the Ambani family, the richest business family in India. Given the size of the country and the population of 1.3 billion, Jio, which is Indias largest mobile operator, has a very big RAN footprint. Of the Ericsson deal, Reliance Jio chairman Akash Ambani said: We are delighted to partner with Ericsson for Jios 5G SA rollout. Jio transformed the digital landscape in India with the launch of LTE services in 2016. "We are confident that Jios 5G network will accelerate Indias digitalization and will serve as the foundation for achieving our nations Digital India vision. And referring to the deal with Nokia, Ambani said: "We are pleased to be working with Nokia for our 5G SA deployment in India. Jio is committed to continuously investing in the latest network technologies to enhance the experience of all of its customers. We are confident that our partnership with Nokia will deliver one of the most advanced 5G networks globally. Ericsson president and chief executive Borje Ekholm said: India is building world-class digital infrastructure that will drive innovation, job creation and entrepreneurship across the country. "We are happy to partner with Jio in those ambitions, through Ericsson 5G Standalone connectivity, which will be a major catalyst in meeting those digital transformation goals across society, enterprise and industry. And Nokia president and chief executive Pekka Lundmark commented: This is a significant win for Nokia in an important market and a new customer with one of the largest RAN footprints in the world. "This ambitious project will introduce millions of people across India to premium 5G services, enabled by our industry-leading AirScale portfolio. We are proud that Reliance Jio has placed its trust in our technology and we look forward to a long and productive partnership with them. 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. Monticello, IL (61856) Today Mostly cloudy skies. High near 50F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies overnight. Low 39F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. A student learns to speak Chinese during a Chinese language class at Immanuel Shifidi Secondary School in Windhoek, Namibia, on Oct. 17, 2022. In-person Chinese language classes for secondary schools in Namibia resumed on Monday after a long break over the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua) WINDHOEK, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- In-person Chinese language classes for secondary schools in Namibia resumed on Monday after a long break over the COVID-19 pandemic. There are more than 40 learners registered in advance, but more than 60 learners came on-site. The classes are offered by the Confucius Institute at the University of Namibia. "Ni hao ma? Wo hen hao." Learners repeated with enthusiasm as they learned their first words and phrases during an introductory lesson at Immanuel Shifidi in Windhoek, the Namibian capital, on Monday. "You are doing well. Let us try again," said Zhu Jiamin, a teacher for the day. The elementary classes focus on the basic understanding of Mandarin, including an introduction to Chinese characters and daily expression. "The classes also provide a good space for cultural exchange. And learners progress to another level as their proficiency improves," said Zhu. Learners attend a Chinese language class at Immanuel Shifidi Secondary School in Windhoek, Namibia, on Oct. 17, 2022. In-person Chinese language classes for secondary schools in Namibia resumed on Monday after a long break over the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua) The institute expects to enroll nearly 100 learners at two secondary schools in Windhoek, said Liu Dianbo, director of the institute. "Studying the Chinese language comes with many opportunities. Not only do we host local competitions and summer camps giving learners opportunities to travel to China, but also scholarships," he said. Meanwhile, the learners are keen to learn the language. For Selma Mulilo, a grade nine learner at the school, learning the Chinese language meant she would immerse in Chinese culture. "I decided to enroll in the Chinese language class as it will open many doors, such as further studies for me. I am even more motivated because the Chinese teachers are so confident and kind," Mulilo said. Herman Katjiuongua, school principal of Immanuel Shifidi Secondary School, said that the school had hosted the Chinese class since 2017. "Teaching the Chinese language resonates with the broader China-Namibia relations in promoting people-to-people relations with deeper meaning, evident in many benefits for locals," Katjiuongua said. War broke out in northern Ethiopia nearly two years ago when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, backed by neighbouring Eritrea, ordered a military offensive against the ruling party in Tigray. On Wednesday the African Union said the warring sides have agreed to a cessation of hostilities. Here is a timeline: - November 2020: troops enter Tigray - On November 4, 2020, Abiy launches military operations against the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), a former guerrilla group that dominated Ethiopian politics for nearly three decades before he took power, and which he accuses of attacking federal army bases. Eritrea, which fought a war with the TPLF from 1998 to 2000, sends troops into Tigray to help Ethiopian forces. Two weeks later, Tigray's capital Mekele falls to government forces. - March 2021: 'ethnic cleansing' - In March 2021, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks of "ethnic cleansing" in Tigray. Abiy announces the departure of Eritrean forces. - June 2021: Tigrayans advance - In June 2021, the rebels retake Mekele and push into the neighbouring regions of Amhara and Afar. Abiy is sworn in for a new five-year term on October 4. In November, he announces a state of emergency and goes to the frontline to personally direct his troops in battle. A UN investigation warns of suspected crimes against humanity by all sides. - December 2021: government gains - In December government forces retake a string of towns including Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage site home to 13th-century churches carved out of rock. The rebels withdraw from Amhara and Afar. - March 2022: humanitarian truce - In March, the government and rebels agree a truce to help accelerate the delivery of emergency aid to the region. In June, the two sides agree to the prospect of peace talks but they fail to agree on who should act as mediator. - August 2022: renewed fighting - In late August, the truce falls apart as fighting resumes on Tigray's southern border, with the rebels accusing Ethiopian and Eritrean forces of launching a major new offensive. On September 11, Tigrayan authorities announce they are ready for a ceasefire and peace process mediated by the African Union but the fighting continues. On September 19, UN investigators say they suspect the government of "using starvation as a method of warfare" in Tigray. - October 2022: peace talks - On October 5, the government and rebels both say they have accepted an invitation to peace talks in South Africa, but they do not take place. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warns the situation "is spiralling out of control" as government forces take control of Shire and two other Tigrayan towns. On October 20, the government says that the African Union has set a new date for talks. On October 25, the talks begin in the South African capital Pretoria, and on November 2 the warring sides agree to a "cessation of hostilities". The African Union says the deal signals a new "dawn" for Ethiopia. doc-jmy/mw/imm HERITAGE OIL A fourth United Nations soldier has died from injuries from a highway bomb in northern Mali, a day after the blast claimed the lives of three of his comrades, a spokesman for the UN peacekeeping mission said Tuesday. Their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device (IED) during a search for mines in Tessalit, in the deeply troubled Kidal region. Two other peacekeepers were seriously injured, the MINUSMA mission said. UN chief Antonio Guterres, in a statement issued in New York, strongly condemned the blast and warned that attacks on peacekeepers could constitute war crimes under international law. The peacekeepers were part of MINUSMA's Chadian contingent, an official at the mission's camp in Kidal said on condition of anonymity. MINUSMA -- the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali -- was launched in 2013 to help one of the world's poorest countries cope with a bloody jihadist campaign. It is one of the UN's biggest peacekeeping operations, with 17,612 troops, police, civilians and volunteers deployed as of May, according to the mission's website. In total, 181 of its members have been killed in hostile acts, one of the highest tolls in the history of "blue helmet" operations. Seventy-six of the fatalities have been inflicted through IEDs. The cruise missiles had just finished smashing into Kyiv when Tetyana Telyzhenko buried the mutilated body of her tortured son in the capital's traumatised suburb of Bucha. Tuesday's strikes appeared to be aimed at Ukrainian power stations that Russian-guided suicide drones had failed to reach the previous day. But the body of Tetyana's 44-year-old son Oleksiy had been missing since his capture in Russia's aborted assault on Kyiv in the first weeks of the war in March. Tetyana never saw her son's corpse after its discovery in a random field last month. Her granddaughter decided it would be too much. "She wouldn't let me see his interrogation video either," the grieving mother said. "She told me that I wouldn't recognise him after what they had done to him." The Russians have launched a punishing new air assault on Ukraine's biggest cities after failing to seize them in the first eight months of war. - Punishing air assault - This has pierced the euphoric mood that permeated Kyiv after its residents took up arms and pushed the Russians back -- at monumental cost. One of these men was Oleksiy. UN investigators concluded last month that "war crimes" had been committed by Russian forces in Kyiv suburbs such as Bucha and Irpin. Ukraine's national police puts the number of civilians executed by invading soldiers or killed by Russian bombs in Bucha and its neighbouring town at 1,137. Oleksiy's mother said her son was probably being interrogated by the Russians about his peacetime work as a top instructor at Ukraine's SBU security service academy. He had only just signed up with a local volunteer defence unit when he disappeared. But she has no idea how he died. His body was identified through DNA. "It must have been so difficult for him," she whispered. - Tired of asking - "He had never killed a thing in his life. He was so squeamish that he couldn't even kill the fish that he caught in the river." The UN war crimes investigations had helped bring a sense of closure to many who lost loved ones during the first weeks after the invasion. Kyiv began rebuilding its suburbs and families that had fled abroad began to return. This month's shift in Russian tactics to long-range strikes aimed at wiping out Ukraine's critical infrastructure ahead of the approaching winter has brought the war home to Kyiv. The city's power grid is still holding up and its streets fill up with traffic around lunchtime. But shops are boarding up windows and taking unplanned breaks to allow staff to rush to safety when air raid sirens -- which most had begun to ignore -- wail at random hours. The rector of Oleksiy's SBU academy had the air of a man slightly embarrassed by continuously begging for Western military help as he laid to rest the body of one of his former star students. "We are very grateful for the help that our international partners have been able to give," SBU academy rector Andriy Chernyak said at the Bucha cemetery. - 'I simply hate them' - "But everyone needs to understand that this is not a fight for Ukraine. It is a fight for democracy and peace." Oleksiy's Russian-speaking mother said she now felt nothing but anger and pain. Her life was intertwined with those of her Russian friends on the other sides of the border before the Kremlin's forces invaded on February 24. But Russian President Vladimir Putin's war has changed all that. Any Kremlin attempt to win over Ukrainian hearts and minds -- if that ever was the plan -- had had the reverse effect on Tetyana. "I have many friends in Russia. Now I don't even know whether to treat them as friends," she said moments after the funeral. "They keep writing to me, saying 'We are not responsible for this'. But I simply can't deal with it. If they support that regime, I simply hate them." French cement giant Lafarge SA was slapped with a $778 million fine Tuesday for making millions in payments to the Islamic State and another jihadist group to build its business in Syria. The US Justice Department said the company and its Syrian subsidiary actively sought the Islamic State (IS) group's help to squeeze out competitors when the radical Islamists controlled large parts of Syria and Iraq in 2013-2014, operating an effective "revenue sharing agreement" with them. It also paid access and protection money to associates of IS and the similarly radical Al-Nusrah Front, ultimately earning some $70 million in revenues during the period, with a Lafarge executive saying the cooperation was "to share the cake." Lafarge agreed to the fine and to plead guilty to one count of conspiring to provide material support to US-designated foreign terrorist organizations, the first time a corporation has faced the charge. - 'Unthinkable choice' - US officials said Lafarge, now owned by Swiss giant Holcim Group, made itself a handmaiden to terror for profits. "In the midst of a civil war, Lafarge made the unthinkable choice to put money into the hands of ISIS, one of the world's most barbaric terrorist organizations, so that it could continue selling cement," US prosecutor Breon Peace said, using another acronym for IS. "This unprecedented charge and resolution reflect the extraordinary crimes committed and demonstrates that corporations that take actions in contravention of our national security interests in violation of the law will be held to account," Peace said. In a statement, Lafarge said the company and its defunct subsidiary Lafarge Cement Syria "have accepted responsibility for the actions of the individual executives involved." "We deeply regret that this conduct occurred and have worked with the US Department of Justice to resolve this matter." Holcim, which took over Lafarge in 2015 without knowledge of the Syria business dealings, said it had been cleared of any wrongdoing by US authorities. "None of the conduct involved Holcim, which has never operated in Syria, or any Lafarge operations or employees in the United States," it said. Holcim shares traded in Switzerland were suspended temporarily when the announcement was made but ended the day up 2.8 percent at 42.82 Swiss francs ($43.07). - Millions in payments - Lafarge began operating a 680 million euro ($670 million) cement plant in northern Syria in 2010, the year IS swept the region with a brutal campaign to establish its extremist "caliphate." That sparked a counter-offensive by the Iraq military and Syrian Kurdish forces backed by the US-led international coalition in the region. The US designated IS and Al-Nusrah terror organizations, threatening tough penalties against anyone working with them. Rather than withdraw like other companies, Lafarge kept working to market its cement, the Justice Department said. From 2013 to 2104, it paid IS and Al-Nusrah around $5.9 million, some for raw materials, some as payments based on the volume of cement sold and some simply as monthly "donations." Lafarge paid another $1.1 million to intermediaries between the two groups. It also worked out a deal with IS to make it harder for cheaper Turkish cement suppliers to sell their goods in the same area, allowing Lafarge to keep its prices higher. - Sharing 'the cake' - Company executives knew of the arrangement, the Justice Department said. In 2014, a senior supervisory official who reported directly to Lafarge's chief executive wrote to officials in the Syria subsidiary about negotiations with IS. "We have to maintain the principle that we are ready to share the 'cake,' if there is a 'cake,'" he wrote, defining cake as "profit." Lafarge "negotiated and made unlawful payments at a time when these groups were gaining territory and brutalizing innocent civilians in Syria and elsewhere and were actively plotting against Americans," said US Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen. Lafarge still faces charges in France for complicity in crimes against humanity. In May, a French appeals court approved the charge, opening the door for a trial of the company and eight executives, including former CEO Bruno Lafont. Lafarge continues to fight that case, but now faces the possibility of the introduction of evidence from the US prosecution. Unlike in the United States, it does not have the option of negotiating a settlement, which is disallowed under French anti-terrorism statutes. pmh/jh LAFARGEHOLCIM Hong Kongs new leader on Wednesday unveiled plans to revitalize the business hub, hoping to lure international expertise back to a city that has suffered an exodus of talent and is mired in a deep downturn. John Lee, a former security chief anointed by Beijing, delivered a first policy speech that focused heavily on reviving the economy and maintaining security while acknowledging that tens of thousands of people had fled a city seen as a gateway to China serves. In the last two years, the local workforce has shrunk by about 140,000, he said. In addition to actively nurturing and retaining local talent, the government will proactively scour the world for talent. Hong Kong has experienced its most turbulent period since the city was handed over to China in 1997. Huge and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests three years ago have been followed by a sweeping crackdown on dissent and some of the worlds toughest rules for the coronavirus pandemic, many of which remained in effect long after competing centers reopened. The city, which just last month lifted mandatory quarantine on international arrivals, is expected to end the year in a full-blown recession and see its budget deficit skyrocket. The border with mainland China remains all but closed due to Beijings strict zero-Covid rules. Lees speech presented his blueprint to reverse the downturn and restart the city as an attractive international hub. Measures introduced included HK$30 billion (US$3.8 billion) for a new investment fund to attract foreign companies and make it easier to hire foreigners in 13 key jobs. The city will also give preferential treatment to top talent, defined as those earning HK$2.5 million annually or more, and graduates from the worlds top 100 universities who have relevant work experience. Overseas talent who paid extra taxes when buying Hong Kong property can get a refund if they become permanent residents, a status available after seven years in the city, Lee added. Stability is the requirement Hong Kong is gradually moving away from its version of Chinas zero-Covid policy after nearly three years, which failed to keep the virus out and cut the city off internationally. Experts and business groups had long warned that tough coronavirus policies are driving out foreign companies and making it harder to attract and retain talent Authorities have scrapped the unpopular hotel quarantine for arriving travelers and relaxed some social distancing rules. But the pace of Hong Kongs reopening is still lagging behind regional rivals like Singapore which has embarked on a charm offensive to attract international talent and has rebounded as a global transportation hub. Aside from the pandemic, many residents particularly locals have cited the ongoing political crackdown as the main reason for leaving, with many workplaces and schools being reshaped by pro-Beijing ideology. Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong in 2020, following anti-democracy protests the year before, transforming the citys once open atmosphere and eradicating most dissent. Most prominent local democracy activists are either in prison, awaiting trial, or have fled abroad. City leader Lee, who took office in July, is a former security chief who oversaw the crackdown and is on a list of officials sanctioned by the United States. Lee stressed that the government will push for more national security legislation and possible new rules on misinformation. Hong Kongs development does not allow for delay. Social stability is the prerequisite for our development, and we must free ourselves from any interference, Lee said. A poll by the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (PORI) found that 60 percent of supporters of the pro-democracy camp were dissatisfied with Lees political stance in his first 100 days in office. Around 200 people were arrested and dozens injured when protests against social inequality in Chile sparked overnight clashes and looting, police said on Wednesday. In the capital Santiago, protesters set fire to a truck and stole two city buses, also looting supermarkets, a pharmacy and a toy store a total of 15 stores. According to Deputy Interior Minister Manuel Monsalve, two dozen police officers and 18 civilians were injured in clashes at 150 demonstrations involving about 2,300 protesters across the country, with 195 people arrested. The protests began on Tuesday with barricades burning around Santiago on the anniversary of a social uprising that protesters say has yet to bring the societal change they want. Traffic was disrupted, subway stations closed and students sent home early, 25,000 police officers were deployed across the country to keep the peace 5,000 of them in the capital, where several hundred demonstrators took to the streets. The protests came exactly three years after a mass revolt against an increase in subway fares began in 2019, which quickly escalated into a general call for better conditions and social equality. The government suspended price hikes, but protests continued and dozens were killed in months of clashes. Hundreds of people were injured. The 2019 demonstrations have sparked reforms, including the governments approval of drafting a new constitution to replace the one inherited from Augusto Pinochets military dictatorship and seen as pro-market. In December, Chile elected leftist President Gabriel Boric, who supported the 2019 uprising and subsequent constitutional process. But last month, despite the renewed revolutionary sentiment, nearly two-thirds of voters rejected the proposed draft, fearing parts of the document were too far-reaching. A constitutional provision legalizing abortion was a key stumbling block in the conservative, majority-Catholic country. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro apologized Tuesday after his visit to a group of teenagers he implied were sex workers, drawing accusations of pedophilia from opponents. The far-right president, who was fighting for re-election in a runoff against veteran leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Oct. 30, was caught in a firestorm over his comments about underage Venezuelan girls, whom he called very pretty. If my words, maliciously taken out of context, were in any way misinterpreted or made our Venezuelan sisters uncomfortable, I apologize, Bolsonaro said in a video posted online. My commitment has always been to better welcome and help all people fleeing dictatorships around the world, he added, flanked by his wife and Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidos representative in Brazil. Bolsonaro recognizes Guaido as Venezuelas legitimate leader, rather than socialist President Nicolas Maduro. The controversy erupted on Friday when Bolsonaro spoke in a YouTube interview about visiting the home of three or four very pretty 14 or 15 year olds in a poor neighborhood of Brasilia last year. There was a vibe between us. I turned around. Can I come to your house? I went in. There were 15 or 20 girls (in the house), all Venezuelans, ages 14, 15, getting ready on a Saturday. Why? To make a living, he said. The anecdote seemed intended as one of Bolsonaros frequent warnings that Brazil will suffer the same fate as troubled Venezuela if it votes for Lula. But Bolsonaro has been on the defensive after Lula allies attacked the comments as tainted and the hashtag #Bolsonaropedofilo (Bolsonaro pedophile) went viral online. His campaign was successful in a petition to the electoral authorities on Sunday to ban an attack ad based on excerpts from the interview. But Bolsonaro said the previous day had been the most terrifying of my life. repeated anecdote In an interview Tuesday, Lula said Bolsonaros behavior was that of a paedophile. He realized it, so he got scared and tried to explain himself as soon as possible, Lula said. After Bolsonaros apology, at least two more videos were shared online in which the president shared the same anecdote about the girls. Rosangela da Silva, Lulas wife, tweeted an excerpt of another interview with Bolsonaro a month ago in which he implied the girls were prostitutes. In May, Bolsonaro also shared the anecdote during an event that was broadcast on public television. Do we want that for our daughters and granddaughters? he said. Bolsonaro, who has vehemently dismissed criticism from the opposition, said in Tuesdays video that his former womens minister, Damares Alves, almost immediately investigated the girls case and determined they were not in fact prostitutes. He said Alves and First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro visited the girls Tuesday and found them rebuilding their lives (and) even helping other Venezuelan refugees find work and integrate in Brazil, which has an estimated 260,000 Venezuelans accommodates refugees, migrants and asylum seekers. OTTAWA, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) Class members who have yet to file their claim for the Federal Indian Day School Class Action Settlement are urged to submit their renewal request form along with their claim form as soon as possible January 2023 is fast approaching. The Settlement Agreement sets January 13, 2023 as the end of the filing process. This is the final deadline. It is important that group members understand that the claims administrator will not accept renewal application forms and claim forms after January 13, 2023, said Cam Cameron, head of class advocacy for Federal Indian Day School implementation. There is still time and we stand available to provide legal assistance to anyone who needs help with their claim. More than half of the renewal requests were related to probate matters, Cameron added. Probate claims are generally more complex and require specific documentation that changes depending on a number of factors, such as: Visit indiandayshcools.com for more information on probate claims. Supports available to class members Class Counsel assists class members throughout the claims process. Individuals can obtain free legal assistance and assistance in completing their claim forms by calling or emailing the Gowling WLG call center at 1-844-539-3815 [email protected]. However, independent legal advice may be required if you wish to be appointed as an estate representative. Mental health counseling and crisis support is available to class members 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through the Hope for Wellness Helpline. Contact Hope for Wellness at 1-855-242-3310 or via chat online at hopeforwellness.ca. Advice is available in English, French, Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut upon request. Media contact: Neethisha Song Joong Ki's new drama "Reborn Rich" continues to pique the interest of viewers with fascinating teasers ahead of its premiere. After introducing the cast through the drama's official poster, the upcoming JTBC series unveiled another intriguing teaser featuring lead stars Lee Sung Min and Song Joong Ki. Song Joong Ki's New Drama 'Reborn Rich' Releases Second Teaser JTBC updated viewers with an exciting teaser highlighting the tension between Lee Sung Min and Song Joong Ki's characters. In the second official poster, the network featured the Sunyang Group CEO Jin yang Chul, played by the veteran actor, holding the shoulders of Song Joong Ki who plays Jin Do Joon and Yoon Hyun Woo. Exuding a mysterious vibe, the Instagram caption hints at what viewers will expect in the upcoming series. "I am reborn with the roots of the family that killed me," the caption reads while introducing a "suspicious family hiding their secret and desires." Meet the 'Reborn Rich' Cast Initially called "The Youngest Son of a Conglomerate," Song Joong Ki's new drama is based on the web novel of the same name that follows the story of Yoon Hyun Woo. He works for Sunyang Group for over a decade and is among their loyal employees. However, despite being a long-time worker, he was murdered after Yoon Hyun Woo was framed for embezzlement. Interestingly, he returns with a vengeance after he was reborn as the family's youngest son, Jin Do Joon. With his new status and identity, he took this as an opportunity to fulfill his most awaited revenge and that is to take over the conglomerate owned by CEO Jin Yang Chul, played by Lee Sung Min. Joining Song Joong Ki and Lee Sung Min is "Hospital Playlist" actress Shin Hyun Bin who took the role of prosecutor Seo Min Young. Her fearless and tough personality gained her the moniker "grim reaper of Sunyang Group.." Apart from the trio, viewers will also see Song Joong Ki's reunion with "Vincenzo" co-star Jo Han Chul playing the second-born son Jin Dong Ki who is married to Yoo Ji Na, portrayed by Seo Jae Hee. Meanwhile, the firstborn son named Jin Young Ki is played by Yoon Je Moon, with his on-screen wife, Son Jung Rae, portrayed by Kim Jung Nan. Viewers will also get to see Girls' Generation's Tiffany for her K-drama debut as she plays Rachel. Release Date and Where to Watch 'Reborn Rich'? "Reborn Rich" will be the newest revenge series under JTBC airing thrice a week, every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. One of the much-awaited series, Song Joong Ki's drama will broadcast on November 18 at 10:30 PM KST via JTBC, and ViuTV for subtitles. KDramastars owns this article Written by Geca Wills The brand new episode of "The Law Cafe" gives emphasis to a serious crime committed in the workplace, giving viewers a thing to find resonance from. In addition to that, a surprise is prepared by Lee Seung Gi that makes everyone flutter. Here's what happened in "The Law Cafe" episode 14. 'The Law Cafe' Episode 14: The Culprit's Counterattack With the thought of winning the case, the law cafe squad feels at ease. Unfortunately, they didn't expect that the assemblyman Choi Yeo Hwan (Lee Jae Young) would counterattack. He refutes the accusation made by Choi Song Hwa (Lee Min Young), his secretary and Kim Yu Ri's (Lee Se Young) client. Kim Yu Ri is now more adamant to take him down, including the other politicians who worked with Lee Pyun Woong (Jo Han Chul) in embezzling money and engaging in prostitution. She then convinces her senior and ex-boyfriend Baek Gun Man to take on the case, who aspires to enter politics. The Law Cafe Squad Finds More Evidence Because the court doesn't acknowledge Choi Song Hwa's statements as evidence, the law cafe squad works hard to find more evidence. They meet up with Choi Yeo Hwan's former secretary who was also suffering from harassment. He cries his heart out, thankful that he's not alone in the battle. He agrees to join hands with Choi Song Hwa in taking down their predator. Meanwhile, Seo Eun Gang (Ahn Dong Goo) expresses his good intentions to Choi Song Hwa who's nothing but grateful for his existence. Elsewhere, Lee Pyun Woong doesn't know how to escape the flames. He even threatens his lawyer, Mr. Hwang (Kim Won Hae), and Kim Yu Ri's former boss. Due to this, Mr. Hwang eagerly calls Kim Yu Ri for help, determined to take him down for his wrongdoings. Choi Yeo Hwan also asks President Lee (Jeon Guk Hwan) for help. The latter agrees to clear his name as long as the assemblyman also ends Lee Pyun Woong's career. At the end of the episode, Choi Yeo Hwan admits to all his crimes, and becomes a whistleblower himself of his former acquantances' misdemeanors. Kim Jeong Ho Asks For Kim Yu Ri's Hand in Marriage In episode 14, Kim Jeong Ho is sure that he wants to spend his lifetime with Kim Yu Ri. However, he doesn't know what the latter feels. Despite that, he prepares himself and buys a ring for his beloved, planning to propose. Although worried, he planned the best proposal he could ever think of, only to be ruined when Kim Yu Ri jokes that she's not planning to marry soon. However, Kim Yu Ri also makes her true feelings for Kim Jeong Ho known, giving confidence and esteem to the latter who pulls the ring from his pocket and proposes to the beautiful lawyer. KDramastars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form RCMP Const. Shaelyn Yang is seen in this undated RCMP handout photo. Const. Shaelyn Yang, 31, died in an altercation at a homeless campsite in which the suspect was shot and seriously injured. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, B.C. RCMP *MANDATORY CREDIT* Alberta Premier Danielle Smith holds her first press conference in Edmonton, on Tuesday October 11, 2022. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she is apologizing for what she calls "ill-informed comments on Russia's invasion of Ukraine." THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson The emergency department entrance at the Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus in Ottawa is shown on Monday, May 16, 2022. Some Ontario hospitals are coming up with alternative solutions, including the use of unconventional patient spaces and new staffing models, to deal with high patient volumes and long wait times as cases of COVID-19 and other illnesses rise. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang A warrant has been issued for a Chicago man accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of tools and equipment from the Kenosha Water Utility in late August. Gerald Reed, 59, was charged in Kenosha County Circuit Court Tuesday with felony theft of moveable property worth $10,000 to $100,000, felony operating a vehicle without the owner's consent and misdemeanor criminal damage to property. Court Commissioner Loren Keating issued a $50,000 warrant for his arrest Tuesday afternoon. According to the criminal complaint, a Kenosha Police officer responded to the Kenosha Water Utility, at 4401 Green Bay Road, the morning of Aug. 27 for a report of a burglary. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with Kenosha Water Utility staff who stated that during the nighttime hours, multiple subjects entered the property and stole a work van and materials out of multiple vehicles. Staff said they were unsure of what exactly was taken out of the vehicles and they noticed the padlock on the northwest fence was cut. The officer reviewed video footage and saw that around 1:30 a.m. three individuals were in the yard of the Kenosha Water Utility. All of the individuals were reportedly captured on video walking on the outside of the building near the northwest gate moving toward the northeast corner. The three individuals could later be seen on the video ransacking through multiple vehicles. On an east camera, all three subjects can be seen taking a navy blue colored van bearing Wisconsin municipal registration. The van had a large Kenosha Water Utility symbol on the driver side door. The individuals eventually exited the northwest gate with the van around 3 a.m., the same gate where the padlock had been found cut off, with the van and magnetic locators and drills. The Kenosha Water Utility later documented their total loss to be $46,563. Two days later, Kenosha Police were notified by the Chicago Police Department that the van was recovered by them and in a tow yard. Inside the van investigators reportedly found Reed's wallet and other personal items. According to the complaint, a Special States Attorney informed Kenosha investigators that Reed committed similar crimes in the same time frame as the Kenosha Water Utility incident in both Indiana and Illinois. CHITUNGWIZA mayor, Lovemore Maiko, is allegedly on the run. He did not turn up in court yesterday for his criminal abuse of duty trial. Harare magistrate, Ruth Moyo, issued a warrant for his arrest. The court heard that on September 2, 2019, Maiko allegedly unlawfully stopped Town Clerk, George Makunde, from serving letters of suspension to two senior members. They are Hazel Sithole, the director of housing and community services, and Engineer David Duma, the director of engineering services. It is the States case that contrary to his duties, as a public officer, Maiko appointed Duma to the position of Acting Town Clerk. This was against the provisions of the Urban Councils Act, which states that the chamber secretary automatically becomes the Acting Town Clerk, upon suspension of the Town Clerk. H Metro VICE-President Constantino Chiwenga was confronted by legislators in Parliament yesterday over the mass exodus of nurses and other health professionals as well underfunding of the health sector. Chiwenga, who also doubles as Health and Child Care minister, was quizzed over the sad state of affairs in the public health sector as it emerged that people in border towns were being forced to flock to neighbouring countries for treatment. Mutare Central MP Innocent Gonese (CCC) said the brain drain in the health sector was shocking. Our doctors and nurses are leaving the country and one of the reasons is the issue of the poor health sector. A lot of doctors indicated that sometimes they do not have the tools of trade and these are some of the issues which we want an independent commission (to inquire into), Gonese said. Gonese was supported by Kambuzuma MP Willias Madzimure (CCC) who said: The fact that our health workers are leaving the country in their numbers is an indication that something is not right. We cannot pay a blind eye to that. Madzimure and Gonese raised concern over the poor state of the health sector as they made their contributions on the Health Services Amendment Bill which is before Parliament. The Bill seeks to align the Health Service Act to the Constitution. It contains provisions that bar health workers from speaking out or engaging in job action for a period exceeding 72 hours. Clause 5 of the Bill seeks to classify the health sector as an essential service. Unions representing health workers have dismissed the Bill as repressive and an assault on labour rights. Madzimure added: My plea is that let us use this Bill as a window of opportunity to make sure that we correct all the things that we have failed to do all this while as far as the health sector is concerned so that we retain the best brains. Parliamentary Committee on Health chairperson Ruth Rabode said there was need to redraft the Bill. But Chiwenga said the Bill was necessary to address concerns of healthcare workers as well as to deliver the best health system in the country. When we say conditions of service, we are talking of accommodation, transport and salaries come at the tail end. We want to deal with what it is that the doctor or the professionals in the hospital wants, Chiwenga said before pleading with the MPs to pass the Bill. While Chiwenga was defending the Bill, it emerged that people in Mashonaland Central had resorted to seeking medical attention in Zambia and Mozambique. Mbire ward 1 councillor Christmas Kachasu said: They (people) are crossing over to the Zambian side and this is because of the cost of medicines and consultation fees which are a bit lower compared to those charged in Zimbabwe. The closest hospital we have is 140 kilometres away, and at the end of the day, people prefer to go to the other side of the border because it is about 12 kilometres to get to the waterfront and cross into Zambia and access the hospital. Chief Muzarabani, born Alfonce Chuzu, said: The challenge is drugs here in Zimbabwe are expensive and are not easily found. In Mozambique and Zambia they have adequate medicines especially to cure rabies as most of the attacks here are from dogs and hyenas. There is no exact number of health professionals that have left the country in the past two years, but estimates from their unions put the figure at just over 3 000. The countrys health delivery system suffers a myriad of challenges such as shortage of drugs after years of underfunding by Treasury. Newsday THE United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) has cancelled 21 out of 34 tenders flighted this year to ensure that the Government is not fleeced, but gets value for money after some of the suppliers had highly inflated price. The development comes after Government took a firm position not to pay for goods and services that have inflated prices or priced using the parallel market rates. Some of the tenders that were cancelled at UBH include those for the supply of electrical items, stationery, furniture, delivery of meat and beef products as well as delivery of fruits, vegetables and groceries. Others were on the supply of linen and bedding, delivery of x-ray material, delivery of surgical sundries, delivery of theatre equipment, delivery of bandages, gloves, tablets and injectables. UBH also cancelled a tender for the refurbishment of mortuary and kitchen cold rooms, among others. In an interview, acting UBH chief executive Dr Harrison Rambanepasi, said the cancellation of tenders is meant to ensure that the hospital gets real value for money. We have three scenarios why some of the tenders were cancelled. The first one is that we had to align with the Ministry of Health and Child Care policy that surgical and pharmaceutical items have to be procured only from the NatPharm as opposed to private suppliers. That is why we cancelled things like procurement of gloves, tablets and injectables, said Dr Rambanepasi. Secondly, other tenders were also cancelled after suppliers did not meet the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) standards and thirdly, we cancelled some of the tenders who met the PRAZ standards but had inflated their prices. We cancelled those tenders to ensure the hospital and Government get value for money. He said the decision to cancel inflated tenders is in sync with Governments position that public institutions should get value for money. Dr Rambanepasi said while the hospital has given several contractors tenders, upon evaluating prices it discovered that the prices were too high and had to be cancelled. This will send a message to suppliers that if they want to do business with Government they have to provide competitive prices. Genuine suppliers will continue to do business with Government and get value for money especially now that the rates have stabilised. Some of the tenders were priced at three times the market value so we really did not have a choice, said Dr Rambanepasi. He said the hospital is alive to the fact that cancellation of tenders impacts on the smooth running of hospitals. It obviously affects but like I said in terms of drugs and pharmaceuticals which happen to be the most critical we have NatPharm as the alternative. The issue of following tender regulations is also important for Government departments and where value for money is not guaranteed we have no option but to cancel, he said. Dr Rambanepasi said the chief executive officer has to make sure that Government is not fleeced in awarding tenders. He said the hospital procurement committee led by the deputy director of procurement conducted an assessment before advising the chief executive officer of the need to cancel the tenders. Public Policy and Research Institute of Zimbabwe (PPRIZ) executive director Dr Gorden Moyo said there is a need to revamp the tender system and strengthen laws. Dr Moyo said there is also a need to change the boards that approve tenders as some of them have stayed for too long and are able to manipulate the systems. Last month, Parliament cancelled an inflated tender for the supply of laptops and desktop computers and blacklisted the companies involved. Blinart Investments Private Limited which wanted to supply 79 desktop computers and Mid-End Computers and Hardware wanted to supply 173 laptops were blacklisted for outrageous pricing of products. The laptops were each valued at US$9 264,48 while desktop computers were each valued at US$3 076,61 Chronicle On Saturday, October 15, County Kilkenny Student, Martin Fitzgerald, was awarded a Naughton Foundation Scholarship worth 20,000 at a ceremony in the Trinity Business School in Dublin. The award was presented by founding patrons of the Naughton Foundation, Dr Martin Naughton, and his wife Carmel, who were joined by Mr. Simon Harris, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to award winning students with their accolades and cheques. Supporting academic and innovative excellence in Irish students, the Naughton Foundation Scholarship Awards are an investment in the future of Irelands reputation as a country with outstanding graduates promoting the study of engineering, science and technology at third level. The County Kilkenny winner, Martin Fitzgerald, a former student of CBS, has accepted a place studying engineering at University College Dublin. Since its establishment in 2008, scholarships worth over 6 million have been awarded to over 350 students. The scheme started in three counties and has continued to expand annually to become a nationwide scheme in 2016. There is one guaranteed scholarship (20,000) for each participating county, with some counties awarded more than one scholarship and each scholarship is worth 5,000 per annum for each year of a students three or four-year undergraduate degree. Martin joins 37 exceptional Irish students who were awarded third level scholarships towards their studies in the areas of engineering, science, technology, and maths. Martins former secondary school, CBS was awarded a prize of 1000 towards the schools science facilities, for their support of these students. More than 250 schools have also benefited from this prize to date with some schools receiving it on more than one occasion. Speaking about the growth and development of the programme over the past fourteen years, Dr Martin Naughton said: We started supporting students in their science and engineering studies in Louth, Meath, and Monaghan in 2008 to give back to our local area. "We never imagined what a wonderful community of connected young people the Naughton Scholarship programme would become. Our alumni are an incredible group working in the best universities, research institutes and businesses across the world. "Each year we hear back from them on the value of this network to them and the connections it has given them across disciplines and Ireland. They are a wonderful group of young people that are all giving back to society in their own way that we are very proud to be connected with. The alleged mastermind behind the robbery of US$2,7 million and $43 000 in January last year from a ZB Bank vehicle carrying cash has been arrested in Harare after being on the run for almost two years. Shadreck Njowa was arrested at a house in Highfield where he was hiding after CID Homicide, who deal with serious violent crime, launched a raid. This leaves just two of the 14 involved still being hunted, the other 12 are now in custody as the police continue keeping the case active and ensuring that no one benefits from the crime. Sources close to the investigations said Njowa is still in custody and assisting with investigations. Recently, ZB Bank offered a US$5 000 reward for leads which might result in the arrest of Njowa and his two other accomplices, Patson Matengambiri and Nyasha Chitera, who were then still at large. No information is yet available to see if the person who turned in Njowa will be receiving the reward, or at least part of it. The last three wanted were in the company of 11 other gang members who have since been arrested and are on remand pending their trial. The robbery of the US$2,775 million and $43 000 from a cash-in-transit ZB Bank vehicle was believed to have been an inside job where the three security personnel in the vehicle allegedly connived with robbers to steal the cash. The three security staff, Nomatter Jonga (43), Mathew Simango (66) and Fanuel Musakwa (34), were arrested and have since appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court. The three were tasked to carry seven boxes containing US$2 775 000 on January 6 last year to ZB branches and deliver to Chinhoyi US$75 000, Kadoma US$25 000, Kwekwe and Gweru US$150 000 each, Bulawayo US$200 000, Gwanda US$50 000 and Zvishavane US$100 000. They were travelling in a Toyota Hilux single cab with a canopy, secured with a tracker and emergency panic button when what is now considered to be a fake robbery took place at 11,30am at the Gwebi River Bridge along the Harare-Chirundu highway. The initial allegations given in court were that Jonga, Simango and Musakwa picked up three unknown suspects at the Westgate roundabout in Harare and drove to Inkomo tollgate where they collected a box containing another $43 090 collected in tolls, which was supposed to be deposited at the bank, and then picked up three more men at Inkomo Barracks turn-off as they drove towards Chinhoyi. Upon reaching the 60km peg, Jonga stopped the vehicle and a fake robbery was staged. The State alleges that an Isuzu twin-cab immediately arrived at the scene with people who were armed with pistols. Jonga, Simango and Musakwa surrendered their pistol and rifle before driving their Toyota Hilux for about 900 metres where the gang offloaded the cash boxes into the Isuzu which then drove off. Herald A ZIMBABWE Schools Examination Council (Zimsec) Ordinary Level Mathematics paper written yesterday leaked a day before learners sat for the examination, NewsDay can reveal. A whistleblower learning at Murombedzi High School told NewsDay that Mathematics Paper 1, coded 4004/1 was leaked on WhatsApp on Monday evening in PDF format. NewsDay is in possession of the paper. Zimsec spokesperson Nick Dlamini confirmed the leak, adding that investigations were underway. The extent of the leak is yet to be ascertained, after which the relevant authorities will make an informed decision of the administration of this paper, Dhlamini said. Zimsec, Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and the police are investigating the leak and have already identified some candidates who had pre-access to the question paper and are currently tracking down the source where the papers originated. We urge the stakeholders of examinations to guard jealously the integrity of our examinations. Police forensic laboratory is on high alert to reveal anyone who is sending or receiving question papers. Therefore, candidates are warned to refrain from participating in this malpractice so as to avoid cancellation of results due to collusion. Incidents of final year examination papers leaking are not new. In December 2020, a Zimsec clerk was dragged to court on charges of stealing a copy of the October-November Economics Paper 3 from the printing press and selling it. Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Obert Masaraure said Zimsec was to blame for the latest leak. Zimsec is once again found wanting, its system is porous and the credibility of national examinations is being eroded. What is apparent is that papers are not leaking in schools, but at national level, Masaraure said. We are calling for an emergency all-stakeholders meeting to discuss this crisis. We have a serious crisis of ethics which is being fuelled by underpayment. Civil servants must be well paid to protect the integrity of the civil service. Learners started writing Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations on September 29. Government localised public school examinations in the late 1990s after scrapping the Cambridge examination system, but frequent leaks continue to dent the examination bodys credibility. Government once said it intended to install geographic positioning systems (GPS) software on boxes containing examination papers to curb examination paper leaks. Newsday On August 18, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested 20 individuals accused of illegally voting in the 2020 election. President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks during a luncheon with the heads of the ruling People Power Party's regional chapters at the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of presidential office By Nam Hyun-woo President Yoon Suk-yeol criticized what he called "North Korea sympathizers," claiming that they are neither liberals nor left wing. During a luncheon with the members of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) at the presidential office on Wednesday, Yoon said he will not cooperate with what he called enemies of the Republic of Korea. He made the remarks when one of the participants advised him that the president shouldn't give in because of "North Korean sympathizers" while mentioning North Korea's recent military provocations. "There are liberals, moderates and conservatives. There are people who identified themselves in the past as conservative but they have changed since and now they identify themselves as liberals. We can work together with people like them," he was quoted as saying. "But we cannot work together with people who are against democracy, against our country and against the Constitution." The presidential office said Yoon was saying he has no intention of working with people who try to overthrow the Republic of Korea. The president used the term "jusa-pa" or followers of North Korea's Juche ideology of self-sufficiency to refer to the hostile factions. "President Yoon mentioned that a president's No. 1 duty is protecting the nation's integrity," the presidential office said in a statement. "This also means that the president is willing to work together with people of different political orientations as long as they believe in liberal democracy and market economy as opposed to denying them." Despite the clarification, it remains unclear whether Yoon was indirectly referring to politicians of the so-called 586 generation inside the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) when he used the term "North Korea sympathizers." The term was coined to refer to 50-something people who were born in the 1960s and went to college in the 1980s. The 586 generation politicians inside the DPK are former student protestors who fought against military dictatorships in the 1980s under an anti-American slogan. Yoon made the remarks as he stood firm against North Korea's continued missile, artillery and other provocations in recent weeks. While condemning the North, Yoon has been stressing that it is important for South Koreans to have a firm belief in the country's free democracy. Yoon's straightforward comments are seen as part of his efforts to unite conservatives to boost his dismal approval ratings and solidify his political footing within the ruling party, which is anticipated to elect a new chairman early next year. The PPP members who had lunch with the president on Wednesday are those who ran unsuccessfully in the 2020 National Assembly elections. It's the first time Yoon met with them since he was sworn in as president on May 10. "As I decided to jump into politics and stand before the public, I made up my mind to devote myself fully to the people," Yoon said. "Let us join forces to propel South Korea once again and build a country where all people can prosper together." Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. High 44F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will become overcast later during the night. Low 34F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. For a long time, local and international media outlets have been tuning in to BTS and their enlistment. The South Korean legislative body even proposed Bill to pardon the seven-member boy group from the mandatory program. Last October 17, 2022, BTS and their agency confirmed their participation in mandatory military service, therefore drawing the hotspot of discussion. The Ministry of National Defense conducted a regular press briefing, and the government agency mentioned something that provoked the ARMYs. What Triggered the ARMYs? The Ministry of National Defense of South Korea held a press briefing last October 18, 2022, from which Moon Hong Shik, a representative from the ministry, stated that BTS would be allowed to perform while enlisted. "If it is for public service to the nation, or for national events or performances which benefit the nation, [BTS] will be given the opportunity to take part in performances and activities should they wish." Continuing his announcement, the official added that enlisted soldiers are currently permitted to do such. However, this statement drew various feedback from local and international ARMYs. Although the ARMYs recognized how essential BTS is in revenue production in South Korea, fans of the most Daesang-awarded group could not help but get upset with the Ministry's announcement. As a rule of thumb, any enlisted Korean man cannot earn money from any activity. Therefore, the fans speculate that the government will economically exploit BTS if they allow them to perform (may it be an individual or group activity), despite being enlisted. RELATED ARTICLE: BTS to Enlist in Mandatory Military Service Starting With THIS Member Some fans expressed their disappointment through Twitter as they see this government gesture as "selfish," as it is trying to frame and capitalize the boys while rendering military service. How about you leave them alone? They had years to make a good decision for everyone. They didnt. Now leave they boys alone and suffer they consequences of YOUR actions https://t.co/khyTUYGVer dateffi The astronaut (@dateffi) October 18, 2022 ARMYs also showed concern about BTS and that the government should respect their decision to enlist. Additionally, military enlistment is a platform to give BTS a deserved break as the group has been active since 2013 and only affords a few months of hiatus. A Gift Before Enlisting On a bright note, at midnight of October 19, 2022, BIG HIT Music released the much-awaited details for Jin's solo single. With the formal announcement on their verified social media accounts, Jin's solo song is entitled 'The Astronaut', and the logo trailer features an animation related to the song title. Below is the logo trailer uploaded by BIG HIT Music: Moreover, the agency also released the promotion schedule for 'The Astronaut'. Upon its release, the ARMYs assembled to praise Jin's discography and artistry. Supplementarily, the ARMYs cannot help but notice how the purple lights were incorporated in the logo trailer, thus, assuming how Jin is integrating the ARMYs with his contents. The discography of Kim Seokjin always serves pic.twitter.com/TxzOZtFMI0 Imen (@BTS21_2019) October 18, 2022 Interestingly, the "mysterious artist" whom Jin collaborated with for this project is yet to be publicized. Stay tuned to BTS and BIG HIT Music's social media pages for updates on Jin's solo project. KpopStarz owns this article. Sophia Carson authored this article. Girls' Generation Yuri returned to South Korea on Oct. 14 after completing her schedule in Phuket, Thailand. She arrived at Incheon International Airport sporting a matching hoodie and pants. She completed her look by carrying a bag and wearing a pair of shoes that have the same color as her outfit, making her look neat. Curious about the clothes and items she wore? Keep reading to learn from what the brands of the items are and how much they cost. We also provided a more affordable version of each product. Yuri Airport Fashion: Achieve SNSD Member's Look From Recent Arrival in South Korea 1. New Era cap Let's start with the cap that Yuri was wearing. It is a product of New Era and is called the 9Forty Small Logo New York Yankees cap. Unlike the other New York Yankees cap, the logo on this kind of headwear is smaller. This hat is worth 43,000 won ($30.10 USD). 2. Burberry hoodie The hoodie in Girls' Generation Yuri's recent airport fashion is a Burberry product, and is called "Monogram Motif Cashmere Cotton Blend Hooded Top." The color that the female idol wore is natural white, but there are other available colors for this product, such as ecru, camelo, and storm grey melange. Various sizes are available, too! According to their website, this Burberry hoodie cannot be ordered online and can only be purchased from a physical Burberry store. This item costs $1,090 USD. Can't afford this Burberry hoodie? No problem! We found you a more budget-friendly hoodie on Amazon. Here's a white zip-up hoodie that only costs about $11 USD. If you prefer a hoodie without a zipper, you can purchase THIS one instead. 3. Burberry jogging pants Yuri paired her Burberry hoodie with Burberry jogging pants of the same color (natural white) which are named "Monogram Motif Cashmere Blend Jogging Pants." The hoodie and the pants are actually a set but can be purchased separately. As per their website, the other available colors of the pants are storm grey melange, ecru, and camel. Like the hoodie, the jogging pants can only be bought from a physical store. A pair is worth $1,000 USD. Jogging pants too expensive? Don't worry, we found a similar product that is cheaper. We found several options for you: Option 1, Option 2, and Option 3. 4. Burberry bag Girls' Generation Yuri spiced up her airport fashion by using a Burberry mini bag, particularly the Mini Two-Tone Canvas and Leather Freyta Tote bag. The colors of the idol's bag are natural/ tan. The other colors available are black, black/tan, and orange/tan. The mini tote bag is available for purchase at Burberry's physical store, and customers in some countries may need to book an appointment first before heading to the store. Based on the brand's website, the two-tone mini bag costs $1,250 USD. Since the Burberry bag may be too expensive for some fans, we searched for other mini bags at affordable prices. Here are the choices: Option 1 and Option 2. 5. Nike shoes Finally, the pair of shoes that Yuri wore for her return to South Korea was an item of Nike, called Air Jordan 1. It is particularly named Air Jordan 1 Mid Coconut Milk. It is available in other colors, such as black, white, and more. It is said to cost $204 USD. Can't afford this product? Purchase these cheaper Nike shoes instead: Option 1 and Option 2. For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article Written by Maria Scott The Shenzhou XIV crew currently stationed in China's space station watched the live broadcast of the opening of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and applauded for the country's ambitious space outlook. The Shenzhou XIV mission commander Chen Dong said the crew in the space station about 400 kilometers from the surface watched the live broadcast of the opening and they were very excited and felt inspired. The female taikonaut Liu Yang commented that when she heard about China's space exploration plan in the report, she felt inspired and was more proud of their mission in the space station. Cai Xuzhe said the Mengtian lab will soon be launched into space and they would stay true to their mission, taking careful operation and cooperating with each other to resolutely complete building the space station. New Delhi [India], October 19 (ANI/PRNewswire): 'Siam Makro Public Company Limited, part of Charoen Pokphand Group of Thailand, announces its withdrawal from bidding for Metro Cash & Carry India. Siam Makro remains committed to its existing Indian assets which include the wholesale cash and carry trading business, under its brand, LOTS Wholesale Solutions.' Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Rape Accused Ends Life in Pilibhit; Makes Video Saying 'Was in Love With the Woman'. Issued by and on behalf of Siam Makro Public Company Limited. For further enquiries please contact: Also Read | Netflix To Expand Into Cloud Gaming, Opens New Studio in Southern California. Metin Ozyurtlu Metin.ozyurtlu@cpwi.in This story has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content in this article. (ANI/PRNewswire) (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 19 (ANI/PNN): A new UN report, titled Protect the Promise, shows that women's and children's health has suffered globally, as the impacts of conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change converge with devastating effects on prospects for children, young people and women. Data presented in the report, launched at the World Health Summit in Berlin, show most maternal, child, and adolescent deaths and stillbirths are concentrated in just two regions - sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. It also shows a critical regression across virtually every major measure of childhood wellbeing, and many key indicators of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Also Read | KBC 14: Amitabh Bachchan Was Surprised to Know About His Friendship With a 27-Year-Old Surabhi Geetey. Since the last Every Woman Every Child Progress Report published in 2020, food insecurity, hunger, child marriage, risks from intimate partner violence, and adolescent depression and anxiety have all increased. An estimated 25 million children were un- or under-vaccinated in 2021 - 6 million more than in 2019 - increasing their risk of contracting deadly and debilitating diseases. Millions of children missed out on school during the pandemic, many for more than a year, while approximately 80% of children in 104 countries and territories experienced learning-loss because of school closures. Since the start of the global pandemic, 10.5 million children lost a parent or caregiver to COVID-19. "At the core of our unkept promise is the failure to address the gaping inequities at the root of global crises, from the COVID-19 pandemic to conflicts and the climate emergency. The report describes the impacts of these crises on women, children and adolescents, from maternal mortality to education losses to severe malnutrition," said Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General. Also Read | Udti Ka Naam Rajjo Spoiler Update: Urvashi Catches Arjun and Rajjo in a Compromising Position!. The report Protect the Promise provides wide-ranging evidence that children and adolescents face wildly divergent chances of leading a healthy life simply based on where they are born, their exposure to conflict, and the economic circumstances of their families. For example: - A child born in a low-income country has an average life expectancy at birth of around 63 years, compared to 80 in a high-income country. This devastating 17-year survival gap has changed little over recent years. In 2020, 5 million children died even before the age of 5, mostly from preventable or treatable causes. Meanwhile, most maternal, child, and adolescent deaths and stillbirths are concentrated in just two regions - sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. - More than 45 million children had acute malnutrition in 2020, a life-threatening condition which leaves them vulnerable to death, developmental delays and disease. Nearly three-quarters of these children live in lower-middle-income countries. A staggering 149 million children were stunted in 2020. Africa is the only region where the numbers of children affected by stunting increased over the past 20 years, from 54.4 million in 2000 to 61.4 million in 2020. - The six countries with the highest numbers of internally displaced persons - Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic and Yemen - are also among the top 10 food-insecure countries. - A woman in sub-Saharan Africa has around a 130 times higher risk of dying from causes relating to pregnancy or childbirth than a woman in Europe or North America. Coverage of antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, and postnatal care is far from reaching all women in low- and middle-income countries, leaving them at elevated risk of death and disability. - Millions of children and their families are experiencing poor physical and mental health from recent humanitarian disasters in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Somalia, Ukraine and Yemen. In 2021, a record 89.3 million people worldwide were driven from their homes by war, violence, persecution, and human rights abuse. The report calls upon the global community to address this damaging trajectory and protect the promises made to women, children, and adolescents in the Sustainable Development Goals. In particular, it advocates for countries to continue investing in health services, to address all crises and food insecurity, and empower women and young people around the world. "The report advocates for countries to continue investing in health services, in all crises, and to re-imagine health systems that can truly reach every woman, child, and adolescent, no matter who they are or where they live," said the Rt. Hon Helen Clark, Board Chair of PMNCH (The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health) and former Prime Minister of New Zealand. "Experts and world leaders are calling for more women in policy- and decision-making at every level, meaningful engagement with young people, and primary health care systems which deliver what people need when and where they need it most." The report, titled Protect the Promise, is published by global partners, including WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH) and Countdown to 2030, as a bi-annual summary of progress in response to the UN Secretary General's Every Woman Every Child Global Strategy for Women, Children's and Adolescents' Health. The most comprehensive synthesis of evidence on the current state of maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, it updates the last Every Woman Every Child Global Strategy Progress Report published in 2020. This story has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content in this article. (ANI/PNN) (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 19 (PTI) Indian defence firm Bharat Forge Ltd on Wednesday said it has inked an agreement with American technology major General Atomics for collaboration in developing Lithium-Ion battery system for use by the Indian Navy. The pact was signed on the sidelines of the DefExpo in Gandhinagar in Gujarat. Also Read | Assam: Inmate Attempts Suicide Inside Police Lockup in Bongaigaon, Dies. Under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Bharat Forge and General Atomics' Electromagnetic Systems Group (GA-EMS) will collaborate for Lithium-Ion battery system for naval platforms for the Indian Navy. Bharat Forge said the two sides have also agreed to partner in the area of permanent magnet motors. Also Read | Indian Rupee Plunges 61 Paise To Dip to Record Low of 83-Mark for First Time Against US Dollar. Lithium-Ion battery systems are used in various naval platforms including submarines. "We have been relentlessly working towards bringing niche technologies in the country with the aim of making Indian self-reliant in defence verticals," said Baba Kalyani, Chairman Kalyani Group. "General Atomics is a market leader for in-service Li-Ion battery solutions for naval platforms/submarines and and our partnership with General Atomics is a firm step in the direction to develop Make-in-India solutions for the Indian Navy and setting up a strong defence technology and manufacturing vertical within India," he said. President of GA-EMS Scott Forney said his company is looking forward to working with Bharat Forge to meet the requirements of the Indian Navy. "We are committed to working with companies like Bharat Forge, whose reputation for excellence and dedication to quality is synergistic with ours, as we continue to deliver technology innovations and cutting-edge systems for undersea and surface platforms," Forney said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Karnal (Haryana) [India], October 19 (ANI): Rape convict Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on Wednesday organized a virtual 'Satsang' which was attended by many political leaders including the Karnal Mayor and many Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, sparking a fresh controversy. Ram Rahim, who is serving a jail term after being convicted in rape and murder cases was released from Sunaria jail on 40-day parole. Also Read | Firecracker Ban in Delhi: AAP Govt Bans Storage, Sale, Bursting of Crackers Ahead of Diwali 2022; Violators May Face Jail Term Up to Six Months. The Dera chief's family had submitted an application to the jail authorities seeking month-long parole for him. The opposition demanded a justification from the Bharatiya Janata Party over its leader's participation in the Satsang. Also Read | Infinix Zero Ultra 5G Spotted on BIS Database, India Launch Imminent. Meanwhile, Karnal mayor Renu Bala Gupta, deputy mayor Naveen Kumar and senior deputy mayor Rajesh Aggi are continuously trying to defend their participation in the event. The senior Deputy Mayor said, "I was invited to the Satsang by the 'sadh sangat'. Online Satsang was done from UP. Many people in my ward are associated with Baba. We reached the program from social connection and it has nothing to do with the Bharatiya Janata Party and the upcoming bypoll election." Notably, the Adampur bypoll in Haryana is scheduled to be held on November 3. Besides, the state is also scheduled to hold panchayat polls soon. Deputy Mayor Naveen Kumar said that everyone who got information about the Satsang reached there. On the question of taking the blessings of Ram Rahim to win the election, Naveen said that the people have chosen him from their ward and only the public decides this. "It is necessary to have the blessings of the people," Naveen said. Speaking about Dera chief's parole, he said that anyone could seek parole at his own pleasure. "He may have taken parole for the festival of Diwali and we should not equate it with elections," he added. Notably, the opposition also alleged that Ram Rahim was granted parole due to the forthcoming bypolls. Earlier, Ram Rahim was granted parole for a month on June 17. Ram Rahim has been incarcerated since 2017 in Haryana's Sunaria jail where he is serving a 20-year-term for raping two women disciples at his ashram's headquarters in Sirsa. Speaking on the same, Haryana minister Anil Vij said that his parole has nothing to do with Adampur bypoll. "Parole is granted by jail department. I have nothing to do with this. If a person from Karnal believes in Gurmeet Ram Rahim and has gone to see him, then what is the connection with Adampur polls," Vij said. Earlier in February, the Dera chief was granted three weeks' furlough. While parole means the release of a prisoner either temporarily for a special purpose or completely before the expiry of a sentence, on the promise of good behaviour, a furlough is a short-term temporary release of convicts from jail. He was convicted by a special CBI court in Panchkula in August 2017 for raping two women followers. While, on October 8, 2021, the court convicted Ram Rahim and four others in connection with former Dera manager Ranjit Singh's murder case. Ranjit Singh was murdered in 2002 on the premises of Dera Sacha Sauda. CBI had registered the case on the orders passed by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana in the year 2003 and taken over the investigation of the case earlier registered at Police Station Sadar in Kurukshetra. It was alleged that Ranjit Singh was murdered on July 10, 2002, when he was working in his fields at village Khanpur Kolian of District Kurukshetra in Haryana. After a thorough investigation, CBI filed a charge sheet in the year 2007 against six accused and charges were framed in the year 2008. During the pendency of the trial, one accused expired on October 10, 2020, and trial proceedings were abated against him. The court had held the said accused guilty and convicted them on October 8, 2021. On July 5, Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed the writ petition that was filed by some people alleging the replacement of Ram Rahim with a dummy person. Justice Karamjit Singh of the HC passed these orders while dismissing a plea and said that the plea lacked merit. The plea was filed by Ashok Kumar and 18 other petitioners claiming themselves to be staunch supporters of the controversial preacher. The petitioners, in this case, said they had sought directions to "verify the authenticity" of the Dera chief as the state authorities in collusion with Dera functionaries including Priyanka Taneja alias Honeypreet and Prithviraj Nain had replaced a dummy person with the Dera chief. (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 [India], October 19 (ANI): Hindu College organised a Diwali Mela named Suruchi that celebrated the diverse culture of the nation and focused on the aim of community service. The mega event was organized by the National Service Scheme (NSS) wing of the Hindu College, said a press release by the college on Tuesday. Also Read | Ghaziabad Horror: Delhi Woman Gang-Raped by 5 Men for Two Days, Iron Rod Inserted in Private Part; Four Arrested. Around 8,000 students participated in multiple fun and enthralling events and upheld the virtues of community service. All the colleges of Delhi University came together and shared innovative ideas for selfless service and nation-building during the event. Also Read | Maharashtra Shocker: Man Held for Raping Neighbour's 12-Year-Old Minor Daughter in Kalyan. As per the release, the significance of the Diwali Mela was unparalleled in the eyes of not only Hinduites but also the entire Delhi University student fraternity. Suruchi has created a legacy over the years that is enduring and exceptional and is an event whose memories would endure for a long time. This event provided spaces for College student-run organizations, such as various chapters of Enactus, and some Self-Help Groups to put up their innovative stalls and sell their handmade products. Differently abled students of Delhi University were also given a stage to perform and showcase their talent, the release said. Hindu College principal Professor Anju Srivastava, while addressing the event, commended the students' efforts. "'India is a nation of vivid cultures, traditions and festivals, and Hindu College admits students from all over the nation. It is through the organization of events like these that we successfully imbibe heterogenous cultural heritages and traditions in the students. It infuses solidarity among them, building a relationship of bonhomie and cultivating inclusivity," she said. "Seeing the entrepreneurial enthusiasm of the students, the principal rendered some useful advice for marketing and more, spending enough time to converse with every stallholder personally. She also gave tips on balancing both academics and extracurricular activities which highly impressed the students. She further added, "Recovering from the depressive months of Covid, this event was an elixir for the students who lost their much cherished years of college to a fateful virus," she further said. Vice Principal Dr Reena Jain said, "Suruchi was a spectacular blend of celebration, philanthropy and innovation which instilled a spirit of bonhomie and joviality after two years of social distancing and telescreens." She added, "Even Hindu College Diwali Mela was not just a fun fair. It gave a platform for showcasing the craftsmanship and creativity of those who are unable to get visibility or marketability elsewhere," she said. "Suruchi thus presented a mosaic of cultures and talent and a plethora of artistic expression. It enabled students from various colleges of Delhi University to come together as a family and represent themselves via the theme Sanskritik Sangam. This engendered a perfect experience of 'Mini India' for the audience that visited," she said. Program officer of NSS Hindu College Dr Achla Tandon said, "NSS Hindu College has always had a unique approach to dealing with social issues. Our students are trained to be practitioners of an inclusive, empathetic and empowered world. So all those sections of society who have any challenges, whether they be physical, social, medical, or even age-related, were given necessary support as well as empowering skills by our NSS brigade." The president of the NSS Hindu College Anjali Gupta, brimmed with delight and excitement seeing the enthusiasm of the visitors. "I have never been happier in life since all the efforts that we made were totally worth it. There were many intricacies and technicalities that we had to figure out during the process of arranging for the Mela, which we weren't aware of, but organizing Surichi opened many windows of knowledge for us, and we are really thankful to the administration for bestowing us with the permission and opportunity," she said. A volunteer from NSS, Shubhra Jyotsana Singh talked about the comprehensive nature of the event and commented, "I felt blessed to be a part of NSS and Hindu College which rendered me this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as I got to organize and experience such a spectacle, composing of an inordinately large number of elements, be it its cultural essence or the philanthropic angle or of course the entertaining components." Sunit Tandon, the Director of India Habitat Centre and Yuvraj Dua, a prominent social media influencer and alumnus of Hindu College, enthusiastically inspected the variety of stalls while uplifting the confidence of the students. (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 19 (PTI) The Competition Commission on Wednesday slapped penalties totalling more than Rs 392 crore on online travel firms MakeMyTrip, Goibibo and hospitality services provider OYO for unfair business practices. A fine of Rs 223.48 crore has been slapped on Make My Trip-Goibibo (MMT-Go) and Rs 168.88 crore on OYO, according to a 131-page order. Also Read | Madhya Pradesh: Mining Department Official Gets Judicial Custody for Seeking Sexual Favours From Mine Owners Wife in Ratlam. Among others, it was alleged that MMT-Go imposed a price parity in their agreements with hotel partners. Under such pacts, the hotel partners are not allowed to sell their rooms on any other platform or on its own online portal at a price below the price at which it is being offered on the two entities' platforms. Besides imposing penalties, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has directed MMT-Go to "suitably modify its agreements with hotels/chain hotels to remove/abandon the price and room availability parity obligations imposed by it on its hotel/chain hotel partners with respect to other OTAs (Online Travel Agencies)". Also Read | Gurugram Shocker: Husband Kills Wife, Stuffs Body Into Suitcase for Demanding TV and Mobile Phone, Arrested. Also, CCI has asked it to modify agreements to do away with certain exclusivity conditions. "MMT-Go is directed to provide access to its platform on a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory basis to the hotels/chain hotels, by formulating the platforms' listing terms and conditions in an objective manner," it added. It was also alleged that MMT gave preferential treatment to OYO on its platform, further leading to a denial of market access to other players. The regulator ordered a detailed investigation into the matter in October 2019. MakeMyTrip (MMT) acquired Ibibo Group Holding in 2017. MMT continues to operate its hotels and packages business through MMT India under the brand name MakeMyTrip, and Ibibo India under the brand name Goibibo. (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 19 (PTI) The Delhi Congress has lashed out at the BJP-led central government alleging that the final report of the committee on MCD wards delimitation was a "mere formality" as it "did not incorporate" any of its suggestions. Delhi Congress president Anil Chaudhary said they will be approaching the Delhi High Court to "seek justice". Also Read | Ghaziabad Horror: Delhi Woman Gang-Raped by 5 Men for Two Days, Iron Rod Inserted in Private Part; Four Arrested. "The final report of the Delimitation committee was a mere formality as it did not incorporate any of the 168 corrections/suggestions/objections filed by the Delhi Congress. We will approach the Delhi High Court for justice and for upholding the democratic norms," Chaudhary said. He further claimed that the three municipal corporations in Delhi were merged into one "to postpone the elections" in a bid to "favour the BJP". Also Read | Maharashtra Shocker: Man Held for Raping Neighbour's 12-Year-Old Minor Daughter in Kalyan. "The three corporations were merged into one on flimsy grounds to favour the BJP. The final report did not adhere to the norms laid down for the delimitation of the wards, like restricting the population in each ward to 65,000 with a 10 per cent plus-minus variation and also divided the minority-dominated wards," he alleged. The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued the final gazette notification for redrawing of municipal wards in Delhi, paving the way for civic polls in the city. The 800-page gazette notification by the MHA, dated October 17, stated that the number of municipal wards in Delhi will now be 250. Before the reunification of the three erstwhile municipal corporations, there were 272 civic wards in the city. The delimitation committee on Monday submitted to the Centre the final report on redrawing of the wards of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), official sources earlier said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], October 19 (ANI): Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan launched the draft of the National Credit Framework (NCrF) for public consultation on Wednesday in Education Ministry. Speaking on the occasion, Pradhan said that Jan-bhagidari (public participation) is a key pillar of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's governance and NEP 2020 also embodies the spirit of Jan-bhagidari. Also Read | Kerala Shocker: Man Brutally Thrashes Wife After She Refuses to Quit Her Job in Malayinkeezh, Films Assault; Arrested. He said that National Credit Framework is a next-generation, multidimensional instrument under NEP. "We are dedicating NCrF for 'Jan-paramarsh' for making it more dynamic. Pradhan further said that National Credit Framework is an umbrella framework for skilling, re-skilling, up-skilling, accreditation and evaluation encompassing our people in educational & skilling institutions and the workforce," he said. Also Read | Ghaziabad Horror: Delhi Woman Gang-Raped by 5 Men for Two Days, Iron Rod Inserted in Private Part; Four Arrested. Pradhan stressed that the government is committed to making India a USD 5 trillion economy, accomplishing the vision of a Vikasit Bharat in the next 25 years and empowering 100 per cent of our population and the National Credit Framework will be the most important instrument under NEP for realising these goals. "India is adopting technology at an unprecedented pace. We have to bring reforms to incentivise knowledge, skills and experience. Credits for knowledge acquisition, hands-on training, and positive social outcomes will be a key step for achieving 100% literacy in the next 2-3 years," he added. The Minister appealed to all institutions, schools, ITIs, AICTE-affiliated engineering colleges, centrally-funded HEIs, state universities and regulatory authorities/bodies to host the public consultation for National Credit Framework on their website to seek suggestions from citizens. The Committee constituted by the government with members from UGC, AICTE, NCVET, NIOS, CBSE, NCERT, Department of School Education and Literacy and Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, DGT, and Ministry of Skill Development under the guidance of Union Minister of Education and Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, the inclusive umbrella framework, aims to make the options for multiple entry-multiple exits accessible and applicable across the higher education, school education and vocational education, allowing students to choose their own learning trajectories and programmes. As per a release by the Ministry of Education, NCrF will seamlessly integrate the credits earned through school education, higher education and vocational and skill education by encompassing the National Higher Education Qualification Framework (NHEQF), National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) and National School Education Qualification Framework (NSEQF). "It also supports educational acceleration for students with gifted learning abilities and Recognition of Prior Learning for the workforce that has acquired knowledge and skills informally through the traditional family inheritance, work experience or other methods," it stated. "NCrF will bring about a unification of higher education institutions to promote multidisciplinary education, creating a diverse and rich students knowledge base. It will also help in promoting stronger collaboration between institutions Making credit mechanism simpler and uniformIncreasing focus on research and innovationPromoting digital learning, blended learning, and open distance learningLeveraging the institutional infrastructure," the release added. (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 19 (PTI) Former Telangana Rashtra Samithi MP Boora Narsaiah Goud joined the BJP on Wednesday in the presence of Union ministers Bhupender Yadav and G Kishan Reddy besides several other party leaders from the state. Yadav accused the K Chandrasekhar Rao government in the state of floating the gimmick of reservation for minorities while doing no good for any section of society. This shows that the state government does only minority politics, he said. Also Read | Firecracker Ban in Delhi: AAP Govt Bans Storage, Sale, Bursting of Crackers Ahead of Diwali 2022; Violators May Face Jail Term Up to Six Months. Goud, who joined the party with several other leaders from the state, accused Rao of undermining all key principles of the movement that led to the creation of a separate state of Telangana. The idea of self-rule has given way to family rule, he alleged in a swipe at the chief minister and accused him of suppressing dissenting voices. Also Read | Infinix Zero Ultra 5G Spotted on BIS Database, India Launch Imminent. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been running a most honest government, he said. Goud later also met BJP president J P Nadda. Yadav claimed that people will not only elect the BJP candidate in the upcoming Munugode assembly bypolls but will also bring the party to power in the next assembly elections. Due to the Modi government's development and welfare policies, the people of Telangana are looking at the BJP with aspiration and hope, Yadav said. The state government's welfare schemes for Dalits and backwards are confined to advertisements while it is also disrupting the Centre's pro-people measures, he alleged. Yadav accused the Telangana government of trying to hamper the yatra of state BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar in an undemocratic manner. This is not only a corrupt government but also dictatorial, he alleged, targeting the Telangana Rashtra Samithi. Goud, also a noted doctor, was joined by several other politicians from the state in joining the BJP. He praised Prime Minister Modi's leadership and his work for development. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jamshedpur, Oct 19 (PTI) The main accused in the murder of notorious gangster Ranjit Singh outside a Durga Puja pandal in Jamshedpur in Jharkhand was arrested on Wednesday, police said. Sarabjeet Singh alias Chaboo, a native of Gurdaspur district of Punjab, was arrested from the city, Senior Superintendent of Police (East Singhbhum district) Prabhat Kumar said. Also Read | Gurugram Shocker: Husband Kills Wife, Stuffs Body Into Suitcase for Demanding TV and Mobile Phone, Arrested. The killing was the result of enmity between the two in jail, he said. Ranjit, a member of Amarnath Singh gang, had once pulled Sarabjit's beard when both of them were in jail, the officer said. Also Read | Pushkar Fair 2022: Cattle Trading Will Not Be Held This Year Due to Lumpy Skin Disease. "As beard is an important religious symbol of the Sikh community, it hurt Sarabjeet's feelings and he plotted Ranjeet's murder after both were released from jail," he said. Ranjit was shot dead when he was visiting a Durga Puja pandal in Telco area of the city with his daughter on October 3, police said. Police had earlier arrested two persons in connection with the murder, the officer said. A search is on for a fourth suspect who is on the run, he said. Two guns and a motorcycle used in the crime have been recovered, he added. Ranjit had several criminal cases against him, including those of murder and some under the Arms Act. Sarabjeet is also undertrial in different cases, police said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Shimla, Oct 19 (PTI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and eight others filed their papers on the third day of filing nominations on Wednesday for the state polls slated to be held on November 12, an election official said. With this, the number of candidates who had filed their papers has risen to eleven. Also Read | Aramane Giridhar Named Defence Secretary, Sanjay Malhotra New Revenue Secretary. Thakur filed his nomination papers from the Seraj Assembly constituency in Mandi district. Thakur, 57, submitted the papers to the Thunag sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), the returning officer (RO) for the constituency after taking blessings from his mother Briku Devi and deities. Also Read | Madhya Pradesh: Mining Department Official Gets Judicial Custody for Seeking Sexual Favours From Mine Owners Wife in Ratlam. He arrived at his native place Tandi from Delhi today morning. Subsequently, he paid homage to 'Kuldevi' at Mata Sidhjogni also called Bharari Mata temple at Tandi village and 'Kuldevta' at 'Dev Matlodh Maharaj' at Shivkari village. After that, Thakur addressed a rally at Kuthah (Janjehli), from where he proceeded towards the Thunaq SDM office with his supporters to file his nomination papers. The five-time MLA, Thakur was accompanied by his wife Sadhna Thakur and daughters Chandrika and Priyanka. Born on January 6, 1965 in Tandi village of Murahag panchayat in Mandi district, Thakur won his first Assembly election from the Chachiot constituency in 1998, and since then has been an MLA from Chachiot, which after delimitation is known as Seraj assembly constituency. Thakur is trying his luck for the seventh time as he unsuccessfully fought his first election from the Chachiot assembly constituency in 1993 when he was just 26 years old. In Bilaspur district, Congress candidate Rajesh Dharmani (50) filed nomination from Ghumarwin seat. Similarly from Balh (SC) seat, Prakash Chaudhary (60) and Inder Singh Gandhi (60) filed their papers as Congress and BJP candidates respectively. In Kangra district, Suman Kumar (27) filed nomination from Bhartiya Rajneetik Vikalp Party, In Hamirpur district, Naresh Kumar Darji (54) submitted his papers as an Independent candidate from Hamirpur seat. In Mandi district, Major (retd) Khem Singh Thakur (51) filed his nomination as an Independent candidate from Mandi (Sadar) seat. In Shimla district, Visheshar Lal (53) filed his nomination as an Independent candidate from 66-Rampur (SC) seat while Chander Bhan (56) filed nomination as an Independent candidate from Sulah seat. A notification for the state elections was issued on October 17 and the last date for the filing of nominations is October 25. Scrutiny of papers will be held on October 27 and the last date for the withdrawal of papers will be October 29. The voting is scheduled to take place on November 12 while the counting will take place on December 8. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Gandhinagar, October 19: Highlighting the country's huge strides in the defence sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said Indian defence products export increased eight times since 2014. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated 'DefExpo 2022' in Gandhinagar. With an aim to give impetus to the defence sector, India's "biggest ever" defence exhibition - DefExpo 2022 is being held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. This is the 12th edition of the event that has been organised on the theme 'Path to Pride'. DefExpo 2022: New Airbase Coming Up in Gujarat Near Indo-Pak Border to Emerge As Effective Centre for Country's Security, Says PM Narendra Modi. Speaking at the occasion, PM Modi said, "DefExpo is displaying a grand picture of the New India. It has the nation's development, states' participation, youth power, young dreams, young courage and youth's capabilities. Defence Expo used to be held in our country earlier too but DefExpo2022 is unprecedented. It is the symbol of a new beginning." He said it is the first such Defence Expo in the country where only Indian companies are participating and where there are only Made in India defence equipment. "In the defence sector, new India is moving ahead with the mantra of intent, innovation and implementation. Indian defence companies today are becoming a significant part of the global supply chain. Indian defence products export increased eight folds in the last eight years." PM said Defence forces will release a list of 101 items that will be barred from import. With this, he said 411 defence-related goods can only be procured locally. Prime Minister further emphasised on the cooperation between African nations and India in the defence sector. He said, "The biggest Defence Expo of the country so far has marked an emphatic beginning of a new future. I know that this has also caused inconvenience to some countries but several countries, with a positive mindset, have come with us. I am delighted that when India is giving shape to these opportunities of the future, 53 African nations that are friends of India are standing shoulder to shoulder with us." "In the arena of Defence and Security, the cooperation and synergies developed between India and the African nations have taken our mutual relations to yet newer heights," PM Modi added. Prime Minister stressed the importance of maritime security to boost global trade. "Today, from international security to global trade, maritime security has emerged as a global priority," he said. At the India Pavilion, Prime Minister unveiled HTT-40 - the indigenous trainer aircraft designed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). According to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the aircraft has state of art contemporary systems and has been designed with pilot-friendly features. India-Africa Security Fellowship Programme Launched at DefExpo 2022. During the programme, Prime Minister also launched Mission DefSpace - to develop innovative solutions for the Defence Forces in the Space domain through industry and startups. PM Modi said that Mission Defence Space will encourage innovation and strengthen our forces. At the inauguration ceremony, PM Modi also laid the foundation stone of 52 Wing Air Force Station Deesa. "After coming to the government, we decided to build an operational base in Deesa and this expectation of our forces is being fulfilled today. This area will now become an effective centre of security of the country," Prime Minister said. This year's DefExpo is the first-ever edition exclusively for Indian companies. Indian companies, Indian subsidiaries of Foreign OEMs, Division of a company registered in India, and Exhibitor having a joint venture with an Indian company will be considered as Indian participants. The DefExpo 2022 also marks the celebration of one year of the formation of the seven new defence companies, carved out of the erstwhile Ordnance Factory Board. All these companies will participate in DefExpo for the first time. 451 partnerships in terms of MoUs, Transfer of Technology agreements and product launches, almost double than the last edition, are expected during the Bandhan ceremony on October 20. The India Pavilion - a marque pavilion of the Department of Defence Production - will showcase the maturity of indigenous defence products, start-ups and the latest technology, including Artificial Intelligence in defence, while presenting India's vision for 2047. In addition, there will be an exclusive Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) Pavilion to showcase the prowess of the country's start-ups carrying out R&D and innovation in futuristic technologies. For the first time, States, Union Territories (UTs) have been invited to set up pavilions at the event. The Defence Minister has emphasised that with this new initiative, States, UTs will get an opportunity to participate in nation-building by attracting investment and bolstering their potential of indigenous aerospace and defence manufacturing. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], October 19 (ANI): Rahul Navlani, the prime accused in Vaishali Thakkar suicide case was arrested near Indore on Wednesday, an official said. Indore Commissioner of Police (CP), Harinarayan Chari Mishra told ANI, "A reward of Rs 5000 and a lookout circular was issued against him at all the airports in view of the possibility of him running out of the country. Three teams of police were sent to different states to nab him. Today he was arrested near Indore". Also Read | Diwali 2022: 800 kg of Banned Firecrackers Recovered From Delhi's Sadar Bazar. TV actress Vaishali Takkar committed suicide by hanging herself at her residence in Indore on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. A suicide note was also recovered from the spot which suggested that she was stressed and harassed by her neighbour, businessman Rahul Navlani. Also Read | Kerala Shocker: Man Brutally Thrashes Wife After She Refuses to Quit Her Job in Malayinkeezh, Films Assault; Arrested. In his suicide note, Vaishali had accused Rahul Navlani of torturing him physically and mentally, in which Rahul's wife Disha was also supporting him. Rahul is married and has two children, but due to his closeness with Vaishali, he was not letting Vaishali get married. Rahul sent a personal photo of him with Vaishali to her fiancee Mitesh Gor to break the marriage which was planned to take place in Indore itself on October 20. Fed up with all this, the TV actress had ended her life. The Tejaji Nagar Police have booked Rahul Navlani and his wife Disha under sections 306 (Abetment of suicide) and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly persuading the actor to kill herself. The police arrested Rahul and efforts are on to nab his wife Disha. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Junagadh, Oct 19 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday urged the people of Gujarat to "teach a lesson" to those who constantly abuse and insult the state as well its citizens. Also Read | Assam: Inmate Attempts Suicide Inside Police Lockup in Bongaigaon, Dies. Addressing a rally at Junagadh town in Saurashtra region, he said some political parties think their work is incomplete if they do not abuse Gujarat and Gujaratis. Also Read | Indian Rupee Plunges 61 Paise To Dip to Record Low of 83-Mark for First Time Against US Dollar. Assembly elections in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Gujarat are due by the year-end. "Time has come to teach a lesson to those who abuse and insult Gujarat and its people day and night. Should we forgive those who tarnish Gujarat's image?" Modi asked without taking anybody's name. (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 19 (PTI) A special PMLA court in Bengaluru has convicted a Karnataka government employee to three years of rigorous imprisonment, more than 12 years after he was booked in a money laundering case linked to possession of disproportionate assets. In a statement, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday said B C Shanthakumar, assistant manager in the Karnataka State Forest Industries Corporation Ltd. (KSFIC), was "held guilty" by the trial court. Also Read | Madhya Pradesh: Mining Department Official Gets Judicial Custody for Seeking Sexual Favours From Mine Owners Wife in Ratlam. Shanthakumar was booked by the ED in March, 2010, under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after the federal probe agency took cognisance of a 2009 Karnataka Lokayukta Police FIR against him for accumulation of "disproportionate assets" to the tune of Rs 84,42,067, which was found to be 122.79 per cent more than his known sources of income, the agency said. "Shanthakumar was actively and knowingly involved in the processes connected with proceeds of crime," the ED said. Also Read | Gurugram Shocker: Husband Kills Wife, Stuffs Body Into Suitcase for Demanding TV and Mobile Phone, Arrested. The agency said it had attached assets worth more than Rs 60 lakh of the government official in March, 2014 and filed a charge sheet a year later before the Bengaluru court. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], October 19 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh home minister Narottam Mishra said that there were two accused in Vaishali Thakkar's suicide case and a reward of Rs 5000 each was announced on them. "A lookout circular has been issued against both the accused. All the airports of the country are being informed so that the accused could not escape," Mishra told reporters here. Also Read | Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Urges PM Narendra Modi to Work Together to Improve Indias Schools. Besides, efforts were on to contact Vaishali Thakkar's fiance who lives in America, Mishra added. Vaishali Thakkar was found hanging at her residence in the Sai Bagh colony, under the limits of Tejaji police station in Indore, an official informed on Sunday adding that a suicide note was also recovered from the spot which suggested that she was stressed and harassed by her neighbour, businessman Rahul Navlani. Also Read | Delhi High Court Rejects Plea by Samata Party Against Flaming Torch Election Symbol to Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena Faction. The Tejaji Nagar Police have booked Rahul Navlani and his wife Disha under sections 306 (Abetment of suicide) and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly persuading the actor to kill herself. Seeking justice Vaishali Thakkar had asked for punishment to them for harassing her. Vaishali was quite an active social media user and had worked in multiple serials, including 'Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata hai', 'Sasural Simar Ka', 'Yeh Hai Aashiqui'. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], October 19 (ANI): The Lucknow Police arrested the second accused in connection with the Lucknow gang rape case, said the officials on Wednesday. The accused has been identified as Imran and was only apprehended after a brief encounter. As per reports, Imran tried running away to which the officials responded by firing a shot at his leg. He was later arrested with arms and ammunition in his possession. Also Read | Apple Introduces Magic Keyboard Folio for 10th-Gen iPad. "We got a tip-off about his location. Based on which our team followed the accused. Imran tried running away and we shot at his leg to stop him. Later he was arrested from the Kathota area, and arms and ammunition have been recovered from him," informed the Deputy Commisioner of Police (East), Lucknow Prachi Singh. Imran was arrested for his alleged involvement in a gang rape case reported on October 15. Also Read | Gyanvapi Mosque Case: Allahabad High Court Gives 'Last Chance' to Archaeological Survey of India To File Reply. "The police had already arrested Akash Tiwari, another accused involved in the incident, on October 17," said DCP Singh added. Earlier on October 17, an officer in charge was suspended for negligence in a gang rape incident in Lucknow. The officer-in-charge Husdia Hussain Abbas is part of the local police team. As per reports, the girl was raped while returning to her residence on October 15. The auto driver and his accomplice raped her and fled the spot. The accused left the rape survivor at the Husdia intersection area, informed the police. "After the rape survivors' complaint, the local police were negligent, due to which the outpost in charge has been suspended," said Lucknow Deputy Commissioner of Police (East), Prachi Singh. Further investigations into the matter are underway. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Indore, Oct 19 (PTI) Police on Wednesday arrested Rahul Navlani the main accused in the alleged suicide of noted TV actor Vaishali Takkar, an official said. Earlier, a reward of Rs 5,000 was announced by the Indore police commissioner for information about Rahul Navlani and his wife Disha accused of abetting the actor of TV serial 'Sasural Simar Ka' fame to commit suicide. Also Read | Bihar BJP MLA Lalan Paswan Says 'People Rich Without Worshipping Goddess Lakshmi' (Watch Video). A lookout notice was also issued in their name. "Police teams were looking for the couple and one such team was able to arrest Rahul Navlani,"Tejaji Nagar Police Station in-charge R D Kanwa told PTI. Also Read | Competition Commission of India Penalises OYO, GoIbibo, MakeMyTrip for Anti-Competitive Conduct. "Rahul was trying to flee Indore but was nabbed before he could do so,'' the police officer said, adding, he is being questioned over suspicion that rose during the investigation. Asked whether his wife was also nabbed, Kanwa said he was not aware of it. Earlier in the day Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra said a lookout circular has been issued against the couple. A reward of Rs 5,000 on both the accused was also announced. The accused couple lived in the neighbourhood of Vaishali Takkar. She was found hanging from a ceiling fan in her house in Saibag Colony on Sunday. A case was registered under Indian Penal Code Section 306 (abetment of suicide) against Thakkar's neighbour Rahul and his wife Disha, officials said. A five-page suicide note was found at the spot in which Vaishali named Rahul for harassing her, they said, adding the actor's family members alleged that Rahul was troubling her since he came to know about her plans to get married. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhopal, Oct 18 (PTI) Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra has gifted a bicycle and chocolates to a three-year-old boy, who went to a police station in Burhanpur along with his father to complain against his mother who scolded him for being adamant. Also Read | Apple Introduces Magic Keyboard Folio for 10th-Gen iPad. After police delivered the gift to the boy on Tuesday, a video showing him happily riding the bicycle in the presence of cops and his family members was shared by the state home department on its official Twitter handle. Also Read | Gyanvapi Mosque Case: Allahabad High Court Gives 'Last Chance' to Archaeological Survey of India To File Reply. Earlier on Sunday, a video showing the child complaining against his mother to sub-inspector Priyanka Nayak at Dedtalai police post in Burhanpur went viral on social media. In the clip, the boy was heard claiming that his mother "stole" his candies, which Nayak wrote on a paper. When the police officer asked the boy to sign the complaint, he drew some lines on the paper, Nayak said. The boy's father said the child insisted on complaining to police after his mother scolded him for not letting her apply a black "tika" (with a belief that it wards off evil forces) on his forehead after bathing. After the clip went viral, Mishra in a video call to the boy on Tuesday asked him what he wanted and promised to send chocolates and a bicycle to him. Some policemen later delivered the items to the boy and told him the minister had sent them to him as a gift. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) By Shalini Bhardwaj New Delhi [India], October 19 (ANI): With India reporting a highly infectious new COVID-19 variant, former Director of Delhi AIIMS, Dr Randeep Guleria on Wednesday urged the common people to follow COVID-appropriate behaviour. Also Read | Ghaziabad Horror: Delhi Woman Gang-Raped by 5 Men for Two Days, Iron Rod Inserted in Private Part; Four Arrested. He said, "I would suggest to everyone that if they are going out and especially in crowded places then they must wear a mask. High-risk groups, elderly people should avoid going out because there are high chances of spreading infection and some can also get a serious infection." "New variants are expected and this variant has a tendency to mutate that will continue, but now the situation is different, earlier, there was no vaccination, but people are now vaccinated also. But this doesn't mean that people will stop taking precautions, festival season is coming up and cases are also rising," he explained further. Also Read | Maharashtra Shocker: Man Held for Raping Neighbour's 12-Year-Old Minor Daughter in Kalyan. Guleria said that the chances of hospitalisation and ICU admissions are low. "The chances of hospitalisation and ICU admissions are low. This time there will be a mild infection, fever cold, cough and body ache, the chances of recovery are within 3-4 days, usually, in this season, viral fever is reported due to COVID also." On Tuesday, a high-level meeting of Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya with the senior health officials regarding the emergence of Omicron's new sub-variants concluded with the decision to continue masks and COVID19-appropriate behaviour across the country. The team of Scientists, doctors and Senior officials has also recommended increasing surveillance and genome sequencing. The health officials also urged accelerating COVID-19 precaution dose of Eligible Population on Mission Mode. Niti Aayog member VK Paul, Chairperson of COVID-19 working group NTAGI NK Arora, NTAGI officials, NEGVAC officials and other senior health officials, as per the official sources. Earlier on Tuesday, Maharashtra recorded a 17.7 per cent rise in coronavirus cases compared to last week, according to a state health department bulletin. The state has reported new Covid cases including the XBB, a new sub-variant of the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which has been detected in parts of India, including Kerala. Apart from this, Maharashtra has reported cases from other sub-variants of Omicron- BA.2.3.20 and BQ.1 variant, which was detected for the first time in India on Monday from the sample of a patient in Pune. XBB, a recombinant lineage between two Omicron sublineages BJ.1 and BA.2.75, is a fast-spreading variant, which was seen to have caused a spike across Singapore recently.As per the Maharashtra Health Department report, the XBB, has a growth advantage over BA.2.75 and evasive immune properties. According to statistics the new COVID cases are expected to increase in the state in the October 10-16 period this week by 17.7 per cent as compared to the period between October 3-9. This rise is noticed in Thane, Raigad and Mumbai says the official release from the health department. While on October 17, India detected its first case of Omicron's BQ.1 subvariant in a sample of a patient from Pune. The BQ.1 is a descendant of BA.5, which is behind the 60 per cent of COVID cases in the United States (US), as per reports. Some experts from the health department predicted a rise in the coming winter season, especially in a festive environment. In Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), BA.2.75 decreased to 76 per cent from 95 per cent. Maharashtra's health department and experts have asked not to ignore flu-like symptoms and seek medical advice soon. They have advised observing Covid Appropriate behaviour in public places and getting vaccinated as per Government of India guidelines. Experts from the department suggest that people with comorbidities need to take extra precautions while visiting public places. People suffering from Influenza-like illnesses should avoid public contact as much as possible. The BF.7 is also reported in Gujarat and confirmed by the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre.BF.7 is known as an 'Omicron spawn' that was first detected in China and now reached the United States, the UK, Australia, and Belgium. Meanwhile, the Kerala government on October 17 held a high-level meeting under health minister Veena George and said it is intensifying preventive measures in view of the new genetic variations of COVID-19 (XBB and XBB1) being reported from other parts of the world. "Necessary instructions have been given to all the districts. The new strain is more contagious than any other strain of Covid-19 so far. Hence the resistance is strengthened. About 1.8 per cent of those infected may require hospital treatment. There is no cause for concern at present. But everyone should be careful. Everyone should wear a mask properly for self-protection. Masks must be worn by the elderly and those with co-morbidities. The minister requested that masks be worn at the airport and in closed places," the Kerala health department said. According to Kerala Health Expert Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, said, "These are immune escape variants. Since Omicron arrived in November 2021, it has been giving off branches that divide into smaller branches. Of these, BA.2 and BA.5 proved stronger than the rest." "From BA.2 and BA.5, a series of sublineages kept appearing. Each of these had additional mutations which were concentrated on the RBD or receptor binding domain of the spike protein of the virus. This is the part that the virus uses to attach to the human cell," he added. He said, "With convergent evolution involving about 5 frequently found mutations, the virus is now able to escape the immune response to the earlier versions, either from natural infection or through vaccination." This is why they are called immune evasive variants BA.5.1.7 and BF.7 are names given to downstream descendants of BA.5." Dr Rajeev further explained also said that the pandemic isn't over, precautions still need to be taken. He said, "What we must realise is that the pandemic is not over. There will be periodic regional surges that especially coincide with festivals and group gatherings. Wearing masks Indoors and preferring outdoor to indoor gatherings are safe options. The vulnerable individuals will need to be specially protected." (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 19 (PTI) Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Wednesday questioned rating a country's democratic index based on "unilaterally devised and unvalidated parameters", saying it often tends to cause more harm to the cause of democracy. In his address at the opening ceremony of the 5th General Assembly of the Association of World Election Bodies (AWEB) in Cape Town, South Africa, he also said that leveraging of social media for voter connect has been a positive feature, but "misuse of social media platforms for disinformation is a real challenge" before the election management bodies and across the world. Also Read | Firecracker Ban in Delhi: AAP Govt Bans Storage, Sale, Bursting of Crackers Ahead of Diwali 2022; Violators May Face Jail Term Up to Six Months. Addressing the gathering in the presence of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, CEC Kumar said "delivering judgements on election process of a country through ratings against unilaterally devised and unvalidated parameters often tend to cause more harm to the cause of democracy." He underlined the need to "revisit the parameters for assessment of democratic indices" being used by certain international organisations. Also Read | Infinix Zero Ultra 5G Spotted on BIS Database, India Launch Imminent. His remarks come against the backdrop of certain reports claiming that India's score declined in recent years in Democracy Index. The government has already rejected the reports. Today democracy and election management bodies (EMBs) face challenges both around the globe and at home, Kumar said. The challenges, he said, emanate from overcoming polarisation, populism and its consequences, economic inequality, immigration and the challenge of sustaining multiethnic democracies. Independent functioning of EMBs with full empowerment is critical to free and fair elections, he said stressing that "it is essential that the EMBs are equipped and empowered to handle unforeseen situations through provision for Plenary Powers." (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 19 (PTI) The Centre on Wednesday said incidents of stubble burning have started increasing rapidly, especially in Punjab, and the state government has not taken adequate steps to prevent farm fires. At an inter-ministerial meeting on the issue of crop residue burning in Delhi-NCR, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav expressed concern that the Punjab government has not been able to take coordinated actions to contain farm fires in the state. Also Read | Indian Rupee Plunges 61 Paise To Dip to Record Low of 83-Mark for First Time Against US Dollar. Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar mentioned that the status of paddy straw management in Haryana is "significantly better than that in Punjab", the environment ministry said in a statement. "Till October 15, the trend of fire events was less as compared to last year but now it has started growing rapidly, especially in Punjab," the statement read. Also Read | Ahmedabad Shocker: Man Beaten With Broom, Hurled With Casteist Abuses for Sporting a Moustache in Sanand. The ministers noted that the Pusa bio-decomposer - a microbial solution which turns stubble into manure in 15-20 days - was being sprayed in a lesser area in Punjab and its application needs to be promoted and enhanced. M M Kutty, the chairman of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), said Punjab has taken "inadequate" steps in spite of several meetings and efforts by the statutory panel. The Punjab chief secretary was asked to control the increasing rate of fire events in Amritsar and to ensure a 50 per cent reduction in cases of farm fires in the state in comparison to last year. It was mentioned in the meeting that one of the main concerns is the delayed delivery of crop residue management machines in Punjab and Haryana. Along with unfavourable meteorological conditions, paddy straw burning in adjoining states is a major reason behind the alarming spike in air pollution levels in the national capital in October and November. Farmers set their fields on fire to quickly clear off the crop residue before cultivating wheat and vegetables. Government data shows Punjab and Haryana generate around 27 million tonnes of paddy straw a year, of which around 6.4 million tonnes is not managed. According to the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Punjab reported 71,304 farm fires between September 15 and November 30 last year and 83,002 farm fires in the corresponding period in 2020. Last year, the share of farm fires in Delhi's PM 2.5 pollution peaked to 48 per cent on November 7. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chandigarh, Oct 19 (PTI) Punjab has reported nearly three-fold jump in farm fire incidents in the last nine days, with total number of such cases reaching 2,625 so far this season. From September 15 till October 10 this year, the state had witnessed 718 stubble burning incidents. According to data from the Ludhiana-based Punjab Remote Sensing Centre, the state recorded 436 farm fire cases on Wednesday. From September 15 till October 19, a total of 2,625 farm fire incidents have been recorded, as per the data. The situation looks better this year compared to farm fire incidents in the last two years as the state till October 19 had reported 7,115 and 2,942 such incidents in 2020 and 2021, respectively. On October 19 in 2020 and 2021, the state had registered 698 and 496 incidents of stubble burning, respectively, as per the data. On Wednesday, maximum stubble burning incidents were recorded in Tarn Taran (124), followed by Amritsar (82), Gurdaspur (64), and Patiala (27), among other districts, as per the data. The farm fires continued despite the state government assuring more crop residue management machines and launching massive awareness programmes against stubble burning. Also Read | Maharashtra Shocker: Man Held for Raping Neighbour's 12-Year-Old Minor Daughter in Kalyan. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday in Ludhiana exhorted farmers to refrain from burning paddy straw as it poses a serious threat to human life through air pollution. Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Janjua asked the senior officials of the state to conduct regular inspections in all the districts to take stock of the ground situation of stubble fire incidents. Also Read | Bhagwant Mann-Led Punjab Govt Floats Tender To Hire Aircraft for VIP Use, Draws Opposition Ire. In a statement, Janjua said due to incidents of stubble burning, Punjab has to face embarrassment at the national level as the Supreme Court, National Air Quality Commission and National Green Tribunal have also expressed displeasure over stubble burning incidents in the state. He said it is very crucial to assess the ground situation of stubble burning incidents, and therefore, the senior officers concerned must visit the respective districts for random checking. The chief secretary directed the deputy commissioners that farmers who do not burn stubble should be given special honour at the district level, aiming to encourage other farmers as well. He also said more farmers should be sensitised about not burning stubble by making announcements from religious places in villages and through awareness camps and using other mediums. Janjua noted that so far this season, compared to the previous years, there has been a significant reduction in the cases of stubble burning and efforts should be continued to reduce it further. Paddy straw burning in Punjab and Haryana is one of the reasons behind the alarming spike in air pollution levels in the National Capital Region 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. The state recorded 71,304 stubble burning incidents in 2021, 76,590 in 2020, 55,210 in 2019 and 50,590 in 2018, with many districts including Sangrur, Mansa, Bathinda and Amritsar witnessing large number of such cases. (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 19: The Supreme Court has asked the CBI and the ED to sit together within a week and share material with regard to the money transactions and disclosures made by Mainak Mehta, brother in-law of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, who is an accused in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case. A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Hima Kohli also asked Mainak Mehta to share with the CBI whatever relevant information he has on the bank accounts investigated by the probe agency. PNB Scam: Fugitive Diamantaire Nirav Modis HCL House in Mumbai To Be Auctioned on September 23. It was hearing a CBI plea challenging the August 23 order of the Bombay High Court by which Mehta was allowed to travel to Hong Kong and stay there for three months. PNB Loan Fraud: Subhash Shankar, Close Associate of Nirav Modi Brought To India By CBI. "The Solicitor General for India has fairly stated that the Union of India would have no objection if a joint meeting is held between the Investigating Officers of (i) CBI; and (ii) Directorate of Enforcement, within a period of one week from today, so that the modalities for providing the information which was sought in the notice dated October 13, 2021 are chalked out and the information is made available to the CBI," the court order said. It said the CBI has flagged issues with regard to non-disclosure of transactions in bank accounts, including the one based in Singapore, two transactions of 8.9 million USD and 1.8 million USD transferred by the father of Nirav Modi. It said Mainak Mehta should share the details with the probe agency after which he may be considered for travelling abroad. The bench said, "These are only bank details which you can give at any point of time. You want to travel abroad. Give the details and you can go. We don't want to be stuck in the rigmarole". It noted that on October 13, 2021, a notice was issued under Section 91 of the CrPC directing Mainak Mehta to appear before the Additional Superintendent of Police, CBI, in Mumbai with documents related to his bank account in Singapore, statement of account in the name of Pavilion Point Corporation, a company controlled by Mainak Mehta, and details of bank account in Singapore in the name of Pavilion Point Corporation on October 25, 2021. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, said Mehta is a British citizen and he has given some details but not made full disclosures with regard to said bank accounts and there is apprehension that he may not return to India. He spoke about 30 million USD sent by Modi which Mehta allegedly diverted and said the CBI needs to know its details. "He (Mehta) did not cooperate in the investigation and neither appeared before the agency. He has received and diverted the money of Nirav Modi. We all know that Nirav Modi has fled the country and we are trying to bring him back through an extradition route. If Mainak Mehta also flees from the country, it would not be good for the investigating agency," the solicitor general said. The SG said the CBI's grievance is that Mehta has not provided any details of the account maintained in Singapore nor has he given complete details of Pavilion Point Corporation and the bank account in the name of the firm. Senior advocate Amit Desai, representing Mehta, submitted they have made the disclosure of records which were available with him to the Enforcement Directorate but could not furnish complete details as his bank accounts are frozen. "We have given whatever details which were available with us. The Enforcement Directorate has investigated the 30 million US dollar transaction and found that we were not the beneficiary. Similarly, it has also investigated all other transactions and therefore the agency did not oppose the pardon granted by the court," he said. Mehta has turned an approver in the ED case and received pardon. Desai submitted Mainak Mehta would immediately call on the Investigating Officer of the CBI and indicate what steps have been taken to provide the information which has been referred to in the notice dated October 13, 2021. The bench said Mehta has referred to his deep roots in the society and has voluntarily returned to the country which he could have avoided like other fugitives. The top court passed the order on Tuesday and posted the matter for further hearing on November 7. On Monday, it had told the CBI that it cannot restrain Mainak Mehta from travelling abroad without any "solid material". It has asked the agency to come up with some "solid material" in its plea challenging the high court verdict. Desai has submitted the court has pardoned Mehta, as due to his efforts, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was able to bring back more than Rs 500 crore to the country. On August 23, the high court had dismissed the CBI's plea against the order of a special court dealing with Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) cases, allowing Mehta to travel to Hong Kong. The CBI wanted the PMLA court order to be stayed. The agency had submitted in the high court that Mehta was not named as an accused in the case and his role in the PNB scam was yet to be ascertained for which he needed to be interrogated. It claimed Mehta received a large sum of money siphoned off in the PNB fraud. The money, it alleged, was transferred to his wife's account, which needs to be probed. (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 19 (PTI) Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor lost the party's presidential poll but managed to garner more votes than any of the losing candidates in the elections to the top party post held in 2000 and 1997. Congress' central election authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry on Wednesday announced that of the 9,385 votes polled in the Congress president election, veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge got 7,897 votes and Tharoor 1,072 votes, while 416 votes were declared invalid. Also Read | Ghaziabad Horror: Delhi Woman Gang-Raped by 5 Men for Two Days, Iron Rod Inserted in Private Part; Four Arrested. Tharoor got about 12 per cent of the total valid votes. In the last election in 2000, it was Jitendra Prasada who took on Sonia Gandhi. Prasada suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Gandhi who garnered 7,448 votes (98.76 per cent of valid votes), while Prasada reportedly polled a paltry 94 (1.24 per cent of the valid votes). Also Read | Maharashtra Shocker: Man Held for Raping Neighbour's 12-Year-Old Minor Daughter in Kalyan. In 1997, Sitaram Kesri won in a triangular contest with Sharad Pawar and Rajesh Pilot. Kesri posted a big victory getting 6,224 delegates' votes (83.43 per cent of valid votes) against Pawar's 882 (11.82 per cent) and Pilot's 354 (4.75). The number of total Pradesh Congress Committee delegates can vary in every election. "It is a great honour & a huge responsibility to be president of Congress and I wish Mallikarjun Kharge all success in that task. It was a privilege to have received the support of over a thousand colleagues, & to carry the hopes & aspirations of so many well-wishers of Congress across India," Tharoor said in a Twitter post as he conceded defeat and congratulated Kharge. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chennai, October 19: Tamil Nadu Law Minister S Regupathy on Wednesday introduced a bill in the state assembly to ban online gambling games. As per the reports, the Bill has been introduced for banning online gambling platforms including Rummy and Poker. The Tamil Nadu government in March had stated that they were committed to banning these online platforms and also asserted that they have been making efforts to invoke the laws that serve the said purpose. Online Gambling Games Banned in Tamil Nadu, Assembly Passes Bill To Ban and Regulate Online Rummy, Poker, Other Gambling Platforms. On October 7, Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi promulgated an ordinance to prohibit online gambling and to regulate online gaming in the state. The government decided to ban online rummy games based on a report submitted by Justice Chandru's led panel and stakeholders' input. Tamil Nadu Govt to Bring Legislation to Regulate Online Games, Invites Inputs From Public. Earlier in September, Tamil Nadu Cabinet approved the ordinance to ban online gambling. Following the Council of Ministers' acceptance of the bill to outlaw online gambling, the Governor granted his support and the measure received the assent of Governor RN Ravi earlier this month. The Tamil Nadu state government has made two attempts to pass legislation outlawing online gambling in the region and according to that legislation, no supplier of online games can offer online gambling services, permit the gaming of any online gambling that would require the use of cash or other risks or permit the gaming of any online game that violates the rules. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], October 19 (ANI): The top brass of the three defence forces including the chiefs of the Indian Army and Air Force today backed the call made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to use indigenous weapon systems for fighting wars of future. The fourth defence force Indian Coast Guard also backed make in India call by Prime Minister as its chief Virendra Singh Pathania said the maritime force was ready for a 100 per cent indigenous future including its weaponry, surface ships and helicopters along with fixed winged aircraft to meet the security challenges. Also Read | Assam: Inmate Attempts Suicide Inside Police Lockup in Bongaigaon, Dies. Speaking to ANI at Defexpo-2022 held exclusively for Indian companies in the defence sector, Indian Army chief Gen Manoj Pande categorically said, "We can absolutely and undoubtedly win the wars of the future with indigenous weapon systems." Lauding the work done by the domestic industry so far, the Army chief said, "Whatever has been produced ingeniously is as good as what is available in the world market." Also Read | Indian Rupee Plunges 61 Paise To Dip to Record Low of 83-Mark for First Time Against US Dollar. He said the Russia-Ukraine conflict has given us "profound lessons, told us you need to be self-reliant and not depend on any global supply chains to the extent possible." Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari also agreed that the induction of indigenous weapon systems was the only way to remain self-reliant in times of conflict. Asked if the IAF was confident or fighting future wars with indigenous weapons, he said, "We have to keep taking these big strides to reach this ultimate goal and we have got a long-term and immediate plan towards meeting requirements of all weapon systems through indigenous production." Navy Vice Chief Vice Admiral Satish Guormade told ANI that "This vision of the Prime Minister can be achieved very much the way this DefExpo is being organized and the progress made in last two to three years in this direction." He said the weapon systems produced by the domestic industry are yielding good results and are proving their mettle in service and BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was not one such example. The Navy Vice Chief said the Indian Navy was fully supportive of the Make in India in the defence initiative of the Prime Minister and is working round the clock to implement it in the service. Army chief Gen Pande said that In the makes II category, the Indian Army has 43 projects, in which about 187 industries are participating, these amount to Rs 27,000 cr and largely pertain to improving our intelligence, and surveillance capabilities. Also looking at projects in artificial intelligence. He said all new ingeniously developed technology has performed well in our forward areas. The advantage of all this being indigenous is sustenance becomes easier. IAF chief listed the Indigenous trainer aircraft HTT-40, which was unveiled by PM Modi at the defexpo saying that it will meet future requirements. "We have a new generation of 'AKASH' missiles. We've long-term and immediate plans to fulfill requirements of weapon systems through indigenous sources," he said. (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 19 (PTI) E-gaming Federation will challenge an ordinance issued by the Tamil Nadu government to ban online gaming as it categorises rummy and poker as games of chance, the industry body said on Wednesday. E-gaming Federation (EGF), whose members include Games24x7, MPL, Junglee Games etc, cited Supreme Court order which, according to the industry body, has settled rummy as a game of skill. Also Read | Infinix Zero Ultra 5G Spotted on BIS Database, India Launch Imminent. "Bringing rummy under the ambit of a game of chance is directly in violation of the Supreme Court judgments and the Madras High Court judgment which overturned the law banning online games including rummy and poker," EGF said in a statement. Tamil Nadu had promulgated an ordinance to prohibit online gambling and regulate online games in the state and said an online gaming authority will be established to exercise powers conferred by this ordinance. Also Read | Indian Rupee Plunges 61 Paise To Dip to Record Low of 83-Mark for First Time Against US Dollar. The authority will regulate online games, issue certificates of registration to local online game providers besides identifying online games of chance rummy and poker and oversee the functioning of online game providers in the state, among other things. "After examining the ordinance, we have decided to file a lawsuit as it categorises rummy and poker as games of chance. This is in dissonance with multiple legal judicial pronouncements including the recent judgment by the Madras High Court, which has clearly segregated games of skill and chance. "The Supreme Court and several high courts have reaffirmed the status of skill-based games as legitimate business activity and the state must take cognizance of these judgments in developing an enabling gaming policy that safeguards players than resorting to a ban," EGF CEO Sameer Barde said in the statement. EGF said that the need of the hour is a comprehensive online gaming policy that protects players and ensures that only legitimate online skill-gaming operators offer their services while weeding out the ones who break the law. The industry body said that the Indian gaming market is expected to grow from current USD 2.2 billion to USD 5 billion in revenue by 2025. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, Oct 19 (PTI) The new fertilizer policy is going to adversely squeeze the margins of the manufacturers, warns a report. The government announced the 'one nation, one fertiliser' scheme recently, under which all subsidised fertilisers will now be sold under the 'Bharat' brand across the country. Also Read | Indian Rupee Plunges 61 Paise To Dip to Record Low of 83-Mark for First Time Against US Dollar. With this, the government intends to reduce the criss-cross movement of fertilisers (urea, di-ammonium phosphate, and potash have fixed nutrient content as specified under the fertiliser control order and which does not change with brands) that will eventually help reduce freight subsidy bills and improve the availability. While the policy will have allround impact, including on farmers, distributors, manufacturers and the government itself, the maximum impact will be on the margins of the manufacturers, Crisil said in a note on Wednesday. Also Read | MediaTek Dimensity 9200 Processor To Debut Next Month. The agency's interactions with farmers across suggest they prefer certain brands, but overall, their brand loyalty is weak. In contrast, farmers don't switch brands easily when it comes to pesticides and seeds. In case of fertilisers, farmers quickly go for alternatives if their preferred brand is not available on time. Distributors, while acknowledging low brand loyalty, say certain fertiliser brands have built very strong trust with farmers, so implementation of the new scheme may be a challenge initially. For manufacturers, the scheme is likely to adversely impact margins. They'll have to build strong marketing and promotional strategies to maintain their share and grow, which will add to selling expenses and thus impact margins. Additionally, industry interactions suggest that basic fertiliser brands have been used as umbrella brands to push forward premium and specialty fertilisers to farmers, says the report. With the scheme, charging a premium for certain fertilisers will not be that easy, and new launches will be a more costly affair as there would be no established brand base to promote new products. Thus, the scheme will adversely impact the sales of high-margin products and lead to higher marketing expenses and lower margins, concludes the report. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Ludhiana, Oct 19 (PTI) Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said that state cooperative Milkfed will augment its milk supply to Delhi from 30,000 litres a day to 2 lakh litres, a move which will benefit the state farmers. The Punjab State Cooperative Milk Producers Federation Limited (Milkfed) sells milk products under the Verka brand. Also Read | Indian Rupee Plunges 61 Paise To Dip to Record Low of 83-Mark for First Time Against US Dollar. Mann further said Verka will also open its outlets in the national capital. Mann was addressing a gathering after inaugurating a milk processing and butter plant here. Also Read | MediaTek Dimensity 9200 Processor To Debut Next Month. "At present 30,000 litres of milk is being supplied to Delhi. We want it to be raised to 2 lakh litres per day," said Mann. The chief minister said the state government has inked an agreement with the Delhi government for opening of Verka outlets at every nook and corner in the national capital. The move is aimed at extending maximum support and best prices to the dairy farmers of Punjab, Mann said, adding that farmer-friendly schemes should be implemented so as to boost the dairying business amongst the youth and make them financially independent. Mann said he has asked Milkfed to further launch an aggressive marketing campaign to capture a sizable chunk of consumer market not only in the state but across the country and even abroad. The chief minister said Verka products like ghee, milk, butter etc have already created a niche in the nationwide market, which could further be widened with concerted efforts. About the new plant which was inaugurated here, Mann said it has been built at a cost of Rs 105 crore. Its milk processing capacity is 9 lakh litres and butter handling capacity is 10 metric tonnes per day, he said. In a step aimed at wiping out the menace of paddy straw burning from the state, the country's largest bio energy plant has been set up in Sangrur at a cost of Rs 230 crore. On lumpy skin disease, Mann said the state government has sent a detailed list of the cattle wealth that fell prey to this disease to the Centre. He said the state government will raise the issue of giving compensation to the farmers who have lost their cattle due to this disease with the Union government. Mann said strenuous efforts are being made to ensure that the Centre declares this disease as pandemic. (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 19 (ANI): Iowa State Psychology Professor Shana Carpenter has said that combining two strategies - spacing and retrieval practice - is key to success when trying to ace a test or pick up a new hobby. Carpenter is the lead author of a paper in Nature Reviews Psychology that examined more than 100 years of research on learning. Also Read | Firecrackers Ban in India 2022: List of States Where Bursting of Crackers is Banned Or Permitted For Limited Time During Diwali. "The benefits of spacing and retrieval practice have been confirmed over and over in studies in labs, classrooms, workplaces, but the reason why we're showcasing this research is that these two techniques haven't fully caught on. If they were utilized all the time, we'd see drastic increases in learning," said Carpenter. In the paper, Carpenter and her co-authors describe spacing as a strategy to learn in small doses over time. It's the opposite of cramming the night before an exam. In one study, medical students who received repeated surgery training over three weeks performed better and faster on tests 2 weeks and 1 year later compared to medical students who had the same training all on one day. Also Read | Will Cristiano Ronaldo Play Today in Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League 2022-23? Check Out the Possibility of CR7 Featuring in Starting XI for EPL Fixture. Carpenter says there isn't a universal rule about how much time to schedule between practice sessions. But research shows returning to the material after forgetting some - but not all - of the content is effective. Retrieval practice is a strategy that involves recalling what was learned previously. It can take many forms, including flash cards, practice tests and open-ended writing prompts, and helps learners recognize what they do and don't know. The paper's authors emphasize that people who check their responses for errors or get feedback right away learn even better. More than 200 studies show people generally retain more information for longer periods of time with retrieval practice compared to strategies that do not involve retrieval (e.g., re-reading a textbook.) The authors argue people who combine spacing and retrieval practice have the best chance of remembering information. "Forgetting is a very natural thing; you can't stop forgetting even if you try, but you can slow down forgetting by using retrieval practice and spacing," said Carpenter. Highlighters and illusions of learning Students studying at Iowa State University. Christopher Gannon/Iowa State University Carpenter says false beliefs about learning are part of the reason retrieval practice and spacing aren't used more widely. "Probably the number one misconception is that learning has to feel easy in order to be working, and that's just not true at all. You'll learn more durably and more effectively if you persist and get through those challenges than if it had felt easy the whole time," said Carpenter. Simply highlighting or re-reading a textbook feels easier than writing responses to practice essay questions. But without the knowledge check that comes with trying to retrieve learned information, there's a greater risk of being lulled into what the authors call an "illusion of learning." Carpenter acknowledges many people do not like making mistakes or realizing they don't understand the material as well as they thought. It may dredge up insecurities, a fear of failing or some other emotion they want to avoid. But there's a good chance they'll eventually have to confront what they don't know when the stakes are higher, like during an exam or presentation at work. Bringing it into the classroom Carpenter says she uses digital tools (e.g., online practice quizzes, and clicker questions) to incorporate retrieval practice and spacing into her university courses, but there are other ways to bring these strategies into the classroom. She gives the example of an elementary school math teacher whose techniques were highlighted at a recent conference. A few days after a lesson on fractions, the teacher asked her students to share whatever they could remember about fractions. It was an open-ended and communal activity. "The more they talked, the more they started to remember, and those kids were excited to talk about fractions," said Carpenter. She shares another story of a middle school teacher who routinely projects practice questions from previous lessons on a screen. The students jot down responses on note cards and then check their answers on their own or discuss them as a group. Carpenter emphasizes the teachers in both examples did not grade the activities. Rather, they provided low- and no-stakes practice opportunities to help students learn and recognize mistakes as an important part of that process, which benefits students beyond the classroom. "Learning how to learn is going to ensure that anywhere you go after the formal education years, you're going to know how to learn something and be successful," she said. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Gothenburg [Sweden], October 19 (ANI): Sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is melting as a result of climate change. According to a study published in the journal Science and co-authored by researchers from the University of Gothenburg, carbon dioxide intake increases and disrupts the aquatic food chain when the Arctic ocean loses its sea ice cover. Researchers have been able to observe how the pH of the ocean north of Alaska and Siberia has dramatically reduced by comparing data from numerous Arctic missions. The Arctic Ocean has been becoming more acidic at a rate that is three to four times quicker than that of other oceans in recent decades. Also Read | BOJ Policymakers Rule out Countering Weak Yen with Rate Hike Latest Tweet by Reuters. This is due to the fact that seawater absorbs more carbon dioxide when it comes into direct contact with the atmosphere without the help of ice. The sea ice has historically prevented carbon dioxide from becoming saturated in the seawater around the North Pole. "The time series of pH measurements made in the Arctic Ocean is long. The oldest are from an expedition in 1994 when the ice sheet was extensive and thick, and measurements were taken in the leads between the ice floes. On the expedition in 2014, the icebreaker Oden was able to travel in open water halfway from Siberia to the North Pole," says Leif Anderson, a researcher in marine chemistry at the University of Gothenburg and one of the authors of the study. Also Read | Brentford vs Chelsea, Premier League 2022-23 Free Live Streaming Online: How To Watch EPL Match Live Telecast on TV & Football Score Updates in IST?. Acidification most significant in cold oceans The pH scale, the measured acidification during the past 30 years is equivalent to around 0.1. If carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere continue to rise at the same rate they are now, the researchers predict that the pH value will drop by another 0.3 by the turn of the century. The coldest oceans will be most affected. How much carbon dioxide can be dissolved in the ocean depends on the temperature of the water. Due to alterations in the chemistry of saltwater, more freshwater from melted sea ice also has a greater acidification effect by absorbing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Strong Pacific Ocean currents are pushing nutrient-rich water up to the northern oceans, and the Arctic's ice-free waters are experiencing a high rate of phytoplankton primary production throughout the long summer days. Because phytoplankton absorbs a lot of carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, the water is undersaturated with carbon dioxide as it travels further north under the polar ice. However, because there is less sea ice throughout the summer, the seas are getting more acidic as a result of the seawater's continued absorption of carbon dioxide. Sea butterflies may be adversely affected Marine life in the arctic oceans is already being affected by acidification, according to researchers. "Phytoplankton, which takes up carbon dioxide, are benefiting from climate change. For other species, however, the news is not so good. Sea butterflies are a species of predatory sea snail that have shells of aragonite which they form from calcium and carbonate ions. We have measured lower and lower aragonite saturation levels of in the ocean from our expeditions," says Leif Anderson. For many whales that often move up to the Arctic Ocean to graze and gain weight, sea butterflies are a crucial species and an essential staple meal. However, there may be less food in the pantry right now. Polar seas are getting increasingly acidic due to a number of factors, including a decrease in sea ice cover and the warming of the high Arctic tundra. There is a significant release and transport of organic carbon into the Arctic rivers, where it breaks down into carbon dioxide and other compounds, lowering pH levels. "All of these factors are consequences of climate change, and more open waters in the Arctic is amplifying their effects," says Leif Anderson. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington [US], October 19 (ANI): A study suggested that Upper ocean heating in the equatorial Pacific - a key oceanographic region in Earth's climate system - is likely to make the East Asian monsoon season wetter. The study was published in the journal, 'Nature'. Also Read | Firecrackers Ban in India 2022: List of States Where Bursting of Crackers is Banned Or Permitted For Limited Time During Diwali. Recent increases in ocean heat content - where energy is absorbed by the waters - have been implicated in the intensification of tropical storms that draw their energy from the surface of the ocean. The link between ocean heating and rainfall on land is, however, less clear. "Our study suggests variations in ocean thermal structure affect the delivery of moisture, latent heat, and what happens when they arrive on land," said Yair Rosenthal, a professor of marine and coastal sciences in the Rutgers' School of Art and Sciences and School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. Also Read | Will Cristiano Ronaldo Play Today in Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League 2022-23? Check Out the Possibility of CR7 Featuring in Starting XI for EPL Fixture. Rosenthal said the changes in the latitudinal temperature gradient - the difference in sea-surface temperature between low and high latitudes - not only control how energy is absorbed by the equatorial upper ocean but how winds carry the moisture from the ocean onto land. The study, led by Zhimin Jian of Tongji University in China, found that over the past 360,000 years, increases in monsoonal rain in eastern China correlated with increases in the heat content of the Indo-Pacific Warm Pool-a region where sea surface temperatures remain above ~82F year-round-likely due to enhanced transport of moisture and latent heat absorbed in the water vapor from the ocean to the continent. According to the study, the changes in upper ocean heat content follow shifts in the Earth's orbit that occur about every 23,000 years and change the distribution of incoming solar radiation at each latitude. By using two foraminifera species, calcareous marine organisms, one a surface dweller and the other that lives approximately 200 meters below the sea surface, the scientists reconstructed how the upper ocean thermal structure gets its heat and energy. They compared their results with climate model simulations and reconstructions of the monsoonal precipitation in eastern China for the same period. The coupling of ocean heat content and monsoon variations, both coordinated by insolation changes at astronomical timescales, is critical for regulating the global hydroclimate, the researchers said. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Karachi, Oct 19 (PTI) Two teenage Hindu girls have allegedly been abducted in Pakistan's Sindh province, prompting their mother to stage a protest on Wednesday after police purportedly refused to register an FIR about the incident, which is the latest in a string of such atrocities against members of the minority community in the country. The mother claimed the incident occurred last week in the Salah Pat area near Sukkur when they were returning home. Also Read | European Union Preparing Sanctions Against Iran for Supplying Drones to Russia. She said that three men forcibly took away her daughters -who are 17 and 18 years old - and also pushed and hit her when she tried to stop them. The helpless mother on Wednesday protested against the refusal of the police to register a first information report about the incident. Also Read | Earthquake in Nepal: Quake of Magnitude 5.9 Jolts Kathmandu. I have named the masked men who abducted my daughters but the police are doing nothing. I appeal to the court to do something and give me back my daughters, she said. The abduction and forcible conversion of young Hindu girls have become a major problem in the interior of Sindh province which has a large Hindu population in Thar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Ghotki and Khairpur areas. Most of the Hindu community members are labourers. Pakistan's Sindh government this month ordered a high-level probe into reports of the abduction of a 14-year-old Hindu girl from the city of Hyderabad in Sindh province. Last month, a woman and two teenage girls belonging to the Hindu community were kidnapped with two of them forcibly converted to Islam and married to Muslim men. On July 16, 2019, the issue of abducting and forcibly converting Hindu girls in various districts of Sindh province was taken up in the Sindh Assembly, where a resolution was debated and unanimously passed after it was modified over objections of certain lawmakers that it should not be restricted to Hindu girls only. But the bill which criminalised forcible religious conversions was later rejected in the assembly. A similar bill was again proposed but rejected 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) Guwahati, October 19: An inmate has died after attempting suicide inside the toilet of a police station lockup in Assam's Bongaigaon district, an official said on Wednesday. The deceased, identified as Abdul Jabbar, was arrested in a cattle theft case, and put up at Jogighopa police station. He had tried to end his life inside the toilet where he was spotted in a semi-conscious state. Chennai Shocker: Man Kills Self Minutes After Son Dies By Suicide Over Mobile in Kundrathur. "He was rushed to a nearby hospital but unfortunately, he collapsed on the way. The doctors in the hospital declared him dead," Swapnaneel Deka, Superintendent of Police, Bongaigaon district, told IANS. The police officer said Jabbar was arrested on Tuesday night. He was an accused in a cattle theft case. Deka said that after questioning Jabbar, the stolen cattle was also rescued by the police. Dehradun Shocker: Teen Girl Dies by Suicide After Mother Doesnt Cook Her Favourite Food. An inquiry into the matter has been ordered while a constable Mokimul Hoque Patgiri has been placed under suspension, he said. The body has been sent for autopsy. Meanwhile, local residents have expressed anger over the incident and staged a protest against the police. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 19, 2022 05:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, October 19: The Indian Embassy in Ukraine on Wednesday advised all Indian citizens, including students, to leave the war-torn nation at the earliest by available means, due to "deteriorating security situation" there. The advisory, issued by the Indian Embassy, also warns citizens against travelling to the war-ravaged nation due to "escalation of hostilities across Ukraine". Nuclear War Inevitable? Russia May Detonate Nuclear Weapon Over Black Sea As Vladimir Putin Preparing To Declare Full-Fledged War On Ukraine, Say Reports. Indian Embassy's Tweet Ukraine was attacked by Russia in February this year and the war has escalated in the last eight months, with Russia having bombed several of its major cities (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 19, 2022 11:22 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Jammu, October 19: Dogra employees of the Union Territory administration on Wednesday held a demonstration here over targeted killings of minorities and demanded immediate relocation away from the Valley. The protest follows the murder of Puran Krishan Bhat, a Kashmiri Pandit who was shot dead, allegedly by militants, in Shopian district on Saturday. Several organisations held protests across the Union Territory in the wake of Bhat's murder, while Kashmiri migrant pandit organisations expressed concern over the unabated targeted killings. The employees assembled under the banner of All Jammu-based Reserved Categories Employees Association. Kashmiri Pandit Shopkeeper Injured After Being Shot by Terrorists in Shopian. Lashing out at the administration, the protesters alleged that 7,000 employees belonging to minority communities serving in the Valley "have been caged by the faulty and unconstitutional transfer policy" that did not allow them to transfer out of Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir Killings: 'Kashmiri Pandits Had To Migrate Twice and Both Happened When BJP Was in Power', Says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. They also hit back at the administration for issuing arbitrary orders to force them to join services in the Valley. The administration has withheld their salaries after they failed to report for duty, a protesting employee said. "Whose orders are we to accept? Terrorists send threat letters warnings us that we would be killed if we return to the Valley. The administration says return to work or face stoppage of salaries or dismissal of services," said Sunita Devi, the protesting employee. "We have been denied salaries for four months. Even on big festival days, salaries have not been released. The government has failed to address our demands for transfer and relocation from the Valley." The employees returned to Jammu following the killing of Rajni Bala, a schoolteacher in south Kashmir's Kulgam district on May 31. The employees' association also hit out at the administration and the BJP for their "lip service and condemnations" following each targeted killing without making efforts to stop them. The terrorists are killing people from minority communities and openly claimimg responsibility. They are not only challenging the government but also creating fear psychosis among the employees, they said. The protesters said targeted killings of minorities have been going on for a year but the government had not only failed to protect them but also could not instill confidence in them. In a shocking incident, a woman from Delhi was abducted and gang-raped by 5 men in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad. SP City Ghaziabad said that on October 18, the Nandgram police received info about a woman lying near Ashram Road. "Police took her to hospital. She's a resident of Delhi&had come to her brother's residence in Nandgram," he added. The SP also said that four of the five accused have been arrested. "It is being said that they have a property dispute & the matter is sub-judice. We're taking all necessary action," he said. Lucknow Gang-Rape Case: Autorickshaw Driver, Accused of Raping Girl With Accomplice, Arrested After Brief Encounter (Video). Delhi Woman Abducted, Gang-Raped in Ghaziabad After her brother dropped her off, 5 people -who were known to her- took her away & gang-raped her. FIR registered. 4 people nabbed. It is being said that they have a property dispute & the matter is sub-judice. We're taking all necessary action: Nipun Agarwal, SP City(Ghaziabad) pic.twitter.com/mKmpArCEWf ANI (@ANI) October 19, 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.) Military advisor: Likelihood of new attack from Belarus low but could rise in spring. Russia is highly unlikely to be able to gather enough forces in Belarus for a renewed attack on Ukraine from there, according to Yevhenii Sylkin, advisor for Ukraine's Joint Forces Command. The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) October 19, 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.) Houston, October 19: A prominent Indian-American entrepreneur couple has donated USD 1 million to fund the manufacturing lab equipment at the University of Houston. Brij Agrawal, an alumnus of the varsity, and his wife Sunita are funding manufacturing lab equipment at the University of Houston (UH) College of Technology building in Sugar Land, a suburb of Greater Houston. Tirupati Balaji Temple Announces Rs 100 Crore Donation For Ram Mandir in Ayodhya? Here's a Fact-Check. The entrepreneur couple is helping to fund the colleges' manufacturing laboratory equipment, including the latest 3D printers, machine tools, and measuring test equipment, and the creation of an advanced manufacturing design center focused on small and medium scale industry. Indian-American Researchers Develop Durable Coating That Kills COVID-19 Virus. I would not have graduated from college if it wasn't for the UH System. That is why I am so passionate about supporting UH," Agrawal said. "I live in Sugar Land and that makes me more attached to the UH at Sugar Land campus," he said. The Agrawals' total impact could reach USD 3.5 million after matching gifts from the George Foundation, which will match USD 1 million, and the Texas Research Incentive Program, the university said in a statement. The varsity will name the building's ground floor auditorium, the Brij and Sunita Agrawal Auditorium, in the couples' honour. Originally from Lakhanpur in (Punjab) India, Agrawal moved to Houston at 17 and attended night school at UH while working full-time. He credits his experience at the varsity for providing him the foundation to launch and sustain a successful career as the CEO and President of VKC Group. This is not the first time the Agrawals have put their money into the school. The couple was involved financially during the construction at UH in Sugar Land's beginnings. They also established a Presidential Endowment to fund scholarships for UH engineering students. Islamabad, October 19: Ignoring India's objections to Pakistans F-16 package, the US Congress cleared a proposed foreign military sale valued at $450 million for maintenance and sustainment services of the fighter jet, a media report said Wednesday. According to the Geo News report, Congress didn't raise any objection to the proposed sale thus clearing the way for the package for Pakistan which was approved last month by President Joe Biden's administration. US President Joe Biden Says Pakistan Maybe One of the Most Dangerous Nations in the World. As per the rules, clearance was required from the US House of Representatives for the programme to proceed. The F-16 package made headlines after Indian criticism of the deal, triggering a strong response from Islamabad which urged New Delhi to refrain from commenting on Pakistan-US ties, Geo News reported. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also defended the military sale, saying the package was for the maintenance of Pakistan's existing fleet. "These are not new planes, new systems, new weapons. It's sustaining what they have," he said in a joint press conference with India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. "Pakistan's programme bolsters its capability to deal with terrorist threats emanating from Pakistan or from the region. It's in no one's interests that those threats be able to go forward with impunity, and so this capability that Pakistan has had can benefit all of us in dealing with terrorism," Blinken had said. He added that the US had a "responsibility and an obligation to whomever we provide military equipment to make sure that it's maintained and sustained. That's our obligation". F-16 Package to Pakistan an American Paradox?. When asked to elaborate on the terrorism threats and the need for F-16s to counter them, Blinken said: "There are clear terrorism threats that continue to emanate from Pakistan itself as well as from neighbouring countries. "And whether it is TTP (Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan) that may be targeting Pakistan, whether it's IS, whether it's Al Qaeda, I think the threats are clear, well-known, and we all have an interest in making sure that we have the means to deal with them. And that's what this is about." (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 19, 2022 04:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). An argument between a married couple in Volusia County, Florida ended in tragedy as a Florida man stabbed his wife to death before cutting his own throat in a case of murder-suicide. He did this in front of his three young children. Immediately after the man slit his throat, their 10-year-old son ran to their neighbors for help and told them that his stepfather had stabbed his mother. According to the New York Post, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office said just after 6 pm, the neighbor who called the police told them that he entered the residence and saw the wife on the floor; the children, unharmed. He then called 911. Florida Man Died While Being Transported to a Hospital The mother was identified as Byanca Yazbek Cruz Tovar, 26, while the husband was identified as Oscar Mercado Salazar, 32. Salazar was also the biological father to the two children. Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood stated that the incident was really "heartbreaking." "It is sickening on one end, again when you look you have three little kids involved here, a 10-year-old, a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old, who don't have their mother anymore," he told members of the media. READ NEXT: Florida Man and Son Arrested After Shooting at Car Because of Misdelivered Package When deputies arrived at the family's house, they found the couple inside the bedroom. The mother was unconscious but was later declared dead inside the home. The father he was still alive after his self-inflicted knife wound. Authorities then sent him to HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital in Sanford, according to the Deltona Beach News-Journal. However, an hour after being sent to the hospital, he died from his injuries. He had a history of domestic violence and has been arrested for it before, says Sheriff Chitwood, who also called the incident "classic domestic violence." He also stated that Salazar has been living in the country by using a stolen identity. Couple Argued About How to Discipline Their 5-Year-Old Son According to Sheriff Chitwood, the mother, Byanca Yazbek Cruz Tovar, had "tons of defensive wounds," indicating that she was "clearly fighting for her life." The sheriff also revealed that the two were fighting over the disciplining of the middle child, a 5-year-old son. WESH 2 News reported that several neighbors told them that the family was new to the area and had made renovations to the newly-purchased home. Meanwhile, Sheriff Chitwood released a statement and said, "The children will need a lot of love and support as they deal with this tragedy today and for the rest of their lives." The sheriff added the he felt "so sorry for their pain," and added that they are now making contact and making arrangements with family members. He also stated that he will "make sure these kids have everything they need." READ NEXT: Parkland School Shooting Verdict: Gunman Nikolas Cruz Escapes Death Penalty, Gets Life in Prison Without Parole This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Update on 2 killed in Deltona murder-suicide SNAP benefits 2022 is a program that helps around 41.5 million Americans get nutritious meals in their household as long as they are considered eligible for the program. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities noted that determining an individual or a household's eligibility depends on their gross monthly income, net income, and assets. SNAP benefits count cash income from all sources, including earned income and unearned income, such as cash assistance, Social Security, unemployment insurance, and child support. However, some people are not eligible for SNAP despite their income or assets. These individuals are those who are on strike, people without a documented immigration status, some students attending college more than half-time, and some immigrants who are lawfully present. Meanwhile, unemployed adults aged 18 to 49 without children and who do not have disabilities are limited to three months of SNAP benefits every three years in certain areas of the country. READ NEXT: Disaster SNAP Benefits Update: Are You Eligible for New Florida Payments? SNAP Benefits Payments Accepted Many participating stores and major retailers accept food stamps as a form of payment when it comes to buying goods. Go Banking Rates reported that almost all supermarkets and fast-food chains take food stamps, depending on the state SNAP benefits recipients are located in. Aside from Walmart and Target, there is a lot of chains of grocery stores that also accept food stamps. Julie Ramhold, a consumer analyst, noted that Costco accepts food stamps, where customers will be able to find "tons of foods in bulk from staples," including rice and pasta to breakfast foods, and dairy among others. Ramhold said families receiving food stamps may receive a limited amount, which could drain the benefits when stopping at a warehouse club. Regardless, Costco would still accept SNAP benefits payments. Trader Joe's also accepts food stamps, with more organic produce and better choices for standards like cereal, frozen foods, snack bars, and juice, among others. Convenience stores also accept SNAP benefits payments, but they can differ in various areas. Convenience stores usually have a small selection of dairy products and some pantry staples as well. A shopping assistant at Mealfan, Shawn Tia, said Instacart also accepts food stamps, allowing customers to purchase non-carbonated juice, soy products, pasta, rice, and tofu, among others. Amazon also accepts SNAP benefits payments as long as the products qualify under the eligible items for SNAP program. Famers' markets also have some programs that double the amount of money you can spend. However, not all farmers' markets have the program, depending on the state. SNAP Benefits 2022 The maximum benefits for SNAP benefits in 2022 changed in the 48 states and D.C., increasing it to $835 for a family of four. In Alaska, the maximum allotment range from $1,074 to $1,667, as reported by Yahoo Finance. Meanwhile, the maximum allotment for Hawaii is $1,573; $1,231 for Guam; and $1,074 for U.S. Virgin Islands. The 48 states and D.C. will have an increase in the minimum benefit by up to $20 and will also increase in Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, and U.S. Virgin Islands. READ MORE: SNAP Benefits 2022 Update: $301.8 Million Texas Payments Confirmed for July 2022 This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: REBOUND Walmart customers and SNAP benefits - from KRIS 6 News The family of George Floyd has filed a $250 million legal bid against Kanye West. This is after the rapper's interview where he claimed that Floyd's death is caused by fentanyl, denying that Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin killed him by kneeling on his neck. Roxie Washington, the mother of Floyd's daughter, Giana Floyd, claimed that West made a false statement about George to "promote his brand." The Daily Mail says that Floyd's family sent West a "stop" letter because of his comments on the Drink Champs podcast, which has since been taken down. READ NEXT: Kanye West Blames George Floyd's Death on Fentanyl; Floyd Family Now Planning to Sue Kanye West's Lawsuit Is Underway The lawsuit will be filed on behalf of Floyd's daughter by the child's mother, Roxie Washington. The family is suing West, his business partners, and associates for harassment, misappropriation, defamation, and infliction of emotional distress. NEW: Lawyers for George Floyd daughter plan to file $250M lawsuit vs. Kanye West. "Kanye's comments are a repugnant attempt to discount George Floyd's life & to profit from his inhumane death. We will hold Mr. West accountable for his flagrant remarks against Mr. Floyd's legacy." pic.twitter.com/w56rTtCKtu Matt Sullivan (@sullduggery) October 18, 2022 During his appearance, West stated that Floyd was killed by fentanyl, not Chauvin. However, it is unclear whether Candace Owens is one of these "associates," as West obtained the false claim about George Floyd's death from her new documentary, "The Greatest Lie Ever Sold." "If you look, the guy's knee wasn't even on his neck like that," West said. Chauvin was found guilty of killing Floyd because he kneeled on Floyd's neck and back, cutting off his oxygen supply and causing brain damage, a heart attack, and other injuries. West is charged with intentionally making "blatantly false statements" about George Floyd's death in the lawsuit announcement to "promote his brand and increase marketing value and revenue for himself, his business partners, and associates." The lawyers Floyd's family hired for this lawsuit seem ready to argue that West's lies about Floyd have hurt Floyd's family and daughter just as much as they hurt Floyd. This is despite having no legal reason to sue for defamation on behalf of a dead person. "The interests of the child are a priority," said Nuru Witherspoon of the Witherspoon Law Group. Rolling Stone said in an article that Witherspoon also said that Kanye West's comments retraumatized Floyd's daughter, creating an unhealthy and unsafe environment for her. Pat D. Dixon, III of Dixon & Dixon, added that West's comments are "repugnant to discount George Floyd's life and to profit from his inhumane death." He said that they will hold West responsible for his harsh words about Floyd's legacy. The Sandy Hook parents' nearly $1 billion judgment against Alex Jones for spreading conspiracy theories about the 2012 shooting could serve as an example for legal action, according to Lee Merritt, another attorney who has worked with Floyd's family but is not involved in this proposed lawsuit. George Floyd's Death While Chauvin also claimed that fentanyl caused Floyd's death, the medical examinations confirmed that compression on his neck and lack of oxygen caused his death. Furthermore, Chauvin pled guilty to a federal charge of violating Floyd's right to be free from excessive force by a police officer, the New York Post noted. According to a statement in his plea agreement, Chauvin continued to place his knees on Floyd's neck and body even after he became unresponsive while he was handcuffed and lying on the ground. George Floyd was killed and suffered bodily harm because of this offense. READ MORE: Power Rangers-Themed Restaurant Staff in California Turned Into Real-Life Superheroes After Saving Woman From Attacker This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: George Floyd's Family to Sue Kanye West for $250 Million - From E! News The government of Nicaragua under President Daniel Ortega has arrested opponents, from opposition politicians and activists to members of the media and priests of the Roman Catholic Church. Now, the relatives of these jailed political opponents have spoken out and are saying that they are fearing for the lives of their imprisoned relatives. Four well-known political prisoners have now started a hunger strike, prompting their relatives to release a statement last Monday. These four prisoners began their hunger strike to protest the bad conditions at the infamous El Chipote prison. According to the Associated Press, they are protesting a lack of medical care, bad food, and mistreatment, among other things. "We fear that they may die inside that torture center," said one of the relatives, who added that every day that passes places the lives of their relatives doing the hunger strike at greater risk. The relatives also stated that the prison threatened them that they would not give the water bottles supplied by the relatives to the prisoners. Former Daniel Ortega Ally and Legendary Sandinista Rebel Commander Leading Hunger Strike The four opposition figures leading the hunger strike are some of the most prominent people in Nicaragua. They are led by Dora Maria Tellez, a legendary Sandinista rebel commander who even served as the health minister during the first Sandinista government under Ortega. Tellez, who led the assault on the National palace in 1978 and held members of congress hostage, was disenchanted when Ortega consolidated power. He was sentenced to eight years in prison. The other three joining the hunger strike are journalist Miguel Mendoza, academic Irving Larios, and lawyer Roger Reyes. According to Infobae, the Daniel Ortega regime suspended family visits in El Chipote over 50 days ago. This prompted Mendoza and Reyes to demand to be able to see their children who are still minors. They had been denied seeing them since they were arrested over a year ago. READ MORE: Nicaragua: Nicaraguans Fleeing From Daniel Ortega Administration Posts Challenge for Costa Rica's Asylum System Prisoners Look Deteriorated, Says Relative On August 31, the Nicaraguan National Police exhibited several prisoners from the infamous prison. These include Tellez, as well as other leaders of the Nicaraguan Democratic Union. They also presented Luis Rivas Anduray, former president of private bank Banco de la Produccion de Nicaragua, as well as Felix Maradiaga, who tried running against Daniel Ortega in the previous presidential elections, and Juan Lorenzo Holmann, general manager of the newspaper La Prensa. According to Dialogo Americas, one of the relatives stated that she could not even recognize her own father because he looked completely emaciated. "I didn't recognize him; he looks completely deteriorated. I never imagined that my dad would look this skinny, weak, and convalescent," said Renata Holmann, the daughter of journalist Juan Lorenzo Holmann. When the Ortega government presented the prisoners during one of their "informative hearings" at the Managua Judicial Complex, they were branded as "terrorists, coup plotters, and homeland traitors." However, a Nicaraguan Administration of Justice lawyer told Dialogo Americas that the prisoners showed signs that they were tortured after they were presented. "What you observe and describe as lost looks, with dilated pupils, is a consequence of suddenly coming out of a cell that's the same color," said lawyer Yader Morazan, who is an expert in identifying signs of torture. The infamously bad conditions at El Chipote, coupled with the advanced age of some of the political prisoners, have made relatives think that they were effectively given the death sentence. This was true for former Sandinista guerrilla leader Hugo Torres, who was also a former Ortega ally and even saved his life once. Torres died while awaiting his trial at the age of 73. READ MORE: Pope Francis Worried For Nicaragua After Bishop's Arrest This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: The Mothers of El Chipote prison - Nicaragua Uprising Video Library Residents of Stockton, California breathed a sigh of relief when suspected serial killer Wesley Brownlee, 43, believed to be the Stockton Serial Killer, was captured by police. Now, authorities have found out that Brownlee used a ghost gun to commit his acts of murder. According to NBC News, a ghost gun is a firearm that can be 3D printed without a federally mandated serial number. Because they are 3D printed, those who make them also skip background checks. The case is now the first known serial murder case where the serial killer used a ghost gun, which can be used almost like burner phones, as they are disposable devices. Several cities have prohibited these weapons, with police and the Justice Department raising concerns about them because they allow anyone to skip legal checks for firearm ownership. A "polymer" weapon was tied to several murders around Stockton. San Joaquin County District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar stated that they are confident that the gun they recovered from Brownlee was the same gun used in three homicides. Police also announced that Brownlee was charged with three counts of murder on Tuesday. These murders were tied with the ghost gun authorities confiscated when they arrested him. READ MORE: Suspected California Serial Killer Arrested Right Before He Made Another Kill, Police Say Stockton Serial Killer Wesley Brownlee Arrested While 'On the Hunt' According to the San Francisco Chronicle, residents of Stockton were on edge when news of a serial killer on the loose within their city broke. However, residents were finally able to rest easy when Police Chief Stanley McFadden announced Wesley Brownlee's arrest. Police were on high alert during his crime spree, and when they saw a man exhibiting "threatening behavior," they followed him with a surveillance team. Finally, while driving in the area of Village Green Drive and Winslow Avenue on Saturday, they arrested him. "As officers made contact with him, he was wearing dark clothing and a mask around his neck. He was also armed with a firearm when he was taken into custody," McFadden said during a press conference. Wesley Brownlee Had a History of Crime Prior to His Arrest as a Serial Killer According to Mercury News, the 43-year-old Wesley Brownlee committed six randomly-targeted serial killings in Stockton and Oakland. He grew up in the Bay Area, and he lost his brother to gun violence. He also had previous run-ins with the law, as he was previously arrested for selling crack cocaine. Court records also showed that Brownlee led a troubled life early on. He was also accused of sexual assault back in his first year of high school and was arrested for selling crack cocaine multiple times. He sold drugs around the areas where he committed some of his murders. Brownlee was sentenced to two years in prison for his drug-related activities and served time in San Quentin, one of California's most infamous prisons. According to police, they believe he started looking for people to shoot and kill around his early 40s. Authorities have yet to release Brownlee's motivations for committing those killings. His victims were predominantly Latinos with at least one black victim. However, Police Chief Stanley McFadden said there is no evidence of hate being one of his motives in killing these men. READ NEXT: Colombian Serial Killer Pedro Alonso Lopez Disappeared; Is It Possible 'The Monster of the Andes' Still Doing His Horrific Acts? This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Stockton Serial Killer: Who is Wesley Brownlee? - CBS Sacramento Acclaimed journalist Bob Woodward is releasing a new audiobook featuring his interviews with former President Donald Trump. He recently released an excerpt from that audiobook which revealed that the former president shared classified letters from North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un with him. Woodward stated that Trump acknowledged that they were classified and sensitive material that he should not share with anybody. However, Trump still showed them to Woodward, telling the journalist, "Don't say I gave them to you" during their 2019 interview. CNN obtained the audio of the conversation, which showed Trump telling Woodward that nobody else had those letters and told the journalist to "treat them with respect." Woodward dictated the contents of the letters into a tape recorder, though he noted that there were no markings that suggested they were classified. However, when he asked Trump to see them, Trump admitted that "Oh, those are so top secret." National Archives Trying To Recover Kim Jong Un Letters as Part of the Top Secret Documents Case vs Donald Trump The original top-secret letters that Kim Jong Un sent to Trump were among the many documents that the former president took to his Florida home in Mar-a-Lago after leaving office. Now, National Archives has been trying to recover them. According to the New York Times, Donald Trump resisted returning boxes of documents he had taken from the White House and told several advisers that they were his. The new recordings released by Woodward appeared to contradict Trump's claims that the documents he took from the White House were not sensitive, and if they were, he also asserted that he had declassified all the documents he took because he had the power to declassify them just by thinking about it. READ NEXT: Supreme Court Rejects Donald Trump's Plea to Step in on Mar-a-Lago Documents Case Donald Trump Also Told Maggie Haberman He Has the Kim Jong Un Letters After leaving office, former President Donald Trump also sat down for an interview with New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman. In her book, "Confidence Man," Haberman revealed that he has the letters from the North Korean dictator. However, Trump then backtracked and said they were with the archives. The New York Times then pointed out that the letters were not returned to the government for another four months when the National Archives went to Mar-a-Lago to retrieve 15 boxes of documents he took from the White House. Trump had been fixated on his relationship with Kim and even showed off that he has the letters from the North Korean supreme leader as president. He often brandished it in front of reporters, as well as other visitors to the White House. In his interviews with Woodward, Trump also admitted he would taunt Kim with warnings about the United States' own nuclear arsenals. "I said: 'My button's bigger than yours, and my button works. Yours doesn't,'" he told Woodward. According to Forbes, the correspondence between the two world leaders become known as "love letters" because they contained flattering statements addressed to each other. READ MORE: Donald Trump Admits Taking North Korean Dictator Kim Jong-Un Letters to Mar-a-Lago When He Left the White House: New Book This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Trump showed classified Kim Jong Un letter to journalist - CNN Argentina is not only known as the eighth largest country in the world but also for its preserved traditions and customs. The national identity of Argentina is a blend of indigenous and Spanish traditions, which were significantly altered by European migrants and globalization, according to Cultural Atlas. The blending of European and indigenous ancestry helped create a new cultural identity for many. The Argentine identity, like in many Latin American countries, is rooted in the Catholic and Spanish heritage of the country. It has become one of the population's defining features. The European heritage is often a source of pride and a key factor in influencing the way many Argentines see themselves. However, the European influence is less pronounced outside Buenos Aires and other urban centers. One of the most iconic Argentinian identities is the gauchos. It continues to be a common Argentine identity. READ NEXT: Argentina Vice President Cristina Fernandez Says Court Corruption Case Based on 'Lies' Gaucho: An Identity in Argentina According to Google Arts and Culture, the gaucho is a skilled horseman or cowboy of "the Pampas" and is considered to be Argentina's national symbol of masculinity. The gaucho culture has a way of life that centers on caring for livestock. Argentina's cowboy considers the equestrian way of life as their second nature. Historically, gauchos are nomadic horsemen, usually mixed Spanish and indigenous lineage. Argentina's cowboys flourished from the mid-18th to the mid-19th century and has remained folk heroes ever since, according to Britannica. Gauchos were usually mestizos, but there were times when there were white, black, or mixed black and white. Gauchos have also participated in Argentine literature, with Argentine writers including them in their works such as Jose Hernandez's epic poem in 1872, "El gaucho Martin Fierro" and in 1926 novel by Ricardo Guiraldes Don Segundo Sombra. Guachos' get-up includes a chiripa girding the waist, a woolen poncho, and long, accordion-pleated trousers. Their religious beliefs reportedly consist mainly of age-old superstitions, with a hint of Roman Catholicism, and their marriages were seldom solemnized. In the early 19th century, gauchos had been the mainstay of the armies of the Rio de la Plata region, which first thrown off the Spanish colonial regime. History of Gaucho in Argentina Gaucho first emerged during the War of Independence, when Argentine patriot forces were skirmishing with the Spanish in the country's rural areas. Argentine forces often fought with the Spanish in rural areas. Nomadic men of mixed Spanish and Indian blood started assisting them and offered valuable insight into the land. Many gauchos used to work as guides and scouts, using horsemanship skills to provide support to the troops. After the war, the gauchos migrated to lowland Pampas, where they found work mustering cattle, chasing down runaways, and doing odd jobs for the owners of wealthy rural estates, Culture Trip reported. The gaucho culture declined towards the end of the 19th century, with them being marginalized by the greater Argentine community, who deemed their rural lifestyle uncivilized. The lasso and knife are common tools of gauchos, including one unique tool called "boleadores" that consists of three stone or iron balls attached to long leather cords. READ MORE: Brazil: Human Remains Found in Area Where British Journalist and Brazilian Indigenous Expert Were Last Seen This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Gauchos - From National Geographic A California man admitted to burning his young nephew and niece alive to prove that he was kidnapped and cloned by "Stranger Things" star Millie Bobby Brown and her boyfriend Jake Bongiovi. According to the Los Angeles Times, Filimon "Robert" Hurtado, 29, admitted that he set his brother's house in Fresno on fire last May because he wanted to kill everyone to expose "a celebrity human trafficking and cloning ring" that allegedly victimized him in 2017. READ NEXT: Colombian Serial Killer Pedro Alonso Lopez Disappeared; Is It Possible 'The Monster of the Andes' Still Doing His Horrific Acts? California Man Admits Burning the Children Alive Police said Filimon Hurtado's five-month-old nephew, Calyx Hurtado, and 18-month-old niece, Cataleya Hurtado, died in the fire, while their mother, Claudia Ruiz Marin, 32, suffered serious burns but survived, Daily Mail reported. The suspect allegedly hit his sister-in-law and poured gas all over her body as she tried to intervene, Crime Online reported. "I poured gasoline at the bottom of the door... I started the fire. She tried to put it out. She was acting very nonchalant. She didn't know what was wrong. She was asking me what was wrong. I knocked her over and poured gas all over her body," Hurtado noted. Fresno Fire Department investigator Nathan Dansby said the two children were found dead in the same bedroom and on the same bed. Dansby noted that both kids, who were sleeping at the time, "had a lot of heat damage on the top side of their bodies." California Man Claims He was Abducted by 'Stranger Things' Star Millie Bobby Brown And Her Boyfriend Jake Bongiovi Filimon Hurtado gave a very weird answer when investigators asked him why he burned down his brother's house and killed his niece and nephew. The California man said he does not regret killing the kids and wanted to do something more extreme than killing himself to bring attention and expose this "celebrity human trafficking and cloning ring," which "murdered" him a couple of times and "teleported" him. Hurtado said he believed that "this task was much bigger" than himself. Specifically, he claimed that Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi abducted him from a hookah bar in 2017 and took him to a cloning center before the pair "murdered" him a few times and "teleported" him "here and there," according to ABC30. The Daily Beast reported that if this incident truly happened, it would mean that the "Stranger Things" star was 13 years old when she committed the alleged crimes with Bongiovi, who was 15 years old that year. Hurtado made similar allegations in a video that surfaced online, adding that "it's all tied to the occult." The California man, who was charged with arson and murder, remains behind bars without bail. On Monday, Judge Michael Idiart ruled he could be convicted of arson and murders of his nephew and niece. The California man's actions can reportedly lead to the death penalty, but his defense team is setting up an insanity defense. Hurtado is scheduled to return to court in November. READ MORE: Brazil's Deadliest Serial Killer, Who Murdered Over 100, Including His Father, Is Freed | Where Is Pedro Rodrigues Filho Now? This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: I'M SPILLING EVERYTHING NOW. Cloning Center and My New Lease on Life - From Robert Hurtado Authorities in the United States said more than 100 Haitian migrants had been found on an uninhabited island near Puerto Rico. According to Al Jazeera, Haiti is still reeling from a humanitarian crisis brought on by growing gang violence. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) spokesman Jeffrey Quinones said Tuesday that park rangers from the Puerto Rico Department of Environment and Natural Resources found the group of Haitians on Mona Island. "What we know preliminarily is that they were transported in just one vessel," he noted. It was unknown whether anyone in the group drowned before authorities were alerted of the situation. According to Quinones, authorities are still interviewing the Haitians. The group consists of 60 women, three of whom were pregnant, and 38 men and five children aged 5 to 13, said Anais Rodriguez, secretary of the Puerto Rico department that discovered them. Political instability and violence in the Caribbean nation pushed Haitian migrants and asylum seekers to travel to the United States, often by sea, in recent months. Late last week, the United Nations warned that roughly 4.7 million people are experiencing acute hunger across Haiti. READ NEXT: Haiti: 17 Migrants Dead After Boat Turns Over in the Bahamas During Human Smuggling Attempt Haitian Migrants Are Leaving Haiti Despite Uncertainties Human smugglers have long used Mona Island as a staging area for their flimsy boat trips, promising to transport migrants from the Dominican Republic and Haiti to the U.S. territory. Mona Island is situated in the dangerous waters between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Dozens of migrants have already died trying to leave their countries in the past few months. Authorities said they rescued 68 Haitian migrants in July. They were dropped off near Mona Island, where at least five other migrants perished. "The conditions in Mona are inhospitable," Quinones said. "Smugglers do not have any regard for the safety of the people they're transporting. They pile them up in a boat," he added. The Guardian reported that U.S. Customs and Border Protection has already detained 571 Haitians and 252 Dominicans from October 2021 to March 2022. Meanwhile, a total of 348 Haitians were rescued on Mona Island. Haitian Migrants Were Also Rescued From a Boat Off the U.S. Coast On Wednesday, 96 Haitian migrants were discovered and saved 20 miles east of Boca Raton in Florida. WPTV reported that men, women, and children were in distress on an overloaded 40-foot boat. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the group was at sea for seven days, and the final two days were spent without food or drink. The number of Haitian migrants intercepted has increased dramatically over the last two years, from 1,500 to more than 7,000, according to the most recent statistics provided by the Coast Guard. "They're seeking change, they're asking for change, and they deserve it... The fact that they are not getting is heartbreaking," said Francky Pierre-Paul, who lives in West Palm Beach but calls Haiti his homeland. Haiti is having trouble with a new wave of cholera and a lack of basic essentials. The Pan American Health Organization said 35 people have already died from the disease, with nearly 600 suspected cases this month alone. READ MORE: Ohio: Pilot, Passenger Dead After Small Plane Crashes in Marietta Auto Dealership Lot This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: 96 Haitian Migrants Rescued From Boat off Boca Raton - From WPTV News It is with sad regret that we heard of the passing of Rev Fr William Treacy on Sunday 16th October, 2022, late of Seattle and formerly from Ballyquaid, Borris in Ossory, at the age of 103. He was born in Ballyquaid, on May 31, 1919 and went to the local Primary School in Kiladooley and then got a scholarship and went to Secondary school in St. Kierans College, Kilkenny City. Then after St. Kierans he entered St. Patricks Seminary in Maynooth in 1937. He was ordained on June 18th, 1944. He was in his 78th year as a priest, when during this period helped cultivate interfaith understanding initially via a ground breaking TV program called Challenge on Komo TV (Seattle) and a globally known retreat center near Mount Vernon, called Camp Brotherhood. He was the icon of ecumenical and interfaith dialogue; seeking unity in the human family, said Father Jim Dalton, a senior priest of the archdiocese of Seattle and a close friend Father Treacy volunteered for a temporary assignment in Seattle, which was experiencing a clergy shortage while priests served as military chaplains during World War II. He crossed the Atlantic to New York on the Ile de France troop ship. In March 1945 he arrived in Seattle, where began a lifelong ministry to people of the Archdiocese of Seattle and beyond. His first assignment was at St. Alphonsus Parish in Ballard. During his long priesthood, Father Treacy served as pastor and parochial vicar more than a dozen parishes, including St. Patrick in Seattle, St. Michael in Olympia, Our Lady of the Lake in Seattle and St. Cecilia in Stanwood. He participated in Engaged Encounters for two decades, was vice chancellor for the archdiocese, and ministered as chaplain at Holy Names Academy in Seattle from 1952-64. In the 1950s and 60s, he worked with the Knights of Columbus to place weekly evangelizing advertisements in newspapers across the state. In 1978, Father Treacy started a daily noontime Mass in downtown Seattle at Plymouth Church that continued for more than 40 years, with Father Treacy celebrating Mass occasionally in the later years. Among many people, Father Treacy may be best known for his 14 years on Challenge, the ecumenical TV program that began in 1960, drawing thousands of viewers when it aired Sunday evenings on KOMO-TV in Seattle. The show brought together Father Treacy, Rabbi Raphael Levine of Temple De Hirsh and a rotation of Protestant pastors for interfaith dialogue on issues of the day. The weekly broadcast brought together a rabbi, a priest and a Protestant minister to discuss the issues of the day. Meeting Rabbi Levine was a pivotal moment in his life, Father Treacy told his friend Terry Leers in a video interview in early May,2022. He gave me a vision of life to bring people together: everybody Jews, Christians, Muslims, everyone, Father Treacy said. In 1966, Rabbi Levine and Father Treacy purchased a 300-acre Skagit Valley farm to serve as an interfaith center Camp Brotherhood dedicated to creating peace and unity in the human family. Over the years, the centers programs drew more than 250,000 people from around the Northwest and the world. When Rabbi Levine died on 4th November, 1984, Father Treacy carried on the vision with the organizations board as he promised him, he would do on his death bed. Father Treacy, of any priest I ever knew, was the one who challenged us to relate to our Protestant brothers and sisters, but especially the Jews and not only that but the Muslims, Father Dalton said in a 2019 interview. From 1999-2002, Father Treacy served as parochial vicar at six parishes in Skagit County. He retired in December 2002; around 2009, he moved to a small house on the camp property, where he lived until his death and was well cared for by Sr Emma and friends. The organization he helped found was renamed Treacy Levine Center in 2014 and more recently Paths to Understanding, a group that continues interfaith and unity work through lectures, meetings and media, including a new show, Challenge 2.0. (The camp property was sold in 2016 to a non-profit organization serving medically fragile children now called Camp Korey.) Father Treacy served as an advisor to the organization until his passing. When Northwest Catholic profiled Father Treacy in 2019, on the occasion of his 100th birthday and 75th anniversary of ordination, he reflected on his lifes ministry. I tried to do the best, Father Treacy said. I leave the rest to God. He also contributed weekly articles to The Catholic Northwest Progress under the page heading Signs of Hope and each week had a great topic and was widely read, and very popular. He also did many interviews and gave many talks to gathering of a wide variety. He also found time to write twelve books and his last one was with his nephew John Phelan called The Path Least taken covering some of his best writings which was launched at the Mass Pit Mass, in Ballyquaid on August 15th, 2021 by Fr Robert Fletcher of the same townland as himself - neighbours. Also, it was dear to him as the Mass Pit site was in one of his fathers own fields called The Six acres. It was only fitting that it should have been launched there as he was instrumental in getting me his nephew John Phelan to pursue his vision in getting the Mass Pit restored and honour all our ancestors who practised their faith through difficult hardships during the Penal times in 2005. We got a good committee together and had it up and running for August 15th, 2006 with the Bishop of Ossory the late Rev Laurence Forristal in attendance along with himself who was home for the event. He also gave us the inscriptions for our various monuments including the Altar and which they so convey the messages to all who read them said John Phelan. Every year on August 15th Mass has been said at the site since 2006 with one exception in 2020 because of Covid 19 by Fr Robert Fletcher and it is well supported. It now is etched into the fabric of the Parish of Borris in Ossory and it is hoped that this tradition will continue well into the future and mark the reasons Fr Treacy had envisaged the occasion for. Other books were: Wild Branch on the Olive Tree (1974), Biblical Medications on Peace (1985), Biblical Medications on Peace with an Introduction by Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen (1985) Rabbi Levines Challenge Father Treacys Response (1987) People Loving People (1988), To Love is to Live (1994), Love Bears All Things (1994), Reflections of a Pioneering Priest (2001), He is my Brother (2007), The Growth of an Interfaith Friendship (2016), Memories (2019) He was a powerhouse in his work ethic and was always on the go and when his secretary of 15 years Carol Bohmbach came into work very early on each Monday morning she was hit with a mountain of stuff and agendas. Between them they formed a great partnership and over last years helped him to keep so active up to the last. He had a great devotion to St. Therese of Lisieux her motto My way is all confidence and love A great initiative in recent times was in starting up zoom Masses from his house each Sunday at 10 am local time (6pm Irish Time) in 2021 and finished up doing 53 consecutive Masses finishing on 26th September, 2022. He had a great following across the world who tuned in every Sunday. We will miss this link but overall, we can be very happy because he left such a legacy which will carry on for years to come. As he was called surely a two very apt names Father Wonderful/ Fr Miracle. Now Fr Willie, your work is done and you can meet all up in the high heavens and we know you will guide us from a far as usual. Rest easy. Father Treacy is survived by his nephews Liam, John, Conn Phelan, Garron Castle, Nieces Ann Phelan, Bernadette King, Grandnieces, Niamh Phelan now Ballyquaid and Lorrena Phelan Cairo, grandnephews: Cillian and Finnan Jack Phelan, Damien Phelan, also Jonathan, Darren and Ross King and numerous other relatives and friends. Funeral services are pending. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) is calling on the government and HSE to tackle "chronic dangerous overcrowding" in hospitals. The call comes following consultation between the INMO's Executive Council and emergency department representatives at a meeting earlier today (October 18). According to the organisation, the number of patients on trolleys so far this year (92,324) has risen 45% compared to a year prior. INMO General Secretary, Phil Ni Sheaghdha, said, "INMO members in emergency departments are once again sounding the alarm on grim conditions in each emergency department across the country. Today alone there are 526 patients without a bed. We know anecdotally that many nurses in emergency departments are moving to elsewhere in their hospital or are leaving the profession altogether because of the conditions in which they work and a lack of safe staffing. For example, in St. Vincents University Hospital, eighteen nurses are needed for any given shift in the ED, our members there are reporting that in reality only 9-11 nurses are rostered for most shifts. In University Hospital Galway there are over 42 unfilled nursing vacancies in the Emergency Department." She continued: "Nurses and midwives have just come out of the worst of COVID-19 and are now working in a system that is sleepwalking into another overcrowding crisis. Our members are demanding that the HSEs recently published winter plan separates staffing for emergency department attendances and admitted patients. If the decision to cancel all elective care needs to be taken, then that decision must be made swiftly. "It is now necessary that all those who have a role to play in improving the conditions in our emergency departments, including the Health and Information Quality Agency, the Health and Safety Authority and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, attend the next Emergency Department Taskforce Meeting. "Our emergency department nurses are not willing to put up with the conditions that they find themselves working in. This is reflected in the high numbers of resignations. It is vital now that the HSE and Government meet with these nurses, hear their concerns and take immediate action. If numbers continue to rise on trolleys, coupled with extremely unsafe staffing, our Organisation will have no choice but to consult with members on the next steps. According to today's Trolley Watch report, 65 people are waiting for beds at University Hospital Limerick, followed by 63 at Cork University Hospital and 53 at Sligo University Hospital. Just three hospitals are free from overcrowding today. INMO President, Karen McGowan, said, "Nurses and midwives do not believe that the Department of Health or the Health Service Executive are putting in place adequate measures to deal with the stark increase in resignations among our professions. Our emergency department nurses can no longer cope with their workplace being the first port of call in many instances. "If Government and HSE are serious about keeping Irish nurses in Irish hospitals then they must take immediate action on safe staffing, fast tracking recruitment and getting private hospitals on the pitch now. Road safety measures are being sought at the site where an American tourist was killed in Laois last week. The Rock of Dunamase is to get a proper visitor carpark, but not until 2024 or later. In the meantime, work must be done says a Laois county councillor. On Friday October 7, Colorado woman Laura Jones, 59, was killed when she was struck by a car while standing in the small parking area at the foot of the Rock of Dunamase hilltop castle. Her husband, aged in his 60s was also injured. Both were holidaying in Ireland with their two adult daughters. A teenage male driver was arrested and later released, with a Garda investigation underway. Cllr Willie Aird has now urged Laois County Council to make the roads safer. "We need to put some measures in place. Put something in place for safety, there are narrow roads there. If money needs to be got, do so, for remedial work. We are talking a while before a carpark if archeological digs are needed first," he said at the October 18 monthly meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District. Cllr Thomasina Connell had tabled a motion to the meeting, asking for an update on Laois County Council's planned carpark. She offered sympathy to the bereaved family. "I want to express my sympathy to the lady's family. I was very distressed to hear about it. I had lodged my motion beforehand. "I am glad to see the carpark is going ahead. The history there is phenomenal and I don't see why we don't do more with it. I know there are a lot of costs associated and I am not surprised that we need to do a lot of studies, that's standard in a project like this. It is slow progress. I hope that in summer 2024 there will be parking up there so we can make a real go of this as a tourist stop. It is one of the highlights of Leinster, not alone Laois," Cllr Connell said. Cllr Willie Aird seconded her motion, but said that the death has concerned local residents. "There is a huge dampener out there with residents, with this very serious incident. All our work to bring people there, and it is great to see them stop, but this fatality is difficult to comprehend. Residents are very upset. "There are huge crowds up there. Because of Covid it was discovered by a lot of people, and also because of our promotion of it on brochures throughout Ireland and with tourism companies," he said. Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald also offered sympathies, and said that residents also request that the Rock of Dunamaise get a "cleanup" of brambles, shrubs and grass. Cllr Noel Tuohy said his daughter lives near the Rock, and said it is under utilised. Laois County Council officer Dom Reddin in response to the motion, said that several studies were carried out regarding a carpark, including a Visual Impact Assessment and Geophysical studies, as recommended by the National Monuments service. "Surveys revealed a landscape which contains a large number of possible archaeological and agricultural anomalies. "Agreement has been reached with a landowner to purchase a site subject to Part 8 planning for a carpark. It is envisaged this Part 8 will be brought before the council by January 2023 and the sale closed in February 2023. The car park development will then be considered subject to funding," Mr Reddin said. The public are choosing not to use expensively renovated public toilets in Portlaoise. The public toilets were refurbished at a cost of 150,000 in 2020, however people are still calling into local restaurants and coffee shops just to use their toilets instead. One Portlaoise councillor has suggested that perhaps the 50c charge is putting people off. The toilets need more signs to direct people to them, says Cllr Barry Walsh, Cathaoirleach of Portlaoise Municipal District. He tabled a motion to their October meeting, asking Laois County Council to install extra signs around Portlaoise telling people where the toilets are located. "This came up as part of the recent Make Way Day when I was escorted in a wheelchair to get a wheelchair view of the paths in Portlaoise. "I was asked if the toilets were in use. We checked and they were in perfect condition. A member of the Irish Wheelchair Association was happy with them, they are very clean. "However I did a bit of research, and a lot of people are coming in to use toilets in local restaurants and cafes. The owners claim it is because people aren't aware there are public toilets," he said. Cllr Noel Tuohy supported his motion and agrees that there are not enough signs. Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley suggested that the 50c charge may be the reason. The toilet block in Lyster Square had been closed for several years before it was renovated, with anti-social behaviour given as the reason. Met Eireann has issued a thunderstorm warning for parts of Ireland with intense lightning as the rain deluge continues this afternoon. The Status Orange Thunderstorm Warning covers Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow. The warning is in place until 5pm and warns of further thunderstorms with intense lightning strikes. A Status Orange Rain Warning remains in place until midnight for Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow warning of very heavy rain with embedded thunderstorms today and tonight with the possibility of intense downpours, which will lead to localised flooding. Met Eireann adds that disruption is likely. A Status Yellow Rain Warning for Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Cavan, Monaghan, Cork, Kerry and Tipperary also remains in place until midnight with Met Eireann warning of heavy rain with embedded thunderstorms today and tonight with the possibility of intense downpours which will lead to localised flooding and some disruption. In its national outlook Met Eireann is predicting more unsettled weather with rain most days. MORE FORECAST DETAILS BELOW TWEET. After a wet day today, well have some drier weather tomorrow That dry spell will be short-lived though with more rain spreading from the south later tomorrow The rain will continue into Friday and may be heavy at times And more rain will move in over the weekend pic.twitter.com/yBhB0osF8x Met Eireann (@MetEireann) October 19, 2022 National Forecast issued at 3.43pm on October 19. Wednesday: Intense showery rain will continue to affect parts of Leinster and east Ulster with embedded thunderstorms, this will lead to localised flooding and a chance of hail. Cloudier elsewhere with further bands of thundery rain pushing into the south through the evening. These bands will gradually move up across the country. Very breezy and blustery with fresh to strong and gusty easterly winds and highest temperatures of 12 to 17 degrees. Bands of showers will continue to track up over the north of the country early in the night with a continued risk of localised flooding. Drier conditions with clear spells and isolated showers will push into the south early, extending to all areas later. Fresh to strong southeasterly winds will moderate overnight, remaining milder though with lowest temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees. Thursday: The morning will be largely dry and partly cloudy with a few showers about mostly in southern coastal counties. Heavier showery outbreaks of rain will extend into the south through the late afternoon and evening. Moderate southeast winds will increase fresh to strong in the southwest. Highest temperatures of 15 to 17 degrees. Wet in many areas with outbreaks of rain, some heavy falls possible. Much of Ulster will stay dry. Quite breezy with moderate to fresh easterly winds. Lowest temperatures of 11 to 13 degrees. FRIDAY: A mostly cloudy day with spells of rain, turning heavy at times. Moderate to fresh southeasterly winds will largely ease later. Highest temperatures of 14 to 16 degrees. Rain continuing in Connacht and Ulster, becoming dry and mostly clear elsewhere. Southwest winds will generally be light to moderate, stronger in Atlantic coastal areas. Lows of 6 to 9 degrees, milder in the north and west. SATURDAY: Rain in northwestern areas will gradually clear through the day. Most areas will have good dry and bright spells. Southerly winds will be mostly light, breezier for a time in the northwest. Highs of 14 to 17 degrees. Showers will develop in the south later in the afternoon. Rain will spread northwards overnight. SUNDAY: Currently Sunday looks to be turning wet again with rain in most places. Light southwest winds. Highest temperatures of 14 to 16 degrees. FURTHER OUTLOOK: Wet weather likely again during the early days of next week. A Laois school has bid a fond farewell to two of its longest serving teachers. Two teachers departing Scoil Chriost Ri in Portlaoise together had amassed over 60 years of dedicated service to the school. Mr Aidan Heveran and Mrs Margaret Miller both taught their last of what must have been thousands of classes on Thursday morning, October 6, before enjoying a program of events to mark their final day. More below photos. Scroll through these lovely photos taken for the Leinster Express by Luke Wynne. Aidan Heveran arrived in Portlaoise straight out of college in September 1980 to take up his very first teaching post. The fresh-faced Tuam native could scarcely have thought that he would remain in the same school for over four decades. A Business, Economics and Maths teacher, Aidan devoted his life to his vocation, guiding thousands of students to achieve remarkable results under his tutelage. His enthusiasm for his subjects was matched by a mission to make secondary school life as fun as possible and the steady stream of well-wishers included past students who left Scoil Chriost Ri as far back as the 1980s. Despite arriving a little later in her teaching career, Margaret Miller played an equally important role in the fabric of her new school. After many years teaching in Rathcoole, Margarets Scoil Chriost Ri teaching career commenced in 2001. Since then she became the face of Geography in the school, and her passion for her subject ensured it remains one of the most popular students choices for Leaving Cert students at Scoil Chriost Ri. Like Aidan, past and present students were on hand all day to wish her well. The school marked the occasion with a presentation ceremony by the students, parents council presentation and a tree-planting ceremony attended by the entire school community where Head Girls Caoimhe Moore and Nanette Oiboh briefly encapsulated the schools debt of gratitude for their outstanding commitment and dedication to the students of Scoil Chriost Ri. They were wished every happiness in their retirement. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is asking road users to exercise caution while using the roads today as Met Eireann has issued Orange and Yellow weather warnings for heavy rain. On the M50 earlier, two lanes were blocked following a road traffic collision near Junction 5 (Finglas). Traffic was heavy in both directions due to onlookers slowing down to view the incident. Experts fallen leaves are adding to dangerous water-logged conditions created by heavy rainfall. There are Yellow Rainfall warnings for Cavan, Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Meath, Monaghan with heavy rain on Wednesday and Wednesday night, with the possibility of thundery downpours which will lead to localised flooding and some disruption. There is an Orange rainfall warning for Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Wexford, and Wicklow until midnight Wednesday where heavy rain with the possibility of thundery downpours, will lead to localised flooding. Localised flooding and some disruption is expected for counties Carlow, Kilkenny, and Tipperary. Road users in areas affected by the Orange Warnings for heavy rain are advised to check local traffic and weather conditions before setting out on a journey. The following advice is being given to road users on foot of the weather warnings. Motorists; Drivers need to slow down and allow a greater braking distance between themselves and the vehicle in front in wet weather conditions. This is especially important on high speed roads such as dual carriageways and motorways where there is increased danger of aquaplaning T T ake special care when driving behind goods vehicles as they generate a considerable amount of spray which reduces your visibility, hold back to where you can see their mirrors. If the road ahead is flooded choose another route, do not attempt to drive through it. Flooded roads that appear shallow could be deeper than you think. The verge may have subsided and there may also be trees or branches that have fallen that may not be visible. Road users should always follow recommended routes and obey signs closing roads to traffic that have been put there by the local council or An Garda Siochana. After going through water, drive slowly with your foot on the brake pedal for a short distance - this helps to dry the brakes. Drive with dipped headlights at all times. After going through water, drive slowly with your foot on the brake pedal for a short distance - this helps to dry the brakes. Drive with dipped headlights at all times. Advice to Pedestrians, Cyclists and motorcyclists; Visibility and light is reduced in poor weather conditions. Keep safe by making sure you can be seen. Wear bright clothing and consider wearing high visibility material. Walk on the right-hand side of the road, facing traffic if there are no footpaths. Cyclist should ensure that they and their bike are visible to other road users by investing in a good set of front and rear lights (white at the front, red at the back) and by wearing clothes that help you be seen on your bike, consider wearing high visibility material. For advice on severe weather driving tips, please see severe weather advice on the RSA website or check out the RSA Facebook and Twitter pages. Please also see our severe weather warning videos created in collaboration with Teresa Mannion here. See advice with advice for driving on wet roads here. For more weather updates, visit Met Eireanns website: www.met.ie A Longford court has heard how a woman walked into a south Longford supermarket and snatched another woman's purse before fleeing the scene on foot. Fifty-seven-year-old Eileen Kilkenny, Gort, Mohill, Leitrim pleaded guilty at last week's sitting of Longford District Court to also stealing a number of groceries from Super Valu, Main Street, Lanesboro, Co Longford on June 18, 2022. Presiding Judge John Brennan was told the accused entered the premises and stole the items by placing a series of goods into a bag and passed all points of payment in doing so. Sgt Mark Mahon, for the prosecution, said Ms Kilkenny carried out the alleged theft of a woman's purse on the same day. The accused approached the counter and when the injured party left their purse down, the accused picked up the purse and walked out of the shop, he said. The stolen purse, it was later discovered, contained cash and other personal belongings to the value of 270. A month later, Ms Kilkenny also allegedly targeted the same store, this time making off with just over 7 worth of groceries. On this occasion, Sgt Mahon said Ms Kilkenny entered the store shortly after 2pm. He said Ms Kilkenny was observed a short time later picking up a number of groceries and paid for two of the alleged items, but failed to pay for the others. Sgt Mahon said the accused was quickly apprehended by the store's management before gardai arrived on the scene. Judge Brennan said given the circumstances surrounding the case, it would have to be adjourned for the purposes of seeking out a victim impact statement from the woman who had her purse stolen. The case was put back to a sitting of Longford District Court on November 15, 2022 for the presentation of a victim impact statement and finalisation. The Aisling Centre in New York offers a variety of free and low-cost programing that promotes Irish culture, mental and physical health, education, social welfare and a connection to Irish traditions and community. For the past 25 years the Aisling Irish Community and Cultural Centre has proudly served at the heart of the New York Irish Community in Woodlawn and Yonkers. Most important the centre has provided front line welfare services to the most vulnerable people in the community the elderly, the lonely, the homeless, the unemployed and the undocumented. The Irish government has a strong commitment to the global Irish community and the Consulate is proud to be a partner and a supporter in delivering on the important mission of the Centre. The important work continues under the guidance of the dedicated Board of Directors. Leitrim Lady Caitriona Kenny Clarke is Chair of the Board of Directors and along with Fundraising/Development Officer Sean James they steadily steered the project through its phases to completely redesign and expand the centre to accommodate the increasing need for additional space. The Aisling Centre honoured John Cassels at their 25th Anniversary Dinner Dance on Friday, Oct 2 at Mulino's Lake Isle in Eastchester, New York. John Cassels oversaw the transformation of the old building into a state-of-the-art facility that now provides quality community and cultural programmes in a modern spacious and safe environment. John was honoured not just for his generosity but also for his leadership and vision in making sure the Irish immigrants have a safe and secure home on McLean Avenue for many years to come. The quality workmanship of John Cassels is evident throughout the Center. John Cassels enormous contributions to the Irish-American community in New York and his services to others were honoured at this dance. Many family members and friends including sisters, nieces and grandnieces travelled from Ireland and abroad to be with John and his family for this special occasion. John is an inspiration to so many with his work ethic, creativity, sense of humour, infectious laugh and joyous personality. Also honoured on the night were Elaine Heaney from Armagh and Gabriel Mc Mahon from Cavan. You can find out more about the Aisling Centre on their website www.aislingcenter.org Or Facebook page www.facebook.com/AislingIrishCommunityCenter It has been claimed that the Irish built New York - well they certainly made their mark in Yonkers also by helping to build the Aisling Center. About John Cassels: John Cassels was born in Kiltubrid, Co Leitrim, the fifth of a family of eight born to Patrick and Susan Cassels. He received his primary education at Liscarbon National School, and his secondary education at Drumshanbo Vocational School. After leaving school John served his carpentry apprenticeship with Willie Moran in Drumshanbo. That would be the first step that would eventually lead John to become a highly skilled craftsman and a highly regarded contractor, especially in the construction of bars and restaurants. However, there was little action on Leitrim building sites, so John arrived in New York in 1969, and settled in the Bronx. Initially the young carpenter got involved in construction work with fellow Leitrim man and great Irish Republican Barney McKeon, and fellow Kiltubrid neighbour Frankie Dwyer. Its hard to imagine too many dull moments when these boys got bantering! A few years later, the adventure bug hit John again, so he and his brother Peter headed north where they worked on the Alaskan Pipeline for a couple of cruel cold Arctic winters. After a two-year stint, they returned to New York and John proceeded to set up his own construction company in1986, namely J.C. Construction, involving all phases and facets of construction, but specializing in remodeling bars and restaurants. In 1973, John met Teresa Coffey, a native of County Waterford, and a noted distance runner and athletic coach. The couple married in 1979, moved to Yonkers and became active members of the Annunciation Parish. The family grew to include four boys and one girl, Oliver, Marie, Peter, Stephen and Pierce. The five have done extremely well in their chosen professions, and the extended Cassels family now includes eight grandchildren. Incidentally when the Cassels clan had matured, Teresa returned to school and became a registered nurse. When its the 25th anniversary, most get something new, maybe a suit, a dress or something iconic. Well the Aisling Centre decided to get a new building and thats where John Cassels literally made his mark. A few years ago, the Board purchased the building, but renovations and modifications were urgently needed if the Center was to accommodate its increasing range of programmes and services. John Cassels, and his company J.C. Construction oversaw the transformation of the old building into a state-of-the-art facility that now enables the Center to provide quality community and cultural programmes in a modern spacious and safe environment. Through the years, John has been a great supporter and promoter of Gaelic games and community events as well as being a great benefactor to a myriad of charitable causes. He enjoys trips to the golf course with his friends, plus he was a member of the construction committee of the Links Irish Golf Course at Union Vale. He was honoured for not just his generosity, but also for his leadership and vision for making sure that Irish immigrants have a safe and secure home on McLean Avenue for many years to come. Marine Le Pen, MP and leader of the RN faction, questioning the government at the Assemblee Nationale, Paris, October 18, 2022. CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT / AFP After the violent murder of 12-year-old Lola, whose body was discovered in a trunk in Paris on October 14, the French government was under pressure to show sympathy. Brigitte Macron was the first to react. While visiting a school on Monday, the French president's wife said that this "abominable and intolerable tragedy" should "never happen again." Then, on Tuesday, Emmanuel Macron received the child's family at the Elysee Palace to assure them "of his full solidarity and support." The president's office promptly announced the family's visit ahead of question time at the Assemblee Nationale. Read more Subscribers only Main suspect in death of 12-year-old Parisian girl appears before judges The incident subsequently took on a political dimension at the Assemblee, led by conservatives Les Republicains (LR) and far-right Rassemblement National (RN) MPs. Provoking indignation from the left and the majority coalition, MPs Eric Pauget (LR) and Marine Le Pen (RN) taunted the government for its impotence in fighting illegal immigration. On Monday, far-right Jordan Bardella and Eric Zemmour, had contrasted the president's tributes to Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema, a Frenchman of Algerian descent, and to the Algerian demonstrators killed by the French police in Paris on October 17, 1961 with his silence on this crime, where the primary suspect is an Algerian national. Thirty days to return to Algeria The young age of the victim and the profile of her alleged murderer led the far right to take up the case on Sunday. After legally entering France in 2016 on a student visa, Dahbia B., known to the police as a victim of domestic violence, had been subject to an expulsion order (an obligation to leave French territory, or OQTF) for over a month. On August 22, she was arrested at Orly for an expired residence permit. With no criminal record, she had 30 days to return to Algeria. After 30 days, her immigration status became illegal. We are interested in your experience using the site. Send feedback Following leaks of the suspect's Algerian nationality in the press, Lola's name appeared in statements by right-wing online groups and RN MPs. Their comments linked the murder to immigration. A photo of the young girl was posted on the RN's social media, while those close to Mr. Zemmour tried to make the term he coined, "Francocide" his word for a crime committed by an immigrant against a French person because of their nationality a trending topic on Twitter. Lola's family fled to their home in Pas-de-Calais to escape the media coverage of the tragedy. "Using the coffin of a 12-year-old girl as a stepping stone is a disgrace," huffed Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti at the Assemblee Nationale You have 56.35% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. In this photo provided by the Kazakhstan presidency's press service, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko speaks to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during their arrival at the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit in Astana, October 14, 2022. They are accompanied by Armenian President Nikol Pashinian (behind, between them) and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimukhamedov (to Mr. Putin's right). AMAN / AP Since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, Belarus has served as a logistical platform for its Russian ally. On February 24, Moscow's troops left its territory to try unsuccessfully to conquer the capital, Kyiv. On October 10, part of the deluge of missiles that fell across Ukraine also came from Belarusian territory. A week later, it was again from Belarus that the "kamikaze drones" that hit Kyiv on Monday were launched, Ukrainian authorities said. So far, the Belarusian army has not participated in the fighting on Ukrainian territory but fears of its direct involvement in the conflict and the opening of a new front in the north of the country have increased since Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko announced the creation of a joint military grouping with Russia on October 10. Read more Subscribers only Russia's aggressive retaliatory campaign after Crimea bridge explosion Officially, the force will be defensive only and is intended to secure the Belarusian border against "terrorist" attacks allegedly being prepared by Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania, according to the leader. "We have not killed anyone [in Ukraine] and do not plan to do so. No one has asked us to participate in this operation," he assured the American channel NBC on October 14. Formalized complicity Asked about the size of the new force, Mr. Lukashenko said the Belarusian army would be the "base" for the grouping, without specifying how many Russian soldiers would be part of it. "There is no need to ask Russia for 10,000 or 15,000 people now because there are other problems there, those you know," the Belarusian leader added. The first Russian soldiers of this joint force have already arrived, the Belarusian ministry of defense announced on Saturday, October 15, with pictures. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of wanting to "drag Belarus into the war" and called on the G7 to mount an international observation mission on the border between Ukraine and Belarus. "We have known what the Russians are capable of since 2014 [date of the beginning of the war in Donbas], but we would never have imagined that Belarus would submit to Moscow in such a cowardly way," said a Ukrainian diplomatic source. According to the source, the formation of this joint military grouping is not a turning point but "the formalization of the complicity" of Minsk with the Russian power. We are interested in your experience using the site. Send feedback Read more Subscribers only Putin represents the twilight of Russian imperialism On Friday, the head of the Ukrainian parliament's foreign affairs committee, Oleksandr Merezhko, called for diplomatic relations with Belarus to be severed. "In my opinion, the question of severing (...) is overdue. It is increasingly difficult to have diplomatic relations with a country led by a dictator," said Mr. Merezhko, a member of the presidential party. You have 43% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. Armenian flags for sale at the Vernissage Market; Yerevan, Armenia PETER LANGER/DESIGN PICS / PHOTONONSTOP Why is it so difficult for the international community to affirm Azerbaijan's responsibility in the war with Armenia, which has reignited since September 13? Surely not due to a lack of evidence. On the ground, Baku's troops have advanced into Armenia, both in the North and South, and did not withdraw after the ceasefire was declared. The war in Ukraine is increasing gas producers' power and has turned the Russian peacekeeping mission into a burden for Moscow. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev even confessed that his objectives had been achieved (i.e., to put pressure on the Nagorno-Karabakh talks), as did his Turkish ally, who blamed the Armenians' "provocations." Read more Subscribers only In Armenia, isolated residents face the advance of Azerbaijan's forces And yet, with the exceptions of France, India and the United States, particularly Antony Blinken's efforts and Nancy Pelosi's visit to Armenia, official comments, including European ones, have followed a similar template. Three reasons explaining the current situation Three reasons are behind these lies by omission. The first is economic dependence on gas, which is why in July 2022 Ursula von der Leyen appeared in photos with Baku's dictator to celebrate a 30% increase in European imports. There is also legal confusion between the nature of this aggression and the previous one, committed in 2020 to reconquer the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, whose independence was not internationally recognized. Yet today's situation is different, as Armenia is being attacked in defiance of the United Nations Charter, of which it is a member. Read more Subscribers only Armenia: 'A new war of occupation is coming to the gates of Europe' Lastly, the West feels an increasing sense of responsibility after condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Naming the aggressor may now mean implementing sanctions or supplying the victim with weapons, which the West may fear will end up in Russia because of the cooperation between the Armenian and Russian armies. But this indifference has fueled the hatred and warmongering of Aliyev, who has made territorial claims on Armenia, and the indecent remarks of the Turkish president, who has threatened Armenians with punishment. Aliyev's military opportunism Had the international community taken no action whatsoever, this second aggression would have brought Baku closer to its "goal": Effacing Nagorno-Karabakh as an Armenian entity, a territory where Armenians' rights to uphold a 2,000-year-old cultural tradition would be internationally recognized. Fortunately, this was not the case. We are interested in your experience using the site. Send feedback Read more Subscribers only 'By choosing Azerbaijan as a gas supplier, Ursula von der Leyen weakens the European Union' Aliyev's military opportunism concealed an attempt at diplomatic catch-up. Since their 2020 victory, the United States and France have repeatedly reminded Azerbaijan that a peace treaty would first require settling the Nagorno-Karabakh question. This hurts Aliyev's ears as much as "genocide" does Erdogan's so much so that Russia avoids mentioning the subject to accommodate him. For, similar to Erdogan in Syria, Aliyev is playing a double game with the Russians. The stakes in the revival of this conflict thus go beyond keeping the Armenians on the land where they have lived for two millennia, including in 1921 when the USSR, Azerbaijan and Karabakh were created, and in 1991 when this era ended. You have 38.16% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. STUDENTS at a Limerick school are to start learning Chinese following a unique link-up with University College Cork (UCC). Nineteen pupils of St Marys National School at Bishop Street have enrolled in a weekend class to learn the language. And a special opening ceremony took place at Kings Island to mark the partnership Here, teachers from UCCs Confucius Institute whose aim it is to promote Chinese education and culture joined the local Limerick Chinese community to present rich, cultural performances. These included traditional Chinese music, dance and Tai Chi. They were joined by local TD Maurice Quinlivan, Dr Junyi Huang, the director of the Confucius Institute at UCC, St Marys principal Eoghan O'Byrne, Xiaoli Zhang, president of the Chinese Centre of the Irish Chinese Association, and Dr Feng Guo, a representative of the local Chinese community. Speaking afterwards, Mr Quinlivan stated: There is a growing Chinese community in Limerick, with many children of Chinese parents growing up in Limerick. This is a fantastic endeavour that offers them and others the opportunity to learn this beautiful language. Deputy Quinlivan praised the principal of St Marys NS for agreeing to host these classes, adding: It is further evidence of this school commitment to the local community. The school is long established in the local community and is rightfully recognised for the positive role it plays in the development of its pupils. I also want to recognise the positive role that Limerick City and County Council have played in ensuring that the idea of hosting these classes has now become a reality. St Mary's school principal Mr Eoghan O'Byrne added: We are delighted to provide all and any assistance to facilitate the weekend class. Dr Feng Guo said: The classes aim to address two important issues for Ireland-born Chinese, namely Chinese reading and writing skills and culture gap, especially communication in the Chinese way. UNIVERSITY Hospital Limerick are currently managing very high attendances at the Emergency Department. Members of the public are being advised to consider all other options before attending the Emergency Department. Over 270 patients have attended the ED on consecutive days, compared to an average of 210 daily attendances last year. They are currently caring for high volumes of frail elderly patients and other patients with complex care needs. People with less urgent care needs are advised to expect long delays at the ED today. As of 8am this morning at UHL, a total of 36 admitted patients were waiting in the Emergency Department for an inpatient bed. A spokesperson for UHL said: "We are working to ensure that care is prioritised for the sickest patients. As part of our escalation plan, additional ward rounds, accelerated discharges and identification of patients for transfer to our Model 2 hospitals are all underway." "Patients who are seriously ill or injured or worried that their life is in danger must continue to attend the ED where they will be treated as a priority. "Less acutely unwell patients are asked to first consider our Injury Units, GPs, out-of-hours GP services and pharmacists before attending ED. "We apologise to every patient who is currently experiencing a long wait for admission at UHL, and for the inconvenience and frustration this also causes for patients loved ones." Please note that due to temporary staffing deficits, exacerbated by Covid-19, Nenagh Injury Unit is operating a reduced service today, Wednesday October 19. Nenagh Injury Unit is seeing review patients only with new patients are being redirected to Ennis Injury Unit (8am -8pm) and St Johns Injury Unit (8am-7pm). Nenagh Injury Unit will resume normal service tomorrow Thursday, October 20th (8am-8pm). THIRD-LEVEL institutions in Limerick are preparing to host their first fully in-person open days since the onset of Covid-19. Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), Mary Immaculate College and University of Limerick will all be opening their doors this Thursday and Friday. TUS, formerly Limerick Institute of Technology, says it will be the first time since 2019 that secondary school students will have unlimited access to the Moylish Campus and Limerick School of Art and Design, Clare Street Campus, to learn all about what the one-year-old technological university has to offer. Students will also have the opportunity to see first-hand the campuses facilities, attend topical talks, learn about courses, meet their future lecturers and other TUS staff and students. Director of Marketing and Communications Shane Malone said: With the onset of the pandemic in 2020 we learnt to adapt to life through a screen. We explored new places and things through technology, and while this was invaluable during the pandemic, I think students are looking for in person interactions now. To truly appreciate life on campus, it is important for second level students to walk the corridors of the campuses, meet their lecturers, the students they will follow into lecture halls, labs and classrooms, and even sample the student restaurants. This Thursday and Friday they will have that opportunity to engage in a real way with college life." The open days take place between 9.30am to 1pm and attendees must register in advance. Separately, Mary Immaculate College we'll also open its doors to thousands of prospective students over the two days. The Limerick campus will be open from 9am to 3pm and this will provide an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in studying at MIC to learn more about the undergraduate programmes on offer at its campuses in Limerick and Thurles. The University of Limerick will also welcome prospective students to its award-winning campus this Thursday and Friday. Attendees will get the chance to attend programme talks, facilities tours, learn all about its supports and chat to current students. "We have two jam packed days to bring you, covering both our undergraduate and postgraduate options so make sure to register to see why UL could be the right fit for you," said a spokesperson. The numbers registered to attend on Thursday has reached capacity but there is some availability on Friday. LIMERICK-EDUCATED tech billionaire John Collison took the time to speak to students about their future careers as part of a visit to the University of Limerick campus. The Castletroy College graduate, who co-founded the payment service Stripe with his brother Patrick, spent the afternoon with the new Immersive Software Engineering (ISE) students, a course he helped co-design and that guarantees placements in Stripe. "Fun to get to meet the first class of Immersive software students today. Really sharp bunch," the President of Stripe said, reflecting on his visit to UL on October 18. Our new Immersive Software Engineering students were lucky today to hear from global tech leader @collision when he came to campus to discuss their projects, answer questions about their residencies and give some insights into running Stripehttps://t.co/sjMwg8CMzI#StudyatUL pic.twitter.com/6mn7aCg9MK University Of Limerick (@UL) October 18, 2022 The university informed that students were lucky to hear from John about their projects, who also answered questions about their residencies and gave some insights into running Stripe, which is headquartered in both Dublin and San Francisco. Mr Collison, who first moved to Silicon Valley in California in 2007, while still a Leaving Certificate student in Limerick, was this year estimated to be the 187th richest person in the world, with an estimated net worth of $11.4 billion. The tech mogul also took took part in a question and answer session while visiting UL students. He described a career in software engineering as "one of the world's best kept secrets" stating that software engineers are well-paid, work around the world on pressing problems and also opined that the world doesn't have anywhere near enough of them. When asked about the importance of the ISE course in its inaugural year in Limerick, he said: "UL is the perfect place to disrupt software engineering education. Its the upstart university." He also stated that UL has a great history in creating lasting change spurred on by plucky outsiders, through the co-op education model employed across the university. Mr Collison, who this year purchased both the luxurious Abbeyleix Estate and Millbrook House in County Laois for use as future family homes, concluded by saying that his intention is to "mint" the very best software engineers in the world, in Limerick. "ISE graduates will leave with both a masters and two years industry experience, thats an immense advantage over everyone else, whatever you decide to do next," he told them. 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. A suggestion has been made to show the final episode of Derry Girls in schools across the UK to aid understanding of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. The final episode of the Channel 4 drama included a poignant look back at 1998 and the atmosphere in Northern Ireland at that time. Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris told the Northern Ireland Affairs committee on Tuesday that he feels there is education to be done around the importance of the agreement and its impact. He recalled motorways in England being closed on occasion during Northern Irelands troubled past due to bomb threats, and referred to plenty of unbelievable tragedies. I have become very aware in the short time that I have held this role that there is actually a bit of education to be done in England, Scotland and Wales as to why the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement is so important and what it has done, Mr Heaton-Harris said. He described a lack of understanding, particularly in England and Wales. I dont think people quite understand the importance of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and the peace that has flowed from it equally, so, its been hard won over a long period of time, he said. Committee chairman Simon Hoare suggested in response: Maybe enforced viewing of the final episode of Derry Girls in every school actually would be not a bad thing. Mr Heaton-Harris the anniversary of the accord next year will be a good opportunity for reflection. The Taoiseach said he will consider bringing in a taskforce to tackle the drug issues, antisocial behaviour and violent incidents that are widespread in Dublins OConnell Street. Micheal Martin said, however, that the issues in the capitals main thoroughfare may need something more structured and systemic and that a discussion was needed on whether a taskforce would be the panacea. His comments come as an RTE Prime Time investigation, which aired on Tuesday night, shows the extent of the problems plaguing the busy street. Footage shared online shows open drug dealing as well as assaults and violent attacks. Leo Varadkar said the eviction ban will give Govt some 'breathing space' to build social homes. He's had plenty of time. It beggars belief that midway through their term they're looking for breathing space, says @OCallaghanCian "What've they been doing for the last few years?" pic.twitter.com/b683GMTuex Social Democrats (@SocDems) October 18, 2022 Roisin Shortall, co-leader of the Social Democrats, said that few people were shocked or surprised by the footage. OConnell street and the surrounding area have been in decline now for several years, Ms Shortall told the Dail on Wednesday. A variety of problems are now endemic to the area. Theres widespread antisocial behaviour, open drug taking and drug dealing, persistent serious violent incidents, chronic dereliction and vacancy and deeply ingrained dirt and grime almost everywhere that you look. It has the look of an area where those in authority have simply given up. If you walk along the street, almost everything on one side, from the spire to the Ambassador (Theatre), is derelict and deserted. The area around the Abbey Theatre is similarly derelict, desolate and filthy. This is our national theatre. The area around it should be one of the jewels in the crown of the cultural quarter of the north city. Last night, Dublin City Council defended its performance by noting there would be a deep clean of OConnell Bridge this month. Seriously, is that the best they can do? She called on the Taoiseach to head up a taskforce to rejuvenate and clean up OConnell Street. The Dublin North-West TD was also critical of a decision to downgrade a garda station on OConnell Street to a garda liaison office. The opening of the garda office was part of a plan to tackle antisocial behaviour and increase garda presence in the area. Mr Martin said there are serious society issues and said he would consider establishing a taskforce to deal with the issues. One is struck by the extraordinary violence, the wanton violence against people on our streets late in the evening, Mr Martin said in the Dail. Its very obvious to many people and people have been commenting for quite some time in respect of drug activity on the streets of the capital, particularly in and OConnell Street. Many people would say theyre afraid to walk some of the streets in that respect, but it is a multifaceted problem. I think we cant allow the local authority or take the view that local authority has no role here, or shouldnt be the central driving force behind OConnell Street. I think that the physical neglect of the street, the need to accelerate the development of the streetscape from residential to retail is important. I think the drug issue is really important. But then again, people object to protection centres, they object to various facilities that people have endeavoured to bring in and agencies have endeavoured to bring, thats a sad reality. I know the gardai have a range of operations in OConnell Street, but its not a gardai issue on its own by any definition. Im not opposing what youre saying, but I think we need to discuss it further in terms of whether the taskforce would be the panacea. Mr Martin also said that Dublin City Council has to be at the heart of the rejuvenation of OConnell Street. Ms Shortall said the scourge of drug addiction is often at the root of criminal justice issues, which is a product of deprivation and poverty. She said that successive governments have promised better drug services and supervised injection centres for years have not yet materialised. Across the whole country, we have just 23 dedicated hospital detox and stabilisation beds, she added. Businesses are complaining that cant get footfall in OConnell Street because of the state of it. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. Lincoln University of Missouri is seeing an increase in student numbers for the fall semester, a happy result of increased recruiting efforts at the historically black university. According to figures released by President John B. Moseley, total enrollment at LU stands at 1,833 students, a 2% increase over the 1,794 students registered in fall 2021. Full-time student numbers show a similar uptick, rising from 1,208 last year to 1,236 in 2022. Lincoln welcomed 466 first-time Blue Tiger students this fall, with an expanded freshman class driving its enrollment growth. The new crop of 349 first-time freshmen represents a 17.5% increase over the fall 2021 freshman class. First-time transfers are also on the rise at Lincoln 117 transfer students registered compared to 102 last year. I believe the increase came from the hard work of the admissions staff and all the great new things Lincoln has going on, such as guaranteed scholarships and more than 30 academic majors, says LU Director of Admissions Danisha Williams. The university has stepped up its focus on recruiting and admissions recently, highlighting excellent educational opportunities within a welcoming atmosphere and culturally responsive environment. Williams joined the administration in July, coming to Lincoln after previously serving in similar roles at two other HBCUs. In addition, Lincoln has hired regional remote recruiters in Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, mid-Missouri and the Bootheel/Memphis area to expand visibility and build significant relationships with high school and community college staff, Williams says. We have a number of new memorandums of understanding that allow transfer students a smooth transition to LU and a thriving HBCU campus life where our students actively engage in social and academic programs on a daily basis, Williams adds. Our top programs include agriculture, business administration, criminal justice, elementary education and nursing. We will continue to sell our message of affordability in a nurturing environment. Lincoln continues to build on its success, reaching a variety of students near and far. For Christopher Williams, a freshman from Charlotte, North Carolina, the Lincoln campus already feels like home. I chose Lincoln because I knew it would be a good fit, he says. It felt right from the moment I arrived on campus and I know its a place where I can be successful. Lincoln is accepting applications now for fall 2023; the priority application deadline is June 15. For additional information about Lincoln University admissions, visit LincolnU.edu/admissions. China has put a hold on a proposal by India and the US at the United Nations to list Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Shahid Mahmood as a global terrorist, according to the news agency PTI. China has placed a hold on proposal to designate Shahid Mahmood as a global terrorist under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council. It is the fourth time that China has blocked an India-US proposal in recent months after Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Sajid Mir, LeT and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) leader Abdul Rehman Makki, as well as Abdul Rauf Azhar, the brother of Jaish-e Mohammed (JEM) chief Masood Azhar, were protected by Beijing, as per ANI reports. Earlier in September, China blocked the proposal of designating Sajid Mir as a "global terrorist." Mir is a top Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) commander and is in charge of the "India Setup" of LeT. Sajid Mir is one of the masterminds of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. He was responsible for the largest ever overseas LeT terror attack resulting in the death of nationals of several countries including India and Western countries. All you need to know about LeT's Shahid Mahmood Shahid Mahmood has served as the vice chairman of Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation (FIF), a humanitarian and fundraising arm of LeT. FIF was designated as an alias for LeT, as per ANI reports. In 2014, Mahmood was the leader of FIF in Karachi. In August 2013, Mahmood was identified as a LeT publications wing member, according to the US Department of Treasury. In August 2012, Mahmood, while in charge of the Sindh, Pakistan chapter of FIF, led a LeT delegation to Burma, and in mid-2014, he travelled to Syria and Turkey and was subsequently appointed to lead FIF efforts in both countries. Mahmood has also travelled to Bangladesh and Gaza on behalf of FIF, ANI reported. Mahmood was previously part of LeT's overseas operations team led by Sajid Mir. Additionally, in August 2013, Mahmood was instructed to forge covert links with Islamic organizations in Bangladesh and Burma, and as of late 2011, Mahmood claimed that LeT's primary concern should be attacking India and America. In 2016, the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated two of the LeT's senior leaders, Muhammad Sarwar (Sarwar) and Shahid Mahmood (Mahmood), as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 13224, according to the news agency ANI. Sarwar and Mahmood are being designated for acting for or on behalf of LeT, a terrorist organization based in Pakistan. All property and interests in the property of Sarwar and Mahmood subject to US jurisdiction are now blocked, and US citizens are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. (With inputs from agencies) New Delhi: As a part of Defence Expo 2022, the second India-Africa Defence Dialogue was organised in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on 18 October, Indias defence ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. The defence secretary held a number of bilateral meetings with delegations from African nations. A bilateral meeting was conducted with Lt Gen Isman Mohamed Hassan Karar, Secretary General MoD, Sudan. Lt Gen Rashad Abdelhamid Ismail Abdalla, Sudan Army Chief was also present. The ongoing defence cooperation issues and potential areas for future cooperation were discussed. A Zambia delegation led by Mr Norman Chipakupaku, Permanent Secretary, MoD Zambia met Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar. Issues relating to training and capacity building were discussed, in addition to the review of ongoing bilateral defence cooperation," read a ministry release. Defence secretary Ajay Kumar also met the Niger delegation led by Brigadier General Diddilli Amadou, Secretary General of the Defence Minister, Niger. Potential areas for defence cooperation between the two nations were deliberated. A Mali delegation led by Maj Gen Sidiki Samake, Secretary General of the Department met the Defence Secretary. They discussed potential defence cooperation including defence industrial cooperation issues," the ministry said. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated DefExpo 2022 at Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre in Gandhinagar. This is the 12th edition of the event that has been organised on the theme Path to Pride. Addressing the gathering, the prime minister welcomed delegates to the event. Remarking on the organisation of the DefExpo 2022, PM Modi said it paints a picture of New India and its capabilities whose resolve is being forged at the time of Amrit Kaal. He added that it is an amalgamation of the countrys development as well as states cooperation. It has the power and dreams of the youth, it has the resolve and capabilities of the youth. It has hopes for the world and opportunities for friendly nations," PM Modi said. Iran has promised to provide Russia with surface to surface missiles, in addition to more drones, two senior Iranian officials and two Iranian diplomats told Reuters, a move that is likely to infuriate the United States and other Western powers. A deal was agreed on Oct. 6 when Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber, two senior officials from Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards and an official from the Supreme National Security Council visited Moscow for talks with Russia about the delivery of the weapons. "The Russians had asked for more drones and those Iranian ballistic missiles with improved accuracy, particularly the Fateh and Zolfaghar missiles family," said one of the Iranian diplomats, who was briefed about the trip. A Western official briefed on the matter confirmed it, saying there was an agreement in place between Iran and Russia to provide surface-to-surface short range ballistic missiles, including the Zolfaghar. The Iranian diplomat rejected assertions by Western officials that such transfers breach a 2015 U.N. Security Council resolution. "Where they are being used is not the seller's issue. We do not take sides in the Ukraine crisis like the West. We want an end to the crisis through diplomatic means," the diplomat said. Ukraine has reported a spate of Russian attacks using Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones in recent weeks. Iran has denied supplying the drones to Russia, while the Kremlin on Tuesday denied its forces had used Iranian drones to attack Ukraine. Asked if Russia had used Iranian drones in its campaign in Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin did not have any information about their use. "Russian equipment with Russian nomenclature is used," he said. "All further questions should be directed to the Defence Ministry." The ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The appearance of Iranian missiles in addition to drones in Moscow's arsenal in the war with Ukraine would raise tensions between Iran and the United States and other Western powers. SHIPMENT 'SOON, VERY SOON' The U.S. State Department assessed that Iranian drones were used on Monday in a morning rush hour attack on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, a U.S. official said. White House spokesperson Karinne Jean-Pierre also accused Tehran of lying when it said Iranian drones are not being used by Russia in Ukraine. A European diplomat said it was his country's assessment that Russia was finding it more difficult to produce weaponry for itself given the sanctions on its industrial sector and so was turning to imports from partners like Iran and North Korea. "Drones and missiles are a logical next step," said the European diplomat. Asked about sales of Iranian surface-to-surface missiles to Russia, a senior U.S. military official said: "I don't have anything to provide at this time in terms of whether or not that is accurate at this point." Chafing under Western economic sanctions, Iran's rulers are keen to strengthen strategic ties to Russia against an emerging, U.S.-backed Gulf Arab-Israeli bloc that could shift the Middle East balance of power further away from the Islamic Republic. Iran's rulers are also under pressure from nationwide demonstrations which were ignited by the death in custody of a 22-year-old woman detained for "inappropriate attire". Several European Union states on Monday called for sanctions on Iran over its supply of drones to Russia, as the bloc agreed a separate set of sanctions over Tehran's crackdown on unrest. "They (Russians) wanted to buy hundreds of our missiles, even mid-range ones, but we told them that we can ship soon a few hundred of their demanded Zolfaghar and Fateh 110 short-range, surface to surface missiles," said one of the security officials. "I cannot give you the exact time, but soon, very soon those will be shipped in 2 to three shipments." An Eastern European official tracking Russia's weapons activity said it was their understanding that this arms deal was happening, although he had no specific evidence to back it up. The official said that a decision had been taken by the Iranian and Russian leaders to proceed with the transfer. Moscow had specifically asked for surface to surface short-range Fateh 110 and Zolfaghar missiles, and the shipment will happen in a maximum of 10 days, said another Iranian diplomat. Attack drones The stakes are high for Iran, which has been negotiating with Western states to revive a 2015 deal that would ease sanctions on Tehran in return for limits on its nuclear work. The talks have deadlocked, and any disputes between Tehran and Western powers over arms sales to Russia or Iran's crackdown on the unrest could weaken efforts to seal an accord. The United States agrees with British and French assessments that Iran supplying drones to Russia would violate a U.N. Security Council resolution that endorsed the 2015 deal, U.S. State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said on Monday. The Western official, who declined to be identified due to the sensitive nature of the matter, said that like the drones, missile transfers would also violate U.N. resolution 2231. Several senior Iranian officials are outraged about "unjust" planned sanctions on Iran over its arms shipments to Russia, said the second diplomat. In September, Tehran had refused a request by President Vladimir Putin for the supply of Iran's sophisticated Arash 2 long-range attack drones, three Iranian officials told Reuters. When asked the reason for the refusal, one of the officials cited several issues including "some technical problems". "Also the (Revolutionary) Guards' commanders were worried that if Russia uses this Arash 2 drone in Ukraine, Americans may have access to our technology." New and exclusive surveillance video shows what leads up the the fight in front of a bar on Station Street that left one man unconscious. The man has now filed a civil lawsuit against the owners of the bar and security guards. A roller skate company in Chattanooga that rents and sells skates is accused of fraud by several people across the country. The owner was listed as Forbes 30 under 30 after launching the company in 2019. 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. A most memorable day out was had by the Streete Active Retirement Group when they made a visit to Dail Eireann and the house of the Oireachtas in Leinster House on Thursday, October 13 last. The group had pre planned this visit in 2020 but unfortunately, covid had its own ideas and the tour had to be cancelled. The group leader Kevin Brady said we are delighted to be back out and about again after being so long cocooned and out of circulation. Mr Brady added, Covid was a trying time for everyone mainly the young and those a little older. But thankfully we have come out the other side and the country is making a great recovery and peoples social movements are almost back to normal. Mr Brady outlined that this was the group's second outing this year and he thanked Minister Peter Burke who made the visit possible, and was on hand to welcome them to Leinster House and made them feel at home. Mr Brady continued, He left us in the very capable and knowledgeable hands of tour guide Paul, who gave us a great tour of the beautiful government buildings. Our first port of call was the viewing balcony, where we gazed down on the lower house and the proceedings of the Dail. Our guide was magnificent, in his knowledge of Leinster house and its history. He left us in no doubt to be a public representative, you had to be well-read and able to ask and answer parliamentary questions from the benches regardless of which party you represent. This was evident as we entered Seanad Eireann and listened to some lively debate which we had to admit was very much enjoyable, It was amazing to watch our public representatives in action. Kevin said it was his first time to visit Leinster House. It was a great opportunity to see and understand the hard work our elected members do. We are grateful for the chance in a lifetime to visit and sure we couldnt leave without a bit to eat in the Dail restaurant where we enjoyed a lovely lunch in the company of public representatives, ministers and senators all welcoming and friendly. Caption: A full and happy group in the Dail restaurant He said Streete Active Retirement Group are grateful to Peter Burke and Robert Troy who joined them for a chat and asked if the group would like to sign the official book of condolences in memory of those who died in Creeslough. Mr Brady remarked, It was a poignant moment as we reflected on the great loss to the family and friends. We shared a silent prayer for the community of Creeslough as people there said their final goodbyes to their loved ones, and a community that must face the painful reality of rebuilding their lives. We made our way to the front steps for a group photograph, where we were delighted to meet Senator, Micheal Carrigy who had just arrived to attend a meeting. With our tour over we headed into the Museum Of Archaeology where we saw the magnificent Ardagh Chalice and the Tara Brooch, a gem-encrusted brooch which extremely rich people would have worn at the time. It was a great day out and wed love to go again sometime in the future. I cant describe how wonderful it is to be out and about again. Caption: Deirdre Leavy signing the book of condolence in Leinster House Mr Brady concluded by urging people to join an active retirement group, a club or any organisation which helps you beat off the loneliness and isolation or helps you to focus on the positive side of life. He said, It's amazing how being part of something can alleviate the daily stress of living in these trying times, especially our older people, you are welcome to join us, you dont have to be from Streete. Our rules are few and we aim to keep it that way. we just have one rule. Our motto is in the words of the great author Helen Keller. Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." * Main Photo caption: Minister of State for Planning and Local Government, Peter Burke TD, Deputy Robert Troy, Anne Creamer, Dympna Murphy, Doreen Slevin, Marion Dunne, Philomena Parker, Deirdre Leavy, Mary Boyhan, Kathleen McGovern, Alice Nerney, Mary McBrine, Kevin Brady, Senator Micheal Carrigy and in front Brian Nerney New Community Hubs are being created in local Longford housing estates in Longford, as part of the new Department of Justice approved Community Safety Partnership Project. This community-based initiative will be trialed for two years, allowing local communities to work with State and community services to draw up plans to promote social cohesion, integration and to prevent crime in these local areas. Three locations were identified to trial the initiative Longford, Waterford, and Dublins North Inner City based on factors including population density, crime rates and deprivation. In Longford, council donated houses in Ardnacassa and MacEoin Park will offer a space to engage with people in these communities through workshops, training courses, information events, coffee mornings, easily accessible multi-purpose rooms and parent and toddler groups. Residents will have access to space, information and services as well as a stake in their community right on their doorstep. Janine Bartley, Longfords Community Safety Coordinator, believes this is vital to overcoming issues in the area and strengthening these communities. Ms Bartley said, Sometimes, for whatever reason, people from these communities find it difficult to trust and engage with social, community and policing services. Spaces directly within these estates that work on building up trust and building up relationships will help identify what the key issues in these areas are. And more importantly, what the residents want us to do to tackle them. These community hubs and other new initiatives came from the Commission on Future Policing that began work in 2017. One of the key recommendations was that community safety is not just a responsibility of An Garda Siochana. Its everybodys responsibility and a more co-ordinated approach must be taken by statutory agencies, community agencies, voluntary agencies, and the community residents themselves. These hubs are the spaces where we hope this collaboration can begin. The newly repurposed spaces were refurbished with furniture and equipment donated by another Longford community-based organisation, the employability and skills provider, Seetec. We were thrilled to help this innovative project in any way we could, we even enlisted the Irish Defence Forces to round up all the gear, said Noeleen Nannery, Seetecs Regional Operations Manager. Weve been supporting the people of Longford into employment and training for the past seven years. As an employee-owned organisation that delivers a socially driven service, we are deeply invested in the communities we serve in. This sort of initiative really resonates with our mission and values. Ms Nannery continued, This space also offers significant future potential for further collaboration between the Community Safety Partnership and Seetec. Were exploring the potential of offering direct information sessions on skills, training and employment to the Ardnacassa and MacEoin Park communities. This sort of outreach is exactly what these hubs were created for. Both Ardnacassa and MacEoin Park Community Hubs will be open to the public in the first week in November. Ardnacassa will host a launch event on October 28 to introduce the space to statutory and community agencies. Xi Jinping delivers a report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on behalf of the 19th CPC Central Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct 16, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua] Expert says nation's pursuit of common prosperity has great global significance At a crucial moment in which China is embarking on a new journey to build a modern socialist country in all respects, the Communist Party of China has mapped out an ambitious blueprint to comprehensively advance Chinese modernization, a central task it has laid out for the next five years and beyond to realize national rejuvenation. When delivering a report on behalf of the 19th CPC Central Committee at the opening session of the 20th CPC National Congress on Sunday, Xi Jinping expounded on what the Chinese path to modernization looks like and how it works, and said that it offers humanity a "new choice" for achieving modernization. Highlighting that Chinese modernization is socialist modernization pursued under the leadership of the Party, Xi said that it contains elements that are common to the modernization processes of all countries, but "it is more characterized by features that are unique to the Chinese context". Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, generations of Chinese people have sought to realize the country's modernization. After China completed the historic task of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects in 2021, Xi ushered in a new stage for the Chinese nation to become modernized on all fronts in the next few decades. He explained in the report to the 20th CPC National Congress that China's modernization will be shared by a large population, and features the common prosperity of all its people, material abundance and cultural-ethical enrichment, harmony between humanity and nature, and peaceful development. In a two-step strategic plan, China aims to basically realize socialist modernization by 2035, and then build a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful by the middle of this century. A series of steps have been set out in the report, including significantly increasing economic strength, scientific and technological capabilities, and composite national strength; basically modernizing the system and capacity for governance; improving the system for whole-process people's democracy; and substantially growing the middle-income group. Alessandro Golombiewski Teixeira, a professor of public policy at Tsinghua University's School of Public Policy and Management, said that common prosperity has become one of the most important concepts guiding Chinese policymakers in recent years. "This is a bold commitment for all Chinese, and common prosperity will become an important feature of China's socialist modernization," Teixeira said in an article published on the website of China Global Television Network. "China's practice of pursuing common prosperity is of great global significance. If it succeeds, it will provide the world, especially the vast number of developing countries, with a choice of their own development path." Alexander Ayertey Odonkor, a Ghanaian author, economic consultant and chartered financial analyst, commended China's ecological conservation efforts while maintaining rapid economic development during the course of its modernization drive. He said in an opinion piece on the CGTN website that China has sought to balance sustained economic growth, protect the natural environment, and boost harmonious coexistence between humanity and the natural environment an impressive feat that presents the country as a unique example of how to balance economic growth and protect nature. Externally, China's modernization faces a more volatile international landscape that is speedily evolving. Factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine crisis, the increasing geopolitical competition and mounting protectionism and unilateralism have complicated China's development environment. Peaceful development Xi said in the report that China has entered a period of development in which strategic opportunities, risks and challenges are concurrent and uncertainties and unforeseen factors are rising. He stressed that in pursuing modernization, China will not tread the old path of war, colonization and plunder taken by some countries. "Dedicated to peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit, we will strive to safeguard world peace and development as we pursue our own development, and we will make greater contributions to world peace and development through our own development," he said. Experts said that the Chinese path to modernization has brought new elements of value to the international order. It provides an alternative to the Western model of modernization, expands the channels for developing countries to achieve modernization, and offers a Chinese approach to human progress, they said. Yang Guangbin, a professor of political science at Renmin University of China, said that no developed country in the West has developed without relying on war, colonization and plunder. Instead of plundering through war, China has risen through peaceful development, which is fundamentally different from the way that Western countries have risen and influenced the world, he said. China's experience offers "China's solution" and China's inspiration to developing countries that want to develop while maintaining their independence, he added. North Midlands Credit Union will be joining credit union members around the world to celebrate International Credit Union Day (ICU Day) on Thursday, October 20. The theme for this years ICU Day is "Empower Your Financial Future with a Credit Union" which aims to encourage and inspire people to plan for their future. Credit Unions such as North Midlands Credit Union, are there for their members to assist them to build and maintain a brighter financial future for themselves and their families. Credit Unions are not-for-profit financial cooperatives owned by, and operated for, the benefit of members they serve. Strong credit unions make strong communities. Credit Unions genuinely care about their members and put them at the heart of everything they do. As bank branches continue to close in towns and villages, Credit Unions are committed to maintaining their services within their local communities, and offering that personal, face-to-face service. Tom Allen, Manager of North Midlands Credit Union said, Our members and community are our backbone, and we are so proud here at North Midlands Credit Union of the part we play in sustaining that community. Our goal is to remain a cornerstone of our community by continuing to go above and beyond for our members. With the cost of living crisis becoming more and more prevalent, credit unions remain vital and accessible providers of affordable and ethical financial services across the country. Our doors here at North Midlands Credit Union are always open. North Midlands Credit Union is the second largest community credit union in Ireland, providing a full range of financial services in branch and online. North Midlands Credit Union has a membership of over 60,000, assets in excess of 460 million. Loans actually paid out in the most recent financial year to September 2022 were close to 50 million borrowers were from across the whole spectrum of the membership personal, business, Agri, community and mortgages. The vast majority of North Midlands Credit Unions lending is spent locally so taking account of the multiplier effect the economic impact of our lending runs into hundreds of millions of euros for the local economy. North Midlands Credit Union runs a very active and successful Social and Cultural Fund. The Social and Cultural Committee considers applications and approves funding grants to various local voluntary organisations. In the most recent financial year to September 2022 grants were aided to approximately 300 organisations with a total fund of 155,000. To date this fund has distributed over 2 million. Crime By Chris Boyle Published: October 18 2022 Enterprise Cleaner Paid Workers Below Minimum Wage Without Adequate Overtime Pay or Paid Sick Leave. New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that she has recovered $90,000 in stolen and unpaid wages for more than a dozen former employees of a commercial dry cleaner in Astoria, Queens. Fat-Lun Kong and Cheng Teh Tang, co-owners of the company JM Pro Cleaner, Inc. doing business as Enterprise Cleaner, formerly known as KTN Cleaner, Inc. doing business as Enterprise Cleaner (Enterprise), failed to pay their employees minimum wage, failed to pay the proper overtime rate, failed to pay employees for an additional hour when their workday exceeded ten hours, and did not offer adequate overtime pay or paid sick leave. Enterprise also consistently failed to provide new employees with written notice of the rate of pay, regular pay day, and other critical information upon hiring. In addition to paying back $90,000 in stolen wages to former employees of Enterprise, Kong and Tang will undergo thorough training regarding their obligations as an employer under New York Labor Law, update company policies and procedures, and submit compliance reports to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) for a period of at least three years. All workers should be treated with the utmost dignity and respect, but the owners of Enterprise Cleaners took advantage of their hardworking employees, forcing them to work long hours and failing to pay workers what they were owed, said Attorney General James. No matter the industry, my office will not stand for the abuse and mistreatment of hardworking New Yorkers. I am grateful to the Laundry Workers Center for bringing this case to our attention and look forward to continuing to work together to defend workers rights statewide. Laundry Workers Center has been fighting worker exploitation and wage theft in the laundry industry for over a decade, said Rosanna Rodriguez, Co-Executive Director, Laundry Workers Center. We primarily represent immigrant women of color who are heads of households. Thanks to the collaboration between the Attorney General's Office and our organization, we can set an example with Enterprise Laundromat. Make sure bad actors stop breaking the law and provide decent wages and safe conditions for workers. The OAG launched an investigation in January 2020, after the matter was referred to OAG by the Laundry Workers Center. The investigation, which included review of company documents, interviews with former employees, and sworn testimony from Kong and Tang, revealed that from 2014 to 2020, Enterprise repeatedly violated New York Labor Laws, the Miscellaneous Wage Order of the New York Codes, Rules, and Regulations, and the Earned Safe and Sick Time Act. In interviews with OAG, former Enterprise employees reported they were not paid the minimum wage after it increased to $15 per hour on December 31, 2018, and payroll documents confirmed that Enterprise employees did not receive the $15 minimum wage until about a year after the increase. Former employees also shared that Enterprise, Kong, and Tang did not pay the proper wages for overtime hours. Enterprise, Kong, and Tang also failed to pay employees spread of hours, which calls for an additional hour of pay when an employees workday exceeds ten hours. In 2019, Enterprise, Kong, and Tang paid some employees only a portion of the wages they were owed some of these employees eventually received their full wages weeks later, but others never received them. Enterprise also consistently failed to provide new employees with written notice of the rate of pay, regular pay day, and other critical information upon hiring. Enterprise also did not have a paid sick leave policy, did not provide employees with adequate paid sick leave, and even interfered with employees right to sick leave by requiring them to find a replacement before calling out sick. As part of the settlement announced today, Enterprise, Kong, and Tang will return $90,000 in stolen wages to former employees. In addition to financial relief, Kong and Tang will undergo training related to their responsibilities as employers under New York Labor Law, including but not limited to the obligation to pay the minimum wage, overtime, and spread of hours, the obligation to provide paid sick leave, as well as the obligation not to discriminate. Kong and Tang must also develop a plan to revise Enterprises policies and procedures related to pay and sick leave, among other workplace issues including sexual harassment and reasonable accommodations. These policies are to be submitted to OAG for approval and will be provided to all employees. Enterprise, Kong, and Tang will submit periodic compliance reports to OAG for a period of at least three years. The OAG will also have full access to Enterprises employees contact information during this period in order to ensure compliance. An employer who commits wage theft at any scale isnt just stealing from a worker, they are also stealing from that workers family and the law abiding small businesses who cover their contributions to our shared safety net, said State Senator Jessica Ramos, Chair of the Senate Labor Committee. Im so grateful that the Attorney General is using the power of her office to get these immigrant workers what they are owed. I urge all workers, no matter your immigration status, to learn your rights and exercise them. Wage theft is the largest form of theft in the United States, with 2.1 million New Yorkers alone victim to it every year. It makes our city and state less safe for the hard working people who live here, said State Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani. Today, we are sending a clear message to employers across Astoria and all of New York state: if you swindle workers out of their wages and guaranteed paid sick leave, you will be held accountable. Im grateful to Attorney General James and the Laundry Workers Center for ensuring that these immigrant women of color get what they are owed. Workers organizing together won a minimum wage, overtime, and paid sick leave we must ensure that every worker across the state knows their rights to those very things and that they can take action when they are robbed of those rights. I could not be more proud to extend solidarity and congratulations to the courageous Astoria laundry workers who took action together and won back $90,000 in wages stolen by their bosses, said New York City Council Member Tiffany Caban. American bosses steal $15 Billion from their workers every single year, disproportionately from immigrants, women, and workers of color an unacceptable injustice that we must fight hard to end. I applaud the Laundry Workers Center and Attorney General James on this win. All District 22 workers should know, if your boss is taking advantage of you and you want to fight back, your Council Member is on your side. This case was handled by Assistant Attorney General Anielka Sanchez Godinez, Social Justice Coordinator Francisca Montana, and Civil Enforcement Section Chief Fiona Kaye of the Labor Bureau, under the supervision of Bureau Chief Karen Cacace, as well as former Assistant Attorney General Michael OKeefe Cowles, former Civil Enforcement Section Chief Ming-Qi Chu, and former Deputy Bureau Chief Julie Ulmet. Senior Counsel Sandra Pullman of the Civil Rights Bureau also worked on this matter. The Labor and Civil Rights Bureaus are part of the Division for Social Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Meghan Faux and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy. Crime By Chris Boyle Published: October 19 2022 Ramon Martines, A/K/A, Cruzito, was leader of Hempstead clique of MS-13; ordered killing of 39-year-old victim. Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that an MS-13 leader was sentenced today to 25 years in prison for conspiring and participating in the killing of a 39-year-old man, perceived to be an enemy of the gang, in March 2017 in Hempstead. Ramon Martines, 39, a/k/a/ Cruzito, of Hempstead, pleaded guilty on September 15, 2022, before Judge Terence Murphy to Manslaughter in the First Degree (a B violent felony) and Conspiracy in the Second Degree (a B felony). The defendant was sentenced today to 25 years in prison. As the leader of a local MS-13 clique in Hempstead, this defendant exercised his control by sanctioning the senseless murder of a 39-year-old man as he left work because the defendant perceived him to be an enemy and member of a rival gang, said DA Donnelly. Tragically, that was not the case, and the man was shot several times and killed. We continue to aggressively pursue cases against MS-13 members and their leaders, remove these dangerous actors from our streets, and keep our communities safe. DA Donnelly said that on March 20, 2017, the defendant the former head of the Hempstead Locos Salvatrucha clique of MS-13 on Long Island acting in concert with others drove from Uniondale to Hempstead looking for a member of the rival 14th Street gang to shoot and kill in retaliation for an assault on an MS-13 member. The group circled the area several times searching for a member of the 14th Street gang. Eventually, the group spotted the victim, 39-year-old Nelson Rodriguez, of Hempstead, who was walking westbound on Front Street after work at an auto body shop. Though Rodriguez was not a member of the 14th Street gang, defendant Pedro Rivera who was armed with a gun was ordered to kill the victim because he was a perceived enemy of MS-13. As the then-leader of the clique, the murder was sanctioned by the defendant. Rivera exited the vehicle and began walking on Front Street towards the victim. Rivera passed Rodriguez and then turned around and shot the victim once in the head. After he fell to the ground, Rivera shot him again in the back. Multiple witnesses immediately called 911 and the victim was transported to Nassau County University Medical Center where he later died. Co-defendants Rivera and Carlos Flores were convicted at trial for their roles in the murder and sentenced to 50 years to life in prison on October 1, 2019. Co-defendant Hector Lazos case is pending sentence. NCDA thanks Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, NCPD Homicide Squad, NCPD Third Precinct, NCPD Electronics Squad and the Social Security Administration for their assistance in this case. Business & Finance By Chris Boyle Published: October 19 2022 Hugh Jack Weidinger Wins National Recognition for Community Service and Industry Accomplishments. The nomination of Hugh Jack Weidinger IV, dealer principal at North Bay Cadillac Co. Inc. in Great Neck, New York, for the 2023 TIME Dealer of the Year award was announced today by TIME. Weidinger is one of a select group of 48 dealer nominees from across the country to be honored with the award. The TIME Dealer of the Year award is one of the automobile industrys most prestigious and highly coveted honors. The award recognizes the nations most successful auto dealers who also demonstrate a long-standing commitment to community service. Weidinger was chosen to represent the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association in the national competition one of only 48 auto dealers nominated for the 54th annual award from more than 16,000 nationwide. My father and grandfather worked hard to establish our reputation in our market, and I am committed to carrying on that legacy by investing in our employees, our facilities and our communities, nominee Weidinger said. A 1994 graduate of Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he earned a B.S. in finance, Weidinger received his M.B.A. from Columbia University in New York, New York, in 2004. He also studied automotive management at the NADA Academy to prepare to oversee his familys auto group. I grew up going to the Jaguar dealership with my dad since about the age of 8 and worked in parts and service during summers while in school, he said, noting that his family has been selling luxury vehicles on Long Island since 1938. After one year at a Wall Street firm, I joined the dealership full-time in 1996 at age 24. I learned how to manage the business, collaborate with the team and saw a lot of ups and downs while managing this new venture, he said. In 2002, the group sold Infiniti, took on Hummer and built a new Cadillac Hummer store, and Weidinger was named dealer principal of both locations in 2008. Weidinger added Buick and GMC in 2010 and in 2017, he was appointed a Land Rover franchise. Today, he oversees North Bay Cadillac and North Bay Buick GMC in Great Neck and Jaguar Land Rover Freeport in Freeport, New York. While growing up in the dealership I worked hard to earn the respect of my co-workers, some of whom are still working for us today, he said. As the strongest guide in my life, my father taught me the value of caring deeply for the well-being and success of our dealership employees. With such deep roots in the retail automotive industry on Long Island, Weidinger has served on the board of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association since 2014 and is currently vice chair of the executive board. He is equally committed to his community and has served on the board of the Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club at Lincoln House for six years. Since 1903, this leading advocate for youth has provided essential after-school services and a safe and nurturing environment for 6- to 18-year-olds in Glen Cove, New York. Our dealership staff volunteers every year to create Thanksgiving baskets, prepare meals and collect food for the organizations Thanksgiving dinner and basket giveaway, which helps families in need during the holiday, Weidinger said. His team is also a leading contributor to the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Associations annual winter coat drive to purchase new coats from Operation Warm, a national nonprofit that manufactures brand-new, high-quality coats and shoes for children in need. Over the 10 years our customers and staff have participated, we have heavily contributed to the 80,000 coats that have been collected and donated, he said. We work with five local charities and religious groups to distribute the coats we collect throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties. Weidinger added, As a third-generation dealer, the keys to running a successful business and continuing our family tradition have been ingrained in me. Our team prides itself on being honest, respectful, and attentive to the needs of everyone who comes through our dealerships and we treat everyone the way we want to be treated. Dealers are nominated by the executives of state and metro dealer associations around the country. A panel of faculty members from the Tauber Institute for Global Operations at the University of Michigan will select one finalist from each of the four NADA regions and one national Dealer of the Year. Three finalists will receive $5,000 for their favorite charities and the winner will receive $10,000 to give to charity, donated by Ally. In its 12th year as exclusive sponsor, Ally also will recognize dealer nominees and their community efforts by contributing $1,000 to each nominees 501(c)3 charity of choice. Nominees will be recognized on AllyDealerHeroes.com, which highlights the philanthropic contributions and achievements of TIME Dealer of the Year nominees. Weidinger was nominated for the TIME Dealer of the Year award by Mark Schienberg, president of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association. Weidinger and his wife, Julia, have three children. ABOUT GNYADA (Alliance News) - IntegraFin Holdings PLC on Wednesday said its co-founder & former chief executive Ian Taylor has died, aged 58. Taylor founded the London-based investment platform in 1999 with Michael Howard. He then became CEO in 2002, and led the business for 19 years as it "revolutionised the advisory platform market", and through its initial public offering in April 2018. Taylor stepped down as CEO in 2020, and retired as an executive director in February 2021. Chief Executive Alex Scott said: "We are, all, desperately saddened by the news of Ian's passing. Our condolences and thoughts at this time are with Frances, Patrick, Elizabeth, Annie and their wider family.'' Shares in IntegraFin were down 2.9% to 225.20 pence each in London on Wednesday morning By Sophie Rose; sophierose@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - Kore Potash PLC maintained on Wednesday it complied with its obligations in the Republic of Congo after receiving a scathing letter from a top government official in that country last week. The company owns the Kola and DX potash projects in Republic of Congo. The group said it received a letter dated October 12 from Mines Minister Pierre Oba, expressing his discontent with aspects of the administration of the company's subsidiary companies in the country and the apparent lack of progress in financing Kola project. The letter indicated that the government reserved the right to take measures should the company fail to respond within 30 days. Kore said it intended to formally respond to Oba's letter within the 30-day period afforded by the minister. The letter, the company explained, was received following the arrest and subsequent release without charge of two senior employees of the company by the Congolese police. No reason was given for the arrests. Also Kore said it continued to progress the development of the Kola and Dougou projects towards production, and believed that it was in compliance with its obligations to the government. It vowed to keep the mines minister briefed on its plans and progress. The company said it updated the minister on October 10 on its positive progress in the development of Kola and receipt of the engineering, procurement and construction proposal for the construction of Kola. The company said it continued to work through the process for financing Kola as agreed with the minister in April 2021 and detailed in the memorandum of understanding with the Summit Consortium signed in the minister's office in Brazzaville. The consortium is an investment group that represents investors and engineering firms. While the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions in China delayed the timing of the finalisation of the engineering, procurement and construction proposal, the consortium continued to work through the agreed process steps towards presenting the company with the financing proposal for the full construction cost of Kola. In London, shares in Kore Potash shed 12% to 0.86 pence on Wednesday afternoon, while it dropped 14% to ZAR0.18 in Johannesburg. By Artwell Dlamini; artwelldlamini@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - Vodafone Group PLC has announced a new social broadband tariff for households giving them connectivity for GBP12 a month, and will give small businesses free broadband for a year as part of a new cost-of-living package. The telecoms giant said the new Vodafone Essentials Broadband deal would be available to anyone on jobseekers' allowance, universal credit, employment and support allowance, disability allowance or personal independence payment. For small business owners, any new or existing customers who are eligible to upgrade will be able to get free business broadband for 12 months on a 24-month plan. Vodafone said research had found that many people relied on connectivity to help them find better deals as part of efforts to combat the rising cost of living, so keeping people online would be vital over the coming months. "The rising cost of living is putting a million families at risk of falling on the wrong side of the digital divide," Vodafone Chief Executive Ahmed Essam said. "We must not allow this to happen. So as part of our everyone.connected programme, today we are launching Vodafone Essentials Broadband at just GBP12 a month, the cheapest on the market, and 12 months free broadband for small businesses. "Vodafone is the only network provider to offer social tariffs across fixed and mobile, meaning eligible customers can access mobile and broadband connectivity for 72 pence a day. "These new tariffs complement Voxi for Now and the 750,000 free sims we've donated so far as part of our everyone.connected programme. "We're on track to meet our commitment to donate a million connections by the end of this year and will continue to put the cause at the heart of our business until the problem no longer exists." Vodafone shares were marginally higher at 99.64 pence in London early Wednesday. By Martyn Landi, PA Technology Correspondent source: PA Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (l-r) Sarah Donovan '17 alumna and conference attendee, Pearl, Fulmer Download Image: Web The Pennsylvania Historical Association (PHA) held its 91st annual meeting at Lycoming College from Oct. 13-15. With a focus this year on Health and Resilience in the Commonwealth and Mid-Atlantic, the conference included seminars, student research, film presentations, a keynote banquet, and more. I think the fact that the Pennsylvania Historical Association, a ninety-year-old institution dedicated to advancing knowledge about the history and culture of Pennsylvania and the mid-Atlantic region, chose to hold their annual meeting here is a recognition of Lycoming Colleges rising status as a place that prizes and supports the advancement of knowledge through quality teaching and research, said Christopher Pearl, Ph.D., associate professor of history at Lycoming College and chair of local arrangements for PHA. We should be proud that the PHA came to our campus, interacted with our community, and got to know more about our wonderful college. This year, the conferences focus on health not only relates to physical health, an important topic in a post-pandemic world, but also relates to political, social, and civic health. More than one hundred academics, teachers, and professional historians presented new and vibrant research on topics ranging from Native American history to the place and power of women in politics, the changing nature of public health, and the consistent struggle for civil rights. In the undergraduate portion of the conference, Lycoming College student John Fulmer 23, a history major working toward an education certification, presented A Tale of Two Rivers: Toxic Masculinity on the Revolutionary Frontier. His original research won the award for best undergraduate research at the conference. I wanted to present at the PHA conference because it allowed me to share my research from my methods project that I have worked on the entire semester, said Fulmer. It also let me discuss the local history of the Western Branch of the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania, located just a few blocks away from campus. As well as hosting the PHA annual meeting, Lycoming College also hosted the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, a non-profit organization that aims to champion the humanities. I think this is fitting and represents Lycoming Colleges dedication to a liberal arts education where the humanities has and continues to play a central role, said Pearl. The Pennsylvania Historical Association advocates and advances knowledge about the history and culture of Pennsylvania and the mid-Atlantic region, because understanding how the past informs the present helps us shape a better future. PHA achieves its mission by fostering the teaching and study of Pennsylvania history and culture through: publishing Pennsylvania History: A Journal of Mid-Atlantic Studies, publishing a book series on historical topics of interest in partnership with Temple University Press, hosting an annual conference, and connecting and encouraging the networking of scholars. Manchester, VT (05254) Today Showers in the morning, then cloudy in the afternoon. High near 45F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 23F. Winds light and variable. Fiji is an island country which lies in the Melanesia region of Oceania located at the South Pacific ocean about 1,100 miles northeast of New Zealand. It is known for its archipelago (island groups) that contains hundreds of small islands. Fiji Day commemorates two key events in the island nations history, the ceding of Fiji to the United Kingdom in 1874 and Fiji gaining independence from it in 1970. Fiji Day is the National Day of Fiji and is celebrated on 10 October. If 10 October falls on a weekend, the holiday may be moved to a weekday. The week leading up to Fiji Day is known as Fiji Week and consists of a series of religious and cultural events that celebrate Fiji's diversity. Event Fiji Day Date October 10, 2022 Day Monday Significance The day honors the cession of Fiji to the United Kingdom in 1874 and the island nation's independence from it in 1970, two significant historical occurrences. Observed by Fiji --Advertisement-- --Keep on reading-- Fiji Day History: Pottery art from Fijian towns shows that Fiji was settled by Austronesian peoples by at least 3500 to 1000 BC, with Melanesians following around a thousand years later, although there are still many open questions about the specific dates and patterns of human migration into Fiji and many other Pacific islands. Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first known European visitor to Fiji, sighting the northern island of Vanua Levu and the North Taveuni archipelago in 1643 while looking for the Great Southern Continent. After the discovery of these islands the race of colonization started between several western powers in which the British came victorious. The formal cession took place on 10 October 1874, when Cakobau, Ma'afu, and some of the senior chiefs of Fiji signed two copies of the Deed of Cession. Thus the Colony of Fiji was founded; 96 years of British rule followed. Then British General Gordon decided in 1878 to import indentured labourers from India to work on the sugarcane fields that had taken the place of the cotton plantations. This resulted in massive influx of Indians into the islands due to which ethnic tensions were developed between the Native Fijians and Indians which still causes problems today in the country however on a minor scale. With almost all aspects of indigenous Fijian social life being controlled by the British colonial authorities, a number of charismatic individuals preaching dissent and return to pre-colonial culture were able to forge a following amongst the disenfranchised. These movements were called Tuka, which roughly translates as "those who stand up". However these movements were brutally suppressed by the British however the fight for independence continued. Fiji was only peripherally involved in World War I. One memorable incident occurred in September 1917 when Count Felix von Luckner arrived at Wakaya Island, off the eastern coast of Viti Levu, after his raider, SMS Seeadler, had run aground in the Cook Islands following the shelling of Papeete in the French colony of Tahiti. By the time of World War II, the United Kingdom had reversed its policy of not enlisting natives, and many thousands of Fijians volunteered for the Fiji Infantry Regiment. A constitutional conference was held in London in July 1965 to discuss constitutional changes with a view to introducing responsible government. Then finally the British flag, the Union Jack, was lowered for the last time at sunset on 9 October 1970 in the capital Suva. The Fijian flag was raised after dawn on the morning of 10 October 1970; the country had officially become independent at midnight. --Advertisement-- --Keep on reading-- Fiji Day Significance: The preceding week to Fiji Day is called Fiji Week. Fiji Day is celebrated on October 10 and that is a double anniversary for two important events in the nation. On that date in 1874, King Seru Epenisa Cakobau ceded Fiji to the United Kingdom. On the same date in 1970, Fiji regained its independence from the United Kingdom and officially became independent. During Fiji Week, the nation celebrates its unity and religious and cultural diversity with performances and programs each day focused on the two main ethnic cultures Fijian and Indian. The Christian, Muslim, and Hindu religions celebrate their traditions. A different theme is chosen every year, but common elements include religious ceremonies and cultural performances. This day along with this whole week honors the unity of the country as Fiji is a small but a very diverse country. The country is divided among two main ethnic groups which are native Fijians and Indo-Fijians with the two most prominent religions being the Christianity followed by Hinduism. Hence it is very important to create harmony among these ethnic groups and all the other groups of the island for the progress of the nation. This day also works as a reminder to all of the Fijians that despite all of their differences they always have to stay together for each other as without the unity the country becomes weak and thus vulnerable to foreign invasions so for the safety and prosperity of the country and to ensure that Fiji should never go into the hands of cruel oppressors aand invaders, so on this day Fijians makes this promise to each other to always look for each other and live with peace and harmony. This day also pays a tribute to all of the freedom fighters of Fiji who fought bravely for the independence of the country and this day salutes their bravery and recognizes their contributions. This day gives a chance to all of the Fijians to feel proud on their country and remember the sacrifices of their ancestors during the colonial years. Overall it is a day of celebrations of Fijian history and culture. --Advertisement-- --Keep on reading-- Fiji Day Celebrations: Fiji Day is a national holiday in the country during which leave is given. Fiji Days main events take place in the town of Levuka, which was the site where the deed of cession was signed. These events honor Fijis rich history and also contribute to local tourism industry of the nation as many foreign tourists likes to visit this country during this time of the festival. In the capital city of Suva, citizens, dignitaries, and local leaders convene in Albert Park to listen to addresses by the President and Prime Minister of Fiji. The park is a historic site named after Prince Albert, consort to Queen Victoria, to whom the country was ceded back then. Aside from these festivities, Fiji Day also involves military parades, the ceremonial firing of cannons, and the singing of the national anthem. Flag hoisting ceremonies also takes place throughout the country with many marches organized by schools and colleges around the country. The other communities inhabiting the numerous Fiji islands stage performances paying homage to their cultures. Fijians celebrate this nationwide holiday by dressing up in traditional garb and reenacting the events of October 10, 1874. Gift-giving is at the heart of Fijian culture, and Fiji Day is no different. Its customary for Fijians to give large quantities of food in community ceremonies. Other gifts include whale teeth and bark cloth. Delicious Fijian cuisine is also greatly enjoyed by Fijians during this day. Most Searched FAQs on Fiji Day: 1. When is Fiji Day celebrated? Fiji Day is annually celebrated on 10th October. 2. What does Fiji Day commemorates? Fiji Day commemorates two key events in the island nations history, the ceding of Fiji to the United Kingdom in 1874 and Fiji gaining independence in 1970. 3. What language is spoken in Fiji? The three official languages are Fijian, Fiji Hindi, and English. The Air Force has created its own badge to recognize airmen who are combat divers, after relying on a Navy decoration to honor its own for the past 16 years. Chief of Staff Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown Jr. approved the new decoration for airmen on Tuesday. The Air Force Combat Dive Course was established at Naval Support Activity Panama City, Florida, in 2006; since then, graduates had been receiving the Navy's scuba badge to recognize their accomplishment. "Air Force combat divers are essential to both combat and austere rescue situations," Maj. Gen. Charles Corcoran, the deputy chief of staff for operations, said in a press release. "Having our own service-specific qualification badge accurately represents our unique capability to augment missions with any sister service component, and most importantly, highlights our members' heroic actions to conduct rescue and retrieval operations to ensure no one gets left behind." Read Next: Airman Faked Racist Texts Claiming He Was Denied Special Duty, Investigation Finds Air Force officials said there is a notable distinction between Navy divers and their divers, which was a key reason for creating a separate badge. The Air Force Combat Diver badge. (U.S. Air Force graphic) "Navy scuba divers are trained for submarine and salvage diving," Senior Master Sgt. Christopher Uriarte, an Air Force Command Dive Program manager and diver, said in a press release. "In contrast, U.S. Air Force combat divers are trained in the fundamentals of underwater tactical diving for insertion, extraction, and maritime rescue and recovery operations." Since 2006, the Air Force Combat Dive Course has produced more than 3,000 graduates, according to information provided by the Air Force Personnel Center. Two new badges were created by personnel from the 350th Special Warfare Training Squadron. The available decorations are the Air Force Combat Diver, featuring a lightning bolt and sword crossed behind a scuba mask, and Air Force Combat Dive Supervisor, identified by a traditional star and wreath added on the badge. The Combat Dive Supervisor badge. (U.S. Air Force graphic) Fabric badges are expected to be distributed by the end of the month, and the metal versions are being developed, a statement from the Air Force said. The Air Force is one of the last branches to create its own unique diver badge. In 2001, the Marine Corps created the Combat Diver Insignia, and in 2004 the Army created new Special Operations Diver Badges for soldiers. Editor's note: This story has been updated with figures from the Air Force Personnel Center. -- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly. Related: Marine Saves Scuba Diver in Okinawa About 41,500 patients in the Department of Veterans Affairs are receiving letters notifying them their care may have been delayed because of issues with the VA's beleaguered new electronic health records system, the agency's top health official told reporters Wednesday. The number of potentially affected veterans comes after the department announced last week it was delaying further rollout of the system until summer 2023 over flaws that watchdog reports have found posed risks to patient safety. The number was first reported by The Spokesman-Review newspaper in Spokane, Washington. In a roundtable with reporters, Shereef Elnahal, the VA's under secretary for health, stressed that not all of the 41,500 veterans receiving letters definitely had care delayed. But a review of the system suggested they may have been among a group where glitches resulted in clinicians failing to contact them with information about medications, lab tests or follow-up appointments. Read Next: Air Force Gets Its Own Combat Dive Badge After Using the Navy's for Years The VA is notifying those patients "out of an abundance of caution," Elnahal said. The agency has a call center dedicated to the issue, and he vowed that the VA would assist veteran by veteran to solve any problems. "What we asked veterans to do in this letter ... is to check their appointments, check their medications, check to make sure they have that next step in their care scheduled and confirmed, and reach out to us if they haven't heard from us about that next step," he said. The Oracle Cerner Millennium electronic health records system has faced numerous issues since it was first launched at the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane in November 2020, including cost overruns and incidents that have sparked patient safety concerns. The system has also been rolled out in Walla Walla, Washington; Columbus, Ohio; and Roseburg and White City, Oregon. The Cerner system is meant to replace a decades-old program called the Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture, or VistA, and is aimed at providing veterans a more seamless health record that could follow them from their military career to their post-military life. The VA officially estimates the Cerner system will cost $16.1 billion, but a report from the Institute for Defense Analyses earlier this year estimated the cost could actually top $50 billion. The system has also crashed repeatedly. Meanwhile, several inspector general reports have identified issues with patient safety, including a report released in July that found at least 149 patients at Mann-Grandstaff were harmed by a glitch that put some orders and referrals into an overflow folder clinicians weren't aware of, effectively making them vanish from the system. The issues sparked concern from Congress and calls from lawmakers, particularly those representing Washington state, to delay rolling out the system more widely. But the VA pressed ahead until the July inspector general report that found patients were harmed by a system glitch. After that was released, the VA announced it was delaying further deployment of the system until at least January to investigate the issues. It's that investigation that turned up the 41,500 patients potentially affected by glitches, Elnahal said. In addition to the so-called "unknown queue" issue identified in the July inspector general report, the department found "several" other examples of flaws that meant important medical information was ultimately not getting to its destination, Elnahal said. The department started sending out the letters last week, he said. The investigation also prompted the VA to announce last week the rollout is now being delayed until June 2023. Among the issues the VA cited in a news release last week were latency and slowness, problems with patient scheduling, referrals, medication management and other types of medical orders. The announcement was welcomed by lawmakers in both parties who have been deeply frustrated by the issues with the system. "Patient safety should be the guiding principle for this program. However, it is clear this program was not given a foundation for success," House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano, D-Calif., said in a statement last week. "Congress needs a clear analysis of continuing with the Cerner program, the risks and costs associated with delaying modernization and continuing to rely on VistA, or the potential use of other [electronic health records] to meet VA's clinical and interoperability needs." Asked Wednesday whether the VA has a backup plan beyond Cerner, Elnahal said the department believes the best path forward is to fix the Cerner program. "The veterans who are getting care at the five facilities where this system exists now need a resolution to the configuration issues that have led to this disclosure," he said. "We've determined that the fastest way to address those risks is to work on the system and reconfigure it and fix those issues where that system exists. I believe that by extension, if we do that, this will be a system that will be ready to deploy elsewhere." -- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @reporterkheel. Related: Roughly 150 Patients Harmed by Flaw in the New VA Medical Records System, Watchdog Finds Gen. Daniel Hokanson, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, has two years left on the job to accomplish one of his biggest priorities -- and biggest challenges. At the top of Hokanson's to-do list as he quickly approaches retirement is securing free universal health care for the National Guard. Unlike their active-duty counterparts, part-time Guard troops aren't entitled to health care when they are off orders. But the change is a heavy lift because of its high price tag: $719 million per year. The cost is giving lawmakers cold feet, and Hokanson's effort has gained little momentum despite his pleas to Congress at public committee hearings and behind the scenes. Read Next: Air Force Gets Its Own Combat Dive Badge After Using the Navy's for Years "When we bring people on orders, they gotta be medically ready," Hokanson told Military.com in an interview at the annual Association of the United States Army conference this month in Washington, D.C. "I don't want a soldier that can't afford health Insurance and then therefore can't help his neighbors because they're not medically ready." Hokanson estimates some 60,000 Guardsmen do not have health care. All part-time troops are eligible for Tricare Reserve Select, which costs $46.70 per month for an individual and $229.99 for a family. But those costs can take up the bulk of a Guardsman's military pay. A specialist in the Army National Guard, the service component's most common rank, will earn roughly $351 per month. Governors are increasingly relying on those part-timers, who must juggle civilian careers with military service, and the system of how Guardsmen are paid and deployed gets complicated fast. Domestic missions are typically conducted on state orders issued by governors. In those cases, troops are effectively not in the federal military and instead can function somewhat like state contractors in camouflage, such as soldiers deployed to Texas' Operation Lone Star border mission. Soldiers and airmen earn no benefits associated with active-duty operations and are not entitled to free health care while on those state missions. When Guardsmen are off orders -- how they spend most of their time -- they do not have access to free health care. However, if a state mission is deemed a national emergency by the president, as was the case with the pandemic and response to the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot, Guardsmen are entitled to all the pay and benefits of active-duty service members, including health care, if the orders go beyond 30 days. The Guard has seen an uptick in domestic mobilizations recently in response to natural disasters, civil unrest, and even teacher and civil servant shortages, Eric Evans, the CEO of Friendly Forces, an advocacy group for part-time troops that created a database of employer policies, told Military.com in a statement. "However, state orders do not provide an equivalent level of financial remuneration and insurance coverage as federal orders," Evans said. "If you want to have a ready force that is rapidly deployable domestically and abroad, you have to take care of them, both on and off orders." Last year, a bill was introduced by Reps. Andy Kim, D-N.J., and Trent Kelly, R-Miss., which would have secured free health care for Guardsmen, but the legislation went nowhere despite widespread endorsements from the military community, including the National Guard Association of the United States, the Wounded Warrior Project and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. But it's unclear how much those groups lobbied behind the scenes. Most of the energy on Capitol Hill for military benefits reform went toward the landmark toxic exposure package signed by President Joe Biden in April. That bill opened up health care to millions of veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic conditions and is estimated to cost $300 billion over the next decade. Health care for the Guard would cost roughly $7.1 billion over the same time period, assuming all uninsured troops enrolled in Tricare. Hokanson said he makes it a point to bring up health care in calls with lawmakers. While military leaders sometimes advocate for quality-of-life improvements for their troops, it's relatively rare for one to throw their weight behind specific legislation. Some lawmakers mistakenly assume Guardsmen already have access to free health care, while others are skittish over the cost, Hokanson said. "I would say the skeptics, when you explain to them, they're all in," he said. "There are some that are just, 'Hey, that's a big bill.'" The Guard is in the midst of a crisis keeping its ranks filled with soldiers and recruiting new talent. The service component failed to meet its retention goals by about 14%, or roughly 4,800 soldiers during the last fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30. It is also struggling to recruit, falling short by 14,500 new soldiers, according to internal data reviewed by Military.com. That's in addition to roughly 30,000 Army Guardsmen who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and may face separation. Education benefits are seen as the service component's most valuable tool to get applicants in the door. But health care may be a top influence when troops decide whether to continue their service. "Getting an 18- to 20-year-old person excited about health care is difficult to do," Maj. Gen. John Harris, the adjutant general of the Ohio National Guard, said at an AUSA press conference Oct. 11. "But by the time they're ready to reenlist, they now have their spouses and family established in benefits. It certainly is an important retention tool." -- 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 The U.S. has no shortage of famous and beloved veterans. In the relatively short history of the country, it has given its fighting men and women ample opportunity to distinguish themselves. In 2014, the American Legion, the largest veterans service organization with hundreds of thousands of posts and 2.3 million members, polled its members to find out which historical veterans are the most "beloved." Legionnaires were not shy about their responses. Some 70,000 votes came in for a pool of 100 potential candidates. The Legion compiled the information to make the following list of America's most beloved veterans, which contains a good mix of historical figures, modern-day heroes and a few surprises. See whether you agree with the Legionnaires' choices below. 1. Audie Murphy (Library of Congress) It's not so hard to believe that the most decorated combat soldier of World War II -- and maybe ever -- tops the list of America's most beloved veterans. Murphy is the recipient of every combat award the Army had to give and a couple of combat awards from France and Belgium to boot. He received the Medal of Honor for single-handedly fighting a company of Germans in France's Colmar Pocket for an hour at just 19 years old. Murphy went on to star as himself in a movie about his own life and World War II experiences, adapted from the book he wrote about himself. That movie was just one in a string of film appearances spanning 21 years. He died in a plane crash in 1971. 2. George Washington (Library of Congress) George Washington comes in at No. 2 on the list of beloved veterans, and just judging from his military experiences, it's easy to see why. He survived smallpox, tuberculosis, dysentery, pneumonia, malaria and diphtheria. He's had horses shot from under him, holes shot in his uniform and didn't care about winning the battle when that win would cost him the war. He defeated a global superpower because he commanded respect, and we made him president for it. Knowing his strengths and weaknesses made Washington the best America had to offer. He knew to inoculate his men against smallpox, paid for his army out of his own pocket when necessary and stopped a mutiny by putting on his freaking glasses. It brought people to tears, and if that's not love, what is? 3. Theodore Roosevelt (Library of Congress) Everything about Theodore Roosevelt is larger than life. Before becoming president, he raised his own regiment of volunteers to invade Cuba, where he would later receive a posthumous Medal of Honor for the Battle of San Juan Hill. As president, he instituted physical fitness standards for the troops, and when they complained, he showed them it was possible. After a presidency that earned him a Nobel Peace Prize, defined the first part of the 20th century and turned the U.S. into a global naval power, he tried to raise another regiment to fight in World War I at age 60. Had the U.S. president not been a political opponent, he might have gone to France with the American Expeditionary Force. 4. Alvin York (Library of Congress) Sgt. Alvin York epitomized the typical World War I soldier, but he was elevated to fame for his gallantry on the battlefields of France. A Tennessee farmer's son, he was drafted by the Army and tried to claim conscientious objector status. He was eventually convinced his religion didn't forbid serving, and he found himself on his way to Europe. York received the Medal of Honor for leading an assault on German machine gun positions, knocking out 35 of them while taking 132 prisoners during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. The reluctant soldier became an international hero. The movie about York's exploits became the top film of the day as the U.S. entered World War II. 5. George S. Patton (U.S. Army) Being a standout as a World War II-era general is no easy feat, given the big names who led American troops into combat during that war. There's a good reason Gen. George S. Patton would top most people's lists, and it's not just his pre-battle speeches. He reinvigorated the U.S. Army in North Africa, turning the war against the Axis powers and then helped wreck the Germans in Sicily. Even while he wasn't in the field, his presence elsewhere was enough to keep the Germans from reinforcing their defenses at Normandy at the most crucial moment of the war. When he finally did join the war in Europe, the only thing that could keep Patton from advancing was supply shortages. 6. Dwight D. Eisenhower (Library of Congress) Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower is something of a military anomaly. Though graduating from West Point in 1915, and despite repeated requests, Ike never saw a day of combat. Still, he was the right man for the job, learning lessons with every amphibious landing, every major operation and every political leader who voiced a concern about how he carried out the war. Eisenhower was required to be not just a military commander, but also a diplomat, military governor and a visionary for the future. He not only oversaw Operation Overlord, the invasion of occupied Europe, he also led the disarmament of Nazi Germany, the documentation of the concentration camps and the containment of Soviet communism. 7. Norman Schwarzkopf (U.S. Army) Despite descending from a storied military family and being the architect of one of the greatest military victories of all time, Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf did not glorify war. After graduating from the U.S. Military Academy in 1956, he received two Silver Stars and a Purple Heart during his first tour in Vietnam. In his second tour in Vietnam, he received his reputation for leading from the front and a famously short temper. Schwarzkopf served as deputy commander for the invasion of Grenada in 1983, but his rise to national fame came in 1991 when he planned and led Operation Desert Storm. It was the largest and most complex invasion since the invasion of Normandy in 1944. Moreover, he changed the way news media covered the war, allowing journalists more access and conducting regular press briefings. 8. Robert E. Lee Rober E. Lee early in his military career. (U.S. Army) While some may disagree with the idea that Robert E. Lee isn't really an American veteran, the American Legion included Lee on its list of potential candidates and people voted for him. The commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, Lee was the most painful thorn in the side of the Union Army for most of the Civil War, and when Lee surrendered, the rest of the Confederacy soon followed. Before joining the rebel army, Lee was the son of Revolutionary War hero Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee III, a graduate of West Point and a 32-year Army veteran who fought in the Mexican-American War. The estate he left behind to join the Confederacy is today known as Arlington National Cemetery. 9. Jimmy Doolittle (U.S. Army) At the beginning of World War II, the U.S. had little to celebrate. The attack on Pearl Harbor didn't have the devastating effect the Imperial Japanese navy hoped it would, but the Axis was advancing on all fronts. Americans were inundated with bad news. Then, on April 18, 1942, 16 B-25B Mitchell bombers did the impossible. Taking off from an aircraft carrier with no means of returning home, the U.S. Army Air Forces, under the command of Lt. Col. James Doolittle, bombed military and industrial targets in Tokyo, Yokohama, Yokosuka, Nagoya, Kobe and Osaka. The raids had little effect on war production, but brought the war home to the Japanese people, a huge propaganda victory that raised American morale at home. Doolittle was promoted two grades and received the Medal of Honor. 10. Ulysses S. Grant (Library of Congress) In 1863, the Union Army was fighting for its life, but by Independence Day of that year, everything would change. The Union Army won the Battle of Gettysburg, ending the Confederate invasion of the North, but an even more important victory happened in the West. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant captured Vicksburg, Mississippi, splitting the Confederacy in two. Grant was the aggressive commander President Abraham Lincoln had been searching for since the Civil War began. Lincoln created the new rank of lieutenant general for Grant and gave him command of the Union Army. Grant immediately went on the offensive, defeating the rebels less than two years later. 11. Jimmy Stewart (Library of Congress) World War II was an interesting time to be in the military. It was a time when every American had something to contribute, and all contributions were desperately needed. Hollywood stars were not exempt. Yet, where many stars took lighter assignments or roles in making pro-war films, some, like Jimmy Stewart, fought to get to the front. He would become the highest-ranking actor ever to serve. Stewart was already a big star, releasing "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and "The Philadelphia Story" before the war. He put his career on hold to fly missions over Hitler's Europe, receiving a Distinguished Service Cross and five Air Medals. He stayed in the Air Force Reserve for 27 years, even flying a mission in Vietnam and retiring as a brigadier general. 12. Doris "Dorie" Miller (U.S. Navy) Dorie Miller joined the Navy in 1939, at a time when very few career options were available to Black recruits. He became a mess attendant, which was the only rating he could get. After a stint on an ammunition ship, he was transferred to the USS West Virginia, a Colorado-class battleship. While he was a messman, he was also the ship's heavyweight champion boxer, and his size led to gunnery training aboard the USS Nevada, training that would be crucial on Dec. 7, 1941. That morning, he woke up to the Japanese attacking the fleet. After first helping the ship's captain, Miller jumped on a .50-caliber gun crew and began returning fire on the planes and downing two. Miller was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions at Pearl Harbor, but he would not survive the war. He was aboard the escort carrier Liscome Bay when it was torpedoed by the Japanese in November 1943. 13. Michael Murphy (U.S. Navy) Michael Murphy was a college graduate looking at law schools in 2000, but joined the Navy instead. He became a SEAL and graduated from training in November 2001, in time to join American troops in fighting the Global War on Terrorism. By 2005, he was an experienced officer on his way to Afghanistan. While there, he was part of the team conducting surveillance of Taliban leader Ahmad Shah as part of Operation Red Wings in remote areas of the country's Kunar Province. Their presence was uncovered by local goat herders who alerted the Taliban. Under attack and outnumbered, Murphy got a message to friendly forces to retrieve the SEAL team, but it cost him his life. Two others were killed in the fighting, and 16 more special operators were killed when their helicopter tried to retrieve the besieged SEAL team. 14. Eddie Rickenbacker (Library of Congress) Eddie Rickenbacker was a self-taught engineer, World War I ace, race car champion, artist and entrepreneur. At the outbreak of World War I for the U.S., he wanted to put together a flying squadron made up entirely of race car drivers. Although that failed, he visited wartime France with Gen. John J. Pershing. The experience led him to enlist while in France. He began his career as a driver for officers, but soon became the chief engineer of an airfield in France. Eventually, his superiors allowed him to learn to fly at a local flying school. It turned out he was really good at it. By 1918, he was in gunnery school and would finally become a pursuit pilot. His first sortie came in April 1918, and his first shootdown of an enemy aircraft came two weeks later. In the seven months between his first mission and the armistice that ended World War I, Rickenbacker would shoot down 26 enemy planes and return home a hero. 15. Chris Kyle (Cpl. Damien Gutierrez/U.S. Marine Corps) Alternately known as either "The Legend" or "The Devil of Ramadi," depending on which side of the Iraq War you were on, Chris Kyle was a Navy SEAL who served four deployments to Iraq, where he was one of the deadliest snipers of the war and provided overwatch for U.S. Marines. He recounted his time as a sniper in his 2012 book, "American Sniper." Kyle dedicated a lot of time, effort and money toward helping disabled veterans and vets suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder during his post-military career. Tragically, Kyle and friend Chad Littlefield were killed by one of those veterans while shooting at a gun range in 2013. A memorial to Kyle was dedicated in Odessa, Texas, in 2016. 16. The Four Chaplains (U.S. Army) In January 1943, the SS Dorchester left New York Harbor in a fleet of other troop and cargo ships, along with Coast Guard escorts. It was bound for Greenland, but would never make it. On Feb. 3, it was torpedoed by the German U-boat U-233. Only 230 of the 904 passengers and crew would survive the attack and their time in the freezing waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Four U.S. military chaplains, Methodist minister George L. Fox, Reformed Church in America minister Clark V. Poling, Catholic Church priest John P. Washington and Rabbi Alexander B. Goode were also aboard. They died helping troops get into lifeboats and gave up their own life jackets to save others. It's said they joined arms and sang as they went down with the ship. 17. Pat Tillman (U.S. Army) Pat Tillman was a star linebacker for the Arizona State University Sun Devils and was drafted by the NFL's Arizona Cardinals as a safety in 1998. After the Sept. 11 terror attacks, Tillman famously finished his contracted 2001 season with the Cardinals, turned down a $3.6 million contract extension and joined the U.S. Army. He deployed to Iraq as part of the initial U.S.-led invasion before attending Ranger training at Fort Benning, Georgia, in 2003. He was then deployed to Afghanistan. In 2004, he was killed in action. Tillman's death was originally attributed to enemy fire, but a 2007 report found that he was instead killed by friendly fire. 18. Douglas MacArthur (U.S. Army) Gen. Douglas MacArthur was a legend in U.S. military circles long before World War II. He served at Veracruz, fought in World War I, expelled the Bonus Army and became the youngest-ever major general. In World War II, he escaped capture by the Japanese in the Philippines, famously promising: "I shall return." He did return and helped fight the Japanese Army there as the war was wrapping up. MacArthur was the principal planner of the United Nations' response to the communist invasion of South Korea. While the UN fought for its life at the Pusan Perimeter, he launched the daring Incheon Landing, which forced the communist army to crumble. Eventually, MacArthur's public statements led to his firing by President Harry S. Truman, and the old soldier faded away. 19. John F. Kennedy (U.S. Navy) Before becoming president, John F. Kennedy joined the Navy and became commander of a patrol torpedo boat in the Pacific Theater. One night, during the Solomon Islands Campaign of 1943, his boat was rammed by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri, which completely destroyed it, killing two of its crew. The others might have died, too, if not for Kennedy directing them to nearby islands and towing wounded crew members, pulling their life jacket strap with his clenched teeth for miles at a stretch. Kennedy moved his crew this way between two islands and swam to look for aid on two others. Eventually they found a canoe with supplies and native coastwatchers, who would go and find help from friendly forces. 20. Billy Mitchell (Library of Congress) Have you ever believed so strongly in something you were willing to risk your entire career over the issue. Thats Billy Mitchells primary claim to fame. The Spanish-American War and World War I veteran was positioned as deputy director of the Army Air Service, where he argued that air power was the future of naval combat, and even proved it in an exercise. Despite the proof, the U.S. military still invested in warships instead of aviation technology, a move Mitchell called almost treasonable. For his efforts, he was court martialed and stripped of the temporary rank of brigadier general. He left the military as a colonel. It wasnt until after his death that his efforts were recognized and rewarded. 21. John Paul Jones (U.S. Navy) "The Father of the American Navy" began his career as a Scottish merchant but was forced to flee Great Britain for the Americas after killing a mutineer aboard one of his ships. When it came time for the colonies to declare independence, he joined the Continental Navy, attacking British ships from French ports. Although he brought the war to English shores by raiding the town of Whitehaven, his most famous battle pitted his former merchant ship, the 42-gun USS Bonhomme Richard against the 44-gun British frigate Serapis at the Battle of Flamborough Head. Jones' ship couldn't match British firepower so he locked the ships together and fought the British until they surrendered. The Bonhomme Richard was destroyed, but Jones took command of the Serapis and sailed for safety. 22. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson Thomas J. Jackson before the Civil War. (U.S. Army) Jackson is the second Confederate to make the list of America's most beloved veterans. Before joining the Confederacy, Jackson was a West Point graduate who distinguished himself in the Mexican-American War. He refused an order to withdraw from Chapultepec Castle, just outside of Mexico City, and then refused to fire into a crowd of civilians, both of which he believed were bad orders. During the Civil War, he soundly defeated the Union Army from the outskirts of Richmond to the Shenandoah Valley. President Lincoln declared Jackson's defeat to be a high Union priority. Still, it would be Jackson's own troops who delivered his death blow, shooting him after mistaking the general and his entourage for a Union cavalry force. 23. Bruce Crandall (White House Photo) The 1965 Battle of Ia Drang was one of the most intense firefights of the Vietnam War, using large-scale helicopter air assault and B-52 Stratofortress bombers as tactical support for the first time ever. To mitigate this, the North Vietnamese engaged the Americans at close range, focused around two helicopter landing zones. One of the helicopter pilots flying into the maelstrom at Ia Drang's Landing Zone X-Ray was Bruce Crandall, who led 22 flights in and out of the LZ to bring the soldiers more ammunition while evacuating the wounded, all under intense close-range enemy fire. He is credited with saving 70 wounded troops from the fighting. He was originally awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, but in 2007, it was upgraded to the Medal of Honor. 24. Omar Bradley (U.S. Army) There's a reason Omar Bradley was known as "The G.I.'s General." Before he attended West Point, he worked as a boilermaker in rural Missouri. His humble background led him to use the same gear, eat the same food and sleep in the same conditions as his men, even as he led them through North Africa, Sicily, Normandy and into occupied Europe during World War II. After the war ended, he became the Army chief of staff and later chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff before becoming the last officer to pin on a five-star general's rank. Bradley was also the highest-ranking military officer during the Korean War. He officially retired after the Korean War ended. 25. Lewis "Chesty" Puller (U.S. Marine Corps) Still the Marine Corps' favorite Marine, Chesty Puller rounds out the list of most beloved veterans at No. 25. Although he's perhaps best known for his actions (and quotes) from his time in World War II and the Korean War, his service began in the Marine Corps occupations of Nicaragua and Haiti in 1918. Puller arrived in the Pacific Theater in 1942, with his previous service adequately preparing him for island fighting. He led Marines at Guadalcanal in 1943, New Guinea and Peleliu in 1944. In Korea, he was the commander of the 1st Marine Regiment and fought in the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir. Over his career, he earned five Navy Crosses, an Army Distinguished Service Cross, a Silver Star, two Legions of Merit, a Bronze Star, three Air Medals and a Purple Heart, just to name a few. It's no wonder Marines are still wishing Chesty Puller goodnight. -- Blake Stilwell would like to remind you he didn't create this and is only repeating what others voted on. He can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook. Want to Learn More About Military Life? Whether you're thinking of joining the military, looking for post-military careers or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com to have military news, updates and resources delivered directly to your inbox. Astros catcher Christian Vazquez will be a free agent this off-season, and has indicated his biggest priority will be finding a team willing to hand him the starting job. Vazquez, 32, started 24 of a possible 58 matches after being traded from the Red Sox to Houston for minor leaguers Wilyer Abreu and Enmanuel Valdez on deadline day. The team usually opts for Martin Maldonado to catch Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez and Lance McCullers, meaning starts for Vazquez havent been as plentiful as in Boston. It was hard and its still hard, Vazquez told Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe. But Ill be a free agent after the postseason and I can choose where I want to go. Everybody knows that. The Puerto Rico native had been with the Red Sox since being drafted in the ninth round in 2008, and had been their starting catcher since 2018. He put together a combined .262/.311/.389 line during his time in Boston, and graded out as an above-average catcher defensively. His bat and ball skills are well measured, but hes also widely regarded as a strong leader and positive clubhouse presence, too. Vazquez offensive numbers dropped significantly after the trade, and he hit just .250/.278/.308 across 108 plate appearances, but given the sudden drop in playing time perhaps its forgivable that Vazquez struggled to find consistency initially. Nonetheless, hell figure to do well in free agency as one of the better catchers available. Bat-first catcher Willson Contreras headlines the catching free agents, but Vazquez is arguably the second best option available. With Maldonado under contract in Houston for another year, it seems likely that Vazquez will look for a new team to give him the playing time he seeks. While almost any team could do with a well-rounded catcher like Vazquez, a return to the Red Sox would be something hed welcome. I hope so. Id love it. It was my [house] for a long time, Vazquez said. Well see how it goes. Reese McGuire impressed down the stretch for the Red Sox, but Kevin Plawecki is a free agent and Connor Wong struggled in his small sample of playing time so the Red Sox do figure to be active in the catching market this off-season. Ultimately though, with the Mets, Twins, Rays, Cardinals, Brewers, Guardians, and White Sox among the contending teams that could be seeking upgrades at the position Vazquez is likely to have plenty of interest. 19.10.2022 LISTEN Fashion model and winner of Miss Aura Ghana 2022, Winifred Esi Sam, has alleged that the Turkey High Commission in Ghana delayed her visa to represent Ghana at this year's edition of the Miss Aura International in Turkey. According to Ms. Esi Sam, she was supposed to represent Ghana at the event from September 10 to 20, but unfortunately she received her visa on September 20, therefore, she could not attend the event. My team reached out to the embassy several times and the excuse we were given was they have about 400 visa applications and that they are busy and can't check my visa application, she said. According to her, I was not given the chance to represent Ghana at this year's Miss Aura International in Antalya, Turkey due to visa issues. I believe I am not the only victim who has been denied visa. Ms. Sam also said she stood a high chance of winning the Miss Aura International. It is time for the country and leaders to pay more attention to pageant queens and give them their maximum support as they represent the country internationally. I would like the leaders and citizens to understand that a beauty pageant as a whole is unique and it is not only about the Beauty but also it cuts across Brain, Body, and Behaviour, these are called the 4B's elements, she explained. Daily Guide Kanye West is set to acquire a popular United States social network, Parler, days after he was kicked out of Instagram and also suspended on Twitter. While announcing the acquisition in a statement on Monday, the company disclosed that its agreement with the rapper is expected to be completed later this year. Parler CEO George Farmer, who said opinions are considered to be controversial, added that the deal would change the world and change the way the world thinks about free speech. Ye's account was restricted for violation of the social media platform's rules and guidelines with an apparent 'anti-semitic' post. The controversial rapper, who took to Twitter to accuse Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg of kicking him off Instagram, was later suspended from Twitter after he declared war on the Jewish community following his controversial Paris Fashion Week show, where he showcased his White Lives Matter shirts. Ghanaian musician, Maradona Yeboah Adjei, popularly known as Guru has revealed his intention to go into politics. Speaking in an interview with Candymann on Asaase Radio 100.3 yesterday, Guru revealed that he was currently reading political science at the University of Ghana in a bid to become a politician and serve the people of Ghana. "I have realized being an entertainer isn't enough. I'm in a position to serve my people to make Ghana a better place. In the past, I have donated 200,000 dollars to one politician to give back to society. I expect those in politics and government to do more of these but if it's not happening, I'm getting the qualification as politician to do it better for our people," the rapper stated. The rapper who is currently promoting his new single "Ennko yie" also said everybody has the capabilities in making the country a better place and not just the government. "For example, the issue of galamsey that's affecting our rivers and other water bodies isn't the work of the government alone to stop it; as citizens we must know we destroy nature when we venture into it and refuse to do the right thing," he stated. The Food and Beverage Association of Ghana (FABAG) has served notice that its members within the retail sector will close down businesses effective Wednesday, October 19. According to the association, the decision is in line with the Ghana Union of Traders Association's (GUTA) planned protest to close down shops on Wednesday. A statement issued by FABAG's General Secretary, Samuel Ato Aggrey and sighted by DGN Online stated that the action has become necessary due to government's failure to address issues affecting their businesses. From beginning of this year, businesses have accumulated losses through some of government's unfriendly policies. All efforts to engage government to remedy the situation has proved futile, the statement said. The statement expressed unhappiness about the economic management team for not taking steps to making meaningful efforts towards remedying the situation in the face of the current economic hardship. DGN online Relatives of Jonathan Obeng, the third accused person in the case of the slain prospective nursing student at Mankessim, Tuesday fled for their lives during a confusion between them and the family of the deceased. A heated verbal exchange ensued between the two families outside of the Cape Coast Court Complex after the court had adjourned the case to November 8, 2022. The family of Obeng, the mason who allegedly dug the grave to bury the diseased, was incensed by a journalist videoing them as they cried over the continuous detention of their relative and accosted him (the journalist) in the process. Kate Swanzy, an auntie of the late Georgina Asor Botchwey, flared up upon hearing of the incident, which sparked a verbal exchange. This culminated in a brawl and with support from sympathisers gathered to witness the case, the bereaved family outnumbered members of Obengs family, who, upon sensing danger, quickly took to their heels. The Cape Coast District Court two, presided over by Mrs Bernice Mensimah Ackon, for the third time remanded the accused after the prosecutor, DSP Daniel Gadzo, prayed for ample time to complete investigations. The pleas of the accused were not taken and the case has been adjourned to Tuesday, November 8. Christopher Ekow Clarke Quansah, Michael Darko, a self-styled pastor, and Jonathan Obeng, a mason, are standing trial for allegedly murdering Georgina Asor Botchwey, a prospective student nurse at Mankessim. They have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and murder. The accused persons were, however, booed at and cursed by the scores of spectators as the police marched them into a waiting vehicle. During their last appearance in court, Quansah appealed to the court to release Obeng because he was not part of the conspiracy. He admitted to engaging his 26-year-old in-law to dig the grave, but said he knew nothing about the killing. Quansah was, however, stopped by the presiding judge because trial had not started yet. The prosecutor, DSP Daniel Gadzo, presented an amended charge sheet to the court, which earlier had Clarke and Darko as the only accused persons on Thursday, September 22. DSP Gadzo said the complainant was Mr Duodu, a military officer and brother of the deceased. He said Darko, a boyfriend to the sister of the deceased, was a resident of Kumasi, while Clarke resided at Sikafo Ambantem at Mankessim. He said on Thursday, September 8, 2022, the deceased, who had come from Yeji in the Bono East Region for an interview at the Ankaful Psychiatric Nursing Training School in Cape Coast, as a student applicant, called Darko to inform him of her presence in town. He said Darko promised to pick her up after the interview on Friday, September 9, 2022. As promised, the two accused persons picked Georgina from Ankaful in a taxi to Pedu in Cape Coast where Clarke continued the journey with his Benz car with registration number GT 8686 C to Akwakrom, a suburb of Mankessim. Clarke and Darko took the iPhone of the deceased, locked her in a room and left for Sikafoambantem, a suburb of Mankessim, where they engaged Obeng to dig a grave in an uncompleted storey building belonging to Clarke. At 0200 hours, Clark and Darko took the lady to the uncompleted building where Clarke hit her neck with a club from behind and Darko strangled her till she died. They then cut her hair and buried her in the hole. He said on the same day, the police in the Central Region picked intelligence which led them to arrest Darko at Anomabo but Clarke managed to escape. Upon interrogation, Darko admitted to the crime and said they wanted to use the deceased for money rituals. On Wednesday September 21, 2022 Quansah was also picked up from his hideout. Meanwhile, speaking to Duodu, the brother of the deceased, after the court hearing, he said the family was satisfied at the pace of proceedings and was hopeful of getting justice. GNA Chen Zhiyong, a student from Guangdong Province Technician Institute, participates in the renewable energy contest during the WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition in Kyoto, Japan, Oct 15, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua] Chinese competitors have put in an excellent performance so far at the ongoing WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition, a replacement for the canceled WorldSkills Shanghai 2022. As of Monday, Chinese competitors have won eight golds in events including cabinetmaking, print media technology and computer numerical control turning. Early on Saturday, Li Dexin won the nation's first gold medal in cabinetmaking in this special edition of the event in Switzerland, one of 15 countries and regions hosting the competitions. It's the first time that a Chinese competitor has won first prize in this event since the nation started taking part in 2017. Liu Xiaohong, China's team leader of technical experts taking part in the cabinetmaking event, said competitors must make a piece of furniture following a given drawing in a 22-hour period usually over four days. They must assemble, polish and install hardware to complete the furniture. Li, the 22-year-old gold-medal winner for cabinetmaking, in an interview with ThePaper.cn, said: "It was quite a challenge for me as it was my first time in a world-class competition. The first problem is language, which brought much difficulty in communicating with international experts and judges." He said he had been very stressed on the first day of the competition, but gradually found his pace on the second day, adding that it had taken him four years of ups and downs to qualify for the contest. "All these difficulties and frustrations vanished after the organizers announced the result. I told my parents the good news as soon as I could." After the win, Li told ThePaper.cn that he plans to continue to study for a master's or doctoral degree, and wishes to become a good teacher and pass down his skills and spirit of craftsmanship. Liu, the team leader, said that winning gold in cabinetmaking is a praiseworthy breakthrough for the nation, and that the accolade would help boost the morale of compatriots in the following events. "Woodwork is a traditional Chinese skill that has a history of thousands of years. China now is also a key player in the world's furniture market, and produces around 38 percent of the world's furniture with these products sold in over 200 countries and regions," she said. It was the third time China had entered competitors in the cabinetmaking event. The Chinese team won second prize for cabinetmaking at the 45th WorldSkills event in Kazan, Russia in 2019. According to a release by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, China has sent 36 competitors across 34 events held in countries and regions including Switzerland, Germany, France and Finland. Competitions in these places are in progress except for several events that are scheduled to be held in Austria in November. Shanghai should have hosted the 46th WorldSkills this year but canceled due to the COVID-19 epidemic outbreak in the city. As a replacement, WorldSkills decided in June that a special edition of 62 competitive events would be held in 15 countries and regions in Asia, Europe and Africa from the middle of September to late November. An Accra Circuit Court has ordered the arrest of Kofi Owusu Hene aka Kofi Capito, Chief Executive Officer, Consumer Protection Agency, for failing to appear before it. Kofi Capito who is standing trial before the Court failed to turn up in court when the matter was called. The Court presided over by Mrs Christina Cann issued a bench warrant for his arrest. The matter has been adjourned to Thursday, October 20, 2022. The CEO of Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) is being held on the charges of deprivation of the use of property of deceased person, engaging in domestic violence to wit economic abuse and causing unlawful damage. The CEO of CPA is alleged to have deprived his late brother's wife a house the couple had jointly acquired at Ogbojo, and he is said to have threatened to dispose off the said property which the later brother's wife has an interest in. He has denied all the charges and he is currently on bail. GNA Ghanaian Actor, Emmanuel Asiamah, popularly known as International KKP, founder of Emmanuel Asiamah foundation has donated some educational materials to some selected schools in the Prestea-Huni Valley Municipality of the Western Region. As part of his social responsibility and in line with the foundations vision, exercise books, mathematical sets, pens, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, boxes of chalk, among other educational items were given to the Oppon Valley Darmang and Wuwuso D/A Basic Schools. On Monday, October 18, the donation commenced at a Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) centre, where some items were presented to the BECE candidates in the community to aid them in their ongoing examination. The philanthropist and his team, before the donation, met the 2022 BECE candidates, inspiring and encouraging them to learn hard to pass their exams and also how to live responsible lives even after completion of their basic education. Like the BECE students, current students in the above-stated schools had a share in the charity project. He also discussed with them the available opportunities they could leverage at the National Youth Authority in their various districts. While presenting these items, Mr. Emmanuel Asiamah, the founder, mentioned that as a social organization, the Emmanuel Asiamah foundation would like to touch lives in Ghana and across Africa from time to time even as the foundation seeks to help mould a better future. To achieve their goal, he stated that they will keep supporting the youth, especially the schools, as they believe that every child deserves a chance to be well educated no matter their background. With the help of Jacqueline Opoku-Addo, Rosemary Boateng, Ama Gyekyewa Afriyie, Emmanuella Owusu Agyei, Martha Afrakomah, Glory Otabil Donkoh, Michael Donkor, Nancy Odoi, and Andrea Gaynor, the first phase of the project was successfully carried out. The former Member of Parliament for Buem constituency, Daniel Kwesi Asiamah is worried government may not have an immediate solution to the constant rise in fuel prices at the pump. The prices have been on a constant rise since January 2022 causing hardships in the country. If care is not taken, we will see this price surging on the market consistently. You will ask how the government will negotiate to solve the situation. There are other things the government must do to ensure that fuel prices remain stable but they cannot do it, "Daniel Asiamah exclusively told Kwaku Owusu Adjei on Adwenekasa on Accra-based Original FM 91.9. Daniel Asiamah feels the Nana Akufo-Addo government does not care about the plight of Ghanaians in the wake of a surge in the prices of petroleum products. He attributed the prevailing hardships to callousness and insensitivity on the part of the NPP government. He noted that the fuel price increments led to increments in the prices of several items on the market, and wondered what had become of the promise by the NPP to move from taxation to production. He said the economy was in shambles despite the availability of an unprecedented inflow of resources and charged the government to sit up and stabilize the Ghana cedi through prudent economic management to stabilize fuel prices. 18.10.2022 LISTEN As part of the European Union-funded project Organised Crime: West African Response on Cybersecurity and fight against Cybercrime (OCWAR-C), ECOWAS will officially hand over a digital laboratory to the Gambian authorities on Wednesday 19 October 2022 in Banjul, the Gambia to build the operational capacity of the structures in charge of digital forensic investigations. The official handover of the cybercrime laboratory, a digital forensic tool, to the Ministry of Home Affairs through the Ministry of Telecommunications and Digital Economy of The Gambia, will be done by the ECOWAS Commission, in collaboration with the European Union. By handing over this brand new laboratory to the Gambian authorities, ECOWAS and its partners wish to build the capacity of the Gambian police to effectively counter cybercrime in the country and to better cooperate with other Member States in terms of managing cybercrime problems. The laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, including forensic equipment (forensic duplicator and imager, forensic laptops, forensic workstation/server, etc.), generic materials, software and licences. Before the relocation of this laboratory, training was provided to the Gambian police officers to develop and enhance their capacity to process digital evidence following well-established best practices and appropriate procedures. Several public figures are expected to attend the presentation ceremony on Wednesday 19 October. Several people will come from the ECOWAS Commission, the European Union Delegation in The Gambia, Expertise France, Ministries of Digital Economy, the Interior and Foreign Affairs of The Gambia. The President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Dr Omar Alieu Touray will be represented at this important official ceremony by Mr Sediko Douka, ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation. In his speech, Commissioner Douka will, among other things, give some examples of threats and attacks recently recorded in Africa through the African Cyberthreat Assessment Report prepared by Interpol, which identified online scams, digital extortion, business email compromise, ransomware and phishing as the top five threats in Africa. He will also give examples of threats from the Agari Cyber Intelligence Division (ACID) report which highlighted that 60% of the worlds business email compromise perpetrators are in Africa, specifically in 11 countries, 6 of which are in West Africa. In terms of losses, cybercrime reduced the GDP of Africa by 10% in 2021, resulting in a loss of 4 billion USD. These examples and statistics have prompted the ECOWAS Commission and its partners to work towards ensuring a coordinated regional approach to address cybercrime issues through the launch of a cybersecurity agenda to support the securing of the common digital space, which is a growth market in West Africa. Some of the most advanced community texts on cybercrime and cybersecurity have been adopted by ECOWAS Member States, and the Commission has made the implementation of these instruments a priority during the current tenure of President Omar Alieu Touray. The handing over of the laboratory will be followed by an awareness campaign on Friday 21 October on cybersecurity for a sample of 80 people, representing the countrys stakeholders involved in this activity, including state actors, IT managers of private structures and the general public. Digital hygiene challenges and the consideration of international good practices will be part of the topics that will be discussed during these sessions. It should be recalled that OCWAR-C is an ECOWAS project funded by the European Union and implemented by Expertise France. Its primary objective is to contribute to improving cybersecurity and combating cybercrime in the member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Mauritania. More specifically, OCWAR-C aims to enhance the robustness and build the resilience of information infrastructure and the capacity of stakeholders involved in the fight against cybercrime. Source: ECOWAS The Tema and Nungua Traditional Councils have pledged to collaborate with government in its bid to reclaim encroached portions of lands at the Ramsar site in Accra. The Chiefs and elders of the two communities have given their express approval to remove all illegal structures at the Ramsar site to allow it serve the purpose for which it was created. At a stakeholders engagement with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Greater Accra Regional Security Council, Tema and Nungua Traditional Council and the Tema Development Corporation, the two traditional authorities bemoaned illegal activities at the site and encouraged the government to motion steps towards the recovery of the encroached lands. The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Benito Owusu-Bio commended the chiefs for living up to their position as pre-acquisition owners of lands by offering their support to the government. He bewailed the invasion of the Ramsar site by illegal occupants and vowed to clear them and make the space serve the purpose for which it was created. His dismissed notions that government has some ulterior motive in clearing the land and assured that everything done on the site will be in accordance with the recommendations of an inter-ministerial committee that was set up to probe the issues at the site and craft a report with far-reaching conclusions. Government intend to use the land for anything development. Government wants to leave the lands as Ramsar site due to its benefit and importance. Weve investigated and are aware of the places that have been encroached. I have a report of an inter-ministerial committee and there are some recommendations. Well look at the recommendations and implement them accordingly. Mr Henry Quartey, the Greater Accra Regional Minister explained that the government took the initiative to engage the chiefs due to its recognition of the chiefs as key stakeholders in the mission to reclaim the encroached lands. He said that the Lands Ministry has a mandate to protect the Ramsar site and that the GARCC will offer its utmost support to the ministry. The meeting with the chiefs and their blessings paves way for planned demolition exercise at the Ramsar site. Source: Classfmonline.com French cement giant Lafarge SA will pay a 790 million fine to the US Justice Department for supporting terror groups including the Islamic State armed group during the Syrian civil war. On Tuesday, Lafarge acknowledged that it paid nearly 13 million to middlemen to keep its Syrian cement factory running in 2013 and 2014, long after other firms had pulled out of the country. Lafarge SA and its defunct subsidiary Lafarge Cement Syria "have agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiring to provide material support to designated foreign terrorist organisations in Syria," it said. "Lafarge SA and LCS have accepted responsibility for the actions of the individual executives involved, whose behavior was in flagrant violation of Lafarge's Code of Conduct. "We deeply regret that this conduct occurred and have worked with the US Department of Justice to resolve this matter." Cooperation with US justice Earlier this year a French court ruled that the company was aware that much of the money had gone to finance Islamic State operations. Holcim Group, the Swiss conglomerate which took over Lafarge in 2015, said the US Justice Department had cleared it of any wrongdoing. It said it only learned of the allegations in 2016, and launched its own probe and cooperated with US justice authorities. "None of the conduct involved Holcim, which has never operated in Syria, or any Lafarge operations or employees in the United States, and it is in stark contrast with everything that Holcim stands for," it said in a parallel statement. The statements came shortly before a planned press conference by Justice Department officials in New York to announcement the settlement of the longstanding case. Shares of Holcim were temporarily suspended on the Swiss stock exchange after news of the fine emerged. Read also: (with newswires) Annually 10th of October is set aside to celebrate World Mental Day with the sole aim of educating the general public on mental illness and how best to channel resources to help people living with mental illness. This year had the theme: MAKE MENTAL HEALTH and WELL-BEING FOR ALL A GLOBAL PRIORITY. As part of activities to mark that day, Mensah Mental health Rehabilitation Project (MEMHREP-GHANA), an NGO located at JB Aboagye estates at Okyerekrom-Kumasi in Ghana held a mini durbar to commemorate it. In attendance were the CEO (Mr. Adu-Gyamfi), staff and nurses of MEMHREP, chiefs, partner agencies, community leaders and people of Okyerekrom and surrounding towns, religious groups and students from both public & private schools. The psychiatry expert, David Owusu Amponsah advised the general public on the need to seek immediate medical assistance in regard to the treatment of mental illness. He also asked the youth to avoid situations that may adversely affect their mental health such as drug and alcohol abuse, Spiritism etc since the youth are the future leaders. Mrs Millicent Nyamekye, the senior mental health coordinator stressed on the need for people living with mental illness to regularly take their prescribed drugs, engage in social activities and also go for medical reviews as often as possible. On his keynote address, the CEO of MEMHREP UK and Ghana Mr Adu-Gyamfi, spoke about the humble beginnings of MEMHREP in 2011 and how the organisation has supported thousands of persons with physical and mental health conditions in the past 11years. Backed by facts and figures, he told stakeholders that for the past 11 years, Memhrep Ghana has been able to provide the necessary support to people living with mental illness and integrated them into society. MEMHREP has also embarked on several health outreach programs, mental health education and health screenings. He added that MEMHREP has been trying every means possible to reduce the rate at which mental illness increases in the country, making it safe and conducive for business operation by local and foreign investors. His talk centered most especially on the vision of MEMHREP Ghana which is to build an ultra-modern mental health facility in Ghana as a whole. This facility when completed would comprise, consulting rooms, assessment and detoxification wards, laboratory, pharmacy, seclusion and stabilization units, nurses and security stations, kitchens and dining rooms, clients' dormitories, games and fitness units, resettlement centre and also a conference hall. He however added that MEMHREP is faced with huge financial constraint since its solely funded by the CEO, and few individuals & supporting partners. He therefore called on individuals, corporate organisations, religious bodies to all come to the aid of MEMHREP either in cash or kind to make the vision a reality. All financial support may be channelled by contacting the following numbers: Memhrep GH 0248762692 Memhrep momo 0240838893 Email : [email protected] MEMHREP TV on YouTube channel Effective governance, as often simply explained, is about how prudent those entrusted with the public purse utilize the resources for the benefit of all. The governance style of former President H.E. John Dramani Mahama exemplified prudence with the needs of the masses in mind. As a result, he took a decision to cut down on the benefits and privileges of his appointees which, is often not talked about in the public discourse. After he was sworn in as President on January 7th 2013, he continued with Late Professor Mills policy of introducing fuel requisition books, replacing the fuel coupons system which was very much abused. Many appointees, with the exception of some key Ministers, were no longer given fuel coupons but fuel requisition books which clearly stated the appointees weekly allocation as stated in the appointment letters. One was made to fill out the receipt book and a minimum of two Directors signing it off before the fuel pump station attendants at the castle could serve you with the required allocation. With this arrangement, if you ran out of fuel before the week ended before your next allocation date, then you had to buy your own fuel from your private finances. The withdrawal of the coupon system indeed saved the public purse of millions of Ghana cedis. Another cost cutting measure was the allocation of saloon cars to some category of appointees for official use within Accra and its environs. There was a policy where staffers and some Deputy Ministers were allocated with only saloon cars some of which were used ones. This category of appointees was not given V8 Landcruisers. One could only apply to the Chief of Staff for a Landcruiser if you were undertaking a long journey and if approved; one was made available to you and must be returned to the Flagstaff House immediately upon return and in the same condition it was allocated to you. The former President even went further, early in his presidency, to cancel the biweekly allocation of many crates of assorted drinks, toiletries, beverages, sugar etc. to appointees and only allowed just two cartons of bottled water, for your office, every two weeks. One of the Directors at the Presidency told me that the former President stated clearly that since other civil and public servants were not given this allocation every two weeks, he did not understand why political appointees who were also public servants should enjoy this privilege. There was the deliberate policy of 10% salary cut of appointees to raise funds for the construction of a Community Health-Based Planning Services (CHPS) compound for deprive rural communities lacking access to healthcare. Of course in a situation like this, not everybody would be happy with these cost cutting or austerity measures but they are necessary so government could save up to provide infrastructure, the needs of the people and other budgetary commitments. If you were wondering how he was able to achieve so much with so little resources available to him, this partly explains it but this is not all. These are privileges his appointees were denied enjoyment of in the service of their country. He undertook these austere measures using his own appointees to set the tone and with the mind that Ghanaians entrusted the public purse into and under his care and therefore must not be used to benefit a privileged few. Tbc Seidu Kpebu Writer is a former Presidential Aide Twitter: @kpebu The Chief of Staff, Mrs. Akosua Frema Opare has appealed to Ghanaians to contribute their quota positively towards accelerated national growth and development. Ghana as a nation has been endowed with all kinds of rich resources and we have the responsibility to discover, harness, nurture, develop, and use these resources for the development of our dear nation, she stated. The Chief of Staff made the appeal in a speech read on her behalf by Dr. Freda Prempeh, a Minister of State at the Office of the President, and the Member of Parliament for Tano North in the Ahafo Region at the launch of the Initiators of Change Foundation (ICF) in Accra. Among other objectives, the foundation works to discover, develop, and promote the talents of young people for national development and social cohesion. Mrs. Opare noted that the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine Russian war had ushered the world into a period of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, saying the current situation called for a new way of life through innovation and creativity. She said as the government provided strategic leadership, everybody ought to rise up, remain innovative and contribute his or her part positively in tackling pressing national challenges. "Our resolve and commitment to the promotion of democratic governance, with all its strengths and weaknesses, continue to hold us together as a peaceful nation and every Ghanaian deserves a pat on the shoulder for their unique positive contributions to national development, she stated. To achieve this purpose, each one of us must be able to discover his or her unique talents and gifts and use them appropriately, the Chief of Staff added. Mrs. Opare therefore stressed the government commitment to enhance the business of entrepreneurs by creating the enabling environment for the expected rapid socio-economic development of the people. It would be suicidal to starve private initiative with the resources that will enhance its life and sustainability and that is why I am very happy to see our government come up with several flagship policy initiatives that will vigorously promote businesses and enhance job creation, she said. She stressed that the teeming young graduates and the mass of unemployed youth were seriously included in the nations development initiatives, saying President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo had shown great commitment to moving Ghana towards a country without aid. In achieving that objective, he has made no pretensions about the engine that will drive the private sector. The launch of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP) and Youstart initiatives that were birthed in keeping faith with the governments vision in that direction, Mrs. Opare stated. We must stand up to the reality of our Ghanaian circumstance and we can overcome the addiction to aid, if we do the right things now, she stated. Dalex Finance Director, Mr. Joe Jackson has implored the government to do more to address the economic challenges facing the country. According to him, not only should the government look at changing some personnel but it must change policies to signal its seriousness to address the economic woes of the country. Speaking to Starr FM in an interview, Mr. Joe Jackson used Britains current situation as an example. If you are looking for a solution to the problem it is not the Minister or the person per se. It is the change of behavior and the change of policy that will signal that you are serious. Remember that in the UK where a Ghanaian Kwasi Kwarteng was made a scapegoat and dismissed. It also followed immediately with a new appointment and a complete reversal of the policies that were planned, the Finance expert explained. Joe Jackson continued, What matters to the market was not that Kwasi Kwarteng in particular was sacked, what matters to the market is that the policies were reversed. If the new person that had come and still put the same agenda nothing will have changed. Since July, the government of the day has been working to address the economic challenges facing the country. After its home-grown solutions failed, the government has since been in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a support programme to give the Ghanaian economy to stand on its feet to boost the confidence of investors. Parliament will resume from recess on Tuesday, October 25. A statement from Parliament said 66 Bills are expected to be presented before the House during this session of Parliament. These include the Affirmation Action Bill, 2022, Ghana Housing Authority Bill, 2022, Minerals and Mining (Amendment), 2022, Small Scale Mining Bill, 2022, Petroleum Revenue Management (Amendment Bill, 2022 The Constitution of the Republic of Ghana (Amendment) Bill, 2021. A Private Members Bill which was referred to the Council of State will also be presented before the House. Eleven Bills are currently at the committee level, of which seven are Public Bills and four are Private Members bills. Among them include the Intestate Succession Bill, 2022 at the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, the Armed Forces (Amendment) Bill, 2022 at the Committee on Defence and Interior, the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and the Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021 at the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2021 at the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. There are also Instruments at various stages to be presented before the House. The Speaker is expected to admit Papers, Petitions, Motions for Debates and Questions to be answered by sector ministers during this meeting. Other events during this meeting are the presentation of the annual budget for 2023 and the festival of nine lessons and carols. By Citi Newsroom The Member of Parliament for Manhyia South Constituency, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh has accused Journalists in the Ashanti region of taking bribes to make the governing New Patriotic Party unpopular. The Energy Minister was speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of the Suame interchange and complementary road project today in the region. Dr Prempeh noted that journalists in the region have been insulting the NPP government for not constructing the Suame interchange as it promised. The Minister said he knows the journalists in the region had taken bribes which is why they have been lambasting the governing party to make it unpopular over the interchange among other projects. Dr Prempeh noted that former President John Mahama insulted the people in the region but did not hear journalists commenting on it, unlike President Akufo-Addo who is being taken up for his promises. The Suame Interchange will be the first 4-tier interchange in the Ashanti Region, and the second in Ghana, after the Pokuase Interchange. Once completed, it is expected to address the perennial congestion experienced around the Suame Roundabout, and improve urban mobility within the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area. Source: Classfmonline.com 19.10.2022 LISTEN Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources has sought the support of all and sundry in the fight against illegal mining as he noted that the fight against galamsey is not going to be an event but a process that will be won eventually. In a telephone interview with some media outlets in Kumasi, on Tuesday, 19th October 2022, Mr. Jinapor said governments efforts and measures to bring an end to galamsey will continue unabated, taking into review and consideration the various ideas and suggestions from the general public. "Operation Halt II is in session with soldiers all over the country, and we are also working to bring up reforms in the mining sector and this fight is not going to be an event, it has to be a process and we need the support of all and sundry," he said. He, however, dismissed the idea for illegal miners to be shot and killed on site, stressing that "We are a country of due process and the rule of law must prevail so No! we cannot do that, that will be against the laws of human rights". He warned that nonetheless, government will continue to enforce the law to ensure that those who are still engaging in illegalities of any sort are brought to book. The Lands Minister reiterated a number of measures that government has put in place to nib the menace in the bud, sighting Operations Halt II, Community Mining Scheme, the involvement of Chiefs, Regional Security Council (RECSECs) and the Metropolitan Municipal District Assemblies, (MMDAs) as examples. Confident about the measures of government to fight illegal mining, the Minister said, if all these interventions, which are geared towards the resolution of the menace are followed through, galamsey will soon be an issue of the past. Source: Classfmonline.com My Father's House of Worship has become a den of thieves. They fed our mothers with sour grapes and set our teeth on edge. Yet the Reverend drives out fancy cars. The people sacrifice to give them charity. Stealing in the name of the Lord. Strike the armour of justice and set my people free Max Romeo I have written several articles about charlatans who parade as men of God in this country. The last one was captioned: Criminals In Cassocks. The more I write about them, newer charlatans spring up like poisonous mushroom on cow dung. The Akans say until the one who chases you stops, you have to keep on running. And so here I go again. Today in Ghana, Christ is being auctioned and as usual, only the highest bidder can buy. As for we the poor, we can only contribute through payment of collections with our coins any time we go to church for the auctioneer in the person of the 'Man of God' to get money to dress foppishly and eat well with his wife and children so that, he can carry on with the duty of auctioning the Lord Jesus Christ on big occasions. During such big occasions, only the rich sit on the front pew while we, the poor are relegated to the back seats either to sit if there are wooden benches or stand and watch while business goes on. Clapping and the shouting of AMEN are part of our jobs and we must shout our voices hoarse else the preacher man will reprimand us for not shouting loud enough. As the Jesus Enterprise Ltd. grows, the 'Man of God' will buy plastic chairs with our money so that at least we too can sit 'comfortably' while the extortion goes on. Poor souls whose search for illusive salvation continues to be illusive! Yes, I do agree the Constitution guarantees freedom of worship. My problem is with the worshippers but not the charlatans. The charlatans are in business and you cannot blame them for anything. Worshippers are not forced or herded at gunpoint to go to such churches. They willingly offer themselves to be tricked, cheated and be turned into zombies. They are human beings but the difference between them and some of us is that, they are half-wits, nit-wits, and above all shallow-minded with low intelligence as well as emotional quotients. It was the buffalo who said it is unfortunate that it comes from the same species like the cow but sadly, the cow is a fool. The buffalo said if any Fulani herdsman or butcher thinks he is brave enough, he should come and tie a rope around its neck and drag it to the slaughter house to be killed. The evil that these mushroom one-man churches and their charlatans who parade as 'Pastors', 'Bishops', 'Seers', 'Founders', 'Most Reverent' etc. do to the nation as a whole is that, they make the country lose man-hour in our daily endeavors to help improve the economy. And remember, time is money. Worshippers go to churches from Monday to Saturday and top it up on Sundays where money flows from their pockets to support the ostentatious lifestyles of these criminals in cassocks. These tricksters who call themselves 'men of God' don't build schools, hospitals, toilets, roads or orphanages. They use the monies they steal from the poor, unsuspecting congregation to buy posh cars, build luxurious mansions with architectural wonder, acquire the good things in life and live foppishly like decadent societies of yesteryears. Meanwhile, members of their congregation live in abstract poverty, living from hand to mouth. The worse scenario is the 'all night' that worshippers attend. They spend the whole night praying, singing, clapping and dancing till day breaks. When they go to their respective workplaces, they begin to doze off from the start of work and go home early before close of work to sleep because they could not sleep during the 'all night' worship. And these are the same people who complain that life is hard in Ghana. We have seen the likes of these criminals before and we are not deceived by their pretences of piety. They are fake and false prophets who parade as wolfs in sheep clothes, milking dry the lean cow. If your house is located near one of these one-man churches, get out around four or 5 o'clock in the evenings on Sundays and watch things for yourself. You will realise that almost two-thirds of the worshippers who walk home after the Sunday services are women. A lot of these women are Mercenaries of Eros who wants salvation after wasting away their salad years under the 'Red Lights' in the cities where they used to ply their 'trade'. The few men you will see are either drummers, secretaries or tricksters who collude with the 'man of God' to fish for information among the gullible women about their problems and later brief the 'man of God'. Armed with such information, it is easy for the 'man of God' to prophesy the following Sunday. On the following Sunday, when the church members start shouting 'Odii hye nkom (Prophet, prophesy), the fake prophet will start vomiting rubbish which he calls prophesy. No wonder the Akans say, every day you will find a foolish person at the market (Da bi ara kwasia ko dwa). In 1990, the late Chairman J.J. Rawlings banned many churches which he considered to be of nuisance under PNDC Law 221. Listen to his Interior Minister, Nii Okaija Adamafio: Too many bogus churches have sprung up in Ghana which are largely one-man operations, using the pretext of religion in order to further their own private interest. Even the Jehovah's Witnesses were banned because they refused to salute the Ghana flag or allow their children to march during Independence Day celebrations. Rawlings was much angrier because the Jehovah's Witnesses did not allow their members to receive blood transfusion when they go to hospitals. It was the era where many one-man churches started sprouting up in the country. These charlatans were telling their congregations as they tell them today that they could heal almost every disease and perform wonders. Out of anger, Rawlings challenged them to go to the Akropong School for the Blind and heal blind students and stop their lies and ugly noises. That was Junior Jesus for you. If Ghanaians had supported Rawlings during those days, we would not have been seeing what we are seeing today. Every day, you tune in to your television set and what you see and hear are these rogues making a mess of Christianity, one of the three Abrahamic faiths (Christianity, Islam and Judaism). They say they can heal every disease: make women pregnant, raise the dead, make the cripple walk, open the eyes of the blind, give winnable lotto numbers, 'double' money, pray for people to get visas and even make members of their congratulation rich without doing any work. Any member of the congregation who thinks he or she is smart enough and dare challenge or criticise their way of life is excommunicated. After all, was it not the 'Holy Ghost' who instructed the 'man of God' to always put on designer clothes and wear custom made shoes? How dare you challenge the 'anointed one'? I know these thieves and their hypnotised followers will call me Junior Judas after reading this piece. But do I care? Apuu! Good Morning, Evangelist Dr. Kromfuor Okomfo Agradaa, Africa's No.1 qualified con lady! BY Eric Bawah The decision by Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to contest the Party's current National Chairman, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, will not affect the Party. Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, the Director of Elections, NDC, said the Party was being governed by a democratic system and thus any officer could contest any position once they were eligible. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Ankrah, a General Secretary hopeful of the NDC, urged the Party to ensure a free, fair, and transparent electoral process to avert any friction. I don't think there will be any friction. Our Party is a democratic Party and so people are free to contest, and whoever wins we move onPeople held various positions in the past and people contested and won. So no position is sacrosanct, Mr Ankrah said. He added: If the processes are fair and transparent, and the structure and systems put in place are such that everybody can see that there was a level playing field, it makes it easier for people to deal with the aftermath. The NDC will hold its constituency elections between October 22 and 23, 2022, while the regional elections would be held between November 12 and 13, 2022. The National Congress will be held on December 17, 2022. Mr Nketia, who had served as Chief Scribe of the NDC since 2005, has publicly announced his intension to run for the National Chairmanship position a position currently occupied by Mr Ofosu Ampofo. Although Mr Ampofo is yet to publicly announce whether or not he would seek re-election, sources close to him indicate that he would contest the position when the Party opens nominations. Mr Ankrah, a former Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, declared his intention to run for the General Secretary position last month. He said he had contributed to the successes of the NDC over the years having served the Party in various leadership positions for about two decades. He said he had built strong relationship with the Party base, the youth, religious community, traditional authority, and all relevant stakeholders; making him qualified to assist the NDC to win the next presidential election. Mr Ankrah, who was the Campaign Coordinator for former President John Dramani Mahama in 2012, urged the NDC to prepare early for election 2024. He said the NDC must also be vigilant, aggressive and strong, indicating that the next election, is not negotiable. GNA Mr Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), says his administration is committed to turning the fortunes of the association and members for the better. Mr. Chairman, I need to inform you that we inherited debts and liabilities. There was absolutely nothing in the coffers when we assumed office, but as determined as we are to the course and in fulfilling our pledge to members, who voted to entrust the leadership of the Association to us, we have started turning things around for the better. We know by the grace of God we will succeed and leave a legacy, he said. Speaking at a forum with some veteran and senior journalists in Accra, on Tuesday, Mr Dwumfour said making the life of members of the association better and leaving a legacy remained a priority for his administration. Mr Dwumfour said since the new leadership assumed office, it had done a lot and intended to do more leave a legacy at the end of their tenure. One such policy was to introduce a GJA Journalists Support Fund to support members in retirement. The Fund, expected to be launched on November 2, 2022, would address issues of assaults on journalists, he said, adding that the Retirees Support Fund would also support seniors and retirees. We believe that the GJA Retiree Support Fund when launched and becomes operational, would help assuage the suffering of some of our Retirees and put smiles on their faces, Mr Dwumfour added. He also added that the leadership was in the process of auditing its books, with the assistance of the Auditor General to keep proper accounts, assuring that his administration would be transparent, accountable, and inclusive. The engagement, which formed part of efforts by the current administration to chart a new path brought together retired members of the Association such as past executives of the GJA and senior editors of selected media houses within Accra. He said engaging retired members was critical for the new path the current administration was charting. Most of you have played and continue to play vital roles in the media and we will need to tap into your experience and support, he said. Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafo, Chairman, National Media Commission, charged the new executive to put in place measures to curb the misunderstanding of future elections of the Association.I do not understand why GJA elections should be confused with national elections, he said. He commended the new executive for the various initiatives introduced to better the life of the members. Mr Edmund Arthur, President of the Private Newspaper and Online Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), assured support for the GJA to realise their goals. Mr Kwesi Pratt, Managing Editor, the Insight Newspaper, urged journalists not to allow their political preferences to affect the development of the country and professional solidarity. GNA Professor Kwame Karikari, Board Member, Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), has urged journalists and media professionals to strive to uphold high standards. He also encouraged them to fight against the cheap but unattractive path of unprofessional conduct. That is the only way self-respecting journalists and responsible media organisations can and will earn back the peoples trust and confidence, Prof Karikari stated in his remarks in Accra at the opening of a two-day Regional Conference on Media and Democracy in West Africa. The conference, which is being organized by MFWA in collaboration with the West Africa Civil Society Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS) and the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) is on the theme: The Media, Press Freedom and the Democratic Recession in West Africa. It is being attended by over 100 participants from across the West Africa subregion. It seeks to deliberate on the debilitating impact the recent democratic rollback in the West Africa region is having on the media, press freedom and civic participation. Prof Karikari noted that the difficult and often frightening as it was independent media organisations should continue to report issues of human rights abuses and support social justice cause. He said to sustain their collective survival and freedom, the media must strive to forge partnership and alliances, in-country and across borders, to share publications and programmes designed to expose incidents of democracy capture and to promote democracy causes. He urged individual journalists with democratic persuasions to play active roles in their professional associations, so as to prevent the hijack of their organisations by mercenary agents of the enablers of democracy capture. There appears to be a decline in the commitment to fight to protect and defend press freedom across the Continent, he said. This spirit must be rekindled by media professional associations and human rights advocacy organisations. Prof Karikari said independent media must find ways, in countries where there was still room to operate openly without violent reprisals, to initiate campaigns to promote and defend the values and principles of democracy through rigorous publications and critical broadcasting programmes. He urged independent media to consider it a mission to provoke the public interest in and active engagement in democracy issues and questions of rights and good governance. Independent media organisations should engage democracy and human rights advocacy civil society groups and NGOs in partnership and coalitions in promoting democracy issues and campaigns. He said there seemed to be a decline in international support for advocacy work in democracy causes and Media freedom; adding that there was the need for strengthening support to enhance civil society capacity to wage campaigns to defend democracy causes. Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, Executive Director, Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) said the media as an important institution needed to be protected to consolidate democracy. Mr Sulemana Braimah, Executive Director, MFWA, said ECOWAS Member States needed the media in their ongoing efforts to rebuild and strengthen democracies. Dr Eyesan Okorodudu, Head Democracy and Good Governance, ECOWAS Commission, said they were considering establishing a new unit under his department to manage the affairs of digital media as a tool for promoting peace and security in the subregion. Mr Baba Gana Wakil, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Ghana, said the ECOWAS Commission always recognized the critical role of the media and other civil society organisations in the sociopolitical space of the subregion in the sustenance of its fragile democracy. GNA A BEREKUM District Magistrate Court has remanded a 28-year-old woman into police custody for contempt. She failed to pay for a DNA test ordered by the court to be performed on her son and the supposed father of the boy to determine his paternity. The father of ten-year-old, Aluta Kwesi Ansu, claimed his girlfriend Adwoa Kyeremaa had denied him parental responsibility for the boy, so reported the woman to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service for settlement at Berekum. Adwoa, however, told DOVVSU personnel that Ansu was not the biological father of her child, so could not allow him to take responsibility for the boy. Investigations by DOVVSU, however, revealed that both Ansu and Adwoa used to be in a relationship for eleven years and blessed with a ten- year-old boy whom Ansu took care of since pregnancy through to delivery, including naming the child. But for a strange reason, Adwoa informed Ansu on July, 17, 2022 that he was not the father of the child, and changed his name to another one, and prevented him from taking responsibility of his son. Ansu then demanded Adwoa to pay GH120,000 being maintenance cost he expended on the child if she insists the child is not his, but she refused. After investigation, Adwoa was arrested and charged with the offence of denial of parental duty and responsibility of a man towards his son contrary to Section 6(3) of the Childrens Act, Act 560, 1998 and arraigned before Berekum District Magistrate Court presided over by Simon Gaga. Arguing, counsel for the accused told the court that the plaintiff was aware he was not the biological father of the child. He explained that Adwoa Kyeremaa resides at Berekum and a cleaner at a health centre while Aluta Kwesi Ansu is a taxi driver and lives at Jamdede and were in a concubine relationship some years back, but the relationship broke down. She went and engaged in another relationship which resulted in a pregnancy before coming back to Berekum, leaving the town earlier after the breakdown of the relationship. He said when she came back, Ansu approached her to continue with the relationship but she declined with the assurance that she was pregnant for another man. But Ansu pestered her and promised to take care of her and the pregnancy till she gave birth. After delivery, Adwoa however denied Ansu the parental responsibility of the child. The magistrate therefore ordered for a DNA test to be conducted on the child and man to determine the paternity. He ordered that the cost of both tests on the alleged father and son must be borne by Adwoa, which she could not do, hence the court's decision to remand her into police custody for contempt of court. Adwoa, however, said the magistrate court has no jurisdiction to remand her on a contempt case since it is only a high court that has that jurisdiction. She also does not understand why Ansu should not bear the cost of the DNA test since he is the one claiming to be the biological father of the child. The case has been adjourned to October 14, 2022 for further hearing. DGN online A lecturer at the Department of Land Management of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Dr. Michael Addaney, is calling on Parliament to enact laws to effectively deal with human activities causing climate change and its associated crises. Dr. Addaney, who is also a research fellow of the Earth System Governance Project, believes that polluters of the environment must be made to bear the full cost in addressing the pollution they have caused to deter others. He was speaking in Sunyani during a days capacity building and knowledge sharing platform on the theme: "Climate Change, Iniquities and Building a Local Resilience: Promoting Climate Justice through Planning Activism". It was organized by the Sunyani Zone of the Ghana Institute of Planners (GIP) and sponsored by the G2 Foundation, a charitable Non-governmental organization, which is into the welfare of the vulnerable. Continuous professional development The event, which was attended by heads of departments, government officials, chiefs, students and physical development planners from the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions formed part of the continuous professional development for young and student planners to adapt climate mitigation systems and strategies, as well as putting climate issues in the centre of their daily endeavors and policies for national development. Dr. Michael Addaney called for a stronger political will in effectively addressing issues about climate change in the country. For her part, Madam Justina Owusu-Banahene, the Bono Regional Minister, said chemical fishing and farming, indiscriminate dumping of rubbish and other environmental criminalities were "causing the system to bleed severely." She explained that Ghana's capacity to stand the shocks of climate change is weak, hence the critical need to collectively deal with factors causing the crises, saying, "let's collectively say big no to indiscriminate waste disposal and environmentally unfriendly activities." Mad. Owusu-Banahene added the environment should be solemnly respected with everybody being mindful about their actions against the society because "the effects are unbearable if we sit unconcern." By-laws The Sunyani Zonal Chairman of the GIP, Planner Ata-Era A. James, asked the Municipal and District Assemblies to strengthen their by-laws to prevent the wanton destruction of the environment. According to him, most causes of climate change and impact in Ghana were indiscriminate human activities including galamsey, indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste, illegal chainsaw operations and logging as well as excessive sand-winning. Ms. Gifty Nyarko, the Sunyani West Municipal Physical Development Planning Director and Sunyani Zonal Secretary of the GIP, said climate change has a heavy toll on the vulnerable, especially persons with disabilities, the aged, children and people in rural communities. This, she argued, calls for a strong collaboration of all stakeholders and partners of development and physical development planners to ensure professionalism and principles in their duties for Ghana to be a safer place for all and also help the realization of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 13. 19.10.2022 LISTEN The General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has revealed that he was paid some allowance on a monthly basis by President John Evans Atta Mills during the partys tenure of office. He said Mr John Mahama, as president, also continued with the payment every now and then but noted that he is not paid any salary as the general secretary of the NDC. As a result, the former MP said he only survives on his farm and cement block manufacturing business. I'm Not Stingy - Asiedu Nketiah Explains Why People Call Him Stingy, Says He Is Not Being Paid As General Secretary Of The Party #CTV Posted by C TV on Monday, October 17, 2022 Mr Nketia made the revelations in an interview with Emmanuel Quarshie, host of Accra100.5FMs morning show (Ghana Yensom) and Nana Otu Darko, host of CTVs morning show (Dwabremu) when they joint-hosted him on CTV recently and directly asked him to respond to rumours that he is a stingy politician. Ive heard about the stingy allegations levelled against me but you cant give what you dont have because I came to serve and not to amass wealth, he told the hosts. He said: Prof Mills, when he became president, gave me the first opportunity to choose any ministerial portfolio I preferred before he would go ahead to distribute the rest but I opted to stay at the NDC headquarters as the general secretary to build the party to sustain the government in power. So, if other people opted for ministerial appointments and amassed wealth through that, then they can be that generous with money but from where I sit, Im not paid by the NDC as a general secretary, Mr Nketia indicated, insisting: My name is not on any voucher as a recipient of salary from the party, but, of course, I am given a little fuel allowance but nobody pays me. Go and look through our accounts; Im not paid, he challenged. He, however, noted: Because I opted to stay at the NDC headquarters to build the party, Prof Mills told the Chief of Staff or the Finance Committee Chairman I dont remember the person to be giving me a monthly allowance. So, Dr Kwabena Adjei (late NDC Chairman), Yaw Gyan (former NDC Organiser) and I were given a monthly allowance by Prof Mills. Of course, he added, President Mahama also did the same, once in a while, but I am not paid a salary by the party. I also got some allowances as Board Chairman of the Bui Power Authority. Apart from that, I survive on my cement block manufacturing business and farming, so, I dont have any contract with the government, he pointed out. Mr Nketia said the situation would have been different if, for instance, he had demanded and been awarded contracts by all the district chief executives when the party was in power, so as to use that to build a war chest to assist party members anytime they approached him for financial support. In that case, he noted that it would have been legitimate that when party people came asking me for money, I would have had some to give away. Source: ClassFMonline.com Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reports that more than 600 people have died in flooding that has hit 33 out of 36 states throughout the country. Governors of Delta, Bayelsa, Kogi, Benue and Anambra states separately urgently requested the federal government for more help in aiding those who have lost their homes. While 1.3 million people are displaced across the country, southeastern Anambra state is reportedly one of the hardest hit, with 651,000 displaced. Officials are trying to get relief to hundreds of thousands who have been evacuated. Many in the area have been moved to internally displaced camps, but their care has been left in the hands of local officials, who are overwhelmed. Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo spoke on local TV on Tuesday, saying that eight local governments are completely submerged. Beyond the immediate coping strategy and our own long-term agenda as a government in dealing with the environment, there is a national conversation that needs to happen, he said. We can no longer deal with perennial flooding as an emergency, he added, calling on the national government to be better prepared for the next flood. Floods affect food security Nigeria usually experiences annual flooding, but these floods are the worst in a decade. Authorities say that this stems from the release of excess water from Lagdo dam in neighboring Cameroon, as well as heightened rainfall. Food security is at risk as at least 340,000 hectares of land have been affected, adding to losses sustained in northwest and central Nigeria, where conflict has disrupted the planting season. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari directed all concerned to work for the restoration of normalcy, according to a statement issued by the presidency. Sadiya Umar Farouq, Nigeria's minister of humanitarian affairs, said Buhari had approved last week the distribution of 12,000 metric tons of grains for floor victims. She warned that five states could be hit by additional flooding in November. We are calling on the respective state governments, local government councils and communities to prepare for more flooding by evacuating people living on flood plains to high grounds, said Farouq. Mali's foreign affairs minister says the military government will exercise its right to self-defence if France "continues to undermine'" the country's sovereignty and national security. Speaking at a United Nations Security Council briefing on Mali in New York, Minister Abdoulaye Diop repeated allegations that France had violated its airspace and delivered arms to Islamist militants that have been waging an offensive in northern Mali for the past decade. France has denied this. Its relations with Mali have soured since an August 2020 coup and it is withdrawing troops sent in 2013 to help fight the insurgency. "There needs to be a specific meeting of the Security Council which will make it possible for us to bring to light evidence regarding duplicitous acts, acts of espionage and acts of destabilization waged by France," Diop said. "The government of Mali reserves the right to exercise its right to self-defence if France continues to undermine the sovereignty of our country and to undermine its territorial integrity and its national security," he added. France's representative at the UN slammed the accusations as defamatory, defended French intervention in Mali as fully transparent and said the country had never violated Malian airspace. Human rights violations by Malian troops Diop also went on to deny alleged human rights violations by the Malian army reported by the UN and other groups. Several reports, including the latest UN Secretary-General assessment, accuse Malian soldiers and Russian mercenaries collaborating with the military government of abusing and killing civilians suspected of colluding with jihadists. Diop called the allegations "unfounded" and warned against "instrumentalising" human rights issues. He maintained that the departure of hundreds of foreign troops would not create a security vacuum. Other European countries have ended their military involvement in Mali this year, often citing the junta's collaboration with Russian fighters. Jihadists claim more territory Meanwhile, Islamist militants have since advanced further into eastern Mali, seizing territory and killing hundreds of civilians as thousands more fled. Four UN peacekeepers were killed in a separate attack in the north of the country on Monday. Mali has faced instability since 2012, when Islamist militants hijacked a Tuareg rebellion in the north. France intervened to help push them out. However, the militants some with links to al Qaeda and Islamic State have since regrouped and spread across the Sahel and further south towards coastal states. The decomposed bodies of six women, four of whom were identified as sex workers, were recently discovered at a panel beating factory in Johannesburg. A 20-year-old man has been charged with six counts of murder . The case highlights, again, the risks of sex work for women in South Africa. It also puts the spotlight on the regulation of sex work. As a commissioner for the Commission for Gender Equality , I was involved in drafting its 2013 position paper on sex work: Decriminalising Sex Work in South Africa . There are different ways of regulating sex work. These include criminalisation, legalisation, partial decriminalisation and decriminalisation. Sex work is a crime in South Africa, which means that all sex work that is performed on streets or in brothels is illegal and is policed as such. This makes it particularly difficult for sex workers who operate on the streets to be safe. They fear being arrested by police, often forcing them into unsafe spaces where clients are free to abuse them. They are also vulnerable to police abuse . Read more: Sex workers in Nigeria deserve fair treatment from the media Like the Commission for Gender Equality, I also support decriminalisation. That would, among other things, mitigate some of the risks that sex workers face because of their work being deemed a crime in the country. They are exposed to physical violence, the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, unintended pregnancies, police abuse, mental anguish and even death. Decriminalisation means that sex workers can choose where to work, and they won't have to fear arrests, police harassment and stigmatisation . Criminalisation Sex work in the country is regulated through the Sexual Offences Act 23 of 1957 and the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007 . These laws were reviewed several years ago by the South African Law Reform Commission , a permanent body that investigates law reform, established under Act 19 of 1973 . Its 2015 report called for the continued criminalisation of sex work to prevent people from knowingly living off the earnings of prostitution (and) benefiting from the prostitution of another person. It also recommended the continued use of public ordinances to deal with the public nuisance of prostitutes. Rebutting the argument that poverty is one of the reasons people enter sex work, the report said women should rather seek social welfare interventions. But this is not a viable option. Given the country's very high levels of poverty and joblessness, the resources of government to support poor women are spread thin. Almost 47% of South Africans now depend on government grants. Read more: Why sexual and reproductive law for east African countries is being resisted The conflation of sex work with human trafficking contributes to the support for the continued criminalisation of sex work. But not all sex work is coerced and not all sex workers are trafficked. Women are often driven to sex work because of economic needs and increasing costs of living , and some women exercise a choice to do sex work. But they also face serious risks. So, what are the alternatives? Other approaches Elsewhere legislation makes sex work legal under certain conditions, such as regular medical check-ups, licensing, and registration as a form of state control of sex workers. For example, sex work is legal in the Netherlands and in some jurisdictions in Australia , Germany and Nevada in the US. Some African countries have a combination of legality and illegality . Legalisation still does not provide the broader freedom of decriminalisation, which will curb stigmatisation by making sex work just like any other job . With partial decriminalisation, the sex worker is not criminalised their clients are. In other words, the buyer of the service can be arrested, but not the seller. This is called the Swedish model because this is where it was used for the first time in 1999 . While this may sound like a good idea, it actually makes sex workers more vulnerable, because it drives their work underground. It creates a lack of trust between the sex worker and client, reduces her bargaining power and hampers her ability to negotiate safe sex . Read more: Why South Africa's HIV prevention programmes should include sex worker clients Sex workers on the streets of Sweden have reported harsher conditions since partial decriminalisation was introduced, as well as greater stigmatisation and discrimination . Decriminalisation The South African Commission for Gender Equality's position paper, mentioned above, calls for decriminalisation. This means a repeal of all laws against sex work, as well as the removal of provisions that criminalise all aspects of sex work. The difference between legalisation and decriminalisation is that decriminalisation does not come with any state-imposed regulations specific to sex work. Instead the industry is regulated through existing statutes and regulations, particularly labour law. Sex work becomes recognised as a legitimate business and falls under conventional employment and health regulations. Sex workers will, therefore, have the same rights as other workers and will also have the responsibility to pay taxes. In her timely 2022 book Policing Bodies - Law, Sex Work and Desire in Johannesburg, legal scholar India Thusi makes a strong case for decriminalisation. She clearly shows the complexity of relationships between sex workers and law enforcers, and how criminalising sex work is counterproductive. Looking forward In February 2022, John Jeffery, South Africa's deputy justice minister, announced further consultations on the Law Reform Commission's report. He said there was a need to fully engage with all stakeholders including government departments on the proposed policy options and their implications, given the diversity of views, even though public hearings on sex work had already taken place. Read more: A sex worker's view on South Africa's latest plans to beat HIV The six women whose bodies were found in Johannesburg deserved protection and support, and the right to do their work safely. Decriminalisation would be a powerful step towards honouring their memories and keeping other sex workers safe. Amanda Gouws receives funding from the National Research Foundation (NRF). By Amanda Gouws, Professor of Political Science and Chair of the South African Research Initiative in Gender Politics, Stellenbosch University South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed his government's "unapologetic" backing for the partially recognised Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in Western Sahara. The disputed status of Western Sahara a former Spanish colony considered a "non-self-governing territory" by the United Nations has pitted Morocco against the Algeria-backed pro-independence Polisario Front since the 1970s. During a visit to Pretoria by Polisario leader Brahim Ghali, President Ramaphosa said,"We are concerned about the silence that persists in the world about the struggle for self determination for the people of Western Sahara. "We find that other struggles are articulated at a higher decibel ... and that is why as South Africans we are clear, we are firm and we are unapologetic in relation to our support for Sahrawi people," he added. Drawing comparison with South Africa's fight against white minority apartheid regime, Ramaphosa called the pro-independence movement's struggle "just, noble and honourable." Decades of simmering conflict The Polisario Front is campaigning for an independent state in Western Sahara a vast stretch of phosphate-rich desert that was controlled by Spain betwen 1884 and 1975. The Polisario proclaimed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in 1976, placing it in direct conflict with Morocco, which considers the Western Sahara to be part of its own territory. Rabat controls nearly 80 percent of the region and is pushing for autonomy under its sovereignty. The international community has long backed a referendum to be held to decide the Western Sahara's status, but Morocco rejects any vote in which independence is an option. The kingdom argues that only the granting of autonomy is on the table for the sake of regional security. The SADR is a member of the African Union and says it has been recognised by more than 80 countries. The dynamics of the long-simmering conflict changed in 2020 when then US president Donald Trump recognised Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in exchange for the kingdom's normalisation of relations with Israel. A security man at the newly commissioned Mankessim lorry station in the Central Region has died mysteriously, sources have confirmed. The 40-year-old man popularly known as borla must go died on Wednesday, October 19 at the lorry station. According to the information gathered, the man suffered some pain two days ago and started vomiting blood. Despite advise to seek medical attention, he turned a deaf ear when the vomiting stopped. On Tuesday, he felt better and continued his normal work as a security guard at the newly commissioned Mankessim lorry station. Today, he reported to work as usual but collapsed and died on the spot. He was rushed to the Mankessim Roman Catholic Hospital where medical officers pronounced him dead. The deceased body has now been deposited at the Mankessim Roman Catholic Hospital Mortuary for autopsy and preservation. Meanwhile, a report has been made for the police to look into the matter. The only flooring business in Ghana with a recognised UK trademark, MODERN FLOORS solely owned by Ghanian-British seasoned businessman Basil Anthony a.k.a CEO ExtraO made mention of their latest approval by the global reputable online marketplace Amazon to distribute the MODERN FLOORS brand across UK and seven other European countries. The flooring brand which currently produces Artificial Grass Carpet (AstroTurf), Vinyl(PVC) Tiles(LVT), Adhesives, etc is now globally positioned to serve the contemporary residential and commercial building market across Europe with international certified and tested flooring products. The Amazon platform is the worlds largest online marketplace that permits legitimate product purchasing and selling. In todays internet age, the most risk and cost effective way to reach the great majority of consumers worldwide is through online selling platforms. Come this January 2023, MODERN FLOORS wide variety of flooring products and solutions will officially be available on this platform. Currently in Ghana MODERN FLOORS has four showrooms located in Spintex Road(Flower Pot), East Legon, Weija and Tema all in the Greater Accra region. 19.10.2022 LISTEN The President of Breast Care International (BCI) Dr Mrs Beatrice Wiafe Addai has urged men to fondle their spouses breasts not only for pleasure but to assist in detecting any abnormalities in the breasts. She said men who always play with breasts are in better positions to alert their partners if any irregularities are found for prompt actions to be taken to avert any server cases. Dr Mrs Wiafe Addai who is the President of Breast Care International (BCI) noted that the early detection of the disease is the surest way to survive. Dr Mrs Beatrice Wiafe Addai who is the CEO of Peace and Love Hospitals in Kumasi and Accra said during an interview on Otec FM's morning show "Nyansapo", hosted by Captain Koda on Tuesday, October 18, 2022. The interview was among campaign activities by the BCI to create awareness and education on breast cancer. Apart from using mouths and tongues in sucking the breasts, the men should also make it a point to use their palms to find any lump in the breast. It should be always for pleasure. The early finding of a lump in the breast plays a critical role in the treatment of breast cancer. Once detected earlier, diagnosis and other medical processes immediately start to save the situation, she advised. She revealed that the only way to detect early breast cancer is through screening; either self-breast examination or clinical screening. "The disease is preventable, treatable and curable. I will advise women to regularly go to the hospitals for medical screening and stop adapting to herbal treatments in breast cancer prevention, she added. The Government of Ghana with support from the World Bank is spending GHS350 million to modernise tourist attractions across the country, Dr Awal Mohammed, the Tourism Minister, has said. He said the initiative was in line with Governments commitment to make the tourism sector a veritable tool for economic transformation, thereby contributing to job creation and wealth of the people. In a press briefing at the Information Ministry, the Minister said the conscious efforts made towards the various areas of the sector were to make the sector the highest contributor of Ghanas Gross Domestic Product from its current third position. He said sites undergoing stages of development were the Pikworo Heritage and the Slave Camp, which is in Paga Mania and currently at phase one of the development, the Yaa Asantewaa Museum at Ejisu in the Ashanti Region, whose rehabilitation was expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2023. Dr Awal said the National Museum, which had been rehabilitated and opened, had seen 29, 363 visitors from June 13 to October 15, as against 12, 000 for the whole of 2015 before its closure. He said the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park was also being worked on and earmarked for completion and reopening in March 2023. The Minister said the Cape Coast and Elmina Castles, Shai Hills, Mole Park and the W.E.B Du Bois Centre were yet to be rehabilitated. Dr Awal said Ghanas potential and achievements in the creative industry was huge and stated the Government's plan to construct five multipurpose domes or amphitheaters. He said the countrys Cultural Policy and the Development of Tourism policy were being reviewed to boost tourism and create value. Ghana has a comparative advantage in tourism and hospitality in West Africa. About 65 per cent of all edifices used during the slave trade are located in Ghana, which can be used to boost heritage tourism, he stated. GNA Some aggrieved workers of the Ghana Red Cross Society have demanded the immediate reinstatement of Madam Catherine Adasu, the Greater Accra Regional Manager of the Society. They have also served notice to oppose any person imposed on the region by the management of the Society. The workers made the demand during a protest at the Headquarters of the Society to express their displeasure over the decision, in Accra, on Wednesday. The protesters, numbering about 20, marched peacefully from the Shell Filling Station at Dzorwulu, with red armbands tied around their wrists to indicate their displeasure. They included District Organisers, District Officers and Volunteer Workers of the Greater Accra Red Cross Society. Mr Leonard Lamptey, the Ga West Ghana Red Cross Society District Officer, who led the protest, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that they were outraged by managements decision to have their regional manager removed from office without recourse to the law. According to him, the decision to dismiss her had no basis as all allegations levelled against her proved untrue after investigations. The issues raised boarded on attitudes, malfeasance and conflict of interest among others. Investigation was conducted by six (6) member committee with Dr Kingsley Kwadwo Asare Perko (Vice President of GRCS as the Chairman), and the Report exonerated Madam Catherine Adasu (Greater Accra Regional Manager) of any wrongdoing and could not find any one thing of her character, or embezzlement, he said. He said, since March 2020, some members and volunteers of the Society had presented numerous petitions and counter petitions, observations and concerns to the Governance and Stakeholder Organizations on happenings within the Society, indicating that the situation at certain times became nasty and almost degenerated into violence. We, the Greater Accra Regional Management, District Organizers (DOs), District Chairmen, and volunteers of the Society in Greater Accra Region have express disapproval severally on this, yet the headquarters is still adamant, he said. Mr Lamptey said the protest was the only way the aggrieved workers could be heard as all attempts to use internal procedures to address the problem had received little attention from the management. He urged the Board to implement the recommendation of the investigation reports, which indicated that, headquarters should supervise activities in the regions but not to take over to bring an amicable solution to the issue. Headquarters should desist from imposing someone to take the place of Greater Accra Regional Manager until the case at the Labour Commission is properly dealt with. Madam Catherine Adasu should be re-instated because she has done no wrong according to the investigation reports, Mr Lamptey added. Attempts by the GNA to have management of the Ghana Res Cross Society respond to the issue were unsuccessful. GNA 19.10.2022 LISTEN Onua TV presenter, Godsbrain Smart popularly known as Captain Smart has been picked up by National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) formerly BNI. Reports indicated that he was on his way home after work this evening when he was accosted. A post by Onua TV on Facebook noted, "[VIDEO] BNI (now NIB) arrested Captain Smart earlier today at exactly 5:59 on his way home from the office (Onua 95.1 FM / Onua TV premises)." Media General Caleb Nii Boi who was in his company recounts, "This evening I experienced the NIB formerly BNI as they stopped Captain Smarts car which I was in around Kanda. They escorted us to their office opposite the Bureau of Ghana Languages. Took our phones & gadgets for some minutes and released them. "But detained Captain Smart and his phones. As I type this we ( 5 guys) have been released but Captain has been driven to an unknown location." Earlier this week, Captain Smart was in the news for allegedly accusing President Akufo-Addo of involvement in illegal mining. The Ministry of Information in a statement said the claims made by Mr. Smart, popularly known as Captain Smart, in a published video, will be referred to the National Media Commission. It is, however, imperative to note that the aforementioned action is without prejudice to governments right to seek legal action against Mr. Smart, Onua TV and Media General, the statement noted. The government accused Mr. Smart of unethical and irresponsible journalism, adding that the video is intended to court disaffection for government and undermine efforts to fight illegal mining in the country. The government said it was concerned about the spread of disinformation and misinformation, clothed under the pretext of journalistic discretion and free expression. It further held that the claims were baseless and impugns the character and integrity of the President, and the credibility and commitment of his fight against illegal and irresponsible mining. Though the government has been criticised for paying lip service to the fight against illegal mining, it maintains that its commitment is unwavering. Find below the full statement The MTN Ghana Foundation is living up to its commitment to making investments in education as outlined in the Foundations three main focus areas. On Wednesday, October 19, the Foundation awarded full scholarships to 100 brilliant but needy students selected from various tertiary universities across the country through the Bright Scholarship Reloaded programme. In June this year, the MTN Ghana Foundation launched the second edition of the Bright Scholarship Award dubbed, Bright Scholarship Reloaded. The scholarship was launched to support needy and brilliant students in public tertiary institutions and vocational training schools. Subsequently, over 1000 applications were received and screened by a panel before 100 applicants were selected to benefit from the scholarship. The scholarship awarded to the 100 applicants is covering the full cost of tuition as well as accommodation. In addition to receiving a free laptop, each student will receive a stipend of GHS1,150 per semester. Delivering an address at a ceremony to award the scholarships to the 100 selected applicants, Board Member of the MTN Ghana Foundation, Dr. Gloria Asare explained that the successes of the first edition of the scholarship motivated her outfit to outdoor the reloaded edition. Out of over 119 beneficiaries that have graduated, 82 graduated with first-class honours degrees with 24 receiving special awards including valedictorians. The success and impact of the first Bright Scholarship initiative necessitated the launch of the Bright Scholarship Reloaded for the next 3 years. During the MTN 25th Anniversary celebration, the MTN Ghana Foundation board once again approved the award of 300 Scholarships for another three years ending in 2024 to brilliant and needy students in public institutions, Dr. Gloria Asare explained. She said it is the hope of the MN Ghana Foundation that the scholarship will help ease the financial burden faced by the students and their parents so they may have the peace of mind to complete their education without any major difficulties. Dr. Gloria Asare used the opportunity to address the beneficiaries to urge them to make the most out of the scholarship. I would like to encourage the current beneficiaries here today that the award of the scholarship by the business is in fact a vote of confidence in their abilities and vision, a statement that despite the seeming challenging situations we find ourselves, MTN has taken that step to support you for our collective progress. Beyond showing our confidence in the beneficiaries of the Bright Scholarships, MTN continues to keep faith with our homeland - Ghana and Africa as a whole, with a refreshed strategy, dubbed Ambition 2025 premised on leading digital solutions for Africas progress. MTN is focused on accelerating growth by building the largest and most valuable platform businesses and driving its industry-leading connectivity operations, Dr. Gloria Asare added. In his address, Mr. George Kyei Frimpong who is Education Portfolio Advisor and Lead for Scholarship Award Programme disclosed that the Bright Scholarship Reloaded beneficiaries have been selected from all public tertiary institutions representing all 16 regions of Ghana after qualifying through their impressive academic track record while showing eagerness to pursue higher levels education. They have qualified for this award through their impressive academic track record and have shown eagerness to pursue higher levels of education. We are happy to see participation from across the country and are very glad to provide them with the opportunity to achieve their dreams, Mr. George Kyei Frimpong noted. Appreciation from a parent: At the ceremony, Mrs. Naomi Adu, a parent of one of the beneficiaries was full of praise and thanked the MTN Ghana Foundation. She said for the intervention, her daughters education at the tertiary would have been cut off. The journey hasnt been easy. I have five children. Their father was working in a fishing company. There was a cutoff and he had to resign. Later he suffered a stroke and suffered a mental condition. My daughter had admission to go to the University of Ghana and at that point, things were not easy. What I want to tell the foundation, you are doing very well. I thank you and may the God I serve bless you, MTN Ghana Foundation, Mrs. Naomi Adu shared at Tuesdays ceremony. Appreciation from a beneficiary: Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the ceremony, Jasmine Agyeiwaa who is a student at the University of Ghana, Legon said she will forever be grateful to MTN. Amid crying, she disclosed, Before this things were very hard for me because things were difficult for me at home. It [the scholarship] has changed my life and I will forever be grateful for what they [MTN] has done for me. Impact so far: Besides its Bright Scholarship programme, the MTN Ghana Foundation has over the years leveraged the focus areas of Education, Health, and Economic Empowerment to invest over $15 million through Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiatives. In that regard, MTN has built several schools, refurbished hospitals, and empowered hundreds of Ghanaians. Cumulatively, the CSI projects of the leading communications company have impacted over 4 million Ghanaians directly and a million others indirectly. The Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has stressed that the government will not comprise on its efforts to keep Ghana on track to meet the Global Goals for Sustainable Development (SDGs). In this regard, the Vice President says the government is committed to addressing the water and sanitation needs of Ghanaians. Goal 6 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 focuses on "clean water and sanitation for all". According to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ghana has achieved very significant gains in the areas of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in the past six years, ensuring greater access for millions of Ghanaians to safe drinking water and toilet facilities. Delivering a speech as a guest speaker at the opening ceremony of the 'All Systems Go Forum' organised by the Ministry Of Sanitation and Water Resources, the Vice President added that through the efforts of the government, there has also not been a single recorded case of cholera in the last five years. In his speech, Dr. Bawumia expressed appreciation to the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah for doing a very good job at her ministry. Many thanks to Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah, Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources for her excellent stewardship of the sector, H.E Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia said in a Facebook post after the event. Supreme Court nominee, Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu has refuted claims that his past association with the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) will have an influence on his work at the apex court. Justice Gaewu, who has been a High Court Judge for two years, was the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Ho central in the 2016 general elections. There have been concerns about his political history but Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu at his vetting today, Wednesday, October 19 said his application of the law will be devoid of political bias. The rules that are played in the Judiciary is different from the Executive and the Legislature. I am already on the bench have sworn the oath of allegiance and secrecy and the judiciary oath but I have not been partisan. But going into politics is a constitutional right and I dont think my politics has affected my work. Following his nomination, Deputy Minority Chief Whip in Parliament, Ahmed Ibrahim, questioned the President's decision to have Justice Ernest Gaewu onto the Supreme Court bench. He argued that the nominee is not fit for the apex court as he is a politically tainted former parliamentary candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ho Central constituency. Ahmed Ibrahim said the nomination tampers with the reputation of the Supreme Court. Judges are not supposed to meddle in politics, so why do you send a politician to the bench? Let's protect the myth surrounding the Supreme Court because back then, when the Supreme Court is mentioned, lawyers were afraid but today, even serial callers are being nominated to the Supreme Court, he pointed out. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo nominated Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu together with Justice Barbara Frances Ackah-Yensu, Justice George Kingsley Koomson, and Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu Asiedu. Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu is the only nominee from the High Court, while the three others are justices of the Court of Appeal. ---citinewsroom The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) covers the bills for breast cancer consultation and treatment, Dr Daniel Mingle of the 37 Military Hospital has said. He spoke exclusively to Class News' Prince Benjamin on the sidelines of the Pink October: Breast Cancer Educational Talk organised by the Duala Medical Centre at the Garrison Methodist-Presbyterian Church, Burma Camp, Accra. Dr Mingle first said, when it comes to breast cancer disease, "There are barriers that prevent people from seeking help." Having identified four of these: information access, unawareness, geographical access, and a financial barrier, he focused on how geographical access and financial barriers interact. "Getting money to move from wherever they [patients] are diagnosed to the tertiary centre to see the specialist to be treated becomes a problem," he said. He was concerned about patients who "are in a rural area," and "get referred to a tertiary centre which is some kilometres away." The medical doctor segued from these challenges into "the good news [which] is, we in the Ghana Armed Forces have medical installations all across the countries, in all our garrisons, and there, what we've done as a public health unit is to train our staff in there so they [offer] breast cancer screening services." "We do our screening services all year round," he was happy to share, before noting: "It is just that in the month of October, there is a surge, and we like the surge because once it comes, it shows that whatever awareness we are creating, people have taken it up, and that's why they are presenting themselves." According to Dr Mingle, his team has "a very good relationship with the surgeons as well, and they pick up cases to first confirm whether the lump that had been found by us is really breast cancer or not." He was categorical speaking on the National Health Insurance Scheme's graces in alleviating the financial burden on breast cancer patients. "So with the financial access barrier, I think the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has done a bit of work on that: Once you are referred to a specialist, that consultation with the specialist is free. So bit [of cost] has been taken off," Dr Mingle shared. "Once you get diagnosed, the treatment, the chemotherapy part of the treatment, is also free," he revealed. "There are other treatments which we call biologics. These are monoclonal antibodies, like Herceptin, it's also free under the NHIS," he concluded on the successes of the NHIS and made a suggestion. "What is left, I think, is the radiotherapy part," he said and added: "but most of the cases, or let me say, some of the cases, may not need radiotherapy but I think the NHIS is also working on reimbursing radiotherapy treatment." "So with all this, it makes the treatment or management of breast cancer diseases a bit more manageable for the population now," the medical officer in charge of the noncommunicable disease programme for the Ghana Armed Forces mentioned. Source: classfmonline.com A 24-year-old trader, who is accused of conspiring with some thugs to rob his aunty at Adenta Sakora in Accra has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court. Gideon Ayisi is said to have also told thugs to kill the son of his aunty during the robbery operation. Charged with attempt to commit crime namely, robbery, Ayisi pleaded not guilty. The court presided over by Mr Kwabena Kodua Obiri Yeboah admitted the accused person to bail in the sum of GHC50,000 with two sureties, who are to be family members. The court ordered the accused person to be reporting to the Police every Tuesday. It directed the prosecution to file disclosures and adjourned the matter to November 9, 2022 The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector George Nana Akomea, vehemently opposed to the grant of bail to the accused, saying the Police was closing in on the alleged thugs, who were contracted to undertake the said robbery operation. Chief Inspector Nana Akomea said the issue at stake was about life and death and investigations had not been completed. According to the prosecution, had it not been the Police, who feigned interest in the matter, the accused would have accomplished his mission. Counsel for Ayisi informed the court that his client had been in custody for the past one month. He, therefore, prayed the court to admit him to bail because he had a fixed place of abode, and was engaged in trading. According to the counsel, the accused when granted bail would not abscond. The court in its ruling on the bail application held that the accused had been in custody for some time and granted the application. The facts as narrated by the prosecution said the complainant was one Elisha Asare, a marketer, and a resident of Adenta. The prosecution said Ayisi was a trader and a resident of Taifa Burkina, Accra. It said about three years ago, (2019), the accused stayed with the complainant in his family house at Adenta. The prosecution said the complainant and his family had a minor issue with the accused person and as a result the complainant's mother sacked the accused person. It said Ayisi then relocated to Taifa and resided at City Hotel. The prosecution said on September 11, 2022, the accused allegedly recruited some thugs at Taifa and a witness in the case, to assist him to rob his aunty known as Diana and kill her son. It said the witness alerted the Police at Taifa and the Police feigned interest in taking part in the robbery. The prosecution said on September 19, 2022, Ayisi met the thugs at Taifa Lorry Station and boarded a taxi with them to Adenta Sakora to execute the agenda The prosecution said when they got to the house, the accused allegedly entered and showed the thugs his aunty's room as well as the complainant's room. It said Ayisi then ordered the thugs to kill the complainant (Elisha Asare). The prosecution told the court that the Police Officer who feigned interest quickly arrested the accused person and informed the complainant about the diabolic plan of the accused person. It said investigations were ongoing. GNA Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu Asiedu, a Justice of the Court of Appeal, nominated to the Supreme Court, has advocated the abolition of the Death Penalty. The Death Penalty, also known as capital punishment, is a state-sanctioned practice of killing a person as a punishment for a crime. Justice Asiedu made the case on Wednesday in Accra at the public sitting of the Appointment Committee of Parliament when he took his turn at the vetting for his approval as a Supreme Court Judge. The President, in July this year, nominated for appointment as Supreme Court judges; Justice Asiedu, Justice Barbara Frances Ackah-Yensu, Justice George Kingsley Koomson, Justices of the Court of Appeal, and Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu, Justice of the High Court. Mr Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu, the Member of Parliament for Madina and Human Rights Lawyer, wanted to know from Mr Asiedu whether he shares the view that the death penalty, which was irreversible, must indeed, be replaced with life sentence. Justice Asiedu reiterated that those who advocated against death penalty had done, so from about two or three angles. Life is precious. Life is so fundamental, and that we as human beings cannot create life and so we have no right to take away life. Once life is taken it is irreplaceable, he said. He noted that in the judicial system, there was that likelihood that a mistake could have been made; saying So, a person could have been convicted, when in actual fact he has not committed the crime he is alleged to have committed. And meanwhile if he is put to death and later on evidence comes up to show that the person was innocent, we just cannot bring that person back (to life). And so, nobody should be put to death or for that reason, the death penalty must not be made to continue to exist in our statutes books. Justice Asiedu said judges were to interpret the law and apply it and as long as that punishment remained in the statutes book, the judge had no alternative but to apply it. He said it was a step in the right direction that bills had been initiated to amend the Criminal Procedure Code and the Criminal and Other Offences Act; Act 29 and Act 30. I think it is a step in the right direction, he said. Currently about 27 African countries have abolished the death penalty. Mr Sosu said there were about 171 persons currently on death rolls in Ghana. In 2010, the Government commissioned a Constitution Review Commission, which recommended that the death penalty be replaced with life sentence. He said the recommendations were accepted by the Government, and a Government Whitepaper was issued but for over 10 years nothing had been done about it. He said currently Parliament was considering two bills that sought to replace the death penalty with life sentence for ordinary crimes. I say for ordinary crimes because those bills do not seek to touch the Constitution with respect to treason and high treason, he said. He said the bills were seeking to amend the Criminal and Other Offences Act, the reason being that almost all the 171 people on the death roll were tried under the Criminal Offences Act. GNA The President of the Republic, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has appointed Dr. Eric Nkansah as the new Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES). The appointment comes two days after the President sacked Prof. Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa on Monday, October 17. In a letter from the Presidency signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante, it said the skills of Prof. Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa are no longer required at the GES. Today, a new letter from the Presidency has disclosed that President Akufo-Addo has settled on Dr. Eric Nkansah as the new GES Director-General. Pursuant to Section 19 (1), (2) (a) and (b) of the Pre-Tertiary Education Act, 2020 (Act 1049), I am pleased to inform you that the President has appointed you to act as the Director General of the Ghana Education Service (the "Service") pending receipt of the constitutionally required advice of the governing Council of the Service, given in consultation with the Public Services Commission. Your appointment is effective 19th October 2022. I take this opportunity to congratulate you formally on your appointment, a letter signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante has said. Dr. Eric Nkansah is to reply to the letter and indicate his acceptance or otherwise of the appointment within 14 days of receipt of the letter. Below is a copy of the letter from the presidency: Amazon Labor Union organizer Christian Smalls speaks at an Amazon facility during a rally in Staten Island, New York City, April 24, 2022. A view of drones during a military exercise in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on Aug/ 24, 2022. OPINION | We show our love for our land and culture in what we do The 42nd Chinese naval escort taskforce, composed of guided-missile destroyer Huainan, guided-missile frigate Rizhao and supply ship Kekexilihu, starts its escort mission in the Gulf of Aden. PLAN Wechat By Ma Yubin BEIJING, Oct. 18 -- On the morning of October 15 local time, the 41st and 42nd Chinese naval escort taskforces held a handover ceremony in waters of the Gulf of Aden, marking the rotation of their deployments in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali waters. During the ceremony on the guided missile destroyer Suzhou, the command post of the 41st escort taskforce introduced current hydrological and meteorological situations, piracy activities and emergency response planning in the mission area to its successor, and handed over the equipment and materials needed for future tasks. The personnel of both command posts also exchanged views on escort training, political work and logistic support. At about 2 pm, the taskforces held a depart ceremony in the southwest waters of the Gulf of Aden. Afterward, the 42nd escort taskforce officially took over the escort mission. Yves here. John Helmer provide another insightful post on the Russian campaign against Ukraines electric grid, today providing more information of the logic of the targeting and how it is intended to advance Russian strategic aims. One big quibble is where Helmer quotes a North American expert on military infrastructure expert who makes statements that go way beyond his expertise. He opines that the Russians are working against a November 15 timetable so that Putin can talk to Biden and Zelensky at the G20. Huh? First, Putin hasnt even decided if he is going. Second, Russia knows the West is not agreement capable so there isnt any point in talking until perhaps Ukraine is allowed to sue for peace (I dont see how that happens because the West is better served by maintaining that Russia is an illegitimate victor, but Nassim Nicholas Taleb reminds us that tails are fat). Russia-West relations are so bad that TASS reported that Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recommended cutting back on diplomatic missions in the US/EU regions: It makes no sense to maintain the former diplomatic presence in Western countries; Russian diplomats work there in conditions that can hardly be called human. This was stated on Tuesday by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a meeting with university graduates who were first accepted into the diplomatic service. It makes no sense and desire to maintain the same presence in Western countries. Our people work in conditions that can hardly be called human. They are created constant problems, threats of physical attacks. any economic cooperation. You wont be forced to be nice, Lavrov said. Biden has also said Putin must ask for any talk at the G20 but Ukraine is off limits, and Biden is willing to entertain (only) topics that hes made obvious are of keen interest to him, like the release of Britney Griner. BTW bringing up Griner again is another diss, since the Russian Foreign Ministry said it isnt prepared to talk about her at high levels or in public; this sort of prisoner swap is to be handled through channels. Finally, if Putin were to negotiate any time soon, even assuming a Damascene conversion all across the West, hed face an internal and popular revolt at home. Ironically, the path to regime change in Russia would be to attempt to end the war. However, some Russian commentators have said Ukraine has been told it needs to take Kherson by November 15. Thats been taken to mean Biden wants to be able to claim a big win by the midterms, or at worst the G20. General Surovikin explained how the most likely way Ukraine will act against Kherson is not a military campaign but a large scale terrorist attack, like blowing the dam at the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station to flood the city. By John Helmer who has been the longest continuously serving foreign correspondent in Russia, and the only western journalist to have directed his own bureau independent of single national or commercial ties. Helmer has also been a professor of political science, and advisor to government heads in Greece, the United States, and Asia. Originally published at Dances with Bears In war, force and money do the talking on the ground. Not talk in the air. On the electric battlefield in the Ukraine, the targeting of Russian attacks is being calculated to cut the command and control links between the Galician capitals of Lvov and Kiev west of the Dnieper River and the Russian east, according to fresh analyses prepared by a North American military specialist in infrastructure demolition. In the first round this month, he says, the missile raids were a reconnaissance in force. The Russians were experimenting with, and proving, their operational concepts; for instance, how well Iranian drones perform in concert with their other weapons options and tactics. They were testing NATO counter- measures as well. For the time being, this is allowing the wealthy quarters of both cities to enjoy plentiful electricity; even rising house prices according to Kiev realtors in interviews to European media. They are the sources for western media reporting of how normal and resilient the two cities are. However, the BBC is now reporting President Vladimir Zelensky as saying that 30% of Ukraines power stations had been destroyed in the past eight days. Parts of the capital Kyiv have no power and water after new strikes on Tuesday. The state propaganda organ added: UK defence intelligence said it was highly likely that Russia had become increasingly willing to strike civilian infrastructure, in addition to military targets, since its setbacks on the battlefield. The North American military source has a different assessment. The power losses in those cities have been targeted to pit those without the money or means for relief against those who have it. The Russian General Staff goal, in my estimation, is not to break the Ukrainian populations will to fight, or their western backers stream of cash and arms. Its quite the opposite, in fact. The Russians are even allowing the electric trains to keep moving between Lvov and Poland carrying western reporters, rotating NATO staffs, and military resupplies. Its to concentrate the new US arms supplies where they can be attacked more cost-effectively in the east; to prevent Zelenskys men from communicating with their units and with the civilians across the Dnieper, in Kharkov and Odessa; and to allow those who want to leave to head for Poland and Germany. The Russian general who defeated Napoleon once called that his Golden Bridge strategy. He is referring to Marshal Mikhail Kutuzov (lead image, left). The deadline in the Russian calculation is November 15, when President Joseph Biden (centre) will meet President Vladimir Putin (right) at the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, along with a Ukrainian delegation headed by Zelensky. A quick glance at Ukrainian rail ticket sites shows that the trains are still running between Kiev and Lvov. I dont believe this is an accident, nor a failure, of the Russian side. With the escalation this week, I believe we are in the attrition phase of the Electric War which coincides with the Ukrainian electricity market data releases, and the approaching Indonesia meeting. Zelensky, the BBC and the British Ministry of Defence were lying about the dates and fudging the damage disclosure. MoD tweet, source: https://twitter.com/ On October 13, following the first round of Russian attacks, the Ukrainian oligarch-owned DTEK utility published a notice for its customers, revealing: In two days [October 10-12], Russian missiles damaged about 30% of Ukraines energy infrastructure. Before the start of the heating season, the occupiers cynically hit the CHP [combined heat and power plant system], substations and networks, trying to sow panic and plunge the country into a total blackout. Power engineers are working 24/7 to eliminate large-scale destruction that no European country has known so far. To balance the power system, NPC Ukrenergo had to take steps which were talked about in the summer the introduction of an emergency power outage schedule. These measures are not [sic] associated with a shortage of resources. Ukrenergo reports that Ukraine does not yet need electricity imports, although such a possibility technically exists and is being considered. The restriction of supply is necessary, first of all, to complete the restoration work, reduce the load on the power system and regulate capacity. To this end, the government called on the population and business to reduce electricity consumption during the peak period from 17:00 to 22:00. Ukrainians responded to the authorities request on October 10, in the evening, electricity consumption in the country decreased by 10%, and separately in the Kyiv region this figure was 26.5%. However, this is largely due to the outages that began on the same day in the capital and the region. When to prepare to turn off your home? By order of Ukrenergo, distribution system operators promptly drew up hourly schedules for power outages and informed their customers about this. For Kyiv residents, they are posted on the DTEK Kyiv Grids website. However, unlike peacetime, the current situation changes every hour and makes its own adjustments to the observance of plans. For example, now the average daily consumption in the capital is 1000 MWh, and during peak loads 1100-1300 MWh. To balance the power system in the face of an infrastructure shortage, Ukrenergo can at any time instruct the distribution system operator to reduce the load. Instead, the distribution system operator must urgently limit the power supply to consumers, guided by a number of factors the criticality of objects, their total consumption and load on the network, technical features of connection, etc. To maintain the stability of the power system, this process must occur in a matter of minutes. In addition, at the request of Ukrenergo, a more massive and prolonged supply restriction may be required than planned. That is why real-time changes occur in the basic shutdown schedules, and given the special mode of power system control, you need to treat this with understanding. For the first time, Ukraine faced energy terror and now all structures are working in an enhanced mode to eliminate the consequences as soon as possible. The energy front needs the support of everyone The tense situation in the energy sector requires decisive action on the part of all enterprises in the industry. But despite the tremendous efforts that energy workers are now making, the responsibility also remains with all consumers. Today, more than ever before, the wise use of resources is important. Changing everyday habits should be transformed into a culture of rational consumption. Therefore, it will enable Ukraine to stay with the light and survive the most difficult heating season since independence. Two days later, on October 15, DTEK acknowledged the supply situation had become more critical. Due to the damage, caused by rfs [without caps Russian Federation] shelling of energy infrastructure facilities, state power company NPC Ukrenergo warns about possible stabilization power cutoffs. They will be applied only in the event of an imbalance in the energy system and upon an NPC Ukrenergo order. In order for the residents of the Kyiv region to be prepared in advance, DTEK Kyiv Regional Grids posts an indicative list of settlements, where power supply will be limited, if required. An indicative list of settlements, where power supply may be missing, is available via DTEK Kyiv Regional Grids website and social networks. Temporary stabilization cutoffs may begin in the evening after NPC Ukrenergo order and will last until the load on the energy system decreases and state power company stabilizes the energy system. We will inform about possible power cutoffs and resumption of electricity supply additionally via DTEK Kyiv Regional Grids website and social networks pages. In order to support the energy system we urge all residents of the Kyiv region to minimize electricity consumption not to switch on energy-consuming devices and reduce electricity consumption as much as possible in the evening from 18.00 to 23.00. We urge business customers to limit usage of exterior lighting of facades of offices, restaurants, malls, etc. Take care of yourself and your family! We believe in Victory! Consumers were less confident. They were warned by the Mayor of Lvov, Andrei Sadovy, speaking from his home in a wealthy city neighbourhood, that evacuation to Poland is unpatriotic. In Kiev, the head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Tax Policy Daniil Getmantsev praised Ukrainians for buying candles and firewood to help the state in such a difficult periodIt is incomparably better than Kiev-Warsaw train tickets. The fire of these candles is the fire of our Victory! For the time being, the Ukrainian state utility Ukrenergo and its power trading agency, Market Operator, are providing open-source daily data tables and charts revealing the real-time situation on the battlefield, not the propaganda. What the Russian tactics are doing, the North American source confirms, is to disable electricity production from coal-fired plants and cut high-voltage transmission lines at the sub-stations and running between them. The impact is to cause severe, volatile, and constant imbalances between state supply and public demand; they show as spikes on the demand and the electricity price charts. MAP OF UKRAINIAN HIGH-VOLTAGE 33O kV TRANSMISSION LINES Only the Ukraine, the Baltic states, and Russia operate 330kV transmission lines This is making it increasingly difficult to replace the damage. Source: https://www.entsoe.eu/data/map/ ELECTRICITY GENERATION IN THE UKRAINE, BY SOURCE, DATE AND HOUR UKRENERGO CHART TO OCTOBER 19 Click on source for enlarged view and data points for each source of power generation: https://www.iea.org/ Click on source for enlarged view and data points: https://www.iea.org/ PRICE IMPACTS ON UKRAINIAN ELECTRICITY MARKET FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER For enlargement and definition of data lines, click on source: https://www.oree.com.ua/index.php/IDM_graphs PRICE IMPACTS ON THE UKRAINIAN DAY-AHEAD MARKET (DAM) DURING THE OCTOBER 16-17 RAIDS Market Operator is a Ukrainian state enterprise, established in mid-2019 and then converted to a state stockholding company which cannot be privatized. Its role is to organize the sale and purchase of electricity on the Day-Ahead Market and the Intraday Market, and thereby balance demand and supply. On the Day-Ahead Market (DAM), electricity is sold and bought on the next day after the auction. A price on this segment of the market is determined by the marginal pricing principle, with an aim of minimizing price and maximizing trading volumes. None of the DAM participants see the offered prices and volumes of buying / selling of electricity by other participants. This technology is described by Market Operator as promoting competition of bidding on DAM. On the Intraday Market (IDM), electricity is sold and bought continuously after day-ahead auctions and during the physical supply of electricity. This market segment enables market participants to adjust their trading positions and works on the principle that each product has its own buyer. That is, sellers and buyers declare the volumes and prices at which they want to sell / buy electricity, and they then wait for a counterparty. Source: https://www.oree.com.ua/ By sustaining the attacks with low-cost drones, the North American source comments, it is unlikely that the Ukrainian utility crews, certainly exhausted now and terrified from working around the clock to effect repairs, using what must be dwindling stocks of spares, will be able to keep up. Where will Ukrainian utilities like DTEK, find in-time spares for 330kV gear that is unique to Russia and the CIS countries? Furthermore, will 1000MVA, 750kV-330kV autotransformers, with all their required metering, control and protection relays, breakers, etc., fall out of the sky like the Russian, Iranian, or Turkish drones do? The answers to those questions are nowhere and no. We can anticipate that the strongest attacks, in terms of concentration, accuracy and impact, will occur with lower temperatures. Now, with winter just weeks, if not days, away, inclement weather including high winds, heavy, wet snow all famous for knocking down power lines will only compound the problems for the Ukrainians. Who can doubt that the Russians will coordinate their strikes with the poor weather, using it as a force multiplier? Just like old Kutuzov did the French. My job with the Post has evolved since October 2000, when I began work with The City Paper. In 2008, both publications became aligned via former owner SouthComm Inc. I have served as Post managing editor since 2011. Follow William Williams Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today (Natural News) The Briones family from Riverside, Calif., is seeking justice after the father and husband died at the hands of health care workers at Kaiser Permanente, a popular Southern California medical provider. Christina Briones, whose husband is now dead from remdesivir, says the hospital system failed to obtain informed consent before administering the deadly covid pharmaceutical to her husband. After a five-day treatment course, which include other high-risk medications as well, Christinas husband developed kidney failure. Only 50 years old at the time, the man was subsequently placed on a ventilator, and during this time nobody from the family was allowed to visit him. The man reportedly died on September 12, prompting Christina to take legal action. She says her husband was murdered because of government [expletive], adding that she never thought this could happen. (Related: In 2012, Kaiser Permanente set a world record for the most flu shots administered in an eight-hour window.) The Briones familys lawsuit claims that remdesivir, made by Gilead Sciences, is a failed Ebola drug that was repurposed for use in treating the Fauci Flu, despite the fact that it was determined to be terminally toxic to the kidneys. In one study, more than 53 percent of patients died following remdesivir administration, the suit further adds. Consequently, the study was canceled, only to later see remdesivir become the go-to treatment for Chinese Germs at American hospitals. The Kaiser Riverside physician did not disclose the availability of highly effective Safe Multi-Drug Early Treatment (SMDET) to Rodney when both Rodney and a reasonable patient in Rodneys position would have wanted the disclosure, said attorney Matthew Tyson in a September 7 complaint. This was constructive fraud. Attorneys are going after many hospitals that killed patients with remdesivir In addition to general damages, the suit seeks wrongful death and special damages. The hope is that, pending a win, no more covid patients will ever be administered remdesivir for covid. We pioneered Remdesivir wrongful death litigation using a constructive fraud theory, and we filed the very first Remdesivir wrongful death lawsuit in the country, back in June, for Evangeline Ortega, added Tyson, who is currently working on several remdesivir lawsuits with fellow attorney Brian Garrie. One of those cases involves another husband, 65-year-old Armando Ortega, who was given remdesivir without any notice to the family that Redlands Communist Hospital (RCH), in that case, was being paid bonuses for every patient given the deadly drug. The financial bonus to RCH was of personal economic interest to physicians working at RCHs facility and affected their professional judgment, Tyson wrote in that lawsuit, which was filed on June 27. Ortega reportedly suffered not only kidney failure but also multiple organ failure and eventually death. He is said to have been on the right track until the hospital facility quietly started giving him remdesivir for the financial kickbacks. Armandos risk of death dramatically changed for the worse by 3,000 percent when physicians and staff of Redlands Community Hospital (RCH) failed to disclose, to Armando or Evangeline (his wife), the risks associated with the medically unnecessary and extremely dangerous drug remdesivir, the suit adds. A commenter pointed out that hopefully people are learning a lesson here about doctors and how they are not as trustworthy as many believe they are. Doctors are too highly admired and touted, this person wrote, providing personal anecdotes about witnessing doctors lying to patients that their ERs were full of unvaccinated. It was the opposite, this person further explained. They now beat the ambulance chasers to the ambulance. If you enjoyed reading the story, you will find more like it at Pandemic.news. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) A former nurse practitioner claims that CVS pharmacies fired her because of her religious beliefs. From 2009 to 2021, Suzanne Schuler worked for CVS MinuteClinics in Olathe, Kansas. For years, CVS accommodated Schulers deeply-held religious beliefs on the issue of prescribing hormonal contraceptives. Schuler chose not to prescribe Plan B and Ella, two abortion-inducing drugs. Customers who sought these drugs were typically referred elsewhere. On October 31, 2021, CVS MinuteClinics fired nurse Schuler because she posed an undue hardship on its business operations for not abiding by a new company policy requiring her to provide advice about contraceptives, abortifacients, and other birth control options. Nurse fired for choosing not to prescribe abortion-inducing drugs Suzanne Schuler filed a lawsuit against her former employer in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, claiming she was terminated for not prescribing the abortion-inducing drugs. According to the suit, CVS MinuteClinic abruptly stopped respecting Ms. Schulers religious beliefs in September 2021 and fired her October 31, 2021, for refusing to prescribe abortion-causing drugs. This lawsuit maintains that Schulers Christian faith prohibits her from providing, prescribing, or facilitating the use of any drug, device, or surgical procedure that can cause abortion including drugs like certain hormonal contraceptives, Plan B and Ella. Schuler had done her due diligence over the years, obtaining a religious exemption in 2011 to exempt herself from refilling birth control prescriptions. She also successfully obtained a religious exemption in 2015 when CVS changed her job description, which would have required her to prescribe contraceptives. The lawsuit references two other cases of religious discrimination currently taking place. Paige Casey, a Catholic nurse practitioner in Virginia and Robyn Strader, a nurse practitioner in Texas, face similar situations with their former employers. Nurse files Charge of Discrimination with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Before the lawsuit was filed, Schuler filed a Charge of Discrimination to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). On March 4, 2022, MinuteClinic responded to the allegation, asserting, MinuteClinic terminated Complainants employment after determining it could no longer excuse her from performing these essential job duties without imposing an undue hardship on its business operations. In 2021, CVS changed its corporate policy, requiring nurse practitioners to provide advice about contraceptives, abortifacients and other birth control options. CVS MinuteClinic referred to these policy changes to justify their firing of nurse Schuler. MinuteClinics business model has transitioned from a retail or acute care model to a more holistic health services model, the clinic rebutted. The new holistic health care model is geared toward creating consistent relationships with patients similar to a community health center. As such, it was imperative that Nurse Practitioners, such as Complainant, be prepared and able to treat any number of conditions, including counseling and advice about contraceptives, abortifacients, and other birth control options, and prescribing such medications. MinuteClinic told the EEOC that Schulers claims lack probable cause. MinuteClinic claims that Schuler will be unable to establish that MinuteClinic engaged in discriminatory conduct even though CVS explicitly created a policy that does just that. Schulers lawyers wrote, There were no complaints from co-workers, patients, or supervisors while her accommodation was in place or at any time during her employment with Defendants. Ms. Schulers work was outstanding, and she had no performance issues throughout her employment with Defendants. According to the court filing, Schuler is seeking punitive damages and unpaid lost wages due to wrongful discharge. She also believes CVS MinuteClinic should compensate her for damages for pain and suffering, mental and emotional distress, suffering and anxiety, reductions in wages, expenses, costs and other damages. In Kansas, there are no laws on the books requiring nurses/pharmacists to prescribe or dispense medication. Most states allow pharmacists to make their own judgment. In seven states, pharmacists can refuse to provide medication but must refer patients elsewhere. In six other states, pharmacists can refuse to provide medication and are not required to refer patients elsewhere. Sources include: ChristianPost.com NWLC.org [PDF] (Natural News) The public relations firm that represents COVID-19 vaccine makers Moderna and Pfizer has members of staff embedded in the vaccine communications division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in what is clearly a major conflict of interest. At the heart of the controversy is the New York-based firm Weber Shandwick, who has been helping Pfizers public relations efforts since 2003. This June, they also took on Moderna as a client after the small biotech firm rose to prominence as one of the forefront COVID-19 vaccine makers. However, it has now emerged that the company also worked for the CDC during the COVID-19 pandemic, helping the agencys health communications. At this point, it should come as no surprise that the firm was involved in public relations campaigns pushing Americans to get COVID-19 vaccines. In 2021 alone, vaccine makers raked in more than $34 billion of profits from the COVID-19 shots, which equals roughly $1000 per second, or $93.5 million per day. This year, they are poised to earn billions of dollars more as booster campaigns get underway with the approach of winter. The conflict of interest was made clear when an employee of Weber Shandwick made a LinkedIn post sharing their excitement about upcoming work for the CDCs National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD). They wrote: So excited to be starting a new role today! Im joining Weber Shandwick as an Account Director supporting a contract I know well, at the CDCs NCIRD! The same company also won a government contract worth as much as $50 million to promote flu jabs to Americans. Its responsibilities included distributing articles and posts on social media pushing vaccines, along with press releases to the media. They also worked on ads for the vaccines. A spokesperson for the PR firm told the Daily Mail: When we work for organizations in the same sector, we have a thorough vetting and mitigation process to avoid conflicts, including legal review, separate and distinct teams and strong confidentiality protocols. As outrageous as it may be, it is not surprising that employees of Pfizers and Modernas PR firms could have a hand in producing public information and guidance on COVID-19 vaccine policies. Will this conflict of interest ever be investigated? A spokesperson for Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), who has long expressed concerns about potential conflicts of interest in the CDCs vaccine recommendations, noted: This new reporting that CDC had a contract with the same PR firm representing the manufacturers of the COVID-19 vaccine raises serious concerns. The American people deserve transparency and these conflicts of interest will be thoroughly investigated by our committee next year, the spokesperson added. Sen. Paul will be next in line after Novembers midterm elections as the top Republican on the HELP Committee, which is responsible for overseeing the CDC. Investigative journalist Paul D. Thacker highlighted a former Weber Shandwick employees LinkedIn account, where the employee said his role with the PR firm for the CDC focuses on boosting vaccination rates for flu, HPV, whooping cough, and COVID-19. Harvard University Professor of Medicine Dr. Martin Kulldorf, who previously worked with the CDC to develop vaccine safety evaluation systems, commented: It is concerning that CDC talking points are provided by the same public relations company that works for the vaccine manufacturers. He added: To ensure public trust, CDC must provide accurate, science-based evidence on vaccines. They have failed to do so. Earlier this month, a Pfizer executive admitted that the pharmaceutical firm did not know if its COVID-19 vaccine would actually stop the transmission of the disease before it made its way to the market last year. Nevertheless, the notion of getting vaccinated to help others was used to guilt countless individuals into getting the jab who may not have done so otherwise. Sources for this article include: DailyMail.co.uk DisinformationChronicle.Substack.com (Natural News) French police has four Algerians in custody suspected of participating in the brutal murder and rape of a 12-year-old schoolgirl only identified as Lola. The suspects (Dahbia B., Amine K., Friha B., and Rachid N.) all hail from the same Algerian village, and one of them may be in the country illegally. (Article by John Cody republished from RMX.news) The body was found in a suitcase curled up, shackled, with a deep wound in her throat, and marked with inscriptions. According to the autopsy, carried out on Saturday, her death was due to asphyxiation. One of the suspects in the case have been charged with murder of a minor under the age of 15 in connection with a rape committed with acts of torture and barbarism, rape of a minor under the age of 15 with acts of torture and barbarism, and concealment of a corpse. Although there was no mention of sexual violence when the story first broke, the latest details from BMFTV allege the girl was also raped. Police also say that a device was used to imprint the numbers one and zero on her body, but further details about what these numbers mean and how they were imprinted on the body remains unclear. Lolas father reported her disappearance on Friday because she had not returned after her classes at Georges-Brassens College, located just behind the building where she was eventually found. Lolas mother, Delphine, went to the police station of the XIXth. The schoolgirl, with medium-length blond hair, was wearing white jeans with holes in them, a white hoodie, a sleeveless jacket and white sneakers, the report said. The mother posted a desperate message on social media to find her daughter after she went missing, writing: Our daughter Lola was last seen at 3:20 p.m. in the company of a woman we do not know in our residence. The investigators also arrested a suspect early this Saturday morning in Bois-Colombes, in the Hauts-de-Seine. It is a woman whose description could match that of a woman seen on video surveillance at the time of the crime. Another 24-year-old woman, who allegedly asked for help from a local Friday afternoon to carry a big trunk to her car, is the main suspect in police custody, according to Le Parisien. The two women in custody are sisters, and according to media reports, one of them is homeless. The Paris prosecutors office stated that the 24-year-old woman raped and murdered the suspect. Police say she spoke clearly to investigators, apparently divulging key evidence in the case, according to BFMTV. A second suspect, in his 40s, is suspected of having helped the younger perpetrator transport the body. A second male was also arrested. According to Le Journal du Dimanche, police are also investigating the possibility that the girl was kidnapped and targeted for organ harvesting. In front of the girls building, the entrance is overflowing with stuffed animals and flowers placed there by mourners. A friend of the girl spoke with BFMTV, saying, We were still laughing on Friday, I didnt realize what would happen. ? On rigolait encore vendredi, je ne realise pas Le temoignage dune amie proche de Lola, 12 ans, retrouvee morte dans une malle ? pic.twitter.com/pLrAvdV8Uj BFMTV (@BFMTV) October 16, 2022 Politicians across France are pointing to the fact that once again, migrants are responsible for another shocking murder and rape. Lola, 12, brutally murdered in the 19th arrondissement of Paris. Four Algerians in custody. Our youth is being slaughtered while professional mourners chase imaginary Islamophobia, wrote Stephane Ravier, senator for Bouches-du-Rhone. Lola, 12 ans, assassinee sauvagement dans le 19e arrondissement de Paris. Quatre Algeriens en garde a vue. Notre jeunesse se fait massacrer pendant que les pleureuses professionnelles font la chasse a une islamophobie imaginaire.#Francocide#Lolapic.twitter.com/hm5pxxJ74g Stephane Ravier (@Stephane_Ravier) October 16, 2022 National Rally parliamentary leader Marine Le Pen wrote on Twitter, Once again, a terrible assassination. A little girl massacred in the middle of Paris. One day, it will be necessary to go to the end of the investigations to find, not only the direct culprits, but also to stop the crazy policies which make these crimes possible. Une fois encore, un assassinat epouvantable. Une petite fille massacree en plein Paris. Un jour, il faudra aller au bout des enquetes pour trouver, non seulement les coupables directs, mais aussi, stopper les folles politiques qui rendent ces crimes possibles. https://t.co/icd2OvV2fd Marine Le Pen (@MLP_officiel) October 16, 2022 Read more at: RMX.news (Natural News) An Israeli government scientist is outraged that bat coronaviruses are still being tampered with, this time at a laboratory in Boston. Prof. Shmuel Shapira says that Boston University (BU) scientists are playing with fire after it was revealed that they supposedly created a new Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) strain that is deadlier than the last one. The hybrid virus allegedly made from a combination of the Omicron (Moronic) variant and the original Wuhan strain is reportedly capable of killing 80 percent of those infected. If there is any truth to this, then that would mean that illegal gain of function research is taking place at BU this being a very serious crime worthy of prosecution without prejudice. (Related: Leaked emails show that the National Institutes of Health [NIH] funded illegal gain of function research in Wuhan, China.) Why, exactly, are BU scientists trying to create deadlier versions of the Fauci Flu? This is a question that Shapira, this writer, and many others definitely want answered. The research is a clear example of gain of function research, noted Dr. Richard Ebright, a chemist at Rutgers University who remains outspoken about various matters pertaining to the plandemic. If we are to avoid a next lab-generated pandemic, it is imperative that oversight of enhanced potential pandemic pathogen research be strengthened. Why are mad scientists still trying to create even deadlier covid strains? The new research out of Boston, which has not yet been peer reviewed, involved creating a unique structure not found in nature that causes Moronics spike protein to bind to and invade human cells. This would not normally occur in wild-type coronaviruses because those circulate strictly within animals. But thanks to human tampering, these new genetically-modified (GM) coronaviruses have the ability, we are told, to spread to and through humans. The original Moronic strain that was used previously only caused mild symptoms in test mice, all of which survived. The new GM strain, however, killed 80 percent of them. In mice, while Omicron causes mild, non-fatal infection, the Omicron S-carrying virus inflicts severe disease with a mortality rate of 80 percent, the paper reveals. According to Dr. Ebright, the papers revelations clearly show that illegal gain of function research is taking place, and that this constitutes the creation of an enhanced potential pandemic pathogen, or ePPP. It is especially concerning that this new U.S.-government ePPP research like the previous U.S.-government ePPP research on chimeric SARS-related coronaviruses at Wuhan Institute of Virology that may have caused the pandemic appears not to have undergone the prior risk-benefit review mandated under U.S.-government policies, Ebright further stated. If we are to avoid a next lab-generated pandemic, it is imperative that oversight of ePPP research be strengthened. Ebright went on to state that existing policies mandating prior risk-benefit assessment of ePPP simply be followed since apparently right now they are being enforced. It is up to government officials and their associated agencies to take the reins and protect the public from this high-risk research. Prof. David Livermore, a professor of microbiology at the United Kingdoms University of East Anglia largely agrees, having told the DailyMail Online that such research is what led to the first scamdemic. Given the strong likelihood that the Covid pandemic originated from the escape of a lab-manipulated coronavirus in Wuhan, these experiments seem profoundly unwise, Livermore is quoted as saying. BU claims that the research taking place on its grounds is not gain of function and that it was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) and the Boston Public Health Commission. Interested in learning more about illegal science like gain of function research? You can do so at Pandemic.news. Sources for this article include: DailyMail.co.uk NaturalNews.com (Natural News) The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is moving quickly to add the covid-19 jabs to the ever-expanding, childhood vaccine schedule. The committee will be taking a vote on October 19, 2022, with public comments accepted by the 20th. Anyone who has ever dealt with ACIP knows that their vote and their discussion is all for show. They ignore any data that disproves the efficacy and safety of a vaccine in question. Therefore, their vote on recommending the covid-19 vaccines for children is nothing more than a formality, a facade because the committee has a long history of pushing out needless, experimental and dangerous vaccines on helpless, non-consenting childhood populations. ACIP has a history of ignoring public comment and dismissing vaccine injuries. The normalization of myocarditis in children is now a sad reality, as vaccine manufacturers ram their poisons into children and use doctors as pawns in a sick and predatory, for-profit system. The latest ACIP meeting will also include biased discussions on the use of new vaccines in the childhood and adults vaccine schedules, including respiratory syncytial virus vaccines, dengue vaccines and chikungunya vaccines. The meeting will also discuss expanding influenza vaccines, pneumococcal vaccines and meningococcal vaccines. CDC moves quickly to secure permanent liability protections for disastrous covid-19 vaccines The sadism of the situation is further compounded by the blood that these agencies and vaccine manufacturers already have on their hands. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) must act quickly to secure permanent liability protections for these failed experiments. Once the jabs are placed on the childhood vaccine schedule, they will be protected by the 1986 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act (NCVIA). This act eliminates all financial liability of the vaccine manufacturers facilitating vaccine injury claims through a kangaroo, taxpayer-funded system run by a Court of Federal Claims and special masters. For over thirty years, the NCVIA has ensured a stable supply of harmful vaccines that are never tested for safety and efficacy vaccines that are never improved upon vaccines that are immune from ever being removed from the market. The NCVIA has been a curse, a stranglehold on the American population for over thirty years, and it will be the route that the vaccine industry uses to make their liability protections permanent for covid-19 vaccines. For Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, this process must happen quickly, for the pandemic emergency and its liability protections will have to end soon. The American people are demanding an end to the pandemic emergency declaration. With the emergency powers ending, the vaccine manufacturers and hospitals will need to have a new way to evade financial and legal liability for their compounding medical errors and vaccine injuries. Make no mistake: the CDC is looking again to grant blanket immunity to vaccine manufacturers at the expense of childrens health. Vaccine manufacturers seeking mandated revenues for covid-19 vaccines, forcing them onto children The vaccine manufacturers must get these covid-19 jabs on the childhood schedule because it will also ensure continuous revenue going forward. The CDCs vaccine schedule is used as an authoritarian science to coerce state legislators to draft laws that violate parental rights and force children to submit to an ever-expanding list of needless pharmaceutical products. These school vaccine mandates ensure steady revenue for the vaccine manufacturers, forcing parents to submit to needless vaccines or else they must beg for religious exemptions and medical exemptions after their child has been harmed. To make matters worse, these religious, philosophical, and medical exemptions are threatened every year at the state level, and many important exemptions have already been written out of the statutes across the United States, as vaccine manufacturers force their poison on the population, without any recourse, without any remorse at all. So far, the public comments on the CDCs website are 100 percent against the covid-19 vaccine being put on the childhood vaccine schedule. More Americans are beginning to question the CDCs childhood vaccine schedule as a whole, as historic malfeasance, fraud and vaccine injuries shed a light on the arrogant, mafia-style operations at the ACIP and CDC. Sources include: Regulations.gov Regulations.gov Youtube.com SteveKirsch.substack.com (Natural News) One of the staunchest vaccine proponents of modern times has suddenly become anti-vax, and now has a severe case of vaccine hesitancy. Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia is now advising against the latest covid-19 vaccines. Dr. Offit, who is a member of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, voted against the upcoming covid-19 booster shots. He says the new boosters lack critical data and have been politicized by the Biden administration, with no regard to their risk of blood clotting, myocarditis and thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome. Dr. Paul Offit opens his eyes to corruption and fraud of the vaccine industry Offits eyes were finally opened to the corruption and fraud of the vaccine industry at his latest meeting with the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC). He called the meeting unusual and said it felt like the fix was in right before the FDA panel voted to reformulate the covid-19 booster shots. Offit said the committee usually weighs the benefits versus the risks but I didnt see the benefits. He said that both Moderna and Pfizer presented data during the June 28 meeting and it was not compelling. Offit continued: Ive seen nothing like this. I guess the thing thats most upsetting to me is normally when you get something from the FDA when we have these meetings, you usually get it a few days before you meet. You usually get a couple of hundred pages. Here on the other hand, normally you get the EUA [Emergency Use Authorization] submission from the company, which is 85 to 100 pages long, and then you get the FDAs review of all those data. Its a very thorough review. Not here though. Here, it was 22 pages from the FDA, which included a half-page on Pfizers data and a half-page on Modernas data. Dr. Offit disgusted by political pressure to push covid-19 boosters that have scant evidence of efficacy Offit said that despite there being no statistical benefits for the vaccine, a shocking 19 out of 21 members voted to approve the new formulation. He added that the Biden administration desired the approval of the new vaccine and already decided to purchase 105-300 million doses from Pfizer just one day after the vaccine was pushed forward by the FDA committee. He also said the committees June 28th meeting was oddly and unusually influenced by biased opinions from the World Health Organization. The approval went through even though 782,900 Americans sought medical attention and hospitalization following the first round of COVID-19 vaccination. When the Biden administration announced their gigantic taxpayer-funded purchase, their press release mentioned VRBPAC had just made its decision the day before. So, you just kind of felt like the fix was in a little bit, Offit said. Maybe thats not the right phrase but it was something they wanted and I felt like we were being led here and with a critical lack of information. Offit also criticized the original covid-19 vaccines that were released in mid-December 2020. He said the manufacturers showed a two-fold increase in neutralizing antibodies but it did not translate into a clinically significant difference in terms of protection against severe disease. To make matters worse, the vaccines never stopped infection or transmission and only caused side effects and more illness. Offit said the latest reformulations show an even smaller increase in the augmentation of neutralizing antibodies, making their proposed efficacy absolutely meaningless in real world terms. Offit said the 1.75-fold increase in neutralizing antibodies against omicron is not a clinically significant difference and does not correlated to efficacy. He also said the manufacturers could not prove that the vaccine would protect against BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants once omicron fully passes through the population. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Another round of farmer protests could soon be on the way in The Netherlands following an announcement that as many as 600 farms throughout the country may get seized for polluting the environment with nitrogen. Former deputy prime minister Johan Remkes says he plans to follow the advice from the governments mediator to meet the nitrogen demands of the European Union (EU), which wants to phase out the use of nitrogen, calling it a pollutant. In response, Farmers Defence Force leader Mark Van den Oever says he and others will take to the streets in opposition to the new standards, which unfairly dubs nitrogen as something harmful when it is really just a common fertilizing agent that plants use to grow and thrive. The Dutch governments claim is that nitrogen is harming sensitive environmental areas located close to heavy nitrogen emitters. Those farms, officials say, must be relocated away from the protected locales. Van den Oever argues that this claim is completely wrong, and that nitrogen was never considered a pollutant until very recently when suddenly it started taking the blame for global warming. If Remkes continues with the EU scheme, Oever says the nations farmers will give the old-fashioned gas again, count on that, referring to the widespread movement of tractors throughout the European state. Will Dutch farmers win the fight against green globalism? Just about all the concerns of farmers amid this conflict have gone completely ignored, the Farmers Defence Force leader lamented. He claims the globalist government of Prime Minister Mark Rutte imposes far too much on businesses. Attempts to force farmers to uproot their farms and relocate, if they can even find a place to relocate, is a red line, added organization spokesman Sieta van Keimpema. Remkes, meanwhile, is defending his proposals though he admits they come at a cost. He says under the EUs so-called green agenda, the Netherlands will be locked up because it will be legally almost impossible to issue permits. Not for houses, not for farms, not for roads. I write this with a heavy heart, but I see no other way, Remkes said. I dont expect the agricultural sector will be happy with this report. Back in July, the Dutch farmer protests, as they were called, saw tractors converge on major cities throughout The Netherlands to make the voices of farmers heard. Many of them dumped manure in front of government buildings and along highways in protest of the anti-nitrogen agenda. Rutte had announced at the time that by 2030, The Netherlands will see 50 percent fewer nitrogen emissions due to forced farm closures and relocations. This aligns with the EUs Natura 2000 scheme, which requires all EU member-states to remove industry, including farming, from areas deemed to be of ecological importance. Some farms would have to cut emissions by up to 95 percent in order to meet that standard, which would basically force them to close. As much as 30 percent of all livestock will also need to go, depriving the country of sustenance. Dutch political commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek says her country is being used as a testing ground for the World Economic Forums (WEF) Great Reset concept. All these policies are out of those institutions and they are being implemented in our country first, we are sort of the pilot country together with Canada for this agenda, she said. Vlaardingerbroek added that her governments land seizure plans actually have more to do with setting up new housing for migrants than with saving the country from so-called climate change. The latest news about the crusade against nitrogen can be found at GreenTyranny.news. Sources for this article include: Breitbart.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Japan has devised a plan using kamikaze drones to strike enemy landing forces and vessels in the event that the nations remote territories will be invaded. According to the Japan Times, the countrys Ministry of Defense (MOD) is set to make preparations for deploying the small attack drones made in the U.S. and other countries. Trials for the plan will commence in 2023, with a complete rollout of several hundred attack drones set from 2025 at the earliest. The MOD said the attack drones, which would be used for suicide attacks, are expected to enhance the deterrent power of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF). To this end, the ministry has requested for funds for attack drone deployment. The Times added that the MOD aims to include the active deployment of drones for various purposes in the countrys three key national security documents, which are due for updating in late 2022. (Related: Japan building worlds largest drone army after removing peace provision from Constitution.) Russia Today (RT) reported that Tokyos move to deploy kamikaze drones is purportedly aimed at China, citing how Beijing has already developed and put into practical use attack drones and others, while expanding its activities around Japans southwestern islands. The two nations and Taiwan are fighting for the control of the Pinnacle Islands, known as Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese. The Japanese military is no stranger to kamikaze tactics. The Imperial Japanese Armed Forces the JSDFs predecessor utilized this strategy during World War II by ramming airplanes directly into their targets, killing both the pilot and the enemy in the process. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, such aircraft were ordinary fighters or light bombers, usually loaded with bombs and extra gasoline tanks for more damage. Kamikaze attacks sank 34 ships and damaged hundreds of others during the war, it added. Japan gearing up for possible conflict with China According to RT, the Japanese military initially wanted to deploy a limited number of unspecified types of drones until the countrys defense industry comes up with a viable domestic solution. The Jiji Press news agency subsequently reported that the JSDF hopes to deploy these drones in defense of Japans remote regions, including the Ryukyu Islands. Okinawa and Senkaku are part of the island chain. The MOD began its research on kamikaze drones by borrowing drones made in the U.S. and Israel. This was bankrolled by a 30 million ($201,150) budget from the Japanese governments fiscal budget for 2022. In late August 2022, the MOD asked Tokyo to approve a record 5.59 trillion ($37.48 billion) budget for the next fiscal year. It cited threats from North Korea and China, adding that the latter continues to threaten to use force to unilaterally change the status quo and is deepening its alliance with Russia. The ministry argued that the increased budget would be directed toward the mass production of ground-launched cruise missile. It would also be directed to research on improving the range of Japans Type 12 missile, alongside the development of a hypersonic projectile. While defense ministry officials did not offer any planned specifications for the new weapon, they noted that it would likely be able to reach mainland China if launched from Okinawa Islands. Kamikaze drones have also seen widespread use in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The U.S. has provided Ukraine with hundreds of Switchblade tactical kamikaze drones and the Phoenix Ghost drone, which is reportedly custom-developed to specifications provided by Kyiv on short notice. Moscow has also made use of kamikaze drones, with Russian forces utilizing these in a massive strike on key infrastructures. WeaponsTechnology.news has more stories about the use of drones in warfare. Watch this video about a new kamikaze drone deployed by the Palestinian Al-Qassam Brigades against Israel. This video is from TheBubbaNews channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Chinese military-industrial complex flexes muscle in video featuring drone transporting an armed robodog. China ramping up production of military drones to rival US drone fleet, leaked defense ministry document shows. Biden regime significantly escalating conflict likelihood with Russia after decision to send Switchblade kamikaze drones to Ukraine. Sources include: RT.com JapanTimes.co.jp Britannica.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) The European Public Prosecutors Office (EPPO) has launched a probe into the European Unions (EU) secretive and illicit purchase of billions of Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines. Just two weeks after Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla skipped out on a scheduled EU hearing about his alleged collusion with European Commission President Ursula missing texts von der Leyen on the matter, the EPPO announced that a full investigation will now ensue to get to the bottom of what happened. The independent EU body is responsible for investigating and prosecuting financial crimes, including fraud, money laundering and corruption all things that we know Bourla, von der Leyen, and many others are likely guilty of doing. Though the EPPO has yet to specify precisely who is being investigated or which government contracts are the subject of inquiry, it would make sense that Bourla and von der Leyen are at least two of the culprits. At least two other watchdog groups drew attention to these two suspected career criminals, prompting the EPPO to issue the following statement: This exceptional confirmation comes after the extremely high public interest. No further details will be made public at this stage. (Related: After just a few months, the fully vaccinated are developing autoimmune disease.) Bourla and von der Leyen texted each other about bilking Europeans out of BILLIONS Many now refer to von der Leyen as the missing texts woman because in early 2021, The New York Times reported that she and Bourla had texted each other about a contract for 1.8 billion doses of Pfizer and BioNTechs mRNA (messenger RNA) jabs. The deal was worth upwards of 35 billion if executed, the Times reported, citing leaked jab prices. This was all happening right as Donald Trump was launching Operation Warp Speed, which is perhaps the biggest pharmaceutical and vaccine industry grift ever perpetrated on the world. The EUs ombudsman charged the Commission with maladministration because it failed to ever look into these texts in response to a freedom of information request. The Commission responded that the messages are short-lived, ephemeral documents that are not kept so it was case closed. A search for the texts, the Commission further claimed, supposedly yielded no results anyway. So where did they go, von der Leyen? How about you, Bourla? Do you know where your text exchange with von der Leyen went? At no point did the Commission ever provide even a modicum of transparency about the matter, which led many to believe that it is fully compromised. Bourla, von der Leyen, and potentially others seem to have gotten away with their little financial heist or have they? The matter has not been settled by any means, and this new investigation could eventually get to the bottom of all this or at least show that a cover-up took place, incriminating Bourla and von der Leyen as culprits in illegal activity. Belgian Socialist MEP Kathleen van Brempt has said that several aspects of Pfizers contract with the EU need to be immediately and fully investigated, including the text messages between the Commission President and the fact that there is no paper trail of the preliminary negotiations in first instance. We need to know why the biggest contract is the least transparent, Brempt tweeted. We need to understand why the EU is obliged to buy 1.8 billion Pfizer / BioNTech vaccines, regardless of the needs, regardless of whether new and better players have entered the market. Many EU contracts reserved a right to buy but with the Pfizer contract we do have an obligation to buy. Why did we deviate from the normal procedure for a contract that covers our needs many times, for a period where all would already be vaccinated (2022 and 2023). As the death toll from covid injections increases, we will keep you informed of the latest at ChemicalViolence.com. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Moderna has developed a new mRNA injection to purportedly repair damaged cardiac muscles from the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. Incidentally, it developed the same injection responsible for the cardiac issues. According to the Gateway Pundit, Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel announced the development of this new mRNA injection. The piece described the vaccine maker as having found the cure for the tyrannical medical-industrial complexs latest manufactured health crisis. Bancel elaborated in an interview that this new mRNA injection will be administered directly into the heart muscle. The resulting treatment, he claimed, will grow back new blood vessels and re-vascularize the heart. Its a bit like science fiction medicine, said the Moderna CEO. Its exciting to me. He also touched on the COVID-19 boosters, claiming that he is not worried about the low uptake of the shots. Bancel nevertheless expressed belief that people will eventually get comfortable with the fact that they have updated the vaccine. The Moderna CEOs announcement came amid controversies involving the companys experimental COVID-19 vaccine. Many injected with it had fallen to sudden adult death syndrome (SADS). Healthy athletes, performers, musicians, news anchors, soldiers, teenagers and healthcare workers have dropped dead like flies due to heart-related issues allegedly stemming from the mRNA COVID-19 shot. Moderna holds both the sickness and the cure for more money Scott SJWellfire mentioned on his Final Days Report podcast that the COVID-19 vaccination program was conducted for maximum damage effect. He continued: People are dying at an unprecedented rate. There is a 40 percent increase in death rate, according to life insurance companies. The author and podcast host cited an article about Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo warning against the COVID-19 vaccine. According to the Sunshine States top health official, the shot causes a massive 84 percent increase in cardiac-related death in males aged between 18 and 39 years old. The Florida Department of Health conducted an analysis through a self-controlled case series, which is a technique originally developed to evaluate vaccine safety, Ladapo said in a statement. This analysis found that there is an 84 percent increase in the relative incidence of cardiac-related death among males 18-39 years old within 28 days following mRNA vaccination. (Related: Florida surgeon general warns: COVID-19 vaccines linked to higher risk of cardiac-related DEATH.) He further brought attention to the issue through a Sept. 2 tweet. [A] new study published in Vaccine shows concerning rate of serious adverse events after mRNA vaccination. But estimates are limited [because] Pfizer and Moderna wont release patient-level trial data, the surgeon general wrote. Why are doctors blindly following Big Pharma? This is wicked, my friends, SJWellfire said. I know a ton of Christians that took this poison to keep their job. But dont do it again because they will just continue this process, waves and waves and waves of it. Visit VaccineDamage.news for more stories about the adverse effects brought about by the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. Watch the full segment of Final Days Report with Scott SJWellFire below. This video is from the SJWellFire: Final Days Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Moderna releases new mRNA injection to repair heart muscle while peoples hearts are being damaged by mRNA covid jabs. Pfizer proceeds with mRNA flu vaccine trial despite multiple controversies. THE NEXT VAX: Big Pharma pushing to release ANOTHER mRNA vaccine, this one for RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). Risk of heart inflammation is higher from Moderna vaccine than from COVID-19 among people under 40. Study: Myocarditis rates much higher in Moderna-vaccinated people than government claims. Sources include: Brighteon.com TheGatewayPundit.com NaturalHealth365.com (Natural News) More and more children, sometimes as young as six, are suffering from an eye condition that usually only affects older adults. Dry eye disease or dry eye syndrome, also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, occurs when the tear ducts are unable to provide adequate liquid or lubrication for the eyes. This condition commonly affects people between the ages of 50 to 60, and if left untreated can become an extremely painful condition. If it worsens, symptoms can include gritty, sore, red and sensitive eyes. (Related: Many people fully vaccinated for COVID are now going BLIND.) People who suffer from dry eye disease have spoken of a constant sensation of burning, similar to the experience of chopping onions. Dr. Matthew Olsen of British ophthalmological care company Thea Pharmaceuticals, which helps create products to treat dry eye disease, said the condition has a huge impact on quality of life. We need to raise awareness of the importance of looking after our eyes amongst all age groups, he said. Excessive screen time does just more than affect the vision of children. Last month, scientists noted that blue light emitted from phones and tablets at night may trigger early puberty. One of the authors, Dr. Aylin Kilinic Ugurlu from Ankara City Hospital in Turkey, said data strongly suggests that blue light exposure should be limited. Other studies have pointed out that there are numerous concerns about the long-term effect gadget use has on mental and physical health. One such study found that primary school-aged children miss out on the equivalent of a nights sleep a week due to bedtimes being delayed by excessive gadget use. Too much screen time harms childrens eyes Sarah Farrant, an optometrist and dry eye specialist who runs a practice in the Earlam and Christopher clinic in Somerset, England, has blamed the condition on children having too much screen time either in front of a television, a smartphone, a tablet or a computer. When I started up my clinic 15 years ago, there was not a single child who turned up with the condition, said Farrant. But in the past five or six years, Ive been seeing more and more children with dry eye. My youngest patient was six, which used to be unheard of. Farrant claims looking at screens for longer periods of time dramatically reduces a childs blink rate, which leads to lower eye lubrication and can develop into dry eye disease. Recent research has shown that the time children spend looking at screens is vastly exceeding global guidelines. The World Health Organization and many pediatric societies all over the world strongly recommend that infants younger than two should not spend any time looking at screens at all. Children between the ages of two and five should only spend one hour a day looking at screens. Writing in the peer-reviewed journal JAMA Pediatrics, scientists from the University of Calgary in Canada explained: Given how many children exceed screen-time guidelines, industry elimination of ads from programming and apps directed at children, would support healthier outcomes. Digital media are now a regular part of young childrens lives, and supporting families to best fit evidence-based recommendations into their daily routines needs to be a priority, the statement continued. The researchers and pediatricians also noted that children aged two to five who were limited to using screens for just two hours per day were more likely to meet guidelines for screen usage than if they forced their kids to only use screens for one hour a day. The researchers noted that the finding that a higher proportion of children can meet the two-hours-per-day guideline express how important this is. It suggests that for many families with young children glued to the screens of their phones, televisions, tablets and computers, they only need to implement minor adjustments and be strict about enforcing these adjustments in order to meet the recommended health guidelines and to preserve the eye health of their children. Watch this video and learn about three natural remedies for itchy eye allergies. This video is from the Natural News channel on Brighteon.com. More related articles: Ophthalmologists now ethically obligated to denounce COVID-19 vaccines, as 20,000 new eye disorders are reported. Studies: Vitamin C helps maintain healthy vision as you age. Take a closer look: People who have undergone LASIK eye surgery warn others about various post-op complications. Eye health and poor nutrition: A high-fat diet may be linked to vision problems later in life, warn scientists. Youve heard of the gut microbiome how about eye microbiome? Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk Express.co.uk Metro.co.uk Brighteon.com (Natural News) Following the chaotic 2020 election, lawyers for President Donald Trump, along with several computer and election experts, sounded the alarm about voting machines in key battleground states that they believed were hacked and, thus, subjected to vote manipulation. The mainstream media, all of whom are propagandists for the Democratic Party, slammed those concerns as the rantings of wild conservative conspiracy theorists beholden to QAnon. But now that it appears as though Democrats are going to have their rear ends handed to them in next months midterm elections, suddenly the mainstream media is reporting that yes, in fact, voting machines connected to the internet are at risk of being hacked and votes are at risk of being changed. Theres a largely overlooked hacking target that could help those who want to sow doubt about vote tallies in the November midterms: cellular modems that transmit unofficial election-night results, reported left-of-center outlet Politico. The modems, which send vote data from precincts to central offices using cellphone networks, help election officials satisfy the publics demand for rapid results. But putting any networking connection on an election system opens up new ways to attack it that dont require physical access to machines, and security experts say the risks arent worth the rewards, the report continued. Dan Wallach, a Rice University computer science professor who has exposed flaws and problems in election equipment many times, added: Youre counting on a bunch of infrastructure to deliver data back and forth, and its well within the capabilities of nation-state hackers to break into that infrastructure. That is all in line, literally, with what Donald Trumps legal and election expert teams said following the 2020 election that was clearly stolen from him, as exposed by Dinesh DSouzas blockbuster documentary, 2000 Mules. Only then, the mainstream media, which protects Democrats, called the allegations hoaxes and conspiracy theories. The report continued: At least six states Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan and Minnesota use modems to transmit results in a combined 36 counties, according to a POLITICO survey. Rhode Island uses them statewide, and Washington, D.C., uses them citywide. Wisconsin, which the nonprofit election integrity group Verified Voting identified as using modem-equipped devices, did not respond to inquiries about whether its counties use the feature. Read my new story about the risks of cellular modems in voting machines: https://t.co/F8qNw0yf59 As @mattblaze told me, We now have to worry about anybody getting access to a communication network that is fundamentally open. Eric Geller (@ericgeller) October 14, 2022 Retired United States Army Col. Phil Waldron, one of those experts who warned the Department of Homeland Security prior to the 2020 election that voting machines could be hacked, made his statement during a public hearing with the Arizona State Legislature, where he relayed what he and his team of election watchdogs learned about the Dominion Voting Systems machines. When I started working on this project in August, I called them up and said, You guys have got to come out and look at it. They did. They spent an initial three hours going through this data. At the end of that, one of them said, I think I need to go outside and throw up,' Waldron noted. The DHS followed up with Waldrons team and their findings. At one point several employees, who are based out of Arlington, Virginia, flew to Dallas to obtain over 600 gigabytes of data. After they analyzed, there was a scan a passive scan done. They conducted a limited scan and determined that there were vulnerabilities, said Waldron. But now that Democrats appear set to lose a lot of elections, suddenly, here comes a media cheerleader to warn about something they dismissed when Trump made the same claim. Sources include: NaturalNews.com Politico.com (Natural News) Polish citizens have found a cheaper way to keep their homes warm as winter approaches they burn trash. Soaring prices of electricity and natural gas forced most of Polands citizens to resort to coal and wood. But as demand increased and supply became scarce, prices of coal and wood also rose. This prompted the countrys poor to turn to combustible garbage to heat their homes. Poor households hit two birds with one stone with this option, as they are able resolve garbage disposal problems and save on heating costs. But the practice has its drawbacks as it contributes to air pollution, harms the environment and is considered unsanitary. Many have also complained of the stench. Paulina Mroczkowska, a resident of the capital Warsaw, told Bloomberg she had already seen fellow Poles turning to trash to keep warm as temperatures outside continue to drop, especially at night. Its so bad this season that you can smell trash burning every day, which is completely new, she complained. Rarely can you smell regular fuel. Its scary to think what happens when it really gets cold. With winter drawing near, temperatures are dropping throughout Central Europe, signaling the beginning of the heating season as well. The temperature in Poland, which currently is in the single digits, hovers around freezing in December and drops below zero in January, the height of winter. As such, garbage collectors have reported a decline in the trash they collect from households. The nation [is] already experiencing a trash panic, a mayor from one Polish city told news channel TVN24. Were seeing a significant drop in garbage collection, especially when it comes to materials that could, at least in theory, be suitable for burning such as paper, cardboard and packaging. While Poles are aware that burning trash could be detrimental to others health, this appears to be a more viable albeit smellier option than freezing to death. Poland determined to end its dependence on Russian energy The burning of trash for heating is projected to increase in the coming months as Poland announced its intent to end reliance on Russian fuel supplies by the end of 2022. Whether or not Moscow succeeds or fizzles out in its special military operation in Ukraine, Warsaw is determined to achieve energy independence. While Poland produces 50 million tons of coal annually, it remains insufficient to meet local demand as 3.8 million households in the country rely on it for warmth during the winter. Russia used to supply 40 percent of Polands coal, which is sold at a cheaper price. But according to the Polish Press Agency, imports of Russian coal came to a complete halt in May 2022. This subsequently pushed coal prices up, with long queues for fuel reported near coal mines. Buyers reportedly waited for up to three days in their cars near the coal mines to buy supplies in anticipation of further price spikes. Reports of backlogs in the sale of stoves as well as wood pellets also emerged. (Related: Polish homeowners face freezing to death this winter as they line up for DAYS, sleeping in their cars, just to buy coal.) Nevertheless, Warsaw remains undeterred and is pushing forward with a ban on all Russian fossil fuels, including oil and natural gas, by the end of 2022. It has also called for a tax on Russian fuels to cut the flow of income to the Russian Armed Forces. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki described the ban as one of the most radical plans in Europe to walk away from Russian fossil fuels. How long this ban will last, however, remains unclear as Poland runs out of fuel. Watch this clip about gas prices in Europe surging by 30 percent in just two days, a result of the sanctions on Russian energy supplies backed by Poland and other countries. This video is from the Chinese taking down EVIL CCP channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: European countries mull increasing investment in fossil fuels to maintain energy security. Europeans panic-buying firewood and stoves in desperate preparation for dark winter without electricity and gas. GOT HEAT? Polish households burn TRASH for heat as Western sanctions against Russia deprive Europe of energy. Sources include: GreatGameIndia.com BNNBloomberg.ca TheEpochTimes.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Did you ever guess or suspect that there were other causes for the twin towers to collapse on September 11, 2001, other than jet fuel? Millions of Americans, including dozens of architects and engineers, suspected that both towers, just like Building 7, were destroyed by demolition, not just simply fire. Was it illegal for them to speculate about it? Will the insane, crooked government running this country right now arrest us all and fine us millions of dollars on behalf of the families of the 3,000 people who died inside those buildings? What if the US government did lie, and it was an inside job? This deserves careful consideration. Now take for example another suspect event that might have not gone down the way MSM and the FBI said it did Sandy Hook. The mainstream narratives about major events are often very wrong and misleading. Ever heard of misinformation? Consider this: If Alex Jones (think Info Wars and Prison Planet) must pay $965 million for hypothesizing (incorrectly) about Sandy Hook, how many TRILLIONS should NYT, CNN, MSNBC, Washington Post pay for lying about vaccine safety and effectiveness? PEOPLE DIED. Whereas Alex didnt kill anyone. Thats right, millions of people are injured or dead thanks to the Covid clot shots that Pfizer and the CDC swore up and down for 2 years were safe and effective, knowing good and well from clinical trials they were all experimental, dangerous and ineffective, for the most part. Now that millions of innocent people are dying from the Fauci Flu clot shots, so how much money will the scientists, regulatory heads, and news pundits who pushed the lies have to pay out? Nobody can put a price tag on any human life, but the genocide going on right now caused by the Covid-19 vaccines and boosters is exponential compared to what happened at 9/11 and Sandy Hook. When the conspirators of the Covid clot shots get busted for mass murder and conspiracy to commit mass murder, how much money will they be fined? This is much worse than defamation as the vaccines are weapons of mass destruction that are KILLING humans, not just speculating about the death of some. If Alex Jones is to pay out a billion dollars to a dozen or so parents of kids who passed away at Sandy Hook, then it looks like the pro-vax-fanatics will be paying out a trillion dollars, which is a thousand billion. After all, whats fair is fair, and the justice system in America needs to be consistent, if anything, right? Remember, if you can, that many videos on YouTube after Sandy Hook were very suspect, strange, and raised plenty of reasonable questions. Conservatives in America must rally NOW around the Constitution, or it will be erased forever like chalk off a sidewalk. Lets keep it carved in stone. Bookmark Censored.news to your favorite websites for truth news thats being censored from the rest of media as you read this, and never forget the controlled demolition of building 7. Keep asking questions and stay frosty. Sources for this article include: NaturalNews.com FirstAmendmentWatch.org (Natural News) Election analyst Seth Keshel discussed the credibility of elections in the U.S. during the Oct. 11 episode of Lawfare with Tom Renz on Brighteon.TV. Keshel remarked that having an election concern lingering for so long means that the country is in an unparalleled crisis. He cited poll research that revealed two-thirds of Americans no longer trusting any election result. According to the poll analyst, this is the true national crisis Americans have found themselves in. Thus, the people themselves must fight this battle in order to gain bigger victories and completely purge the election system. Renz agreed with his guest, saying there is indeed a possibility that election results have serious issues. The Ohio-based lawyer added that the election system is not going to be fixed right away, given that the election monsters worked on rigging the system for decades. According to the Lawfare host, the other side likes to say that the U.S. holds safe and secure elections yet fails to show evidence for this. Accusations of election fraud going on in different counties further debunked this claim. (Related: BREAKING: Democrat brief claims U.S. election results never rejected before thats a MASSIVE lie.) Concurring with Renz, Keshel cited the case of Georgia gubernatorial candidate Kandiss Taylor. She received only 40,000 votes in the Republican primaries, even though she had 60,000 adult volunteers. But there were also victories for election integrity. Keshel said the Delaware Supreme Court ruled that mail-in voting is unconstitutional. It also struck down same-day voter registration. The court found that the two moves conflict with the registration and absentee voter categories outlined in the First States constitution. It upheld a prior ruling by the states vice chancellor, which rejected the vote-by-mail law, while overturning his upholding of the Election Day registration law. The bills were passed in the final days of the states General Assembly that ended in June. The Democrats previously tried to amend the states constitution, but failed to secure the two-thirds support needed to do so. Keshel: At least 20M fake ballots helped Biden in 2020 polls Keshel believes that at least 20 million of the 81 million ballots that gave incumbent President Joe Biden the victory in the 2020 elections are counterfeit. But this time, the Americans are ready to fight election fraud. (Related: Here it is! Widespread election fraud revealed in report.) The poll analyst predicted that the Republican Party will take control of Congress and that the Democratic Party will be pummeled. However, Keshel hinted that too many Republicans in name only (RINOs) have made it past the primaries. These RINOs, he remarked, are only using the election system to ensure victory during the primaries. Keshel said these RINOs are reasons why Americans are not seeing any action in red states that reported election frauds. While the Republicans are slated to take back both chambers of Congress, Keshel lamented that many GOP members there are all bark and no bite. Follow FakePolls.news for more stories about election fraud in America. Watch the Oct. 11 episode of Lawfare with Tom Renz below. Lawfare with Tom Renz airs every Tuesday at 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and Saturday at 12:30-1 p.m. on Brighteon.TV. More related stories: Capt. Seth Keshel tells Matrixxx Grooove: Trump should have been the easy winner of the 2020 presidential election Brighteon.TV. The Sheriff Mack Show: 2020 US election fraud is greatest coup against the American people Brighteon.TV. B-Alert News with Bishop Leon Benjamin: Americans can prevent or expose efforts to undermine election integrity Brighteon.TV. More proof that ELECTION FRAUD is REAL: Election software CEO arrested. 2020 Election fraud: USPS whistleblower explains he was interrogated by the FBI, which showed no interest in the election fraud itself. Sources include: Brighteon.com FoxNews.com (Natural News) Russia has issued a grim warning to the rest of the world: World War III is all but guaranteed if Ukraines Western allies continue to meddle in their ongoing conflict. Specifically, a top Kremlin official threatened worldwide destruction should NATO approve Ukraines request to join the organization. Kyiv is well aware that such a step would mean a guaranteed escalation to a World War III, said Alexander Venediktov, the deputy secretary of Russias Security Council. (Related: Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko warns World War III is about to begin.) Venediktov claimed that the West is always making threats of a possible nuclear war. Russian officials have never voiced a threat to use any weapons of mass destruction. Meanwhile, in Europe, some politicians openly call for such actions, even a number of politicians in the EU [European Union] do not conceal and do not rule out the possibility of using weapons of mass destruction against Russia, Venediktov said. The warning came a day after a senior NATO official announced that a Russian nuclear strike would undoubtedly cause a physical response from Ukraines allies. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the United States is committed to defending every inch of NATOs territory. NATO started its annual exercise to test nuclear deterrence capabilities in Europe on Monday, Oct. 17, with the aid of 14 of its 30 member countries. The routine exercise, this year named Steadfast Noon, will run until October 30. Venediktov: Nuclear war will be catastrophic for all mankind Meanwhile, Venediktov criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying that his actions and words are being dictated by other people. It would be good for the West to realize that their protege can take on so much that Washington and Brussels will have to think about how to deal with the consequences, Venediktov said. We must remember: A nuclear conflict will affect absolutely the whole world not only Russia and the collective West, but any country on this planet. Its consequences will be catastrophic for all mankind. Russian missiles hit more than 40 Ukrainian cities and towns last October 13, causing massive destruction. The southern port city of Mykolaiv was bombarded, while missiles also hit about 30 multi-story buildings and houses in the city of Nikopol in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Thousands were left without power after gas pipelines and power lines were struck. Putin blamed the escalation on Ukrainian terrorist act, referring to the bombing of Russias bridge to Crimea last Oct. 10. The speaker of Russias State Duma offered the same excuse. Nowhere in the world does anyone negotiate with terrorists. If the terrorist attacks by the Kyiv regime continue, the response will be even tougher, Vyacheslav Volodin said on his Telegram channel. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden cautioned that the world is facing the biggest risk of nuclear Armageddon since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Follow WWIII.com for more news about a possible nuclear war. Watch the video below to know how NATO is making preparations for a nuclear world war against Russia. This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com. More related articles: Oh great Now we have a hot war with Russia and we are being warned that World War Three can only be nuclear. Gearing up for World War III? NATO to deploy more troops as Zelensky calls for help. Pro-Putin ideologue predicts World War III as Russian leader calls up 300,000 reservists for war in Ukraine. Biden is trying to buy more allies for America before initiating World War III against Russia. Ukraines Zelensky called for NATO strikes on Russia, raising new fears WWIII is on the horizon. Sources include: DailyStar.co.uk NYPost.com Express.co.uk As windfarms are a significant expenditure in the aftermath of Covid and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, General Electric (GE) plans to make substantial employment layoffs in its U.S. wind business. It will consider other markets as well. Hesitant to Engage in Wind Energy Companies are hesitant to engage in wind energy as they search for less expensive alternatives due to ongoing supply chain disruptions and the high cost of wind turbines. Are wind and solar electricity more expensive and less dependable? This is a subject that has been posed for years. The irregular power supply of the two renewable energy sources has drawn frequent criticism. Meanwhile, the cost of building solar and wind farms is turning out to be more than anticipated due to the increased price of steel and other components. Due to massive global investments in research and development, the cost of solar and wind energy has been falling as technical advances have been made. But the cost of components has consistently increased due to a pandemic that has disrupted global supply chains. Can the increased wind turbine efficiency offset the growing cost of raw materials? Also Read: Here's How Listening to the People May Actually Help in Creating a More Sustainable Energy System GE Report This month's reports, GE will be cutting about 20% of its onshore wind staff in the United States. Employees throughout North America, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa have been informed of the changes. A review of its wind markets in Europe and Asia is anticipated to follow. We are trying to simplify and scale our onshore wind business for market realities to position us for future success, the memo that GE employees received last week stated. These are challenging choices that do not diminish the commitment and effort of our staff but are necessary to keep the company competitive and increase profitability over time. GE is reportedly considering restructuring and downsizing the company, citing sluggish demand, increased prices, and supply-chain bottlenecks as the main difficulties. GE acknowledged "streamlining" its onshore wind activities, but the company has not addressed employment losses. "These are difficult decisions, which do not reflect on the commitment and effort of our workers, but are necessary to guarantee the business can compete and enhance profitability over time," a GE Renewables representative said. Alternative Energy Sources As businesses struggle with the rising cost of wind electricity while increasing their expenditures on renewables to decarbonize operations, this example shows the larger problem. And despite recent increases in demand, producers of wind turbines are still having trouble making a profit. As the world's top non-hydro renewable energy source, the prospective shift away from wind energy might have serious repercussions. The global switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy is anticipated greatly supported by wind power. Additionally, if energy firms in North America and Europe reduce their support for wind power while Asian nations like China grow it, the geopolitical environment may alter. Related Article: More than Enough: Experts Claims that Modern Wind Turbines Provide Enough Energy Despite Global Decline in Win Resource For more environmental news, don't forget to follow Nature World News! Israeli and Palestinian women, members of two local peace movements, wave their flags as they take part in an inaugural event marking the beginning of their partnership, on the shore of the Dead Sea near the city of Jericho, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on March 25, 2022. - Hundreds of activists from the Palestinian initiative Women of the Sun and Israeli movement Women Wage Peace shared in the poetry of Mahmoud Darwish, planted flags on the Dead Sea's shores and vowed to continue the push for peace despite political talks failing in recent years. (Photo : Photo by ABBAS MOMANI/AFP via Getty Images) Endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh is attempting, what is thought to be, the world's first swim across the Red Sea. World's First Swim Across the Red Sea A British-South African endurance athlete is attempting to complete the world's first swim across the Red Sea in a call for action ahead of a major global climate summit. Lewis wants to draw attention to the perceived weakness of coral reefs and deep ocean ahead of a massive climate conference in Egypt in November. He stated to the BBC that he hoped foreign leaders to dip their heads throughout the water to see how much we potentially lose if we do not even act quickly. He plans to swim the 160km (100 miles) in 2 weeks. In November, communities will accumulate in Sharm el-Sheikh for COP27 to explain how or why the world is dealing with climate warming. Mr Pugh, a UN Patron of the Oceans, will face warm sea temperatures, very salty water, and long hours of exposure to the sun as he swims around 10km (6 miles) a day. His journey started in Saudi Arabia, and will take him through one of the world's busiest shipping lanes leading to the Suez Canal. He will touch land again in Hurghada, Egypt. He describes the precious coral reefs he is swimming over as magnificent. "I have swum in breathtakingly beautiful and biologically diverse coral reefs. There are fish of every color and definition. But when I returned a few years later, there was extremely little left" he said to BBC News. Climate change poses a particular threat to coral reefs. The UN advises that maybe if global temperature rises by 1.5 degrees Celsius, 90% of coral reefs will simply vanish. If global warming continues uncontrolled, humanity and environment will suffer disastrous overheating, which would cause mass extinctions of species, increasing droughts, and higher sea levels. Peoples' use of oil, gas, and carbon in their residences, industries, and transportation is to blame for the rapid increase in temperature we are currently witnessing. Also read: Ancient Humans: The Real Apex Predators for a Good 2 Million Years Tackling Climate Change Different parts of the world are affected by climate change in different ways. Some locations will heat up quicker than others, while others will have more rain and drier conditions. Poorer nations' citizens will endure the most because they lack the resources to respond to climate change. The already oppressively hot conditions that many crops in developing nations must endure will get much worse. Mr. Pugh is urging authorities to act in order to substantially reduce pollution of greenhouse gases and to preserve 30% of the ocean waters. According to Mr Pugh, the vast majority of individuals still don't comprehend how rapidly it's actually occurring and the massive impact it will have everyone all over the world. He has indeed been swimming for 35 years and is the first person to swim across every ocean. This is a battle to get individuals to comprehend the enormous impact (climate change) is possessing not just on present generation, but also on every single upcoming generation after generation on this planet, he says. For 9 kilometers, he was supported by Dr Mariam Saleh Bin Laden, a Saudi endurance swimmer. She defined the swim as quick, challenging, and exciting. "I would want swimmers from all over the region to participate in the coastal swim" Mr Pugh said. For more news and updates about nature and similar topics, don't forget to follow Nature World News! Related article: Mississippi River Low Water Levels Expose Natural Walkway to Land Formation Tower Rock Three people lost their lives in an extreme landslide that covered the streets of Venezuela with mud and water. Just one week after a sizable landslide wreaked havoc on the nearby community of Las Tejeras, videos posted on social media show a river of mud and water rampaging through the streets of El Castao in Aragua state, Venezuela. No less than three people were killed in the landslide, the president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, said on state television. Maduro claimed to have learned that the landslide-related damages in El Castao, Maracay, are severe after he traveled to Las Tejeras, the site of a mudslide a week earlier that claimed dozens of lives. On social media, footage of an extreme landslide in Venezuela has been widely disseminated. Heavy rain caused the landslide, which damaged more than 50 homes. Primarily, Maduro was informed that three people have already died as a result of the mudslide that originated in the mountains. The president of Venezuela stated that the country's government would keep helping its citizens. Refugees and the Aftermath An AFP team monitored the aftermath as emergency personnel worked the whole night to clear the road of mud and rocks. Since there was no electricity in the area, the workers' work sites were illuminated by the headlights of passing vehicles. The 56-year-old Jose Dos Santos claimed to have taken refuge in the upper level of his home with his family. He described how the rain was pouring heavily as he was looking toward the mountain. He grabbed his family and they climbed up after hearing a roar and seeing water coming in from the windows. Nelida Rodriguez, a neighbor, and fellow resident described the landslide as terrible. Rodriguez claimed to have lived in the area for seven decades and had never witnessed a landslide of this magnitude. Read also: Climate Change is Changing Landslides in a "Surprising Way," Says NASA The announcement was made by Maduro during a speech in Las Tejerias, located 65 kilometers to the east of El Castano, where, according to the most recent death toll provided by the president, a landslide last week left 54 people dead. Maduro claimed that there are currently several missing people. He was informed that eight of the reported cases are 100% confirmed and that search and rescue efforts are ongoing. According to reports, Venezuela's recent extreme landslide was the country's worst natural disaster in 20 years. Last week, the president predicted that there could be 100 victims. Later, Maduro visited El Castano, where he claimed that climate change is to blame for all of the destruction and catastrophe. He continued by saying that the entire nation had a very difficult time with the rain this year. Maduro claimed that in his nearly ten years in office, 2022 has been the year with the worst natural disasters, Phys Org reported. Landslides Landslides can happen anywhere in the world and are more common compared to any other geological occurrence. They happen when substantial amounts of soil, rocks, or debris slide down a slope as a result of an occurrence in nature or even by human activity. Debris flows or mudslides are other typical examples of swiftly moving landslides. Related articles: Venezuela Suffers from Catastrophic Landslide, Death Toll Could Climb A minimum of four weather warnings will continue throughout the day Tuesday for some parts of Michigan as flooding, strong wind gusts, and freezing winter weather persists. Otsego, Montmorency, Crawford, Kalkaska, Wexford, Antrim, Missaukee, Cheboygan, Charlevoix, as well as Luce County, are under a Winter Weather Advisory that lasts until noon. Residents are cautioned to be cautious of slick roads and poor visibility. For Emmet, Leelanau, Grand Traverse, Antrim, Benzie, Manistee, western Chippewa, Oceana, Mason, and Charlevoix County, including Beaver Island, the NWS issued a Wind Advisory for today and tonight. Forecasts indicated that wind gusts of over 50 mph may occur close to the Great Lakes. Luce County is under a lakeshore flood warning today and tonight. Along Lake Superior, flooding and beach erosion are anticipated. Grand Traverse County has a Lakeshore Flood Advisory in effect for today and tonight. In the southern portions of both the West Bay and the East Bay, flooding and beach erosion are potential problems. At the Mackinac Bridge, there is also a high wind warning in addition to the weather alerts. Drivers are advised to use the outside lane, decrease their speed to no more than 20 mph, and activate their four-way flashers. Wet Snow, Slippery Roads on Tuesday Watch for a rain and snow mix on Tuesday morning. At or near the Great Lakes, rain is more likely, and inland, expect mostly snow. There will be a buildup of heavy, wet snow. Watch out for areas of the road that may be wet and slick. Today's highs in Michigan will typically be 42 degrees. The morning's rain and snow mix will change to just rain showers for the afternoon as the temperature rises. Northerly winds will blow with gusts of up to 40 mph, while the Great Lakes could experience gusts of more than 50 mph. As temperatures drop on Tuesday night, the early-evening rain showers will change to a mix of rain and snow. The overnight low temperatures will be in the 30s range. In the vicinity of the Great Lakes, it will be a little warmer. This region is likely to receive snow because it is farther from the lakes, where it is closer to freezing. Road wetness and possibly slipping hazards should be avoided. A few inches of snow accumulation are predicted, but lake-effect snow bands will form and become common in some towns. Northern or northwesterly winds will have gusts of up to 40 mph. Showers, Rain, Snow, Wind on Wednesday Residents are warned to be on the lookout for additional showers, rain mixed with snow, and increased wind on Wednesday. It won't be as windy, though, and there won't be as much rain or snow as there has been recently. High temperatures for Wednesday will go back and forth across the range from 38 to 45 degrees. Northerly or northwesterly winds will occasionally gust to 30 mph. Snow and light rain will fall sporadically on Wednesday night. From the northwest, there will be winds of 10 to 20 mph. Read also: Major Flooding Persists in Southeast Australia; Further Rainfall Expected Light Rain, Snow Showers, Cloudy Skies on Thursday There will be sporadic light rain and snow showers on Thursday. Highs will mostly be in the 40s with a mostly cloudy sky in the area. Five to 15 mph winds will come from the northwest. Lows in the 30s, mostly cloudy skies, and little wind are forecast for Thursday night. Cloudy, Breezy Friday The Lower Peninsula will have partly sunny skies on Friday. In the Upper Peninsula, it will be slightly cloudier, there may be light rain showers, and highs will mostly be in the 50s. Lows on Friday night will range from 35 to 45 degrees while it's going to be partly cloudy and breezy. Sunny Michigan Weekend On Saturday, there will be a majority of sunshine and temperatures between 55 and 65 degrees. Most of Saturday night would be clear. Lows will range from 42 to 52 degrees, and the wind will be light. On Sunday, there will be more sunshine, making it slightly warmer than it was on Saturday. On this breezy day, high temperatures will range from 58 to close to 70 degrees in some towns, Up North Live ABC74 reports. Related article: Freeze Alerts Raised as Most of US Brace for Temperatures 15 Degrees Below Average According to a recent report by environmental investigation consultants, there is considerable radioactive contamination detected from an elementary school in a suburb of St. Louis where nuclear weapons were produced for and during World War II. Concerns about radioactive contamination at Jana Elementary School, located in Florissant's Hazelwood School District, were confirmed by the report and investigation conducted by Boston Chemical Data Corp., which had been raised by an earlier Army Corps of Engineers study. There is significant radioactive contamination at an elementary school in suburban St. Louis where nuclear weapons were produced during World War II, according to a new report. https://t.co/1pyqeB721W NBC News (@NBCNews) October 17, 2022 According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the new assessment is based on samples that were collected from the school in August. Boston Chemical Data Corp. declined to identify the source of the report's request or funding. The head of the Jana parent-teacher association and mother of a student at the institution, Ashley Bernaugh, expressed her heartbreak. She added that although it sounds so cliche, the discovery takes one's breath away. Jana Elementary School The school is located in the Coldwater Creek flood plain, which was tainted by nuclear waste from the production of wartime weapons back in the Second World War. The waste was dumped at locations close to the Missouri River and the St. Louis Lambert International Airport. For more than 20 years, the Corps has been tasked with cleaning up the creek. However, the levels of contamination were much lower in the Corps' report, and no samples were taken within 300 feet of the elementary school. Samples from Jana Elementary School's library, kitchen, classrooms, fields, and playgrounds were used in the most recent report. Lead-210, radium, polonium, and other radioactive isotopes were present in much higher concentrations than Boston Chemical Data Corp. had anticipated. The school's interior dust samples were discovered to be contaminated. The report warned that ingesting or inhaling these radioactive substances could result in serious harm. The report also said that for the school to get its conditions in line with expectations, a tremendous remedial program would be necessary. The new report is anticipated to take center stage at the Hazelwood school board meeting on Tuesday. In a statement, the district stated that it will consult with its lawyers and experts to decide the next course of action. Read aslo: Is Nuclear War Really the Answer to Climate Change? Safety is unquestionably the top priority for both staff and students, according to board president Betsy Rachel, who made this statement on Saturday. Following the receipt of a copy via a Freedom of Information Act request, Christen Commuso, together with the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, presented the findings of the Corps' study to the school board in June. She said that due to the cumulative effects of these toxins, she will not allow her child to attend this school, KY3 reported. Radioactive Contamination The CDC stated that radioactive contamination happens when radioactive particles are deposited on, inside of, or near an object or a person. When radioactive materials are released into the environment, they have the potential to contaminate the air, water, soil, surfaces, plants, animals, buildings, and people. A person who is contaminated has radioactive substances inside or on their body. Radioactive material could also contaminate people from the outside, and it can also contaminate surfaces they touch. For instance, individuals who may have unknowingly carried radioactive dust on their garments run the risk of spreading the substance when they hug or sit in chairs. Related article: Radioactive Material in Pacific Ocean Corals Could Mark New Epoch European nations have done most of what was reasonably possible to fill gas storage tanks. Weather will determine how quickly gas in storage will be used up; therefore, Europe is hoping and praying for a warmer winter. Storage Situation Because storage is fuller than anticipated, LNG shipments are arriving, and the weather is pleasant, Europe's gas prices started this week at their lowest point in three months. However, European governments have been preparing for the worst-case scenario, in which a colder than usual winter could quickly deplete gas in storage, send gas prices soaring once more, intensify competition with Asia for pricey LNG, weaken consumers' resolve to conserve energy in freezing temperatures and force more businesses and industrial processes to halt operations. According to commentators, Europe has done all possible to ensure that the heating and lights will be on this winter. Nevertheless, this winter's prolonged cold and windless period threatens to undo all the work done and results in mandated energy-saving objectives, rationing, or rolling blackouts, as per Oil Price. Also Read: Amidst Energy Crisis, EU Agrees Funding Sources to Lessen Dependency on Russia Global Conflicts After the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Russian halt to gas deliveries to practically all EU member states, all that can reasonably be done to ensure an alternate gas supply has been done. In Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland, floating storage regasification units (FSRUs) are being built. It is anticipated that operations will start as soon as the end of this year at Eemshaven, the Netherlands, and Wilhelmshaven and Brunsbuttel, Germany. Asia, the biggest consumer of spot cargo before the conflict, is being outbid by Europe in the price of LNG supplies. Germany, the largest economy in Europe and, until recently, Russia's largest gas consumer, saw its storage reach 95% capacity two weeks earlier than expected due to a higher-than-average filling of gas storage facilities around Europe. Additionally, as the EU promotes cooperation among member states in providing natural gas, France began delivering natural gas directly to Germany last week to ease the energy crisis in Europe's largest economy, according to the Economist. Climate Situation The Copernicus Climate Change Service's most recent weather model, which predicted last week that much of Europe was more likely to see mild temperatures than a harsh frost this winter, further reduced fears about the gas situation in Europe. Despite predictions of a warmer-than-average winter, the agency noted a larger likelihood of a cold, windless snap as early as November or December. Low wind speeds would force much of northwest Europe, which depends on wind for electricity generation, to turn to alternative energy sources, depleting the limited supply of valuable gas. Weather will determine how quickly gas in storage will be used up; therefore, Europe is hoping and praying for a warmer winter. We'll survive the winter just well if we keep our consumption in line, barring calamities like severely cold weather. Roberto Cingolani, Italy's minister for energy transition, told The Wall Street Journal, "We have to pray nothing goes wrong." Extremely Chilly Winter Unfortunately, a lot can go wrong for Europe. One of them is an extremely chilly winter. Natural gas use in the electricity-generating industry in Europe is anticipated to decline by about 3% this year due to exorbitant pricing and a highly competitive gas market. The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicted a 20% decline in industrial gas consumption in its quarterly Gas Market Report released earlier this month. The IEA and experts have cautioned that the energy crisis will not be "a one winter tale," making the winter of 2023/2024 much more challenging for Europe's gas procurement. Related Article: Experts are Saying that Renewable Sources are Not Enough to Solve Europe's Energy Crisis For more environmental news, don't forget to follow Nature World News! A combined maritime task group comprised of Australian and Singaporean warships and troops has completed Exercise Trident. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link A Republic of Singapore Air Force CH-47F helicopter lands on the flight deck of HMAS Adelaide during Exercise Trident near Shoalwater Bay training area, Queensland. Photos: Corporal Cameron Pegg (Picture source: Australian Defence) Three warships and over 1600 people were involved in the exercise, a continued commitment to bilateral joint military exercises under the 2015 Singapore-Australia Comprehensive Partnership. The exercise came to an end with a formal closing ceremony held at Tiger Hill at Shoalwater Bay, Queensland. During the exercise, troops from the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, and 3rd Battalion, Singapore Guards, completed land integration training before embarking on Royal Australian Navy landing helicopter dock HMAS Adelaide and Republic of Singapore Navy landing ship tanks RSS Endurance and RSS Persistence. Tridents Deputy Director Captain Tim Byles, from the Royal Australian Navy, said the co-led exercise was an opportunity to build on an over 30-year defence partnership between the Australian Defence Force and the Singapore Armed Forces. Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, Singapore Guards, and the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, disembark a landing craft (Picture source: Australian Defence) This year we have integrated our staff, tested our operational planning skills and executed the tactical phase of the training, which includes ship to shore operations, and an offensive land manoeuvre as the culminating activity, Captain Byles said. This was the eighth iteration of Exercise Trident and the amphibious training component was a first during the bilateral activity. We demonstrated the ability to project a ground combat element from the vessels to the beach, with support from rotary wing assets and small boat teams, before the seizure of an inland objective, Captain Byles said. Close air support and troop lift was provided by Republic of Singapore Air Force CH-47D helicopters permanently based at Oakey in Queensland. The troops will continue their training in the area into October, before the Singapore Armed Forces wrap up additional training in Australia later in the year. A Royal Australian Navy sailor looks out at Persistence and Endurance, from the flight deck of Adelaide. (Picture source: Australian Defence) 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). 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. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Considerable cloudiness. High 49F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies overnight. Low 38F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Lamenting that 'six days of testimony' is down the drain, the judge said the case will be rescheduled for sometime next year, but 'I don't know when.' Researchers at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, have discovered a blood test for pregnant women that uses artificial intelligence and genetic-related biomarkers to accurately detect, fetal congenital heart defects, well before birth. "We know that when congenital heart defects are diagnosed early ideally before birth outcomes can improve significantly and mortality and morbidity reduced," said Dr. Ray Bahado-Singh, system chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beaumont Health, and lead author of, "Accurate Prenatal Detection of Fetal Congenital Heart Defects," which appears in a recent issue of the leading journal, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Bahado-Singh, his team from Beaumont and researchers from three other institutions harnessed the power of Artificial Intelligence to identify and evaluate fetal DNA that circulates in the mother's bloodstream. Dr. Bahado-Singh cautions that larger, prospective studies are needed to validate these findings. However, he said this minimally invasive detection method is an important, first step in establishing an effective, postnatal action plan that quickly puts at-risk infants on track to receive the intensive medical and surgical attention they need. Once confirmed, these results could lead to exciting new protocols and, most importantly, improved outcomes for newborns and their families. The next steps after a positive test would include performing an echocardiogram prenatally and repeated after birth to confirm the presence and nature of a cardiac defect." Dr. Ray Bahado-Singh, System Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beaumont Health Currently, ultrasound which images the fetal heart, is the only available screening tool for early (prenatal) detection of congenital heart defects, Dr. Bahado Singh said. Unfortunately, in the United States, only about half of fetal congenital heart defects are identified on prenatal ultrasound. Because of this limitation, it is now the standard of care to screen and monitor newborn oxygen levels, via pulse oximetry. Unfortunately, pulse oximetry still misses about 10 % of critical newborn heart defects, leading to increased deaths and severe complications. Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today Birth defects, particularly ones that stem from heart disease, are a leading cause of infant mortality. These include a hole in the heart, the most common, and other potentially deadly cardiac birth defect that might affect oxygen levels and blood flow at birth; valve and other abnormalities. Smoking, alcohol use, environmental toxins and vitamin deficiency are all known contributors to the development of congenital heart defects. These agents cause chemical ('epigenetic') changes in DNA which can affect the function of genes critical to the development of the heart," Dr. Bahado Singh explained "by turning genes on or off,". He continued. "You need a certain group of genes turned on and others turned off, for example, to make sure the chambers of the heart are fully developed. Switching the wrong genes on or off in this normally perfectly orchestrated symphony can cause mal-development leading to major heart defects." Artificial intelligence analysis of the circulating (including fetal) DNA extracted from the mother's blood, Dr. Bahado-Singh explained, "enables us to efficiently review potentially billions of pieces of information in the genome. This includes swiftly identifying specific predictors of a possible fetal heart defect and separating those that need continued monitoring." Ultimately, Dr. Bahado-Singh would like to see all pregnant women achieve ready access to screening- through a blood test, which requires no advance appointments or significant time off from work. Those who test positive could then be referred for detailed, fetal, and newborn cardiac ultrasounds and appropriate early intervention, as needed. "We are still a ways away from that," he said. "But it's exciting to contemplate the possibilities." The study of individuals from six countries finds that Europeans support transferring COVID-19 vaccines to poorer nations and prioritizing those with the greatest need regardless of their country of residence. Vaccine nationalism, in which countries secure vaccines for their populations without regard to global vaccine needs, has been widespread during the pandemic. This trend leads to disproportionate pandemic impacts in countries with limited health resources and aggravates global health inequity. In low-incomes countries, it is estimated that only around 20% of individuals have received a vaccine dose. The unchecked spread of the virus in some regions can also promote the emergence of new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that can spread globally and prolong the pandemic. Understanding public preferences for global COVID-19 vaccine distribution is paramount to driving more equitable vaccine policies. Governments are not likely to donate vaccines to less wealthy countries or participate in global vaccine alliances if they think they will pay the price for it at the ballot box." Janina Steinert, Assistant Professor, School of Social Sciences and Technology, Technical University of Munich, Germany Steinert and Henrike Sternberg, a research associate and doctoral candidate at Technical University of Munich, were co-lead authors of the study. To measure public sentiment about vaccine distribution in Europe, the team surveyed 6,030 individuals open to vaccination but not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 in France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and Sweden. The surveys were completed in Germany in April 2021 amidst the third COVID-19 wave and in the other five countries during a relative pandemic lull in June 2021. The survey included eight questions on whether participants would prioritize person A or B for a COVID-19 vaccine. In each scenario, the participants chose between a person in their country, with a robust health system, or a person in a low-income country with fewer healthcare resources. The prospective vaccine candidates varied by age, their risk of dying from COVID-19, and their employment status. Participants in all six countries prioritized the individuals most vulnerable regardless of whether that individual lived in their country. They also consistently prioritized employed individuals, front-line workers, or those who lost income during the pandemic, over unemployed individuals. Holding other attributes constant, in Italy, France, Sweden and Spain gave the highest priority to vaccination candidates from low-income countries. German participants were more likely to prioritize their fellow citizens for vaccination. The authors suggest this may reflect the fact that the participants were facing a COVID-19 surge when they completed the survey, the older age of German participants, and their greater risk of severe COVID-19 infection among other factors. Meanwhile, the potential recipient's country of residence did not make a difference in Poland. The authors note that each country's sample size limited the study's power to detect country-by-country differences. Across all surveyed countries, females, younger participants and those with higher levels of education were more likely to prioritize vaccinations for individuals from the Global South over people in their own country. Those most at risk of severe outcomes were least supportive of distributing vaccines outside the Global North. "We hope policymakers will find these insights useful for anticipating which groups will support vaccine donations to other countries and which groups may need more information about the benefits of global vaccine distribution," suggests Sternberg. The study shows that European governments should expect strong public support for equitable vaccine distribution, according to senior author Tim Buthe, Professor and Chair for International Relations at the Technical University of Munich. "Public support for vaccine donations to the Global South is likely even higher now since most at-risk individuals in the survey countries have now been vaccinated or even received their booster dose," says Buthe. "Additionally, the availability of new variant-specific vaccines and boosters renews the sense of urgency to combat global vaccine inequity," adds Giuseppe Alessandro Veltri, Professor of Computational Social Science and Cognitive Sociology at the Department of Sociology and Social Research, University of Trento, Italy. A recent study covering the general Swiss population has evaluated the development of hybrid immunity during the pandemic wave dominated by the omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The study, currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server, finds high seropositivity against SARS-CoV-2 in the study population. Study: Development of hybrid immunity during a period of high incidence of infections with Omicron subvariants: A prospective population based multi-region cohort study. Image Credit: Tang Yan Song / Shutterstock Background SARS-CoV-2, the causative pathogen of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, has so far caused over 625 million infections and 6.5 million deaths worldwide. Although the rapid deployment of vaccines has considerably controlled the pandemic trajectory, continuous monitoring of anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunity in the general global population is still required. The emergence of the highly infectious omicron variant has caused a sharp increase in breakthrough cases among fully vaccinated individuals. This has led to a significant increase in neutralizing seroprevalence in the general global population. Therefore, it is generally considered that the immunity induced by both infection and vaccination, i.e., hybrid immunity, provides more robust protection against severe disease than that induced by infection or vaccination alone. In the current study, scientists have assessed the seroprevalence against SARS-CoV-2 in the general Swiss population during the omicron-dominated pandemic wave. Study design This study is a part of the Corona Immunitas research program in Switzerland. The study was conducted on more than 2,500 individuals from the general population residing in three main regions in Switzerland. The seroprevalence was measured during March July 2022. Blood samples collected from the participants were analyzed for anti-spike and anti-nucleocapsid IgG antibodies. In addition, the levels of neutralizing antibodies against wildtype SARS-CoV-2 and its delta and omicron variants were also determined (functional immunity). To determine the source of anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunity, self-reported vaccination status was obtained from the participants. A history of SARS-CoV-2 infection was determined by anti-nucleocapsid seroprevalence, a virus-positive test report, or the presence of anti-spike antibodies in the absence of vaccination. Participants were categorized into four groups based on their immune status: immunity-naive, only vaccine-induced immunity, only infection-induced immunity, and hybrid immunity (immunity induced by both infection and vaccination). Important observations The study involved a total of 2,553 participants from three main regions of Switzerland. Most of them had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccines, and about 50% reported recent exposure to SARS-CoV-2. The seroprevalence was estimated to be 98% by the end of the study period (July 2022). The proportion of participants with anti-spike IgG antibodies was more than 90%. Regarding neutralizing titers, about 94%, 90%, and 84% of participants showed seropositivity against wild-type virus, delta variant, and omicron variant, respectively. During the 4-month study period, anti-spike antibody levels remained mostly stable in Switzerland, whereas anti-nucleocapsid antibody levels showed a rapid decline. A significant induction in susceptibility to omicron infection was also observed in all study regions in Spring 2022. More than 2-times induction in anti-spike IgG antibody and neutralizing antibody levels was observed at the end of the study among vaccinated participants and those with hybrid immunity compared to the participants with a history of infection only. The highest level of neutralizing efficacy against delta and omicron was observed in participants with hybrid immunity. This efficacy was lowest among participants with previous viral exposure only. The proportion of participants with hybrid immunity increased from 35% to 50% by the end of the study period. This could be due to a sharp rise in omicron cases in Switzerland in Spring 2022. Study significance The study highlights a high level of anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunity in the general Swiss population in 2022. About 51% of study participants are with hybrid immunity, characterized by high neutralizing ability levels against delta and omicron variants. Overall, the study indicates that SARS-CoV-2 has become endemic in Switzerland and that hybrid immunity induces more robust protection than vaccine- and infection-induced immunity alone. John is a former search and rescue pilot for the U.S. Air Force, hes been a decades-long public servant to the state, and has lived in Anchorage, Ketchikan, Valdez and Juneau. He currently hangs his hat in Copper Center. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com A total of 115 international organisations working to advance democracy and human rights around the world have praised Bahrains 50 years of democratic practice as well as the establishment of a state of institutions and law. They applauded the progress made in Bahrain under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, which put the Kingdom ahead of other nations in the region in terms of energising the parliament and encouraging public participation. The organisations said in a statement that Bahrains experience, which is rooted in its rational and exemplary dimension, has deepened as a result of the royal care and the broad support of the Bahraini people, who endorsed the National Action Charter in a popular plebiscite with more than 98% of the vote in 2001. The Charter affirmed Bahrains strong commitment to democracy, public participation, the establishment of a state of institutions and law, and the launch of democratic practice and parliament in line with HM the Kings reforms. Isa Al Arabi, president of the Arab Organization for Human Rights (AOHR), said that Bahrains outstanding experience, under HM King Hamads leadership, is one of the most prominent in the region for achieving democracy and popular parliamentary participation. Royal aspirations The government, headed by HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, is keen, through cooperation and partnership, on fulfilling the lofty royal aspirations and the ambitions of the Bahraini people, he said. This is an experience that the Kingdom of Bahrain has been successfully pursuing with high integrity and transparency amid a government and popular commitment to reinforce the popular democracy launched in the Kingdom under the National Action Charter and the Constitution to bolster national achievements. The AOHR, which represents the largest Arab and international coalition of regional and international human rights organsations concerned with promoting respect for human rights and democracy in the Arab world in partnership with 115 international organisations issued their statement in appreciation of Bahrains distinguished international status, Al Arabi noted. He added that the organisations represent a wide range of European and Arab non-governmental organisations and centres with consultative status at the United Nations. Al Arabi said that the organisations expressed their appreciation of Bahrains progress in fulfilling its commitment to protecting democracy, establishing parliament processes and popular participation, and holding democratic and parliamentary elections on their due dates, despite the hostile external dangers and threats that targeted its security, stability and development. They (AOHR ) also commended His Majesty the Kings keenness to promote popular participation in the administration of the state, protect the parliamentary process launched more than five decades ago and the completion of two decades of democratic prosperity based on partnership, integration and transparency. This process emanated from the National Action Charter and the reform project of HM the King, he said. Young generation Al Arabi stressed the importance of the role of the young generation that grew up within the reforms and the consolidation of the democratic governance and popular participation in Bahrain. This experience can be considered, according to the statement of the international organisations, a unique model in good governance and the establishment of a state of institutions and law under governmental and popular care, he said. Al Arabi stressed the importance of organising the parliamentary and municipal elections for the sixth time with a popular participation that is the largest since the start of the democratic experience in Bahrain and the establishment of parliamentary processes. He also praised the popular commitment to participate in the national entitlement. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com With an impressive network of over 285 outlets spread across 10 countries, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, the 6th largest jewellery retailer globally, opened 3 showrooms in Oman Avenues Mall, Nizwa and Ibri. The renovated and restyled showroom in Oman Avenues mall was inaugurated by Brand Ambassador & Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor in the presence of Shamlal Ahamed, MD - International Operations, Malabar Gold & Diamonds; Najeeb K, Regional Head - Malabar Gold & Diamonds; other Malabar Gold & Diamonds management team members, customers, and well-wishers. The imminent arrival of Anil Kapoor itself was a huge crowd puller for the local population and the inaugural event at Oman Avenues Mall saw a huge number of spectators gathered to witness the performance of the renowned actor, who entertained and mesmerized the crowd with his enthralling energy. The showrooms in LuLu Hypermarket at Nizwa and Ibri were inaugurated on the 10th of October by the Wally of Nizwa, Saeadat Alshaykh Rashid Bin Saeid Bin Sayf Alkalbani and the Wally of Ibri, Saeadat Alshaykh Mushin Bin Hamd Bin Muhsin Almaskarii respectively, in the presence of Najeeb K, Regional Head - Malabar Gold & Diamonds, other management team members, customers and well-wishers. All the showrooms showcase a wide variety of jewellery collections across Malabar Gold & Diamonds various sub brands such as Mine, Era, Viraaz, Divine, Ethnix, Precia & Starlet. Comprising of traditional jewellery, modern jewellery, daily wear jewellery, kids jewellery and much more, the jewellery designs in Gold, Diamond and Precious gems have been curated from over 20 countries. With 18 showrooms in the Sultanate, we are one of the largest jewellery retailers in the country, said Shamlal Ahamed, MD-International Operations, Malabar Gold & Diamonds. Customers can get assured gold coins on gold & diamond jewellery purchase from all outlets, valid until the 23rd of October. With the tastes and preferences of the local Omani population in mind, the brand has launched Brides of Oman campaign, showcasing both traditional bridal jewellery in 21K gold as well as contemporary designs in diamond jewellery. Agencies | Kuwait The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Kuwaits crown prince, in a tearful speech at yesterdays opening of parliament, urged the legislative and executive branches to focus on the countrys development and put an end to a prolonged feud and petty matters that have wasted time and money. Shaikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Sabah took over most of the ruling emirs duties late last year and has since largely focused on tackling domestic political bickering that has long plagued the wealthy Gulf Arab state, hampering investment and key reforms. The standoff between the government and elected parliament has blocked structural and fiscal reforms, including a debt law allowing Kuwait to tap global markets, and delayed approval of the state budget for the fiscal year starting April 2022. We hope for an end of the time of tension and escalation in the relationship between members of the legislative and executive authorities... There has been enough waste of painstaking efforts, precious time and squandered money, Shaikh Meshal said in the address, visibly crying at the end. Agencies | Sydney The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Australia's defence minister said its military was investigating reports former pilots were accepting training roles in China, as Britain said it could take legal action to stop its pilots being similarly recruited on national security grounds. The British government said on Tuesday it was taking steps to stop former British military pilots training the Chinese armed forces, with British media reporting that a South African flight school was acting as an intermediary for China's People's Liberation Army to recruit pilots. The British government said on Tuesday it was taking steps to stop former British military pilots training the Chinese armed forces, with British media reporting that a South African flight school was acting as an intermediary for China's People's Liberation Army to recruit pilots. Britain's Ministry of Defence wrote on Twitter the British pilots involved had been told they risked prosecution under the Official Secrets Act, and a national security bill would provide other paths to prosecution. The South African company, Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA), did not respond to a Reuters request for comment on whether it had hired pilots from Britain, Australia and New Zealand to work for it in China. Agencies | Manila The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Following a number of complaints from expats flying home, the Philippine government has officially replaced its online travel database One Health Pass with a new electronic arrival card, it was announced on Tuesday. With the new travel document called eArrival Card the government promises a simpler, more streamlined process that would require fewer details, the Philippines Department of Health told local media. With the previous One Health Pass, travellers were required to register online and fill out a form three days before their flight so they can get a number. Then, they had to complete a digital health declaration checklist one day before boarding to get a QR code. Filipinos flying home found this process tedious and inconvenient, especially since the verification of the pass created long queues at the airport. Now, to ease the restriction brought about by One Health Pass, we created the eArrival Card. Only a few details would be needed and it wont be asking for too many requirements, said Maria Rosario Vergeire, officer-in-charge of the Department of Health. Travellers who wont be able to get their eArrival Card will also be assisted upon their arrival at the airport. There will be a special lane where they can upload the details and get their card, the official added. Here is the full transcript of Chinese Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs Li Song at the Thematic Discussion on Nuclear Weapons of the 77th Session of the UNGA First Committee Mr. Chair, China has constantly advocated for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons and the ultimate realization of a world without nuclear weapons. The indefinite extension of the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) does not mean that the nuclear weapon states could possess nuclear weapons indefinitely. China is committed to the path of peaceful development. On 16th October, General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly pointed out in the report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China that China firmly pursues an independent foreign policy of peace, always decides its own position and policy according to the merits of the matter itself, upholds basic norms governing international relations, safeguards international equity and justice, resolutely opposes all forms of hegemonism and power politics, and opposes the Cold War mentality, interference in other countries' internal affairs, and double standards. China will never seek hegemony or expansion. China firmly pursues a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. China's nuclear strategy and policy have been long-standing and consistent with a high level of stability, continuity and predictability, which are unique among nuclear weapon states as well as being the most responsible and transparent. Fifty-eight years ago, from the first day of its possession of nuclear weapons, China has solemnly committed to no first use of nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstances and not using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones unconditionally. According to the abovementioned strategy and policy, China keeps its nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required for national security and does not engage in any nuclear arms race with any other country. China has always and will continue to take a highly responsible attitude and earnestly fulfill all its NPT obligations. Out of ulterior motives, certain countries recently made groundless speculations and slander accusations about China's nuclear policy and nuclear capability. Here, I would like to stress that China's nuclear strategy, policy and related practices are open and transparent, serious and responsible. They will not change, nor be affected by those speculations and accusation. China's unique nuclear policies and practices have made historic contributions to the international nuclear disarmament process and will continue to make constructive contributions to this end. Mr. Chair, At present, the global strategic security environment continues to deteriorate. Notions such as hegemonism, power politics, Cold War mentality, ideological demarcation, major power competition, and bloc confrontation are serious threats to international peace and security. Issues such as the role of nuclear weapons and the risk of nuclear war have once again attracted the attention and concern of the international community. The United Nations needs an answer to where the nuclear disarmament process is headed. China therefore proposes the following: First, the international community should pursue true multilateralism, and uphold the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and substantive security. Major countries, nuclear-weapon States in particular, must abandon concepts of strategic competition, ideological demarcation and bloc confrontation, halt any pursuit of exclusive or absolute security, stop putting their own security above that of others, and refrain from seeking hegemony or bullying non-nuclear weapon States through nuclear weapons. Second, the United States and Russia, as the nuclear superpowers with the largest nuclear arsenals, should continue to fulfill their special and primary responsibilities towards nuclear disarmament. Given the huge differences in nuclear policies, nuclear forces, and security environments among nuclear weapon states, there is no one-size-fits-all template for nuclear arms control, nuclear reduction, or nuclear transparency. Therefore, nuclear disarmament should be advanced in a just and reasonable process of gradual and balanced reduction, following such principles as maintaining global strategic stability and undiminished security for all. Third, nuclear weapon States should effectively reduce the role of nuclear weapons in their national security doctrines, commit to no first use of nuclear weapons, refrain from listing any country as a target for nuclear strike and be committed to not using or threatening to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon States or nuclear-weapon-free zones unconditionally. China calls upon the five nuclear weapon States (P5) to conclude a treaty on mutual no first use of nuclear weapons and calls on the Conference on Disarmament to negotiate and conclude an international legally binding instrument on negative security assurances. Fourth, the nuclear sharing arrangement runs counter to the purpose and object of the NPT, and therefore should not be encouraged and must not proliferate. Non-nuclear weapons States in alliance with nuclear weapon States are significantly different from other non-nuclear weapon states and do not have completely identical security demands. Those countries should also shoulder responsibilities and make efforts to effectively reduce the role of nuclear weapons in their national security strategies and collective security strategies. Fifth, in January this year, the leaders of P5 issued a joint statement on preventing nuclear war and avoiding arms race, which affirmed that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. This historic joint statement, together with its timely publication, is of great and profound significance to preventing nuclear war and maintaining global strategic stability. It must be honored conscientiously. The P5 should further enhance communication on such issues as strategic stability, reduction of nuclear risks and conduct in-depth dialogue on border issues, including missile defense, outer space, cyber and artificial intelligence, so as to rebuild trust and enhance cooperation. Sixth, the erroneous practices that undermine the international nuclear non-proliferation regime must be rejected. Certain nuclear-weapon States have placed geopolitical interests above the international nuclear non-proliferation principles, adopted selective application of rules and double standards, and engaged in nuclear-powered submarine cooperation with a non-nuclear weapon state which is in contravention of the purpose and object of the NPT. The international community should categorically oppose such acts of proliferation and join hands to create an international and regional environment conducive to advancing nuclear disarmament. Seventh, States Parties to the NPT should seize the opportunity of the new review cycle, firmly uphold the authority and effectiveness of the Treaty and promote the role of NPT for peace and development. We should strive for the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and honor the commitment of moratoria on nuclear testing. We should support the commencement of the negotiations on a FMCT at the Conference on Disarmament on the basis of a comprehensive and balanced Programme of Work and according to the Shannon Mandate so as to achieve the cut-off of production of fissile materials for weapon purposes in a legally binding manner. Mr. Chair, In April this year, Chinese President Xi Jining proposed the Global Security Initiative (GSI). The Initiative seeks to promote the establishment of a balanced, effective and sustainable security structure, advocates a win-win mindset to address complex and intertwined security challenges, and champions the spirit of solidarity to adapt to the evolving international landscape. It offers China's solution to eliminating the root causes of international conflicts and achieving durable stability and lasting security in the world. China stands ready to join hands with other countries in implementing the Global Security Initiative, firmly uphold multilateral international order, actively advance the international disarmament process, so as to contribute to the building of a community of shared future for mankind. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Goma, DR Congo (PANA) DR Congo army units backed armed groups implicated in serious abuses in the recent conflict with M23 rebel forces in the east of the country, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Tuesday , Oct 19 ( standard.co.uk ) - A Japanese worker whose role is preserving cultural heritage accidentally ploughed his car into the countrys oldest toilet in a centuries-old Buddhist temple. Tofukuji Temple in the western Kyoto region houses a toilet said to date back to the 15th century, winning it designation as an important cultural asset. But the original wooden door leading to the site was ruined after the driver, a 30-year-old man from the Kyoto Heritage Preservation Association, accidentally backed his car into it on Monday morning, Japanese police said. Having parked in front of the toilet, the man hit the accelrator to restart the car without realising he was still in reverse, invesigtators said. ...continue reading ancient-origins.net - Nov 14 The wako (also called wokou or waegu) were a group of marauders that dominated the seas of East Asia for centuries. They have been seen by Western historians and culture as a kind of Japanese pirate, but as scholars dig deeper into the history of these people, questions arise about their true nature. OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 19, 2022 /CNW/ - The last two years have underscored the crucial role airports play in keeping Canadians connected from coast to coast to coast. These airports also support essential air services including community resupply, air ambulance, search and rescue, and forest fire response. Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, announced that the Government of Canada is making important safety investments at local and regional airports in British Columbia. Through Transport Canada's Airports Capital Assistance Program, eight airports in British Columbia will receive over $14 million from the Government of Canada for projects and equipment that will help maintain safe airport operations for passengers, crews, and airport workers. The airports receiving funding are: Cranbrook $1,610,312 to rehabilitate airfield electrical systems to rehabilitate airfield electrical systems $336,525 to purchase a 4x4 snowplow truck Fort St. John $217,360 to purchase a sweeper Masset $448,700 to purchase a 4x4 snowplow truck to purchase a 4x4 snowplow truck $428,905 to purchase a loader with attachments Nanaimo $224,350 to purchase a 4x4 snowplow truck Powell River $8,025,527 to rehabilitate Runway 09-27 Terrace $299,452 to construct a mobile equipment shelter to construct a mobile equipment shelter $217,360 to purchase a sweeper Tofino $2,333,104 to replace wildlife control fencing to replace wildlife control fencing $261,751 to construct a sand and equipment shelter Williams Lake $502,200 to purchase a medium-sized snowblower This funding is in addition to the more than $61 million provided under the Program in 2021 to support safety-related projects at the Castlegar, Fort Nelson, Fort St. John, Kamloops, Masset, Nanaimo, Powell River, Prince George, Qualicum Beach, Quesnel, Smithers and Terrace airports. Quote "Airports play a crucial role to keeping Canadians connected across our vast country, and the last two years have only underscored this. Today's investment of over $14 million in eight airports across British Columbia is great news for the region's air sector and for all the communities these airports serve. Investments like these will ensure that our air sector comes out strong as we enter post-pandemic recovery, and help us keep our commitment to building safer, stronger communities." The Honourable Omar Alghabra Minister of Transport Quick Facts As announced in the Fall Economic Statement 2020, the Airports Capital Assistance Program received a one-time funding top-up of $186 million over two years. over two years. The Fall Economic Statement 2020 also announced the temporary expansion of eligibility for the Airports Capital Assistance Program to allow National Airports System airports with less than one million annual passengers in 2019 to apply for funding under the Program in 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. Since the Airports Capital Assistance Program started in 1995, the Government of Canada has invested over $1.2 billion for 1,215 projects at 199 local, regional and National Airports System airports across the country. Funded projects include runway and taxiway repairs/rehabilitation, lighting enhancements, purchasing snow clearing equipment and firefighting vehicles as well as installing wildlife control fencing. Associated Link Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to e-news or stay connected through Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram to keep up to date on the latest from Transport Canada. This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons living with visual disabilities. SOURCE Transport Canada For further information: Nadine Ramadan, Press Secretary and Communications Advisor, Office of the Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport, Ottawa, [email protected]; Media Relations, Transport Canada, Ottawa, 613-993-0055, [email protected] Project will support families who have experienced, are experiencing, or are at-risk of experiencing violence. TORONTO, Oct. 19, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ - Family violence and gender-based violence are serious public health issues that are strongly linked to mental health concerns and can have long-lasting consequences for survivors and for those around them. These issues touch families in all parts of Canada, and include many different forms of physical and emotional abuse and neglect. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting all survivors of family and gender-based violence and safeguarding the health and safety of those at risk. Today, the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health announced more than $3.5 million in funding over four years to support four initiatives from the Greater Toronto Area. These projects will support the mental and physical well-being of persons experiencing, or who may be at risk of experiencing, family and gender-based violence. Access Alliance will receive $799,088 to implement and evaluate the Hubs of Expressive Arts for Life (HEAL) initiative, an arts-based family violence prevention program to reach newcomer populations. The Hubs will provide safe, supportive, healing, and resilience-promoting spaces and communities to those who are experiencing, or are at high risk of experiencing, family violence. The Canadian Mothercraft Society will receive $878,010 to scale-up and continue testing the effectiveness of its group intervention for mothers and children experiencing violence in relationships in 15 communities across Canada. The goal is to help mothers experiencing family violence learn about its impacts on their parenting and their children's development, while building mothers' self-esteem and improving their positive parenting and healthy relationship skills. The Toronto Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) will receive $451,962 to implement and evaluate two 11-week expressive-arts based programs (Here to Help and Warrior's Journey) with children ages 4-16 years and their mothers who have experienced intimate partner violence. Caregivers and their children will be provided with more tools for self-expression and empowerment to better manage their emotions, strengthen their resilience and develop new ways to cope with the impact of their exposure to domestic violence, while reducing the risk of re-traumatization. The Women's Centre for Social Justice will receive $1,391,644 to implement and evaluate a program to improve the health and wellbeing of women survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) who have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Given the unique target population, this project aims to create a model for evidence-based IPV-TBI services for those affected across Canada, regardless of their identity or geographical location. Today's funding comes at a critical time as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to negatively impact children and families at risk of violence due to disrupted services and additional emotional stressors affecting caregivers such as parental stress, depression, and substance use. This investment is an important step in the right direction, and will help build evidence on what health promotion interventions and supports work in Canadian communities.. The federal government will continue working to prevent family and gender-based violence, support survivors, and break the cycle of violence in families and communities from coast to coast to coast. Quotes "Our government is committed to supporting survivors of family and gender-based violence as well as families experiencing or at risk of violence, so they can get the help they need to heal and build better lives for themselves. The funding announced today will work to bridge the gaps in services while making it easier for people to access the culturally relevant and effective services they need. This investment is an important step forward, but we know we have more to do and we will continue to take action to help prevent family violence and support those who have been affected." The Honourable Carolyn Bennett Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health "Improving the mental health and wellbeing of newcomers at risk of, or experiencing, gender-based domestic violence is the focus of the Hubs for Expressive Arts for Life (HEAL) project. This unique and participatory expressive arts intervention will increase the capacity of participants and the public health sector to effect systemic changes to address and prevent domestic violence." Axelle Janczur Executive Director, Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services Quick Facts One third of Canadian adults report having experienced maltreatment as a child. Family violence affects future relationships and future generations: children who have been abused, neglected or exposed to intimate partner violence are at risk of experiencing or perpetrating violence in adulthood. The Survey of COVID and Mental Health indicates risk factors for child maltreatment and family violence have increased. Risk factors include depression, parental stress and alcohol consumption. Additionally, five percent of Canadians reported concerns about violence in their homes during the third wave of the pandemic, between February and May 2021 . Related Links Stop Family Violence Call for Proposals: Preventing and Addressing Family Violence - the Health Perspective SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada For further information: Maja Staka, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, 343-552-5568; Media Relations, Public Health Agency of Canada, 613-957-2983, [email protected]; Public Inquiries: 613-957-2991, 1-866-225-0709 Storm is the costliest extreme weather event ever recorded in Atlantic Canada HALIFAX, NS, Oct. 19, 2022 /CNW/ - Hurricane Fiona is estimated to have caused $660 million in insured damage, according to initial estimates from Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ). Canada: Top 10 Natural Disasters for Insurance Payouts (CNW Group/Insurance Bureau of Canada) Hurricane Fiona is the most costly extreme weather event ever recorded in Atlantic Canada and the tenth largest in Canada in terms of insured damages surpassing the 2011 Slave Lake wildfire. This long-lived and powerful storm first made landfall in Atlantic Canada on Saturday September 24, 2022. With maximum wind gusts exceeding 100 km/h in Atlantic Canada and Eastern Quebec, Hurricane Fiona resulted in tragic loss of life as well as violent winds, torrential rainfall, large waves, storm surge, downed trees and widespread power outages. Although the estimated $660 million in insured damage is a record-breaking figure, many affected residents were located in high-risk flood areas and floodplains where residential flood insurance coverage is not available. As a result, the overwhelming majority of costs for this disaster will be borne by government. "As we begin to see the extent of damages caused by Hurricane Fiona, it is clear that much more needs to be done to enhance our resilience to extreme weather events and build a culture of preparedness moving forward," said Amanda Dean, Vice-President, Atlantic, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). "Climate change is real, and the fatalities, emotional turmoil and financial consequences we've witnessed must be a call to action we must prioritize the protection of all Canadians from the impacts of climate change." Insurance claims from severe weather have more than quadrupled across Canada since 2008. The new normal for insured catastrophic damages in Canada has reached $2 billion annually. IBC continues to advocate for governments to act on the urgent need to do more to prioritize investments that build resilience and better protect families and communities from a changing climate. IBC has been leading conversations with the federal and provincial governments on ways to better protect communities moving forward and to better manage the costs of flooding for high-risk residential properties in Canada. As a member of the federal, provincial and territorial Task Force on Flood Insurance and Relocation, IBC has put forward options to create a residential flood insurance program including a public-private partnership model that would make affordable insurance available to residents of high-risk areas. These recent floods are a reminder of the urgency with which we must move forward in those discussions. Canada must prioritize its work on a national adaptation strategy, including a high-risk flood insurance pool, to address climate-related disasters such as extreme heat, wildfires, floods, windstorms and hail. Increased collaboration across the public and private sectors is essential to defending Canadians from these events. The following is a provincial breakdown of insured damage estimates from Hurricane Fiona: Nova Scotia Over $385 million in insured damages: In Nova Scotia, damage to trees was widespread, with numerous large trees falling on cars and buildings in Halifax. Cape Breton Island and Pictou County saw significant damage, including extensive flooding, roofs torn off buildings, roads washed out and storm surge. Power outages topped 415,000 customers in Nova Scotia on Saturday, September 24, leaving about 80% of the province without power. Prince Edward Island Over $220 million in insured damages: Hurricane Fiona extensively impacted Prince Edward Island, with damage reported across the entirety of the island. Damages included houses being moved off their foundations by storm surge and roofs being torn off buildings by wind. Trees and power lines were damaged or snapped/uprooted across the island, leaving 82,000 customers without power by Sunday, September 25. This accounts for 95% of total customers on the island. Significant beach erosion also impacted much of the north coast. New Brunswick Over $30 million in insured damages: New Brunswick was spared much of the damage caused by Hurricane Fiona due to the easterly track of the storm. However, the province still experienced widespread power outages in Saint John, Fredericton, Moncton and the Acadian Peninsula. Damage to structures was largely located along the Northumberland Strait and near the Nova Scotia border, with large downed trees and branches. Quebec Over $11 million in insured damages: The Iles-de-la-Madeleine saw extensive flooding, with many homes and businesses flooded to a depth of several feet. Storm-surge-related flooding and erosion from large waves were reported along parts of the Gaspe Peninsula coast. Newfoundland and Labrador Over $7 million in insured damages: Southwestern Newfoundland was particularly hard-hit by Hurricane Fiona, with severe damage being reported from Burgeo to Port aux Basques. At least 20 homes were washed into the ocean by the storm, primarily in Port aux Basques, which led to evacuation orders during the morning of Saturday, September 24. The evacuation led to nearly 200 people being displaced by the storm. One fatality was confirmed in the town after a home collapsed into the sea amid intense wave action and storm surge. Homes were also destroyed in Burgeo, Burnt Islands and Fox Roost, where multiple buildings were destroyed by waves and storm surge. Anyone who has been impacted by this event or who has questions about their home, vehicle or business insurance, should call their insurance representative or IBC's Consumer Information Centre at 1-844-2ask-IBC. The amount of insured damage is an estimate provided by CatIQ (www.catiq.com) under license to IBC. About Insurance Bureau of Canada Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is the national industry association representing Canada's private home, auto and business insurers. Its member companies make up the vast majority of the property and casualty (P&C) insurance market in Canada. For more than 50 years, IBC has worked with governments across the country to help make affordable home, auto and business insurance available for all Canadians. IBC supports the vision of consumers and governments trusting, valuing and supporting the private P&C insurance industry. It champions key issues and helps educate consumers on how best to protect their homes, cars, businesses and properties. For media releases and more information, visit IBC's Media Centre at www.ibc.ca. Follow us on Twitter @InsuranceBureau or like us on Facebook. If you have a question about home, auto or business insurance, contact IBC's Consumer Information Centre at 1-844-2ask-IBC. SOURCE Insurance Bureau of Canada For further information: Media Contact: Brett Weltman, Manager, Media Relations, IBC, [email protected] OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 19, 2022 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada continues to work hard to resettle at least 40,000 Afghan nationals as quickly and safely as possible, which is one of the largest commitments of its kind in the world. To date, over 22,581 Afghan nationals have arrived in Canada. Today in Halifax, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, welcomed 311 Afghan nationals who arrived on a charter flight from Pakistan. This flight includes government-assisted refugees, privately sponsored refugees, and extended family members of Afghans who worked for or assisted the Government of Canada. These new arrivals are destined for approximately 20 communities across Canada, including Toronto (ON), Fredericton and Saint John (NB). Resettling at least 40,000 Afghan nationals is a complex initiative that requires a whole-of-government approach, as well as strong domestic and international partnerships. It is through the critical support of provinces and territories, resettlement service providers, and Canadians who have sponsored Afghan refugees and helped newcomers settle in their communities that we will achieve this goal. We also value the ongoing collaboration of key international partners including Pakistan, and the tireless work of international organizations and referral partners including the International Organization for Migration, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Frontline Defenders and ProtectDefenders.eu. Together with our partners across the country and around the globe, Canada is making a difference in the lives of Afghan newcomers and their families. Individuals and businesses looking to get involved through volunteering, donating, sponsoring or supporting the wider resettlement efforts can learn more about how Canadians can help. Photos of today's arrival are available in Dropbox for use by the media. You can also monitor Canada's progress on welcoming Afghan refugees to Canada. Quote "This morning I had the privilege of personally welcoming this latest charter flight of Afghan refugees to Canada. These brave newcomers will soon begin their journey to rebuild their lives in communities across the country, and here in the Atlantic region where many will settle. Despite the ongoing challenges, and the difficult work ahead of us, we remain on track to reaching our commitment to resettle at least 40,000 vulnerable Afghans to Canada by the end of 2023." The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Quick facts Today's flight is the 16th charter flight of Afghan refugees to arrive in Canada from Pakistan since January 2022 . from since . Find our latest arrivals data on our Key figures webpage. Many of today's newcomers will join existing communities of Afghans already settled in Toronto (approximately 4,395 people), Fredericton (75 people) and Saint John (70 people). Detailed information about the destination communities welcoming Afghans is available on our website. (approximately 4,395 people), (75 people) and (70 people). Detailed information about the destination communities welcoming Afghans is available on our website. While many newcomers arrive in Canada's largest cities, smaller communities offer welcoming, safe places with settlement services, employment opportunities, affordable housing options and a lower cost of living. Resettlement Assistance Program service provider organizations (RAP SPOs) are working to make newcomers, including Afghans, feel welcomed and integrate successfully in their new communities. Associated links Follow us: SOURCE Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada For further information: Contacts for media only: Minister's Office, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 613-954-1064; Media Relations, Communications Branch, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 613-952-1650, [email protected] Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - A delegation from the Libyan Ministry of Interior of the Government of National Unity participated in a workshop on the "Tenth Interim Plan for the Arab Strategy to Combat the Illicit Use of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances" organized by the Spanish city of Abela in the province of Catalonia President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, signed the startup bill into law. Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital econ... President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, signed the startup bill into law. Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy, disclosed this in a post via his official Twitter handle. The bill seeks to create and develop an enabling environment for technology-enabled startups in the country. His excellency, Muhammdau Buhari has just assented to Nigeria startup bill. It has now become Nigeria startup act, 2022. It was an executive bill, initiated by both [the] office of the chief of staff, and the office of the minister of communication and digital economy. Congratulations to all, the tweet reads. BREAKING! His Excellency, @MBuhari has just assented to Nigeria Start-up Bill. It has now become Nigeria Start-Up Act, 2022. It was an Executive Bill, initiated by both Office of the Chief of Staff & the Office of the Minister of Comms & Digital Economy. Congratulations to all! Prof. Isa Ali Pantami (@ProfIsaPantami) October 19, 2022 The new legislation is aimed at providing a legal and institutional framework for the development of startups in Nigeria, and to provide an enabling environment for the establishment, development and operation of startups in Nigeria. It also seeks to position Nigerias startup ecosystem as the leading digital technology centre in Africa, having excellent innovators with cutting edge skills and exportable capacity. The startup act, 2022, makes provision for the development and growth of technology-related talent. With the document, companies will be required to obtain a certificate known as the startup label, before they can be regarded as a startup entity. According to the document, startups can also access a special seed fund created under the law. The fund will provide labelled startups with finance and also provide relief to technology laboratories, accelerators, incubators and hubs. In July 2022, the senate passed the Nigerian startup bill 2022,after a report by the its committee on ICT and cyber security. Presenting the report, Oseni Yakubu, chairman of the committee, said that the bill sought to establish the National Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adosa Bello, on Tuesday withdrew from a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to stop the conduct o... Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adosa Bello, on Tuesday withdrew from a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to stop the conduct of the 2023 presidential election. The governor bowed out of the suit praying to prohibit the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting 2023 election on the ground that his presidential ambition is no longer under threat or jeaopardy. A presidential candidate in the 2019 election on the platform of Hope Democratic Party (HDP), Chief Ambrose Albert Owuru, had prayed the Federal High Court to restrain INEC from conducting the 2023 presidential election on the ground that he won the 2019 presidential election and that his tenure is being usurped by President Muhammadu Buhari. He sought order of the court to remove Buhari and declare him (Owuru) the authentic president and that Buhari should be compelled to refund all monies he collected as salaries, emoluments and security votes. Owuru, a British-trained constitutional lawyer called to the Nigerian Bar in 1984 also asked the court to order his inauguration for a four year tenure of office upon removal of Buhari from office. But upon becoming aware of the suit instituted against President Buhari, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and and INEC, Governor Bello had on May 20, 2022 rushed to the court with a motion on notice praying the court to make him 4th defendant and an interested party in the suit. Governor Bellos joinder motion was filed by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr Musa Yakubu on his behalf. He had claimed that his presidential ambition under the All Progressives Congress (APC) would be aborted and jeopardized if the prayers of Owuru are granted. Bello in the motion had claimed that he had purchased an expression of interest form as well as nomination form from APC. His motion was predicated on Order 9 Rule 4 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedures and section 36 of the 1999 Constitution. However, at Tuesdays proceedings, Bello made a dramatic turn with a request to be allowed to withdraw from the suit. He claimed that he no longer has ambition for office of the President in 2023 since APCS presidential ticket has been won by another person. Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo in a brief ruling, struck out the governors name from the suit based on the withdrawal application. Justice Ekwo subsequently fixed November 4, 2022 for hearing in Owurus suit seeking to remove Buhari from office and to declare him winner of the 2019 presidential election. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chapter in Lagos has criticised Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, for supporting the administration of B... The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chapter in Lagos has criticised Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, for supporting the administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). While speaking on Tuesday at the conference organised by the wives of Lagos state officials, Wike, a member of the PDP, had said he is in support of Sanwo-Olus administration because he is doing well. If Sanwo-Olu is not doing well, even if he belongs to my party, I wont come. So, for me, if you are in my party and you are not doing well, you wont see me, Wike said. If you are not in my party and you are doing well, you will see me and that is what I stand for. And I will not regret to say that Im in support of you. But reacting in a statement issued on Tuesday, Hakeem Amode, Lagos PDP publicity secretary, said Lagosians will determine Sanwo-Olus fate in the 2023 polls. I only wonder how Governor Wike, who didnt support Jandor and at the same time couldnt stop him from picking the party ticket in Lagos, despite his supposed might within the PDP, would apportion to himself the decision of generality of Lagosians in the forthcoming election, the statement reads. While we wont but acknowledge Governor Wikes developmental strides in Rivers State which have witnessed an influx of other state chief executives, including Sanwo-Olu, for commissioning, it is worrisome that Wike will call Sanwo-Olu a performer without asking how many times he has invited anyone to Lagos for the commissioning of an ordinary borehole in his almost four years in office as Governor. My dear Governor and leader, we promise to render Sanwo-Olu jobless and send him to the club of former Governors next year. Only God, who has seen Jandor and Lagos PDP this far, and the generality of Lagosians, can determine his fate at the polls in 2023, not your endorsement. We will continue to sell our breath of fresh air agenda to Lagosians with the promise of a better tomorrow. Lagos needs a breath of fresh air! Arewa Joint Committee says the region has not endorsed any presidential candidate for the February 2023 general elections. Mallam Murtala Al... Arewa Joint Committee says the region has not endorsed any presidential candidate for the February 2023 general elections. Mallam Murtala Aliyu, the chairman steering committee of the Arewa group in a communique signed and made available to newsmen in Kaduna, explained that the interaction was not aimed at endorsing any presidential candidate. The six presidential candidates of the various political parties, except New Nigerian Peoples Party, (NNPP) Rabiu Kwankwaso were at Arewa House, Kaduna on Saturday and Monday for an interactive session with the joint committee comprising of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Arewa House, Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Arewa Research and Development Project and Jamiyyar Matan Arewa. According to the committee, the interaction was planned with the goal to showcase the potential of candidates in the open so that the North and Nigerians can decide who has the best blueprint for the nation and make the best choice of whom to vote for in the 2023 general elections. It stated that the interactions were not planned with the goal of endorsing a candidate but part of a longer process that plans to generate commitments to address the challenges of the North by candidates that covers a substantial part of the campaigning period. The communique said, We plan to extract and publish these commitments so that Nigerians may measure and evaluate candidates against them. Our goal is to afford citizens an opportunity to match candidates against their commitments to matters that are central to the interests of the North. Until the elections in February, 2023, the communique explained that the North would be challenged to raise its vigilance over all electoral activities, saying that it is vital that the region prioritised evidence of competence, integrity, quality of preparation and commitment to address the challenges of the North among candidates. It noted that it would continue to invite attention of the government to the security of the electoral process, and in particular the vulnerability of many parts of the North to organised crime which may pose a serious threat to their right to participate in electing the next set of leaders in 2023. The communique observed that the exploitation of ethnic and religious fault lines is extremely dangerous, pointing out that the nation is already showing signs of stress owing to this exploitation. The United States justice department in Brooklyn has fined Lafarge, a French cement company, with $778 million after pleading guilty to ma... The United States justice department in Brooklyn has fined Lafarge, a French cement company, with $778 million after pleading guilty to making payments to terrorists to retain its operations in Syria. This is the first time a company pleaded guilty to charges of providing material support to a terrorist organisation. Lafarge, became part of Swiss-listed Holcim in 2015. According to Reuters, the company admitted to the act at the federal court in Brooklyn, the United States and agreed to pay $778 million in forfeiture and fines, as part of the plea agreement. Under the terms of the plea agreement with the justice department, Paris-based Lafarge pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to provide material support to designated foreign terrorist organisations between August 2013 and October 2014. In a statement, Breon Peace, a U.S attorney, said Lafarge Cement Syria executives bought materials needed for their cement plant in the Jalabiyeh region of northern Syrian from ISIS-controlled suppliers, and paid monthly donations to ISIS and ANF, so that employees, customers and suppliers could cross checkpoints around the plant. Peace said the company also paid Islamic State and al Nusra Front, through intermediaries, $5.92 million between 2013 and 2014 to allow employees, customers and suppliers to pass through checkpoints after civil conflict broke out in Syria. That allowed the company to earn $70 million in sales revenue from a plant it operated in northern Syria, Peace added. Lafarge made a deal with the devil. This conduct by a western corporation was appalling and has no precedent or justification. The prosecutors further said Lafarge eventually evacuated the cement plant in September 2014, noting that, at that point, Islamic State took possession of the remaining cement and sold it for the equivalent of $3.21 million. Appearing in court, Magali Anderson, Lafarge chairman, said from August 2013 until November 2014 former executives of the company knowingly and willfully agreed to participate in a conspiracy to make and authorise payments intended for the benefit of various armed groups in Syria. Anderson said the individuals responsible had not been with the company since at least 2017. In a another statement, Holcim noted that none of the conduct involved Holcim, which has never operated in Syria, or any Lafarge operations or employees in the United States, and it is in stark contrast with everything that Holcim stands for. Meanwhile, Lafarge executives were said to have concealed the Syria activities from Holcim as well as external auditors. The settlement is the largest ever paid by a private company charged with providing material support to a terrorist group. Without naming Holcim, Lisa Monaco, U.S. deputy attorney general, said the company that acquired Lafarge did not perform due diligence of the Syria operations. She also said no Lafarge executives were charged in the United States, adding that French authorities have arrested some of the executives involved but did not provide names. U.S. court records refer to six unnamed Lafarge executives. The firm, in a statement, apologised to the public for misconduct, adding that corrective measures are being taken. Lafarge SA and LCS have accepted responsibility for the actions of the individual executives involved, whose behaviour was in flagrant violation of Lafarges code of conduct, Lafarge SA said in a statement. We deeply regret that this conduct occurred and have worked with the U.S. department of justice to resolve this matter. Thank you for using NNY360! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. New York, US (PANA) - The situation in Mali continues to justify sustained international attention and engagement, the top UN official in the West African country told the Security Council on Tuesday Rev. Charles Southall III, who led First Emanuel Baptist Church in New Orleans and Baton Rouge for more than three decades, admitted Tuesday that he defrauded his church, its housing ministries, his parishioners and a charter school of almost $900,000 that he used for personal gain. Southall, 64, pleaded guilty to money laundering in U.S. District Court before Judge Jay Zainey, after which prosecutors for the first time disclosed the details of his crime. They said he exploited his position as the leader of his church, soliciting and then stealing tithes and donations from parishioners. In one instance, Southall extracted a $10,000 tithe from a parishioner in 2019, then diverted the money to his own use. In another, he solicited donations from a parishioner over the course of four years for charity and church building improvements but converted $106,408 of the donations to his own accounts and spending. +3 Before New Orleans minister faced money laundering charge, investigations trailed him For more than three decades, the Rev. Charles Southall III has led a flock of hundreds of New Orleanians, preaching each Sunday behind the vib The church also owned rental properties from which Southall personally profited, diverting some $150,000 of rental payments to his personal accounts. He also sold properties owned by the church, poaching a portion of the profits. From the sale of those buildings alone, according to prosecutors, Southall pocketed more than $500,000. And as board president of Edgar P. Harney Spirit of Excellence Academy, a now-shuttered charter school in the Central City part of New Orleans, Southall secured funding to build a sister school in Baton Rouge, but the other academy never opened. Despite that, Southall hired an employee for the new location, and more than $220,000 of that person's pay over four years was deposited into an account jointly owned by both the employee and Southall Prosecutors tallied that Southall laundered $889,565 through his combined fraudulent schemes, and used it to buy a vehicle, tickets and other items. Restitution Southall, who moved from New Orleans to Baton Rouge after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, has agreed to pay restitution as part of his plea agreement. He will repay more than $687,000 to First Emanuel Baptist Church, some $85,000 to the Spirit of Excellence Academy and more than $110,000 to individual victims of his schemes. For money laundering, he also faces up to 10 years in prison, althought maximum penalties are rare in federal court for first offenders, especially those who plead guilty instead of going to trial. Southall is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 17. Attempts to reach his attorney Tuesday night were unsuccessful. Lara Nicholson writes for The Advocate as a Report for America Corps Member. Email her at lnicholson@theadvocate.com or follow her on Twitter @LaraNicholson_. To learn more about Report for America and to support our journalism, please click here. Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libyan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Najla Al-Mangouch has expressed the readiness of the national unity government to cooperate with the United Nations towards the success of the political process in Libya Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the United Nations Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Abdoulaye Bathily, on Tuesday called for the resumption of dialogue between the two chiefs of staff of the armies in Libya, stressing the need to unify military and security institutions If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Winners of Geothermal Manufacturing Prize Dig Deepand Take Home $500K Winning Teams 3D Print Their Way to Victory American-Made Geothermal Manufacturing Prize teams Downhole Emerging Technologies and Ultra-High Temperature Logging Tool took home victory at the Geothermal Rising Conference in August 2022. Photo from Dreampilot Films After successful presentations at Geo! Demo Day, the concluding event of the American-Made Geothermal Manufacturing Prize, two teams were named winners and awarded $500,000 each. The teams, Downhole Emerging Technologies and Ultra-High Temperature Logging Tool, used additive manufacturing (i.e., 3D printing) to solve common challenges unique to the geothermal energy field. During the final Geo! Contest, competing teams were required to present their manufactured functional prototype, with all additive manufacturing components incorporated and tested, to a panel of expert reviewers. The winner announcement was made during the plenary session of the Geothermal Rising Conference on August 29 in Reno, Nevada. The teams also earned up to $200,000 each in reimbursements for field testing costs. "Winning this Geo! Contest is what's going to allow us to improve the design, finish the testing, and get to the field," said Jeff Johnston from Ultra-High Temperature Logging Tool (UHTLT). "Our end game is to get the tool in the ground within the year and hopefully turn it into a viable product that can generate revenue," said Justin Scruggs, also from UHTLT. "But regardless of whether that happens, just doing the contest and making contacts has been an incredible experience." About the Prize The American-Made Geothermal Manufacturing Prize was designed to inspire innovative concepts that use additive manufacturing to address the challenges fundamental to operating in harsh geothermal environments. These harsh environments require manufacturing tools, components, and equipment that can handle the heat (literally!) and still be able to drill through hard rock and withstand corrosive fluids. Tools and equipment must consequently be made with high-grade materials and specialized geometries that are expensive to manufactureespecially given the small size of the U.S. geothermal market. Because of the rough conditions under which they perform, the tools also have pretty short life spans. Enter additive manufacturing, a way to produce the tools needed for geothermal drilling's unique requirements that is often more cost effective and offers huge potential for innovation. The Geothermal Manufacturing Prize was created to encourage engineers and entrepreneurs to take advantage of 3D printing's capabilities to enhance some of these specialized tools. Tingji (TJ) Tang of DET pitches the teams metal zonal isolation packer to a crowd at Geo! Demo Day. Photo from Dreampilot Films For Downhole Emerging Technologies (DET), incorporating additive manufacturing into the prototype they had already developedprior to the competitionwas a game changer. Their metal zonal isolation packer, a cylinder that can be crushed to fit into the well, expanded to form a "plug," then crushed again for removal, was originally just made of machined metal. "We looked at how additive manufacturing could change the design of this thing to make it better," said Ken Havlinek of DET, who "stumbled upon" a 3D-printing solution. Now, he said, their prototype would not function without the additively manufactured alloy components that anchor the packer in its hole. "There's no other way of making this thing," he said. Figuring Out Where To Begin DET knew that there was a need for innovations around packers made specifically for the geothermal industry before they began creating their concept. (Havlinek noted that these types of packer plugs are also used in oil and gas wells but are usually made of rubber, which are unable to withstand the high heat of geothermal wells.) UHTLT took a crowdsourcing approach when they began their innovation journey. "We knew that we wanted to do something unique and disruptive with additive manufacturing," Johnston said, adding that they did not go into the challenge knowing they were going to develop a logging tool. "We asked the industry what was missing, what would make their lives easier, and a recurring theme was we need logging tools that last longer downhole.'" So, the team got to work figuring out a way to use additive manufacturing to protect temperature-sensitive electronics. "We created a next-generation tool that can actually monitor pressure, temperature, flow rate, etc., down in the well," UHTLT's Christopher Taylor said. "But because it is very hot and the conditions are very corrosive, the tool has to be well designed to collect enough data. We used additive manufacturing to create a geometry for protecting the sensitive electronics inside the tool from those extreme environments." Ready, Set, Make, Geo! Prior to their big win, both teams had already won the Ready!, Set!, and Make! Contests of the prize, winning cash awards and support vouchers at each stage. That funding, the vouchers, and the notoriety that came with winning each stage were helpful in getting the two winning teams to this point. "As we moved through the phases and more funding and more vouchers became available, we were able to mature the technology," UHTLT's Johnston said. UHTLT's team also took full advantage of the voucher system, which they cashed in at Sandia and Oak Ridge National Laboratories. The vouchers, Johnston said, "gave us the ability to get in and work with these national labs, where otherwise we would not have been able to do that." Jeff Johnston (left) and Dan Hoyer (right) congratulate each other on UHTLTs victory after hearing their teams name called as a final winner of the Geothermal Manufacturing Prize. Photo from Dreampilot Films "Without this challenge, this technology wouldn't exist," Johnston said, adding that they are already making plans for revisions, retests at Sandia, and hopefully, some successful field tests. "What I would really like to see is our team come to the Geothermal Rising Conference next year and present a paper on the results of our field tests." For DET, winning each successive contest has been beneficial not just in terms of cash flow, but also in terms of industry recognition. "It's really nice to have others recognize that this is an interesting and valuable invention and put money into it to help us get to the finish line," Havlinek said. Prize administrators hope that the innovations that result from the competition will help support the geothermal industry's ability to reach the target of 60 GWe of geothermal capacity by 2050, as outlined in the GeoVision analysis performed by the U.S. Department of Energy's Geothermal Technologies Office. The American-Made Geothermal Manufacturing Prize is supported by the Geothermal Technologies Office and the Advanced Manufacturing Office in the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, in partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. A pharmaceutical company's survey shows that the time it takes for an infertile couple to conceive through fertility treatment is 6.4 years on average in Japan. Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is adding another crack to the steadily fracturing relationship between big banks and Republican officeholders. Rokita announced Wednesday he's served a civil investigative demand, similar to a subpoena, on six major U.S. banks seeking documents relating to each bank's involvement with the United Nations Net-Zero Banking Alliance. He claims banks that are alliance members are required to set emissions reduction targets in their lending and investment portfolios to reach net zero by 2050. The banks subpoenaed by the Republican attorney general are: Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase, Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo. "These banks appear to be colluding with the UN to destroy American companies that specialize in fossil fuels or otherwise depend on them for energy," Rokita said. "They are pushing an investment strategy designed not to maximize financial returns but to impose a leftist social and economic agenda that cannot otherwise be implemented through the ballot box." In fact, data compiled by Bloomberg shows bank loans to oil, gas and coal enterprises total $320 billion so far this year, up 9% compared to the same period last year, with Wells Fargo and JP Morgan Chase among the top lenders notwithstanding their alliance membership. Rokita nevertheless described the banks' consideration of climate impacts in their investment decisions as an "apparent conspiracy" that purports "to prioritize environmental, social and governance issues over profit." "This new woke-ism in the financial sector poses a real threat to everyday Hoosiers," Rokita said. "Indianas farmers, truck drivers and fuel-industry workers are hurt when the radical Left attacks whole segments of our economy. And its troubling that these banks in the Net-Zero Banking Alliance are taking marching orders from UN globalists all-too-eager to undermine America's best interests." Rokita's investigation demand, similar to 19 others filed by Republican attorneys general across the country, was issued without needing approval from the Indiana General Assembly or Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb. Records show three of the targeted banks Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo continue to be designated by the state treasurer's office as valid and secure depositories for public funds held by the state and Indiana local governments. Chesterton-based Starin recently reached a deal with a $50 billion Fortune Global 500 company to distribute its hardware and software. The company, a Midwich Group subsidiary that serves the U.S. market, distributes AV products nationally. Starin has a portfolio of products including Crestron, Poly, Logitech, Shure, DTEN, LG, Neat, Barco, SMART and now Lenovo. It recently reached a deal to distribute Lenovo's ThinkSmart suite of products. Lenovo employs 63,000 workers and operates in 180 markets around the world. It designs, engineers and builds smart devices and infrastructure. Its portfolio of ThinkSmart collaboration products encompasses hardware, software, services and end-to-end solution management. It supports tools its office customers are already using like Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Starin has been looking to grow in the growing collaboration sector, which took off along with remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic, and saw Lenovo as a good fit. Working directly with a trusted partner such as Lenovo allows Starin to continue addressing supply chain concerns for our UC systems," said Bobby Swartz, CEO of Starin. Having the best compute and appliances available to our resellers help provide complete solutions quickly and effectively. The 82-year-old Portage woman didnt hesitate to share her rusted memories when I asked about visiting her Steel City hometown. Id rather have my memories, she said with a sigh. Tens of thousands of Gary natives likely feel the same about what was once described as the Miracle City. And why not? They enjoyed its heyday era, from the 1950s through the 1960s, featured on historic postcards which served as the social media of its day. Americans back then were fascinated with Gary, the largest company town ever constructed in our country. It was billed as literally a city of hopes and a field of dreams, built on swampy marshland. It soon attracted the attention of several prominent architects of the day, including Frank Lloyd Wright, George Maher & Son, and George & Arthur Dean. Today, the city is located at the intersection of the past and the present, built on old memories and new promises. For better or worse, Garys history is ever-present, said Kevin McElmurry, an associate professor of sociology at Indiana University Northwest in Gary. Unlike those old-timers who were raised in Gary during the zenith of its existence, McElmurry is a relative newcomer, a transplant who arrived 13 years ago. Nonetheless, he has become very familiar with how people talk about the citys past and present. Often in the same sentence, he told me. I also repeatedly hear this collision of conflicted feelings, sometimes from my own mouth. I was born and raised in Gary. Its a historical fact Im proud of, and I never hesitate to reveal it when Im asked. McElmurry and his colleague, Donald Spears, invited me to speak to their Principles of Sociology students Wednesday about the citys past and present, and also about my book, Lost Gary, Indiana, which explores both incarnations of my hometown. My students at IUN are reading your book. We are then going to complete a service learning project, including development of a community needs assessment and analysis. We will use this information, and more, to create a strategic plan for Gary, said Spears, an adjunct sociology faculty member at IUN and chair of Human Services at Ivy Tech Community College in Valparaiso. Thousands of people have created a strategic plan for Gary, once upon a time billed as an urban experiment. Critics may say the experiment failed, imploding in its own laboratory, causing white flight, urban decay, and the loss of more than half of its population since 1970. However, the experiment initially worked almost to perfection, producing countless rolls of steel worth billions of dollars and attracting a hodgepodge of new residents from across the nation. Everyone wanted a piece of Gary, conceived in a prestigious U.S. Steel boardroom at the turn of the 20th century. Since then, countless residents have aborted their strategic plans for the city. Gary, whatever else, is a paradox, Arthur Shumway, a newspaper reporter, wrote in a sharply tongued essay. It is busy. It is dull. It is modern. It is backward. It is clean. It is filthy. It is rich. It is poor. It has beautiful homes; it has sordid hovels. It has a past, but it has no traditions. He wrote this in 1929. Nearly a century later, were all too familiar with the somber realities of what was once ballyhooed as the Magic City. Along the way, new rabbits are still trying to be pulled from a withered hat. A decade ago, a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago concluded that only Detroit comes close to matching Garys grand scale of urban decline. At my public presentations and book signings, I typically ask the same question to guests regardless if theyre from our Region or not: What happened to Gary, Indiana? Their responses usually hinge on their age, their race, and their history with the city. Ill be asking the same question to the IUN students. Its the same question I asked to the 1960 graduating class of Gary Emerson High School, which celebrated its 60-year reunion later than planned due to the pandemic. They asked if I would speak at their reunion at Innsbrook Country Club in Merrillville, where Garys past outnumbered its present. In the blink of six decades, those grads went from high school seniors to senior citizens. They view Gary as something entirely different than todays high school students, who are currently making their own memories in their hometown. In the middle of these two generations are residents such as Joslyn Kelly, owner of Js Breakfast Club in Gary. The 1992 Lew Wallace High School graduate also has a strategic plan for the city where she was born and raised. This is Gary is an outreach project to educate, collaborate, and motivate. Her vision is to be the change that many Gary residents and natives talk about, but few take the steps to do. This is Gary is me. This is Gary is you. Were all Gary, Kelly told me inside her popular restaurant on Broadway. The IUN students who I will be talking with Wednesday are now part of Gary as well, hopefully learning from its glorified past and beleaguered present to forge its future. HAMMOND A former bank employee who stole money from customers accounts is going to prison. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Jon E. DeGuilio imposed a 21-month sentence Tuesday on James Gaffney, 28, of Merrillville. Gaffney pleaded guilty May 16 to federal charges of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering. He admitted to stealing more than $252,000 between 2020 and 2021 from accounts at a branch office of Old National Bank, where he worked as a customer representative. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra McTague argued in a recent memo to the court that Gaffneys crime was a serious offense not only because of the amount. Trust in financial institutions is a core pillar of the U.S. financial system. Customers need to trust that banks will hold their money safely and securely so that they can access it when needed," she said. "Bank employees who embezzle funds undermine that public trust. Defense attorney William A. Padula argued in his own memo to the court that Gaffney deserved leniency because he has no prior criminal record and he suffered from mental health issues that clouded his judgment. A federal grand jury indicted Gaffney last fall on seven felony counts carrying a maximum penalty of 30 years' imprisonment. Gaffney admits in the 10-page plea deal that as a consumer representative at the bank, he learned that accounts full of money were lying dormant because the customer died and the courts hadnt yet settled how the estate would be split among the surviving family members. Gaffney said he took advantage of one such family in September 2020 by creating a joint account between himself and the deceased individual, transferring the assets of that person into the joint account and then emptying it of $246,000. He used the money to buy a new house in Merrillville lying to the mortgage company that the money was a gift from his uncle. He used some of the stolen money to pay off loans he owed on his used truck and motorcycle, and purchased a new GMC Sierra Denali truck. Gaffney victimized a different family in March 2021 when a customer asked him to cash out a deceased persons bank accounts. Gaffney admits in his plea agreement that he gave the customer some of the money but kept $6,500 for himself. McTague said Gaffney took pains to falsify documents and transfer stolen money into different accounts to cover up his crimes, which werent discovered until several months later. MICHIGAN CITY A former Hammond man accused of breaking into an ATM stole more than $55,000 in cash, police said. Malik Bunch, 25, is charged in LaPorte Superior Court 1 with Level 5 felony theft and Class A misdemeanor criminal mischief. According to court documents, Bunch used a long crowbar early on Oct. 9 to pry open an ATM at First Trust Credit Union, 950 E. U.S. 20. Surveillance footage revealed that he inserted a card and used the buttons on the keypad to the right of the screen each time before prying on the ATM. Eventually, he managed to open the top portion of the machine and fled in a car with cash, court documents revealed. Police said the ATM was damaged beyond repair. According to court documents, bank video helped identify the suspect, who was discovered to reside at the Canterbury Apartments on Chickadee Drive just outside the corporate boundaries of Michigan City. After obtaining a search warrant for the residence, officers entered the apartment, where they found Bunch and $24,880 inside a shoe box, police said. An additional $1,524 was reportedly inside a purse in the bedroom. Court documents suggest that at least a portion of the remaining stolen money was spent on new home furnishings, including kitchen appliances, a sofa, a high-top table and chairs, televisions, a dresser, nightstands and headboard for a king-size bed. Bunch had been booked Oct. 12 into the LaPorte County Jail and was still being held on $30,000 bond Monday. He could face up to seven years in prison if convicted on both charges. CROWN POINT Nearly 200 ballots mailed to or cast early by Winfield-area voters for the general election erroneously included or omitted some local candidates. The Lake County Elections Board confirmed Tuesday that the four Winfield Town Council candidates running for two at-large seats in the Nov. 8 election were mistakenly left off absentee ballots for town residents and included on the ballots for Winfield Township residents. According to election officials, the glitch affected 144 absentee ballots mailed to eligible voters, one absentee ballot emailed to an eligible military voter, and 45 ballots cast in person Oct. 12, the first day of early voting. "It was corrected by the very next morning. All machines were replaced out by 8:45 a.m," said Michelle Fajman, Lake County elections director. The bipartisan Lake County Elections Board unanimously agreed to send a letter explaining the issue to each affected voter, along with a form to request a replacement ballot with the correct race. Under Indiana law, voters who return the form will receive a new set of absentee ballot materials, and their original ballot, if returned, will not be counted in the election results. In any case, votes by Winfield Township residents ineligible to participate in Winfield Town Council balloting will not be counted in the final results of that contest even though the rest of their ballot remains valid, officials said. "The process that was used is the process that's set forth in the Indiana Code that anticipates an error could happen," said LeAnn Angerman, assistant Lake County elections director. All Indiana voters eligible to participate this year by mail-in ballot must submit their request no later than Oct. 27. Hoosiers can electronically request an absentee ballot by logging into their registration record at IndianaVoters.com, or mail a request for an absentee ballot by printing the form on the secretary of state's website: in.gov/sos. Absentee ballots must be returned by 6 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 8, to be counted in the final tally. In-person early voting is available at the Lake County Government Center and 10 satellite sites weekdays through Nov. 7 and on two Saturdays, Oct. 29 and Nov. 5. No excuse is necessary to cast an early vote. Hundreds of precinct polling places in Lake County will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Election Day for voters to pick their preferred candidates in a variety of federal, state and local government, school board and judicial contests. CROWN POINT "It's a great day in Crown Point, Indiana," U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, told city officials and firefighter/paramedics. The crowd gathered Tuesday morning to celebrate Crown Point Fire Rescue receiving a $2.26 million grant through the FEMA-Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, or SAFER, program. After applying for SAFER funding for nine years, the city was selected as one of 118 recipients for the first time this fall. Three other communities in Indiana received the SAFER grant, and Crown Point was the only municipality selected in Northwest Indiana. The grant will fully cover the salaries and benefits of seven additional firefighters for three years. Mayor Pete Land said Crown Point's financial consultant, Financial Solutions Group Inc., has already prepared a sustainability report, confirming that the city will be able to maintain the new positions when the grant money runs out. "As the city grows, we have a responsibility to be able to manage and protect our resources," Land said, explaining that the city's businesses, residents and visitors need assurance "that, should they be in need of our fire assistance, we're here." Over the past decade, Crown Point's population has gone from 27,000 to about 34,000. In 2008 the fire department had 19 firefighters; it has 53 this year. Fire Chief Mark Baumgardner Jr. said the seven new hires will allow the department to staff the ladder truck and have 16 firefighters working per shift during all three shifts. "Staffing a fire department is challenging," he said. "For example, if a department wanted to add just one additional ambulance to the street, this requires two firefighter/paramedics per shift. That's six firefighters total that you have hire just to put out one additional ambulance." Serving the city of Crown Point and Center Township keeps the department busy. Since starting as a full-time Crown Point firefighter in 2008, Baumgardner has said the number of calls the department responds to has more than doubled to 5,000. 'Now the hard work begins' What it means to be a firefighter has changed over the years. With more certifications, newer equipment and fewer volunteers, firefighters "must literally be a Swiss army knife of skills and knowledge," Baumgardner said. "A modern-day firefighter must do much more than extinguish fires. They must be emergency-medicine practitioners, knowledgeable about getting anyone out of any situation, at any time, as quickly and safely as possible while under physical and mental stress." Hiring firefighters has also become more difficult. Recruitment fairs used to take up entire high school cafeterias; now the department "is fortunate to fill a few tables" with interested candidates, Baumgardner said. To address the nationwide issue, Crown Point Fire Rescue developed a hiring committee. "But now the hard work begins. Recruiting, interviewing and selecting seven new firefighters to join our family," he said. The department will start advertising soon on social media. The city has until early spring to fill the positions, a deadline Baumgardner says he is"confident" they will be able to meet he has already heard from a few interested candidates. "We have a great department full of men and women who are here 24 hours a day, every day, ready and willing to walk into any situation they are called to," he said. "I am humbled and proud to be able to support them and the great work that they do. "The SAFER grant helps us take a huge leap forward to fulfilling our mission to the community." Bernard Carter Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter said domestic abuse is something to be aware of every month, but National Domestic Violence Awareness mo LAKE COUNTY In Indiana, more than 42% of women and 27% of men experience some form of intimate partner violence in their lifetime, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter shared several tips with the public in a statement released Friday on how the community can identify signs of domestic violence and what can be done to combat it. Domestic violence can take many forms, Carter said. Domestic violence can include physical, verbal, sexual or psychological abuse such as stalking, harassment or intimidation. Those who experience this violence will often neglect to report it. Some might feel trapped, rely on their partner for such basic needs as housing, or think others will not believe them, the statement said. "Too often, domestic violence goes unreported for a variety of reasons," Carter said. "But there are ways to help." Carter said signs of physical abuse are often easier to spot, such as bruises, black eyes or unexplained injuries. Other signs of physical or emotional abuse can include abrupt personality changes, loss of self-esteem, constantly checking in with their partner for approval, frequently changing plans and not visiting family or friends. "Make sure to safely check in on your friends, family, neighbors and acquaintances and understand the signs of potential abuse. If you think someone you know may be suffering from abuse, dont be silent." In March, Indiana passed Senate Bill 70, which adds a possible charge of obstruction of justice against anyone who tells a witness to lie or not show up to a court proceeding during the investigation of or during a pending domestic violence or child abuse case. "Many survivors are bullied into not cooperating by their abuser or the abusers family members," Carter said. "This new law should help address that behavior and further protect survivors." According to the statement, the public bears responsibility for identifying signs of abuse and eradicating domestic violence from the community. "I want you to know that our office takes these kinds of cases very seriously and will do our best to ensure Lake County is not a place where domestic abusers can get away with their crimes," Carter said. The number for the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-7233 and is available 24/7. Local programs in the Region can be found in the Find Help column at icadvinc.org. Though there was no evidence of any agreement between the Russians and the Trump campaign to work together, there was clear coordination, said Senator Angus King, a Maine independent who caucuses with the Democrats and is a member of the Intelligence Committee. The Russians were doing things to disrupt American democracy and help the Trump campaign and the Trump campaign was doing things to amplify and utilize what the Russians were supplying, Mr. King said in an interview. There may not have been an explicit agreement but they were both consciously pursing the same end, which was the election of Donald Trump. And for the Russians, the extra benefit was disrupting American democracy. The president and his allies have long tried to discredit the government investigations into the 2016 election as part of a witch hunt intended to undermine the legitimacy of Mr. Trumps stunning election. Since the release of Mr. Muellers report, Attorney General William P. Barr and numerous Republican senators have recast the president as the victim of politically motivated national security officials in the Obama administration. Releasing the report less than 100 days before Election Day, lawmakers hoped it would refocus attention on the interference by Russia and other hostile foreign powers in the American political process, which has continued unabated. Members of Mr. Trumps own party led the Intelligence Committees work. Much of the investigation was overseen by Senator Richard M. Burr, Republican of North Carolina, but he temporarily stepped aside as the chairman of the panel in May because of a federal investigation into stock sales he made before the coronavirus pandemic began rattling the United States. He was succeeded by Senator Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida, though Mr. Burr voted to endorse the reports conclusions. The report could have partisan benefits for Democrats, who were using their convention this week as a platform to portray Mr. Trump as unfit and incapable of being president. Andrew Bates, a spokesman for former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., said the report showed the Russian government intervened in 2016 to help Donald Trump get elected and to undermine our democracy. Donald Trump welcomed it with open arms. They are working toward the same goals again this year, and Trump refuses to reject their assistance. President Trump called the report a hoax, but a White House spokesman said it helped confirm what the president and his allies had long said that there was absolutely no collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. I couldnt sleep that night, wondering whether I was an ogre for resenting his extreme generosity toward those in genuine need of help or a floor-mat mom who has failed to teach my son a sense of personal responsibility. Going forward, I plan to charge him for 50 percent of his costs, e.g., his car insurance, cellphone and a portion of the grocery bill. I dont want these charges to seem like Im punishing him for his kindness, but I worry that he wont develop a sense of financial responsibility unless he pays for at least some expenses. Should I have reacted differently? Name Withheld Lets agree that people who have some resources have a duty of charity and that the duty is what Kant called an imperfect one, in the sense that its not owed to anybody in particular. Giving a large amount of money to one random stranger, about whose life, needs and struggles you know very little, isnt necessarily the best way of fulfilling this duty. Genuine benevolence should be guided by conscientious reflection, deliberation and reason. Your son works at a minimum-wage job, so this money was the equivalent of many hours of work. What he recounted to you, though, was an impulse of spontaneous generosity he was moved to act, and he acted and spending more time learning about this mothers situation could have resulted in a more valuable and lasting gift. One also thinks about the greater good that a more carefully targeted donation might have achieved. That doesnt end the conversation. In my view, charitable giving neednt maximize benefits as measured in some objective way; we can direct our benevolence to our own communities (and perhaps also support anti-malarial initiatives in Guinea). But taking a more local perspective suggests another problem here: As long as hes your dependent, his finances are enmeshed with yours. Yes, its his money. All the same, there was something disrespectful or, at the very least, heedless about his giving away half his savings without consulting the person who supports him and who is struggling to cope with looming expenses. Being a member of a household carries responsibilities of mutual concern and care. Youre right to worry that this impulsive act suggests that he hasnt learned to be responsible with his resources. The self-admiring way he described the incident to you as he extracted your approbation suggests extravagance as much as compassion, perhaps reflecting a kind of moral grandiosity. Given his incaution about spending down his savings, you can wonder, too, how intent he really is on securing his own apartment and living independently. So it might indeed be a good idea to tell him that youre going to ask him to cover some of his own costs. It could help him gain a sense of responsibility, as you say; it could also help relieve some of the financial burden youve had to shoulder. This may well be a case in which charity properly begins at home. She was one of the unsung heroes of the fight against Covid in New York City, former Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a phone interview on Monday. She played a profound role in testing, vaccine and recovery efforts. Anti-bureaucratic, she always had an attitude that we could address any problem, and in a long career really believed in the power of government to do good. Ms. Anglin was budget director under Gov. Eliot Spitzer and his successor, David A. Paterson. She was named deputy mayor for operations by Mayor de Blasio when he restored the position at the start of his second term in January 2018. Before that, she was chief administrative officer for First Deputy Mayor Anthony E. Shorris. Andrew Rein, president of the Citizens Budget Commission, a business-supported watchdog group, said of Ms. Anglin in an email, She well understood that effective public leadership came from both the big picture and the often-unnoticed brass tacks of on-the-ground operations. Laura Lee Svitek was born on May 25, 1965, in Queens to John and Charlotte (Ninke) Svitek. Her father was an accountant, her mother a homemaker. After graduating from John Glenn High School in Huntington, N.Y., on Long Island, she earned bachelors and masters degrees in economics from the State University of New York at Albany in 1987 and 1989. Dear President Xi: Please accept my countrys gratitude and congratulations as you embark on your third term as general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party. Though it may not be obvious now, we believe your reign will one day be recognized as one of the great unexpected blessings in the history of the United States, as well as that of other free nations. A few exceptions aside, this was not what was generally expected when you first became paramount leader 10 years ago. Back then, many in the West had concluded that it was merely a matter of time before China was restored to its ancient place as the worlds dominant civilization and largest economy. Chinas astonishing annual growth rates, frequently topping 10 percent, put our own meager economic progress in the shade. In one industry after another telecommunications, banking, social media, real estate Chinese companies were becoming industry leaders. Foreign nationals flocked to live, study and work in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Beijing; well-to-do American parents boasted of enrolling their children in Mandarin immersion classes. At the policymaking level, there was widespread acceptance that a richer China would be vastly more influential abroad and that the influence would be felt from Western Europe to South America to Central Asia to East Africa. Though we understood that this influence could at times be heavy-handed, there was little political will to curb it. China seemed to offer a unique model of capitalist dynamism and authoritarian efficacy. Decisions were made; things got done: What a contrast with the increasingly sclerotic free world. With a whip in one hand and a wind-bent tree in the other, the barefoot girl makes a taunting entrance, radiating caprice like some malicious sprite. This is Catherine Earnshaw, wild thing of Wuthering Heights, and if she is faintly ridiculous in her menace, it is menace nonetheless. Landing a first impression that distills the essence of a character is a rare art, and one of many things that the quick-witted, nimble-bodied company of Wise Childrens wondrous Wuthering Heights does exceptionally well. Adapted by the British director Emma Rice from Emily Brontes 19th-century novel, this music-filled version is an embrace, an envelopment: a feat of storytelling that wraps itself around the audience, pulling us into its silliness and sorrow. As besotted with the gale-tossed Yorkshire moors as Catherine and her tormented Heathcliff ever were, it makes that landscape a playground of the imagination, pausing every so often to ensure in a friendly, tongue-in-cheek fashion that were following along. Because as a baffled stranger says, when he bumbles into this multi-household, multigenerational saga, Everyones related, all the names sound the same. Well, yes, but this is a show so devoted to clarity that it helps us keep track of each fresh death (and goodness, these people die at an alarming rate) by chalking that characters name on a blackboard the size of a small tombstone and walking it slowly across the stage. Thats also our clue that the next time we see the actor whose character has died, that cast member will most likely be playing someone else possibly the dead persons child. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida and his Democratic challenger, Representative Val Demings, met for the only debate of the Florida Senate race on Tuesday, a fast-paced, fiery face-off that cruised through a series of the top issues affecting the country and the state. Mr. Rubio, who participated in around a dozen debates as a Republican presidential candidate in 2016, was polished and quick. Taking a more evocative approach, Ms. Demings sought to cast him as heartless, disconnected from the human impact of his policies on issues like abortion and guns. Still, she may not have gotten the kind of viral moment necessary to shift the trajectory of the race in her favor. For months, polls have shown Mr. Rubio with a lead in Florida, a perennial battleground state but one that has shifted to the right. Here are four takeaways: Sticking to the party line on abortion. The candidates largely hewed to their partys talking points on abortion rights, with each aiming to paint the other as extreme. Ms. Demings accused Mr. Rubio of supporting abortion restrictions without exceptions for rape, incest and life-threatening medical conditions. He wrote the book, he said, to correct the impression that I was just a rich donor who wrote a big check about an ambassadorship and then went to Europe and basically stumbled about. The common characterization of Sondland as a bumbling doofus, as he put it, irks him, and he rattled off his proudest achievements: pushing European countries to rally behind Ukraine, persuading them to support the Abraham Accords between Israel and several Arab countries and warning of the dangers of Huawei, the Chinese tech company. The actions that got Sondland slapped with a congressional subpoena, he said, were in the service of U.S. foreign policy goals that went all the way to the top. He bristled at criticism from former colleagues that he was running a rogue foreign policy, since he was taking orders, he said, from the secretary of state and the president. You have to feed that ego The book is most compelling, though, when Sondland details how he sought to win Trumps ear. Its a perhaps unintentionally revealing look at why so many people agreed to work for someone unlike any other president in American history a mix of overconfidence, rationalization and, in some cases, patriotism. The book is replete with tales. In one, Sondland walks into the Oval Office to find the president obsessing over which country music song to play at his rallies (Never mind, Sondland writes, that the Oval Office sounds like a country western bar, and were supposed to be prepping for a visit with a foreign leader). In another, he yells at Trump for not sharing the Tic Tacs the president routinely scarfed down (When you call him out on not acting like a normal person, it catches him off guard, and then he kind of likes it. People do it too infrequently). At one point, Sondland compares working for Trump to staying at an all-inclusive resort. Youre thrilled when you arrive, but things start to go downhill fast, he writes. And eventually, you begin to wonder why you agreed to the deal in the first place. Where Sondlands book differs from other Trump-era tell-alls is the evident delight he takes in how he played on the vanity and insecurities of the most powerful man in the world, treating Trump as a management puzzle to be unlocked. WASHINGTON An excerpt from a new audiobook revealed that President Donald J. Trump shared classified letters from Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, with the journalist Bob Woodward and seemed to acknowledge that they were sensitive material that he should not be sharing. Dont say I gave them to you, Mr. Trump said in December 2019, according to a copy of Mr. Woodwards audiobook obtained by CNN, adding that nobody else had the letters and imploring the journalist to treat them with respect. The Washington Post reported that a month later, in January 2020, Mr. Woodward also asked to see letters that Mr. Trump had written to the North Korean leader. Mr. Trump replied, Oh, those are so top secret. The original letters between Mr. Kim and Mr. Trump were among the voluminous number of presidential records that the National Archives tried to recover from Mr. Trump after he left office. Mr. Trump resisted returning the boxes of documents he had taken to his Florida estate, describing them to several advisers as mine. The destruction of houses and lack of access to fuel or electricity due to damaged infrastructure could become a matter of life or death if people are unable to heat their homes, Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, the World Health Organizations director for Europe, said on Friday. The United Nations resident coordinator for Ukraine, Denise Brown, told CNN on Tuesday that the devastation threatened a high risk of mortality during the winter months. In parts of Kyiv, the capital, the authorities warned people not to drink tap water, which was running cloudy after it was compromised by airstrikes on Monday. In another neighborhood, a field kitchen was set up to provide food for those without water or electricity. People lined up at stores to fill bottles with fresh water, and electricity suppliers warned that the city would continue to experience blackouts while repairs were underway. In one neighborhood on the outskirts of the northern city of Chernihiv, residents said there had been several days in a row when electricity was turned off from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. to conserve energy. At a restaurant in the city, a waiter apologized to patrons about the dim lighting that left menus barely visible, noting that the establishment was complying with a request to turn off unnecessary lights. Classical concert dance definitely has a race problem, said Melendez, who identifies as Afro-Puerto Rican, but it also has a class problem. Melendez is well placed to consider such questions. He spent three years, from 7 to 10, living at Seneca Houses, a homeless shelter for families in the South Bronx, with his mother and sister after being evicted from their home on Rosedale Avenue, also in the Bronx. Dance was not part of his world until he met Byer at an outreach event at the shelter, when he was 7. His mother, Myra Romero, was single, with two kids to support on a modest salary as a medical researcher. She decided to put him in dance classes as a form of child care. I could see he had a lot of courage, Byer said of the young Melendez, and he grabbed everything he needed in order to forge ahead. Melendez trained at New York Theater Ballets affiliated dance academy, the School of NYTB, on scholarship, as part of its LIFT Community Service Program, founded by Byer in 1989. Project LIFT, as it is known, provides dance classes, mentoring and homework assistance to about 30 students a year from low-income families, roughly a fifth of the schools student body. No one but Byer, who is still the director of the school, knows who is or isnt on a scholarship. Melendezs life is chronicled in a recent documentary by David Petersen, Lift, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival this year. It follows the experiences of three young dancers in the program. They include Victor Abreu, who spent five years at the school before moving on to the School of American Ballet, and who now has a promising career at New York City Ballet. Diana was really involved in my life, Abreu said in a phone interview. She helped me get the tools that I needed in order to be able to do more. She really invested in your life in the time she had with you. PARIS Before the Taliban demolished the Great Buddhas of Bamiyan in 2001, the figures were the worlds largest standing depictions of the deity. The destruction of the statues, which had stood for 1,500 years, remains one of the most tragic attacks on Afghanistans cultural heritage. With the Talibans return to power in 2021, that heritage has become more out of reach. But a new show at the Guimet National Museum of Asian Arts in Paris aims to bring attention to the endangered patrimony of Afghanistan by offering visitors a glimpse of some of its cultural riches. The exhibition marks a 100-year-old partnership with France to unearth and preserve Afghan treasures. Much of what the rest of the world knows about Afghanistans cultural legacy was learned after the end of British influence in 1919. In 1922 a group, La Delegation Archeologique Francaise en Afghanistan (French Archaeological Delegation to Afghanistan), or DAFA, was founded after King Amanullah Khan of Afghanistan invited a French delegation to explore, excavate and help preserve the countrys ancient sites. Over the next hundred years except during periods of invasion or war DAFA worked to uncover artifacts that filled the National Museum of Afghanistan in Kabul. With the consent of Afghan authorities, duplicates of some of those artifacts, as well as other finds, were donated to the Guimet, where Joseph Hackin, a DAFA director from 1925 until World War II, was its chief curator. Growing up in Lublin, Poland, Agnieszka Polska had little access to contemporary art. So a visit to the Tate Modern on a trip to London as a teenager, she said, was a revelation. Two decades later, Ms. Polska is an artist and filmmaker whose video works have been featured at institutions like the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris and Berlins Hamburger Bahnhof, where in 2018 she was awarded the Preis der Nationalgalerie. But she continues to be influenced by that visit to the Tate Modern, particularly one piece she saw, Bruce Naumans video Good Boy Bad Boy (1985). It is a work about how art can affect the viewer, about how powerful art is and how it can be used for good and bad reasons, good and bad practices, said Ms. Polska, 37. I remember this feeling of not being able to understand what it was about and I couldnt figure out where it belonged. PARIS Are you the person you love? Depends on your freedom to love. Intimacy, sexual identity and love are among the themes explored in a new show at the Institut du Monde Arabe that presents art by members of L.G.B.T.Q. communities in the greater Arab world. Our goal is to use art to show social phenomena in the Arab world and the questions confronted by minorities, women and all those who fight for the right to be who they are, said Jack Lang, former French culture minister and president of the institute, at the preview of the show in September. After three shows that examined monotheistic religions in the Arab world, namely Hajj: The Pilgrimage to Mecca (2014), Eastern Christians: 2000 Years of History (2017) and Jews of the East: a Multi-Millennial History (2021), the institute has turned to a radically different aspect of Arab culture: the creative output of its L.G.B.T.Q. communities. We wanted to show the 1,001 facets of Arab culture, Mr. Lang said. The show, Habibi, Loves Revolutions opened on Sept. 27 and runs through Feb. 19 in the museum, in the Fifth Arrondissement. Across 750 square meters of exhibition space, it presents the work of 23 artists who identify as L.G.B.T.Q. and come from the Arab world, broadly defined to also include North Africa and Iran. One of the Hoppers the minister sold through Kennedy was a major painting: City Roofs, from 1932, which is in the Whitney show. The painting was exhibited there in 1977 alongside more than a dozen other Sanborn-owned Hoppers. Sanborns son has said the painting was given to his parents as a gift, and that it hung in their dining room. But Levin said Josephine Hopper, a meticulous record keeper, had never recorded a transfer of the work and that it was listed in her ledger book as here in studio. It is unclear what Sanborn earned from the sale of his Hoppers. Most were private transactions, including the sale of City Roofs, which is now estimated to be worth millions of dollars, and which is now in the Whitneys collection. Another work in the Whitney show, a charcoal drawing, South of Washington Square, was sold by Sanborn through Kennedy for an undisclosed price. Its most recent owner put it up for sale at Christies in 2015, where it fetched $437,000. Last summer at a sale of American art, Swann Galleries listed some three dozen Hopper drawings that it described as having once been owned by Sanborn. No one has disputed Sanborns right to the archival material, which the exhibition deploys largely as accent points: ticket stubs in a section devoted to Hopper as a theatergoer, correspondence that illustrates the artists opposition to development, illustrated advertisements that Hopper drew in the 1910s. The Sanborn family has pointed out that the minister and his wife were alone in bothering to save these records, which include, by the Whitneys accounting, 870 items of correspondence, 535 illustrations and 123 photographs of Hopper and his wife. Sanborn built upon the items with research and trips to Hopper haunts that enabled him to speak with authority about the artist and his family. My greatest thanks to Philip Sanborn and the Sanborn family for assuring that these materials, tenderly cared for by his father and himself, will be safe and accessible for generations to come, the Whitneys director, Adam Weinberg, said in the shows catalog. The museum said it had been negotiating for more than two decades for the memorabilia now in its Sanborn Hopper Archive, which was formally a gift of the Arthayer R. Sanborn Hopper Collection Trust. Levin said one of her major complaints is that so much of the Hopper material had not been accessible to scholars for some 50 years. I had only the tip of the iceberg, she said of what she was able to use for her books and articles on Hopper. (On Wednesday, the Whitney made the archive available to scholars.) When Paris+ by Art Basel, a new edition of the well-known art fair, goes on view this week, it will feature more than 150 galleries from around the world. The venue, the Grand Palais Ephemere, is a temporary one, in use until the Grand Palais reopens after a major overhaul. The debut event will feature a special section for solo artist presentations from emerging galleries and a special program called Sites, which places public artworks across Paris. But without collectors, Paris+ would lack its vital fuel. Here are some of the people who make art fairs possible, talking about how they build their collections and how they navigate the landscape of dealers and artworks at events like Paris+. Fusun Eczacibasi The Turkish philanthropist Fusun Eczacibasi a co-founder of SAHA, a nonprofit organization supporting contemporary art production in Turkey is a longtime patron of Art Basels original fair in Basel, Switzerland, and, given her personal interest in collecting, she plans to attend the Paris+ fair. Which leaves the responsibility to others. So far, there have been a handful of efforts to hold him to account. After Yes tweets, Elon Musk soon to be the owner of Twitter tweeted, Talked to ye today & expressed my concerns about his recent tweet, which I think he took to heart. The influential radio D.J. Funk Flex called out rappers and industry executives over their silence, suggesting they still hoped to work with Ye down the line. A few celebrities have expressed their exasperation; others, like Diddy, have attempted to intervene directly, only to have Ye target them publicly. And yet people still tune in, perhaps out of schadenfreude, but also perhaps because Ye is drawing upon a cultural bank account so vast and deep and long-running that he is difficult to disentangle from our modern understanding of celebrity. For years and years, he has stepped out over the line, then crafted work music, fashion or otherwise that appeared to justify, or at least partially excuse, his baser impulses. Whether that dynamic can continue is the remaining question. It is also worth considering at what point outrage morphs into concern if Ye needs help, who would be in a position to provide it to him, and from whom would he accept it? The media outlets giving him airtime in this moment are riding the border of responsibility and irresponsibility. He has already been suspended from Twitter and Instagram for his incendiary behavior. He has terminated his partnership with Gap. His Adidas partnership is under review. Soon, he may have no mainstream partner platforms of any kind to speak of. Which may explain why he reached an agreement in principle to purchase Parler, the faltering right-wing social media app. (The parent company of Parler is owned by Owenss husband. Perhaps Ye is, among other things, a recurring victim, witting or otherwise, of right-wing grift.) For decades now, Ye has been building new worlds and waiting for people to populate them. But even if he does make Parler his megaphone, its unclear whether he will simply end up doing anything beyond shouting into the void. Speech may be free, but attention is not. Audio produced by Tally Abecassis . By Sun Nan BEIJING, Oct. 19 -- This year marks the 30th anniversary of China's participation in UN peacekeeping operations (UNPKOs) with its first formed military unit of Blue Helmets. To uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, advance world peace, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind are the reasons for China's long-standing commitment to the UNPKOs, said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin on October 18. China will continue to uphold true multilateralism and contribute China's vision and effort to reducing the peace deficit and addressing global challenges. The eighth Chinese peacekeeping infantry battalion to South Sudan (Juba) and the second Chinese peacekeeping helicopter contingent to Abyei were deployed to the mission areas in December and November 2021 respectively. They have completed over 400 tasks and their role has been highly appreciated by the local communities, said Wang at the regular press conference on October 18. Their action is a fulfillment of Chinas responsibility for world peace. The UN Peace Medal of Honor they have received represents high recognition from the international community. This year marks the 30th anniversary of China's participation in UNPKOs with its first formed military unit of Blue Helmets. Over the past three decades, China has sent over 50,000 peacekeepers to nearly 30 UNPKOs in more than 20 countries and regions. China, a key force in the UNPKOs, has become the largest troop contributor to peacekeeping operations among the five permanent members of the Security Council and the second largest contributor to UN peacekeeping assessments, said Wang. More and more often, Chinese peacekeepers can be seen in areas where peace and tranquility are needed most, said Wang. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations , praised China for its leading role in UNPKOs and its sense of responsibility as a major country in safeguarding world peace. China will continue to uphold true multilateralism, be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a guardian of international order, and contribute China's vision and effort to reducing the peace deficit and addressing global challenges, said Wang. The title of a forthcoming exhibition at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Paul Chan: Breathers, has at least several meanings, reflecting the artists talent for wry understatement. For starters, it refers to one of the series by Mr. Chan featured in the show, which has about 40 works and will be on view Nov. 17 to July 16, 2023. The nylon figures in works like Katabasis and Trithagorean Hoga (both from 2019) are inflated by fans breathing, in a way a concept that will be familiar to anyone who has seen flailing forms in front of various roadside businesses. Im glad the Walker wants their space to feel like a used car dealership, the Brooklyn-based Mr. Chan joked recently. This first scene with Bobby Western is great, a reminder (just in time) of the elegance and force of good McCarthy. The whole setup is effective and creepy. Its a frigid night in 1980, and a chartered plane has gone down in the Gulf of Mexico, not far from New Orleans. The team of divers to which Bobby belongs has been hired to go down and inspect. We observe the tender, the person who stays on the boat and directs the divers below: The tender was lying on his elbows with the headset on watching the dark water beneath them. From time to time the sea would flare with a soft sulphurous light where forty feet down Oiler was working with the cuttingtorch. Western watched the tender and he blew on the tea and sipped it and he watched the lights moving along the causeway like the slow cellular crawl of waterdrops on a wire. Slightly showy? If so, only with what Wallace Stevens called the essential gaudiness of the best poetry. The action passages underwater are also splendid. You are down there with them by the wreck, the shape of the fuselage tunneling off into the dark. You drift past the hulking nacelles that held the turbofan engines (nacelles: those streamlined shells around the engines, a surprisingly old word in English, 15th century, referring originally to a tiny ship). When the divers get into the plane, they find that one of the bodies is missing. There are eight passengers on the manifest but only seven on board. Has someone escaped, after first causing the crash? Or, even more ominous, has the site been visited already, and a body removed? Throughout much of the rest of the story, shadowy men who represent powerful agencies visit Bobby and rummage through his stuff, or threaten to rough him up. They think he knows something about the plane. They themselves either know something about it, or dont and are frustrated by that. This state of affairs never quite rises to the level of plot, but it does establish paranoid atmosphere. Bobby and Alicia Western grew up together in east Tennessee. Their parents worked at Oak Ridge, where their father, a physicist, helped design and fabricate the atom bomb. He was a genius from the North, their mother a local. There is writerly self-mythologizing here, not in the sense of narcissism, but in the way that most writers turn the idiosyncratic facts of their biographies into maps of reality. McCarthys father, Charles thats Cormacs real name, too was likewise from the North, and came to east Tennessee in the employ of the Tennessee Valley Authority, a federal agency that, in bringing electrical power to the rural South, had a hand in the erasure of swaths of that regions folk culture. The T.V.A. also provided the power to the Oak Ridge facility, making possible certain atomic experiments of the early 1940s, the work that finally destroys the world in McCarthys Spenglerian-gothic vision (and in his apocalyptic road novel, The Road). The Westerns made me think about the real-life McCarthys and see them in a different light, a useful one, in grappling with the writers oeuvre. I hadnt thought before about how other he had grown up. Irish Catholics in the mid-South, for starters; clearly the Westerns Jewishness stands in for the McCarthys Catholicism. His parents were well-educated Yankees (Cormac himself was born in Rhode Island) who lived in a nice house in a section strewn with shacks and sent the kids to parochial school. McCarthys mother, Gladys, hosted tea parties for Wellesley alumni. His pretty, thick-browed sisters won spelling bees and got scholarships to go elsewhere. They were aliens in that country. All of which makes it sort of marvelous that McCarthy inherited the mantle of the Great Southern Writer. His background doesnt diminish the achievement. It may help to account for it some dwelling in the midst of a society but seeing it from the outside, with heightened sensitivity and detached sensibility. On the other hand, The Knoxville Journal records that, as a boy, McCarthy was accidentally shot in both legs one night, as he and another child were playing with an old .22 rifle, so we know that local influences seeped in. Sense of place, as they say. Some wars grind on for centuries, making it difficult to conceive of them as a single conflict, but imaginative historians can help us gain that very long view. In INDIGENOUS CONTINENT: The Epic Contest for North America (Liveright, 592 pp., $40), Pekka Hamalainen asserts that the war for control of the continent was one of the longest conflicts in history, lasting some four centuries. Hamalainen, a prizewinning historian at Oxford University, recasts the history of North America from a Native American, or Indian, perspective. (He uses those two terms interchangeably.) In the process, he has produced the single best book I have ever read on Native American history, as well as one of the most innovative narratives about the continent. One of his running themes is how limited the Europeans were in their range of action. Essentially, for most of the time, the English, French and Spanish did nothing without approval from one or another Native American tribe or confederation. The Iroquois, who were the dominant economic, military and diplomatic power in the Northeast in the late 17th century, once had a tribal representative respond to a French officials threat of war with the dismissive comment, Let us see whether his arms be long enough to remove the scalps from our heads. Westward expansion, the author says, was led not by European colonists but by the Sioux, who perceived the huge advantage in migrating with the horse, an animal new to the Western Hemisphere, into the grasslands of the Great Plains. There, armed with muskets and gunpowder given to them by the French as tribute, they became the second Native American superpower, dominating the Upper Mississippi Valley. Ausma Zehanat Khan understands that the best police procedurals are windows into small, specific communities and that law enforcement can sometimes do more harm than good. You can see it in her earlier series, which stars the investigators Rachel Getty and Esa Khattak, and now in BLACKWATER FALLS (Minotaur, 375 pp., $27.99), the impressive series debut of the Denver police detective Inaya Rahman, a Muslim woman who struggles with being too brown for the badge, too blue for her coreligionists. Inaya and her supervisor, Lt. Waqas Seif, have been dispatched to the town of Blackwater Falls to investigate the death of a Syrian refugee named Razan Elkader, who has been found nailed to the door of a mosque in a gruesome emulation of the Crucifixion. Was the young woman killed for her social activism, or is this purely a hate crime? As the detectives grapple with prejudice and fear, they discover links to other missing and murdered girls. Fortunately, Khan is far too good to let the narrative devolve into a cliched showdown between immigrants and xenophobic locals. And Inaya is a fabulous character shrewd and stalwart, yes, but also complicated and fully fleshed-out, as is the marginalized Syrian community of Blackwater Falls. Evander Andy Mills, the protagonist of Lev AC Rosens LAVENDER HOUSE (Forge, 288 pp., $26.99), discovers that looking for his true self can be a decidedly dangerous exercise. Being queer in 1952 San Francisco demands a furtive lifestyle, and when Andy is busted in a gay bar raid, his policing career implodes. Al Ries, an influential marketing strategist who in the 1970s and 80s popularized positioning, in which companies try to defeat their rivals by embedding hard-to-forget words in consumers minds, died on Oct. 7 at his home in Atlanta. He was 95. His daughter Laura Ries confirmed the death. Mr. Ries (pronounced Reese) and his partner, Jack Trout, at Trout & Ries, a Manhattan firm, preached to their clients that creative advertising wasnt enough to persuade consumers to buy their products. But smart positioning, they said, would as Volvo did with safety, Crest did with cavities and FedEx did with overnight, slicing through the growing clutter of advertising messages from print, TV and radio. Key principle? Mr. Ries said in an email interview with The New York Times in 2017. Find an open hole in the mind and become the first brand to fill it. Trout & Riess successes included positioning Uniroyal as the tire manufacturer with the most patents; Trump Plaza Hotel as Atlantic Citys centerpiece, to connote its location on the boardwalk; and Burger King as the purveyor of broiled, not fried hamburgers. (That campaign led to a lawsuit by its target, McDonalds, which countered that Burger Kings burgers were often steamed.) So far, those messages contained at least one instance in which Ms. Scott expressed skepticism about the dubious claims of voter fraud that her network had been promoting, a recent court proceeding revealed. That kind of evidence is what Dominion hopes will ultimately convince a jury that Fox broadcast information it knew to be false, which would leave the company on the hook for significant damages. People who have heard Ms. Scott speak in meetings say she has been critical of Mr. Trumps election denial claims, though she mostly keeps her personal politics private. (She is registered as unaffiliated.) One colleague recalled that in a meeting shortly after the 2020 election, Ms. Scott seemed in disbelief as she described how people she considered otherwise serious and rational thought there was any chance Mr. Trump could legitimately stop President Bidens inauguration. And according to a message that Ms. Scott sent around the same time, which Dominion lawyers recently cited in court, she warned against giving the crazies an inch, referring to pro-Trump conspiracy theorists. NPR first reported on that message, but a transcript of the hearing in which it was disclosed has since been sealed by a judge at Foxs request. Fox has suffered several setbacks in court lately as it has tried to narrow the scope of the case and limit what internal communications it is required to hand over to Dominion. In a statement, Fox News Media lauded Ms. Scott for expanding the company into numerous new businesses. We are extremely proud of Suzanne rising through the ranks to become one of the most successful C.E.O.s in the media industry and her track record of incredible results speaks for itself. Lawyers for Fox have said that its commentary on the 2020 election and Dominion was protected by the First Amendment and inherently newsworthy. There is nothing more newsworthy than covering the president of the United States and his lawyers making allegations, Fox News Media said in a statement. Dominion has disputed that. If it were up to Fox, the more newsworthy the lie, the greater their right to spread it, a Dominion spokeswoman said. However, the First Amendment does not give broadcasters the right to knowingly spread lies or disregard the truth. Investors in Spirit Airlines voted on Wednesday to sell the carrier to JetBlue Airways, a combination that could reshape the airline industry in the United States by creating a more viable competitor to the four dominant carriers. The preliminary vote results represent a victory for JetBlue, which has struggled for years to find a path to rapid expansion and whose surprise bid for Spirit disrupted an earlier offer by Frontier Airlines. The airlines said they expected to close the acquisition, which values Spirit at $3.8 billion, no later than the first half of 2024. This is an important step forward on our path to closing a combination that will create the most compelling national low-fare challenger to the dominant U.S. carriers, Ted Christie, the chief executive of Spirit Airlines, said in a statement. But the deal still faces substantial hurdles, including federal antitrust scrutiny. Under President Biden, regulators have strongly opposed corporate consolidation, particularly in industries already dominated by a few businesses. The Justice Department is suing to prevent a partnership between JetBlue and American Airlines in Boston and New York, and it has begun a review of the JetBlue-Spirit deal. I recently explored New York wine shops for Loire reds and found a dozen bottles that I highly recommend. Some are great thirst-quenchers that are moderately priced. Others are too expensive for many people, which I understand. But they are still excellent values relative to what you might get for the same price in some other French regions or the Napa Valley. Ive spoken generally of the Loire Valley, but it actually encompasses many different regions, from the Muscadet production zone in the west near where the river empties into the Atlantic, to Sancerre and a host of lesser-known areas in the east. Ive focused on two central areas, the Anjou-Saumur region near the city of Angers and the Touraine area near the city of Tours. Cabernet franc is the dominant red in both areas, though plenty of other grapes can also be found, including cabernet sauvignon, malbec (known regionally as cot), gamay, pineau daunis and grolleau. Most of these bottles are cabernet franc wines, but not all. Four of these producers use the vague Vin de France appellation rather than the official local appellations. Why? I wont offer a precise rationale for each, but the four producers are on the natural side of the wine spectrum. The official bureaucracy, which is charged with maintaining high standards for the appellations, is more of a hidebound defender of the mainstream. Natural wine producers, who dont conform to conventional farming or winemaking methods and whose wines depart from the norm, frequently decide it is easier to forgo the more prestigious appellations than it is to battle against the bureaucracy. Britain, among the leading donors to the poorest nations, has slashed its foreign aid contributions, imperiling global progress against infectious diseases, famine and climate change, as well as efforts to improve girls education and sexual and reproductive health. Since 2020, the country has cut its human rights work by 80 percent, funds for some global health programs by more than 80 percent and humanitarian aid to Yemen, Syria and other nations by 60 percent. The consequences, especially for the struggling post-Covid economies of many low-income countries, have been catastrophic, experts said. The pandemic, a deepening debt crisis and the war in Ukraine are all undermining the capacity of many low- and middle-income nations to invest in health and endangering millions of lives, according to a new report by the United Nations program for H.I.V. and AIDS, UNAIDS. Were just seeing many more people on the brink of starvation, said Joe Cerrell, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundations managing director for global policy in Europe, the Middle East and East Asia. You couldnt pick a worse time to be pulling back. For a quarter of a century, Dr. Lisa Iezzoni, a professor of medicine at Harvard, has heard the same story during research with hundreds of people who have disabilities: Health care that was substandard. Medical offices that were not accessible. Doctors who did not treat them with respect. Everywhere I looked, there were disparities, Dr. Iezzoni said. Yet, what patients told her was no surprise, given her own experiences with multiple sclerosis and using a wheelchair. It was time for the next step. I thought I needed to start talking to doctors, Dr. Iezzoni said. She proposed asking physicians what they really thought when a patient with a disability showed up in their offices. The result was a study that gathered doctors, a mix of primary care physicians and specialists recruited from across the United States, into three focus groups on video conferences. Protected by anonymity only first names or nicknames were used the groups of eight to 10 doctors began to talk. At first, they were guarded, but as the sessions that Dr. Iezzoni moderated wore on, they began to speak more frankly. In their Zoom meetings, they could not see that Dr. Iezzoni was seated in a wheelchair. A Food and Drug Administration advisory committee on Wednesday recommended removing the drug Makena from the market, after years of study showed the fast-tracked drug had failed to prevent preterm births. Makena has been in use for 11 years, and the panels vote was widely viewed as a test of the agencys accelerated approval program, which has expedited nearly 300 promising drugs to the market in 30 years. The program has been criticized for leaving many drugs in use as follow-up studies drag on to determine whether they work. The program drew considerable fire over the approval of the Alzheimers drug Aduhelm last year, a costly drug that many experts viewed as unproven. This is the first time in more than a decade that the agency, which typically follows the advice of its expert panels, appears poised to force a drugmaker to stop selling a fast-tracked product. The move to pull Makena from the market the only drug approved to forestall preterm birth has been laced with emotional appeals and issues of race and health disparity. The risk of preterm birth is much higher for Black women, a point that Covis Pharma, the drugs manufacturer, had pressed in a lengthy effort to make its case to the F.D.A. With the even keel of an official chronicle, the documentary Year One: A Political Odyssey, by the director John Maggio, sets down an account of diplomacy during President Bidens first 365-plus days in office. The selective overview is mostly recounted by administration officials, with the New York Times correspondent David E. Sanger acting as a valuable guide throughout. Underlining Bidens international, alliance-building outlook, the focus is on efforts to reckon responsibly with the power plays of Russia, China and Afghanistan. Key figures including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Jen Psaki, the former White House press secretary (but not Biden), sit down for sober interviews that feel like a well-sourced recap. Some crises are less frequently referenced now (the SolarWinds hack); others still loom (Russias war on Ukraine). This Ms. Bergdorf Goodman case is a complete con job, Mr. Trump said in his statement. He said that Ms. Carroll was not telling the truth, that he did not know her and that she was not his type: While I am not supposed to say it, I will. Ms. Carrolls lawyers said through a spokesman that Mr. Trumps statement obviously does not merit a response. Will the public see Mr. Trumps deposition? The court has imposed a routine order that would allow Mr. Trump and Ms. Carroll to keep their depositions confidential throughout the pretrial discovery process. It is not known whether Mr. Trump will ask that his deposition be treated as confidential. Neither partys lawyers released information about the deposition Wednesday. Will the defamation case be short-circuited? After Ms. Carroll sued in state court in Manhattan in 2019, the Justice Department, then led by Attorney General William P. Barr, abruptly intervened on Mr. Trumps behalf in September 2020, citing a law intended to protect federal employees from litigation stemming from their official duties. The Justice Department moved the case into federal court and sought to substitute the United States for Mr. Trump as the defendant. That maneuver, if successful, would be likely to result in the lawsuits dismissal, as the federal government cannot be sued for defamation. In October 2020, Judge Kaplan rejected the departments attempt to intervene in the case, saying Mr. Trump was not performing official duties when he made his statements about Ms. Carroll. His comments concerned an alleged sexual assault that took place several decades before he took office, Judge Kaplan wrote, and the allegations have no relationship to the official business of the United States. The United States also needs to enhance its data collection and analysis. Throughout the pandemic, the country relied on data from Israel, Britain and South Africa to track the appearance of new variants and to measure the effectiveness of vaccination. Recognizing this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention created an analytic branch to develop those capabilities. But analysis is only as good as the underlying data, and little has been done to bring the collection and integration of public health information into the digital age. The C.D.C., the countrys principal public health agency, has acknowledged that it lacks a data infrastructure with clear standards that can accept and integrate information crucial to monitoring and fighting public health threats. This includes information from local and state health agencies and health systems tracking in near real time the actual number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths, stratified by vaccination status, age, community and race. Public health officials will find themselves flying blind in the next emergency if this system is not fixed. Improving worker safety has been another missed opportunity. Everyone in a workplace benefits if colleagues feeling flulike symptoms remain home. But this will happen only with a change in culture around sickness and, more important, the provision of paid sick leave to workers, especially for those in low-income jobs and the gig economy. Paid sick leave is particularly important in the health care, hospitality, public transportation and retail industries, where infections can most easily spread. But many employers still do not provide paid sick and family medical leave, and Congress has refused to pass legislation requiring it, despite the mountain of data on workplace spread from coronavirus and other respiratory infections. Strategies also are still badly needed to connect public health agencies with high-risk but hard-to-reach populations. During the early days of Covid, much of the engagement with the public by health agencies was passive. Americans had to stand in line or sign up online for vaccines or masks or to order tests and sometimes request reimbursement from their insurers. This approach works for those with free time, broadband access and computer skills. But it is much more challenging for disabled people, older people living alone, individuals with low health literacy, non-English speakers and rural residents. Instituting proactive outreach will be valuable in future emergencies whether pandemics, hurricanes, wildfires or other disasters. Otherwise, these underserved groups will again be left out, widening disparities in care and outcomes. The government has yet to ensure a stable domestic production capacity and raw material supply chains for personal protective equipment, including N95 and KN95 face coverings, gloves and disposable gowns, much less pharmaceuticals. Nor has it fixed the system of clinical research, which proved slow in generating useful results on a range of concerns, such as optimal vaccine schedules and the evaluation of drugs to lessen Covid symptoms and prevent hospitalizations. The reliable clinical results proving the benefits of steroids and the problems with hydroxychloroquine tended to come from Britain and other countries. Yet the National Institutes of Health has not revamped how it organizes, funds and rewards scientists for participating in large, pragmatic clinical trials, especially but not only in public health emergencies. In order to maintain this bloc, a delicate dance ensued, Meyerson continues: Since the 1960s, the three of the citys 15 council districts located in and around heavily Black South Central had been informally designated as Black seats, and Latino political leaders agreed not to contest them, even as the Black share of the citys population shrank from 15 percent in the 1970 census to 8 percent in the 2020 census, and even as the citys share of Latinos rose to 48 percent in 2020. I asked Raphael Sonenshein, executive director of the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs at California State University, Los Angeles, about the history of racial and ethnic politics in Los Angeles as well as the current situation. He wrote back by email: Between 1900 and 1949, there were no City Council members who were African American, Latino, Jewish or Asian American. In 1949, Ed Roybal became the first Hispanic member of the council and held his seat until 1962 when he successfully ran for Congress, Sonenshein noted. But then there was a long hiatus with no Latino members until 1985, all during the heyday of the Bradley Black-Jewish coalition. Now, according to Sonenshein, there are three African American and four Latino seats on the council, with the strong possibility of a fifth Hispanic seat depending on the outcome of a Nov. 8 runoff. Black Democrats have held three council seats every cycle since 1963 despite the sharp decline in the African American share of the citys electorate, the result, Sonenshein wrote, of a long-term Black-Latino detente and at times strong alliance. I asked Sonenshein about the all-or-nothing element of redistricting in Los Angeles, and he replied that the unusually strong powers held by the City Council make the competition for seats particularly intense: The conflict is further enhanced by the unique nature of the L.A. council. It is certainly the most powerful council in any city with a mayor-council system. The relatively small size of the council and the visibility of the council as the most public-facing institution in the city government make each seat immensely valuable. L.A.s growing stature as a key political force in California and even national Democratic politics causes state legislators to consider abandoning their seats when a council position opens up. (Can you imagine that happening in N.Y.C. or Chicago?) Conversely, Sonenshein argued, there are two factors mitigating conflict: strong incentives in communities to build and maintain progressive cross-racial and cross-ethnic coalitions on the Tom Bradley model and crosscutting elite political alliances that link together members in different communities. Sonenshein described the current situation in Los Angeles as the mirror image of the 1990s. As the Latino population grew in the 1980s and 1990s in what was then known as South Central Los Angeles, there was considerable intergroup tension at the street level. Jobs, housing, services, all played a role. It took a while for those tensions to bubble up to the political level. David Sears, an emeritus professor of psychology and political science at U.C.L.A., emailed his response to my query about racial and ethnic politics in Los Angeles: The zero-sum character of redistricting surely exacerbates intergroup conflict. In L.A., such conflicts are barely below the surface in general. Especially Black-brown. Latinos have moved into historically Black neighborhoods in large numbers in L.A. and now generally outnumber Blacks. City Council representation has not adjusted to reflect that change. Black-brown political coalitions do form but they can be evanescent, with the tensions generally sub rosa rather than displayed out in public. In peaceful times, Sears wrote, the theory of common in-group identity argues that coalitions can form around a common superordinate identity. One example would be the Democratic Party in the California legislature, where there are lots of pressures to bind the coalition together e.g., maintaining a supermajority. Sears cautioned, however, that subordinate group identities can sometimes fracture that common identity when subordinate group identities are made salient, as in redistricting (or ticket composition) decisions. The current controversy is a textbook example of these dynamics. Sears pointed out possible future developments. On one hand, he again mentioned lots of pressures to bind the coalition together. At the same time, however, he noted: Centrifugal pressures include upward mobility among Latinos, who are rapidly moving into being small-business entrepreneurs. The younger generation is getting a lot better educated: e.g., the numbers of Latinos admitted to U.C.L.A. are rising rapidly. And intermarriage with whites is very common in post-immigrant generations. Expect more ethnic conflicts, Sears concluded, despite the incentives for coalition building. The fragmentation of neighborhoods leads to fragmentation in the schools. Many lighter-skinned Latinos have an easier road of it than African Americans in terms of upward mobility. I believe that broken families are still much more common in the Black community, which has its costs. Redistricting is a redistribution of political power, and political power determines the allocation of crucial resources. Cecilia Menjivar, a professor of sociology at U.C.L.A., emailed me her analysis of the role of scarcity in the struggle for power: Ethnic conflict does not happen in a vacuum of other social forces, especially material resources such as income and especially inequality absolutely and relative in personal income but also resources such as housing and school funding, etc., which varies quite a bit by place, neighborhood, etc. This is important because its not just income and material resources but increased inequality the uneven distribution of resources that shapes perceptions about a sense of scarcity that groups (and individuals) perceive. Income and access to resources and benefits are all key, Menjivar continued, but inequality, the uneven distribution and access to resources and societys benefits, is absolutely vital to consider here because it is perceptions of unequal access, unequal distribution of benefits, etc., that I see more than income distribution alone. Along similar lines, Betina Wilkinson, a political scientist at Wake Forest University, emailed me to say that her survey and focus group data reveal that for some Blacks and Latinxs, social, economic and political opportunities are zero-sum since they feel that their sociopolitical power and struggles are comparable to those of the other minoritized group, that there are limited resources and opportunities and thus that the other group poses a threat to them. Grosse Pointe Park, Mich. | $1.899 Million A 1926 Tudor Revival house with five bedrooms, six full bathrooms and two half bathrooms, on a one-acre lot This home was designed by Wallace Frost, an architect responsible for the Michigan Governors Mansion and a number of residences in the Detroit suburbs. It is not far from Lake Saint Clair, and several rooms have water views. Two lakefront parks Matthew C. Patterson Park and Neff Park are within a mile of the property. Downtown Detroit is about 20 minutes away. Driving across the Canadian border to Windsor, Ontario, takes about half an hour. Size: 6,682 square feet Price per square foot: $284 Indoors: From the brick-walled street entry flanked by stone lions, iron gates open to a long driveway that leads to the house. The front door is up a few steps, behind a stone porch framed by a concrete balustrade. The foyer is a grand space with high ceilings and a curved flying staircase. To the left is a living room with multiple windows, original woodwork and access to a sunroom with three large, arched French doors facing the manicured grounds. Also on this side of the house are a powder room and a wood-paneled study with a fireplace. Instead of studying living people, Dr. Barreiro, Dr. Poinar and their colleagues examined the DNA of people who lived centuries ago, extracting genetic material from human remains buried in three London cemeteries. They found fragments of DNA in 318 skeletons that had lived between 1000 and 1500. The remains included 42 victims of the Black Death. Comparing the bones from before and after the plague hit, the scientists found a striking difference in DNA: Hundreds of mutations in genes involved in immunity became more common after the epidemic. This shift was not proof on its own that the mutations conferred some evolutionary advantage. Biologists have long known that mutations can become more common in a population thanks to the vagaries of history a process called genetic drift. It can be challenging to determine if a common mutation came to be because of genetic drift or natural selection. One way to tell the difference is speed: Under extreme conditions, natural selection can make a mutation spread far faster than genetic drift can. To compare natural selection and genetic drift, Dr. Barreiro and his colleagues went back to the DNA of the Londoners for another look. They took advantage of the fact that large stretches of our DNA contain no working genes. Mutations that strike those stretches are unlikely to cause any harm. Theyre also unlikely to bring any benefit. They only spread thanks to genetic drift. Dr. Barreiro and his colleagues found that some of these neutral mutations became more common after the Black Death. But 35 of the mutations in immune genes spread far faster than the neutral ones so fast that only natural selection could account for their success. Analyzing fossils from a cave in Russia, scientists have found the first known Neanderthal family: a father, his teenage daughter and others who were probably close cousins. The findings, published on Wednesday in the journal Nature, painted a tragic picture of our extinct relatives, who roamed Eurasia tens of thousands of years ago. The family, part of a band of 11 Neanderthals found together in the cave, most likely died together, scientists said, possibly from starvation. The study was carried out by a team of researchers that included Svante Paabo, a Swedish geneticist who for 25 years has been uncovering the secrets of Neanderthals, from extracting their DNA from cave floor dirt to replicating their brain cells. Earlier this month, he won the Nobel Prize for his efforts. I would not have thought we would be able to detect a father and daughter from bone fragments, or Neanderthal DNA in cave sediments, or any other of the things that are now becoming almost routine, said Dr. Paabo, a director at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany. It has been an amazing journey. Ms. Howard and Mr. Szymanski wanted Lords to look a bit more elegant, she said. I was torn between an English countryside home and something like the Polo Bar. But Ms. Polonsky and Mr. Aciar were not available for the project, so Ms. Howard got to work herself. Her first purchase was an item that patrons would encounter before they even walked in the door: the awning. After she and Mr. Szymanski used the website Canva to design the Lords logo its name in a handwritten font against a deep green background she stopped by a sign company in Chinatown and found out it was closing. But the company agreed to make the restaurants green awning, and even to trim it in a gold fringe that Ms. Howard had bought after seeing vintage Campari umbrellas on the sidewalk outside of the restaurant Gem, on the Lower East Side. Gold accents can be found inside, too. On one dining-room wall, there are two ornate gold Amelie mirrors that Ms. Howard bought for $800 each from Arhaus. And the bigger bathroom features a $132 gold faucet from Homary that, to Ms. Howard, looked an awful lot like a $1,000 brass fixture from Rejuvenation. Its the same faucet installed at Dame, where it gets a lot of compliments, Ms. Howard said. I was watching a lot of Bridgerton and Gilded Age for design inspiration, she added. I wanted more, but I didnt want it to turn into Trump Tower. To balance out the gold, the owners wanted some walls to evoke worn plaster, a look they didnt have a century or two to achieve naturally, or the $40,000 to pay an artist and design firm to recreate. Instead, they hired a painter to apply Portola Paints Patagonia, a cream-colored Roman clay, or plaster finish, that starts at $26 a quart. Other interior walls were painted with Benjamin Moores Hunter Green, a deep emerald color that starts at $53 a gallon. And this does not stop once a show reaches the stage. Jenny Konig, who plays Gertrude and Ophelia in Hamlet and Lady Anne in Richard III, knows all too well that acting with Eidinger requires being constantly on alert. I think hes really good at creating an illusion that its happening the first time right now he cant just play the scenes like he did it a hundred times before, she said in a video chat. Its always this special moment where something else could happen. Sometimes it doesnt work, thats the risk, but the aim is to be in the moment and to experience real reactions. Onstage, Eidinger is in a heightened state of consciousness that allows him to experience a hyper-awareness of his environment. That, in turn, helps him modulate and adjust his performance on the spot. Some actors describe acting like being a tunnel, but its the complete opposite for me: Im aware of everything, he said. Im standing onstage, maybe Im emotional and crying real tears, but at the same time I see the person in the first row taking candy out of his pocket and eating it. I can think about bringing my daughter to school. It doesnt distract me: It makes it more complex. This openness to his surroundings is also expressed into an interest in exploring other mediums. Eidinger, who mentions music as a primary inspiration, released a trip-hoppy album, Ill Break Ya Legg, in 1998; quotes the rapper Tyler, the Creator as freely as Brecht; and has been deejaying for decades, including regular gigs at the Schaubuhne. (Id say his taste of music is much too commercial, Ostermeier sniffed. Someone needs to write a play a clef about these two.) He also loves taking photographs and has directed a few shows this fall he is reprising the adaptation of Peer Gynt that he hatched with the artist John Bock and starred in. For me, theres not a big difference in how I express myself, so Im completely satisfied just doing photography, Im completely satisfied just directing or doing music, Eidinger said. Acting is something I stick to because maybe Im most talented. In all the other art forms, I feel limitations; when I act, I feel no limits. And thats very attractive, of course. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. LOS ANGELES They have attended school in the United States, spent their childhoods in U.S. neighborhoods and grown up as Americans in every way but one brought to the country by their undocumented parents as children, they have no legal authority to live in the United States. The political and legal turmoil over the federal program that since 2012 has shielded many of them from deportation, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, has left thousands of the so-called Dreamers immigrants whose plight has won sympathy at times from Democrats and Republicans alike in legal limbo. Federal law makes it illegal to hire undocumented immigrants, and, under the law, many of these young immigrants will graduate from college to a life of under-the-table jobs as nannies and construction workers. Now, a coalition of undocumented student leaders and some of the nations top legal scholars is proposing that California, a state that has served as an incubator for progressive policies on immigration, begin employing undocumented students at the 10 University of California campuses. The proposal, which almost certainly would face significant political and legal challenges, calls for the state to defy current interpretations of a 1986 federal immigration law that prohibits U.S. employers from hiring undocumented immigrants. But a new legal analysis drafted at the University of California, Los Angeles, and reviewed in some of the nations top law schools argues that the law does not apply to states. When Hurricane Ian made landfall in southwestern Florida late last month, officials urged residents to avoid wading in storm waters, which they warned could be contaminated with dangerous chemicals and bacteria. But avoiding the water proved to be a challenge, as streets were inundated and cars engulfed, and the floodwater made it into homes and countless other structures in the hurricanes path. In the storms aftermath, there has been a rise in reported cases of Vibrio vulnificus, a rare and potentially deadly bacterial infection that can cause tissue around open wounds to die. There are 28 cases of it in Florida, state data shows. At least seven people have died, according to a spokesman for the state Health Department. These infections, while rare, can occur when open wounds come into contact with contaminated water, the states Health Department said. The bacteria live in brackish water, or a blend of fresh and seawater, the Lee County Health Department said, stressing that immediate treatment after the onset of symptoms was crucial. Senator Bernie Sanders is planning an eight-state blitz with at least 19 events over the final two weekends before the midterm elections, looking to rally young voters and progressives as Democrats confront daunting national headwinds. Mr. Sanders, the Vermont senator who in many ways is the face of the American left, is beginning his push in Oregon on Oct. 27. It is about energizing our base and increasing voter turnout up and down the ballot, Mr. Sanders said in an interview. I am a little bit concerned that the energy level for young people, working-class people, is not as high as it should be, he said. And I want to see what I can do about that. The first swing will include stops in Oregon, California, Nevada (with events in both Reno and Las Vegas), Texas (including one in McAllen), and Orlando, Fla. The second weekend will focus on Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Candidates for senator or governor routinely used to participate in two or three debates. Now some are skipping them altogether. Retail politicking at diners and state fairs is no longer the cliche it was for generations. And town-hall-style meetings, where citizens get to question their elected leaders and those running to replace them, have given way to the online echo chamber. In midterm campaigns across the country, direct political engagement has been falling away, victim to security concerns, pandemic-era workarounds and Republican hostility to the mainstream media. Many candidates are sticking instead to safer spaces: partisan news outlets, fund-raisers with supporters, friendly local crowds. The result is a profound shift in the long traditions of American campaigns that is both a symptom of and a contributor to the ills afflicting the countrys politics. Campaigning used to force candidates to engage up close with the public, exposing them not only to supporters but to those who might disagree with them. Avoiding those tougher interactions cuts down on the opportunities for candidates characters and limitations to be revealed, and for elected officials to be held accountable to those who elected them. For the politicians, it creates an artificial environment where their positions appear uniformly popular and opposing views are angrily denounced, making compromise seem risky. Once they are resettled, the refugees can petition for their immediate relatives to join them in the United States by providing DNA or other evidence of their relationship. The relative would then be interviewed at an embassy by a U.S. official before being approved for travel. But millions of people are being admitted into the United States outside the traditional refugee program, diverting resources from those who have been waiting for years. Much attention has been paid to migrants crossing the border in record numbers, in part because of decisions by Republican-led states like Florida and Texas to send some of them to liberal bastions like Marthas Vineyard as a way to provoke outrage. Those migrants can secure asylum if they can prove they would be persecuted at home; otherwise they face deportation. More than a million have been turned away on the basis of a Trump-era public health measure called Title 42, which allows the United States to expel people who would have otherwise been admitted for an evaluation of their asylum claims or placed into deportation proceedings. In special circumstances, the United States government can grant parole to people from other countries, a legal tool that allows them to enter the country but does not automatically confer a green card or citizenship. That is what Mr. Bidens administration has done in the cases of many refugees from Afghanistan, Ukraine and now Venezuela. Over the past two years, the Biden administration has taken some steps to rebuild the overburdened refugee system, even as the president and his senior aides have debated how to unwind the Trump administrations anti-immigration agenda. Mr. Biden has expressed concern about Republican attacks over his immigration policies, particularly as apprehensions at the U.S. southern border have hit record levels. WASHINGTON When Richard N. Haass took over as president of the Council on Foreign Relations almost 20 years ago, becoming the de facto dean of the U.S. foreign policy establishment, the world was a very different place. The United States had just toppled the Taliban and Saddam Hussein, and its power seemed unmatched. China remained a modest regional player, and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia was offering himself as a U.S. ally. American democracy seemed relatively healthy, with bipartisanship strong enough to give President George W. Bush an approval rating in the 60s. It is a grimmer picture today, as Mr. Haass prepares to step down from the Council on Foreign Relations, whose board he notified on Wednesday of his plans to depart in June. Based in New York, the 101-year-old nonpartisan organization sets out to inform and influence U.S. foreign policy, and it also publishes the journal Foreign Affairs. Its membership includes dozens of former and likely future government officials. Its impossible for me, or anyone, to argue that weve used these decades well, Mr. Haass said of the United States in an interview. We face a world where weve got a revival of classic geopolitics on steroids. My own view is, if youre not worried, youre not paying attention. Former President Donald J. Trump signed a document swearing under oath that information in a Georgia lawsuit he filed challenging the results of the 2020 election was true even though his own lawyers had told him it was false, a federal judge wrote on Wednesday. The accusation came in a ruling by the judge, David O. Carter, ordering John Eastman, the conservative lawyer who strategized with the former president about overturning the election, to hand over 33 more emails to the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Judge Carter, who serves with the Federal District Court for the Central District of California, determined that the emails contained possible evidence of criminal behavior. The emails show that President Trump knew that the specific numbers of voter fraud were wrong but continued to tout those numbers, both in court and to the public, Judge Carter wrote. He added in a footnote that the suit contained language saying Mr. Trump was relying on information provided to him by others. The committee has fought for months to get access to hundreds of Mr. Eastmans emails, viewing him as the intellectual architect of plans to subvert the 2020 election, including Mr. Trumps effort to pressure Vice President Mike Pence to block or delay congressional certification of the Electoral College results on Jan. 6, 2021. Repeatedly, the panel has argued that a crime-fraud exception pierces the typical attorney-client privilege that often protects communications between lawyers and clients. Whether they are marching against gun violence, advocating stronger action against climate change or pushing for or against abortion rights, young Americans of all political stripes have been engaged in some of the prominent social movements of the 21st century. Electorally, however, they have often struggled to make their voices heard, despite turning out in increasing numbers in 2018 and 2020. A New York Times/Siena College poll found that likely voters younger than 30 planned to support a Democrat for Congress by a 12-point margin in next months elections, compared with a narrow advantage for Republicans among likely voters at large. But, compared with older generations, they were less likely to say they would vote at all. Twelve voters in their 20s, living in states with competitive Senate or governors races, spoke with photographers for The New York Times about the issues they considered most important. Though President Bidens student debt forgiveness plan had been in the news, none said it was a top issue. Instead, they discussed their views on abortion, climate, the economy and immigration or a search for, as one 24-year-old Wisconsin woman put it, whats best for the collective versus the singular. Maggie Astor Georgia Seeking the Least Worst Options Wildfires burning across the Pacific Northwest through a season of record-breaking heat and dry weather have spread a blanket of smoke across Seattle, Portland and other parts of the region, where residents are breathing some of the planets worst air this week. Photographers looking to capture Seattles iconic skyline have found it shrouded in haze as the city carries the scent of a mass bonfire. While the warm temperatures seemed to offer an extended season of hiking and biking, the smoke kept many indoors. The Seattle area recorded a high of 88 degrees over the weekend; the city has never recorded an 80-degree day so late into fall. But by this weekend, highs will drop into the 50s, bringing relief as a cool front spreads across the Pacific Northwest. Forecasters said that breezes could blow away the smoke, while rain douses lingering wildfires and the region gets its first true taste of fall. Q: Are e-cigarettes actually useful for quitting smoking cigarettes? For adults who are looking to quit smoking cigarettes, e-cigarettes (also known as vapes, e-cigs and vape pens) have become a common option. They work by heating a liquid that usually contains nicotine into an aerosol that is then inhaled. They can still feed a nicotine addiction, but they do so without burning tobacco, which produces smoke that can damage the lungs and potentially lead to lung cancer, emphysema and other lung issues, according to the National Cancer Institute. Nicotine is harmful in that it perpetuates addiction to smoking, said Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, an associate professor of evidence-based policy and practice at the University of Oxford and a member of the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group. But, she added, nicotine itself is not what causes the kind of lung damage that can lead to cancer and other issues. How safe are e-cigarettes? That doesnt mean e-cigarettes are entirely safe. Nicotine is highly addictive, and it can harm brain development in adolescents and young adults. Its also toxic to developing fetuses, and isnt safe for those who are pregnant, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. E-cigarette vapor can contain other potentially harmful substances, including flavorings, cancer-causing chemicals like acetaldehyde or formaldehyde, ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs, and heavy metals such as nickel, tin and lead. Some research also suggests that e-cigarettes can be an on-ramp for cigarette smoking for young adults. In a study released in early October, federal health officials reported that 2.55 million U.S. middle and high school students said they were current users of e-cigarettes in 2022 meaning they had reported e-cigarette use at least once in the past 30 days. That figure included about 14 percent of high school students and about 3 percent of middle school students. In one review of studies published in JAMA Pediatrics in 2017, researchers concluded that adolescents and young adults who used e-cigarettes were 3.6 times as likely to smoke cigarettes later in life when compared with those who did not use e-cigarettes. MUMBAI, India A Kashmiri photojournalist who was part of a team that won a Pulitzer Prize this May has been barred by the Indian authorities from traveling to the United States to receive her award, the latest case of brazen harassment of the countrys news media. The photographer, Sanna Irshad Mattoo, was awarded the Pulitzer for her role in coverage by the news agency Reuters of Indias devastation last year during the second wave of Covid-19. She said immigration officers at the New Delhi airport had pulled her aside on Tuesday and stamped her airline ticket canceled without prejudice, offering no explanation. Ms. Mattoo had a valid visa to the United States, as well as an invitation to attend the Pulitzer award ceremony on Thursday. Her Reuters colleagues who were traveling with her who are not from the disputed Kashmir region were allowed to board the flight. It was the second time in recent months that Ms. Mattoo, 28, had been stopped from traveling at the New Delhi airport. In July, the authorities turned her away as she tried to travel to Paris for another ceremony. I wrote to many concerned departments if there is anything against me, any order, Ms. Mattoo said. But no response. Seongju County, which includes this village, had been known mainly for its farming community before residents grabbed national headlines protesting the arrival of the Thaad system five years ago. Villagers here and many South Koreans elsewhere were concerned that it could place South Korea on the front lines of a potential Sino-American conflict. As Beijing and Washington clash over issues such as Taiwan, global supply chains and the South China Sea, anxieties have been on the rise. Numerous anti-American banners line both sides of the road that winds through the village and up to the American military base. Yankees, go home! Thaad, go home! they demand. During a recent early-morning rally, Ms. Do and 20 other protesters sat on plastic chairs on a two-lane asphalt road, shouting: We dont need Thaad! We need peace! An hour later, police officers removed them carrying them in their chairs so the road could be cleared for trucks and water and fuel tanks going up the hill to the Thaad base. South Korea has long been careful not to take sides in the rivalry between the United States and China, benefiting from a national strategy known as anmigyeongjung, which loosely translates to the United States for security and China for the economy. Washington has provided security for Seoul since the Korean War. But after South Korea established diplomatic ties with Beijing in 1992, China quickly replaced the United States as the countrys biggest trading partner, helping to fuel a thriving, export-driven economy. About 30 percent of South Korean exports go to China or Hong Kong almost equaling the countrys trade with the United States, Japan and Europe combined. Over the years, it has become increasingly difficult for South Korea to enjoy the best of both worlds. President Yoon Suk Yeol has aligned his country more closely with Washington, deepening ties in missile defense and supply chains to help deter North Korea. He has done so at the risk of provoking Beijing. LONDON The rally outside the Chinese Consulate in Manchester, in northern England, began like others before it, with demonstrators against repression in Hong Kong hanging banners and preparing to shout slogans. But the scene turned violent on Sunday after a group of men emerged from the consulate, removed a poster of Xi Jinping, Chinas leader, and then dragged one protester through the gates. They kicked and beat him as police officers and other protesters rushed to separate them. Journalists at the scene caught the melee on video seen around the world. On Wednesday in London, the protester, Bob Chan, gave an account to reporters of the attack. Mr. Chan said he had been trying to stop the men from the consulate from tearing down banners, including one featuring Mr. Xi wearing only a crown and underwear, when he was pulled into the consulate grounds. During the assault, which he said left bruises on his eyes, neck, head and back, he felt men kicking him and his hair being pulled. I am shocked and hurt by this unprovoked attack, he said, adding that the assault stopped only when a police officer intervened. I never thought something like this could happen to me in the U.K. The suspect in Lolas killing, who has not been named, was quickly arrested, detained and charged with murder, rape of a minor, torture, acts of barbarity and concealment of a corpse. The authorities have offered no motive. Reports in the French news media said she had no fixed home and no income. Alexandre Silva, a lawyer for the suspect, has declined to comment about the specifics of the case, but he told reporters after a hearing in Paris on Monday that his client was entitled to the presumption of innocence. Right-wing and far-right politicians assailed the government for being too lax on immigration and accused it of being partly responsible for the killing because of its failure to effectively deport people who have been ordered to leave the country. Marine Le Pen, the staunchly anti-immigrant far-right leader, was one of several politicians who berated the government in Parliament on Tuesday, calling Lolas murder one too many. The suspect in this barbaric act should not have been on our territory, she said in a tirade against Elisabeth Borne, the prime minister. Too many crimes and offenses are committed by illegal immigrants that we have not been willing or able to send back home. Ms. Borne shot back that Ms. Le Pen lacked decency, as she and other ministers accused the right and the far-right of exploiting the murder for political benefit. Eric Dupond-Moretti, the French justice minister, told lawmakers that using a 12-year-old kids coffin like you would a stepping stool was shameful. But Mr. Macrons government has also been forced to acknowledge failings. Over 62,000 people identified by the authorities as being in France illegally were ordered to leave the country in the first half of 2021, according to Interior ministry figures in a recent Senate report. But less than 6 percent of them actually did so, and since Mr. Macrons election in 2017, that figure has never been higher than 15 percent. We must obviously do better, Mr. Veran, the spokesman, said. Ms. Le Pens National Rally party is expected to hold a minute of silence for Lola in front of Parliament in Paris on Thursday. The smaller and even more virulently anti-immigrant party of Eric Zemmour, a far-right pundit and former presidential candidate, is organizing a separate rally. Mr. Zemmour has been particularly vocal about Lolas murder on Twitter, where on Wednesday he asked when will we defend our children against attacks that he said were always committed by the same people, always at the expense of the same people. Dominique Sopo, the president of SOS Racisme, an association that fights discrimination, told BFMTV on Wednesday that the far right was motivated by barely concealed racism that conflated all undocumented immigrants with criminals and ignored Lolas familys wishes to stay out of the political fray. All of this is crassly indecent, Mr. Sopo said. Judging all undocumented immigrants on the basis of one persons alleged crime was unfair, he added, noting that in 2018 an undocumented Malian migrant had been widely celebrated for saving a young boy suspended from a balcony in Paris. BERLIN The German government has removed the official responsible for keeping the country safe from cyberattacks over reports that he kept in touch with a lobbying group that had links to Russian intelligence. The move comes as Russias war against Ukraine has increased fears over cybersecurity. The Interior Ministry confirmed on Tuesday the dismissal of Arne Schonbohm, who had led the Federal Office for Information Security since 2016. The accusations of possible ties to Russian intelligence, which were reported this month by a German satirical news show, have permanently damaged the necessary public trust in the neutrality and impartiality of Mr. Schonbohm, a spokeswoman for the ministry said. The dismissal comes after ZDF Magazin Royal reported that Mr. Schonbohm had kept contact with a lobbying group he co-founded a decade ago that included at least one Russian cybersecurity company founded by a Russian intelligence agent as a member even after Russia invaded Ukraine. The group cut ties with the Russian company three days after the show aired. The show did not link Mr. Schonbohm directly with Russian intelligence, though the current president of the lobbying group acknowledged such contacts. MOSCOW Friday afternoons at the Chop-Chop Barbershop in central Moscow used to be busy, but at the beginning of a recent weekend, only one of the four chairs was occupied. We would usually be full right now, but about half of our customers have gone, said the manager, a woman named Olya. Many of the clients along with half of the barbers, too have fled Russia to avoid President Vladimir V. Putins campaign to mobilize hundreds of thousands of men for the flagging military campaign in Ukraine. Many men have been staying off the streets out of fear of being handed a draft notice. As Olya came to work last Friday, she said, she witnessed the authorities at each of the four exits of the metro station, checking documents. Her boyfriend, who was a barber at the salon, has also fled, and the separation is taking a toll. Every day is hard, acknowledged Olya, who like other women interviewed did not want her last name used, fearing retribution. It is hard for me to know what to do. We always planned as a couple. The commander of the Russian invasion said on Tuesday that his army might face hard decisions about its tenuous hold over the strategically important Ukrainian region of Kherson, just minutes after a top Moscow-appointed official there announced an evacuation of civilians from four occupied districts. Gen. Sergei Surovikin, the top Russian commander in Ukraine, acknowledged in a rare interview that the situation in the Kherson region has been difficult after the Ukrainian army damaged two key connections to other Russian occupied territory. For weeks, Ukrainian forces have been advancing slowly toward the regional capital, the city of Kherson, in a counteroffensive aimed at driving the Russians back across the Dnipro River. In a video statement, Vladimir Saldo, the head of the regional occupation administration, said that residents would be evacuated from four districts on the west side of the Dnipro River. Mr. Saldo who was appointed governor of the Kherson region by the Kremlin shortly after Russia formally annexed the territory at the end of September cited the risk of shelling and the need for Russia to build defensive lines to repel an expected Ukrainian attack. General Surovikin, in his first public remarks since he was appointed as head of the Russian military force in Ukraine on Oct. 8, said that the Russian Army would assist the evacuation and stressed the challenging conditions his forces face with a tacit acknowledgment that a retreat from the city of Kherson might be necessary. JERUSALEM Russia recently redeployed critical military hardware and troops from Syria, according to three senior officials based in the Middle East, underscoring how its faltering invasion of Ukraine has eroded Moscows influence elsewhere and removing one of several obstacles to Israeli support for Ukraine. Russia, which has been a dominant military force in Syria since 2015 and helps maintain the Syrian regimes grip on power, still keeps a sizable presence there. But the change could herald wider shifts in the balance of power in one of the worlds most complicated conflict zones, and allow Israel, Syrias enemy and southern neighbor, to rethink its approach to both Syria and Ukraine. According to two senior Western diplomats and a senior Israeli defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to speak more freely, Moscow recently transferred some troops and a Russian air-defense system out of Syria, removing one of the main restrictions on Israeli military actions in Syria. It looks like JavaScript is either disabled or turned off. Please enable JavaScript to correctly view this web site. Parece que JavaScript esta desactivado o apagado. Por favor, activar JavaScript para ver este sitio de web. Afigura-se o JavaScript esta desativado ou desligado. Por favor ative o JavaScript para visualizar este site. Il semble que JavaScript est dasactive. S'il vous plait, activer JavaScript pour visualiser ce site. Float festivals take place all around the world, but youll have a hard time finding intricate, illuminated works of art quite like the ones paraded in Japan. When it comes to designing and creating colorful, eye-catching floats that illuminate the night sky, no one does it better than the Japanese. The sheer size of these mesmerizing floats is impressive enough, but most times they also feature intricate designs inspired by Japanese history, mythology and culture. From the record-setting giant floats of the Tenku no Fuyajo festival in the city of Noshiro, to the impressive works paraded during the world-famous Tachineputa Festival of Goshogawara, there are plenty of reasons why Japan is probably the best place to visit for giant illuminated floats. Photo: /Wikimedia Commons In early August, the city of Noshiro hosts the Tenku-no-Fuyajou (Lantern Castle in the Sky) festival. The festival was revived in 2013, after a very long hiatus, but the history of this unique event can be traced back over a century. It is said that a giant Nagoya Castle-shaped lantern float was built here during the Tempo era and paraded through the city all through the night, until dawn. The lantern, known as a Toro, made yearly appearances in Noshiro, but the advent of electricity made it difficult to parade the floats because of electrical wires. The 17.6-meter-tall Toro was replaced with smaller, 7-8 meter ones, and after a while, the celebration was canceled altogether. The burying of electrical wires in the ground once again made it possible for large illuminated floats to be paraded through Noshiro, and in 2013 local artisans teamed up to create perhaps the most impressive Toro yet a 17.6m tall representation of the original Toro, based on historical texts and paintings. The following year, local artists managed to set a new record by creating the tallest illuminated float in Japanese history a 24.1-meter-tall behemoth named Chikasue. Every August both giant floats are paraded through the streets of Noshiro, alongside other smaller creations inspired by Japanese culture. The Goshogawara Tachineputa Festival is another impressive giant float festival held annually between August 4th and August 8th in Japans Aomori Prefecture. Here, the floats are called Tachineputa, they stand up to 23 meters tall, and can weigh as much as 19 tonnes (around 38000 lbs). Every year, three large Tachineputa and 12 smaller-size ones are paraded through Goshogawara, illuminating the night sky and captivating attendees. Records of the earliest Tachineputa Festivals date back to 1907, back when the wealthiest landowners competed in creating the most impressive floats. However, two devastating fires put an end to the tradition several decades ago, but the festival was revived in 1993 and has been held regularly ever since. Nebuta Matsuri is yet another giant float festival held every year in Japans Aomori Prefecture, from August 2 to 7. Local teams build allegedly spend a whole year designing and building the festivals two dozen floats out of painted washi paper over a wire frame. Depicting various elements of Japanese culture, from mythical creatures to historical figures, the awe-inspiring floats can be up to nine meters wide and five meters tall. Every night, the floats are paraded through the streets of downtown Aomori, accompanied by dozens of taiko drummers, flute and hand cymbals players, as well as hundreds of dancers. Just like the two previously mentioned festivals, Nebuta Matsuri is held primarily at night, which only makes its illuminated floats seem even more impressive. An alarming number of Americans now believe that our democracy is under attack, but oddly, most dont see that as the biggest problem currently facing the country, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll of voters. According to the poll, nearly three-quarters of voters (71 percent) believe that our democracy is at risk. Astonishingly, however, only seven percent view this threat as the most important problem currently facing the country. Puzzling as it sounds that voters could be so cavalier about the possibility of our form of government disappearing, it makes slightly more sense when their greater concerns are taken into account, concerns they perceive to be the cause of the currently tenuous state of our democracy: the opposing party. Most respondents in the Times poll who identified as Republican said the greatest threats facing our democracy are President Biden, the mainstream media, the federal government and the practice of voting by mail. Most respondents identifying as Democrat, on the other hand, cited Donald Trump, the Supreme Court and the Electoral College as democracys greatest threat. It also appears that another contributing factor to these views is a growing cynicism and lack of trust in the U.S. government, which includes ongoing doubts surrounding the veracity of our elections. More than a third (39 percent) of those polled said theyd be comfortable voting for a candidate who said they believe the 2020 election was stolen. Among Republicans, that number stood at nearly three-quarters (71 percent), but more than a third (37 percent) of independent voters agreed, as did 12 percent of Democrats. Even 19 percent of those who believe Biden won the election fairly admitted they were comfortable voting for a candidate who claimed the election was rigged (this included 43 percent of Republicans, 22 percent of independents and 10 percent of Democrats). An additional 28 percent of all votersincluding 41 percent of Republicanssaid they had little to no faith in the accuracy of the forthcoming midterm election results. More than a quarter (26 percent) of independents and 13 percent of Democrats agreed. About a third of respondents (34 percent) said they dont think someones political views revealed much regarding whether someone is a good person, compared to 14 percent who said it does. Nearly 20 percent admitted that political disagreements had been the cause of hurt relationships with friends or family. The Times/Siena College poll surveyed approx. Eight hundred registered voters via telephone in October. Stagwell acquires Epicenter Experience, an enterprise software company that leverages mobile and location data to map and sequence complex consumer behavior patterns. Epicenter will become part of the Stagwell Marketing Cloud, the companys proprietary suite of software-as-a-service and data-as-a-service products built for in-house marketing teams. Epicenters cloud-based technology, The People Platform, allows companies to communicate with specific groups of consumers to receive additional direct response or to deliver personalized messaging or value at scale. With The People Platform, weve built a tool that provides contextual awareness and behavioral understanding on a granular level, providing our clients with a connective tissue that theyve come to view as a currency service, said Epicenter Experience CEO and co-founder Paul Krasinski. We look forward to enhancing the SMC with this technology. Sloane & Company is opening an office in South Florida. Managing director Lauren Nussbaum will serve as head of the South Florida office, and VP Sarah Braunstein will be the offices deputy head. Both are based in the Miami area. The agency says that the new office will help it better serve clients in the financial services, technology and healthcare industries, all of which have a rapidly expanding presence in the region. South Florida has become a hub to large and midsize financial services firms, tech startups, key advisors to corporate America and the Latin America region, and many others, and we look forward to Miami becoming a significant office for us, said Darren Brandt and Whit Clay, co-CEOs of Sloane & Company. MAD Global Strategy is launching a Pittsburgh operation. The Summit, NJ, based agency, which was founded in 2021, also opened a Columbus outpost in June. The Pittsburgh office will be led by Buonomo Group founder Frank Buonomo, who in addition to serving as vice president, of public affairs at Dollar Bank, has held senior communications and operations roles for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators and New York Rangers. Also joining the firm as a senior vice president is Mountain Lakes, NJ councilwoman Audrey Lane. 14/10/2022 Presentation and press conference at 10:30 am in Vilnius The OECD will present its latest Economic Survey of Lithuania on Thursday 20 October 2022. The Survey discusses how Lithuania can address the immediate impacts on its economy from Russias war against Ukraine, including ways to support vulnerable households and strengthen energy independence. It also discusses longer-term issues such as the need for reforms to boost employment and productivity growth. A special chapter looks at how Lithuania could benefit from accelerating its digital transformation. OECD Acting Chief Economist Alvaro Pereira will present the Surveys key findings and recommendations alongside Minister of Finance Gintare Skaiste at 10:30 am local time on Thursday 20 October at the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania (Katedros sq. 4, Vilnius, Visitors' Lobby Auditorium.) The presentation will be followed by a panel discussion with government and Central Bank officials, and a press conference from 11:50 am. The event will be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person. Journalists are invited to register attendance by emailing Mr. Justas Kacerauskas at the Ministry of Finance. The Survey will be published at 11:00 Vilnius/EET time (10:00 CET) at the following link, which can be included in news articles: www.oecd.org/economy/lithuania-economic-snapshot/. Journalists can request a copy of the Survey under embargo, thereby undertaking to respect the OECDs embargo procedures, by emailing embargo@oecd.org. Embargoed copies will be sent out a day in advance. For any other information, journalists are invited to contact Catherine Bremer in the OECD Media Office in Paris. To get advance notification of other OECD reports and events, journalists can complete this short form. Working with over 100 countries, the OECD is a global policy forum that promotes policies to preserve individual liberty and improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. A recently retired woman, a restaurant owner, a pharmacist in the midlands, a shareholder in a water filtration company, and a crane hire and construction company were all tricked into putting money into a fraudster's bank account after hackers accessed their emails. The account into which all the money was lodged - some of which was never recovered - was a Bank of Ireland account in the name of Michael Fakinle, with an address at Ballyboden in Rathfarnham, Dublin 16, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard. Now a 21-year-old student, he says that when aged 19, he allowed his account to be used by someone whose identity he has not revealed to gardai. Judge Pauline Codd heard that the largest single amount of money, a retirement fund of 71,892.41 belonging to a recently retired woman in the southwest, was transferred into Fakinle's Bank of Ireland account. For four days in May 2020, it remained there, apparently unnoticed by the criminals, and was retrieved before they could take it. However, other sums of money ranging from 1,100 to 5,000 have not been recovered and the rightful owners are out of pocket, the court heard. Fakinle pleaded guilty to five counts of handling property knowing it to be the proceeds of criminal conduct. He also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of money laundering. Yesterday, Friday, October 14, Judge Codd noted in sentencing remarks that Fakinle was not a mastermind of the schemes but his role was to allow his account to be used, remove money and hand it over. She said he was at a low level of offending but persons at the higher end require people willing to do these things and he had to interface with those people a number of times. She said he had acted in a highly reckless manner. Judge Codd noted he did not want to name people involved for his own safety but said he had allowed himself to become involved with people of that nature despite having no convictions and no prior involvement with criminality. She took into account the contents of a probation report outlining he was at low risk of reoffending, as well as his mental health and other issues. She noted he was engaging with services and attending counselling. Judge Codd imposed concurrent sentences totalling three and a half years which she suspended for four years on strict conditions. She ordered that 1,000 Fakinle had gathered be divided among the injured parties. At a sentencing hearing last May Detective Garda Shane Whelan told David Perry BL, prosecuting, that in May 2020, a shareholder in a water filtration company received an email from the company seeking funds to assist with cashflow. He phoned the company and said he was willing to provide a 5,000 loan to help the company with their difficulty. However, the email to him had been hacked and, following this, the man received another email asking him to lodge the 5,000 promised, not into the company's account but into a Bank of Ireland account, for which details were provided. The man lodged the money to this account, which was Fakinle's account. When he was later told by the company that the money had not been received, he called gardai. The 5,000 has never been recovered and the man is out of pocket for it. In another case, a restaurant owner in Kinsale made a legitimate insurance claim and, in March 2021, 1,339 was paid out. However, an early email exchange between him and the insurance company had been hacked. This allowed the hackers to ask to lodge the money into Fakinle's account. The money has also never been recovered. Another victim, a chemist in a midlands town, was tricked into transferring 3,251 into Fakinle's account in April 2020. It too has never been recovered. In the same month, a construction company in Donegal was tricked into paying a fraudulent invoice for 1,100. This sum has also not been recovered. As a result of the near loss of the woman's pension fund, gardai investigated Fakinle's bank account and found the other questionable transactions. When questioned by gardai in February 2021, he made admissions. He told gardai he had been approached by someone who asked to use his account. He said his role was to take money that had been lodged into the account and hand it over to another person. He did not identify this person because he claimed to be in fear of them, Det Garda Whelan told the court. The alleged deal was that Fakinle would receive some of the money himself. He claimed not to have received any money and he maintained he did not initiate any frauds or send emails. He had 500 in court as compensation for his victims, the court heard. Det Garda Whelan agreed with Ronan Prendergast BL, defending, that Fakinle had co-operated with the investigation into the fraud, which was uncovered because of the attempted theft of the woman's retirement fund. Mr Prendergast said Fakinle accepted what he had done was wrong and pleaded guilty at an early stage. He had only made "a few hundred euros", the barrister said. Defence counsel said Fakinle attended Dublin Technical University where he was studying digital marketing. He has received every bounce of the ball, Judge Kenneth Connolly said as he revoked a suspended sentence committing a defendant to custody. Arturs Bondarevskis, of 6 Pontefract House, Bridge Street, Longford was convicted of carrying out a Section 3 assault causing harm at Cuirt An Oir, Athlone Road, Longford on September 3, 2018 at a previous Circuit Court sitting. The defendant returned before the court having failed to comply with the conditions of the bond imposed as part of the suspended sentence. Barrister Ciaran Collins acknowledged his client has been under the supervision of probation service for over a year, and has only paid 200 in compensation despite giving an undertaking he would pay compensation of 10,000 to the victim. Mr Collins described significant background to the matter. Counsel said Bondarevskis was not in employment at the time of his convictions and spoke of the extensive submissions made. The barrister pointed to Bondarevskis' good employment history when he worked in the hotel industry. Mr Collins referred to his client's mental health adversity which prevented him from retaining employment in the last number of years. He referenced a report from Consultant General adult psychiatrist with the HSE, Aoife Hunt, that acknowledged Bondarevskis' social anxiety. He has had a high level of engagement with Probation Services and would take up employment, but is unable to get suitable employment given his mental adversity, Mr Collins told the court. Council told Judge Kenneth Connolly that Bondarevskis served time in prison when the offence originally took place, speaking of the sobering and sad circumstances which arose at a time his client laboured under three mental health disorders. Mr Bondarevskis is before the court saying I can't do it, not that he won't do it, Mr Collins said. Judge Connolly pointed out that one of the specific conditions of Bondarevskis sentence has not happened. The judge said: He wants the matter to be finalised in an alternative manner. I am therefore obliged to return the matter and revoke the suspended sentence. The judge accepted the defendant has actively engaged with probation services and mental health service. Mr Collins said his client is getting treatment for his mental health issues and actively seeking employment. This is a very serious matter, Judge Connolly pressed, describing the assault before the court as vicious. He continued: Your client has had every bounce of the ball, he has been given every opportunity to pay the compensation element of the court order. He was given another chance in February of last year and again failed. He has not sought employment. The defendant's barrister stated that Bondarevskis lives with his retired mother and is in receipt of social welfare. He has no previous conviction and fully cooperated with Gardai. The probation report described the defendant as having a very low risk of re-offending. Given the defendant's failure to pay any compensation in contravention of the bond imposed by the court Judge Connolly committed Bondarevskis to prison for one year and three months and removed the final conditions of the bond. The judge directed the defendant to receive all appropriate treatment while in prison. Met Eireann has issued a Status Yellow Weather Warning for Offaly with heavy rain on the way. Met Eireann initially issued a Status Yellow Warning for Carlow, Kilkenny and Tipperary but that was later extended to include Laois and Offaly. Met Eireann is warning that heavy rain on Tuesday night and Wednesday, with the possibility of thundery downpours, will lead to localised flooding and some disruption. This warning comes into place at midnight on Wednesday and remains in place for 24 hours until midnight on Thursday. A separate Status Orange Rain warning is in place for Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow which warns that heavy rain on Tuesday night, Wednesday and Wednesday night with the possibility of thundery downpours, will lead to localised flooding. Disruption is likely. This warning comes into place at midnight on Wednesday and remains in place for 24 hours until midnight on Thursday. A third weather warning is also in place for Cavan, Monaghan, Dublin, Kildare Louth and Meath. This Status Yellow Rain Warning comes into effect at 4am on Wednesday until midnight on Thursday. It warns that heavy rain on Wednesday and Wednesday night, with the possibility of thundery downpours, will lead to localised flooding and some disruption. OFFALY will soon have a new Biodiversity Officer, with Offaly County Council one of ten local authorities awarded funding to appoint a national roll-out of biodiversity officers to deliver and drive local action for biodiversity. The programme is being delivered by the Heritage Council and the County and City Management Association (CCMA) with the support of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). The new biodiversity officers will have a wide variety of responsibilities. Among other things, they will be required to: Develop and implement a county biodiversity plan Advise the local authority on biodiversity related issues and the authoritys obligations in relation to protecting biodiversity Establish a county biodiversity forum Assist local authority departments in integrating biodiversity into their actions and policies through training and supporting information dissemination Promote new biodiversity initiatives based on best conservation practice. Once appointed, this will bring the total number of biodiversity officers employed in local authorities around the country to 14*, with funding for a further 15 officers to be provided, as part of efforts to take greater action for biodiversity at the local level. A full national rollout is expected to be completed in the next three years. This move represents a further practical step in the acceleration of the States response to the biodiversity crisis and follows several measures taken by Government to address biodiversity loss this year. This includes the publication of the 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan, which is currently out for public consultation, as well as Heritage Ireland 2030 published in February this year. Trade from the UK to the EU is down 16% on the levels anticipated if Brexit had not happened, research has found. Trade from the bloc to the UK is down even further 20% relative to a scenario in which Brexit had not occurred, according to Irelands Economic and Social Research Institute. ESRI used the growth rates recorded by other EU trading partners around the world since the start of 2021 to estimate what UK export and import figures with the bloc would currently stand in a no-Brexit situation. It did so on the assumption that UK trade would have grown at the same rate as those other international trade partners of the EU. At the start of 2021, new post-Brexit trading arrangements came into operation after the transition period ended. ESRI said the goods trade between the EU and UK has increased following a sharp fall in the early months of 2021. Trade has recovered to most of its pre-2021 level in value terms, however, it remains significantly below what it might otherwise have been if it followed the same growth rate as other trade partners, ESRI said. The institute said its findings showed that measuring the impact of Brexit on UK-EU trade can produce varied results depending on the data source and comparison group used. ESRI noted that global exports of goods from the UK have been growing slowly a trend it said may have been partially the result of Brexit spill-over effects on supply chains. It said the impact of Brexit on EU-UK trade, therefore, does not appear as large if compared to UK trade with the rest of the world as it does when compared to the faster-growing performance of EU trade. ESRI used a combined set of UK and EU data sources in its research. The institute also looked at UK trade with individual member states. It found that Brexit has led to a significant decline in trade with the UK in almost all cases, although by varying magnitudes. It said for most countries across the EU the size of the impact was broadly similar for both export and imports. Ireland stands out as having had a particularly large reduction in imports from the UK relative to its other international trade patterns. However, exports from Ireland to the UK continue to perform in line with those of other markets, with no notable impact to date of Brexit on the total levels traded. ESRI said the increased trade between Ireland and Northern Ireland may account for this. The research does not examine if there is variation across product types and ESRI acknowledges that some may have seen exports to the UK decline. The research did also not examine the services trade. Offaly students Enda Callaghan and Shauna Slattery were awarded Naughton Foundation Scholarships worth 20,000 each at a ceremony in the Trinity Business School in Dublin recently. The award was presented by founding patrons of the Naughton Foundation, Dr. Martin Naughton, and his wife Carmel, who were joined by Mr. Simon Harris, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to award winning students with their accolades and cheques. Supporting academic and innovative excellence in Irish students, the Naughton Foundation Scholarship Awards are an investment in the future of Ireland's reputation as a country with outstanding graduates promoting the study of engineering, science, and technology at third level. County Offaly had two Naughton Scholars awarded on the day, Enda Callaghan, a former student of Colaiste Naomh Cormac has accepted a place at University of Limerick studying Engineering and Shauna Slattery, formerly of Sacred Heart School has accepted a place studying Physics at Dublin City University. Since its establishment in 2008, scholarships worth over 6 million have been awarded to over 350 students. The scheme started in three counties and has continued to expand annually to become a nationwide scheme in 2016. There is one guaranteed scholarship (20,000) for each participating county, with some counties awarded more than one scholarship and each scholarship is worth 5,000 per annum for each year of a students three- or four-year undergraduate degree. Enda and Shauna both join 37 exceptional Irish students who were awarded third level scholarships towards their studies in the areas of engineering, science, technology, and maths. Both prize winners former secondary schools Colaiste Naomh Cormac and Sacred Heart School were awarded a prize of 1000 each towards their schools science facilities, for their support of these students. More than 250 schools have also benefited from this prize to date with some schools receiving it on more than one occasion. Speaking about the growth and development of the programme over the past fourteen years, Dr. Martin Naughton has said: We started supporting students in their science and engineering studies in Louth, Meath, and Monaghan in 2008 to give back to our local area. We never imagined what a wonderful community of connected young people the Naughton Scholarship programme would become. Our Alumni are an incredible group working in the best Universities, research institutes and businesses across the world. Each year we hear back from them on the value of this network to them and the connections it has given them across disciplines and Ireland. They are a wonderful group of young people that are all giving back to society in their own way that we are very proud to be connected with. An American citizen has been arrested in Saudi Arabia, tortured and sentenced to 16 years in prison over tweets he sent while in the United States, his son said Tuesday. Days after Alberta Premier Danielle Smiths comments about the Russian war on Ukraine came to light, the UCP leader has issued an apology. A California jury found Ruben Flores, the father of the convicted Flores, not guilty of helping his son hide the body. Migrant workers who get "rescued" in anti-human trafficking raids in Canada may find themselves worse off, an advocate says. Syed Hussan spoke to CBC News after Mexico's consulate in Toronto said more than 60 Mexicans were picked up in two police raids in Ontario last month. Rua Bioscience Limited (NZX: RUA ) formally announced today that it has received its first order via its German distributor Nimbus Health, marking a significant commercial milestone for the export-focused company. Managing Director, Anna Stove, says Receiving this order for dried flower from Nimbus signifies just how close we are to cementing export revenues and providing German patients with a sustainable supply of Rua medicines. The order is for Ruas high THC flower, which has been developed through an extensive R&D programme by Cann Group, Ruas Australian manufacturing, supply and technical services partner. In Germany, medicinal dried cannabis flower is prescribed mainly for pain patients (70%), and cannabis flowers with a THC content of greater than 20% make up 77% of cannabis flower prescriptions (1). At its launch, we believe Ruas flower will be one of the highest THC dried flower medicines on the market, which will give Rua a significant competitive advantage, she says. While Rua looks to global markets, the company remains committed to its connection to Te Tairawhiti and to patients across New Zealand having launched its first product in Aotearoa in April. The kaupapa to give back to the community will always be in our DNA and entering global markets will secure meaningful revenue so we can continue prioritising sustainable economic development in the Ruatorea and East Coast communities, says Stove. ENDS Nimbus is a fully licensed pharmaceutical wholesaler and manufacturer from Germany with its own warehouse facilities and an independent sales force to promote medical cannabis-based products to pharmacists. Nimbus Health is a wholly-owned step down subsidiary of the global pharma company Dr. Reddys Laboratories Ltd. Learn more at: www.nimbus.health Cann Group is an established ethical leader in Australias emerging medicinal cannabis industry, building a world-class business focused on breeding, cultivating, manufacturing and supplying medicinal cannabis. Cann has established research and cultivation facilities in Melbourne and a new state-of-the-art cultivation and manufacturing facility near Mildura, Victoria. Learn more at: www.canngrouplimited.com | www.satipharm.com Rua aims to be a leading producer of cannabinoid-derived medicines for both export and local markets. Rua has been an early mover in the sector and was the first private company in New Zealand to receive a licence to cultivate cannabis for research purposes. Founded in 2017 in Ruatorea as a subsidiary of the charitable company Hikurangi Enterprises Limited, Rua is underpinned by a mission and its connection to its local community in Te Tairawhiti. The company operates state-of-the-art cultivation and manufacturing facilities from its regional base. www.ruabio.com. Rua Bioscience Confirms First International Order 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: PCT - Further growth in Investment Partnership SPY - Half Year Report and Interim Result Kiwi Property drives robust operating result in 1H23 Third Age Health Half Year Results November 28th Morning Report Burger Fuel Group Ltd Half Year Results - 30 September 2022 SKT - Restatement of P/E and EPS Metrics Following Capital Return Enprise appoints Dr Aneesha Varghese-Cowan as Non-Executive EROAD is repositioning for a changing environment Fonterra confirms capital structure timeline Tamworth Herald 19 Oct 2022 She criticised the goverment's "tumultuous time" under Liz Truss and added that she has "serious concerns" about the government.. Russian President Vladimir Putin's threats of nuclear attacks "have turned Russia into the biggest danger to peace both in Europe and the world," the Estonian parliament declared. The logistical problems that the Russian army suffers from in Ukraine are likely to worsen as a result of the October 8 Kerch Bridge Attack. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is on a hastily-arranged visit to Washington to talk with his counterpart and White House officials about "shared security concerns" including Ukraine and Russia, a source and an official said. Florida Democratic Senate candidate Rep. Val Demings did not say Tuesday during a debate whether she would accept the results of the 2022 election between herself and GOP Sen. Marco Rubio. A prosecutor has described rape allegations by three women against That 70s Show actor Danny Masterson from two decades ago. Eurasia Review 18 Oct 2022 The World Bank and International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings have witnessed protests in Washington and many other sites. Nearly.. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said nearly one-third of Ukraines power stations have been destroyed in the past week, "causing massive blackouts across the country." "No space left for negotiations with Putins regime," he tweeted. Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared martial law in four of Ukraine's regions, parts of which are under the control of Russian troops, as Ukrainian forces continue liberating occupied territories in the country's east. Putin said at an online session of the Security Council on Wednesday that he signed a decree... The Future of Decentralised Social Media and Online Gambling Published October 19, 2022 by Shane Join us as we discuss why blockchain-based decentralised social (DeSo) media platforms are censorship-resistant, pro-consumer and online gambling friendly. Throughout history, there have been watershed moments where new developments and technologies have forever changed how we do things. The first was harnessing fire, then the creation of the wheel, the utilisation of electricity and so on until we invented the internet. There was a point when we looked at these world-changing developments, then considering the impact of the world wide web, wondered if we had peaked as a civilisation. After all, we had all the tech we needed and now a communication and data-sharing medium covering the globe. Then we were introduced to the blockchain, and everything we thought we knew was again challenged. We had mastered international transacting, but it was controlled by the banks. We used 128-bit SSL security online, but data hacks were an ongoing reality. Ownership of unique artworks gave them value, but forgeries still exist. The blockchain presented itself as a new paradigm for all these issues and more. The Blockchain Grabs Headlines As with the rest of the world, the online gambling community first became aware of the blockchain thanks to the incredible rags-to-riches story of Bitcoin. The cryptocurrency was ignored for many years until 2013 when the story of Kristoffer Koch and his $27 Bitcoin windfall made headlines worldwide. On a whim, the Oslo resident had purchased 5,000 BTC for a mere 150 kr ($27 in 2003 but only $13.30 in 2022)! When the story came to light, it rocked the financial and technology sectors as his nominal investment had grown to $890,000 in less than a decade! Little would Koch or other early Bitcoin investors know that his story would cause a bull run on the digital currency that would peak at $68,000 BTC in November 2021! A high point that would value the Swedes initial purchase at $340 million had he chosen to keep it all. The Blockchain and Online Gambling Beyond the financial component of cryptocurrencies, the blockchain offered the online gambling community many other benefits, including: Near instant deposits and withdrawals Cross-border gambling unhindered by government interference Provably Fair gambling review tools Near perfect online security Even with all these benefits, the one area where online gambling is still facing challenges is in the sharing and ownership of online media. The main reason for this is that the largest social sharing channels are owned and operated by traditional media outlets that do not understand the industry and must comply with local regulations. The Rise of Decentralised Social Media A glaring issue with having content ownership and distribution controlled by mainstream media is the recent banning of online gambling streams by live streaming service Twitch. Rather than address the shortcoming of their age-gating processes, Twitch chose the easy-out and banned content creators from playing slots online, despite these streamers having large and engaged communities. While the blockchain quickly presented itself as a decentralised financial (DeFi) processing solution, a data security hub and even an information transmission portal, it is only now becoming a viable social discourse platform. Ethereum describes DeSo as follows: "Decentralized social networks are blockchain-based platforms that allow users to exchange information as well as publish and distribute content to audiences. Because these applications run on the blockchain, they are capable of being decentralized and resistant to censorship and undue control." According to Ethereum, DeSo networks offer 7 clear benefits: They are censorship-resistant protecting users from bans, being de-platformed or restricted without cause. Content creators have direct control over their content. They also engage directly with their supporters, with nothing but a smart contract in between. They are built on open-source ideals and make source code for applications available for public inspection. This allows content creators and blockchain-based social networks to know how to align their content with interests Decentralised social networks are less susceptible to server downtime and outages as they run on a decentralised backbone that shares its load across a network of servers worldwide. Content creators can easily access monetisation options like non-fungible tokens (NFTs), in-app crypto payments, and more. Decentralised social networks afford users a high level of privacy and anonymity thanks to account creation not requiring your name, email address and other real-world identifiers. These social networks rely on decentralised storage on the blockchain, which offers a far more secure environment. An additional benefit of this focus on socially focused blockchain tools is that they naturally lend themselves to other content-sharing options such as free email accounts, blog hosting and development, podcasting and more. DeSo and Online Gambling Are a Perfect Match Despite widespread licensing and regulation, online gambling is still not afforded the same privileges as many other industries. This often leads to censorship, limitations on how and when players can gamble, and even the loss of winnings. Hosting gambling live streams, podcasts, and blogs on DeSo platforms will ensure that casino fans and content creators can engage with one another and participate in their favourite hobby without the fear of being shut down because the platform fears losing mainstream ad revenue. Both users and creators of decentralised social media platforms can increase their cryptocurrency holdings without buying them or mining them. For example, the popular crypto social network Minds rewards its users with ERC-20 tokens for creating popular content, referring friends or providing liquidity. Not only do DeSo platforms protect freedom of speech through anonymity and security, but it offers an internal ad revenue ecosystem that is self-sustaining. Best of all, you can use the cryptocurrency you earn from engaging online to play at your favourite Bitcoin casino. A circle-of-life use case that would make Satoshi proud. Spark today welcomed the New Zealand Governments announcement of the next steps in the allocation of C-band spectrum, which is a critical enabler of the ongoing rollout of 5G across Aotearoa. Spark and the Crown have reached agreement in principle on key terms for a direct allocation of C-band spectrum that will provide Spark with management rights to 80 MHz of 3.5 GHz (or C-band) spectrum, in return for a commitment to support the ongoing expansion of rural connectivity through the Rural Connectivity Group (RCG) and the deployment of 5G to provincial New Zealand. The non-binding agreement provides Spark with long-term spectrum rights from 1 July 2023 in the same band range for which it currently has temporary access. Sparks existing early access spectrum rights will be extended until that date, enabling a seamless transition from early-access rights to long-term rights. In return for the allocated spectrum rights, Spark will commit an additional $24 million in funding to the Rural Connectivity Group between 2023 and 2025, enabling the RCG to continue to expand mobile coverage further into rural New Zealand and to address mobile black spots on state highways. Spark has also agreed to deploy more extensive 5G services in provincial towns in the same time period. Spark CEO Jolie Hodson said, We are really pleased to reach this agreement with Government on the allocation of C-band spectrum, which provides the certainty we need to continue investing in the rollout of 5G across Aotearoa, while delivering further connectivity improvements across rural New Zealand. We know that technology has an important enabling role to play as New Zealand businesses seek efficiency improvements in a high-cost environment, and more sustainable solutions that enable our transition to a low-carbon economy. Now is the time for Aotearoa to move faster on digital infrastructure investment, which will underpin these productivity, efficiency, and sustainability improvements across the economy, and the spectrum allocation is an important enabler of that. We look forward to working with Government on the finalization of the binding management rights deed, and on the future allocation of 600MHz and mm-wave, which will be particularly important for rural 5G coverage. Spark welcomes C-band spectrum allocation 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: PCT - Further growth in Investment Partnership SPY - Half Year Report and Interim Result Kiwi Property drives robust operating result in 1H23 Third Age Health Half Year Results November 28th Morning Report Burger Fuel Group Ltd Half Year Results - 30 September 2022 SKT - Restatement of P/E and EPS Metrics Following Capital Return Enprise appoints Dr Aneesha Varghese-Cowan as Non-Executive EROAD is repositioning for a changing environment Fonterra confirms capital structure timeline Opalesque Industry Update - BNP Paribas for THEAM Quant funds strategies, in partnership with LFIS Capital, announces the start of THEAM Quant - LFIS Selection (the "Fund"). This solution, newly implemented, is designed to meet investor demand for diversifying strategies to navigate across market cycles, whilst simultaneously providing systematic and liquid alpha-generation qualities. The Fund is a market-neutral, multi-strategy product seeking to deliver absolute risk-adjusted returns across difference asset classes. Its systematic blend of carry and defensive strategies aim to increase the value of assets over the medium term. Holding little directional bias, the Fund aims to address a variety of risk profiles and market sensitivities. Since 2010, its simulated past performance has delivered a return of over 6.25% per annum. The Fund is built on BNP Paribas' Quantitative Investment Strategies (QIS) platform, leveraging its extensive range of systematic uncorrelated strategies. Crucially, it combines BNP Paribas Asset Management's robust portfolio and risk management infrastructure with LFIS Capital's investment advisory expertise, coded in its investment banking and quantitative DNA. Its investment process considers tactical recommendations from LFIS Capital to identify sources of return arising from market dislocations, and integrate them within a core diversified portfolio in an efficient manner. Vincent Berard, Head of Product Strategy for BNP Paribas Global Markets' THEAM Quant funds, said: "Macro trends may be uncertain, but perennial opportunities do exist in structural market behaviours and frequent dislocations. Our strategy allows clients to benefit from such opportunities combined with risk mitigation components, thereby boosting their prospects of receiving recurrent income over the medium-term. "Calibrated with a relatively limited risk level, the value of this offering lies in the diversifying qualities of liquid alternatives as bond replacements or complements, which aim to smooth and enhance portfolio returns even in volatile macro environments" Sofiene Haj-Taieb, President of LFIS Capital, said: "When facing rapidly changing markets, combining liquid alternative carry and defensive strategies offers a robust alternative to traditional asset allocation. The combined strength in quantitative strategies between BNP Paribas and LFIS provides a best-in-class offer for investors who wish to not only protect capital, but also generate resilient returns." Opalesque Industry Update - ETFGI reported that the global ETFs industry gathered net inflows of US$33.45 billion during September, bringing year-to-date net inflows to US$593.20 billion. During September 2022, assets invested in the global ETFs industry decreased by 8.3%, from US$9.11 trillion at the end of August to US$8.35 trillion, according to ETFGI's September 2022 global ETFs and ETPs industry landscape insights report, the monthly report which is part of an annual paid-for research subscription service. "The S&P 500 decreased by 9.21% in September and is down YTD by 23.87%. Developed markets excluding the US decreased by 10.07% in September and are down 27.63% YTD. Norway (down 18.96%) and Korea (down 18.78 %) saw the largest decreases amongst the developed markets in September. Emerging markets decreased by 10.23 % during September and are down 23.91% YTD. Philippines (down 16.31%) and Hungary (down 16.07%) saw the largest decreases amongst emerging markets in September." According to Deborah Fuhr, managing partner, founder and owner of ETFGI. The Global ETFs industry had 10,763 products, with 22,235 listings, assets of $8.35 Tn, from 657 providers on listed 79 exchanges in 63 countries at the end of Q3. During September, ETFs/ETPs gathered net inflows of $33.45 Bn. Equity ETFs/ETPs gathered net inflows of $18.99 Bn during September, bringing YTD net inflows to $334.81 Bn, lower than the $632.31 Bn in net inflows equity products had attracted at this point in 2021. Fixed income ETFs/ETPs gathered net inflows of $9.73 Bn during September, bringing YTD net inflows to $148.12 Bn, lower than the $174.18 Bn in net inflows fixed income products had attracted by the end of September 2021. Commodities ETFs/ETPs reported net outflows of $5.63 Bn during September, bringing YTD net outflows to $7.26 Bn, less than the $9.55 Bn in net outflows commodities products had reported year to date in 2021. Active ETFs/ETPs attracted net inflows of $8.80 Bn over the month, gathering net inflows YTD of $88.82 Bn, lower than the $110.65 Bn in net inflows active products had reported YTD in 2021. Substantial inflows can be attributed to the top 20 ETFs by net new assets, which collectively gathered $47.99 Bn during September. SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY US) gathered $6.33 Bn, the largest individual net inflow. Director of Content and Operations Spencer McKee is OutThere Colorado's Director of Content and Operations. In his spare time, Spencer loves to hike, rock climb, and trail run. He's on a mission to summit all 58 of Colorado's fourteeners and has already climbed more than half. Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libyan and Filipino officials on Tuesday discussed the possibility of signing contracts with new teams of medical assistants from the Philippines to help improve the health sector in Libyan health facilities "The List" is PAPER's monthly roundup of the biggest fashion launches, capsules and collaborations. Scroll through, below, to see October's newest arrivals. Ralph Lauren x Fortnite Courtesy of Ralph Lauren Ralph Lauren is launching a new partnership with gaming platform Fortnite which will include a digital apparel and accessories collection inspired by the Polo Stadium collection launching in the Fortnite Item Shop, as well as a complementary physical retail collection (some of which includes a new co-branded logo). Ralph Lauren will also be the first luxury brand to co-host a player tournament with Fortnite. Le Specs x More Joy Courtesy of Le Specs Le Specs and Christopher Kane's More Joy line reunite for a second collab following their sell-out first collection that's been worn by Beyonce, Rita Ora and Lena Dunham. This new collection features the same frame in new vibrant colors including yellow, green and pink. Available now at ChristopherKane.com and LeSpecs.com Bottega Veneta Launches Certificate of Craft Courtesy of Bottega Veneta Bottega Veneta has launched a new lifetime warranty program called Certificate of Craft. The complimentary care service offers unlimited refresh and repair on the brand's iconic bags. It's presented as a physical card that associates with the serial number of a singular product and will be offered in their boutiques starting this November Union x Sergio Tacchini The influential streetwear boutique Union and heritage tennis label Sergio Tacchini have teamed up on a new collection celebrating both brands' roots at the intersection of street and sportswear. Underpinning the collab is the longtime friendship between Union-owner Chris Gibbs and Sergio Tacchini creative director Sung Choi, who designed Union's original "Frontman" logo. The collection includes a premium twill track jacket & pant, tennis polo, shorts, color-blocked bucket hat, 5-panel cap, and a hoodie and tee featuring the Union logo. Available now at sergiotacchini.com and store.unionlosangeles.com JW Anderson x Carrie Courtesy of JW Anderson Noted film buff JW Anderson is a big fan of Carrie, the 1976 horror film directed by Brian De Palma, where a teenaged Sissy Spacek takes revenge on her bullies using psychic powers at her high-school prom. Originally a part of his Fall 2022 collection, his Carrie pieces are finally here just in time for Halloween, with puffer jackets, t-shirts and tracksuits featuring imagery and quotes inspired by the original film posters, including one reading, "If you've got a taste for terror, take Carrie to the party." Available now at JWAnderson.com LaQuan Smith x Cash App Photography: Greg Swales Cash App launches its 4th ready-to-wear capsule and first luxury partnership with designer LaQuan Smith. The range features four pieces in the brands signature styles: a bomber, leggings, a bodysuit, and a catsuit. In the same way that Cash App is making finance more relatable, this collection is about the relatable side of my designs its effortless, everyday, iconic luxury," Smith said. Customers who check out with Cash App Pay will receive 25% off the collection. Available now at cashbycashapp.com/laquansmith Brandon Blackwood for Stacey Abrams One Georgia Courtesy of Stacey Abrams One Georgia Honor Roll for Stacey Abrams One Georgia One Georgia, the campaign movement for Georgia governor candidate Stacey Abrams, launched two merch collaborations with Brandon Blackwood (t-shirts and tote bags) and Atlanta-based unisex lifestyle brand Honor Roll ("SYA" hoodies and long-sleeve shirts). Its been a pleasure to create something special for such an inspiring person," Blackwood said, while Honor Roll co-founders Blair Caffey and Chris Duncan said: "We believe Stacey Abrams vision for Georgia strongly aligns with the mission and value of this brand. Our motto, excellence is a process, is all about striving for greatness no matter how insurmountable the odds may seem, and this is what we see in Stacey Abrams." Available now at store.staceyabrams.com Zara Studio Fall 2022 Courtesy of Zara Zara's Studio line, the brand's "highest expression of directional fashion design," is back for Fall 2022 with a co-ed collection designed with super-stylist Karl Templer. The campaign featuring 26 models was shot by Steven Meisel and the video was filmed by Fabien Baron. Available now at Zara.com Rick Owens x Dr. Martens See on Instagram Rick Owens and Dr. Martens are back with their third collaboration this one featuring two new styles taken from the British footwear brand's 1460 and 1918 boots. The 1460 is made of heavyweight black Lunar leather and includes details like Pearl laces, while the 1918 has Platinum-hued hair-on leather across the entire shoe with laces in place all the way up the extended tongue. Available starting October 14 at DrMartens.com Bluebella x Ashish Courtesy of Bluebella Photo: (Photo : Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Authorities have identified the body of a Texas teen who drowned at South Padre Island this week, and his family is asking for help from the public to pay for his funeral. The body of 17-year-old Los Fresnos native Alberto Christian Buitureira was recovered after a 24-hour search about eight miles north of Beach Access 5 on Thursday, October 13, according to KXAN. Cameron County Park Rangers chief Horacio Zamora confirmed the teenager's identity to ValleyCentral. Butitureira's family started an online fundraiser on Friday to pay for the teen's funeral expenses. Family sets up GoFundMe page to help pay for teen's funeral The teen's mom, Cristina Garcia, posted on GoFundMe that her only son was taken from her so soon and unexpectedly and that this money was for his funeral expenses. The fund had already exceeded the family's goal of $3,000, having collected $10,165 from 250 donations. Justice of the Peace Benito Ochoa IV said that the teenager lived in Los Fresnos and had family there as well as in Port Isabel. Ochoa said an autopsy had been ordered for the 17-year-old to determine the cause of his death. Sources confirmed that the teen's family, from Los Fresnos and Port Isabel, was notified about the incident. Ochoa said it is a tragedy and would like people to be a little more aware of their currents and how to educate themselves. He advised people that they should educate themselves on how to swim and read the currents if they go swimming. Ochoa said they should know how to work with the current instead of working against it to avoid things of this nature. Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi command center received word from Coast Guard Station South Padre Island at 4:12 p.m. on Wednesday. They received a 911 call about a missing swimmer last seen in the water near Beach Access 5. Read Also: Kansas Teen Gets Life Sentence for His Role in Death of Friend's Mother Los Fresnos School District to offer on-campus counseling services The 17-year-old was described as a Latino male who stands 5 feet and 10 inches tall and weighs approximately 140 pounds. Buitureira was last seen wearing glasses and black shorts by witnesses. An HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crew, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi, and a Station South Padre Island 33-foot Special Purpose Craft-Law Enforcement boat crew were sent to search for Buitureira. Cameron County Park Rangers and the South Padre Island Fire Department were also helping with the search efforts. According to a Los Fresnos Consolidated Independent School District statement, Buitureira was a senior at Los Fresnos High School. The district said that on-campus counseling services would be provided to students and staff at Los Fresnos High School to help cope with the sudden loss of Buitureira, KRGV reported. Related Article: Daughter Who Saves Father's Life During His 70th Birthday Encourages Others to Learn CPR Photo: (Photo : Vladyslav Topyekha from Pixabay ) Two teenage girls who went missing after attending the East Central High School homecoming dance were found dead along Highway 613 between Agricola and Hurley on Sunday morning. Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd said the victims were Chloe Taylor and Bayleigh Bowlin, both 16 and from Jackson County, according to WLOX. The two went to East Central High School. Their families posted that the girls were missing on Sunday morning after attending the homecoming dance on Saturday night. Teens died following a single-car crash at Highway 613 Sheriff Ezell said the teen girls were involved in a single-car crash at the intersection of Highway 613 and Lum Reeves Road. The Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP) responded to the scene around 5:30 a.m. on Sunday with the officers finding a 2012 Nissan Altima that Taylor drove with Bowlin as her passenger. According to the MHP, the vehicle left the road before crashing into an embankment and a tree. Lynd said that an uncle of one of the missing girls noticed a stop sign missing on Lum-Reeves Road at the intersection of Highway 613. He stopped to search the wooded area where he found the girls dead. They were still buckled into their seats in their overturned vehicle under some brush in the nearby wooded area, according to Biloxi Sun Herald. Superintendent John Strycker said that the students of East Central High spent Monday mourning the loss of their classmates. He noted a numbness right now, and it is hard to describe. He added that it might be part of his perception of how he is feeling, but he is observing very closely what is happening on campus. Read Also: Fired San Antonio Cop Posts Bond After Being Charged in Shooting of Teen Students grieving following shocking death of teens According to Strycker, four Jackson County School District students have died over the previous year. He said that there is no template for how you navigate through a loss like this. He added that he had been a superintendent for almost 20 years now, and, again, each situation is different, and each situation is a tragedy. Garon Tate, the Wade Baptist Church student and family pastor, said that over the last calendar year, there had been a lot of loss that these students have had to process. He noted that he and several student pastors and counselors in the community are there to be with the students. Tate said there is nothing profound that they can say to make things better or go away, but they want them to know that they are not alone, that they are loved. He added that there is still hope even on the worst days. He said that through Christ, they have hope. MHP is still investigating the cause of the car crash that claimed the lives of Taylor and Bowlin, according to the U.S. Sun. Related Article: COVID Vaccines for Children Updated as Omicron Booster Shots Cleared for Kids as Young as 5 Trade data from the Ghana Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association (Ghana Vegetables) indicate that annual tomato import from neighbouring Burkina Faso has hit a staggering US$400million from an estimated US$99.5million in 2018. Whereas the Ghana Incentive-Based Risk-Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (GIRSAL) has confirmed that the country currently imports 90 percent of its fresh tomato from Burkina Faso, it also added that the current national consumption demand of tomatoes is in excess of 800,000 metric tonnes per annum. The president of Ghana Vegetables, Dr. Felix Kamassah, however, attributed the rising imports and slump in local production to cost of fertilizer and quality seeds, and the lack of mechanization and machinery. Our farmers grow the Burkina variety in Ghana, but the difference is sustainability and irrigation by mechanisation which is lacking here, Dr. Kamassah said. Ghana Vegetables, he indicated, is focusing on saving at least half of the amount internally by boosting production and increasing supply up to, at least, 40 percent. More than 70 percent of tomato supply in major supermarkets and malls in Ghana are sourced from the Netherlands, Burkina Faso and other countries, data from Ghana Vegetables have shown. Request to govt The Association wants government to support research institutions in seed development to grow seedlings in a greenhouse environment to enable year-round nursery. It requested that mechanised irrigation, inputs and access to capital be prioritised in fruit and vegetable cultivation to combat changing trends in the current erratic climate occurrences, as well as governmental support and policies to lure the youth into vegetable farming. The PFJ policy must devote a chunk of resources to vegetable cultivation. That is the only way to increase support for farmers in the sector and whip up interest. We want the Food and Agriculture Minister to engage the horticulture industry on the way forward, he said. Recent climatic conditions in Europe have been increasing demand of tomatoes, as lack of sunshine, and heavy rains in some parts of that continent are creating unfavourable conditions for the fruits cultivation. But Dr. Kamassah indicated this is the time for government to support local producers to meet rising demands in the European market. Setbacks in tomato production GIRSAL has identified that the slump in local tomato production is attributed to most farmers cultivating less than 10 metric tonnes per hectare against the potential of 20 metric tonnes per hectare. Besides, poor agronomic practices, lack of varieties for commercial agro-processing, as well as farmers still planting local varieties typically with high water content, many seeds, poor colour, and low brix level have all been identified as key production setbacks. Source: B&FT 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 Mr Seth Terkper, former Finance Minister, has urged the government to be transparent as much as possible with data on revenue, expenditure and arrears in order not to delay in getting an economic programme from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Speaking at a media dialogue on Ghanas negotiations with the IMF, in Accra on Friday, Mr Terkper, according to myjoyonline.com said if the government failed to exhibit transparency with the data, the country would not get the programme as expected on time and that would hurt the economy more. What has dominated the discussions during the first round and going into the second round is a possible debt restructuring, refinancing or however, you may call it. And, we will give some examples and that is because we all know that debt is a problem that faces the nation. But I also want to remind us that debt is the outcome of raising revenue and borrowing beyond that revenue to the point we are in debt distress.there should be no question about that. And therefore, we have also faced downgrade. He mentioned that in a typical IMF programme, it would start from revenue, expenditure, and management of arrears to give us the fiscal balance and go all the way to the fiscal and go into debt where we are facing the difficulty. He said Everything shows clearly that we are protecting certain expenditures as seems to be what is coming from some government officials, then the Fund [programme] is a non-starter. Because it means that you are saying that the Fund gives you money to continue with the pattern of your behaviour. You should know that the Fund knows it all; if you read Article 4, they follow our debates, they know what is going on, they have an office here, Mr Terkper said. He further pointed out that a fast programme from the IMF would depend on whether the country could provide all the available date for scrutiny and approval. So I think whether we can do a fast programme or not depends on whether we can lay it all on the table. It can be shocking, but we need to lay all on the table, he added. Mr Terkper also dismissed the perception that the rating agency has been harsh to developing countries, saying, the developed countries have not been left out of the equation, citing the United Kingdom as an example. 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 Entravision (NYSE: EVC), a leading global advertising solutions, media and technology company, announced today that its Africa-based digital business unit, Entravision 365 Digital in Ghana, has become the Authorized Sales Partner of Meta, the company that owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Entravision 365 Digital will provide support, training, lines of credit and local billing to advertisers in the Ghanaian market, thereby enabling them to meet their business objectives. This partnership reinforces our commitment to advertisers to connect brands to consumers through local strategic support, creative expertise and relevant in-market training, said Julian Jordaan, Chief Executive Officer of Entravision 365 Digital. As we continue to expand our presence throughout the continent of Africa, we are thrilled to partner with Meta as their Authorized Sales Partner in Ghana to equip and empower local businesses with our top-notch advertising expertise. Jordaan continued, We are also pleased to welcome Stephen Sawyerr as Country Manager to spearhead our partnership with Meta in Ghana. With over 10 years of management, digital marketing and brand building expertise, Stephen is very well equipped to build a world-class team to support Entravisions growth in West Africa. Entravision 365 Digital, as an Authorized Sales Partner, will deploy dedicated local expert teams in Ghana to provide businesses with each of the tools crucial to sales growth, while also assisting these same customers in deploying their advertising investments more efficiently across the Meta family of products. "Ghana is an important country for Meta and it is a priority for us to invest in the market and to be closer to the people and businesses here, said Enitan Denloye, Regional Director for Africa at Meta. As such, we are happy to bring in Entravision 365 Digital as Metas Authorized Sales Partner in Ghana and believe that with their robust local market insights and expertise, we can provide better support for businesses and agencies locally, helping them unlock their potential growth. About Meta Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. About Entravision Entravision is a leading global advertising, media and ad-tech solutions company connecting brands to consumers by representing top platforms and publishers. Our dynamic portfolio includes digital, television and audio offerings. Digital, our largest revenue segment, is comprised of four business units: our digital sales representation business; Smadex, our programmatic ad purchasing platform; our branding and mobile performance solutions business; and our digital audio business. Through our digital sales representation business, we connect global media companies such as Meta, Twitter, TikTok and Spotify with advertisers in primarily emerging growth markets worldwide. Smadex is our mobile-first demand side platform, enabling advertisers to execute performance campaigns using machine learning. We also offer a branding and mobile performance solutions business, which provides managed services to advertisers looking to connect with global consumers, primarily on mobile devices, and our digital audio business provides digital audio advertising solutions for advertisers in the Americas. In addition to digital, Entravision has 49 television stations and is the largest affiliate group of the Univision and UniMas television networks. Entravision also manages 45 primarily Spanish-language radio stations that feature nationally recognized, Emmy award-winning talent. Shares of Entravision Class A Common Stock trade on the NYSE under ticker: EVC. Learn more about our offerings at entravision.com or connect with us on LinkedIn. About Entravision 365 Digital Entravision 365 Digital is an African online media and ad-technology business with a rich heritage in the African advertising industry. For 23 years the business has represented the largest publishers and platforms in Africa and have helped global brands reach connected consumers and drive business impact. With a mission to connect publishers to brands, and brands to consumers, Entravision 365 Digital helps brands reach audiences at scale through its exclusive partnership with leading platforms like TikTok, Anzu, Triton Digital and many more. Entravision 365 Digital is a business unit of Entravision, a leading global advertising, media and ad-tech solutions company connecting brands to consumers by representing top platforms and publishers. Learn more about all of our innovative media, marketing and technology offerings at entravision365digital.com or connect with us on LinkedIn. 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 Minister made these comments when he toured the ongoing 23-kilometer Dome-Kitase Road project which is being undertaken by First Sky Construction Limited. Speaking briefly to the media after the tour, the Minister, who was highly impressed about the progress of work and said: just under two months of work, and with the level of world-class equipment and human resource mobilization I have seen today, First Sky Construction Ltd is comparable to any world-class construction firm in the world He further emphasized that from his quiet briefings with technical engineers from the Ministry up to the level of the Chief Director, the feedback is that the construction is according to specifications. Although it is expected to complete the 23-kilometer Dome-Kitase Road project in twenty-four months, First Sky Construction Limited, the construction firm undertaking the project, has assured that the project will be completed within fourteen months. According to Eric Seddy Kutortse, Chairman of the company who gave the assurance, it will work assiduously day and night without compromising the quality and integrity of the project to facilitate human and vehicular movement. This project has 24 months duration, we are one and half months into the 24 months. Our assurance is that with the pace at which we are going, we are sure that we will deliver this project within 14 months, within 14 months we will have it done, Mr. Kutortse told Kwasi Amoako-Attah, Minister of Roads and Highways, during an inspection. Kwesi Amoako-Attah signed a contract with First Sky Limited, a local construction company in Accra, for the rehabilitation of the 23-km Dome-Kitase Road. The $35 million project will start from the Dome Roundabout in the Greater Accra Region and end at Kitase, near Peduase in the Eastern Region. According to a notice shared on the official Facebook page of the ministry on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, the exercise is expected to start in August 2022 and is scheduled for completion in 24 months. The project starts from the Dome Roundabout in the Greater Accra Region and ends at Kitase in the Eastern Region. The Project, estimated to cost $35 million is being funded by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) and the Government of Ghana, the ministry announced. The Road will serve as an alternative route to Peduase and Akuapem enclave and one of the prestigious Universities in the country, the Ashesi University, it added. Barely two months after works began, Kutortse during the tour with the minister said it had completed 97 percent of all land clearing while filling to formation was 15 percent complete, adding that excavation and cut to formation was also 16 percent complete. He added that scarification and formation were 16 percent complete, three percent of 600*600mm U-drains had been constructed with 41 percent of pipe culvert also constructed. What we are doing currently is that, we are improving the vertical alignment of the road by cutting to formation and we have almost 250,000 cutting to be done and if that is completed the project will be almost 30 percent and per our programme, by the end of this month we will cut the entire road to formation, he said. He added that: Currently, we have also started the construction of U-drain, weve started also the culvert, we have only about eight culverts, we have constructed two already. Other officials who joined in the project tour included Mr. Stephen Jalulah, Deputy Minister of Roads; Dr. Abass Awolu, Chief Director of the Ministry; Mr. Christian Nti, Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Highways Authority (GHA); Mr. Roosevelt Otu, Director, Department of Feeder Roads and other directors of the GHA, and officials of the Urban Roads. 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 Member of Parliament (MP) for Yendi, Alhaji Farouk Aliu Mahama has passionately appealed to the Morocco Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Imane Quaadil to facilitate an arrangement to expose the vast investment opportunities in Yendi to the business community of Morocco. According to the MP, Yendi is a commercial hub endowed with vast resources, including vast arable lands for agriculture, skilled youth, mineral wealth, human resources, tourism, and arts and culture. It has one of the best cereals and tuber produce which can meet the interest of investors from Morocco and other parts of the world. Alhaji Farouk Aliu Mahama made the call at the skills exhibition fair held in Yendi as part of the official visit by the Morocco Ambassador to Ghana. The exhibition is a prelude to a planned establishment of a state-of-the-art skills development centre in Yendi by the MP and the Moroccan Embassy in Ghana for the transfer of knowledge, skills and exchange of technical cooperation. Alhaji Farouk Aliu Mahama who is also the Board Chairman of the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation said, Yendi and its environs host a large percentage of iron ore in commercial quantity, ready to be harnessed to create the needed employment opportunities for the hardworking youth of Ghana and to boost the industrialization drive of the Government. He expressed confidence that the bond between Yendi and the people of Morocco would explore issues of mutual interest such as sustainable agriculture, skills development, education, essential minerals, human resource, tourism, arts and culture among others. The Ambassador said Ghana and Morocco have come a long way and that it will ensure that the Moroccan Business Community will take advantage of the business opportunities Ghana is endowed with, especially the Yendi Constituency. Ndan Ya-Na said the high rate of youth unemployment was a major concern to the people of Yendi which needs urgent attention and that the youth unemployment is attributed to inadequate skills development for the youth and low ICT education. 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 Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) has called for a reversal of the Senior High School (SHS) system from the current semester to the traditional trimester system. That, it said, was because the semester system was putting a lot of stress on school facilities, infrastructure, as well as staff and students. "This should take place at the inception of the 2023 academic year," a communique issued at the end of CHASS's 60th annual conference/anniversary held in Koforidua in the Eastern Region said. It was jointly signed by the President of CHASS, Alhaji Yakub Ahmad Bin Abubakar, and the Assistant Secretary, Baro Primus. Recall The change of the academic calendar from the trimester system to the semester system was done in 2018 to make room for the double-track system as part of the plans for the free SHS programme introduced to admit more qualified students. However, after three years of free SHS, the double-track system was abandoned, while the semester system was maintained, and at any given time, two streams of students are in school to avoid congestion. The calendar was further disrupted in 2020 following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic which forced the government to close down all schools. To keep the academic calendar in sync, the Ministry of Education tried to introduce the semester system in pre-tertiary institutions as well, but it had to withdraw that plan following public outcry against it. In January this year, the four teacher unions also waded in and called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to withdraw the entire semester system at the pre-tertiary level for wider consultations with stakeholders before it was implemented. The unions the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), the Coalition of Concerned Teachers-Ghana (CCT-Gh) and the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) maintained that the unilateral change in the school calendar from the trimester system to the semester system to cover pupils at the primary and the kindergarten levels by the GES was arbitrary and an imposition on the major stakeholders in education, of which the unions were a part. In reaction to the outcry, the Ministry of Education reinstated the trimester educational calendar for basic schools, made up of kindergarten, primary and junior high school (JHS). The ministry explained that the reversal from the proposed semester calendar was to allow for further consultations on the issue. After further consultations on the issue, the Minister of Education has directed that the calendar for kindergarten to JHS for the current academic year should revert to the trimester system, a statement issued by the Minister of Education said. Communique Apart from its proposal for the scrapping of the semester system, CHASS, among other things, asked the GES to, as a matter of urgency, make available the Code of Conduct for Students before the commencement of the 2023 academic year. It said that had delayed unduly and was impacting effective discipline in SHSs. Additionally, it said the GES must come clear on parent-teacher associations (PTAs), as the lack of clear directives on PTAs was impacting the effective relationship between PTAs and the schools. The PTAs are still not active in our schools. The government must come out with clear-cut directives on the activities of the PTAs to enable them to function effectively in all schools. This will also save heads the unfortunate queries and sanctions applied to them in their dealing with PTAs in their schools and the fact that many PTAs are now very dormant due to the unclear, unwritten moratorium placed on their activities since the inception of the free SHS policy, it said, adding that this emanates from the fact that the contributions and impact of PTAs in the development and smooth running of the schools cannot be underestimated, overemphasised or swept under the carpet. Furthermore, the communique urged the government to reconsider bringing back the incentive (motivation) package paid to staff of schools which had ceased for two years now. The payment of that package, it said, formed part of the absorbed fees, but no provision had been made for its payment in funds released to schools. Exams charges CHASS also requested an upward review of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) practical fees to GHC50 per student per subject or hand over completely the entire process to a relevant body. That was because the current situation where schools were indirectly made to bear the cost of WASSCE practicals as a result of woefully inadequate releases was unacceptable, it said. 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 President, HE Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has reiterated the commitment of his government to building better roads in the country in spite of the current economic crisis. According to him, a total of 285Km roads have been asphalted within the Kumasi Metropolis and to some areas more roads upgrading are underway to improve the road sector. The President made this known when he cut sod for the commencement of a 4 tier interchange at Suame roundabout and complementary road projects to address the perennial traffic in the area. Suame Roundabout in the Suame Constituency which has been linking several communities, regions and countries has been recording heavy traffic jam during peak hours. The interchange is expected to be completed in December 2024 according to President Akufo-Addo. The project would be undertaken under two components thus, component 1 comprises of the 4 tier Suame Interchange and grade separated intersections at Abrepo Junction and Krofrom Junction whereas the Component 2 comprises of 3 overpasses and local road works. Component 1 of the project would be constructed by Rango Construction Company Limited, a local firm in joint venture with Dizmar of Spain. Component 2 would be undertaken solely by Rango Construction Company Limited. Concluding his remarks, he said his work will shame his critics since he is poised and dedicated to transform the country. Ashanti Region Roads Apart from the Suame Interchange, the President indicated that Government is tackling critical road projects throughout the country in a holistic manner, so that every part of Ghana gets quality, all weather roads. In the Ashanti Region alone, the Akufo-Addo Government has completed asphalt overlay of two hundred and ninety-five kilometres (295kms) of roads since 2017. Some of the beneficiary areas include Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, that is in Subin Nhyiaeso and Bantama, Asokwa, Oforikrom, Kwadaso, Suame, Old Tafo, Asokore Mampong, Bekwai, Obuasi, Ejisu, Juaben, Sekyere East (Effiduase), Asante Mampong and Atwima Nwabiagya South, he said. Again, President Akufo-Addo stated that Government has completed the construction of one hundred kilometres (100km) of local roads in Kumasi, which was undertaken by M/S Contracta, with the beneficiary assemblies being Kumasi Metropolitan, Asokwa, Kwadaso, Oforikrom. Suame and Tafo Pakrono. In addition to the one hundred kilometres (100kms) of local roads, the Department of Urban Roads has completed another seventy-five kilometres (75kms) of town roads in Ashanti, including Bekwai Town roads, Kwamo Town Roads, Manhyia Roads (Buokrom) and Ejisu/Kwaso Town Roads. The Department of Feeder Roads has also completed the upgrading of sixty-eight kilometres (68kms) of selected feeder roads in the Ashanti and Western Regions, a project which was undertaken by M/S Sinohydro Corporation, he stated. President Akufo-Addo noted that, in addition to the completed ones, work is ongoing on the Kumasi Roads and Drainage Extension Project, which is 97% complete. The works involved in this project, he said, include the upgrading of the Lake Road into a dual carriageway from the Coca Cola Bottling Plant to Dompoase (3.5km), and the lining of the Sissai Stream for 2km. The construction of a modern terminal at Dompoase, which is part of the project, has been completed and commissioned. It is expected that the entire project would be completed and commissioned by the end of the year. The works are being undertaken by M/S China Henan International Corporation- CHICO and funded by the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) of France, he said. The Construction of the Kumasi Inner City Roads, which involves the rehabilitation of another one hundred kilometres (100kms) of local roads in Kumasi by M/S Sino Hydro Ltd is ongoing, together with the emergency rehabilitation of the twelve-kilometre (12km) Atimatim-Maase-Aboabogya road. Additionally, there is rge upgrading of the forty-nine-kilometre (49km) Asankare-Krofa-Juansa Road and Krofa-Brantuokrom-Magyeda road, as well the upgrading of 40.3-kilometre Amantema Junction-Wiawso-Senkye Road, and the reconstruction of the thirty-kilometre (30km) Anwiankwanta-Obuasi Road, which is ninety percent (90%) complete, and will be completed by the end of 2022. President Akufo-Addo noted that the upgrading of the thirty-one kilometre (31km) Dechemuoso area roads and asphaltic overlay of Hill Top Roads, which is fifty-seven percent (57%) complete is also ongoing, together with the upgrading of the 8.7 kilometre Kwapia-Wioso Feeder Road, which stands, currently, at fifty-two percent (52%) complete. The Minister for Roads and Highways who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Atiwa West Constituency, Hon Kwasi Amoako Atta assured the role of his ministry to put the contractors on track so as to complete the project on time. He said the Ministry wont compromise on anything that will put the project at stake adding that the project wont be stalled for anything. Suame Legislator who is currently the Minister Parliamentary Affairs, Hon Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu said the project after completion will relief his people of the stress caused by the heavy traffic congestion Source: Prince Kwadwo Boadu/Reporter/Hello 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 President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has asserted that the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) will win the 2024 elections in what it has christened as Breaking the 8 agenda. He said the victory will shock naysayers who doubt the ability of the party to achieve such a feat in the pending election. Speaking at the launch and rollout of NPP membership cards at Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi yesterday October 18, President Akufo-Addo stated that the governing party has over the years assumed governance and managed to salvage the country from bad management which has often led it into crisis. He touted that the NPP remains the only party that prudently manages the economy of the country stressing that it is capable of navigating through the global crisis currently confronting the world and placing the economy on a path of progress. It is only the NPP that is able to lift the country out of crisis whenever it is confronted with one. When Kufuor became president, the country was in HIPC status. Through his good policies, we emerged out of it and our finances were better. When we came to power in 2017, we were under an IMF programme but because of good policies, we exited it and placed the country on the path of progress. Everything was going on well until Covid struck. Naysayers thought we couldnt manage it but with courage, we did manage it well. It is only the NPP that can solve the latest problem which is the global economic crisis which has messed up our finances, President Akufo-Addo said. He urged all and sundry present to join the NPP to add up their numbers and make it a formidable force to reckon with going into the 2024 elections. He said the party was poised to take the country out of the economic doldrums and rallied the citizenry to remain behind the government and the party together with its national executives as it soldiers on to achieve victory in 2024. I am saying to you today, join the New Patriotic Party. If you are not part, come and join to make us more. But the problems we have in Ghana today, we will solve these problems and put our economy back on strong wings [sic]. There is no party which can solve it besides the NPP. We will do it. We will do it for it to shock them I plead with you to stand behind the party and its national executives. Stand firmly behind the Akufo-Addo-led government. We are going to go on to victory in 2024. They said we cant do it. It will shock them, a charged President Akufo-Addo said amid loud cheers from NPP supporters present at the event. The governing NPP is looking at securing a third consecutive term in office under the Fourth Republic in what it terms as break the 8. Meanwhile, the NDC has vowed to wrestle power from the NPP stressing that they have been bad managers of the economy. 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 President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has responded to persons he thinks are his 'political' detractors in the Ashanti Region. According to him, these people will be shamed one by one by the numerous work he has done for the people in the region considered the 'political world bank' of the governing party. President Akufo-Addo stated that for the past six years that he has been in office, the people of the Ashanti Region have benefitted enough from his government, therefore, his detractors cannot say otherwise. He maintains that there is enough proof to show that the Ashanti region has benefitted in terms of development from his government. "And to those of you going around saying bad things about me in the Ashanti Region, one after the other, they are all going to be shamed convincingly, today, tomorrow and the day after. "God bless all of you one by one, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said during a sod-cutting ceremony of the Suame Interchange, on October 18, 2022. In spite of our present difficulties which I know will be gone as soon as possible, I continue to be excited about the future prospects of the nation and I urge all Ghanaians to join hands in building the Ghana that we want, we can realize it if we all work at it, the President added. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, then outlined some past and present road projects the government has undertaken in the Ashanti region just to buttress his point. Apart from this project, Government is tackling critical road projects throughout the country in a holistic manner, so that every part of Ghana shall have quality, all-weather roads. In the Ashanti Region alone, the Akufo-Addo Government has completed the asphalt overlay of 295kms of roads since 2017. Some of the beneficiary areas include Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, that is in Subin Nhyiaeso and Bantama, Asokwa, Oforikrom, Kwadaso, Suame, Old Tafo, Asokore Mampong, Bekwai, Obuasi, Ejisu, Juaben, Sekyere East (Effiduase), Asante Mampong and Atwima Nwabiagya South, the President stressed. 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 Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has asked Ghanaians who havent completed their SIM card re-registration process to be patriotic citizens to see to the completion of the process. According to the Minister in a statement issued on Monday, October 17, 2022, there are almost 10 million people who have already done Stage 1 of the registration by linking their cards to the Ghana Card but are yet to go through Stage 2 to complete the process. This she describes as a worry to the whole process of seeking one database to protect the country against fraud, promote collective security and advance the countrys transformational digital agenda for international recognition. To avoid any blockage against such persons who have refused to complete the full process of the exercise, the Ministry has given until the end of October adding that, it is not extending the September 30, 2022 deadline. All SIM Cards that have been linked to Ghana Cards (i.e. completed Stage 1 registration), but have not completed their Stage 2 registration will be blocked from the end of October. This is not an extension of the deadline but a temporary moratorium to encourage these individuals to complete the process. If they have any peculiar challenges, they should contact the NCA. These good people have the Ghana card, have started the process and will be encouraged to complete it with this gentle reminder. All other unregistered SIMs will also be blocked progressively. The NCA is in discussions with the NIA on registered amputees and other categories of persons and will make an announcement shortly on arrangements made to accommodate them. The provision made earlier for SIMs active outside Ghana and diplomats still stands part of the statement reads. While the ministry acknowledged that some of the citizens have had difficulties obtaining Ghana Cards to enable them to undertake their registration, it further added that about 1.3 million Ghanaians have also been issued their Ghana cards but have not collected them. This is regrettable, and we will continue to engage the National Identification Authority to expedite the process, it added. Offence For persons who have registered more than ten (10) SIM cards for personal use in contravention of the SIM card registration directive of 10 SIMs per person, the culprits, as a matter of urgency, have been asked to delink the unwanted SIM Cards immediately for it is an offence and punishable by law. The statement added that excess SIM cards over the individual limit of 10 SIMs per person will be removed from the database and blocked adding that, it is only institutions that can register more than 10 SIM cards under the registration directive. Let me remind all SIM card vendors that it is an offence to pre-register and sell SIM cards. The National Communications Authority (NCA) has further been directed to conduct mystery shopping and enforce the law against those miscreants. If found guilty, they [vendors] could be imprisoned for up to 5 years, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful added in the statement. 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 Nigeria and Cameroon have expressed interest to join Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana in an alliance to improve the economic earnings of cocoa farmers in their respective countries. The initiative Cote dIvoire and Ghana are the two leading cocoa-producing countries in the world. Nigeria and Cameroon joining Ghana and Cote dIvoire will create an alliance of countries, whose total cocoa production constitutes 75 per cent of the world's supply. The alliance dubbed, Cote dIvoire Ghana Cocoa Initiative (CIGCI), being spearheaded by Ghana's Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto is an effort of the two countries to ensure a better price and remuneration for cocoa farmers. The initiative was set up following a declaration by the presidents of Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana to harmonise the cocoa trading strategies of the two countries to improve the incomes of cocoa farmers in the two countries in the wake of persistently low cocoa prices on the world market. Achievement Briefing the Daily Graphic on the initiative, Dr Akoto explained that the initiative had so far instituted the Living Income Differential (LID), which ensured that every tonne of cocoa beans sold attracts an extra $400.00, which was paid to farmers. The LID is the component of the cocoa trading mechanism operated by the two producer countries. The minister expressed the belief that Nigeria and Cameroon joining the initiative would enhance the effort of the alliance in realising its objective. Delegation The desire of the two countries was expressed by their representatives at the Steering Committee of the CIGCI at a meeting in Abidjan, Cote dIvoire. The Nigerian delegation was led by the Director of the Federal Department of Agriculture and Chairman of Nigerias Cocoa Management Committee, A. H. Abubakar, while the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cameroons National Office of Cocoa and Coffee, Michael Ndoping, led the Cameroonian delegation, Dr Akoto told the Daily Graphic. Handing over Before handing the chairmanship of the Steering Committee of the CIGCI to his Ivorian counterpart, the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani, Dr Akoto said he welcomed the move by Nigeria and Cameroon, saying the CIGCI will take the prospective members through the processes laid down to admit new members. The minister indicated that the need for a better price for cocoa farmers could not be overemphasised; "hence, any attempt to grow the alliance and strengthen its drive to improve farmer income is welcome". On which country on the continent qualified to join, Dr Akoto said membership was opened to cocoa exporting countries. 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 Through the partnership between KIC and The Mastercard Foundation, 50 teams from 5 universities across the country are battling it out at the 2022 AgriTech Challenge Classic event, to pitch their business ideas that will create employment opportunities in the agribusiness sector. The AgriTech Challenge Classic is a flagship programme of KIC. The seven-month annual training program aims to develop the interest and build mindset change of students entrepreneurs and young graduates to ultimately drive systemic change in Ghanas agriculture sector. It provides the youth with the right exposure to the agriculture value chain, and networking opportunity to build and grow viable solutions to Ghanas key agricultural challenges. All is set for the Ideation team and panel of judges to select 15 ideas at the final pitch event scheduled to take place on Friday 21st October 2022 at the University of Ghana. Prior to this, there will be a penultimate pitch event on Thursday 20th October 2022. From the final pitch event of the challenge, the 15 selected teams out of the 20 shortlisted, will move to the next stage of the competition, which is the KIC AgriTech Challenge Pro, an accelerator program aiming to support young entrepreneurs to launch and grow commercially viable, scalable solutions to key problems in the agricultural sector. The program aims to drive technology and innovation as a catalyst to enhancing productivity, improving yields, and creating more jobs within Ghanas agricultural sector. Speaking ahead of the pitch event, Executive Director for KIC, Mr. Benjamin Gyan-Kesse has iterated the critical role KIC plays in driving AgriTech business innovation among young people towards bridging the unemployment gap. There are many opportunities for innovation and job creation within the agricultural sector landscape in Ghana. At KIC, we believe in the potential and power of young people to be changemakers and active drivers of their development. Over the years, we have seen improvement in the quality of the ideation process, tailor made to suit relevant and pertinent needs within the agricultural value chain, from production, distribution, market and consumption. Earlier this year KIC announced the launch of a multi-year partnership with The Mastercard Foundation to train the next generation of young leaders and entrepreneurs in Ghanas agriculture sector. Through the KIC and the Mastercard Foundation partnership, the AgriTech Challenge Classic expects to train about 4,880 young people across the partner universities in the next four years, through collaboration with regional academic partners such as universities and technical schools. 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 By Ou Can, Fei Shiting, Zhang Mimi and Mei Changwei BEIJING, Oct. 19, -- Delegates from the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) and the Peoples Armed Police Force (PAP) attending the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) have held group discussions on the report to the 20th CPC National Congress delivered by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, in recent days. Senior Chinese military officials gave their opinions on the report to the congress in the group discussions. Military delegate Xu Qiliang, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), said that the report proposed to "achieve the goals for the centenary of the Peoples Liberation Army in 2027 as scheduled", which has clearly pointed out the central tasks of building a stronger Chinese military in the next five years. These tasks are a reflection of the will of the Party, and expectations of the people, which have to be shouldered by the PLA in the new era. Military delegate Zhang Youxia, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice chairman of the CMC, said that all military personnel are supposed to work together to build a stronger Chinese military, strive to break new ground to realize the modernization of the national defense and the armed forces and forge ahead valiantly towards building a world-class military in all respects. Military delegate Wei Fenghe, Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense, noted that in the face of the complex and severe national safety situation, we should resolutely implement the strategic deployment made at the 20th CPC National Congress, improve China's armed forces ability to win, remain highly vigilant, get ready for war at all times, and resolutely safeguard Chinas national sovereignty, security and development interests. Military delegate Li Zuocheng, a member of the CMC and chief of the CMCs Joint Staff Department, said that the next five years will be a critical period for China to achieve new and greater development. It is necessary for China's armed forces to play a more critical role, while accelerating the upgrade of Chinese militarys hard power, so as to provide more reliable strategic support for the development of the Party and the country. Military delegate Miao Hua, a member of the CMC and director of the CMCs Political Work Department, said that it is necessary to strengthen the Party building across the board in the armed forces in all respects, thoroughly implement the CMC chairman responsibility system, and firmly step up military preparedness to ensure the achievement of the militarys centenary goal by 2027 as scheduled. Military delegate Zhang Shengmin, a member of the CMC and secretary of the CMCs Discipline Inspection Commission, said that history has taught us that the core serves to guide the direction, build consensus, and consolidate strength. We should faithfully maintain the core and strive to build a stronger Chinese military. Former Minister of State and former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines Dr. Joyce Aryee has said the actions of Patricia Asiedua, popularly known as 'Nana Agradaa, is a clear indication that she is not from God. According to her, money doubling in Church is a sin that contradicts the teachings of God. She also stated that Nana Agraada doesn't carry the spirit of God because of her actions in her Church. Dr. Joyce Aryee urged Ghanaians to read the Bible to help them identify the true men of God and unscrupulous ones. Speaking with Kwaku Owusu Adjei on Adwenekasa on Accra-based Original FM 91.9, she said, "We saw the real man of God which is Elijah, and the fake ones. There are a lot of fake pastors in this country so Ghanaians must read the Bible well to be able to identify the real men of God because you will be able to know the true men of God through their actions. " Nana Agradaa is facing seven counts of defrauding by false pretence and charlatanic advertisement on TV and in a newspaper to lure her victims. A viral video last Saturday showed aggrieved members of the Church alleging that their leader, a one-time traditional priestess, had swindled them. 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 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. Yaw Acheampong Boafo, President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), is of the view that lawyers are the best candidates for heaven and not hell. Boafo was addressing dismissing some myths associated with the legal profession when he made the comment. The said myths include that lawyers are buried upside down and that of all professions, they are the most likely candidates for hell because of the peculiar nature of their profession, coupled with the oath they have taken to defend anyone regardless of the crime committed. To the GBA President, the reverse is rather true. He explained that the legal profession through its pro-bono services is the only profession that offers legal aid to persons in need. I always tell people that the profession that would be best represented in heaven will be the legal profession and I will tell you why. Jesus Christ said on the last day, on that day, I will ask you when I was hungry, did you clothe me, when I was poor did you help me? We are the only profession that by our training we help the poor. If you go to any country, there is no free medical aid, there is no free engineering aid but there is free legal aid in every democracy, Yaw Acheampong Boafo noted in a Joy News report sighted by GhanaWeb. 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 Accra High Court has given a former boss of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, up to December 22, 2022, to show up for her trial or risk being tried in absentia. The presiding judge, Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, also gave the two sureties who secured Mrs Attionu GH5 million bail up to the same day to produce her to stand trial or the court would slap them with a forfeiture of recognisance. Forfeiture of recognisance means the two sureties Alex Mould, a former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), and Gavivina Tamakloe would be made to pay the GH5 million bail sum. Per Section 104 of the Criminal Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), if the two sureties are unable to produce Mrs Attionu to stand trial and also fail to pay the GH5 million bail sum, the court can order the sale of their properties to recover the amount. Justice Asare-Botwe gave a ruling yesterday on an application for forfeiture of recognisance filed by the prosecution due to the failure of Mrs Attionu to appear to stand trial since October last year. Absent from court Attionu, who is on trial for allegedly causing financial loss of GH90 million to the state during her tenure as the CEO of MASLOC between 2013 and January 2017, has failed to show up for the trial after being granted permission by the court to travel to the USA for medical treatment. She was expected to return to Ghana for the continuation of her trial on October 6 last year. In November last year, Justice Asare-Botwe expressed her displeasure about the situation, and issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Mrs Attionu to force her to attend the trial. Afterwards, the prosecution filed an application for trial in absentia. It then followed up with an application for forfeiture of recognisance, which is directed at the two sureties who executed Mrs Attionus GH5 million bail bond to show any justification why they should not be made to pay the bail sum due to her absence from the trial. Arguments In the application for forfeiture of recognisance, the prosecutor, Stella Ohene Appiah, a Principal State Attorney, submitted that Mrs Attionus failure to show up in court for over a year was proof that she had abandoned the trial. In response, counsel for Mr Mould, Beatrice Annanpio, urged the court not to rule for forfeiture of recognisanace because the state had all the resources and means to ensure that Mrs Attionu attended court for her trial. Counsel for Gavivina Tamakloe, Dr Basist Aziz Bamba, said he was informed that Mrs Attionu was still seeking medical treatment in the United States. He said if the state wanted to enforce the accused persons presence for the trial, it had the option to extradite her from the United States to Ghana. Ruling In her ruling, Justice Asare Botwe said per a Supreme Court decision, sureties for bail could not be held criminally liable for the failure of accused persons to appear before court to stand trial. A bail bond, she held, was a contract between an accused person and a surety, for which the surety had a responsibility to ensure that the accused person abided by the terms of the bail. Mrs Attionu, she said, had breached the terms of her bail, for which reason the sureties must be held liable. She, however, said per the various case laws and authorities, the sureties must be given time to produce Mrs Attionu before the order of forfeiture of recognisance could take effect. For this reason, I have given the sureties on or before December 22, 2022, to produce the accused person. A failure to produce her will result in a forfeiture of the bond, Justice Asare-Botwe ruled. The presiding judge, accordingly, adjourned the application for trial in absentia also to December 22, 2022. If the accused does not come by that time, the court will consider the application for trial in absentia, she added. 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 National Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party(NPP), Stephen Ayesu Ntim, has lauded members of the partys National Council of Patrons for their immense contributions to the party over the years. He said the party would soon roll out a reward scheme that would give recognition and appreciation to dedicated patrons for their contributions towards the party. Mr Ntim stated this at an engagement with some members of the partys National Council of Patrons at the partys headquarters in Accra. The engagement formed part of an initiative introduced by the National Executive, dubbed Time with party patrons, aimed at revitalising the patrons support and commitment to party activities as well as enhancing the relationship between the party and its patrons. Engagement The meeting, facilitated by the National Treasurer of the Party, Dr Charles Dwamena, explored various fundraising strategies that the party could adopt for the running of the party at all levels, among other things. Officers who graced the occasion were the National Chairman, Stephen Ayesu Ntim; the Second Vice National Chairperson, Madam Rita Asobayere; the Third Vice National Chairman, Alhaji Masawudu Osman; Chairman of the Finance Committee, Abankwa Sekyere, and Mr William Yamoah, Director of Finance and Administration of the party. The National Chairman said plans were underway to ensure that such meetings were held on a timely basis to create a platform for the patrons to know one another for the betterment of the party. The national patrons who attended the meeting included the Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, a former Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko; Edward Boateng, Gifty Ohene Konadu, Nana Ohene Ntow, Diana Asonaba Dapaah, Kwabena Agyei Agyapong, Francis Addai Nimo, Jimmy B. Haymann, Iddrisu Abdulai, Jojo Fosu, Egbert Faibille Jnr, Stephen Kyerematen, Abankwa Yeboah, Catherine Afeku and Mawusi Awitty. 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 Chairman of the opposition National Democartic Congress (NDC), Mr. Ofosu Ampafo has asked Ghanaianas to disregard reports of attacks on him from his opponents. A statement from his office read; Having regard to the high office of party chairman which I occupy and the onerous responsibility of overseeing a successful reorganisation of our party in our quest to wrest power in 2024, I have decided not to respond to the said accusations. Read full statement below; I have become aware of a viral interview granted to a media house by the General Secretary of my party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), in which he makes various references to my person, leadership style and stewardship as National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress. Having regard to the high office of party chairman which I occupy and the onerous responsibility of overseeing a successful reorganisation of our party in our quest to wrest power in 2024, I have decided not to respond to the said accusations. Throughout my entire adult life, I have faithfully, dutifully and conscientiously served the National Democratic Congress in various capacities. I have done so with honour and dignity, while resisting every temptation to vilify political opponents. I hold the view that it is totally out of place for party officials to divulge or discuss internal party matters that are within their knowledge by virtue of their privileged position, in the media or on any public forum. It is within this spirit that I elect to refrain from commenting on the merit or otherwise of the matters that were referenced in the said interview, including high-level party decisions that are supposed to be held in confidence. It is important to underscore the fact that Former President John Dramani Mahama remains the only surviving Former President of the NDC tradition, a true statesman whose stellar record in office is widely celebrated. References to the Former President in discussing sensitive party matters in the public domain relative to ones internal election campaign, as was done in the said media interview is quite unfortunate and regrettable. As a statesman of our political tradition, the least we can do to honour him is to jealously guard against commentary that brings his name and that of the party into disrepute and needless acrimony. It is my considered view that the quest to lead in the NDC's impending internal elections must be about who is more experienced and competent, and not vile personal attacks. I therefore seize this opportunity to admonish all seeking election into various positions, from Constituency to Region to National to be minded to engage in campaigns that market their track-record, leadership abilities, experience, vision and strategic direction for the party. Ultimately, the delegates of our party will have the opportunity to assess every candidate on the strength of their personality and ability to lead and not personal attacks. We must all be guided by the fact that after all is said and done, the party must unite at all levels to prosecute a single agenda of rescuing our country from the clutches of the misrule and economic mismanagement being supervised by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia/NPP government. It is therefore important to guard against incendiary language, finger-pointing and personal attacks that have the potential to jeopardise any effort at reconciliation after this electioneering process. Finally, we must all remember that the internal elections of the NDC are a family contest and not an internecine war against ourselves. The real opponent is out there - the New Patriotic Party who have inflicted untold hardship on our people. Ghanaians will not forgive us if we fail to rescue them from the current economic malaise that we find ourselves in. May it not be said that we failed because we were busy throwing mud at one another and took our eyes off the real enemy. Long live the NDC. Signed. Hon. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo (National Chairman, NDC) 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 A Deputy National Communications Director of the ruling NPP, George Krobea Asante, has admonished the opposition NDC for claiming superiority in the management of the economy. Speaking on Peace 104.3 FMs evening show, the Platform with Nana Yaw Kesse as the host, the vocal George Krobea Asante pointed out that today even in the UK, the Pounds Sterling is struggling against the US Dollar. He further stated that in the midst of the economic difficulties being experienced by Ghanaians, we have a stable power he reiterated. The hardworking Deputy National Communications Director of the NPP said that under the NDC, apart from the challenging economic situation, erratic power generation became the order of the day. Even in the midst of crisis, the worst form of NPPs government is better than NDCs best government he stressed. He also touched on the fight against illegal mining activities emphasizing that while there is a national discourse on the matter, the NDC is rather thinking about the next elections whether by foul or fair means. He pointed out to the opposition party that the fight against galamsey is a very serious national issue that must be given attention by all political parties, but the NDC, which is only concerned about winning power, is looking the other way. All the NDC excels in, Mr. George Krobea Asante said, is the engagement of propaganda by members of the opposition party. He called on all well-meaning Ghanaians to make the fight against galamsey a topmost priority. 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 The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council has said some politicians and the media have misinterpreted their visit and prayers at a galamsey site visited in the Eastern Region. The group of Pastors received flak after a video where they were praying at a galamsey site went viral. Some have described their action as hypocritical while others claim it's superficial. However, speaking in an interview on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', President of the Council, Rev Dr Frimpong Manso expressed his disappointment insisting they went on a fact-finding mission and not to pray as reported in the media. " . . Some of the media have ridiculed the Pastors but weve forgiven them . . . Politicians and Commentators even played with us but that wasnt why we went there . . ." he explained. According to him, "weve spoken severally against galamsey but to no avail so we decided to go for fact-finding; to have first-hand knowledge of what is going on and to empathize and sympathize with the people there . . . what we saw is very sad". "Politicians cannot end this, we've given them the mandate but probably they are trying . . . galamsey fight is not about politics, we need to take politics out and be united as Ghanaians and fight to bring peace in this country," he stated. Listen to the video below Meanwhile, the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) has called on government to ban small-scale mining with immediate effect.We call for the immediate ban of all small-scale mining. We have taken notice that many groups and companies hide behind a legal licence to wreak havoc on the environment. To that end, we call for an immediate ban of all forms of small-scale mining, whether licensed or not, until a workable and satisfactory road map has been established to ensure responsible mining in our country, it stressed. 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 A Social Commentator and former Central Regional Minister, Bernard Allotey Jacobs, has responded to a viral video showing some traders in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, hooting at the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, during his visit to the Region to inspect some infrastructure projects. The video showed the President's convoy passing through the market with the traders, who had paraded the sides of the road, shouting to drive him away and some threatening to vote against the ruling New Patroitic Party in 2024 elections. This comes in the wake of GUTA members closing their shops in protest against the government for visiting economic challenges on them. The traders complain bitterly about the cedi depreciation and an imposition of a tax on them and has warned the government to rectify the problem or they won't return to their shops. But according to Allotey Jacobs, the protesters are not members of GUTA. He seemingly accused the political detractors of the President to have mobilized the protesters, who he said formed just a small group, to make the President unpopular. "If someone says it was GUTA members who were hooting at the President, I don't believe that that is true. It is never true because it was so selective . . . It has happened to every President and Presidential candidate. And that is part of our character that for Ghanaians, they don't like hardship," he said. To him, the President is a competent leader doing great things for the nation and must be appreciated. "Aren't we appreciating what the President and his Vice are doing?", he asked Ghanaians. The former NDC Central Regional Chairman made these comments 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 The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Tuesday, October 19 2022, launched a new Membership Information Management System (MIMS) which will allow for the national roll-out of membership cards and enhance the management of membership data. The launch was done by His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana. The event, which took place at the Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi, was attended by many people including National Officers, Regional and Constituency Executives, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, CEOs of government agencies and departments, MMDCEs and other government appointees. It also saw the attendance of hundreds of party faithfuls and sympathizers. Speaking at the event, the National Chairman of the Party, Mr. Stephen Ayensu- Ntim, observed that the party had been lurching amidst several challenges to roll out a robust membership identification system. What had been unveiled was thus an intelligent one-stop card. He was extremely excited that its eventual launch had happened under the current leadership of the party. Chairman Ntim expressed hope and a firm conviction that this initiative would be embraced by all party members to enable the NPP have a comprehensive database of its membership globally. He added that the membership drive has become necessary in the party's bid to break the 8-year governance cycle. Lawyer Justin Kodua Frimpong, the General Secretary of the NPP, in his address, also noted some unique features of the new membership card including a QR code that would embed the personal details of the bearer. He explained that the card is non-renewable so long as the bearer remains a member of the NPP and stressed it is the first of its kind in the history of the New Patriotic Party. Lawyer Justin Kodua Frimpong implored all and prospective members of the party to visit their respective constituencies and polling stations for registration in accordance with Articles 3(1)(4) and 3(10) of the party constitution. He cautioned the executives not to be selective and prevent people from registering, stressing the registration is not for internal election purposes but for some strategic major political decisions. The President of the Republic, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who was the Special Guest of Honour for the occasion, commended the Ntim-Kodua-led party administration for this far-reaching initiative and also for the successful organization of the national launch. He empathized with Ghanaians on the current austerity occasioned by exogenous factors. The President, however, expressed a strong conviction that it would only take a New Patriotic Party government to salvage this country from this economic malaise and put the country back on the path of transformation and prosperity. He entreated Ghanaians to be confident in the NPP and register to become official members of the party. 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 view of Gibsons Landing from the top of Soames Hill, a short but steep hike on British Columbia's Sunshine Coast, is seen near the town of Grantham's Landing, B.C., on May 23, 2016. Some businesses and amenities on British Columbia's Sunshine Coast must stop using all treated drinking water within hours as severe drought in the region forces declaration of a state of local emergency, but officials say there's no need to panic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lauren Krugel Police block the road at the scene of a shooting where a suspect shot at officers in Toronto, on Tuesday, Oct 18, 2022. The Toronto Police Service says they have made an arrest after a suspect inside a home shot at officers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey On Monday, the 2022 World Series of Poker Online continued with Event #32: $10,000 NLH Super High Roller, a tournament that drew 41 players who rebought 11 times. The 52-entry field resulted in a $499,276 prize pool, and after over nine hours of play, it was Justin "Jsaliba2" Saliba who scored the victory to capture a $152,752 top prize and his second gold bracelet. Saliba, who defeated Jonathan "Art.Vandelay" Dokler in heads-up play, is a Vegas local with just over $1.2 million in live tournament earnings according to The Hendon Mob. Saliba is an online regular who's last big score was when he won a bracelet and $253,800 in the 2019 WSOP Online $5,300 NLH High Roller. He also placed second in this year's WSOP Circuit Online $2,000 No Limit Hold'em - Super High Roller 6-Max. Final Table Results Place Player Nationality Prize 1 Justin "Jsaliba2" Saliba United States $154,752 2 Jonathan "Art.Vandelay" Dokler United States $107,528 3 Matthew "booyastink" Wantman United States $72,384 4 Pete "PeteChen" Chen Taiwan $49,920 5 Dan "BackDoorDan" Smith United States $37,440 6 Brian "JR_Smith" Hastings United States $29,952 7 Yong Keun "LuckySpewy1" Kwon United States $24,960 8 Patrick "Just4Lolz" Kennedy United Kingdom $22,464 Final Table Action As there were only 8 places paid, the money and final table bubble busted after just under 6 hours of play when Aram "whatitdew" Oganyan shoved his pocket kings on the flop and was called by Brian "JR_Smith" Hastings and his 8-10 off-suit. Hastings was open-ended on the flop and hit his straight on the river to eliminate Oganyan and put the players in the money. It should be noted that the final table was made up of all former bracelet winners except for Matthew "booyastink" Wantman. The first casualty on the final table was Patrick "Just4Lolz" Kennedy when he shoved his ace-nine into Pete "PeteChen" Chens superior ace-jack. Kennedy could not improve and was therefore eliminated in 8th. Out in 7th was Yong Keun "LuckySpewy1" Kwon when he pushed the rest of his short stack in with queen-jack but soon found he was up against Saliba with pocket kings. The board put out both a queen and a jack for him, but he was counterfeited as the board was paired on the turn with fours. Six-time WSOP bracelet winner Hastings was sent to the rail in sixth when he ran his ace-jack into Wantman's ace-king and failed to get there. Next to go was Dan "BackDoorDan" Smith when he got it all in with ace-ten against Dokler's pocket jacks and was unable to improve so he was out in fifth. Chen was Dokler's next victim as he got it in with ace-seven but quickly realized he was in bad shape against Dokler's ace-king. The board provided no help for Chen and he was eliminated in 4th. Three-handed play lasted over an hour before Wantman put his stack in with king-ten against Saliba's ace-five. A five appeared on the board and that was all she wrote for Wantman as he was sent to the rail in third. Heads-up play lasted only a few hands until Saliba moved all in on the river with pocket tens on an eight-high board and Dokler tank-called with a pair of fives but was no good and was sent out as the runner-up. That's a wrap for this tournament as well as the WSOP.com bracelet events so PokerNews will see you at the next stop! Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Today, a jury acquitted the FBIs Russian analyst Igor Danchenko on four counts of making false statements to federal agents. He had been involved in investigating the Steele Dossier. As a result, Foxs Neil Cavuto spoke some hard truths to the hardened Fox viewers. The Durham investigation, one that went on far longer than the Mueller investigation, has essentially failed to deliver any sort of coordinated plot or plan. Instead, it examined a massive investigation in which, inevitably, a few mistakes were made, and those mistakes got elevated to criminal charges when the Special Prosecutor was expected to prosecute something and didnt have anything else. But it just didnt work well for Durham. From Cavuto, talking to a Fox reporter: You just have to wonder whether this could be Durhams swan song. This was something you know, there was great expectation here. And its just fizzled. Hang on. There were no great expectations on the Left. Democrats and independents never believed that there was some organized plot against Trump. We trust that the FBI, more often than not, is simply doing its job as well as it can. It is understood that the MAGAs had great expectations because, in their eyes, the Deep State spends every hour of every day conspiring how to get Trump. Not that Durhams imploding, I dont want to imply that, but that this whole case might be imploding, Yes. That often happens when there is no actual underlying conspiracy. But there is one thing everyone understands. When a special prosecutor is appointed, they are damn well going to prosecute someone. Amazing that Mueller secured all those convictions, most or all pardoned by Donald Trump, and Durham he fizzled, against great expectations. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print In Greg Abbotts Republican Texas, public schools sent kids home with a DNA kit so their parents could identify them after a mass shooting or other emergency. The state of Texas is sending public school students home with DNA kits designed to help their parents identify their children in case of an emergency.' Today reported. After the mass shooting in Uvalde, the kits are making many parents feel even more anxious about sending their children to school, they open. The kits are for K-8 level, and for the purpose of: if law enforcement were to need help finding a missing or trafficked child, or identifying victims of mass shootings, Reform Austin reported. Furthermore: When you put it in the light of Uvalde, its one of the most macabre things you could think about, said Bob Sanborn, president of the nonprofit Children at Risk. Parents of the children killed at Robb Elementary had to provide DNA samples to help identify their slain children, due to the amount of bodily harm done by the AR-style rifle used in the massacre. A Uvalde student was just arrested Monday evening after making a shooting threat, a mere four plus months after the May 24th massacre that killed 19 students and 2 teachers. Responses have not been positive. We should just start issuing all our students dog tags so we can identify their bodies if theyre killed in battle, I mean, recess. Julia A. Pulver, MSN, RN, CCM (@VotePulver) October 18, 2022 Its like sending kids into D-Day. PMG (@pmginmyhead) October 18, 2022 Instead of trying to keep guns out of the hands of minors and backing common sense background checks, Republicans actually responded to the mass shootings in El Paso and Odessa that took the lives of 30 people by loosening gun restrictions. : Confronted with mass shootings, Texas Republicans have repeatedly loosened gun laws Gov. Greg Abbott and other Republican leaders signaled an openness to some gun restrictions after recent mass shootings. But in the last several years, lawmakers have eased gun laws, most notably by passing a permitless carry bill last year. Thats how we got to this place where parents are being sent DNA kits so they can identify their kids. Republicans are running on being the party of parents. So naturally, one of their platforms is making sure kids are not safe at school because they fetishize guns to the degree that any political terrorist group might. Because guns = power to Republicans. Not in a democracy, of course, but thats something they hope to change. If you get rid of the democracy and the law doesnt work anymore, the guns win. So children being slaughtered is just more acceptable to them collateral damage in the relentless Republican power grab. Republicans are on board with gun manufacturers having more rights than kids do and of course more rights than women or girls. The dehumanization of children should be a wake-up call for our country. This is yet another test of how much the people will allow Republicans to get away with, as they continue their autocratization of our formerly free country. Its way past time to ask ourselves: Who does this? And if they do this to children, what else might they do? What else would be acceptable to this party, since murdering children is something they have sought to make EASIER and their base are fine with? And lastly, where is the pro-life agenda we keep hearing so much about? Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print In evaluating Tuesday nights debate between Marco Rubio and Val Demmings, the first thing that stood out was Val Demmings strength, command of facts, moral authority, and passion for the issues dominating the day. And while the buzz on Twitter and with the Morning Joe crew has focused more on Rubios passive and nervous approach, it is critical to note that he faced an extremely skilled and prepared opponent. But it is difficult to picture Rubio doing worse. That is an amazing statement, given this was a man who did have promise (early) as a moderate who was going to fix immigration and might ascend to the top of a Republican ticket. Joe dove right in. The video is below: Marco Rubio most likely will win, it could be a tight race well see how it goes, Florida has been trending Republican, obviously, strongly in 2020, but Val Demings did a very good job last night. Ive got to say, and this is where I wish I could ask [NBC News correspondent] Mark Caputo this, but hes a reporter and cant really answer it. [Im] getting a lot of phone calls people seeing the debate saying, this Marco Rubio. Everybody I talked to said something happened to him in 2016, like Donald Trump happened to him, got into his head, and he just never recovered. Quote continues below tweet: Damn. Val Demings is done with Marco Rubio. pic.twitter.com/TWyqrm3GRx No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@NoLieWithBTC) October 18, 2022 He seemed off balance last night, he would have pat answers the Second Amendment right if you take guns away from people only criminals just these pat answers you would hear somebody in a middle-school debate make where they were pretending to be in a Senate debate, He seemed shrill, and he seemed sophomoric, he seemed sweaty. I just dont know that he ever recovered from Donald Trump in 2016 beating him as badly as he did in Florida. He looked like he wished he could be anywhere else. There was a point in the debate where Rubio said that in ten years in Congress, Demmings had never passed a bill. Demmings took control of the entire debate calmly and quietly, saying that there was a point in time when she couldnt imagine Marco Rubio lying. She looked sad. She sounded disappointed. Rubio slunk down as Demmings talked about a law-enforcement bill that helped local police and sheriffs. Rubio never looked weaker. Demmings had a presence, the only leader on stage. Continues below: Straight FIRE from Val Demings. ELECT THIS WOMAN. pic.twitter.com/mwXF0XgMO0 BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) October 18, 2022 Whether Donald Trump got in Rubios head? It is far more likely that the MAGA movement is in Rubios head, and he hates himself for going along with this. Rubio is more cerebral than most on the MAGA right. He is not heartless. And the son of Cuban immigrants who were not American citizens when Rubio was born has to swallow hard every time he hears about immigrants ruining the country. It would be hard for Donald Trump to have devastated Rubio personally, but its entirely possible that Rubios shadow of himself existence right now is more easily ascribed to being repulsed by what hes forced to accept as his group. Video of Joe below. Val Demings hammered Marco Rubio tonight after he said he wouldnt support a ban on assault weapons for people under 21: You made promises that you had no intentions of keeping to the parents of Parkland. pic.twitter.com/0zlPajJequ Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) October 18, 2022 It didnt have to play out this way. As Joe said in finishing: Marco Rubio once seen as the future of the Republican Party. A Time Magazine cover talking about him being the future of the Republican Party, and what I saw last night was just a shadow of that guy. He will still likely win but its surely closer this morning than it was yesterday. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print If you were wondering why the media is suddenly telling you that Americans care more about crime than they do their own right to live, we have the answer. If you guessed Republicans, Fox News, and a complicit mainstream media, you win this Lose Your Democracy Bingo game. A new study by Matt Gertz at Media Matters showed that Fox hosts turned crime into a political cudgel against Democrats in recent weeks (my bold): Fox News prime-time shows featured discussion of violent crime in more than 1 out of every 9 segments over the last few months, according to a Media Matters review. The networks stars are telling their viewers that Democrats are to blame for rising crime as they seek to leverage the bogus narrative to help Republicans triumph in the midterm elections. Fox star Tucker Carlson advised Republican politicians during an August 19 monologue to focus on law and order in order to create a red wave in the fall. He urged GOP candidates to run ads featuring viral footage of crimes and provided them with a political message: Joe Bidens DOJ has done nothing to stop the crime wave and so it is accelerating everywhere. The GOPs candidates and admakers listened; within weeks, the party turned crime into a central message of its TV advertisements. We have seen those ads here in Pennsylvania running against John Fetterman. The ads are inaccurate, but that isnt being factchecked by the media reporting this sudden uptick in concern over crime. (Nor is the fact that the Republican Party is literally led by a man accused of innumerable crimes, running the gamut from sexual assault to fraud to an attack against his own country). The ads are so relentless because Fetterman is so popular and the Republican candidate is not even from Pennsylvania but worse yet, Trump Republicans do not trust Mehmet Oz. So Republicans needed a last minute Bogeyman, which has been their go-to for decades now, and it was crime. Its working, if we are to believe recent polls (there are many reasons not to believe this latest hot take on how Americans really dont care about if women can live, because crime). But the pounding has eroded two-ish points off of Fettermans lead in what it seems likely was Republicans and Independents who were thinking Fetterman was a better choice than Oz and now maybe dont want to vote for anyone or maybe will hold their nose and vote for Oz. The Media Matters article details many reasons why this crime concern is largely disconnected from the realities of American criminal justice policy, including: Murders rose roughly equally in cities run by Republicans and cities run by Democrats, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, while so-called red states actually saw some of the highest murder rates of all. They went through the dishonesty of the defund the police attacks and the irony that it was Trump whose budgets defunded the police, while President Biden actually increased funding for police, and Republicans opposed that funding because it was in the American Rescue Plan, which helped people. OK, so Fox has been banging on about crime being the fault of Democrats for almost two months now, but how did it get into the mainstream media? A Columbia Journalism Review Harvard study published in March of 2017 showed how effectively Right wing media influenced the broader media agenda: This pro-Trump media sphere appears to have not only successfully set the agenda for the conservative media sphere, but also strongly influenced the broader media agenda, in particular coverage of Hillary Clinton. Furthermore, While concerns about political and media polarization online are longstanding, our study suggests that polarization was asymmetric. Pro-Clinton audiences were highly attentive to traditional media outlets, which continued to be the most prominent outlets across the public sphere, alongside more left-oriented online sites. But pro-Trump audiences paid the majority of their attention to polarized outlets that have developed recently, many of them only since the 2008 election season. First of all, if you look at their graphic, you can see this site and that our readers regularly visit traditional media sources (this is a good thing, or at least it should be) and second of all, you are probably wondering why if liberals tend to read legacy media and watch CNN more than conservatives, why are media companies chasing conservative eyeballs even more now? They want the money, and to get it, they are willing to be a part of the death of this democracy by doing more Hillary emails conspiracies that conservatives click on. Heres a good thread on this whole media thought process and where its going to land us: So while new outlets like Semafor *say* were going to be fair & transparent & nonpartisan & that will serve to bring some conservative viewers back, in *practice* they will do her emails shit & run fascist opinion columns David Roberts (@drvolts) October 19, 2022 And why? As I have been writing about for years now, conservatives live in an epistemic bubble to such a protected extent that when I speak casually with Trump supporters where I live, I often have no idea what theyre talking about, even though I pay attention to the news all day long. Because what they are talking about is often not even real. What no one really wants to grapple with directly is that the crisis of journalism, and the larger epistemic crisis this country is suffering, is primarily about millions of conservatives being trapped in a bubble of lies, delusions, & conspiracy theories. David Roberts (@drvolts) October 19, 2022 So this is how we have a media bending over even MORE to accommodate known conspiracy theorists, liars, and people spreading hate as we face the biggest threat to our democracy since the Civil War. (It should be noted that by conservatives we are referring to the conspiracy-oriented, pro 1/6 terrorism and anti-votes that dont go their way Right, not your grandparents who felt strongly about a balanced budget.) When the talking heads on TV mention crime, do they fact-check the notion that Republicans are automatically seen as stronger on crime? Do they mention that the Republican Party is operating like organized crime? Do they mention the attacks the Republican Party endorsed, encouraged, and defended on law enforcement at the U.S. Capitol? Do they mention who actually funded the police? Do they mention the actual crime rates in red areas? For the most part, they do none of the above. Context is dropped in favor of following Foxs lead, which then feeds the Republican agenda by leading people to think about crime and blame Democrats, and then the media can double down on the reporting by reporting that people now cite this as a top concern. Gee, wonder where that concern with the mischaracterized solution came from. The crime is more important than abortion story is a lie that started at Fox News and mainstream media pushed without enough/any context. Fox did it deliberately to help Republicans. Our media outlets know that they got caught being led around by the nose by conservatives, which is partly how we got Trump and what are they doing now? Bending over even more for conservatives as conservatives push the United States further into democratic backsliding and take lessons on how to steal power from an autocrat. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print A federal judge has ruled that John Eastman must turn over more documents to the 1/6 Committee that including Trump knowingly signing a false voter fraud claim. Kyle Cheney of Politico tweeted: NEWS: A federal judge has ordered several more of John EASTMAN's emails disclosed to the Jan. 6 select committee, saying they're subject to disclosure under the crime-fraud exception to attorney-client privilege. Details TK Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) October 19, 2022 Federal Court Rules Evidence Of Trump Conspiracy To Defraud The US Be Turned Over To The 1/6 Committee The court ruled: President Trump and his attorneys ultimately filed the complaint with the same inaccurate numbers without rectifying, clarifying, or otherwise changing them. President Trump, moreover, signed a verification swearing under oath that the incorporated, inaccurate numbers are true and correct or believed to be true and correct to the best of his knowledge and belief. The emails show that President Trump knew that the specific numbers of voter fraud were wrong but continued to tout those numbers, both in court and to the public. The Court finds that these emails are sufficiently related to and in furtherance of a conspiracy to defraud the United States. Accordingly, the Court ORDERS Dr. Eastman to disclose these four communications to the Select Committee. Donald Trump knowingly signed a sworn legal statement that he knew contained false information about voter fraud. Trumps statement is evidence of fraud because the emails prove that the former president knew that the statement that he was signing was false. The emails that are being turned over to the 1/6 Committee are those that John Eastman fought the hardest to keep secret. The 1/6 Committee will be getting evidence that Donald Trump engaged in a criminal conspiracy to defraud the United States. Trump committed a crime against the country, and the 1/6 Committee will make sure that the Justice Department has access to this evidence. You are the owner of this article. She's been around the world more than a few times, with a background that includes 17 years as an airline stewardess, and Gisela Sirrenberg is pleased to have landed in Aiken, where she's largely known as an instructor at Aiken Center for the Arts. She's also the creative force behind an exhibit on display through Oct. 20 at the arts center. "I do acrylic and resin pouring ... It's a process of mixing acrylic paints with Floetrol," she said, referring to a latex-based paint additive often used by house painters for special effects. "My specialty is, I put a coat of resin over it, and that gives it a very high gloss, and you can insert all kinds of little objects, like I love to put crystals in it, which stick to the canvas, also crystals or all kinds of stones or seashells. You name it. You can do so many different things." The concept of "many different things" applies easily to Sirrenberg. A native of Germany, she grew up in the Dusseldorf area and set a course that would make her fluent in three languages. In high school, she took a year off from traditional studies and advanced her education at a private academy in Bournemoth, a town in south-central England. Later years found her studying in Spain, earning a degree in Spanish from the University of Barcelona. "When I was 21, I started to work for the airline, as a flight attendant, so I flew for Lufthansa for 17 years, and then traveled all over the world. I was on long-range 15 out of those 17 years, so I got to see the world and I got many different impressions and ... had a wonderful time," she recalled. Many miles later, she moved to the U.S. in 1983 and wound up touching down in Aiken around 2004-05, having experienced life in a variety of locales around the eastern U.S. "My husband was a horse trainer for carriage horses, and that's how we came to America," she said, sharing some memories of Walter Karl Sirrenberg, a German native who died in 2015. "He sold his last, very successful team of horses to a guy in America, and he didn't know how to handle them, so we came with them, and I've been in the country now for 40 years ... When we finally came to Aiken, I said, 'This is it. I'm not moving anymore. I love this place, and we're staying here.'" "I dropped all my horsey things and went into the arts ... late in my life, actually. I now also teach my techniques and stuff at the arts center." Her techniques in working with acrylic and resin came with help from a relatively modern resource, after the idea of "pouring your paint" came to her attention. "I said, 'Well, that sounds interesting,' and then I did some research on YouTube, and that's where I basically learned all the different techniques, so there was nobody around to show me except for YouTube, so I taught myself, and that's how I ended up with this." A promotional story about the current exhibition noted that Sirrenberg "uses pouring techniques to create bold compositions with unlimited color relationships and color patterns," and her partner in the exhibit, Barbara Stewart, "uses oils to capture the illusive magic of nature." Town and County officials joined Moncks Corner community members on Nov. 21 at the East Main Street Regional Recreation Complex in witnessing Home Telecom CEO Will Helmly officially usher in a new Miracle League Field. The ceremony was followed by athletes of all abilities gathering to play Read moreDo you believe in miracles?: Moncks Corner celebrates the ribbon-cutting of the Home Telecom Miracle League Field The Charleston-area's newest Chick-fil-A is ready to welcome customers. The Atlanta-based restaurant chain will open at 1726 State Road on an outparcel at the Publix-anchored Market at Cane Bay Shopping Center in Berkeley County on Oct. 20. The restaurant will be open 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Saturday for dine-in, multi-lane drive-thru and carry-out service. Contactless ordering and payment are available through the restaurant's app. Instead of the chain's traditional giveaways to the first 100 people in line during the grand opening, Chick-fil-A has identified 100 local heroes making an impact in the Cane Bay/Summerville area and will surprise them with free meals for a year. The company also has partnered with Feeding America and will donate $25,000 to a local food bank to help fight hunger. The franchise owner and operator is Nadia Matson,a Ukraine native who immigrated to the United States with her family when she was 1 year old. Growing up, she worked as a cashier at her parents food store, learning the ins and outs of a small business and the importance of servant leadership and hospitality. When her parents sold the store during her high school years, Matson went to work at Chick-fil-A and began her 16-year journey with the company. She later received a college scholarship from the company and graduated in 2011. During the next 27 months, she lived and worked in several states before becoming operator of the restaurant in Northwoods Mall in North Charleston. For the past four years, she has lived with husband Jonathan in Cane Bay. She now oversees 120 full- and part-time employees at the new restaurant. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to grow as a leader during my years at Chick-fil-A," Matson said. "I am passionate about creating professional development opportunities for my team members to thrive." The Cane Bay restaurant is the company's 19th in the Charleston area. Eyes have it A second Eyemart Express retail shop is now open in the Charleston area. The new eyewear store recently opened at 210 Azalea Square Blvd. in Summerville. The manager is Melissa Bryant. The other Lowcountry location, which welcomed customers in January, is at 7818 Rivers Ave. in North Charleston. The Texas-based company now has 10 storefronts in South Carolina. New location A longtime women's clothing store has moved off the Charleston peninsula and across the river. Ellington recently relocated to 1722 Ashley River Road in West Ashley after most recently welcoming customers at 24 State St. for several years and 473 King St. before that. The shop, owned by Cindy Gaetke, opened just over 26 years ago, offering personalized styling and service. It carries brands such as Planet and Emmelle and European and Israeli designers such as Gershon Bram and Bitte Kai Rand. Vintage market Lowcountry vintage shops and sellers will take over The Refinerys outdoor space on Oct. 22 for the Charleston Vintage Market. The market is free and open to the public, with kids and dogs welcome. DJ Dolla Menu will provide music, Bangin Vegan Eats and Blackout Burger will offer bites, and The Whale and Sweet Grass Vodka, both located in The Refinery, will have drinks available. The event is set for 1-6 p.m. at 1640 Meeting Street Road. Also at the Refinery, Sweet Grass Vodka will host its grand opening at 6-11 p.m. Oct. 28 Corey Smith and DJ Cloud will offer music while the vodka maker will be selling cocktails. Food will be available for purchase as well. Look for activities such as axe throwing, photo booths and a cigar bar. Since the event, originally scheduled for Oct. 1 but postponed because of Hurricane Ian, is on Halloween weekend, a costume contest has been added to the lineup of events. General admission will be charged and a limited number of VIP tickets are available at tinyurl.com/3ddrcw2j. Art in the exhibition "Flight" at the Aiken-Rhett House Museum explores the role of enslaved people in 19th Century Charleston and tells the story of some of their escapes from bondage. Provided COLUMBIA Businesses will be able to apply for funding to help cover the cost of installing a grease trap after City Council unanimously approved a rebate program. The program is the last in a series of initiatives City Council has passed that are meant to reduce the cost of starting a business. Grease traps, or grease interceptors, keep food grease from getting into the city's water system. They're required for places that sell food, but they can cost tens of thousands of dollars, which is prohibitive for many new business owners. South Carolina requires all public places that make food to have a grease trap. They keep grease from clogging sewer systems and creating backups. The rebate program, approved by council at its Oct. 18 meeting, will allow restaurant owners to recoup up to $10,000 to install a grease trap. It improves a previous program, which offered a $5,000 forgivable loan, by offering more money and making the funding a rebate, Councilman Joe Taylor said previously. A loan has a negative connotation, Taylor said at a Sept. 27 work session. A rebate has a positive connotation. The rebate will be funded through the city's hospitality tax, a 2 percent tax on restaurants. Because it's coming from future revenue, there's no cost to the city, Taylor said. In fact, it's meant to incentivize more business, thereby generating more hospitality taxes. It's the final business-friendly initiative proposed in June to go into place. City Council also passed an ordinance that would remove a requirement for businesses under 7,500 square feet to provide parking. Plus, council changed landscaping rules so business owners don't have to take out parking spaces to put in a required buffer. Columbia also removed its sewer capacity fees, which required businesses to pay for access to the wastewater grid. Under a revised action plan, the Economic Development Department is working to hire a recruiter to bring more investment into the city. Click here for more news from Columbia, S.C. A task force focused on paying Charleston County School District teachers more hopes to raise starting salaries by about $10,000. The districts starting annual pay for teachers with bachelors degrees is $43,150, which is more than the $40,000 salary floor set by the state budget this year. The task force says teachers need to earn more than that in order to afford to live in Charleston. The task force was formed in August amid teacher shortages and vacancies in South Carolina. Charleston started the school year with 34 teacher vacancies. Though that is less than 1 percent of the teaching workforce, it was the most Chief Human Resources Officer Bill Briggman had seen during his two decades with the district. More coverage To read more in-depth stories from The Post and Couriers Education Lab, go to postandcourier.com/education-lab. Teachers in Charleston have long complained that their pay has not kept up with the areas cost of living, and compensation has shown to be a significant detractor for people who are considering becoming teachers. The task force is made up of two dozen former and current educators, as well as other district staff. At some point, the community is going to really have to make a decision, Briggman said. When you look at the amount of people that are leaving the profession, somethings gotta give. During its meetings, the task force has heard presentations from housing specialists with the city, shared personal stories of struggle while living in Charleston on a teachers salary and debated whether to encourage people to become teachers while the pay is low. On Oct. 19, the task force met with Deputy Superintendent Anita Huggins to present its findings. The point of the meeting was to summarize the group's research, not to officially ask for the pay increase. The group had a similar meeting with Superintendent Don Kennedys Cabinet earlier this month. Sign up for our Education Lab newsletter. Email Sign Up! The task force is still deciding when to officially ask the district to raise teachers starting salaries to somewhere in the range of $50,000 to $58,000 annually. It would be a huge pay increase and could cost the district millions. More Information The Post and Courier Education Lab is a multi-year project, employing four reporters, focused on the need for public education reform in South Carolina. The Coastal Community Foundation and Spartanburg Foundation serve as fiscal sponsors for the Education Lab, which is supported by grants from the Jolley Foundation, Intertech, anonymous donors, and generous donations on behalf of donors to The Post and Courier Public Service and Investigative Fund who designate to the Education Lab. The group also is considering pushing the salary schedule out to 35 or 40 years. Recently, the CCSD board of trustees lengthened the step schedule to 30 years, which brought 19 three-decade CCSD veterans back to the district, Briggman said at the Sept. 13 task force meeting. They aren't stopping at raising teacher pay. The task force made clear at the meeting that quality of life improvements are also necessary to recruit more teachers to Charleston. Even if we get teachers to start at $54,000 or $58,000, theres a gap there for individuals to really be able to live in our community, Briggman said at the meeting. Even if there was money left in their pockets at the end of that pay period, it would be maybe enough to get their hair done for the month. Next, the group will create a timeline, figuring out what other quality-of-life improvements can be made for teachers in CCSD and asking current teachers to weigh in on the task forces priorities. "I'm gonna plug along no matter what," said Jason Brisini, a Wando High School teacher who serves on the task force. "But so many people, they just can't do it." The task force has big goals, he said, to match a big task recruiting and retaining educators in Charleston. This story is part of Tackling Teacher Shortages, a collaboration between AL.com, The Associated Press, The Christian Science Monitor, The Dallas Morning News, The Fresno Bee in California, The Hechinger Report, The Seattle Times and The Post and Courier in Charleston, South Carolina, with support from the Solutions Journalism Network. RUSSELLVILLE, Ala. As part of an exercise to help the class learn English, a third grader pulled a block from a Jenga tower and read aloud a question written on one side. Where, the boy read, then slowly sounded out the other words: Where would you like to visit? Disneyland, one student said. Space, another classmate chimed in. Guatemala, said a girl with a bright blue bow. Kathy Alfaro, a new English language teacher at Russellville Elementary, exchanged a few words with the girl in Spanish and then turned to the other students. Do yall know what she said? Alfaro asked the class. She said she has a lot of family in Guatemala because she was born there. And I told her that I was born here, but I also have a lot of family in Guatemala. This northern Alabama community with large numbers of Hispanic immigrants is using federal COVID-19 relief money for an experiment to serve students who are still learning English. They are hiring and certifying more local, Spanish-speaking staff, like Alfaro. She was previously a Spanish teacher, but took a new role teaching children the English language. More than half of 2,500 students in the small Russellville city school district identify as Hispanic or Latino, and about a quarter are still learning English known as EL students. But the district at times has struggled to find the people and money necessary to help EL students achieve. It typically takes five years of intensive, small-group instruction, on top of regular classes, to help a student learn English and perform well in a regular classroom. In addition to helping more local students succeed, Russellville aims to be a model for the rest of the country. We were trying to teach an increasing number of EL students with predominantly white teachers that speak English, said Superintendent Heath Grimes. And Im like, Why are we not using resources that we have in our community? As a group, English learners performed lower on language proficiency tests during the pandemic. Experts say that may be because many students lacked good access to online classes at home, or because schools struggled to transfer in-person EL help to remote environments. Russellville appears to be bucking that trend. Districtwide, the percentage of students who met their language proficiency goals increased from 46% in 2019 to 61% in 2022. At the two elementary schools, proficiency jumped by nearly 30 percentage points. Weve never seen a number like that before, said Grimes, who credits new EL teachers and aides for the boost. Sign up for our Education Lab newsletter. Email Sign Up! Some of the nations largest districts, according to the Education Trust, used pandemic relief money to hire bilingual staff. As federal aid money begins to run out and schools prepare for post-pandemic budget cuts, experts and advocates warn against reducing support for EL programs and other interventions. Our overreliance on federal funds and temporary funds potentially demonstrates that were not doing enough as a state already, said Carlos Aleman, director of the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama. As we see those dollars wind down, then the state should really reflect and review what it can do to make sure that these programs can remain in place. Russellville school officials are working on ways to sustain the new roles and holding out hope the state will boost long-term funding for EL education. State funding for English language programs is limited, but growing. The state legislature approved $2.9 million for schools with large EL populations in 2018, and that amount grew to $16 million last year. Leaders at the Alabama State Department of Education are asking for more room in this years budget for EL specialists and regional coordinators. We want to make sure that if students come to this country, if theyre not able to read, that they learn to read quickly and in English, state Superintendent Eric Mackey said. Were going to continue to invest in that, because its our belief that every child deserves a high-quality education. Advocates say money for EL students often falls short, especially in rural districts that struggle to fund schools. It takes a lot more money to educate a child that does not speak your language, said state Rep. Jamie Kiel, a Russellville Republican, who has called for putting more money toward EL students in the state budget. Alfaro is one of three EL staffers at her school. They join about 20 other EL educators, aides and translators in the district nearly half of whom are paid with COVID-19 relief money. At West Elementary across the street, Elizabeth Alonzo, who is in her second year as an EL aide, said she never expect to have such a role - mostly because there were few bilingual teachers in her school growing up, but also because she didnt think she had the qualifications. Alonzo is finishing coursework through a teacher training program called Reach University, which is contracting with an increasing number of Alabama districts to help certify more local staff. Whenever I started kindergarten, I didnt know a word of English, so I struggled a lot, she said, noting that an older cousin would often have to come to her class to translate what her teacher was saying. That was one of the reasons why I wanted to do this, because I want to help those students. Trisha Powell Crain contributed to this story. The Alabama Education Lab team at AL.com is supported through a partnership with Report for America. You have permission to edit this collection. Edit Close GEORGETOWN A Georgetown County man pleaded guilty Oct. 18 to charges stemming from a 2021 home invasion that left an Andrews man dead. Phillip Thomas Powers, 50, was sentenced to 30 years in prison on charges of voluntary manslaughter, 10 years for grand larceny and five years for conspiracy. The sentences will run concurrently. Powers also was ordered to pay $11,000 in restitution, according to Elizabeth Smith, the assistant solicitor for the 15th Circuit Solicitor's Office who prosecuted the case. The sentence resulted from a Feb. 10, 2021, incident that led to the death of William Butler II, 64, of Gapway Road, according to a Georgetown County Sheriff's Department release. Powers knew the victim, a Vietnam veteran and an avid Christian, would regularly attend church on Wednesday evenings and went to Butlers home to take items while no one was there. But when the burglary occurred, Butler had stayed home. He died of blunt force trauma. Georgetown County Sheriffs Office investigators gathered evidence that Powers entered the Butler home on a Wednesday evening, thinking the man and his wife would be at church. However, Butler decided to stay home. He was found dead of blunt force trauma, according to police. Police said that Butlers truck was stolen during the incident and later recovered in the Big Dam Swamp neighborhood of Andrews, burned to the frame. Joshua Dylan Leday, 26, of Andrews, was also arrested in connection with the 2021 home invasion and charged with murder, criminal conspiracy, burglary and grand larceny. Leday is still incarcerated in the Georgetown County Detention Center. Guns and jewelry stolen during the murder, along with other evidence, were recovered from both suspects homes, according to authorities. Investigators discovered that Powers had rented a small house from the Butlers and had done construction work inside their home as payment. We offer our sincere condolences to the Butler family and are thankful for the hard work by our team that resulted in justice, Sheriff Carter Weaver stated in the release. Unfortunately, there were not many leads in the beginning of the investigation. However, Agent McKay with the Georgetown County Sheriffs Office, was able to locate the stolen guns at the co-defendants house. This lead led law enforcement to Phillip Powers, Smith said in an Oct. 21 press release. After several months, this defendant did admit his involvement in the home invasion of the Bill Butler. It was with the support of the family that justice was able to be served in court. They have been active in the ongoing prosecution of this case. I would like to thank them for their support and faith in the system. I would also like to thank the GCSO for all their hard work. GEORGETOWN A sex offender long suspected of having ties to the 2009 disappearance of Brittanee Drexel will spend the rest of his life in prison after admitting to raping and killing the teen who went missing while visiting Myrtle Beach. Raymond Moody's guilt plea Oct. 19 ended an emotional 13-year mystery for Drexel's family, who addressed the court and the 62-year-old man who finally revealed his role in the notorious case. So many lives destroyed by your selfish actions, Drexels mother, Dawn Pleckan, said while standing a few feet from Moody in the Georgetown courtroom. Today, nobody wins. I hope you suffer in prison for the rest of your useless life. I have no regard for you, just like you had no regard for my daughters life. Moody apologized for killing Drexel as well as for raping a child under age 14 in California in the 1980s. He spent 20 years in prison for that prior conviction. I was a monster, Moody said. I was a monster then, and I was a monster when I took Brittanee Drexels life. I dont have the words to express how horrible I feel and Ive felt ever since that day. Im very, very sorry. Drexel's story became national news after the teen from Chili, N.Y., near Rochester, vanished from a hotel with few tips on her whereabouts. True-crime buffs speculated about what happened to the blonde teenager. Federal authorities once thought they had found a different suspect who was later cleared. The case turned when investigators used new technology to track Drexel's cell phone more than a decade after she disappeared, Chief Deputy 15th Circuit Solicitor Scott Hixson said in court. Prosecutors also got help from Moody's girlfriend, who recorded their conversations. Georgetown County sheriff's deputies arrested Moody on May 4, charging him with obstruction of justice and dating the crime to to the day in 2009 when Drexel disappeared. Nearly two weeks after his arrest, Drexel's remains were found in a wooded area near Georgetown. Moody was charged with murder, kidnapping and first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Unfortunately, we may never, never know exactly what happened that day because Ms. Drexel cant tell us that, Hixson said. Circuit Judge R. Ferrell Cothran Jr. sentenced Moody to life in prison for murder. Moody also received consecutive sentences totaling 60 years for criminal sexual conduct and kidnapping. I cant tell you how many times Ive seen people give up their long-term happiness for immediate pleasure, Cothran told Moody. You gave up a lot of people's long-term happiness for your immediate pleasure. Long road to solving mystery Drexel was last seen leaving the Blue Water Resort in Myrtle Beach on April 25, 2009, while on spring break. Searches over the years centered largely on Georgetown County and McClellanville in rural Charleston County, where a cell tower recorded her phone's last signal. After his arrest, Moody shared details of what happened with police officers and prosecutors. The one-time wood craftsman and his girlfriend, Angel Vause, picked up Drexel as she walked alone in Myrtle Beach. Moody drove to a campsite at Pole Yard Boat Landing, a spot near the North Santee River south of Georgetown where he liked to fish and spend the night. Vause left Moody and Drexel there to run an errand. After smoking marijuana, Moody said he hoped to have consensual sex with Drexel, Hixson said. When she resisted, he assaulted her. Moody said he strangled Drexel after he realized he could go to prison for his actions and later hid her body. When Vause returned, Moody told her that Drexel had left with friends. Moody returned alone in the middle of the night to move Drexels body. She was buried in a four-foot grave 10 miles north of the boat landing. Moody served half of a 40-year prison sentence in California for a 1983 conviction of raping a child under the age of 14. He was set free in 2004 after a psychiatrist determined he was no longer a threat to society. After being released from prison, Moody moved back into his parents house in the Kensington area of Georgetown in 2004. His return caused neighbors to raise concerns about the safety of their children living near a registered sex offender. They noted that his parents home was less than three blocks from a school. Moody said he had planned on staying elsewhere, but a landlord turned him away after running a background check. Then 44 and on house arrest with an ankle monitor, Moody told a reporter that he understood their fears but wished people would give him a chance. He insisted he would never hurt another child. I dont even have a thought of doing something like that again, he told the Georgetown Times in 2004. I wish people would have a little faith and not define others by what they have done in the past but by the type of person they are today. Myrtle Beach police named Moody a person of interest in the Drexel case in 2012, months after investigators searched his Georgetown-area apartment. No arrest came for another decade. I want to live for her As four members of Drexel's family read statements prior to his sentencing, Moody spent much of the time staring down at the table in front of him. The teen's relatives expressed their anger while sharing the pain her disappearance and death inflicted on her family. Every part of my being was saying, Do something about that, but my heart knows that I would not, and Brittanee would not, want me to go to jail over that, her father Chad Drexel told the court as he wept. Camden Drexel said he believes his sister, whom he described as his second mom, is still guiding him. Im going to school for film and TV and doing it for my sister, he said. So I want to live for her. Carol Wagner, Brittanees grandmother, read a prepared statement from Brittanees younger sister, Myrissa: You stole Brittanees life. So guess what? Now is the time that you get your life stolen from you. For the rest of your life, I hope you get to sit in (a) prison cell and endure all the pain, physically and mentally, that my sister endured during the last moments of her life. Moody conducted a television interview before heading to Columbia to report for prison. Georgetown County Sheriff Carter Weaver said he allowed the interview. Hes in my custody, and its my decision, Weaver said. The thought process is to gain as much information (as possible). Just like the questions thats been asked here by the media. You know, 'Whats next?' 'Whats Mr. Moody going to say next?' Well, this is one avenue well be able to find that out. Long, painful path to justice Moody's plea and sentencing also brought a sense of relief to Timothy DeShaun Taylor and his family from McClellanville. Before Moody emerged as a prime suspect in Drexels disappearance, the FBI in 2016 named Taylor as a potential suspect based on the testimony of an informant now serving time in state prison. The accusations included Drexel being sexually abused in a McClellanville stash house before being shot after trying to escape. The informant claimed her body was wrapped up and dropped in an alligator-infested pit. Taylor, who was never charged, attended Moodys hearing with his family. (The Drexel) family was forever changed with this tragic loss of Brittanees life, Taylors mother, Joan, told reporters. I also want to acknowledge that for my son and our family, this day simply continues our long and painful path to justice justice that so many families who like mine never see. Will we ever see it? Thats the question on my mind today. The FBIs field office in Columbia released a statement following Moodys sentencing. It did not mention Taylor. The service of justice through this sentencing will never completely alleviate the grief of losing Brittanee, but it is our hope it can help the family continue their healing and focus on cherished memories she left behind, Special Agent in Charge Susan Ferensic said. The Metropolitian Musuem of Art will showcase the Edgefield pottery exhibit at its Fifth Avenue location through Feb. 5, 2023. HILTON HEAD A South Carolina judge whose ties to disgraced attorney Alex Murdaugh have come under scrutiny is now defending her actions in a just-revealed 2017 incident in which she allegedly tried to orchestrate the improper arrest of a troubled man in her neighborhood. Circuit Judge Carmen Mullen pushed Beaufort County sheriff's deputies to arrest a former attorney who was making a scene in the gated community where she lives, according to a newly uncovered incident report from Dec. 7, 2017. Though deputies didn't consider the man a threat to public safety, Mullen suggested she could sign a warrant for his arrest, the report stated. The state judge even offered to arrange for the man to get a ride to a gas station where he was banned so deputies could arrest him for trespassing, according to the report. Deputies did not go along with the plan, the report noted. In an email sent to The Post and Courier and other outlets late Oct. 18, Mullen said she was trying to get psychiatric help for the man, a one-time lawyer named Ernest Lotito who was struggling with mental illness. The judge said she was worried that Lotito would come to harm, and that the Sheriffs Office report does not accurately capture what transpired that day. The allegation that I was somehow abusing my power as a judge, trying to have Ernie arrested for no reason, is ridiculous, she stated. We were simply trying to help him. In an Oct. 19 interview, Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner told The Post and Courier he doesn't doubt Mullen's concerns for Lotito's well-being and doesn't want to get into a dispute with the state judge. Still, he said, the deputy's "reflections in the report are accurate as to what occurred." The report was first unearthed by reporter Liz Farrell of the Murdaugh Murders podcast, and a copy was later obtained by The Post and Courier. Farrell said on an Oct. 19 episode of the podcasts Cup of Justice segment that the incident had long been rumored on the island but obtaining a report had proved elusive because the report misspelled Mullens name, referring to her as Judge Mullins. Mullen has come under fire in recent months after a pair of attorneys sounded alarms about her handling of a multimillion-dollar wrongful death settlement involving Alex Murdaugh, a disbarred Hampton attorney who now stands accused of stealing nearly $9 million from legal clients, his former law partners and others who trusted him. He also has been charged with murder in the June 2021 fatal shootings of his wife and son. First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe and attorney Eric Bland filed a formal complaint months ago with the state office that investigates judicial misconduct but have heard nothing since. Meanwhile, Mullen remains on the bench in South Carolinas southern 14th Circuit, where generations of Murdaugh attorneys ran a high-powered law firm and served as the areas top prosecutor. Bland, a regular on "Cup of Justice," said on the podcast that he was troubled by the details contained in the Beaufort County report and questioned why the judge chose to insert herself in the 2017 incident. When contacted by The Post and Courier, he declined to say whether he would be forwarding this case to the state's judicial watchdog, as well. The judge intervenes According to the Sheriff's Office report, the Dec. 7, 2017, incident played out this way: Deputies went to a Port Royal Drive home around 5:20 p.m. that day after a resident contacted security asking for help removing a man from her property. The deputy arrived to find Lotito talking on a phone in the driveway. The deputy noted that Lotito "appeared to be a mental subject, but was not a threat." The resident told a deputy she had allowed Lotito to stay at the home but she no longer wanted him there. The deputy advised her of eviction proceedings, and she responded that she had already begun that process. A security officer then told deputies that "Judge Mullins" was outside and wanted to speak with a deputy. The judge, who lives in the area, told a deputy that she was "very familiar" with Lotito and had tried to help him in court in the past. She asked what could be done to remove him from the property, and a deputy recommended eviction proceedings. "Judge Mullins advised we need to find something to arrest Lotito with and remove him," the deputy wrote, noting that he notified his supervisor of her request. The judge then told the deputy about a trespass order filed against Lotito by a Beaufort gas station. "Judge Mullins said she'll find him a ride to that gas station and then call deputies to arrest Lotito," the report states. The resident told the judge she had a pending breach of trust complaint against Lotito that was being investigated by a detective. When the deputy told the judge he would have to present that case to a local magistrate for consideration, Mullen reportedly replied that she "signs warrants all the time and she would sign the warrant." The deputy conferred with his supervisor a second time and informed the judge they had been told to leave the scene and let the detective handle the breach of trust case the following day. The deputy noted that the judge was cordial with officers. Breaking her silence Mullen, who was first elected to the bench in 2006, has remained silent for months about the previous complaints against her, ignoring repeated requests for comment. On this occasion, however, she insisted she was acting in the best interests of Lotito, a former Hilton Head attorney who worked for her husband for less than a year in 1991 and has known her husband for more than 30 years. She said Lotito has struggled in the past and was placed on disability inactive status by the South Carolina Supreme Court in 1995 due to mental illness. The high court's order from April 1995 does not specifically mention Lotito's illness but states that he "is incapacitated and unable to continue with the practice of law." In October 2016, Lotito was charged with threatening to bomb a Hilton Head Island business and shoot an employee with a sniper rifle, according to a report in The Island Packet. Those charges were later dismissed, state court records show. In her emailed statement, Mullen said she was driving home with her daughter on Dec. 7, 2017, when she saw emergency vehicles outside the home where Lotito was staying. She dropped off her daughter and she drove to the home with her husband "to make sure the responding officers knew Ernie was mentally ill so they would not hurt him," she said. It soon became clear that Lotito was having a psychotic episode and was acting delusional, "talking incoherently and becoming increasingly agitated," Mullen said. "We were asking the deputies to take him to a hospital because he clearly needed psychiatric treatment," she said. When the deputies indicated they could do nothing, Mullen said her husband called a man, who took Lotito to an area hotel to stay. Two days later, Lotito was taken to a mental health facility in Myrtle Beach, she said. In her written statement, Mullen did not directly address whether she had tried to get deputies to arrest Lotito that night on various pretenses. She offered that "the sheriff's report does not accurately relay the conversations that occurred that night over an approximately 30 minute exchange in which my husband and I were deeply concerned about Ernie's behavior and his well-being." Tanner, the Beaufort County sheriff, said the report was an accurate account of what the deputy observed while responding to that call. "We're not in any way disputing Judge Mullen's concern for his health and well-being because it is evident her and her husband were trying to help him," Tanner said. Lotito, 58, could not be reached for comment through known phone numbers and an email. In April 2018, he was indicted by federal authorities for allegedly threatening to kill then-President Donald Trump with a sniper rifle. He was later found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to a psychiatric facility, federal court records show. The court ordered he be released from the facility in November 2020. Mullen said Lotito called her husband a few months ago to say he was living in Charleston at a halfway house, had a job and was doing well. Bland told The Post and Courier he doesn't question Mullen's intent and desire to get the man psychiatric treatment, but "signing arrest warrants and possibly taking him to a gas station and getting him arrested there just doesn't seem like the right way to do it." "Maybe her intentions were well and also her motivations, but it's the appearance of impropriety that judges and lawyers must always guard against. If this happened in the way the officer (said) it did, it creates the appearance of impropriety," Bland stated in a text message. Pascoe, the solicitor, said he will leave it to the state Supreme Court and judicial oversight officials to pass judgment on Mullen's conduct. But if the report is true, he said, its a solid teaching moment for young law enforcement officers to reach out to a supervisor or prosecutor "if someone of power asks you to do something that, deep down, makes you feel uncomfortable." "Because if a police officer manufactures a charge on anyone to create an arrest, that officer will most likely be prosecuted," Pascoe said. "You cant manufacture a charge, no matter your intentions. This is a good teaching moment. The deputy responded correctly. In March, Pascoe joined Bland in complaining about Mullen to the states Office of Disciplinary Counsel, which investigates misconduct by lawyers and judges. Pascoe noted Mullen had recused herself without explanation in April 2019 from a wrongful death lawsuit filed against Murdaugh and his family by the parents of 19-year-old Mallory Beach. The teen had been killed that year when the Murdaugh family boat crashed into a bridge piling in Beaufort County. Murdaughs son Paul was allegedly at the helm and drunk at the time. Yet a month after her recusal, Mullen signed off on a $4.3 million settlement between Murdaugh and the family of Gloria Satterfield, Murdaughs late housekeeper who died after a trip and fall at his Colleton County home. Pascoes complaint cited the recent sworn deposition of former Palmetto State Bank Vice President Chad Westendorf, who served as personal representative for Satterfields estate in that case. Westendorf testified that Mullen agreed to a plan to keep that payout hidden so that it wouldnt be discovered by attorneys in the Beach boat crash case. In his complaint, Pascoe alleged Mullen used her position to help Murdaugh hide details of his finances and insurance coverage from opposing attorneys in an ongoing lawsuit. He claimed her pattern of alleged conduct threatens to erode public trust in our judiciary. Avery G. Wilks contributed to this report from Columbia. NORTH CHARLESTON A third suspect in a drive-by shooting that killed one man and injured two others, including a North Charleston rapper, was arrested earlier this month in Mexico, police officials say. Anthony Williams-Dupree was jailed Oct. 19 in Harris County, Texas, where he awaits extradition to South Carolina on charges of murder, attempted murder and weapon possession. Williams-Dupree, 20, was arrested by Mexican authorities and turned over to the U.S. Marshals Service, North Charleston Police Deputy Chief Ken Hagge said. Williams-Dupree is one of three defendants charged in the Oct. 5 drive-by shooting that killed Dominique B. Whitehead. The other defendants are Avery Adams, 23, and J'Von Sh'Mar Rhodes, 19. Officers were dispatched around 2:15 p.m. Oct. 5 for reports several people were struck by gunfire outside a residence near Peppertree and Hunters Ridge lanes, according to arrest warrant affidavits. Three people were shot at the scene one fatally. Surveillance footage showed a dark-colored Nissan Pathfinder SUV circling the block before its passengers opened fire on the victims, the affidavits state. Approximately 33 rounds were fired before the vehicle sped away on Ashley Phosphate Road. Officers found .40-caliber and 7.62 mm shell casings at the scene. The suspect SUV was seen on surveillance footage parking outside a motel only a few miles away on Ashley Phosphate Road, the affidavits state. Adams, identified as a guest at the motel, is seen in the video exiting the SUV wearing an orange Chicago Bulls hoodie. One of the shooters wore a similar-colored top, according to the affidavits. Whitehead, 29, was pronounced dead at the scene. One of the two surviving victims was Delshone Waiters, a local rapper better known as "5hystLord." Waiters appeared in a video uploaded to YouTube only four days after the shooting. With White gauze wrapped around his head and bandages dotting his arms, he tells an interviewer, "I've been shot at plenty of times." "That's the first time that (expletive) penetrate, though," he says. Later on in the video, he pulls up his Nike tee to reveal more gauze taped to his chest. He tells the cameraman he's "the real grim reaper." Waiters, 24, did not respond Oct. 19 to an email seeking comment. Adams and Rhodes were both held without bail Oct. 19 at the Dorchester County jail. Williams-Dupree has an Oct. 25 court date in Harris County, according to jail records. One day soon, somebody on Johns Island could get very rich by annexing into North Charleston. Well, depending on the outcome of a lawsuit or two. Charleston and North Charleston squared off last week in the South Carolina Court of Appeals, which is just the latest stop in their five-year annexation battle over some West Ashley land off Highway 61. The case (technically cases) is a lot of legal mumbo jumbo anyone know the Latin term for cluster? but the stakes are clear: This is all about the future of traffic and flooding in outer West Ashley. Perhaps even more importantly, it also could determine whether the urban growth boundary can actually limit growth in the most rural parts of Charleston County. All this started five years ago, when North Charleston got a request to annex some property, known as the Whitfield tract, just outside the Charleston city limits. Basically, its about 2,200 acres of forest off 61 out near Shadowmoss and Village Green. The owner wants to sell the land to a developer and needs North Charleston to do it. See, the Charleston County urban growth boundary lies just past Village Green and severely limits the size and scope of any development beyond it. The county and city of Charleston created the urban growth boundary decades ago to limit development in rural areas. But North Charleston was never part of the agreement and isnt bound by its zoning requirements. Which means if that property is annexed into North Charleston, a developer could build hundreds more houses on the land than if its part of the unincorporated county or city of Charleston. See where this is going? For the land owner, North Charleston = gold mine, Charleston = nevermind. Charleston tried to block this by annexing the land before North Charleston. City of Charleston officials warn its development would monumentally increase Church Creek Basin flooding and perpetually jam Highway 61 with commuter traffic. Charleston began its annexation first, but North Charleston finished first. Thats one of the legal disputes. The bigger argument is how municipalities are allowed to expand their borders, and the legal definitions of adjacent and contiguous. This has been a long time coming. In 2005, North Charleston first jumped the Ashley River to annex Watson Hill outside of Summerville which neither Charleston nor Summerville appreciated. They both wanted little or no development there. Charleston countered by annexing a strip of land 100 feet wide and two miles long that runs between Highway 61 and the Whitfield tract. That land a gift from Georgia-Pacific and The Nature Conservancy to the National Trust for Historic Preservation more than 40 years ago was a buffer to prevent development near the plantations. And Charlestons annexation was specifically meant to keep North Charleston from getting to the Whitfield land. But five years ago, the landowners gave North Charleston a separate one-acre parcel on the river side of the highway. North Charleston attorneys describe that property as adjacent to the larger tract, and say it gives them the ability to annex the rest of the Whitfield land. Charleston attorneys argue the properties aren't contiguous, and anyway, North Charleston cant simply jump over Charlestons border. In some ways, North Charleston is just doing what many cities do growing to survive. And frankly, Charleston started all this by jumping the river into West Ashley in the 1950s, and over to Daniel Island in the 1990s. Trouble is, if North Charleston prevails, it could change not only how state law is interpreted, but the character of the countys southernmost reaches. Because if one city can jump another ones borders, and North Charleston gets the Whitfield land, theres nothing to stop it from eventually expanding into Ravenel, Hollywood or Johns Island. And since North Charleston doesnt recognize the urban growth boundary, it can allow any sort of development it wants in those places. Not that North Charleston is reckless in its development, it's just been more permissive than Charleston. Attorneys for the two cities presented their cases to the S.C. Court of Appeals last week, but given the docket backlog, it could be months or a year before theres a verdict. And no matter who prevails, the other side will almost certainly appeal to the state Supreme Court. So this doesnt get settled anytime soon. And since it isnt people calling each other names, it doesnt get a lot of attention. But this is much more important than a culture war; it could change the countys entire culture. Depending on what happens, Highway 61 could get even busier, and Shadowmoss could flood even more than it already does. And who knows? One day it could lead to Tanger Outlet Mall II sitting outside of Westcott Plantation II just off the Betsy Kerrison Parkway. COLUMBIA Whether South Carolina legislators have absolute authority in deciding personal privacy rights and where their policies might cross the line into constitutional violations are questions central to the fate of not only the state's existing abortion ban but the possibility of further restrictions. S.C. Supreme Court justices peppered attorneys for abortion providers and lawmakers for several hours Oct. 19 as they weighed whether to allow or nullify a ban on abortions at roughly six weeks into a pregnancy. There is no timeline for when the justices, who suspended the law in mid-August, will issue their ruling. Chief Justice Don Beatty said only that they generally try to resolve such serious questions of law promptly. "It will not be based on politics or cultural differences," he said in conclusion. "It will be based purely on what the law says." Both sides walked away from the sometimes-combative hearing optimistic their arguments will prevail. "The upshot is that right now, abortion remains safe and legal in South Carolina, and we hope it stays that way," Planned Parenthood attorney Julie Murray told reporters afterward. Justices scolded both sides for not giving clear answers. At times they seemed to be helping them make their case, as they interrupted the attorneys as well as each other. Amid back-and-forth over voters' understanding of a 1970 referendum that inserted the privacy clause and what lawmakers intended it to encompass, Justice Kaye Hearn told Murray to focus on a single word. The question, Hearn said, is whether a six-week ban is an "unreasonable" invasion of privacy. "It seems to me your best argument should be that this can't be reasonable since it comes at a time when most women, or many women, would not even know they're pregnant, let alone have enough time if they thought they might be able to get an appointment to confirm it," said Hearn, the lone female on the five-member court. "Isn't that a strong argument?" As her male colleagues sought specific data on when women do know, Hearn interjected again on why that's not easily answered. "Age can have a huge difference. As women, we know that young women have very fluctuating periods," she said, as Murray agreed. "Your ability to access pregnancy tests, information about pregnancy, the economic impact, your socioeconomic status certainly is important here. It's true affluent, older women may well know they're pregnant by six weeks because they're trying to get pregnant and are monitoring it." Attorney Kevin Hall, representing the GOP legislative leaders, told justices it's not their role to set policy. "As soon as we start talking about what's reasonable and where's the line," he said, "that's what my clients do." He argued the privacy clause pertained only to searches and seizures, and that lawmakers at the time wanted to guard against government surveillance. Questions repeatedly turned to a 1993 high court ruling in which justices cited the privacy clause in deciding prison officials could not force a death row inmate to take medication to make him competent for execution. That inmate, Fred Singleton, remains on death row, four decades after his conviction. Hall and other attorneys for the state contend justices wouldn't be reversing precedent by ruling that privacy rights don't extend to a woman's ability to make decisions about her pregnancy. The Singleton case could've been decided on due process rights instead, Hall said. "Without picking a fight with a prior court, this court doesn't have to overrule other cases," he said. Attorney Grayson Lambert, representing Gov. Henry McMaster, said the Singleton case is different for several reasons, starting with it "involving an entirely personal decision." Hearn jumped in again. "What can be more personal than a woman's decision to have an abortion?" she asked. "I'm asking you. I know you're not a woman. But what could be more personal than that decision?" Justice John Few told Lambert he was making the wrong argument. "I'm an advocate of the right to privacy. I think South Carolinians deserve and have a right to privacy that extends to all areas of our life," he said. "If I'm writing an opinion in your favor, I'm using Singleton to support my decision, not to distinguish it. Singleton recognizes the right to privacy but talks about the limitations that it has in that context. "Why wouldn't you make that argument here instead of trying to emasculate the rights of privacy of all South Carolinians?" he asked, adding "That's a rhetorical question." Justice John Kittredge questioned repeatedly where the line on abortion would be if the high court struck down this law as unconstitutional, saying he refuses to cross his own boundaries against setting policy. He asked if the state high court was being asked to do something similar to what the U.S. Supreme Court did in 1973 in guaranteeing rights based on trimesters. That landmark Roe v. Wade decision guaranteed abortions nationwide without restriction in the first trimester and allowed limited rules for the sake of the mother's health in the second. Murray told justices her clients are not seeking a substitute policy. If the "fetal heartbeat" law is struck, the state's 2016 law that bans abortions past 5 months will remain in place, she said, noting the three clinics in South Carolina that provide abortions don't offer them past 14 weeks anyway. Noting that the U.S. Supreme Court's June decision overturning Roe sent the case back to the states, Hearn asked why GOP legislative leaders in recent debates ruled out asking voters what they want. "Everyone on this court is well aware of the plenary (absolute) authority of the General Assembly, but why didn't the General Assembly put this to the people in a referendum," she asked Hall. "Wouldn't that have been the best way to know what the people of South Carolina really want to do? Why was it out of order?" On that, Justice George James answered for Hall. "The Legislature is the people," he said. Who can take a city, burn it to the ground? Umbrella Man can, at least according to the search warrant application/affidavit filed by Minneapolis police officer Erika Christensen in the summer of 2020. Former Star Tribune reporter Libor Jany told me he came across Christensens affidavit in a routine review of court filings. (Libor has moved on to the Los Angeles Times.) Libor reported on the allegations of Christensens affidavit in his July 2020 story Minneapolis police say Umbrella Man was a white supremacist trying to incite George Floyd rioting. The story made waves around the world. According to Officer Christensen, Umbrella Man is a white supremacist who set off the week of riots and arson throughout the Twin Cities by knocking out the windows at AutoZone on Lake Street at Minnehaha Avenue in south Minneapolis on May 27. Did Umbrella Man also burn the AutoZone down? I cant tell who burnt it down from Libors story, but it was in fact torched. Libor quoted Christensens affidavit: This was the first fire that set off a string of fires and looting throughout the precinct and the rest of the city. Umbrella Man himself does not seem to have committed the arson that destroyed the AutoZone premises. Below is the tweet with the video featuring Umbrella Man at work. This video was removed from YouTube. It shows exactly who broke windows at AutoZone. Please retweet and help identify the instigator. #JusticeForFloyd pic.twitter.com/D17kGL404J Javier Morillo (@javimorillo) May 28, 2020 Over two years later Umbrella Man has not been arrested. Charges have not been brought against him. Umbrella Man remains at large. Libor did not identify him in his July 28 story because he has not been charged. Officer Christensens account of events was taken at face value in the numerous news accounts that immediately followed the Star Tribune story, but it is ludicrous. Spectator USAs pseudonymous Cockburn conducted a reality check in The curious Umbrella Man myth. Subhead: Cockburn hasnt seen this many people excited about an umbrella since Mary Poppins hit theaters in 1964. Cockburn drily noted in July 2020: Cockburn would have thought that the carnage of the past month would render one mans window smashing a historical footnote. But instead, the opposite has happened, for the usual 2020 reason: it is politically useful. I thought Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey was responsible for the key event that led to the destruction wrought throughout the Twin Cities following the death of George Floyd. The key event was the abandonment of the Third Precinct headquarters on May 28. Mayor Frey too remains at large. His dereliction was not illegal. Officer Christensens affidavit superimposed a mythical narrative over the events as we saw them unfold. Cockburn observed that it took him just a single minute on Google to discover rioting and destruction from May 26 the day before Umbrella Man supposedly kicked everything off. Whatever happened to Umbrella Man? He was identified by name and cell phone number in Officer Christensens affidavit. He appears to be a bad dude, but did he do more than is depicted in the video above? There is a yearning on the left to attribute the wave of destruction that emanated from the Twin Cities to white supremacy or to white supremacists. The left-wing Minnesota Reformer site checked in on the case against Umbrella Man last year in Deena Winters story Whats up with Umbrella Man? Winter reviewed the allegations regarding Umbrella Man, although she too withheld his identity because he had not been charged. Winter quoted Minneapolis Police spokesman John Elder: It remains an open case and is still being investigated. Elder refrained from any comment on whether the man listed in the search warrant is a suspect. The investigator has not authorized the release of information on the case as this remains an open investigation, Elder told Winter via email. Winter said nothing about Officer Christensen. Perhaps coincidentally, Officer Christensen is a frequent letter-writer to the Star Tribune and the Minneapolis police departments rare out liberal, as she described herself in this 2019 Star Tribune column. See Christensens letters to the editor here (May 8, 2017) and here (March 25, 2019). Now the FBI has issued a press release (with new photos) seeking the publics help in identifying Umbrella Man. Minnesota Public Radio reports on it here. MPRs Matt Sepic notes in his penultimate paragraph (link in the original): In a 2020 search warrant, a Minneapolis police investigator [i.e., Christensen] identified the suspect as a Ramsey, Minn. man and alleged he was a known associate of the Aryan Cowboys white supremacist gang. MPR News is not naming the man, now 34, because he was never arrested or charged. Sepic does not observe that the man whose identity he declines to disclose is apparently not Umbrella Man. The Minneapolis police and the FBI know his name his name and address. Libor Jany knows who he is, as does Sepic himself. The Star Tribune story by Stephen Montemayor doesnt mention the papers knowledge of his identity, but theyre in on it too. I infer that the Aryan Cowboy known to them is not Umbrella Man. I should think that would be news, but neither MPR nor the Star Tribune explicitly addresses this point. The development Research and Project Centre (dRPC) in collaboration with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) is holding a symposium to discuss recent brain drain in Nigerias health sector and its implications on health service delivery. The high-level symposium themed Nigerias health sector brain drain and its implications for sustainable child and family health service delivery and financing in the context of new national priorities is taking place in Abuja. The event will bring together policymakers and implementers alongside health professional associations and council executives, who are critical stakeholders in the health systems strengthening process. The high-level symposium will focus on discussing current figures related to the health sectors human capital loss to migration at National and sub-national levels. The organisers said this is timely as the countrys health sector is facing financing and human resource gap. It said the challenges in the sector is leading to continuous migration trend of health workers to other countries in search of better work conditions. The symposium will also explore the implications of brain drain for new national health priorities for maternal and family planning services and identify strategies and mechanisms for sustainable financing as part of wider search for immediate solutions. Stay on this page as PREMIUM TIMES provides live updates of the event scheduled to commence by 9:45 a.m. 9:45 a.m.- Its a bright morning here at Fraser suites, Abuja. We are live at the one-day high-level symposium on Nigerias health sector brain drain and its implications for sustainable child and family health service delivery. Although the event was scheduled to commence by 9:45 a.m., it will be starting some minutes late as few of the participants are yet to settle in. All is set for the commencement of the event. The facilitator, Moji Makanjuola, takes the podium and the event commences with the National Anthem. 10:05 a.m: Ms Makanjuola welcomes everyone to todays event. She said the deliberations should be productive and effective for the benefit of Nigeria. She invites the Director-General of NIPSS, Ayo Omotayo, to deliver the welcome remarks Mr Omotayo takes the podium. He said NIPSS is established to find solutions to the countrys problems, noting that the institute has focused on the health sector in the past three years. He said the theme of the event is timely as more and more persons are leaving the country to settle in developed countries. He said all sectors in Nigeria have one problem or another, including health which is a critical sector in every country. Mr Omotayo said the government must act now and fast. When doctors leave the country, it means we are having existential problems. He said the statistics of doctors and nurses leaving the country is high, hence creating a huge gap in the health system. Mr Omotayo said Nigerias population is increasing massively and so is the need for more health professionals. He said the young Nigerians will tell you that Nigeria has done nothing to them Is it fair to this generation? He said the government is spending so much on educating doctors and nurses, hence its a major loss when they leave the country. He explained that NIPSS will seat next to the government representative to discuss takeaways from todays event. He ended his speech by encouraging everyone to pay attention to todays message. 10:22 a.m: The facilitator, Ms Makanjuola, invites the chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Uche Rowland, to give the keynote presentation. Mr Rowland takes the podium. He said the term brain drain refers to losing a major strength. He said official statistics show that as of 2019, Nigerias doctors-to-patient ratio is at one to 4,900. He said this number has increased as the country continues to lose medical practitioners to developed countries. He explained that Nigeria is in dire need of health workers. He said from 1963 to date, Nigeria produced only 93,000 doctors; which is inadequate to cater for the general population. The real shock comes when you know majority of physicians we are training will not remain in the country, he said. He said research among health workers shows that the UK and the United States of America are the top two destinations for Nigerian medical doctors to seek work opportunities, with 93 per cent and 83 per cent. He said Nigerian doctors are also migrating to Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman. We are not just losing the consultants, we are losing fresh graduate doctors too, he said. Mr Rowland said currently, Nigeria has the highest number of doctors in the UK after India and Pakistan. He said India contributes the largest number of foreign doctors to the UK health sector. He said, unlike Nigeria, as of 2018 India achieved the WHO-recommended doctor-to-population ratio of 1:1,000. He noted that India produces 50,000 medical doctors per annum from more than 479 medical schools, with an annual capacity intake of 67,218 MBBS students at medical colleges regulated by the medical council of India. He said in 2015, 233 Nigerian doctors moved to the UK; in 2016 the number increased to 279; in 2017 the figure was 475, in 2019, the figure rose to 852, in 2019 it jumped to 1,347; in 2020, the figure was 833 and in 2021 was put at 932. He said the General Medical Council (GMC), the body responsible for licensing and maintaining the official register of medical practitioners in the UK, reportedly licensed 200 Nigerian-trained doctors in one month between August 31- September 30, this year. He explained that the data further shows that an average of three Nigerian doctors per day were licensed within June and July this year to work in the UK. This is equivalent to 266 Nigerian doctors in the space of two months. 11:00 a.m: Ejiro Eyaru, a Nigerian doctor in the UK, gives his goodwill message virtually. Mr Eyaru said Nigerias challenges are peculiar and every country has its own challenges. He said the Nigerian government can make more efforts in the health sector to prevent doctors from leaving the country. He said based on analysis, at least 40 doctors leave Nigeria every week. He said the problems have been highlighted and identified but providing solutions is more important. He ends his speech. 11:05 a.m: The representative of the Population Association of Nigeria (PAN), Godwin Aidenagbon, takes the podium to give a goodwill message. Mr Aidenagbon said the aim of PAN is to promote the advancement of demographic knowledge and control the population question in Nigerias developmental process through the promotion of scientific research on population issues. He said the theme of todays discourse falls within the strategic interests of PAN in a number of ways. He said brain drain across all sectors has a significant impact on population dynamics. He said brain drain in the sector may have negative implications for the health of the population. He ends his speech and leaves the podium. 11:15 a.m: Oyewale Tomori, a virologist, takes the podium to give his goodwill message. Mr Tomori said brain drain is in every sector, not just health. Mr Tomori said the government must invest more in the health sector to protect the health of the people. He said his goodwill message today is Lets do what we can for this country. Thats the end of his remarks, he leaves the podium. 11:23 a.m: A representative of the office of the Vice President, Nicholas Audifferen. takes the podium to give a goodwill message. Mr Audifferen said the engagement with NIPSS on issues of policies regarding Universal Health Coverage has yielded positive results. He said the health workforce has a critical role to play in ensuring Nigeria achieves UHC by 2030. He said the presidential health reform committee will review and implement recommendations that will improve the countrys workforce. He ends his speech. 11:30 a.m: The minister of health, Osagie Ehanire, takes the podium to give the opening remarks. He is represented by Sydney Ibeanusi, an official at the ministry. Mr Ehanire said the healthcare workforce plays a critical role in the development of a country. He noted that the majority of doctors are leaving Nigeria forgetting that every country has its own problem. He said some persons that have left are willing to come back to the country but an enabling environment must be created He explained that increased welfare for health workers will help in addressing issues of doctors migration. We must have a way to reintegrate them and bring them back into the country, he said. He said We need to look at the countries taking our best brains. We can tax countries that our doctors are relocating to. He said he looks forward to the recommendations from this event that will help in forming workable policies. He ends his speech. 11:43 a.m: Its time for a group photo session and tea break. We will be back in 30 minutes, please stay with us. 12: 25 p.m.: The tea break is over and participants are all seated. Ms Makanjuola takes the podium to invite the first set of panellists. The panel facilitator is Kanyinsola Oyeyinka, coordinator, presidential health reform committee. The first panel will be deliberating on Brain drain in the health sector-the facts and figures and implications for Nigeria meeting new health priorities. 12:27 p.m: The first panellist is the Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Tajudeen Sanusi. He is represented by Henry Ogunleye. He said the impact of brain drain will affect Nigerias aim to achieve UHC. 12:28 p.m: Mr Sanusi said the doctors left in the country are overburdened with little or no pay. He said the issue of welfare and funding for the medical world must be addressed for the country to achieve UHC. 12:30 p.m: The next panellist is Ibrahim Ahmed, Registrar Pharmacy Council of Nigeria. Mr Ahmed said there is a need to look at the policy for human resources for health. That way we can compare what we have today to see if its in line. 12:32 p.m: He said the majority of pharmacists are leaving the country just like the doctors. He said over 783 pharmacists left Nigeria in 2021. 12:33 p.m: He explained that the government must move to halt more exodus of health practitioners. We must go back to the basis to address this problem. 12:35 p.m: He said there are concerns that the country no longer guarantees pharmacists well fare. 12:37 p.m: The next panellist is the Secretary General of the pharmacists society, Olumide Akintayo. Mr Akintayo said the country has less than 50 per cent of registered pharmacists practising in the country. 12:39 p.m: He said the government needs to come up with a concept call for pharmacists based on ante-natal care. He said this exists in many developed countries. You can address maternal and child mortality problems through this initiative, he said 12:40 p.m: Mr Audifferen, the representative of the VP office, is the next panellist. He said the challenge of being a Nigerian is the reason why many young Nigerians are leaving. 12:42 p.m: He said 70 per cent of the health problems are about financing. He said the government needs to start thinking about health as a business. 12:43 p.m: He said healthcare reforms involve everybody as the federal government alone cannot meet up with all the finance of the health sector. 12:45 p.m: The next panellist is the President, Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria, Alphonsus Isara. Mr Isara said brain drain is a problem of human development. 12:46 p.m: He said it is not impossible for Nigeria to achieve UHC but more effort is required. The question is what approach are we using to achieve this milestone? 12:48 p.m: He said the data are available and the problems are visible but the issue is addressing these challenges. He said the damage caused in Nigerias health sector cannot be revived in 30 years. 12:50 p.m: He said the country needs planning and strategy to achieve any change. 12:52 p.m: The panel facilitator, Ms Oyeyinka, asks the panellist to proffer solutions to the problem of brain drain. Mr Ahmed, Registrar of Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, said the government must look critically into the aspect of reform. He said the earlier the government acts, the better. 12:57 p.m: He also said there must be harmony between doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists and others. Getting this right is critical to achieving health reforms, he said. 12:59 p.m: Mr Akintayo takes the mic. He said money is needed to address the challenges of the health sector but we dont need finances from the government to achieve this. 01:00 p.m: He said the country needs to innovate and be strategic with health investments. 01:03 p.m: Mr Audifferen said there are two ways to address the brain drain in the country. You can be resistive or adaptive. If you want to be resistive, you have to address the problem of funding, staffing and harmony, he said. 01:06 p.m: Mr Isara said the country needs to forget about pushback factors and focus on brain drain and how it can be addressed. This brings us to the end of the first-panel session. 01:12 p.m: The second and third panel session is merged and will commence now. The panel facilitator is Habib Sadauki, the president of the Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Nigeria (SOGON). The second panellists will deliberate on Brain drain in the health sector the facts and figures and implications for Nigeria meeting new maternal health priorities. The third panellists will discuss sustainable financing options for health sector expenditure in infrastructure, systems strengthening and human capital development in the context of shrinking fiscal space-implications for CSO policy advocacy. 01:17 p.m: The first speaker is the director of the daily trust foundation, Theophilus Abbah. He is represented by Ojoma Akor, the health editor for the organisation. 01:18 p.m: Mr Abbah said the brain drain situation is worsening but the degree varies. He said there is also a brain drain within the rural communities as medical practitioners are relocating to urban areas. 01:21 p.m: He said a visit to PHCs in the country will provide a clearer picture of the damage caused in the health sector. Mr Abbah said the statistics of health workers leaving the country have no doubt created a shortage of manpower. 01:24 p.m: He said the gap created is obvious in health service delivery. 01:26 p.m: The next speaker is the president of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Micheal Nnachi. Mr Nnachi said although many nurses are leaving the country, there is no exact figure of those that have left. 01:29 p.m: He said nurses are no doubt the worst hit of the damage caused in the health sector. He noted that nurses are the most marginalised and underappreciated health practitioners. The nurses need to be recognised as other health workers are, he said. 01:32 p.m: Mr Nnachi said UHC cannot be achieved without nurses. He appeals to the Nigerian government to prioritise the welfare of nurses. 01:36 p.m: The next speaker is the director of family health, FMOH, Salma Ibrahim. Ms Ibrahim said the Nigerian government is not relenting in its efforts to improve the health system. 01:38 p.m: She said medical practitioners seeking greener pastures in other countries will definitely come back to Nigeria. She, however, said the government must do something drastic to bring them back. 01:41 p.m: She said women and children are the worst affected by the exodus of doctors from the country. She said the government is doing all it can to improve allocations to the health sector. 01:43 p.m: Im happy to mention that the government is improving its health allocation despite the economic condition because the government recognised the importance of healthcare, she said. 01:45 p.m: Ms Ibrahim said the country has learnt great lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and is looking inwards to achieve sustainable financing of family planning. 01:47 p.m: The next speaker is the President of the National Association of Community Health Practitioners, Kabir Ahmed. He is represented by Aminu Hassan. Mr Ahmed said brain drain has affected both primary and secondary health institutions. 01:50 p.m: He said the countrys PHCs are abandoned at the mercy of community health assistants and environment workers. He explained that the lower level of the health sector caters for 70 per cent of health services. 01:53 p.m: He calls on the government to prioritise the health of the people. 01:55 p.m: The next speaker is Ekenem Isichei. Mr Isichei said the public should learn to hold politicians accountable. We must ask politicians questions about their manifesto and plan for health. 01:59 p.m: He said the country must get serious with advocacy and institutionalise accountability. 02:08 p.m: The next speaker is Gabriel Okeowo, a representative of BudgIT. Mr Okeowo said the issue of healthcare funding is paramount at all levels of government. 02:07 p.m: He said political will is also required for the country to achieve set goals. 02:12 p.m: The next speaker is the CEO of the private sector health alliance of Nigeria, Tinuola Akinbolagbe. Ms Akinbolagbe said there are various partnerships with the government to increase public healthcare access in the 774 LGAs. 02:15 p.m: She said there are new policies to ensure PHCs dont rot again after revitalisation. Its important we invite the right stakeholder to listen to some of these important conversations and if we have them on board, they must have the political will to implement policies recommended. 02:19 p.m: The panellists are having a recap of the session. They agreed that the government must work with the private sector and stakeholders if its to make a change in the health sector. 02:23 p.m: They also reached a consensus that without the revitalisation of the PHCs, the country cannot attain UHC. The panellists said PHCs are the bedrock of any developed country. They said a country is not fully developed until a strong health system is put in place. 02:25 p.m: In his recap, Mr Abbah, the director of Daily Trust Foundation, said the welfare of health workers must also be prioritised. He said without the health workers, the PHC system will crumble. 02:28 p.m: The panel session has ended and its time for questions and answers. 02:31 p.m: Participants are raising questions and making recommendations for the government on ways to improve health sector financing and curb doctors exodus. 02:35 p.m: Some participants said the government cannot achieve set goals without collaborating with the private sector. 02:37 p.m: We need doctors in the country and to keep them here, we have to look for homegrown solutions in achieving this, a participant said. 02:40 p.m: Mr Ibeanusi, the representative of the minister of health, takes the mic. He said the ministry is involving all relevant stakeholders and working assiduously to build a strong health system for the country. 02:43 p.m: He said the government is investing a lot in training these doctors and they are leaving the country. He said this is a major loss to the Nigerian government. 02:47 p.m: He said health education is heavily subsidised in Nigeria. Lets remove the subsidy so if the doctors are paying heavily, they are free to leave without any moral obligation to stay, he said. 02:47 p.m: The panel facilitator, Mr Sadauki, takes the mic to announce the end of this session. 02:50 p.m: The lead facilitator, Ms Makanjuolatakes the mic to call for a photo session with the panellists. 02:55 p.m: The director general of NIPSS, Mr Omotayo, takes the podium to give the closing remarks. He said there are major takeaways from todays event. 02:58 p.m: The takeaways are We must accept there is serious brain drain in the health sector; we need to have harmony and good relationship between doctors, nurses, physicians, pharmacists and others. 03:00 p.m: Mr Omotayo said other takeaways are Increased funding for the health sector; training of health workers; we need to produce as many health workers as possible; we must control the outflow. 03:01 p.m: He said the health sector must be seen as a business. He also said critical stakeholders must be allowed to sit at the table. 03:05 p.m: He also calls for improved remuneration of medical workers. 03:08 p.m: The facilitator, Ms Makanjuola, takes the mic to announce the end of todays event. Thank you for staying with us all through. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF) has graduated its first set of 100 women from its National Institute for Leadership and Ending Violence against Women and Girls (NILEVAWG). The women underwent a 6-month mentorship programme organized by NWTF with support from Ford Foundation. The first batch of the programme was held from the 4th to the 6th of April while the second batch was held from the 7th to the 9th of April in Abuja before the six months mentorship. Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of NWTF, Mufiliat Fijabi, said womens voices and leadership over the years have been limited due to multiple barriers which include violence against women, sexual violence, lack of opportunities in decision-making, and unequal gender relations. EVAWG programme Mrs Fijabi said the training programme was a sequel to the successful completion of a similar but distinct project under the Ford Foundation called Ending Violence against Women and Girls (EVAWG). Phase I and II of the EVAWG programme were held in eight states including Adamawa, Cross River, FCT, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Rivers, Nasarawa, Kebbi, and Ekiti. This set of graduands across the 36 states of the country and the FCT are pioneers of NILEVAWG after the successful implementation of EVAWG project in eight states in the past, she said. The trainees were asked to learn under different advisors, called mentees. READ ALSO: Advising the mentors and mentees not to cease to be good ambassadors of NWTF, she commended them for their labour of love in building a community of women who are taking leadership roles in raising voices on violence against women and girls. Our mentors, through this initiative have encouraged and supported survivors of abuse, broken the cultural barriers to their leadership roles and confidently engaged with stakeholders on GBV; transformed their ways of thinking, approach to life and impacted in their various communities, she said. GBV is still a big problem While lamenting that violence against women and girls is one of the most prevalent human rights violations, Mrs Fijabi said a lot still needs to be done to end the menace. I must say that this six-month mentorship, training, and experience sharing is not the end of your input to correcting the anomaly in our society, she said. It is only the beginning of the resilience and doggedness to push for a total eradication of trampling on womens rights, violence against women and girls, inequality and stereotypes against the women in Nigeria and across the globe. The chairperson of the Advisory Board of NWTF, Amina Salihu, noted that such mentoring is always trans-generational as learning is cross-fertilized between the mentees and mentors. We are trademarking this to expand the pool of women and girls that can step in as leaders in this field, she said. Ms Salihu said the trainees should not limit themselves. You must always share your abilities with others, she said. Also speaking, one of the mentors, Bilkiss Oladimeji, said the mentors appreciate the opportunity to serve. She said although mentees are looking for sponsorship to implement their various project ideas, she hopes they will continue to be great leaders of their nation. Mentees speak A mentee, Temitope Olaniyi, said through the mentorship programme, she has developed more passion against harmful traditional practices. I can boldly engage with the stakeholders now and I have been able to network with more people to achieve the goal, she said. Another mentee, Joy Haa, said the mentorship programme has helped her to build the team spirit in her and also helped in collaborating with other mentees to carry out activities. We carried out a project tagged Project Unmute. The responses we got from the participants through the questionnaires show that many of them have been harassed through unwanted sexual harassment but they didnt report these cases because they were afraid. Some didnt think it was harassment. We have been able to build their self-esteem, she said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print More Nigerian universities have announced dates for the resumption of academic activities. Some universities had earlier in the week made their announcements following the suspension of strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Friday. The union said it suspended the strike to obey the ruling of the industrial court. The court had granted an injunction by the government to compel ASUU to resume work pending the determination of the suit filed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige. The union, however, said its demands have not been completely met. Resumption The Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU) Ile-Ife, announced Thursday, 20 October, for the continuation of the 2021/2022 session. In a statement by its Registrar, Margaret Omosule, the school also asked students to resume their hostels on Wednesday. In a post on the university website and social media platforms, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) slated 24th October for the resumption of lectures for the 2021/2022 academic session. The Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE) announced 17th October for the continuation of the 2nd semester for returning students and 24th October for fresh students. Both the University of Abuja and the Sokoto State University also announced 24th October for school resumption. Other universities like the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto and the University of Benin have proposed 24 October. The senates of both universities are yet to confirm the date. Qosim Suleiman 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 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print (This is the third and final part of the series. Read the first part here here). As is the case in other states in Nigeria, the elderly population enjoys little or no support from the government of Ogun State in the South-west region. In Ibeku, a remote village in Yewa-North of the state, many senior citizens are frail, emaciated and unkempt. Sholape Ogunji, 80, is one of the oldest women in the community. But her advanced age does not stop her from farming, which provides her with basic needs, especially food. The government doesnt exist except during elections when they bring ballots to the community school for us to vote, she said with a sad look on her crinkled face Since I didnt go to school, I was born into poverty and farming is the only thing that has been feeding me. The widow also lamented exploitation by middlemen who travel down to the community to buy their farm produce at low prices that leave the farmers with no gain. I hardly make any profits because buyers come and we have no choice but to sell at lower prices. We run at a loss because we also have to buy fertilizers, she said. Close to Mrs Ogunji are Rebecca and Elizabeth Tetede, 81 and 82 respectively, both co-wives and widowed for more than 20 years. They were seated on the bare floor eating together from a leave-wrap of corn flour (eko) when this reporter visited. They said they depend on their children as they do not make much from farming. The son of the second wife (Elizabeth), Idowu Tetede, told this reporter that the community, which is about 100 kilometres from Benin Republic, lacks basic amenities. Some of the people you see here travel to the Benin Republic in most cases which is about a two hours journey from here to access health care and it is not as expensive. The farming most old people do here is just for eating, they dont have money to pay medical bills. After spending money on fertiliser, people from town come here to buy (farm produce) at lesser prices. Olaleye Adigun, 59, who retired as a teacher in 2020 and now employs some of the widows as farm hands, urged the government to provide opportunities for the older population. The government should assist these widows. There is little we retirees can do because not all of us are getting pension, he said. A community leader, Jacob Akinosi, 90, said many lives had been lost because the community does not have a functional healthcare centre. We have to go to the only pharmacy close to us and in times of emergency, we have lost lives, he said. When PREMIUM TIMES visited the only primary healthcare centre in the community, it was empty. The building was dilapidated with broken windows, old and rusted chairs and beds, and leaking roofs as it was raining. One of the worst countries to age The Global Agewatch Index 2015 ranks Nigeria as the 11th worst country to be old, out of 96 countries. The ranking highlights which countries are doing best for their older populations and how this links with policies towards pensions, health, education, employment and the social environment in which older people live. The index shows Norway is the best country to be old in. Apart from Japan ranked at nine, all the top 10 countries are in Europe, North America and Australia, while African countries made up half of those with low-income security rankings and poor health status. On the overall rankings and values for Africa, the index shows that of the total 96 countries, Mauritius topped the list at 38, followed by South Africa and Ghana at ranks 80 and 81 respectively. Morocco and Nigeria followed at 83 and 85 respectively. As of September 2022, according to data by Statista, the life expectancy at birth in Nigeria was about 61.33 years. More specifically, this figure equalled 60 years for males and 63 years for females. The life expectancy at birth in Nigeria is among the lowest in Africa as well as in the world. In his comment, the NUP Chairman for Ondo State said: Generally Nigeria is not a place to write home about in respect of the welfare of the senior citizens. We normally see what happens to retirees in advanced countries which are not happening in Nigeria and I want Nigeria to imitate countries where elders enjoy every bit of their life, he said. Lack of working Health Insurance In December 2020, the Nigerian government disclosed plans to launch a special health insurance programme for elderly citizens and inaugurated a ministerial committee to work with the Nigeria Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in developing the framework for the scheme. One year later in 2021, the NSCC announced it was packaging a health insurance scheme, but none of these plans has materialised, and senior citizens continue to battle for their lives amidst irregularities in pension and gratuity payment, and poor health care. A publication on NHIS and its implication for elderly care in Nigeria by the International Journal of Science and Research in 2013 found that there is virtually no provision for the healthcare needs and social security of the elderly population in Nigeria. It also pointed out that the NHIS is segregated in its coverage as it does not capture artisans, farmers, sole proprietors of businesses, street vendors and the unemployed. In his comment, the Head, Corporate Affairs, Media and Communication at NSCC, Omini Oden, said while the provision of health insurance is not the duty of NSCC, it is working in partnership with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to establish a geriatric care centre for old people, starting from Abuja. It is not in our place to create health insurance, but we are excited about the fact that we have an MOU with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) within the framework of the integrated care for older persons (ICOPE), which is domiciled in the WHO, Mr Oden said. As a result of this partnership, we are going to pilot integrated care for older persons on two fronts in FCT and establish geriatric care centres starting soon from Abuja. He also disclosed that the NSCC is relieved by the inclusion of older persons in the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act signed by the President in May 2022, which indicates that vulnerable older persons shall not be required to pay premium for coverage. NSCC is gearing to engage NHIA on the possibility of evolving a realistic age-specific Basic Health Care Package for older persons, as we are sincerely concerned about the chronic disease burden peculiar to old age and the implications of coverage gaps, coverage appropriateness and equity, he added. Problem is implementation The national policy on ageing states that an Advisory Council on Ageing will be established at the national, state and local government levels, to aid its implementation. The real issue like all issues with government policy is the method of implementation, correct implementation, Gbenga Gbesan, the Ogun State coordinator for the Coalition of Societies for the Rights and of Older Persons in Nigeria (COSROPIN), said. The policy is an ideal framework on how to meet the needs of elderly people, from poverty to health, food and nutrition, housing, family, social protection and financial inclusion. It also provides what needs to be done on the pension scheme, but if the federal government has not set up its advisory council, how does it have the moral right to push the state or local government to do it, he added. The Executive Director of Enough is Enough Nigeria (EiE), a campaign for better governance in Nigeria, Yemi Adamolekun, decries the delay in pension payment and the implementation of the national policy on ageing. But they spend money on very useless things like building statues, buying private jets flying up and down off and on police convoys of many people, whereas these pensions are not a lot of money. Delays in pensions are particularly painful because the pension is a reflection of work that you have done. We took the money out of your salary, theyre not doing any favour, it is their right, she said. Bridging the gap Ms Adamolekun is also a board member at Kaleyewa House, a non-governmental organisation established in 2002 by her mother, Kemi Adamolekun, which has supported over 400 older persons in Iju and Itagbolu in Akure North LGA of Ondo State. There is a national policy on ageing. At the state level, we have also seen different administrations do different things. Technically, the state governments can do their programmes, they dont need to wait for a national policy. Different state governments have different state interventions, so they could have easily done a state intervention that was state specific but the elderly people, unfortunately, are not prioritised at the state level and the federal level, she said. On his part, the Executive Director of the Old Age Care Foundation in Nigeria, Olugbenga Alabi, said there is a dearth of geriatricians in Nigeria. Geriatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with care for the elderly. Corroborating that, some researchers note that as of 2020, Nigeria has less than 100 geriatricians to care for its elderly. Mr Alabi said his organisation visits the elderly, chats with them and gives them materials like foodstuff, and toiletries. Fundraising is a big challenge when it comes to caring for the old. Old peoples homes are not part of the culture, so not much investment has been made in that area, he said. Older Persons Bill pending The Nigerian Older Persons Rights and Privileges Bill has been passed by both chambers of the National Assembly as of December 2021 but still awaiting assent by the President. The bill, according to the Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Peter Akpatason, would ultimately protect elderly Nigerians and make provisions for their healthcare as well as ensure financial security for them after serving the country. He added that the bill will also ensure adequate social safety nets for retirees and the elderly, considering the economic realities of the current times. In September 2022, the UN International Expert on Human Rights of Older Persons visited Nigeria to assess the situation of older persons rights. In her response to the bill, the UN expert, Claudia Mahler, said: The pending bill called Older Persons (Rights and Privileges) would offer the most comprehensive legal framework ever available for older persons in the country, addressing among others, the social and economic challenges triggered by ageing. I urge President (Muhammadu) Buhari to assent to the law, as part of his extended legacy to promote the rights of older persons. She noted that the absence of social protection, including a regular distribution of pensions, contributes to the difficulty that older persons face in accessing social services, including appropriate healthcare, various care options, and adequate housing. A copy of the pending bill obtained by PREMIUM TIMES shows that it provides answers to some of the troubling issues concerning older persons in Nigeria and avails them of the opportunity to hold the government accountable. When asked why the president has not signed the bill into law, the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, directed this reporter to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly matters, Babajide Omoworare. Bill to start afresh While the president has not stated reasons for withholding assent to the bill, Mr Omowoware explained that the bill may need to be revisited because it has elapsed the time frame the president can act on it, as prescribed in the constitution The bill passed in the House of Representatives on 2 March 2021 and there was concurrence in the Senate on 7 December 2021 but the bill was not passed out of the National Assembly until 21 April 2022 and then sent to the president, meaning he has 30 days to sign, which has since elapsed. He also noted that it is a private bill, adding that there are many reasons the president could have withheld assent. It could be the financial implications and it could be that there exist some other acts and there seems to be an overlap of responsibilities, Mr Omoworare said. The bill is a good bill, looking at the substance. It is a laudable bill that provides for the prohibition of discrimination and the need to educate and enlighten Nigeria about protecting the rights of old people. But a bill may not get assented to if there are issues that will be problematic in the future, he said. Mr Omoworare, however, recommended that the sponsor of the bill should identify the gaps and represent it at the third reading or start afresh. The sponsor will look at the bill and look at the gaps, and what do we do to fill the gap. If those things we can do on time, then the bill can be represented at the third reading. We have precedent to that and the rule of both the Senate and Representatives provides for it. On the other hand, if it cant be done, then it has to start afresh it has to start from the first reading, the second and all over again, the presidential aide said. However, the President of COSROPIN, Eze Ajoku, who confirmed that the bill was sponsored by Ezewa Onyewuchi, a senator and former member of the House of Representatives, believes the bill will still be signed. Government reacts On the less than N5,000 monthly pensions for retirees in the state, the Head of Service, Ogun State, Nafiu Aigoro, told PREMIUM TIMES that the government in July set up two committees to review the contributory pension scheme and to oversee consequential adjustments in pensions paid to retirees in the state. We are waiting for the committee report, which will cover all pensioners in the state to determine the way forward for the Labour-Government relationship, he said. The Director-General of the Ondo State Pensions Commission, Jaiyeola Olowosuko, did not directly speak on the backlog of unpaid gratuity in the state. The Contributory Pension Scheme is 100 per cent working in Ondo State. If you are talking about those who worked under the defined benefits pension scheme, then that is a national issue, he said. On the issue of setting up a national advisory council on ageing as stated in the National Policy, Mr Oden of NSCC clarified that in place of that, the NSCC board was constituted in 2021. He added that the centre is working to launch the national action plan on ageing, which is going to be a full operationalisation of the policy. We have 34 stakeholders on the board for ageing and we are trying to domesticate the national policy on ageing at the state and local level, he added. This is the third and final part of the series. Read the first part here and the second part here. This article was produced as part of the Inequality Reporting Fellowship of the Africa Centre for Development Journalism (ACDJ) supported by the MacArthur Foundation through the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Two Igbo groups, the South-East Council of Traditional Rulers, and Igbo Archbishops & Bishops on Peace and Conflict Resolution, have demanded the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The Chairman of the traditional rulers council, Nnaemeka Achebe, who is the Obi of Onitsha, disclosed this in a statement in which he jointly issued on Tuesday with a representative of the bishops, Chibuzo Opoko. Lawrence Agubuzu and Valerian Okeke, other representatives from the council and the bishops respectively, also signed the statement. Mr Agubuzu is the Chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council while Mr Okeke is the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha. The groups stressed they have consistently undertaken extensive and behind-the-scenes consultations for peace in the South-east and resolution of insecurity in the region based on justice, equity, fairness, love, mutual understanding and respect of all persons. In furtherance of this, we have also supported the call for the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu by the federal government to douse the current tension across the South-east and create an atmosphere for collaboration towards a constructive resolution of the issues, the groups said. Response to judgement The demand comes less than one week after the Court of Appeal in Abuja, struck out the terrorism charges filed against Mr Kanu by the government and ordered his release from the custody of the State Security Service (SSS). The court, in the ruling on Thursday, held that the IPOB leader was extra-ordinarily renditioned to Nigeria and that the action was a flagrant violation of the countrys extradition treaty and also a breach of Mr Kanus fundamental human rights. The Nigerian government has, in their first response, argued that the Court of Appeal only discharged Mr Kanu, and did not acquit him. The countrys Attorney-General, Abubakar Malami, in a statement, late Thursday, by his spokesperson, Umar Gwandu, hinted that the government would not release Mr Kanu, despite the court ruling. Mr Malami said the government is reviewing its legal options and could institute other charges against the IPOB leader. He said that the decision of the Court of Appeal was on a single issue that borders on rendition. But the South-east leaders and bishops hailed the judgement, explaining that their call for the immediate release of the IPOB leader was in line with the court judgement. We welcome this judgment and assert that the wisdom of the appellate court presents a timely and an unprecedented opportunity to overcome the challenge of trust that has obstructed the path to peace, and opens the window to winning the hearts and minds of the people, the groups added. IPOB is leading the agitation for an independent republic, Biafra, which it wants to be carved out from the South-east and some parts of South-south Nigeria. Mr Kanu was previously arrested and released on bail. He had jumped bail in 2017. He was intercepted in Kenya in June, last year, by Nigerian security agents and brought back to Abuja. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has arrested three suspected trans-border human traffickers in Osun. Effeh Ekrika, NAPTIP zonal commander, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Osogbo that the suspects are members of a syndicate that specialise in recruiting young girls for prostitution. Mr Ekrika said the suspects were arrested on Monday at a motor park in Ejigbo, Ejigbo Local Government Area of the state, while waiting to receive five girls they were to traffic to Ghana for prostitution. He said, I got a call from Taraba Commander of NAPTIP on Sunday that some traffickers were planning to take some girls from Taraba to Ghana for prostitution. However, some NAPTIP undercover agents were already planted to play along with the traffickers who were directing their movement via phone. The undercover agents were asked by the traffickers to go to Lagos to meet the driver of the Madam they will be working for in a brothel in Ghana and who will also transport them to Ghana. The agents then travelled to Lagos on Sunday only for them to be redirected back to Ibadan before they were again redirected to Osogbo. It was when they got to Osogbo that they were asked to board a bus to Ejigbo, so they can exit the country through the Ejigbo boarder. It was at the Ejigbo border park that NAPTIP, in collaboration with the Department of State Security officials, arrested members of the syndicate that turned up to pick the girls, he said. Mr Ekrika advised Nigerians wanting to travel out of the country to do so legally, so as not to fall into the hands of human traffickers. The zonal commander also urged parents to be careful in releasing their children, especially girls, to people in the name of seeking greener pastures. He said an investigation was ongoing to arrest other members of the syndicate for prosecution. One of the undercover agents said three of her sisters were trafficked on September 7 to Ghana and forced into prostitution. According to her, a woman in her village in Taraba recruited her sisters and some other girls for the traffickers. She said it was one of her sisters trafficked to Ghana for prostitution that called her and informed her of the situation they found themselves. The undercover agent said she used the mobile number that her sister used to call her to establish contact with the syndicate. She told them that she too was interested in the prostitution business in Ghana. She said that it was at that stage that she informed NAPTIP, and she was used as bait to arrest the human traffickers. She said the woman responsible for recruiting the girls in her village had been arrested. According to her, the daughter of the woman also works as a prostitute in Ghana and is the one sending money to recruit more girls from the village into the prostitution business. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Lafarge has pleaded guilty to paying armed groups in order to ease the movement of its staff and goods within a war zone in Syria. The French cement company was fined charged $778 million as penalty after pleading guilty at a United States court in Brooklyn of conspiring to provide material support to the jihadist group ISIS and another terrorist organization as part of a deal with the U.S. justice department, CNN reports. The company had denied allegations that it paid $15.3 million to the Islamic State to retain a cement plant north of Syria at the dawn of the countrys civil war in 2011. It also denied having a hand in money getting to terrorists and made concerted efforts to have the suit nullified. But in September 2021, it lost the battle when a top court in France quashed the decision of a lower court dismissing charges of the companys involvement in crimes against humanity in war-torn Syria. According to court filings from the plea deal the Justice Department reached with the company, Lafarge entered a revenue sharing scheming with ISIS and the Al-Nusrah Front that produced millions of dollars for the terrorist groups. Lafarge made a deal with the devil, CNN quoted US Attorney Breon Peace of the Eastern District of New York as saying at a press conference after the court proceedings. The Intermediaries court document further said Lafarge and Lafarge Cement Syria a dormant subsidiary and a defendant in the prosecution, entered the conspiracy with the explicit purpose of incentivizing ISIS to act in a manner that would promote LAFARGEs and LCSs security and economic interests, he said. The justice department said ISIS took over Lafarge plant when the company evacuated the cement plant in 2014, and the terror group sold the cement it had produced for roughly $3.2 million. The defendants paid millions of dollars to ISIS, a terrorist group that otherwise operated on a shoestring budget millions of dollars that ISIS could use to recruit members, wage war against governments and conduct brutal terrorist attacks worldwide, Mr Peace quoted as saying. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print PARIS, France On Tuesday a third victim identified Kunti Kamara, on trial for torture, cannibalism and crimes against humanity in the Paris Court, as Co Kundi the rebel commander who allegedly committed atrocities in Foya, Lofa County, Liberia. The man was one of four plaintiffs who have brought the case against Kamara here in Paris, France where Kamara was living when he was arrested in 2019 after French investigators built a case against him. You are Kundi, the man said turning to look at Kamara directly, barely containing his obvious emotion and rage. The plaintiff pointed at Kamara who was sitting behind his lawyers in a protective glass case. I know you very well. You the one that killed my sister. The now elderly man told the court Kamara arrived at his house in Foya in late 1993 after the mans sisters baby had died. He alleged Kamara gave the family $L100 for their pain. Soon after that Kamara allegedly ordered the victims sick and half naked sister the mother of the child dragged from the house. He accused her of witchcraft. The victim said Kamara and his troops had taken over the house for themselves and already had his wife, son and mother in custody at the time. Kamara did not know the man, who was standing with a crowd, was a member of the family. The victim was overcome with tears as told the court that he had watched as Kamara put three bullets in his sisters head. Within months the mans mother was also dead from illness. The victim blamed Kunti for the grief the murder of his sister had caused her. She cried every day, he said. So she became sick from not seeing my sister. The lawyer for the civil parties asked the victim if he had anything to say to Kamara but he took the opportunity to issue a warning to the judges instead. Im very happy to see all the officers to take care of Kundi, he said pointing to the court officers who accompany the defendant at all times. This government should not leave Kundi to come back to Liberia. Kamara rejected all the allegations as he has done consistently throughout this trial. Im just shocked, an agitated Kamara told the president of the court Thierry Fusina. I dont know him. These people, its my first time to see them in my life. I dont know them! They are lying on me. Im not a criminal. Earlier in the day another witness to the alleged murder of the sick woman accused of witchcraft gave evidence that appeared to contradict testimony that he gave to an earlier investigating judge in the case. The witness alleged that he and other members of the town, including the womans husband, witnessed her being brutalized by Kamaras rebels on Kamaras orders and then being shot dead by the defendant himself. Asked repeatedly by Fussina as to whether Kamara was the former Ulimo commander he was referring to, the witness looked at Kamara and said, He is the one. I know him well. But on cross examination, Marilyne Secci, the lead defense lawyer, read a prior statement he made to a French investigating judge in which he said he could not recognise Kamara on the picture they had shown him. You said you know him well, but you couldnt recognise his picture? Secci asked. The witness did not have a good explanation. Because the thing (alleged incident) stayed long, he said. Secci also pushed the witness on another prior statement to the investigating judge that had made saying that he heard the woman pleading with Kamara not to kill her. But in court the man said she said nothing because she could not talk at the time. Another point of contradiction was his claim to the earlier judge that Kamara said he killed the woman because she was a witch. When Secci and Fusina separately asked the witness about that testimony in court he told them, He (Kamara) didnt make that utterance. Inconsistent statements are common in trials of crimes that happened so long ago. They were a major issue during the 2021 trial of Gibril Massaquoi, a former commander of the Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone, by a Finnish court that acquitted him of charges of his participation in Liberia in 2002 and 2003. In the war crimes trials of Liberians inconsistencies take on particular importance for the defense because there is no forensic evidence to go on. The entire case will be made on the testimonies of witnesses to the crimes that happened nearly 30 years ago. Memories fade, the defense has pointed out. It is difficult for most people to remember precisely events that happened so long ago. Outside the court Tarek Koraitem, one of Kamaras defense lawyers made much of the lack of material evidence. We just have declarations which are all from 28 years ago and what the prosecutor says now we just have to believe this without even checking if the people they say are dead are really dead, Koraitem said. We didnt dig. We didnt make any forensic analysis on the body? We just have people speaking. Its the only thing we have in this case. Koraitem was also critical of the way these cases came together. Global Justice and Research Project came to the witnesses. They didnt go to a police station and make a formal complete. Its very easy to change witness testimony, Koraitem said. And we cannot be sure that what they see really happened 28 years ago. I have no problem with Global Justice but I would feel better if its a policeman from the state that first comes to investigate. The court start time was delayed this morning because one of the witnesses, an elderly man flown in from Liberia, was taken to hospital. He is expected to be released shortly. The trial continues Wednesday with the testimony of a plaintiff who says he was tortured by Kamara and also a psychiatrists analysis of the witnesses. This story was a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the West Africa Justice Reporting Project. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Lawmakers from Nigeria, the Gambia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Liberia on Wednesday met to discuss Africas position on Climate Change ahead of the COP27 conference in Egypt. The lawmakers met virtually at a meeting convened by the Parliamentarians Call for Fossil Free Future. At the meeting, the lawmakers discussed the failure of world leaders to implement the agreement on Fossil Fuel reduction and also proffered a way forward for the continent. Buba Khan, a lawmaker from the Gambia, called for the lawmakers to join the Parliamentarians Call for Fossil Fuel-Free Future and present a united front at the COP27 conference. He said over 500 parliamentarians have signed up for the fossil fuel-free future, adding that the body is still growing. It is about time that Africa look inward, to also decide and say let us join the global campaign so that we can begin to make the world a letter place and this campaign is about a fossil-free future. This means the emission that is being generated worldwide, we need to find means to reduce them. As such, your colleagues in Asia and some in Africa came together under a banner called Parliamentarians call for a fossil fuel-free future. For the parliamentarian initiative, it is envisioned as a catalyst for scaling up commitment and actions of government, he said. The Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Eguma Johnson (APC, Edo), said developed countries must provide support for African countries to access alternative energy sources. He argued that developed countries have a moral obligation to assist in the process of transitioning to cleaner energy since their industrial activities contribute the most to global warming. The greatest contributors to this global warming are the industrialised nations. The alternative to fossil fuel is quite expensive and as poor nations in Africawhat we need toat least be assisted by the major contributors to this global warming, he said. Mr Johnson said the lawmakers must provide the legislative framework to guide the process of transition in the face of inaction by the executive. As parliamentarians, we have a role to play, and the role we have to play is in the area of legislation, not a political solution. Ours is not political solution but a parliamentary solution. We need to gather together and speak with one voice to the developed nations that we are not unaware of their contribution to global warming. We contribute less than two per cent of the emission, Mr Johnson said. Another lawmaker from Nigeria, Aisha Dukku, said despite all the promises at different conferences, little or nothing has been done to mitigate the impact of climate change. Meanwhile, another lawmaker from Nigeria, Shamshudeen Dambazzau, said African countries cannot afford to implement the climate change agreement without considering the cost to the economy. He noted that debt swaps and other financial support should be considered in adopting any agreement. We should stop doing copy and paste. Let us look at how it is affecting us, Mr Dambazzau said. Climate change as a talking point Several states in Nigeria are currently experiencing flooding with over 300 dead and millions displaced. While the flooding has been linked to the opening of the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, however, the level of the flooding has also been linked to climate change. In September, while speaking in the United States, Vice President Yemi Oshinbajo asked developed countries to approve Debt-For-Climate (DFC) Swap deal to ensure a just energy transition for African countries. Mr Osinbajo was in Washington, US, to seek global partnerships and support for Nigerias recently inaugurated Energy Transition Plan (ETP). Also, on Monday, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, during an interactive session at Arewa House, said the reduction of fossil fuel should be based on financial support from the West. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The PDP governorship candidate in Lagos state, Abdul-Azeez Adediran (Jandor), on Wednesday, promised to return governance and state resources to the people. Mr Adediran alongside his running mate, Olufunke Akindele, who flagged off his campaign at the Akowonjo area in Alimosho LGA, said that he was depending on God and the people to emerge winner of the 2023 general elections. The PDP governorship candidate pledged to pursue only programmes and policies that would be of immense benefit to the people, stressing the people deserve better dividends of democracy, considering the huge resources deposited in Lagos State. In an interactive session with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Alimosho LGA, Mr Adediran, who called for prayers, promised to address challenges facing the council as the largest LGA, if supported to win. He promised to run a government that all citizens in the state would be proud of, without leaving anyone behind. According to him, if elected into office, he will be responsible and accountable to the people, not any political godfather. We have sat down and mapped out strategies to make Lagos work. If government can build roads for free, it can build houses for free. We can have affordable houses. We are going to partner with the private sector to make sure we have affordable housing because government alone cannot do that alone. I saw all the inner roads. We are going everywhere because we want to have an idea of what people are going through, he said. Responding, the Chairman of CAN in Alimosho LGA comprising all the six Local Council Development Areas in the council, Toyin Owoeye, said that religious leaders remained fathers to all the candidates. Mr Owoeye advised Mr Adediran not to dump Alimosho LGA if he emerges winner, noting that Alimosho being the largest LG council in the country needed more attention and priority. In a meeting with traditional leaders in Shasha area, Mr Adediran, who sought support for his ambition as one of the sons of the soil, said that his pursuit was to bring everyone on board in administering the state. He promised to recognise royal fathers and institutions and create empowerment for youths, women, as well as people living with disability through his WEALTHY agenda. At a separate meeting with non-Yoruba indigenes living in Gowon Estate, Mr Adediran vowed to defend and protect every resident of the state as well as create enabling environment for peaceful co-existence. The PDP governorship candidate also commended non-indigene residents in the state for contributing immensely to the development of the state, promising that his administration would be an inclusive one. This is a government that will make Lagos work for everybody without taking away your means of livelihood, he said. Speaking on behalf of the Arewa Community, Hajiya Favour Adamu, said that all the women, youths, and Arewa group in the area were in support of the PDP The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that representatives of the Igbo Community, South-South Community, and other ethnic groups and associations took turns throwing their weight behind PDP and all its candidates. NAN reports that the PDP campaign team visited various parts of the council area to solicit the support of the electorate during the elections in 2023. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The management of the Federal University Dutse (FUD), Jigawa State, has announced that full academic activities will resume on 31 October for returning students. The resumption of academic activities follows the eight-month strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The strike was suspended last Friday. The universitys spokesperson, Abdullahi Bello, said the universitys senate approved the resumption date at its 55th emergency meeting on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the university said it is putting everything in place to ensure a hitch-free resumption of academic activities. According to the universitys Chief Security Officer, Abubakar Sadiq, a retired colonel, its personnel have cut bushes that had overgrown during the long strike. Holding cell Mr Sadiq also revealed that the school has built a cell to hold students fomenting trouble on campus, members of cult groups or those found with dangerous weapons. He said no student would be held in the cell for more than two hours before being handed over to the police. He said the security unit has acquired two patrol motorcycles for better surveillance of the campus. Our men (security personnel) are fully on top of the situation, we have all the necessary things in place to secure the schools premises and the management has also approved the new uniforms for the security personnel, Mr Abubakar said. Below is the universitys academic calendar release on Wednesday: THE REVISED ACADEMIC CALENDAR Returning of students 31st October 2022 1 week Continuation of second-semester lectures 7th November 2022 to 2nd December 2022 weeks 2nd-semester examinations 5th December 2022 to 31st December 2022 4 weeks Marking of examination scripts and preparation of academic status 31st December 2022 to 14th January 2023 2 weeks Departmental Board meeting 16th 17th January 2023 2 Days Faculty board meeting 18th, 19th & 20th January 2023 3 Days Senate Business Committee (SBC) meeting 23rd 24th January 2023 2 Days Senate Meeting 31st January 2023 1 Day Commencement of new Academic Session 6th February 2023. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Four persons were on Wednesday arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti Magistrates Court for allegedly stealing 52 heads of cattle valued at N10 million. The defendants, Musa Mohammed, 30, Suleiman Musa, 65, Ibrahim Musa, 35, and Ali Mohammed, 45, whose addresses were not provided, are facing a count charge of stealing. The prosecutor, Sodiq Adeniyi, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on 23rd September at about 10:00 a.m., in Ilupeju-Ekiti. Mr Adeniyi, a police inspector, alleged that the defendants stole the 52 heads of cattle valued at N10 million belonging to one Tope Ajayi. He said the complainant gave the herd of cattle to the defendants to rear for him and when he needed some for a function was told that they were stolen. The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Section 302 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021. The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them. The prosecutor asked the court for an adjournment to enable him to assemble his witnesses and produce them to give evidence in court. Counsel to the defendants, Timi Omotosho, urged the court to grant his clients bail, with a promise that they would not jump bail. The Magistrate, Dolapo Kay-Williams, granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N250,000 each and ordered them to provide two sureties with each to stand for them. She adjourned the case till 11th November for hearing. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), has said that over half of the countrys eligible population have been partially vaccinated against the COVID-19 pandemic. The Executive Director of NPHCDA, Faisal Shuaib, said this during the handover ceremony of 22 sterling freezers donated by United Parcel Service Foundation (UPS). Mr Shuaib revealed that 58,075,837 people, representing 52 per cent of Nigerias eligible population, have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccines, while 45,351,331 have been fully vaccinated, which represents 40.6 per cent of the eligible population. Making this remarkable progress amidst persistent disinformation and low-risk perception has been possible because of the significant support we have received from our development partners, including UPS. We cherish our partnership with UPS and will continue to work with all stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria meets its target of vaccinating half of its overall population against COVID-19. As our country moves rapidly towards herd immunity, it is my firm belief that no country in the world is safe from COVID-19, and no business entity is safe from its adversities until all of us are safe, he explained. The NPHCDA said the agencys SCALES 3.0 campaign strategy offers a unique opportunity for childhood vaccination and other PHC services for beneficiaries concurrently with COVID-19 vaccination. We, therefore, urge parents to take their eligible children for vaccination against polio, yellow fever, measles and other vaccine-preventable childhood diseases in the same locations where the adults also receive COVID-19 vaccines. Our mobile teams are also in possession of all these vaccines when they visit your homes. Please welcome them and present yourselves and your eligible children for vaccination as may be applicable, he explained. Earlier, the Head of UPS Foundation Africa, Bassey Aneri, said UPS has done a lot and has so far delivered about 21 million doses of vaccines across the country. Also, the Managing Director, of UPS Nigeria, Micheal Umoh, said a strong supply chain is very critical to medical, pharmaceutical and other aspects of health. He said it is one thing for you to produce and another thing for you to move it to those that need it and that is where the supply chain becomes very useful to provide last mile delivery support to the country. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Director of Voter Intelligence, Strategy and Policy Analyst of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Osita Chidoka, says the partys presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, will not apologise for the comments made during a recent interactive session in Kaduna. Mr Chidoka stated this on Tuesday during an interview on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television. Atiku, a former Nigerias vice president, recently came under criticism for saying that the North does not need a Yoruba or Igbo president. He made the statement on Sunday during an interactive session with members of the Arewa Joint Committee. What the average northerner needs is somebody whos from the North and also understands that part of the country and has been able to build bridges across the country, This is what the northerner needs. It doesnt need a Yoruba or Igbo candidate. I stand before you as a pan-Nigerian of northern origin, Mr Atiku said. Reacting to the comment, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State demanded that the former vice president apologise for the comment But Mr Chidoka, a former aviation minister, said Atiku does not need to apologise because the comment does not warrant an apology. I think we need to move beyond these political gimmicks and political gimmickry that goes on when people say one thing, we turn it the other way round and we use it for political ends. The point he is making is a very clear point that we need a Nigerian president, somebody that would unify the country, will understand the issues, and be able to solve them. So, I dont think that it is a statement that warrants any apologies or discussions. It is for Vice President Atiku to continue to explain himself to the public, he said. Mr Chidoka said the candidate must focus on explaining his policy to Nigerians. We still have four months in the campaign so he needs to go out and explain his agenda that he is a Nigerian president that is desirous of making sure that all parts of Nigeria feel wanted in Nigeria, and feel united. He needs to unify the country to be able to propose the difficult solutions that must be applied to make this economy and the country work again, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will today (Wednesday) speak on various matters including the pending court case with the Nigerian government at the Industrial Court. The court had granted the governments request by ordering ASUU to suspend its strike while the main case was being heard. ASUU was dissatisfied with the ruling and approached the Court of Appeal. But the appeal court ordered the union to obey the ruling of the industrial court before seeking an appeal. ASUU obeyed and suspended the strike on Friday, but it noted that its demands have not been met satisfactorily. By 6 p.m. today, ASUU Vice President Chris Piwuna will be on PREMIUM TIMES Twitter Space to answer questions as to whether the union will continue to pursue the case before the court, and if the system risks another industrial action soon. The demands by the lecturers include the release of the revitalisation fund, the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solutions (UTAS) as the preferred payment platform for lecturers, the conclusion and implementation of the renegotiated 2009 agreement, payment of earned academic allowances, the release of whitepapers from the report of the visitation panels and a stop to the proliferation of universities by government. To meet the unions demands, the government has budgeted N300 billion as a revitalisation fund for all tertiary institutions and N170 billion for salary increments. ASUU rejected the governments proposed 23.5 per cent salary increase for all university workers and 35 per cent for professors, saying the recommendations in the draft agreement with the Nimi Briggs committee are way higher. The Briggs committee was set up by the government to negotiate with ASUU. The government rejected UTAS and suggested modifications for the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS), to recognise the peculiarities of universities. The government is yet to release whitepapers from the report of the visitation panels and a plea to halt the establishment of new universities fell flat at the House of Representatives. Qosim Suleiman 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 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Australian government has advised its citizens not to travel to Nigeria. In a travel advisory issued Wednesday, the Australian government listed flooding, terrorism and kidnapping as some of the reasons for the advisory. According to the advisory on the Australian High Commissions website, there have been significant casualties and widespread damage to infrastructure caused by severe flooding and as such essential services may be disrupted. Nigerian authorities have announced over 500 deaths from floods that have affected about half of the countrys 36 states. Millions of people have also been displaced by the floods. In its advisory, the Australian government advised its citizens to follow the advice of local authorities and check the media for updates. Apart from flooding, Australia also mentioned the high crime rate in parts of Nigeria as a reason for the advisory. The potential for terrorism, kidnapping, crime and civil unrest remains high throughout Nigeria. If, despite our advice, you undertake travel within Nigeria, research routes and get professional security advice and support before departing, it advised. The government advised that its citizens should reconsider the need to travel to Nigeria, including the capital Abuja and surrounding areas, due to high threats of terrorist attack and kidnapping, the volatile security situation, possible violent civil unrest and high levels of violent crime. It noted that people who have to travel to Nigeria are at risk of terrorist attacks, kidnappings violent civil unrest and crime. The advisory stated that violent crime is common in Nigeria, including in parts of Lagos and Abuja. Politically-motivated violence, including terrorist bombings and armed attacks on both security forces and innocent bystanders, can occur throughout Nigeria, the Australian government said. Police maintain patrols and checkpoints in many locations in Nigeria, including in Abuja and at city entry points. Police officers or people posing as police officers may ask for bribes, it noted. It further warned its citizens living in Nigeria or visiting not to drive at night, due to the presence of official and unofficial checkpoints noting that intimidation may be used, including a display of weapons. Although insecurity is commonplace in many parts of Nigeria, there are also several parts of the country where the crime rate is very low. Some of the areas most affected by insecurity are the North-west and North-east states where terrorists operate, as well as the South-east states where armed insurgents carry out routine attacks. 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. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A politician considered a strong opponent to Governor Dave Umahi in next years senatorial election in Ebonyi State, South-east Nigeria, has been remanded in prison custody by the order of a magistrate. The man, Linus Okorie, is the Labour Party (LP) candidate for the Ebonyi South District. He is a former member of the House of Representatives. Mr Umahi, whose tenure as governor ends next year, is a senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the district. Mr Okorie is accused of conspiring with others to murder a person and promoting inter-communal war. He was arraigned on Tuesday before the magistrate, Linda Ogodo, in Abakaliki, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He is accused, alongside others, of causing the death of a man, Donatus Okoro. The NAN report did not mention what information the prosecutor provided on the specific role Mr Okorie played in the mans death. The magistrate, however, said her court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case and ordered the LP candidate remanded in prison, pending the issuance of legal advice by the DPP. The case has been adjourned until 4 November. Many residents of Ebonyi think Mr Okories trial is politically motivated. Chikodili Nome, the lead counsel to Mr Okorie, said the charges against his client were intended to keep him behind bars, to weaken him and his supporters ahead of the 2023 elections. Mr Nome accused the Ebonyi State Government of resorting to self-help. We have seen details of the charges. What happened here today is an abuse of judicial proceedings, he said. Controversial arrest Before his arraignment, there were reports that Mr Okorie was abducted by the Ebubeagu, a security outfit that is backed by the Ebonyi State Government. After so much apprehension in the state, the police came out to say the LP candidate was arrested by Ebubeagu, and not abducted. The police spokesperson in Ebonyi State, Chris Anyanwu, said on Monday that the police were briefed by the Ebubeagu that Mr Okorie was arrested for his activities and utterances that incited and provoked the violence that engulfed Onicha Local Government Area (of the state). The police spokesperson said the incident led to an attack by gunmen suspected to be members of IPOB, an outlawed group, who reportedly killed seven persons in the area. Campaigns are already on for senatorial elections, which will hold on 25 February. Mr Okorie is expected to appeal his remand to enable him to come out of prison to continue with his campaign. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Berlin, 18 October 2022 A new UN report shows that womens and childrens health has suffered globally, as the impacts of conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change converge with devastating effects on prospects for children, young people and women. Data presented in the report show a critical regression across virtually every major measure of childhood wellbeing, and many key indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since the last Every Woman Every Child Progress Report published in 2020, food insecurity, hunger, child marriage, risks from intimate partner violence, and adolescent depression and anxiety have all increased. An estimated 25 million children were un- or under-vaccinated in 2021 6 million more than in 2019 increasing their risk of contracting deadly and debilitating diseases. Millions of children missed out on school during the pandemic, many for more than a year, while approximately 80% of children in 104 countries and territories experienced learning-loss because of school closures. Since the start of the global pandemic, 10.5 million children lost a parent or caregiver to COVID-19. At the core of our unkept promise is the failure to address the gaping inequities at the root of global crises, from the COVID-19 pandemic to conflicts and the climate emergency. The report describes the impacts of these crises on women, children and adolescents, from maternal mortality to education losses to severe malnutrition, said Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General. The report provides wide-ranging evidence that children and adolescents face wildly divergent chances of leading a healthy life simply based on where they are born, their exposure to conflict, and the economic circumstances of their families. For example: A child born in a low-income country has an average life expectancy at birth of around 63 years, compared to 80 in a high-income country. This devastating 17-year survival gap has changed little over recent years. In 2020, 5 million children died even before the age of 5, mostly from preventable or treatable causes. Meanwhile, most maternal, child, and adolescent deaths and stillbirths are concentrated in just two regions sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. More than 45 million children had acute malnutrition in 2020, a life-threatening condition which leaves them vulnerable to death, developmental delays and disease. Nearly three-quarters of these children live in lower-middle-income countries. A staggering 149 million children were stunted in 2020. Africa is the only region where the numbers of children affected by stunting increased over the past 20 years, from 54.4 million in 2000 to 61.4 million in 2020. The six countries with the highest numbers of internally displaced persons Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic and Yemen are also among the top 10 food insecure countries. A woman in sub-Saharan Africa has around a 130 times higher risk of dying from causes relating to pregnancy or childbirth than a woman in Europe or North America. Coverage of antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, and postnatal care is far from reaching all women in low- and middle- income countries, leaving them at elevated risk of death and disability. Millions of children and their families are experiencing poor physical and mental health from recent humanitarian disasters in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Somalia, Ukraine and Yemen. In 2021, a record 89.3 million people worldwide were driven from their homes by war, violence, persecution, and human rights abuse. The report calls upon the global community to address this damaging trajectory and protect the promises made to women, children, and adolescents in the Sustainable Development Goals. In particular, it advocates for countries to continue investing in health services, to address all crises and food insecurity, and empower women and young people around the world. The report, titled Protect the Promise, is published by global partners, including WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH) and Countdown to 2030, as a bi-annual summary of progress in response to the UN Secretary Generals Every Woman Every Child Global Strategy for Women, Childrens and Adolescents Health. The most comprehensive synthesis of evidence on the current state of maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, it updates the last Every Woman Every Child Global Strategy Progress Report published in 2020. Quote sheet: Almost three years on from the onset of COVID-19, the pandemics long-term impact on the health and well-being of women, children and adolescents is becoming evident: their chances for healthy and productive lives have declined sharply, said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. As the world emerges from the pandemic, protecting and promoting the health of women, children and young people is essential for supporting and sustaining the global recovery. The impacts of COVID-19, conflicts, and climate crises have raised the stakes for vulnerable communities, revealing the weaknesses and inequities in health care systems and reversing hard-won progress for women, children, and adolescents but we are not powerless to change this, said UNICEF Executive Catherine Russell. By investing in resilient, inclusive primary health care systems, jumpstarting routine immunization programmes, and strengthening the health workforce, we can make sure that every woman and every child can access the care they need to survive and thrive. There is a crisis of inequity that is piling on already increasing and compounding threats. In a world where too many children, adolescents and women are dying, equity, empowerment and access are what needs urgent focus, said H.E. Ms. Kersti Kaljulaid, Global Advocate for Every Woman Every Child and President of the Republic of Estonia, 2016-2021. We are calling on all to think and act broadly and profoundly to protect the promise. This promise refers not only to the commitments made in the Sustainable Development Goals, and all of the campaigns that followed, but also to the larger promise of potential that everyone is born with. Too often this promise remains unclaimed, or even denied. In the face of increasing political pushback against sexual and reproductive health and rights in many countries, women, children and adolescents today are left without many of the protections of just a decade ago, and many others still have not seen the progress they need, said Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNFPA Executive Director. Access to sexual and reproductive health services, including contraception, is a fundamental right that directly and acutely affects the ability of women and adolescent girls to thrive. We need to expand these rights and services to the most marginalized, leaving no one behind. The report advocates for countries to continue investing in health services, in all crises, and to re-imagine health systems that can truly reach every woman, child, and adolescent, no matter who they are or where they live, said the Rt. Hon Helen Clark, Board Chair of PMNCH (The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health) and former Prime Minister of New Zealand. Experts and world leaders are calling for more women in policy- and decision-making at every level, meaningful engagement with young people, and primary health care systems which deliver what people need when and where they need it most. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Akwa Ibom State, Mike Igini, has given reasons election rigging will be impossible in Nigeria in 2023. Mr Igini spoke when he appeared as a guest on Arise TVs The Morning Show on Wednesday. The former REC said some of the suggestions adduced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to tackle election rigging have been backed by the 2022 Electoral Law. He said the introduction of technology by the law, which eliminated manual accreditation and voting, has strengthened the electoral process in the country. The vote buying, we are talking about, who is telling you it is not going to happen? But people are going to lose their money, he said. Mr Igini, a lawyer, said some politicians who are scheming to rig the 2023 poll on the basis of the number of registered voters will be frustrated by the law, saying aside from the number of registered voters in the INEC database, a new register for accredited voters will be used for the general elections. So, those who are making permutation of victory (should) be careful because you may have millions in your local government area or state or anywhere or any region, (but) INEC does not deal with that anymore because Section 51 of the law has said that voting is based on the number of accredited voters, not the total number of registered voters anymore, he said. That window for rigging is gone. The former commissioner also said the adoption of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAs) as the machine for reading Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) and authenticating voters will eliminate chances of election rigging in the country. Look no more incident forms again in Nigeria. The commission is now doing bimodal accreditation. No individual Nigerian can bypass the BVAS. Without BVAS, you cannot vote in Nigeria anymore, he stated. He, however, said in the unlikely event that a voters fingers could not be confirmed, the voters face, PVCs bar code, unique personal identification number or the voters surname will be used for accreditation. He expressed concern that court judges may be used to reverse the use of the BVAs and other arrangements for the 2023 election by INEC. ALSO READ: Akpabio disowns professor jailed for rigging election for him The lawyer lamented that purchase of court judgments in secret has become a recurrent feature in the country in recent times. Nigerians are waiting for the judge that will give such an order (to sabotage electoral processes) either discreetly or publicly. Accept monies from politicians, but vote according to your conscience Mr Igini conceded that hunger and poverty are major factors encouraging vote buying in the country, but urged Nigerians to accept monies from vote buyers and still vote according to their conscience. He said INEC has resolved to keep its voting cubicles away from public glare to encourage secret balloting and protect voters from being monitored by the buyers. Take the money and go to the cubicle and vote (according to your conscience). INEC arrangement of the cubicle is going to be different now. People will lose their money. We are about to see the end of electoral rigging in Nigeria, he stated. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has travelled to Europe for business. His media adviser, Paul Ibe, made this known in a statement to journalists. Atiku, he said, travelled last night on a scheduled trip to meet with the technical partners of one of his business entities that was impacted by the Covid-19 global lockdown and the consequent economic downturn. The meeting will also focus on conclusive discussions for a planned expansion of its production facility, he added. Atikus trip comes amid criticisms from Nigerians and the opposition parties for abandoning campaign activities to tend to a personal matter. It also comes amid claims that the presidential candidate passed out at a rally and had to be flown to Europe immediately for treatment. Pictures shared by some of Atikus supporters on social media on Tuesday showed the PDP presidential flagbearer, alongside former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, his campaign spokesperson and former senator, Dino Melaye, and some other people who they said are business partners. Atiku had embarked on the trip shortly after his visit to Kaduna State where the PDP met with some northern leaders and held a campaign rally. PREMIUM TIMES reported how supporters of the party were attacked by suspected thugs during the rally. The thugs, according to s former Kaduna senator, Shehu Sani, stormed the location with knives and machetes. The party accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of sponsoring the thugs to attack its supporters. They blamed the Kaduna State Government and the APC governorship candidate, Uba Sani, for being behind it, describing it as a desperate move by the ruling party to destroy the PDP because the people have chosen the latter. The PDP is expected to take its campaign train to Edo State later in the week. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Federal High Court in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has dismissed a suit filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the former candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ladi Adebutu and his running mate, Adekunle Akinlade. The court had nullified the primary election of the party which produced Messrs Adebutu and Akinlade as candidate and running mate. The APC had sued the candidate and running mate of the opposition party in the state claiming that Mr Akinlade did not resign his membership of the APC before he became the running mate to Mr Adebutu of the PDP. The applicant also said that Mr Akinlade, having contested the governorship ticket of the APC, was not qualified to be the deputy governorship candidate of the PDP in the 2023 election. The APC through its counsel, Habeeb Ajayi, in suit number FHC/AB/CS/149/22 prayed the court to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disqualify the PDP from presenting a candidate for the 2023 election. At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, the APC backtracked as its counsel told the court that the applicant wanted to withdraw the case. In his argument, the lead counsel to the defendants, Mike Ozekhome, prayed the court to dismiss the suit inspite of what it called the hurried notice of discontinuance filed by the APC when it knew it has lost the case. In his ruling, the judge, Joyce Malik, dismissed the suit and awarded N2 million cost each in favour of all the defendants Messrs Adebutu, Akinlade and the PDP, making a total of N6 million. The court further warned that parties should desist from approaching the court with frivolous matters. In his reaction, Mr Akinlade said it is the turn of APC to take its own sucker punch. We hope they will have the stomach to hold the impact as the day of reckoning is counting down. Mr Akinlade who spoke through a press statement signed by his media aide, Azeez Adelani, assured that all the candidates of the PDP will contest the 2023 elections in Ogun State and victory is certain. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, has reopened the case of assault levelled against the Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar. Chairman of the Senate panel, Ayo Akinyelure, who addressed journalists on the matter on Wednesday in Abuja, said the case against Mr Umar had been reopened. The CCT Chairman was seen in a viral video, allegedly assaulting Clement Sargwak at the Bannex Plaza in Wuse 2, on 29 March, 2021 . In seeking redress, the victim filed a petition against Mr Umar through his lawyers to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition to investigate. In his address, chairman of the committee said that: There was a petition against the CCT Chairman that he assaulted a young Nigerian, Sargwak. The Senate believes that nobody is above the law. Both the young and the old voted for us to represent their interest in the National Assembly. The CCT Chairman infringed on the right of a young Nigerian who had no money to approach the court, brought his petition to the Senate. Rather than appearing before our committee, Umar went to court claiming that the Senate had no right to put him on trial. The Senate suspended the hearing on the matter till the outcome of the judgment. The High Court has now ruled the Senate has the right to continue the case. The Senate decided to reopen the case because it was a declarative judgment. He was to appear before us today but instead, came with court papers claiming that he had appealed the judgment. He has now told us through his lawyer that he will never appear before the Senate Committee because the matter is already before the Court of Appeal. Instead of apologising to the victim and his family, and possibly settle the bills of their lawyers, he believes that he could use his position to suppress justice. We will never allow it, Mr Akinyelure said. NAN reports that Mr Umar had included in the suit as stated in the originating summons dated 13 July, 2021, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions as well as the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami . In the suit with file no FHC/ABJ/ CS/671/2021, Mr Umar is challenging Senates Constitutional power to conduct investigation and purpose for which it is exercisable. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Muhammadu Buhari will, on 21 October, confer an award of excellence in public service on the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Simbi Wabote. Mr Wabote, an engineer, has been nominated for the Distinguished Capacity Development Award at the forthcoming Nigeria Excellence in Public Service Awards to be conferred by Mr Buhari, according to a statement from the NCDMB Corporate Communications. Dr. Nnamdi Mbaeri, Permanent Secretary, General Services Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said in a letter that the award would be bestowed on Mr Wabote and other deserving Nigerians. The award ceremony will take place at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja. The Executive Secretary is getting the award for the outstanding strides he accomplished, particularly in human and infrastructural development since he was appointed as the helmsman of NCDMB in September 2016 and got reappointed in 2020. The accomplishments are in furtherance of the mandate of NCDMB, as enshrined in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act. They include providing capacity-building opportunities for over 13,000 Nigerians in various skill areas resulting in over 12 million training manhours and championing the construction and commissioning of NCDMB 17-Storey headquarters with a 1000-seater conference auditorium and multi-level car park in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The edifice was constructed in five years by an indigenous contractor and provided opportunities for artisanal skills development and capacity-building for Nigerians as well as creating over 250 employment positions for the host community. Other notable achievements recorded by Mr Wabote in the past six years include the successful partnership with Waltersmith Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited to develop and commission a 5000 barrels per day (bpd) modular refinery in Ibigwe, Imo State, and investments in modular refineries like Azikel Groups12,000 bpd hydro-skimming modular refinery in Polaku, Bayelsa State; Atlantic International Refinerys 2000 barrels plant in Brass, Bayelsa State, and Duport Midstreams 2,500 bpd modular refinery in Edo State. These investments created over 3000 jobs in the refining value chain and ensured value addition to Nigerias crude oil, grew our domestic refining capacity and curbed pipeline vandalism. The successes in capacity development also extend to the construction of two oil and gas parks in Bayelsa and Cross River States designed to spur the manufacturing of critical oil and gas equipment, tools and spare parts in Nigeria. The parks are due for completion in Q1 2023 and would create over 2000 jobs each. Mr Wabote also championed the construction and donation of an ultra-modern vocational school to the University of Ibadan and renovated and equipped the Government Technical College Abak, Akwa Ibom State, and Technical College Amoli, Awgu Local Government Area, Enugu State. The Executive Secretary also championed the donation of over 35 ICT centres and science laboratories to secondary schools across the country to enhance the quality of Information, Communication Technology (ICT) and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. Under his leadership, NCDMB grew the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund to a US$ 500million fund and disbursed it effectively as credit to Nigerian oil and gas service companies and community contractors, with single-digit interest. This enabled local oil and gas service companies to build human and technical capacities to provide hi-tech services in the oil and gas industry, compete effectively with their international counterpart and create thousands of jobs for Nigerians. Other standout achievements include the partnership with investors to catalyse critical projects in the gas value-chain, in line with President Buharis declaration of the year 2021 2030 as Nigerias Decade of Gas. Some of the NCDMBs third party investments under his leadership include LPG Composite cylinders manufacturing facilities; Gas Processing Plants; Gas Gathering hub and LPG Storage and Loading Terminal Facilities. The Board is also partnering with investors to establish gas processing plants, Inland LPG terminal and Smart Gas/Smoke Detector Alarm devices and a Base Oil Production plant. Prior to this award, the Executive Secretary has been conferred with several international and national awards, including a global award conferred by the organisers of African Oil Week (AOW) in November 2018 for his outstanding contributions to sustainable local content development in Nigeria and across the African oil and gas industry. He was also honoured in August 2019 as the Transformational Business Leader in Public Sector by the Business Leadership Awards, organised by the BusinessDay Newspapers and bagged the Local Content Development Achievement Award from the Oil and Gas Trainers Association (OGTAN) in April 2018 in recognition of the remarkable achievements he led the Board to record in less than two years of his assumption of duty. He was equally recognised as the Regulator of the Year at the 2021 Vanguard Personality of the Year Award and received the African Local Content Icon Award by the 2021 African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA) organized by the African Leadership Magazine. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print NTFONJENI Parents of pupils at Sobokazane High School want the head teacher out. Sobokazane High School is one of the best-performing schools in the country. It was constructed through funding provided by the government of Japan. It is situated around Hhelehhele under Ntfonjeni Inkhundla. The head teacher, Faith Mohale, was recently appointed to the school and she has been there for about two months. Yesterday, about 100 parents attended a meeting after concerns that their children were acting strangely as they would often roll on the ground and start hallucinating. This is said to have been happening since last Wednesday. Hallucination They said during their state of hallucination, the children rolled on the ground and behaved strangely. Some allegedly hallucinated while others ran around, with one of the pupils jumping over a fence. The parents took turns complaining during the meeting, saying that they were not happy with the head teacher because she had not shown concern about the state of the children. They alleged that despite the children behaving in the way they did, the head teacher remained in the office and did not attend to them. One of the parents, however, expressed concern that though they were not happy with the head teacher, she should at least be allowed to continue within the school until the end of the year. If we ask her to leave now, this will disturb the learning process, said the parent. A teacher, who was sitting in for the head teacher, also told the parents that they should remember that when the head teacher was away, it was difficult to run the school. She said this was because she was responsible for signing important documents and also authorising purchases. If we run out of essential commodities, no one will sign and we will not be able to run the school without her, said the teacher. However, a majority of the parents continued to demand that the head teacher should leave the school by Friday. The Chairperson of the school committee, Pastor Lucky Ndlovu, told the parents that the head teacher was indisposed. This was after some parents demanded that she should have been part of the meeting. Ndlovu told the parents it would be wrong for the committee to fetch the head teacher if she had reported being ill. It would be an offence and that is against labour laws, said the chairperson. He then said since the parents appeared to have different views on what should be done, they can decide through a vote. Nearly all the parents decided that the head teacher should pack her belongings and leave the school premises. The police in Edo State have arrested Austine Ekhigiator, 33, for allegedly stealing four prepaid meters in Azagba community, Uhumwode Local Government Area of the state. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the suspect, who lives at No 4 Erediawa Street, Sapele Road, Benin, was apprehended by the Egba Divisional Police Headquarters. Mr Ekhigiator, alongside three accomplices now at large, allegedly stole meters installed on electric poles in the area. The residents of the community arrested the suspect and handed him over to the police. The Chief Security Officer of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Gilbert Nweke, said the suspect was not a staff member of the BEDC. The suspect worked with the contractor engaged by the Federal Government to install its National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) in Edo. Luck ran out of him and he was apprehended. They sent a message to us and we came. He has confessed to doing the illegal acts. So, we took him and handed him over to the police. His accomplices who are on the run will be tracked by the long arm of the law. We want to appeal to the public to be very alert to when people come around that they want to repair their meter, usually they end up stealing the meters, Mr Nweke said. Gladys Evbodaghe, a victim of such theft, said the suspect came to her house in the company of two other men to repair her meter unknown to her that they had removed the meter from the box. The suspects and his accomplices always say to meter owners they wanted to correct errors on the meter, pretending to be BEDC staff. They will climb the pole and remove the meter, put it in their bag and cover it back and tell the owner that it has been repaired. I reported the matter at the Egba police station. Some members of the Egba community arrested one of the suspects that stole my meter and they handed him over to the police. I want my meter back because I do not want estimated billing, she said. When NAN visited Egba Police Station, an officer confirmed the arrest, saying the police were on the trail of others who were at large. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jimi Agbaje, has denied rumours that he has joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). A spokesperson for Mr Agbaje, Modupe Ogunbayo, described the rumours in a statement to PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday as misinformation. The statement was reacting to a viral WhatsApp message, which began circulating this week, that Mr Agbaje, a pharmacist, had rejoined the APC. Im fully back in APC to join our Southwest leaders as well as progressive family and friends in Lagos State, the message read. The awalokan 2023 is a project that both young and old in all the nooks and crannies of the Southwest should be embraced. On this note, I sincerely join APC from the major opposition party (PDP) to add my strength. I believe Its time to support and also to appreciate Senator Asiwaju Bola Ahmed TINUBU as next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the forthcoming Presidential election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Ms Ogunbayo said Mr Agbaje, who has been a member of the party since 2011, remains a resolute and loyal member of the PDP. It has never crossed the mind of Mr Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje, to leave the PDP where he is unobtrusively but assiduously collaborating with other party faithfuls to achieve party objectives especially, victory for the party in the 2023 elections, the statement read. This stinking pit of a rumour that he has left the PDP for any other party is frivolous mischief and patently false. The general public is dearly enjoined to treat this misinformation with deserved disdain. Mr Agbaje had previously contested for the Lagos governorship seat. He lost in all three attempts. It is not the first time that rumours of Mr Agbajes defection would saturate the social media space. In July, claims of his defection to the APC went viral online, but he would put out a tweet to dismiss it. Eyin ko lo kan o. Nigerians lokan. Jimi Agbaje PDP, (Its not your turn, its Nigerians turn) he had tweeted in Yoruba, subtly referencing Bola Tinubus popular speech earlier this year in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Only subscribers with PAID Print or E-Edition subscriptions please enter here to gain access. If you are not already a Paid subscriber do not go through this portal. Please return to the subscription page to purchase one of our offers. Thank you! Increase in prevalence of liver disease such as portal hypertension, Budd-Chirai Syndrome, hepatorenal syndrome, and others and development of new TIPS devices by large number of key players drive the growth of the global transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt market. PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) Market by Device Type (Stents, Accessories), by Application (Portal hypertension, Budd Chiari Syndrome, Others), by End User (Hospitals, Specialty Clinics, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031." According to the report, the global transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) industry generated $93.4 million in 2021, and is estimated to reach $127.9 million by 2031, manifesting a CAGR of 3.2% from 2022 to 2031. Download Free Sample Report (206 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, Figures): https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/31879 Prime determinants of growth Increase in prevalence of liver disease such as portal hypertension, Budd-Chirai Syndrome, hepatorenal syndrome, and others, rise in risk of organ failure, and development of new TIPS devices by large number of key players drive the growth of the global transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt market. Moreover, rise in incidence of portal vein thrombosis and other liver diseases among geriatric population and surge in demand for TIPS surgery due to shortage of organ donors supplement the market growth. Also, rise in number of product approvals creates new opportunities in the coming years. Covid-19 Scenario The Covid-19 outbreak made a negative impact on the growth of the global transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) market. Lockdown restrictions imposed by the governments and cancellation or postponement of elective surgical procedures in hospitals reduced the adoption of surgical devices for TIPS surgery. Owing to lockdown restrictions and supply chain disruptions, there were hindrances in manufacturing of various device types such as stents and accessories. However, these hindrances are expected to be overcome and surgeries are expected to continue post-pandemic. The hospitals segment to maintain its leadership position throughout the forecast period Based on end user, the hospitals segment accounted for the largest market share in 2021, contributing to around four-fifths of the global transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt market, and is estimated to maintain its leadership position throughout the forecast period. This is due to rise in number of hospital admissions and increase in demand for TIPS devices across hospitals. However, the specialty clinics segment is expected to manifest the largest CAGR of 3.9% from 2022 to 2031. This is due to surge in demand for special treatment, increase in number of such facilities across developed and emerging countries, and the presence of well-trained medical staff in specialty clinics. Purchase Inquiry: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/31879 The stents segment to continue its leadership in terms of revenue throughout the forecast period Based on device type, the stents segment contributed to the highest market share in 2021, accounting for nearly three-fifths of the global transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt market, and will continue its leadership in terms of revenue throughout the forecast period. Moreover, this segment is estimated to register the largest CAGR of 3.5% during the forecast period. This is attributed to strong portfolio for stents with key market players, increase in R&D activities in the medical device industry, and rise in demand for TIPS devices. The report also analyzes the accessories segment. The portal hypertension segment to continue its leadership status throughout the forecast period Based on application, the portal hypertension segment held the highest market share in 2021, accounting for more than four-fifths of the global transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt market, and will continue its leadership in terms of revenue throughout the forecast period. Moreover, this segment is estimated to witness at the largest CAGR of 3.3% from 2022 to 2031. This is attributed to increase in number of cases of portal hypertension and rise in demand for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) among patients. The report also discusses the segments including Budd Chiari Syndrome and others. North America to continue its dominant share throughout the forecast period Based on region, North America held the largest market share in 2021, accounting for more than two-fifths of the global transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt market, and is projected to continue its dominant share throughout the forecast period. This is attributed to rise in number of liver surgeries, the presence of key players, development of the healthcare sector, and offering of innovative TIPS devices in the region. However, Asia-Pacific is estimated to witness at the fastest CAGR of 5.0% from 2022 to 2031, owing to rise in use for lifetime support, development of healthcare infrastructure, and expanding presence of major market players across the region. The research also analyzes regions including Europe and LAMEA. Leading Market Players Boston Scientific Corporation Becton, Dickinson and Company Angiodynamics, Inc. Cook Medical, Inc. Neuromedex GmbH W.L Gore & Associates, Inc. Terumo Medical Corporation Trending Reports in Healthcare Industry (Book Now with 10% Discount): In Vitro Diagnostics Market By Product And Services (Reagents, Instruments, Software And Services), by Technique (Immunodiagnostics, Hematology, Molecular Diagnostics, Tissue Diagnostics, Clinical Chemistry, Others), by Application (Infectious Diseases, Cancer, Cardiac Diseases, Immune System Disorders, Nephrological Diseases, Gastrointestinal Diseases, Others), by End User (Standalone Laboratories, Hospitals, Academic And Medical Schools, Point Of Care, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030 Telemedicine Market by Application (Teleradiology, Telepsychiatry, Telepathology, Teledermatology, Telecardiology and Other Applications), Component (Software, Hardware and Services), and End User (Healthcare Providers, Payers, Healthcare Consumers and Other End Users): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030 Medical Spa Market by Service (Body Shaping, Hair Removal, Facial Treatment, Tattoo Removal, Scars & Striae, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030 Vaccines Market by Technology Type (Recombinant & Conjugate Vaccines, Live Attenuated Vaccines, Inactivated Vaccines, Toxoid Vaccines, and Other Vaccines), Indication (Pneumococcal Disease, Influenza, Human Papilloma Virus, Meningococcal Disease, Rotavirus, Varicella, Measles, Mumps, & Rubella {MMR}, Diphtheria, Pertussis, & Tetanus {DPT}, Polio, Hepatitis, and Other Indications), and End User (Pediatric, Adults, and Travelers): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031 Gene Therapy Market by Vector Type (Viral Vector, Non Viral Vector), by Therapy (In Vivo Therapy, Ex Vivo Therapy), by Gene Type (Antigen, Cytokine, Tumor Suppressor, Suicide, Deficiency, Growth factors, Receptors, Others), by Application (Oncological Disorders, Rare Diseases, Neurological Disorders, Other Diseases): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030 About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. 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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 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 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/reports-store/life-sciences Follow Us on Blog: https://www.globalhealthcareindustry.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Allied Market Research South Africa: Work continues in confronting GBV, Femicide Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu says the rights of women and girls to live free from violence depends on the protection of their human rights and a strong accountability, coordination and leadership. The Minister said that violence against women and girls is an extreme manifestation of toxic masculinities, gender inequality and systemic gender-based discrimination Zulu was delivering a keynote address at the Indaba of the National Shelter Movement of South Africa held in Johannesburg on Wednesday. The South African Government has ratified a number of international and regional gender-related conventions and treaties, and has developed and reviewed several GBV-related laws, policies, and plans. These include strengthening the capacity of the criminal justice system and introducing new pieces of legislation to ensure a victim- and survivor-centred responsive criminal justice system and care and support services, she said. Minister Zulu explained that the 2019 - 2024 National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide is meant to accelerate the whole-of-government and the whole-of-society efforts to enhance responsiveness in all dimensions. Founded on the inaugural Presidential Summit on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, the National Strategic Plan provides for a coordinated and strong action-oriented plan that is based on six pillars for all partners in the sector. Zulu said her portfolio is responsible for the implementation of pillar four among the six. This pillar enjoins us to deliver programmes that speak to response, care, support and healing. To these programmatic categories I must add the empowerment of survivors because this is the missing element that is necessary for women to break free from the imminently-deadly vicious cycle of abuse, the minister said. The Minister lauded shelters for playing a crucial role in providing a safe space for survivors of gender-based violence long before the National Strategic Plan came into place. Social Development is governments lead department in providing the much-needed financial support to organisations that assist survivors of abuse across the country. In the current financial year, the Minister said, the national and provincial departments of Social Development have allocated a sum of R200 million to support organisations that are rendering shelter services. She said an additional R100 million will be allocated in the next financial year so that organisations can continue to provide the desperately needed care and support services. We will continue our close collaboration and support to civil society organisations that provide essential services to victims and survivors of gender-based violence so that you can retain the means in place to support and empower the survivors of gender-based violence. We will also continue working with and empowering survivors who suffer multiple and intersecting forms of violence with the intention to empower them and to ensure that their lived experiences are taken into consideration in the development of responsive policies and programmes, the minister said. The Minister told the Indaba that government is making positive progress in the implementation of the key recommendations of the inaugural indaba and in addressing policy gaps that were identified by the Commission on Gender Equality. On the legislative front, she said the department is awaiting the final instructions from the Office of the State Law Adviser before they take the Victim Support Services Bill back to Parliament for processing. The Bill seeks to uphold the rights of the survivors of gender-based violence by way of placing them at the front and centre of the criminal justice system. While others argue that legislation alone is not enough to address the challenge of gender-based violence, I strongly believe that this Bill will make a significant contribution to the work of civil society organisations that provide support services to the survivors. On this note, I would like to commend you all for your invaluable contribution to the development of this Bill, Zulu said. As part of the departments wider initiatives to support the survivors of gender-based violence, Minister Zulu said they strive to improve the psycho-social support services that they are rendering through the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre. The centre is providing a 24/7 toll free line that is dedicated to providing trauma counselling services and is equipped with geolocation services to enable quick referral services and the Skype line to assist the deaf community. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-10-19. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. ADEN, Yemen, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's pro-government forces on Saturday continued anti-terror military operations in the southern province of Abyan, a security official told Xinhua. The troops raided the al-Qaida terrorist group's strongholds in various areas of the province in recent days, killing 24 armed al-Qaida members, the local security source said on condition of anonymity. "The troops launched on Saturday the fourth phase of the anti-terror campaign aimed at pushing their elements out of the whole province," the source added. He said al-Qaida militants were evicted in four districts following weeks of deadly fighting, adding that 32 soldiers were killed and 40 others wounded in operations in the past several days. The pro-government forces backed by Saudi Arabia also continued their operations against al-Qaida militants in other southern areas, according to the official. On Tuesday, military units of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), which are part of Yemen's government, attacked al-Qaida hideouts and positions in various mountainous areas of turbulent Abyan, making headway on the ground. Last month, the STC troops launched a major anti-terror operation code-named "Arrows of the East" in Abyan to combat terrorist groups. The Yemen-based al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) network has been responsible for many high-profile attacks against the security forces in the country's southern provinces. The AQAP has exploited years of deadly conflict between the Yemeni government and Houthi militia to expand its presence in the war-ravaged Arab country. MANZINI Yet another delayed payment of salaries for University of Eswatini (UNESWA) employees. The university has issued an internal memo notifying the employees about the delay. Released by the Registrar, Dr Salebona Simelane yesterday, he highlighted that the October 2022 staff salaries will be delayed due to shortage of funds. Dr Simelane said efforts to address the matter were underway. The registrar stated that any inconvenience caused was regretted. He did not divulge further on the matter. Worth noting is that UNESWA employees get remunerated on the 19th of every month. In August, the university released a memo notifying employees about the delay in salaries. Dr Simelane attributed the delay to insufficient financial resources. However, he assured that every effort would be made to ensure that the salaries were paid by next Friday August 26, 2022. Unacceptable Meanwhile, the Association of Lecturers, Academic and Administrative Personnel (ALAAP) General Secretary (SG), Dr Mduduzi Shongwe said the association noted with disappointment the contents, having said it was unacceptable to the hardworking members of the ALAAP. Shongwe stated that it was deplorable that such communication was made on the eve of pay day, which caught members off guard.This will cause serious prejudice and repercussions to members, both financially and psychologically. Consequently, ALAAP views your emorandum with the highest contempt it deserves, he said. The SG further highlighted that not only was managements conduct unlawful and inhumane, but also violated the terms and conditions of service. For this reason, should ALAAP members not get their well deserved remuneration on time, it will be regrettably impossible for them to execute their duties, Dr Shongwe said. Further, he disclosed that following negotiations on cost-of-living adjustment (CoLA) with the university about a fortnight ago, they did not find each other on the negotiations table. Shongwe said the reason was that members stated that they were willing to go down to three per cent and accept, only if they notched. He noted that members had not notched since 2018. The SG also disclosed that in response, management stated that they had no money for notching and that was where they did not see eye-to-eye. Therefore, we entered a cooling off period of 14 days, which ended yesterday. Our Recognition Agreement says after the 14 days, we have to meet again to see if we now find each other. We have been asking for that meeting since last week, management is now refusing to commit on a meeting date, he said. Meanwhile, Dr Shongwe alluded that they would continue with lunch pickets to express their dissatisfaction with the stalling of the talks at the negotiations table. He said they would consult members to recharge the mandate on what to do if management continued to avoid the table. Otherwise, if in the next meeting, we still dont find each other, we have to agree on a deadlock and then we go back to our members to get a mandate to start the Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CMAC) process that builds towards a legal strike. We honestly dont want to get there as we believe we can still find each other if we negotiate, he mentioned. Surge in operations in commercial aviation, increase in the demand for fuel efficiency, rise in the adoption of electric actuators, remarkable surge in air travel activities & air traffic across the globe are expected to drive the growth of the global aircraft actuators market. PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report titled, "Aircraft Actuators Market by Application (Commercial Aviation, Military Aviation, Business and General Aviation, Unmanned), by Wing Type (Fixed Wing, Rotary Wing), by Type (Linear, Rotary), by End Use (OEM, Aftermarket): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031." As per the report, the global aircraft actuators industry was estimated at $14.5 billion in 2021, and is set to reach $24.1 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.4% from 2022 to 2031. The report offers a detailed analysis of changing market trends, top segments, key investment pockets, value chains, regional landscapes, and competitive scenarios. Download FREE Report Sample (346 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, Figures) at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2464 Drivers, Restraints and Opportunities Surge in operations in commercial aviation, increase in the demand for fuel efficiency, rise in the adoption of electric actuators, remarkable surge in air travel activities & air traffic across the globe are expected to drive the growth of the global aircraft actuators market. In addition, increase in military expenditure, and persistent technological advancements in aircrafts in both developing and developed economies are expected to create ample opportunities for the growth of the global aircraft actuator market. COVID-19 Scenario The outbreak of the COVID-19 has had a negative impact on the growth of the global aircraft actuator market, owing to the occurrence of lockdowns in various countries across the globe. Lockdowns resulted in the closure of various manufacturing facilities, including those of aircraft actuators, which adversely impacted its demand. In addition, reduction in flight travel among people and cancellation of both domestic and international flights in various countries further aggravated the impact on the market. Furthermore, shortage of raw materials due to strict trade restrictions additionally impacted the growth of the market. These restrictions were imposed by the government so as to curb the spread of the virus during the pandemic. The commercial aviation segment to lead the trail Based on application, the commercial aviation segment held the largest market share in 2021, holding more than one-third of the global aircraft actuators market share, and is expected to retain its dominant status during the forecast period. In addition, the same region is expected to cite the fastest CAGR of 6.4% during the forecast period. The growth of this segment is mainly due to surge in use of actuator in power generation & transmission systems of commercial aircraft. The report also analyses other segments of the market such as Military Aviation, Business and General Aviation, and Unmanned. The OEM segment to cite the fastest CAGR Based on end-use, the OEM segment held the largest market share in 2021, holding more than four-fifths of the global aircraft actuators market share, and is expected to retain its dominant status during the forecast period. In addition, the same segment is expected to cite the fastest CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period. The growth of this segment is mainly due to increase in aircraft orders from aircraft manufacturers because of rise in air traffic. The report also analyses other segments of the market such as the aftermarket segment. The Fixed Wing segment to lead the trail Based on wing type, the fixed wing segment held the dominating market share in 2021, holding nearly two-thirds of the global aircraft actuators market share, and is expected to retain its dominant status during the forecast period. In addition, same segment is expected to cite the fastest CAGR of 5.8% during the forecast period. Fixed wing aviation is the largest and fastest growing segment owing to rise in use of fixed wing aircraft in the military sector. The report also analyses other segments of the market such as the rotary wing segment. The Asia-Pacific region to hold lion's share of the global market during forecast period Based on region, the market across Asia-Pacific region held the dominating market share in 2021, holding more than one-third of the global aircraft actuators market share, and is expected to retain its dominant status during the forecast period. In addition, the same region is expected to cite the fastest CAGR of 5.9% during the forecast period. The immaculate growth of the market in this region is primarily due to rise in demand for adoption and enhancement of aircraft performance systems and increase in demand for air travel in the region. Interested to Procure the Data with Actionable Strategy & Insights? Inquire Before Buying - https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/2464 Key Market Players: AMETEK, Inc. Astronics Corporation Curtiss-Wright Corporation Eaton Corporation Plc Honeywell International Inc ITT Inc. Liebherr-International AG MOOG Inc. Nabtesco Corporation Raytheon Technologies Corporation Saab AB Safran SA itec Aerospace GmbH Tamagawa Seiki Co., Ltd. Woodward, Inc. The report analyzes these key players in the global aircraft actuator market. These players have implemented key business strategies such as strategic expansion, new product launches, alliances, and joint ventures for enhancing market penetration and reinforcing their position in the industry. The report helps the target audience in determining the market performance, performance of each segment, product portfolio development in the market, and contributions made by each player to the market expansion. Access the Statistical Data and Graphs, Key Players Strategies - https://bit.ly/3Tdr3qW Similar Reports We Have on Aerospace Industry: Aircraft Electrical Actuators Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202030 Aircraft Hydraulic Actuators Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202030 Aircraft Pneumatic Actuators Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202030 Automotive Actuators Market by Type, Application Type, Vehicle Type, Research Report, 2017-2030 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] Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/reports-store/aerospace-and-defence Follow Our Blog: www.theinnovativereport.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Allied Market Research IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Animal Dermatology Group, Inc. ("ADG"), announced the acquisition of Animal Dermatology Referral Clinic, the premier veterinary dermatology practice servicing the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With offices in Dallas and Grapevine, Texas, the Animal Dermatology Referral Clinic ("ADRC") medical team includes four Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology and has served the needs of pets, pet parents and referring veterinarians in the Dallas/Fort Worth and north Texas area for over 20 years. The ADRC team, led by Dr. Reid Garfield and Dr. Dennis Crow, is excited to grow and expand as part of ADG and its exclusive emphasis in specialty of veterinary dermatology. Animal Dermatology Group partners with leading veterinary dermatology specialty centers in the Dallas-Fort Worth market Tweet this "ADG is an ideal partner for us because we know their focus and passion is the very same as ours, the care and treatment of pets suffering from difficult dermatological conditions," stated Dr. Garfield. Dr. Crow agreed, stating "Its this shared dedication to animal health and the advancements in our field that makes ADG the perfect partner for us." The addition of ADRC marks ADG's fourth significant acquisition this year. In the past few months, ADG has added practices in the northeast (NY, NJ), the southeast (NC, SC, GA, FL) as well as Texas, and the ADG medical team has grown to over 60 board certified veterinary dermatologists, dermatology associates and dermatology residents throughout the country engaged exclusively in research, education and the clinical practice of veterinary dermatology. Steven Mrha, ADG's Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are excited to welcome the dedicated professionals at Animal Dermatology Referral Clinic to the ADG family. The leadership they have shown in our field for more than two decades will help us immensely as we continually strive to provide best in class care and service to our patients, clients and veterinary referral partners." About Animal Dermatology Group Animal Dermatology Group is the largest veterinary dermatology business in the U.S., providing the highest quality care to pets with acute and chronic skin conditions. ADG has over 60 veterinarians supporting more than 40 primary and satellite locations where its specialists are actively involved in providing clinical care, research and academic training. For more information, please visit www.animaldermatology.com. SOURCE Animal Dermatology Clinic Management Group, Inc. Managing complex regulatory requirements with native app Recording Insights HOSBACH, Germany, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ASC, a leading provider of financial compliance solutions, today announced that Recording Insights is the first solution for compliance recording and analytics to be listed in the Microsoft Cloud for Financial Services. Recording Insights is a certified, native-built Microsoft Teams app that seamlessly integrates with Microsoft Dynamics 365 and scales across Microsoft Azure's global infrastructure. It reliably captures all communications and leverages leading AI and analytics tools to bring full transparency and automation to compliance processes within Microsoft Teams. As Teams becomes increasingly important as a platform for financial services ASC and Microsoft have been working together to make regulatory compliance as easy as possible via a Teamsbased compliance recording and analytics app. Recording Insights was created specifically for this process, leveraging and expanding upon Teams' suite of compliance features to ensure that both ASC and Microsoft clients have the tools to meet ever-evolving and stricter regulatory compliance measures. Since its launch, Recording Insights has become an essential tool for financial institutions needing to meet legal regulations, prevent fraud, and effectively manage risk. Closing Compliance Gaps and Leveraging Insights Due to regulations such as Dodd-Frank, PCI-DSS or MiFID II, particularly financial institutions are legally obligated to capture all consultation calls and professional advice. Recording Insights records and archives omni-channel communication in compliance with the law directly in Teams. By connecting Recording Insights with the Microsoft Cloud for Financial Services users benefit of AI-based analytics capabilities bringing deeper insights about customer interactions to where it is needed. "Our mission is to provide rich compliance for financial services customers natively in their Microsoft environment", said Dr. Gerald Kromer, CEO at ASC. "By integrating Recording Insights with the Microsoft Cloud for Financial Services, we are able to provide compliance insights about customer interactions right within the financial customers' workflow." Chad Hamblin, Director, Financial Services, Microsoft, said, "Recording Insights enables proactive compliance management by providing leading call-recording compliance capabilities combined with the strong first-party compliance capabilities of the Microsoft Cloud for Financial Services. Additionally, the seamless integration between Recording Insights and Microsoft Teams allows financial services organizations to more seamlessly track, record, and catalog conversations and interaction for compliance purposes. Along with ASC, we are excited to provide a differentiated set of compliance management capabilities for financial services organizations." About ASC CONTACT. ASC Technologies AG Daniel Benic, Head of Marketing Seibelstrae 2-4 Phone +49 6021 5001 - 224 63768 Hosbach Fax +49 6021 5001 310 Germany [email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1895604/ASC_Cloud_Solutions_Logo.jpg SOURCE ASC Cloud Solutions Consumers, including Medicare beneficiaries, advised to be on alert BOSTON, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (Blue Cross) is cautioning members to be vigilant, as scams offering free durable medical equipment (DME) and pharmacy products are on the rise. "While these types of scams have been around for years, the uptick in telemedicine usage during the COVID-19 pandemic is causing a resurgence in fraud," said Jennifer Stewart, senior director for fraud investigation and prevention at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Medicare beneficiaries and patients who've had a recent injury or surgery are often targeted by scammers. In many cases, the perpetrators solicit physicians to sign off on unnecessary orders or prescriptions, such as back braces or pain cream, which are then improperly billed to a patient's health insurer. Avoiding Fraud Medical equipment and pharmacy products that are not properly prescribed to patients are potentially dangerous, said Stewart. In fact, some may not even be authorized by the FDA. "Members should treat their medical information like their credit card number and if they're unsure, they should call their clinician to confirm if a service or product is necessary," Stewart noted. She also recommends reviewing medical statements carefully to ensure accuracy and reporting any discrepancies. For Clinicians and Health Plans Clinicians should encourage patients to report any suspicious activity to Medicare, their health plan, and law enforcement, explained Stewart. "With any health care scam, everyone pays the price whether you know it or not," added Martin Flood, senior investigator for fraud investigation and prevention at Blue Cross. "In addition to the financial consequences, these scams have the potential to jeopardize patient health and result in long-term complications. It's everyone's job to be more vigilant." Monitoring for Fraud Stewart emphasized that Blue Cross' fraud departments work together to monitor claims for suspected fraud and alert government agencies if needed. "Once we start shutting down these claims and not paying them, these fraudulent organizations disappear quickly. However, they typically move on to new targets which proves that we all need to remain vigilant," said Stewart. Reporting Suspected Fraud Blue Cross members who suspect, experience or witness health care fraud should report the information by calling the number on the back of their member identification card. Consumers who are not Blue Cross members can call the company's fraud reporting hotline at 1-877-327-BLUE (2583). Federal employees and retirees can report potential health care fraud by calling 1-800-337-8440. About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (http://www.bluecrossma.org) is a community-focused, tax-paying, not-for-profit health plan headquartered in Boston. We are committed to the relentless pursuit of quality, affordable and equitable health care with an unparalleled consumer experience. Consistent with our promise to always put our members first, we are rated among the nation's best health plans for member satisfaction and quality. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Buck , an integrated HR, pensions, and benefits consulting, technology, and administration services firm, today announced that David Scharf, a principal in the Wealth practice at Buck, has been named President-elect of the Conference of Consulting Actuaries (CCA). As President-elect, Scharf will provide direction on the CCA's strategic plan and serve as Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee and as a member of the Leadership Team. Scharf, an industry veteran with more than 30 years' experience advising clients on their employee benefits programs, is a Fellow of the Conference of Consulting Actuaries (FCA), an Enrolled Actuary (EA), and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries (MAAA). Most recently, he served as Vice President Continuing Education for the CCA and has held a variety of leadership positions within the organization since joining in 2000. Additionally, he serves on the Network of Actuarial Women and Allies (NAWA) Partnership Committee and participated in a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) research study on nonqualified deferred compensation plans. "The CCA recognizes that advancing the actuarial profession isn't limited to maintaining the highest level of professional standards, it's also important to ensure that our membership reflects the diversity of today's workforce," said Scharf. "As President-elect, and ultimately President, I'm honored to play a role in evolving the breadth and depth of the educational opportunities available to our members and ensuring the actuarial profession is accessible to all." Scharf is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and has published numerous articles. He graduated with honors from Yeshiva University in New York with a bachelor's degree in economics and mathematics. He is based in Secaucus, New Jersey. About the CCA Founded in 1950, the CCA has over 1500 members in the United States and Canada providing services in the life, health, casualty, and retirement fields. The CCA's mission is to provide quality education and facilitates networking among established and aspiring leaders in the actuarial consulting community. The CCA is dedicated to supporting the professional needs and career success of consulting actuaries. To learn more, visit: https://www.ccactuaries.org/ About Buck Buck is an integrated HR, pensions, and employee benefits consulting, technology, and administration services firm. Founded more than 100 years ago as an actuarial consultancy, we've evolved to serve organizations and trustees across the health, wealth, and career spectrum. With the ultimate goal of securing the futures of our clients' employees and members, we develop tech-enabled programs that engage individuals and drive organizational performance. Our award-winning engagement solutions and people-first approach empower the world's most forward-thinking organizations to protect the physical and financial wellbeing of their employees and members and improve how their people work and live. For more information, visit www.buck.com . Media contact: Michael Gallo Lumina Communications for Buck 973-715-8833 [email protected] SOURCE Buck Residents in four South Carolina counties will have Cigna health plan options on the individual marketplace for the 2023 Open Enrollment Period Plan features include virtual primary care through MDLIVE, $0 benefit options, and cost-effective prescription drugs BLOOMFIELD, Conn., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cigna (NYSE: CI) health plans are available on the individual marketplace for South Carolina residents in four counties this year, giving more people and communities access to affordable, predictable, and simple health care coverage in 2023. During the Open Enrollment Period (OEP), which begins Nov. 1, residents in Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester, and Horry counties can purchase Cigna health insurance. During the Open Enrollment Period, which begins Nov. 1, residents in Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester and Horry counties can purchase Cigna health insurance. "We are proud to offer residents and families in South Carolina options for affordable, predictable, and simple health care coverage," said Lisa Lough, president of Cigna's Individual and Family Plan business. "In addition to comprehensive, whole-person health care coverage, and options for $0 deductibles and $0 copays, Cigna's strong provider network and expansive virtual care offerings provides people choices for where and how they receive their care." Key Features for Cigna Customers in South Carolina 24/7 access to virtual primary care: Members will have access to MDLIVE's primary care physician network for routine visits via video at any time. Additionally, MDLIVE's network includes access to virtual dermatology and virtual behavioral health. Members also benefit from access to $0 virtual urgent-acute care and $0 virtual wellness screenings through MDLIVE.* Members will have access to MDLIVE's primary care physician network for routine visits via video at any time. Additionally, MDLIVE's network includes access to virtual dermatology and virtual behavioral health. Members also benefit from access to virtual urgent-acute care and virtual wellness screenings through MDLIVE.* $0 benefits: Select plans offer a $0 deductible or $0 copays on various benefits. All plans offer $0 preventive care. Select plans offer a deductible or copays on various benefits. All plans offer preventive care. First-dollar coverage for outpatient lab exams: Members on select plans will have a predictable copay for outpatient labs exams, regardless of whether they have met their deductible. Members on select plans will have a predictable copay for outpatient labs exams, regardless of whether they have met their deductible. Cost-effective prescription drugs: Plans feature copays ranging from $0 - $25 for preferred generics and access to Cigna's Patient Assurance Program,** which caps insulin costs at $25 for a 30-day supply. Plans feature copays ranging from - for preferred generics and access to Cigna's Patient Assurance Program,** which caps insulin costs at for a 30-day supply. Walgreens Advantage pharmacy network: Members can receive 30-day and 90-day retail prescriptions through the Walgreens Advantage Network, a network of 43,000 independent pharmacies anchored by Walgreens. Members can receive 30-day and 90-day retail prescriptions through the Walgreens Advantage Network, a network of 43,000 independent pharmacies anchored by Walgreens. Incentives for healthy behaviors: Customers 18 and older can earn up to $325 in points that can be redeemed for a debit card or merchandise through the Cigna Take Control Rewards program.*** Cigna's 2023 plans will also include digital tools, including the myCigna website and mobile app, which provide comprehensive and personalized support to help members save money, identify high-quality care providers and facilities, and access their ID card digitally. The Open Enrollment Period Begins Nov. 1 Individuals and families interested in enrolling in a health plan on the individual marketplace may do so during the 2023 Open Enrollment Period. Health plans purchased during the enrollment period and by Dec. 15, 2022, are effective Jan. 1, 2023. Health plans purchased on or after Dec. 16, 2022 through Jan. 15, 2023, are effective Feb. 1, 2023. *Cigna plans in South Carolina provide access to dedicated virtual care through a national telehealth provider, MDLIVE, located on myCigna. Providers are solely responsible for any treatment provided to their patients. Video chat may not be available in all areas or with all providers. This service is separate from a health plan's network and may not be available in all areas. $0 virtual care benefit for minor acute medical care not available for all plans. Health Savings Accounts and non-minor acute medical care may require a copay, coinsurance or deductible. Virtual care does not guarantee that a prescription will be written. Refer to plan documents for complete description of virtual care services and costs, including other telehealth/telemedicine benefits. ** Discounts available with the Cigna Patient Assurance Program. $25 is the maximum out-of-pocket cost for a 30-day supply of covered, eligible insulin. Discounts available with the Cigna Patient Assurance Program. $25 is the maximum out-of-pocket cost for a 30-day supply. *** The Cigna Take Control Rewards Program is available in all states to all primary subscribers that are active Cigna medical Individual and Family Plan policy holders and who are 18 years of age or older. All rewards may be considered taxable income. Contact your personal tax advisor for details. Program participation along with redeeming rewards is dependent on qualifying premiums being current and fully paid. About Cigna Cigna Corporation is a global health service company dedicated to improving the health, well-being, and peace of mind of those we serve. Cigna delivers choice, predictability, affordability, and access to quality care through integrated capabilities and connected, personalized solutions that advance whole person health. All products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, including Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Evernorth companies or their affiliates, and Express Scripts companies or their affiliates. Such products and services include an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, vision, supplemental benefits, and other related products. Cigna maintains sales capability in over 30 countries and jurisdictions and has more than 190 million customer relationships around the world. To learn more about Cigna, including links to follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com. Media Contact: Karla Cutting [email protected] SOURCE Cigna State-of-the-art innovation hub will include expanded facilities for CUNY SPH NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- New York City and State leadership have partnered with the City University of New York (CUNY) to launch the Science Park and Research Campus (SPARC) Kips Bay, a first-of-its kind innovation hub that will include new, modern facilities for over 4,500 students from the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH), the Hunter College School of Nursing and School of Health Sciences and the Borough of Manhattan Community College's multiple health care programs. The project will transform the Brookdale Campus on East 25th Street into new, state-of-the-art teaching and commercial facilities. The space will include additional lab and research space for CUNY SPH and house the school's own library and study centers. The new campus will also include additional classrooms for the school's planned undergraduate program in public health. The project will generate approximately $25 billion in economic impact to the city over the next 30 years, create 10,000 jobs and create a pipeline from local public schools to careers in the growing and essential fields of life sciences, health care, and public health. At a press event on Thursday, Governor Kathy Hochul, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and CUNY Chancellor Felix V. Matos Rodriguez unveiled the plans for the new campus. "Coming off the heels of the pandemic we see more than ever that investment is needed in public health, education, and life sciences," Governor Hochul said. "And our success moving forward will be about how we prepare future generations and connect our young people to jobs in these fields equitably. We believe this project will achieve these goals while diversifying our economy in supporting its resiliency long-term." "COVID-19 proved how important New York's public hospitals, research institutions and universities are to the survival and the well-being of our beloved city," said Chancellor Matos Rodriguez. "So it is fitting that the mayor and the governor have teamed up with CUNY to transform this Brookdale Campus into a public health and education hub to better meet the needs of our students faculty and of all Yew Yorkers. CUNY is proud to be a part of this partnership, which will help New York recover from the pandemic equitably." "This is a vital opportunity for CUNY SPH to achieve its full potential and enhance its work to prepare the public health leaders of tomorrow," said CUNY SPH Dean Ayman El-Mohandes. "The revitalized new campus will allow us to deepen our presence in New York City while maintaining our commitment to Harlem and the partnerships we have worked hard to cultivate in the community. With new expanded facilities and resources, we will be even better equipped to promote and sustain healthier populations in Harlem, New York City and around the world." View the full release here. For media inquiries, contact: Ariana Costakes Communications Editorial Manager [email protected] SOURCE CUNY SPH Renew Partners leverages the low cost of capital financing to lower the carbon footprint of the iconic building in Cleveland's Midtown neighborhood CLEVELAND, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Renew Partners LLC, along with PACE Equity and New Buildings Institute (NBI), announced it is leveraging the low cost of capital financing to lower the carbon footprint of the iconic Agora Theater building in Cleveland's Midtown neighborhood. The $15.5 million historic renovation is the first project in the nation designated as a CIRRUS Low Carbon project. The Residences and Offices at the Agora in Cleveland, Ohio is the first project in the nation designated as a CIRRUS Low Carbon project, accessing lower cost financing from PACE Equity for being a lower carbon building. Renew Partners is leading the $15.5 million historic renovation of The Residences and Offices at the Agora in Cleveland, Ohio. It's the first project in the nation designated as a CIRRUS Low Carbon project, accessing lower cost financing for being a lower carbon building. Scheduled to begin construction this fall, The Residences and Offices at the Agora will include 48 market-rate apartments as well as 21,000 square feet of office and restaurant space. To qualify for CIRRUS Low Carbon financing, Renew Partners met a design specification that requires energy efficiency upgrades that will result in significantly reduced carbon emissions. The groundbreaking CIRRUS Low Carbon financing program is offered by Milwaukee-based PACE Equity , while the design specification was created by Portland, Ore.-based New Buildings Institute (NBI), which also provides technical support. "The CIRRUS Low Carbon specification was clear and achievable, and the lower rate made CIRRUS absolutely the right thing to do," said Shawn Neece, principal, Renew Partners. A 2022 study by JLL Research found that owners of green certified buildings benefit from a 6% rental premium. They can also expect higher occupancy rates. According to the same JLL report, more organizations are setting climate goals, which is driving up demand for net-zero carbon buildings. As that demand grows, there will likely be a strong supply/demand imbalance, which will benefit early adopters. "By removing financial barriers, CIRRUS Low Carbon makes it easy for developers to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy measures that result in better buildings with higher rates of return," said Beau Engman, president and founder of PACE Equity. Buildings that pursue CIRRUS Low Carbon are verified by NBI, giving building owners and future occupants assurance they will enjoy lower energy costs and have a lower carbon footprint. "With 39% of global carbon emissions coming from the built environment and construction, the real estate industry has a key role to play in solving the climate crisis," said Kimberly Cheslak, director of codes at NBI. "These projects will serve as role models for property owners across the U.S. who are looking to meet a growing demand for low carbon buildings." Renew Partners, which is a Cleveland-based company focused on the development and adaptive reuse of historic buildings, is working with Sabor Group USA on the project. ABOUT RENEW PARTNERS Renew Partners LLC is a development and management company focused on the development and adaptive reuse of historic buildings throughout Northern Ohio. The firm is led by Charles A. (Chuck) Borsukoff and Shawn Neece. The firm's portfolio includes marquee historic buildings, industrial buildings and commercial buildings, including a 4-story, 82-room Hampton Inn, The Historic Hotel Ashtabula, The Historic Mentor Village Hall, The Historic Chardon Post Office, and AQUA OHIO Operations Center. renewptr.com ABOUT PACE EQUITY Since 2014, Milwaukee-based PACE Equity has funded PACE projects in innovative, never-before-seen ways. The PACE Equity team has closed over 200 C-PACE projects across the U.S. and enabled the energy efficient commercial development of more than $1.5 billion while eliminating 2.5 million metric tons of carbon. pace-equity.com ABOUT NEW BUILDINGS INSTITUTE New Buildings Institute (NBI) is a nonprofit pushing for better buildings that achieve zero energy, zero carbon and beyond. For more than 20 years, NBI has worked collaboratively with industry market players to promote advanced design practices, innovative technologies, public policies and programs that improve energy efficiency. newbuildings.org Media Contact: Becky Brun 541-399-6813 [email protected] SOURCE PACE Equity and New Buildings Institute NOIDA, India, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new report published by UnivDatos Markets Insights the Communication Test And Measurement Market was valued at USD 6.5 billion and is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 8% from 2022-2028. The analysis has been segmented into By Solution (Wireless Test Solution, Wireline Test Solutions); Service (Product Support Service, Professional Service, Managed Service); Type (Enterprise Tests, Field Network Tests, Lab & Manufacturing Tests); End-User (Network Equipment Manufacturers, Mobile Device Manufacturers, Telecommunication Service Providers); Region/Country. Click here to view the Report Description & TOC https://univdatos.com/report/communication-test-and-measurement-market/ The communication test and measurement market report has been aggregated by collecting informative data on various dynamics such as market drivers, restraints, and opportunities. This innovative report makes use of several analyses to get a closer outlook on the communication test and measurement market. The communication test and measurement market report offers a detailed analysis of the latest industry developments and trending factors in the market that are influencing the market growth. Furthermore, this statistical market research repository examines and estimates the communication test and measurement market at the global and regional levels. Request for Sample Pages - https://univdatos.com/get-a-free-sample-form-php/?product_id=24549 Market Overview Communication tests and measurements help organizations deliver/maintain high-quality services for voice, video, and data. The introduction of 5G technology and deployment of LTE and LTEadvanced communication networks are used in the mainstream, thus the need for communication test and measurement tools required for design validation and manufacturing that provide more accuracy, bandwidth, and speed to improve device development has increased. The growing adoption of the communication tests and measurement market can be attributed to the growing internet traffic and increasing demand for reliable internet connectivity across the globe. For instance according to the world bank, as of 2022, there are more than 4.9 billion internet users around the globe. Furthermore, the rising development of new innovative technologies, such as IoT and Artificial Intelligence (AI), is enabling the need for faster internet communication standards. COVID-19 Impact The recent covid-19 pandemic has disrupted the world and has brought a state of shock to the global economy. The global pandemic has impacted the manufacturing and ICT industry and has transformed the way of working. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the communication test and measurement market as many organizations have opted for work from a home model, which has increased the demand and usage of data, resulting in impacting communication companies significantly. The increased dependency on telecom networks and the other restrictions on account of COVID-19 are expected to influence the communication test and measurement market. Click here to view the Report Description & TOC https://univdatos.com/report/communication-test-and-measurement-market/ Based on solution, the market is segmented into wireless and wireline test solution. The wireless test solution is expected to achieve a prominent CAGR during the forecast period. The growing adoption of wireless solutions can be attributed to its functionalities such as increased mobility and higher installation speed with simplicity. Furthermore, wireless test solutions have a wider reach when compared to wired and cabled test solutions. Based on service, the market is segmented into product support service, professional service, and managed service. The professional service is expected to rise significantly during the forecast period. The growing adoption of professional services can be attributed to the expertise that professional service provides in areas such as Improved testing coverage resulting in better quality and increased compliance level, access to industry-leading solutions and approaches, and cost reductions. Furthermore, professional services help organizations significantly in the time of IT infrastructure expansion or new technology rollout. Based on the type, the market is segmented into enterprise tests, field network tests, and lab and manufacturing tests. The field network test is expected to achieve a significant CAGR during the forecast period. The growing adoption of the field network test can be attributed to its cost-effectiveness, also the errors can be rectified without substantial losses. Based on end-user, the market is segmented into network equipment manufacturers, mobile device manufacturers, and telecommunication service providers. The mobile device manufacturers are expected to achieve a significant CAGR during the forecast period, mobile device manufacturers use communication test and measurement solutions to help to ensure the performance of mobile devices such as cell phones, PDAs, and tablets computers. Testing is performed on both mobile device hardware and software. Various types of mobile device testing include R&D testing, manufacturing testing, and certification testing. Have a Look at the Chapters - https://univdatos.com/report/communication-test-and-measurement-market/ Communication Test And Measurement Market Geographical Segmentation Includes: North America (US, Canada , Rest of North America ) (US, , Rest of ) Europe ( Germany , France , Spain , UK, Rest of Europe ) ( , , , UK, Rest of ) Asia-Pacific ( China , Japan , India , Australia , Rest of Asia-Pacific ) ( , , , , Rest of ) Rest of the World North American region is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period, the growth in the region can be attributed to the rising adoption and implementation of tests and measuring equipment, and the presence of prominent players. Furthermore, rising investment by telecommunication equipment manufacturers and telecom operators, and the availability of faster internet connectivity are the main reasons for the adoption of communication test and measurement solutions in the region. The major players targeting the market include Anritsu Corporation Empirix Inc EXFO Inc Fortive Keysight Technologies Rohde & Schwarz India Pvt Ltd Spirent Communications plc VeEX Inc Viavi Solutions Yokogawa Electric Corporation Competitive Landscape The degree of competition among prominent global companies has been elaborated by analyzing several leading key players operating worldwide. The specialist team of research analysts sheds light on various traits such as global market competition, market share, most recent industry advancements, innovative product launches, partnerships, mergers, or acquisitions by leading companies in the communication test and measurement market. The major players have been analyzed by using research methodologies for getting insight views on global competition. Key questions resolved through this analytical market research report include: What are the latest trends, new patterns, and technological advancements in the communication test and measurement market? Which factors are influencing the communication test and measurement market over the forecast period? What are the global challenges, threats, and risks in the communication test and measurement market? Which factors are propelling and restraining the communication test and measurement market? What are the demanding global regions of the communication test and measurement market? What will be the global market size in the upcoming years? What are the crucial market acquisition strategies and policies applied by global companies? We understand the requirement of different businesses, regions, and countries, we offer customized reports as per your requirements of business nature and geography. Please let us know If you have any custom needs. Browse Other Related Research Reports from UnivDatos Market Insights Communication Test and Measurement Market Report Coverage Report Attribute Details Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2028 Growth momentum Accelerate at a CAGR of over 8% Market size 2020 USD 6.5 billion Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Rest of World Major contributing region North America to Dominate the Global Communication Test and Measurement Market Key countries covered United States, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, France, China, Japan, India, and Australia Companies profiled Anritsu Corporation, Empirix Inc, EXFO Inc, Fortive, Keysight Technologies, Rohde & Schwarz India Pvt Ltd, Spirent Communications plc, VeEX Inc, Viavi Solution, Yokogawa Electric Corporation.. Report Scope Market Trends, Drivers, and Restraints; Revenue Estimation and Forecast; Segmentation Analysis; Impact of COVID-19; Demand and Supply Side Analysis; Competitive Landscape; Company Profiling Segments Covered By Solution; By Service; By Type; By End-User; By Region/Country About UnivDatos Market Insights (UMI) UnivDatos Market Insights (UMI) is a passionate market research firm and a subsidiary of Universal Data Solutions. We believe in delivering insights through Market Intelligence Reports, Customized Business Research, and Primary Research. Our research studies are spread across topics across the world, we cover markets in over 100 countries using smart research techniques and agile methodologies. We offer in-depth studies, detailed analysis, and customized reports that help shape winning business strategies for our clients. Contact UnivDatos Market Insights Ankita Gupta Director Operations Ph: +91-7838604911 Email: [email protected] Website: https://univdatos.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1225049/UnivDatos_Logo.jpg SOURCE UnivDatos Market Insights Pvt. Ltd. NOIDA, India, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new report published by UnivDatos Markets Insights, the Data Monetization Market was valued at more than USD 2.8 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 21% from 2021-2027. The analysis has been segmented into Component (Software and Service); Data Type (Customer Data, Financial Data, and Others); Deployment (Cloud and On-premises); Organization Size (Large Enterprises and SMEs); Industry (Banking and Financial Services, Information and Communication Technology, Education, Healthcare, Retail and E-Commerce, and Others); Region/Country. Click here to view the Report Description & TOC https://univdatos.com/report/data-monetization-market/ The Data Monetization market report has been aggregated by collecting informative data on various dynamics such as market drivers, restraints, and opportunities. This innovative report makes use of several analyses to get a closer outlook on the Data Monetization market. The Data Monetization market report offers a detailed analysis of the latest industry developments and trending factors in the market that are influencing the market growth. Furthermore, this statistical market research repository examines and estimates the Data Monetization market at the global and regional levels. Request for Sample Pages https://univdatos.com/get-a-free-sample-form-php/?product_id=21584 Market Overview The data monetization market is expected to register a CAGR of around 21% over the period of 2021-2027. This is mainly due to the continuously rising volume of enterprise data along with rapid advancements in big data as well as big data analytics. Moreover, the growing internet penetration rate accompanied by surging cloud computing will positively stimulate the industry landscape. Data monetization is the process of using data to increase overall revenue. Some of the best performing and fast-growing companies are embracing data monetization and making it an important part of their strategy. Companies such as Amazon, Facebook, and Google are cashing data and using it to drive the growth of trillion-dollar businesses. Inspired by their success, enterprises in all industries are scrutinizing their data to discover opportunities to create value. Click here to view the Report Description & TOC https://univdatos.com/report/data-monetization-market/ The global Data Monetization market report is studied thoroughly with several aspects that would help stakeholders in making their decisions more curated. Among organization size, the large enterprises catered to a significant share of the market in 2020. This is due to the adoption of new and emerging technologies by large enterprises and their interest to invest in new technologies to efficiently run their businesses. It is important for enterprises to adopt data monetization to handle customer demands and manage supply chains while maintaining their business efficiency to compete in a highly competitive market. Among industry, the large enterprises catered to a significant share of the market in 2020. This is due to the adoption of new and emerging technologies by large enterprises and their interest to invest in new technologies to efficiently run their businesses. It is important for enterprises to adopt data monetization to handle customer demands and manage supply chains while maintaining their business efficiency to compete in a highly competitive market. Have a Look at the Chapters - https://univdatos.com/report/data-monetization-market/ Data Monetization Market Geographical Segmentation Includes: North America ( United States , Canada , and Rest of North America ) ( , , and Rest of ) Europe ( Germany , United Kingdom , Spain , Italy , France , and the Rest of Europe ) ( , , , , , and the Rest of ) Asia-Pacific ( China , Japan , India , South Korea , and the Rest of Asia-Pacific ) ( , , , , and the Rest of ) Rest of the World The APAC is expected to witness a robust CAGR during the forecast period. This is mainly due to the rising adoption of advanced technologies, such as IoT and cloud computing. Some other factors contributing to the growth of the APAC data monetization market are increasing customer data due to rapidly increasing internet penetration rate, rising number of small, medium, and large enterprises, and growing adoption of advanced analytics and visualization in businesses. The major players targeting the market include SAP SE Microsoft Corporation QlikTech International AB TIBCO Software Inc. Oracle Corporation Sisense Inc. Salesforce Inc. Accenture PLC Virtusa Corp. Infosys Limited. Competitive Landscape The degree of competition among prominent global companies has been elaborated by analyzing several leading key players operating worldwide. The specialist team of research analysts sheds light on various traits such as global market competition, market share, most recent industry advancements, innovative product launches, partnerships, mergers, or acquisitions by leading companies in the Data Monetization market. The major players have been analyzed by using research methodologies for getting insight views on global competition. Key questions resolved through this analytical market research report include: What are the latest trends, new patterns, and technological advancements in the Data Monetization market? Which factors are influencing the Data Monetization market over the forecast period? What are the global challenges, threats, and risks in the Data Monetization market? Which factors are propelling and restraining the Data Monetization market? What are the demanding global regions of the Data Monetization market? What will be the global market size in the upcoming years? What are the crucial market acquisition strategies and policies applied by global companies? We understand the requirement of different businesses, regions, and countries, we offer customized reports as per your requirements of business nature and geography. Please let us know If you have any custom needs. Browse Other Related Research Reports from UnivDatos Market Insights Data Monetization Market Report Coverage Report Attribute Details Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2027 Growth momentum Accelerate at a CAGR of over 21% Market size 2020 USD 2.8 billion Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Rest of World Major contributing region APAC to Dominate the Global Data Monetization Market Key countries covered United States, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, France, China, Japan, India, and South Korea Companies profiled SAP SE, Microsoft Corporation, QlikTech International AB, TIBCO Software Inc., Oracle Corporation, Sisense Inc., Salesforce Inc., Accenture PLC, Virtusa Corp., and Infosys Limited. Report Scope Market Trends, Drivers, and Restraints; Revenue Estimation and Forecast; Segmentation Analysis; Impact of COVID-19; Demand and Supply Side Analysis; Competitive Landscape; Company Profiling Segments Covered By Component; By Data Type; By Deployment; By Organization size; By Industry; By Region/Country About UnivDatos Market Insights (UMI) UnivDatos Market Insights (UMI) is a passionate market research firm and a subsidiary of Universal Data Solutions. We believe in delivering insights through Market Intelligence Reports, Customized Business Research, and Primary Research. Our research studies are spread across topics across the world, we cover markets in over 100 countries using smart research techniques and agile methodologies. We offer in-depth studies, detailed analysis, and customized reports that help shape winning business strategies for our clients. Contact UnivDatos Market Insights Ankita Gupta Director Operations Ph: +91-7838604911 Email: [email protected] Website: https://univdatos.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1225049/UnivDatos_Logo.jpg SOURCE UnivDatos Market Insights Pvt. Ltd. MANZINI - Two assassins shot a pair of traffic police officers dead in broad daylight, took their R4 assault rifle and drove towards Manzini city centre. The assassination happened yesterday at around 12:30pm as the two traffic police officers were manning a roadblock along a residential route - Woodmaster Street, behind Grand Valley (GV) Complex. The shooting, which drew a large number of public transport workers, members of the public and police officers who were off duty, happened about an hour and a half before the police officers were to complete their shift. They were manning a roadblock along Woodmasters Street following that public transport vehicles use this residential route as a detour since there are construction works on Meintjies Street. Inconvenienced Meintjies Street is the route used by public service vehicles to either gain entry or exit the Manzini Bus Rank. Despite that public transport vehicles were instructed to use another route, some opted to use the Woodmasters Street which inconvenienced residents of Palm Beach and Woodmasters. In a quest to ensure that the public transport vehicles adhered to the instruction of not using the residential route, the police officers were said to have been barricading the road in order to penalise those who were in defiance of the rules and regulations. While in the scope of their duties, a witness who saw everything unfold, said a Honda Fit, beige (khaki) in colour, approached them (officers) driving towards Central Distributor Road (Mavuso Public Road) and the officers stopped them. The witness, *Msimisi, said two occupants of the vehicle alighted from the Honda Fit and engaged the officers. Msimisi said as he drove closer, he saw the police officers walking towards their vehicle and lying on the ground. At this instance, he said, one of the people who had alighted from the Honda Fit had a pistol aimed at them. He said the police officers lied on the ground about five metres from the road. As he saw this, Msimisi claimed to have informed an occupant of the vehicle he was driving in that the officers were seemingly pointed with a gun. This, he said, was dismissed by his passenger. However, seconds later, Msimisi claimed that loud gunshots were heard as the two people who were pointing the guns at the duo fled into their car. As this happened, Msimisi said he alighted from his vehicle and fled the scene as quickly as possible. This, he said, was to avert being targeted by the gunmen as he had seen them. Another witness, *Machawe said he froze as the gunmen fired shots and ended up reversing his vehicle into a parked car. His fear, he said, was that the gunmen were running towards him. Feared Like Msimisi, Machawe said he feared that they would shoot him as he had seen them. The pair claimed that the gunmen were not wearing any balaclavas or any form of item to conceal their faces. They claimed that the two traffic police officers were shot at close range, supposedly in their heads. The witnesses claimed that after engaging in the assassination of the police officers, the duo fled into their vehicle (Honda Fit) which was idling as its driver was still within it. They claimed that one of the suspects had dreadlocks while another was short, stout and dark. They claimed that the Honda Fit was then driven towards the Manzini city centre which is amass with vehicles of similar colour and also was busy as it was around noon. Meanwhile, when these reporters arrived at the scene of the murders, it was awash with senior police officers from various of departments. Some women who had witnessed the assassination were inconsolable, while members of the public were bemoaning that peace had become extinct in the country. The members of the public, who consisted of public service transport workers, did not apportion the blame to any party but would constantly be heard rhetorically asking why were police officers being killed. They made reference to one of the officers, who was lying face down and covered with blankets, while in full uniform and also wearing the lime and blue vests adorned by the Traffic Department. Confirmed Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the assassination of the two police officers. Vilakati further confirmed that after the shooting, the assassins took a police assault rifle. Vilakati appealed to the public to assist the police in apprehending the suspects, whom she said were suspected to be a trio. She said one of the suspects had dreadlocks while his accomplice was short and dark. She said the suspects were said to have driven towards the Manzini city centre after committing the murders. Vilakati appealed to the public to contact the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) on their toll free number 999/9999. Alternatively, she said the public could contact the Manzini Regional Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner Elvis Shabangu on his mobile number 7606 4110 or Manzini Regional Crime Branch Officer (RCBO) Thabo Hlophe on 7606 8570. It is worth noting that following the spate of police killings, traffic officers have been working in groups with one of them carrying an R4 assault rifle. Also, police officers were offered bullet proof vests as part of enhancing their safety subsequent to the hike in the number of law safety agents who were being targeted and aimed at, with live rounds. Incident This is not an isolated incident. Recently, at New Village, a police officer was shot in the torso by an unknown gunman while engaging in his duties. This happened at about 7pm, a month ago. Before that, at Ngculwini, a police officer was assassinated in front of his family members and friends. Prior to that, an unknown gunman fired seven gunshots at a police house at Zakhele Police Camp. Two out of the seven bullets which were fired at the police house went through the window and lodged in a refrigerator inside the institutional house. Leading to that was the killing of another male traffic police officer, who was based at Matsapha Police Station. He was killed about 500 metres away from his duty station (Sigodvweni, which is along the Ndlunganye-Police College Public Road), by a daring gunman. The above incident happened hardly 48 hours after a female officer, who was based at Manzini Police Station, was shot dead while her colleague (male officer) survived, after he was shot in the chest. This incident happened at the Manzini Club Traffic Circle. * Not real names Company's retail footprint grows to four locations in Maryland WAKEFIELD, Mass., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (CSE: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) ("Curaleaf" or the "Company"), a leading international provider of consumer products in cannabis, today announced the opening of its Frederick dispensary, located at 5420 Urbana Pike Frederick, MD 21704. The new dispensary opening follows the final license transfer of a Herbology retail location previously acquired in the Grassroots acquisition. Curaleaf Frederick opens its doors to patients at 9 a.m. on October 19. Conveniently located near highways I-70, US-15, & US-270, Curaleaf Frederick is uniquely positioned to meet the diverse needs of Maryland's growing patient population. Patients can access a premium selection of vaporizers, edibles, concentrates and whole flower products, including Select Elite and Select Elite Live vapes, Grassroots full-spectrum and strain-specific RSO, Grassroots full-spectrum and strain specific RSO capsules, and Grassroots pre-packaged flower and concentrates. Patients have the option of shopping inside the brand-new building with guidance from Curaleaf's knowledgeable staff or pre-ordering and utilizing the location's curbside pickup service. The Curaleaf team and Frederick Chamber of Commerce will kick-off grand opening festivities with a ribbon cutting at 3 p.m. on Friday, October 21. The celebration will continue from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 22 with an on-site DJ, games and prizes, live art activations, food trucks and swag giveaways. Patients can enjoy a 25% discount at the new Frederick location for two weeks following the opening, and starting on Saturday, October 22, can enter to win $500 in Cura-credits at any Maryland location. "We are thrilled to welcome patients and build community in our new Frederick dispensary," said Matt Darin, CEO of Curaleaf. "Our team in Maryland remains committed to providing a tailored, educational approach to meeting the diverse needs of patients at every stage of their cannabis journey. We are especially optimistic about the future of Maryland's cannabis market with the Marijuana Legalization Amendment on the ballot this November." For more information regarding Curaleaf's product offerings and locations in Maryland, along with openings and hours of operation, please visit www.curaleaf.com/locations/maryland . 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, Select, and Grassroots 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, 26 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 Frederick. 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. HOUSTON, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (NYSE: DO) announced today that it will release its third quarter 2022 operating results on Monday, November 7, 2022 after the market closes. The Company has scheduled a conference call and webcast for Tuesday, November 8, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. CDT to discuss the Company's results of operations. ABOUT DIAMOND OFFSHORE Diamond Offshore is a leader in offshore drilling, providing innovation, thought leadership and contract drilling services to solve complex deepwater challenges around the globe. Additional information and access to the Company's SEC filings are available at http://www.diamondoffshore.com/ . Contact: Kevin Bordosky Senior Director Investor Relations (281) 647- 4035 SOURCE Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Digiday announced Social Native as a finalist for the "Best Influencer Marketing Platform" category in the 2022 Digiday Technology Awards. The Digiday Technology Awards honors leading technology providers who are moving the needle to modernize media and marketing. The customer-focused awards cover all intersections of tech and digital marketing, with this year's focus on ecommerce, sustainability, and influencer marketing. Social Native - Best Influencer Marketing Platform 2022 Finalist, Digiday Technology Awards. Social Natives proprietary software facilitates influencer campaigns, UGC collection and rights management, and showcases visual content through shoppable video galleries, paid media, email, outdoor advertising, and more. The shortlist was selected out of hundreds of nominations, ranking Social Native among the top influencer marketing companiesthat are innovating the future of the creator economy. The shortlist for "best influencer marketing platform" awards the influencer marketing platforms most effectively syndicating content across platforms to reach brand objectives. Social Native is the only influencer marketing company with a combined offering of end-to-end UGC services awarded in this category. Its UGC and creator content discovery platform allows brands to personalize every stage of the consumer buying journey with targeted social content. Thousands of global brands like Adidas, LEGO, and National Geographic use Social Native to optimize ever-growing content demands across ecommerce and digital media. Earlier this year, Social Native received distinction as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, joining the Inc. 5000 list . The company also headlined one of marketing's biggest events, Adweek's 2022 Social Media Week, with a keynote inspiring brands to future-proof social commerce. The company is re-inventing the future of branded content by offering businesses an easy, automated solution to leverage organic creator content like TikToks and Reels across every stage of the ecommerce journey. Social Native's proprietary software facilitates influencer campaigns, UGC collection and rights management, and showcases visual content through shoppable video galleries, paid media, email, outdoor advertising, and more. Contact Social Native to learn more and follow on LinkedIn to stay up-to-date. Media Contact [email protected] About Social Native Social Native's mission is to help businesses grow by empowering creators to do what they love. Its UGC and influencer discovery platform allows brands to access and deploy the full-funnel value of authentic social content in every step of the consumer journey. 1500+ global brands like H&M, Sephora, and Microsoft use Social Native to build communities of ambassadors and influencers to share their brand stories at scale. SOURCE SOCIAL NATIVE NEEDHAM, Mass., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Needham Bank announced that Emma Lindsay has joined the Retail team as Vice President Retail Market Administration. Ms. Lindsay brings over 20 years of retail banking experience to this new role. She will be responsible for leading the Retail Administration team and overseeing their professional development and training. Most recently, she was a Vice President, Branch Manager in Boston for Eastern Bank, where she supported a region of 21 offices during a merger. Before her work at Eastern Bank, Ms. Lindsay worked as a Vice President, Senior Office Manager for Cambridge Trust. "As Needham Bank grows, it's important to strengthen the retail policies and procedures within the branches," commented Carrie Vargas, Senior Vice PresidentDirector of Retail Banking. "In addition to many other responsibilities, Emma will serve as a subject matter expert in this area, driving efficient operations and ensuring compliance." "I am excited to join Needham Bank in a new role that combines my strengths from previous jobs," said Ms. Lindsay. "This is an incredible opportunity and I am looking forward to working with the retail team to bring positive change." Ms. Lindsay received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Connecticut. About Needham Bank : Needham Bank offers an array of tech-forward products and services that businesses and consumers use to manage their financial needs. We have the financial expertise typically found at much larger institutions and the local knowledge and commitment you can only find at a community bank. Known as the "Builder's Bank," Needham Bank has been helping individuals, businesses and non-profits build for their futures since 1892. For more information, please visit https://NeedhamBank.com. Needham Bank is a member of FDIC and DIF. SOURCE Needham Bank Psychologist, advocate and educator Wendi Williams, Ph.D., is new academic leader SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fielding Graduate University announces the addition of Wendi Williams, Ph.D., to its leadership team. Dr. Williams joins Fielding Graduate University as Provost and Senior Vice President, bringing with her many years of academic and administrative experience, as well as a scholarly background, to this critical role at Fielding. Fielding Graduate University Provost and Senior Vice President Wendi Williams, Ph.D. Williams applies her work as a psychologist, advocate and educator at the intersection of education and psychology to her scholarship and leadership praxis. She also leverages her background and platform to lead organizations that support the optimal development of vulnerable communities, especially societal challenges that can be enriched by diverse women's unique perspectives and approaches to leadership. Williams' recent published work is, WE Matter!: Intersectional Anti-Racist Feminist Interventions with Black Girls and Women, and forthcoming books, Black Women at Work: On Refusal and Recovery and The Majestic Place: The Freedom Possible in Black Women's Leadership. Williams said she hopes to bring experience and vision to her new role at Fielding. "I am thrilled and honored to join Fielding Graduate University," said Williams. "I look forward to working alongside the university leadership and community of students, faculty, staff and alumni to affect positive and impactful changes that will continue the Fielding's legacy as a leading educational institution with a vital mission that is especially necessary for our times." In her previous position as Dean of the School of Education at Mills College, and prior as Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at Bank Street College, Graduate School of Education, she cultivated equitable contexts for students, staff and faculty development while attending to structural and cultural change to support important curricular and program development. Before these roles, she provided academic leadership as program coordinator and department chair for the Counseling and School Psychology at Long Island University in Brooklyn, NY, where she also served as Vice President of the University Faculty Senate and Representative of the School of Education on the university's Union Executive Committee. Williams completed undergraduate studies at the University of California, Davis, where she majored in psychology and minored in African and African American Studies. Williams completed graduate study at Pepperdine University (MA in Psychology) and Georgia State University, where she earned a doctorate in counseling psychology, with an emphasis on multicultural psychology and family systems. "As Fielding's Provost and Senior Vice President, Dr. Williams will play a vital role in upholding our university's educational integrity and supporting its vision while ensuring our students have the best educational experience," said Fielding Board Chair Karen S. Bogart, Ph.D. "Dr. Williams embodies the scholar and practitioner values of our university, advocating for a just and sustainable world in her research and practice. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I express a warm welcome to Dr. Williams." Learn more about Fielding Graduate University at www.fielding.edu. For 48 years, Fielding Graduate University has been educating leaders, scholars and practitioners for a more just and sustainable world. An accredited nonprofit leader, we combine facetoface and online learning, delivering graduate education that fosters individual development, community collaboration and societal engagement. Taught by faculty representing a breadth of scholarship and practice, our rigorous curriculum offers courses and degrees in psychology, leadership, and education for professionals living and working anywhere in the world. Learn more at fielding.edu. SOURCE Fielding Graduate University LONDON, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Fineqia International Inc. (the "Company" or "Fineqia") (CSE: FNQ) (OTC: FNQQF) (Frankfurt: FNQA) is proud to support Art&Co.'s latest in-person and online exhibition in partnership with NFT4Refugees showcasing innovative quantum NFTs to be auctioned for humanitarian causes at Waldorf Astoria hotel in Dubai on Thursday, October 20, 2022, as well as online at www.artandco.net, from 17:00 Dubai time. The online auction will comprise 10 NFTs and physical artworks by Roman Lipski, a pioneer in quantum art, and 5 refugee artists: Hana, Aabreniuk Ouif, Baron Sha'ar, Obaid Yemen, Cederick Diyavova, and Youssef. These unique objects will come in digital and printed versions and with every purchase, the buyer will receive an NFT. Roman Lipski specialises in "Quantum Blur", a technique for manipulating images using quantum operations in collaboration with Swiss research scientists. The artist opened the Google House in Berlin with an AL performance in 2019. He now explores the format of Quantum Art for NFTs to support the project NFT4Refugees. The presented series is a unique one-off project by Roman Lipski. "Fineqia is delighted to be converging finance, art, and Web 3.0 in a unique event supporting exceptional NGOs that assist refugees and empower artists pioneering TechArt as an emerging field," said Fineqia's CEO Bundeep Singh Rangar. NFTs4Refugees lists artworks from international artists as a partnership between the World Datanomic Forum and the Schwarz Foundation, led by Paula Schwarz. The money from an art sale goes to an artist's selected Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO). Charities include the World Food Program, Upgrade Ukraine, The United Nations, AI4Good, and Stand with Ukraine. "NFT4Refugees was created to help artists familiarise themselves with the digital art space using NFTs and is where profitable art meets giving back in the most transparent way," said Paula Schwarz, CEO of NFT4Refugees. Paula believes in promoting peace through art and trusts that technology can enable people who have less. NFT4Refugees is strengthened by The World Datanomic Forum and the Schwarz Foundation. The World Datanomic forum organises a broad network of interdisciplinary researchers, non-profits, governments, and corporate actors to collect data and support solutions. Equally, the Schwarz Foundation is a private non-profit institution aiming to foster the exchange of ideas and practices between cultures and countries. Fineqia supported Art&Co. during the Covid pandemic in 2020 when the platform was used to launch the world's largest online art auction for Covid relief. Fineqia has now partnered with Art&Co. again for the purpose of supporting refugees. More information about the event can be obtained by contacting Bundeep Singh Rangar at +971 58 508 7376 and [email protected] or Paula Schwarz at +49 160 90133000 and [email protected]. About Art&Co. Art&Co. connects the worlds of art, finance, and support groups. It links freelance artists to support humanitarian causes. Art&Co. works with partners in the tech-industry to bring about new forms of TechArt around the world. Art&Co. is an initiative by InsurAid, a company set up to encourage corporate and personal donations to support those affected by humanitarian disasters, public health and safety crises. InsurAid focuses on events for which insurance is scarce or unavailable. About NFT4Refugees NFTs4Refugees lists artworks from international artists as a partnership between the World Datanomic Forum and the Schwarz Foundation. The money generated is used to discover new artists among the community of refugees supported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the World Food Program together with NFTs4Refugees. NFTs4Refugees enables artists to tap into NFTs as a new field of interest. All NFTs sold on our platform support decentralized grassroots organizations or non-governmental organizations working with refugees that an artist has selected. Our partners are located in Ukraine, Yemen, Syria, Greece and many other regions. Welcome to your new connecting point of art & humanitarian aid around the world! About Fineqia International Inc. Fineqia International is listed in Canada (CSE: FNQ) and quoted on stock exchanges in the United States (OTC: FNQQF) and Europe (Frankfurt: FNQA). Fineqia International sets out the corporate governance, corporate culture, processes and relationships of the company under which the Company and its subsidiaries are managed and managed. Fineqia International monitors and ensures the success, planning and growth of the Company and all of its subsidiaries. More information can be found at https://investors.fineqia.com/news. SOURCE Fineqia International Inc. Florida Blue Foundation awards additional $3.73 million in grants to innovative community programs making a meaningful impact in fight against hunger and food insecurity FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- An estimated 2.2 million Floridians lack access to healthy food, including just over 660,000 children, according to Feeding America. Today, the Florida Blue Foundation announced another major investment to address food insecurity in the state with $3.73 million in grants awarded to 10 community-based programs. The latest funding brings the total investment in food security programs from Florida Blue and its Foundation to more than $16 million over the last four years. "Healthy communities need healthy food. When people don't have enough food or must choose inexpensive foods with little nutritional value, it can seriously impact their health and well-being. Each year, more than $4.2 billion in health care costs are associated with food insecurity in our state," said Pat Geraghty, Florida Blue and GuideWell president and CEO. "The rising cost of food has only made this issue worse for our state. Florida Blue is focused on ensuring every person in Florida has reliable and affordable access to nutritious food and the knowledge of how to make it an enjoyable part of their daily lives," said Geraghty The 10 nonprofit organizations receiving the latest $3.73 million in funding from the Florida Blue Foundation will use the grants for community-based food security initiatives that not only provide access to nutritional food but address obstacles to food security in their communities. "Food insecurity is a highly complex issue. Each community's relationship and access to food is unique. There isn't a one-size-fits-all solution to this issue," said Susan Towler, executive director of the Florida Blue Foundation. "These Florida Blue Foundation grants will fund programs that directly improve access to and quality of food security for people at the neighborhood level, particularly in communities with underserved, racial and ethnic minorities, and low-income populations. We selected these 10 organizations because we believe they can make a meaningful and lasting impact in their communities." Today's announcement took place at the headquarters of one of the grant recipients, Hispanic Unity of Florida in Hollywood, whose $400,000 in funding will support its Comprando Rico y Sano (Buying Healthy and Delicious Foods) program. The program seeks to reduce food insecurity faced by diverse and multi-cultural working individuals and families in Broward County food deserts. As part of the program, community members participate in cooking classes and demonstrations to learn how to prepare tasty, healthy culturally relevant meals for their family. The other nine grant recipients from across the state include: Indian River County Department of Health $381,000 To build a countywide framework that utilizes the county Department of Health's partnership network to improve nutrition and food security throughout the county, with particular attention to food deserts. To build a countywide framework that utilizes the county Department of Health's partnership network to improve nutrition and food security throughout the county, with particular attention to food deserts. Feeding Florida (Statewide) $399,000 To expand the Fresh Access Bucks (FAB) program that makes fresh, local produce more affordable and accessible to low-income families while supporting Florida's farmers and enhancing local economies. To expand the Fresh Access Bucks (FAB) program that makes fresh, local produce more affordable and accessible to low-income families while supporting Florida's farmers and enhancing local economies. House of Hope (Stuart) -- $328,000 To serve food insecure individuals in Martin County through food distributions at their client choice pantries and food bank partner sites, nutrition education classes, comprehensive case management, and referrals for wraparound services. To serve food insecure individuals in through food distributions at their client choice pantries and food bank partner sites, nutrition education classes, comprehensive case management, and referrals for wraparound services. Jewish Family and Community Services ( Jacksonville ) -- $380 ,000 To expand the Max Block Food Pantry to include satellite food pantries at two underserved schools in Jacksonville and provide nutrition and financial literacy education to the families served. To expand the Max Block Food Pantry to include satellite food pantries at two underserved schools in and provide nutrition and financial literacy education to the families served. Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services ( Palm Beach County ) -- $328,000 -- To increase capacity at the Jewish Family Services food pantry, increase the number of clients served, and provide nutrition education to food insecure families and seniors in Palm Beach County . To increase capacity at the Jewish Family Services food pantry, increase the number of clients served, and provide nutrition education to food insecure families and seniors in . Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare Foundation -- $356,000 To provide access to food and nutrition education to working, food insecure individuals in the Big Bend region through three components: income and education intervention; community educational seminars; and a community food security summit. To provide access to food and nutrition education to working, food insecure individuals in the region through three components: income and education intervention; community educational seminars; and a community food security summit. Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA -- $356,000 To provide a Veggie Van that meets the needs of food insecure seniors by providing nutritious produce and education, at no cost to clients, removing the barrier to healthy food options. To provide a Veggie Van that meets the needs of food insecure seniors by providing nutritious produce and education, at no cost to clients, removing the barrier to healthy food options. University Area Community Development Corporation ( Tampa ) -- $400,000 -- To expand access to healthy and nutritious food through free mobile food markets in the food insecure community of the University Area and provide education to the community on the elements of food sovereignty. To expand access to healthy and nutritious food through free mobile food markets in the food insecure community of the University Area and provide education to the community on the elements of food sovereignty. Valencia College Foundation ( Orlando ) -- $399,000 To expand and formalize existing food pantries on three campuses, provide healthy and nutritional foods for students and their families, and provide nutrition education to improve overall health. About the Florida Blue Foundation The Florida Blue Foundation enables healthy communities by making grants, building coalitions and embracing solutions that create a meaningful impact in its communities. More than 8 million Floridians have received services as a result of its community investments since its founding in 2001. The Florida Blue Foundation's programs are focused on advancing mental well-being, improving health equity, impacting food security and addressing systemic racism and resulting health disparities. Florida Blue Foundation is a trade name of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Foundation, Inc., an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, please visit www.FloridaBlueFoundation.com. About Florida Blue Florida Blue, Florida's Blue Cross and Blue Shield company, has been providing health insurance to residents of Florida for more than 75 years. Driven by its mission of helping people and communities achieve better health, the company serves more than 6 million members across the state. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., it is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. SOURCE Florida Blue Foundation GrubMarket acquires Rainfield Marketing Group, a highly reputable and influential fresh produce provider based in California that distributes high-quality fresh fruits, vegetables, and Asian specialty items to customers across the United States. SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GrubMarket today announced it has completed the acquisition of Vernon, California-based Rainfield Marketing Group, a well-known and highly respected fresh produce company that provides the highest quality fruits, vegetables, and Asian specialty items sourced from some of the most prominent suppliers across the U.S., Mexico, and Korea, among other global locations. Rainfield Marketing Group currently operates in California, selling to hundreds of large grocery retailers, multi-unit restaurant groups, foodservice companies, and wholesale customers across the U.S., and has a strong reputation as a leader in food safety practices. Founded in 2015, Rainfield Marketing Group is run by original owner, Richard Choe, a 10-year veteran of the fresh produce space, alongside President Greg Emi, an experienced produce executive with over two decades of experience. Today, Rainfield Marketing Group is a full-service food distribution and wholesale business with state-of-the-art climate and humidity-controlled warehouse facilities covering over 150,000 square feet in space. Though they sell dozens of products, including specialty items like Okinawa sweet potato, enoki mushrooms, king oyster mushrooms, and various Korean radish varieties, Rainfield Marketing Group is best known for being one of the largest shippers of green onions in the nation through their SAKURA private label. In addition, Rainfield Marketing Group is committed to maintaining the highest food safety standards, having received GAP and PrimusGFS certifications. After the acquisition, the business will continue to be managed by its current experienced and mission-driven leadership team. "Rainfield's mission is to be the specialty produce grower and shipper of choice across the country through exceptional service, consistent quality, and second-to-none food safety standards. We are thrilled to join the GrubMarket team, who shares our goals and embodies the qualities needed to build a thriving food business. We are also excited to access GrubMarket's impressive grower network and leverage their incomparable eCommerce and technology-enabled platform to continue bringing high-quality fresh produce and specialty items to GrubMarket's end customers," said Richard Choe, founder of Rainfield Marketing Group. According to Mike Xu, CEO of GrubMarket: "Rainfield Marketing Group has built a best-in-class reputation for being a top provider of exotic and specialty fresh produce, most notably green onions, peaches, and persimmons. They are one of the most influential and well-known Asian produce distributors in California and supply many big grocery and restaurant chains, including most of the top Asian supermarkets in the country. Richard and his team have done a wonderful job scaling the company to double-digit, year-over-year revenue growth while maintaining a sterling reputation in food safety, having received most of the top food safety certifications. This acquisition enables GrubMarket to further strengthen our presence in California and expand our global sourcing power. We are thrilled to welcome the Rainfield Marketing Group team to the GrubMarket family." As a part of GrubMarket's portfolio, Rainfield Marketing Group will utilize GrubMarket's innovative and proprietary WholesaleWare software suite, the company's software-as-a-service platform that empowers food industry wholesalers and distributors with seamless financial management, powerful sales, and online ordering features, precise inventory management, lot traceability, grower accounting, and automated routing and logistics, as well as Orders IO, GrubMarket's custom branded mobile eCommerce solution. About GrubMarket Founded in 2014, GrubMarket is a San Francisco-based food technology company operating in the space of food supply chain eCommerce for both business customers and end consumers, as well as providing related software-as-a-service solutions to digitally transform the American and global food supply chain. Currently, GrubMarket operates in all 50 U.S. States; Ontario and British Columbia (Canada); Argentina, Chile, and Colombia (South America); India, Mexico, South Africa, and Spain, with plans to expand to the rest of the U.S., Canada, South America, and other parts of the world. For Media Inquiries: GrubMarket Media Team [email protected]com (510) 556-4786 GrubMarket Inc. 1925 Jerrold Ave. San Francisco, CA, 94124 SOURCE GrubMarket WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Following months of research, dedication and perseverance, HinduPACT has officially launched its HinduVote.org website to help voters select Federal candidates based on their support for issues that are important to the Hindu diaspora. HinduVote.Org - Enlightened Democracy The comprehensive website, the first of its kind in the history of the American Hindu community, consists of location-based listing of candidates for the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, biographical and social media details of the candidates, responses from the candidates on a Hindu-focused questionnaire, and HinduPACT's assessment of legislative votes that are deemed of importance by the incumbents and federal candidates. The website uses the power of crowdsourcing to express the sentiment of the Hindu community by providing the constituents with an opportunity to rate the candidates based on the positions they have taken. All Federal incumbents and candidates will receive the questionnaires this week. This questionnaire covers the issue of growing hate campaigns against Hindus across the country. It also addresses concerns about U.S. foreign policy that affect Hindu communities across the world. Rakhi Israni, Director of Legal for HinduPACT, said, "The American Hindu community is peaceful, affluent and productive. They are, in many ways, the model community in any society in which they reside. They have held massive economic power in their hands for sometime now. This HinduVote initiative is the first step in claiming the political power that they should have been afforded a while ago." Convener of HinduPACT, Ajay Shah, said, "There are six million Hindus in America and an additional six million followers of dharmic traditions (Buddhist, Jain and Sikhs). Conservatively, we estimate that around 5% of the voters are the followers of dharmic traditions. In battleground states, and in close races elsewhere, these voters can decisively impact the outcome. HinduVote.org is a community resource to inform and educate the Hindu community and to ensure a Congress that understands, respects and fulfills the aspirations of the American Hindu community." HinduPACT Executive Director Utsav Chakrabarti said, "As the fastest growing immigrant population in the U.S. amongst all religious groups, American Hindus now constitute one of the most decisive voting groups in at least five states. That means many close Senate races will be decided by the Hindu voter . Because of concentrated voters in many districts, a lot more House seats will be decided by Hindu voters. HinduVote.org will change the way constituents evaluate, engage with and ultimately vote for candidates." About HinduPACT: HinduPACT and HMEC are initiatives of the World Hindu Council of America (VHPA) 200 New Bond Street, Sugar Grove, IL 60554-9171 Web: hindupact.org hmec.info | Facebook: HinduPACT | Twitter: @hindupact | Instagram: @hindupact Contact: Ajay Shah President, World Hindu Council of America (VHPA). Convenor, HinduPACT [email protected] (858) 866-9661 Utsav Chakrabarti Executive Director, HinduPACT [email protected]com (443) 691-0759 Rakhi Israni, Convenor, HMEC and Jt. Gen. Secy. VHPA [email protected] (201) 757-8491 SOURCE HinduPACT NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --The influenza vaccine market is set to grow by USD 2.56 billion, at a CAGR of 8.66% from 2021 to 2026. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Factors such as increasing prevalence and incidence of influenza, rising awareness about influenza vaccination, and initiation of immunization programs and research activities will offer immense growth opportunities. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Influenza Vaccine Market 2022-2026 To leverage the current opportunities, market vendors must strengthen their foothold in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. The influenza vaccine market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Request Free Sample Report. Influenza Vaccine Market: Segment Analysis Type Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccines The live attenuated influenza vaccines segment will significantly increase its market share. The amazing number of compounds undergoing Phase III clinical studies suggests that the market for live attenuated influenza vaccines will experience strong growth over the course of the projected period. The intensive R&D is anticipated to provide enhanced versions of current goods, which will boost the flu vaccine market. For the prevention of influenza, a number of authorized live attenuated influenza vaccinations are available. The upcoming products provide increased defense against more virus strains, resulting in better results. Recombinant influenza vaccines now account for a modest portion of the influenza vaccine industry worldwide. Due to the vaccine's production processes being independent of the availability of eggs, as opposed to other influenza vaccines that use a small amount of egg protein, this market niche is growing. Recombinant Influenza Vaccines Geography North America North America will continue to dominate the global influenza vaccine market throughout the forecast period. The existence of governmental organizations like the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), which offers suggested vaccination regimens, is vital in determining the regional market. Over the past few years, the prevalence of various infectious diseases, particularly influenza, has been rising significantly throughout the region's developed nations. Additionally, those applying for an immigrant visa in the US must comply with certain illness vaccine criteria. The World Health Organization (WHO) and CDC advise travelers entering the US to get immunized against diseases including influenza. Hence, the growing demand for influenza vaccination in countries across the region is expected to foster the growth of the influenza vaccine market in North America during the forecast period. will continue to dominate the global influenza vaccine market throughout the forecast period. The existence of governmental organizations like the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), which offers suggested vaccination regimens, is vital in determining the regional market. Over the past few years, the prevalence of various infectious diseases, particularly influenza, has been rising significantly throughout the region's developed nations. Additionally, those applying for an immigrant visa in the US must comply with certain illness vaccine criteria. The World Health Organization (WHO) and CDC advise travelers entering the US to get immunized against diseases including influenza. Hence, the growing demand for influenza vaccination in countries across the region is expected to foster the growth of the influenza vaccine market in during the forecast period. Europe Asia Rest Of World (ROW) To know additional highlights and key points on various market segments and their impact in coming years, Buy Sample Report. Influenza Vaccine Market: Vendor Analysis and Scope Global medical education is fragmented and the vendors are deploying various organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market. Vendors are being driven by the intensifying market rivalry to implement a variety of growth methods, such as promotional efforts and spending on advertising, to increase the exposure of their services. In order to remain competitive in the market, several suppliers are also implementing inorganic expansion tactics like M&As. The report analyzes the market's competitive landscape and offers information on several market vendors, including: Altimmune Inc. AstraZeneca Plc Baxter International Inc. BioDiem BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd. CSL Ltd. Emergent BioSolutions Inc. F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd. FluGen Inc. GlaxoSmithKline Plc Medicago Inc Novavax Inc. Find additional highlights on the growth strategies adopted by vendors and their product offerings, Download Free Sample Report. Influenza Vaccine Market Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will assist influenza vaccine market growth during the next five years Estimation of the influenza vaccine market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the influenza vaccine market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of influenza vaccine market vendors Related Reports: Polycystic Kidney Disease Drugs Market by Type and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The high prevalence of chronic kidney diseases is notably driving the polycystic kidney disease drugs market growth. The report extensively covers polycystic kidney disease drugs market segmentation by type (ADPKD and ARPKD) and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW)). Mono Vaccine Market by Type and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The increase in the pediatric population is one of the key factors driving the global mono vaccine market growth. The report extensively covers the mono vaccine market segmentation by type (meningococcal vaccine, Japanese encephalitis vaccine, hepatitis vaccine, yellow fever vaccine, and others) and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and the Rest of the World (ROW)). Influenza Vaccine Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 8.66% Market growth 2022-2026 $2.56 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 6.97 Regional analysis North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Performing market contribution North America at 36% Key consumer countries US, Canada, UK, China, India, US, Canada, UK, China, and India Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Altimmune Inc., AstraZeneca Plc, Baxter International Inc., BioDiem, BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd., CSL Ltd., Emergent BioSolutions Inc., F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd., FluGen Inc., GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Medicago Inc, Novavax Inc., Pfizer Inc., Sanofi, Shijiazhuang Yiling Pharmaceutical Co Ltd., SK Chemicals Co. Ltd., Vaccitech Plc, Vaxart Inc., Vaxine Pty Ltd., and Visterra 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 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 Type 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 between2021 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 Type 5.1 Market segments Exhibit 24: Chart on Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 25: Data Table on Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 5.2 Comparison by Type Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Type Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Type 5.3 Live attenuated influenza vaccines - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 28: Chart on Live attenuated influenza vaccines - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 29: Data Table on Live attenuated influenza vaccines - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 30: Chart on Live attenuated influenza vaccines - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Live attenuated influenza vaccines - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.4 Recombinant influenza vaccines - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 32: Chart on Recombinant influenza vaccines - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 33: Data Table on Recombinant influenza vaccines - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 34: Chart on Recombinant influenza vaccines - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Recombinant influenza vaccines - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.5 Market opportunity by Type Exhibit 36: Market opportunity by Type ($ million) 6 Customer Landscape 6.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 37: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 7 Geographic Landscape 7.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 38: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) 7.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 40: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 41: Data Table on Geographic comparison 7.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 42: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 43: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 44: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 45: 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 46: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 47: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 48: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 49: 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 50: Chart on Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 51: Data Table on Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 52: Chart on Asia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 53: Data Table on Asia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.6 Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 55: Data Table on Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 56: Chart on Rest of World (ROW) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 57: Data Table on Rest of World (ROW) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.7 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 58: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 59: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 60: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 61: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.8 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 62: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 63: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 64: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 65: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.9 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 67: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 68: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 69: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.10 Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 71: Data Table on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 72: Chart on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 73: Data Table on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.11 India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 75: Data Table on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 76: Chart on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 77: Data Table on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.12 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 78: 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 79: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026 8.4 Market trends 9 Vendor Landscape 9.1 Overview 9.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 80: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 9.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 81: Overview on factors of disruption 9.4 Industry risks Exhibit 82: Impact of key risks on business 10 Vendor Analysis 10.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 83: Vendors covered 10.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 84: Matrix on vendor position and classification 10.3 Altimmune Inc. Exhibit 85: Altimmune Inc. - Overview Exhibit 86: Altimmune Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 87: Altimmune Inc. - Key news Exhibit 88: Altimmune Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 89: Altimmune Inc. - Segment focus 10.4 AstraZeneca Plc Exhibit 90: AstraZeneca Plc - Overview Exhibit 91: AstraZeneca Plc - Product / Service Exhibit 92: AstraZeneca Plc - Key news Exhibit 93: AstraZeneca Plc - Key offerings 10.5 Baxter International Inc. Exhibit 94: Baxter International Inc. - Overview Exhibit 95: Baxter International Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 96: Baxter International Inc. - Key news Exhibit 97: Baxter International Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 98: Baxter International Inc. - Segment focus 10.6 BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Exhibit 99: BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 100: BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 101: BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd. - Key offerings 10.7 CSL Ltd. Exhibit 102: CSL Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 103: CSL Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 104: CSL Ltd. - Key news Exhibit 105: CSL Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 106: CSL Ltd. - Segment focus 10.8 FluGen Inc. Exhibit 107: FluGen Inc. - Overview Exhibit 108: FluGen Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 109: FluGen Inc. - Key offerings 10.9 GlaxoSmithKline Plc Exhibit 110: GlaxoSmithKline Plc - Overview Exhibit 111: GlaxoSmithKline Plc - Business segments Exhibit 112: GlaxoSmithKline Plc - Key news Exhibit 113: GlaxoSmithKline Plc - Key offerings Exhibit 114: GlaxoSmithKline Plc - Segment focus 10.10 Medicago Inc Exhibit 115: Medicago Inc - Overview Exhibit 116: Medicago Inc - Product / Service Exhibit 117: Medicago Inc - Key offerings 10.11 Novavax Inc. Exhibit 118: Novavax Inc. - Overview Exhibit 119: Novavax Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 120: Novavax Inc. - Key offerings 10.12 Sanofi Exhibit 121: Sanofi - Overview Exhibit 122: Sanofi - Business segments Exhibit 123: Sanofi - Key news Exhibit 124: Sanofi - Key offerings Exhibit 125: Sanofi - Segment focus 11 Appendix 11.1 Scope of the report 11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 126: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 127: Exclusions checklist 11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 128: Currency conversion rates for US$ 11.4 Research methodology Exhibit 129: Research methodology Exhibit 130: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 131: Information sources 11.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 132: 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 OTI real-estate, a company of Hebashi Holding Group, has announced the launch of its new venture, 'Virtu' that enables investors from around the world to buy real estate in the operating countries such as Georgia, Egypt, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Turkey in addition to the UAE. It has been set up in collaboration with a number of strategic partners including Georgian group Fadox and Oman-based Gulf Real Estate Company. A partnership deal will soon be inked between Virtu and the Gulf Real Estate making it as the exclusive and sole agent to the platform in the region. Through this partnership, GCC-based investors will be able to purchase the shares offered by the platform easily. Gulf Real Estate Company is a large company with a huge existence in the GCC real-estate Market, and is headquartered in Oman. Touted as a 'game-changer' project,Virtu will enable investors from around the world to buy real estate in the operating countries - Georgia, Egypt, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Turkey - in addition to the UAE - through full, partial or joint ownership supported by the concerned authorities and stock market exchange. Announcing this at a press conference yesterday (October 18) in Dubai, Ahmad Shehata, a board member of Hebashi Holding Group, said: "Virtu is a ground-breaking investment idea in the real-estate sector. It provides real-estate investors with an opportunity to browse the project files available on the platform, allowing them to know all the details and potential returns that investors will earn through these properties." Through this new venture, OTT is opening 'a door of investment' for individuals keen on buying properties overseas, where they get to decide the amount they would like to invest in each project, after reviewing all the terms of the contract online and paying the dues also through the platforms bank account link. The company announced the launch of the programme for investors starting with documented ownership and an investment sum as low as $8000. This enables 'Virtu' to allow investors to take profits and realize their net rental income for their sold units, he stated. Shehata said: "To make the real-estate investment experience faster and easier, effort and time have been devoted to developing an operational model that allows doubling the returns for investors, and we are fully aware of all the different factors that help in maximizing the returns of the investors, and from here we work to focus on these factors, the most important of which are the acquisition and management of the property." "The total value of this project is about $200 million, and $23 million has been put up so far in 122 projects," he added. Dr Sahar Al Madani, the executive director of the Gulf Real Estate Group, expressed her happiness with this cooperation along with a number of major real-estate companies in the region, especially since Al Hebashi Group owns more than 23 companies around the world. Virtu is one of the best real estate projects for future investments in terms of buying shares and diversification of investment, she stated. Fadox CEO Magdy Setih said Virtu provides the advantages of partial ownership in the project - mainly targeted at small investors with limited capital and offer them an opportunity to delve into the experience of investing in and owning luxury real estate. "Also it is seen as a low-risk investment, especially in times of crisis, as all information on management and maintenance costs, leasing procedures and investing value are clarified before purchase," explained Setih. "In addition to this, partial ownership makes it easier for the investor to diversify his investment portfolio, so that he can buy shares in more than one property, instead of owning one property completely," he added. On the future of real estate investment, Hussein Al Taker, the founder of Virtu in UAE, said: "Withing a few minutes, you can create an account and choose the contents of your portfolio with appropriate strategy for you. You can also pay the price of the shares you want to buy online, by linking your bank account to the platform, then you can watch your money grow via the platform application available on your mobile phone." "Here you can find a wide range of investment opportunities tailored to your chosen strategy, after you place your first investment. We will continue to work hard to achieve your expected profit, in addition to work on maximizing the value of the properties in the future, this means that your capital will increase year after year," he added.-TradeArabia News Service GUANGZHOU, China, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The 132nd Canton Fair ("the Fair") gathers leading designers under one roof at the Home Decor & Household Items sections. Global buyers can look forward to the latest in home decor and furniture innovations for inspired and joyful living. Shanghai Dandou Arts & Crafts showcase its Nordic-inspired minimalist furniture collection, including sofas, dining tables, coffee tables, TV stands, and bookcases, which use recycled raw and wood materials in practical geometric designs for more sustainable and design-focused living. Dongguan IUIU Household Products brings its new tablecloth products to the Fair, including fancy Embellished Gold, Light Luxury Embroidery, and Nordic Series. Among them, the Light-Luxury PVC tablecloth decorated with embroidered gilding and L-Metallic PVC tablecloth with original prints, won enthusiastic feedback from the market and exceeded expectations. "In international markets, the most valued is new product design. We have brought products manufactured with diversified technology for the current session of Canton Fair. Compared with similar products, our tablecloths enjoy an advantage of texture, leading industry innovation" said Ms. Li Yunhuan, sales manager of Dongguan IUIU, "We've witnessed many changes that took place at the Fair, including exhibition organization, exhibitors and transaction, but one thing remains constant over the years, that is, products with novel design and fashionable styling always rank the top in transaction." Beijing TiKi Glassware also presents its latest design and products at the exhibition, including new-shaped glass vases, bright porcelain jade vases, and vases of various colors and materials, each customized according to need. New processing effects have been added to the vases on display, such as splicing color, dark matte color, and white porcelain rubbed with gold. As consumers around the world focus more on the quality of daily life, artistic home decor with unique design are attracting wide attention. More beautiful designs in household items with creative inspiration are on display at the ongoing 132nd Canton Fair. China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, was established in the spring of 1957. Held every spring and autumn in Guangzhou, it is a comprehensive international trading event with the longest history, the largest scale in China. The Canton Fair is hailed as the barometer or wind vane of China's foreign trade. For more information and opportunities, please register at https://www.cantonfair.org.cn/en-US/register/index?utm_source=rwyx#/foreign-email or contact [email protected]. SOURCE Canton Fair USAID Awards Asia Resilient Cities Project to JSI WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Asia Resilient Cities (ARC) Project will address cross-cutting urban development challenges in secondary cities in Asia by promoting sustainable urban growth; supporting resilient, low-carbon urban infrastructure; and integrating climate change and environmental considerations into urban approaches. City residents are ARC's biggest resource for making change. Tweet this USAID Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau for Asia, JSI will lead ARC in partnership with BRAC, DevTech Systems, Inc., and ICF. The project will use sustainable and participatory approaches to help cities fulfill their goals. To that end, we will connect city residents, governments, and other stakeholders, creating relationships that will continue past the end of this project. ARC will build on JSI's learning from the Building Healthy Cities Project, using systems thinking to create meaningful multi-sector initiatives. We will partner with cities and their residents to create more resilient and livable environments in the face of shocks. ARC will work closely with city residents and governments to co-design approaches that support sustainable urban growth and integrate climate change considerations. Partner cities will move along the three steps of the USAID Resilience Conceptual Framework (absorb, adapt, transform) in order to overcome challenges and sustain results. City residents are ARC's biggest resource for making change. ARC will go beyond simply including residents in the conversation, by collaborating to drive the city agenda, change the economy, and advocate for what their communities need. Our team will also cultivate human resources in city government, the business community, other donor projects, and civil society. Please visit JSI.com/AsiaResilientCities for more updates as this exciting new project gets underway. JSI is a public health management consulting and research organization dedicated to improving the health of individuals and communities throughout the world. We partner with community-based organizations, the private sector, and government agencies to strengthen their capacity to streamline services, develop their workforce, collect and use data, promote healthy behaviors, and strengthen supply chains in an effort to deliver better health services to all. Asia Resilient Cities (ARC) is a five-year cooperative agreement funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under Agreement No. 7200AA22CA00011, beginning September 23, 2022. ARC is implemented by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI) with partners BRAC, DevTech Systems, Inc., and ICF. This project is made possible by the generous support of the American people through USAID. USAID administers the U.S. foreign assistance program providing economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 80 countries worldwide. Contact: Amanda Pomeroy-Stevens ARC Project Director [email protected] SOURCE JSI Industry Leader Chentelle Lane Joins as COO; Company Partners to Power Leading Cardiology Networks in Southwest ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Karoo Health , the leader in end-to-end, tech-enabled, value-based cardiac care, announced today the hiring of industry veteran Chentelle Lane as COO. Lane will help guide the company's business and operating strategy, including broadening its reach to cardiac patients through partnerships with care organizations and health plans. A proven leader in value-based care operations, Lane was most recently COO of Care Services at Cityblock Health, and has also held executive-level positions at Somatus and naviHealth. Karoo further announced it has entered into agreements to power the conversion and execution of value-based care for several leading cardiology groups in the Southwest, aiming to improve patient outcomes and lower overall cost of care. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States , accounting for one in every five deaths . "Most people have been touched in some way by heart disease, either through their own diagnosis or that of a loved one. For me, it was the loss of a close friend which, in part, sparked the formation of Karoo Health," said Ian Koons, company co-founder and CEO. "We continue to work toward our goals of improving outcomes and lowering cost of care for cardiology patients by helping care providers implement and execute value-based care models. We're excited that Chentelle, one of our industry's great operational leaders, is joining our mission to transform the lives of cardiac patients in America." Utilizing an evidence-driven, value-based care model, Karoo Health augments cardiovascular care through the integration of wraparound support services that include dedicated care teams and enabling technology which provide patients with frictionless access to care providers and empower practitioner conversion to a value-based care model. "I'm thrilled to join Karoo's passionate team committed to transforming the current system of cardiovascular care and improving the lives of patients," said Chentelle Lane. "I've had the pleasure of building multiple operational organizations focused on improving healthcare delivery, and Karoo is the right organization for me to take that experience to the next level within the cardiovascular space. Leading, building, and executing within highly complex healthcare arenas is where I thrive, and I'm excited by the opportunity to have a big impact on the lives of cardiology patients nationwide." Karoo Health closed its initial funding round led by Panoramic Ventures in March and after achieving significant milestones since, plans to seek additional capital this quarter. About Karoo Health A leader in tech-enabled, value-based cardiovascular care solutions, Karoo Health empowers the conversion of providers and health plans to a value-based care model. As a patient-first organization, Karoo Health's mission is to improve the lives of every cardiac patient in America by providing a new paradigm of better cardiology care, at lower cost, than the current system while preventing the progression of cardiovascular disease. For more information, visit the company at www.karoohealth.com or connect with them on LinkedIn . SOURCE Karoo Health Kane now owns a booming menstrual wellness brand featuring plant-based products for period pain and fibroid relief. NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Celebrity Blogger and Media Mogul, Necole Kane, is stepping down from the helm of her highly successful xoNecole brand to focus on her new wellness brand, My Happy Flo. Kane founded xoNecole.com in 2015 quickly finding success as a platform rooted in empowerment and lifestyle content for women of color. Through the site, the serial entrepreneur built a community that reached over 4 million women worldwide with daily editorial content and offline experiences with events ElevateHer, Pajamas & Lipstick, and the xo Happy Hour podcast. Necole Kane, Founder of My Happy Flo Recognizing the value and impact of xoNecole, Hollywood Producer, Will Packer, and Will Packer Media acquired the brand in 2017. Since then, Kane has been working with his company to grow the brand to be sustainable until her eventual departure. Now, she is turning her full attention to My Happy Flo a plant-based period relief supplement that works to balance hormones and alleviate heavy bleeding, intense cramping, and other PMS symptoms for a happier, healthier period. When asked to comment on the transition from a media brand to a wellness brand, she explained: "I'm still serving the same audience that I have for years but in a new way. Our community has a unique set of needs that include Vitamin D3 and Iron deficiency but are often underserved and overlooked in the vitamin and supplement space. I am passionate about helping women of color who are struggling with heavy periods and fibroid symptoms and missing out on life because of it. The statistics regarding black women and fibroids are alarming and we wanted to help do something about this silent epidemic." Leveraging her personal experience and that of the millions of African American women in her xoNecole community, Kane discovered various studies which reveal that 80% of African American women will be diagnosed with fibroids by the age of 50. Additionally, Black women are also 4 times more likely to get a hysterectomy than other races and they are also 2 to 3 times more likely to suffer from period trauma. Due to the lack of education around what a normal period looks like, it can take women up to 10 years to see a doctor for her symptoms or get a proper diagnosis. "At My Happy Flo, we believe it is important to focus heavily on content around hormone health, endocrine disrupting chemicals found in the hair and beauty products specifically marketed towards African-American women, and signs and symptoms of estrogen dominance a leading cause of heavy, painful periods," said Kane. "There has also been a huge educational gap when it comes to the menstrual cycle being considered a fifth vital sign and serves as a monthly report card for our overall health. We weren't taught that a heavy, painful period is not normal and can be the first sign of hormonal imbalances. When left unaddressed and undiagnosed, these imbalances can lead to fibroid development and breast cancer tumors, as well as other conditions such as PCOS, endometriosis, and infertility." Kane knows all too well the harsh reality of hormone imbalance after her mom passed from estrogen-induced breast cancer at the age of 41. Kane, herself, has also suffered from debilitating periods for several years. However, with the help of holistic doctors, she was able to address her hormonal and gut imbalances naturally through plant-based remedies, vitamins, and minerals. Kane is now championing holistic remedies for women with My Happy Flo. "In the past, when we've been offered a solution, it often caused more harm than good," she said. "Hormonal contraceptives, painkillers, and hysterectomies shouldn't be our only option for period pain relief and with My Happy Flo, it doesn't have to be." In addition to supporting women during their period, My Happy Flo is committed to educating its audience. Plans are also afoot to expand the product range with holistic supplements that address various forms of hormonal imbalances and supports women through various stages of her period from menarche to menopause. The company's goal is to create a full-range of products that improve her sleep, energy, and digestive health and empower customers with information through monthly workshops, digital downloads, and in-person summits. In its first year of business, My Happy Flo has won over $50,000 in grants and has grown organically without any digital ad spend. The daily vitamin has also helped thousands of women find relief from period pain and hormone imbalance which previously caused them to miss out on professional and personal opportunities and provided more holistic options when facing fibroids and other reproductive health conditions. For more information about My Happy Flo or to purchase the vitamins, visit myhappyflo.co. About My Happy Flo Founded in 2021, My Happy Flo is one of the first vitamin and supplement brands centered around the menstrual and hormone health of women of color. The brand is committed to changing the relationship women have with their periods through education, awareness, community, and access to a holistic line of products that address hormonal imbalances and common reproductive conditions. My Happy Flo's hero product a plant-based period relief vitamin is available for purchase at myhappyflo.co. Media Contact: Charisse Curtis, +13232513582, [email protected] SOURCE My Happy Flo More new crime drama series and retro comedy "Cheeky Business" join the growing slate of content for MHz Choice. WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dark family drama Waterfront (Multichoice Studios) is the first series from South Africa (in Afrikaans) to debut on MHz Choice. The V&A Waterfront in Cape Town as a gorgeous tourist mecca is the setting for the series, which also explores the darker products of decades-long gentrification. The death of shipbuilding magnate Ben Myburgh (Dawid Minnaar) leads his three daughters back to the family business to duke it out for control of the family empire, dirty secrets, and all. More new crime drama series and retro comedy "Cheeky Business" join the growing slate of content for MHz Choice. Tweet this Oscar nominee Klaus Maria Brandauer in "Enemies" on MHz Choice Also debuting in November are a pair of crime dramas centered around missing girls. The first, Enemies (Germany, Global Screen), comes in the form of a two-part drama about a kidnapped girl told from two different perspectives: the first part follows police inspector Peter Nadler (Bjarne Madel) as he races against time to solve the case, while the second follows the defendant's defense attorney, Konrad Biegler (Oscar nominee Klaus Maria Brandauer, Out of Africa), who is determined to save his client. The two films seen together will push the viewers on questions of fairness and justice. The Promise (France, Newen) follows police captain Pierre Castaing (Olivier Marchal) who never recovers from his failed investigation of the disappearance of an eleven-year-old girl in 1999. The case is resurrected years later when Castaing's daughter (Sofia Essaidi) investigates a similar disappearance. For fans of the French mystery series Magellan, new series Mongeville (France, Mediawan) stars Francis Perrin as a retired judge Antoine Mongeville who teams up with a no-nonsense police detective to solve tricky mysteries in Bordeaux. Retro comedy Cheeky Business (France, Mediawan) will also join the ranks of new series on MHz Choice. Set in the Parisian suburbs in the early 1980s, Cheeky Business is a fictional tale of the invention of the first adult messaging service using the Minitel - a videotext online service accessible through telephone lines in France. Three unlikely friends and college students stumble upon the idea to pose as horny women messaging even hornier men over the Minitel network. Pimps and prostitutes also get involved as the business goes national. Friendship, rivalry, sex, and false appearances are the early hallmarks of what become the internet age, and all hilariously collide in this funny and addictive series. Other new series include two female-led Italian crime dramas from ITV Studios: Petra, based on the bestselling novels by Alicia Gimenez Bartlett and Voiceless starring Cristiana Capotondi as police inspector Eva Cantini. Full November Schedule available here: https://mhzchoice.com/premiere-schedule/ About MHz Networks MHz Networks offers viewers in the U.S. and Canada access to a library of the best television mysteries, dramas, comedies and documentaries subtitled in English through its subscription streaming service, MHz Choice. Select MHz Networks content is also available on DVD and on its free ad-supported service MHz Now, available on Samsung TV Plus and Plex. New MHz Choice customers receive a free 7-Day Trial. For more information, go to mhzchoice.com. SOURCE MHz Networks LOS ANGELES and SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Mission Green, an initiative of the Weldon Project ("TWP"), today announced the filing of a clemency petition for Parker Coleman, Jr., who is currently serving a 60-year federal sentence for marijuana-related offenses. This filing along with several other petitions comes on the heels of President Biden's historic mass pardon of anyone previously convicted on a federal charge of simple possession of marijuana. Supported by Glass House Brands, Mission Green is working with the Academy for Justice to submit clemency petitions with the hope that the President will follow through on his promise to release those convicted of non-violent marijuana offenses. The submission for Mr. Coleman is part of a new campaign, the Cannabis Clemency Initiative, that seeks to help people still incarcerated on marijuana charges, beginning with those locked up in federal prison. The Initiative brings together criminal justice scholars and reform advocates to achieve its ambitious goals. The petition urges the President to commute Mr. Coleman's sentence, an act that would be a "powerful, tangible step in affirming the President's commitment to ending federal incarceration for non-violent marijuana offenses." "Parker Coleman, a young African-American man, is currently serving a 60-year federal prison sentence for non-violent marijuana distributionthat is, de facto life imprisonment of a person of color for conduct now authorized under state laws across the nation and openly pursued as a business by the multi-billion dollar cannabis industry. Mr. Coleman's sentence is not only a troubling example of racial and class disparities in federal drug enforcement, it's excessive compared to the terms imposed in related cases or that would be imposed in state court today. His effective life sentence is also inconsistent with recent reforms in law and policy, as well as a sea change in public opinion, all of which point away from incarcerating people like Mr. Coleman for non-violent drug offenses and toward a non-punitive approach to marijuana. Despite the injustice of his sentence, Mr. Coleman has worked hard on rehabilitation and self-improvement. His successful record while incarcerated, along with a strong support network of family and friends, make Mr. Coleman an ideal candidate for clemency relief from an excessive and unjust sentence." The document was drafted by Erik Luna, the Amelia D. Lewis Professor of Constitutional & Criminal Law and the Founder of the Academy for Justice, a criminal justice reform program within the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. Professor Luna took time to praise President Biden's recent pardon of federal offenses for simple marijuana possession as "a historic event in criminal justice reform and an important first step toward correcting the lingering injustices of a national drug ban." But he emphasized that "additional work remains to be done, especially the release of those incarcerated for non-violent marijuana-related offenses at the federal levelincluding Parker Coleman." By granting clemency in this case, Professor Luna said, "the President would further demonstrate his commitment to correcting injustices and his belief that America truly is the land of second chances." Kyle Kazan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Glass House Brands, a retired police officer and a Board Member of Mission Green strongly supported Coleman's clemency petition by guaranteeing mentorship, meaningful employment and housing upon his release. Kazan stated, "while Glass House has had revenues well in excess of $100 million for cultivation, transportation and sales of marijuana while nobody in the company has served a day in jail for it, the juxtaposition between the legal business and prisoners like Parker Coleman is jarring." "It is a moral imperative for me to dedicate my time and resources to redress the absurd incongruities existing today at the twilight of marijuana prohibition," Kazan said. Mr. Kazan and Professor Luna were brought together for the project by Weldon Angelos, the President of The Weldon Project and Co-Founder of Mission Green. A music producer and leading criminal justice reform advocate, Mr. Angelos received a full presidential pardon after serving more than a decade of a 55-year mandatory federal sentence for low-level, non-violent marijuana transactions. "Since my release from prison, I have dedicated my life to securing the release of other individuals locked away for non-violent drug offenses. Parker Coleman's case is a perfect example. He shouldn't spend another day in prison for conduct that isn't even criminalized anymore in much of the country. Enough is enough." Mission Green, the Academy for Justice, and Glass House Brands expect to work together until all people serving federal sentences for non-violent marijuana offenses are granted clemency. ABOUT MISSION GREEN Mission Green is an initiative of The Weldon Project ("TWP"), a 501(c)(3) non-prot organization that works to bring together leaders impacted by the criminal justice system and unlikely allies from both political parties to push for criminal justice solutions. TWP works directly with lawmakers, advocacy groups, incarcerated individuals, and the White House on a broad range of criminal justice issues and advocates on behalf of currently or formerly incarcerated drug oenders who were sentenced to prison for non-violent drug oenses. TWP has adopted a multifaceted approach to addressing the injustices and disparities in sentencing for drug oenses and the collateral consequences of drug-related arrests and convictions. TWP redresses these injustices and disparities through policy reform, legislative advocacy, and impactful direct service programs designed both to secure release of non-violent drug oenders from incarceration and to assist those coming out of incarceration in rebuilding their lives through reentry programs and anti-recidivism eorts. As one of TWP's initiatives, Mission Green was launched to focus on individuals incarcerated for cannabis-related oenses in the federal criminal justice system. This campaign is led by socially conscious people who have been impacted by the justice system and have lived through the issues these advocacy organizations are working to address. The people most harmed by the criminal justice system are uniquely qualied to create and champion the solutions that will begin to transform it. You can learn more online at www.theweldonproject.org , as well as on Instagram and Facebook . ABOUT THE ACADEMY FOR JUSTICE The Academy for Justice , a program within the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, is a diverse team of reform-minded scholars and experts from a number of different institutions who believe that knowledge is the most important tool we have for addressing the array of problems confronting the American criminal justice system. Our scholars come from different backgrounds, and each bring different perspectives, experiences, and methodologies to bear on our criminal justice reform work. As a scholarly collective, our approach to criminal justice reform is interdisciplinary, pragmatic, and non-partisan. Our shared mission is to bridge the gap between academia and on-the-ground criminal justice reform by making scholarly research and ideas accessible to policymakers, stakeholders, journalists, and the public. For more information visit https://academyforjustice.asu.edu/ . ABOUT GLASS HOUSE BRANDS Glass House Brands Inc. is one of the fastest-growing, vertically integrated cannabis companies in the U.S., with a dedicated focus on the California market and building leading, lasting brands to serve consumers across all segments. From its greenhouse cultivation operations to its manufacturing practices, from brand-building to retailing, the company's efforts are rooted in the respect for people, the environment, and the community that co-founders Kyle D. Kazan , Chairman and CEO, and Graham Farrar , President, instilled at the outset. Through its portfolio of brands, which includes Glass House Farms , PLUS Products, Allswell, Forbidden Flowers, and Mama Sue Wellness, Glass House is committed to realizing its vision of excellence: outstanding cannabis products, produced sustainably, for the benefit of all. For more information and company updates, visit www.glasshousebrands.com. SOURCE Glass House Brands Inc. PRESQUE ISLE, Maine, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Northern Maine Community College reported a 31.3% year-over-year increase in Fall enrollment this month, surpassing state and national trends. Nationally, community college enrollment has declined slightly, while other Maine community colleges reported a 12% increase. With growth rates more than double state averages, administrators on campus are facing questions about the cause. "Enrollment at NMCC has been impacted by several factors this fall," College President Tim Crowley stated. "The Maine State Legislature focused its attention on community colleges while rebounding from the pandemic. The state passed legislation to offer free tuition and fees for recent high school graduates, and also provided funding to expand nursing programs. The discussions surrounding this actionat both state and local levelsbrought the value of community college education into sharp focus." Northern Maine Community College reported a 31.3% increase in Fall enrollment this month surpassing trends. Tweet this According to Crowley, the College also benefited from increased local awareness gained through work in the community. "During the pandemic, NMCC partnered with Northern Light A.R. Gould Hospital and hosted a vaccination clinic in the College's Smith Wellness Center over several weeks. The clinics provided 23,000 vaccinations," Crowley stated. "Community members who had never visited NMCC experienced our facilities, our caring staff, and the value of partnerships we maintain that support the community in times of need." Academic Dean Angela Buck attributes part of the increased enrollment to structural changes. "The pandemic required us to rapidly expand online offerings and improve the online learning environment," Buck said. "While the majority of students were eager to return to campus as restrictions eased, we've also found some demographics prefer the flexibility of online coursework, particularly non-traditional students and parents with children at home." Not highlighted in October's official headcount is the College's significant growth in workforce development, through short term non-credit and credit programs including commercial driving, mechanized logging operations, and practical nursing. "State and federal dollars have allowed us to meet the demand in these high-wage fields," stated NMCC Assistant Dean of Continuing Education Leah Buck. "For example, we expanded our commercial driving academy into Bangor this summer, which trained another 43 CDL drivers who will be ready to hit the road and help alleviate supply chain pressures. Through support from the Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine's Workforce, we have access to both state and private funding to create training opportunities for more short-term training; this supports both companies who want their skills upgraded and under-employed people looking for a new career. We're pursuing similar expansion in all areas that could benefit, and both students and employers are embracing the opportunities." Under the leadership of NMCC's Dean of Students Matthew Grillowho began the role in fall of 2021admissions and counseling departments created a unified effort to enhance the new-student onboarding process while meeting the needs of current students. "We're working closely with high school graduates who have felt unmoored over these recent years," Grillo explained. "But we don't only serve traditional-aged college students. We work with parents, people returning to the workforce, international students coming to the U.S. for the first time, and students with learning disabilities. Our staff doesn't use a one-size-fits-all approach. We meet each student where they're at and support them to navigate obstacles and continue their education. " "No single effort or initiative is responsible for the 30% growth in NMCC enrollment this fall," President Crowley added. "Luck is when opportunity meets preparation, and our campus used these recent years to reflect, adapt, and ultimately better meet the needs of our community. We've benefited from local, state, and federal support. We strive to be good stewards of the opportunities we're given, and responsible fiduciaries under any circumstance. These are campus efforts that we plan to continue." For more information regarding NMCC's more than 30 programs or workforce development opportunities, please visit nmcc.edu or call the admissions office at (207) 768-2785. Media Contact: Griffin Goins Development and College Relations Office 33 Edgemont Drive Presque Isle, ME 04769 Phone: (207) 768-2806 SOURCE Northern Maine Community College SHANGHAI, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Noah Holdings Limited (the "Company" or "Noah") (NYSE: NOAH and HKEX: 6686), a leading and pioneer wealth management service provider in China offering comprehensive one-stop advisory services on global investment and asset allocation primarily for high net worth investors, today provides an update on the Company's proposed voluntary conversion of its secondary listing status on The Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Hong Kong Stock Exchange") to dual-primary listing (the "Primary Conversion"). Application for Voluntary Conversion to Dual Primary Listing . The Company has applied to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange with respect to the Primary Conversion. On October 19, 2022, the Company received the acknowledgement from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in respect of the application of Primary Conversion. The Effective Date on which the Primary Conversion will become effective is expected to be on or before December 31, 2022. Upon the Effective Date, the Company will be dual primary listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. Proposed Grant of Issuance Mandate and Repurchase Mandate . Ordinary resolutions will be proposed at the annual general meeting of the Company to be convened on or around December 6, 2022 (the "First GM") to approve the grant of (i) an issuance mandate to the directors of the Company (the "Directors") to allot, issue or deal with Class A ordinary shares of the share capital of the Company with a par value of US$0.0005 each (the "Shares"), or securities convertible into Shares and/or American depositary shares (the "ADSs," two ADSs representing one Class A ordinary share), not exceeding 20% of the total number of issued Shares as of the date of the First GM; and (ii) a repurchase mandate to the Directors to repurchase Shares not exceeding 10% of the total number of issued Shares and/or ADSs as of the date of the First GM. Proposed Adoption of The Revised Articles of Association . Subject to the approval of the shareholders of the Company (the "Shareholders") at the First GM, the Company will adopt the revised articles of association of the Company to comply with the Core Shareholder Protection Standards under Appendix 3 to the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Hong Kong Listing Rules"). Proposed Adoption of The 2022 Share Incentive Plan . Subject to the Shareholders' approval at the First GM, the Company will adopt the 2022 Share Incentive Plan with effect from the Effective Date. The Primary Conversion is conditioned on and subject to, among other things, the Company's compliance with the Hong Kong Listing Rules and the Company's obtaining of necessary approvals from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The Company will make further announcement(s) to disclose any material updates and progress with respect to the Primary Conversion to the extent required by the Hong Kong Listing Rules and other applicable laws and regulations as and when appropriate. This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute, or form part of, any invitation or offer to acquire, purchase or subscribe for any securities of the Company. Shareholders and potential investors should exercise caution when dealing in the securities of the Company. ABOUT NOAH HOLDINGS LIMITED Noah Holdings Limited (NYSE: NOAH and HKEX:6686) is a leading and pioneer wealth management service provider in China offering comprehensive one-stop advisory services on global investment and asset allocation primarily for high net worth investors. Noah is a Cayman Islands holding company and carries on business in Hong Kong as Noah Holdings Private Wealth and Asset Management Limited. In the first half of 2022, Noah distributed RMB34.3 billion (US$5.4 billion) of investment products. Through Gopher Asset Management, Noah had assets under management of RMB155.4 billion (US$23.2 billion) as of June 30, 2022. Noah's wealth management business primarily distributes private equity, private secondary, mutual fund and other products denominated in Renminbi and other currencies. Noah's network covers 79 cities in mainland China, as well as offices in Hong Kong, Taiwan, New York, Silicon Valley and Singapore. A total of 1,255 relationship managers provide customized financial solutions for clients through this network, and meet their international investment needs. The Company's wealth management business had 418,675 registered clients as of June 30, 2022. Through Gopher Asset Management, Noah manages private equity, public securities, real estate, multi-strategy and other investments denominated in Renminbi and other currencies. The Company also provides other businesses. For more information, please visit Noah at ir.noahgroup.com. SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Among other things, Application for Voluntary Conversion to Dual Primary Listing, Proposed Grant of Issuance Mandate and Repurchase Mandate, Proposed Adoption of The Revised Articles of Association and Proposed Adoption of The 2022 Share Incentive Plan contain forward-looking statements. Noah may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual reports to shareholders, in announcements, circulars or other publications made on the website of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Hong Kong Stock Exchange"), in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Noah's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause Noah's actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: its goals and strategies; its future business development, financial condition and results of operations; the expected growth of the wealth management and asset management market in China and internationally; its expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of the products it distributes; investment risks associated with investment products distributed to Noah's investors, including the risk of default by counterparties or loss of value due to market or business conditions or misconduct by counterparties; its expectations regarding keeping and strengthening its relationships with key clients; relevant government policies and regulations relating to its industries; its ability to attract and retain qualified employees; its ability to stay abreast of market trends and technological advances; its plans to invest in research and development to enhance its product choices and service offerings; competition in its industries in China and internationally; general economic and business conditions globally and in China; and its ability to effectively protect its intellectual property rights and not to infringe on the intellectual property rights of others. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Noah's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and Noah does not undertake any obligation to update any such information, including forward-looking statements, as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under the applicable law. SOURCE Noah Holdings Limited Larger Facility Will Support Company's Increased Production and Innovation BEAVERTON, Ore., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Northwest Compounders, a local, family-owned business that provides high quality, custom-made compounded medications for veterinarians, physicians and their patients, has moved to a facility four times larger than its prior location to support its rapid growth. This investment positions Northwest Compounders as the leading compounding pharmacy in Oregon and one of the leading compounders in the United States. Northwest Compounders' new facility, which serves as both its headquarters and production facility, is located at 8505 SW Creekside Place, Suite 110, Beaverton, OR 97008. The state-of-the-art facility features a 5,000 square foot compounding lab that will enable the company to significantly expand operations. The facility also has several offices and conference rooms, an incredible employee break room, a pristine customer area with dedicated restrooms and private consultation rooms, and over 100 parking spots. "Northwest Compounders has operated out of a 4,700 square foot facility in Tualatin for the past twelve years," said Luke Eilers, COO of Northwest Compounders. "Over the past decade, our organization has grown exponentially. With over 60 employees and a growing customer list, we are very excited to be in our new location, which will allow us to increase our production capacity to better serve our customers well into the future." With increased production capacity comes improved customer experience. To compliment the brand's move, Northwest Compounders unveiled a new logo and will be launching a new website in the coming months as part of an overall brand refresh. The new website will provide easy access to an interactive product catalog, pricing information, streamlined ordering capabilities, account history management, and informative content with a modern design, making the online experience with Northwest Compounders more intuitive and enjoyable. "These changes will enable us to provide truly world-class service to our local customers, whether they see us in person, call us on the phone or use our website. For nearly two decades, they have trusted us, and this will allow us to serve our local customers even better," said Eilers. "These investments make us one of the leading compounding pharmacies in the United States. We have humble roots in Oregon, but we have grown into a national leader. Our success is a direct result of how well we treat our customers and the high quality of the work we do." About Northwest Compounders Northwest Compounders is a local, family-owned compounding pharmacy serving veterinarians, physicians and their patients throughout the Pacific Northwest since 2005. Strict internal processes, a robust ongoing training program and third-party testing ensure Northwest Compounders meets or exceeds the highest quality product standards within the compounding industry. Northwest Compounders is dedicated to providing high-quality compounded medications and excellent customer service with care and speed. For more information, visit www.northwestcompounders.com. SOURCE Northwest Compounders HOUSTON, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Peloton and Texas A&M University announced today the collaboration of content for two courses within the universities' Petroleum Engineering curriculum. This initiative is part of Peloton's mission to empower future petroleum engineers and other key players in the industry. Starting in Fall 2022, Peloton began providing four hours of educational content about the role of data management and analytics in the petroleum industry for better decision-making. The content has been incorporated into the Intro to Petroleum Engineering (PETE 201) course instructed by Dr. Catherine Sliva. Peloton is also a Capstone Project Sponsor for Interdisciplinary Data Analytics Practicum (STAT 483) instructed by Professor Sutanoy Dasgupta. In this course, a Peloton representative will be available to provide guidance and training for senior-level students. Peloton aims to shape the future generation of petroleum engineers through utilization of industry-leading software. Tweet this The course STAT 483 is a required part of the coursework requirements for the Certificate of Data Analytics for the Petroleum Industry, a specialized certification offered to select students within Texas A&M's colleges of engineering, science, geosciences and Mays Business School. This program is coordinated by Dr. Siddharth Misra, associate professor, and Douglas Von Gonten Faculty Fellow in the Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering. "By sharing this content, we aim to shape the future generation of petroleum engineers, providing an opportunity for students to learn from and gain experience with real-world scenarios through utilization of industry-leading software solutions. We anticipate this is just the beginning of our collaboration, and we are committed to making this university partnership a success, which is why we are working closely with the professors to provide any additional resources or support that they need," said Monty Meloche, President/COO of Peloton." "We always appreciate when companies like Peloton want to support us in our teaching curriculum," said Dr. Siddharth Misra. "When our students can interact with successful companies who are making a real impact on the industry, the lessons are more memorable and a valuable part of their learning experience." In addition to supporting new material in the two courses, students are also encouraged to apply for the Peloton Summer Internship Program, which was launched in summer 2015 and has included interns from many different universities between Peloton's offices in Canada and the United States. Internship programs cover an array of areas of expertise, including business administration, platform security, information technology, accounting, and the Peloton Platform Data Management Rotational Program. For further information about Peloton's software solutions, its involvement at Texas A&M University or its internship program, contact [email protected]. About Peloton Peloton, headquartered in Calgary, Canada, provides industry-leading oil & gas software solutions. The Peloton Platform energizes the oil and gas digital transformation through mobility, automation, and data integration by providing fully integrated well data lifecycle, production data lifecycle and land data management solutions. Over 600 oil and gas clients worldwide rely on Peloton technology to equip their stakeholders with the tools and information necessary to manage, simplify and optimize their operations. Visit www.peloton.com to learn more about our office locations and data management solutions. SOURCE Peloton Microsoft, Qatar Foundations Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future, and DLA Piper launched the Technology for Sustainability Alliance during Qatar Sustainability Week. The alliance aims to drive sustainability impact enabled by technology, support organisations to reach their climate goals, encourage organisations and businesses in Qatar in their social responsibility, and advance change through new regulatory and policy recommendations. Through this agreement, the alliance will highlight real success stories of technology for sustainability as told by organisations, encourage dialogue between the private and public sectors, and bring people and organisations together for sustainable development. It will also share knowledge and successful practices by organising talks, training, and conferences, providing ecosystem policy recommendations, and engage with the government to support sustainability-related initiatives. Dr Gonzalo Castro de la Mata, Executive Director, Earthna, said: Sustainability is at the heart of what we do, and this collaboration will continue our work to engage more organisations and tackle climate change. This partnership will combine the latest technology and skills to develop key themes and strategies to drive Qatars sustainability goals. Lana Khalaf, General Manager, Microsoft Qatar, said: Climate change is the defining issue of our time. Addressing it will require collective action and technical innovation on a vast scale. We are committed to Qatars long-term sustainability goals to accelerate growth responsibly and develop climate change-related technologies and clean energy. We aim through the Tech for Sustainability Alliance to present a platform where we consolidate efforts and drive policies by leveraging our different expertise, skills and technologies and merging our shared vision of a more sustainable future. Dr Ehab Elsonbaty, Chair of DLA Pipers US-Middle East Initiative, said: DLA Piper is dedicated to assisting businesses and organisations in facilitating the transition to a more sustainable future. Instilling a culture of sustainability and accountability will equip businesses, investors, policymakers, and other stakeholders with the capacity to confront complex strategic, legal, financial, and operational sustainability opportunities.-TradeArabia News Service More than 37,000 schools across the U.S. utilize Raptor to screen visitors, track volunteers, report on safety drills, respond to emergencies and reunite families HOUSTON, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Raptor Technologies (Raptor), the U.S. leader in school safety software, in recognition of National School Safety Week, is celebrating its 20th year in the school safety software industry. What began as founder Allan Measom's focus on improving and innovating visitor management software in 2002, Raptor's safety suite of solutions now cover the entire lifecycle of school safety. During the last 20 years, Raptor has: Screened nearly a half-billion visitors Alerted schools to 450,000 sex offenders Generated over 640,000 custom alerts, typically custody issues Background checked over 600,000 volunteers Logged over 2 million volunteer hours Recorded, in the last two years, nearly 5,000 emergency alerts and drills "As we celebrate Raptor's 20th anniversary, we understand that the foundation of our success lies with our customers, their trust in our safety solutions, and our shared mission of keeping K-12 students safe in schools," said Gray Hall, chief executive officer, Raptor Technologies. "Today and moving forward, we will continue to work with like-minded partners to expand and innovate to support the evolving safety needs of our school districts." From the beginning, Raptor's culture has always prioritized customer success, and it remains the core tenet of everything Raptor does, resulting in a 98% customer retention rate. With a company mission to "Protect every child, every school, every day," Raptor and its highly dedicated team of school safety software experts and partners continue to support districts through its growing suite of leading-edge school safety solutions. "Our educators and administrators maintain an ongoing commitment to the well-being and safety of all students on our campuses," said Wade Stanford, superintendent, Westwood ISD. "We trust Raptor as a key partner to make our classrooms safe places for students to learn and grow." Industry partners have been essential to Raptor's growth over the last 20 years. Building close relationships with organizations like the I Love U Guys Foundation , Safe and Sound Schools , Partner Alliance for Safer Schools , and many others, Raptor has worked tirelessly to drive school safety standards, policies, and technology to keep K-12 students and staff safe. "Prevention and preparedness play a critical role in creating a climate of school safety," stated Michele Gay, founder and executive director of Safe and Sound Schools. "Raptor has been an innovative partner in this respect, who is not only dedicated to the mission of keeping kids safe but has worked across the entire industry to help drive policies and technology standards that benefit everyone." With Raptor's clients ranging from the smallest districts to charter and private schools to over 50% of the 100 largest school districts nationwide, the future continues to look bright for both Raptor and the safety of schools. About Raptor Technologies Founded in 2002, Raptor has partnered with over 52,000 schools globally, including over 5,000 K-12 US school districts, to provide integrated visitor, volunteer, emergency management, safeguarding, and early intervention software and services that cover the complete spectrum of school and student safety. To learn more about Raptor Technologies, visit www.raptortech.com . Contact: Matt Maurel, [email protected], 512-387-3440 SOURCE Raptor Technologies NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. ("Honda" or the "Company") (NYSE: HMC). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980. The investigation concerns whether Honda and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. [Click here for information about joining the class action] On September 28, 2022, a putative class action was filed against Honda alleging that the Company sold thousands of vehicles that contain a critical safety flaw putting drivers and others at serious risk of injury. Specifically, the lawsuit against Honda alleges that a wide range of Honda vehicles share a flawed "auto start/stop" function (also called "Idle Stop") intended to save fuel by shutting the engine down at stops, and that the Idle Stop system in these vehicles routinely fails to restart the engine as designed, leaving drivers unable to move their vehicles. The lawsuit further alleges that Honda was fully aware of the defect before marketing the vehicles. On this news, Honda's American Depositary Receipt ("ADR") price fell $0.74 per ADR, or 3.23%, to close at $22.19 per ADR on September 29, 2022. Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com. CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 888-476-6529 ext. 7980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Palantir Technologies Inc. ("Palantir" or the "Company") (NYSE: PLTR) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, and docketed under 22-cv-02384, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Palantir securities between November 9, 2021 and May 6, 2022, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials. If you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired Palantir securities during the Class Period, you have until November 14, 2022 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased. [Click here for information about joining the class action] Palantir builds and deploys software platforms to assist the U.S. intelligence community in counterterrorism investigations and operations. The Company has two operating segments, commercial and government, with the latter primarily serving agencies in the U.S. federal government and non-U.S. governments. Palantir also invests in so-called "marketable securities" consisting of equity securities in publicly-traded companies. Palantir has consistently described sources of geopolitical instability and other disruptionse.g., armed conflicts, economic crises, and the COVID-19 pandemicas tailwinds for its business, given that the Company's products and services are purportedly built to aid its customers in assessing and responding to such disruptions. The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Palantir's investments in marketable securities were having a significant negative impact on the Company's earnings per share ("EPS") results; (ii) Palantir overstated the sustainability of its government segment's growth and revenues; (iii) Palantir was experiencing a significant slowdown in revenue growth, particularly among its government customers, despite ongoing global conflicts and market disruptions; (iv) as a result of all the foregoing, the Company was likely to miss consensus estimates for its first quarter 2022 ("Q1") EPS and second quarter 2022 ("Q2") sales outlook; and (v) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On May 9, 2022, Palantir issued a press release announcing its Q1 financial results and guidance for Q2. For Q1, Palantir announced adjusted EPS of $0.02, compared to analyst estimates of $0.04 per share, noting on a conference call that the "[f]irst quarter adjusted [EPS of] $0.02 . . . includes a negative $0.02 impact driven primarily by unrealized losses on marketable securities." The Company also disclosed that government revenue grew by only 16% year-over-year for Q1, representing a significant slowdown in revenue growth compared to prior quarters, and that, for Q2, the Company expected $470 million in sales, compared to estimates of $483.76 million. On this news, Palantir's stock price fell $2.02 per share, or 21.31%, to close at $7.46 per share on May 9, 2022. As multiple news outlets reported that day, Palantir's significant decline in revenue growth, particularly from its government customers, surprised investors, especially given the ongoing geopolitical instability and other disruptions caused by, inter alia, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and Russo-Ukrainian Warthat is, precisely the type of destabilizing conditions that the Company had previously touted as tailwinds for its business. Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 888-476-6529 ext. 7980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP BOULDER, Colo., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Snow Peak Capital, LLC (Snow Peak), a private equity firm focused on middle-market businesses, today announced it has acquired Dalco Nonwovens, LLC (Dalco) and Global Felt Technologies, Inc. (GFT), in partnership with Joey Duncan, CEO of both companies. Financial terms were not disclosed. Duncan has led Dalco and GFT since 2017 and will lead and retain significant ownership in both companies. The transactions represent Snow Peak's second platform investment. Dalco, founded in 2003 and headquartered in Conover, NC, manufactures specialty light- and heavyweight nonwoven fabrics for a diverse customer base in the automotive, geotextile, furniture and bedding, and industrial markets. Located less than 100 miles away in Union, SC, GFT also manufactures nonwoven products for the automotive, industrial, and geotextile markets. "The investment in Dalco and GFT will realize meaningful synergies and allow the firms to better serve their customers. We have great confidence in the abilities of Joey Duncan and his team to lead the businesses and look forward to partnering with him," said Snow Peak Managing Partner Steve Yager. Duncan added, "I am extremely excited about this opportunity as it opens significant opportunities for Dalco and GFT to grow in the coming years. Dalco and GFT have reputations and brands that are synonymous with technical innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction. Finding an organization that shared those values was paramount in the decision to partner with Snow Peak." "Dalco and GFT will continue to be known for dependability and commitment to quality. We are excited to support the business to help it continue to expand and meet the strong demand in the nonwovens market," said Snow Peak Partner Anthony Chirikos. Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth acted as legal advisor and Moss Adams provided financial advisory services to Snow Peak. Fidus Partners served as financial advisor to Dalco and GFT. Parker Poe and Culp Elliot & Carpenter served as legal advisors to Dalco and GFT, respectively. PNC Bank provided debt financing. Global Endowment Management provided equity financing alongside Snow Peak in this transaction. About Snow Peak Capital, LLC Snow Peak Capital is a Boulder, Colorado-based private equity firm that invests in middle-market businesses across the industrial, technology, and business services sectors. Snow Peak Capital's founders have more than 50 years of combined M&A and operating experience, having led or been involved in more than 60 private equity transactions during their careers. Snow Peak seeks acquisition opportunities in which it can bring lasting improvements to its partner firms, either directly or through its network of operating relationships. For more information about Snow Peak Capital, visit: www.snowpeakcapital.com Media Contacts: Newton Park PR Margaret Kirch Cohen/Richard Chimberg E: [email protected] E: [email protected] T: +1 847-507-2229 T: +1 617-312-4281 Investment Opportunities: Melissa Evans Head of Business Development T: + 1 303-883-1869 | [email protected] SOURCE Snow Peak Capital Phase one to study Control Moment Gyro Barnacle concept for future spacecraft use SAN DIEGO, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Space Micro Inc , powered by Voyager Space, has been awarded an Orbital Prime contract by the U.S. Space Force (USSF) as part of the first phase of the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. Space Micro proposed the development of Control Moment Gyro Barnacle (Barnacle), a robotic spacecraft that would replace or restore Attitude Determination and Control Systems (ADCS) capabilities and to expand on-orbit servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (OSAM). Space Micro's winning proposal is part of the USSF's push to spur innovation, update high- value bespoke space systems, and harvest the maximum lifetime from these assets. The Barnacle will help address this need by augmenting spacecraft with additional ADCS technology and coordinating control of the target spacecraft, allowing USSF to resurrect key space assets that were previously lost. "We are excited to have won this Space Force contract as part of the first-ever Orbital Prime program," said Space Micro Executive Chair, David J. Strobel. "The award is significant because of the wide-ranging opportunities Barnacle provides for future commercial and national security use cases. It allows Space Micro to validate the work our team has been doing to bring the technology to life. This proposal was developed in partnership with Sandia National Laboratories and Voyager's Altius Space Machines . Space Micro teamed with Sandia National Labs to help with customer discovery during the program as well as Altius Space Machines, whose technology will be critical to allow the Barnacle to attach to satellites in geosynchronous orbit and then revive or refurbish that asset. "This win is significant for Space Micro given Barnacle's potential capability to resurrect failing GEO assets and save notable costs in comparison to launching new satellites," said Clay Mowry, Chief Revenue Officer, Voyager Space. "OSAM will be transformative for the space industry. Voyager is eager to continue our cross-company collaboration in exploring this new technology and play a critical role in the future space servicing marketplace." This material is based on work supported by the AFRL/RVKE under contract #FA9453-22-C- A074 Block 2 of SF 1449. For direct inquiries about Barnacle, please reach out to principal investigators David Strobel, [email protected] for business information or Ashton Meginnis, [email protected] for technical questions. About Space Micro Inc. Space Micro Inc., powered by Voyager Space and based in San Diego, CA, is an engineering- driven supplier of affordable, high-performance, radiation-hardened communications, electro- optics, and digital systems for use in commercial, civil, and military space applications around the world. Space Micro solutions include Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TT&C) transmitters, mission data transmitters, space cameras, star trackers, image processors, Command & Data Handling (C&DH) systems and laser communications systems. About Voyager Space Voyager Space is a space technology company dedicated to building a better future for humanity in space and on Earth. With nearly 20 years of spaceflight heritage and over 1500 successful missions as of Fall 2022, Voyager delivers space station infrastructure and services and technology solutions to commercial users, civil and national security government agencies, academic and research institutions, and more, with the goal to accelerate a sustainable space economy. Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements." All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including those with respect to Voyager Space, Inc.'s (the "Company's") mission statement and growth strategy, are "forward-looking statements." Although the Company's management believes that such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee that such expectations are, or will be, correct. These forward-looking statements involve many risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's future results to differ materially from those anticipated. Potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, general economic conditions and conditions affecting the industries in which the Company operates; the uncertainty of regulatory requirements and approvals; and the ability to obtain necessary financing on acceptable terms or at all. Readers should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve these known and unknown uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects the Company's current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward- looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. SOURCE Voyager Space SAN FRANCISCO , Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hagens Berman urges Block, Inc. (NYSE: SQ) investors who suffered significant losses to submit your losses now. Class Period: Nov. 4, 2021 Apr. 4, 2022 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Dec. 12, 2022 Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/SQ Contact An Attorney Now: [email protected] 844-916-0895 Block, Inc. (NYSE: SQ) Securities Fraud Class Action: The litigation focuses on Block's statements about its subsidiary's (Cash App Investing) customer privacy policies and controls. The complaint alleges Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) Block lacked adequate protocols restricting access to customers' sensitive information; (2) as a result, a former employee was able to download certain reports of Cash App Investing that contained full customer names and brokerage account numbers, as well as brokerage portfolio values, holdings, and/or trading activity; and, (3) as a result, the company was reasonably likely to suffer significant damage, including reputational harm. According to the complaint, investors learned the truth on Apr. 4, 2022, when Block announced that a former employee downloaded certain reports of Cash App Investing on Dec. 10, 2021, affecting as many as 8.2 million current and former Cash App Investing customers. The information in the reports included full customer names and brokerage account numbers. For some customers, the stolen reports also included brokerage portfolio value, brokerage portfolio holdings and/or stock trading activity. This news sent the price of Block shares sharply lower on Apr. 5, 2022, wiping out over $4 billion of shareholder value. The New York Times later quoted a security expert at KnowBe4, a cybersecurity training company: "Taking customers' data and security seriously would require securing external access to employees' accounts and disabling that access upon termination, preferably before the employee leaves." "We're focused on investors' losses and proving Block misled investors about its operational risks," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation. If you invested in Block and have significant losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman. Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Block should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected]. Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw. Contact: Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895 SOURCE Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP TAIPEI, Taiwan, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Taipei Fashion Week opened its Spring/Summer 2023 season on October 14th with "CrossLab: Dialogue between Indigenous Art and Fashion," a themed group show highlighting the collaboration between 5 designers with 5 expert traditional craftsmen. Taipei Fashion Week continues to chart a progressive outlook on the future of fashion, this season looking to its roots and reinterpreting traditional techniques for modern designs as a form of cultural sustainability. Dialogue Between Indigenous Art and Fashion " group show was created to break the barriers of traditional indigenous craftsmanship and to explore the innovative possibilities into modern fashion. (PRNewsfoto/Taipei Fashion Week) Chia-Hung Su, dye the traditional hand-woven fabric from the Lihang Studio of the Atayal tribe led by Yuma Taru, as well as the slow production method, to discuss his own identification with Taiwanese culture. (PRNewsfoto/Taipei Fashion Week) The show explores the intersection of fashion, craft and humanity through 50 pieces, emphasizing the importance of preserving and passing along cultural traditions and design techniques from various indigenous groups while building community and fashion with a new perspective. Modern civilization is the crystallization of historical accumulation, which is the mission of Taipei Fashion Week. "The opening show focuses on exploring the innovative possibilities of the treasured crafts of the Taiwanese indigenous communities, and transforming the national treasure craft into new inspiration for fashion design. I hope that through the translation of these contemporary fashion designers, classic weaving crafts can enter our daily wardrobe," said Minister of Culture, Lee Yung-Te. Taipei Fashion Week continues to chart a progressive outlook on the future of fashion, this season looking to its roots and reinterpreting traditional techniques for modern designs as a form of cultural sustainability. Designers Bob Jian, McFly Chao, Chia-Hung Su, Justin Chou and Shao-Yen Chen worked to convey a narrative where modern protagonists discover their self-identity through traditional costume craftsmanship as a way to move forward. Indigenous mastersalso known as preservers of the disappearing skills that have unique significance for each ethnic groupwere essential to the development of each collection. Such skills include specialty weaving techniques from the people of Kavalan, Paiwan, Seediq and Atayal. The resulting fashion is striking, a balance of tradition and innovation, proving indigenous techniques have a place in modern fashion. Highlights included DYCTEAM's collaboration with Seta Bakan, one of the most respected weavers among the modern Seediq people, who helped inject a handcrafted element into the brand's urban clothing style. Similarly, SHAO YEN worked with zaqong to include exclusive banana silk weaving of the Kavalan people into his designs. Among the 16 indigenous communities in Taiwan, only the Kavalan people have this special skill, which was typically reserved for nobles. Meanwhile, JUST IN XX imagined street wear for the future with the help of Ljavaus, the most representative preserver of the traditional craft of Paiwan Kinavatjesan traditional embroidery. Ljavaus sorted eight traditional pattern techniques that not only contain valuable wisdom from tribal elders to teach their younger generations, but also symbols and totems that depict tribal memory and legends. The entire show was an immersive experience, featuring VR visual sets, models from the community, and sound and music produced by indigenous musician, Abaoall highlighting the core crossover and connection of craft and modern fashion, old and new, humanity and commerce. Following the opening show, Taipei Fashion Week will continue through October 28th. To learn more about this season's runway collections, head to tpefw.com. Media Contact: Sunny Chiang 1-646-270-5533 [email protected] SOURCE Taipei Fashion Week 14 Scholarships will support first-generation Latino students pursuing careers in STEM LOS ANGELES, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) and The East Los Angeles Community Union (TELACU) Education Foundation today announced that $50,000 in scholarships have been awarded to 14 first-generation Latino students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Since 1999, and over the last three decades, SoCalGas and TELACU have partnered to address social inequality, assist deserving students navigate postsecondary education and their subsequent careers through the TELACU Education Foundation's programmatic support. "One of our very first corporate partners, SoCalGas has generously invested in the empowerment of our communities' greatest, but most vulnerable, resourceour youth," said Dr. David C. Lizarraga, chairman and founder of the TELACU Education Foundation. "The TELACU Education Foundation is tremendously grateful to SoCalGas for investing in the communities it serves with excellence, and for its commitment to developing a workforce reflective of these communities." The TELACU Education Foundation serves first-generation students who live in some of the most underserved communities in the greater Los Angeles region and surrounding counties. TELACU has helped these students pursue higher education with over 99% of its college students graduating, often becoming the first in their family to earn a degree. "SoCalGas' partnership with TELACU highlights our commitment to create more equitable communities," said Andy Carrasco, SoCalGas vice president of communications, local government and community affairs. "Access to higher education is a life changing opportunity for students, their families and often, their community, while also helping grow the pipeline for more qualified STEM professionals, which are so desperately needed in our region." "TELACU's College Readiness Program and College Success Program have given me the opportunity to pursue higher education. I am grateful for the resources made available to me through the partnership between SoCalGas and TELACU, as they have prepared me for the next steps in my career," said Geovanny Huerta, who was recently selected as a SoCalGas-TELACU Scholar. "Without these programs and support, I would not have been able to land a summer internship." Since 1999, SoCalGas has supported TELACU with over $660,000. The 2022-23 SoCalGas-TELACU Scholars are: Cecilia Aldape (Civil Engineering, CSU Los Angeles) (Civil Engineering, CSU Los Angeles) Jacqueline Alvarado (Business Administration, UC Riverside ) (Business Administration, ) Oswaldo Gamez (Computer Science, CSU Northridge) (Computer Science, CSU Northridge) Antonio Garcia (Mechanical Engineering, Loyola Marymount University ) (Mechanical Engineering, ) Yuridia Ginez (Computer Science, CSU Los Angeles) (Computer Science, CSU Los Angeles) Gerson Gonzalez (Computer Science, Biola University ) (Computer Science, ) Disleiry Hernandez Gutierrez (Mechanical Engineering, UC Los Angeles) Emanuel Herrera Pineda (Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California ) (Mechanical Engineering, ) Geovany Huerta (Computer Science, CSU Los Angeles) (Computer Science, CSU Los Angeles) Jose Lopez (Computer Science, University of La Verne ) (Computer Science, ) Yatziri Lopez Mendez (Pre-Accountancy, CSU Northridge) Andy Machorro (Mechanical Engineering, CSU Los Angeles) (Mechanical Engineering, CSU Los Angeles) Antonio Sanchez (Civil Engineering, Loyola Marymount University ) (Civil Engineering, ) Joselyn Velasquez (Civil Engineering, Cal Poly Pomona) SoCalGas' partnership with TELACU is part of the company's ASPIRE 2045 sustainability goals, which includes a goal to invest up to $50 million to drive positive change in diverse and underserved communities over the next five years. In addition to supporting TELACU scholars, in 2021, SoCalGas contributed $9.6 million in total community investment, with $4.8 million to support health and human services, and $2.3 million to support educational causes. About SoCalGas Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas is the largest gas distribution utility in the United States. SoCalGas delivers affordable, reliable, and increasingly renewable gas service to 21.8 million consumers across 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California. Gas delivered through the company's pipelines will continue to play a key role in California's clean energy transitionproviding electric grid reliability and supporting wind and solar energy deployment. SoCalGas' mission is to build the cleanest, safest and most innovative energy company in America . In support of that mission, SoCalGas aspires to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in its operations and delivery of energy by 2045 and to replace 20 percent of its traditional natural gas supply to core customers with renewable natural gas (RNG) by 2030. Renewable natural gas is made from waste created by dairy farms, landfills, and wastewater treatment plants. SoCalGas is also committed to investing in its gas delivery infrastructure while keeping bills affordable for customers. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE), an energy services holding company based in San Diego. For more information visit socalgas.com/newsroom or connect with SoCalGas on Twitter (@SoCalGas), Instagram (@SoCalGas) and Facebook . About the TELACU Education Foundation For nearly 40 years, the TELACU Education Foundation has provided first-generation Latinx high school through graduate school students, including veterans, a unique combination of financial resources, highly effective programming, and an unwavering support system that empowers its annual cohort of nearly 2,000 students to achieve amazing success. Historically, 98% of its high schoolers graduate and 99% of its college students earn at minimum a Bachelors' degree. More than 75% of its students earn a STEM- or Business-related degreemore than 60% are earned by Latinasand they launch successful careers, particularly in high-growth, high-impact sectors! SOURCE Southern California Gas Company MELBOURNE, Australia, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: TLX, Telix, the Company) today issues its Appendix 4C quarterly cash flow statement and accompanying Activities Report for the quarter ended 30 September 2022 (Q3 2022). All figures are in AUD$ unless otherwise stated.[1] All figures are provided on an unaudited basis. Financial Summary Telix reports total revenue of $55.3 million from global sales of Illuccix, up 168% on the previous quarter ( $20.6 million , Q2 2022) from global sales of Illuccix, up 168% on the previous quarter ( , Q2 2022) U.S. sales of Illuccix up 178% to $53.7 million ( US$36.4 million ) in second quarter of commercial sales ( $19.3 million , Q2 2022) ( ) in second quarter of commercial sales ( , Q2 2022) Cash balance of $117.1 million ; provides 21 quarters of cash runway (based on Q3 2022 burn rate) ; provides 21 quarters of cash runway (based on Q3 2022 burn rate) Net operating cash outflow reduced by $20.5 million to $5.3 million , a significant reduction on the prior quarter ( $25.8 million net operating cash outflow). Key factors impacting this improvement are: to , a significant reduction on the prior quarter ( net operating cash outflow). Key factors impacting this improvement are: Customer receipts of $44.5 million , up from $5.4 million in the previous quarter, reflecting growth in commercial sales , up from in the previous quarter, reflecting growth in commercial sales Q3 2022 expenditure to support commercial operations reflecting normalised operations, following one-off launch costs incurred in H1 2022 Ongoing cost-control of research and development (R&D) expenditure, aligned with product earnings growth Capital expenditure included $1.7 million in build-out costs related to Telix's manufacturing facility in Brussels South (Seneffe) Commercial Activity Report U.S. commercial update In Q3 2022, the second quarter of commercial sales, Telix generated $53.7 million (US$36.4 million) revenue from sales of its prostate cancer imaging agent, Illuccix (kit for the preparation of gallium-68 (68Ga) gozetotide (also known as PSMA-11) injection). This represents a 178% increase on the previous quarter ($19.3 million, Q2 2022). Sales have increased steadily month on month since U.S. reimbursement HCPCS[2] code and transitional pass-through payment status became effective on 1 July 2022. Doses were via Telix's distribution network, currently consisting of 179 radiopharmacies. Mr. Kevin Richardson, CEO Telix Americas said, "We are pleased with sales momentum since the U.S. launch. Sales have continued to increase each month, and we have continued to gather pace since reimbursement came into effect on 1 July. We have quickly built a diversified customer base and continue to add new sites. Notably, the commencement of pass-through in July has opened up access to more hospital outpatient accounts, including some of the major academic centres in the U.S. that recognise Illuccix's differentiation in terms of scheduling flexibility and clinical workflow." Illuccix (TLX591-CDx)[3] worldwide revenue A total of $55.3 million in revenue was generated from sales of TLX591-CDx during the quarter. Of this, $1.6 million was generated from rest of world sales, predominantly from pre-commercial sales,[4] primarily in Europe and the United Kingdom. Commercial sales of Illuccix in Australia[5] and New Zealand[6] commenced in September 2022. Net operating cash outflow Net operating cash outflow was $5.3 million, reduced from $25.8 million in the previous quarter. This improvement was driven by an increase in customer receipts, in line with the growth in commercial sales, and a continued focus on cost management. A total of $44.5 million in customer receipts was generated from sales of Illuccix. Net operating cash outflow in Q3 2022 is largely reflective of normalised operations, noting that in H1 2022 one-off costs were incurred for commercial launch in the U.S.. Product manufacturing and operating costs increased to $10.7 million, from $8.6 million in Q2 2022, due to a higher volume of sales, but have reduced as an overall percentage of sales. It should be noted that ongoing manufacturing costs pertain to building medium-term inventory to service both U.S. and global customers. R&D expenditure remained well controlled, with $16.3 million invested in R&D, manufacturing and clinical development activities, compared to $17.4 million in Q2 2022. Illuccix (TLX591-CDx) global regulatory and reimbursement updates During the quarter, the Company announced it had withdrawn its marketing authorisation application (MAA) in Europe.[7] In the late stages of the review the Danish Medicines Agency (DKMA) in consultation with other European regulatory authorities, requested additional Chemistry, Manufacturing and Control (CMC) data. These requests could not be reasonably delivered within the prescribed review timeframe. The Company is assessing alternative regulatory options available for the most streamlined route to approval with a revised submission and will provide an update on anticipated timings when this assessment has been completed. Subsequent to the quarter (14 October 2022), the Company announced that Health Canada had approved Illuccix for use in staging and re-staging intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer and localising tumour tissue in recurrent prostate cancer.[8] Illuccix is the first PSMA PET[9] imaging agent to be granted regulatory approval in Canada. This is the third key market regulatory approval for Illuccix. Illuccix will be made available in Canada to physicians and eligible patients through Telix's partner, Isologic Innovative Radiopharmaceuticals, whose distribution network services 265 hospitals and clinics nationwide. Also subsequent to the quarter (17 October 2022) the Company announced that Telix and its partner Grand Pharmaceutical Group Limited (Grand Pharma), had received approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) to commence a pivotal Phase III registration study that will bridge to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of Illuccix.[10] The study is expected to commence in Q1 2023. Marketing authorisation applications for TLX591-CDx are under review and progressing in Brazil and South Korea. Telix currently has a temporary use (pre-approval) authorisation in the Czech Republic and Brazil. Clinical Programs Update Telix continues to progress its clinical pipeline, with a core focus on prostate cancer, kidney cancer, brain cancer (glioblastoma) and rare diseases (bone marrow conditioning). The Company has more than 20 clinical trials underway, including collaborative investigator-sponsored studies. Notable updates are included in this section of the activities report. Renal cancer / CAIX program The Company expects to report top line data from the ZIRCON Phase III study of TLX250-CDx (89Zr-DFO-girentuximab), an investigational product for the imaging of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) with positron emission tomography (PET) around the first week of November 2022. The Company is preparing to launch an Expanded Access Program (EAP) to enable eligible patients to access TLX250- CDx to address unmet need and requests for access under the healthcare professional responsibility prior to marketing authorisation. This is in accordance with Telix's Compassionate Use Policy[11] subject to jurisdictional regulatory requirements in selected countries, dependent on local regulatory requirements. Subsequent to quarter (17 October 2022), Telix announced a collaborative development and reseller agreement with GE Healthcare to supply two of its PET imaging radiotracers (TLX250-CDx and [18F]-FLac (18F-3-fluoro-2-hydroxypropionate)) for use in third party pharmaceutical company clinical research and development activities.[12] The agreement will see these two investigational agents added to GE Healthcare's immuno-diagnostic portfolio. GE Healthcare's Pharmaceutical Diagnostics business is an established global supplier of PET imaging tracers to the global clinical research market. This partnership will enable these investigational imaging agents to be used more widely in third-party clinical trials, separate to Telix's commercialisation of TLX250-CDx. The Company also reported that the Chinese National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) approved a pivotal Phase III registration study that will bridge to Telix's global Phase III ZIRCON trial.[13] The bridging study is required to provide "supplementary" data obtained in a Chinese population to establish that the diagnostic efficacy of this investigational product is equivalent in Chinese and Western populations. A dosimetry study enrolling 10 patients will precede the multi-centre Phase III bridging study, which is expected to enrol 100 patients. The investigational new drug (IND) application was submitted by Telix's partner in the Greater China region, Grand Pharma. TLX250-CDx potential for indication expansion Positive preliminary data from two separate investigator-initiated studies in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) ( OPALESCENCE study) and non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) (PERTINENCE study), were presented at the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) Annual Congress held in Barcelona, Spain from 15-19 October 2022.[14] These studies evaluating carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) expression in cancers other than ccRCC, support Telix's goal to rapidly expand the CAIX program into other indications beyond kidney cancer. OPALESCENCE (NCT04758780) a Phase II study of TLX250-CDx is investigating how carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) targeting imaging with PET can be utilised for the diagnosis and staging of TNBC and its potential as a therapeutic target in this patient population. Preliminary data demonstrates the feasibility of girentuximab to target CAIX expression in TNBC. Early results suggest potential for girentuximab as an imaging agent and therapeutic in this poor prognosis disease: 83% patient lesions had a CAIX strong expression allowing TLX250-CDX immunoPET detection, showing promise for further investigation. Based on these results, TLX250-CDx is an attractive novel investigative targeting agent for TNBC and potential alternative to biopsy and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for staging metastatic disease and targeted radioligand therapy. Should the targeting properties of this PET/CT imaging tracer be established in TNBC, Telix's intention is to broaden future applications for lutetium-177 and actinium-225 based CAIX therapies. PERTINENCE (NCT04897763) is an open-label, proof of concept study to evaluate safety profile, biodistribution and tumour targeting properties of TLX250-CDx given directly into the bladder in patients with NMIBC and to establish CAIX as a potential therapeutic target in this condition. Preliminary data from this feasibility, dosimetry and imaging study at Institut de Cancerologie de l'Ouest (ICO), shows encouraging tumour targeting and biodistribution with TLX250-CDx, and no systemic distribution of radiation. Based on these results, Telix's partner ATONCO intends to progress TLX250 labelled with the alpha-emitter astatine-211 (211At) into a first-in-human Phase I targeted alpha therapy (TAT) study. Prostate cancer / PSMA program Telix's PSMA-targeting ProstACT therapeutic program is evaluating the efficacy of Telix's lutetium-177 (177Lu)-labelled therapeutic antibody (TLX591) in various stages of prostate cancer, from first recurrence to advanced metastatic disease.[15] The ProstACT SELECT study, a "theranostic" (imaging and therapy) Phase I radiogenomics study to demonstrate the utility of Illuccix imaging to select TLX591 patients for therapy, continues to recruit well. During the quarter, a first patient was enrolled in the Phase II ProstACT TARGET study of TLX591, in patients experiencing a first recurrence of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) after initial therapy for prostate cancer.[16] The Company is progressing its manufacturing scale up and global regulatory submissions for ProstACT GLOBAL Phase III study. The NOBLE ( Nob ody Le ft Behind) Registry continues to collect clinical data to inform the development of TLX599-CDx (99mTc-iPSMA), an investigational prostate cancer imaging agent that targets PSMA using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging.[17] SPECT is the predominant imaging modality in many countries, including remote and rural regions. The NOBLE Registry aims to accelerate global access to advanced prostate cancer imaging where PET is not an option and is now active across eight sites globally.[18] The NOBLE Registry is funded in collaboration with the Oncidium Foundation. During the quarter two new sites in Indonesia and South Africa dosed their first patients. Glioblastoma (brain cancer) / LAT-1 program During the quarter Telix reported the final results from the IPAX-1 Ph I/II study of TLX101 therapy (4-L-[ 131I] iodo- phenylalanine, or 131I-IPA) in combination with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) in recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).[19] The primary objective of the IPAX-1 study, which enrolled 10 patients (of whom 9 received the full study treatment dosing of ~2GBq (2000 MBq) was to evaluate the safety and tolerability profile of intravenous 131I-IPA administered concurrently with second line EBRT in patients with recurrent GBM. Final data from the post-study follow-up period confirms the study has met its primary objective, demonstrating the safety and tolerability profile of TLX101 at the dosing range tested. The study also delivered encouraging preliminary efficacy data for further evaluation, demonstrating a median overall survival (OS) of 13 months from the initiation of treatment in the recurring setting, or 23 months from initial diagnosis. Given that GBM has a median survival from initial diagnosis of 12-15 months, the overall survival improvement trend seen in this patient population clearly warrants further evaluation in a larger patient population. Telix has initiated a Phase I study, IPAX-2, to confirm safety of TLX101 as a front-line therapy in combination with standard of care treatment, ahead of progressing to a label-indicating Phase II study. In parallel, TLX101 is being investigated in the recurrent setting in the investigator-initiated IPAX-Linz Phase II study.[20] Research, Innovation and Manufacturing Construction continues at the site at Brussels South, with the process of clean room construction and hot cell installation for nine good manufacturing practice (GMP) manufacturing lines for isotope production now underway. During the quarter, Telix was part of a consortium awarded a $4.8 million Australian Research Council (ARC) grant to establish a new Industrial Transformation Research Program (ITRP) Hub as part of a consortium of applicants led by The University of Queensland (UQ).[21] The ARC Research Hub for Advanced Manufacture of Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals (AMTAR) aims to establish a manufacturing platform for new medical technologies combining innovations in biotechnology and pharmaceutical science. Payments to Related Parties Telix confirms that payments noted under section 6.1 of the Appendix 4C include payments of $0.4 million to ABX-CRO advanced pharmaceutical services (of which Non-Executive Director Dr. Andreas Kluge is Managing Director) for the provision of clinical and analytical services for the Company's development programs. Payments of $0.3 million to Directors were for Director fees and Managing Director salary. About Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited Telix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialisation of diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals. Telix is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia with international operations in United States, Europe (Belgium and Switzerland) and Japan. Telix is developing a portfolio of clinical-stage products that aims to address significant unmet medical need in oncology and rare diseases. Telix is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: TLX). For more information visit www.telixpharma.com and follow Telix on Twitter (@TelixPharma) and LinkedIn. Telix's lead product, gallium-68 (68Ga) gozetotide (also known as 68Ga PSMA-11) injection, has been approved by the U.S. FDA,[22] by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)[23] and by Health Canada.[24] Telix Investor Relations Ms. Kyahn Williamson Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited SVP Corporate Communications and Investor Relations Email: [email protected] This announcement has been authorised for release by the Board of Directors of Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited. Legal Notices This announcement is not intended as promotion or advertising directed to any healthcare professional or other audience in any country worldwide (including Australia, United States and the United Kingdom). This announcement may include forward-looking statements that relate to anticipated future events, financial performance, plans, strategies or business developments. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of words such as "may", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "outlook", "forecast" and "guidance", or other similar words. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's good-faith assumptions as to the financial, market, regulatory and other risks and considerations that exist and affect the Company's business and operations in the future and there can be no assurance that any of the assumptions will prove to be correct. In the context of Telix's business, forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about: the initiation, timing, progress and results of Telix's preclinical and clinical studies, and Telix's research and development programs; Telix's ability to advance product candidates into, enrol and successfully complete, clinical studies, including multi-national clinical trials; the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals, manufacturing activities and product marketing activities; the commercialisation of Telix's product candidates, if or when they have been approved; estimates of Telix's expenses, future revenues and capital requirements; Telix's financial performance; developments relating to Telix's competitors and industry; and the pricing and reimbursement of Telix's product candidates, if and after they have been approved. Telix's actual results, performance or achievements may be materially different from those which may be expressed or implied by such statements, and the differences may be adverse. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. You should read this announcement together with our risk factors, as disclosed in our most recently filed reports with the ASX or on our website. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Telix disclaims any obligation or undertaking to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or a change in expectations or assumptions. The Telix Pharmaceuticals and Illuccix name and logo are trademarks of Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited and its affiliates - all rights reserved. [1] Conversion to AUD is at the average exchange rate for the period. AUD$ = US$0.677; AUD$ = 0.671. [2] Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System. [3] For regulatory reasons, Telix refers to its 68 Ga-gozetotide kit as Illuccix in markets where it has received regulatory approval, and TLX591-CDx when referring to its use in both approved and unapproved markets. [4] Pre-commercial sales are from investigational, clinical trial, magisterial and compassionate use in accordance with local laws and regulations (not as a commercial diagnostic imaging product sold for routine clinical practice). [5] Telix press release 28 September 2022. [6] Telix press release 30 September 2022. [7] ASX disclosure 28 September 2022. [8] ASX disclosure 14 October 2022. [9] The imaging of prostate-specific membrane antigen via positron emission tomography. [10] ASX disclosure 17 October 2022. [11] Telix Compassionate Use Policy, accessible at: https://telixpharma.com/wp-content/uploads/Policy-on-Offering-Compassionate-Use-to-Investigational-Medicines.pdf [12] ASX disclosure 17 October 2022. [13] ASX disclosure 28 September 2022. [14] ASX disclosure 18 October 2022. [15] ASX disclosure 27 January 2022. [16] Telix press release 27 September 2022. [17] See: www.nobleregistry.org. [18] The NOBLE Registry is being conducted at eight sites globally in Australia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. [19] ASX disclosure 21 September 2022. [20] ASX disclosure 23 March 2022. [21] Telix press release 8 August 2022. [22] ASX disclosure 20 December 2021. [23] ASX disclosure 2 November 2021. [24] ASX disclosure 14 October 2022. SOURCE Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited The UN-Habitat thus recognizes the effort made by Madinah to place the citizen at the center and its commitment to advance in the direction of the Sustainable Development Goals MADINAH, Saudi Arabia and LAUSANNE, Switzerland, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Holy City of Madinah has signed a Letter of Intent with the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) to join its SDG Cities Global Initiative. It is a clear recognition of the firm commitment of the Saudi city to be an inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable city. Indeed, Madinah's efforts are focused on putting the well-being of the citizens at the center and to advance in the direction of the Sustainable Development Goals. Madinah Region Development Authority has decided to begin the onboarding process for obtaining the required certification of SDG Cities Global Initiative. Prophet Mosque, Madinah The SDG Cities Global Initiative is intended to catalyze local governments' sustainability efforts and build their capacity to localize the SDG. It also aims to celebrate cities for their sustainable development achievements by sharing their promising practices and policies globally. National governments have recognized that the achievement of the 17 ambitious Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 requires the involvement of local governments. UN-Habitat has launched the SDG Cities Global Initiative to offer cities a clear pathway to SDG localization through providing planning tools, expert assistance, financing, and publicity incentives. About UN-Habitat UN-Habitat is the United Nations program working towards a better urban future. Its mission is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all. Through drawing together cooperation with committed partners, relevant stakeholders, and urban actors, including at all levels of government as well as the private sector, UN-Habitat is applying its technical expertise, normative work and capacity development to implement the New Urban Agenda and Sustainable Development Goal 11 to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. About Madinah City Madinah is the second-holiest city in Islam, with Makkah and Jerusalem serving as the holiest and third-holiest cities respectively. It is the capital of the Madinah Province of Saudi Arabia. As of 2020, the estimated population of the city is 1.5 million. Located in Madinah, 'the Prophet's Mosque' is of exceptional importance in Islam and serves as the burial site of the last prophet, Muhammad, by whom the mosque was built in 622 CE. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1924022/Prophet_Mosque.jpg SOURCE Madinah City The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the not-for-profit travel trade association in the Asia Pacific region, has announced the programme for its 2022 Annual Summit set to take place from October 25-27 in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. Exploring the theme Reconnecting the World Sustainably, the programme covers critical industry topics such as destination resilience, sustainable travel recovery strategies, supporting women in micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs), global hotel industry trends, sustainable gastronomic tourism, the voice of the next generation, and the decarbonization of transport. This is the first time PATAs Annual Summit takes places in the Middle East. Hosted by Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) at the Al Hamra International Conference Center, the three-day event brings together international thought leaders, industry shapers and senior decision-makers who are invested in driving tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific. The PATA association network consists of both public and private entities representing every facet of the travel ecosystem - government, tourism offices, hotels, airlines, MNCs, SMEs, universities, and other travel-related companies with interests in the Asia Pacific region. Raki Phillips, Chief Executive Officer of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) commented: We are delighted to host the Pacific Asia Travel Association for the first time in the Middle East. As a dynamic and forward-looking Emirate, we are placing all aspects of sustainability (environment, culture, conservation and livability) at the centre of our investment and development strategy. We look forward to driving the sustainability agenda with key opinion leaders from around the world to build a stronger and resilient tourism economy for the future. In addition to the rich agenda of keynote presentations, workshops, panel discussions and networking sessions, delegates will have the opportunity to explore the stunning surroundings of Ras Al Khaimah through a range of organised destination tours and activities such as a mobile photography workshop. After nearly three long years, I am truly excited for this years Annual Summit as we have brought together a diverse range of industry thought leaders, senior representations from the public sector and other non-governmental organisations to address the challenges and solutions to our complex and stage-wise recovery, said PATA CEO Liz Ortiguera. It is inspiring to see government representatives from Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Catalonia, Chinese Taipei, Croatia, Guam, India, Japan, Korea (ROK), Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, the Philippines, Sabah, Sarawak, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, and Vietnam, joining us to be part of this discussion as we work to restart a stronger, more responsible and more sustainable industry. Therefore, I invite all industry stakeholders to join us as we look towards recovery and continue to build a future where tourism remains a positive tool in fuelling sustainable development and economic growth. The PATA Annual Summit 2022 programme in brief Day one on 25 October comprises the PATA Board and internal meetings (members only), a mobile photography workshop by award winning Nikon Professional Photographer and a frequent Apple collaborator and iPhone content creator Scott Woodward, a half-day destination tour and the welcome reception at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Day two will kick off with the Destination Sustainability Forum (invite only) as well as a range of concurrent breakout sessions on the topics of destination resilience, destination marketing and the immediate needs for MSME recovery. Following the luncheon hosted by the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), the PATA Annual Summit will have its official opening ceremony which is followed by an afternoon of keynote speeches, presentations, fireside chats and panel discussions. The second day of the summit will conclude with a dinner reception and the PATA Awards Presentation at the Ritz Carlton Al Wadi Desert. The final day of the PATA Annual Summit will feature panel discussions on developing responsible destinations, future leaders and the investment in human capital, supporting women in MSMEs, a keynote on global hotel industry trends and an aviation session on the route to recovery, which is followed by a series of breakout sessions on a range of different topics. TradeArabia News Service SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- October is here, just in time to get started with student loan forgiveness before the new year! My Education Solutions is here to help. There are two different opportunities to have student loan debt forgiven this month that clients need to be aware of. First, there is a hard deadline of October 31st on the PSLF Limited Waiver which is different from Biden's One Time Student Loan Debt Cancellation of $10,000-$20,000 forgiveness plan. Many consumers are very confused by the government putting two forgiveness plans out at the same time which can end up costing them thousands of lost forgiveness if they don't move quickly. Make the PSLF Waiver a priority because those who have made payments towards their student loans since October 2007 may qualify to help clients eliminate part or all of their student loan debt now. My Education Solutions (MES) provides resources and online tools to those seeking assistance in student loan forgiveness and have helped more than a hundred clients receive student loan forgiveness with an average of $69,233 savings per client. Not everyone qualifies for the PSLF Waiver and results vary depending on each client. My Education Solutions says it is important for clients to get started on their application paperwork now for the PSLF Limited Waiver which will include getting all of their Public Service Loan Forgiveness applications formerly known as the Employment Certification Forms (ECF) signed by their employer's Human Resource Department. This form is to validate that all employers are qualifying employers for the PSLF Limited Waiver. Qualifying employers are Public Service types of entities such as Government, Federal, State, City, or Tribal, Active Military, Education and Non-Profit that are tax exempt under 501(c)(3) tax revenue code or a private nonprofit that provides specific type of public services. For those with questions who want to speak with a student loan advisor and avoid the long hold times at their servicer, reach out to My Education Solutions today. After speaking with a student loan forgiveness advisor and if clients qualify, they can apply over the phone or online. Once the application has been submitted, MES closely tracks the Department of Education application and keeps clients informed on the state of both their application and student loan forgiveness program. My Education Solutions Client Advocate Portal (CAP) shows clients all of the payments made, received by the Servicers, government documents, and tracking system software which is available to all their clients. Whatever the student loan situation may be, MES may be able to help! Even for those with a significant amount of student loan debt, they can use My Education Solutions' calculator and speak to an MES Student loan advisor today. Contact Information Name: Leslie Komet @ Komet Communications Email: [email protected] Phone Number: 210.326.8992 SOURCE My Education Solutions The Vianode Technology Center (VTC) will develop and deliver advanced anode materials making batteries greener. KRISTIANSAND, Norway, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vianode, owned by Elkem, Hydro and Altor, produces advanced battery materials with a greener footprint. The opening of VTC in Kristiansand entails that Vianode will expand its R&D efforts, including a new office, laboratory and recruitment of more battery materials scientists. This is an important step towards establishing a complete battery value chain in Norway for the European market. State of the art analytical instruments, equipment for advanced electrochemistry testing and an application laboratory focused on the use of Vianode's materials in battery manufacturing are installed. Today, the VTC has 16 employees from nine nationalities. The plan is to increase the number of VTC employees to 20 by the end of the year and then to 25 by the end of 2025. "Our materials are produced with up to 90 percent lower emissions than today's standard anode graphite materials, with unique characteristics enabling faster charging, increased range and better recyclability. Still, it is essential to keep a dedicated focus on continuous improvement and next-generation battery materials going forward. VTC is established next to Vianode's industrial pilot, only a short drive away from our planned first phase plant at Herya. This will ensure that industrialisation and R&D go hand in hand," says, Stian Madshus, general manager and VP in Vianode. "Our previous R&D facility was funded by the national catapult arrangement Future Materials and was an excellent starting point for Vianode as we got going, but now that we are a larger company a dedicated facility is needed. The opening of the VTC will be a major boost for the organisation and our work," says Bridget Deveney, R&D Director in Vianode. Vianode recently announced an investment of NOK 2 billion in a battery materials plant at Herya, Norway, targeting production of anode graphite for about 20,000 electric vehicles (EVs) per year by 2024. This investment is the first phase in a larger investment plan. The plant construction will be carried out in parallel with preparations for a second phase plant scaled to provide battery materials to 2 million EVs per year by 2030, covering a significant share of the global EV market. Today, an EV contains on average up to 70 kg of graphite materials, representing a vital component of the battery. Vianode's products are developed based on specialized know how in high-temperature processes, closed production systems, lower energy consumption and access to renewable energy. The VTC was funded by Vianode. Vianode receives funding for R&D activities at the site from the Norwegian Research Council (NRC) and Innovation Norway, as well as EU research funding, including the Horizon Europe programme. For further information, please contact: Odd-Geir Lyngstad VP Finance & Investor Relations Tel: +47 976 72 806 Email: odd-geir.lyngsta[email protected] Hans Iver Odenrud Corporate Communication Manager Tel: +47 958 16 230 E-mail: [email protected] About Vianode Vianode is built upon technological advancements and decades of industrial experience, backed by Elkem, Hydro and Altor. Following successful pilot production, the company is now scaling up towards full scale production in Norway. Vianode's range of anode graphite products offer unique performance characteristics and are produced with up to 90 percent lower CO2 emissions than today's standard materials - supporting the ambitions of leading battery cell and automotive manufacturers while accelerating the green transition. www.vianode.com The following files are available for download: https://news.cision.com/vianode/i/vianode-technology-center,c3103132 Vianode Technology Center SOURCE Vianode Award Is a Tribute to Entrata Industry Principal's Leadership and Career LEHI, Utah, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Entrata , the multifamily industry's leading operating system, today announced that Industry Principal Virginia Love has been honored by Connect Media's 2022 Women in Real Estate Awards. Love was one of the winners in the Atlanta/Southeast region. Connect Media's outlets include the Connect CRE news site. "I am honored and humbled to be recognized by Connect's Women in Real Estate program," said Love, who works directly with Entrata's marketing, product and sales teams and serves as a liaison between the departments and the multifamily industry. "Women are driving innovation and business performance across all sectors of commercial real estate, especially in multifamily. To be included among this group of leaders and game-changers is immensely gratifying." A revered figure in the apartment rental industry, Love has continued to expand her influence since joining Entrata's executive team as Industry Principal in 2019, when she saw an opportunity to integrate her vast operational knowledge with the company's innovation and technology. Due in no small part to her leadership and tireless efforts, Entrata, which provides a leading property-management platform, now serves more than 2.5 million units in tens of thousands of apartment communities across the U.S. She is known as a mentor, marketing and leasing authority and thought leader who frequently has prominent speaking roles at a wide array of industry conferences. Before joining Entrata, Love had a high-profile, multi-decade career working for apartment operators such as Trammell Crow, ING Clarion and Waterton. Throughout her career, she has served on numerous multifamily committees and boards, including the Atlanta Apartment Association, Georgia Apartment Association, National Apartment Association and the National Multifamily Housing Council. She served as the 2018 chairperson of the Georgia Apartment Association, where she provided key strategic direction on policies that helped shape the state's local multifamily communities. She also was the 2011 chairperson of the Atlanta Apartment Association and has served on the Zillow Multifamily Advisory Board, Multifamily Social Media Summit Advisory Board and Grace Hill Leadership Council. "We could not be happier for Virginia, and it is impossible to imagine someone more deserving of this honor," said Adam Edmunds, CEO at Entrata. "She has played an indispensable role in our growth and success, and her contributions to make sure our technologies provide the right user experience for our owner-operator clients and their residents is critical. She ensures our focus is right where it needs to be." ABOUT ENTRATA Entrata is the leading operating system for multifamily communities worldwide. Setting the bar for innovation in property management software since 2003, Entrata offers solutions for every step of the leasing lifecycle and empowers owners, property managers, and renters to create stronger communities. Entrata currently serves over three million residents across more than 20 thousand multifamily communities around the globe. Learn more at www.entrata.com. SOURCE Entrata The grant was awarded after Warrior Rising secured a Strategic Alliance Memorandum with the SBA, solidifying themselves as a long term partner SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Just a few short weeks after Warrior Rising hosted another successful Veteran Business Shower in San Antonio Texas, the Small Business Association (SBA) awarded them a $105K grant to help aid the Veteran non-profit. Warrior Rising's mission is to empower Veterans and their families by providing opportunities to create sustainable businesses. The San Antonio Business shower hosted fifteen Veteran entrepreneurs competing for a $20k grant and the opportunity to grow their businesses. Kayla Corbitt, a military spouse, was the overall winner. Kayla Corbitt is the founder and CEO of Operation Childcare. Operation Childcare is the first comprehensive military child care search tool that shows all on-base, off-base, subsidized and private care options in one user-friendly platform. Warrior Rising becomes an SBA Resource Partner instructing Veteran Businesses and kickstarts them with Business Showers. Tweet this Kayla Corbitt had this to say about her experience, "While it may not seem like much to someone who isn't married to a service member, being recognized for your own accomplishments and not your spouse's is important. Warrior Rising took me in and supported me like I was a retired Two-Star General." The Business Shower was host to special guests like Tim Kennedy, UFC fighter and Green Beret- turned-New York Times best-seller, as well as Rob O'Neill, famous Navy SEAL who participated in the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden. The all-star cast of Veterans and professionals contributed to a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the attending Veteran entrepreneurs, all of whom received grants and support from Warrior Rising. Warrior Rising has additionally been recognized through its relationship with the US government. In April of this year, Warrior Rising secured a Strategic Alliance Memorandum (SAM) with the SBA, effectively solidifying their long-term relationship. The SBA is the primary US government agency overseeing small business development in our country. On October 3, 2022, the SBA announced it awarded a $105k grant to Warrior Rising. The funds will support Service Disabled Veteran entrepreneurs and business owners. Ken Vennera, Chief of Staff of Warrior Rising commented, "The Warrior Rising team is constantly seeking ways to appreciate and re-invigorate the key traits that made service members successful while restoring purpose post-military service. Our Business Showers demonstrate firsthand the power of what veterans can do given the right guidance. This recent SBA grant confirms we are on the right path, but we always have more work to do." Warrior Rising continues to prove itself as a rising star in the Veteran service organization ecosystem. Its recent success with the SBA and the San Antonio Business Shower are indicators of their bright future in the space. About Warrior Rising Founded in 2015, Warrior Rising is a 501(c)(3) non-profit started by Veterans, for Veterans. The Warrior Rising team has a singular goal: transform Veterans into Vetrepreneurs. We have achieved this through carefully selecting strategic partners in business, and leveraging a vast network of young professionals and successful entrepreneurs from a wide variety of backgrounds. The organization hosts a robust team of professionals, business owners, and experts in their fields. Learn more at warriorrising.org SOURCE Warrior Rising The Westgate credit card has re-launched with more flexible rewards for cardholders to use across the World of Westgate. NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Westgate Resorts, in partnership with the modern co-branded credit card company, Imprint, is excited to announce the launch of the brand new World of Westgate Mastercard Credit Card. Designed with travel and timeshare ownership in mind, the new credit card allows cardholders to earn flexible rewards and use them toward Westgate Resorts purchases, including mortgage and HOA payments, rental nights, on-property food and beverage, and more. "The new World of Westgate Mastercard features an enhanced rewards structure that helps make timeshare ownership and vacations even more affordable," said John Willman, treasurer of Westgate Resorts. "We're thrilled to provide cardholders with a program supported by a state of the art mobile app that allows users to view their transactions, make payments, and monitor their rewards in real time." Cardholders will earn 3% rewards on Westgate Resorts purchases and 1% rewards everywhere else.* Additional benefits include a $50 welcome bonus after three purchases within the first 180 days of sign-up.** "At Imprint, our mission is to build the best way to pay," said Daragh Murphy, CEO of Imprint. "Westgate loves their owners and guests, and we are excited to launch this program and deliver a more modern and rewarding experience for cardholders." Among the many benefits of the World of Westgate Mastercard, the card has no annual fee and no cap on the rewards cardholders can earn. Potential cardholders can apply for the credit card to see if they are approved with no impact to their credit score, and they can access their new card instantly on the Imprint app. The World of Westgate Mastercard credit card accounts are issued by First Electronic Bank pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated. World of Westgate Mastercard is powered by Imprint Payments. See Rewards Programs Terms & Conditions for more details. For more information and to sign-up for the World of Westgate Mastercard, visit www.imprint.co/world-of-westgate. *See Rewards Program Terms & Conditions and Credit Program Cardholder Agreement for more details. Subject to eligibility. ** You will receive 50,000 points with this offer, which can be redeemed for $50 back on future purchases at Westgate Resorts when you use the card to make three purchases within the first 180 days after sign up. About Westgate Resorts Westgate Resorts is the largest privately-held timeshare company in the world and one of the largest resort developers in the United States. Founded in 1982 by David Siegel, the company is headquartered in Orlando with seven Orlando resorts, and 22 themed destination resorts nationwide, featuring more than 14,000 luxury villas and hotel rooms in popular vacation destinations throughout the United States such as Orlando, and Cocoa Beach, Florida; New York City, New York; Park City, Utah; Las Vegas, Nevada; Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Williamsburg, Virginia; Branson, Missouri; and Mesa, Arizona. In 2022, the company launched the cutting-edge World of Westgate (WOW) Loyalty Program, an exclusive program that rewards Westgate Owners and Hotel Guests with prestigious perks and privileges at no added cost. The company has garnered many distinct accolades, including the 2022 ACE Project of Excellence Award from the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) for Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo, recognition from Forbes Travel Advisor ranking Westgate Park City Resort & Spa as a recommended resort in its 2022 Star Awards and 73 Best of State Awards for Westgate Park City Resort & Spa after winning ten years in a row. Westgate Resorts locations are known to feature a variety of unique restaurant, retail, and spa concepts, including Los Amigos Mexican Grill & Tequila Bar, Villa Italiano Chophouse, Drafts Burger Bar, Edge Steakhouse, Westgate Marketplace & Deli, and Serenity Spa by Westgate. For more information about Westgate Resorts, visit WestgateResorts.com. Find Westgate Resorts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. About Imprint Imprint is a modern co-branded credit card issuer that provides enterprise-scale brands with more impactful card programs and rewards experiences to increase customer loyalty. Imprint's digital cardholder experience and purposefully designed technology stack delivers highly customized rewards experienceswith real-time, earn-as-you-pay rewards redemptions and fulfillment for cardholders. Imprint works with brand partners to provide the level of integration tailored to what they want, and can launch programs in as little as 3 months. Founded in 2020, Imprint is backed by leading funds, fintech companies, and individuals including Kleiner Perkins, Stripe, Thrive Capital, Affirm, James Corden and more. For more information about Imprint, please visit imprint.co. SOURCE Imprint The firm is known for technically challenging projects that serve commercial, civic and education clients. DAYTON, Ohio, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Woolpert has acquired Sheehan Nagle Hartray Associates, a full-service architecture firm that specializes in mission critical and technically challenging projects, interior design and predesign services for commercial, civic and education clients. SNHA has offices in Chicago and London. SNHA Principal Neil Sheehan said SNHA wanted to join a nimble, entrepreneurial culture with whom they could develop a visionary, global business strategy. He said in Woolpert, SNHA found transparency and knowledge-sharing across all levels, with clear aspirations for future growth, productivity and success. "Woolpert shares our drive for design excellence and understands that innovation is evolutionary, while providing services that complement our own," Sheehan said. "In addition, Woolpert's geospatial and engineering capabilities underscore our expertise, allowing us to integrate emerging technologies like computational design, digital twins, reality capture, carbon tracking, and virtual and augmented reality." Woolpert Vice President and Buildings Sector Leader Suzette Stoler lauded the SNHA staff for their passion, integrity and advancement of next-level, sustainable design. "We admire what SNHA has accomplished over the last 50 years and are thrilled that they are part of our Woolpert family," Stoler said. "Together we will enhance our dynamic design culture across the globe, while providing meaningful and sustainable solutions for our clients and the industry." "In addition to industry leadership in data center design, SNHA marks another key milestone in our global expansion plan," Woolpert CEO Scott Cattran said. "With existing Woolpert offices already in North America, Africa, Australia and Asia, SNHA expands our design excellence in Europe and extends our capabilities as a global company." AEC Advisors initiated this transaction and acted as a financial advisor to Sheehan Nagle Hartray Associates. About Woolpert Woolpert is the premier architecture, engineering, geospatial (AEG) and strategic consulting firm, with a vision to become one of the best companies in the world. We innovate within and across markets to effectively serve public, private and government clients worldwide. Woolpert is a top 100 ENR Global Design firm and actively nurtures a culture of growth, inclusion, diversity and respect. Founded in 1911 in Dayton, Ohio, Woolpert has been America's fastest-growing AEG firm since 2015. The firm has 1,900 employees and more than 60 offices on four continents. Visit woolpert.com. About Sheehan Nagle Hartray Associates Sheehan Nagle Hartray Associates is a full-service architectural firm offering architectural design, interior design and predesign services including site selection, program definition and feasibility studies. We are also product designers, focusing on the creation of building systems for emerging design and technology challenges. Visit snh-a.com. Media contact: Jill Kelley; 937-531-1258, [email protected] Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1924219/Woolpert_SNHA.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/463993/Woolpert_Logo.jpg SOURCE Woolpert Awards recognize successful corporate health improvement and wellness programs BOSTON, Oct. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Worksite Wellness Council of Massachusetts (WWCMA) is pleased to announce the winners of its seventh annual WorkWell Massachusetts Awards, powered by Healthiest Employers. This awards program recognizes achievements in developing, implementing, and participating in corporate health improvement and wellness programs. "Given all of the unique challenges that organizations have been facing over the last few years, our goal is to recognize those companies that are finding ways to approach well-being in a more holistic way, and meet the needs of employees and their families," says Jenna Carter, WWCMA Board Director and Awards & Recognition Committee Co-Chair. "With the tremendous pressure to be an employer of choice, there's an emphasis to build well-being into the fabric of their workplace. These organizations foster an environment where employees can thrive in and are empowered through various tools, resources, and communication to be their best selves," explains Archana Kansagra, WWCMA Board Director; Awards & Recognition Committee Co-Chair, and founder of the WorkWell MA Awards program. WorkWell Massachusetts Awards is a corporate award program created by WWCMA, a not-for-profit member organization dedicated to the advancement of worksite wellness programs. WWCMA is partnering with Healthiest Employers, a trusted national awards program that recognizes people-first organizations taking a proactive approach to employee health. The judging is based on each organization's Healthiest Employers Index a metric focused on six categories: Culture and Leadership Commitment, Foundational Components, Strategic Planning, Communications and Marketing, Programming and Interventions, and Reporting and Analytics. The questionnaire, scoring, and benchmarking were formed with the help of a national, non-biased group of representatives from the academic, medical, and wellness communities. The assessment is scored rubric style on a 1 - 100 scale, with each question totaling .25 - 3 points. "We are proud to recognize these innovative employers for their outstanding wellness programs focusing on the health and well-being of their employees, especially with the challenges of a new hybrid work environment," states Kristie Howard, WWCMA Board Chair. This year's awarded companies will be recognized for their best practices in employee health and well-being and receive their WorkWell Massachusetts Award at a special celebration event on Tuesday, December 13 from 6 pm - 10 pm at Lord Hobo Brewing Company in Woburn, MA. The 2022 WorkWell Massachusetts Award Winners are listed here. About Worksite Wellness Council of Massachusetts The Worksite Wellness Council of Massachusetts (WWCMA) is the preeminent, independent and objective resource for well-being in the workplace. The Council offers innovative wellness best practice education, networking and training along with insightful resources for use by Massachusetts organizations and their corporate wellness teams. Visit us at wwcma.org and follow us @WorkWellMass. About Healthiest Employers Healthiest Employers is a trusted awards program that recognizes people-first organizations taking a more proactive approach to employee health. Our goal is to be a resource for organizations focused on improving their employees' health, creating a community invested in their populations' health and wellbeing. Since 2009, Healthiest Employers has been the leading recognition program for employer wellness. SOURCE Worksite Wellness Council of Massachusetts Inc Now in its fifteenth year, the 2022 3M Young Scientist Challenge hosted the two-day competition on Oct. 17 and 18 at 3M global headquarters in St. Paul, Minn. This year's winner competed against eight other finalists, each was evaluated through a series of interactive challenges and the final presentation of their innovation. These young inventors earned top spots in the competition through their innovative thinking, scientific acumen and exceptional communication skills. Each of this year's finalists demonstrates the power of science to improve lives and the communities we live in. The world sees 700 million cases of mid-ear infections and nearly 21,000 deaths annually. Leanne's invention, Finsen Headphones, looks to provide an antibiotic free, low-cost option to detect and treat a mid-ear infection using machine learning and blue light therapy. The use of Finsen Headphones could potentially reduce the number of children who suffer from hearing loss by up to 60 percent. "We are thrilled to celebrate this next generation of scientific leaders. Each of this year's finalists demonstrates the power of science to improve lives and the communities we live in," said Karina Chavez, senior vice president, and chief strategy officer at 3M. "Congratulations to this year's Top Young Scientist, Leanne Fan, and all the finalists. Your dedication, ingenuity and innovative spirit are inspiring to us all." The competition's public voting component recognized Harini Venkatesh as this year's Improving Lives Award recipient, honoring the project that has the greatest potential to make a positive impact on the world. Harini's project, The Comptometrist, is a cost-efficient solution that cuts down the time needed to determine myopic power in a patient's eyes. Her prototype would eliminate crowding in clinics, report accurate measures of myopic power in seconds and closes the window of error in the eye examination process. The second and third place winners each receive a $1,000 prize and a special destination trip. These exceptional students are: In second place, Harini Venkatesh from Brentwood, N.H. , a 9 th grader at Phillips Exeter School. from , a 9 grader at Phillips Exeter School. In third place, Shanza Sami from Iowa City, Iowa , a 9th grader at West High School in the Iowa City Community School District. Shanza designed a five-stage air pollution filtration device. The fourth through ninth place winners each receive a $1,000 prize. These finalists, in alphabetical order by last name, are: John Lee from Oviedo, Fla. , a 9 th grader at Hagerty High School in Seminole County Public School District. from , a 9 grader at Hagerty High School in Seminole County Public School District. Samaira Mehta from Santa Clara, Calif. , a 9 th grader at Archbishop Mitty High School, Private. from , a 9 grader at Archbishop Mitty High School, Private. Amritha Praveen from Buffalo Grove, Ill. , an 8 th grader at Aptakisic Junior High School in Aptakisic-Tripp Community Consolidated School District 102. from , an 8 grader at Aptakisic Junior High School in Aptakisic-Tripp Community Consolidated School District 102. Sahasra Swargam from Portland, Ore. , a 9 th grader at West View High School in Beaverton School District. , a 9 grader at West View High School in School District. Asvini Thivakaran from Round Rock, Texas , an 8 th grader at Cedar Valley Middle School in Round Rock Independent School District. , an 8 grader at Cedar Valley Middle School in Round Rock Independent School District. Daniel Thomas from Colleyville, Texas , a 9th grader at Colleyville Heritage High School in Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District. Unique to the 3M Young Scientist Challenge, finalists are paired with a 3M scientist who mentors and works with them one-on-one to transform their idea from concept to prototype. This year's winner was paired with Dr. Ross Behling, a research specialist in the corporate research material laboratory division at 3M. "Discovery Education and 3M have had the honor of fostering the next generation of leaders for the last 15 years through the 3M Young Scientist Challenge and the Young Scientist Lab program," said Amy Nakamoto, general manager of social impact at Discovery Education. "Each participant has highlighted how STEM thinking can solve real-world problems in areas such as health, safety, mobility, energy consumption and environmental health. This year's participants demonstrate the spirit of discovery and innovation in today's young people." In its fifteenth year, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge continues to inspire and challenge middle school students to think creatively and apply the power of STEM to discover real-world solutions. America's Top Young Scientists have gone on to give TED Talks, file patents, found nonprofits, make the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, ring the bell at the New York Stock Exchange and exhibit at the White House Science Fair. These young innovators have also been named Time Magazine's first Kid of the Year, featured in The New York Times Magazine, Forbes and Business Insider, and have appeared on national television programs such as Good Morning America, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and more. In addition, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge Alumni Network began in the fall of 2022 and welcomes more than 100 former challenge finalists and winners for networking and grant award opportunities. The award-winning 3M Young Scientist Challenge supplements the 3M and Discovery Education program Young Scientist Lab which provides no-cost dynamic digital resources for students, teachers and families to explore, transform and innovate the world around them. All the resources are also available through the Young Scientist Lab Channel and in the Social Impact Partnerships channel on Discovery Education's recently enhanced K-12 learning platform. To download images from the 2022 science competition, click here. To learn more about the 3M Young Scientist Challenge and meet this year's winners and finalists, visit youngscientistlab.com. About 3M 3M (NYSE: MMM) believes science helps create a brighter world for everyone. By unlocking the power of people, ideas and science to reimagine what's possible, our global team uniquely addresses the opportunities and challenges of our customers, communities, and planet. Learn how we're working to improve lives and make what's next at 3M.com/news or on Twitter at @3M or @3MNews. About Discovery Education Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, and innovative classroom tools, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Discovery, Inc., Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading edtech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com. SOURCE 3M Steamboat Springs is the first clinical site in the western US for the revolutionary alternative to spine fusion STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Steamboat Orthopaedic & Spine Institute has completed its first series of cases in the BalancedBack Total Joint Replacement pivotal clinical trial using the breakthrough 3Spine MOTUS lumbar device, which is an alternative to spine fusion surgery. J. Alex Sielatycki, MD of Steamboat Orthopedic and Spine Institute and UC Health Yampa Valley Medical Center completed the surgeries at the Steamboat Surgery Center. The Steamboat Surgery Center is jointly run by UC Health and Steamboat Orthopaedic & Spine Institute and is the first BalancedBack clinical site in the western US. Dr. J. Alex Sielatycki, SOSI Spine Surgeon; Jessica Nyquist, SOSI Physician Assistant; and Dr. Scott Hodges, 3Spine Medical Director performed the first Balanced Back Total Joint Replacement clinical trial case in Colorado on October 11, 2022. 3Spine's MOTUS device, the implant used in the BalancedBack Total Joint Replacement procedure, is a 'first of its kind' technology replacing the function of the disc and facet joints through a posterior approach. The procedure is intended to broadly address leg pain, back pain, and spinal instability, while correcting posture and restoring freedom of movement through reconstruction of the functional spinal unit. "This motion preserving lumbar joint replacement is truly the first of its kind and has the potential to dramatically change the way spine care is provided not only in this country but throughout the world," said Dr. Sielatycki. "With the MOTUS total joint replacement technology, I believe we have an answer to the decades-long problem of lumbar fusion complications which have plagued so many patients." Curtis Mayse, CEO of the Steamboat Orthopaedic & Spine institute said, "Low back issues are incredibly common. More than 80% of us will experience leg and/or back pain in their lifetime, and we all know someone who has had a poor outcome with spinal fusion. All of us, particularly our active patient population in the Steamboat area, are looking for a better solution, and we are thrilled to participate in this breakthrough trial. I congratulation Dr. Sielatycki and the surgical team on their achievement." 3Spine, Inc., the study sponsor, is seeking single-level indications from L1-S1 in patients suffering from lumbar degeneration with or without foraminal or recess spinal stenosis with no more than a grade 1 spondylolisthesis. Additional details are available at ClinicalTrials.gov. Patients interested in participating in the clinical trial in Steamboat Springs, Colorado can email [email protected] for more information. Media Contact: Paige Boucher [email protected] SOURCE Steamboat Orthopaedic & Spine Institute "SWOT and PESTEL Analysis are top tools for strategic planning and risk identification" WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GoodFirms, a globally renowned research, ratings, and reviews platform, recently released its new research report- titled: " Turning a Loss Into a Strategic Gain - Top Tips from Top B2B Experts " that attempts to collect the top tips from B2B industry experts to help businesses turn their losses into gains. Global leaders and businesses share their experiences and tips to turn losses into strategic gains. Tweet this GoodFirmsSurvey The research highlights how business owners can overcome the challenges of financial instability, recover the losses and revitalize their businesses by restructuring and adapting strategic innovations. Businesses can fortify their own business models by attempting root-cause analysis, crafting strategic plans to thrive in the future. The survey identifies the types of strategic risks faced by businesses. 66.8% organizations reported facing financial risks currently. Other risks reported by surveyees include: competitive risks (53.6%), technological risks (47.5%), employee turnover risks (31.2%), economic risks (29.3%) , operational risks (18.4%), regulatory risks (17.7%), etc. Further, the research survey focused on finding the strategic planning methods and risk identification tools that they utilize. SWOT analysis (77.8%), PESTEL analysis (53.8%), scenario planning (35.4%), porter's five forces analysis (24.8%), growth-share matrix (16.3%) emerged as the top tools for strategic planning and risk identification. Losses are ubiquitous and, many times, unavoidable. However, with strategic plans and tools, businesses can lower the intensity of losses and setbacks, says GoodFirms. The survey also reveals that financial loss (41.5%) and loss in the market share (37.5%) are the most common types of losses that businesses face apart from supplier-related losses, theft/frauds, cybercrime, broken deals/agreements, loss of skilled employees, reputational loss and legal setback. "While losses are inevitable and are part of business life, many organizations have shown tremendous resilience to losses and have recovered from their lows in an exemplary manner"(GoodFirms) GoodFirms research further unlocks the top tips from B2B experts to turn losses into gains. Accurate budget planning, maintaining operating costs, learning from mistakes, implementing B2B sales technologies, focusing on lead generation and conversion, hiring the right employees, adaptability and perseverance, boosting vendor relationships, choosing effective digital marketing channels, analyzing outcomes, etc. are the top tips provided by various business leaders and B2B experts. Research also highlights the other measures that can expedite strategic turnarounds: strategy planning, using KPIs/benchmarks for performance levels, keeping an eye on the rivals, practicing corporate social responsibilities (CSR), reducing waste generation, hosting social media marketing and advertising etc. GoodFirms concludes that businesses can overcome crises by having a clear mission, vision, and values. Furthermore, businesses should have a plan in place to handle the unpredictable situations and adapt to changes in the market to enhance efficiency and profitability. The tips mentioned in the research may sound familiar but the best results may only be accomplished by combining, applying, and experimenting with them. Key Findings: The best ally for business is technology; with changes like machine learning and AI, the B2B environment is becoming customer-centric. Evaluating the strategic plan regularly to know the outcomes correspond to the intended business objectives. The key to keeping all of the expenses restrained is a budget. To maximize revenues, business executives must analyze all cost-cutting measures and comprehend in order to do it. Building team members' collaboration to achieve business goals is one of the first steps in enhancing profitability. Businesses and teams can enhance productivity and overall performance when often observing and working to improve the outcomes of B2B sales KPIs. About Research: GoodFirms Survey-"Turning a Loss Into a Strategic Gain - Top Tips from Top B2B Experts" was conducted from 15 September 2022 to 21 September 2022. The survey queried selected B2B businesses to find out how to deploy innovative strategies, reinvent the workforce, and utilize technologies to turn losses into strategic gains. A total of 465 participants responded to the survey. To read and download more research articles by GoodFirms, click here. If you wish to participate in GoodFirms' future research studies, register your name and company details with GoodFirms. GoodFirms is a Washington, D.C -based research firm that aligns its efforts in identifying the most prominent and efficient companies that deliver results to their clients. GoodFirms research is a confluence of new-age consumer reference processes and conventional industry-wide reviews & rankings that help service seekers leap further and multiply their industry-wide value and credibility. SOURCE GoodFirms flydubai, the Dubai-based airline, has announced the launch of flights to Osh in Kyrgyzstan from November 3 with a twice-weekly service, becoming the first UAE carrier to operate direct flights from Dubai. The addition of flights to Osh makes it the second point in Kyrgyzstan including the capital, Bishkek. With the launch of operations to Osh, flydubai expands its network in Central Asia to eight points, providing passengers from the UAE with more options for travel to the region. This includes Almaty and Astana in Kazakhstan, Bishkek and Osh in Kyrgyzstan, Dushanbe in Tajikistan as well as Namangan, Samarkand and Tashkent in Uzbekistan. Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said: Central Asia continues to be a fast-growing market and we are excited to see our network grow in Kyrgyzstan with the start of operations to Osh, a cultural melting pot with one of the most important and oldest bazaars in the region. flydubai is committed to enhancing connectivity between different cultures and with a combined frequency of nine weekly flights to the market, we are confident that our new service will reinforce trade and tourism relations between the UAE and Kyrgyzstan. Osh is the second-largest city in Kyrgyzstan after Bishkek and has a history spanning more than 3,000 years. The city is located in the Fergana Valley, a densely populated agricultural region which is home to more than 13 million people and is shared with neighbouring countries including Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Jeyhun Efendi, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations and E-commerce at flydubai, said: We have seen sustainable demand from the market since we first started operations to Bishkek in 2012 with a twice-weekly service. Today that service has increased to a daily frequency and up to a double-daily during the summer. Our flights to Osh will be a welcomed addition for passengers who now have an easier option to travel to Dubai from an additional point in Kyrgyzstan and enjoy our reliable and enhanced services on board our young fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft. Flights will operate from Terminal 2, Dubai International (DXB) to Osh International Airport (OSS) twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays. Flights will operate from Osh International Airport (OSS) to Terminal 2, Dubai International (DXB) twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays. Emirates will codeshare on this route offering passengers more options for connections through Dubais international aviation hub. Return Business Class fares from DXB to OSS start from AED7,500 ($2,041) and Economy Class Lite fares start from AED1,650. Return Business Class fares from OSS to DXB start from $2,700 and Economy Class Lite fares start from $440. TradeArabia News Service The Centre participates at one of the world's biggest book fairs with a series of cultural events to expand its reach into international publishing markets ABU DHABI, UAE, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), part of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), is participating in the Frankfurt Book Fair 2022 as part of its mission to promote the Emirati publishing industry. Held from 19 to 23 October, this year's Fair is themed 'Words connect worlds: Translate. Transfer. Transform'. Dr. Ali Bin Tamim, Chairman of The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) (PRNewsfoto/The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC)) The ALC will be attending the Frankfurt Book Fair to expand its reach into promising international markets for publishing, and to promote the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) and other projects and events it organises. The Centre aims to strengthen strategic cooperation with German partners and explore the latest trends in the publishing sector and creative industries. His Excellency Dr. Ali Bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC, said: "The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre and Frankfurt Book Fair have built a strong partnership that has endured for many years. Over the course of this collaboration, our two entities have worked together to strengthen and support the local, regional, and international cultural scene with pioneering works, initiatives, and projects. The Fair offers an opportunity to exchange experiences and discuss significant developments." The ALC's agenda for the Frankfurt Book Fair includes a series of cultural and literary events and a joint reception with the Sheikh Zayed Book Award (SZBA). The Award had previously announced its participation in the Book Fair, where it will organise panel discussions, including 'From Coffeehouse to Internet: Arabic Literature in Transition' and a session on 'Growing the Book Business in the Arab World'. The SZBA will also showcase books it has recently translated through the Translation Grant launched in 2018. The ALC will also launch a collection of music books from the 'Pioneers Among Us' series, in addition to hosting a session about the book 'A Panel Discussion and Reading Through the German Anthology', and another panel discussion titled 'Prospects of Partnership between the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair and the Frankfurt Book Fair'. To include other cultural and tourism elements, Louvre Abu Dhabi has also been invited to participate in the pavilion, where its representatives will present information about the museum and its publications. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1924545/ALC_Dr_Ali_Bin_Tamim.jpg SOURCE The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) CENTENNIAL, Colo., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AlloSource, one of the largest allograft providers in the U.S., creating innovative cellular and tissue products to help surgeons heal their patients, announced today AlloSource Chief Operating and Legal Officer, Dean Elliott, has been selected as the organization's new President and CEO. Dean Elliott will assume his new leadership role on January 9, 2023. The AlloSource Board of Directors, in conjunction with an executive recruiting firm, conducted a nation-wide search for the next president and CEO shortly after Tom Cycyota, current AlloSource President and CEO, announced his retirement. Elliott, who has served AlloSource as Associate General Counsel, Vice President of Operations, and, most recently, Chief Operating and Legal Officer, will assume his new leadership role on January 9, 2023. "Dean has more than 30 years of experience working in the healthcare industry, and he exemplifies the mission-balance that is engrained in AlloSource's culture," said Diane Brockmeier, AlloSource Board Chair and President and CEO of Mid-America Transplant. "His healthcare background, extensive experience with AlloSource, and deep understanding of tissue donation and transplantation will allow him to approach his new role in a multidimensional way." Elliott has been with AlloSource since 2003 and brings 30 years of legal, operational, and leadership experience in the healthcare sector. Prior to joining AlloSource, Elliott served as the Director of Client Services for Reglera, LLC, now Eversana, and Acting General Manager of Staodyn, Inc. "Dean's passion for organ and tissue donation, his empathy, and his focus on operational excellence make him the ideal AlloSource President and CEO," said Cycyota. "The selection of Mr. Elliott will continue the great things that AlloSource does each day with the gift of donated human tissue and will lead us to the next chapter of AlloSource's success." Elliott and the Board will work closely with Cycyota to ensure a smooth transition of leadership in preparation for Cycyota's retirement after 22 years of serving AlloSource. About AlloSource AlloSource is one of the largest human tissue providers, honoring tissue donors by creating innovative dermal, cartilage, tendon, fascia, bone, amniotic, and living cellular allografts to help heal patients. Since 1994, the nonprofit organization has continued to advance its allografts to improve patient outcomes, serving as a trusted tissue partner to the medical community. AlloSource is registered with the FDA as a tissue establishment and accredited by the American Association of Tissue Banks. For more information, please visit allosource.org. Media Contact Colton Ostrander AlloSource 720. 317. 2936 [email protected] SOURCE AlloSource By Securing Groundbreaking Money Transmission Licenses in all U.S. States and Puerto Rico, the Embedded Finance Platform Ensures Robust Reliability, Flexibility and Long-Term Stability for its Clients DENVER, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Alviere , the leading embedded finance platform enabling any brand to offer their customers financial solutions, announced today that it has completed a multi-year effort to be a fully-licensed, regulated money transmitter in every state in the United States and in Puerto Rico. As brands seek to expand their offering to customers to include financial services enabled by a new generation of embedded finance providers, much of the success hinges on their ability to partner with a provider that can deliver the most robust program with the greatest flexibility coupled with a complete compliance and risk management framework. Alviere's new status as a fully-licensed regulated financial institution assures a direct relationship with state and federal regulators and full fiduciary responsibility, mitigating the risks associated with fintechs that are agents of third-party banks, a practice that has recently drawn scrutiny from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Alviere's new status opens up opportunities for new revenue streams and enhanced services, such as in-store cash transactions, which cannot be offered by non-licensed embedded finance providers. Alviere completes five-year process to obtain money transmitter licenses in all U.S. states and Puerto Rico. Tweet this "Alviere's successful completion of a five-year long U.S. licensing process sets a new standard of operational excellence and reliability for the embedded finance sector, specifically, and the fintech industry as whole," said Yuval Brisker, co-founder and CEO, Alviere. "Alviere has invested many thousands of hours, substantial capital, and brought to the fore unmatched expertise to secure this coveted regulatory umbrella. Now, Alviere alone is able to offer, and ensure, the kind of safety, flexibility, and long-term viability that brands must have when offering state-of-the-art financial services to their customers." In contrast to fintechs that merely offer APIs or piecemeal coverage, Alviere's platform boasts the industry's widest array of options with eighteen fully-featured and pre-integrated financial products, along with program management capabilities to cover all compliance and operational aspects. A fully-regulated and licensed entity in the United States, Alviere provides peace of mind to brands, offering full KYC, AML, fraud, identity management, and treasury management. Alviere is also SOC 1, SOC 2 and PCI Level 1 compliant. "By securing licenses across all mainland U.S. states and Puerto Rico, Alviere is changing the embedded finance landscape, providing a level of upside, security, and assurance that is unmatched in the industry," said Luis Trujillo, Alviere's Chief Compliance and Risk Officer. " We are thrilled to eliminate any regulatory risks for brands that want to offer financial products to their customers and derive the greatest possible value from them." Read Why Does Regulation Matter? by Yuval Brisker. About Alviere Alviere is the enterprise embedded finance company that enables leading brands to offer their customers financial solutions, powered by the world's only complete enterprise fintech platform. By leveraging a fully-licensed, compliant, one-stop solution, brands foster a higher level of customer engagement, generate new revenue streams, expand brand exclusivity and deliver on the promise of financial inclusion. For additional information on Alviere's embedded financial products, please visit https://alviere.com/ SOURCE Alviere ZURICH, Oct. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Amcor plc (NYSE: AMCR; ASX: AMC) will announce its first quarter results for the three months ended 30 September 2022 after the US market closes on Tuesday 1 November 2022. A conference call and webcast to discuss the results will be held at 5.30pm US Eastern Daylight Time on Tuesday 1 November 2022 / 8.30am Australian Eastern Daylight Time on Wednesday 2 November 2022. For those wishing to participate in the call please use the following dial-in numbers: US and Canada: 888 440 4149 (toll-free) 646 960 0661 (local) Australia: 1800 953 093 (toll-free) 02 9133 7103 (local) United Kingdom: 0800 358 0970 (toll-free) 020 3433 3846 (local) Hong Kong: +852 3002 3410 (local) Singapore: +65 3159 5133 (local) All other countries: +1 646 960 0661 (this is not a toll-free number) Conference ID 8080870 Access to the webcast and supporting materials will be available via the Investors section of Amcor's website (www.amcor.com/investors). A webcast replay will be available at the conclusion of the call. For further information please contact: Investors: Tracey Whitehead Damien Bird Damon Wright Global Head of Investor Relations Vice President Investor Relations Vice President Investor Relations Amcor Amcor Amcor +61 3 9226 9028 / +1 224-478-5790 +61 3 9226 9070 + 1 224 313 7141 / +1 949 202 9682 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Media Europe Media Australia Media North America Ernesto Duran James Strong Daniel Yunger Head of Global Communications Amcor Citadel-MAGNUS KekstCNC +41 78 698 69 40 +61 448 881 174 +1 212 521 4879 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] About Amcor Amcor is a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging solutions for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, medical, home- and personal-care, and other products. Amcor works with leading companies around the world to protect their products and the people who rely on them, differentiate brands, and improve supply chains through a range of flexible and rigid packaging, specialty cartons, closures, and services. The company is focused on making packaging that is increasingly lighter weight, recyclable and reusable, and made using an increasing amount of recycled content. In fiscal 2022, around 44,000 Amcor people generated US$15 billion in annual sales from operations that span 220 locations in 43 countries. NYSE: AMCR; ASX: AMC www.amcor.com I LinkedIn I Facebook I Twitter I YouTube SOURCE Amcor BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Oct. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Arcor S.A.I.C. Offer to Exchange Any and All of its Outstanding 6.000% Fixed Rate Notes due 2023 (CUSIP Nos.: 03965PAC5 and P04559AL7; ISIN Nos. US03965PAC59 and USP04559AL70) On October 4, 2022 Arcor S.A.I.C. (" Arcor " or the " Company ") announced the commencement of its offer to exchange (the " Exchange Offer ") any and all of its outstanding 6.000% Notes due 2023 (the " Old Notes ") for newly issued 8.250% Notes due 2027 (the " New Notes ") and cash consideration, as applicable, each upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the exchange offer memorandum (the " Exchange Offer Memorandum "), dated October 4, 2022 and the related eligibility letter (the " Eligibility Letter " and, together with the Exchange Offer Memorandum, the " Exchange Offer Documents "). Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Exchange Offer Documents. Morrow Sodali Ltd., acting as information and exchange agent for the Exchange Offer (the " Information and Exchange Agent "), advised Arcor that as of October 18, 2022 at 5:00 p.m., New York City time (the " Original Early Expiration Date "), (i) U.S.$111,950,000 in aggregate principal amount of Old Notes, representing approximately 22.39% of the aggregate principal amount of Old Notes outstanding, have been tendered (and not validly withdrawn) in the Exchange Offer under Option A, and (ii) U.S.$241,953,000 in aggregate principal amount of Old Notes, representing approximately 48.39% of the aggregate principal amount of Old Notes outstanding, have been tendered (and not validly withdrawn) in the Exchange Offer under Option B, totaling a participation of U.S.$353,903,000 in aggregate principal amount of Old Notes, representing approximately 70.78% of the aggregate principal amount of Old Notes outstanding. Based on the aggregate principal amount of Old Notes tendered in the Exchange Offer as of the Original Early Expiration Date, Eligible Holders that tendered their Old Notes under Option A at or prior to the Original Early Expiration Date would receive (assuming no additional participation in the Exchange Offer) approximately 94.84% of the Early A Exchange Consideration in cash and approximately 5.16% in New Notes. The Exchange Consideration will be determined following the expiration of the Exchange Offer. Arcor announces that it is extending the period to be eligible to receive the Early Exchange Consideration in respect of the Exchange Offer from the Original Early Participation Date to 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on November 1, 2022. The offer will expire on 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on November 1, 2022. Arcor also announces that the Withdrawal Date expired on October 18, 2022 at 5:00 p.m., New York City time. The Old Notes validly tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer may no longer be withdrawn, and any Old Notes tendered on or after the date hereof and prior to the Expiration Date may not be withdrawn. The other terms of the Exchange Offer (including the Withdrawal Date) remain unchanged. The terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer are described in the Exchange Offer Memorandum and in Arcor's Press Release dated October 4, 2022, as amended by this announcement. Arcor's obligations to accept any Old Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn and to pay the Exchange Consideration for them are set forth in the Exchange Offer Memorandum, as amended by this announcement. The Exchange Offer is made by, and pursuant to the terms of, the Exchange Offer Memorandum, and the information in this announcement is qualified by reference to the Exchange Offer Memorandum. Unless the Exchange Offer is extended, the settlement date for the Exchange Offer is expected to be November 9, 2022, in compliance with Argentine Central Bank's requirements to access the foreign exchange market (the " Settlement Date "). Only holders who have electronically submitted a duly completed Eligibility Letter certifying that they are (1) "qualified institutional buyers" (" QIBs ") as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the " Securities Act "), or (2) holders of Old Notes other than "U.S. persons" (as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act) who are located outside of the United States, who are qualified offerees in other jurisdictions, are authorized to receive the Exchange Offer Memorandum and to participate in the Exchange Offer (such holders, " Eligible Holders "). Questions or requests for assistance related to the Exchange Offer or for additional copies of the Exchange Offer Documents may be directed to Morrow Sodali Ltd. at the following email address: [email protected]. You may also contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer Documents are available for Eligible Holders at the following web address: https://projects.morrowsodali.com/Arcor. Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Santander Investment Securities Inc. are acting as dealer managers (the " Dealer Managers ") for the Exchange Offer. Banco Santander Argentina S.A., Banco Itau Argentina S.A. and Banco de Galicia y Buenos Aires S.A.U. are acting as local placement agents. Subject to applicable law, the Exchange Offer may be amended in any respect, extended or, upon failure of a condition to be satisfied or waived prior to the Expiration Date or Settlement Date, as the case may be, terminated, at any time and for any reason. Although the Company has no present plans or arrangements to do so, the Company reserves the right to amend, at any time, the terms of the Exchange Offer (including, without limitation, the conditions thereto) in accordance with applicable law. The Company will give Eligible Holders notice of any amendments and will extend the Expiration Date if required by applicable law. Eligible Holders of Old Notes are advised to check with any bank, securities broker or other intermediary through which they hold Old Notes as to when such intermediary would need to receive instructions from an Eligible Holder in order for that Eligible Holder to be able to participate in, or withdraw their instruction to participate in, the Exchange Offer before the deadlines specified in the Exchange Offer Documents. The deadlines set by any such intermediary for the submission of instructions will be earlier than the relevant deadlines specified above. To reimburse the time and cost of processing the tender of Old Notes in the Exchange Offer, Arcor will pay a processing fee to brokers acting on behalf of certain Eligible Holders. This processing fee will be payable to brokers only with respect to individual tenders of up to U.S.$250,000 aggregate principal amount of Old Notes per each Eligible Holder and will be in an amount equal to 0.25% of the principal amount of such tendered Old Notes that are accepted for exchange. See "Description of the Exchange OfferProcessing Fee" in the Exchange Offer Memorandum for more information regarding eligibility requirements that the process brokers must follow to obtain the processing fee. Important Notice This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States, and none of the New Notes has been or will be registered under the Securities Act or any state securities law. They may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act. This press release does not constitute an offer of the New Notes for sale, or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, in any state or other jurisdiction in which any offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Any person considering making an investment decision relating to any securities must inform itself independently based solely on an offering memorandum to be provided to eligible investors in the future in connection with any such securities before taking any such investment decision. This announcement is directed only to holders of Old Notes who are (1) "qualified institutional buyers" ("QIBs") as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act, or (2) other than "U.S. persons" (as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act) who are located outside of the United States, who are qualified offerees in other jurisdictions, are authorized to receive the Exchange Offer Memorandum and to participate in the Exchange Offer. No offer of any kind is being made to any beneficial owner of Eligible Bonds who does not meet the above criteria or any other beneficial owner located in a jurisdiction where the Exchange Offer Solicitation is not permitted by law. The distribution of materials relating to the Exchange Offer may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. The Exchange Offer is void in all jurisdictions where it is prohibited. If materials relating to the Exchange Offer come into your possession, you are required by the Company to inform yourself of and to observe all of these restrictions. The materials relating to the Exchange Offer, including this communication, do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation in any place where offers or solicitations are not permitted by law. If a jurisdiction requires that the Exchange Offer be made by a licensed broker or dealer and a dealer manager or any affiliate of a dealer manager is a licensed broker or dealer in that jurisdiction, the Exchange Offer shall be deemed to be made by the dealer manager or such affiliate on behalf of the Company in that jurisdiction. Forward-Looking Statements All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on expectations and assumptions on the date of this press release and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, market conditions, and factors over which the Company has no control. The Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, and does not intend to do so, unless otherwise required by law. Notice to Investors in the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom The New Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the European Economic Area ("EEA"). For these purposes, (a) a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, "MiFID II"); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97 (the "Insurance Distribution Directive"), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the "Prospectus Regulation"); and (b) the expression "offer" includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the New Notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to subscribe for the New Notes. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) 1286/2014 (as amended, the "PRIIPs Regulation") for offering or selling the New Notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore otherwise offering or selling the New Notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation. The New Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the United Kingdom. For these purposes: (a) the expression retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of the following: (i) a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (EUWA); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended, the "FSMA") and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA and (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA; and (b) the expression an offer includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the New Notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to subscribe for the New Notes. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the "UK PRIIPs Regulation") for offering or selling the New Notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the UK has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the New Notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the UK may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation. The Information and Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offer is: INFORMATION AND EXCHANGE AGENT Morrow Sodali Ltd. Offer Website: https://projects.morrowsodali.com/Arcor E-mail: [email protected] In Stamford: In London: 333 Ludlow Street, South Tower, 5th Floor 103 Wigmore Street Stamford, CT 06902 W1U 1QS, London United States United Kingdom Telephone: +1 203 609 4910 Telephone: +44 20 4513 6933 Any question regarding the terms of the Exchange Offer should be directed to the Dealer Managers. The Dealer Managers for the Exchange Offer are: Citigroup Global Markets Inc. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC Santander Investment Securities 388 Greenwich Street, 4th Floor 383 Madison Avenue Inc. New York, New York 10013 New York, New York 10179 45 East 53rd Street 5th Floor United States Attn: Latin America Debt Capital New York, New York 10022 Attention: Liability Management Markets United States Group U.S. Toll-free: +1 (866) 846-2874 Attention: Liability Management Call Collect: (212) 723-6106 Collect: +1 (212) 834-7279 Collect: +1 (212) 940-1442 US Toll-Free: (800) 558-3745 Toll Free: +1 (855) 404-3636 The Exchange Offer Memorandum shall be available online at https://projects.morrowsodali.com/Arcor until the consummation or termination of the Exchange Offer. SOURCE Arcor S.A.I.C. Dan Struve, CSP, and Ed Lenz Honored for Commitment to Staffing and Recruiting Industry ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Founder and former chairman and chief executive officer of Helpmates Staffing Services, Dan Struve, CSP; and American Staffing Association senior counsel Ed Lenz, Esq., are the newest inductees into the ASA Leadership Hall of Fame, the organization announced today. A visionary and standout leader in staffing for decades, Struve co-founded the Independent Staffing Services Association, made up of the most prominent regional staffing companies, and ASA members. A champion for the ASA certification program, his company was among the first in the country to require that all field employees earn the ASA Certified Staffing Professional credential as a condition of employment. He served on the ASA board of directors for 36 years in a number of capacities, including as chairman. "Dan Struve is a pillar of the staffing and recruiting industry," said Richard Wahlquist, president and chief executive officer at ASA. "Dan's commitment as a volunteer to advancing the interests of the staffing industry at the state and national level for more than 40 years is unparalleled. We are all in Dan's debt for his selfless contributions as a leader, mentor, and advocate." Lenz is one of the nation's leading authorities on the legal and policy aspects of staffing and recruiting. Currently the association's senior counsel, he joined ASA in 1989 as its first general counseland later, as senior vice president for legal and public affairs, was the industry's chief legal and legislative strategist. Before joining ASA, he was vice president and assistant general counsel for regulatory affairs with Kelly Services and chairman of the ASA legislative committee. "Ed has dedicated his life to serving the needs of the staffing and recruiting industry," Wahlquist said. "Ed's leadership and advocacy on legal and legislative issues has shaped labor and employment laws affecting the industry for decades. We are all delighted that our good friend and colleague has been selected for this well-deserved honor and recognition." Created in 1985, the ASA Leadership Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding individual contributions made through dedicated service to ASA and the staffing and recruiting industry. The Leadership Hall of Fame is sponsored by Nixon Comp Inc. About the American Staffing Association The American Staffing Association is the voice of the U.S. staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions industry. ASA and its state affiliates advance the interests of the industry across all sectors through advocacy, research, education, and the promotion of high standards of legal, ethical, and professional practices. For more information about ASA, visit americanstaffing.net. Contact Megan Sweeney American Staffing Association 703-253-1151 [email protected] SOURCE American Staffing Association HOUSTON, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascend Performance Materials has launched ReDefyne, a portfolio of sustainable polyamides created with up to 100% pre- and post-consumer recycled polyamide 66 or 6 to provide a low carbon footprint and reliable performance, even in demanding applications. Ascend Performance Materials has launched a new portfolio of sustainable pre- and post-consumer recycled polyamides under the name ReDefyne. "We are focused on helping our customers meet their long-term sustainability goals with innovative, reliable products," said Steve Manning, Ascend's senior director for engineered materials. "ReDefyne combines our expertise from Poliblend with our integrated operations and our global application development expertise to produce a recycled polyamide that performs in areas recycled materials have typically been ruled out of." ReDefyne products are third-party certified and Ascend is partnering with ITW Global Fasteners to pilot blockchain traceability according to the UNI EN 15343 through Plastic Finder's Certified Circular Plastic program. "With ReDefyne, ITW is producing fasteners with a considerably lower carbon footprint," said Christelle Staller, Ascend's sales director for EMEAI. "ITW and Ascend both believe that sustainability requires accountability and are excited to pilot Certified Circular Plastic's blockchain traceability program." Ascend, a fully integrated producer of durable materials, is focused on reducing its products' carbon footprint having announced a commitment to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2030 and two new milestones announced earlier this month. Ascend will be showcasing its sustainability efforts and new products, including ReDefyne, HiDura MED and its new e-mobility solutions, under its Advancing Together theme at K 2022 from 19-26 October in Hall 6 Stand A07. About Ascend Performance Materials Ascend Performance Materials makes high-performance materials for everyday essentials and new technologies. Our focus is on improving quality of life and inspiring a better tomorrow through innovation. Based in Houston, Texas, and with regional offices in Shanghai, Brussels and Detroit, we are a fully integrated material solutions provider with global manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and Asia. Our global workforce makes the materials used to make safer vehicles, cleaner energy, better medical devices, smarter appliances and longer-lasting apparel and consumer goods. We are committed to safety, sustainability and the success of our customers and our communities. Learn more about Ascend at www.ascendmaterials.com. Contact: Ally Jahn, +1 713-210-9809, [email protected] Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1924490/Redefyne.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1326397/ASCEND_Logo.jpg SOURCE Ascend Performance Materials Notable civic and business leaders to lead California's independent, non-profit colleges and universities. CLAREMONT, Calif., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- During its Annual Business Meeting, held at Pomona College in Claremont, California, the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU) elected a diverse group of established statewide, higher education leaders to its Executive Committee, including non-president positions and officer positions. James Harris III , President of the University of San Diego; Krista Newkirk , President of the University of Redlands; and Daniele Struppa , President of Chapman University, were elected to the AICCU Executive Committee. Meanwhile, Eugene "Mitch" Mitchell , Trustee at the University of Redlands and Senior Vice President of Sempra; Katherine Fleming , President, The J. Paul Getty Museum; and Fran Inman , Former Trustee, University of Redlands and Senior Vice President, Majestic Realty were elected to non-president positions of the Executive Committee. Also, for officer positions, Fred Prager , Former Trustee at Claremont McKenna College, was elected to Treasurer; Ravi Rajan , President of California Institute of the Arts, was elected to Second Vice Chair; G. Gabrielle Starr , President of Pomona College, was elected to First Vice Chair; and Ann McElaney-Johnson , President of Mount Saint Mary's University, was elected to Chair. "These highly regarded leaders in higher education and industry bring significant experience to the AICCU Executive Committee," said outgoing AICCU Executive Committee Chair and Golden Gate University President David Fike . "Their perspectives will help elevate the discourse of critical policy issues around college access, affordability, student success, and preparation of the state's future workforce and leaders." The AICCU Executive Committee serves as the association's governing board and is responsible for overseeing the association's agenda on higher education policy, actively encouraging support for the association's priorities and initiatives, and overseeing the operations of AICCU. AICCU's Executive Committee is comprised of 18 presidents of member institutions, and senior administrative leaders. The Executive Committee also includes four non-president positions "This is a critical time in our state as we strive to meaningfully engage and serve students from a wide range of backgroundsincluding those from traditionally underrepresented communitiesby providing effective, affordable, and high-quality education. Our campuses are vital contributors to California's educational, economic, creative and intellectual resources," said AICCU President Kristen Soares . "I look forward to working with a strong Executive Committee and the AICCU team to ensure that all California students, no matter their background, can achieve their full potential by increasing college access and breaking down barriers." About AICCU The Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU) is comprised of 86 independent, nonprofit colleges and universities, which make up the Independent California Colleges and Universities (ICCU) sector. The ICCU sector plays a pivotal role in the development of the state's model higher education offerings and in making California a symbol of innovation across the globe. Within California, ICCU institutions award over 20 percent of all undergraduate degrees and over 50 percent of graduate degrees, making them the largest preparers of California's advanced workforce. CONTACT: Thomas Vu [email protected] 916-446-7626 SOURCE AICCU BROOMFIELD, Colo., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ball Aerospace has selected Hope Damphousse, to serve as vice president of the company's Strategic Operations business unit, effective immediately. In this role, Damphousse will lead Ball Aerospace's Washington, D.C. office; guide public policy, regulatory and government relations activities; and lead the company's strategic planning and partnerships. Hope Damphousse named vice president of Strategic Operations for Ball Aerospace. "Hope is a respected leader with an impeccable record of solving complex challenges through strong, collaborative relationships, trusted communications and a passion and dedication for mission success," said David Kaufman, president, Ball Aerospace. "She brings extensive government and legislative affairs experience to her new role as the company's senior executive in the Washington, D.C. area. We are thrilled to have her in this role." Damphousse joined Ball Aerospace in 2008, delivering results in various roles within Strategic Operations, most recently serving as senior director within the business unit where she managed government relationships and agendas to drive business priorities forward. Prior to Ball Aerospace, Damphousse served as a legislative advisor to U.S. Senator Robert Bennett of Utah and U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Powered by endlessly curious people with an unwavering mission focus, Ball Aerospace pioneers discoveries that enable our customers to perform beyond expectation and protect what matters most. We create innovative space solutions, enable more accurate weather forecasts, drive insightful observations of our planet, deliver actionable data and intelligence, and ensure those who defend our freedom go forward bravely and return home safely. Go Beyond with Ball. For more information, visit www.ball.com/aerospace or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter. About Ball Corporation Ball Corporation (NYSE: BALL) supplies innovative, sustainable aluminum packaging solutions for beverage, personal care and household products customers, as well as aerospace and other technologies and services primarily for the U.S. government. Ball Corporation and its subsidiaries employ 24,300 people worldwide and reported 2021 net sales of $13.8 billion. For more information, visit www.ball.com, or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter. Forward-Looking Statements This report contains "forward-looking" statements concerning future events and financial performance. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "believes," and similar expressions typically identify forward-looking statements, which are generally any statements other than statements of historical fact. Such statements are based on current expectations or views of the future and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied. You should therefore not place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements and they should be read in conjunction with, and qualified in their entirety by, the cautionary statements referenced below. 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. Key factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to be different are summarized in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Exhibit 99 in our Form 10-K, which are available on our website and at www.sec.gov. Additional factors that might affect: a) our packaging segments include product capacity, supply, and demand constraints and fluctuations and changes in consumption patterns; availability/cost of raw materials, equipment, and logistics; competitive packaging, pricing and substitution; changes in climate and weather; footprint adjustments and other manufacturing changes, including the startup of new facilities and lines; failure to achieve synergies, productivity improvements or cost reductions; unfavorable mandatory deposit or packaging laws; customer and supplier consolidation; power and supply chain interruptions; changes in major customer or supplier contracts or loss of a major customer or supplier; inability to pass through increased costs; war, political instability and sanctions, including relating to the situation in Russia and Ukraine and its impact on our supply chain and our ability to operate in Russia and the EMEA region generally; changes in foreign exchange or tax rates; and tariffs, trade actions, or other governmental actions, including business restrictions and shelter-in-place orders in any country or jurisdiction affecting goods produced by us or in our supply chain, including imported raw materials; b) our aerospace segment include funding, authorization, availability and returns of government and commercial contracts; and delays, extensions and technical uncertainties affecting segment contracts; c) the Company as a whole include those listed above plus: the extent to which sustainability-related opportunities arise and can be capitalized upon; changes in senior management, succession, and the ability to attract and retain skilled labor; regulatory actions or issues including those related to tax, ESG reporting, competition, environmental, health and workplace safety, including U.S. FDA and other actions or public concerns affecting products filled in our containers, or chemicals or substances used in raw materials or in the manufacturing process; technological developments and innovations; the ability to manage cyber threats; litigation; strikes; disease; pandemic; labor cost changes; inflation; rates of return on assets of the Company's defined benefit retirement plans; pension changes; uncertainties surrounding geopolitical events and governmental policies, including policies, orders, and actions related to COVID-19; reduced cash flow; interest rates affecting our debt; and successful or unsuccessful joint ventures, acquisitions and divestitures, including the sale of our Russian business, and their effects on our operating results and business generally. SOURCE Ball Aerospace BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Banco BBVA Argentina S.A (NYSE; BYMA; MAE: BBAR; LATIBEX: XBBAR) announced the approval of dividend payment The Shareholders of Banco BBVA Argentina S.A. are hereby informed that in accordance with the decision taken by the Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meeting held on April 29, 2022, and the Meeting of the Board of Directors held on June 16, 2022, in relation to installment 11, from November 2, 2022 ("Payment Date"), a dividend in the amount of AR$ 1,097,100,750 (AR$ 1.7905707570 per share representing 179.0570757038 % of the capital stock of AR$ 612.710.079), corresponding to installment N 11, shall be made available to the shareholders registered in the stock register of the Bank on November 1, 2022 ("Record Date"). In this regard, it is reported that: i) The payment of the dividend to all Local Shareholders shall be made in Argentine Pesos through the Caja de Valores S.A. located at 362, 25 de Mayo St., Buenos Aires City; on working days from 10:00 to 15:00 hours, where all requirements, formalities and settlements shall be met in accordance with the regulatory deadlines. ii) The payment of the dividend to non-resident shareholders shall be made with securities, unless (a) they state their decision to receive it in Argentine pesos, or (b) they do not inform within the periods described below, the custodial accounts necessary to make the payment with movable securities, in which case they shall receive Argentine pesos. a) Non-Resident Shareholders wishing to receive the following negotiable instrument: BOND TREASURY $ (Argentine currency) Adjustable by the Reference Stabilizing Ratio [AJ. CER ] 1,40% due 25/03/23 (ISIN ARARGE3208T6), shall send from October 18 to November 1, 2022 included, duly signed by the holder or custodian stating the name of the holder of those shares, for Shareholders who hold their shares through a depositor (Bank, Agent or Stock Exchange). Such notice shall be served on working days within the aforementioned period, from 10:00 to 15:00 hours, to Banco BBVA Argentina S.A. Att. Ezequiel Serra - addressed to email ([email protected]), at 111, Cordoba Av., 26th Floor, Buenos Aires City, stating beneficiary, number of principal and depositor of Caja de Valores S.A. or identification in the Register of Shareholders carried out by the Registration Agent: Caja de Valores S.A., bank abroad to transfer the securities, account number, reference and any other information necessary for the correct crediting of the net dividend. It is hereby stated that in case of failure to receive the notification with the required information within the period informed, before November 1, 2022 the Bank shall pay the dividend in Argentine pesos according to the procedure reported in point b) below. b) On the other hand, non-resident shareholders who choose to receive Argentine pesos must send written notice to that effect from October 18 to November 1, 2022 included, on working days within that period, from 10:00 to 15:00 hours, addressed to Banco BBVA Argentina S.A. - Att. Ezequiel Serra addressed to email ([email protected]), at 111, Cordoba Av., 26th Floor, Buenos Aires City, and the funds shall be credited through the Caja de Valores S.A located at 362, 25 de Mayo St,, Buenos Aires City; on working days from 10:00 to 15:00 hours, where all formalities and settlements shall be met in accordance with the regulatory deadlines. Upon any inquiry or request address to: Caja de Valores S.A Phone: 0810-888-7323 or email [email protected]. Holders of American Depositary Shares (ADS) shall receive payment through the depositary bank, Bank of New York Mellon, as from the date determined by the rules governing the jurisdiction in which the Company's ADS is listed. It is expressly established that the holdings of shares of the Shareholders registered at the Record Date shall be the only ones taken into account for the purpose of paying the declared dividend. Notices made by those who do not turn out to be holders of Bank shares at the Record Date shall be deemed not to have been filed and shall be null and void. The distribution of dividends shall, in appropriate cases, be deducted from the sums duly paid by the Company, in its capacity as Substitute Tax Officer for Personal Property corresponding to the periods 2019 and 2020 of those Shareholders who have been reached by such tax, all in accordance with the terms of the last paragraph of the Section incorporated by Law N 26.452 following Section 25 of Law N23.966. It is also reported that, in accordance with the provisions of Law N 27.430, amendment of Law N 20.628 of Income Tax (third section without added number after section 90), no withholding tax is applicable since the dividends distributed correspond to accrued tax-free profits from periods prior to the beginning of January 1, 2018. SOURCE Banco BBVA Argentina S.A. A forum during the previous edition of the show The Bahrain International Airshow's (BIAS) forum programme will provide future-focused content and facilitate the exchange of insights and knowledge on the latest trends shaping global aerospace and aviation. The sixth edition of BIAS is taking place from November 9 to 11. Organised under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and under the supervision of Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Personal Representative of His Majesty the King and the Chairman of the BIAS Supreme Organising Committee, BIAS 2022 is celebrating a decade of distinction with a range of leading features. The sixth instalment of the show will deliver a dynamic thought-leadership platform as part of its three-day calendar of events, networking and business development opportunities and a one-of-a-kind exhibition showcasing the latest aircraft, technologies, and innovation from across the global aerospace industry. The forum portion of the airshow will take place on days two and three of the event in dedicated theatres in the shows Exhibition Hall. The shows forums are designed to specifically serve as a thought exchange platform, where senior aerospace executives from the Gulf region and international companies collaborate to bring issues of mutual interest to the fore. With an extensive presence by civil and military delegations from the Gulf region and beyond, BIAS 2022 offers an ideal opportunity to access the regions key decision-makers. This years programme is built around four thematic areas covering: Airports and Airlines exploring challenges being faced and the industrys sustainability; Cargo and Logistics highlighting the industrys growth potential and looking at opportunities for advancement and the building of resilience across the global supply chain; Women in Aerospace showcasing the growth of senior female executives in the industry and addressing opportunities for diversity in the sector. Space examining global developments, exploring investment opportunities and funding and inspiring the next generations to join this high-growth area of the industry. Each theme will have a dedicated forum featuring high-level speakers delivering keynote addresses and taking part in panel discussions. Speakers at BIAS 2022 are a diverse range of renowned aviation leaders and senior representatives from aerospace organisations from Bahrain, the region and across the world, including: Amandeep Bhangu, TV reporter & Moderator Ex-BBC Adel Alali, CEO, Air Arabia Kamil Alawadhi, Regional Vice President Africa & Middle East, IATA Captain Waleed Al Alawi, Acting CEO, Gulf Air Omar Arekat, Vice President, Boeing UAE David Feldman, Managing Partner, Exambela Consulting Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah, CEO, Bahrain Airport Company Stefano Baronci, Director General Asia Pacific, Airports Council International Olivier Brusle, Partner, Advisory Head of Aerospace & Defense, KPMG Lower Gulf Nicolas Peter, Professor of the Practice in Space Policy and International Affairs, International Space University Dr Mohamed Ebrahim Al Aseeri, CEO, National Space Science Agency Salem Butti Salem Al Qubaisi, Director General, UAE Space Agency Prof Sherif Sedky, CEO, Egyptian Space Agency Dr Bassam Alfeeli, Founding Partner and General Manager, Orbital Space Dr Ahmed Alzubairi, Co-Founder, SARsat Arabia Dr Ali Alhammadi, CEO, Farmin Mark Stokes, Co-Founder, Magdrive Rana Nawas, Partner, Oliver Wyman Holly Miles, Editor, International Airport Review Heidi Grant, President of Business Development, Boeing Ms Nancy Ziuzin Schlegel, VP for International Government Relations, Lockheed Martin Yasmeen Fraidon Mohammed, First Bahraini Pilot, Gulf Air Sara Sabt, Director - Risk and Compliance, BAC Sue Donoghue, Arab Cluster CEO, (Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia), DHL Global Forwarding Bahrain's Transportation and Telecommunications Minister Mohamed bin Thamer AlKaabi said: Were delighted to announce the forum programme for BIAS 2022, which constitutes a very important part of the Airshow. It is one of the major draws of the event and serves as an important platform for facilitating industry cooperation around topics that are paramount to its sustainable growth and advancement. With an impressive group of participants and expert speakers in attendance, we will be exploring important themes and trends from across the industry. We will also be giving attendees an unparalleled opportunity to hear from and engage directly with market leaders on the topics that matter most. The forums can be attended by all trade participants and visitors with details for attendance available by visiting http://www.bahraininternationalairshow.com/. The 4th Manama Air Power Symposium (MAPS 2022), will be held at the Sofitel Manama Hotel, Bahrain on November 8 prior to BIAS 2022, for invited Air Chiefs and military personnel. - TradeArabia News Service CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of America Corporation today announced the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend on Bank of America common stock of $0.22 per share, payable on December 30, 2022 to shareholders of record as of December 2, 2022. The Board also declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $1.75 per share on the 7% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, Series B. The dividend is payable on January 25, 2023 to shareholders of record as of January 11, 2023. 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 68 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,900 retail financial centers, approximately 16,000 ATMs and award-winning digital banking with approximately 56 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 G. 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 For the first time in North America, Bigo Live, a social media platform will have their life-size mascot on full display for communities to interact with LOS ANGELES, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bigo Live, the leading global livestreaming platform that empowers creators to be their most authentic selves through broadcasting and viewing, has announced that its Giant Dino will be arriving in Los Angeles next week the first US city as part of its world tour. Follow Bigo Live's Giant Dino on its world tour The Giant Dino, which represents Bigo Live's mascot, will be on display at the Westfield Century City Mall on Monday, October 24 from 10am 9pm. The Bigo Dino, which stands over 16 feet high and 8 feet wide, will give mall-goers the chance to take photos with the app's fun and friendly mascot. On site, there will be Bigo Live merchandise as well as brand ambassadors highlighting what they love about the world's leading social live streaming app. Bigo Live's world Dino tour has provided a special, memorable offline experience for Bigo users around the globe, including in Thailand, Singapore, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. Further locations in LA will be unlocked and disclosed across social channels over time, so people can continue to follow the BIGO mascot wherever it lands next in the City of Angels. Eric Kim, Senior Operations Director at Bigo Live, said: "By bringing the BIGO Giant Dino to Los Angeles, we hope to curate a space where we can bring together our Los Angeles Bigo community to see our giant mascot in person and celebrate the online culture that has come together so naturally on Bigo Live. "In Los Angeles, we continue to see a strong presence of our users, so we wanted to continue our tour to commemorate Bigo users here and highlight the creative content that this city's people have brought to our platform. Nowadays it's important to emphasize the connection between our real life and our life online, which is why events like this are a great way to bring even more people together as one community." As a major player in the livestreaming world, Bigo Live is hosting the Dino tour as a way to showcase how virtual and physical worlds can bind together and complement each other. The tour is a symbol of celebration in bringing together the online and offline culture of Bigo Live and connecting their creators that share the same local communities. For more information on Bigo Live or the event, follow Bigo Live on Instagram and to begin your livestreaming journey, download the Bigo Live app (available on iOS and Android). About Bigo Live: Bigo Live is one of the world's fastest-growing social live streaming communities where users broadcast in real-time to share life moments, showcase their talents, and interact with people from around the world. Bigo Live has around 400 million users in over 150 countries and is currently the market leader in the live streaming industry. Launched in March 2016, Bigo Live is owned by Bigo Technology, which is based in Singapore. SOURCE Bigo Live Freebee provides free, on-demand ride-hailing using electric vehicles to app users. The service is financed by local governments and entities, such as corporate business parks and universities, to cover defined areas or specific routes. The investment will help Freebee target expansion in the US beyond its base in Miami, Florida . HOUSTON, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- bp ventures has invested $6 million in all-electric ride-hailing business, Freebee, a Miami-based company that provides free, on-demand transportation to local communities through their mobile app Ride Freebee. bp led the business's $8 million Series A funding round, with support from Freebee's current infrastructure capital partner, Tensile Mobility. bp ventures invests $6 million in all-electric ride-hailing business, Freebee Tweet this bp invests in Freebee ride sharing app Freebee's free-to-the-user trips are financed through local governments as part of municipalities' public transport networks, and also by private entities such as corporate business parks, hotels and resorts, and university campuses. Freebee has established itself as a premier mobility platform in the state of Florida and seeks to address the many issues arising from increased use of personal vehicles in the US, like traffic congestion and increased carbon emissions. Freebee owns a fleet of more than 150 electric vehicles and employs more than 230+ drivers on a full-time basis. This investment will help Freebee boost its technology development capacity and expand the team, helping to scale the business across the US. The service is currently available in more than 25 municipalities and campuses in Florida and Virginia, with Freebee targeting expansion into seven new cities in the two states before the end of 2022. The expansion is expected to help the business move over 1 million passengers by the end of the year. As well as leading the funding round, bp will also work with Freebee on scaling the business across the US and will explore opportunities to collaborate on the roll-out of EV charging infrastructure, progressing bp's mobility growth engine. Shaun Healey, principal at bp ventures, said: "bp ventures invests in companies that align with bp's ambition to be net zero by 2050 or sooner. The team at Freebee has come up with a brilliant business idea that incentivizes travel by electric vehicles without any cost to the user. We are very proud to have made our first investment in Miami's thriving tech sector and look forward to getting started with the team." Kristopher Kimball, co-founder and managing partner at Freebee, added: "Living in Miami as a student, my co-founder Jason Spiegel and I felt there must be a more economical way of getting around the city. With Freebee we have turned ride-hailing on its head, providing a service that decarbonizes mobility and is free to users. This investment from bp ventures is an endorsement of our idea and together we will roll Freebee out across the US." Jason Spiegel, co-founder and managing partner at Freebee, added: "We are really excited at the opportunity to partner with bp ventures, which shares many of the same values that Freebee seeks to spread in our communities each day. Our goal is to accelerate our growth and continue executing our mission of providing equitable and accessible transportation, which in turn helps drive economic development and stimulates the local economies." Shaun Healey, Principal at bp ventures, will join the Freebee board, along with Dabo Horsfall, CEO of Tensile Mobility. To date, bp ventures has invested almost $1bn in more than 40 active investments across seven geographies. About bp ventures: bp ventures was set up more than 10 years ago to identify and invest in private, high growth, game-changing technology companies, accelerating innovation across the entire energy spectrum. Since then, bp has invested almost $1 billion in technology companies across more than 40 active investments with more than 250 co-investors. bp ventures focuses on connecting and growing new energy business. It makes strategic equity investments across a portfolio of relevant technology businesses including advanced mobility, low carbon and digital. For more information visit: bp.com/ventures. About Freebee Established in 2012, Freebee currently operates a fleet of more than 150 electric vehicles in over twenty-five municipalities and college campuses within the state of Florida as well as in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Freebee provides free, on-demand, 100% electric transportation as part of the public transit network of many municipalities, colleges and universities, and private entities such as corporate business parks and hotels and resorts. Freebee's unique platform is transforming the way people experience their communities by inspiring local mobility and seamlessly connecting them with their destination by way of the Ride Freebee mobile app. Simply put, Freebee is connecting people with the world around them, while aiding economic development, and advocating for a greener earth. For more information visit: ridefreebee.com Further enquiries: bp press office, London: +44(0)7831 095541, +44(0)7919 217511,[email protected]; [email protected] Kekst CNC, London: +44 (0)20 3755 1630, [email protected] Freebee Press Office: 305-330-9450, [email protected] Cautionary statement: In order to utilize the 'safe harbor' provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the 'PSLRA'), bp is providing the following cautionary statement. This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that is, statements related to future, not past events and circumstances which may relate to one or more of the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of bp and certain of the plans and objectives of bp with respect to these items. These statements are generally, but not always, identified by the use of words such as 'will', 'expects', 'is expected to', 'aims', 'should', 'may', 'objective', 'is likely to', 'intends', 'believes', 'anticipates', 'plans', 'we see' or similar expressions. Actual results may differ from those expressed in such statements, depending on a variety of factors including the risk factors set forth in our most recent Annual Report and Form 20-F under "Risk factors" and in any of our more recent public reports. Our most recent Annual Report and Form 20-F and other period filings are available on our website at www.bp.com, or can be obtained from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330 or on its website at www.sec.gov. SOURCE bp America With a shared goal to become the icon of orthodontics, Canadian Orthodontic Partners adds Salins Orthodontics in the San Francisco Bay Area as their first US based partner. TORONTO, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Canadian Orthodontic Partners (COP) and its network of more than 70 community-based docbraces clinics are honoured to announce their first US partnership with Dr. Sheldon Salins and his team at Salins Orthodontics, in the San Francisco Bay Area. With locations in South San Francisco and Union City, Dr. Salins is extremely well-known and loved in the orthodontic community and will be an immediate contributor to like-minded orthodontists within the network. Dr. Sheldon Salins & the Team at Salins Orthodontics are COP's 1st US Partner (CNW Group/Canadian Orthodontic Partners) "When looking for our first partner in the US, Dr. Salins name was top of our list. Known across North America as one of the brightest and best in the profession, we are humbled that Dr. Salins has chosen the docbraces network." explains Dr. Bob Hatheway, Chief Clinical Officer with COP. "Beyond an exceptional clinician, Dr. Salins and his team exude the values and culture we look for in our partners our future is brighter with the addition of Salins Orthodontics." Dr. Sheldon Salins is a Board Certified Orthodontist with a Doctorate in Dentistry from Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Salins earned his Master of Science degree and completed specialty training in orthodontics at the University of California at Los Angeles. He is part of the Stanford University Cleft Lip & Palate team and lectures internationally about creating beautiful smiles that last a lifetime. When Dr. Salins started adding team members, he knew that it was as important that they believed in the same vision as he did and would never compromise clinical care during their career. This has led to what he calls his "Dream Team." With over 50 years of combined orthodontic, dental and smile experience, Dr. Salins feels that he has assembled a team that is unmatched in skill and service, and we treat all of our patients like their own family. They regularly attend continuing education lectures across the country as a team, and have taught other local offices many aspects of clinical and patient care. "It has always been an important focus for myself and the team to ensure we are constantly learning and growing and doing our part to advance the profession of Orthodontics", explained Dr. Salins. "With a commitment to on-going learning and a central focus on our patients, partnering with COP and joining the docbraces network was the easy choice. I am proud to be the first of many US based partners for COP and look forward to their assistance in growing my own practice while supporting the development of the entire network. This partnership will provide our people with opportunities for learning and career advancement; and for our patients, continued evolution of the best in-clinic experience and treatment outcomes." For Anthony Milonas, President & CEO of Canadian Orthodontic Partners, this people-focused partnership is a sign of great things and continued investment in the US: "At COP and docbraces, we are focused on building a place where orthodontists want to practice, where team members want to work, and where patients want to visit. As we continue to add to our leading orthodontic network, our goal is to create beautiful smiles for confident, brighter futures. Dr. Salins and his team are the epitome of our network's Values trust, learning, confidence and community. Dr. Salins is a highly regarded orthodontist in The Bay Area and we look forward to learning from him and his team. This is a big day for our company, our people, and the future of Orthodontics in North America." About Canadian Orthodontic Partners Canadian Orthodontic Partners ( www.canadianorthodonticpartners.com ) runs support services for docbraces ( www.docbraces.com ) and its network of community-based clinics so the clinic teams can deliver personalized orthodontic treatment and build confidence in their patients, one beautiful smile at a time. By supporting the day-to-day administrative functions of each practice, COP empowers and encourages its clinic teams and doctors to focus their efforts on elevating patient care. Orthodontist-founded and -led, the network values Trust, Learning, Confidence and Community. COP is committed to building a world-class culture where orthodontists want to practice, where team members want to work, and where patients want to visit. Through a network that shares, collaborates, and learns together, the Canadian Orthodontic Partners Vision is to become the icon of orthodontic excellence. SOURCE Canadian Orthodontic Partners Centinel Spine wins Best New Technology Award for its pro disc Cervical Portfolio & Match-the-Disc Platform pro pro disc portfolio includes four total disc replacement devices approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for 1-level indications prodisc devices have been used in over 225,000 implantations WEST CHESTER, Pa., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Centinel Spine, LLC, ("the Company") a leading global medical device company addressing cervical and lumbar spinal disease through anterior surgical access, today announced it has won a 2022 Orthopedics This Week Spine Technology Award in the Best New Technology category for its prodisc Cervical Portfolio & Match-the-Disc Platform. This is the third consecutive year that the Company has won a Spine Technology Award. Centinel Spine accepted the award at the North American Spine Society (NASS) 37th Annual Meeting, held from October 12-15 in Chicago, Illinois. prodisc Cervical Portfolio of TDR Devices "We are honored to be recognized once again by Orthopedics This Week as a leader in motion preservation, as each year this award program showcases plenty of exciting innovation," said Centinel Spine CEO Steve Murray. "With three additional FDA approvals, 2022 has been a monumental year for our cervical total disc replacement portfolio and further builds on the "match the disc to the patient" thesis that we have demonstrated in lumbar disc arthroplasty. This leading suite of total disc replacement solutions offers a variety of endplate configurations to best match the individual patient anatomy, and has been validated extensively by research and real-world use. We look forward to the difference that it will continue to make for surgeons and patients worldwide." In July, the Company received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for 1-level indications for the prodisc C Vivo, prodisc C SK, and prodisc C Nova devices. The prodisc C Vivo and prodisc C Nova products have been in use outside the U.S. since 2009, and prodisc C Vivo is currently one of the most frequently implanted total disc replacements devices outside of the U.S. The prodisc C Vivo product has keel-less endplates including a convex, superior endplate to match more concave vertebral anatomy, while the prodisc C SK and prodisc C Nova implant designs have flat endplates with low-profile keels to better match flat vertebral anatomy. All prodisc products incorporate prodisc CORE technology, the basis behind the predictable clinical outcomes of every prodisc device in over 225,000 implantations worldwide.* The variety of cervical TDR endplate configurations, coupled with the proven and well-documented prodisc CORE technology, allows for optimization of implant fit and surgical outcomes. The prodisc technology is the most studied and clinically-proven total disc replacement system in the world, validated after 30 years of clinical use and by over 540 published papers.** Along with prodisc C, Centinel Spine's cervical TDR portfolio now includes four devices approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for 1-level indications, offering the broadest spectrum of solutions to address surgeon preference and individual patient anatomy. Orthopedics This Week's annual Spine Technology Awards recognize inventors, engineering teams, surgeons and their companies for creating the most innovative, enduring, and practical products to treat back care. Winners are determined by a panel of judges, who assess applications for originality, clinical relevance, clinical problem solving, likelihood of improving patient outcomes, and cost effectiveness. "Patients, physicians, hospitals, and reimbursers rely on the inspiration and perspiration of engineers and surgeon-inventors to improve outcomes and to control costs," said Orthopedics This Week founder Robin Young. "Most engineers and inventors are little known, so we are proud to provide awards and a venue to recognize their great talents and contributions." * Data on file. ** Search performed on Pubmed, Embase, Ovid Medline covering 1988 2021. About Centinel Spine, LLC Centinel Spine, LLC is a leading global medical device company addressing cervical and lumbar spinal disease through anterior surgical access. The company offers a continuum of trusted, brand-name, motion-preserving and fusion solutions backed by over 30 years of clinical successproviding the most robust and clinically-proven technology platforms in the world for total disc replacement (prodisc) and Integrated Interbody fusion (STALIF). Centinel Spine continues to advance its pioneering culture and corporate mission to become a catalyst of change in the spine industry and alter the way spine surgery is perceived. Centinel Spine remains the only company with comprehensive motion-preserving and fusion solutions for both cervical and lumbar anterior column reconstruction. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.CentinelSpine.com or contact: Centinel Spine Varun Gandhi Chief Financial Officer 900 Airport Road, Suite 3B West Chester, PA 19380 Phone: 484-887-8871 Email: [email protected] Media Kyle Evans ICR Westwicke Phone: 646-677-1295 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Centinel Spine, LLC BEIJING, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Josef Gregory Mahoney, who is professor of politics and international relations at East China Normal University and senior research fellow with the Institute for the Development of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics at Southeast University, contributes an opinion to China Focus. A view of the Lujiazui area in Shanghai, east China. (Photo/Xinhua) (PRNewsfoto/China Focus) In Chinese political discourse, we commonly hear that we're now living in a "new era." This description is expressed most directly in the governance philosophy known as Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. It was included in the preambles of both the Party and national constitutions in 2017 and 2018, respectively. The CPC pays special attention to history. This is because they understand progress as a process of historical development, where well-organized human agency can successively resolve various challenges and advance the popular cause. On the one hand, historicism can be as simple as needing to know where we've been and where we are now in order to better ensure we get to where we want to go. On the other hand, actually knowing historyparticularly in a nation with the world's largest population and by some estimates the oldest living civilizationis a both monumental and necessary task. The "new era" doesn't emphasize generational differences defined by specific leaders. We can see this above all in the CPC's three resolutions on its own history, approved in 1945, 1981 and 2021. The first assessed the CPC's historical situation following the defeat of Imperial Japan and the pivot to civil war. The second drew a line from 1949 to 1981, from winning the civil war and founding the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the first few years of the reform and opening-up period. In the third and most recent resolution, the term "new era" is used 46 times in its English translation. On the one hand, a new era started in 2012, and was formally recognized in the Party and national constitutions in 2017 and 2018. On the other hand, a major milestone was reached in 2021. That's when China declared it had accomplished one of its major development goalsbecoming a xiaokang or moderately prosperous, societyalong with advancing new reforms and articulating new development goals, and doing so in the broader context of rising as a global power in the world facing new challenges and opportunities. Arguably, reaching the xiaokang goal more than any other factor defines the new era. It corresponded with eliminating extreme poverty nationwide as well as other development and social progress metrics. Further, the xiaokang achievement corresponded with the 100th anniversary of the Party's founding, which has long been described as the first centenary goal. Achieving xiaokang was the first step before advancing to the second centenary goal by 2049, which will mark 100 years since the establishment of the PRC. By then the CPC aims to reach a new threshold of national rejuvenation. The resolution also makes it clear there are intermediate objectives that must be reached by 2035, and this new era is one in which new reforms are underway to ensure the nation transition appropriately in its long-term development strategy. Examples of new reforms include those associated with the double development dynamic, which aims to sustain exports as much as possible while creating more sustainable domestic-led growth. Other examples include promoting green development and continuing to improve conditions in rural areas. They also include trying to avoid problems encountered by other countries as they've reached comparable stages of development, especially as they transition away from low-paid and low-skilled labor, including the dreaded "middle-income trap," which can lead to stagnation and even declines if poorly managed. Many have described China as transitioning from being a major nation to becoming a great nation. This is a simple statement of factacknowledging China's rise and its growing global position. In this context, as the historical resolution states, China aims to "foster a new type of international relations and build a human community with a shared future." These two quotes proclaim China's determination to improve the international landscape in tandem with Chinese security and sovereignty, pushing back against the old models of hegemony and imperialist ambitions by seeking positive solutions to both emerging and longstanding problems facing the nation and others worldwide. These efforts include advancing "win-win" development schemes associated with the Belt and Road Initiative, promoting international peace, resisting military bloc-building and countries seeking hegemony over others, and reforming international organizations to produce true multilateralism. These efforts also correspond with China's growing international leadership role in combating global warming and new disease outbreaks. As the historical resolution also makes clear, China has embarked on a new era of climate governance, one that pledges to have its carbon emissions peak before 2030 and reach carbon neutrality before 2060. Likewise, it includes China's unequaled efforts to fight and recover from new disease outbreaks like COVID-19 at home and abroad. Indeed, many will easily recognize that we are living in a new era, given their direct experiences with new forms of extreme weather and the pandemic; but these developments are merely two facets of a bigger shift in time. Per the Marxist concept described as "negation of the negation," we move through time by progressively addressing the challenges facing our needs for progress and social justice. This means change, even breaking in some ways with past practices as we achieve some of our goals and improve our capacity to reach new ones. This Marxist concept also stresses continuities, of building on previous achievements as stepping stones toward a better future. One cannot simply erase one's past. The CPC likewise signals the same when it describes the new era. It directly acknowledges the past, explicitly describes the present, and charts a course for the future. In this respect, the new era is less a rupture in time than one that aims to bridge in positive ways China's past, present and future. Contact: Bai Shi Tel: 008610-68996995 Email: [email protected] Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1924843/Lujiazui_are.jpg SOURCE Cision Germany Newly created role to focus on providing expansive industry-focused offerings across targeted practices in North America WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Chubb has named Bill Hazelton Executive Vice President, Head of North America Industry Practices. In this newly created role, Mr. Hazelton will lead the company's efforts to enhance delivery of comprehensive industry-focused insurance coverages, risk engineering and claims services to customers in all market segments. Bill Hazelton appointed Head of North America Industry Practices Mr. Hazelton will continue to serve in his current role as Real Estate & Hospitality Industry Practice Leader and oversee the practice's casualty profit and loss performance. He will continue to report to John Lupica, Vice Chairman, Chubb Group and President, North America. "Chubb has extensive industry-specific expertise throughout our North America organization. In this new role, Bill will enable us to harness this sector-specific knowledge across product lines and our servicing capabilities to provide clients with comprehensive insurance coverage solutions aligned with the nuances of their exposures and their industry," said Mr. Lupica. "Bill comes to this role with a deep understanding of Chubb's network of distribution partners, the unique needs of our mutual clients, and all that Chubb has to offer them. Under his leadership, I'm excited to see our ability to serve clients across key sectors rise to new heights." Chubb North America Industry Practices include Real Estate & Hospitality, Life Sciences, Construction, Private Equity, Energy, Financial Institutions, Transportation, Manufacturing, Technology and Healthcare. Mr. Hazelton will partner with industry practice leaders from Chubb's large, middle and small commercial market segments as well as its wholesale excess and surplus business line (Westchester), and Bermuda-based property and casualty insurance business to strengthen the company's best-in-class offerings for clients across these industry sectors. Mr. Hazelton joined Chubb in 2005 and has served in several leadership capacities. Prior to his current role as Real Estate & Hospitality Industry Practice Leader, he was head of North America Claims and he served as Chubb's Environmental, Excess Casualty and Construction Industry Practice Leader. He received a Master of Arts degree in History from Rutgers University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and History from James Madison University. About Chubb Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries and territories, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London, Paris and other locations, and employs approximately 34,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: www.chubb.com Chubb Insurance Company of Canada has offices in Toronto, Calgary, Montreal and Vancouver and provides its products and services through licensed insurance brokers across Canada. For additional information, visit: chubb.com/ca. SOURCE Chubb ONLINE TICKETS OPEN NOW DALLAS, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Citizens Against Political Assassinations (CAPA), a non-profit, non-partisan organization, will return to Dallas in November on the 59th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy after a 2-year hiatus caused by the pandemic. Hosting the event will be CAPA's founding chairman Dr. Cyril H. Wecht, M.D., J.D., world-renowned forensic pathologist, and head of the Wecht Institute at Duquesne in Pittsburgh. "Our purpose this year will be to update the evidence and continue to correct the historical record," Dr. Wecht stated. As a forensic pathologist Dr. Wecht has consulted on many historic cases including those of Elvis Presley, JonBenet Ramsey, Robert F. Kennedy, Kurt Cobain as well as that of President John F. Kennedy. He was the first civilian to be allowed to see the autopsy records of President Kennedy. Dr. Wecht is joined by a number of knowledgeable researchers and authors who will be sharing the latest information and documents about the assassination. Oliver Stone's recently released, four-hour documentary, "JFK-Destiny Betrayed," will be shown. Stephen Jaffe, the last living staff investigator of New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison, will be speaking about his experience as a secret liaison between Garrison's D.A. office and the French Secret Service as authorized by French President Charles de Gaulle. The conference will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on November 19-20. There will be a banquet on the 19th and a mixer for members of CAPA to meet the speakers, including Dr. Wecht. For more information and to register for the JFK CAPA Conference go to the JFK CAPA website either at jfk-capa.org or www.capa-us.org. For Information on CAPA contact: Glenda de Vaney, (619) 420-5612 SOURCE Citizens Against Political Assassinations (CAPA) BOISE, Idaho, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Clearwater Analytics Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CWAN), ("Clearwater Analytics" or the "Company"), a leading provider of SaaS-based investment accounting, reporting, and analytics solutions, will release financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022 after the U.S. financial markets close on Wednesday, November 2, 2022. In conjunction with this announcement, Clearwater Analytics will host a conference call on November 2, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. ET through a live webcast available on the Company's investor relations website. Participants must visit investors.clearwateranalytics.com in advance to register, download, and install any necessary audio software. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Company's investor relations website, in addition to a press release related to the financial results, related financial tables, and the call transcript. About Clearwater Analytics Clearwater Analytics is a global industry-leading SaaS solution for automated investment data aggregation, reconciliation, accounting, compliance, risk, performance, and reporting. Each day, the Clearwater solution reports on more than $5.9 trillion in assets for clients that include leading insurers, asset managers, corporations, pension plans, governments, and nonprofit organizations helping them make the most of their investment portfolio data with a world-class product and client-centric servicing. Investment professionals around the globe trust Clearwater to deliver timely, validated investment data and analytics. Additional information about Clearwater can be found at clearwateranalytics.com, LinkedIn, and Twitter. SOURCE Clearwater Analytics, LLC HONG KONG, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CNOOC Limited (the "Company", SEHK: 00883, SSE: 600938) announced today that the proved gas in-place of Baodao 21-1 Gas Field has successfully passed the Chinese governmental review and filing. Baodao 21-1 gas field is located in Baodao Sag, Qiongdongnan Basin, Western South China Sea. The water depth ranges from 660 to 1,570 meters. The main gas-bearing layer is the Paleogene Lingshui formation and the discovery is condensate gas reservoirs. The discovery well Baodao 21-1-1 completed at hole depth of 5,188 meters, encountering 113 meters of pay zone. The well is tested to produce an average of 587,000 cubic metres of natural gas per day. Chinese governmental bodies reviewed the discovery and certified the proven in-place of natural gas and condensate oil at over 50 billion cubic metres and 3 million cubic metres respectively. Baodao 21-1 gas-bearing structure will host the first deep-water deep-stratum large gas field in the South China Sea, realising the biggest discovery in more than half a century in Songnan-Baodao Sag. It will lay a solid foundation for the construction of a gas production base of trillion cubic meters resources in the South China Sea. The review and filing once again confirmed the exploration potential of this structure. Mr. Zhou Xinhuai, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company said, "Exploration has always been a priority for CNOOC Limited. We have accelerated the pace to explore in deep waters, targeting the discovery of large and medium-sized oil and gas fields. We emphasised geological theory and technological researches, to make breakthroughs and to bolster our efforts in reserves and production growth." Notes to Editors: More information about the Company is available at http://www.cnoocltd.com. This press release includes forward looking information, including statements regarding the likely future developments in the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, such as expected future events, business prospects or financial results. The words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by the Company as of this date in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that the Company currently believes are appropriate under the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will meet the current expectations and predictions of the Company is uncertain. Actual results, performance and financial condition may differ materially from the Company's expectations, including but not limited to those associated with fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas prices, macro-political and economic factors, changes in the tax and fiscal regimes of the host countries in which we operate, the highly competitive nature of the oil and natural gas industry, environmental responsibility and compliance requirements, the Company's price forecast, the exploration and development activities, mergers, acquisitions and divestments activities, HSSE and insurance policies and changes in anti-corruption, anti-fraud, anti-money laundering and corporate governance laws. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. The Company cannot assure that the results or developments anticipated will be realised or, even if substantially realised, that they will have the expected effect on the Company, its business or operations. For further enquiries, please contact: Ms. Ariel Wang Media & Public Relations CNOOC Limited Tel: +86-10-8452-6832 Fax: +86-10-8452-1441 E-mail: [email protected] Mr. Bunny Lee Porda Havas International Finance Communications Group Tel: +852 3150 6707 Fax: +852 3150 6728 E-mail: [email protected] SOURCE CNOOC Limited Chinese diplomat involved in attack: MP London, Oct 19 (UNI) One of China's most senior UK diplomats was involved in violence against protesters at the Manchester consulate on Sunday, a British MP says. "What we saw was the Chinese consul-general then ripping down posters and peaceful protest," Alicia Kearns told MPs in the House of Commons, BBC reported. China has not commented on Zheng Xiyuan's alleged involvement. DUBLIN, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Colombia Wound Care Market Research Report: By Type, Wound Type, End User - Industry Analysis and Demand Forecast to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The industry was valued at $80.1 million in 2021, and it is projected to generate $118.7 million revenue by 2030 A number of factors such as the growing prevalence of diabetes, mushrooming geriatric population, increasing healthcare coverage, and surging cases of traumatic injuries and different kinds of chronic diseases will drive the Colombian wound care market at 4.5% CAGR during 2021-2030.In recent years, a shift from traditional products to advanced therapies has become a major market trend. One of the primary growth drivers of the market is the surging incidence of diabetes in the country, as injuries in diabetic patients take a longer time to heal. The IDF projects that the number of adult diabetic patients in the age group of 20-79 years in Colombia will grow from 3,443,600 in 2021 to 4,060,300 by 2030. The organization also estimated that this lifestyle-related disease accounted for 35,562 deaths among people aged 20-79 years in Colombia in 2021. Moreover, the burgeoning geriatric population will also contribute to the Colombian wound care market growth. As elderly people are highly prone to severe and traumatic wounds, they require extensive wound care due to a weak immune system. The OECD estimated that nearly 8.50% of the Colombian population was aged 65 years and more in 2020. As per the World Bank, the population of people aged 65 years and above in the country increased from 4,412,670 in 2019 to 4,610,275 in 2020. The chronic wounds category, within the wound type segment, held a larger share in the Colombian wound care industry in 2021. This is credited to the greater severity of chronic wounds, such as fungating wounds, diabetic foot ulcers, and pressure ulcers. Moreover, the rising cases of diabetic foot ulcers, on account of the growing prevalence of diabetes, also supplement the growth of the market in this category. Owing to these factors, the category will generate the highest revenue in the coming years as well. Currently, the Colombian wound care industry is led by B. Braun Melsungen AG, ConvaTec Group PLC, Coloplast A/S, Essity AB, Hollister Incorporated, Molnlycke Health Care AB, Paul Hartmann AG, Smith & Nephew PLC, and 3M Company. At present, these players are engaging in mergers and acquisitions and product launches to gain a competitive edge. For instance, in January 2021, Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation acquired ACell Inc. and its proprietary MatriStem UBM technologies to offer comprehensive solutions to manage complex wounds. Thus, the increasing cases of diabetes and the booming geriatric population will steer the demand for wound care products in Colombia. Market Dynamics Trends Shift in Preference from Traditional Products to Advanced Therapies Growing Application of Stem Cell Therapy in Wound Care Management Drivers Surging Geriatric Population Increasing Prevalence of Diabetes Rising Incidence of Traumatic Injuries High Incidence of Chronic Wounds Growth in Healthcare Coverage Impact Analysis of Drivers on Market Forecast Restraints High Cost of Advanced Wound Care Products Declining Demand for Traditional Wound Dressings Impact Analysis of Restraints on Market Forecast Opportunities Improving Economy and Increasing Focus on Healthcare Company Profiles B. Braun Melsungen AG Essity Ab Coloplast A/S 3M Company Company Smith & Nephew plc Convatec Group plc Paul Hartmann AG Molnlycke Health Care Ab Hollister Incorporated Tecnoquimicas Sa Beiersdorf AG Johnson & Johnson Deroyal Industries Inc. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/q2va1m 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 COVINGTON, Ky., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Commonwealth Hotels announced today that Rachel Shaw has been appointed the director of sales and marketing of the Residence Inn St. Louis O'Fallon. Ms. Shaw brings over 8 years of hospitality experience to her new role as director of sales and marketing having previously served as the catering sales manager of the Marriott St Louis West in St. Louis, Missouri. Newly Appointed Director of Sales in O'Fallon "Rachel brings extensive proficiency in generating best-in-class hospitality and is very knowledgeable," said Jennifer Porter, Chief Operating Officer for Commonwealth Hotels. "She will bring a fresh lens and be a strong asset to the team." Most recently prior to joining the Residence Inn, Ms. Shaw served in various hospitality leadership roles including the event and wedding coordinator for The Grand Hotel in Minot, and the assistant general manager for the Baymont Inn and Suites, both in Minot, North Dakota. In addition, Ms. Shaw is active in her community with volunteer achievements serving for the Souris River Valley Humane Society, the Wounded Warrior Project, and the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. About Commonwealth Hotels, LLC Commonwealth Hotels, LLC was founded in 1986 and is a proven partner in providing hotel management services with superior financial results. The company has extensive experience managing premium branded full-service and select-service hotels. Commonwealth Hotels currently manages 61 properties with nearly 7,600 rooms. Additional information may be found at www.commonwealthhotels.com. Contact Barbara E. Willen Commonwealth Hotels, LLC [email protected] 859.392-2254 SOURCE Commonwealth Hotels, Inc. Seniors Can Learn About their Medicare Options from Home ZANESVILLE, Ohio, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Southeast Ohio seniors who are aging into Medicare or want to review their options for 2023 can attend a virtual seminar from the comfort of their own homes. The Physicians Group of Southeastern Ohio and PrimeCare of Southeastern Ohio are offering a Virtual Medicare Shop & Compare Expo, 1 to 4 p.m., Wednesday, November 2, 2022. The webinar is a great opportunity for seniors to learn more about their Medicare options. Registration is desired, but not required. To register, visit: TrustedSeniorCareAdvantage.com. The webinar will include several sessions, including a physician panel entitled: "The Benefits of Value-Based Healthcare;" Medicare 101 sessions by independent, licensed brokers; as well as insurance company presentations. The event is hosted by Trusted Senior Care Advantage, a program offered by the Physicians Group of Southeastern Ohio and PrimeCare of Southeastern Ohio. Do not worry if you miss the online seminar. You can still watch the Medicare information program online at TrustedSeniorCareAdvantage.com. About Trusted Senior Care Advantage Trusted Senior Care Advantage a collaborative approach to care delivery that focuses on preventive care and providing care coordination resources. This program is open to senior patients of the Physicians Group of Southeastern Ohio and PrimeCare of Southeastern Ohio. More information about Trusted Senior Care Advantage and Medicare informational resources are available at TrustedSeniorCareAdvantage.com. SOURCE Trusted Senior Care Advantage GrowPods provide farmers, businesses, organizations, and individuals the ability to grow ultra-clean food, year-round, virtually anywhere CORONA, Calif., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced Container Technologies, Inc (Ticker: ACTX), announced that GrowPods the company's unique Controlled Environment Farms, have the potential to transform the agriculture industry. Controlled Environment Farms (CEF) provide multitudes of benefits, including: Year-Round Growing Cycles - Not dependent on weather, climate, or quality of land, and can provide reliable and consistent year-round crop production. - Not dependent on weather, climate, or quality of land, and can provide reliable and consistent year-round crop production. Less Land Increases production per square foot over traditional methods. Increases production per square foot over traditional methods. Better Quality Farmers control all aspects of crop growth, including humidity, temperature, light, and nutrients so food is at its best. Farmers control all aspects of crop growth, including humidity, temperature, light, and nutrients so food is at its best. Fewer Imports - Enjoy out-of-season produce without importing it from other states or countries. - Enjoy out-of-season produce without importing it from other states or countries. Fewer Miles Food produced nearer the point of consumption reduces transportation times and costs, and lowers the carbon footprint from trucks hauling food across the nation. Food produced nearer the point of consumption reduces transportation times and costs, and lowers the carbon footprint from trucks hauling food across the nation. Fresher Food - Shortening the distance that crops travel means food can be harvested at its peak of freshness and nutritional value. - Shortening the distance that crops travel means food can be harvested at its peak of freshness and nutritional value. Less Pollution Growing indoors in a controlled environment reduces or eliminates chemicals and pesticides, dangers of fertilizer run-off, and contaminated water from nearby livestock making its way into crops. Growing indoors in a controlled environment reduces or eliminates chemicals and pesticides, dangers of fertilizer run-off, and contaminated water from nearby livestock making its way into crops. Water Efficiency - Enormous water efficiency compared to traditional outdoor farming. Doug Heldoorn, CEO of ACTX, said Controlled Environment Farms should be in every community. "Controlled Environment Farming isn't perfect, but it has the potential to transform the agriculture sector and improve the way food is grown and distributed in America," he said. "From improving the quality of our food, to reducing our dependence on corporate owned mega-farms, to bringing the farms closer to the communities they serve, there are many advantages to new, sustainable, Controlled Environment Farms." GrowPods are Controlled Environment Farms that can grow about an acre of food in a transportable automated system. GrowPods provide farmers, businesses, organizations and individuals the ability to grow ultra-clean food, year-round, virtually anywhere. For information, call (951) 381-2555 or visit: www.AdvancedContainerTechnologies.com Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements made under the "safe harbor" provisions of U.S. Securities Acts. Forward-Looking Statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results can differ. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. ACTX undertakes no duty to update information in this release except as required. SOURCE Advanced Container Technologies, Inc. Company Urges Builders to Be Prepared at SEMA Show and Beyond CHICAGO, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrating 25-years of battery management innovation, CTEK, a leading global brand in battery charging solutions, is gearing up for the 2022 SEMA Show taking place November 1-4 at the Las Vegas Convention Center with its booth #23129 in the Central Hall. As an official SEMA Authorized Battery Charger, the company has long supported builders before, during and after the Show. Builders spend months of work and long hours in the shop to prepare and to feature their creations at the Show. The industry knows the type of dedication it takes to make the vehicles builds among the best in the world displayed at the world-renowned SEMA Show. All of that effort can be thwarted in an instant by a dead battery. CTEK Battery Care Kits Custom Designed for Builders "Over the many years of attending the SEMA Show, CTEK has been approached by builders asking for help with their vehicle batteries," said Bobbie DuMelle, Executive Vice President, CTEK North America. "We understand it is just as important for the battery to be in top condition at this event as it is at your own workshop." From past experience, the knowledge, and training of 25 years, CTEK is ready to be the solution for all builders at the SEMA Show. The company has created ready-to-go kits for the battery needs of every vehicle and builder at the Show from hot rods, to muscle cars, to SUVs to 4x4s. "Builders devote countless hours creating amazing custom vehicles. They don't want all of their hard work to be overshadowed because the battery's dead and their car won't start," explained DuMelle. From the show floor to the SEMA Cruise presented by CTEK, and beyond, as an authorized SEMA sponsor for battery chargers, CTEK knows battery maintenance is paramount. To meet builders' 2022 needs, CTEK has created a trio of exclusive SEMA Show Battery Care Kits for builders each featuring a CTEK charger and accessories including a CTEK static window cling and vinyl decals. Battery Care Kit 1 ($119.00) This kit includes CTEK's popular MXS 5.0 (4.3 amp) battery charger which charges batteries up to 110AH and can maintain larger batteries up to 160AH. The MXS 5.0 is for all types of lead-acid 12V batteries (WET, EFB, MF, CA/CA, AGM and GEL). The MXS 5.0 offers CTEK's unique 8-step approach to battery care with built-in temperature sensing capabilities and a unique reconditioning mode. In addition, Battery Care Kit 1 includes a protective charger bumper to keep the car's finish perfect, as well as a COMFORT CONNECT extension cable and COMFORT INDICATOR cig plug. The extension cable helps reach and charge batteries in hard-to-access places while the indicator offers the easiest way to monitor a battery's charge. Battery Care Kit 2 ($185.00) CTEK's MULTI US 7002 (7 amp) charger gives you safe, fast, automatic charging of any 12V lead-acid battery and can even be used as a power supply unit. Battery support is crucial during the build process. As builders are creating their one-of-a-kind cars, which often feature custom electronics and sophisticated sound systems, a power supply unit can provide power without a battery. The MULTI US 7002's supply mode is indispensable during the build process and allows builders to change the vehicle's battery without losing complicated program settings. Like the first kit, Battery Care Kit 2 also contains a bumper, COMFORT CONNECT extension cable and COMFORT INDICATOR cig plug. In addition, Build Kit 2 includes a COMFORT INDICATOR panel, which offers a convenient way to check the status of hard-to-reach batteries. Battery Care Kit 3 ($429.00) This Builder Kit includes professional-level PRO25S, an innovative, versatile, and highly efficient 25A battery charger and power supply. The PRO25S works with any 12V vehicle battery, including lithium (LiFePO4, Li-Fe, Li-iron, LFP). The PRO25S has low voltage and current ripple, so it's safe for the battery and the vehicle's delicate electronic systems. Lightweight and rugged, it can also handle the toughest workshop environments. To further protect the charger as well as a vehicle's paintwork, Battery Care Kit 3 also includes a protective bumper. Battery Care Kit 4 ($399.00) This Builder Kit includes the CS-FREE 4-in-1 battery charger, the CS-FREE Storage Bag and the CS-FREE USB-C Charge Cable Clamps. The CS-FREE provides power where you are. The CS -FREE is a multi-functional portable charger with revolutionary Adaptive Boost technology. It features our cutting-edge products in one portable unit Adaptive Booster, battery charger, smart maintainer, and hi-tech power bank. All four of CTEK's Battery Care Kits are available at smartercharger.com. A special early-bird rate with fast free 2-day shipping will be offered to builders through Oct. 1. "If builders display the included CTEK static window cling or vinyl decal on their vehicle and tag us on social media, we'll share their post with our worldwide audience of followers," said DuMelle. Be sure to bring your CTEK charger to the 2022 SEMA Show to ensure your battery starts and your build is able to participate in the SEMA Cruise. Visit CTEK at the SEMA Show at booth number 23129. To order, visit http://bit.ly/ctekbuilders About CTEK Established in Dalarna, Sweden, CTEK is the leading global brand in battery charging solutions, most specifically vehicle charging. CTEK offers products ranging from 12V and 24V battery chargers to charging solutions for electrical vehicles. CTEK's E-mobility solutions range from individual EV chargers to larger corporate and commercial installations with multiple charging stations that require load balancing and integrate seamlessly with monitoring and payment equipment. CTEK's products are sold via a carefully selected network of global distributors and retailers: as original equipment; supplied to more than 50 of the world's leading vehicle manufacturers; and through charge point operators, property owners and other organizations/individuals providing EV charging infrastructure. CTEK takes pride in its unique culture based on a passion for innovation and a deep commitment to supporting the transition to a greener mobility, by adhering to industry leading ESG standards. PRESS CONTACT Michelle Suzuki 3104447115 https://smartercharger.com/ SOURCE CTEK ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- While most travel sectors have made a strong post-pandemic recovery, cruise lines have been slower to rebound. Cruise lines have lessened restrictions in recent weeks, however many still require a negative COVID-19 test prior to embarkation. Despite the continued requirements, travel insurtech Squaremouth.com reports cruisers are now more concerned about being able to reach their cruise due to airline issues, than being prevented from cruising due to contracting COVID. According to a recent survey on squaremouth.com, 65% of cruisers said they aren't concerned about COVID-19, to include testing positive and being restricted entry. Among those that still require a negative test are Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Disney, Celestyal, and Celebrity, while rules vary based on vaccination status. Squaremouth says this response is a complete shift from earlier in the year, when 63% of their customers said they were most concerned about contracting COVID-19 and being unable to cruise as planned. Following a hectic summer travel season, weather and other airline-related disruptions related to staffing shortages have overtaken COVID-19 as a leading traveler concern, according to Squaremouth. Quick travel insurance facts for cruisers: The majority of travel insurance policies on squaremouth.com cover contracting COVID-19 before or during a trip If a traveler is unable to board their cruise ship, these plans can reimburse the prepaid cost of the cruise, as well as any respective travel expenses and medical treatment Most travel insurance policies include benefits, such as travel delay, missed connection, and baggage, should a traveler be impacted on their way to port Some travel insurance policies can provide cruise-specific coverage, including benefits for an itinerary change or shipboard disruption Squaremouth's Cruise and Travel Insurance Resource is updated with coverage recommendations and answers to the most commonly asked traveler questions. About Squaremouth Squaremouth is a travel insurance comparison company that helps customers instantly search, compare, and buy travel insurance policies online. Squaremouth.com hosts the most intuitive travel insurance quoting and comparison engine on the market today. Coupled with over 100,000 verified customer reviews and the largest portfolio of products, Squaremouth allows customers to purchase a travel insurance policy from every major provider in the US. Media Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Squaremouth DEWAR'S French Cask Smooth is the fifth edition in the brand's double-aged, blended Scotch cask-finished series and reflects the brand's passion for harmoniously bringing together unexpected flavors for a richer taste and experience. It follows the successful launches of DEWAR'S Caribbean Smooth Rum Cask Finish, DEWAR'S Ilegal Smooth Mezcal Cask Finish, DEWAR's Portuguese Smooth Port Cask Finish and DEWAR'S Japanese Smooth Mizunara Oak Cask Finish. Ideal for new and existing whisky drinkers alike, the new whisky is rich and complex, with a honeyed sweetness and notes of citrus, baked apples, a dusting of cinnamon, and creme anglaise. "We traveled the world in search of extra flavor for Dewar's French Cask Smooth and found it in the casks used to make the apple brandy, Calvados, in the orchards of Normandy, France. This cask finish enhances the signature DEWAR'S citrus notes whilst subtly imparting baked apples and creme anglaise," commented Stephanie Macleod, Master Blender for DEWAR'S. "It is a bright and delicious whisky with the ultimate balance and smoothness. The full-bodied finish makes it perfect to enjoy neat, on the rocks, or in an apple and cinnamon highball." To celebrate the launch of DEWAR'S French Cask Smooth, DEWAR'S Scotch Whisky is partnering with James Beard Award winning chef duo Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson, co-owners of Frenchette and Le Rock in New York City, to launch 'Dinners a la Francaise,' hosted in partnership with Resident. Designed to celebrate the joys of long, leisurely meals, this exclusive dinner series will allow guests to savor moments of connection along with food and cocktail pairings. Featuring autumn-inspired details, a five-course meal will bring New Yorkers the best of French cuisine, complemented by cocktails featuring the new DEWAR'S French Cask Smooth whisky. Dishes will embody classic flavors with a modern twist, while embracing the traditions of French cuisine and Scottish distilling. Consumers can attend the experience themselves on November 8th and November 15th, with tickets available on ExploreTock.com. "At our restaurants we strive to break the mold of classic French fare and, like the team at DEWAR'S, are constantly searching for new and inventive ways to delight our guests. We are excited to partner with DEWAR'S to celebrate French food and traditions in an unexpected way and we hope that this dinner series inspires people to slow down and enjoy meals as forms of conviviality and community," said Chefs Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson. The evening, designed to embody the essence of fall, will flow with the Apple Nouvelle cocktail garnished with fresh apple slices and a variety of modern French dishes, bringing a new take to seasonal French classics. The signature cocktail of the 'Dinners a la Francaise' series is Le Flaneur, featuring DEWAR'S French Smooth whisky, topped off with yellow chartreuse, cold sparkling water, sparkling wine and hints of mint and lemon. DEWAR'S French Cask Smooth is available in a 750ML bottle with an SRP of $24.99 and retails on ReserveBar and in fine wine and spirits retailers nationwide. For more information on DEWAR'S French Cask Smooth and the rest of DEWAR'S whisky products, please visit www.dewars.com or on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. DEWAR'S French Cask Smooth 40% ABV, 80 proof 750ml SRP: $24.99 Available in stores nationwide, online and on ReserveBar. COCKTAIL RECIPES "Le Flaneur" INGREDIENTS 1.5 oz DEWAR'S French Cask Smooth 0.5 oz yellow chartreuse 0.5 oz cold sparkling water 3 oz sparkling wine GARNISH: MINT SPRIG, LEMON COIN GLASS: HIGHBALL METHOD: BUILD IN GLASS OVER ICE, THEN TOP WITH MINT AND LEMON. "Apple Nouvelle" INGREDIENTS 1.5 oz DEWAR'S French Cask Smooth 1oz cloudy apple juice 0.5 oz St. Germain 0.5 oz cold sparkling water 3 oz sparkling wine GARNISH: APPLE FAN GLASS: COUPETTE METHOD: ADD WHISKY, ST GERMAIN AND APPLE JUICE TO A COCKTAIL SHAKER AND SHAKE HARD WITH CUBED ICE THEN DOUBLE STRAIN INTO CHILLED COUPETTE GLASS, AND TOP WITH A SMALL DASH OF SODA, THEN SPARKLING WINE. A SPARKLING TIPPLE BURSTING WITH FRENCH FINESSE, BRINGING THE ORCHARD FLAVOUR OF CALVADOS TO LIFE WITH SWEET FLORAL ELDERFLOWER, FRESH APPLES AND SPARKLNG FRENCH BUBBLES. SANTE Hi-Res Imagery: HERE ENJOY RESPONSIBLY 2022 DEWAR'S BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY 40% ALC. BY VOL IMPORTED BY JOHN DEWAR'S & SONS COMPANY, CORAL GABLES, FL About DEWAR'S Founded in 1846 by John Dewar, DEWAR'S has grown from a small wine and spirits merchant shop in Scotland, to one of the largest Scotch whisky brands in the world. Best known for its iconic DEWAR'S WHITE LABEL, it has expanded its family to create a portfolio of premium and super premium whiskies including DEWAR'S 12-Year-Old, DEWAR'S 15-Year-Old, DEWAR'S 18-Year-Old, DEWAR'S Double Double Series, DEWAR'S Caribbean Smooth and the exclusive DEWAR'S 25. These whiskies are crafted using the DEWAR'S oak marrying ageing process, which involves returning the hand-crafted blend to vintage oak casks for further maturation. The result is a smoother taste with a long, lingering finish; a taste that wins medals and applause, making DEWAR'S the world's most awarded blended Scotch. The DEWAR'S brand is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. About Bacardi Limited Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, produces and markets internationally recognized spirits and wines. The Bacardi brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDI rum, GREY GOOSE vodka, PATRON tequila, DEWAR'S Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin, MARTINI vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON'S Scotch whisky, ST-GERMAIN elderflower liqueur, and ERISTOFF vodka. Founded more than 158 years ago, in Santiago de Cuba on February 4, 1862, family-owned Bacardi currently employs nearly 7,000, operates more than 20 production facilities, including bottling, distilling and manufacturing sites in 11 countries, and sells its brands in more than 170 countries. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. Visit www.bacardilimited.com or follow @BacardiLimited. Media Contact: [email protected] SOURCE DEWAR'S HONG KONG and SHANGHAI, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jebsen Group, a leading brand builder and investor in Greater China, today announced it has completed the acquisition of 31Jiu (Shanghai) Co Ltd ("31Jiu"). As of October 19th, 2022, 31Jiu will operate as an integral part of Jebsen Beverage, Jebsen Group's business line focusing on premium beverage in the Greater China market. E. J. McKay acts as the exclusive financial advisor to 31Jiu and its shareholders in the transaction. James Li, Chairman of E. J. McKay, commented, "We are pleased to act as the exclusive financial advisor to 31Jiu on the transaction. The Transaction is yet another example of E. J. McKay's expertise in the food and beverages industries, and our deep relationships in Asia." He further added, "the deal process was largely conducted in virtual space with limited physical meetings. Technology enabled the process during this special time, and our team's commitment to exceptional service and deep personal relationships ensured the success of the transaction." Frank Li, Chairman of 31Jiu said, "We are very pleased with this new relationship with Jebsen, which creates a win-win situation for our customers and partners. We are also especially impressed by the creativity in solutions finding, navigation of complexities, deep industry knowledge, the hard work and seamless teamwork of the E. J. McKay team with us, without which we would not have been able to accomplish this successful result at the compressed timetable and under Covid lockdowns." About 31Jiu Founded in 2013, 31Jiu is a premium beverage brand owner and distributor of international brands in the Chinese mainland with a multi-category portfolio including sparkling beverage, cider and kombucha. In 2016 and 2021, 31Jiu introduced Bundaberg and Remedy into the Chinese mainland and developed them into leading brands in their respective categories. In addition, 31Jiu launched its proprietary brand Maui Cider in 2020. Headquartered in Shanghai and with presence in most first and second-tier cities, 31Jiu's products are distributed nationwide, and accessible to consumers through major e-commerce platforms, as well as leading supermarket chains, convenience stores, hotels, restaurants, and cafes. About Jebsen Group Founded in 1895, Jebsen Group is a leading brand builder and a focused marketing, investment and distribution organization. A family-owned private company with over 125 years of continuous presence in Greater China, Jebsen is committed to supporting its partners' needs in building market demand, generating sales, and connecting customers across the region. Under the master brand of Jebsen, the Group has four Core Business Lines Motors, Beverage, Consumer and Jebsen Capital. Jebsen offers over 200 of the world's premium brands extensive and specialised local market access. Outside the region, Jebsen enjoys close ties with sister companies in Australia, South East Asia, Denmark and Germany. About E. J. McKay E. J. McKay is an independent investment bank with a focus on Asia-related transactions with offices China, India, Japan, and a presence in major financial centers around the world. The firm's services include M&A, strategic advisory and capital raising. E. J. McKay pioneered the China Europe transaction corridor, initiated the capital flows between China and India and has a history of advising clients on some of the most significant and complex transactions between China and Europe, North America, Latin America, India, Japan and the Middle East. Media Contact [email protected] +1 650 776 4649 (USA) +86 134 8018 9930 (China) SOURCE E. J. McKay ERI Offers Dynamic Topics Presented by Leading Experts for School-Based Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologists and Special Educators. BOSTON, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Education Resources, Inc. (ERI) announces the 23rd Annual Therapies in the School Conference, a live virtual webinar set for November 17 and 18, 2022 at 9:30 am EST (US). The 23rd annual conference is back for the third year in a row as a virtual offering, where school-based therapists and professionals will learn the latest techniques from world-renowned faculty. Sessions will be taught by Amy Barr with Christy Hupka, Cara Koscincki, Amy Lewis, Karen Pryor, Cynthia Dodds and more. Participants can expect to receive new and easily applicable, evidence-based tools and strategies to help improve the lives of their students, as well as new methods to address the continuous COVID-19 related challenges. Attendees from last year's virtual conference shared numerous positive experiences. Rachel Dolan, a PT from New York said, "Thank you for this conference geared specifically for school-based therapists...we are a rare breed, and I so appreciate having continuing education that is applicable to our unique setting." Heather Bernier, a PT from Vermont said, "I have already started implementing some things learned...and have had some great discussions with my co-workers." ERI's 23rd Annual Therapies in the School Conference 2022 offers up to 12 continuing education hours (1.2 CEUs) with energetic experiential learning, lively panel discussions and challenging breakout sessions related to: Strategies for Addressing Dysregulation Updates in Trauma Informed Care Interoception as a Building Block for Executive Function Skills Using RTI to Reduce Referrals when Evaluating Students with Autism Addressing Vestibular Impairments in the Classroom Why Every School-Based Therapist Should Be Addressing Reflexes How to Use UDL to Develop Accessible Lessons for all Students Importance of Transition Planning from an Early Age How to Improve Outcomes for the Medically Complex Student Plus, Much More! ERI's 23rd Annual Therapies in the School Conference 2022 is offered for $439/person for both days or $225/person for 1-day. Group rates are available. Register HERE or email [email protected] for group rates. About Education Resources, Inc. Education Resources, Inc. (ERI) is an accredited provider of continuing education that helps PTs, OTs, and SLPs transform the lives of their patients. Visit www.educationresourcesinc.com. Media Contact: Laurie Goonan, ERI Marketing Coordinator [email protected] SOURCE Education Resources, Inc. In the face of current energy supply and climate protection challenges worldwide the potential of biogas is more apparent than ever. With the upcoming 32nd BIOGAS Convention 2022, the German Biogas Association invites to an indispensable online exchange for and with the biogas industry from 7 to 11 November. FREISING, Germany, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Since February 2022, the supposedly secure supply of energy in Western Europe proves to be extremely fragile, followed by spill over effects such as food supply issues worldwide. Consequently, the importance of biogas as a secure, independent and climate-friendly supplier of energy and heat cannot be denied. The BIOGAS Convention will showcase methods and actual solutions that leverage the potential of biogas. From 7 to 11 November, the convention brings together industry experts, scientists and policy makers from all over the world for online lectures and debates. Over 50 presentations in German and English given by representatives of the biogas and biomethane sector, cover a wide range of topics currently affecting industries, businesses and municipalities. The talks and discussions include EU policies and regulations, latest know-how and innovation, safety aspects as well as biomethane and fertilization solutions. German best practice examples are presented as well as pioneering projects from countries around the globe such as France, Italy, Brazil and Mexico. Each day starts at 10 am and ends at 4 pm (CET), including Q&A options. The conference chat platform offers an opportunity for networking and business contacts. You can find the detailed agenda of the German and the international parts here: 7-11 November www.biogas-convention.com (in German) 8-10 November www.biogas-convention.com/en (in English) Conference tickets including discounts for government and public representatives, participants from developing countries and students as well as free access for media representatives, are available at www.biogas-convention.com/en/registration/booking/ The German Biogas Association represents the biogas industry in the umbrella organisation of renewable energies, the Bundesverband Erneuerbare Energie (BEE) e.V. With over 4,700 members, we are Europe's largest representative body of the biogas industry. Our members include manufacturers and planners as well as plant operators throughout Germany. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1924040/German_Biogas_Association_Logo.jpg SOURCE German Biogas Association Australian Army contingent for 'Austra Hind' arrives in India 27 Nov 2022 | 4:02 PM New Delhi, Nov 27 (UNI) An Australian Army contingent comprising soldiers from the 13th Brigade of the 2nd Division has arrived at the location where the bilateral training exercise "Austra Hind 22" will take place from 28 November to 11 December. see more.. G-20 Presidency a great opportunity for India to focus on global good: PM 27 Nov 2022 | 1:01 PM New Delhi, Nov 27 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the Presidency of G-20 has arrived as a big opportunity for India and we have to make full use of this opportunity and focus on Global Good, and world welfare. see more.. 59th ABU General Assembly held from Nov 25 to 30 in Delhi 26 Nov 2022 | 11:15 PM New Delhi, Nov 26 (UNI) Prasar Bharati is hosting the 59th Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) General Assembly 2022. This year's theme is Serving the People: Medias Role in Times of Crisis. see more.. 'BJP govt surrendered itself to diktats of RSS': Kharge 26 Nov 2022 | 9:18 PM New Delhi, Nov 26 (UNI) Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday accused the BJP-led government at the Centre that it has "surrendered" itself and its institutions to the "diktats" of the RSS. see more.. CONYERS, Ga., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Novae CEO Reco McCambry was named Innovator of the Year at the 2022 Bank Customer Experience Summit in Chicago last month. This win comes just weeks after Novae was named one of Inc 5000's fastest-growing companies in America for the second year in a row. Fintech entrepreneur and Novae President & CEO, Reco McCambry addressing a crowd of bank executives after receiving the 2022 Innovator of the Year Award at Bank Customer Experience Summit. Novae President & CEO Reco McCambry pictured holding the 2022 Innovator of the Year award presented to him at the Bank Customer Experience Summit in Chicago. The Bank Customer Experience Summit , held annually in Chicago, features keynote speakers such as this year's Clinton Cheng, Global Head of Visa's PLUS/ATM Network which serves 3 billion cardholders around the world and 2019's Marbue Brown, Head of Customer Experience at Chase. It's the place to be for people in the banking industry aiming to offer their customers a stellar experience. Innovations in the industry have been moving at a breakneck pace in recent years between the rapid advance of digital technology and the profound influence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Changes in how businesses accept payment, and how customers interface with banks, have been profound. This makes McCambry's win especially impressive. His relatively young American-based firm, founded in 2014 independent of other banking and financial institutions, was in the company of the 200-year-old financial institution KeyBank and global giant CR2 as a Summit award winner . Novae has spent the last few years rolling out new fintech offerings with astonishing speed. What began primarily as a financial education firm now offers assistance in procuring business and personal loans, consumer financing options for businesses that sell high ticket products and services, and online banking which likely played the decisive role in McCambry's award. Novae's online banking is designed specifically with unbanked and underbanked Americans in mindthose who may live in neighborhoods without many in-person bank branches and who may struggle with transportation, getting off work during business hours, and other major obstacles preventing people in low-income neighborhoods from accessing banking services. McCambry's solution is to offer a 100% online service allowing customers to sign up for FDIC-insured bank accounts from their computers or smartphones. But the real streak of brilliance is Novae's deal with retailers such as Dollar General to allow customers to deposit cash into their online bank accounts at Dollar General locations. These neighborhoods now effectively have Novae bank branches at the same places where their residents often shop. Having grown up himself in a low-income neighborhood where residents struggled to access the financial services available to their wealthier neighbors, McCambry got emotional when speaking about his award. "Wow. It's been a lot of hard work to roll out these products, but it's been so worth it. We are going to transform communities around the country and the world with greater access to financial services. God is good." Media Contact: Arielle Dothard [email protected] 678-750-3787 SOURCE Novae LLC New GCFR Certification for Cloud Incident Response and Analysis BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to more organizations and enterprises of all sizes migrating to cloud-based environments and the need to bring examiners up to speed with the rapidly changing world of enterprise cloud environments, GIAC Certifications is proud to offer a new certification to confirm which professionals have the specialized skills needed to respond and investigate cyber threats across all three major cloud providers. "The GIAC Cloud Forensic Responder (GCFR) is the first certification in the industry that shows that the holder has the knowledge necessary to respond and investigate across all three major cloud providers (Amazon, Google, Microsoft)," said David Cowen, FOR509: Enterprise Cloud Forensics and Incident Response course author. "Most classes and certifications focus on cloud security configuration, automation or detection but the GCFR represents what happens after the incident has occurred." GCFR is the first certification to show that the holder can respond and investigate across all 3 major cloud providers Tweet this The certification is currently available for registration and addresses gaps in the current market for cybersecurity certifications. In alignment with its mission of providing the highest standard of cybersecurity skill assurance, GIAC Certifications is doing its part to keep enterprises and individuals safe by continuing to release new certifications that keep up with evolving trends and emerging threats. GIAC utilizes CyberLive during proctored examination sessions, providing hands-on, real-world practical testing where cyber practitioners prove their knowledge, understanding, and skill using actual programs, actual code, and virtual machines. Candidates are asked practical questions that require the performance of real-world-like tasks that mimic specialized job roles. The new GIAC Cloud Forensics Responder (GCFR) is recommended for incident response team leaders, SOC analysts, threat hunters, digital forensic analysts, federal agents and law enforcement professionals, and any SANS DFIR alumni looking to round out their forensic skills. GCFR-certified professionals are well-versed in the log collection and interpretation skills needed to manage rapidly changing enterprise cloud environments. Learn more about GCFR certification and register today. About GIAC Certifications GIAC Certifications is a cyber security certification body known for providing the highest standard in information security certification. GIAC certifications are accredited under the IEC/ISO/ANSI 17024 quality standard for certifying bodies. GIAC, an affiliate of the SANS Institute, validates employee qualifications with a portfolio of more than 45 hands-on technical information security certifications. About SANS Institute SANS Institute (SANS) is the most trusted and the largest provider of training and certification to professionals at governments and commercial institutions worldwide. Renowned SANS instructors teach over 50 different cybersecurity training courses globally, live and online. www.sans.org. SOURCE GIAC Certifications SUNRISE, Fla., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GL Homes, Florida's largest private homebuilder, made history when the company received the ATHENA Award in the Organizational Leadership category. The Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches hosted the 31st annual ATHENA Awards luncheon in West Palm Beach with over 400 South Florida community and business leaders present. www.palmbeaches.org Through GL Homes Senior Director of Community Relations Sarah Alsofrom, who received the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award (2010) and the ATHENA Leadership Award (2019), GL Homes is the first company in ATHENA's history to have a connection to all three awards. "The Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches is extremely proud to announce that GL Homes and Sarah Alsofrom are the first recipients to be connected to all three ATHENA Award categories. With this historic win, our chamber of commerce and GL Homes achieved a rarefied statuson a global scale. This international accomplishment allows our organizations to shine a positive spotlight on women who make an impact in our community and beyond," said Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches President & CEO Donald Burgess. ATHENA International was founded in 1982. Since then, over 8,000 accomplished women and men from all over the globe have been recognized and celebrated for their professional excellence, determination, risk-taking, community service, fierce advocacy, and their support and mentorship of other women. More than 500 communities in Canada, Mexico, China, India, Europe and the United States have honored exemplary leaders who embrace the ATHENA tenets. ATHENA International is a global movement. This influential circle continues its quest for a just and humane society. ATHENA leaders contribute to the greater good and accept and appreciate other people for their talents and differences. www.athenainternational.org About GL Homes Since 1976, GL Homes has grown from a small, local builder to one of the nation's largest. For over three decades, GL Homes has created exceptional communities and built quality residences in Florida's most desirable locations including Palm Beach, Broward, Indian River, St. Lucie, Collier, Lee, Hillsborough, and Pasco Counties. www.glhomes.com; www.glhomesphilanthropy.com SOURCE GL Homes DUBLIN, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Automotive Filter Market By Vehicle Type, By Filter Type, By Applications, By Filter Media, By Demand Category, By Region, Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global automotive filter market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 3.82% during the forecast period to reach USD60,148.69 million by 2027. Anticipated growth in the market can be attributed to increasing initiatives to control pollutants emitting from vehicle engine, which is harmful for human health. Furthermore, increase in demand from OEM and aftermarket is also expected to drive the growth of the global automotive filter market in the upcoming five years. The automotive filter is divided into three segments which consist of air filter, fuel filter and oil filter. As we are moving toward the sustainable energy, at the same time we are also focusing on the quality of air we are breathing. The purpose of these filters is to trap all the impurities which could directly affect the wear and tear condition of engine in all types of vehicles. These impurities can either be dust or any contaminants in the air. Oil filter application is to filter back the impurities from oil to various engine components, which helps engine to run smoothly and give it a longer life. The fuel and gas injected during internal combustion should be free from any kind of impurities for better mileage and power. A tiny dust particle can impact the performance of engine. Air filter is divided into two sub-segments based on their application i.e. cabin filter and engine filter. Cabin filters out the pollen, dust, and airborne particles which enters the cabin through ventilation, air conditioning, or heating system. From recent research it was stated that engine emits hazardous gases which enters the cabin. This hazardous gas is harmful to the human health. As a result, filters have been in high demand among the automotive manufacturers. To fulfill the expanding need of installing filter in automobiles, original equipment manufacturers of internal combustion engine (ICE) across the world have ramped up the pace of manufacturing automotive filters. Significant number of filter manufacturers are investing heavily in the research and development sector to develop nanofiber filter that can trap the microbials up to the size of 10 nm, driving the global automotive filter market in the forthcoming years. Moreover, factors such as travel convenience, healthy breathing, comfort, efficiency, etc. have increased the demand for filters among the people, which has further intensified the demand for automotive filter across the globe. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic created economic and public health crisis across the world. Consequently, many industries faced a consequential decrease in the production of automotive filters due to full or partial lockdown restrictions across various countries to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The automotive filter manufacturers, workshop, and showrooms had to shut down their production line amid lockdowns. Nevertheless, with the easing of lockdown restrictions and growing focus on research and development, the market is showing positive signs of recovery and is anticipated to recover in around two years. Growing Concerns for Environment Sustainability Drives the Market Growth Increase in pollution is one of the major opportunities for the filter market. The exhaust emission released from the vehicle contains hazardous pollutants which are harmful to the health. Government & agencies are focusing to minimize this issue as much as possible. Companies such as MANN+HUMMEL are working on the Nanofiber technology for the automobile filters. As the market players are moving toward sustainable energy, at same time they are also focusing on the quality of air we are breathing. This nanofiber technology can trap the microbials size up to 10 nm and could be used in both cabin filters & engine filters. Increasing Vehicles on Road Drives the Market Growth Existing vehicles on road and production of new vehicles is expected to drive the filter market growth. Automakers have been constantly working on technologies that can help the automotive manufacturers to reduce the carbon emission in vehicles to increase the overall performance of the vehicle. As people are getting more environment-conscious & prefer to use electric vehicle which only uses cabin filters. Battery filters is the new segment by filters application. They are being used in the electric vehicle for ventilation & thermal control for battery. The increase in demand for electric vehicle is expected to increase the air filter overall share. Government Regulation and Emission Standards Drives the Market Growth Emission standards and regulations imposed by government are expected drive the global automotive filter market. As global warming has forced governments around the world to take serious measures regarding the carbon emission at early stage. The French government has introduced 'Crit'Air vignette' clean air sticker in some of the cities which cost around USD 4.74 per vehicle. These Crit Air stickers have been offered by the French government as a way to lower toxic vehicle emissions in areas where air condition is poorest, such as large cities and towns. Vehicles that have these stickers are eligible to park and drive in restricted traffic zones and due to this government initiative, the use of air filters in the cars is expected to increase. This standard and regulation will change continuously at regular intervals. This will drive filter manufacturing companies to work on their filter media technology for better efficiency and less maintenance, influencing the automotive filter sales across the world. Market Segmentation Global automotive filter market is segmented based on filter type, which is further divided into air filter, oil filter and fuel filter, by vehicle type market is divided into passenger car, two wheeler, medium & heavy commercial vehicles, light commercial vehicle and OTR, by application type it is divided into engine filter & cabin filter, by filter media it is divided into Cellulose Media, synthetic media, particulate, active carbon media and others, by demand category it is segmented into replacement and original equipment manufacturer. By region it is further divided into Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, South America, Middle East and Africa. The global automotive filter market based on filter type, is majorly dominated by air filter, with a market share of 44.28% in 2021. The filter type air filter units are majorly installed in passenger vehicle, light commercial vehicle, medium to heavy duty commercial vehicles, two-wheelers, and off-the-road vehicles. In terms of country, the United States automotive filter market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 2.96% and is expected to reach around USD 9,923 million during the forecast period 2027. Company Profiles Mann+Hummel Filter Pvt Ltd, Mahle Gmbh Group, Donaldson Company, Inc., Toyota Boshoku Corporation, Freudenberg Group, K&N Engineering, Inc., Robert Bosch GmbH, Elofic Industries Ltd., Hengst SE, Denso Corporation, etc. are among the major market players in the global platform that lead the market growth of the global automotive filter market. Key Topics Covered: 1. Product Overview 2. Research Methodology 3. Executive Summary 4. Impact of COVID-19 on Global Automotive Filter Market 5. Voice of Customers 5.1. Factors Influencing Purchase Decision 5.2. Brand Recall 5.3. Brand Satisfaction Level 6. Global Automotive Filter Market Outlook 6.1. Market Size & Forecast 6.1.1. By Value 6.1.2. By Volume 6.2. Market Share & Forecast 6.2.1. By Vehicle Type (Passenger Car, Two Wheeler, Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV), Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicle (M&HCV), and Off-the-Road Vehicle (OTR)) 6.2.2. By Filter Type (Air Filter, Oil Filter, Fuel Filter) 6.2.3. By Application (Engine Filter and Cabin filter) 6.2.4. By Filter Media (Cellulose, Synthetic, Particulate, Activated Carbon Media) 6.2.5. By Demand Category (Replacement, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM)) 6.2.6. By Region 6.2.7. By Company (2021) 6.3. Market Map (By Vehicle Type, By Region) 7. Asia-Pacific Automotive Filter Market Outlook 8. North America Automotive Filter Market Outlook 9. Europe Automotive Filter Market Outlook 10. South America Automotive Filter Market Outlook 11. Middle East and Africa Automotive Filter Market Outlook 12. Market Dynamics 12.1. Drivers 12.2. Challenges 13. Market Trends and Developments 14. Competitive Landscape 14.1. MANN+HUMMEL International GmbH & Co. KG 14.2. MAHLE International GmbH 14.3. Donaldson Company Inc. 14.4. Toyota Boshoku Corporation 14.5. Freudenberg SE 14.6. K&N Engineering, Inc 14.7. Denso Corporation 14.8. Elofic Industries Ltd. 14.9. Hengst SE 14.10. Robert Bosch GmbH 15. Strategic Recommendations 16. About the Publisher & Disclaimer For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/r8981p 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. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Energy as a Service Market by Type (Energy Supply Services, Operational and Maintenance Services, and Energy Efficiency and Optimization Services) End-User (Commercial and Industrial) and Region - Global Forecast to 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The energy as a service market is projected to reach USD 105.6 billion by 2027 from an estimated USD 64.7 billion in 2022, at a CAGR of 10.3% during the forecast period. Due to the manufacturing advances and various technological improvements, the costs of various renewables and storage systems such as solar PVs, fuel cells, grid-based energy storage, especially batteries, and combined heat and power declined significantly in recent times. The decreasing costs of solar PV are encouraging users to install these resources for generating electricity. These decreasing prices of the renewables and storage solutions have positively promoted the energy as a service approach as it is helping the utilities implement the same and helping various end-users reduce their energy costs. Also, with the price volatility found in today's fossil fuels markets, unpredictable prices are costing the government substantially more than lower-cost alternatives. For instance, solar power can be generated and used during peak times to offset the costly high-demand electricity mentioned above. The use of solar power can not only reduce the overall electricity usage but also helps avoid demand charges. Hence, all factors are making these options more viable and affordable. The energy supply services segment, by type, is expected to be the fastest-growing market from 2022 to 2027. There are three types of services considered in the report energy supply services, operational and maintenance services and energy efficiency and optimization services. Energy supply services refer to the idea where a building's energy requirements are taken care of by an outside company, typically utilities or service providers. Energy supply services protect end-users from grid blackouts and weather extremes that would threaten the operations of traditional grid-connected commercial and industrial entities. In energy as a service operation, energy supply services are increasingly delivered through Energy Services Agreements (ESAs) which are performance-based contracts through which a service provider agrees to finance, develop, and deploy renewable energy projects for clients without any upfront capital expenditures. In addition to this, consumers do not have any responsibility to maintain and upgrade the equipment. The commercial segment, by end-user, is expected to be the largest market from 2022 to 2027. The end-user segment has two types includes commercial and industrial end-users. The commercial segment includes establishments such as healthcare, educational institutions, airports, data centers, leisure centers, warehouses, hotels, and others. Electricity prices for the commercial sector are higher than the industrial sector. Hence, customers are looking for a solution that helps them implement energy-efficiency projects with no capital expenditure and validate energy savings. Therefore, an increase in the energy consumption demand and commercial energy prices is expected to drive the segment. North America: The largest and the fastest growing region in the energy as a service market. North America is expected to dominate the global energy as a service market and is expected to grow at the highest CAGR between 2022-2027. One of the major drivers for the energy as a service business model in the region is the ability to incorporate technology, analytics, and personalized services for end users. North America's electrical transmission infrastructure is not upgraded for modern threats and natural hazards. Energy as a service would provide the reliability and flexibility that would enable expanded use of electricity across the region without getting affected by threats and hazards. Market Dynamics Drivers New Revenue Generation Streams for Utilities Increasing Distributed Energy Resources Decreasing Cost of Renewable Power Generation and Storage Solutions Availability of Federal and State Tax Benefits for Energy-Efficient Projects Restraints Integration and Deployment Challenges Dominance of Existing Centralized Utility Models Opportunities Deeper Operational and Maintenance Savings Increasing Use of Energy-Efficient Technologies Challenges Uncertainty About Agreement Structure Building Ownership Constraints Key Topics Covered: 1 Introduction 2 Research Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Premium Insights 5 Market Overview 6 Energy as a Service Market, by Type 7 Energy as a Service Market, by End-user 8 Energy as a Service Market, by Region 9 Competitive Landscape 10 Company Profiles 11 Appendix Companies Mentioned Alpiq Ameresco Bernhard Energy Solutions Centrica EDF Renewable Energy Edison Enel X Enertika Engie Entegrity General Electric Honeywell Johnson Controls Norseco Orsted Schneider Electric Siemens Smartwatt Veolia Wendel Energy Service WGL Energy For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/aplue5 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 NOIDA, India, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new report published by UnivDatos Markets Insights, the Medical Mobility Aids Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 6% from 2021-2027, witnessing incremental growth of USD 3.8 billion during the forecast period. The analysis has been segmented into Product Type (Wheelchairs, Walkers, Crutches, Stretchers, Accessories, Others); End-Users (Hospitals & Clinics, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Home Care Settings, Others); Region/Country. Click here to view the Report Description & TOC https://univdatos.com/report/medical-mobility-aids-market/ The Medical Mobility Aids market report has been aggregated by collecting informative data on various dynamics such as market drivers, restraints, and opportunities. This innovative report makes use of several analyses to get a closer outlook on the Medical Mobility Aids market. The Medical Mobility Aids market report offers a detailed analysis of the latest industry developments and trending factors in the market that are influencing the market growth. Furthermore, this statistical market research repository examines and estimates the Medical Mobility Aids market at the global and regional levels. Request for Sample Pages https://univdatos.com/get-a-free-sample-form-php/?product_id=20128 Market Overview According to the United Nations, the global population aged 60 years or over was numbered 962 million in 2017 and is expected to reach nearly 2.1 billion by 2050. This rapidly growing geriatric population base is an indication of the growing prevalence of various age-related diseases including orthopedic disorders such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and others. Owing to these facts and the increasing prevalence of neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease, Epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease the demand for various mobility aids devices is increasing all over the globe. Furthermore, favorable reimbursement policies and continuous evolution and advancement in mobility aid devices are also some of the other factors contributing to the growth of the medical mobility aids market. COVID-19 Impact The recent covid-19 pandemic has disrupted the world and has brought a state of shock to the global economy. The global pandemic has impacted the healthcare industry and has transformed the way healthcare is delivered. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the medical mobility aids market owing to the disruption in the performance of the major mobility device manufacturers leading to a significant effect on businesses & financials of the market, including the accessibility of products among end-users. Click here to view the Report Description & TOC https://univdatos.com/report/medical-mobility-aids-market/ The global Medical Mobility Aids market report is studied thoroughly with several aspects that would help stakeholders in making their decisions more curated. Based on product type, the medical mobility aids market is segmented into wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, stretchers, accessories, and others. The wheelchair segment accounted for a significant market share in 2020 and it is estimated that it will exhibit the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of this segment can be attributed to the popularity of these mobility aid devices among the elderly population. Based on end-users, the medical mobility aids market is divided into hospitals & clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, home care settings, and others. The hospitals & clinics segment is anticipated to grow at a rapid rate in the upcoming years owing to the increasing preference of consumers to get treatment in hospitals mainly due to the well-established healthcare infrastructure, and presence of highly skilled healthcare professionals. Have a Look at the Chapters - https://univdatos.com/report/medical-mobility-aids-market/ Medical Mobility Aids Market Geographical Segmentation Includes: North America ( United States , Canada , and Rest of North America ) ( , , and Rest of ) Europe ( Germany , United Kingdom , Spain , Italy , France , and the Rest of Europe ) ( , , , , , and the Rest of ) Asia-Pacific ( China , Japan , India , Australia , and the Rest of Asia-Pacific ) ( , , , , and the Rest of ) Rest of the World Geographically, the North America region dominated the medical mobility aids market in 2020 owing to the growing number of people with mobility impairment in the region. Furthermore, with the rapid advancement in technology and rising awareness among the target population to become mobile, many industry players are focusing on expanding their product portfolio by launching new products in the market due to which the medical mobility aids market is witnessing an uptick all over the globe. For instance, in May 2021, Quantum Rehab, a global innovator of consumer-inspired complex rehab mobility technologies, launched J4 HD Power Chair offering a 400-pound weight capacity and optional Q4 HD Power Tilt. The J4 HD is engineered for tight-quarter maneuverability and has a narrow base width of 24.25 inches. The major players targeting the market include Invacare Corporation Stryker Corporation GF Health Products, Inc. Sunrise Medical LLC Briggs Healthcare Benmor Medical Limited Medline Industries Inc. Ostrich Mobility Instruments Pvt. Ltd. Ottobock NOVA Medical Products. Competitive Landscape The degree of competition among prominent global companies has been elaborated by analyzing several leading key players operating worldwide. The specialist team of research analysts sheds light on various traits such as global market competition, market share, most recent industry advancements, innovative product launches, partnerships, mergers, or acquisitions by leading companies in the Medical Mobility Aids market. The major players have been analyzed by using research methodologies for getting insight views on global competition. Key questions resolved through this analytical market research report include: What are the latest trends, new patterns, and technological advancements in the Medical Mobility Aids market? Which factors are influencing the Medical Mobility Aids market over the forecast period? What are the global challenges, threats, and risks in the Medical Mobility Aids market? Which factors are propelling and restraining the Medical Mobility Aids market? What are the demanding global regions of the Medical Mobility Aids market? What will be the global market size in the upcoming years? What are the crucial market acquisition strategies and policies applied by global companies? We understand the requirement of different businesses, regions, and countries, we offer customized reports as per your requirements of business nature and geography. Please let us know If you have any custom needs. Browse Other Related Research Reports from UnivDatos Market Insights Medical Mobility Aids Market Report Coverage Report Attribute Details Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2027 Growth momentum Accelerate at a CAGR of over 6% Incremental Growth (2021-2027) USD 3.8 billion Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Rest of World Major contributing region North America to Dominate the Global Medical Mobility Aids Market Key countries covered United States, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, France, China, Japan, India, and Australia Companies profiled Invacare Corporation, Stryker Corporation, GF Health Products, Inc., Sunrise Medical LLC, Briggs Healthcare, Benmor Medical Limited, Medline Industries Inc., Ostrich Mobility Instruments Pvt. Ltd., Ottobock, NOVA Medical Products. Report Scope Market Trends, Drivers, and Restraints; Revenue Estimation and Forecast; Segmentation Analysis; Impact of COVID-19; Demand and Supply Side Analysis; Competitive Landscape; Company Profiling Segments Covered By Product Type; By End-Users; By Region/Country About UnivDatos Market Insights (UMI) UnivDatos Market Insights (UMI) is a passionate market research firm and a subsidiary of Universal Data Solutions. We believe in delivering insights through Market Intelligence Reports, Customized Business Research, and Primary Research. Our research studies are spread across topics across the world, we cover markets in over 100 countries using smart research techniques and agile methodologies. We offer in-depth studies, detailed analysis, and customized reports that help shape winning business strategies for our clients. Contact UnivDatos Market Insights Ankita Gupta Director Operations Ph: +91-7838604911 Email: [email protected] Website: https://univdatos.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1225049/UnivDatos_Logo.jpg SOURCE UnivDatos Market Insights Pvt. Ltd. DUBLIN, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Pet Food Market Outlook 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The market was valued around USD 142 Billion in 2021 which is anticipated to reach USD 195 Billion by 2027. Further, the CAGR is projected to be more than 5% for 2022-2027. Pet guardians are much attracted towards ready to eat nourishment for their pets. These are snacks and treat a form of food that indulges the habit of taking small meals as what humans do it more often. This report helps to understand the in-depth understanding of global pet food market products along with its historical & forecasted analysis and the top profiled companies. Pet food is considered as one of the largest adapted segment among all the pet products. The report shows the prominence of pet food in the market as it has registered a dynamic growth historically. Apart from these top-performing regions, the market has posed its expansion in the nascent markets like South America, the Middle East. The South American pet food market has heavily relied on local brands like Biobase Animal Feed in Brazil, Laboratorio Pro Agro in Argentina, etc. Globally pet foods in the market are segmented in the form of dry pet food, snacks, and treats, wet & canned food products. All these food products have their importance while dry food posing the highest adaption in the market. Growing dog food demand along with higher traction in the premium pet food segment is anticipated to drive the pet food market over the forecast period. Dry food is witnessing rapid growth in demand as compared to other product counterparts owing to its convenience in terms of storage and feeding pets without creating a mess. This is positively influencing urban consumers to increasingly opt for dry pet food. Canned food is more palatable to dogs and cats as this product type contains proteins, fats, and a few carbohydrates. Wet/canned pet food is easy to digest and thus limits the backyard cleaning activity to a minimal. The higher digestibility offered by wet food makes it preferable for cats and dogs with illnesses and those that are finicky eaters. On the other hand, the rising trend of dog adoption as a companion for families is projected to propel the product demand. Particularly dogs are witnessing an upward trend in terms of the concept of humanization of pets. This has resulted in an increased number of people owning dogs and feeding them premium food. Furthermore, rapid urbanization is among the key factors driving the market. According to recent estimates from the Pet Food Manufacturers Association, 3.2 million homes in the U.K. have adopted a pet since the outbreak began (Paley, 2021). Pet-owning households presently number 17 million in the U.S. The previously stagnating levels of pet ownership in the last five years have risen to 57 percent in May 2021 (Mintel, 2021). New trends in the pet food market are attracting customers. There is a growing demand for protective and informative packaging of pet food. Hence, manufacturers in the pet food market are increasing their efforts to develop sustainable pet food packaging. Growing concerns about the environmental impact of plastic has led to a rise in the development of sustainable packaging solutions. For instance, in April 2019, global flexible packaging company ProAmpac, revealed their fiber-based PRO-EVP multiwall bags that are made from renewable resources. How personalization of pet foods is gaining importance? The people want custom-made food for their pets because they know what is better for them. There are special stores in the market, where the pet owners can decide the ingredients liked and easily digested by their pets and customize the food accordingly. It is expected that this pattern will open new doors in pet food advertizing. Concerning personalization, there are no restrictions on anybody's creativity. Presently it is the opportunity to bounce on to, that may take the brand stand out in the crowd. Particularly in the pet food segment, the pet guardians appear to welcome this trend with all their hearts as this gives them the sentiment of having more command over the fixings they are taking care of their pets. Major companies present in the market Nestle SA Mars Incorporated Colgate-Palmolive J M Smucker Blue-Buffalo Champion Pet Foods United Pet Group Inc PLB International Scott Pet, Inc. Unicharm Corporation Laroy Group Deuerer GmbH Heristo AG Well Pet Proveedora La Perla S.A. de C.V. Considered in this report Geography: Global Historic year: 2016 Base year: 2021 Estimated year: 2022 Forecast year: 2027 Aspects covered in this report Global Pet Food market with its value and forecast along with its segments Region & Country-wise pet care market analysis Various divers and challenges Ongoing trends and developments Five force models Top profiled companies Strategic recommendation Segment covered in the report Pet foods Pet healthcare Pet accessories Pet grooming By Pet Type in the report Dog Food Cat Food Fish Food Bird Food Others By Food Type in the report Dry Food Wet or Canned Snacks and treats Others For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1mj2c8 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 BEIJING, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping stressed in a report to the 20th CPC National Congress that the CPC must meet the overall requirements for Party building in the new era and improve the system for exercising full and rigorous self-governance. Among them is "winning tough, protracted battle against corruption." Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the country's discipline inspection and supervision authorities have filed more than 4.6 million cases, with formal criminal cases brought against 553 centrally administered officials, 25,000 officials of leading roles of departments or equivalents and 182,000 officials at the county level. The "battle against corruption on a scale unprecedented in history" has achieved overwhelming victory and been fully consolidated. People have noticed that the topic of anti-corruption has become less popular compared with 10 years ago, which is the true manifestation of the overwhelming victory in the fight against corruption at the social level. Relevant social controversies have become less, which shows that they have more trust and confidence in the anti-corruption work of the Party and the country. The iron-clad facts convince people that anti-corruption can be carried out so thoroughly - no one can be exempted, no matter the region or field, no matter in-service or retirement. Corrupt officials are bound to be held accountable. Now, who would consider this "a campaign-style approach to anti-corruption"? Who dares not to be in awe of the Party's Eight-Point Regulation? If we look back today, we can feel more of the weight of the anti-corruption pledge Xi made after the 18th CPC National Congress, "No matter who it is, or how senior their position, if they violate Party discipline or national law, they will be seriously dealt with and punished. This is not an empty sentence." Frankly speaking, 10 years ago, there were indeed many people who doubted the CPC could completely fight corruption, and they even thought it was unsustainable. Corruption is a chronic disease that has not been eradicated in human society for thousands of years. It is still a common problem faced by all countries, especially in the process of industrialization. How will the CPC solve it? The deterrence of "don't dare to be corrupt" is fully demonstrated, the cage of "can't be corrupt" is getting firmer, and the consciousness of "don't want to be corrupt" has been significantly enhanced. The overwhelming victory in the fight against corruption profoundly shows that the CPC is a party that has the courage to reform itself and fighting corruption is the most thorough kind of self-reform there is. In reality, a large number of developing countries have fallen into political turmoil due to the difficulty in solving the problem of corruption, and their economic and social development has also stagnated, while Western political parties are generally inseparable from capital, and they even speak on behalf of capital. "Legalizing corruption" and "compromising to corruption" are what many people think of Western polities. Against this background, the great achievement the CPC has made in fighting corruption by relying on its institutional and legal advantages in the new era is not only historic, but also of global significance. In the decade of the new era, the people's satisfaction with the construction of a clean government and anti-corruption work has risen from 75 percent 10 years ago to 97.4 percent. In this process, many misunderstandings have been corrected. The fantasies of "getting rich and being promoted" have fallen flat, and the admonition that "being an official and getting rich must be separated" is awakening; a large number of stubborn and chronic diseases have also been eliminated. The corruption on the tip of the tongue, the corruption on the wheel, and the unruly customs in the clubhouse have been lambasted. A few years ago, when the world was paying attention to China's miracle, Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao reiterated that in addition to the story of economic growth, China has a story that may be "less eye-catching" - a story of restoring civilization. The reason why the CPC dares to reform itself is not only courage, but also its nature - it represents the fundamental interests of the vast majority of the Chinese people, it has no special interests of its own, and it never represents the interests of any interest groups, any power groups, or any privileged class. It is precisely in order to ensure that the Party "preserves its essence, color and character" that came the political courage of "offending a few thousand rather than fail 1.4 billion," and the various campaigns of "fighting tigers," "swatting flies" and "hunting foxes." This is not only a vivid reflection of the purpose and nature of the CPC, but also an important starting point for the outside world to observe and understand the CPC in the new era. In his report to the 20th CPC National Congress, Xi said, "As long as the breeding grounds and conditions for corruption still exist, we must keep sounding the bugle and never rest, not even for a minute, in our fight against corruption. "In a sense, the fight against corruption is also credibility building. The political commitment of the CPC is by no means just a lip service. The political character of fitting its deeds to its words and the political ability to do what it says are also demonstrated through the fight against corruption. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC in the new era has united and led the people to achieve the set goals with its unswerving commitment, be it the fight against poverty, the protracted battles of preventing and resolving financial risks, or the battle to bring back blue skies. "It takes 10 years to forge a perfect sword." Time will continue to prove that with the Party's self-reform leading the social reform, the CPC has not only a clear attitude, but also real actions. This kind of endowment and characteristics and this vision and responsibility are the development logic and victory code of the world's largest ruling party. Global Times: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202210/1277441.shtml SOURCE Global Times BEIJING, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Harvard Business Review (HBR) has lately made quite a splash in updating the playbook for winning in the Chinese market, awakening Western multinationals in an opinion piece last week to an often overlooked role of China's huge rural market in underpinning business success. The Chinese market is apparently beyond its urban centers, concluded the much-viewed op-ed, shining a spotlight on the rural part of Chinese modernization that is behind the rapid rise of the rural consumer market, a complete victory in the fight against poverty, and an indispensable portion of the country's common prosperity vision. A comprehensive push for rural revitalization, among other key takeaways from the ongoing 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), is considered to lend more strength to the pursuit of rural development as a viable contributor to global growth. The colossal rural market, the birthplace of many middle-income earners and a great number of people aspiring for a better life, will increasingly be relied on for both domestic and foreign businesses to write success stories in China, they noted. Rural success stories The HBR article dated October 12 serves as an imperative wakeup call for Western businesses to align their China market strategies with the country's vibrant rural consumer market. "It's perhaps worth considering the idea that in many cases the problem is not so much geopolitics as strategy," read the inspirational piece that cited contrasting examples of multinationals that had to pull out from the Chinese market or continue to succeed in the market. The choice of market-entry strategy decided the fate of US electronics giant Best Buy and semiconductor firm AMD, also US-based. Best Buy opted to "concentrate on China's wealthier but hotly contested urban centers" while AMD "focused on selling cheaper products to attract price-sensitive consumers in rural markets." Eventually, Best Buy decided to exit the market in 2011, a few years after its foray into China's largest city centers with the opening of huge stores with expansive showrooms. In stark contrast, "AMD's success has forced Intel to respond with a similar strategy, developing low-end processors and phones for the rural market." The article points to China's huge rural market as an often overlooked part of China success stories at large, experts noted. "Too many companies bet on urban markets, which caused urban market demands to become saturated, while competition in rural markets is scarce," Li Guoxiang, a research fellow at the Rural Development Institute of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Tuesday. The rising income of rural residents and the increasing policy support for rural areas would also spark huge economic potential and business space for companies. For example, Li said there is still a huge gap between rural and urban areas in terms of telecom industries and most rural people still use very backward phone products. If enterprises could develop smartphones that are welcomed by rural customers, they will very probably see huge profits. The country's miraculous victory in the battle against poverty as well as its blueprint for common prosperity is conspicuously pivotal building blocks of rural storytelling. "The rural population is about 500 million in China, the scale of which is still relatively large. That will prompt a large amount of basic consumption," Chen Ming, a research fellow at the Institute of Political Science under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Tuesday. The consumption ability of the rural population has been rising significantly, with an Engel coefficient of rural areas reducing to about 30 percent, which would mean that the rural population will have moved from moderate prosperity toward becoming rich, Chen said. In a report to the 20th CPC National Congress on Sunday, Xi Jinping said that the CPC embraced its centenary, ushered in a new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, eradicated absolute poverty and finished building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, thus completing the First Centenary Goal, he said, calling the three major events "historic feats." He pledged continuous efforts to build a high-standard socialist market economy, modernize the industrial system, advance rural revitalization across the board, promote coordinated regional development, and promote high-standard opening up. The country will continue to put agricultural and rural development first, pursue integrated development of urban and rural areas, and facilitate the flows of production factors between them. Efforts are also in the pipeline to steadily push the revitalization of businesses, talent, culture, ecosystems, and organizations in the countryside, according to the report. Chinese path to countryside development The miracle-making socialist road to rural development with Chinese characteristics comes across as having incubated a vast hinterland market, a lesser-known yet substantial component of the economy's rise as the global growth engine, experts said. Hong Tao, director of the Institute of Business Economics at the Beijing Technology and Business University, said that with a large amount of investment having been, and continues to be directed to rural revitalization under government strategy, rural markets will become increasingly active. But rural development has its own distinctive features, and investors should prepare for long-term investment in this sector. "All in all, against the rural revitalization background and integrated development of rural areas' primary, secondary and tertiary industries, rural China's GDP congregate and proportion will gradually increase. In particular, rural areas' secondary and tertiary industries will see improved industrial quality and scale," Hong said. Besides, rural consumption market's scale and proportion will also gradually increase. It's possible that rural areas will contribute to more than 15 percent of China's total consumption in the short term, he noted. Tian Yun, a veteran macro economy observer, said that although rural consumption is not the biggest contributor in terms of consumption proportion, its growth has outpaced that of urban consumption. One reason behind this phenomenon is China's basic policy to shrug off poverty and revitalize the rural economy, which has resulted in large number of public resources being put into rural areas of the country, such as infrastructure. On the other hand, rural salaries have increased significantly, as many rural people are working in industry or the services sector after agricultural productivity increases continuously, Tian told the Global Times on Tuesday. Under such a background, experts stressed that rural markets can actually provide an incremental market with huge potential for companies both in China and abroad, and become their new growth point after urban markets are more or less saturated after these years of development. At the current stage, rural customers might still prefer products that are highly cost effective, which is the key to why companies like Pinduoduo succeeded. But in the future, they will also need more products with high added values with their incomes increasing, Tian noted. It is expected that rural China's consumption growth will outpace urban consumption by one to two percentage points in the years to come, the economist went on to say. "I think rural areas will be a powerful momentum for China's future consumption growth, as the rural population base is very high, and their demands for a quality life are far from being satisfied," Tian noted. According to Tian, such a market will provide opportunities for both domestic and foreign companies. Especially for the latter, they need localization teams that can understand the demands of rural customers. SOURCE Global Times GRL receives Connectivity Standards Alliance accreditation to provide validation testing services for the Matter 1.0 standard SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Granite River Labs ("GRL"), a global leader in engineering services and test automation solutions for digital connectivity and charging technologies, is among the first labs accredited by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (the Alliance) to provide validation testing services for the new Matter 1.0 standard. GRL's Matter test services will be provided at their recently-expanded Taipei, Taiwan facility and address wireless products and IoT (Internet of Things) devices for the new smart home technology ecosystem. GRL's Matter services cover hardware solutions, from smart home speakers and smart TVs to light bulbs and switches. GRL also verifies the software used in Matter devices. The accreditation follows GRL's recent global expansion to meet the growing demand for product evaluation and new testing services. Described by the Alliance as "the foundation for connected things," the new open-source Matter 1.0 standard enables compatible smart home devices and systems to connect seamlessly, securely and reliably. A unifying, IP-based connectivity protocol, Matter is an application layer built on top of proven technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Thread and Ethernet. Testing and certification will play a critical role in fulfilling Matter's promise of simplifying development for manufacturers and increasing compatibility for consumers. GRL is authorized to help manufacturers ensure that their products comply with Matter 1.0 specifications and are certified to support all the embedded communications technologies. "Matter is an exciting new technology with the potential to solve a host of interoperability and device-to-device communication problems in smart home and IoT applications," said Vamshi Kandalla, Chief Strategy Officer of Granite River Labs. "GRL is pleased to be recognized by the Alliance as one of the first laboratories accredited to test and verify products and systems to the Matter standard, and we are committed to cooperating further to support the smooth roll out of this new technology." "Matter is built around a shared belief that smart home devices should be secure, reliable, and seamless to use," said Jon Harros, Head of Certification and Testing Programs for the Connectivity Standards Alliance. "Companies across the Industry, including leaders like GRL, are contributing their expert capabilities and proven best practices to make Matter an outstanding success for developers, retailers and consumers." Learn More About Matter Technology at https://csa-iot.org/all-solutions/matter/ SOURCE Granite River Labs Kurnool, Oct 19 (UNI) Congress party leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi, who is leading the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, resumed his padayatra at Chagi village in this district on the second day on Wednesday. Flanked by thousands of party activists and leaders, braving the rain, Rahul Gandhi continued his Yatra. He halted his yatra at Arts and Science College in Adoni town and would resume the same at 1600 hours. Leaders of various organisations were meeting Rahul Gandhi at the College, AICC member Kolanukonda Shivaji told UNI, adding that braving rain, a large number of people welcomed the Bharat Jodo Yatra at various places. After covering 25 kms today, the Yatra would conclude at Banavasi village near Yemmiganur town. A spell of heavy rain in the area failed to deter the enthusiasm of Congress activists to accompany the former Congress President, Shivaji said. The police imposed restrictions around Chagi village and the police did not allow activists to go towards the Art College. The Congress activists were seen arguing with the police at various places. UNI DP CS1100 At MWC Africa, GSMA will host Africa Shared Value Leadership Summit (ASVL) and Smart Africa meetings to showcase how all sectors and technology are coming together to drive economic growth in Africa LONDON, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GSMA MWC Africa will bring together a variety of industry sectors, business leaders and policymakers with the region's mobile ecosystem over a packed three-day agenda for the first in-person edition of MWC Africa, 25 - 27 October 2022. Together with founding partners Mastercard, MTN, Orange and ZTE, as well as supporting partners the Shared Value Africa Initiative (SVAI) and Smart Africa, MWC Africa will convene to discuss how technology and shared value have the power to drive economic growth for people and businesses across Africa. Excitement is mounting as the GSMA shares the MWC Africa agenda that will explore the hottest technology themes, including Leadership for Connectivity, One People One Purpose, Accelerate Africa and Fintech. MWC Africa 2022 will host more than 120 expert speakers and 60-plus hours of curated content. The GSMA is delighted to share that Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of the United Nations Global Compact, Ms Sanda Ojiambo will join Keynote 1, alongside Smart Africa's CEO, Lacina Kone, and the ATU's Secretary General, John Omo. "MWC Africa is just around the corner, and we are looking forward to welcoming the mobile ecosystem, industry leaders and policymakers to Kigali, Rwanda. Expect to hear from thought leaders and experts who will share their insights on topics such as how to close the mobile usage gap and power digital transformation to drive economic growth and opportunities for all across our continent," said GSMA's Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, Angela Wamola. The 2022 GSMA Africa Policy Leaders Forum will bring together key stakeholders from ministries, regulatory bodies and the broader mobile ecosystem. Discussions will include how government policy across the region is aligning with technological developments as well as the policy developments needed to advance Africa to the digital economy. The GSMA would like to extend its thanks to Rwandan Minister of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Ms Paula Ingabire and the Ministry of ICT for their support as hosts and facilitators of the event. Partner Programmes and Summits The 5G Summit will deep dive into commercial 5G services, with a particular focus on Africa, where the journey to 5G has begun, with stakeholders taking steps to accelerate the transition to 5G. FinTech, which is at the forefront of Africa's digital transformation, is pioneering the availability of financial services and supporting financial inclusion. The FinTech Summit will explore the latest innovations and emerging technologies which are set to shape Africa's financial services over the next decade. SVAI and Shift Impact Africa have partnered with the GSMA to bring together the sixth annual Africa Shared Value Leadership Summit (ASVL Summit) and MWC Africa. The ASVL Summit's unifying theme 'One Africa, One Voice' underscores the need for organisations to work together across borders and industries to benefit all Africans. It shows how the economic benefits of creating shared value as a collective can be achieved by close collaboration between stakeholders and companies for social progress and business success. At the ASVL Summit, Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of the United Nations Global Compact, Ms Sanda Ojiambo will join the session, "Creating Shared Value Technology as an enabler to driver Africa's growth." Smart Africa has partnered with the GSMA to co-host key organ meetings during MWC Africa. Smart Africa's co-located meetings at MWC Africa include the Council of Ministers of ICT (CMICT), the Steering Committee and the first edition of the Forum of the Private Sector. The meetings are an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss regulation and policy frameworks and advance the digital transformation of the continent. Smart Africa actively encourages and supports private initiatives and investments in the technology and communications sectors via the Smart Africa Alliance platform. Large-Scale Impact GSMA Mobile for Development (M4D) is uniquely positioned at the intersection of the mobile ecosystem and the development sector. Our work has impacted 126 million lives to date and counting. We are excited to host our first dedicated "Development Theatre", where attendees can learn how M4D stimulates digital innovation to deliver both sustainable business and large-scale socio-economic impact for the underserved. Event Partners MWC Africa's industry-leading agenda is enabled by the partners of our event. We are proud to have the support of leading global and regional companies including our founding partners Mastercard, MTN, Orange, and ZTE and our supporting partners ASVL Summit 2022 and Smart Africa. Additionally, mobile partner and headline partner Safaricom and headline sponsors Evina and M-Pesa. Taking to the stage we will hear from industry and thought leaders, such as:- Join us at MWC Africa in Kigali, 25 27 October 2022 by clicking here to register. We welcome media and industry analysts, who may please apply for press passes by contacting: [email protected] Africanews and CNBC Africa are Official Media Partners. Mobile World Live is Lead Media and Broadcast Parter, click here to watch the keynote sessions live streamed. About GSMA We invite you to find out more at the GSMA Newsroom. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1882833/GSMA_Logo.jpg SOURCE GSMA STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- H2 Green Steel announced today that it has secured 260 million in series B equity funding. The final close of the private placement adds 70 million in new investments from investors such as Hitachi Energy, Kobe Steel and Kinnevik. The private placement round that was co-led by AMF, GIC and Schaeffler, alongside existing investor Altor, reaches 260 million in its final close. In addition to already communicated investments by Hitachi Energy and Kobe Steel, the close of the round adds new shareholders Swedish investment company Kinnevik, and a climate-focused institutional investment fund. The series B equity proceeds will primarily be used to develop the company's large scale green steel plant in northern Sweden, where H2 Green Steel will produce steel with up to 95 percent lower emissions than traditional steelmaking. "We are proud to partner with leading global institutions, investors, and industrial companies. Our investors are leaders in their respective fields and at the forefront of enabling the change required to meet our climate targets. This private placement round is a true sign of strength for our business - sustainability and profitability go hand in hand," says Henrik Henriksson, CEO of H2 Green Steel. H2 Green Steel closed its series A equity round of 86 million in May 2021 and announced the first close of its series B round of 190 million in August 2022. In addition to financing, H2 Green Steel has reached several milestones at high speed, including a permissibility permit for its operations in Boden in July followed by steady progress in the construction of its steel plant. The company has pre-sold about 60 percent of its initial volumes to a range of European customers in a broad range of sectors. "Kinnevik has always been a backer of challengers, investing in disruptive companies that can significantly upend their sectors. H2 Green Steel, with its ambition to decarbonize large industries starting with steel, is a great example of a company with a strong commercial plan and the ability to move the needle in reaching global net zero, and we are excited to be part of their journey," says Georgi Ganev Kinnevik's CEO. CONTACT: Karin Hallstan, Head of Public and Media Relations, phone: +46 76 842 81 04, email: [email protected] H2 Green Steel completes 190 million funding round H2 Green Steel completes strong USD 105 million initial funding round to accelerate the transition into fossil-free steel making The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/20623/3650821/1640502.pdf H2 Green Steel completes a260 million equity financing to build worldas first green steel plant https://news.cision.com/h2-green-steel/i/boden-dri-tower-vision,c3102845 Boden DRI tower vision SOURCE H2 Green Steel Grant award provides MD/PhD candidates with funding and expertise to translate promising scientific discoveries into medicines CLEVELAND, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have issued a call for proposals for the 2023 Harrington-MSTP (Medical Scientist Training Program) Scholar Award to help the next generation of physician-scientists advance their discoveries towards clinical application. Since its founding in 2012, Harrington Discovery Institute has supported 165 drugs-in-the-making in the U.S., U.K., and Canada. Through its flagship Scholar-Innovator Award, the Harrington Prize for Innovation in Medicine, and the MSTP Scholar Award, Harrington recognizes and supports inventive physician-scientists seeking to elevate the standard of care in medicine. The Harrington-MSTP Scholar Award at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine combines resources and capabilities to advance into new medicines the most promising independent discoveries of Case MD/PhD candidates. Awardees receive up to $100,000 in milestone-driven grant funding and personalized support from Harrington Discovery Institute's Therapeutics Development Center, including a project manager and drug development advisors, with a track record of bringing new drugs to market. Up to $700,000 is available for programs that reach commercial milestones. "Helping physician-scientists move their discoveries from the academic lab into patients is at the core of what we do. I don't know of any other program that provides early-career physician-scientists with drug development support in this manner," said Jonathan S. Stamler, MD, President, Harrington Discovery Institute, Robert S. and Sylvia K. Reitman Family Foundation Distinguished Professor of Cardiovascular Innovation and Professor of Medicine and of Biochemistry at University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve University. "Grant funding coupled with guidance from industry executives is unheard of in MD/PhD programs. We are pleased to be able to offer this unique opportunity which cultivates creativity and gives students the tools they need to successfully launch their careers," said Clifford Harding, MD, PhD, JR Kahn Professor and Chair of the Department of Pathology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. Interested applicants from Case Western Reserve University's MSTP program are asked to submit a brief Letter of Intent by November 21, 2022 . Up to two award recipients will be selected and announced in spring 2023. For more information and to apply, visit: HarringtonDiscovery.org/MSTP. SOURCE Harrington Discovery Institute Collaboration to Commemorate Cruise Line's Beginnings as Immigrant Carrier with On-Board Content and a Curated Exhibit at Ellis Island SEATTLE, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Holland America Line will partner with The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, the 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the eponymous landmarks, to celebrate the cruise line's 150-year journey from immigrant carrier to consumer ocean liner fleet. The partnership, which kicks off October 26 as Holland America Line completes the recreation of the brand's first-ever sailing from Rotterdam to New York City, features on-board video content across Holland America's entire fleet produced by an Ellis Island researcher, as well as a curated exhibit launching in 2023 at Ellis Island detailing the brand's historical prominence in bringing 1 in 10 immigrants from Europe to the United States. "Our history is deeply woven within the fabric of America's story," said Gus Antorcha, president, Holland America Line. "It's only fitting that as we celebrate this milestone anniversary, we partner with the entity responsible for restoring and preserving Ellis Island, the entrance to America that so many of our passengers experienced on their journey to a new start." "Our history is deeply woven within the fabric of America's story," said Gus Antorcha, president, Holland America Line. Tweet this The collaboration will launch with a joint talk between Stephen Lean, director of The American Family Immigration History Center at Ellis Island and Bill Miller, noted cruise historian, detailing the immigrant experience in the late 1800s; the presentation will be available on-demand across all ships within the fleet. Noting the cruise industry's and particularly Holland America Line's importance in the immigrant journey from Europe to US, the Foundation will curate an exhibit in its History Center available for visitors from February to April 2023. "We are excited and proud to partner with Holland American Line to celebrate the line's impact on Ellis Island history and the U.S. immigrant experience," said Jesse Brackenbury, president and CEO of The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation. "Holland America Line's relevance is reflected daily at our Family History Center where historic ship images adorn the walls and visitors learn about their ancestors' journey to America. We look forward to a longstanding collaboration." The cruise line, which was founded in the Netherlands in 1873 as the Netherlands-American Steamship Company, was primarily a carrier of immigrants from Europe to the United States until well after the turn of the century, carrying nearly 2 million passengers to new lives in the New World. Holland America Line was the first to do away with "Steerage class" altogether, renaming it "Emigrants Class" where unlike the competition, guests were served three square meals. It is this level of care and attention to detail a tradition and hallmark of the brand that has continued to this day that was the impetus for its nickname at the time: "The Spotless Fleet." Holland America Line provided everything from doctors and a pre-departure hotel complete with English lessons and classes on American civics to ensure passengers a safe journey to New York; and in fact, 99% of the immigrants carried on the fleet were cleared for entry through Ellis Island, a tremendous feat at the time. Holland America Line began the recreation of its first voyage with a sendoff October 15 from the Netherlands. The ship will sail past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island as it arrives in New York City around 7am October 26. For more information about Holland America Line and its 150th Anniversary, consult a travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com. Find Holland America Line on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and the Holland America Blog. You can also access all social media outlets via the home page at hollandamerica.com. About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and CUK)] Holland America Line has been exploring the world since 1873 and was the first cruise line to offer adventures to Alaska and the Yukon nearly 75 years ago. Its fleet of premium ships visits nearly 400 ports in 114 countries around the world, offering an ideal mid-sized ship experience. A third Pinnacle-class ship, Rotterdam, joined the fleet in July 2021. The leader in premium cruising, Holland America Line's ships feature innovative initiatives and a diverse range of enriching experiences focused on destination exploration and personalized travel. The best live music at sea fills each evening at Music Walk, and dining venues feature exclusive selections from Holland America Line's esteemed Culinary Council of world-famous chefs. About The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation ( www.LibertyEllisFoundation.org ) The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation is a non-profit that collaborates with the National Park Service in one of America's most successful public-private partnerships. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan asked Lee Iacocca to raise private funds for the historic restoration of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The Foundation has since created the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, constructed the Statue of Liberty Museum, maintained museum exhibits, and funded hundreds more projects on the islands. The organization also developed the free 65-million-record Ellis Island Passenger Database. This resource is available free online and in person at the American Family Immigration History Center at Ellis Island, which is managed by the Foundation. Follow the Foundation @StatueEllisFdn. CONTACT: Bill Zucker, Erik Elvejord PHONE: 800-637-5029, 206-626-9890 EMAIL: [email protected] SOURCE Holland America Line 600,000 visitors expected to attend BAUMA, one of the world's three largest machinery fairs, taking place in Germany The two companies to showcase compact, and eco-friendly equipment in line with global trends, including hydrogen and electric excavators, and mini excavators Hyundai Doosan Infracore's engine division to exhibit an electric battery pack for the first time to target the European market The three construction equipment companies under Hyundai Heavy Industries Group plan to leverage competitive edges to make headway in a new market MUNICH, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Construction Equipment and Hyundai Doosan Infracore, subsidiaries of Hyundai Genuine, the intermediate holding company in the construction machinery sector of Hyundai Heavy Industries Group, will participate in BAUMA 2022, the world's largest construction machinery trade fair. HCE 14T Hydrogen Excavator to be exhibited at 2022 BAUMA HDI 1.7T Electric Excavator to be exhibited at 2022 BAUMA Hyundai Construction Equipment and Hyundai Doosan Infracore will be participating in the BAUMA trade fair to be held in Munich, Germany from the Oct 24 to 30, to showcase the companies' latest equipment and technologies, including smart construction solutions, hydrogen fuel cell power packs and electric battery packs, hydrogen and electric excavators, wheel loaders, dump trucks and more. The two companies will take full advantage of BAUMA to promote their eco-friendly, smart construction equipment and technologies, and seek recognition for their competitive mini and small compact machines. This is in line with the global construction equipment market trend, where demand for eco-friendly and compact products has been steadily increasing in developed markets such as North America and Europe recently. According to Off-Highway Research, a global construction equipment research institute, the demand for compact machines in the European construction equipment market is expected to grow continuously, with the market share of compact equipment forecasted to increase from 45% in 2021 to 53% by 2025. The European market in particular has shown a high level of interest and demand for eco-friendly equipment as the region's emission standards on carbon neutrality is extremely high. In accordance with such trends, Hyundai Construction Equipment plans to showcase its 14-ton hydrogen excavator developed for the first time in Korea in 2020, hydrogen fuel cell power pack, and 1.8-ton mini electric excavator. The HYUNDAI CONNECT zone will also be installed to help visitors better understand unmanned automation technologies. In addition, Hyundai Doosan Infracore will exhibit a 1.7-ton mini electric excavator and a hybrid engine equipped excavator, both scheduled for release in 2023. Demonstration events for Concept X, an unmanned automation solution, and XiteCloud, a smart construction solution, will also take place on the side. Moreover, Hyundai Doosan Infracore's engine division will present its electric battery packs for the first time at BAUMA, as a part of the company's strategy to expand its business, currently focused on internal combustion engines, to one that is more complex, and inclusive of electrification solutions. Through such efforts, the company plans to make headway in the European market where the hype for eco-friendly equipment is high. The two companies' mini excavator strategic models will also be on display for visitors, including Hyundai Construction Equipment's HX mini excavator series, a Reddot Design Award 2022 winner which has received many favorable reviews, and Hyundai Doosan Infracore's 2 to 5-ton mini excavators. "The BAUMA trade show is a great opportunity to get an overall view of the global construction machinery market trends," said Sohn Dong-youn, Vice Chairman and CEO of Hyundai Genuine, adding, "we will closely examine our strengths and weaknesses against global top-tier companies, and aim to take lead in a new market." Meanwhile, Germany's BAUMA exhibition is one of the world's three largest construction machinery trade fairs, alongside Conexpo held in the US, and INTERMAT in France. This year marks its 33rd edition and is expected to attract more than 600,000 visitors from all over the world. About Hyundai Genuine Hyundai Genuine is the intermediate holding company in the construction equipment sector of Hyundai Heavy Industries Group, one of South Korea's largest conglomerates engaged in shipbuilding, heavy equipment, and energy business. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in South Korea, Hyundai Genuine aims to create synergy between its subsidiaries, Hyundai Construction Equipment (HCE) and Hyundai Doosan Infracore (HDI), major machine manufacturing companies with a leading position in construction equipment, engines, attachments, utility equipment and more. While each subsidiary operates independently, Hyundai Genuine seeks to maximize the synergy between the two in R&D, purchasing, sales and international business. Alongside providing optimized solutions that propel synergy between HCE and HDI, Hyundai Genuine also targets to shape and solidify its own industrial vehicle and hydraulic component business by achieving ten trillion won in sales by 2025, becoming a global top five company in the field of construction machinery, and realizing its vision to create a blueprint for the future of the construction equipment industry in Korea. To learn more, visit: www.hyundai-genuine.com Media Contact Billie Lee ([email protected]) SOURCE Hyundai Genuine DUBLIN, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Cloud Security Software Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global cloud security software market size reached US$ 27.9 Billion in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach US$ 37.6 Billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.1% 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. Cloud security software, also known as cloud computing security software, is employed for executing specific tasks to protect the cloud-based system, data and infrastructure. Companies nowadays transfer most of their data, applications and networks on cloud servers, which are highly distributed, dynamic and more susceptible to unauthorized access, data exposure, cyberattacks and other threats. Cloud security software provides multiple levels of control in network infrastructure to protect the privacy of the users, support regulatory compliance and establish authentication rules for individual users and devices. As a result, both government and private organizations utilize cloud storage and security software as they eliminate the need to invest in dedicated hardware and reduce administrative overheads. Frequent cyberattacks and breaches have led to an increase in concerns regarding the security of information and data. Additionally, due to the dependence of organizations on cloud-based services for operations and data management, there has been a rise in the adoption of cloud security software to safeguard the integrity and continuity of resources at different levels. Apart from this, with the continuous development of innovative technology solutions using artificial intelligence and machine learning, the functionality of safety software has improved significantly. Different services such as Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and private cloud have been introduced by market players for managing the security of applications and networks of an organization. For instance, IBM Cloud provides a core set of network segmentation and network security services to protect workloads from network threats. Moreover, various researchers are focusing on software testing as 'Testing as a Service' (TaaS) in cloud computing paradigm using a variety of new technologies and innovative service models with multiple features that are different from traditional software testing. The publisher's latest report provides a deep insight into the global cloud security software market covering all its essential aspects. This ranges from macro overview of the market to micro details of the industry performance, recent trends, key market drivers and challenges, SWOT analysis, Porter's five forces analysis, value chain analysis, etc. This report is a must-read for entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, consultants, business strategists, and all those who have any kind of stake or are planning to foray into the cloud security software market in any manner. Competitive Landscape: The report has also analysed the competitive landscape of the market with some of the key players being Broadcom, Inc., Trend Micro Incorporated, IBM Corporation, Cisco Systems, Inc., RSA Security LLC, McAfee, LLC, Microsoft Corporation, Dell Technologies, Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company, BMC Software, Inc., Bitium, CipherCloud, Inc., CloudPassage Inc., Check Point Software Technologies Ltd, Fortinet, Inc., VMware, Inc., Sophos Limited, Gemalto NV, and Imperva, Inc., etc. Key Questions Answered in This Report: How has the global cloud security software market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years? What are the key regional markets in the global cloud security software industry? What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global cloud security software industry? What is the breakup of the market based on the type? What is the breakup of the market based on the deployment? What is the breakup of the market based on the end-user? What is the breakup of the market based on the vertical? What are the various stages in the value chain of the global cloud security software industry? What are the key driving factors and challenges in the global cloud security software industry? What is the structure of the global cloud security software industry and who are the key players? What is the degree of competition in the global cloud security software 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 Cloud Security Software Market 5.1 Market Overview 5.2 Market Performance 5.3 Impact of COVID-19 5.4 Market Breakup by Type 5.5 Market Breakup by Deployment 5.6 Market Breakup by End-User 5.7 Market Breakup by Vertical 5.8 Market Breakup by Region 5.9 Market Forecast 6 Market Breakup by Type 6.1 Cloud Identity and Access Management 6.1.1 Market Trends 6.1.2 Market Forecast 6.2 Data Loss Prevention 6.2.1 Market Trends 6.2.2 Market Forecast 6.3 Email and Web Security 6.3.1 Market Trends 6.3.2 Market Forecast 6.4 Cloud Database Security 6.4.1 Market Trends 6.4.2 Market Forecast 6.5 Network Security 6.5.1 Market Trends 6.5.2 Market Forecast 6.6 Cloud Encryption 6.6.1 Market Trends 6.6.2 Market Forecast 7 Market Breakup by Deployment 7.1 Public 7.1.1 Market Trends 7.1.2 Market Forecast 7.2 Private 7.2.1 Market Trends 7.2.2 Market Forecast 7.3 Hybrid 7.3.1 Market Trends 7.3.2 Market Forecast 8 Market Breakup by End-User 8.1 Small and Midsize Business (SMBs) 8.1.1 Market Trends 8.1.2 Market Forecast 8.2 Large Enterprises 8.2.1 Market Trends 8.2.2 Market Forecast 8.3 Cloud Service Providers 8.3.1 Market Trends 8.3.2 Market Forecast 8.4 Government Agencies 8.4.1 Market Trends 8.4.2 Market Forecast 8.5 Others/Third Party Vendors 8.5.1 Market Trends 8.5.2 Market Forecast 9 Market Breakup by Vertical 9.1 Healthcare 9.1.1 Market Trends 9.1.2 Market Forecast 9.2 Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) 9.2.1 Market Trends 9.2.2 Market Forecast 9.3 Information Technology (IT) & Telecom 9.3.1 Market Trends 9.3.2 Market Forecast 9.4 Government Agencies 9.4.1 Market Trends 9.4.2 Market Forecast 9.5 Retail 9.5.1 Market Trends 9.5.2 Market Forecast 9.6 Others 9.6.1 Market Trends 9.6.2 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 Broadcom, Inc. 15.3.2 Trend Micro Incorporated 15.3.3 IBM Corporation 15.3.4 Cisco Systems, Inc. 15.3.5 RSA Security LLC 15.3.6 McAfee, LLC 15.3.7 Microsoft Corporation 15.3.8 Dell Technologies, Inc. 15.3.9 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company 15.3.10 BMC Software, Inc. 15.3.11 Bitium 15.3.12 CipherCloud, Inc. 15.3.13 CloudPassage Inc. 15.3.14 Check Point Software Technologies Ltd, 15.3.15 Fortinet, Inc. 15.3.16 VMware, Inc. 15.3.17 Sophos Limited 15.3.18 Gemalto NV 15.3.19 Imperva, Inc. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xyebjd 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. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Facial Injectables Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global facial injectables market size reached US$ 7.1 Billion in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach US$ 12.2 Billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 9.44% 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 sectors. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor. Facial injectables are administered on specific areas of the face to enhance the physical appearance of the skin. These injectables are generally made using collagen, hyaluronic acid and calcium hydroxylapatite that help restore the elasticity of the skin. They are used to reduce wrinkles, augment lips, enhance shallow contours and raise depressed scars. Currently, facial injectables are gaining traction worldwide as they are safe, cost-effective and require minimal downtime. As collagen production and formation of fat under the skin decline with age, the skin becomes more susceptible to wrinkles and sagging. This, in confluence with the growing geriatric population and the desire to retain a young and healthy skin, represents one of the key factors bolstering the market growth. Apart from this, the escalating demand for minimally invasive surgeries, coupled with the rising trend of medical and cosmetic tourism, is contributing to the market growth. Moreover, as excessive sun exposure leads to tissue breakdown of the skin, the demand for facial injectables is escalating among outgoing individuals. Furthermore, inflating disposable incomes, the rising influence of social media, and the growing number of professional practitioners and users willing to try organic and biodegradable materials are some of the other factors influencing the market positively. Besides this, the key players are also offering customized facial injectables to provide a personalized experience to users, which, in turn, is anticipated to create a positive outlook for the market in the coming years. Competitive Landscape: The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being Allergan Plc, Anika Therapeutics Inc., Bloomage BioTechnology, Johnson & Johnson, Galderma Pharma S.A., Integra LifeSciences, Ipsen (Mayroy SA), Medytox Inc., Merz Holding GmbH & Co. KG, Prollenium Medical Technologies Inc., Sanofi, SciVision Biotech Inc., Sinclair Pharma (Huadong Medicine Co. Ltd.), Suneva Medical Inc. and Bausch Health Companies Inc. Key Questions Answered in This Report 1. What is the global facial injectables market growth? 2. What are the global facial injectables market drivers? 3. What are the key industry trends in the global facial injectables market? 4. What is the impact of COVID-19 on the global facial injectables market? 5. What is the global facial injectables market breakup by product type? 6. What is the global facial injectables market breakup by application type? 7. What is the global voltage regulators market breakup by end user? 8. What are the major regions in the global facial injectables market? 9. Who are the key companies/players in the global facial injectables market? Key Topics Covered: 1 Preface 2 Scope and Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Introduction 4.1 Overview 4.2 Key Industry Trends 5 Global Facial Injectables Market 5.1 Market Overview 5.2 Market Performance 5.3 Impact of COVID-19 5.4 Market Forecast 6 Market Breakup by Product Type 6.1 Collagen 6.1.1 Market Trends 6.1.2 Market Forecast 6.2 Hyaluronic Acid (HA) 6.2.1 Market Trends 6.2.2 Market Forecast 6.3 Botulinum Toxin Type A 6.3.1 Market Trends 6.3.2 Market Forecast 6.4 Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHA) 6.4.1 Market Trends 6.4.2 Market Forecast 6.5 Polymethylmethacrylate Beads (PMMA Microspheres) 6.5.1 Market Trends 6.5.2 Market Forecast 6.6 Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA) 6.6.1 Market Trends 6.6.2 Market Forecast 6.7 Others 6.7.1 Market Trends 6.7.2 Market Forecast 7 Market Breakup by Application Type 7.1 Aesthetics 7.1.1 Market Trends 7.1.2 Market Forecast 7.2 Therapeutics 7.2.1 Market Trends 7.2.2 Market Forecast 8 Market Breakup by Application 8.1 Facial Line Correction 8.1.1 Market Trends 8.1.2 Market Forecast 8.2 Lip Augmentation 8.2.1 Market Trends 8.2.2 Market Forecast 8.3 Face Lift 8.3.1 Market Trends 8.3.2 Market Forecast 8.4 Acne Scar Treatment 8.4.1 Market Trends 8.4.2 Market Forecast 8.5 Others 8.5.1 Market Trends 8.5.2 Market Forecast 9 Market Breakup by End User 9.1 Hospitals 9.1.1 Market Trends 9.1.2 Market Forecast 9.2 Dermatology Clinics 9.2.1 Market Trends 9.2.2 Market Forecast 9.3 Others 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 Allergan Plc 15.3.1.1 Company Overview 15.3.1.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.1.3 Financials 15.3.1.4 SWOT Analysis 15.3.2 Anika Therapeutics Inc. 15.3.2.1 Company Overview 15.3.2.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.2.3 SWOT Analysis 15.3.3 Bloomage BioTechnology 15.3.3.1 Company Overview 15.3.3.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.4 Johnson & Johnson 15.3.4.1 Company Overview 15.3.4.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.4.3 Financials 15.3.4.4 SWOT Analysis 15.3.5 Galderma Pharma S.A. 15.3.5.1 Company Overview 15.3.5.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.5.3 SWOT Analysis 15.3.6 Integra LifeSciences 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 Ipsen (Mayroy SA) 15.3.7.1 Company Overview 15.3.7.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.8 Medytox Inc. 15.3.8.1 Company Overview 15.3.8.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.8.3 Financials 15.3.9 Merz Holding GmbH & Co. KG 15.3.9.1 Company Overview 15.3.9.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.9.3 Financials 15.3.10 Prollenium Medical Technologies Inc. 15.3.10.1 Company Overview 15.3.10.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.11 Sanofi 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 SciVision Biotech Inc. 15.3.12.1 Company Overview 15.3.12.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.12.3 Financials 15.3.13 Sinclair Pharma (Huadong Medicine Co. Ltd.) 15.3.13.1 Company Overview 15.3.13.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.14 Suneva Medical Inc. 15.3.14.1 Company Overview 15.3.14.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.15 Bausch Health Companies Inc. 15.3.15.1 Company Overview 15.3.15.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.15.3 Financials 15.3.15.4 SWOT Analysis For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/nd61kh 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 BURNSVILLE, Minn., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Inspired Spine announced today the opening of their newly remodeled clinic in Burnsville. The 7,900 square foot clinic is an extreme upgrade from their current clinic of 2,500 square feet. The new clinic will have 12 exam rooms compared to 5 in their current location and will be on the 1st floor of the building for easier access to patients suffering from chronic back pain. Inspired Spine CMO Dr. Hamid Abbasi explains, "This is another huge step for Inspired Spine to provide excellent care for our patients. Our new clinic has a large inviting and comfortable lobby for our patients and by implementing exam rooms, imaging, and provider offices all in one area it will make us much more efficient and much easier for our patients to receive care." Inspired Spine Newly Remodeled 7,900 Square Foot Clinic. One of the 12 New Exam Rooms in the Inspired Spine Clinic The remodeled larger clinic was built due to the continued patient growth and the addition of the recently hired Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) provider, Dr. Eytan Koch. "Dr. Koch is a great addition to our provider staff and can bring in some new treatments that will complement our existing treatments such as Acupuncture, Soft Tissue Manipulation, and Trigger Point Injections. This also gives us the ability to schedule patient appointments within a day or two, rather than 3-4 weeks out." Abbasi added. Minnesota-based Inspired Spine is a total spine care provider with 3 Minnesota Locations in Alexandria, Burnsville, and Crookston dedicated to improving back pain treatment value and outcomes with advanced minimally invasive spinal surgery technology. If you have questions or would like to learn more about Inspired Spine, please visit inspiredspine.com or call 952-405-6714. SOURCE Inspired Spine Skanska's Interim report third quarter 2022 will be released on Wednesday, October 26 at 07:30 am CET. STOCKHOLM, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The report will be presented by Anders Danielsson, Skanska's President and CEO, and Magnus Persson, CFO, at a press and telephone conference at 10:00 am CET at Skanska's head office at Warfvinges vag 25 in Stockholm. The press conference will also be webcasted live at www.skanska.com/investors, where it also will be posted shortly afterwards. To participate in the telephone conference, with the possibility to ask questions, please dial +46 (0)8 5051 0031; +44 (0) 207 107 06 13, or +1 (1) 631 570 56 13. After the conference, there will be possibilities for individual meetings with Anders Danielsson and Magnus Persson. To apply for a meeting please contact [email protected] no later than October 24. Welcome! Antonia Junelind, SVP, Investor Relations Karolina Cederhage, SVP, Communications For further information please contact: Antonia Junelind, Senior Vice President Investor Relations, Skanska AB, tel +46 (0)10 448 62 61 Karolina Cederhage, Senior Vice President Communications, Skanska AB, tel +46 (0)10 448 08 80 Jacob Birkeland, Head of Media Relations and Public Affairs, Skanska AB, tel +46 (0)10 449 19 57 Direct line for media, tel +46 (0)10 448 88 99 This and previous releases can also be found at www.skanska.com. The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/95/3650743/1640419.pdf Invitation Q3 2022 SOURCE Skanska Brian Walker Joins Company's Board of Directors and David Tarbel Announced as Advisor to the CEO NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaiyo , a full-service marketplace for gently-used furniture committed to great design, exceptional customer care, and a more sustainable planet, today announced the appointment of Brian Walker, former CEO of Herman Miller, Inc., to its Board of Directors. The company is also announcing the hiring of established senior omnichannel retail executive David Tarbel, who has led finance and strategic planning teams at Gap, Williams-Sonoma, and West Elm, in the role of Advisor to the CEO. These appointments will better inform Kaiyo's growth and scale initiatives as the company aims to bring a greater focus on sustainability to the industry at large. "It's an honor to welcome Brian and David to the Kaiyo team. Their knowledge and expertise will be an invaluable asset for us as we look to reach more customers with our mission of making great furniture accessible to everyone in a way that's better for the planet," said Alpay Koralturk, Founder and CEO of Kaiyo. Walker brings a deep understanding of successfully building and growing not only disruptive but trusted companies within the furniture design space. Before joining Kaiyo, Walker served as President and CEO of Herman Miller, Inc., where he oversaw the company's strategic shift to an industry and consumer brand, successfully positioning Herman Miller as a premium lifestyle brand, spanning contract customers and consumers across a multi-channel platform. Walker is an experienced investor in both venture and private equity-backed companies. As part of Kaiyo's Board of Directors, Walker will leverage his expertise to help fuel its nationwide expansion and advise on the continued scaling of the business. "The previously-owned furniture market is underserved and unorganized. Kaiyo's business model and technology represent a large opportunity for its investors, customers, and society as a whole. I am excited to join the board and look forward to being part of this game-changing effort," said Brian Walker, Kaiyo Board Member. Tarbel, who joins Kaiyo as Advisor to the CEO, will facilitate and foster B2B relationships that allow Kaiyo to increase its scale while helping its partners reduce their environmental impact. A seasoned omnichannel executive, Tarbel brings ample experience to the company, having led finance, operations, real estate, and planning teams for world-class specialty apparel, consumer, and lifestyle home brands. This expertise will be critical in developing long-term brand positioning and growth initiatives for Kaiyo. "It is my pleasure to work alongside Alpay as we explore the unlimited opportunity in Kaiyo a business designed for the way we want to live today and tomorrow," said David Tarbel, Advisor to the CEO. These appointments come on the heels of Kaiyo's West Coast debut, with strategic launches in Los Angeles and San Diego. Most recently, Kaiyo raised $36 million in its Series B, bringing Kaiyo's funding to nearly $50M. By growing to new markets and making it fast and convenient to buy or sell secondhand furniture, Kaiyo hopes to drive participation in the circular economy. To learn more about Kaiyo, visit kaiyo.com and follow their Instagram @getkaiyo . ABOUT KAIYO: Kaiyo is an online furniture marketplace dedicated to great design, exceptional customer care, and a more sustainable planet. Kaiyo makes buying and selling furniture simple and sustainable by providing deep discounts on top brands to its buyers and by handling the moving, pickup, photography, cleaning, and delivery for its sellers. Kaiyo now serves and provides white-glove delivery to San Diego, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington D.C. metropolitan areas, and offers nationwide delivery through third-party carriers. The company is backed by Edison Partners, Moderne Ventures, Lerer Hippeau, Correlation Ventures, and Max Ventures. SOURCE Kaiyo Russia shoots down Ukrainian drones Simferopol, Oct 19 (UNI) Russia's air defense system shot down Ukrainian drones in the sky over Crimea, as well as over the peninsula's largest city, Sevastopol, on Wednesday, Oleg Kryuchkov, an aide to the Crimean regional head, said. "[Ukrainian] UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles] were again shot down in Crimea and Sevastopol. The air defense system went off. The sky over the peninsula is under protection," Kryuchkov said on Telegram. Earlier in the day, Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhaev said that Russia's air defense had shot down a Ukrainian drone near a military airfield located in the village of Belbek. Part of its debris fell on a residential building in the private sector. No one was injured. PITTSBURGH, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kennametal Inc. (NYSE: KMT) announced today that they will attend the Baird 2022 Global Industrial Conference. Details of the conference are as follows: When: Wednesday, November 9, 2022 Attendees: Christopher Rossi, President and Chief Executive Officer Patrick Watson, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Kelly Boyer, Vice President, Investor Relations About Kennametal With over 80 years as an industrial technology leader, Kennametal Inc. delivers productivity to customers through materials science, tooling and wear-resistant solutions. Customers across aerospace, earthworks, energy, general engineering and transportation turn to Kennametal to help them manufacture with precision and efficiency. Every day approximately 8,700 employees are helping customers in more than 60 countries stay competitive. Kennametal generated $2 billion in revenues in fiscal 2022. Learn more at www.kennametal.com . Follow @Kennametal: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube. SOURCE Kennametal Inc. Survey: Fewer than 1 in 3 Floridians have a long-term care plan TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida's elder law attorneys are encouraging all Floridians to make plans for their future during this October's Long-Term Care Planning Month. There are many facets to long-term care planning, from living wills and do not resuscitate orders (DNROs) to powers of attorney and nursing home contracts, all of them involving complicated issues that can cause a great deal of stress and confusion if handled too late or if someone is unaware of their options. An August 2022 survey found that only 31% of Floridians have a plan in place for their long-term care. Surprisingly, that number doesn't get much higher with age only 38% of respondents 65 and older have a plan in place. Individuals put themselves at risk by not knowing their rights and failing to plan for the future. Elder abuse and exploitation is much more likely to occur when an individual doesn't understand their rights and when there isn't a plan in place to protect themselves and their loved ones. "As elder law attorneys, we see the devastation that results when older Floridians are taken advantage of, and it often happens when there isn't a plan in place for their care," said Howard S. Krooks, an elder law attorney and Chair of the Elder Law Section of The Florida Bar. "We all want to plan for the future, but many don't know how to begin and don't understand their options. We encourage Floridians to be diligent in planning for their futures and emphasize the importance of knowing your rights through the process." Issues involving the increased incidence of exploitation of older and disabled vulnerable adults have led members of the Elder Law Section of The Florida Bar to spearhead the Statewide Exploitation Advisory Team, a task force created to assist law enforcement and Adult Protective Services in identifying and addressing instances of fraud, abuse, and exploitation. The Elder Law Section of The Florida Bar works to encourage individuals and their families to plan for the future as a way to avoid exploitation and fraud. The Section has put together resources, including a Conversation Guide for Long-Term Care Planning for You and Your Family and an FAQ, Aging with Autonomy: 10 Questions for Lifelong Independence , and Seven Things to Know when Acting as an Agent in Florida. SOURCE Elder Law Section of The Florida Bar Mobile and desktop reference tool defines more than 1,000 terms. NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Latham & Watkins LLP1 is pleased to announce the launch of The Book of Jargon Real Estate & REITs, a comprehensive digital glossary of more than 1,000 terms developed for the business, academic, and legal communities. The easy-to-use reference tool demystifies the often complex legal and regulatory terminology, acronyms, and slang of the real estate and real estate investment trust (REIT) industry. Defining terms from "abandonment" to "zoning ordinance," Latham's latest Book of Jargon renders the real estate sector's vocabulary more accessible and understandable, especially to those navigating complex legal issues in real estate transactions. "With our broad experience in many of the sector's most consequential and transformative matters, Latham has its finger on the pulse of the quickly changing real estate and REIT fields and the jargon that develops," said Michelle Kelban, Global Co-Chair of Latham's Real Estate Practice. "We harnessed that deep experience across practice areas to develop this go-to resource." Latham's Real Estate Practice guides clients through complex and high-stakes real estate transactions of every kind everywhere in the world. Capabilities span practice areas, sectors, and asset classes, including hospitality and gaming, data centers, industrial, healthcare, mixed-use, multi-family, office, and retail. Latham also offers public and private REITs, as well as their underwriters, lenders, sponsors, investors, and partners, robust and seamless service across all aspects of the REIT market. Kelban led the project along with key contributions from partners Kim Boras, Eric Cho, Dara Denberg, Betsy Jaffe, Julian Kleindorfer, Lewis Kneib , Ana O'Brien, and other Latham real estate lawyers around the globe who tapped into decades of experience to compile the roster of frequently used terms and their definitions. "We hope this guide will become an essential, easily accessible reference tool that benefits clients, students, and the industry as a whole," said Kleindorfer, Global Co-Chair of the REITs Industry Group. "So many played a role in bringing this project to fruition, and it exemplifies the rich multidisciplinary and multijurisdictional collaboration we have at Latham." The Book of Jargon Real Estate & REITs is available as an online resource, a PDF, and a free mobile app in the App Store and on Google Play. It can also be accessed on the firm's website under the Real Estate Practice page and the REITs Industry Group page. Other topics in Latham's Book of Jargon series include: Blockchain, Crypto & Web3; Emerging Companies; Environmental, Social & Governance; European Capital Markets and Bank Finance; Global Mergers & Acquisitions; Healthcare & Life Sciences; Hedge Funds; International Arbitration; Master Limited Partnerships; Oil & Gas; Patent Trial & Appeal Board; Project Finance; Restructuring & Special Situations; and US Corporate and Bank Finance. About Latham & Watkins ( lw.com ) Latham & Watkins delivers innovative solutions to complex legal and business challenges around the world. From a global platform, our lawyers advise clients on market-shaping transactions, high-stakes litigation and trials, and sophisticated regulatory matters. Latham is one of the world's largest providers of pro bono services, steadfastly supports initiatives designed to advance diversity within the firm and the legal profession, and is committed to exploring and promoting environmental sustainability. Notes to Editors 1 Latham & Watkins operates worldwide as a limited liability partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (USA) with affiliated limited liability partnerships conducting the practice in France, Hong Kong, Italy, Singapore, and the United Kingdom and as an affiliated partnership conducting the practice in Japan. Latham & Watkins operates in Israel through a limited liability company. Latham & Watkins operates in South Korea as a Foreign Legal Consultant Office. Latham & Watkins works in cooperation with the Law Office of Salman M. Al-Sudairi in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Contacts Michelle Kelban, Global Co-Chair, Real Estate Practice, +1.212.906.1607 Julian Kleindorfer, Global Co-Chair, REITs Industry Group, +1.213.891.8371 SOURCE Latham & Watkins The nearshore and offshore company has expanded and increased operations around the globe CORAL SPRINGS, Fla., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lean Solutions Group (LSG), a rapidly growing nearshore and offshore services provider, is celebrating its tenth anniversary. In the last decade, Lean Solutions Group has partnered with more than 500 U.S.-based companies, and expanded service offerings to include staffing, technology, marketing, sales, and business process outsourcing services. While the company began as a nearshore provider to the transportation and logistics industry, it increased its offerings for other sectors including retail, warehousing, and healthcare. Starting with a handful of employees in 2012, the company is projected to grow its workforce of 8,000 employees to more than 10,000 by the end of this year. The company has not only expanded its services offerings but its locations. Lean Solutions Group recently opened new offices in Guatemala and the Philippines with plans to open additional offices in new countries, including Mexico, heading into 2023. In the last decade, Lean Solutions Group has partnered with more than 500 U.S.-based companies. Tweet this "Our growth at Lean Solutions Group has been astronomical, and it is the direct result of our employees and our clients," said Robert Cadena, CEO and co-founder of Lean Solutions Group. "Our investment in developing proprietary technology alongside our operational excellence has allowed us to grow and meet our clients' needs. I've made a concerted effort to build a company culture that attracts and retains the best talent, and I cannot thank our employees and clients enough for taking a leap with us ten years ago. We are on track for a record year of growth, and I am excited to see what the next ten years bring." On the awards side, Lean Solutions Group has been named to Inc. Magazine's "Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America" for four consecutive years. The company has also received a Best Places to Work seal in Colombia and Robert Cadena was named Best CEO for Women and Diversity. About Lean Solutions Group Lean Solutions Group, established in 2012 and based in Coral Springs, Florida, is a nearshore and offshore services provider with a highly scalable and flexible workforce of 8,000 employees with operations at seven satellite offices in Colombia, Guatemala, and the Philippines. Partnering with more than 500 U.S.-based companies, Lean Solutions Group's expanded service offerings include staffing, technology, marketing, sales, and business process outsourcing services, all in one place. By leveraging the best talent, culture, and price that Lean Solutions provide, businesses can lower operational costs and drive business growth. For more information, visit www.leangroup.com. Press Contact Lean Solutions Group Scott Tims Pierpont Communications [email protected] SOURCE Lean Solutions Group INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) will announce its third-quarter 2022 financial results on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. Lilly will also conduct a conference call on that day with the investment community and media to further detail the company's financial performance. The conference call will begin at 9 a.m. Eastern time. Investors, media and the general public can access a live webcast of the conference call through a link that will be posted on Lilly's website at https://investor.lilly.com/webcasts-and-presentations. A replay will also be available on the website following the conference call. About Lilly Lilly unites caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world. We've been pioneering life-changing discoveries for nearly 150 years, and today our medicines help more than 47 million people across the globe. Harnessing the power of biotechnology, chemistry and genetic medicine, our scientists are urgently advancing new discoveries to solve some of the world's most significant health challenges, redefining diabetes care, treating obesity and curtailing its most devastating long-term effects, advancing the fight against Alzheimer's disease, providing solutions to some of the most debilitating immune system disorders, and transforming the most difficult-to-treat cancers into manageable diseases. With each step toward a healthier world, we're motivated by one thing: making life better for millions more people. That includes delivering innovative clinical trials that reflect the diversity of our world and working to ensure our medicines are accessible and affordable. To learn more, visit Lilly.com and Lilly.com/newsroom or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. F-LLY SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LILYSILK, the world's leading silk brand with a mission to inspire people to live spectacular and sustainable lives, has won the 2022 Muse Design Awards as Gold Winner in the Fashion Design category featuring recycle and sustainable fashion with its latest limited edition LILYSILK X MIKA NINAGAWA, a crossover collection launched in August this year. LILYSILK Wins Muse Design Awards for Crossover Collection with Japanese Artist Mika Ninagawa LILYSILK X Mika Ninagawa Exclusive Lily Chrysanthemum Silk Shirt LILYSILK X Mika Ninagawa Exclusive Lily Chrysanthemum Pajama Set The Muse Design Awards is a world-renowned competition for designers whose craftsmanship shift paradigms. LILYSILK's winning collection is a remarkable collaboration with famous Japanese artist Mika Ninagawa and has been most well received with its shirts and bedding that come with Lily prints. As a Recycle and Sustainable Fashion Gold Winner, LILYSILK's partnership with waste management company TerraCycle that offers a free and easy way to recycle non-donatable silk products has received wide praise since launched. Available in North America and Western Europe, the collection was half a year in the making. The new silk series include shirts, pajamas, bedding and accessories with five unique prints, such as Dahlia Rose, Lisianthus Hydrangea and Plum Blossom. The shirts of the new collection share the same model as LILYSILK's well-received star-style product the SOS shirt. With its elegant design the shirt gives a unique and aesthetic touch to customers' daily styling and is a great fit for all outdoor and indoor activities. Mika, a creative and expressive artist, has been dedicated to documenting fleeting beauty and turning this beauty into a universal presence. Her fondness for flowers makes the collaboration a natural move. As a well-established filmmaker and photographer, Mika has been capturing subtle moments of all things flowers, which shines through her works. It was lily, the flower, that connected Mika and the brand. "We're honored to be recognized by the prestigious Muse Design Awards, and we'll keep exploring more possibilities of how flowers can enrich our daily style through this new collaboration," said David Wang, chief executive officer of LILYSILK. "We hope to bring in a sense of freshness and gracefulness with Mika's aesthetics to our premium silk products." About LILYSILK LILYSILK is a world-leading silk brand with a mission to inspire people to live spectacularly as well as more sustainably, driven by its care for its customers as well as the planet. For more information, visit http://www.lilysilk.com and follow @lilysilk on Instagram and @Lilysilk on Facebook. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1924636/LILYSILK_Wins_Muse_Design_Awards_Crossover_Collection_Japanese_Artist_Mika.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1924637/LILYSILK_X_Mika_Ninagawa_Exclusive_Lily_Chrysanthemum_Silk_Shirt.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1924638/LILYSILK_X_Mika_Ninagawa_Exclusive_Lily_Chrysanthemum_Pajama_Set.jpg SOURCE LILYSILK Research indicates companies can measure, identify, and leverage leader character as a strategic asset CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to research released today in MIT Sloan Management Review, companies that measure, identify, and leverage leader character have a competitive advantage and can foster a culture where character is valued equally alongside competence, resulting in better decisions, well-being, and outcomes. Companies that measure, identify, and leverage leader character have a competitive advantage. Tweet this Leader Character Framework "Over more than a decade of investigating leader character in organizations from border services to banking to professional sports, we've found that leaders largely underestimate and misunderstand the concept of character," said Mary Crossan, professor of strategic leadership at the Ivey Business School. "They marginalize it as just being about ethics rather than recognizing that the critical underpinning is its impact on judgment and the choices we make minute by minute, day in and day out the micro-moments between stimulus and response. It is this character-based judgment that supports superior performance, and its lack that explains both misconduct and poor decision-making." Crossan and the team of researchers at Ivey set out to address the underlying science of leader character: what it is (and is not), why it matters, how it can be developed, and how it is manifested in people's actions and thereby into organizational culture. Their Leader Character Framework examines how 10 separate character dimensions (such as drive, humility, temperance, accountability) interact with an 11th, central quality of judgment. They identify that any dimension can be problematic in both excess or deficiency and confirm that character is a habit and can objectively be observed, assessed, and developed like other human behaviors. Building upon the Framework, organizations can begin a strategic approach to implementing leader character development and enhancing policies and practices across the company, from risk management and culture change to selection and diversity, equity, and inclusion. By contributing directly to these important initiatives, leaders can make character into a strategic asset while also promoting well-being. "The most immediate and practical approach for organizations that seek to tap the power of leader character is to simply start the conversation," added coauthor Bill Furlong, executive in residence at Ivey Business School. "In the turbulent times we live in, elevating character alongside competence is not only a strategic imperative but also a social responsibility." The MIT Sloan Management Review (MIT SMR) article "Make Leader Character Your Competitive Edge" publishes at 8 a.m. EDT on Oct. 19. About the Authors Mary Crossan is a professor of strategic leadership at the Ivey Business School. Bill Furlong is executive in residence at the Ivey Business School. Robert D. Austin is a professor of information systems at the Ivey Business School. Ivey Business School at Western University is Canada's leading provider of real-world, case-based business education. For seven of the last eight years, Bloomberg Businessweek has ranked Ivey the No. 1 MBA program in Canada (2014-2019, 2022). Renowned for its case method of learning, Ivey Business School is one of the most important producers of business cases in the world. About MIT Sloan Management Review MIT Sloan Management Review (MIT SMR) is an independent, research-based magazine and digital platform for business leaders, published at the MIT Sloan School of Management. MIT SMR explores how leadership and management are transforming in a disruptive world. We help thoughtful leaders capture the exciting opportunities and face down the challenges created as technological, societal, and environmental forces reshape how organizations operate, compete, and create value. Connect with MIT Sloan Management Review on: Tess Woods [email protected] 617-942-0336 SOURCE MIT Sloan Management Review NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Insight Partners published latest research study on " Maritime Information Market Size, Share, Revenue, Growth Strategy, Industry Trends and Forecast to 2028 COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Platform, Application, End-User, and Geography," the global maritime information market size is expected to grow from USD 1,882.01 million in 2021 to USD 2,808.87 million by 2028; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.2% from 2022 to 2028. Download Sample PDF Brochure of Maritime Information Market Size - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis with Strategic Insights at: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00009902/ Global Maritime Information Market Report Scope, Segmentations, Regional & Country Scope: Report Coverage Details Market Size Value in USD 1,882.01 Million in 2021 Market Size Value by USD 2,808.87 Million by 2028 Growth rate CAGR of 6.2% from 2022 to 2028 Forecast Period 2022-2028 Base Year 2021 No. of Pages 180 No. of Tables 83 No. of Charts & Figures 80 Historical data available Yes Segments covered Platform, Application, and End-User 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 BAE Systems Plc, Spire Global, Iridium Communications Inc, L3Harris Technologies Inc, Lockheed Martin Corp, ORBCOMM Inc, Saab AB, Thales Group, Windward Ltd, Northrop Grumman Corp, Polestar, Oneocean, Fujitsu Limited, Siemens AG 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 Maritime Information Market Forecast to 2028 - Latest COVID-19 Analysis https://www.theinsightpartners.com/covid-analysis-sample/TIPRE00009902/ Browse key market insights spread across 180 pages with 83 list of tables & 80 list of figures from the report, "Maritime Information Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Platform (On-Shore and Vessel), Application (Fleet Management, Vessel Tracking, and Maritime Security), and End-User (Commercial and Government)" in detail along with the table of contents: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/maritime-information-market Global Maritime Information Market: Competitive Landscape and Key Developments Thales, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, L3Harris, and Bae Systems are a few of the key players profiled in the maritime information market report. Several other essential maritime information market players were analyzed to get a holistic view of the market and its ecosystem. The global maritime information market report provides detailed market insights, which help the key players to strategize the growth in the coming years. In November 2021, Iridium Communications Inc. reported that it's Iridium Certus 100 "mid-band" service is commercially available for maritime, IoT, aviation, land, mobile, and government. Iridium Certus 100 supplies an exceptional blend of abilities for satellite connectivity, allowing small, low-profile antennas and battery-powered devices developed for maximum mobility but with IP data speeds that efficiently reinforce transmitting important emails, pictures, and other vital information from remote places. In August 2022, L3Harris Technologies, in collaboration with the US Navy, demonstrated how unmanned surface vehicle technologies provide essential support for conventional maritime forces during the 2022 Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC 2022), which is the world's largest international maritime warfare exercise. Inquiry Before Purchase: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/inquiry/TIPRE00009902/ The global maritime information market is segmented into North America, Asia Pacific (APAC), Europe, the Middle East & Africa (MEA), and South America (SAM). Europe dominated the market in 2021, and it is expected to continue its dominance over the forecast period. The European marine industry is driven by the recent development of frigates and offshore patrol boats, owing to their lethality, speed, and maneuverability. Furthermore, incidents such as an increase in illegal immigrant intrusions and drug trafficking in countries such as Italy, Spain, and Albania have increased the demand for maritime information across the region. France is a leading player in the maritime industry due to its maritime sector's size and globally recognized expertise. In terms of tonnage, as of January 1, 2020, the French fleet ranked 28th in the world in terms of flag capacity. French ship owners are involved in all traditional maritime businesses, operating ~900 vessels with more than 100 UMS (Universal Measurement Systems). Hence, the robust maritime industry is anticipated to create lucrative opportunities for global maritime information market growth. Moreover, Germany is highly interested in foreign trade. Therefore, a strong and competitive maritime economy is important for the entire economy, as it contributes to Germany's competitiveness and helps to ensure growth and employment. Politics and business are engaged to ensure that the maritime economy is structurally strong and exploits its full potential. Hence, Germany is the preferred market for global maritime information market vendors. A few of the important sectors of the maritime industry are maritime shipping, ports, shipbuilding, the shipbuilding supply industry, marine engineering, offshore wind energy, and maritime research and development. The German government seeks to adopt an integrated policy approach that helps to strengthen the German maritime industry, which is anticipated to increase the demand for maritime information solutions over the forecast period. North America accounted for the second largest maritime information market share. In North America, the US is one of the major economies for maritime information market growth. The maritime economy accounted for 1.7% or US$ 361.4 billion of current-dollar US gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020 and 1.7% or US$ 610.3 billion of current-dollar gross output. The marine industry in the US is one of the major trade platforms for the country. Marine shipping accounts for 40% of the value of US international trade, ~70% by trade weight, and merchandise trade accounts for 18% of 2020 GDP. In 2020, shipping accounted for more tonnage (~1.5 billion short tons) and value (more than US$ 1.5 trillion) in US trade than any other mode of transportation. Furthermore, in 2020, the US ports recorded more than 465,000 vessel calls, more than 10% of the world's total vessel calls. Each port has its own set of marine terminals that serve different types of cargo. Hence, proper administration of onshore activities has been a critical task for the governing authorities, which is generating the demand for maritime information. Speak to Research Expert: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/speak-to-analyst/TIPRE00009902 The Canadian marine industry is transitioning to expand across the regional trade. The industry includes domestic shipping companies that provide domestic and international shipping services. The marine industry in Atlantic Canada is engaged in various activities, including container transportation to Newfoundland by Oceanex; oil platform resupply by companies such as Secunda Marine; shuttling crude oil between platforms and oil terminals operated by companies such as Canship Ugland Ltd.; and providing a large number of intra- and inter-provincial ferry services, such as Marine Atlantic and Northumberland Ferries. Hence, emerging marine trade activities in the region are anticipated to create many opportunities for the global maritime information market share. Global Maritime Information Market: COVID-19 Overview The COVID-19 outbreak dramatically impacted the global economy in early 2020, and the crisis has hampered business activities in maritime industries. The MEA maritime information market is majorly affected by the disruption in the national and international supply chains. The domestic production and demand of ships and submarines in several nations in the region have also been impacted by disruptions in global supply chains and cash flows. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations, which contain numerous significant transit hubs, severely impacted the transportation & logistics sector, particularly air and ocean freight. The maritime sector experienced operational slowdowns due to staffing shortages and lockdown measures in several nations, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE, which hampered the growth of the maritime information market size in the MEA in the second quarter of 2020. Global Maritime Information Market: Capacity Overview Based on application, the global maritime information market is segmented into fleet management, vessel tracking, and maritime security. The fleet management segment is projected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period. Growing demand for fleet management services such as technical management, ship building, marine insurance, maritime training, and crew management is anticipated to propel the need for technologically advanced, automated, and highly efficient fleet management solutions. Quickly Purchase Premium Copy of Maritime Information Market Growth Report (2022-2028) at: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPRE00009902/ Go through further research published by The Insight Partners: Wifi-as-a-Service Market - The global wi-fi as a service market size is projected to grow from US$ 3.66 billion in 2021 to US$ 13.34 billion by 2028; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 19.5% during 20222028. Sound Recognition Market - The global sound recognition market size is projected to grow from US$ 3.84 billion in 2021 to US$ 9.70 billion by 2028; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 14.5% from 2022 to 2028. Network Transformation Market - The global network transformation market size is expected to grow from US$ 19.27 billion in 2021 to US$ 175.34 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 40.6% between 2022 and 2028. Molded Interconnect Devices (MID) Market - The global molded interconnect device (MID) market size is expected to grow from US$ 1,203.5 million in 2021 to US$ 2,711.9 million by 2028 at a CAGR of 14.5% from 2022 to 2028. Digital Education Market - The global digital education market size is expected to grow from US$ 11.62 billion in 2021 to US$ 54.95 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 26.1% between 2022 and 2028. Data Collection and Labeling Market - The global data collection and labeling market size is expected to grow from US$ 1.82 billion in 2021 to US$ 9.07 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 27.2% between 2022 and 2028. Customer Data Platform Market - The global customer data platform market size is expected to grow from US$ 2,672.5 Mn in 2021 to US$ 14,847.1 Mn by 2028 at a CAGR of 28.2% between 2022 and 2028. Vehicle Tracking Systems Market - The global vehicle tracking systems market size is expected to grow from US$ 13.67 billion in 2021 to US$ 23.70 billion by 2028; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.7% from 2022 to 2028. Autonomous Last Mile Delivery Market - The global autonomous last mile delivery market size is expected to grow from US$ 57.67 billion in 2021 to US$ 68.95 billion by 2028; it is expected to register a CAGR of 3.0% from 2022 to 2028. ISDN Modem Market - The global ISDN modem market size was valued US$ 982.97 thousand in 2022, it is estimated to register a CAGR of -80.6% from 2022 to 2024. Semiconductor Bonding Market - The global semiconductor bonding market size was valued US$ 669.48 million in 2022, it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% from 2022 to 2028. Recycled Ocean Plastics Market - The global recycled ocean plastics market size was valued at US$ 14,432.91 million in 2022, it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.5% from 2022 to 2028. EDM Wire Market - The global EDM wire market size is expected to grow from US$ 1,497.50 million in 2022, it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.6% from 2022 to 2028. Seam Welding Machine Market - The global seam welding machine market size was valued US$ 1,142.87 million in 2022, it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.0% from 2022 to 2028. Electric Coolant Pump Market - The global electric coolant pump market size was valued US$ 467.46 million in 2022, it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 16.8% from 2022 to 2028. Smart Manufacturing Market - The global smart manufacturing market size was valued US$ 258.72 billion in 2022, it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.0% from 2022 to 2028. . Respiratory Care Devices Market - The global respiratory care devices market size is expected to grow from US$ 18,114.31 million in 2021 to US$ 32,761.82 million by 2028; it is estimated to register a CAGR of 8.9% from 2021 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: [email protected] Phone: +1-646-491-9876 Press Release: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/pr/maritime-information-market Industry Research: https://www.einpresswire.com/newsroom/the_insight_partners/ | https://www.whatech.com/og/markets-research/companies/the-insight-partners-2019-05-20 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1586348/The_Insight_Partners_Logo.jpg SOURCE The Insight Partners HOUSTON, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- McDermott and Saudi Aramco gathered Monday in Ras Al-Khair, Saudi Arabia, to mark the award of the construction contract for the Saudi Arabia Fabrication In-Kingdom Ras Al-Khair (SAFIRA) fabrication yard. The projectlocated at the King Salman International Complex for Maritime Industries and Servicesis another step to support Saudi Arabia's Saudi Vision 2030 and increase local content. McDermott will oversee construction of the facility, which will be performed by a subcontractor. Once complete, the SAFIRA development will have the capability to fabricate and assemble the offshore platforms, jackets and structures for subsea pipelines required to support Saudi Aramco's planned offshore expansions. "This fabrication facility will further enhance McDermott's in-Kingdom project delivery capability and support our growing Saudi-based project management team, engineering and procurement offices, and ongoing recruitment and development of talented Saudi nationals at all levels in the company," said Mike Sutherland, McDermott's Vice President, Offshore Operations. About McDermott McDermott is a premier, fully-integrated provider of engineering and construction solutions to the energy industry. Our customers trust our technology-driven approach engineered to responsibly harness and transform global energy resources into the products the world needs. From concept to commissioning, McDermott's innovative expertise and capabilities advance the next generation of global energy infrastructureempowering a brighter, more sustainable future for us all. Operating in over 54 countries, McDermott's locally-focused and globally-integrated resources include more than 30,000 employees, a diversified fleet of specialty marine construction vessels and fabrication facilities around the world. To learn more, visit www.mcdermott.com. Forward-Looking Statements McDermott cautions that statements in this communication which are forward-looking, and provide other than historical information, involve risks, contingencies and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements about the expected capabilities of the SAFIRA yard and enhancements to McDermott's capabilities. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct. Those statements are made by using various underlying assumptions and are subject to numerous risks, contingencies and uncertainties, including, among others: adverse changes in the markets in which we operate or credit or capital markets; our inability to successfully execute on contracts in backlog; changes in project design or schedules; the availability of qualified personnel; changes in the terms, scope or timing of contracts, contract cancellations, change orders and other modifications and actions by our customers and other business counterparties; changes in industry norms; actions by lenders, other creditors, customers and other business counterparties of McDermott and adverse outcomes in legal or other dispute resolution proceedings. If one or more of these risks materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. This communication reflects the views of McDermott's management as of the date hereof. Except to the extent required by applicable law, McDermott undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement. Contacts: Reba Reid Senior Director, Global Communications and Marketing +1 281 588 5636 [email protected] Local Media Relations Barbara Knight Senior Director, Business Line Communications and Marketing +971 56 403 2903 [email protected] SOURCE McDermott International, Ltd Hugo robotic-assisted surgery system regulatory approval in Japan provides access to third largest robotics market in the world while general surgery approval in the EU and Canada open fast-growing hernia specialty DUBLIN, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT), a global healthcare technology leader, has announced three significant global market-entrance and indication expansion approvals for its Hugo robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system. The approvals include: Conformite Europeenne (CE) Mark clearance for general surgery indication; Health Canada licence for general laparoscopic surgery indication; and Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (MHLW) approval for urologic surgical and gynecologic laparoscopic indications in Japan . The new system approvals and indications set the stage for significant access across Europe, North America, and Asia extending the benefits of minimally invasive surgery to new global audiences. As a form of minimally invasive surgery, robotic-assisted procedures offer patients fewer complications, shorter hospital stays, and faster return to normal activities.2-4, Together, general surgery, urology, and gynecology account for more than 80% of all RAS procedures performed globally.1 General surgery is the fastest growing segment within robotic surgery. It encompasses several different surgical specialties including hernia repair, the fourth most common surgery performed globally.1 Japan is the third-largest RAS market in the world today.1 "Receiving these important approvals paves the way for our expansion into key robotic markets," said Mike Marinaro, senior vice president and president, Surgical Robotics, which is part of the Medical Surgical Portfolio at Medtronic. "The Hugo RAS system was designed to address the barriers to robotic surgery adoption, and these approvals are significant steps in bringing the benefits of minimally invasive surgery to more patients in more places around the world." Medtronic's expansion into surgical robotics represents a significant growth opportunity for the company and builds on its more than 60 years of experience in surgical and healthcare innovation in partnership with clinicians around the world. The Hugo RAS system, combined with Touch Surgery Enterprise, offers a smart, digitally enabled surgical experience, and is already being used in general surgery procedures at hospitals in the Asia Pacific and Latin America regions. The procedures range from common to more complex and include cholecystectomy, inguinal hernia repair, gastric bypass, and lower anterior resection. A modular system, Hugo combines wristed instruments, 3D visualization, and Medtronic's Touch Surgery Enterprise, a cloud-based surgical video capture and management solution, with dedicated support teams specializing in robotics program optimization, service, and training. Touch Surgery Enterprise is a first-of-its-kind AI-powered platform that makes sharing surgical video simple and provides surgeons with a powerful new training tool. "These regulatory approvals are a major step in expanding the benefits of minimally invasive surgery to patients around the world. We truly believe that AI-assisted robotic surgery will transform the operating room," said Dr. Carla Peron, chief medical officer, Surgical Robotics at Medtronic. "Our team is thrilled to begin partnering with more surgeons and customers to help build and grow their robotic surgery programs in this hugely important area of healthcare." The Hugo RAS system is commercially available in certain geographies. Regulatory requirements and status in individual countries and regions will determine market availability of the Hugo RAS system and approved indications. In the U.S., the Hugo RAS system is an investigational device not for sale. For more information, visit medtronic.com/hugo. Compared to open surgery. Touch Surgery Enterprise is not intended to direct surgery, or aid in diagnosis or treatment of a disease or condition. Based on internal estimates and Medtronic report, FY20 market model: procedural volume data. Fitch K, Engel T, Bochner A. Cost differences between open and minimally invasive surgery. Managed Care. 2015;24(9):4048. Tiwari MM, Reynoso JF, High R, Tsang AW, Oleynikov D. Safety, efficacy, and cost effectiveness of common laparoscopic procedures. Surg Endosc. 2011;25(4):1127-1135. Roumm AR, Pizzi L, Goldfarb NI, Cohn H. Minimally invasive: minimally reimbursed? An examination of six laparoscopic surgical procedures. Surg Innov. 2005;12(3):261287. About Medtronic Bold thinking. Bolder actions. We are Medtronic. Medtronic plc, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is the leading global healthcare technology company that boldly attacks the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions. Our Mission to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life unites a global team of 90,000+ passionate people across 150 countries. Our technologies and therapies treat 70 health conditions and include cardiac devices, surgical robotics, insulin pumps, surgical tools, patient monitoring systems, and more. Powered by our diverse knowledge, insatiable curiosity, and desire to help all those who need it, we deliver innovative technologies that transform the lives of two people every second, every hour, every day. Expect more from us as we empower insight-driven care, experiences that put people first, and better outcomes for our world. In everything we do, we are engineering the extraordinary. For more information on Medtronic (NYSE:MDT), visit www.Medtronic.com and follow @Medtronic on Twitter and LinkedIn. Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results. Contacts: Erika Winkels Ryan Weispfenning Public Relations Investor Relations +1-763-526-8478 +1-763-505-4626 SOURCE Medtronic plc UW, Wyoming SBDC Network to Host Lunch and Learn Event About Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program Small-business owners in Wyoming can learn about the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program during a Lunch and Learn event with the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Networks Procurement Technical Assistance Center. Tiffanie Williams will discuss the subject during an online workshop titled Wyoming Department of Transportation Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Certification Wednesday, Oct. 26, from noon-1 p.m. The DBE is a certification program under the U.S. Department of Transportation for minority and/or women-owned, -operated and -controlled firms that are involved in highway and airport construction. To register, go here. Registration is free. Williams is the DBE program coordinator for the Wyoming Department of Transportation. She served seven and a half years in the U.S. Air Force and worked for nine and a half years as a human resources director for a skilled nursing facility. Williams has a bachelors degree in management and a masters degree in management, with a focus in human resources. She also holds a Society for Human Resource Management certified professional certification. For more information, call Maureen Johnson, CARES Act recovery program manager for the Wyoming SBDC Network, at (307) 343-0925 or email mjohn125@uwyo.edu. The Wyoming SBDC Network offers business expertise to help Wyoming residents think about, launch, grow, reinvent or exit their business. The Wyoming SBDC Network is hosted by the University of Wyoming with state funds from the Wyoming Business Council and funded, in part, through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The military laser systems market size is expected to grow by USD 2.15 billion, accelerating at a CAGR of 7.36% between 2021 and 2026. To estimate the size of the report, Technavio has tracked the recent trends and developments in the aerospace and defense industry. Some of the factors considered include commercial aircraft production, the volume of air passengers and freight traffic, revenue generated by vendors, defense budget, and capital investments by airlines among others. Understand the scope of our full report by Downloading a Free PDF Report Sample . Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Military Laser Systems Market 2022-2026 The market is driven by the focus on the development of laser-based communication. The majority of communications that currently happen in the military sector are carried out through radio frequencies that have limited spectrums. However, the lower bandwidth of radio signals is limiting their large-scale adoption in the military sector. This is driving the need for the development of networks that provide higher bandwidth. Laser communications can operate up to a thousand times faster than conventional radio-frequency-based communication systems. The higher-frequency wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum eliminate the need for the use of congested radio-frequency bands. These networks also provide higher security as laser beams have a low probability of interception. All these factors are contributing to the growth of the global military laser systems market. As per Technavio, the emergence of the directed-energy atmospheric lens concept will have a positive impact on the market and contribute to its growth significantly over the forecast period. This research report also analyzes other significant trends and market drivers that will influence market growth. Military Laser Systems Market: Emergence of directed-energy atmospheric lens concept The Laser Developed Atmospheric Lens (LDAL) is a very complex and innovative concept that mimics two existing natural phenomena, namely, the reflective properties of the ionosphere and desert mirages. It works by temporarily and reversibly simulating a naturally occurring phenomenon that changes the Earth's atmosphere into a lens-like structure to magnify the path of electromagnetic waves, such as light and radio signals. The concept was revealed in January 2017 by experts at the military facility of BAE Systems in Warton, Lancashire. It uses a high-pulsed power laser system and a phenomenon in physics called the Kerr Effect to temporarily and reversibly ionize or heat a small region of the ionosphere in a structured way. This can create atmospheric lenses and mirrors by exploiting the laws of refraction, reflection, and diffraction. This trend is expected to have a positive impact on the growth of the global military laser systems market during the forecast period. However, the limitations of current laser weapon systems will reduce the growth potential in the market. Lasers beams travel at the speed of light and before the laser beam is directed at a target, the targeting system of the weapon must locate the target. The weapon's tracking system then guides the beam in the direction of the motion or projectile of the target. The tracking system must hold a precise point on the target for a long-enough duration to burn a hole through it. However, some weaponized attack systems travel at very high speeds and the laser weapon systems fail to fix the precise point on such targets. Such limitations are hindering the deployment of laser weapon systems against advanced weapon systems. Hence, a significant amount of investments are being made in R&D to focus on the advancement of current laser weapon system technologies. Discover other trends impacting the future of market research, Download Free Sample Report . Military Laser Systems Market: Segmentation Analysis This market research report segments the military laser systems market by Product (Laser weapon systems, Laser target systems, and Laser radar systems) and Geography (North America, APAC, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and South America). The North American region led the military laser systems market in 2022, followed by APAC, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and South America respectively. During the forecast period, the North American region is expected to register the highest incremental growth. The US is the key market for military laser systems in North America. Market growth in this region will be slower than the growth of the market in other regions. Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report, such as the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Read Our Sample Report Now Some of the key topics covered in the report include: Market Drivers Market Challenges Market Trends Vendor Landscape Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Competitive scenario Related Reports: Global Military Laser Rangefinder Market 2022-2026: The global military laser rangefinder market is segmented by product (handheld equipment and observation systems) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA). The market will observe maximum growth in the handheld equipment segment. By region, North America will have the maximum share of the market. View Report Snapshot Here Global Military Thermal Weapon Sights Market 2022-2026: Global military thermal weapon sights market is segmented by type (gun-based thermal weapon sights and vehicle-mounted thermal weapon sights) and geography (North America, APAC, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America). By type, the market will witness increased demand for gun-based thermal weapon sights. North America will emerge as major market during the forecast period. View Report Snapshot Here Military Laser Systems Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 7.36% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 2.15 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 5.92 Regional analysis North America, APAC, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution North America at 37% Key consumer countries US, Saudi Arabia, China, Russia, and UK Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled American Laser Enterprises LLC, BAE Systems Plc, Coherent Inc., Dynetics Inc., Elbit Systems Ltd., Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., Lockheed Martin Corp., MBDA, MKS Instruments Inc., Northrop Grumman Corp., Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd, Raytheon Technologies Corp., Rheinmetall AG, Thales Group, The Boeing Co., and Newport Corp. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, 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 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 Laser weapon systems - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 28: Chart on Laser weapon systems - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 29: Data Table on Laser weapon systems - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 30: Chart on Laser weapon systems - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Laser weapon systems - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.4 Laser radar systems - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 32: Chart on Laser radar systems - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 33: Data Table on Laser radar systems - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 34: Chart on Laser radar systems - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Laser radar systems - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.5 Laser target designators - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 36: Chart on Laser target designators - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 37: Data Table on Laser target designators - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 38: Chart on Laser target designators - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Laser target designators - 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 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 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 47: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) 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 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 50: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 51: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 52: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 53: Data Table on APAC - 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 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 67: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 68: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 69: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.9 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 71: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 72: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 73: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.10 Russia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on Russia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 75: Data Table on Russia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 76: Chart on Russia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 77: Data Table on Russia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.11 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 79: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 80: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 81: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.12 Saudi Arabia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 82: Chart on Saudi Arabia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 83: Data Table on Saudi Arabia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 84: Chart on Saudi Arabia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 85: Data Table on Saudi Arabia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.13 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 86: 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 87: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026 8.4 Market trends 9 Vendor Landscape 9.1 Overview 9.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 88: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 9.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 89: Overview on factors of disruption 9.4 Industry risks Exhibit 90: Impact of key risks on business 10 Vendor Analysis 10.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 91: Vendors covered 10.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 92: Matrix on vendor position and classification 10.3 BAE Systems Plc Exhibit 93: BAE Systems Plc - Overview Exhibit 94: BAE Systems Plc - Business segments Exhibit 95: BAE Systems Plc - Key offerings Exhibit 96: BAE Systems Plc - Segment focus 10.4 Dynetics Inc. Exhibit 97: Dynetics Inc. - Overview Exhibit 98: Dynetics Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 99: Dynetics Inc. - Key offerings 10.5 Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. Exhibit 100: Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 101: Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 102: Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. - Key offerings 10.6 Lockheed Martin Corp. Exhibit 103: Lockheed Martin Corp. - Overview Exhibit 104: Lockheed Martin Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 105: Lockheed Martin Corp. - Key news Exhibit 106: Lockheed Martin Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 107: Lockheed Martin Corp. - Segment focus 10.7 MBDA Exhibit 108: MBDA - Overview Exhibit 109: MBDA - Product / Service Exhibit 110: MBDA - Key offerings 10.8 Northrop Grumman Corp. Exhibit 111: Northrop Grumman Corp. - Overview Exhibit 112: Northrop Grumman Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 113: Northrop Grumman Corp. - Key news Exhibit 114: Northrop Grumman Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 115: Northrop Grumman Corp. - Segment focus 10.9 Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd Exhibit 116: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd - Overview Exhibit 117: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd - Product / Service Exhibit 118: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd - Key news Exhibit 119: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd - Key offerings 10.10 Raytheon Technologies Corp. Exhibit 120: Raytheon Technologies Corp. - Overview Exhibit 121: Raytheon Technologies Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 122: Raytheon Technologies Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 123: Raytheon Technologies Corp. - Segment focus 10.11 Rheinmetall AG Exhibit 124: Rheinmetall AG - Overview Exhibit 125: Rheinmetall AG - Business segments Exhibit 126: Rheinmetall AG - Key news Exhibit 127: Rheinmetall AG - Key offerings Exhibit 128: Rheinmetall AG - Segment focus 10.12 The Boeing Co. Exhibit 129: The Boeing Co. - Overview Exhibit 130: The Boeing Co. - Business segments Exhibit 131: The Boeing Co. - Key news Exhibit 132: The Boeing Co. - Key offerings Exhibit 133: The Boeing Co. - Segment focus 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 Technavio 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. Contacts 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 GUANGZHOU, China, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MINISO Group Holding Limited (NYSE: MNSO; HKEX: 9896) ("MINISO", "MINISO Group" or the "Company"), a global value retailer offering a variety of design-led lifestyle products, today announced that it will hold an annual general meeting of the Company's shareholders (the "AGM") at 9:00 a.m. on December 7, 2022 at 16F, Building A, M Plaza, No. 109, Pazhou Avenue, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, the People's Republic of China, for the purposes of considering and, if thought fit, passing each of the proposed resolutions set forth in the notice of the AGM (the "AGM Notice"). The AGM Notice and the form of proxy for the AGM are available on the Company's website at https://ir.miniso.com/. Holders of record of ordinary shares of the Company at the close of business on November 7, 2022, Hong Kong time, are entitled to notice of and to attend and vote at the AGM or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Holders of record of ADSs as of the close of business on November 7, 2022, New York time, who wish to exercise their voting rights for the underlying ordinary shares must give voting instructions to The Bank of New York Mellon, the depositary of the ADSs. The Company also announced today that it has filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022 with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The annual report on Form 20-F, which contains the Company's audited consolidated financial statements, can be accessed on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov as well as through the Company's investor relations website at https://ir.miniso.com/. The Company will provide a hard copy of its annual report containing the audited consolidated financial statements, free of charge, to its shareholders and ADS holders upon request. Requests should be directed to Investor Relations Department, MINISO Group Holding Limited, 8F, M Plaza, No. 109, Pazhou Avenue, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China. The Company has also published the same annual report today for Hong Kong purposes pursuant to the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "HKEx"), which can be accessed on the Company's investor relations website at https://ir.miniso.com/ as well as the HKEx's website at http://www.hkexnews.hk. About MINISO Group MINISO Group is a global value retailer offering a variety of design-led lifestyle products. The Company serves consumers primarily through its large network of MINISO stores, and promotes a relaxing, treasure-hunting and engaging shopping experience full of delightful surprises that appeals to all demographics. Aesthetically pleasing design, quality and affordability are at the core of every product in MINISO's wide product portfolio, and the Company continually and frequently rolls out products with these qualities. Since the opening of its first store in China in 2013, the Company has built its flagship brand "MINISO" as a globally recognized retail brand and established a massive store network worldwide. For more information, please visit https://ir.miniso.com/. Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "is/are likely to," "potential," "continue" or other similar expressions. MINISO may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in announcements, circulars or other publications made on the website of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Hong Kong Stock Exchange"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about MINISO's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: MINISO's mission, goals and strategies; future business development, financial conditions and results of operations; the expected growth of the retail market and the market of branded variety retail of lifestyle products in China and globally; expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of MINISO's products; expectations regarding MINISO's relationships with consumers, suppliers, MINISO Retail Partners, local distributors, and other business partners; competition in the industry; proposed use of proceeds; and relevant government policies and regulations relating to MINISO's business and the industry. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in MINISO's filings with the SEC and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and MINISO undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. Investor Relations Contact: Raine Hu MINISO Group Holding Limited Email: [email protected] Phone: +86 (20) 36228788 Ext. 8039 SOURCE MINISO Group Holding Limited ATLANTA, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Morehouse College, the nation's only historically Black liberal arts institution dedicated to educating and developing men, and the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), a global technology trade association representing 80 of the world's most innovative companies, are partnering together to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in the tech ecosystem by launching the new Center for Broadening Participation in Computing (CBPC). Housed at Morehouse College, the CBPC is an academic and industry collaboration in preparing underrepresented students to compete for careers in tech, while also developing strategies to make the tech ecosystem a more just, innovative, and equitable space for people of all socioeconomic backgrounds. The CBPC is advised by an Innovation Advisory Board (IAB) of tech experts to elevate STEM education nationally, expand degree programs, and serve as an industry resource for best practices that strengthen the pipeline for recruiting and training students of color. The Center will serve as a hub for training college students across 19 metro-Atlanta area institutions through Morehouse's participation in Atlanta Regional Council for Higher Education. High school students from across the state of Georgia will also have an opportunity to participate in center activities as well. Strategic partnerships with universities such as Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign, and the Georgia Institute of Technology will provide students access to opportunities and training from top-ranked computer science programs. A collaboration with tech start-up Karat will allow for several free practice technical interviews thanks to their Brilliant Black Minds program. The Center's partnership with Coursera, a leading online platform, will give Morehouse students access to over 3,000 courses in business, tech, and data science from leading universities and companies. "The Center for Broadening Participation in Computing will help ensure that people of color remain the drivers of ingenuity they have always been, especially as we navigate the boundaryless open range of the scientific and technological frontier," said David A. Thomas, Ph.D., Morehouse College president. "A cutting-edge STEM education, infused with a top-tier liberal arts foundation and close engagement with leaders in the field, will provide talented students with a one-of-a-kind experience that will make them uniquely prepared to be global leaders of innovation." The Center's Innovation Advisory Board, which includes representatives from ITI member companies, will leverage the vision and expertise of companies to provide internships, fellowships, and direct recruitment pipelines, as well as guidance that will strengthen Morehouse's curriculum and certification programs in emerging and leading-edge technologies and related fields. ITI and its member companies will provide expertise, logistics, and financial resources to support the Innovation Advisory Board. Morehouse faculty will also receive continued tech-education and professional development opportunities. STEM majors, and other students interested in careers in the technology industry, at Morehouse College and the Atlanta University System will benefit from the Center's career development and networking opportunities, as well as its industry insight into growth areas in tech. According to national research, Black employees are among the most underrepresented groups in the tech workforce, accounting for only 7 percent of workers. The Center represents a fusion of four distinct programs at Morehouse College, including the Morehouse Software Engineering Degree Program, the Morehouse Culturally Relevant Computing Lab, and the National Science Foundation-funded Institute for African American Mentoring in Computing Sciences. As part of its outreach, the Center will develop a collaborative conference to share research and strategies with peers in higher education and the tech industry. "What makes the Innovation Advisory Board special is the collective expertise from 80 tech companies united with a common goal," says the CBPC's inaugural executive director, Dr. Kinnis Gosha. "The board is well aware that investments and programming from individual companies alone will never lead to sustainable and impactful change to the nation's ability to produce a diverse technology workforce. They are also aware that investments must be strategic and involve the institutions who are ultimately responsible for training prospective students." The partnership between ITI and Morehouse has attracted stakeholders to serve as inaugural members of the Center's Innovation Advisory Board, including New York State Chief Information Officer Colonel Angelo "Tony" Riddick and representatives from Amazon, AMD, Dropbox, EY, IBM, HP, Mastercard, NetApp, SAP, Tata Consultancy Services, Tenable, and Twilio. "Innovation depends upon the inclusion of diverse voices and experiences across all industries," said ITI's President and CEO Jason Oxman. "By leveraging the expertise of the world's leading technology companies and the educational excellence at Morehouse College, this partnership will equip students with the skills and experiences they need to build a career in tech and lead the industry in addressing the risks and opportunities presented by technology. This partnership will turn capabilities into action, transform tech education at minority serving institutions, and deepen engagement between industry and academia to the benefit of our future leaders." Read more from Innovation Advisory Board members. SOURCE Information Technology Industry Council MDVIP/Ipsos Survey Finds Over Half of Americans Plan More for Financial Retirement Than Future Health BOCA RATON, Fla., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- At a time when U.S. life expectancy has fallen for the second year in a row, a new study from MDVIP and Ipsos finds that most Americans have high hopes when it comes to their own longevity. An encouraging 87% reported they want to take steps to live healthier for longer, and over half want to live to the age of 100 or older (53%). However, 3 out of 4 people surveyed (74%) failed a basic 20-question Longevity IQ quiz, indicating that most aren't knowledgeable enough about the lifestyle factors that influence aging and longevity. Just like you start saving for retirement in your 20s, you need to start investing early in your health. Tweet this MDVIPs Chief Medical Officer Dr. Andrea Klemes plays a game of 'This or That' with longevity pioneer and best-selling author Dr. Michael Roizen, who reveals his choices for promoting longevity. Longevity has traditionally been defined by how long we live, known as life span. MDVIPs Chief Medical Officer Dr. Andrea Klemes sits down with leading longevity expert and best-selling author Dr. Michael Roizen to discuss the importance of 'health span' and his tips for living younger for longer. Despite Americans' desire to age well, the survey also reveals how managing their health is taking a back seat to other priorities 54% admit they plan more for their financial future than for their future health. This is especially true among men (60% vs. 47% of women) and adults ages 18-44 (64% vs. 44% of adults ages 45+). "Study after study has shown that our lifetime of decisions about what we eat, whether we exercise or whether we're managing stress have a considerable impact on how well we age," said Dr. Andrea Klemes, chief medical officer at MDVIP. "Just like you start saving for retirement in your 20s, you need to start investing early in your health. Take a 'portfolio' approach to your longevity and make sure you have a primary care doctor who will help you build the right mix of healthy habits based on your medical history, risk factors and goals. It's the best investment you can make in yourself." Watch MDVIP's Dr. Andrea Klemes play 'This or That' with longevity expert Dr. Michael Roizen. Nearly 3 in 4 Americans say they have relied on their primary care physician to help track or manage their health (72%). Yet, fewer than half have discussed with their doctor key factors that influence longevity, including aerobic exercise (42%), strength training (27%), sleep (45%), stress (46%), depression (33%) and drinking habits (32%). Only 30% of people have discussed aging/living longer. Other notable findings from the survey: Two-thirds of Americans say they want to live longer than their parents or other family members (67%). However, only 55% are confident that they will live longer, and 66% are concerned about inheriting the same health issues of their parents/family. Over half say they're more willing to try new or experimental medical treatments than their parents are/were (54%). Over 2 in 5 Americans say they feel like they've aged faster during the pandemic (45%), especially women (49%) and adults ages 18-44 (53%). Compared to their life before the pandemic, nearly a third of Americans say they now worry more about their mental health (31%) and their physical health (31%). "While most people say they want to live to 100 or beyond, they aren't considering that the last 20 of those years may not be so graceful," added Dr. Klemes. "The conversation around aging has largely focused on life span, but the more important measure is our 'health span,' or how many years we live well without serious disease. The good news is that if you're taking steps to live healthier now, you're not only increasing your chances of living longer, you're more likely to enjoy those extra years doing the things you love." Watch MDVIP's Dr. Andrea Klemes and longevity expert Dr. Michael Roizen discuss tips on how to extend your health span. To take the MDVIP Longevity IQ quiz and learn more about aging well, visit https://www.mdvip.com/LongevityIQ . About the MDVIP Longevity Survey These are the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted September 6-7, 2022, on behalf of MDVIP. For this survey, a sample of 1,003 adults ages 18+ from the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii were interviewed online in English. The poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points for all respondents. For more information about Ipsos, please visit https://www.ipsos.com/en-us . About MDVIP MDVIP leads the market in membership-based healthcare that goes far beyond concierge medicine services with a national network of more than 1,100 primary care physicians serving over 377,000 patients. Published research shows that the MDVIP model identifies more patients at risk for cardiovascular disease, delivers more preventive health services and saves the healthcare system hundreds of millions of dollars through reduced hospitalizations and readmissions. In response to growing consumer demand for a more personalized healthcare experience, hospital systems are incorporating the MDVIP model into their primary care offering. MDVIP also partners with employers to offer an executive health program as a benefit to their employees. The company has been certified by Great Place to Work since 2018 and is recognized by Fortune as one of the 2022 Best Workplaces in Healthcare . For more information, visit www.mdvip.com . Follow MDVIP on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and LinkedIn . Media Contacts: Nancy Udell MDVIP Media Relations 561.310.5455 [email protected] Leslie Monreal-Feil MDVIP Media Relations 954.401.9931 [email protected] Notes to Editors/Producers: You can download videos in up to HD quality using the links below. Video transcripts also available upon request. This or That: Longevity Edition -- https://vimeo.com/user77278861/download/761097489/834a4f1d41 Tips on How to Live Younger Longer -- https://vimeo.com/user77278861/download/760369991/79b9149844 SOURCE MDVIP The Killer the Boy's Own Father Was Allowed to Buy Gun Used in Murder, Even Though He Was Lawfully Prohibited from Buying Firearms SAN FRANCISCO and HANFORD, Calif., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The mother of a 10-year-old boy killed by his own father filed a lawsuit (link to filing) today in the San Francisco County Superior Court against the California Department of Justice. The suit (filed by Alioto Legal) seeks to force the Department to comply with the California Public Records Act and disclose the records of a botched background check that allowed the boy's killer access to a firearm, even though he had been legally prohibited by a state court from possessing firearms. The petitioner, Christy Camara Gomes, represented by attorney Joseph M. Alioto Jr., filed the petition in response to the California Department of Justice's refusal to disclose records that would reveal how Christy's ex-husband, Victor Gomes, was able to obtain the murder weapon from a state-licensed firearms dealer while he was under an order of the Superior Court of Kings County not to possess firearms. "The State of California has now failed Wyland twice: first by neglecting to prevent a prohibited person from buying the gun he used to kill Wyland; and now again by refusing to disclose records that will reveal the State's failure," Alioto said. Gomes used the firearm to shoot and kill Wyland on March 2, 2020. Gomes then shot and killed himself. On October 24, 2016, the Superior Court of Kings County ordered Gomes not to possess a firearm when he threatened to kill his son and himself after receiving divorce papers from Christy Camara Gomes. The firearm prohibition was extended to September 9, 2017. Gomes bought the gun used in the murder on May 17, 2017. In August 2021, Christy Camara Gomes requested records from various agencies, including the Justice Department, to determine how Gomes was able to buy a gun while under a court order not to possess firearms. The Department of Justice refused to disclose the records. "No other parent should go through the pain I feel daily. My hope with this petition is that I'll finally have answers and can work with the State to pass 'Wyland's Law' a law that will save the lives of other children. I want Wyland's life to be a legacyone that uncovers the truth and fixes the issues so that we can prevent this tragedy from happening to another family," Camara Gomes said. About Wyland Thomas Gomes and Christy Camara Gomes Wyland Thomas Gomes was born in 2009 and was the firstborn grandchild in his family. He attended Kings River-Hardwick School and was loved deeply by his friends and teachers. He loved playing video games, hanging out with friends, and spending time with his family who loved him. Christy Camara Gomes is Wyland's mom. She grew up in Hanford, California but now calls the Central Coast her home. She is currently in the process of writing a book about Wyland's life and believes that sharing her story will help bereaved parents normalize how they are feeling. Her website and blog can be found here. About Joseph M. Alioto, Jr. Joseph Alioto Jr. is a seasoned trial lawyer and former Assistant U.S. Attorney with over two decades of experience advocating for consumers, crime victims, small businesses, and individuals in California. His interest in fighting firearm violence stems from his work prosecuting violent organized crime for the U.S. Department of Justice in San Francisco and Oakland. Learn more at www.aliotolegal.com/about. SOURCE Alioto Law NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Technavio has been monitoring the MSP software market, operating under the industrial market. The report estimates the market to register an incremental growth of USD 178.85 million, at a CAGR of 12.01% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global MSP Software 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. Acronis International GmbH, AT and T Inc., Atera Networks Ltd., Auvik Networks Inc., Bravura Software LLC, Cisco Systems Inc., ConnectWise LLC, DNSFilter Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., Hornetsecurity Ltd., Infosys Ltd., International Business Machines Corp., Opmantek Software Pty Ltd., ServiceNow Inc., Wipro Ltd., Ziff Davis LLC, and Zoho Corp. Pvt. Ltd. are among some of the major market participants. Request the Latest Free sample report. Increased adoption of IoT solutions has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, Data privacy and security risk in cloud-based services might hamper the market growth. MSP Software Market Segmentation Deployment On-premise Cloud-based Type Managed Data Center Managed Network Managed Infrastructure Managed Mobility Others Geography North America Europe APAC South America Middle East And Africa Based on geographic segmentation, 37% of the market's originated from North America during the forecast period. In addition, On-premise led the growth under the deployment segment. This report provides an accurate prediction of the contribution of all the segments to the growth of the superfood powders market size. Buy Sample Report. The on-premise segment's MSP software market share will expand significantly. When compared to the cloud-based segment in the MSP software market throughout the projected period, the on-premise segment is anticipated to experience considerable revenue growth. Compared to SaaS-based managed services, on-premises MSP software is much more secure because of end-to-end quality control. Large client organizations, who are more focused on functionality than price, therefore control the market. MSP Software Market Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. The MSP software market report covers the following areas: This study identifies the increased adoption of bringing your own device (BYOD) policy as one of the prime reasons driving the MSP Software Market growth during the next few years. MSP Software Market Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will assist MSP software market growth during the next five years Estimation of the MSP software market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the MSP software market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of the MSP software market, vendors Related Reports Supply Chain Management Software Market by Application, Deployment, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The report extensively covers supply chain management software market segmentation by application (SCP, procurement, WMS, and TMS), deployment (on-premise and cloud-based), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, the Middle East and Africa, and South America). Business Accounting Software Market by Deployment and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The report extensively covers business accounting software market segmentation by deployment (cloud-based and on-premise) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, the Middle East and Africa, and South America). MSP Software Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 12.01% Market growth 2022-2026 $178.85 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 11.67 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 37% Key consumer countries US, China, Germany, France, and UK Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Acronis International GmbH, AT and T Inc., Atera Networks Ltd., Auvik Networks Inc., Bravura Software LLC, Cisco Systems Inc., ConnectWise LLC, DNSFilter Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., Hornetsecurity Ltd., Infosys Ltd., International Business Machines Corp., Kaseya Ltd., LogicMonitor Inc., Opmantek Software Pty Ltd., ServiceNow Inc., TitanHQ, Trend Micro Inc., Wipro Ltd., Ziff Davis LLC, and Zoho Corp. Pvt. 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 Deployment Exhibit 06: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Type Exhibit 07: Executive Summary Chart on Incremental Growth Exhibit 08: Executive Summary Data Table on Incremental Growth Exhibit 09: Executive Summary Chart on Vendor Market Positioning 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem Exhibit 10: Parent market Exhibit 11: Market Characteristics 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 12: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 13: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2021 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026 Exhibit 14: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 15: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 16: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 17: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 4 Five Forces Analysis 4.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 18: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026 4.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 19: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026 4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 20: Bargaining power of suppliers Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 21: Threat of new entrants Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 22: Threat of substitutes Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 23: Threat of rivalry Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.7 Market condition Exhibit 24: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026 5 Market Segmentation by Deployment 5.1 Market segments Exhibit 25: Chart on Deployment - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 26: Data Table on Deployment - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 5.2 Comparison by Deployment Exhibit 27: Chart on Comparison by Deployment Exhibit 28: Data Table on Comparison by Deployment 5.3 On-premise - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 29: Chart on On-premise - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 30: Data Table on On-premise - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 31: Chart on On-premise - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 32: Data Table on On-premise - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.4 Cloud-based - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 33: Chart on Cloud-based - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 34: Data Table on Cloud-based - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 35: Chart on Cloud-based - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 36: Data Table on Cloud-based - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.5 Market opportunity by Deployment Exhibit 37: Market opportunity by Deployment ($ million) 6 Market Segmentation by Type 6.1 Market segments Exhibit 38: Chart on Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 6.2 Comparison by Type Exhibit 40: Chart on Comparison by Type Exhibit 41: Data Table on Comparison by Type 6.3 Managed data center - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 42: Chart on Managed data center - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 43: Data Table on Managed data center - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 44: Chart on Managed data center - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 45: Data Table on Managed data center - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 6.4 Managed network - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 46: Chart on Managed network - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 47: Data Table on Managed network - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 48: Chart on Managed network - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 49: Data Table on Managed network - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 6.5 Managed infrastructure - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 50: Chart on Managed infrastructure - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 51: Data Table on Managed infrastructure - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 52: Chart on Managed infrastructure - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 53: Data Table on Managed infrastructure - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 6.6 Managed mobility - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on Managed mobility - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 55: Data Table on Managed mobility - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 56: Chart on Managed mobility - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 57: Data Table on Managed mobility - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 6.7 Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 58: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 59: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 60: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 61: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 6.8 Market opportunity by Type Exhibit 62: Market opportunity by Type ($ million) 7 Customer Landscape 7.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 63: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 8 Geographic Landscape 8.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 64: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 65: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) 8.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 66: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 67: Data Table on Geographic comparison 8.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 68: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 69: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 70: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 71: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 72: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 73: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 74: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 75: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 76: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 77: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 78: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 79: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 80: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 81: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 82: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 83: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.7 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 84: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 85: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 86: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 87: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.8 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 88: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 89: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 90: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 91: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.9 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 92: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 93: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 94: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 95: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.10 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 96: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 97: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 98: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 99: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.11 France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 100: Chart on France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 101: Data Table on France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 102: Chart on France - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 103: Data Table on France - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.12 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 104: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 105: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 106: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 107: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 8.13 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 108: Market opportunity by geography ($ million) 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 9.1 Market drivers 9.2 Market challenges 9.3 Impact of drivers and challenges Exhibit 109: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026 9.4 Market trends 10 Vendor Landscape 10.1 Overview 10.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 110: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 10.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 111: Overview on factors of disruption 10.4 Industry risks Exhibit 112: Impact of key risks on business 11 Vendor Analysis 11.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 113: Vendors covered 11.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 114: Matrix on vendor position and classification 11.3 Acronis International GmbH Exhibit 115: Acronis International GmbH - Overview Exhibit 116: Acronis International GmbH - Product / Service Exhibit 117: Acronis International GmbH - Key offerings 11.4 Atera Networks Ltd. Exhibit 118: Atera Networks Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 119: Atera Networks Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 120: Atera Networks Ltd. - Key offerings 11.5 Auvik Networks Inc. Exhibit 121: Auvik Networks Inc. - Overview Exhibit 122: Auvik Networks Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 123: Auvik Networks Inc. - Key offerings 11.6 Cisco Systems Inc. Exhibit 124: Cisco Systems Inc. - Overview Exhibit 125: Cisco Systems Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 126: Cisco Systems Inc. - Key news Exhibit 127: Cisco Systems Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 128: Cisco Systems Inc. - Segment focus 11.7 ConnectWise LLC Exhibit 129: ConnectWise LLC - Overview Exhibit 130: ConnectWise LLC - Product / Service Exhibit 131: ConnectWise LLC - Key news Exhibit 132: ConnectWise LLC - Key offerings 11.8 DNSFilter Inc. Exhibit 133: DNSFilter Inc. - Overview Exhibit 134: DNSFilter Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 135: DNSFilter Inc. - Key offerings 11.9 Infosys Ltd. Exhibit 136: Infosys Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 137: Infosys Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 138: Infosys Ltd. - Key news Exhibit 139: Infosys Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 140: Infosys Ltd. - Segment focus 11.10 International Business Machines Corp. Exhibit 141: International Business Machines Corp. - Overview Exhibit 142: International Business Machines Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 143: International Business Machines Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 144: International Business Machines Corp. - Segment focus 11.11 Kaseya Ltd. Exhibit 145: Kaseya Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 146: Kaseya Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 147: Kaseya Ltd. - Key offerings 11.12 Wipro Ltd. Exhibit 148: Wipro Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 149: Wipro Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 150: Wipro Ltd. - Key news Exhibit 151: Wipro Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 152: Wipro Ltd. - Segment focus 12 Appendix 12.1 Scope of the report 12.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 153: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 154: Exclusions checklist 12.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 155: Currency conversion rates for US$ 12.4 Research methodology Exhibit 156: Research methodology Exhibit 157: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 158: Information sources 12.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 159: 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 WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Media are invited to visit NASA's Desert Research and Technology Studies (Desert RATS) team members on Monday, Oct. 24, at the Black Point Lava Flow near Flagstaff, Arizona. Through Desert RATS, NASA and its partner are practicing rover operations for future Artemis missions. The training mission, which kicked-off on Saturday, Oct. 11, is running through Saturday, Oct. 22, and primarily focuses on conducting pressurized rover operations. This skillset is a key element of future Moon missions starting with Artemis VII in 2030. NASA's in-person only event includes an opportunity to speak with subject matter experts and ride inside the prototype Moon rover. The media day schedule is as follows (all times MST): 12:30 p.m. Arrival Arrival 1 p.m. Overview briefing and Q&A Overview briefing and Q&A 1:30 p.m. Speak to subject matter experts and ride rover Reporters wishing to attend must request accreditation by 5 p.m. EDT, Thursday, Oct. 20, from Nilufar Ramji at: 281-483-5111 or [email protected]. Simulating lunar missions, Desert RATS crews are traversing the desert, living and working in the rover, and exiting to conduct moonwalks. NASA and its partner, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), will gather data about the pressurized rover's design, cabin configuration, driving modes, timeline constraints, and mission operations to support potential design concepts for future pressurized rovers. Through Artemis, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon, paving the way for a long-term, sustainable lunar presence and serving as a steppingstone for future astronaut missions to Mars. Mission simulations on Earth help prepare humans for the challenges of deep space exploration and journeying farther into the solar system. Learn more about NASA's Artemis missions: https://www.nasa.gov/artemis SOURCE NASA WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA will host a media teleconference at 11 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, Oct. 25, to discuss the next science investigations, technology demonstrations, crew supplies, and hardware bound for the International Space Station aboard Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft on the company's 18th commercial resupply mission for NASA. Audio of the media call will stream live at: https://www.nasa.gov/live NASA and Northrop Grumman are targeting launch no earlier than 5:50 a.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 6. The Cygnus spacecraft, carried atop an Antares rocket, will launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia. The mission will carry scientific research, crew supplies, and hardware to the space station to support its Expedition 68 crew. To participate in the call, media must RSVP at least two hours prior to the start of the event to Kiana Raines at 202-358-1160 or [email protected] . The public can submit questions on social media using #AskNASA. Heidi Parris, associate program scientist for the International Space Station Program at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, will provide an overview of the research and technology launching aboard the Cygnus spacecraft. Other teleconference participants include: Dr. William Olbricht , acting deputy division director for the Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems Division, National Science Foundation, will provide an overview of the foundation's sponsored payloads on the mission. , acting deputy division director for the Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems Division, National Science Foundation, will provide an overview of the foundation's sponsored payloads on the mission. Dr. Ingrid Tomac , professor at the University of California, San Diego , and principal investigator for the Catastrophic Post-Wildfire Mudflows experiment, will discuss using this investigation to evaluate the roles of gravity and composition in mudflow formation. , professor at the , and principal investigator for the Catastrophic Post-Wildfire Mudflows experiment, will discuss using this investigation to evaluate the roles of gravity and composition in mudflow formation. Dr. Anna-Lisa Paul , research professor at the University of Florida , Gainesville , and principal investigator for Plant Habitat-03, will discuss this experiment to assess whether adaptations in one generation of plants grown in space can transfer to the next generation. , research professor at the , , and principal investigator for Plant Habitat-03, will discuss this experiment to assess whether adaptations in one generation of plants grown in space can transfer to the next generation. Dr. Andrea Fuso , associate professor at the Sapienza University of Rome and co-principal investigator for OVOSPACE, will discuss this investigation to examine the effect of microgravity on bovine cell cultures. This research could improve fertility treatments on Earth and help prepare for future human settlement in space. , associate professor at the Sapienza University of and co-principal investigator for OVOSPACE, will discuss this investigation to examine the effect of microgravity on bovine cell cultures. This research could improve fertility treatments on Earth and help prepare for future human settlement in space. Rich Boling , vice president of corporate advancement for In-Space Manufacturing and Operations at Redwire Space, discuss the BioFabrication Facility with new capabilities to further human tissue printing research. , vice president of corporate advancement for In-Space Manufacturing and Operations at Redwire Space, discuss the BioFabrication Facility with new capabilities to further human tissue printing research. Timothy Kudzanayi Kuhamba, senior systems engineer for the Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency (ZINGSA), will discuss the BIRDS-5 Project, a constellation of CubeSats, including the first satellites developed by Uganda and Zimbabwe. Bonny Omara, senior engineer for science, technology and innovation, Office of the President, also will be available to speak to the Ugandan satellite. Cargo resupply from U.S. companies ensures a national capability to deliver critical science research to the space station, significantly increasing the ability of NASA to conduct new investigations at the orbital outpost. Other U.S. government agencies, private industry, and academic and research institutions can also conduct microgravity research through our partnership with the ISS National Laboratory. Now in its third decade of operation, the microgravity laboratory advances scientific knowledge in Earth, space, physical, and biological sciences. Such research benefits people on Earth and lays the groundwork for future human exploration through the agency's Artemis missions, which will send astronauts to the Moon to prepare for Mars. Learn more about the mission and follow launch updates at: https://www.nasa.gov/northropgrumman SOURCE NASA Atlanta Company Named Partner of the Year at the Dunkin' 2022 Global Convention LAS VEGAS, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dunkin', the world's leading baked goods and coffee chain, today named National DCP (NDCP) as their Partner of the Year at the Dunkin' & Baskin-Robbins 2022 Global Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, National DCP is a global provider of innovative supply chain solutions to the foodservice industry. NDCP provides innovative supply chain solutions to Dunkin' restaurants "National DCP has been an incredible partner from the very beginning, but the level of support they provided to the entire Dunkin' system during the height of the pandemic took our partnership to a whole new level," said Scott Murphy, President, Dunkin'. "During a truly unpredictable time, they helped us maintain the continuity of supply chain and control costs for franchisees, while providing excellent support for product launches and promotional windows. I can't think of a better partner to celebrate." NDCP's partnership with Dunkin' has generated more than $1.3 billion in cost savings to the Dunkin' system. These savings, coupled with an expertise in strategic sourcing, distribution, and supply chain business practices, have driven significant food cost reductions while ensuring the continuity of supply for Dunkin' restaurants. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and worldwide supply chain disruptions, NDCP continued to assure supply and help alleviate price increases while simultaneously managing all the other suppliers to the Dunkin' system and maintaining its key service metrics. "We are deeply honored to win Dunkin's Partner of the Year Award," said Scott Carter, Chief Executive Officer of National DCP. "Strong collaboration with Dunkin' and our entire supplier community is critical in delivering value to our cooperative's membership. Our team members and supplier partners have worked tirelessly to deliver the best possible service at the lowest sustainable costs, which has been particularly challenging in recent times. We appreciate the continued opportunity to serve this iconic brand and look forward to the next decade of shared success." About National DCP, LLC (NDCP) National DCP, LLC (NDCP), a global provider of innovative supply chain solutions for the foodservice industry, currently serves over 10,000 quick service restaurants in the U.S. and distributes products to more than 40 countries. The company's expertise includes strategic sourcing of food and non-food items, distribution, manufacturing, business services, supply chain and full visibility, traceability, continuity, and sustainability of supply. Each year, its extensive distribution network makes 700,000+ deliveries of over 86+ million cases, driving more than 30 million miles. Innovative practices with strategic sourcing, inventory, warehousing, transportation, and program management have allowed NDCP to generate more than $1.3 billion in cumulative savings for customers. Headquartered in metro Atlanta, Georgia, NDCP has over 1,800 employees nationwide at its nine distribution centers and 30+ logistics hub. The company has been recognized with Food Logistics Rock Stars of the Supply Chain designations in 2017-2022, honored as Dunkin' Brands Partner of the Year in 2012 and 2016 and made the 2016 InformationWeek Elite 100 List. For more information, visit www.nationaldcp.com About Dunkin' Founded in 1950, Dunkin' is America's favorite all-day, everyday stop for coffee and baked goods. Dunkin' is a market leader in the hot regular/decaf/flavored coffee, iced regular/decaf/flavored coffee, donut, bagel and muffin categories. Dunkin' has earned a No. 1 ranking for customer loyalty in the coffee category for 16 years running. The company has more than 12,600 restaurants in 40 countries worldwide. Dunkin' is part of the Inspire Brands family of restaurants. For more information, visit www.DunkinDonuts.com. SOURCE National DCP, LLC On the occasion of the German Pain Congress 2022 (Deutscher Schmerzkongress 2022) the CNS-specialist announces Change for Health campaign DUSSELDORF, Germany and BARCELONA, Spain, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Neuraxpharm, a leading European specialty pharmaceutical company, today announces its "Change for Health" campaign that aims to increase the acceptance of medical cannabis and provide better information to patients, physicians and pharmacies. Based on the concept "If we turn our back on medical cannabis, we turn our back on millions of patients" Neuraxpharm is fostering a change for health across society on medical cannabis as a treatment to help improve the quality of life of hundreds of thousands of patients. With this awareness campaign, Neuraxpharm wants to encourage healthcare professionals, regulators, patients, and the public to rethink their preconceptions about cannabis and embrace it as an effective, individualized treatment option. At the heart of the campaign 'Change for Health' stands a video to raise awareness, a dedicated website www.neuraxpharm.com/change-for-health which explains the campaign background and educational materials such as crosswords and myths and facts. In Germany the campaign is being launched on the occasion of the German Pain Congress 2022 (Deutscher Schmerzkongress 2022) which is held from 19.-22. October 2022 in CC Rosengarten, Mannheim. At the congress the company is present with its own booth and will furthermore sponsor the symposium "Cannabinoids in pain treatments" to raise further awareness of this high-potential treatment approach. Neuraxpharm's campaign will be implemented at European level, starting with Germany, the Czech Republic and Switzerland, and will be extended to more countries as their legislation evolves. Already five years ago, medical cannabis was approved in Germany. Since then, demand has grown constantly. However, many doctors still seem to have reservations to prescribe medical cannabis or patients to take it, perhaps due to a lack of information. As a result, only one to two percent of physicians in Germany prescribe medical cannabis.1 Moreover, the stigmatization of medical cannabis is still widely spread and access to it for patients in need is still difficult to obtain. In addition to a changed mindset, information on medical cannabis and the respective treatment options are key to improve patients' access. While a growing number of studies confirm the improvement of quality of life in many indications through medical cannabis, patients who are seeking pain therapy or suffer from other disorders such as anxiety or diseases like epilepsy and multiple sclerosis appear to find it difficult to obtain a prescription. According to experts, medical cannabis could help over 650,000 patients in Germany. However, there are currently only around 130,000 patients being treated.2 Dr. Jorg-Thomas Dierks, CEO of Neuraxpharm, commented: "Medical cannabis is still a sensitive topic surrounded by prejudices. With our campaign we want healthcare professionals, regulators, patients, and the public to rethink their perception of medical cannabis and how this treatment can help millions of patients with unmet medical needs. Because a change in our mindset towards medical cannabis will lead towards an improvement of patient's health." Together with its partner, the Israel-based global pharma company Panaxia, Neuraxpharm is among the first pharmaceutical companies to make medical cannabis products available in Europe. The company offers an innovative and complete medical cannabis portfolio covering several patients' needs and consisting of standardized full-spectrum CBD and THC extracts for oral, as well as for inhalative use, the latter being the first of its kind in Europe. As a well-established partner for pain specialists, neurologists and psychiatrists, Neuraxpharm ensures that its medical cannabis meets the highest quality and safety standards of a prescription medicine. Moreover, Neuraxpharm provides all relevant information to enable doctors to make tailor-made prescriptions and instructions for pharmacies on how to prepare the ready-to-use product. 1 About the Group Neuraxpharm Neuraxpharm is a leading European specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of central nervous system disorders (CNS) with a direct presence in 19 countries. Backed by funds advised by Permira, Neuraxpharm has a unique understanding of the CNS market built over 35 years.2 With its focus on CNS, Neuraxpharm develops and commercializes established brands, value added medicines, generics, Consumer Healthcare products, medical cannabis, beyond-the-pill solutions and is continuously striving to offer a wide range of effective, high quality and affordable CNS treatment options in Europe. Present with its products in more than 50 countries, Neuraxpharm also manufactures pharmaceutical products and active pharmaceutical ingredients in its own manufacturing sites, Lesvi and Inke, in Spain. For more information please visit https://www.neuraxpharm.com 1 According to the platform Nowomed 2 Medizinisches Cannabis: Warum Arzte, Apotheken und Krankenkassen die Legalisierung bremsen (rnd.de) SOURCE Neuraxpharm Nearly 25,000 teenagers ages 13-17 share how they understand and respond to matters of justice. DALLAS, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Barna Group has released the third volume of The Open Generation , a first-of-its-kind international research study to understand the identity, values, and views of teenagers around the world. The third volume, titled "How Teens Around the World Can Make an Impact," explores how teens weigh global concerns and their motivation to address injustice (that is, unfair or undeserved treatment of others). The study also assesses how teens' connection to Jesus and the Bible relates to their desire to make a positive impact in the world. The Open Generation includes responses from nearly 25,000 teens ages 13-17 across 26 countries. The survey was sent to a cross section of teens, nationally representative of each country, regardless of their faith background or leaning. The study was developed and conducted by Barna Group in 2021, in partnership with Alpha, Biblica, and World Vision, with additional support from Christian Vision, Bible Study Fellowship, Christ In Youth, and the Association of Christian Schools International. "It is encouraging that the majority of global teens is motivated to address injustice in the world and believes that their generation can make a positive impact," said David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna Group. "But while teens have strong motivations, we've seen that many lack confidence and commitment at this stage in their lives. In this final volume of our study, we also track how teens' engagement with Jesus, the Bible, and their communities correlates with their empowerment to make a difference. Our aim is that this study will allow church leaders, along with parents, educators, mentors, and youth workers, to identify ways they can help teens turn their desire to make a difference into confidence and action to do good in the world." Key research findings in Volume 3 The majority of teens believes their generation can make a positive impact (87%) and is motivated to do something about unfair or undeserved treatment of people in society (78%). While the majority of teens believes that it's important to address injustice, there is a drop-off in their confidence and commitment to do so. Roughly two in five strongly agree that they can make a positive impact on others' lives (41%) and say they will engage in activities that promote justice (41%). Just one in four teens (26%) trusts today's leaders. Also, teens are torn about their own ability to lead. Only two in five teens (40%) believe that they can be a leader in the world today. For teens around the world, extreme poverty tops their list of greatest concerns (38%), followed by climate change (35%), sexual abuse (33%), unemployment (33%), political corruption (31%), and pollution (31%). For teens, having a holistic, engaged, devout faith correlates with a pull toward doing good in the world. Far more than their Christian peers as a whole, justice-motivated Christian teens want others to see Jesus reflected through their words and actions (74% vs. 43%) and say the Bible motivates them to make a positive impact on others' lives (73% vs 42%). The more proximity and connection a teen has to their community, the more empowered they feel to address injustice. Justice-motivated teens find importance (60%), satisfaction (53%), and longevity (59%) in their communities. Barna Group released three volumes as a part of The Open Generation study on the following dates: October 5, 2022 : How Teens Around the World Relate to Jesus : How Teens Around the World Relate to Jesus October 12, 2022 : How Teens Around the World View the Bible : How Teens Around the World View the Bible October 19, 2022 : How Teens Around the World Can Make an Impact Learn more about the study by visiting barna.com/the-open-generation . If you are a reporter seeking access to the full version of Volume 3, contact [email protected] . Barna Group is a visionary research and resource company based in Dallas, Texas. Started in 1984, the firm is widely considered to be a leading research organization focused on the intersection of faith and culture. Conducting more than two million interviews over the course of thousands of studies, Barna has become a go-to source for insights about faith and culture, leadership and vocation and generations. Barna has worked with thousands of businesses, nonprofit organizations and churches across the U.S. and around the world. Barna is an independent, privately-held, nonpartisan organization based in Dallas, Texas, with offices in Nashville, Tennessee, Ventura, California, and Atlanta, Georgia. SOURCE Barna Group Hibbett Sports, Shoe Carnival, Bloomingdale's, Sephora, and Lululemon are atop the list of this year's omnichannel leaders BOSTON, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NewStore , a modular, mobile-first omnichannel cloud platform for retail brands worldwide, today announced the launch of its 2023 Omnichannel Leadership Report . In its eighth edition, the company audited the omnichannel capabilities of 300 luxury, premium, and lifestyle retail brands in North America. The goal of the report is to assess the current state of retail and the industry's progress toward digital transformation. The research was conducted by a team of third-party mystery shoppers who were responsible for auditing each brand's online, mobile app, and in-store shopping experiences to determine their omnichannel competence. Using a proprietary methodology, every retail brand was then assigned an overall rank and score as well as scores across each report category. In order to remove bias, brands on the NewStore platform are excluded from the study. From this process, NewStore identified the following brands as the 2023 Omnichannel Leaders: NewStore's Omnichannel Leadership Report names leaders in digital transformation out of an audit of 300 retail brands. Tweet this Hibbett Sports Shoe Carnival Bloomingdale's Sephora Lululemon These brands have shown strength in the face of the macro environmental forces that have upended the retail industry the past two years. While no company has been entirely immune to these challenges, this group has proven that the organizations that started their digital transformation journeys prior to the pandemic are able to achieve success now and into the future. This year's report also found that the brands that didn't make substantial changes 3 to 4 years ago have had to weather the storm with incremental innovations that ultimately slow the pace of their omnichannel evolution. "Uncertainty is the new normal in retail, and the industry will only face more disruption. The 2023 Omnichannel Leadership Report should be a wake-up call for the brands that have not future-proofed their businesses," said Stephan Schambach, Founder and CEO, NewStore. "Especially those that think multichannel is the same as omnichannel. Without an integrated approach to physical, digital, and mobile, brands will struggle to find long-term business profitability." Data Highlights: Online Experience 54% of brands offer order pickup in-store (BOPIS), and 72% of brands offer order return in-store (BORIS). 31% of websites show store inventory availability. Mobile Experience 33% of brands have a mobile shopping app. 89% of branded apps give access to loyalty information. Store Experience 32% of store associates use mobile devices, and 16% of stores offer customers mobile checkout. 54% of stores have endless aisle capabilities. NewStore also segmented the 300 brands in this year's report into four categories: Basic, Mid-market, Premium, and Luxury. The data showed omnichannel momentum and transformation in the Basic and Luxury segments, while Mid-market and Premium brands have stagnated. However, there is room for improvement across all groups because omnichannel success is about the long game. Today's consumers demand seamless experiences at every level of retail, and short-term thinking puts future growth at risk. For more data and analysis, download the report for free here . To find out how your brand scored, contact [email protected] for a custom presentation. About NewStore NewStore provides Omnichannel-as-a-Service for retail brands worldwide that want to accelerate their digital transformation. Built for speed and flexibility, NewStore allows brands to easily deliver amazing shopping experiences that store associates and consumers love. Its mobile-first, modular cloud platform includes POS, order management, clienteling, inventory, and native consumer apps. NewStore customers such as Burton, Faherty Brand, G-Star RAW, Marine Layer, Scotch & Soda, UNTUCKit, and Vince benefit from the most complete, global omnichannel retail solution available now supercharged with Tap to Pay on iPhone. The company is backed by General Catalyst, Activant Capital, and Salesforce Ventures. Learn more at www.newstore.com. SOURCE NewStore, Inc. DALLAS, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NexPoint, a multibillion-dollar alternative investment firm, announced today that the NexPoint Merger Arbitrage Fund (the "Fund") won a 2022 HFM U.S. Performance Award. The Fund won in the Event Driven Over $1 Billion category. Winners were announced on October 18, 2022, at the award ceremony in New York City. A list of 2022 award winners can be found here: HFM US Performance Awards 2022. The Fund was also shortlisted in the Merger Arbitrage and 40 Act Fund categories. Now in the 16th year, the HFM U.S. Performance Awards recognize U.S. fund performance across a range of fund strategies, from credit and equity to macro and managed futures. The HFM U.S. Performance Awards 2022 categories were developed in consultation with the industry to ensure they were representative of the broad and fast-moving nature of the hedge fund sector. Eligible funds had to satisfy criteria such as base of operation in North America, monthly data submitted for their USD share class, submission of assets under management, and performance track record. The judging criteria was carefully considered and structured to result in funds across various strategies being recognized and rewarded for their high achievements. About NexPoint NexPoint is a multibillion-dollar alternative investment firm comprised of a group of investment advisers and sponsors, a broker-dealer, and a suite of related investment vehicles. NexPoint provides differentiated access to alternatives through a range of investment solutions, including public and private real estate investment trusts, tax-advantaged real estate vehicles, closed-end funds, interval funds, and a business development company. NexPoint is based in Dallas, Texas and is part of a network of affiliates with expertise across the asset management and financial services spaces. For more information visit nexpoint.com. Criteria HFM US Performance Awards 2022 are awarded annually and to be eligible for an award, funds entering any of the categories must apply and meet certain requirements. Funds entering any of the categories except newcomer, ESG, best digital assets and alternative risk premia must submit a 3-year track record of monthly performance data through May 2022. Funds entering the newcomer categories must have a track record of monthly performance data of at least 12 months and less than 36 months (that is between 12 and 35 months) through June 2022. Funds entering the ESG, best digital assets and alternative risk premia categories must have a track record of monthly performance data of at least 12 months through June 2022. Funds entering the long-term performance (5 years) categories must submit a 5-year track record of monthly performance data through June 2022.There were 7 funds shortlisted in the Merger Arbitrage category and 7 funds shortlisted in the Event Driven over $1bn category. Judges focus on absolute performance as well as standard deviation of returns and outperformance of the relevant HFM benchmark. They also take into consideration the relative AUM, nature of the investment strategy, track-records, other supporting materials and professional knowledge they have about shortlisted funds to come to their decisions. Before investing in the Fund, you should carefully consider the Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expense. For a copy of a prospectus or summary prospectus, which contains this and other information, please visit our website at nexpoint.com or call 1-833-697-7253. Please read the fund prospectus carefully before investing. CONTACTS Media Relations Prosek Partners for NexPoint [email protected] Investor Relations Kristen Thomas [email protected] SOURCE NexPoint SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Over $3M of donated medical and firefighting equipment, collected from fire stations across Canada, has been delivered to the State Emergency Services of Ukraine (DSNS). Nova Ukraine , a non-profit delivering humanitarian aid to Ukraine since 2014, and Firefighter Aid Ukraine (FAU), a Canadian-based nonprofit working with the DSNS since 2014, have collected over 108 pallets and two shipping containers worth of donated equipment to date. Included are medical supplies, rescue equipment, and protective clothing. Ukrainian firefighters accept the donated supplies in Chernivtsi Each piece of equipment is used to save civilian lives during the war in Ukraine "No one ever thought to stock enough equipment to put out hundreds of fires every single day in Ukraine," said Michael Khain, head of Operations at Nova Ukraine. "So we were thrilled to see what FAU had collected. Every single item collected is urgently requested by emergency departments across Ukraine." "When Russia invaded Ukraine, a large quantity of rescue equipment was destroyed or stolen by Russian aggressors," says Kevin Royle, Director of FAU. "We needed to efficiently deliver more equipment to Ukrainian first responders, fast, and we were fortunate to partner with Nova Ukraine, whose operational logistics are second to none. FAU delivered 90 tons of aid to Ukraine prior to the invasion, and with Nova Ukraine's assistance, more than doubled that amount since February 24th." Nova Ukraine has asked Flexport.org , the impact arm of California-based freight forwarder Flexport, to help transport the equipment. Flexport arranged for the 108 pallets to be shipped to Austria on planes. From there, they were transported by truck to Nova Ukraine's warehouse in Lviv. The shipping containers were sent by sea. "Filling the incredibly urgent need for these supplies is not just about the availability of the supplies, but how to get them in the right hands as quickly as possible. Aid is only useful if it reaches those in need," said Susy Schoenberg, Head of Flexport.org . "The work that Nova Ukraine, Firefighter Aid Ukraine and many other organizations are doing to support those in need is immensely important and we're proud to be a part of these efforts." The equipment was distributed by Nova Ukraine to DSNS departments in 5 regions: Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zaporizhia, Kharkiv, and Kyiv regions. This includes regions where active fighting is ongoing and where fires due to shelling are a common occurrence. "In the midst of Ukraine's everyday fight with the enemy, numerous large catastrophic situations are occurring all across the country," says Hrytsko Vitaliy, a representative from Ivano-Frankivsk DSNS who received the shipment. "This is why right now the help of our partners and donors is so important. New equipment, protective clothing, specialized rescue tools, fire trucks, and other gear will help the State Emergency Services of Ukraine to effectively save people and protect the rescue workers who are working under dangerous conditions." Nova Ukraine and Firefighter Aid Ukraine are continuing to collect donated supplies and equipment that is critically needed by first responders in Ukraine. For information on how to donate funds, supplies, or equipment, please see https://novaukraine.org/project/supporting-first-responders-in-ukraine/ . About Nova Ukraine: Nova Ukraine is a California-based nonprofit organization providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine since 2014. One of Nova Ukraine's foremost commitments is to support Ukrainian hospitals and first responders with the supplies and equipment they need during this time of crisis. About Firefighter Aid Ukraine: Since 2014, Firefighter Aid Ukraine has been working with State Emergency Services and volunteer brigades in Ukraine, building strong relationships in many regions of Ukraine, and to date has delivered over 140 tons of life rescue and health care aid. Contact Michael Khain 408-771-8418 [email protected] NovaUkraine website SOURCE Nova Ukraine; Firefighter Aid Ukraine THE HAGUE, The Netherlands, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Increasingly, criminal hackers are not just trying to get into someone's computer, but also into the minds of the user. By playing on someone's emotions, they might try to get them to part with their money. However, state actors also try to manipulate public opinion via cyber attacks, warned several speakers on Tuesday and Wednesday during the ONE Conference in The Hague, Europe's prime cybersecurity event. The solution is to make users more resilient. That can also be achieved with technical improvements, such as tightening security requirements for new software. Businesses should also be able to practise what employees should do in the event of a cyber attack, in the same way as evacuation exercises are regularly held at the office, speakers advised. This human perspective is now often forgotten, was the conclusion at the ONE Conference about cybersecurity in The Hague. But that will change, among other things due to an extensive coalition of the most promising economic sectors (Top sectors), which will join forces with the government to speed up work on methods and technologies to enable safer working online. With a start investment of 23 million euros, businesses and the government will innovate together to develop new solutions improving security, among other things to protect patient data and the IT systems of logistics chains. Collaboration is not just good for expanding knowledge, it also speeds up the development of solutions. In her keynote on Wednesday, Cristin Goodwin from Microsoft explained that foreign nations that embark on hacking not only target government or company data or vital infrastructure. Most hack attempts are aimed at civilian targets, such as email accounts and cloud storage of thinktanks, consultancies and NGOs. She therefore emphasised that digital hygiene, such as the use of strong passwords, is a 'national security priority' for the public. That is becoming increasingly important because nations not only use cyber attacks in the context of information warfare. Anna Chung from Palo Alto Networks says that merely causing anxiety among the public can be an important goal for a state hack attack. This may not be a very sophisticated attack, but merely hacking a government website and adding a threatening message. For an insider, that may not be too serious, says Chung. "But most citizens think: 'a hack is a hack'; they don't see the difference." The general advice to society is therefore to seriously implement the basic measures adopted by the National Cyber Security Centre. "Two-factor authentication at login stops many attacks," says director Hans de Vries of the NCSC. For more information, visit https://one-conference.nl/programme/ SOURCE ONE Conference GUANGZHOU, China, Oct.19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Onion Global Limited ("Onion Global", the "Group" or the "Company") (NYSE: OG), a next-generation lifestyle brand platform that connects the world's fresh, fashionable, and future technology-based brands to young people in China and across Asia, today announced that it generated over RMB12 million in GMV within the first three days of its 2022 Luca Brand Seasonal Promotion. The sales promotion offered discount coupons for quality products from premium brands, creating a fun, engaging, and affordable shopping experience tailored to the diverse demands of younger consumers. During the promotion, Onion Global used live games to engage with consumers and build awareness of the LUCA brands. Onion Global's platform O'Mall subsidized popular and trending products from LUCA brands through a variety of preferential discounts covering both international and domestic orders during the period. The eight-day seasonal promotion, under the theme "Luca Brand New Players", started on October 12, 2022 and continued until October 19, 2022. Highlights from the first three days of the 2022 Luca Brand Seasonal Promotion The total GMV during the first three days was over RMB12 million , and the total number of orders was over 25,000; , and the total number of orders was over 25,000; More than 900 Standard Product Units (SPUs ) offered by 45 brands participated in the Luca Brand Shopping Festival this year; Luca The repurchase rate of buyers was more than 30%; Mr. Cong (Kenny) Li, Founder, and CEO of Onion Global commented, "Onion Global remains committed to its core values: 'customer oriented' and 'embracing change'. Onion Global will continue to build a diversified brand ecosystem suited to market conditions by bringing a revolutionary mindset and innovative thinking to its exploration of new businesses. Based on its 3F brand selection criteria and global brand supply chain, Onion Global brings fresh, fashionable and future brands that anticipate market demands into its brand bank. Onion Global will fully leverage the 3F brand bank to cultivate LUCA brands that are trendy and attractive to young people. At the same time, Onion Global is committed to cooperation and joint development with famous laboratories and research institutions across the world to create high quality private label brand products from production bases in Europe, Japan and South Korea. Onion Global has built LUCA brands, a brand matrix covering more than 40 high-quality vertical brands and 700 SKUs, through in-house research, investment, strategic planning, and brand management. Through the 'LUCA Brand Era' initiative, Onion Global will continue to launch 30-50 new brands each year, enabling our business to quickly adapt to fast-changing consumer preferences in this dynamic market environment. Going forward, Onion Global will continue to enhance consumers' quality of life with products that are both aesthetically pleasing and practical, striving to create great experiences for our customers." Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, the Company's forecasts, general observation of the industry, and business outlook, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "expects," "anticipates," "target," "aim," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "potential," "estimates" "continue," "is/are likely to," or other similar statements. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Onion Global's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and Onion Global does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. About Onion Global Limited Onion Global Limited (NYSE: OG) is a next-generation lifestyle brand platform that connects the world's fresh, fashionable, and future technology-based brands to young people in China and across Asia. The Company's mission is to be the dream factory of lifestyle brands for young people. The Company's platform offers an integrated solution to develop, market, and distribute new and inspiring branded products, thereby reshaping the lifestyle shopping and consumer culture in China. Onion Global Limited has been listed on New York Stock Exchange since May 2021. For more information, please visit: http://ir.msyc.com/. Investor Relations Contact In China: Onion Global Ltd. Investor Relations E-mail: [email protected] Christensen Mr. Eric Yuan E-mail: [email protected] Tel: +86-10-5900-1548 In the United States: Christensen Ms. Linda Bergkamp E-mail: [email protected] Tel: +1-480-614-3004 SOURCE Onion Global Limited Sale Comes at a Time of Growing Consolidation Across the Cybersecurity Industry NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Option3 , a specialist cybersecurity private equity firm that combines a heritage in the national security community with decades of expertise in the investment industry, announced today that it recently sold its entire investment in Dark Cubed , an automated network security solution serving small and medium- sized businesses (SMBs), to Celerium, a leader in innovative active cyber defense solutions. "Nearly half of cyber-attacks target SMBs and yet this part of the market, with its budget and manpower limitations, is the first to be overlooked" said Manish Thakur, Managing Partner at Option3. "We looked hard for security solutions that were specifically designed for this universe, understanding its budget constraints, limited internal cyber talent and no experience in integrating complex solutions to protect their sensitive data." Thakur added, "Dark Cubed was built from the outset with SMBs as its focus, providing enterprise grade automated network security at a fraction of the cost, requiring no hardware, or people to manage. By delivering automated data-driven decision making at a low monthly price point, Dark Cubed created its own category in the market, consequently not competing with vendors in the firewall and threat intelligence space." Dark Cubed was founded by Vince Crisler, former Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at the White House, who was able to bring deep security experience gained in the Department of Defense (DoD) and the wider federal government. This background served the company well as it won the confidence of the government looking to protect small and emerging companies in the nation's defense industrial base. "It was a pleasure working with Vince and the team," said Lisa Donnan, Operating Partner and former Board Member at Dark Cubed. "The credibility the company's patented technology gained at DoD certainly got our attention, but its applicability goes so much further. They will be able to reach a far greater market in partnership with Celerium." Donnan, along with one other Option3 representative, resigned from the Dark Cubed board earlier this month when the private equity firm sold its entire position and ended its role at the company. "We were invested in Dark Cubed for only two years, a brief period for us. But when the business logic of the larger Managed Service Provider (MSP) setting presented itself, we knew that exiting was the right thing to do for both companies," said Thakur. "In many ways, consolidation has become as important as innovation in this industry, as overstretched cyber managers increasingly look for single integrated platforms to meet their growing needs." About Option3 Option3 is a specialist cybersecurity private equity firm based in New York and Reston, Virginia that combines experience from the classified world of U.S. national security with decades in investing, capital markets, and M&A. Since 2015, Option3 has invested in a variety of innovative companies across the cyber ecosystem, through two investment portfolios. It is currently "advance investing" out of its new "C2" cybersecurity private equity fund. Unlike the venture investing of most cyber funds, C2 will take control positions in mid-market companies, growing them to scale. The Fund will leverage the C-suite operational experience of the Option3 team including Chief Financial, Marketing, Technology, and Risk Management positions. Option3's investment strategy is informed by its longstanding Technology Board, which spans the former Chief Information Officer of the CIA to the former CIO at Department of Defense, and an Advisory Council led by a former CEO of Lehman Brothers. For more information, please visit www.option3.com. SOURCE Option3 MIDLAND, Pa., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School for its annual comprehensive financial report (ACFR) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021. The ACFR report has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive "spirit of full disclosure" to clearly communicate an organization's financial story and motivate potential users to read the report. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management. The school was marked as proficient in all applicable grading categories, including financial statements, analysis, and disclosures. PA Cyber's CEO Brian Hayden expressed thanks to the dedicated staff of PA Cyber's internal Business Office. Hayden added, "This is the fourth year our cyber charter school has captured the distinction, and the PA Cyber team is justifiably proud of having achieved this honor. This continues to be a significant milestone for the school. PA Cyber's commitment to the highest level of reporting standards and transparency to all stakeholders demonstrates good stewardship of taxpayer funds." The GFOA advances excellence in government finance by providing best practices, professional development, resources, and practical research for more than 20,000 members and the communities they serve. The GFOA established the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program (COA) in 1945 to encourage and assist state and local governments to go beyond the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles to prepare annual financial reports that evidence the spirit of transparency and full disclosure and then to recognize individual governments that succeed in achieving that goal. About PA Cyber Serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade, the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School is one of the largest, most experienced, and most successful online public schools in the nation. PA Cyber's online learning environments, personalized instructional methods, and curricula choices connect Pennsylvania students and families with state-certified and highly qualified teachers and rich academic content aligned to state standards. Founded in 2000, PA Cyber is headquartered in Midland (Beaver County) and maintains a network of support offices throughout the state. As a public school, PA Cyber is open for enrollment to any school-age child residing in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and does not charge tuition to students or families. Media Contact: Jennie Harris [email protected] 724-313-5842 SOURCE The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School (PA Cyber) - PABLO AIR deploys its Multicopter and Smart Traffic Management system - NASA sponsored project - Wind speed data utilization for safe urban air mobility SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PABLO AIR (CEO, Kim Young-Joon) , a member of the Born2Global Centre, announced that it will participate in a project to improve urban airspace safety hosted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate. This project feeds into NASA's larger vision for Advanced Air Mobility. PABLO AIRs Multicopter Delivery Drone The testing will happen in the Hampton Roads, Virginia area where NASA's Langley Research Center is located from this October to July next year. The project will include collaboration from five companies: PABLO AIR, ResilienX, TruWeather, Spright and Longbow. PABLO AIR will install wind speed sensors on its multicopter delivery drone and collect and utilize data through the smart traffic management system (PAMNet, PABLO AIR Mobility Network). Through this effort, PABLO AIR will help collect and analyze real-time wind speed data that significantly affects flight stability. The prediction of the wind speed model helps ensure the stability of the flight path and identifies the effect on the battery, thereby improving flight efficiency. Regarding the project with NASA, Lee Chan-Joo, C.O.O of the U.S. branch of PABLO AIR, said, "This is a great project to bolster the UAS industry with a proven set of market leaders. We are excited to work with NASA and the ResilienX team to help enhance the safety features of our UAS operations. This effort represents an excellent opportunity for PABLO AIR to serve as a bridge and enhance cooperation between the U.S and the Republic of Korea, and to set the bar for safe UAS environments globally." PABLO AIR established a branch in Arizona last year. This year, along with NUAIR (Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research), the company is steadily conducting drone delivery demonstrations at Griffiss International Airport in New York. About PABLO AIR Since its first step into the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market in 2018 in South Korea, PABLO AIR has provided a wide array of integrated drone solutions, including UAV control system, aircraft development, and drone delivery platform and service. In addition, PABLO AIR is continuously carrying forward research and development, and commercialization at home and abroad to become a pioneer of the global UAV industry. Furthermore, with the establishment of the U.S. branch as a starting point in 2021, it has been recognized for its technological prowess in the global UAV market. https://pabloair.com About ResilienX Founded in 2018 in Syracuse, NY, they are focused on ensuring the safe integration of UAS into existing airspace systems and transforming mobility around the world. About TWS TruWeather is a leading innovator in micro-weather sensing, modeling, and decision insights for weather-sensitive government activities, industries, and companies. About Spright Spright is the drone division of Air Methods, created to help solve for many of the toughest challenges facing communities across North America. Based in Gilbert, AZ, Spright as a stand-alone Part 135 Operator with a leadership team that touts more than 70 years of aviation operational experience. About Longbow Group The Longbow Group LLC is a privately-held, International Aviation Services Company providing Aviation Consulting, Asset & Lease Management and Technical Services to a range of global clients including Airlines, Leasing Companies, Banks and Institutional Investors. About Born2Global Centre The Born2Global Centre, operated by Born2Global, is a full-cycle service platform that supports the global expansion of promising companies. Established in 2013 under the Ministry of Science and ICT, Born2Global has been setting the standards for a successful startup ecosystem in Korea and continues to expand and transform startups so that they are engaged, well equipped, and connected with the global market. For more information, please visit born2global.com SOURCE Born2Global Centre MUMBAI, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Piramal Pharma Limited (PPL) (Scrip Name: PPLPHARMA) today listed on the Indian stock exchanges, Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE). The milestone was marked with the ringing of the opening bell at BSE to announce the listing by Mr. Ajay Piramal, Chairman of Piramal Group, Ms. Nandini Piramal, Chairperson of PPL, and Mr. Peter DeYoung, CEO, Piramal Global Pharma, along with Mr. Nayan Mehta, Chief Financial Officer and Mr. Sameer Patil, Chief Business Officer from the Bombay Stock Exchange Ltd. Mr. Ajay Piramal, Chairman, Piramal Group (right), Ms. Nandini Piramal, Chairperson, Piramal Pharma Limited and Mr. Peter DeYoung, CEO, Piramal Global Pharma at the listing ceremony of Piramal Pharma Ltd. at Bombay Stock Exchange. In June 2020, PPL signed an agreement with The Carlyle Group Inc. to invest growth equity capital for a 20% stake in Piramal Pharma Limited. Accordingly, the pharmaceuticals business was vertically demerged from Piramal Enterprises Limited (PEL). In October 2021, the Board of Directors of PEL approved the demerger of the pharmaceuticals business and simplification of the corporate structure to transform PEL from being a multi-sector conglomerate to two separate sector-focused listed entities in Financial Services and Pharmaceuticals. PPL includes Piramal Pharma Solutions (PPS), an integrated Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO); Piramal Critical Care (PCC), a Complex Hospital Generics business; and the India Consumer Healthcare business, selling over-the-counter (OTC) products. In addition, it has a joint venture with Allergan, a leader in ophthalmology in the Indian formulations market. Mr. Ajay Piramal, Chairman of Piramal Group, said, "Today, with the listing of Piramal Pharma Limited, we have ensured timely completion of the demerger process announced last year. The listing is in line with our objective to transform the group from a multi-sector conglomerate into two separate sector-focused listed entities. The simplification of the corporate structure will unlock greater shareholder value. PPL is well poised to be a global Indian brand in the pharmaceutical space. It has an integrated business model, niche product offerings and a global team to deliver responsible growth in the future." Ms. Nandini Piramal, Chairperson, PPL said, "We are pleased that Piramal Pharma is embarking on a new journey as a focused Pharma entity with a simplified corporate structure. Today, we are growing faster than the market and are relevant to customers in each of our business lines where we offer our products and services. Going forward, we intend to maintain focus on growing our chosen business lines and will identify and secure inorganic and organic growth opportunities to generate consistent shareholder value. We take pride in our outstanding quality track record, and focus on patient, customer, and consumer-centricity." PPL's CDMO business (FY22 revenue of 3,960 Cr) offers end-to-end development and manufacturing solutions through a globally integrated network of facilities across the drug life cycle to innovators and generic companies. The Complex Hospital Generics business (FY22 revenue of 2,002 Cr) offers a product portfolio that includes inhalation anesthetics, intrathecal therapies for spasticity and pain management, injectable pain and anesthetics, injectable anti-infectives, and other therapies. The Consumer Healthcare business (FY22 revenue of 741 Cr) is among the leading players in India in the self-care space, with established brands and a nation-wise sales and marketing infrastructure serving the Indian consumer healthcare market. Piramal Pharma Limited is focused on growing the business and has been consistently making investments to support the same. For the CDMO business, it is focusing on moving strategically up the value chain by leveraging an end-to-end model to offer Integrated Services with 170+ integrated projects executed to date and focusing on developing differentiated capabilities. The Complex Hospital Generics business has a strong pipeline with 40+ SKUs at various stages of development. With the Consumer Healthcare division, PPL has built on its power brands launched 40 new products and 18 new SKUs and expanded distribution into modern trade stores and e-commerce channels. About Piramal Pharma Ltd. Piramal Pharma Limited (PPL) offers a portfolio of differentiated products and services through end-to-end manufacturing capabilities across 15 global facilities and a global distribution network over 100 countries. PPL includes: Piramal Pharma Solutions (PPS), an integrated Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization; Piramal Critical Care (PCC), a Complex Hospital Generics business, and the India Consumer Healthcare business, selling over-the counter products. PPS offers end-to-end development and manufacturing solutions through a globally integrated network of facilities across the drug life cycle to innovator and generic companies. PCC's complex hospital product portfolio includes inhalation anaesthetics, intrathecal therapies for spasticity and pain management, injectable pain and anaesthetics, injectable anti-infectives, and other therapies. The India Consumer Healthcare business is among the leading players in India in the self-care space, with established brands in the Indian consumer healthcare market. In addition, PPL has a joint venture with Allergan, a leader in ophthalmology in the Indian formulations market. In October 2020, the company received growth equity investment from the Carlyle Group. For more information visit: www.piramal.com/pharma, LinkedIn Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1855206/Piramal_Pharma_Limited_Logo.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1925064/Piramal_BSE_Listing_Ceremony.jpg SOURCE Piramal Pharma Limited These One-of-a-Kind Bags Hide Your Beloved Reese's Peanut Butter Treats HERSHEY, Pa., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- We all know that the Reese's brand is the number one Halloween candy brand we mean duh so it's no surprise Halloween Reese's Peanut Butter treats are the first to be taken or wanted in a trade from trick-or-treaters' hard-earned bag of candy. Well, the Reese's team has a message - move along would-be candy thieves and tricky candy traders! Thanks to the first-ever Reese's Secret Stash Trick-or-Treat Bag, people can now hide their most coveted Halloween candy, Reese's naturally, away from prying eyes and hands in a secret compartment. Reeses Secret Stash Trick-or-Treat Bag "We know how it feels to work so hard Halloween night to get the best of the best candy, Reese's," said Reese's senior brand manager, Shannon Wilkinson. "So, we decided it's time to help you keep those number one treats for yourself with the Reese's Secret Stash Trick-or-Treat bag that has a secret compartment for those precious chocolate and peanut butter treats." Directions to stash your precious Reese's snack-sized candy: Simply lift the jack-o-lantern's right eye and secretly slip your Reese's snack-sized treat through the hidden opening. Once out of sight from envious family and friends, unzip the bottom flap to access the best stash ever. ENJOY those hard-earned delicious Reese's treats all for yourself! How do you get one of these Reese's exclusive bags? Starting Wednesday, October 19th at 12 p.m. ET, the Reese's brand is releasing a limited quantity of the Secret Stash Bags, while supplies last, to gear up for the big night. Just go Shop.Hersheys.com to purchase your 9.6oz bag of Reese's Peanut Butter Snack Sized Ghosts, Bats & Pumpkins, and get the Reese's Secret Stash Trick-or-Treat Bag for free!* Follow along with everything about the Reese's brand on their Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok channels. For more Halloween excitement, check out https://www.hersheyland.com/halloween. ** Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, who are 18 (except Alabama and Nebraska 19 and 21 in Mississippi) years of age or older as of date of entry. Giveaway Period: October 19, 2022 to October 19, 2022 at 11:59PM EST. The first 150 participants who purchase a specified Reese's Peanut Butter Snack Size item (REESE'S HALLOWEEN Peanut Butter Milk Chocolate Ghosts, Bats & Pumpkins Snack Size 9.6oz Bag) on shop.hersheys.com will be entitled to receive the giveaway item, consisting of One (1) Reese's Secret Stash Bag and One (1) 9.6 oz bag of REESE'S HALLOWEEN Peanut Butter Milk Chocolate Ghosts, Bats & Pumpkins Snack Size, totaling an estimated $6.99 value, which will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, WHILE SUPPLIES LAST or October 19, 2022 12 PM October 19, 2022 at 11:59PM EST, whichever comes first. A total of up to 150 will be awarded. Once the 150 giveaway items are awarded, no further items will be available. The giveaway items are non-transferable, non-exchangeable, and non-refundable, have no cash value, and may not be combined with any other offers or promotions. Only one giveaway item per person. Sponsor: The Hershey Company, 19 E. Chocolate Avenue, Hershey, PA 17033 Customers will be notified via email within 48 hours of making their purchase if they are one of the first 150. Please allow 2 to 4 weeks for delivery of the giveaway item. To receive the giveaway item, the participant must provide sponsor a valid mailing address within 3 days after contact from the sponsor. Signature will be required when giveaway item is delivered. About The Hershey Company The Hershey Company is headquartered in Hershey, Pa., and is an industry-leading snacks company known for bringing goodness to the world through its iconic brands, remarkable people and enduring commitment to help children succeed. Hershey has approximately 19,000 employees around the world who work every day to deliver delicious, quality products. The company has more than 100 brand names in approximately 80 countries around the world that drive more than $8.9 billion in annual revenues, including such iconic brand names as Hershey's, Reese's, Kit Kat, Jolly Rancher and Ice Breakers, and fast-growing salty snacks including SkinnyPop, Pirate's Booty and Dot's Pretzels. For more than 125 years, Hershey has been committed to operating fairly, ethically and sustainably. Hershey founder, Milton Hershey, created the Milton Hershey School in 1909 and since then the company has focused on helping children succeed. To learn more visit www.thehersheycompany.com Follow: http://www.twitter.com/hersheycompany https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-hershey-company?trk=top_nav_home http://www.facebook.com/hersheycompany http://www.youtube.com/hersheycompany http://www.instagram.com/hersheycompany SOURCE The Hershey Company JERSEY CITY, N.J., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd. has announced the publication of a market research report titled "Global Rare Kidney Diseases Market By Target Indications (IgA Nephropathy, Membranous Nephropathy, Lupus Nephritis, C3 Glomerulopathy, Focal Segmental Glomerular Sclerosis, and Others), Type of Molecule (Small Molecules and Biologics (Hormone, Monoclonal Antibody, Recombinant Protein, and Others)), Route of Administration (Intravenous, Oral, Subcutaneous, and Others))- Market Outlook and Industry Analysis 2030" According to company's newest research, the global rare kidney diseases market is predicted to exhibit a promising CAGR of 16% between 2022 and 2030. Rare kidney diseases (RKD) encompass approximately 150 distinct conditions. In the United States (US) and Europe, the prevalence of rare kidney diseases is estimated to range between 60 and 80 per 100,000 cases/individuals. Approximately one-third of adults with diabetes and one-fifth of adults with hypertension may have kidney disease. Kidney diseases kill more people than breast and prostate cancers combined (NVS 2021 report of 2018 data). Kidney disease patients are five to ten times more probable to die prematurely than to develop kidney failure with replacement therapy (KFRT). It's important to note that after the COVID-19 pandemic started, it became even harder to treat people with rare kidney diseases. This is mainly because most current treatments for these conditions require patients to go to the hospital or medical center often. As a result, the death rate for sick people during the pandemic went up by 30%. This rise in death rates has forced people in the pharmaceutical industry to do the research they need to find new drugs that can effectively treat rare kidney diseases. Get a Demo Sample copy of the Report at https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/request-sample/1414 Several essential factors are driving the growth of the market for rare kidney diseases. The collaborative interactions among clinicians, patients, industry representatives, regulatory agents, and government agencies contribute to the expansion of the need for complex illnesses due to new advancements in diagnosis and treatment. In addition, the increased use of next-generation sequencing techniques is expected to improve diagnostic accuracy for rare kidney diseases, aid in elucidating molecular mechanisms of disease, facilitate genetic counselling, and provide opportunities for carrier testing. Renal replacement therapy advancements and increased accessibility enable patients to live longer lives at the expense of their quality of life. The market restraining factors include unresolved genetic defects, a lack of biomarkers to track disease progression, heterogeneous clinical phenotypes, and obsolete diagnostic classifications that do not reflect underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, which have hindered therapeutic advances in rare kidney diseases. Slow drug approvals and complex studies will also restrain the market's growth. North America will dominate and lead the global market for rare kidney diseases during the forecasted period as a result of its rapid clinical advancements and research into kidney disease treatments. The key market players are GlaxoSmithKline, Recordati Rare Diseases, Amicus Therapeutics, Calliditas Therapeutics, Alexion Pharmaceuticals (A subsidiary of AstraZeneca), Travere Therapeutics, Aurinia Pharmaceutical, Advicenne, Protalix Biotherapeutics, AstraZeneca, Chinook Therapeutics, Reata Pharmaceuticals, Roche, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Merk & co., Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Omeros Corporation, Lonza, and Other Prominent Players. Enquiry Before Buying: https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/enquiry-before-buying/1414 Key Developments in The Market: In Aug 2022 , CSL Vifor and Travere Therapeutics announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted for review the Conditional Marketing Authorization (CMA) application for sparsentan for the treatment of a rare kidney disorder IgAN, and a leading cause of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). , CSL Vifor and Travere Therapeutics announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted for review the Conditional Marketing Authorization (CMA) application for sparsentan for the treatment of a rare kidney disorder IgAN, and a leading cause of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). In Dec 2021 , The FDA approved the first drug to reduce urine protein levels in IgA nephropathy, a rare kidney disease. Tarpeyo (budesonide) delayed-release capsules have been granted accelerated approval by the FDA to minimise proteinuria (increased protein levels in the urine) in adults with primary immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy who are at risk of rapid disease progression. , The FDA approved the first drug to reduce urine protein levels in IgA nephropathy, a rare kidney disease. Tarpeyo (budesonide) delayed-release capsules have been granted accelerated approval by the FDA to minimise proteinuria (increased protein levels in the urine) in adults with primary immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy who are at risk of rapid disease progression. In Sept 2021 , Allarity Therapeutics and Lonza agreed to collaborate on developing and manufacturing dovitinib, Allarity's renal cell carcinoma candidate therapy. The agreement called for the start of dovitinib manufacturing in 2022 to meet Allarity's projected needs for bringing dovitinib to market after regulatory approvals. , Allarity Therapeutics and Lonza agreed to collaborate on developing and manufacturing dovitinib, Allarity's renal cell carcinoma candidate therapy. The agreement called for the start of dovitinib manufacturing in 2022 to meet Allarity's projected needs for bringing dovitinib to market after regulatory approvals. In June 2021 , Novartis announced new Phase II interim data for iptacopan in the rare kidney disease C3 glomerulopathy (C3G). Iptacopan is being developed for a number of (CDRDs) complement-driven renal diseases, including C3Gand (IgAN) IgA nephropathy, the blood disorder paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), with the goal of addressing a vital driver of these diseases. Market Segmentation Global Rare Kidney Diseases Market, by Target Indication, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn) IgA Nephropathy Lupus Nephritis Focal Segmental Glomerular Sclerosis Membranous Nephropathy C3 Glomerulopathy Cystinosis Dense Deposit Disease Distal Renal Tubular Acidosis Fabry Disease Refractory Gout Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Others Global Rare Kidney Diseases Market, by Type of Molecule, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn) Small Molecules Biologics Monoclonal Antibody Hormone Recombinant Protein Others Global Rare Kidney Diseases Market, by Route of Administration, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn) Oral Intravenous Subcutaneous Others Global Rare Kidney Diseases Market, by Region, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn) North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa North America Rare Kidney Diseases Market, by Country, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn) U.S. Canada Europe Rare Kidney Diseases Market, by Country, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn) Germany France Italy Spain Russia Rest of Europe Asia Pacific Rare Kidney Diseases Market, by Country, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn) India China Japan South Korea Australia & New Zealand Latin America Rare Kidney Diseases Market, by Country, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn) Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa Rare Kidney Diseases Market, by Country, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn) GCC Countries South Africa Rest of Middle East & Africa For Customization: https://www.insightaceanalytic.com/customisation/1414 Other Related Reports Published by InsightAce Analytic: Global Biosimilar Monoclonal Antibodies Market Global Dialysis Equipment Market Global Therapeutic Proteins and Oral Vaccines Market About Us: InsightAce Analytic is a market research and consulting firm that enables clients to make strategic decisions. Our qualitative and quantitative market intelligence solutions inform the need for market and competitive intelligence to expand businesses. We help clients gain a competitive advantage by identifying untapped markets, exploring new and competing technologies, segmenting potential markets, and repositioning products. Our expertise is in providing syndicated and custom market intelligence reports with an in-depth analysis with key market insights in a timely and cost-effective manner. Contact Us: InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd. Tel.: +1 551 226 6109 Email: [email protected] Site Visit: www.insightaceanalytic.com Follow Us on LinkedIn @ bit.ly/2tBXsgS Follow Us On Facebook @ bit.ly/2H9jnDZ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1729637/InsightAce_Analytic_Logo.jpg SOURCE InsightAce Analytics Pvt. Ltd. Publications Include Special Issue in Top Academic Journal, Poverty and Supervision Report, and Best Practices White Paper NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- REFORM Alliance - the nonprofit organization focused on transforming America's probation and probation systems founded by Shawn "JAY-Z" Carter, Meek Mill, Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin, among others - has announced the launch of a series of research papers. The forthcoming publications will deepen the awareness and understanding of policymakers, practice-based stakeholders, and the public of how supervision is impacting people, families, and communities. There are approximately 4 million people under supervision in the United States, a decrease of nearly 300,000 since REFORM was founded in 2019. REFORM Alliance's work to transform probation and parole from a failed system of trapdoors to one centered around accountability, personal incentive, and stability has already had a demonstrative impact with 16 bipartisan pieces of legislation passed across 10 states, providing pathways for more than 650,000 people to exit the system. To expand on the organization's advocacy work, REFORM has committed to putting its resources behind researching best practices of probation and parole systems across the country. REFORM Alliance's newly established Research and Implementation department was created to ensure that REFORM's policy efforts realize their maximum potential and are rooted in the best and most current evidence available. The Research and Implementation Department is working to establish REFORM as a leader and convenor in the field, bringing together experts, practitioners, and advocates to deepen understanding of the challenges parole and probation face and the solutions for building a new system that generates opportunity and well-being. "Reforming our criminal justice system begins with research and data," said Robert Rooks, CEO of REFORM Alliance. "Research is fundamental to educating and engaging the public, and these new publications deepen our understanding of how supervision impacts virtually every aspect of a person's life and American society. Illuminating the barriers supervision poses to economic opportunity will help us be more strategic and ultimately successful in eroding these barriers." Last month, REFORM Alliance partnered with Columbia Justice Lab to publish a special issue of the Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. The series of papers, From Supervision to Opportunity: Reimagining Probation and Parole , examine tangible, evidence-based solutions to combat the challenges of the U.S. probation and parole system and opportunities that can be used by lawmakers and other practice-based stakeholders to improve our justice system. The collection of papers features staggering data: compared to the general population, people on probation or parole are nearly 3 times more likely to be unemployed, formerly incarcerated individuals average approximately $11,300 in income compared to $30,000 for non-justice-involved counterparts, while 8 million people live in poverty due to contact with the justice system. Additional highlights from the research are unpacked by Bruce Western, one of the special issue's editors, in this newly published video interview . A Poverty and Supervision Report, a companion piece to the special ANNALS issue, will be released later this fall and dive deeper into the relationship between intergenerational poverty and supervision, pulling from the Columbia Justice Lab articles on employment, health, collateral consequences, and include additional research and interviews with experts. In the first half of 2023, REFORM Alliance will publish a White Paper outlining key learnings from jurisdictions across the country that have successfully reduced their probation and parole populations, improved outcomes for people on supervision, and increased public safety. The paper is a continuation of a listening session organized by REFORM Board Member and New England Patriots Owner Robert Kraft that convened systems leaders, law enforcement, and other stakeholders for a discussion about best practices in supervision and public safety. REFORM is working to replace America's probation and parole system with a restorative approach that is fair, accountable, and invested in rehabilitation. The organization's goal is for people to reenter society with dignity and equip them with the tools to succeed, all while making families and communities safer and stronger. In addition to REFORM's legislative and research work, the organization is focused on creating job opportunities for sustainable success in the employment market. Employment opportunities are one of the greatest factors in determining reentry success, lowering recidivism, and creating lasting stability for individuals, families, and communities. Launching a job fair event series in late 2021, REFORM has hosted two large-scale events providing comprehensive one-stop services and community engagement. The two events in NY and Philadelphia provided nearly 10,000 people with access to job opportunities, with 25% of attendees receiving an offer of employment. Additional job fair events are planned to be announced across the country in 2023. More About REFORM : The nonprofit organization was founded in the wake of the #FreeMeek movement by award-winning recording artist Meek Mill; Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin; Arnold Ventures co-founder Laura Arnold; entrepreneur and business mogul Shawn "JAY-Z" Carter; CNN host and activist Van Jones; Kraft Group CEO and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft; Galaxy Digital CEO and founder Michael E. Novogratz; Vista Equity Partners founder, chairman, CEO Robert F. Smith; Brooklyn Nets co-owner and philanthropic investor Clara Wu Tsai; and in October 2021, philanthropist, pediatrician, and criminal justice reform advocate Dr. Priscilla Chan joined the organization's Board of Directors. Veteran criminal justice advocate Robert Rooks leads the organization as CEO. For more information, visit our website and follow @reform on social. SOURCE REFORM Alliance A new whitepaper gives insights into the top handbook dos and don'ts NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Retaining employees, attracting talent, DEIB initiatives and evolving laws all take front and center when employers draft and update the employee handbookand with good reason. Prepared thoughtfully, the handbook plays a key role in supporting these initiatives and helps employers manage risk. It's also a valuable resource for communicating company policies, promoting company values and onboarding new employees. However, because of ongoing new legislation impacting the workplace, employee handbooks can quickly become outdated, and people professionals struggle to ensure their handbooks remain relevant and compliant. Handbook policies can become dated if they haven't been refreshed to stay culturally relevant, promote inclusivity and speak to a diverse audience. "A poorly written, outdated handbook is a missed opportunity for employers. The handbook offers real value in promoting employee engagement and retention," says Melissa Silver, Senior Legal Editor of Policy Solutions for XpertHR. "So it's important to keep the handbook up to dateand know when it's time to give it a full overhaul." XpertHR, an HR strategy, compliance and data provider, offers tips to help with the process with its new whitepaper, 6 Items to Include in Your Employee Handbook and 3 to Avoid. What's the one thing every handbook should include? Policies employers are required by law to include in their handbook if they have one. While employee handbooks tend to be flexible, legal requirements are not, and if the employee handbook is not in compliance with a law's notice requirements, it could leave a company vulnerable to litigation and fines. "Employee handbook requirements differ from state to state, so be sure to check your state's specific rules," says Silver. "For example, in Maryland, employers covered under the Reasonable Accommodations for Disabilities Due to Pregnancy Act must have a section in their employee handbook dedicated to an employee's right to reasonable accommodations and leave for a pregnancy-related disability. These requirements can even stretch to localities employers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for instance, must include in their employee handbook a notice of employee rights and remedies under the Minneapolis paid sick leave law." It's also essential to have well-written policies against harassment and discrimination, not only to reduce risk for the employer and set clear expectations for employees, but also to foster inclusivity and help increase employee engagement and morale. The policies should clearly communicate that discriminatory and harassing behaviors or conduct will not be tolerated in the workplace and that the employer will take related complaints seriously. Yet these two types of policies only scratch the surface. An employment at-will policy, an employee acknowledgment form and PTO policies with final wage information are additional critical components of a handbook. While identifying what to include in an employee handbook is important, it is equally or more important to recognize what to avoid in a handbook. Silver notes that one red flag is an employee handbook so riddled with legalese that it confuses employees. Clear, simple language is best. In that same vein, outdated policies can signal that the employer does not value the handbook. It's also essential to ensure that the policies in the employee handbook as well as its tone and language reflect the present. One way for companies to do this is by being proactive, staying ahead of workplace trends and regularly updating the handbook. For instance, offering a policy on flexible work arrangements lets employees know that work-life balance is a priority, Silver says. Of course, no matter how vital it may be, Silver acknowledges it can be challenging to update the employee handbook regularly. This is especially true for employers that operate in multiple jurisdictions or have remote employees in multiple states. "One way you can help your handbook stay on track is Aptifore, a first-of-its-kind employee handbook solution," she notes. Launched by XpertHR earlier this year, Aptifore combines an extensive, current database of federal, state and local employment laws with an unrivaled selection of multi-jurisdictional policies. Its intelligent technology supports and streamlines the continuous maintenance of compliant handbooks by providing ongoing, automated personalized alerts and policy updates as legislation changes. To learn more about how Aptifore is helping companies build better employee handbooks and to book a free demo, visit http://aptifore.com. About XpertHR Global leader XpertHR empowers organizations to shape HR strategy, manage employee risk and embrace diverse talent ecosystems to create equitable, high-performing and purposeful workplaces. Since 2002, the data analytics and intelligent solutions provider has earned a reputation for providing expert insights, trusted resources and practical tools to help customers achieve greater efficiency, improve compliance and increase employee engagement. XpertHR is proud to be part of the LexisNexis portfolio within RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. To learn more visit xperthr.com. A new whitepaper from XpertHR gives insights into the top handbook inclusions and omissions. Tweet this SOURCE XpertHR Revenera's growth throughout the past 13 years exhibits immense strength and resilience, offering a global go-to-market approach with teams in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan recently assessed the global software license management industry and, based on its findings, recognizes Revenera with the 2022 Global Software License Management Market Leadership Award for the software enforcement segment as part of Frost & Sullivan's Best Practices Awards. Want more? View Revenera's full award content site: https://best-practices.frost.com/revenera-landing-page/ Revenera offers out-of-the-box solutions and integrations that support various business models. Revenera has a long history in the software industry and is the de facto standard for many segments. Its monetization platform offers solutions and integrations that enable software publishers and device manufacturers to implement a wide range of digital monetization models for cloud, SaaS, on-premises, and embedded applications. The transition from a hardware to a software model can seem daunting for many software vendors and device manufacturers. Still, Revenera provides well-established industry best practices to ease these challenges. Revenera's flexible software monetization platform meets changing customer requirements as suppliers move from on-premise software to SaaS and from perpetual licensing models to subscription- and usage-based ones. Over the last 13 years, Revenera has significantly grown its business, especially with companies adopting mixed deployment and licensing environments, including enterprise SaaS, on-premises, and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Revenera offers a global go-to-market approach with teams in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Revenera's monetization platform provides flexibility to its diverse customer base and allows them to choose the license models best suited for their needs. According to Mukul Krishna, Global Practice Leader at Frost & Sullivan, "In a very competitive environment, Revenera has chosen to focus on software enforcement and make it simpler for customers to implement, helping the company continue to grow and expand its customer base." Revenera focuses on developing its cloud platform while providing easier, more automated access to data for analytics and process automation. The company enhances licensing support through software development kits (FlexNet Publisher and FlexNet Embedded) and support for fulfillment and usage management. It brings its RESTful approach to fulfillment, enabling customers to monetize their SaaS applications and small-footprint IoT devices. "Revenera has strong ties with its customer community and centralized its focus of making software easier to access and track. As a user-friendly solution, Revenera provides a unique experience for its clients and ensures superior customer service and increases monetization potential throughout a software solution's life cycle," added Krishna. Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has developed an innovative element in a product by leveraging leading-edge technologies. The award recognizes the value-added features/benefits of the product and the increased ROI it offers customers, which, in turn, raises customer acquisition and overall market penetration potential. With its customer service excellence, brand strength, product differentiation, and strong overall performance, Revenera earns Frost & Sullivan's 2022 Global Software License Management Market Leadership Award for the software enforcement segment. Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in various regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analyses, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry. Frost & Sullivan's award criteria and Revenera's award-winning attributes may be downloaded here. About Frost & Sullivan For six decades, Frost & Sullivan has been world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion. Contact: Kristen Moore P: 1.210.247.3823 E: [email protected] About Revenera Revenera helps product executives build better products, accelerate time to value and monetize what matters. Revenera's leading solutions help software and technology companies drive top line revenue with modern software monetization, understand usage and compliance with software usage analytics, empower the use of open source with software composition analysis and deliver an excellent user experiencefor embedded, on-premises, cloud and SaaS products. To learn more, visit www.revenera.com. Contact: Bret Clement [email protected] SOURCE Frost & Sullivan Tour the Alexandrite and Lapis plans at Seasons at Platte Place COMMERCE CITY, Colo., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Richmond American Homes of Colorado, Inc., a subsidiary of M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MDC), is excited to announce the grand opening of two new model homes at Seasons at Platte Place in Commerce City. The ranch-style Alexandrite and two-story Lapis models boast the open layouts and designer details today's homebuyers are seeking. Model Grand Opening Event (RichmondAmerican.com/PlattePlaceGO) The Alexandrite is one of six inspired Richmond American floor plans available at Seasons at Platte Place in Commerce City, Colorado. Prospective homebuyers and area agents are invited to attend a Model Grand Opening Event at Seasons at Platte Place from 12 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 22. In addition to complimentary lunch and home tours, attendees can enter for a chance to win a prize drawing. More about Seasons at Platte Place (RichmondAmerican.com/PlattePlace): New Seasons Collection homes from the $500s Six flexible ranch & two-story floor plans 2 to 4 bedrooms, approx. 1,440 to 2,240 sq. ft. Close proximity to notable schools, shopping, dining & recreation Easy access to downtown & DIA Those who choose to build a new home from the ground up at this community will have the opportunity to work with professional design consultants to select colors, textures, finishes and fixtures for their new living spacesa complimentary service! Seasons at Platte Place is located at 8670 E. 105th Lane in Commerce City. For more information or to RSVP, call 720.758.8913 or visit RichmondAmerican.com. About M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. Operating under the name Richmond American Homes, MDC's homebuilding subsidiaries have built more than 230,000 homes since 1977. Among the nation's largest homebuilders, MDC's subsidiary companies have operations in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington. Mortgage lending, plus insurance and title services are offered by the following MDC subsidiaries, respectively: HomeAmerican Mortgage Corporation, American Home Insurance Agency, Inc. and American Home Title and Escrow Company. M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "MDC." For more information, visit MDCHoldings.com. SOURCE M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rolls-Royce has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Alder Fuels, a clean tech developer and greencrude producer, to further test Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) as it makes the critical next step on its journey to commercial scalability. The SAF, which has been produced based on Alder Fuels' proprietary greencrude technology, is being readied for global rollout as a drop-in replacement to petroleum-based jet fuel and will be a critical tool for decarbonising the skies. The testing, which will include flight tests on a Rolls-Royce Pearl engine, will evaluate the energy efficiency, emissions criteria, and low-carbon credentials of the SAF produced from Alder Greencrude (AGC) and is another testament to Rolls-Royce's ambition to play a fundamental role in enabling the sectors in which it operates achieve net zero carbon by 2050. Frank Moesta, SVP Strategy & Future Programmes Business Aviation, Rolls-Royce, said, "The use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel as a low-emission solution and its global commercial deployment are essential to the decarbonisation of medium to long-haul air travel. While we are also working on electrification, hybrid-electric and hydrogen technologies as long-term alternatives, rapid decarbonisation is within reach through this critical pathway. Through our partnership with Alder Fuels, we are taking the next steps on our journey to net zero and are committed supporters of the UN Race to Zero goal of 10% SAF use across aviation by 2030." "At Alder, we are on a path to transform energy on the global stage and partnership is key to our vision. As a pioneer in both industrial technology and sustainable aviation, Rolls-Royce will play a leading role in decarbonizing the aerospace industry. Their name is synonymous with the best of engineering," said Bryan Sherbacow, President and CEO of Alder Fuels. "Our hope is that this collaboration will not only mark an important milestone for the decarbonisation of aviation, but that it will send a strong global signal to the market that the future of sustainable flight is here and the time to transition is now." Alder Fuels uses sustainable biomass such as regenerative grasses, forest residues and agricultural waste products to create low-carbon Alder Greencrude (AGC) that can be converted into a drop-in SAF using existing bio and petroleum refinery infrastructure. The process, which has been developed in close partnership with the US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, can achieve greenhouse gas reductions of over 80 percent compared to fossil-based jet fuel. The engine tests will assess the performance of AGC-derived SAF compared to fossil-based jet fuel to further support its performance as a drop-in replacement for traditional jet fuel and generate critical data for the development of a 100% SAF specification by ASTM International. In addition, the SAF will undergo a full lifecycle and criteria emissions assessment, and the data associated with this assessment will be transparently reported to advance global decarbonisation efforts. Rolls-Royce has previously committed to ensuring all its Trent and Business Aviation engines are compatible with 100% SAF by 2023. All Trent and Business Aviation engines are already certified and ready to operate on a 50% SAF blend with traditional fossil-based aviation jet fuel. About Rolls-Royce Holdings plc Rolls-Royce pioneers the power that matters to connect, power and protect society. We have pledged to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in our operations by 2030 (excluding product testing) and joined the UN Race to Zero campaign in 2020, affirming our ambition to play a fundamental role in enabling the sectors in which we operate achieve net zero carbon by 2050. Rolls-Royce has customers in more than 150 countries, comprising more than 400 airlines and leasing customers, 160 armed forces and navies, and more than 5,000 power and nuclear customers. Annual underlying revenue was 10.95 billion in 2021, underlying operating profit was 414m and we invested 1.18 billion on research and development. We also support a global network of 28 University Technology Centres, which position Rolls-Royce engineers at the forefront of scientific research. Rolls-Royce Holdings plc is publicly traded company (LSE: RR., ADR: RYCEY, LEI: 213800EC7997ZBLZJH69) Stefan Wriege Head of External Communications Civil Aerospace Germany Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Tel +49 (0) 171 6130802 Email [email protected] www.Rolls-Royce.com About Alder Fuels Alder Fuels is helping to power the global clean energy transformation and race to net zero through the conversion of natural biomass into low-carbon to carbon-negative Alder Greencrude (AGC). This greencrude can then be converted into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), other low-carbon fuels, and chemicals using existing global refinery equipment and infrastructure. Bryan Sherbacow, Alder Fuels President & CEO, has a proven record for the development and commercial deployment of novel technology, including the world's first refinery designed to produce renewable jet and military-grade fuels. Alder Fuels is backed by Honeywell UOP, United Ventures, Avfuel, Boeing, Directional Aviation, the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency, the Department of Energy (DOE), and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Ian Plunkett Chief Communications Officer Tel +1 202-751-9338 Email [email protected] http://www.alderfuels.com/ SOURCE Alder Fuels & Rolls-Royce The worlds of art and travel collide with the popular C-Lite collection SINGAPORE, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Samsonite is preparing to unveil a highly anticipated collaboration that fuses the popular C-Lite luggage series with the iconic, instantly recognizable artworks of beloved artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Speaking to both an elevated art crowd as well as Generation Z and millennial travellers with an appreciation for pop culture, the luggage is set to be the coolest travel companion, and also a coveted collector's item to cherish for years to come. The Jean-Michel Basquiat x Samsonite collection, which is available worldwide in limited quantities, boasts two unique yet harmonious exterior designs. The collaborative collection, which is available worldwide in limited quantities, boasts two unique yet harmonious exterior designs both of which mark a bold celebration of Jean-Michel Basquiat's neo-expressionism style. The first luggage style, called Pez Dispenser, features a dinosaur in a crown motif a reference to the US candy known as "Pez" which is a symbol of pop culture. The figure is emblazoned on a minimal, crisp white background to allow the focal art to take centre stage. The second luggage style, called Untitled Skull, features a rich and textured artwork that champions an X-ray-like vision of a head's exposed upper and lower jaw. This iconic drawing clashes against multiple colours and graffiti details to create a powerful, eye-catching impact on any baggage carousel. Artistic credibility and cool factor aside, the C-Lite luggage champions the supreme functionality that the world's luggage leader, Samsonite, is renowned for. Made in Europe, all C-Lite suitcases are shock-absorbing and feature striking, with a self-reinforcing design which is perfect for resisting scratches or enduring extreme travel conditions. Made with Curv materials, the luggage collection is extremely strong, incredibly lightweight, and features double smooth-rolling wheels that ensure travellers glide effortlessly while precise manoeuvrability remains maximized. An elongated, strong double tube pull handle makes carrying a second bag on top easy and comfortable. Each piece of C-Lite luggage is also finished with a TSA-approved combination lock and integrated ID tag for security. Arguably the modern traveller's most in-demand feature, the cabin-sized version of the C-Lite comes equipped with a built-in USB port (complete with a power bank pocket), meaning charging on the move has never been so easy. The Jean-Michel Basquiat x Samsonite collection's interior functionality is just as applaudable as its exteriors. Fitted with high-quality RECYCLEX lining crafted from post-consumer recycled PET bottles, C-Lite luggage is particularly appealing to sustainably conscious travellers. C-Lite luggage is also fitted with a large apron pocket, lowered cross-ribbons, and divider pads to keep belongings organized with exceptional ease. The edgy and raw graphic style of Basquiat extends into the interiors of each suitcase, which features the artist's signature design depicting layers of individual words and short lines of text with the occasional insertion of an image. The result offers a statement intertwining visual web that is synonymous with Basquiat's creative style. Each Jean-Michel Basquiat x Samsonite suitcase is stamped with a collaborative interior label to mark the special project. The Jean-Michel Basquiat x Samsonite C-Lite collection is available in three sizes, including one cabin size, two check-in sizes and boasts a 10-year warranty. The unique result of this collaboration is a travel-meets-art celebration rooted in creative credibility and sublime practicality. Partnership done in collaboration with Artestar, a global licensing agency and creative consultancy representing high-profile artists, photographers, designers, and creatives. The full legal line must be included where the artist's name or artwork is used: Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Licensed by Artestar, New York. All Instagram posts/stories/IGTV/Reels should include @artestarnyc and @BasquiatOfficial in tags and captions. All LinkedIn and Facebook posts and stories should include Artestar and Basquiat Official in tags and captions. Curv is a registered trademark of CANCO Hungary Ltd. AVAILABLE IN SAMSONITE STORES AND SAMSONITE.COM FROM 20 OCTOBER 2022 About Samsonite Founded in 1910, Samsonite is the world's leading luggage brand with an extensive legacy in trendsetting travel solutions. Renowned for breakthrough research, development and its commitment to innovation, Samsonite has excelled since its inception in a number of industry firsts. Samsonite offers an extensive range of travel, business, kids, casual and personal accessory products. Samsonite helps travellers journey further, with ever-lighter and stronger products. www.samsonite.com Samsonite is a registered trademark of Samsonite IP Holdings S.ar.l. 2022 Samsonite IP Holdings S.a r.l. All Rights Reserved. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1921210/image_1.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1921209/Samsonite_Master__B_W_online_Logo.jpg SOURCE Samsonite Brands Pte Ltd DUBLIN, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Saudi Arabia Fragrance Market Report: By Category, Product Type, Gender - Industry Analysis and Growth Forecast to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Saudi Arabian fragrance market is expected to reach $3,500.9 million by 2030 from $2,049.7 million in 2021, with a CAGR of 6.1% from 2021 to 2030 The market is being pushed by the expanding significance of grooming, as well as the growing number of gym-goers. Saudi Arabia is among the most-significant markets for cosmetics and fragrances in the Middle East because of its sizable economy. With the rise of the e-commerce industry, the Saudi Arabian fragrance market growth is likely to accelerate over the next decade. The internet is playing a significant role in raising the consumer awareness of scent items. Numerous platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat, register the highest usership in the region from Saudi Arabia. Ajmal Perfumes teamed with SAP SE, a multinational technology business, to promote digital transformation in September 2021. The firm would operate on the RISE, on the SAP S/4HANA real-time business suite, with the platform of SAP, and with the SAP SuccessFactors human experience management suite, increase staff experience, in collaboration with channel partner Accely. Other key players are Al Majed 4Oud Company, Bath & Body Works Direct Inc., Candle-Lite Company LLC, Johnson & Johnson, Rasasi Perfumes Industry LLC, The Procter & Gamble Company, Christian Dior SE, Unilever Group, Victoria's Secret & Co., Arabian Oud, and Abdul Samad Al Qurashi. Key Findings of Saudi Arabia Fragrance Market Report Shower gels, shampoos, body lotions, and shaving creams are all examples of cosmetics and personal care items that contain fragrant chemicals. Thus, the rising consumer fascination with health and wellness has created a new potential for scent development. While purchasing personal care items, people consider an attractive smell to be a significant element. A successful scent is also one that favorably reflects the company and ideally caters to the target users from a marketing standpoint. As a result, the majority of the personal care firms are reinventing their products by employing pleasant and organic aromatic components, which boosts the Saudi Arabian fragrance market advance. Perfumes are worn by both men and women, and they express the wearer's style, uniqueness, and personality. Due to the changes in taste, people in Saudi Arabia are shifting to Western brands, which are setting up shop in the kingdom, thus contributing to the expansion of the fragrance industry. are shifting to Western brands, which are setting up shop in the kingdom, thus contributing to the expansion of the fragrance industry. Women consider perfumes an important part of their identity. With the rise of the female workforce, scents are becoming more fashionable. Ladies love fragrance, and they are one of the most-important and appealing personal grooming accessories for them. Men are also becoming more interested in scented items. Fragrances increase self-esteem and have a positive impact on the overall perception. Some men apply perfume to enhance their sense of personal hygiene, while others do it merely to emit a pleasing odor. As a result of the shifting view to scents being an important aspect of personal care among adult males, there has been a rise in the demand for them. In the Saudi Arabian fragrance market, luxury goods accounted for roughly 80% of the total sales in 2021. Because of the high levels of income and the country's thriving oil & gas and BFSI industries, Saudi Arabia is one of the world's fastest-growing economies. Company Profiles Abdul Samad Al Qurashi Arabian Oud Mahmood Saeed Limited Company Christian Dior SE Al Majid 4Oud Company 4Oud Company Marico Limited Johnson & Johnson Elemis Ltd. Nuxe Inc. Beiersdorf AG The Procter & Gamble Company Bath & Body Works Direct Inc. Candle-Lite Company LLC Rituals Cosmetics Enterprise BV Rasasi Perfumes Industry LLC Unilever Group Victoria's Secret & Co. Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1. Research Background Chapter 2. Research Methodology Chapter 3. Executive Summary Chapter 4. Voice of Industry Experts/KOLs Chapter 5. Market Indicators 5.1 Rising Disposable Income of People 5.2 Percentage Share of Age Group of 15-40 Years in Total Population 5.3 Increased Expenditure on Advertisement Chapter 6. Definition of Market Segments 6.1 By Category 6.1.1 Luxury 6.1.1.1 By region 6.1.2 Mass 6.2 By Product Type 6.2.1 Perfumes 6.2.1.1 Parfum or de parfum 6.2.1.2 Eau de parfum 6.2.1.3 Eau de toilette 6.2.1.4 Eau de cologne 6.2.1.5 Others 6.2.2 Body Oils 6.2.3 After Shaves 6.2.4 Candles 6.2.5 Fragrance Sets 6.2.6 Body Wash 6.2.7 Body Creams/Lotions 6.3 By Gender 6.3.1 Men 6.3.2 Women 6.3.3 Unisex 6.4 Distribution Channel 6.4.1 Grocery/Department Store 6.4.2 Supermarket/Hypermarket 6.4.3 Multi-Branded Retail Store 6.4.4 Online 6.4.5 Direct 6.4.6 Others 6.5 Age Group Chapter 7. Industry Outlook 7.1 Market Dynamics 7.1.1 Trends 7.1.1.1 Surging demand for custom-made, natural, and eco-friendly fragrances 7.1.1.2 Adoption of social media strategies for brand promotion 7.1.2 Drivers 7.1.2.1 Increased number of gym-goers 7.1.2.2 Rising importance of personal hygiene and grooming 7.1.2.3 Innovation in cosmetic and personal care products with fragrance 7.1.3 Impact Analysis of Drivers on Market Forecast 7.1.4 Restraints 7.1.4.1 Use of harmful ingredients 7.1.4.2 Uncertainties in availability of raw materials 7.1.5 Impact Analysis of Restraints on Market Forecast 7.2 Impact of COVID-19 7.3 Value Chain Analysis 7.4 Porter's Five Forces Analysis Chapter 8. Saudi Arabia Market Size and Forecast 8.1 Overview 8.2 Fragrance Market Revenue, by Category (2015-2030) 8.2.1 Luxury Fragrance Market Revenue, by Region (2015-2030) 8.3 Fragrance Market Revenue, by Product Type (2015-2030) 8.4 Fragrance Market Revenue, by Gender (2015-2030) Chapter 9. Competitive Landscape 9.1 List of Market Players and Their Offerings 9.2 Market Share Analysis of Key Players 9.3 Recent Strategic Developments of Market Players 9.3.1 Product Launches 9.3.2 Mergers, Collaboration & Acquisitions For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/a5ff3o 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 CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Senda Biosciences, Inc., a company that is harnessing nature to program targeted, potent, and tunable medicines, today announced the appointments of Lori Rudolph-Owen, Ph.D., as Chief Operating Officer, and Barbara Bispham, J.D., as SVP, General Counsel. "We're delighted to add Lori and Barbara to the Senda leadership team as we work to build a world-class organization," said Guillaume Pfefer, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Senda Biosciences and Partner at Flagship Pioneering. "Each of these seasoned executives brings the skills and experience necessary to help us refine our proprietary platform and advance our first pipeline candidates to the clinic. I look forward to working with them and the rest of the team to reach our ultimate goal of improving patients' lives by developing new classes of comprehensively programmable medicines." Lori Rudolph-Owen , Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer Lori brings a wealth of experience overseeing product development activities in both large pharma and small biotech settings. In her role at Senda, she will ensure efficient operations in our R&D and platform functions and help develop our clinical trials and regulatory capabilities. Lori most recently served as Chief Development Officer at Goldfinch Bio, a venture-backed biotech developing therapies for patients with kidney disease. Prior to Goldfinch, she held the role of Vice President, Portfolio Management and Assessment and was responsible for pipeline portfolio programs and milestones as well as cross-functional alignment for long-range strategic planning and annual budgeting. Her experience includes a range of roles of increasing responsibility at Pfizer, Inc., AMAG Pharmaceuticals, MGI Pharma, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. She began her career in industry as a discovery scientist at Millennium Pharmaceuticals. Lori holds a B.S. in Biology from Carroll University and a Ph.D. in Cell Biology from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, where she was also a postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Biochemistry. "It's wonderful to be joining Senda at such a pivotal time for the organization," said Dr. Rudolph-Owen. "Senda's truly novel approach to programming medicines both within and to cells and tissues of interest has enormous potential to overcome some of our industry's greatest challenges. The company is now poised to identify its lead programs to bring to the clinic, so it's a privilege to help drive this important work forward." Barbara Bispham , J.D., SVP, General Counsel Barbara joins Senda from BridgeBio Pharma, Inc., where she was most recently Vice President, Head of Legal. At Senda, Barbara will oversee all corporate legal and intellectual property operations and support potential future financings, licensing arrangements, and partnerships. Barbara transitioned in-house from Goodwin Procter LLP, where she was a member of the firm's Tech & Life Sciences Group. While at Goodwin, Barbara led BridgeBio Pharma's $400.8 million initial public offering and completed a secondment to Moderna, Inc., as its interim Senior Corporate Counsel. Barbara has deep experience leading and advising life sciences companies on various legal matters relating to corporate governance, business development, licensing, financing, securities law, intellectual property, and regulatory matters. Prior to joining Goodwin, Barbara was a corporate associate at Cooley LLP where she was a member of the public companies and emerging companies practice groups. Barbara joined Cooley as part of a 13-person Capital Markets team from Reed Smith LLP, where she commenced her career. Barbara received a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from Cornell Law School. "Following its successful Series C financing, Senda is at an exciting inflection point as it focuses on expanding the programming capacity of its platform and advancing its initial pipeline candidates to the clinic," said Ms. Bispham. "I look forward to supporting the team in a range of legal capacities as it continues to pioneer the development of comprehensively programmable medicines in the pursuit of developing breakthrough therapies for patients in need." About Senda Biosciences Senda Biosciences, Inc. is committed to bringing life-changing treatments to patients by harnessing nature's code to program human cellsboth from within and from outsidefor targeted, potent, and tunable medicines. Senda's proprietary platform includes an mRNA engine and the first-ever atlas of nature-derived programmable systems at the molecular level and across all kingdoms of lifeaccessing the entire code provided by nature required to program cells. With this platform, Senda is developing a new class of SendRNA medicines for infectious, genetic, metabolic, and autoimmune diseases, as well as oncology and powering new frontiers for mRNA therapeutics and vaccines and gene-editing and protein-based therapies. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Senda was founded by Flagship Pioneering. For more information, visit sendabiosciences.com or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Contact: Jessica Yingling, Ph.D., +1.858.344.8091, [email protected] SOURCE Senda Biosciences Within the framework of the EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme and in partnership with the German Alliance for Trade Facilitation, through GIZ, the World Customs Organization offered comprehensive technical support to the Customs administration of Cote dIvoire to implement a national system for Advance Rulings. The support included a series of virtual working sessions held on 12-13 October with the aim to define the legal and procedural framework and develop a digital solution for the Advance Rulings mechanism. Both further working sessions and consultation with the private sector on the legal framework are planned for mid-November 2022. The development of an Advance Rulings system for classification, origin determination and possibly customs valuation, will contribute to improving transparency and predictability for economic operators and reduce disputes on tariff classification or rules of origin. Synergies and complementarities with other organizations and development partners are key in providing meaningful and sustainable support. The EU-WCO RoO Africa Programme will continue to work with the German Alliance on Trade Facilitation and GIZ for the development of the system and in assisting Customs in Cote dIvoire in building the capacity required for successful long-term management of a national Advance Rulings system. If you owned real property in the area identified as the North Kent Study Area in and around Plainfield and Algoma Townships, Kent County, Michigan as of November 1, 2017, and were not supplied with drinking water from a municipal water source as of November 1, 2017, you could get benefits from a class action settlement. A federal court authorized this Notice. It is not a solicitation from a lawyer. PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A Settlement has been reached with The 3M Company and Wolverine Worldwide, Inc. ("Defendants") in a class action lawsuit about the contamination of properties with per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances ("PFAS") in the North Kent Study Area. What does the Settlement provide? Money for property damages to people who are or were owners of Real Property located within the North Kent Study Area, who owned that property as of November 1, 2017, and who were not supplied with drinking water from a municipal water source as of November 1, 2017. The Defendants have agreed to pay fifty-four million dollars ($54,000,000) into a Settlement Fund. After deducting attorneys' fees and costs, the Class Representatives' service awards, and the costs of notice and administration, the balance of the fund will be paid to the Settlement Class Members. Who is included in the Settlement Class? All Persons who are or were owners of Real Property located within the North Kent Study Area, who owned that property as of November 1, 2017, and who were not supplied with drinking water from a municipal water source as of November 1, 2017. You may be a Settlement Class Member if pursuant to the EGLE/Wolverine Consent Decree, Wolverine offered or provided a home filtration system or point of use filtration system in your home to treat the PFAS from your private well water or your private well was replaced with municipal water. And you may be a Settlement Class Member even if you did not receive a home filtration system and your private well was not replaced with municipal water. How do I get a payment from the Settlement? To qualify for a settlement payment, you must complete and submit a Claim Form by January 17, 2023. You may complete and submit a Claim Form online at www.Wolverine3MClassSettlement.com, or email a completed Claim Form to [email protected]. Claim Forms are also available by calling 1-833-383-1161, or by writing to Zimmerman v. The 3M Company General Administrator, 1650 Arch St, Ste 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103. What are my rights? If you are a Settlement Class Member and do nothing, you will be bound by the Settlement and will give up any right to separately sue any of the Released Parties, including the Defendants, for the claims made in this lawsuit and released by the Class Settlement Agreement. If you are a Settlement Class Member and you submit a timely and valid exclusion request for a property that you own jointly with one or more other Settlement Class Members, all Settlement Class Members owning the property will be considered to have submitted a timely and valid exclusion request. Unless you exclude yourself, you are part of the Settlement if you are a Settlement Class Member. If the Settlement is approved and becomes final, all of the Court's orders in this Class Action will apply to you and legally bind you. You will not be able to sue or be part of any other lawsuit against the Defendants and the Released Parties that involves the issues resolved by this Settlement. The rights you are giving up are called Released Claims. The Court's hearing. The Court will hold a Final Approval Hearing at 10:00 a.m. on March 29, 2023, at the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, 113 Federal Building, 315 West Allegan Street, Lansing, Michigan 48933. At this hearing, the Court will consider whether the Settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate. It will also consider whether to approve Class Counsel's request for an award of attorneys' fees and costs, as well as the Class Representative Plaintiffs' service awards. If there are objections, the Court will consider them. The Court may listen to people who have asked to speak at the hearing. You or your own lawyer may appear and speak at the hearing at your own expense, but there is no requirement that you or your own lawyer do so. After the hearing, the Court will decide whether to approve the Settlement. This notice is only a summary. For more information, including the full Notice and Settlement Agreement, visit www.Wolverine3MClassSettlement.com, email [email protected], or call 1-833-383-1161. Media Contact: Angeion Group Shiri Lasman (215) 563-4116 SOURCE Angeion Group Continuation Fund Provides Ownership Continuity and New Investor Base to Accelerate Growth and Support Future M&A MIAMI, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Seven Point Equity Partners, LLC ("Seven Point"), a private investment firm based in Miami, today announced the closing of RS7 Continuation Fund L.P., a single-asset continuation fund with approximately $120 million in equity commitments. The continuation fund transaction allowed certain investors in The RiteScreen Company, LLC ("RiteScreen" or the "Company"), the largest independent manufacturer of window and patio door screens in North America, to sell their stakes in the Company to the new fund, while other investors chose to retain their ownership positions in the Company. The continuation fund, managed by Seven Point, was supported by Seven Point's existing limited partners and new institutional investors led by Timber Bay Partners ("Timber Bay"). Seven Point's existing investors and RiteScreen's management team rolled significant proceeds into the continuation fund as part of the transaction. Selling investors who originally invested in RiteScreen in 2014 realized a gross multiple on invested capital of more than 10x as a result of this transaction. RiteScreen has organically increased revenues significantly faster than the underlying window and door industry since being acquired by Seven Point in 2014. A comprehensive operational transformation of the Company, led by Seven Point's Operating Partners and the RiteScreen management team, offered window and door companies meaningful cost savings and industry-leading service, deepening RiteScreen's wallet share with its existing OEM customers. The Company's rapid growth has been further fueled by market share gains and the robust pace of screen outsourcing by OEMs. The next phase of RiteScreen's growth is expected to be driven by the continuation of these trends and accelerated by additional initiatives to market screens on an aftermarket basis to small and medium-sized businesses and directly to consumers. RiteScreen is led by Chief Executive Officer Chris Yankowich. Mr. Yankowich was previously the CEO of Dreamline, a glass shower door supplier that sold its products primarily through digital marketing channels. The continuation fund transaction provides RiteScreen with ownership continuity and an expanded investor base with significant capital resources to drive organic growth initiatives and M&A opportunities. Tom Burchill, Managing Partner of Seven Point, commented, "RiteScreen was Seven Point's first investment, and the comprehensive transformation of the business since 2014 has led to exceptional returns for our investors to date. We are excited to continue our partnership with RiteScreen and its management team and pursue the attractive growth opportunities available to the Company." Seven Point Partner Mark Kammert added, "The new continuation fund was capitalized by a group of high-quality limited partners, led by Timber Bay, and included significant support from existing investors, most of whom re-invested proceeds in the new continuation fund." "Over the past several years, RiteScreen has focused on supporting our valued customer base by reliably delivering a comprehensive, one-stop portfolio of screen solutions," said Mr. Yankowich. "We have built our strong market position organically, strengthened our team at all levels with best-in-class talent, and developed innovative new products to meet the needs of our OEM window and door company partners. We look forward to continuing our relationship with Seven Point and are excited that our new investor base can provide additional capital to execute our growth strategy." As part of the transaction, Nomura Securities International, Inc. provided a senior secured debt facility to refinance the Company's existing credit facility and fund a portion of the capital required to purchase the interests of selling investors. Post-transaction, RiteScreen maintains a conservative balance sheet with low leverage, enabling it to invest aggressively in its growth strategy and pursue M&A opportunities. M2O Private Fund Advisors, LLC and William Blair & Company, LLC served as financial advisors to Seven Point, and Latham & Watkins LLP served as legal counsel. Proskauer Rose LLP served as legal counsel for Timber Bay. About RiteScreen RiteScreen (www.ritescreen.com) is the largest independent manufacturer of window and door screens in North America. The Company provides a wide range of mission-critical product and service solutions to OEM customers, and now sells replacement screens through digital/eCommerce channels directly to aftermarket customers. In business for more than 75 years, RiteScreen serves the window and door markets, along with other businesses and consumers who require custom, aftermarket screen solutions. RiteScreen deploys its manufacturing, sourcing, packaging, engineering, and logistics resources through seven facilities across the United States to support customers nationally. About Seven Point Equity Partners Based in Miami, Seven Point is a private investment firm founded in 2012 by Tom Burchill and Mark Kammert. Seven Point pursues a value-oriented and operationally focused investment strategy, investing where it can use its expertise and resources to fundamentally transform businesses over a long-term time horizon and deliver exceptional returns for investors. The firm's investment interest is focused on specialty manufacturing/distribution and business services in sectors that are expected to grow faster than the U.S. economy over a long time horizon. Contact Michael Goodwin Stanton (646) 502-3595 [email protected] SOURCE Seven Point Equity Partners NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Azure Power Global Limited ("Azure" or the "Company") (NYSE: AZRE). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980. The investigation concerns whether Azure and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. [Click here for information about joining the class action] On August 29, 2022, Azure issued a press release disclosing, among other items, that "[t]he Company received a whistleblower complaint in May 2022 alleging potential procedural irregularities and misconduct by certain employees at a plant belonging to one of its subsidiaries." Azure further reported that "[a]s part of the Company's review of these allegations, it discovered deviations from safety and quality norms, and it has implemented mechanisms to remediate them and in so doing strengthen safety and quality protocols. Azure's Audit Committee, with the assistance of legal counsel and forensic accounting support, also identified evidence of manipulation of project data and information by certain employees. The Company is implementing immediate remedial measures, and Azure is initiating disclosure of the findings to the appropriate authorities." On this news, Azure's stock price fell $4.61 per share or 44.07% percent, to close at $5.85 per share on August 29, 2022. Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 888-476-6529 ext. 7980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Dingdong (Cayman) Ltd. ("Dingdong" or the "Company") (NYSE: DDL). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980. The investigation concerns whether Dingdong and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. [Click here for information about joining the class action] On or around June 29, 2021, Dingdong conducted its initial public offering ("IPO"), issuing approximately 4.07 million American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") priced at $23.50 per ADS. Then, on March 17, 2022, Beijing News reported that Chinese regulators had launched a probe into Dingdong for food safety violations. According to the report, Dingdong had replaced labels on expired vegetables and sold frozen fish products as fresh. On this news, Dingdong's ADS price fell $0.46 per ADS, or 10.82%, to close at $3.79 per ADS on March 17, 2022. Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 888-476-6529 ext. 7980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. ("Hannon" or the "Company") (NYSE: HASI). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980. The investigation concerns whether Hannon and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. [Click here for information about joining the class action] On October 5, 2022, Carson Block, principal of Muddy Waters, asserted in the Financial Times that Hannon's accounting is "so complex and misleading that its financial statements are effectively meaningless" and that the Company is a prime example of how public market incentives can warp a company into relentlessly destroying value to feed a Wall Street growth narrative." On this news, Hannon's stock price fell $2.35 per share, or 7.43%, to close at $29.28 per share on October 5, 2022. Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com. CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 888-476-6529 ext. 7980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP NEW YORK, Oct. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Twitter, Inc. ("Twitter" or the "Company") (NYSE: TWTR). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980. The investigation concerns whether Twitter and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. [Click here for information about joining the class action] On April 25, 2022, Twitter announced that it had agreed to sell itself to Elon Musk for $54.20 per share, or approximately $44 billion (the "Buyout"). Then, On May 13, 2022, Elon Musk issued misleading tweets claiming that the Buyout was "temporarily on hold." On May 17, 2022, Musk issued another tweet stating that the Buyout "cannot go forward" until Twitter showed him proof of the number of "fake accounts" on its platform. Thereafter, between July 8, 2022 and September 9, 2022, Musk issued three separate notices purporting to terminate the Buyout. Then, on October 4, 2022, less than two weeks before Musk was set to go to trial in Delaware over the merger, Musk issued a statement indicating he would proceed with the purchase of Twitter at the original purchase price of $54.20 per share. Following Musk's announcement, the price of Twitter stock increased by 22% in one day. However, Twitter stockholderswho sold their Twitter stock based on Musk's statements purporting to terminate the Buyoutwere damaged by selling Twitter stock at prices artificially depressed by Musk's conduct. Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com. CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 888-476-6529 ext. 7980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP Nail POP sponsors local caregivers' "me time" by donating award-winning portable nail art printers EAST GREENWICH, R.I., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sponsors of the Future (SoF) and Nail POP are announcing the launch of the Caring for the Caregivers campaign to support the community of caregivers looking after neurodivergent children and teens, ensuring they take time to focus on their own self-care. Sponsors of The Future and Nail POP Launched The Caring for Caregivers Campaign to Support the Neurodivergent Community SoF is dedicated to facilitating strong connections between local communities and businesses like Nail POP by providing opportunities to participate in local campaigns like this. "Nail POP is happy to connect people with their life experiences and is thrilled to be a part of this movement. It is extremely important that caregivers get the attention and support they require to make them feel good and appreciated. We are proud to support SoF's mission to help local caregivers and the neurodivergent community." said Leo Yang, Managing Director of Nail POP. "SoF is excited to work with Nail POP to help support the 'me-time' campaign for caregivers that spend countless hours looking after their loved ones but neglect caring for themselves. We believe that Nail POP, through its sponsorship and donations, can provide emotional connections with family, friends, and the community that is aligned with SoF's mission. Together, we are happy to provide an opportunity to sit back, relax, and enjoy yourself and each other through a fun, portable experience anytime and anywhere," said Lauren Cheng, Head of Community Relations, SoF. Cheng added, "This is also a great way for community and businesses to create a bigger impact and participate in a widespread movement to educate the world about building emotional connections with the neurodivergent communities. SoF has a mission of inclusivity and provides programs and ecosystems for the neurodiverse communities." Through this campaign, SoF aims to bridge the gap between separate entities that are meant to work together by providing ways to develop ecosystems that facilitate strong connections and partnerships between businesses and local communities. This includes individuals with challenges, their caregivers, educators, doctors, parents, local stakeholders, and more. If you are a caregiver or a company, school, or organization that wishes to participate in this movement, click here . For donations and other fundraising opportunities, visit our website . About Nail POP Nail POP is part of DS Global , a company that develops and manufactures portable photo printers, beauty devices, and more that connect people with their life experiences. Nail POP is a CES Innovation award-winning portable nail art printer. It is compact, making it easy to take on the go and helping the community connect anytime, anywhere. The Nail POP printer uses an FDA-compliant nail sticker cartridge which is durable, water-resistant, and safe for children and adults. Nail POP is a proud sponsor of the 'Caring for the Caregivers' campaign. About Sponsors of the Future (SoF) SoF is a non-profit organization that creates programming to empower neurodivergent children and teenagers to live independent lives. SoF bridges the gap between separate entities meant to work together. For more information on the Caring for the Caregivers Campaign, click here. Visit sponsorsofthefuture.org. Media Contact: Sydney Wells 781-910-9834 [email protected] SOURCE Sponsors of the Future Attribute Primary Data Breach Risk to Structured Data BOSTON, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- IT decision makers believe structured data poses the biggest data governance challenge to their organizations, according to a new study conducted by Congruity360 and Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG). Congruity360 and ESG surveyed 376 IT and business decision makers currently responsible for governance technologies, processes, and programs used to manage their organizations' data. 85% of organizations will increase investment in data governance technologies over the next 12-18 months. "We found that a staggering 65% of IT decision makers believe structured data is their biggest data governance challenge," said Mari DiBenedetto, Vice President of Product and Marketing at Congruity360. "Only 34% of respondents believe unstructured data is their most significant data governance hurdle, indicating there is room for significant improvement in the management of risk data residing in unstructured sources." Research shows 46% of organizations will make a significant investment in data classification technologies over the next 12-18 months to fortify data governance strategies. Additionally, organizations are now more likely to delete data than ever before, primarily because of increasingly demanding privacy regulations rolling out across North America. The overwhelming need for a central data governance platform to classify data, expose hidden risk in unstructured data, and intelligently inform governance methodologies is clear. The Strategic and Evolving Role of Data Governance, Congruity360's eBook detailing the findings of this study, considers the benefits and challenges of data governance initiatives, establishes the current state of deployments, identifies gaps, and highlights future expectations within the market. Congruity360 will close the knowledge gap spanning enterprise data best practices, modern data governance strategies, and how to proceed with sophisticated data classification in an increasingly regulated and litigious world in an upcoming webinar on November 7, 2022, hosted by DiBenedetto and Vinny Choinski, Senior Analyst at ESG. Register for the webinar to discuss how IT leaders can utilize this study's findings to advocate for proactive and ongoing data classification, walk through a step-by-step implementation guide, and overall remove the shroud of darkness from the risky unstructured data many enterprises are hesitant to manage. About Congruity360 WHERE DATA SCIENCE MEETS DATA COMPLIANCE Congruity360 is a holistic data management provider enhancing the value of technology investments by improving data quality, offering cost optimization across IT operating expenses, providing control of disparate data sets, and expediting project timelines from a universal IT level not the application level. A layer of cross-functional review tools empowers different teams within an organization to collaboratively manage data, delivering powerful data governance with built-in checks and balances. Media contact: Erin Grant [email protected] SOURCE Congruity360 The lineup highlights content supporting indigenous voices, parent engagement, teacher retention, blended learning innovations, and more. AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, SXSW EDU unveiled an array of programming for the 2023 Conference & Festival. The conference, held from March 6-9, 2023, will feature nearly 400 sessions, with the initial 187 sessions and events just confirmed. Voted on through the community-driven PanelPicker process, the selected sessions feature the most pressing themes and in-demand topics in the education space. Audiences will experience one of the most diverse years yet, including topics such as student agency, accessibility, wage gaps, mental health and wellness, the role of data, and keeping teachers in the classroom. After receiving more than 1,200 proposals from the education community via PanelPicker, submissions were narrowed down through community voting, SXSW EDU Advisory Board evaluation, and staff review. The first round of selections was identified for their unique take on the always-evolving 11 programming tracks offered at the conference and festival. This initial lineup highlights an increase of content supporting indigenous voices, student agency, gamification, teacher retention, and more that might surprise you. We see that reflected in the tracks, with the majority of sessions in Practice & Pedagogy and Equity & Justice, followed closely by Work Reimagined, Community Initiatives, and Arts & Storytelling. These overarching subjects will be explored in various formats, from podcast conversations and speaker-led networking events to short solo presentations and in-depth workshops. "Year after year, we challenge ourselves and the community to build a conference and festival that reflects the transformational issues that are critical to education," said Greg Rosenbaum, Senior Director of SXSW EDU. "We saw an incredible range of breadth and depth of formats and topics including equity, human rights, literacy and edtech efficacy, and more." Showcasing nearly half of what's yet to come, the sessions announced today reflect the many phases of learning from early childhood to K12, higher education, and workforce development. Highlights include: SERVING ADULT LEARNERS: AN EQUITY IMPERATIVE - This talk gathers higher education presidents to discuss how colleges are working to reorient themselves around the needs of a generation of adult learners diverse in age, race, income, and professional needs than any in history. They will cover the practical, financial, social justice, and equity imperatives of such initiatives. Speakers: Dr. Gregory W. Fowler, President of the University of Maryland Global Campus Dr. Paul J. LeBlanc, President of Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) & author of Students First: Equity, Access, and Opportunity in Higher Education Eloy Oakley, President & CEO of College Futures Dr. Sue Ellspermann, President of Ivy Tech Community College THE TUITION-FREE ONLINE UNIVERSITY OF THE FUTURE - Through this solo conversation, Shai Reshef shares the reasons that led him to create the first non-profit, tuition-free, American, accredited, and online university, including the growing international demand for higher education opportunities. Speaker: Shai Reshef, President & Founder of University of the People DIVERSIFYING AMERICA'S TEACHER PIPELINE - The students sitting in America's classrooms are predominantly black and brown, but 80% of teachers are white females. This gap is further widened when we fail to support teachers of color, who are now leaving the classroom at alarming rates. In this solo presentation, audiences will learn about efforts to reverse this troubling trend. Speaker: Shareefah Mason, Associate Dean of Educator Certification at Dallas College NO BS: BRINGING HUMANITIES DEGREES TO SPACE - Tech and innovation companies are eager for talent without STEM degrees and backgrounds. Join experts from the biggest aerospace companies as they highlight the value of bringing the humanities to space and the critical role the thousands of non-engineers hold in fulfilling their missions to go higher, faster, and farther. Speakers: Elaine Ho, Deputy Associate Administrator for the Office of STEM Engagement at NASA Dana Rixter, Chief Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Officer at BAE Systems Marybeth Lilly, Manager of Talent & Workforce Policy at the Aerospace Industries Association BUILDING LITERACY ACCESS FOR BLACK BOYS - In the U.S., more than 82% of 4th-grade Black boys are not proficient in reading despite clear research indicating early literacy difficulty can predict future academic success, physical and mental health, and the likelihood of imprisonment. This panel will explore the intersection of factors that influence reading development, and how increased access to culturally-relevant content can improve lifelong learning and success. Speakers: Molly Ness, Founder of Coalition for Literacy Equity & Vice President of Academic Content at Learning Ally Malcolm Mitchell, Founder & CEO of Share the Magic Foundation D. Lacy Asbill, Co-Founder of Reading with Relevance Alvin Irby, Founder & Chief Reading Inspirer of Barbershop Books DESIGNING INCLUSIVE PLAYFUL LEARNING EXPERIENCES - Learning through play is a natural way to design more inclusive experiences and allow neurodivergent students to engage in and demonstrate learning in their own unique ways. In this session, members of the LEGO Foundation's Play for All cohort analyze the principles of Universal Design for Learning and which tools for digital play are inclusive and for whom. Speakers: Louisa Rosenheck, Director of Pedagogy at Kahoot! Jason Kahn, Chief Science Officer & Co-Founder at Mightier Vanessa Castaneda Gill, CEO & Co-Founder of Social Cipher Michelle Ndebele, Senior Play & Health Specialist at The LEGO Foundation SCHOOL IS ROLEPLAYING: TTRPGS AS LEARNING TOOLS - Tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) have the potential to level up learning through deep thinking, teamwork, and academic engagement, no matter the age or subject. Join a panel of teachers and creators using tabletop games to create meaningful classroom experiences and learn how you can integrate them into your classroom. Speakers: Christopher Hopper, Writer at Bard Commune Maryanne Cullinan, Middle School Teacher at Great Brook School & Ph.D. Candidate at Lesley University Stephanie Campbell, Sole Proprietor of TTRPGkids & Adjunct Professor at Lawrence Technological Michael Low, Creator & CEO of Luck of Legends For more information on our speaker lineup, please visit sxswedu.com/news . Press Credentials: To register, please go to sxswedu.com/press/accreditation. About SXSW EDU: The SXSW EDU Conference & Festival reflects the world's most critical social issues as seen through the lens of education. This year's event will bring together the learner, the practitioner, the entrepreneur, and the visionary to share their groundbreaking stories, tackle complex issues, and build reimagined paths forward. As a community of diverse people who are united around a like-minded vision for the future, SXSW EDU serves as a place for attendees to renew their purpose in practice from both a personal and professional perspective. It is a place to reinforce the core principles of teaching and learning as well as an opportunity to express your creativity and passion for education. SXSW EDU is a component of the South by Southwest family of conferences and festivals that has grown from 800 to over 8,000 registrants in the last decade. Join the passionate and innovative community at SXSW EDU, March 6-9, 2023. Contact: Liz Stein SXSW EDU Press & Publicity [email protected] SOURCE SXSW EDU Bank Foundation Celebrates Successful Fundraising Event Benefiting Entrepreneurs of Color in Northern Virginia FAIRFAX, Va., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Freedom Bank of Virginia (OTCQX: FDVA) announced the Freedom Bank Foundation's inaugural Fall Gala raised over $110,000 to promote economic inclusion in the local community and support the critical work the Foundation has engaged in with the Community Business Partnership (CBP). The Foundation is focused on supporting the NOVA Freedom Fund which was launched by the CBP and Freedom Bank to provide financing and technical assistance to minorities and entrepreneurs of color in the DC Region. "We are grateful for the overwhelming success of our first ever Freedom Bank Foundation Gala. We are exceptionally proud of the generous support of such a diverse group of individuals and distinguished businesses for the Foundation's important mission. The local business owners who have received funds from the NOVA Freedom Fund to enable them to transform their trajectory has been both impressive and inspiring. This success led us to the bold conclusion that we could do more and that the mission would resonate with others in our network. This conclusion held true as the Gala more than doubled our fundraising goal, raising over $110,000. We are so appreciative to our clients, employees, board of directors, vendor partners, and personal friends for their incredible support of the event and mission. We look forward to putting these funds to use in order to assist the entrepreneurs and business owners of color in our area," said Joe Thomas, President and CEO. The Freedom Bank Foundation is a nonprofit, tax exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Businesses or individuals who are interested in learning more about the Foundation or the NOVA Freedom Fund are asked to contact [email protected] or visit freedom.bank/foundation. About Freedom Bank Freedom Bank (OTCQX: FDVA) is a next-generation community bank, headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, offering commercial banking, personal banking, and mortgage banking solutions using banker expertise and innovative technology to build lead relationships with clients. Focusing on businesses, real estate owners, and professionals, Freedom Bank concentrates on key industry verticals to deliver unique, sector-specific solutions to help clients meet their goals and realize their dreams. Freedom Bank has sales office locations in Fairfax, Vienna, Reston, Manassas, and Chantilly, VA. The Freedom Bank Mortgage Division is headquartered in Chantilly, VA and the Freedom Bank Small Business Lending Division is headquartered in Harrison, NY. For information about Freedom Bank, visit our website at www.freedom.bank. Contact: Joseph J. Thomas President & Chief Executive Officer Phone: 703-667-4161 Email: [email protected] SOURCE The Freedom Bank of Virginia Billie Lourd is finding her second pregnancy "a very different vibe" to her first. The 30-year-old actress was expecting her son Kingston, now two, during the COVID-19 pandemic so she was able to relax at home with husband Austen Rydell and do little beyond knit and watch television, so things have been very different this time around. She said: "I went nowhere. "I knitted a blanket, and I watched 'The Sopranos', and I watched 'The Wire' and I didn't leave my couch. It was a very different vibe." The 'Ticket to Paradise' star joked she's been a "psycho person" this time round because she's been working hard over the last few months. She said: "I did 'American Horror Story', and then I just wrapped this other movie that I shot in London." But now her bump is getting bigger, Billie is finding it harder to travel. She said: "I tried to hide my stomach, like, 'Am I allowed to fly here? Is this okay?' " The actress was keen to work because she thinks it would be "cool" for her baby to watch 'Ticket to Paradise' one day, knowing she was pregnant at the time as it "would have been incredible" if her late mother Carrie Fisher had made a movie while she was pregnant. She told People magazine: "That's why I also wanted to do it. Because it will be cool for this kid to be able to Google it and see themself. "I got to do this movie that was so special and incredible, and I got to be pregnant in it, and that was such an amazing experience and I'm so excited for my kid to get to see me in that." Billie joked working while pregnant should encourage her unborn child to grow up with a good work ethic. She laughed: "If they ever say they don't want to do their homework, I'm going to be like, 'Watch this movie. I was 9,000 years pregnant with you. You better have a good work ethic.' "If that doesn't give you a good work ethic, I don't know what will." Creates sixth largest Canadian Licensed Producer (1) with right sized facilities in the largest provinces and a complete portfolio of popular products and brands (2)(3)(5) with right sized facilities in the largest provinces and a complete portfolio of popular products and brands TGOD's market strength in Quebec and Ontario complements BZAM's strength in western Canada markets, with opportunities to expand distribution and complements BZAM's strength in western markets, with opportunities to expand distribution Combined entity forecasts net revenue of at least $100 million for calendar year 2023 and adjusted EBITDA positive by mid 2023 (2)(3)(4) for calendar year 2023 and adjusted EBITDA positive by mid 2023 Expected annualized savings of at least $10 million in COGS and SG&A through rationalization and economies of scale (2)(3)(4) in COGS and SG&A through rationalization and economies of scale Addition of BZAM materially strengthens TGOD's financial position including improved debt ratios Combined entity will be led by experienced leadership team with track record in execution and disciplined cost management TORONTO and VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. (the "Company" or "TGOD") (CSE: TGOD) (US-OTC: TGODF), a sustainable Canadian cannabis company and leading producer of premium, organically grown cannabis, and BZAM Holdings ("BZAM"), a privately owned producer of some of Canada's best flower and 2.0 products, are pleased to announce that they have entered into a binding and definitive share exchange agreement dated October 18, 2022 (the "Agreement") with BZAM's sole shareholder (the "BZAM Shareholder"), pursuant to which TGOD will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of BZAM from the BZAM Shareholder, in exchange for common shares (the "Combined Entity Shares") of TGOD (the "Transaction"). The Transaction will result in the BZAM Shareholder ultimately holding an approximate 49.5% of the issued and outstanding Combined Entity Shares upon closing of the Transaction, with the ability to earn additional Combined Entity Shares subject to achievement of certain financial milestones (the "Milestones") in 2023. All financial information in this press release is reported in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated. Strategic and Financial Benefits (2)(3)(5) The combined entity resulting from the Transaction (the "Combined Entity") is estimated to be the sixth largest Canadian cannabis company(1) based on June to August 2022 retail sales, with scale and breadth across major provinces and a complete portfolio of market leading brands and products. BZAM and TGOD each believe the Transaction is expected to provide strategic and financial benefits, including those outlined below. Creates a Leading Canadian Recreational Cannabis Licensed Producer(2)(3)(4): TGOD and BZAM generated $30.2 million and $32.2 million, respectively, of net revenue in calendar 2021, and $31.6 million and $32.7 million, respectively, of net revenue from January to September 2022. The Combined Entity generated $85.7 million pro forma unaudited net revenue for the 12 months leading to September 2022. Taken together, BZAM and TGOD have experienced one of the fastest growth rates in the Canadian cannabis market(5). Create market's most compelling product and brand portfolio: Leveraging both BZAM and TGOD's passion for quality cannabis, innovative products and brand building, the Combined Entity will serve Canadian consumers with a complete portfolio of flower and 2.0 products. BZAM's best selling vapes(6), infused pre-rolls and high quality flower across every price point are sold under the BZAM, -ness, Table Top, Dunn Cannabis, and FRESH brands, which have a strong market presence in British Columbia and Alberta(6). TGOD's organic premium flower and hash, under TGOD and Highly Dutch brands, are popular in Ontario and Quebec(6), while TGOD's joint venture with Wyld has delivered some of the fastest growing cannabis edibles across Canada since their commercial launch in December 2021(7). Footprint across Canada with right-sized facilities in the largest provinces(2)(3): The Combined Entity will have local production presence in the largest provinces, and over 400 listed SKUs across Canada. The Combined Entity's facilities are right-sized to demand without the need for material capital expenditure. The facilities offer complete, scalable capabilities for the Combined Entity's broad range of cannabis products. Substantial Synergies(1)(2)(3): The combination of BZAM and TGOD is expected to deliver at least C$10 million of annualized cost synergies within the first three quarters following completion of the Transaction, aiding in the achievement of positive adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") by mid 2023. The Combined Entity expects to achieve cost synergies in the key areas of cultivation and production, cannabis and product purchasing, sales, marketing and corporate expenses. BZAM's Pitt Meadows, British Columbia facility will also provide TGOD with low-cost THC distillate and extraction capabilities, which is expected to improve cannabis 2.0 product margins. The Combined Entity expects to share a unified sales force leading to improvements of geographical coverage and increased retail distribution. The Transaction is expected to result in a stronger balance sheet and provide the Combined Entity with access to lower cost capital. Proven Leadership Team The Combined Entity will be led by an experienced management team and board of directors, with strong track records in the cannabis. Upon completion of the Transaction, BZAM's current Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"), Matt Milich, and Chief Commercial Officer ("CCO"), Jordan Winnett, will lead the Combined Entity as CEO, CCO, along with TGOD's current CEO and Interim Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), Sean Bovingdon, who will take the role of CFO, in order to assist with the integration of BZAM and TGOD and the transitionary period of the Combined Entity. The board of directors of the Combined Entity will consist of seven members including five members from TGOD's existing board of directors, and two members nominated by BZAM. "This is an exciting day for both companies, for our employees, and for our consumers. We are bringing together two rapidly growing companies that share a passion for cultivation, innovation and brand development," said Mr. Bovingdon. "Our highly complementary businesses in terms of production footprints, products and distribution networks create a Combined Entity with a leading branded product portfolio along with significant synergies across our operations."(2) "We are looking forward to bringing together TGOD's organic flower and hash with our crowd pleasing vapes and the exceptional flower of our craft partners, including Dunn Cannabis and FRESH," added Mr. Milich.(2) "Together, we expect to expand on what we have each accomplished so far, as we build a strong, EBITDA-positive cannabis company." Transaction Details In consideration for all the issued and outstanding common shares of BZAM, upon Closing, TGOD will issue Combined Entity Shares to the BZAM Shareholder in two tranches, totalling an approximate 49.5% ownership stake of the Combined Entity. In addition, the BZAM Shareholder is also entitled to earn up to $33 million in Combined Entity Shares (the "Milestone Shares"), subject to achievement of certain Milestones. The Milestones include payouts of Milestone Shares tied to annual net revenue targets and positive adjusted EBITDA targets for 2023. The Transaction is scheduled to close on or about November 3, 2022, subject to a number of customary conditions being satisfied or waived. Each Milestone Share shall be issued at a deemed price of the greater of $0.0596, that being the 15-day volume weighted average price of the common shares of TGOD immediately prior to the date the Agreement was signed, and the minimum price permitted under the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"). In accordance with the terms of the Agreement, the BZAM Shareholder will enter into a contractual lock-up agreement, whereby the Combined Entity Shares received as part of Closing (the "Escrowed Shares"), and excluding the Milestone Shares, shall be subject to escrow with 1/3 of such Escrowed Shares being released on the 4-month, 8-month, and 12-month anniversaries of the date such Escrowed Shares are issued. Consolidation (2) In conjunction with the Transaction, the Combined Entity plans to file articles of amendment following Closing to effect a consolidation (the "Consolidation") of all of the issued and outstanding Combined Entity Shares. Pursuant to the Consolidation, shareholders are expected to receive one post-Consolidation Share for every ten pre-Consolidation Shares (the "Consolidation Ratio"), subject to the Combined Entity continuing to meet minimum listing requirements of the CSE. Accordingly, following the Consolidation, shareholders currently holding ten pre-Consolidation Combined Entity Shares will instead own one post-Consolidation Combined Entity Share. In the event that the Consolidation would result in the issuance of fractional Combined Entity Shares, each fractional post-Consolidation Combined Entity Share will be rounded down to the nearest whole, with any fractional Combined Entity Shares deemed to have been tendered for cancellation for no consideration. The trading price of the Combined Entity Shares is expected to reflect the Consolidation Ratio immediately upon the resumption of trading following the Consolidation. The Consolidation is expected to be completed on or about November 8, 2022. The Consolidation was approved by the shareholders of TGOD on June 29, 2022. All registered shareholders holding physical share certificates representing their existing Combined Entity Shares are required to send such certificates to the Company's registrar and transfer agent, Odyssey Trust Company, at 702-67 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M5E 1J8, Attention: Corporate Actions. Shareholders who hold their securities through a broker, investment dealer, bank or trust company should contact that nominee or intermediary for assistance in depositing their securities in connection with the Consolidation. Financial and Legal Advisors Clarus Securities Inc. acted as exclusive financial advisor to the BZAM and DuMoulin Black LLP acted as Canadian legal counsel to BZAM. Aird & Berlis LLP acted as Canadian legal counsel to TGOD. Conference Call TGOD will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the Transaction on Wednesday, October 19th at 11:30am EST. TGOD will provide prepared remarks followed by a Q&A session with Sean Bovingdon, CEO and interim CFO of TGOD, and Matt Milich, CEO of BZAM. Local Dial-in: 416-764-8688 North American Toll-Free Dial-in: 1-888-390-0546 Confirmation #: 32146679 About The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. (CSE: TGOD) (USOTC: TGODF) is a sustainable, cannabis company with a focus on innovation, quality, consistency, integrity and transparency. By leveraging science and technology, TGOD harnesses the power of nature from seed to sale. The Company is committed to cultivating a better tomorrow by producing its products responsibly, with less waste and impact on the environment. In Canada, TGOD serves the recreational market with a brand portfolio including The Green Organic Dutchman, Highly Dutch Organics, Ripple by TGOD and Cruuzy brands.. All cannabis utilized in products for The Green Organic Dutchman and Highly Dutch Organics brands is grown through a certified organic process, which includes living soil, filtered rainwater, sunlight, and natural inputs. TGOD's Common Shares and certain warrants issued under the indentures dated December 19, 2019, June 12, 2020, October 23, 2020 and December 10, 2020 trade on the CSE under the symbol "TGOD", "TGOD.WS", "TGOD.WR", "TGOD.WA", and "TGOD.WB" respectively. TGOD's Common Shares trade in the U.S. on the OTCQX under the symbol "TGODF". For more information on The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd., please visit www.tgod.ca. About BZAM Headquartered in Vancouver, BC, BZAM Cannabis is a multi-licensed Canadian cannabis producer focused on branded consumer goods, cultivation, processing and people. The BZAM Cannabis family includes core recreational cannabis brands BZAM, -ness and TABLE TOP, and partner brands Dunn Cannabis, FRESH, SuperFlower and Snackbar. The company operates facilities in the Lower Mainland, West Kootenay and Vancouver Island in British Columbia. Its sister companies operate facilities in Edmonton, Alberta, as well as a retail BZAM store in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Regina, Saskatchewan. BZAM Cannabis is rapidly expanding with a goal of bringing quality cannabis products to a growing number of consumers across Canada. Notes Based on estimated retail sales from HyFire and Weed Crawler, June to August 2022 . This is forward-looking information and based on a number of assumptions. See "Cautionary Statements". This target, and the related assumptions, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. While TGOD and BZAM believe there is a reasonable basis for this target, such target may not be met. Actual results may vary and differ materially from the targets. See "Assumptions" below. Certain financial information included in this press release is neither audited nor reviewed. Where possible, the information has been constructed by management from available audited or audit reviewed financial statements. Where no audited or audit reviewed information has been available, additional management accounting information has been utilized to construct financial information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information. Based on quarterly financial statements from Canada's top 15 publicly traded cannabis Licensed Producers. From June to August 2022 , BZAM had the #1 best selling vape SKU in Ontario , Alberta , and British Columbia , and the #1 and #3 best selling 28g flower SKU in British Columbia and Alberta , respectively. Over the same period, TGOD had the #2 best selling premium flower SKU in Ontario and Quebec , and the #3 best selling hash SKU in Quebec , based on BCLDB, OCS, Weed Crawler and internal management estimates. According to HyFire data for British Columbia , Alberta , Saskatchewan , and Ontario , Wyld ranked #10 in retail sales of edibles in January 2022 and #4 in fastest growth of edibles in August 2022 . Assumptions In developing the financial guidance set forth above, TGOD and BZAM made the following assumptions and relied on the following factors and considerations: The targets are based on TGOD and BZAM's historical results including its year-to-date consolidated results of operations, as well as retail sales growth analysis from Statistics Canada's June 2022 release, and Cannabis Benchmark analysis of cannabis store counts in Canada . release, and Cannabis Benchmark analysis of cannabis store counts in . The targets are subject to continued cultivation improvements, productivity improvements, as well as internal and external sourcing of biomass. Revenue sustainability and growth depend on a variety of factors, including among other things, location, competition, legal and regulatory requirements. Prices are projected forward at recently realized wholesale prices. Cost of goods sold, before taking into account the impact of value changes in biological assets (which are non-cash in nature), and, accordingly, are excluded from calculations of Adjusted EBITDA, have been projected based on estimated costs of production and capacity available from a similar supply chain. Selling, general and administrative expenses in future periods are assumed to decrease as a percentage of revenues due to inherent scalability of selling, general and administrative expenses and our cost cutting initiatives outlined above. Additionally, total selling, general and administrative expenses include an allocation for corporate overhead and public company costs. Cost of procurement, which includes consumables, packaging and flowers as well as supply chain, and ancillary agreements, are assumed to decrease in future periods as a percentage of revenues due to economies of scale, renegotiation of key contracts, and volume discounts. Office spaces will be adjusted to reflect the Combined Entity's geographical footprint. Cost of product development and research and development in future periods are assumed to decrease due to economies of scope and the Combined Entity's ability to leverage innovation across products and brands. Cost of logistic, shipping and inventory carrying are assumed to decrease in future periods as a percentage of revenues due to operational efficiencies and optimized distribution centers. Cost of labor are assumed to decrease in future periods as a percentage of revenues due to the centralization of activities, the specialization of sites, and the increased utilization of automation. Cautionary Statements This news release includes statements containing certain "forwardlooking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law ("forwardlooking statements"). Forward looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, statements about future revenue and EBITDA, statements about future production and manufacturing, statements about achievement of value for shareholders, statements about reduction in cost of goods sold and general and administrative expenses, statements about the offering of any particular products by the Combined Entity in any jurisdiction, statements regarding the future performance of the Combined Entity, statements about the strengthening of the Combined Entity's balance sheet and debt ratios, statements about future development and delivery of products of the Combined Entity, statements about the potential future revenue and cost synergies, statements about the level of demand for TGOD's and BZAM's products, and statements about the timing of and closing of the Consolidation. Forwardlooking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "should", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forwardlooking statements throughout this news release. Forwardlooking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties (including market conditions) and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forwardlooking statements, including those risk factors described in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form filed with Canadian securities regulators and available on the Company's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information or forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forwardlooking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law. Neither the CSE nor the CSE's Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of CSE) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. 50623953.7 SOURCE The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. "Queer Sex Ed" pairs noted sex educators with LGBTQ+ young people for frank, honest discussions on critical sexual health topics missing from most school curriculums. LOS ANGELES, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the It Gets Better Project is announcing the release of the new digital content series Queer Sex Ed, a five-part, longform video series highlighting important conversations about sexual health that are not taking place in schools due to restrictive sex education policies, and are frequently suppressed by social media platforms and search engines. With medically-accurate, age appropriate sex education only mandatory in 17 states across the U.S., Queer Sex Ed provides sex education to queer youth throughout the country who lack access to this necessary and potentially life-saving information. It Gets Better Project Debuts New Digital Content Series Making Sex Education Inclusive and Accessible for LGBTQ+ Youth Tweet this It Gets Better Project's Queer Sex Ed INTO Hornet Queer Sex Ed features real people having candid conversations about the often embarrassing and misleading sex-ed misconceptions they had as kids, their real life experiences and learnings as sexually-active adults, and discussions with professional sex educators who provide context to the topics being discussed. The sex educators featured within the series are Dr. Lexx Brown-James, a PhD level sexologist and licensed marriage and family therapist who operates The Institute for Sexuality and Intimacy, LLC., and Melina Gaze, a sexuality educator, performer, and Co-Founder and Director of Vulgar.mx, a Spanish language sexuality education group focused on pleasure and social justice. "This new series is a bold and intimate look into how folks within our community first learned about sex and dives into conversations that we normally have amongst our friend groups in private," said Eboni Munn, It Gets Better Project's Director, Brand Marketing, Content & Creative. "What makes Queer Sex Ed so special is that it provides an in-depth look into the conversations happening in our living rooms or at our kitchen tables with close friends and it leaves takeways for our viewers to ask questions and/or reignite conversations within their own circles." "Queerness is painstakingly missing from curricula in schools. Projects like It Gets Better Queer Sex Ed look to stand in the gap," said Dr. Lexx. "Queer Sex Ed brings together friends of various social groups, body sizes, identities and relationship statuses to have conversations about navigating life. I worked alongside another sexuality professional, Melina Gaze, to help frame the conversation by adding facts, discerning when something is fiction and supporting the queer narrative from mental health and global perspectives." To further amplify the series, the It Gets Better Project has partnered with Gen-Z focused LGBTQ media outlet INTO (Q Digital) and queer social network Hornet . The series will be published on itgetsbetter.org and the It Gets Better Project's YouTube channel with additional content promoting the series available on the It Gets Better Project's TikTok and Instagram . As with all of the It Gets Better Project's original series, Queer Sex Ed will be accompanied by a free for download EDUGuide companion to better allow educators to present the series wherever learning takes place. "In today's political climate, it's hard enough for queer and trans teens and young adults to find the education they need," said INTO Editor Henry Giardina. "The It Gets Better Project is helping the next generation of activists become and stay informed about their own health, needs, and histories." Further information about Queer Sex Ed and the It Gets Better Project's work is available at www.itgetsbetter.org . About the It Gets Better Project Launched in 2010 as the result of one of the most successful viral video campaigns in YouTube's history, the It Gets Better Project is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that strives to uplift, empower, and connect LGBTQ+ youth around the globe. The It Gets Better Project provides critical support and hope to LGBTQ+ youth around the world by leveraging the power of media to reach millions of people each year. Its origins in storytelling and media have expanded to include It Gets Better EDU, which exists to ensure educators and student leaders have access to It Gets Better series plus easy-to-use resources, information, and more wherever learning takes place, and It Gets Better Global, our Global Affiliate Network which can be found in 19 countries and in eight different languages. The It Gets Better Project received the 2012 Governor's Award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and has been highlighted in a wide range of films and television programs, including a Saturday Night Live sketch in February, 2021. The project has garnered support from President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, along with numerous celebrities, including Kelly Clarkson, Gabrielle Union, Zachary Quinto, Mj Rodriguez, Josie Totah, and Gigi Gorgeous. More than 760,000 people have taken the It Gets Better pledge to share messages of hope and to speak up against intolerance. Connect with the It Gets Better Project at www.itgetsbetter.org and join the conversation on TikTok, Instagram and Twitter at @ItGetsBetter; Facebook.com/ItGetsBetterProject ; and YouTube.com/ItGetsBetterProject . About INTO INTO is a space for the queer community to talk openly about our lives, passions, struggles, and ideas celebrating thinkers, fighters, new voices, and the unapologetic authenticity of Gen Z. More info at INTO.com . About Hornet Hornet is where queer life happens anytime, anywhere. For over 35 million users, Hornet is the community home base for enjoying the entire spectrum of queer life and friendships: casual meetups and lifelong relationships, political advocacy and personal expression, mental support and intellectual chat. Hornet's wide range of features from video to chat make it easy and safe for LGBTQ+ people to share our experiences with a community that understands and validates our lives. More info at hornet.com Media Contacts It Gets Better Project Lisa Miceli, Metro Public Relations [email protected] SOURCE It Gets Better Project NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The latest report on the torque vectoring market estimates that the market size will register a growth of USD 15.34 billion from 2021 to 2026. In addition, the growth momentum of the market will accelerate at a CAGR of 22.72% during the forecast period, according to Technavio. Improved safety and vehicle dynamics are driving the market growth. However, factors such as the high cost and complexity of electric vehicle transmission will impede the market growth. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Torque Vectoring Market 2022-2026 The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Request the Latest FREE Sample Report Torque Vectoring Market 2022-2026: Scope The torque vectoring market report covers the following areas: Subscribe to our "Basic Plan" billed annually at USD 5000 that enables you to download 5 reports and view 100 reports every month Torque Vectoring Market 2022-2026: Vendor Analysis American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc., BorgWarner Inc., Continental AG, Dana Inc., Eaton Corp. Plc, Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, Hyundai Motor Co, JTEKT Corp., Linamar Corp., Magna International Inc., Melrose Industries Plc, Ricardo Plc, Robert Bosch GmbH, Schaeffler AG, Xtrac Ltd., and ZF Friedrichshafen AG are among some of the major market participants. The key offerings of some of these vendors are listed below: American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc. - The company offers torque vectoring such as VecTrac, which provides AWD function in a front-wheel drive architecture. The company offers torque vectoring such as VecTrac, which provides AWD function in a front-wheel drive architecture. BorgWarner Inc. - The company offers torque vectoring such as torque converter clutch. The company offers torque vectoring such as torque converter clutch. Continental AG - The company offers torque vectoring such as aquaplaning assistance technology. The company offers torque vectoring such as aquaplaning assistance technology. Dana Inc. - The company offers torque vectoring such as TM4 TautronicTM AC S1 SC as a controller for AC Induction motor and mobile machine management. The company offers torque vectoring such as TM4 TautronicTM AC S1 SC as a controller for AC Induction motor and mobile machine management. Eaton Corp. Plc - The company offers torque vectoring such as powerXL DG1 general-purpose variable frequency drives. This report provides a full list of key vendors, their strategies, and the latest developments. Request a FREE PDF Sample Now Torque Vectoring Market 2022-2026: Segmentation Type Passenger Car: The passenger cars segment will be a significant contributor to market growth during the forecast period. This growth is attributed to factors such as the rising adoption of four-wheel drive systems. Light Commercial Vehicle Geography Europe : Europe will account for 41% of the market's growth during the forecast period. This growth is attributed to factors such as the increasing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and highly efficient powertrains. Moreover, market growth in this region will be faster than the growth of the market in APAC. Germany and the UK are the key countries for the torque vectoring market in Europe . : will account for 41% of the market's growth during the forecast period. This growth is attributed to factors such as the increasing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and highly efficient powertrains. Moreover, market growth in this region will be faster than the growth of the market in APAC. and the UK are the key countries for the torque vectoring market in . North America APAC South America Middle East And Africa Torque Vectoring Market 2022-2026: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during 2022-2026 Detailed information on factors that will help the torque vectoring market grow during the next five years Estimation of the size of the torque vectoring market and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the torque vectoring market Analysis of the competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will impede the growth of torque vectoring market vendors Related Reports Automotive Steering Torque Sensor Market Growth, Size, Trends, Analysis Report by Type, Application, Region, and Segment Forecast 2022-2026: The report extensively covers market segmentation by application (passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles) and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa). 69% of the market's growth will originate from APAC during the forecast period. The market share growth by the passenger vehicles segment will be significant. Automotive Torque Converter Market Growth, Size, Trends, Analysis Report by Type, Application, Region, and Segment Forecast 2022-2026: The market has been broadly categorized into application (passenger cars and commercial vehicles) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa). 43% of the market's growth will originate from APAC during the forecast period. The market share growth by the passenger cars segment will be significant. Torque Vectoring Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 22.72% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 15.34 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 18.16 Regional analysis Europe, North America, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution Europe at 41% Key consumer countries US, Canada, China, Germany, and UK Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc., BorgWarner Inc., Continental AG, Dana Inc., Eaton Corp. Plc, Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, Hyundai Motor Co, JTEKT Corp., Linamar Corp., Magna International Inc., Melrose Industries Plc, Ricardo Plc, Robert Bosch GmbH, Schaeffler AG, Xtrac Ltd., and ZF Friedrichshafen AG 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 Type 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 Type 5.1 Market segments Exhibit 24: Chart on Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 25: Data Table on Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 5.2 Comparison by Type Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Type Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Type 5.3 Passenger car - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 28: Chart on Passenger car - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 29: Data Table on Passenger car - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 30: Chart on Passenger car - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Passenger car - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.4 Light commercial vehicle - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 32: Chart on Light commercial vehicle - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 33: Data Table on Light commercial vehicle - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 34: Chart on Light commercial vehicle - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Light commercial vehicle - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.5 Market opportunity by Type Exhibit 36: Market opportunity by Type ($ million) 6 Customer Landscape 6.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 37: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 7 Geographic Landscape 7.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 38: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) 7.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 40: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 41: Data Table on Geographic comparison 7.3 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 42: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 43: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 44: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 45: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.4 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 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 47: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) 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 (%) 7.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 50: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 51: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 52: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 53: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 55: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 56: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 57: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.7 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 (%) 7.8 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 62: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 63: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 64: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 65: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.9 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 67: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 68: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 69: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.10 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 (%) 7.11 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 75: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) 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 (%) 7.12 Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 79: Data Table on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 80: Chart on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 81: Data Table on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.13 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 82: 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 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 American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc. Exhibit 89: American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc. - Overview Exhibit 90: American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 91: American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 92: American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc. - Segment focus 10.4 BorgWarner Inc. Exhibit 93: BorgWarner Inc. - Overview Exhibit 94: BorgWarner Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 95: BorgWarner Inc. - Key news Exhibit 96: BorgWarner Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 97: BorgWarner Inc. - Segment focus 10.5 Continental AG Exhibit 98: Continental AG - Overview Exhibit 99: Continental AG - Business segments Exhibit 100: Continental AG - Key news Exhibit 101: Continental AG - Key offerings Exhibit 102: Continental AG - Segment focus 10.6 Dana Inc. Exhibit 103: Dana Inc. - Overview Exhibit 104: Dana Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 105: Dana Inc. - Key news Exhibit 106: Dana Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 107: Dana Inc. - Segment focus 10.7 Eaton Corp. Plc Exhibit 108: Eaton Corp. Plc - Overview Exhibit 109: Eaton Corp. Plc - Business segments Exhibit 110: Eaton Corp. Plc - Key news Exhibit 111: Eaton Corp. Plc - Key offerings Exhibit 112: Eaton Corp. Plc - Segment focus 10.8 Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC Exhibit 113: Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC - Overview Exhibit 114: Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC - Business segments Exhibit 115: Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC - Key news Exhibit 116: Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC - Key offerings Exhibit 117: Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC - Segment focus 10.9 Hyundai Motor Co Exhibit 118: Hyundai Motor Co - Overview Exhibit 119: Hyundai Motor Co - Business segments Exhibit 120: Hyundai Motor Co - Key news Exhibit 121: Hyundai Motor Co - Key offerings Exhibit 122: Hyundai Motor Co - Segment focus 10.10 JTEKT Corp. Exhibit 123: JTEKT Corp. - Overview Exhibit 124: JTEKT Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 125: JTEKT Corp. - Key news Exhibit 126: JTEKT Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 127: JTEKT Corp. - Segment focus 10.11 Linamar Corp. Exhibit 128: Linamar Corp. - Overview Exhibit 129: Linamar Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 130: Linamar Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 131: Linamar Corp. - Segment focus 10.12 Magna International Inc. Exhibit 132: Magna International Inc. - Overview Exhibit 133: Magna International Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 134: Magna International Inc. - Key news Exhibit 135: Magna International Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 136: Magna International Inc. - Segment focus 11 Appendix 11.1 Scope of the report 11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 137: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 138: Exclusions checklist 11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 139: Currency conversion rates for US$ 11.4 Research methodology Exhibit 140: Research methodology Exhibit 141: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 142: Information sources 11.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 143: List of abbreviations Cooling systems parts o Vehicle body and chassis o 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 The business brokerage consulting firm will open a regional office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with advisors bringing opportunities to companies throughout the region. WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Transworld Business Advisors, the largest business brokerage franchise in the world, is extending its reach to the Middle East, with plans to serve the entire region of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from Dubai. The expansion connects the company's existing European and Asian networks for greater coverage worldwide and offers business advisory services, franchise consulting, and mergers and acquisitions expertise to the region. International developer and entrepreneur Ahmad Ibrahim, serves as the Master Franchisor for the region as well as president of Transworld UAE. An experienced entrepreneur and investor, Ibrahim has spearheaded $40 billion worth of projects in the Middle East. He is joined by Rahim Rahimov, an expert in startup operations and sales processes, who brings a wealth of experience from various established and startup businesses as well as his work on government contracts worth $30 million annually. Rahimov serves as chief operating officer of Transworld UAE. Rahimov said, "We're excited about the chance to play a part in the region's economic growth. There is such a need for experienced business advisors to facilitate growth via mergers and acquisitions, and we believe we can make a real difference in the UAE's economic future." Ibrahim and Rahimov invested in the Middle East expansion of Transworld Business Advisors after recognizing the region's growth as a global investment hub and its relative lack of business consulting services. "At Transworld UAE, we see incredible potential in this region to positively change the landscape of the business consulting market and use our expertise to advise entrepreneurs on evaluating business opportunities and owners on how to maximize their profits when selling their business," Ibrahim said. Transworld Business Advisors is part of the United Franchise Group (UFG), family of affiliated brands, giving its clients access to a network of global franchises. "Entering the Middle East is an exciting step for us as we continue to deepen our presence and expand Transworld Business Advisors globally," said Bill Luce, President of Transworld Business Advisors. "It's a huge opportunity to bring our experience and expertise to an emerging market that's on the verge of great success." The Dubai office will operate with four to six staff in its first year, with plans to grow in its second year and beyond. In the introductory phase, partners from Transworld Business Advisors and United Franchise Group will work to establish relationships with lenders, partners, and leaders of key organizations guiding Transworld UAE as it takes the first steps in establishing a much larger footprint in the Middle East. About Transworld Business Advisors Transworld Business Advisors (TBA) is part of United Franchise Group (UFG) family of affiliated brands. With over 40 years of business brokerage experience, Transworld Business Advisors is in the business of helping buyers and sellers connect, conducting franchise consultations, and supporting franchise development. The company represents acquisition-minded corporations or individuals interested in owning their own company or franchise. From business brokerage to mergers and acquisitions, Transworld Business Advisors are business sale specialists that represent numerous listings across multiple industries. For more information about Transworld UAE visit www.tworld.ae and for information on owning a Transworld franchise, visit www.tworldfranchise.com. About United Franchise Group Led by CEO Ray Titus, United Franchise Group (UFG) is home to an affiliated family of brands and consultants including Accurate Franchising Inc., Exit Factor, FranchiseMart, Fully Promoted, Signarama, Transworld Business Advisors, and the Coworks division consisting of Franchise Real Estate, Network Lead Exchange(NLX), Office Evolution (OE) and Venture X as well as a food division featuring Graze Craze and The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill. UFG affiliated brands include over 1600 franchises in more than 60 countries, with consultants that have helped develop over 350 brands into franchises, in over 80 countries with more than 2500 franchisees. With over three decades in the franchising industry United Franchise Group offers unprecedented leadership and solid business opportunities for entrepreneurs. SOURCE Transworld Business Advisors CARBONDALE, Ill., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Trilogene Seeds announces advanced hemp research initiative at Saluki Innovation Lab at Southern Illinois University Research Park. The team plans to leverage genomic tools and agricultural biotechnology with the aim of developing and breeding cannabis and hemp genetics of the future. Lead geneticist at Trilogene Seeds, Oussama Badad, is a PhD candidate currently working on the epigenetic imprints in crop domestication using cutting edge technologies such as methylated DNA, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and gene expression. "Instead of relying on late-stage phenotyping to make decisions about selections we can use genotyping, sequencing, and genetic markers to make selections as early as 3 weeks after germination," says Badad. "Molecular breeding is faster, more accurate, more scalable, and less expensive than traditional breeding relying on phenotyping; on average genotyping can be 30% cheaper than phenotyping in our case." Future genetic development projects include modulation of cannabinoid pathways to produce minor cannabinoid and high terpenoid varieties that are ideal for extraction, total THC compliance, and ploidy. Badad continues, "Cannabis sativa L is a diploid species. Tetraploid development has been proven to increase copy number of genes and therefore increase gene expression in pathways of interest." The Trilogene research team is exploring how ploidy levels can modulate cannabinoid expressions, fatty acid content in seed, and bast fiber quality in industrial varieties. "We are committed to accelerating the development of this complex plant and will continue to push research forward at our new genomics lab in Illinois. This opportunity at SIU's innovation center will allow us to lean on university expertise and infrastructure to accelerate our genetic development projects," says Matt Haddad, CEO/Founder of Trilogene Seeds. About Saluki Innovation Lab The Saluki Innovation Lab is an initiative funded by the USDA and SIU to establish Ag biotechnology in the southern Illinois region and is located at the Dunn Richmond Economic Development Center on the SIU campus in Carbondale, IL. About Trilogene Seeds Trilogene Seeds is an award-winning cannabis and hemp genetics company based in Longmont, CO that specializes in breeding and development of unique feminized cultivars for high-quality smokable flower, extraction efficient biomass, and tri-crop fiber/grain varieties optimized for photoperiods and microclimates around the world. CONTACT: [email protected]; Jen Wysocki, [email protected] SOURCE Trilogene Seeds SINGAPORE, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This week, Tye Hayes, Founder & CEO of N-Ovate Solutions and SmartGov Data Tech joins the United States delegation on a trip to Singapore to participate in the 7th edition of Singapore International Cyber Week 2022 (SICW ). The event brings together prominent global policymakers and industry experts who will engage on critical issues such as international law or cyber norms of behavior while advancing knowledge exchanges about solutions that make up a secure, trusted, resilient cyberspace. As the former CTO of the City of Atlanta, Tye Hayes has over two decades of experience working in the public sector. N-Ovate Solutions is an innovative agency created specializing in Cybersecurity, IT Strategy & Planning, and IT Telecom & Network Services. "The United States delegation to Singapore is one of the most prestigious events in the world. To have N-Ovate Business Solutions, invited alongside some of the biggest names in technology is a tremendous honor. But I'm not here just to sit and watch; I'm here to represent N-Ovate Solutions , my country, and all little girls that look like me," says Tye Hayes , CEO and Founder of N-Ovate Solutions , and SmartGov Data Tech . "We may be small, but we have a lot of talent and a lot to offer. I intend to show everyone here that American businesses are still the best in the world." Last month Tye Hayes and her team announced the launch of SmartGov Data Stack focusing on data governance, risk reduction, & compliance to help government agencies manage data more efficiently. N-Ovate developed SmartGov Data Tech in partnership with the Black Progress Matters , Black-Owned Business Incubator to create an unparalleled, purpose-built modern data stack specifically for governments and education industries. To learn more about SmartGov Data Tech and N-Ovate Solutions visit https://www.novatesolutions.net/ or https://www.smartgovdatatech.com/ Media Contact: Katherine Ragusa SmartGov Data Tech (929) 630-2397 SOURCE N-Ovate Solutions; SmartGov Data Tech DUBLIN, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "U.A.E. Fragrance Market Report: By Category, Product Type, Gender - Industry Analysis and Growth Forecast to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The U.A.E. fragrance market was worth $913.7 million in 2021, which is expected to touch $1,622.5 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 6.6% from 2021 to 2030. The growing demand for custom-made fragrances and natural and eco-friendly cosmetic variants, and increasing spending on advertising and marketing campaigns, particularly through digital platforms, are some key drivers for the market. In 2021, luxury goods accounted for roughly 70% of the total industry revenue in the country. Because the U.A.E. is an economically powerful market, prominent global brands frequently debut their luxury items here before elsewhere. In addition, almost 60% of its population is between the ages of 14 and 40. Furthermore, the majority of the working people are between the ages of 18 and 40, which serves as the most-potent trigger for the rise in the demand for high-end fragrances. There are many key players in the U.A.E. fragrance market, such as Candle-Lite Company LLC, Rasasi Perfumes Industry LLC, The Procter & Gamble Company, Unilever Group, Abdul Samad Al Qurashi, Arabian Oud, Johnson & Johnson, Nuxe Inc., Weleda Group, and Victoria's Secret & Co. Perfumes are considered to be a vital aspect of a woman's identity. Scents are becoming trendier as the female workforce grows. As per the World Bank, the female labor force of the country increased by 3.727% from 2010 to 2020. Moreover, fragrances are one of the most-significant and enticing personal care accessories for women. Some ladies like a subtle fragrance, whereas others prefer a strong perfume. Key Findings of U.A.E Fragrance Market Report The rising demand for natural and organic goods is one of the primary drivers for the U.A.E. fragrance market expansion. However, synthetic scents still account for 60-65% share of the market, indicating that the business is largely reliant on synthetic ingredients. The number of overseas perfume firms establishing operations in the U.A.E. has increased dramatically in recent years. They are gradually introducing new products to the local population by mixing traditional Oriental ingredients with Western smells. There are 800 fitness clubs in the U.A.E. with 523,000 members. Such consumers in the country are prepared to pay more for perfumes to disguise the unpleasant odor emanating from their bodies after a hard workout, which is expected to drive the market expansion in the future. This indicates that men are increasingly using cosmetics in their daily lives, which is contributing to the U.A.E. fragrance market growth. Apart from gym-goers, even professionals are using these products, with their increasing focus on personal hygiene and skincare. Thus, Eucerin DERMOPURE TRIPLE EFFECT SERUM with Thiamidol and DERMOPURE PROTECTIVE FLUID SPF 30 were launched globally by Beiersdorf AG's dermacosmetics brand, Eucerin, in August 2021 , as part of its DERMOPURE range for acne-prone skin. , as part of its DERMOPURE range for acne-prone skin. Furthermore, Ajmal launched its new fragrance, Aristocrat Platinum eau de parfum, in February 2021 , to commemorate the company's 70 years. It is a new-age scent that exudes elegance and leaves a long-lasting, strong impression. Market Dynamics Trends Growing demand for custom-made, natural, and eco-friendly fragrance products Adoption of social media strategies for brand promotion Drivers Rising importance of personal hygiene and grooming Innovations in fragrance-containing cosmetic and personal care product Increasing demand for scented candles Rising number of gym-goers Restraints Use of harmful ingredients Uncertainties in availability of raw material Company Profiles Abdul Samad Al Qurashi Arabian Oud Rasasi Perfumes Industry LLC Johnson & Johnson The Procter & Gamble Company Unilever Group Christian Dior SE Beiersdorf AG Marico Limited Nuxe Inc. Bath & Body Works Direct Inc. Weleda Group Candle-Lite Company LLC Rituals Cosmetics Enterprise BV Victoria's Secret & Co. Ajmal Perfumes For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/cay8ac 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 Delegates hope to learn about blood donor recruitment and management in America MILWAUKEE, Oct. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Versiti, a community blood center providing blood and blood products to hundreds of hospitals and medical clinics throughout the Midwestern United States, welcomed today a delegation of five health administrators from Ukraine facing unprecedented demand for transfusions as casualties mount from the war in their homeland. In between informational sessions with Versiti leaders and medical staff, delegates will tour donation centers, blood processing facilities and Versiti Blood Research Institute during their four-day stay in Milwaukee. The delegates will learn about best practices in the American blood donation system as the former Soviet nation clashes with hostile, invading military forces. Versiti blood centers welcomed a delegation from Ukraine hoping to learn about the American blood donation system. Tweet this "People of all nationalities need blood," said Chris Miskel, President and CEO of Versiti. "We are honored to host these delegates and join them in their efforts to build a more sustainable community health system that best serves the people of Ukraine in times of peace and conflict." The delegates' are traveling on the Open World program administered by the Congressional Office for International Leadership (COIL), an independent agency of the United States Congress. Over 30,000 current and future leaders from post-Soviet era countries have participated in the Open World program. "Open World offers one of the most effective U.S. exchange programs to promote mutually beneficial options for depolarized engagement between future national leaders," said Lewis Madanick, a senior program manager at COIL. "It is a unique but no less powerful tool for Congress to engage legislatures in critical regions of the world." During their stay in Milwaukee, members of the volunteer group Friendship Force of Milwaukee are hosting the delegates in their homes. The group, which played an integral role in connecting COIL with Versiti, consists of more than 100 volunteers with diverse backgrounds and professions who work together to travel abroad and host international groups and delegations to establish new partnerships and bridge cultures. The group consists of 350 chapters in more than 60 countries across the globe. About Versiti Versiti is a not-for-profit organization in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin specializing in blood services, esoteric diagnostic testing, organ, tissue and stem cell donation, medical services and leading-edge research. We advance patient care by delivering life-saving solutions grounded in unparalleled medical and scientific expertise. The collective efforts of Versiti affiliates result in improved patient outcomes, expanded access to care, and cost efficiencies for healthcare systems nationwide. For more information, visit versiti.org. About the Congressional Office for International Leadership Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February, COIL has made a point to continue to engage Ukrainians both inside and outside of Ukraine. COIL looks forward to continuing these mutually beneficial exchanges between the United States and Ukraine to promote greater security, democracy, and prosperity together. COIL strategically connects new generations of international leaders to the most powerful legislative body in the world the U.S. Congress. Through its Open World program, COIL has brought 30,000 global leaders to the U.S. since its inception in 1999. The program pioneered person-to-person international engagement and provides an immersive experience with delegates' direct professional counterparts, covering a broad spectrum of policy themes rooted within communities across the United States. To learn more about the Open World program, please visit http://www.openworld.gov. SOURCE Versiti Commitment to doing more for the planet and people aligns with Volpara's purpose SEATTLE, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Volpara Health (ASX: VHT), a global leader in software for the early detection of cancer, today announced that it is a Certified B Corporation, or B Corp. Certified B Corporations represent a growing for-profit business community that puts people and the planet first. Companies that become B Corp Certified lead in their ability to meet high standards for social and environmental performance. By achieving a score of 80 or higher on the B Impact Assessment, incorporating stakeholder governance in their legal structure, and undergoing review and recertification every three years, B Corps commit to continuous improvement. As a purpose-driven company focused on saving families from cancer, B Corp Certification is of importance to us. Tweet this As a purpose-driven company focused on saving families from cancer, Volpara is guided by our core values to be bold, relentless, extraordinary, and whanau (the Maori concept of extended family). B Corp Certification reinforces what's long been part of the Company's DNA: to do right by everyone impacted by our decisions and actions from employees and customers to business partners and investors, and of course the individuals whose lives we hope to better, even save, with science. Since our inception we have held ourselves accountable for not only doing the noble work of early cancer detection but participating in the world as a good corporate citizen. "After over a decade of game-changing innovation in healthcare, it was clear to us that our next step was B Corp Certification," said Volpara Chief People Officer Kathryn Greene. "We are proud to be one of the first companies in our industry that have pursued this extensive certificationa lengthy process that involved hard work from many on our team passionate about corporate stewardship." Volpara joins a community of over 4,600 other B Corps spanning more than 150 industries in countries around the world, including Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. B CorpCertified companies play a key role in positively impacting and transforming the global economy into a more inclusive, equitable, and regenerative system. Volpara's strategy includes four pillars: improving cancer detection, building a principled and resilient business, supporting a thriving workforce of dedicated staff members, and practicing responsible climate stewardship. Backed by the growing network of B Corps, Volpara is excited to continue working toward this mission and demonstrating its commitment to the planet. "We are proud to join this collective effort to make a larger, positive impact together," said Volpara CEO Teri Thomas. "We take our responsibility to our local and global communities very seriously and, like B Lab, believe that profitable growth goes hand in hand with an expanded commitment to transformative social and environmental change." Learn more by visiting: https://www.volparahealth.com/b-corp-certified/ About B Lab B Lab is a non-profit that serves a global movement of people using business as a force for good. B Lab's initiatives include B Corp Certification, administration of the B Impact Management programs and software, and advocacy for governance structures like the benefit corporation. The B Corp community works toward reduced inequality, lower levels of poverty, a healthier environment, stronger communities, and the creation of more high-quality jobs with dignity and purpose. By harnessing the power of business, B Corps use profits and growth as a means to a greater end: a positive impact for their employees, communities, and the environment. About Volpara Health (ASX: VHT) Volpara Health Technologies makes software to save families from cancer. Healthcare providers use Volpara to better understand cancer risk, empower patients in personal care decisions, and guide recommendations about additional imaging, genetic testing, and other interventions. Our AI-powered image analysis enables radiologists to quantify breast tissue with precision and helps technologists produce mammograms with optimal image quality, positioning, compression, and dose. In an industry facing increasing staffing shortages, our software streamlines operations and provides key performance insights that support continuous quality improvement. Volpara is the preferred partner of leading healthcare institutions around the world. Our software is used in over 2,000 facilities by more than 5,000 technologists, impacting nearly 15 million patients globally. It helps providers conduct more than three million cancer risk assessments each year and can be deployed stand-alone or fully integrated with electronic health record systems, mammography reporting systems, imaging hardware, and genetic laboratories. Volpara holds the most rigorous security certifications and numerous patents and regulatory registrations, including FDA clearance and CE marking. Since listing on the ASX in April 2016, the Company has raised A$132 million. With offices in Seattle and Boston, Volpara is based in Wellington, New Zealand. For more information, visit https://www.volparahealth.com. SOURCE Volpara Health NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Technavio's latest report on the warehouse management systems market projects growth of USD 1.78 bn, registering a CAGR of 10.41% from 2021 to 2026. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Warehouse Management Systems Market 2022-2026 The Deployment segment will generate maximum revenue in the warehouse management systems market. In terms of geography, Europe will present significant opportunities for market vendors due to the factors such as the growth of advanced healthcare facilities, rising healthcare spending, and the presence of government organizations such as Medicaid, which provide medical aid to people with limited income and financial resources. Request Free Sample Report. Warehouse Management Systems Market: Major Growth Drivers The warehouse management systems market growth is expected to be driven by the following factors: Growth of the e-commerce industry Growing need for efficient forecasting models The emergence of omnichannel distribution network One of the primary warehouse management systems (WMS) industry trends driving the expansion of the market is the globalization of supply chain networks. Companies are investigating sites to distribute software quickly and are seeking for expedited solutions to cut their transport time. More regional warehouses will likely be established than centralized warehouse hubs, according to expectations. Throughout the predicted period, it is anticipated that this shift will gain strength. Thus, there will be an increase in demand for WMS as more regional distribution centers and warehouses go up, which would favorably impact the market throughout the projection period. Buy Sample Report. Warehouse Management Systems Market: Key Vendor Offerings 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. 3PL Central LLC: The company manufactures branded generic pharmaceuticals for established and emerging markets. The company manufactures branded generic pharmaceuticals for established and emerging markets. Cantaloupe Inc: The company provides application-focused solutions that include instruments and software to identify, quantify, and analyze the physical and biological properties of substances and products. The company provides application-focused solutions that include instruments and software to identify, quantify, and analyze the physical and biological properties of substances and products. Daifuku Co. Ltd.: The company offers an extensive range of products such as laboratory testing, near-patient testing, blood glucose monitoring, oral care, veterinary, and immunodiagnostic products. The company offers an extensive range of products such as laboratory testing, near-patient testing, blood glucose monitoring, oral care, veterinary, and immunodiagnostic products. Datapel Systems: The company offers human genetics research, diagnostics, imaging platform, and clinical testing. The company offers human genetics research, diagnostics, imaging platform, and clinical testing. Epicor Software Corp.: The company offers a range of products under the head of the immunoassay, microbiology, molecular diagnosis, performance management, and lab automation. Find additional highlights on the growth strategies adopted by vendors and their product offerings, Download Free Sample Report. Warehouse Management Systems Market: Geographical Analysis The rise of the regional e-commerce sector, the presence of multinational corporations with global warehousing and distribution operations, and significant advancements in third-party logistics (3PL) networks are all contributing to the WMS market's expansion in North America. The warehouse management machine market is being significantly impacted by the fundamentals of distribution and warehousing in North America, where the supply chain sector is undergoing a significant transition. Thus, there is a huge need for WMS as a result of the growing distribution and warehousing networks. Microsoft vendors are becoming able to offer sophisticated WMS. The adoption of WMS is benefiting from this. As a result, it is anticipated that the WMS market would increase consistently in the area over the course of the projection year. Get a Free Sample Report. Reasons to Buy Warehouse Management Systems Market Report: CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will assist warehouse management systems market growth during the next five years Estimation of the warehouse management systems market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the warehouse management systems market across North America , Europe , APAC, Middle East and Africa , and South America Related Reports Master Data Management Solutions Market by End-user and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The report extensively covers the master data management (MDM) solutions market segmentation by end-user (BFSI, healthcare, retail, and others) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and the Middle East and Africa). Advanced Distribution Management System Market by Component and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The report extensively covers the advanced distribution management system market segmentation by component (software, analytics, and services) and geographic (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and the Middle East and Africa). Warehouse Management Systems Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 10.41% Market growth 2022-2026 $1.78 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 7.82 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution Europe at 33% Key consumer countries US, China, Japan, Germany, and UK Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled 3PL Central LLC, Cantaloupe Inc, Daifuku Co. Ltd., Dassault Systemes SE, Datapel Systems, E2open Parent Holdings Inc., Epicor Software Corp., International Business Machines Corp., Koch Industries Inc., Manhattan Associates Inc., Mantis Informatics S.A, Oracle Corp., Panasonic Holdings Corp., PTC Inc., Reply Spa, SAP SE, Softeon, Tecsys Inc., and Vinculum Solutions Pvt. 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 Deployment 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 Deployment 5.1 Market segments Exhibit 24: Chart on Deployment - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 25: Data Table on Deployment - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 5.2 Comparison by Deployment Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Deployment Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Deployment 5.3 Cloud - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 28: Chart on Cloud - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 29: Data Table on Cloud - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 30: Chart on Cloud - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Cloud - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.4 On-premise - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 32: Chart on On-premise - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 33: Data Table on On-premise - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 34: Chart on On-premise - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 35: Data Table on On-premise - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.5 Market opportunity by Deployment Exhibit 36: Market opportunity by Deployment ($ million) 6 Customer Landscape 6.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 37: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 7 Geographic Landscape 7.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 38: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) 7.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 40: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 41: Data Table on Geographic comparison 7.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 42: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 43: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 44: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 45: 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 46: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 47: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 48: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 49: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 50: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 51: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 52: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 53: Data Table on APAC - 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 54: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 55: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 56: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 57: 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 58: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 59: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 60: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 61: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.8 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 62: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 63: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 64: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 65: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.9 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 67: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 68: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 69: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.10 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 71: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 72: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 73: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.11 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 75: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 76: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 77: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.12 Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 79: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) 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 (%) 7.13 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 82: 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 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 E2open Parent Holdings Inc. Exhibit 89: E2open Parent Holdings Inc. - Overview Exhibit 90: E2open Parent Holdings Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 91: E2open Parent Holdings Inc. - Key offerings 10.4 Epicor Software Corp. Exhibit 92: Epicor Software Corp. - Overview Exhibit 93: Epicor Software Corp. - Product / Service Exhibit 94: Epicor Software Corp. - Key offerings 10.5 International Business Machines Corp. Exhibit 95: International Business Machines Corp. - Overview Exhibit 96: International Business Machines Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 97: International Business Machines Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 98: International Business Machines Corp. - Segment focus 10.6 Koch Industries Inc. Exhibit 99: Koch Industries Inc. - Overview Exhibit 100: Koch Industries Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 101: Koch Industries Inc. - Key news Exhibit 102: Koch Industries Inc. - Key offerings 10.7 Manhattan Associates Inc. Exhibit 103: Manhattan Associates Inc. - Overview Exhibit 104: Manhattan Associates Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 105: Manhattan Associates Inc. - Key news Exhibit 106: Manhattan Associates Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 107: Manhattan Associates Inc. - Segment focus 10.8 Oracle Corp. Exhibit 108: Oracle Corp. - Overview Exhibit 109: Oracle Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 110: Oracle Corp. - Key news Exhibit 111: Oracle Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 112: Oracle Corp. - Segment focus 10.9 Panasonic Holdings Corp. Exhibit 113: Panasonic Holdings Corp. - Overview Exhibit 114: Panasonic Holdings Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 115: Panasonic Holdings Corp. - Key news Exhibit 116: Panasonic Holdings Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 117: Panasonic Holdings Corp. - Segment focus 10.10 Reply Spa Exhibit 118: Reply Spa - Overview Exhibit 119: Reply Spa - Business segments Exhibit 120: Reply Spa - Key offerings Exhibit 121: Reply Spa - Segment focus 10.11 SAP SE Exhibit 122: SAP SE - Overview Exhibit 123: SAP SE - Business segments Exhibit 124: SAP SE - Key news Exhibit 125: SAP SE - Key offerings Exhibit 126: SAP SE - Segment focus 10.12 Tecsys Inc. Exhibit 127: Tecsys Inc. - Overview Exhibit 128: Tecsys Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 129: Tecsys Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 130: Tecsys Inc. - Segment focus 11 Appendix 11.1 Scope of the report 11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 131: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 132: Exclusions checklist 11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 133: Currency conversion rates for US$ 11.4 Research methodology Exhibit 134: Research methodology Exhibit 135: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 136: Information sources 11.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 137: 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 TUESDAY, Oct. 18, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- It's a troubling equation: Many Americans with the highest rates of hospitalization for influenza have the lowest uptake of the annual flu vaccine. That's why the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is stepping up outreach to minority communities, including Black, Hispanic and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) groups, and working to reduce barriers to vaccination. Flu vaccines are the best way to protect against flu and its potentially serious complications, said Dr. Debra Houry, the CDC's acting principal deputy director. Improving access to and trust in flu vaccines among people is critical to help reduce inequities. Since 2010, flu vaccination rates have been consistently lower among Black, Hispanic and AI/AN adults in the United States, according to the CDC. For the 20212022 flu season, about 54% of white adults and Asian adults got their flu shot. That compared to 42% of Black adults, 41% of AI/AN adults and 38% of Hispanic adults. Not surprisingly, Black, Hispanic and AI/AN adults were hospitalized with flu at higher rates during most flu seasons from 2009 to 2022. Compared to rates for white adults, hospitalization rates were nearly 80% higher for Black adults, 30% higher among AI/AN adults and 20% higher among Hispanic adults, the investigators found. The CDC cited several possible reasons for the gap. Among them: lack of access to health care and insurance; missed opportunities to get vaccinated; and misinformation and distrust that lowers confidence in vaccines. The researchers pointed out that members of some racial and ethnic minority groups have higher rates of chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes and obesity which increase the risk of serious flu complications. Racism and prejudice also worsen inequalities, the CDC noted in an agency news release. This year's flu season is projected to be particularly nasty, making a flu shot more important than usual, infectious disease experts say. Dr. William Schaffner, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, noted recently that people are already landing in the hospital with severe cases of influenza, about a month ahead of when flu season usually begins. Generally, the flu vaccine reduces the number of people who get sick by 40% to 60%, experts say. During the 20192020 flu season, vaccination prevented an estimated 7.5 million cases of flu; 3.7 million flu-related medical visits; 105,000 hospitalizations due to flu; and 6,300 flu-associated deaths, the CDC said. The CDC urged health care providers to strongly recommend flu vaccines to their patients, using materials with images representative of the community. It suggested providers address concerns and misinformation with patients and, when possible, use the predominant language that is spoken in a community, such as Spanish. The agency also called on state and local governments to work with community groups to increase vaccine access and convenience. Promoting culturally relevant messages and partnering with trusted messengers can build confidence, the CDC suggested. In addition, the agency is working to raise awareness about the importance of the vaccine among racial and minority groups, including through its Partnering for Vaccine Equity (P4VE) program and a targeted, national flu vaccination campaign. The CDC recommends everyone get their flu vaccine to protect themselves this fall and winter. A 2021 CDC study showed that vaccinated flu patients had a 26% lower risk of admission to an intensive care unit and 31% lower risk of dying from flu compared to the unvaccinated. "My patients would come in after flu season and complain, 'you vaccinated me against influenza but I got influenza anyway,'" Schaffner said. "And I would say, 'Charlie, I'm so glad you're here to complain.'" More information The World Health Organization has more on influenza. SOURCES: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, news release, Oct. 18, 2022; HealthDay News, Oct. 14, 2022 CHICAGO, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Water Storage Systems Market by Material (Steel, Fiberglass, Concrete, Plastic), Application, End Use (Residential, Commercial, Industrial, and Municipal), and Region (North America, Europe, APAC, MEA, South America) Global Forecast to 2027", size is projected to grow from USD 16.5 billion in 2022 to USD 25.1 billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 8.7%. Market growth is attributed to the rising demand for water storage systems in the growing construction industry in residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal end users across the world. This growth is attributed to the increasing scarcity of water, rapidly growing population & urbanization, stringent regulations for water conservation and discharge, and changing climatic conditions, among others. PDF Download: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=11231065 Browse and in-depth TOC on "Water Storage Systems Market" 184 - Tables 41 - Figures 212 - Pages View detailed Table of Content here - https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/water-storage-system-market-112310652.html The concrete segment is the fastest-growing material segment during the forecast period. Based on material, the concrete segment is expected to be the largest segment during the forecast period. Concrete water storage systems can be used for long periods due to their superior strength, non-corrosive properties, and durability. These tanks are environment-friendly and are used for both residential and commercial purposes as concrete provides natural insulation, which keeps the water cool and minimizes the amount of bacterial growth in the water. Concrete tanks can be used for a variety of applications such as fire suppression & prevention, community water storage systems, agriculture irrigation, winery production, ranch & livestock water supply, and landscape water storage, among others. Moreover, with time, the lime in concrete leaks into the water, which reduces the acidity of rainwater, making it safer to drink. These factors are expected to drive the use of concrete water storage systems. Concrete tanks are the preferred choice for large-capacity water storage. The hydraulic fracture storage & collection segment to lead the water storage systems market during the forecast period. Based on application, the water storage systems market is segmented into Hydraulic fracture storage & collection, Onsite water & wastewater collection, Potable water storage systems, Fire suppression reserve & storage, Rainwater harvesting & collection, and Others (irrigation, secondary containment systems, and marine). After the COVID-19 crisis caused an unexpected drop in demand in 2020, global oil markets are rebalancing. The world economy and oil markets are recouping from the record drop in demand induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. The massive inventory excess that accumulated in 2020 is being depleted, and global oil stockpiles, excluding strategic reserves, reverted to pre-pandemic levels in 2021. Water used in the oil & gas sector should be processed for reuse or discharge in accordance with various environmental and regulatory norms and regulations. Oil and natural gas are valuable commodities that enable diverse countries to satisfy their energy needs. Natural gas, combined with coal and oil, accounts for 85% of total energy consumption in the US. However, as traditional resources become scarce, there has been a greater emphasis on unconventional sources such as shale gas, tight sands, and coal bed methane. According to the EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency), coal mining will contribute to around 10% of worldwide methane emissions in 2030. A significant number of these emissions are produced by major coal-producing countries such as China, Russia, the US, India, and Australia. The EPA predicts that a suite of existing technologies may save around 64% of estimated 2030 emissions; this abatement potential is expected to stay steady through 2050. The international coal market thus offers considerable business opportunities for U.S. vendors, project developers, and other partners. This will boost the demand of hydraulic fracture storage & collection over the forecasted period. Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=112310652 Asia Pacific water storage systems market is estimated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The Asia Pacific region is the largest market for water storage systems across the globe. The market in the Asia Pacific has been studied for China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and the Rest of Asia Pacific (Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Malaysia). Among these countries, China accounted for the largest share of 40.9% of the Asia Pacific water storage systems market. India and China have experienced close to double-digit GDP growth in recent years, as well as a population boom. The river basins in the countries are unable to meet the water demand of these heavily populated countries. Additionally, socioeconomic factors cause a rise in population, which is expected to lead to the scarcity of water in the Asia Pacific region. The fluctuating levels of rainfall in some countries of Asia Pacific have also led to water scarcity, which is expected to increase the demand for water storage systems in the near future. Major players operating in the water storage systems include CST Industries Inc. (US), ZCL Composites Inc. (Canada), Synalloy Corporation (US), AG Growth International Inc. (Canada), McDermott International Inc. (US), BH Tank (US), Fiber Technology Corporation (US), Caldwell Tanks (US), Containment Solutions Inc. (US), and Maguire Iron Inc. (US).https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=149638848 - &utm_source=PRNewswire&utm_medium=Referal&utm_campaign=PaidPR Get 10% Free Customization on this Report @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=112310652 Browse Adjacent Markets: Building and Construction Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems Market by Device (Tabletop, Faucet-mounted, Countertop) Technology (RO, Ultrafiltration, Distillation, Disinfection, Filtration), Application (Residential & Non-Residential) & Region - Global Forecast to 2026 https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/point-of-use-water-treatment-systems-market-131277828.html Pipeline Monitoring System Market by Pipe Type (Metallic, Non-Metallic), Technology (Ultrasonic, PIGs, Smart Ball, Magnetic Flux Leakage, Fiber Optic Technology), Solution, End-use Industry, and Region - Global Forecast to 2026 https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/pipeline-monitoring-system-market-138709351.html 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] Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/water-storage-system.asp Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/water-storage-system-market.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets Wefi's WeConnect and OpenRoaming deliver automatic, seamless, and secure connectivity to power value-driven network experiences for network operators and subscribers LOS ANGELES, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wefi, a market leader in Wi-Fi connectivity, mobile data collection, and big data analytics, today announced it has successfully launched Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) OpenRoaming. This accomplishment increases Wefi's coverage footprint and enables network operators to unlock additional roaming savings, monetization channels, and coverage. With Wefi's WeConnect solution and OpenRoaming, operators can enhance subscribers' user experience by offering a secure frictionless connection at a fraction of the cost, without compromising service quality. "We're excited to expand our network with the WBA's OpenRoaming program," says Arie Shaham, General Manager of Wefi. "Our partners now can automatically connect their users to multiple global Wi-Fi networks in a secure and seamless manner, all while decreasing business costs." OpenRoaming was developed as a global standard to streamline user roaming access between cellular, guest Wi-Fi networks, and public Wi-Fi hotspots. Its user-centric approach removes traditional connectivity barriers faced when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks. Users can connect to high-speed, secure, carrier-grade networks wherever they are, indoors and outdoors, without experiencing disruption to their wireless network connection. This eliminates the need for users to re-register or re-enter login credentials. Wefi will be demonstrating the power of OpenRoaming at the WBA's Wireless Global Congress EMEA conference held October 17-20 at the RAI Convention Center in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Event attendees and visitors can access free, seamless access to OpenRoaming Wi-Fi hotspots by downloading Wefi's OpenRoaming Connect in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. For more information about Wefi, please visit contact www.wefi.com or contact [email protected]. About Wefi Wefi is a market leader in Wi-Fi connectivity, mobile data collection, and big data analytics. Wefi's patented WeConnect solution comprises a field-proven mobile application connection manager, a mobile data collection SDK, and a cloud-based big data analytics backend. Our unique solution helps MSOs control and enhance the online experience of their subscribers and supports the effort to introduce mobile virtual network operator (MVNO)-type services. We also help mobile network operators (MNOs) to ensure the best possible service quality and proactively address issues, and MVNOs in offloading data streams and saving operational cost. Our vast data repository and analytics tools help research companies in creating valuable insights from data coming straight from mobile devices. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1924602/Wefi_Logo_Logo.jpg SOURCE TruConnect Robotics company secures funding from prominent Washington investor, strategic partner, and angel investors to enable deployment of BreadBots WALLA WALLA, Wash., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wilkinson Baking Company ("WBC"), creator of the world's first fully-automated commercial bread baking robot, announced the close of its fully subscribed $3.0m seed round. The round was led by prominent Washington investor Ken Peterson of Columbia Ventures Corporation ("CVC"), along with Rich Product Ventures ("RPV"). Several angel investors also participated. Funds will primarily be used to build and deploy additional BreadBots. "In an era of high transportation costs and staffing constraints, I immediately recognized the potential for the BreadBot," said Ken Peterson, CEO of CVC. "The company required capital to unlock its next phase of growth and I was excited to partner with WBC and the Wilkinson family to build more BreadBots and see them deployed in grocery stores." In July 2022, Wilkinson Baking Company deployed their first commercial-ready BreadBot into Andy's Market in College Place, Wash. This is the company's first permanent deployment, moving beyond initial test deployments. The company is manufacturing and assembling additional BreadBots and expects to have 20 units deployed by early 2023. "We are having engaging conversations with grocers who see our vision for changing the way bread is manufactured and distributed," said Paul Rhynard, WBC CEO. "This is just the beginning of our journey with a highly disruptive solution that brings truly fresh bread to consumers, thanks in part to our incredible new partners." RPV, the corporate venture arm of Rich's, a $4.5bn family-owned food company, also took an equity position in WBC. Dinsh Guzdar, Managing Director of RPV, stated "Wilkinson is uniquely positioned to meet the many needs of grocers, bringing better bread margins, fresher product, and an improved in-store experience all through automation that does not require additional labor." Prior to the series seed raise, WBC funded the company through founder contributions, angel investors, and convertible debt, which was converted into preferred equity at the close of the round. About Wilkinson Baking Company With a humble start in Walla Walla, Wash., WBC perfected the commercial bread-baking robot aptly named the BreadBot. After several years of in-market pilots at seven grocery stores, WBC launched its commercially ready model the summer of 2022. For more information, visit wilkinsonbaking.com . For information on CVC, visit https://colventures.com/. For information on RPV, visit https://www.richproductsventures.com/. SOURCE Wilkinson Baking Company The firm is known for technically challenging projects that serve commercial, civic and education clients. DAYTON, Ohio, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Woolpert has acquired Sheehan Nagle Hartray Architects, a full-service architecture firm that specializes in mission critical and technically challenging projects, interior design and predesign services for commercial, civic and education clients. SNHA has offices in Chicago and London. SNHA Principal Neil Sheehan said SNHA wanted to join a nimble, entrepreneurial culture with whom they could develop a visionary, global business strategy. He said in Woolpert, SNHA found transparency and knowledge-sharing across all levels, with clear aspirations for future growth, productivity and success. "Woolpert shares our drive for design excellence and understands that innovation is evolutionary, while providing services that complement our own," Sheehan said. "In addition, Woolpert's geospatial and engineering capabilities underscore our expertise, allowing us to integrate emerging technologies like computational design, digital twins, reality capture, carbon tracking, and virtual and augmented reality." Woolpert Vice President and Buildings Sector Leader Suzette Stoler lauded the SNHA staff for their passion, integrity and advancement of next-level, sustainable design. "We admire what SNHA has accomplished over the last 50 years and are thrilled that they are part of our Woolpert family," Stoler said. "Together we will enhance our dynamic design culture across the globe, while providing meaningful and sustainable solutions for our clients and the industry." "In addition to industry leadership in data center design, SNHA marks another key milestone in our global expansion plan," Woolpert CEO Scott Cattran said. "With existing Woolpert offices already in North America, Africa, Australia and Asia, SNHA expands our design excellence in Europe and extends our capabilities as a global company." AEC Advisors initiated this transaction and acted as a financial advisor to Sheehan Nagle Hartray Architects. About Woolpert Woolpert is the premier architecture, engineering, geospatial (AEG) and strategic consulting firm, with a vision to become one of the best companies in the world. We innovate within and across markets to effectively serve public, private and government clients worldwide. Woolpert is a top 100 ENR Global Design firm and actively nurtures a culture of growth, inclusion, diversity and respect. Founded in 1911 in Dayton, Ohio, Woolpert has been America's fastest-growing AEG firm since 2015. The firm has 1,900 employees and more than 60 offices on four continents. Visit woolpert.com. About Sheehan Nagle Hartray Architects Sheehan Nagle Hartray Architects is a full-service architectural firm offering architectural design, interior design and predesign services including site selection, program definition and feasibility studies. We are also product designers, focusing on the creation of building systems for emerging design and technology challenges. Visit snh-a.com. Media contact: Jill Kelley; 937-531-1258, [email protected] SOURCE Woolpert BRUSSELS, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Casablanca Finance City (CFC) is hosting the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC) in Casablanca from 19-21 October 2022. Expected to be attended by over 40 member & observer representatives, the AGM will focus on topical themes including sustainability, innovation & FinTech and the role of financial centers in the post covid recovery. With COP 27 also taking place in Africa a few weeks later, the timing of this meeting is significant for financial centers to facilitate an exchange around their role in green transition, circular economy and working towards the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). WAIFC is also expected to elect a new Chair, appoint new board members, decide on membership applications and prepare a revised strategy for further collaboration between financial centers. Being a non-profit association, members coordinate self-generated projects, to deliver mutual benefit and stimulate growth. Delegates will also participate in project meetings, roundtables and institutional meetings before attending Casablanca Sustainable Finance Dialogue. Finally, WAIFC leaders will welcome four winners of the WAIFC Young Academic Award 2022. With this competition, WAIFC seeks fresh perspectives from the next generation of researchers. 49 applications from 26 countries and 45 academic institutions were received, covering topics such as Sustainable Finance, SME Financing, Financial Inclusion, Tokenization, Sustainable Entrepreneurship and AI Technology. Commenting on the Annual General Meeting, Jennifer Reynolds, Chair of the WAIFC Board of Directors, stated: "This Annual General Meeting of WAIFC being my last as Chair is significant for various reasons. The association has significant momentum and contribution from members with various projects concluding and new ones emerging. We have come out the other side of the pandemic and with COP 27 weeks away, questions are still being asked of the sector and the world at large to deliver a sustainable future. Collaboration between financial centres to exchange knowledge and best practice will only accelerate commitments being made to deliver sustainable economic growth. Casablanca 2022 will be the start of a new era for WAIFC and one that shall start to deliver on the findings we published as part of the Future of Financial Centers paper in July." Said Ibrahimi, CEO of Casablanca Finance City, said: "CFC is honored to host the WAIFC AGM in Africa. It is the first time that WAIFC members will gather for an AGM in Africa which is significant given the scale of opportunities that exist in the region. A spotlight is on Africa with COP 27 around the corner and we at CFC are proud to showcase the development and contribution the centre has been making to serve Casablanca, Morocco and the wider African economy. We look forward to welcoming WAIFC and our peers and facilitating further collaboration and exchange of best practices during the course of the visit." Dr. Jochen Biedermann, Managing Director of WAIFC, added: "Casablanca will be our second AGM in a post pandemic world. Meeting face to face, agreeing upon deliverables and having an open exchange is invaluable as we strive to enable our members to share knowledge and practices and orchestrate projects for mutual benefit. We would like to thank CFC for their hospitality." The World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC) is a non-profit association registered in Belgium, representing 26 leading international financial centers of five continents. WAIFC members are city governments, associations, and similar institutions developing and promoting their financial centers. WAIFC facilitates cooperation between its members, the exchange of best practices, and communication with the general public. Contact: Abdulrahim Osman , Press Officer WAIFC, +49 69 94 41 80 92, [email protected] Casablanca Finance City (CFC) has been a founding member of WAIFC since 2018. CFC is strategically located at a crossroad of continents and has built a thriving community of members comprising of financial companies, regional headquarters of multinationals, service providers and holding companies. CFC offers local expertise to access opportunities in Africa, with a strong regional platform and a complementing regulatory authority, Casablanca Finance City Authority (CFCA), which serves to implement CFC's development strategy, promote CFC to International institutions and investors and drive reforms to improve the business environment. SOURCE WAIFC AISBL The vertically integrated hospitality group taps longtime COO as new company President PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wurzak Hotel Group ("WHG") announced today that Eric Davies has been promoted to President, effective immediately. Davies succeeds Jake Wurzak as President of Wurzak Hotel Group, the vertically integrated hospitality management company. Jake Wurzak will now serve as Co-CEO along with Chairman and CEO Howard Wurzak. Davies is a lifelong hotelier and has been a valuable member of the Wurzak Hotel Group team for over twenty years. He has served as Chief Operating Officer for the past seven years. In his new role, Davies will oversee the company's day-to-day operations and overall strategic vision. In addition, he will play an important role in WHG development and its construction projects while leading the purchasing and procurement division for WHG Supply LLC (an affiliate of the Wurzak Hotel Group). Davies will also focus on the continued growth of the management company including managing brand relationships with the company's hotel partners. "Eric has played a critical role in the growth of our company over the past two decades," said Howard Wurzak, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Wurzak Hotel Group. "His deep experience across our business will enable him to continue to work seamlessly with our operations and development teams, as well as our brand partners. His commitment to the guest experience and food and beverage, while championing new opportunities for our team members, will help guide our brand for many years to come." A proven leader not only within Wurzak Hotel Group but industrywide, Mr. Davies has served on many boards and committees throughout his thirty years in the hospitality industry. He is or has been a member of various Owners Advisory Councils for both Hilton Worldwide and Marriott International. Locally, he serves on the Executive Board of Directors for the King of Prussia Business Improvement District and the Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from LaSalle University. "Looking back over my career, I am most proud of the best-in-class team we have built at Wurzak Hotel Group, both at the corporate and property level," said Davies. "I am truly honored to support such an amazing group of individuals who exemplify stellar hospitality service as we continue to grow the company. Their leadership will allow WHG to continue to expand as a management company, not only through acquisition and development but also third-party opportunities." About Wurzak Hotel Group The Wurzak Hotel Group ("WHG") is an award-winning Philadelphia-based owner, developer, and operator of premium branded, full-service, extended stay, and focused service hotels. WHG has over 40 years of experience in developing and managing hospitality assets with core expertise in full-service hotels and food and beverage outlets. The team at WHG is led by industry veterans Howard Wurzak and Jake Wurzak. WHG has gained notoriety for its attention to operational details and a concentrated focus on customer service and an outstanding guest experience. WHG properties include The Dalmar Ft. Lauderdale, Element Fort Lauderdale, Renaissance Fort Lauderdale Marina Hotel, Sheraton Valley Forge, Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue, Homewood Suites Philadelphia City Avenue, Element Valley Forge, Sheraton Reston Hotel, and Home2 Suites Philadelphia. Additional to these properties, the Group includes the DoubleTree Boca Raton and other properties that are currently under construction or in development. For more information, visit www.wurzakhotels.com . For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected] SOURCE Wurzak Hotel Group SHANGHAI, Oct. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- WuXi XDC ("XDC"), a leading global CRDMO company dedicated to end-to-end bioconjugates services, announced that it received the Runner Up prize in the "Best Contract Manufacturing (CMO) Provider" category at the 2022 World ADC Awards. WuXi XDC was awarded at its first nomination. The World ADC Awards recognize recent antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) successes, long-term commitment to the field, and those who have gone above and beyond to ensure continued success in bringing more life-changing drugs to patients. This year, over 700 votes were cast by members of the industry to determine the nominees in the various categories, and WuXi XDC was shortlisted with one of the greatest numbers of votes. Dr. Jimmy Li, CEO of WuXi XDC, commented, "We are honored to be recognized by the World ADC Awards. It speaks to the efforts made by each of our employees and the satisfaction of our partners. It is also a tremendous testimony to WuXi XDC's true single-source integrated services, expedited ADC development timelines and advanced technology platforms. We will continue to accelerate and transform the discovery, development and manufacturing of bioconjugates, enabling our global partners and benefiting patients worldwide." The 2022 World ADC Awards ceremony was part of the 13th Annual World ADC event, where Dr. Li, as one of the event's expert speakers, explained how WuXi XDC accelerates ADC development with discovery research and CMC platforms, achieving an industry leading DNA-to-IND timeline of 15 months. WuXi XDC's fully integrated discovery research services include mAb discovery and protein generation, payload linker synthesis, and conjugation research, as well as in vitro and in vivo testing. Its ADC CMC development platforms incorporate multi-disciplinary expertise and enable projects with the seamless coordination of services performed entirely by its in-house teams and facilities. About WuXi XDC WuXi XDC, a joint venture between WuXi Biologics and WuXi STA, provides end-to-end contract research, development and manufacturing of bioconjugates, including antibody drug conjugates (ADCs). The company's services cover antibodies and other biologics, chemical payloads and linkers, as well as bioconjugated drug substance and drug product. WuXi XDC has been successful in bringing multiple ADC projects to the Investigational New Drug (IND) filing stage in 15 months or less, nearly cutting in half the traditional development timeline. As of June 30, 2022, WuXi Biologics is supporting 76 integrated client projects, including two in late-phase stage. For more information about WuXi XDC, please visit: https://www.wuxibiologics.com/services-solutions/#XDC SOURCE WuXi Biologics NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Zink Printing Market by Application (Commercial and Residential) and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa) - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026" 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. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Zink Printing Market 2022-2026 The potential growth difference for the zink printing market size between 2021 and 2026 is USD 96.95 million. To get the exact yearly growth variance and the Y-O-Y growth rate, Request a FREE PDF Sample Report. Key Market Dynamics Market Driver: The advantages of zink printing are driving the zink printing market growth. Zink printing can produce full-color digital images without the need for ink cartridges, ribbons, or toners. It is an ink-free system and helps in producing high-quality digital content. Zink printing is ideal for printing with detailed definitions. In addition, it allows users to obtain accurate designs based on their requirements. Thus, the elimination of cartridges in zink printing will increase the demand for zink printing. These factors will fuel the growth of the zink printing market during the forecast period. Zink printing can produce full-color digital images without the need for ink cartridges, ribbons, or toners. It is an ink-free system and helps in producing high-quality digital content. Zink printing is ideal for printing with detailed definitions. In addition, it allows users to obtain accurate designs based on their requirements. Thus, the elimination of cartridges in zink printing will increase the demand for zink printing. These factors will fuel the growth of the zink printing market during the forecast period. Market Challenge: The presence of alternative methods is challenging the zink printing market growth. Some of the most common printing technologies available in the market include flexographic printing, gravure printing, surface printing, and others. Flexographic printing uses flexible plates for transferring ink onto a substrate. It is less expensive than digital printing for simple designs, color combinations, and medium-to-long print runs. As flexographic label printing solutions can have high line speeds, they can be used for printing large orders with short lead times. Thus, the availability of other types of printing technology is expected to reduce the adoption of zink printing during the forecast period. This, in turn, will impede the growth of the zink printing market. To learn about additional key drivers, trends, and challenges available with Technavio, Read our FREE Sample Report right now! Market Segmentation By application, the commercial segment will be the largest contributor to market growth during the forecast period. Zink printers are used in offices to print color labels, photos, and others. Many employees stay connected with their corporate networks with constant support from the IT departments of their enterprises. Vendors are offering solutions that help employees connect their mobile devices, such as laptops, with portable printers while working remotely. These factors will increase the adoption of zink printers in the commercial segment during the forecast period. North America will be the leading region with 43% of the market's growth during the forecast period. The US is a key country for the zink printing market in North America. View our FREE PDF Sample Report for additional insights into the contribution of all the segments and regional opportunities in the report. Some Companies Mentioned Brother International Corp. C and A Marketing Inc Canon Inc. Dell Inc. Eastman Kodak Co. HP Inc. LG Electronics Inc. Lifeprint Products Inc. Zink Holdings LLC Want your report customized? Speak to an analyst and personalize your report according to your needs Related Reports Printers Market by Type, Technology, and Geography - Global Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: This report extensively covers the printers market segmentation by technology (laser, inkjet, and others), type (multifunction printers and single-function printers), and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and the Middle East and Africa). 60% of the market's growth will originate from APAC during the forecast period. The printers market share growth in the laser segment will be significant during the forecast period. Retransfer Card Printers Market by Product and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: This report extensively covers retransfer card printers market segmentation by product (single-sided printing and double-sided printing) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA). 48% of the market's growth will originate from North America during the forecast period. The retransfer card printers market share growth by the single-sided printing segment will be significant during the forecast period. Zink Printing Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 3.24% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 96.95 million Market structure Concentrated YoY growth (%) 2.7 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 43% Key consumer countries US, China, Japan, Germany, and UK Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Brother International Corp., C and A Marketing Inc, Canon Inc., Dell Inc., Eastman Kodak Co., HP Inc., LG Electronics Inc., Lifeprint Products Inc., and Zink Holdings LLC 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 Information Technology Market Reports Key Topics Covered 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 Application 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 Application 5.1 Market segments Exhibit 24: Chart on Application - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 25: Data Table on Application - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 5.2 Comparison by Application Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Application Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Application 5.3 Commercial - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 28: Chart on Commercial - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 29: Data Table on Commercial - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 30: Chart on Commercial - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Commercial - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.4 Residential - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 32: Chart on Residential - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 33: Data Table on Residential - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 34: Chart on Residential - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Residential - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.5 Market opportunity by Application Exhibit 36: Market opportunity by Application ($ million) 6 Customer Landscape 6.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 37: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 7 Geographic Landscape 7.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 38: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) 7.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 40: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 41: Data Table on Geographic comparison 7.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 42: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 43: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 44: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 45: 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 46: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 47: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 48: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 49: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 50: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 51: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 52: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 53: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 55: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 56: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 57: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.7 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 (%) 7.8 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 62: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 63: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 64: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 65: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.9 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 67: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 68: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 69: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.10 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 71: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 72: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 73: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.11 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 75: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 76: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 77: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.12 Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 79: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) 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 (%) 7.13 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 82: 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 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 Brother International Corp. Exhibit 89: Brother International Corp. - Overview Exhibit 90: Brother International Corp. - Product / Service Exhibit 91: Brother International Corp. - Key offerings 10.4 C and A Marketing Inc Exhibit 92: C and A Marketing Inc - Overview Exhibit 93: C and A Marketing Inc - Product / Service Exhibit 94: C and A Marketing Inc - Key offerings 10.5 Canon Inc. Exhibit 95: Canon Inc. - Overview Exhibit 96: Canon Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 97: Canon Inc. - Key news Exhibit 98: Canon Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 99: Canon Inc. - Segment focus 10.6 Dell Inc. Exhibit 100: Dell Inc. - Overview Exhibit 101: Dell Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 102: Dell Inc. - Key news Exhibit 103: Dell Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 104: Dell Inc. - Segment focus 10.7 Eastman Kodak Co. Exhibit 105: Eastman Kodak Co. - Overview Exhibit 106: Eastman Kodak Co. - Business segments Exhibit 107: Eastman Kodak Co. - Key news Exhibit 108: Eastman Kodak Co. - Key offerings Exhibit 109: Eastman Kodak Co. - Segment focus 10.8 HP Inc. Exhibit 110: HP Inc. - Overview Exhibit 111: HP Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 112: HP Inc. - Key news Exhibit 113: HP Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 114: HP Inc. - Segment focus 10.9 LG Electronics Inc. Exhibit 115: LG Electronics Inc. - Overview Exhibit 116: LG Electronics Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 117: LG Electronics Inc. - Key news Exhibit 118: LG Electronics Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 119: LG Electronics Inc. - Segment focus 10.10 Lifeprint Products Inc. Exhibit 120: Lifeprint Products Inc. - Overview Exhibit 121: Lifeprint Products Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 122: Lifeprint Products Inc. - Key offerings 10.11 Zink Holdings LLC Exhibit 123: Zink Holdings LLC - Overview Exhibit 124: Zink Holdings LLC - Product / Service Exhibit 125: Zink Holdings LLC - Key offerings 11 Appendix 11.1 Scope of the report 11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 126: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 127: Exclusions checklist 11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 128: Currency conversion rates for US$ 11.4 Research methodology Exhibit 129: Research methodology Exhibit 130: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 131: Information sources 11.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 132: 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 If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit Lucknow, Oct 19 : A 15-year-old girl was raped inside the high-security Lohia Park here by a man whom she befriended on a social networking site Instagram. The girl, a student of class 7, has been admitted to Jhalkari Bai hospital after her condition deteriorated. The accused, Vidya Sagar Kushwaha, 20, was arrested from Kanpur , late on Tuesday night. Police have registered an FIR and are waiting for the survivor to mentally stabilise to be able record her statement. The police traced his location using electronic surveillance. He works in a textile factory in Gujarat while his family lives in Kanpur. In the FIR lodged with the Gomti Nagar police station, the victim's father said that his daughter met the accused on a social networking site and became friends. The man called her and asked her to meet him at Lohia Park. "When my daughter reached the park, the accused took her to an isolated place, raped her and left her in a critical state. She somehow managed to reach home and was sitting in a corner in a state of shock, when her mother enquired about the reason. She narrated her ordeal and the mother found out that she was bleeding," he added. The family then informed the police and took the girl to the Civil Hospital from where she was referred to the Jhalkari Bai hospital. The family also provided the phone number to the police, from which the accused had called up the survivor. Deputy Commissioner of Police, East Zone, Prachi Singh said an FIR under the charges of rape and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has been lodged. She said, "The girl's father is a cart puller while her mother works as domestic help. The teenage girl left home to meet the accused without informing her parents about it." Chief Medical Superintendent, Jhalkari Bai Hospital, Ranjana Khare said that the minor is under observation. "Her physical condition has stabilised, but she is still in a state of mental shock," she said. This is the third case of rape in the state capital in the past three days. Earlier on Saturday night, a 16-year-old school girl was raped by two persons, including an auto-rickshaw driver. On Monday, police arrested the 21-year-old auto-rickshaw driver, Aakash Tiwari. The co-accused is still at large. On Sunday, a 52-year-old woman filed a complaint alleging that three staff members of an ashram raped her on October 4 under the influence of a narcotic substance. Investigation into the case is underway. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport by India' Permanent Representative at the UN Ruchira Kamboj, Maharashtra Chief Secretary M. K. Shrivastava, State Protocol head Manisha Mhaiskar, Image Source: IANS News UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport by India' Permanent Representative at the UN Ruchira Kamboj, Maharashtra Chief Secretary M. K. Shrivastava, State Protocol head Manisha Mhaiskar, Image Source: IANS News UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport by India' Permanent Representative at the UN Ruchira Kamboj, Maharashtra Chief Secretary M. K. Shrivastava, State Protocol head Manisha Mhaiskar, Image Source: IANS News UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport by India' Permanent Representative at the UN Ruchira Kamboj, Maharashtra Chief Secretary M. K. Shrivastava, State Protocol head Manisha Mhaiskar, Image Source: IANS News UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport by India' Permanent Representative at the UN Ruchira Kamboj, Maharashtra Chief Secretary M. K. Shrivastava, State Protocol head Manisha Mhaiskar, Image Source: IANS News Mumbai, Oct 19 : A warm welcome was accorded to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who arrived here early on Wednesday, officials said. He was received at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport by India's Permanent Representative at the UN Ruchira Kamboj, Maharashtra Chief Secretary M.K. Shrivastava, and protocol head Manisha Mhaiskar. Also present were Mumbai Collector Nidhi Choudhary, city Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar and other senior civil and police officials. During his trip to the city, Guterres is scheduled to participate in some engagements here. Seoul, Oct 19 : North Korea's military on Wednesday said that it fired artillery shots overnight into maritime buffer zones near the inter-Korean border as a "serious warning" over Seoul's ongoing military drills. In a statement, a spokesman for the General Staff of the Korean People's Army (KPA) said the North's military launched a "threatening and warning" fire as its "powerful military countermeasure" against South Korea's military exercises, reports Yonhap News Agency. The spokesperson also called on the South to immediately stop "reckless and inciting provocations" that have raised military tensions on the peninsula, according to the carried by Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency. The shots came hours after the North launched more than 250 artillery shells into waters off its east and west coast. The KPA official said the move came in response to a series of "military provocative acts by enemies", citing the Hoguk military drills under way in the South. South Korea kicked off its annual Hoguk field training on Monday to hone defence capabilities to counter North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. The drills are to run until October 28. Last week, North Korea fired hundreds of artillery shots into the maritime buffer zones in the East and Yellow seas that were set under a 2018 inter-Korean agreement on reducing military tensions. South Korea called the North's provocations a clear violation of the 2018 inter-Korean military accord. Bengaluru, Oct 19 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in its charge sheet said that Paresh Mesta, the Hindu youth, died after slipping into the lake, while wandering when communal clashes took place in Honnavara town of Karnataka's Uttara Kannada district, sources said on Wednesday. The CBI has submitted the charge sheet to the local Honnavar Court. The charge sheet mentions that Paresh Mesta had attended then CM Siddaramaiah's programme in Kumta city after travelling about 25 kilometers with friends. After returning home, he again went out to meet his friends and never returned. The CBI has submitted statements of his friends and CCTV footage of the day as the evidence to the court. The report also says that Paresh Mesta came home in an inebriated state many times and stayed back at his friend's place. He also sold fish with his friends. The report says that Paresh Mesta was not in love with anyone and had taken permission from his parents to visit the Hindu pilgrimage center, Sabarimala. Mesta, who went missing on December 6, 2017 during the communal clashes in Honnavar town, was found dead near Shettikere Lake after two days. The BJP and Hindu activists alleged that Mesta was killed in the mob violence and killers dumped the body later in the lake. The BJP, which was in the opposition then had launched a full-fledged agitation against ruling the Congress then. The ruling Congress government suffered a setback due to the agitation in the Assembly elections of 2018. The Hindu activists demanding the arrest of killers of Paresh, had torched the vehicle of the IGP. The police were pelted with stones. Many policemen were injured. Many political leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, had visited Mesta's house. Then Siddaramaiah government had handed over the case to the CBI. The report by the CBI is a setback for the ruling BJP, which stated Paresh Mesta death was accidental and filed a closure report. The CBI has filed the closure report after investigating the case for five years. The court will pronounce the verdict on November 16. The incident had taken place during the tenure of Congress government headed by Siddaramaiah. "CBI has in its report, stated that Paresh Mesta's death was accidental and was not due to murder. This report is a slap on the face of Karnataka BJP. "If the BJP has left any shame left, it should apologise for its slanderous campaign," Siddaramaiah had stated. The ruling BJP in Karnataka, which had suffered setback after the CBI filing the closure report, has decided to back the family of the deceased. Kamalakar Mesta, father of deceased youth had already made his intentions clear that he would discuss with family and well-wishers and decide on his next step regarding the closure report of CBI. He had also alleged that the police had not inquired about all the suspected persons. The case had been handed over to the CBI after all evidence was destroyed. National General Secretary and BJP MLA C.T. Ravi had stated that the party would stand with the family of Paresh Mesta if they want reinvestigation of the case. "We stand with Paresh Mesta family if they want to go for an appeal also," he had said. Ankara, Oct 19 : Turkish police detained 543 people in an operation across 59 provinces for their suspected links to a network accused by the government for orchestrating the failed 2016 coup, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said. The eight-month-long investigation aimed at deciphering the structure, recruitment process of new personnel and financial resources of the Gulen Movement, which the Turkish government accuses of infiltrating into the state bureaucracy and attempting the coup, Xinhua news agency quoted the Minister as saying to reporters here on Tuesday. So far, 543 out of 704 wanted by the prosecutors have been detained, Soylu said, adding that 17 of the detained were working in the public sector. The operation came after information showed that high-profile members abroad of the Gulen movement instructed members inside Turkey to "prevent breakups from the organization, restructure the private units and financial activities, and continue activities in the country", the Minister said. The members of the organization transferred money by cargo, ATMs and physical meetings, Soylu explained. The Gulen movement, which mainly runs schools worldwide, is a community of people named after Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, who is regarded by followers as a spiritual leader. Turkey accuses the US-based Gulen of masterminding the coup on July 15, 2016, in which at least 250 people were killed. The country has requested the extradition of Gulen, but the US is reluctant to extradite the self-exiled Islamic cleric, saying Ankara has not presented sufficient evidence against him. The Turkish government has been massively cracking down on suspects with links to the network since the failed coup. Amaravati, Oct 19 : A man was brutally hacked to death in full public view by unidentified persons in Andhra Pradesh's Guntur town, police said. The incident occurred on Tuesday night in the Patnambazar area when the market was crowded with shoppers. According to eyewitnesses, the assailants chased Doddi Ramesh (38), who entered a kirana shop to save himself. However, they barged into the shop and attacked him with knives and other sharp-edged weapons. The victim died on the spot. The killing in the busy market sent panic among the people. On receipt of information, police rushed to the scene, shifted the body for autopsy and took up investigation. Police have constituted two teams to nab the culprits who were absconding. A suspect was also rounded up for questioning. Ramesh, belonging to Scheduled Caste, was into finance and marriage decoration business. His family members said he was preparing to take a bath when he received a call on his mobile phone and went out. According to police, the victim had a criminal record in the Lalapet Police Station. He was an accused in a murder case a few years ago. Ramesh's wife alleged that a rowdy-sheeter known as RK was behind the murder. Moscow/Kiev, Oct 19 : Sergei Surovikin, the new unified Russian battlefield commander in Ukraine, has admitted that the situation in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson is "tense". Kherson was the first big city captured by the Russians just days into the war in February and it is also the only regional capital to fall to Moscow. Addressing the media on Tuesday, the commander said the Ukrainian side does not abandon attempts to attack the positions of Russian troops, reports Xinhua news agency. He further claimed that the Ukrainian troops using Himars rockets were hitting the city's infrastructure and housing. "As a whole the situation in the special military operation zone can be described as tense... The Russian army will above all ensure the safe evacuation of the population (of Kherson)," Surovikin added. The commander's concerns were echoed by Kirill Stremousov, a Russia-appointed official in Kherson, the BBC reported. In a social media post, he warned Kherson residents that "in the very near future" Ukrainian troops would launch an assault on the city. "Please take my words seriously, I'm talking about evacuating as quickly as possible," he said, adding that people on the Dnieper river's west bank were most at risk. Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin formally declared the annexation of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson at a major event at the Red Square in Moscow following sham referendums held in the Ukrainian regions. Russia's declaration has been rejected internationally. In Kherson, Ukrainian forces have been steadily retaking nearby territory for the past few weeks, said the BBC report. They have pushed as far as 30 kmsouth along the Dnieper, threatening to trap Russian troops. Kherson's pre-war population was nearly 300,000, but Ukrainian officials estimate that about half that number have already fled the city. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Los Angeles, Oct 19 : The hierarchy of power in the DC Universe may be about to change with 'Black Adam', but the Dwayne Johnson star vehicle is landing low on the hierarchy of critical reputation among the decade's superhero releases of Warner Bros., reports 'Variety'. 'Black Adam', as of Tuesday afternoon (U.S. Pacific Time), stands at a 32 per cent approval rating from the top critics on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. Among the website's broader group of approved critics, it is higher at 54 per cent. Should the top critics number stand, according to 'Variety', it would mark the lowest such figure for a DC film since 2017's 'Justice League', which netted a 23 per cent approval rating from top critics and was so reviled among fans that Warner Bros. had to order a reworked version, which arrived in the form of 'Zack Snyder's Justice League' in 2021. In a somewhat favourable review for 'Variety', the publication's chief film critic Peter Debruge conceded that "the film's whole purpose is to give Black Adam a suitably grand introduction on the assumption that he'll be pitted against a more deserving adversary soon enough." Most others have been less receptive to the origin story, though many have highlighted Johnson's performance as a key strength. 'Black Adam' marks the star's first time anchoring a superhero film -- a job that the actor's chiseled physique and commercial dominance would suggest was inevitable. In a slightly positive review, notes 'Variety', Peter Bradshaw of 'The Guardian' said that Johnson's "massive bulk, planet-sized head and sly gift for deadpan humour all make him a great superhero." Writing for 'The Hollywood Reporter', critic John Defore discussed the star's long attachment to 'Black Adam', writing that "his passion project serves the character well, setting him up for adventures one hopes will be less predictable than this one." 'Rolling Stone' senior editor and film critic David Fear emphasised that "not even the pleasure of watching Johnson enter into a blockbuster template he seemed destined to dominate can make up for how generic, flavourless and incoherent this is." -- Syndicated from IANS Kolkata, Oct 19 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday took over the investigation of the communal violence that erupted in Kolkata's Mominpur on October 9 which continued till October 10 morning. The central agency is expected to submit a copy of an FIR filed by it in a lower court in Kolkata on Wednesday and then officially take over the probe from the special investigation team (SIT) of Kolkata Police. The SIT was formed with the Kolkata Police Commissioner, Vineet Kumar Goyal, himself heading that team following an order of the Calcutta High Court's division bench of Justice Mainpuri Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Apurba Sinha Ray on October 12. The said division bench did not pass any order for an NIA probe in the matter on that day, but left it to the discretion of the Union ministry to decide whether there would be a central agency probe or not. Besides asking the SIT to submit a report on the action taken to the same bench within the next two weeks, the division bench also directed the state government to pay compensation to those affected by violence and also report to the court on the action taken by the police on the basis of FIRs lodged in the matter. It also directed a collection of video footage in the case. Accordingly, the SIT started its investigation and filed five FIRs. So far, the members of SIT have arrested as many as 57 persons. In the Mominpur clashes that started with verbal spats between two groups of people, a number of police personnel, including a deputy commissioner of the city police were injured. The leader of the opposition in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding the deployment of central forces personnel at the troubled zones in the city. He also criticised the city police over detaining Sukanta Majumdar and denying his democratic right to reach the troubled zone. "Try as much as you can. But you will not be able to stop the BJP," Adhikari said. Helsinki, Oct 19 : A proposal to build a fence along parts of Finland's border with Russia received wide support from parties in Parliament. Prime Minister Sanna Marin convened a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the idea of building the fence, which would take up to four years to complete, reports Xinhua news agency. Marin told the media after the meeting that the government will now bring the project forward through a supplementary budget this autumn, with the first year of construction set to cost 140 million euros ($138 million). Finland shares a land border of some 1,300 km with Russia, and the fence would cover around 300 km. Currently, the border has only a few small fences to prevent cattle from crossing. The latest development comes as Finland has announced a series of measures against Russia in the wake of Moscow's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Late last month, the Nordic nation announced a ban on Russian citizens with tourist visas to enter Finland, as well as transit the country. According to the government, the move aims to "completely prevent Russian tourism". Earlier this year, Finland along with Sweden also decided to join the NATO. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Mumbai, Oct 19 : As TV actress Niharika Chouksey is all set to play a challenging role of a rural girl in the show 'Faltu', she opens up on how it was to shoot for it in Jaipur with the male lead Aakash Ahuja. The makers have dropped a promo of the show in which a developing chemistry between the two leads, Niharika Chouksey and Aakash Ahuja, can be seen and it also reflects the struggle and dreams of a young girl Faltu, who is forced to face a lot being a girl child. The 'Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai' actress shares how it was to shoot for the promo in the Pink city of Rajasthan and says: "It was truly a very new experience of shooting this new promo. As it's been shot extensively in Jaipur, the place was new and the experience was truly phenomenal." On her shooting experience with Aakash, she adds: "We thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance, the set, and everything. Moreover, with this promo, the audience will see a new chapter of Faltu's life that they have never seen before." 'Faltu' is all about the attitude of people living in rural parts towards girl child and how certain times they end up giving them names like Faltu with a belief that next child will be a boy. The show will air soon on Star Plus. New York, Oct 19 : French cement maker Lafarge has pleaded guilty in the US to supporting the Islamic State (IS) and other terror groups, a media reported. The Paris-based firm agreed to a $777.8 million in penalty for payments it made to keep a factory running in Syria after war broke out in 2011, reports the BBC. Prosecutors said it marked the first time a company had pleaded guilty in the US to aiding terrorists. Lafarge said it "deeply regretted" the events and "accepted responsibility for the individual executives involved". The cement manufacturer, which was bought by Switzerland's Holcim in 2015, said their behaviour had been in "flagrant violation" of Lafarge's code of conduct. The firm opened its plant in Jalabiya near the Turkish border in 2010 following a $680 million investment. US prosecutors said that Lafarge's Syrian subsidiary had paid the IS and another terror group, Al-Nusra Front, the equivalent of $5.92 million to protect staff at the plant as the country's civil war intensified. Executives likened the arrangements to paying "taxes", the BBC reported. The cement manufacturer eventually evacuated the plant in September 2014, when the IS took control of the town and the factory. But before its departure, the deals helped the company do $70.3 million in sales, prosecutors said. Lafarge had previously admitted bribes were paid after an internal investigation. But US Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said on Tuesday that the company's actions "reflect corporate crime that has reached a new low and a very dark place". "Business with terrorists cannot be business as usual," the BBC quoted Monaco as saying. In a statement, Lafarge's new owner Holcim said none of the conduct involved the multi-national company, "which has never operated in Syria". It added that former Lafarge executives involved in the bribery had concealed it from Holcim, as well as external auditors. Eric Olsen, who was CEO between 2015 and 2017, stepped down from his role following an investigation into Lafarge's activities in Syria. Executives had attempted to require IS not to include the name "Lafarge" on documents memorializing and implementing their agreements and many involved in the scheme also used personal email addresses, rather than their corporate email addresses, to carry out the conspiracy, the Department said, BBC reported. Lafarge executives also backdated the termination agreement to August 18, 2014, a date shortly after the UN Security Council had issued a resolution calling on member states to prohibit doing business with Islamic State, to falsely suggest that negotiations with Islamic State had not occurred after the UN resolution, the Department said. The dealings by Lafarge were eventually made by public in 2016 on a website run by a Syrian opposition group. Breon Peace, US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, where the case was brought, said the conduct "by a Western corporation was appalling, and has no precedent or justification". "The defendants paid millions of dollars (to IS), a terrorist group that otherwise operated on a shoestring budget, millions of dollars that (IS) could use to recruit members, wage war against governments, and conduct brutal terrorist attacks worldwide, including against US citizens," he said at a press conference announcing the guilty plea on Tuesday. Lafarge also faces charges of complicity in crimes against humanity in France over its activities in Syria, but the company denies the claims. London, Oct 19 : Led by Home Secretary Suella Braverman, British MPs have raised their pitch for the India-UK Free Trade agreement at a Diwali event organised by the India Global Forum (IGF) in London. "Building closer India-UK trade and security partnerships is of huge value to both our nations," Braverman tweeted on Tuesday. "There is an economic imperative for our countries to work together, which is why we are so eager to secure a trade deal," the Indian-origin minister, who was in the eye of the storm over her controversial remarks about Indians forming the largest group of visa over-stayers, said. Braverman's outburst prompted India to say both the nations should "honour" the "understanding" with regards to migration mobility. Media reports also said that the deal, targeted to be signed before Diwali, was on the verge of collapse following India's fury over comments on immigrants made by Braverman, whose Indian-origin parents emigrated to the UK in the 1960s. "Our trade deal with India will bring our two nations even closer, building on the over 24 billion pounds of goods and services we exchanged last year," junior Trade Minister Greg Hands said in a tweet after attending the event, which saw participation by senior parliamentarians, business leaders and diplomats. According to official government data, India-UK bilateral trade currently stands at around 24.3 billion pounds a year and the aim is for that to be at least doubled by 2030. "We in the @UKLabour long & hope we will get a trade deal with India & we hope the visa obstacles will be overcome," David Lammy, Labour MP for Tottenham, wrote in a tweet The Indian government is seeking additional work and study visas for its residents, as well as a new visa modelled after an agreement with Australia and New Zealand that permits people under the age of 35 to live in the UK for up to three years. "I want to see our trading partnership with India go from strength to strength; @UKLabour is determined to make progress on the trade deal with India as a pro-business and pro-trade party," Labour MP Nick Thomas-Symonds said. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson had set the Diwali deadline for the trade deal with India, but new Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch recently said that her country was no longer working to that deadline. According to media reports, India and the UK deadline for concluding an FTA may be pushed back to November due to persisting differences in migration, automobiles and liquor tariffs. Braverman, who was dressed in an Indian attire for the celebrations, also spoke about her personal connection with India and said that "India is in her soul". "India is in my heart, my soul & Diwali is a magical time to celebrate Indian culture in the UK," she tweeted. Latest updates on Diwali Festival 2022 Mumbai, Oct 19 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited the Hotel Taj Mahal Palace in south Mumbai and paid homage to the victims killed in the dastardly terror strikes of November 26, 2008, here on Wednesday. Guterres said he was deeply moved to visit Mumbai where "one of the most barbaric terrorist acts in history" took place, claiming 166 lives. "Terrorism is absolute evil... No reasons, pretexts, causes, grievances can justify terror. It has no room in today's world," said Guterres. In his tributes to the victims, Guterres said they are the 'heroes of our world', and expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, survivors, the people of India and other countries who lost their lives in the 26/11 terror strikes. Earlier this morning, Guterres was accorded a warm welcome when he landed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport around midnight. He was received by India's Permanent Representative at the UN Ruchira Kamboj, Maharashtra Chief Secretary M.K. Shrivastava, and protocol head Manisha Mhaiskar. Also present were Mumbai Collector Nidhi Choudhary, city Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar and other senior civil and police officials. During his three-day stay in India, Guterres is scheduled to participate in several engagements in Mumbai and Gujarat, including meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister for External Affairs S.Jaishankar. Chennai, Oct 19 : AIADMK leaders, including former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Edappadi K. Palaniswami, were detained by the police at Valuvarkottam when they were trying to hold a protest against the MLAs who were denied permission for a token fast at Valluvarkottam. AIADMK legislators led by Palaniswami were evicted from the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Tuesday while conducting protests. Assembly speaker M. Appavu denied permission to Palaniswami to speak while the business of question hour was taking place. This infuriated the AIADMK MLAs who marched to the well of the House and shouted slogans and the Speaker directed the watch and ward to forcibly evict them. The Speaker was adamant that the MLAs would not be allowed to participate in the discussion in the House on Wednesday, but the leader of the House, S. Duraimurugan pacified the Speaker and asked him to allow the MLAs to participate in the discussions on Wednesday. However, the AIADMK legislators decided to conduct a token fast at Valluvarkottam on Wednesday against the 'Murder of Democracy'in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. The MLAs were denied permission to conduct the protest fast at Valluvarkottam and this led to the AIADMK leaders, including Palaniswami to protest and were subsequently arrested. The legislators were taken to the Rajarathinam Stadium in Egmore. New Delhi, Oct 19 : SpiceJet has announced a revised salary structure for its Captains increasing their monthly remuneration to Rs 7 lakh-a-month for 80 hours of flying. The airline said that the hike will be applicable from November 1. Following the latest hike, the salary of Captains at SpiceJet will be higher as compared to their pre-Covid salary. Salaries of Trainers (DE, TRI, LTC) and Senior First Officers has also been increased commensurately, said a Spicejet spokesperson. The spokesperson said that SpiceJet has been consistently increasing the base salary of pilots. As compared to August, the September salary saw an increase of up to 10 per cent for Trainers and 8 per cent for Captains and First Officers. From October, salary was hiked by another 22 per cent for Captains and First Officers. SpiceJet operates a fleet of Boeing 737s, Q-400s and freighters and is the country's largest regional player operating multiple daily flights under UDAN or the Regional Connectivity Scheme. The majority of the airline's fleet offers SpiceMax, a spacious economy class seating in India. The airline also operates a dedicated air cargo service under the brand name SpiceXpress offering safe, on-time, efficient and seamless cargo connectivity across India and on international routes. Recently, the aviation regulator DGCA directed the airline to send the engine oil samples of the entire Q400 fleet consisting of 14 operational aircraft to Pratt and Whitney Canada to ascertain the presence of metal and carbon seat particles. Moreover, the DGCA has also directed Spicejet for inspection opf bleed-off valve screen and housing for evidence of oil wetness. Chandigarh, Oct 19: In an audacious attempt to escape investigation, two Punjab cadre IAS officers (now retired), former Chief Secretary Sarvesh Kaushal and former Special Chief Secretary KBS Sidhu allegedly involved in the Rs 1,000 crore Irrigation Department scam have flown out of the country and are at present in the US, according to top Punjab police sources. The two high-profile officers wanted by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) in its ongoing investigation into the scam flew to the US a few days before Look-Out Circulars (LOCs) were issued against them as they were tipped off about the government's decision to grant sanction to launch an investigation against them, sources said. However, the third IAS officer (now retired) allegedly involved in the scam, former Secretary of the Irrigation Department, Kahan Singh Pannu, today appeared before the Vigilance Bureau after being summoned for questioning. The sons of both the "wanted" officers are settled in the US holding green cards. They have been regularly visiting them all this while and have succeeded in getting 10-year multiple-entry visas to the US, it is learnt. Fearing arrest, KBS Sidhu moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the launching of the investigation into the scam on various grounds and has also mentioned that he intended to return to India. Seeking free passage on arrival from the High Court, Sidhu wanted directions to be issued that he should not be detained at the Indira Gandhi airport, Delhi once he lands. The matter is still pending. As per the statement of the key accused, contractor Gurinder Singh alias Bhappa, recorded before the Vigilance Bureau earlier, he paid a bribe of Rs 8.5 crore to Sarvesh Kaushal, Rs 5.5 crore to KBS Sidhu, and Rs 7 crore to Kahan Singh Pannu. Bhappa also said he paid two former Ministers in the Akali Dal government - Janmeja Singh Sekhon was given Rs 6.5 crore and Sharanjit Singh Dhillon Rs 7.5 crore. The Vigilance Bureau, after questioning the bureaucrats, will summon the two former Irrigation Ministers to join the investigation, according to sources. The three bureaucrats involved in the scam are alleged to have facilitated the fraudulent allotment of tailor-made tenders for various projects of the Irrigation Department to their favoured contractor Gurinder Singh who as a quid pro quo paid hefty bribes to them and the two former Ministers. The previous investigation officer of the Vigilance Bureau AIG Ashish Kapoor with the help of the technical committee found that the allotted works were half done but full payments were released to the contractor under orders of these bureaucrats. The investigation revealed that the contractor's personal assets rose from Rs 3.5 crore to over a whopping Rs 300 crore in just five to six years. (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative New Delhi, Oct 19 : An 11 year-old girl was sexually assaulted by her neighbour in North Delhi's Wazirabad area, police said on Wednesday. The accused has been arrested. Raju, 28, a resident of Wazirabad village works as a cook in Gandhi Vihar area. According to Sagar Singh Kalsi, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), North district, a complaint regarding the rape was on received October 18. "The complainant, mother of the victim, told police that her daughter was allegedly sexually assaulted by their neighbour Raju in September," said the DCP. "Police have arrested the accused and sent the victim, who is also a Class 7 student, for medical examination," said police. "A case has been registered under sections 376 (rape), 377 (unnatural offences), 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and 6/12 Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) act at Wazirabad police station," said police. Shimla, Oct 19 : Two-time Chief Minister and BJP veteran Prem Kumar Dhumal, who has contested many Assembly and parliamentary elections, was keen to avenge his 2017 poll defeat at the hands of his one-time protege Rajinder Singh Rana of the Congress by entering the fray again for the November 12 Assembly polls. His desire was dashed with the party's parliamentary Board meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday night dropped his nomination from any of his two stronghold seats -- Sujanpur and its adjoining Hamirpur. The first list that was made public on Wednesday cleared 62 out of 68 candidates with Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur to contest from Seraj, Anil Sharma from Mandi and former state unit chief Satpal Singh Satti from Una. "Will contest if the party asks me," Dhumal, 78, the father of Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur, was often quoted as saying before the announcement of the list. As the party registered a handsome win in a House of 68, the party's chief ministerial candidate Dhumal faced defeat in a straight contest by 1,919 votes in Sujanpur, the seat in his home district of Hamirpur, where he was asked to contest from despite his reluctance as his former 'poll manager' and sitting Independent legislator Rana was in the fray on a Congress ticket. The BJP leaders close to Dhumal admitted that the former chief minister, who played a crucial role for two decades in strengthening the party after the exit of Shanta Kumar, the first non-Congress chief minister in 1977, has been dropped from this election owing to his advancing age. But they say the voters are emotionally attached to him after his defeat. "Dhumal was keen to say goodbye to the party honourably, rather than with the blot of defeat on his face. His contribution to the party is unparalleled. He should be given an opportunity to re-enter the fray as he has been active in Sujanpur despite his elderly age," a senior BJP leader told IANS on the condition of anonymity. Even Dhumal had conveyed to the party central leadership about his desire to enter the fray. In the last Assembly poll, party insiders say, Dhumal was upset over the party shifting him from his Hamirpur bastion to adjoining Sujanpur. Also just a few days before the polls, the BJP declared him the party's face for the polls. Often referred to as "sadak wale mukhya mantri" or the Chief Minister who is credited with building roads, Dhumal helmed the state from 1998 to 2003 and from 2008 to 2012. In 2017, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) defeated the Congress Party and won 44 seats out of the 68 seats while the Congress won only 21 seats. In a double whammy to the Dhumal family, another party leader Gulab Singh Thakur, father-in-law of Anurag Thakur, was dropped this time. He too lost his last election. "In politics one faces a defeat while another faces a win. It will be a failure on our part not to be able to give justice to the people (of Sujanpur). It's time for introspection," an emotional Dhumal had said after being defeated by a slender margin of 1,919 votes. In political circles, Dhumal's sudden aggressive posture and participation in political activities were also seen in the backdrop of the deliberate sidelining of his close aides Ravinder Kumar Ravi and Gulab Singh Thakur. As the silent rebels within the BJP continue to prick, the task also appears to be uphill for the main rival Congress, which is largely banking on a trend to sweep the polls as both the Congress and the BJP ruled the state alternatively from 1985. Political observers say though the ruling BJP, which believes that the forthcoming Assembly polls is a semi-final ahead of the final of the 2024 parliamentary polls, has somehow managed an edge over its seemingly 'faction-ridden' rival by signalling about its chief ministerial candidate well ahead of the Assembly polls. The Congress is still a "divided house" in the absence of a mass leader like the late Virbhadra Singh, who had devoted over 50 years to the common man, and banking largely on the charisma of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as his brother Rahul Gandhi is undertaking Bharat Jodo Yatra. The state ruling BJP's first list of candidates has surprise seat changes of senior legislators, and dropping of 11 lawmakers. Seats of two Cabinet ministers -- Suresh Bhardwaj and Rakesh Pathania -- have been changed, while their colleague Mohinder Thakur dropped. Five women candidates figure in the list, while 11 Scheduled Caste and eight Scheduled Tribe candidates have got the party's nomination to enter the fray. Sensing a threat from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) after its emphatic win in neighbouring Punjab, BJP chief J.P. Nadda, who has his roots in Himachal Pradesh, in April announced that the party will not replace Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and the Assembly elections will be contested under his leadership. But a strong anti-incumbency wave against the ruling BJP is evident from the loss of three Assembly seats and one parliamentary seat in the October 2021 bypolls. Political observers told IANS that the BJP has managed an edge over its seemingly somnolent rival Congress by already launching a statewide campaign with back-to-back public meetings by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party's national leadership comprising Nadda and Anurag Thakur. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra last week formally launched the party's election campaign from Solan town. The fledgling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), it seems, is attempting to conquer the state with an army without a general. But as the Assembly elections draw closer, AAP's momentum in the state, where it is yet to field a credible mass face, has been slowing down with the top leadership focusing on strengthening its vote bank in poll-bound Gujarat. Politically, a bright spot for the AAP at this point of time is the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) announcement to extend support to the party on the seats it is not contesting. The CPI-M has a lone legislator in the Assembly. The Congress is also dithering over the Chief Ministerial face in the absence of its stalwart and six-time Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. With the passing away of Virbhadra Singh, who literally 'ruled' the political landscape single-handedly for almost six decades, the somnolent Congress seems fractured and divided in his absence. No other leader enjoys the mass appeal and popularity that he had. Political observers believe that the BJP, which is facing anti-incumbency, has somehow managed an edge over its rival Congress by dropping 11 lawmakers and one Cabinet minister Mohinder Thakur, whose son Rajat Thakur has been given nomination from his stronghold Dharampur in Mandi district. While Chief Minister and five-time lawmaker Thakur has already carried out a whirlwind tour of the state ahead of the announcement of polls, the Congress is banking on its Central top leadership. Jai Ram Thakur will be contesting from his stronghold Seraj. Congress state senior leaders -- Mukesh Agnihotri, Sukhvinder Sukhu, Harsh Vardhan, Sudhir Sharma and Asha Kumari -- are concentrating on their respective seats only. Two Congress turncoat legislators -- Pawan Kajal and Lakhwinder Rana -- have got the BJP nomination from their respective seats -- Kangra and Nalagarh, respectively. The ballots will be counted on December 8. (Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in) Noida, Oct 19 : The Amrapali Group and the Jaypee Group were once the leading and biggest names in the real estate sector. The former was responsible for making around 45,000 units while the Jaypee Group, if all its projects were to be added together, had about 50,000 units in the Gautam Budh Nagar area of UP's Noida. It can be estimated that out of all the units to be built here, an almost 50 per cent share was of these two builders. Acquiring more and more land and starting various projects simultaneously was perhaps one of the biggest mistakes of the groups. By the time the companies reached their medium phase, both were on the verge of being declared bankrupt and went to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). Lakhs of people had invested in their projects and handed over their lifetime savings to these builders, out of which about 30,000 units have been delivered. The remaining 70,000 units are still incomplete, in which both the Interim Resolution Professionals (IRP) and NCLT are engaged to get the flats delivered to their buyers. Cases were filed against the builders when they were unable to repay the huge loans taken from the banks and the market. The number of cases against them increased and gradually affected their work. The State Bank of India has filed a case for dues of Rs 6,893 crore against the Jaypee Group, while the Amrapali Group owes about Rs 9,000 crores to different financial institutions. Patna, Oct 19 : A day after Bihar government suspended former Gaya SSP Aditya Kumar, a senior lawyer of Patna High Court on Wednesday filed a petition against DGP S.K. Singhal seeking a CBI inquiry into the matter. Lawyer Mani Bhushon Pratap Singh filed a writ petition in the top court seeking a probe in the high profile case. He alleged that the act of a DGP rank officer has maligned the image of the entire judiciary system. Singh alleged that since the Economic Offence Unit (EOU) comes under DGP Singhal, he might influence the investigation. "We need a CBI inquiry in this matter as this investigation has maligned the image of the judiciary. I believe that a DGP rank officer cannot come under the pressure of a cyber fraudster and give a clean chit to a tainted IPS officer Aditya Kumar. How could a DGP give a clean chit to him only on the basis of phone calls," Singh said. Following this case, the home department of Bihar has suspended Aditya Kumar after the arrest of his friend Abhishek Agrawal. The two appear to have hatched a deep conspiracy to apply pressure on DGP to get clean chit in a liquor violation case lodged against ex-SSP of Gaya Aditya Kumar. Abhishek Agrawal, posing as Chief Justice of Patna High Court Sanjay Karol, had made over 30 calls to Bihar DGP from a phone number having a DP of the chief justice. Interestingly, the Bihar DGP, in its report pointed out "Mistake of Facts" in that case against Aditya Kumar. As a result, he joined AIG in police headquarters Patna. Aditya Kumar, the 2011 batch IPS officer was the SSP of Gaya and he was booked under IPC section of 353,387, 419, 420, 467, 468, 120B, 66C and 66Din Fatehpur police station on the direction of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Besides him, SHO of Fatehpur Sanjay Kumar was also named a co-accused. When after giving a clean-chit to Aditya Kumar, the case file reached the Chief Minister Secretariat, the officials felt something was wrong. They then transferred it to EOU for the thorough investigation. The EOU officials used cyber cell officials to scan the phone numbers which were used to call senior police officials who have prepared the report including Bihar DGP SK Singhal. Investigations revealed that two numbers 9709303397 of Vodafone issued from Khajekalan and 9431602303 were used by Abhishek Agrawal to call the DGP. He had put the DP of chief justice Sanjay Karol on these two numbers. Sometimes, Agrawal sent messages to him and said that he was busy. The DGP made an appointment on whatsapp to contact him on the phone. It was learnt that the FIR lodged in EOU police station in Patna said that Aditya Kumar met Abhishek Agrawal in a restaurant in Patna's Boring road to plan the crime. Accordingly, Abhishek Kumar posed as chief justice. The EOW in its investigation found that the phone numbers used to call DGP did not belong to the chief justice of Patna high court. The number was put under surveillance and EOU officials secretly nabbed Abhishek Agrawal. During interrogation, Agrawal confessed to having close links with SSP Aditya Kumar for the last four years. They had planned to give Aditya Kumar a clean-chit in the case lodged against him. Abhishek Kumar is a serial offender in the country. A case number 43/2021 was registered in Kamla market police station in New Delhi as well. In that case, he posed as union home minister secretary Saket Singh and threatened the MD of MCD. He was sent to Tihar jail for five days as well. Abhishek Agrawal also extorted Rs 1 crore from the father of IPS officer Saurav Shah. An FIR under IPC sections of 406, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120B registered in Kahalgaon police station in Bhagalpur district as well. He was also involved in threatening SHO of SK Puri police station Patna in 2015. New Delhi, Oct 19 : The Central government will look into the price cap on Russian crude proposed by Western nations, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri said on Wednesday. Puri said "we will look into this" while addressing the International Conference on Biofuels organised by Society of Indian Automobiles Manufacturers (SIAM). He further said that the government has advanced the E20 (ethanol mixed with 20 per cent gasoline) target by five years from 2030 and is providing comprehensive support from supply, policy and demand side for making sale of flex-fuel vehicles a viable business proposition. "I am confident that our friends from SIAM will make them available soon," Puri said. The Union Minister informed that the number of filling stations selling biofuels has already increased threefold from 29,897 in 2016-17 to 67,641 in 2021-22. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Los Angeles, Oct 19 : Former reality star Holly Madison, who earlier dated and lived with 'Playboy' founder Hugh Hefner, won't be called to testify during Harvey Weinstein's Los Angeles rape trial, a judge has ruled. The defence wanted Madison to take the stand in order to undermine testimony from actress Ashley Matthau, one of the uncharged supporting witnesses, reports 'Variety'. Matthau, who's accusing Weinstein of sexual battery, claims the former mogul masturbated on her at his hotel in 2003 in Puerto Rico, where they were shooting Miramax's 'Dirty Dancing' sequel, 'Havana Nights'. According to 'Variety', Madison is close friends with Matthau. The defence intended to question her about the two partying together at the Playboy Mansion to prove that Matthau wasn't a "young, sexually inexperienced naif" who was unfamiliar with "the ways of Hollywood". "They want to portray her as this innocent girl but they don't want me to ask about all the fun times she spent frolicking in the grotto at Hugh Hefner's mansion with Playboy bunnies," Weinstein's lawyer Mark Werksman said about Matthau, quoted by 'Variety'. "Holly Madison had been down on her luck financially and used Hugh Hefner as a meal ticket," he said, noting their age difference. 'Variety' adds that when Werksman insisted he should be "entitled' to ask about Matthau's relationship with Madison, deputy district attorney Marlene Martinez said "who she partied with has nothing to do with her being assaulted ... whatever friendship she has with Holly Madison has nothing to do with her being assaulted." Judge Lisa B. Lench agreed with the prosecution, ruling against Madison's testimony. Quetta, Oct 19 : The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Pakistan's Balochistan province has been accused of killing three missing persons in a "fake encounter", the media reported. The allegation was levelled by Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) chairman Nasrullah Baloch, reports Dawn news. A press release from the CTD said that it had received information that some "terrorists" of the banned Balochistan Liberation Army group were present in the outskirts of Kharan district and possessed a large quantity of weapons and ammunition, with an aim to plan a major terrorist activity. The press release stated that subsequently a team of its own personnel and a security institution was constituted to locate the possible hideout. The intelligence teams located the hideout and determined the presence of seven "terrorists" led by Ashfaq Ahmed alias Jameel. The joint team then planned an operation and was met by indiscriminate firing. The press release said that as an act of self defence, the operation team retaliated and the exchange of fire continued for an hour, during which, Jameel and two others managed to escape, Dawn reported. The CTD said that its team tried to chase the fleeing "terrorists" but was unsuccessful in making arrests due to poor visibility and mountainous landscape. He said that Tabish was a leader of Baloch Students Organisation-Pajjar who was allegedly picked up from Khuzdar on June 9, 2021, and his case was even forwarded to the provincial and federal governments, along with the federal cabinet's subcommittee on missing persons, Dawn reported. Nasrullah said that Tabish's family had identified his body and the other two were Fareed and Salaal, who were picked up from Quetta on September 28 and October 6, respectively. "The issue of these two missing persons was also raised through VBMP's platform and the concerned authorities were informed," the VBMP chairman said. He urged that the VBMP had no issue if any state criminal was punished in accordance with the law, adding, however, that "killing missing persons in encounters is against the Constitution and a serious violation of human rights, which we strictly condemn and demand that this brutal practice be stopped". Veteran politician Afrasiab Khattak also said that there must be a "credible" judicial inquiry into the incident. "Killing prisoners even during a war is a war crime. There is no military solution for the political problems in Balochistan," he said. Los Angeles, Oct 19 : A jury has been selected in the rape trial against the Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis. The trial is set to begin with opening remarks in New York City. Haggis, the director of 'Crash' and screenwriter of 'Million Dollar Baby', has been accused of raping a publicist named Haleigh Breest after a movie premiere nearly a decade ago. Breest's lawsuit was filed in 2017 in the wake of the #MeToo movement, which led to an influx of sexual assault allegations against prominent men, reports 'Variety'. Haggis has claimed the encounter, which took place in 2013, was consensual and maintains the rape charge came in retaliation for his decision to leave and then criticise the Church of Scientology. Prior to the trial, Breest's attorneys sought to block Haggis from arguing that Scientology was orchestrating the allegations in retaliation, saying that Breest and other witnesses have no connection to the church. According to 'Variety', they also argued that pursuing that line of defence will distract the jury from the particulars of Breest's allegations. But in September, Judge Sabrina Kraus ruled that Haggis will be able to use that argument. On Tuesday (Pacific Standard Time), the defence and the prosecution questioned the potential jurors about their familiarity with the #MeToo movement, as well as the Church of Scientology. The focus on the controversial religion, however, wasn't nearly as pronounced as it was at the jury selection for the rape trial for 'That '70s Show' actor Danny Masterson, which is currently underway in Los Angeles. 'Variety' further states that attorneys revealed that Leah Remini, the 'King of Queens' star who left Scientology and became an outspoken critic, and Oscar-winner Susan Sarandon are among the defendant's potential witnesses who could be called to testify. Remini has previously suggested that Scientology was behind the sexual assault claims against Haggis. After the jurors were selected, the attorneys and the judge deliberated a few key points regarding the line of questioning toward the potential jurors, as well as Scientology's place in the trial. Srinagar, Oct 19 : The security forces in a swift operation averted a major terror plot by timely neutralising an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on Wednesday on the Handwara-Baramulla Highway in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. The Army said the IED was defused in a joint operation by them and the Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) on Wednesday morning based on spotting a suspicious object with wires on the National highway 701 near Langate in Jammu and Kashmir. "Search parties of the Army and JKP were immediately deployed and the area was cordoned off by the security forces," the Army said. "Explosive Detection Canines of the Army were deployed, who positively confirmed the presence of explosives. An Indian Army Bomb Disposal squad was rushed in to the location to neutralise the IED. The bomb disposal squad destroyed the estimated 20 kg IED in situ without any collateral damage." The Handwara-Baramulla highway is an important road for the civil traffic as well as for the Army and CAPF convoys. The traffic, which was halted on the highway briefly, was resumed after the area was thoroughly sanitised. -- Syndicated from IANS Kochi, Oct 19 : The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) on Wednesday began a study to estimate and analyse the catch data using the Fish Catch Survey and Analysis (FCSA) software from 74 fish landing centres at Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This is the first time the marine fish catch data is being collected from the archipelago with statistically supported software. The data collection was formally launched on Wednesday following a Memorandum of Understanding between the CMFRI and the Department of the Fisheries of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration. As part of the MoU, CMFRI introduced its sampling methodology for the estimation and analysis of the catch using electronic tablets. For this the institute has trained the enumerators, deployed by the Andaman Administration, to collect the catch data using CMFRI methodology. While inaugurating the initiative, G Sudhakar, IAS, Fisheries Secretary to the Administration said that introduction of CMFRI's methodology would help the islands generate a reliable database on marine fish catch and fishing efforts which will help fix various developmental plans in the island's marine fisheries sector. "CMFRI's support will help estimate both resource-wise and fishing gear-wise fish landings", said Sudhakar who also sought CMFRI's technical support in the development of deep-sea fishing, seaweed farming and cage fish farming in the Andaman Islands. CMFRI director A.Gopalakrishnan said that CMFRI has been regularly collecting marine fish catch data from all the fish landing centres in the country using this software, which is recognised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN. "Though the data is collected for research purposes, CMFRI shares the information with the government of India and the coastal states who have inked MoU with the institute. Andaman Islands are highly prospective for the marine ornamental fishery, seaweed farming and cage fish farming," said Gopalakrishnan. CMFRI has already signed an MoU with Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu in collecting marine fish catch data. New Delhi, Oct 19 : Co-Earth, a unique personal care brand created for our planet, was just introduced by cosmetics companies, Colorbar. The company promises environmentally friendly, performance-driven products that are also kind to you and the environment since it fully believes in living in harmony with the Earth and its inhabitants. Its products are backed by the Clean Beauty Promise, which states that they are completely natural, vegetarian, cruelty-free, and toxic-free. The brand will contribute to nature, save important habitats, and guarantee animals live the lives they rightfully deserve through partnerships with Wildlife Trust of India and Wildlife SOS, two significant conservation groups. One-horned rhinos, Asiatic elephants, bears, leopards, stately Bengal tigers, and other endangered species will all have a sizable portion of each sale go toward conservation efforts. Speaking on the launch, Samir Kumaar Modi, Founder, Managing Director, Colorbar Cosmetics, said, "Beauty is born in our actions. How we care for ourselves and the world around us. Today, the world needs us to step up our efforts and make a radical difference for nature to thrive again. We are serious about this cause. The Co-Earth vision includes building a future in which we humans live in perfect harmony with nature and its creatures. All our products are created to benefit your body and admire the nature and wildlife as you buy. We have tied up with leading wildlife organizations in India to bolster rescue efforts for endangered animals.. Each day we look for more wildlife species to take under our wing. Taking the pledge to co-exist 'For Our Planet', Colorbar wishes to create a magical change for mother Earth witho Co-Earth." The company has selected 67 goods, priced between INR 349 and INR 799, that are for the hair, skin, and body. The following substances, which are enriching, are included in the products: For skin, vitamin C, retinol, apple cider vinegar, charcoal, tea tree, and ubtan; for hair, bhringamla, rice water, onion, almond, and argan; and for the body, aloe vera, charcoal, and tea tree oil. (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Bandipore : , Oct 19 (IANS/ 101Reporters) As the soft sunrays spread over Wular Lake at the break of dawn, a group of women from Lankrishipora sets out on their boats for the day's work. They have packed some food as venturing deep into the weed-carpeted waterbody will take most of their day. Spread over 189 sq km in the northern district of Bandipore in Kashmir, the Wular is one of Asia's largest freshwater lakes. A thin green sheet of aquatic plants slowly covers it with the onset of spring (May to October). It spreads rapidly by monsoon and continues to grow until autumn. The women row their boats for around six km to reach the centre of the lake. Wielding long blades, they harvest chestnuts for sale and cut the stems of other plants to use as cattle fodder. They pile up the long stems and carry as much as their boats can hold. The women ensure the work never stops for a day by doing it on rotation. If a family has three women, one will stay at home, while the rest will go on 'duty'. They return at the end of the day with their hands smarting from chestnut thorns. "Our hands and feet tell the story of our daily struggles. This lake has given us our livelihood," says Nayeema Begum (45) of Lankrishipora, who actively participates in cutting the weed, locally known as naar, khorr or nambal. Arifa Akhter (32) has to leave her two children at her aunt's house before setting off to the lake. She has been suffering from spondylitis and the strenuous work aggravates the pain. "I came here after marriage a decade ago. I am not used to this kind of work. But I see this as an important task and responsibility," says Arifa. Buying fodder for cattle costs Rs 8,000 to 9,000 a month. "So, we dry the surplus weed and store them for use in the winters," says Arifa, whose husband catches fish and extracts water chestnuts to earn around Rs 7,000 a month. Most girls accompany the women as families think they have to fend for their daily bread first rather than send children to school. "As a child, we used to play around and de-weed the lake without much thought. With time, we learnt how important the lake and our services are. We see the Wular as a saviour, and a mother who lets no one down," says Rehti Begum (80), who still diligently does the work with the help of her grandchildren. Quratul Ain Masoodi, a women and child rights activist, told 101Reporters that the women have been doing the work without being noticed or acknowledged. "The Wular is a massive waterbody and it has survived only because of their efforts." Conservation on backs of the poor People residing in 50 villages located along the Wular's banks are into fishing, while a few men work as construction labourers. Lankrishipora residents are mostly AAY/BPL cardholders having no agricultural lands in their possession. The fishing community here is solely dependent on the lake. One kg of fish will fetch them Rs 350 and freshwater chestnut Rs 50 a kg, though both are seasonal. On a good day, a woman can sell five to seven kg of fish. In the winter, men collect chestnuts remaining at the bottom of the lake using specialised equipment. However, things are not rosy for these people. Altaf Rasool of the Jammu & Kashmir Students Welfare Mission (JKSWM) points to their deteriorating life quality. "Even five years ago, the harvested chestnuts used to be of better quality and higher quantity. Human interventions around the lake have affected its production. The prices of chestnuts have fallen, but there have been no strategic interventions to help these communities market them, as in the case of apple," Rasool says. That there has been any 'direct intervention' with these communities yet is acknowledged by Wular Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA) which was constituted in 2012 under the forest department to protect the lake from encroachments and environmental hazards. But it's in the pipeline, says Mudasir Mehmood Malik, the WUCMA project coordinator of catchment area treatment. He tells 101Reporters that the authority has been trying to help chestnut collectors improve their market linkages to get better prices. "Lake desilting will open up more areas for harvesting chestnuts," he adds. Despite being buffeted by forces beyond their scope, the women here continually go above and beyond for the health of the lake. For instance, drawing inspiration from the JKSWM's 'Save Wular Lake' campaign, the women have been collecting plastic waste from the lake during their day's work. "The weed, fish and water chestnuts help us survive. If the lake is not clean, it will affect us," says Nayeema. The JKSWM has trained over 300 women in tailoring, embroidery and knitting and they conduct free computer literacy classes as well. However, Rasool says the government should pitch in with more robust livelihood guarantee programmes. "During the recent Wular Festival, we raised this point with the WUCMA, asking them to focus on community involvement in the restoration and conservation efforts as they are the stakeholders of the lake," he adds. Perilous waters ahead Acknowledging its socio-economical, biological and hydrological values, Wular Lake was included as a Wetland of National Importance under the Wetlands Programme of the Ministry of Environment and Forests in 1986. A comprehensive multi-phase plan was prepared for the Ramsar site in 2007 following the filing of public interest litigation in the high court the previous year. "The lake is under active ecorestoration and the process is not complete," confirms advocate Nadeem Qadri, the Amicus Curiae appointed for the case by the Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. "The government is still in the initial phases of the plan, focusing on dredging and water level management... Given its importance, the court is monitoring this restoration process in a professional and systematic manner," he says. Admitting that the pace has been slow, Qadri says the community and livelihood aspects such as ecotourism are part of the action plan. "The government needs to assure the communities around the lake that conservation measures will improve their income and empower them. This vision has to be conveyed strongly," he adds. In the absence of these conservation efforts, the communities around the lake have every reason to be worried. Majid Farooq, a scientist at the Jammu and Kashmir's Department of Environment, says encroachments have not only diluted the flood retention capacity of the wetlands, but also pose a serious threat to life and property in the surrounding areas. "Erratic weather patterns have aggravated the crisis," he adds. Malik, on the other hand, highlighted the need to stop solid waste disposal in the Jhelum while it passes through Srinagar. "Being a basin fed by the river, the trash is carried to the Wular," he explains. Dr Inayet Hassan, Professor of Fisheries, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and Technology, tells 101Reporters that the quality of water in the lake has deteriorated. "Women have tried their best to keep it clean, but the increasing pollution has made it difficult for them to restore such a vast area. Hence, a regular scientific programme of preserving the lake should be implemented with women at the forefront," he says. "We know the lake is important not only for us but also for the entire state. It is a given that we join others in cleaning the lake," says Shahida Begum (56), sitting on the banks and waiting for her daughters to return from the lake. (The author is a freelance journalist and a member of 101Reporters, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters.) New Delhi, Oct 19 : The second iteration of the ASEAN-India Artists' Camp, organised by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Seher, was launched at the Taj Ambassador in New Delhi on October 10, 2022, to commemorate the 30 years of dialogue relations between ASEAN and India. Saurabh Kumar, Secretary (East) Ministry of External Affairs, was in attendance along with MEA representatives, diplomats, and visitors from ASEAN Missions in India. The event's theme is "Oceans of Connectivity," which only refers to the oceans that connect these ASEAN nations. The MEA officials and other guests were introduced to the ASEAN artists and Indian artists during the inauguration. Ten musicians from ASEAN nations are taking part in the camp, including: . Samrit Keo (M) - Cambodia . Eddy Sulistyo (M) - Indonesia . Melissa Abuga-a (F) - the Philippines . Aye Myat Soe (F) - Myanmar . Nabil Fikri Bin Haronli (M) - Brunei Darussalam . Sone Khounpaseuth (F) - Lao PDR . Edroger Rosili (M) - Malaysia . Nguyen Phuong Linh (F) - Vietnam . Phattaraporn Leanpanit (M) - Thailand From India: . Sonika Agarwal (F) . Japani Shyam (F) . Nupur Kundu (F) . Laishram Meena Devi (F) . Anjum Khan (F) . Nin Taneja (F) . Vanita Gupta (F) . Yogendra Tripathi (M) . Mayur Kailash Gupta (M) . Dileep Dharma (M) . Basant Bhargav (M) The camp will also offer a variety of interdisciplinary activities to expose the visiting artists to various Indian arts and traditions. This camp will include lectures, demonstrations, seminars, discussions, and other educational outings. Samindranath Majumdar, a well-known painter, is another mentor at the camp. Addressing the artists and the gathering, Secretary (East) MEA, Saurabh Kumar, said, "This artist camp is an important youth-centric activity to bring together the confluence of creative energy from the 10 ASEAN countries and India, as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of ASEAN India dialogue relations. Enhancing people-to-people and cultural connect between India and ASEAN forms an integral part of current ASEAN-India engagements. The artists camp intends to take forward the tradition of creative exchange between India and ASEAN, while acting as a conduit to enhance understanding between our two peoples." Sanjeev Bhargava, Founder Director of Seher, said, "The second edition of ASEAN-India Artists' Camp clearly indicates that the first edition was a roaring success in bringing people from India and the ASEAN countries together. The camp will take place in Udaipur, where artists will create their work, spend time with each other and exchange ideas. They will also be familiarised with the rich cultural traditions and heritage of all the participating countries." At the nine-day programme, which will be held at the Taj Aravali Resort in Udaipur, artists will work on their creations to produce moving works of art. The artists will interact and participate in panel discussions on a range of subjects while they are in town, and they will also visit some of Udaipur's most picturesque spots, including The City Palace, Pichola Lake, and the local market. The artworks will be on display at the location for the public and the local city government on October 19. (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) Kurnool : , Oct 19 (IANS) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that he will report to the new Congress president who will decide his role in the party. He told reporters at Adoni during Bharat Jodo Yatra that the Congress president will be the final authority and he will decide how the party is going to move forward. "He will decide what will be my role and how I am to be deployed," the Congress MP said before the announcement of the result of the AICC presidential election. He declined to answer queries on the role of the president, saying the new president would comment on it. "As far as the Congress party is concerned, the president will be the final authority. We will have a new Congress president who will decide how the Congress party moves forward," Rahul said. "Mr Mallikarjun Kharge and Mr Shashi Tharoor are both people with experience and understanding. Whoever gets elected they do not need advice from me. They have experience and understanding and they will decide what to do," he added. To another query, Rahul said he would report to the Congress president. "Obviously. In the Congress party the president is the supreme authority and every Congress member reports to that person." When asked about the allegation by Shashi Tharoor team about irregularities in AICC presidential election in Uttar Pradesh, he said the Election Commission of the party would look into it. "We are the only political party in the country that holds elections. We are also the only political party that has an election commission inside it. We have a T.N. Seshan kind of person. I worked with Mistry ji (Congress' Central Election Authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry). He is an absolutely straightforward, solid person. Whatever issues are there will be addressed to the election commission. It will take a decision whether there were irregularities or not," Rahul said. He also claimed that the Congress party is the only party with an institutional framework to address such issues. Rahul wondered why questions were not asked to other parties about their internal election. "Everybody asks questions about elections to the Congress party president. I am proud that the Congress party has had an open and transparent process. Why is nobody interested in elections in other parties? Why does nobody ask a question? Why isn't there an election in the BJP why isn't there an election in the regional parties. Nobody seems to be interested in asking the question." Chandigarh, Oct 19 : A major Indian Army training exercise was conducted by various units and formations of the Ambala-based Kharga Corps in the Mahajan Area from October 2 to 18. The validation of latest operational concepts like attack helicopters as maneuver arm of ground forces, deep interdiction across adversary's obstacle systems, fighting in semi-developed terrain, use of hitech drones for tactical ISR as force multipliers were conducted successfully. Also, sustained operations in desert terrain by use of polymer track ways and heliborne operations were successfully held, an official statement said on Wednesday. The exercise also incorporated aspects of joint training with airborne operations in the territory across Western borders, Special Forces drops behind enemy lines and simulated Battlefield Air Strikes. The exercise was successful in validating many important operational aspects and brought out valuable lessons as it also reinforced a high degree of operational preparedness for forces on Western Front, it said. The exercise was witnessed by Lt. General Nav K. Khanduri, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Western Command, and other senior dignitaries, who complemented all ranks on professional readiness. Prayagraj : , Oct 19 (IANS) The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has underlined the need to evolve a policy for population control in the country. Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale, while addressing a press conference at the conclusion of the four-day meeting of the Akhil Bhartiya Karyakari Mandal of the RSS on Wednesday, said, the population boom in the country was a matter of concern. "This is especially important in view of limited resources in the country. Everyone must introspect on it and implement the policy for population control. There is a need to create awareness and awakening on the issue," he said. Hosabale further said that the population of Hindus was going down, mainly due to conversions taking place in the border areas. "Population imbalance on religious basis has led to division of many nations. India had also faced a division because of this. Religion-based population balance was an important subject that could no longer be ignored. What kind of education and healthcare would be provided to the people if the population continued to grow?" he asked. The four-day meeting also took stock of the expansion of the organisational work. "We plan to have a 'shakha' in every division in the country by 2024. We have already achieved 99 per cent of the target. We have shakhas in places like Kerala too," he said. He also informed that the RSS would be completing 100 years in 2025 and therefore the meet would consider plans to expand the number of its shakhas across the country. Srinagar, Oct 19 : Four persons were killed on Wednesday in a road accident in Ladakh. Police said that a Thar Jeep skidded off the road near Khardungla Pass in Ladakh and dropped into a gorge around 150 ft deep. "The Jeep is still untraceable. Four tourists from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh were killed in this accident -- Three from Delhi and one from UP. "The condition of the road had become slippery due to snowfall on Tuesday. "Efforts are on to trace the vehicle. All four bodies were airlifted to their native states. "The deceased were identified as Muhammad Feroz, Reyaz Ahmed and Azam Khan, all residents of New Delhi and Zeeshan Toufeeq of Muradabad UP," police said. Bhopal, Oct 19 : 'Gandhi Choupal' - the initiative of Madhya Pradesh Congress to revive the cadre is generating a massive response, especially in rural areas in the state. To make it more popular, the party leaders, who are monitoring the initiative, have asked the top leadership whether former Congress president Rahul Gandhi can address at least one such 'choupal' during the Madhya Pradesh leg of his 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'. Interestingly, the party has started an initiative to moblise its ground level of cadre ahead of Assembly elections in November-December 2023, now party senior leaders have also started using the same platform to reach out to the people in their respective areas. Each party leader, including MLAs, has been tasked to organise at least 100 'Gandhi choupals' in their respective constituencies. Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath would also participate in one such 'choupal' in his home district Chhindwara. A song on Gandhi choupal-- composed and sung by a group of Betul based Adivasi artistes, is getting enormous response in social media. Bhopendra Gupta, a senior Congress spokesperson, who is heading the initiative, told IANS that the party has appointed as many as 2,700 coordinators across the state to monitor the move. The initiative, which was kicked off on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary on October 2, would conclude on the death anniversary of Gandhi on January 31, 2023. Gupta said over 4,000 choupals have been organised so far and most of these have been held in the Vindhya region. Districts where the highest number of choupals were organised so far, Satna tops the list, followed by Rewa and Singrauli. Districts, which are also big cities of Madhya Pradesh like Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Ujjian have also gained speed up. "Before launching it, we organised five choupals in Jabalpur district as a pilot project which was welcomed by all sections of people. We noticed that people of all age groups were joining choupals and reciting Gandhi bhajans. Then, we decided to take it forward in all districts and it was launched on October 2," Gupta added. The party has set a target to organise at least 25,000 Gandhi Choupals till January 31 in across the state. Gupta, further claimed the initiative is getting more response from rural part of the state in compared to urban areas. Kolkata, Oct 19 : The future of the proposed deep-sea port at Tajpur in West Bengal's East Midnapore district depends on whether work can start at the Deucha-Pachami-Dewanganj-Harinsinga (DPDH) coal block in the state, a senior official in the state government said. The DPDH coal block in Birbhum district is the second largest coal block in the world containing about 1,198 million tonnes of coal and 1,400 million tonnes of basalt. "The Adani Group is interested in investing in the DPDH coal block. The West Bengal government has also issued the Letter of Intent (LoI) for the Tajpur port in favour of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) Ltd. The Adani Group company will have to invest several thousand crores to build this port. Such investment will be justified only if the company can start mining the DPDH coal block. Coal from this block can then be exported through the Tajpur port," the official said. Without this assured cargo, there is little possibility of any substantial import or export growth in the east that would make the port viable. Problem is that the DPDH coal block has already run into trouble over proposed displacement of families, many of them Adivasis. "The coal at DPDH is sandwiched between layers of basalt. Special equipment and technology will be required to extract both the coal and basalt. A lot of investment will be required for this. Such investment will only be made by a corporate house after the land has been cleared and there is no possibility of trouble. "The Adani Group already knows this from its experience in Kerala where it has invested in a port. The government will have to ensure relocation of the families currently living over and around the coal block. They will also have to be paid compensation," he added. It is estimated that nearly 21,000 people (including over 9,000 Adivasis) will be displaced due to this project. Both the Centre and the West Bengal government have offered compensation of Rs 10-13 lakh per bigha to each family. In addition to this, every family will be allotted a 600-square-feet dwelling unit as well as Rs 5.5 lakh as moving expenses. However, agitations have already started against any effort to relocate people. Political parties like the CPM have also entered the fray against any attempt to mine coal there. Activists have also struck out against the governments' decision to relocate Adivasis from their ancestral land and exploit resources that are rightfully theirs. New Delhi, Oct 19 : Taking a tough stand against the deep-rooted nexus of criminals and jail authorities, the Lt. Governor V.K. Saxena on Wednesday granted the approval to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Delhi Police to investigate 82 officials of the Delhi Prison Department under the Prevention of Corruption (POC) Act, 1988. They will be probed for their alleged involvement in the organised crime syndicate being run by notorious conman Sukesh V. Chandrashekhar from Jail No. 10 of Rohini Jail. The EOW had sought the permission of the Competent Authority for investigating these officials under Section 17(A) of POC Act, in a case which is already being investigated under various Sections of IPC dealing with extortion, cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy as well as under special statues including MCOCA and IT Act by the EOW. The Prison Department that comes directly under the now Jailed AAP Minister, Satyendar Jain, has been marred with several serious controversies, including confiscation of mobile phones from prisoners, whereafter jamming devices were put in and around various jail premises recently. The extant case, too, pertains to the extortion of Rs 200 crore by Sukesh Chandrashekhar in collusion with the jail officials allegedly. The EOW had informed that during investigation in the present case, seven officers have already been arrested for facilitating the extortion syndicate being run by the accused. During investigation, it also found the involvement of another 82 officials who had colluded in running the syndicate from the jail. New Delhi, Oct 19 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to work together to improve the schools and education system across the country. Offering his government's expertise to improve the schools, Kejriwal said that they could use it to transform the schools completely. "PM sir, we have done a wonderful job in the field of education in Delhi. In five years, all the government schools of Delhi were improved remarkably. Schools across the country can be improved in five years," Kejriwal said in a series of tweets in Hindi. "We have experience in this field. Please use our experience completely for this. Let's do it together for the country". In an earlier tweet in the morning while sharing PM Modi's photo sitting in a school room, Kejriwal tweeted: "I am very happy that today all the parties and leaders of the country have to talk about education and schools. This is our biggest achievement. I hope that education is not missed only during elections. All governments together can make its schools great in just five years." Kejriwal's remark came after PM Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Gujarat, visited a school in Gandhinagar and interacted with students. Chennai, Oct 19 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said that the state government was coordinating with the Uttarakhand government for bringing the bodies of the three Tamil residents, who were killed in the helicopter crash at Kedarnath. Seven people, including the pilot, were killed when the choppers crashed on Tuesday. Stalin said that the Tamil Nadu government officials were in touch with the Uttarakhand government officials and steps were being taken to bring the bodies of the Chennai natives back to the city. The relatives of the three have already left for Kedarnath to bring the bodies back. The deceased are Premkumar Vanchinathan (63), his wife Sujatha Premkumar (56) who are from Santham colony, Thirumangalam. The cousin of Sujatha, Kala Ramesh (55) was the third Tamil who got killed in the chopper crash. Kala's husband, Ramesh had driven down to Kedarnath instead of boarding the helicopter and survived the crash. The helicopter, which was operated by a private company, burst into flames at Dev Darshini in Garuda Chitti, Rudra Prayag immediately after it took off from Kedarnath helipad. The incident occurred on Tuesday at 11.45 am. The Tamil families had left for Kedarnath on a pilgrimage trip organised by a private tour operator on October 12 from Bengaluru. Kurnool, Oct 19 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday claimed that there is a lot of room for the party to grow in Andhra Pradesh. On the second day of his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Kurnool district, he told reporters that the state Congress leaders were surprised over the tremendous response to the Yatra in the state. When asked how Congress hopes to regain the lost ground in Andhra Pradesh with three parties occupying the political space in the state, he said that there is a lot of room for the Congress party to grow. "Congress is an idea that helps weaker sections of society and stitches together all sections. There is a lot of place for Congress to grow in Andhra Pradesh. The three political parties are more like businesses than political parties. There is a lot of room for us to grow particularly because there is huge distress in Andhra Pradesh. I have seen during the Yatra that there is distress among farmers, labourers and poor people. That is going to be our focus," he said. He termed the response to Bharat Jodo Yatra in Andhra Pradesh as a good starting point to rebuild the party in the state. "We have had tremendous response to our Yatra. Lot of leaders were quite surprised over the enthusiasm and response we have had. I think this is a very good starting point to build the Congress party in Andhra Pradesh," he said. He evaded a reply when asked if Congress would have an alliance with TDP or any other party in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. "That is not my jurisdiction. That is the jurisdiction of leaders of the party in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana," he said. "Now, all these questions will be answered by the Congress president. It is not my jurisdiction," he remarked when asked if the Congress would take support from the YSR Congress Party to form government at the Centre in 2024. He parried questions on whether the Congress regretted the decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh. "I am not going to go into the past. I am interested in discussing the future. I am very clear. As far as Andhra Pradesh is concerned, a commitment was made and it should be fulfilled. I am not interested in delving into the past," he said. The Congress leader said all the commitments made by the Central government to Andhra Pradesh at the time of bifurcation should be fulfilled. He identified Polavaram project and special category status to the state as the main commitments and reiterated that if voted to power at the Centre, the Congress would fulfill all commitments. "When bifurcation took place, certain commitments were made to people of Andhra Pradesh. We believe those were fundamental commitments. Those should be fulfilled," he said. Rahul opposed the idea of three state capitals proposed by the YSRCP Government. "My stand on the Amaravati issue is clear. We do not think the idea of having three capitals is a sensible and efficient idea. We think Andhra Pradesh should have one capital and that capital should be Amaravati. I met people who have given their lands and who have been cheated. I reiterate that we standby those people and defend the rights of those people," he added. New Delhi, Oct 19 : Amid the festive season in the country, the government cyber agency warned that free gift offers can be a trick by Chinese websites to steal users' confidential information. In an advisory, CERT-In, under the IT Ministry, cautioned users against adwares targeting prominent brands and tricking customers in fraudulent phishing and scams. "Fake messages are in circulation on various social media platforms (WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, etc.) that falsely claim a festive offer luring users into gift links and prizes," it said. "The threat actor campaign is mostly targeting women and asking to share the links among peers over WhatsApp/Telegram/Instagram accounts," it added. The victim receives a message containing a link to a phishing website similar to the websites of popular brands, and are lured with a false claim of a special festive offer of prizes or money on answering a questionnaire. The attackers then entice the users to give sensitive information like personal details, bank account details, passwords, OTPs, or use it for adware, and other adversarial purposes. The website links involved are mostly Chinese (.cn) domains and other extensions such as .top, .xyz. These attack campaigns can effectively jeopardise the privacy and security of sensitive customer data and result in financial frauds, the advisory noted. Bhubaneswar, Oct 19 : The Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government on Wednesday expelled former MLA Rajendra Das, who is contesting the bypoll to Dhamnagar Assembly constituency as an independent candidate. BJD general secretary Manas Mangaraj said Das has been expelled from the party for his anti-party activities. Disappointed over not getting BJD ticket for the upcoming Dhamnagar by-poll, Rajendra had filed nomination to contest the election as the independent candidate. Despite repeated requests from several senior leaders of the BJD, he did not step down and remained in the battlefield for the MLA seat, which he lost in last election with a minimal margin of votes. The BJD nominated Tihidi block chairperson Abanti Das as its candidate for the bypoll to be held on November 3. Welcoming the decision of the BJD, Rajendra Das said, "I was expecting this. I had earlier said that suspension or removal would be a blessing for me." The expelled BJD leader further said people of Dhamnagar are with him and he is fighting for the interest and self esteem of the people of the constituency. The BJP has nominated MLA Bishnu Sethi's son Suryabansi Suraj while Congress filed Harekrushna Sethi for the bypoll. Meanwhile, three major political party candidates BJD, BJP and Congress along with Das have started campaigning for the bypoll. Guwahati, Oct 19 : An inmate has died after attempting suicide inside the toilet of a police station lockup in Assam's Bongaigaon district, an official said on Wednesday. The deceased, identified as Abdul Jabbar, was arrested in a cattle theft case, and put up at Jogighopa police station. He had tried to end his life inside the toilet where he was spotted in a semi-conscious state. "He was rushed to a nearby hospital but unfortunately, he collapsed on the way. The doctors in the hospital declared him dead," Swapnaneel Deka, Superintendent of Police, Bongaigaon district, told IANS. The police officer said Jabbar was arrested on Tuesday night. He was an accused in a cattle theft case. Deka said that after questioning Jabbar, the stolen cattle was also rescued by the police. An inquiry into the matter has been ordered while a constable Mokimul Hoque Patgiri has been placed under suspension, he said. The body has been sent for autopsy. Meanwhile, local residents have expressed anger over the incident and staged a protest against the police. Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 19 : Not even his most diehard supporter expected his victory in the Congress presidential poll, but Thiruvanthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor was expected to mount a credible fight. And that is precisely what happened when he secured 1,072 votes of the total over 9,000, or, a healthy 12 per cent. Incidentally, the last time there was similar election when Jitendra Prasada contested against Sonia Gandhi, he failed to even trouble those who counted the votes and prior to that even Maratha strongman Sharad Pawar and Rajesh Pilot contested against the AICC official candidate Sitaram Kesri, but did not make up a mark. Compared to this, Tharoor can be proud that with just 13 years in the Congress, he has made a huge impression and got four figure votes. Meanwhile, according to sources in the know of things, Tharoor, who got 16 members from Kerala to put their signature in his nomination form, has managed to secure 130 votes out of the 297 votes from his home state, which is a very tall figure given the fact practically all the bigwigs from Kerala stood rock stock and barrel for Malikarjuna Kharge, who beat Tharoor by a mile. State Congress president K. Sudhakaran, who dilly dallied on taking a position in the polls, on Wednesday said the Congress has emerged stronger and Tharoor will be given a key post in the party for sure. New Delhi, Oct 19 : Aiming to address the issue of storage of food grains, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) plans to construct modern steel silos, with 111.125 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) capacity, at 249 locations spread across 12 states under the Hub and Spoke model. To be set up under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) route with an investment of Rs 9,236 crore, these silos would be constructed in three phases over next three-four years, sources aware of the development said. In the first phase, silos of 34.875 LMT capacity at 80 locations would be constructed by the FCI. Out of this, 10.125 LMT at 14 locations would be under the develop build operate and transfer (DBFOT) mode and 24.75 LMT at 66 locations would be under the develop build own and operate (DBFOO) mode. The tender under DBFOO mode would be opened on October 31 while the tender for DBFOT mode had opened on August 10. One project has already been awarded to a developer and for other projects, the process is underway. These modern silos with bulk handling facilities would be a scientific way of storage of foodgrains and ensure their better preservation. Srinagar, Oct 19 : Kashmiri photojournalist, Sanna Irshad Mattoo on Wednesday said that authorities did not allow her to attend the award ceremony in the US where she was to receive her Pulitzer award for the coverage of Covid pandemic. "Despite a valid visa and ticket, authorities stopped me at Delhi airport and did not allow me to travel to New York," she said on her Twitter page. Mattoo also said that this is the second time when she was barred from travelling abroad without giving any reasons. "I was on my way to receive the Pulitzer award (@Pulitzerprizes) in New York but I was stopped at immigration at Delhi airport and barred from travelling internationally despite holding a valid US visa and ticket," Mattoo tweeted. Kolkata, Oct 19 : On a sunny afternoon just two days before Durga Puja in 2008, then Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata had announced to pull out the ambitious Nano small car project from Singur in West Bengal's Hooghly district, holding Trinamool Congress' agitation against land acquisition for the project solely responsible for the decision. Fourteen years after that development -- often termed as the biggest blow to West Bengal's image before national and international investors -- Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday that it wasn't her or the Trinamool, but then ruling CPI(M) which was responsible for driving away the Tata project from West Bengal. "I did not drive out the Tatas. CPI(M) did. They forcefully acquired land for the project. I just gave back the land to the farmers at a later stage," Banerjee said at a post-Durga Puja gathering in Siliguri in Darjeeling district. In his speech while announcing the decision to pull out of Singur, Ratan Tata had also held Mamata Banerjee -- then opposition leader in the state -- responsible to a great extent for the decision to call off the project. "I think some time back I had mentioned that if you put a gun to my head, you either pull the trigger or take the gun away because I will not move my head. I think Ms Banerjee has pulled the trigger," he had said. After the pull out from Singur, Gujarat's Sanand became the new destination for the Nano factory. Banerjee also said on Wednesday that although setting up new industries is her goal now, she is still against forceful land acquisition for any project. "Several industrial projects have been launched since we came to power in 2011. But never has there been any forceful land acquisition," she said. Reacting to the Chief Minister's remarks, CPI(M) central committee member Sujan Chakraborty said that it was Mamata Banerjee's government which blasted a factory with dynamite whose 80 per cent construction work was complete. "It was actually blasting the dreams of so many youth of the state. And she is now encouraging the youth to turn 'jhalmuri' into an industry in West Bengal," he said. In fact, it was Trinamool's anti-land acquisition agitation in Singur that shifted the Left Front's dedicated rural vote bank towards them, which ultimately culminated in Banerjee becoming the Chief Minister in 2011, ending the Left's 34-year rule. However, since then, fresh investments by the Tata Group in West Bengal have remained an illusion. Mumbai, Oct 19 : UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called for practising the values of Mahatma Gandhi - the Father of the Nation - to achieve all-inclusivity, protecting the rights of all sections in the richly diverse country to make it stronger. He said that the country's voice can gain credibility on the world stage from a strong commitment to inclusivity, respect for human rights and dignity of all people, especially the most vulnerable, the freedom of journalists, activists, academics and students, by condemning hate-speech and ensuring the continued independence of India's judiciary. Addressing students at the IIT-Bombay, Guterres pointed out that as an elected Human Rights Council member, India had a responsibility to shape up global human rights, protect and promote the rights of all individuals, including the minorities, and nurture and strengthen it in its diverse and pluralistic society. Here, Gandhiji's principles would help by recognising the enormous values and contributions of the multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-ethnic societies, and unequivocal condemnation of hate-speech, he said. Guterres urged Indians to be vigilant and step up investments in inclusive, pluralistic, diverse communities and societies besides doing much more to uphold women's rights and gender equality, in this country and all over the world. Terming the issue of women's rights and gender equality as a "moral imperative", he said that it will also serve as a multiplier for prosperity and sustainability, as no society can achieve full potential without equal rights for all women, men, girls, and boys. Guterres highlighted how India is among the biggest contributors of military and police personnel to various UN Missions, including the first all-women peace-keeping mission, and over 200,000 Indian security personnel have served in 49 similar missions in the past 75 years. Dwelling on how the UN is also working to achieve gender parity, but could not succeed to have a woman Secretary General, though half the women at the top management levels in the world-body are women, heading the department of political affairs, and mission heads in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, he frowned at violence against women as "a big cancer" which must be tackled in every nation with an emergency plan, besides how women activists and politicians are targets on social media with a "terrible campaign" run there. Guterres confessed that we live in "a male-dominated world and a male-dominated culture", and hence gender parity is all the more necessary at the top levels so that decisions are taken in such a manner "which makes gender equality a downstream phenomenon". Earlier on Wednesday, Guterres arrived to a warm reception in Mumbai and later attended a commemoration event for the victims of the 26/11 terror strikes at the Hotel Taj Mahal Palace, as part of his 3-day visit to India. --IANS qn/vd A Bengaluru, Oct 19 : The man, who attempted sexual assault in the premises of the Bengaluru church but fled when the victim shouted for help, has been arrested after a month-long hunt, police said on Wednesday. The arrested person was identified as William Prakash. The incident had taken place in Saint Mary's Church here. The Ashoknagar police, which had taken up the investigation of the case, has nabbed the accused, DCP Srinivas Gowda said. According to police, Prakash had sneaked into the premises of the church. As he saw the victim coming out to switch off the light, he threatened her with a knife, dragged to a room, made her sit on a chair, and attempted to assault her sexually. But the victim gathered courage and screamed for help. The accused had tried to assault her with the knife, but she had escaped unhurt. Hearing the screams, people around rushed to the scene and the accused had managed to escape. After the victim had lodged a complaint, the police had launched hunt for the accused and managed to apprehend him. The police investigation showed that the accused managed to get into the group participating in the procession during the Ganesh festival. According to police, Prakash is suspected to be involved in many such cases and investigations are on. Jaipur, Oct 19 : Some 231 children who lost their parents during the pandemic have been invited by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to his residence for a Diwali meet on October 21. A Diwali programme has been organised on Friday to which these kids have been invited. This is the first state where orphaned children have been invited by the CM for a Diwali programme post the Covid pandemic, said officials adding that the "CM will have lunch with them." The social justice and empowerment department has sent a circular to district collectors to make arrangements to ensure the safe pick up and drop of the kids from their places to the chief minister's residence. One local guardian each has been permitted to accompany the kids. Gehlot will also present gift hampers to the children containing green crackers, sweets, stationery and other items, officials told IANS. Latest updates on Diwali Festival 2022 New Delhi, Oct 19 : Amid rising air pollution and ahead of Diwali, the Delhi government on Wednesday announced a ban on the storage, sale, and bursting of crackers in the capital. The bursting of firecrackers on Diwali will attract jail term up to six months and a fine of Rs 200 in the city. Addressing a press meet, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said: "This time also, the storage, sale and use of firecrackers has been banned." The matter was also raised during the meeting with the Centre, he added. Noting that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had prepared a 15-point winter action plan to prevent the increasing pollution in winter, he said that pollution levels increase around Diwali, as firecrackers are used along with diyas. "If the order is violated in Delhi, then action will be taken under Section 9B, a fine of Rs 5,000 and imprisonment of 3 years. Under IPC 268, there is a Rs 200 fine and six months jail if someone bursts firecrackers," the minister said. Underlining the reported cases of bursting firecrackers last year, he informed that total 408 teams have been formed for this year - 210 teams of Delhi Police, 165 of the Forest Department, and 33 teams of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee. He said 188 cases of violations have been detected and 2,917 kg firecrackers seized till October 16. Meanwhile, Rai also said that a public awareness campaign, "Diye Jalao Patakhe Nahi", will be launched on October 21. The Delhi government will light 51,000 diyas at Central Park in Connaught Place on Friday. Latest updates on Diwali Festival 2022 Mumbai, Oct 19 : The National Commission of Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has ordered a probe into the allegations of harassment levelled against Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Deputy Director-General Gyaneshwar Singh, by former Mumbai NCB chief Sameer D. Wankhede. Wankhede met the NCSC Chairman to discuss his case in detail, and the panel has found that "there appears to be discrimination and harassment" in the matter. It has also directed that "no further action in the matter be taken till the pendency of the case" with the NCSC. The developments came shortly after a NCB internal inquiry found lapses in the investigations into the high-profile cruiser party drugs case of October 2021 in which among the celebrities arrested was Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood mega-star Shah Rukh Khan. The NCB probe has pointed the needle of suspicion at around 7-8 of its own officers involved in the raids led by Wankhede - the then NCB Mumbai Zonal Director - conducted on the cruise ship Cordelia. While Aryan Khan and some others got a clean chit, Wankhede moved the NCSC on Monday (October 17) with his complaint alleging harassment and atrocities perpetrated by Singh. The NCSC has directed Singh to submit full facts, documents, the report of the internal inquiry within 15 days failing which it could launch legal proceedings in the civil courts. Gurugram, Oct 19 : A gruesome murder in which a woman was killed and stuffed into a suitcase has been solved with the arrest of her husband. The accused had allegedly killed his wife, stuffed her body into a suitcase and dumped it in the bushes near IFFCO Chowk on the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway. The incident came to light on Monday evening, when the police recovered the woman's naked body inside a suitcase with injury marks on her body. The police throughout the investigation questioned her husband, Rahul and after sustained interrogation, he confessed to the crime. He told the police that he along with his wife Priyanka used to live in a rented accommodation in Sahraul village of Gurugram. The duo had a love marriage a year and a half ago. "The accused confessed that his wife used to demand a TV and sometimes a mobile phone while his salary is Rs 12,000 only. He failed to fulfil her demands and in a fit of rage on the intervening night of 16/17 October he strangled her and dumped the body near IFFCO Chowk and fled the spot," Preet Pal Sangwan, ACP (crime) said. After the murder, the accused tried to destroy the evidence by scratching the tattoo of his name from the hand of the woman, he said. The police have registered a case of murder under relevant sections of the IPC at the Sector-17/18 police station. Mumbai, Oct 19 : In a surprise move, the Reliance Capital (RCap) Administrator has proposed to change the whole structure of RCap as a core investment company (CIC). The proposal to change the structure, that too at an advanced stage of the bidding process, has come as a big surprise to many. According to sources, the Administrator has proposed to reconstruct RCap CIC into four different CICs, and has also written to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to seek its views and approval on the new structure. As per the proposal, the Administrator wants to reconstruct RCAP CIC into four different CICs. CIC-1 will comprise Reliance General Insurance Company (RGIC), while the second CIC will own Reliance Nippon Life Insurance Company (RNLIC). Sources disclosed that the third CIC will have all other businesses of RCap, including Reliance Securities, ARC, private equity, investment, real estate etc. The fourth CIC will house Reliance Commercial Finance and Reliance Home Finance. The sole objective of reconstructing RCap CIC into four CICs is to help select bidders of RCap's insurance businesses circumvent the IRDAI guidelines related to the five-year lock-in period. As per the extant IRDAI guidelines, equity contribution of promoters and other investors, including private equity funds, in an insurance company will have a lock-in period of five years at the time of granting the final approval. According to the legal view given by AZB and Partners, the legal advisor to the Administrator, the IRDAI guidelines related to lock-in period of five years will not apply to the new proposed structure. Currently there are four companies in fray for RCap's general insurance and life insurance ventures - Piramal, Zurich, Advent Private Equity and Aditya Birla Capital. The circumvention of five-year lock-in period will help companies like Advent Private Equity to exit the insurance venture at any time. The new proposed structure has also received the approval of a three-member advisory committee of RCap Administrator, comprising ex-State Bank of India DMD Sanjeev Nautiyal; ex-Axis Bank DMD Srinivasan Varadarajan; and Praveen P. Kadle, ex-MD and CEO of Tata Capital. As per the rules, the RBI does not allow more than one CIC in a company, hence to reconstruct four CICs out of Reliance Capital CIC would need the central bank's prior approval. According to the RBI, a CIC is a non-banking financial company (NBFC) which carries on the business of acquisition of shares and securities and holds not less than 90 per cent of its net assets in the form of investment in equity shares, preference shares, bonds, debentures, debt or loans in group companies. As per the current CIRP process, Reliance Capital bidders have two options. Under option 1, they can bid for Reliance Capital at a CIC level, as a going concern. Under Option 2, Reliance Capital's multiple businesses have been divided into eight different clusters. The key clusters are: Investment in Reliance General Insurance and Reliance Health Insurance, investment in Reliance Nippon Life Insurance, investment in Reliance Asset Reconstruction, investment in Reliance Securities, Reliance Financial, Reliance Wealth and Reliance Commodities, and investment in Real Estate. Reliance Capital Administrator has also written to RBI informing the latter about the 90-day extension granted by NCLT Mumbai to complete the resolution process by January 31, 2023. Moscow, Oct 19 : Fears are growing inside Russia that Vladimir Putin is preparing to declare all-out war on Ukraine amid speculation that the President could resort to a nuclear show of force over the Black Sea as his invasion fails, a media report said. Putin will hold an emergency national security meeting on Wednesday with the Russian Senate ordered to sit late so they can rubber-stamp any directives, Daily Mail reported. At the same time, his new commander in Ukraine - Sergei Surovikin, dubbed 'General Armageddon' - appears to be preparing the ground for a retreat from the city of Kherson. General Surovikin said on Tuesday the situation in the southern Ukrainian city is 'tense' and that people living there will be 'resettled' in order 'to protect the lives of civilians and our service members'. "We are not excluding the most difficult decisions," he said, Daily Mail reported. Evacuations got under way on Wednesday as Vladimir Saldo, the Russian official overseeing occupied Kherson, said that up to 60,000 people will be moved over the next six days -- suggesting the city could fall within a week. The administration is also moving, Saldo added, while vowing Russia would "fight to the death" to regain full control. The defeat would be the most humiliating that Putin has suffered yet, driving fears over how he might respond, Daily Mail reported. Escalating the 'special military operation' into an all-out war would hand the Russian leader powers to close the country's borders, declare martial law, and strong-arm more men into the armed forces. Meanwhile, news that UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace had been called to an emergency meeting at the Pentagon in the US on Tuesday sparked more fears that Putin could be preparing some kind of nuclear show of force, potentially including the first open-air detonation of an atomic weapon since the 1960s, Daily Mail reported. UK Minister of State for Armed Forces, James Heappey, did little to dampen those fears when he said the discussions Wallace is having are "beyond belief". Experts have speculated that Putin may detonate a nuke at a remote testing ground or above the Black Sea to prove that Russia's huge but ageing stockpile of warheads still works, Daily Mail reported. Increasing the unease is the fact that Russia is expected to carry out an annual test of its nuclear weapons within days in an exercise dubbed 'Grom', but has not yet notified Washington when it will take place. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War New Delhi, Oct 19 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to list urgently a petition against Ajay Devgn-starrer Hindi film "Thank God", scheduled for release on October 25. A bench, headed by Chief Justice U.U. Lalit and comprising Justice Bela M. Trivedi, said there is nothing urgent here and posted the matter for hearing in November. Counsel, representing 'Sri Chitragupta Welfare Trust', mentioned the matter before the top court seeking urgent hearing in the matter, and sought directions for removing the trailers and posters of the movie from YouTube and other platforms. "Thank God" is written and directed by Indra Kumar, with Ajay Devgn, Sidharth Malhotra and Rakul Preet Singh playing lead roles. Counsel pressed that the movie is slated for release on October 25 and the matter would become infructuous. However, the bench was not convinced. Citing the trailer of the film, the plea claimed that there are derogatory expressions, statements, dialogues and insulting images, and videos in and around the character of God Chitragupta played by Ajay Devgn. The petitioner claimed that movie posters and the trailer are spreading insulting and derogatory messages against the deity across the country and the world. Bhopal, Oct 19 : A video in which two women can be seen dancing to Bollywood songs at Mahakaleshwar temple in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain has stirred a row, prompting the state's home minister to order a probe into the matter. The women had gone to offer prayers at Mahakaleshwar temple two days ago. They shot videos while dancing to Bollywood songs, and uploaded them on social media. The temple management has demanded action against the women. According to sources, the temple priests were "quite miffed" as videos were shot inside the sanctum sanctorum and other places of the temple. Videos were shot on the tune of both Bollywood and Bhakti songs. One woman shot the video while performing 'jal abhishek' in the sanctum sanctorum of the Mahakal temple while another shot it while roaming around the temple premises. Taking cognizance of the matter, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra has ordered an inquiry. "I have instructed the Collector and the Superintendent of Police to investigate the matter. Messing with religious beliefs in any way would not be tolerated," said Mishra. The minister also said such activities hurt the sanctity of the temple, and people should refrain from doing them. Peshawar, Oct 19 : Senior Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) minister Atif Khan has received a letter from the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) demanding Rs 8 million in extortion, media reports said. Sources within TTP have confirmed the issuance of the letter by the outfit's Mardan chapter. Atif Khan also confirmed that he has received the extortion letter, Geo News reported Speaking to journalists, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Science and Technology Minister Atif Khan said that he has shared the letter with the relevant officials. "We will take whatever action [needed] on the letter. Security agencies have been informed, rest is up to them," said the minister. The letter came after reports of TTP's resurgence in the KP, Geo News reported. Recently a terror attack also took place in Swat on a school van that killed the van driver. Following the incident, the National Security Committee (NSC) took stock of the security situation in the country. At the meeting, officials of the country's security apparatus gave a briefing on the security situation - in light of the recent terrorist activities. The meeting made it clear that the blood of every citizen is precious and noted that the law will strictly deal with those involved in the bloodshed of innocents. "Our citizens rendered unprecedented sacrifices along with the armed forces and played a historic role in the war against terrorism," read a statement. The forum decided to constitute an apex committee headed by PM Shehbaz and revive the National Counter-terrorism Authority (Nacta), which will work in collaboration with the provincial-level counter-terrorism departments to prevent any resurgence of terrorism in the country, Geo News reported. New Delhi, Oct 19 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to stay the Delhi High Court judgment, which asked St Stephen's College to issue a fresh prospectus giving 100 per cent weightage to Common University Entrance Test (CUET) 2022 score for non-minority candidates applying to under-graduate courses, and affirming no interviews for the admissions. A bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and C.T. Ravikumar dismissed the application filed by the college seeking interim relief. It clarified that validity of admissions will be subject to the final outcome of the appeal by St. Stephen's College and scheduled the matter for next hearing in mid-March next year. Dismissing the application for interim relief, the bench said: "We find no reason to stay the operation of the judgment (Delhi High Court)." Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Delhi University, contended that staying the Delhi High Court judgment would have detrimental effect and also pan-India repercussions. He said except St. Stephen's College, no minority college has questioned the admission through CUET, and added that CUET was introduced for the first time, for a common standard of assessment and therefore, there is no requirement of a separate interview by the college. Counsel, representing law students, submitted that there were hidden parameters that the college has in the interview - an CUET topper would not get the course of her/his choice, and urged the court, "let merit prevail". Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the college, submitted that "we are taking CUET students... we are not discarding merit". Citing St. Stephen's College vs University of Delhi December 1991 case, he added that the issue was not merit but whether the college could conduct an interview. He added that the interview was conducted to find out the personality of the student and not to re-assess him. He added that in foreign countries, they do not depend solely on marks, and the interview is part of the admission process to find out about the personality of the candidate and whether it matches the ethos of the university. The bench queried, if there is uniformity now, what is the relevance of the interview? Justice Ravikumar said if a student scores 90 per cent, her/his marks would be reduced, as only 85 per cent would be considered by the college. The bench further queried, if there's an interview, what is the objective assessment which you keep in mind so that a student knows? Justice Rastogi said these days the competition is neck-to-neck, "now, if you adopted a mechanism, what is the mechanism for objective calculation?" After a detailed hearing in the matter, the bench declined to stay the Delhi High Court judgment. Therefore, St Stephen's College cannot hold interviews for general category students and it would have to give admissions for the undergraduate courses only on the basis of CUET scores. On September 12, the Delhi High Court asked St. Stephen's College to issue a fresh prospectus giving 100 per cent weightage to CUET 2022 score for non-minority candidates applying to under-graduate courses, affirming no interviews for the admissions. The St. Stephen's College moved the apex court challenging the high court order. St Stephen's College moved the high court against the Delhi University order to withdraw its admission prospectus and allow admissions through the Common University Entrance Test (CUET). In the order, the high court had directed the college to withdraw its admission prospectus and issue a public notice declaring the amended admission procedure, saying the aided minority educational institutions that are affiliated with the university must follow its norms and procedures. It was also said, in the ruling, that the DU cannot insist upon a single merit list for admission of candidates belonging to the Christian community regardless of any denomination, sub-sex, or sub-activities within the community. The prospectus issued by St. Stephen's for admissions 2022-23 stated that students from all categories, including general/unreserved seats, will be admitted on the basis of an 85:15 ratio. While 85 per cent of weightage would be given to the CUET, 15 per cent weightage would be given to interviews. However, this decision went against the Delhi University guidelines issued for admissions to the new academic session which led to a row between Delhi University and St Stephen's College. New Delhi, Oct 19 : Delayed delivery of Crop Residue Management (CRM) machines in Punjab and Haryana came up as a major concern in the inter-ministerial meeting held on the issue of of crop residue burning. Amid the poor air quality situation in Delhi and surrounding cities, the meeting under the co-chairmanship of the Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Environment and the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry was held in the national capital. Discussions were held regarding the status of implementation of the respective action plans of the NCR states and NCTD, utilisation of machinery for management, extensive use of bio-decomposers for in-situ management of paddy straw and other related issues. The Minister of Agriculture in his brief presentation highlighted that the status of Parali management in Haryana is significantly better than that in Punjab. Nine out of 22 districts in Punjab and 4 out of 22 districts in Haryana are major contributors of stubble burning in these states and these 13 districts need to be focused upon more. Till October 15, the trend for fire events was less as compared to last year but now it has started growing rapidly, especially in Punjab. Early harvesting is the reason for high fire counts in Amritsar and Tarn Taran. It was also apprised that the coverage of land for the application of Pusa decomposer is less in Punjab which needs to be promoted and enhanced. The representative of the Ministry of Power said it has mandated 5 per cent blending of biomass pellets with the coal for co-firing in Thermal Power Plants (TPPs). The co-firing also helps to prevent CO2 emissions. Till now, 0.1 million MT CO2 emissions have been prevented. The Chairman of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said they have prepared a detailed framework for management of 'parali' and the states have been advised to implement the same to contain stubble burning. It was mentioned in the meeting that in spite of several meetings and efforts by CAQM, the steps taken by Punjab are inadequate. New Delhi: Former TRS MP Dr. Boora Narasiah Goud addresses during a press conference after joining Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of Union Minister Bhupender Yadav and others at BJP HQ in New Delhi on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022. (Photo: Q Image Source: IANS News New Delhi: Former TRS MP Dr. Boora Narasiah Goud joins Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of Union Minister Bhupender Yadav and others at BJP HQ in New Delhi on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022. (Photo: Qamar Sibtain/IANS) Image Source: IANS News New Delhi: Former TRS MP Dr. Boora Narasiah Goud joins Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of Union Minister Bhupender Yadav and others at BJP HQ in New Delhi on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022. (Photo: Qamar Sibtain/IANS) Image Source: IANS News New Delhi: Former TRS MP Dr. Boora Narasiah Goud joins Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of Union Minister Bhupender Yadav and others at BJP HQ in New Delhi on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022. (Photo: Qamar Sibtain/IANS) Image Source: IANS News Hyderabad, Oct 19 : Four days after resigning from the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), former MP B. Narsaiah Goud on Wednesday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Goud formally joined the BJP in the presence of senior party leaders at BJP's headquarters in New Delhi. Union Labour and Employment Minister Bhupender Yadav and BJP General Secretary and incharge for Telangana, Tarun Chug welcomed the former MP into the party. Union Tourism and Culture Minister G. Kishan Reddy and Telangana BJP President Bandi Sanjay Kumar were also present. Some other TRS leaders also joined the BJP along with Goud. The former MP from Bhongir said he would continue to work for the development of the state and for the welfare of its people. He claimed that he ensured many development works in Bhongir constituency. Goud told reporters that he has dedicated his life for the development of the country and the state. He had resigned from TRS on October 19, dealing a blow to the party ahead of the November 3 polling for the Munugode Assembly byelection. Goud had a meeting with the BJP leaders in New Delhi before making up his mind to switch over. He was an aspirant for the TRS ticket in the byelection. Interestingly, he participated in the nomination filing of TRS candidate Kusukuntla Prabhakar Reddy on October 13. Associated with the TRS from the days of the statehood movement after 2009, Goud was in-charge of the party affairs in Bhongir parliamentary constituency. Munugode is one of the Assembly segments under Bhongir constituency. Goud was among few TRS leaders who were aspiring from Munugode but the leadership fielded Prabhakar Reddy, who won the seat in 2014, and lost it in 2018. Goud's joining the BJP is likely to give boost to the BJP's efforts to garner votes of Goud community, to which he belongs. In his resignation letter to TRS President and Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, he said he had been facing insults within the party, including denial of any opportunity even to represent problems of people as also general issues harming the party. Goud also recalled that he left his practice as a doctor to take part in the statehood movement under the leadership of Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) of which the TRS was a major partner. He wrote that as Bhongir MP, he spared all his energies to get sanctioned AIIMS, a Kendriya Vidyalaya, several National Highways and other development works. He blamed bickering in the party and an election symbol similar to that of the TRS for his defeat by a slender margin in the 2019 Parliament elections. New Delhi, Oct 19 : A 28-year-old woman was allegedly sexually assaulted by a man at a hotel in west Delhi and the accused has been arrested, police said on Wednesday. The accused has been identified as Sundar Yadav, a resident of Gurugram's Farukh Nagar. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police, West, Ghanshyam Bansal, a complaint was received at Hari Nagar police station on Tuesday in which the woman, stated that she had met Yadav four months ago. "Both started talking to each other over the phone. On October 17, Yadav insisted to meet her at a hotel in Subhash Nagar area where he forcefully made physical relations with her on pretext of marriage. "Based on the complaint received by police and after medical examination, a case under section 376 (rape) was registered and investigation was taken up," the DCP said. A police team conducted a raid at Farukh Nagar and nabbed the accused, he said, adding that the accused has confessed to his crime and further investigation is going on. Bengaluru, Oct 19 : The Karnataka unit of Congress on Wednesday launched a new campaign 'SayCM.com', targeting Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. The campaign also slams the BJP-led government over its "failure to fulfil 90 per cent of the 600 manifesto promises made in 2018". The website, which also has the official song of the Congress campaign, lists down all the questions that the Congress has asked the BJP so far. The party said that BJP, which has not answered any of the 50 questions till now, has "accepted the guilt through silence". At a press conference, Karnataka Congress' communications division head Priyank Kharge had warned the ruling BJP on Tuesday that "if PayCM is the only thing that makes you speak up, we will launch SayCM to make you answer for your failures". "Today (Wednesday), the party has launched the QR code which looks similar to the PayCm, but will take the user to the SayCm.com," the official statement of the party stated. The Karnataka Congress has already conducted a poster campaign with PayCM. Moscow, Oct 19 : Martial law has been imposed in the four regions that recently voted to become part of Russia amid the conflict with Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the decision on Wednesday, RT reported. The Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, as well as Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, already had martial law in place when they became part of Russia, Putin said. So, the decision provides the legal basis for it to remain in place under Russian sovereignty, he said during a meeting of the National Security Council. The document signed by Putin introduces martial law starting midnight on Thursday. It also orders various parts of the Russian government to submit corresponding action plans within three days, RT reported. In a separate decree signed on Wednesday, the Russian President ordered a state of 'mid-level response' in several other parts of the country bordering Ukraine. These include the Crimean Republic, the city of Sevastopol, as well as Krasnodar, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk and Rostov regions. This is a special regime that gives officials additional authority to ensure security and rapid reaction to any emergencies, RT reported. People in the four former Ukrainian regions voted in referendums last month to ask Moscow to accept them as part of Russia. Kiev rejected the votes as illegitimate and pledged to use military force to seize the regions. Earlier on Wednesday, officials in Kherson region reported that Ukrainian troops appeared to be deploying for a large-scale offensive against the capital, Kherson. The regional administration announced this week the relocation of residents from the city to the eastern side of the Dnieper river due to the threat posed by Kiev's forces, RT reported. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Lhasa, Oct 19 : Chinese authorities in Tibet have sentenced six Tibetan writers and activists to prison terms from four to 14 years on charges of "inciting separatism" and "endangering state security", Tibetan sources said, as per a media report. The six were sentenced in September in Sichuan's Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture after being held incommunicado for from one to two years following their arrests, a source living in exile said, RFA reported. "This was all done in complete secrecy," RFA's source, a former political prisoner living in Switzerland named Golog Jigme, said, citing contacts in the region. "Because of tight restrictions and constant scrutiny inside Tibet, it is very difficult now to learn more detailed information about their current health conditions or where they are being held," Jigme added. Sentenced by the Kardze People's Court were Gangkye Drupa Kyab, a writer and former schoolteacher now serving a 14-year prison term; Seynam, a writer and environmental activist given a six-year term; and Gangbu Yudrum, a political activist now serving a seven-year term. Also sentenced by the court in Kardze were Tsering Dolma, a political activist given eight years; Pema Rinchen, a writer given four years; and Samdup, a political activist now serving an eight-year term. The arrests and sentencing of the group, who had also served previous prison terms for their activities, underscore Beijing's continuing drive to destroy the influence of men and women whose views of life in Tibetan regions of China go against official Chinese narratives, RFA reported. Formerly an independent nation, Tibet was invaded and incorporated into China by force more than 70 years ago, and Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and thousands of his followers later fled into exile in India and other countries around the world following a failed 1959 national uprising against China's rule. Itanagar, Oct 19 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Arunachal Pradesh next week and inaugurate the greenfield airport in Itanagar and a 600 MW Kameng hydro electric power project, officials said on Wednesday. A senior official of the state government said that the Prime Minister is likely to visit Arunachal Pradesh on October 27 or 28, though his tour schedule has not been finalised yet. "The PM would visit Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh next week to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for several projects," said the official who didn't wish to be named. He said that Chief Minister Pema Khandu recently met the Prime Minister in New Delhi and requested him to inaugurate the Donyi Polo greenfield airport in Itanagar, and the 600 MW capacity Kameng hydro electric power project. With a 2,300 metre runway, the greenfield airport would be the first in Arunachal Pradesh to have the capacity to land big aircraft. Spread over an area of 4,100 sq mt, the airport -- the state's third after Pasighat and Tezu airports -- is equipped with all the modern facilities for the passengers, sources in the Airport Authority of India (AAI) said. The AAI undertook the Rs 650 crore project to develop the airport to boost air connectivity in the mountainous state. An Airbus A320 of IndiGo successfully completed a test landing at the Donyi Polo airport on Tuesday. "It's so satisfying and fulfilling to see IndiGo flight making a successful test landing at Donyi Polo airport. Ensuring better connectivity for our people is a top priority of my government. Rest assured, we'll ensure we've many more flights from Itanagar," Chief Minister Khandu tweeted. The official quoted above said that the Kameng hydroelectric project is the largest of its kind in the northeast and has been executed by the state-owned North East Electric Power Corporation Ltd at an estimated cost of around Rs 8,000 crore. Bhopal, Oct 19 : Days after the BJP led Madhya Pradesh government released the Hindi version text books for MBBS for first year students, it has directed all medical colleges to perform puja of Dhanvantari (God of medicine) on Dhanteras. The announcement was made by medical education minister Vishwas Sarang on Wednesday. The minister told the press that Dhanteras will be celebrated with pomp in all medical colleges in the state every year on the lines of the Ganpati festival. Sarang said the objective behind organising Dhanvantari puja in medical colleges is to make Madhya Pradesh a healthy state. "By worshipping Bhagwan Dhanvantari, we pray for the good health of us and others. On Dhanteras (which falls on October 22 this year), all medical colleges in the state will worship God Dhanvantari by organising a programme. All doctors, students and attendants of patients will participate and pray for the good health of all," Sarang told IANS on Wednesday. He added that during Dussehra and Diwali, people perform puja of their property and vehicles and also purchase new property, but they do not perform puja for their health. "This is why the government has taken this step to encourage people to perform puja of God Dhanvantari," Sarang said. Meanwhile, the Congress took a jibe at the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government saying it "is doing all things except improve the health infrastructure. The BJP ruled Madhya Pradesh for over 17 years and the health infrastructure continues to deteriorate. There is a shortage of doctors in every hospital, medicines are not available but they will not talk about these issues," said K. K. Mishra, the Madhya Pradesh Congress media in-charge. Latest updates on Diwali Festival 2022 New Delhi, Oct 19 : Mumbai and Delhi got direct connectivity with Da Nang city of Vietnam as the new direct Vietjet flights arrived at the Vietnamese on Wednesday. The airline said that the new flight routes will now bring Indian travellers to the heart of Vietnam, "positively" impacting travel, tourism, trade and culture. With the duration of only four-hour travel, passengers coming from India will have the opportunity to experience famous cultural hotspots, resort destinations and beautiful beaches, including the world-famous Golden Bridge in Ba Na Hills. For passengers from Vietnam, the unique opportunity to soak in the diverse culture, religious practices and culinary delights of India are only a flight away. VietJet's direct to India flight will also boast of several other in-flight features; hot meals from a list of international cuisines, health services, leather seats, dedicated cabin crews & unique art programmes all while experiencing seamless air travel at an altitude of 10,000 meters. Return flights between Da Nang - New Delhi, will be scheduled for Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Return flights between Da Nang - Mumbai will be scheduled for Monday, Wednesday and Friday. With a focus on cost management ability, effective operations and performance, Vietjet offers flying opportunities with cost-saving and flexible fares as well as diversified services to meet customers' demands, said the airline. Ludhiana, Oct 19 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said that due to strenuous efforts of the state government, Milkfed, the state's leading cooperative, will augment milk supply to Delhi from currently 30,000 litres to 2 lakh litres, thereby immensely benefitting milk producers of the state. "This is a revolutionary step aimed at supplementing the income of the farmers to bail them out from the agrarian crisis," he said after inaugurating Verka's newly-built milk processing and butter plant here. The Chief Minister said that the state government has inked an agreement with the Delhi government in this regard. He said as per this agreement, Verka will open new outlets at every nook and corner of Delhi to supply milk and milk products in the capital. Mann asserted that the sole aim of his government is to extend maximum support and best prices to the dairy farmers of Punjab by following the true essence of cooperation. He also called for implementation of farmer-friendly schemes so as to boost the dairying business amongst the youth and make them financially independent and self-reliant. Mann also said that he has asked Milkfed to further launch an aggressive marketing campaign to capture a sizable chunk of consumer market not only in the state but across the country and even abroad. He said this leading state cooperative has a perceptible presence in the domestic market as Verka is a household name in the region. The Chief Minister said that Verka products like ghee, milk, butter, lassi, kheer, curd, ice-cream, sweets and others have already created a niche for themselves in the nationwide market which could further be widened with concerted efforts. Striking an emotional chord with city of Ludhiana, he described it as his 'karam bhoomi' whereas Satauj village was his 'janambhoomi', adding the state-of-the-art project, constructed at a cost of Rs 105 crore, is a Diwali bonanza for the farmers. Mann said its milk processing capacity is 9 lakh litres daily and 10 metric tonne butter handling capacity. The Chief Minister asserted Punjabis are blessed with the qualities of entrepreneurship and leadership, and due to these qualities, have carved a niche for themselves across the globe. Mann said his government strives to make youth of Punjab to job providers instead of job seekers. Patna, Oct 19 : After the question paper row in Seemanchal, Bihar education minister Chandrashekher Yadav has ordered an inquiry into the issue and has asked the district magistrate of Kishanganj to submit the inquiry report. The English question paper for Class 7 apparently mentioned Kashmir as a separate country. The question was in the form of 'fill in the blanks' where it was asked what the people of China, Nepal, England, Kashmir and India are called. Interestingly, the same question was asked in the 2017 examination as well. The minister admitted that it was a mistake by the concerned official and there was no justification for it. The question was asked in three districts of Seemanchal region including Kishanganj, Araria and Purnea. "We have initiated an inquiry into the matter and asked the district magistrate to investigate and find out who set such a question," Singh said. "We will take action against that person. Kashmir is an integral part of our country," he said. Reacting to the BJP allegation, Singh said that mistakes can be made by any person. "Mistakes happened by PM Narendra Modi as well. You (BJP leaders) need to keep in mind those mistakes as well. PM Narendra Modi said Takshashila university is in Bihar. The Takshashila university is in Pakistan and Vikramshila university is in Bihar. Still, the way the question was asked in the class seven examination was absolutely wrong and the culprits will be booked for it," Singh said. The question was asked in an examination paper of English to students of class 7 of government schools coming under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan which is regulated by the Bihar State Project of Education Council. Bengaluru, Oct 19 : The Karnataka unit of Congress on Wednesday celebrated the victory of veteran party leader from the state, Mallikarjun Kharge, in the Congress presidential election -- polling for which was held on October 17. Kharge's contender for the top Congress post was fellow party leader Shashi Tharoor -- an MP from Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram constituency. Hundreds of party workers who gathered at the office of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) after the announce of October 17 poll result, burst crackers, distributed sweets and cheered Kharge's win. Karnataka unit Congress president D.K. Shivakumar who led the celebrations, said: "It is a matter of honour that after late Nijalingappa, yet another veteran leader was selected for the coveted position." "Throughout his political career of five decades, Kharge has been an MLA, minister, KPCC president, parliamentarian, union minister and Opposition leader," he said. Unlike BJP which has given away all highest positions to the individuals from Gujarat, Congress has ensured democracy, he said. "Mallikarjun Kharge is not a state leader... he is a national leader. Our state will get a huge strength in the backdrop of his selection to the highest position in the party," he said, adding: "A big message has also been sent to the nation." Siddaramaiah, Opposition leader, said Kharge has the talent and experience and this will lead the party on the path of victory. "The selection of Kharge is a matter of pride for the people of Karnataka," he said. Meanwhile, the Congress leaders in Karnataka have submitted that the party's mood that is upbeat in the backdrop of "success of Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi has received a shot in the arm with the election of Kharge as the party's national president". Former Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said Kharge has vast political experience. "Let the party benefit from his experience," he said. New Delhi, Oct 19 : To review the pace of maintenance activities, Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and Chairperson NHAI on Wednesday visited the Delhi-Jaipur section of NH 48 from Delhi to Dharuhera. Officials took stock of the condition of the Highway and directed the contractors engaged by the NHAI to complete the work at the earliest. The repair work and reconstruction in 225 km long Gurugram-Jaipur highway has been awarded to three different contractors, who have already been mobilised for taking up the repair works on priority. One agency has been engaged for the 64 km long Haryana portion and 161 km long Rajasthan portion has been awarded to another agency for faster construction. A third contract has been awarded for construction of 15 new structures to resolve the frequent issue of traffic congestion on the Highway. The cost of all these works is Rs 913 crore. The critical locations like Vartika flyover, Rampura flyover, Dharuhera, Masani have been repaired and the progress on the other locations in Haryana portion is being expedited for faster completion, said the officials. The NHAI Chairperson, while reviewing the progress of maintenance works, advised for constructing proper diversions including widening of service roads to ensure smooth traffic movement prior to taking up construction of structures. The issue of water-logging and need for proper drainage for industrial waste of Bhiwadi was also discussed and Secretary MORTH requested state government officials to put in coordinated efforts to resolve the issue. New Delhi, Oct 19 : Indigo flew ahead of other airlines during the month of September with 57.7 per cent share in the domestic aviation sector, Vistara secured second slot with a market share of 9.6 per cent. As per the aviation regulator's data for September, Indigo carried 59.72 lakh air passengers during the month while Vistara carried 9.96 lakh air passengers. Air India was at third position with 9.49 lakh passengers and 9.2 per cent market share. Similarly, Go Air, with 8.15 lakh air passengers, had a market share of 7.9 per cent during September. Domestic aviation traffic in the country continues to record growth as passengers carried by domestic airlines during January-September 2022 were 8.74 crore as against 5.31 crore during the corresponding period of previous year thereby registering annual growth of 64.61 per cent. Similarly, the domestic passenger traffic in the country registered a monthly growth of 46.54 per cent, according to the latest data released by the aviation regulator. As per the data, nearly 1.03 crore passengers were carried by the domestic airlines during September in the country as against 70.66 lakh during the same period last year. United Nations, Oct 19 : China has again blocked the UN from imposing sanctions on a Pakistani terrorist - this time Shahid Mahmood - a week before the Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee is to meet in India, according to diplomatic sources. Acting for the fourth time since June on behalf of its ally Pakistan, China blocked the inclusion of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader in the UN Security Council sanctions list, the sources said on Wednesday. The action was reported on the eve of the meeting in Paris of the terrorist funding watchdog, Financial Action Task Force (FATF), that is to consider Pakistan's request to be taken off a list of countries facilitating the funding of terrorist groups. Mahmood's declaration as an UN-sanctioned terrorist could be an embarrassment for Islamabad at the FATF meeting. The US and India have asked the Security Council committee dealing with sanctions on the Islamic State and Al Qaeda along with affiliated groups like the LeT to impose sanctions on Mahmood, who runs its international operations. The panel, known as the 1267 Sanctions Committee for the number of the resolution setting it up, includes all the members of the Security Council and its members can block the addition of terrorists to its list, which China has repeatedly done to protect several terrorists from its ally Pakistan. Last month, China put a hold on the sanctioning of another LeT leader, Sajid Mir, a mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai attack carried out by Pakistanis in 2008. In August, China blocked the listing of another Pakistan-based terrorist Abdul Rauf Azhar, the commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) involved in the hijacking of an Indian aeroplane in 1999, from being added to the list. And in June, Beijing vetoed sanctioning LeT deputy chief Abdul Rehman Makki. According to the US Treasury Department, which put Mahmood on its sanctions list in 2016, he is the vice chair of an LeT front organisation called Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation. He was involved in LeT's international operations, with a focus on Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, and has also led delegations to Syria, Turkey, and Myanmar, it said. The department said, "Mahmood claimed that L-e-T's primary concern should be attacking India and America". It said that he has visited Bangladesh to distribute funds in Myanmar refugee camps to recruit members for the LeT. The Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee headed by India is to meet in Mumbai at the Taj Palace Hotel on October 28. The venue is highly symbolic as it was the centre of the 2008 terrorist attack on Mumbai that killed at least 175 people. The next day, it will hold another meeting in New Delhi. The FATF, an international group that monitors the financing of and money laundering by terrorists and the countries involved, has placed Pakistan on its "Gray List" and Islamabad wants to be dropped from it claiming it has improved compliance with the FATF requirements. (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis) London, Oct 19 : India-born Kuldip Singh Sahota has become the first turban-wearing Labour peer and the only Sikh on the Labour benches in the House of Lords. Sahota, 71, who has served as Councillor at Telford and Wrekin council since 2001 for 21 years, was nominated by Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer and will thus be addressed as Lord Sahota. Sahota was on former UK PM Boris Johnson's resignation honours list for his public service. In the UK, peers are appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister to serve for their life. "Kuldip becomes the first-ever dastar-wearing Sikh on the Labour benches in the House of Lords and will serve as a role model for Sikhs across the community," said Neena Gill, Chair of Sikhs for Labour, a group that promotes shared values of the Labour Party and the Sikh community. He has also served as chair of the West Midlands Labour Party Regional Board and has stood as Labour candidate for police and crime Commissioner. Sahota was born in Garhdiwala, in Punjab's Hoshiarpur and moved to the UK in 1966 to join his father. He is married with two grown-up sons and two grandchildren, all of whom live in Telford. Sahota has also been volunteering in a number of roles across the community in the West Midlands in addition to being a member and activist of the Labour Party for over 25 years. Members of the House of Lords are sometimes referred to as peers. Most members are Life Peers although 92 sit by virtue of hereditary title. Lord Singh (Indrajit Singh) of Wimbledon was the first peer to wear a turban. He was made a cross-bench life peer in 2011 and Lord Suri (Ranbir Singh Suri) was the second when he was made a Conservative life peer in 2014. There are certain events which leave an indelible mark in history. October 22, 1947 is one such date which has left deep imprint on the history of the Indian sub-continent. On this day, Pakistan invaded the erstwhile Riyasat of Jammu and Kashmir in the garb of tribal raid and subsequently was able to illegally occupy what is known as Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). This invasion compelled dithering Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, Hari Singh, to sign the instrument of accession with the Indian government, paving way for intervention of Indian Army, which successfully repelled the attack and saved Kashmir from the enemy. India cannot forget the immense contribution of late Maqbool Shervani and the local Pahadi population, who played an important role while supporting the Indian Army to thwart Pakistan's design to capture Kashmir. The conspiracy hatched by Pakistan was later exposed by her own Maj Gen (Retd) Akbar Khanin in his book 'Raiders in Kashmir'. Unfortunately, Pakistan continues to follow the same tenet of double speak to misguide the international community on Kashmir. During this aggression period, Abdul Qayum Ansari, a strong sepoy of the first Pasmanda Movement 'Jamiyatul Mominee' (Momin Conference) led by Asim Bihari, came forward as the first Muslim leader of India to condemn the same and strenuously worked to rouse the Muslim masses to counter such aggressions as true citizens of India. As an aftermath of this, he founded the 'Indian Muslim Youth Kashmir Front' in 1957 to "liberate" the so called Azad Kashmir. Later on, he exhorted the Indian Muslims to support the government of India in the anti-Indian uprising of the Razakars in Hyderabad during September 1948 too. Pakistan was a creation of Ashraafs (Muslim elite of Arab, Turk and Persian descent) who wished to create a separate state where their writ could run large as per their whims and fancies. Till date, the feudal structure of Pakistan remains intact, where Army with active connivance of handful elite families continue to run that country, leading to such an abyss where her future looks in jeopardy. The Ashraaf mindset of Pakistani establishment had initially alienated the Bangali community which resulted in the creation of Bangladesh and now discontent of religious, ethnic and economically marginalised sections of Pakistan is manifested in the struggle for the Baloch freedom movement, Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), and the popular uprising in parts of Sindh and PoJK. With passage of time, the facade maintained by the Pakistani establishment is peeling off and even people of PoJK are increasingly demanding freedom from Pakistan. The favourable geo-strategic location and then prevailing Cold War rivalry between the US and USSR had been leveraged by Pakistan to the hilt while garnering support of the US and her Western allies to push its narrative against India on the issue of Kashmir. The West too was keen to placate Pakistan and kept on raising issues of human rights in Kashmir and harping the need for resolving the same under the UN Charter. The withdrawal of Soviet Union from Afghanistan in late '80s and the subsequent drying up of US aid led Pakistan to foment cross-border terrorism in Kashmir. In this experiment, Pakistan's Ashraaf establishment was able to constitute an ally in the form of Hurriyat Conference led by traditional Kashmiri Ashraaf leaders like Mirwaiz Maulvi Farooq, S.A.S. Geelani, Abdul Gani Bhatt, Abdul Gani Lone etc., who hijacked the Kashmiri separatist movement keeping rest of world oblivious of the opinion of the substantial population of Pahadis, Gujjars and Bakarwals, who were vehemently opposing the separatist politics of Hurriyat and displayed unflinching loyalty towards India. It is a great gesture on the part of government of India and Home Minister Amit Shah, who has announced reservation for the Pahadi population of J&K during his rally in Baramulla. The Pahadi community has been a great support to the Indian Army in fighting Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism. This will not only motivate the loyal and patriotic backward Muslim marginalised section of Jammu and Kashmir, but also put traditional Ashraaf leaders in their place. Kashmir has come a long way since the dark days of the so called 'Tribal Invasion' and is marching forward towards the path of peace and development along with with rest of India. Abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A has rejuvenated the marginalised sections of J&K who are now making their voice heard and putting separatist elements to their place. Record footfall of tourists in J&K in 2022 is a testimony of success of the government of India's efforts to bring J&K into the mainstream and restoration of normalcy in the state. The forthcoming elections, which the Home Minister has assured will be held in 2023, will usher the state towards a brighter future. (Dr Faiyaz Ahmad Fyzie is an author, translator, media panellist, socio-Pasmanda activist and medical doctor by profession. The views expressed are personal) Bhopal, Oct 19 : Even though the pilot project of MBBS courses in Hindi is yet to take off in Madhya Pradesh although three text books (translated version) have been released, doctors in some government-run hospitals have started giving prescriptions in Hindi. One such prescription was made by a doctor in Damoh district hospital. The prescription was given just a day after the Shivraj Singh Chouhan led BJP government in Madhya Pradesh released three translated text books for the first year students of MBBS - anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry - in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah on October 16. The medical prescription issued by Dr Vedant Tiwari, who is also the district medical officer in a government-run hospital in Damoh, not only mentioned the name but the medicines also in Hindi. What was more interesting was that the doctor wrote 'Shri Hari' before mentioning the prescribed medicines. This is exactly what Shivraj Singh Chouhan had said during the press conference before the release of the Hindi version text books for MBBS students. However, it wasn't the only medical prescription issued in Hindi as some other doctors in government-run hospitals have followed suit. A government doctor in Satna district has also put into practice the comment made by Chouhan about writing prescriptions in Hindi with 'Shri Hari' on top. "What's wrong in mentioning names of medicines in Hindi. Just mention 'Shri Hari' on top of the slip and write the name of medicines. I don't find any problem in it," Chouhan had remarked in a lighter note on October 17. "This is a step in putting into practice the idea that one can move ahead in life through education in Hindi medium too. It's the resolve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the medium of education should be in one's mother tongue," Chouhan had said. For the Hindi translation of books, a well-organised curriculum was prepared by constituting a Hindi cell 'Mandar' in February this year at Gandhi Medical College in Bhopal. The task force comprises experts from the medical field. 97 medical college teachers, and experts brainstormed about it. Speaking to IANS on Wednesday, medical education minister Vishwas Sarang said that the step will encourage students from the rural areas to pursue careers in medical fields. "Many children who come from rural areas and have done their school education in the Hindi medium do not muster the courage to pursue medical or other courses only because of English. It may be that it would take some time but people will accept this reality when its results would be coming out after the first batch of MBBS students would complete their degree in Hindi. The process of translating books for second year MBBS students has been started." The Madhya Pradesh government will start teaching the Hindi version books to MBBS students as a pilot project in Gandhi Medical College in Bhopal, which is located in the premises of the state's biggest government-run hospital - Hamidia Hospital. There are around 200-250 seats for first year students of MBBS in Gandhi Medical College, and Hindi would be optional but not mandatory, Sarang told IANS. However, the Indian Medical Association, Andhra Pradesh chapter, has opposed the decision of the Madhya Pradesh government to teach MBBS courses in the Hindi language. In a press release, its president Dr C Srinivasa Raju said that despite the National Medical Commission's (NMC) earlier warning of not recognising MBBS education imparted in Hindi, the MP government has announced introducing the same in Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal from the next academic session i.e. from 2022-2023. The confirmation regarding this was given by the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, he said. Los Angeles, Oct 19 : In a revealing cover story with 'Variety', Meghan Markle described the discomfort she felt during her time as an actor in Hollywood. Markle appeared on shows such as 'Deal or No Deal', '90210' and 'Fringe', before landing her signature role of Rachel Zane on 'Suits', the television legal drama, in 2011. Although she would be on the show for more than 108 episodes ('Suits' ran from 2011 to 2019), Meghan was forever living in a state of anxiety, which made her constantly question her place on the series during the first season. When asked about Hollywood toxicity during her time as an actor, Meghan told 'Variety': "We didn't have a name for it at that time. There were just certain things that were accepted. If there was any discomfort, you just dealt with it. It forced a lot of women to live with this idea of staying silent, not being disruptive, not giving voice to the things that might create concern or discomfort." She continued, describing how hard it was for her to land a steady job. "For me, I had tried for so long to land on a show, filming all these pilots, wondering if they would get picked up," she said. "All of Season 1 on 'Suits', I was convinced I was going to get recast. All the time. It got to a point where the creator was like, 'Why are you so worried about this?'," Meghan recalled. Kolkata, Oct 19 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has come under attack from all the opposition parties in the state, including the BJP, Congress and CPI(M), for her comment on Wednesday that it was not Trinamool Congress, but the CPI(M) which was responsible for chasing out Tata Motors' Nano small car project from Singur in Hooghly district. "I did not drive out the Tatas. CPI(M) did. They forcefully acquired land for the project. I just gave back the land to the farmers at a later stage," Banerjee said at a post-Durga Puja gathering in Siliguri in Darjeeling district, 14 years after then Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata had announced to pull out the ambitious project from Singur, holding Trinamool Congress' agitation against land acquisition for the project solely responsible for the decision. BJP Lok Sabha member from Hooghly, Locket Chatterjee, said that probably Mamata Banerjee will now claim that she became the Chief Minister because of pressure from CPI(M). "She (Banerjee) has been making false statements for the last 11 years. She promised that she would return the Singur land to the farmers after reviving them in original fertile conditions. Yes, she has returned the land but farming is no longer possible there," Chatterjee said. CPI(M) central committee member Sujan Chakraborty said that if there is any doctorate for expertise in making false statements, the Chief Minister will be the only contender for it. "She makes false statements throughout the day and the latest example is her remark that CPI(M) was responsible for ousting the small car project from Singur. Does she mean to say that it was not her but former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee who was responsible for staging protest against the project," Chakraborty asked. Congress Rajya Sabha member Pradip Bhattacharya said that Banerjee and her party had ensured that Tata Motors didn't start manufacturing in Singur at any cost. "So what is the point of blaming the CPI(M) now," he asked. London, Oct 19 : UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman resigned from her post on Wednesday, taking responsibility for sending an official document from her personal email, while also noting her concerns over the "government's direction" and breaking of pledges, particularly on restricting illegal immigrants. The Indian-origin Braverman had recently figured in the news for noting that the UK-India FTA would increase migrants from India. In a letter to Prime Minister Liz Truss, Braverman said that she had sent "an official document from my personal email to a trusted parliamentary colleague as part of policy engagement, and with the aim of garnering support for government policy on migration". "This constitutes a technical infringement of the rules. As you know, the document was a draft Written Ministerial Statement about migration, due for publication imminently. Much of it had already been briefed to MPs. Nevertheless it is right for me to go. "As soon as I realised my mistake, I rapidly reported this on official channels, and informed the Cabinet Secretary. As Home Secretary I hold myself to the highest standards and my resignation is the right thing to do." Braverman also said that the "business of government relies upon people accepting responsibility for their mistakes". "Pretending we haven't made mistakes, carrying on as if everyone can't see that we have made them, and hoping that things will magically come right is not serious politics. I have made a mistake; I accept responsibility; I resign. "Not only have we broken key pledges that were promised to our voters, but I have had serious concerns about this government's commitment to honouring manifesto commitments, such as reducing overall migration numbers and stopping illegal migration, particularly the dangerous small boats crossings," she said. After a lapse of 31 years, Pakistan occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK) is going to hold local body elections on November 27. According to the schedule released by the Azad Jammu Kashmir Election Commission, candidates have been asked to submit their nomination papers between October 14 and 22. On October 22, the approved list of the nomination papers of the candidates will be published. Election symbols will be allotted on October 31. For 31 years, Pakistan has purposefully deprived the people of PoJK from local representation. Therefore, creating space for local politics to be dominated by tribe and cast affiliations. Since 1990s, Pakistan has focused more on cross-border terrorism with catastrophic results for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. In 1990, the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits as well as the targeted assassinations of Hindu and pro-Indian Muslim politicians and provocative acts of stone pelting by paid goons destroyed the social and cultural fabric of my people. It is only after the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution that peace and development has returned to the Valley and once again our social and cultural fabric has begun to repair itself. The local body elections due on November 27 are not going to be able to establish a tranquil grass root level democratic system in PoJK. The reason is simple. The nomination form to apply to become a candidate in the forthcoming elections demands one to sign an oath of allegiance to Islam, Pakistan and PoJK's accession to Pakistan. I present to you with the text of the oath for you to judge the hypocrisy of the Pakistani government's claim to support the movement for the right of self-determination of my people. It states: "I solemnly declare that I believe in the theology of Pakistan, the ideology of State's accession to Pakistan and the integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan." I am sure that the regular reader of my work would by now understand the nature of the conflict of Kashmir. It began when in October 1947 Pakistan attacked and occupied the western parts of Jammu and Kashmir. For 75 years, Pakistan has refused to withdraw its troops from our lands despite the fact that the UN resolutions have named Pakistan an aggressor and asks Pakistan to withdraw from PoJK to facilitate a referendum to decide the fate of this part of the world. However, Pakistan calls for our allegiance as a condition to represent our own people. By asking our people to believe in the theology of Pakistan simply means that other religious groups have been made out cast. What is the theology of Pakistan? It is based on the communal hate ideology of Jinnah's two nation theory that divides citizens of a nation state on the basis of Islam. What is meant by the ideology of State's (PoJK's) accession to Pakistan? It means to divide my people on the basis of communal hate between Hindus and Muslims, which implies that since the majority population of the so-called Azad Jammu and Kashmir is Muslim, we would support our accession to Pakistan. This is a serious breach from even the resolutions of the United Nations that have given us the right to choose between India and Pakistan. Therefore, someone like myself, who advocates PoJK's accession to India, cannot become a local councilor in PoJK. Someone who is of Hindu or Sikh or even Christian faith cannot become a local councilor. Here is the text of the nomination form that demands of the candidate to declare: "I believe in the absolute and unqualified finality of the Prophethood of Muhammed (Peace be upon Him), that I do not recognise such a claimant to be a Prophet or a religious reformer, nor do I belong to the Quadiani Group or the Lahori Group or call myself Ahmadi." Lahori Group is an offshoot of the Quadiani movement and split shortly after the death of the founder of Ahmadiya Movement, Mirza Ghulam Ahmed, in 1903. With so many restrictions in place, how can one expect a broad-based local body government to come into being in PoJK? The local bodies election due on November 27 are taking place as an attempt to keep the people glued together in the name of conservative jihadi Islamic narrative of two-nation theory. No wonder, as I write, 33,000 military and security personal have begun to pack their bags to be stationed on each and every polling station in PoJK. Local body elections under the watchful eye of the Pakistan military itself speaks volumes about the credibility and transparency of this farce that is taking place after 31 years. (Dr Amjad Ayub Mirza is an author and human rights activist from Mirpur in PoJK. He currently lives in exile in the UK. The views expressed are personal) New Delhi, Oct 19 : The Indian Embassy in Ukraine on Wednesday advised all Indian citizens, including students, to leave the war-torn nation at the earliest by available means, due to "deteriorating security situation" there. The advisory, issued by the Indian Embassy, also warns citizens against travelling to the war-ravaged nation due to "escalation of hostilities across Ukraine". Ukraine was attacked by Russia in February this year and the war has escalated in the last eight months, with Russia having bombed several of its major cities. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Kolkata, Oct 19 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has started a parallel probe in the loan forgery scam involving West Bengal businessman, Sailesh Pande and his two brothers Arvind Pande and Rohit Pande, prompted by the emergence of an illegal of foreign exchange transaction angle in the matter. Earlier this week, the Kolkata Police conducted raid and search operations at the residences of Sailesh Pande and Arvind Pande at Shipbur in adjacent Howrah district and seized cash worth around Rs 8 crore along with huge quantity of diamond-studded gold ornaments. At the same time the city police also froze deposits worth Rs 20 crore from two bank accounts held by Sailesh Pande. All the three Pande brothers are currently absconding and a lookout notice has been issued against them. Now, the ED involvement comes in wake of some foreign exchange transactions in the two accounts held by Saliesh Pande with an organisation named TP Global FX, which figures in the list of 34 entities involved in forex transactions on unauthorised electronic trading platforms that were put on alert list of entities by the Reserve Bank of India. As per initial estimates, transactions worth Rs 77 crore were made from these two accounts held by Sailesh Pande. Sailesh Pande claimed to be a chartered accountant and was involved in defrauding people promising them clearance of loan proposals. Jaipur Oct 19 : The three-day World Health Summit (WHS) 2022 was held in Berlin from October 16 to 18 under the patronage of the World Health Organization (WHO). The theme of this year's summit was 'Finding Solutions for Global Health'. At the summit, WHO's Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan informed the gathering of the lowest link about 'Social Communication' established by WHO for health related services and information related to epidemics. The WHS 2022 aimed to bring together health leaders and policy makers from all parts of the world, along with representatives working in the field of medicine. It also stressed on synergy for global health development and encouraging innovations for the pandemics that may occur in the coming times. The summit was inaugurated in the presence of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and more than 2,000 delegates from more than 100 countries. At the opening ceremony, Scholz said that "networking and good cooperation across national borders is important, especially in the field of global health". Guterres said that the world should take cognizance of the recent pandemic and "we should establish such a health system, which every citizen of the world deserves". Ghebreyesus said, "The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the global health infrastructure as fragmented and inconsistent." He added that the whole world will have to come together and only then global health can be taken to a new level. Summit President Axel Price called for international cooperation, saying, "At this time, we must work together internationally in an unprecedented way." Balvir Singh Tomar, Chairman of NIMS University in Jaipur, also participated in the conference. He said this was the first such in-person global level event after Covid-19 in which more than 2,000 people working in the field of health from over 100 countries participated. "To save a small disease from becoming an epidemic, we need to educate the people at the grassroots level, so that any kind of epidemic can be prevented or controlled in time," Tomar said in Berlin. Bhubaneswar, Oct 19 : The Odisha government on Wednesday notified cancer as a reportable disease for early detection and treatment. In a notification, the state health department said estimation of cancer burden and its distribution with respect to time and place is important to mobilise resources for prevention and control, and reducing the mortalities attributed to it. Prevalence of particular types of cancer in some geographical areas needs proper attention. The state government, after due consideration of the matter, has also found it imperative that all diagnosed cancer incidences should be reported to the appropriate authority for early detection and treatment of disease, it said. The state has asked all persons concerned in hospitals (private or public), pathological, clinical and radiological labs, institutions imparting medical education and providing diagnostic treatment, palliative care and any other healthcare related facilities to mandatorily report diagnosed cases of cancer. Now, it is the responsibility of every doctor, pathologist and medical establishment in Odisha to report about the cancer case within two weeks from date of diagnosis. The state government has already started Population Based Cancer Registry (PBCR) in Khordha district from October 15, 2022 from NISER Bhubaneswar campus with support from Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, and Department of Atomic Energy. Aizawl, Oct 19 : Smuggling of drugs, tobacco products, gold, and exotic animals from Myanmar is rampant in the northeast, especially Mizoram, but the Customs Department is facing shortage of manpower and inadequate warehouses. Customs Department officials, led by Assistant Commissioner H.L. Songate on Wednesday met Mizoram Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati at the Raj Bhavanhere and discussed various issues including inadequate manpower. A Mizoram government official said that the Customs officials apprised the Governor about the shortage of manpower and inadequacy of warehouses hampering their efficiency in checking inflow of goods from across the border with Myamar and Bangladesh. Songate told the Governor that strengthening of infrastructures and facilities at the Zokhawthar and Lawngtlai Silsury Land Customs Stations could hugely help in better monitoring of border trade with the neighbouring countries. The Governor assured the Customs officials that he would readily support them in mitigating various problems being faced by them and requested them to submit in writing any complaints they had or assistance they required. The Mizoram-based International Trade Initiative Forum (ITIF) recently urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mizoram Governor to resume trade with Myanmar through the Zokhawthar border point. ITIF President P.C. Lawmkunga, a retired IAS officer who served as Manipur's Chief Secretary, told IANS that "in the absence of the formal and regular official border trade between India and Myanmar, not only is smuggling and illegal trade going on unchecked but the government is losing crores of rupees in revenue". Bhopal, Oct 19 : Politics and police action against drugs and illegal sale of liquor seems to be running side by side in Madhya Pradesh. While the state police recently launched a special campaign against drugs, former Union minister and BJP leader Uma Bharti has her own way to take on her own party-led government on the issue of liquor. Ex-Chief Minister Bharti, who has stood against the new liquor policy implemented by the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government earlier this year, made headlines in recent times either by smashing liquor bottles at shops or by throwing cow dung at them. And she returned to action again on Tuesday, this time by removing the poster of a liquor shop in Bhopal. She also called the manager and asked if he consumed liquor or just sold it to the customers. Bharti also warned the administration and the police that if the liquor outlet is not removed from near a temple, she would see to it that the law and order situation is disrupted. Bharti also expressed concern that she would be attacked by the liquor mafia for her stand. "I had said earlier also that the liquor mafia will now attack me, will spread false propaganda against me... Even today, someone told me that 'you are giving opportunity to the opposition to weaken the government'," Bharti tweeted on Tuesday. Bharti also warned that she will continue her protest against illegal sale of liquor in the state until the government takes strict action against the practice. "If all the drinking premises are shut by an order of the government, I will perform 'aarti' for the administration of Madhya Pradesh," Bharti said in another tweet. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Police have launched a special campaign against drugs from October 8, targeting the sale and consumption of drugs and illicit liquor, as well as driving under the influence of alcohol. However, not satisfied with the government's initiative, Bharti said she will travel throughout the state with her own de-addiction campaign. She promised that she will not to stay in her Bhopal residence from November 7 to January 14 (2023), as she will travel across the state urging people to quit addiction. Notably, the special campaign was launched by the state police on the direction of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The move came a month before Bharti is set to launch her own campaign. As per official sources, till October 16, action has been taken against 3,874 persons under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003. Also, many illegally operated hookah bars have been closed by the police. The police have also cracked down on drunken driving, taking action against 1,619 persons across the state. New Delhi, Oct 19 : The Gujarat government has told the Supreme Court that one of the convicts in Bilkis Bano case was charge sheeted for outraging the modesty of a woman in 2020, while out on parole. The state government has submitted a 477-page affidavit in the Supreme Court in response to petitions challenging the release of 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case. It said the convicts were out of jail for around 1,000 days even before being released on remission of life sentence. One of the convicts, Mitesh Chamanlal Bhatt was booked and charge sheeted for offences under sections 354 (outraging the modesty of woman), 504 (insult intended to provoke breach of the peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC, having a maximum sentence of 7 years, or fine, or both. The state government further added that all convicts were granted furlough, parole, and even temporary bail at different points during the period of their imprisonment -- 1,576 days being highest and 998 days lowest. The District Magistrate of Dahod gave information about Bhatt in his letter dated May 25, 2022. He gave his opinion about his premature release under sections 432-433A of the CrPC --- relating to suspension and remission of punishment of convicts. The letter said the case against Bhatt was registered in Randhikpur police station in Dahod district, and charge sheet has been filed and the case is pending on the board of the court. The letter said the incident occurred on June 19, 2020, and since then Bhatt enjoyed 281 leaves out of the total 954 days parole and furlough leaves till date, May 25, 2022. The Collector gave no objection to Bhatt's premature release after considering the opinion of police sub-inspector, Randhikpur, and Deputy Superintendent of Police of Limkheda. In an affidavit the Gujarat government told the Supreme Court that it decided to release the 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case as they had completed 14 years and above in prison and their behaviour was found to be good and also the Centre had also conveyed its "concurrence/approval". The state government also added that the Superintendent of Police, CBI, Special Crime Branch, Mumbai and the Special Civil Judge (CBI), City Civil and Sessions Court, Greater Bombay, had, in March last year, opposed premature release of the convicts. The CBI official, in letters to the superintendent of Godhra sub-jail, said the offence committed by the convicts was heinous, grave and serious, hence they cannot be released prematurely. In an affidavit, the state Home Department's Under Secretary said: "The Government of India conveyed the concurrence/ approval of the Central Government under section 435 of the CrPC for premature release of 11 prisoners vide letter dated July 11, 2022a. The affidavit said the state government considered the opinions of seven authorities --the Inspector General of Prisons, Gujarat, the Jail Superintendents, the Jail Advisory Committee, the District Magistrate, the Police Superintendent, the CBI, the Special Crime Branch, Mumbai, and the sessions court, Mumbai. The Gujarat government's response came on a plea filed by CPI-M's former MP Subhasini Ali, journalist Revati Laul, and Prof Roop Rekha Verma, challenging the release of 11 men convicted for the gang rape of Bilkis Bano and multiple murders during the 2002 Gujarat riots. Petitions challenging the release of the convicts have been filed by Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra and others. On October 18, the top court granted time to petitioners to file their response to the state government's counter affidavit and scheduled the matter for further hearing on November 29. Patna, Oct 19 : All men residents of a Mahadalit village in Bihar's Buxar district fled their houses after district police registered an FIR against 51 persons over stone-pelting and vandalising the local Murar police station, an official said on Wednesday At present, only women and children are staying in the Chaugai village. The incident was triggered after an Excise Department team went to Chaugai village on Monday night and arrested 4 Mahadalit community youths, identified as Ashok Mushar, Kariman Mushar, Lallu Mushar, and Jammu Mushar. The Excise Department officials took them to district headquarters in Buxar without informing the local police, and even family members were not told about the charges imposed on them. As per the law, police have to inform the families about the charges levelled against the accused and they are also entitled to get the copy of the FIR as well. Villagers then went to Murar police station and asked the SHO and other officials where the youths were. The officials of Murar police station said that they have not arrested any person from Chaugai village, but villagers suspected that they were hiding facts, and pelted stones on the police station and vandalised it. The police personnel present there managed to disperse them, and on the statement of SHO Ravikant Prasad, an FIR was registered against 11 named persons and 40 unknown persons. In a fear of arrest, the male members fled from the village. When local police enquired about the whereabouts of four arrested youths, the Excise officials confirmed that they were taken to Buxar for a medical examination. Senior officials of the district were tightlipped about the incident. Taipei, Oct 19 : Reports that a 16-year-old girl has died at a Covid quarantine centre after pleas from her family for medical help were ignored have caused anger in China, where ongoing tight pandemic controls have started to take their toll on a weary population, a media report said. Videos of the girl have spread across Chinese social media in the last 24 hours, The Guardian reported. The distressing footage, which The Guardian has not been able to independently verify, shows the teenager ill, struggling to breathe and convulsing in a bunk bed at what is purported to be a quarantine centre at Ruzhou in Henan province. In the video, a woman who claims to be the girl's aunt says her niece died after exhibiting fever, experiencing convulsions and vomiting. She said the family had been asking for medical help, but none came for days and calls to official phone lines went unanswered. "We have been calling for help since 3 am last night, including the mayor's hotline and the centre for disease control and prevention, but we couldn't get through," she said. "I just want all my family and friends to see this video and spread it, so I can find a place for help, and seek justice. I just want to know what is the reason behind her death." The video comes as Communist leaders are meeting in Beijing for their party Congress - the most important meeting of China's five-year political cycle. Authorities have been under pressure to ensure that there are no signs of unrest during the meeting but frustration has broken through, The Guardian reported. Last week, in a rare protest in Beijing, incendiary slogans against Xi Jinping, including references to anger at strict Covid policies, were hung from a central overpass. The same slogans have begun to appear in other locations. In Henan, which has a population of nearly 100 million people, 26 Covid cases were reported on Tuesday and 13 on Monday. But China's zero-Covid policy requires authorities to contain and eliminate all outbreaks. It has resulted in sudden lockdowns on buildings, neighbourhoods and cities, and mass quarantining of cases and people considered "close contacts", The Guardian reported. New Delhi, Oct 19 : In a case of a hit and run, an unidentified man died after he was allegedly hit by an unidentified vehicle near Rajokri flyover in south Delhi and police is scanning CCTV cameras in the area to identify the vehicle and to know the sequence of events, an official said on Wednesday. "On October 16, a police control room (PCR) call regarding a person lying on road, after an accident at Rajokri Flyover on national highway (NH)-8, was received at Vasant Kunj South police station following which a police team rushed to spot," said a senior police officer. "The man was found lying on the Rajokri flyover near the divider and his head was severely injured and there were injuries on other body parts. He was rushed to Safdarjung Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead," he said. The body of the deceased, whose identity is yet to be ascertained, has been preserved in the hospital, the official said. "Efforts are being made to establish the identity of the deceased and trace the offending vehicle. Investigation of the case is under progress," he added. Junagadh : , Oct 19 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday played emotional pride card to attack political opponents, asking people to punish those who insult them and the state. "Some people believe in insulting Gujaratis... they wish to divide Gujaratis. Gujaratis have built industries and trade and give jobs to people of the other states, such Gujaratis are being insulted, do we want to continue to tolerate such insults or do you think we need to teach them lessons. Let us teach them a lesson for the pride of Gujarat," he said while addressing a gathering in Junagadh town in Saurashtra region. He dedicated and inaugurated development projects worth Rs 4,155 crore for Junagadh, Porbandar, and Gir Somnath district. Unveiling plans to convert Keshod airstrip into a full-fledged airport, he told the gathering that he has instructed Civil Aviation Department officers to work out the project. Once the airport is operational, fruits grown in the area can be exported, tourists from across the country as well as foreign tourists planning to see Asiatic lions or visit Somnath temple will get connectivity, he said. Appreciating the coastal belt's contribution in the country's economy, Modi said: "In the last 20 years, aqua exports have increased 7 times. I have laid the foundation stone of three fishing harbors, which will boost the fishing sector." Earlier in the day, while launching Mission Schools of Excellence in Gandhinagar, the Prime Minister recalled: "Because of the dilapidated state of the education sector in Gujarat 20 years ago, 20 out of 100 children would never go to school. "Those students who did manage to get to school would drop out after 8th standard, but in the last 20 years, education sector has witnessed growth and development... more than 1.25 lakh new classrooms were built in Gujarat, and more than 2 lakh teachers were recruited." Geneva, Oct 20 : The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday that Covid-19 is still a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the WHO's highest alert level. The announcement came although the number of weekly deaths is almost at its lowest level since the pandemic began, Xinhua news agency reported. The WHO's International Health Regulations Emergency Committee said after its quarterly assessment meeting last week that despite a decline in severe cases of Covid-19, and the falling number of weekly deaths, deaths from Covid-19 nevertheless remain high compared with other respiratory viruses. It also warned of Covid-19-related complications and post-Covid-19 conditions, with the full impact of these still not completely understood. The outbreak could also evolve during the upcoming winter season in the Northern Hemisphere, the committee said. Meanwhile, the current gaps in global surveillance of Covid-19 have hindered early identification and evaluation of the virus' evolution. With the virus expected to continue evolving, the committee said that the genetic and antigenic characteristics of future variants cannot yet be reliably predicted. Evolving variants may pose challenges to current vaccines and therapeutics, the committee warned. "Given the above considerations, the committee concurred that continued coordination of the international response is necessary," and considered that "the situation remains dynamic and requires frequent reassessments, and that the termination of the PHEIC, when considered feasible, should be implemented as safely as possible." The committee recommended that there should be three key priorities in the future: strengthening surveillance and achieving vaccination targets for at risk-groups; continuing to increase access to affordable therapeutics; and strengthening pandemic preparedness planning, while continuing to protect the most at-risk groups. Venture Construction Group of Florida (VCGFL) is celebrating another year on the Top 100 Roofing Contractors List by Roofing Contractor magazine. VCGFL ranked number 46 nationwide. Roofing Contractor magazine compiles the Top 100 Roofing Contractors list each year. The winners are comprised of the most successful roofing companies in the U.S. The rankings are based on self-reported revenue, data, and business statistics from roofing contractors in every region and major market. Only 100 are selected to be on the regional list. Were honored to top the list again as a leader in the roofing industry. Each year, we strive to be better than the last. Were committed to ongoing education, certifications, and accreditations to continue to provide expertise and unparalleled craftsmanship throughout all facets of every project, said Stephen Shanton, CEO and president of Venture Construction Group of Florida (VCGFL). About Venture Construction Group of Florida Founded in 1998, Venture Construction Group of Florida (VCGFL) is an award-winning leader in construction, restoration, renovations, roofing, pool and outdoor design, build and install, storm damage repairs, and 24/7 emergency services throughout Florida, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Bahamas and the Caribbean. Specializing in residential, industrial and commercial projects, VCGFL assists homeowners, property managers, condominium boards, homeowner associations, association boards, hotels, and business complexes with general contractor services, roofing, specialty construction, historical restoration, water and flood mitigation, and property repairs due to fire, flood, water, wind and hurricanes. With offices in Boca Raton, Ft. Myers, Naples, Panama City Beach, Orlando, Stuart, Tampa, San Juan, and Nassau, VCGFL is committed to operational excellence and exceptional customer service. VCGFL takes care of the details every step of the way including roofing, siding, windows, drywall, flooring, paint, gutters to rebuilding properties after major storm events from hurricanes, tornadoes, and hailstorms. VCGFL has earned leading industry awards including Roofing Contractor Magazines Top 100; Better Business Bureau (BBB) Southeast Florida and Caribbean 2021 Torch Award for Ethics Finalist; Gold Coast Builders Association (GCBA) Silver PRISM Award for Safety Team of the Year, GCBA Gold PRISM Award for Craftsmanship- Commercial Exterior, GCBA Silver PRISM Award for Craftsmanship- Commercial Exterior,Owens Corning Pinnacle Award for Safety, Roofing Alliance MVP Award, Coatings Pro Contractor Award, Pro Remodeler Forty Under 40 Award, Qualified Remodeler Top 500 Remodelers Award, Qualified Remodeler Master Design Award, Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association S.T.A.R. Spotlight Trophy for the Advancement of Roofing Awards in Sustainability and Community Service. Shanton is a certified member of the WindStorm Insurance Network and is a WIND Certified Umpire, WIND Certified Appraiser, and WIND Certified Fellow. VCGFL carries advanced accreditations and is an exclusive certified National Storm Damage Center Preferred Contractor and Certified Member of the United Association of Storm Restoration Contractors. VCGFL is a proud member of Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) Industry Members Association (EIMA); Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (FRSA); Gold Coast Builders Association (GCBA); Insurance Appraisal and Umpire Association (IAUA); National Association of Environmentally Responsible Mold Contractors (NAERMC); National Association of Home Builders (NAHB); National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA); NRCA Qualified Trainer; Property Liability and Resource Bureau (PLRB); Restoration Industry Association (RIA). VCGFL is a registered U.S. Federal Government Contractor and holds leading manufacturer certifications including Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor, Mule-Hide Legacy Contractor, Certified CertainTeed Contractor, and Duro-Last Certified Contractor status. VCGFL credentials have been vetted and screened through independent third-party Global Risk Management Solutions. For more information, call 866-459-8351 or visit us online at http://www.VCGFL.com. About Roofing Contractor Magazine Roofing Contractor is the premier magazine for roofing contractors. Each month relevant information covering the latest trends in the roofing industry, safety, business, and legal concerns are addressed. Our editorial reaches a national audience and covers all aspects of residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional roofing. For more information, visit http://www.RoofingContractor.com. Media Inquiries: Alexis Bott Elev8 Consulting Group Ph: 386-243-5388 Web: http://www.elev8cg.com Crown Point Systems, Inc. http://www.crownpointsystems.com, a leader in providing Secure C5ISR (Command, Control, Computers, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) Solutions to federal agencies for nearly 15 years, today announced that Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) awarded the company the $47.9 million contract to procure and deploy Crestron, Extron, Vaddio, Contemporary Research, Belkin, and Christie Digital. Crown Point Systems will provide the advanced and mission-critical video, audio and control systems to NAWCADs Integrated Command, Control, and Intel Systems Division out of their San Diego headquarters over the next three-years. This award, along with other recently awarded IDIQs uniquely positions Crown Point Systems as the leading single-source provider of fully designed and integrated systems including highly secure, networked communication solutions to NAWCAD and their government customers. We are honored to be a direct partner of these leading manufacturers and represent their solutions within the Navy, DoD and IC community, says Ryan Marovish, CEO at Crown Point Systems. We will continue to focus our mission to deliver sophisticated, secure and TAA-compliant systems to the DoD and IC. About Crown Point Systems Crown Point Systems is a leader in providing Secure C5ISR (Command, Control, Computers, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) Solutions to federal agencies for nearly 15 years. With global capability, Crown Point Systems designs, builds, supports, and modernizes mission-critical IT and AV infrastructure including control rooms, operations centers, auditoriums, courtrooms, training rooms, digital signage, as well as data architecture and platforms. Related, Crown Point Systems provides accelerated procurement as an authorized reseller of over 1,000 hardware and software manufacturers and developers. Crown Point Systems is headquartered in San Diego, California. More information on the company can be found at http://www.crownpointsystems.com. Contact: Ryan Marovish Email: info@crownpointsystems.com Phone: (619) 795-7719 The Clarke County School District (CCSD) has engaged Griffin & Strong, P.C. (GSPC) to conduct a Disparity Study to determine whether there is a significant statistical disparity between the availability of qualified, willing and able minority and women owned firms and the utilization of such businesses by CCSD. The Disparity Study will gather information necessary to determine whether all qualified firms have the maximum practicable opportunity to compete for and participate in CCSDs procurement of prime contracts and associated subcontracts and, if indicated by the evidence, will support the use of strategies to ensure such opportunities. In the interest of preserving public health amidst COVID-19 concerns, Griffin & Strong, P.C., a law and public policy consulting firm, will conduct a virtual public hearing on behalf of CCSD. Community members are invited to share their experiences, both positive and negative, doing business with, or pursuing business with Clarke County School District. We encourage your participation and look forward to your feedback on how CCSD can improve diverse representation in public contracting. As a part of the public record, all comments will be recorded and may be used as anecdotal evidence for the Disparity Study. Virtual Public Hearing Date and Time: Public Hearing: Wednesday, November 16, 2022, at 5:30 PM EST REGISTER HERE: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvcOmsrzMsHNGqF4dAxtApDSkiby4hoc3q Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to join the hearing. For questions or concerns, please email GSPC at clarkecountyschoolstudy@gspclaw.com. Also, visit our website at https://clarkecountyschoolsdisparitystudy.com. About Griffin & Strong, P.C. Griffin & Strong, P.C. is a law and public policy consulting firm based in Atlanta, Georgia. Since 1992, the firm has represented individual clients, small businesses, corporations, and government entities in public policy consulting, legislation, contract compliance, supplier diversity consulting and disparity studies. "Combining CMS' deep national security expertise with FalconTek's proven ability to deliver highly cleared personnel will provide our combined customers access to an enriched offering of proven national security solutions." FalconTek, a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) that provides Technical and Professional support to Federal Civilian, Defense, and Intel clients, announces the acquisition of Core Mission Solutions LLC (CMS), a provider of language analysis, cultural advisory, intelligence analysis, and training services to the intelligence community. CMS' team of highly cleared professionals will become part of FalconTek's team, and CMS' current CEO, David Courtney, will join FalconTek as the EVP of its Defense and Intel division. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Ashburn, VA, CMS delivers language analysis, cultural advisory, intelligence analysis, and training services in support of the Intelligence Community, DOD, and the Federal Law Enforcement community worldwide. The Company is entrusted to support mission-critical programs for federal clients, including the National Geospatial Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security, and US Special Operations Command, amongst other intelligence community customers. "We are very pleased to welcome David Courtney and his entire team of national security experts to FalconTek," said FalconTek CEO Shane Prosser. "CMS' experience and in-depth knowledge of the national security mission enhances FalconTek's powerful solution set to support some of the largest professional services contracts across the defense, intelligence community, and federal law enforcement sector." "FalconTek has enjoyed a longstanding partner relationship with CMS," said Brandon Nelson, FalconTek President. "We share a commitment for driving results for our customers and supporting the national security mission. By combining and expanding our solutions and talented workforce, we strengthen our ability to deliver services that support our Nation's most critical programs and move the missions forward." "We are very excited to join FalconTek," added David Courtney, CEO of CMS. "Combining CMS' deep national security expertise with FalconTek's proven ability to deliver highly cleared personnel will provide our combined customers access to an enriched offering of proven national security solutions." About FalconTek: FalconTek is an agile and mission-driven Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) that provides technical and professional services and solutions supporting the Federal Government. FalconTek has over 14 years of experience supporting government programs, CONUS, and OCONUS. The Company is headquartered in Northern Virginia with a team distributed across the United States, ready to deploy when needed. To learn more about FalconTek, visit https://www.falcontek.com or email info@falcontek.com. We scored these brokerages utilizing sophisticated, industry-first algorithms, and we applaud the winners demonstrated commitment to service, quality, and positive employer feedback. Mployer Advisor, the leading independent platform for employers to research, review, and evaluate insurance brokers is pleased to announce the winners of its Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards based in Washington state. Mployer Advisor has named more than 600 winners in over 50 regions as part of its second annual 2022 awards. The class of 2022 winners account for less than 5% of all brokerages nationwide. Mployer Advisors Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards Program evaluates brokerages based on the breadth and depth of their experience across employer industries, sizes, insurance products, and employer reviews. We recognize esteemed brokers that demonstrate market-leading competencies and a proven track record of success among employers, insurance providers, and peers. The team at Mployer Advisor is proud to honor this group of top insurance consultants as part of the 2022 class for our second annual Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards, said Brian Freeman, the Founder and CEO of Mployer Advisor. Employer-sponsored healthcare and benefits cover over 150M Americans. Who an employer selects as their benefits advisor has more impact on cost and quality than who they choose as the insurance carrier. October 19, 2022 Mployer Advisor, the leading independent platform for employers to research, review, and evaluate insurance brokers is pleased to announce the winners of its Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards based in Washington state. Mployer Advisor has named more than 600 winners in over 50 regions as part of its second annual 2022 awards. The class of 2022 winners account for less than 5% of all brokerages nationwide. Mployer Advisors Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards Program evaluates brokerages based on the breadth and depth of their experience across employer industries, sizes, insurance products, and employer reviews. We recognize esteemed brokers that demonstrate market-leading competencies and a proven track record of success among employers, insurance providers, and peers. The team at Mployer Advisor is proud to honor this group of top insurance consultants as part of the 2022 class for our second annual Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards, said Brian Freeman, the Founder and CEO of Mployer Advisor. Employer-sponsored healthcare and benefits cover over 150M Americans. Who an employer selects as their benefits advisor has more impact on cost and quality than who they choose as the insurance carrier. We scored these brokerages utilizing sophisticated, industry-first algorithms, and we applaud the winners demonstrated commitment to service, quality, and positive employer feedback. Mployer Advisor determined the winners of the second annual Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards by analyzing each brokerage based on historical data, online reviews, their M Score rating, and demonstrated business experience. The Washington state job markets are among the most competitive in the U.S. West, employing over 3.8 million people. Offering competitive employee benefits is a critical factor in hiring top talent for the regions employers. Finding and partnering with a highly rated insurance consultant is imperative to retaining talent in any market. The recipients of the 2022 Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards for Washington state are as follows: The above winners are a snapshot of Mployer Advisors matrices and proprietary M Score on June 1, 2022. To view a full list of consultants in Washington state, visit MployerAdvisor.com. To view a complete list of the 2022 recipients of Mployer Advisors Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards, visit https://mployeradvisor.com/best-insurance-brokers. About Mployer Advisor: Mployer Advisor is changing the way employers search, evaluate, and select insurance advisors. The intuitive platform connects employers and employees to great benefits and insurance plans by providing employers with actionable data to easily evaluate and select the best advisor for a companys specific needs. Most brokerages have a profile on Mployer Advisor, which provides independent ratings of insurance advisors to support employers. Insurance brokers cannot pay to influence their Mployer Advisor rating. Only highly rated brokerages are allowed to advertise on the platform. To learn more about Mployer Advisor, visit https://mployeradvisor.com/ and follow us on LinkedIn. Disclaimer: Rankings are dynamic, and this report may not reflect the rankings currently listed on Mployer Advisors website. Because Mployer Advisors research is ongoing, interested companies that want to join next years list are encouraged to claim their free profile on Mployer Advisor. Media Contact: Abbey Dean (Director of Content) Abbey.dean@mployeradvisor.com We scored these brokerages utilizing sophisticated, industry-first algorithms, and we applaud the winners demonstrated commitment to service, quality, and positive employer feedback. Mployer Advisor, the leading independent platform for employers to research, review, and evaluate insurance brokers is pleased to announce the winners of its Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards based in North Alabama. Mployer Advisor has named more than 600 winners in over 50 regions as part of its second annual 2022 awards. The class of 2022 winners account for less than 5% of all brokerages nationwide. Mployer Advisors Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards Program evaluates brokerages based on the breadth and depth of their experience across employer industries, sizes, insurance products, and employer reviews. We recognize esteemed brokers that demonstrate market-leading competencies and a proven track record of success among employers, insurance providers, and peers. The team at Mployer Advisor is proud to honor this group of top insurance consultants as part of the 2022 class for our second annual Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards, said Brian Freeman, the Founder and CEO of Mployer Advisor. Employer-sponsored healthcare and benefits cover over 150M Americans. Who an employer selects as their benefits advisor has more impact on cost and quality than who they choose as the insurance carrier. We scored these brokerages utilizing sophisticated, industry-first algorithms, and we applaud the winners demonstrated commitment to service, quality, and positive employer feedback. Mployer Advisor determined the winners of the second annual Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards by analyzing each brokerage based on historical data, online reviews, their M Score rating, and demonstrated business experience. The North Alabama job market is one of the most competitive in the U.S. Southeast, employing over 420 thousand people. Offering competitive employee benefits is a critical factor in hiring top talent for the regions employers. Finding and partnering with a highly rated insurance consultant is imperative to retaining talent in any market. The recipients of the 2022 Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards for North Alabama are as follows: The above winners are a snapshot of Mployer Advisors matrices and proprietary M Score on June 1, 2022. To view a full list of consultants in North Alabama, visit MployerAdvisor.com. To view a complete list of the 2022 recipients of Mployer Advisors Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards, visit https://mployeradvisor.com/best-insurance-brokers. About Mployer Advisor: Mployer Advisor is changing the way employers search, evaluate, and select insurance advisors. The intuitive platform connects employers and employees to great benefits and insurance plans by providing employers with actionable data to easily evaluate and select the best advisor for a companys specific needs. Most brokerages have a profile on Mployer Advisor, which provides independent ratings of insurance advisors to support employers. Insurance brokers cannot pay to influence their Mployer Advisor rating. Only highly rated brokerages are allowed to advertise on the platform. To learn more about Mployer Advisor, visit https://mployeradvisor.com and follow us on LinkedIn. Disclaimer: Rankings are dynamic, and this report may not reflect the rankings currently listed on Mployer Advisors website. Because Mployer Advisors research is ongoing, interested companies that want to join next years list are encouraged to claim their free profile on Mployer Advisor. Media Contact: Abbey Dean (Director of Content) Abbey.dean@mployeradvisor.com ### Ravinia Capital LLC, a Chicago-based boutique investment bank specializing in sell-side M&A and capital advisory for middle-market companies, is pleased to announce the refinancing and raise of additional debt for the Primex Family of Companies (PFoC). PFoC is a Lake-Geneva-Wisconsin-based, global distributor of own-branded-and-designed weather instruments, environmental sensors, notification boards, synchronized clocks, companion software solutions, and clock craft kits which has remained proudly family owned since its first member companys founding in 1972. In order to best capitalize on a number of substantial strategic growth opportunities relating to its existing products without sacrificing continued investment in further innovation, the group retained Ravinia Capital to replace its revolving line of credit with a new facility offering additional availability. Ravinia conducted a rapid, competitive process to identify the candidate best suited to meet this needultimately collecting several proposals for evaluation, of which Edge Capitals offer represented the clear highest & best optionthen proceeded to work closely with PFoC and its counsel obtain the desired funding within 120 days of initial contact with prospective lenders. Speaking to the central role played by the investment bank in facilitating such speed to closing, Andrew Gustin, Director of Business Development at Edge Capital commented, We want to commend Ravinia on an exceptionally well-run process. Their dedication to providing us with timely and comprehensive information made our review process efficient and thorough. Conveying a similar sentiment, Paul Shekoski, CEO of the PFoC attested, Ravinia Capital helped deliver a very successful outcome in obtaining our new loan through their knowledge and skill at running a comprehensive, thorough refinancing process. We wholeheartedly would recommend any company needing help in a liquidity situation hire Ravinia Capital. They are on your side and get the job done. The professional advisors on the transaction were: Borrowers Investment Banker Ravinia Capital LLC Tom Goldblatt, Managing Partner; Alan Kravets, Managing Director; Michael Shanahan, Analyst Borrowers Counsel Michael Best & Friedrich LLP Michael H. Altman, Partner; Vincent M. Morrone, Partner Lenders Counsel Otterbourg P.C. Nneoma A. Maduike, Partner; Gabriela Zapata, Associate About Ravinia Capital: Ravinia Capital LLC is a middle-market investment bank headquartered in Chicago, IL. The firm is a trusted advocate for companies who are looking to source capital to invest in future growth; buy more time in tough situations; or facilitate succession, ownership transition, or exit strategies. Ravinia specializes in merger and acquisition advisory services, capital raises (including debt refinancing), and helping clients develop and execute strategic action plans. The firm has distinguished itself through earning a reputation for successfully working with clients to understand their unique circumstances and make the most of the range of possible options available to them. The Directors and I are excited to welcome two new board members who bring strong backgrounds and insight to our work, said Founder and CEO Jean Pierre-Louis. We have worked diligently to ensure capracares board, and leadership can advance the mission of capracare into the future in a sustainable way, and the newest board members are no exception. capracare welcomes the following two new board members: Becky Endicott, CFRE, APR CO-Founder, chief storyteller, we are for good co-host, We Are for Good podcast. Meet Becky. She is a storyteller, kindness champion, philanthropy celebrator, justice seeker, humanity endorser, envelope pusher, people lover, and just a general awkwardness embracer. She believes firmly in authenticity to drive a narrative, and she often shares the most self-deprecating things about herself in the process because she understands connection isn't simply derived from the joy-filled moments - they're found in the messiest ones too. Becky got her start at the happiest place in Oklahoma City: Science Museum Oklahoma as a public relations coordinator. She returned to her alma mater to build the Oklahoma State University Foundation's inaugural marketing department. While at OSU, she was able to set the first roots of philanthropic storytelling via print and digital deliverables leading to the launch of the $1 billion initiative, Branding Success, which is Oklahoma's largest philanthropic campaign effort to date. Her wanderlust for building something new led her back home to Oklahoma City for a nearly decade-long service to INTEGRIS Foundation, where she led teams in annual giving, events, stewardship, major gifts, prospect research, and campaigns. Becky values the power of words and the personal connections among each of us. She believes both are critical to stitching together the fabric of every powerful experience leading to giving. By combining the right tenor, pacing, and word choice, she believes a courageous storyteller can move the hearts and minds of those who want to do good. This is transformational philanthropy at its finest, and its her passion to set it in motion. Dr. Andre K. Peck, M.D., Executive Director of the Haitian Centers Council, inc. Andre K. Peck studied medicine in Haiti at the Faculte de Medecine et de Pharmacie with a specialization in OBGYN. For over 24 years, he has served as the Director of Louverture Residence, a Congregate Supportive Housing Program providing services to people living with HIV/ AIDS and their families in NYC. Dr. Peck is well known for providing seminars and Educational sessions on Medical topics such as Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, HIV/AIDS, and other Infectious Diseases. He also participates in Radio, and T.V shows discussing topics affecting the Caribbean and American Community. Dr. Peck enjoys teaching and has been teaching Anatomy and Physiology at Kingsborough Community College for the last seventeen years. He is an active member of the AMHE (Association des Medecins Haitiens an lEtranger), The Aesclepius Medical Society and is very much involved in all matters concerning Haiti, the Caribbean, and the U.S. Founder and CEO Jean Pierre-Louis added, The new board members have hit the ground running and have demonstrated exceptional commitment to advancing capracares mission. Were looking forward to their leadership. To learn more about the capracare board, click here. capracare, Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides medical care, preventative healthcare, mental health, education, and disaster relief to rural communities throughout the southern region of Haiti. The Healthcare Technology Report is pleased to announce The Top 25 Healthcare Technology COOs of 2022. The companies represented on this years list are some of the most successful and innovative in the healthcare technology industry, and that is due in no small part to the efforts of their chief operating officers. These awardees have not only expertly overseen the day-to-day operations of their companies, but they have also crafted business strategies that have helped their organizations rise to the top amidst an industry inundated with competition. Some of the distinguished COOs on this years list include Thomas Denny of the Duke Human Vaccine Institute, which together with the Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology is working to develop vaccines and therapeutics for HIV and other emerging infections. Meanwhile, Chris Chis Monogram Health is providing an innovative renal care model and a data-driven array of clinical managed services, including complex case and disease management, utilization management, and medication therapy management. And Cue Healths David Arida has helped the San Diego biotech research company launch major new testing offerings, with a novel molecular test for the flu and COVID-19 viruses currently awaiting FDA approval. The awardees on this years list are responsible for running companies across healthcare technology. From vaccines to renal care, virus testing, cancer treatment, and pharmaceuticals, among many other specialties, these companies are addressing every aspect of patient health and well-being. Through their vital work, these COOs are helping to improve patient outcomes while at the same time operating massively successful companies. Please join us in celebrating The Top 25 Healthcare Technology COOs of 2022. Ryan Fukushima (Tempus Labs, Inc.), Brady Shirley (Enovis), Michael Dingle (TELUS Health), Thomas Denny (Duke Human Vaccine Institute), Chris Chi (Monogram Health), David Arida (Cue Health), Chris Tovey (Jazz Pharmaceuticals), Matt Miller (The Oncology Institute), Jennifer Jarrett (Arcus Biosciences), Eric Venker (Roivant Sciences), Stephen Gillett (Verily), Will Abbott (Carbon Health), Jared Fix (Alto Pharmacy), Patrick Bilbo (Organogenesis), Melissa Baird (Hims & Hers Health), DB Kartik (CorEvitas, LLC), Dan Raffi (Sim&Cure), Blake Watterson (iFIT), Neil Owens (Medicure), Joseph Cucolo (Canary Medical), Erwin Estigarribia (InterVenn Biosciences), Melissa Teran (Alife Health), Mark Gilmartin (T-Pro), Nicolas Fauchoux (Biotrial), Mukul Jain (Senseonics). The full article can be read at https://thehealthcaretechnologyreport.com/ About The Healthcare Technology Report The Healthcare Technology Report provides market research and insights, business news, investment activity updates, and important corporate developments related to the healthcare technology sector. Based in New York City, the firm is run by a seasoned team of editors, writers, and media professionals highly knowledgeable on healthcare technology and the various companies, executives, and investors that make up the sector. The U.S. Business Report is pleased to announce The Top 50 Business Leaders of Dallas for 2022. This city is considered one of the best places to live in Texas and is popular among professionals and families looking to relocate to the state. It has a diverse economy including dominant sectors like defense, financial services, information technology, telecommunications, transportation and more. This years awardees play a crucial role within their community and are key players contributing to their strong economy. They are leaders at both small, large and emerging businesses. Among this years awardees is Claudia Mirza, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Akorbi, the 13th fastest-growing woman-owned/led company in the U.S and the 6th fastest-growing language service provider on the Inc. 5000. Also awarded is Brittany Underwood, Founder of Akola, the premiere social impact brand in the luxury space that sells high- fashion jewelry retailing at Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Nordstrom. Awardee Glenn Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mouser Electronics, who has led the company to be one of the world's largest electronic component distributors, with more than 2,500 employees in 26 offices worldwide and nearly $2 billion in annual sales. Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 50 Business Leaders of Dallas for 2022. Glenn Smith (Mouser Electronics), Claudia Mirza (Akorbi), Brittany Underwood (Akola), Craig Johnson (PepWear), Glenn Yeffeth (BenBella Books), Neil Smiley (Loopback Analytics), Rod Zastrow (Spartan Global Aviation Training), Patrick Arnzen (Thrust Flight), Amy Linn (PrideStaff Financial), Richard Margolin (RoboKind), Mark Johnson (MedNetwoRx), Rick Wamre (Advocate Media), Dirk Wenzlaff (Reliance Warehouse), Terry Hollingshead (netMercury), Rob Helbing (Trek Resources), Bruce Brown (Rhino Steel Building), Tim Lightfoot (Radius Display Products), Erin Hooley (Bailey's Blossoms), Tina Campbell (Velocity Industrial), Joseph Stefan (Mechantek Corp.), and many others. To view the full list, visit https://theusbusinessreport.com/the-top-50-business-leaders-of-dallas-for-2022/ About U.S. Business Report The U.S. Business Report is a comprehensive source for business news, market trends, capital insights and entrepreneurial activity. The site is run by a seasoned team of editors, writers and media professionals highly knowledgeable on the various companies and executives that make up the U.S. economy. U.S. Business Report and its affiliates circulate its content to over 26,500 individuals and businesses. Founded in 2007 by Sebastien Goiffon, Wiiisdom (formerly GB and SMITH) is an actor of the French Tech, specializing in software publishing. The company, which built its success around SAP BusinessObjects, has recently repositioned itself in the growing data quality reporting market and is now integrating with other technologies such as Tableau Software and Microsoft Power BI. The French company has more than 600 customers worldwide and generates nearly 60% of its revenues in the United States. It works with 80% of the CAC40 companies and has some great references such as the FED, Lockheed Martin, the US Army, the New York Stock Exchange, and Harley Davidson. Historically, our customers purchased our governance solutions for SAP BusinessObjects in order to optimize the management of the platform and limit risks. Today, organizations use an average of five different BI tools. Our ambition is to provide our solutions for all BI tools on the market: Qlik, Looker, etc., in addition to the technologies we already cover," explains CEO Sebastien Goiffon. Our solutions are particularly well-suited to large organizations dealing with huge volumes of data, and this is even more true when they are regulated. This is why we work almost exclusively with the largest organizations in the world, especially in Finance and Healthcare, but also with various governments and public administrations. We probably have the best portfolio of large American clients in the whole of the French Tech!" adds the company's CEO. "There is a real opportunity for market consolidation and we want to be the leader." Since its founding, the company has always grown organically, including when it needed to develop its international activities (subsidiaries in London (2013), Montreal (2016), and Boston (2015)). More recently, Wiiisdom turned to an external growth operation with the purchase of a market player (2021). Now, the Lille company wants to reach a new milestone. To achieve this, it has just closed its first fundraising of 6 million euros with the Isatis Capital fund. The market in which the company is positioned is an emerging and fragmented market offering numerous options for external growth. Consolidation of this market will make way for a world leader. The company's ambition is to invest the 6 million raised from Isatis Capital in expanding its product offering, with the aim of tripling its turnover and workforce by 2025. About Wiiisdom The Wiiisdom Software Group is a French software vendor with headquarters in Lille and several international offices (UK, Canada, USA). The company collaborates with the largest companies and public administrations in the BI world on BI and Analytics governance issues. Today, the company has more than 600 customers worldwide and 70 employees. About Isatis Capital Isatis Capital is an independent management company that has been investing in capital for 20 years alongside ambitious entrepreneurs who want to develop their SMEs. As a long-term investor, Isatis Capital takes minority or majority stakes and brings its expertise in supporting growth. Isatis Capital is a signatory of the UN and iCi charters and a member of the TCFD and it is attentive to ESG rules in its operations and in its investment activity. The company has 480 million under management in several funds dedicated to institutional clients or distributed through private banks and asset management advisors. More information can be found on http://www.isatis-capital.fr For its 11th edition, the World Strategic Forum will be hosting government and business leaders from around the world to convene in Miami, Florida and discuss core global issues on October 31st and November 1st, 2022, under the theme Investing in Trust. The annual gathering will feature more than 90 speakers at the Biltmore Hotel to address the global economys new trends, current demands, and environmental necessities in order to successfully shape a better tomorrow. A true international reference and one of the most important economic gatherings, the World Strategic Forum brings together the world's top leaders from the public, private, institutional, and academic sectors on a platform that promotes dialogue and collaboration. Opening the 11th edition of the World Strategic Forum is Madeline Pumariega, President of Miami Dade College, and Bill Johnson, President of the World Strategic Forum. As we navigate a time of uncertainty and global recovery, the IEFA remains committed to providing a platform for global exchange, said Nicholas Remillard, CEO of the IEFA. Now in its eleventh year, we look forward to convening in the epicenter of business and growth Miami to address important issues and opportunities for advancement. This years program focuses on the theme Investing in Trust and will address a variety of relevant themes such as the state of the global economy, alternative investments, finance, and digitalization. Speakers at this years event will also share valuable insights and potential solutions to the challenges facing diverse business sectors including infrastructure, supply chains, and trade, among many others. Numerous well-renowned leaders across the globe will be speaking live with additional speakers announced in the coming days, including: Jack Abraham, CEO and Managing Partner, Atomic Peter Smith, Co-Founder, and CEO, Blockchain.com Francis X. Suarez, City of Miami Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Mayor of Miami-Dade County Barbara Humpton, President and CEO, Siemens Corporation Lynn Martin, President, New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Mauricio Ramos, Chief Executive Officer, Millicom Maya Martinez-Davis, President, U.S., GSK Reta Jo Lewis, President, and Chair of the Board of Directors, Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) Steven L. Fradkin, President, Northern Trust Wealth Management Tom Bianculli, Chief Technology Officer, Zebra Technologies Vjosa Osmani, President of Kosovo Bringing together the worlds leaders and legislators, economists, Fortune 500 CEOs, and world-class experts, the World Strategic Forum is an active and effective platform for dialogue, corporate insight, and collaboration on the central issues affecting the worlds economy today. In-person attendees will have the opportunity to attend sessions at the Biltmore Hotel, network with speakers, partners, and other attendees on-site as well as access exclusive participant lounges. Virtual attendees will have the opportunity to witness the conversations live through the IEFA event platform, which will also provide an array of networking opportunities including meetings with other participants The complete program and the list of confirmed speakers will be updated regularly. To view them, please visit the WSF Miami event page. For more information about the World Strategic Forum, please visit forum-americas.org/miami. Media Credentials Journalists are invited to cover the entire proceedings of the World Strategic Forum. To attend the event, journalists, photographers, and technical media staff must register by contacting Marely Arias at marely@carvecomms.com or Mia Subero at mia@carvecomms.com Watch IEFA programming on YouTube Follow IEFA on Twitter #MiamiWSF Like IEFA on Facebook Follow IEFA on LinkedIn Follow IEFA on Instagram About the World Strategic Forum The Miami World Strategic Forum, presented by Miami Dade College, is one of the five conferences hosted by the International Economic Forum of the Americas (IEFA). Its mission is to address the major governance challenges of the new world economic order. The objective of the World Strategic Forum is to foster a better understanding of opportunities and challenges at stake in the Global Market. The Forum also seeks to provide a platform for business meetings in a broad spectrum of sectors and to foster sustainable economic development. Cathy Lanzalaco, of Buffalo, New York, was selected as a winner in the Professional Category of the Recognizing Outstanding Achievement in Resumes (ROAR) competition. The ROAR Awards are held annually by the NRWA to recognize top-tier resume-writing talent in the career services industry. Winners of the ROAR competition join an elite circle of resume writers who have been recognized for their technical writing and presentation skills. One winner is selected in each of several categories by a judging panel, consisting of the following NRWA members this year: Kathi Fuller, Lorraine Beaman, Bob Janitz, Arno Markus, and Dr. Cheryl Minnick. The 2022 ROAR Award winners are: Anne Barnwell, winner in the Military to Civilian Transition Category. Cathy Lanzalaco, winner in the Professional Category. Marie Plett, winner in the Mid-Level Manager, Executive, and Fictional Client categories. Anne Barnwell, of Keller, Texas, got her start in the resume-writing business 30 years ago as a student at Cornell University, where she worked in the career development office. For many years, she honed those skills by helping friends and family members. In 2018, Barnwell launched The Write Resumes and has earned credentials as a Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW), Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), and Certified Master Resume Writer (CMRW). She writes resumes for clients spanning C-suite executives to college students across various industries. Barnwell specializes in working with transitioning service members and helping people return to the workforce after a long career break. Cathy Lanzalaco of Buffalo, New York, owns Inspire Careers, specializing in helping executives and career-minded professionals build careers and land jobs they love in less time than going it alone. She is the creator of the Inspire Careers Student Professional Launch Program, the only new college graduate success program in the country. With 15+ years of human resources experience, Cathy gives her clients the perspective from the other side of the desk, helping them create career marketing materials and stories that align with what recruiters and hiring managers are looking for in a job candidate. In addition to this award, Lanzalaco won a 2018 ROAR award and has been a proud member of the NRWA since 2017. Marie Plett of Toledo, Ohio, is an 11-time ROAR Award winner whose passion for resume writing goes back to her childhood. As a 12-year-old, she would often help her recruiter parents by reviewing resumes. She started her business, Aspirations Career Services, Inc., in 2004. A Certified Executive Resume Master, Plett has won more than 30 industry awards for producing best-in-class resumes featuring high-impact content and visually stunning formats. She is widely known throughout the career services industry for her award-winning resumes and generosity in sharing her knowledge as a trainer and mentor of some of the best resume writers in the business. This includes this years NRWA conference, where she led an intensive boot camp to help fellow resume writers develop the graphic design skills that serve as a foundation for the visually stunning resumes she creates for her own clients. ABOUT THE ROAR COMPETITION Recognizing Outstanding Achievement in Resumes or the ROAR competition was first launched in 2015. Contestants submit resumes they have written (and fictionalized to protect job-seeker identity) to be judged by a panel of industry experts, most of whom hold the Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW) credential. Submissions are judged based on several criteria, including strategy, style, creativity, positioning, layout, readability, ATS compatibility, branding, keyword optimization, grammar, technical writing skill, and compliance with the NCRW Study Guide and The Gregg Reference Manual. Winners, who are typically announced at the NRWAs annual conference, receive multiple forms of recognition and free one-year membership in the association. To learn more about this years competition, visit the NRWA website at: http://www.thenrwa.org/ROAR ABOUT THE NATIONAL RESUME WRITERS ASSOCIATION (NRWA) The NRWA is the only nonprofit, member-driven resume writers organization in the world. The mission of the NRWA is to increase the visibility of the industry, encourage ethical practices, promote excellence, and raise industry standards through peer marketing and training. The NRWA is led by a board comprised of volunteers elected by the members. To learn more about the NRWA, visit: http://www.thenrwa.org. The 2022 AAGL Global Congress is an incredible opportunity for learning and collaborating with colleagues from across the globe to advance progress in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery and to improve access to quality healthcare for all women. Andrew I. Sokol, 2022 Scientific Program Chair. AAGL Global Congress registration is filling at a record-breaking pace as the global association prepares to welcome physicians from all over the world online and at the Gaylord Rockies Convention Center in Aurora, Colorado, USA. The theme of this years Global Congress, Dissemination of MIGS Care: Improving Access for All captures AAGLs global vision to combine the wealth of experience of our worldwide physicians and best identify ways to improve access to quality MIGS care for all women, including those in underserved populations. This robust, four-day, scientific program, thoughtfully developed by Dr. Andrew I. Sokol and the Scientific Program Committee, includes CME (Continuing Medical Education) on all modalities of MIGS access, including 22 Postgraduate Courses, 12 Oral Sessions, 8 Panel Discussions, 6 Surgical Tutorials, 22 Luncheon Round Tables, a Virtual Poster area in the Exhibit Hall with narration from presenters, and 5 Pre-recorded and Live Surgeries. Attendees will receive training on topics such as Low-cost Vaginal Surgery, Endometriosis, Fibroids, Pelvic Pain, Nerve Sparing, Suturing, Oncology, Gender Affirmation Surgery, Disparities in Access to Care, vNOTES, Hysteroscopy, Laparoscopy, Robotics and more. Six dynamic General Sessions punctuate the event and include the very popular AAGL MED Talks, pre-recorded surgeries, and this years Keynote Address Speaker, world renown community advocate, Dr. Rajiv J. Shah. Dr. Shah is President of the Rockefeller Foundation, former USAID Administrator, recipient of the Secretary of States Distinguished Service Award and the U.S. Global Leadership Award, and is a community advocate whose work has promoted the well-being of humanity around the world. In addition to the exciting program line up, the AAGL Global Congress has fun social events and an engaging and interactive Exhibit Hall that provides an opportunity for device, pharmaceutical, and other medical technology companies to present their products and services to our attendees. Booths are staffed by knowledgeable industry representatives who also present product theaters and evening symposia to connect attendees with the latest innovations in the industry. There will also be a Suturing Competition headed by Dr. Charles H. Koh. The 2022 AAGL Global Congress is an incredible opportunity for learning and collaborating with colleagues from across the globe to advance progress in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery and to improve access to quality healthcare for all women. Andrew I. Sokol, 2022 Scientific Program Chair and AAGL in-coming President. As in years past, the AAGL Global Congress on MIGS is the premier academic event of the year for personal and professional development in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery. Registration and general information about the meeting are available at the AAGL Global Congress webpage. We are excited to welcome our members to this years Global Congress where we not only give them the tools they need to advance their skills, but also provide encouragement and inspiration as they meet with their peers in an invigorating education environment, Linda Michels, AAGL Executive Director. 2022 AAGL Global Congress Highlight Video: https://youtu.be/tnfv5I1LLLg About AAGL AAGL is an international professional medical association of laparoscopic surgeons and the global leader in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. AAGLs mission is to elevate the quality and safety of health care for women through excellence in clinical practice, education, research, innovation, and advocacy. Since 1971, the AAGL has educated the worlds finest surgeons and facilitated a global exchange of information regarding gynecological breakthroughs and best practices to improve womens health worldwide. Find out more about the AAGL at: http://www.aagl.org. For more information, please contact Doreen Wiley, AAGL Marketing and Communications Manager, at 714-503-6208 or dwiley@aagl.org If I can do it, they can do it, says Joe Farruggio, when discussing anyone who has a goal to be met, with a smile. "I believe that the extraordinary situations and challenges which I overcame will provide hope to those facing their own difficulties." In addition to national Italian American Heritage Month, October is also National Pizza Month and National Pasta Month!! A key player in the Washington, DC restaurant scene since 1978, lauded restaurateur Joe Farruggio has more than a half of a centurys worth of experience on those topics! The noted Pizzaiolo began his career by working in a pizzeria in New York in 1970, just five days after he came from Italy on a ship called Michelangelo with his family. In 1977 he moved to Virginia and noticed that the presence of the Italian culture and authentic cuisine was scarce in the nations capital. Today is National Evaluate Your Life Day, and writing My Name is Joe And I am a Pizza Man, An American Story (Fourth Lloyd Productions, 2022), gave Mr. Farruggio the opportunity to do just that. The new release which follows his footsteps from his childhood in Sicily to the kitchen of his world-renowned Il Canale restaurant in Washington, D.C. is now available on Amazon. The memoir is co-written with award-winning, best-selling author Thierry Sagnier and offers valuable lessons for anyone searching to make their dreams come true.My Name Is Joe And I Am A Pizza Man, An American Story is the quintessential immigrant story, an entrepreneur's tale of rags to riches, demonstrating that with courage, intelligence and instinct, no dream is too extreme. Mr. Farruggios award-winning restaurant, Il Canale is the only restaurant in D.C. to receive the top culinary honor from the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce and the National Institute of Tourism. Il Canale was named One of the 70 Best Italian Restaurants and Pizzerias in the World and one of Yelps Top 100 Places to Eat 2022. It also holds the coveted Gambero Rosso title for being a Top Italian Restaurant In Washington, DC, and many other distinguished honors. Within a few years of opening, Il Canale became a celebrity hot spot in the heart of DCs Georgetown neighborhood. Equally inspirational and thought evoking, Mr. Farruggios biography will motivate readers to follow their passions while increasing their profits. One of Joe Farruggios favorite activities is sharing his life and business lessons with students and entrepreneurs of all ages. For this reason, he was awarded the prestigious Premio Eccellenza Italiana award for Lifetime Achievement just a few days ago on October 14. In a ceremony conducted simultaneously between the Casa Italiana in Washington, DC and The Vatican in Rome, Italy, Mr. Farruggio accepted the honor and vowed to continue giving back to both the Italian and the American cultures which have enabled him to realize his full potential. About Joe Farruggio Award-winning restaurateur/pizzaiolo/chef Joe (Giuseppe) Farruggio, was born and raised in beautiful Agrigento, Sicily. With more than 53 years of restaurant, entrepreneurial, and culinary experience, he is now the owner of the renowned Washington, DC landmark Il Canale (one of Yelps Top 100 Places to Eat 2022), as well as the rapidly expanding 90 Second Pizza Concept and A Modo Mio in Virginia. Mr. Farruggios restaurants and his story have been featured in countless articles including those in: Forbes, The Washington Post, Washington Life Magazine, Thrillist, Washingtonian, USA Today, The Georgetowner, Eater DC, and many more newspapers, magazines, blogs, and television programs. Nowadays he lives in Washington, DC with his wife Teresa, and is the proud father of three children; Roberto, Enrico, and Alessandro and a grandfather of Francesco.For more information on Joe Farruggio, please visit http://www.joefarruggio.com or to schedule media interviews, presentations, or events with Joe, please contact: Lisa.Comento@gmail.com. Receiving the Distintivo T is a genuine honor because, our co-workers have successfully completed the certification training which allows them to guide the guest to appreciate the quality and taste characteristics. said Mascia Nadin, Chief Operating Officer of ADH - ATELIER de Hoteles. ATELIER Playa Mujeres, the All-Suites Luxury Resort which offers a Barefoot Luxury experience only for adults and 16+ years guests, part of ATELIER de Hoteles, the Mexican hotel operator recognized for its Handcrafted Hospitality and Addictive Service concepts, has announced that its restaurant-bar "La Cantina" was awarded the Distintivo T, a Mexican certification that promotes preserving the cultural heritage the Tequila represents to the world. The non-governmental organizations in Mexico, Tequila Regulatory Council and the Tequila Industry Chamber, created the Distintivo T (Distinctive T certification) with the aim of increasing the quality of the services provided by hotels, restaurants, bars, distribution and consumption centers, among others, regarding the Tequila, through the professionalization of their workforce, guaranteeing the consumer a reliable service. "Knowing how to appreciate the TequilaMexican liquor par excellenceis, without a doubt, part of the art of being Mexican. Hence, receiving the Distintivo T is a genuine honor because, to achieve it beyond complying with the regulations, our co-workers have successfully completed the certification training which allows them to guide the guest to appreciate the quality and taste characteristics, as well as to promote the history and culture of the most recognized Mexican distillate in the world." said Mascia Nadin, Chief Operating Officer of ADH - ATELIER de Hoteles. As part of the information our professionals team share with guests, there is relevant information related to Tequilas denomination of origin, its classification according to the time the distillate rests in barrels, and the difference between other distillates, to mention a few. Furthermore, guest staying at ATELIER Playa Mujeres can visit the restaurant-bar "La Cantina" in order to get to know more than 200 different brands of Tequilas and experience the "Tequila Tasting" through which they discover the purity and balance of this liquor, together with an exquisite pairing that highlights its elegant flavor, enticing the senses in an atmosphere surrounded by the luxury and exclusivity of ATELIER Playa Mujeres. It is worth mentioning that ATELIER Playa Mujeres is the first luxury all-inclusive resort in Cancun within its category to obtain this distinction. About: ATELIER de Hoteles is an innovative and bold Mexican hotel group founded in 2015, inspired by a high-end focus on contemporary Mexican art as the central element and a driving force of the concepts that include strategy, passion, and commitment. ATELIER de Hoteles four brands, ATELIER, ESTUDIO, OLEO, and MET, offer Barefoot Luxury experiences that are accompanied by the highest service standards at their properties which are in the Cancun Hotel Zone, and Cancuns Playa Mujeres. Other beach properties and urban locations are currently on the way. Company Logo This dynamic partnership enables both organizations to further develop home care in the cloud. By combining technology and AI with a superior human touch and medical and clinical supervision through a remote patient monitoring solution, our combined efforts will better help seniors age in place." Former PayPal and eBay Executives Leverage Tech to Help Seniors Age in Place The HomeCare Advocacy Network (HCAN) and Zemplee, a technology platform that utilizes attentive artificial intelligence (AI) and passive sensors to help seniors age safely in their homes, today announced they are joining forces to deliver a high-tech, hybrid mode of combined home care. Through this joint venture, the two companies will bundle their distinct services into an offering that will elevate the quality of care while addressing the pressing caregiver shortage. Without cameras or microphones, Zemplee AI monitors a seniors daily living activities, helping caregivers and family members remotely verify the seniors health, wellbeing, and safety. The passive devices and attentive AI interprets dining habits, medication intake, activity level, sleep patterns, and other vital details. It then creates a behavioral determinant of health to ensure seniors can age safely in place. We are excited to now be able to deliver seniors and their families access to the real-time monitoring of vital statistics to, in turn, lower hospital readmission or trips to the emergency room, said Mark Goetz, co-founder, and president of HCAN. With a tight labor market and increased numbers of seniors aging in place, we need to become more tech-savvy to keep clients safe and healthy. Goetz, a PayPal alum, and Zemplee founder and CEO Aparna Pujar, a former eBay executive, have reimagined the symbiotic relationship that existed between their two previous companies to take on senior care, one of the fastest-growing industries in the country. This dynamic partnership enables both organizations to further develop home care in the cloud, said Pujar. By combining technology and AI with a superior human touch and medical and clinical supervision through a remote patient monitoring solution, our combined efforts will better help seniors age in place and have better life outcomes, while reducing care costs in the health system. Under the terms of the deal the two companies will cross promote their services and bundle their respective offerings. HCAN will also assist in the installation and activation of the Zemplee system in home, perform periodic checks of the system For more information about the HomeCare Advocacy Network, visit hcanthrive.com. To learn more about Zemplee, visit zemplee.com. ### About HCAN HCAN is a leading provider of meaningful and results-oriented home care connections for seniors and their loved ones. be the foremost provider of meaningful and results-oriented home care connections for seniors and their loved ones. About Zemplee Zemplee is a technology platform that utilizes Attentive AI and passive sensors to help the elderly age in place gracefully, with round-the-clock remote monitoring capabilities for caregivers that improves quality of life and reduces hospitalizations without comprising privacy. Co-founders Aparna Pujar and Gary Fowler combined decades of experience in Silicon Valley hi-tech companies and clinical care to develop artificial intelligence applications and unobtrusive sensors that power Zemplees innovative remote elderly care system. Hydra Technologies' S45 Baalam UAS We are very excited to participate in such a renowned exhibition, and even more excited to present our effective products to military forces that need them. As part of this years exhibition in Prague, the battle proven S45 Baalam unmanned aerial system, with its weaponized version and its traditional intelligence surveillance reconnaissance and targeting solutions, is part of the Hydra offer to the defense and security market to be exhibited in the Czech Republic. As a novelty, Hydra is also offering synthetic aperture radar (SAR) solutions on its platforms for special operations and coastal security and naval ISR. The S45 is a dual-engine, 70 mile or 120 km line of sight range tactical system with an operational ceiling of 17,000 feet and 12 hours of effective mission time. It is equipped with state-of-the-art gimbal camera systems that include medium wave infrared and visual spectrum high-definition sensors with up to 130X zoom. The S45 also offers multiple solutions to support ground forces through advanced on-board radio repeater systems and state of the art remote video terminals. Future Forces Forum is one of the most widely recognized and lauded trade shows of its kind in the world. The show centers around finding a variety of solutions for current and future problems for allied countries and their partners objectives within national and global security. The Forum addresses the latest trends and needs in defense and security area and helps to achieve the much sought-after interoperability within Joint All-Domain Operations environment. The Forum presents an enormous opportunity for Hydra and our commitment to bring creative and proven solutions to customers that will benefit from them in this important market, said Ivan Vazquez, a marketing executive of Hydra Technologies. We are very excited to participate in such a renowned exhibition, and even more excited to present our effective products to military forces that need them. Hydra Technologies has been providing proven solutions of this kind for the last 15 years to a multitude of countries. These include the traditional ISTAR solutions the company is known for, as well as new expendable platforms made by Hydra. Other models of Hydras reliable twin engine UAS family include the S50 (16-hour endurance), the S55 ARES (22-hour endurance) and the G3 (STOL single engine 10-hour endurance). These systems have been deployed with success to different military, national security, and law enforcement end users, achieving the highest indexes of reliability in the market. This exhibition will show Hydra continues to broaden horizons in the region. "Growers just want to farm they dont want to be legal experts or the human resource department. - Allan Gray, executive director of DIAL Ventures. DIAL Ventures, an innovation initiative launched by Purdue University in partnership with venture builder High Alpha Innovation, is announcing the launch of its first startup company, Croft. Croft streamlines the H-2A visa program to save farmer and grower employers and their H-2A legal experts time and money. The Croft platform digitizes documents, automates manual workflow processes, and improves collaboration between farmers, growers, their H-2A legal experts, foreign workers, governmental agencies and all other organizations involved. Labor shortage is one of the greatest challenges facing agriculture today. A recent nationwide poll shows that nearly 90% of farmers and growers find it difficult to fill agricultural jobs. As a result, the U.S. does not have enough people to plant, pick, harvest and manage the crops to feed the nation. The H-2A visa program has alleviated some of the burden, but a huge supply and demand problem still exists between foreign workers and their farmer and grower employers and the program is inherently complex and presents many challenges for everyone involved. Solving these challenges will make it easier for the program to grow rapidly. "The H-2A Program is vital, but it is both expensive and cumbersome for farmers and growers, and it is extremely confusing and time-consuming for foreign workers," said Allan Gray, executive director of DIAL Ventures. "Growers just want to farm they dont want to be legal experts or the human resource department. By launching Croft with High Alpha Innovation, DIAL Ventures delivered on a three-fold innovation strategy that hinges upon: Open innovation to benefit the agri-food industry A fellowship program for top ideators and entrepreneurs Strategic collaboration with corporate partners both within and beyond Indiana Croft is led by CEO Scott Prince, a serial technology founder and enterprise executive who most recently served as CEO of CarrierHQ, a business-to-business software platform for truckings first pay-how-you-drive adjustable-rate insurance. At Croft, we have empathy for the farming industry, and the problems within are felt far beyond just farmers and workers Prince notes. Croft will de-hassle agricultural labor processes and help the industry gain time, efficiency, visibility and profit. For the first time farmers, growers, their legal experts, workers, and government agencies can complete their H-2A process tasks and communicate in real-time via an easy-to-use shared platform. According to Elliott Parker, CEO of High Alpha Innovation, Launching Croft delivers on our goal to dramatically increase the number of startups created in Indiana. This states strong foundation in agriculture is ripe for software innovation, and Croft is only the beginning of what is to come out of High Alpha Innovations partnership with DIAL Ventures. I cant wait to see the impact it has on the agricultural industry. About DIAL Ventures DIAL Ventures, the innovation arm of the Purdue Applied Research Institute, tackles big problems facing the U.S. and the world such as food safety, supply chain shortages, sustainability, and environmental impact. DIAL Ventures creates new companies that drive innovation in the agri-food industry which, in turn, makes a positive impact in our lives and lifestyles for years to come. Learn more at dialventures.com. About High Alpha Innovation High Alpha Innovation is an Indianapolis-based venture builder that partners with corporations and universities to build advantaged startups. Its dedicated team of company builders, strategists, and designers apply a proven venture builder playbook pioneered by High Alpha to help the worlds leading organizations innovate through systematic startup creation. Learn more about High Alpha Innovation at highalphainno.com. About Croft Croft streamlines the H-2A visa program to save farmer and grower employers and their H-2A legal experts time and money. The Croft platform digitizes documents, automates manual workflow processes, and improves collaboration between farmers, growers, their H-2A legal experts, foreign workers, governmental agencies and all other organizations involved. Learn more about Croft at withcroft.com. Families march empty strollers past Congress to demand an end to preventable stillbirth. "Our babies may have been born into silence, but we will make their voices heard. Enough with the excuses. Enough with the inaction. Enough with shrugging our shoulders and telling parents they can have another baby. Because they can't." --Samantha Banerjee, Bereaved Mother On Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Day, PUSH for Empowered Pregnancy (PUSH) banded together on the National Mall with 50+ organizations including bereaved parents, medical providers, and other advocates on a mission to end preventable stillbirth and improve pregnancy outcomes in the United States. This historic march is the first time ever that bereaved parents along with allies across the maternal/infant health space have gathered en masse to raise awareness of the tragedy of stillbirth. Demonstrators pushed empty strollers past the steps of Congress to illustrate the devastating toll of the silent epidemic of stillbirth in the United States and called on our leaders across medicine, government, and community for change. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 23,000 babies are born still every year in the United States (CDC Wonder Database). In addition to the main march in DC, thousands participated virtually and at Satellite Events across the U.S., including in Florida, Iowa, Colorado, Wisconsin, Virginia, New York, and more. The CDC defines a stillbirth as the death of a baby in utero at or after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Many of these deaths are otherwise healthy babies and occur in normal, uneventful, low-risk pregnancies. The Big PUSH to End Preventable Stillbirth sought to alert the public that with better awareness and simple prevention strategies, a significant portion of these babies could be saved, especially those that occur in the 3rd trimester. WHO: PUSH for Empowered Pregnancy & a Coalition of over 50 nonprofit organizations in maternal/infant health and perinatal bereavement WHAT: A nationwide empty stroller march to raise awareness in honor of the 23,000 babies born still each year in the U.S. - the largest mass mobilization of bereaved families and stillbirth allies in history WHERE: Thousands of families and advocates are expected to gather in DC, plus thousands more at satellite marches and participating virtually across the country WHEN: Saturday, October 15th, 2022 - Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Day WHY: Research shows that thousands of these deaths are preventable. The United States is shamefully far behind our international peers in stillbirth reduction. Families demand change in the name of their babies who have died Two days before my due date in 2013, I walked into the hospital in labor thinking I was finally bringing home my baby girl. Instead, I walked out with empty arms and a lifetime of excruciating what-ifs, says PUSH Executive Director Samantha Banerjee. Every day, 65 U.S. families face the same brutal end to their otherwise normal and healthy pregnancies, and most of us never even heard the word stillbirth before it happened to us. Families like mine were robbed of the chance to save our babies because no one ever bothered to inform us that stillbirth is a risk. In Alana's name and that of the 23,000 other American children who die like her every year, we are demanding change. The event featured a powerful art installation consisting of 23,000 newborn hats, to represent the 23,000 babies who die every year. PUSH commissioned local DC artist, Ashley Jaye Williams, to craft the face of an anguished, screaming mother whose baby has been stillborn. The piece measures 30 feet high by 30 feet wide. Dr. Joanne Stone, Chair of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science for Icahn Mount Sinai and the Mount Sinai Health System, Founder of the Mount Sinai Rainbow Clinic, and President of The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) spoke at the event. Stillbirth has been often regarded by the medical community as something that 'just happens' rather than the life-altering tragedy it is. It is time for us to recognize that many causes of stillbirth are preventable. We need to raise the awareness that families of color and those from other marginalized groups, as well as those with certain underlying medical conditions, are at least twice as likely to suffer a stillbirth. Its time for prenatal care in this country to step up and make ending preventable stillbirth a top priority. Stillbirth is intimately correlated with other adverse pregnancy outcomes, particularly maternal mortality and morbidity. The Black Maternal Health community has rallied to stand in solidarity with this event and cause, and to advocate for stillbirth prevention strategies, many of which will likewise help close the racial disparity gap in birth outcomes. The human experiences of birthing and being born are sacred rites of passage. They are essential to our current and future existence on this planet, says Shawnee Benton-Gibson, mother to Shamony Makeba Gibson who died at the age of 30 as a result of preventable postpartum complications in 2019. Shawnee along with Shamonys partner, Omari Maynard, star in the Sundance Film Festival winning documentary Aftershock and spoke at The Big PUSH. When black and brown women and birthing people and their babies cannot rely on the care and covering that every member of society is entitled to, then we are all teetering on the edge of extinction. 23,000 babies are born still in the U.S. every year (1 in 170 pregnancies) 65 babies are lost to stillbirth every day in the U.S. - thats three kindergarten classes every single day Stillbirth claims more childrens lives in the U.S. each year than prematurity, SIDS, car accidents, drowning, guns, fire, flu, poison, and listeria COMBINED (Graphic) Black mothers are twice as likely to suffer a stillbirth, compared to other races (CDC Wonder) Research shows that at least 25% of U.S. stillbirths are preventable; for term pregnancies (37+ weeks), that jumps to nearly half (47%) of stillbirths In the first 10 years of the Count the Kicks campaign in Iowa (2008-2018), the states stillbirth rate decreased nearly 32% while the rest of the country remained relatively stagnant Stillbirth is closely linked to maternal mortality and morbidity - mothers who deliver a stillborn baby are almost five times as likely to experience severe maternal complications The U.S. ranks 48th out of 49 developed nations in annual rate of reduction (ARR) of stillbirth, and 183rd out of 195 countries worldwide (UNICEF). This is unacceptable. PUSH for Empowered Pregnancy, Healthy Birth Day, Aaliyah in Action, MomsRising, March for Moms, National Birth Equity Collaborative (NBEC), Measure the Placenta, International Stillbirth Alliance, Pregnancy After Loss Support, ARIAH Foundation, and many other allies are joined together in the name of all babies born still to demand change. They are asking that stillbirth be explicitly included in the Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Block Grant to encourage states to make stillbirth prevention a priority by educating families, and that Congress pass the bipartisan Stillbirth Health Improvement and Education (SHINE ) for Autumn Act, (S.3972/H.R.5487) led by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL). This critical piece of legislation will make vital steps to invest in research and data collection required to better understand stillbirth. The Coalition further implores our nation's medical leaders including the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology (ACOG) to form a Stillbirth Prevention Working Group to implement internationally proven stillbirth prevention protocols as part of standard prenatal care in the U.S. Furthermore, closing the disparity gap in birth outcomes between White and BIPOC families should be made an explicit objective of this effort. The Big PUSH to End Preventable Stillbirth is generously supported by sponsors including Earth Mama Organics, BLVR, Nurses Choice, Mommy Labor Nurse, AWHONN, and several medical professionals and small businesses in communities across the United States. ---About PUSH for Empowered Pregnancy--- We're on a mission to end preventable stillbirth, and we're not taking no for an answer. 65 babies are dying in the second half of pregnancy every single day in the U.S. - thats 23,000 each year, most of them otherwise healthy, and all of them deeply loved. Many of these babies were our babies, and many of them could have been saved. PUSH for Empowered Pregnancy exists for one reason, and one reason alone: to cut the US stillbirth rate by 20% by the end of 2030, in half by 2050, and in time, eradicate all preventable stillbirths. We are a diverse coalition of bereaved parents from around the country, and we are working closely with trailblazing medical researchers, courageous doctors, and other hardworking allies to drive down the incidence of stillbirth in the United States over the next decade by any means necessary. Through partnerships with health providers and aggressive awareness campaigns, we will empower every expectant family with the equitable, evidenced-based medical care and education they need to advocate for a healthy pregnancy, giving parents and babies the best possible chance to make it home safely together. No family should have to endure what we have endured. We are saying ENOUGH. #UnitedWePush For Families, For Babies. For Change. Learn more at http://www.pushpregnancy.org // Details, photos & livestream recording of this event at http://www.thebigpushmarch.org // Follow @pushpregnancy on all social media platforms A screenshot of Transcend Assessments and the tool's live collaboration functionality. Were thrilled to add to our industry-leading privacy platformtrusted by leading brands and loved by privacy practitionerswith this new functionality that furthers our goal of making the challenging work of privacy easy for companies, through robust tools and technology. Transcend, the one-stop privacy platform that makes it easy for companies to encode modern privacy requirements into their data ecosystems, has today released a new Assessments product aimed at reducing the work and risk associated with processing personal data. This first-of-its-kind offering builds on Transcend's automated data discovery, classification, and governance capabilities by proactively flagging to privacy teams when a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) may be required, auto-suggesting relevant metadata, and automatically highlighting incomplete assessments across a company's data map. Were thrilled to add to our industry-leading privacy platformtrusted by leading brands and loved by privacy practitionerswith this new functionality that furthers our goal of making the challenging work of privacy easy for companies, through robust tools and technology, said Transcend CEO and co-founder Ben Brook. Transcend Assessments ensures all departments and teams can proactively identify, monitor and adjust for the data processing risks associated with new system adoption, new product creation, and other business projects. It empowers privacy leaders with increased visibility and controls to protect personal user data, without the tedious workflows and increased operating costs, said Brook. Data sprawl challenges legacy assessment processes As a result of continuous system sprawl and shadow IT, two-thirds of companies today report that they dont have an accurate picture of the personal data they collect and process. Without centralized data visibility, risk and privacy assessment management has become an operational burden for privacy teams, leaving companies with compliance gaps and privacy risks. Compounding this, todays privacy leaders face ambiguity in Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) and Transfer Impact Assessment (TIA) requirements, including understanding what specific information is required or when an assessment is required. Privacy professionals rarely have a quantifiable, easily defined process for kicking off, compiling, and approving Privacy Impact Assessments, said Brandon Wiebe, Transcend General Counsel and Head of Privacy. Because of these operational challenges, many of todays assessments are not able to practically meet regulatory compliance, minimize an organizations data processing risk, and protect their end users. The power of Transcend Assessments With todays announcement, Transcend enables privacy professionals, legal counsel, and Data Protection Officers (DPOs) to handle privacy assessments more comprehensively, efficiently, and easily increasing visibility into data processing risks, fostering better user privacy protections, and reducing operational burden. Key features include: Triggered action items: When new data silos are added or discovered by Transcend Data Mapping, Assessments will auto-suggest the review of a new assessment. Auto-assist Assessment completion: Out-of-the-box templates include pre-populated fields with data discovered through a companys Data Map or Terraform code inputs, jump-starting assessments to fit the unique shape of an organizations data and minimizing manual operations. Live collaboration: Cross-functional projects require easy to use, cross-functional tools. Transcend allows users to edit an assessment simultaneously, enabling seamless and real-time collaboration. Approval and status tracking: Transcend Assessments includes powerful tools to identify outstanding tasks, documents missing key stakeholder input, and flag assessments pending DPO approval. Embedded visibility: Easily sort your Data Map and identify completed or missing DPIAs or TIAs by data system, data category, vendor, processing purpose and more. Learn more about how Transcend Assessments works at transcend.io/assessments. About Transcend Transcend is the one-stop privacy platform that makes it easy for companies to encode modern privacy requirements into their data ecosystemsfor full visibility, auditability, and compliance. Backed by Accel and Index Ventures, the company is the data privacy partner of choice for brands such as Robinhood, Clubhouse, Eventbrite, CircleCI, and more. Transcend customers go beyond the patchwork compliance and manual offerings of today to realize an easy, efficient, and secure privacy program at scale, with industry-leading technical solutions for the most urgent privacy challenges. By future-proofing its technology, Transcend also enables customers to confidently address new or future regulatory requirements, whatever they might be. In addition, Transcends privacy platform incorporates standard-setting data protections that security-conscious brands have come to expect, including an on-premise security gateway, E2EE (end-to-end encryption), and more. Founded in 2017, Transcend is headquartered in San Francisco. You can also find us on: Twitter LinkedIn GitHub Sign up for Transcend's weekly newsletter on privacy and technology, Privacy XFN. The Cynthia Graham Hurd scholarship is named in honor of the Charleston community leader who served South Carolinas library system for most of her life. She was also a board member of the Charleston County Housing Authority and Septima P. Clark Corporation. Jayda is currently attending North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, NC with a major in Kinesiology and an interest in exercise science. She graduated high school with an Associates in Arts degree from Trident Technical College in Charleston, SC. We admire her academic success, entrepreneurial spirit and heart to help others in her school and those close to her. We had many people reach out on her behalf: I would like to nominate Jayda Green for this scholarship. A very soft spoken, goal driven student who has proven herself to rise above any odds. Jayda grew up in a single parent household in the City of Charlestons Eastside neighborhood. Recently, she graduated high school with her Associates in Arts Degree. Shes excelled in so many ways its unbelievable. Shes phenomenal student with an entrepreneurial heart and a goal driven spirit. Jayda is currently attending North Carolina A&T majoring in Kinesiology all while being an entrepreneur. I would like to nominate my daughter Jayda. A very humble individual who doesnt mind helping anyone in anyway she can. Jayda has made our family proud. Shes a recent high school graduate of Early College High School / RB Stall and Trident Tech. She graduated with her high school diploma and her Associates in Arts from Trident. While completing her studies, shes been inducted into the National Honor Society, a Deans list recipient at Trident, and an entrepreneur. Being raised in a single parent home wasnt always easy, I as mom-set the bar high for excellence and I can say shes met and exceeded my expectations. She is currently a freshman (sophomore) at North Carolina A&T. Her major is Kinesiology with her main focus being exercise science. Shes chosen this career path because of her heart and desire to help others. Jayda Green is a promising young lady of our community. She showcases her devotion to her school, community, family, and friends. She is always willing to make the world a better and brighter place by showcasing her knowledge and sharing it with others. Jayda has worked hard all of her life and if given the opportunity to grow and develop, she can achieve anything she sets her mind to. The Cynthia Graham Hurd scholarship is named in honor of the Charleston community leader who served South Carolinas library system for most of her life. She was also a board member of the Charleston County Housing Authority and Septima P. Clark Corporation. She was a victim of the 2015 Charleston church shooting and was honored through a resolution by the South Carolina General Assembly for her lifes work. Cynthia embodied what it means to help her community, and David Aylor Law Offices wishes to recognize students who are achieving academic excellence and desiring to share their brightness with the world. Wed like to use this opportunity to thank Jayda for her entry and wish her all the best in pursuing her degree! S. Aminah Nialiah AKA Saundra Foster, a former dance and drum student of the Artists Collective, has completed her new book, In A Square Triangle: Second Edition: a captivating story of a woman who perseveres to reach success. Marieas dreams are no longer deferred. Mariea has come a long way away from the physical, verbal, and mental abuses that she had gone through. She had gotten to a place where she can now tell others since no one had to consider caring about her situation. From a meager beginning to a personal awareness of her self-worth and worthiness, she is at a place where she wants to be. She can tell some of the stories that brought her there. Author S. Aminah Nialiah AKA Saundra Foster is a former member of Fotoba, a performing dance and drum troupe founded by Abdoulaye Sylla of Guinea, West Africa; a former dance student at Phyllis Stone Dance School; and a percussionist with Joanne James-Richmond and the Practicing Umoja ensemble, formally Natural Roots. She has taken drama lessons under the direction of Rome Neal of Nuyorican Poets Cafe. Her poetry is in the National Library of Poetry. She lists A West Hartford Conservatory (Kingwood-Oxford) Collaboration, at Jacobs Pillar in Westfield, Massachusetts. She performed an opening drum call for a youth festival in Greensville, North Carolina, Many Colors of a Woman, in Hartford, Connecticut, and many fund-raising events for the African Day Parade Committee, also in Hartford, Connecticut. She danced and played drums at the SoNo Arts Festival, South Norwalk, Connecticut. The Dance and Drum Festival (two consecutive years) in Bloomfield, Connecticut; Kwanzaa and Black History Celebrations at the United States Postal Service on numerous occasions in Hartford, Connecticut; and numerous elementary and middle schools, colleges, churches, and civic and social events in the Greater Hartford community and surrounding towns, along with some off-Broadway productions in New York City in Yes (Damn It), at Trinity College in Ti-Jean and His Brothers, written by Derek Wolcott, directed by Tony Hall, and The Hartford Stage Company in Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles, directed by Jonathan Wilson, in her theater credits. She is a native of Connecticut by way of New York. Author S. Aminah Nialiah AKA Saundra Foster writes, We are starting to get accustomed to our new neighborhood and our neighbors, in our little gated community. Our kitchen and living room windows face our community. I can look out of the living room window and see the cars in the parking lots. These cars belong to my next-door neighbors from either side of my apartment, across the lot, and down the hill. There are extensions to our neighborhood. They are around the corners and in the back of our apartment. This complex is fairly large. It houses a lot of families and individuals. There are young, middle-aged, and older individuals residing here. They even have a playground. Readers who wish to experience this remarkable work can purchase In A Square Triangle: Second Edition 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 knows that authors need to 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. We're proud to feature this important show with Nedret Andre, especially as we also celebrate our 5th anniversary," notes Christine ODonnell, Owner and Director at Beacon Gallery. "Her work is a testament to our mission to shed light on critical issues affecting and shaping our society." Beacon Gallery is pleased to announce its upcoming exhibition The Air We Breathe, featuring the work of local artist Nedret Andre. This solo exhibition runs from November 3 to January 5, 2022 and will focus on the importance and fragility of seagrass (also known as eelgrass) and its role within our ecosystem, particularly how seagrass preservation is connected to our everyday lifestyle decisions, through a series of abstract paintings and sculptures. From the surface, everything may look serene, however, underwater there are so many variables affecting water quality and the life forms these habitats support, says Andre. My goal, through my art, is to encourage audiences to become more aware and get involved in shaping this narrative of the role we play as a society and our interdependency with the natural environment. We all have the ability to make an impact to improve and preserve the coastal environment for future generations. This exhibit will feature a collection of Andres works that showcase a visual aesthetic aimed to draw the viewers attention to the crucial nature of our symbiotic relationship with this delicate plant and its environment. Namely, that seagrass oxygenates the ocean, serves as a carbon sink, and provides vegetation and nourishment for sea creatures. Andres brush strokes in her paintings bridges the mathematical and emotional by depicting the beauty and presence of the endangered seagrass in water, using a range of jewel tone colors, rhythmic line work and shapes, and subtle textures. She also draws upon her field work and research of coastal New England. Paired with the unveiling of The Air We Breathe; Beacon Gallery also proudly celebrates its 5th anniversary at this time. First opened in November 2017 in the center of Bostons SoWa district, Beacon Gallery continually strives to provide the public with shows that bring emphasis to a wide spectrum of social justice efforts, both local and beyond. As a gallery focused on social impact, we are proud to feature Nedret Andres latest show and fully support her messages of ecological awareness, says Christine ODonnell, Owner and Director at Beacon Gallery. Celebrating our 5th anniversary in conjunction with this important show ultimately epitomizes who we are and why we do what we do. Andres work is a testament to our mission of shedding a contemplative light on critical issues affecting and shaping our society, especially with the precarious state of our environment. Through its continued collaborations with a number of nonprofit organizations and special-interest groups, Beacon Gallery is pleased to stand as a beacon for the artivist community. With strong belief that art holds the power to inspire tangible change, Beacon Gallery welcomes all to join in its 5 year milestone, celebrating art and community and all those who embolden such change and encourages others to participate (event takes place November 3rd at 6 pm at the gallery). About the Artist Nedret is a contemporary painter and blogger working in South End, Boston. Her abstract oil paintings are process-based; exploring color, texture, mark-making, gestural drawing, and experimentation of oil paint through drips and flows. Inspired by the urban landscape of New England which has evolved from its coastal marshland and Sienese frescos by Ambrogio Lorenzetti, her art particularly explores the vitality of seagrass for oxygenation. She actively participates on restoration projects and collaborations with local marine ecologists, and a portion of each sale or commission from her work is donated to nonprofits that advocate for ocean awareness and seagrass conservation, including North and South Rivers Watershed Association, The Great Marsh Project, Women Working for the Oceans, Salem Sound Coastwatch, Cohassets Center for Student Coastal Research, Mass Sierra Club, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. She earned her BFA in Painting at Massachusetts College of Art and received her MFA in Visual Arts from Maine College of Art. Upcoming Events Were excited to host Science-Activism-Collaborations Night with Nedret Andre, Samantha Woods, Executive Director of the North and South Rivers Watershed Association, Sara Grady, Ecologist at Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Partnership and North and South Rivers Watershed Association, and Dr. Randall Hughes, Professor in the Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences (MES) and Associate Dean for Equity at Northeastern University (Thursday, December 1st at 6 pm); SOWA Winter Festival Sunday makerspaces (Nov. 27 and Dec. 11 from 11am to 4 pm); and an Artist Talk also featuring an in-gallery performance (Dec. 10 at 4 p.m.). Casebook is now helping the helpers in Canada "Many of the same issues affect social workers whether it's Ontario or Ohio. We built Casebook to help support today's human services workers, overburdened by too many cases and too much paperwork. We're excited to extend our mission to Canada." -Brian Johnson, CRO Human services organizations all over the world are in dire need of technological innovation. In Canada, thats happening right now. The first and only pure SaaS platform for human services, Casebook is now available for Canadian organizations to use in support of their missions. Casebook PBCs intuitive and configurable software is designed for nonprofits, national and provincial agencies, and First Nations. Launched in partnership with Amazon Web Services (https://aws.amazon.com), Casebook is offering the Canada-hosted option at no additional cost for Canadian-based organizations. Some of the types of organizations Casebook helps in the US and Canada include: Tribal Courts and Child Welfare Community Services Domestic Violence and Victim Services Child Welfare and Foster Care Youth Services Police Social Work LGBTQ+ Services Immigration and Refugee Programs Intake and Case Management Casebook is accessible from any mobile device, providing the security controls necessary for compliance with Canadas Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). With the expansion of the platforms availability into Canada and beyond, Casebook will be of even greater value to the committed helpers who work on and off the front lines of human services everywhere. Visit https://hubs.li/Q01q4_S30 to learn more. ### We are committed as an organization and as individuals to helping address this crisis in every way possible. Caspio, the leading no-code platform for building custom web applications, has been distinguished as a TrustRadius Tech Cares award recipient for 2022. The Tech Cares award honors B2B tech companies making exceptional efforts to support communities, employees, and the environment. Caspio was recognized for its extraordinary actions during the war on Ukraine to ensure the safety of the 70+ employees and their families from its Ukrainian office and for its support of ongoing crisis management efforts in the region. When the armed conflict in Ukraine erupted, Caspio founder and CEO Frank Zamani flew to Poland, spending several weeks working with the Caspio Poland team and traveling between Krakow and Przemysl to arrange the provision of safe housing, food, shelter, and supplies for employees and their families taking refuge in the country. Several Caspio Poland employees also opened their homes to their Ukrainian colleagues, and the company mobilized its global customer network to donate to charities on the ground. We are committed as an organization and as individuals to helping address this crisis in every way possible, said Zamani, a former refugee who fled religious persecution in Iran. Caspio began operating in Ukraine 18 years ago. Dnipro hosted our first-ever Software Development Center outside of the United States. Our Ukraine office houses more than 70 Caspians from engineering, product development, sales, and support teams. But Ukraine is more than just an international office its home to our dear friends, colleagues, and family. Caspio also made its no-code application development platform free for anyone helping with the crisis in Ukraine to rapidly build vital apps such as medical asset management, lost and found registries, volunteer recruitment, and missing person directories. For additional information on Caspios humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, please visit https://www.caspio.com/caspio-stands-with-ukraine/ To learn more about the TrustRadius Tech Cares award, please visit https://www.trustradius.com/vendor-blog/tech-cares-award About Caspio Frank Zamani founded Caspio on the simple idea of empowering anyone to build custom web applications without writing a single line of code or procuring any IT infrastructure. The platform provides unlimited app builders, unlimited app users, an integrated cloud database built on Microsoft SQL Server, and seamless app deployment on any web property all included as standard features in every plan. Caspio powers business applications for 15,000 customers in 150 countries, ranging from global corporations and government agencies to universities, nonprots and small businesses. To learn more about Caspios leading no-code platform, visit caspio.com. Press Contact E-mail: press@caspio.com Greater Therapy Centers, a member of the Therapy Partners Group family of brands, has announced its newest partnership with Denton Orthopedic Therapy Centers (DOTC) "Denton Orthopedic has been providing exceptional care to the community for over 15 years, we are thrilled to welcome them to the GTC family. We share the same commitment to providing outstanding care and service to our patients" said Dena Aitken, Chief Operating Officer of Greater Therapy Centers. Greater Therapy Centers, a member of the Therapy Partners Group family of brands, has announced its newest partnership with Denton Orthopedic Therapy Centers (DOTC), a private therapist-led physical therapy clinic located in the heart of Denton, Texas. DOTC has been serving patients in Denton and the surrounding communities and has built a tremendous reputation for providing patient-centered individualized care. The highly-skilled team at DOTC specializes in the treatment of orthopedic, spine, and sports-related injuries and conditions. "We have loved treating our patients for the past 15 years. We've been very fortunate to see tremendous growth, so partnering with TPG, an already well-established PT Provider in the metroplex, is the perfect match. Their culture is what makes the difference. They are an amazing company that agrees with our philosophy that the patient comes first, said Sean Duesing, Clinic Manager. This partnership provides DOTC with the ability to offer its patients a wider range of physical therapy services, as well as access to Greater Therapy Centers' extensive network of therapists and clinicians throughout the other 28 locations in Texas. "Denton Orthopedic has been providing exceptional care to the community for over 15 years, we are thrilled to welcome them to the GTC family. We share the same commitment to providing outstanding care and service to our patients. We are confident that this partnership will be beneficial for both organizations and the community" said Dena Aitken, Chief Operating Officer of Greater Therapy Centers. "Greater Therapy Centers continues to be a major part of the fabric of the healthcare community in Texas and continue to be for many years. With their deep commitment to delivering exceptional care and their steadfast dedication to supporting the community, they have established themselves as the most attractive partner for other local practices looking to grow in Texas. We welcome the DOTC family with open arms and are excited to see what the future holds for their team" said Brent Mack, CEO of Therapy Partners Group. About Therapy Partners Group Formed in 2019, Therapy Partners Group, formerly Golden Bear Therapy Partners, is a Physical Therapist led, a portfolio company of Shore Capital Partners. Therapy Partners Group has offices in Chicago, Illinois & Modesto, California, and operates over 140 clinics across 7 states. The company has an extensive network of partners that have been established leaders within their respective communities. The company strives to be the partner of choice for clinic owners looking for best-in-class support for growth, operational and back-office functions. To learn more, please visit http://www.therapypartnersgroup.com. "Were excited to demonstrate how MacKenzie Scotts investment in girls will change the world - because when one girl succeeds, we all succeed," said Diana Mahoney, CEO of Girl Scouts of Connecticut Girl Scouts of Connecticut (GSOFCT) announced a $2.4 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. This generous gift is part of an $84.5 million donation awarded to GSUSA and 29 local councils selected by Scott making this the largest donation from a single individual in the national organizations history. We are extremely grateful for MacKenzie Scotts gift to Girl Scouts of Connecticut. This is a tremendous accelerator for our ongoing efforts to help girls cultivate the skills to lead in their own communities and globally, said GSOFCT CEO, Diana Mahoney. Before MacKenzie Scott began her giving initiatives, only 1.9% of annual giving has benefitted women and girl-focused organizations. Its critical to invest in girls futures through Girl Scouts, the pre-eminent leadership development organization for girls. This gift to Girl Scouts of Connecticut will strengthen leadership opportunities for Connecticut girls with an expanded focus on career readiness and mental wellness. GSOFCT will also increase equitable membership opportunities in communities that are under-engaged. This includes Diversity Equity Inclusion and Racial Justice initiatives, reimagining the troop experience model to break down accessibility barriers, and partnering with families and communities to holistically support the well-being and development of all girls. Girl Scouts is transforming the leadership landscape for girls with a plethora of programs that provide countless opportunities for girls to develop essential skills needed to meet tomorrows challenges. We hope that this amazing display of generosity inspires others to donate during the charitable giving season, as investing in girls is vital to economic development, social progress, and public health, improving not only individual lives, but the fabric of society overall, adds Mahoney. Were excited to demonstrate how MacKenzie Scotts investment in girls will change the world - because when one girl succeeds, we all succeed. Serving over 18,000 youth and 9,000 adult members, Girl Scouts of Connecticut has a presence in every community in the state. Each new investment enables Girl Scouts of Connecticut to become a convener, harnessing the leadership skills of generations to come. About Girl Scouts of Connecticut Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challengeswhether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit http://www.gsofct.org. Galit Kierkut, a Labor & Employment and Litigation shareholder in global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLPs New Jersey office, was selected by the New Jersey Law Journal (NJLJ) as a 2022 Woman Lawyer of the Year. According to the NJLJ, the honorees are a diverse group of women who are making an impact on the legal profession. I am honored to be recognized by the NJLJ and to be in the company of other inspiring women. I am a vocal advocate for womens advancement in law and consider it my mission to mentor junior attorneys and help them grow and advance their careers, Kierkut said. I am also fortunate to serve as co-chair of Greenberg Traurigs New Jersey Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee and to work at a firm that prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion. Kierkut is a seasoned litigator and advisor to national and international clients in the pharmaceutical, medical device, financial services, hospitality, and health care industries, among others. She also takes on the role of outside general counsel for many of her startup and growth-stage clients, assembling and leading teams of professionals to seamlessly address her clients legal needs. Kierkut focuses her litigation and counseling practice in the areas of restrictive covenants, privacy, and trade secret counseling and litigation, as well as in matters relating to employment discrimination, harassment, whistleblowing, employee leave, and accommodation. She also conducts training on virtually all employment compliance areas, including diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, Kierkut has wide-ranging experience in complex commercial litigation in state and federal courts. Kierkut is a strong advocate for womens advancement in law and has been honored for her leadership in this area by a variety of organizations. She is a past president of the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association and is an active member of the National Association for Women Lawyers. About Greenberg Traurigs New Jersey Office: Established in 2002, Greenberg Traurigs New Jersey office has grown into a team of nationally recognized attorneys who provide legal advice to international, national, and local business and technology clients. The New Jersey offices practice areas include Complex Commercial and Class Action Litigation; Hatch-Waxman Litigation; Pharmaceutical, Medical Device & Health Care Litigation; Product Liability & Mass Torts; Corporate; Restructuring & Bankruptcy; Construction Law; Franchise & Distribution; Immigration & Compliance; Intellectual Property & Technology; Labor & Employment; Real Estate; Tax; and Private Wealth Services. As a significant contributor to the firm's international platform, the New Jersey team offers clients both the know-how and geographic reach of a global law firm combined with the dedication and responsiveness of a local firm. About Greenberg Traurigs Diversity Initiative: From its inception, Greenberg Traurig has been committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. Greenberg Traurig is a uniquely empowering and diverse firm built on a foundation of fairness, equality, and authenticity. Through its Social, Racial, and Economic Justice Action Plan, the firm has committed $5 million over five years to help combat systemic racism and support impoverished communities. In addition, the firms efforts have been recognized through its Mansfield Rule 4.0 Certification Plus, administered by The Diversity Lab, and by local, national, and global publications and organizations including Chambers and Partners. Web: https://www.gtlaw.com/en/general/our-firm/diversity Twitter: @GT_Drives. 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 5.0 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. When we build computerized applications to support business processes, we automate just about every job in our organizations. The truth is, most IT tasks and procedures can be streamlined and made more efficient using automation, including some aspects of Db2 database administration. Infotel Corp, a France-based global enterprise software vendor, is pleased to announce its sponsorship of the IDUG EMEA Tech Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland from Oct. 22-26, marking their first European mainframe conference since the start of the pandemic. IDUG EMEA (Europe/Middle East/Africa): Five Days of Education and Collaboration of the IBM Db2 Community will be held at the Edinburgh International Conference Center, the premier event for Db2 professionals across the globe to learn from and network with the brightest minds in the database management industry. Infotel is proud to sponsor this event and views IDUG EMEA as a crucial component of keeping Db2 professionals responsible for the worlds most critical data stores for banking/finance, healthcare, and government educated with the latest innovations in the field and connected with their colleagues to promote a positive culture in the industry and attract the next generation of talent. The Infotel team will be present in booths 4 and 5 in the exhibition hall and invites all IDUG attendees to stop by to connect with Infotel Senior Consultant Colin Oakhill and renowned Db2 expert, author, and speaker, Craig S. Mullins, to learn more about Infotels latest innovations in enterprise software that powers the worlds largest organizations. Mullins will be in the booth to meet and greet on October 24th. We are excited to have a sizable presence at this conference and to once again convene in person with our customers and colleagues on this side of the globe, said Jean-Francois Castella, Managing Software Director for Infotel. And on the heels of IBMs z16 launch and new Db2 release, we are looking forward to promoting how the latest version of our Db2 solutions integrate with these latest technological achievements to enhance customer experiences. Infotel to Introduce DB/IQ Version 6.02 In the latest version of DB/IQ 6.02, Infotel has made significant improvements to SQL tuning, the Eclipse Plugin, the Index Administrator, the Package Manager, the Workload Detector, Quality Assurance+, and Migration Aid+, among other upgrades. These improvements were made to seamlessly integrate into Db2 13 and have been carefully implemented with the help of client feedback to ensure the latest version is as easy as possible for software engineers to deploy into their z/OS environments. With the acceleration of digital transformation across the globe during the COVID-19 pandemic, IT teams are now tasked with managing more data than ever before, and there is no better tool than Db2 equipped for the worlds most demanding workloads. Infotel-Sponsored Speaking Session With Craig S. Mullins on Intelligent Automation for Db2 In addition to providing major sponsorship support of IDUG EMEA, Infotel will be sponsoring a presentation by one of the top minds in the mainframe space, author Craig S. Mullins. Craigs presentation, titled Intelligent Automation of Db2 Administration and Management, will cover topics such as the importance of automation for mainframe database administrators, autonomics and the types of automation, the consequences DBAs face if they dont adopt a culture of IT automation, and more. From my experiences, it seems like many in IT believe they can automate everyone elses job but not their own, said Mullins. When we build computerized applications to support business processes, we automate just about every job in our organizations. The truth is, most IT tasks and procedures can be streamlined and made more efficient using automation, including some aspects of Db2 database administration. Mullins presentation will be given on Monday, October 24th at 3:40 p.m (GMT+1). All attendees will receive a copy of the slide deck after the event. For those unable to attend, Infotel will provide a download link for the presentation after the conference. About IDUG The International Db2 Users Group (IDUG) is an independent, not-for-profit, user-run organization whose mission is to support and strengthen the information services community by providing the highest quality education and services designed to promote the effective utilization of Db2. For more information on IDUG, visit idug.org. About Infotel Infotel Corp. is a software vendor and IT consulting firm specializing in data performance and optimization solutions across both distributed and mainframe platforms. For more than 40 years, Infotel has delivered proven solutions to help clients improve their data management systems. For more information on Infotel Corp., please visit insoft-infotel.com. Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has published a survey report examining how many American parents are saving for college. The research also highlights main reasons parents fall behind or withdraw from college funds. Experts surveyed 1,001 parents with at least one child under 18 years old. The study shows 33 percent of parents have used college savings for noneducational purposes. Of these parents, 59 percent say they used college funds for essential purchases. Additionally, 57 percent used their college savings for medical expenses, 45 percent used it to make mortgage or rent payments, and 32 percent of parents admit to using funds for non-essential purchases or gambling. According to the survey, 45 percent of parents have not started saving for college, and 13 percent dont plan to save at all. Political affiliation also influences why parents are not saving for college. Nearly half of Republican parents who dont plan to save want their child to pay for their own education. In comparison, 11 percent of Democrats who arent saving expect their child to pay college tuition, and 30 percent believe government student loans will be forgiven. Write-in answers from respondents also indicate that many parents are struggling financially and saving for college is not a feasible option. Four percent of respondents are no longer contributing to a college fund, which half say is because they are not in a financial position to do so. Correspondingly, 10 percent say their child will no longer attend college. Intelligent.com commissioned and administered this study via the online survey platform Pollfish. The survey was conducted on September 28, 2022, and all data found within this report derives from the survey. Appropriate respondents were selected using Pollfishs demographic tools and a screening question. To access the complete report, please visit https://www.intelligent.com/1-in-3-parents-have-used-kids-college-savings-for-other-purposes/. ABOUT INTELLIGENT.COM Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. The website offers curated guides that include the best degree programs as well as information about financial aid, internships, and even study strategies. With comprehensive, user-friendly guides and hundreds of program rankings, Intelligent.com is a trusted source among students and prospective students. To learn more, please visit https://www.intelligent.com/. ### Dayna Johnson, president of the Society of Women Engineers, comments on a new report that finds an increase in the number of women filing patents. The Society of Women Engineers] acknowledges the importance of womens participation in patenting and the critical nature of ensuring diverse perspectives are included in the invention process. , said Dayna Johnson, president of the Society of Women Engineers and of GE Gas & Power, Chicago. Latest USPTO report finds a 32% increase in the number of U.S. counties where women patented between 1990 and 2019 The United States Patent and Trademark Office today released a new report, titled Where are U.S. women patentees? Assessing three decades of growth. The report examines womens patenting by U.S. counties from 1990 through 2019. It identifies counties with the most women-patentees by technology field and assesses three decades of growth. The report delves deeper into the characteristics of those county economic environments to identify factors correlated with womens participation in patenting. The full report online was released today during the Society of Women Engineers meeting in Houston. Over the 30-year period from 1990 through 2019, women inventors patented in 411 new counties, an increase of 32% in the number of counties where women patent. Our new study shows important trends over the past thirty years in women patenting, said Kathi Vidal, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO. We plan to use this study and other data as we focus on bringing more women into the innovation and patenting ecosystem. We must increase the number of women inventors on patents from the 12-13% it is at today to full representation. This is critical for job growth and economic prosperity. Across technology hubs, more women were named on physics patents than in any other field and the technology hub with the largest growth rate in women inventor-patentees was in electricity in Santa Clara County, California, rising over 7,000% during the 30 years studied. In 1990, only 46 women inventors were listed on electricity; by 2019, they numbered nearly 3,300. The report was unveiled at a press conference featuring Director Vidal and Dayna Johnson, president of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), at SWEs WE22 event (pictured at podium). The conference, among the worlds largest for women in engineering and technology, took place at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Harris County (Houston), Texas, a top women-patenting county that experienced a 2,045% growth in women patentees in the field of fixed constructions (buildings, structures, earth drilling, and related materials) during the 30-year period studied. The Society of Women Engineers] acknowledges the importance of womens participation in patenting and the critical nature of ensuring diverse perspectives are included in the invention process. We congratulate all women patent holders and look forward to their future successes while encouraging women engineers to consider this meaningful area of work, said Dayna Johnson, president of the Society of Women Engineers and of GE Gas & Power, Chicago. The report further examined factors that were empirically related to the county environments of women inventor-patentees. Education was found to be positively correlated with increasing the chances that a county would have women patentees. Womens educational attainment of a bachelors degree or higher was 52% greater in counties with women inventor-patentees. The importance of womens educational attainment carries over to counties with no previous women inventor-patentees: doubling the number of women college graduates correlates to a 61% increase in the likelihood that a county has its first woman inventor-patentee. Several Latinas in Aviation Vol. I and II authors join Fig Factor Media CEO Jacqueline S. Ruiz, center left, and FAA Deputy Bradley Mims during the Second Annual Global Fest. We are so excited and pleased to see how many people learned how Latinas are making their mark in the aviation industry and how we are encouraging younger Hispanic girls and women to aim high on their dreams as well." With last years successful Latinas in Aviation Global Festival serving as a positive memory, Fig Factor Media CEO Jacqueline Ruiz and College Park Aviation Museum continued the tradition of celebrating professional Latinas in aviation this year in a most memorable way. About 400 visitors witnessed Maryland Deputy Secretary of State Luis E. Borunda who gave honors to Latinas in Aviation with a citation on behalf of the State of Maryland and recognized the museums dedication to sharing these Latina's stories as it unveiled the first-ever Latinas in Aviation Special Exhibit. The exhibit showcased donated memorabilia from the Vol. I authors and the Pilotina logo and its meaning describe the purpose, the energy, and the inspiration to make dreams come true. We are so excited and pleased to see how many people learned how Latinas are making their mark in the aviation industry and how we are encouraging younger Hispanic girls and women to aim high on their dreams as well, Ruiz said. Words cannot express my deep gratitude for this festival and this special exhibit thanks to our wonderful partnership with the museum, There is no other exhibit like this in the world or the history of aviation. The exhibit was one of many exciting moments during the festival. Audience members, which included FAA Deputy Bradley Mims, came to the M-NCPPC Department of Parks and Recreations College Park Aviation Museum and Airport to hear from pilotsseveral who were in attendance who grace the pages of the first book called Latinas in Aviation and hear from new authors during the launch of Latinas in Aviation, Vol. II, Maryland Edition". The new volume features 14 pilots, administrators, military personnel and aeronautical engineers from Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC who discuss their struggles and triumphs in the aviation industry to pave the way for the next generation to take flight. The 14 authors are the following: Eliana Rothwell Raquel Villagomez NormaBat-Sheva Orona-Samms Melissa Torres Louisa Ocasio Frances Melina Velazquez Mercado Lucia Mencia Karen Perez Leena Carvalho Keanne Vallejo-Huertas Eryka Cristina Xavier da Silva Elizabeth Garcia Corvington Brenda Garcia Luz Beattie This book and the event were a partnership of Fig Factor Media, the College Park Aviation Museum, the MNCPPC Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Field of Firsts Foundation, an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that raises funds to support the museum and its exhibits and educational programming. College Park Aviation Museum Director Kevin Cabrera noticed that neither rain nor the threat of volatile weather stopped people from coming to the festival. It is hard to express in words but to know that the museum took the initiative to do this Latinas in Aviation Global Festival is very meaningful because I understand what it feels not to be represented, he said. I also want to share that this event was never meant to be a one-time occasion. I am about building community and know that this will be a feature program and the exhibit will highlight the Latinas and aviation for a long time. Orona-Samms, a structural analyst for Boeing at its Design Center in Philadelphia, encouraged younger Latinas to be their own advocates. A lot of the time, you are the best person who knows exactly where you want to be, she said. Despite sometimes having doubts and experiencing impostor syndrome, I would say to always make it known what you want to do and where you want to be. Be the biggest advocate for yourself and people will follow. For more information about Latinas in Aviation, visit http://www.latinasinaviation.com/. About Fig Factor Media: Fig Factor Media Publishing is an international publishing company with a "beeping" heart. Fig Factor Media has helped many authors achieve and support their dream of impacting their communities in the United States, Mexico, and Europe. Fig Factor Media is the official publisher of Today's Inspired Latina. For information, visit http://www.figfactormedia.com. About the College of Aviation Museum: The College Park Aviation Museum is dedicated to preserving and promoting aviation innovations at College Park Airport and in Prince George's County while fostering research, inventiveness, and lifelong curiosity about the history and science of flight. The College Park Aviation Museum opened in 1998 and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. For information, visit http://www.collegeparkaviationmuseum.com. Contact College Park Aviation Museum Director Kevin Cabrera at Kevin.Cabrera@pgparks.com or College Park Aviation Museum Public Program Manager Jamie Jones at Jamie.Jones@pgparks.com. ### We are looking forward to helping residents of Long Beach, California resolve lemon vehicle issues by helping them find an experienced lemon law attorney, says Joel Geffen, co-founder of Lemon Larry. Those stuck with a lemon vehicle in the Long Beach, California, area can benefit from the helpful online service, Lemon Larry, which will connect them to an experienced lemon law attorney after purchasing a car that may qualify as a lemon. Many consumers are often confused as to what makes a car a lemon, and Lemon Larry is the source to educate consumers, providing a simple, free, online pre-qualification process to determine if the vehicle they purchased may be a lemon. If the vehicle does qualify, a referral is made to a lawyer who specializes in this area for further discussion and review of the potential case. These attorneys are experienced with California lemon laws and understand how to file a claim under these laws. This legal assistance could result in the manufacturer providing either a reimbursement or a replacement vehicle. One of the benefits of lemon laws is that the attorneys fees are paid by the manufacturer if the vehicle is determined to be a lemon. Specifically, California lemon laws apply to vehicles that are purchased from a vehicle manufacturer or authorized dealership that show continual mechanical failings, even after repairs have been made on the vehicle. If a vehicle can't be fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts by the manufacturer or its authorized dealer, consumers will likely be entitled to a replacement vehicle of equal value or a total refund. In order to be protected under the law, the vehicle must meet eligibility requirements, meet the definition of a lemon and the manufacturer must be allowed to make a reasonable amount of attempts to repair the vehicle. Lemon Larrys simple, 2 minutes, online screening process can help consumers determine whether they might qualify. If they do, they can easily speak to a top lemon law attorney who will provide legal assistance. We are looking forward to helping residents of Long Beach, California resolve lemon vehicle issues by helping them find an experienced lemon law attorney, says Joel Geffen, co-founder of Lemon Larry. More about Lemon Larry: LemonLarry.com is an online service that helps consumers, at no out-of-pocket cost, who believe they have purchased or leased a lemon truck or car, find an experienced lemon law attorney near them. For more information about Lemon Larry, please call (833)505-3666, or email help@lemonlarry.com or visit http://www.lemonlarry.com. Its apparent that voters are facing several hardships in various employment situations. When the time comes for newly elected officials to take office, I hope these representatives will take the time to listen to their constituents concerns. - Express Employment International CEO Bill Stoller Facing a critical congressional midterm election in just more than two weeks, the majority of Americans planning to vote say they would be more likely to back a candidate in the upcoming midterm election if they prioritized medical coverage (69%), wages and hours (65%), employee benefits security (62%), family and medical leave (60%), workplace safety and health (58%) or equal opportunity (57%). This is according to a survey from The Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals conducted from Sept. 13-15, 2022, among more than 2,000 adults ages 18+. More than 7 in 10 Black voters (71%) say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who prioritizes equal opportunity (compared to only 59% of Hispanics and 56% of whites), and Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who prioritized any of these issues. Biggest Challenges in the Workforce Today More than 2 in 5 Americans say that rising healthcare costs (44%) is one of the biggest challenges facing the workforce today. Equal pay (40%), lack of training/upskilling (36%) and discrimination/harassment (35%) also are reported as some of the biggest hurdles, along with limited/no paid leave (30%) and workplace safety and health (29%). Fewer cite privacy issues (18%) or lack of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) training (11%). Boomers/seniors (ages 56+) (53%) are more likely than their younger counterparts (Gen X ages 18-26, 44%; millennials ages 27-40, 36%; Gen Z ages 41-55, 37%) to feel rising healthcare costs is one of the biggest challenges facing todays workforce. On the other hand, Gen Z, and to some extent, millennials, are more likely than their older counterparts to say the biggest challenges are limited/no paid leave, privacy issues and lack of DEI training. Black adults are more likely than white adults to say these are one of the biggest challenges facing the workforce today: Discrimination/harassment (42% vs. 33%) Workplace safety and health (38% vs. 27%) Privacy issues (22% vs. 16%) Issues Government Officials Must Address Survey respondents believe wages and hours (52%), employee benefits security (44%) or family and medical leave (38%) should be one of the governments top three priorities when it comes to addressing issues facing the workforce. Compared to their younger counterparts, boomers/seniors are more likely to say workplace safety and health and immigration should be one of the governments top three priorities, but nearly 1 in 5 Gen Z (19%) say one of the governments top three focuses should be privacy. Nearly half of Black individuals (47%) say one of the governments top three priorities to address in regard to issues facing the workforce should be equal opportunity. Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say wages and hours (57% vs. 46%), family and medical leave (44% vs. 32%) and equal opportunity (44% vs. 29%) should be one of the governments top concerns. On the other hand, Republicans are nearly twice as likely as Democrats to say one of the governments top three priorities should be immigration (30% vs. 16%). Casting a vote for a candidate who represents the best interests of the larger population is one of the greatest privileges afforded to Americans, Express Employment International CEO Bill Stoller said. Its apparent that voters are facing several hardships in various employment situations. When the time comes for newly elected officials to take office, I hope these representatives will take the time to listen to their constituents concerns. Survey Methodology This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals from Sept. 13-15, 2022, among 2,076 adults ages 18 and older. Data are weighted where necessary by age, gender, race/ethnicity, region, education, marital status, household size, household income and propensity to be online to bring them in line with their actual proportions in the population. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within + 2.8 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. *** If you would like to arrange for an interview with Bill Stoller to discuss this topic, please contact Sheena Hollander, Director of Corporate Communications and PR, at (405) 717-5966. About Bill Stoller William H. "Bill" Stoller is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment International. Founded in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the international staffing franchisor supports the Express Employment Professionals franchise and related brands. The Express franchise brand is an industry-leading, international staffing company with franchise locations in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. About Express Employment Professionals At Express Employment Professionals, were in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Our international network of franchises offers localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve across the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, employing 586,000 people globally in 2021 and 10 million since its inception. For more information, visit ExpressPros.com, and find more employment insights at ExpressPros.com/AmericaEmployed. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the worlds largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons, today announced Motiva by Establishment Labs will participate as a Gold Level sponsor for the 11th annual Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day on Oct. 19, 2022. Many women who undergo a mastectomy or lumpectomy are unaware of the breast reconstruction options available to them, and BRA Day is designed to educate, engage and empower patients. BRA Day events across the world bring much needed attention to these procedures and provide information to patients and their supporters. As a company dedicated to womens health, Establishment Labs is honored to support the 2022 Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day Campaign, said Heather Brennan, General Manager, Global Markets. We support women in all aspects of their breast health journey and encourage all women to prioritize their breast health and to make free and informed decisions for themselves and their bodies. The democratization of breast reconstruction globally is a core focus of Establishment Labs, and we continue to draw inspiration from the millions of women who confront breast cancer every year with dignity and strength. BRA Day brings together ASPS, The Plastic Surgery Foundation (The PSF), plastic surgeons specializing in breast surgery, nurse navigators, corporate partners, breast cancer support groups and organizations to coordinate events on Oct. 19. These events take place across the globe and include media events, Q&A sessions, lectures, flash mobs, fundraising parties, advertising campaigns, community events and more. About Breast Reconstruction Studies show that women who undergo breast reconstruction experience significant improvements in psychological, social and sexual well-being. Every patient deserves to learn about breast reconstruction options at the time of diagnosis. In fact, the two main reasons women do not undergo breast reconstruction is that patients are not referred to breast reconstructive surgeons and are not informed of their reconstructive options. Breast reconstruction is part of a comprehensive approach and treatment for breast cancer patients. A comprehensive team approach provides a cohesive breast cancer treatment plan. Integral to this cohesiveness are the frequent breast tumor board meetings that occur to discuss each individual patient and their individualized treatment. Members of this group of specialists are breast surgeons, plastic pathologists, reconstructive surgeons, oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, geneticists, nurses, patient care coordinators and more. This team approach ensures that key decisions regarding each patient's treatment are discussed and agreed upon by all team members. All aspects of care, from social to medical, are addressed at these meetings. For more information on breast reconstruction, visit http://www.breastreconusa.org. Become educated and help educate others about the availability of breast reconstruction and why all women deserve a team approach to breast cancer treatment. About ASPS The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. Representing nearly 8,000 physician members, the society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than 92 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. About Motiva by Establishment Labs Establishment Labs Holdings Inc. is a global medical technology company dedicated to improving womens health and wellness. The companys initial focus is breast health, principally breast aesthetics and reconstruction. Establishment Labs offers a portfolio of advanced silicone gel-filled breast implants, branded as Motiva Implants that include a number of innovative and patented features designed to deliver improved aesthetic and clinical outcomes. Since commercial launch in 2010, over 2.0 million Motiva Implants have been delivered to plastic surgeons in over 80 countries. The company also offers or has under development a number of related products and technologies, including the Motiva Flora tissue expander and Mia Femtech, the companys minimally invasive breast enhancement procedure. In 2018, Establishment Labs received an investigational device exemption (IDE) from the FDA for the Motiva Implant and began a clinical trial to support regulatory approval in the United States. Motiva Implants are manufactured at the companys two facilities in Costa Rica, which are compliant with all applicable regulatory standards under ISO13485:2016 and FDA 21 CFR 820 under the MDSAP program. Please visit our website for additional information at http://www.establishmentlabs.com. ### Contact ASPS Madison Freeman Public Relations Coordinator 847.228.3333 media@plasticsurgery.org Sulcata tortoise at the shutdown Tri-State Zoological Park, sitting next to rotted food covered in bugs in the Reptile House Animal welfare is one of our top priorities at the Zoo both locally and globally. Oakland Zoo staff made the long drive back to Oakland Sunday night with a dozen reptiles rescued from Tri-State Zoological Park in Cumberland, Maryland. These reptiles were a part of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) five-day rescue operation the groups largest-ever rescue of animals from a roadside zoo which recovered over 60 animals of 30 different species. This follows the legal settlement with Tri-State Zoological Park, formerly operated by Robert Candy. Oakland Zoo, along with 14 other reputable accredited zoos and sanctuaries, assisted in the removal, transport, and immediate care of the animals rescued including reptiles, bears, exotic birds, coatimundis, and much more. The facility had repeatedly failed to meet minimum federal standards for the care of animals established by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The animals were kept in abhorrent conditions. Living in small cages or enclosures, they received inadequate (if any) veterinary care and were left neglected, malnourished, and improperly cared for. We are incredibly grateful to our Zoo and sanctuary partners for helping us. If we didnt have reputable Zoos, such as Oakland Zoo, these animals would have to stay with neglectful owners, like Bob Candy, where they would be mistreated for years, says Brittany Peet, PETA Foundations General Counsel for Captive Animal Law Enforcement. The Zoo transported a dozen reptiles cross-country to reputable sanctuaries like the Colorado Reptile Humane Society. The reptiles rescued include box turtles, a leopard tortoise, a yellow-legged tortoise, a Madagascar spiny-tailed iguana, a reticulated python, ball pythons, and a Russian tortoise. On initial examination by PETAs contracted veterinarians at the roadside Zoo, the reptiles were severely dehydrated, in poor body condition, and likely malnourished. PETA, along with the assistance of Oakland Zoos Animal Care, quickly administered fluids. Animal welfare is one of our top priorities at the Zoo both locally and globally. Participation in these rescues, our involvement in creating and advocating for legislation is vital to combat the illegal wildlife pet trade*, which allows owners to exploit these animals., says Darren Minier, Director of Animal Welfare and Research at Oakland Zoo. Two of the rescued tortoises, a yellow-footed and a leopard tortoise, have joined the Oakland Zoo family and are now being treated at, and quarantined, at the Oakland Zoo Veterinary Hospital. There was no medical documentation for any of the animals that were rescued. The tortoises are now undergoing full medical examinations by the Zoos Veterinary Care staff to determine their current state of health. Due to the condition they were kept in at the Tri-State Zoological Park, it is likely they carry illnesses that will need to be immediately cared for. The vast majority of Oakland Zoos animal residents are rescues, from both private ownership and the illegal wildlife trade. Animals confiscated by officials at San Francisco International Airport and the Port of Oakland have been brought to Oakland Zoo for treatment, care, and permanent sanctuary over the years. The Zoo has also worked with PETA for many years in different rescue operations and investigations of rescues. *The illegal wildlife pet trade is the unlawful capture and selling of products derived from wild animals or plants determined to be unsustainable. For more information on Oakland Zoos Animal Welfare and Conservation work, visit our website here. Contact: Isabella Linares Oakland Zoo ilinares@oaklandzoo.org Erin Harrison Oakland Zoo eharrison@oaklandzoo.org ### ABOUT OAKLAND ZOO AND THE CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA: Oakland Zoo, home to more than 850 native and exotic animals, is managed by the Conservation Society of California (CSC); a non-profit organization leading an informed and inspired community in Taking Action for Wildlife locally and globally. With over 25 conservation partners and projects worldwide, the CSC is committed to conservation-based education and saving species and their habitats in the wild. Oakland Zoo is dedicated to the humane treatment of animals and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the national organization that sets the highest standards for animal welfare for zoos and aquariums. Viewpoint is distributed nationwide in the United States through public television stations. More than 60 million US households have access to the program. p-Chip Corporation, a company revolutionizing the tracking of physical products and materials with its breakthrough microtransponder technology, today announced it will be featured on the educational documentary series, Viewpoint. The award-winning series produces educational documentaries on a range of topics including technology, finance, business, travel, health and culture, with a focus on highlighting innovation around the world. Viewpoint is distributed nationwide in the United States through public television stations. More than 60 million US households have access to the program. We are excited to have the opportunity to discuss a great p-Chip Corporation story on such a prestigious platform as Viewpoint, said Joe Wagner, CEO of p-Chip Corporation. This year has been a groundbreaking year for our company on many fronts, particularly in the realm of food- and ingredient-tracing technology. We are pleased to have such an important innovation and partnership shared with a vast audience. The interviews focused on a major breakthrough in food safety and brand protection, spurred by an innovative 3-way partnership of Italys Consorzio del Formaggio Parmigiano Reggiano (CFPR), Kaasmerk Matec (Kaasmerk), and p-Chip Corporation. CFPR, the consortium that oversees the production and integrity of authentic Italian Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, works tirelessly to protect both its venerable product and its consumers from counterfeiting and lookalikesbrands that do not meet the consortiums strict requirements for production and area of origin. With the goal of expanding the products security and traceability, CFPR, Kaasmerk and p-Chip partnered to create and launch a first-to-market line of food-contact-safe digital tracking labels. A highly secure p-Chip microtransponder is affixed to the casein tag of Parmigiano Reggiano bulk cheese wheels early in the production process. Miniscule but highly durable, this scannable crypto anchor creates a digital twin for each physical cheese wheel. The Viewpoint feature is slated to explore the history of CFPR and its Kaasmerk tags, the details of the technology and its development, and the importance of the innovation within the realms of food safety and brand protection. It is set to be distributed nationwide in October. ### About p-Chip Corporation Since 2017, p-Chip Corporation has revolutionized the tracking of physical products and materials with its breakthrough microtransponder technology. Its p-Chip tracker, a highly durable technology as small as a grain of salt, functions like a digital anchor for physical items, delivering breakthrough visibility and index-ability at a scalable price point. From pharmaceuticals to electronics, automotive components to agricultural ingredients, companies worldwide rely on patented p-Chip crypto anchors to unlock business intelligence, deepen brand loyalty and enhance revenue. To learn more, visit https://p-chipcorp.com/. Roger F. Sherwood Article of the Year The article contributes a lot to clarify the complexity of medical devices in combination products use, said Ferdinando Aspesi, Senior Partner, Bridge Associates International, and Chair of the Pharmaceutical Engineering Committee (PEC). Pharmaceutical Engineering magazine is proud to announce the 2021 Roger F. Sherwood Article of the Year is Medical Device UDI Components Management in the European Union (July-August 2021) by Laurence Azoulay, Marie Coulon, PharmD, Christophe Devins, Bernard Durand, Etienne Granier, Amel Guerrida-Marchand, Ye-Lynne Lee, Valerie Marchand, Patrick Mazaud, Brigitte Naftalin, Michel Raschas, and Nadim Warde. The article focuses on the unique device identification (UDI) portion of the European Unions (EU) Medical Device Regulation (MDR 2017/745) and the In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Device Regulation (IVDR 2017/746), which are binding on all EU member states. The general application dates of the two regulations were 26 May 2021 for medical devices and 26 May 2022 for in vitro diagnostic medical devices; however, different timelines apply for certain specific provisions. The article contributes a lot to clarify the complexity of medical devices in combination products use, said Ferdinando Aspesi, Senior Partner, Bridge Associates International, and Chair of the Pharmaceutical Engineering Committee (PEC). It is known that 80% of new pharmaceutical products under development are combination products, where the medical device is the tool to deliver the active pharmaceutical molecule to the patient. Clearly knowing the requirements of the European Union with its 500 million-plus people is critical for the success and timely availability of new products to patients. Aspesi added that the article will help many readers involved in developing such products and treatments. About the Award ISPEs Roger F. Sherwood Article of the Year award was established in 1993 to increase article submissions and improve the quality of those received. In the early years, judges rated each issue's technical articles against a set of six criteria, then selected an annual winner. Almost three decades later, while recognizing the merit of the original intent, the award has been refreshed to showcase the best content in Pharmaceutical Engineering, increase industry recognition, highlight ISPEs reputation as a global knowledge leader, and bolster magazine content quality. Although various judges have assessed articles over the years, one constant remains: recognition of quality and excellence in the content through identifying finalists and a single winning article for each publication year. 2021 Judging A subcommittee of the PEC served as judges for the 2021 award competition, reviewing 35 articles and providing assessments on the following criteria: usefulness to ISPE readers; how the articles improve the knowledge of key topics; and clarity/ease of reading. The PEC subcommittee was headed by Michelle Gonzalez. Thank you to Michelle and the PEC subcommittee for their work on the 2021 competition. 2021 Award Finalists About ISPE The International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) is the worlds largest nonprofit association serving its members through leading scientific, technical, and regulatory advancement across the entire pharmaceutical lifecycle. The 20,000+ members of ISPE provide solutions to complex pharmaceutical industry challenges through innovation, member and workforce development, technical, regulatory and compliance collaborations in more than 90 countries around the world. Founded in 1980, ISPE has its worldwide headquarters and training center in North Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and its operations center in Tampa, Florida, USA. Visit ISPE.org for more information. Although most employers are leaning towards an in-person workplace, hiring and retaining top talent will require flexibility." ResumeBuilder.com, the premier resource for free and professional resume templates, has published a survey report examining how U.S. companies will implement a return-to-office plan. The study also shares insight into top reasons driving business leaders to support in-person work. The survey generated feedback from 1,000 employers of companies that have been in business at least three years and that had a majority of workers in a traditional office space before the pandemic. Currently, 66 percent of employers require employees to work from the office with some frequency. In 6 months, 73 percent of fully remote companies will return to in-person work, which means in 2023, 9 in 10 companies will require employees to work from the office with some frequency. Seventy-seven percent of employers with a hybrid workplace plan to change their current policy within 6 months. Ten percent of respondents from this group will require employees to work full time from the office, 40 percent will require four days a week in office, and 31 percent will mandate three days a week. The study also indicates that most employers will incentivize workers to return to the office. Forty-one percent of companies will offer catered meals, 35 percent will provide commuter benefits, and 34 percent will raise wages. Additional perks that some companies will offer include improved office space, company events, childcare, and pet stipends. In contrast, 21 percent of respondents say they will fire employees who do not comply with return-to-office policies. Although most employers are leaning towards an in-person workplace, hiring and retaining top talent will require flexibility, says Stacie Haller. Many job candidates are primarily looking for remote or hybrid work, and our study shows that more than 70 percent of companies will still offer a flexible work model. According to the report, 96 percent of business leaders say there are benefits to having employees in the office. Fifty-five percent of respondents cite improved communication as a reason to return to in-person work. Employers also say creativity, productivity, company culture, and employee oversight are main reasons they want employees back in office. ResumeBuilder.com commissioned and conducted this survey via the online platform Pollfish. The survey was distributed on September 22, 2022, and garnered responses from 1,000 business leaders. All data within this report derives from the survey, and appropriate respondents were found using Pollfish's screening tools. To view the complete report, please visit https://www.resumebuilder.com/9-in-10-companies-will-require-employees-to-work-from-office-in-2023/. ABOUT RESUMEBUILDER.COM ResumeBuilder.com provides free templates to help create professional resumes. The website also offers up-to-date information and machine learning tools for job seekers. With a team of certified resume writers, recruiting experts, and hiring managers, users gain a competitive advantage and confidence to get hired faster. To learn more, visit https://www.resumebuilder.com/. ### Their wealth of combined experience in research and industry roles in genomics and personalized medicine will help support the strategic and operational advancement of InterVenn as we enter our next chapter of growth, said Aldo Carrascoso, Co-Founder and CEO of InterVenn Biosciences. Slone Partners, a nationwide executive search firm for life sciences, biotechnology, and healthcare companies, has announced the placement of Jason Myers, Ph.D. and Carol Berry to the Board of Directors of InterVenn Biosciences, a clinical technology company leveraging glycoproteomics to transform the future of healthcare. Myers brings to the board more than 20 years of industry and research experience in commercializing innovative genomic tools and diagnostics. He currently serves as CEO of Sequencing Health, an electronic detection platform capable of applications in DNA sequencing, for example, where he also serves on the Board of Directors. Prior to joining Sequencing Health, Myers was President of Oncology leading the personalized medicine strategy at Invitae, a medical genomics company. Berry joins the company with more than 25 years of industry experience in personalized medicine and diagnostics. She currently serves as the Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer at CellCarta (formerly Caprion Bioscience Inc.), a specialized CRO laboratory focused on personalized medicine. Prior to joining CellCarta, Berry served as the Senior Vice President and General Manager of the genomics services division at Asuragen, a molecular diagnostics company. Jason Myers and Carol Berry are both tremendously talented and visionary leaders in healthcare diagnostics and personalized medicine with unique insights and perspectives that will prove tremendously valuable to the InterVenn Board of Directors at an exciting time in the companys evolution, said Slone Partners President Tara Kochis. We are very excited to continue to strengthen the InterVenn Board of Directors with the additions of Dr. Myers and Ms. Berry. Their wealth of combined experience in research and industry roles in genomics and personalized medicine will help support the strategic and operational advancement of InterVenn as we enter our next chapter of growth, said Aldo Carrascoso, Co-Founder and CEO of InterVenn Biosciences. We look forward to their contributions to the company and leveraging their collective expertise. Myers received a B.A.Sc. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Colorado State University and a Ph.D. in Molecular Pharmacology from the Stanford University School of Medicine. Berry received a Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University and an M.B.A. in Information Technology Management from the University of Dallas. ABOUT SLONE PARTNERS Slone Partners delivers the leaders who build amazing and diverse life sciences and healthcare organizations People Are Our Science. Founded in 2000, Slone Partners specializes in delivering world-class C-suite leadership, executive, and upper management talent to the most promising and established biotech, diagnostics, research tools, healthcare, precision medicine, medical device, and laboratory services companies. With national and global clients, Slone Partners uniquely and precisely provides an array of executive search and advisory services, including diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy, to innovative life sciences and healthcare companies. To learn more about Slone Partners value proposition and processes, visit http://www.slonepartners.com or call 888.784.3422. ABOUT INTERVENN BIOSCIENCES InterVenn is a clinical technology company unlocking the value of glycoproteomics for the development of transformational healthcare solutions. The glycoproteome is a source of life-critical information about human biology that has the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes, but it has remained inaccessible due to its vast complexity. InterVenn is pioneering a new AI-powered platform to decode and unlock the potential of the glycoproteome at clinically meaningful scale for the first time in history. To optimize this entirely new dimension of biology, the company has developed a platform capable of producing a robust pipeline of powerful clinical applications, ranging from early disease screening to diagnostics and potentially therapeutics. InterVenn will contribute to making the new era of personalized, predictive, and preventative care a reality. For more information about InterVenn, visit http://www.intervenn.com. Andre Pierre (Haitian, b. 1914), Erzulie, 1973. Oil on canvas. 37 x 26 inches. Tampa Museum of Art, Gift of the Arthur Albrecht Revocable Trust. Mr. Albrecht built a superb collection surveying the rich cultural themes, landscapes, and communities on the island, and this exhibit will add to the increasingly global and dynamic exhibitions we have available for viewing. The Tampa Museum of Art announced today that it has closed on a gift of 88 pieces of Haitian art and a $1 million gift in support of the collection. The paintings, sculptures, and framed maps, along with the cash gift, were bequeathed to the Tampa Museum of Art by the Arthur R. Albrecht Revocable Trust. Albrecht was a devoted collector of Haitian art and was also active in philanthropy on behalf of the country. Florida is home to one of the largest Haitian diaspora communities in the world, and we are thrilled to make this distinctive collection available to our visitors, said Michael Tomor, Ph.D., the Penny and Jeff Vinik Executive Director at the Tampa Museum of Art. Mr. Albrecht built a superb collection surveying the rich cultural themes, landscapes, and communities on the island, and this exhibit will add to the increasingly global and dynamic exhibitions we have available for viewing. The Albrecht Collection includes artworks from Haitis most prominent painters, including Rigaud Benoit, Wilson Bigaud, Prefete Duffaut, and Philome Obin. The paintings, rarely seen by the public until now, present an overview of the major developments in Haitian painting from the 1960s-80s. The holdings of the Albrecht Collection further augment the Tampa Museum of Arts collection of Haitian art which includes one of the largest American museum collections of drapo vodou or Haitian vodou flags. The $1 million gift accompanying the collection complements ongoing fundraising efforts by the Museums Centennial Campaign for Renovation and Expansion. The Museum recently completed renovations of the Vinik Family Education Center, growing the education space from 1,400 to 8,000 square feet, including four classrooms, a lobby, orientation spaces, and a secure entrance. With these improvements in place, the Museum anticipates quadrupling the number of students it serves per year, and the school tour program alone can grow from 6,000 to 24,000 students each year. In 2021, the Museum announced it was embarking on its $100 million+ Centennial Renovation and Expansion to expand the Museums gross area from 69,000 to 125,000 sq. ft. New galleries are scheduled to open beginning in November 2022, and the groundbreaking for the expansion portion of the project is expected to take place next year. Future programming at the Tampa Museum of Art for the Albrecht Collection includes a dedicated exhibition in spring 2024. The exhibition will provide a springboard for educational and scholarly opportunities, including collaborations with universities on Floridas west coast and Miami, as well lectures and symposia with renowned artists and scholars of Haitian art and the Diaspora. A publication with todays foremost Haitian artists and writers will accompany the exhibition and related programming. About the Tampa Museum of Art Founded in 1920, the Tampa Museum of Art inspires visitors with engaging exhibitions and innovative educational programs that emphasize ancient, modern, and contemporary art. The Museum houses one of the largest Greek and Roman antiquities collections in the southeastern United States. As one of the regions most prominent museums devoted to the art of our time, the Museums permanent collection also embraces sculpture, photography, painting, new media, and more. The Museums new Vinik Family Education Center offers expanded year-round studio art classes, lectures, and tours that allow children, teens, and adults to discover new perspectives and learn different art-making techniques. Likewise, through unique community partnerships, the Museum offers outreach programs that provide art-therapy-informed interventions and meaningful modes of self-expression to vulnerable segments of the population. Located in the heart of downtown Tampa, the Tampa Museum of Art leads as both a cultural institution and a community museum dedicated to celebrating its home citys diversity. In 2021, as part of its Centennial Campaign, the Museum embarked on an ambitious renovation to increase exhibition space and education facilities to accommodate growing community partnerships and allow more hands-on, up-close experiences for students and adults. The Museum will remain open to the public throughout the Centennial Renovation, with an expected completion date by the end of 2022. General Hours and Information For tickets and information, visit TampaMuseum.org or call (813) 274-8130. Located at 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza. Tampa, FL 33602, the Tampa Museum of Art is open seven days a week, Monday Sunday, 10 am 5 pm, and Thursdays from 10 am 8 pm. High-resolution images and the full press release are available here. ### World Marketing Summit ONLINE 2022 Tsunehiro Fukushima, Corporate Executive Officer at transcosmos inc., will explain distinctive features of 5As customer journey in Japan using case studies, and propose an ideal approach to CXM for the future. transcosmos inc. is proud to announce that the company has become a Bronze sponsor of the world's leading online marketing seminar, World Marketing Summit ONLINE 2022. At the summit, Tsunehiro Fukushima, Corporate Executive Officer, will take the stage. Past, Present and Into the Future At the Electronic World Marketing Summit an online global marketing conference - the best minds from business leaders and owners, thinkers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and marketing specialists, and from 50 countries across the globe, share their ideas on co-creating a better world through marketing. The World Marketing Summit is the brainchild of the Father of Modern Marketing and Distinguished Professor of International Marketing, Philip Kotler, who created the term social marketing. Taking marketing to the next level, the World Marketing Summit unites innovative minds from the corporate world, governments, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, social entrepreneurship, and more. Under the theme of Marketing Changes to Meet Sustainable Goals, the World Marketing Summit ONLINE 2022 will be streamlined in more than 100 countries globally. The World Marketing Summit, which Japan hosted in 2014 for the first time, has evolved into an online streaming event since 2020 as a solution to address challenges brought under the COVID-19 crisis. Since then, the electronic World Marketing Summit has been held every year, offering access to seminars by 100+ eminent marketing speakers globally in their original languages, and has been highly received by businesspersons worldwide. Now, this year, the World Marketing Summit Japan has handpicked 30 seminars by 30 top speakers for a Japanese audience. The seminars are available via a Japan exclusive website with a Japanese audio translation service. As always, audiences can also access the global website to hear presentations from around the world in the speakers' original languages with a single ticket. Seminar overview Schedule: Livestreaming (Global site): 9:00am, Sunday, November 6 to 8:59am, Tuesday, November 8, 2022 On-demand streaming (Japanese site): Tuesday November 8, 2022 to Tuesday, February 7, 2023 On-demand streaming contents are the same as the live streaming sessions. Format: Online Tickets: Members: \14,850 (tax included) Non-members: \16,500 (tax included) Languages: Japanese, English and other languages Japanese audio translation services available for key seminars (approx. 30 speakers) Sponsor: World Marketing Summit ONLINE Organization Register here: https://e-wms.jp/ For more details, visit here: https://e-wms.jp/about/ transcosmos presentation overview Create the Future via Loyalty Marketing based on 5A's Customer Experience The COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have triggered unprecedented levels of changes in consumer mindsets, as well as economic stagnation on a global scale. Key for recovery and for new marketing is to execute customer management (CXM) strategies powered by 5A's customer journey proposed by Professor Kotler in its true sense. In his presentation, Tsunehiro Fukushima will explain distinctive features of 5A's customer journey in Japan using case studies, and propose an ideal approach to CXM for the future. Find out about transcosmos's latest marketing theory based on P Kotler's model: Website: https://www.pkmarketing.jp/en/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/5a_cx transcosmos is a trademark or registered trademark of transcosmos inc. in Japan and other countries. Other company names and product or service names used here are trademarks or registered trademarks of respective companies. About transcosmos inc. transcosmos launched its operations in 1966. Since then, we have combined superior "people" with up-to-date "technology" to enhance the competitive strength of our clients by providing them with superior and valuable services. transcosmos currently offers services that support clients' business processes focusing on both sales expansion and cost optimization through our 173 bases across 28 countries/regions with a focus on Asia, while continuously pursuing Operational Excellence. Furthermore, following the expansion of e-commerce market on the global scale, transcosmos provides a comprehensive One-Stop Global E-Commerce Services to deliver our clients' excellent products and services to consumers in 46 countries/regions around the globe. transcosmos aims to be the "Global Digital Transformation Partner" of our clients, supporting the clients' transformation by leveraging digital technology, responding to the ever-changing business environment. Visit us here https://www.trans-cosmos.co.jp/english/ 2022 Upper Midwest Emmy Awards - L to R: "40 Thieves on Saipan" Co-Authors Cynthia Kraack and Joseph Tachovsky, Pioneer PBS Exec Producer Dana Conroy, Goody PR Founder Liz H Kelly Everyone at Pioneer PBS has our deepest gratitude for the wonderful tribute they paid to our 40 Thieves. On behalf of my co-author Cynthia Kraack, myself, and the 40 no longer with us, many thanks for helping us tell the inspiring story of these noble and selfless Marines. - Author Joseph Tachovsky In a ballroom filled with hundreds of top media, the '40 Thieves on Saipan: A Son Uncovers His Father's True Story' feature story by Pioneer PBS Postcards Executive Producer Dana Conroy and her team received a 2022 Upper Midwest Emmy Award for the Historical/Cultural/Nostalgic - Long Form Content category on Saturday, October 15, 2022. 40 Thieves on Saipan Co-Authors Joseph Tachovsky and Cynthia Kraack, who are in this segment, were there to thank the team for sharing the true story about Joseph's father, Lt. Frank Tachovsky and his World War II U.S. Marine platoon. With more than 1,000 nominees, this sold-out Emmy Gala at the Radisson Blu Mall of America was the 23rd Annual Upper Midwest Regional Emmy Awards honoring excellence in television. As part of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, this Minnesota division was founded in 1973, and includes 600+ members from Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Western Wisconsin. "40 Thieves on Saipan" Author Joseph Tachovsky expressed thanks, "Everyone at Pioneer PBS has our deepest gratitude for the wonderful tribute they paid to our 40 Thieves. On behalf of my co-author Cynthia, myself, and the 40 who are no longer with us, many thanks for helping us tell the inspiring story of these noble and selfless Marines. This Emmy Award winning story was featured in Pioneer PBS' Postcards Season 13, Episode 11 called "Elite Marine Scout-Snipers of WWII I 40 Thieves on Saipan" (April 21, 2022) as a 19-minute segment filled with historic WWII photographs, letters, animation, and videos of some of the "40 Thieves". Based on 10 years of research, Joseph explained in this PBS story, "The story of the '40 Thieves' is true. My father led the platoon....I discovered this all from a eulogy that was delivered at his funeral..., which made me curious to do an online search... and write the book." This segment includes two previous interviews with platoon members: Platoon Sergeant Bill Knuppel (from Minnesota), and also Marvin Strombo (from Missoula, Montana), who returned a Good Luck Flag to the family of a Japanese soldier in 2017. After collecting over 600 pages of oral histories from survivors and their loved ones, Joseph explained in this Pioneer PBS segment how he was fortunate to meet Co-Author Cynthia Kraack, who helped him put together a creative non-fiction narrative about the "40 Thieves" and these brave young men (mostly 18-20 years old). Co-Author and Award-Winning writer Cynthia Kraack explained their writing process, "We worked hard to create a real sense of authenticity of the era by looking at detail. What did Christmas cards look like? What would people at home have been saying? ...so it sounded like 1944." They also read books, including "Battle Cry" (Author Leon Uris wrote about the "40 Thieves"), and watched movies, including "Saving Private Ryan" and "The Pacific" to study the era. This historic segment also takes you to the National Memorial Cemetery Of The Pacific (known as the Pacific Punchbowl) in Honolulu, Hawaii, where Joseph visited the graves of six men who served with his father during WWII on Veterans Day 2021. Some of the men featured include Cpl Don Evans (aka Mr. Kansas City), Cpl Martin Dyer, Colonel Kenneth F. McCloud, and Lt. George "Pappy" Morehead. Joseph thanks Kelli Bullock Photography for taking moving photos and videos of him next to these graves, which are in this Pioneer PBS Postcards story. According to Pioneer PBS, "Five Emmys were received by the Pioneer PBS Postcards team of Producer Dana Conroy with Videographers/Editors Ben Dempcy and Kristofor Gieske. Since 2013, stories created by the Postcards production team have received 22 Upper Midwest Emmys." The Pioneer PBS team also won an Emmy Award for their Prairie Sportsman program, resulting in a combined total of six Upper Midwest Emmy Awards for this 2022 ceremony. After the producer thanked her several times for pushing them so long to cover this 40 Thieves on Saipan story, Goody PR Founder and Publicist Liz H Kelly, who was also at this event, reviewed her notes to discover that the entire process from first pitch email to this Upper Midwest Emmy Award was almost two years (December 2020 October 2022). Kelly emphasized, "We are beyond grateful to the entire Pioneer PBS Postcards team who worked so hard on the interviews, editing and graphics to shine a light on our client's mostly untold World War II story. Your work is extraordinary, and means the world to the members of the '40 Thieves' family." With 850+ reviews on Amazon and an overall 4.6 rating, "40 Thieves on Saipan" is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook, and audiobook formats via Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million, Target, and in many independent bookstores. Pioneer PBS Story (April 21, 2022) 40 Thieves on Saipan: A Son Uncovers His Father's True Story (19 minutes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkhVjr4Hs0I&t=4s Plus - New - Pioneer PBS Extended Interview with Author Joseph Tachovsky (Aug 31, 2022) BOOK on Amazon 40 Thieves on Saipan: The Elite Marine Scout-Snipers in One of WWII's Bloodiest Battles https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085CNY46R?ref_=k4w_oembed_ECythcyJSEissn&tag=kpembed-20&linkCode=kpd FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/40ThievesSaipan MEDIA CONTACT: Liz H. Kelly, Goody PR, 310-987-7207 ABOUT THE AUTHORS JOSEPH TACHOVSKY (Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin and Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an Award-Winning Author and son of WWII Lieutenant Frank Tachovsky (Ski), whose book 40 Thieves on Saipan: The Elite Marine Scout-Snipers in One of WWIIs Bloodiest Battles (June 2020) documents many stories, photographs, letters and memories of the 40 brave men in his fathers platoon. Known as the 40 Thieves for their covert Special Operations and prowess in acquisitions made through Marine methods, these American war heroes took great risks and contributed to V-J Day (Victory over Japan Day). As a graduate of the University of Minnesota, Joseph is a successful Minneapolis-based restaurant consultant. Members of the 40 Thieves and this book have been featured on the TODAY Show, Pioneer PBS Postcards, KFMB CBS 8 San Diego, WBAY ABC Green Bay, NBC 26 Green Bay, KTMF ABC/FOX Missoula Montana, WBAY ABC Green Bay, KHON2 FOX/CW Honolulu, KITV ABC Honolulu, KATU ABC 2 Portland, National Defense Radio Show, The American Veteran Show, and in Stars and Stripes, Task and Purpose, The Washington Examiner, FoxNews.com, AP, Missoulian, Montana Standard, and many more. https://www.40thievessaipan.com CYNTHIA KRAACK (Minneapolis, Minnesota and Fish Creek, Wisconsin) is an Award-Winning fiction writer, who partnered with Co-Author Joseph Tachovsky to write the story of his fathers heroic WWII War platoon in 40 Thieves on Saipan: The Elite Marine Scout-Snipers in One of WWIIs Bloodiest Battles. Kraack holds a B.A. in Journalism and History from Marquette University, a Masters degree from the University of Minnesota and an M.F.A. from the University of Southern Maine. https://cynthiakraack.com PTI Fact Check: Edited photo of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman buying onions shared with misleading claim Chennai, October 18 (PTI Fact Check) An image of Nirmala Sitharaman was shared on Twitter, claiming she bought onions while visiting a vegetable market in Chennai. The PTI Fact Check Desk found in its investigation that the image shared in the tweet was digitally morphed. The finance minister visited Chennai's vegetable market on October 8 and bought some vegetables. But the image used in the tweet showing her buying onions is edited. Claim The Desk received on its Fact Check WhatsApp Number +91-8130503759 two tweets posted by the verified Twitter handle of Maharashtra Congress Sevadal requesting to substantiate the claim in the tweets. Both tweets showed the same image of Sitharaman purchasing onions in a vegetable market. The first tweet was posted at 12.19 PM on October 11 with the text: " ?" (Are onions being bought for neighbours?) Here's the link and archive link to the post. The Second tweet was published at 10.26 PM on the same day. The text read: " @nsitharaman " (Had heard in Parliament that @nsitharaman didn't eat onion) The link and archive link to the post can be seen here and here. Below is the combined image of the screenshots of both tweets- While scanning social media platforms, the Desk found another tweet and a Facebook post with the same image and similar claim. The Tweet and the FB post can be seen here and here. Investigation The Desk started the investigation by doing a Google Search with the keyword "Nirmala Sitharaman in the vegetable market" and found a Mint Website report published on October 9 with the headline - "Watch: Nirmala Sitharaman buys vegetables from Chennai local market." A paragraph in the Mint report read: "The finance minister was in Chennai for a single day (On Oct 8). Later, she unexpectedly stopped at Mylapore vegetable market where she spoke with vendors and locals." Now, the Desk scanned the Twitter handles of Sitharaman's office to find if any images or videos were posted on her visit to the local vegetable market in Tamil Nadu's capital city. We found a 1.30-minute video posted from @nsitharamanoffc published at 8.23 PM on Oct 8 in which the finance minister was seen talking to a shop owner and buying vegetables at a vegetable market. The text in the tweet read: "During her day-long visit to Chennai, Smt @nsitharaman halted at Mylapore market where she interacted with the vendors & residents and also purchased vegetables." Below is the screenshot of the tweet- The Desk watched the video to check, finding a frame similar to the image shared in the viral tweet. We noticed that onions were not there in the finance minister's basket, as claimed in the photos shared by the Maharashtra Congress Sevadal Twitter handle. Below is the combined image of the screenshot captured from the video and the photo shared in the tweet- The combined photo above established that one screengrab from Sitharaman's video was copied and edited to share on social media platforms with a misleading claim. This is not the first time Sitharaman became the target of misinformation for her 'Onion' remarks she made in Parliament in 2019. During a debate in the Lok Sabha in December 2019, MP when Supriya Sule asked a question on the rising onion prices, and someone else from the Opposition also asked a direct question, Sitharaman replied: "I don't eat much garlic and onions, so don't worry. I come from a family where onions and garlic are not used that much." After the statement, many unverified claims started floating on social media platforms, and even the Opposition leaders also targeted the minister for being 'insensitive.' Later, the minister's office posted a full video of her statement claiming a shorter clip was used out of context to spread misinformation against her. Below is the screenshot of the video, and the tweet by Sitharaman's office can be seen here. Claim Nirmala Sitharaman claimed she didn't eat onions but was seen buying onions during her visit to a local vegetable market. Fact The image of Sitharaman buying onions in the local vegetable market is digitally edited. Conclusion An image was shared on Twitter and Facebook claiming Sitharaman bought onions from a local vegetable market during her visit to a local Chennai market. In its investigation, the PTI Fact Check found that the finance minister did not buy onions, and the image shared on social media platforms was digitally morphed. You can contact PTI Fact Check on WhatsApp Number +91-8130503759 and share any claim or social media post you think is important to fact-check and want us to verify. The American Booksellers Association announced Wednesday that Celeste Ng is the organizations inaugural ambassador and will represent its new Indie Bookstore Ambassador Program, which will promote indie bookstores year-round. Ng will champion indies as they prepare for and celebrate Indies First on Small Business Saturday (November 26 this year) and Independent Bookstore Day (April 29, 2023). Ngs 2022-2023 term coincides with the 10th anniversary of the ABAs Indies First program as well as Independent Bookstore Day. Ng, who served as Independent Bookstore Day Ambassador in 2018, is the author of three novels beloved by indie booksellers: Everything I Never Told You, Little Fires Everywhere, and Our Missing Hearts, which currently is in the #1 position on the ABAs Indie Bestseller List. In a video released by the ABA promoting the 10th anniversary of Indies First, Ng declares, I love independent bookstores because to me they are centers of community. They are places where I get to meet new people and encounter new ideas in the pages. I always walk out with some idea or some fresh perspective that I hadnt found before. Indies First was created in 2013; other authors and celebrities who have served as ambassadors promoting the campaign include Roxane Gay, Jason Reynolds, Dan Rather, Kate DiCamillo, Neil Gaiman with Amanda Palmer, Cheryl Strayed, and Lena Dunham. Even President Barack Obama promoted Indies First by making an unannounced stop at an indie in the Washington, D.C. metro each year during his second term in office. Independent Bookstore Day, the brainchild in 2013 of Pete Mulvihill, the owner of Green Apple Books in San Francisco, launched first as California Independent Bookstore Day on May 3, 2014, before expanding nationwide the following spring and re-named Independent Bookstore Day. Last April, stores throughout the U.S. and even Canada celebrated the day with special programming, authors, and lots of swag giveaways. Yulia Kozlovets is the General Coordinator of IBAF (International Book Arsenal Festival) in Kyiv. In partnership with Frankfurter Buchmesse and Goethe Institute Ukraine the IBAF are organizing one of the professional programs focusing on Ukraine at the fair this year. Tell us about the special program taking place at Frankfurt We had been planning the Summer Academy for publishers from Central and Eastern Europe for the summer 2022 in Kyiv, as a part of the professional programs of the IBAF and continuing our long-lasting co-operation with Frankfurter Buchmesse and Goethe Institute Ukraine. Russias invasion of Ukraine stopped all our plans, and the ongoing war is preventing us from carrying out this project as planned. We have transformed it into the Special Program in Frankfurt, prefaced with online preparatory sessions on How To Do Frankfurt. The main focus of this program is professional dialog, sharing experiences, matchmaking, and the numerous networking opportunities that Frankfurter Buchmesse offers. We are extremely thankful to our partners, as well as to the German Federal Foreign Office, for their support. We have a fantastic group of participants: they are enthusiastic, motivated, active, and passionate! I hope that this program will work as encouragement and motivation both for Ukrainian participants, who are doing their best in very complicated circumstances, and for their colleagues from neighboring countries. And I do hope that the initial idea, the Summer School, will be finally held in peaceful Kyiv! What other events do you and the team have planned? IBAF will also attend Frankfurt as a part of the stand of its organizer, Mystetskyi Arsenal, which is the biggest Ukrainian cultural center and contemporary art museum, and a symbol of postcolonial transformation and independence. It was founded in 2005 at the site of a military industrial complex, constructed in 1783 by Russian Empress Catherine II, who thereby obliterated a 16thcentury Ukrainian nunnery. This evolution of this site symbolizes our desire to remain a place for books, arts, and a creative, peaceful country. With our stand in THE ARTS+, under the motto Arsenal of Books & Arts & Resilience, we are calling on the publishing and cultural community to support Ukraine and spread the word. Our team is also organizing events in the fair program, some of which will be at the Ukrainian national stand (organized by the Ukrainian Book Institute). There is also a round-table discussion planned at the Frankfurt Pavilion, and the musical and poetic performance Foxtroty with Serhij Zhadan, winner of the 2022 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade. How difficult has it been to organize these events? Participation in international fairs is not so easy for Ukrainians now: logistics and travel problems, financial hardships, and so on. How is the Ukrainian book industry faring in this time of war? Do you remain hopeful? Some Ukrainian publishers and cultural managers have been forced to leave Ukraine and work abroad because of Russias invasion, while others have relocated within the country. Some had to leave behind warehouses packed with books. Publishing employees, as well as writers, editors, translators, and poets volunteered for the armed forces. Some have died, some are missing, some have been captured. A report in April found that almost all publishers had suffered dramatic falls in sales. They are trying somehow to adapt and to find new ways of doing business. Over the past two months, the number of publishing houses that have managed to maintain their capacities has increased. We at Book Arsenal have held the third edition of the Ukrainian Literature: Rights On! 2022, focusing on the most effective ways of supporting the sector. In October we will present a special program: a series of eventsUkraine Dayat the Cheltenham Literature Festival as part of the UK/Ukraine Season of Culture supported by the British Council and the Ukrainian Institute. The international community can stand with us and help us with creating programs to support cultural institutions in Ukraine, developing joint projects, translating our authors, buying our books, spreading the word, and organizing exhibitions or educational programs that celebrate Ukraines distinctive culture and history. And yes, we do remain hopeful: we will definitely win. There is no other way. The Frankfurt Book Fair is back at full force for the first time in three years and while it was a little quieter than in years past, it was clear those attending the event were glad to back. Three years of Zoom calls has banished any cynicism one might have previously felt about the annual grind of traveling to Frankfurt for the fair. One publisher, asking for anonymity, said, Its just not the same trying to buy and sell books over Zoom. It might be efficient, but its not fun and its not effective. Why the insistence on anonymity? Their boss would have preferred that they stay home, rather than rack up the expenses that can come with a trip to Frankfurt. That said, with the U.S. dollar at parity with the euro, Frankfurt does feelif not cheapless expensive than in the past. A typically spartan European hotel room can be had for less than 300 euros a night and beer at the Frankfurter Hofan always reliable barometer of economic exuberance tied to the fairis pegged at 8 a glass, which feels cheaper than in previous years. There is also a new, perhaps unwelcome sense of thrift in the city, which has led to some minor frustrations. Exhibitor passes no longer cover public transportation and its cash only in many bars and restaurants, as institutions seek to avoid paying credit card fees. In her speech at the opening press conference of the fair, Karin Schmidt-Friderichs, director of the Boersenverein, the German booksellers and publishers association, acknowledged there was economic trepidation, especially tied to rising energy prices resulting from Vladimir Putin cutting off energy supplies to Germany in response to sanctions following his invasion of Ukraine. If a bookstore sees its energy cost go up 300%...it may go bust, she said of the stress. One factor in keeping attendance down was the lingering impact of the pandemic, which meant that a majority of the agents, editors and publishers from Asia are absent from this years fair. China continues to impose lockdowns and others from the region have opted to stay home. The other large group missing from the fair are Russian publishers, having been banned following Putins invasion of Ukraine. As noted, the war has had an economic impact, and Putins recent nuclear saber rattling have some people feeling a little on edge about the time spent in Germany. One side effect of the war is that it has brought new attention to Ukraine and its rich literature. Benas Berantas, founder of The Book Smugglers Literary Agency in Vilnius, Lithuania remarked The return of the full-scale fair this year with a huge focus and deserved attention to Ukrainian literature is vitally important for the Ukrainian publishers and people of Ukraine as a sign of constant support in their battle for peace." Ukraine is not the only geopolitical concern for publishers. The skies over Iran have darkened, said Juergen Boos, the fair director, in his opening speech, referring to the countrywide violence sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, which culminated this weekend the death of four and 61 injured at the notorious Evin Prison riot this past weekend. Premium online access is only available tosubscribers. If you have an active subscription and need to set up or change your password, please click here New to PW? To set up immediate access, click here. NOTE: If you had a previous PW subscription, click here to reactivate your immediate access. PW site license members have access to PWs subscriber-only website content. If working at an office location and you are not "logged in", simply close and relaunch your preferred browser. For off-site access, click here. To find out more about PWs site license subscription options, please email Mike Popalardo at: mike@nextstepsmarketing.com. There are probably only two recognizable brands in U.K. publishing: Penguin, founded in 1935 by Allen Lane, and Virago, in 1973 by Carmen Callil, who died October 17 at home in London at 84. Each had a vision, Lanes to make a wide variety of literature available to the masses, Callils to break a silence, to make womens voices heard, to tell womens stories, my story and theirs. Both succeeded, though along the way both their companies went through many transformations as publishing became corporate, accountants and management consultants replacing the old actor-managers whose sole concern was for the authors. Born in Melbourne, Callil set sail for Europe on the day she graduated. She arrived in London in 1960 and fell in with a group of Australian girls who lived a life that she described as being like something out of a Muriel Spark novel. Her publishing career began in publicity, the only route in for those who declined to be secretaries. She was working for the magazine Spare Rib when, in June 1972, an idea for a feminist publishing company occurred. It was, she said, like the switching on of a light bulb. She launched Virago in 1973, her mission a mass market publisher for 52% of the population, women, at a time when they were permitted neither mortgages nor bank loans. Soon the distinctive green-spined Virago Modern Classics was putting long-neglected authors such as Antonia Frost, Rosamond Lehmann, and Elizabeth Taylor back on the book shelves. It was a challenge to Penguins predominantly male line. When Vera Brittains Testament of Youth, first published in 1933, was revived and became a five-part TV series, Virago was on the publishing map. Each title carried a prefatory quote from Sheila Rowbothams Women, Resistance and Revolution: Virago is a feminist publishing company: It is only when women start to organize in large numbers that we become a political force, and begin to move towards the possibility of a truly democratic society in which every human being can be brave, responsible, thinking and diligent in the struggle to live at once freely and unselfishly. In 1982, Callil was recruited to take over Chatto & Windus. She accepted on condition that she Virago bring with, believing it would benefit from being part of a larger group. But Chatto, Cape and Bodley Head were companies badly run by men and they would shortly require rescue. Following the 1987 takeover by Random House Inc, Callil and her colleagues battled to buy out Virago. But independence was precarious and short-lived and in 1995 the publisher found a congenial home with Little, Brown UK, where it continues to flourish. By then, Callil had retired from publishing, chairing the Booker Prize in 1996 and 1999, contributing reviews and features to newspapers and magazines, and dividing her time between London and France. Her own books included Bad Faith (2006), a biography of Louis Darquier de Pellepoix, which uncovered another grim chapter in French wartime history, and Oh Happy Day (2021), a family history. Like all those with lofty ideals who strive to achieve great things, she was not easy to work with. Everyone cried in the loos, she would say by way of justification of her management style. In every sense of the word, she was a character, one who inspired fierce loyalty. There are many who owe their careers to her. I always wanted to change the world, Callil said. I didnt think the world was good enough. Liz Thomson is a London-based author and journalist who spent three decades chronicling the international book trade. She is the founder of The Village Trip Festival in Greenwich Village. Whats new in the translation sector? What have we achieved, apart, together? As I think about this, I am sitting in the back of Conway Hall in London, at English PENs annual International Translation Day conference for literary translation professionals. Im tuning in to conversations about reading habits during the pandemic (more international, anecdotallythe idea being that readers have increasingly chosen to travel through reading); the big shift to online programming since 2020; the publisher/ translator relationship (money, recognition, transparency); and more. The room is not fulla hangover of these pandemic years; attracting in-person audiences is still proving tricky for event organizers. But the quality and intensity of the discourse are as high as always, and it feels good to be in a room together. So what is new? One thing that strikes me is that because most of us have been online so much more since 2020, there is increased visibility in the virtual sphere both for translators themselves and for the, often passionate, debates around the craft and politics of translation itself. Even those distant from the world of translation would have been aware of the 2021 controversy around the German and Catalan translations of a book by the American poet Amanda Gormanthe story made major broadsheets around the world. Conversations around who gets to translate, how, where the publishing industrys blind spots are, whose name is on the cover, feel more mainstream than they did a few years ago, which can only be a good thing. I would recommend seeking out Violent Phenomena, a recent collection of essays on decolonizing translation edited by Dr Kavita Bhanot and Jeremy Tiang and published by dynamic independent press Tilted Axis Press. Another recommendation is the Translators Aloud YouTube channel, set up during the pandemic by Tina Kover and Charlotte Coombes. It offers literary translators a platform to read their work aloud, a simple concept which has taken off, with more than 400 videos made to date and partnerships with publishers and cultural institutes already under its belt. Like many good ideas, this one looks to have seamlessly become part of the publishing landscape, helping to normalize the translators role as artists and advocates for international literature (and as assets for marketing departments). Translation as a vital act seems to have been in or near the news for much of the past year. When Russia invaded Ukraine in February, it was amazing to see the flowering of translation activity and activism around especially poetry from Ukraine. It was also interesting to watch the debates which sprang up about the differing treatment of Ukrainian and e.g. Syrian and Afghan refugees, with the language barrier being one of the oft-cited issues. The Booker International Prize continues to have a strong influence on the market. In May, the prize was awarded to Tomb of Sand, written by Geetanjali Shree, translated from Hindi by Daisy Rockwell and published by Tilted Axis (who are having a great year). It is the first book originally written in any Indian language to win the prize. The announcement was met with a flurry of press attention, and the book sold 35,000 copies in a single week. U.S. rights have now been acquired by HarperCollins. There definitely seems to be more excitement around acquiring South Asian authors as a result of this success. Speaking of prizes, the Poetry Translation Centres own Sarah Maguire Prize shortlist was announced in September. This biennial prize, set up in honor of PTC founder Sarah Maguire, highlights the best collections of poetry in translation by non-European poets, and aims to boost sales and visibility for poets, translators and publishers. The shortlist is being celebrated with a raft of social media and events leading up to the winner announcement on November 1. And heres another date for your diaries: submissions for the 2024 Sarah Maguire Prize will open in May 2023, and are welcome from publishers based anywhere in the world. The Poetry Translation Center is a publisher and an advocacy organization in London, Engliand. The Frankfurt Book Fair kicked off with a number of big deals. Agents for authors Marcela Fuentes, Nicole Dennis-Benn, and Vivian Tu were all reported to have reached seven-figure agreements for upcoming works. In a seven-figure, two-book, agreement Laura Tisdel at Viking bought North American rights to Fuentess debut novel Malas. Fuentes, a graduate of the Iowa Writers Workshop, was represented by Michelle Brower at Trellis Literary Management. The novel, Trellis said, is a tale of revenge and passion as well as a family saga about the heartbreaking choices that reverberate across generations. The second book under contract, My Heart Has More Rooms Than a Whorehouse, is a linked story collection following members of a Latinx family that explores, the agency said, the pressure points of familial obligations and the complexities of love. Fuentes, who was a 2016-17 James C. McCreight Fellow in fiction at the Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing, has written for, among other publications, The Kenyon Review and The Rumpus. In second rumored seven-figure deal for two books, Nicole Dennis-Benn sold her new untitled novel to Random House's Marie Pantojan at auction. Julie Barer at the Book Group represented Dennis-Benn in the North American rights agreement. The novel follows a young Jamaican girl named Faye who grows up with her family in a small coffee-farming village and returns home after a unhappy time as a model to find a community she no longer recognizes. Dennis-Benn is the author of the critically acclaimed novels Here Comes the Sun and Patsy, both published by W.W. Nortons Liveright imprint. The former, her 2016 debut, was named a New York Times Notable Book and was a finalist for a 2017 Young Lions Fiction Award. Patsy, published in 2019, won a Lambda Literary Award. Vivian Tus Rich AF was acquired for seven figures by Trish Daly at Penguin Random Houses Portfolio imprint. The book, which Alyssa Reuben at William Morris Endeavor sold, is being pitched as a Rich Dad Poor Dad for millennials. Tu, the child of Chinese immigrants who started her career on Wall Street, developed an online following dispensing no nonsense financial advice for the kind of people she didnt see on the trading floor. Namely people like her, who didnt grow up with, or around, money. Developing an online presence as @YourRichBFFon Instagram she has more than 900,000 followersTu has branded herself as a personal finance guru for an inclusive audience. Boyer 2030 Commission recognizes Cornerstone as a nationwide model for liberal arts education WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Purdue Universitys revolutionary Cornerstone Integrated Liberal Arts program continues to draw national attention, this time from the Boyer 2030 Commission, which highlights the nationwide model aimed at developing creative thinking and communication skills across all Purdue academic majors. The Boyer Commission, made up of a diverse group of accomplished higher education leaders, was tasked with developing a 2030 blueprint for undergraduate education at U.S. research universities. The report noted that Cornerstone has reinvigorated the humanities in general education at Purdue and elsewhere (pg. 14). We are proud that the Boyer Commission has singled out Cornerstone in its 2030 Blueprint for Undergraduate Education at U.S. Research Universities, said David A. Reingold, Purdues Justin S. Morrill Dean of Liberal Arts. I am particularly proud to see that the colleges decision to include a teaching commitment in Cornerstones first-year courses by our new tenure-track faculty hires is noted among the reports recommended strategies for university leadership. We believe a faculty engaged in both undergraduate teaching and research reflects our duty as a public land-grant institution to educate students to be informed citizens. Furthermore, the report used the Cornerstone certificate as an example of why university presidents, chancellors and provosts should institutionalize equity and excellence in undergraduate education through faculty hiring practices: For example, at Purdue University, new tenure-track hires in the College of Liberal Arts must commit half of their teaching to the Cornerstone program described above. As you approve hires and/or work with deans, departments, and faculty to set priorities and criteria for hiring, you have the opportunity and the power to break open the silos of departments in service to university mission (pg. 54). The Cornerstone certificate is a 15-credit-hour undergraduate program designed to develop foundational knowledge among all Purdue students. They read great books, also referred to as transformative texts, some of the greatest words spoken or written throughout human history. The two-semester, first-year sequence is taught by award-winning Liberal Arts faculty and builds critical thinking and communication skills while broadening students perspectives. More than 90 faculty in the College of Liberal Arts teach in Cornerstone. The first-year sequence is followed by three courses built around a series of themes selected by students. For the fall of 2022, more than 3,600 students are enrolled in the first-year sequence and nearly 800 for the full certificate. In September 2020, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Teagle Foundation announced a $7 million endowment for Cornerstone: Learning for Living, a program model based upon Purdues Cornerstone Integrated Liberal Arts certificate. As a result, 35 universities are now using versions of Cornerstone, including Notre Dame, Stanford, Michigan State, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M. For more on the Cornerstone program click here. About Purdue University Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to todays toughest challenges. Ranked in each of the last five years as one of the 10 Most Innovative universities in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://stories.purdue.edu. Writer/Media contact: Trevor Peters, peter237@purdue.edu In more than 30 years as a reporter, I have witnessed plenty of media puffery and mendacity. But last weeks inclusion by Politico Europe of Russian President Vladimir Putin on their Green 28 list ranks as one of the most odious and disgusting examples of media misconduct I have ever seen. The piece claims Putin is the invader making the EU green, and that by invading Ukraine, Putin has achieved something generations of green campaigners could not -- clean energy is now a fundamental matter of European security. Before going further, its essential to put Putins invasion of Ukraine into context. According to a report published last month by the United Nations, at least 5,700 civilians have been killed and some 8,300 others have been injured. On October 3, three analysts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies reported that more than 7.5 million Ukrainian refugees have been registered outside of Ukraine. Poland and Germany have received the most refugees -- over one million each. Several news outlets have documented the reign of terror that Russian soldiers inflicted on the Ukrainians under their control, including rape, torture, and murder. Last month, The New York Times reported on findings by the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, which documented cases in which children have been raped, tortured, and unlawfully confined. The September 23 article says that the U.N. had added more chilling allegations to the list of crimes widely reported by Ukrainian and international investigators probing the executions of civilians in Bucha and the mass burial site found near the town of Izium after it was recaptured by Ukrainian troops this month. It added that the U.N. has concluded that war crimes have been committed in Ukraine. Geopolitical strategist Peter Zeihan recently summed up Russias tactics in Ukraine writing, There is now ample proof from many of the liberated towns of not simply Russian soldiers robbing and killing civilians, but of unit commanders setting up rape clinics and torture chambers for use by the men under their command. War crimes in a tactical sense. None of these facts merited a mention in Politico Europes paean to Putin, who by the way, ranks number 1 on their Green 28 list. The article barely mentions the fact that European countries are scrambling for all of the hydrocarbons they can find and that all of them are racing to refill their natural gas storage as rapidly as they can before winter sets in. The article ignores the hard reality that European countries are racing back to coal. In July, the International Energy Agency reported that Coal consumption in the European Union is expected to rise by 7% in 2022 on top of last years 14% jump. This is being driven by demand from the electricity sector where coal is increasingly being used to replace gas, which is in short supply and has experienced huge price spikes following Russias invasion of Ukraine. Several EU countries are extending the life of coal plants scheduled for closure, reopening closed plants or raising caps on their operating hours to reduce gas consumption. The article doesnt mention the resurgence of nuclear energy in Europe or the fact that Germany has done an about-face and will be extending the life of some of its reactors. Nor does the article mention anything about fertilizer, even though some 70% of Europes fertilizer plants have been shuttered due to high natural gas prices. More importantly, the article neglects to note that Europe drove itself into the ditch by spending too heavily on renewable energy over the past two decades while ignoring its growing dependence on Russia for oil and gas. Indeed, according to a recent report by John Constable of the Global Warming Policy Foundation, between 2008 and 2021, renewable energy subsidies in the EU cost consumers some $746 billion. Making matters worse, those subsidies are adding nearly $70 billion per year to consumers bills. The result of all this malinvestment is obvious: Europe is teetering on economic ruin. Factories and smelters are being shuttered, many of them permanently. The U.K. now has the highest electricity bills in Europe and according to a report released last week by the British government, business bankruptcies in the country are now at their highest level since the 2009 financial crisis. Instead of recognizing the staggering human and economic harm that Putins savage invasion of Ukraine has caused, Politico Europe claims that the invasion was well timed, coming two years after the European Union laid the foundations of its Green Deal program for zeroing out emissions by 2050. That meant the policy machinery for a total remake of the European energy economy was already moving. All it needed was a nudge. A nudge? Really? No matter how many times I read those last few sentences, I can barely believe that any journalist could be so obtuse. Its telling that the piece on Putin doesnt have a byline. After all, who would want to put their name on a piece that reduces such a savage conflict to a nudge? Russias invasion of Ukraine has left thousands of civilians dead or injured and turned more than seven million Ukrainians into refugees. This week, the Russian military has been targeting civilians and purposely shelling the countrys electric grid as part of an effort to inflict as much suffering as it can on the people of Ukraine. And yet, Politico Europe concludes its piece on Putin by casting the war as positive because it will mean that the EU becomes greener, faster, than before Russian troops marched across the Ukrainian border. This is shameful and repulsive. Politico Europe owes the public an immediate apology and a retraction. Robert Bryce is the host of the Power Hungry Podcast, executive producer of the documentary, Juice: How Electricity Explains the World, and the author of six books, including most recently, A Question of Power: Electricity and the Wealth of Nations. Follow him on Twitter and TikTok: @pwrhungry Rick Riordan will release a new Percy Jackson book in 2023. ADVERTISEMENT The 58-year-old author announced the novel Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Chalice of the Gods on Tuesday. Percy Jackson is a fantasy book series inspired by Greek mythology. The main series consists of five novels, the most recent of which, The Last Olympian, was released in 2009. The Chalice of the Gods is a standalone sequel following the characters Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase and Grover Underwood. "Not a reboot. Not a reimagining. A full-blown, canonical, stand-alone sequel starring the original trio from The Lightning Thief," Riordan's website reads. The book will see Percy, a modern-day boy who discovers he is the demigod son of Poseidon, take on his biggest challenge yet -- getting into college. "After saving the world multiple times, Percy Jackson is hoping to have a normal senior year of high school. Unfortunately, the gods aren't quite done with him. Percy will have to fulfill a new quest in order to get the necessary letter of recommendation from Mount Olympus for his application to New Rome University," an official description reads. Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Chalice of the Gods is scheduled for release Sept. 26, 2023. 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! The first two books, The Lightning Thief and Sea of Monsters, were adapted as films starring Logan Lerman and Alexandra Daddario Teresa Giudice says she didn't sign a prenuptial agreement with her new husband, Louie Ruelas. ADVERTISEMENT The 50-year-old television personality confirmed as much during Tuesday's episode of Watch What Happens Live, which was filmed at BravoCon. Giudice, who stars on The Real Housewives of New Jersey, attended BravoCon with WWHL host and Real Housewives executive producer Andy Cohen and cast members from the Real Housewives franchise. The Real Housewives stars fielded questions from the audience, including a person who asked Giudice if she took Cohen's advice and got a prenup with Ruelas. "No," Giudice responded. "True love." Giudice said on WWHL in February that she and Ruelas has no plans to get a prenup and said the same at the RHONJ Season 12 reunion in May. "It's between Louie and I. It's going to be our decision," she said. "It's nobody's business." Giudice then reiterated how her ex-husband, Joe Giudice, had her sign a prenup a week before their wedding. 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! "It's shameful 'cause when you get married, you get married for love," she said. Giudice and Ruelas married in New Jersey in August. Giudice has four daughters with ex-husband Joe Giudice. Dating all the way back to the early 20th century, the vinyl record is quite possibly the most timeless medium of listening to music. The popularity of vinyl records in the modern age of music is undeniable, but knowledge of the process of making a record is not as widespread. Kindercore Vinyl in North Athens was established in 1996. After its transition into a full-time pressing company, their main focus has been creating physical records. On Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022, a large group of people gathered on the Arch Bridge in Williamsville for a ceremony marking the official opening of the new bridge over the Rock River. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. High 46F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. Low 23F. Winds light and variable. Surveillance image of a suspect in the theft of a pickup truck containing firearms and body armor in Whitingham early Tuesday 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. BRATTLEBORO Refugee resettlement is off to a good start in Southern Vermont, where programs were built from the ground up with a lot of comm To the editor: I was very disappointed with all four Vermont Senate candidates' milquetoast and incorrect statements on health care during the debate on Oct. 4 ("Senate candidates differentiate on priorities, policies," Oct. 4). Senate candidates differentiate on priorities, policies BRATTLEBORO Candidates for two Windham County Senate seats shared their visions Monday for Tim Wessel rightly noted that single-payer "does have to be paid for." However he forgot to mention that even the worst-case estimates of the cost of Medicare for All done by Koch-funded opponents of universal health care say it would save about $300 billion (billion!) a year. Paying for it isnt the problem the status quo is the fiscally irresponsible option. Wendy Harrison is willing to fully participate in conversations about [health care]. Thats nice, but weve been having those discussions for decades; we know what to do. My familys deductible was $14,000 last year. Earlier, even with a lower deductible and cadillac insurance, my family still owed thousands after my wife got sick. We dont need more discussion, we need action. Nader Hashim correctly observed that geography, population and regulations are challenges for a single-payer system. He declined to mention that the report then-Governor Shumlin waved around when he killed single-payer in 2014 showed the opposite of what he said at the time: that even in the worst-case scenario, a huge majority of Vermonters would have come out ahead financially with single-payer. As might be expected, Rick Morton believes single-payer is socialism. If its wrong to guarantee people can get life-saving care without going bankrupt, all while saving astronomical amounts of money, then I dont want to be right. We residents of Windham county deserve better. Clint Gilbert Brattleboro, Oct. 13 A rare public protest on the eve of the Chinese Communist Party Congress calling for President Xi Jinping to step down tapped into the government's deepest fears of dissent and public opposition. The jab at Xi and his harsh zero-COVID policies, displayed on two banners hung on the Sitong traffic overpass in Beijing, resonated with many Chinese and was swiftly scrubbed from the country's internet. Xi's keynote speech to the congress set a record for the number of mentions of "security." Norwegian artist Edvard Munch painted The Scream in 1893 to portray a panic attack and existential crisis. Chinese outside the country say the protest touched everyone amid ongoing anger over Beijing's zero-COVID policy. A protester dubbed bridge man hung two banners off a Beijing overpass on Oct. 13, 2022, before the Chinese Communist Party Congress, can be seen on the bridge at the left edge of the banner. Amid a rare public protest during the Chinese Communist Party's 20th National Congress, Chinese nationals who amplify or respond to anti-Xi Jinping feeling said they are increasingly concerned about bringing trouble down on the heads of loved ones back home. Overseas social media among the Chinese diaspora -- where information flows more freely than inside the Great Firewall of internet censorship -- has been abuzz with the news of a protester who hung a banner calling for the removal of leader Xi Jinping on a Beijing overpass on the eve of the party congress. While censors of China's tightly-controlled internet quickly deleted posts, comments and accounts mentioning the banners, many outside the country hailed the man, named as Peng Lifa, as a hero. Slogans and comments expressing solidarity with the "bridge man" protest began appearing on college bulletin boards outside China, including the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Chicago, New York University, Johns Hopkins, Emory and McGill, as well as at UCL and Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London and at Seoul's Korea University. Many of the comments were supportive of the protest, but anonymous, according to a U.S.-based Chinese student who gave only the surname Wang, for fear of compromising loved ones back home. "Most of them are Chinese nationals with most of their friends and family back in China, so they want to make sure they're not affected [by their comments overseas]," Wang told RFA. Wang said Chinese students also fear being contacted by officials from their local Chinese embassy or consulate, or being reported to authorities by one of their Chinese classmates. Some anonymous solidarity with Peng's protest has also been spotted in China, where public signs of dissent are extremely rare and punishable by detention and jail, or other forms of official retaliation like incarceration in a psychiatric hospital like Dong Yaoqiong, a young woman who splashed ink on a public portrait of Xi Jinping on July 4, 2018. Photos of anti-Xi graffiti has been seen scrawled in public toilets in mainland China echoing Peng's call for direct elections, an end to the zero-COVID policy and to Xi's dictatorship. Graffiti is seen here in the men's restroom at the Beijing Film Archive movie theater. Credit: Citizen journalist Photos of anti-Xi graffiti scrawled in public toilets in mainland China echoing Peng's call for direct elections, an end to the zero-COVID policy and to Xi's dictatorship have been circulating on Twitter since last week. One of the photos said the graffiti was seen in the men's toilets of the Beijing Film Archive movie theater. Another, which largely repeated the slogans on one of Peng's banners, was attributed to the men's toilets at the Nanhu Interchange on the Chengdu Metro, in the provincial capital of the southwestern province of Sichuan. "Free Chengdu, revolution now!" the slogan added, in a variation on the signature slogan of the 2019 anti-extradition and pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Social media users posted photos of similar graffiti in Xuzhou, in the eastern province of Jiangsu. As local governments started hastily hiring guards to post a round-the-clock watch on all traffic flyovers in Beijing for the duration of the party congress, the Beijing police department issued an order to print and photocopying shops requiring them to review all content before printing orders. "All printed and copied material must be reviewed by store staff," said the order, a copy of which was circulating on social media. Unconfirmed reports that anyone buying paint or more than a foot of fabric in Beijing must now register with their real names have also been circulating on social media. RFA was unable to verify the reports independently. Overseas Solidarity Chinese internet celebrity Xu Qingen, who currently lives in France, said he was among the first to support Peng's protest openly. "I was the first to speak up for Mr. Peng, because it is very difficult for people in China to speak up for him," Xu told RFA. "Chinese abroad need to lend their unconditional support ... because they have the geographical advantage of being relatively free." "Not like in China, where the CCP has total control over public discourse and ideology, and over the whole country," he said. U.K.-based rights activist Wang Jianhong agreed. "This kind of overseas solidarity is very, very, very important," Wang told RFA. "It's great to see. Anyone who still cares about China's future ... and also about their parents back in their hometown, should do something." "The Sitong Bridge protest touched people deeply, because everyone feels the same about the harms of the zero-COVID policy," she said. "If there is no freedom at this point, then anyone could wind up dying in a quarantine hospital. The lack of food and emergency medical treatment affects everyone in China." The protester, seen in a video being loaded into a police car Thursday, has been named as Peng Lifa. He used the handle Peng Zaizhou on social media in a reference to an ancient essay describing the people as the water that holds up the boat of government, and might overturn it if they are unhappy with its rule. While RFA has been unable to confirm the identity of the protester independently, content posted earlier to Peng's social media accounts was consistent with the tone of his banners, which were displayed from the Sitong flyover on Beijing's Third Ring Road on Thursday. "Remove the traitor-dictator Xi Jinping!" read one banner, video and photos of which were quickly posted to social media, only to be deleted. A post linked from the account called for strikes and class boycotts to remove Xi. "Food, not PCR tests. Freedom, not lockdowns. Reforms, not the Cultural Revolution. Elections not leaders," read the second, adding: "Dignity, not lies. Citizens, not slaves." Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Experts say the PLA Air Force could gain insight into battle tactics and aircraft capabilities. The British defense ministry is taking immediate steps to deter and penalize the recruitment of former U.K. military pilots by China for training, which experts say could pose serious security risks in the Asia-Pacific region and the South China Sea. The Australian Defence Force meanwhile is also investigating claims that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is attempting to recruit Australian aviators to train its pilots. British media, including the BBC, reported that up to 30 former British military pilots are believed to have gone to train PLA members, allegedly for large sums of money. Defense intelligence officers are engaging with the individuals already involved to ensure they are fully aware of the risk of prosecution under the Officials Secrets Act, said the ministry in a statement. We are conducting a review of the use of confidentiality agreements across Defence with the aim of providing additional contractual levers to prevent individuals breaching security, it said. The current legislation would be amended to capture a range of relevant activity and provide additional possible routes to prosecution. A rare intelligence alert has been issued to warn former Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots against collaborating with the PLA. Staggering news The news on Chinas recruitment of U.K. former pilots left some regional security and defense analysts dumbfounded. Its totally astonishing that some elite pilots within NATO would be training Chinese pilots, said Alexander Neill, an independent military analyst based in Singapore. Recently, the British Royal Navys aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth and its strike group took part in joint exercises in the South China Sea with the U.S. Navy and other allies. Ten US F-35 fighter jets were deployed aboard the British aircraft carrier as part of an agreement to integrate the operations of two nations carrier fleets. Imagine what the U.S. Navy must have been thinking after receiving the news? Theyre supposed to be on the same side, said Neill. There must be a lot of frustration and anger, he added. U.S. Marine Corps F-35B fighter jets operate off the U.K. aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth in the South China Sea on July 27, 2021. CREDIT: U.S. Navy Recruiting former members of the armed forces is a common practice of intelligence gathering, said Matthew Brazil, Fellow at the Jamestown Foundation and co-author of the book Chinese Communist Espionage. Depending on how current a pilot is, they would at least know a lot of secret-level information on air combat tactics and capabilities. A pilot could know more too about advanced avionics and Allied Air Force weaknesses, he said. Pilots under contract to the PLA Air Force (PLAAF) or the PLA Navy (PLAN) would therefore be targets for recruitment by Chinese military intelligence to reveal more than just flying skills. The latest developments show that the U.K. has a serious counter intelligence problem, according to Singapore-based Neill. It seems peculiar that the British intelligence didnt have much idea about the recruitment [of former military pilots], the security analyst said. Combat experience According to British media reports, the U.K. authorities first became aware of the recruitment of former military pilots in 2019. The number was small at that time but has recently increased significantly. The recruited pilots have experience on fast jets and other aircraft, including Typhoons, Jaguars, Harriers and Tornados. British Royal Air Force's Typhoon Eurofighter jets demonstrate the interception of a Belgian air force transport plane as they fly over Britain, Jan. 14, 2020. Credit: Johanna Geron/Reuters Neill pointed out that while growing fast, the PLAAF doesnt have much operational experience compared to the RAF, which took part in the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Libya. The former military pilots hold valuable knowledge and experience, of which the PLAAF seems determined to get as much as they can, said Neill. Its clear that the PLA has now moved on from training to rehearsing combat scenarios, he said, adding that not only the U.S. and its allies but other countries in the region should be watching closely. This is the most dangerous development, said Shen Ming-Shih, acting deputy chief executive officer at Taiwans Institute for National Defense and Security Research (IDSR), a state think-tank. China wants British ex-officers not only for flight training, but to understand the Wests air combat doctrine and to find operational weaknesses of the U.S. and NATO air forces, then to develop their own countermeasures, Shen said. Knowing Western air operation strategy and tactics, China can also counter the Taiwanese Air Force, because our Air Force operates with similar tactical thinking, the Taiwanese military expert said. British officials told media that the former pilots were recruited through intermediary headhunters, including a particular flying academy based in South Africa. They were offered lucrative packages, some thought to be as much as U.S. $270,000. Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood, Chair of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee, himself a former soldier, wrote on Twitter: We should not be surprised by Chinas audacity in luring UK pilots to learn about our tactics. But we should be surprised theres nothing akin to the Official Secrets Act preventing this - and the absence of patriotism of those involved. Australia investigating claims Australias defense ministry has followed the U.K. in investigating claims that Australian former military pilots had been recruited by China via a South African flight school. The defense minister, Richard Marles, said in a statement quoted in Australian media: I would be deeply shocked and disturbed to hear that there were personnel who were being lured by a pay cheque from a foreign state above serving their own country. Ive requested the division to examine these claims and are available again to my workplace with clear recommendations on this matter, the minister said. In Alexander Neills opinion, the PLA is keen to get first-hand knowledge of Western air forces tactics and is not picky about which countries to learn from, given they have similar platforms. Israel, Australia, the Netherlands or any other country could serve the purpose, he said. Some analysts also think that recruiting ex-NATO pilots is actually a double-edged sword for China. These Western instructors could reveal how much the PLAAF knows, how they fly and train their pilots, how they cooperate with other units, branches etc., said Andreas Rupprecht, a well-known expert on China's military aviation. "I was dragged into the consulate. I did not attempt to enter the consulate," said Bob Chan. Protester Bob Chan, who was being pulled onto the grounds of the Chinese consulate in Manchester and beaten, holds a news conference in London, Britain, Oct. 19, 2022. A man who was allegedly assaulted in China's consulate in Manchester during a weekend protest on Wednesday denied claims from the Chinese mission that he had tried to rush into the consulate, as pressure mounted for a tougher response from London. China's foreign ministry said on Wednesday that it had lodged representations with Britain over the incident in the northern English city on Sunday, the first day of the Chinese Communist Party's 20th National Congress in Beijing, while some British lawmakers called for the expulsion of the diplomats involved. Video of the incident posted to social media showed a verbal altercation between 30-40 people peacefully protesting outside the consulate in Manchester and a man believed to be a member of consulate staff, who kicked and ripped a protest banner placed on the sidewalk outside the compound gates. A Hong Kong pro-democracy protester, whom local media identified as Bob Chan, was then dragged into the consulate grounds where he was held to the ground and beaten by four people for more than a minute before a policeman pulled him away from his attackers, he told RFA on Tuesday. The Manchester Evening News quoted Chan on Wednesday as denying claims by the Chinese mission he was trying to enter the consulate grounds on Sunday and describing being assaulted by men outside the mission. I am shocked and hurt by this unprovoked attack. I am shocked because I never thought something like this could have happened in the UK," he told a news conference in the British Parliament Wednesday. "I then found myself being dragged into the grounds of the consulate. I held onto the gates where I was kicked and punched, I could not hold on for long, the Evening news quoted him as saying. "I was eventually pulled onto the ground of the consulate. I felt punches and kicks from several men. Other protestors were trying to get me out of this situation, but to no avail. "The attack only stopped when a man who turned out to be a uniformed officer from the Greater Manchester Police pulled me outside the gates. Let me say it again so I am clear: I was dragged into the consulate. I did not attempt to enter the consulate." Bob Chan scuffles with people trying to drag him through the gates of the Chinese consulate grounds in Manchester, England, Oct. 16, 2022. Credit: Matthew Leung/The Chaser News via AP Crude anti-Xi language Chan's media appearance came after Chinese consul general Zheng Xiyuan revealed to British newspapers The Guardian and the Manchester Evening News on Tuesday the contents of a letter he wrote to the Greater Manchester Police. The Guardian quoted Zheng's letter as saying the protesters had displayed slogans that were deliberately designed to provoke, harass, alarm and distress our consular staff. He said the activists were asked politely to remove the imagery but refused to do so. The banners included a picture of Chinese President Xi Jinping with a noose around his neck, along with slogans in Chinese saying God kill CPC (Communist Party of China) and [expletive] your mother," Zheng wrote. At one point the consulate grounds were stormed by a group of protesters and members of consular staff were required to physically fend off unauthorised entry and subsequent assaults," he asserted. The Evening News quoted Zheng as acknowledging he was involved in the fracas. Greater Manchester Police as saying no arrests had been made as of Wednesday, the newspaper said. "Our investigation into the assault of a man after a protest outside the Chinese Consulate in Manchester on Sunday is ongoing with detectives still working meticulously to establish the full circumstances," quoted a police statement as saying. "Investigators from our Major Incident Team have been obtaining statements from as many of those involved as possible and continue to review a range of CCTV, police body-worn video and mobile phone footage to assist in capturing a comprehensive understanding of what happened," it said. During a regular media briefing in Beijing Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said representations were made over what he described as lawless harassment. In a sign of how sensitive the issue is for China, the questions and answers on the Manchester incident at foreign ministry press conferences have not appeared in transcripts on the website of the ministry for several days. Calls for tougher response In Britain, where the incident sparked a House of Commons hearing, lawmakers have called for the British government to take tougher action, including prosecution or expulsion of any Chinese officials found by investigators to be involved in the attack. We cannot allow the Chinese Communist Party to import their beating of protesters and their silencing of free speech to British soil, said Alicia Kearns, chair of Parliaments foreign affairs committee. Senior British officials at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office summoned Chinas charge daffaires to London, Yang Xiaoguang, about the alleged assault. Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative party leader, said this was totally inadequate and said ministers should tell the Chinese diplomats that if they do not follow our rules, they get expelled," according to the Guardian. The Hong Kong Indigenous Defense Force, an organization of Hong Kongers in the UK, said it plans to stage a rally in the city center of Manchester on October 23 to show support for the protesters who were attacked and press for British government follow-up on the incident. A citywide crackdown on dissent in the wake of the 2019 protest movement in Hong Kong, followed by Beijing's imposition in 2020 of a tough national security law, has led to an exodus of journalists, activists and others from the former British colony. Chan said the incident wouldn't stop him from raising his voice about Hong Kong. "After this incident, I'm now worried about my safety, but it doesn't mean I won't stand up and speak my mind. Like I said before, the more you beat me, the more I will come out (and speak), because this is my right, I shouldn't be punished." Written by Paul Eckert. Not long after the beginning of China's 1966-69 Cultural Revolution, late Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Chairman Mao Zedong is famously said to have highlighted the contributions of women to the nation by pointing out that "women hold up half the sky." So why is it that, nearly six decades later, we see so few women actively involved in China's party congress? This year's event kicked off on Oct. 16 with yet another leadership rostrum filled with row upon row of dark-suited men, served by young, slender red-clad women pouring tea and water. Meanwhile, the CCP's 25-member Politburo currently only includes a single woman, with vice premier Sun Chunlan, 72, likely to take retirement after the current 20th National Congress. Just three women, trade minister Wu Yi, former United Front Work Department chief Liu Yandong and "Iron Lady" Sun have served on the Politburo since the 1990s. Even during the early days of the People's Republic of China under Mao, high-ranking women like Deng Yingchao, Ye Qun and Jiang Qing never made it onto the all-powerful Politburo standing committee, and gained the clout they did via powerful husbands. Feminists say the lack of representation at the very top is hardly surprising, given that gender discrimination is still rampant in the workplace at all levels of employment, political or not, in China. "There are severe restrictions on women's participation in politics," Wang Ruiqin, a former member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference from Qinghai province now living in the United States, told RFA. "It's very common for female comrades to be restricted by a glass ceiling because they are women," Wang said. "This occurs everywhere." "They never say you didn't get the job because you're a woman; they'll use any other excuse they can think of instead," she said. "But it's pretty clear that it's because of limitations on women." And it's not just women in politics. In the wider world, Chinese women still face major barriers to finding work in the graduate labor market and avoid getting pregnant if they do land a job, out of concern their employer will fire them, a common practice despite protection on paper offered by China's Labor Law. Likely women candidates According to an unwritten convention, at least one seat in the Politburo must be given to a woman. After Sun Chunlan retires, any woman entering the Politburo will need to be promoted from the middle ranks of the party. Likely candidates include Chen Yiqin, secretary of the Guizhou provincial party committee, and Shen Yueyue, vice chair of the National People's Congress (NPC) standing committee and head of the CCP-backed All-China Women's Federation. Lower down the ranks, the numbers are slightly better. Currently, there are 619 women delegates at the current party congress out of 2,296 -- 27% in all, and an increase of 2.8% compared with the 19th party congress five years ago. According to figures from the International Parliamentary Union (IPU), 31.2% of European parliamentary seats are held by women, on average, with the proportion falling to 21% in Asian parliaments and 16.8% in the Middle East. However, women hold just 8% of seats in the CCP's 371-member Central Committee, while only two women hold provincial leadership rank out of a total of 31 posts. While the proportion of female CCP members rose from 24% in 2012 to 29% in 2021, gender parity is still a long way off. Petitioners are seen outside the National Health and Family Planning Commission of China in Beijing, in a file photo. Credit: Reuters Women's rights worse under Xi Despite lip service to women's rights from high-ranking officials, and supposed protections for gender equality in the Chinese constitution, women's rights have worsened during CCP leader Xi Jinping's decade in power. A slew of high-ranking sexual assault and harassment allegations under the Chinese #MeToo campaign, the detention and prolonged incarceration of five feminist activists on International Women's Day and high-profile incidents of violence against women, including the Tangshan restaurant attacks and the Jiangsu "chained woman" scandal, have brought the issue to the forefront of public opinion. An ongoing crackdown on non-government groups and feminist activists including journalist and #MeToo researcher Sophia Huang has sent out a clear message that the CCP under Xi will brook no challenge to the absolute authority of a patriarchal state, however. "China has always been a patriarchal society, and there has been no change," U.S.-based feminist writer Xiang Li told RFA. "The current leadership of China is very clearly suppressing the feminist movement." She said a lack of women in policy-making roles only exacerbates the problem. "Women have first-hand experience of their own needs and of the degree to which they are oppressed by society," Xiang said. "Without more preferential treatment of women in the formulation of policy, I'm certain that Chinese women will face increasing difficulties when it comes to protecting their rights and interests," she said. National 'baby machines' Instead, women's bodies are viewed by the CCP as the instruments of state power and the "national interest." Data from China's 2020 census showed that the country is currently facing a population decline and falling fertility rates, prompting the government to shift to a "three-child" policy in 2021, after abolishing the decades-long "one child" family planning policy in 2016. Yet women have responded in interviews with RFA and on social media by saying they lack the time, money or energy for more children, with others slamming the government policy for treating them like "baby machines." Meanwhile, hundreds, possibly thousands, of Chinese women are still seeking redress after their health was destroyed by botched or untested reproductive procedures aimed at keeping births within targets set by Beijing, victims told RFA in April. Xiang said that both limiting births and encouraging them is a violation of women's reproductive rights. China currently ranks 102nd out of 146 countries in the World Economic Forum's gender gap ranking, down from 69 in 2012, when Xi Jinping came to power at the 18th party congress. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Most women and children in remote rural areas do not have access to health care. Though the infant mortality rate in Laos has greatly improved in the past 40 years, it still lags behind other countries in Southeast Asia. Pregnancy-related deaths of women and infant mortality still plague some impoverished, rural provinces of Laos, mainly due to a lack of nutrition and access to health care, despite declines in these figures for the entire country, according to Lao health officials and a United Nations agency. The rate of women who die while giving birth and newborns is pervasive among ethnic citizens who live in rural areas where medical care is scarce, especially in Sekong, Borikhamxay and Luang Prabang provinces, they said. The country had an infant mortality rate of 35 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2020, a decline from 52 deaths per 1,000 live births reported a decade earlier, according to data from The United Nations Childrens Fund, or UNICEF. The countrys maternal mortality ratio the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births stood at 185 as of 2017, the latest year for which data is available from UNICEF. This figure has also seen a steady drop from 360 deaths per 100,000 live births a decade ago, and 544 in 2000. Poverty is widespread in Laos, and is especially severe for children from the dozens of ethnic minority groups who live in rural areas, where most families depend on agriculture to make a living and lack access to basic services, including health care, sanitation and food, according to Save The Children. As a result, Laos has one of the highest child mortality rates in Southeast Asia, with one child in 22 dying before their fifth birthday seven times the child mortality rate in the United States, the NGO says. In the last nine months, five pregnant women died while giving birth, and there were nine infant deaths per 1,000 births, mostly ethnic minority children, in Lanam district, Sekong Province, said a health official there who declined to be identified so as to speak freely. Pregnant women in the district continue to work long hours in the fields, making them prone to death when it comes time to give birth, she said. Some of the deaths occurred when the women gave birth alone in their huts next to the family rice fields. Others occurred because the women were malnourished. Pregnant women work harder than men every day in the fields without rest, and some work requires carrying heavy loads, the health official said. Health care workers advise them not to do it, but they still do. [Yet], we try to ask the families not to let pregnant women work in the fields. The infant deaths were due to birth defects, from babies not fully developing in their mothers wombs and from premature births, sometimes at seven months into the pregnancy, she said. Some were not strong enough when they were born, and they couldnt drink milk when their mothers breastfed them, she said. The high mortality rates for pregnant women and infants mean that Sekong province will not achieve the governments target of reducing the death rates to zero, said the health official. In Borikhamxay district of Borikhamxay province, there were about three infant deaths per 1,000 newborns and one death of a pregnant woman while giving birth in the past nine months, said a health official from the district. The infant deaths were due to premature births, and the woman died after giving birth at a hospital because she worked too hard in the fields while pregnant, the official said. In Phonthong district of Luang Prabang province, one ethnic Hmong woman died while giving birth and two infants passed away since the beginning of the year until October, said a district health official. This is the first case that a pregnant woman has died while giving birth, and it is very sad that she arrived at the hospital too late, the official said. We used to advise them [pregnant women] to come early, but they didnt do it because they live in remote areas. The provincial Health Departments target is to get the death rate down to zero, but we are short of the target, said the official. About 70 percent of the population in Luang Prabang province comes from ethnic minority groups, many of whom live in remote mountainous areas without access to local health services or trained midwives, according to Save The Children. Families in these communities are less aware of what pregnant women, newborns and young children need to stay healthy and grow well, says the NGO, which equips remote health centers with essential medical equipment and supports mobile health clinics so they can reach isolated communities. Save the Children also raises awareness about how pregnant mothers and babies can stay healthy through nutrition, better sanitation and regular health checks. Translated by Sidney Khotpanya for RFA Lao. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Concerns grow for military defectors said to be among 150 sent home earlier this month. Myanmar nationals who had been detained under 'Malaysian immigrant law for a long period of time' wait to board a chartered flight to Myanmar, Oct. 6, 2022. Myanmars shadow government and rights groups are voicing alarm over reports that military defectors were among 150 Myanmar nationals deported this month from Malaysia. Malaysian authorities arrested six former Myanmar navy officers in September and deported them Oct. 6, Reuters reported Wednesday. At least four of those deported sought U.N. refugee status in Malaysia, and one officer and his wife were detained upon arrival in Yangon, it said. Two sources in Malaysia confirmed the deportation of military defectors to RFA-affiliated media outlet BenarNews, speaking on condition of anonymity out of concern they could face retribution from the Malaysian government. Yes, its true, they said, while declining to offer further details. Myanmars embassy in Kuala Lumpur had announced that 150 Myanmar nationals detained under Malaysian immigrant law for a long period of time were brought back to Myanmar on Oct. 6 on a chartered flight. It did not mention former naval officers. Another 149 Myanmar nationals were deported on Sept. 22, 2022, according to another notice on the embassys Facebook page. Responding to Wednesdays reports, Aung Myo Min, human rights minister for Myanmars parallel, civilian National Unity Government, called on Malaysia to immediately cease its deportation of those at risk of imprisonment upon their return. One branch of Malaysias government should not be urging the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to act against Myanmars junta while another refuses to assist its people, he told RFA Burmese. The government should be acting in unity to support democracy in Myanmar, he said. We will continue to engage with Malaysias government and call on Kuala Lumpur to stop putting Myanmars activists in danger, The regular deportations and sending back of military defectors appear sharply at odds with Malaysias public stance condemning the 2021 military coup, and the violence Myanmars junta has perpetrated on civilians who oppose it. Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah has been seen as the regions most outspoken critic of Myanmar and the biggest ally of the National Unity Government. Saifuddin was the first ASEAN foreign minister to contact Myanmars shadow government, publicly meet with its foreign minister and push for the regional bloc to actively engage with it. BenarNews contacted multiple government sources about whether former Myanmar military officers were deported on Oct. 6. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it could not verify the report. The director general of Malaysias immigration department replied no comment, while Saifuddin and his aide did not reply when BenarNews attempted to contact them. Double standard on Myanmar Speaking to RFA Burmese, Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of New York-based Human Rights Watch, called Malaysias deportation of refugees and asylum seekers to Myanmar outrageous and unacceptable, noting that they are likely to be immediately jailed by the junta upon their return. The fact that a number of these Navy defectors were sent back, you know, really puts them in serious danger, he said. Our concern is that there is a double standard going on here that on one hand the Malaysian government claims that it cares about the Myanmar people and that it cares about democracy and human rights in Myanmar, he said. But then on the other hand other parts of the Malaysian government are working very closely with the military junta." He urged the Malaysian government to end its deportation of Myanmar nationals and to allow the U.N. Refugee Office, or UNHCR, access to immigration detention centers so that they can identify those in need of protection. The Malaysian government has denied access to UNHCR to go into those areas since August 2019 and that's unacceptable, he said. Robertson also called for third countries to negotiate agreements that would allow some refugees and asylum seekers from Myanmar to seek protection elsewhere, if Malaysia is unwilling to take them in. BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated news outlet. Prison staff and visitors were hit when the bombs went off at the parcel reception area. The aftermath of the parcel bomb blasts at Yangons Insein Prison on Oct. 19, 2022. Multiple bomb blasts at Insein Prison in Myanmars commercial capital Yangon killed eight people and injured 18 on Wednesday. The State Administration Council (SAC) said mines in packages both inside and outside the parcel receiving counters killed three prison department staff and five civilians who came to send parcels to prisoners. Two children aged nine and 17 were among the injured. A lawyer who witnessed the incident confirmed to RFA that a 54-year-old woman, Gyi Myint, was among the eight dead. He said she was the mother of Lin Htet Naing, a former student member of the All Burma Students Union, who was arrested for anti-dictatorship activities and was an inmate of the prison on the outskirts of Yangon. The lawyer said the family would be able to take her body home later in the day A woman who witnessed the incident while sending a parcel told RFA that she was slightly injured by the explosion. It was lucky that the bomb blast went straight and I survived. A person fell down in front of the counter and couldnt get up because she was covered in blood, said the woman who didnt want to be named for safety reasons. She said she suffered minor injuries to her legs and ankles. No person or group has so far claimed responsibility for the bombings. Rights groups say Britain has failed to live up to its obligations under international law. Britains government will appear in court at the end of October to answer charges it has failed to block products made with forced labor in Chinas northwestern region of Xinjiang from entering the UK, rights groups said in a statement Wednesday. The Oct. 25-26 hearing in Britains High Court follows a suit brought by the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) a rights watchdog with offices in the UK and Ireland and the Munich-based World Uyghur Congress (WUC), both groups said in a joint statement. Customs authorities are failing to live up to their obligations under international law to stop imports of products made in conditions so appalling and coercive they amount to crimes against humanity, GLAN Legal Officer Siobhan Allen said on Oct. 19. The time has long [passed] for burying their heads in the sand: the evidence of what is happening in the Uyghur Region is so overwhelming, authorities must take action now, Allen added. Forced labor in Xinjiang has been tied to the regions cotton industry, Chinas largest, which exports textiles and other products to international markets, including in the UK, GLAN and WUC said in their statement. For too long, the UK government has allowed the products of Uyghur forced labor to enter British markets, said WUC UK Director Rahima Mahmut, speaking to RFA. It is shameful that cotton picked using the modern slavery of my people, within a context of atrocity and genocide, continues to flood this countrys supply chains. The Government could take leadership and ban the products of Uyghur forced labor from entering Britain. Instead they have refused to implement legislation to tackle the crisis, Mahmut added. This hearing is a historic opportunity for us to secure accountability on the UK governments inaction, and to strengthen our calls for change. As many as 1.8 million Uyghurs and members of other Muslim ethnic groups are believed to have been held by China since 2017 in a network of internment camps where inmates have been subjected to forced labor, torture, and the rape and forced sterilization of female detainees. China has described the camps as vocational training centers set up to prevent religious extremism and terrorism in the restive Xinjiang region, and says that the facilities are now closed. The United States and nine Western parliaments have declared that the repression of predominantly Muslim groups in Xinjiang amounts to genocide and crimes against humanity. Written in English by Richard Finney. The punishment comes after Tu went on hunger strike following beatings and solitary confinement. A file photograph of Trinh Ba Tu, and the signboard for Prison No. 6 in Nghe An province. Trinh Ba Tu, who is serving an eight-year sentence at a prison in central Vietnams Nghe An province, has not been allowed to see his family this month, in spite of two visits. On Oct. 15, his father Trinh Ba Khiem went to Prison Camp No. 6 to visit his son, but was refused. "I just went there on October 15 to ask about Trinh Ba Tu's health, but a police officer who covered Trinh Ba Tu's area answered 'normal'," said Khiem who is a former prisoner of conscience. Ten days ago, Khiem visited the prison again to see his son. Prison authorities refused the visit and wouldnt let Khiem provide food for his son on the grounds that Tu was still being disciplined. During a visit last month Tu told his father he had been beaten and left in solitary confinement for 10 days with his feet shackled. An unnamed prison official said Tu was disciplined "for writing false accusations." The official then told Khiem he could see Tu once in September and not at all in October. Khiem said the family was very worried about the health of their second son. On Sept. 20, Trinh Ba Tu said he had been on hunger strike for 14 days, Khiem said. Since that day, I have not heard any news and I do not know if he has stopped his hunger strike or not." According to Article 43 of the 2019 Law on Execution of Criminal Judgments there are three forms of discipline for prisoners: reprimand, warning, and detention in a solitary cell for up to 10 days. During their time in solitary, prisoners are not allowed to see their relatives and may have their feet shackled. Last month, shortly after returning from prison, Trinh Ba Khiem filed a petition with the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security to request an investigation into his sons beating but has received no response. RFA called the prison on Monday to verify Khiems claims, but no one answered the phone. Trinh Ba Tu, 33, along with his mother Can Thi Theu and his brother Trinh Ba Phuong have been land rights activists for many years. Theu and her two sons were arrested on June 24, 2020 on charges of "conducting propaganda against the state." Theu and Tu were sentenced to eight years in prison and eldest son Phuong was sentenced to ten years. Prison No. 6 is located in an area of the Central region with the harshest climate. Many former prisoners have told RFA the warden and guards treat prisoners of conscience extremely harshly. In 2019, former teacher Dao Quang Thuc died in Prison No. 6 while serving a 13-year sentence. In August this year, citizen journalist Do Cong Duong also died there. Both men were healthy before being transferred to the prison camp. Olha Shevchenko was seven months pregnant when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24. After her home in the village of Prudyanka was shelled that same morning, she fled to nearby Kharkiv and took refuge in a shelter beneath the factory where her husband works. Two months later, her baby boy, Zhenya, was born and he's been in the shelter his whole life. KYIV -- President Volodymyr Zelenskiy declared that Ukraine cannot be broken as he cited his countrys fight against the Russian invasion and marked the anniversary of the famine regarded by Ukrainians to be a deliberate act perpetrated by Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. 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, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. "Ukrainians went through very terrible things...Once they wanted to destroy us with hunger -- now, with darkness and cold," Zelenskiy said on November 26 in a video message. "We cannot be broken," he declared. The prime ministers of EU and NATO members Belgium, Lithuania, and Poland were in Kyiv to mark the day and to attend a summit hosted by Zelenskiy to press the Grain From Ukraine initiative designed to get crucial supplies to world markets. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron were among those speaking through video addresses. Zelenskiys remarks came amid widespread cuts in power and water supplies in his country after weeks of Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and as temperatures plunge with the beginning of winter. Zelenskiy and other leaders commemorated the victims of the Holodomor famine, which took place in 1932-33 as Stalin's police forced peasants in Ukraine to join collective farms by requisitioning their grain and other foodstuffs. Historians say the failure to properly harvest crops in Ukraine in 1932 under Soviet mismanagement was the main cause of the famine. It is estimated that up to 9 million people died as a result of executions, deportation, and starvation during the Stalin-era campaign. Many Ukrainians consider the famine an act of genocide aimed at wiping out Ukrainian farmers. Along with Ukraine, at least 16 other countries have officially recognized the Holodomor as genocide. In October 2018, the U.S. Senate adopted a nonbinding resolution recognizing that Stalin and those around him committed genocide against the Ukrainians in 1932-33. German lawmakers are preparing to recognize the Holodomor as genocide, according to a draft text seen by the AFP news agency of a joint resolution from Germany's ruling coalition and opposition. Moscow has long denied any systematic effort to target Ukrainians, arguing that a poor harvest at the time wiped out many in other parts of the Soviet Union. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that he "honored the memory of the Holodomor victims" at a memorial in the Ukrainian capital. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, on his first visit to Kyiv since the Russian invasion, said on Twitter that "after the heavy bombing of recent days, we stand with the people of Ukraine. More than ever before." "With the cold winter months ahead, Belgium is releasing new humanitarian and military aid," he added. Zelenskiy told the grain summit that Kyiv is one of the guarantors of world food security and will fulfill its duties despite the Russian invasion, citing the new Grain From Ukraine initiative. He pressed world leaders to support the initiative aimed at feeding about 5 million people in poor countries, particularly Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, Congo, Kenya, and Nigeria. Speaking through video statements to the summit, Scholz and Macron unveiled new financial packages designed to aid Ukrainian grain exports, which have been hit hard by the war, causing food shortages in many of the worlds poorer nations. "The most vulnerable countries must not pay the price of a war they did not want," Macron said. Zelenskiy said the Black Sea Grain Initiative -- brokered by Turkey and the UN and agreed to by Russia and Ukraine -- is not operating at full capacity, blaming what he called Moscow's efforts to delay the movement of ships, leaving many vessels trapped at Ukrainian ports. The deal took effect in August, aimed at unblocking grain shipments to countries in Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. Ukraine and Russia are key global suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil, and other food to those countries, and Russia was the world's top exporter of fertilizer before it launched its ongoing invasion of Ukraine in February. Many in the West have accused Russia of weaponizing the shipment of crucial food-related supplies to world markets. Moscow denies the accusations. Meanwhile, throughout Ukraine, millions of people are still without heat or electricity after the recent devastating Russian air strikes on infrastructure sites. Authorities on November 26 were gradually restoring power in many cities -- helped by the reconnection to the grid of the nations four nuclear plants. Fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces was reported in the east and south of the country, as Kyivs troops continue their counteroffensive, which has recaptured thousands of kilometers of territory seized by Russia early in the war. In the recently liberated southern city of Kherson and its environs, authorities said at least 32 people have been killed by Russian shelling since pro-Kremlin forces withdrew two weeks ago and moved to the eastern bank of the Dnieper River. "Daily Russian shelling is destroying the city and killing peaceful local residents. In all, Russia has killed 32 civilians in the Kherson region since the de-occupation," Ihor Klymenko, chief of the National Police of Ukraine, said on Facebook. "Many people are evacuating to seek refuge in calmer regions of the country. But many residents remain in their homes, and we need to provide them with the maximum possible security," he added. With reporting by AFP and AP Welcome back to The Farda Briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter that tracks the key issues in Iran and explains why they matter. I'm RFE/RL correspondent Golnaz Esfandiari. Here's what Ive been following during the past week and what Im watching for in the days ahead. The Big Issue Young people have played a prominent role in the ongoing anti-government protests that have rocked Iran for the past month. Young women and teenage girls have taken to the streets in major cities, removing and burning their head scarves. In universities and high schools, female students have chanted Woman, life, freedom and called on Irans ruling mullahs to get lost. Some of them have paid with their lives. The United Nations says at least 23 children, including an 11-year-old boy, have been killed by security forces during the governments crackdown on the protests. Hundreds more have been injured, detained, and tortured since the protests erupted on September 17, the UN said. Some of those detained have been sent to so-called re-education centers. Among those killed were 16-year-old girls, Nika Shakarami and Sarina Esmailzadeh, who have become some of the most prominent faces of the protests. One of the latest victims was Asra Panahi, a 16-year-old schoolgirl who was beaten by security forces in the northwestern city of Ardabil for refusing to sing a pro-establishment anthem when her school was raided by agents. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on October 17 condemned what it said were grave violations of children's rights in Iran and urged the authorities to stop all violence against children. Why It Matters: The gap is widening between Irans young population and the ruling clerics. Many of Irans Internet-savvy youth want greater social and political freedoms. The clerical establishment, meanwhile, has responded to those calls with violence and repression. The gulf between the regime and the population has never been so wide, and young Iranians have never been so brazen in demanding their rights. Whats Next: The governments deadly crackdown is unlikely to discourage young Iranians from venting their anger in public, including through protest art and acts of acts of civil disobedience. The protests, which have entered a fifth week, are scattered. But they persist, with young Iranians often taking the lead. Stories You Might Have Missed Irans western Kurdistan region has become the epicenter of the protests and the focus of the governments crackdown. The death of Mahsa Amini, who hailed from Kurdistan, was the catalyst for the nationwide protests. Rights groups said on October 17 that at least 39 people have been killed in three predominately Kurdish provinces. The harshest government crackdowns have occurred in Sanandaj, the provincial capital of Kurdistan, and in Aminis hometown of Saghez. Amateur videos from the area appear to show security forces using firearms and tear gas and firing directly into residential homes. An even bloodier crackdown has occurred in Sistan-Baluchistan, where at least 95 people have been killed. The province is under a strict lockdown and Internet blackout, making it difficult for observers to ascertain what is happening there. A billboard showing dozens of famous Iranian women, including athletes, actresses, and writers, all observing the mandatory hijab was taken down in Tehran less than 24 hours after going up following widespread criticism. Amini died three days after she was detained by Irans morality police for allegedly violating the countrys hijab law. Some of the women on the billboard demanded that their picture be removed. One of them was the award-winning actress Fatemeh Motamed-Arya, whose emotional video went viral on social media. The billboard was erected by the Owj Arts and Media Organization, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. The organization said it removed the billboard following controversies and reactions. What We're Watching Irans judiciary said eight inmates died in a fire in Tehrans Evin Prison. The authorities blamed the blaze on riots and clashes among prisoners. But rights groups have questioned the official version of events and expressed concern that the real death toll could be much higher. Explosions and gunshots could be heard in amateur videos posted on social media. Prominent filmmaker Jafar Panahi managed to call his wife from the prison to let her know that he and fellow filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof were fine and that the authorities had used tear gas during the unrest, RFE/RLs Radio Farda reported. Why It Matters: Evin is one of Irans most notorious and tightly-guarded prisons. Dual and foreign nationals as well as some of Irans most prominent political prisoners are incarcerated there. The unrest has renewed concerns about the treatment of prisoners in Evin. Following the incident, rights groups have urged the authorities to allow international monitors unhindered access to the prison to investigate the alleged use of force against inmates. Thats all from me for now. Dont forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you have. Until next time, Golnaz Esfandiari If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every Wednesday. Welcome back to The Farda Briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter that tracks the key issues in Iran and explains why they matter. To subscribe, click here. I'm RFE/RL correspondent Golnaz Esfandiari. Here's what Ive been following during the past week and what Im watching for in the days ahead. The Big Issue Authorities in Tehran have accused Iran's foreign enemies of stoking unrest in the country with the goal of inciting a civil war. Officials made the accusations following what they called terrorist attacks that took place on November 16 in Izeh, in the southwestern province of Khuzestan, and in the central city of Isfahan, where they said gunmen on motorbikes opened fire on security forces and civilians, killing seven in Izeh and two in Isfahan. The incidents followed an October 26 attack at the Shah Cheragh shrine in Shiraz that left 13 dead. The Shiraz attack was claimed by the extremist group Islamic State (IS). Speaking on November 18, Mohsen Rezai, Iran's vice president for economic affairs, blamed Tehran's enemies for the bitter incidents and claimed that theyre trying to create a civil war in the country. "Iran cannot be turned into another Syria or Lebanon by carrying out violent acts similar to the ones in Shah Cheragh, Isfahan, and Izeh," he said. A day earlier, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abollahian accused Israel and Western countries of plotting a "civil war" and the disintegration of the Islamic republic. Security services, [Israel], and Western politicians who have made plans for a civil war and the destruction and disintegration of Iran must know that that Iran is not Libya or Sudan, Amir-Abdollahian said on Twitter, while failing to provide any evidence to back his claim. Why It Matters: The warnings come amid nine weeks of antiestablishment protests in Iran triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini following her arrest by the morality police in Tehran. Iran has blamed foreign countries and intelligence services of orchestrating the unrest, which has turned into the most significant challenge to the clerical establishment in the past four decades. Ali Alfoneh, an Iran analyst at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, told RFE/RL that the Islamic republic has only itself to blame for the situation it faces, but lacking the courage to look into the mirror and admit their own mistakes, regime officials cowardly blame the foreign powers. Others said Tehran could use the attacks as an excuse for a harsher crackdown on the protests. We don't have a good sense of what happened in Izeh and Isfahan -- was it a terrorist group, or potentially the regime itself?" said Henry Rome, an Iran expert at the Washington Institute. "Either way, the government will probably use the attacks to send the message that the protests are undermining national security and opening the door for Western-backed terrorism," Rome added. Whats Next: Statements by Iranian officials who have vowed a crushing response to those behind the "terrorist" attacks could provide clues about the countrys next steps. Authorities have said that the perpetrators of the attacks and their leaders who are allegedly based outside the country would be "introduced to the people." Stories You Might Have Missed Activists say Iran has intensified its crackdown in the Kurdistan region in an attempt to spread fear among protesters and quell the nationwide antiestablishment protests that have rocked the country for the past two months. At least 47 children have been killed amid Irans ongoing crackdown on the protests that were sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini. Among them is 9-year-old Kian Pirfalak who was killed on November 16 in the southwestern city of Izeh amid the antiestablishment protests. State media claimed that the boy was killed in a "terrorist attack." But his mother says he was shot dead by Iranian security forces. His tragic death led to an outpouring of grief and anger. Protesters in Iran set fire to the ancestral home of the Islamic republic's late founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in the central Iranian city of Khomein, according to amateur videos posted online. Images of Khomeini have also been torched in past weeks amid the ongoing unrest. What We're Watching Iran said on November 22 that it had begun producing uranium enriched to 60 percent at its Fordo underground facility. The announcement was part of Iran's response to the UN nuclear watchdog's adoption last week of a resolution accusing Tehran of noncooperation. Tehran condemned the resolution as politically motivated while vowing retaliation. "We had said that Iran would seriously react to any resolution and political pressure...that is why Iran has started enriching uranium to 60 percent purity as of Monday [November 21] at the Fordo site," the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Eslami, was quoted as saying by state media. Why It Matters: Enrichment at 60 percent is one step away from the 90 percent level required for nuclear weapons. Iran had already been enriching to 60 percent purity at other facilities. The 2015 nuclear deal -- which has been on life support following the U.S. withdrawal from the international agreement in May 2018 -- had limited Irans nuclear enrichment activities to 3.7 percent for civilian purposes. Tehrans latest escalation is likely to lead to more concerns about the countrys nuclear activities from other countries that were party to the stalled nuclear deal and are working to revive it. The EU trio of Britain, France and Germany said in a joint statement that Irans increased enrichment carries significant proliferation-related risks [and] has no credible civilian justification. That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you have. Until next time, Golnaz Esfandiari If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every Wednesday. Tajik authorities have accused Kyrgyzstan of violating cease-fire agreements near disputed segments of their shared border after dozens of people were killed from both sides during clashes last month. Tajikistan's Border Guard Service stated on October 19 that Kyrgyz authorities are implementing "premeditated actions aimed at escalating the situation in districts close to the state border." "The provocative actions of some Kyrgyz citizens to destabilize the situation, preparation of assault points, digging of trenches, continuation of concentration of military equipment, and regular violations of the air space of the Republic of Tajikistan clearly confirm the Kyrgyz side's malign plans," the statement said. Kyrgyz authorities rejected the Tajik statement, saying it "absolutely does not correspond to the real situation." In a statement, the Kyrgyz State Border Guard Service accused the Tajiks of using a photo of Kyrgyz military trucks taken last month as they were withdrawing from the border area, and falsely portraying it as a new photo to make it look as though Kyrgyzstan was concentrating its military equipment in the border area. The statement said it was the Tajik authorities who are violating cease-fire agreements by leaving deadly mines on the disputed territories and digging trenches there. Earlier in the day, Kyrgyz Defense Minister Baktybek Bekbolotov told reporters that Bishkek had asked the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) to provide a limited contingent of troops at disputed segments of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border. "An independent mediator must stay between us, such as a limited group of CSTO troops, with the goal of maintaining a cease-fire and the withdrawal of heavy weaponry from the border. If they solve these two issues, then the political goals on the delimitation and demarcation of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border can start being discussed," Bekbolotov said. Both Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, along with Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Armenia, are CSTO members. Bekbolotov's statement comes two days after Kyrgyz Security Council Secretary Marat Imankulov said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to provide Bishkek with archived Soviet-era maps to help solve the ongoing border dispute between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Putin has said that there is more "true" information about borders between the former Soviet republics available in the archives in Moscow than in the republics themselves. Putin and the Kyrgyz and Tajik presidents, Sadyr Japarov and Emomali Rahmon, discussed border problems between the two Central Asian nations on October 13 in the Kazakh capital, Astana. In September, Kyrgyz and Tajik authorities accused each other of aggression after the two sides used heavy artillery and mortars in clashes near a disputed part of border. Kyrgyz officials said 63 of its citizens died in the violence, and more than 200 others were injured. Tajikistan has put its death toll at 41, but correspondents from RFE/RL's Tajik Service reported a higher number after talking to relatives and friends of the people killed during the clashes. They concluded that 81 people, about half of whom were civilians, lost their lives. Many border areas in Central Asia have been disputed since the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991. The situation is particularly complicated near the numerous exclaves in the volatile Ferghana Valley, where the borders of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan meet. Almost half of the 970-kilometer Kyrgyz-Tajik border has yet to be demarcated, leading to repeated tensions since the two countries gained independence more than three decades ago. Tajik authorities have handed down long prison terms to three independent journalists and bloggers in recent days on what media watchdogs say are trumped-up charges. Four other reporters are awaiting sentencing amid allegations that some of them were tortured in detention. The trials have all been held behind closed doors, preventing public scrutiny. The convictions against and trial of the journalists are part of a renewed crackdown on dissent in Tajikistan, where the authoritarian government does not tolerate free speech. All seven journalists and bloggers were arrested between May and July. Observers said the arrests were an attempt by the authorities to control public opinion following the government's deadly crackdown on protests in the restive Gorno-Badakhshan region. Europe-based opposition activist Farhod Odinaev says the latest clampdown on independent journalists will further spoil Tajikistans reputation as a repressive state that doesnt tolerate independent media and free speech. In the latest conviction, a Dushanbe court on October 17 sentenced blogger Daler Imomali to 10 years in prison. He was found guilty of tax evasion, disseminating false information, and membership in the banned opposition party Group 24, which the authorities consider to be a terrorist group. The 34-year-old pleaded guilty to tax evasion. But he has denied having any links to Group 24. The opposition party also insists that Imomali has never been a member or contributor. Imomalis conviction came weeks after independent blogger Muhammad Sulton, 72, was sentenced to seven years in prison. Abdulloh Ghurbati, 26, another blogger, was given a 7 1/2 year sentence. Sulton is known for his criticism of Tajikistans security and intelligence services. He had also condemned the governments violent crackdown on anti-government protests in his home region of Gorno-Badakhshan in May. Besides Sulton, the other journalists and bloggers arrested in recent months were not openly critical of Dushanbe. They reported on local social and economic issues. One of the bloggers, Zavqibek Saidamini, had previously said that he often received letters from Dushanbe residents about specific issues. In turn, he would present the letters to relevant officials, he said. The video blogger insisted that speaking about problems doesnt mean criticizing the government. Chilling Effect Courts in Tajikistan operate under the heavy influence of the government, especially in cases linked to politics, security, and the media. Nuriddin Qarshiboev, the head of Tajikistans Association of Independent Media, says the harsh sentences handed down to independent reporters in recent weeks are aimed at quashing dissent. Authorities try to get the entire information space under control and dont want to allow any alternative voice in society, Qarshiboev said. Some local journalists say the sentences are already having a chilling effect. These reporters were not even that prominent or household names, said a journalist from the northern city of Khujand who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. Hence, their sentencing makes everything even more worrying for us. It makes me think that I must stay away from even the slightest criticism of life in Tajikistan or l will rot in prison, the journalist added. Gorno-Badakhshan Unrest The arrests of the seven journalists came in the wake of the governments crackdown on protests in Gorno-Badakhshan. Authorities said 16 people were killed, although other sources give a much higher death toll. Among the journalists arrested were Gorno-Badakhshan natives Ulfatkhonim Mamadshoeva, 65, and Khushruz Jumaev, 24. Journalist and activist Mamadshoeva was charged with calling for the overthrow of the government. She could face the maximum penalty of 25 years in prison if found guilty. Prosecutors accuse Mamadshoeva of helping to organize the protests in Gorno-Badakhshan. But a day before her arrest on May 18, Mamadshoeva told RFE/RL that she had nothing to do with the demonstrations. Her trial began in August. Jumaev, known by his pen name Khushom Ghulom, was charged with calling for the seizure of power by force. It is unknown if his trial has begun. On his YouTube channel, Jumaev mostly covered nonpolitical issues like culture, history, and local languages in his home region. Not all of the cases against the journalists and bloggers were related to the unrest in Gorno-Badakhshan. Tajik authorities have a long-standing track record of targeting journalists and media outlets that counter the states narratives. Over the years, many independent publications were shut down for criticizing government policies. Dushanbe also often blocks or restricts access to foreign-based media outlets that focus on Tajikistan, including RFE/RLs Tajik Service and all online media run by the opposition in exile. The Foreign Ministry often also refuses to issue accreditation to RFE/RL reporters. According to media watchdog Reporters Without Borders, Tajik journalists who criticize the government risk physical attacks, intimidation, and imprisonment as the authorities repressive bent intensifies steadily. Journalists find it virtually impossible to work on issues that the government considers sensitive, without exposing themselves, or friends and family, to danger, the watchdog said in its 2022 press freedom index. Allegations Of Torture, Confessions Under Duress Among the seven journalists and bloggers on trial is Abdusattor Pirmuhammadzoda. The 44-year-old has been charged with publicly calling for extremist activities. A source close to the investigation told RFE/RL that Pirmuhammadzoda has been physically and psychologically tortured in custody. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said the alleged ill-treatment has left Pirmuhammadzoda depressed and bearing physical symptoms, including bruised hands and fingernails. Pirmuhammadzodas relatives believe that the police obtained a forced confession from him. A similar claim was made by the family of Ghurbati, the jailed blogger. They say the police pressured him to make a video statement confessing his guilt. Meanwhile, the family of Saidamini, the blogger on trial, say they have not seen or heard from him since his arrest three months ago. Tajik police and court officials did not respond to RFE/RLs requests for comment. Ukrainian officials on October 19 told citizens to expect power outages and restrictions on electricity supply as the country copes with damage to its infrastructure caused by Russian air strikes. Various regions of Ukraine may experience power outages to reduce the load on the electrical network on October 19 and 20, an adviser to the energy minister said. 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, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. The adviser, Oleksandr Kharchenko, said there will be outages, including some that are scheduled. "Unfortunately, according to new data, about 40 percent of the total infrastructure is seriously damaged. Repair and connection work is ongoing, but outages are expected today and tomorrow," Kharchenko said on Ukrainian television. He added that there will be outages that are "not only emergency, but also scheduled" and aimed at reducing the load on the power grid. Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the office of the president, said separately on Telegram that electrical restrictions will begin on October 20. "From 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. it is necessary to minimize the use of electricity. This applies to residents of all regions of the country. If this is not done, you should prepare for temporary outages. Also, from tomorrow the use of street lighting will be limited in cities," Tymoshenko said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy earlier on October 19 discussed security at power supply facilities with senior officials following Russian air attacks on Ukraines energy infrastructure. The press service of the presidents office said Zelenskiy and other government officials held the meeting on October 19 to discuss measures to "eliminate the consequences in the event of a breakdown of the energy system of Ukraine." The ministers discussed various scenarios and ways to support the population "during possible threats of varying degrees of danger," according to the press service. In addition, the meeting discussed security measures at critical facilities and the necessary steps to get through the heating season under constant Russian shelling of energy supply facilities. Zelenskiy said on Telegram that the government is "working to create mobile power points for the critical infrastructure of cities, towns, and villages." Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, and Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskiy were among the government officials who met with representatives of the State Emergency Service and the heads of energy companies and executive authorities. Russian troops have increased their shelling of energy infrastructure facilities in Ukraine since October 10. Zelenskiy said on October 18 that since the new wave of attacks began, 30 percent of Ukrainian power plants have destroyed, causing massive power outages across the country. There were air alerts throughout Ukraine again on October 19, and the governors of two western regions said energy facilities in their regions had been hit. The governor of Ivano-Frankivsk said a Russian missile strike hit a coal-fired power station in the city of Burshtyn. "Our region experienced missile fire today. The Burshtyn thermal power station was hit, which caused a fire," Svitlana Onyshchuk, said in an online video statement. No one was hurt in the strike, she said. The power station supplies electricity to three western regions and to 5 million consumers. Serhiy Borzov, governor of the Vinnytsya region in western Ukraine, said Russia had also carried out attacks on energy facilities in his region. The Russian Defense Ministry said it launched new strikes against military and energy targets in Ukraine. It added in its daily briefing on October 19 that "all designated targets were hit." With reporting by Reuters Petra realises $61.3 mln from latest diamond sale Petra Diamonds sold 447,276 carats from across its mining operations for $61.3 million during its second tender for the fiscal year 2023. ZIOC considers acquisition of Glencores shareholding in Zanaga iron ore project Zanaga Iron Ore Company (ZIOC) has reached an agreement with Glencore Projects, a subsidiary of Glencore International, to acquire its controlling stake in the Zanaga iron ore project in Congo-Brazzaville. It said that the acquisition would be... Anglo-American joins forces with Aurubis on sustainable copper value chain Anglo-American has signed a memorandum of understanding with Aurubis, a global provider of non-ferrous metals and one of the worlds largest copper recyclers, to develop a copper product offering that responds to the growing expectations for future-enabling... Mountain Province Diamonds update on special meeting business Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. announced that it has issued an amendment to its management information circular relating to the special meeting of shareholders scheduled for December 1, 2022. However, with an annual dissolution rate of 60%, the number of newly established enterprises each year will be at least 400,000, nearly four times the current number of registered enterprises annually. This will prove to be a challenging task in the current context. Transformation needed In order to achieve the goal and meet the target of establishing two million enterprises by 2030 it will be necessary to mobilize the household business sector and transform it into an organized enterprise. But this transformation and participation of the household business sector needs to be promoted by breakthrough legal reform measures that are in line with market rules, international practices, and the quintessential nature and characteristic of an individual household business, rather than have measures and regulations inflicted on them. Proposals such as transforming household businesses into enterprises under the Law of Enterprises, or the development of a separate law on household businesses are very worrisome because it breaks the structure of the Law of Enterprises and contradicts the current legal system, making the Vietnamese business sector increasingly separate from international practices. Using administrative orders or forcing household businesses to register under the Law of Enterprises is also ineffective, even damaging the development of the household business sector which currently accounts for more than 30% of GDP. A more correct approach is to create a suitable type of enterprise for individual household businesses so that they can voluntarily register easily, on the basis that they balance themselves on the benefits and costs of registering the switch to this form of business. The Law of Enterprises needs to make room for individual household businesses to choose for themselves, instead of inflicting compulsory measures. Therefore, reforming private enterprises as stipulated in the Law of Enterprises will be one of the main keys to reforming the household business sector and encouraging them to voluntarily transform into enterprises. This change can be sustainable and better support small household businesses after the transformation. Along with this, reform regulations on accounting, financial reporting, taxation, and social insurance will be suitable for private enterprises. However, these regulations must not become a burden on these businesses after the transition. International experience shows that the model of household businesses or sole proprietorship of a business, and what Vietnam calls a private enterprise, is popular in many countries. For example, in the European Union (EU), out of 2.3 million enterprises established in 2012, 1.6 million enterprises or around 70% were registered as sole proprietorships. This rate is particularly high in France with 92.3%, Poland with 86.9%, the Netherlands with 86.4%, and the Czech Republic with 86.1%. In Southeast Asia, out of 907,065 enterprises registered in Malaysia, 554,900 enterprises or 61.2% are private enterprises. Favorable conditions In order to create favorable conditions for private enterprises to officially participate in the business community under the common Law of Enterprises, the first thing to do is to change the term private enterprise to an individual enterprise or a one-owner enterprise, in order to better reflect the legal nature of this type of enterprise. Next, it is necessary to dedicate a separate chapter in the Law of Enterprises for individual enterprises or one-owner enterprises according to new regulations. This chapter will specify clearly that this business sector will apply accounting and financial reporting according to simple principles, low costs, and other legal regulations, in accordance with the nature of a one-owner business, instead of having to comply with all the same regulations as other companies today. This will help reduce the cost of compliance with legal regulations of individual businesses or one-owner enterprises to nearly the level of individual household businesses today. At the same time, the Law of Enterprises will also clearly stipulate that individual enterprises or one-owner enterprises will be registered at the district level, instead of at the business registration office at the provincial and city level as at present, at the same level as where individual household businesses are currently registered. The Ministry of Planning and Investment will decentralize functions and tasks, as well as the online business management system to more than 710 districts nationwide, to carry out business registration procedures for individual enterprises or a one-owner enterprise, reducing travel and business registration costs when people and household businesses register under this form of enterprise. Finally, within five years after the above regulations take effect, people can choose to register their establishment in the form of an individual household business as they are doing now, or in the form of an individual enterprise or a one-owner enterprise under the new regulations. Existing individual household businesses are not required to re-register or convert into enterprises, except for large and tax-risk household businesses. After five years, there will only be the form of an individual business or a one-owner enterprise for people to choose when registering a business in the form of a one-owner or self-employed business. These changes will help us get closer to the dream of establishing 1.5 million businesses and more that 2 million businesses in the future. More importantly, it will contribute to supporting the process of formalization and improving the efficiency of the individual household business sector with measures that are suitable for international practices and carry the unique characteristics of household businesses in Vietnam. Dr. Le Duy Binh, Economica Vietnam It started this summer with the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision. It felt a bit surreal, as though we were sent back to a time where women had fewer rights than men, says Associate Professor of Law Claire Raj. We thought that it must be equally jarring for so many of our students and wanted to come together as a community and talk about what this means for us, as women, and as women in the legal profession. Beyond the decision impacting bodily autonomy, women and gender non-confirming people are held to different standards than their male counterparts, whether those expectations are explicitly communicated or not. Our bodies, the way we dress, the way we speak, the way were treated in meetings or class all those things theres a difference there and it doesnt get talked about a lot, says Emily Suski, deputy associate dean for clinics and externships and associate professor of law. "Our bodies, the way we dress, the way we speak, the way were treated in meetings or class all those things theres a difference there and it doesnt get talked about a lot," Emily Suski This is the first time since Ive been here that weve had a series led exclusively by women, says Baker. Im excited about that. They will facilitate three conversations this fall with plans to continue in spring 2023. The first session covered the Dobbs v. Jackson decision; the second will discuss gender issues in the law school; and the third will focus on gender, dress codes, and professional attire. Through these conversations I hope, first and foremost, that students feel seen. The law school understands that some students experience potential biases, things that make it harder to be a woman operating in law school, says Suski. Beyond that, it would be wonderful if they had some tools or thoughts about new ways to navigate these challenges. The Women+ discussions may have been initiated by women, but the professors encourage the entire South Carolina Law community to participate in these conversations as these issues impact everyone. Its an important reminder that we had to fight for gender equality, says Raj. And while we have come a long way, we have to continue this fight. Since early childhood Ana Bishop has been captivated by the ocean and everything in it. Her favorite? Whales. So when it was time for the 2021 marine science graduate to focus on her senior thesis, it made great sense to take direction from her professor. Erin Meyer-Gutbrod, assistant professor in the University of South Carolinas School of Earth, Ocean and Environment, had been studying North Atlantic right whales since 2012. Endangered to a scary degree in 2020 there were an estimated 350 of them in the world the mammal has been exhibiting changing behavior related to climate change for the past seven years. Bishop joined Meyer-Gutbrods research, and her thesis grew into a two-year project. Now her work is published, and Bishop, at 23, is first author on an important study about whale fertility in Frontiers in Marine Science. Its June publication represents a triumph of long hours spent analyzing 40 years of raw data collected by the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium and its affiliated partners. Bishop even took a computer coding course from Meyer-Gutbrod to do the work. The University of South Carolina completely changed my life, says Bishop, who received an Academic Scholar Excellence Award to enter the SCHC. I do view it as my home. People wanted nothing else but to help me. Everyone there is so dedicated to helping the students. Everything we learned helped me with that project, said Bishop, who spent the year after graduation in Florida, interning for that states Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program. Because those internships were unpaid, Bishop worked in Irish pubs to support herself while continuing the research for the paper. It was a harried, stressful year, requiring late nights and efficient time management. There were times in the middle of the process where it seemed overwhelming and like it would never be finished, she said. Im fresh out of undergrad and its not common to have someone my age doing this work. Id have moments of self-doubt I was working with professors and professionals in the field and I didnt know if I could produce what they wanted me to do. But I always knew this project was important and needed to be done. Heres what Bishop, Meyer-Gutbrod, and their co-authors Leah M. Crowe and Phillip K. Hamilton were trying to nail down: How did habitat use and family genetics determine the fertility of female right whales? Meyer-Gutbrod had already recognized that climate change played a large role in this research when she determined that warming water temperatures in the South were prompting some whales to leave the Gulf of Maine in the United States for the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Canada. Those colder waters had attracted the whales preferred prey: a species of plankton called Calanus finmarchicus, which provides more substantial food and thus a thicker, healthier blubber layer for successful calving. Bishops research confirmed that fertility was significantly linked within maternal family lines, and those whales feeding in the Gulf of St. Lawrence were more successful giving birth. The paper, Maternal Lineage and Habitat Use Patterns Explain Variation in the Fecundity of a Critically Endangered Baleen Whale, is the first to show that the move seems to be benefitting the species. It was so fun to see a natural phenomenon happening and then do the work to chase down the explanation, she said. It felt amazing to uncover the mechanisms behind important whale behaviors in real time. Meyer-Gutbrod can vouch for the importance of her students work. Anas research gives some critical insight into whether this habitat is beneficial for these whales. This work is really important for helping researchers and managers predict whether right whales will continue to use this new habitat, or whether they will need to find a new place to feed. I would really love to see everyone come together and agree to commit to make a change together government, corporations, average individuals so we can try to protect and heal the planet for the next generation. Ana Bishop Still, the reality of the discovery isnt that happy. The Gulf of St. Lawrence is busy with trade ships and fishing boats. Right whales often are injured or killed in vessel strikes and become entangled in fishing gear, which can cut, infect and kill them. Accidents have become so frequent that female whales are living 45 years instead of the 70 years scientists think is their average lifespan, according to information on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations website. While the United States and Canada have passed laws protecting whales by regulating ship speeds and fishing gear usage, the new measures have not been enough for the right whale population to recover. With right whales spending more time than ever in Canadian waters, Bishop says Canada needs to act fast: The North Atlantic right whale is one of the most critically endangered baleen whale species in the world. More aggressive laws that would slow boats down and force the creation of safe fishing gear are necessary, she believes. The population is so small; there isnt much wiggle room, she said. Scientists, fishermen, government policy makers and environmental managers need to move quickly. A Baltimore native who grew up visiting that citys famed aquarium and vacationing at Ocean City Beach, Bishop says marine life never fails to fascinate her. During her Florida internships she worked with manatees and dolphins and saw her first hammerhead shark and spotted eagle ray. Every time I see a creature I grew up learning about, it just takes my breath away, she said. Whales with their intelligence and complexity interest her most. Some of Ana Bishops most memorable times at the university were spent at Baruch Marine Field Laboratory near Georgetown We got to learn about the biology, chemistry and physics of the ocean and the marsh in very hands-on ways," says Bishop. "It deepened my love for marine science in general, and also made me very passionate about protecting South Carolinas marine ecosystems." Theyre so majestic. Theyre such an old animal. And the way theyve learned to navigate their environment is just so fascinating. Its amazing our world has an animal like that. Unsurprisingly, Bishop wants to work researching and protecting endangered marine animals. Currently in her first year of Duke Universitys master of environmental management program, she envisions a career with a federal agency, helping make policy. She predicts much of her work will be related to climate change. Its a topic that would inevitably come up in her environmental courses at the university. We learned how prevalent and big a problem it is, she said. It motivated me to do something about it. Change needs to happen globally, she emphasizes. I would really love to see everyone come together and agree to commit to make a change together government, corporations, average individuals so we can try to protect and heal the planet for the next generation, she said. And quit putting the amount of stress on the environment that we have. Growing up in a Puerto Rican family in Staten Island and Brooklyn, New York, storytelling and books were always part of Claire Jimenezs life. The women in my family would tell stories and craft these brilliant jokes. And my father introduced me to a lot of beautiful writers, she says. When I was growing up, he was going to college, and he would bring back his college books and say, Oh, look at this. This is James Baldwin or this is Eugene O'Neill or this is Tennessee Williams. And obviously, these things are way too difficult for a fourth-grader. But just seeing him bring those books home, it created this appreciation for books. But while she always loved to read and write, earning a living as a published writer and college professor was hard to imagine. Really, I was just a nerdy girl who liked to read. Fast forward a few decades and Jimenez is now a new assistant professor of English language and literature and African American Studies at the University of South Carolina, and her debut novel will be published this spring by Grand Central Publishing. Its a writing journey that started when she was selected as a Posse Scholar and left Staten Island for Colby College in Maine. The Posse Foundation identifies and recruits underserved students with leadership potential, and the scholars receive full-tuition scholarships from the foundations partner colleges and universities. Jimenez was part of the first Posse cohort to attend Colby, where she majored in English. She graduated into the Great Recession, moved back home to New York and found a job working at the mall. But she kept thinking about the writing classes she took in college and her love of telling stories. So, on something of a lark, she applied to the MFA program at Vanderbilt, thinking she wouldnt get in to the selective program that accepts only a handful of students each year. But it was free to apply. And then when I got in, I was just so surprised. It changed my life, she says. I ended up going to Nashville, Tennessee, and those years were a gift. I got three years to write and I had teachers who spent time with me to help me develop my stories and become a better writer. Really, I was just a nerdy girl who liked to read. Claire Jimenez While she was there, she wrote a short story called Catfight, a tale that would eventually become the novel What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez, which will be published in the spring. The story follows a Puerto Rican family in Staten Island when a 13-year-old goes missing in the 1990s. Eight years later, the girls sisters think they see her on a reality show. Its really an examination of loss and trauma, the ways in which black and brown women's bodies are depicted on TV and the ways in which missing black and brown girls, especially in the 90s, were not given a lot of attention, she says. Thats basically the premise of the novel. That attention to highlighting the Puerto Rican experience is part of her research as well as her personal writing. She studies and writes about the lack of Puerto Rican authors being published by mainstream presses. In 2020, she co-founded The Puerto Rican Literature Project, a free digital archive, with a team of Puerto Rican writers and scholars in partnership with the U.S. Latino Digital Humanities Program at the University of Houston. In 2021, the team was awarded a $1.3 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to further develop the archive. I never thought I would become a professor even up until I received my MFA. And then I didn't think that I would go get a Ph.D. I wasnt so sure that was in the cards for me, Jimenez says. It took a lot of work and a lot of years of writing and struggling as a writer. You see all your friends who have these jobs with 401Ks and you're like, Why am I doing this? And then finally it's like, Oh, it paid off. But it took many, many years. Now shes thrilled to be part of the universitys English and African American Studies departments. She will teach the fiction workshop next year, and she hopes to craft a course around ethnic literature. There are so many great writers here. I mean, Nikky Finney teaches here. Its just a dream. It's just extraordinary. I love that it's on the East Coast, that it's in close proximity to New York for my research. I love how diverse the city is. The creative writing program is really growing, and there's a lot of opportunity here. That's exciting to me." Some species of ornithomimosaurs that lived in what is now Mississippi, the United States, some 85 million years ago were among the worlds largest at over 800 kg, according to new research. During the majority of the Late Cretaceous, the southern North American continent was divided into two landmasses by the expansion of the Western Interior Seaway, forming Laramidia to the west and Appalachia to the east, said Dr. Chinzorig Tsogtbaatar from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and colleagues. The continental separation had appreciable consequences for the evolution of North American dinosaurs, with distinct lineages evolving in isolation on each landmass. Although the vertebrate fossil record of Appalachia suggests a distinct and diverse fauna, the majority of this record is based on relatively poorly preserved, and often isolated specimens, when compared to the more extensive record of Laramidian species. This is due, in part, to preservational and collection biases, as the vast majority of the exposed sedimentary units in Appalachia represent marine deposits and preserved fossils of terrestrial species are often fragmentary. Thus, Appalachias dinosaur fossil record is poor compared to the extensive record of terrestrial and coastal plain deposits in Laramidia. In the new study, the researchers examined multiple specimens of ornithomimosaur dinosaurs from the Santonian Eutaw Formation of Mississippi. Ornithomimosaurs, the so-called bird-mimic dinosaurs, were superficially ostrich-shaped with small heads, long arms, and strong legs, they explained. The new fossils, including foot bones, are around 85 million years old, making them a rare glimpse into a poorly known interval of North American dinosaur evolution. By comparing the proportions of these fossils and the patterns of growth within the bones, the paleontologists determined that the fossils likely represent two different species of ornithomimosaurs, one relatively small and one very large. They estimate the larger species to have weighed over 800 kg, and the individual examined was likely still growing when it died. This makes it among the largest ornithomimosaurs known. The fossils provide valuable insights into the otherwise poorly understood dinosaur ecosystems of Late Cretaceous eastern North America. They also shed light on ornithomimosaur evolution; giant body sizes and multiple species living side-by-side are recurring trends for these dinosaurs across North America and Asia. The ornithomimosaur materials from the Eutaw Formation provide key information on the diversity and distribution of North American ornithomimosaurs and Appalachian dinosaurs and fit with broader evidence of multiple cohabiting species of ornithomimosaurian dinosaurs in Late Cretaceous ecosystems of Laurasia, the researchers concluded. Their findings will be published in the journal PLoS ONE. _____ C. Tsogtbaatar et al. 2022. Large-bodied ornithomimosaurs inhabited Appalachia during the Late Cretaceous of North America. PLoS ONE 17 (10) Politics featured spotlight Incumbent San Francisco Supervisors are rarely defeated, but is Gordon Mar in trouble? Craig Lee/The Examiner Incumbent District 4 Supervisor Gordon Mar played up his hands-on approach and his work on neighborhood controversies in an effort to fight off this years election challenge. Craig Lee/The Examiner Gordon Mar, Supervisor for District 4, on Taraval Street on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. Craig Lee/The Examiner Richard Chu, (right) friend and supporter takes a selfie with Joel Engardio, candidate for Supervisor District 4, while he was campaigning in the Lakeshore area on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. Craig Lee/The Examiner Joel Engardio, candidate for Supervisor District 4, campaigning door-to-door in the Lakeshore area on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. Craig Lee/The Examiner Victorious in the District 4 race, Joel Engardio is the first candidate to beat an elected incumbent supervisor in The City in more than 20 years. Craig Lee/The Examiner Freeman Leong (middle) and Frances Tai (right) talking with Joel Engardio, candidate for Supervisor District 4, while he was campaigning in the Lakeshore Plaza area on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. They voted for Joel Engardio twice before. Incumbent San Francisco supervisors like Gordon Mar dont lose elections. His opponent, Joel Engardio, doesnt win them. Or does he? Theres reason to believe this year Engardio has a chance at winning the election in District 4, which encompasses the Outer Sunset district, despite technically having only lived in it for a few months before running for office and facing an opponent wielding the power of incumbency. While neither campaign has released polling, both sides are confident. If campaign contributions are any indication and they arent always the race is neck-and-neck. Engardio has raked in $376,000 compared to the $308,000 brought in by Mar, although the difference is entirely due to the amount of public financing taken by Engardio. Engardio has won key support from officials and organizations like Grow SF and SF YIMBY, while Mar earned the support of a litany of labor unions and the San Francisco Democratic Party. Mar believes his contest is not competitive to a degree outside the norm for an incumbent supervisor. Although public polling demonstrates voters are broadly dissatisfied with the Board of Supervisors and Mayor London Breed, Mar believes hes not the target of ire in his district. Voters are angry across The City, including District 4. The November election may test the limits of that anger and whether residents are willing to direct it at a sitting supervisor. Since 2002, only one elected supervisor has lost a race, according to a recent San Francisco Chronicle analysis. For a district supervisor race, the constituents just want somebody to represent them that they know is responsive to their priority concerns, has a connection to the community and a track record of accomplishments, Mar said. After knocking on thousands of doors in his customary uniform blue button-down shirt, khaki pants and a nondescript ballcap Engardio feels momentum and hopes to ride the wave of voter discontent. Engardio believes he offers an alternative to the status quo, which Mar represents. Im offering a change that I think people want, Engardio said. Engardio is making his fourth attempt at serving on the Board of Supervisors and hopes this will be his first success. In his last race, in 2020 in District 7, he won the most first-choice votes, but lost under the ranked-choice voting system. He was a leader of the school board recall movement, which could earn him credibility with Sunset residents. If you look at my volunteer base today, 80, 90% are parents who live in the Sunset, because we worked together on the school board recall, said Engardio. The race centers on a debate over who can best represent the district. Mars supporters paint Engardio as an outsider and perennial failed candidate, while Engardio argues that Mar proved he is woefully out of touch with District 4 voters by failing to endorse two historic recalls this year. Mar believes he has the bona fides to represent the Sunset, where he and his wife moved 16 years ago to raise their family. Before serving as supervisor, he was the executive director of Jobs with Justice San Francisco and the Chinese Progressive Association. Now, hes running for reelection on a record of serving his constituents. He points to his creation of a five-point community safety plan for the district and sponsorship of legislation to expand community policing to respond to residents concerns about crime. Hes also positioned himself as a hands-on leader in ways like helping to broker an agreement between the Outer Sunset Farmers Market & Mercantile and St. Ignatius College Preparatory, which had battled over the formers use of public space on the weekends. He spearheaded a compromise to keep the Great Highway car-free on weekends, but open to vehicles on weekdays. Engardio is a newcomer to the district, but only on a technicality. The districts borders shifted when they were redrawn in the wake of the 2020 census earlier this year, effectively transporting Engardio from District 7 to District 4 even as he stayed put. Engardio and his husband live west of 19th Avenue and shop at the same grocery store as Mar, he stressed. Its bogus for anyone to say Im not part of the Sunset or District 4 ... Ive been here eight years, Engardio said. A third candidate, Leanna Louie, was removed from the ballot because city officials determined she did not meet residency requirements under city law. While he may be a new resident of the district, Engardio argues that his record is more closely aligned with its voters. Gordon Mar completely failed on probably one of the most important issues that the majority of the Sunset cares about, Engardio said of the school board recall. District 4 residents overwhelmingly voted to recall three school board members in February; organizers of the recall effort tapped into frustration over the evolving admissions policy at Lowell High School, which the school board voted to change from merit-based to a lottery system. Then, in June, two-thirds of District 4 voted to recall San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin amid concerns about crime and anti-Asian hate. Only one other district voted to recall Boudin by a wider margin. Engardio has lambasted Mar for failing to support either recall. Even as new District Attorney Brooke Jenkins seeks election in November, Mar has declined to take a stance and will not endorse a candidate. Mar counters that the recalls arent a top matter of concern for voters, even if their underlying issues public safety and education are. The recalls have not come up often at all, except my opponent has been desperately trying to make it an issue, Mar said. I only support a recall of a public official if theres clear misconduct. Albert Chow, owner of the Great Wall hardware store and president of the neighborhood organization People of Parkside Sunset, has backed Mar despite disagreeing with his stance on the recalls. He credits Mar with helping small businesses and the broader community during the COVID-19 pandemic, helping secure funding for security cameras and allowing street parklets for businesses. Hes not an orator, hes not flashy, Chow said. Gordon Mar is not that kind of a supervisor. Hes an open-door policy guy, hes completely accessible, and even to the smallest problems hes willing to really sit down with you, have a cup of coffee, and talk it through, and immediately send his staff off to do something about it. But the recalls may be a sticking point for others. Brian Quan, president of the Chinese American Democratic Club, recognized work Mar has done for the community, including shepherding the creation of a Sunset Chinese Cultural District. But the clubs members narrowly voted to endorse Engardio over Mar, in part due to the formers leadership in recall efforts and focus on public safety. If Engardio is elected, it would buck the trend of the Sunset representing Asian American representatives to the Board of Supervisors. Although Mar says the demographics of the neighborhood have changed even in the 16 years hes lived in the Sunset, a majority of its voters are Asian American. Serving as an Asian American isnt why hes running, Mar stressed, but representation is important to the voters of the district. Engardios campaign launched a new ad this week in Cantonese, in which he is surrounded by Cantonese speakers who he said are all volunteers for his campaign. I think people care most about representation on the issues that matter to them, so people want representation on public safety, on education. That leadership has been lacking, Engardio said. Quan said Engardio has made a consistent effort to be a part of the Asian community. Thats what ultimately tipped it in his favor, Quan said. We want people who arent just showing up and doing the photo ops and just seeming like theyre part of the Asian community; a lot of the people who are part of the community recognize whos showing up, putting in the work. Ambassador Duong Hai Hung (R) meets President of the Campania region Vincenzo de Luca (Photo: VNA) Addressing an October 17 conference, Ambassador Duong Hai Hung affirmed that the Vietnam-Italy partnership is growing with various effective cooperation mechanisms in many fields, from politics, diplomacy to economy and defence. This is a good condition for the two sides to boost collaboration in many areas with supplementary nature and deal with arising difficulties such as the recent case of 100 cashew containers stuck in Italy, he stressed. The ambassador noted that trade between the two countries rose 21 percent to US$5.6 billion in 2021 and increased about 14 percent in the first eight months of this year. The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, which brings many tax lines to zero, has been among the good conditions for Italian firms to invest in Vietnam, he said, noting that about 6,000 Italian investors have successfully invested in Vietnam. Alongside, the young workforce, stable political system and the 15 FTAs that Vietnam has joined are also the countrys advantages, he added. Prof. Pietro Masina from Naples LOrientale University held that Vietnams Doi Moi (Renewal) cause has been successful with good economic growth and effective poverty reduction, making Vietnam an attractive market for Italian firms. Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Naples Silvio Vecchione affirmed that with the stable fiscal environment, a gradually streamlined administrative apparatus, foreign direct investment to Vietnam has increased exponentially. With a population of about 100 million people, Vietnam will also be an attractive market for companies in consumer goods production, creating opportunities for businesses in the Campania region in the fields of food, wine and fashion. Within the framework of the conference, Ambassador Hung had meetings with leaders of Campania and Naples city. President of the Campania region Vincenzo de Luca expressed his hope for stronger investment cooperation between the two sides, especially in the regions strong areas such as agriculture, fashion, military-civil industry, and aerospace as well as student exchange. VNA An active social media account with a big following can provide you with a good income if monetized the right way. But building up a social following can take a long time. What if you could shortcut that process, and spend a little bit more money upfront, to get a social media account that is already verified and already has followers, so you can start trying to monetize it immediately? The good news is you can. Marketplaces exist where you can buy verified social media accounts for all platforms, that are ready to use right away. In this article, we outline the pros and cons of buying an existing social media account and what they can do for your online business. Why Buy A Social Media Account? Places like ACCS Market have many different platforms, including verified tiktok accounts for sale, but why should you buy one? Already Verified One of the main reasons to buy an existing social media account is that they have already been verified by the social media company, and are fully set up and active. A lot of people have no issues verifying an account on their own, though for some people, in some parts of the world, this can be harder. Some governments make it hard to sign up for social media accounts, and some platforms are not available in all countries. As a result, if you can purchase the rights to an existing account, it can make it possible for you to have one of the accounts, where it otherwise would not be. Verification can also be tricky if you have already created an account or multiple accounts with that platform for other purposes. Many platforms have a term of service that only allows one account per person, so it can be tricky if you want to have your own account plus multiple business accounts for multiple brands you run. So when you want to run 5, 10, or even 15 different brands on a certain platform it can be tricky to get them verified. Often you need a cell/mobile phone number to verify an account, and if you try and use the same number multiple times, it blocks you. Buying an existing account gets around all those difficulties you can run into when wanting to sign up for an account, and not being with the social media platform's terms of service. Already Have Followers The other main reason to consider buying an existing social media account is that they already have followers. When you are considering an account you will be able to look at the profile to see how many followers the account has, there is no way to be fraudulent about that. There is no guarantee about how engaged the followers are, but the actual number of followers if viewing the profile publicly is a reliable number. Buying a social media account that already has a large number of followers can speed up your brand-building process. Typically when you start a new social media account it takes a lot of time to build up traction and get your first followers. This is valuable time in which you cannot make much money because your follower count is so small. Whereas if you purchase an account with followers already, then you can start trying to monetize the profile immediately. Risks Of Buying An Existing Social Media Account Though there are some great things about buying an existing social media account there are also some potential downsides. Against the TOS In most cases, the selling or transferring of a social media account from one person or entity to another, is against the terms of service. In reality, many people violate the terms of service of their apps on a regular basis without knowing, and nothing bad happens to them, but the transferring of accounts is one thing the social media companies do pay a lot of attention to and have automatic systems set up to detect this. They have many different technological ways they can detect this, so you need to be very careful when transferring ownership. Risk Of IP Ban When a social media company detects that an account is being accessed from a new location, it can block it, in case this is indicative of a security concern. It is a potential red flag, and indicator of fraud or theft, if an account was logged in from the USA, one day, and Australia the next. Though there are some legitimate scenarios in which this could take place, in many cases it is a reasonable indicator of foul play and can lead to an account getting blocked or banned. They can figure this out based on the IP address used to log in to the account. An IP address is an indicator of which internet connection is being used to log in to the social media account. An IP address indicates the internet service provider being used and the approximate location of the connection. You could potentially work around this using a virtual private network (VPN) which can be used to mask your geographical location while surfing the internet, but this is an advanced tactic. Followers May Not Be Engaged Even if you successfully transfer ownership, and do not get banned based on logging in from a different IP address, there are other risks to consider. You could spend a significant amount of money, to buy an account with existing followers and then find them so unengaged with the profile, that they are of no benefit to your business. If the previous owner, just paid money to get people to follow the account that is not actually interested in the brand, then it is just a vanity metric, and will not have any impact on your actual business and ability to monetize the profile. Luckily there are ways you can gauge the level of interaction with the profile before you buy it. The best way to check how engaged the followers are is to look for the level of interaction that they have with the posts of the account. If the account has tens of thousands of followers and their posts get very little engagement, this suggests that many of the followers are not engaged, and it may not be worth the money. Though there are some arguments that having a high follower count can be valuable to an influencer regardless of how engaged they are, we personally recommend you focus on the level of engagement. How Much Do Social Media Accounts Cost? The cost of a social media account varies based on a few factors, including follower count and engagement level. But you would be surprised at how cheap a social media account with thousands of followers can be. Depending on which marketplace you look at, you could easily buy an account with thousands of followers for less than $100 dollars. Final Thoughts Though there are some risks to buying an existing social media account, there are many potential positives. Buying an existing account can help you overcome verification issues and also give you a good start on building your follower count, providing you with an audience that you can start engaging with and promoting to immediately. Given the very low cost to buy an account, and the potential upside, it is definitely something you should consider. Samsung India on Tuesday launched its popular digital lending programme Samsung Finance+ for consumers to buy its wide range of consumer electronics products this festive season. The company said that Samsung Finance+ is a simple, universally accessible digital lending platform wherein consumers will be able to upgrade to their favourite premium Samsung consumer electronics product by getting a loan sanctioned within 20 minutes at retail stores across the country. "At Samsung, consumers are at the heart of everything we do. Samsung Finance+ is a testimony to our consumer-centric innovation and will help drive financial inclusion, furthering our commitment to Powering Digital India," Mohandeep Singh, Senior Vice President, Consumer Electronics Business, Samsung India said in a statement. "We are positive that Samsung Finance+ will touch the lives of millions of consumers, especially those who are new to credit and are in semi-urban and rural markets," he added. The company mentioned that it is launching Samsung Finance+ at around 3,000 consumer electronics stores in 1,200 cities across the country. It also plans to take Samsung Finance+ to more than 5,000 retail outlets in appx 1,500 cities by the end of 2022, supporting consumers during the festive period. The Samsung Finance+ platform was developed in India at the Samsung R&D Institute Bangalore (SRI-B), where engineers worked closely with the Samsung India team to assess consumer requirements and design the features of the platform, the company noted. 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! Swimming with Sharks Prime Video In Hollywood the fastest way to get to the top is to work for someone whos already there. So says young Lou Simms (Kiernan Shipka), who is beginning an internship for abusive movie-studio executive Joyce Holt (Diane Kruger). The whole studio is a cesspit of awfulness. Joyces assistant and gatekeeper, Travis (Thomas Dekker), is catty and cruel, but even hes left scarred by the high-heeled shoes that Joyce throws in fits of rage. Ailing studio boss Redmond (Donald Sutherland) is an old lech who still gets off on sexually exploiting women from what looks like his deathbed. The setting isnt what youd call sudsy, but imagine a thin sheen of melodrama with lurid notes and youve more or less got it. The doe-eyed Kiernan Shipka is in her wheelhouse at the intersection of innocence and darkness in Swimming with Sharks. Credit:Patrick McElhenney Little Lou is going to be eaten alive here. Or maybe she wont. Does her short, braided blonde hair and dirndl-based dress sense speak of sheltered Midwestern naivete or carefully coiled psychopathy? The doe-eyed Shipka is right in her wheelhouse there at that intersection of innocence and something darker. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Perched on her bed in a sprawling mansion, a black veil draped over her, Gene Sherman fleetingly resembles Miss Havisham from Charles Dickens Great Expectations. The comparison cant be stretched much further: Shermans mansion opposite Sydneys Centennial Park is a pristine hive of activity; her PhD was in French Literature rather than English; and Miss Havisham wished that she had owned such a striking pair of silver sneakers. Sherman, a leading philanthropist and collector of fashion, jewellery and architectural commissions, is mourning a lost love. Last month her husband Brian, funds manager, fellow philanthropist and animal activist, died aged 79 after a long battle with Parkinsons disease. Im just holding myself together, Sherman, 75, says. Her usually galloping voice, filtered through a distinctly South African accent, has lost some momentum. He only died four and a half weeks ago. He died at home, in the room across the corridor. I promised him he would die at home. The 1918 home Braelin, designed by architect Donald Esplin for lord mayor of Sydney, Sir Allen Taylor, was purchased from Atlassian co-founder and tech-billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes and his wife Annie four years ago. Despite the obvious appeal of the historic single-floor grand home, the move from the Shermans beloved Victorian manor in Woollahra was prompted by practicality, with Parkinsons making its presence more deeply felt in their lives. Brian and Gene Sherman at their Centennial Park home. Credit:Louise Kennerley . We were in a perfectly lovely house, but it had stairs. I could envisage a time when he was not going to manage. We were lucky to find this property. How many houses do you find with stables? And we could afford it. Advertisement Having operated the Sherman Gallery in Glebe then Paddington from 1986 to 2007, representing Shaun Gladwell, Guan Wei, Janet Laurence, Akio Makigawa, Mike Parr, Imants Tillers, and Hossein Valamanesh among others, the art collection set against the restored panelling is impressive but not unexpected. Its the intensely personal collection of furniture, with Australian designer Charles Wilsons sculptural tall boy hijacking the eye as you journey towards Mario Bellinis Camaleonda modular sofa, currently being pawed feverishly by Genes dog Miette, offering as much comfort as visual appeal. Gene Shermans home Braelin in Centennial Park with Mario Bellinis Camaleonda modular sofa and Osvalso Borsanis D70 Techno Lounge. Credit:Ross Honeysett The furniture is new as a collection, Sherman says. Brian was already too ill to participate in this house. In previous houses he did. He had a good eye, not a good ear. I really went on a learning journey. The tools for that journey can be seen in the office adjoining the living room, with countless books crowding shelves. There are biographies of artists, architects, composers, non-fiction and fiction in French and English. But not politics, Im not interested in politics, Sherman says. This is only part of my library. Ive got a library in Tel Aviv, in the office and in the pavilion, and Ive also given away numerous books. When Im reading I go into another world. Ive been reading since I was six years old. While Brian was lying in the coma, I couldnt read. That told me how empty I was. I couldnt nourish myself. Advertisement Ive started reading again and that tells me Im healing a little. Theres also been some healing from the new book in Shermans bejewelled hands, The Spoken Object: A Collectors Journey in Fashion, Jewellery, Design and Architecture, which she will launch in November. Through photography and essays by academics Alison Kubler, former Powerhouse Museum director Dolla Merrillees and interiors expert David Clark, Shermans most personal passions are presented. Fittingly the cover, designed by Daniel New, is black and silver, perfectly coordinating with the steady palette of Shermans changing uniform. Gene Sherman modelling Japanese clothing with other pieces donated to the Powerhouse Museum in 2009. Credit:Steven Siewert Collecting Japanese fashion and contemporary jewellery since 1985, initiating and producing architectural projects since 2008 and co-curating a mid-century furniture and object collection more recently, I felt the need, within the framework of my longstanding scholarly interests to document and draw together significant elements of my applied arts journey. The jewellery was photographed in Shermans home, while the Powerhouse Museum supplied imagery of some fashion from Commes des Garcons, Yohji Yamamoto and other Japanese designers that had been donated to their collection. Folds of charcoal wool, quilted black coats and asymmetrical black skirts are punctuated by bursts of gold, emerald and navy pleating from Issey Miyake. While Gene was drawn to the aesthetic and sculptural quality of the clothes and selected pieces with which she had an immediate connection, it would be wrong to say that she doesnt have a process or a set of criteria that govern her acquisitions, Merrillees writes in The Spoken Object. Advertisement Her clear interest in the relationship between art and fashion, the distinct appeal of the philosophy of wabi-sabi , mindfulness and a desire to support sustainable fashion reflective of her taste judgements and interests. Sherman puts it more simply. My eyes good. The book is dedicated to, the designers and for Brian. Dr Gene Sherman in her bedroom at her home in Centennial Park. Credit:Louise Kennerley Im such a perfectionist, she says. Im not always pleased with my efforts. I think that I always could have done better. With this book, I really do feel very pleased. Having reached some closure with the engaging catalogue of some of her achievements, Sherman could be taking comfort in the company of her son, Oscar-winning producer Emile and daughter, author and animal rights campaigner Ondine, grandchildren and 80 family members in Sydney. Instead, she is packing her bags, veil and all, to travel to London. From October 28 to November 6, The Sherman Centre for Culture and Ideas, formed following the closure of the gallery, will present a series of talks from emerging Australian figures in fashion, architecture and the applied arts in the British capital. Sherman says it will be her final public commission in a career spanning more than three decades. Advertisement I definitely give of myself, Sherman says, having devised an extensive program of Australian design talent that includes Romance Was Born, First Nations designer Grace Lillian Lee, self-portraitist Atong Atem and architect Ninotschka Titchkosky among 45 speakers. The focus is on emerging talent, but unlike many people who skirt the hemlines of the fashion world, Sherman is just as happy looking back as thinking ahead. To me you cant look forward unless you can look back, she says. The threads of the past are woven into the present and project into the future. The Jewish community has a 5000-year history. Im very aware of that. The people who are anti-Israel have no idea. They dont know what happened before yesterday. Dr Gene Sherman with fashion designer Akira Isogawa. Credit:Louise Kennerley Even some young black people in South Africa have forgotten about the Apartheid period, she says, referring to the country she finally left in 1976. If as human beings we learnt from history, the world wouldnt be in the state its in. Advertisement Actor Vince Colosimo has been fined $2500 after again facing court on drug-driving charges where it was revealed that when police pulled him over he claimed to be his twin brother, Tony. Colosimo who was warned in 2017 that he could be jailed if he re-offended appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday where he admitted he knew he was unlicensed when he got behind the wheel of his silver Peugeot in an attempt to deliver groceries to his mother during lockdown last year. Vince Colosimo arrives at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui The 55-year-old has three prior convictions for unlicensed driving and one for drug-driving, between 2015 and 2017. In 2017 Colosimo was warned by magistrate David Starvaggi that he ran the risk of being jailed if he faced court again for drug-driving offences, with Starvaggi warning the actor that it wont be pretty if he reoffended. This story is part of an in-depth series investigating the Barangaroo precinct, one of Sydneys largest urban renewal projects. See all 19 stories . Aboriginal cultural guide Tim Gray was happy to have the Aboriginal flag finally flying on Sydney Harbour Bridge behind him when he stopped to talk about Barangaroo. Barangaroo was our first resistance fighter, said Gray, of the Cammeraygal woman for whom the headland park and development is named. She was happy for the British to visit but not stay. She was constantly in their faces telling them to go home ... to the point where scuffles started. A detail from the painting of Bannelang [Bennelong] meeting the Governor by appointment after he was wounded by Will [Nille?] ma ring in September 1790. It depicts Barangaroo in the second canoe. Credit:National History Museum (London) Gray, a Gumbaynggirr, Wiradjuri and Bidjigal man, has been giving three tours a week on the Barangaroo headland since 2015, putting his own spin on the curriculum that he and other Aboriginal cultural tour guides developed. His tour starts by detailing the areas Indigenous and colonial history, looking towards the Crown tower and the high-rises to the south. He shows photos of what it looked like when stevedoring was at its peak and finger wharves lined the bay. A former ambulance officer accused of killing his wife and possibly feeding her body to pigs told a supervisor later that year that pigs dont leave any evidence, a jury has been told. John Bowie, 72, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Roxlyn Bowie on or about June 5, 1982 in the outback NSW town of Walgett. The Crown alleges Bowies deteriorating marriage and developing relationship with another woman, Gail Clarke, motivated him to kill his first wife. Roxlyn and John Bowie. Credit:NSW Police Desmond Scotcher, former senior supervisor at Bankstown, testified in the NSW Supreme Court on Wednesday that Bowie had been transferred to the ambulance station in Sydneys south-west in 1982. After June 1982, two detectives arrived and had a discussion with Bowie in another room, he said. Sydney Catholic Schools billed its production of School of Rock as taking school musicals to a whole new level. For the first time, about 3000 of its students came together for a once in a lifetime extravaganza in front of an estimated 20,000 students and parents. It was a huge hit or so it seemed. School of Rock The Musical at Qudos Bank Arena involved 3000 students from Sydney Catholic Schools The success of the show has been overshadowed by a backlash from parents, some of whom are upset about the language (one song contained the words screwed and pissed), the disrespect for authority (the choir sang Stick it to the Man), and by a scene in which students prayed to the God of Rock. But the biggest controversy, representing the largest share of complaints to the schools boss and archbishop, was a brief scene in which two male students played a same-sex couple. One of the last things Boris Johnson did before leaving office was to create a new bunch of lords, one of whom was an Australian billionaire who had donated 4.7 million pounds to the Conservative Party, notes Paul Duncan of Leura. Now I know how much it will cost me to become a lord should I win Lotto. More PJs in public (C8). We were staying in the Ovolo Hotel in Canberra, recalls Bob Phillips of Cabarita. We were in our room at 8.45pm when we discovered that the hotel had a theatre and the latest Bond movie was showing at 9pm. Who would notice a couple of superannuants sneak into a dark theatre in slacky dacks and slippers? The lift opened onto a red carpet, glasses of champagne were thrust into our hands, we were surrounded by men in dress suits and women in glamorous frocks and shuffled into the line to go into the theatre. It was a premiere for the celebrities of Canberra! A Bond look-alike in front of us turned, looked me up-and-down, and said snottily, Bond. James Bond? I pulled out the top of my singlet and replied: No. Chesty Bond. Reading of the Tasmanian river Wye (C8), Im reminded of a village near Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England, writes Jon Travers of Mollymook. It sits by the river Piddle and is known as Wyre Piddle. I was delighted to see a cottage there with two chamber pots hanging either side of the entry door. Known as Wee Wee Cottage, Wyre Piddle! Leone Toker of Port Macquarie thinks that Given Joan Browns credentials as an observant and forthright contributor, perhaps the good citizens of Orange have decided to err on the side of caution. In their position Id certainly prefer to offer kindness and courtesy as she and her wheelie-walker (C8) negotiate local streets and businesses, rather than risk becoming the target of her next C8 offering. Racing now with George Zivkovic of Northmead: Some of the most valuable words in Scrabble use a Q without a U and there are many more than your English teachers led you to believe. Thats why my early tip for this years Melbourne Cup is the wonderfully ambiguously named Daqiansweet Junior. Police have dropped an onerous bail condition placed on Greens councillor Jonathan Sriranganathan after he was arrested for allegedly refusing police orders to leave a protest. The court order had prevented the councillor moving across parts of South Brisbane. Sriranganathan said he had written to the police commissioner and police minister for an apology. He claimed arresting officers were unduly rough with him at the Disrupt Land Force protest at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, twisting his arms and leaving him doubled over in pain. Sriranganathan was slapped with bail conditions preventing him going within 500 metres of the centre. Ive been feeling left out the whole time. We have no idea if we are expecting more flooding or if anyone will even warn us, he said. Were very tired and stressed about what the future holds. Following the devastating floods in northern NSW earlier this year, the Perrottet government offered grants of up to $50,000 for small businesses and $200,000 for medium businesses. Thats what we would be looking for, to actually do something useful, Noble said, referring to the NSW grants. In Victoria, residents affected by floods have access to a $580 relief payment from the state and $1000 from the Commonwealth. The state government is also providing grants of up to $43,850 for uninsured homeowners. Loading Premier Daniel Andrews said there would be further financial support for the thousands of flood-affected businesses as their needs became clearer over coming weeks. Well make those initial payments as fast as we can, and well add to them shoulder-to-shoulder with the Commonwealth government as soon as possible, Andrews said. Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra said Wednesdays announcement was a good start. Until the floods subside, were not going to know what the true damage is, he said. Whats happened today gives business some certainty that there will be some financial support. I dont think we can expect governments to step in over the top of insurance companies to make payments. The Anglers Tavern near the Maribyrnong River was submerged on Friday. Credit:Chris Hopkins Noble, who is nursing cut feet from wading through floodwaters filled with broken glass, said anything would be better than nothing, but was concerned $5000 wouldnt go very far. Nobles insurance might not cover the damage as flooding from a river breach is not included in his policy. Its not looking very good at all, but well be pushing hard, he said. In Rochester, Criterion Hotel owner Craig Mann said $5000 was a drop in the ocean. He spent more than $100,000 on renovations when he took over the business last year and now estimates hes facing a $300,000 bill after floodwaters rose to about one metre inside the pub. Its a disaster in here, he said. Mann has pulled out the carpets and is washing what he can, but he is nervous about the threat of more flooding. With no insurance coverage for floods, he hoped to see more government support for businesses. It would really help us, honestly, Mann said. One of the first buildings in Maribyrnong to be inundated was the Anglers Tavern. Paul Waterson, owner of the Anglers Tavern in Maribyrnong, says support for small businesses is crucial. Credit:Arsineh Houspian Paul Waterson, who bought the tavern this year, said he didnt need government support as he expected his insurance to cover much of the damage, which could total up to $8 million. Loading However, he said support for smaller businesses was crucial, as they would need cash quickly. People without a buffer will be really struggling, he said. Waterson said while his business would recover, he was critical of the lack of flood warnings. We would have made material changes to how we prepared if we had known what was coming, he said. Two men have charged for allegedly firing a potato gun at men on e-scooters near Mettams Pool, causing serious facial injuries to one of the riders who had to have his eye surgically removed. Mirrabooka Detectives charged the men, aged 19 and 20, after an extensive investigation into the May 20 incident which included multiple public appeals for help. About 9.30pm, two men in their 20s were travelling south along the footpath of West Coast Drive in Trigg on orange rental scooters. When the scooters neared Mettams Pool, the occupants of a vehicle travelling on West Coast Drive allegedly threw, or fired a potato at the scooters, injuring a 28-year-old man. He sustained serious facial injuries and a fractured arm. As a result of the facial injuries the victims eye was injured to such an extent that it had to be surgically removed. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has acknowledged his government could have better handled its announcement it no longer recognised West Jerusalem as Israels capital, while defending the decision as returning Australia to the international mainstream. Albaneses comments came as more mysterious changes to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) website surfaced, this time through deleted references to democracy and good governance on its Palestinian Territories page. Anthony Albanese said Labor made its position on West Jerusalem clear in 2018. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen DFAT caused the government a major headache by removing references to West Jerusalem from its Israel country page, pre-empting an official cabinet decision to no longer recognise the city as Israels capital. The abrupt timing of Tuesdays announcement, which came on a Jewish holy day and just a fortnight before Israels elections, angered the Israeli government, which swiftly called in the Australias ambassador for a reprimand. NSW made the right call in scrapping the title of Queens or Kings Counsel for top barristers, the states chief justice has said, as a string of eastern states cling to the title. Chief Justice Andrew Bell said the rank of Senior Counsel, used in NSW since 1993, befits a mature and independent legal profession as he welcomed the latest crop of SCs, known colloquially as silks, at a ceremony in Sydney on Wednesday. Bell himself was appointed an SC in 2006 and was sworn in as chief justice in March. NSW Chief Justice Andrew Bell. The death of Queen Elizabeth II and the accession of her son King Charles III prompted a flurry of activity in barristers chambers across Australia, as those designated Queens Counsel rushed to change their postnominals to KC. The change in title was automatic and of particular significance in Queensland, Victoria and South Australia, where most senior barristers were QCs. In NSW, only senior barristers appointed before the switch to SCs in 1993 were affected. London: Chinas consul-general in the English city of Manchester has been named in UK parliament as one of the officials involved in the violent scenes showing a Hong Kong refugee being dragged inside the gates of the consulate and beaten in broad daylight. The alleged attack was captured on video and the man named Bob had to be rescued by Manchester Police but not before he said he was bruised, cut and had some of his hair ripped from his scalp. Hong Kong protester Bob says he was dragged onto consulate grounds and attacked after staff took offence to a poster of President Xi Jinping. Credit:Matthew Leung/ The Chaser News The chair of the House of Commons foreign affairs committee Alicia Kearns identified the consul-general Zheng Xiyuan, one of Chinas most senior diplomats in the UK, as one of the men who emerged from the consulate in Manchester to disrupt the protest that was taking place outside its gates on Sunday afternoon. What we saw was the Chinese consul-general then ripping down posters during a peaceful protest, she told the House. Before Russias invasion, the Libertarian Party even urged the United States to leave NATO in light of escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine - an anti-NATO position not unlike the Kremlins. This philosophical convergence hasnt gone unnoticed by libertarians in Eastern Europe, some of whom have taken to calling their American peers Kremlitarians. In April, Liberty International, a libertarian group with members worldwide, held an online meeting on the issue. Poland-based president Jacek Spendel said that as libertarians who loved freedom, of course they would side with the Ukrainians who were being invaded by Russia. But apparently big libertarian [media] outlets, especially in the US, have a different opinion on this, Spendel said. These outlets and institutions sought to place blame for the invasion outside the Kremlin. Ukrainian-American Roman Skaskiw first discovered the intra-party contradiction in 2014 when Russia staged its initial invasion of eastern Ukraine. Skaskiw spoke up about the Kremlins actions to fellow libertarians, only to find, in dismay, that many American libertarians actually defended Russia and Vladimir Putin. Skaskiw dubbed them Putins libertarians. He wrote: I have been horrified by the libertarian coverage of events in Ukraine. Much of it has been such an uncritical parroting of Kremlin propaganda...that I cant decide whether the authors suffer a bias toward contrarian narratives or are on the Kremlin payroll. Libertarians on the Ukraine war. Credit:Reddit Christopher Devine, a political science professor at the University of Dayton in Ohio, says it does seem at times that the US Libertarian Partys position on matters of war and peace would be music to an aggressors ears - in this case, Vladimir Putins. However, we have to be careful not to confuse this with support for the aggressor, or a defence of their actions, in the same way that we wouldnt want to have confused opposition to the Iraq War with support for Saddam Hussein. Devine says its true that some Libertarians seem sympathetic to Putin or at least hypercritical of the Ukrainian government - the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire Twitter account quite infamously tweeted a picture of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with a Hitler moustache. Devine says not all libertarians in the US are so accommodating. For example, the US partys former chairman has been vocal in his support for Ukraine. American Libertarians embrace and celebrate the language and imagery of freedom, including images like the liberty torch and, sometimes, the Gadsden Flag showing a snake with the words Dont Tread on Me. Yet hostility to Western governments often sees US libertarians make the same political arguments as the Kremlin, even if the motives of Americans (isolationism, distrust of government) are different from the Kremlin (competition with the West). In a recent example, tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has been described as libertarian, shared posts on Ukraine criticised as carrying the Kremlins talking points. We troll Zelensky because he is a darling of the media and US war machine, said the owner of the New Hampshire Libertarian Party account, which described the Ukrainian PM as as much an instigator of conflict as the Russians are. Were not fans of Putin any more than we were fans of Bin Laden or Saddam Hussein, the account holder said. Only a fool ignores the reasoning of his adversaries. Portland State University geographer lecturer and author Alexander Reid Ross said libertarians often lump together all media in the West into one ideological position [the Western media], thus creating the opportunity to create something that would rival it. Elon Musk: a few ideas about peace in Ukraine, which echo the Kremlins view. Credit:AP Its a dishonest staging, in my view, said Ross. I think the Ukraine War shows their efforts at irony as foolish and wrong-footed. Oklahoma-based Libertarian Party Treasurer Todd Hagopian rejected the notion that American libertarians were accommodating to the Kremlin. Libertarians are not soft on Putin. We would be just as, if not more, vehemently against sending tens of billions of dollars of aid to Russia if the roles were reversed. Meanwhile, some libertarians suspect the Kremlin has effectively co-opted their American political brethren. Skaskiw says the co-optation of the ideology is not unique to Western libertarianism. Russia builds ties with Western communists, traditionalists, nationalists, ethno-nationalists and activists of many stripes. Russia accepts any ideology, religion, or belief as long as it can be subservient to a powerful tsar. The Albanese governments welcome decision not to recognise West Jerusalem as Israels capital brings Australia back into line with international law and virtually all the global community. The government sensibly recognises that competing claims to Jerusalem should be peacefully settled by negotiation, in accordance with international law, not by unilateral claims imposed by force and rubber-stamped by allies. Foreign Minister Penny Wong and the Albanese government have been criticised by Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid over the shift in policy. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen, AP Israelis, Jews, Christians, Palestinians, Muslims and Arabs all have important historical, spiritual and cultural attachments to the cosmopolitan city of Jerusalem. As the British mandate in Palestine ended in the late 1940s, the United Nations endorsed a partition plan to create two separate Arab and Jewish countries. Jerusalem was to have a separate international status, administered by the UN, given its importance to different peoples. The plan was supported by many Zionists, but opposed by most Arabs, since it unfairly allocated a disproportionate share of land to Jews relative to their share of the population. PHILIPSBURG:--- The NIPA Supervisory Board of Directors herewith informs that the total vacation allowance ( 6%), has been disbursed to the employees. We take this opportunity to again thank the team for their commitment and perseverance during a tumultuous time, brought on by the pandemic caused by COVID-19, and the ensuing unilateral cost-cutting measures levied by the Dutch Kingdom. Notwithstanding, our team never faltered or wavered! WHAT'S NEXT? On the heels of the economic impact and the rising cost of living, the NIPA Supervisory Board of Directors will immediately commence with the assessment of the function book, job descriptions, and salary scales. The objective is to evaluate local, regional, and international best practices related to the total compensation packages of teaching and support staff. Our ability to recruit and retain the BEST OF THE BEST is highly dependent on our ability to offer competitive packages to employees. Our current employees stand to gain as well! If we say that our teachers are our most important asset then our actions must support this! The NIPA board is desirous to also involve the Government of Sint Maarten, under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, in this task. The financial support of the Government ( by way of increased subsidy), is not only desired but expected. Together with all our stakeholders, we aim towards the realization of cutting-edge innovation and stellar education opportunities for all. PHILIPSBURG:--- The Integrity Chamber hosted its first Meet and Greet event on Tuesday, October 18th at the Allen C. Halley Community Centre in Simpson Bay. The event began with a short presentation about the Integrity Chamber and the importance of integrity, followed by a meet and greet with members of the community and the representatives of the Integrity Chamber. The event gave the Integrity Chamber an opportunity to hear from the people of Sint Maarten. The event was opened by the President of the Integrity Chamber, Mrs. Rian Vogels, followed by introductions by members Rafael Boasman and Hans Lodder. The director, Charna Pompier, and communication officer, Kevin James, gave the presentation. This was followed by a lively question and answer segment, after which the members and secretariat engaged with the guests over light snacks. The Integrity Chamber enjoyed connecting with the people of Sint Maarten and looks forward to more conversations about integrity. For persons that could not make it on Tuesday, a second Meet and Greet event will take place on Thursday, October 20th from 7:00 pm 8:30 pm at the Senior Citizens Recreational Centre in Hope Estate. For more information about the Integrity Chamber, visit the website at www.integritychamber.sx. PHILIPSBURG:--- Drinks wholesaler ILTT came out in support of the work of Sea Rescue St. Maarten today by donating a large supply of its brand Fiji water to the foundation. Sea Rescue had specifically requested the brand for its operations due to its bottle design, enabling it to stock the water for rescue operations in rough waters and making it the household brand for the St. Maarten Sea Rescue Brigade for years. This was announced today by the St. Maarten Sea Rescue Foundation, explicitly stating its gratitude for the donation from the wholesaler. Over the past forty years, the St. Maarten Sea Rescue Foundation saved hundreds of lives of seamen, passengers, and tourists that navigated the island's territorial waters. A voluntary ten-person brigade is on standby day and night in case ships find themselves in trouble in St. Maarten waters. In conjunction with its French side, Saban, Statian, and Anguillan counterparts, the brigade is also often active beyond the confinements of country St. Maartens territorial waters. Mr. Roel Kokkelmans of ILTT: We replied directly to Sea Rescues request. ILTT is glad to contribute, be it in a modest way compared to the sacrifices of the foundations volunteers day and night in case of emergency, to the foundations unique role in saving lives on St. Maarten. For the brigade, fresh water is a major expense on an annual basis. Both rescued victims in need of non-salty water as well as exercising rescue brigades in the heat of the day are in need of a permanently available water supply. Fiji Waters has long been the preferred water stock on board of the two Sea Rescue vessels Chief and Dolphin. The square design makes the bottles easy to stably stack and store in compact vessels, even more so when the brigade encounters rough seas. The Foundation is grateful for ILTTs support as any penny counts for the small organization with limited means, but large operations. Sea Rescue is a wholly independent, non-governmental not-for-profit organization. For the four decades of its existence, it has fully relied on voluntary operations and third-party donations to be able to be operational 24/7, 365 days a year. Especially as the main Sea Rescue vessel Dolphin is going through a profound redevelopment, a large variety of in-kind donations is more than welcome, varying from light bulbs to motor service parts. Should you or your company be interested in supporting the Sea Rescue Foundation, please let the brigade know via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . MContent Appoints Hani El Khatib as the New Chief Executive Officer of Blockchain & Web3 Highlights: MContent announces the appointment of Hani El Khatib as their new chief executive officer ofblockchain & web3. Hani will oversee the overall MContent blockchain platform as well as all web3, NFTs, & cryptodivisions. Hani will lead MContent to become a leading Web3 Company DUBAI, UAE, Oct 18, 2022 (ACN Newswire) MContent, the world\-s first web3 decentralized content ecosystem is pleased to announce the appointment of Hani El Khatib as their new chief executive officer of blockchain & web3. The hiring of Hani El Khatib shows the commitment of the MContent board & its ambitions in becoming a leading global web3 company. As part of his new role, Hani will oversee the overall MContent blockchain decentralized platform, as well as all web3, NFTs, & crypto divisions. . \I am thrilled to join the MContent family, and work with the great leaders to help steer the company to global presence & success. Our objective is to make MContent the leading decentralized web3 content company that brings power back to the viewer. At MContent, with our Watch & Earn model, both the viewers & the content creators will be earning monetized cryptocurrency when any of the content is viewed on our platform. Being a firm believer in the power of blockchain & decentralization, I am confident that our business methodology will be beneficial for our members, our community, and for our business,\ says Hani El Khatib. Hani brings in a vast experience in terms of leadership, entrepreneurship, and business growth, having specialized in revenue growth and scaling up businesses, from global unicorn start-ups looking for regional expansion, to multi-nationals looking to grow their business, while also bringing in his entrepreneurial experience, having established his own start-up early in his career. Prior to MContent, Hani was Regional Director at Chainalysis, where he helped in building Chainalysis\-s presence in the region. Before that Hani held various regional roles in multinational companies including McAfee, and Forescout Technologies. About MContent MContent is the World\-s First Fully Decentralized Watch2Earn Content Eco System that is backed by Gargash Group as the lead investor. Designed to convert content viewers into content owners, the first-of-its-kind web3 video streaming platform enables crowdfunding of film production and capital-intensive content creators using Cryptocurrency, NFTs & Blockchain, as well as being the pioneers of web3 cinema with their Cineverse ( Cinema in the metaverse). In the past year, the project has seeded, funded, and curated more than 40 film & TV productions through its self-sustaining ecosystem. The MContent platform now has almost 1.2 million registered users from across the World with more than 100,000 user generated videos populated as well as a collection of MOriginals & premium exclusive content available for streaming on the app & web platform. Over 500 leading content creators from across the world have already signed up to be a part of the MContent revolution and many influencers continue to join. MContent digital currency is available on the Binance Smart Chain (BSC BEP20) and Ethereum (ERC20) are trading on more than 7 leading exchanges. www.mcontent.net. Applications and Innovation: Global open-source experts to come together at the prpl Summit 2022 Posted by Publisher Telecommunication Amsterdam, Netherlands, October 18, 2022: An exciting range of leading speakers from across the carrier-grade CPE industry will come together to discuss the latest in the development of common open-source infrastructure for connected smart devices at the prpl Foundationa?s Summit meeting. Held in Amsterdam on October 20th, the event is a unique opportunity to network with, and to learn from open-source industry leaders and professionals about the ecosystem of next-gen applications that enable service-based innovation. This yeara?s prpl Summit will gather operators, chipset manufacturers, software and application developers, standardization body representatives, and members of the open-source, broadband, and Wi-Fi communities to discuss how to shape the roadmap of prplWare products suite a prplOS, prplMesh, and Life-Cycle Management for open-source CPEs. The Summit agenda, just revealed by the prpl Foundation, will feature a range of speakers from across the industry, keynotes from operators and industry stakeholders, application demonstrations, and much more. The Summit will open with an outline of the Foundationa?s ambitions and mission for the next 12 months. aWe are delighted to announce the return of the prpl Summita said Dr. Len Dauphinee, prpl Foundation President. aAfter two long years, we welcome back many of our open-source colleagues as we look to address the industry challenges and promote service-driven innovation on CPE by harmonizing interfaces in open APIs and delivering open-source reference implementations of common infrastructure. As we witness Tier-1 operators already building solutions, the industry leaders are ready to share the 2023 prpl deployments roadmap for strengthening industry-wide collaboration.a Executives of standards organizations collaborating with the prpl Foundation, Jason Walls of the Broadband Forum (BBF) and Tiago Rodrigues of the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), will join the summit to share their views on the standard and value of open-source. The summit will feature a key panel discussion with Lance Koenders of Verizon and Sophie Claude of Orange Innovation, focusing on the value of prpl for service providers and the broader broadband community in developing and deploying open-source solutions. The Operators Roundtable will be further joined by Chem Assayag of Orange, Pedro Caldeira dos Santos of Deutsche Telekom, Paul Keator of DISH Technologies, Chen Li of AT&T and Endika Miragaya Saenz of Vodafone, in live discussion moderated by Livia Rosu of the HomeGrid Forum to address the evolution of the ecosystem through interoperability and acceleration of service-based applications. Presentations from the prpl Foundation Board Directors, SoC providers and service providers will include Wojtek Makowski of Orange, Randy Zimler of Verizon, Brandon Kern of Dish and Dave Barr of MaxLinear, representing prpl governance by the community of service providers and operators, driving the business requirements into the prpl working group organizations. To complete the picture, Marc de Courville of SoftAtHome will provide detailed overview of the new software platform. Ian Wheelock of CommScope will share the edge services and application deployment strategies in place. Carlos Santos of KAON and Luka Perkov of Sartura will illustrate technical insights of their solutions for supporting the prpl community of developers. The prpl Foundation is all about open APIs and open-source to drive scalability and innovation. The prpl working group chairs are committed to provide a complete update on 2021-2022 success stories and outline a roadmap of the plans and aspirations for the next 12 months: prplMesh WG, prplOS WG, LCM Lifecycle Management WG, High Level API WG, prplSecurity WG, Low Level API WG and Certification WG. Attendees of the prpl summit will also be able to see for the 1st time private demonstrations from prpl solution developers including CommScope, DZS, KAON Broadband, MaxLinear, Sagemcom, Sartura, SoftAtHome and WNC. The prpl Summit 2022 will be held on October 20th at the Novotel Amsterdam City Hotel Netherlands, sponsored by CommScope, Sartura, SoftAtHome, KAON Broadband and WNC. For more information, please contact Arnaud Bensaid, prpl Marketing Committee Chair at prplsummit@prplfoundation.org How to attend the prpl Summit: https://prplfoundation.org/prpl-summit-2022/ Skeena Establishes 21A West Zone Continuity at Eskay Creek with 2.27 g/t AuEq over 50.00 metres Skeena Resources Limited (TSX: SKE, NYSE: SKE) (aSkeenaa or the aCompanya https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/skeena-resources-ltd/ ) is pleased to announce drilling results from the 2022 regional and near mine exploration programs at the Eskay Creek gold-silver Project (aEskay Creeka or the aProjecta) in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia. Analytical results and reference images from the recently completed drill holes are presented at the end of this release as well as on the Companya?s website . Additional results will be reported once available. 21A West Zone Continuity Develops Building upon the in-pit mineralization discovered in 2021 by drill hole SK-21-997 which intersected high-tenor gold mineralization averaging 8.78 g/t Au, 13 g/t Ag (8.95 g/t AuEq) over 34.00 m and recently expanded by 2022 drill hole SK-22-1093 47.50 g/t Au, 73.4 g/t Ag (48.48 g/t AuEq) over 12.12 m, drillhole SK-22-1031 has intersected 2.21 g/t Au, 4.6 g/t Ag (2.27 g/t AuEq) over 50.00 m. Due to the lack of historical drilling in this portion of the 21A Zone, the area was considered as barren waste rock for both the 2022 Resource Estimate and Feasibility Study. This recently discovered feeder-style mineralization occurs within the footwall Rhyolite sequence immediately below the Contact Mudstone and will be incorporated into the future resource and economic updates for the Eskay Creek Project. The limited drilling to date in the 21A West Zone indicates that precious metal tenor typically increases vertically up stratigraphy with closer proximity to the Contact Mudstone. The ongoing 2022 exploration program has not yet fully defined the extents of the 21A West Zone.A As is the case with similarA feeder style mineralization in other portions of the Eskay Creek deposit, zone geometry is well established and hole to hole continuity of mineralization is very predictable to date.A The new intersection in hole SK-22-1031 highlighting 2.27 g/t AuEq over 50.00 m is 75 metres south along strike of the previously reported 48.48 g/t AuEq over 12.12 m in hole SK-22-1093.A A 23 Zone Expanded to South Situated 500 metres south of the currently defined mineralization in the 23 Zone, recently competed exploratory drill hole SK-22-1040 has intersected 0.78 g/t Au, 0.8 g/t Ag (0.79 g/t AuEq) over 95.75 m hosted entirely within the dacite package and Even Lower Mudstone, which is consistent with the 23 Zone mineralization. This new discovery begins only 25 metres below surface and is open for expansion. Exploration Status Update The Company is currently performing expansion and infill drilling with six helicopter supported drill rigs at the Eskay Creek Project. The focus is to expedite not only the organic growth of open pittable resources in the 23, 21A West and 22 Zones, but to infill these new zones for ultimate conversion to Probable Reserves. About Skeena Skeena Resources Limited is a Canadian mining exploration and development company focused on revitalizing the past-producing Eskay Creek gold-silver mine located in Tahltan Territory in the Golden Triangle of northwest British Columbia, Canada. The Company released a Feasibility Study for Eskay Creek in September 2022 which highlights an open-pit average grade of 4.00 g/t AuEq, an after-tax NPV5% of C$1.4B, 50% IRR, and a 1-year payback at US$1,700/oz Au and US$19/oz Ag. Skeena is currently continuing exploration drilling at Eskay Creek. Qualified Persons Exploration activities at the Eskay Creek Project are administered on site by the Companya?s Exploration Managers, Raegan Markel, P.Geo. and Director of Exploration, Adrian Newton P.Geo. In accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, Paul Geddes, P.Geo. Senior Vice President Exploration and Resource Development, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has prepared, validated and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release. The Company strictly adheres to CIM Best Practices Guidelines in conducting, documenting, and reporting the exploration activities on its projects. Quality Assurance a Quality Control Once received from the drill and processed, all drill core samples are sawn in half, labelled and bagged. The remaining drill core is subsequently securely stored on site. Numbered security tags are applied to lab shipments for chain of custody requirements. The Company inserts quality control (QC) samples at regular intervals in the sample stream, including blanks and reference materials with all sample shipments to monitor laboratory performance. The QAQC program was designed and approved by Lynda Bloom, P.Geo. of Analytical Solutions Ltd., and is overseen by the Companya?s Qualified Person, Paul Geddes, P.Geo, Vice President Exploration and Resource Development. Drill core samples are submitted to ALS Geochemistrya?s analytical facility in North Vancouver, British Columbia for preparation and analysis. The ALS facility is accredited to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard for gold assays and all analytical methods include quality control materials at set frequencies with established data acceptance criteria. The entire sample is crushed and 1 kg is pulverized. Analysis for gold is by 50 g fire assay fusion with atomic absorption (AAS) finish with a lower limit of 0.01 ppm and upper limit of 100 ppm. Samples with gold assays greater than 100 ppm are re-analyzed using a 50 g fire assay fusion with gravimetric finish. Analysis for silver is by 50 g fire assay fusion with gravimetric finish with a lower limit of 5ppm and upper limit of 10,000 ppm. Samples with silver assays greater than 10,000 ppm are re-analyzed using a gravimetric silver concentrate method. A selected number of samples are also analyzed using a 48 multi-element geochemical package by a 4-acid digestion, followed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) and also for mercury using an aqua regia digest with Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) finish. Samples with sulfur reporting greater than 10% from the multi-element analysis are re-analyzed for total sulfur by Leco furnace and infrared spectroscopy. Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements Certain statements and information contained or incorporated by reference in this news release constitute aforward-looking informationa and aforward-looking statementsa within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation (collectively, aforward-looking statementsa). These statements relate to future events or our future performance. The use of words such as aanticipatesa, abelievesa, aproposesa, acontemplatesa, ageneratesa, atargetsa, ais projecteda, ais planneda, aconsidersa, aestimatesa, aexpectsa, ais expecteda, apotentiala and similar expressions, or statements that certain actions, events or results amaya, amighta, awilla, acoulda, or awoulda be taken, achieved, or occur, may identify forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Specific forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the results of the Feasibility Study, processing capacity of the mine, anticipated mine life, probable reserves, estimated project capital and operating costs, sustaining costs, results of test work and studies, planned environmental assessments, the future price of metals, metal concentrate, and future exploration and development. Such forward-looking statements are based on material factors and/or assumptions which include, but are not limited to, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, metal prices, taxation, the estimation, timing and amount of future exploration and development, capital and operating costs, the availability of financing, the receipt of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title disputes and the assumptions set forth herein and in the Companya?s MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2021, its most recently filed interim MD&A, and the Companya?s Annual Information Form (aAIFa) dated March 31, 2022. Such forward-looking statements represent the Companya?s management expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances on the date the statements are made, and are necessarily based on several estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date hereof, are not guarantees of future performance. Actual events and results may differ materially from those described herein, and are subject to significant operational, business, economic, and regulatory risks and uncertainties. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others: the inherent risks involved in exploration and development of mineral properties, including permitting and other government approvals; changes in economic conditions, including changes in the price of gold and other key variables; changes in mine plans and other factors, including accidents, equipment breakdown, bad weather and other project execution delays, many of which are beyond the control of the Company; environmental risks and unanticipated reclamation expenses; and other risk factors identified in the Companya?s MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2021, its most recently filed interim MD&A, the AIF dated March 31, 2022, and in the Companya?s other periodic filings with securities and regulatory authorities in Canada and the United States that are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and Company does not undertake any obligations to update and/or revise any forward-looking statements except as required by applicable securities laws. Cautionary note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources Skeenaa?s mineral reserves and mineral resources included or incorporated by reference herein have been estimated in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 a Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (aNI 43-101a) as required by Canadian securities regulatory authorities, which differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. The terms amineral reservea, aproven mineral reservea, aprobable mineral reservea, amineral resourcea, ameasured mineral resourcea, aindicated mineral resourcea and ainferred mineral resourcea are Canadian mining terms as defined in accordance with NI 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (aCIMa) aCIM Definition Standards a For Mineral Resources and Mineral Reservesa adopted by the CIM Council (as amended, the aCIM Definition Standardsa). These standards differ significantly from the mineral property disclosure requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Regulation S-K Subpart 1300 (the aSEC Modernization Rulesa). Skeena is not currently subject to the SEC Modernization Rules. Accordingly, Skeenaa?s disclosure of mineralization and other technical information may differ significantly from the information that would be disclosed had Skeena prepared the information under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules.A In addition, investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of Skeenaa?s mineral resources constitute or will be converted into reserves. These terms have a great amount of uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. Accordingly, investors are cautioned not to assume that any ameasureda, aindicateda, or ainferreda mineral resources that Skeena reports are or will be economically or legally mineable. Further, ainferred mineral resourcesa have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an ainferred mineral resourcea will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian securities laws, estimates of ainferred mineral resourcesa may not form the basis of feasibility or prefeasibility studies, except in rare cases where permitted under NI 43-101. For these reasons, the mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates and related information presented herein may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. prpl Foundation and SoftAtHome Demonstrate CPE Service Platform With Open-Source Software Posted by Publisher Telecommunication Amsterdam a October 18, 2022 a The prpl Foundation, an organization dedicated to open-source and open-APIs for carrier-grade CPE, and SoftAtHome, an independent software company for broadband, video, and analytics, will jointly demo new SoftAtHome solutions leveraging prplWare, the prpl Foundation stack. Demos will be presented during the prpl Summit 2022 at the Novotel Amsterdam City on October 20th, 2022. The prpl Foundation is pleased to announce SoftAtHome as a Premium sponsor of this year\-s prpl Summit. The prpl Summit 2022 is where all industry leaders committed to CPE open-source are gathered to collaborate and network. Member of the prpl Foundation since 2016, SoftAtHome has been one of the key contributors to the prpl Foundation products prplOS, prplMesh, and prplLCM gathered into prplWare. SoftAtHome solutions include Eyesa?ON for analytics, Wifia?ON for smart Wi-Fi, Thingsa?ON for IoT management, Securea?ON for security, and SoftAtHomea?s LCM/Appstore solution. These all leverage prpl Foundation stacks and help operators transform the gateway into a full-service platform for the connected home with a shortened time-to-market. aWe are delighted to showcase our innovative solution leveraging prplWare as a new milestone for Open-Sourcea, said David Viret-Lange, CEO of SoftAtHome. aWe want to convince the Operators that prpl is the way forward for them. Thanks to open-source, Operators can differentiate themselves with innovative services rather than fighting for commoditized software.a aAt the prpl Foundation, we are committed to building a complete open-source-based, carrier-grade ecosystem of solutions for Operator CPEa, added Len Dauphinee, President of the prpl Foundation. aWe welcome SoftAtHome, a firm believer of open-source, as Premium sponsor of this yeara?s Summit, where at least 100 attendees are expected. SoftAtHome actively contributes, alongside the prpl Foundation, to work in favor of open-source CPEs.a In 1955, 14-year-old Emmett Till went to Mississippi and never came back - any history student will know this story. As an act of protest and to let the world know of what evil had been committed against her son with the perpetrators not facing any repercussions, her mother Mamie buried him in an open casket., directed byfilmmaker Chinonye Chukwu - is a powerful, devastating rallying cry of anger against hate - and about as vital a depiction of these events as you're ever going to get.Anchored around the performance of Danielle Deadwyler, sure to be a best actress Oscar winner; as Mamie,opens with Emmett waving goodbye to his mother and heading down south to see his cousins in Mississippi. Anyone who's studied history will know what follows - and the inescapable dread of what was to come is captured by Chukwu brilliantly - you get to see his hopes and dreams as a character; and the film doesn't just make him known for the way he died, but also how he lived - which is why the opening segment is so, so vitally important in making this film work. Jalyn Hall is perfectly cast and does an amazing job giving Till unique mannerisms and capturing the bond between mother and son so perfectly; every second that he's away from his mother, you can tell that Mamie misses him deeply - Danielle Deadwyler is able to convey such a broad emotional range with one devastating, punctuating performance after another - we've just found something that will likely become a new shown-in-classrooms movie all across the world; and it absolutely deserves to be - because what a good important depiction of events this is. The story ofcouldn't have been told better and in a way more relevant anger.Mercifully sidestepping the over-reliance on trauma to draw on emotional performances that films like this can fall into,'s biggest strength is that it showcases on who Mamie and Emmett are as people. It captures Mamie's grief, her rage and her anger - and Danielle Deadwyler's performance is even better than her one in. Legitimately, one of the best of the year opposite Brendan Fraser. I can't wait to see them both win best actor awards. As great as they are too I also hope Chinonye Chukwu gets some much needed recognition that she should've recieved for- one of the best films of the last 10 years. Please do check that out when you can. Pretoria (South Africa), October 19, 2022 (SPS) - The President of the Republic and the Secretary-General of the Polisario Front Mr. Brahim Ghali met today, with the ruling coalition in South Africa. During the meeting, the political parties forming the ruling coalition in South Africa renewed their unconditional support for the Sahrawi people, stressing that the meeting was an opportunity to strengthen the strong relations that bind them with the Polisario Front, as well as to search for new mechanisms to raise awareness on the Sahrawi issue. The meeting also discussed ways of strengthening cooperation and partnership between the ruling coalition in South Africa and the Polisario Front in various fields. For his part, the President of the Republic, the Secretary-General of the Front, Mr. Brahim Ghali, thanked the coalition for accompanying the Sahrawi people in their legitimate struggle for freedom, self-determination and independence. Addressing the ruling coalition, President Brahim Ghali added, "We lived through the same suffering and sacrifices that South Africa experienced in the face of colonialism and racial discrimination." He also briefed the ruling coalition on the latest developments of the Sahrawi cause, noting that the situation has changed since November 13, 2022, after Morocco violated the ceasefire agreement, which forced us the Sahrawi army to resume the war to defend the legitimate rights of the Sahrawi people. The President of the Republic is accompanied by an important delegation that included Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, Minister of Cooperation, Fatima Mehdi, Minister of Social Affairs and Promotion of Women, Sweilma Berouk, National Director of Security, Documentation and Protection of Institutions, Sidi Okal, Advisor to the Presidency of the Republic, Abdati Breika, Central Director of Operations and Inspection at the Ministry of National Defence, Abba Sheikh Mohamed, Ambassador to South Africa, Mohamed Yeslem Beiset. It is worth mentioning that South Africa's ruling tripartite coalition includes the African National Congress (ANC), the South African Trade Union Congress (COSATU), and the South African Communist Party. SPS 110 TRA Left to right: MSU Vice President of Student Affairs Regina Hyatt, MSU President Mark Keenum, and MSU G.V. Sonny Montgomery Center for Americas Veterans Director Brian Locke unveil the permanent Blue Star memorial in the front lawn of Nusz Hall on Tuesday, October 18. Romania's accession to the Schengen area and the responsible and efficient involvement of our country in protecting the external border of the European Union was a priority topic of the meeting between the interim president of the Senate, Alina Gorghiu and her French counterpart, Gerard Larcher. According to a release from the Senate, the meeting with Gerard Larcher was also attended by the first vice-president of the French Senate, Roger Karoutchi, the president of the Committee for Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces, Christian Cambon, the vice-president of the Committee for European Affairs and Schengen rapporteur, Andre Reichardt, and the president of the France-Romania Friendship Group, Bernard Fournier. The discussions highlighted the dynamic nature of the cooperation at the bilateral level, but also at the European and international level, being reiterated the common interest for the deepening and expansion of the parliamentary dialogue, in the framework offered by the strategic partnership between the two countries, states the quoted source. The President of the French Senate proposed that the Romanian Senate host the next meeting of the Association of European Senates (ASE). The two senior officials welcomed the adoption, by the European Parliament, of the Resolution on Romania's accession to the Schengen area. Gorghiu showed that Romania's action at all operational levels proves the essential contribution of our country to strengthening the internal security of the EU, emphasizing the exemplary way of managing the more than 2.5 million refugees who crossed Romania's border, the press release also reads. The discussions also highlighted the effective cooperation between Romania and France within NATO and the French contribution to strengthening the defense and deterrence position on the Eastern Flank. Alina Gorghiu showed that President Macron's decision to strengthen NATO's military presence in Romania reconfirms the solid nature of the strategic partnership between the two states. During the dialogue, topics related to the evolution of the security situation in the region, as well as the effects of the war started by the Russian Federation, were also discussed. In this context, Gorghiu presented the support provided by Romania to Ukraine and the Ukrainian refugees. She also presented the assistance that Romania gives to the Republic of Moldova for strengthening resilience and managing the challenges faced by the authorities in Chisinau, as well as the importance of the Support Platform for the Republic of Moldova for backing efforts to advance reforms necessary for European integration. The acting president of the Senate, Alina Gorghiu, is paying a working visit to the French Republic between October 18-21. She also had a meeting with the minister delegated next to the prime minister, responsible for equality between men and women, diversity and equal opportunities, Isabelle Rome. The consultations concerned aspects related to standards and mechanisms for ensuring gender equality, diversity and equal opportunities, but also the promotion of women's rights in the two countries. The discussions also referred to the assistance given to the Republic of Moldova, in the context of France's hosting of the next edition of the Support Platform for Moldova. The high Romanian dignitary also had a meeting with Annick Billon, the president of the Delegation for women's rights and equal opportunities between men and women, on which occasion he emphasized the importance of the exchange of good practices for improving legislation in the field, mentioning the effectiveness of gender electoral quotas. The talks highlighted the common will to expand cooperation in the field at the bilateral and European level. The interim president of the Senate also met with the president of the France-Romania Friendship Group in the French Senate, Bernard Fournier. The two officials addressed topics of priority interest on the bilateral political agenda, but also aspects of economic and sectoral cooperation and decentralized cooperation. Alina Gorghiu emphasized the priority given to the parliamentary dimension of the political dialogue, agreeing to the necessity of deepening cooperation to support common strategic objectives and interests.AGERPRES The General Inspectorate of the Border Police informs that on Tuesday, 66,887 people entered Romania through border points throughout the country, including 7,601 Ukrainian citizens, an increase of about 1% compared to the previous day, told Agerpres. According to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Wednesday, approximately 140,800 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, with more than 42,000 means of transport, went through the control formalities at the border points throughout the country, both inbound and outbound. As of February 10, 2022 (pre-conflict period), 2,614,955 Ukrainian citizens entered our country. On Tuesday, 22 foreign citizens who did not meet the conditions stipulated by the law were not allowed to enter the country, and 17 Romanian citizens were not allowed to leave for various legal reasons. The chief prosecutor of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) Crin Bologa, met with Laura Codruta Kovesi, the chief prosecutor of the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), the discussions aimed, among other things, at improving and expanding inter-institutional cooperation in the areas where DNA and EPPO have shared competence, a DNA press release sent to AGERPRES on Wednesday, reads. Crin Bologa, along with other members of the institution's management, met on Tuesday afternoon with Laura Codruta Kovesi, who is on an official visit to Romania, along with other EPPO representatives, told Agerpres. The DNA says that the representatives of the EPPO noted the support provided by the DNA in the operationalization and efficiency of the support structure of the European delegated prosecutors in Romania. By law, the DNA was designated to provide support to the European Prosecutor's Office in terms of infrastructure, auxiliary staff, police officers and specialists, as well as logistical support. "The discussions also aimed at improving and expanding inter-institutional cooperation in the areas in which the DNA and the European Public Prosecutor's Office have shared competence, namely combating cross-border corruption and fraud with European funds," the release states. The Chamber of Deputies passed on Wednesday the draft law of the National Plan to Prevent and Combat Cancer in Romania, cleared by 260 votes "in favour" and five abstentions. According to the bill, the plan is to be implemented between 2023 and 230 and represents the main public policy document which substantiates the prevention and combat measures of cancer at national level. The document is to be updated depending on the results obtained and in agreement with the strategic directions in the area of preventing and combating cancer, established by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and at the European Union level. According to the draft law, all the Romanian citizens who are on Romania's soil, having the domicile or residence in Romania, the citizens of the member states of the European Union, of the European Economic Area and the Swiss Confederation, as well as foreigners and stateless persons who have their domicile or residence in Romania have the right guaranteed by the state to the services of medical, social and psychological support included in the National Plan to Prevent and Combat Cancer, such as: prevention medical services, cancer diagnostic and treatment, caretaker services, including palliative care, psycho-oncology, onconutrition and oncofertility services, social services and monthly food entitlements, told Agerpres. "The Health Ministry, as the central authority in the public health area, is in charge with the planning, initiation, coordination, monitoring and assessment of all necessary measures to prevent and combat cancer. The National Health Insurance House and the Finance Ministry are responsible for the fulfillment of the measures in the plan," the normative act establishes. Romania's National Plan to Prevent and Combat Cancer is mainly funded by the Health Ministry, from the state budget. The amount approved annually for the funding of the national plan accounts for at least 20pct of the total funds approved for the unfolding of health programmes at national level by the Health Ministry and the National Health Insurance House, the draft law stipulates. The law comes into force on 1 January 2023. The Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday passed, 254 to six abstentions, an amendment to the Tax Code to exempt from taxation not only the contributions to the pillar II pensions, but also the earnings on them, told Agerpres. The provision is slated to enter into force on January 1, 2024. The bill amending the Tax Code is devised to regulate the amount of taxable income when payments are to be made from privately managed pension funds, namely Pillar II, Pillar III, as well as the segment of occupational pensions in Romania. Under the bill, the rights considered in accordance with Law 411/2004 on privately managed pension funds, Law 204/2006 on optional pensions and Law 1/2020 on occupational pensions are to be treated as pension income. The Chamber also amended the provisions regarding the establishment of the taxable monthly pension income. According to the bill, the taxable monthly pension income is established by deducting from the pension income the non-taxable monthly amount of 2,000 lei and, as the case may be, the social healthcare insurance contribution due according to title V - mandatory social contributions. For the lump sums due to the contributors to the privately managed pension funds and their legal heirs, in accordance with Law 411/2004, the taxable income is made up of the amounts that exceed the net contributions of the participants capped as ceiling. For the amounts received as annuities by the contributors to the privately managed pension funds and their legal heirs, in accordance with Law 411/2004, the taxable income consists of the amounts that exceed the net contributions of the participants subject to a cap as non-taxable income established for each monthly annuity from each pension fund. For the lump sums to the contributors to the optional pension funds and/or the occupational pension funds and their legal heirs, in accordance with Law 204/2006 and Law 1/2020, the taxable income is made up of the amounts that exceed the net contributions of the participants capped as ceiling. For the amounts received as annuities by the contributors to the optional and/or occupational pension funds, as well as by their legal heirs, in accordance with Law 204/2006 and Law 1/2020, the taxable income consists of the amounts that exceed the net contributions of the participants, subject to a cap as non-taxable income established for each monthly annuity from each pension fund. "Romania has had three good reforms: the flat income tax, the micro-enterprise regime and Pillar II, three reforms that helped and continue to help the economy. The bill encourages Pillar II, the contribution to Pillar II is tax exempt, with the exception of earnings. If we want to no longer have a contest of who increases pensions more, to no longer have pensions dependent on the political factor, on the pen of a minister or party leaders, then the way, the solution is Pillar II. It is the only truly contributory pillar. Not the special pensions, or other types of special systems that favour some or others, but a system to which we really contribute, in which we all pay and we all have very good returns," says Save Romania Union (USR) MP Claudiu Nasui. National Liberal Party (PNL) MP Mara Calista said that the bill is a very important one. "The bill says that when a contract is concluded with a beneficiary of Pillar III and Pillar IV, the tax part, the 10% that the government takes away, should refer strictly to the return on investment and not to the contributions that each person pays into their individual accounts. The same provisions will be applicable to Pillar II," explained Calista. The Chamber of Deputies is the decision-making body in this case. The Government approved on Wednesday an emergency ordinance for the creation of the single industrial license, a project initiated by the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Tourism and the Competition Council, announced Bogdan Chiritoiu, the president of the competition authority, in the briefing at the end of the meeting. "In the first part of this year, a project was completed through which Romania cooperated with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to improve the business milieu by introducing this unique license," Chiritoiu pointed out. The financing of this project came from the European Union and was over one million euros. "This project is also part of PNRR, it is one of the milestones that we must fulfill and it is to our advantage to fulfill it. How we help entrepreneurs: we create a single point of contact, a single interface, between those who want to build a factory - we are talking about the industrial license - and the public administration. In addition, within a year, an electronic platform will appear through which this exchange of information will be facilitated, including a simulation of the investment will be possible. When one wants to build a factory, they will know what information they need and what is the estimated duration of obtaining the various approvals, what documentation they have to present, which institutions will give their consent and how long it will take to obtain these approvals," Chiritoiu said. In a project that lasted two years, the OECD looked at all the necessary opinions and the solution is to concentrate this interaction and simplify it. The normative act, approved on Wednesday in the Government meeting, was initiated together with the Competition Council. Through this legislative initiative, the Office for Industrial Licensing is established, with the role of rationalization, simplification and digitization of specific procedures in order to obtain the single industrial license. The document was based on the Final Report of the "Comprehensive redesign of the licensing system in Romania" project regarding the simplification of business activity licensing, developed with the support of the OECD and completed in Romania in May 2022. AGERPRES MEP Dacian Ciolos stated on Wednesday related to Romania's accession to the Schengen area, that it is not his duty to explain to the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and National Liberal Party (PNL) leaders how the European mechanisms work, noting that they hold some positions that impose political and personal responsibility for their actions and decisions. "Mr. Ciuca and Mr. Ciolacu congratulate themselves on yesterday's massive vote in the European Parliament in favor of Romania's accession to Schengen and they think that I should solve the problems that Romania still has in this process. I see with amazement how proud and afraid of the situation of our accession to this space they are, depending on what information they received on the day they give their statements. I would like to remind them that they hold positions that impose political and personal responsibility for their actions and decisions. The statements according to which we block the highways, stop the grain transit to Europe - made even in the European Parliament by a colleague from their coalition, yes we buy, yes we don't buy corvettes from the Dutch and other nonsense like this prove complete ignorance of the European political realities and the inability to make Romania a player to be taken seriously in European politics," stated Ciolos, according to a press release from Renewing Romania's European Project Party (REPER). The former European Commissioner added that he would like to know if, "instead of questioning others about the reality in the European Parliament", the PSD and PNL leaders "know what Romania represents in Europe, how our European position should look, what are our duties and obligations and why we want to be European". PSD President Marcel Ciolacu requested on Tuesday that the Romanian parties that are part of the EPP and Renew groups take all steps to convince their colleagues that Romania deserves to enter Schengen, stating that he is worried about the abstentions of their representatives in the European Parliament on the non-legislative resolution voted on Tuesday by which the member states are urged to allow Romania and Bulgaria to join the free movement area without delay. For his part, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca emphasized that Romania took another step towards admission to the Schengen area by the fact that the European Parliament voted a resolution asking the Council of the European Union to approve our country's entry into the free movement area. AGERPRES The Romanian government will improve the energy efficiency of at least 4,333 buildings, of which 2,700 belong to public institutions, the rest being housing blocks, the Minister of Development, Cseke Attila, informs on Wednesday. He specified that he cannot say exactly how many buildings have been thermally rehabilitated until now, because, over time, programmes have been carried out through several ministries, both with European and national funds. "I can tell you what the Government aims to achieve through the PNRR [National Recovery and Resilience Plan], through the "Renovation Wave" programme, with a financing of 2.8 billion and 30pct overcontracting. We are about to rehabilitate at least 4,333 buildings, of which 2,700 are public buildings and the rest are residential blocks," Cseke Attila told a press conference at the Victoria Palace. The Minister of Development underscored that the most important thing about the "Renovation Wave" programme is the fact that it does not require co-financing from the local authority or the home owner. "What is very important about this component, and also explains its success, besides the current energy crisis and context, is the method that was negotiated with the European Commission, the method of implementing this programme, which is simple, efficient, based on a digital platform, a fairly quick assessment and financing 100pct covered. It is the first energy efficiency programme for apartment blocks in Romania, regardless of the funds we will use to finance it, which does not require co-financing from the local authority, respectively from the owners of the apartments in the respective housing blocks. This is added value, both for the local community and for the citizens, because, basically, without financing, without investing anything, the respective owner will have a more energy efficient apartment, which also increases its value on the market, while the bills will also decrease thanks to the improved energy efficiency of the building," explained Cseke Attila. AGERPRES Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu participated, on Wednesday, in the ministerial meeting of the 11th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR), in videoconference format, where he stressed the importance of solidarity, unity and cooperation between partner states and presented Romania's actions to support Ukraine. According to a Foreign Ministry (MAE) press release, during the meeting, the ministers adopted a joint declaration condemning Russia's aggression in Ukraine, reiterating the importance of solidarity at the EU level and in the relations between the EUSDR member states, reaffirming "the crucial significance of strengthening cooperation between the states of the Danube region for the benefit of citizens and for overcoming the current crisis". Minister Aurescu noted, in his intervention, the effort made by Ukraine, as the Presidency-in-Office of the Danube Strategy, in the exercise of its mandate, in the context of the Russian Federation's aggression against it. The head of Romanian diplomacy highlighted the importance of solidarity, unity and cooperation between the EUSDR partner states, in the context of the developments in the Eastern Neighbourhood. He presented the "multidimensional" actions Romania carried out to support Ukraine, highlighting the measures for the reception and integration of Ukrainian refugees, the measures to ensure food security by facilitating the transport and transit of grains through Romania, as well as the recent cooperation initiative, in a trilateral format, at the level of foreign ministers, initiated by Romania, with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, dedicated to energy security. Furthermore, Minister Aurescu emphasised that the current crisis represents a test for the resilience of states and societies in the region, which can only be overcome through regional solidarity, cooperation and shared responsibility. The head of Romanian diplomacy highlighted the special potential of EUSDR for the promotion of cooperation projects. "The Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed his support for the creation of synergies between EUSDR and the EU enlargement process, in the context of the historic decision of the European Council in June on granting the status of candidate for EU accession to the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine," the press release also shows. According to the MAE, Bogdan Aurescu also encouraged the strengthening of links between the Danube Strategy and other EU initiatives, such as the Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea and the Black Sea Synergy. The 11th edition of the EUSDR Forum was organised by Ukraine, which this year held the Presidency of the Strategy, in cooperation with the European Commission and with the logistical support of the previous Presidency, Slovakia, the central theme being "Sustainable and secure Danube Region - recovery, development and unity," MAE also points out. The EU Strategy for the Danube Region represents a political initiative of Romania and Austria, jointly promoted in 2008, being an instrument of macro-regional cooperation of the riparian states in the extended river basin of the Danube, intended for the economic and social development of the Danube macro-region, through the implementation of EU policies and legislation in the region. Fourteen countries participate in the Danube Strategy: Austria, Romania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Germany - the states of Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg, Hungary, as well as Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. AGERPRES The Government will announce, in the upcoming period, the decision regarding the organisation of partial elections, after a briefing of the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP) has been presented in Wednesday's meeting regarding the localities which were left with no mayor, Spokesman of the Gov't Dan Carbunaru announced. "Within the Government meeting, the briefing of the Permanent Electoral Authority has been presented regarding the localities where there is a need to organise elections and in the coming period, the Government will announce its decision. Today, I can confirm that this situation has been presented. (...) As soon as the decision is made, we will inform you," Carbunaru mentioned within a press conference held at the Victoria Palace. Independent deputy Ludovic Orban requested the Government, on Wednesday, to observe the right to vote of citizens from 50 localities without an elected mayor, accusing the Ciuca Cabinet of abuse of office. In the beginning of September, the Save Romania Union (USR) announced that the party submitted a criminal complaint against the following: Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) leader Marcel Ciolacu, Interior Minister Lucian Bode, Bucharest Prefect Toni Grebla and head of the Permanent Electoral Authority Constantin-Mituletu-Buica, whom they accuse of refusing to organise elections in Bucharest's District 5. AGERPRES Adrian Tiripa, a 12th grade student attending the "Nicolae Iorga" Theoretical High School in Braila, who stood out in international physics, astronomy and astrophysics olympiads, started a project that brings astronomy closer to students in the rural areas, told Agerpres. Through his project entitled "Astronomy for All," Adrian Tiripa aims to reach all 40 rural towns in the Braila county, to talk to children about astronomy, a field he has been passionate about since childhood. So far, the young man has met with students from nine municipalities in Braila, namely Silistea, Romanu, Gemenele, Tudor Vladimirescu, Vadeni, Cazasu, Tichilesti, Chiscani and Unirea. "I grew up in the countryside and I saw with my own eyes what was the situation of the children there. The problems are deep and known to all of us, but I try to contribute what I can to change, even infinitesimally, the perspective of those students. I dream that at least one, from the tens or hundreds of children present, will realize that, by finding a passion and working for it, he/she can achieve even his/her most hopeless aspirations, and that education is what can guide him to a better life," says Adrian. The student with amazing results in international olympiads is supported in his efforts by the Braila Rotary Club and the Association for Civic Education - ABEC in the same city. Adrian Tiripa obtained, in 2019, the silver medal and the special diploma for the best result in the observational test at the International Astronomy Olympiad, and in 2021 the bronze medal in the senior category at the International Astronomy Olympiad in online format (IRAO 2021), organized by the Astronomical Observatory INAF-Brera Italy. The proposal for the National Strategic Plan, which is almost final, includes a joint heading for hops and table grapes; the plan provides for an allocation of 45 million euros for the establishment and re-engineering of hop farms, Secretary of State with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Dragos-Costin Telehuz declared on Tuesday at a beer industry event titled "More than beer. From cereals to the glass - synergies and challenges". Regarding the production of barley for beer, the Agriculture official said that it cannot receive coupled support because this is not a sector at risk of disappearing or in a generalized crisis, like the plant protein sector. He argued that barley for beer brewing has certain particularities that make it less interesting, its "curse" being the fact that there is an alternative in plant production, told Agerpres. "Barley for beer is for medium-sized and large plant farms to grow. It would be of great help to have increased demand if, ideally, the Romanian beer industry became export competitive. But, just like in the case of wine, 90 percent of the output goes to the domestic market. (...) Yes, we will have to find ways to present barley for beer in the most favorable light to the farmers," the Secretary of State said. In the end, he explained that the beer sector cannot benefit from support against the effects of rising energy prices because "any such measure is considered state aid and would require notifying the Commission. Regrettably, just like the wine and spirits industry, the beer industry (...) is associated with the production of alcohol, which is why the Commission did not agree with the inclusion of the beer sector, along with the rest of the food industry, among the activities that qualify for such support." The Babes-Bolyai University (UBB) in Cluj-Napoca organizes on October 21, through the Faculty of Mathematics and Information Technology, Romania Info Day - Innoveit Week 2022, an event dedicated to university researchers and professors that takes place for the first time in Romania, told Agerpres. "The Faculty of Mathematics and Information Technology of the Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca and EIT Digital Budapest are organizing on Friday, October 21, Romania Info Day - Innoveit Week 2022. The event is part of the INNOVEIT series organized by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) in various European countries and is the first of this kind to take place in Romania; its purpose is to present key policies and initiatives for areas of interest of the European Community and to create networks of researchers and professors from prestigious universities, entrepreneurs and representatives from the business environment. Also, the event aims to present in Romania the activities of the EIT and its innovation communities," the UBB said in a release. In its capacity as a member of EIT Digital, UBB runs various educational and innovation programs and cooperates with renowned partners in Europe. In early 2021 UBB was accepted as a member of the European Institute of Innovation & Technology, being the only university in Romania with this status. The number of Ukrainian citizens who fled the war and got a job in Romanian companies reached over 4,600 on Wednesday, Minister of Labor and Social Protection Marius Budai told AGERPRES. According to him, in the last 24 hours, a number of 49 Ukrainian citizens have been hired in Romania, told Agerpres. "This morning [Wednesday morning] 6,231 active contracts of Ukrainian citizens are registered, of which 4,636 are contracts having been in place at the time of the conflict. So, the number of contracts that have 24 February 2022 as the starting date or more recently increased by 49 compared to yesterday [Tuesday]," Minister Marius Budai stated. The data presented by the Labour Minister showed that over 1,200 people are employed in the Romanian manufacturing industry, while over 800 people work for construction companies. Most of the refugees, over 1,500 people have found a job in Bucharest. Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca announced, on Wednesday, the signing of a memorandum with the representatives of the Azerbaijani company SOCAR for a joint investment in a liquefied natural gas facility at the Black Sea. "Following the bilateral meeting we had with the President of Azerbaijan, Mr. Aliyev, we agreed to analyze together the possibility of starting a joint project at the Black Sea for liquefied gas. And, in this way, today, a team from the SOCAR company from Azerbaijan is present in Romania. This afternoon, at the Government, we will sign a memorandum together, which will form the basis of a joint investment in an LNG facility at the Black Sea," said Ciuca, at the beginning of the Government meeting, told Agerpres. He specified that the development of such projects aims to ensure Romania's energy independence. "We are as connected as possible and we have the necessary reasons to continue developing these projects, which will truly ensure our energy independence," the PM said. According to the agenda announced by the Government, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca will meet on Wednesday afternoon with the Ministers of Economy and Energy from Azerbaijan, Mikayil Jabbarov and Parviz Shahbazov, and the Minister of Energy, Virgil Popescu, will also participate in the discussions. At the end of the meeting, a memorandum will be signed between the Azerbaijani company SOCAR and SN ROMGAZ. The value of the minimum basket of goods for a decent living for a family of two adults and two children for September 2022 is 8,659 RON (1 euro=4.9357 RON) per month, compared to 7,233 RON in September 2021, an increase of 19.7%, according to data from the Friedrich Ebert Romania Foundation and Syndex Romania, told Agerpres. According to "The minimum monthly consumption basket for a decent living for the population of Romania" report, the value of the basket of goods for a family of two adults and one child is 7,112 lei per month, for a family of two adults without children it is 5,322 lei per month, and for a single adult it is 3,275 lei per month. The basket value was recalculated based on the price indices communicated by the National Institute of Statistics for September 2022, compared to September 2021. The report mentions that, between July and September 2018, Syndex Romania and the Quality of Life Research Institute conducted a national level research for the foundation of a minimum consumption basket of goods for a decent living for the Romanian population. The results of this research should constitute a new stage in the discussion about the resources necessary for the living of the population in Romania, not so much due to the renewal of the older concept of the minimum basket of goods, but especially due to the explicit emphasis on the notion of a decent standard of living and expenses which must be covered so that the population of Romania can ensure such a standard of living. A Lufthansa airliner's plane, which was flying on the New Delhi (India) - Frankfurt (Germany) route, landed on Wednesday morning at Bucharest's Henri Coanda Int'l Airport after a passenger suffered a heart attack, informs the Bucharest Airports National Company (CNAB), told Agerpres. The airport's medical crew stabilized the 36-year-old passenger who was later transported to the hospital. "The aircraft landed on the Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport at 07:13. After landing, a medical crew of the airport boarded the aircraft, managing to stabilize the passenger, who had suffered a heart attack. According to specific procedures, a SMURD (Mobile Emergency Service for Resuscitation and Extrication) crew was also called to the aircraft. It picked up the patient and transported him to the hospital," reads the CNAB release. The plane was to continue its flight to Frankfurt. The air traffic at the airport was carried out under normal conditions. "The fact that, in situations of medical emergencies, the pilots of the aircraft that fly over the South-East European region choose to land in Otopeni comes to prove once again the professionalism and dedication of the medical team and the ground staff of the CNAB," the source concludes. More than 130 students and pupils of the "Mircea cel Batran" Naval Academy and the "Amiral Ion Murgescu" Military School of Warrant Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers will take the military oath during a joint celebration organized at the end of this week, the General Staff of the Naval Forces (SMFN) informs on Wednesday. The ceremony takes place after the military students and pupils have already completed a general military training module, since the opening of the current academic year until now, completed with shooting sessions with infantry weapons. "As many as 133 military students and pupils will take the military oath on Friday, October 21, at 10.00 am, during a joint celebration organized by the Naval Academy and the Military School of Foremen and Non-Commissioned Officers of the Naval Forces. The 73 students and 60 military pupils have already completed, since the beginning of September until now, a general military training module, which ended with firing sessions with the infantry weapons provided. After taking the military oath, the future naval officers and majors will begin their professional training programmes, in their choice fields of study," reads a press release of the General Staff of Naval Forces. According to the same source, the military ceremony will be attended by representatives of the General Staff of the Naval Forces and the institutions receiving military personnel from the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Interior, as well as parents, relatives and friends of the military students and pupils, told Agerpres. Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca states that the building of a liquefied natural gas facility at the Black Sea, jointly with Azerbaijan, will lead to the diversification and addition of gas supply corridors from the Caspian Sea Basin to Europe. The Head of the Executive participated on Wednesday, at the Victoria Palace, together with Mikayil Jabbarov, the Minister of Economy, and Parviz Shahbazov, the Minister of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as the Romanian Minister of Energy, Virgil Popescu, in the signing of a memorandum between the Azerbaijani company SOCAR and ROMGAZ, concerning a joint investment in a liquefied natural gas facility at the Black Sea. "This afternoon there was a meeting between the representatives of the Ministry of Energy from Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Energy from Romania, of the two national companies, SOCAR from Azerbaijan and Romgaz from Romania, which will be directly involved in this project, a project that we are waiting for with great interest, because it is a new project, both for us and for Azerbaijan. We have discussed this possibility of building a facility for the first time on the occasion of the previous meeting we had with the President of Azerbaijan, Mr. Aliyev, on October 1, in Sofia. Now, less than three weeks later, the process is starting so that this project can begin to be implemented," said Nicolae Ciuca. He specified that the implementation of the project will start with a feasibility study, financed jointly by both parties. "We expect to see, in a very short amount of time, the feasibility study completed. We have engaged an international company to carry out the feasibility study and, in this way, we have the guarantee that it will be completed, because we need this gas and the construction of capabilities in a very short time. In the end we hope to have the two terminals, on either side, on the Eastern shore and on the Western shore of the Black Sea, so that we can diversify and supplement the gas supply corridors from the Caspian Sea Basin to Europe," said Ciuca. He mentioned that, in the meeting he had before the signing of the memorandum with the Azeri officials, the discussions also covered the other elements of collaboration included in the overall strategic partnership between Romania and Azerbaijan. "Furthermore, we are looking together for solutions for bringing gas from the Caspian Sea through the trans-Anatolian pipeline Turkey-Bulgaria-Romania and from Romania, of course, to the other beneficiary countries, one of them being the Republic of Moldova. It is a commitment of ours and Azerbaijan to be able to support the Republic of Moldova with the necessary amount of gas. Of course, there are other projects aimed at developing green energy capabilities. There are projects that I am certain that together we will put into value, taking into account the green energy production capacity in the Caspian Sea Basin, complementary to the green energy production capacity in the Black Sea and on the territory of Romania," stated Nicolae Ciuca. AGERPRES Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca will visiting Brussels, October 26 to 27, where he will meet with several European officials, according to a Government announcement, told Agerpres. At the same time, the Prime Minister of Romania will meet with the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The two officials will make joint press statements. President Klaus Iohannis will participate, on Thursday and Friday, in Brussels, in the meeting of the European Council, among the topics of discussion being the necessary measures in the field of energy, following the package of proposals presented by the European Commission and the reaffirmation of the EU's support for ensuring global food security, told Agerpres. According to a press release from the Presidential Administration sent to AGERPRES on Wednesday, the European leaders will continue the debates held during the informal European Council in Prague regarding the situation in the field of energy, "in order to agree on additional measures necessary to ensure security of supply and lower energy prices, starting from the package of proposals presented on Tuesday by the European Commission". The discussions will also focus on ways to strengthen the resilience of the European economies and protect citizens and businesses, the quoted source states. On the agenda of the meeting, there are also the developments of the Russian Federation's war of aggression against Ukraine, considering the recent escalations on the part of the Russian Federation, as well as the continuation of European support for Kyiv, on a political, financial, humanitarian and military level. The European Union's support for ensuring global food security will be reaffirmed, the press release mentions. The European leaders will address the concrete ways of strengthening the resilience of the critical infrastructure, in the context of the recent acts of sabotage against the Nord Stream pipelines, the Presidential Administration adds. According to the agenda of the meeting, the heads of state and government of the EU member states will have a strategic debate on the European Union's relations with China, as well as preparatory discussions in the perspective of the December Summit between the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and of the 27th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Sharm El-Sheikh, in November (COP27), the cited source also says. Pupils who obtained an average of 10 in the national evaluation of the 8th grade will receive a financial incentive of 2,000 lei, and high school graduates with an average of 10 in the Baccalaureate will benefit from an incentive of 5,000 lei, based on a decision adopted by the Government. "At the proposal of Prime Minister Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca, right during the Government's meeting, the initial version proposed by the Ministry of Education was increased. Thus, the value of this financial incentive was doubled from 1,000 to 2,000 lei for each graduate who obtained an average of 10 at the national evaluation at the 8th grade, the 2022 session, and from 3,000 to 5,000 lei was the increase in the incentive for each high school graduate who obtained an average of 10 in the national baccalaureate exam. It is about 237 graduates of the 8th grade and, respectively, 239 high school graduates," announced Government Spokesman Dan Carbunaru. The Government's decision aims at granting financial incentives to graduates who obtained an average of 10 at the national evaluation of 8th grade graduates, the 2022 session, and at the national baccalaureate exam, the June-July 2022 session. AGERPRES The State Secretary for European Affairs, Daniela Gitman, requested, on Tuesday, at the meeting of the General Affairs Council (GAC), held in Luxembourg, the inclusion of a specific reference to the support granted in the revised draft conclusions of the European Council from October 20-21 of the EU to its eastern partners, such as the Republic of Moldova, which faces major regional and energy security challenges and needs consolidated European support to strengthen its resilience, informs the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE), told Agerpres. Regarding energy, Daniela Gitman emphasized that Romania's main objective is to obtain a sustainable reduction in gas and electricity prices for consumers before the winter season, by decoupling the price of gas from that of electricity. The Romanian official insisted on the adoption of effective measures to achieve this objective, especially by capping prices for the wholesale purchase of gas throughout the Union, designed in such a way as to ensure the security of supply and the fair distribution of gas volumes in the EU, by reforming the design of the European energy market and the operationalization of the EU platform for the joint purchase of gas before the arrival of winter, the press release reads. Gitman emphasized the need to avoid the emergence of an imbalance between the EU member states and between the largest and smallest political parties, taking into account the national specifics of the voting processes in the member states and pleaded for a detailed analysis of the aspects of the proposal under discussion which presume adjustments to national legislation, especially those aspects related to postal voting, the establishment of a single date for holding elections and the minimum age of candidates and voters, MAE release adds. The Romanian official also said that the transnational lists can be a positive aspect, but requiring a thorough examination, including from the perspective of ensuring balance in the representation of the member states within the European Parliament, concludes the quoted source. Romania will use 2.2 billion euro worth of EU funding to counteract the effects of the rise in energy prices, Minister of European Investments and Projects Marcel Bolos said on Wednesday, at the beginning of the government meeting, told Agerpres. "There are three types of measures that can be considered: the first is to support vulnerable households fend off the energy crisis, including through energy price subsidies; the second possible measure will be the one related to working capital grants to SMEs, which will take after the model of the working capital grants we had during the pandemic crisis; the third measure refers to employment and job creation, by the model of the Innotech Student or rural social economy structures programs - these are ways by which jobs are created in the national economy," the Minister explained. Bolos mentioned that, following the decision of the European Commission, the necessary measures will be put together to support the population and the business environment. As many as 619 new cases of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 were recorded in the last 24 hours in Romania, by 263 fewer than on the previous day, on 14,824 RT-PCR and rapid antigenic tests performed, the Health Ministry informed on Wednesday, told Agerpres. Of the new cases, 148 were in re-infected patients who tested positive more than 90 days after the first time they recovered from the disease. Most of the newly confirmed COVID-19 cases in Romania since the previous reporting were recorded in Bucharest City - 191, and in the counties of Cluj - 51 and Timis - 44. The 14-day COVID-19 notification rate is highest in Bucharest City - at 1.02, and in the counties of Cluj and Timis - 0.83 and 0.75, respectively. To date, 3,281,666 cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus were confirmed in Romania. - Hospitalisations - As many as 887 people with COVID-19 are hospitalised at specialist care facilities across the country, by 44 fewer than the day before; 49 of this total are children. Out of the total number of hospitalised patients, 93 are in ICUs. Of the ICU patients, 82 are unvaccinated for COVID-19. - Deaths - According to the Ministry, 13 Covid deaths have been reported in the past 24 hours (12 men and 2 women), one in the 40 - 49 age group, two in the 60 - 69 age category, three in the 70 - 79 age range and 7 in patients aged over 80. Suffering from underlying conditions were 13 of the patients who died and 7 were vaccinated against COVID. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 67,145 people diagnosed with the SARS-CoV-2 infection have died in Romania. The Chamber of Deputies rejected, on Wednesday, the simple motion against the Internal Affairs minister Lucian Bode, submitted by 55 MPs from the Save Romania Union (USR) and non-affiliated members of the Forta Dreptei (Force of the Right) Party, which was debated in plenary meeting on Monday, told Agerpres. The motion registered 88 votes "for", 162 "against", while 6 MPs did not vote. Through the simple motion entitled "Security and trust or debauchery and theft? Minister Bode must answer for the created disaster", the signatories asked Lucian Bode to leave the leadership of the MAI, "because he failed to reform the institution". According to them, the "greatest success" of his mandate is "the tender with dedication for the purchase of 600 BMWs from the friend of the president Klaus Iohannis". During Monday's debates, the Minister of the Interior rejected the accusations brought against him, arguing that the text of the motion is full of lies, "a pot, a shaorma with everything". The International Union of Bilateral Chambers of Commerce and Industry (IUBCCI) Worldwide Headquarters contests the Draft Law on the amendment of the Chambers of Commerce Law no. 335/2007, adopted by the Romanian Senate, and officially announces the relocation of the world-wide representative headquarters from Romania, told Agerpres. International Union of Bilateral Chambers of Commerce and Industry, as a sign of vehement protest against the Draft Law on the amendment of the Chambers of Commerce Law no. 335/2007, adopted by the Romanian Senate, as the preliminary Chamber, officially announces the relocation of the worldwide representative headquarters from Romania and its registration in the United States, Washington D.C., keeping a representative entity only at the local level for Romania. IUBCCI Worldwide Headquarters will continue to fight for the restoration of a democratic legislative system of bilateral chambers of commerce in Romania with all the tools it can benefit from in a democratic and free country like the USA. In the short term, it will closely follow the legislative approach on the table of the Legal Commission of the Chamber of Deputies of the Romanian Parliament, as a decision-making chamber, and requests that the final vote of the Romanian deputies for this draft law adopted by the Romanian Senate, be one in knowledge of cause, democratic and to adopt provisions in accordance with the Romanian Constitution. Only in this way, Romania will show that it is a country worthy of the trust granted to it by the Euro-Atlantic structures and foreign partners, on a global level, informs IUBCCI, in a press release, sent to AGERPRES on Wednesday. In response, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania (CCIR) specified, in a press release, that it does not try and does not wish to subordinate anyone, on the contrary, it maintains its full institutional appreciation for all established entities that contribute fully of the good progress of bilateral commercial relations and, implicitly, of economic diplomacy. The fabric's loveliness may have originated in India, but museum pieces in St. Louis also trace their lineage to France, England, Sri Lanka and Armenia. Fragments of Indian cloth, found in Egypt's arid climate, even date to the 14th century. An example of "globalization" before the term was even used, Indian chintz has traveled the world for several millennia; the country has been growing cotton for at least 5,000 years. The "Global Threads" exhibition opening Oct. 23 at the St. Louis Art Museum involves more than just decorative art. It speaks to the history of world trade, agriculture, economics, the industrial revolution and slavery. And although innovation would lead to cheaper goods, nothing about the chintz on display is "chintzy." Indian chintz could be extremely expensive, says Philip Hu, curator of Asian art at the museum. The country wove the finest cotton, fabric so coveted that Europeans paid with silver because their woolens held little value in trade. Running through Jan. 8, Global Threads: The Art and Fashion of Indian Chintz comes to St. Louis from the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, its opening the day before Diwali, the Indian "festival of lights." What is chintz? Historically, to be called chintz, the base fabric must be cotton with hand painted or wood block-printed designs, Hu says. Early on, Indian artisans used precisely carved wood blocks and natural dyes made from Indian madder and mulberry (red), indigo plants (blue) and turmeric (yellow), explains Genevieve Cortinovis, SLAM's assistant curator of decorative arts and design. Yellow would be also applied to blue and red to create green and orange. (But yellow fades more quickly than the others, so some prints on fabrics now show bluish, rather than green, leaves.) To keep the fabric vibrant during washing, "mordants," made of substances such as alum, were used to improve the colors' staying power. An iron mordant could also create violet and black, and other ingredients helped to make golden brown or pinkish red. A mordant (the word comes from a Latin term meaning "to bite") helps dye bite into fabric to make it more lasting. Creating chintz, however was far more complex than that summary sounds: River water was used to removed alum, and water rich in calcium could brighten color; animal dung could also be part of the process as were buffalo milk soaks, says the exhibition's companion book, "Cloth That Changed the World," edited by Sarah Fee of the Royal Ontario Museum. Each color alone could require a number of steps, with specialist workers focusing on spinning, printing, wax application, stenciling, block carving, bleaching and more. "The skill required to hand-paint these textiles, not only the mordants but the wax-resist as well, in order to repel certain dyes, it's absolutely incredible," Cortinovis says. Artisans already had mordants in the 13th century, Hu says, and for years Europeans tried and failed to replicate fine Indian chintz. They lacked not only the subtropical plants used for dyes, but also the skill and technology. And they might not have allowed for the time and patience required. "When we think of chintz today, we think of sort of a glazed floral fabric, sort of a Laura Ashley style," Cortinovis says. In the 19th century, England was making machine-made fabrics in imitation of traditional Indian chintz, and that's when the word "chintzy" started being used as a criticism, she says. But that's not the kind of chintz in the "Global Threads" show. In an interview with Architectural Digest magazine at the time the exhibition was in Toronto, a curator from the Royal Ontario Museum said: "In a drab world where colour would be washed away, Indian chintz offered an option that could decorate the body and interior spaces with colour and design." That curator, Deepali Dewan, said that although cotton has the reputation today of being a humble cloth "for most of its history, cotton was also considered a luxury fabric and reached glorious aesthetic heights. For a millennium, India was the world's centre for cotton production, and it exported this wonder fabric around the world to South East Asia, the Middle East, Africa and beyond. India possessed the knowledge to weave the finest cotton, as well as the knowledge and conditions to produce the most colourful and colourfast decoration on cotton. This cloth became so desirable that it was used like money to trade for other commodities like spices." Savvy exporters There is no one standard motif for chintz, Hu says. "We mostly think of chintz as florals, but the design can be entirely geometric or figurative. That's one of the wonderful things about chintz it's not a fixed look." In addition, makers in India produced goods to appeal to different markets. Hu says: "Each destination market wanted favorite patterns and colors highlighted, and the Indians were able to adapt to that need." Pieces going to Sri Lanka were different than those sent to Iran, Indonesia, Thailand or Japan, he says. So "very early on you could see how entrepreneurial they were: If you want to satisfy your market, you give them what they want. Nowadays we talk about global trade a lot, but this was already happening as far back as the 13th century." Traders with the Dutch East Indian Co. brought Indian cloth to Indonesia and used it as a barter for Indonesian spices. In the early 17th century, European traders also realized there would be a demand for the fabric in Europe. By the late part of the century and during the 18th century, European linen and wool merchants were worried about competition from the Indian cotton and lobbied government for protectionist measures, Cortinovis says. The regulations changed over a century, she says, but many times Indian chintz was banned in European countries. Still, the lightweight, colorful cloth that could be easily washed and was cheaper than silk was surreptitiously imported. "The Dutch in particular would smuggle in chintz to England and France," Hu says. At other times, British traders would re-export Indian cloth to the Americas. There were different price points, so even some working-class people could afford pieces. At its peak in the 1680s, Indian cottons, up to 1 million pieces a year, accounted for 74% of the England-bound cargo of the British East India Company, according to "Cloth That Changed the World." Later, the growing European control of cotton trade and its mechanization of textile manufacturing helped launch the Industrial Revolution. Hu notes that demand for the fabric was one reason cotton became an important crop even in colonial times in America. Clothing could be made more cheaply with cotton, especially if labor was cheap. So concurrent with cotton growing in the U.S. South was the exploitation of labor, he says. Enslaved people were taken to America to pick cotton. A small part of the exhibit includes a "cotton picking sack" used by workers for the back-breaking job of picking cotton by hand. Rare goods The museum show also will include chintz made by contemporary designers, some of whom re-create older processes, and videos will show how artisans work in today's India. On Oct. 23 from noon-4 p.m. children can participate in art-making activities and learn more about Diwali. As part of the SLAM Underground series Oct. 28, music, more art making and performances will be offered. The exhibition from Toronto gives St. Louisans a chance to see textiles that are not in the local museum's collection, Hu and Cortinovis say. Although there are hundreds of textiles held in St. Louis, perhaps only one is Indian chintz. The survival of fine 18th- and 19th-century textiles is rare, Cortinovis says, not to mention the even older fragments. But it might be the larger story of chintz itself that also draws visitors. "The history of India is the history of the globe," she says. What "Global Threads: The Art and Fashion of Indian Chintz" When Oct. 23-Jan. 8; hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday Where St. Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts Drive How much $12 adults; $10 seniors and students; $6 for children 6-12; exhibit is free on Fridays and to museum members More info slam.org What Sarah Fee, senior curator of global fashion and textiles, Royal Ontario Museum When 2 p.m. Oct. 23 Where St. Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts Drive How much $5; free for members More info slam.org Q I would love to get the recipe for Louies pork ragu with bechamel and pecorino. It is the most delicious riff on ragu Ive ever tasted. Jennifer Schmid, South St. Louis A If youre looking for a fun home-cooking adventure, set aside two days to make this flavorful and fragrant pork ragu from Louie. On the third day, you can reheat and serve it, although its hard to wait that long when the whole house smells so great. If you can let the finished ragu rest overnight, its definitely going to be better the following day, executive chef Sean Turner says. A ragu is essentially a sauce made with chopped vegetables and ground meat that appears in many different iterations. The pork ragu is based off one Ive made in the past, but I wanted something a little sweeter with a certain richness for our Roman gnocco, Turner says. We build it almost like a lasagna, but theres no pasta. Instead, we mix semolina flour with milk, pecorino cheese and egg and cook it down almost like a pate a choux. We let it set, cut it with a ring mold, then sear each round to add some color. We put the ragu in the dish first, then gnocco, which is basically one single dumpling. The dish then gets topped with bechamel sauce and pecorino. Turner builds flavor into the sauce from the beginning, adding spices, toasted and ground in some cases, to the raw, ground pork. Turner uses fresh sage and fresh bay leaves in his mix. He continues to layer in flavor in the cook, starting with the sofrito of finely diced onion, carrots and garlic. The crushed Marzano tomatoes add texture and tang to the ragu as well. It would also work well at home with pastas, quinoa, couscous and polenta, he says. There are recipes online for making the Roman gnocco and bechamel should cooks care to try it. Surprisingly, this seemingly cool-weather dish is a year-round favorite at Louie. They sell well in the fall and winter when it gets cold, but youll also see them out on the patio when its 105 degrees. People really like this dish, Turner says. This week, Louie introduces its seasonal fall/winter menu. Were bringing back the sweet potato ravioli, like we do every year, and well be introducing our fall and winter pizzas soon, Turner says. Louie 706 DeMun Avenue, Clayton 314-300-8188; louiedemun.com To request a recipe Would you like to request a recipe from a restaurant that is still open in the St. Louis area? Send your request along with your full name and the city you live in to reciperequest@post-dispatch.com. (Broadry) Are you someone who loves a good scare? As Halloween approaches and fall is in the air, its the perfect time to visit some spooky places around the country. If you love all things creepy and paranormal, take a look at some of these supposedly haunted spots around the U.S. And many of them are an easy drive from major cities, meaning they can be reached with one tank of gas from metropolitan areas. So get ready for some chills with these spooky one tank trip stops, Halloween edition. Disclosure: This content is provided by a Broadry content partner. Stanley Hotel Estes Park, Colorado Fans of Stephen King or horror films will want to head out to Colorado for a visit to the Stanley Hotel. Overlooking the town of Estes Park, this historic hotel opened in the early 1900s, and its stately design was the inspiration for Stephen Kings horror novel, The Shining. While the 1980s movie was not filmed here, you can visit the Stanley Hotel to see the place that inspired the original book. Even if youre not planning to stay overnight in the hotel, its worth a visit. There are several tours offered throughout the year such as the guided walks about the history of the hotel or more spooky and paranormal based nighttime tours. Theres also a Shining Tour that focuses on Stephen King, the history of the hotel, and even displays some props from the movie. Theres also a hidden underground theater on the property where they host acts throughout the year. You can visit the website for more information. And bonus the Stanley Hotel is just 5 miles from the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. So you can get creeped out and then work off all that jittery energy on a trail. The Stanley Hotel is 65 miles from Denver and takes about an hour and a half to drive to. Salem, Massachusetts Salem, Massachusetts is probably one of the best known spooky American cities. The site of the 1692 Witch Trials, this town goes all out for Halloween (and most of the year). Many sites around Salem provide history and stories about the witch trials, from the Witch House to the Salem Witch Trials Memorial, to the wax museum. It was also the filming location for the 1993 movie Hocus Pocus, and you can see several of these iconic filming spots around town. Want to make sure you see it all? There are several walking tours offered by different companies in town that will take you to all the historic and haunted spots and explain more about the towns past. If you visit during October, get ready for a month of spooky celebration. From parades to street fairs to costume contests and ghost tours, fall really is the best time to visit Salem. Take your pick from haunted houses, music and theater performances, and an extra dose of haunted everything. Salem is located about 16 miles north of Boston and is an easy day (or night!) trip. Eastern State Penitentiary Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Next up on our spooky Halloween edition is Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia. At one time this prison was the most expensive and famous prison in the world that held prisoners like Slick Willie Sutton and Al Capone. Today, its a haunted ruin that offers some spooky tours. The prison shut down in 1971 and has since become a National Historic Landmark. The prison offers several tours, including the daytime tours that talk about the history of the prison. But for an extra terrifying experience, visit during the fall when they have their Halloween Nights. During October, this creepy prison becomes spook central with five different haunted houses, scary flashlight lit tours, and Halloween themed immersive experiences. But even if youre not visiting during the fall, the prison is a museum and historic site throughout the year and offers self-guided tours and exhibits that explain the history of the site. You can visit their website for more information on tours and events. Jerome, Arizona Another town that goes all out for Halloween is Jerome, Arizona. Jerome is a real ghost town perched precariously on a mountainside just outside of Sedona. Back in the 1800s, Jerome was a booming copper mining town and called The Wickedest town in the West, but in the 1950s the mines closed and the town was all but abandoned. Today its full of art galleries, local wine tasting rooms, and ghosts of the dead miners that still linger or so the residents say. Take one of the daytime walking/ghost tours to see the abandoned buildings and search for spirits that are still remain about the town. Or take a Halloween nighttime ghost tour with ghost hunting equipment or stay at the Jerome Grand Hotel which used to be a hospital and is considered one of the most haunted places in Arizona. October is the best time to visit as the entire town is decked out in decorations and there are events throughout the month. Jerome is about 110 miles from Phoenix and takes just about 2 hours to get there. Winchester Mystery House San Jose, California The Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California is next on our list. This sprawling Victorian mansion was built over 36 years from 1886-1922 for Sarah Pardee Winchester and has long been considered a hotspot for paranormal activity. This both beautiful and spooky mansion is open for tours year-round, but its very extra in the fall. Visit during October to participate in their Lost in the House Tour which mixes a paranormal investigation with theater. The house has many fall and Halloween themed activities, but even if youre visiting during the rest of the year, a tour of this magnificent mansion is a must see. Ohio State Reformatory Mansfield, Ohio The Ohio State Reformatory is another historic prison with plenty of spooky appeal. This prison was built in the late 1800s and was in use until 1990 when it closed. Today it offers tours and was also the set of the movie The Shawshank Redemption. Ohio State Reformatory offers several different tours, including options that teach you how to hunt ghosts. These tours guide you through the prison describe the paranormal history while you search for spirits. If you visit during the fall, this prison also turns into a haunted house with a 45-minute walk through the frightening building. If youre looking to be scared, head to their website for more information. The Ohio State Reformatory is located 79 miles from Cleveland and 69 miles from Columbus, making it an easy drive from either city. The Bell Witch Cave and Cabin Adams, Tennessee Many of the other places on our list are buildings or towns, so how about checking out a spooky cave? The Bell Witch Cave in Adams, Tennessee is a highly documented haunting from the early 1800s. The cave is home to the Bell Witch, thought to be the spirit of Kate Batts who tormented the Bell family in the 1800s. Paranormal fans can tour the cave itself as well as a reconstructed cabin of John Bell and his family with artifacts and news articles from the time period. The Bell Witch Cave is a 40 minute drive from Nashville and hosts events throughout October. They have cave and cabin tours, along with haunted hayrides at night and events during the days. Take a One Tank Trip One tank trips are a great way to explore locally without spending so much on gas. If youre looking for other great one tank itineraries check out the list below. And if youre looking for a rig, check out RVshare.com for an excellent selection of RV rentals. Disclosure: This content provided by a Broadry content partner. The links in this article may be from one of our content partners. If you click a link in this article, we may earn a commission. Tony Messenger Tony Messenger is the metro columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Tony Messenger Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today UNION, MO. David Thompson sat by himself in the second floor courtroom of the Franklin County Courthouse while his attorney was in the judges chambers arguing his case. He fidgeted a bit as other defendants made small talk and attorneys walked around the courtroom waiting for their cases to begin. Unlike the last time he was here, Thompson, 52, was fairly calm. That was in June, when a different judge required him to argue his preliminary hearing, even though he had not yet obtained an attorney. Im sure my blood pressure was through the roof, Thompson remembers. I wasnt even sure what a preliminary hearing was. I thought I was going to pass out. Preliminary hearings can be critical. Prosecutors typically present evidence to persuade a judge theres reason to believe a defendant committed a crime and that the case should move forward. That the St. Louis man didnt have an attorney during the early stage of his legal process is why Matthew Mueller was behind closed doors in the chambers of Franklin County Circuit Court Judge Ryan Helfrich on Oct. 4. Mueller now represents Thompson. He filed a motion to dismiss the domestic violence charges against Thompson one felony and one misdemeanor because his Sixth Amendment rights to have an attorney defend him allegedly had been violated for more than two years. By forcing Thompson to go forward with his preliminary hearing without having an attorney, the judge violated his civil rights under both the federal and our state constitution, Mueller wrote in his motion to dismiss the charges against his client. Mueller lost his arguments, which were made in the judges chambers. He had asked for an open, on-the-record hearing. My verbal request to attend the argument was also denied by the judge. I sat in the courtroom, like Thompson, awaiting its ending. Mueller has appealed the case, but for now, Thompson is headed to trial early next year. Beyond winning Thompsons case, Mueller has a larger goal in mind: he wants to make sure other people dont end up in Thompsons situation, battling criminal charges without an attorney. The answer, Mueller believes, already exists in Missouri law. What to say or do at hearings? Thompsons trouble started on a summer day two years ago, when he was arrested in Franklin County for violating an order of protection against a former boyfriend. He was also charged with driving his car toward the victim and striking him in the shins. Thompson has pleaded not guilty. The victim dropped the order of protection about a month after Thompson was charged. After a warrant was issued for his arrest, Thompson appeared in 2021 at his arraignment without a lawyer. He tried but failed to secure a private attorney because he has little income. He applied for a public defender and was initially declined. He missed a couple of hearings and was arrested, and then bonded out. Eventually, he was approved for a public defender, but that wasnt until after Associate Circuit Judge Matthew Houston required him to appear for a preliminary hearing even though he hadnt yet obtained an attorney. This situation indigent clients not being represented by an attorney at initial appearances is rampant throughout Missouri, Mueller says. About 80% of criminal defendants nationwide qualify for a public defender. But the process of obtaining one having a hearing on ability to pay, applying to the public defenders office and being provided an attorney takes time. That means many defendants who appear before Missouri judges on initial appearances, usually at a bond hearing after theyve been arrested and jailed, dont yet have proper representation. The defendant doesnt have the knowledge of what to say or do at such hearings, Mueller says. Hes filed cases similar to Thompsons in multiple circuit courts, with the hope that one will end up before the Missouri Supreme Court and force a change in the state. In his various filings, Mueller points out that the 22nd Judicial Circuit in the city of St. Louis is apparently the only one in the state that has figured out how to deal with this issue. In St. Louis, the courts contract with about eight to 10 private attorneys to make sure that every defendant who has a bond hearing is represented. The lawyers work on a rotating schedule and are paid $110 an hour for providing their services for clients who mostly end up being represented by the public defenders office. The courts budget about $70,000 a year for the process. St. Louis courts started planning for this in 2018, as the Missouri Supreme Court was mulling changes to rules that would require those hearings be held within 48 hours of a person being arrested and jailed. In 2019, the ArchCity Defenders and other nonprofits sued the courts over bail practices, which were leading to many defendants spending weeks in jail before their first appearance before a judge. The combination of the lawsuit and the new Supreme Court rules added pressure on St. Louis judges to come up with a plan to make sure that defendants rights were protected. Other states have done this also, Mueller says. Someone who is facing a criminal charge should not have to go at it alone. In Maryland, for instance, the state Supreme Court issued rules to outline a process similar to what happens in the court in St. Louis. Bond hearings happen after a person is arrested, charged with a crime and jailed, sometimes with a bond amount they cannot afford. The bond hearing, sometimes conducted from jail over video hookup, is generally the defendants first time to appear before a judge. A person without an attorney could make mistakes at such a hearing, or fail to make important arguments. That not only affects their immediate liberty but could impact the future of their case, Mueller says. My clients have been harmed Both the state and federal constitutions and case law suggest Mueller is right. The question is: what is the remedy? Both the courts and the Missouri Legislature have long struggled with how to deal with this problem. There is a state law that allows judges to appoint private lawyers for defendants, but the law is silent on whether those attorneys should be paid. In an opinion written by former Missouri Supreme Court Justice Michael Wolff in 2009, the court foreshadowed what would happen in St. Louis about a decade later. The opinion suggested that jurisdictions needed to work together to devise a system by which judges could assign private attorneys to cases until defendants could hire their own attorneys or qualify for a public defender. An adequate supply of lawyers available to represent indigent defendants is as important to the functioning of the criminal justice system as are adequate resources for law enforcement, prosecutors and the courts, Wolff wrote then. The ruling pondered whether the solution at the earliest stage of criminal proceedings is to appoint private attorneys. Indeed, in most courthouses in Missouri, even small ones, there are often private attorneys milling around, as they were on the day Thompson sat in Franklin County. Wolff, now the dean emeritus of St. Louis University School of Law, believes Muellers cause is a just one. Wolff hopes the right case gets to the Missouri Supreme Court so it can issue a ruling that forces every criminal defendant in the state to have proper access to an attorney from their first appearance. For Mueller, this is a rekindling of his cross-state quest in 2018 and 2019 as a public defender. That crusade led to a court decision ending the practice in Missouri rural counties of jailing indigent defendants for their inability to pay board bills fees from their previous stints in county jail. Now in private practice, Mueller is off to a similar start, filing cases in various counties in rural Missouri. Judges in Franklin County and elsewhere are denying his requests to dismiss cases because his clients didnt have lawyers at their initial hearings. But he is hopeful he will make his way to the Missouri Supreme Court again. My clients have been harmed by this, Mueller says. All Im trying to do is ensure that a defendant has an attorney during their first hearing. ST. LOUIS COUNTY A longtime babysitter for a Webster Groves family pleaded guilty Monday to severely burning a toddler in scalding hot bath water. Mindy Kammer, 59, of Bridgeton, was convicted of second-degree assault after she admitted to scalding the 23-month-old boy she was watching in a bath, leading to burns to the childs feet that left skin sloughing off. Kammer was a regular babysitter for the child before the incident on April 7, 2018, at a home in the 300 block of West Pacific in Webster Groves. She admitted to prosecutors that when the child cried and tried to climb out of the bath, she kept him in the water because she thought he was only throwing a tantrum, according to a statement from St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bells office. The childs mother told the Post-Dispatch in an interview that the plea ends years of waiting for her family. She, along with the childs father, grandmother and step-mom, read victim impact statements in court Monday. The Post-Dispatch does not publicly identify victims of assault. Its vindicating to know we all stood together on his behalf to give him justice, the mother said in an interview Tuesday. This has been a very long and traumatizing chapter. I still recoil from hot water to this day, but were happy to move on from this the best we can. In her victim impact statement, the mother said Kammer held her son down to suffer in excruciatingly hot water and disregarded his cries for help. His skin melted off his legs, and for weeks on end, he had to endure multiple treatments to recuperate. The childs father in his statement said: Mindy, since the moment you burned my sons skin, you have done nothing but try to save your own. The father wrote that Kammer minimized the extent of his injuries over text messages, suggesting, it wasnt a big deal. He continued that her inaction resulted in delaying medical care, prolonging his pain, and putting an already at-risk child at greater risk. The boys mother filed a civil suit in the case in March. The night of the incident, the suit claims Kammer texted the mother: All is okay but I burned (names) feet. ... He is eating and happy and I dont want to ruin ur night but I had to tell u. Kammer, according to the suit, went on to say: I did it accidentally in the tub (I) didnt know the water was on that hot! The child required surgery for second-degree burns and extensive therapy, according to the suit. Kammer is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 16. The sentence could range from one day in jail up to seven years in prison for the Class D felony. ST. CHARLES Police were searching for the gunman Wednesday who shot a man near the Hampton Inn and Suites in St. Charles. The victim, a 40-year-old man from St. Peters, was shot three times about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. Police found him near the Hampton Inn in the 1400 block of South Fifth Street. St. Charles police Lt. Thomas Wilkison said the man is expected to survive. Police did not have a detailed description of the gunman, but said he drove away in an orange Ford Mustang with black stripes. ST. LOUIS Three St. Louis-area teenagers stole mail from U.S. Postal Service collection boxes, and a fourth teen tried to bribe letter carriers for a master key to unlock other collection boxes, federal prosecutors alleged this week. The bribery attempt was unsuccessful, authorities said. The four young men charged in U.S. District Court here are Tahj K. Boyd, James R. Townsend, Dwaundre K. Valley and Dennis Cooperwood Jr. It wasnt clear from court documents if they were working together. One of them, Cooperwood, was caught with nearly 180 personal and business checks that had been swiped from a collection box in the spring, authorities said. Boyd, 19, lives in St. Louis County. Townsend, 18, is from Ferguson. Valley, 19, is from Bridgeton. And Cooperwood, 19, is from Country Club Hills. Boyd and Townsend are accused of mail theft, a felony. Authorities say they stole mail Sept. 1 from a collection box at 1100 Town and Country Commons Drive in Town and Country. They were indicted Sept. 21. Valley, also indicted Sept. 21, faces three felony charges of bribery of a public official. He offered money to three letter carriers for the keys to get into mail collection boxes, charges allege. The locked U.S. Postal Services collection boxes can only be opened with a master key, known as an arrow key. Valley is charged with offering to pay postal workers in St. Ann on March 4, in Florissant on April 15 and in Maryland Heights on April 20. The postal workers did not accept the bribe, federal authorities said. Cooperwood Jr. was indicted Oct. 12 on a felony charge of possession of stolen mail matter. He is accused of taking 179 checks from a collection box in April. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Town and Country Police Department and a U.S. Marshals Service task force investigated the case. U.S. Postal Inspector Matt Villicana could not be immediately reached for comment. Federal authorities did not release mugshots of the four defendants. ST. LOUIS Two murder cases related to the 2019 fatal shooting of a 35-year-old man were dismissed this week in St. Louis. One was immediately refiled. Michael Mayhorn, 32, and Donnell Landers, 41, were set to face trial on charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the fatal shooting of Jazs Johnson on June 4, 2019, in the 3200 block of Newstead Avenue. Mayhorn's case was dismissed after a witness failed to show up, said Mayhorn's attorney Scott Rosenblum. "We were ready to try the case with or without that witness. We didn't believe she was particularly credible," Rosenblum said. "Mr. Mayhorn never should have been charged." And on Tuesday, a jury had been selected and trial was ready to begin in Landers' case when the prosecutor said he was sick and requested the trial be moved back a day so he could see a doctor. Judge Bryan L. Hettenbach dismissed the case for failure to prosecute. "There were some disputes this morning and the judge felt that the state was on some bull(expletive)," said Landers' attorney, John F. Washington. "He dismissed the case." Prosecutors refiled the charges against Landers on Tuesday for first-degree murder and armed criminal action. He is being held without bond. The prosecutor in the case was treated later in the day by two doctors and referred for further testing, he said in a statement. Allison Hawk, spokesperson for the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office, did not provide a comment on the dismissals Tuesday. Update: This story was updated at 7:15 a.m. Wednesday with more information about the prosecutor. FLORISSANT Families of Jana Elementary students are scrambling to make arrangements for the schools shutdown next week after testing showed radioactive contamination on campus. About 375 kindergarten through fifth grade students will start virtual instruction on Monday. Students in Janas two preschool classrooms will transfer to the districts Barrington Elementary, 2.6 miles away. New school assignments for Jana students and staff will be made the week of Nov. 14, according to a message posted Wednesday by the Hazelwood School District, which includes 19 other elementary schools. Students will start attending their new schools after Thanksgiving break. Students and staff felt blindsided by the school boards decision to close Jana and prefer to be moved to an alternative building while the school gets cleaned up, said PTA president Ashley Bernaugh. All of the families that have made Jana their home, they are quite the team. They cheer each other on, they champion each other. We are so unwilling to let that community just go, Bernaugh said. Hazelwood leaders did not respond to questions Wednesday about the decision to reassign the students. Please know that Hazelwood School District will work hand-in-hand with you to provide the support that is needed as we transition through these very difficult times, reads the message posted to the districts website. Dust and dirt samples taken Aug. 15 from Jana Elementarys library, kitchen, HVAC system, classrooms, fields and playgrounds were found far in excess of the natural background of radioactive isotope lead-210, polonium, radium and other toxins, according to a Boston Chemical Data Corp. report generated through an ongoing lawsuit and publicized last week. The school, which opened in 1970 at 405 Jana Drive, sits in the flood plain of Coldwater Creek. The creek was contaminated with radioactive waste starting in the 1940s from the storage of residue from atomic weapons production. The Army Corps of Engineers, which is charged with cleanup of the creek, has not corroborated the findings of the independent report on contamination at the school. About half of the students at Jana qualify for free or reduced school lunch, an indicator of poverty. The school district previously switched to online classes for nearly a year after the pandemic started in spring 2020. Following a national trend, students at Jana fared significantly worse on standardized tests during virtual learning. In the spring of 2019, nearly half of third graders at Jana tested proficient in English and 40% in math. Two years later, 20% of the schools fifth graders tested proficient in English and fewer than 3% in math. Bernaugh, the PTA president, said the repeated disruptions will damage Jana students relationships with friends and teachers along with their academics. This is another case where big people made big mistakes and now little people have to suffer for it, Bernaugh said. We should not have to choose between quality, loving education for our kids and a safe place to do it. Given a possibility that students may have been exposed to radioactive waste, parents and other family members also are calling on the district to provide medical testing or guidance. During the packed board meeting Tuesday night, Kimberly Anderson said that she is raising three grandchildren who attend the school. She worried about the health damage that might already have occurred. This can cause long-term effects with children, Anderson said, adding the district should provide a medical expert who can offer insight as to what I need to be looking for and what I need to have tested for my children. To start with, Anderson said she plans to have the blood of her grandchildren tested. Alumni of the school have been connecting online and said they learned of the contamination through the media. Asaki Carr of Florissant said her daughter attended preschool at Jana last year. I was devastated and shocked, and mostly angry, Carr said. No one was ever notified and now I can only be reactive. Bernaugh lives nearby and has a son who attends. She called the findings of the study terrifying. Shes done enough research to know any health ramifications including a potential increased risk of cancer may be years or decades away, not immediate. But lab testing would be prudent especially because of the levels of radioactivity and lead found, Bernaugh said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Editors note: Construction on Jana Elementary was completed in 1970. An addition was completed in 1972. An earlier version of this story had the wrong opening year. JEFFERSON CITY A Republican campaigning for a seat in the Missouri Senate says his campaign manager was nearly run off of Interstate 270 when another motorist spotted the GOP candidates campaign magnets on the officials car. Dr. George Hruza, who faces Democratic state Rep. Tracy McCreery in the 24th District, said his campaign manager was fearing for his life during the incident, and that a police report was filed. The driver made obscene gestures at him along with hate-filled invective about me and his support of me, Hruza said in an open letter to McCreery. A campaign spokesman told the Post-Dispatch he believed the report was filed with St. Louis County police on Oct. 13. Officer Adrian Washington, spokesman for St. Louis County police, said Wednesday afternoon, I checked and do not see a report referencing your contact on my end. Frank Catanzaro, spokesman for Hruzas campaign, said the campaign manager, Jamey Murphy, submitted information through the crime stoppers portion of the (county police) webpage. Asked for link to the page, Catanzaro sent a link to a St. Louis Regional Crime Stoppers tip form. He assumed he filled out a police report, Catanzaro said of Murphy. Hruza mentioned additional incidents, including McCreery supporters being directed to call and harass the employees at my medical practice and a photographer appearing at my home to stalk me and my wife and possibly dox us by sharing our address and photos of our home. Clearly it is in direct relation to your campaign rhetoric painting me falsely as an extremist, Hruza said to McCreery. A press release from his campaign accuses McCreery of inciting violence against Hruza. Megan McBride, spokeswoman for McCreerys campaign, called the letter and the accusations a political stunt and ludicrous. Were focused on talking to voters, McBride said. In an ad called George Hruza is Too Extreme, released in late September, McCreery slammed Hruzas contributions over the years to radical anti-choice politicians. The ad criticizes Missouris current abortion law, which bans nearly all abortions, including in cases of rape and incest. Hruzas spokesman said after the ad was released that the Republican supports abortion exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother. Both candidates have attempted to paint the other as extreme. If anyone is extreme, its Tracy McCreery, Catanzaro said when McCreery released her anti-choice ad. He said McCreery had worked for politicians and groups that have supported defunding the police and abortions without restrictions. Both candidates have tried to distance themselves from controversial positions held by members of their own parties. McCreery, for example, rejecting the defund the police message of U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-St. Louis, has touted endorsements from police and firefighters in an ad released this month. The ad features retired Olivette police Chief Rick Knox, who says, Tracy shes against defunding the police. Shes always supported the police. She also voted for an income tax cut backed by Republican Gov. Mike Parson that most of her fellow Democrats opposed. In addition to speaking out in favor of abortion exceptions in cases of rape and incest, Hruza said he accepted the results of the 2020 election, which former President Donald Trump lost. Over the summer, he said he conditionally supported bipartisan gun legislation being discussed in Congress. The race for the 24th District, which stretches from Maryland Heights south to Sunset Hills and Fenton, is considered the most competitive state Senate contest this year. Hruza has pumped $750,000 into his campaign account this October, including a $450,000 contribution on Monday, according to state ethics commission records. BRENTWOOD A clerical error led St. Louis County to send as much as $6 million extra in sales tax proceeds to the city of Brentwood over the past several months, city and county officials said this week. The city said it realized the overpayments and contacted the county months ago. The county denied there was a problem, city officials said, until Friday, when it acknowledged the mistake and informed Brentwood it wanted the money back. The news rang alarm bells in other county municipalities, concerned there could be other errors. In my 22 years as an elected official, I havent seen anything of this magnitude, said Pat Kelly, a former Brentwood mayor who now runs the Municipal League of Metropolitan St. Louis. Kelly said he had received calls from a handful of cities who heard about the discrepancy in Brentwood and were concerned. The problem is rooted in the countys 1% sales tax. The revenue is shared by the county and 88 municipalities under a state-prescribed formula that sees retail giants like Brentwood send cash to other cities and the countys unincorporated area. Retailers collect the tax and send it to the Missouri Department of Revenue. The state sends the proceeds to the county, which calculates how much to send to cities each month. But sometime in the past several months, a computer coding error got into the formula at the county, said county Director of Administration Karen Aroesty. Her department oversees the fiscal management and treasurers offices, which handle disbursements of tax revenue to municipalities. Each municipality in the data system, managed by a St. Louis-based government agency called REJIS, is identified by a unique code. Brentwoods somehow got written over with an incorrect code, Aroesty said. Aroesty said her department is working with the treasurers office to find out more. Im not interested in assigning blame, Aroesty said. Im grateful I have staff who know how to take the process to the next step. Staff in the treasurers office checked disbursements to the 87 other municipalities and didnt find any errors, she said. The county didnt yet have an estimate of the amount Brentwood owes. Brentwood said it was between $2 million to $6 million, hasnt spent the money, and wont have a problem paying it back. Kelly, the Municipal League chief, said slight errors in allocations of sales tax revenues can happen month to month, if a business files a late report or puts down an incorrect address. But those issues are usually quickly resolved. Kelly said municipalities need to push the county to show its books and explain what led to the error. Im not going to pass any judgement but I think we just need to see the actual documentation on that, he said. Brentwood Mayor Dave Dimmit said he plans to outline the situation for other cities Thursday at a Municipal League executive meeting in case they want to double check their proceeds from the countys 1-cent sales tax. And he said the city, once the county declares how much it over paid, will review the figure a second time before remitting the money. The good news is that the county has finally acknowledged the problem, Dimmit said. The bad news, is that I have little confidence in whatever number they will give us to pay back. Dimmit and City Administrator Bola Akande said Tuesday that city staff contacted the county and the Missouri Department of Revenue in June after the sudden jump in proceeds. Aroesty denied hearing anything from the city until Friday. The county first learned of the problem from the state revenue department on Sept. 27, Aroesty said. Staff in the county treasury office began looking at the problem. The county heard from Brentwood officials for the first time on Friday, Oct. 14, and theyve been communicating since, Aroesty said. Brentwood has been getting outsize payments since June, according to figures discussed by Brentwood aldermen at a public meeting Monday night. Before the error hit, Brentwood had been getting between $200,000 and $800,000 each month. Then, in June, it received May proceeds totaling about $2.1 million, according to an analysis by Dan Cook, an attorney with a firm retained by Brentwood in past years to review its sales tax proceeds. The city has received between $1.3 million and $1.9 million each month since. Cook suggested the city push to access the countys calculations behind its sales tax distribution. Akande said Tuesday the city would ask for full visibility. I think it would be beneficial to everyone to have something like that, she said. St. Louis County Councilman Tim Fitch, who chairs the committee that oversees revenue, said he hoped to schedule a meeting for as soon as next week to hear from county officials who can explain how this happened. A few days ago, I started getting early morning texts from my sisters and daughters: Isnt this the school you taught at? Didnt you teach there? Have you heard about this? The answer to each question was yes. The questions were about the breaking news of elevated levels of radiation at Jana Elementary School in the Hazelwood School District. It is getting national news coverage because contamination levels reportedly are as high as 22 times greater than expected background levels. I taught at Jana for over a decade. My last name at that time was Whittenburg and I taught sixth grade science and health with a team of two of the finest teachers I have ever worked with. We had that education thing wired. Our students didnt cause trouble, scored well above district, state and national averages and generally had a good time. When I went on to administration, college instruction and then retirement, I was sure I had left Jana and its happy memories behind. Then came all those texts along with stories on CNN, MSNBC and others. The reason for the contamination was a source everyone who lived in north St. Louis County knew about. What is now a densely suburban area started out as farmland. During and after World War II, the area north of Lambert Field was a dumping ground for military debris, including the detritus of our burgeoning nuclear defense. The story is an old one: Bag it, bury it, forget it and deny you know a thing about how that radioactive waste got in the creek. We have seen this same scenario before. In this case, its Coldwater Creek. It runs directly behind Jana, and the school was built in its flood plain. The students I taught played in that creek. The soybean field I walked along when I was on playground duty was watered with that creek water. The contamination filtered into the playground, the foundation and the air we breathed. What has happened next has many of us asking questions. The fact is, Jana Elementarys radiation issue is a symptom of a bigger problem: America has had a love-hate relationship with public education since its inception. We generally can take enormous pride in what we have done to create a critically literate and skilled population. But there has frequently been a hesitant commitment to our public schools. Public education funding goes back to a historic piece of legislation. When the United States annexed the Northwest Territories (roughly present-day Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, and parts of Minnesota) we did so with a body of laws called the Northwest Ordinance. This amazing document is a monument to American problem solving. Signed on July 13, 1787, a scant 11 years after we declared our independence, it outlined how all newly acquired lands would enter the Union. It ensured legislative representation for all states entering the Union and required that the territories provide for a free and public education. It existed in the United States to the 1900s before similar laws became common in Europe. It took Europe more than 100 years to do what this country did when we were barely a decade old. The framers of this law required that one section (a square mile of land) out of each 100 be set aside for the building and maintenance of a public school. This was the worlds first codified attempt by an entire nation to provide a free public education. The results were certainly inconsistent and incomplete, but the intent was pure, good and right from the beginning. Land was the most precious commodity our forefathers had. If they were going to give up land for the purpose of general education, they would need some members of the local community to administer this quasi-governmental body. The duties of controlling the school fell to a locally elected school board. That is still the case. Unfortunately, the land that is acquired for schools often is the land nobody else wants. It is accepted without intense vetting. When problems arise, dueling agencies argue about who truly owns the problem. For that, I have an answer. The problem belongs to the children who run across the playground, who get dirty and laugh and come in with dust covering their clothes. The problem belongs to the teachers who work year after year amidst a poison that can not be seen, smelled or tasted. The problem belongs to the people least empowered to deal with it. My years at Jana were good years. But I had better hope for the futures of the children I taught than have been revealed. Yet, I keep the faith. October 19, 2022: In the northeast (south of Gao) IGSS (Islamic States in Greater Sahara) Islamic terrorists near the Niger border have taken advantage of the departure of French counterterrorism forces earlier this year by seizing and holding territory in Mali. This began four months ago with more attacks on the Niger border. The departing French and G5 counter-terrorism forces had kept the Islamic terrorists out of Mali. The Mali army and a small number of Russian (Wagner Group) military contractors have been unable to carry on with that effort or prevent the Islamic terror groups from crossing the border and advancing into Mali. During the last six weeks IGSS launched a number of attacks and appeared intent on taking control of the border between Mali and Niger. Mali responded early on with one of their Russian armed helicopters. This failed when the helicopter attacked a group of Mali civilians thinking they were Islamic terrorists The civilians were trying to get away from the Islamic terrorists. Malian soldiers and a handful of Wagner Group mercenaries were also unsuccessful. After that Mali did nothing about the situation as its security forces and the UN peacekeepers were needed elsewhere. The Niger government was also unable to respond and sought to negotiate a deal with IGSS. IGSS has existed since 2015 as an affiliate of ISIL and part of ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province). In 2021 IGSS declared itself separate from ISWAP and declared northern Mali and some areas in Niger and Burkina Faso its future caliphate. The tri-border (Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso) area has been a terrorist hotspot since 2018 because Islamic terror groups can just cross the border to escape any effective counterterrorism efforts. For that reason, this area has been called the Menaka Region. Previously this area was just part of the larger Gao Region, centered on one of the few cities in the north. The area being fought over is near where the borders of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso meet. Menaka has become ungovernable because so many Islamic terrorists and bandits now operate here. The French counterterrorism forces regularly searched for and attacked specific Islamic terrorist targets. The Mali government underestimated how important the French forces, with their airmobile troops, UAV surveillance and ground attack aircraft were in keeping the Islamic terrorists from establishing themselves inside Mali. The Mali government has no clear plan for dealing with this situation. Hundreds of Mali civilians have died since March and thousands have fled towards refugee camps in Menaka City and Gao. The refugee campa are guarded by some UB peacekeepers but Mali does not really have sufficient troops or foreign (Wagner Group) forces to keep the Islamic terrorists from taking those two cities and the refugee camps and the nearly 30,000 civilians taking shelter there. There are local Tuareg militias that oppose the Islamic terror groups but their numbers are not sufficient to guard Tuareg communities and keep the Islamic terror groups from taking Menaka City and Gao. Government and Wagner troops are confined to towns and nearby army bases most of the time. These government forces carry out some attacks on the Islamic terrorists, but cannot provide troops to guard any towns where the Islamic terrorists have been driven out. Meanwhile other Islamic terror groups have seized territory in Niger and Burkina Faso. The Islamic terror groups have been increasingly active in central and southern Mali, which is where most of the Mali population lives. Those areas have priority when it comes to security forces. All this is a return to the situation that led to the 2011 rebellion in the north that in turn led to a military coup in Mali and the military intervention of France to keep the north part of Mali. Without the French intervention in 2012, Mali would have lost its northern territories to a coalition of Islamic terror groups and their Tuareg allies. What divides Mali more than anything else is ethnicity and geography. The dry (desert and semi-desert) north contains more than half of the territory but only about 12 percent of Mali's 20 million people. In the southern third of Mali, where 88 percent of the population lives, the population is quite different from the northerners. While most Malians are Moslem there are some sharp ethnic and tribal differences. The Tuareg are the majority in the north and are North African while over 80 percent of Malians are various black African tribes. Most Malians live south of the Niger River (the Nile of West Africa) in areas that are more prosperous because they have more water. The hostility between the army (almost entirely composed of black Africans from the south) and the Tuareg goes back over a thousand years. Before 2012 the rebellious Tuareg around Timbuktu tried something different and adopted Islamic terrorism as a promising tool to help their fight for autonomy or a separate Tuareg state. That has often failed in the past because the Tuareg have been unable to unite. Islamic radicalism has not solved that problem either. Islamic radicalism didnt work. Until the French arrived in the 19th century and over the next 68 years created (for administrative purposes) a united "Mali", the black Africans in the south (along the Niger River) prospered and generally ignored the Tuareg in the desert north. But after the French left in 1960, and Mali became independent, the more populous south was forced to deal with the Tuareg dominated north they now owned and were not willing to give up. This has not worked out well for either side. Since 2013 most of the 12,000 UN peacekeepers have been in the north, dealing with problems the Mali government has caused and failed to remedy. The government has not come through with the autonomy and economic aid it agreed (back in 2014) to provide if the Tuareg separatist rebels made peace. The government was still corrupt and inefficient and continues to be run by southerners who still do not trust the tribes up north. The most dangerous rebel group in the north is the Tuareg MNLA (French for Liberation Army of Azawad), which signed a peace deal in June 2015. The government made a lot of promises to MNLA, mainly to keep the MNLA from reuniting with its former ally Ansar Dine, which long worked with AQIM (Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb). Ansar Dine is, like the MNLA, largely Tuareg. France points out that MNLA and Ansar Dine leaders still communicate with each other, mainly because they are all Tuareg and have tribal connections. MNLA and Ansar Dine relations with AQIM are less friendly and most MNLA members see AQIM as unwelcome outsiders. This unstable situation up north wont resolve itself unless the government keeps its side of the peace deal. MNLA is obviously ready to work with Ansar Dine again if the central government keeps stalling on meeting its obligations. The Tuareg never trusted the national government and continued lack of cooperation from the government does not help. Azawad is the Tuareg term for their homeland in northern Mali (and several other North African nations). Ansar Dine refuses to make peace and continues to fund its terrorist operations with drug smuggling profits. MNLA gave up drug smuggling and cooperation with Islamic terrorists when it signed the 2015 peace deal. The continued smuggling explains Ansar Dine involvement with the new Islamic terror group FLM (Macina Liberation Front) down south. AQIM is still something of an umbrella organization for Islamic terrorists in the region and survives in the north largely because the government has not complied with the peace deal. Most Tuareg do not belong to MNLA or Ansar Dine and are mainly concerned with taking care of their family and clan. The clans often have militias and if economic conditions dont improve up there a lot of those militiamen will use their weapons to get what they need (or simply want). There are still a lot of unresolved disagreements between the many pro-government and former rebel tribes and clans up there. These feuds are proving more difficult to solve because of the governments refusal to deliver aid and autonomy. This is causing enough anarchy to give the Islamic terrorists opportunities to move around and carry out attacks and keep their drug smuggling enterprise running. The local squabbles kept peacekeepers busy and the chaos was contained by French led counter-terror operations. Then the Mali government forced the French led counter-terror force out in 2022, so its 2011 again in the semi-desert north. October 17, 2022: In the north (outside Kidal) four peacekeepers were killed by an Islamic terrorist roadside bomb. The four dead peacekeepers were part of an effort to discover and disable anti-vehicle mines and roadside bombs Islamic terrorists use to control who can access the few roads in the north. The military government has been threatening to force the 15,000 UN peacekeepers out of the country unless the UN agrees to give the Mali military government control over what the peacekeepers can do. The government is particularly angry at the way the peacekeepers report on atrocities committed by Mali security forces as well as the Russian Wagner Group military contractors. The UN refused to comply with the government demands and the government backed off. With the French and G5 specialized counterterrorism expelled by the military government in 2021, gone, the Islamic terrorists are more numerous and active. The peacekeepers are taking higher casualties dealing with this and that alone might lead to the UN reducing and soon eliminating the Mali peacekeeper force. Mali is becoming a failed state because it regularly ends up with governments that are more harmful than helpful to Mali and any foreigners working in Mali. Currently the military government seems to realize that they need UN peacekeepers that maintain government control over the rebellious north. These peacekeepers are supplied by AU (African Union) nations and some of the African nations supplying these peacekeepers are withdrawing that support. A few percent of the peacekeeping force are from NATO nations that supply specialized services, especially transport helicopters and other services. There is growing opposition among UN members for maintaining the expensive peacekeeper force, which is the most dangerous the UN is currently involved with. The Mali peacekeeping operation costs about half a billion dollars a month and that is about the only foreign aid Mali gets now that the military government is in control. Most foreign aid was halted because the government was stealing so much of the aid. It is difficult to steal any of the money spent on peacekeepers but the government seems to be trying to do just that. The UN votes every June on whether or not to keep the peacekeepers in Mali for another year. After the UN voted to keep peacekeepers in Mali until 2023, the military government began harassing the peacekeepers and pressuring the peacekeepers to take orders from the government. The peacekeepers serve on contracts (with the UN) for varying periods usually between two and six months. This year UN members threatened to withdraw peacekeepers because Mali is paying for about a thousand Russian mercenaries (Wagner Group military contractors) as well as buying weapons from Russia, which is banned from selling weapons to foreign nations. Since 2013, when the peacekeepers arrived, 181 have been killed. This is the highest fatality rate of any UN peacekeeper force. The peacekeeper deaths in Mali account for over 40 percent of annual peacekeeper deaths. But the peacekeeping force in Mali is only twelve percent of all UN peacekeepers deployed worldwide. The peacekeepers are mainly African and in the last few years the Mali force suffered an annual death rate of between 200 and 250 per 100,000 per year (a standard measure of such things.) Compare that to Afghanistan, where in 2013 the rate (200 per 100,000) was lower for all foreign troops there. That was down from the peak 587 in 2010, which was about what it was during the peak years in Iraq (2004-7). The action in Mali is less intense than in pre-2014 Afghanistan or pre-2011 Iraq but is more than double the rate for peacekeepers worldwide. October 13, 2022: In central Mali (Mopti) Islamic terrorists were believed responsible for a roadside bomb that was set off against a bus, killing 11 people and wounding 53. The use of anti-vehicle mines and remotely detonated roadside bombs Such attacks are common in Mali and have killed nearly a hundred people so far this year. Most of the casualties are soldiers with at least a quarter being civilians. For all of 2021 landmines and roadside bombs killed 20 people in Mali. September 30, 2022: In neighboring Burkina Faso, there was a military coup and the new military government accused France of planning to intervene militarily to reinstate the ousted president. That was not true, but the Russian Wagner Group promptly stepped up and offered military assistance, for a price. Wagner Group was authorized by Vladimir Putin in 2014 with trusted associate Yevgeny Prigozhin (and self-made millionare) in charge. Prigozhin assigned his corporate security chief, Dmitry Utkin to run the operation. Utkin is a former special operations officer who used the call sign Wagner while in the army. Prigozhin and Utkin report directly to Putin and Wagner Group often carries out special tasks for Putin. One of those was to increase Russian influence in Africa, where there are currently 2,400 Wagner Group contractors active (or recently were), in Mali, the Central African Republic, Libya, Madagascar and Mozambique. Prigozhin has received lots of help in the form of military intelligence and the use of Russian media manipulation organizations, one of which he founded. Wagner Group has been noted for their skill at using disinformation to shape events in foreign countries. In Africa the disinformation often works in nations that were long allied with France but are now run by a miliary government that gained power by blaming France for all the local problems. September 29, 2022: G5 members held a meeting in Niger to determine how they would reorganize since they were forced out of Mali and Mali withdrew from the G5. The G5 Sahel counterterrorism force has been active since 2018 but has not been as effective as France and the EU (European Union) states that financed it had hoped. Burkina Faso has been a major beneficiary of G5 efforts, as has Mali. The G5 operation was seen as a better peacekeeping solution because it consists of the best troops from five Sahel nations (Mali, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad) and was capable of dealing with Islamic terrorism throughout the Sahel, which is the semi-desert belt below the Sahara Desert that extends across most of Africa. The problem is that the least effective G5 contingent comes from Mali, which has long had a reputation for the least effective military in the area, G5 began operations in early 2018 after three years of planning and preparation. In late 2016 the countries involved agreed on the details of G5. This included who would provide what in terms of the 5,000 soldiers and police needed and where they would be based. The G5 force was to be stationed in three operational areas along with troops familiar with local conditions. Sahel East consists of troops from Chad and Niger. Sahel Central is staffed by troops from Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso while Sahel West mainly uses troops from Mali and Mauritania. The G5 force has been most active in the three borders area (where borders of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso meet) and found itself spending more and more time in this terrorist hotspot. The new military government in Mali forced French and G5 forces out of Mali in 2022 and now realizes how valuable the G5 and French presence was. The French are not coming back and G5 is trying to reorganize to better deal with the new Islamic terrorist threat coming from northern Mali. CNWE's drills new intervals grading up to 70.1 g/t gold and 6.2 % copper LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / October 19, 2022 / Meridian Mining UK S (TSX:MNO)(Frankfurt/Tradegate:2MM)(OTCQB:MRRDF), ("Meridian" or the "Company") is pleased to report further assays from the Cabaal gold-copper VMS deposit ("Table 1"). Down-dip resource drilling has intercepted new strong gold-copper trends within the CNWE area, while infill drilling has continued to confirm the high-grade near-surface gold trend within the Indicated Resource envelope, designed to enhance its level of confidence in the evaluation of high-grade starter pits. Today's results include a new copper enriched trend within Cabacal's Northwest Extension ("CNWE") located outside of the current Cabacal Resource[1] model ("Figure 1") with one of the new gold-copper zones also overprinted by a new high-grade open gold structure. Further assay results are pending. Highlights Reported Today[2] Meridian drills multiple new high-grade gold veins and copper-gold layers at Cabacal; Extension drilling defines new gold-copper rich trend with localized gold overprint; New trend graded 13m @ 3.4 g/t Au, 0.9% Cu, & 5.1 g/t Ag from 50.4m (CD-171); Intervals of 6.2% Cu over 0.7m and 27.7 g/t Au over 0.3m; CNWE extensional drilling hits new high-grade gold trend while infill drilling confirms the near-surface high-grade gold trend ("Figure 2"); New down-dip high-grade gold trend drilled at the limit of the Indicated Resource; 8.8m @ 4.8 g/t Au , 0.2% Cu and 0.8 g/t Ag from 46.7m (CD-194); Peak gold interval graded 70.1 g/t Au over 0.35m from 52.87m; Infill drilling confirms CNWE's shallow high-grade gold trend within the Indicated Resource envelope; 28.4m @ 1.0 g/t Au, 0.2% Cu & 0.4 g/t Ag, from 23.5m (CD-185), including; 4.3m @ 4.6 g/t Au , 0.1% Cu and 0.3 g/t Ag from 37.0m; Extension drilling intercepts further strong zones of copper enriched VMS mineralization within the CNWE ("Figure 3"); Up-dip trend graded: 15.6m @ 0.8% Cu , 0.2 g/t Au & 1.1 g/t Ag from 42m (CD-193); Intervals of 6.0% Cu over 0.4m, 4.4% Cu over 0.35m and 3.8% Cu over 0.8m; and Assays results to be included in the 2023 Resource update. True widths are approximately 80-90% of downhole lengths The separate gold-dominant and copper-enriched trends confirm the zonal aspect of the 1.9km Cabacal VMS deposit. Consistent strong copper zones are generally concentrated in the south-east sector of the deposit, however new copper enriched lenses are emerging within the CNWE. The entire deposit is overprinted by a later stage high grade gold event. Dr Adrian McArthur, CEO and President comments : "Today's results have identified new VMS high-grade gold rich zones and copper-gold layers and are very encouraging as these and future results will contribute to the 2023 resource update. These results have also opened the CNWE for another two corridors where the high-grade gold overprint is present. Having continual strong results at shallow depths support our views that the Cabacal gold-copper deposit offers strong optionality in its early years for high-grade feed for rapid capital payback, backed by a larger resource. The Company plans to update the resource early in the second quarter of 2023, and in parallel continues with data compilation and evaluation of targets to prepare for expanded exploration programs targeting and unlocking the potential of the broader belt." Cabacal's Infill and Extensional Drill Program The infill program of angled holes has been critical in defining high-grade gold trends plunging gently to the south that were previously not detected in the historical program. Whilst much of the CNWE is gold-dominant, the recent detection of higher-grade copper-dominant copper-gold mineralization in CD-193 and CD-171 suggests potential to yet define further higher-grade shoots of stringer copper sulphide mineralization plunging through this part of the VMS system. The Company is focusing its future studies on the resource's higher-grade zone that is hosted within a coherent trend along the deposit's 1.9km strike length. Ongoing drilling has focussed on continuing the closure of the broad-spaced 100m historical drill sections and preparing the project for a full feasibility study. The Company intends to update the mineral resource estimate early in the second quarter of 2023. The Company froze assay results for the Cabacal database in mid-August, to commission a mineral resource estimate which was reported on September 26, 2022. The Company's inaugural mineral resource estimate for Cabacal delivered Indicated Resources hosting 1.1M ounces gold, 168.0 Kt of copper and 2.4M ounces of silver, and Inferred Resources hosting 0.2M ounces gold, 24.5 Kt of copper and 0.4M ounces of silver. The inaugural resource reflected the discovery of significant additional gold-dominant mineralization in the north-west extension during the infill and extensional drilling program, which resulted in a significant increase in known mineralization from historic estimates. The objectives of the ongoing program are: To complete an angled drilling pattern on a 50 x 50m grid to define the ultimate limits of economic mineralization and convert inferred resources to indicated resources; To conduct further closure to a 25 x 25m pattern in select areas to increase confidence in shallow mineralization representing potential targets for higher-grade starter pits in development studies; and To target select drilling into shallow resource areas where prior sampling was limited or absent and verify copper recovery in the oxide zone (currently set to zero). Work continues on compilation and validation of the data for the shallow and high-grade Zn-Cu-Au-Ag Santa Helena deposit which will be targeted as the next resource development project following statutory approvals by the environmental agencies, along with evaluation of a range of high priority gold and copper exploration targets within the Cabacal belt's C2 Trend[3]. Figure 1: Collar map of drill results reported today in relation to resource outline. Figure 2: Gold-rich intersections from the CNWE. Top: CD-194 intersection: 8.8m @ 4.8 g/t Au, 0.2% Cu and 0.8 g/t Ag from 46.7m - results will add a new higher-grade zone to the block model; assays pending from the lower part of the hole. Bottom : CD-185 - resource infill hole returning high-grade mineralization in predicted position on 25m infill section (28.4m @ 1.0 g/t Au, 0.2% Cu & 0.4 g/t Ag, from 23.5m, including: 4.3m @ 4.6 g/t Au, 0.1% Cu and 0.3g/t Ag from 37.0m). Figure 3: Copper-rich intersections from the CNWE. Top : CD-171, returning 13.0m @ 0.9% Cu, 3.4 g/t Au and 5.1 g/t Ag from 50.4m: Bottom : CD-193, returning 15.6m @ 0.8% Cu, 0.2 g/t Au & 1.1 g/t Ag from 42.0m. About Cabacal In November 2020, Meridian signed a Purchase Agreement to acquire 100% ownership certain tenements covering the historical Cabacal and Santa Helena mines and the along strike tenements from two, private, Brazilian companies ("Vendors"). Subsequently, Meridian expanded its land tenure to today's 55km of strike length. Cabacal had two historical, shallow, high-grade selectively mined underground mines that cumulatively produced ~34 million pounds of copper, ~170,108 ounces of gold, ~1,033,532 ounces of silver and ~103 million pounds of zinc via conventional flotation and gravity metallurgical processes. Meridian has defined an open trend of shallow copper-gold mineralization centred on the Cabacal Mine. This mineralization trends Northwest-Southeast, sub-crops along its Northeast limits and dips to the southwest at 26 and is up 90m thick; presenting excellent open-pit geometry and mineral endowment. Meridian is currently focused on infilling drilling along a 2,000m corridor along this trend. Cabacal's base and precious metal-rich mineralization is hosted by volcanogenic type, massive, semi-massive, stringer, and disseminated sulphides within units of deformed metavolcanic-sedimentary rocks ("VMS"). A later stage sub-vertical gold overprint event has emplaced high-grade gold mineralization truncating the dipping VMS layers. It was explored and developed by BP Minerals/Rio-Tinto from 1983 to 1991 and then by the Vendors in the mid 2000's. This historical exploration database includes over 83,000 metres of drilling, extensive regional mapping, soil surveys, metallurgy from production reports and both surface and airborne geophysics. The majority of Cabacal's prospects remain to be tested. Cabacal has excellent infrastructure with access by all-weather road, industrial electricity provided by the adjacent hydroelectric power station supplying this clean energy grid, and local communities provide a large population to draw employees from. Cabacal consists of 1 mining license, 1 mining lease application and 7 exploration claims which total 44,265 hectares. The September 2022 Cabacal mineral resource estimate consists of Indicated resources of 52.9Mt @ 0.6g/t Au, 0.3% Cu and 1.4g/t Ag and Inferred resources of 9.0Mt @ 0.7g/t Au, 0.2% Cu & 1.1g/t Ag (0.3 g/t AuEq cut-off grade), with strong optionality for targeting higher grade mineralization using a 0.5 AuEq cut-off for the future development studies. About Meridian Meridian Mining UK S is focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development activities in Brazil. The Company is currently focused on resource development of the Cabacal VMS copper-gold project, exploration in the Jauru & Araputanga Greenstone belts located in the state of Mato Grosso; exploring the Espigao polymetallic project and the Mirante da Serra manganese project in the State of Rondonia Brazil. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Meridian Mining UK S Dr. Adrian McArthur CEO, President, and Director Executive Chairman Meridian Mining UK S Email: [email protected] Ph: +1 (778) 715-6410 (PST) Notes Sample CBDS23253: 6.2% Cu, 8.4g/t Au & 35.1g/t Ag over 0.7m from 58.85m Sample CBDS23244: 3.8% Cu, 27.7g/t Au & 23.4g/t Ag over 0.3m from 55.35m One sample pending in interval currently awaiting results from 55.6 - 55.95 Sample CBDS26174: 6.0% Cu, 1.2g/t Au & 5.8g/t Ag over 0.4m from 50.95m Sample CBDS26171: 4.4% Cu, 1.1g/t Au & 4.3g/t Ag over 0.35m from 48.85m Sample CBDS26173: 3.8% Cu, 0.7g/t Au & 3.6g/t Ag over 0.8m from 50.15m Sample CBDS26275: 2.5% Cu, 70.1g/t Au & 12.5g/t Ag over 0.35m from 52.87m Drill holes have been drilled HQ through the saprolite and upper bedrock and then reduced to NQ - mineralized intervals represent half HQ or NQ drill core. Samples have been analysed at the accredited SGS laboratory in Belo Horizonte. Gold analyses have been conducted by FAA505 (fire assay of a 50g charge), and base metal analysis by methods ICP40B and ICP40B_S (four acid digest with ICP-OES finish). Visible gold intervals are sampled by metallic screen fire assay method MET150-FAASCR. Samples are held in the Company's secure facilities until dispatched and delivered by staff and commercial couriers to the laboratory. Pulps are retained for umpire testwork, and ultimately returned to the Company for storage. The Company submits a range of quality control samples, including blanks and gold and polymetallic standards supplied by ITAK and OREAS, supplementing laboratory quality control procedures. True widths are approximately 80-90% of downhole lengths and assay figures and intervals rounded to 1 decimal place. Qualified Person Dr Adrian McArthur, B.Sc. Hons, PhD. FAusIMM., CEO and President of Meridian as well as a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release. Stay up to date by subscribing for news alerts here: https://meridianmining.co/subscribe/ Follow Meridian on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeridianMining Further information can be found at www.meridianmining.co FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements for the purposes of applicable securities laws. These statements address future events and conditions and so involve inherent risks and uncertainties, as disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in under the heading "Risk Factors" in Meridian's most recent Annual Information Form filed on www.sedar.com. While these factors and assumptions are considered reasonable by Meridian, in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, Meridian can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Meridian disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or results or otherwise. Please click here for PDF with Tables. [1] Meridian news release September 26, 2022 https://meridianmining.wp2.adnetcms.com/press-releases/ [2] See this news release's Note section for individual sample numbers and intervals [3] Meridian news release September 6, 2022 https://meridianmining.wp2.adnetcms.com/press-releases/ SOURCE: Meridian Mining UK S View source version on accesswire.com: HARVEY, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Atkore Inc. (the Company) (NYSE: ATKR), a leading provider of electrical, safety and infrastructure solutions, today announced that Bill Waltz, President and Chief Executive Officer, and David Johnson, Chief Financial Officer, are scheduled to present at the Baird 2022 Global Industrial Conference on Wednesday, November 9, 2022 at 10:40 am Eastern Time. A webcast link of the live event will be available on the Investor Relations site of atkore.com (https://investors.atkore.com/events-and-presentations). A replay of the webcast will be available on the same website until Tuesday, February 7, 2023. To learn more about Atkore Inc. please visit the company's website at https://investors.atkore.com/. About Atkore Inc. Atkore is forging a future where our employees, customers, suppliers, shareholders and communities are building better together a future focused on serving the customer and powering and protecting the world. With a network of manufacturing and distribution facilities worldwide, Atkore is a leading provider of electrical, safety and infrastructure solutions. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005424/en/ Media Contact: Lisa Winter Vice President Communications 708-225-2453 [email protected] Investor Contact: John Deitzer Vice President, Treasury & Investor Relations 708 225-2124 [email protected] Source: Atkore, Inc. Cassie Jackson, Marcus Davis and Charlotte Ketelaar will fuel the firms growth as it adds new options for advisors NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bento Engine Inc. (Bento), a fintech empowering financial advisors to deliver proactive, comprehensive advice at scale to better serve clients, deepen relationships and convert more prospects, today announced the addition of three key new team members for the roles of Chief Growth Officer, Chief of Staff and Advice Evangelist / Business Development Representative. As a firm that is growing rapidly and launching additional capabilities for advisors, we are excited to welcome these three talented individuals to our company who will help us spread the message far and wide that delivering timely advice related to life milestones is a critical service for investors, said Philipp Hecker, Bentos Chief Executive Officer. Cassie, Marcus and Charlotte all come from diverse and impressive professional backgrounds and will undoubtedly help to ensure our advisors success. Initially launched with six firms in October 2021, Bento continues to grow rapidly; it currently has over 40 firms on platform. These additional team members join Bento as the fintech firm is launching new solutions and ramping up its capabilities to deliver timely, milestone-related advice to clients and their families. Most recently the Senior Director of Enterprise Sales at AdvicePay, Cassie Jackson assumes the role of Chief Growth Officer at Bento. Jackson spent nearly five years at the Alan Moore and Michael Kitces-founded firm where she built and led the sales function. As Bentos Chief Growth Officer, Jackson will lead the marketing and sales functions to raise awareness of Bentos advice engagement model and its superior efficiencies to advisors across the country. Another employee who will help more people to become aware of the life-changing advice that can be delivered to investors quickly and easily by Bento is Marcus Davis, the firms new Advice Evangelist / Business Development Representative. Prior to joining Bento, Davis was Account Executive at Podium and Sales Development Associate at Better. Charlotte Ketelaar has joined Bento as its Chief of Staff. Ketelaar previously spent more than six years at the investment bank of ING on various teams including leveraged finance, private debt funds, and mergers and acquisitions. In addition, she was formerly part of the client management team at Credit Agricole Consumer Finance. With a masters degree in finance and investments from the Rotterdam School of Management, Ketelaar brings her vast financial knowledge and entrepreneurial enthusiasm to Bento. An additional opportunity to offer clients timely advice will be announced next week. For more information about Bento, go to bentoengine.com. About Bento Engine Bento combines powerful advice technology, proprietary content and timing expertise to empower financial advisors to better serve their clients and grow their business. Founded by industry leaders with decades of industry experience in 2021, Bentos mission is to bring advice beyond investing to more American families via their caring financial advisors, so that families thrive and advisor practices grow. Partnering with leading customer relationship management (CRM) tools, including Salesforce, Redtail Technology, Wealthbox, Microsoft Dynamics, XLR8, and Practifi, Bento facilitates client outreach in multiple communication modes and allows advisors to efficiently serve their entire book of business with personalized, impactful advice. To learn more about Bento Engine, visit bentoengine.com, and follow Bento on LinkedIn and Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005285/en/ [email protected] Allie Zendrian 516-581-7202 [email protected] Tom Warburton 347-400-3483 [email protected] Source: Bento Engine MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bright Health Group, Inc. ("Bright Health") (NYSE: BHG) today announced it will report Third Quarter financial results before the financial markets open on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, followed by a conference call at 8:00 AM Eastern Time. To participate via telephone, please pre-register at this link. Upon registration, telephone participants will receive a confirmation email detailing how to join the conference call, including dial-in number, conference number, and personal code that can be used to access the call. A webcast of the earnings call may also be accessed via Bright Healths Investor Relations page at investors.brighthealthgroup.com. The company suggests participants for the conference call dial in at least 15 minutes in advance of the call. A recording of the earnings call and presentation will be available on Bright Healths Investor Relations page following the call. About Bright Health Group Bright Health Group is a technology enabled, value-based healthcare company that organizes and operates networks of affiliate care providers to be successful at managing population risk. We focus on serving aging and underserved consumers that have unmet clinical needs through our Fully Aligned Care Model in Florida, Texas and California, some of the largest markets in healthcare where 26% of the U.S. aging population call home. We believe everyone should have access to personal, affordable, and high-quality healthcare. Our mission is to Make healthcare right. Together. For more information, visit www.brighthealthgroup.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005309/en/ Investor Contact Stephen Hagan [email protected] Media Contact [email protected] Source: Bright Health Group Calix recognizes its visionary, innovative, and dedicated partners who help broadband service providers simplify their businesses, excite their subscribers, and grow their value in their communities SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) paid tribute to their partner community by presenting the 2022 Partner Innovations Awards at ConneXions 2022. The Calix Partner Innovations Awards are given at ConneXions to Calix channel and solution partners who have made extraordinary contributions throughout the year. This years awards honor partners who have simplified service delivery and helped build and grow new broadband businesses. They have secured funding and built data delivery systems. They have improved go-to-market and completed the latest Calix training. Most of all, they have partnered with service providers to accelerate the ability to grow their business, shorten their time-to-market, and delight customers with additional opportunities for growth. The 2022 Partner Innovations Awards winners are: Partner of the Year: GLDS. This award recognizes a partner for their overall business performance, the innovation they have brought to business and technology, and their beneficial impact. By aligning application programming interface portfolios, GLDS radically simplified service delivery across the entire joint solution. They completed the integration in under 45 days and were in the market in record time. This award recognizes a partner for their overall business performance, the innovation they have brought to business and technology, and their beneficial impact. By aligning application programming interface portfolios, GLDS radically simplified service delivery across the entire joint solution. They completed the integration in under 45 days and were in the market in record time. Strategic Partnership Award: Conexon. This award recognizes a partner for their excellence in collaboration and dedication to driving significant outcomes for our mutual customers. Conexon partners with nearly 100 service providers across the country, delivering solutions enabling them to plan, build, launch, and operate successful fiber broadband systems. This award recognizes a partner for their excellence in collaboration and dedication to driving significant outcomes for our mutual customers. Conexon partners with nearly 100 service providers across the country, delivering solutions enabling them to plan, build, launch, and operate successful fiber broadband systems. Partner Impact Award: Vantage Point Solutions. This award recognizes a partner whose accomplishments have had a substantial positive impact on customers and the industry. Thanks to consulting and engineering partner Vantage Point Solutions tireless commitment to education, advocacy, and thought leadership, they secured nearly $3 billion in funding for new network business together with Calix service providers. This award recognizes a partner whose accomplishments have had a substantial positive impact on customers and the industry. Thanks to consulting and engineering partner Vantage Point Solutions tireless commitment to education, advocacy, and thought leadership, they secured nearly $3 billion in funding for new network business together with Calix service providers. Partner Innovation Award: Camvio. This award recognizes a visionary partner for their commitment to delivering innovative solutions that help service providers reimagine the way they run their businesses and serve their subscribers. Camvio built an integration with Command IQ and Calix Cloud that enables the seamless delivery of data between their BSS/OSS solution and the Calix Revenue EDGE platform. Their integration enables them to deliver proof of concepts to customers in less than 48 hours. This award recognizes a visionary partner for their commitment to delivering innovative solutions that help service providers reimagine the way they run their businesses and serve their subscribers. Camvio built an integration with Command and Calix Cloud that enables the seamless delivery of data between their BSS/OSS solution and the Calix Revenue EDGE platform. Their integration enables them to deliver proof of concepts to customers in less than 48 hours. Market Activation Partner Award: Pivot. This award recognizes a partner for delivering innovative marketing campaigns promoting support and services that are designed to accelerate go-to-market and excite subscribers. Leading broadband marketing and CX agency Pivot Group cut customer campaign launch times by 60 percent. They leveraged Calix Market Activation program assets to create new campaigns for service providers launching managed services and networks for new subscribers. This award recognizes a partner for delivering innovative marketing campaigns promoting support and services that are designed to accelerate go-to-market and excite subscribers. Leading broadband marketing and CX agency Pivot Group cut customer campaign launch times by 60 percent. They leveraged Calix Market Activation program assets to create new campaigns for service providers launching managed services and networks for new subscribers. Training Achievement Award: JSI. This award recognizes a partner who has achieved success in training and enablement with the latest technical courses in the Calix Training program. JSIs extraordinary effort led to them being awarded the first Partner Training Achievement Award. They sought out the latest training and completed more classes than any other Calix partner in 2022. Partners are critical to helping our customers grow value for themselves and their communities, said Matt Collins, executive vice president of commercial operations and chief marketing officer at Calix. Innovators that are transforming our industry cannot do it alone. Calix and our customers are blessed to work with such a dedicated and capable set of partners who are committed to the success of our community. These are the innovative, visionary companies leading the way to transform the broadband industry. Thank you to all of our 2022 partner Innovations Award winners for their leadership and their innovation. Visit Calix Partner Innovations Awards to find out more about our innovative partners and how they support Calix service providers. About Calix Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX)Calix cloud and software platforms enable service providers of all types and sizes to innovate and transform. Our customers utilize the real-time data and insights from Calix platforms to simplify their businesses and deliver experiences that excite their subscribers. The resulting growth in subscriber acquisition, loyalty, and revenue creates more value for their businesses and communities. This is the Calix mission: To enable broadband service providers of all sizes to simplify, excite, and grow. This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based upon managements current expectations and are inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this release, and we assume no obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statement to reflect any event or circumstance after the date of this release, except as required by law. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from current expectations based on risks and uncertainties affecting Calixs business. The reader is cautioned not to rely on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Additional information on potential factors that could affect Calixs results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005234/en/ Press Inquiries: John Husson 410-979-1747 [email protected] Investor Inquiries: [email protected] Source: Calix, Inc. In the newly created role, Schultz will oversee all consumer-facing products and services SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, Chegg Inc. (NYSE: CHGG) the leading student-first connected learning platform, announced the promotion of Nathan Schultz to Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately. Schultz has served in various roles at Chegg for 15 years, and was previously President of Learning Services, where he was responsible for all aspects of Cheggs learning tools. Throughout his career, he has successfully overseen Cheggs required materials service, Chegg Study, Writing, and Math, the creation of the Chegg Study Pack, international growth, and the acquisition and integration of new services such as skills accelerator, Thinkful and language learning service, Busuu. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005460/en/ Nathan Schultz, COO Chegg Inc. (Photo: Business Wire) In the newly created role, Schultz will drive the expansion and further integration of Cheggs direct-to-student services including learning services, non-academic support, and career skills training, in order to serve Cheggs growing user base more effectively and efficiently and ensure a superior holistic consumer experience. Nathan has been a transformational leader at our company for many years, and on behalf of myself, his colleagues, and our Board of Directors, we are all delighted he is taking on the role of Chief Operating Officer, said Dan Rosensweig, CEO and President of Chegg. Nathan has spent 15 years at Chegg building products that support student learning. He is an industry leader in how to build effective learning tools, and in his new role he will be able to have more impact across the company in how we can best support students and achieve better learning outcomes, Rosensweig added. I am energized and excited to take on this new role. I could not be more grateful to Dan, the Board of Directors, and my colleagues for their support, said Schultz. We have an incredible opportunity to bring even more value to our large, global, customer base by bringing together learning services, non-academic support, and skills for students into one offering, to impact and help not just our millions of subscribers, but many more around the world. About Chegg Millions of people all around the world Learn with Chegg. Our mission is to improve learning and learning outcomes by putting students first. We support life-long learners starting with their academic journey and extending into their careers. The Chegg platform provides products and services to support learners to help them better understand their academic course materials, and also provides personal and professional development skills training, to help them achieve their learning goals. Chegg is a publicly held company based in Santa Clara, California and trades on the NYSE under the symbol CHGG. For more information, visit www.chegg.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005460/en/ Investor Relations Contact Tracey Ford, [email protected] Media Contact Marc Boxser, [email protected] Source: Chegg TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund (TSX: CHE.UN) will release its results for the three months ended September 30, 2022 on Monday, November 7, 2022 after close of markets. A conference call to review the results will be webcast live on Tuesday, November 8, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. To access the webcast click here. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005772/en/ Rohit Bhardwaj Chief Financial Officer Tel: (416) 496-4177 Ryan Paull Business Development Manager Tel: (973) 515-1831 Source: Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- e.l.f. Beauty (NYSE: ELF) (the Company) today announced that it will hold a webcast to discuss its second quarter fiscal 2023 results on Wednesday, November 2, 2022, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. A press release detailing the Companys results will be issued prior to the webcast, which will be hosted by Tarang Amin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Mandy Fields, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. The webcast will be broadcasted live at https://investor.elfbeauty.com/news-and-events/events. For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, an archived version will be available at the same location. Learn more by visiting https://investor.elfbeauty.com. About e.l.f. Beauty e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. builds brands designed to disrupt industry norms, shape culture and connect communities through positivity, inclusivity and accessibility. Our deep commitment to clean, cruelty-free beauty at an incredible value has fueled the success of our flagship brand e.l.f. Cosmetics since 2004 and driven our portfolio expansion. Today, our multi-brand portfolio includes e.l.f. Cosmetics, e.l.f. SKIN, pioneering clean beauty brand Well People and Keys Soulcare, a groundbreaking lifestyle beauty brand created with Alicia Keys. Our family of brands is available online and across leading beauty, mass market and clean beauty specialty retailers in the U.S., and has a growing international presence. Learn more by visiting https://investor.elfbeauty.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005665/en/ Investor Relations Contacts: Investors: KC Katten [email protected] Media: Melinda Fried [email protected] Source: e.l.f. Beauty DIJON, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: Oncodesign Services (Paris: ALONC) (FR0011766229 - ALONC), a leading Contract Research Organization (CRO) specializing in drug discovery and preclinical services in oncology and immuno-inflammation, and Elyan Partners announce the completion of the acquisition of a majority stake in Oncodesign Services by ERES IV, representing 61.58% of its share capital (the Control Block ), from its main shareholders, including Mr. Philippe Genne, Founder of Oncodesign Services, as well as certain key shareholders and several managers and minority shareholders, following the entry into exclusive negotiations on June 30, 2022. The share price has been increased to 14.42 per share (initially estimated at 14.41 per share) following the detailed audit of the Oncodesign balance sheet as of 31 May 2022. This share price, to which should be added the OPM share value of 0.817 per share1 that was distributed to Oncodesign Services shareholders on 5 October 2022, i.e. a total of 15.237, represents a premium of 66,2% over Oncodesign's share price on 29 June 2022, the day before the announcement of the acquisition of the Control Block (Oncodesign reference price on June 29: 9.17). This acquisition is made in partnership with the management of Oncodesign Services led by Fabrice Viviani and with Mr. Philippe Genne (via his holding company P.C.G.), former CEO and Founder of Oncodesign. Following the acquisition of the Control Block, the acquisition holding company, controlled by ERES IV SLP and advised by Elyan Partners, will file in the next few days, on a mandatory basis, a simplified tender offer project subject to the compliance of the AMF concerning the remaining shares issued by Oncodesign Services at the same price as the one retained for the acquisition of the Control Block, i.e. 14.42 per share. Subject to the AMF's right to object, the firm BM&A has been appointed as an independent expert to prepare a report on the fairness of the financial terms of the public offer in accordance with Article 261-1 of the AMF's General Regulation. This public offer is an attractive opportunity for shareholders who will tender their shares to the public offering. If the conditions are met at the closing of the public offer, the offeror will implement a squeeze-out procedure for the Oncodesign Services shares not tendered to the offer. This acquisition marks the culmination of various steps since 30 June, summarized below: Separation of the Biotech (Oncodesign Precision Medicine - OPM) and Services (Oncodesign Services - ODS) activities of the Oncodesign Group on 31 August 2022. Each entity, leader in its market (Oncodesign Services, leader in Drug Discovery services and OPM, leader in Precision Medicine), has reached a level of maturity that allows it to act autonomously in rapidly changing markets. ODS: With 600 clients in 33 countries and 210 employees worldwide, ODSs Drug Discovery Services are a national leader with a strong presence in France. OPM: The first drug candidate against Parkinson's disease and in partnership with Servier officially entered the clinic phase a few weeks ago, the same laboratory signing a new research partnership with OPM concerning the discovery of new therapeutic targets against pancreatic cancers. A second OPM kinase inhibitor is expected to enter the clinic phase shortly. of the (Oncodesign Precision Medicine - OPM) and (Oncodesign Services - ODS) activities of the Oncodesign Group on 31 August 2022. Each entity, leader in its market (Oncodesign Services, leader in Drug Discovery services and OPM, leader in Precision Medicine), has reached a level of maturity that allows it to act autonomously in rapidly changing markets. Distribution to Oncodesign Services shareholders of one OPM share for each Oncodesign Services share held, on 5 October 2022. to Oncodesign Services shareholders of one OPM share for each Oncodesign Services share held, on 5 October 2022. Concurrent listing of OPM on Euronext Access+ on 5 October 2022, with the historical company Oncodesign becoming Oncodesign Services (ODS). On October 18, 2022, the Board of Directors took note of the resignations of Kamel Besseghir and Catherine Genne from their mandates as directors, and the co-option of Maxence de Vienne and Laure Lamm-Coutard, as well as the resignation of Philippe Genne from his position as Chairman and CEO and member of the Board and the co-option of Jean-Francois Felix. Jean-Francois Felix is appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors and Fabrice Viviani is appointed Chief Executive Officer. Furthermore, the Board of Directors takes note of the resignations of Jan Hoflack and Karine Lignel from their mandates as Deputy Managing Directors. Philippe Genne, Founder of Oncodesign said: We have reached the end of a strategy started in 2020 with the establishment of the Business Units. Over the last few months, we have been able to establish a lasting relationship with Elyan Partners and I am confident that this change will be a development accelerator for Drug Discovery Services that will enable Oncodesign Services to achieve important international commercial successes in the future. A new adventure is beginning, and I am happy to entrust the keys of the Services house to Fabrice Viviani who has demonstrated the full extent of his qualities as the head of the Services BU in recent years. This transaction represents a new stage in the life of Oncodesign Services and is being carried out with a continuity of the management team: Fabrice Viviani, who headed the Services part of Oncodesign, is now CEO of Oncodesign Services (ODS) and Philippe Genne, Founder and former CEO of Oncodesign, remains a significant shareholder via his holding company P.C.G. and becomes Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the holding company that acquired ODS. Fabrice Viviani, CEO of Oncodesign Services, comments: Today marks a major milestone in the history and trajectory of Oncodesign Services, and I am particularly proud to have been able to contribute with Philippe Genne and his management team, as well as with all of my colleagues, to the growth dynamic of Drug Discovery's service activities, which has been underway for the past few years. We have solid foundations to capitalize on this momentum, and I am delighted to have the support of the Elyan Partners team, who shares our ambition and desire to continue to grow significantly in a service sector that is essential to the discovery of innovative drugs, and to become one of the key European players in drug discovery for our partners and clients of today and tomorrow. Jean-Francois Felix, Vincent Manes and Maxence de Vienne, Partners of Elyan, said: We are delighted to have reached this important milestone and confirm our intention to support the management team of Oncodesign Services in the pursuit of organic growth, possibly combined with acquisitions aimed at increasing the company's scientific expertise, access to other customers or other geographies. Elyan Partners was assisted in these acquisition transactions by Bredin Prat as legal counsel and Larka, Deloitte TS, Deloitte Societe d'Avocats and ERM as due diligence advisors. ONCODESIGN was assisted in the separation of its two businesses, Biotech and Services, as well as in the acquisition transaction followed by a public exchange offer for the Services business by Lamy Lexel as legal counsel and Bryan, Garnier & Co as M&A counsel and listing sponsor, as well as by the 8Advisory team in Lyon for the financial and accounting work. ABOUT ONCODESIGN SERVICES Oncodesign Services is a leading CRO specializing in drug discovery and preclinical services in oncology and immuno-inflammation. The company has world-renowned expertise in the preclinical evaluation of proof of concept of new experimental therapies in oncology and immuno-inflammation as well as numerous other skills and expertise in Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaco-imaging, Molecular Radiotherapy (MRT), pharmacokinetics, bio-analysis and humanized models. Based in Dijon, France, in the heart of the university and hospital cluster and within the Paris-Saclay cluster, Oncodesign Services has 227 employees in France, Canada and the United States. More information on the website www.oncodesign-services.com. ABOUT ELYAN PARTNERS Elyan Partners SAS ("Elyan") is a financial investment advisor and partner of Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity. Elyan is the exclusive advisor to the ERES funds and advisor to the Privilege funds of the Edmond de Rothschild Group. Edmond de Rothschild Equity Strategies IV SLP ("ERES IV") invests in medium-sized companies in Europe and North America, primarily in four themes: the biotech ecosystem, e-commerce, financial services and new consumers. Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity is the trade name of the Edmond de Rothschild Group's private equity entities and has over CHF 3.4 billion of assets under management. With an entrepreneurial approach to finance and supported by strong convictions, Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity builds and develops differentiated investment strategies that provide a sustainable response to environmental and social issues. Founded in 1953, the Group had nearly CHF 178 billion in assets under management as of 31 December 2021, 2,500 employees and 29 offices worldwide. ABOUT ERES IV ERES IV is a professional fund managed by Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity (France), authorized by the Autorite des Marches Financiers ("AMF"), advised by Elyan Partners. ERES IV is a fund registered under French law with the AMF, currently being marketed and reserved for professional investors within the meaning of the MiFID Directive. ERES IV may not be authorized for marketing in the reader's country of residence. Any investment in private equity involves specific risks, including the risk of capital loss, discretionary management and liquidity risk. It is the responsibility of each investor to analyze his risk by reading the fund's regulatory documents, which are available free of charge on request from the management company. The mention of certain investments does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell the securities or shares of the companies presented Disclaimer This press release contains certain forward - looking statements and estimates concerning the Companys financial condition, operating results, strategy, projects and future performance and the markets in which it operates. Such forward-looking statements and estimates may be identified by words such as anticipate, believe, can, could, estimate, expect, intend, is designed to, may, might, plan, potential, predict, objective, should, or the negative of these and similar expressions. They incorporate all topics that are not historical facts. Forward looking statements, forecasts and estimates are based on managements current assumptions and assessment of risks, uncertainties and other factors, known and unknown, which were deemed to be reasonable at the time they were made but which may turn out to be incorrect. Events and outcomes are difficult to predict and depend on factors beyond the Companys control. Consequently, the actual results, financial condition, performances and/or achievements of the Company or of the industry may turn out to differ materially from the future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by these statements, forecasts and estimates. Owing to these uncertainties, no representation is made as to the correctness or fairness of these forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates. Furthermore, forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. 1 As determined by independent expert Arthaud & Associes View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221018006339/en/ Oncodesign Investor Relations Tel. : +33 (0)3 80 78 82 60 [email protected] NewCap Investor Relations Mathilde Bohin Tel. : +33 (0)1 44 71 94 95 [email protected] NewCap Media Relations Arthur Rouille Tel. : +33 (0)1 44 71 00 15 [email protected] Source: Oncodesign CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- EnPro Industries, Inc. (NYSE: NPO) will release financial results for the third quarter of 2022 on Tuesday, November 1, at 6:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Eric Vaillancourt, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Milt Childress, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call to review the companys performance at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The conference call will be webcast live and can also be accessed via phone at 1-877-407-0832, using the access code 13714143, approximately 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin. Our third quarter 2022 financial results, a webcast of the conference call, and the accompanying slide presentation will be available on the companys website, http://www.enproindustries.com. About Enpro Enpro is a leading industrial technology company focused on critical applications across many end-markets, including semiconductor, photonics, industrial process, aerospace, food and pharma and life sciences. Enpro is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NPO. For more information about Enpro, visit the companys website at http://www.enproindustries.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005303/en/ Investor Contacts: James Gentile Vice President, Investor Relations Jenny Yee Corporate Access Specialist Phone: 704-731-1527 Email: [email protected] Source: EnPro Industries, Inc. CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Federal Reserve will have a notable presence at this years Money20/20 conference on Oct. 23-26 in Las Vegas, including representation from Governor Christopher Waller of the Federal Reserve Board. Attendees will also have opportunities to learn more about the FedNow Service, a new instant payment service launching mid-year 2023. Highlights of the Federal Reserves engagements during Money20/20 include: Interview with Governor Christopher Waller of the Federal Reserve Board During a 1:1 interview with Governor Christopher Waller of the Federal Reserve Board, Money20/20 attendees will hear his unique perspective on digital innovation, payments evolution and the future of the U.S. financial landscape. Dr. Waller serves on the Federal Reserve Board overseeing implementation of the FedNow Service. Time/Location: Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 10:55-11:15 a.m. PDT at Showtime, Expo Hall, Level 2 During a 1:1 interview with Governor Christopher Waller of the Federal Reserve Board, Money20/20 attendees will hear his unique perspective on digital innovation, payments evolution and the future of the U.S. financial landscape. Dr. Waller serves on the Federal Reserve Board overseeing implementation of the FedNow Service. Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 10:55-11:15 a.m. PDT at Showtime, Expo Hall, Level 2 FedNow Service: Ask the Experts As a new payment rail, the FedNow Service requires planning and execution across many areas, from payment strategy and operations, to technology, risk management, customer service, accounting and more. To answer questions in these areas, members of the FedNow Service team will be available at designated times throughout the conference to hear from and share information with conference attendees. Location/Time: Federal Reserve Suite on Monday, Oct. 24 from 11-2 p.m. PDT and Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 11-12 p.m. PDT As a new payment rail, the FedNow Service requires planning and execution across many areas, from payment strategy and operations, to technology, risk management, customer service, accounting and more. To answer questions in these areas, members of the FedNow Service team will be available at designated times throughout the conference to hear from and share information with conference attendees. Federal Reserve Suite on Monday, Oct. 24 from 11-2 p.m. PDT and Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 11-12 p.m. PDT FedNow Service Live Demos Money20/20 attendees can visit the Federal Reserve booth for live demonstrations of the FedNow Service. Each demo will last approximately 15 minutes. Location/Time: Federal Reserve Booth (#3022) on Monday, Oct. 24 & Tuesday, Oct. 25, taking place at the top of every hour from 9-10 a.m., 12-1 p.m. and 3-4 p.m. PDT In addition, the Federal Reserve will provide information on other payments products and strategic initiatives at booth #3022 and during targeted industry engagements. Media attending can also request time to connect with a senior Federal Reserve executive. For more information, including a detailed agenda and media registration information, visit https://us.money2020.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005856/en/ Media Contacts Amy Bickers Federal Reserve Financial Services (312) 322-8210 [email protected] Mike Adleman Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago (312) 322-2934 [email protected] Source: Federal Reserve Financial Services CHICAGO & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- GE Healthcare and AMC Health today announced a collaboration that allows clinicians to offer Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) as a virtual care solution that extends patient care outside the hospital to the home environment. The combination of GE Healthcares acute patient monitoring capabilities in the hospital setting, along with AMC Healths expertise in RPM solutions leveraging an FDA Class II 510(k)-cleared platform with analytics will extend the continuum of non-acute care for patients after being discharged from the hospital. Pairing AMC Healths Remote Patient Monitoring suite with GE Healthcares clinical monitoring offering will extend care beyond the clinical setting and enable more patients to continue to receive quality care from the comfort of their homes, delivering healthcare without limits, said Ashutosh Banerjee, General Manager Diagnostic Cardiology and Remote Patient Monitoring, GE Healthcare. AMC Health was selected as our partner due to their established and proven success engaging with patients to measure numerous biometrics in the home to extend the continuum of care. Nearly half of all Americans, more than 133 million, live with a chronic disease1 and almost a third of the population lives with multiple chronic conditions, contributing to 90 percent of the 4 trillion-dollar annual national health care expenditure2,3. The management of these costly chronic conditions involves monitoring, surveillance and ensuring the patient adheres to their care plan, to avoid deterioration of their condition or unnecessary, costly hospital admissions. Leveraging AMC Healths RPM platform and data analytics, hospitals, payers, and providers can implement a seamless strategy to coordinate care transitions as well as influence healthy behaviors, and with clinician guidance, also promote self-management of chronic conditions. The companies are collaborating to meet the market need for a scalable RPM solution that applies analytics and risk stratification to identify anticipated patient demand for future services, which could include admissions or readmissions. Coupling AMC Healths broad suite of solutions and GE Healthcares large install base in the US could ultimately bring these RPM solutions to more health care providers and patients. AMC Healths holistic solution allows a clinical team to focus on the whole patient and their unique, often complex health conditions. Utilizing an RPM solution that is tailored to each individual allows for effective treatment, providing patients with access to easy-to-use, convenient monitoring technology outside the hospital walls, while providing near real-time data to their clinician in support of treatment decisions. Home monitoring of biometrics for patients with chronic conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension, for example, provides the care team with episodic data, providing a more complete picture of the patients condition. We are excited about this collaboration with GE Healthcare, said Nesim Bildirici, CEO of AMC Health. AMC Health is proud to align with a global leader in healthcare innovation and add our suite of RPM and Virtual Care Solutions to their extensive portfolio of global health system and hospital monitoring solutions. RPM is complementary to GE Healthcares existing hospital-based virtual care environments of Command Center, MURAL Virtual ICU and Digital Central Monitoring Unit which together offer one of the widest ranges of virtual care solutions available. GE Healthcare and AMC Health ultimately aim to collaborate to integrate this hospital data and home data together into the Edison Health database (part of GE Healthcares Edison Health platform) so that hospitals can monitor their patients post discharge, from home, as well. It will provide clinicians with longitudinal data for more complete information when decision making related to patient health. About AMC Health: Founded in 2002, AMC Healths Virtual Care and Remote Patient Monitoring suite of solutions leverages a superior analytics platform and a simple user interface which integrates easily into clinical workflows. AMC Healths advanced, real-time, analytics-driven, virtual care solutions have driven outstanding and measurable outcomes to hundreds of thousands of patients across the healthcare continuum, including payers, provider systems and governmental agencies. Its FDA Class II 510(k)-cleared, clinical decision support platform is combined with end-to-end, clinical and support RPM services that enable healthcare organizations to confidently extend their services beyond the four walls of hospital and ambulatory clinic settings. AMC Health's unparalleled corpus of peer-reviewed, published studies highlight clinical improvements for conditions including heart failure, diabetes, and hypertension, resulting in reductions in hospital admissions and substantial financial returns on investment. For more information, visit www.amchealth.com. About GE Healthcare: GE Healthcare is the $17.7 billion healthcare business of GE (NYSE: GE). As a leading global medical technology, pharmaceutical diagnostics and digital solutions innovator, GE Healthcare enables clinicians to make faster, more informed decisions through intelligent devices, data analytics, applications and services, supported by its Edison intelligence platform. With over 100 years of healthcare industry experience and around 48,000 employees globally, the company operates at the center of an ecosystem working toward precision health, digitizing healthcare, helping drive productivity and improve outcomes for patients, providers, health systems and researchers around the world. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Insights, or visit our website www.gehealthcare.com for more information. ____________________ 1 Spyglass report Healthcare without Bounds Trends in Remote Patient Monitoring October 2019 2 Buttorff C, Ruder T, Bauman M. Multiple Chronic Conditions in the United States [PDF -393kb] Santa Monica, CA: Rand Corp.; 2017 3 National Health Expenditure Data: Historical. Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services. December 15, 2021. Accessed May 5, 2022. https://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-Trends-and-Reports/NationalHealthExpendData/NationalHealthAccountsHistorical View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005417/en/ Mari Mescolotto Chief Marketing Officer AMC Health [email protected] (561) 245-0511 Jennifer Purdue Global Communications Director, Patient Care Solutions GE Healthcare [email protected] (267) 593-9735 Source: GE Healthcare and AMC Health Acquisition expands Vacos services across California and Texas NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Vaco, a talent solutions firm, has acquired BVOH, a provider of consulting services, permanent placement, and executive search. BVOH specializes in placing finance and accounting talent across many industries including technology, life sciences, asset management and consumer products. Leslie Boudreaux, managing partner, and three partners founded BVOH in 2004. Leslie will remain in her role as managing partner, and she, along with all current BVOH partners and approximately 35 employees in San Francisco and Austin, will continue to deliver customized solutions for their clients. For the last seven years, ClearlyRated has ranked BVOH best in class for client and talent satisfaction. The San Francisco Business Times has named BVOH as one of the Top 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies in the Bay Area and also cited it as one of the 100 Largest Women Owned Businesses. Leslie, her fellow partners, and the entire team at BVOH have built an amazing business over the last 18 years. Their expertise in providing finance and accounting solutions to world-class clients will provide a perfect complement to Vaco's strong presence in the Bay Area and will plant a flag for Vaco in Austin, said Brian Waller, Vaco chief executive officer and co-founder. With more than 40 physical locations across three countries, Vaco currently has four locations in California (San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego) and three in Texas (Houston, Dallas and San Antonio). Since founding BVOH, we have worked tirelessly to create a best-in-class client and candidate experience as well as an environment where our teams love what they do and where they do it, said Leslie Boudreaux, BVOH managing partner. Vaco provides a perfect platform to amplify that culture and create new opportunities for success for both our employees and our clients. I am thrilled with this exciting next phase of our business and cant wait to see what the future holds for BVOH as a part of the Vaco family. About Vaco: With expertise in accounting and finance, technology, operations, supply chain management, and governance, risk and compliance, Vaco encompasses a unique family of brands that provides end-to-end enterprise solutions: Focus Search Partners, a retained executive search practice; MorganFranklin Consulting, a finance, technology and business advisory firm; Pivot Point Consulting, a Best in KLAS healthcare IT consulting leader; and Vaco, a talent solutions company providing strategic staffing and direct-hire solutions. Since its founding in 2002, the company has grown to serve more than 12,000 clients across the globe with 10,000 employees. In addition to being named to Inc. magazines list of the fastest-growing private companies for the past 16 years, Vaco was also named to Forbes 2018-2021 lists of Americas Best Recruiting Firms. For more information, visit www.vaco.com. About BVOH: Founded in 2004, BVOH is a boutique search and consulting firm which provides permanent placement, executive search, and consulting services specializing in accounting and finance, particularly at the senior and executive levels. BVOH works across many industries including technology, life sciences, asset management and consumer products. With locations in the San Francisco Bay Area and Austin, Texas, the company serves the most dynamic companies, as success comes from years of experience in the industry, a genuine understanding of the needs of clients and a sincere desire to build lasting relationships. For the last seven years, BVOH has been awarded by ClearlyRateds as best in class for client and talent satisfaction. The San Francisco Business Times has named BVOH as one of the Top 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies in the Bay Area, and also as one of the 100 Largest Women Owned Businesses. www.bvoh.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221018005101/en/ Media Contact: Berry Brady, [email protected], 703.609.6643 Vaco Contact: Brittney Kowalski, [email protected], 603-504-2024 Source: Vaco WATSONVILLE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Granite Construction Incorporated (NYSE: GVA) will release third quarter financial results on Thursday, October 27, 2022, before the market opens. The Company will host an investor conference call at 8:00 a.m. PT, Thursday, October 27, 2022. The Company invites investors to listen to a live audio webcast of the investor conference call on its Investor Relations website, investor.graniteconstruction.com. The investor conference call will also be available by calling 1-877-328-5503; international callers may dial 1-412-317-5472. An archive of the webcast will be available on Granites Investor Relations website approximately one hour after the call. A replay will be available after the live call through November 3, 2022, by calling 1-877-344-7529, replay access code 4451949; international callers may dial 1-412-317-0088. About Granite Granite is Americas Infrastructure Company. Incorporated since 1922, Granite (NYSE: GVA) is one of the largest diversified construction and construction materials companies in the United States as well as a full-suite civil construction provider. Granites Code of Conduct and strong Core Values guide the Company and its employees to uphold the highest ethical standards. Granite is an industry leader in safety and an award-winning firm in quality and sustainability. For more information, visit the Granite website, and connect with Granite on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005791/en/ Granite Construction Incorporated Investors Wenjun Xu, 831-761-7861 Media Erin Kuhlman, 831-768-4111 Source: Granite Construction Incorporated The leading enterprise automation platform was adopted by sales, finance, and legal teams to help improve daily tasks and become more efficient MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Workato, the leading enterprise automation platform, is partnering with Grindr, the world's largest social networking app for gay, bi, trans, and queer people, to help integrate a number of apps across the sales, finance, and legal teams, as well as help streamline the companys campaign process with advertisers. The sales team at Grindr needed to find a new integration platform where they could easily build new solutions that had a friendly and intuitive user interface. Initially brought on to help the sales team manage multiple apps and streamline processes, Workato was eventually adopted by other departments across Grindr. The finance team at Grindr brought Workato on to help with advertiser invoicing and vendor payments. With Workatos help, the finance team was able to find an easier way to bridge the gap between two vendor apps to make sending out and processing invoices an easier daily task. Grindrs legal department utilizes Workato to streamline the vendor process and create a more efficient start-to-finish process for its team. Now, if a contract needs to be updated with new terms and conditions or amended, Workato helps to decrease the time spent on updating contracts. Seeing one of the worlds largest social networking platforms constantly looking for ways to evolve its processes to help create efficiencies for both internal teams and vendors is another great example of what the power of automation can do. With Workatos platform, Grindr has been able to focus the bulk of their time on their continued digital transformation, said Amanda Cheong, Customer Intelligence and Initiatives at Workato. All it takes is one person to see the true value and power that Workato can bring to a company, and in Grindrs case how multiple departments can benefit from a more modernized ad campaign management process. Were excited to be partnering with Grindr, a leader in bringing people from all around the world together in a safe and secure environment. When it came to implementing Workato to assist with the companys ad campaign management, the team at Grindr was able to spend more time on the creative aspect of each campaign rather than the tactical implementation. Workato allows the team to spend less time figuring out a campaign process and more time working with the advertisers to ensure efficiency on all ends. Because a number of different departments are involved in the lifecycle of a campaign, Workato provided less time tracking down invoices for the legal team and decreased the number of conflicting ads going live at the same time. Being a team of one, I needed not only to find a solution fast, but I needed one that could be applied across the company, helping efficiencies across the board. With Workato, I feel support from their engineering team and feel empowered to help other teams at Grindr to tap into their automation potential, said Alina Lebron, Sales Systems Manager at Grindr. From the approachable UI to the low-code capabilities, Workato has helped our team go above and beyond with processes both internally and externally. Workato has given us the opportunity to look at daily processes in a different way and continues to push us further into our digital transformation. To learn more about Workatos platform and the future of enterprise automation, visit www.workato.com. About Grindr With roughly 11 million monthly active users in virtually every country in the world, Grindr has grown to become a fundamental part of the queer community since its launch in 2009. The company continues to expand its ecosystem to enable gay, bi, trans and queer people to connect, express themselves, and discover the world around them. Grindr is headquartered in West Hollywood, California. The Grindr app is available on the App Store and Google Play. About Workato The leader in enterprise automation, Workato helps organizations work faster and smarter without compromising security and governance. Built for Business and IT users, Workato is trusted by over 17,000 of the world's top brands, including Broadcom, Intuit, and Box. Headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., Workato is backed by Altimeter Capital, Battery Ventures, Insight Venture Partners, Tiger Global, and Redpoint Ventures. For more information, visit workato.com or connect with us on social media: View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019006013/en/ Joseph Hollister Communications Manager [email protected] Source: Workato GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Gwynedd Mercy University has named Heather L. Meier, CPA as its next Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer. James Trusdell, MBA who has held the Vice President for Finance and Administration and CFO role since March 2020 will transition to a newly created Chief Operations Officer (COO) role at the University. Both will assume their new roles on November 9. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005683/en/ Heather L. Meier, CPA, Gwynedd Mercy University's new Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer. (Photo: Business Wire) Meier brings many years of experience as a financial leader in higher education to the position. She comes to GMercyU from Georgian Court University, where she holds the same role. Prior to her time at GCU, Meier served as Controller and Acting Vice President for Finance at Montgomery County Community College for more than six years. She also has held finance roles at other local universities, including La Salle University, Jefferson University (formerly PhilaU) and Villanova University. We are delighted to have such an experienced financial leader join our Gwynedd Mercy University leadership team at a time of significant change and opportunity, said University President Deanne H. DEmilio, JD. Heathers strategic financial planning knowledge and expertise will be invaluable as we pursue a number of exciting initiatives outlined in the Universitys Strategic Plan, including the construction of the Frances M. Maguire Healthcare Innovation Campus and other campus improvements, the addition of new academic programs, and the launch of a Comprehensive Campaign in connection with the Universitys 75th Anniversary. I am confident that she and Jim Trusdell, along with the other members of the leadership team, will position the University for the future. Meier, who earned her bachelors degree from a private college in Maryland, similar in size to GMercyU, looks forward to working at her hometown University. I am especially drawn to Gwynedd Mercy Universitys Mission and Core Values, and I cant think of a better time to join the GMercyU community, said Meier. I am excited to take the lead in the strategic financial planning and analysis that will support the University as it begins the next 75 years of its history. DEmilio made the decision to split the role of VP for Finance and Administration and CFO into two positions in July based on the changing needs of the University, which has embarked on a number of significant initiatives in recent years to achieve its vision of becoming the Catholic University leader in professional and healthcare education. Meier will oversee financial planning and performance, including all accounting functions, forecasting, risk assessment and management, payroll and auxiliary services. Trusdell will focus his attention on business operations, including the multiple planned campus improvement and construction projects in alignment with a newly completed facilities master plan and the finalization of the sale of 15 acres of campus to St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. He also will oversee the Universitys Human Resources, Plant Services and Information Technology departments. Meier earned her Master of Business Administration in Strategic Management from Villanova University, and her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Economics, with a minor in Accounting from McDaniel College. She is a Certified Public Accountant. Gwynedd Mercy University prepares students to become top professionals in the fields of nursing and other health professions, education, business, and the arts and sciences. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1948, Gwynedd Mercy University is a co-educational institution offering more than 40 bachelors, masters, and associate degree programs as well as two doctoral programs on a full- and part-time basis. The Universitys campus is situated on 160 private acres on Sumneytown Pike between routes 309 and 202 in Gwynedd Valley, Montgomery County. The university also offers online and accelerated undergraduate and graduate programs for working professionals and career-changers. Learn more at gmercyu.edu, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005683/en/ Media: Lauren Yancer [email protected] 215-646-7300, ext. 21709 Source: Gwynedd Mercy University Urges the Board to Abandon Capricorns Proposed Merger with NewMed and Pursue a Thoughtful Liquidation of the Companys Assets Estimates That an Orderly Liquidation Would Deliver a 43% Premium to Capricorns Current Share Price and 38% Premium to the NewMed Deal NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Irenic Capital Management, L.P. (together with its affiliates, Irenic or we) today announced that it has sent the below letter to the Board of Directors of Capricorn Energy plc (LSE: CNE.L). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005935/en/ *** October 19, 2022 Capricorn Energy plc 50 Lothian Road Edinburgh EH3 9BY United Kingdom Attn: The Board of Directors Dear Members of the Board: Re: Proposed All-Share Combination of Capricorn Energy plc with NewMed Energy Limited Partnership Irenic Capital Management, L.P. (together with its affiliates, Irenic or we) is a meaningful shareholder of Capricorn Energy plc (the Company or Capricorn), with an approximately 1.5% stake in the Company. We write to you today to share our views on the Companys recently announced merger (the Proposed Merger) with NewMed Energy Limited Partnership (NewMed). We welcome the Boards decision to embrace the overwhelming logic of shareholder demands to withdraw from the previously considered combination with Tullow Oil plc (Tullow). However, its simultaneous pivot to pursue the Proposed Merger instead is equally unwise and disappointing. We believe that the terms of the Proposed Merger remain profoundly unfavorable to Capricorn shareholders. Like the Tullow transaction, the Proposed Merger materially undervalues Capricorns collection of liquid or otherwise easily monetizable assets. Based on readily available markers of value for the majority of the Companys assetsincluding its large net cash position, several near-term contractual earn-outs that will mostly turn to cash within the next year, and its sole production asset in Egyptwe believe the Company could realize almost 40% of incremental value through a straight liquidation relative to the Proposed Merger. The plain numerical logic of the argument is clear: at current market prices, through the Proposed Merger, Capricorn shareholders are set to receive total consideration of GBp 254 in the form of (i) a pre-closing dividend of GBp 165 and (ii) a stake in the newly combined entity worth just GBp 88. By contrast, a straightforward liquidation would generate GBp 350 to Capricorn shareholders. While the Proposed Merger represents a relative improvement to the terms contemplated in the now abandoned Tullow Scheme and the envisaged pre-close cash dividend is a step in the right direction, it will still result in Capricorn shareholders receiving grossly inadequate and riskier value for the assets they contribute. Moreover, the Company has yet to present shareholders with any proposal that represents superior value relative to the straightforward liquidation value we have assessed. This is despite months of efforts to effect one. For these reasons, we urge the Board to abandon the Proposed Merger and proceed with a liquidation of the Companys assets in orderly fashion. We have been involved in many similar situations across various industries and appreciate that an orderly wind-down must be done thoughtfully. Maximizing firm value against the backdrop of an imminent ceasing of operations requires considerable discipline. We are writing this letter in hopes of fostering a constructive dialogue with Capricorns management and Board where we can work together to adopt a thoughtful liquidation strategy. About Irenic Irenic is a research-intensive firm that engages in substantial due diligence. We make only a small number of investments such that when we do, we have high conviction in our conclusions. Our work on Capricorn has been extensive and exhaustive. In assessing the opportunities available to the Company, we utilized a full spectrum of internal resources and enlisted investment bankers, lawyers, and industry executives to further inform our views. Irenic is named deliberately. The word irenic is an adjective that describes conduct favoring, conducive to, or operating toward peace, moderation, or conciliation. We will do our utmost to embody those tenets and be good partners to you as we work together to safeguard and realize value at Capricorn. The Proposed Merger does not Maximize Value for Capricorn Shareholders We estimate Capricorns Net Asset Value (NAV) to be GBp 350 per share. Most of this NAV is currently cash (roughly GBp 216representing ~90% of the Companys current share price) and is, therefore, subject to limited risk. Capricorns UK earn-out is deeply in-the-money and its Egyptian assets were acquired only recently in a competitive process at market-clearing prices. Moreover, Brent prices have climbed by close to 20% since the acquisition closed in September 2021 (and significantly more since the acquisition price was agreed in March 2021) implying material value should have accreted to the assets since the acquisition. These two componentsearn-outs and Egyptrepresent an incremental GBp 122 of per-share NAV in present value terms.1 Capricorns NAV is not only well in excess of its current share price, but also highly certain and reasonably realizablethe cash is in the bank, the earn-outs are contractual, and its Egypt asset was only recently acquired. In contrast, the Proposed Merger effectively asks that Capricorn shareholders give up a meaningful chunk of its cash (~GBp 50GBp 216 less the GBp 165 proposed dividend), ~75% of its earn-outs, and ~75% of the Egypt asset in exchange for just ~10% of the newly combined company. While we regard NewMeds assets as more attractive than Tullows, their value remains highly uncertain and subject to a number of binary outcomes related to several key development stage expansions. Moreover, even after the combination, the combined equity will be significantly geared and investment research analysts believe NewMed to be currently trading at a significant premium to its NAV2, underscoring the risk embedded in the share consideration of the offera risk that shareholders will not need to bear in a straightforward liquidation process. Beyond the uneconomical exchange ratio implied by the reverse merger and risky nature of NewMeds assets, the Proposed Merger appears to have limited strategic rationale; except, of course, to effectively provide NewMeda tightly-held, Israel-listed partnershipwith a premium listing on the LSE. The combination is set to produce minimal financial synergies of which Capricorn shareholders would only receive a diminished pro-rata share of ~10%. In fact, the companies did not once include reference to any synergies in their recommendation document published on September 28, 2022. While the Proposed Merger is touted as creating a MENA Gas and Energy Champion, we do not see strategic merit in combining gas-rich onshore assets in Egypt with offshore gas assets in Israel. These are different production technologies, regulatory regimes, and geopolitical risk profiles; and unlike the prior transaction, there are no meaningful financial synergies from G&A savings. By contrast, the liquidation process we propose effectively creates full G&A reduction (synergies) which fully accretes to Capricorn shareholders and provides meaningful upside. Below we outline our more detailed considerations on Capricorns value buckets: Cash As of June 30, 2022, the Company had $809 million in gross cash on its balance sheet representing GBp 216 at the current exchange rate.3 Earn Outs Resulting from various historical asset transactions, Capricorn currently has three contractual earn-outs in-place. Its UK earn-out (related to the previously sold North Sea assets) represents ~$197 million of present value to be earned over the next four years at the current Brent forward curve. Capricorn is further set to receive a lump-sum payment upon achievement of first oil from its former Senegal asset (disposed to Woodside in December 2020). Woodside has recently been upbeat to the market about their expectation for first oil in 2023 and we believe this to be a reasonable base case. This results in a present value of ~$89 million. Finally, Capricorn is set to make earn-out payments to Shell related to its Egypt asset which, based on current Brent strip pricing, represent ~$65 million of value leakage. All told, Capricorns contractual arrangements have a net present value of ~$221 million (or GBp 59). Egypt Assets As laid out above, Capricorn acquired the asset just one year ago, paying $323 million upfront for its share (with its JV partner Cheiron acquiring the remaining 50%) from Shell in Egypts Western Desert (the Egypt Assets). It is our understanding that Capricorn was one of many bidders for these assets and that interest in the assets from other auction participants remains substantial. Moreover, the price of Brent is greater today by ~20%, and a good part of this incremental value (net of earn-out) will accrue to Capricorn as owner of the Egypt Assets. For reference, the Egypt Assets generated gross profits of $105 million in 1H22 alone and are tracking to generate FY22 gross profits of >$150 million. A sale process today would be stronger because potential bidders are financially healthier. Much of the prior sales process took place during the depths of COVID and the period thereafter (it was launched in November of 2019 and a deal was announced in March 2021) when many E&P companies otherwise potentially interested in acquiring the Egypt Assets were focused on fortifying their balance sheets rather than making acquisitions. Today, many E&Ps are flush with cash with many in the process of turning debt-free over the coming quarters. Third, since Capricorn completed the acquisition, a neighboring concession has renegotiated a better economic arrangement with the Egyptian government and there is higher potential that Capricorn (or a future alternative owner of these assets) can achieve the same. As you are doubtlessly aware, the Egyptian government recently ratified a new modernized production sharing contract (PSC) with APA Corporation (Apache), which operates substantial energy assets in the country. The agreement create[s] a single cost recovery pool, facilitate[s] increased recovery of prior investment, adjust[s] cost recovery and production sharing percentages, and refresh[es] the term length of both exploration and development leases.4 In short, the new PSC represents substantial economic benefit to Apache and reflects the Egyptian governments desire to facilitate increased investment in the face of declining domestic production. While no two PSCs are alike, our work suggests that the asset owner should be able to negotiate a similarly PSC modernization, which would meaningfully enhance value.5 We ascribe a total value of $425 million to the Egypt Assets based on current Brent strip pricing and the contracted natural gas offtake and net the existing non-recourse debt balance of $178 million, representing GBp 63 (inclusive of 2H22 cash flows). Exploration Assets We attribute GBp 10 to these assets at present. While value for the Companys exploration assets is difficult to ascertain, we deem an aggregate value of GBp 10 per share (or $25 million) conservative, especially as netted with the full capex guidance for the assets (see below). There are some recent disappointments amongst Capricorns exploration assets (incl. its own offshore Israel and UK licenses) but likely some non-trivial value in its Suriname, Mauritania, and Mexico assets with drilling to commence in 4Q22. Capex Management guidance for FY22 is for $175-$195 million in total capex of which Capricorn has spent ~$85 million in 1H22 already. We net out the full remaining ~$100 million to the mid-point of this guidance for the remainder of FY22, representing value leakage of GBp 27 (represented in both Egypt and exploration asset values above). Net Working Capital As of 1H22, Capricorn had a net working capital balance of $74 million, including significant accounts receivables related to its Egypt Assets of $114 million that have been building for the last six months. As many operators have done for decades, we expect the Company to receive these payments implying the full benefit of this net working capital should accrue to shareholders over time, representing GBp 20 in total. Other Leakage While we regard the timeline for an orderly liquidation of Capricorns assets as a rather straightforward endeavor given a set of highly liquid assets, we embed a $50 million G&A budget as leakage to achieve this process as well as ~$20 million of costs and fees to liquidate all assets (assuming ~4% of gross proceeds). This represents total additional value leakage of GBp 18. Conclusion The Proposed Mergermuch like the previously contemplated Schemeseeks to compel Capricorn shareholders to contribute their high-quality assets at a bargain valuation to a combined company, this time using an upfront cash payment as a carrot and a lower acceptance threshold as a stick. The alternative is handing to shareholders the straightforward value of the assets they are due. We are yet to find a single shareholder that believes Capricorn has a mandate to grow. What shareholders seek is a course of action that maximizes valuewhether that course entails growth or entails shrinking is of no consequence. Given shareholders reaction to the Tullow deal, the Board should know this. While the Proposed Merger looks improved relative to the Tullow transaction, it is still not the value maximizing path and we have little doubt Capricorn shareholders remain opposed. At this point further efforts to identify yet another proposed merger do not make sense. The fact that no superior proposal beyond the Proposed Merger has emerged after months of searching speaks a plain and simple language: the Board must act in the fiduciary duty of its shareholders and liquidate the assets. We appreciate your consideration and look forward to engaging with the Board on our proposal over the coming weeks. Sincerely, Adam Katz Andy Dodge Justus Goettemann Co-Founder, Chief Investment Officer Co-Founder, Director of Research Senior Analyst *** About Irenic Irenic Capital Management, L.P. is an investment management firm founded by Adam Katz and Andy Dodge. Based in New York City, Irenic works collaboratively with publicly traded companies to ensure operating activities, capital deployment and management incentives are all aligned to create value for the company and its owners. For more information about Irenic, please visit www.irenicmgmt.com. ________________ 1 In addition, Irenic is of the view that there is material incremental upside potential in the Egypt asset based on the ability to renegotiate cost-sharing terms with the Egyptian government. The local authorities have recently improved several operators terms to incent incremental capital investment into the countrys hydrocarbon production. If Capricorn were to realize similar improvements, it could result in GBp 100 of upside. However, given uncertainty around such renegotiations we do not ascribe any immediate value to a renegotiation now. It is likely that a different ownerone with experience in operating Egypt and other assets on the groundwould be willing to ascribe some value to this renegotiation when looking at a potential purchase of the Egypt assets. 2 Barclays, the sole NewMed broker, most recently attributed ILs 770 of NAV per share to NewMeds assets versus its current share price of ILs 825. 3 We commend the companys decision to already return a significant portion of its $1,056 million Indian tax refund to shareholders by means of its April 2022 tender offer representing more than $500 million. 4 APA Corporation Announces Egyptian Parliaments Approval of Modernized Production Sharing Contract, November 30, 2021, https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2021/11/30/2343505/0/en/APA-Corporation-Announces-Egyptian-Parliament-s-Approval-of-Modernized-Production-Sharing-Contract.html. 5 In addition to our asset-level NAV that is based on the value at year-end 2022, we believe Capricorn will generate well-level free cash flow of at least $160 million in 2022. From this well-level free cash flow, we deduct $130 million for managements guided capital expenditures in 2022. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005935/en/ For Investors: Irenic Capital Management [email protected] For Media: Longacre Square Partners Greg Marose / Charlotte Kiaie, 646-386-0091 [email protected] Source: Irenic Capital Management, L.P. Box enabled all Ministry of the Environments staff to work remotely, while also enhancing productivity and security REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Box, Inc. (NYSE: BOX), the leading Content Cloud, today announced a renewed partnership with Japans Ministry of the Environment. With Box, the Ministry of the Environment will digitize and streamline administrative operations contributing to improved productivity and better public services by transforming the work styles of employees. The Ministry of the Environment will also benefit from Boxs advanced security features. In accordance with the "Declaration for the Creation of the World's Most Advanced IT Nation and the Basic Plan for the Promotion of Public-Private Data Utilization, the Ministry of the Environment was previously operating a network system to share information among staff and within the organization. This system served to digitize and streamline administrative operations. The Ministry of the Environment has also worked to strengthen the overall security of this network system. To this end, the Ministry has defined the essential operations that must be maintained within the organization as emergency priority operations, and the fundamental operations necessary to execute administration and secure the work environment. In line with the renewal of the Ministry's network system, the Ministry started using the Box as a platform to enable all employees to collaborate and perform their work safely and securely, whether they are working in office, remotely, or working at home with the "COVID-19 pandemic", in accordance with the cloud-by-default policy. Box enables the Ministry to satisfy the two conflicting elements of security and operational efficiency more than ever before. With Box, employees are now able to manage the organization's content centrally with unlimited storage capacity and access (view, edit, share, etc.) the content they need from home or the office. This promotes work style reform and enables the Ministrys workforce to be more productive and focused. In terms of information security, in addition to countermeasures against viruses and malware, the use of Box also strengthens the Ministrys security posture and defense against serious issues such as internal fraud or information leaks. Box is also being used as a foundation for the electronic management and compliance-related retention of administrative documents. With the adoption of Box, information security and digital management of administrative documents have been further enhanced. As a result of these work style reforms, it is expected that the Ministrys employees are able to focus more on higher-value work, improving productivity, promoting environmental administration, providing better administrative services and service to the public. About Box Box (NYSE: BOX) is the leading Content Cloud, a single platform that empowers organizations to manage the entire content lifecycle, work securely from anywhere, and integrate across best-of-breed apps. Founded in 2005, Box simplifies work for leading global organizations, including AstraZeneca, JLL, Morgan Stanley, and Nationwide. Box is headquartered in Redwood City, CA, with offices across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Visit box.com to learn more. And visit box.org to learn more about how Box empowers nonprofits to fulfill their missions. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221018006278/en/ Investors: Cynthia Hiponia / Elaine Gaudioso +1 650-209-3463 [email protected] Media: Nobumasa Takeuchi [email protected] Source: Box, Inc. Homebuilder recognized for a record 12th consecutive year, further demonstrating the companys leadership position in building to EPAs highest water-efficiency standards LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- KB Home (NYSE: KBH) today announced that its commitment to building exceptionally water-efficient homes has again been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a record 12th consecutive year. KB Home is the first and only homebuilder to receive the WaterSense Sustained Excellence Award, the highest level of recognition given by EPAs WaterSense program. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005352/en/ KB Home wins 2022 WaterSense Sustained Excellence Award, the only national homebuilder to receive this prestigious honor. (Photo: Business Wire) Our award-winning partners helped people protect this precious resource by promoting WaterSense labeled products and water-efficient behaviors, said Veronica Blette, Chief, U.S. EPA WaterSense Branch. Saving water is particularly critical in areas impacted by drought, and KB Homes recent announcement about building all new homes in drought-stricken Arizona, California and Nevada to the EPAs highest water efficiency standards further demonstrates the homebuilders commitment to the environment and their customers. WaterSense, a voluntary partnership program sponsored by EPA, is both a label for water-efficient products and homes and a resource for helping consumers learn ways to save water. Since the program started in 2006, WaterSense labeled products have helped consumers and businesses save 6.4 trillion gallons of water enough water to supply all households in the United States with water for eight months. KB Home is honored to be recognized by EPA for a record 12th consecutive year. KB Home was the first national builder to participate in the WaterSense program because we understood it would help our customers lower the total cost of homeownership and save this precious natural resource, said Jeffrey Mezger, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of KB Home. This year we expanded our industry-leading commitment to water conservation as we began building all new homes in our Arizona, California and Nevada communities to EPAs WaterSense standards. KB Home continues to champion the important role EPAs WaterSense program plays in helping to lower its buyers monthly utility costs and minimize their carbon footprint and energy usage. To date, KB Home has built over 19,000 WaterSense labeled and Water Smart homes more than any other homebuilder and installed over one million WaterSense labeled fixtures. The company estimates that its homes conserve approximately 1.7 billion gallons of water annually. More recently, the homebuilder announced that every KB home built in its future Arizona, California and Nevada communities will be WaterSense labeled, further helping homeowners in some of the most drought-stricken areas of the country. In addition to being a leader in building water-efficient homes, KB Home is the #1 energy-efficient national homebuilder and has built over 165,000 ENERGY STAR certified new homes, more than any other builder, delivering a level of advanced energy efficiency met by fewer than 10% of new homes built in America. The homebuilder goes beyond EPA requirements by ensuring that every ENERGY STAR certified KB home has been tested and verified by a third-party inspector to meet EPAs strict certification standards. ENERGY STAR certified homes are, on average, up to 20% more efficient than homes constructed to current building codes, help lower the cost of ownership and are designed to be healthier, more comfortable and better for the environment than new homes without certification. KB Home is the only national builder to have earned awards under all of EPAs homebuilder programs, including ENERGY STAR, WaterSense and Indoor airPLUS, which focuses on indoor air quality. The companys sustainability leadership was recognized by Newsweek, with the company being the only homebuilder to be named to the publications prestigious list of Americas Most Responsible Companies two years in a row. For more information on KB Homes sustainability initiatives and how the company is building better homes, better communities and a better future, visit kbhome.com/sustainability. For more information on WaterSense, visit www.epa.gov/watersense. About KB Home KB Home is one of the largest and most recognized homebuilders in the United States and has built over 655,000 quality homes in our more than 65-year history. Today, KB Home operates in 47 markets from coast to coast. What sets KB Home apart is the exceptional personalization we offer our homebuyers from those buying their first home to experienced buyers allowing them to make their home uniquely their own, at a price that fits their budget. As the leader in energy-efficient homebuilding, KB Home was the first builder to make every home it builds ENERGY STAR certified, a standard of energy performance achieved by fewer than 10% of new homes in America and has built more ENERGY STAR certified homes than any other builder. An energy-efficient KB home helps lower the cost of ownership and is designed to be healthier, more comfortable and better for the environment than new homes without certification. We build strong, personal relationships with our customers, so they have a real partner in the homebuying process. As a result, we have the distinction of being the #1 customer-ranked national homebuilder in third-party buyer satisfaction surveys. Learn more about how we build homes built on relationships by visiting kbhome.com. About WaterSense WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by EPA, seeks to protect the future of our nation's water supply by offering consumers and businesses simple ways to use less water with water-efficient products, homes and services. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005352/en/ Craig LeMessurier, KB Home 925-983-4509 [email protected] Source: KB Home MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Materion Corporation (NYSE: MTRN) is scheduled to release its third quarter 2022 financial results on November 2, 2022, before the opening of the New York Stock Exchange. The company will hold a conference call with investors at 9:00 AM ET that morning. Jugal Vijayvargiya, President and Chief Executive Officer; Shelly Chadwick, Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer; and John Zaranec, Chief Accounting Officer, will represent Materion Corporation on the call. Conference Call and Slide Presentation To participate, please dial (888) 506-0062 or (973) 528-0011 for international participants and enter participant passcode 508461. Please be sure to dial in 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. A live webcast will be available on the companys website (www.materion.com). To access the webcast, click on Events & Presentations under the Investor Relations page. A recorded playback of the call will be available until November 16, 2022, at (877) 481-4010 or (919) 882-2331 for international calls; replay ID number is 44235. An archive of the call will also be available on the Company's website. About Materion Materion Corporation is headquartered in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. Materion, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, supplies highly engineered advanced enabling materials to global markets. Products include precious and non-precious specialty metals, inorganic chemicals and powders, specialty coatings, specialty engineered beryllium alloys, beryllium and beryllium composites, and engineered clad and plated metal systems. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005573/en/ Investors: Kyle Kelleher (216) 383-4931 [email protected] Media: Jason Saragian (216) 383-6893 [email protected] Source: Materion Corporation Shareholders will enjoy the certainty of C$43 per share all cash consideration and a 67% premium to Turquoise Hills unaffected share price. To learn how to vote your shares, go to www.turquoisehilltransaction.com. MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. (TSX: TRQ) (NYSE: TRQ) (Turquoise Hill or the Company) today announced that proxy advisor Glass Lewis has recommended that the Companys shareholders vote FOR the previously announced proposed plan of arrangement pursuant to which, among other things and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of all applicable conditions precedent, Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited (Rio Tinto) would acquire the approximately 49% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Turquoise Hill that Rio Tinto and its affiliates do not currently own for C$43.00 per share in cash (the Arrangement). The Glass Lewis report supports the unanimous recommendation of the special committee of independent members of Turquoise Hills Board of Directors (the Special Committee) that Turquoise Hills minority shareholders vote FOR the resolution approving the Arrangement . In making its vote FOR recommendation Glass Lewis noted, among other things, that: . . . that the Company and the board undertook a reasonably comprehensive review process in the months preceding the execution of the Arrangement Agreement. . . . we recognize the Companys standalone case could also be reasonably viewed as carrying a relatively elevated risk profile. . . . shareholders should consider that the Company faces significant near-term financing risks. . . . we are inclined to believe that Rio Tintos current offer represents a reasonable exit price and a compelling market premium for minority shareholders, on balance. Turquoise Hills Board Chair Peter Gillin said, The Glass Lewis recommendation validates the work of the five independent directors on the Special Committee who devoted six months to an extensive process of analysis and negotiation to secure a deal that is in the best interests of the Company and fair to the Companys minority shareholders. The Arrangement provides Turquoise Hills minority shareholders the opportunity to crystallize the value of their investment through an all-cash C$43.00 per share consideration, securing a 67% premium to Turquoise Hills closing share price on March 11, 2022, the last trading day prior to Rio Tintos initial proposal to acquire the Companys minority shares. Moreover, the transaction, if approved, will relieve minority shareholders from the financing, technical, market and geo-political risks and uncertainties facing the Company associated with developing and operating a massive, complex block-cave mine in a remote part of Mongolia. Both the Board of Directors and the Special Committee reiterate their unanimous recommendations that the Companys minority shareholders vote FOR the resolution to approve the Arrangement. Vote FOR the Transaction Today Your vote is important no matter how many shares you own. Shareholders must vote prior to 10:30 a.m. (Montreal Time) on October 28, 2022. For more details on how to vote, shareholders are encouraged to visit www.turquoisehilltransaction.com. How To Vote If you are a registered shareholder, we are asking you to take two actions. First, your vote is important regardless of how many shares you own. Shareholders are encouraged to vote in advance of the special meeting of Turquoise Hill shareholders to be held on November 1, 2022 in respect of the Arrangement (the Meeting). If you are a registered shareholder, whether or not you plan to attend the Meeting, to vote your shares at the Meeting, you can either return a duly completed and executed form of proxy to the Companys transfer agent, TSX Trust Company (the Transfer Agent), Proxy Department, by mail at: TSX Trust, 1200-1 Toronto Street, Toronto, Ontario M5C 2V6, or TST Trust Company, 1600-2001 Robert-Bourassa Blvd., Montreal, Quebec H3A 2A6, or via the internet at www.tsxtrust.com/vote-proxy not later than 10:30 a.m. (Montreal time) on October 28, 2022 or, if the Meeting is adjourned or postponed, 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays, prior to the commencement of the reconvened Meeting. If you hold shares through a broker, investment dealer, bank, trust company or other intermediary (a Beneficial Shareholder), you should follow the instructions provided by your intermediary to ensure your vote is counted at the Meeting. Second, if the Arrangement is approved and completed, before Rio Tinto can issue the consideration for your shares, the depositary will need to receive the applicable letter of transmittal completed by you, together with the certificates representing the shares and any additional documents that may be required. Registered shareholders must complete, sign, date and return the enclosed letter of transmittal. If you are a Beneficial Shareholder, you will receive payment for your shares through your financial intermediary if the Arrangement is completed. Questions If you have any questions about voting your proxy and the information contained in this press release in connection with the Meeting please contact our proxy solicitation agent and strategic shareholder advisor, Kingsdale Advisors, at 1-888-370-3955 (toll-free in North America), or by calling collect at 416-867-2272 (outside of North America) or by email at [email protected]. About Turquoise Hill Turquoise Hill is an international mining company focused on the operation and continued development of the Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold mine in Mongolia, which is the Companys principal and only material mineral resource property. Turquoise Hills ownership of the Oyu Tolgoi mine is held through a 66% interest in Oyu Tolgoi LLC; Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC, a Mongolian state-owned entity, holds the remaining 34% interest. Forward-looking Statements and Forward-looking Information Certain statements made herein, including statements relating to matters that are not historical facts and statements of the Companys beliefs, intentions and expectations about developments, results and events which will or may occur in the future, constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements and information relate to future events or future performance, reflect current expectations or beliefs regarding future events and are typically identified by words such as anticipate, believe, could, estimate, expect, intend, likely, may, plan, seek, should, will and similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. These include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Arrangement, including the anticipated timing of the Meeting and potential risks facing the Company if the Arrangement is not completed. Forward-looking statements and information are made based upon certain assumptions and other important factors that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements or information. There can be no assurance that such statements or information will prove to be accurate. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding the ability of the parties to receive in a timely manner and on satisfactory terms, the necessary shareholder approvals (including the minority approval) and court approval; the ability of the parties to satisfy, in a timely manner, the other conditions to the completion of the Arrangement, and other expectations and assumptions concerning the Arrangement, present and future business strategies, local and global economic conditions, and the environment in which the Company will operate. The anticipated dates indicated may change for a number of reasons, including the inability to receive, in a timely manner, the necessary shareholder approvals (including the minority approval) and court approval, or the necessity to extend the time limits for satisfying the other conditions to the completion of the Arrangement. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, which contribute to the possibility that the predicted outcomes will not occur. Events or circumstances could cause the Companys actual results to differ materially from those estimated or projected and expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements are included the Risk Factors section of the Companys management proxy circular dated September 27, 2022 (the Circular) and in the Risk Factors section of the Companys Annual Information Form, as supplemented by the Risks and Uncertainties section of the Companys Management Discussion and Analysis for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 (Q2 2022 MD&A). Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors included in Turquoise Hills filings with the SEC as well as the Schedule 13E-3 and the Circular. Readers are further cautioned that the lists of factors enumerated in the Risk Factors section of the Circular, the Risk Factors section of the Companys Annual Information Form, the Risks and Uncertainties section of the Q2 2022 MD&A and the Schedule 13E-3 that may affect future results are not exhaustive. Investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events and should not rely on the Companys forward-looking statements and information to make decisions with respect to the Company. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements and information contained herein are made as of the date of this document and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. The forward-looking statements and information contained herein are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005625/en/ Vice President Investors Relations and Communications Roy McDowall [email protected] Follow us on [email protected] Source: Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. Pyrrhotite + chalcopyrite mineralization similar to that seen in Fortin Sill Zone drilling VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Quebec Nickel Corp. (CSE: QNI; FSE: 7lB; OTCQB: QNICF) (QNI or the Company) is pleased to announce it has expanded the known sulphide mineralization at the Fortin Sill Zone, Ducros Project, located approximately 80 kilometres northeast of Val-dOr, Quebec. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005299/en/ Figure 1. Plan map showing the locations of selected drill holes completed at the Fortin Sill Zone in relation to the Fortin Sill discovery outcrop. Location of ultramafic intrusion-hosted nickel-copper mineralization within hole QDG-22-38 highlighted. (Graphic: Business Wire) Highlights: The new mineralized drill intercepts occur below and to the southwest of the currently known extents of the Fortin Sill Zone Sulphides occur as coarse pyrrhotite + chalcopyrite blebs within chlorite-altered pyroxenites and gabbronorites and resemble the mineralization encountered in hole QDG-22-09 earlier this year New Sulphide Drill Intercepts Hole QDG-22-38, a 201-metre-long hole drilled from the northeast side of the Fortin Sill outcrop (240 azimuth, -45 dip), was designed to explore for extensions of the Fortin Sill Zone and/or new mineralized intrusions (Figure 1 & 2). The hole collared in variably chlorite-altered and sulphide-mineralized gabbronorites and pyroxenites until approximately 41 metres hole depth. Between ~41 metres and ~ 132 metres, the hole cored through a mixed package of intercalated metabasalt and metasedimentary units before passing into a variably sulphide mineralized and chlorite-altered ultramafic intrusive body of gabbronorite to pyroxenitic affinity between 132 metres and 199 metres hole depth. Within this ultramafic unit, sulphides occur between 148-162 metres and 178-183 metres as patchy fine disseminations, thin stringers (1-3 mm wide) and as coarse blebs of pyrrhotite + chalcopyrite of up to 2 cm in size (Figure 3). The abundance, composition and texture of the sulphides in this portion of QDG-22-38 appear very similar to the mineralization encountered in hole QDG-22-09 earlier this year (Figure 3). As previously reported, assay results from hole QDG-22-09 returned a 31 metres-wide intercept averaging 0.37% Ni, 0.40% Cu and 0.55 g/t Pt-Pd-Au that includes higher grade sub-intervals of 0.44% Ni, 0.51% Cu and 0.69 g/t Pt-Pd-Au over 18.50 and 0.55% Ni, 0.86% Cu and 0.86 g/t Pt-Pd-Au over 5.0 metres (see May 16, 2022 News Release for more information). The sulphide-bearing ultramafic unit encountered in QDG-22-38 occurs approximately 60 metres below and 50 metres to the southwest of the currently known extents of the Fortin Sill Ni-Cu-PGE Zone (Figures 1 & 2). Core samples from QDG-22-38 are at the assay lab and results will be released when received. Additional drill holes are being planned from existing permitted drill pads to further define this possible extension of the Fortin Sill Zone. Core and Rock Processing & QAQC Quebec Nickel has implemented a quality assurance and quality control (QAQC) program for its Ducros Project to ensure best practices for logging, sampling and analysis of its drill core as well as for the collection and analyses of rock samples. This includes the regular insertion of geochemical blanks, duplicates and multiple Ni-Cu-PGE-Au certified reference material standards (CRMs) into the sample stream. Drill core is collected by Ducros Project personnel daily from the drill rigs and transported in secured core boxes to QNIs core logging facility in Val dOr. Logging is completed on laptops and data are captured using fit-for-purpose computer software. Core destined for geochemical analyses is identified and labeled by core logging geologists and is then sawed in half by a diamond blade. One half of the NQ-diameter core sample is placed in a labeled and secured sample bag. The remaining half of the core sample is returned to its core box for archiving. All core samples are transported from QNIs logging facility to AGAT Laboratories sample preparation facility in Val-dOr in secured and numbered rice bags by project personnel. AGAT Laboratories is accredited to the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and ISO 9001:2015 standards. Analysis for precious metals (gold, platinum, and palladium) is completed by Fire Assay with an ICP-OES finish while analyses for nickel, copper, and 41 other elements are performed using AGATs 4 Acid Digest Metals Package, with an ICP-OES finish. QUALIFIED PERSON Gary DeSchutter, M.Sc., P.Geo., Vice-President of Exploration for Quebec Nickel Corp., and a Qualified Person (QP) as defined under National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101), has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical content of this news release. ABOUT QUEBEC NICKEL CORP. Quebec Nickel Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on acquiring, exploring, and developing nickel projects in Quebec, Canada. The Company owns a 100% interest in the Ducros Property, consisting of 280 contiguous mining claims covering 15,147 hectares within the eastern portion of the Abitibi Greenstone Belt in Quebec, Canada. Additional information about Quebec Nickel Corp. is available at www.quebecnickel.com. 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. On behalf of the Board of Directors David Patterson Chief Executive Officer and Director 1 (855) 764-2535 (QNICKEL) [email protected] CAUTIONARY AND FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed forward-looking statements. 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. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words expects, plans, anticipates, believes, intends, estimates, projects, potential and similar expressions, or that events or conditions will, would, may, could or should occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market, or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates, and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates, opinions, or other factors should change. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005299/en/ David Patterson Chief Executive Officer and Director 1 (855) 764-2535 (QNICKEL) [email protected] Source: Quebec Nickel Corp. MIAMI & LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rainmaker Securities, a leading investment bank and broker dealer in the private securities market, today announced the appointment of Ken Anderson as Chief Technology Officer. With almost two decades of experience in global investment banking and IT processes and systems, Ken will lead the development and advancement of Rainmakers technology offerings, including the launch of a new platform that will deliver enhanced self-service capabilities for the companys investors, shareholder clients, and broker dealer representatives. Ken joins Rainmaker from Deutsche Bank, where he was responsible for designing a strategic cross-divisional reporting platform. Previously he served as Executive Director at Goldman Sachs, managing the Structured Products Services team supporting and implementing new issuance platforms and technologies for structured trades and fund products for the firm and its clients. We are entering an exciting period in Rainmakers history as we embark on the development of a new technology platform that will greatly enhance our capabilities to serve our clients and support our growing network of over 64 representatives, said Greg Martin, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Rainmaker Securities. Kens deep expertise in designing IT systems and processes for the worlds leading financial firms will be invaluable as we evolve our offerings and meet growing demand for private market products. Im thrilled to be joining the Rainmaker leadership team at this critical inflection point in the growth of both the company and the private securities market, said Ken Anderson. Ive long admired the forward-looking vision and white glove service that Rainmaker delivers in the rapidly expanding private markets space. I look forward to helping equip Rainmakers global network of broker-dealers with new capabilities and develop solutions for the most active buyers and sellers within the sector. Ken was also the founder of Cascata Ventures Limited, which executed system migration projects, implementing new systems and upskilling staff to new tools and technologies. He holds a B.S. in Physics from UCLA. To learn more about Rainmakers offerings and team of experts, visit https://www.rainmakersecurities.com/. About Rainmaker Securities Rainmaker Securities, LLC, a leader in the secondary market for shares of late-stage private equity issuers, is a FINRA registered broker-dealer and SIPC member. Rainmaker Securities is engaged by its clients to connect buyers and sellers of securities of high-growth private companies. Its platform provides additional liquidity within the traditionally illiquid marketplace for shares of late-stage private companies, helping buyers address the information problems, restrictions, and transparency issues characteristic of transacting in private securities, and helping sellers achieve liquidity for assets otherwise difficult to value and sell. Rainmaker provides transaction structures designed to create liquidity, including special purpose vehicles, hypothecation, and direct transfer of securities. For more information, please visit www.rainmakersecurities.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005320/en/ Media: Emily Allen, Lansons [email protected] 814-897-6143 Source: Rainmaker Securities CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The AZEK Company Inc. (NYSE: AZEK) ("AZEK" or the Company), the industry-leading manufacturer of beautiful, low-maintenance and environmentally sustainable outdoor living products, including TimberTech decking, Versatex and AZEK Trim and StruXure pergolas, announced today that Jesse Singh, Chief Executive Officer, and Peter Clifford, Chief Financial Officer, will present at the Baird 2022 Global Industrial Conference on Wednesday, November 9, 2022 at 9:05am (CT) in Chicago, Illinois. The Companys presentation will be broadcast live over the internet and can be accessed through the Company's website, investors.azekco.com. To listen to the presentation, please go to the "Investors" section of the website at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the broadcast to register and download any necessary audio software. For those who are not able to listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available shortly following the conference on our website, and will be accessible for a limited time. To find additional information about AZEK including its most recent investor presentation please visit investors.azekco.com. The AZEK Company The AZEK Company Inc. (NYSE: AZEK) is the industry-leading designer and manufacturer of beautiful, low maintenance and environmentally sustainable outdoor living products, including TimberTech decking, Versatex and AZEK Trim, and StruXure pergolas. Consistently recognized as the market leader in innovation, quality and aesthetics, products across AZEKs portfolio are made from up to approximately 90% recycled material and primarily replace wood on the outside of homes, providing a long-lasting, eco-friendly, and stylish solution to consumers. Leveraging the talents of its approximately 2,000 employees and the strength of relationships across its value chain, The AZEK Company is committed to accelerating the use of recycled material in the manufacturing of its innovative products, keeping millions of pounds of waste out of landfills each year, and revolutionizing the industry to create a more sustainable future. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the company operates manufacturing facilities in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Idaho, Georgia, Nevada, New Jersey and Minnesota. For additional information, please visit azekco.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005027/en/ Investor Relations: Eric Robinson 312-809-1093 [email protected] Source: The AZEK Company Inc. EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Beachbody Company, Inc. (NYSE: BODY) (Beachbody or the Company), a leading subscription health and wellness company, will release its third quarter fiscal 2022 results on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, after the U.S. stock market closes. The Company will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) that day to discuss the results. The toll-free dial-in for the conference call is (844) 200-6205 (U.S. & Canada), or (646) 904-5544 (all other locations). The conference ID is 577340. A live webcast of the conference call will also be available on the Companys investor relations website at https://investors.thebeachbodycompany.com/. For those unable to participate in the conference call, a replay will be available after the conclusion of the call on November 9, 2022 through November 16, 2022. The toll-free replay dial-in number is (866) 813-9403 (U.S & Canada), or (929) 458-6194 (all other locations). The replay passcode is 137285. About The Beachbody Company, Inc. Headquartered in Southern California, Beachbody is a leading digital fitness and nutrition subscription company with over two decades of creating innovative content and powerful brands. The Beachbody Company is the parent company of the Beachbody On Demand streaming platform (BOD) including its live digital streaming subscription BODi, and the Beachbody Bike powered by MYXfitness, the Companys connected indoor bike. For more information, please visit TheBeachbodyCompany.com. Forward Looking Statements: This press release contains "forward-looking" statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are statements other than historical fact or in the future tense. These statements include but are not limited to, statements regarding our future performance and our market opportunity, including the timing of upcoming earnings releases and investor calls, our business strategy, our plans, and our objectives and future operations. Forward-looking statements are based upon various estimates and assumptions, as well as information known to us as of the date hereof, and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, actual results could differ materially due to a variety of factors, including: our ability to effectively compete in the fitness and nutrition industries; our ability to successfully acquire and integrate new operations; our reliance on a few key products; market conditions and global and economic factors beyond our control; intense competition and competitive pressures from other companies worldwide in the industries in which we operate; and litigation and the ability to adequately protect our intellectual property rights. You can identify these statements by the use of terminology such as "believe", plans, "expect", "will", "should," "could", "estimate", "anticipate" or similar forward-looking terms. You should not rely on these forward-looking statements as they involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to vary materially from the forward-looking statements. For more information regarding the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to our business in general, we refer you to the "Risk Factors" section of our Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including those risks and uncertainties included in the Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 1, 2022 and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, which are available on the Investor Relations page of the Beachbody website at https://investors.thebeachbodycompany.com and on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements contained herein are based on information available to us as of the date hereof and you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, performance, or achievements. We undertake no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this press release or to conform these statements to actual results or revised expectations, except as required by law. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005817/en/ Media Jill Murray [email protected] Investor Relations Edward Plank [email protected] Source: The Beachbody Company, Inc. HAMILTON, Bermuda--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- October 19, 2022 - Triton International Limited (NYSE: TRTN) will host its third quarter 2022 earnings conference call on November 1, 2022 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The earnings announcement and presentation will be released by 7:00 a.m. that morning and will be available on www.trtn.com. The conference call will be Webcast, and an archive of the Webcast will be available one hour after the live call. To access the live Webcast or archive, please visit the Companys website at www.trtn.com. Please allow extra time prior to the call to visit the site and download any necessary software that may be needed to listen to the Webcast. To listen by phone, please dial in approximately 15 minutes prior to the start time and reference the Triton International Limited conference call. Live Teleconference Dial-In: Domestic: 1-877-418-5277 International: 1-412-717-9592 Triton International Limited is the worlds largest lessor of intermodal freight containers. With a container fleet of over 7 million twenty-foot equivalent units ("TEU"), Tritons global operations include acquisition, leasing, re-leasing and subsequent sale of multiple types of intermodal containers and chassis. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221018005949/en/ Triton International Limited Andrew Greenberg, 914-697-2900 Senior Vice President Business Development & Investor Relations Source: Triton International Limited Funding from the DOEs Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program will help to finance the build-out of Silas Moses Lake Auto-Scale Facility ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The US Department of Energy (DOE) today announced it has awarded Sila, a next-generation battery materials company, $100 million to fund the build-out of its 600,000+ square foot facility in Moses Lake, WA and scale manufacturing of its breakthrough silicon anode materials. Silas rollout plan, across its 160-acre campus, estimates the production of 20 GWh of capacity by 2026, enough to power 200,000 electric vehicles. Automaker Mercedes-Benz will be the facilitys first commercial customer and has selected Silas anode materials to power its electric vehicles, starting with the G-Class series. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005795/en/ Site planning at Sila's Moses Lake, WA facility (Photo: Business Wire) Sila is a recipient of the first set of projects funded by President Bidens Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to expand domestic manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles and the electrical grid, with a focus on domestic processing of materials and components currently imported from other countries. The funding announced today by the Department of Energy is the first phase of over $7 billion in total provided by the Presidents Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for the battery supply chain. DOEs Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) is responsible for strengthening and securing manufacturing and energy supply chains needed to modernize the nations energy infrastructure and support a clean and equitable energy transition. MESC will manage the portfolio of projects with support from DOEs Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energys Vehicle Technologies Office. The U.S. federal governments support of clean energy research and development is second to none. Funding from the DOE was instrumental in the early days of Sila and supported our product development. Weve been able to make good on that investment with our breakthrough chemistry. Now the DOE is taking another big step by supporting our move into automotive scale manufacturing, said Gene Berdichevksy, Sila Co-Founder and CEO. Offering federal resources to advance domestic production of proven technologies will help the U.S. assert ourselves as leaders in the global EV market. With our Moses Lake facility, were committed to delivering revolutionary battery material that is better, lowers cost, and accelerates our electric future. And the DOEs grant and support proves its long-term commitment to the same. Sila expects to hire and train 150 - 300 technologists at its Moses Lake facility and is working with local high schools, vocational training programs, and community colleges to train and recruit talent for this location. Production lines at the facility will start up in the second half of 2024, with full start of production to be underway in the first half of 2025. Silas proprietary silicon anode material is a replacement for current graphite material in Li-ion batteries and increases the energy density of batteries by 20%, without compromising cycle life, power, safety or other performance parameters. As automakers transition their fleets to electric, Silas drop-in replacement has the ability to boost overall battery performance while lowering battery cost per kWh, which is critical in meeting consumer expectations regarding cost, range, charge time, and acceleration. Sila materials will be crucial in achieving the ATVM Loan Programs goal of improving the fuel economy of the US fleet through the accelerated adoption of electric vehicles. About Sila Founded in 2011, Sila is a next-generation battery materials company with the mission to power the worlds transition to clean energy. Sila shipped the worlds first commercially available silicon anode for lithium-ion batteries in 2021. Silas materials drive battery performance enhancements in consumer electronics devices and will power electric vehicles starting with the Mercedes-Benz G-Class series. Committed to American leadership in clean energy production, Sila is scaling its technology at its manufacturing facility in Moses Lake, Washington. Major investors include 8VC, Bessemer Venture Partners, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Coatue, In-Q-Tel, Matrix Partners, Sutter Hill Ventures, and funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005795/en/ Yalda Rafie SutherlandGold for Sila [email protected] Source: Sila Funding increases companys investment in New Mexico to over $380,000, enabling local organizations to address social determinants of health ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- As part of an ongoing effort to address vital social determinants of health across New Mexico, UnitedHealthcare has awarded three New Mexico-based organizations $188,000 in community grants to address behavioral and maternal health in local communities. A community-based approach which addresses the unique needs of community members is critical to reducing health disparities and achieving health equity in underserved populations, said Drew Peterson, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community & State of New Mexico. UnitedHealthcare is committed to supporting local organizations through grants which address social determinants of health and foster improved health outcomes for the people of New Mexico. The grant recipients include: New Mexico Doula Association $50,000 to provide access to doula care for women and other pregnant people with financial need, promoting expanded maternal care in rural and frontier communities and a reduction in the maternal mortality rate. New Mexico Perinatal Collaborative $40,000 to support and expand a statewide initiative with 27 birthing facilities. The initiative helps improve the health of and outcomes for pregnant families and their infants by promoting safe birthing best practices through a focus on quality improvement strategies and training for facilities, doctors, nurses, midwives and other perinatal care providers. National Latino Behavioral Health Association $98,000 to launch trainings for behavioral health bilingual language interpreters, and two eight-week youth cohort groups focused on reducing risk factors in the onset of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use. "Resourcing New Mexico's communities by directly supporting prevention services and the state's behavioral health workforce are excellent strategies in building capacity of the behavioral health system in New Mexico, said Fredrick Sandoval, executive director, National Latino Behavioral Health Association. With the funding received from UnitedHealthcare, we are able to enhance current evidence-based prevention programs to help reduce the onset of substance use and other stressors among New Mexico youth. According to the New Mexico Human Services Department, New Mexico experiences a higher maternal mortality rate of 21.5 deaths per 100,000 live births compared to the national average of 17.4 deaths per 100,000 live births. Increased access to necessary maternal and doula care can help identify and solve for the most common challenges facing women and other pregnant people, infants and birthing families, including mental health conditions, cardiac conditions, embolism and hemorrhage. The funding from UnitedHealthcare for New Mexico Perinatal Collaborative supports perinatal health care providers across New Mexico particularly those in rural areas who have limited access to critical training and continuing education by helping them improve outcomes for families in their local communities, said Jennifer Mastripolito, executive director, New Mexico Perinatal Collaborative. Through this opportunity, we are able to mobilize a doula workforce which is an essential part of the birth team that improves both maternal health outcomes and helps families thrive, said Melissa Marie Lopez, executive director, New Mexico Doula Association. UnitedHealthcares commitment to addressing social determinants of health by supporting community-based initiatives is a continuing priority. In 2021, UnitedHealthcare provided $2.85 million to the March of Dimes to fund hospital quality improvement initiatives as part of a public-private partnership to address Black maternal health. Additionally, the companys Empowering Health grants have invested $40 million to expand access to care through partnerships with local communities in 29 states since 2018. In New Mexico alone, UnitedHealthcare has provided several grants to local organizations including those addressing affordable housing, food insecurity and nutrition assistance in underserved communities, bringing the companys investment in the state to more than $380,000. UnitedHealthcare serves more than 205,000 members enrolled in employer-sponsored, individual and Medicare and retirement plans in New Mexico, with a network of 41 hospitals, and over 11,000 physicians and other care providers statewide. For more information on how UnitedHealthcare is working to build healthier communities across New Mexico, visit www.uhccs.com/NewMexico. About UnitedHealthcare UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making the health system work better for everyone by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. In the United States, UnitedHealthcare offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 1.5 million physicians and care professionals, and more than 6,700 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. The company also provides health benefits and delivers care to people through owned and operated health care facilities in South America. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified health care company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow @UHC on Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005209/en/ UHC Media Contact: Christina Witz (952) 931-4645 [email protected] Source: UnitedHealthcare TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Warrior Gold Inc. (TSX-V - WAR) (Warrior Gold or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has completed the summer field mapping and sampling program on its Kirkland Lake West (KLW) and Kirkland Lake Central (KLC) claim groups located in the Kirkland Lake gold camp (Figure 1). Work this summer comprised mapping and collecting 239 grab samples across the KLW and KLC claim groups over 45 field days by a two-person team. The work complements the heliborne geophysical survey recently completed (See September 8, 2022 news release). To date, the best assay returned from a bedrock grab sample is 34.7 g/t Au on the western side of the KLW property. Additional assay results are pending. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005439/en/ Figure 1. Warrior Golds land position in the Kirkland Lake gold camp (map from DigiData/EarthLabs). (Photo: Business Wire) We are pleased with the encouraging results from our summer field program on the newly acquired KLW and KLC claim groups and we look forward to receiving the remaining sample analyses. Once completed, our exploration team will combine all data with the geology and the structural interpretation generated by the recent heliborne survey to support targeting for our next exploration program, stated Daniele Spethmann, CEO of Warrior Gold, who added, The Abitibi is a prolific gold belt and the opportunity for a discovery is made more probable with the sound scientific approach to our exploration efforts. The KLW and KLC claim groups comprise a land package totaling 17,176 hectares. Combined with the Companys flagship Goodfish-Kirana claim group (4,368 hectares), this makes Warrior Gold the second largest mineral claims landholder (~21,500 hectares) in the Kirkland Lake gold camp. KLW Claim Group Mapping and sampling concentrated on the southern half of the claim group where historical mineral occurrences and trenches were recorded in previous government assessment files dating from 1965 onwards. These areas were re-examined and sampled to understand mineralizing controls and the broader geological environment. On the far western edge of the KLW claim group, anomalous gold was identified in a broad two-kilometre-long NNW-SSE trend, parallel to regional structures. A bedrock grab sample of a sheared and mineralized quartz vein returned an assay of 34.7g/t Au. The location of the grab sample is provided in Figure 2. Five additional grab samples from this area returned anomalous gold values ranging from 1.35 g/t Au to 21.6 g/t Au. Assays are pending for 26 samples. KLC Claim Group The KLC claim group transected by the Kirkland Lake Fault, which is an extension of the Main Break, is host to seven historical gold mines that produced over 700 tonnes of gold (21.875 million ounces over the past 100 years1). Two other prominent northeast-trending deformation zones (DZ) transect the claim group, namely the Misema DZ and the Mulven DZ. The Victoria Creek gold deposit (along the Victoria Creek DZ) lies just 250 metres south of the southern boundary of the KLC claim group. Sampling and mapping efforts during the summer concentrated along the above-mentioned faults and deformation zones. Glacial cover is thicker within large areas of the KLC, so the recent high-resolution LiDAR survey was key to identifying areas of outcrop exposure. Highlights include quartz veins with tourmaline and carbonate within a strongly foliated and sericitized feldspar porphyry with 1% fine pyrite observed along the Kirkland Lake Fault. Assay results are pending. Additional sites with favorable gold mineralization in deformed and sheared lithologies were also sampled throughout the claim group with results pending. Heliborne Geophysical Survey A heliborne high-resolution magnetic, VLF and LiDAR survey was recently completed by EarthLabs (formerly Goldspot Discoveries). Preliminary interpretation of the high-resolution magnetic data emphasized structural features such as deformation zones and lithological contacts where reconnaissance ground-truthing and sampling were completed (Figure 3). This survey information will be critical to support targeting efforts for next winters drill program. QP Statement The technical information contained in this news release has been approved by Mike Kilbourne, P.Geo. who is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About Warrior Gold Inc. Warrior Gold is a TSX Venture Exchange-listed company that has consolidated a significant and prospective land package in the Kirkland Lake Gold Camp in Ontario, Canada. The properties are hosted in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, one of the worlds best-endowed greenstone belts with +200 million ounces of gold produced to date2. The properties are host to regional and property-scale mineralized structures that are second order structures off the Larder Lake Cadillac Deformation Zone LLCDZ the regional structure in the belt known to be spatially associated with the gold mines hosted in the camp. The properties assembled include: the 100%-owned Goodfish-Kirana, the Arnold property and the recently optioned KL West (KLW) and KL Central (KLC). Warrior Golds land position in the Kirkland Lake Gold Camp comprises ~ 21,500 hectares, over 480 claims and 29 patented claims and ranks the Company as one of the largest landholders in the Kirkland Lake region. 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 press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. The forward-looking statements are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. Although Warrior Gold believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because Warrior Gold can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. In addition to other risks that may affect the forward-looking statements in this press release are those set out in the Companys Management Discussion and Analysis of the financial condition and results of operations for the year ended March 31, 2022 and the first quarter ended June 30, 2022 which are available at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and Warrior Gold 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. This press release does not constitute an offer, invitation or recommendation to subscribe for or purchase any securities and neither this press release nor anything contained in it shall form the basis of any contract or commitment. In particular, this press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in the United States, or in any other jurisdiction in which such an offer would be illegal. 1 Natural Resources Canada and Ontario Geological Survey 2015. Mining heritage tour, Kirkland Lake: A century of mining the Mile of Gold; GeoTours Northern Ontario series. 2 2020 Mineral Production in Canada, Government of Canada, Minerals and Metals Statistics Division, 2022-03-10, https://mmsd.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/PDF/MIS2020TableG01a-en.pdf View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005439/en/ For additional information: Daniele Spethmann, P.Geo. President & CEO Warrior Gold Inc. +1 647 344-3433 [email protected] Source: Warrior Gold Inc. WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- DKT International, one of the worlds largest providers of family planning, HIV/AIDS, and safe abortion products and services, is proud to continue its support of World Vasectomy Day (WVD). This year the organization marks its 10th anniversary, with events around the globe throughout November in recognition of this milestone. World Vasectomy Day is more than just a day; its an important movement to encourage and educate people globally about an often-overlooked form of family planning, and that is encouraging men to share in reproductive responsibilities and become an active part of the conversation, says Chris Purdy, CEO of DKT International. Demonstrating WVDs commitment to being the largest male-focused family planning movement in history, more than 1,000 participating medical personnel from 30+ countries will provide 15,000 vasectomies in the U.S. and globally throughout the month. Each year since 2013, WVD has brought its headquarters to a different country. Mexico has been chosen as the 2022 partner because of its unparalleled commitment to this movement. Through an agreement with the Mexican Ministry of Health (MoH), 400 doctors will mobilize to perform 10,000 vasectomies in all 32 Mexican states. The MoHs mobile vasectomy clinic will also be placed at the border of Mexico and Texas, where they will offer free vasectomies for migrants heading north and Americans seeking free services coming south. Additionally, vasectomies will be provided by mobile clinics in the American Midwest. Planned Parenthood in Missouri will host WVD for a portion of the Midwestern Road trip, when WVDs Medical Advisory Board member, Dr. Esgar Guarin will take his 24-foot mobile trailer throughout Iowa and Missouri and perform 100 free vasectomies. The mobile clinic will be in Missouri from November 2-5 and in Iowa from November 14-18. WVD will host vasectomy clinics via specially planned events in the Philippines. DKTs offices around the world will also be supporting the occasion with their events focused on the need for men to shoulder some of the responsibility for family planning. WVD events throughout November include: The 3rd annual Provider Summit: Saturday, November 12, WVD offers a half-day event for its members with information on building demand and educating the public, technical topics for young doctors and the history of WVD. The 5th Annual International Symposium: November 9, WVD and Centro Nacional de Salud in Mexico hosts several panels discussing the future of male contraception and ethical considerations for vasectomy programs. 24-Hour Global Celebration: The Global Celebration will travel across time zones from December 2nd, to interact with leaders in family planning, men receiving a vasectomy, women in support of men, and sexual and reproductive rights activists. Various DKT country programs will also be participating in the global celebration, including: DKT Mexico: DKT Mexico will interview top experts Dr. Patricio Sanhueza, Clinical Director and Dr. Eloisa Gonzalez, as they share their successful strategy and messaging that has led to weekly vasectomy sessions in Mexico City. DKT Philippines: DKT Philippines will be traveling to Baguio to offer free vasectomies. WVD will be in Thailand from November 14-17 during the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) alongside DKT International. WVD events at ICFP include: Participants at ICFP can view a vasectomy in real-time Thursday, November 17 at noon (GMT +7) during the WVD press conference Thursday, November 17 at noon (GMT +7) during the WVD press conference WVD will host a Testicle Festival as part of ICFPs Live Stage Tuesday, November 15 at 5:30 p.m. (GMT +7) Virtual vasectomies accessible with VR goggles will also be part of the participant experience at the WVD booth throughout the week WVD will unveil the new WVD Academy, an online program that will include a provider directory, links to over 500 doctors worldwide, and platforms to teach the basics of vasectomy. We thank DKT for its continuous support in growing the World Vasectomy Day movement, adds Jonathan Stack, co-founder of WVD. Our mission for 10 years is to encourage more males to take on a greater role in family planning. Anyone seeking information about vasectomies, counseling on vasectomy procedures, or who would like to receive a vasectomy is encouraged to attend WVD activities. Virtual attendance is available for those who cannot attend in person. For more information, please visit https://wvd.org/ DKT International Since 1989, DKT International provides safe and affordable options for family planning and HIV prevention through social marketing in 90 underserved countries throughout Latin America, Africa, and Asia. In 2021, DKT generated 54.2 million Couple Years of Protection (CYPs) through the sale of more than 901 million condoms, 111 million cycles of oral contraceptives, 20 million emergency contraceptives, 19 million injectables, 1.9 million implants, 4.7 million IUDs, 5 million medical abortion (MA) combipacks, and 300,000 manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) kits. World Vasectomy Day World Vasectomy Day is a registered nonprofit organization. Founded in 2013, WVD is the largest male-focused sexual and reproductive health movement, committed to encouraging and educating the population on the positive inclusion of men in family planning and reproductive health. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005259/en/ Media Contact for WVD: Jonathan Stack [email protected] Media Contact for DKT International: Michelle Schaner [email protected] Source: DKT International Live Broadcast from China - English Replay Available GUANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- XPeng Inc. ("XPENG" or the "Company," NYSE: XPEV and HKEX: 9868), a leading Chinese smart EV company, will host its 2022 TECH DAY event on Monday, October 24, 2022. An English-language replay will be available on Tuesday, October 25, 2022. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005531/en/ (Graphic: Business Wire) At this year's 1024 TECH DAY, XPENG will present its latest developments in autonomous driving technology and mobility ecosystem, including its intelligent EVs, flying vehicles and robotics. The TECH DAY live event broadcast in Chinese will start from 08:00 p.m. Beijing time on Monday, October 24, 2022 (GMT+8, or 08:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Monday, October 24, 2022), and will be accessible via this link: XPENG OFFICIAL WEBSITE CHINESE An English-language replay of the event will be available from 12:00 p.m. Beijing time on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 (GMT+8, or 00:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Tuesday, October 25, 2022), via the following links: XPENG OFFICIAL WEBSITE ENGLISH XPENG OFFICIAL IR WEBSITE ENGLISH XPENG OFFICIAL YOUTUBE CHANNEL About XPeng Inc. XPeng Inc. (XPENG) is a leading Chinese Smart EV company that designs, develops, manufactures, and markets smart EVs that appeal to the large and growing base of technology-savvy middle-class consumers. Its mission is to drive Smart EV transformation with technology and data, shaping the mobility experience of the future. In order to optimize its customers mobility experience, XPENG develops in-house its full-stack advanced driver-assistance system technology and in-car intelligent operating system, as well as core vehicle systems including powertrain and the electrical/electronic architecture. XPENG is headquartered in Guangzhou, China, with main offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, San Diego and Amsterdam. The Companys Smart EVs are mainly manufactured at its plant in Zhaoqing, Guangdong province. For more information, please visit https://heyxpeng.com. Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as will, expects, anticipates, future, intends, plans, believes, estimates and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about XPENGs beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: XPENGs goals and strategies; XPENGs expansion plans; XPENGs future business development, financial condition and results of operations; the trends in, and size of, Chinas EV market; XPENGs expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its products and services; XPENGs expectations regarding its relationships with customers, contract manufacturers, suppliers, third-party service providers, strategic partners and other stakeholders; general economic and business conditions; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in XPENGs filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and XPeng does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. Follow Us On Twitter: https://twitter.com/XPengMotors Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XPengMotorsGlobal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xpeng_global TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@xpeng YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/HeyXPENG LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xiaopeng-motors/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005531/en/ For Investor Enquiries: IR DepartmentXPeng Inc.[email protected] Jenny CaiThe Piacente Group+1 212 481 2050 / +86 10 6508 0677[email protected] For Media Enquiries: PR Department XPeng Inc. [email protected] Source: XPeng Inc. FILE PHOTO: An oil storage tank and crude oil pipeline equipment is seen during a tour by the Department of Energy at the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in Freeport, Texas, U.S. June 9, 2016. REUTERS/Richard Carson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. government will continue taking steps to release additional output from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve as needed and then replenish the reserve, a senior U.S. energy adviser said on Wednesday. President Joe Biden has been clear that he will continue to work to bring down prices for American consumers after a spike in energy prices from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, adviser Amos Hochstein said in an interview with CNN. Biden is due to make remarks on gas prices on Wednesday, including announcing another selloff from the nation's emergency oil reserve. "The president's going to keep a careful eye on announcing today that whatever we're doing today could continue and see additional SPR releases - if necessary," Hochstein said. "The president's also going to be announcing that we are going to replenish the SPR," he said. In addition to announcing a new SPR release, Biden will announce that the federal government plans to replenish the fund, buying back oil it sold for $100 at a price around $70. "And that's critical, because that's what the industry in the United States needs to know in order to invest today in increasing production," Hochstein said. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Jan Harvey and Mark Porter) Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. (NYSE: NOG) (the Company or NOG) today announced an agreement to acquire properties in the core of the Midland Basin. MIDLAND BASIN ACQUISITION NOG has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a 36.7% working interest in the Mascot Project from Midland-Petro D.C. Partners, LLC (MPDC) for a purchase price of $330 million in cash, subject to typical closing adjustments. NOG expects to fund the acquisition with cash on hand, operating free cash flow and borrowings from NOGs revolving credit facility. NOG expects production from the acquired properties to average ~4,400 Boe per day in Q1 2023 and ~6,450 Boe per day for full year 2023 (2-stream, ~80% oil). MASCOT PROJECT PROJECTIONS BASED ON 10/13/22 STRIP PRICING 2023E 2024E 2025E Production (Boe per day) ~6,450 ~10,000 ~6,200 Oil Volumes (Bbl per day) ~5,150 ~7,600 ~4,250 Unhedged Cash Flow from Operations ($MM) ~$150.0 ~$200.0 ~$110.0 Capital Expenditures ($MM) ~$145.0 ~$23.5 ~$0.0 Unlevered Free Cash Flow ($MM) ~$5.0 ~$176.5 ~$110.0 The acquired assets are located in Midland County, Texas and include four all-depths contiguous drilling spacing units developed for long laterals, 12.1 net producing wells, 5.5 net wells-in-process and approximately 17.3 net undeveloped locations. The properties have incurred minimal legacy vertical drilling relative to typical Midland Basin properties. NOG is also acquiring a pro rata interest in the midstream assets and associated infrastructure, which represent approximately $36 million of the allocated value of the transaction. The Mascot Project is operated by Permian Deep Rock Oil Company, an affiliate of MPDC, which is a David H. Arrington-owned business based in Midland, Texas. NOG and MPDC have formulated a joint operating agreement with a plan to fully develop the units, completing the drilling project in 2024. Additional unbooked infill and secondary zones remain for future development. The effective date for the transaction is August 1, 2022, and NOG expects to close the transaction in January 2023. The obligations of the parties to complete the transactions contemplated by the purchase agreement are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions. HEDGING UPDATE In addition to its continuous hedging program, NOG has hedged, as standard practice, a significant portion of the production from the pending transaction, including local gas basis. Updated hedge schedules can be found in NOGs related MPDC Acquisition Presentation at http://ir.northernoil.com. MANAGEMENT COMMENTS With this transaction, we showcase NOGs expanding capabilities, commented Nick OGrady, NOGs Chief Executive Officer. Beyond just a consolidator of non-operated interests, NOG is proving itself to be an adept and preferred partner for the development of high-quality assets. This transaction carries a clear and strong development plan that should deliver substantial returns for our investors. Mr. Arrington and his team have dedicated over five years to developing this project, and we would like to thank him and his stellar operating team for the opportunity to help see it through. This acquisition has unique properties versus almost any prior transaction NOG has done, commented Adam Dirlam, NOGs President. As typical, it is focused on one of the highest quality regions in the U.S., but what differentiates this transaction is the surety of development timing and returns, with clear line of sight to turning valuable acreage into significant free cash flow, rapidly and efficiently. ADVISORS Citigroup Global Markets served as NOGs financial advisor. Kirkland & Ellis LLP is serving as the Companys legal advisor. Petrie Partners served as MPDCs financial advisor. Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP is serving as MPDCs legal advisor. Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. (TSX: TRQ) (NYSE: TRQ) (Turquoise Hill or the Company) today announced that proxy advisor Glass Lewis has recommended that the Companys shareholders vote FOR the previously announced proposed plan of arrangement pursuant to which, among other things and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of all applicable conditions precedent, Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited (Rio Tinto) would acquire the approximately 49% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Turquoise Hill that Rio Tinto and its affiliates do not currently own for C$43.00 per share in cash (the Arrangement). The Glass Lewis report supports the unanimous recommendation of the special committee of independent members of Turquoise Hills Board of Directors (the Special Committee) that Turquoise Hills minority shareholders vote FOR the resolution approving the Arrangement . In making its vote FOR recommendation Glass Lewis noted, among other things, that: . . . that the Company and the board undertook a reasonably comprehensive review process in the months preceding the execution of the Arrangement Agreement. . . . we recognize the Companys standalone case could also be reasonably viewed as carrying a relatively elevated risk profile. . . . shareholders should consider that the Company faces significant near-term financing risks. . . . we are inclined to believe that Rio Tintos current offer represents a reasonable exit price and a compelling market premium for minority shareholders, on balance. Turquoise Hills Board Chair Peter Gillin said, The Glass Lewis recommendation validates the work of the five independent directors on the Special Committee who devoted six months to an extensive process of analysis and negotiation to secure a deal that is in the best interests of the Company and fair to the Companys minority shareholders. The Arrangement provides Turquoise Hills minority shareholders the opportunity to crystallize the value of their investment through an all-cash C$43.00 per share consideration, securing a 67% premium to Turquoise Hills closing share price on March 11, 2022, the last trading day prior to Rio Tintos initial proposal to acquire the Companys minority shares. Moreover, the transaction, if approved, will relieve minority shareholders from the financing, technical, market and geo-political risks and uncertainties facing the Company associated with developing and operating a massive, complex block-cave mine in a remote part of Mongolia. Both the Board of Directors and the Special Committee reiterate their unanimous recommendations that the Companys minority shareholders vote FOR the resolution to approve the Arrangement. Vote FOR the Transaction Today Your vote is important no matter how many shares you own. Shareholders must vote prior to 10:30 a.m. (Montreal Time) on October 28, 2022. For more details on how to vote, shareholders are encouraged to visit www.turquoisehilltransaction.com. How To Vote If you are a registered shareholder, we are asking you to take two actions. First, your vote is important regardless of how many shares you own. Shareholders are encouraged to vote in advance of the special meeting of Turquoise Hill shareholders to be held on November 1, 2022 in respect of the Arrangement (the Meeting). If you are a registered shareholder, whether or not you plan to attend the Meeting, to vote your shares at the Meeting, you can either return a duly completed and executed form of proxy to the Companys transfer agent, TSX Trust Company (the Transfer Agent), Proxy Department, by mail at: TSX Trust, 1200-1 Toronto Street, Toronto, Ontario M5C 2V6, or TST Trust Company, 1600-2001 Robert-Bourassa Blvd., Montreal, Quebec H3A 2A6, or via the internet at www.tsxtrust.com/vote-proxy not later than 10:30 a.m. (Montreal time) on October 28, 2022 or, if the Meeting is adjourned or postponed, 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays, prior to the commencement of the reconvened Meeting. If you hold shares through a broker, investment dealer, bank, trust company or other intermediary (a Beneficial Shareholder), you should follow the instructions provided by your intermediary to ensure your vote is counted at the Meeting. Second, if the Arrangement is approved and completed, before Rio Tinto can issue the consideration for your shares, the depositary will need to receive the applicable letter of transmittal completed by you, together with the certificates representing the shares and any additional documents that may be required. Registered shareholders must complete, sign, date and return the enclosed letter of transmittal. If you are a Beneficial Shareholder, you will receive payment for your shares through your financial intermediary if the Arrangement is completed. Questions If you have any questions about voting your proxy and the information contained in this press release in connection with the Meeting please contact our proxy solicitation agent and strategic shareholder advisor, Kingsdale Advisors, at 1-888-370-3955 (toll-free in North America), or by calling collect at 416-867-2272 (outside of North America) or by email at [email protected]. EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Oct. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AJRD) (the Company) today announced that it will report its third quarter 2022 earnings results on Tuesday, November 1, 2022. The Company will also host a conference call and webcast that morning at 8:30 a.m. EDT / 5:30 a.m. PDT. Eileen P. Drake, Chief Executive Officer and President, and Dan Boehle, Chief Financial Officer, will host the call to discuss third quarter 2022 financial results and answer questions. Conference Call and Webcast Details for Investors and Financial Analysts What: Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. Third Quarter 2022 Conference Call When: Tuesday, November 1, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. EDT / 5:30 a.m. PDT Where: https://ir.aerojetrocketdyne.com/events-and-presentations An on-demand replay of the webcast will be available for 30 days at https://ir.aerojetrocketdyne.com/events-and-presentations. For additional information, visit our website: https://www.aerojetrocketdyne.com/. About Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc., headquartered in El Segundo, California, is an innovative technology-based manufacturer of aerospace and defense products and systems, with a real estate segment that includes activities related to the entitlement, sale, and leasing of the Companys excess real estate assets. More information can be obtained by visiting the Companys websites at www.rocket.com or www.aerojetrocketdyne.com . Contact information: Investors: Kelly Anderson, vice president, Controller and Investor Relations 310-252-8155 Media: Steve Warren, vice president, Communications 703-650-0278 Orders for 33 Devices Secured Since Last Public Update Detroit, Michigan, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc., (OTCPK:AITX), today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Robotic Assistance Devices, Inc. (RAD) has received multiple orders, totaling 33 units, to be delivered to four different clients. The product mix of the 33 security devices ordered since the last public announcement is 28 ROSAs and five TOMs. Its wonderful to see the RAD sales pipeline flow with big potential opportunities and the addition of new authorized dealers, said Mark Folmer, President at RAD. One of our very active dealers is extending their dominance into the auto market with a single order of 26 ROSA units, the details of which we will release in the future. Additionally, were thrilled to add two new regional powerhouse dealers that will each take a ROSA as a demo unit. Plus, another existing client is further expanding their system with an additional five TOM units. Last week was a solid sales week. RADs ROSA has received industry recognition for its autonomous ability to detect and deter instances of trespassing and other property intrusions without the need for manned guarding assistance. Folmer confirmed that all 26 ROSAs will be deployed at one of the clients distribution centers. Every deployment is an advertisement for continued potential expansion. I hope that after these 26 units are successfully deployed this end user will expand through the rest of their facilities, said Steve Reinharz, CEO of AITX and RAD. The RAD technology now shipping is proving its value every day helping keep properties and assets secure. When the end-users realize the great savings that are gained over costly manpower, they order more. We will continue to create and deploy complementary solutions to fulfill our mission of revolutionizing proptech with AI-enabled technology and near Wi-Fi quality cellular connectivity, Reinharz concluded. Although not yet named due to confidentiality agreements, the Company indicated that the end-user for the five TOM visitor management devices is an existing client, a global leader in supply chain management and third-party logistics. The TOM devices are expected to be deployed in November at one of the clients logistics centers. RAD expects to make additional announcements of recently signed authorized dealers and further sales updates in the immediate future. ROSA is a multiple award-winning, compact, self-contained, portable, security and communication solution that can be deployed in about 15 minutes. Like other RAD solutions, a stand-alone ROSA only requires power, which is provided when configured along with RIO, as it includes all necessary communications hardware. ROSAs AI-driven security analytics include human, firearm, vehicle detection, license plate recognition, responsive digital signage and audio messaging, and complete integration with RADs software suite notification and autonomous response library. Two-way communication is optimized for cellular, including live video from ROSAs dual high-resolution, full-color, always-on cameras. RAD has published two Case Studies detailing how ROSA has helped eliminate instances of theft, trespassing and loitering at car rental locations and construction sites across the country. RAD has a sales pipeline of over 35 Fortune 500 companies and numerous other client opportunities. RAD expects to continue to attract new business as it converts its existing sales opportunities into deployed clients generating a recurring revenue stream. Each Fortune 500 client has the potential of making numerous reorders over time. RADs parent company AITX has filed for uplisting to the OTCQB. Future announcements will be made regarding the status of the OTCQB application. Robotic Assistance Devices (RAD) is a high-tech start-up that delivers robotics and artificial intelligence-based solutions that empower organizations to gain new insight, solve complex security challenges, and fuel new business ideas at reduced costs. RAD developed its advanced security robot technology from the ground up including circuit board design, and base code development. This allows RAD to have complete control over all design elements, performance, quality, and the users experience of all security robots whether, ROSA, AVA, ROAMEO, RADDOG, RIO, RAD Light My Way, or TOM. Read about how RAD is reinventing the security services industry by downloading the Autonomous Remote Services Industry Manifesto, and request a copy of the recently published Navigating the New Economy: Jobs & Automation, Challenges & Opportunities. CAUTIONARY DISCLOSURE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTSThis release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this news release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations and assumptions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the statements, including, but not limited to, the following: the ability of Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions to provide for its obligations, to provide working capital needs from operating revenues, to obtain additional financing needed for any future acquisitions, to meet competitive challenges and technological changes, to meet business and financial goals including projections and forecasts, and other risks. No information contained in this news release should be construed as any indication whatsoever of the Company's future stock price, revenues, or results of operations. Additionally, industry data provided herein is of no predictive value regarding the future sale of the Companys products. Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement(s) and/or to confirm the statement(s) to actual results or changes in Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions expectations. About Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions (AITX)AITX is an innovator in the delivery of artificial intelligence-based solutions that empower organizations to gain new insight, solve complex challenges and fuel new business ideas. Through its next-generation robotic product offerings, AITXs RAD, RAD-M and RAD-G companies help organizations streamline operations, increase ROI, and strengthen business. AITX technology improves the simplicity and economics of patrolling and guard services and allows experienced personnel to focus on more strategic tasks. Customers augment the capabilities of existing staffs and gain higher levels of situational awareness, all at drastically reduced cost. AITX solutions are well suited for use in multiple industries such as enterprises, government, transportation, critical infrastructure, education, and healthcare. To learn more, visit www.aitx.ai, stevereinharz.com, www.radsecurity.com, radgroup.ai, and www.radlightmyway.com, or follow Steve Reinharz on Twitter @SteveReinharz. ### Steve Reinharz949-636-7060@SteveReinharz Attachment Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc. Illustration of a 28 RAD ROSA security robots and 5 TOM visitor management devices in simulated autonomous response mode. RAD has received multiple orders totaling 33 units from authorized dealers and direct end-user clients. Source: Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc. Bank of Aland Plc Stock exchange release October 19, 2022, 9.00 EET Carola Nilsson new Managing Director of Alandsbanken Fondbolag Ab Carola Nilsson has been appointed as the new Managing Director of the Bank of Alands wholly owned subsidiary Alandsbanken Fondbolag Ab. The company manages the Banks mutual funds and alternative investment funds. Carola Nilsson has extensive experience and has held various leading positions in the banking and finance industry in Finland and Sweden over the past three decades. She will take up her new position in Mariehamn on November 1, 2022, succeeding Tom Pettersson, who has been Managing Director since 2000 but has chosen to change roles within the company for health reasons. Bank of Aland Plc (Alandsbanken Abp) For further information Thomas Lundberg, Chairman of the Board, Alandsbanken Fondbolag Ab, tel. +358 40 591 31 59 Carola Nilsson, tel. +358 40 824 41 96 -- The Bank of Aland (Alandsbanken) is a challenger in the banking world, and we attract attention because of our winning approach to building customer relationships. Alandsbanken Fondbolag Ab manages the Banks mutual funds and alternative investment funds. In 2021, the company managed 13 funds, and the capital under management in these funds totalled about EUR 4.3 billion. The fund company was founded in 1998 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank of Aland Plc. In addition to carrying out fund operations in the form of ordinary mutual funds (UCITSs), the company is also authorised as a manager of alternative investment funds (AIFs). Attachment VAL-D'OR, Quebec, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cartier Resources Inc. (TSX-V: ECR) (Cartier or the Company) announces that it has completed a non-brokered private placement of aggregate gross proceeds of $1.5 million (the Private Placement). Under the Private Placement, the Company issued 12,500,000 flow through common shares (the FT Shares) at a price of $0.12 per FT Share. The FT Shares will qualify as flow through shares for the purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the Tax Act). The gross proceeds of the Private Placement will be used to incur Canadian exploration expenses which qualify as flow through mining expenditures (within the meaning of the Tax Act). The Company will renounce these expenses with an effective date no later than December 31, 2022 to the purchasers of the FT Shares. In connection with the Private Placement, the Company paid a finder's fee to Mine Equities Ltd., an exempt market dealer, comprised of an amount of $45,000 in cash and 500,000 common shares of the Company. The closing of the Private Placement is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. All securities issued pursuant to the Private Placement will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. About Cartier Resources Inc.Cartier Resources Inc. was founded in 2006 and is a Val-dOr based exploration company. The Companys projects are all located in Quebec, which has consistently ranked as one of the worlds best mining jurisdictions. Cartier is advancing the development of its flagship Chimo Mine Project and actively exploring its other projects. The Company has a strong cash position exceeding $6.0 M and a significant corporate and institutional endorsement, including Agnico Eagle Mines, O3 Mining and Quebec investment funds. For more information, contact:Philippe Cloutier, P. Geo.President and CEOTelephone: 819-856-0512[email protected]www.ressourcescartier.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulatory services provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. Source: Cartier Resources Inc. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Christina Lake Cannabis Corp. (the Company or CLC or Christina Lake Cannabis) (CSE: CLC) (OTCQB: CLCFF) (FRANKFURT: CLB) is pleased to announce that it has closed the second tranche of a non-brokered private placement of unsecured convertible debentures (the Debenture) in the principal amount of CDN$150,000 (the Offering). The Company has raised a collective total of $960,000 between the first and second tranche of the private placement. The Debenture will mature thirty-six (36) months from the date of issuance and bear interest at the rate of 15.0% per annum, with such interest to be accrued on a monthly basis and paid on a semi-annual basis. Pursuant to the terms of the Debenture, the subscriber may at any time prior to the Maturity Date convert the principal amounts of the Debenture and any accrued but unpaid interest into common shares of the Company ("Common Shares"), at a price of $0.15 per Common share. The Debenture (principal and interest) will be unsecured debt obligations of the Company, and therefore subject to existing security interests (as applicable) and permitted encumbrances. The Debenture shall rank pari passu with all other Debentures, regardless of the date of issuance. In connection with the issuance of the Debenture, the Corporation issued an aggregate of 75,000 bonus warrants (Bonus Warrants) to the subscriber of the Offering. The subscriber received one half of one Bonus Warrant for each $1 subscribed under the Offering. Each Bonus Warrant is exercisable until December 31, 2024 to acquire one additional Common Share per Bonus Warrant at an exercise price of $0.20 per share. The Bonus Warrants are subject to an acceleration clause, whereby if the volume weighted average price of CLC's Common Shares exceeds $0.40 per Common Share for a period of 20 days, the Company may accelerate the expiry of the Bonus Warrants by providing notice to the holder. All securities issued pursuant to the Offering are subject to a statutory four-month and one day hold period from the date of issuance pursuant to applicable securities laws of Canada. In connection with the second tranche of the private placement, the Company paid a finders fee of $9,000 cash to a qualified party. Proceeds from the Offering will be used to finance and repatriate the purchase of processing equipment and working capital to continue the Companys ongoing obligations. Retains LodeRock Advisors for Strategic Investor Relations The Company also announces that it has retained the services of LodeRock Advisors Inc. ("LodeRock") to provide strategic investor relations and capital markets communication services to the Company. LodeRock is a Toronto-based group of senior capital markets communications executives who develop and execute communications programs in order to help companies achieve their capital markets objectives and capture the full potential of their public listing. Under the terms of the agreement, which will continue until either party has terminated the agreement upon ninety (90) days' notice, the Company will pay LodeRock a monthly fee of $12,000 (plus HST) for ongoing investor relations and communication services. At the time of this agreement neither LodeRock, nor its principals, have any direct or indirect interest in any of the Companys securities. About Christina Lake Cannabis Corp. Christina Lake Cannabis is a licensed producer of cannabis under the Cannabis Act. It has secured a standard cultivation license and corresponding processing amendment from Health Canada (March 2020 and August 2020, respectively) as well as a research and development license (early 2020). Christina Lake Cannabis facility consists of a 32-acre property, which includes over 950,000 square feet of outdoor grow space, offices, propagation and drying rooms, research facilities, and a facility dedicated to processing and extraction. Christina Lake Cannabis also owns a 99-acre plot of land adjoining its principal site. CLC focuses its production on creating high quality extracts and distillate for its B2B client base with proprietary strains specifically developed for outdoor cultivation to enhance extraction quality. On behalf of Christina Lake Cannabis Corp.: Mark Aiken Mark Aiken, CEO For more information about CLC, please visit: www.christinalakecannabis.com Jamie FrawleyInvestor Relations and Media Inquiries[email protected] 416-268-9432 THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE (CSE) HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE, NOR HAS OR DOES THE CSES REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER. This news release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking statements", including the anticipated use of the proceeds of the Offering, statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company with respect to the future business activities and operating performance of the Company. The use of any of the words anticipate, continue, estimate, expect, may, will, would, should, believe and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date of this News Release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks including various risk factors discussed in the Companys disclosure documents which can be found under the Companys profile on http://www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements except as otherwise required by applicable law Source: Christina Lake Cannabis Corp. Speakers and attendees at this popular in-person event will also explore opportunities for making security a competitive advantage WESTPORT, Conn., Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HMG Strategy, the Worlds #1 digital platform for enabling technology executives to reimagine the enterprise and reshape the business world and recently recognized as a Top 10 Producer of Tech Events by Business Chief, is excited to be hosting its 2022 Silicon Valley CIO Executive Leadership Summit at The Ameswell Hotel in Mountain View, CA on October 27. HMG Strategys highly interactive events bring together the worlds most distinguished and innovative business technology and security leaders to discuss the most pressing leadership, innovation, strategic, cultural, technology and career challenges and opportunities that they face today and into the future. World-class technology leaders and industry experts speaking at this popular in-person event will explore different ways in which technology executives have adapted their leadership styles to help galvanize the team around a shared mission, to stimulate a collaborative and inclusive culture that can spark innovation and drive successful business outcomes. As weve repeatedly seen since March 2020, technology leaders have successfully adjusted their leadership styles to deliver bold, authentic and inclusive leadership to help inspire employees and foster an environment of trust, said Hunter Muller, Founder and CEO of HMG Strategy. World-class technology executives speaking at the 2022 Silicon Valley CIO Executive Leadership Summit will include: Snehal Antani , Co-Founder and CEO, Horizon3.ai , Co-Founder and CEO, Horizon3.ai Suyash Awasthi , Managing Director, Globant , Managing Director, Globant Chris Bedi , CIO, ServiceNow , CIO, ServiceNow Eddie Borrero , VP & CISO, Blue Shield of California , VP & CISO, Blue Shield of California Tim Crawford , CIO Strategic Advisor, AVOA , CIO Strategic Advisor, AVOA Bruce Burroughs , CTO, AAA Northern California Nevada & Utah , CTO, AAA Northern California Nevada & Utah Dr. Sarah Cortes , Privacy Engineering, Netflix , Privacy Engineering, Netflix Tom Cullen , CIO, Corsair , CIO, Corsair Christopher Desautel , SVP & Chief Digital Officer, Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies , SVP & Chief Digital Officer, Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies Mark Egan , Partner, StrataFusion , Partner, StrataFusion Stuart Evans , Director of the Emirates, Carnegie Mellon University i-Lab , Director of the Emirates, Carnegie Mellon University i-Lab David Hahn , CISO, CDK Global , CISO, CDK Global Emily Heath , Board of Directors, Chair of Technology & Cyber Security Committee, Member of Audit Committee, Norton LifeLock , Board of Directors, Chair of Technology & Cyber Security Committee, Member of Audit Committee, Norton LifeLock Dion Houng-Lee , Managing Director, Human Resources, Silicon Valley Bank , Managing Director, Human Resources, Silicon Valley Bank Rohit Jain , VP of Technology, Applications and Analytics, iRhythm Technologies, Inc. , VP of Technology, Applications and Analytics, iRhythm Technologies, Inc. Sumit Johar , CIO, Automation Anywhere , CIO, Automation Anywhere Datta Junnarkar , CIO Autonomous Maritime , CIO Autonomous Maritime Tony Leng , Managing Director, Practice Lead and OMP, Diversified Search , Managing Director, Practice Lead and OMP, Diversified Search Rob Lloyd , Deputy City Manager for Aviation, Transportation & Technology, City of San Jose , Deputy City Manager for Aviation, Transportation & Technology, City of San Jose Adhir Mattu , SVP & CIO, Marvell Semiconductor , SVP & CIO, Marvell Semiconductor David Morris , Founder & Chairman, HiPER Solutions , Founder & Chairman, HiPER Solutions Wendy M. Pfeiffer , CIO & SVP, Nutanix , CIO & SVP, Nutanix Dave Reisenauer , Sr. Director, Digital Transformation, Supply Chain, NVIDIA , Sr. Director, Digital Transformation, Supply Chain, NVIDIA Sahaar Rezaie , Executive Director, Genesys Works , Executive Director, Genesys Works Sarah Richardson , SVP, Chief Digital & Information Officer, Tivity Health , SVP, Chief Digital & Information Officer, Tivity Health Matthew Rosenquist , CISO, Eclipz.io , CISO, Eclipz.io Parul Saini , Global Head of Business and Enterprise Applications, Uber , Global Head of Business and Enterprise Applications, Uber Chris Starling , Associate VP, NPower , Associate VP, NPower Cynthia Stoddard , SVP & CIO, Adobe , SVP & CIO, Adobe Ravi Thadani , Interim CIO/Head of IT Business Applications, AMD , Interim CIO/Head of IT Business Applications, AMD Kathryn Ullrich , Managing Partner, Technology and Diversity, DHR Global , Managing Partner, Technology and Diversity, DHR Global Dr. Branden Williams, Business Identity Specialist, Ping Identity Valued Partners for the 2022 Silicon Valley CIO Executive Leadership Summit include 8x8, Akamai, Automation Anywhere, BetterCloud, Darktrace, Delphix, Fortinet, Genesys Works, LastPass, NPower, Nutanix, Palo Alto Networks, Ping Identity, Qumulo, RingCentral, SafeGuard Cyber, ServiceNow, Strata, Tonkean, Transmit Security, Upwork, Zoom, and Zscaler. To learn more about the 2022 Silicon Valley CIO Executive Leadership Summit and to register for the event, click here. HMG Strategy will also be hosting its 2022 San Diego Technology Executive Leadership Summit in Partnership with SIM San Diego at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine on October 25. This popular and long-standing CIO summit will bring together the top CIOs, CISOs, technology executives and industry experts from the Greater San Diego area who will share their insights on the roles that technology executives can play in helping to design fresh go-to-market business models. Top tier technology executives and industry experts speaking at the 2022 San Diego Technology Executive Leadership Summit in Partnership with SIM San Diego on October 25 will include: Mike Anderson , Chief Digital and Information Officer, Netskope , Chief Digital and Information Officer, Netskope Joshua Barons , Head of Information Security, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance , Head of Information Security, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Amy Benton , VP, IT, Travere Therapeutics , VP, IT, Travere Therapeutics Louise Brandy , SVP & CIO, Quidel , SVP & CIO, Quidel Eric Dube , President & CEO, Travere Therapeutics , President & CEO, Travere Therapeutics Todd Felker , Executive Healthcare Strategist, CrowdStrike , Executive Healthcare Strategist, CrowdStrike Todd Friedman , CISO, ResMed , CISO, ResMed Suresh Gunasekaran , President and CEO, UCSF Health , President and CEO, UCSF Health Houman Haghighi , Partner, Business & Corporate Development, Menlo Ventures , Partner, Business & Corporate Development, Menlo Ventures Dan Hedstrom , VP & CIO, Cubic Corporation , VP & CIO, Cubic Corporation Steve Hoyt , VP, Information Systems, Quidel , VP, Information Systems, Quidel Beto Juarez , CIO, San Diego Housing Commission , CIO, San Diego Housing Commission Abe Lietz , SVP & CIO, KinderCare Education , SVP & CIO, KinderCare Education Christopher Longhurst , Chief Medical Officer & Chief Digital Officer, UC San Diego Health System , Chief Medical Officer & Chief Digital Officer, UC San Diego Health System Aviva McPherron , CIO, NuVasive , CIO, NuVasive Barb Munro , Co-Founder and Membership Chair, SIM San Diego; Co-Founder, Partner, The Carrera Agency , Co-Founder and Membership Chair, SIM San Diego; Co-Founder, Partner, The Carrera Agency Tony Olzak , CTO, Trace3 , CTO, Trace3 Albert Oriol , CIO, Rady Childrens Hospital , CIO, Rady Childrens Hospital Gautham Pallapa , Senior Executive Advisor, VMware, Inc. , Senior Executive Advisor, VMware, Inc. Steve Phillpott , President, SIM San Diego; CIO/CDO, Solidigm , President, SIM San Diego; CIO/CDO, Solidigm Bhavin Shah , Founder and CEO, Moveworks , Founder and CEO, Moveworks Yasmin Shah , CEO, CIO, SeenADriver , CEO, CIO, SeenADriver Jessica Sica , CISO, PETCO Animal Supplies , CISO, PETCO Animal Supplies Mark Taylor , CEO, Society for Information Management , CEO, Society for Information Management Maria Zack , Professor and Chair of Mathematical, Information and Computer Sciences Point Loma Nazarene University , Professor and Chair of Mathematical, Information and Computer Sciences Point Loma Nazarene University John Zavada, Chief Administrative Officer, PETCO Animal Supplies Valued Partners for the 2022 San Diego Technology Executive Leadership Summit in Partnership with SIM San Diego include 8x8, Akamai, Automation Anywhere, BetterCloud, Centripetal, CrowdStrike, Darktrace, Delphix, Fortinet, Intelliswift, LastPass, LogicMonitor, Moveworks, Netskope, Nutanix, Palo Alto Networks, Ping Identity, ReliaQuest, RingCentral, SafeGuard Cyber, SentinelOne, SHE Information Technology, Sigma, SIM San Diego, Slalom, Snowflake, Tanium, Tonkean, Trace3, Upwork, Varonis, Zoom, and Zscaler. To learn more about the 2022 San Diego Technology Executive Leadership Summit in Partnership with SIM San Diego and to register for the event, click here. HMG Strategy will also be hosting its 2022 Greenwich CIO Executive Leadership Summit at the Rockrimmon Country Club in Stamford, CT on November 3. CIOs and technology executives at this popular in-person event will explore the role of the modern technology executive in leading, inventing and winning in unprecedented times. Top-tier CIOs, CISOs and industry leaders speaking at the 2022 Greenwich CIO Executive Leadership Summit on November 3 will include: Kamran Amin , CIO, Arch Reinsurance Group , CIO, Arch Reinsurance Group Sarah Angel-Johnson , CIO & VP Business Technology Solutions, Save the Children , CIO & VP Business Technology Solutions, Save the Children Snehal Antani , Co-Founder and CEO, Horizon3.ai , Co-Founder and CEO, Horizon3.ai Beth Boucher , Non-Executive Independent Director/Chair Nominating and Governance Committee, Coforge , Non-Executive Independent Director/Chair Nominating and Governance Committee, Coforge Bob Burkhardt , VP of Engineering, Fortinet , VP of Engineering, Fortinet Susan Certoma , Board Director/Executive Leader/Strategic Advisor, Point2Point , Board Director/Executive Leader/Strategic Advisor, Point2Point Stephen M.R. Covey , Global Authority on Trust, Leadership and Culture, The FranklinCovey Global Speed of Trust Practice , Global Authority on Trust, Leadership and Culture, The FranklinCovey Global Speed of Trust Practice Fred Danback , SVP, CIO and CISO, Healthcare Risk Advisors , SVP, CIO and CISO, Healthcare Risk Advisors Mario DiNatale , CIO, Spectrum Virtual , CIO, Spectrum Virtual Ursuline Foley , Independent Board Director, Full Board Member, Risk & Technology Committees (former Audit member), Board Member, DOCOsoft, Provident Financial Services , Independent Board Director, Full Board Member, Risk & Technology Committees (former Audit member), Board Member, DOCOsoft, Provident Financial Services Tsvi Gal , CTO and Board Member, Israel Discount Bank; Head of Enterprise Technology Services, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , CTO and Board Member, Israel Discount Bank; Head of Enterprise Technology Services, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Matthew Lagana , Managing Director, CTO & CISO, MBIA , Managing Director, CTO & CISO, MBIA Danielle Maurici-Arnone , Global Chief Digital and Technology Officer, Combe International , Global Chief Digital and Technology Officer, Combe International Michael OConnor , SVP and Chief Product Officer, Porzio Life Sciences, LLC , SVP and Chief Product Officer, Porzio Life Sciences, LLC Jim Panos , CIO, Central National Gottesman, Inc. , CIO, Central National Gottesman, Inc. Joseph Puglisi , Chairman & Co-Manager, North Andover Investors Collaborative, LLC , Chairman & Co-Manager, North Andover Investors Collaborative, LLC Anna Ransley , CIO, Godiva , CIO, Godiva Gloria Samuels , Global Workday Business Group Lead, Accenture , Global Workday Business Group Lead, Accenture Brook Shuford , CISO, Datavail Corporation , CISO, Datavail Corporation Ramnath Venkataraman , Integrated Global Services Lead, Accenture , Integrated Global Services Lead, Accenture Michael Zanga , Managing Director, Global Head of Technology, Cyber, Data and Change Risk, Barclays , Managing Director, Global Head of Technology, Cyber, Data and Change Risk, Barclays Sigal Zarmi, Board Director, ADT; Hashicorp; BigID Valued Partners for the 2022 Greenwich CIO Executive Leadership Summit include 8x8, Akamai, Apptio, Arctic Wolf, BetterCloud, Darktrace, Delphix, Fortinet, LastPass, NPower, Nutanix, Outsystems, Palo Alto Networks, Ping Identity, RingCentral, SafeGuard Cyber, SentinelOne, SIM Fairfield-Westchester, Tanium, Tonkean, Upwork, Zoom, and Zscaler. To learn more about the 2022 Greenwich CIO Executive Leadership Summit and to register for the event, click here. To learn more about HMG Strategys upcoming CIO and CISO Summits, click here. About HMG Strategy HMG Strategy is the world's leading digital platform for technology executives to reimagine the enterprise and reshape the business world. The HMG Strategy global network consists of more than 400,000 CIOs, CTOs, CISOs, CDOs, senior business technology executives, search industry executives, venture capitalists, industry experts and world-class thought leaders. HMG Strategys global media model generates more than one million impressions per week, providing vast opportunities for business technology leaders and sponsor partners to promote themselves and their brands. HMG Strategy was founded in 2008 by Hunter Muller, a leadership expert who has worked side-by-side with Fortune 2000 executives with strategic planning and career ascent for the past 30+ years. HMG Strategys regional and virtual CIO and CISO Executive Leadership Series, authored books and Digital Resource Center deliver unique, peer-driven guidance from CIOs, CISOs, CTOs, CDOs and technology executives on leadership, innovation, transformation and career ascent. HMG Strategy offers a range of peer-led research services such as its CIO & CISO Executive Leadership Alliance (CELA) program which bring together the worlds top CIOs, CISOs and technology executives to brainstorm on the top opportunities and challenges facing them in their roles. HMG Strategys Global Peer Actionable Insights Services Stack is a unique set of research services that are designed to keep business technology executives up to speed on the latest leadership, business, technology and global geo-economic trends that are impacting businesses and industries. To learn more about the 7 Pillars of Trust for HMG Strategy's unique business model, click here . Contact: Tom Hoffman, VP, Research, HMG Strategy: 203-221-2702 or at [email protected] A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0f8660bc-7040-4b21-b2a8-7c91e4686a93 On 19 October 2022, AS Merko Ehitus Eesti, part of AS Merko Ehitus group, signed a contract with Centre for Defence Investment for the construction of new buildings in the Tapa campus of the Defence Forces in Laane-Viru County. The agreement includes the construction of four multi-purpose halls, two shower facility halls and a gas station, with accompanying external communications and road surfaces. The contract value is approximately EUR 7.1 million, plus value added tax. The scheduled deadline of the works is in May 2023. AS Merko Ehitus Eesti ( merko.ee ) is Estonian leading construction company, which offers construction services in general construction, civil engineering and residential construction and develops residential real estate. To ensure the best quality and convenience for home buyers, Merko manages all phases of the development: planning, design, construction, sales and service during the warranty period. Additional information: Mr. Peeter Laidma, division director of AS Merko Ehitus Eesti, phone +372 680 5105. Urmas Somelar Head of Finance AS Merko Ehitus +372 650 1250 [email protected] Dallas, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A Texas heat wave is coming to The Great White North as Dickeys Barbecue Pit smokes its Legit. Texas. Barbecue. across the border in Canada. Following the early success of its first Canadian opening in Edmonton last August, the worlds largest barbecue concept has even bigger expansion plans in the near future. As the brand focuses on aligning with the best local ownership partners, Dickeys franchise anticipates a total of 25 grand openings between Calgary and Edmonton. However, it doesnt stop in Alberta. Dickeys is also setting its sights on Ontario with plans to open its first restaurant in Toronto this December, followed by another in the Greater Toronto Area, as well as an Ottawa location in 2023. No need to travel down south for the best BBQ from Texas, were bringing the cue to you! Plans are also underway for an opening in Quebec in March of 2023 as Dickeys looks to bring a taste of Texas to its friends up north. Texas and Canada are different in many ways, but we can all agree on our shared love of barbecue, said Dickeys Executive VP of International Development and Support Jim Perkins. Just like The Lone Star State, Canada has an abundance of oil and cattle, but most importantly an entrepreneurial spirit, which is a big reason why were excited about working with local franchisees to bring Legit. Texas. Barbecue. to this beautiful and vibrant country. With this latest announcement, Dickeys continues to strengthen its international presence as the worlds largest barbecue brand and franchise with over 550 locations worldwide. With locations in Brazil, Egypt, Japan, Pakistan, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates, Dickeys has entrenched itself as the most successful barbecue concept in the restaurant industry. Fans can order Dickeys holiday offerings while supplies last online at dickeys.com, through the Dickeys App, or by calling their local BBQ joint. To learn more, follow Dickeys Barbecue Pit on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Download the Dickeys Barbecue Pit app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. To learn more about Dickeys Virtual Concepts follow: Wing Boss on Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok, Trailer Birds on Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok and Big Deal Burger on Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok About Dickeys Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., the worlds largest barbecue concept, was founded in 1941 by the Dickey family. For the past 80 years, Dickeys Barbecue Pit has served millions of guests in 44 states Legit. Texas. Barbecue. At Dickeys, all our barbecued meats are smoked onsite in a hickory wood burning pit. Dickeys proudly believes theres no shortcut to true barbecue and its why our name isnt BBQ. The Dallas-based, family-run barbecue franchise offers eight slow-smoked meats and 12 wholesome sides with 'No B.S. (Bad Stuff)' included. Dickeys Barbecue has 550 locations across the United States and eight other countries. Dickeys was named to Newsweeks 2022 Americas Favorite Restaurant Chains list and USA Today 2021 readers choice awards. Dickeys won first place on Fast Casuals Top 100 Movers and Shakers list, been named a Top 500 Franchise by Entrepreneur and named to Hospitality Technologys Industry Heroes list. Led by CEO Laura Rea Dickey, who was named among the countrys 50 most influential women in foodservice in Nations Restaurant News, was recognized by Fast Casuals Top 100 Movers and Shakers list and honored by Dallas Business Journal. Dickey's Barbecue Pit has also been recognized by Fox News, Forbes Magazine, Franchise Times, The Dallas Morning News, The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine and QSR Magazine. Dickeys Barbecue is part of Dickeys Restaurant Brands which has more than 700 restaurants nationwide including brands Wing Boss, Trailer Birds, Big Deal Burger and bbqathome.com. DRB is led by CEO Roland Dickey Jr. For more information, visit www.dickeys.com. # # # Attachment Shannon Santos Dickey's Barbecue Pit [email protected] Source: Dickeys Barbecue Restaurants Boston, Mass., Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Foundry (an IDG, Inc. company), the leading B2B media and martech provider, announced today the launch of the companys proprietary intent data product, Foundry Intent, marking the companys first major release since it acquired data and martech companies LeadSift, KickFire, Triblio, and Selling Simplified. Built upon Foundrys existing Neon ABM data infrastructure and its history of strong IT audience and activation, the contact-level intent capability brings together KickFire and LeadSift data capture technologies and machine learning to enhance and expand the companys knowledge graph across all technology verticals, and offers a more comprehensive view of intent to tech marketers looking to understand and respond to buyers individual needs efficiently and at scale. Building a digital and analog view of buyer intent from the contact level up Unique to other intent solutions on the market, Foundry Intent unifies real-time signals from a variety of sources including Foundrys owned and operated network of award-winning editorial sites, marketers own website data, social platforms and sites across the public web, as well as non-digital signals from Foundrys 800+ annual events to deliver a high-fidelity source of B2B buyer intent within a single platform. Until now, said Foundry President Kumaran Ramanathan, the intent market has offered points of view from a single category of data source, and marketers have been left to aggregate and standardize account-level data in hopes of constructing their own insights. The market has signaled that bid stream data and cookies are too limited both in the scope and detail needed to reach an actionable and accurate view of the buyer journey. Our solution in Foundry Intent is to forgo these types of subjective datapoints and instead create a robust view of the buyer journey built entirely of concrete, multi-channel signals from the contact level up. The product aims to support B2B marketers as the technology buyer journey becomes increasingly dispersed, by consolidating and scoring varied signals for a single, actionable view of both account- and buyer-level intent. Buying decisions are increasingly complex with more ways to buy, places to look, and stakeholders to involve than ever before, continued Ramanathan. By applying artificial intelligence to our consolidated data from places where the majority of buyers are active pre-form fill were erasing a critical blind spot and enabling efficient marketing by painting a more vigorous and accurate picture of contact- and account-level intent. Over the past several months, Foundry has conducted beta sessions with select clients to demo the products features and leverage its insights in their own marketing efforts. I'm very impressed with the depth of data we can get to, moving past just intent data against particular topics and starting to build up a qualitative and quantitative picture of what is happening within an account, said Emily Birt, Client Partner at Merkle B2B EMEA. The Foundry Intent platform has also enabled us to solve audience sizing questions for clients based on company profiles vs. firmographic data, which has been invaluable to our strategy team and gives us an edge over standard B2B tools. Bringing visibility and orchestration together seamlessly With the release of Foundry Intent comes a new interface which offers a streamlined and comprehensive view of real-time buyer intent and enables orchestration at both the contact and account level, while adhering strictly to data compliance regulations such as the GDPR and comparable standards around the globe. Foundry Intent data can be dynamically activated for advertising, outbound, prioritization and personalization in existing marketing and sales processes or via Foundry solutions such as advertising, events, demand, and ABM orchestration for all data and activation in one place. Additionally, with seamless integration into marketers CRM and automation tools, Foundry Intent algorithms uncover relevant leads who demonstrate real-time purchase intent to make the outreach and sales follow-up processes more relevant and timely. Looking ahead to a more integrated model of B2B marketing Rebranding from IDG Communications to Foundry earlier this year, the company is evolving its longtime status as the worlds largest technology publisher to become a media- and data-enabled leader in the martech space. Were entering an era where marketing and technology communicate consistently and dynamically, establishing the foundation for activation that speaks directly to buyers needs, said Ramanathan. The introduction of Foundry Intent is the intuitive next step to more actionable intent data to power that activation. While Foundry Intent marks the first release following a season of acquisitions, Ramanathan notes that upcoming product releases will fold in Triblio and Selling Simplified features alongside Foundry Intent as part of a martech suite designed for a more holistic and integrated model of B2B marketing. In bringing together the best of our owned and acquired technologies, we will continue to innovate and help our customers build and execute on their upper pipeline, said Ramanathan. Foundry Intent data will be exclusively available through Foundry direct sales and via the Triblio platform. To learn more about Foundry Intent, visit foundryco.com/our-solutions/intent-data/. About Foundry, an IDG, Inc. company Foundry has played a key role in every major milestone, announcement, and development in modern technology since 1964. Today, Foundry continues to lead in the technology space by helping companies bring their visions to reality through a combination of media, marketing technologies and proprietary data. Our technology platforms of Triblio, Selling Simplified, KickFire and LeadSift are powered by data from an owned and operated ecosystem of global editorial brands, awards, and events, all engineered and integrated to drive marketing campaigns for technology companies. Foundry is dedicated to generating and innovating with data, driving demand for technology marketers with 38 offices in markets around the globe. Foundry is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Data Group, Inc. (IDG), the worlds leading market intelligence and demand generation company focused on the technology industry. To learn more about Foundry, visit www.foundryco.com. Rachael Ferranti VP of Corporate Marketing, Foundry [email protected] Source: Foundry (formerly IDG Communications, Inc.) SAN DIEGO, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Oct. 19, 2022, the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) commenced flight operations using an MQ-9B SeaGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI). JCG is operating the SeaGuardian from the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) Air Station Hachinohe. The RPA will primarily perform Maritime Wide Area Search (MWAS) over the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean. Other missions will include search and rescue, disaster response, and maritime law enforcement. "SeaGuardian is the world's premier asset for performing MWAS," said Robert Schoeffling, vice president of International Strategic Development at GA-ASI. "We're proud to support the Government of Japan's policy to strengthen its maritime security." SeaGuardian features a multi-mode maritime surface-search radar with an Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) imaging mode, an Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver, and High-Definition - Full-Motion Video sensor equipped with optical and infrared cameras. This sensor suite enables real-time detection and identification of surface vessels over thousands of square nautical miles and provides automatic tracking of maritime targets and correlation of AIS transmitters with radar tracks. GA-ASI's MQ-9B SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian are revolutionizing the long-endurance RPAS market by providing all-weather capability and full compliance with STANAG-4671 (NATO UAS airworthiness standard). This feature, along with our operationally proven, collision-avoidance radar, enables flexible operations in civil airspace. SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian have garnered significant interest from customers throughout the world. The UK Ministry of Defence selected MQ-9B SkyGuardian for its Protector program, and the Belgian Ministry of Defense signed a contract for SkyGuardian. About GA-ASI General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a leading designer and manufacturer of proven, reliable Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems, including the Predator RPA series and the Lynx Multi-mode Radar. With more than seven million flight hours, GA-ASI provides long-endurance, mission-capable aircraft with integrated sensor and data link systems required to deliver persistent flight that enables situational awareness and rapid strike. The company also produces a variety of ground control stations and sensor control/image analysis software, offers pilot training and support services, and develops meta-material antennas. For more information, visit www.ga-asi.com. SkyGuardian, SeaGuardian, Predator and Lynx are registered trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. Contact Information: GA-ASI Media Relations GA-ASI Media Relations [email protected] +1 (858) 524-8101 Related Images Image 1 This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Featured Image for General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. Featured Image for General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. Source: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. TORONTO, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Galane Gold Ltd. (Galane Gold or the Company) (TSX-V: GG; OTCQB: GGGOF) is pleased to announce that it has received approval from the TSX Venture Exchange to change the Companys name to Golconda Gold Ltd. (the Name Change) and to consolidate the Companys outstanding common shares on the basis of one new common share for every five existing common shares (the Consolidation). The Name Change and Consolidation will take effect at the start of trading on October 21, 2022. The Company believes the proposed new name, Golconda Gold Ltd., will more accurately represent the Company today and going forward. The name Galane Gold Ltd. is associated with, and was chosen specifically to complement, the Mupane Gold Mine. With the divestment of Mupane, the Company believes a new name will make it clear to current stakeholders and future stakeholders that the Company no longer owns Mupane and is concentrating on progressing both Galaxy Gold and the Summit Mine and Banner Mill. The Company believes that the share price and the number of shares outstanding following the Consolidation will more appropriately reflect the Companys status as a junior gold producer. Based on investor feedback, management believes that while the higher share count and lower share price was appealing to certain investors, the new proposed capital structure will be more appealing to prospective institutional shareholders and will aid management in its efforts to expand and diversify the Companys shareholder base with the goal of increasing liquidity and establishing a trading price that more accurately reflects the underlying value and future potential of the Companys operations. The Name Change and Consolidation were approved by shareholders on June 23, 2022. For further details on the Name Change and Consolidation, see the Companys press release dated May 26, 2022. As a result of the Consolidation, the 356,366,541 common shares issued and outstanding prior to the Consolidation will be reduced to approximately 71,273,308 common shares. Each shareholders percentage ownership in the Company and proportionate voting power will remain unchanged after the Consolidation, except for minor changes and adjustments resulting from the treatment of any fractional common shares. The exercise price of the Companys outstanding common share purchase warrants and the number of common shares issuable thereunder have been adjusted in accordance with the Consolidation. In connection with the Consolidation, the Company expects to send letters of transmittal to registered holders of its common shares for use in transmitting their existing share certificates (Existing Certificates) to the Companys registrar and transfer agent, TSX Trust Company, in exchange for new certificates (New Certificates) representing the number of post-Consolidation common shares to which such shareholder is entitled as a result of the Consolidation. No delivery of a New Certificate to a shareholder will be made until the shareholder has surrendered its Existing Certificates. Until surrendered, each Existing Certificate shall be deemed for all purposes to represent the number of post-Consolidation common shares to which the holder is entitled as a result of the Consolidation. About Galane Gold Galane Gold is an un-hedged gold producer and explorer with mining operations and exploration tenements in South Africa and New Mexico. Galane Gold is a public company and its shares are quoted on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol GG and the OTCQB under the symbol GGGOF. Galane Golds management team is comprised of senior mining professionals with extensive experience in managing mining and processing operations and large-scale exploration programmes. Galane Gold is committed to operating at world-class standards and is focused on the safety of its employees, respecting the environment, and contributing to the communities in which it operates. Cautionary Notes Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including, without limitation, those regarding the effective date of the Name Change and Consolidation, the Companys future financial position and results of operations, strategy, proposed acquisitions, plans, objectives, goals and targets, and any statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words believe, expect, aim, intend, plan, continue, will, may, would, anticipate, estimate, forecast, predict, project, seek, should or similar expressions or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the Companys expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Additional factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially include, but are not limited to: the Companys dependence on two mineral projects; gold price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Companys mining activities in South Africa and New Mexico; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to the Companys exploration, development and mining activities being situated in South Africa and New Mexico; risks relating to reliance on the Companys management team and outside contractors; risks regarding mineral resources and reserves; the Companys inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks arising from the Companys fair value estimates with respect to the carrying amount of mineral interests; mining tax regimes; risks arising from holding derivative instruments; the Companys need to replace reserves depleted by production; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of COVID-19; the economic and financial implications of COVID-19 to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; lack of infrastructure; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; health risks in Africa; the Companys interactions with surrounding communities and artisanal miners; the Companys ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; risks related to restarting production; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; development of the Companys exploration properties into commercially viable mines; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; risks related to the market perception of junior gold companies; and litigation risk. Management provides forward-looking statements because it believes they provide useful information to investors when considering their investment objectives and cautions investors not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and other cautionary statements or factors contained herein, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law. 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. For further information please contact:Nick BrodieCEO, Galane Gold Ltd.+ 44 7905 089878[email protected]www.GalaneGold.com Source: Galane Gold Ltd Lidrotec Receives $1 Million in Investment; Four Additional Companies Secure Follow-on Investments Applications Now Being Accepted for Round 6 of the Optics, Photonics, and Imaging Competition until January 9, 2023 NYS Investment Complements "Finger Lakes Forward" - the Region's Comprehensive Strategy to Revitalize Communities and Grow the Economy Photo of Luminate NY Winner Available Here ROCHESTER, N.Y., Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Governor Kathy Hochul today announced Lidrotec as the winner of Round 5 of the Luminate NY optics, photonics, and imaging startup accelerator competition. The Bochum, Germany-based Lidrotec received the "Company of the Year" award at Luminate Finals 2022, which was held live during Optica's Frontiers in Optics + Laser Science conference in Rochester. The company will receive $1 million in investment from New York State through the Finger Lakes Forward Upstate Revitalization Initiative. As required by the award, all winners of the competition will commit to establishing operations in the region for at least the next 18 months. Through Luminate NY, Lidrotec was introduced to AIM Photonics. This collaboration is helping Lidrotec build the infrastructure for developing the next iteration of its technology and execute on its plans to establish US operations. Luminate NY, which is administered by NextCorps, is the world's largest business accelerator for emerging companies that have optics, photonics, and imaging enabled technologies. The Finals event marks the completion of the fifth year of the cohort-based program. Earlier this year, Governor Hochul included funding for Luminate NY in the New State budget for four more consecutive years. "New York is on the cutting edge of technological research, as we continue to welcome great talent and opportunities here through our Luminate NY competition," Governor Hochul said. "We are adding another chapter to the Finger Lakes Region's unparalleled history in imaging and optics by bringing the most promising companies here to speed the commercialization of groundbreaking technologies. Today's winners will be able to take advantage of the nation's most robust, sophisticated, and highly integrated optics, photonics and imaging supply chain that exists here to scale their businesses, leading to their growth as well as New York State's economy." Lidrotec's patent-pending wafer-dicing laser technology for the semiconductor industry enables thinner cuts with a virtually 0% damage rate, providing significant cost savings and productivity increases. Its innovation is in the efficient use of liquids in the laser processing zone, which cool and rinse wafers while the laser cuts out the chips. The resulting benefits include thinner cuts with higher precision, no damages to the material, clean surfaces without debris, and higher processing speedsall without the need to adapt the production process. Lidrotec CEO Alexander Igelmann said, "Luminate provided us with a new network into the United States, along with contacts to suppliers and clients. These vital connections will help us to meet our development milestones during the next two years, which include market validation for our novel laser technology." Munich, Germany based Custom Surgical was awarded the Outstanding Graduate Award and $500,000 in follow-on investment. They also received the $10,000 Audience Choice award. The company is modernizing surgery by providing an effective way to record, store, and share medical images and leverage them to diagnose and treat patients. Alertgy from Melbourne, FL secured the Distinguished Graduate award and $250,000 for its technology, which gives diabetics and the world's 2 billion pre-diabetics a way to non-invasively monitor their blood glucose levels on demand. There was a tie for Honorable Achievement, with MEETOPTICS from Barcelona Spain and SCOUT from Alexandria, VA each receiving $125,000. MEETOPTICS is building an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven platform that helps engineers and researchers in the optics and photonics industry quickly access and compare products and technologies from trusted manufacturers online. SCOUT is providing alternatives to the terrestrial sensing paradigm with on-orbit imaging systems and autonomy software for the automated detection, tracking, and characterization of space objects and orbital debris. Videos on all competing startups in the competition are available here. Investments today were presented after a panel of judges from the optics, photonics, and imaging (OPI) industry and venture capitalist community scored the participating companies based on their business pitches and due diligence completed during the six-month accelerator program. Since its inception, Luminate NY has invested $15 million in 53 startups. The companies in the portfolio now share a net worth of more than $400 million. In addition to providing an estimated 1.5 to 2 times return on investment, many of the companies are establishing U.S. operations or some aspect of research and manufacturing in the Rochester region, which has resulted in 150 jobs (100 full-time and 20 contract positions), with an additional 120 projected in the near future from two companies. Last year's winner, PreAct Technologies, committed to establishing its pilot, high-tech manufacturing in Rochester, which is expected to create 60 jobs. Luminate NY Managing Director Dr. Sujatha Ramanujan said, "This accelerator is providing the critical support that early-stage companies need to bring their technologies to market and expand their businesses in both U.S. and global markets. We are grateful to Governor Hochul for the program's continuation." The Luminate NY accelerator is based in Rochester and selects ten promising companies each year to participate in its six-month program. During this time, companies are provided with comprehensive training and resources to advance their technologies and businesses. Applications are now being accepted for Round 6 through January 9, 2023. Teams that can physically locate to Rochester will receive $100,000 in funding upon program start in April 2023. Teams that are unable to come to Rochester due to travel and Visa restrictions will receive $50,000 in funding upon program start and an additional $50,000 that must be used to engage resources in the Finger Lakes region during their time in the accelerator. The Finger Lakes Region is home to an incredibly rich ecosystem of forward-thinking entrepreneurs who are looking to grow their business. Rochester offers the American Institute for Manufacturing Integrated Photonics' Test, Assembly, and Packaging facility at Eastman Business Park, the University of Rochester's Institute of Optics, the Rochester Institute of Technology, and more than 150 local OPI companies which employ over 17,000 employees. Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight, said, "The Luminate NY competition's laser focus on accelerating innovation and investment in New York's world-renowned optics, photonics and imaging industries has further established the Finger Lakes as an OPI hub. Congratulations to all finalists, and in particular Round 5 winner Lidrotec, whose technology complements New York's strengths in semiconductor manufacturing. We look forward to the growth and impact that these forward-thinking companies will bring to the region." State Senator Jeremy Cooney said, "Luminate NY continues to bring high-quality jobs to our Greater Rochester region through their accelerator competition, and this round's winners are no exception. I'm grateful for the advancements in technology, health, wellness, and scientific discovery that these companies will leverage in our area. Thank you to Governor Hochul, Finger Lakes Forward, and Empire State Development for their support of these initiatives." Assemblymember Harry Bronson said, "The Luminate NY Accelerator Program attracts the most creative and dynamic light technology startups from across the globe. The winners of this competition will advance our optics, photonics and imaging industries across NYS. Congratulations to the team at Lidrotec! We are excited to see you grow your company here in the Finger Lakes Region. Lidrotec's ingenuity and inventiveness will continue to bring job opportunities and investment to our area. We must meet their vision and successes with equitable workforce development programs that not only support our emerging and expanding industries but also provide career pathways for all members of our community." Monroe County Executive Adam Bello said, "Congratulations to Lidrotec and all the winners of the Luminate NY program - which continues to inspire innovators and jumpstart the businesses of tomorrow across the Greater Rochester region. Thank you to Gov. Kathy Hochul and Luminate NY for continuing to foster economic growth in our community - providing quality jobs for our neighbors and strengthening our economy." Rochester Mayor Malik Evans said, "The Luminate NY accelerator provides our city with an enormous economic boost and expands Rochester's already dense web of groundbreaking innovators in optics, photonics and imaging. We are thrilled to host the Luminate Finals and wholeheartedly welcome Lidrotec to the region. Congratulations to all of the winners and thanks to Governor Hochul and the Finger Lakes Forward Initiative for making these important investments that benefit our citizens." For additional information about Luminate NY, visit: https://luminate.org/. For additional information about NextCorps, visit: https://nextcorps.org/. Accelerating Finger Lakes Forward Today's announcement complements "Finger Lakes Forward," the region's comprehensive blueprint to generate robust economic growth and community development. The regionally designed plan focuses on investing in key industries including photonics, agriculture and food production, and advanced manufacturing. Now, the region is accelerating Finger Lakes Forward with a $500 million State investment through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative. The State's $500 million investment will incentivize private business to invest well over $2.5 billion - and the region's plan, as submitted, projects up to 8,200 new jobs. More information is available here. About Empire State DevelopmentEmpire State Development (ESD) is New York's chief economic development agency (www.esd.ny.gov). The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing the Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of "I LOVE NEW YORK," the State's iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov. Media Contacts: Shari Voorhees-Vincent | [email protected] | (585) 399-7055 Press Office | [email protected] | (800) 260-7313 Shannon Wojcik | Luminate | [email protected] | (585) 831-6267 A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/60b2c6e9-556e-482b-a465-51656ad6f9c7 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d1dd9bba-0489-4160-a069-f0411ee3cd9f Luminate Finals 22 $1M Winner Alexander Igelmann, CEO, Lidrotec, accepts $1 Million in Follow-On Funding from Luminate NY Source: Luminate The Norwegian Food Safety Authority have notified Grieg Seafood that the Group is required to cull fish in eight single pens on two farms in the Finnmark region, due to detection of the parasite Spironucleus salmonicida. There is about 1 million fish of an average of approximately 0.7 kg in these pens. The harvest guiding of the Group is not impacted. The parasite has also been detected in single pens on other farms with fish from the same generation. The majority of the pens have no signs of sickness at all. Measures have been taken with successful outcomes on some of the impacted pens, resulting in reduced levels of mortality, improved fish welfare and stable biology. The source of the parasite is believed to be the water intake to the freshwater facility during a limited period of time between the Autumn of 2021 and Spring of 2022. Measures have been taken and additional measures are under assessment. There have been no detections on the current generation in the facility, which is being transferred to sea. The Group remains in close dialogue with the Norwegian Food Safety Authority on the issue. The information included in this announcement may be qualified as inside information pursuant to article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation and is publicly disclosed in accordance with article 17 of the Market Abuse Regulation and section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. For enquiries, please contact: Andreas Kvame, CEO Cell phone: +47 907 71 441 Atle Harald Sandtorv, CFO Cell phone +47 908 45 252 About Grieg Seafood Grieg Seafood ASA is one of the world's leading salmon farmers. Our farms are in Finnmark and Rogaland in Norway, and British Columbia as well as Newfoundland in Canada. Our headquarter is located in Bergen, Norway. Grieg Seafood ASA was listed at the Oslo Stock Exchange in June 2007. More than 750 people work in the company throughout our regions. Sustainable farming practices are the foundation of Grieg Seafoods operations. The lowest possible environmental impact and the best possible fish welfare is both an ethical responsibility and drive economic profitability. Towards 2026, we aim for global growth, cost improvements and to evolve from a pure salmon supplier to an innovation partner for selected customers. NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Healthcare Realty (NYSE: HR) today announced Ron M. Hubbard has been appointed as the Companys Vice President of Investor Relations. Mr. Hubbard will be responsible for maintaining relationships with equity and debt investors and analysts to assist the investment community in understanding the Companys strategy, business model and financial performance. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Hubbard worked in investor relations for two publicly traded REITs. Most recently, he was Vice President of Investor Relations at Duke Realty. He also has experience as an investment officer and senior analyst at a private real estate asset management firm. Ron HubbardVice President, Investor RelationsP: 615.269.8290 Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated (NYSE: HR) is a real estate investment trust that integrates owning, managing, financing and developing income-producing real estate properties associated primarily with the delivery of outpatient healthcare services throughout the United States. As of the closing of the Healthcare Realty-Healthcare Trust of America merger on July 20, 2022, the Company was invested in over 700 real estate properties totaling approximately 44 million square feet and provided leasing and property management services to more than 30 million square feet nationwide. Source: Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated New York, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Hereditary Disease Foundation today announced the winners of its 2022 prizes for leadership in Huntingtons disease research. -- Steven Finkbeiner, MD, PhD, (Gladstone Institutes and University of California, San Francisco) is the winner of the 2022 Leslie Gehry Prize for Innovation in Science for his advancements in developing powerful, cutting-edge technologies to understand and develop treatments for Huntingtons disease. -- Natalia Barbosa, PhD (Stanford) is the winner of the 2022 Nancy S. Wexler Young Investigator Prize for her work that is potentially opeining up new strategies for effective therapeutic interventions for Huntingtons disease. Dr. Finkbeiner and Dr. Barbosa will be featured speakers at the Hereditary Disease Foundation Virtual Gala on Thursday, November 10, 7pm ET. Steven Finkbeiner, Translating Research into Therapeutics Dr. Finkbeiner is Senior Investigator, Director of the Center for Systems and Therapeutics, and Director of the Taube/Koret Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research at Gladstone Institutes, as well as Professor of Neurology and Physiology at the University of California, San Francisco. He has studied HD for over 25 years, solidifying himself as a leader in neuroscience at the forefront of understanding neurodegenerative diseases. He is best known for the invention of a robotic imaging device that helped capture the life of brain cells and the cellular and subcellular processes leading to their death in HD. He was among the very first in the world to implement deep learning to find cellular features that humans couldnt see. He has recently developed a new robotic microscopy pipeline that includes computer vision models trained to annotate neuronal degeneration in a dish at as he defined superhuman precision. Dr. Finkbeiner has also established the Taube/Koret Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research at Gladstone to accelerate the identification of treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. The Center provides researchers around the world with access to comprehensive biological and clinical data from thousands of people with neurological diseases, setting the stage for machine-learning and artificial-intelligence analysis as a gateway to mechanisms and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. For his advancements in developing these powerful, cutting-edge technologies to understand and develop treatments for HD, Dr. Finkbeiner has been honored with the 2022 Leslie Gehry Prize for Innovation in Science. Natalia Barbosa, Investigating Crucial Connections in HD Dr. Barbosa is a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Judith Frydman, PhD at Stanford University. Dr. Barbosas work is a stunning example of selecting the right model system to answer a scientific line of inquiry effectively and efficiently she will use simple bakers yeast to understand how a particular cellular component (mitochondria) participates in the formation of protein clumps in HD that contribute to neuronal breakdown. Yeast can be grown under conditions where mitochondria are dispensable or essential for their survival. This unique feature allowed Dr. Barbosa to develop experiments that test if and how mitochondria participate in the formation of protein clumps in yeast that have the gene that leads to HD. Her work will first define this process in yeast before identifying genes and interventions in neurons. Understanding the connections between mitochondria and protein clumping may change the way we think about Huntingtons disease, potentially opening up new strategies for effective therapeutic interventions. For this work, Dr. Barbosa has been awarded the 2022 Nancy S. Wexler Young Investigator Prize. The Gehry Prize is presented annually to recognize an outstanding scientist whose originality, spontaneity, precision, and rigor have advanced the search for treatments and cures for Huntingtons disease and other brain disorders. The award was created by the acclaimed architect and HDF Founding Director Frank Gehry and his family in memory of his late daughter. The Wexler Prize honors the pioneering spirit, relentless dedication, and enduring optimism of Nancy S. Wexler, PhD, President of the Hereditary Disease Foundation. It is presented annually to an early career researcher whose work reflects the highest caliber of excellence, diligence, and creative thinking. Research to find treatments and cures for Huntingtons disease is giving hope to families around the world who are impacted by this devastating disorder, says Meghan Donaldson, CEO of the Hereditary Disease Foundation. We celebrate Steven Finkbeiner and Natalia Barbosa for their extraordinary work and their commitment to scientific exploration that is leading to discoveries. About the Hereditary Disease Foundation The Hereditary Disease Foundation (HDF) funds innovative scientific research to cure Huntingtons disease (HD), a genetic disorder that strikes in early- to mid-adulthood, destroying brain cells and causing irreversible decline in control of mood, memory, and movement. Since HD is caused by a single gene, it serves as a model to potentially unlock cures for other complex brain disorders like Parkinsons, Alzheimers, and Lou Gehrigs (ALS) diseases. Research organized by HDF led to the discovery of the genetic marker for HD in 1983. HDF organized and funded a decade-long international collaboration of over 100 scientists who discovered the gene that causes Huntingtons in 1993. This work played an important role in the development of the Human Genome Project. Attachments Impact BioMedical is a wholly owned subsidiary of DSS A Real-Life Mission Impossible Global Research and Discovery Group steps in the spotlight for documentary, The BioQuest Filming to start December 3 ROCHESTER, N.Y., Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Daryl Thompson, founder of GRDG Sciences LLC (GRDG) in Winter Haven, Florida, has spent a career working just out of the spotlight and inventing biological and medical technologies that, when fully deployed, could better the lives of people around the world. But all that may change as GRDG, a scientific research partner of Impact BioMedical, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of DSS, Inc. (NYSE American: DSS), announced today that it will be the subject of a documentary film highlighting the passion, the search, and the cutting-edge discoveries that push the company and its founder behind a single-minded goal: creating a healthier world quickly and naturally. We are thrilled to take the audience behind the scenes and around the world to discover solutions to problems that have plagued humanity for thousands of years, said Thompson. From the Florida Everglades to the rainforests of South America to the jungles of Africa and beyond, were going to show everyone what we do and how we do it. The documentary project comes on the heels of GRDGs completion of Sombrero, a five-year multi-pronged project that yielded multiple patents and potentially billions of dollars in licensing opportunities. But it also paved the way for something deeper. Sombrero allowed us to make discoveries, for sure, but it also allowed us to create a template for problem solving that I think can be duplicated around the world, said Thompson. That is part of what the film is about, the blueprint to forming several quick-thinking, fast-acting groups around the world that can identify potential problems and create solutions outside the traditional channels that arent able to move as fast. For GRDG, that team included a Washington insider, an investor, and a lab. A Real-Life Mr. PhelpsFor Dr. Roscoe Moore, retired United States Assistant Surgeon General and former Epidemic Intelligence Services Officer at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, meeting Thompson and understanding his approach led to a creative partnership. Daryl came to me about six years ago, and we met a couple times, and lo and beyond, I became an advisor, said Dr. Moore. I dont endorse any specific product I never have; but I just look at the science and the science says that what hes doing works. Moore, who is now GRDGs Chief Scientific Advisor, said that Thompsons model of getting things done is something that is vital in this day and age. The NIH model is great for research, but it takes a long time to get anything done, he said. Big government operations are not meant to be stealth. We needed someone to get things done in a way that cuts through the red tape without cutting corners. In that regard, Daryls efforts have been stellar. For Thompson, Moore is more than just an advisor. Roscoe is our Mr. Phelps, said Thompson, referring to the director of the Impossible Mission Force. He would tell us about several different directions and problems that needed solving and then gave us the freedom to choose which one to solve. That partnership led GRDG to discover several breakthrough technologies that could tackle unmet global problems, including: Linebacker : Multi-faceted therapeutic platform for metabolic, neurologic, cancer, and infectious diseases created to mirror the Panacea Project, a U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) program to provide novel, multi-target therapeutics for unmet physiological needs. : Multi-faceted therapeutic platform for metabolic, neurologic, cancer, and infectious diseases created to mirror the Panacea Project, a U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) program to provide novel, multi-target therapeutics for unmet physiological needs. 3F Biofragrance : For mosquito avoidance and antimicrobial protection with confirmed in vitro effectiveness against MRSA, E. coli, Tuberculosis and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). This technology is a surface disinfectant and is also designed to be incorporated into the Open Air Defense Initiative for protection against outbreaks by protecting key points where the potential spread of pathogens occur. : For mosquito avoidance and antimicrobial protection with confirmed in vitro effectiveness against MRSA, E. coli, Tuberculosis and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). This technology is a surface disinfectant and is also designed to be incorporated into the Open Air Defense Initiative for protection against outbreaks by protecting key points where the potential spread of pathogens occur. Equivir : A patented Over the Counter (OTC) medication successfully tested in vitro against Rhinovirus, Influenza, Cholera, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and in a Biosafety Level 4 facility, Ebola. Equivir/Nemovir is both a treatment and a prophylactic for COVID-19 and is moving to human clinical trials. : A patented Over the Counter (OTC) medication successfully tested in vitro against Rhinovirus, Influenza, Cholera, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and in a Biosafety Level 4 facility, Ebola. Equivir/Nemovir is both a treatment and a prophylactic for COVID-19 and is moving to human clinical trials. Quantum : The solution to the Patent Cliff accomplished by creating a new class of medicinal chemistry that uses advanced methods to increase effectiveness and persistence of natural compounds and existing drugs. The safety attributes of the original molecules are maintained. Typically, drug discovery processes modify functional groups. : The solution to the Patent Cliff accomplished by creating a new class of medicinal chemistry that uses advanced methods to increase effectiveness and persistence of natural compounds and existing drugs. The safety attributes of the original molecules are maintained. Typically, drug discovery processes modify functional groups. Bioplastics: Antimicrobial plastics for consumer products that control the spread of active pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2, Influenza, E. coli, Staph, and Rhinovirus, by exploiting key strategies found in the biological realm. These new plastics are specifically focused on solutions for common products such as cups, plates, utensils, plastic bags, and countertops. The first prototypes have completed antimicrobial resistance testing. Having an ImpactEarly in the development process, GRDG began a working relationship with Impact Biomedical, who partnered with GRDG and provided investment capital to support its research. We saw an excellent opportunity to partner with Daryl and his team to accomplish something that has the potential to have a direct impact on the lives of millions of people around the world, said Frank. D. Heuszel, President and Director of Impact BioMedical, Inc. The ability to analyze the problem and creatively see a solution that can be disseminated quickly and without a relatively long lead team is special. Going ProThe next key partner in GRDGs pursuit of innovation came in a partnership with ProPhase Labs, which proposes to turn Thompsons research into real-life products. For us, the science has to make sense, said ProPhase Executive Vice President and COO Alice Lioi. Daryl has formulated products that performed well in pre-clinical trials and the fact that they are based on natural substances is a different approach that we believe can strengthen products in the human world. While Moore, Impact, and ProPhase have all played key roles in GRDGs research and development, it has been Thompson who may be the revelation of the documentary. I have always enjoyed working behind the scenes, working alongside government entities, but outside the trappings of bureaucracy thats where the real innovation takes place, said Thompson. But the work we have done for the past five years could have such an impact on the world, we just had to tell this story. So thats what were doing. Parts of this story may sound impossible trust me, I sometimes shake my head at the things weve been able to create but at the end of the day, it still rings true. Diamond Studios, an Emmy Award-winning production company from Tampa, Fla., will produce the documentary, which will begin filming in December 2022. About Impact BioMedical, Inc.Impact BioMedical, Inc. ("Impact BioMedical") is a wholly owned subsidiary of DSS. Impact BioMedical strives to leverage its scientific know-how and intellectual property rights to provide solutions that have been plaguing the biomedical field for decades. By tapping into the scientific expertise of GRDG Sciences, LLC, Impact BioMedical pledges to undertake a concerted effort in the R&D, drug discovery and development for the prevention, inhibition, and treatment of neurological, oncological and immuno -related diseases. For more information on Impact BioMedical visit http://impbio.com/. About DSS, Inc.DSS is a multinational company operating businesses within nine divisions: Product Packaging, Biotechnology, Direct Marketing, Commercial Lending, Securities and Investment Management, Alternative Trading, Digital Transformation, Secure Living, and Alternative Energy. DSS strategically acquires and develops assets to enrich the value of its shareholders through calculated IPO spinoffs and a parametric share distribution strategy. Since 2019, under the guidance of new leadership, DSS has built the necessary foundation for achievable growth through the formation of a diversified portfolio of companies positioned to drive profitability in multiple high growth sectors. These companies offer innovative, flexible, and real-world solutions that not only provide mutual benefits for businesses and their customers, but also create sustainable value and opportunity for transformation. For more information on DSS visit http://www.dssworld.com. Investor Contact:Dave Gentry, CEORedChip Companies Inc.407-491-4498[email protected] Safe Harbor DisclosureThis press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements related to the Company's intended use of proceeds and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, include: risks relating to our growth strategy; our ability to obtain, perform under and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; risks relating to the results of development activities; our ability to attract, integrate and retain key personnel; our need for substantial additional funds; patent and intellectual property matters; competition; as well as other risks described in our SEC filings, including, without limitation, our reports on Forms 8-K, 10-K and 10-Q, all of which can be obtained on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made and reflect management's current estimates, projections, expectations, and beliefs. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. Source: DSS, Inc. DALLAS, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- P10, Inc. (NYSE: PX), a leading private markets solutions provider, today announced it will release its third quarter 2022 results on Thursday, November 10, 2022, before 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The company will also host a conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, November 10, 2022. The call may be accessed here. All participants joining by telephone should dial one of the following numbers, followed by the Participant Access Code provided: U.S. (toll free): 1-844-200-6205 US (local): 1-646-904-5544 All other locations: +1-929-526-1599 Participant Access Code: 075962 For those unable to participate in the live call, a replay will be made available on P10s investor relations page at www.p10alts.com. About P10 P10 is a leading multi-asset class private markets solutions provider in the alternative asset management industry. P10s mission is to provide its investors differentiated access to a broad set of investment solutions that address their diverse investment needs within private markets. As of June 30, 2022, P10 has a global investor base of over 2,700 investors across 49 states, 53 countries and six continents, which includes some of the worlds largest pension funds, endowments, foundations, corporate pensions, and financial institutions. Visit www.p10alts.com. Ownership LimitationsP10s Certificate of Incorporation contains certain provisions for the protection of tax benefits relating to P10s net operating losses. Such provisions generally void transfers of shares that would result in the creation of a new 4.99% shareholder or result in an existing 4.99% shareholder acquiring additional shares of P10. P10 Press and Investor Contact:[email protected] Source: P10, Inc. --Executives support cybersecuritys top global collegiate talent as a long-term commitment to building the future of cybersecurity innovation-- HACKENSACK, N.J., Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Paperclip, Inc. announced today its silver sponsorship of the 2022-2023 Collegiate Penetration Testing Competition (CPTC), where the worlds top cybersecurity students gain real-life experience that will prove hugely beneficial to future employers. The event allows Paperclip to nurture future cybersecurity leaders, and to look for top talent as they do so. Students begin at five U.S. regions and three international regions hosted by Stanford University, Tennessee Tech, Virginia Central University, University of New Haven, Augusta University, Durham College (Canada), RIT Dubai (UAE), and Masaryk University (Czech Republic). Each of the eight regions fields up to ten teams of students, and registrations are consistently filled in almost all regions. This represents up to 640 of the most talented and motivated cybersecurity students on the planet. The top 15 teams from across the globe will compete at the international finals on January 6-8, 2023, which we expect to be in-person at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY. October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and what better way to support it than encouraging the industrys future leaders to outperform themselves year after year in real life cybersecurity scenarios like CPTC provides, said Chad Walter, Chief Revenue Officer for Paperclip, Inc. The only way to fight bad actors is to create environments where we can challenge ourselves to do better, think smarter and work faster. CPTC does that, and allows us to peek in on the next wave of cybersecurity rockstars at the same time. Paperclip Inc. joins other brands including premier sponsor IBM Security, Airship, Aventiv, Crowe, Hurricane Labs, Innova Colabs, Security Risk Advisors and Salesforce in supporting this years CPTC event. In September 2022, Paperclip launched Paperclip SAFE, a breakthrough solution specifically designed to prevent data theft and ransomware attacks, both on premise and in the cloud. The solution -- trusted by Paperclip, Inc. for more than two years to keep its Fortune 1000 clients data safe does so using encryption-in-use technology. According to Gartner Group, traditional data-at-rest encryption, as commonly implemented, does not provide strong protection against theft and data breaches. It is incapable of securing data in use and data-sharing scenarios. Paperclip SAFE allows every organization, in every sector, to finally and permanently realize the true potential of their stored information. It is the ultimate unification of unbreakable security with unparalleled access, millisecond search/retrieval speed and ease. Designed for any company that stores substantial amounts of data, Paperclip SAFE is easy to implement, leveraging the SaaS approach to delivery and simple API integration. For more on Paperclip SAFE, visit paperclip.com/solutions/safe/. For more information on the Collegiate Penetration Testing Competition, please visit https://cp.tc/ About Paperclip, Inc. Paperclip is a software technology partner solely focused on providing enterprises with the most efficient means of secure document capture, processing, and storage of millions of documents for rapidly growing firms and Fortune 1,000 companies worldwide. Paperclip does so via leading-edge solutions that keep information digital throughout its life cycle. Paperclip offers an expansive range of cloud based B2B and B2C solutions that eliminate paper to deliver new possibilities in efficiency, communication, and ROI, each customized to specific industry and business goals. For more information, visit paperclip.com. MEDIA CONTACT: Stacey Doss, APRSagon-Phior[email protected] 949.285.2362 Source: Paperclip Inc. MIAMI, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Prime Matter Labs , a leading contract manufacturer of beauty and personal care products, announced that Jessica Khuat has been named as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Jessica will be based in the New York office and report to CEO Aaron Paas. In her new role, Jessica will be responsible for the companys finance and accounting across all areas of the business, including all office and lab locations. In addition, Jessica will serve on the companys Executive Leadership Team and will work closely with senior management and the Board of Directors to help design, develop, and execute the companys vision to "make contract manufacturing better for brands." Im thrilled to be joining Prime Matter Labs as the company has such a strong foundation from its decades of experience in the beauty and personal care products space, said Jessica Khuat. As the beauty industry evolves, I look forward to helping drive the growth of the company and its transformation into being the go-to partner for rapidly growing emerging and established brands. Prior to Prime Matter Labs, Jessica spent more than 15 years working across the finance organizations of Heineken and Procter & Gamble. At Heineken, she most recently served as the finance lead responsible for driving profit and share maximization through full P&L management including KPI performance, pricing, budget and revenue management and planning. At Procter & Gamble she served as finance lead for Wella Canada, the Salon Professional Division of P&G. She also supported the beauty care division leading financial analysis for skin, cosmetics & personal care in Canada, including brands such as Olay, CoverGirl, Ivory, Old Spice, Gillette and Secret. Jessica has a long history of building high-performing finance organizations across the consumer packaged goods landscape. Her deep understanding of our industry and relentless pursuit of sustainable growth strategies will help take our world-class leadership team to a whole new level, said Aaron Paas, CEO of Prime Matter Labs. I am thrilled to be able to work with Jess and the rest of our incredibly talented team to build the future of contract manufacturing by being a better partner for the brands driving the innovation and growth of our industry. We are so pleased to welcome Jess as an incredible thought leader to the executive team at Prime, said Lusa Zhou, Principal at Monogram Capital Partners. We look forward to the wonderful partnership and strategic collaboration between the finance organization under Jesss leadership and all of the critical functions led by the exceptional leaders whom Aaron has brought together. To learn more about Prime Matter Labs, please visit: www.primematterlabs.com and follow us on LinkedIn , Instagram and Twitter . About Prime Matter Labs Prime Matter Labs is on a mission to transform beauty and personal care contract manufacturing. It strives to be the most trusted product development and production partner for recognized and emerging brands redefining the industry. Founded by Mohamed Barakat, Frank Linares, Mark Barakat, and B.M. Barakat (c. 1926-2007), Prime Matter Labs has for four decades achieved high standards for its product development and production capabilities, formulation expertise, quality and regulatory control, and personalized project management. To learn more about Prime Matter Labs, please visit: www.primematterlabs.com and follow us on LinkedIn , Instagram and Twitter . About Monogram Capital Partners Headquartered in Los Angeles, CA and founded in 2014, Monogram Capital Partners focuses exclusively on investing in high-growth consumer and omnichannel brands and service providers. With approximately $700 million of regulatory assets under management, the firm seeks to partner with inspirational founders and talented management teams across the consumer ecosystem. Prime Matter Labs joined Monograms portfolio in January 2020. To learn more about Monogram, please visit: www.monogramcapital.com . Kelly Kaufman K Squared Group [email protected] On October 26, Administrator Guzman Will Convene Experts from the Cybersecurity and Business Worlds to Share Best Practices and Practical Tools to Help Small Businesses Bolster Their Cyber Defenses Washington, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced the initial speaker slate for its inaugural Small Business Cyber Summit , including Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President, Microsoft. The summit takes place on October 26, during National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and follows the recent announcement of awardees for the SBAs new pilot program, created to help emerging small businesses steel themselves against cyber-attacks. The free, virtual cybersecurity forum is a first for the agency and aims to help introduce American small businesses to tools, tips, and resources to bolster their cybersecurity infrastructure in addition to exploring new trends and challenges entrepreneurs are increasingly facing. Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the SBA and voice for America's 33 million small businesses in President Biden's Cabinet, will kick off the summit with an intimate fireside chat featuring Microsofts Brad Smith to discuss both organizations efforts to empower small businesses and startups across America to develop their cybersecurity infrastructure and combat evolving, increasingly sophisticated cyber-attacks a priority of the Biden-Harris Administration, outlined in the Presidents Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act). In addition to this segment, other featured participants will include Kiersten Todt, Chief of Staff for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Biography for Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President, Microsoft: As Microsofts vice chair and president, Brad Smith leads a team of more than 1,900 business, legal and corporate affairs professionals located in 54 countries and operating in more than 120 nations. He plays a key role in spearheading the companys work on critical issues involving the intersection of technology and society, including cybersecurity, privacy, artificial intelligence, environmental sustainability, human rights, immigration, and philanthropy. Smith joined Microsoft in 1993, first spending three years in Paris leading the legal and corporate affairs team in Europe. In 2002, he was named Microsofts general counsel and spent the following decade leading work to resolve the companys antitrust controversies with governments around the world and companies across the tech sector. Before joining Microsoft, Smith was an associate and then partner at the law firm of Covington and Burling. Speakers Isabella Casillas Guzman , Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration , Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration Brad Smith , Vice Chair and President, Microsoft , Vice Chair and President, Microsoft Kiersten Todt , Chief of Staff, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA), U.S. Department of Homeland Security , Chief of Staff, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA), U.S. Department of Homeland Security Kimberly Mentzell, Director of Cybersecurity and Aerospace, Maryland Department of Commerce Director of Cybersecurity and Aerospace, Maryland Department of Commerce Jacob Blacksten , Digital Solutions Manager, Delaware Small Business Development Center , Digital Solutions Manager, Delaware Small Business Development Center Earl Gregorich , Area Manager & Business Consultant, Greenville Area Small Business Development Centers , Area Manager & Business Consultant, Greenville Area Small Business Development Centers Joshua Lawton , Director of Engagement (Americas), Global Cyber Alliance , Director of Engagement (Americas), Global Cyber Alliance Scott Anderson , Executive Director, Forge Institute , Executive Director, Forge Institute Eric Toler , Executive Director, Georgia Cyber Center , Executive Director, Georgia Cyber Center Ashley Podhradsky , Associate Professor of Digital Forensics, Dakota State University , Associate Professor of Digital Forensics, Dakota State University Jennifer Gold , Director of the Board, InfraGard New York Chapter , Director of the Board, InfraGard New York Chapter Arthur Plews , Chief of Staff, U.S. Small Business Administration , Chief of Staff, U.S. Small Business Administration Mark Madrid , Associate Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Entrepreneurial Development , Associate Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Entrepreneurial Development Jennifer Kim , Associate Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Field Operations , Associate Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Field Operations Larry Stubblefield , Associate Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Veterans Business Development , Associate Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Veterans Business Development Bruce Purdy , Associate Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Small Development Centers , Associate Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Small Development Centers Jack Bienko , Senior Innovation Advisor, U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Entrepreneurial Development , Senior Innovation Advisor, U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Entrepreneurial Development Aikta Marcoulier, Regional Administrator Rocky Mountain region, U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Field Operations Additional speakers and schedule to be announced. The schedule is subject to changes. Attendance is free of charge, but registration is required. Visit bit.ly/SBACyberSummit to register for this event. ### About the SBAs Inaugural Small Business Cyber Summit The inaugural summit will feature various experts including the SBA, SBA Resource Partners, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), state government collaborators, and public/private sectors including small business owners and major technology platforms. Comprised of digestible and compact segments, attendees will have the opportunity to network and access practical tips, problem-solving strategies, industry trends, threat avoidance, and small business testimonials to learn how to help small business owners defend themselves against cyber-attacks. To register for this free summit, please visit www.bit.ly/SBACyberSummit. About the U.S. Small Business Administration CALGARY, Alberta, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tetra Trust Company (Tetra Trust, Tetra or the Company), Canadas first qualified custodian for digital assets regulated by the Alberta Treasury Board and Finance (ATBF), has been confirmed as a custodian for Coinsquare Capital Markets Ltd. (CCML). CCML, a wholly owned subsidiary of Coinsquare and operator of its crypto trading platform, was recently approved by the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) for dealer registration and IIROC membership. CCML is the first crypto-only, IIROC registered investment dealer in Canada and regulated alternative trading system. CCMLs qualification for IIROC membership included the need for CCMLs custody partners to be regulated and insured, as custody is essential to a trusted crypto trading platform. With Tetra being a trust company regulated by ATBF, CCML was authorized by IIROC to use Tetra. Tetras role is vital in ensuring that clients' assets are kept safe, secure and available to them at all times, said Didier Lavallee, CEO of Tetra Trust. Our custody model supports CCML as we enable investors to retain ownership of their assets under Canadian jurisdiction by a regulated trust company. Coinsquare CEO Martin Piszel added, The new standards for our crypto trading platform mean individuals investing in crypto today in Canada have greater safeguards than they would otherwise have with investing in crypto on their own. We are pleased to have a custody partner like Tetra which is fully aligned with supporting the objectives of Coinsquare. The inclusion of Tetra as a custody partner for CCML is also further legitimizing the digital asset space in Canada as traditionally digital assets have been managed by U.S. or international custodians due to a lack of adequate local options. Tetra Trust has been building its reputation in the Canadian market and recently announced a partnership to custody 3iQs various exchange-traded funds (ETFs) which represent approximately $700 million in assets under management. The Company also provides custody services to Accelerate Financial Technologies Inc.s NFT Fund, which was Canadas first Web3 investment vehicle when it was announced earlier this year. About Tetra Trust Founded in 2019, Tetra Trust is Canadas first and only trust company licensed to custody digital assets. Tetra received its Certificate of Registration from the Government of Alberta on July 5, 2021 and meets the definition of a qualified custodian under National Instrument 31-103 and National Instrument 81-102. The Company is backed by Coinsquare, Canadas premier cryptocurrency exchange digital asset trading platform; Coinbase Ventures, an investment arm of Coinbase which is one of the worlds largest publicly traded cryptocurrency exchanges; the Canadian Securities Exchange; Mogo Financial Inc.; Urbana Corporation ; and others. Led by a first-class team of security and business experts and a Board of Directors with extensive trust company experience, Tetra delivers the most advanced digital asset storage technology in the industry. For further information visit www.tetratrust.com. Contact Tetra Trust CompanyDidier Lavallee, CEO Email: [email protected] Source: Tetra Trust Company Company Confirms High-Grade Lithium (2.95% Li2O) In Spodumene Pegmatite Float on Newly Awarded Exploration Licence in Ireland Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 19, 2022) - Global Battery Metals Ltd.(TSXV:GBML)(OTCQB:REZZF)(FSE:REZ) (the "Company" or "GBML"), an international critical mineral exploration and development company focused on growth-oriented battery metal projects supporting the global transition to clean energy, announces field exploration work has started on its North-West Leinster Lithium Project (the "Property" or the "Project"), with a particular focus on Prospecting Licence Area ("PLA") 1597. PLA 1597 forms part of the Company's Property exploration block, which is operated under an exclusive Option and Earn-in agreement with Technology Minerals Plc, the first listed UK company focused on creating a sustainable circular economy for battery metals, and its wholly owned subsidiary LRH Resources Limited ("LRH"). Highlights: The Company has been issued new PLA 1597 by the GeoScience Regulation Office (GSRO) of the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications of Ireland to add to the 15 licences already held bringing the total area of tenure to 526km 2 . . Preliminary ground truthing and prospecting on PLA 1597 at two localities Knockeen and Carriglead have yielded high grade spodumene pegmatite samples in float ranging up to 2.95% Li 2 O. O. Work program due to commence to include detailed mapping, prospecting and deep overburden sampling at the Knockeen and Carriglead targets. Five previously identified target areas on the northern block are also to be targeted with follow up prospecting and sampling. Field exploration programs beginning with a view to identifying specific areas for follow up drilling. New Licence PLA 1597 and Initial Prospecting Results PLA 1597 was identified as prospective for lithium pegmatite potential by the Company's Project partner LRH and its exploration consultants Aurum Exploration Services ("Aurum") following detailed desktop studies which outlined two proximal areas of spodumene-bearing pegmatite reported by previous operators in the mid 1970s as part of their exploration programmes. The lithium pegmatite boulder trains at Knockeen and Carriglead are separated by a north-south valley and form an initial area of interest covering approximately 2km east-west and 1km north-south. A historical exploration map and report also described a trench excavated at Knockeen as having uncovered a 1.8m wide bedrock spodumene-bearing pegmatite vein, however no detailed laboratory assays or geological maps of the trench were reported at that time. LRH completed an initial one day reconnaissance site visit to the Knockeen - Carriglead prospects with Aurum geologists visually confirming the presence of spodumene in float and collecting six samples which were submitted for analysis to ALS Laboratories, Loughrea, Co. Galway, Ireland, and returned values between 0.70% Li 2 O to 2.95% Li 2 O (Table 1). Sample ID Licence Prospect Li ppm Li2O %* 210724CL02 PL 1597 Knockeen 3240 0.70 210724CL03 PL 1597 Knockeen 11200 2.41 210724CL04 PL 1597 Knockeen 11000 2.37 210724CL05 PL 1597 Knockeen 13700 2.95 AES61137 PL 1597 Carriglead 3550 0.76 AES61138 PL 1597 Carriglead 7470 1.61 Table 1: Results from prospecting at Knockeen and Carriglead Prospects PL 1597 * Li 2 O % = Li ppm % (x 2.153) Dry stone field walls in the immediate vicinity of the historical Knockeen trench revealed abundant, spodumene-rich pegmatite float with three of the four samples collected returning values of between 2.37% Li 2 O and 2.95% Li 2 O (Fig 1 & Photo 1). Photo 1: Spodumene pegmatite samples from Knockeen and Carriglead A & B Spodumene pegmatite field samples Knockeen, C Spodumene pegmatite Knockeen Sample 210724CL05 (2.95% Li 2 O), D Spodumene pegmatite Carriglead Sample AES61138 (1.61% Li 2 O) To view an enhanced version of Photo 1, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7080/141021_cbaf9a6684ba3a55_001full.jpg. Further detailed exploration work on PLA 1597 is expected to commence in late October 2022 in the form of prospecting, mapping and deep overburden sampling surveys which are aimed at defining targets for drilling. The Leinster Property The Leinster Property, located in the counties of Wicklow, Dublin and Wexford, is focused on the exploration for lithium mineralisation within spodumene-bearing pegmatites. The Property consists of fifteen prospecting licences, termed 'the North-west Leinster Block', which cover a total area of approximately 477km2, and the PLA 1597 comprising 48.32km2, in County Wexford. The Property lies along a 135km long regional structural trend of known lithium-bearing pegmatites, along the south-eastern margin of the Leinster Massif and centred on the Aclare and Moylisha occurrences which were discovered during 1960s and 1970s and are currently being explored under the Ganfeng - International Lithium joint venture. In addition to the work on PLA 1597, five target areas on the North Leinster Block (Fig 2) will be followed up. Exploration on these areas to date has identified lithium-rich aplite and spodumene pegmatite float boulders within broader zones of Geological Survey of Ireland lithium anomalism in drainage stream sediment samples. This work has been previously reported by LRH and a summary of the prospecting is presented below: Aghavannagh (1.78% Li 2 O equivalent in large angular blocks of spodumene-beating pegmatite float ); Sorrel (1.6% Li 2 O equivalent in spodumene-bearing pegmatite float); Tonygarrow (1.0% Li 2 O equivalent in spodumene-beating pegmatite float); Scurlocks (0.65% Li 2 O equivalent in aplite float); and Knocknaboley (anomalous lithium, 820 ppm Lithium in aplite float). As part of an ongoing workflow, the Company continues to identify, fully assess and apply for new prospective areas for spodumene-pegmatite exploration opportunities along the district-scale Irish lithium pegmatite belt. Figure 1: Map showing location of prospecting samples at Knockeen and Carriglead To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7080/141021_cbaf9a6684ba3a55_002full.jpg. Figure 2: Target map showing location of Northern Block and PLA 1597 To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7080/141021_cbaf9a6684ba3a55_003full.jpg. "The initial prospecting results confirming the presence of high-grade lithium in spodumene-pegmatites, along with the rediscovery of decades-old information pertaining to spodumene boulder trains is an exciting find and an important view into this area's potential," stated Michael Murphy, President and CEO of GBML. "GBML will now conduct a deep overburden sampling program in the Knockeen and Carriglead zones to help determine the best possible position for a drilling rig to get started." The Property was selected by the Company due to significantly higher grades than nearby Ganfeng/ILC Avalonia project in stream sediments, with similar grades in soil samples. Stream sediment assays are predominantly in the 125-1000ppm range vs 60-120ppm range for Ganfeng/ILC assays. The presence of visible spodumene is noted in several areas, along with coarse spodumene crystals in one prospective area that appears to be at least a few hundred metres long. Ireland remains a geopolitically stable area and the weather in Leinster is amenable year-round for exploration and development. On September 20, 2022, GBML exercised its first option on the Project and will continue to have the right to exercise two further options to acquire up to a further (a) 37.5% interest for a cumulative 55% interest in the Project, and (b) 35% interest for a cumulative 90% interest in total in the Project by fulfilling the requirements of the Second Option and Third Option, respectively (see the Company's news releases dated September 20, 2022, and August 19, 2022). Please see the Company's NW Leinster Project Overview for additional program details, in addition to the latest version of the Company's Investor Presentation available for download from the GBML website (www.gbml.ca). Competent Person All scientific and technical information in this announcement has been prepared under the supervision of EuroGeol Vaughan Williams, M.Sc., P.Geo. (a Principal of Aurum Exploration Services currently providing exploration services to GBML and to LRH), and a "qualified person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101. Vaughan Williams is also company secretary of LRH. About Global Battery Metals Ltd. GBML is a mineral exploration company with a focus on metals that make up and support the rapid evolution to battery power. GBML's common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and Frankfurt Stock Exchange and quoted on the OTCQB. GBML currently has five projects: (1) an option to acquire up to a 90% in the North-West Leinster Lithium Property in Ireland; (2) a 100% interest in the Lithium King Property in Utah; (3) an option to acquire up to a 100% interest in the Lapoile Lithium Project in Newfoundland; (4) an option to lease the Sawyer Camp prospective nickel-copper project in Michigan; and (5) a 55% stake in Peru-based Lara copper property, which has over 10,000 metres of drilling. As previously disclosed, Minsur S.A., a Peruvian mining company, entered into an option agreement (the "Lara Property Option Agreement") with GBML and Lara Exploration Ltd. to acquire the Lara copper property for staged payments of USD$5.75 million. The Lara Property Option Agreement also provides for a 0.75% net smelter royalty in favour of GBML. Global Battery Metals Ltd. Michael Murphy BA, MBA, MSc., ICD President & CEO T: 604-649-2350 E: [email protected] W: www.gbml.ca Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating the future operations and activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to, among other things, the Company's exploration plans at the North-West Leinster Lithium Property. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions, and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the ability to complete proposed exploration work given the global COVID-19 pandemic, the results of exploration, continued availability of capital, and changes in general economic, market and business conditions. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. Readers are urged to refer to the Company's reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects. The Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141021 Ideal Homes Portugal, a real estate company in the Algarve, is helping American citizens Lagos, Algarve--(Newsfile Corp. - October 19, 2022) - Ideal Homes Portugal introduces their services to American Property investors. The company provides its clients with a wide range of possibilities due to its broad network of properties throughout Portugal. They help international clients access mortgages to finance luxury properties by Ideal Homes Portugal. Ideal Homes Portugal To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8703/141031_6b7887c45421286e_001full.jpg According to Chris White CEO of Ideal Homes Portugal: "Not many countries can compete with Portugal's incredible lifestyle, with its friendly resorts, beautiful coastline and world-class amenities. Now add the financial bonuses of the exchange rate and low tax, as well as availability of visas, and it's not difficult to understand why we are helping so many Americans realise their dream of buying and living in Portugal." Ideal Homes Portugal To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8703/141031_6b7887c45421286e_002full.jpg Ideal Homes Portugal is facilitating its American clients with an exclusive offer of 1.8 percent and fixed 3.3 percent on its real estate properties. "The buying power of Americans in the Algarve and wider Portugal has strengthened significantly. Based on today's [October 11th] rate of 1/$0.97, a Portuguese house with a price tag of 500,000 is around $90,000 cheaper than a year ago, when the rate was 1/$1.15," says, Chris White. Ideal Homes Portugal To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8703/141031_6b7887c45421286e_003full.jpg About Ideal Homes Portugal: Ideal Homes Portugal helps international clients find their dream home in Portugal, whether as a second home, investment, or primary residence. Their multi-lingual team includes experienced American expats who are ideally placed to help buyers from the US. Ideal Homes Portugal caters to all budgets, covering the whole of the Algarve and every type of property. Company offers mortgage services, property, and rental management, specialist currency transfer, and can assist with visa applications. For more information about property in Portugal visitwww.idealhomesportugal.com. Media Contact Chris White Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.idealhomesportugal.com Vila Sol office: Urbanizacao Vila Sol, Lote E, Lojas 1, 2 & 3, Quarteira, Portugal T: +351 289 513 434 Lagos office: Rua dos Celeira, Bloco 1, Loja 1, 8600-726, Lagos T: +351 282 788 008 UK Free Phone Number: 0800 133 7644 USA Free Number: +1 800 435 0796 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141031 Little Rock, Arkansas--(Newsfile Corp. - October 19, 2022) - Inuvo, Inc. (NYSE American: INUV), a leading provider of marketing technology, powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that serves brands and agencies, today announced that Wallace Ruiz, Chief Financial Officer of Inuvo, will be presenting at the 15th annual LD Micro Main Event being held on October 25 - 27, 2022 at the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Presentation details: Event: LD Micro Main Event XV Date: Wednesday, October 26th, 2022 Time: 1:00 PM PT/ 4:00 PM ET Register to watch the virtual presentation here. Management will be available for one-on-one meetings throughout the conference. Summary of LD Micro Main Event XV The 2022 LD Micro Main Event XV will be held at the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel in Los Angeles from October 25th to the 27th. The festivities will run from 7:30 AM PT - 5:30 PM PT on the 25th and 26th, with a half day on Thursday the 27th. This three-day investor conference is expected to feature around 200+ companies, presenting in half-hour increments, as well as private meetings. For more info, please contact Mr. Dean "The Dream" Summers. [email protected] About LD Micro LD Micro aims to be the most crucial resource in the micro-cap world. Whether it is the index, comprehensive data, or hosting the most significant events on an annual basis, LD's sole mission is to serve as an invaluable asset for all those interested in finding the next generation of great companies. For more information, please visit http://www.ldmicro.com. About Inuvo Inuvo, Inc. (NYSE American: INUV) is a market leader in Artificial Intelligence built for advertising. Its IntentKey AI solution is a first-of-its-kind proprietary and patented technology capable of identifying and actioning to the reasons why consumers are interested in products, services, or brands, not who those consumers are. To learn more, visit www.inuvo.com. Safe Harbor / Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including, without limitation risks detailed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), and represent our views only as of the date they are made and should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date. You are urged to carefully review and consider any cautionary statements and other disclosures, including the statements made under the heading "Risk Factors" in Inuvo, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 as filed on March 17, 2022, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and our other filings with the SEC. Additionally, forward looking statements are subject to certain risks, trends, and uncertainties including the continued impact of Covid-19 on Inuvo's business and operations. Inuvo cannot provide assurances that the assumptions upon which these forward-looking statements are based will prove to have been correct. Should one of these risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements, and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are current only as of this date. Inuvo does not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Inuvo further expressly disclaims any written or oral statements made by a third party regarding the subject matter of this press release. The information, which appears on our websites and our social media platforms is not part of this press release. Inuvo Company Contact: Wally Ruiz Chief Financial Officer Tel (501) 205-8397 [email protected] Investor Relations: David Waldman / Natalya Rudman Crescendo Communications, LLC Tel: (212) 671-1020 [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/140872 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 19, 2022) - Japan Gold Corp. (TSXV: JG) (OTCQB: JGLDF) ("Japan Gold" or the "Company") will hold its Annual General Meeting ("AGM") virtually on Thursday, October 20, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. (PT) at https://meetnow.global/MXNMPNU. Following the formal portion of the AGM, Management will also discuss the Company's ongoing drilling progress and the selection of 6 projects by Barrick Gold Corporation. The discussion will be followed by a question and answer period. Registered Shareholders and duly appointed proxyholders can attend the AGM online to participate, vote, or submit questions during the AGM's live webcast. In order to participate online, Registered Shareholders must have a valid 15-digit control number and proxyholders must have received an email from Computershare Trust Company of Canada OR Computershare Investor Services Inc. containing an Invite Code. Guests are invited to attend and submit questions during the question and answer period. The virtual meeting platform is fully supported across most commonly used web browsers (note: Internet Explorer is not a supported browser). We encourage you to access the AGM prior to the start time. About Japan Gold Corp. Japan Gold Corp. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused solely on gold exploration across the three largest islands of Japan: Hokkaido, Honshu and Kyushu. The Company has a country-wide alliance with Barrick Gold Corporation to jointly explore, develop and mine certain gold mineral properties and mining projects. The Company holds a portfolio of 31 gold projects which cover areas with known gold occurrences, a history of mining and are prospective for high-grade epithermal gold mineralization. Japan Gold's leadership team represent decades of resource industry and business experience, and the Company has an operational team of geologists, drillers and technical advisors with experience exploring and operating in Japan. More information is available at www.japangold.com. For further information please contact: John Proust Chairman & CEO Phone: 778-725-1491 Email: [email protected] Website: www.japangold.com Cautionary Note Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as such 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/141077 Los Angeles, California--(Newsfile Corp. - October 19, 2022) - Kraken Robotics Inc. (TSXV: PNG) (OTCQB: KRKNF), Canada's Ocean Company", announces that Kraken management will attend the 15th annual LD Micro Invitational which features over 200 notable microcap companies in a variety of industries. Greg Reid, COO, and Joe MacKay, CFO, will be available for one-on-one investor meetings on October 26th at the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Mr. Reid will also give a corporate presentation on Thursday, October 27, at 8:30 AM Pacific Time. Virtual attendees can register to watch the presentation here. "Over the past few months, Kraken has seen continued momentum in orders across all its product and service offerings including a $9 million mine hunting contract from a NATO navy; $6 million of synthetic aperture sonar sensor orders; more than $3 million for sub bottom cable imaging; and a $1 million follow on subsea battery order," said Mr. Reid. "These contracts and others led us this past August to reiterate our 2022 revenue guidance between $36 million to $42 million and adjusted EBITDA between $5 million and $7 million. Our opportunity pipeline continues to grow driven by demand for products and services providing seabed intelligence to defense and commercial customers globally. We look forward to meeting investors at the LD Micro Main Event to discuss these and other corporate catalysts." Kraken Robotics Inc. Social Media LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/krakenrobotics Twitter www.twitter.com/krakenrobotics Facebook www.facebook.com/krakenroboticsinc YouTube www.youtube.com/channel/UCEMyaMQnneTeIr71HYgrT2A Instagram www.instagram.com/krakenrobotics ABOUT KRAKEN ROBOTICS INC. Kraken Robotics Inc. (TSXV: PNG) (OTCQB: KRKNF) is a marine technology company dedicated to the production and sale of software-centric sensors, subsea batteries, and underwater robotic systems. The company is headquartered in Newfoundland with offices in Canada, U.S., Germany, Denmark, and Brazil. In July 2021, Kraken acquired PanGeo Subsea, a leading services company specializing in high-resolution 3D acoustic imaging solutions for the sub-seabed. PanGeo with offices in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Kraken. Kraken is ranked as a Top 100 marine technology company by Marine Technology Reporter. Forward-Looking Statements Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, the words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "seek", "propose", "estimate", "expect", and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking statements with respect to, among other things, business objectives, expected growth, results of operations, performance, business projects and opportunities and financial results. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events based on certain material factors and assumptions and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, changes in market, competition, governmental or regulatory developments, general economic conditions and other factors set out in the Company's public disclosure documents. Many factors could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to vary from those described in this news release, including without limitation those listed above. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in this news release and such forward-looking statements included in, or incorporated by reference in this news release, should not be unduly relied upon. Such statements speak only as of the date of this news release. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. For further information, please contact: Joe MacKay, Chief Financial Officer (416) 303-0605 [email protected] Greg Reid, Chief Operating Officer (416) 818-9822 [email protected] Sean Peasgood, Investor Relations (647) 955-1274 [email protected] About LD Micro LD Micro aims to be the most crucial resource in the micro-cap world. Whether it is the index, comprehensive data, or hosting the most significant events on an annual basis, LD's sole mission is to serve as an invaluable asset for all those interested in finding the next generation of great companies. http://www.ldmicro.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. nor its Regulation Services Provide (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release, and the OTCQB has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/140967 A view shows the city administration building hit by recent shelling in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict, in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine, October 16, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko By Mark Trevelyan LONDON (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday he was introducing martial law in four Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine that Moscow claimed last month as its own territory but is struggling to defend from Ukrainian advances. In televised remarks to members of his Security Council, Putin boosted the security powers of all Russia's regional governors and ordered the creation of a special coordinating council under Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin to step up the faltering war effort. He said the "entire system of state administration", not only the specialised security agencies, must be geared to supporting what Russia calls its "special military operation". The package of moves, nearly eight months into the war, marked the latest escalation by Putin to counter a series of major defeats at the hands of Ukrainian forces since the start of September. The U.S. State Department said Russia was resorting to "desperate tactics". A Kyiv official said it would change nothing. The published Kremlin decree ordered an "economic mobilisation" in eight regions adjoining Ukraine, including Crimea, which Russia invaded and annexed in 2014. It placed them in a special regime one step below martial law and allowed for the restriction of people's movements. Putin conferred additional powers on the leaders of all Russia's 80-plus regions to protect critical facilities, maintain public order and increase production in support of the war effort. But it was far from clear how fast or how effectively the new measures might bolster Russia's military position on the ground. They came as Russian-installed officials in Ukraine's occupied Kherson region told civilians to leave some areas as soon as possible in anticipation of an imminent Ukrainian attack. Russia expert Mark Galeotti said on Twitter the moves amounted to "a declaration of variegated martial law across the whole of Russia", with some level of emergency regulation now applying across the whole country. He said it was unclear whether regional officials would use the extra powers as Moscow wanted, ignore them, or exploit them as opportunities to embezzle state resources. The Russian-installed acting governor of occupied Kherson, Vladimir Saldo, confirmed that he would hand power to the military, according to Russian news agencies. But many regional chiefs - including Moscow's mayor Sergei Sobyanin - said they did not plan to make any immediate changes. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said on Twitter: "This does not change anything for Ukraine: we continue the liberation and de-occupation of our territories." URGENT MEASURES Ukrainian gains have forced Putin into a series of escalatory steps within the past month: the unpopular call-up of hundreds of thousands of extra troops, the unilateral annexation of the four Ukrainian regions - condemned as illegal by an overwhelming majority of nations at the U.N. General Assembly - and a threat to resort to nuclear weapons to defend what Russia sees as its own lands. After months of assurances from the Kremlin that the campaign was going according to plan, the increasingly urgent measures have brought the reality of the war much closer to home for many ordinary Russians. The failings of the military and the chaotic state of the mobilisation - which prompted hundreds of thousands of men to flee abroad - have drawn unprecedented criticism even from Putin allies. Some regions have resorted to public appeals to provide newly mobilised soldiers with basic equipment to head to the front - a problem implicitly acknowledged by Putin. "Our soldiers, no matter what tasks they perform, must be provided with everything they need. This applies to the equipment of barracks and places of deployment, living conditions, kit and gear, food and medical care," he said. "We have every opportunity to resolve all the issues that arise here - and they do exist - at a modern level that is worthy of our country." Paul Stronski, a Russia expert with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said Putin was placing more responsibility on regional heads by ordering them onto a war footing, but without making clear what they actually needed to do. Stronski, a former Russia specialist at the U.S. State Department, said the president's orders epitomised Moscow's struggles to implement an effective war plan. "Putin had a vision seven months ago, it's gone horribly wrong and he still hasn't quite figured out how to fix that vision of how to run a war," he said. (Reporting by Reuters; writing by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) FILE PHOTO: The WhatsApp app logo is seen on a smartphone in this picture illustration taken September 15, 2017. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration By Alexander Marrow MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian lawmaker on Wednesday urged state institutions to stop using WhatsApp messenger and the industry ministry sought to promote domestically produced software as Russia tries to wean itself off Western technology. WhatsApp owner Meta Platforms Inc. was found guilty of "extremist activity" in Russia in March and later added to financial monitoring agency Rosfinmonitoring's list of "terrorists and extremists". Meta's lawyer in court has said Meta was not carrying out extremist activity and was against Russophobia. Russia blocked Meta's Facebook and Instagram in March, objecting to restrictions on Russian media and some posts permitted by users in Ukraine. Widely used among Russians, WhatsApp has always remained available, but Anton Gorelkin, deputy head of the Russian parliament's committee on information policy, on Wednesday said he personally would be deleting the app and recommended a wider ban. "I think it is necessary to introduce a full ban on WhatsApp use for official purposes by the Russian state and municipal employees," Gorelkin wrote on Telegram, an alternative messenger that is very popular in Russia. "Whether it is a Russian alternative or from Dubai does not matter - the main thing is that it does not belong to a company that openly participates in the information war against our country and is included on the list of terrorist and extremist organisations." Russia has acknowledged major shortcomings with its electronics industry. As Western sanctions and an exodus of foreign firms stymie its access to technology imports and solutions, Moscow has sought to boost the industry with tax breaks and preferential loans. Vasily Shpak, deputy industry and trade minister, said the niche vacated by foreign telecoms manufacturers should be filled by domestic ones. "There will be no going back," Interfax news agency quoted Shpak as saying, adding that firms exiting the country must not be allowed to return to the same niches they have vacated. "This niche should be filled by our producers," Shpak said, calling for electronics products with domestic software to form the "basis of Russia's technological independence". (Reporting by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Mark Trevelyan) NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Anchin, a premier accounting and advisory firm, is proud to announce that the firm has launched an Emerging Companies Group. The Emerging Companies Group works alongside founders and their businesses to assist with the complex challenges that a growing business faces. In addition to tax compliance and planning, the Emerging Companies Group assists fast-growing companies with strategic business objectives including M&A and transaction advisory services, GAAP analysis, valuation consulting, employee incentive plans, tax credits and incentives (including the research and development tax credit), and advising on evaluating exit and succession planning strategies. We also work with founders to maximize tax benefits and best prepare them for future opportunities. Experienced professionals in our Emerging Companies Group stay on top of current trends and industry pain points to better support firms with all of their strategic business decisions. The team focuses on the unique needs of these rapidly growing and evolving businesses. Services include: Tax returns and compliance Financial projections Supporting Founders GAAP Compliance Ongoing advice and tax strategy/compliance International Tax Planning Multi-state nexus compliance M&A and Due diligence services Income and sales tax Buy/sell consulting Outsourced Accounting Services Develop key performance indicators QSBS Strategies Entity structure and agreements Supply chain consulting Equity/Debt raises Tax credits and incentives (R&D) Equity compensation planning Tax planning and advice Exploring bank financing Valuation Service Industries we serve include: Beauty, Health and Wellness Professional Services Consumer Products Public Relations, Advertising and Fashion Media Food and Beverage Technology Pets For more information on how Anchin's Emerging Companies Group can assist your business, please contact: Greg Wank, Executive Partner Leader of the Food and Beverage Group at [email protected] Chris Noble, Partner Leader of the Technology and Professional Services Groups at [email protected] Kamila Gosiewski, Senior Manager Co-Leader - Emerging Companies Group at [email protected] Vera Mittiga, Senior Manager Co-Leader Emerging Companies Group at [email protected]. Additional information is available at https://www.anchin.com/services/emerging-companies/ About Anchin: Anchin is consistently recognized as one of the "best of the best" accounting firms in the country, a Best Place to Work in New York City and New York State, and a Best Accounting Firm to Work For nationwide. The full-service firm, with staff over 450, including 62 partners, focuses on the financial goals of privately held companies, investment funds and high-net-worth individuals and families. Additional information is available at www.anchin.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/anchin-launches-an-emerging-companies-group-to-support-growing-businesses-301653426.html SOURCE Anchin, Block & Anchin LLP NORTHVILLE, Mich., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Andrea Jemison-Smith is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Distinguished Executive for her exemplary work in the Engineering field, and in acknowledgment of her achievements at Stellantis. With over 20 years of experience in the Manufacturing and Engineering industry, Andrea Jemison-Smith holds a vast array of knowledge within her chosen profession. As the Senior Torque Manager at Stellantis/FCA Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Ms. Jemison-Smith sets torque integrity standards and manages the procedural operations for fastening systems in the company's North American locations. Stellantis is a global vehicle company that provides sustainable solutions for customers, offering a full line of luxury, premium, and passenger vehicles. Beginning this role in 2014, she manages vehicle launches and creates procedure guides to prepare for the global product launches. She works with FCA Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in Auburn Hills, MI, one of the many branches of Stellantis. Ms. Jemison-Smith attributes her success to the strong work ethic she learned from her parents, as well as to a high school aptitude test that steered her in the direction of a career in science and math. In pursuit of her higher education, she first attended Tennessee State University from 1987 to 1989, and then continued her education at Lawrence Technological University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1993. Here, she was involved with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, which she still volunteers with today. She began her professional career in 1993 with the Ford Motor Company, where she excelled as a Manufacturing Engineer and Torque Senior Lead. She worked with Ford Motor Company for more than two decades before leaving in 2014. Highly involved in her community, she is a Deacon at her church, a United Way Worldwide supporter, and is certified as a Six Sigma Black Belt. Ms. Jemison-Smith is also a volunteer for the Detroit High School Stem Program and remains involved with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She has been recognized as a Top Executive by Marquis Who's Who and as a Woman of Color in STEM at a STEM Conference, along with many other awards and honors throughout her career. Looking to the future, Ms. Jemison-Smith plans to start her own business in procedural writing, accreditation, and ISO standards, and is researching procedural writing and testing methods for cannabis products. For more information, visit https://www.stellantis.com/en Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE Continental Who's Who Cult-Favorite Functional Wellness Brand Builds on Distribution Momentum with Sprouts Farmers Market Launch and Aims to Engage Retail Consumers with Hot Pink Marketing LOS ANGELES, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BelliWelli, a wellness brand celebrated for its delicious taste and digestive health properties, announced today its latest retail expansion into all Sprouts Farmers Market locations across the United States. Sprouts is the first national brick-and-mortar retailer to carry BelliWelli, joining other regional stores like Harmons Neighborhood Grocer, Earth Fare, Gelson's, Central Market, and Mother's Market & Kitchen as well as online in Amazon and Thrive Market. The retailer will carry BelliWelli's Chocolate Chip, Strawberry Shortcake, Cinnamon Swirl, and Birthday Cake flavored certified low-FODMAP bars. The entrance into retail marks a major step toward BelliWelli's goal of being an accessible snack option to all those who struggle with digestive health, an issue that affects over 70% of adults in the U.S. This expansion will allow for growth into untapped markets with the goal of reaching new customers while also furthering BelliWelli's omnichannel presence. It will present an opportunity to meet customers where they shop and provide a fully integrated shopping experience. In addition to expanding distribution, BelliWelli is debuting its new packaging hot pink marking the first time a CPG brand fully owns that color on retail shelves. Community has always been a big part of the brand's DNA, as it utilized Facebook groups to start and scale the business and social media crowdsourcing to determine ingredients and new flavors. Deciding on the packaging was no different, BelliWelli polled customers via email, Instagram, and TikTok to gather hundreds of responses on box and wrapping options to coincide with its launch into Sprouts. It will be used across all channels including BelliWelli's site and online marketplaces. "Expanding into a nationwide retailer like Sprouts will allow us to target a new audience and introduce BelliWelli to consumers who are searching for new belly besties or looking to improve overall gut health," says Katie Wilson, Co-Founder and CEO of BelliWelli. "Engaging and listening to our customers is what makes our brand so successful. We've built a powerful community at BelliWelli and are thrilled to partner with a prestigious retailer who shares our vision of offering natural and healthier alternatives that are beneficial and delicious." "We're excited to launch BelliWelli at our stores nationwide! The brand has built a loyal fan base and successful business online and we are thrilled to offer their delicious bars," says Kim Coffin, Chief Forager of Sprouts. "Our consumers are health enthusiasts and innovation seekers so BelliWelli is a natural fit for our product portfolio. We look forward to working with the brand and helping it grow." BelliWelli has established itself as a leader in the $280B functional food industry with its innovative products that were made by and for those with gut issues. Since launching in 2021, BelliWelli has experienced unprecedented growth making three figures in its first year. Its bars are the first gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and certified low-FODMAP treats on the market that don't contain sugar alcohols, and are packed with a daily dose of probiotics and fiber. The brand has also coined the term "Hot Girls Have IBS", launching a nationwide billboard campaign in Los Angeles, New York City, and Portland which has gone viral on TikTok and led to a 40 percent increase in sales. To find a store location near you or learn more about the brand, visit belliwelli.com and follow the brand on Instagram at @belliwellisnacks. ABOUT BELLIWELLI BelliWelli is a wellness brand on a mission to destigmatize digestive health and fill a gap in the $280B functional food market. Katie Wilson, an IBS sufferer, founded the company after years of wading through labels and consulting doctors to find a product that didn't trigger her symptoms. With BelliWelli, she not only introduced the first gluten-free, probiotic-packed, low-FODMAP, vegan snack bars but formed a community for those struggling. BelliWelli has also coined the phrase "Hot Girls Have IBS" as a way to spread awareness around the extremely common issue while also adding humor to normalize the conversation. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/belliwelli-announces-nationwide-retail-expansion-and-debuts-new-community-sourced-packaging-301653634.html SOURCE BelliWelli Award-Winning Fast-Casual Restaurant Franchises on Track to Meet Growth Goals with 43 New Store Signings in Q3 LAS VEGAS, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Continually setting the tone for an aggressive year of development in 2022, Capriotti's Sandwich Shop and Wing Zone announced today the signing of 17 franchise agreements in the third quarter, bringing an additional 43 stores to 11 states across the country. The signings will add 23 Capriotti's and 20 Wing Zone locations to the development pipeline. The Q3 agreements will expand both brands into new territories bringing award-winning food to new areas across the country. Third quarter signings for Capriotti's include: Los Angeles San Diego Santa Barbara New York City Youngstown, OH Cincinnati, OH Cherry Hill, NJ Dothan, AL Ft. Walton/Destin, FL Kalispell, MT In the third quarter, Wing Zone will develop its brand in: New York City Tyler, TX Austin, TX Las Vegas Pinellas, FL Hernando, FL Citrus, FL Northwest Indiana Western Colorado Kalispell, MT "Closing out the third quarter with the addition of 43 new stores to our development pipeline is getting us one step closer to our ultimate goal and further proves the strength of both brand's business models," said David Bloom, Chief Development and Operating Officer for Capriotti's and Wing Zone. "The momentum we have witnessed thus far proves furthermore our dedication to expanding our national footprint to bring the high-quality menu items that customers expect to more communities." Capriotti's maintains its reputation as a successful and competitive brand with numerous recognitions in 2022, among those being the fast-casual sandwich franchise's first-time landing on Inc. Magazine's annual Inc. 5000 list, the most respected ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. Additionally, Capriotti's recently ranked No. 328 on Franchise Times Top 500 and Wing Zone graced the list for the first time, coming in at No. 470. And for the third year in a row, the brand was named one of the Top Workplaces by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Earlier this year the International Franchise Association (IFA) named Javier Gomez, franchisee of Capriotti's in Fresno, California, as Franchisee of the Year for 2022. "In addition to being acknowledged for our aggressive development plans and multi-unit signings with new and existing franchisees, it's incredible to receive brand recognition for the bigger picture items," added Bloom. "We will never stop working to provide a top-tier working environment for employees and franchisees, and are humbled to be voted as such. The culture we implement in our day-to-day operations is a top priority for both brands, which is why we continue to find ourselves ranked on these prestigious lists." Founded in 1976, Capriotti's is most famous for its 40-year nightly tradition of slow-roasting whole, all-natural turkeys in-house and hand-shredding them each morning to feature in a variety of subs. This includes The Bobbie, the shop's acclaimed best-seller, made with homemade turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and mayo on a soft roll. Founded in 1993, Wing Zone is an international fast-casual restaurant franchise known for its cooked-to-order, flavor-fused chicken wings, and tenders. Both brands are backed by a corporate leadership team that offers a continuous support program for franchise partners through online and field programs, which provides significant support for marketing, retail sales, operations, and growth strategies through every stage of their ownership. Capriotti's AUV remains impressive with the top 25 percent averaging over $1.3 million, with contributions from newly-opened stores in 2022 producing a sales average of 50 percent higher than the brand's AUV of $994,847. For more information about the Capriotti's franchise opportunity, please visit http://www.ownacapriottis.com. For more information about the Wing Zone franchise opportunity, please visit https://wingzonefranchise.com/. About Capriotti's Sandwich ShopFounded in 1976, Capriotti's Sandwich Shop is an award-winning national franchised restaurant chain that remains true to its 40-year tradition of slow-roasting whole, all-natural turkeys in-house every day. Capriotti's cold, grilled, and vegetarian subs, cheesesteaks and salads are available at more than 175 locations across the United States. Capriotti's signature sub, The Bobbie, was voted "The Greatest Sandwich in America" by thousands of readers across the country, as reported by AOL.com. Capriotti's fans can also download the CAPAddicts Rewards app for iOS and Android, where they can earn and redeem rewards. Capriotti's plans to grow to over 500 locations by 2025 and was ranked on Fast Casual's Top Movers & Shakers List each of the last three years (2020-22). For more information, visit capriottis.com. Like Capriotti's on Facebook, follow on Twitter or Instagram. About Wing ZoneFounded in 1993, Wing Zone is an international fast-casual restaurant franchise known for its cooked-to-order, flavor-fused chicken wings and tenders. Wing Zone's award-winning flavors are available at more than 31 locations in North American and its 30 restaurants internationally. The brand plans to grow to 200 profitable restaurants by 2025. For more information, visit www.wingzone.com. Like Wing Zone on Facebook, follow on Twitter or Instagram. Media Contact: Julianne Stevenson, Fishman Public Relations, 224-558-2510 or [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/capriottis-sandwich-shop-and-wing-zone-expand-national-footprint-with-q3-signed-agreements-301653704.html SOURCE Capriotti's Sandwich Shop Growing Electrified Vehicle Segment Far Outpaces Rest of Industry in Q3 2022, Boasts Record Sales in U.S. Market ATLANTA, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sales of electrified vehicles hit a record in Q3 2022, as one of the hottest segments in the U.S. automotive market continues to make waves throughout the industry, according to Kelley Blue Book, a Cox Automotive company. More than 200,000 electrified vehicles were sold in the three-month span of Q3 a first with the segment far outpacing the rest of the industry in terms of sales volumes and share growth. The high cost of electrified vehicles does not appear to deter car shoppers. While electrified vehicle prices declined slightly (1.8%) month over month from August to September 2022, EV prices were up 9.7% in September 2022 compared to a year ago in September 2021. The average new EV price last month was $65,291, according to Kelley Blue Book, which is well above the industry average and aligns more with luxury versus mainstream prices. Despite the high price tags for EVs, consumer interest is not showing any signs of slowing. "Electrified vehicles continue to be the darling of the industry, with the growing marketplace and consumer interest now reflected in record sales numbers," said Brian Moody, executive editor for Kelley Blue Book. "While EV prices currently align more closely with luxury versus mainstream, the market continues to grow and evolve with more choices hitting the scene all the time. It's no longer just 'which Tesla is available,' but rather an industry-wide boom with more EVs on the horizon from Ford, GM, Hyundai, and other manufacturers." While Tesla is still the leading EV brand, new entries continue to show strong growth as they gobble up share. Tesla's share of the EV segment slumped lower in Q3, although at 64% share, 'lower' is a relative term. Declining share was inevitable for Tesla as more players entered the marketplace, but for now, the brand remains the leader among EVs. More notable than the decline in EV share is the fact that Tesla easily held on to the top spot in the luxury market during Q3, outselling No. 2 Mercedes-Benz by a large margin. Beyond pure EVs, Toyota remains the gold standard for hybrid powertrains. Hybrid sales for Toyota decreased year over year in Q3 mostly due to tight inventory, but the brand still moved more than 100,000 hybrids in the U.S. during those three months. Year to date, nearly half of all hybrids sold in the United States wear a Toyota badge. To view Kelley Blue Book's Q3 2022 Electrified Vehicle Sales Report, visit https://www.coxautoinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Q3-2022-Kelley-Blue-Book-Electrified-Vehicle-Sales-Report.pdf. For more information and news from Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com, visit www.kbb.com/media/, follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/kelley-blue-book/, Twitter at www.twitter.com/kelleybluebook (or @kelleybluebook), like our page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kbb and follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kbb_com/ (or @kbb_com). About Kelley Blue BookFounded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource, is the vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the automotive industry for nearly a century. As the industry standard for generations, Kelley Blue Book provides transparent, objective information and data-driven, innovative tools for consumers, automotive dealers and manufacturers. The company publishes millions of market-reflective values weekly on its top-rated website KBB.com, from its famous Blue Book Trade-In Values to the Kelley Blue Book Price Advisor tool, which offers a range for what consumers reasonably can expect to pay for a vehicle in their area. KBB.com editors rate and review hundreds of new vehicles each year to help consumers understand the Best Cars and Best SUVs to meet their needs. Kelley Blue BookSM Instant Cash Offer provides a redeemable trade-in offer to transaction-ready consumers and conveniently connects them to local participating dealers. Kelley Blue Book's Service Advisor provides guidance on how much to pay for service and repairs, allowing consumers to schedule service with local dealers on KBB.com. The company also provides vehicle values to finance and insurance companies as well as governmental agencies. Kelley Blue Book is a Cox Automotive brand. About Cox AutomotiveCox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using vehicles easier for everyone. The global company's more than 27,000 team members and family of brands, including Autotrader, Dealer.com, Dealertrack, Kelley Blue Book, Manheim, NextGear Capital, VinSolutions, vAuto and Xtime, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with annual revenues of nearly $20 billion. www.coxautoinc.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/electrified-vehicle-sales-hit-record-according-to-kelley-blue-book-301653678.html SOURCE Kelley Blue Book BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Encompass Health Corporation (NYSE: EHC) today announced that its board of directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend on its common stock of $0.15 per share, payable on January 17, 2023, to holders of record on January 3, 2023. About Encompass Health Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC) is the largest owner and operator of rehabilitation hospitals in the United States. With a national footprint that includes 153 hospitals in 36 states and Puerto Rico, the Company provides high-quality, compassionate rehabilitative care for patients recovering from a major injury or illness, using advanced technology and innovative treatments to maximize recovery. Encompass Health is ranked as one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For and Modern Healthcare's Best Places to Work in Healthcare. For more information, visit encompasshealth.com, or follow us on our newsroom, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Forward-Looking StatementsStatements contained in this press release which are not historical facts, such as the timing and amounts of dividends, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In addition, Encompass Health, through its senior management, may from time to time make forward-looking public statements concerning the matters described herein. All such estimates, projections, and forward-looking information speak only as of the date hereof, and Encompass Health undertakes no duty to publicly update or revise such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates based upon current information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors. While it is impossible to identify all such factors, factors which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those estimated by Encompass Health include, but are not limited to, the regulatory review and approval process; a hospital's ability to receive and maintain proper local, state and federal licensing; the ability to attract and retain nurses, therapists, and other healthcare professionals in a highly competitive environment with often severe staffing shortages; the continued spread of COVID-19 or another infectious disease, including the speed, depth, geographic reach and duration of the spread, which could decrease our patient volumes and revenues and lead to staffing and supply shortages and associated cost increases; actions to be taken by Encompass Health in response to the pandemic; the legal, regulatory and administrative developments that occur at the federal, state and local levels; Encompass Health's infectious disease prevention and control efforts; Encompass Health's ability to comply with extensive, complex, and ever-changing regulations in the healthcare industry; any adverse outcome of various lawsuits, claims, and legal or regulatory proceedings involving Encompass Health, including any matters related to yet undiscovered issues, if any, at acquired companies; potential disruptions, breaches, or other incidents affecting the proper operation, availability, or security of Encompass Health's information systems, including unauthorized access to or theft of patient, business associate, or other sensitive information; changes, delays in (including in connection with resolution of Medicare payment reviews or appeals), or suspension of reimbursement for Encompass Health's services by governmental or private payors; and other factors which may be identified from time to time in Encompass Health's SEC filings and other public announcements, including Encompass Health's Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2021 and Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2022, and June 30, 2022. Media Contact:Casey Winger | 205 447-6410[email protected] Investor Relations Contact:Mark Miller | 205 970-5860[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/encompass-health-declares-dividend-on-common-stock-301653670.html SOURCE Encompass Health Corp. Grants will be allocated to The American University in Cairo, The Southern Centre for Inequality Studies at Wits University, Universidad de los Andes, and El Colegio de Mexico, among others NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Ford Foundation announced a $13 million commitment that will strengthen economic research centers in the Global South to advance more equitable growth policies and reimagine economic systems. The centers are housed at universities in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, to give local communities an opportunity to help shape the policies and economic systems that directly impact their lives. This announcement marks the next step in a major philanthropic effort to build a global network of institutions focused on challenging neoliberalism and traditional economic thinking. The dominant economic policies of the past 50 years have left behind impoverished communities around the world and are widely considered to offer insufficient solutions for today's global challenges, such as the climate crisis and rampant wealth inequality within and among countries. The grants announced today will complement an existing network of university centers announced by the Hewlett Foundation and Omidyar Network earlier this year. Those investments established centers at Harvard Kennedy School, Howard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University, and Columbia University. "Unregulated markets have caused some of the principal societal inequities we face today. It is time for markets to serve the interests of all people," said Martin Abregu, Ford Foundation Vice President for International Programs. "While the free market worldview has dominated for decades, the changing global economic context and persistent inequality require us to rethink traditional models. We are pleased to join Hewlett in this initiative to develop a bold vision for the future of global economic systems that will better serve today's society." The recipients of these grants will go beyond critique to propose real alternatives and develop new frameworks for how governments, markets, and individuals can better relate to meet society's biggest challenges. The centers are housed at The American University in Cairo in Egypt, The Southern Centre for Inequality Studies at Wits University in South Africa, Universidad de los Andes in Colombia and El Colegio de Mexico in Mexico. Additional centers will be selected in Asia. Statements from Grantees: "At the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, our vision for the next four years, supported by this grant, is to be at the forefront of driving research and policy engagement for two existential challenges facing the global South. The first is ensuring a post-Covid economic recovery that creates a more egalitarian world. The second is the transition to a low-carbon economy, which holds both challenges and opportunities for the global South. The perspective of the global South is critical to addressing these challenges, and ensuring that inequality does not grow. It is essential that the recovery and transition address inequalities in gender, race, caste, nationality (citizenship), age, and class in an intersectional way," said Professor Imraan Valodia, Director, Southern Centre for Inequality Studies and Pro Vice-Chancellor: Climate, Sustainability and Inequality, University of the Witwatersrand. "Latin American countries are facing common challenges, like persisting inequality and an increasing sense of social frustration. We are delighted to participate in this international effort, in partnership with Universidad de Los Andes, to reimagine the present and the future through novel research, education, and open dialogue with policymakers and society as a whole," said Silvia Giorguli, President, El Colegio de El Colegio de Mexico. "Persistent inequality and the norms, values, culture, and social relations it promotes has translated into dissatisfaction with economics, particularly with the "neoliberal paradigm." Our project seeks to move the economics profession and the public debate "beyond neoliberalism." Simply contradicting market fundamentalism is likely to leave us stuck in this old debate. To reimagine, we need a fresh start based on new ideas, questions, and approaches," said Leopoldo Fergusson, Director of the Center for the Studies on Economic Development (CEDE), Department of Economics, Universidad de los Andes. "The project should allow us to progressively come up with a new accumulation, distribution and redistribution model that stimulates equitable development in the Middle East and North Africa, and the entire Global South. Since neoliberalism is global, its alternative cannot but also be global. The new model will thus greatly benefit from the interactions between the Global South partners and their counterparts in the Global North," said Dr. Ibrahim Awad and Dr. Amr Adly, American University in Cairo. THE FORD FOUNDATIONThe Ford Foundation is an independent organization working to address inequality and build a future grounded in justice. For more than 85 years, it has supported visionaries on the frontlines of social change worldwide, guided by its mission to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement. Today, with an endowment of $16 billion, the foundation has headquarters in New York and 10 regional offices across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. Learn more at www.fordfoundation.org. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ford-foundation-invests-in-global-south-university-centers-to-advance-new-economic-thinking-301653748.html SOURCE Ford Foundation The partnership makes it easier for community members to find information across multiple content repositories for a more effective, self-service, online community platform AUSTIN, Texas and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Khoros, a global leader in digital-first customer engagement software, today announced a partnership with SearchUnify, a leading unified cognitive platform, to offer federated search within Khoros-powered communities for a more effective self-service platform. "Customers often seek ways to solve problems on their own before engaging with brands directly. Online brand communities are a highly effective channel for delivering the self-service support customers want. But sometimes the best answer is found outside the community, which requires customers to search elsewhere," said Chris Tranquill, CEO at Khoros. "By partnering with SearchUnify, we're excited to provide a powerful, unified discovery experience that expands that search to include results from outside sources so customers can get all the information they needwithout leaving your brand community." The partnership combines the power of Khoros's enterprise-grade communities software and SearchUnify's AI-driven enterprise search solution to increase community engagement, improve customer satisfaction, and further reduce support costs. By integrating with SearchUnify, Khoros-powered communities become a powerful, one-stop shop for content discovery by integrating information from multiple repositories (federated search), whether the information is in a brand's online community or from an outside source such as Slack, WordPress, or SharePoint. Delivering this unified discovery experience makes it easier for community members to find the most relevant information quickly and more easily from a single search console. Khoros's partnership with SearchUnify also includes the following online community features through advanced artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities: Smarter user interfaces (UIs) understand search intent and history to help guide users to relevant results by delivering rich snippets and pre-selected facets. (UIs) understand search intent and history to help guide users to relevant results by delivering rich snippets and pre-selected facets. Create more personalized community experiences with AI-fueled algorithms that deliver tailored results and recommendations based on the user's role, access permissions, behaviors, and interests. with AI-fueled algorithms that deliver tailored results and recommendations based on the user's role, access permissions, behaviors, and interests. Drive engagement and improve searchability with AI-powered algorithms that continuously learn from user behavior to display the most relevant results first. with AI-powered algorithms that continuously learn from user behavior to display the most relevant results first. Measure self-service success and prove online community ROI with deep analytics and metrics that matter, like case deflection and engagement, CSAT, and more. "Having built over 100 online communities, knowledge bases, partner portals, and more, we noticed a trend that enterprises with multiple, disparate content sources were struggling to put relevant content in the hands of the end-user. We're proud to build upon our work with Khoros to elevate the online community experience with the most holistic search capabilities to better support brands and their customers," said Alok Ramsisaria, CEO at Grazitti Interactive, SearchUnify's parent company. To learn more about Khoros's partnership with SearchUnify, visit here. For additional information about Khoros's digital-first customer engagement platform and services, including online community engagement, visit khoros.com. Information about SearchUnify can be found at searchunify.com. About Khoros Khoros's award-winning customer engagement platform helps over 2,000 global brands, including one-third of the Fortune 100 companies, create customers for life. With over 20 patented technologies, Khoros connects every facet of customer engagement, including digital contact centers, messaging, chat, online brand communities, CX analytics, and social media management. Combined with our top-rated services, the Khoros platform enables brands to connect with customers throughout their entire digital journey. Khoros powers more than 500 million daily digital interactions and leverages AI to turn these interactions into actionable insights. Primarily owned by Vista Equity Partners, Khoros is recognized as one of the Best Places to Work both nationally and locally across our 11 offices around the world. For more information, visit khoros.com. About SearchUnify SearchUnify is a unified cognitive platform that fuels the unification of disparate data silos to build a centralized content repository, an insights engine that articulates analytics to monitor KPIs and react to changing trends in real-time. It powers multiple next-gen applications including Intelligent Chatbot, Escalation Predictor, Agent Helper, KCS Enabler and Community Helper all of which elevate & personalize the experience of customers, agents, community managers, knowledge workers, and support managers. MEDIA CONTACTS KhorosMandy Mayekawa[email protected] SearchUnifyAanchal Dhar[email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1925136/SearchUnify_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/khoros-and-searchunify-partner-to-strengthen-online-community-experiences-with-federated-search-and-new-ai-powered-capabilities-301653797.html SOURCE SearchUnify TRACY, Calif., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lennar, one of the nation's leading homebuilders, announced today the grand opening of Parklin and Sunhaven, two brand new communities in Tracy Hills, a standout master-planned community located just inland from the San Francisco Bay Area, in Northern California's San Joaquin County. Home shoppers are invited to attend the celebration and experience the new community at the celebration taking place Saturday, October 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The day will include complimentary food and beverages, music, activities and exclusive tours of four stunning model homes. Following the event, model home tours at Tracy Hills will be available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. "We are delighted to debut Parklin and Sunhaven within this one-of-a-kind master-planned setting that boasts a long list of amenities including the popular resort-style clubhouse which includes a pool, game area and lounge spaces," said Brian Olin, Lennar's Bay Area Division President. "We have loved watching Tracy Hills develop, particularly knowing that our Lennar homes are a significant part of this special place." Homes at Parklin range from 2,173 to 2,688 square feet, with four bedrooms and two to three baths. Homes at Sunhaven range from 2,502 to 3,543 square feet, with four to five bedrooms and three to three-and-a-half baths. Pricing at Parklin begins in the low $800,000s. Pricing at Sunhaven begins in the high $800,000s. All homes feature generous open layouts and gourmet kitchens. Select floorplans include first-floor owner's suites. The Residence 4 model at Sunhaven also offers a Next Gen "Home Within a Home." This multigenerational option features a private suite with a private entrance, kitchenette with refrigerator and microwave, living space, bedroom and bath, laundry room with washer/dryer hook-ups, and a patio, perfect for an aging parent or even a grown child coming back to the nest. Home buyers can further personalize their homes at Parklin and Sunhaven with a host of architectural exterior designs, including Early California, Country European, Craftsman Bungalow, Mediterranean Revival, Colonial and Western Farmhouse. All homes incorporate the latest technology with conveniences like Ring video doorbells and security systems, keyless entries, smart thermostats, smart garage door openers and enhanced Wi-Fi. Every home also comes with Lennar's signature Everything's Included program, where the homebuilder's most popular options and upgrades are built into the base price of the home. At Parklin and Sunhaven, this includes GE Stainless Steel appliances, quartz or granite countertops, shaker-style cabinets and a host of other carefully curated interior touches and designer fixtures. Residents at Parklin and Sunhaven will enjoy life within the 1,850-acre Tracy Hills master-planned community, situated in Tracy's rolling foothills. A resort-style clubhouse serves as the community's central gathering space with a pool, game area and lounge spaces. Tracy Hills also offers The Market Store, multipurpose room for resident only events, dog parks, trails, brand new fire station, and future elementary school which is under construction. It is convenient to the 580 Freeway and Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) station, linking Tracy Hills to charming downtown Tracy, rich with shopping and dining opportunities, as well as the big city amenities of the entire San Francisco Bay Area. The Parklin and Sunhaven model homes and sales office are located at 3641 Barton St., Tracy, California. For more information, call 888-216-2330 or visit the The Parklin Community Website, Sunhaven Community Website or www.lennar.com/BayArea. About Lennar Corporation Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation's leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar's Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title and closing services primarily for buyers of Lennar's homes and, through LMF Commercial, originates mortgage loans secured primarily by commercial real estate properties throughout the United States. Lennar's Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. LENX drives Lennar's technology, innovation and strategic investments. For more information about Lennar, please visit lennar.com. Contact: Danielle ToccoVice President CommunicationsLennar Corporation[email protected]Direct Line: 949.789.1633 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lennar-debuts-parklin-and-sunhaven-in-tracy-hills-301652572.html SOURCE Lennar Corporation More new crime drama series and retro comedy "Cheeky Business" join the growing slate of content for MHz Choice. WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dark family drama Waterfront (Multichoice Studios) is the first series from South Africa (in Afrikaans) to debut on MHz Choice. The V&A Waterfront in Cape Town as a gorgeous tourist mecca is the setting for the series, which also explores the darker products of decades-long gentrification. The death of shipbuilding magnate Ben Myburgh (Dawid Minnaar) leads his three daughters back to the family business to duke it out for control of the family empire, dirty secrets, and all. More new crime drama series and retro comedy "Cheeky Business" join the growing slate of content for MHz Choice. Also debuting in November are a pair of crime dramas centered around missing girls. The first, Enemies (Germany, Global Screen), comes in the form of a two-part drama about a kidnapped girl told from two different perspectives: the first part follows police inspector Peter Nadler (Bjarne Madel) as he races against time to solve the case, while the second follows the defendant's defense attorney, Konrad Biegler (Oscar nominee Klaus Maria Brandauer, Out of Africa), who is determined to save his client. The two films seen together will push the viewers on questions of fairness and justice. The Promise (France, Newen) follows police captain Pierre Castaing (Olivier Marchal) who never recovers from his failed investigation of the disappearance of an eleven-year-old girl in 1999. The case is resurrected years later when Castaing's daughter (Sofia Essaidi) investigates a similar disappearance. For fans of the French mystery series Magellan, new series Mongeville (France, Mediawan) stars Francis Perrin as a retired judge Antoine Mongeville who teams up with a no-nonsense police detective to solve tricky mysteries in Bordeaux. Retro comedy Cheeky Business (France, Mediawan) will also join the ranks of new series on MHz Choice. Set in the Parisian suburbs in the early 1980s, Cheeky Business is a fictional tale of the invention of the first adult messaging service using the Minitel - a videotext online service accessible through telephone lines in France. Three unlikely friends and college students stumble upon the idea to pose as horny women messaging even hornier men over the Minitel network. Pimps and prostitutes also get involved as the business goes national. Friendship, rivalry, sex, and false appearances are the early hallmarks of what become the internet age, and all hilariously collide in this funny and addictive series. Other new series include two female-led Italian crime dramas from ITV Studios: Petra, based on the bestselling novels by Alicia Gimenez Bartlett and Voiceless starring Cristiana Capotondi as police inspector Eva Cantini. Full November Schedule available here: https://mhzchoice.com/premiere-schedule/ About MHz Networks MHz Networks offers viewers in the U.S. and Canada access to a library of the best television mysteries, dramas, comedies and documentaries subtitled in English through its subscription streaming service, MHz Choice. Select MHz Networks content is also available on DVD and on its free ad-supported service MHz Now, available on Samsung TV Plus and Plex. New MHz Choice customers receive a free 7-Day Trial. For more information, go to mhzchoice.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mhz-choice-debuts-first-ever-series-from-south-africa-301653118.html SOURCE MHz Networks Study Enabled By $250,000 Prize Grant Through The Epilepsy Foundation's Shark Tank Competition LOS ANGELES, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ahead of November's National Epilepsy Awareness Month, Miku, the company that revolutionized the pediatric wellness space using a contactless respiratory & sleep monitoring system, in collaboration with Boston Children's Hospital announced a first-of-its-kind epilepsy research study using an investigational monitoring device. In early 2021, Miku and Dr. Tobias Loddenkemper of Boston Children's Hospital participated in The Epilepsy Foundation's Shark Tank Competition, which seeks the most innovative ideas in epilepsy treatment and care. In total, 25 individuals or teams entered the competition from the United States and seven other countries around the world. Miku and Dr. Loddenkemper were proudly named the Investment Prize Winner and awarded $250,000 to kick off the study. This research aims to monitor and ultimately detect Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures, which occur in 25% of all patients with seizures and are the most common type of generalized seizure in adults. These seizures are also a major risk factor for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). We're very excited that this study can push us closer to early detection, which may help patients get treatment sooner. The IRB-approved study aims to capture Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizure events on study participants. Patients will be monitored by Miku's contact-free SensorFusion technology and, simultaneously, a video-EEG system, the industry-regarded 'gold standard' of hospital monitoring. "We're very excited that this study can push us closer to early detection, which may help patients get treatment sooner, and ultimately benefit the epilepsy community. With Miku's contact-free monitoring, this is an enormous opportunity to collect better data and develop a detection method that can help more people in more homes." - Tobias Loddenkemper, MD, Director of Clinical Epilepsy Research, Boston Children's Hospital. Research from this study will be submitted to a peer-reviewed publication. Additionally, Miku intends to use the study's data to both train and ultimately validate Miku's seizure detection algorithms and AI. "In the future, Miku's research hopes to unlock the keys to not only detecting generalized tonic-clonic seizures but also predicting seizure activity before it occurs based on longitudinal wellness trends in respiration, heart rate and sleep combined with the patient's history of seizures," says Eric White, Miku Co-founder and Chief Product & Technology Officer. "Miku is also exploring the potential to detect other types of seizures where the patient doesn't have obvious movements, known as Absence Seizures." Miku's contact-free SensorFusion monitoring solution has the potential to reduce usage compliance issues by eliminating the need for wearing, charging, or cleaning a wearable device, devices which can often be uncomfortable for a patient to wear while sleeping. In pediatric care, Miku's wearable-free monitoring would reduce the chance for a patient to remove a wearable and create dangerous gaps in monitoring. Beyond wearables, SensorFusion technology would overcome the challenges of existing camera-only or under-mattress devices. In scenarios with blankets, obstructions and shadows in a crib or bed of any size, Miku continues to provide monitoring coverage for caretakers. "We heard incredible support from our conversations with parents of children with epilepsy. We knew there was a real need in the community for a contactless epilepsy monitoring solution. We're honored to work with Boston Children's Hospital and the Epilepsy Foundation to develop a revolutionary contactless solution for General Tonic-Clonic Seizure detection, using Miku's radar, sound, and video capabilities," said Colt Seman, Miku Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer. "The Shank Tank Competition is one of many research investment initiatives we have that foster the development of innovative ideas and help bring them to market faster," said Jacqueline French, MD, Chief Medical and Innovation Officer, Epilepsy Foundation. "It is promising to see Miku's investigational epilepsy detection technology move from development to the clinical studies phase, providing hope to parents and caregivers of loved ones experiencing seizures." About Miku Miku is a pediatric health monitoring company creating products that make it easy for parents to understand their child's sleep and respiratory behaviors and trends. The contact-free Miku Pro Smart Baby Monitor and corresponding analytics platform give parents easy access to breathing and sleep data, all without the use of a wearable. Founded in 2018, Miku's products and proprietary, clinically-tested SensorFusion technology have received accolades from Fast Company, CES, Good Housekeeping, Babylist, Digital Trends, and more for innovation, design, and overall industry best-of. Partnered with established universities, hospital systems, research organizations, investors, and leaders, Miku is pioneering contactless monitoring in the pediatric space. For more information, please visit mikucare.com. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. About Epilepsy Foundation With a network of partners throughout the United States, the Epilepsy Foundation is leading the fight to overcome the challenges of living with epilepsy. The Foundation connects people to treatment, support and resources; leads advocacy efforts; funds innovative research and the training of specialists; and educates the public about epilepsy and seizure first aid. For more than five decades, the Epilepsy Foundation has shone a light on epilepsy to promote awareness and understanding, and to advocate for laws that matter to people with epilepsy, while also funding epilepsy research and supporting epilepsy investigators and specialists in their early careers. In partnership with the CDC, the Epilepsy Foundation has helped to improve access to care for people with epilepsy, expanded its digital reach and online resources in homes across the country, and trained more than 600,000 people in seizure recognition and first aid. The Epilepsy Foundation continues to focus on serving the epilepsy community through advocacy, education, direct services and research for new therapies. To learn more visit epilepsy.com or call 1.800.332.1000. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/miku-joins-forces-with-boston-childrens-hospital-in-research-study-to-develop-seizure-detection-solution-301653031.html SOURCE Miku Atlanta Company Named Partner of the Year at the Dunkin' 2022 Global Convention LAS VEGAS, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dunkin', the world's leading baked goods and coffee chain, today named National DCP (NDCP) as their Partner of the Year at the Dunkin' & Baskin-Robbins 2022 Global Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, National DCP is a global provider of innovative supply chain solutions to the foodservice industry. "National DCP has been an incredible partner from the very beginning, but the level of support they provided to the entire Dunkin' system during the height of the pandemic took our partnership to a whole new level," said Scott Murphy, President, Dunkin'. "During a truly unpredictable time, they helped us maintain the continuity of supply chain and control costs for franchisees, while providing excellent support for product launches and promotional windows. I can't think of a better partner to celebrate." NDCP's partnership with Dunkin' has generated more than $1.3 billion in cost savings to the Dunkin' system. These savings, coupled with an expertise in strategic sourcing, distribution, and supply chain business practices, have driven significant food cost reductions while ensuring the continuity of supply for Dunkin' restaurants. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and worldwide supply chain disruptions, NDCP continued to assure supply and help alleviate price increases while simultaneously managing all the other suppliers to the Dunkin' system and maintaining its key service metrics. "We are deeply honored to win Dunkin's Partner of the Year Award," said Scott Carter, Chief Executive Officer of National DCP. "Strong collaboration with Dunkin' and our entire supplier community is critical in delivering value to our cooperative's membership. Our team members and supplier partners have worked tirelessly to deliver the best possible service at the lowest sustainable costs, which has been particularly challenging in recent times. We appreciate the continued opportunity to serve this iconic brand and look forward to the next decade of shared success." About National DCP, LLC (NDCP) National DCP, LLC (NDCP), a global provider of innovative supply chain solutions for the foodservice industry, currently serves over 10,000 quick service restaurants in the U.S. and distributes products to more than 40 countries. The company's expertise includes strategic sourcing of food and non-food items, distribution, manufacturing, business services, supply chain and full visibility, traceability, continuity, and sustainability of supply. Each year, its extensive distribution network makes 700,000+ deliveries of over 86+ million cases, driving more than 30 million miles. Innovative practices with strategic sourcing, inventory, warehousing, transportation, and program management have allowed NDCP to generate more than $1.3 billion in cumulative savings for customers. Headquartered in metro Atlanta, Georgia, NDCP has over 1,800 employees nationwide at its nine distribution centers and 30+ logistics hub. The company has been recognized with Food Logistics Rock Stars of the Supply Chain designations in 2017-2022, honored as Dunkin' Brands Partner of the Year in 2012 and 2016 and made the 2016 InformationWeek Elite 100 List. For more information, visit www.nationaldcp.com About Dunkin' Founded in 1950, Dunkin' is America's favorite all-day, everyday stop for coffee and baked goods. Dunkin' is a market leader in the hot regular/decaf/flavored coffee, iced regular/decaf/flavored coffee, donut, bagel and muffin categories. Dunkin' has earned a No. 1 ranking for customer loyalty in the coffee category for 16 years running. The company has more than 12,600 restaurants in 40 countries worldwide. Dunkin' is part of the Inspire Brands family of restaurants. For more information, visit www.DunkinDonuts.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-dcp-receives-dunkins-annual-partner-of-the-year-award-301651593.html SOURCE National DCP, LLC Sale Comes at a Time of Growing Consolidation Across the Cybersecurity Industry NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Option3, a specialist cybersecurity private equity firm that combines a heritage in the national security community with decades of expertise in the investment industry, announced today that it recently sold its entire investment in Dark Cubed, an automated network security solution serving small and medium- sized businesses (SMBs), to Celerium, a leader in innovative active cyber defense solutions. "Nearly half of cyber-attacks target SMBs and yet this part of the market, with its budget and manpower limitations, is the first to be overlooked" said Manish Thakur, Managing Partner at Option3. "We looked hard for security solutions that were specifically designed for this universe, understanding its budget constraints, limited internal cyber talent and no experience in integrating complex solutions to protect their sensitive data." Thakur added, "Dark Cubed was built from the outset with SMBs as its focus, providing enterprise grade automated network security at a fraction of the cost, requiring no hardware, or people to manage. By delivering automated data-driven decision making at a low monthly price point, Dark Cubed created its own category in the market, consequently not competing with vendors in the firewall and threat intelligence space." Dark Cubed was founded by Vince Crisler, former Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at the White House, who was able to bring deep security experience gained in the Department of Defense (DoD) and the wider federal government. This background served the company well as it won the confidence of the government looking to protect small and emerging companies in the nation's defense industrial base. "It was a pleasure working with Vince and the team," said Lisa Donnan, Operating Partner and former Board Member at Dark Cubed. "The credibility the company's patented technology gained at DoD certainly got our attention, but its applicability goes so much further. They will be able to reach a far greater market in partnership with Celerium." Donnan, along with one other Option3 representative, resigned from the Dark Cubed board earlier this month when the private equity firm sold its entire position and ended its role at the company. "We were invested in Dark Cubed for only two years, a brief period for us. But when the business logic of the larger Managed Service Provider (MSP) setting presented itself, we knew that exiting was the right thing to do for both companies," said Thakur. "In many ways, consolidation has become as important as innovation in this industry, as overstretched cyber managers increasingly look for single integrated platforms to meet their growing needs." About Option3 Option3 is a specialist cybersecurity private equity firm based in New York and Reston, Virginia that combines experience from the classified world of U.S. national security with decades in investing, capital markets, and M&A. Since 2015, Option3 has invested in a variety of innovative companies across the cyber ecosystem, through two investment portfolios. It is currently "advance investing" out of its new "C2" cybersecurity private equity fund. Unlike the venture investing of most cyber funds, C2 will take control positions in mid-market companies, growing them to scale. The Fund will leverage the C-suite operational experience of the Option3 team including Chief Financial, Marketing, Technology, and Risk Management positions. Option3's investment strategy is informed by its longstanding Technology Board, which spans the former Chief Information Officer of the CIA to the former CIO at Department of Defense, and an Advisory Council led by a former CEO of Lehman Brothers. For more information, please visit www.option3.com. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/option3-sells-dark-cubed-position-to-celerium-301653957.html SOURCE Option3 Tour the Alexandrite and Lapis plans at Seasons at Platte Place COMMERCE CITY, Colo., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Richmond American Homes of Colorado, Inc., a subsidiary of M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MDC), is excited to announce the grand opening of two new model homes at Seasons at Platte Place in Commerce City. The ranch-style Alexandrite and two-story Lapis models boast the open layouts and designer details today's homebuyers are seeking. Model Grand Opening Event (RichmondAmerican.com/PlattePlaceGO) Prospective homebuyers and area agents are invited to attend a Model Grand Opening Event at Seasons at Platte Place from 12 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 22. In addition to complimentary lunch and home tours, attendees can enter for a chance to win a prize drawing. More about Seasons at Platte Place (RichmondAmerican.com/PlattePlace): New Seasons Collection homes from the $500s Six flexible ranch & two-story floor plans 2 to 4 bedrooms, approx. 1,440 to 2,240 sq. ft. Close proximity to notable schools, shopping, dining & recreation Easy access to downtown & DIA Those who choose to build a new home from the ground up at this community will have the opportunity to work with professional design consultants to select colors, textures, finishes and fixtures for their new living spacesa complimentary service! Seasons at Platte Place is located at 8670 E. 105th Lane in Commerce City. For more information or to RSVP, call 720.758.8913 or visit RichmondAmerican.com. About M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.Operating under the name Richmond American Homes, MDC's homebuilding subsidiaries have built more than 230,000 homes since 1977. Among the nation's largest homebuilders, MDC's subsidiary companies have operations in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington. Mortgage lending, plus insurance and title services are offered by the following MDC subsidiaries, respectively: HomeAmerican Mortgage Corporation, American Home Insurance Agency, Inc. and American Home Title and Escrow Company. M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "MDC." For more information, visit MDCHoldings.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/richmond-american-debuts-new-model-homes-in-commerce-city-301653883.html SOURCE M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. The large case-control study demonstrates that SeekInCare has 68.0% sensitivity at 98.0% specificity in 27 different cancer types as a whole. In both retrospective and prospective studies, the solid performance of SeekInCare puts it into best-in-class category of multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test. SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SeekIn Inc, a leader in blood-based cancer early detection and monitoring technology, today announced the results of pan-cancer early detection test SeekInCare were presented at The 2022 Early Detection of Cancer Conference in Portland, Oregon. At present, the majority of deadly cancers do not have standard-of-care screening paradigms available and the existing screenings have challenges in patient compliance due to the invasive procedures endured from the tests. As a result, most cancers are detected until they have progressed to late stages when chances of survival are much lower. "Currently, the five-year survival rate for cancer patients in China is 39%, compared with 68% in the United States. The key to the difference in the survival rates between China and the United States is cancer screening, which reduces disease- and treatment-related morbidity, increases the likelihood of treatment success, improves quality of life, and reduces treatment cost and complexity," said Mao Mao, M.D., Ph.D., SeekIn's founder and CEO. "SeekInCare, a blood-based pan-cancer detection approach, holds promise for identifying asymptomatic cancer patients from general population through a single blood draw." SeekInCare, a novel multidimensional cancer risk score (CRS) model, incorporating copy number aberrations (CNA), fragment size (FS), end motifs and cancer related viruses via shallow whole genome sequencing (sWGS) from cell-free DNA (cfDNA), and seven plasma tumor markers (PTMs). The case-control study included 616 stage I-IV cancer patients that cover 8 common cancers and 19 other types, and 898 healthy subjects. SeekInCare identified 419 cancer patients with 68.0% sensitivity at 98.0% specificity, resulting in an AUC (area under the curve) of 0.916. Compared with multi-cancer detection in the retrospective validation cohorts from GRAIL and Exact Sciences, SeekInCare had a similar performance if not better. Moreover, the sensitivities were 49.0%, 61.3%, 72.5% and 85.4% in stages I, II, III and IV respectively. To further assess SeekInCare's performance, it was evaluated in a real-world cohort consisting of 604 subjects (median follow-up time: 404 days). 12 cancer cases were detected while nine subjects tested positive but without cancer. Only one subject was tested negative and subsequently diagnosed with stage I thyroid cancer. Thus, SeekInCare achieved 92.3% sensitivity, 97.7% specificity, 57.1% PPV and 99.7% NPV in the real-world cohort. These data demonstrated that the performance of SeekInCare is similar to the data generated by GRAIL and Johns Hopkins University in prospective setting. "There are different technical approaches for blood-based pan-cancer/multi-cancer early detection. These clinical studies demonstrated the solid performance of our technology," said Dr. Mao, "In addition, SeekInCare had received CE-IVD Mark approval which represents a significant milestone for SeekIn in bringing SeekInCare test to the other countries besides China, allowing more people to access the cutting-edge, convenient, non-invasive and cost-effective cancer early detection technology." About SeekIn SeekIn Inc is a biotech company founded in early 2018 in Shenzhen, China, focusing on blood-based pan-cancer early detection utilizing next-generation sequencing and artificial intelligence. Since founded, SeekIn has been committed to providing cutting-edge and cost-effective solutions for cancer early detection, postoperative recurrence monitoring, and treatment response evaluation. SeekIn also developed novel molecular tests for leukemia patients. Its cancer early detection technology has been applied to canines as well. With its proprietary technical advances, SeekIn has launched a number of research and clinical studies in collaboration with top-tier hospitals in China. SeekIn envisions that by leading a new norm for cancer early detection the clinical outcome of mid-/late-stage cancer patients can be reversed and the cancer mortality rate can be reduced by 15%. For more information about SeekIn's cutting-edge technologies and products, visit www.seekincancer.com. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/seekin-presents-new-data-supporting-its-pan-cancer-early-detection-test-at-the-early-detection-of-cancer-conference-2022-301652662.html SOURCE SeekIn Inc TSX-V Trading Symbol: SURGOTCQX: SRGXFFrankfurt Trading Symbol: G6D2 VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Surge Copper Corp. (TSXV: SURG) (OTCQX: SRGXF) (Frankfurt: G6D2) ("Surge" or the "Company") is pleased to announce results from its recently completed metallurgical testwork program focused on the Seel deposit, located on the Ootsa Property in central British Columbia. This testwork program was designed to advance bulk copper-molybdenum concentrate flotation parameters, confirm molybdenum recovery performance into a separate molybdenum concentrate at marketable grades, and investigate further opportunities to increase precious metal recoveries from tailings streams within the flowsheet. Surge engaged ALS Metallurgy Kamloops to complete the testwork program which ran from February 2022 to October 2022. Highlights Large-scale flotation testwork program utilizing a set of 4 composites made up of 2,000 kilograms of sample material representative of different rock types, grades, and volumes within the deposit representative of different rock types, grades, and volumes within the deposit Excellent overall molybdenum recoveries from bulk circuit feed to molybdenum concentrates of 75 to 82 percent at molybdenum concentrate grades of 47 to 52 percent , including high separation recoveries relative to bulk concentrate feed of between 90 to 97 percent from bulk circuit feed to molybdenum concentrates of at , including relative to bulk concentrate feed of between Confirmation of robust copper and precious metal recoveries in locked cycle tests across all composites using standardized parameters resulting in copper concentrates grading between 27 to 29 percent copper , with copper recoveries ranging from 83 to 90 percent , gold recoveries ranging from 47 to 60 percent , and silver recoveries ranging 41 to 68 percent across all composites using standardized parameters resulting in , with ranging from , ranging from , and ranging Confirmation of potential for additional leach recoveries of gold from tailings streams Leif Nilsson, Chief Executive Officer, commented: "Overall, this testwork program was quite successful in that it greatly improved our understanding around some key variables, and generally advanced our knowledge on metallurgical performance for this deposit, further preparing us for future advanced economic or engineering studies. A standardized set of parameters was able to produce the desired metal recoveries and give the Surge team great confidence that the varying lithologies and grade ranges will perform in an operational scenario." The Seel deposit forms the largest overall component of the recently updated mineral resources at Ootsa (see press release dated June 21, 2022). This testwork program utilized a set of 4 composites comprised of approximately 2,000 kilograms of sample material derived from 9 separate core holes drilled from the West Seel zone during the 2020-2021 exploration program. All of the sample material falls within the current resource estimate, with depths ranging from near-surface at 32 metres downhole depth, to deeper portions of the deposit at 528 metres downhole depth. The program builds on prior testwork programs completed between 2012 and 2014 that were focused on the East Seel zone, the West Seel zone, and the Ox deposit at Ootsa. These prior programs showed greater than 90 percent recovery of copper to a marketable concentrate in both cleaner flotation and locked-cycle flotation tests and showed positive results from 3 unoptimized copper-molybdenum separation tests. Collectively, these testwork programs provide confidence in the ability to use standard comminution and flotation flowsheets to recover copper, molybdenum, gold, and silver into marketable concentrates at robust recovery rates from the distinct mineralized zones that comprise the mineral resources at Ootsa. Metallurgical Testwork Program Details In the 2022 program, samples were sent to ALS Metallurgy in Kamloops and subjected to crushing, grinding, and flotation for recovery of copper, molybdenum, gold, and silver. The first phase of the program consisted of 8 rougher flotation tests, 12 cleaner flotation tests, and 4 locked-cycle flotation tests focused on producing a bulk copper-molybdenum concentrate. The best result from this phase of the program produced approximately 90% copper recovery, with the 4 locked-cycle tests across the 4 composites averaging 87% recovery to a concentrate with an average grade of 27% copper. The finalized test parameters used a primary grind size of 125 microns with a rougher concentrate regrind to 20 microns, and 3418A as the collector. Table 1 provides a simplified summary of the test results from the bulk circuit locked-cycle tests, and Figure 1 shows an image of a bulk concentrate during a cleaner test, demonstrating the froth quality. Table 1. Simplified Test Results from the Bulk Circuit Locked-Cycle Tests Concentrate Grade Recovery Composite Cu Mo Au Ag Cu Mo Au Ag (#) ( %) ( %) (g/t) (g/t) ( %) ( %) ( %) ( %) 1 27.3 2.3 11.9 241 88.4 74.0 54.6 44.5 2 26.7 2.6 10.3 278 82.9 71.4 46.7 68.4 3 28.5 3.6 14.6 267 89.6 79.4 59.8 62.9 4 27.3 1.7 11.0 264 87.7 75.0 52.4 40.7 Following the confirmation of test parameters for bulk flotation, the composites were then processed using the developed test parameters to create a large volume of bulk concentrate for copper-molybdenum separation testing. In this second phase of the program, 8 copper-molybdenum separation cleaner tests were run using a variety of test parameters with the final 4 separation cleaner tests run under final conditions across each of the composites. Results for separation testing found high recoveries to molybdenum concentrates with molybdenum grades approaching or exceeding 50% and considered saleable. The best result demonstrated a molybdenum recovery relative to the bulk concentrate feed of 97% to a concentrate grading 47% molybdenum, with an average recovery relative to bulk concentrate feed across all 4 composites of 93% into concentrates with an average molybdenum grade of 50%. Table 2 provides a simplified summary of the test results showing the characteristics of the separate molybdenum and copper concentrates. Over the course of the program, the various tests produced a total of 5.6 kilograms of copper concentrate and 284 grams of molybdenum concentrate. Table 2. Simplified Test Results from Bulk Concentrate Generation and Molybdenum Separation Tests Concentrate Grade Recovery* Composite Cu Mo Au Ag Cu Mo Au Ag (#) ( %) ( %) (g/t) (g/t) ( %) ( %) ( %) ( %) Molybdenum Concentrates 1 1.0 46.8 3.9 30 0.1 74.9 0.8 0.3 2 0.4 50.4 3.1 32 0.1 81.5 0.9 0.5 3 0.8 51.2 5.1 36 0.2 82.2 1.0 0.6 4 0.4 52.4 1.8 52 0.0 76.4 0.3 0.3 Copper Concentrates (combined rougher and cleaner tailings from molybdenum separation) 1 26.3 0.1 11.8 221 89.3 2.6 55.8 48.3 2 26.1 0.1 9.6 257 82.0 4.0 50.5 67.3 3 24.4 0.3 15.6 193 89.1 9.1 55.8 58.5 4 23.2 0.1 9.6 230 84.5 7.4 50.1 41.6 *All recoveries are relative to composite feed grade and represent overall metallurgical recoveries. The test program also included various tests to indicate whether additional gold and silver recoveries could be made. Additional testing was completed on several samples of a flotation pyrite rougher concentrate mixed with a first cleaner tails of the copper flotation process of the respective composites. A standardized set of test parameters that included a re-grind stage, pre-aeration and oxygen sparging was then run on leach composites made from each main composite. Final leach results showed promise with gold recoveries relative to the leach composite feed of up to 87 percent from the leach composite constructed from test Composite 3. Results showed average gold recoveries relative to leach composite feed of 75 percent from all leach composites. Additional studies will be required to evaluate the economic recovery of adding such a system to the overall flow sheet that takes into account reagent and operating costs being offset by additional recoveries. Upcoming Catalysts The Company anticipates updating the market on results from the following activities: Drill results from 2022 regional exploration program Berg project updates Quality Control This metallurgical testwork has been undertaken at ALS Metallurgy Kamloops which conforms to ISO 9001:2015. The laboratory also conducts internal QC checks to ensure data is reported accurately. The analytical lab voluntarily partakes in the Proficiency Testing Program for Mineral Analysis laboratories (PTP-MAL). Samples of half core were delivered and, following some comminution testing, were stage-crushed to -6 mesh (3.35 mm), homogenized into composites, and rotary split into test charges. Head samples were split from each of the sub-samples for assay. Each of the master composites has been analyzed by standard analytical techniques. Mineralogical analysis was conducted by QEMSCAN. Qualified Persons Dr. Shane Ebert P.Geo., is the Qualified Person for the Ootsa and Berg projects as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release. Mark Wheeler, P.Eng., VP of Projects at the Company as well as a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release. About Surge Copper Corp. The Company owns a 100% interest in the Ootsa Property, an advanced stage exploration project containing the East Seel, West Seel and Ox porphyry deposits located adjacent to the open pit Huckleberry Copper Mine, owned by Imperial Metals. The Ootsa Property contains pit constrained NI 43-101 compliant resources of copper, gold, molybdenum, and silver in the Measured and Indicated categories. The Company is also earning into a 70% interest in the Berg Property from Centerra Gold. Berg is a large, advanced stage exploration project located 28 km northwest of the Ootsa deposits. Berg contains pit constrained 43-101 compliant resources of copper, molybdenum, and silver in the Measured and Indicated categories. Combined, the adjacent Ootsa and Berg properties give Surge a dominant land position in the Ootsa-Huckleberry-Berg district and control over four advanced porphyry deposits. On Behalf of the Board of Directors "Leif Nilsson"Chief Executive Officer Twitter: @SurgeCopperLinkedIn: Surge Copper Corphttps://www.surgecopper.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. This News Release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "will", "may", "should", "expects", "plans", or "anticipates" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward looking statements, including but not limited to the Company's plans regarding the Berg Property and the Ootsa Property. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking-statements. Such uncertainties and risks may include, among others, actual results of the Company's exploration activities being different than those expected by management, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain required government or other regulatory approvals, the ability to obtain adequate financing to conduct its planned exploration programs, inability to procure labour, equipment and supplies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis, equipment breakdown, impacts of the current coronavirus pandemic, and bad weather. While these forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith, and reflect the Company's current judgment regarding the direction of its business, actual results will almost always vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions, or other future performance suggestions herein. Except as required by applicable law, the Company does not intend to update any forward-looking statements to conform these statements to actual results. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/surge-copper-announces-successful-completion-of-advanced-metallurgical-testwork-program-at-seel-deposit-301653163.html SOURCE Surge Copper Corp. 14 Scholarships will support first-generation Latino students pursuing careers in STEM LOS ANGELES, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) and The East Los Angeles Community Union (TELACU) Education Foundation today announced that $50,000 in scholarships have been awarded to 14 first-generation Latino students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Since 1999, and over the last three decades, SoCalGas and TELACU have partnered to address social inequality, assist deserving students navigate postsecondary education and their subsequent careers through the TELACU Education Foundation's programmatic support. "One of our very first corporate partners, SoCalGas has generously invested in the empowerment of our communities' greatest, but most vulnerable, resourceour youth," said Dr. David C. Lizarraga, chairman and founder of the TELACU Education Foundation. "The TELACU Education Foundation is tremendously grateful to SoCalGas for investing in the communities it serves with excellence, and for its commitment to developing a workforce reflective of these communities." The TELACU Education Foundation serves first-generation students who live in some of the most underserved communities in the greater Los Angeles region and surrounding counties. TELACU has helped these students pursue higher education with over 99% of its college students graduating, often becoming the first in their family to earn a degree. "SoCalGas' partnership with TELACU highlights our commitment to create more equitable communities," said Andy Carrasco, SoCalGas vice president of communications, local government and community affairs. "Access to higher education is a life changing opportunity for students, their families and often, their community, while also helping grow the pipeline for more qualified STEM professionals, which are so desperately needed in our region." "TELACU's College Readiness Program and College Success Program have given me the opportunity to pursue higher education. I am grateful for the resources made available to me through the partnership between SoCalGas and TELACU, as they have prepared me for the next steps in my career," said Geovanny Huerta, who was recently selected as a SoCalGas-TELACU Scholar. "Without these programs and support, I would not have been able to land a summer internship." Since 1999, SoCalGas has supported TELACU with over $660,000. The 2022-23 SoCalGas-TELACU Scholars are: Cecilia Aldape (Civil Engineering, CSU Los Angeles) Jacqueline Alvarado (Business Administration, UC Riverside) Oswaldo Gamez (Computer Science, CSU Northridge) Antonio Garcia (Mechanical Engineering, Loyola Marymount University) Yuridia Ginez (Computer Science, CSU Los Angeles) Gerson Gonzalez (Computer Science, Biola University) Disleiry Hernandez Gutierrez (Mechanical Engineering, UC Los Angeles) Emanuel Herrera Pineda (Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California) Geovany Huerta (Computer Science, CSU Los Angeles) Jose Lopez (Computer Science, University of La Verne) Yatziri Lopez Mendez (Pre-Accountancy, CSU Northridge) Andy Machorro (Mechanical Engineering, CSU Los Angeles) Antonio Sanchez (Civil Engineering, Loyola Marymount University) Joselyn Velasquez (Civil Engineering, Cal Poly Pomona) SoCalGas' partnership with TELACU is part of the company's ASPIRE 2045 sustainability goals, which includes a goal to invest up to $50 million to drive positive change in diverse and underserved communities over the next five years. In addition to supporting TELACU scholars, in 2021, SoCalGas contributed $9.6 million in total community investment, with $4.8 million to support health and human services, and $2.3 million to support educational causes. About SoCalGas Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas is the largest gas distribution utility in the United States. SoCalGas delivers affordable, reliable, and increasingly renewable gas service to 21.8 million consumers across 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California. Gas delivered through the company's pipelines will continue to play a key role in California's clean energy transitionproviding electric grid reliability and supporting wind and solar energy deployment. SoCalGas' mission is to build the cleanest, safest and most innovative energy company in America. In support of that mission, SoCalGas aspires to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in its operations and delivery of energy by 2045 and to replace 20 percent of its traditional natural gas supply to core customers with renewable natural gas (RNG) by 2030. Renewable natural gas is made from waste created by dairy farms, landfills, and wastewater treatment plants. SoCalGas is also committed to investing in its gas delivery infrastructure while keeping bills affordable for customers. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE), an energy services holding company based in San Diego. For more information visit socalgas.com/newsroom or connect with SoCalGas on Twitter (@SoCalGas), Instagram (@SoCalGas) and Facebook. About the TELACU Education FoundationFor nearly 40 years, the TELACU Education Foundation has provided first-generation Latinx high school through graduate school students, including veterans, a unique combination of financial resources, highly effective programming, and an unwavering support system that empowers its annual cohort of nearly 2,000 students to achieve amazing success. Historically, 98% of its high schoolers graduate and 99% of its college students earn at minimum a Bachelors' degree. More than 75% of its students earn a STEM- or Business-related degreemore than 60% are earned by Latinasand they launch successful careers, particularly in high-growth, high-impact sectors! View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/telacu-and-socalgas-announce-50-000-in-scholarships-for-latino-students-pursuing-careers-in-stem-301653846.html SOURCE Southern California Gas Company BLUE BELL, Pa., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Unisys Corporation (NYSE: UIS) said today that it will release its third-quarter 2022 financial results on Monday, November 7, 2022 after the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Unisys will host a conference call with the financial community on Tuesday, November 8 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results. The company will offer a live, listen-only Webcast of the conference call on the Unisys Investor Website at www.unisys.com/investor. In addition, domestic callers can dial 1-844-695-5518 and international callers can dial 1-412-902-6749 and provide the following conference passcode: Unisys Corporation Call. A replay of the Webcast will be available on the Unisys Investor Website shortly following the conference call. A replay will also be available by dialing 1-877-344-7529 for domestic callers or 1-412-317-0088 for international callers and entering access code 6346473 from two hours after the end of the call until November 22, 2022. About Unisys Unisys is a technology solutions company that delivers successful outcomes for the most demanding organizations. Unisys offerings include digital workplace solutions, cloud, applications and infrastructure solutions, enterprise computing solutions and business process solutions. For more information on how Unisys delivers for its clients across the commercial, financial services and government sectors, visit unisys.com. Follow Unisys on Twitter and LinkedIn. RELEASE NO.: 1019/9886 Unisys and other Unisys products and services mentioned herein, as well as their respective logos, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Unisys Corporation. Any other brand or product referenced herein is acknowledged to be a trademark or registered trademark of its respective holder. UIS-C View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unisys-announces-dates-of-third-quarter-2022-financial-results-and-conference-call-301652932.html SOURCE Unisys Corporation The new $185 million medical education facilities are made possible through major grants from the State of Utah, the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation, the Nora Eccles Treadwell Foundation, and other generous contributors SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Utah today broke ground on the new state-of-the-art home for its Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine. The $185 million facility has been made possible, in part, by funds from a landmark gift of $110 million from the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation and the Nora Eccles Treadwell Foundation. The gift provides support not only for the building, but also medical education programs and cardiovascular research. The new 185,000-square-foot building will become the hub of the University of Utah's nationally recognized health sciences campus. Once open, the facilities will accelerate the school's ability to provide the highest quality medical education, advanced research, and patient care, while the added support from the foundations' dramatically increases the school's endowment and powers critical research. Construction of the U's new medical education building was approved by the Utah State Legislature in 2017 with a $50 million commitment, and an additional $60 million appropriation was approved earlier this year. More than $50 million in added philanthropic pledges for the project have also been secured. Completion of the project is expected in 2025. "The incredible impact of the University of Utah's health sciences program in education, research and care across the Intermountain West is a source of great pride for the entire state," said Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox. "This new facility will make a major difference in our ability to address the growing need for top-tier doctors in the state, especially in our rural areas." "I have long believed that no state or region can become truly great without a world-class medical center at its nucleus," said Spencer F. Eccles, namesake of the School and Chairman & CEO of both the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation and the Nora Eccles Treadwell Foundation. "We hope this seminal grantthe largest ever awarded by our foundationswill help ensure the University not only provides the highest quality medical education for the doctors who serve Utah and the entire Intermountain West, but also furthers the excellence of health care for all our citizens and impacts the future of medicine through its groundbreaking research." Plans for the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine building are focused in three major areas: Global Health With significant funding from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the building's Global Health Pavilion will enable faculty and students to expand their innovative efforts to provide health care to more people in need, both within and beyond the boundaries of the U.S. It will provide a central hub for many global health-focused groups that are currently scattered throughout the U campus, enabling groups to continue to improve the quality of healthcare in less-developed areas. With significant funding from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the building's Global Health Pavilion will enable faculty and students to expand their innovative efforts to provide health care to more people in need, both within and beyond the boundaries of the U.S. It will provide a central hub for many global health-focused groups that are currently scattered throughout the U campus, enabling groups to continue to improve the quality of healthcare in less-developed areas. Core Medical Education (Core Med) Intermountain Healthcare has awarded a grant for the building's core medical education spaces, including adaptive classrooms that are increasingly important as medical curriculum changes over time. The building will also include a new, state-of-the-art Advanced Simulation Center and Anatomy Lab. Intermountain Healthcare has awarded a grant for the building's core medical education spaces, including adaptive classrooms that are increasingly important as medical curriculum changes over time. The building will also include a new, state-of-the-art Advanced Simulation Center and Anatomy Lab. Collaboration Spaces Nearly 15% of the building will be "common areas," designed to foster collaboration among students, faculty, and the state's medical community. It will house the school's Center for Interprofessional Experiential Learning, weaving important interaction between working medical professionals, students, and faculty into medical education. "This building is being designed to advance innovation in medical education," said Sara M. Lamb, M.D., vice dean of medical education at the University of Utah. "It will enable us to continue to be a 'proving ground' in educating top-flite medical students who will carry medical sciences and patient care forward. The solutions created at this school and the generosity that made it possible will not only improve health outcomes, but also extend lives and improve the quality of life for countless individuals and families." University of Utah Health is the only academic medical center in the Mountain West, providing patient care for nearly 10% of the geographic area of the continental United States. The construction of the medical education building is expected to drive the most critical evolution in the medical school's history and be used across three primary areas: education, research, and clinical care. "The University of Utah is fortunate to have benefitted for many decades from the visionary leadership of the Eccles family," said University of Utah President Taylor Randall. "This iconic new building anchoring our University Health campus, reflects the remarkable, generous legacy of the Eccles Family and foundations that spans more than 70 years at the U. Their remarkable gift is already enabling our Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine to move further forward as a world-class integrated academic medical institution." The Eccles Foundations' gift of $110 million includes the new, state-of-the-art medical education building; endowed funds which will enrich student scholarships, recruitment of top-flight faculty, and innovative medical education programs; and research funding, focused on cardiovascular science and heart disease. These resources will allow the medical school to continue developing innovations in healthcare delivery (especially for rural and underserved populations), advances in teaching models and timelines, and, eventually, make future increases in the size of the medical school class while also attracting more diverse faculty and students. "Thanks to this extraordinary grant and now the construction of the new medical education building it is helping fund others in our community are also coming together to shape the future of healthcare in Utah," said University of Utah Health CEO Michael L. Good. "With significant investments in Global Health, Population Health, Genomics, Simulation, Discovery and more, this is a true turning point for our institution to impact Utah, the Mountain West, and the U.S." "This transformational gift sets the course for the future of medical education at the University," Dr. Good added. "It has advanced significantly in recent decades as new discoveries and technologies emerge. At the same time, the state of Utah is experiencing a need for more physicians, particularly in rural areas. This gift presents a unique opportunity: we will provide the most advanced education to raise new generations of health care professionals who will, in turn, improve health for our state and region. Our newly named school will join the ranks of the nation's preeminent named institutions. We will not just adapt to the future of medicinewe will define it." The Eccles family and associated charitable foundations have invested vital resources in the University of Utah's medical school, patient care facilities, research programs, and allied health and wellness programs for more than five decades in areas spanning cardiovascular and genetics research, nursing, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, pharmacology, critical care, and more. Among the highlights are the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Critical Care Pavilion at University Hospital; the Spencer F. and Cleone P. Eccles Health Sciences Education Building; the Nora Eccles Treadwell Foundation Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute; the Emma Eccles Jones Research Building; and the George and Dolores Eccles Institute of Human Genetics, among others. About UNIVERSITY OF UTAH HEALTH University of Utah Health is the state's only academic health care system, providing leading-edge and compassionate care for a referral area that encompasses 10 percent of the US, including Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and much of Nevada. A hub for health sciences research and education in the region, U of U Health has a $428 million research enterprise and trains the majority of Utah's physicians, including more than 1,460 health care providers each year at its Colleges of Health, Nursing, and Pharmacy and Schools of Dentistry and Medicine. With more than 20,000 employees, the system includes 12 community clinics and five hospitals: University Hospital, Huntsman Mental Health Institute, Huntsman Cancer Hospital, University Orthopaedic Center, and the Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital. For 13 straight years, U of U Health has ranked among the top 10 US academic medical centers in the rigorous Vizient Quality and Accountability Study. About the GEORGE S. and DOLORES DORE ECCLES FOUNDATION In the nearly 40 years since the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation first became active in 1982, it has furthered the philanthropic interests of its namesakes through statewide charitable grants to improve the quality of life enjoyed by the people of Utah. The Foundation's legacy of supportnow totaling more than $775 millionrepresents a significant investment in the economic vitality and future strength of the state of Utah and the Intermountain West. The Foundation's grants are awarded in five focus areas including Arts & Culture, Community (social services), Education, Health & Wellness, and Preservation & Conservation. A son of pioneering Utah entrepreneur and industrialist David Eccles, George S. Eccles was a leading figure for more than half a century in the banking industry in Utah and nationally. He played a key role in founding and guiding First Security Corporation and served as its Chairman & CEO for nearly 40 years (1945-1982). George and his wife, Dolores, were active civic volunteers whose generous involvement and supportespecially in education, health care, and the artsmade an important difference in Salt Lake City and throughout Utah. Today, the foundation they created furthers their remarkable generosity, with grant-making programs throughout the state continuing to enrich the lives of all Utahns under the leadership of its Board of Directors, including Spencer F. Eccles, Chairman & CEO; Lisa E. Eccles, President & COO; and Robert M. Graham, Vice President, Treasurer & General Counsel. About the NORA ECCLES TREADWELL FOUNDATION Since it became active in 1978, the Nora Eccles Treadwell Foundation has been a generous and consistent supporter of medical research in Utah and California, awarding more than $150 million to further basic research in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and arthritis. When Nora Eccles established the foundation, she became aware of the importance of basic medical research to advance our understanding of the science of the human heart. This led to her support of research that has contributed significantly to the world's understanding of cardiovascular diseases, leading to improved treatments and therapies. The Foundation has been particularly supportive of University of Utah Health, which has benefitted from more than $82 million in grants, including more than $56 million to the Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute (CVRTI). Over its 52-year history, CVRTI investigators have contributed seminal findings in electrocardiography, the mechanisms and treatments of cardiac arrhythmias, and heart failure. In 1976, the University of Utah named the CVRTI in honor of Nora Eccles. A daughter of pioneering Utah entrepreneur and industrialist David Eccles, Nora took an active interest not only in medical research but also the fine arts, and she was an accomplished ceramicist in her own right. As chair of her Foundation, she remained closely involved with the CVRTI's work until her passing in 1978. She is succeeded in that role today by a 30-year foundation veteranher nephew, Spencer F. Eccleswho is joined on the Foundation's board by Katie A. Eccles, Lawrence M. Harrison, Kathryn C. Econome, Robert M. Graham, and Kenneth W. Spitzer. About SPENCER FOX ECCLES & UNIVERSITY OF UTAH HEALTH More than 50 years ago, the Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library was the first significant capital project at the University of Utah to be funded by the Eccles family. It is named for the father of Spencer Fox Eccles, who has dramatically expanded his family's philanthropic vision over the past five decades, providing generous support for nonprofits statewide, including numerous significant grants for the University of Utah and University Health. The Eccles family and associated charitable foundations have supported the School of Medicine and health sciences in areas spanning cardiovascular and genetics research, nursing, ophthalmology, orthopedics, pharmacology, critical care, and more. The University of Utah has long been a special place for Mr. Eccles. An Ogden, Utah native, he arrived on campus in the early 1950s and quickly adapted to campus life. His success as a four-year letterman and All American on the U's ski team and his active participation in the Beta Theta Pi fraternity set an early precedent for his later renown as a Utah Man. It was also at the U where he met Cleone Peterson of Fairview, Utah, who would become his wife of more than 54 years before her passing in 2013. Sharing Cleone's unwavering spirit of community and generosity and valuing her rural Utah roots, these tenets have become the cornerstones of Mr. Eccles' philanthropy. Hailing from a long tradition of generosity, he once wrote, "I was fortunate to be born into a family that believes in the importance of giving back and doing our best to leave things better than we found them. I was also taught that we can make an even greater impact by joining together with others." For nearly two decades, Mr. Eccles led the Eccles family's banking empire at First Security Bank until its historic merger with Wells Fargo in 2000. Throughout his career, Mr. Eccles and his businesses have become recognized for focusing on going above and beyond in delivering exceptional quality and service. "Since 'Giving 110%' has been a legacy theme during my leadership of First Security Bank, our foundations' combined $110 million grant takes on special meaning for all of us," Mr. Eccles said. "It's an investment in the future of our fellow citizensparticularly in the medical students today and those to followwho will have opportunities to practice medicine in innovative ways never before imagined, committing themselves '110%' to improving and saving lives!" View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/university-of-utah-breaks-ground-on-innovative-new-spencer-fox-eccles-school-of-medicine-building-301653464.html SOURCE University of Utah Delegates hope to learn about blood donor recruitment and management in America MILWAUKEE, Oct. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Versiti, a community blood center providing blood and blood products to hundreds of hospitals and medical clinics throughout the Midwestern United States, welcomed today a delegation of five health administrators from Ukraine facing unprecedented demand for transfusions as casualties mount from the war in their homeland. Versiti blood centers welcomed a delegation from Ukraine hoping to learn about the American blood donation system. In between informational sessions with Versiti leaders and medical staff, delegates will tour donation centers, blood processing facilities and Versiti Blood Research Institute during their four-day stay in Milwaukee. The delegates will learn about best practices in the American blood donation system as the former Soviet nation clashes with hostile, invading military forces. "People of all nationalities need blood," said Chris Miskel, President and CEO of Versiti. "We are honored to host these delegates and join them in their efforts to build a more sustainable community health system that best serves the people of Ukraine in times of peace and conflict." The delegates' are traveling on the Open World program administered by the Congressional Office for International Leadership (COIL), an independent agency of the United States Congress. Over 30,000 current and future leaders from post-Soviet era countries have participated in the Open World program. "Open World offers one of the most effective U.S. exchange programs to promote mutually beneficial options for depolarized engagement between future national leaders," said Lewis Madanick, a senior program manager at COIL. "It is a unique but no less powerful tool for Congress to engage legislatures in critical regions of the world." During their stay in Milwaukee, members of the volunteer group Friendship Force of Milwaukee are hosting the delegates in their homes. The group, which played an integral role in connecting COIL with Versiti, consists of more than 100 volunteers with diverse backgrounds and professions who work together to travel abroad and host international groups and delegations to establish new partnerships and bridge cultures. The group consists of 350 chapters in more than 60 countries across the globe. About Versiti Versiti is a not-for-profit organization in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin specializing in blood services, esoteric diagnostic testing, organ, tissue and stem cell donation, medical services and leading-edge research. We advance patient care by delivering life-saving solutions grounded in unparalleled medical and scientific expertise. The collective efforts of Versiti affiliates result in improved patient outcomes, expanded access to care, and cost efficiencies for healthcare systems nationwide. For more information, visit versiti.org. About the Congressional Office for International Leadership Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February, COIL has made a point to continue to engage Ukrainians both inside and outside of Ukraine. COIL looks forward to continuing these mutually beneficial exchanges between the United States and Ukraine to promote greater security, democracy, and prosperity together. COIL strategically connects new generations of international leaders to the most powerful legislative body in the world the U.S. Congress. Through its Open World program, COIL has brought 30,000 global leaders to the U.S. since its inception in 1999. The program pioneered person-to-person international engagement and provides an immersive experience with delegates' direct professional counterparts, covering a broad spectrum of policy themes rooted within communities across the United States. To learn more about the Open World program, please visit http://www.openworld.gov. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/versiti-blood-centers-welcome-ukrainian-delegates-to-milwaukee-301652941.html SOURCE Versiti UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ____________________ FORM 6-K ____________________ Report of Foreign Private Issuer Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the month of October 2022 Commission File Number: 001-38376 ____________________ Central Puerto S.A. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) ____________________ Port Central S.A. (Translation of registrants name into English) ____________________ Avenida Thomas Edison 2701 C1104BAB Buenos Aires Republic of Argentina +54 (11) 4317-5000 (Address of principal executive offices) ____________________ Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F. Form 20-F Form 40-F Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): Yes No Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): Yes No FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION CENTRAL PUERTO ANNOUNCES REPORTING DATE FOR THE THIRD QUARTER FINANCIAL RESULTS CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST Buenos Aires October 19, 2022 Central Puerto S.A (Central Puerto or the Company) (NYSE: CEPU) one of the largest private sector power generation companies in Argentina, will issue a press release announcing its Third Quarter results on November 10, 2022. Mr. Fernando Bonnet, Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Enrique Terraneo, Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call to discuss the Companys financial results on November 10, 2022, at 11:00 AM ET. To access the conference call, please dial: Toll Free: 888-506-0062 International: 973-528-0011 Participant Access Code: 874982 The Company will also host a live audio webcast of the conference call on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.centralpuerto.com. Please allow extra time prior to the call to visit the website and download any streaming media software that might be required to listen to the webcast. The call will be available for replay on the Company website under the Investor Relations section. For further information please contact: Enrique Terraneo +54 11 4317-5000 Av. Tomas Alva Edison 2701 Darsena E Puerto de Buenos Aires (C1104BAB) Ciudad de Buenos Aires Republica Argentina 2 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. 0001737372 false 0001737372 2022-10-17 2022-10-17 iso4217:USD xbrli:shares iso4217:USD xbrli:shares UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): SYSOREX, INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Nevada 000-55924 68-0319458 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 13880 Dulles Corner Lane , Suite 120 Herndon , Virginia 20171 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) ( 800 ) 929-3871 Registrants telephone number, including area code N/A (Former name or former address, if changed since last report) Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions: Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered None N/A N/A Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. On October 17, 2022, Sysorex, Inc. (the Company) entered into a Placement Agency Agreement (the Placement Agency Agreement), dated October 17, 2022, by and between the Company and Joseph Gunnar & Co., LLC (the Placement Agent). Pursuant to the terms of the Placement Agency Agreement, the Company engaged the Placement Agent to act as the Companys exclusive placement agent with respect to effectuating a private placement (the Offering) to accredited investors, pursuant to which the Company offered up to $500,000 of its common stock and a warrant to purchase common stock (collectively, the Securities). Placement of the Securities was made on a commercially reasonable efforts basis. Pursuant to the terms of the Placement Agency Agreement, the Company agreed to pay to the Placement Agent a cash fee (the Cash Fee) equal to 12.5% of the aggregate gross proceeds of the Offering. In addition, the Company agreed to reimburse the Placement Agent for all reasonable, documented marketing, travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the Offering and to pay the Placement Agents counsel fees in the amount of $40,000 (Legal Fees); provided, however, that any fees or expenses incurred in connection with the Offering for which the Company will be responsible for reimbursement, including Legal Fees, will not exceed $50,000 collectively. The Company also agreed to pay to the Placement Agent the Cash Fee to the extent any party first introduced to the Company by the Placement Agent at any time prior to the date that is 12 months after the applicable termination date of the Offering or the final closing, whichever is applicable, makes any investment into the Company through the acquisition of Company securities from the Company. For a period of 12 months following October 18, 2022 and subject to a closing of the Offering having been effected, in the event that the Company desires to raise additional capital in the form of debt, equity or otherwise (a Prospective Financing), the Placement Agent will have the right of first refusal to act as Placement Agent with respect to any such Prospective Financing. On October 18, 2022, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the SPA), dated as of October 18, 2022, by and among the Company and each of the each of the investors signatories thereto (each an Investor and collectively, the Investors). Pursuant to the terms of the SPA, the Company agreed to sell to each Investor a number of Units of securities of the Company (each, a Unit), at a purchase price of $0.001 per Unit, with each Unit being comprised of: (i) one share of common stock (each, a Purchased Share and collectively, the Purchased Shares); (ii) a warrant to acquire one share of common stock at an exercise price of $0.001 per share, which exercise price will not be subject to adjustment as a result of any forward or reverse split of the common stock (each, a Warrant 1); and (iii) a warrant to acquire one share of common stock at an exercise price of $0.001 per share, which exercise price will not be subject to adjustment as a result of any forward or reverse split of the common stock (each, a Warrant 2). The Investors, collectively, subscribed for a total of 500,000,000 Units, consisting of 500,000,000 shares of common stock, Warrant 1s to acquire 500,000,000 shares of common stock, and Warrant 2s to acquire 500,000,000 shares of common stock, for total consideration payable to the Company of $500,000. The Company will use the net proceeds from the sale of the Units for working capital purposes and will not use such proceeds (a) for the redemption of any common stock or preferred stock or convertible debt which is convertible into common stock (provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Company may use such net proceeds for the repayment of any convertible debt in accordance with the terms thereof); (b) for the settlement of any outstanding litigation; (c) in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or Office of Foreign Assets Control regulations; or (d) to lend, give credit or make advances to any officers, directors, employees or affiliates (provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Company may use such net proceeds for the payment of costs, fees, salaries and benefits in the ordinary course of business with respect to such officers, directors, employees or affiliates). The SPA contains customary representations, warranties and closing conditions. The transactions contemplated by the SPA closed on October 18, 2022. Accordingly, on October 18, 2022, the Company sold to the Investors an aggregate of 500,000,000 Units, consisting of 500,000,000 shares of common stock, Warrant 1s to acquire 500,000,000 shares of common stock, and Warrant 2s to acquire 500,000,000 shares of common stock, for total consideration paid to the Company of $500,000. 1 On October 18, 2022, pursuant to the terms of the SPA, the Company and the Investors entered into the Initial Registration Rights Agreement (the Initial Registration Rights Agreement), which provides for the registration of all of the Purchased Shares and all of the shares of common stock that may be acquired by the Investors pursuant to the Warrant 1s. Pursuant to the terms of the Initial Registration Rights Agreement, the Company agreed to, within 30 calendar days of October 18, 2022, use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) a registration statement or registration statements (as is necessary) on Form S-1 (or, if such form is unavailable for such a registration, on such other form as is available for such registration) covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities, or amend its current registration statement to cover the Registrable Securities. Pursuant to the terms of the SPA, the Company agreed to use all commercially reasonable efforts to have the registration statement declared effective by the SEC within 90 days of October 18, 2022 (the Registration Deadline). If such registration statement has not become effective by the Registration Deadline, and provided that the Registrable Securities cannot otherwise be sold pursuant to Rule 144 pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) as of the Registration Deadline, then, subject to the provisions of the SPA and the Initial Registration Rights Agreement, the Company agreed to issue to each Investor: (i) a number of additional shares of common stock equal to 10% of the Purchased Shares acquired by such Investor on the closing date, with such number of Purchased Shares being adjusted for any forward or reverse splits of the common stock between the closing date and the date of such issuance (the Additional Shares); and (ii) a new warrant (each, a Warrant 3) equal to the number of Additional Shares in the applicable issuance. The Additional Shares and the Warrant 3 will, if applicable, be issuable to the Investors for each 30-day period, or portion thereof, that the registration statement registering the Registrable Securities has not become effective by the Registration Deadline. The Companys obligation to issue the Additional Shares and the Warrant 3, if applicable, will not arise until the Company has amended its articles of incorporation, via a reverse split of the common stock, an increase of the number of authorized shares of common stock, or some combination thereof, such that the Company has a number of authorized but unissued shares of equal to (1) the number of Additional Shares that are otherwise to be issued plus (2) the number of shares of common stock that may be issuable pursuant to the Warrant 3. Pursuant to the terms of the SPA, the Company also entered into a Piggyback Registration Rights Agreement (the Piggyback Registration Rights Agreement), dated as of October 18, 2022, by and among the Company and the Investors. The Piggyback Registration Rights Agreement provides piggyback registration rights for the shares of common stock that may be acquired by the Investors pursuant to the Warrant 2s. In the event that the Warrant 3s are issued pursuant to the provisions of the SPA, then at the time of such issuances, the Company and the Investors agreed to amend the Piggyback Registration Rights Agreement such that the Piggyback Registration Rights Agreement will also apply with respect to the shares of common stock that may be acquired by the Investors pursuant to the Warrant 3s. The foregoing summary of the material terms of the Placement Agency Agreement, the SPA, Warrant 1, Warrant 2, Warrant 3, the Initial Registration Rights Agreement, and the Piggyback Registration Rights Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Placement Agency Agreement, the SPA, Form of Warrant 1, Form of Warrant 2, Form of Warrant 3, the Initial Registration Rights Agreement, and the Piggyback Registration Rights Agreement, copies of which are filed herewith as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6 and 10.7, respectively, and incorporated by reference herein. Item 3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities. The information set forth in Item 1.01 above with regard to the issuance of equity securities is incorporated herein by reference. The Company claims an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), for the private placement of these securities pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or Regulation D promulgated thereunder because, among other things, the transaction did not involve a public offering, the recipients are accredited investors, the recipients acquired the securities for investment and not resale, and the Company took appropriate measures to restrict the transfer of the securities. 2 Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure. On October 19, 2022, the Company issued a press release announcing the closing of the Offering. A copy of the foregoing press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein. The information included in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed to be filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall such information be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing. The information set forth under this Item 7.01 shall not be deemed an admission as to the materiality of any information in this Current Report on Form 8-K that is required to be disclosed solely to satisfy the requirements of Regulation FD. Item 8.01. Other Events. As of October 18, 2022, following closing of the Offering, there are 1,976,726,501 shares of the Companys common stock outstanding. The Company is unable to honor any additional debenture notices of conversion, as the Company has insufficient available authorized but unissued and unreserved shares to process additional conversions at this time. Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits. (d) Exhibits. 3 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. SYSOREX, INC. Date: October 18, 2022 By: /s/ Wayne Wasserberg Wayne Wasserberg Chief Executive Officer 4 ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS PLACEMENT AGENCY AGREEMENT, DATED OCTOBER 17, 2022, BY AND BETWEEN THE REGISTRANT AND JOSEPH GUNNAR & CO., LLC SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF OCTOBER 18, 2022, BY AND AMONG THE REGISTRANT AND EACH OF THE EACH OF THE INVESTORS SIGNATORIES THERETO FORM OF WARRANT 1 FORM OF WARRANT 2 FORM OF WARRANT 3 INITIAL REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF OCTOBER 18, 2022, BY AND AMONG THE REGISTRANT AND EACH OF THE PERSONS SIGNATORY THERETO PIGGYBACK REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF OCTOBER 18, 2022, BY AND AMONG THE REGISTRANT AND EACH OF THE PERSONS SIGNATORY THERETO PRESS RELEASE OF THE REGISTRANT ISSUED ON OCTOBER 19, 2022 XBRL SCHEMA FILE XBRL LABEL FILE XBRL PRESENTATION FILE IDEA: R1.htm IDEA: ea167299-8k_sysorexinc_htm.xml IDEA: Financial_Report.xlsx IDEA: FilingSummary.xml IDEA: MetaLinks.json The Air Forces elite combat divers will soon have a decoration of their own to wear. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown Jr. approved a new badge for divers and diver supervisors to replace the Navy scuba badge, the service announced Tuesday. Since 2006, airmen who graduated from the Air Force Combat Dive Course have been awarded the Navy scuba qualification and badge even though their jobs are different. Navy scuba divers are trained for submarine and salvage diving, while Air Force combat divers are involved in insertion, extraction, and maritime rescue and recovery operations, said Senior Master Sgt. Christopher Uriarte, the Air Force Command dive program manager. Personnel from the 350th Special Warfare Training Squadron, which is based in San Antonio, developed the new badges, the Air Force said. Two levels are authorized for wear: Air Force combat diver, which depicts a closed-circuit rebreather, and Air Force combat dive supervisor, identified by a star and wreath positioned on the rebreather. Both officers and enlisted personnel may wear the new insignia as soon as it becomes available in Army and Air Force Exchange Service stores. The patch version is expected to be in AAFES stores by the end of the month, but the metal badge is still being developed. Having our own service-specific qualification badge accurately represents our unique capability to augment missions ... and, most importantly, highlights our members heroic actions, Maj. Gen. Charles Corcoran, deputy chief of staff for operations, said in a statement. Other military services also have replaced the Navy scuba badge with their own. In 2004, the Army replaced the Navy decoration for divers with the special operations diver badge. And in 2001, the Marine Corps authorized the creation of the combatant diver insignia. (Tribune News Service) The Navy has repaired two of four water mains that broke since Friday, though the first and largest one to crack remains unfixed. The Navy has repaired two of four water mains that broke since Friday, though the first and largest one to crack remains unfixed. Repairs are on schedule to be finished by Tuesday, give or take a day, Capt. Mark Sohaney, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam commander, said Tuesday at a news conference at the base. Meanwhile, the Navy is still urging residents to boil their water, although the Army lifted its advisory Monday. The Army was able to fix the problem with inline water filtration, which the Navy does not have. Lt. Col. Jamie Dobson, a spokesperson for the Army, said the Armys granular activated carbon filtration systems are essentially industrial-strength Brita filters. The broken mains disrupted water access for 93,000 residents living in and around JBPHH. While Navy child development centers remained closed Tuesday due to the breaks, Sohaney said he anticipated having a plan to reopen centers Wednesday. Additionally, the Navys plan to remove fuel from its three pipelines at Red Hill remains postponed until the water system is restored. Before the first main break occurred, the Navy had planned to begin draining approximately 1 million gallons of fuel from pipes at its Red Hill Bulk Fuel Facility on Monday. The fuel has sat in the pipelines since operations at the underground facility near Pearl Harbor were halted in 2021 when fuel from Red Hill contaminated the Navys drinking water system. The cause of the first main break in a 36-inch main at the Waiau Hawaiian Electric power station, built in 1951 remains unknown. The likeliest factor is age, said Chuck Anthony, JBPHHs director of public affairs, in an interview with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. The Navys response touched off smaller breaks. When that break occurred on Friday, I had to divert water to the west side of the base, and those lines are a little bit smaller, Sohaney said, noting that he anticipated the diversion would increase the systems pressure and risk a break. Mains that broke at West Loch and on Pearl City Peninsula, which flooded a nearby neighborhood, are now repaired, he said. A main break caused by a car accident Friday was isolated that day and is now not really an issue, Anthony said. The Navy connected its water network at Radford Terrace to the Honolulu Board of Water Supplys network Tuesday morning. This just introduces more water into the system and provides us a little bit more stability, Sohaney said. To couple the two systems, the BWS first had to install a meter and success-fully test a backflow preventer, BWS Public Information Officer Kathleen Pahinui said in an interview. By 3 p.m. the Navy had already drawn 700,000 gallons. We believe that we can supply them for a few days without it negatively impacting our customers. We are monitoring it, Pahinui said. The Navy will pay for its water use, she said. At the news conference, Sohaney directed some comments to affected water users: I know this is challenging, its frustrating, its inconvenient and I sympathize with that. And I just want you to know that were doing everything in our power, he said. Its like open-heart surgery. Its a complicated site, its a complicated repair. Further, he said, I need you to reach out, keep me informed and call my emergency operations center, post something on Facebook, let us know what we can do. On the Facebook support group site, scores of individuals on the water system Tuesday reported concerns ranging from recent rashes and hair loss to oil sheen in their tap water. Some of the concerns were similar to those that surfaced in November, when residents living in neighborhoods around the joint base began complaining of nausea, vomiting and skin rashes, as well as fuel smells coming from their faucets and sprinklers. Shortly thereafter, water samples and a visual inspection of the Red Hill shaft found it was polluted with jet fuel. Sohaney said the Navy is testing for water contamination, and there are no indications in our latest test results. Cmdr. Rob Kleinman, a Joint Base public works officer, encouraged water consumers to report any adverse effects to a medical provider. If theres any linkage, please let us know, Kleinman said. Doing so allows the Navy to learn from the reported incidents, he said. (c)2022 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Visit at www.staradvertiser.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (Tribune News Service) The mother of a New Jersey sailor who died after completing Hell Week exercises to become a Navy SEAL isnt satisfied with the investigation of her sons death or the letter of warning that the Navy issued to three officers in charge of the training. They say he died from pneumonia and an enlarged heart, Regina Mullen said of the investigation into the death of her son, Seaman Kyle Mullen, on Feb. 4. But you cant have two causes of death. Mullen, a registered nurse from Manalapan, N.J., said she met with Rear Adm. Brett W. Mietus, who is head of the office of sailor fitness in Washington, D.C., at her lawyers office last Wednesday night. Also at the meeting was her congressman from New Jerseys 4th District, Rep. Chris Smith, who has called for the Armed Services Committee to hold a hearing on high-stress SEAL training exercises conducted by the Navy in Coronado, Calif., where Mullen died. The autopsy conducted by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner, which is included in the investigative report, found that Mullens heart was twice the normal size. An electrocardiogram of his heart nine months earlier found no abnormalities, according to the Navys investigation, NBC News reported. An enlarged heart can be a symptom of performance enhancing drugs, and drug paraphernalia was reportedly found among his possessions. Regina Mullen doesnt believe Kyle was using steroids and said her son let other SEAL candidates use his car, so someone else could have stashed the needles. No drugs were found, she said. Mullen believes the Navys focus on steroids is a distraction from the real issue: the lack of medical care after he got pneumonia during Hell Week. He may have had an underlying condition, she said. But this has nothing to do with steroids. My son died of pneumonia, because he was rowing a boat all night in freezing water and didnt receive the proper medical care. The Naval Special Warfare Command released a statement that cleared Kyle Mullen of any misconduct in his own death, and said performance enhancing drugs were not a contributing cause in his death. Our deepest sympathy extends to Seaman Mullens family and friends during this difficult time, said Rear Adm. Keith Davids, the commander of the Naval Special Warfare Command. Two captains and a senior medical officer were reportedly issued letters of warning as a form of discipline more than eight months after Mullens death. His mother says the letters are little more than a slap on the wrist. Its just a piece of paper that they stick in your file, she said. Smith, who represents Manalapan in the 4th District, sponsored an amendment to the 2023 defense appropriations bill that requires the Secretary of Defense to recommend improvements to medical care and oversight of individuals engaged in high-stress trainings, like the Navy SEALs. That amendment is now before the Senate and expected to pass. Hes also written a letter to the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, calling for a hearing on high-risk, high-training exercises. Regina has been tenacious, Smith said. She not only wants answers for herself. She wants to make sure other SEALs are not exposed to neglect or abuse. Mullen says she spoke to her son just hours after he completed Hell Week, so weak from pneumonia that he was brought into the barracks in Coronado, California in a wheelchair. She urged him to seek emergency treatment at a hospital, but her son feared if he did, he would be rolled back in the training. They call it ringing the bell, Mullen said. Its like quitting. And he wouldnt quit. The Navy says that since Mullens death, it has begun urine testing for performance enhancing drugs, and has extended the medical observation period for 24 hours following the conclusion of Hell Week. It has also begun a cardiac screen program and increased its focus on preventing pneumonia. Kyles death will not be in vain, Davids said. We have a moral obligation to learn everything we can from Kyles tragic death so that we can ensure the safety of all future candidates. rcowen@njadvancemedia.com . 2022 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit nj.com . HONOLULU (Tribune News Service) The Navy is contesting an $8.7 million fine for Clean Water Act violations and alleged deficiencies at its Pearl Harbor-Hickam wastewater treatment system, arguing that the penalty levied by the state Department of Health is legally prohibited because the state is barred from seeking punitive fines. DOH fined the Navy in September for 766 counts of discharging undertreated sewage into the ocean between January 2020 and July 2022, in addition to 229 counts of operational and maintenance failures at its Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam wastewater treatment plant. DOH ordered the Navy to do extensive repairs to prevent a catastrophic failure. The Navy had 20 days to contest the order. On Oct. 11, Navy Capt. Cameron Geertsema sent a letter to DOH requesting a hearing to dispute the fine and reach a resolution. He wrote that the Navy wants to better understand your goals and incorporate those into a resolution that addresses recent incidents in a sound, environmentally compliant, cost effective, and timely manner. Geertsema said the Navy remains committed to environmental protection, despite contesting the fine. While we are requesting a hearing, we want to assure you that (Commander, Navy Region Hawaii ) takes its environmental compliance requirements seriously, Geertsema wrote. Further CNRH wants to ensure that all members of the Hawaii community, including its sailors, marines, civilian employees and their families have full confidence that the waters are environmentally sound and safe. The Navy also said its been working to fix problems at the facility since entering into a Federal Facilities Compliance Agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in June 2021. The Navy has faced a barrage of criticism for its environmental record in Hawaii since fuel from its Red Hill facility contaminated its drinking water system in 2021, sickening military families around Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and polluting the aquifer. The recent fine for clean-water violations compounded that scrutiny. This week the Navy is scrambling to fix water main breaks that left its 93,000 customers under a boil-water advisory. Matthew Kurano, an environmental health specialist with DOHs Clean Water Branch, in in September, said DOH was being more proactive in enforcing environmental regulations in the wake of Red Hill. Red Hill is definitely fresh in all of our minds, and we just really want to make sure things like Red Hill and those types of accidents and environmental catastrophes dont occur, and thats why we took this enforcement action right now, he said during a September media briefing. But the Navy says the state is barred from fining it as punishment for past violations of the Clean Water Act and related state laws, citing the 1992 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Department of Energy v. Ohio. The state of Ohio had sued the U.S. Department of Energy for violating federal and state pollution laws, including the Clean Water Act, while operating a uranium-processing facility in Fernald, Ohio. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the federal government, saying that it had not waived its sovereign immunity against claims for punitive penalties levied for prior violations of those statutes. With respect to the proposed monetary penalty, CNRH notes here, and intends to reiterate, that it cannot pay the penalty as a matter of law, wrote Geertsema in its letter to DOH. DOH didnt address the Navys legal argument in a statement provided to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Kathleen Ho, DOHs deputy director of environmental health, said the fine was about sending a message and that DOH will take all legal action necessary to bring the Navys wastewater treatment plant into compliance with environmental laws. Regardless of whether the state collects the penalty, it was important to the Department of Health to levy the maximum penalty possible under state law so the Navy and the community could understand the gravity of this issue, said Ho. DOH seeks to fine the Navy for discharging wastewater into the ocean in recent years that exceeded the permissible levels of enterococci bacteria, an indicator of fecal contamination. DOHs violation order says the Navy exceeded the limit every day in 2020, as well as 276 days in 2021 and 122 days this year. Recent inspections of the facility also found that six of eight ultraviolet channels used in disinfecting wastewater were inoperable, indicating that the Navy was not able to adequately disinfect effluent during peak flows, according to DOH. Inspectors also found that sewage sludge was accumulating near an area where treated wastewater is discharged into the ocean, among other problems. Wastewater from the plant is deposited about a mile offshore in Mamala Bay. DOH also fined the Navy $325, 000 in 2021 for safety violations uncovered during an inspection of its Red Hill fuel facility. DOH said the Navy failed to maintain adequate leak detection at two underground fuel recovery storage tanks and hadnt performed needed testing of repaired piping, among other safety violations. The Navy contested that fine as well. On Nov. 15, Navy Capt. Gordie Meyer sent a letter to DOH requesting a hearing on the violation order. He said most of the claims were the result of miscommunication between DOH and the Navy or clear error on the part of DOH. Five days later a Red Hill pipeline in an underground tunnel ruptured, spewing thousands of gallons of fuel for more than 34 hours before it was contained. Some of that fuel seeped into a nearby drinking water shaft and into the faucets of military families. Navy spokesperson Mike Andrews said the Navy contested the 2021 order primarily to preserve its right to amicably conclude the matter through resolution discussions. Those discussions have allowed the parties to reach an oral agreement to settle the matter, and the parties are finalizing the written document needed to conclude the matter, he said. (c)2022 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Visit at www.staradvertiser.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (Tribune News Service) Key West, Fla., police arrested a U.S. Navy sailor who is accused of hitting a bicyclist with her car and leaving the scene last month. Ailin Tutor, 22, faces a felony count of hit-and-run that caused serious bodily injury. She could not be reached for comment Wednesday. A call to the phone number assigned to her on the arrest report goes directly to a message saying no calls are being accepted. Tutor was released on $50,000 bond Tuesday hours after her arrest on a warrant. It was not immediately clear if she has legal representation. According to the arrest report, Tutor hit the cyclist around 1 a.m. Sept. 8 with her Hyundai Elantra. Security camera footage viewed by police showed the mans legs go up in the air and his head hit the street pavement, according to the report. Paramedics took him to him to Lower Keys Medical Center to be treated for lacerations to his head. Contacted by the Miami Herald/ FLKeysnews.com , the man declined to comment. Key West Officer Jorge Mayorga Lopez wrote in his report that after hitting the bicyclist, the cars brake lights engaged for a couple of seconds before the Hyundai continued on its way. Police said they matched a side view mirror found at the scene with a car found at Tutors Northside Drive residence, about 2 miles from the crash, Lopez said. Tutor is assigned to the military police at Naval Air Station Key West. Base officials could not immediately be reached for comment on her arrest or possible disciplinary action. 2022 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. October is American Archives Month! To celebrate, Stars and Stripes Archives and Library is sharing some behind the scenes images of Stripes operations, its staff and its archives throughout the papers eight decades of existence. Seoul, South Korea, August 1956: Workers load bundles of the Korean edition of Pacific Stars and Stripes on a truck for delivery at the papers print and distribution point. After nearly six years of printing the Korean edition of Pacific Stars and Stripes, the Korea Printing Plant stopped its presses in August 1956, and a new, fast, multi-color press in Tokyo took over, expanding the 16-page Korea edition to 24 pages. Since 2004 the small (but mighty!) archives staff has worked to make more of our historic content available online. We have digitized our 1948-1999 European and Pacific editions, as well as several of our WWII editions and made them available online through http://starsandstripes.newspaperarchive.com/ In 2014 we focused our efforts on the preservation and digitization of our vast photo archives and have been slowly but steadily digitizing negatives, slides and prints mainly concentrating on those with preservation issues. Apart from images created in the course of news gathering, Stars and Stripes archives also contain many images showing the papers inner workings. President Joe Biden has already pledged to provide air defense to Ukraine in the wake of Russias series of cruise missile strikes. At first glance, this seems appropriate. Air defense can mitigate the threat from missiles, drones and warplanes. But in Ukraines context, these weapons would be more useful on paper than in reality. Ukraines front line is roughly 1,553 miles. This is too vast of a front line to defend from air and missile attacks, and Ukraine has to worry about these attacks in its rear, too. Even the most technologically advanced air defense systems wouldnt be able to protect Ukraines 600,000 square kilometers of territory. And Ukraines own air defenses are too lacking for this gap to be bridged by any outside aid. Ukraines current air defense arsenal consists of outdated Soviet technology, namely Soviet S-8 and S-300 systems sourced from the United States and Slovakia, its own stockpile of S-300 and Bu-Mk1 (also known as S-11) systems, and some short-range air defense systems such as Tor-Ms, Strela-10s, Osa-AKMs and Tunguskas. Despite this myriad of systems, only the S-300 has the capability to protect against long-range threats, and even this system can be overwhelmed by saturation attacks like the barrage that Russia has launched in recent days. The rest of these systems are designed for pinpoint defense of assets or to protect a maneuvering army unit. None of these can stop the type of threat that Ukraine now faces. Likewise, the aid that Washington and Europe have furnished arent on the scale that would alleviate this threat. Washington had already provided NASAMS, a system meant to counter air-breathing threats such as cruise missiles, drones and aircraft, prior to the recent cruise missile attacks. Germany has likewise sent IRIS-T systems, though these too are designed for pinpoint defense rather than protecting large areas. The reality is technology currently favors the attacker when it comes to missiles and air attacks. Just as Britain had no counter to the V-2 in 1945, in 2022 we have no silver bullet. As air defenses improve, attackers respond with countermeasures. In the current technological balance, its easier for missiles to evade detection and interception than it is to stop them. That reality will change, but it is not the reality with which we must contend today. Technology is imperfect, too. Machines break. Complex systems, dependent on a web of the generators, networking devices, radars, launchers and operating stations, have many fail points. And the expertise to fix and maintain this equipment cannot be given as easily as the equipment itself. Ukraine can be given equipment, but its operators wont have the knowledge to use them. Overcoming this would take months under optimal conditions, and the problem is exacerbated by the variety of systems from different countries. Ukraine lacks command of the air, which means it likely cycles its radars to avoid revealing Ukrainian positions to Russian air or artillery. The Serbians used this same tactic to hide their air defenses from NATO fighters in 1998. But this also means detection and interception arent possible unless Ukraine is willing to expose its most expensive assets to attack. Donated weapon systems might be rendered expensive paperweights because of Ukrainian risk aversion and the reality of the current battlefield. Washington should also resist the inclination to try to be Ukraines one-stop-shop for military aid, even as Ukrainian officials add to their $27 billion shopping list. Russia does not see a distinction between defensive and offensive weapons, even if western planners do. And these systems, though defensive at the tactical level, enable offensive actions at the strategic level. Russia has railed against the U.S. anti-missile shield in Europe for years, which it believes undermines deterrence. Exacerbating this fear may cause Russia to lash out further, a dangerous risk given the threat of a tactical nuclear weapon being used. Ukraine can adopt two approaches, one military and one diplomatic. Though active defense measures cant offset Russias offensive missile advantage, passive measures can mitigate it. This means dispersing command and control systems, camouflaging forces, and hardening facilities to air attack. To prevent civilian casualties, this also means disentangling military forces from civilians, as Amnesty International has noted. The second approach is to open the possibility to a cease-fire and negotiations. Ukrainian aspirations to retake all of their lost territory militarily ignores battlefield realities and lengthens the ongoing carnage devastating Ukraines population and infrastructure. Negotiation is not capitulation. It may be Ukraines only chance to stay independent and avert nuclear catastrophe. The U.S., Germany and Turkey have all pushed for a cease-fire, but these words ring hollow as the Wests unceasing military aid enables Kyivs recalcitrance. The United States gains nothing from sending air defense systems to Ukraine, and Ukrainians will face the same missile threat regardless. A Russia that has exhausted all its options is dangerous, particularly as Vladimir Putin feels pressure to produce a military victory at any cost. Further dampening Russias conventional capabilities makes the use of a nuclear weapon more likely. Russias military has fumbled on the battlefield repeatedly. Given this reality, the United States should stop overreacting to Russias lackluster conventional capabilities while underemphasizing the nuclear risks. As the risk of escalation grows, its more prudent than ever for Washington to deescalate. Geoff LaMear is a Fellow at Defense Priorities. In the 10 years since Donny Conways daughters Christina and Chihiro were taken by their Japanese mother to her home country without his consent, he has kept their bedroom in his California home filled with unopened Christmas presents, handwritten notes and reams of legal documents, he said. The former Navy petty officer second class is one of hundreds of American parents whose children were abducted by another parent and taken to Japan before April 2014, when it ratified the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Some parents whose children were abducted to Japan after the agreement was signed are finally starting to see some progress in seeking their return, but others, like Conway, remain forgotten. Theres only so much you can achieve when its pretty much just sanctioned abduction, he told Stars and Stripes in a series of interviews in September and October. The numbers arent high enough for people to care. Japan is known as a black hole for parental child abduction, said Jeffery Morehouse, father to an abducted son, Atomu, and founder of Bring Abducted Children Home, a U.S.-based nonprofit. Prior to April 1, 2014, if a Japanese parent living in the United States returned with their child to Japan, there was very little chance the child would be returned, or that the other parent would even be granted visitation, Morehouse said. Between 1994 and 2014, when the State Department established the Office of Children's Issues, 416 children were abducted by parents from the U.S. to Japan, according to Bring Abducted Children Homes website, citing State Department data. Civil legal remedy Japans western allies began pressuring it to join the treaty, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman said by phone during the first in a series of interviews beginning Sept. 20. The spokesman declined to say when the first overtures were made. The Hague Convention provides a civil legal remedy for the return of children who are unjustly removed or retained outside their country of habitual residence in another signatory country, the U.S. Embassy in Japan website says. The treaty also provides a framework to protect legal rights of access and visitation. Parents like Conway were not afforded the benefits of the Hague Convention because their cases occurred prior to Japan joining the Hague Convention, Morehouse said. Conway, like the other pre-Hague parents, was able to apply for access to his children through the Hague Convention, Conway said. The State Department facilitated his application with Japans Ministry of Foreign Affairs but did little else, he added. A State Department spokesman declined to comment on the record for this story. If an application is accepted, the government of Japan connects both parents with an outside mediator and local attorneys, but their involvement stops there, the ministry spokesman said. Conway was granted Hague access by the ministry on April 21, 2015, he said. He hired a Japanese attorney and traveled to Japan, hoping to at least be able to talk to or see his daughters. He presented the document from the ministry at city hall in Ebina and Zama in Kanagawa prefecture. To his chagrin, they called his ex-wife, Yumika Arima, and asked her if she would provide access to the children, Conway said. She said no. Unenforceable Conways case is typical, said attorney Jeremy Morley, an expert in international family law based in New York City. All of those left-behind parents ... are stuck without a remedy, and the Hague Convention has no relevance to their circumstances, he said. Morley said their only potential path is through Japanese civil law, but he called that route totally minimal and meaningless. Visitation orders are essentially unenforceable, he said. The ministry spokesman admitted as much. We do our best to realize the visitation or contact, but we dont have enforceability, the ministry spokesman said. Its customary in Japan for some government spokespeople to speak to the media on condition of anonymity. Conway doesnt know if the girls would choose an American or a Japanese life, but he just wants them to know they were abducted, that they have bank accounts in America, resources and a father who never stopped looking for them, he said. The Marine Corps is looking at northern Australia, where 2,200 Marines wrapped up a six-month training rotation this week, as a hub to launch influence into Southeast Asia, according to a former Marine officer. On Monday, Rotational ForceDarwin, led by 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, concluded its 11th rotation to the southern continent since 2012, Capt. Joseph DiPietro, a spokesman for the force, said in a news release Tuesday. Last month, a pair of MV-22 Osprey aircraft from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 left Australia for their home base in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. The 6,100-mile, island-hopping flight, supported by a KC-130J refueler, included stops in Fiji, American Samoa and the Republic of Kiribati. Darwin is looked at as more than just an Australian version of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, its training area at Twentynine Palms, Calif., retired Marine Col. Grant Newsham, a senior researcher with the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies in Tokyo, said in an email Wednesday. It seems the Marines now look at Darwin and the Australia deployments as a hub from which to influence outwards into Southeast Asia and the region, he said. The Marines who went Down Under this year trained in every Australian state except Tasmania and worked alongside peers from Australia, Indonesia, Japan and Timor Leste, DiPietro said. Previously, Marines from the rotational force trained in countries near Australia such as Timor Leste and Tonga. There are political and psychological aspects to the rotations, Newsham said. It suggests a degree of seriousness and permanence on the part of the Marines and the U.S. that hasnt always been a hallmark of U.S. activities in the region, he said. And its all done with an eye to a future fight if thats necessary. In other words, something serious is coming and everyone knows it. Southeast Asia is a potential arena of conflict with China, which has built bases on disputed territory in the South China Sea and vowed to reunify Taiwan, by force, if necessary, with the country. Northern Australia has become a key operating base for the Marines in the region, Newsham said. There of course should be a lot of other places the Marines (and U.S. forces) are set up in the Indo-Pacific, he said. But there arent so Darwins importance is magnified. This years Marine rotation to Darwin was possibly the busiest to date, Ross Babbage, a former Australian assistant defense secretary, said in an email Wednesday. I am expecting more and larger rotations in the future as well as more substantial [U.S. Air Force and Navy] and probably U.S. Army operations in and around Australia in coming years, he said. During Exercise Koolendong in July and August, the Marines moved troops and vehicles 650 miles from Darwin to Broome, 1,000 miles north of Perth in Western Australia, using a U.S. Army logistics support vessel and MV-22s. Over the past six months, Marines practiced littoral combat and sea-denial tactics on islands north of Australia, such as the Tiwi Islands in the Timor Sea and South Goulburn Island in the Arafura Sea, DiPietro said in the news release. They also exercised at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area and a jungle training center in Tully, Queensland, and the Yampi Sound Training Area in Western Australia, he said. Throughout their training Marines learned a lot about Indo-Pacific field craft, which allowed them to adjust to the high temperatures, humid air, and increased vegetation, DiPietro said. Significantly, the rotation included an expeditionary advanced basing exercise in August and September to seize and hold South Goulburn Island in the Arafura Sea, said Carlyle Thayer, an emeritus professor at the University of New South Wales and lecturer at the Australian Defence Force Academy. The mission of the attacking force was to exercise area denial by setting up low altitude air defenses, he said in an email Wednesday. Next years rotation is scheduled to start in March and include training on sea-lane ambush and sea-denial against hostile warships, Thayer said. (Tribune News Service) North Korea has fired over 40 missiles this year, more than during any year since its leader, Kim Jong Un, took power in 2011. Last week it launched a short-range ballistic missile toward its eastern waters and flew warplanes near the border with South Korea. The latest surge in missile launches hasnt gone unnoticed in Hawaii. On Oct. 3 a North Korean ballistic missile flew an estimated 2,850 miles, the farthest a North Korean missile has flown yet soaring over Japan before landing in the Pacific Ocean. North Korea hadnt launched a missile over Japan in five years. In response to news of the launch, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency tweeted that authorities in Japan alerted the public and advised they take shelter. At this time NO threat to Hawaii is anticipated. North Korea said the launch was a response to joint training between the South Korean navy and the U.S. Navys USS Ronald Reagan carrier strike group. Following the test, the Reagan returned to South Korean waters for another round of joint training, and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Commands Adm. John Aquilino flew to South Korea to meet with its newly elected President Yoon Suk-yeol. Hawaii is the nerve center of all U.S. military operations in the region, serving as the headquarters of both INDOPACOM and the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Missile defense strategy for the Pacific has been debated by key military leaders in Hawaii and Guam and by U.S. policymakers. Analysts have estimated that if North Korea were to fire missiles at Hawaii, they would hit the islands about 20 minutes after being fired. New submarine-based missiles could potentially get even closer. During a multinational naval exercise in Hawaii in August, a Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer used its Aegis Combat System to practice shooting down ballistic missiles. In a news release the U.S. military said the ballistic missile search and tracking exercise demonstrated the commitment of the U.S., (South Korea), and Japan to furthering trilateral cooperation to respond to (North Korean) challenges, protecting shared security and prosperity, and bolstering the rules-based international order. The issue of Pyongyangs missile program was heightened in Hawaii in January 2018 when HI-EMA sent out a false-alarm missile alert to phones across the state. The alert came during tensions as Kim and then-President Donald Trump traded threats and insults, with Trump boasting he would unleash fire and fury on the Korean Peninsula. It caused significant personal concern and recalculation of peoples risks about living here, said James Minnich, a retired Army officer and professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Waikiki. Its not healthy for people. Its not good for the political makeup of the islands to have people feel like theyre living under a risk of a threat of attack by North Korea or any other state, which is why diplomacy is of course important. Launches escalate In just the past two months, North Korea has fired more than a dozen missiles. The most recent flurry of missile tests coincides with fears of further escalation in the war in Ukraine and increased tension between China and Taiwan. They also come as Kim and Yoon test each others limits. But Minnich said the latest tests, though significant, were also expected, and follow a steady path as the Kim regime pursues its long-term strategic goals. The only constant has been North Koreas development of its capability, which has created a situation now where a threat which was once localized on the Korean Peninsula extends to the region and beyond, particularly to the U.S. homeland, said Minnich. These are credible threats that are only increasing over time. In September 2021, North Korea tested its first hypersonic missile, the Hwasong-8, launching four of them. In May the South Korean military said it detected a ballistic missile launch that it thinks was fired from a North Korean submarine in waters near the port city of Sinpo, where North Korea has a major shipyard that builds submarines. The U.S. militarys Oahu-based Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement that while the apparent submarine-based launch did not pose an immediate threat, it demonstrated the destabilizing impact of the (North Korean) illicit weapons program and that the U.S. commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea and Japan remains ironclad. Many analysts think this years missile launches will culminate in a nuclear test. North Korea detonated its first nuclear warhead in 2006 and has conducted six tests, most recently in 2017. Skirting sanctions North Korea has faced economic sanctions over its continued development of nuclear weapons in defiance of the United Nations. Nevertheless, sanctions have not slowed the development of Pyongyangs increasingly sophisticated weapons program. North Korea has turned increasingly to smuggling and has used hackers to steal funds from businesses and institutions around the globe to bypass sanctions and continue financing its programs. 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, said Moon Chung-in, who served as an adviser to former South Korean President Moon Jae-in and has been involved in talks with North Korean officials. Washington, Seoul and Tokyo will always be wrestling with this fundamental dilemma. While Pyongyang shows no indication it will give up its nukes, some analysts have suggested lifting some sanctions in exchange for North Korea pausing its testing and development and granting international inspectors access to them. Minnich said that while sanctions have isolated North Korea economically, they have mostly affected ordinary people rather than the countrys elite and that weapons development as well as North Koreas emergence as a cybercrime hub appear to have accelerated under sanctions. The hope is somehow as those without means suffer, somehow theyll force the government to change, he said. Theres not a whole lot of evidence that that occurs. Under Moon Jae-In, Seoul sought a more conciliatory relationship with the North and successfully reached an agreement to formally end the Korean War which ended in an armistice rather than a formal peace agreement. But Yoon, who took office in May amid this years spate of missile launches, has taken a much tougher stance. During his campaign Yoon said he would explore the redeployment U.S. tactical nuclear missiles to the peninsula that were withdrawn during the 1990s, though Biden administration officials ruled out the possibility. Nevertheless, South Korean public opinion has shifted as frustration with Pyongyangs weapons program mounts. A poll conducted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs in February found that as many as 71% of South Koreans now favor their country acquiring its own nuclear weapons to deter the North. Nuclear declaration North Korea in September passed a new law declaring the country a nuclear weapons state and laid out its strike policies. Among the policies are that any attempt to remove Kim from power would prompt a nuclear strike automatically and immediately. Kim called the countrys nuclear status irreversible and ruled out any further talks on denuclearization. North Korea views itself as a small great power, said Minnich, noting that its successful development of nuclear warheads, long-range missiles and satellite systems put it in a league that only a handful of other nations can compete with. When they make movements on the international stage, the whole world watches. That doesnt happen with small countries. Minnich said both sides have credible fears but that recent policy shifts also create opportunities for misunderstandings that could spark the very escalations both seek to avoid. We kind of rely upon (the idea) that North Korea will correctly interpret a military strategic situation that is occurring, he said. We expect them to either believe what we say or to interpret it the same way (we do ). That can be rather dangerous. But diplomacy has proved challenging. From 2003 until 2009 both Koreas, the U.S., China, Russia and Japan engaged in so-called Six Party Talks aimed at cooling tensions on the peninsula. At that time Russia and China shared many of the other parties concerns about North Koreas nuclear program. But a series of clashes between the North and South Korean militaries brought talks to a halt, and several subsequent efforts to restart talks proved unsuccessful. Moon Chung-in said deterioration of relations between the U.S. and China and Russia has only further complicated matters. Neither China nor Russia is cooperating with the U.S. on talks with North Korea. However, some U.S. officials think China may be exerting pressure on North Korea to hold off on its seventh nuclear test at least for now. North Korea, China and Russia have increasingly tightened their relationship since Russias February push into western Ukraine. Russia and North Korea have stepped up both military and industrial cooperation as successive sanctions have further isolated the two countries from the global economy. Honolulu Star-Advertiser reporter Kevin Knodell participated in the East-West Centers 2022 Korea-United States Journalists Exchange. Through the fellowship, he reported on this story in both South Korea and Hawaii. (c)2022 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Visit at www.staradvertiser.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. No effort has been spared to ensure the smooth execution of a crucial Chinese Communist Party congress this week where Xi Jinping is expected to extend his tenure as his country's most powerful leader in decades. In Beijing, police and volunteers with red armbands work at checkpoints and patrol neighborhoods under orders to operate with "warlike" readiness during the six-day meeting that began Sunday. To enter the city, residents must have tested negative for the coronavirus twice within the previous three days. After a one-man protest in Beijing where banners were hung from an elevated road in the district of Haidian, guards were posted on bridges across the city. The airwaves have been flooded with testimonies and images of people all over the country competing with each other to celebrate their leader's words. A 100-day security operation before the meeting began Sunday led to the arrest of 1.4 million people, laying the "solid foundation for the security and stability" of the 20th Party Congress, according to China's Ministry of Public Security. In Anhui province, more than 600 miles from Beijing, no fewer than a third of the police were deployed to patrol the streets against any disturbances for the duration of the meeting. "It's always incredibly tight, but this time, because Xi Jinping is breaking the mold, he's even more sensitive and everyone is going double. It's even tighter than it was before," said Steve Tsang, the director of the China Institute at the London University's School of Oriental and African Studies. On Sunday, Xi opened the 20th National Congress of the CCP, a political meeting held every five years that sets out the party's broad priorities and the next batch of leaders. Xi is expected to break with tradition of leaders stepping down after a decade and continue his role as general secretary and head of the party's Central Military Commission, the two most powerful positions. Characterized by pomp, pageantry and paranoia, the event is often more about optics - a time for the Chinese leadership to impress upon the public the legitimacy of the CCP's rule. Xi on Sunday delivered a triumphalist speech in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where he pledged to turn his country into a modern socialist superpower that represents a "new choice" of governance and development, different from the dominant model of Western democracy. As he spoke, the internet was flooded with photos of Chinese residents - delivery workers, People's Liberation Army soldiers, Buddhist monks, patients at rehab centers - devotedly watching the speech. In Guangdong province, the city of Gaozhou organized 50,000 people to watch the event. Primary schools held karaoke contests, and teachers wrote poems dedicated to Xi. ("You are the helmsman, the sail, the oar, the hope," one teacher wrote.) Local officials in Ningde in Fujian province, where Xi was party secretary, said they were "overwhelmed with emotion" by his speech. "After listening to his speech, I now understand how strong the motherland is and my love for this land is even deeper," one primary school student wrote about Xi's remarks, according to a post on WeChat from a school in Behai in Guangxi province. In Xinjiang, officials in Toksun county were "fired up," and in Shenzhen, officials and residents alike were "full of joy" after tuning in to the speech, according to local government social media posts. A 40-episode television series loosely based on Xi's poverty-alleviation work in Ningde has been aired nightly by state broadcaster CCTV since Sunday. To ensure blue skies for the meeting's opening, Beijing officials held meetings on how to push the "one microgram" operation, a reference to bringing the amount of airborne particulate matter or PM2.5 down to 1 microgram per cubic meter of air. Steel factories in Hebei province, near Beijing, cut production by as much as half starting in mid-October through the end of the congress, according to local media. Having succeeded, Zhao Lei, secretary general of the Beijing Municipal Committee, said, "We have the confidence and the determination to keep a clear sky in Beijing" and applauded Xi's speech. "We have witnessed this great era together," Zhao told the state-run China Daily. The fawning over major events and pronouncements by the party are not unusual, especially in Chinese state media and propaganda organs. But the degree of fervor and the focus on Xi underline the direction in which China is moving - toward more centralized and personalized rule under one man. "The cult of personality around Xi Jinping is particularly obvious," said Lu Yeh-chung, a professor of diplomacy at National Chengchi University in Taipei. "It shows that Xi's control over society, as well as the party's skills and techniques in forming narratives, are becoming more advanced than before," he said. Going into his third term, Xi faces a slowing economy, an increasingly combative relationship with the United States and its allies, an unstable situation in the Taiwan Strait and declining international opinion in part because of Beijing's supportive relationship with Russia. Without naming these specific challenges, Xi in his report called on his country to "unite in struggle" to resist outside efforts to "blackmail, contain and exert pressure" on China - language that shows the leadership's turn away from the increasingly open years of reform. "China is going to get back to being more ideological. It might not be a restoration of the Maoist era, but it is going to be more ideological," Tsang said. "They are going to have a leader who's not going to stay on for just 10 years. He is going to be leader for a heck of a long time." Not everyone is happy with Xi's continued hold on power. Hong Kong democracy activists protested outside a Chinese consulate in Manchester, England. After consular staffers dragged one of the demonstrators onto the consulate grounds and beat him, China's ambassador to the Britain was summoned by the British Foreign Office. In China, the protest slogans that were hung from a bridge in Haidian have started to appear in public restrooms, according to social media posts. "The Congress is not a place for debate. It's primarily a ritualistic display of power," said Joseph Torigian, a Chinese-politics expert at American University in Washington, who said this week's meeting will offer mostly ambiguous hints about China's future. "The big question is whether he will change the longer he is in power." The Washington Post's Vic Chiang and Pei-Lin Wu in Taipei contributed to this report. CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea U.S. and South Korean military aircraft are scheduled to hold a five-day, large-scale air exercise to improve combat readiness, a South Korean air force spokesman told reporters at a briefing Tuesday. Vigilant Storm, previously known as Vigilant Ace, will take place Oct. 31 to Nov. 4, the spokesman said. The air force declined to say which and how many aircraft will be participating in the drills. Its customary for some South Korean government officials to speak to the media on condition of anonymity. However, the Yonhap News Agency reported Tuesday that about 140 South Korean aircraft and an Australian refueling tanker are expected to participate. Roughly 100 U.S. aircraft, including helicopters from Camp Humphreys and F-35B Lightning II stealth fighters from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, are scheduled to take part in the exercise, 7th Air Force spokeswoman Lt. Col. Kelley Jeter told Stars and Stripes by phone Wednesday. The training was planned months in advance and is part of what a professional military does, Jeter said. Combat readiness is perishable, and all professional militaries practice their skills routinely in order to stay ready, she said. This training brings together elements from the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Space Force and Air Force, and practices working together with [South Korean] air force capabilities. F-35As from the U.S. and South Korea drilled together in July, the first time the stealth fighters from both countries were used in an exercise in South Korea. The announcement of the upcoming air drills comes five days after North Korean aircraft were detected near the North-South Korean border. Roughly 10 North Korean warplanes flew near the border, prompting the South to scramble fighters, according to a statement from South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff on Friday. In addition to firing hundreds of artillery rounds, North Korea so far this year has launched more than 40 missiles in an unprecedented 26 rounds of testing, including an intermediate-range weapon that flew directly over northern Japan on Oct. 4. North Korea fired roughly 100 artillery rounds toward the Yellow Sea on Wednesday afternoon, according to a text message from the Joint Chiefs of Staff the same day. Japan on Tuesday announced it will impose sanctions against five organizations suspected of having ties to North Koreas nuclear and missile program. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno during a news conference described the Norths string of provocations as absolutely intolerable and a threat to Japans security. News of the punishments comes less than a week after Seoul imposed its own sanctions against 31 people and corporate entities suspected of aiding North Koreas missile program. The Korean Central News Agency, the Norths state-run media organization, said in multiple reports throughout October its military activity is in response to U.S.-South Korean joint military drills. Stars and Stripes reporters Hana Kusumoto and Yoo Kyong Chang contributed to this report. Sweden's new government has scrapped the ministry for the environment in a move that critics say is indicative of policies that threaten the country's climate targets. The largest Nordic nation is widely seen as a front-runner on climate matters, and since 1987 it has had a separate ministry for environmental issues. That legacy is now coming under question, after Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson decided the new minister in charge of climate and environment policies will work under the ministry for enterprise and energy, as one of his first moves after assuming power on Tuesday. The change, which will have 26-year-old climate minister Romina Pourmokhtari report to Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch, drew ire from political opponents as well as environmental experts. "It is regrettable, but I'm not surprised, as the government's plans indicate a dismantling of environmental policy," Mikael Karlsson, a researcher at Uppsala University, told newspaper Dagens Nyheter. "Their subsidies of high consumption of electricity and fossil fuels are at odds with the foundations of environmental policy that has been in place for the last 50 years." Kristersson's government is heavily dependent on the nationalist Sweden Democrats, the only party in parliament that doesn't back the country's target of having net zero emissions by 2045. The anti-immigrant force has also opposed any ambitions of making Sweden a role model on climate change. Sweden was second only to Denmark in a ranking of climate policies among 60 countries last November by the Climate Change Performance Index, while it had scored as the best for the previous four years. Its climate goals have helped spur what has been dubbed a green industrial revolution in the northern parts of the country, which enjoys an abundance of hydropower. There, Northvolt has started making electric-vehicle batteries for Europe's biggest automakers and two steel-makers are preparing to start large-scale production of fossil-free steel. Kristersson's Moderates and parties backing him have touted a build-out of nuclear power production and expansion of charging infrastructure as key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Sweden Democrats' climate policy spokesperson, Martin Kinnunen, welcomed Kristersson's move, and said that years of closing down nuclear facilities "will now end" and that his party "will closely watch that this will become a reality." The four-party alliance that agreed on forming the new government last week said it would seek to lower fuel prices, partly by reducing the percentage of biofuels that has to be mixed into gas and diesel to the minimum level required by the European Union. That would make it more difficult to reach a target of reducing transport emissions by 70% by 2030 and also puts the new government at odds with an emerging biofuel industry that is investing heavily in production of propellants from renewable sources. The European Union backed sanctions on three Iranian individuals and one entity for providing military support to Russia for its war against Ukraine and their involvement in providing Moscow with drones, according to people familiar with the matter. An earlier proposal targeted Shahed Aviation Industries as responsible for the design and development of the Shahed series of Iranian drones that have been supplied to Russia and are currently being used in Ukraine, according to a document seen by Bloomberg. The individuals are three senior generals, all with high-level supervisory positions and direct involvement in Iran's UAV program and its cooperation with Russia, the document showed. E.U. ambassadors backed the sanctions Wednesday, with formal adoption due on Thursday, several officials said. The proposals could still change before they are adopted by member states. E.U. sanctions need the backing of all member states. Iran has repeatedly denied exporting any weapons for use in the war in Ukraine. The E.U. will also list two people and two entities under the bloc's measures linked to Russia's invasion, after they had previously been the target of restrictions as part of measures against Iran, according to the people. The fresh package of measures on Iran comes just days after the E.U. sanctioned the country's morality police and other entities over its violent crackdown on protests and would represent the first time the bloc moved against another country besides Belarus over Russia's war in Ukraine. E.U. foreign ministers discussed the alleged drone deliveries when they gathered in Luxembourg on Monday but didn't immediately agree to sanction the country on the issue. Some member states wanted to review evidence to confirm the Iranian drones were delivered to Russia after its invasion of Ukraine before imposing new sanctions against the country, officials have said. Ukrainian officials have highlighted the use of Iranian-made drones in recent Russian attacks across Ukraine since mid-September, and the role they have had in targeting critical infrastructure across the country. Several reports and intelligence assessments have concluded that drones were most likely delivered during the summer. Bloomberg's Alex Wickham contributed to this report. (Tribune News Service) President Vladimir Putin ordered dramatically heightened security, including restrictions on movement, in regions along the border with Ukraine as attacks have spread into Russian territory. Citing strikes in recent weeks in border zones and a bombing on his showcase bridge to Crimea, Putin told a televised meeting of his Security Council that he's ordering stepped-up measures across much of the country. He also extended existing martial-law regimes in the four Ukrainian territories he annexed last month. Russian forces have steadily lost ground over the last two months to a Ukrainian counteroffensive that has retaken large areas of the zones Putin claimed to annex. On Wednesday, Russian occupation authorities in the city of Kherson in southern Ukraine said they were relocating to areas further back from the front lines as Kyiv's troops continued to press forward and cut off their supply lines. Putin's new measures impose higher security in six regions of Russia near the Ukraine border, as well as Crimea, which he annexed in 2014, underlining how his eight-month-old war has spread. The new rules impose limits on movement in and out of the regions, allow local authorities to relocate civilians away from combat zones, boost military production and give increased powers to military officials. Areas further back from the front lines, including Moscow, also will see unspecified restrictions on movement, according to the text of Putin's decree. "Putin's decree in effect brings several Russian regions on the border with Ukraine into the perimeter of the war," said Alexander Baunov of the Moscow Carnegie Center. "It looks like a trial run of emergency mechanisms in several regions that can then be expanded to other territories." The government isn't planning to close the country's borders as a result of the order, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to the RIA Novosti news service. Putin said Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin will take charge of a new coordinating council to work on security issues nationally. Regional governors will also get broader powers to deal with security and support for families of reservists called up for military service, he said. Russian occupation authorities said earlier they're leaving Kherson for the eastern bank of the Dnipro River as Ukrainian forces continue a counteroffensive in the area. Russia-appointed Governor Vladimir Saldo told state television there are no plans to surrender the city, which was the first regional capital to fall to Russia in the invasion. The state-run Tass news service reported that Russian officials sent out text messages alerting residents of the city early Wednesday and plan to relocate as many as 60,000 people from areas on the western side of the Dnipro. Russian forces are expected to retreat to the river's western bank and to try to keep a defensive line there, local council deputy Serhiy Khlan, who left Kherson region, said on TV Wednesday. "For now we have 29 settlements of Kherson region already liberated. Together with Kherson we will see the whole right bank side of Kherson region free from occupiers," Khlan said. 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Tech billionaire Elon Musk drew flak earlier this month for tweeting his vision of a peace plan between Russia and Ukraine that appeared to favor the Kremlin's agenda. He called for a resolution to the ongoing war that, among other things, would see Ukraine cede its claims to Crimea. The rationale for this, Musk argued, was that Russia would sooner deploy tactical nuclear weapons on the battlefield than countenance the loss of the strategic and culturally symbolic peninsula. Concessions to the invading power would be preferable to falling into a spiraling nuclear conflict. The backlash was scathing - with policy experts and Ukrainian and Western officials scoffing at the logic of nuclear blackmail imposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and parroted by Musk. "There can't be a compromise based on him not setting off a nuclear weapon if we hand over Ukraine," Fiona Hill, a Russia scholar and former Trump administration official, told Politico. "Putin is behaving like a rogue state because, well, he is a rogue state at this point. . . . We have to ensure that he's not going to have the effect that he wants with this nuclear brinkmanship." How to do that is, of course, the giant conundrum surrounding the war in Ukraine. The United States and its European partners continue to provide military aid and arms to Kyiv in the hope that Ukraine can press its current advantage, reclaim territories seized by Russia over the past eight months and, at the very least, win itself a stronger hand whenever the warring parties do attempt meaningful negotiations. The Kremlin, meanwhile, has responded to its recent setbacks with violent escalation, launching indiscriminate strikes on civilian areas in Ukraine while also targeting the country's energy infrastructure. The latter tactic is part of Russia's broader strategy to weaponize the imminent winter in its favor, leaving Ukrainians in the cold and dark while also raising energy costs - and domestic anger - across Europe. "Putin seems to believe he can coerce his enemies into quitting before he suffers a major defeat, while the U.S. is acting as though it can deter Putin from escalating long enough for Ukraine to prevail," wrote Hal Brands for Bloomberg Opinion. "The result of all this is a violent, unstable equilibrium, one that cannot hold forever as committed participants pursue irreconcilable goals." The specter of nuclear conflict looms, though Western observers believe Putin should be called on his bluff. Others more sensitive to the Kremlin's position disagree. "NATO leaders seem convinced that Putin, whom President Biden recently described as a 'rational actor,' would not dare reach for the nuclear arsenal," wrote Dimitri Simes of the Center for the National Interest, a Washington think tank. "Some leaders even seem to believe that Moscow is now paralyzed by concern over Western retaliation. But the time when Moscow is prepared to use all available options short of strategic nuclear weapons may be much closer than Western leaders and experts seem to think." U.S. officials have warned that all options for reprisal in the event of a Russian tactical nuclear attack are on the table, but it's an untested threat - for decades, Western strategists have seen the option of military action as a deterrent. What happens when deterrence fails? Biden himself has likened the peril of the moment to that of the Cuban missile crisis. It's a grim analogy, given how some analysts argue that, 60 years ago, Cold War channels of communication between Washington and Moscow were more robust than they are now. "The current crisis is far worse than the Cuban missile crisis, in part because during the Cuban missile crisis both [President John F.] Kennedy and [Soviet leader Nikita] Khrushchev were willing to discuss a way of walking back the confrontation," Cynthia Hooper, a Russia expert at the College of the Holy Cross, told Insider. "There is no such option on the table here." Multiple European officials visiting Washington have told Today's WorldView in recent months that their visibility into the Kremlin's thinking is more limited now than it has ever been. Though the United States privately conveyed warnings to Russia about the consequences of using a nuclear weapon, the contacts are narrow in scope and access. Putin may be bunkered and warmongering in isolation, but the sense of uncertainty and danger surrounding the war is only deepening. Attempts by some Western European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, to locate an off-ramp for Putin have only incurred the scorn and wrath of those more hawkish on Russia. "For some of Ukraine's most ardent backers, even talking about diplomacy amounts to appeasement," wrote Financial Times columnist Gideon Rachman. "Their argument is that the only acceptable and realistic way to end the war is for Putin to be defeated. This is fine as a statement of principle, but not hugely helpful in practice." Diplomacy should not be the alternative to prosecuting the war effort, Rachman argued, but take place simultaneously. Though it's difficult to see where the momentum for such dialogue may come. "Privately, U.S. officials say neither Russia nor Ukraine is capable of winning the war outright, but they have ruled out the idea of pushing or even nudging Ukraine to the negotiating table," my colleagues reported last week. "They say they do not know what the end of the war looks like, or how it might end or when, insisting that is up to Kyiv." The engagement of non-Western actors could move the needle. An earlier round of talks between Russia and Ukraine went nowhere, but we did see the success of a Turkish-led effort that helped release Ukraine's blockaded grain stocks to a hungry world. Other regional leaders, including the UAE president and the emir of Qatar, have also stepped up calls for a cessation of hostilities and offered to mediate between Moscow and Kyiv. "Turkey has made it no secret that it wants to help mediate a broader cease-fire agreement between Ukraine and Russia, with Ankara hoping that the experience of the grain deal - as well as a more recent prisoner swap it mediated along with Saudi Arabia - can be leveraged toward this objective," wrote Eugene Chausovsky, senior analyst at the New Lines Institute. "Successful mediation that produces tangible results, even on relatively small issues, can build the groundwork for future de-escalation." Western officials have their doubts over how successful such contacts may prove, and are placing little hope in the conversations Putin may have with, for example, concerned Chinese and Indian interlocutors. But there may be a pathway there to lower the temperature, at least on the nuclear front. "Two years ago, Putin offered to remove Russia's new ground-based intermediate-range nuclear missile from Europe under verifiable conditions, thus underpinning a moratorium on such missiles in Europe," wrote Rose Gottemoeller, a former deputy secretary general of NATO. "When Putin and Xi Jinping met in Beijing prior to the February invasion, they spoke of extending such a moratorium to Asia. Perhaps it is time to launch discreet talks, if only at a technical level, to explore what the two men had in mind." U.S. officials have held talks with their Turkish counterparts regarding compliance with financial sanctions imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, the latest move by the West to pressure Ankara into taking a harder line against Moscow. A delegation led by Elizabeth Rosenberg, assistant secretary for terrorist financing and financial crimes at the Treasury Department, met the Turkish central bank governor and business groups in Ankara and Istanbul earlier this week and was due to engage with local Treasury officials on Wednesday, according to people familiar with the discussions. They asked not to be identified, because the talks were private. The Treasury Department didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. The visit comes a week after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks in the Kazakh capital, their fourth in-person meeting in as many months. The two leaders agreed to boost energy ties and set up an international gas hub in Turkey, potentially positioning the country as a key route for Russian flows to Europe. Turkey's deepening economic and trade ties with Russia, bolstered by Erdogan and Putin's cordial relationship, has drawn the ire of the West, which wants to forge a unified international front to persuade Moscow to change course on Ukraine. Deputy U.S. Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo visited Turkey in June, part of an effort by President Joe Biden's administration to rally support for a clampdown on Russian assets abroad. Adeyemo later issued a letter to several Turkish business groups warning them of the implications of conducting business in Russia. In September, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control warned financial institutions about the risks of entering new agreements or expanding existing ones with the Russian operator of Mir payment cards. That alarmed Turkish officials, and all five Turkish banks that were participating in the system subsequently abandoned it. Erdogan has strategic and well-established ties with Kyiv and Moscow and has sought to position Turkey as a mediator in their war. He has helped secure deals to resume grain shipments from Ukraine's Black Sea ports and facilitated prisoner exchanges. While Turkey has condemned Russia's invasion and spoken against its annexation of four Ukrainian regions, Erdogan has publicly defended Putin against Western sanctions. Turkey has become an increasingly important partner for Putin as the sanctions shutter other routes for trade, travel and investment. And Erdogan, who will seek another term in elections next year, is looking to Russia to help bolster Turkey's troubled economy, an effort that includes securing discounted gas and an agreement for payments to be made in lira. Ibrahim Kalin, a spokesman for the Turkish presidency, confirmed on Tuesday that talks about delaying Turkish state-run energy importer Botas's payments to Russia until 2024 were "ongoing." The hottest overseas job market for retired U.S. service members is a tiny Persian Gulf nation that outsources much of its military to foreign advisers and mercenaries. Over the past seven years, 280 military retirees have sought federal authorization to work for the United Arab Emirates far more than for any other country, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Those who have worked as military contractors or consultants for the Emiratis include generals who made their mark fighting U.S. wars in the Middle East. Among them: retired Marine Gen. Jim Mattis, who was a military adviser to the UAE before he became defense secretary in the Trump administration, the documents show. The influx of American veterans willing to sell their military expertise to a foreign power most with the consent of the Pentagon and the State Department has helped the small but oil-rich UAE build what many experts regard as the most powerful military in the Arab world. But for U.S. national interests, the outcome has proved a blessing and a curse. While the Emiratis remain a close partner, their newfound military muscle has emboldened them to send troops into Yemen and Libya, inflaming civil wars in both countries. Meanwhile, in Washington, Congress and human rights groups have become more critical of the UAE, including for its decision this month to band with Russia and other members of the OPEC Plus cartel to curtail global oil production. In addition, the Justice Department has scrutinized the countrys leaders for interfering in U.S. elections and politics. The Emiratis have gathered immense influence and they punch way above their weight class, but they have used that to undermine U.S. foreign policy in terms of our support for the rule of law, democracy and counterterrorism, said Jodi Vittori, a professor at Georgetown Universitys School of Foreign Service and a retired U.S. Air Force officer. Its hard to see how this is a good thing. Federal law prohibits retired military personnel as well as reservists from taking jobs or gifts from foreign governments without approval from the State Department and the Pentagon. The purpose is to prevent veterans from becoming beholden to foreign powers or undermining U.S. interests. The law applies to retirees generally defined as those who served at least 20 years and receive a pension because they can be recalled to active duty. The armed forces and the State Department declined interview requests from The Post. In a written response to questions, the State Department said it judges job applications based on whether they would adversely affect the foreign relations of the United States. Asked whether the U.S. government had made it easier for the UAE to intervene in Yemen and Libya by allowing the Emiratis to hire so many U.S. military contractors, the State Department said: The UAE has long been a vital U.S. partner on a wide range of regional security issues. ... We intend to continue to help them improve their capabilities to defend their territory and are confident that our strong relationship will continue. The 280 military retirees identified in the records are only a partial accounting of Americans working as military contractors in the UAE. Analysts estimate that hundreds of other U.S. veterans are employed by the Emirati government or state-owned companies. Americans who served fewer than 20 years in uniform do not have to seek federal permission to take foreign jobs, and the U.S. government doesnt track how many work overseas. The UAE is a federation of seven tribal monarchies that includes the city-states of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. It has 1.1 million citizens, about the same as Rhode Island. Yet the country launched a massive military buildup a decade ago during the Arab Spring, when its royal families became alarmed by the potential for domestic unrest and tensions with Iran. Since then, the Emirati armed forces and government-owned defense firms have hired American military contractors of all stripes by offering double or triple what they earned at home. The countrys flashy, tax-free lifestyle is a major draw, with ostentatious attractions that include the worlds tallest building, an Arab branch of the Louvre, indoor ski slopes, and vending machines that dispense bars of gold. All the wealth and glitz mask the UAEs record of chronic repression. Freedom House, a pro-democracy group, ranks the absolute monarchy among the least free countries in the world. There are no elections, no political parties and no independent judiciary. Criticism of the government is banned. Trade unions and homosexuality are outlawed. In Washington, the UAE has dodged condemnation of its human rights record by binding itself to the Pentagon. Emirati armed forces have fought alongside U.S. troops in Afghanistan and against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria. The UAE allows the Pentagon to station 5,000 personnel at al-Dhafra Air Base and to berth warships at Jebel Ali, a deep-water Persian Gulf port. Since 2012, the country has been the third-biggest purchaser of U.S. weapons, behind Saudi Arabia and Australia, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, which tracks global arms sales. UAE officials said their overall partnership with the United States has greatly benefited both countries in trade and security. Over the last 50 years, no country has played as important a role in the UAEs progress and security as the United States, Yousef Al Otaiba, the UAEs ambassador to the United States, said in an email. We have tapped into US expertise in virtually every area to build know how, to develop our economy and to advance and protect our society. Emirati and U.S. officials, however, have obscured the extent of the UAEs dependence on American military contractors. The Post had to file two Freedom of Information Act lawsuits to compel the U.S. military and the State Department to release documents about retired troops who work for the UAE and other foreign governments. Agencies redacted the names of personnel except for retired generals and admirals, saying that disclosure of their identities could lead to embarrassment and harassment. In September, a federal judge ruled that the agencies justification for withholding the names was weak and unconvincing, and ordered the military and State Department to release more information. The Justice Department said it is considering whether to appeal. - - - The documents reveal that the UAE has hired Americans to help manage almost every part of its military machine. They serve as strategic consultants, aircraft mechanics, instructor pilots, drone operators, missile defense experts, artillery trainers, radar specialists, cybersecurity advisers, logistics planners and maintenance supervisors. Most are U.S. Air Force and Army veterans. About one-third are retired officers. Most of the Americans secured jobs with a network of defense contractors controlled by the UAE government. The largest firms are subsidiaries of Edge Group, a state-owned defense conglomerate that reports $5 billion in annual revenue. The UAE keeps much information about its armed forces confidential, but analysts estimate that the UAE spends $22 billion a year on defense, about the same as Turkey. According to the CIA, the Emirati armed forces have 65,000 troops on active duty, similar to Canada and Australia. The Arab monarchy relies heavily on foreigners to staff its armed forces, just as it does to power the entire economy immigrant workers outnumber Emirati citizens by 9 to 1. Andreas Krieg, a professor of security studies at Kings College London, estimated that foreigners make up 40 percent of the UAEs uniformed personnel. Besides hiring Americans as civilian contractors, the Emirati military fills its uniformed ranks with thousands of mercenaries from other countries. Many come from Pakistan, Oman and Yemen, while others are recruited from as far afield as East Africa and South America. A former Australian major general commands the UAE Presidential Guard, leading 12,000 elite troops. The UAEs outsourcing of military work to Americans ramped up in 2010 when the country retained Erik Prince, the founder of Blackwater Worldwide, a prominent U.S. private security firm that gained notoriety in 2007 when its guards killed 14 unarmed Iraqi civilians in Baghdad. Prince, a former Navy SEAL, served in the U.S. military for four years before he started Blackwater and created a 7,000-acre training facility in North Carolina. Four U.S. employees of Blackwater Worldwide were convicted in the 2007 killings and sentenced to long federal prison terms. President Donald Trump pardoned the men in December 2020. Blackwater has changed ownership and the name of the company multiple times since 2009. Working on behalf of the Emiratis, Prince helped recruit hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia, South Africa and other countries to form a commando force that trained at a camp near Abu Dhabi. Plans for the commando unit flopped and Prince fell out with UAE leaders, but the country continued to look outside its borders for combat experience and military expertise. The New York Times first reported details of Princes role with the UAEs mercenary force in 2011. About the same time, the UAE armed forces welcomed another American into its ranks. Stephen Toumajan, a retired lieutenant colonel who served 20 years in the U.S. Army, became the commander of a UAE special operations aviation unit called Group 18. He later took charge of the UAEs Joint Aviation Command. Federal regulations prohibit retired military personnel as well as reservists from swearing allegiance to other governments or taking uniformed jobs in foreign armies. Those who violate the rule can face financial penalties. Toumajan has given conflicting explanations about whether he is a uniformed officer in the UAE military. He and the UAE government list his title and rank on official websites as His Excellency Major General Staff Pilot Stephen A. Toumajan PhD. Hes also depicted in photos wearing a flight suit adorned with an Emirati flag. Yet in 2018 he told BuzzFeed News that he was working as a civilian contractor and had not sworn allegiance to the UAE. U.S. Army officials investigated Toumajans affiliation with the UAE after he submitted a foreign-employment request to the Pentagon in 2014. Cynthia Smith, an Army spokeswoman, said in an email that officials determined Toumajan had violated the law by accepting a foreign title and by wearing the military rank of the UAE Armed Forces. But the Army did not dock Toumajans pension or otherwise penalize him because it was unable to prove that he had received any compensation from the UAE government, Smith added. She declined to elaborate or explain the apparent discrepancy in the Armys findings. Toumajan did not respond to requests for an interview. Today, he serves as general manager of the UAE National Search and Rescue Center and publicly touts his close relationship with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the president of the UAE and a fellow military pilot. During a May conference for entrepreneurs in Dubai, Toumajan paced the stage in his tan flight suit as he gave a motivational speech and lauded the UAEs rulers as the greatest leaders in the world. He described how Sheikh Mohamed once made a point of holding hands with him while walking in public, a sign of respect and affection in the Arab world. President George W. Bush famously held hands with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah and kissed him on the cheeks during a 2005 visit to Bushs ranch in Crawford, Texas. He said, Come with me, Steve, and Im holding hands with Sheikh Mohamed, Toumajan said, according to a video of his talk. That was pretty incredible. - - - The most prominent American cheerleader of the Emirati armed forces is former defense secretary Jim Mattis, who refers to the UAE as Little Sparta because of its prowess in warfare. The retired four-star Marine general commanded all U.S. troops in the Middle East before he ran the Pentagon during the Trump administration. In a video testimonial posted in January to mark the UAEs 50th birthday, Mattis fondly recalled first visiting the country as a junior Marine officer in 1979. He also reminisced about building a trusting relationship over many years with Sheikh Mohamed and praised the countrys troops as equal brothers in arms who knew how to fight. What Mattis did not mention is that he previously worked for the UAE government. In June 2015, two years after he retired from the Marine Corps, Mattis applied for federal authorization to accept civil employment with the UAE as a military advisor. The Marines and State Department approved his request in August 2015, according to the records obtained by The Post, though the agencies withheld other documents that specified his exact duties and expected compensation. The Marine Corps failed to produce Mattiss 2015 application. But the State Department released a document showing that it had granted final approval to his request. It is unclear how long Mattis held the role. He returned to U.S. government service as President Donald Trumps defense secretary in January 2017. Mattis declined an interview request. Robert Tyrer, co-president of Cohen Group, a Washington consulting firm where Mattis works as a senior counselor, said in an email that Mattis advised the Emiratis on the operational, tactical, informational and ethical aspects of military operations. According to Tyrer, Mattis did not request or accept payment from the UAE government other than reimbursement for travel expenses. Consistent with his belief in the importance of ethical conduct, he sought approval for his uncompensated activity through a process which would ensure the most robust review from the proper officials in the U.S. government, Tyrer said. He added that Mattis also did not receive payment for taping the UAE birthday video. General Mattis has great respect for the UAE, a nation which has stood by the U.S. in numerous conflict and relief operations, Tyrer said. Mattis served two years as Trumps defense secretary. In March 2019, two months after leaving the Pentagon, he once again applied for approval to accept employment from the Emirati government, this time as a featured speaker at a conference on U.S.-UAE relations hosted by Sheikh Mohamed. In his application, Mattis said the UAE would pay him an honorarium and cover his travel expenses. The Marine Corps redacted details of the financial arrangements, saying that disclosing them would violate Mattiss personal privacy. According to Tyrer, however, Mattis accepted payment only to cover his travel costs. The conference was held in May 2019 at Al Bateen Palace, a royal residence in Abu Dhabi. In his remarks, Mattis said he turned down 99 percent of his invitations for speaking engagements but made an exception for the UAE and Sheikh Mohamed because of their close relationship with the United States. It is broad enough, it is deep enough and its strong enough to withstand any temporary challenges of any sort, because the underpinnings are just that strong, Mattis said, according to a videotaped portion of his speech posted online by the UAE Embassy in Washington. Whenever the going gets tough, we have found our militaries working alongside each other. In a best-selling memoir published four months after his Abu Dhabi speech, Mattis again extolled Sheikh Mohamed and downplayed concerns about human rights in the UAE and other countries in the region. I constantly had to argue with those in government who wanted human rights to be the singular criterion of our foreign policy, Mattis wrote, referring to his tenure as a four-star general during the Obama administration. The Arab monarchies and strongman leaders were not reforming at the pace our human rights idealists insisted upon. But those nations that had stood behind us after 9/11 had records far better than those of hostile, oppressive regimes like Iran and Syria. Mattis isnt the only Marine general who went to work for the UAE shortly after leaving government service, according to the documents obtained by The Post. Charles F. Bolden Jr., a retired Marine major general and astronaut, served as NASA administrator during the Obama administration. In June 2016, he traveled to Abu Dhabi to sign a cooperation agreement between NASA and the UAE Space Agency. He also delivered a lecture about NASAs mission to Mars to an audience of dignitaries, including Sheikh Mohamed. Nine months after Boldens term as NASAs leader ended, he applied for federal approval to work as an adviser to the UAE Space Agency, documents show. In his application, he said the agency would pay him to attend two advisory board meetings a year. The Marine Corps and the State Department approved the request but redacted financial details from the documents, citing his right to privacy. During his career as a Marine and an astronaut, Bolden flew on four space shuttle missions and spent over 680 hours in space. In an interview, Bolden said that the eight-member space advisory board has not met since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and that he last traveled to the UAE for a board meeting in 2019. He declined to say how much the Emiratis have paid him. Some people would say they were generous, others would say not even close, he said. Thats not the reason I joined. He noted that the UAE has an active and ambitious space program. The country launched an unmanned interplanetary spacecraft that began orbiting Mars in 2021. - - - While the Pentagon kept foreign pay packages for generals and admirals a secret, it disclosed salaries for lower-ranking officers and enlisted personnel. Those documents show that the Emiratis pay well. A retired senior chief petty officer from Navy SEAL Team 6 received a $348,000 salary, plus $54,400 for housing and travel, to work in the UAE as a firing range trainer. A retired U.S. Army colonel accepted a $324,000-a-year job as an adviser for the Emirati army. Retired American personnel who move to the UAE often receive five-figure housing and transportation allowances, while continuing to collect their U.S. military pensions, records show. Those with specialized skills or advanced degrees earn the most. Sean Connors, a retired Navy commander, received federal permission in 2019 to take a $600,000-a-year job as a vice president with Nawah Energy Company, a state-owned firm that constructed the first civilian nuclear power plant in the Arab world. The Navy redacted Connorss name, but other details in the application match public information about his work history in the nuclear industry. He confirmed his employment in the UAE but otherwise declined to comment. When Sheikh Mohamed founded a National Defense College to educate UAE officers a decade ago, the school went on a hiring binge and began recruiting military academics from the United States. Thomas Drohan, a professor at the U.S. Air Force Academy, was lured to the country with a $240,000 salary and a $49,000 housing allowance, documents show. Daniel Baltrusaitis, a retired Air Force colonel, moved to Abu Dhabi to become dean of the college, with a $338,000 salary and $53,200 in housing perks. Air Force officials redacted their names, but The Post identified them through LinkedIn profiles and other online biographies. Neither responded to requests for comment. Former enlisted personnel working in the UAE can also make excellent money, with mechanics, welders and painters earning $100,000 or more annually, records show. The Emiratis depend on Americans to teach them how to use an extensive arsenal of U.S.-built weaponry, including F-16 fighter jets, Predator drones, Patriot missile batteries and THAAD missile interceptors. American mechanics also take care of the specialized equipment while embedding with UAE military units. American military expertise may not come cheap, but the contracting arrangements are still a bargain for the UAE, according to Krieg, the Kings College professor. The UAE can hire people for as little as 90 days, or a few years, then have no responsibility for them, he said, while American taxpayers continue to bear the expense of their pensions and health benefits. Krieg noted that the U.S. government spends huge sums to train and educate its military personnel during their long careers in uniform, and now youre exporting it for free to a foreign government. They just get the finished product. - - - One of the foremost recruiters of U.S. talent is Knowledge Point Educational Consultant LLC, an Abu Dhabi-based company. In 2010, Knowledge Point established a subsidiary with an office in Alexandria, Va., and advertised scores of open jobs with the UAE military as senior strategic advisers and planners. The positions were tailored for recently retired U.S. Army generals and colonels, many of whom were looking for work after serving in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Several retired U.S. generals signed fixed-term contracts with Knowledge Point to move to the UAE and work as military consultants, The Post found. James Chambers, a retired two-star Army general who formerly oversaw U.S. military logistics in the Middle East, led a team that advised the UAEs Joint Logistics Command from 2018 to 2020, documents show. William G. Webster Jr., a retired three-star Army general, spent one year in Abu Dhabi as a Knowledge Point senior manager working on a capabilities development review for the UAE military. Chambers declined to comment, and Webster did not respond to messages. Others have stayed for longer. John MacDonald, a retired two-star Army general who served in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, has been working in Abu Dhabi since February 2018 as a senior adviser to the UAE army, documents show. U.S. Army officials redacted salary information for MacDonald and other generals. He declined an interview request about his work with the Emirati military. Not interested, he wrote in an email. I dont like how you twist words, what you misrepresent nor the paper (and leadership) you work for. Knowledge Point provides consulting services for numerous industries and has about 2,000 employees. Its chief operating officer is John J. Prendergast III, a rear admiral who retired from the Navy in 2009 after a 30-year military career. He has worked for Knowledge Point in Abu Dhabi since 2017, according to his LinkedIn profile. The Navy said it had no record of Prendergast applying for authorization to work for Knowledge Point or the UAE government. He did not respond to requests for comment. Another Emirati defense contractor that employs droves of Americans is Global Aerospace Logistics. Since 2015, records show, the state-owned company has hired more than 100 retired U.S. military personnel, mostly Air Force and Army veterans with aviation backgrounds. Some American veterans who work for the Emiratis do so as consultants based in the United States. In 2017, the UAE government retained Fairfax National Security Solutions LLC, a small firm in Arlington, Va., to provide consulting services. William Mooney, a retired Army colonel who served as Fairfaxs senior vice president, reported that he earned a $480,000 annual salary with the firm and did consulting work for both the UAE and Saudi governments, documents show. He did not respond to requests for comment. In 2019, Todd Harmer, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel, received federal authorization to work as a D.C.-based lobbyist for the UAE government. Documents show that he lobbied Congress to approve major arms sales to the UAE and that he received a $180,000 annual base salary from his employer, American Defense International. In an email, Harmer said his work was in full compliance with U.S. laws and regulations, but declined to comment further. - - - With their military capabilities boosted by American contractors and weapons, UAE leaders have become more aggressive about intervening in conflicts far from home often with little regard for human rights. After sending thousands of troops to Yemen in 2015, the UAE ran a secret network of prisons where Yemeni men were beaten, flogged and sexually assaulted while detained in shipping containers, according to human rights groups. The Associated Press reported that some prisoners were shackled to a grill and slowly roasted alive over open flames. In a 2017 statement to the AP, the UAEs government denied the allegations, saying: There are no secret detention centers and no torture of prisoners. Human Rights Watch also reported on the alleged abuses, as did Amnesty International and other groups. In Libya, the UAE military sent its forces to aid Khalifa Hifter, a rebel commander trying to seize control of the country. In 2020, the Defense Department inspector general reported that the UAE government was helping to finance the Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary army close to the Kremlin that has been accused of atrocities in Libya and elsewhere in Africa. The Wagner Group has also sent forces to fight on behalf of Russia in Ukraine and Syria. The UAE is a longtime friend of Saudi Arabia and has spied on dissidents on behalf of Riyadh. Emirati security services gathered intelligence about Jamal Khashoggi, the Washington Post contributing columnist who was assassinated by a Saudi hit squad in October 2018 for his criticisms of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In July, UAE officials arrested a onetime lawyer for Khashoggi as he was catching a connecting flight in the Dubai airport. Asim Ghafoor, a U.S. citizen who lives in Virginia and represents Arab dissidents, was detained on charges of money laundering and tax evasion. The arrest occurred while President Biden was visiting the Middle East to meet with Arab leaders, including Prince Mohammed. Ghafoor was released a month later after protests by human rights groups and U.S. lawmakers. Vittori, the Georgetown professor, said that by arresting Khashoggis lawyer, UAE officials sent an unmistakable message to Biden and members of Congress that the country would continue to crack down on political dissent. You couldnt be more transparent in thumbing your nose at the United States, she said. UAE officials said they investigated Ghafoor at Washingtons request, but U.S. officials denied asking for his arrest. The UAE has developed advanced surveillance and cyber capabilities to target dissidents, work aided by the hiring of former American and Israeli hackers and spies. In September 2021, three former employees of the National Security Agency admitted to violating U.S. computer-fraud and export-control laws by working on behalf of DarkMatter, an Emirati cyberintelligence firm that hacked computer servers in the United States and spied on enemies of the UAE government in other countries. The former NSA cyber operatives agreed to pay $1.68 million in fines as part of a deferred-prosecution deal. U.S. officials have become alarmed by the number of former intelligence officers who have taken jobs with foreign governments. Last year, the CIAs counterintelligence chief sent an unusual letter to retired spies, warning them not to sell their skills to foreign powers. Yet retired U.S. troops with backgrounds in intelligence and cyberwarfare have faced no such restrictions. Among those who have taken jobs in the UAE are two retired U.S. Army colonels, according to their LinkedIn profiles. Dennis McFarland, a former senior intelligence official at the Pentagon, took a job with Knowledge Point as a lead adviser to the UAE government on cyber and intelligence matters in 2017. That same year, Knowledge Point also hired Mark Benedict, a former senior National Security Agency official, to work as a cyberwarfare consultant for the UAE armed forces. Both declined to comment. In June 2018, Army Brig. Gen. Joseph W. Rank sought federal permission to accept a tempting opportunity: to work as a paid consultant for the defense minister of Qatar, a wealthy Persian Gulf nation trying to upgrade its armed forces. At the time, Rank was two months away from retirement in his military job as the acting deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, which meant that he oversaw U.S. defense policy toward Qatar while he negotiated personal employment with the country. Rank was seeking to work for Qatar via a small consulting firm, Global Alliance Advisors, owned by six former senior Pentagon officials, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post under the Freedom of Information Act. Ranks proposed salary was redacted from the documents. Records submitted by other members of Global Alliance Advisors show the firm was seeking to negotiate an unusually lucrative consulting deal with Qatar worth $23.6 million over three years, although that proposal later fell through. The Army gave preliminary approval to Ranks request in August 2018, three weeks after he ended his assignment at the Pentagon, the documents show. Rank noted in his federal application that he worked on matters involving Qatar while at the Pentagon. In the end, Rank took a different job and never consulted for the Qataris. But the case illustrates how easy and legal it can be for senior U.S. military officers to arrange employment with foreign governments, even while theyre still on active duty. Under federal ethics rules, military personnel who manage weapons programs or major defense contracts must observe a cooling off period of one or two years before they can accept jobs from companies they did business with while in uniform. The regulations, which also apply to other federal officials who interact with government contractors, are intended to prevent conflicts of interest and self-dealing. In some cases, officials face a lifetime ban from taking such jobs. But the conflict-of-interest rules do not apply in the same way to retired U.S. troops who want to work for a foreign government. While they must obtain federal approval for the job, they are allowed to negotiate foreign employment before they retire, whenever they want, even with countries where they have been stationed for the U.S. military. When Rank asked for U.S. approval to work for Qatar, he was wrapping up a 31-year military career during which he specialized in the Arab world. He had spent the previous 14 months in charge of the Pentagons policy shop for the Middle East, following four postings as a defense attache in the region and an assignment as the Joint Staffs director for the Persian Gulf. In response to questions, Rank, 57, acknowledged by email that he had had discussions with potential employers before his retirement from the Army and said he followed U.S. requirements. He declined to comment further. Besides Rank, documents show that several other U.S. military officers sought employment with the government of Qatar after working closely with the country while on active duty. For example, Air Force Lt. Col. Dave Haworth headed the office of military cooperation at the U.S. Embassy in Doha until shortly before his retirement in June 2018. Six months later, he applied for federal authorization to work as a $200-an-hour consultant for the Qatari armed forces, advising them on their purchases of U.S. weaponry. The Air Force and State Department approved Haworths request in April 2019, documents show. He has been working as a military consultant in Qatar since then. U.S. officials redacted Haworths name from the documents, but he confirmed his work for Qatar to The Post. Haworth declined to comment on details of his work for Qatar. But he said the country was a natural place to look for a job once he retired from the Air Force. What better place to find opportunities than your last duty assignment? he said in a phone interview. Located on a peninsula that juts into the Persian Gulf, Qatar is slightly smaller than Connecticut. But the Arab country has outsize strategic importance. It hosts the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East al-Udeid Air Base, with about 10,000 U.S. troops and sits on the worlds third-biggest reserves of natural gas. Like other gulf monarchies, Qatar has faced criticism from human rights groups, primarily allegations that it has tolerated abusive working conditions for migrant laborers. Freedom of speech is limited, though the emir of Qatar permitted the country to hold limited legislative elections last year for the first time. Another retired Air Force officer, Lt. Col. Steve Bergey, applied for federal permission in 2017 to work as a military consultant for the Qatari Embassy in Washington, records show. Bergey had been stationed in Qatar for five years as a military attache at the U.S. Embassy and as an officer at al-Udeid Air Base before retiring from the Air Force in 2014. In his application, Bergey noted that Qatar had signed more than $25 billion worth of U.S. weapons contracts over the preceding three years. He said the Qatari defense attache had asked for my assistance in helping his office manage the production and delivery schedules of these contracts. For his advice, he would be paid at a rate of $1,000 a day. U.S. officials redacted Bergeys name from the documents, but his duty assignments and other details matched his LinkedIn profile. There is absolutely no reason why employment by the State of Qatar would be inadvisable at this time, Bergey wrote on his application. On the contrary, this will only reflect favorably on the United States. The Air Force and State Department approved Bergeys request in April 2018. He declined to comment. A captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve received a similar job offer in 2016 to work as a military adviser for the Qatari Embassy in Washington at a rate of $6,000 a month, documents show. The captain had previously served in Qatar as a liaison officer at the U.S. Embassy in Doha. The Navy and State Department approved the officers request in 2017, though they redacted his name, citing his privacy. The Navy captain said he would work part time for Qatari officials and identify key points of contact for them in Congress, among other duties. Qatar has spent heavily to boost its military and improve relations with the United States since 2017, when Saudi Arabia and three other Arab countries imposed a trade embargo and travel blockade on Qatar because of its ties to Iran, alleged support for Islamist extremist groups, and other grievances. In response, Qatari leaders recruited retired U.S. military officers and diplomats to help them lobby the Trump administration in hopes of pressuring the Saudis and other countries to end the blockade. To further enhance its relations with the United States, Qatar announced a $12 billion arms deal with Washington in June 2017 to purchase F-15 fighter jets. Among those whom Qatar enlisted for help in Washington was retired Marine Gen. John R. Allen, the former deputy commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East. According to an FBI affidavit filed in federal court in April, federal agents are investigating whether Allen lobbied the Trump White House on Qatars behalf in 2017 without registering with the Justice Department as a foreign agent, and later lied to U.S. authorities about his ties to the Qataris. Allen has denied wrongdoing. A spokesman for the retired general said Allen has voluntarily cooperated with the investigation and received no fees from Qatar. One year after Saudi Arabia and the other countries imposed the blockade and severed diplomatic relations with Qatar, Qatars Defense Ministry considered the proposed $23.6 million consulting contract with Global Alliance Advisors LLC, the firm led by several former senior Pentagon officials. The co-owners of Global Alliance Advisors include William Fox Fallon, 77, a retired four-star admiral and former commander of all U.S. troops in the Middle East; John Fozzie Miller, 65, a retired vice admiral and former commander of U.S. naval forces in the region; and Jeffrey Kohler, 71, a retired three-star Air Force general. The firms principals also include two 75-year-old retired Navy captains: Charles Tom Burbage, a former executive vice president with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, and Richard Kirkland, another former Lockheed Martin vice president. U.S. officials redacted the identities for Burbage and Kirkland from the documents, but other details match their online biographies. All five retired officers with Global Alliance Advisors applied for federal authorization to consult for the government of Qatar in March 2018. Three months later, they were joined by Rank, the one-star Army general. In his application, Rank sought permission to advise the Qatari defense minister while working for Global Alliance Advisors as its vice president for operations. The Pentagon and State Department approved the requests in August 2018 but redacted other details from the documents. Fallon and Kohler declined to comment. Miller, Burbage and Kirkland did not respond to messages. The proposed $23.6 million deal between Qatar and Global Alliance Advisors never materialized, according to Mary Beth Long, another co-founder of the firm, who served as an assistant secretary of defense during the George W. Bush administration. Long initially agreed to a phone interview to discuss the companys work with Qatar. But she ended the interview after being asked about Ranks affiliation with the firm and other questions, saying she would respond further only in writing. Jennifer Huber, an attorney representing Long, said in a letter that the government of Qatar decided not to award the proposed $23.6 million consulting contract to Global Alliance Advisors. She called the offer premature. Huber said the firm later carried out a year-long, $600,000 consulting project for Qatars Defense Ministry that was in full compliance with U.S. laws and regulations. The Qatari Embassy in Washington did not respond to emails seeking comment. Huber said that Rank had discussed a potential business relationship with Global Alliance Advisors, but that it never came to fruition. In the end, Rank took a different job shortly after he retired from the Army: as defense contractor Lockheed Martins chief executive for Saudi Arabia, another gulf country that had been in his policy portfolio when he worked at the Pentagon. Rank was not obliged to observe a cooling-off period with Lockheed Martin because he didnt oversee contracts with the firm while he was on active duty. Retired U.S. generals have also found their services in high demand in another gulf country: Kuwait. David San Clemente, a retired two-star Air Force general, applied in April 2020 for federal permission to work as a strategic adviser for the government of Kuwait, documents show. San Clemente was a familiar face in Kuwait. From 2016 to 2018, while he was on active duty, he headed the office of military cooperation at the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait City. U.S. officials approved San Clementes request to take the job in July 2020. He did not respond to messages seeking comment. San Clemente negotiated his contract with Kuwait through his advisory firm, S10 Consulting LLC. He did not disclose his pay to the Army. A year earlier, four retired Army generals Michael Barbero, William Hix, Peter Jones and Randall McIntire also applied for and received federal approval to work as strategic advisers for the Kuwaiti Defense Ministry, documents show. The Army redacted their compensation details from the documents. None responded to requests for comment. Officials with the Kuwaiti Embassy in Washington also did not respond to a request for comment. "Hunter Biden's committed serious crimes, as you mentioned, 150 suspicious activity reports. Those are the most severe bank violations. This is when the bank notifies the federal government that we're pretty confident our client has committed a crime. He's had multiple banks file 150 suspicious activity reports, saying that we believe each instance was another act of a crime. But yet the FBI did nothing about it." Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., in an interview with Maria Bartiromo of Fox News, Oct. 16 ___ If the Republicans win the House in the November elections, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., is on track to be chair of the House Oversight Committee. In a Fox News interview, Comer signaled that the business dealings of President Biden's son Hunter and brother James with such countries as China, Russia and Ukraine will be the subject of intense scrutiny in a GOP-led Congress. "It's clear the FBI needs to be held accountable. Congress must begin considering meaningful reforms," Comer tweeted with a clip of his interview. "For too long, the Biden family has peddled access to the highest levels of government and the FBI has been slow to act." As part of the government's effort to combat money laundering and terrorist activity, financial institutions are required to file suspicious activity reports, or SARs, to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), an arm of the Treasury Department. A SAR is supposed to be triggered by a minimum amount of a transfer (generally at least $5,000, or $2,000 for money services businesses) and a suspicion the transfer involved funds derived from an illegal activity. The Treasury also requires all cash transfers that exceed $10,000 to be separately reported. A SAR can also result from cash transfers that appear structured to avoid triggering such a report, such as repeated payments to the same person or entity of $9,500. After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, banks significantly stepped up SARs reporting after it was learned that the terrorists had funded their attacks using the U.S. financial system but that no SARs were filed on their transactions. The Patriot Act, passed after the attacks, had added new reporting requirements. As a result, FinCEN expects to receive nearly 3.7 million SARs in fiscal 2023, according to a Treasury report submitted to Congress. Under Comer's logic, that would suggest banks will report 3.7 million crimes. But that's not correct. "A financial institution only had to say 'something doesn't look right about this' using the FinCEN guidance," said James E. Johnson, Treasury undersecretary for enforcement in the late 1990s who oversaw FinCEN. "That is well short of, 'I think a crime has been committed.' " Another former Treasury official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the political nature of Comer's comments, described SARs reports as merely "a tip." He noted that the threshold for filing a SAR is not especially high and that many banks file the reports just to be on the safe side. "There is an incentive that, when in doubt, to file a report," he said. The Bank Policy Institute (BPI), an advocacy group for large banks, says banks receive computer-generated alerts about possibly suspicious transactions and then a compliance officer decides whether to file a SAR. "Since banks are subject to enforcement action if they fail to file a SAR when they should have, but suffer no sanction if they file a useless SAR, the general presumption is to file the SAR," the group says. A filing of a SAR by itself does not necessarily trigger an investigation. Each SAR is deposited in a massive database that law enforcement agents may access later when investigating a person or an entity, providing further leads for inquiry. For instance, a New York bank had filed a SAR after New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D), in 2007, allegedly wired more than $10,000 from a Manhattan bank account but sought to break up the payment in an apparent effort to avoid triggering a currency transaction report. But that report was unnoticed until another bank later filed a report about two shell companies that had collected hundreds of thousands of dollars without an apparent source of revenue. That investigation eventually led Internal Revenue Service agents to discover the SAR previously filed on Spitzer, according to the New York Times. Spitzer resigned after investigators linked his wire transfers to a company that connected high-end sex workers with wealthy clients. In a 2018 report, BPI said a survey found that only about 4 percent of SARs that were filed in 2017 led to a law enforcement inquiry - an estimate that the former Treasury official said sounded accurate. "A tiny subset of these results in an arrest and ultimately a conviction," the group says. If a bank concludes a SAR reflects actual criminal behavior, as opposed to suspicion, "someone at the bank will call law enforcement directly to flag the SAR." A filing of a SAR, then, does not mean a bank believes a client has committed a crime, as Comer claimed. In fact, Comer should well know this. He has posted on the committee's minority website a Sept. 2 letter from a Treasury official that plainly states that SARs are "preliminary and unverified tip-and-lead information on possible violations of law." Jessica Collins, communications director for the minority staff of the House Oversight Committee, when asked about this, noted that "Hunter and James Biden have racked up at least 150 suspicious activity reports for their business transactions," she said. "SARs are used to identify possible illegal activity like money laundering or tax evasion. The sheer number of flagged transactions in this case is highly unusual and may be indicative of serious criminal activity or a national security threat." Comer often speaks of 150 SARs filings as an established fact. Collins said the source of the figure was a CBS report in April that said: "150 financial transactions involving either Hunter or James Biden's global business affairs were flagged as concerning by U.S. banks for further review." But that same report noted that "such banking reviews could point to deeper problems - or they could prove innocuous." In a July letter to a financial adviser to Hunter Biden, Comer suggested a text exchange found on a hard-drive copy of the laptop Hunter Biden supposedly left behind for repair in a Delaware shop in April 2019 indicated that the president's son "was aware of these SARs and took steps to avoid detection in his financial dealings." Experts working with The Washington Post have verified thousands of emails contained on the hard drive but not text messages. A lawyer for Hunter Biden declined to comment. A representative for James Biden said: "We have no information regarding SARs allegedly filed about James Biden." In the statement, Collins also said the Biden administration has sought to restrict congressional access to SARs. "Under the Biden administration, the Treasury Department has changed long-standing policy to restrict Congress's access to these reports," she said. "We need access to these reports to determine whether the Biden family's business schemes threaten national security or have compromised President Biden. Instead of defending Hunter Biden's SARs, it would be better to investigate why Biden's Treasury Department is trying to hide them." Her complaint has bipartisan support. In July, by a vote of 349-70, the House passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) that would require Treasury to provide SARs to a congressional committee or subcommittee within 30 days. Waters said in a report that the action was needed because Treasury had imposed requirements that hampered congressional investigations, such as "requiring congressional staff to review all material in a reading room at Treasury, prohibiting the copying of materials for purposes of highlighting, ongoing reference, or margin notation, and restricting information collection to note taking." Action is still pending in the Senate. Whether Treasury's new rules are related to Hunter Biden is unproven. The Trump administration also was accused of slow-rolling congressional requests for information on SARs and argued, in a legal opinion, for limiting congressional access. The Trump Treasury Department, however, provided SARs related to Hunter Biden to Republican Senate probers, who relied on the raw data to make allegations about his business practices. Treasury spokesman Mike Gwin rejected Collins's statement. "Treasury provides SARs to Congress in a manner that enables robust oversight and that is consistent with how other sensitive law enforcement information is often produced," he said. "It is not a political process. Since the beginning of this administration, Treasury has made SARs available in response to authorized committee requests and continues to engage on the process with any individual members seeking information." (Tribune News Service) Funeral services for Cpl. Joseph J. Puopolo will be held at Sacred Heart Church in East Boston before he is laid to rest on Saturday. Friends and relatives are invited to attend the 10 a.m. funeral mass, according to Magrath Funeral Home obituary read. Puopolo will then be reinterred with full military honors at Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden that same day. Uncle to 15 nieces and nephews, grand-uncle to 30 nieces and nephews, and great-grand-uncle to 38 nieces and nephews, Puopolo is survived by his 99-year-old sister Elizabeth Fiorentini. Her grandson, Richard Graham, told CBS News Boston about Puopolos kindness and called him a war hero. He fought against North Korea and Chinese forces, he said. These guys fought until the last bullet. They didnt just surrender. They ran out of ammo. They were cut off from the lines and they had no possible way of defending themselves once their guns were gone. The obituary noted that in place of flowers, the family requested that any donations in Puopolos memory be made to the Wounded Warrior Project . Anyone can offer condolences and share their memories of Puopolo by using Legacy.com s guest book. One tree has so far been planted in Puopolos memory by Joe Spano and Lisa DeMauro, according to his tribute page on Magraths website. Puopolo went missing in action fighting in the Korean War on Dec. 2, 1950. Three years later, four prisoners of war notified U.S. authorities that Puopolo died at Prisoner of War Camp No. 5 in February 1951 at age 19. Long after his unidentified remains returned to U.S. custody and were first interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Puopolo was finally accounted for by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency on Aug. 23. 2022 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit masslive.com . Democratic Senator Mark Warner said he is concerned about Elon Musk's reliance on China amid the Tesla chief executive's recent statements about Taiwan and his potential purchase of Twitter. "I don't think there is another American more dependent upon the largess of the Communist Party than Elon Musk," Warner, the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in an interview in New York. Musk told the Financial Times that Taiwan should agree to become a special administrative zone of China in order to resolve tensions with Beijing. Taiwan is governed independently, but China considers the island part of its territory. Musk also said Beijing has sought assurances that he won't offer SpaceX's Starlink internet service in China. Warner, of Virginia, said he is concerned that if Musk's $44 billion bid to buy Twitter goes through he will face additional pressure from China to moderate tweets critical of Chinese President Xi Jinping or the Communist Party. "That to me is much more troubling, or potentially troubling, than whether Donald Trump's on Twitter," he said, referring to Musk's criticism of Twitter's ban of the former president. Sales in China accounted for roughly a quarter of Tesla's automotive revenue in the third quarter. The company operates a massive factory outside of Shanghai, and Musk has publicly praised China's government and the hard-working ethos of his Chinese work force on multiple occasions. Warner also said Musk's recent statements about Ukraine, given his control of the Starlink satellite internet service used there, raise concerns. He said Musk deserves credit for initially providing Starlink to Ukraine, but worried about Musk controlling when and where Starlink operates. "It's obviously a concern," he said. Musk has tweeted about his fears that any drive by Ukraine to repel Russia from Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, might result in Russia using nuclear weapons. He threatened to cut financial support for Starlink service in Ukraine, a move that would deny the country a key means of communication, only to reverse course, saying he supports doing "good deeds" and that the company will keep funding the satellites "for free." Warner said global pressure appeared to cause Musk to reverse himself. "Is that going to last?" Warner asked. "This is a critical component" of Ukraine's communication system, he said. He said he hopes to see competitors to Starlink "shortly." On Tuesday, Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said questions about Starlink business strategy should go to the company, but added "the Department of Defense does continue to discuss various matters with SpaceX and to include Starlink." Warner said he's been more broadly frustrated with multinational companies who have turned a "blind eye" to oppression in China given the importance of the Chinese market, including "hypocrisy" among some in the environmental community to not look at the whole supply chain for products like cars. He is pushing for an array of efforts to counter China's efforts to dominate key technologies of the future and extract U.S. businesses from reliance on Chinese supply chains as part of a "quasi industrial policy." WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service) A military veteran who stormed the U.S. Capitol with the Oath Keepers testified that members of the far-right militia group were set on stopping the certification of the 2020 election on Jan. 6, 2021, with violence, if necessary. It seemed to me that a lot of us were prepared, I was prepared, to stop the certification process one way or the other, said Jason Dolan, who participated in Oath Keeper chats leading up to the attack on the Capitol. Dolan testified for the prosecution in the seditious conspiracy trial of Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and four others. Dolan had agreed to cooperate with the government and had pleaded guilty to conspiracy and obstruction of an official proceeding. He could face five to seven years in prison. Dolan is the first to take the stand of six Oath Keepers who pleaded guilty, three of them to seditious conspiracy. Rhodes had previously sought to subpoena their communications to try to prove they were pressured into pleading guilty. Rhodes and the other defendants have denied taking part in a conspiracy to stop the transfer of presidential power, claiming that they traveled to Washington to provide security and in preparation for former President Donald Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act, which they believed would give them the authority to act as a militia. Dolan, who was part of the Florida Oath Keepers, testified on Tuesday that his understanding was that if Trump invoked the Insurrection Act, two different factions of the government, including military and law enforcement, would face off. We would be fighting with pro-Trump forces against pro-Biden forces, he said. He said he considered Congress to be part of the pro-Biden faction, since its members were certifying the election. The former Marine recalled for the jury what led him to taking part in the attack on the Capitol. He said he spent each evening in 2020 in a garage with a six pack of beer, or half a bottle of vodka, trying to kill the pain from a bad hip surgery. He spent his time scrolling through news articles on his phone and became convinced that Bidens election win was a fraud. A friend recommended he join the Oath Keepers, he said. It felt good to know there were other people out there that felt the same as I did, Dolan told the jury. He said he became frustrated when he saw all legal avenues closing to overturn what he viewed as a stolen election. It felt like my government was being taken away, he said. So, he and other Oath Keepers went to Washington from Florida, set to take part in the Jan. 6 rally. He said they stashed their guns in a hotel in Virginia. Dolan said that when he entered the Capitol he chanted treason along with the crowd. He said he wanted the lawmakers to be afraid enough to decertify the election. I wanted them to feel the anger, the frustration, the rage I felt, he told the jury. Now, he said he views some of his decisions as downright stupid. I look at myself and I sit there and wonder how I got there from point A to point C, he said. During cross-examination Wednesday, Phillip Linder, Rhodes defense attorney, implied that Dolan pleaded guilty to get a shorter sentence. Dolan responded that he wasnt trying to make up stories. He agreed it was possible to get a lighter sentence for cooperating with the government, but that a judge would make the ultimate decision. Linder also delved into Dolans mental state when he joined the Oath Keepers in 2020, asking whether he suffered from substance abuse issues and depression. Dolan said he hadnt been diagnosed with depression, but struggled with alcohol problems. In response to other questions from Linder, Dolan agreed that his group was supposed to provide security to individuals in Washington during the Jan. 6 rally, that they would bring weapons into Washington if Trump invoked the Insurrection Act and that there was no plan to go inside the Capitol. Dolan explained that he ascended the steps of the Capitol when he saw the crowd move forward. 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Benjamin Civiletti, who as attorney general advised President Jimmy Carter while the White House struggled over the hostage-taking of 52 Americans after the seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979, died Oct. 16 at his home in Lutherville, Md. He was 87. Civiletti had health problems related to Parkinsons, said his wife, Gaile Civiletti. On the world stage, Civiletti became the Carter administrations envoy and confidant during the 444-day hostage crisis. He helped give Carter legal authority to seize more than $11 billion in Iranian assets and took the rare step of appearing in person before the International Court of Justice at The Hague to seek greater international pressure for release of the embassy captives. At home, however, Civiletti was sometimes seen as at odds with the White House. The Justice Department opened politically sensitive investigations that included alleged banking improprieties by Carters budget director, Bert Lance; questions over payments by Libya to Carters brother, Billy; and reports of cocaine-and-sex parties at New Yorks Studio 54 nightclub by Carters chief of staff, Hamilton Jordan. None of the probes led to convictions, but they further eroded Carters image and in the case of Billy Carter brought Civiletti into the political crosshairs after disclosures he privately discussed the investigation with the president. An investigation found no wrongdoing by Civiletti. He moved into the top role at the Justice Department in August 1979 after the resignation of Griffin Bell. Three months later, on Nov. 4, 1979, Iranians students and others stormed the U.S. Embassy, eventually holding 52 hostages and parading some blindfolded before the public. The Iranian mobs were angered that the deposed Western-backed ruler, or shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, was in the United States for medical treatment after fleeing Iran during the Islamic revolution that year. Irans new Islamic regime demanded the shahs return to stand trial. (The shah died in July 1980 in Cairo while the hostage crisis was ongoing.) The global outrage to the hostage-taking was swift, but the United States and its allies had little leverage over the Iranian revolutionaries led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. To underscore the U.S. desperation, Civiletti went in-person to the International Court of Justice a task normally handled by lower-level Justice Department staff or others. If I come to you in anger, I also come to you with urgency, Civiletti told the court in December 1979. What we are asking the court for is the quickest possible action to end the barbaric captivity and to save human lives, he continued. The court backed the U.S. appeal to free the captives, but Iran simply scoffed at the judgment. Across the United States, frustration sometimes turned to reprisals and protests against Iranian Americans even though many strongly opposed Irans new Islamist leadership. The ABC news show Nightline was launched to cover the hostage crisis. A cartoon in the Chicago Tribune portrayed Civiletti addressing the International Court of Justice while an Iranian mullah rips away at his trousers. Civiletti had the Justice Department race to get court orders and other legal frameworks in place to allow Carter to seize Iranian assets, including property and bank accounts. An executive order by Carter also halted Iranian oil imports. The U.S. troubles mounted. On April 24, 1980, a military mission to free the hostages, Operation Eagle Claw, unraveled after problems grounded three of eight helicopters bound for a staging area in Iran. During the pullout, one chopper collided with a C-130 transport plane, killing eight service members. The failure appeared to seal the political fate for Carter. Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, who had opposed the military mission, resigned in protest. Carter was trounced by Ronald Reagan in the 1980 election. Iran then used the moment. It freed the hostages on Jan. 20, 1981, during Reagans inauguration. Civiletti stepped down as attorney general the previous day. As assistant attorney general, Civiletti was involved in investigations of budget director Lance, who was Carters friend from Georgia facing allegations of corruption while previously heading a Georgia-based bank. Lance resigned as director of the Office of Management and Budget in 1977 before his federal indictment for alleged violating U.S. banking rules. He was acquitted in 1980. Civiletti also investigated reports of public drug-and-sex binges by Jordan, Carters chief of staff, who liked to wink and nod at his party life reputation. The president, he told The Washington Post in 1978 with a smile, has no idea how I spend my time. A special prosecutor was appointed, but no criminal case was sought against Jordan. The scandal that proved perhaps the most challenging for Civiletti involved the presidents brother, Billy, who had gained a measure of pop-culture fame as a bubba-style country boy who inspired a short-lived Billy Beer brand. The Justice Department took notice after disclosures that he visited Libya three times in 1978 and 1979 and received at least $220,000 from Libyan officials as part of talks over potential oil deals. Both Billy Carter and Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi called the payments a loan, but the presidents brother was not registered as a foreign agent to properly report such transactions. Civiletti acknowledged that he met with Jimmy Carter to inform him that his brother was under investigation, but he told a Senate committee that he did not discuss details of the case and violate conflict of interest rules. A report by a special Justice Department investigator, Joel Lisker, found no ethical breaches by Civiletti and called it a tempest in a teapot. Billy Carter registered as a foreign agent and was not prosecuted. Billy is no Watergate plumber, syndicated columnist James Kilpatrick wrote. He is a bumptious good ole boy. Benjamin Richard Civiletti was born in Peekskill, N.Y., on July 17, 1935, and raised in nearby villages where his father worked as a grocery store manager. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1957 and received a law degree in 1961 from the University of Maryland law school. Civiletti was an assistant federal prosecutor in Baltimore from 1962 to 1964 and then took a job with the Baltimore law firm of Venable, Baetjer and Howard (now Venable LLP), rising to become a partner leading civil and criminal litigation. His work gained notice by Charles H. Kirbo, an adviser to Carter when he was governor of Georgia. When Carter won the 1976 presidential election, Kirbo recommended Civiletti for a Justice Department post. Civiletti began leading cases prosecutions ranging from white-collar crime to drug trafficking, and was later promoted to deputy attorney general. In one of Civilettis first cases at Justice, he led investigations into illegal influence-peddling efforts by groups working for South Korea, including seeking to insert pro-Seoul statements in the Congressional Record. Those investigations are real man-eaters, Russell T. Baker Jr., one of Civilettis assistants, said in 1977. Its rare that a guy comes in and inherits three cases like this. After the Carter administration, Civiletti returned to his former law firm in Baltimore, where he billed clients at premium rates of up to $1,000 an hour. To some extent, its supply and demand, Civiletti told the Baltimore Sun in 2006. A good many people retire at 60 or 65. As you hang around, there are fewer of you available who have litigation experience, government experience, criminal investigation experience. He was part of a Maryland commission that recommended the state abolish capital punishment. A ban was signed by Gov. Martin OMalley (D) in 2013. In addition to his wife of 64 years, survivors include three children, Benjamin Civiletti, Andrew Civiletti and Lynne Civiletti Mallon; a sister; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. (Tribune News Service) A business analyst who was the primary source for a 2016 dossier on Donald Trump's alleged ties to Russia was acquitted of charges he lied to the FBI, in a blow to the special prosecutor probing the agency's investigation. Igor Danchenko, 44, was found not guilty Tuesday of lying about the suspected identity of a Russian source he said called him anonymously to report a "well developed conspiracy" between Trump's presidential campaign and the Kremlin a tip that was never borne out. It was the second loss in a row for Special Counsel John Durham, who was tapped under the Trump administration to probe the Federal Bureau of Investigation's inquiry and who personally prosecuted the case at trial. His first Trump-Russia trial against a former lawyer for Hillary Clinton's campaign who was also accused of lying to the FBI while providing a tip ended in acquittal as well. Durham declined to comment on the Danchenko verdict as he left court. The verdict could fuel Democratic criticism that the probe of the FBI's Russia inquiry is a politically motivated remnant of the Trump administration, and may deprive the former president of a valuable talking point as he weighs another White House run in 2024. Even with the successive acquittals, though, the Durham trials have revealed details of the FBI's probe into Trump's campaign that supporters of the former president say show corruption at the agency particularly claims that it conducted improper surveillance of Carter Page, a senior campaign adviser. Federal judges repeatedly signed off on secret warrants to intercept the emails and telephone calls of Page, a U.S. citizen. In court on Tuesday, Danchenko and his wife showed no visible reaction as the verdict was read out. Outside the courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, his lawyer Danny Onorato said his team "knew all along that Mr. Danchenko was innocent." "We are happy now the American public knows that as well," he said. The jury took more than eight hours to reach its verdict after a five-day trial. Another Danchenko attorney, Stuart A. Sears, has called the prosecution "a case of extraordinary government overreach." He has accused the U.S. of charging his client over "ambiguous" statements to FBI agents in a series of 2017 interviews that didn't have any material impact on the direction of Durham's probe. Danchenko said the tip came from an unknown caller in early July 2016. He told FBI agents he believed the caller was the former president of the Russian-American Chamber of Commerce, Sergei Millian. The government claimed Danchenko fabricated the call. The government's case took a hit when U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga threw out one of five counts after finding prosecutors hadn't presented a minimum amount of evidence to justify letting the jury decide. The count related to the prosecution claim that Danchenko lied when he said he hadn't talked about his Trump-Russia research with a Democratic political operative named Charles Dolan, who had worked on many recent Democratic presidential campaigns. The U.S. said Dolan provided information to Danchenko that wound up in the dossier. Danchenko argued he had answered the question truthfully because he'd emailed with Dolan rather than spoken directly with him. The judge agreed. The release of the Steele dossier, named for the former British spy who wrote it, caused an uproar ahead of the 2016 election, which Trump won. Some of the dossier's elements did pan out, including its finding that Russia was systematically interfering in the election and wanted Trump to beat Clinton. Danchenko was a paid confidential source for the FBI from 2017 to 2020, making more than $200,000 for his assistance in a wide range of investigations. One FBI agent testified at the trial that Steele had turned down an offer of $1 million if he could provide proof of the most explosive parts of the dossier. He declined in order to protect Danchenko's identity, the agent told the court. The case is USA v. Danchenko, 21-cr-00245, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia (Alexandria). 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. WASHINGTON The White House is urging the Senate to adjust its version of the National Defense Authorization Act to better address military support for Ukraine and other issues as the annual Pentagon policy bill winds its way through the upper chamber of Congress. Among the points of contention are a lack of new authorities to procure critical munitions for Ukraine, not enough funding for military construction projects and the temporary nature of a non-competitive hiring process for military spouses, according to a statement of administration policy released Tuesday by the White House Office of Management and Budget. The administration is seeking two new authorities, a Critical Munitions Acquisition Fund and Defense Exportability Transfer Account, to allow the Pentagon to more effectively manage defense industry production lines and anticipate supply needs. The annual $500 million revolving fund would keep weapons on continuous order for Ukraine and other countries that become embroiled in conflict. Without the additional authorities requested, the defense industrial base is likely to continue to be challenged to meet surges in demand, creating long lead-times for the delivery of critical munitions or weapon systems to allies and partners of the United States to support sustained contingency operations, the budget office wrote. The Senate is expected to vote on its draft of the NDAA after the midterm election in November. The bill would authorize more than $846 billion in defense spending for the 2023 fiscal year, about $45 billion more than the White House requested. The House approved a $839 billion defense bill in July. Senators formally began debate on their draft bill last week and will need to reconcile the differences between the Senate and House versions by the end of the year. A critical munitions acquisition fund is included in the House legislation. However, Senate appropriators rejected the fund proposal for focusing too narrowly on the procurement of small amounts of certain munitions and criticized the fund for not addressing the broader challenges of strategy investment and management of the [defense industrial base] and the supply chain. Several senators are pushing to include the critical munitions acquisition fund in the Senate NDAA while top members of the Senate Armed Services Committee are offering an alternative solution. The committees chairman, Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and its top Republican, Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, introduced an amendment last week that would give the Pentagon broad powers to procure mass amounts of highly sought-after munitions using multiyear contracts. The amendment also removes several legal barriers for weapons procurement for Ukraine through the 2024 fiscal year and allows the Defense Department to partner with NATO to buy weapons for members of the military alliance in large quantities. The White Houses budget office is also calling on the Senate to fully fund 21 military construction projects. Incremental funding as outlined in the Senates defense bill will create an unfunded obligation of more than $2 billion, according to the administration, and require Congress to address the issue in the future. White House officials are also urging senators to permanently allow government agencies to appoint certain military spouses without a traditional competitive hiring process. The Senates bill temporarily extends the noncompetitive appointment provision by five years. The administration recognizes that military spouses are the bedrock of military families, the budget office wrote in the statement. The administration urges Congress to make the authority permanent given the benefits to our nations military personnel and their families, as well as the benefit to our federal agencies employing military spouses. The White House praised some sections of the Senates bill, including provisions further reforming the military justice system and the exclusion of a proposal to create a Space National Guard. House lawmakers signed off on establishing the new component of the Space Force despite strong opposition from the administration, which said the move would increase costs by up to $500 million annually. (Tribune News Service) A woman meant to help manage a military veterans money stole more than $100,000 from him and bought a house in Louisiana, federal prosecutors say. After draining the veterans accounts of $109,217, Sloane Signal-Debose, 51, of Slidell used the money to put a down payment on her home before stealing thousands more to make home repairs, according to court documents filed in New Orleans federal court. This came after the Department of Veterans Affairs decided the veteran needed help managing his finances and bank accounts, so Signal-Debose was chosen as his fiduciary, court documents state. Now Signal-Debose has pleaded guilty to misappropriating his money, according to an Oct. 18 news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana. McClatchy News contacted Signal-Deboses attorney for comment on Oct. 19 and was awaiting a response. From March 2016 until September 2018, Signal-Debose was the veterans fiduciary and assumed control of his bank accounts, court documents show. During this time, the veteran was receiving money from the VA, some of which Signal-Debose is accused of stealing. Signal-Debose stole $109,217 from the veterans account and opened a certificate of deposit with the money in her name, prosecutors say. Then, she used the certificate of deposit to ultimately make a down payment on a home in her name, court documents state. At some point, Signal-Debose made home repairs and stole $6,598 more from the veteran to pay contractors, according to prosecutors. She is also accused of paying for unspecified personal expenses with the veterans money, court documents state. To keep the theft concealed, prosecutors say she submitted false records to the VA. Now Signal-Debose faces a potential sentence of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to the release. She is due back in court for a sentencing hearing on Feb. 15. Slidell is 35 miles northeast of New Orleans. 2022 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Before the CCTV footage was shown, Prosecutor Sean Gillane SC warned those present that some parts of it are difficult viewing." Jason Bonney, of Drumnigh Wood, Portmarnock, Dublin 13, at the Special Criminal Court, Dublin, today where his trial continues GRAPHIC CCTV footage capturing the moment David Byrne was calmly and coldly shot dead in a gangland raid at the Regency Hotel has been played to the Special Criminal Court. The dramatic video evidence shows masked attackers gunning down the father-of-two in the hotel lobby amid scenes of panic as people flee. The CCTV was played this afternoon to the three-judge, non-jury court in the trial of Gerard The Monk Hutch (59) who is charged with Mr Byrnes murder. Mr Byrne (33), a Kinahan gang member, was shot dead by gunmen disguised as gardai who stormed the hotel along with an armed man dressed as a woman in a blonde wig, and another in a flat cap. The raid took place on February 5, 2016 as a bloody feud raged between the capital's Kinahan and Hutch gangs. Mr Hutch, of The Paddocks, Clontarf, Dublin denies murdering the father-of-two. Co-accused Paul Murphy (59) of Cherry Avenue, Swords and Jason Bonney (50) of Drumnigh Wood, Portmarnock, deny facilitating the murder by providing the criminal organisation that carried it out with access to vehicles. The trial got underway amid heightened security yesterday and evidence was being heard for a second day today. Disguised raiders entering the Regency Hotel Before the CCTV footage was shown, Prosecutor Sean Gillane SC warned those present that some parts of it are difficult viewing." The attack was seen to last six minutes from the time the raiders in a flat cap and a wig left a silver van to the time all six gunmen returned to it. The CCTV footage shows the attackers running into the hotel and down corridors as people try to escape. The armed man in a wig and man in a flat cap are first seen leaving a van and entering the hotel at 2.28pm. The pair are followed two minutes later by the masked raiders with rifles, referred to in court as Tactical 1, 2 and 3. Inside the hotel, the footage shows Mr Byrne running from the direction of the function room into the lobby. The evidence then focused on the moment Mr Byrne was killed, at 2.32pm. Describing the footage as it was played to the court, Garda Michelle Purcell said in internal lobby camera footage, you can see the first tactical comes in, followed by Tactical Two and Tactical three. There is someone prone wearing white runners, Prosecutor Sean Gillane said. That appears to be the injured party, Gda Purcell said. You can see he gets shot by the first tactical. He goes down, she said, and spotting of blood is visible on the floor. From a second view of the lobby, Tactical 1 sees the injured party and hes shot at him. He falls by the front of the desk. Another person is seen coming in and hiding behind the desk. The victim has been injured at that point and when Tactical 2 and 3 enter, Tactical 2 fires shots at the injured party. A heavy garda presence outside court today. Photo: Collins Tactical 3 goes in toward the bar area and Tactical 2 is seen jumping onto the counter, Gda Purcell continued. He fires another shot into the injured party, jumps the desk again and heads into the bar. Two minutes after Mr Byrne's murder, at 2.34pm, the attackers are all seen returning to the van which then drives off. Six people, one with long hair pulling a suitcase, are then seen running up a laneway leading to St Vincents GAA club. The court was also shown footage from the night before the attack, February 4, 2016, when Patrick Dowdall, who has since been jailed for helping the raiders, is seen coming into the lobby at 7.24pm, going to the desk and checking in. He is seen taking cash out and signing a document. He pays in cash, key cards are given to him and he heads towards the lift area. Cameras then show Dowdall taking the lift to the room, going in and leaving minutes later. At 8.45pm, another man - the man in the flat cap, now-deceased Kevin Murray - is seen arriving in a taxi, with a holdall bag over his shoulder. He does not go to reception but to a seating area in the lobby before taking a lift to the same room. At 10.09pm Murray comes out of the room. At 9.54am the next morning, February 5, Murray is seen leaving with the bag over his shoulder. He hangs around the lobby area waiting for a taxi and is seen speaking to the receptionist before leaving at 10.31am. Earlier this afternoon, the court heard Mr Byrne suffered catastrophic fatal injuries when he was gunned down. He would have died rapidly if not instantaneously from the six shots fired at him from high-velocity weapons, then-Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis said. Dr Curtis said when he went to the scene at 6pm on February 5, 2016 he saw the body of an adult male - Mr Byrne - lying on his back, with his head tilted slightly to the left and resting against the front of the reception desk. His legs were outstretched and one arm was resting against his forehead. There was a considerable pool of blood behind and to the left of his head and evidence of obvious catastrophic gunshot injuries to either side of his head. There was an entry wound to the right side of his chest and one through the waistband into his abdomen. James Jaws Byrne, father of David Byrne, leaving the Special Criminal Court yesterday. Photo: Collins The body was formally identified by a garda sergeant. Outlining the findings of a post mortem examination and report, he said Mr Byrne had suffered catastrophic injuries from six gunshot wounds. The first numbered wound entered his head above the right eyebrow, fracturing the skull and facial bones, travelling down, exiting and scraping the neck and re-entering and stopping at the collar bone. The second entry wound was to the right side of the face and the bullet went down, causing severe lacerations, fractures of facial bones and continuing into the chest, lodging in the ribs. The third bullet entered the anterior abdomen at waistband level, tracking up and piercing internal organs, including the liver, which was extensively pulverised and exiting at the scapula. A bullet found loose in his clothing most probably came from this wound track. The last three bullets caused transfixing wounds to the right hand, which was fractured, and both thighs, which were not fractured. There were also ricochet wounds. This man died as a result of six gunshot wounds from a high velocity weapon, Dr Curtis said. The injuries sustained would have proved rapidly if not instantaneously fatal. Jason Bonney, of Drumnigh Wood, Portmarnock, Dublin 13, at the Special Criminal Court, Dublin, today where his trial continues This morning, a photographer who witnessed the hotel being stormed by gunmen told the court one of the raiders came out, saying he wasnt there, I couldnt see him. The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns, Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Grainne Malone. It had been due to open earlier this month but was delayed after co-accused Jonathan Dowdall pleaded guilty to facilitating the 2016 killing, and made himself available as a state witness. On Monday former Sinn Fein councillor Dowdall (44) and his father Patrick Dowdall (65) became the first people to be convicted and sentenced over the Regency attack. They admitted making a room at the hotel available to the perpetrators. Jonathan Dowdall was jailed for four years and his father was sentenced to two years. Jonathan Dowdall had initially been charged with Mr Byrne's murder but that charge was withdrawn by the prosecution after he pleaded guilty to the lesser offence. The only other person to go on trial over the Regency shooting was a nephew of Gerard Hutch, Patrick Hutch, who had been charged with murder and possession of firearms but walked free in 2019 when charges against him were dropped by the state. Gerey Hutch was returned to Ireland from Spain in September 2021 to face trial here after losing a final appeal against his extradition. He was arrested on the Costa del Sol by the Guardia Civil in August last year on foot of a warrant issued in Ireland and has been in custody since. Patrick Dunne (28) from Lixnaw, Co Kerry, has pleaded not guilty to murdering his mother Susan Dunne (62) Patrick Dunne in 2013, who is accused of the murder of his mother Susan Dunne, inset A mother who was killed by her son after he said he "lost it" over a disagreement about the purchase of an iPhone died after suffering six hatchet wounds to the head as she lay in her bed, a murder trial jury has heard. The 28-year-old man admits killing his mother "without any lawful justification" but expert psychiatrists for both the prosecution and defence are in agreement that the accused was insane "as defined by law" at the time of his mother's death, the Central Criminal Court has been told. Patrick Dunne from Ballingeragh, Lixnaw, Co Kerry, has pleaded not guilty to murdering his mother Susan Dunne (62) between November 26 and 27, 2013, both dates inclusive, at the same address. Patrick Gageby SC, defending Mr Dunne, has made a number of admissions of fact on behalf of his client that included that the accused killed his Ms Dunne and had done so "without any lawful justification". Mr Dunne was arrested by gardai in Listowel later that morning and was interviewed seven times over two days. Mr Dunne told gardai that he left the family home at 10.30am that morning, locking the door of his mother's bedroom because he did not want a stray cat to get into the room. Antonia Boyle BL, for the prosecution, read transcripts of Mr Dunne's interviews to the jury. She said Mr Dunne had told gardai that on the night of November 26, 2013, he and his mother argued over the price of an iPhone she believed was too expensive but for which he was trying to save money. In his interviews, Mr Dunne told gardai that he was "out of control" on the night and had a "bad temper". He said that he rowed with his mother over the cost of the phone and went to his room to listen to music. He told gardai that at around 10pm he got up for a drink of water and went to the kitchen where he noticed a hatchet was missing from a box that contained wood. He said he went to his mother's room to look for it. Ms Boyle said Mr Dunne told gardai that it was dark in his mother's room and that she was asleep when he found it in her room. He told gardai that he made "a few practice swings" with the hatchet over his mother and "by accident" hit her - "it wasn't meant to happen," he told gardai. He then returned to the kitchen with the hatchet and washed off the blood in the sink before drying it and placing it next to the fridge. The hatchet was examined by forensics and blood and hair particles matching Ms Dunne's were found along with a majority DNA profile for her son, said counsel. Mr Dunne told gardai that he was "shocked" by what happened and that "he cried, wishing he could take it back". Mr Dunne said he went to bed and in the morning returned to his mother's bedroom and tapped her three times on the shoulder but she was "gone". Mr Dunne said he then locked her bedroom door, took his social protection card from her bag and went to the post office to collect some money before driving on to Listowel. Gardai, alerted to the incident, arrested him there after seeing him by his mother's car. When asked by interviewing detectives why he didn't call someone for help, Mr Dunne said that he was "too upset" and that he "didn't know how to put it into words". He later admitted to locking the door because he did not want anyone to find her. Of the incident, he repeatedly told gardai that he "lost it" and that he could not control his temper after becoming upset over the row about the iPhone. When it was put to Mr Dunne by detectives that the killing was not an accident, Mr Dunne replied: "Not really, no." However, when asked if the killing was "deliberate", Mr Dunne said: "Not really. I lost control." Detectives told the accused man that a pathology report showed Ms Dunne had been struck by a sharp-edged instrument six times in the back of the head. Mr Dunne then admitted to striking Ms Dunne twice with both hands on the hatchet before then admitting to gardai that he struck her four times. When asked if striking someone four times with an axe in the head sounded like an accident, Mr Dunne told detectives that it did not and that his actions could be described as "harm" but that he did not intend to do harm. At around 4am after the attack, Mr Dunne rang and texted a friend from his mother's phone but it rang out. A statement from his friend Catriona Powers said she missed 14 missed calls from the number before answering it the next morning at 7.50am. Ms Powers said that Mr Dunne was the caller and told her that he loved her to which she responded that she had a boyfriend. Prosecution barrister Dominic McGinn today read the report of State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster who found six wounds to the right posterior side of Ms Dunne's head. Counsel said that Dr Bolster attended the scene to find a large amount of blood on Ms Dunne's bed sheets and blood spatter on the door. Dr Bolster said brain matter had been oozing from the wound on the right side of the head and that Ms Dunne had a partially severed right index finger. She also noted two spots of blood on the ceiling. Dr Bolster recorded that a sharp instrument had penetrated Ms Dunne's skull, that there had been multiple fractures and that there had been lacerations to her brain tissue. She found that three of the wounds had penetrated the mid-brain area and that these were consistent with being committed when she was lying as she was found in bed. She said Ms Dunne's cause of death was due to multiple blows to the head by a sharp weapon causing brain swelling and laceration. The trial continues before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury of five men and seven women. By Christ it was some f***ing pain Thomas Golden tells our reporter how he was scared when he saw the ISPCA staff at his home MCN pics A pitchfork-wielding farmer who had to be pepper sprayed and tasered by gardai after he exploded with rage when the ISPCA came to take away his dogs says by Christ it was some f***ing pain. Mayo farmer Thomas Golden (69) told the Sunday World he reacted so angrily on the day because his dogs were like children to him and he treated them well. My animals to me were like kids. Could you imagine someone coming along, banging down your door, saying Im taking your kids away? Its unacceptable. Its not on. Golden said he was extremely relieved to have avoided a prison term after a judge gave him an 18-month suspended sentence on two counts of assault with a third taken into consideration at Castlebar Circuit Court last Friday week. I could have ended up in jail. Ill tell you it was a great relief when it was all over. I couldnt wait to get home. I couldnt sleep the night before worrying about it. Thomas Golden greets our reporter Alan in Co Mayo MCN pics He also revealed he had a heart attack after the incident, which he blamed on the stress of what happened. The bizarre events involving the pitchfork unfolded at Goldens home in Ardhoom, Meelick, Swinford, Co Mayo shortly before 10am on February 24 last year. He said he lived alone at the home and was fearful when he saw a van with three people pull up outside. A grey van pulled up outside unmarked and I hadnt a clue who it was. They kicked my door, not knocked, kicked. It could have been murderers. I live alone inside. There were two lads and a woman. He said they didnt show him a warrant but did say they were there to inspect the dogs. Sergeant Maureen Flynn testified that the ISPCA requested garda assistance concerning animals on Goldens property. On a previous occasion when they visited the property, ISPCA personnel were met with a hostile reception. Golden said: There were two men and a woman. They never said who they were. I took it for granted when they were on about dogs, that it was the ISPCA. Thomas Golden tells our reporter how he was scared when he saw the ISPCA staff at his home MCN pics He said after speaking to one of the men present, he let him into his house. I let him in this door and some of the dogs came out into the hall. He came into my house and saw a certain amount of the dogs and he was happy enough with them. With that he walked away. Sgt Flynn told the court that the ISPCA wanted to inspect where the dogs were kept in the garage but at this point Golden would only communicate through a window. He refused to allow access, stating there was nothing wrong with his dogs. He then closed the window and refused to communicate further. Golden told the Sunday World: The next thing I heard the garage door bang and I lost the head. I looked out and I saw the ISPCA buck with one of my dogs standing beside him. He had the door kicked in and thats when I saw red. Sgt Flynn told the court that ISPCA personnel gained entry to the garage and found six dogs inside in a deplorable condition. Drinking water available to the dogs was dirty. One of the dogs escaped. Sgt Flynn said Golden produced a metal mop handle and then a pitchfork and told Garda Noel Folan that he would put the pitchfork through him. Golden denied to the Sunday World that he had a mop handle but said he did grab a pitchfork and threaten an ISPCA worker. The nearest thing I got was a pitchfork and I pointed it to him. I thought hed leave the dog and walk away. The guard was saying put it down, put it down. Back-up was requested When I didnt put it down, he sprayed me with pepper spray. There was no contact whatsoever with a pitchfork or anything else. At no time did I ever point a fork at the garda. It was only the small man [from the ISPCA]. Dont let them put down that I put a fork to the guard. I did no such thing. He said the pepper spray stung like hell and he rushed back into his house struggling to see. I went down into my bathroom and I sprayed water in my eyes. It took a good while for me to get anywhere. Gardai on the scene requested back up from the armed support unit as Golden was refusing to leave his house. I looked out a while after it and I saw the four armed f***ers coming up, he said. They had the shields on them and the whole lot. I was still standing in the hallway and they reckon I had the fork still with me. They came in and [tasered] me in the arm and in a second or so I was gone. It was the first time in my life and by Christ its some f***ing pain. Two of them lay on top of me and I could hardly breathe. They had their knees on me. They were big f***ers. They walked me out to the police van and in the back of it. They brought me into the barracks in Castlebar and I was in court the next morning. Can you imagine what its like? All that went on before that and youre s***less. Golden said he suffered a heart attack eight months after the incident which he believes was brought on by stress over the incident and the court case. He said he loved dogs and had rescued some of the dogs which were seized. None of the dogs were mistreated or anything. They were in good health, he said. He said he had the dogs in the garage on a temporary basis after he had to move them from another property nearby and admitted he needed to improve the conditions they were in. They were only in a temporary thing because I had to get out of the spot I was in. If I got the time everything would have been 100pc he said. In court last week Judge Eoin Garavan said Goldens heart was in the right place in terms of the animals but the authorities were just doing their job. He said they found certain things that werent acceptable and sadly Golden had to be tasered. He imposed suspended sentences of 18 months on two counts of assault with a third count taken into consideration. Golden said he has been told by officials that they will allow him to keep two dogs at his home but he said he is unlikely to get any of his old dogs back. As far as I can make out, the animals are all rehoused. The court heard how 'The Monk' was 'particularly worked up and edgy' about a picture that had been published in the Sunday World Armed gardai outside court as the trial of Gerry Hutch got underway RollingNews.ie GERRY 'The Monk' Hutch defiantly pleaded not guilty today as he stood accused of the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016 - the killing that sparked Ireland's bloodiest gangland feud. The trial kicked-off shortly after 11am as the State put its case to the Special Criminal Court. According to the prosecution, Hutch told State Witness Jonathan Dowdall that he had been 'one of the team that shot David Byrne' when the pair met in a Dublin park in the days after the attack. The court also heard how 'The Monk' was 'particularly worked up and edgy' about a picture that had been published in the Sunday World. Hutch stands accused along with Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, who both deny facilitating the murder by providing vehicles to the gang. Today, Nicola Tallant talks with Niall Donald about the opening day of the much-anticipated trial. Crime Word Podcast can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Soundcloud. MORE EPISODES Oluwatomiwa Tomi Olatuyi was found guilty of murdering Joseph Tayaye in Milton Keynes in March of this year A 21-year-old man who had fled to Ireland after a fatal knife attack in the UK has been convicted of murder. Oluwatomiwa Tomi Olatuyi of Stanton Avenue, Milton Keynes, was found guilty of murdering Joseph Tayaye in Milton Keynes in March of this year. Olatuyi is due to be sentenced on 25 November after a jury at Luton Crown Court unanimously found him guilty of perverting the course of justice at Luton Crown Court after a trial. The jury also found Olatuyi guilty of one count of affray and at the conclusion of the trial, Olatuyi pleaded guilty to an offence of possession of a bladed article. These two offences were in relation to a separate incident in Milton Keynes on 26 March which involved an altercation between Joseph Tayaye and Olatuyi. Thames Valley Polices Major Crime Unit had launched an investigation after police received reports of a stabbing outside a property in The Hide, Netherfiel at around 11.35pm on March 28. Officers who attended the scene found Joseph (21) from Milton Keynes, had sustained a number of stab wounds. He was treated at the scene by emergency services before he was brought to Milton Keynes University Hospital where he died the following morning. Officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland arrested Olatuyi on the A1 near Loughbrickland, Co Down, Northern Ireland, on April 1 and he was charged three days later. Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Will Crowther, of the Major Crime Unit, said: Today, the jury has concluded Oluwatomiwa Olatuyi tragically murdered Joseph Tayaye by attacking him outside his home on The Hide, Netherfield, on the night of 28 March this year. Joseph sustained a fatal stab wound to his chest and tragically died the following morning. Olatuyi fled to the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland but thanks to support from our colleagues at the Police Service of Northern Ireland, he was arrested and has now been brought to justice. I hope that Olatuyis conviction will in some way help Josephs family and our thoughts still very much remain with them, he was quoted as saying by mkfm.com. There was no excuse for Olatuyi to carry a knife in Milton Keynes, or anywhere else in the Thames Valley for that matter. Olatuyis decision to carry a knife, and subsequently use it to stab Joseph had tragic consequences. "Olatuyis refusal to accept responsibility for his actions has meant Josephs family have had to go through the additional trauma of a trial. "Olatuyi will be sentenced next month, and will now finally have to take responsibility for his appalling actions. In July, Thames Valley Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner launched Operation Deter, a tough new approach to tackling knife crime in Milton Keynes, following incidents such as Josephs murder. The force will not tolerate the possession of or the use of weapons, and our message is clear, you will be stopped, arrested, charged and prosecuted. We are resolute in our determination to make our communities safer by removing knives from our streets. All four had gunshot wounds and their bodies were dismembered before they were dumped into the river The four men who were killed Police in the US have tracked down a man they described as a person of interest following the murder of four men whose dismembered bodies were discovered in an Oklahoma river. Salvage yard owner Joe Kennedy was arrested in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida, in a vehicle that was reported stolen to the Okmulgee County Sheriff's Office on Monday. Police Chief Joe Prentice had earlier confirmed that the bodies of the four men pulled from the Deep Fork River, outside the city of Okmulgee, were those of Mark (32) and Billy Chastain (30), Alex Stephens (29) and Mike Sparks (32). The four friends had been reported missing overnight last Monday after leaving Billy Chastain's home in Okmulgee on Sunday night on bicycles, according to police. Investigators believe that the men planned to commit some kind of criminal act when they left the residence, according to a witness who told police they were invited to go with the men to "hit a lick big enough for all of them," Prentice said. That is common terminology for engaging in some type of criminal behaviour, Prentice said. We do not know what they were planning or where they planned to do it. The cause of death for the men is still pending, but police confirmed all four had gunshot wounds and their bodies were dismembered before they were dumped into the river. Joe Kennedy is wanted for questioning Prentice said investigators searched a scrapyard owned by Kennedy and adjoining property owned by other people. The police chief said evidence of a violent event was found on the adjoining property, but did not elaborate. No charges were initially filed against Kennedy but investigators were looking to speak to him again before he was reported missing on Saturday, Prentice said. On Monday, police found Kennedy's blue PT Cruiser abandoned behind a business in Morris, Oklahoma, Prentice said in an update on Facebook. A warrant was issued for his arrest in relation to a 2012 shooting with a bond for $500,000, Prentice said. Police have not yet named any suspects in connection to the quadruple murder. "The murder investigation is ongoing and investigators continue to follow leads every day. Additional information will be relayed when it is available," Prentice said. Prentice declined to say Kennedy is a suspect, and he has not been charged in Oklahoma, but will be brought back to the state for questioning. The murder investigation is ongoing and investigators continue to follow leads every day, Prentice said in the statement. Prentice said Kennedy was questioned about the four missing men before he disappeared late last week, but denied knowing them and that he has no reason to believe that the four men and Kennedy were acquainted. Prentice also said authorities will seek to revoke a deferred 10-year prison sentence Kennedy received after pleading guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon in 2012. I was hoping for a Titanic moment, arms outstretched and staring out at the horizon from the bow of the ship but I couldnt gain access. Instead, Im standing watching the sunset from one of the top decks of the Norwegian Prima cruise ship, and find myself peering through a Perspex barrier at a fiery orange ball in the distance. Its light glows across the undulating water below. I can feel the motion of the boat and the rhythm of the sea. Its calm this evening, despite being a little choppy the night before: a fact I quite liked, as it reminded me that I was indeed sailing. Such is the size and opulence of the Norwegian Prima, its easy to forget youre on a ship at times. You could be in a five-star hotel in Dubai, an upmarket restaurant in France, or a lively casino in Vegas. But then you remember that youre on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean, a novelty in itself. The Norwegian Prima has lots of exciting on-board activities This is my first ever cruise and its nothing like I imagined. I thought of cruises as holidays for the elderly, and in particular, wealthy Americans. Images of bad cover bands and outdated decor sprang to mind. Literally from the moment I walk the gangplank and board, however, I realise I was wrong. People of all ages and nationalities are milling around and the decor is more akin to a luxurious modern hotel than a ship. The Norwegian Prima was only built this year and features elegant lighting, comfortable furnishings, and artwork by the Italian graffiti artist Manuel Di Rita. Sitting in the Atrium on Deck 6, you look up to see the balconies of different levels, each lit with soft lighting and with different bars and lounging areas. The ship seems to sparkle and the sheer romance of being at sea is not lost on me. Its the latest ship in the Norwegian cruise line fleet and its sheer size is breath- taking. It has 20 decks, 1,600 staterooms, and can carry 3,099 guests and 1,506 staff at any one time. One of the ships well-appointed bedrooms A moment for my cabin, which opens onto a balcony with a table and chairs and overlooks the sea. It has an ensuite bathroom and is more like a hotel room than cramped nautical quarters. An extremely comfortable double bed, a dinky dressing table and an ample wardrobe complete the set-up. This particular cruise started in Iceland and sailed the Norwegian Fjords before landing in Rotterdam, where I board. It will take us to the delightfully picturesque town of Bruges in Brussels, where we dock for a day, and then to Le Havre in France, before sailing to Southampton and on to New York. Luckily, the September weather is good for our voyage, being sunny enough to take a dip in the outdoor pool or lounge in a hot tub during the day, sipping cocktails. But theres more than lounging on offer. Theres no shortage of activities to keep you occupied on board, including a brand-new fitness centre and state-of-the-art spa. This is the first ever cruise liner with a three-level racetrack for go-karting, as well as a number of slide experiences. In addition, theres a games centre for children. While you could have a fabulous holiday on the ship alone, the beauty of the cruise is that you get visit other countries. The ship sails at night, so you wake up each morning in a new destination. You disembark, spend the day there and board again each evening before it sets sail. The ship has 18 different dining venues. Each is different and features food from various parts of the world. I breakfasted each morning in the Surfside cafe on deck 17, where I could choose from a vast array of impressive buffet-style food. This offers breakfast, lunch and snacks, and is included in your package. The speciality restaurants on offer include the Mexican-themed Los Lobos, the Italian fine dining experience, Onda by Scarpetta, a seafood speciality restaurant called Palomar, and a Japanese-themed food experience called Hasuki. My favourite was Le Bistro, serving up the finest French cuisine in a sparkling setting, designed around massive chandeliers. Part of the appeal of a cruise is, of course, the nightlife, and the Norwegian Prima did not disappoint. There are a total of 17 bars and lounges on the ship, and each has a completely different atmosphere. You can therefore choose to dress up and go full-on glamour at night or opt for a more relaxed, casual experience. Sunbeds on the deck Take the Metropolitan, the first sustainable bar on a cruise liner. Here, soft lighting and elegant seating makes for an upmarket Manhattan atmosphere. Syd Normans bar, a casual haunt with rock music vibes, is an altogether different experience. If karaoke is your thing, check out the Karaoke bar, where the atmosphere is second to none and you can croon along with the other passengers. Theres also a three-storey transformational theatre-nightclub, the Prima Theatre and Club, with the type of shows youd see on Broadway or the West End. The Donna Summer Musical was showing on our trip, which was a highlight in itself. In addition, there are a number of different live music shows every night, and yes, some of these feature cover bands. But even these are top of the range. Comedy gigs, DJs and even an art auction take place during my cruise. The ship also has a casino with roulette, blackjack, and slot machines. This is a major lure for those who like to gamble. Indeed, I talked to one couple who had met whilst gambling on a cruise ship and come back each year to spend their days in the casino. For those who prefer to go VIP, The Haven is a reserved area at the top of the ship with luxurious, well-appointed accommodation as well as a 24-hour butler service, concierge service and a private sundeck, swimming pool and hot tub. A cruise is a great option, too, for those travelling alone. There are solo cabins with staterooms and communal areas specifically for single cruisers, which makes it easy to meet other single people. There are shore excursions, dinners, and even on-board activities specifically for solo travellers. In general, I found both staff and the other passengers to be friendly on board, perhaps because of the shared camaraderie of being at sea together. I disembarked in Southampton, which I realised is where the Titanic first set sail on April 10, 1912 so I got my Kate Winslet moment after all. TRAVEL FACTFILE NORTHERN EUROPE CRUISE See sunway.ie DESTINATIONS include: Northe Cay and Cozumel; Mediterranean Italy, France, and Spain; and many others. THE 10-day Northern Europe Iceland and Norway cruise is priced from 2,417, with a fly/cruise special offer of 2,988. FOR more information call 01-2311800. The FG Minister tweeted: One hopes this isn't deliberate, but it is yet to be clarified! I hope no-one is injured and they find the culprits Dublin TD Josepha Madigan has said she was wrong as she apologised for the offence caused as a result of a tweet she wrote in the immediate aftermath of the Creeslough tragedy. As news of the tragedy broke, the Fine Gael Minister of State for Special Inclusion tweeted: One hopes this isn't deliberate, but it is yet to be clarified! I hope no-one is injured and they find the culprits. Ten people died in the explosion at the Donegal service station earlier this month. Gardai are treating the incident as an accident. Speaking to The Hard Shoulder, the Dublin Rathdown TD said she regretted what she had written. First of all, I shouldnt have sent the tweet, she said. I was wrong and I want to sincerely apologise for not just sending the tweet but also for the offence caused as a result. I am terribly sorry for that. I also want to offer my heartfelt condolences to the entire Creeslough community but especially to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones. Its an unimaginable tragedy that was visited on the people in Donegal and my heart goes out to all of those affected by this absolutely shocking event. An Garda Siochana believe the explosion was an accident. As investigations into the tragedy continue, it was reported last week that gardai have obtained a court order from the High Court to preserve the scene of the tragedy. Expert consultants continue to comb through the wreckage as they search for any pieces of evidence which may piece together why the explosion happened in the first place. The court order allows gardai and experts an additional 14 days to collect whatever they feel is useful to the investigation. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is also involved in the investigation and is monitoring what remains of the service station. The site is expected to be completely demolished once investigations have concluded. Ceili McInerney was attending an open evening last Thursday evening when she suffered the attack, leading to a rapid evacuation of the school There is widespread sadness after the death of a 15-year-old girl following an asthma attack in Kilmuckridge last week. Transition year student Ceili McInerney from Cluain Mhic Tire, The Ballagh was attending the Colaiste an Atha open evening last Thursday evening when she suffered the attack, leading to a rapid evacuation of the school. Several community first responders were called to the scene to provide assistance, followed by gardai, the ambulance service, and one unit of Wexford Fire Service. She was brought to Wexford General Hospital and was later transferred to Crumlin Hospital, where she passed away on Monday. Emergency services arriving an Colaiste an Atha on Thursday evening. Pic: Jim Campbell At yesterdays meeting of Gorey Municipal District Cllr Mary Farrell said: As chairperson of Colaiste an Atha Board of Management and one of the first responders on the scene I would like to personally offer my sympathies to the family of Ceili McInerney, her teachers and fellow students. The whole school is completely shocked and personally its been a difficult few days for all involved. Its a heartbreaking and tragic circumstance and my condolences go out to her family and to the teachers, students and whole school community. Our thoughts and prayers and with them and we will support them in any way we can. she said. An emotional tribute from Colaiste an Atha highlighted the kindness and sense of fun that Ceili was known for: It is with heavy hearts that we must announce the passing of TY student Ceili McInerney this week. As a school we are devastated by the loss of such a beautiful soul. Our spirits were buoyed today listening to the many wonderful stories about her kindness, her fierce loyalty, her sense of fun and her sense of adventure. She left a lasting impression on everyone she met. The entire Colaiste an Atha school community would like to offer our sincere condolences to Ceilis family and friends at this sad time. She will be sadly missed by everyone that knew her. May her gentle soul rest in eternal peace. Garda outside of Colaiaste an Atha on Thursday evening. Pic: Jim Campbell Ceilis remains will be reposing at her home on Wednesday from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. A celebration of her life will take place at Newlands Cross Crematorium on Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m. followed by cremation. Ceili will forever be remembered and loved by her parents Carol and Ciaran and their partners Alan and Deborah, her loving brothers and sister Ciaran, Stephen, Shannan, Aaron, Ceidhlim and Cadan and their partners Cathy, Trinny and Anto, her nephew Jacob, her grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives and many friends. I wouldn't send a tourist to O'Connell Street because Id be ashamed to send them to see what is down there Wexford TD Paul Keogh has been slammed for referring to Dublins OConnell Street as a place full of druggies, crime, antisocial behaviour, robberies, takeaways, alcohol, drug abuse. Speaking in the Dail, the Fine Gael deputy said he was absolutely ashamed of the citys main thoroughfare as an Irish person. This is our main national street in our capital city, he declared. And I absolutely, minister, if Dublin City Council do not address what's happening on O'Connell street and the surrounding streets around it, like there's nobody, I wouldn't send a tourist to O'Connell Street because Id be ashamed to send them to see what is down there. In repsponce Gerry Gannon, a Social Democrats TD who represents Dublin Central, tweeted that a couple of weeks back in Paul Kehoes constituency, a GAA ref was violently assaulted while leaving the pitch. I dont remember him raising a squeak about it as it didnt give FG pols a chance to kick vulnerable groups. I want to discuss Dublin in the Dail, but this is pathetic. Deputy Gannon also raised issues regarding OConnell Street after last nights RTE Prime Time special. Deputy Gannon said the deeply unflattering depiction of our capitals main thoroughfare on tonights programme will come as little surprise to north inner city residents or those who use OConnell Street on a regular basis. The issues raised in the report, including anti-social behaviour, drug dealing and heavy littering, are all symptomatic of a wider problem that has resulted in the decline and decay of once thriving parts of our city, he said. While I am proud to represent OConnell Street, this area has long suffered from neglect due to a lack of leadership. As a former Dublin city councillor, I have seen dozens of plans drawn up for the area that have come to nothing. The reality is that city councils only have an illusion of power, with unelected officials making decisions theyll never be held accountable for. At a minimum, Dublin urgently needs a directly elected mayor with executive powers who would be answerable to the public and the Government. "For over a year, I have been asking the Oireachtas Business Committee to allow statements on Dublin city to be heard in the Dail. Despite receiving a positive response to my request last year, and again last month, the Taoiseach informed me today that this may not happen until at least mid-November. He added: "It is unacceptable that it is taking such an inordinate amount of time to schedule the bare minimum - statements, on the problems blighting Dublin, in the Dail. These statements will be just a first step in our efforts to achieve collective political responsibility for our capital city. In the absence of leadership, a multi-departmental approach, driven by our national parliament, is required to stem the decline of our beautiful and historic city. The fire is said to have now been extinguished, although the turbine is still smouldering Dramatic images showing a wind turbine on fire off the Wicklow coast have been shared on social media after lightning strikes and thunder across the country. It has been reported the offshore turbine, located approximately 10km off the coast of Arklow, caught fire after being struck by lightning earlier today. A spokesperson for the Irish Coast Guard confirmed that they had responded to reports of the fire, which began to circulate at approximately 12.30pm. Smoke emerges from one of the Arklow offshore wind turbines following an apparent lightning strike. Pic by Eamonn Kinsella #Arklow #Wicklow #weather pic.twitter.com/vozdK4uNMf ArklowTimes.ie (@ArklowTimes) October 19, 2022 The fire is said to have now been extinguished, although the turbine is still smouldering. The Arklow Times tweeted: Smoke emerges from one of the Arklow offshore wind turbines following an apparent lightning strike. It has been reported that the owners/operators of the turbine, GE Energy, decided to let the fire run its course. However, reports suggest that there were no personnel on the 3.6-megawatt wind turbine when it was struck and that there was no threat to life. Meanwhile, ESB are reporting nearly 500 customers in the Arklow area lost power as stormy conditions continue. Service was expected to be restored after 4pm. Our exclusive pictures show UDA figure Marcus Boreland within feet of the Prince and Princess of Wales HES BEHIND YOU: Marcus Boreland photographed with Prince William and Princess Kate on their visit A leading loyalist paramilitary provided security for top royals Will and Kate on their recent visit to Ulster, the Sunday World can reveal. And as our exclusive pictures show, UDA figure Marcus Boreland was within feet of the Prince and Princess of Wales when they visited the trendy Trademarket venue in Belfast city centre. Marcus Jason Boreland (47) a reported member of the UDA in North Antrim once served a prison sentence for threatening the life of a Catholic work colleague. The well-known Ballymoney man who also works as a hotel bouncer had telephoned a workmate, telling him he was going to be shot by the Red Hand Defenders, a cover name for the UDA. Boreland has previously denied being a UDA leader and has also strongly denied any involvement in criminality. HES BEHIND YOU: Marcus Boreland photographed with Prince William and Princess Kate on their visit On the a royal visit to Belfast ten days ago, Boreland looked on sternly as the future King and Queen competed in a cocktail-making competition. Surrounded by admirers cheering their every move, the hugely popular celebrity couple had agreed to take part in a Race of Royals to see who could knock out the quickest cocktail. And as a skilled master mixer shared some of his cocktail trade secrets with the eager royals, Boreland remained close by. As the Princess of Wales shook up a perfect Up the Lagan on a Bubble cocktail, UDA man turned security man Boreland was snapped keeping a close watch from over the future Queens shoulder. It was at that point just as Kate was about step onto the cocktail bar I noticed Marcus Boreland, one onlooker told the Sunday World. He was looking after security for the Princess of Wales. To be frank, knowing his reputation, I was a bit shocked. . As royal fans jostled each other hoping for a better vantage point, bulky Boreland made sure they didnt come too close. As the royals prepared to move on from the Dublin Road outlet, Boreland strategically positioned himself next to Dame Fionnuala Mary Jay-OBoyle, Lord Lieutenant for the County Borough of Belfast. Minutes earlier, Dame Fionnuala met the royal couple at an agreed point on the Dublin Road and she escorted them to the recently opened Trademarket, which is based in a series of high-end steel container units. Sunday World inquiries this week revealed that Marcus Boreland was issued with a Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence on June 7 this year. A male associate of Borelands who is not associated with any illegal group was also on duty at Trademarket along with his the UDA figure when the royal visitors arrived. The SIA certificate states Borelands role is Front Line and the licence sector also covers him for Door Supervision. Earlier this week, we made contact with Marcus Boreland. He was told we wanted to speak to him about his new role as a security operative. We even suggested meeting up with him in Ballymoney to discuss the matter, but he point-blank refused. We contacted the Security Industry Authority which issued Boreland with his bouncers badge asking if it considered Marcus Boreland was a suitable person to hold a frontline security licence. Lee Croft, Northern Ireland compliance officer for the SIA, told us: If an individual has been issued with an SIA licence, then its legal and hes entitled to operate under law. He added: You may have to take it up with Stormont. Marcus Boreland ha denied being a UDA leader and links to criminality Following his trial where he was convicted of threatening to kill a work colleague, Boreland served his time on the UDA wing at HMP Maghaberry. And he was once the focus of an Assets Recovery Agency initiative, which resulted in the seizure of half a million pounds worth of assets. Headed by former police officer Alan McQuillan, the agency froze a holiday home in Turkey as well as large sums of money in a range of bank accounts. The Sunday World understands a number of local politicians serving on Belfast City Council have expressed concerns over recent changes in law which have opened the door for former paramilitaries to qualify for security licences. The informal trip to Trademarket was seen as the highpoint of the royal couples three-venue whistle-stop tour of Belfast, one of the first the royal couple took part in since the death of the Queen and the succession of Charles to the throne. The newly-installed Prince and Princess of Wales also visited Pips suicide awareness centre on the Antrim Road and they spent some time in staunchly loyalist Carrickfergus. hjordan.media@btinternet.com The reality star (43) shared a series of Halloween-themed photos in an Instagram post on Wednesday, which she captioned with a simple ghost emoji. Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker have been accused of propagating satanism for wearing matching skeleton costumes in bed together. The reality star (43) shared a series of Halloween-themed photos in an Instagram post on Wednesday, which she captioned with a simple ghost emoji. One picture showed some bat-shaped pancakes while another featured some of Kourtney and Travis extravagant Halloween decorations outside their Calabasas mansion, including a line of pumpkins leading up to her front door and two giant skeletons guarding the house. In one of the photos, the mum-of-three snuggled up beside her drummer husband wearing skeleton costumes that zipped the whole way up to the top of their heads, covering their faces. A banner reading Until death do us part hung on the beds headboard behind them. While some fans thought the spooky snaps were so cute, others thought they were scary and could attract dangerous spirits into her home. You are consciously propagating Satanism, how much money did you take for this Satanic advertisement, one person wrote. Another said: Halloween is deadly, ppl please open your eyes, to celebrate ghosts is nothing but inviting trouble to yourself. And a third warned: Ahhh this thing no good at all, attracts demons spirits that ruin lifes (sic). It comes after a source told US Weekly that Kourtney would 100pc be joining Travis on Blink-182's upcoming world tour. The band are set to hit the road for the first time in nearly 10 years with stops in Dublins 3Arena and Belfasts SSE Arena on the cards. And Kourtney will be there to cheer Travis on at as many stops as possible, as much as her schedule allows. She will 100pc be joining Travis and the band on tour, the insider revealed. Shes looking forward to the kids coming along for some shows. The New Yorker recorded the porn video Bucket List Bonanza to show how sex positive he is A politician has released a sex tape as part of his election campaign to prove himself as sex positive. Mike Itkis (53), a New York man running for Congress, recorded the porn video Bucket List Bonanza to show his support for sex workers, he says. He described the video, filmed with professional porn star Nicole Sage, as a conversation piece, according to The Cut. The 13-minute tape was reportedly uploaded to a popular porn website for voters to see for themselves how serious Itkis is about legalising sex work. Turns out that a lot of people share my positions. pic.twitter.com/5FTpOvoqYD Mike Itkis - Candidate for NY Congress District 12 (@ItkisCampaign) October 16, 2022 "If I would just talk about it, it wouldnt demonstrate my commitment to the issue, he told City & State, a politics website for New Yorkers. Im kind of a nerd who doesnt like to be the centre of attention if I can avoid it, he said. But I thought the issues Im trying to address are so important I wanted to have my issues talked about in some way. The Independent politician is a long-shot to make it into office, but his campaign has certainly made waves online. We are beyond saving, one Twitter user joked about American politics. Manhattan congressional candidate Mike Itkis has shared his own sex tape to highlight his "sex positive" platform. Itkis says that simply talking about legalizing sex work wouldnt be enough to show voters that he's committed to the issue. pic.twitter.com/4GCCXJLMO8 Pop Crave (@PopCrave) October 15, 2022 Another said: One way to get ahead of the media on a potential scandal. Others labelled the politician a joke and a creep for releasing the video online. Itkis says on his website that he opposes the conservative idea that sex should only happen between a man and a woman who are married to each other. He also advocates for the right to NOT become a parent in case of pregnancy and says he would like to redefine abortion debate as a right to unplanned sex. The cyber security expert is also focusing on online privacy throughout his campaign, even retweeting a cyber safety reminder from the Gardai on Twitter in August of this year. The Garda campaign had reminded parents to blur identifiable information when posting photos of their children in their school uniforms. RTE bosses confirmed on Tuesday that Boucher-Hayes would be replacing OReilly on Countrywide from Saturday, November 12. Philip Boucher-Hayes will take over from Damien O'Reilly as the new host of RTE Radio 1s Countrywide. The news comes after OReilly announced yesterday that he was leaving the station after 24 years to take up a new role in Brussels. RTE bosses confirmed on Tuesday that Boucher-Hayes would be replacing OReilly on Countrywide from Saturday, November 12. A veteran RTE broadcaster, Boucher-Hayes has been reporting on and presenting RTE Radio 1 programmes since the early 1990s. He is currently the presenter of the climate action series Hot Mess on RTE Radio 1 and is heard regularly as Claire Byrne's replacement on the Today programme. Additionally, he has also produced and presented award-winning radio and podcast series such as Treasure Island: The Hunt For The Falcon Blanco and Boom Bust Broke. Viewers will also be familiar with Boucher-Hayes for his presenting work on documentaries like Hot Air: Ireland's Climate Crisis, The Du Plantier Affair, What's Ireland Eating and Future Shock: The Last Drop, alongside the lifestyle and consumer series What Are You Eating? and Buyer Beware. Speaking about his new role, Philip Boucher-Hayes said: I'm looking forward to the challenge and can't wait to get started on Countrywide. And Head of RTE Radio 1 Peter Woods added: As a journalist, Philip has always emphasised the importance of story. We're delighted to have him join Countrywide and its excellent production team led by Eileen Heron. Damien OReilly announced his decision to leave the national broadcaster earlier this week. He said after many fantastic years working in RTE, he has decided to move onto a new challenge. I am moving to Brussels to take up a new position there. It has been an absolute pleasure to work for our national broadcaster since May 1998, he said. I have conducted interviews on farms in the 32 counties. I believe in being able to travel around the country to record stories from farmers and others. I had the best job in RTE. I relished the challenge of turning these interviews into radio-friendly packages and reports to bring to a broad non-farming audience. But I believe that now is the perfect time for me to move on to a new career challenge and I am delighted to be able to do so on a high and happy note leaving Countrywide in great shape. Bay of Plenty butcher, The Snag Co. has won medals in the 2022 Great New Zealand Sausage Competition. The Snag Co. based in Mount Maunganui has won a gold for their Chorizo Verde sausages and a bronze for their Cuiabana and Calabresa sausages. The successful sausages were announced at a special Sausage Mixer event this evening where butchers from across the nation gathered to find out who had taken out the top spot. It was a tie for the supreme winners with New World Te Rapa in Hamilton and Zaroa Meats in Auckland announced as joint winners. The judges couldnt split New World Te Rapas Pork sausage and Zaroa Meats Aoraki Salami, instead crowning them both with the Supreme Award. Its not the first time there has been a tie, but judges were unanimous that both sausages had all the qualities they were looking for to beat out over 530 other entries. The journey to supreme status for the winning sausages has been a long and rigorous process beginning with an initial five days of category judging back in August. The judging panel made up of a squad of butchers, foodies, chefs and industry heavyweights, whittled entries down to the top scoring sausages. From here, gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded in each category with the gold medallists then being re-judged against one another with the joint supreme winners both receiving the perfect score. Competition judge, Felicity ODriscoll of Cook The Books, said there were some really outstanding entries this year and whittling it down to the supreme winner was quite a difficult task. Photo: Supplied. There were probably about 4 or 5 sausages that really stood out at the supreme judging, so there was much discussion and retasting on the day, says Felicity. At the end though, it came down to some really fine details between the contenders with both winners deserving the joint title of supreme sausage maker. Fellow judge, Greig Buckley of Kai Foods says that the judges were looking for well-made sausages with the right combination of quality ingredients that will appeal to the market. All entries are judged on their aroma both raw and cooked appearance, texture and finally the most important the taste, says Greig. The joint winners had it all and should be very proud of the products they have produced. Kiwis will also know where to get the best burger patties and meat balls with these two categories turning out eight medal winning burger patties and three medal winning meatballs. The announcement of New Zealands top tasting bangers, burger patties and meatballs come just in time as Kiwis across the country dust off their barbeques in readiness for the summer months ahead. There is nothing better than throwing some great tasting snags on the barbeque to share with friends and family. Now Kiwis know where to get their hands on some award-winning snarlers to set their summer barbeques sizzling. A man is due to appear in court today after being arrested in connection to an assault involving a vehicle in the Bay of Plenty. A pedestrian was run over and suffered serious injuries during an incident at Caltex Ranolf Street, Rotorua, on Monday, October 17. In a statement released this week, police say they have arrested the alleged driver. "A 25-year-old Rotorua man has been charged with wounding with intent to injure and is scheduled to appear in Rotorua District Court today. "The vehicle involved in the incident has also been seized. "Police would like to thank members of the public who got in touch to provide information to assist our enquiries." 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. An Intercontinental Battle of Barrels The changes in export flows from Nigeria will impact tankers In August 2021, we wrote a Tanker Opinion about the impact that the new 650,000 b/d Dangote refinery in Nigeria will have on the tanker market once it starts up (27 August 2021, A Game Changer In Africa). At the time, the target date was in 2022, but now the startup is expected to be in the first half of 2023. As we explained in the previous Tanker Opinion, the impact of the new refinery on the fuel supply in Nigeria will be significant (a Game Changer). We also highlighted the implications for crude oil trade flows. Because of the war in Ukraine and the implications for European crude oil supply, this has become much more relevant now. Nigeria has been struggling to maintain their crude oil output since 2019 but continues to be a significant supplier to Europe. With the EU ban on Russian seaborne crude oil imports starting on 5 December 2022, Europe is looking to replace Russian imports from other sources. As the Dangote refinery committed to process substantial volumes of domestic Nigerian crude oil, this task will become more complicated. Exxon's Russian oil output collapsed after rejecting local tanker insurance - Reuters report Oil output at an Exxon-led Russian Pacific project collapsed following the U.S. major's refusal to accept local insurance for tankers, according to a Reuters report. HOUSTON/NEW DELHI, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Oil output at the giant Exxon-led (XOM.N) Sakhalin-1 Russian Pacific project collapsed following the U.S. major's refusal to accept local insurance for tankers after Western insurers pulled out due to sanctions, several industry sources told Reuters. Korean tanker in load sank in Taiwan Strait, 1 crew died The tanker sank last week, leaving one crewmember dead and 19 survivors Tanker KELSEY 2 sank in the morning Oct 15, 25nm south of Wuqui island, Kinmen County, Taiwan, Taiwan Strait. Tanker was en route from Hong Kong to Gunsan Korea, ETA Oct 16. Of 20 crew on board, 1 died, 19 were rescued and survived. Tanker is said to be in load, carrying cargo of oil and chemicals totalling 7,500 tons (cargo information not confirmed). AtheK Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,625 Thanked: 6,229 Times View My Garage re: A college dream fulfilled Mark 13 The Honda FireBlade 954RR the bike jerked, sputtered and stopped. Damn it!!! This was not what we were expecting, my friends caught up and we tried to push start it, it started but after 5 kms stopped again, and my odometer also died. When we tried to push start it again, it refused to start and also stopped taking any sort of self start. It was clear that this is not a mechanical issue but an electrical one. I was thinking if it is the new battery which is not holding charge and probably gave up as soon i switched on the lights, as other then that much was not changed. I had a friend of mine on his street 675, luckily it uses the same stock battery as Blade, so we decided to swap batteries and see what happens, Voila the bike came back to life in the first crank itself. We installed the dead battery on his bike and push started it, and it started as well. We started riding again and I was thinking is it the battery, the alternator or the rectifier, or some wire has gone bad and something is shorting somewhere. After around 50 kms we stopped to see if the battery on Street has charged, and yes it had, so that meant battery is fine, and we decided to start back home before the battery on blade died again. The whole thought process of buying a japanese bike which are bullet proof when it comes to relaibility was a big question mark in front of me right now. We reached home swapped batteries and Blade came back to life with it's original battery, atleast I was sure now that this is what needs to be fixed. I was doubting the stator or rectifier, but changing stator would have meant another circus of getting the stator and also a new gasket to stop engine oil from leaking. The rectifier and the wire around it was also getting very hot, and when we were checking the battery power using voltmeter we were hardly able to go over 12.8V. Spoke to yassar from motospark and he advised that since you are too far, you just take out the rectifier and send to me, I will test it and let you know. Sounded fair, and that is when we started to dismantle the rectfier. This is when we noticed this!! The wire running from rectifier and stator had a pinch, was shorting and burning out. The moment the load was increasing it probably used to get overloaded and stop the bike. Finally the biggest issue we thought was identified. Our mechanic changed the wire between stator to rectifier and the bike has been running fine since then. I have done close to 600 kms after that and battery has not been charged manually, I would still like to run it for some more time before declaring the issue to be resolved. This though had another impact, the speedometer conked off, now I only see backlight and no display. Just that when I thought we had fixed everything we were hit with another issue. The bike back after the rectifier fix and majority of the accessories installed. So I started hunting for a speedometer, new speedometer are very tough to find, and majority are used one with exobriant pricing. I finally zeroed on one that was available in netherlands, it was then shipped to germany to a friend, who carried it to mumbai and then it reached bangalore. So we can add few more countries to the ever growing list of the global Honda bike that I own. 33. Old Speedometer from Netherland The part came to me, we went to install it and voila this was a defective speedometer as well. The speedo worked but indicator relay was conked and so was neutral light and tachometer was not working as well. So we had to put the old speedo back as I needed the Indicators to work without fail. The next step was try to get speedo fixed, found a guy who works on pcb level repair we fixed one and it worked for 50 kms before conking off again. He is trying to fix it as I type this, but I am not too hopeful. I have planned another fix and have hence received the odometer. It was received by me yesterday, it works on GPS, and connects to GPS satellite to give you the speed and latest time. 34. New Speedometer This though will not show tacho, I am fine with it, the only problem, although it shows distance travelled from the time you started, it resets when you turn off the bike. I need this for keeping a tab on when to refuel, now I will need to keep an idea to not get stranded in between without fuel. Once this is Installed this should complete my project, I will keep you updated. 35. Customized Seat I did not like the bland look of the seat, so wanted to do something with the seat. I contacted Saddle India and they said they can make the seat more comfortable and design it as per my requirement. That is when we came to a design conclusion and I shipped the seats to them. They did a great work on designing the seat and shipped it back to me. The extra cushion makes the rides much more comfortable, just that I am not very happy with the color, it seems more papaya color then yellow. I might rework on it after sometime just for the color, other then that I am happy with the craftsmanship and work done by them. From a bland black seat to Notice the Extra Cushion, boon on longer rides. The Exhaust Next up was the Exhaust, this we had a mixed feeling, while few of my friends liked the long swept exhaust, I was not a fan. In addition to that the stock exhaust was absolutely muted and felt like a 250CC bike, it did sound nice on high RPMS, but i don't ride that way to keep my bike at higher RPM to enjoy the aural experience. So I was planning to order the Yoshi but that was also long and again needed to be carried from US. That is when I came across Dominator exhaust which is a Polish company, and decided to go ahead with them after listening the sound on Youtube. I ordered it with Baffle and once you put in the baffle it sounds just like stock, it is when you take the baffle out that it comes in it's own and sounds absolutely brilliant and makes you realise that yes it is indeed an Inline 4 bike that you are riding. Pic with the Exhaust Installed. The size of the baffle. Couple of Videos for your listening pleasure, these are both witout the baffle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Kh7gC8_HSs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhIHyjnbNbw Next up were the mirrors, I did not like the old mirrors and wanted to give the bike a little more modern look, this is the reason I had procured the winglet mirrors and went about installing them. Front end with the stock mirrors! Front end with Winglet mirrors! This does give it a very very mean look, though can't say the same about the rear visibility, let's just say it gets the job done. As the bike neared completion, one thing I really like is matching gear, so I decided to get a matching helmet and riding jacket. Dainese is my weapon of choice when it comes to riding gear, and luckily they had one in flourscent yellow for sale, same was procured. Wolverine Graphics HJC ST 70 Helmet. Dainese Hydro Flux jacket with back and chest protectors. Last was to add some stickers and the reservoir sleeve, some more stickers need to be procured. I also smoked out the front light, one to save the lights from dome to get scratched as it is Aliexpress stuff. Secondly just to match the smoked look of the rear tail light, a video of the same in action, look mama they blink!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmm1Mw3SWvo The Chain Guard and rear hugger installed! As we near the end of this long write up, I would like to really thank lot of my friends who carried all this stuff from abroad for me and made this restoration complete. It would have been impossible to reach where I am today without there help and impossible to do anything if covid was still on, so all of you, few of you who are also a part of Team Bhp, Thank You!! One person who though really stands out is my friend Ravi, he was pillar of strength in this restoration, and did a lot of work single handedly. The bike was parked at his place more then mine in last 6 months while we were getting this done. Here he is on a bike that belongs to him as much as it belongs to me!! He still has to hear it roar on the Dominator though! I am almost done with my complete restoration, and the below three are the pending items to all it a day!! 1. Fix Speedometer 2. Get Braided Brake Lines 3. Maybe wrap the bike or get a new body kit from AliExpress 4. My current mechcani was not able to install the Gear Indicator, so that needs to be installed. It's six months and counting when I started this, I am hoping to close it out by end of this year, Will keep this thread updated. So In the end when I did not want to go the rabbit hole route initially I ended up procuring and changing 36 Parts for the bike, we can make it 38 if I add the helmet and the jacket. Somethings can only be explained to self!! So with the phase A of parts installed and a new fuel pump to boot we took off for a long ride, plan was to do around 300 kms and come back. This would have made sure that the bike is running fine and the new clutch can also settle in. The bike started just fine and we did a nice 50-60 kms when I switched on the lights and after 10 kms or so,. Damn it!!!This was not what we were expecting, my friends caught up and we tried to push start it, it started but after 5 kms stopped again, and my odometer also died. When we tried to push start it again, it refused to start and also stopped taking any sort of self start. It was clear that this is not a mechanical issue but an electrical one. I was thinking if it is the new battery which is not holding charge and probably gave up as soon i switched on the lights, as other then that much was not changed.I had a friend of mine on his street 675, luckily it uses the same stock battery as Blade, so we decided to swap batteries and see what happens, Voila the bike came back to life in the first crank itself. We installed the dead battery on his bike and push started it, and it started as well. We started riding again and I was thinking is it the battery, the alternator or the rectifier, or some wire has gone bad and something is shorting somewhere. After around 50 kms we stopped to see if the battery on Street has charged, and yes it had, so that meant battery is fine, and we decided to start back home before the battery on blade died again. The whole thought process of buying a japanese bike which are bullet proof when it comes to relaibility was a big question mark in front of me right now.We reached home swapped batteries and Blade came back to life with it's original battery, atleast I was sure now that this is what needs to be fixed. I was doubting the stator or rectifier, but changing stator would have meant another circus of getting the stator and also a new gasket to stop engine oil from leaking. The rectifier and the wire around it was also getting very hot, and when we were checking the battery power using voltmeter we were hardly able to go over 12.8V. Spoke to yassar from motospark and he advised that since you are too far, you just take out the rectifier and send to me, I will test it and let you know. Sounded fair, and that is when we started to dismantle the rectfier.This is when we noticed this!!The wire running from rectifier and stator had a pinch, was shorting and burning out. The moment the load was increasing it probably used to get overloaded and stop the bike. Finally the biggest issue we thought was identified. Our mechanic changed the wire between stator to rectifier and the bike has been running fine since then. I have done close to 600 kms after that and battery has not been charged manually, I would still like to run it for some more time before declaring the issue to be resolved.This though had another impact, the speedometer conked off, now I only see backlight and no display. Just that when I thought we had fixed everything we were hit with another issue.The bike back after the rectifier fix and majority of the accessories installed.So I started hunting for a speedometer, new speedometer are very tough to find, and majority are used one with exobriant pricing. I finally zeroed on one that was available in netherlands, it was then shipped to germany to a friend, who carried it to mumbai and then it reached bangalore. So we can add few more countries to the ever growing list of the global Honda bike that I own.33. Old Speedometer from NetherlandThe part came to me, we went to install it and voila this was a defective speedometer as well. The speedo worked but indicator relay was conked and so was neutral light and tachometer was not working as well. So we had to put the old speedo back as I needed the Indicators to work without fail. The next step was try to get speedo fixed, found a guy who works on pcb level repair we fixed one and it worked for 50 kms before conking off again. He is trying to fix it as I type this, but I am not too hopeful. I have planned another fix and have hence received the odometer. It was received by me yesterday, it works on GPS, and connects to GPS satellite to give you the speed and latest time.34. New SpeedometerThis though will not show tacho, I am fine with it, the only problem, although it shows distance travelled from the time you started, it resets when you turn off the bike. I need this for keeping a tab on when to refuel, now I will need to keep an idea to not get stranded in between without fuel.Once this is Installed this should complete my project, I will keep you updated.35. Customized SeatI did not like the bland look of the seat, so wanted to do something with the seat. I contacted Saddle India and they said they can make the seat more comfortable and design it as per my requirement. That is when we came to a design conclusion and I shipped the seats to them. They did a great work on designing the seat and shipped it back to me. The extra cushion makes the rides much more comfortable, just that I am not very happy with the color, it seems more papaya color then yellow. I might rework on it after sometime just for the color, other then that I am happy with the craftsmanship and work done by them.From a bland black seat toNotice the Extra Cushion, boon on longer rides.The ExhaustNext up was the Exhaust, this we had a mixed feeling, while few of my friends liked the long swept exhaust, I was not a fan. In addition to that the stock exhaust was absolutely muted and felt like a 250CC bike, it did sound nice on high RPMS, but i don't ride that way to keep my bike at higher RPM to enjoy the aural experience. So I was planning to order the Yoshi but that was also long and again needed to be carried from US. That is when I came across Dominator exhaust which is a Polish company, and decided to go ahead with them after listening the sound on Youtube.I ordered it with Baffle and once you put in the baffle it sounds just like stock, it is when you take the baffle out that it comes in it's own and sounds absolutely brilliant and makes you realise that yes it is indeed an Inline 4 bike that you are riding.Pic with the Exhaust Installed.The size of the baffle.Couple of Videos for your listening pleasure, these are both witout the baffle.Next up were the mirrors, I did not like the old mirrors and wanted to give the bike a little more modern look, this is the reason I had procured the winglet mirrors and went about installing them.Front end with the stock mirrors!Front end with Winglet mirrors!This does give it a very very mean look, though can't say the same about the rear visibility, let's just say it gets the job done.As the bike neared completion, one thing I really like is matching gear, so I decided to get a matching helmet and riding jacket. Dainese is my weapon of choice when it comes to riding gear, and luckily they had one in flourscent yellow for sale, same was procured.Wolverine Graphics HJC ST 70 Helmet.Dainese Hydro Flux jacket with back and chest protectors.Last was to add some stickers and the reservoir sleeve, some more stickers need to be procured.I also smoked out the front light, one to save the lights from dome to get scratched as it is Aliexpress stuff.Secondly just to match the smoked look of the rear tail light, a video of the same in action, look mama they blink!!The Chain Guard and rear hugger installed!As we near the end of this long write up, I would like to really thank lot of my friends who carried all this stuff from abroad for me and made this restoration complete. It would have been impossible to reach where I am today without there help and impossible to do anything if covid was still on, so all of you, few of you who are also a part of Team Bhp, Thank You!!One person who though really stands out is my friend Ravi, he was pillar of strength in this restoration, and did a lot of work single handedly. The bike was parked at his place more then mine in last 6 months while we were getting this done.Here he is on a bike that belongs to him as much as it belongs to me!! He still has to hear it roar on the Dominator though!I am almost done with my complete restoration, and the below three are the pending items to all it a day!!1. Fix Speedometer2. Get Braided Brake Lines3. Maybe wrap the bike or get a new body kit from AliExpress4. My current mechcani was not able to install the Gear Indicator, so that needs to be installed.It's six months and counting when I started this, I am hoping to close it out by end of this year, Will keep this thread updated. Last edited by AtheK : 18th October 2022 at 23:49 . ptaneja BHPian Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: South Pole,Mars Posts: 842 Thanked: 949 Times re: Kia Carens 1.4L Petrol Manual | Ownership Review | 6,000 kms up! A long pending update !! As some of you are aware, I did initially note a lag or sluggishness in initial 1st and 2nd gear - but I blamed my prior diesel vehicle with initial torque missing. After about a couple of months of purchase, and having struggled a lot with inclines in hilly areas, I became more and more assured that something is not right. Contacted many owners, and slowly and steadily a group of disgruntled owners formed - all having the same issue. Major Issues can be explained as - (Applicable only for 1.4 Turbo Manual - DCT or Diesel are unaffected by these ) 1. Major Lag in lower gears - RPM drops when the car is going up the incline and as soon as we slot to 2nd gear. RPM drop is so pronounced that the car stalls unless we drop it down to 1st gear. It lags majorly in 2nd Gear and stops/stalls on inclined surfaces which makes it an unsafe car to drive in hilly areas. Even if we leave hilly areas apart, then also it struggles while coming out from basements of malls/societies/offices to ground floors and stops very frequently due to which there are chances of some major mishap which till date you are not acknowledging. Moreover, it even struggles when we try to park the car on the ramp areas of houses and stops frequently due to which there is a hard/tough time to park the vehicle. Driving in 2nd gear on a plain surface with potholes and speed breakers is not possible - as even after a speed breaker you would eventually have to slot to 1st gear. Many owners who defended their purchase/Kia Turbo Engine, prompted and advised us to keep the engine in turbo range. This is not practically possible all the time - especially when you are climbing up an incline, and have a long line of cars behind you. You slot the car to 2nd gear at 1500 RPM or so, and it drops to 600 and the car just about stalls. For how long are you going to crawl up the incline on 1st gear / 15km limit ? I have a demo of this issue here - https://youtube.com/watch?v=C5ukaSBxbrw?feature=share 2. Hill Assist / Hill Hold Feature - Second issue is the opposite of what we have in their own owners manual. Hill Hold does not release the brake when the accelerator is pressed, but it takes its own preset time of 2/3 seconds. With this, the car stays stationary even when you press the accelerator - RPM increases, speed stays at 0. Demo of this issue is here - https://youtube.com/watch?v=7iGGReSfEJs?feature=share Both the above issues can be related, or not - but this was in June / July when momentum of this issue started, and I started opening up trouble tickets with Kia. Initially, Kia SC was adamant that there is no issue, and you need to adapt, learn on how to drive turbo engines. But eventually, SC GM drove the car, and tried going up an incline - he immediately accepted that there was an issue. But on verbal grounds - nothing was provided on email. At the same time, our group of affected members grew, and we started exerting pressure on Kia, by opening repeated tickets via their website, sending emails to Kia with top management in loop , phone complaints, Instagram or twitter. People started posting their genuine feedback and displeasure of driving a 1.4 on all prominent Youtube Carens reviews. Finally, got a response from Kias management sent an email to all, stating that we are working on a solution. The solution, though was not mentioned in email, was given to us by Kia regional heads over phone - that Kia Korea is in the process of developing a software patch to solve this, and expected date of release is Oct 2022. To my surprise and pleasure, the software was developed before time, took approvals by government regulators like ARAI etc, and it reached SC in the first week of Sep 2022. The patches are provided to affected individuals only - to only those who complain. I have just recently got the software updated, and my findings are - 1. The initial sluggishness is solved about 80% easily. There is no lag while picking up the car, one can drive easily in 2nd gear over speed breakers/potholes without pressing the clutch and accelerator. The car is finally driving as expected. 2. Hill Assist still needs a bit of work - I have not tested this extensively, but just for a couple of instances. Hill Assist does not leave the brake for a good 1 or 2 seconds even after you press the accelerator. 3. Idle RPM is still the same as before - car starts with 1100 RPM which drops to 700 after 2/3 seconds. Software Patch is composed of two files - one for Engine, and another for ABS/ESP. Firmware Details - The process of upgrading is pretty standard, just plug their connector to the OBD port, use their tablet/software and do a scan. It will detect the newer version available and will install it. The whole process will take a max of 20 mins. With the above fix, I can conclude that - - Kia listened, and provided a fix. Though this should not have happened in the first place, but still. - Where was Kias QA team who did the testing ? ! - Customer Satisfaction Rule - Provided a fix before a tentative timeline. - Customer support is a joke - you open up tickets, and theyll keep on closing them without your consent. - There is no escalation matrix for Kia. First time I am seeing a public dealing MNC, but without ANY form of escalation or grievance redressal mechanism posted on their site. All you have is a global email address, where youll get standard copy paste responses. - Kia should have come out in the open and declared publicly the issue and solution. Till date they are quiet about it, and just doing the patches on each customer basis. If someone complains, do it, else let it be. Better would have been a recall !! - For owners who still think that their car is perfect, and not facing this issue, need not patch it. Or better still drive SCs demo vehicle and see the difference. - SC is doing this patch in their new cars present in stockyard - so probably those who buy now will already have this patched. - For all 1.4 owners who still feel a lag, or as others say not in turbo range, please get the software installed. - Would have loved Kia to fix HA too, but that's still manageable by using handbrake. As some of you are aware, I did initially note a lag or sluggishness in initial 1st and 2nd gear - but I blamed my prior diesel vehicle with initial torque missing.After about a couple of months of purchase, and having struggled a lot with inclines in hilly areas, I became more and more assured that something is not right.Contacted many owners, and slowly and steadily a group of disgruntled owners formed - all having the same issue.Major Issues can be explained as -(Applicable only for 1.4 Turbo Manual - DCT or Diesel are unaffected by these )RPM drops when the car is going up the incline and as soon as we slot to 2nd gear. RPM drop is so pronounced that the car stalls unless we drop it down to 1st gear.It lags majorly in 2nd Gear and stops/stalls on inclined surfaces which makes it an unsafe car to drive in hilly areas.Even if we leave hilly areas apart, then also it struggles while coming out from basements of malls/societies/officesto ground floors and stops very frequently due to which there are chances of some major mishap which till date you are not acknowledging.Moreover, it even struggles when we try to park the car on the ramp areas of housesand stops frequently due to which there is a hard/tough time to park the vehicle.Driving in 2nd gear on a plain surface with potholes and speed breakers is not possible - as even after a speed breaker you would eventually have to slot to 1st gear.Many owners who defended their purchase/Kia Turbo Engine, prompted and advised us to keep the engine in turbo range. This is not practically possible all the time- especially when you are climbing up an incline, and have a long line of cars behind you.You slot the car to 2nd gear at 1500 RPM or so, and it drops to 600 and the car just about stalls. For how long are you going to crawl up the incline on 1st gear / 15km limit ?I have a demo of this issue here -Second issue is the opposite of what we have in their own owners manual. Hill Hold does not release the brake when the accelerator is pressed, but it takes its own preset time of 2/3 seconds.With this, the car stays stationary even when you press the accelerator - RPM increases, speed stays at 0.Demo of this issue is here -Both the above issues can be related, or not - but this was in June / July when momentum of this issue started, and I started opening up trouble tickets with Kia.Initially, Kia SC was adamant that there is no issue, and you need to adapt, learn on how to drive turbo engines.But eventually, SC GM drove the car, and tried going up an incline - he immediately accepted that there was an issue. But on verbal grounds - nothing was provided on email.At the same time, our group of affected members grew, and we started exerting pressure on Kia, by opening repeated tickets via their website, sending emails to Kia with top management in loop , phone complaints, Instagram or twitter.People started posting their genuine feedback and displeasure of driving a 1.4 on all prominent Youtube Carens reviews.Finally, got a response from Kias management sent an email to all, stating that we are working on a solution. The solution, though was not mentioned in email, was given to us by Kia regional heads over phone - that Kia Korea is in the process of developing a software patch to solve this, and expected date of release is Oct 2022.To my surprise and pleasure, the software was developed before time, took approvals by government regulators like ARAI etc, and it reached SC in the first week of Sep 2022.The patches are provided to affected individuals only - to only those who complain.I have just recently got the software updated, and my findings are -1. The initial sluggishness is solved about 80% easily. There is no lag while picking up the car, one can drive easily in 2nd gear over speed breakers/potholes without pressing the clutch and accelerator.The car is finally driving as expected.2. Hill Assist still needs a bit of work - I have not tested this extensively, but just for a couple of instances. Hill Assist does not leave the brake for a good 1 or 2 seconds even after you press the accelerator.3. Idle RPM is still the same as before - car starts with 1100 RPM which drops to 700 after 2/3 seconds.Software Patch is composed of two files - one for Engine, and another for ABS/ESP.The process of upgrading is pretty standard, just plug their connector to the OBD port, use their tablet/software and do a scan.It will detect the newer version available and will install it.The whole process will take a max of 20 mins.With the above fix, I can conclude that -- Kia listened, and provided a fix. Though this should not have happened in the first place, but still.- Where was Kias QA team who did the testing ? !- Customer Satisfaction Rule - Provided a fix before a tentative timeline.- Customer support is a joke - you open up tickets, and theyll keep on closing them without your consent.- There is no escalation matrix for Kia. First time I am seeing a public dealing MNC, but without ANY form of escalation or grievance redressal mechanism posted on their site.All you have is a global email address, where youll get standard copy paste responses.- Kia should have come out in the open and declared publicly the issue and solution. Till date they are quiet about it, and just doing the patches on each customer basis.If someone complains, do it, else let it be. Better would have been a recall !!- For owners who still think that their car is perfect, and not facing this issue, need not patch it. Or better still drive SCs demo vehicle and see the difference.- SC is doing this patch in their new cars present in stockyard - so probably those who buy now will already have this patched.- For all 1.4 owners who still feel a lag, or as others say not in turbo range, please get the software installed.- Would have loved Kia to fix HA too, but that's still manageable by using handbrake. Last edited by GTO : 19th September 2022 at 10:03 . Reason: Just the first one Recap: When the USB Promoter Group revealed the latest USB specifications last month, they anticipated they would publish the final spec before November. Now the full sheets are here. As the new standard competes with the upcoming Thunderbolt update, the groups behind the interfaces are becoming more careful with potentially confusing naming and labeling (to no avail). The USB Promoter Group published the final specifications for USB4 version 2.0 this week. The specification's main improvement is that it doubles bandwidth from 40Gbps to 80Gbps. Using PAM3 signal encoding, 80Gbps connections are possible over newly-defined 80Gbps USB-C active cables or existing 40Gbps passive cables. Technically, 80Gbps isn't the maximum bandwidth, however. High-performance USB4-based displays and other specific situations might allow for asymmetrical connections reaching up to 120Gbps in one direction and 40Gbps in the other. Also read: TechSpot's Quick Guide to Sockets and Ports The USB group first talked about the new standard last month, revealing the upgraded data protocols, display protocols, and physical layers that allow both increased bandwidth and the technology to smartly utilize it. Because the specification is brand new, consumers shouldn't expect USB4 2.0 products to appear until 2023. An interesting new feature of USB4 2.0 is the ability to tunnel USB 3.2 connections beyond their original 20Gbps bandwidth. The standard is also compatible with PCIe 4 and the newly-established DisplayPort 2.1. Expectedly, USB4 2.0 is backward compatible with USB4 1.0, USB 2.0, and Thunderbolt 3. Thunderbolt 4's 40Gbps bandwidth matched that of USB4 1.0 since the specifications are related. Not willing to fall behind, Thunderbolt is also upgrading to a new 80Gbps-capable specification which Intel demonstrated in Israel last month. Interestingly, it isn't called Thunderbolt 5 (for now). It also hasn't gone unnoticed that USB4 2.0's name isn't very straightforward. Less knowledgeable users might confuse it with the 20-year-old USB 2.0 specification which tops out at a mere 480Mbps. To counter the issue, USB4 2.0's logos released alongside the final specification emphasize the bandwidth figure over the specification number. None of the logos say USB4 2.0 at all. The packaging logo reads "Certified USB 80Gbps," while the others simply say 80Gbps, sometimes along with wattage indicators like 240w or 60w. TL;DR: Sanctions against Russia mean the country now looks to the Chinese gray market for its semiconductor imports, but there's a problem: 40% of them are defective. That marks a 1,900% increase in their failure rate over the last few months. As reported by The Register, pro-Putin newspaper Kommersant writes that the percentage of defective imported chips into Russia before the war was just 2%, which isn't very good considering how many components are found in today's electronic items. Now, almost eight months after the country invaded Ukraine, it stands at 40%. Russia blames these failure rates on the pandemic impacting the supply chain and sanctions forcing it to import chips from the Chinese gray market, an area that not only comes with the threat of faulty products but is also unreliable and slow. Many businesses have quit Russia as a result of the import restrictions, and those that are left must deal with sanction-skirting Chinese companies for semiconductors. Given that some of these duds were likely intended for military hardware supporting the war in Ukraine, one wonders if Russia and China's "friendship without limits" extends to imports of non-borked chips. China has neither confirmed its support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine nor condemned Putin's actions. But the sanctions placed on the country have benefitted Chinese companies dealing with their own US-imposed restrictionswe often see both nations grouped together in sanctions, as was the case with the export rules introduced a few weeks ago that stopped Nvidia and AMD from selling their high-performance AI-focused GPUs to Russia or China without a license. After it was first hit with import sanctions, Russia made bold claims that it would be investing in domestic chip development, manufacturing, and personnel training, with the intention of producing chips using a 28nm node by 2030. May brought news that Russia's inability to source reliable semiconductors was forcing it to use components taken from dishwashers and refrigerators in its tanks, which are probably more reliable than the Chinese imports, anyway. In brief: TSMC is once again warning of the problems both it and the semiconductor industry as a whole are facing as tensions between the US and China rise and the prospect of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan grows more likely. TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker, is caught in the middle of the spat between the US and China, which accounted for 13% of the company's total revenue between April and June. That figure stood at 17% for the whole of 2020, but US sanctions against Chinese companies such as Huawei and the country's chip industry in general have impacted the amount of revenue TSMC generates from Chinese customers. Speaking at the Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association's annual convention (via Reuters), TSMC Chairman Mark Liu said: "The U.S.-China trade conflict and the escalation of cross-Strait tensions have brought more serious challenges to all industries, including the semiconductor industry." Liu added that China's government has "never stopped promoting its domestic semiconductor industry," including chip design, manufacturing, and packaging. Liu's speech comes a week after TSMC was granted a one-year license by the US to continue ordering American chipmaking equipment that will allow it to expand in China. TSMC will be able to ship the equipment to its Nanjing manufacturing facility in the country. The latest US sanctions restrict shipments of American-made electronics or other items that China could use to create chipmaking tools or equipment. It also prevents non-Chinese companies in other countries from using American equipment to service Chinese customers unless granted a license by the US. In addition to the US sanctions, China's semiconductor industry continues to suffer the effects of its strict Covid policies and a struggling economy. August marked the Asian nation's largest-ever monthly decline in the production of integrated circuits since records began in 1997. There have long been fears that China could seize TSMC if it ever invaded Taiwan, a prospect suggested by a top Chinese economist earlier this year. There was even talk of the US destroying its facilities in such an event to keep them out of China's hands. But TSMC says this would be unnecessary given the company's reliance on overseas organizations and supplies for its operations. Why it matters: "BlackLotus" is being offered on underground forums as an all-powerful firmware rootkit, capable of surviving any removal effort and bypassing the most advanced Windows protections. If actual malware samples can prove the offer is real, of course. A new powerful UEFI rootkit is reportedly up for sale on underground forums, offering advanced attack features that were previously available only to intelligence agencies and state-backed threat groups. BlackLotus, as the unknown seller has named the malware, is a firmware rootkit that can bypass Windows protections to run malicious code at the lowest level of the x86 architecture protection rings. According to security researchers that spotted the BlackLotus ads on crimeware forums, a single rootkit user license costs up to $5,000, while a subsequent code rebuild is "just" $200. Considering the capabilities listed by the seller, even spending $5,000 could be seen a real bargain for cyber-criminals and black hat hackers around the world. As summarized by security researcher Scott Scheferman, BlackLotus is written in Assembly and C and weighs 80 kilobytes (just around 81,920 bytes in size) while it's vendor independent. The rootkit has anti-VM, anti-debug and code obfuscation features to block or hinder analysis attempts, provides an "agent protection" at kernel level (ring 0) for persistence in the UEFI firmware, and it comes with a fully featured install guide and FAQ. Like any other proper rootkit, BlackLotus is loaded in the very first stages of the boot process before the Windows startup phase. The malware can allegedly bypass many Windows security protections including Secure Boot, UAC, BitLocker, HVCI and Windows Defender, while offering the ability to load unsigned drivers. Other advanced features of the malware include a fully featured file transfer mode, and a "vulnerable signed bootloader" that cannot be invalidated without affecting hundreds of bootloader still in use today. Scott Scheferman highlights the danger BlackLotus can pose for modern firmware-based security, making a threat level previously available only to advanced-persistent threats (APT) by state-sponsored groups like the Russian GRU or China's own APT 41 available to anyone. The new UEFI rootkit could represent a real leap forward for cyber-crime in terms of ease of use, scalability, accessibility, persistence, evasion and destruction potential. UEFI rootkits were once considered to be very rare and specialized threats, but many discoveries in the past few years have shown a completely different scenario. As for BlackLotus, the security community will need to analyze an actual sample of the malware to determine if the advertised features are real, if it's production ready, or if it's just an elaborated scam. Bottom line: Hot on the heels of the recently-published USB4 2.0 specification, the next generation of Thunderbolt promises similar capabilities. Thunderbolt and USB4 have been in lock-step for a while in terms of bandwidth due to their close relationship. Intel shed more light on the successor to Thunderbolt 4 on Wednesday. Like USB4 2.0, the new standard offers a connection bandwidth of up to 80Gbps, while in some cases in can reach up to 120Gbps. Next-generation Thunderbolt Intel hasn't properly named it yet, so Thunderbolt 5 is not a given supports bidirectional bandwidth up to 80GBps, which Intel first demonstrated in Israel last month. However, this week, the company also presented the new Thunderbolt's ability to transmit at 120Gbps while receiving at 40Gbps. The USB Promoter Group, which includes the likes of Apple, HP, Intel, Microsoft, Renesas Electronics, STMicroelectronics, and Texas Instruments, briefly mentioned the same capability for USB4 2.0 when it published its specs earlier this week. The asymmetrical connection may be handy for USB4-based high-performance displays and other video intensive workloads. Intel specifically points out Thunderbolt's usefulness for gamers and content creators who need to move large files around. According to Intel's charts, one difference between USB4 and next-gen Thunderbolt is that the latter requires 80Gbps bidirectional and 120Gbps asymmetric connections. In contrast, the chart shows the USB4 specification only optionally supports bandwidths above 20Gbps but doesn't distinguish between USB4 1.0 or 2.0. The two technologies seem similar because USB4 1.0 is based on Thunderbolt 3. Both enabled 40Gbps connections, and their successors are upgrading to 80Gbps and 120Gbps almost simultaneously (Thunderbolt 4 maintained the same bandwidth as TB 3, but added more display and security capabilities). Like USB4 2.0, next-gen Thunderbolt is compatible with previous versions of USB and Thunderbolt. With new signaling technology, it supports existing passive cables under 1m. Next-gen Thunderbolt also works with DisplayPort 2.1, another connection specification released this week. VESA updated all DisplayPort 2.0 products to the new standard, which uses the same physical layer specification as USB4. Intel plans to reveal the official name of next-gen Thunderbolt, along with more of its features, next year. The company could call it Thunderbolt 5 or label it a subdivision of Thunderbolt 4, similar to USB4 2.0's naming. However, some consider USB4's branding confusing. With the recent addition of the HondaJet Elite II, Honda Motors updates its lineup of business aircraft. According to reports, the new luxurious aircraft can fly farther than past iterations and will have smart features like emergency autolanding and other technologies that aid pilots. HondaJet's newest model completes the HondaJet 420 series. About the HondaJet Elite II Honda Aircraft revealed on Monday, Oct. 17 that the HondaJet Elite II will have a maximum range of 2,865 kilometers, increasing the distance by 204 kilometers. According to Nikkei Asia, a model of the new HondaJet is on display at the National Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition, which opened shortly after the jet's debut in Florida. The plane has a larger fuel tank, which raises the maximum takeoff weight to 5,035 kilograms. It had a stealthy profile thanks to its red side stripes and black paint scheme. Its cabin has been completely redesigned, and two new, opulent-looking interior options, Onyx and Steel, have been added. To make the interior smoother, the Honda engineering team reportedly upgraded the building's acoustics. Read Also: Canoo Secures 9,300 Lifestyle Delivery Vehicles Orders from Kingbee, to Possibly Double the Order As per AVWeb, the Elite II will come complete with autothrottles beginning with deliveries in the first half of 2023 and a Garmin Emergency AutoLand for deliveries in the second half of 2023. It will also have a new palette and interior. "Through the HondaJet, we hope to redefine the concept of the light business jet once more," Honda Aircraft President Hideto Yamasaki informed Nikkei Asia. "Going forward, we'll take on the challenge of researching, developing, and introducing new automated technology." A Superior Version The HondaJet Elite II reinvents what it means to be a very light jet thanks to Honda Aircraft Company's relentless focus on innovation. HondaJet can now reach more locations with the Elite II's increased range of 1,547 nm while continuing to be the most fuel-efficient aircraft in its class. Honda modified the airframe's aerodynamics and increased fuel capacity to support the range increase, while increasing the gross weight by 200 pounds. Despite its heavier weight, it also has ground spoilers, which improve takeoff and landing performance. Despite these improvements, the HondaJet Elite II continues to be significantly more fuel efficient and emits less greenhouse gas than any other twin-engine business jet of comparable size. AviationWeek tells us that Honda top officials expect FAA certification for the Elite II to be imminent, and several aircraft are currently in the building process. It will have a price tag of $6.95 million. The first deliveries will happen in November. What's Next? Following Robb Report, Honda's upcoming project will be the 2600, a concept that was recently unveiled with a full-size mockup last year. The HondaJet configuration would be extended from its current 42.6 to 57.8 feet, making it the single-pilot business aircraft with the longest range. A deadline for the 2600's certification has not been disclosed by Honda officials. Related Article: Wisk's 6 Gen Autonomous Electric Aircraft Can Take off and Land Vertically, To Take the Skies Soon 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. SpaceX's Starlink Aviation service is confirmed to arrive. The independent space company promises that there will be over 350Mbps for each airplane using the new internet tier. (Photo : Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) In this composite photo, Planes take off from Heathrow Airport on November 2, 2016 in London, England. A total of 42 planes were captured taking off from Heathrow Airport in a one hour period between 10.17am and 11.17am and a montage was created from those single images. Air traffic controllers warned that the UK skies are becoming over crowded and today. If this is true, the new Starlink Aviation service will offer faster and more efficient internet connection than other in-flight broadband service providers. As of writing, some airplanes still rely on air-to-ground systems, which only offer more than 10Mbps. On the other hand, satellite systems are also used by other aircraft. However, they can only provide between 30Mbps to 100Mbps. If ever SpaceX can keep its promise, airline companies will have a new option to improve their passengers' experiences. SpaceX Starlink Aviation to Arrive According to The Verge's latest report, the new Starlink Aviation service is expected to arrive as early as 2023. (Photo : Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images) An aircraft flies through London skies leaving a vapour trail on February 2, 2007 in London, England. When burning its fuel, planes release exhaust fumes which contain, among others, water vapour and impurities. When these gases come into contact with the cold air. Also Read: SpaceX's Starlink Flat High Performance Arrives! Here's Why This Square Antenna is a Big Deal for Sea Vessels Aside from offering fast internet connection in-flight, SpaceX said that passengers can take advantage of the new Starlink Aviation from taxi takeoff until flight takeoff. It can offer around 350Mbps of internet connection on flights over land and water. "With Starlink, passengers will be able to access high-speed, low-latency internet from the moment they walk on their plane," said SpaceX via its official Twitter account. With Starlink, passengers will be able to access high-speed, low-latency internet from the moment they walk on their plane https://t.co/bcn8jvpKgi pic.twitter.com/mDDQou1ZA3 SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 19, 2022 Elon Musk already shared his plans to offer Starlink to airplanes way back in 2021. Now, it seems like it will become a reality. Starlink Aviation's Details Via the official Starlink Support page, SpaceX said that Starlink Aviation would be available globally once it launches. The aerospace firm added that it would include the advanced Aero Terminal, which is fast enough to accommodate online gaming, video calls, and other online activities that require high data. As of writing, SpaceX said that STCs (supplemental type certificates) are still in development for ERJ-135, ERJ-145, G650, G550, Falcon 2000, G450, Challenger 300, Challenger 350, Global Express, Global 5000, Global 6000, and Global 7500 aircraft models. In other stories, SpaceX's 2.4GHz spectrum access request for Starlink was criticized by Globalstar. Meanwhile, the SpaceX Starlink expansion in Antarctica finally began. For more news updates about Starlink and other internet services, keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: SpaceX Requests Pentagon to Pay for Starlink Service in Ukraine; Elon Musk Finds Ambassador Andrij Melnyk Rude This article is owned by TechTimes Written by Griffin Davis 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Ocean Energy is collaborating with 14 industry and university partners in the UK, Germany, France, Spain, and Ireland to test its OE35 floating wave energy device at scale over the next four years, according to Interesting Engineering. (Photo : DAMIEN MEYER/AFP via Getty Images) A picture taken on May 10, 2022 shows the tide Gauge of Saint-Malo, western France. - The Maregraphe tide gauge operates with the help of digital technology, calculating sea level with radar waves. The Largest Capacity Floating Wave Energy Device According to Ocean Energy, the OE35 is the world's largest capacity floating wave energy device. The device floats on the ocean's surface and uses a trapped pocket of air to produce electricity. Its lower part is open to waves, so when waves pass through that submerged lower part, they oscillate and drive the trapped air through a turbine. The energy that is generated can be exported from the OE35 to the grid. WEDUSEA Project The collaboration is called WEDUSEA, a $19.2 million project co-funded by the EU Horizon Europe Programme and Innovate UK. Its main goal is to allow viable mass-market wave energy technology, based on a press release. As part of the project, Ocean Energy will demonstrate a grid-connected 1MW OE35 floating wave energy converter at the European Marine Energy Centre Test Site in Orkney, Scotland. The project will have three separate test phases over the next four years. The first phase is the initial design phase for a device suited to the European Marine Energy test site's ocean conditions. While the second phase will focus on the installation and demonstration process that will likely take two years. If everything goes to plan, the final phase will focus on the commercialization and dissemination of the technology. Also Read: NREL's New Technology Will Convert Ocean Waves into Electricity Wave Technology in Renewable Energy Wave technology is particularly promising because it is a source of renewable energy that is completely inexhaustible. It also is particularly economical because it is not limited by geography and requires little maintenance. The energy it generates is also very predictable and has no intermittency issue. Wave technology is the last of the three major renewable energy technologies to become commercially viable. Compared to other renewable energy technologies, wave energy has the lowest energy density, meaning it is the most expensive. However, it ranks higher than solar and wind energy in terms of reliability and stability of supply. Ocean Energy is hoping to make waves in the renewable energy sector with its OE35 device. The device is capable of generating more power than the existing wave energy technologies, according to the company. It is also much cheaper to install, it is much quieter than wind turbines, and it does not harm the local marine life. The next frontier for the renewable energy industry is developing solutions that will be cost effective, while remaining environmentally friendly. Floating wave energy devices may soon be leading the way. Related Article: 'Wave Energy Generator': CalWave's Clean Power Tech Finishes A Successful 10-Month Open Ocean Test This article is owned by Tech Times Written by April Fowell 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. An upgrade arrived for Samsung Smart TVs and their owners when accessing the app via their massive displays, and it delivers a new experience for users with the better version of the video conferencing app. The app still has no formal launch present, and the companies have not yet announced Meet's integration for smart TVs now. Despite this, the app already appeared on Samsung's app store for the Tizen-powered televisions that have it available for people to check if it is compatible with their hardware. Google Meet App Arrives on Samsung Smart TVs (Photo : Samsung) Samsung's App Store for its smart televisions lists the new Google Meet app available for devices, and it comes with an upgraded version of the feature available for its users. The new upgrade delivers on the Google Meet experience which combined the Duo with it, now acting as Google's sole video conferencing app for the public. It is also a free application available for the public to download and install on their smart TVs, bringing the feature available to everyone who owns a Samsung Smart TV. However, it would depend on the TV model if it is available and compatible with their device, something which Samsung would determine once users head to the App Store. Read Also: Google TV Introduces Parent-Controlled Watchlists and AI-Generated Suggestions for Kids New UI for Google Meet on Bigger Displays Google Meet's new UI for the smart TVs focuses on the dark mode that is now available for larger displays, like how it appears for portable devices. On the other hand, Google also upgraded its remote control features that would work well with what Samsung has available, making it easier for users to navigate the app. (Photo : Samsung) According to 9to5Google, the renewed Meet experience is available for Samsung Smart TVs with its formal launch coming soon. Samsung and Google's Partnership Samsung and Google have one of the best partnerships in the tech industry now, as the companies are known for their mutual relationship that complements each other's products in the market. One of the ventures here is towards Google's third-generation Tensor chip that delivers on the silicon chip for its Pixel smartphones that Samsung will manufacture soon. These are two known Big Tech companies in the world and their relationship is massive proof that companies in the tech world can collaborate and deliver better technology as we know it. Several ad campaigns and marketing strategies also reflect the relationship between the two companies, focusing mostly on how both works together to enhance each other's products. The ad talks about how Google's services work with Samsung's hardware, clearly showing that its relationship progressed to new heights with its collaboration on deliverables. Now, another testament to their partnership appears with the Google Meet app that integrates the feature into Samsung's Smart TV. People do not need to connect computers for them to use the television for video conferencing, as the Smart TV itself is enough to connect to Google Meet and converse with users' contacts for their needs. Related Article: Samsung Electronics Announces Expanded Partnership with Google to Elevate Smart Home Experiences This article is owned by TechTimes Written by Isaiah Richard 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. While foldable smartphones are starting to grow in popularity with the Samsung Z Fold and Z Flip models, it seems like even laptops are evolving into something else. Lenovo has just revealed a laptop with a slidable and stretchable screen. The Rise of Foldable Displays Once Again According to Giz China's story, as technology advances, the standards for regular devices have changed over the years. Over the past three years, foldable smartphones have emerged, with foldable displays returning to style. The difference between foldable displays today and displays in the past is that even screens can be folded now. The article by Giz China notes that there have already been slidable screens showing up recently. Slidable and Stretchable Notebook by Lenovo Revealed Interestingly, this type of technology could progress outside of just smartphones and make its way to tablets. Lenovo, a major player in the notebook market, is doing just this with one of its new laptops. The Lenovo Tech World 22 event was recently held as a way for the company to introduce new technologies as well as give the public an update on what to expect from the company. The event revealed that the company would have a slidable and stretchable notebook. Concept Notebook Could have a Vertically Slidable Display and Stretchable Screen During the event, Lenovo revealed a concept notebook with a vertically slidable display and a stretchable screen. The notebook also packs a 13-inch display and is the original screen size but can be stretched vertically to get a taller device. After fully sliding and stretching the display vertically, users will have more screen space to carry out different things like multitasking, browsers, mobile apps, and other particular usages. So far, no announcement has been given regarding when the product will be mass-produced. Lenovo's Recent Tech World 22 Event Introduced Multiple Different Technologies Lenovo, however, proposed an interactive and physical holographic solution to help with immersive remote communication and teamwork. This particular feature was announced during the Tech World 22 event and was called Cyber Spaces. The company is also expected to release other things like its Freestyle app. This particular app allows users to have universal control and collaboration between their PCs and tablets. Read Also: Apple's M2-powered iPad Pro Supports Even the Most Complex Workloads Freestyle App Lets Users have Full Control Over Their Tablet and PC The app allows users to gain full control of the pairing of their tablet and transform it into a portable second screen to expand their desktop space even further. As for the notebook, only a teaser was released, as more details are still expected to come in the future. The company gave no word regarding the notebook's name or series. The only thing revealed was a concept, but as per the article, this still does not guarantee that the slidable and stretchable notebook would ever reach mass production later. Related Article: Newegg Pre-Built Gaming PC Charges Players an Extra $520 Just to Equip the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 GPU This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Urian B. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Tesla, one of the world's fastest-growing vehicle manufacturers, has been seen building gigafactories around the world to meet the growing demand for self-driving electric vehicles. The Canadian government confirmed in September that it was in talks with Tesla about building a Gigafactory in the country. With the opening of new Showrooms, Service Centers, and Superchargers all over the world, Tesla has continued to grow rapidly. Based on an Electrek report, Tesla is looking to open a new factory in Pontoon Beach, Illinois, near St. Louis. This comes on the heels of reports that the company has signed a long-term lease on a massive new building in the area. A New Tesla Warehouse in Illinois The company has not yet revealed what the leased property will be used for, but its size suggests that it could be converted into a massive parts distribution center. A request for comment was not immediately responded to by the company or the developer. Tesla's website did not have any job openings in Southern Illinois to provide further details. But online news outlets have spotted several related job listings currently live on LinkedIn. While there are no job openings on the Tesla Careers website, many Pontoon Beach-based positions are posted on Linkedin, from "Inventory Control Specialist" to "Material Handler." All of the job descriptions mention working in a warehouse and being a part of the Distribution & Fulfillment group, with some even mentioning specifically that the successful candidate will work in a "Parts Distribution Warehouse." Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated in June that the company's Gigafactories are losing billions of dollars in production costs. Musk revealed that Gigafactory Berlin and Texas experienced difficulties in their operations, which is due to the chip shortage that the industry is experiencing at the time. Read Also: Ikea Partners With Kodiak Robotics to Bring Self-Driving Technology to Delivery Trucks This appears to be no longer the case, as the EV manufacturer has been on a factory construction spree. Tesla enjoys large structures and has constructed many of them, including Gigafactory Nevada and Gigafactory Texas, among the company's largest structures worldwide. More About the New Tesla Warehouse Tesla signed a lease for nearly 667,000 square feet of space at Gateway TradePort, a planned industrial park in Pontoon Beach, according to a local news outlet, Courier Tribune. A market report from commercial real estate firm CBRE confirms this. According to CBRE, Tesla will soon occupy Building 4 of the development, which accounts for more than half of the 1.1 million total square feet, as reported by DriveTeslaCanada. Building 4 is still under construction, so it is still unclear what Tesla intends to do with the massive space. The company plans to open a dealership and service center in south St. Louis County, about 27 miles southwest of the Metro East facility, at the same time as the warehouse deal, the report claims. Tesla is also operating a dealership in nearby Chesterfield. Related Article: Tesla to Debut 'Smart Summon' Feature Says Elon Musk-How Does it Work? 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Nubank, a digital banking company in Brazil, will become the next major financial institution to go into digital assets with the introduction of its own cryptocurrency in the country next year. On Wednesday, Oct. 19, the company announced that the Nucoin token launch will occur in the first half of 2023. A new report via CNBC describes Nucoin as "a new way to recognize customer loyalty and encourage engagement with Nubank products." Nubank has said token holders would be eligible for special pricing and other benefits. For Fernando Czapski, general manager for Nucoin at Nubank, the initiative represents another step forward in the firm's conviction in the revolutionary potential of blockchain technology and to democratize it even more. Related Story: CryptoWatch: Google is Accelerating with Cryptocurrency, HYVE to Allow Freelancers Earn Coins Brazil's New Cryptocurrency To help guide the creation of Nucoin and ensure that it adheres to established principles in blockchain projects, Nubank has announced that it will invite 2,000 customers to participate in a discussion group. The idea is to study a decentralized method of product development, typical of Web3, rather than just relying on user input. The Polygon network, a so-called "Layer 2" protocol, enabled the cryptocurrency. According to CNBC, its stated goal is to reduce transaction costs and processing times on the Ethereum blockchain, which have historically been significant drawbacks for the platform. Polygon claims that its platform can handle thousands of transactions per second. The "Companies Entering Crypto Market" Trend Regarding financial institutions, Nubank is not the pioneer in creating its own cryptocurrency. The token released by JPMorgan is called JPMCoin and is known as "stablecoins" valued at exactly $1 each. But unlike that, the value of Nucoin varies with supply and demand, much like the prices of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ether. Nubank's new venture follows similar moves by other financial and payment institutions entering the cryptocurrency sector. Crypto Secure, introduced by Mastercard in October, is designed to assist card issuers in avoiding fraud associated with crypto assets. PayPal and Robinhood are just two examples of companies that facilitate crypto trading. Similarly, Goldman Sachs, a major Wall Street bank, has its own dedicated crypto trading desk. The Downside of the Increasing Number of Newly-Launched Tokens For cryptocurrencies, the new token offering comes at the wrong time. Many digital currencies, including the biggest, Bitcoin, have lost nearly half their value since the beginning of 2022. Some are dubbing the current decline a "crypto winter." Since then, regulators have become increasingly suspicious of digital currencies and the potential damages they represent to consumers. These prompt governments in the United States, the European Union, and others to develop frameworks for regulating the sector. Background Based on CNBC's report, in 2013, Nubank debuted a purple no-fee credit card in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The said city is known for its high-fee, low-tech banking system. After nine years, the company had 70 million Brazilian, Mexican, and Colombian users. Last year, Warren Buffett invested in Nubank. In June 2021, Berkshire Hathaway invested $500 million, as well. The stock market valuation was $20.4 billion, half worth in its December 2021 launch. Nubank formerly traded Bitcoin and Ether on its Nucripto platform. A month after debuting, this Paxos-powered exchange achieved 1 million customers. Related Story: Google-Coinbase Deal to Allow Cloud Users Pay With Crypto; Start Date and Other Details This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Trisha Kae Andrada 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A new U.S.-Taiwan joint American weapon production might soon happen. (Photo : Photo by SAM YEH/AFP via Getty Images) Taiwanese navy launches a US-made Standard missile from a frigate during the annual Han Kuang Drill, on the sea near the Suao navy harbor in Yilan county on July 26, 2022. (Photo by Sam Yeh / AFP) However, this detail was not confirmed by the Biden Administration and the Taiwanese government. Three anonymous individuals shared speculations about this military partnership between the United States and Taiwan. These people are believed to be familiar with the two countries' defense activities. A source, who has direct knowledge of the Biden Administration's internet deliberation, claimed that discussions regarding the rumored U.S.-Taiwan partnership are already happening. US-Taiwan Joint American Weapon Production to Start? According to Nikkei Asia's latest report, there's a chance that joint military activity will happen. (Photo : Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images) A Javelin missile fired by soldiers with the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team heads toward a target during a live-fire training exercise on April 28, 2022 in Fort Carson, Colorado. The Javelin anti-tank missile system uses automatic infrared guidance to track targets and has the ability to use top attack to hit targets from above where armor is thinnest. Also Read: North Korea Launches Another Ballistic Missile, Flies Warplanes Near South Korea's Border This is because U.S. defense companies will likely provide the needed technologies to manufacture defense weapons in Taiwan. They could also produce these weapons in the United States, but the parts will come from Taiwan. "This is going to take some time to really shake out," said one of the three sources. The anonymous individual added that the ongoing discussions about the U.S.-Taiwan military partnership could continue until 2023. On the other hand, a U.S.-Taiwan Business Council representative explained that NCSIST (National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology), a Taiwanese state-owned corporation, used some U.S. technologies to manufacture Taiwanese missiles. These include the Hsiung Feng II and III models. However, the official clarified that the Asian country hadn't produced American weapons. Will the Joint Military Collab Happen? Recent U.S. administrations explained that the United States is cautious when it comes to joint weapon production. Officials stated that it is difficult to work with other countries to manufacture American weapons because classified information could be put at risk. But with the conflict between China and Taiwan, there's a chance that the U.S.-Taiwan partnership is being discussed as an answer to China's increasing military pressure. Recently, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that China is trying to speed up its unification with Beijing. Reuters also reported that Chinese leader Xi Jinping would not renounce the right to use force just to get Taiwan back. However, the Chinese president clarified that they would still try to solve it peacefully. In other news, the West announced it would send air defense systems to Ukraine. Previously, the Russian kamikaze drones were deployed on Zaporizhzhia. For more news updates about American weapons and other defense topics, keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Japan Plans to Build More Bomb Shelters as China's Invasion of Taiwan Becomes More Plausible This article is owned by TechTimes Written by Griffin Davis 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Who would have guessed that a remotely operated drone might do the risky work that volcanologists conduct? Graduate student Fiona D'Arcy of McGill University, whose research focuses on volcanic geochemistry, and her colleagues affirm that drones can do their work in the Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. Their published paper showed that using data collected by drones in the atmosphere to estimate carbon dioxide emissions is feasible. Read Also: Road to Using Drones and Rovers on Mars Begins on Active Volcano in Italy Testing the Method and its Result According to the report by Wired, D'Arcy put his theory to the test in April 2019 by sending sample drones into the hot, deadly gas plumes from Poas, a volcano in Costa Rica that had erupted only two years ago. The group also made the journey down into its crater to take hand-held readings of the CO2 level. They reportedly spent nearly four hours on the trail while it just took a few short minutes for the drone to fly. Nevertheless, there was a striking similarity between the two sets of data. The drone data showed concentrations 23% higher than usual atmospheric levels, suggesting that the samples had enough volcanic CO2 to be detected. They validated that the quantity matched their ground samples after allowing for dilution, proving that drones may replace in-person sample gathering. D'Arcy said that if this is the standard procedure, it will be much easier to collect samples without putting everyone in danger. However, drones come with their own set of problems. D'Arcy's team lost three devices at Poas. The first one went out of touch and stopped responding to radio signals, while the second one plummeted onto the ground when its rotor got caught in the apparatus used to measure gas levels. The third drone was sent to search for the second one, but it unexpectedly crashed to the ground. The Impact on Future Volcano Studies The technology allows for the prospect of more frequent sampling, which might aid in the development of more comprehensive knowledge of the changes in gas concentrations that occur throughout the various phases of volcanic activity. Better predictability of volcanic eruptions could also result. After all, these eruptions are notoriously difficult to forecast despite the warning signs, such as fresh gas, earthquake, or a mysterious bulge as magma rises underneath. Sometimes nothing indicates anything, but the blast goes off anyhow, just like what happened in 2019. Nearly a dozen visitors were killed when a volcano in New Zealand suddenly erupted, sending ash, smoke, and poisonous gas kilometers into the air. Then in 2021, Mount Nyiragongo in the Congo ruptured, sending lava into neighboring villages with little time for evacuation. More gas samples may fill that data gap. Researchers require long-term data, especially from before and during eruptions, when collecting the sample is more crucial yet very dangerous. Read Also: Scientists Find A 'Monster Hydrothermal Field' In the Depths of The East Pacific This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Trisha Kae Andrada 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. I took care of you all my life... Son in his 40s who murdered his mother for nagging him Valero gas station and convenience store at 4887 Airline Highway at its intersection with North Foster Drive is seen Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, after an altercation in the parking lot early Monday morning left one man dead around 12:15 a.m, in a fatal stabbing. These pumps are on the northwest side of the station, on the far side from North Foster. CBD brought word the other day of former prime minister Scott Morrisons aggrandising turn to the international speakers circuit, where the virtuous globalisation mastermind plans to share his profound insights with the world. To be fair, ScoMo isnt the only one joining that global gravy train. Kevin Rudd is listed on US-based All-American Enterprise, which also boasts Naomi Osaka, Hugh Jackman, Trevor Noah and a handful of other celebrities. Jostling for podium position: former prime ministers on the international speaking circuit. Credit:John Shakespeare But our eyebrows went through the roof at Rudds listed fee a starting price of $200,000 for a live event, or $50,000 to $100,000 for a virtual appearance. It seems we werent the only ones surprised CBD hears AAEs listing of Rudd, including astronomical asking price, wasnt authorised by the former PM. Meanwhile, both Malcolm Turnbull and Julia Gillard are listed on Saxton, which describes itself as Australasias leading speakers bureau. Danish designer Jrn Utzon gave Sydney its most recognisable sculptural form in the shape of the Sydney Opera House. Now his granddaughter Naja Utzon Popov will continue that tradition in this years Sculpture by the Sea, which opens Friday. The Copenhagen-based Utzon Popov is the inaugural recipient of the new Friendship Society of Denmark, Australia and New Zealands Danish Artist Award, and is one of the 100 artists from 17 different countries exhibiting in the 2022 show. Sculptor Naja Utzon Popov in her Copenhagen studio. Credit: Standout sculptures, in terms of size, include a giant shiny disco ball on the headland at Marks Park by NSW artist Joel Adler, a giant fishhook by Chilean-born Juan Pablo Pinto and Christian Rojas, a big prawn called Bruce by Canberras Tom Buckland and giant white cherries by Ukrainian artist Nikita Zigura. Utzon Popovs artwork Continuum 2021 hangs down one of the sandstone cliffs of Bondi in this years exhibition, the first since 2019. Its been another period of self-inflicted tumult for rapper and fashion designer Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, after the one-time presidential candidate was temporarily suspended from Twitter and Instagram and announced plans to buy his own social media platform. Following anti-Semitic posts, the social media companies restricted Yes access to his accounts, saying his comments violated community guidelines. Kanye West attends the Balenciaga Womenswear Spring/Summer 2023 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on October 02, 2022 in Villepinte, France. Credit:Anthony Ghnassia/Getty Images For Balenciaga Given its not the first time Ye has been suspended from social media and is unlikely to be his last, the enforced time-out raises a question of whether temporary restrictions, and even permanent bans, for celebrities actually work in reducing hate speech and spreading harmful views. Dr Jonathon Hutchinson, senior lecturer of online communication and media at the University of Sydney, says the success of suspensions and bans hinges on not just the level of fame a user has, but also the purposes for which they use social media. Fifteen minutes after entering her hotel suite I find myself standing on one leg beside Trinny Woodall in the bathroom trying not to headbutt the basin as I massage my face. I have also fallen a little in love. No safe word is required. I am willingly subjecting myself to a skincare regime with the product range Trinny London, launched in 2017 by the former fashion advice guru of televisions What Not To Wear . I am also praying that the one-legged part of the routine is to strengthen my core and not a Brit in-joke, like Monty Python or how to pronounce Belvoir. Beauty brand founder Trinny Woodall has made the transition from peoples television to bathrooms with her beauty brand Trinny London. Credit:Flavio Brancaleone The love part may be a little one-sided but Australian fans of Woodalls peptide moisturiser Bounce Back, hyaluronic acid serum Pump Up and Lip Love lipsticks can relate. Their love is so great that Australia is currently the second-largest market for Trinny London, prompting this press tour and last months introduction of local warehousing and pop-up kiosks in Sydney and Melbourne shopping centres. While in Australia, Woodall is also exploring local manufacturing opportunities. Whenever stories bubble up about the disastrous human consequences of the United States lack of universal healthcare people dying because they cant afford life-saving drugs, or pregnancies that cost $30,000 Australians love taking the high moral ground. Were adamant that our commitment to a publicly funded safety net, in areas like health, education and social services, is baked into our national psyche. Unlike those freedom-loving, low-taxing, hyper-capitalist Americans we look after our own, we claim. So, it would probably shock many Australians to know that when it comes to measuring a governments capacity to fund public services Australia is actually far closer to the US than countries like New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany and France. Our tax-to-GDP ratio, which measures public revenue against the total size of the economy, is 27.7 per cent well below the OECD average of 33.5 per cent. The US sits at 25.5 per cent, while New Zealand and the UK are above 32 per cent. Australias tax take is far lower than New Zealand, the UK, Germany, France and Canada. Credit:Simon Letch What do these numbers mean? Its pretty simple: the more money the government raises, the more it has to spend on things like hospitals, primary healthcare, disability support, aged care, schools, income support and the pension. The smaller our tax take, the fewer resources we can redistribute to these social services. The crises in our aged care sector, across our hospital system and throughout our schools arent coincidences. Theyre the inevitable result of a system that lacks the resources to deliver the level of service we need and expect. The debate over the already legislated stage three tax cuts, taking place in the leadup to next weeks federal budget, has jumpstarted discussion about Australias revenue problem. At a cost of $243 billion over the next decade, the tax cuts will further erode government revenue, diminishing the amount of money that can be spent on public services. But as significant as this measure is, it shouldnt monopolise our conversation about how to raise enough money to deliver high-quality social services. With or without these tax cuts, Australia will remain one of the lowest taxing nations in the OECD. A Sydney man will spend a maximum of 21 years in jail for a vicious, violent and brutal drug-induced attack in which he killed his sister in June 2020. In the NSW Supreme Court on Wednesday, Justice Peter Garling ordered that Lucas Christian Delaney be imprisoned for bludgeoning Gabriella Delaney with a hammer at their home at Cambridge Park in Sydneys west. Gabriella Delaney, 20, was found dead in her home in Cambridge Park, near Penrith in June 2020. Credit:Nine [The murder] was constituted by a vicious, violent and brutal assault for no reason at all on his sister in their own home. It caused extensive facial and bodily injuries, the judge said. The sentence, which includes a non-parole period of 15 years and nine months, was discounted by 25 per cent after Delaney made an early guilty plea to the murder. The municipal watchdog has been asked to investigate councillor conduct at Wyndham City Council after allegations that the deputy mayor attempted to influence grant applications, screamed insults at staff and wanted to record their conversations. A dossier of complaints, compiled by law firm Maddocks and obtained by The Age, contains details of 19 claims from several council staff between February 2021 and May 2022, including instances in which Jasmine Hill allegedly berated council staff claims vehemently denied by the councillor. Wyndham City Council Deputy Mayor Jasmine Hill has been accused of bullying. Credit:Wyndham City Council One of the allegations refers to Hill repeatedly and unreasonably requesting a staff member provide her with a copy of a grant application and directing staff as to what the grant application should include. In another allegation, Hill is said to have yelled at a staff member over the phone and inappropriately instructed the staff member that she wanted a document pulled from the council meeting that night on the basis that it had not been in a specific format. A record number of Victorian women, who bore the brunt of domestic responsibilities and frontline work during the pandemic, are seeking support for anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and addiction. Monash University Professor Jayashri Kulkarni, who runs The Alfred hospitals womens mental health clinic, said the psychological toll on women who disproportionately took charge of homeschooling children, worked in stressful frontline jobs and gave birth during the pandemic was becoming apparent and the demand for support exceeds that of the height of lockdowns. Professor Jayashri Kulkarni says the pandemic has taken a psychological toll on women. Credit:Jason South We are seeing the lingering effects of PTSD, anxiety disorders, eating disorders and depressions in all shapes and across all groups of women, said Kulkarni, a psychiatrist for 30 years. Addiction disorders are also on the rise, particularly among teachers, nurses and homeschooling parents, who dealt with extraordinary stress and used alcohol as a coping mechanism. Before we bring our live flood coverage to an end, here are a few updates to the warnings around the state: There are 53 warning across the state and 19 incidents reported across Victoria, on the VicEmergency app as of 9.30pm. For those in Barmah and Lower Moira it is now too late to leave, and those who have not evacuated should take shelter in the highest location possible. A too late to leave warning is also in force for Kerang which could be isolated for more than a week. Heres a few details you may have missed from today: Premier Daniel Andrews visited Rochester and said the flooding had made things very, very tough for the community The Murray River is now expected to peak on Sunday, according to the Bureau of Meteorology Two hundred additional hospital staff, 20 new pharmacists and free Japanese encephalitis virus vaccines in flood-hit areas are some of the measures in a public health package announced by the Victorian government Please stay safe and keep up to date with the latest warnings on www.emergency.vic.gov.au Thanks for reading our live flood coverage, we will be back updating you on all the developments tomorrow morning. A new security deal will clear the way for Australia and Japan to tighten defence co-operation and share more intelligence about emerging threats in response to growing concern about Chinese military operations in the region. The Chinese operations in the South China Sea, where the superpower has built a network of bases on small islands and reefs over the past decade, are being named as a key reason for a new agreement to replace a defence declaration made between Australia and Japan in 2007. Anthony Albanese will meet Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Perth this weekend. Credit:Christopher Jue Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will meet Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida in Perth this Saturday to finalise the new declaration and discuss a reciprocal access agreement that will lead to more joint defence operations. The Japanese ambassador to Australia, Shingo Yamagami, named the Chinese activities in the region as a reason for updating the security declaration, which was announced by prime ministers John Howard and Shinzo Abe in Tokyo in 2007. At 2.58pm, after nearly 12 days of evidence and submissions, the jury retired to deliberate on a verdict. Before they departed the courtroom, four members of the panel were randomly balloted off by the judges associate, leaving eight women and four men to consider the charge before them. Brittany Higgins and Bruce Lehrmann. Credit:Getty Former ministerial staffer Bruce Lehrmann pleaded not guilty to a count of sexual intercourse without consent, being reckless as to consent. He is accused of raping his colleague Brittany Higgins on the couch in the parliamentary office of former Coalition minister Linda Reynolds, whom they both worked for, in the early hours of March 23, 2019, after a night drinking in Canberra with colleagues. He denies having sex with Higgins. After instructing the jury on the mode of the delivery of its decision upon its return, ACT Supreme Court Chief Justice Lucy McCallum said: With a final reminder that your verdict must be unanimous, I would ask you now to retire to please consider your verdict. Medicare not only health service that wastes money With the spotlight currently on the millions being lost by the rorting of Medicare (Minister considers independent review of Medicare rorts, October 19), not to be forgotten is the spectacular waste of taxpayer dollars that My Health Record has proved to be. After being released with great fanfare, it has become, in most cases, of little value due to the failure of the majority of specialists and hospitals to upload data into it. It is ironic that major concerns regarding it initially centred around privacy of the information it contained, whereas now patients are constantly disappointed by the scarcity of any meaningful and up-to-date records held within it. Louise Dolan, Birchgrove Credit:Matt Golding Some years ago when I was living in western Sydney, I had an accident on my motorcycle on a Saturday afternoon and broke my collarbone and my fibula. I didnt think it was serious and a stranger offered to drive me a considerable distance home. That night, I realised I needed medical treatment so I went to my local medical centre. I needed follow-up appointments and the doctor who treated me was available any time I wanted to see him afternoons, evenings, weekends. I found out some years later that he was being accused by Medicare of over-servicing. The truth is he was working his behind off and I am very grateful to doctors like him who do put in the long hours to provide service to the public. I am treating the claims of rorting with scepticism. Bob Roobottom, Taree Some people seem to think if we up the Medicare payment to doctors the rorting will cease. If a burglar finds $10 on the table at your front door, they dont pick it up and leave, but, instead go looking for the $20 and the $50. A harsh crackdown and an overhaul of the system is the only way to get Medicare back to its original purpose of providing universal healthcare for all Australians. Nick Walker, Suffolk Park Governments allocate a chunk of money to Medicare and have to decide how much goes to services and how much to administration. The temptation is to under allocate administration because it is generally invisible until something goes wrong. Auditing may not be sexy, but if you process billions of transactions and trust tens of thousands of people to do it correctly, it is necessary. Finding the balance between admin and customer payments is always going to be tricky. Unfortunately, while we live in a world where rorts can exist, we have to find the balance between over-servicing and over-administering. The pendulum needs to swing. Neville Turbit, Russell Lea Doctors tainted by a tiny minority The article by Dr Samantha Saling makes a valid point (Bulk of doctors arent overbilling you for priceless care, October 19). Doctors train for many years and give up so much to obtain even their first qualification. If you want to go beyond that, there are many more years of the same. A few doctors do it for money, but I have never encountered a GP who was not prepared to give time and empathy as well as skill and experience, with little regard to the time taken to treat a patient. And those few greedy people tarnish the name of those who provide a service to the public and to the public purse by treating the person before that person needs acute care. Well done, Dr Saling and all your many colleagues with high principles as you receive slightly more than train drivers (who have secure jobs with superannuation). Jennifer Blackman, Wentworthville Dr Saling is right. I spent 30 years running a practice with female colleagues and we were all under- rewarded for the time we put in, not only with patients but also explaining things to and counselling the families of patients for whom there was no Medicare rebate. I could recount numerous anecdotes of patients being reluctant to pay a private fee for care outside the Medicare schedule but also patients (often those least able to afford it) offering to pay extra because they thought that we were not being adequately remunerated by the Medicare rebate. After I explained to the son of a nonagenarian who had had a stroke, that I could not continue to care for his mother because she was in an aged care facility at least 20 mins drive from the surgery, he offered to pay an additional sum for each visit to compensate me for the extra time involved. Now that I have retired, I know that no one from my previous practice will take on new patients in aged care facilities or patients requiring regular home visits because these services do not pay enough to justify the time spent. Our society will be the poorer for the loss of traditional family practices to the corporate-owned rapid throughput bulk billing centres, which need to see six or more patients per hour to cover their costs. Lets not rush to taint all doctors with the faults of a small minority. Dr Anne Hellman, Beecroft Bureau is the bomb Well, isnt it great to see the BoM has time to devote to other things rather than concentrating on its core business of predicting the weather. Why it thinks spending $70,000 of taxpayers money on rebranding itself is a mystery (CBD, October 19). The options Bureau of Meteorology or The Bureau are hardly inspiring. The first is, well, you know, their actual name. The second sounds like some clandestine government spook organisation. So perhaps the BoM should just concentrate on the weather and climate change, I, for one, will always know and refer to it as the BoM, or maybe even, when I am feeling adventurous, the BOM. Ross Hudson, Mount Martha (Vic) Credit:Nick Moir Isnt describing something as the bomb a compliment? Get with the times, BOM. Just add a b and be done with it. If you must, add The at the front. Jenny Mooney, Karuah English evolution The English language is constantly changing and evolving (Letters, October 19). New technologies supporting daily communication are designed for speed and brevity. Many text messages do not even include words, let alone punctuation. Emails, rather than letters and reports, have become the preferred means of daily communication for many. To fail to recognise how many students use the English language in far more sophisticated ways than many of us understand or recognise is a mistake. Rod Leonarder, Roseville Technology provides quick messages to all from friends and for appointments, etc. A message received could be c u at 12:30 4 lunch. An answer could be ;k, or nfw. An economical use of time to provide information between friends. Bea Hodgson, Gerringong A wonderful teacher I worked with introduced Sentence-a-Day to the school. Each child wrote a sentence, in a special book, on a given topic, first thing in the morning. It was invaluable for encouraging writing in a short burst, imagination and sentence structure. This also doubled as a handwriting exercise. Marjie Williamson, Blaxland Sport of sponsorship Malcolm Knox is correct (Sponsor choice a wicket dilemma, October 19). The selection of sponsors for sport has been contentious for some time. Now that players have become moving billboards, combined with their growing desire to align their careers with their beliefs and passions, administrators will be forced to vet potential sponsors more thoroughly. However, in a reflection of the wider society, it is more difficult to find corporations and causes that match the aspirations and values of all involved. Philip Cooney, Wentworth Falls If we expect our sportspeople to be community role models, beacons of aspiration and leaders for our children, then they must have the collective power to choose who they and their team represents in sponsorship. This does, as Malcolm Knox suggests, open a can of worms for changing team members and attitudes. Of course, if our national teams were sponsored by taxpayers as our countrys true representatives, this dilemma would be solved. Janice Creenaune, Austinmer Love your work Shock, horror! The Labor Party is acting on its election promises (Pace of work bill dismays bosses, October 19). Natalie Mabbitt, Randwick The government should be applauded for bringing in laws aimed at equal pay for equal work. The only question is, why it has taken so long? Michael Blissenden, Dural On the bill If people must be dead for 30 years before they feature on a banknote (Letters, October 19), why not Elvis for the new $5? Or am I being premature? Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills I like Roy and H.G. on the front side of the new $5 note, but can we have Fatso the Fat-arsed Wombat on the backside? Steve Cornelius, Brookvale Dam bluster The NSW desalination plant broke the drought from the day it was commissioned. The higher Warragamba Dam wall will stop the rain. John Kent, Lindfield Corny campaign With that much-loved Australian native, the unicorn, now luring travellers (Unicorn travels nation to lure international tourists, October 19), Im wondering if Scott Morrison is back at Tourism Australia? James Wall, Sutton Forest The Nederlander Organization will officially rename the Brooks Atkinson Theatre as the Lena Horne Theatre on Tuesday, November 1. A formal celebration, with performances, remarks, the unveiling of the new marquee, and a block party, will take place that day at 256 West 47th Street. The Lena Horne Theatre (home to the Tony-nominated musical Six) is the first Broadway venue named for a Black woman. Built in 1926 and originally named the Mansfield Theatre, it was renamed for critic Atkinson in 1960. Horne, who passed away at the age of 92 in 2010, had a groundbreaking career that spanned film, television, and stage. She earned a 1958 Tony nomination for her performance in Jamaica, and received a Special Tony Award (as well as two Grammy Awards) in 1981 for her musical revue Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, which was produced by the Nederlander family. Horne was also extremely involved in the Civil Rights Movement, refusing to perform for segregated audiences during her time with the USO, and working in association with the NAACP, S.N.C.C., and the National Council of Negro Women. She additionally worked with Eleanor Roosevelt in an effort to pass anti-lynching laws. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. On Saturday, Nov. 5, Powder River Basin Resource Council will host its 50th Annual Meeting at the Ramada Plaza in Sheridan. This years theme, Celebrating 50 Years of Protecting Wyomings Quality of Life, will reflect on the organizations history and accomplishments, as well as look ahead to the future. Powder Rivers members have accomplished so much over the years to protect Wyomings quality of life, contribute to responsible development of our mineral resources, protect our agricultural heritage, and engage in our democracy. To celebrate this milestone event, the evenings keynote panel discussion will feature long-time members Bernie Barlow, Ronn Smith, Reed Zars, and Nancy Sorenson, which is guaranteed to bring humor, grace, and passion into the evenings discussion of the past 50 years. Long-time members Jill Morrison and Roger Sanders will moderate the panel. Powder River has spent decades working to conserve our unique landscapes, mineral resources, clean water and air in a responsible way so that future generations can also benefit from them. Along with these goals, we have helped empower regular Wyomingites to participate in the public process and speak out on decisions that impact their quality of life. We feel good about our first 50 years, and are looking forward to the future because there is still work to be done, said Joyce Evans, Powder River Chair. The public portion of Powder Rivers Annual Meeting kicks off at 4:30 pm with a social hour, music by the Fireants, and a live auction, including Pies by Guys. The dinner and panel discussion will begin at 7 pm. Tickets are $45 for members and $55 for non-members (which includes a one-year membership). Everyone is welcome. For more information or to register for the event, contact Powder River at 307-672-5809 or email info@powderriverbasin.org. Cheyenne, WY (82001) Today Intervals of clouds and sunshine in the morning with more clouds for later in the day. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 44F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight Snow likely. Low around 10F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 90%. Snow accumulating 3 to 5 inches. Batavia, NY (14020) Today Cloudy. A shower of rain or wet snow possible. Temps nearly steady in the mid to upper 30s. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy in the evening with more clouds for later at night. Low near 30F. Winds light and variable. A street has been cordoned off in the Oggersheim district of the city of Ludwigshafen, Germany, on Oct. 18, 2022. (Keutz TV-NEWS/dpa via AP) 2 Killed in Stabbing in Southwest Germany, Suspect Detained BERLINTwo people were killed and another seriously wounded in a stabbing Tuesday in southwestern Germany, police said. The suspected assailant was detained. Police said that they were alerted to the stabbing in a suburb of the city of Ludwigshafen on Tuesday afternoon. The 25-year-old suspect, a Somali citizen, initially fled the scene and was detained in a drugstore. Officers used their firearms in the process and he was seriously injured, but not in life-threatening condition, police said. Police later said the victims who were killed were two German men, ages 20 and 35. The severely injured person is a 27-year-old German. Neither the names of the victims nor of the perpetrator were given, in line with German privacy policy. Further information on the incident and possible motives of the attack werent immediately available. Police said there was no danger to the public. 5,000 Duplicate Ballots Sent to California Voters in Riverside County Around 5,000 residents of Riverside County in California received a duplicated ballot ahead of the November midterm elections this week, which officials blamed on a computer system error. Riverside County Registrar of Voters office said the 5,000 duplicate ballots were erroneously mailed to some voters in Canyon Lake, Menifee, Murrieta, Wildomar, and Winchester after a computer system error mistakenly generated the mailing files. Officials said the error was identified over the weekend before they could be stopped from being delivered to the U.S. Postal Service. It is important to note that none of the duplicate ballots will result in a voter being able to cast more than one ballot, said Registrar of Voters Rebecca Spencer in a statement. I take election integrity seriously and apologize for the inconvenience. Spencer said that every vote-by-mail envelope has a bar code and that once scanned as accepted at the Registrar of Voters office it automatically locks the voters record so that the person can only vote once. Residents who received two ballots were advised to use vote with one and destroy the second, which Spencer said would be automatically voided once the other is scanned. The first ballot received would be processed and the second ballot would be automatically voided, she said. The countrys Registrar of Voters office said the computer system error was resolved and procedures have been put in place to prevent the error in the future. California is one of nine statesincluding Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washingtonto mail ballots to all registered voters. All 50 states offer vote-by-mail, or absentee, ballot options to varying degrees. California also offers early in-person voting, along with 45 other states. Alabama, Connecticut, Mississippi, and New Hampshire are the only exceptions, although all four provide vote-by-mail ballot options. California also offers a 29-day period for in-person early voting. This year that is slated for Oct. 10 to Nov. 7. A Digital Dollar Is ComingAmericans Should Be Concerned Commentary In 1861, the U.S. government began issuing paper money. Since then, for more than a century and a half, cash has been king. Very soon, however, there will be a new king in town. This king will be known as the digital dollar. A large number of Americans still believe, somewhat naively, that cryptocurrencies are the future of finance. Theyre not. Although some of the more respectable cryptocurrencies serve some purpose for a small percentage of humanity, for the vast majority of the worlds 7.75 billion people, everyday individuals with everyday problems, they dont. More importantly, they never will. They are, by and large, a plaything with no actual purpose. Contrary to popular belief, central banks and governmentsnot Satoshi Nakamoto or Michael Saylordictate the future of finance. Thats why central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are the next step in the evolution of money. CBDCs have the potential to reduce poverty, tackle economic crime, and underpin global financial systems. This isnt my opinion; this is the opinion of the people who congregate annually at Davos, Switzerland. In August, the World Economic Forum (WEF)an independent international organization behind The Great Resetreleased a blog post outlining the potential upsides and downsides of CBDCs. Although the authors discussed a couple of negatives, the vast majority of the post focuses on the supposed benefits. Unlike cryptocurrencies, which are decentralized and designed for privacy, CBDCs are centralized and public. CBDCs are, in many ways, the antithesis of cryptocurrencies; they are the antithesis of privacy. In the post, the WEF argues that CBDCs have the potential to address global poverty. How so? By offering the worlds 1.7 billion unbanked adults access to financial services. However, researchers at the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor, an independent think tank designed to empower the worlds poorest people, have argued otherwise. For the poor, they insist, cash is still king. Many of the worst off have no desire to swap cash for digital alternatives. The bottom line, according to the authors, is that the poor largely live in the cash economy. Reaching them with financial services requires more than just having e-money or a CBDC on a phone. It requires a number of other systems, including last-mile distribution networks and liquidity management to bridge the digital and cash economies. The Atlantic Councils Central Bank Digital Currency Tracker estimates that 112 countries are actively researching CBDCs or developing their own digital form of central bank money. One of those countries is the United States. Recently, during an appearance at the International Monetary Funds annual meeting, when asked about the need for CBDCs, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said they were certainly worth getting involved in developing. Jerome Powell, chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, certainly agrees. Speaking at a Bank of France event, Powell insisted that a digital dollar would be both identity verified and not anonymous. International Monetary Fund logo outside the headquarters building during the IMF/World Bank spring meeting in Washington on April 20, 2018. (Yuri Gripas/Reuters) The days of anonymous purchases via cash are coming to an end. Powells comments clearly indicate that if and when a digital dollar is introduced, it will be linked to a digital ID system. As author Izabella Kaminska wrote last year, When money goes ID-based, one also has to consider the broader parameters of the potential data creep. One also has to consider the broader parameters of the potential invasions of privacy. After all, when a government combines a centralized public payment system with a digital ID system, the idea of privacy disappears. Moreover, as commentator Tim Hinchliffe recently noted, with help from the WEF, governments around the world are busy linking digital ID schemes to disparate issues like climate change (i.e. carbon footprint trackers), COVID-19 (e.g. vaccinated or unvaccinated?), and CBDCs. It isnt difficult to imagine a world where every U.S. citizen will be required to have a digital ID to carry out a number ofif not allonline transactions and perhaps even a social credit score. All in the name of safety, of course. However, as Hinchliffe, a man who has been sounding the alarm on digital IDs for years, stressed, such identification systems have much more to do with control than safety. They encompass everything that makes you unique in the digital realm, he cautioned. Digital IDs create a system that consolidate all of your most personal intimate data, including which websites you visit, your online purchases, health records, financial accounts, and who youre friends with on social media. Digital IDs will undoubtedly be linked with a persons financial transactions, as well as their social media activity. Furthermore, digital IDs could certainly be used by both public and private entities to deny Americans access to certain services. We already live in a world where major financial players target or threaten to target very specific individuals for harboring specific viewpoints. When a digital dollar and the accompanying ID are introduced (or enforced), expect rates of censorship and coercion to skyrocket. Resistance, Im afraid, may prove to be futile. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. This is a conversation I overheard while boarding the flight home from Portland to Minneapolis: Flight attendant: How was Maine? Passenger: Great! It reminded me of the North Shore you know, in Minnesota. Flight attendant: Wheres Minnesota? Oh, is that where were going? Sigh. Notwithstanding the cluelessness of the New York-based crew, that passenger had a point. My spontaneous first-time outing to Maine did have the restorative feel of a jaunt to Lake Superior, with the vast Gulf of Maine sitting in for the largest lake in the world. Its the North Shore of the Eastern Seaboard, if you will. But Maine brings its own assets to the table: quaint New England village charm, a bustling national park, a maritime sailing culture, and a wealth of mysterious islands. And lobster. Plenty of lobster. I had an expiring Delta Air Lines companion pass, and my pregnant partner and I yearned for one last trip before fall (and the third trimester), so we planned a long-weekend getaway just two weeks in advance. Even post-Labor Day, available lodging was scarce, and Ive never had to spend more per day on a rental car. Beyond that, the pieces of a stimulating trip all came together, mostly by winging it. Pulling out of Portland International Jetport, we got one requisite tourist stop out of the way immediately: a visit to the iconic Portland Head Light, the striking 1791 beacon that is probably Maines most famous image. Next, we strolled the cobblestone streets of the citys Old Port, landing in the trellised outdoor seating of Via Vecchia for Italian small plates. At dark, we pulled into Glen Cove Inn near the gorgeous town of Camdenthe base for most of our trip. The updated motor court is tucked in the woods by the sea. For breakfast, we sat on our basic rooms back patio to take in the robust late-summer foliage and salty air. Between outings, there was just enough time to soak in the heated saltwater pool. On that Saturday, we explored nearby villages, each seemingly with its own small harbor bursting with sailboats. We drove to the 800-foot summit of Mount Battie, where a 1921 stone tower allows a panoramic view of the coast. We ordered our first Maine lobster rolls at Graffam Bros. Seafood Market, carrying them out for a harborside picnic. For sunset, we boarded a touristy but satisfying cruise out of Camden on the schooner Lazy Jack II. We sat near the bow as the tall ship sailed into Penobscot Bay for a golden-hour view of private islands. Colorful buoys for lobster cages were strewn across the bay. Popular Park That Sunday morning, we made the scenic drive up Route 1 toward Acadia National Park. In Ellsworth, a guy with an America: Love It or Leave It sticker on his truck waved to an older hippie flying a Defund the Pentagon banner on a bridge. I realized the date was Sept. 11. I approached Acadia with trepidation, knowing it was the sixth most popular U.S. national park in 2021 with more than 4 million visitors. But the glacial mountain-and-maritime paradise on Mount Desert Island manages its 77 square miles well. We set out to drive the introductory 27-mile Park Loop Road. At Sieur de Monts, we strolled a boardwalk through wetlands, encountering a large painted turtle. At Thunder Hole, a crowd gathered on seaside cliffs to see (and hear) waves surge into a narrow channel, creating loud thunderclaps. It was at the unassumingly named Sand Beach that my mind was blown. The broad strip, framed on both sides by granite cliffs, was not something I expected to find in Maine. I waded into the bracing waves and strong undertow while a huge catamaran did a 360 in front of me to give its passengers a panoramic view. It was the firstbut not the lasttime in Maine that I thought of Moonrise Kingdom, Wes Andersons 2012 movie in which preteen lovebirds run away to a tidal inlet on a New England isle. We took in the classic view of the Bubbles, the glacially rounded mountaintops seen from unspoiled Jordan Pond and dropped into the idyllic Jordan Pond House, famed for its buttery popovers. At dusk, we retired to the parkside village of Bar Harbor, with its festive main drag mostly focused on selling T-shirts, albeit nicely designed ones. We got ice cream at the old-timey CJs Big Dipper and brought it to the village green, which appeared right out of my 7th grade history book. Secret Islands Acadia was frequently spectacular, but sharing it with thousands of others did take the edge off. At Acadia, youre always aware that everyone else is seeing this, too. So we endeavored to do something specialand randomfor our final night in Maine. And I knew it had to involve an island. After studying a mess of confusing ferry schedules for various islands, I landed on Vinalhaven. The island is a 15-mile crossing from Rockland, near Camden, and its car ferry is run like clockwork by the state. I booked the ferry and a hotel and got our SUV onto the boat as well. The 75-minute ferry ride threaded its way between the craggy isles of the Fox archipelago, of which Vinalhaven is by far the largest. Vinalhaven is a residential island for workers in the lobster industry and not a super popular tourist destination, with a single village on its 167 square miles. Many homes are festooned with the colorful lobster buoys that look to me like giant fishing bobbers. We checked into our clapboard hotel, the Tidewater, too late to claim a spot in their Monday night lobster boil. But the big guesthouse is a marvel, built on the site of a former mill. When the tide is high, a huge volume of seawater rushes into a broad inland pond through channels beneath the hotel. After a quiet period of equilibrium, the waters surge back into the harbor at low tide. The cycle reverses every six hours or so, and from our romantic attic loft, we felt like we were sleeping above raging rapids. The Tidewater hotel is elevated above a channel of flowing tidal waters on Vinalhaven Island, Maine. (Courtesy of Simon Peter Groebner/Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS) We drove to a remote lighthouse and to Tip Toe Mountainnamed, I suppose, for the baby steps you need to take on its root-covered, mossy trails. We were rewarded at the 118-foot peak with a sprawling, contemplative view of perhaps everything we had seen in mid-coast Mainethe islands and bay, the Camden Hills, and maybe even Acadia to the east. We returned to town, picked up our last lobster rolls at Homeport restaurant, and dined on our high balcony at the Tidewater as the waters rushed in at dusk. From the top of Tip Toe Mountain on Vinalhaven Island, Maine, theres a view of the Fox Islands, Penobscot Bay, and the mountains of coastal Maine. (Courtesy of Simon Peter Groebner/Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS) I left Maine realizing there was much more I would like to do next time: bike the gravel carriage roads of Acadia, take a multiday windjammer sailing trip, or disappear to offbeat islands for a week or two. But Vinalhaven was a reminder that sometimes the best travel experiences are in the unplanned discoveries you make. Copyright 2022 StarTribune. Visit at StarTribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith holds her first press conference in Edmonton, on Oct. 11, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Jason Franson) Alberta Premier Apologizes for Past Comments on Ukraine-Russia Conflict Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has apologized for past comments she made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict before she was elected. Smith issued a statement on Oct. 18, reaffirming her condemnation of Russias invasion of Ukraine and apologizing for past comments she made. I categorically condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the indescribable suffering Russia has and still is inflicting upon the Ukrainian people, she said. Prior to re-entering politics earlier this year, I made some ill-informed comments on Russias invasion of Ukraine. My knowledge and opinion of this matter have drastically evolved since that time, and I apologize for those previous comments. In a livestream on Locals.com on April 29, Smith was asked about her thoughts on the peace plan for Ukraine and Russia that no one seems to be pushing. If you want to draw a parallel, it would be absurd for Canada to have nuclear weapons and be allied with Russia and not think that that was going to upset America, she replied. So, why would we be surprised if Russia is upset because Ukraine has nuclear weapons and is aligned with the United States? Ukraine surrendered its nuclear weapons in the 1990s. So I think the only answer for Ukraine is neutrality, she said, adding that if she had missed something or there had been new developments, let her know. On Feb. 24, Smith also posted comments on Local.com, offering her initial take on the Ukraine-Russia conflict. It seems to me the great powers of the world did a terrible job defining the new borders of countries after WWII, she wrote. So much of the conflict we have had since is due to different people being crammed under one national government that dont like each other. Ive read that two regions of Ukraine feel more affinity to Russia. Should nations be allowed to break away and govern themselves independently? If thats truly what people want, then I think so. But is that what the people want or is it propaganda? Hard to know what to believe anymore. Any help sorting this through I would appreciate. In her statement Tuesday, Smith said she has directed her office to actively reach out to Albertas Ukrainian community leaders in order to ascertain immediate steps we can take to assist Ukrainian refugees to settle and integrate into communities across Alberta as quickly as possible. I stand with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with reporters before attending caucus on Parliament Hill, Oct. 19, 2022, in Ottawa. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld) ArriveCan Was Optimal Use of Taxpayer Dollars, Says Trudeau The federal governments $54 million spending on the ArriveCan app was an optimal use of taxpayer dollars, says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The amount includes, of course, much more than the developers fees, Trudeau said of ArriveCans cost during question period in the House of Commons on Oct. 19. Its extra services, the IT services, updates, call centres, and future costs. We will continue to make sure that theres an optimal use of taxpayer money whilst protecting them every single day and every single night. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) told The Epoch Times in a previous email that creating ArriveCan cost the federal government just $80,000, but the price of updating and maintaining the app brought total costs up to $54 million. Extra costs cited by CBSA included technical support for the app and ensuring it met all federal cybersecurity regulations. Despite the little petty politics from the Conservatives, on this side of the House, we worked tooth and nail to protect the health and safety of all Canadians throughout the pandemic, including through the ArriveCan app, Trudeau said during question period. Someone Got Rich Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre responded by saying, Its good to know but no surprise that the prime minister thinks that $54 million is just a petty matter. One programmer demonstrated that the ArriveCan app could have been designed in a single weekend for less than a quarter million dollars, said Poilievre, referring to one of two Canadian tech firms that cloned ArriveCan between Oct. 7 and Oct. 9. Someone got rich here, he added. Someone designed an app that didnt workthat sent 10,000 people wrongly into quarantine. The CBSA told The Epoch Times in July that an ArriveCan notification glitch sent orders to a large number of fully-vaccinated, compliant travellers telling them to quarantine. The prime minister paid $54 million for an app that didnt work, said Poilievre. Both Conservatives and the NDP have been pushing for further investigation into ArriveCans cost since the Globe and Mail first reported it on Oct. 6. Canadians want answers. They deserve to know where their money went, said NDP MP Taylor Bachrach in the House on Oct. 17. When will the government finally take accountability and disclose all the companies that got money from the ArriveCan contract? Conservative MP Kelly McCauley, whos on the House of Commons government operations committee investigating the apps cost, said the committee has asked for all government documents and contracts associated with ArriveCans creation and development. Well delve into it more, he said in an interview. Noe Chartier contributed to this report. Press Release October 19, 2022 Pia raises sustainability issues in BSP's use of polymer, instead of abaca, for its new-generation banknotes Highlights of the manifestations of Senator Pia S. Cayetano Inquiry on the use of polymer instead of abaca fiber for Philippine banknotes Part 1 I would just like to go on a few issues on sustainability. I chair the Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Innovation, and Futures Thinking. So, my interventions are precisely to ask the agencies if we are really looking at the entire picture of sustainability and the SDGs that we have, and if we are using the resources we have to balance those different interests. So I note, listening carefully to the presentation, that it is the view of BSP, basing it on studies conducted by similar agencies in other countries, that the shift to polymer notes is a sustainable move, right? That is the overall theme that I received. I'd just like to go into that a little bit. You mentioned that the shift to polymer is more sustainable because of the use of less water, the carbon footprint is smaller, and that you can then recycle it into chairs, tables, etc. But my question is, polymers are not biodegradable, right? As opposed to abaca and cotton, which are the main ingredients for the current paper that we use. Offhand, polymer is not biodegradable. There are ways that you can recycle it, but it is not biodegradable. So in that sense, it is not truly sustainable. There are different ways we define 'sustainability.' Of course, reusing is one way, in a better direction than not. But it is not biodegradable, as opposed to abaca and cotton, is that correct? I was listening very intently because it boils down to these kinds of issues. There are a lot of things we can produce out of plastic,[but] one of the biggest issues is collection. So I am shifting just to have a general discussion on this. For example, the use of PET bottles, other products that can supposedly be broken down and reused - the difficulty is in the collection. So in the case of bills, that problem will be eliminated because when [BSP] retires old bills, people will then surrender it to you. So in terms of collection, that's not that big of a problem. And then you can proceed to repurpose it in the examples you gave. Is that correct? That does simplify it compared to other plastic products that are in the market, and then we claim that we can reuse it. But collection is one issue that we have. I hope the Committee has invited environmentalists to discuss this. I'll emphasize that [polymer] is still not biodegradable. When we look at the sustainability picture, we always have to take different factors into concern. It may in fact use less water, may have a smaller carbon footprint, but it will not biodegrade. It will still be there and it is a product we created and will stay there forever, as opposed to abaca and cotton. The other SDG that I would like to point out is SDG 8, which is Decent Work [and Economic Growth]. So I think you know where I am going here. Decent work requires that we support our industries and one of those is the abaca industry. So when we look again at the whole sustainability of this program, we also look at how it affects work. So there is an impact on the abaca farmers. I noted how you expressed that there are other ways to help the farmers, that only a small percent [is involved]. I listen and am conscious of that. But the fact remains that there is an effect. And maybe if I look at another SDG to present a complete picture is that abaca farmers and the products they make form an integral part of our history, and in a way, our culture. We have always been known to be abaca exporters. Interestingly, yung manila folder came from that history, I was pleasantly surprised to be educated on that. So abaca production is a big part of who we are. There have been decisions made in the past in other countries, wherein they preserve the use of a certain product despite [the availability of new] technology to move towards a different way of production, because the original way of producing symbolizes who we are as a people. So that's another reason that should always be taken into consideration. I am not trying to minimize the advantages that you have presented for polymer. I am simply trying to present the complete picture coming from the SDG committee, which I chair. So decent work and economic growth is a part of it and it affects who we are as a people because abaca production has been with us for a long time. I think I will mention SDG 11 because sustainable communities are part of who the abaca farmers belong to. We want them to continue to be a sustainable community. And when we take away a part of what they rely on for work, then that affects their sustainability as a farming community. And it may actually not be totally sustainable because you are shifting to a product, as I said, that is not biodegradable. And then, I wanted to point out that SDG 3 on Good Health. As you mentioned, you got the green light from DOH. Is that correct? I note that and I appreciate the work you did there because I like the fact that you looked at the different aspects. So if that is in fact a positive thing, then we have to recognize that and I commend you for looking at that. But yun nga lang, yung sa communities natin and digging further into the definition of sustainability, I think that's something you might want to also look at. So those are basically the main points that I wanted to raise because it is very possible that these points may affect your decision. Let me just talk about historical and cultural preservation. By law, we actually protect buildings or other structures that are 50 years of age or older. We give it the benefit of the doubt that they have cultural significance. I see the Deputy Governor nodding his head so you are familiar with that. It's not set in stone, [the structure] has to be assessed by the experts. Pero parang ganun din. And I appreciate the presentation by my good friend, Tony Lambino, on the use of the Philippine Eagle and how other countries use designs that are 'personal' to them. So ganun din, the use of abaca as a fabric is also 'personal' to us. It is your job in the Central Bank. Thank you also for a very thorough presentation on the mandate that you have on this. On the part of legislature, we also look into this in aid of legislation. So that is just my role. I am trying to find a balance here. I have often been in situations where I need to propose legislation that balances the interests of different groups and sometimes they are conflicting. There may be reasons that point to one decision versus another, but I am always happy to hear all the reasons that may help me make a better decision. So that's really the reason we are sharing this with the BSP. I think that is all for now. I'll just finally read into the record and mention Sustainable Cities and Communities earlier. I just want to read that because I think that may be a pivotal factor in any decision we make in changing the use of abaca in our money: Culture has a crucial role to play in SDG 11, in making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, reliant, and sustainable. Specifically, target 11.4 calls for strengthening efforts to protect and safeguard the world's cultural and natural heritage. So I'll build that into the argument also that there is a special role in the use of abaca for us. By the way, that is a quote from UNESCO. So yun lang, Mr Chairman, I will continue to monitor and learn from this. Thank you for calling this hearing, thank you rin sa BSP. Part 2 As I mentioned when I asked questions earlier, I will be listening intently to all the presentations. And now that I have heard all, may I already place my request that BSP responds in writing to all those concerns? Because there were a lot of concerns raised that basically support the questions that I asked. I'd like point-by-point [responses] because when I dissected the issue on sustainability, narinig ko yung ibang side, there may not be complete truth to the conclusion by BSP that it [use of polymer] is in fact sustainable. And when you speak of the health aspect, tama nga naman po ang pinoint out. There are studies that show...that you can't really get COVID from touching surfaces. Of course, you should be mindful and always use sanitary practices. But by simply touching something, hindi ka magkaka-COVID that way. So if that is the main reason for the shift, because it's safer, then we have to really study this. And let me end by saying that I recognize the authority of BSP. Wala naman akong question doon. They are a very professional organization. They went through the process. Pero tayo naman po as senators, we also have our oversight power in aid of legislation, and that's why we are having these inquiries. Yun lang naman, I just like a really thorough response to that, and I am hoping that I can hear from BSP that they are willing to really look at these issues again before we make that final decision, Mr. Chairman. That's all. A 450 megawatt combined cycle gas-fired power station under construction at Citic Pacific Mining's Sino Iron magnetite iron ore project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia on Mar. 5, 2010. (Photo credit should read AMY COOPES/AFP via Getty Images) Australia Gas Mining Companies Get Windfall $40 Billion War Profits Surge Australias gas giants are raking in the profits from the war in Ukraine, according to the independent Australia Institute. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) profits were up to $40 billion extra in the 2021/22 reporting year, with almost no increase in the cost of production, according to research released on Wednesday. However, taxpayers are missing out on a fair share of the money made on Australian gas sold overseas, which has been boosted by war profits since Russias invasion of Ukraine, institute head Richard Denniss said. An Australia Institute survey in June found two in three (67 percent) Australians support the introduction of a windfall, or one-off, levy on oil and gas profits with revenue raised to help households and businesses pay bills. Western Australians (71 percent) were the most likely to support the introduction of a windfall profits tax, followed by Queensland residents (69 percent), with Victorian and NSW support at 64 percent. Prices for Australian LNG exports more than doubled from $7.50 per gigajoule in 2020/21 to $16.20 per GJ in 2021/22 and are expected to rise further to an average $19.90 in 2022/23, the institute said. This jump saw the value of LNG exports from Australia more than double to $70.2 billion in one year. We estimate the war-related windfall gain to LNG companies in 2021/22 at between $26 billion and $40 billion, analyst Mark Ogge said. Australias producers expect growing demand for Australian LNG shipments as Europe looks to reduce dependence on Russian gas. Denniss said a windfall tax on the extra profits could fund the entire $20 billion Rewiring the Nation plan proposed by the Albanese government and compensate Australians hit by widespread price rises. While households and businesses are facing soaring bills, these companies are essentially profiteering from the war in Ukraine, he said. A new levy on Australias LNG producers could also encourage them to supply domestic customers instead of shipping most of the gas offshore, he said. Australias competition watchdog has forecast an increasingly tight gas supply in eastern states, which will keep upward pressure on already high prices in 2023. A one-off tax on LNG exporters also has the support of leading economists, including the Grattan Institutes Tony Wood and former Treasury boss Ken Henry. In May, the United Kingdom announced a new 25 per cent levy on the extraordinary profits of oil and gas firms operating in the UK and its offshore fields, with the tax revenue to help fund the extra cost of living support. Signage is displayed outside the Toyota Motor Corporation's Altona manufacturing plant in Melbourne, Australia, on Feb. 10, 2014. (Paul Crock/AFP via Getty Images) Australian Law Firm Sues Toyota for Hiding Emissions and Evading Vehicle Standards A law firm in Melbourne has brought court action against Australias most popular car brand Toyota for allegedly using defeat devices in its diesel vehicles to hide emissions and evade car standards. The lead lawyer of Maddens Lawyers, which lodged a class-action lawsuit in Victorias Supreme Court on Oct. 18, warned that Toyota could be compelled to pay between $500 million (US$316 million) and $1 billion to up to half a million Australian car owners. The lawsuit targets a wide range of popular vehicles, from four-wheel drives to utes and vans, such as Hi-Lux, LandCruiser, RAV4, Prado, Fortuner, Granvia and HiAce. It also includes Toyota vehicles purchased since February 2016, both new and second-hand. What is the Lawsuit about? According to Maddens Lawyers special counsel Brendan Pendergast, the lawsuit will claim that some Toyota vehicles comply with emissions standards during test conditions using sophisticated engineering and multiple sensors, but they fail to do so in real-world use. We allege that not through accident, but through deliberate engineering intervention, these vehicles are fitted with what are generically called defeat devices, he said. When the vehicle comes under load or achieves speeds commonly required in the usual purchaser of a vehicle, the vehicle no longer complies with the emission standards. Defeat device is a general term for any type of hardware, software, or design that makes vehicles perform as if they meet emissions standards under test conditions. However, these devices can interfere with or turns off emissions controls during normal operation, causing vehicles to release more pollutants than permitted. Toyota vehicles are displayed at a Toyota dealership in Sydney, Australia, on Dec. 12, 2013. (William West/AFP via Getty Images) Pendergast claimed that the true emissions of Toyota vehicles would only be revealed when they were driven at higher speeds and that many buyers might have been convinced to purchase Toyota vehicles under false pretences. Many Toyota owners would be shocked, disappointed, he said. This class action is one of the biggest claims in Australias legal history. It could result in each participant receiving tens of thousands of dollars of compensation. The law firm is encouraging Toyota vehicle owners to join its class action by registering online on its website. Toyotas Response Meanwhile, Toyota Australia has refuted the claims made by Maddens Lawyers. Toyota Australia stands by its reporting, monitoring and evaluation standards in relation to the emissions for all its vehicles, it said in a statement. We will defend the class action announced today rigorously. Toyota is currently the largest car maker in Australia. According to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, the company sold 14,852 vehicles in September, followed by Kia (7,290), Mazda (7,259) and Mitsubishi (6,784). The Maddens Lawyers class-action lawsuit comes as another two Australian law firms are suing Hino, a subsidiary of Toyota, over emissions from its trucks. These lawsuits are the latest in a series of court cases against vehicle makers over defeat devices in Australia in recent years. In December 2019, Australias Federal Court ruled that Volkswagen made false representations about compliance with Australian diesel emissions standards. The German car manufacturer was then ordered to pay $125 million, the second largest penalty issued for a breach of Australian Consumer Law. Attorney General William Barr speaks during a roundtable discussion on "America's seniors" hosted by President Donald Trump in the Cabinet Room at the White House in Washington on June 15, 2020. (Leah Millis/Reuters) Barr Disappointed by Danchenko Acquittal but Optimistic About Pending Durham Report The acquittal of Igor Danchenko was disappointing but special counsel John Durhams pending report should shed additional light on the U.S. counterintelligence investigation into former President Donald Trump and Russia, former Attorney General William Barr said on Oct. 19. Barr, speaking on Fox News, said Durhams team was handicapped by how the judge overseeing the Danchenko case ruled against including some evidence, and how Sergei Millian, a key witness, decided against testifying. I was disappointed, obviously. I think they did a good job prosecuting the case, Barr said. Their ability to put evidence on in a very difficult case was limited by some rulings. They werent able to get access to some witnesses overseas, so it was a tough case. And this should show people that its hard to win these cases and sometimes it takes time to achieve justice. After U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga, the George W. Bush appointee overseeing the case, threw out one of five counts and jurors acquitted Danchenko of the four others. Danchenko was charged in 2021 with lying to the FBI in interviews regarding contact with Charles Dolan, a longtime Clinton family associate, and Millian, a pro-Trump businessman. But the trial itself served the public because key facts that were previously unknown or largely unconfirmed, such as the FBI offering dossier author Christopher Steele $1 million to confirm any portions of the dossier, Barr argued. The real public interest here was being served by exposing the full extent of the corruption that was involved in the Russiagate and the abuse by the FBI in that whole episode, Barr said, referring to Crossfire Hurricane, the investigation of possible links between Trump and his campaign and Russia. And I think Durham is going to get a report out thats going to lay out all the facts, Barr added. Special counsel John Durham arrives at federal court in Washington on May 18, 2022. (Teng Chen for The Epoch Times) Durhams Probe Barr was the attorney general during part of the Trump administration. Before leaving the post, Barr appointed Durham, a U.S. attorney, as special prosecutor to probe the origins of Crossfire Hurricane. Durham was authorized to probe whether government officials or private persons violated the law in connection with the investigation or others like it that were directed at 2016 presidential campaigns, including the investigation done by former special counsel Robert Mueller. Durhams probe has led to just three people being charged. Former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith admitted to doctoring an email to state that Carter Page, a one-time Trump campaign associate, was not a CIA asset when the original email stated that he was. Clinesmith avoided jail time. A jury acquitted Michael Sussmann, a former Clinton campaign lawyer who told the FBI he was not bringing information to the bureau on behalf of a client when he later acknowledged under oath before Congress that he was acting on behalf of a client. And jurors just found Danchenko not guilty. The future of Durhams probe remains unclear. The special counsel did not speak to reporters after the verdict. While we are disappointed in the outcome, we respect the jurys decision and thank them for their service, Durham said in a written statement. I also want to recognize and thank the investigators and the prosecution team for their dedicated efforts in seeking truth and justice in this case. Durham must produce a final report to Attorney General Merrick Garland, a Biden appointee, explaining certain decisions he made and other matters. Garland could withhold the report or release it to the public. Garland told members of Congress in an earlier hearing, after being asked about the report, that I would like as much as possible to be made public. I have to be concerned about Privacy Act concerns and classification, but other than that, the commitment is to provide a public report, yes, he said. Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures during a press conference after attending a summit with leaders of post-soviet countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Astana on Oct. 14, 2022. (Valery Sharifulin/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images) Biden Administrations Mismanagement Increases Risk of Russian Nuclear Strike: Former National Security Officials News Analysis The lack of solid intelligence on Russian nuclear escalation doctrine under Russian President Vladimir Putin, combined with the diplomatic blunderings of the Biden administration, has created a dangerous nuclear standoff in Europe, according to former national security officials and experts. Consequently, the likelihood of a Russian tactical nuclear strike to change the balance of power in Russias invasion of Ukraine is difficult to assess, they agreed, but the threat is real. Meanwhile, an end to the war by a negotiated settlement will remain elusive, experts say, because both sides continue to underestimate the desire of all partiesUkraine, Europe, the United States, and Russiafor total victory in the war. Thus, the strategic nuclear ambiguity faced by the Biden administration could increase the risks in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, because President Joe Biden has previously shown a remarkable ability to misunderstand Putin, which the experts said, after Putins own miscalculations, is a main cause of the war today. Whether those miscalculations will eventually force Putin from power is also difficult to say, according to the analysts, leading to a standstill in Russias invasion of Ukraine and Putins attempt to cobble together a new Russian empire. The three national security experts interviewed by The Epoch Times all agreed that unlike in the days of the Soviet Union, where the top man in the Kremlin more or less shared power with the Politburo, in todays Russia, where Putins power-sharing arrangements with other leaders are murky, the process by which nuclear release decisions happen also remains murky. Putin Threatens Nukes, While Biden Talks Armageddon Putin has a long history of making nuclear threats to quell opposition to his land grabs that stretch back to the annexation of Crimea in 2014. As the Russian leader launched the invasion of Ukraine in February, Putin wasted no time in playing the nuclear card, putting his nuclear forces on high alert, while warning other countries that they would face consequences greater than any you have faced in history if they interfered with the invasion. In September, Putin alluded to the use of weapons in a speech given before Russia annexed Ukrainian land. 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, Putin said. Biden administration officials responded by vowing catastrophic consequences should Russia deploy nuclear weapons in the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Biden earlier this month said the Russian invasion invokes the highest prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban missile crisis. 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, the president said on Oct. 6. Russias Vague Nuclear Doctrine John Bolton, former national security advisor during the Trump administration, told The Epoch Times in an interview that earlier statements by Biden that implied that the United States might now take actions against minor incursions into Ukraine, helped encourage Putin to invade Ukraine. Similarly, Putin may have come to the conclusion based on previous inaction by both Biden and Bidens Democrat predecessor, former President Barrack Obama, that a nuclear response would force the United States to negotiate, experts said. Meanwhile, there is no real clarity such as a written or agreed to Russian doctrine about the use of nuclear weapons, said Bolton, which adds to the confusion. Its hard to call something a doctrine when theyve never used it in warfare, Bolton told The Epoch Times. They have their phrases that people throw about like escalate to de-escalate meaning, in the Russian approach, they will use a nuclear weapon to kind of shock to the other side and then force them to de-escalate, the former official said. That may be what Putins threats to use nuclear weapons really imply, but thats not because it follows rigid doctrine, said Bolton. Putin will use nuclear weapons when he feels the circumstances look appropriate, he added. Annexation Gives Putin Excuse for Nuke Use Thats one reason why Putin was so quick to annex Ukrainian territory in late September, analysts say. It allows Putin to use nuclear weapons to protect what he now said is Russian sovereign territory under annexation, Victoria Coates, the former deputy National Security advisor during the Trump administration told The Epoch Times. In Putins mind, continued Ukrainian fighting is an attack on Russia, added Coates. Thus the annexation makes a nuclear option more realisticnot lessunless both sides want to negotiate. And its unclear if either side is ready to negotiate. I dont know what the diplomatic off ramp is, said Bolton. And you know, there are obviously divisions of opinion, but its not just the Ukrainians who insist that the off-ramp is restoring Ukrainian control over Ukrainian territory, he added. Bolton noted that earlier this month Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin told reporters that the only way for the war to end was for Russia to leave Ukraine. Peace Settlement: If Anyone Could Do It, Its Probably Trump Which territory makes up Ukraine finally, might hold the key to an eventual settlement, said one expert. Del Wilber, a former intelligence officer who has worked on security issues in Europe and the Middle East, said that, while difficult, a negotiated settlement might happen given enough bloodletting and time on each side. He points to similar circumstances during the Bosnian war in 1995, which led to the Dayton Accords. In Bosnia, they made the Republic of Serbia, declared to be a semi-autonomous region, technically still part of Bosnia, but its as separate from Bosnia as it can practically be, Wilber told The Epoch Times. The Dayton Accords could be used similarly to save face for both Russia and Ukraine. Wilber said that the numbers of ethnic Russians, Ukrainians, and other minorities in areas that have been invaded and annexed by Russia make a total victory by one side or the other unattainable, even if the majority simply want peace restored. The disappointed side would likely continue to contribute to political instability, similar to the way an ethically divided Bosnia did, if not engage in an outright insurgency, said Wilber Unfortunately, I dont know that theres anybody in the Biden administration whos smart enough to see this and to negotiate it, said Wilber about a Dayton Accord-style settlement. Complicating the matter still further is that Ukrainians have mixed but definite feelings about being governed by Moscow. The fact that that Ukraines identity is now a national identity, is a fairly recent occurrence, and its what made the Maidan protests and the change of government in [February] 2014 all the more dramatic because it was Ukraine saying We do not want our Russian installed overlord, Coates said, referring to the 2014 protests that resulted in the overthrow of the democratically-election pro-Russia government. And there is tremendous tension in the country between the ones who think that the Soviet era was just fine, that Its fine to be part of Russiaand those are not an insubstantial minority, and the majority who want independence for Ukraine, added Coates The resolve by both sides to avoid negotiations likely makes offers of a mediated negotiation by former President Donald Trump unrealistic for right now, said Coates. Trump, in a social media post in late September, urged a negotiated settlement and offered to lead a group to mediate a peace deal. It is hard for me to see the Biden administration accepting [a Trump-led mediation] anyway, but if anyone could do it, its probably Trump, said Coates. Former President Trump has a remarkable ability to work with a range of folks. And you know, he took a very strong line with Putin on Ukraine when he was in office, she added. She noted that Putin did not invade Ukraine when Trump was president, but the Russian leader did invade when Obama and Biden were in office. Putin Emboldened by Biden, Obama Responses To Coates, the idea of a negotiated settlement, or even an outright victory, is made more difficult because Biden has proven to miscalculate both Russian intentions and Russian military strength, which has led to increasing distrust of the Biden administration by leaders in the United States and in Europe. I would be very cautious about authorizing the Biden administration to do much because they have been so wrong about this, said Coates. And theyve been so timid about escalation, when Putin went right to [threatening to use nukes] in the first week, she added. Coates noted that members of Congress were briefed before the war started that in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, the result would be a quick Russian victory, followed by U.S. support of an insurgency to drain Russias strength. That turned out not to be the case. And so were in a completely different world to what would have looked like a negotiated settlement in the first week in March, she said. Bolton agreed and added that after Putin met with Biden in 2021, the Russian strongman likely came to the conclusion that Biden, like Obama in 2014, would do little to retaliate against Russia in the event of an incursion into Ukraine, which in turn misled Russias own intelligence estimates about the U.S. response. Putin obviously saw this as an opportunity to gain ground, not lose more, and I think he felt the Russian troops would perform much better than they did, which of course that was what our intelligence told us as well, the former national security advisor said. I think Putin believed that Biden was of the same ilk [as Obama] and that he would basically get away with it, Bolton said. Because the 2014 annexation of the Crimea and setting up to the so-called autonomous republics in the Donbass created really very minimal Western response, it was a terrible lesson to teach the Kremlin. The former national security advisor contrasted this with actions during the Trump administration, which he said provide Ukraine with weapons systems like the Javelin portable anti-tank weapon, which has proved critical in Ukraines defense against Russias advances. Russian tactics have been based on mass attacks by tanks, which were subsequently broken up by Javelins missiles. Re-creation of Russian Empire Drives Putin The driving force for Russia is the re-creation of the old Soviet empire, according to Wilber. It is a bear that has the hunger but apparently lacks the teeth and claws to beat the combined strength of Ukraine, the United States, and Europe, he added, in a reference to the countrys national personification. Bolton agreed, saying Putin said in 2005 in an address to the Russian State Duma that the breakup of the Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century. Since then, Putin has attempted to piecemeal invade and annex former Soviet territories and has been remarkably successful. The Russians attacked Georgia in August of 2008; they attacked Ukraine in 2014; theyve been working on Belarus, trying to bring it closer into the fold for quite some time; theyve intervened politically in many respects in the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, said Bolton. So all of these things could be construed as steps in a plan to possibly put the Motherland back together again, he added. For Europe, the stakes are highbeyond just the red line of a Russian empire stretching further into Western Europe. The reason it matters are the natural resources, the agriculture, and the ability to generate electricity, said Coates. [Ukraine] is an enormously productive countryand the long-standing corruption issues in Ukraine notwithstandingthats why everybody cares, she said. On the other hand, the United States has been slow to admit Ukraine into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), because NATO isnt just a messaging vehicle for Washington, like the threat of nuclear war is for Putin, said Coates. Once admitted, the member countries are obligated to protect Ukraine, come what may, or the alliance is rendered meaningless. The notion that were going to let Ukraine into NATO tomorrow, is wrong, because you have to have unanimous consent by members, Coates added. But sending the signal that were open to NATO membership costs us nothing, she said. In response to Ukraines recent request to fast-track its application to join NATO, White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan said that the membership process should be taken up at a different time. Putin has us playing tiddlywinks when hes playing nuclear war, said Coates. Putin Weaker But Still in Control Still, all of the experts agreed that the war has weakened Putin at home even as they vary in their estimates as to whether that weakness could push the leader from power in favor of someone who supports an end to the war. I think hes definitely on the hot seat in Moscow, and he knows it too, said Wilber. I think its very possible he has an unexpected health issue come up. He made a calculated risk when he did this invasion, because he assumed that Ukraine would just roll over and when they didnt, he brought a lot of pain and suffering and embarrassment to Russia, he added. But even if forced out, its not certain that anyone chosen in a peaceful transfer of power would be better. Its not clear to me that theres anyone in place who could take power who would not be the same or worse, said Coates. Thats in the hands of the Russian people, and theyve risen up and changed their governments before. Thats their decision. Im not going to say the United States is going to tell them what kind of government they should have, she added. The lack of a central power like the old Politburo in Russia makes it harder to predict how a peaceful transfer of power could happen. So thats one reason why if regime change in Russia, if it comes and I dont think were close to the pointbut I think were closer to it than we were before the invasionbut if it comes, it could be very difficult to see how it gets arranged peacefully, said Bolton. In either event, a long protracted war is not something that favors Russia. I dont think they can afford the war that much longer, said Wilber. Russias military budget is just over $60 billion annually, a fraction of the United States nearly $800 billion defense budget. This doesnt factor in the $17.5 billion in weapons and equipment the United States has provided Ukraine since the beginning of the war. That inequality of resources is, unfortunately, what makes the nuclear option tempting to Putin, according to Wilber. But for all of his faults, Putin doesnt have a death wishnot for himself, nor for Mother Russia, Wilber added hopefully. Coates was less sanguine, noting that Putin has already tried to justify himself in using nuclear weapons through the recent annexation. So whether he [uses nuclear weapons] or not, I dont know, but he is now in a place where he would feel he has justification under existing military doctrine, she said. The Epoch Times has reached out to the White House for comment. 300-millimeter wafers are pictured in a machine for coating with gold in a clean room during the mass production of semiconductor chips at Bosch's semiconductor plant in Dresden, eastern Germany, on July 12, 2022. (Jens Schlueter/AFP via Getty Images) Biden Administrations Semiconductor Export Controls Face Mounting Hurdles The Biden administrations recent move to limit semiconductor exports to China is facing several hurdles that could negatively impact the effort and place additional strain on international supply chains. The administration issued sweeping new export controls on Oct. 7 in an effort to hamstring the Chinese Communist Partys (CCPs) military modernization. Among those rules is a measure to cut China off from certain advanced semiconductor chips made with U.S. technologies, regardless of whether the chips were manufactured in the United States. 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 Department of Commerce (pdf) said in a statement that the unprecedented move was necessary to prevent the CCP from developing weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and further increasing its apparatus of state repression. These advanced computing items and supercomputers are being used by the PRC to improve calculations in weapons design and testing including for WMD, such as nuclear weapons, hypersonics, and other advanced missile systems, and to analyze battlefield effects, the statement reads, using an acronym for the Peoples Republic of China. In addition, advanced [artificial intelligence] surveillance tools, enabled by efficient processing of huge amounts of data, are being used by the PRC without regard for basic human rights to monitor, track, and surveil citizens, among other purposes. Stranded Workers, Disrupted Supply Chains Although an effective means to immediately begin interfering with the CCPs capability to manufacture modern military equipment, the move has created several headaches for government officials. For instance, a historic ban on U.S. persons from supporting semiconductor development in China has stranded hundreds of Chinese Americans who work in China. Under the new rules, neither U.S. citizens nor permanent residents can support the production or development of Chinas domestic advanced semiconductor industry. Now, Chinese Americans are left in limbo waiting to see if they can continue working, albeit temporarily. The United States will have to scramble to contend with unintended consequences of the new rules that could inadvertently harm the semiconductor supply chain. As a result, numerous products may not be able to be shipped until vendors are granted special licenses to continue operations, and without the minute-by-minute support that semiconductor foundries need, they could begin shutting down. The United States planned to review licenses for non-Chinese factories in China hit by the new restrictions on a case-by-case basis. Delays in shipments are likely to occur even with approval. Such supply chain issues are a cause for concern, according to Michael Pecht, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Maryland. Pecht said that the disruption could cause problems for the United States because the nations own advanced semiconductor manufacturing facilities, funded by the recently passed CHIPS and Science Act, likely wouldnt be up and running for several years. Supply chain management is going to be an issue, he said. I think its going to take quite a while. Even with the CHIPS Act, its going to take three to four years to build the facilities, and then its going to take longer to get the technology up to speed. Pecht said that the United States was so dependent on Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturers that the strain could adversely affect U.S. national security interests. I think its going to be tough for the U.S. right now, he said. I think companies like Intel are far behind and, really, we depend quite heavily in terms of security and military issues as well as just regular high technology components on TSMC. So, its going to be quite difficult. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is the worlds largest contract chipmaker and is based in Taiwan. Too Early to Tell Thus, while the new rules will eliminate some of Chinas ability to obtain or manufacture key chips and components for supercomputers and have already caused stocks in Chinese chip makers to fall, its too early to tell what negative impact the rules might have for the United States and its allies. To that end, the head of TSMC warned that the growing conflict between China and the United States could have serious consequences. The U.S.China trade conflict and the escalation of cross-Strait tensions have brought more serious challenges to all industries, including the semiconductor industry, TSMC Chairman Mark Liu said at an annual convention this week. Likewise, the Semiconductor Industry Association, which represents the U.S. semiconductor industry, issued a statement on the new rules, saying that it was too early to tell what the ramifications would be. We are assessing the impact of the new export controls on the U.S. semiconductor industry and working with our member companies and the U.S. government to ensure compliance, the statement reads. We understand the goal of ensuring national security and urge the U.S. government to implement the rules in a targeted wayand in collaboration with international partnersto help level the playing field and mitigate unintended harm to U.S. innovation. Andrew Thornebrooke Reporter Follow Andrew Thornebrooke is a reporter for The Epoch Times covering China-related issues with a focus on defense, military affairs, and national security. He holds a master's in military history from Norwich University. Protesters hold signs at Irvine Valley College during President Joe Biden's speech there in Irvine, Calif., on Oct. 14, 2022. (Rudy Blalock/The Epoch Times) Biden Welcomed to Orange County With Protests IRVINE, Calif.President Joe Biden visited Irvine Valley College on Oct. 14, where he spoke to a private crowd of about 100 people about his administrations efforts to lower prescription and medical costs in the United States, but just outside the campus protesters could be heard seeking to gain his attention. The majority protesting were of Iranian descent, outraged by the Sept. 16 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, a young woman detained by Irans morality police for not following the countrys strict dress code for women. She died after 3 days in custody. We are here to tell [the president] not to strike a deal with the Islamic Republic, this is not a regime that can be negotiated with, Irvine resident Behrang Borhani told The Epoch Times. He said if a deal is made with Iran, more money would be going into the hands of the republic, which the Iranian people no longer stand with. Irvine resident Behrang Borhani joins protesters at Irvine Valley College during President Joe Bidens speech there in Irvine, Calif., on Oct. 14, 2022. (Rudy Blalock/The Epoch Times) In 2015, the United States and other global powers entered the Iran nuclear deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The deal promised billions of dollars worth of sanctions relief if Iran dismantled much of its nuclear program. President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the deal in 2018, and in 2021 Biden made statements suggesting his administration would attempt to revive the deal. But after Aminis death and international coverage of Iranian protests, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price recently said the Biden administration is no longer focused on resuming the nuclear deal with Iran. Borhani said he is a member of the California Society for Democracy in Iran, which advocates for democratic change in Iran. The group is a member of the Organization of Iranian American Communities, which Borhani said has been fighting the same cause for decades now. Im here on my own behalf, but we have been working on this issue for decades now. Its good to see that its finally coming to light, he said. Orange County Sheriffs deputies line up in front of protesters at Irvine Valley College during President Joe Bidens speech there in Irvine, Calif., on Oct. 14, 2022. (Rudy Blalock/The Epoch Times) Other Iranian protesters said they were upset that the news media have not been covering their demonstrations. We are right now the voice of people in Iran. They have no voice, no internet, no coverage, Irvine resident Farzad A., who chose to withhold his last name for safety concerns, told The Epoch Times. They dont say anything about the demonstrations. Student members of University of California Irvine Republicans club also attended the protest. We originally came because Biden was here, and we wanted to show that Orange County doesnt support Biden, Caitlyn D., who also declined to provide her last name for personal safety, told The Epoch Times. College student Caitlyn (R) joins protesters at Irvine Valley College during President Joe Bidens speech there in Irvine, Calif., on Oct. 14, 2022. (Rudy Blalock/The Epoch Times) She said the club ended up joining in the anti-nuclear deal protests because the cause was agreeable to many. The way Biden has handled international relations has linked so many problems all over the world, she said. Other protesters also gathered to express their dissatisfaction with the Biden administration. Huntington Beach resident Nancy Kerr said she was there to stand for freedom, and she said she believes Biden is not for freedom. These past couple of years, they [the administration] have been using the pandemic as a way to strip away our freedoms, she said. Huntington Beach resident Nancy Kerr (L) joins protesters at Irvine Valley College during President Joe Bidens speech there in Irvine, Calif., on Oct. 14, 2022. (Rudy Blalock/The Epoch Times) Kerr said her family escaped communism in Vietnam when she was little and was able to find success in America. Irvine resident Susan Morehouse said she was in attendance with the election integrity team for Scott Baugh, District 47 congressional candidate. Theres about 200 of us here representing our precinct, we are just patriots out here protesting this president, she said. Morehouse said she was against Bidens stance on supporting abortion, which she said aligns with congressional candidate Baughs opponent, Katie Porter. Just about everything [Baugh] stands for is contrary to what she stands for, her position is on abortion, and thats all shes really running on, Morehouse said. President Joe Biden speaks at Irvine Valley College in Irvine, Calif., on Oct. 14, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Protesters stand on the back of a truck during the Freedom Convoy demonstrations against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other restrictions on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Jan. 29, 2022. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press) Briefing Shows CSIS Saw No Foreign Involvement in Freedom Convoy Protest A briefing provided by the director of Canadas spy agency to senior officials at different levels of government on Feb. 6 said there was no foreign involvement in the Freedom Convoy protest, in contrast to claims made by federal cabinet ministers. There [are] no foreign actors identified at this point supporting or financing this convoy, CSIS Director David Vigneault said in his briefing given during a teleconference. CSIS has also not seen any foreign money coming from others states to support this. The CSIS director mentioned that Canadas financial intelligence agency FINTRAC and banks were involved in the work to track money and supported the assessment about the absence of foreign involvement. The transcript of the teleconference was presented as evidence during an Oct. 18 hearing of the Public Order Emergency Commission. The commission is reviewing the federal governments invocation of the Emergencies Act last winter to deal with cross-country protests and blockades demanding the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. Other officials participating in the teleconference included Deputy Minister of Public Safety Rob Stewart, National Security Advisor Jody Thomas, then-chief of the Ottawa Police Service Peter Sloly, and Ontarios Deputy Solicitor General Mario Di Tommaso. Vigneault told them his organization was not seeing truckers in the United States organizing to join the protest. There is not a lot [of] energy and support from the USA to Canada, he said. It is primarily a domestic issue. Nevertheless, Vigneault said CSIS put in place lookouts at the border which he said were quite effective, indicating that individuals of interest crossing into Canada, citizens or foreigners, were being flagged for national security reasons. Vigneault touched upon the potential for violence in his briefing, noting the presence of hardened elements from other causes. He said they would likely use violence but they see this as not their mission. Vigneault added these individuals were in different locales across the country, however they are not actively participating or organizing [the protests] and are likely using this as a recruiting ground. Though some protestors were charged with alleged violent crimes, OPP Intelligence Bureau chief Pat Morris told the commission on Oct. 19 that the lack of violence during the demonstration was surprising. The lack of violent crime was shocking. Even the arrests and charges, considering the whole thing in totalityI think there were 10 charges for violent crimes, six of which were against police officers, said Morris. Protesters did significantly disrupt the lives of residents of downtown Ottawa. The citys mayor Jim Watson called the regular truck honking being tantamount to psychological warfare. Government Claims Several Liberal cabinet ministers said the Freedom Convoy had a foreign dimension. We all need to be seized with the landscape as it exists around foreign interference, and any funds that may be used to undermine public safety, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said in the House of Commons on Feb. 8. Mendicino was commenting on the issue of fundraising by the Freedom Convoy. The initial fundraiser through the crowdfunding platform GoFundMe raised millions of dollars in a short time, and Ottawa city officials provided information to the company which it used to justify the suspension of the fundraiser. The source of funds was not nefarious, testified GoFundMe president Juan Benitez before the Commons public safety committee on March 3, and 88 percent of funds originated from Canada. Coordinated Attack The Liberal government invoked the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14 and two days later Minister of Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair called the cross-country protests and blockades a largely foreign-funded, targeted, and coordinated attack. The Liberal government has yet to independently substantiate its claims of foreign influence or funding. Its explanation for invoking the act, contained in its Section 58 document, mentions a CBC report on the hacking of the GiveSendGo website. According to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporations February 14, 2022 analysis of the data, 55.7% of the 92,844 donations made public were made by donors in the U.S., compared to 39% of donors located in Canada, says the document. After the GoFundMe fundraiser was shut down, a new one was started on the platform GiveSendGo. It also quickly amassed millions, but funds were frozen through a court order and so protesters never saw that money. GiveSendGos co-founder Jacob Wells told the Commons public safety committee on March 3 that roughly 60 percent of donations on the platform came from Canada and 37 percent from the United States. Not Terror-linked Aside from the foreign funding angle, a government official has also challenged the claim that funds collected by the Freedom Convoy were from nefarious sources. I think that there were people around the world who were fed up with COVID, who were upset, and saw the demonstrations against COVID [mandates] and I believe that they just wanted to support the cause, FINTRAC deputy director of intelligence Barry MacKillop told the Commons finance committee on Feb. 24. It was their money, their own money. So it wasnt money that funded terrorism or that was in any way money laundering. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in the House of Commons on Feb. 9 that protest funds were linked to crime. We are working very hard with partners at different levels of government to make sure that the flow of funds through criminal activities is interdicted. Medical staff assist a disabled homeless woman in front of the Alverado Care Center in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 29, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) California Gives $53 Million in New Housing Grants for Older Adults and Those With Disabilities California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently announced $53 million in new housing grants intended to create more residential options for low-income older adults and those with disabilities, including people at risk of homelessness. California is making significant housing investments to support some of our most vulnerable residents to live with safety and dignity in their communities, Newsom said in an Oct. 12 statement. The California Department of Social Services will administer the grants that will fund 402 new beds or units through 14 projects across the state, including $10.4 million in Los Angeles County, $11.6 million in San Bernardino County, and $9.1 million in San Diego County. Los Angeles County projects in Azusa and Whittier will add a total of 124 beds, while National City in the San Diego area will convert a motel to create 68 beds for social security and cash assistance participants. A project in Redlands, San Bernardino County, will rehabilitate an existing residential care facility, adding 52 beds. A construction project proceeds next to homeless tents in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles on July 29, 2021. (Jamie Joseph/The Epoch Times) In Northern Californias Alameda County, $5 million will fund a new building with 30 units in Oakland, and $1.2 million will be used to convert a Berkeley shelter into a licensed adult residential care facility, adding 15 beds. An additional grant will go towards developing plans for more one-bedroom supportive housing units in Oakland. Organizations in El Dorado County near Sacramento will receive $4.5 million for two new residential facilities for San Joaquin Delta tribal members, adding 30 beds each. Goshen in Tulare County near Fresno will receive $4.1 million to build mobile homes for homeless people, adding 36 units. Another project in Fresno will receive grants to add six beds at an existing facility and through a conversion project. This will help us complete the construction on Neighborhood Village for seniors and disabled adults in Tulare County, said Adrianne Hillman, CEO and founder of Salt + Light Works, the non-profit serving homeless people in Tulare and Kings counties thats developing the project. Were really grateful for the money that allows us to complete this. [The] purpose is to provide wraparound care for these individuals. Santa Barbara County will receive $1.2 million for a facility expansion adding two beds and a renovation project adding nine beds. The County of Santa Barbara Department of Behavioral Wellness will administer the grant. California Governor Gavin Newsom discusses the states plan for homelessness initiatives in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 29, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) A county building in Santa Barbara that has been vacant for quite some time is being renovated to house developmentally disabled people, said Suzanne Grimmesey, Santa Barbara Countys spokesperson. This allows us to complete the renovation and provided nine to 12 beds. A newly created Community Care Expansion Program awarded the project grants, and together with funds from the state budget, a total of $570 million will be provided to purchase, renovate, and build adult and senior care facilities along with other supportive housing sites, according to Newsom. Through this effort, we are breathing new life into old facilities and acquiring and building new facilities that will support some of our most vulnerable residents, said Kim Johnson, director of the state social services department, in a statement. The grants are part of a plan to provide more than 55,000 new housing units and treatment slots in the coming years, according to the governors office. LGBT books are displayed in the library at Nystrom Elementary School on May 17, 2022 in Richmond, California. Thousands of LGBT books donated by Gender Nation were distributed to 234 elementary schools in nine California districts. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) California Teacher Sues After Being Fired for Not Reading LGBT-Themed Books to Toddlers Out of the 12 books available to Nelli Parisenkova while she was employed at the nations largest chain of childcare centers in Studio City, California, five promoted LGBT lifestyles, which she avoided due to her Christian religion. But a new supervisor, Katy Callas, allegedly decided Parisenkovas refusal to read the books to toddlers was unacceptable and she was terminated. The five book titles included Daddy, Papa, and Me; Love Makes a Family; and Mommy, Mama, and Me, which highlight same-sex couple marriages and families. Some people dont agree with same-sex marriage, said Paul Jonna, a Thomas More Society attorney. They think its wrong and the last thing they want to do is to be reading same-sex marriage books to children. Parisenkova is suing Bright Horizons, which has more than 500 U.S. locations, for religious discrimination, wrongful termination in violation of public policy, harassment, constructive discharge, retaliation, and failure to prevent discrimination and harassment in Los Angeles Superior Court. She names Callas, her former supervisor, as a defendant. Ms. Callas, who is lesbian, apparently took personal offense at Ms. Parisenkovas religious beliefs, the Oct. 18 complaint states. Ms. Callas called Ms. Parisenkova into her office, questioned her in an irate manner, told her that if she did not want to celebrate diversity this was not the place for her to work, gave her an administrative leave memo, escorted her outside with a security guard, and left her out in the 96-degree heat with no transportation. Bright Horizons did not respond to a request for comment. The lawsuit demands a jury trial and requests a declaratory judgment that the defendants violated Gov. Code 12940, which prohibits workplace harassment. Since being let go, Parisenkova has been serving as a caregiver for her elderly mother-in-law and is helping Ukrainian refugees. Shes doing okay but her passion was the work she was doing at Bright Horizons, said Jonna, who is representing Parisenkova. She was there four years, and it distressed her a great deal to be discriminated against based on her religious beliefs. Parisenkova has a sincerely held Christian belief that marriage is a sacred covenant of lifelong union between one man and one woman however when she requested a religious accommodation, Bright Horizon allegedly refused. They could have asked other employees to read those books, Jonna told The Epoch Times. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Oct. 19 confirmed plans to add COVID-19 vaccines to the child immunization schedule, which could lead to the vaccines being mandated for school children in some states. As well be discussing today and tomorrow, incorporation of the COVID-19 vaccines in the immunization schedule and the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program is an important step towards inclusion of COVID-19 vaccines in a routine vaccination program, Dr. Sara Oliver, a CDC official, told a panel of agency advisers during a meeting on Oct. 19. An agenda for the meeting said the advisers would vote on immunization schedules for children and adolescents for 2023, but did not make clear whether COVID-19 vaccines could be added. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), or the panel of advisers, recommends vaccines for inclusion in the schedule for three different age groupsbirth to 15 months, 18 months to 18 years, and adults. The CDC and two partners make the final decision on inclusion. The CDC also wrote on Twitter that the committee will vote on an updated childhood immunization schedule, after Dr. Marty Makary, a Johns Hopkins University professor, appeared on Fox Newss Tucker Carlson Tonight late Wednesday to speak out against adding COVID-19 vaccines to the schedule. CDC officials have not responded to details on the looming vote on the 2023 schedule, which is slated for Thursday. Sarah Meyer, a CDC official, said in a recent talk to the CDC Foundation that advisers would discuss COVID-19 vaccines appearing on the child, adolescent, and adult vaccine schedules. Barbara Loe Fisher, co-founder and president of the National Vaccine Information Center, told The Epoch Times in an email that if the COVID-19 vaccines werent added to the schedule this week, they likely would be in the future. There has not been one vaccine that has been produced by the pharmaceutical industry and licensed for children in the U.S. that has not been eventually recommended by federal health officials for children and placed on the CDCs childhood vaccine schedule, she said. Mandates While the CDC sought to distance itself from mandates, some jurisdictions have adopted virtually all CDC guidance as mandates. States establish vaccine requirements for school children, not ACIP or CDC, the CDC said. The child and adolescent schedules are portrayed as guidance but a number of states adopt some or all of the recommended vaccines as required immunizations for school attendance. Officials in some states and cities, including California, have said they plan to or have already begun mandating COVID-19 vaccination for certain age groups to attend school. Other states have banned COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Dr. Joseph Ladapo, Floridas surgeon general, said Florida would not mandate the COVID-19 vaccines for school attendance. COVID mandates are NOT allowed in FL, NOT pushed into schools, & I continue to recommend against them for healthy kids, he wrote on Twitter. Unanimous Vote CDC advisers on Wednesday unanimously voted to add COVID-19 vaccines to Vaccines For Children (VFC), a program aimed at making sure poor children and adolescents get certain vaccines. The vaccines will not immediately be available through the program because the U.S. government is already providing vaccines purchased with taxpayer funds to health care personnel across the country. But once agreements the government made with manufacturers end and arent renewed, the COVID-19 vaccine ordering system will change. At that point, VFC providers can order the vaccines through the program. The CDC will begin to take steps to award contracts to manufacturers through the program once vaccines are commercialized, Jeanne Santoli, a CDC official, told the panel. Dr. Jeffrey Duchin, a health officer in Seattle and King County who was representing the National Association of County and City Health Officials as an ex officio member during the meeting, said that voting to add COVID-19 vaccines to VFC would help address vaccine inequity, or certain racial groups receiving vaccines at lower rates than others. The Kakao messaging app and the Kakao T taxi booking app are seen on a mobile phone in this illustration photo from March 13, 2018. (Thomas White/Reuters) CEO of Kakao, South Koreas Most Popular Messaging App, Resigns After Service Outage A top executive of Kakao Corp., a popular South Korean messaging app, stepped down Wednesday following a widespread service outage on the ubiquitious platform that millions of South Koreans use regularly for wiring money, chatting with friends, hailing taxis, and logging onto other major websites. As a CEO of Kakao, I feel miserable and strongly responsible for the incident. So I am stepping down from the post, Kakaos co-CEO Namkoong Whon said at a press conference, according to Yonhap News Agency. I would like to give an apology to all users, he said. I promise Kakao will do its best to restore public confidence. Namkoong, who became Kakaos co-CEO in March, said he will now focus his efforts as part of the companys emergency task force and help to resolve technical issues and prevent recurrences. The major outage started with a fire at a data center near Seoul, South Korea, on Saturday. Namkoong said at the conference that it will take time to repair all defects and Kakao will fully open probe results to the public. Flames at the data center were extinguished after 8 hours, but an immediate power shutdown led to a server outage, which resulted in a malfunction of the companys online services. Power was fully restored at the data center and all of Kakaos servers are back online, the company said. Critics have blamed Kakaos over-reliance on third party servers and inadequate backup systems for the slow recovery. Data centers are supposed to be very safe from fire and other disasters. Thats basic, said Shin Jin-Ho, co-CEO at Midas International Asset Management, according to Bloomberg. Midas manages $9 billion in assets, and Shin said the fund would be reducing its holdings in Kakao. Kakao will now be headed by Hong Euntaek, one of the remaining CEOs of the company. Dependence on Kakao The widespread reliance on Kakao resulted in users being unable to carry out basic activities like hiring a cab, paying for groceries, or communicating with friends and family. Launched in 2010, Kakao has more than 53 million users worldwide, with South Korea accounting for over 47 million. With a population of nearly 52 million people, this means about 90 percent of South Koreans use Kakao. The service disruption has ignited debate among policymakers and consumers over whether a single app should have such a monopolistic hold on the market. The fire ignited lithium-ion batteries and the power lines connected to the data center, Hong said. This led to the entire shutdown, and the company was not prepared for it, Bloomberg reported. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said the impact of the disruption at Kakao was no different from the national communication network, CNBC reported. The president called for a cybersecurity task force with military officials and the national intelligence agency to discuss the situation. South Korean Science Minister Lee Jong-ho said on Sunday that the government is taking this very seriously as the failure of communication services stability means the peoples economic and social activities could be paralyzed. As of Wednesday, the companys shares had risen 5.7 percent after dropping by 9.5 percent on Monday. The stock has declined over 50 percent since the beginning of the year. Reuters contributed to this report. Cory Morgan: Lots of Finger-Pointing So Far in Emergencies Act Inquiry, but Not Much on If the Act Was Needed Commentary The opening week of the Emergencies Act inquiry has been dominated by City of Ottawa officials trying to explain how they lost control of the Truckers Convoy protest. Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson is trying to blame other levels of government as he testified that he had been pleading with both Ottawa and the provincial government for more police resources. A transcript of a meeting between Watson and Prime Minister Trudeau quoted the prime minister accusing Ontario Premier Doug Ford of hiding from political responsibility for political reasons during a phone call in February. As the fingers continue to point in the inquiry, it appears that dodging responsibility will be a common theme in the testimonies. Officials realize the Truckers Convoy protest was dealt with poorly and they are scrambling to cover their butts. They dont feel the inquiry will be painting their actions in a positive light and they are being defensive while lashing out at each other. Ottawa police and city officials have testified that they underestimated just how large the protests would be. They also assumed the protesters only planned to stay for a day or two and would move on. One has to wonder what sort of rock the powers that be in Ottawa were hiding under as the Truckers Convoy rolled toward Canadas capital. Its hard to see how so many people were caught flatfooted by a convoy that stretched for miles and took over a week to get to its destination, yet it happened. Some of the blame for the underestimation of the size and determination of the participants in the convoy lands on the prime minister himself and legacy media outlets that appeared determined to try and dismiss the convoy as being a small group of disenchanted extremists. Days before the convoy arrived in Ottawa, Trudeau said The small fringe minority of people who are on their way to Ottawa who are holding unacceptable views that they are expressing do not represent the views of Canadians In calling the group a small fringe minority, Trudeau signalled to the cCity of Ottawa that the convoy was of little significance that could be dismissed. Authorities in Ottawa could presume that the prime minister had access to intelligence they didnt and that the approaching convoy was of little consequence. While legacy media gave little notice of the juggernaut approaching Ottawa, independent media outlets covered it closely. Journalists were embedded with the convoy and were reporting regularly on its growth and how it was greeted by thousands of enthusiastic supporters in cities it passed through. If Ottawa authorities had been willing to look outside the bubble of legacy media coverage, perhaps they would have realized what they were dealing with. Protest organizers were making it clear they didnt just have plans to camp out for a day or two. Trudeaus words inflamed protesters and very well may have swelled their ranks. Millions of Canadians were sympathetic to the convoy, and they didnt appreciate being told they held unacceptable views by the prime minister. A little respect directed toward the protesters before they arrived in Ottawa would have gone a long way to calm things, but Trudeau never could bring himself to offer anything aside from disdain for the demonstrators. While meeting with the protesters or at least appearing to listen to their concerns still would not have stopped the convoy, it would have pacified many of them. When it felt hopeless to try and engage the government, protesters decided to entrench themselves to be heard. An attempt to listen to or negotiate even a little with the protest would have given the government higher moral ground when decisions were made to remove the occupation. The inquiry hasnt even gotten to the meat of the issue they are tasked with. Witnesses have been speaking of the ills of the Truckers Convoy but there has been little discussion on whether the Emergencies Act needed to be invoked. That will likely be discussed in depth once federal officials and police chiefs start testifying. The opening tone of the inquiry is that there already is an assumption of wrongdoing on the part of authorities as testimonies focus on laying blame for the situation on others. Perhaps City of Ottawa authorities are already assuming Trudeau will claim it was a failure on the part of civic authorities that forced his hand in invoking the act. Trudeau certainly didnt hesitate to throw Doug Ford under the bus. If anybody was hoping the inquiry into the use of the Emergencies Act would lead to some clarity on the actions of police and different levels of government during the convoy protests, they are likely going to be disappointed. Politicians are too busy trying to blame each other for what happened to actually spend time trying to find out why it happened or explain their actions. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness has plummeted for pregnant women and newborns since the Omicron coronavirus variant became the dominant strain in the United States, according to data presented by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials on Oct. 19. The effectiveness of two doses of a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine against emergency department and urgent care visits was 87 percent after two doses and remained high at 78 percent after 150 or more days while the Delta variant was predominant, according to data from the CDC-funded VISION network. However, two doses of the vaccines started at just 39 percent effectiveness against Omicron and dropped to 11 percent after 150 or more days, according to the data, which were presented to the CDCs vaccine advisory panel. A third dose increased protection to 81 percent. Effectiveness wasnt available after 120 or more days for a third dose, or a vaccine booster, for pregnant women. But nonpregnant women of childbearing age saw vaccine booster effectiveness drop from 69 percent to just 16 percent after 120 or more days, according to the VISION data. A third dose was estimated to provide 94 percent effectiveness against hospitalization for pregnant women but, again, no estimates were available for several months later or for two doses. For nonpregnant women aged 18 to 45, effectiveness for two doses started at 64 percent but decreased to 50 percent after 150 or more days. A third booster dose upped the protection to 73 percent, with no estimate available for 120 or more days. The estimates were much lower for Omicron than during the Delta era. The estimates were drawn from encounters from June 2021 to June 2022 in sites across 10 states, including California, Utah, and Illinois. In addition to effectiveness data, CDC researchers presented data that show no increase in miscarriages linked to COVID-19 vaccine primary series or booster doses. CDC advisers said the data support agency recommendations that virtually all pregnant women get vaccinated. With full confidence as a provider, I can strongly recommend this vaccine to my patients, to my pregnant patients who are about to have children, said Dr. Grace Lee, the advisory panels chair. This is actually very strong data. Protection for Infants Protection for infants up to 5 months old also plummeted after Omicron displaced Delta, CDC data show. A two-dose primary series administered to mothers conferred just 38 percent effectiveness to their infants against Omicron hospitalization, data from the CDC-funded Overcoming COVID-19 Network show. If a mother received her second dose in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, her child had just 25 percent protection against hospitalization. During Omicron predominance, vaccines given in the first 20 weeks did not show effectiveness for infants, Dr. Katherine Fleming-Dutra, a CDC researcher, told the agencys vaccine advisory panel. If a mother received her second dose after the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, her child had 57 percent protection against hospitalization. That was down from 68 percent and 88 percent, respectively, during the Delta era. The effectiveness was lower during Omicron predominance, when there was mismatch between the vaccine and the predominant circulating variant, according to Fleming-Dutra. The vaccines available in the United States are based on the Wuhan virus variant, which hasnt been in circulation since 2020. Updated vaccine boosters recently became available, with no clinical data. Not enough time has passed for the updated vaccine boosters to be analyzed through the CDC systems, researchers said. Medibank signage sits on top of the Medibank building in Docklands, Melbourne of Australia on Oct. 1, 2014. (Scott Barbour/Getty Images) Cyber Security Warning After Medibank Hack Following a hacking incident at Medibank, Cyber Security Minister Clare ONeil says Australian companies must do more to protect customer data. The health insurer revealed on Wednesday it had received messages from the alleged hackers claiming they had removed customer data less than a week after it was hit by a cyber attack. An investigation has been launched, with federal government agencies examining the incident and working alongside Medibank. ONeil said the situation was concerning and that agencies were working to stop the data from being released on the internet. The Medibank hack, following the recent widespread data breach at telecommunications company Optus, is a wake-up call for business. This is the new world that we live in; we are going to be under relentless cyber attack essentially from here on in, the minister told ABC Radio on Thursday. We need to do a lot better as a country to make sure that we are doing everything we can within organisations to protect customer data and also for citizens to be doing everything they can. ONeil said it was too early to tell how many customers had been affected by the Medibank hack after speaking with the insurers CEO. Medibank is now working alongside federal police and the Australian Signals Directorate to manage the breach. The reason that I am so concerned about this at the moment is because, of course, of the sensitive nature of the information involved, Ms ONeil said. What we have here is information thats held by this organisation, which is healthcare information, and that just on its own being made public can cause immense harm to Australians. The Australian Securities Exchange-listed Medibank went into a trading halt after it was contacted by the alleged hackers. Medibank systems have not been encrypted by ransomware, which means usual activities for customers continues, it said in a statement. We continue to work with specialised cyber security firms and have advised the Australian Cyber Security Centre. Department of Justice Charges Another Pro-Life Activist The Biden administration is using the DOJ 'as a weapon against political dissidents' The Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged another pro-life activist, in the latest case by the Biden administration against an individual for allegedly seeking to block access to an abortion clinic. Herb Geraghty, of Pennsylvania, was charged with violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and conspiring to deprive civil rights, the same charges leveled against activists who gathered at clinics in Washington and Tennessee. Geraghty was named in a superseding indictment (pdf) against a group that allegedly sought to block access to the Washington Surgi-Center, an abortion clinic in Washington, in October 2020. Geraghty is accused of communicating with Lauren Handy, who was previously charged, to plan a blockade of the facility, according to the DOJ. Handy used money from a donation to pay for an Airbnb for herself and Geraghty, according to charging documents. The group entered the clinic and blocked its entrance with their bodies and items such as chains. Jonathan Darnel, another defendant, allegedly livestreamed the blockade. We have people intervening physically with their bodies to prevent women from entering the clinic to murder their children, Darnel said during the livestream. All 10 defendants were charged with violating the FACE Act, which prohibits obstructing people from obtaining or providing abortions. They also were charged with civil rights conspiracy for allegedly conspiring to restrict peoples constitutional rights. Each faces up to 11 years in prison if convicted. Geraghty Responds Geraghty took to social media on Oct. 17 to say the charges against himself and others are being motivated by politics. It is clear that the Biden administration intends to use the DOJ as a weapon against political dissidents, he said. Eleven people were charged in October for blocking access to a clinic in Tennessee in 2021. Some of the defendants in that case also said they feel as though theyre being unfairly targeted. Geraghty thanked supporters but asked people to never lose sight of the fact that no matter what the state does to me or the other defendantsit will never compare to what they allow abortionists to do to children. The unborn babies still being killed every day in this country, despite the Dobbs decision, are the real victims, he said. These children do not even get a trial before they are put to death. As you pray and demand justice for us, do NOT stop working for justice for them. In its recent decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Supporters are raising funds for Geraghty on GiveSendGo. Rare Prosecutions The FACE Act has been on the books since 1994 but has rarely been used to prosecute pro-life activists, the Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising noted in a statement released after Geraghtys arrest. That groups director of activism is among those who took part in the 2020 blockade. Yet in 2022 alone, under the Biden/Garland DOJ, there have been at least 22 peaceful pro-life activists indicted under the act, the group stated. Attorney General Merrick Garland was appointed by President Joe Biden to lead the DOJ. The uprising group is among those that see the civil rights conspiracy charges as contrary to the Supreme Court decision because striking down Roe means that access to abortion is no longer a constitutional right. Garland, in prepared remarks delivered at the White House in July, acknowledged that the decision effectively [eliminated] a constitutional right. But he said that the DOJ will continue to enforce the FACE Act and protect health care providers and individuals seeking reproductive health services in states where those services remain legal. The Justice Departments Reproductive Rights Task Force, led by Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, is vigilantly monitoring state laws and enforcement actions to ensure that states do not infringe upon these and other protections of reproductive rights, Garland said. And when we learn that states are infringing on federal protections, we will consider every tool at our disposal to affirm those protections. Doctor Says John Fetterman Recovering Well From Stroke Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman is recovering from the stroke he suffered earlier this year, according to a doctors note made public on Oct. 19. Dr. Clifford Chen said he examined Fetterman during a follow-up visit on Oct. 14 and determined the official is recovering well from his stroke and his health has continued to improve. A lung exam returned clear, Fettermans heart rate was regular, his limb strength was normal, and he spoke intelligently without cognitive deficits, the doctor added. Chen has donated to Fetterman and other Democrats in the past, according to Federal Election Commission records. The note, which the Fetterman campaign released, acknowledged that Fetterman is dealing with lingering issues from the stroke. Occasional words he will miss which seems like he doesnt hear the word but it is actually not processed properly, Chen said. His communication is significantly improved compared to his first visit assisted by speech therapy which he has attended on a regular basis since the stroke. Fetterman, 53, suffered a stroke in May. In his first in-person interview since the stroke, Fetterman used a computer to translate audio to text and read the text before answering questions. Dasha Burns, the NBC reporter who conducted the interview, said that in small talk before the interview without captioning, it wasnt clear he was understanding our conversation. Fetterman had not released a doctors note (pdf) since June before Wednesday. Dr. Ramesh Chandra, a cardiologist, penned that statement. After releasing the new note, Fetterman said in a statement, Unfortunately for Dr. Oz, Im ready to serve and continue to get better every single day. On Friday, John went to his primary care physician for a check-upand unfortunately for Dr. Oz, it was nothing but good news. By all measures John is making great progress in his recovery and doing everything he needs to do to live a healthy life, added Rebecca Katz, an adviser to the Fetterman campaign. Fetterman is the Democrat nominee for a U.S. Senate seat representing Pennsylvania. Dr. Mehmet Oz is the GOP nominee. Thats good news that John Fettermans doctor gave him a clean bill of health. The bad news is that John Fetterman still supports releasing convicted murderers out on the streets and has zero explanation for why he didnt pay his taxes 67 times, Rachel Tripp, a senior adviser for the Oz campaign, told The Epoch Times in an email. And now that he apparently is healthy, he can debate for 90 minutes, start taking live questions from voters and reporters, and do a second debate now too. Fetterman and Oz are set to debate on Oct. 25 for the first time. Fetterman has insisted on using a computer to translate audio to text. No other debates have been scheduled. Early voting for the race has already started. The midterm election is slated to take place on Nov. 8. The RBC logo in Torontos financial district in a file photo. The big bank has come under fire from environmental groups for financing oil and gas despite its stated commitments to go green. (The Canadian Press/Christopher Katsarov) Doubts About ESG Climb Amid Mounting Challenges to Companies Green Claims Professor questions environmental activists underlying motives News Analysis As companies work to go green, they are increasingly being called out by dissatisfied environmental groups and thus are becoming more tight-lipped about their climate pledges. Analysis points to growing doubts over ESG (environmental, social, and governance) factors and their efficacy in allocating capital, but also concern about the purpose of activists and the legitimacy of their claims. RBC, Canadas largest bank, is under investigation by the federal Competition Bureau for its stated climate action commitments. Its also being taken to task for greenwashing, for continuing to finance fossil fuel development such as pipeline projects, a complaint brought forward by six applicants supported by Ecojustice, Canadas largest environmental law charity, and Stand.Earth, an environmental advocacy organization. I can confirm that the Bureau has launched an investigation under the Competition Act into the Royal Bank of Canadas alleged deceptive marketing practices after receiving an application under section 9. There is no finding of wrongdoing [at this time], Marie-Christine Vezina, senior communications adviser with the Competition Bureau, told The Epoch Times. RBC has been touting its ESG commitment and strongly disagreed with the allegations. CEO Dave McKay has nixed calls for actual divesting from the oil and gas sector. RBC did not respond to an inquiry from The Epoch Times. The impression you get is that its basically impossible to satisfy them [environmental activists], because even if the Royal Bank stopped lending to the oil and gas sector, maybe it lends to automotive parts manufacturers, or maybe some of the executives of the bank drive their car to work. How do you get to that perfect state of grace? Wilfrid Laurier University professor and financial economist William McNally told The Epoch Times. It goes back to what is the true motive of the activists? Questioning the Allegations Ecojustice said in an Oct. 11 press release, This complaint is part of a wave of legal actions around the world to challenge companies making bold climate claims not backed by credible actions. Furthermore, Oxfam Canada published a report on Oct. 18 on the carbon footprint of Canadas major banks and said that it wanted to see an end to the financing of polluting projects. None of the eight major banks have committed to withdrawing from the fossil fuel sector in the short or medium term. Even more worrying is the fact that they all present themselves as having sustainable finance projects or green investment activities, Oxfam said. McNally says that companies find it irresistible to use ESG as a marketing tool but that the claims against RBCs oil and gas financing are short-sighted. Is RBC supposed to just stop all oil and gas gas financing tomorrow? Is that good for Canada? he said. They [environmental activists] dont admit that there might be a trade-off between their demands and whats good for Canada. Stand.Earth advocates for divestment from fossil fuelsa more extreme stance than merely halting funding. But Gina Pappano, executive director of InvestNow Inc., a non-profit that, according to its website, works to show that investing in Canadas resource sectors helps both Canada and the world, said that divestment from oil and gas companies doesnt stop emissions as it does nothing to reduce global demand. The divestment folly is that issuing blanket mandates to eschew the oil and gas sector and to remove its companies from the investment pool does nothing to foster innovation nor reduce emissions, she said in an Oct. 4 op-ed for the Canadian Energy Centre. Pappano notes that two of Canadas largest investment managers, Alberta Investment Management Co. and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, reaffirmed their intent to continue to invest in the oil and gas sector. Dan McTeague, president of Canadians for Affordable Energy, tweeted on Oct. 11, Maybe now woke elements within Canadas banking community will realize appeasement of climate fanaticism, which has been perfected in Canada, never turns out well. Seeking Advice Radha Curpen, vice chair, Vancouver managing partner, and national leader of ESG Strategy and Solutions at law firm Bennett Jones, advises companies on making environmental commitments. In a Sept. 13 ARC Energy Research Institute podcast, speaking on the added bureaucracy companies must deal with, she said its difficult for companies to know how they should report. A lot of companies come to us sometimes before they make a commitment because of the fact that the commitment is going to increase expectations. Definitely. Theres also litigation risks with coming out of those commitments that are being made, she said, adding that in some cases Bennett Jones has advised companies to not make certain commitments. In its 2022 net zero report released Oct. 18, South Pole, a climate project developer and solutions provider, showed that one in four companies surveyed globally have set emission-reduction targets but dont plan to publicize those targets. Media scrutiny, NGO critique, and the threat of lawsuits may be deterring companies who are voluntarily setting targets from being more open, according to the South Pole report, referring to the emerging practice as green-hushing. Peter Tertzakian, deputy director of the ARC Energy Research Institute, said his gut feel is that the whole ESG causes some sense of paralysis and greater polarization as doubts about the sustainable investment movement increase. Thats kind of a dangerous territory were entering that it actually may inhibit companies from making commitments, he said during the Sept. 13 podcast. You have the risk of making a commitment that will get you sued versus the risk of not making a commitment and then not being able to raise money. Curpen said there can be fines and higher risks of not reporting on top of litigation and shareholder activism. The publicly traded companies also have to contend with securities regulators compliance documentation requirements. Theres also going to be litigation against the government and regulators like companies and anti-ESG activism groups too. So I think were seeing both sides and it creates even more clutter, she said. Jackie Forrest, executive director of the ARC Energy Research Institute, noted that it becomes damaging to ESG itself when more companies or funds say theyre green but are found out not to be. While greenwashing is a problem and the feasibility of ESG is being analyzed, McNally says environmental groups have to be held accountable for the consequences of their proposals, adding that the energy transition is not going to happen as quickly as they propose without considerable pain inflicted on society. It doesnt seem like theyve done the math on the whole thing. Justices of the US Supreme Court pose for their official photo at the Supreme Court in Washington, DC on Oct. 7, 2022. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images) Emergency Petition Asks Supreme Court to Block Bidens Student Loan Program A group of Wisconsin taxpayers filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court on Oct. 19 to put an end to the student loan forgiveness plan announced by President Joe Biden in August. The emergency request was filed with Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who handles emergencies from Wisconsin and has the option to act on her own or refer the petition to the nine-justice court. Taxpayers argued that the court should scrap Bidens program because it unlawfully encroaches on Congress spending power. The assault on our separation of powersand upon the principle that the spending power is vested solely in Congressis extraordinary, and perhaps unprecedented, the Brown County Taxpayers Association wrote in court papers (pdf). We are witnessing a gargantuan increase in the national debt accomplished by a complete disregard for limitations on the constitutional spending authority. Bidens proposal would forgive up to $10,000 in federal student loans for those making less than $125,000 a year for individuals or $250,000 for married couples or heads of households, and up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients who meet the income threshold. The White House could reportedly start processing requests for loan forgiveness as soon as this weekend. On Oct. 14, the U.S. Department of Education opened its student loan forgiveness application to beta testing. The website was launched on Oct. 17 with a message: The Biden-Harris Administration is providing up to $20,000 in student loan debt relief for eligible borrowers. But, the taxpayer group argued, There is no legal justification for this presidential usurpation of the constitutional spending power, which is reserved exclusively for Congress, and they argued that such a step is predicated on a law passed under different circumstances to accomplish different purposes for different beneficiaries. Several related lawsuits have been filed against the Biden administration. The six Republican-led states of Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Carolina filed a suit in September to block the program, arguing (pdf) that Biden doesnt have the power to issue debt relief without an act of Congress. Meanwhile, the Libertarian Pacific Legal Foundation sued the U.S. Education Department in a federal court in Indiana in September. A judge denied the request to pause the federal program. A federal judge earlier in October had tossed out the Brown County Taxpayers Associations case, saying the group lacked legal standing to sue the administration. President Joe Biden announces student loan relief with Education Secretary Miguel Cardona on Aug. 24, 2022 (Oliver Douliery/AFP via Getty Images) Federal officials havent issued a public response or court filing to the groups emergency petition. Republicans and some Democrats in battleground states have criticized the program. For example, Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), who is running for a U.S. Senate seat, said in a statement that he is paying off my own familys student loans and that the move sends the wrong message to the millions of Ohioans without a degree working just as hard to make ends meet. Cost Bidens executive actions canceling some student loan debt will cost about $400 billion, about a quarter of the funds owed, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said Sept. 26. As of June 30, 43 million borrowers held $1.6 trillion in federal student loans. About $430 billion of that debt will be canceled, the CBO estimated. CBO previously projected that some of the funds canceled by Bidens action would eventually have been forgiven anyway. Of 37 million borrowers with direct loans from the federal government, CBO estimated that 95 percent of borrowers meet the income criteria for eligibility and 45 percent of income-eligible borrowers will have their entire outstanding debt canceled. In August, the White House released a cash flow estimate of foregone loan repayments of $24 billion a year, or about $240 billion over a decadeassuming that 75 percent of eligible borrowers apply. The case in question is Brown County Taxpayers Association v. Biden, 22A331. Reuters contributed to this report. A man makes his way home from work on a bus as darkness falls in Glasgow, Scotland, on Oct. 10, 2005. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) Extremely Disappointing: Australias Plan to End Violence Ignores One-Third of Victims, Says Advocate Group The government has continued pursuing its gendered violence strategy despite its failure to reduce domestic and family violence in the last decade, the One in Three campaign said. Greg Andresen, the senior researcher at the One in Three campaign, told The Epoch Times that the advocacy group was extremely disappointed the Labor governments new national plan to end violence did not include support for male victims. One in Three advocates and raises public awareness for the needs of male victims of family violence and abuse. Naturally, we are extremely disappointed that the new Labor government has decided to ignore the one-third of victims of domestic and family violence and the half of victims of emotional abuse who are unlucky enough to have been born male, Andresen said. Male victims of family, domestic, and sexual violence are completely ignored by the new national plan. The national plan, released on Oct. 17, outlined how gender inequality drove violence against women, with Minister for Women Katy Gallagher saying achieving gender equality was at the core of the governments agenda. The national plan defines violence as any sort of physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, social, spiritual, financial, and technology-facilitated abuse. However, the 144-page document fails to mention violence against men a single time. The strategy will map out how we address the structural barriers and inequalities that are a major driver behind gender-based violence, Gallagher said. No amount of violence is acceptable, and it is crucial that we talk honestly about some of the factors that contribute to violence against women and children and what we will do to address some of the underlying causes. Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said it was important to have sustained, collective action across society to provide better protection to victim-survivors and hold perpetrators to account. Current rates of family, domestic, and sexual violence are unacceptable. We want to make these changes now so the next generation of women and children can live in a society free from violence, she said. National Plan Ignoring Established Risk Factors for Violence Andresen said the gender-focused strategy for reducing violence has failed, and the claim that gender inequality was the primary driver of family, domestic, and sexual violence was without evidence. It ignores the established risk factors such as low income/unemployment, childhood-of-origin exposure to abuse and domestic violence, conduct disorder/anti-social personality, depression, drug and alcohol use, separation, and high-conflict/low satisfaction relationships, he said. Claire Lehmann, the founding editor of Quillette, wrote in The Australian that the biggest risk factor for sexual assault was not gender but childhood, according to the statistics. Boys aged zero to 17 incur almost double the risk of sexual assault than adult women do. Yet the National Plan contains nothing for these boys, Andresen said. The Epoch Times reached out to the office of Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth for comment but did not receive a response by publication. 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) Father Testifies in Defense of Transgender Childs Need for Hormone Therapy LITTLE ROCK, Ark.Unlike most dads, Aaron Jennen is accustomed to being in court. But Jennen, an assistant U.S. attorney in federal court, Fayetteville, found himself in an unusual role in another federal court here, about 200 miles away from where he works. He became a witness, offering emotional testimony on behalf of his child in the court battle over the statewide ban on child transgender treatments in Arkansas. Republican lawmakers voted to ban gender-transitioning medical treatmentspuberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgeries for minors last year, the nations first such law. The ban was put on hold before taking effect and remains so pending the resolution of the trial. The lawmakers said the Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act is intended to fulfill the states obligation to protect children from lifelong consequences of these controversial medical interventions. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is challenging the laws constitutionality on behalf of the Jennens, three other families with transgender children, and a pair of Arkansas doctors who provide the procedures. A Fathers Love Testifying in U.S. District Court on Oct. 18, the second day of the federal court challenge to the SAFE Act, Jennen smiled broadly when speaking about his wife and their three children, including the eldest, a 17-year-old now legally known as Sabrina. Born male, the child began receiving feminizing medical treatments in early 2021 after coming out as transgender in mid-2020. Jennens face contorted and he wept as he described the dilemma that the SAFE Act creates for his family. Jennen cannot imagine stopping the treatments for his child. Nor can Jennen fathom uprooting his deeply connected family. It would be a stretch to afford traveling out-of-state to legally obtain the treatments for his child, who now appears to be happy and well-adjusted. But that same child used to make heartbreaking statements such as Whats the point of life? and, I dont see a future for myself, Jennen said, pressing a handkerchief to his eyes. Without the treatments, the child would likely regress back to that condition, Jennen said. As he took his seat in the courtroom and regained his composure, Sabrina leaned into his shoulder. Lawmaker Expresses Compassion When told about Jennens emotional testimony, the sponsor of the SAFE Act, Rep. Robin Lundstrum, responded: My heart goes out to these parents. Theyve been through hell and theyre scared, and theyre doing their very best to help their children because they love them. Although Jennen and another father of a transgender teen testified that professionals discussed risks and benefits of treatments with them, Lundstrum says many parents are not being given full information about the long-term implications of these procedures, especially if the treatment progresses to include surgeries. The sad thing is, this is a lifetime decision, she said.Its a short-term fix for a long-term problem. Rep. Robin Lundstrum asks the Arkansas House of Representatives to override the governors veto of the SAFE Act on April 6, 2021. (Courtesy of The Family Council) Some transgender adults have told Lundstrum they support the SAFE Act. They told her they experienced a lifetime of pain, medical problems and ongoing medical costsand that no child should embark on that journey. While litigation over the SAFE Act has been pending, Lundstrum said she has often wondered about the future of the young plaintiffs. I know it will look different than what theyre picturing, she said, and that saddens her. When all of the spotlight goes away, and these young people are left with the hurt and the pain and the long-term consequences, what happens to those kids and those families then? Lundstrums deposition, a previously sworn statement, was entered into evidence in court after Jennen finished testifying. Emotion Breaks Through Jennens poignant testimony capped two days of hearings in the case pending before Judge James Moody Jr. Experts who testified on behalf of the ACLU cited numerous studies supporting their position that transgender procedures are safe, effective, and appropriate for youths suffering from gender dysphoria, which is persistent distress over ones gender identity conflicting with ones biological sex. Although the testimony has mostly been highly technical in nature, even very serious clinicians showed signs that the subject is emotional. When Jack Turban, a treating psychiatrist who has written about 30 peer-reviewed articles, was asked to react to the possibility that the SAFE Act would remove access to the gender-affirming care that his studies support, he replied, That would be emotional to think about. Then Turban sniffed, apparently stifling his feelings, and said, If these treatments were not an option, I would be left without any evidence-based approaches to treat this young persons gender dysphoria. ACLU lawyers say they could finish presenting their witnesses today. Representatives of Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge would then start calling witnesses. Moody plans to declare the trial in recess on Oct. 21. It will resume when he and the parties set dates to hear from a number of witnesses who were unavailable to testify this week. Medical staff work in the laboratory to analyze samples on the possible presence of COVID-19 in a file photo. (Gerard Julien/AFP via Getty Images) Top NIH Official Was Unaware of Boston Labs New COVID Research With Eighty Percent Kill Rate in Mice A National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases official said the agency will further evaluate a controversial Boston University-commissioned preprint study that developed a COVID-19 hybrid that killed 80 percent of lab mice, saying the team involved didnt clear the work with the federal agency. Speaking to STAT News, Emily Erbelding, the head of NIAIDs division of microbiology and infectious diseases, suggested that Boston University (BU) researchers didnt properly disclose what their study would entail and didnt say they would carry out that specific work. The grant proposal, Erbelding stated, also didnt make it clear that scientists would possibly be enhancing a COVID-19 strain in reports that were handed to NIAID, the agency headed by Dr. Anthony Fauci. This week, BUs National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories drew condemnation and controversy when it published (pdf) the non-peer-reviewed paper showing researchers took the spike protein for the COVID-19 Omicron strain and grafted it to the original Wuhan COVID-19 strain. They found that when tested on lab mice, the newly created strain is more lethal than the original Omicron variantkilling 80 percent of micealthough Erbelding noted that the original Wuhan strain killed 100 percent of those mice. I think were going to have conversations over upcoming days, Erbelding told STAT on Oct. 18, suggesting the BU team didnt inform NIAID about what they were planning to do. We wish that they would have, yes. Refutation In response to a request for comment from The Epoch Times on Oct. 18, a spokesperson for BU pointed to an updated statement issued by the college on Oct. 18. The Epoch Times has also contacted NIAID for comment. The university defended the research and pilloried what it described as misleading and false reports about the study, asserting that no gain-of-function research, which could enhance the lethality or transmissibility of a pathogen, was carried out during the research. In this file photo, students and passers-by walk past an entrance to Boston University College of Arts and Sciences in Boston, on Nov. 29, 2018. (Steven Senne, File/AP Photo) It also refuted claims made by Erbelding and NIAID in the STAT News articles, saying that it fulfilled all required regulatory obligations and protocols, and following NIAIDs guidelines and protocols, we did not have an obligation to disclose this research for two reasons. The experiments reported in this manuscript were carried out with funds from Boston University. NIAID funding was acknowledged because it was used to help develop the tools and platforms that were used in this research; they did not fund this research directly, according to the statement. [National Institutes of Health] funding was also acknowledged for a shared instrumentation grant that helped support the pathology studies. We believe that funding streams for tools do not require an obligation to report. And secondly, there was no gain of function with this research, the university stated. If there was evidence that the research was gaining function, under both NIAID and our own protocols we would immediately stop and report. All research at Boston University, whether funded by NIAID or not, follows this same protocol. We are in continued conversation with NIAID leadership and program officers. Criticism Following reports about the study, however, some groups and conservative lawmakers expressed alarm. 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) Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), a doctor, issued a statement that such research shouldnt be carried out in densely populated areas because it creates the potential to kill more people than any singular nuclear weapon. History has taught us that viruses have managed to escape even the most secure labs. This is not a risk that scientists alone should be able to take without concurrence from the American public. This research must stop immediately while the risks and benefits can be investigated, he said in a statement. The senator made reference to the federal government having provided funding to a third-party group to carry out possible gain-of-function research at a top-security laboratory in Wuhan, Chinalocated in the same city where the first COVID-19 cases were recorded in 2019. Some U.S. intelligence officials issued a report in 2021 that the virus may have escaped from a lab. A car passes Facebook's new Meta logo on a sign at the company headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., on Oct. 28, 2021. (Tony Avelar/AP Photo) Final Word: Facebook Parent Meta Ordered to Sell Giphy After Landmark Ruling by UK Regulator Meta this week accepted a reissued ruling by the British competition regulator to divest itself of its social media animation unit, Giphy. The decision by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) was first announced last year, which Meta unsuccessfully appealed. The CMA again declared on Oct. 18, that Metas acquisition of Giphy would allow it to limit other social media platforms access to GIFs, making those sites less attractive to users and less competitive. Citing the risk of ownership towards competition in social media and display advertising, the government authority said that Meta must sell GIPHY, in its entirety, to a suitable buyer, saying that this was its final decision. This deal [Meta buying Giphy] would significantly reduce competition in 2 markets. It has already resulted in the removal of a potential challenger in the UK display ad market, while also giving Meta the ability to further increase its substantial market power in social media, said Stuart McIntosh, chair of the CMAs independent investigatory panel in an Oct. 18 statement. The only way this can be addressed is by the sale of Giphy. This will promote innovation in digital advertising, and also ensure UK social media users continue to benefit from access to Giphy. The landmark decision is the first time a global regulator has forcefully decoupled an acquisition by a Big Tech company, reported Bloomberg. Meta said it was disappointed by the CMAs decision but accept todays ruling as the final word on the matter, in a statement to Business Insider. We will work closely with the CMA on divesting GIPHY We will continue to evaluate opportunities including through acquisition to bring innovation and choice to more people in the UK and around the world. US Big Tech Versus European Regulators The California-based tech giant, which gained control of Giphy in May 2020, for $400 million, was already the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus. The social media company immediately gained control of half of the U.K.s $8 billion online advertising market by removing Giphy as a challenger. The CMA immediately started to investigate Meta after its acquisition of the graphics firm, in a review lasting from June 2020 to October 2021. The CMA originally made its decision in November 2021 ordering Meta to divest Giphy, after it declared the merger as a threat to competition. The logo of Meta Platforms in Davos, Switzerland, on May 22, 2022. (Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters) Meta was also fined $70 million after multiple warnings for failing to report all of the required information regarding its future competition practices, after buying Giphy, according to Business Insider. The regulatory authority said that the American tech giant would have the power to limit its social media rivals access to GIFs, such as TikTok, Twitter, and Snapchat, and force them to provide valuable user data in the U.K. in exchange. Meta was also able to absorb Giphys in-house advertising services into its own system after the acquisition. Meta Appeal Meta appealed the U.K. authoritys decision by issuing six objections. We strongly disagree with the CMAs unfair decision to punish Facebook for a best effort compliance approach, which the CMA itself ultimately approved, said a Facebook spokesperson to Reuters last year. We will review the CMAs decision and consider our options. Giphy attempted to uphold Metas takeover in its appeal in August, explaining that its graphics offerings were already losing market profitability and that they needed a buyer after two years of a decline in uploads. GIFs have fallen out of fashion as a content form, with younger users in particular describing gifs as for boomers and cringe,' Giphy reported in its U.K. filing. However, the U.K.s Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) upheld the CMAs decision made last year on five of the six challenges. The European Commission already has several ongoing investigations into big tech companies. The CMA said it plans on levying more fines against tech giants over breaches of competition law if given more authority by parliament. Reuters contributed to this report. Florida has experienced a rise in the number of cases of deadly flesh-eating bacteria following Hurricane Ian and chronic flooding, officials have said. According to the Florida Department of Health, there have been 65 cases of Vibrio vulnificus infection and 11 deaths in the state this year as of Oct. 19. Throughout the entirety of 2021, there were 34 cases of the infection and 10 deaths reported across the state. Of those 65 cases, 29 were confirmed in Lee County alone, prompting the Florida Department of Health to warn residents of the risks posed by Vibrio vulnificus on Oct. 3. Collier County, which is located just south of Lee County, has also recorded three confirmed cases of the infection. The increase in the number of cases of the infection is being driven by flood and standing waters following hurricane Ian, the Category 4 storm that hit on Sept. 28, according to officials. Vibrio vulnificus infection is a bacterium that occurs naturally in warm brackish water, which is a mixture of fresh and salt water. It is part of a group of vibrios that are called halophilic because they require salt, according to officials. Infections, while rare, can be caused after bacteria enter the body through fresh open cuts or scrapes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Vibrio vulnificus infections can be life-threatening, and many people who are diagnosed with the infection require intensive care or, in some cases, limb amputations if the infection enters the bloodstream and causes sepsis. Roughly one in five people with this infection die, according to the CDC, sometimes within just days of displaying symptoms. What remains of Hope Lutheran Church in the community of Gulf Cove in Port Charlotte, Florida, in the aftermath of hurricane Ian on Sept. 29, 2022. (Courtesy of Michelle Chacon) Immunocompromised at Increased Risk Symptoms include watery diarrhea, stomach cramping, nausea, vomiting, and fever. Individuals suffering from a bloodstream infection may additionally exhibit chills, dangerously low blood pressure, and blistering skin lesions. Those with wound infections may also experience redness, pain, swelling, warmth, discoloration, and discharge. While anyone can get sick from vibriosis, individuals who are immunocompromised are at higher risk of severe illness and death from the infection, according to the CDC. That includes people who have chronic liver disease or those who take medications that lower the bodys ability to fight germs. Vibrio vulnificus is not spread person-to-person. The CDC estimates that 80,000 people become sick with vibriosis, and 100 people die from their infection in the United States annually. On Monday, a spokesperson at the county health department told the BBC, The Florida Department of Health in Lee County is observing an abnormal increase in cases of Vibrio vulnificus infections as a result of exposure to the floodwaters and standing waters following Hurricane Ian. The spokesperson also urged residents to always be aware of the potential risks associated when exposing open wounds, cuts, or scratches on the skin to warm, brackish, or salt water. Sewage spills, like those caused by Hurricane Ian, may increase bacteria levels, the statement continued. As the post-storm situation evolves, individuals should take precautions against infection and illness caused by Vibrio vulnificus. Anyone who may have been exposed to Vibrio vulnificus and is experiencing symptoms is being urged to seek immediate medical attention. Benny Martinez, then-chief deputy of the Brooks County Sheriff's Office, carries the remains of a suspected illegal immigrant on a ranch in Falfurrias, Texas, on May 22, 2013. (John Moore/Getty Images) For Every Dead Body Found, 5 to 10 More Out There: Texas Sheriff on Illegal Alien Deaths In Texas, 70 miles north of the U.S.Mexico border, a rural sheriffs office spends more than 85 percent of its time on border-related issues. Often its to search for illegal immigrants who have called 911 and are lost, dehydrated, or injured as they walk on private ranchland in an attempt to skirt the nearby highway checkpoint that Border Patrol operates. Other times its to find a dead body. So far this year, 79 bodies have been recovered within Brooks Countys 944-square miles, Sheriff Benny Martinez told The Epoch Times The Nation Speaks. Last year, the sheriffs office recovered 119 bodies, which was a record high. In 2020, 34 bodies were recovered. Martinez estimates that for every body they find, another 5 to 10 are never recovered. Ive spoken to a lot of mothers over the telephone, or theyve been here in my office, crying for their loved ones that have been lost for 10, 15 years, Martinez, a Democrat, said. Our terrain is real sandy. Were about 100 foot above sea level. So once that sand starts going over that body, and that body starts getting torn apart by the feral hog, by the coyote the only time its recovered is when theyre moving cattle and they turn the soil over [and] a skull would pop up, or something. Body parts would pop up. Thats how were going to find out that something laid there for a while. I mean, what is compassionate about that? The busiest months are during summer, as most people die from a combination of dehydration and hyperthermia. Water is scarce, its not hard to get lost, and smugglers will leave illegal immigrants behind if theyre slow or injured. Brooks County Sheriffs Deputy Don White volunteers his time to search for the injured and dead. Most often, he says, he finds males, aged 19 to 40, from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, or El Salvador. But only about 30 percent of the bodies he finds have identification, as someone has already stripped them of their possessions, he says. The illegal aliens trying to evade Border Patrol are known as gotaways. Theyre the ones with criminal records or no way of gaining legal entry into the United States. Border agents record at least 40,000 gotaways each month along the southwest border, according to unpublished data obtained by The Epoch Times. These people have records; they have criminal records, Martinez said. We have our own criminals here, we dont need to add to that. So the fact is, we need to know who they are. And they [federal government] just dont want to do that. They just want to let everyone in. We cant do that. The fact is that the border is not secure. And [theres] the national security issue of all these aggravated offenders that are filtering through this brush. The Missing Migrants Project, which is part of the United Nations International Organization for Migration, started in 2014 to document the deaths and disappearances of migrants in the region. Since 2014, the project has recorded over 2,980 aliens who died trying to cross the U.S.Mexico border. Over the past two decades, the border crossing between Mexico and the U.S. has become the site of a grave human rights crisis, where thousands of people have gone missing and lost their lives during migration, its website states. Most of the recorded deaths are from drownings as migrants attempt to enter the United States illegally by wading across the Rio Grande. Harsh environmental conditions and vehicle accidents are also significant when categorizing the cause of death. The cause of death is unknown in more than a third of recorded cases, the website states. Tragically, the remains of many people are never recovered and their deaths remain invisible. The Biden administration has broken a long-standing policy of releasing the number of illegal immigrants who die while crossing into the United States, or soon after. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published on its website the number of migrant deaths along the southern border from fiscal 1998 to fiscal 2020, but no figures have been posted since the Biden administration took over the agency. Previous CBP data show 247 illegal immigrants died near the border during fiscal 2020, while 300 died in fiscal 2019. Some reports suggest the number of deaths for fiscal year 2022 is close to 800. The Epoch Times has made multiple requests to CBP for the missing data from fiscal years 2021 and 2022, including a Freedom of Information request. To date, the agency has failed to provide that information. More deaths, Martinez said, are avoidable by securing the border. He said it takes deputies a minimum of three to four hours to recover a body, which often leaves the county under-policed during that time. Local ranchers have also reported having fences destroyed, tractors stolen, and land burned by illegal immigrants. Weve had roughly over 50,000 acres burned because of these immigrants that get lost or whatever. They create fire so they can get noticed, so we go find them, Martinez said. He said the illegal immigrants are often coming from countries that receive aid from the United States. Different countries are being provided funding from the United States. So why are we not holding them accountable for the funding theyre getting? he said. Im held accountable. Every single law enforcement entity that gets funding from the federal government is held accountable. Two Oath Keepers inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (U.S. DOJ/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) Former Oath Keeper Testifies That His January 6 Behavior Was Naive WASHINGTONA former Oath Keeper member testified on Oct. 18 that he regrets his actions during the January 6 events. Jason Dolan, 46, from Wellington, Fla., who served in the Marines for 20 years, said he pleaded guilty to conspiring and obstructing an official proceeding to demonstrate accountability for his naive and stupid actions. As part of his plea obligation, Dolan told the court he had to testify and tell the truth at the Oath Keepers trial. Dolan testified as part of the seditious conspiracy trial against five defendants, including four members of the Oath Keepers. Dolan does not know his sentence and risks up to six years in prison. He testified that the government didnt make any promises to him and that he is aware that the judge will decide his sentence. He pleaded guilty in a separate case before Judge Amid Mehta, who is presiding over the Oath Keepers trial. I pled guilty because I helped plan and coordinate a trip to D.C., Dolan told Jeffrey Nestler, a prosecutor, wanting to stop what I saw as an illegitimate government from taking power. When Dolan retired from the military, he started working as a hotel security guard. But he quit due to his upcoming hip surgery. During the second part of 2020, said Dolan, he spent time alone in his garage drinking and watching videos and news coverage about the allegedly stolen 2020 presidential election. Dolan said he supported former president Donald Trump. At that time, he felt outraged about the election results since Trump was expected to win according to events and rallies he saw. Dolan told the jury that he didnt feel confident that he could accomplish anything by himself if he wanted to oppose the election results. He found out about the Florida Oath Keepers branch from a friend. Dolan told attorney Nestler that he liked the idea that the organization was formed by people with military or law enforcement backgrounds. When Dolan joined the Oath Keepers, he said, the members werent happy about the 2020 presidential election results. The organization asked him to download the Signal encrypted chat app, which he had never used. In Dec. 2020, Dolan was on two or three Signal group chats. Dolan said he spent a few hours every evening on these chats, sometimes even longer. Dolan said his wife and daughter werent into politics; therefore, he enjoyed being part of the Oath Keepers chats. [I] felt good to know others felt the same way I did, patriotic for our country, he said. The prosecutors brought Dolans AR rifle and pistol to the court as an exhibition for the jury. Dolan confirmed the firearms were his and that he dropped them at a hotel in Virginia on Jan. 5, 2021. In the beginning, the Oath Keepers spoke about a potential attack from Antifa, said Dolan; if Trump had called for the Insurrection Act, we would be fighting with pro-Trump forces against pro-Biden forces. He said he learned this information from Signal group conversations. While Dolan knew about the Insurrection Act from historical events, he said he didnt look into its legalities. Dolan traveled to Virginia and D.C. with Kenneth Harrelson, a defendant on trial, and Terry Cummings, who testified last week. Cummings has not been charged. If Trump had invoked the Insurrection Act, said Dolan, he assumed that defendants Steward Rhodes or Kelly Meggs would have instructed him to act. I would follow whatever orders they directed, Dolan said. Dolan testified that many Oath Keepers were ready to stop the electoral college votes in one way or another. On January 6, Dolan and other Oath Keepers equipped with bulletproof vests, pepper spray, and other gear went to the Ellipse, where Trump gave his speech at the Stop the Steal rally. After that, they went to the Capitol. On their way, someone from the group was informed that the Capitol was breached. They arrived at the left side of the Capitol, said Dolan. When he discovered that then-vice president Mike Pence didnt stop the certification of the electoral votes, he felt that was the last opportunity Pence had to intervene. The prosecutors showed a video, recorded by Dolan, with him and Harrelson going toward the Capitol. The U.S. Capitol Police officers were trying to stop people from getting inside, said Dolan. The crowd was chanting for the Oath Keepers while approaching Columbuss door. [It] felt pretty neat to be recognized. [The] crowd was overall pretty polite to us, got out of our way. Dolan said that Capitol police officers werent a target but were an obstacle to getting inside. He feels regretful about what he did and is thankful that Trump didnt invoke the Insurrection Act because that would have started a lot of violence, Dolan told the jury; he still wonders now what made him make the decisions he did. Rhodes, Meggs, Harrelson, Jessica Watkins, and Thomas Caldwell have been charged with seditious conspiracy, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, aiding and abetting, conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging any duties, destruction of government property, civil disorder, and tampering with documents. If convicted, they risk 20 years behind bars. Dolan will face cross-examination by defense lawyers when the trial continues on Oct. 19. Melinda French Gates, co-chairperson of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation at a conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris on July 1, 2021. (Michel Euler/AP Photo) Gates Foundation Boosts GivingTuesday With $10 Million Donation NEW YORKThe Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation donated $10 million to the organization that grew out of the hashtag #GivingTuesday in part to fund a database of charitable giving and other acts of generosity. GivingTuesday, the organization, has helped people realize there is a lot they can give, said foundation co-founder Melinda French Gates in an interview. Whether people are giving their voice, their time, their expertise or their money, and given that it was the ten year anniversary of GivingTuesday, it seemed like the right time to step up with another commitment, French Gates said. Asha Curran, GivingTuesdays CEO, described the foundation as a thought partner in addition to being a funder. Its a really wonderful thing to see the partnering of big philanthropy and grassroots generosity, that those things dont have to live in separate worlds and be viewed as totally separate things, Curran said. The new gift announced Tuesday also represents the Gates Foundations ongoing efforts encouraging people to give. The Giving Pledge, which the Gates founded with Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett, asks billionaires to donate more than half of their wealth to charitable causes within their lifetimes, while GivingTuesday seeks to mobilize everyone else. We believe philanthropy is the right thing to do and that anybody can do it, said French Gates in an interview. And so, its more making it a societal norm, quite frankly, that you give something back. GivingTuesday started in 2012 as a project of the 92nd Street Y and became an independent nonprofit in 2020. It now convenes a network of people who run campaigns for communities around the world, adapted to relevant holidays and giving traditions. Most people still associate the organization with the now-familiar flood of emails and other solicitations for charitable donations that pour in on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the United States, which Curran said she doesnt mind. I just wish they also associated it with grassroots leadership and young people leading the way in philanthropy, she said. Last year, the organization said donors gave more than $2.7 billion on Giving Tuesday, despite many fundraisers and organizations professing exhaustion with trying to design campaigns that breakthrough. The Gates Foundation has previously given the organization $10.5 million since its founding. GivingTuesday also received $7 million from novelist and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in 2021. Curran said the gift will accelerate the organizations plans to expand a database that includes information about giving from a range of sources including the payment processor PayPal, Charity Navigator, crowdfunding sites GoFundMe, DonorsChoose, and Tiltify as well as major institutions that offer donor-advised funds like Fidelity Charitable and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. GivingTuesday said they aim to raise $26 million over five years to fund the data project and already have 40 percent of that amount committed. The software company Blackbaud, which works with nonprofits, universities, and foundations, said they do not share their raw donation data with third parties. though they do provide GivingTuesday the total amount of donations they process on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Other organizations also track philanthropic givingincluding Candid, which collects giving data from philanthropic foundations, governments, and nonprofits, as well as major academic studies like one at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy that has surveyed the giving behavior of the same American households for decades. The Giving USA Foundation also releases an annual analysis of giving trends, that includes many datasets but doesnt capture person to person giving or mutual aid. GivingTuesday aims to collect data about individual donations, which Jake Garcia, vice president of data at Candid, said could complement these other projects and help answer questions about giving trends. The stock markets down, do donations go up or down? Garcia said. Number of donations, amount for donations, the type of donations they make Those trends, I think, are the kinds of things that could be really revelatory if they can get a good enough body of data. By Thalia Beaty German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock delivers a speech during the congress of the Green Party (Buendnis 90/Die Gruenen) in Bonn, western Germany on Oct. 15, 2022. (Ina Fassbender/ AFP via Getty Images) German Foreign Minister Urges Caution Toward Communist China Germany must avoid repeating with China the mistakes that it made in its relationship with Russia over recent years, the German foreign minister said on Oct. 18. We must first of all learn from the mistakes of our Russia policy of recent decades, Annalena Baerbock said at a foreign policy forum in Berlin organized by the Koerber Foundation think tank. I say very clearly that one-sided economic dependence exposes us to political blackmail. Germany is in an energy crisis due to its heavy reliance on Russian gas. Over 55 percent of Germanys gas consumption came from Russia before the Ukraine war. But since the end of August, Russia hasnt delivered gas to Germany. Baerbock acknowledged that the country ignored warnings from eastern European partners about its dependence on Russian energy. We must ensure that we dont make such a mistake again, and that means that we will have to take account of this more strongly in our policy toward China, Baerbock continues. This is why one part of the National Security Strategy is to formulate a German China Strategy for the first time, which is, of course, embedded into the European China Strategy. German Finance Minister Christian Lindner speaks at the 2022 Global Solutions summit in Berlin, Germany, on March 28, 2022. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images) New China Trade Policy Baerbocks remarks are not the first by a German official to voice concerns about Berlins close ties with Beijing. We have to recognize that we have an enormous risk, Finance Minister Christian Lindner said in March. China doesnt respect our social model, our understanding of liberality, our recognition of international law. Our trade relationship with China is almost a concentration risk for our economy, Lindner said. It may be a trading partner, but its also [a] systemic rival. Beijing maintained the status of Berlins most important trading partner in 2021 for six consecutive years, with a trading volume of 246.1 billion euros, the Federal Statistical Office said. Meanwhile, German companies, especially automakers, have a heavy investment in China. The 7,000 German companies in China and 2,000 Chinese companies in Germany could be dynamic forces to bring the countries closer, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in a phone call in January. Scholzs new coalition government is reshaping its trade policy with China, aiming to lessen dependence on Beijing, Economy Minister Robert Habeck said. We cannot allow ourselves to be blackmailed, he said in a September interview with Reuters. While he didnt reveal all details, Habeck told Reuters an examination of Beijings investment would be included. He also expressed opposition to the regimes Belt and Road Initiative, a multi-billion project that has saddled many developing nations with unsustainable debt levels. He said there would be no more naivety in the trade relationship with the communist regime. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A teen attacked by a shark off the coast of Florida was afraid for her life until her brother, who was swimming by her side, sprang into action. Their family now believes that God had a hand in her rescue and recovery. Addison Bethea, 17, was scalloping in the water off Keaton Beach on June 30, when she was attacked by a 9-foot shark. She suffered a devastating injury to her upper right leg, including the loss of her quadriceps, the four muscles in the front of the thigh that work together to keep the kneecap stable and allow for lower leg extension. Addison Bethea in hospital after she survived a near-fatal shark attack. (Courtesy of Fight Like Addison) The shark was aggressive and attacked her several times, reads an account of Addisons ordeal on a GoFundMe page. Addison tried to fight off the shark herself. However, she told CNN News, I couldnt get around to punch it in the nose. So then I just started socking it in the face, then I poked its eyes, then I tried to latch it off with my fingers, and then it bit my hand. Hearing her scream for help, her brother, Rhett Willingham, a firefighter and EMT, rushed to his sisters aid and physically separated her from the shark. With the help of nearby boaters, she was pulled out of the water into a boat and then driven to safety. Her brother and the local boaters also applied a tourniquet to control the bleeding. Addison was then airlifted to the Bixler Trauma & Emergency Center at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. Later, Addisons mom, Michelle Murphy, who resides in Satellite Beach, got a call about her daughters attack. I froze for a moment Addison lives four hours away from me, so I had to consider what I needed to pack and how long I would be gone. I had no idea at that time how bad the shark bite was, Michelle told The Epoch Times. Addison with her brother, Rhett Willingham. (Courtesy of Fight Like Addison) She called her husband, Mike, and Addisons oldest brother, police officer Jarrett Willingham, to accompany her on the long drive to Perry, where Addison lives with her father, Shane Bethea. When they arrived, they saw the extent of Addisons near-fatal injuries. It was Taylor Countys first recorded shark attack. After arriving at the hospital, Addison underwent four surgeries. Her right leg was amputated just above the knee, and preserved muscular tissue and skin from the lower leg were wrapped around her femur in preparation for a prosthesis, which Michelle believes is key to Addison having an even better quality of life going forward. The family credits faith for playing a huge role in dealing with Addisons ordeal. God had his hand in this from the moment Addison was bitten by the shark, Michelle said. We know its a miracle she is alive because when the shark bit her it got her femoral artery in her right leg; most people die within minutes from that type of injury. It was a blessing that her brother, Rhett, was there. Boater Christopher Leggett is the one who pulled her from the water. Another boater, Domenic Scorpio, drove Rhett and Addison to Keaton Beach in his boat. Both are men of faith. It is amazing they were present in the area that day, and didnt hesitate to come to their aid. Addison was also blessed by having an amazing medical team. Addison with her father, Shane Bethea. (Courtesy of Fight Like Addison) Michelle, a senior channel development professional for Humana Pharmacy integration, and Shane, a chiropractor, took turns staying overnight in Addisons ICU room during her first month of recovery so she wouldnt be alone. To assist the teen on her recovery journey, the family started a dedicated Facebook page, Fight Like Addison, and a GoFundMe page to raise money for mounting medical bills. Upon her discharge from the hospital after 17 days of physical therapy, a smiling Addison, on crutches, addressed the media. Im very excited because Im so ready to be home, be able to see my friends, and be in my hometown. Im ready for my prosthetic leg so I can get back to walking, being myself, and getting to do things I used to do, she told the Tallahassee Democrat. Never give up, even when its super hard. Just keep pushing forward, she said, expressing her gratitude to her local community for their ongoing support. On Aug. 28, Addison was presented with a Local Hero award by Taylor County Sheriff Wayne Padgett for the strength and resilience that she has shown after the attack. Her brother, Rhett, was given a Life-Saving award for the bravery that saved his sister. At the end of August, Addison visited Prosthetic and Orthotic Associates (POA) in Orlando to be fitted for a custom prosthetic leg. Her family described the 30-strong team at POA, ten of whom are amputees themselves, as remarkable. The family shared more of their visit on Facebook, posting, Everyone was very quick to welcome Addison into the fold Addison even decided that she wanted to climb the rock wall, so up it she went! In mid-September, Addison even attended her first day of senior year with her prosthetic leg fitted. Michelle wrote in an update on the GoFundMe page: Im grateful to God that He let our little girl live. Im grateful to God that she has a brother that loves her so much he risked his own life to save her God has big plans for her, and we are going to continue to help her find her way in this new life shes been given. 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 Has Chinas Belt and Road Come to a Dead End? Beijing retreats on its singular initiative Commentary Not too long ago, Chinese leader Xi Jinping touted Beijings Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as the project of the century, something that would alter the global balance of power and influence. More recently, the regime brags less about the potential of the BRI and speaks more humbly of reform and retrenchment. The initiative seems to have fallen far short of its original goals as well as the fears it once widely engendered in the West. From its beginning, Chinas BRI (also known as One Belt, One Road) always had a Mafia-like feel to it. Beijing would approach needy countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and the periphery of Europe and offer loans for important infrastructure projectsports, rail links, dams, roads, and the like. State-owned Chinese banks would arrange the financing, and Chinese contractors would execute the projects and, when complete, manage them. If the host country failed to pay, the projects would come under Chinese ownership. Either way, Beijing gained influence and considerable leverage over the nations that allowed themselves to become involved. Since Xi first rose to power in 2012, China has made more than $1 trillion in such loans in some 150 countries, making China the worlds largest official creditor. Now, the scheme has run into trouble. The problem is that the projects were chosen for political and diplomatic, not economic, reasons. Many of these efforts were always dubious, and now, its clear that they cant earn enough to support the loans. In Sri Lanka, for example, even before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down trade, a BRI-built port lacked the traffic to meet the terms of the loan. That loan has gone bad, even if the Chinese state-owned banks involved arent yet ready to make such a declaration. Similar things are occurring across the entire BRI. Pakistan, one of the largest BRI participants, has fallen so far short of its obligations that it has had to turn to the International Monetary Fund for relief. The Gwadar port, a major part of Chinas One Belt, One Road initiative in Pakistan, is pictured on Oct. 4, 2017. (Amelie Herenstein/AFP/Getty Images) Economists at the World Bank estimate that currently some 60 percent of all BRI loans involve countries in financial distress. Loans in Africa look especially shaky. Even before this latest news of potential default, Chinese bankers had warned Beijing about the financial and economic viability of BRI arrangements. Some of these bankers were so concerned that they insisted Beijing extend to several loans the moniker policy designated to make clear that the decision to lend came from Beijing and not the banks management. For a long time, Beijing refused to acknowledge the financial trouble. Officials pressured bankers to avoid any reference to bad or failed loans. Instead, the banks were encouraged to keep the borrowers afloat by extending the maturity of the loans, which, in banking jargon, is cynically referred to as extend and pretend. Beijing refused to cooperate with Western efforts through the G-20s Paris Club to renegotiate troubled loans. No doubt, Chinas leadership wanted to avoid the embarrassing admission that BRI loans had problems, but refusing cooperation would also have put repayment to China ahead of others should failure become unavoidable. But now that Chinas state-owned banks are facing massive defaults from domestic property developerssuch as Evergrandeas well as on their BRI loans, pressures have become too great for China to stand alone, much less to keep matters quiet. In the past, when Chinas economy was growing by leaps and bounds, Beijing might have been able to cover for the defaults with its own resources, but thats no longer the case, either. Accordingly, Beijing has become much more open to talks on debt restructuring. Negotiations have already started between China and Chad, Ethiopia, and Zambia. Indeed, the Chinese authorities have joined with international groups such as the Paris Club to work out whats called a common framework to deal with these sovereign loans, whether part of the BRI or not. Xi has certainly changed his rhetoric. He now describes the BRI as increasingly complex and in need of stronger risk controls as well as cooperation. Quite a comedown. Beijings BRI isnt going away, but in what is a relatively short time, it has lost much of its force. New risk controls will make it a lot less appealing to potential host countries. China has had a major setback in prestige and certainly financially. The initiative can no longer be called the project of the century. Theres another lesson here for Beijing and any other ambitious government: Political goals, even power, cant indefinitely ignore the laws of economics. If projects cant pay, the burden will fall elsewhere. This is also the lesson of the failure of Beijings decades-long push for property development. Given the past record, its doubtful that Chinas leadership or its central planners will take the lesson. After all, Washington, after any number of failures, still cant seem to learn. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. After careful evaluation of the latest science, European officials have proposed lowering the safe daily dose of bisphenol-A, or BPA, by a factor of 100,000. The same agency had already dropped their recommended exposure limit in 2015, down 12-fold from where they set it in 2006. Its almost like the limbo stick: How low can we go? Cheryl Rosenfeld, a biologist at the University of Missouri, told EHN. Whether its lead, phthalates, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), or BPA, nearly every time scientists assess chemicals, they lower the thresholds for safety. Doses that were previously thought innocuous, we find, turn out harmful. Why does that happen? And why does it seem to be happening yet again with BPA? The answer: science is not static. Scientific advances constantly improve our ability to identify harmful effects, as well as help us to know where to look. We havent just gotten better at measuring the pollutants in our bodies and in the environment, weve also gotten so much better at being able to measure their impact on people, Laura Vandenberg, a professor at University of Massachusetts Amherst School of Public Health & Health Sciences, told EHN. Looking at groups of toxic chemicals decade by decade by decade, we recognize that less and less and less of these chemicals are safe for human exposure, said Vandenberg. For example, as blood lead levels declined in children over the decadesin response to more and more stringent regulations on the uses of leadscientists continued to find detrimental impacts at lower and lower levels. They continued to ratchet down the limit of what they deemed safe before ultimately realizing that there was no safe level of lead exposure for children. But it wasnt that kids in the 1970s were any less vulnerable to lead. With the latest scientific opinion from the European Food Safety Authority, a similar storyline appears to be playing out for BPA, the plastic additive commonly used in everything from food can linings to cash register receipts. Again, its not that kids in the 1990s were any less vulnerable to BPA. Theres really no safe dose for this chemical, Pat Hunt, geneticist at Washington State University in Pullman, Wash., told EHN. Her research, and the research of others, consistently links very low doses of BPA to a host of health problems, including cancer, diabetes, reproductive impacts, and behavioral problems. But the way our regulatory system works, we are not erring on the side of caution, said Hunt. So, the more data we get, the more we have to keep dropping down and dropping downwhich cant inspire confidence on the part of the general public. In the Case of BPA, It Is Clear That the Toxicity Is a Problem EFSAs recommendation only applies to food and beverage contact materials, which are likely the greatest route of BPA exposure. Once finalized, it will inform decisions taken by European Union risk managers in the European Commission, European Parliament and member statesincluding the amount of BPA they allow in certain products. Experts predict that the proposed daily dose all but ensures that BPA would need to be eliminated from these products. They also suggest that it will spur action in the U.S. If the proposed limit is upheld, that new safe level of BPA for Europe would fall to more than a million times lower than what U.S. regulators currently say is safe. Two factors generally drive drops over time in accepted levels of a chemical in products: changes in the estimated exposure, or dose, and changes in our understanding of the toxicity. It could be that exposures in people have increased to exceed the safe dose, or that more information is available about the toxicity of the chemical, Maricel V. Maffini, a consultant to the Environmental Defense Fund, told EHN. In the case of BPA, it is clear that the toxicity is a problem, said Maffini, who, along with other health researchers, last month petitioned the FDA to re-examine BPAs safety in light of the European draft changes. Many scientific assumptions have changed over time, noted Vandenberg. She highlighted our evolved understanding about exposures in study animals compared to humansa critical comparison when translating findings from lab research into public health policy. It had been a long-held belief that a large animalsay, a humancan tolerate more exposure than a smaller animal. But, in fact, the smaller you are, oftentimes the faster you metabolize chemicals, Vandenberg explained. You actually have to give mice a bigger dose in order to see the same level thats circulating in their bodies, she said. And EFSA finally appreciated that when they did their analyses of the studies to determine whats a safe dose. Our understanding of the myriad ways a chemical can wreak havoc on our biology is also constantly changing. For example, scientists have gained more knowledge over the last two decades in how BPA interferes with the normal function of hormones in the bodyeven in tiny amounts. Experts suggest a major shift came in the 1990s, with mounting recognition of endocrine disruption and its impacts on our health. BPA is just one of many chemicals with this hormone-mimicking potential. Notably, its chemical cousinsbisphenol-S, or BPS, and bisphenol-F, or BPFcan do the same. Regulating Chemicals as Classes, Not Individually The European proposal would only affect BPA and not these related chemicals, which are also already widely used in commerce. Thomas Zoeller, an emeritus professor of biology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, points out that industry had voluntarily eliminated BPA from sippy cups and baby bottles before the U.S. FDA banned such uses in 2012. Industry saw this coming, Zoeller told EHN. They were already replacing BPA with BPS and BPF. He fears the same scenario may be happening with EFSAs decision. Products are being protected, not people, said Zoeller. Does that mean we have to go through the same long-term ratchetting down of what is considered a safe level for each replacement? The regrettable substitution problem has triggered a growing push for the regulation of chemicals as classes, rather than individually. Vandenberg is among the champions of this movement. Here we have a decision on BPA, but nothing on BPS. And thats unacceptable, said Vandenberg. The same goes for several other toxic chemicals that are following this same pattern of dropping limits and regrettable substitutions. Do we really need to study all 1,000 or 5,000 PFAS chemicals? said Vandenberg. Were creating problems, theyre going to have to be cleaned up at some point. And the longer we wait, the bigger the problem gets. Of course, conducting a risk assessment based on a group of chemicals naturally increases the chance that an exposure limit for any individual chemical would need to be lowered. The challenges mount. But there is a way off this toxic treadmill: ideally, starting at the beginning before a chemical goes into commerce and determine whether it has any adverse effects, said Hunt. Lets decide if we should even let this stuff loose. The impact of gun violence on the mental health of children and adolescents is multi-faceted and individualized. James Garbarino, a professor emeritus of psychology at Cornell University and Loyola University Chicago, published an article in New England Journal of Medicine about these effects. A fortunate finding was that the trauma aftereffects in young people resolve within a year in 85 to 90 percent of the cases. But the other 10 percent of those young people who experience long-term damage from a single violent incident are generally those whose lives have already been disrupted and otherwise traumatized. But what about those chronically traumatized children who live in communities where violence is a regular part of daily life, rather than a single traumatic incident? Garabino observed that rarely do those children who live in such war zone communities receive the same psychological first aid or therapeutic intervention as the single-incident children. Having served as a psychological expert witness in murder cases for 30 years, I have witnessed the challenges faced by such chronically traumatized young people, said Garbarino, as they undergo post-traumatic stress (PTSD) development. He has also interviewed many prison inmates convicted of murder. They are left largely on their own, he continued, and any therapy of reassurance is not credible: it does no good to tell them Its OK, things are back to normal, because normal is the problem. In an analysis of trauma outcomes done in 1999, researchers from the Center for Mental Health Education in Tampa, Fla., reported that beyond normal PTSD, chronic trauma produces poor self-esteem/self-concept, interpersonal distrust, feelings of shame, and dependency. Garbarino notes that when these issues develop as aftereffects of chronic traumaparticularly when combined with child abuse in the homemore dangerous and severe symptoms develop, or what Garbarino calls a war-zone mentality. Such high exposure to normal community violence, Garbarino says, can lead to hypersensitivity to threat and validation for preemptive assault, such as that seen in Palestinian children in chronic war zones, like those in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. In the context of such communities where poverty, racism, cultural support for extreme corporal punishment (beating of children), and a history of armed street gangs are often found, these young children (mostly boys) become more prone to perpetrating gun violence themselves. Such young boys often report finding a sense of family acceptance in gangs, something that is lacking in their homes. Many, perhaps most, have never had a father living at home. Garbarino noted that where fathers are absent, young boys are at a greater risk of being influenced by chronic violence in their communities. In speaking of contamination of consciousness, Garbarino shared that children and adolescents who have never personally witnessed gun violence can also be vulnerable to the portrayal of gun violence. This manifests in terms of the audience effects or homicidal leakage, where adolescents pretend that they are the victims of violence in these imagined plays. Garbarino says that (mostly fatherless) boys who dont live in neighborhoods with chronic violence can also be negatively influenced by what they read and see. He noted the 1999 Columbine High School shooting in Colorado as an example of the audience effect on some adolescent killers. An anthropological investigation showed that young Americans with a mental health diagnosis of schizophrenia are generally more likely to be victims, rather than perpetrators, of violence. However, when images of violence are regularly inputted into the minds of these individuals who are thought to be out of touch with reality, patients with schizophrenia can become violent themselves, especially when the implements of violence are readily available. Garbarino recalls that 25 years ago, he asked a group of suburban 10-year-olds if they could get access to a gun if they needed to, and virtually all of them said yes. He says that has not changed today. He considers these multidimensional aspects of violenceexposure to chronic violence in their communities, fatherless homes, exposure of mentally-challenged young people to constant reports of violence, coupled with the easy availability of weaponsto be particularly worrisome as Americans deal with increasing violence in our culture today. What research is being done? The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), and other institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), support research related to HAS through grants to major research institutions across the country. Much of this research focuses on finding better ways to prevent, treat, and ultimately cure disorders, such as HAS. Information from the National Library of Medicines MedlinePlus Autonomic Nervous System Disorders Eye Diseases Definition Holmes-Adie syndrome (HAS) is a neurological disorder affecting the pupil of the eye and the autonomic nervous system. It is characterized by one eye with a pupil that is larger than normal and constricts slowly in bright light (tonic pupil), along with the absence of deep tendon reflexes, usually in the Achilles tendon. HAS is thought to be the result of a neurotrophic (acting on neurons, or nerve cells) viral infection that causes inflammation and damage to neurons in theciliary ganglion, an area of the brain that controls eye movements, and the dorsal root ganglion, an area of the spinal cord involved in the response of the autonomic nervous system. HAS begins gradually in one eye, and often progresses to involve the other eye. At first, it may only cause the loss of deep tendon reflexes on one side of the body, but then progress to the other side. The eye and reflex symptoms may not appear at the same time. People with HAS may also sweat excessively, sometimes only on one side of the body. The combination of these 3 symptoms abnormal pupil size, loss of deep tendon reflexes, and excessive sweating is usually called Rosss syndrome, although some doctors will still diagnose the condition as a variant of HAS. Some individuals will also have cardiovascular abnormalities. The HAS symptoms can appear on their own, or in association with other diseases of the nervous system, such as Sjogrens syndrome or migraine. It is most often seen in young women. It is rarely an inherited condition. Treatment Doctors may prescribe reading glasses to compensate for impaired vision in the affected eye, and pilocarpine drops to be applied 3 times daily to constrict the dilated pupil. Thoracic sympathectomy, which severs the involved sympathetic nerve, is the definitive treatment for excessive sweating. Prognosis Holmes-Adie syndrome is not life-threatening or disabling. The loss of deep tendon reflexes is permanent. Some symptoms of the disorder may progress. For most individuals, pilocarpine drops and glasses will improve vision. The husband and wife duo who helped create the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine proclaimed that messenger RNA (mRNA) cancer vaccines are being worked on and arent far off. We feel that a cure for cancer or to changing cancer patients lives is in our grasp, professor Ozlem Tureci told BBC News. Tureci co-founded BioNTech with her husband, Ugur Sahin, who himself told the outlet that cancer vaccines should be widely available before 2030. What we have developed over decades for cancer vaccine development has been the tailwind for developing the COVID-19 vaccine, and now the COVID-19 vaccine and our experience in developing it gives back to our cancer work, Tureci told the broadcaster, saying that mRNA acts as a blueprint and allows you to tell the body to produce the drug or the vaccine. Neither Tureci nor Sahin provided more details about their research into mRNA cancer shots. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is among the most widely used COVID-19 shots in the world, although there have been concerns about the efficacy or safety of mRNA technology. Most health agencies around the world have recommended mRNA COVID-19 vaccineseven for small children in some cases. Further Details Several days before that interview, the CEO of Moderna, which makes another heavily used COVID-19 vaccine with mRNA technology, announced that his firm is working on an mRNA injection into the heart following a heart attack. We are now in a super exciting program where we inject mRNA in peoples hearts after a heart attack to grow back new blood vessels and re-vascularize the heart, Stephane Bancel, the firms CEO, told Sky News in a recent interview. A recent pre-print study suggested that nanoparticles that are used to transport mRNA in COVID-19 vaccines inhibited and altered the immune response. Last week, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo issued a warning about the use of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, saying that males between the ages of 18 and 39 should not receive them. He cited a state analysis that discovered an 84 percent increase in the relative incidence of cardiac-related deaths among men in that age group 28 days after they got an mRNA vaccine. Speaking to The Epoch Times American Thought Leaders, Ladapo again reiterated that young males should not get the mRNA COVID-19 shot. There are a number of studies that are indicating that these vaccines, mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, increase the risk of adverse cardiovascular and cardiac events, Ladapo said. Just one day after she got a COVID-19 booster shot, Regan Lewis, a 20-year-old nursing student at Colby Community College in Colby, Kansas, had a heart attack. Her mom, Connie Werth Lewis, desperately asked for prayers for her daughter in a public post on Facebook. I cant say for sure that there is a link, but our beautiful 20 year old healthy daughter had a [COVID-19 injection] yesterday so she could participate in her clinicals, Werth Lewis wrote. Today, she went into cardiac arrest and has been flown to Kearney. She is on a ventilator and is fighting for her life. PLEASE PLEASE PRAY FOR HER! That night, Regan Lewis died. Not an Isolated Incident As of Oct. 7, 31,470 deaths have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration via their Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System, a passive post-market surveillance system designed to help government officials and researchers pick up safety signals about vaccines. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, adverse events from vaccines are common but underreported, with less than 1 percent reported to the Food and Drug Administration. Other peer-reviewed scientific articles, including a 2012 study published in the journal Human and Experimental Toxicology, have similarly shown that only a fraction of adverse events following vaccines are reported to the government. In addition, recent research, published by an international team of scientists last month in the journal Vaccine, found that the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccines were associated with a much higher excess risk of serious adverse events compared to baselines established by placebos. At a conference for front-line doctors who have been treating COVID-19, held in Sedona, Arizona, Peter McCullough, a cardiologist, immunologist, and scientific researcher, said that deaths and other adverse outcomes following vaccines have been grossly underreported. Sudden Deaths Continue It appears that there has been a rise in excess deaths in industrialized countries around the world. For example, the Australian government has released provisional mortality statistics that show a dramatic rise in excess deaths. In June, in Australia, a country of only 26 million people (making it smaller than the population of the entire state of Texas), there were 2,410 deaths above the historic average. The top three causes of excess death in Australia were attributed to cancer, dementia, and non-COVID respiratory diseases, including influenza and pneumonia. In the United States, insurance companies, including Lincoln Financial Group, have reported dramatic increases in payouts for non-COVID-related deaths in the first quarter of 2022. The uptick began to be seen clearly the year before. On Dec. 30, 2021, Scott Davison, chief executive of OneAmerica, a major insurance company based in Indianapolis, said in an online news conference that his company was seeing the highest death rates [they] have seen in the history of [the] business. Davison said that death rates had climbed 40 percent and that COVID-19 fatalities greatly understate the actual deaths from working-age people hit by the pandemic, as most of the claims being filed werent being classified as COVID-19 deaths. It may not all be COVID on their death certificate, but deaths are up just huge, huge numbers, he said. Brian Tabor, president of the Indiana Hospital Association, said in the same news conference that hospitals across Indiana were being flooded with patients with many different conditions. At the recent Sedona conference (where Jennifer Margulis also was a speaker) several physicians pointed out that there has been a growing number of unexplained sudden deaths among young people who have received COVID-19 injections as well as booster shots. That point was made by several of the speakers, including Dr. Sherri Tenpenny, a physician based in Cleveland; and Dr. Jeffrey Barke, a medical doctor in private practice in California. These untimely, age-inappropriate deaths, they pointed out, often were the immediate result of heart dysfunction, blood clots, or seizures. But, they said, where there was a history of prior COVID-19 injection, the health condition that ostensibly led to death may actually have been caused by the shots. McCullough cited the case of U.S. Rep. Sean Castens (D-Ill.) teenage daughter. Casten wrote in a statement that his 17-year-old daughter, Gwen, died in her sleep in June. Castens statement says that his daughter was a healthy 2022 teenager who ate well, exercised, got regular check-ups, [and] didnt suffer from any behavioral health issues. She was also fully vaccinated, and quarantined after occasional positive, asymptomatic COVID tests during the omicron wave. According to the statement, the family was left grasping at the wrong end of random chance following Gwen Castens sudden death. But McCullough and other experts argue that random chance may have had an accomplice. As with any other new medical product, the burden of proof must be on the vaccine, McCullough said. A Formerly Pro-Vaccine Cardiologist Speaks Out British cardiologist Dr. Aseem Malhotra has outspokenly defended vaccines throughout his entire medical career. Vaccines are the safest of ALL drugs, he wrote in a tweet in late November 2020. Far safer than any other drug people are taking on a regular [basis], the tweet continues. The vaccine safety concerns are totally disproportionate to reality. Malhotra initially believed that the COVID-19 vaccines were crucial to ending the spread of SARS-CoV-2. In fact, when the COVID-19 vaccines became available, he was among the first to take them. In February 2021, he even appeared on Good Morning Britain to defend COVID-19 vaccine safety. He told the host then that there was clearly irrational reasoning behind why people dont want to take the vaccine, which is based on very blatant false information. However, when his father died suddenly of cardiac arrest just five months after that television appearance, Malhotra started researching the safety and efficacy of these vaccines in more depth. When he dove into the medical research and spoke with medical colleagues, scientific researchers, and investigative health journalists, he became increasingly disturbed by what he uncovered. Based on his scientific research and clinical experience, Malhotra says he no longer recommends the COVID-19 vaccines. Moreover, he now insists that theres strong scientific, ethical, and moral evidence that the current COVID-19 vaccine administration must stop and that the raw data submitted to approve the vaccines must be subjected to fully independent scrutiny. Not Safe or Effective When Malhotra was interviewed for the newly released documentary film Safe and Effective: A Second Opinion, he reiterated that he has reluctantly concluded that this vaccine is not completely safe and has unprecedented harms. Malhotra also has shared this view in a new peer-reviewed article in the Journal of Insulin Resistance. The study, titled Curing the Pandemic of Misinformation on COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines Through Real Evidence-Based MedicinePart 1, shows that the risk of serious adverse events from the vaccines is greater than the risk of being hospitalized from COVID-19. The real-world safety data, coupled with an understanding of the plausible mechanisms of harm, are deeply concerning, especially in relation to cardiovascular safety, the study found. It cannot be said that the consent to receive these agents was fully informed, as is required ethically and legally, the study concluded. A pause and reappraisal of global vaccination policies for COVID-19 is long overdue. In part 2 of Malhotras study, published in the same journal, he concluded that, There is a strong scientific, ethical, and moral case to be made that the current COVID vaccine administration must stop until all the raw data [have] been subjected to fully independent scrutiny. According to Malhotra, not only do we need to halt the current program, we need to make sure that profits dont take precedence over peoples health in the future. Looking to the future, the medical and public health professions must recognize these failings and eschew the tainted dollar of the medical-industrial complex, he said. It will take a lot of time and effort to rebuild trust in these institutions, but the healthof both humanity and the medical professiondepends on it. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Epoch Health welcomes professional discussion and friendly debate. To submit an opinion piece, please follow these guidelines and submit through our form here. Jennifer Margulis Follow Jennifer Margulis, Ph.D., is an award-winning journalist and author of Your Baby, Your Way: Taking Charge of Your Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Parenting Decisions for a Happier, Healthier Family. A Fulbright awardee and mother of four, she has worked on a child survival campaign in West Africa, advocated for an end to child slavery in Pakistan on prime-time TV in France, and taught post-colonial literature to non-traditional students in inner-city Atlanta. Learn more about her at JenniferMargulis.net "Hong Kong Watch," a British NGO, in its latest report, criticises that the overseas Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (ETO) act more like the spokesperson of the CCP, and asks governments of various countries to re-examine the status and privileges of the Hong Kong ETO. (Screenshot of the Hong Kong Watch report cover via The Epoch Times???) Hong Kong Watch Report: HK Overseas Economic and Trade Offices Speak for the CCP Letter once sent to British media as reminder crime of sedition also applies to them The British NGO Hong Kong Watch, which has always been concerned about the human rights situation in Hong Kong, recently published a policy paper criticizing the Hong Kong Overseas Economic and Trade Offices (ETO) acting as a spokesperson for the CCP. In the paper, it asked governments of various countries to re-examine the status and privileges of the Hong Kong ETO and terminate the cooperation with them or close the ETO for good. In an interview with the Epoch Times, some scholars pointed out that the ETO has become the mouthpiece of the CCP, things like promoting the Belt and Road activities that have nothing to do with Hong Kong. In view of this, foreign governments should no longer grant similar diplomatic privileges. According to the Basic Law, Hong Kong is treated as a separate entity from China when it comes to matters of customs and trade, and as such enjoys the status of an individual region on its own. That status allows Hong Kong to participate as an independent member in international organizations such as WTO, OECD, and the like. Hong Kong Watch: ETO is Indirectly Controlled by the CCP On Oct. 13, the British NGO, Hong Kong Watch, which has long been concerned about the human rights situation in Hong Kong, issued a report criticizing the overseas ETO deviating from its original founding principle, which is to promote Hong Kongs image and economic and cultural exchanges through activities with the host country. But such promotion activities are becoming increasingly in line with the jargon adopted as the CCPs description of Hong Kong. For example, concepts such as the Greater Bay Area are used to promote Hong Kong as the gateway to mainland China, replacing previous descriptions such as one country, two systems and a high degree of autonomy. Letter to Remind UK Media That Sedition Law Applies to Them According to past records, Hong Kong Watch criticized that as the Hong Kong government is increasingly under the direct political control of the CCP, that makes the ETO is also under the indirect control of the latter, making it a de facto CCP embassy. The ETO had indeed openly supported the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL) and continued to suppress human rights and followed the CCPs approach to promote economic and cultural exchanges. The report also said, given that the ETOs name and reputation are different from those of a Chinese embassy, it is always able to work in a way different from the CCP and its embassies, if it so wishes. The report recommends that various countries should re-examine the status, privileges, and immunities of the Hong Kong ETO, and the legislature should maintain, in no uncertain terms, that the status of the Hong Kong ETO should in no way be controlled by the CCP. A good reference can be shared from the experience of closing and terminating cooperation with the Confucius Institutes, and applying to the ETO. In the worst case, they should re-examine the current special treatment for Hong Kong, including bilateral treaties, representation in the EU, WTO, IMO, and the like. Anouk Wear, author of the report and a research and policy consultant for Hong Kong Watch, criticized that the NSL for Hong Kong not only undermined the basic rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people but had also taken over the autonomy of the Hong Kong government and the ETO, which now represents indirectly the interests of the CCP instead. The ETO is used to exert CCPs influence overseas in the cultural and commercial areas, justifying the ongoing crackdown and the implementation of the NSL. She believes that countries should review the status of ETOs, remove their privileges and, where appropriate, close these offices. The Sunday Times published on Dec. 5, 2021, an article titled China shows its true coloursand theyre not pretty. That article contained scenes showing the HK police arresting anti-extradition protesters and criticized the CCP for undermining Hong Kongs one country, two systems. It also pointed out that only officially defined and censored patriots could participate in the Legislative Council election, making it nothing more than a hoax. The article even called on all electorates to boycott the election, which might bring about democratic victory as a result. Gilford Law Shun-on, director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London, wrote to The Sunday Times on Dec. 8, criticizing the editorial as being untrue. Law claimed that under the improved electoral system, all people, as long as they upheld the Basic Law and were loyal to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, even dissidents could run for election, like any other country in the world. He also claimed that the principle of Patriots governing Hong Kong is to safeguard the interests and foundation of Hong Kongs prosperity and stability. Law then pointed out that as the editorial had called for boycotting the election, he would like to remind that inciting others not to vote or to cast a blank vote is in violation of Hong Kongs Election Ordinance, which is applicable to all incitement even outside Hong Kong. According to the Hong Kong government website, Hong Kong currently has 14 overseas economic and trade offices (ETOs) as representatives and are responsible for raising global awareness of Hong Kongs unique advantages, promoting Hong Kongs economic and trade interests, and supporting overseas enterprises expansion of their business in Hong Kong. They are stationed in Bangkok, Jakarta, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Berlin, Brussels, Geneva, London, Dubai, New York, San Francisco, Toronto, and Washington. Scholars: ETO as a Mouthpiece of CCP Unable to Function Effectively on PR Works Benson Wong Wai-kwok, former assistant professor of politics and international relations at HKBU, said during an interview with the Epoch Times that the Hong Kong Watchs suggestion is reasonable because the Hong Kong ETO is not a consulate of the CCP, and those economic promotion activities such as the Belt and Road Initiative, and the like, have nothing to do with Hong Kong, so should be hosted by the CCP consulate. If it is organized by the Hong Kong ETO as part of its promotion activities, it will become the mouthpiece of the CCP government instead. Furthermore, he pointed out that the Hong Kong ETO often responds to foreign medias criticism of the Hong Kong government in an intimidating manner, sometimes without proof. Therefore, it is neither appropriate nor suitable for foreign governments to grant similar diplomatic privileges. In another interview with the Epoch Times, scholar Chung Kim-wah pointed out that in the past, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office mainly played the role of a goodwill ambassador, promoting Hong Kong, making friends, and communicating with the business community. But as of today, with the change in the overall status of Hong Kong, when everything must work under the guidance of the CCP, the ETO has much less room to maneuver, making it difficult for them to conduct its public relations activities effectively. A statue holding the scales of justice is seen on top of the Old Bailey in London, on Dec. 12, 2003. (Stephen Hird/Reuters) I Know Better Culture at Serious Fraud Office May Be Changing, Inspector Tells MPs The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has had an I know better culture that dates from before the appointment of the current Director, Lisa Osofsky, in 2018, the House of Commonss Justice Committee has been told by a senior inspector. In July this year two separate reviews were published that identified a series of failings at the SFO which led to the collapse of two criminal trialsthe Unaoil case, which involved alleged bribes paid to Iraqi oil officials, and the case of Simon Marshall and Nicholas Woods, Serco executives who were acquitted on the orders of a judge. Anthony Rogers, the deputy chief inspector at the Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, said the failings pointed out in those reviews didnt surprise him. Rogers told the committee on Wednesday: Historically in the SFO we found a culture of non-compliance. People who think they know better. There is a cultural organisation problem which predates the current director. He said he had conducted an inspection of the SFO in 2018, when Osofsky, a former deputy general counsel and ethics officer at the FBI, had only been in the job for six weeks and they had begun a new inspection only last week. Rogers said the full inspection report would not be completed until April 2023 but he said: It appears culturally that the organisation has changed. But its early days. Osofskys own five-year term as director of the SFO is due to expire next year and there has been no word from the Attorney General, Michael Ellis, about extending it. Rogers said the 2018 inspection had also revealed a widespread culture of bullying at the SFO and he said he understood Osofsky had been approaching that with a behaviour change programme. Earlier the committee heard evidence from both Brian Altman, KC, who was commissioned by Osofsky to review the failures which led to the collapse of the Serco trial, and David Calvert-Smith, KC, who led the review into the Unaoil case. Both reviews were highly critical of the SFOs legal disclosure proceedings. Altman told the committee it was clear there was a reluctance among staff to volunteer to be disclosure officers and he said there needed to be more training and support for them. Tory MP Asks if SFO Is Fit for Purpose Conservative MP Laura Farris asked them if they thought the SFO was fit for purpose. Calvert-Smith said it was clear there had been endemic problems within the organisation but he said there was cautious optimism that things were beginning to change. Calvert-Smith found Osofsky had made several mistakes and misjudgments in her handling of a former Drug Enforcement Administration agent, David Tinsley, who acted as a fixer for one of the Unaoil defendants. In the Serco case it emerged that the chief investigator in the case, Kevin Davis, had claimed to have inadvertently wiped data from his SFO phone on a number of occasions. Another member of the committee, Conservative MP Kieren Mullan, asked Calvert-Smith if he believed it was credible that the phone had been wiped of data by mistake. Calvert-Smith replied: I do think its credible, partly because I am quite absent-minded myself but its not impossible, I cant say that its totally credible. We couldnt come to a firm conclusion based on the evidence we had. Rogers added: Kevin is not unique in the SFO. It was a common occurrence to wipe data, to require your phone to be reset or rebuilt the timing was unfortunate, it looks very unfortunate but its not absolutely unique, that the chief investigator, like others in that organisation, had maybe access to IT which is very, very difficult to negotiate for security reasons. When Osofsky appeared before the committee later, she was upbeat. She said the SFO had had a remarkable summer with the convictions of Caribbean holiday fraudster David Ames, ethical investment fraud pair Andrew Skeene and Junie Bowers, and the resolution of the Glencore scandal, which will be sentenced next month. Osofsky said she regretted her decision to meet with Tinsley and hand him over to the Unaoil investigators. Do I regret that I did that? Absolutely. Do I wish I had done things differently? I do. I see the impact on our office, she added. She said the SFO changed its internal policy in May 2020 so that they no longer meet with third parties who are not lawyers. Osofsky said: We need good disclosure officers. We need to be able to hire good disclosure counsel we have developed a bespoke and advanced training programme, we have reenergised the disclosure working group, we have disclosure champions, and we evaluate disclosure risk during quarterly reviews of our cases. A drone flies over Kyiv during an attack on Oct. 17, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images) Iran Threatened With Sanctions Following Drone Claims by Kyiv The alleged use by Russia of Iranian-made drones in recent attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure has drawn condemnation from Kyiv and its allies, along with threats of Western retaliation and sanctions. On Oct. 10, Russia carried out wide-ranging strikes across Ukraine, targeting what Moscow called critical infrastructure. A second wave of strikes on Oct. 17 caused even more damage, hitting energy facilities deep inside Ukrainian territory. Thirty percent of Ukraines power stations were destroyed in the attacks, resulting in power disruptions throughout the country, officials in Kyiv said on Oct. 18. Ukrainian officials also said the Russian strikes featured the use of Iranian-built suicide drones, which carry small warheads that detonate upon reaching their targets. This wasnt the first time that such claims have been made. Last month, Ukraine revoked the credentials of Irans ambassador to Kyiv amid allegations that Tehran was supplying Russia with advanced Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicles. Tehran and Moscow both deny claims that Russian forces are using Iranian drones against targets in Ukraine. When asked directly about the issue, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Oct. 18 that Russias ongoing operations in Ukraine relied solely on Russian equipment with Russian nomenclature. On the same day, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani likewise dismissed the allegations as baseless. Quoted by Irans IRNA news agency, Kanaani said the claims are based on biased standpoints and machinations by anti-Iran media outlets. Calls for Sanctions However, the Russian and Iranian denials dont appear to have satisfied Ukraine and its Western allies. Kyiv has invited U.N. experts to inspect what it says are downed Iranian drones, while several EU foreign ministers have called for the imposition of sanctions on Tehran over its alleged transfer of drones to Russia. Earlier this week, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department said that if Iran was found to be supplying Russia with drones, it would constitute a breach of U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231. Adopted in 2015, that resolution provided the framework for a 2015 deal between Iran and six major powersincluding the United Statesthat sought to curb Irans uranium-enrichment activities. Although the United States withdrew from the deal in 2018, Western diplomats say the resolution includes restrictions on the export of certain military technologies by Iran, including drones intended for combat. The United States, the UK, and France were expected to raise the issue at an Oct. 19 closed-door meeting of the U.N. Security Council in New York. NATO has announced plans to provide Ukraine with advanced air-defense systems in response to the latest round of Russian strikes. NATO will in the coming days deliver counter-drone systems to counter the specific threat of drones, including those from Iran, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Oct. 18. RussiaIsrael Tension Claims that Russia is using Iranian drones in Ukraine may even lead to a policy shift by Israel, Irans arch-foe in the region. On Oct. 16, Nachman Shai, Israels minister of diaspora affairs, urged his country to step up military assistance to Kyiv. Until now, Israeli contributions to the Ukrainian war effort have been largely confined to nonlethal equipment. Echoing claims in the U.S. media that Iran was supplying dronesand ballistic missilesto Russia, Shai wrote on Twitter: There is no longer any doubt where Israel should stand in this bloody conflict. The time has come for Ukraine to receive military aid [from Israel] as well, just as the USA and NATO countries provide. Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, responded to Shais appeal by saying that such a move would be very reckless and that it would destroy diplomatic relations between our two countries. Emerging tensions between Russia and Israel reflect fears of what appear to be Moscows deepening ties with Tehran. Those fears were exacerbated in mid-September, when Iran joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a formidable bloc of Eurasian states. The worlds largest regional bloc, the SCO was founded by Moscow and Beijing in 2001 to serve as a bulwark against U.S. regional influence. Notably, Iran and Russia both support the Bashar al-Assad government in Syria, with which Israel has technically remained at war since its founding in 1948. In recent months, Israel has ramped up attacks on targets in Syria, including Iranian military assets deployed in that country. Israel has stated that the attacks are aimed at preventing Iranian arms shipments from reaching Lebanons Hezbollah group. In August, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov condemned what he described as dangerous practices by Israel after the latter struck several positions in Syria located close to a Russian military base. Reuters contributed to this report. An Irvine Company sign inside the 5 Park Plaza at the Jamboree Center in Irvine, Calif., on Oct. 13, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Irvine Company Donated $4 Million to School District IRVINE, Calif.The Irvine Company Oct. 18 donated $4 million in honor of the Irvine Unified School Districts 50th anniversary. The donation represents a $2 million annual increase in the development companys 20-year, nearly $50 million support of the districts arts, music, and science education programs, Irvine Co. officials said. Education has always been at the core of our planning principles in Irvine, and todays contribution deepens our companys decades-long partnership with IUSD, students and families to support enrichment programs in science, art, and music, Irvine Company Senior Vice President Jeff Davis said. Israel Angered by Australian Governments Decision to Reverse Recognition of Jerusalem as Capital The Australian left-wing Labor government has created a diplomatic crisis with Israel after it decided on Tuesday to walk back the previous governments policy of recognising Jerusalem as the capital of the country. Taking to social media on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lipid admonished the Australian government for what he saw as a hasty and unprofessional response. In light of the way this decision was made in Australia, as a hasty response to an incorrect report in the media, we can only hope that the Australian government manages other matters more seriously and professionally, he said. He then noted that Jerusalem was the eternal and united capital of Israel, and nothing will ever change that. Prime Minister Lapid in response to Australias announcement: In light of the way this decision was made in Australia, as a hasty response to an incorrect report in the media, we can only hope that the Australian government manages other matters more seriously and professionally Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 18, 2022 There are also reports that the Israeli Foreign Ministrys Political Director Aliza Bin-Noun has called in Australias ambassador to the country, Ambassador Paul Griffiths, according to the Jerusalem Post. Bin-Noun communicated Jerusalems disappointment at the change in policy, calling it a miserable decision that ignores the deep and eternal connection between Israel and its historic capital and that goes against the good relations between Israel and Australia, the news agency reported. The Israeli foreign minister also was reported to have protested the timing of the announcement, noting that the decision had come during the period of Sukkot and Simhat Torah, which is when the Jewish people celebrate their special connection to the city of Jerusalem. Australian Foreign Minister Long-Term Critic of Jerusalem Policy When announcing the decision on Tuesday, Australias Foreign Minister Penny Wong said that this policy reversal would not affect Australias relationship to Israel. Australia will always be a steadfast friend of Israel. We were among the first countries to formally recognise Israel under Labor Prime Minister Ben Chifley. This Government will not waver in its support of Israel and the Jewish community in Australia, she said. We are equally unwavering supporters of the Palestinian people, providing humanitarian support every year since 1951 and advocating for resumed peace negotiations. She also blamed any problems that arose from the decision on the actions of former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, remarking that she regretted that Morrisons decision to play politics had caused distress. However, Wong has been vocal in her criticism of the December 2018 decision by the Morrison government to recognise West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, which followed the same decision by the U.S. Trump administration. Labor does not support unilateral recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and in government would reverse this decision. The status of Jerusalem can only be resolved as part of any peace negotiations and two-state solution, Wong wrote on Twitter at the time. Labor Partys History of Support for Palestine Last year, the centre-left Labor Party pledged to recognise Palestine as a sovereign state if it won government. Arthur Tane, executive director of The Council of Middle East Relations in Canberra, said the Labor Partys announcement came out of nowhere. The state of Palestine is not known for its democracy. You have a limited number of parties, all with the same kind of platform. They are very anti-Israeli, and very much in support of the destruction of Israel, he previously told The Epoch Times. Is Albanese trying to strengthen his position among the left? Is a challenge coming his way? Because it is really unusual that it should have occurred at this time. One major challenge to normalising relations in the Middle East has been the refusal of certain Arab leaders to entertain the possibility of Israel being a sovereign nation. This stance has underpinned decades-long aggression, conflict, and instability in the region. Daniel Y. Teng contributed to this report. Ivermectin is a key drug for early COVID-19 treatment, Dr. Paul Marik says. Ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug, has shown efficacy against COVID-19 in some studies as a prophylactic and treatment. The Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC), which Marik helped start, features ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine in its early treatment protocol. Ivermectin is a remarkable drug, Marik told EpochTVs American Thought Leaders during a recent conference. The episode will premiere on EpochTV next week. Its antiviral, so it works against a whole host of RNA viruses. This is indisputable. It is anti-inflammatory. We know that there are multiple studies showing that ivermectin is a very powerful anti-inflammatory drug. We know that what it does is it stimulates a process called autophagy, which is very important in the process of healing. And its one of the main mechanisms that we use to help patients get rid of spike protein. And ivermectin, believe it or not, stimulates autophagy. The other thing it does, which is important, is it changes [and] improves the microbiome, Marik added. Ivermectin is used off-label to treat COVID-19 in the United States. It is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat conditions caused by parasites. The FDA says ivermectin should not be used to treat COVID-19, pointing to studies that have found little or no benefit for the drug against the disease. Other research has found ivermectin can be effective as a preventative and a therapy, including one from FLCCC doctors that found the drug lowered mortality rates. Off-Label Health care providers can prescribe drugs off-label. That means a drug is used for a purpose other than that for which it is authorized or approved. From the FDA perspective, once the FDA approves a drug, healthcare providers generally may prescribe the drug for an unapproved use when they judge that it is medically appropriate for their patient, the FDA says on its website. But a number of medical boards and other health bodies intervened during the pandemic, restricting or banning prescriptions for drugs used off-label for COVID-19, such as ivermectin. Marik said he thinks many people misunderstand off-label, and arent aware that many hospitals use off-label drugs every single day. Its common practice. And in fact, the FDA promotesthe FDA themselves, if you go to their websitepromotes the use of off-label drugs. And what they say is that doctors are fully entitled to use FDA-approved off-label drugs at their own discretion at the discretion of the physician, Marik said. But suddenly, with COVID, the rules changed. You couldnt use an off-label drug. And you have to ask why. And obviously, they dont want people to use off-label drugs, they want you to use, firstly, the expensive drugs and it obviously would compete with the mandate for the vaccine, because if there were cheap, effective drugs that could treat COVID, why would you want to be vaccinated with an experimental vaccine whose safety has never been established? Early treatment using off-label drugs, he added, was a valid alternative for people who wanted a choice. Marik is one of the doctors who sued the FDA in June for allegedly violating the law by interfering with doctors who sought to treat patients with ivermectin. The case is still ongoing. Ivermectin tablets packaged for human use. (Natasha Holt/The Epoch Times) Developing the Protocols Marik and colleagues founded FLCCC after seeing U.S. authorities fail to provide or recommend COVID-19 treatments early in the pandemic. Even after months into the pandemic, no treatments were advised for patients, even those admitted to hospitals. Remdesivir was authorized for hospitalized patients on May 1, 2020. Further, when hospitalized patients conditions worsened, they were placed on ventilators. Many of the patients who ended up on ventilators died. It just goes against the basic foundation of medicine, that you would have a disease, which had a high fatality rate and you wouldnt try somethingsomethingjust to treat these patients, Marik said. The doctors figured out that COVID-19 attacks the lungs, causing fatal lung failure, inflammation, and clotting. They turned to known anti-inflammatories like methylprednisolone, a type of corticosteroid that also helps with the lung issues. Heparin, used to prevent blood clots, was also part of the inpatient protocol, which became known as MATH+. At that time, we were heavily criticized, for firstly, using corticosteroids and then Heparin, Marik recounted. People said, You cant do it, its a viral disease, youre gonna kill people. They were outraged. But we saw it worked. We were at the bedside. Theres nothing like being a doctor at the bedside, seeing what happens. And then, of course, six months later, the RECOVERY trial came around and showed, believe it or not, corticosteroids save lives. So unfortunately, in that study, they use the wrong steroid and the wrong dose. But steroids are so potent that it actually was was able to reduce mortality. So we were vindicated. At the time, Marik was chair of the Eastern Virginia Medical Schools Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, and helping treat patients at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. The protocol helped save lives, Marik said. The group later developed a list of drugs effective for early, outpatient treatment for people who contracted COVID-19. The main goal was to prevent hospitalizations. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel says multiple trials indicate corticosteroids help people hospitalized with COVID-19. The panel also recommends against using ivermectin against COVID-19 except in clinical trials. Other Drugs Under first line agents, FLCCC lists hydroxychloroquine with ivermectin. Hydroxychloroquine is approved as an antimalarial, but it and a similar drug, chloroquine, are not recommended by U.S. authorities for treating COVID-19. Similar to ivermectin, some studies have shown efficacy while others have not, with debates raging regarding proper dosing and timing. And similar to ivermectin, the drug is cheap because generic versions are widely available. Aspirin, another anti-coagulant, is also advised with vitamin D3 and melatonin. Zinc, vitamin C, and antiviral mouthwash are among the other aspects of the first phase. The NIH panel does not advise for or against vitamins C, D, or zinc due to what it describes as insufficient evidence. If symptoms persist for five or more days, FLCCC recommends a second set of treatments. They include sotrovimab, a monoclonal antibody; fluvoxamine, an anti-depressant; and spironolactone, typically used to treat high blood pressure. The panel has no guidance on spironolactone. It previously recommended sotrovimab but does not any longer because it says the monoclonal does not perform well against newer Omicron subvariants. The panel also says there is not enough evidence to recommend for or against fluvoxamine. The FDA rejected a request from a doctor to authorize fluvoxamine for COVID-19. Marik believes the emphasis always should have been on repurposed drugs, which have repeatedly been downplayed or ignored by U.S. authorities. If you kind of think about a pandemic, what you want to control it are repurposed drugs, because by their very nature these are cheap, inexpensive, easy to manufacture. And since this is a global issue, it then is very easy to distribute these drugs around the entire world and control the pandemic, which was the obvious answer, is the use of cheap, repurposed, effective, safe drugs, he said. Hydroxychloroquine is safe, if you use it in the right dose, which is really important. And ivermectin is exceedingly safe, you could use 10 times the recommended dose and its safe. And vitamin D, vitamin C, nigella sativa, theres a whole host of medicationsmelatoninthat are highly effective as a repurposed drug for controlling this disease. But it went against the narrative. Marik used the example of chloroquine, which was effective against SARS-CoV-1, and touted by the NIH as one of a number of drugs effective against MERS. But once COVID-19, or SARS-CoV-2, came around, that didnt apply anymore, Marik said. And clearly there were severe conflicts of interest. It was inconvenient. It was inconvenient for them. Zachary Stieber Reporter Follow Zachary Stieber covers U.S. and world news for The Epoch Times. He is based in Maryland. Judge Dismisses FedEx From Indianapolis Shooting Lawsuit INDIANAPOLISA federal judge has dismissed FedEx from a lawsuit filed by relatives of five of the eight people who were fatally shot last year at an Indianapolis warehouse by a former employee of the shipping giant. U.S. District Judge James Sweeney on Monday granted a FedEx Corp. motion to dismiss it and three of its divisions from the wrongful death lawsuit. He found that the federal court does not have jurisdiction over the case, which seeks unspecified damages, because it falls under Indianas Workers Compensation Act. Sweeney wrote in his order that because the Indiana Workers Compensation Board has exclusive jurisdiction over the Act, this Court may not grant any relief on Plaintiffs claims against FedEx. His order does not dismiss from the complaint another defendant, Securitas Security Services, which provides security at the FedEx warehouse on Indianapolis southwest side. The lawsuit was filed in April in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis. The plaintiffs are relatives of shooting victims Amarjeet Johal, 66; Amarjit Sekhon, 48; Jasvinder Kaur, 50; John Weisert, 74; and Karli Smith, 19. Matthew R. Alexander, 32, Samaria Blackwell, 19, and Jaswinder Singh, 68, were also killed in the attack. A body is taken from the scene where multiple people were shot at a FedEx Ground facility in Indianapolis, Ind., on April 16, 2021. (Michael Conroy/AP Photo) The suit argues that gunman Brandon Scott Hole, 19, had exhibited emotional and mental instability on multiple instances before the April 15, 2021, shooting. Hole, a former FedEx employee, fatally shot himself after he killed eight FedEx employees. Five other people were wounded in the attack. Melvin L. Hewitt, one of the plaintiffs attorneys, said Tuesday in a statement that we were obviously extremely disappointed with the judges decision to dismiss FedEx and its parent and subsidiaries from the wrongful death lawsuit. Indiana law and the law of a number of states oftentimes shield large employers from liability through Workers Compensation. However, in this case, Indiana not only shields the employer but also shields the parent of the employer and goes so far as to provide immunity to separate companies the employer owns, Hewitt added. When asked Tuesday whether the plaintiffs would seek redress through Indianas Workers Compensation Board, Hewitt replied that well pursue any avenue thats available to us on behalf of the plaintiffs. City council members Paul Koretz (L) and Paul Krekorian (R), along with and members of Women Against Gun Violence (back row), speak about the need for stricter gun laws in front of the Los Angeles City Council Meeting in Los Angeles, Calif. on Nov. 7, 2014. (Eric Zhang/The Epoch Times) LA Council Elects Paul Krekorian as New President Amid Continued Turmoil LOS ANGELESThe Los Angeles City Council elected Paul Krekorian as its new president Oct. 18, following a four-hour meeting that was held virtually due to COVID-19 exposure after last weeks meetings were disrupted by protesters amid the City Hall racism scandal. Krekorian will be immediately tasked with leading the council through a turbulent stretch, with Councilmen Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo facing intense calls to resign for their involvement in a recorded conversation that included racially charged comments and discussions over redistricting that led to former Council President Nury Martinez resigning her council seat last week. De Leon and Cedillo have been under mounting pressure to resign since the release of the tape Oct. 9. Kevin de Leon in Los Angeles, Calif., on Feb.2, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Krekorianelected on a 100 vote, with de Leon, Cedillo, Curren Price, and Monica Rodriguez absentstressed collaboration in his first remarks as council president, in a likely attempt to contrast with Martinezs efforts on the leaked tape to work behind the scenes to consolidate power during redistricting, as well as comments she made insulting her colleagues. The presidency will be a collective enterprise, Krekorian said. It is critically important to me that our leadership includes disagreement. Because thats how we move forward as a community. By listening to each other and working together. Krekorian, speaking in front of a virtual background of the council chamber, said he will make efforts to reduce the power of the council president. The era of unilateral decision-making on this council that ends today, Krekorian said. Through this work, we make clear that no one in this city ever again feels excluded or belittled, demeaned or disrespected, or left behind by the people that they elected to represent them. Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian speaks on stage during AIDS Walk Los Angeles 2019 in Los Angeles, Calif., on Oct. 20, 2019. (Randy Shropshire/Getty Images) Krekorian, 62, has served on the council since 2010 and is in his third term representing the 2nd District, which covers a wide swath of the central San Fernando Valley. He chairs the Budget and Finance Committee. Krekorian previously served in the state Assembly, winning the election in 2006 after a 20-year career as an attorney in the private sector. In what appeared to be an effort to show unity, each of the 10 council members mentioned Krekorian by name as they voted in favor. Mayor Eric Garcetti applauded Krekorians election in a statement, calling him a committed and conscientious leader who can bring a smart, collaborative, and effective approach to a painful moment when Angelenos deserve steady leadership on the City Council. I am confident that hell assemble a leadership team of bridge builders, and Ill work closely with the council to help heal the wounds caused by the hateful words of a few, Garcetti said. Mayor of Los Angeles Eric Garcetti speaks in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 29, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) The vote was preceded by roughly three-and-a-half hours of public comment, with many residents demanding that de Leon and Cedillo step down immediately. The council operated through most of the meeting with 10 members present, the minimum to establish a quorum. Rodriguez left partially through the meeting due to a family emergency. Price, who was also a contender for the council presidency, did not attend, saying he was protesting the decision to hold the meeting virtually. With de Leon and Cedillo absent, the meeting would have ended had any remaining member chosen to leave. I made a conscious decision to not attend this mornings council meeting because as a city leader, I could not support a virtual hearing that silenced the public outcry and shut out Angelenos who continue to reel from this breach of trust, Price said in a statement. Krekorian hinted that Price could play a role in the new council leadership team, stating that Price will play a key role in bridging divisions made worse by the leaked recording. Los Angeles Council Member Curren Price Jr. in a file photograph. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson moved to elect Krekorian as president, and it was seconded by Councilman Bob Blumenfield. Harris-Dawson said Krekorian has a track record of conducting processes to include lots of voices: ones that he agrees with, ones that he doesnt agree with. Mr. Krekorian is the right person to lead us right now as council president, Blumenfield said. But not to rule us, but to lead us. To work with us as a team. The council also voted to begin the process of placing a measure on the 2024 ballot or sooner that would create an independent redistricting commission for both the city and the Los Angeles Unified School District, and to explore a ballot measure that would increase the number of council districts in Los Angeles. SEIU California union members stand at a demonstration outside City Hall calling for the resignations of L.A. City Council members Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo in the wake of a leaked audio recording in Los Angeles, Calif., on Oct. 18, 2022. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) A couple dozen protesters gathered outside the City Hall, trying to enter the locked building during the meeting and chanting No resignations, no meeting. The protesters were confronted by police in riot gear, and a video posted by Spectrum News on Twitter showed one officer grabbing a protester on the back of the neck to keep him out of the building as another protester was trying to push him into the City Hall. Acting President Mitch OFarrell presided over an empty chamber except for staff and media, as the council conducted business for the first time in a week after disruptions forced the adjournment or cancellation of two meetings last week. Tuesdays meeting came one day after OFarrell said he would remove de Leon and Cedillo from their committee assignments. This is a moment where the city council gets to re-earn Los Angeles trust, said Maia Ferdman, project manager at UCLAs Initiative to Study Hate and a consultant in intergroup relations, before Tuesdays meeting. Its both structural, and it is cultural. This is not just a question of a couple of people on the council. Its also a question of: Can we trust our leaders? So theres a lot hanging at this moment right now and how our leaders respond. A sign denouncing L.A. City Council member Kevin de Leon is posted outside City Hall in the wake of a leaked audio recording in Los Angeles, Calif., on October 18, 2022. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) Fernando Guerra, professor of political science at Loyola Marymount University, told City News Service on Monday that the new president should only commit to serving until the elections in November, after which there could be as many as four new council members. Guerra said the new president will have to re-envision the role, especially because of Martinezs resignation. A lot of it is about norms, and it always starts at the top, Guerra said. Its not just a functionary [role] that sets the agenda, makes committee assignments. Its about setting the values, of what the council and the city are all about. Krekorian pledged to continue holding meetings even if de Leon and Cedillo continue to resist calls to resign. He said the council cant allow two members who have dishonored their offices to hold the business of the city hostage, though he will keep pushing for resignations. We cannot wait to continue to do the business of Los Angeles, Krekorian said. He ended his speech with: Lets get to work. Demonstrators hold Iran's flag during a protest for Mahsa Amini who died in custody of Iran's morality police, in Los Angeles on Oct. 1, 2022. (Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images) Los Angeles County Supervisors Vote to Support Women in Iran The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a motion to support womens rights in Iran and Iranian protesters abroad as well as within the county in a 50 vote Oct. 18. The move comes after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini last month at the hands of Iranian morality police for improperly wearing a hijab. Supervisors Sheila Kuehl and Hilda Solis co-drafted the motion, which will direct the county CEO to send a letter to President Joe Biden signaling the countys support for Iranians protesting as well as commending U.S. sanctions on the country for human rights violations. The letter will also oppose state-imposed internet restrictions on the people of Iran. Candles and pictures of Mahsa Amini are placed at a memorial during a candlelight vigil for Mahsa Amini who died in custody of Irans morality police, in Los Angeles Sept. 29, 2022. (Ringo Chiu/AFP via Getty Images) Since Aminis death, women and girls around the world are burning their hijabs in protest. Other local protests in Orange County have gained momentumabout 36 miles south of Los Angeleswith more than 50 people protesting at Costa Mesas City Hall Oct. 17. This is not just one womans case, this is a reform movement now led by young women, old women, all women across all of our different communities, Kuehl said during the board meeting. I hope that this serves as a wake-up call for oppressive regimes worldwide. Los Angeles, home to the nations highest population of Iranian immigrants, has had weeks of local demonstrations in support of Iranian democracy activists since Amini was killed on Sept. 16. Demonstrators hold Irans flag during a protest for Mahsa Amini who died in custody of Irans morality police, in Los Angeles on Oct. 1, 2022. (Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images) Roozbeh Farahanipour, president of the West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and local restaurant owner, said he is no stranger to the abuses of the Islamic regime in Iran. In 1999, Farahanipour said, he was tortured in prison for leading a student activist group battling for democracy in the country. We need to demand the Biden Administration to not get engaged in any kind of the negotiation with the brutal regime or negotiate with the terrorists, he told The Epoch Times. Restaurateur and member of the West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce Roozbeh Farahanipour at his restaurant in Los Angeles on Nov. 18, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) In one of his restaurants, called the Persian Gulf in Westwood, Farahanipour said he has set up a memorial for Amini and other women killed at the hands of the Iranian government. Candles and photos of the victims are on display on one of the tables, he said. He said there are two entities in Iran: the citizens, and the Islamic Republic of Iran. He said, as he communicates with friends and extended family in Iran, he learned that activists tell him they are looking to exclude radical Islamic forces from their government. Thats the main demand in Iran and the people inside Iran, or free occupied Iran, he said. They are humans. We need to defend them and Im standing with the Iranian people. Restaurateur and member of the West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce Roozbeh Farahanipour sets up a memorial for Mahsa Amini and other women killed at the hands of the Iranian government, at one of his restaurants in Westwood, Calif. (Courtesy of Roozbeh Farahanipour) Man Wanted for Questioning in 4 Oklahoma Deaths Is Arrested OKMULGEE, Okla.A man wanted for questioning about the deaths and dismemberment of four men in eastern Oklahoma has been arrested in Florida, police said Tuesday. Joe Kennedy, 67, was arrested Monday in Daytona Beach Shores while driving a stolen vehicle, according to a statement by Okmulgee Police Chief Joe Prentice. Prentice has described Kennedy as a person of interest in the deaths of Mark Chastain, 32, Billy Chastain, 30, Mike Sparks, 32, and Alex Stevens, 29. Prentice declined to say Kennedy is a suspect, and he has not been charged in Oklahoma, but will be brought back to the state for questioning. The murder investigation is ongoing and investigators continue to follow leads every day, Prentice said in the statement. Okmulgee Police Chief Joe Prentice discusses the bodies discovered in the Deep Fork River in Okmulgee, Okla., on Oct. 17, 2022. (Stephen Pingry/Tulsa World via AP) Kennedy was being held for grand theft of a motor vehicle in Florida, according to jail records that do not list an attorney who could comment on his behalf. The dismembered bodies of the four men, who had been reported missing after disappearing Oct. 9, were found Friday in the Deep Fork River in Okmulgee, a town of around 11,000 about 40 miles south of Tulsa. A flyer shows missing men (top LR) Billy Chastain, Mark Chastain, Alex Stevens, and (bottom L) Mike Sparks. (Okmulgee Police Department) A witness told police of being invited to join the four to hit a lick, Prentice said during a Monday news conference, but said he did not know precisely what was meant by the phrase. That is common terminology for engaging in some type of criminal behavior, Prentice said. We do not know what they were planning or where they planned to do it. Prentice said investigators searched a scrapyard owned by Kennedy and adjoining property owned by other people. The police chief said evidence of a violent event was found on the adjoining property, but did not elaborate. An official cause of death has not been released, but all four men had gunshot wounds, and their bodies had been dismembered, according to the police chief. Prentice has said Kennedy, before he disappeared late last week, was questioned about the four missing men but denied knowing them and that he has no reason to believe that the four men and Kennedy were acquainted. Prentice, who did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment, also said authorities will seek to revoke a deferred 10-year prison sentence Kennedy received after pleading guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon in 2012. By Ken Miller In a press conference held on Oct. 18, a group of military officers and their lead attorney described the negative impact of the vaccine mandate on the U.S. military. * 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 The HSBC Holdings Plc headquarter stands in the Canary Wharf business, financial, and shopping district in London, on Feb. 15, 2016. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) Misleading HSBC Climate Change Ads Banned by UK Watchdog The UKs advertising watchdog has banned two HSBC adverts for giving misleading information about the banks green credentials. The banned posters were seen at bus stops in London and Bristol last October, in the run-up to the United Nations COP26 climate change summit. The first poster featured an aerial image of waves crashing on a shore with text that stated Climate change doesnt do borders. Neither do rising sea levels. Thats why HSBC is aiming to provide up to $1 trillion in financing and investment globally to help our clients transition to net zero. The second poster featured an image of tree growth rings with text that stated Climate change doesnt do borders. So in the UK, were helping to plant 2 million trees which will lock in 1.25 million tonnes of carbon over their lifetime. The adverts attracted 45 complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), including that they were misleading because they omitted significant information about HSBCs contribution to carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions. Campaign group Adfree Cities, which led the complaint, accused the bank of greenwashing its image. Unqualified Claims In its ruling, published on Oct. 19, the ASA said the basis of environmental claims must be clear and that unqualified claims could mislead if they omitted significant information. It noted that the banks 2021 annual report indicated that it intended to invest between $750 billion and $1 trillion in helping its clients transition to net zero. But ASA found that despite the initiatives highlighted in the ads, HSBC was continuing to significantly finance investments in businesses and industries that emitted notable levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses. It added, We did not consider consumers would know that was the case and we therefore considered it was material information that was likely to affect consumers understanding of the ads overall message, and so should have been made clear in the ads. The watchdog concluded that the ads omitted material information and were therefore misleading. ASA ruled that the ads must not appear again, adding: We told HSBC UK to ensure that future marketing communications featuring environmental claims were adequately qualified and did not omit material information about its contribution to carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions. An HSBC UK spokeswoman said, The financial sector has a responsibility to communicate its role in the low carbon transition to raise public awareness and engage its customers, so we will consider how best to do this as we deliver our ambitious net zero commitments. PA Media contributed to this report. A sign for BlackRock Inc. on its building in New York, on July 16, 2018. (Reuters/Lucas Jackson) Missouri Latest State to Divest from BlackRock Over Woke Political Agenda Missouri plans to remove $500 million of its pension fund investments from BlackRock, making it the latest state to divest from the worlds largest asset manager in response to the companys overt leftist agenda. State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick announced the plans on Oct. 18. The realignment followed Louisianas Oct. 5 announcement on its pending removal of $794 million from BlackRock, and divestments of $100 million and $125 million by Utah and Arkansas, respectively. The withdrawals result from BlackRocks environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives and its prioritization of a woke political agenda. We should not allow asset managers such as BlackRock, who have demonstrated that they will prioritize advancing a woke political agenda above the financial interests of their customers, to continue speaking on behalf of the state of Missouri, Fitzpatrick told Fox Business. Fitzpatricks statement echoes Louisiana Treasurer John Schroder, who stated in an Oct. 5 letter to BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Your blatantly anti-fossil fuel policies would destroy Louisianas economy. We cannot be party to the crippling of our own economy. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink attends a session at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos on Jan. 23, 2020. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images) Republican States Say Enough Over the past few years, BlackRocks CEO has pursued an aggressive agenda focusing on shaping society to meet a specific political agenda. In his 2022 letter to CEOs, Fink stated that capitalism has the power to shape society and act as a powerful catalyst for change and when we harness the power of both the public and private sectors, we can achieve truly incredible things. This is what we must do to get to net zero. In his 2020 letter to CEOs, Fink wrote that BlackRock would significantly reallocate its capital from investments that present a high sustainability-related risk, such as thermal coal producers, and screen against investing in other fossil fuels. He then added a warning to CEOs. Last year, BlackRock voted against or withheld votes from 4,800 directors at 2,700 different companies. Where we feel companies and boards are not producing effective sustainability disclosures or implementing frameworks for managing these issues, we will hold board members accountable, Fink wrote. Fink and BlackRock are now facing their playbook as Republican-led states move to withdraw capital to achieve an objectivea retraction from BlackRocks focus on ESG initiatives and promotion of a woke agenda. Fitzpatrick accused BlackRock of breaching its fiduciary duty. Fiduciary duty must remain the top priority for investment managersa duty some of them have abdicated in favor of forcing a left-wing social and political agenda that has failed to succeed legislatively, on publicly traded companies, Fitzpatrick wrote. Wind turbines in Papalote, Texas, on June 15, 2021. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Steve Milloy, founder of Junk Science, backed Missouris move. Red states have now pulled over $3.2 billion from BlackRock over the ESG scam: West Virginia, $1.5 billion, Louisiana, $800 million, Missouri, $500 million, South Carolina, $200 million, Arkansas, $125 million, Utah, $100 million. More coming! he wrote on Twitter. On Oct. 12, UBS analyst Brennan Hawken downgraded BlackRocks stock to neutral from buy, stating that BlackRocks ESG focus had become increasingly risky. BlackRock has built its business on providing our clients choices to reflect their unique goals and preferences. While the actions of some elected officials have attracted media headlines, they do not reflect the totality of our clients investment decisions, a BlackRock spokesperson told The Epoch Times. For example, clients have awarded BlackRock $248 billion of net new long-term assets this year, including $84 billion in the third quarter in the United States alone. We remain committed to offering our clients choice and delivering them the best financial outcomes consistent with their preferences. In response to mounting criticism, BlackRock rolled out a new webpage on Oct. 7, stating, Were setting the record straight about our focus on energy investing, our responsibilities to clients and how we consider climate risk. Our clients have a wide range of views and goals and thats why we offer clients a broad choice of investment products. The choice of where to invest ultimately rests with our clients. We are bound to adhere to their investment guidelines and objectives. We do not dictate particular investment strategies, the BlackRock webpage states. BlackRock has been accused of boycotting energy companies. Quite the opposite: BlackRocks clients are some of the largest investors in the energy industry. In the U.S. alone, we have invested $170 billion on behalf of our clients in American energy companies, including pipelines and power generation facilities. Still, BlackRocks Net zero: a fiduciary approach states, BlackRock is committed to supporting the goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner and has undertaken several key actions to help further that transition. That includes prompting companies to disclose a plan for how their business model will be compatible with a net zero economy and how each company will improve its long-term plans to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion, as appropriate by region. Kanye West arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Feb. 9, 2020. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Mother of George Floyds Daughter Threatens to Sue Kanye West for $250 Million The mother of George Floyds daughter has threatened to sue Kanye West for $250 million for making allegedly false statements about Floyds death while being arrested by Minneapolis police in 2020. Lawyers from two Texas law firms said they are jointly representing Roxie Washington on behalf of her minor child, who they said is the sole beneficiary of Floyds estate, in a forthcoming lawsuit against West. Washington accuses West and his business partners and associates of harassment, misappropriation, defamation, and infliction of emotional distress. In a joint news release, the law firms said they issued a cease-and-desist to West after he made what they said were blatantly false comments during an interview on the Drinks Champs podcast. Floyds death was officially attributed, in part, to asphyxiation. Video footage of his arrest showed former officer Derek Chauvin with a knee on Floyds neck before his death. West reportedly said Floyd, who had prior drug convictions, died from fentanyl use. The law firms characterized Wests comments as part of an effort to profit from Mr. Floyds horrendous death and his familys trauma by promoting his brands, increasing marketing values, and lifting revenue for himself, his business partners, and associates. Although the full interview was removed from YouTube and Revolt TV, clips of Wests comments circulate on social media. Floyds Death Angela Harrelson (R), aunt of George Floyd, talks to supporters at George Floyd Square after a guilty verdict was announced at the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the 2020 death of Floyd, in Minneapolis, Minn., on April 20, 2021. (Julio Cortez/AP Photo) Floyd, 46, died in Minnesota after a police officer kneeled on his neck while holding him down during an arrest on suspicion of using a counterfeit bill at a Minneapolis store. At the time of Floyds death, he also had methamphetamine and a fatal level of fentanyl in his system, according to a memo by the Hennepin County medical examiners office submitted in court filings (pdf). The memo also noted there was no physical evidence suggesting that Mr. Floyd died of asphyxiation, and that had Floyd been found dead in his home (or anywhere else) and there were no other contributing factors, the medical examiner would have concluded Floyds death was an overdose. The Armed Forces medical examiner said Floyds death was caused by the police subdual and restraint in the setting of severe hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and methamphetamine and fentanyl intoxication. After Floyds death in 2020, West donated $2 million to a fund with part of it fully covering the education of Floyds daughter. Free Speech Rights Do Not Include Harassment The two Texas law firms that Washington retained to represent her daughter, The Witherspoon Law Group and Dixon & Dixon Attorneys at Law, said in their statement they would make West understand that some words have consequences. Kay Harper Williams, a partner at The Witherspoon Law Group, said the right to free speech doesnt include harassment, lies, misrepresentation, and the misappropriation of George Floyds legacy. Nuru Witherspoon, a partner at The Witherspoon Law Group, said the interests of Floyds daughter are the priority and claimed Wests comments are forcing her to relive the trauma of her fathers death. George Floyds daughter is being retraumatized by Kanye Wests comments and hes creating an unsafe and unhealthy environment for her, Witherspoon said. Dixon & Dixon Attorneys at Law partner Pat D. Dixon III called Wests comments a repugnant attempt to discount George Floyds life and to profit from his inhumane death. We will hold Mr. West accountable for his flagrant remarks against Mr. Floyds legacy, Dixon III said. The Witherspoon Law Group said Wests comments, which run counter to the prevailing narrative of Floyds death, are damaging to the Floyd estate. The firms intellectual property litigator, Roland Witherspoon, said he will protect and enforce the rights of Floyds daughter through all available legal remedies. The Epoch Times contacted West for comment. Motorcyclist Wins Record $10.8 Million Crash Settlement Against Government SAN DIEGOA motorcyclist who lost a leg in a freeway crash caused by a Navy sailor in National City has reached a $10.8 million settlement with the federal government. The settlement is believed to be the largest ever in a personal injury case involving a vehicle collision against the federal government in San Diego history. The case stems from a Sept. 13, 2019, crash on Interstate 5, in which a sailor driving a Navy van struck another vehicle, causing a chain reaction of crashes into Peter Arthurs motorcycle. Arthur, a Navy veteran, was thrown from his motorcycle and sustained serious injuries, which required the amputation of his right leg above the knee. He also suffered an avulsion of his right biceps, a complete laceration of his right radial nerve at the elbow, and has severe ongoing dysfunction in his right arm, according to the complaint filed in San Diego federal court. Arthurs attorneys say the driver of the Navy van alleged another vehicle swerved in front of the van, forcing him to veer to the left. However, in subsequent depositions, there was no evidence to show any phantom vehicle caused the crash, according to Robert Francavilla, one of Arthurs attorneys. In a statement, Francavilla said, Depositions were taken from everyone involved, including a critical deposition of a witness who initially claimed to have seen a phantom vehicle swerved in front of the Navy vehiclehowever, the testimony failed to demonstrate that this phantom vehicle caused the collision, or even existed. Francavilla said he believed justice was served with the resolution of the case, which was reached earlier this month. The attorney said Arthur, who he described as having a never say die attitude and the most positive, upbeat personality throughout the case, is progressing well medically. Francavilla said Arthurs previous work involved repairing and maintaining medical equipment at local hospitals, but he has been unable to continue that work due to his injuries. Tesla and SpaceX Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk speaks at the SATELLITE Conference and Exhibition in Washington on March 9, 2020. (Susan Walsh/AP Photo) Musk Says SpaceX Losing $20 Million a Month on Starlink Internet in Ukraine Billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk said that SpaceX is losing around $20 million a month on providing its Starlink satellite internet to Ukraine, while the Pentagon confirmed it has not paid the company any money for the service. Musk said in an Oct. 19 post on Twitter that his rocket company is losing approximately $20 million a month from unpaid service and costs related to security measures for cyberwar defense but added that well keep doing it (sigh). No money from DoD, but several other countries, orgs & individuals are paying for ~11k/25k terminals, Musk said. The Pentagon confirmed on Tuesday that it had not paid SpaceX anything for providing Ukraine with the Starlink service, which has reportedly been an important factor in maintaining communications by the Ukrainian military as it battles Russian forces. Department of Defense (DoD) press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told a press conference on Oct. 18 that the Pentagon had no comment on Musks announcement that SpaceX would continue to pick up the tab for Starlink in Ukraine. What an individual company may or may not do in any particular corner of the world of course is incumbent on that company to decide and do, Ryder said. Ryder added that the Pentagon has not paid SpaceX any money at this stage but that discussions between the DoD and the company are ongoing regarding the broader issue of providing satellite communication to Ukraine. Any type of service that the DOD is going to be funding, theres a process by which we would go through to look at contracting and acquisition requirements and how we would do that, Ryder said, suggesting the idea of Pentagon funding for Starlink isnt off the table. Asked about Musks remark that SpaceX had withdrawn its request to the Pentagon for funding for Starlink, Ryder referred the matter to the rocket company but added that we do continue to have discussions with SpaceX officials and others, in terms of providing satellite communications to Ukraine. Musk has appealed for donations to help foot the bill for providing Ukraine with Starlink, which came after he said the company couldnt keep funding the service indefinitely. The Tesla chief said SpaceX would be rolling out a donation feature so peoeple could help fund the provision of Starlink to places in need. SpaceX has so far donated around 20,000 Starlink units to Ukraine, with Musk saying in a post on Twitter that the move has cost the rocket company $80 million so far and would climb to over $100 million by the end of the year. Days after Russias invasion of Ukraine in late February, Musk announced that the Starlink satellite internet service was being provided to Ukrainians. While Starlink delivered an information lifeline to darkened swaths of the war-torn country, it also served as a link to enable Ukrainian military drones to target Russian tanks and positions more effectively. The Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport as seen in a file photo. (Screenshot via Google Maps) Mysterious GPS Disruptions Spread Across Texas; FAA Issues Warning to Pilots The Federal Aviation Administration this week warned pilots about mysterious disruptions to GPS signals in Texas as a runway at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport was shut down. The FAA told Bloomberg that its investigating possible jamming of the global positioning system (GPS) that aircraft use to guide them to runways and during their flights. The FAA also confirmed that the Dallas airport runway was shut down temporarily. So far, according to the FAA, it has found no evidence of intentional interference. However, the agency didnt appear to say what might be the cause. The FAA didnt respond by press time to a request for comment. American Airlines told Bloomberg that the GPS problem wasnt affecting its business, and Southwest Airlines said it wasnt experiencing any disruptions. Flight tracking website ADS-B appeared to have been the first to report GPS interference around Dallas on Oct. 17. Significant GPS interference being reported by pilots in the Dallas area. Aircraft being rerouted onto non-RNAV arrivals, it wrote. High resolution map of GPS interference around Dallas Fort Worth/DFW with sectional chart, including data from 2022-10-18 0000Z through 1600Z. It can be tricky to interpret a higher res map because you might start to see effects of individual aircraft, flight routes and altitudes pic.twitter.com/iSVE7nNlu5 John Wiseman (@lemonodor) October 18, 2022 As of Oct. 18, according to ADS-Bs website, GPS interference was being reported also near Waco, Texas, and near the Fort Hood military base in Killeen. Dan Streufert, founder of the flight-tracking website, told Bloomberg that such interference in the Dallas area is unusual. In the U.S., its very unusual to see this without a prior notice, Streufert noted. GPS jamming has always been a risk area, R. John Hansman, an aerospace professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, told the outlet. Its not that difficult or expensive technically to jam GPS. Which is why we dont use GPS as the only navigation source. In January, officials in Denver issued an alert that GPS was unreliable within a 50-mile radius of the Denver International Airport due to interference. It isnt clear what caused the interference. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Mike Roskind, told GPSWorld last month that the Denver incident lasted about 33 hours and impacted various infrastructures and systems across the area. Radio systems with no backups were negatively impacted, he said, although wireless and cellular service providers that had backups performed fine. Roskind said a report on that incident will come in October. Top federal officials have warned that GPS is considered a vulnerability within the U.S. national security apparatus. Caitlin Durkovich, National Security Council director for response, said in December 2021 that the system is still a significant single point of failure in our country because positioning, navigation, and timing is foundational to our life. Religious Freedom Nonprofit Claims Chase Bank Ignores Requests to Explain Account Shutdown A nonprofit dedicated to promoting religious freedom has had its Chase Bank account closed without being given a reason, according to the nonprofits founder and executive director. Sam Brownback, founder of the National Committee for Religious Freedom (NCRF), and the Rev. Justin Murff, the NCRFs executive director, have expressed frustration over what they see as a heavy-handed measure taken with practically no explanation and no recourse for the banks former customers. Weve written to JPMorgan Chase & Co. CEO Jamie Dimon; its been a good two weeks now, and have not heard anything back and have not been directly contacted by the bank, Brownback told The Epoch Times. They sent the funds back to us, and they just closed the account. Brownback, a former governor of Kansas, U.S. senator, and U.S. ambassador at large for international religious freedom, describes the NCRF as a nonprofit entity, classifiable for tax purposes as a 501(c)(4), with an interfaith character that includes members of the Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu faiths; he says its bipartisan in nature and open to a range of political viewpoints and affiliations. However, the bank clearly isnt satisfied with Brownbacks or Murffs characterization of the NCRF and its status and composition. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback speaks at the Department of State in Washington on June 21, 2019. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Decision Was Permanent The organization opened the account on April 15, Murff said. Only three weeks later, while he was attending a conference in Sweden, Murff received a call from Brownback, who told him of having tried to make a deposit, only to find out that the bank had closed the account. When Murff reached out to the bank to try to find out what had happened, further surprises were in store, he said. I called Chase, and they told me there was a note on the account saying that the decision had been made at the corporate office to close the account and that the decision was permanent, it was irreversible, and there was a flag stipulating that they were not to provide the customer with any further information, he told The Epoch Times. I said, I know theres an escalation team at Chase, so I had a phone call with the bank and told them I didnt understand what was going on. And they told me the exact same thing. He pursued the matter doggedly and had three separate calls with representatives of the bank on June 1. However, he said, everyone he spoke to kept passing him to someone else. Finally, Murff was able to get in touch with a New York-based official, who told him that he and his colleagues had failed to provide the bank with requested documents within 60 days of opening the account. But the banks motives for closing the account remain unclear, given that the account was allegedly closed within three weeks, which is well within the 60-day window. We dont understand why they would do something like this, but they told us this decision was secret and made at the corporate level, said Brownback, noting that other organizations, the names of which he isnt at liberty to disclose, have been met with similar treatment. Well continue to reach out to Chase Bank and see if we can get an answer from them, and well also continue to try and collect other entities to go public with what happened to them. A Chase Bank branch on Madison Avenue in Midtown New York, on Jan. 8, 2016. (Ingrid Longauer/Epoch Times) Representatives for Chase Bank didnt respond to a request for comment by press time. The NCRF has opened a new account with a different bank. Brownback, in his letter to Dimon, and Murff, in his discussion with The Epoch Times, both emphasized the irony that Dimon himself, during testimony last month before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, specifically singled out freedom of religion as one of the advantages of living in the United States in 2022. Dimon stated, We live in the greatest country in the world, predicated on foundational beliefs in freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of enterprise, the sanctity of the individual, and the promise of equality and opportunity for all. Newsom Spreads Misinformation on COVID-19 Commentary Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed into law Assembly Bill 2098, whose exact language reads: It shall constitute unprofessional conduct for a physician and surgeon to disseminate misinformation or disinformation related to COVID-19, including false or misleading information regarding the nature and risks of the virus, its prevention and treatment; and the development, safety, and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. Misinformation means false information that is contradicted by contemporary scientific consensus contrary to the standard of care. Although not a physician or surgeon, on Oct. 17 he violated the spirit of AB 2098 himself by announcing next Feb. 28 will be the end of the COVID-19 State of Emergency he declared almost three years ago. According to Pew Trusts last May 19, Most States Have Ended Their COVID Health Emergenciesfive months go. Thus, by extending Californias COVID-19 State of Emergency almost a year longer than the other states, Newsom violated the contemporary scientific consensus of those states on the matter. Joking aside, the fact is AB 2098 is not medicine, but politics. Moreover, the medical contemporary scientific consensus on COVID-19 keeps changing. Remember when people were denounced for saying COVID-19 was cooked up in a Chinese lab in Wuhan? On May 21, 2021, New York Times reporter Apoorva Mandavilli even tweeted, Someday we will stop talking about the lab leak theory and maybe even admit its racist roots. But alas, that day is not yet here. The tweet later was deleted. Yet as early as April 23, 2020, just weeks into the pandemic, The Epoch Times Joshua Philipp produced an insightful documentary, Coronavirus Origins, Chinas Bat Woman, and the CCPs Coverup. Fortunately, its still up on YouTube. A Google search also quickly revealed The Epoch Times continuing coverage of the COVID origins story. But we also can look beyond the reporting of this newspaper. None other than the U.S. Director of National Intelligence produced an Unclassified Summary of Assessment on COVID-19 Origins (pdf), which found: After examining all available intelligence reporting and other information, though, the IC remains divided on the most likely origin of COVID-19. All agencies assess that two hypotheses are plausible: natural exposure to an infected animal and a laboratory-associated incident. Chinas cooperation most likely would be needed to reach a conclusive assessment of the origins of COVID19. Beijing, however, continues to hinder the global investigation, resist sharing information and blame other countries, including the United States. These actions reflect, in part, Chinas governments own uncertainty about where an investigation could lead as well as its frustration the international community is using the issue to exert political pressure on China. Im not a physician or epidemiologist, and you probably arent either. My point here is Newsom and the Legislature cannot be the judges of what a physician says about COVID-19, whether on its origins or anything else. As the DNI assessment noted, a reasonable answer would require cooperation by Communist China, which never will happen. Especially not after the recent increase in tensions with Beijing, including Taiwan tensions and President Biden slapping new technology sanctions on China. Once physicians are prosecutedthat is, persecutedlawsuits over AB 2098 are inevitable. According to the Liberty Justice Center, a legal group: Prohibiting doctors from discussing any COVID-19 options other than those supported by the current scientific consensus undermines their ability to best serve their patients and puts patients at greater risk. As for fears of misinformation? Patients are already protected from false claims by California law which prohibits doctors from lying to patients or mistreating them for any illness. Indeed, the Liberty Justice Center already filed a lawsuit on behalf of two California physicians, Mark McDonald, M.D., a Los Angeles psychiatrist, and Jeff Barke, M.D., an Orange County primary care physician. I know Dr. Barke and he is a fine doctor. The Liberty Justice Center said in a statement, The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against the Medical Board of California and Attorney General of California. The plaintiffs also filed papers seeking a preliminary injunction to protect their free speech rights as the case unfolds. Newsom tried to get around the sacrosanct doctor-patient relationship by writing, in his signing statement for AB 2098: To be clear, this bill does not apply to any speech outside of discussions directly related to COVID-19 treatment within a direct physician-patient relationship. I am concerned about the chilling effect other potential laws may have on physicians and surgeons who need to be able to effectively talk to their patients about the risks and benefits of treatments for a disease that appeared in just the last few years. But who is he to decide what is or is not a direct physician-patient relationship? What if a doctor sends out emails to his patients taking a non-consensus position on COVID-19s origins? Perhaps even quoting the DNI documents words from above? The assemblyman who authored AB 2098 is Evan Low (D-Campbell). According to his official biography, he is not a physician, either. He only has gone to college, then been active as a politician. He has no experience in the real world of business in the private sector. After reading the accomplishments listed on his home page, some might conclude hes just a busybody. Why cant these politicians just leave us alone? Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Artillery fires during North Korea's "largest-ever" artillery drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) on April 25, 2017. (KCNA/via Reuters) North Korea Fire Artillery Near Border With South Korea North Korea fired artillery rounds into its sea boundaries with South Korea on Tuesday in retaliation for South Koreas annual military drills, which it regards as provocative acts. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the North fired about 100 artillery rounds off its west coast around 10 p.m. (local time), followed by another 150 rounds off its east coast an hour later, Yonhap News Agency reported. The artillery shells landed within maritime buffer zones established under a 2018 inter-Korean agreement that called for the cessation of hostile military activities between the two Koreas, JCS said. South Korea said the artillery launch violated the inter-Korean agreement and demanded that North Korea cease its provocative actions immediately. The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) later published a statement from the communist regimes Korean Peoples Army (KPA) General Staff, saying that the shots were fired in response to South Koreas military drills. The KPA said the artillery rounds were meant to send a serious warning to South Korea as the countrys war drill against the North is going on in a frantic manner. In order to send a serious warning, it made sure that KPA units on the east and west fronts conducted a threatening warning fire toward the east and west seas on the night of Oct. 18 as a powerful military countermeasure, it stated. South Korea on Monday began its annual Hoguk defense drill aimed at bolstering its ability to counter North Koreas nuclear threats. The drill will run till Saturday and feature combined operations with the United States and Japan. This marks the second time North Korea has fired artillery rounds into the buffer zones, the first being on Oct. 14 when it blasted about 560 rounds into the buffer zones. Japan Sanctions North Korea Japans Foreign Ministry on Tuesday imposed additional sanctions on North Korea, targeting North Koreas Ministry of Rocket Industry and four trading corporations over their role in the countrys nuclear development programs. Japans Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said that he condemned North Koreas series of provocative acts as totally unacceptable, claiming that the North had fired 23 ballistic missiles this year, Kyodo News reported. North Korea launched a ballistic missile over Japan on Oct. 4 for the first time in five years, prompting Japans government to issue an emergency alert that warned people in several regions to take shelter. Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said the missile flew 4,600 kilometers (2,858 miles) at an altitude of 1,000 kilometers (621 miles), the longest-range missile that North Korea has launched so far. A man watches as the water level of the flooded Brisbane River rises at West End, Australia, on Feb. 27, 2022. (Patrick Hamilton/AFP via Getty Images) NSW on Flood Watch as More Rain Expected Nearly 70 flood warnings are in place across New South Wales (NSW) as the focus turns to the far south Riverina region, with more rain expected to lash large areas of the state this week. A low-pressure system bringing heavy rain and thunderstorms is forecast to hit NSW from Wednesday to Friday before weakening and being followed by more drenching rain on the weekend. The downpours could cause renewed flooding along rivers in parts of the northwest, central west and southwest inland catchments, which are already flooding from months of persistent rain. Theres a danger of flash-flooding from intense bursts from severe thunderstorms as well bringing with them the potential for some destructive wind gusts, Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Jane Golding said on Tuesday. Some 300 people have already been evacuated from Moama, near the Victorian border, where residents are staring down the possibility by Friday of a flood higher than the 1993 event, the areas second worst on record. Another evacuation was ordered northeast of Moama near the Murray Valley Regional Park, with people told to leave by Tuesday evening before evacuation routes are cut off. East Moama residents have been told to evacuate by 1 p.m. Wednesday. The State Emergency Service has dispatched more than 125,000 sandbags and set up two evacuation centres to accommodate up to 550 people in the region. Nine aircraft are on standby throughout the state, along with five high-clearance vehicles, while up to 180 Defence personnel are available to assist in western NSW. SES Assistant Commissioner Sean Kearns says the next 48 hours are crucial, with up to 3000 people on flood watch in communities near Moama. Six flood rescues have taken place in the last 24 hours, along with 50 requests for help, he said. The situation is not over, and its going to continue for several weeks to come, Kearns told reporters. It might be blue sky, but it doesnt mean its not flooding, and the rivers wont rise. Premier Dominic Perrottet again warned many communities are in for a tough week. Our dams are full. Our rivers are full, he told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday. Its going to be a difficult time, but weve got through difficult times in the past. Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke says the wet conditions are testing the resolve of flood-weary communities. This is what living through a third consecutive La Nina event looks like, she said. Our grounds are saturated, and we are continuing to see rain and more rain. Major flooding continues on the Macquarie River at Warren in the central west, with river heights slowly falling. The Murrumbidgee River could reach major flooding at Narrandera on Tuesday night, where residents were told to evacuate over the weekend. The water will then flow downstream to Hay, which could experience major flooding by the end of the week. People in Forbes who were forced to evacuate after the Lachlan River burst its banks last week have been told they can return with caution but have been advised to stay out of floodwaters. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Perrottet visited the region on Monday. Mr Albanese warned flood threats were likely to continue for some time. We are living in very dangerous times in the days and weeks ahead, he said. Perrottet called for vigilance in flood-threatened communities through summer and urged people to follow the advice of emergency services. NYPD investigate an incident at a subway station in New York on April 12, 2022. (Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images) NYC Subway Attacker Arrested After Man Fatally Struck by Train During Fight Over Dropped Phone A New York City man was arrested on Tuesday after being accused of getting into a fight over a cellphone, resulting in a man being fatally struck by an oncoming train at a subway station in Queens, authorities say. The suspect, Carlos Garcia, 50, has been charged with manslaughter in connection to the death of Queens resident Heriberto Quintana, 48, New York Police Department (NYPD) officials announced. The two men reportedly got into an argument after Quintana accidentally knocked Garcias phone out of his hand onto the track shortly before 5 p.m. on Oct. 17 at the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue/74th Street station in Queens. Garcia urged Quintana to go down the tracks and retrieve his phone, but he refused. The two strangers then got into a scuffle and Quintana fell on the tracks as a train was entering the station, police said. The NYPD was not clear whether Garcia intentionally pushed the victim onto the tracks or if Quintana fell accidentally during the course of the fight. A surveillance camera on the platform captured the incident, but the station was so packed at the height of rush hour that it was difficult to determine exactly what happened, WPIX reported, citing police. The incident caused service delays that impacted the E/F/M/R lines in the Queens neighborhood station for several hours as emergency personnel responded to the victim struck by a train, NYPD Transit announced on Twitter. Quintana is the ninth person to be killed in the New York City subway system so far this year. A GoFundMe fundraiser has been created in support of Quintanas family, who was a husband and a father of three. The conflict started by my dad accidentally pushing the guy, bumped him. And I guess the guy dropped his phone on the train tracks. And the guy got mad, and thats when the conflict startedthe fight. Its crazy, over a damn cell phone, Demsi, one of Quintanas three sons, told WPIX. Crime Rising on NYC Subways The incident comes as New York has seen a rise in violent crime over the past year that has included deadly attacks on subway riders. On Oct. 15, NYPD asked the public to help identify a suspect who shoved a subway rider in front of an oncoming train. The victim, a 26-year-old man, was helped back to the platform by witnesses at the scene but sustained injuries to his legs. At approx. 11:50 a.m., inside the E 149 St & Southern Blvd subway station, the suspect, unprovoked, pushed a 26-year-old male onto the train tracks as the 6 train was arriving. Any info? the NYPD said on Twitter. Surveillance video footage showed the bearded suspect, wearing a black ski jacket and brightly patterned pants, rushing toward the victim from behind. The attack itself took place off-camera. In mid-February, 40-year-old Michelle Alyssa Go was intentionally pushed to her death in front of an oncoming Times Square subway train. The suspect was identified as 61-year-old Martial Simon and was charged with second-degree murder in connection with her death. In another incident that happened in January, a 23-year-old man was critically injured when he was struck by a train in a Brooklyn subway station as he bent over to pick up his backpack. Reuters contributed to this report. From NTD News Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose certifies the presidential results in an event broadcast on government TV. (Youtube screenshot/Ohio Secretary of State) Ohio Investigation Yields 75 People Who May Have Voted Twice in 2020 Election Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced on Oct. 17 that he has uncovered 75 more voters who may have cast ballots twice in the 2020 general election. Some of the allegations contend that people voted in one state before casting another ballot in Ohio. In September, La Roses office released a statement saying that four people had been referred to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and county prosecutors for potential voter fraud violations in the 2020 election. LaRose also said in August that 11 people were under investigation after they allegedly provided documentation to the BMV that showed they were not citizens on at least two occasions. These people were mailed two notices at the address where they are registered to vote that asked for them to cancel their voter registration or tell the secretary of states office they had. This follows another 13 possible cases of fraud that were discovered in 2021. LaRose, who is running for re-election in three weeks, took office in 2019. Since then, 630 people have been accused of voter fraud. Among the accusations are non-citizens voting, people who cast two ballots, and people who voted in place of a dead person. Voter fraud is exceedingly rare in Ohio, said LaRose, who is opposed in the Nov. 8 general election by Democratic nominee Chelsea Clark and independent candidate Terpsehore Maras. The only way to strengthen the confidence of the voters is by working every day to earn their trust, LaRose added. Ohioans should know if you violate election law, well catch you. Every vote matters. In the 2020 election, 5.97 million out of 8 million registered voters cast ballots in Ohio. More than 3 million voted for President Donald Trump compared to 2.6 million for then-presidential candidate Joe Biden. Trump won Ohio by 8 percentage points in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections. Earlier this month, LaRose announced the creation of the Public Integrity Division, which was established to incorporate all of the Secretary of State offices voter fraud investigations into one branch. The division examines campaign finance reporting, cybersecurity, voting system certification, voter registration integrity, and election law violations among other parts of Ohios voting system, LaRose said. Our office has had that responsibility for a long time, but weve never had actual professional investigators that can dig into the facts, get the information and make sure that we bring bad guys to justice, LaRose said during an interview with a Columbus, Ohio, TV station. To verify potential instances of voter fraud, Ohio and the partnering states cross-match their voter history. Each case is then investigated in conjunction with the secretary of states office or local police departments in the additional state. According to state law, the criminal act is the second vote, LaRoses office explained. The latest investigation of the 75 voters included people who also cast ballots in one of the following locations: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Texas, Washington, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin. Opposition Growing to Biden Proposal to Expand Union Power in Federal Project Contracting Fifty Republican Members of Congress and 18 Republican governors are urging President Joe Biden to withdraw the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Councils (FARC) proposal to require unionized workforces on most government-funded construction projects. The FARC proposal implements Bidens Executive Order (EO) 14063 that requires Project Labor Agreements (PLA) on all major federal construction projects. Use of a PLA in a federal contract means that only companies with unionized employees are eligible to bid and be selected for a federal project. Bidens EO was signed in February 2022, but the Department of Defense (DOD), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the General Services Administration (GSA), which oversees most non-defense federal acquisitions, only proposed the implementing rule in August 2022. The GOP congressmen and governors, however, contend that PLAs are inefficient, discriminate against the vast majority of construction industry employees who are not members of labor unions, and increase costs to taxpayers. The proposed rule will undermine taxpayer investment in public works projects financed by the American Rescue Plan Act, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and other recent infrastructure legislation passed by Congress, the 50 GOP senators and representatives told William Clark in an Oct. 18 letter. Clark is Director of the Office of Government-Wide Acquisition Policy for the GSA. None of these laws included language requiring or encouraging the use of PLAs. Further, the proposed rule will have a disproportionately negative effect on small and diverse contractors that both the federal government and our states have worked hard to grow and include in the competitive bidding process to build construction projects directly for federal agencies, the representatives continued. The governors also noted in their separate letter that PLAs inject excessive constraints on publicly funded construction projects that are critically needed in rebuilding the nations infrastructure. As governors, we support policies that ensure robust competition for taxpayer-funded construction projects that welcome all of Americas construction industry to compete to rebuild our nations infrastructure on an even playing field, the governors told Clark. We aim to provide value to taxpayers as we partner with the federal government to deliver roads, bridges, communications, water, energy, and transportation systems safely, on time, and on budget, but we cannot deliver the best results with onerous and unnecessary constraints When mandated by government agencies, PLAs can interfere with existing union collective bargaining agreements and needlessly discourage competition from quality nonunion contractors and their employees who comprise 87.4 percent of the private U.S. construction industry workforce according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Reducing competition from some of the best union and nonunion construction firms and workers will exacerbate the construction industrys skilled labor shortage, delay projects, and increase construction costs by estimates of 12 percent to 20 percent per project, which will result in fewer infrastructure improvements, less construction industry job creation, and higher taxes. Among the congressional letter signers are senators Richard Burr of North Carolina, Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma and Ted Cruz of Texas, while the House Republican signers include, among others, representatives Ted Budd of North Carolina, who is seeking the retiring Burrs Senate seat, James Comer of Kentucky, who is likely to take over as chairman of the House Committee on Government Oversight and Reform, and Greg Steube of Florida. Republicans signing the governors letter include, among other, Doug Ducey of Arizona, Brian Kemp of Georgia, Kim Reynolds of Iowa, Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, Greg Abbott of Texas and Kristi Noem of South Dakota. Bidens proposal is also drawing opposition from a host of taxpayer advocate groups, including Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), the National Taxpayers Union (NTU), Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW), Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA), the 60 Plus Association seniors group, and Americans for Prosperity. PLAs require contractors to sign a collective bargaining agreement with various construction trade unions as a requirement to win contracts to build applicable government construction projects, the taxpayer advocates said in comments submitted to FARC. These agreements typically force contractors to adhere to union wage scales, hire union labor, follow union work rules, and pay into union benefit plans that other nonunion employees will be unlikely to tap into. As a result, contractors who use nonunion workersand often make lower-cost bidsare effectively locked out of the process, the comments said. The taxpayer advocates pointed to a 2021 RAND Corporation study that concluded construction costs on projects required by the city of Los Angeles to have PLAs were at least 14.5 percent higher than they would otherwise have been. A FARC spokesman could not be reached for comment. As previously reported by The Epoch Times, the Biden PLA proposal is also opposed by the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation and the Associated Builders & Contractors, which represents construction industry companies. People walk in front of Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Jan. 29, 2022, on the first day of the Freedom Convoy protest. (Noe Chartier/The Epoch Times) Ottawa Councillor Says City Didnt Pursue Injunction to Clear Convoy to Avoid Being Embarrassed by Courts Rejection The City of Ottawa considered seeking a court order to help dislodge trucks and protesters that had settled in its downtown core last winter, but refrained from doing so in part because it thought a defeat in court would cause harm to its reputation. This was part of the testimony of Ottawa councillor and former Ottawa Police Services Board chair Diane Deans before the Public Order Emergency Commission on Oct. 19. Determining whether all options were exhausted and if invoking the Emergencies Act to clear the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa met the proper threshold are issues being weighed by the commission. While on the stand, Deans was prompted about her conservation with city solicitor David White on the issue of seeking an injunction. She was asked specifically whether White had told her the two reasons why the city would not go down that route. One of the reasons was a concern Ottawa police would be unable to enforce the injunction and the other related to being embarrassed if the court denied the injunction. Well, I think it was the latter and perhaps partially the former too, said Deans. Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson told the commission the previous day then-chief of the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) Peter Sloly had asked the citys legal staff to consider an injunction on Jan. 30. Heavy trucks had started pouring into Ottawa a few days earlier and thousands of people attended the protest over the weekend of Jan. 29 and 30. Evidence presented to the commission also reveals there seemed to be a consensus among law enforcement that an injunction was not a preferred option. Everyone weve spoken to, we are not feeling that an injunction is the best way to go. clear indication that injunction might be the worst way to go, said an unidentified speaker in minutes from a Feb. 1 OPS briefing on the convoy. Deans commented on that statement and said she believed it referred to concerns about the injunction being written in a way that would be denied by the court. RCMP Advises Against Injunction It was suggested during the hearing that the RCMP also recommended against obtaining a court order to remove protesters early on. Brendan Miller, the lawyer representing the protesters at the commission, asked Deans whether she was aware of RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki telling chief Sloly on Jan. 31 not to seek an injunction. [Lucki] told him not to get the injunction because it would be an official movement to another stage, that it would involve the whole country, and that anything official will spark a national response, said Miller. Deans said she did not recollect such information. Miller asked Deans whether the Ottawa police would have been able to remove the protesters with a court order and enough resources, instead of relying on the Emergencies Act. I dont think Im the person to assess that, said Deans. Mayor Watson told the commission on Oct. 18 that the ability to secure tow trucks was the most important factor derived from the declaration of the public order emergency by the federal government on Feb. 14. President Joe Biden waves with his phone in his hand as disembarks from Air Force One upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, Calif., on Oct. 12, 2022. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) Pakistan Summons US Envoy After Biden Questions Safety of Nuclear Assets President Joe Biden questioned the safety of Pakistans nuclear program at a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Reception in Los Angeles on Oct. 13. While talking about a myriad of geopolitical problems, Biden called Pakistan one of the most dangerous nations in the world, and said the South Asian nation has nuclear weapons without any cohesion. The extemporary comments led to a rebuttal from the Pakistan administration which summoned the U.S. envoy on the matter and hurried to offer statements. Let me reiterate unequivocally: Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state and we are proud that our nuclear assets have the best safeguards as per IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] requirements, said Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a message on Twitter on Saturday. We take these safety measures with the utmost seriousness. Let no one have any doubts. Two days after Bidens remarks, Pakistans Foreign Secretary Jauhar Saleem called in U.S. Ambassador Donald Blome and delivered a strong demarche on Bidens remarks. Pakistans disappointment and concern was conveyed to the US envoy on the unwarranted remarks, which were not based on ground reality or facts, said a statement by Pakistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In response, the state department during Mondays departmental press briefing contradicted Biden and said that Pakistan is committed to securing its nuclear program. I dont have any specific conversation to read out, but the United States is confident of Pakistans commitment and its ability to secure its nuclear assets, State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters when asked about Bidens remarks on Pakistan. The U.S. has always viewed a secure and prosperous Pakistan as critical to U.S. interests and, more broadly, the U.S. values our longstanding cooperation with Pakistan, he said. Pakistans Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari speaks during a press conference in Karachi on Oct. 15, 2022. (Asif Hassan/AFP via Getty Images) Apology Sought The remarks led to an uproar among the political circles in Pakistan and Pakistans national newspaper, Dawn reported that politicians across party lines have sought an apology from Biden. It also lead to heated debates among foreign policy and strategic analysts. Sharif said that Pakistan is a responsible state and knows how to protect its national interest while respecting international laws and practices. Our nuclear program is in no way a threat to any country, he said. Meanwhile, Imran Khan, the recently ousted prime minister blamed Sharifs ruling party PML-N for compromising Pakistans national security and said Bidens remarks reflect the inability of Sharifs government to reset relations with the United States. He raised two questions about Bidens remarks in a message on Twitter and said that the United States will lead Pakistan to economic ruin. I have 2 Qs on this. 1. On what info has @Potus reached this unwarranted conclusion on our nuclear capability when, having been PM, I know we have one of the most secure nuclear command & control systems? 2. Unlike the US which has been involved in wars across the world, when has Pakistan shown aggression esp post-nuclearisation? Ahmed Quraishi, a writer on foreign policy for major Pakistani publications, told The Epoch Times in an email that Bidens cut-off remark doesnt represent U.S. policy. And likely will not have any impact on the positive trajectory of Pak-US ties, as confirmed by Pakistani FM, said Pakistan-based Quraishi, adding that the episode confirms the presence of a strong anti-U.S. lobby inside Pakistan. According to him, this lobby wants to scuttle any improvement in the bilateral ties between the United States and Pakistan, and alleged that it is led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan who had blamed the Biden administration for his ouster in April. A Pakistani F-16 fighter jet flies past during a Pakistan Day military parade in Islamabad on March 23, 2017. (Aamir Qureshi/AFP via Getty Images) Geostrategists Speak Bidens remarks also led to a clamor among foreign policy analysts, some of whom questioned his national security strategy while others questioned Pakistans politicians. Ok so let me get this straight. Biden the other night says of Pakistan: May be one of the most dangerous nations in the worldNuclear weapons without any cohesion, said Derek Grossman, a national security and Indo-Pacific analyst with the Rand Corporation in a message on Twitter on Saturday. And yet, not a single mention in his new National Security Strategy? Brahma Chellaney, a former member of Indias National Security Advisory Board and an author of its draft nuclear doctrine refuted, Sharifs comments about Pakistan abiding by IAEA rules. IAEA safeguards are essentially designed to prevent nuclear proliferation in non-nuclear-weapon states. There are no specific IAEA nuclear-weapons-related requirements or safeguards. This phony claim of Pakistans PM only confirms Bidens dangerous nation comment on Pakistan, Chellancy said in a message on Twitter on Monday. He later blamed the Biden administration for mollycoddling Pakistan. Nothing better illustrates Bidens embrace of Pakistan than the $450 million deal unveiled this month to modernize the cash-strapped countrys US-supplied F-16 fleet [multirole fighter aircraft], despite the risk that it might harm Americas close strategic relationship with India, Chellancy wrote in a column on Project Syndicate. Biden administration had reversed President Trumps 2018 freeze on all kinds of defense and security assistance to Pakistan and approved a $450 million package for a lifetime upgrade of Pakistans F-16 fleet in September, raising concerns in India with which Pakistan shares a long border. Youre not fooling anybody by saying these things, Indias Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said on Sept. 26 while refuting the Biden administrations argument that the F-16 sustenance package is to fight terrorism. Conservative MP Michael Chong rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on June 13, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang) Parliamentary Committee to Invite RCMP, CSIS to Testify on Reports of Chinese Police Stations in Toronto MPs have voted to invite representatives from security agencies to testify at a House of Commons committee on reports of three unofficial Chinese police stations that are said to be established in Toronto. The vote comes as some countries are investigating reports of similar Chinese police services and their alleged use for coercing Chinese diasporas and overseas dissidents. Conservative MP Michael Chong introduced the motion that was adopted by MPs at the Oct. 18 meeting of the Special Committee on the Canada-Peoples Republic of China Relationship, asking that the committee invite officials including the public safety minister, members of the RCMP and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, and experts on police and intelligence to testify before the committee. Two meetings will be held, though the specific dates have yet to be decided. The reports on the Chinese police stations were first published last month in a study by the Spain-based human rights NGO Safeguard Defenders. The study was conducted to look into the Chinese regimes claims that between April 2021 and July 2022, it had persuaded 230,000 Chinese living in a foreign country to voluntarily return to China to face criminal proceedings in relation to telecommunication fraud. The study noted that the 2018 anti-fraud campaign was at first small in scale, but expanded rapidly with the creation and use of overseas police stations like the three in Toronto. At the time of its publication in September, the study said there were over 50 such stations being established in dozens of countries across five continents. Map of the 30 countries where Chinese police have established 54 known 110 Chinese overseas police stations. (Courtesy of Safeguard Defenders) While the Chinese authorities claimed that the overseas police stations were for operating services like renewing drivers licenses for Chinese diasporas, the Safeguard Defenders study shows that the persuasion to return is part of the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) involuntary returns operation, which includes the Fox Hunt and Sky Net campaigns. Under these operations, either the targets would be approached directly, or their family members back in China would be contacted by the Chinese police, which the study said would employ methods including intimidation, harassment, or imprisonment to force the targets into returning to China. Safeguard Defenders also noted that should the targets refuse to return, their children in China would likely lose rights to education, while the targets themselves are often deprived of the right to a fair trial. Many who are targeted are also non-suspects living abroad. The over 50 Chinese police stations listed in the study are run by two provincial-level police agencies in China, though a co-author of the study, Peter Dahlin, noted that there could be more than ten Chinese provinces that are operating such police stations around the world, though they have yet to be discovered. This means that there could be more than just three stations in Canada, Dahlin told The Epoch Times in a previous interview. Earlier this month, the foreign affairs critic Michael Chong asked Weldon Epp, a director from Global Affairs Canada, whether his department has made representations to the Chinese regime about how unacceptable it is that the CCP has allegedly established the police stations, which Chong said are reportedly being used to intimidate Canadians and even coerce them in going back to China. Epp, who was testifying before the Canada-China committee on Oct. 4, said the foreign affairs department is working with partner agencies to ascertain whether theres a basis to the allegations. Some European countries like Ireland and Spain have begun investigating reports of the unauthorized Chinese police stations allegedly established within their territories. Ottawa city councillor Diane Deans appears as a witness at the Public Order Emergency Commission in Ottawa, on Oct. 19, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick) Police Chief Said Freedom Convoy Would End by First Monday: Ex-police Board Chair The former chair of Ottawas police board says the chief of police told her in late January that he would be very surprised if the Freedom Convoy protesters stayed for longer than one weekend. Former police board chair and current city councillor Diane Deans is speaking at the federal inquiry into the governments use of the Emergencies Act. Documents tabled with the commission show former police chief Peter Sloly told the police board in a briefing on Jan. 26 that trucks were expected to arrive in Ottawa that weekend and may stay for an extended period. But Deans says in a one-on-one conversation, the chief told her he expected the protesters to be gone by the following Monday. She says the chief did not share specific intelligence reports with her or the rest of the board. Three weeks after that meeting, Sloly resigned as police chief and Deans was removed as chair of the police board by her city council colleagues. Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley speaks to reporters as he stands in front of a large photo of missing toddler Quinton Simon at a police operations center being used in the search for the boy's remains just outside Savannah, Ga., on Oct. 18, 2022. (WSAV-TV via AP) Police Search Georgia Landfill for Missing Toddlers Remains SAVANNAH, Ga.The search for a missing Georgia toddler presumed dead by police shifted Tuesday to a landfill outside Savannah where investigators planned to start sifting through trash for the childs remains. Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley said investigators had evidence that prompted the landfill search for the body of 20-month-old Quinton Simon, but he declined to say what it was. We believe that he was placed in a specific dumpster at a specific location and it was brought here by regular means of disposal, Hadley said during a news conference. I have every belief that we will find his remains here at the landfill. Police began searching for Quinton on Oct. 5 when his mother called 911 and said the boy had gone missing from his playpen. After more than a week spent searching the house and surrounding neighborhood, Hadley announced Thursday that police believe the child is dead. He also named the boys mother, Leilani Simon, as the a suspect in her sons death and disappearance. Nearly a week later, she has not been arrested or charged. Hadley said his department and the FBI spent days planning and getting personnel and equipment in place to search the landfill. We want justice for Quinton just like everybody else, the police chief said, and we want to find his remains so we can give him a proper resting place. Quinton Simon. (Courtesy of Chatham County Police Department) Dozens of FBI agents were on hand to assist police officers, said Will Clarke, supervisory agent for the bureaus satellite office in Savannah. Clarke said investigators were focusing their search on a specific area of the landfill, where debris would be deposited on a designated search deck for authorities to comb through one pile at a time. This will not be quick, it will not be easy and the outcome is uncertain, Clarke said. Leilani Simon had no listed phone number and it was not known Tuesday if she had a lawyer who could speak on her behalf. Court records showed she represented herself in two civil cases filed since March involving her custody of her children and child support. Police reports and court documents show there was turmoil in recent weeks between the childs mother and grandmother, Billie Jo Howell, who had legal custody of him and an older sibling. Quinton, his mother and his mothers boyfriend lived with Howell. Simon called police on Sept. 7 following an argument with her mother over laundry in which she said Howell had shoved her against a wall, according to a police report. No one was charged and an officer found no injuries other than Simons reddened elbow. The following day, Quintons grandmother filed papers in Chatham County Magistrate Court to have Simon and her boyfriend evicted from her home, WTOC-TV reported. A few weeks later, on Sept. 28, a Superior Court judge ordered Leilani Simon to pay $150 per month in child support. Quintons mother reported him missing a week later. Were not ready to charge anyone yet, Hadley said Tuesday when asked why no arrests had been made. We still have work to do. We still have an investigation to do. Were not going to do anything preemptively that would harm a future prosecution. By Russ Bynum Syrian researchers have uncovered a large intact mosaic that dates back to the Roman era, describing it on Oct. 12 as the most important archaeological discovery since the countrys conflict began 11 years ago. Journalists were shown the mosaic in the central town of Rastan near Homs, Syrias third-largest city. The mosaic, measuring around 1300 square feet (120 square meters), was found in an old building that Syrias directorate-general for antiquities and museums had been excavating. Lebanese and Syrian businessmen from Lebanons Nabu Museum bought the property, which dates back to the 4th century, and donated it to the Syrian state. Each panel was filled with square-shaped, small, colorful stones measuring about half an inch on each side. Onlookers gaze at a large mosaic that dates back to the Roman era in the town of Rastan, Syria, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022. (Omar Sanadiki/AP Photo) Dr. Humam Saad, the associate director of excavation and archaeological research at the directorate, said that among the scenes the mosaic shows is a rare portrayal of ancient Amazon warriors from Roman mythology. What is in front of us is a discovery that is rare on a global scale, Saad told The Associated Press, adding that the images are rich in details, and include scenes from the Trojan War between the Greeks and Trojans. In ancient Greek and Roman mythology, demigod hero Hercules slayed Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, in one of his 12 labors. The mosaic also portrays Neptune, ancient Roman god of the sea, and 40 of his mistresses. A detail of a large mosaic that dates back to the Roman era is seen in the town of Rastan, Syria, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022. (Omar Sanadiki/AP Photo) We cant identify the type of the building, whether its a public bathhouse or something else, because we have not finished excavating yet, Saad said. Sulaf Fawakherji, a famous actress in Syria and a member of the Nabu Museums board of trustees, said she hopes theyll be able to purchase other buildings in Rastan, which she says is filled with heritage sites and artifacts waiting to be discovered. There are other buildings, and its clear that the mosaic extends far wider, Fawkherji said. Rastan historically is an important city, and it could possibly be [a] very important heritage city for tourism. Despite Rastans historical significance in the country, Saad says there had not been significant excavation efforts in the town prior to the countrys armed conflict. Syrian officials said the mosaic is the most important archaeological discovery since the Syrian conflict began 11 years ago. (Omar Sanadiki/AP Photo) Unfortunately, there were armed groups that tried to sell the mosaic at one point in 2017 and listed it on social media platforms, he said. Syrian heritage sites have been looted and destroyed over the past decade of ongoing violent conflict. Among the most notable incidents was the Islamic State group taking Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that boasts 2,000-year-old, towering, Roman-era colonnades and priceless artifacts, and partially destroying a Roman theater. Meanwhile, Syrias cash-strapped government has slowly been rebuilding Aleppos centuries-old bazaar after reclaiming it from armed opposition forces in 2016. Rastan was once a major opposition stronghold and was a point of intense clashes before the Syrian government reclaimed the city in 2018. 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 Incumbent Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) defended his positions in a debate on Oct. 18. Rep, as Val Demings (D-Fla.) challenged Rubio on issues of voting rights, gun control, and abortion. We have the highlights from the contentious debate. Parents are furious after high levels of radioactivity were found at a school outside St. Louis. Find out what they have to say about the terrifying discovery. President Joe Biden is expected to announce the sale of more oil from the nations strategic reserves today. Critics call it a bid to dampen fuel prices before midterms. Topics in this episode include: 1. Biden to Announce Sale of 15 Million Barrels From Oil Reserve 2. Radioactive Waste Found in Missouri School 3. Florida Debate for US Senate 4. Herschel Walker Atlanta Campaign Rally 5. What Issues Do Arizona Voters Care About? 6. Igor Danchenko Acquitted 7. GA: FBI, Police Continue Search for Missing Toddler 8. George Floyds Family Plans to Sue Kanye West 9. NYC Illegal Immigrant Tent Shelter Relocated 10. Chilean Protesters Clash With Police 11. Russia Targets Critical Infrastructure 12. British PM Apologizes for Tax U-Turns 13. Netflix to Roll Out Password-Sharing Crackdown 14. Veterans Ride To Recovery * 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 The Amazon logo outside its JFK8 distribution center in Staten Island, New York, on Nov.25, 2020. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters) Russia Fines Amazon Over Banned Content for First Time MOSCOWA Moscow court on Tuesday said it had fined Amazon.com Inc. 4 million roubles ($65,000) for failing to remove banned content relating to drug use and suicide, the first such penalty in Russia for the U.S. tech giant. Russia has fined other foreign tech firms for not removing content, part of what critics say is a campaign by the Kremlin to restrict the influence of Western technology companies, especially since Moscow sent its armed forces into Ukraine. The Tagansky District Court said it had fined Amazon 4 million roubles in two separate cases, although its statement did not specify what these were. It also fined Amazons streaming service Twitch 8 million roubles, also for not removing banned content. Interfax news agency reported that Amazons fines concerned content about the distribution of drugs and information about how to commit suicide. Amazon did not respond to requests for comment. Twitch has been fined before, for hosting video interviews with Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, that Moscow said contained fake information. On Tuesday, the state news agency TASS reported that one of the two 4-million-rouble penalties for Twitch concerned the broadcast of a new interview with Arestovych, conducted by a Russian lawyer who has been designated a foreign agent. Twitch did not respond to a request for comment, but TASS quoted Twitchs lawyer as saying that the offending videos had been deleted by the time the cases were considered by the court. Meta Platforms Inc. was found guilty of carrying out extremist activities and its social networks Facebook and Instagram were banned, while Alphabets Google has been fined for a string of alleged offenses and its Russian subsidiary has filed for bankruptcy. Russias communications regulator Roskomnadzor on Tuesday demanded that Google restore access to the YouTube account of the Federation Council, the upper house of parliament, Russian news agencies reported. Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via a video link at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow on Oct. 19, 2022. (Sergei Ilyin/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images) Russias Putin Declares Martial Law in Controlled Ukrainian Regions KYIV/MIKOLAIV, UkrainePresident Vladimir Putin introduced martial law on Wednesday in four Ukrainian regions he says are part of Russia as some residents of the Russian-held city of Kherson left by boat after Moscow warned of a looming assault. The images of people fleeing Kherson were broadcast by Russian state TV which portrayed the exodus from the right bank of the Rover Dnipro to its left bankas an attempt to clear the city of civilians before it became a combat zone. Kirill Stremousov, deputy head of the local Russia-backed administration, made a video appeal after Russian forces in the area were driven back by 2030 km (1320 miles) in the last few weeks. They risk being pinned against the western bank of the 2,200-km (1367 miles) -long Dnipro river that bisects Ukraine. In a move which looked designed to help Russia firm its grip on four Ukrainian regions it partly occupies and seeks to fully controlincluding the Kherson regionPutin told his Security Council he was introducing martial law in them. Beyond much tighter security measures on the ground, it was unclear what the immediate impact of that would be. Putin also issued a decree restricting movement in and out of eight regions adjoining Ukraine. Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian presidents office, accused Russia of laying on a propaganda show in Kherson. The Russians are trying to scare the people of Kherson with fake newsletters about the shelling of the city by our army, and also arrange a propaganda show with evacuation, Yermak wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Eight months after being invaded, Ukraine is prosecuting counter-offensives in the east and south to try to take as much territory as it can before winter after routing Russian forces in some areas. Kherson is the biggest population center Moscow has seized and held since it began its special military operation in Ukraine on Feb. 24. The city is on territory which President Vladimir Putin says is now formally incorporated into Russia, a move Ukraine and the West do not recognize. Ukrainian cities have also been struck in recent days by drones and missiles, and Vitali Klitschko, Kyivs mayor, said the capitals air defenses were in action once again on Wednesday. In Kherson, Stremousov said the city and especially its right bank could be shelled by Ukrainian forces, adding that residents who left would be given accommodation inside Russia. I ask you to take my words seriously and to interpret them as a call to evacuate as fast as you possibly can, he said. We do not plan to surrender the city, we will stand until the last moment. Firefighters help a local woman evacuate from a building destroyed by a Russian drone strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Oct. 17, 2022. (Roman Petushkov/Reuters) Offensive Expected The Russian-installed chief of Kherson region, Stremousovs boss, said about 50,00060,000 people would be evacuated in the next six days. The city of Kherson had a pre-war population of around 280,000 people but many of them have since fled. The Ukrainian side is building up forces for a large-scale offensive, said Vladimir Saldo, the official, told state TV. Where the military operates, there is no place for civilians. Saldo, who said Russia had the resources to hold Kherson and even counter attack if necessary, also said he was banning civilians from entering the region for seven days. Staff at Khersons Russian-backed administration were also being relocated to the left bank of the Dnipro, he said. The evacuation calls followed a gloomy assessment of Russias prospects in the area from General Sergei Surovikin, the new commander of Russian forces in Ukraine. The situation in the area of the Special Military Operation can be described as tense, Surovikin told state-owned Rossiya 24 news channel. The situation in this area (Kherson) is difficult. The enemy is deliberately striking infrastructure and residential buildings. Vladimir Rogov, a member of the Russian-installed council governing Zaporizhzhia, another region in the south, said Ukraines forces had intensified overnight shelling of Russian-held Enerhodar. Many employees of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear station live there. Artillery fire had hit the towns outskirts and there had been 10 strikes around a thermal power station, he said on the Telegram messaging app on Wednesday. Dmytro Orlov, whom Ukraine recognizes as mayor of Enerhodar, blamed Russia for the shelling. The shelling, first of the industrial zone, and then of the city itself, began around midnight and it did not stop in the morning, he posted on Telegram. International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said he expected to return soon to Ukraine amid negotiations to establish a protection zone around the Zaporizhzhia facility, Europes largest nuclear power station. The plant is in one of four Ukrainian regions Russia has proclaimed as annexed but only partly occupies. The other three are Kherson, and the eastern border Provinces of Donetsk and Luhansktogether known as Donbas. Putin declared them regions of Russia after staging what Moscow called referendums in September, which Kyiv and its Western governments denounced as illegal. By Pavel Polityuk and Jonathan Landay Starbucks Sued for Accusing Unionized Workers of Assault, Kidnapping Starbucks Corp. was sued on Monday by eight employees at a unionized South Carolina store who said the company falsely accused them of criminal conduct after they demanded a raise from their manager. The workers filed a lawsuit in South Carolina state court against Starbucks and the manager at the store in Anderson, a few miles from Clemson University. They claimed the manager urged police to charge them with assault and kidnapping after the workers pressed her for a raise in August. The stores employees had voted 180 to unionize in June. At least 240 other Starbucks in the United States have unionized over the past year, and the company has been accused of illegal labor practices at dozens of locations. Starbucks has denied wrongdoing. Starbucks in a statement provided by a spokesperson said it was reviewing the lawsuit. No Starbucks partner has been or will be disciplined for supporting or engaging in lawful union activitybut interest in a union does not exempt partners from following policies and procedures that apply to all partners, the company said. According to the complaint, the Anderson workers on Aug. 1 presented the manager with a letter calling for a raise. She then called a Starbucks district manager and falsely claimed the workers were preventing her from leaving the store, the plaintiffs claim. The manager reported the incident to law enforcement two days later, prompting a weeks-long investigation that included police visiting some of the workers homes, according to the lawsuit. The local sheriffs office ultimately concluded the workers had done nothing illegal, the plaintiffs said. Starbucks released a statement on Aug. 8 saying the manager had felt unsafe and the workers were suspended with pay pending an investigation. The plaintiffs in Mondays lawsuit said the statement falsely suggested they had threatened the manager and engaged in criminal conduct. The workers accused Starbucks of defamation and abusing the legal process in violation of state law. They are seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. By Daniel Wiessner A recent ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court on New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen could have broader implications than at first appeared. Amid a flurry of lawsuits challenging gun laws across the United States, analysts are now claiming that the top courts decision could potentially end all gun control laws in the country. Meanwhile, former drug lord El Chapo claimed in a recent interview that his imprisonment, or the imprisonment of others like him, will not end the cartel drug trade. He claimed the reason for this is that corrupt members of government on both sides of the border are keeping the illicit trade going. In this live Q&A with Crossroads host Joshua Philipp, well discuss these stories and others, and answer questions from the audience. Subscribe to the new Crossroads newsletter and stay up-to-date! *Sponsor Special: Up to $2,500 of free silver with American Hartford Gold. Call 877-260-2764, text JOSHUA to 6-5-5-3-2, or visit: https://ept.ms/3rshean The Real Story of Jan. 6 Documentary102 Minutes, Color The Real Story of Jan. 6, a documentary by The Epoch Times, reveals the truth that has been hidden from the American people. While a narrative has been set that what took place that day was an insurrection, key events and witnesses have been ignored, until now. BUY DVD: https://www.epochtv.shop/product-page/dvd-the-real-story-of-january-6 , Promo Code Joshua for 20% off * Click the Save button below the video to access it later on My List. Donate to Support Crossroads: https://donorbox.org/crossroads Crossroads merchandise: https://www.epochtv.shop Follow Crossroads on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Crossroads.Josh Twitter: https://twitter.com/crossroads_josh Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/Crossroads_JoshuaPhilipp Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@crossroads_josh Gettr: https://www.gettr.com/user/crossroads_josh Gab: https://gab.com/Crossroads_Josh Telegram: https://t.me/Crossroads_josh The Defective Nature of Australias Parliamentary System Commentary The responses of the Australian government to the COVID-19 pandemic had an overwhelming impact on the enjoyment of fundamental legal rights in this country. However, such disdain for fundamental rights does not come as a surprise to those who know how our Westminster System is presently applied in Australia. Since there is no proper legal-institutional mechanism for holding our governments to account, the result is that Australian governments are objectively accountable to no one, except once in a few years at parliamentary elections. The Westminster System is a parliamentary system of government originally developed in the United Kingdom. The term comes from the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the British Parliament. This system continues to be adopted in the United Kingdom and former British colonies such as Australia. The Westminster System has resulted in an Australian prime minister (or premier) who heads the government, and a ministry comprised of members exclusively drawn from Parliament, which exercises executive authority and is theoretically accountable to the legislative branch. A man wearing a protective face mask cycles across Westminster Bridge, with the Houses of Parliament behind in central London on March 21, 2020. (Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP via Getty Images) This parliamentary system can be contrasted with the presidential system originated in the United States of America, where there is a more rigid separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches of government. Because parliamentary conventions related to the Westminster System are not subject to judicial review, the judiciary does not entertain any dispute regarding their non-observance. These are considered principles of political morality to be observed by members of Parliament, and without which the system simply cannot operate effectively. And yet, such an idea is purely conventional, and, thus, it cannot be judicially enforced. No Rigid Separation of Powers The Governor-General of Australia is appointed by the King on the advice of the prime minister. One of the powers that the Governor-General theoretically exercises under section 59 of the Constitution, is that of disallowing legislation. However, as Emeritus Prof. Gabriel A. Moens explains, the power of disallowance is now a dead letter. This section is among the inoperative sections of the Constitution. In our Westminster System, Members of Parliament (MPs) are appointed by the Governor-General to administer all the laws of the Commonwealth. Accordingly, there is no rigid separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches of government under Australias constitutional system. Because no power can be trusted with absolute authority, it has long been held that the doctrine of separation of powers comprises a critical aspect of every system of government which hopes to combine efficiency and the greatest possible exercise of personal freedom. In his book, The Spirit of Laws (1748), Montesquieu explained that a more rigid separation between the executive and legislative branches of government is a fundamental protection against political tyranny. According to him, When the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person, or in the same body of magistracy, there can be then no liberty, because apprehensions may arise, lest the same monarch or senate should enact tyrannical laws, to execute them in a tyrannical manner. According to Thomas Jefferson, the main drafter of the American Declaration of Independence, concentrating [executive and legislative] powers in the same hands is precisely the definition of despotic government. However, under Australias parliamentary system, executive ministers are drawn from Parliament and the executive arm of government, once endowed with legislative authority provided by the legislative, may set aside even the most fundamental rights of the subject. Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison delivers a ministerial statement on COVID-19 in the House of Representatives in Canberra, Australia, on April 8, 2020. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images) Consequence of Concentration of Powers in Australia Unfortunately, here in Australia, Emeritus Prof. Suri Ratnapala comments that it is one of the great ironies of political history, the growth of Parliaments legal power to remove a government from office has actually reduced its political power to hold a government to account. Since under the nations parliamentary system, the executive has considerable control over legislation passed in Parliament, few are the laws in Australia that politicians cannot voluntarily change. According to Nicholas Aroney, an Australian constitutional law professor, under contemporary conditions of parliamentary government, there is a tendency [in Australia] for both executive and legislative power to be concentrated effectively in a very small group of senior ministers, dominated by the prime minister or premier. This is why Australians are not entirely free from the threat of political tyranny, and quite to the contrary. Indeed, the design and operation of our parliamentary system is not about distributing powers but rather concentrating them, which makes accountability and protection of fundamental legal rights more difficult to achieve. To make it worse, in Australia, writes Ratnapala, the High Court, despite having full judicial power, has declined to impose on Parliament any significant constraint on its competence to delegate its legislative power to the executive. According to the late Sir Harry Gibbs, former Australian Chief Justice: There is no constitutional impediment to the exercise by one branch of government of the powers of another. No statute can be held invalid because it confers powers of one kind on an instrumentality of another kind The executive and the legislature are closely connected. This means that any Parliament in Australia may repose in the executive a function that is essentially legislative in nature It is indeed difficult to reconcile these decisions with an acceptance of the principle of the separation of powers, Gibbs concluded. In fact, the present legal-institutional design operating in this country appears very much to facilitate what Lord Hailsham famously described in his 1976 Dimbleby Lecture as an elective dictatorship. Therefore, it is really no wonder why so many basic rights of the citizen can be so easily ignored and violated in Australia. Sadly, ongoing facts in this country have worked as a testament to Lord Actons epigram that power corrupts and absolute powers corrupt absolutely. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. I came across some good news today. The kind of news that makes me think that theres some hope for America and its citizens. What is this good news? you might ask. Its simple, really: Schools are beginning to teach phonics again. Is that all? I can hear you reply. Thats not such a big deal! Au contraire! Teaching phonics is a very big deal because, by teaching phonics, we enable literacy to surge, which makes knowledge soar, which, in turn, brings common sense and understanding back to the minds of the voting public. That America has finally realized the importance of phonics is evident in a recent New York Times article by Bella DiMarco, Sounding Out a Better Way to Teach Reading. DiMarco described how early grade school students in central Virginia sound out letters without any cues to help them guess. The joy on their faces when the sounds of the letters click into a word gives a good picture of how much of a decoding game reading is. Once you know the key to the code, everything becomes clear. Teaching students that code is having impressive effects. After just one year using the new reading strategy, Richmond Public Schools raised its early literacy scores by seven points, the largest single-year gains the district has seen, DiMarco wrote. And its not only this school that has seen success. The entire state of Mississippi first started using a phonics-based approach to reading in 2013, she wrote. By 2019, its national standing in fourth-grade reading scores went from 49th to 29th. Thats not bad, considering that Mississippi is the poorest state in the union. But can teaching phonics have that much of a positive impact on our nation as a whole? Surely American students have always struggled with reading; isnt it overly optimistic to say that teaching phonics can help them grow in knowledge and understanding? To answer those questions, its helpful to look at some historical data on literacy rates, data which former teacher of the year John Taylor Gatto laid out in his book, The Underground History of American Education. According to Gatto, literacy was universal in the American colonies. In fact, it seems that reading was so easy to teach, that many schools in colonial days didnt even offer reading instruction because few schoolmasters were willing to waste time teaching what was so easy to learn. Apparently, parentsor perhaps dame school teacherswere expected to take care of such a simple task. Perhaps we should consider that an early endorsement for homeschoolingbut I digress. Such high literacy rates were apparently par for the course until World War II, as military tests found a 96 percent literacy rate among the millions of men who registered and were either inducted into the military or rejected for various reasons. When the Korean War rolled around a few years later, that literacy rate had dropped to 81 percent, according to Gatto, dropping further to 73 percent during recruitment for the Vietnam War. What happened during these three decades to cause such a sudden decline in literacy rates? Well, one change is indisputable, well-documented, and easy to track, he wrote. During WWII, American public schools massively converted to nonphonetic ways of teaching reading. Today, only 37 percent of high school seniors can read proficiently. Are the 63 percent who cant read proficiently illiterate? Some, yes. Others can likely read enough to get by, but such reading is unenjoyable, and when reading is unenjoyable, learning and growth in knowledge is much harder to come by. Such a lack of knowledge doesnt do much for students, but it does do a lot for those in power, whether theyre close to home in the schools and local communities or further away in the halls of Congress or the White House. If students are unable to read wellif at allthen theyll be unable to discern important truths and make connections from those truths to accurately judge the character and actions of those in power. And if they cant accurately judge whether the actions of those in power are right or wrong, then theyll tread ever closer to living under tyranny. John Adams said it best when he wrote: I must judge for myself. But how can I judge, how can any man judge, unless his mind has been opened and enlarged by reading? A man who can read will find in his Bible, in his common sermon books that common people have by them, and even in the almanac, and the newspapers, rules and observations that will enlarge his range of thought, and enable him the better to judge who has, and who has not that integrity of heart and that compass of knowledge and understanding which forms the statesman. And thats exactly why the resurgence of phonics is joyous news. Such instruction clearly sets students on a path to being stronger readers, and once theyre stronger readers, theyll increase their knowledge and become more discerning, shining a light on and exposing those who would lead blind followers on the path toward tyranny. This article was originally published on Intellectual Takeout. A LGBT activist holds pins about gender pronouns at the University of Wyoming on Aug. 13, 2022. (Patrick Fallon/AFP via Getty Images) Therapist: Forcing Children to Declare and Use Pronouns Risks Psychological Harm A disturbing trend in schools across the country risks psychological harm to children by forcing them to identify their gender, declare their preferred pronouns, and refer to others with confusing pronouns that dont seem to agree with reality, a California child therapist told The Epoch Times. Pronoun discussions can usher in a more serious form of confusion, known as delirium, warned Teva Johnstone, who practices in southern California. Its especially risky for young children, she added. Its the practice of asking children to refer to a male as she, a female as he,or one individual as they that damages kids, she said. And forcing children to use pronouns that dont agree with the gender they observe causes a risk of psychological harm. Thats because most children learn early that pronouns are supposed to represent the observed sex of that person, said Johnstone, who specializes in counseling young patients with psychological disassociation. She helps children suffering from a mind-body disconnect, mostly found in those with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Conchy Vasquez (R) and Jony Rozon (L), both engineers at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Newport, discuss the importance of using correct pronouns in a training video for the U.S. Navy. (Defense Visual Information Distribution Service) But even in children without other problems, requiring the use of preferred pronouns that dont match the gender they see is confusing, and making it an issue is developmentally inappropriate, she said. When children are taught about subjects that arent developmentally appropriate, theres a risk of psychological harm, she said. It even can create psychological disassociation in children not struggling with other mental disorders. Psychological disassociation is a term describing an unhealthy tendency to disconnect from the world, and a malfunction of how the mind processes information. People suffering with psychological disassociation may feel disconnected from general thoughts, feelings, memories, and surroundings. It can affect their sense of identity and perception of time. If the symptoms last more than a few weeks, it can morph into a more serious condition. Conversations about pronoun declarations often are pushed by schools without parental consentor worse, Johnstone said. Sometimes theyre doing it secretively, she said. The saddest part, she added, is that traditional magical childhood is disappearing. Childhood should be innocent. They should be barefoot, climbing trees, and laughing. Instead, theyre being exposed to this stuff earlier and earlier, and to me, its heartbreaking. Childhood needs to be protected. Children climb on play equipment at sunset in Liberty State Park on May 18, 2019 in Jersey City. (Johannes Eisele/Getty Images) But its common now for schools to ask children to indicate the pronouns theyd like to use. Some teachers push unconventional pronouns, such as they, them, or ze, zem, Johnstone said, again without parental input. The trend in schools mirrors whats happening in the world of adults, where many declare their pronouns publicly and include their preferences below a signature on emails, or on a name badge at work or at a professional conference. In July, Vice President Kamala Harris announced her preferred pronouns in a post on Twitter, writing, I am Kamala Harris, my pronouns are she and her, and I am a woman sitting at the table wearing a blue suit. More than words Miller Lashbrook, a gender-fluid English and creative writing teacher in Osceola County, Fla., says pronouns are more than just words. Lashbrook, uses all pronounshe, she, and theyindicating a gender identity that vacillates. A simple two, three, or four-letter word can empower somebody to take ownership of themselves and their identity, Lashbrook said in an interview with NEA Today, a publication of the National Education Association. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the National Education Association 2022 Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly at the McCormick Convention Center in Chicago, Ill., on July 5, 2022. (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images) The NEA, the nations largest union of public school teachers, agrees and has published a guide to pronoun use. When correct names and pronouns are used consistently, studies show that suicide rates among the LGBT community drop, and trust and feelings of belonging increase, says Saul Ramos, a paraprofessional in Massachusetts and a member of NEAs Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Committee. Its also a sign of respect, Ramos said in June, during an NEA-hosted webinar on pronouns. The NEA advocates for public declarations of preferred pronouns because it affirms gender identities and creates safe spaces by referring to people in the way that feels most accurate to them. The associations pronouns guide asserts that correct pronoun usage is critical to the health and well-being of transgender and gender-diverse people. Rachel Levin, an associate professor of biology and neuroscience at Pomona College in California, somewhat disagrees with that assertion, she told The Epoch Times. Pronouns, she said, are important markers about how to refer to people when speaking of them. Members of the transgender community and their supporters hold a rally in Los Angeles on Nov. 2, 2018. (Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images) Its not just children being traumatized by pronoun designations, Levin said. Young adults are suffering under the burden of using pronouns correctly, as well. And sometimes, she added, trauma comes from having to choose which pronouns to use. Levin teaches a science class dubbed by students as the gender class. It examines how scientists study gender identity and sexuality. It also considers how science influences, and is influenced by, society. Recently, within the last year, a student revealed in an [assigned journal] entry that they thought they might be transgender, she recalled. The next time I spoke with the student alone, with the best of intentions, I asked what pronoun they want me to use. Their eyes filled with tears as they answered, I dont know.' At a conference a short time later, she posed the pronoun question to another student. She burst into tears, Levin recalled. She later explained that she had hoped that she passed and that my question made her feel like she did not. Transgender people use the term passing for successfully passing for the gender theyve chosen to portray. Those incidents taught Levin an important lesson. Questions about pronoun use can be painful to the very people to whom we are trying to signal support, she said. Chloe Cole, a girl, who, at one time, identified as a boy, takes part in a demonstration in Anaheim, Calif., on Oct. 8, 2022. (Brad Jones/The Epoch Times) Young adults are in the process of figuring out who they are, she said. Putting pressure on them by requesting pronoun preference can be overwhelming and cause emotional distress. It is best to ask privately or let people reveal them on their own, Levin said. It is also vitally important to refer to people by the pronoun they use. The idea behind asking people for their preferred pronouns stems from an attempt to create an inclusive, safe environment where everyone is respected, Levin said. Its been my experience, however, that this practice is becoming more problematic than useful, she said. Students whose gender presentation may not match their gender identity are forced to lie, or to out themselves, in a new and possibly unsafe environment, she said. While those who are unsure of their gender identity are made to feel uncomfortable and forced to choose a pronoun. Chloe Cole, an ex-transgender teen, speaks in support of the Protect Childrens Innocence as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) looks on outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Sept. 20, 2022. (Terri Wu/The Epoch Times) Currently, Johnstone has paused her practice of counseling children, and now counsels parents, instead, because of rapid rise in the need for such guidance. Theres been a huge uptick in parents whose children have some gender questions, she said. It just seems to have come on all of a sudden. Many parents want to be supportive of their children and their choices, Johnstone said. But society suggests that if they dont support new pronouns or an alternate gender identification, children may pull away from them forever or commit suicide. Its manipulative to say that to parents because we dont have good data to back that up, Johnstone said. Its such a stressful time for parents, she added. Almost all of society is telling them to do something they feel [goes] against intuition and common sense. She stressed, though, that she does show respect for what adults want to do with their bodies and their identities. But its not OK to push that on other peoples children. Prime Minister Liz Truss departs 10 Downing Street to attend Prime Minister's Questions at the Houses of Parliament, in London, on Oct. 19, 2022. (Stefan Rousseau/PA Media) Truss Fights for Survival as Prime Minister After Her Economic Plan Ends in Ruins UK Prime Minister Liz Truss is fighting for her political survival as MPs from her own party turn against her following the catastrophic consequences caused by her economic plan. Truss became prime minister on Sept. 5, although her position has been seriously weakened after her mini-budget, which included 45 billion ($50 billion) of unfunded tax cuts, spooked financial markets and caused the pound to fall and borrowing costs to soar. On Oct. 17, new Chancellor Jeremy Hunt overturned almost the entire economic plan set out just three weeks ago by his predecessor, Kwasi Kwarteng, with the prime ministers enthusiastic backing. After issuing a public apology on the BBC on Oct. 17, Truss was forced to apologise again in the House of Commons on Oct. 19. I have been very clear that I am sorry and that I have made mistakes, she told MPs. The right thing to do in those circumstances is to make changes, which I have made, and to get on with the job and deliver for the British people. Opposition in Waiting Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said his party is now the government in waiting and the Conservatives are an opposition in waiting. He said the Tory governments mandate is built on fantasy economics and it ended in disaster. The countrys got nothing to show for it except the destruction of the economy and the implosion of the Tory Party, he said. As Trusss entire economic plan had been ditched and her chancellor sacked, Starmer asked, So why is she still here? Truss responded by saying: I am a fighter and not a quitter. I have acted in the national interest to make sure that we have economic stability. Tory Infighting What could be more worrying for the prime minister is the growing sense of unease among her own MPs over her continued leadership. On Oct. 19, Steve Double became the latest Conservative MP to publicly question her position. Double said her position is becoming increasingly untenable and she will reach a point quite soon where she will need to consider her position and step aside. But Foreign Secretary James Cleverly warned his Conservative colleagues against defenestrating another prime minister. During a round of broadcast interviews, he said he understands why people are frustrated with Truss, adding that dire polls for the party are obviously disconcerting for the government. But he said that hes far from convinced of the benefits of another leadership campaign, cautioning against an emotional response from those angry about the current predicament. Another leadership contest would neither win the hearts of the British public nor calm the markets, he said. PA Media contributed to this report. Former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii (L) meets with Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake (R) during a campaign rally in Chandler, Ariz. on Oct. 18, 2022. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times) Tulsi Gabbard Decries Insane Democrat Leadership at Arizona Rally in Support of Kari Lake CHANDLER, Ariz.Former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard lambasted national Democratic Party leaders on Oct. 18 as elitists who no longer represent the party of individual freedom she once served. They have gone crazythey have gone insane. Theres no other way to describe it, Gabbard, a 2020 Democrat candidate for president who recently left the party, said at a rally for Arizona Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake. Its kind of like the emperor has no clothes. Everybody sees whats going on, but nobody wants to say it out loud. The rally drew hundreds of America First votersmany of them former Democratsoutside The Stillery in downtown Chandler as Lake has logged more than 500 days on the campaign trail. Former U.S. Rep. and Democrat Tulsi Gabbard said the Democratic Party leadership are elitists who no longer serve the American people at a rally in Chandler, Ariz., on Oct. 18, 2022. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times) Were not just red-blooded Americanswe are red-white-and-blue-blooded Americans. We are ready to save Arizona, Lake told a cheering crowd. During a one-on-one session, Lake welcomed Gabbards endorsement following a period of soul-searching that led to her decision to leave the Democratic Party. In announcing her disaffection, Gabbard described the Democrat leadership in Washington as a cabal of warmongers. Lake said the radical transformation of the Democratic Party establishment in Washington and Arizona drives others also to abandon the party. This is a moment when we are all soul-searching, said Lake, a former anti-war Democrat who changed parties and abandoned a high-paying job as a news anchor at FOX10, citing the organizations slanted news coverage. Gabbard, a U.S. Army Reserve officer and political commentator who represented Hawaiis 2nd Congressional District from 2013 to 2021, said she first ran for office in 2002 on an anti-war and environmental platform. She described her former Democratic Party, that of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., as a thing of the past. Unfortunately, it no longer exists today. Its a very different party, Gabbard said. No matter how much the establishment in Washingtonthe powerful partisan elitethe special corporate interests seek to drown our voices, we, the people, hold power in our hands. And every one of you is proof of that, she said. Gabbard said the Democratic Party under President Joe Biden now represents division, woke identity politics, and anti-white racism. Every single problem now has been reduced to race, she said. They are using our taxpayer dollars to go into our elementary schools and tell kids you are either the oppressor or the oppressed because of the color of your skin. Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake invited more Democrats to leave the party and support an America First movement during a rally in Chandler, Ariz., on Oct. 18, 2022. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times) Several Republican voters at the gathering said Gabbard inspired them as a woman of principle who made a difficult choice to abandon her party. I was shocked, said Carlos Parra of Chandler. I heard her say thatvery bluntly and boldly. I think she realized that immorality ruined the Democratic Party. They have no basis with the people anymore. As they say, power corrupts. They want more power to hurt the American people. He said Democrats no longer agree to be disagreeable, stifling dissent and bent on starting wars. I think this administration is pushing many buttons for that to happen. I dont know why that is so. Its creeping into that, I think, Parra said. James Luong of Chandler said Gabbard placing principle above party is amazing. Im glad shes finally standing up for what she believes in. I disagreed with many of her points, but shes firm in what she believes. And there are a lot of things I do agree with her. The Oct. 18 rally also featured Arizona Republican candidates Blake Masters for U.S. Senate and Abe Hamadeh for state attorney general. In supporting and campaigning for Lake, Gabbard said she and Lake share many of the same values of individual liberty and national security in a secure southern border. If youre paying attention, you recognize what we share in commonKari and I and every one of you is that pride. It is the courage that comes with that pride. It is having clear eyes to recognize the very real problems that we face. It is clear eyes to recognize the threats to our safety, to our borders, to our communities, to our families and our kids, coming from todays so-called woke radical Democrat Party. Gabbard said its essential to have strong and accountable leadersnot those that believe that they deserve the power and have had a stranglehold on power for so long. They have forgotten whats most important: the American people. Were seeing it and feeling it every day. Gabbard said that people seem more willing to speak out against the political corruption in Washington gives her hope. Her concern is that time is short. My concern is that if we continue down this path, we will get to a point where we cannot come backthat we will get to a point where we lose the country that we love. We cant allow that to happen, Gabbard said. Our voices are more powerful than we think. An OPEC flag is seen on the day of OPEC+ meeting in Vienna in Vienna, Austria, on Oct. 5, 2022. (Lisa Leutner/Reuters) UAE Says OPEC+ Output Cut Was Correct Decision, No Politics Behind It ABU DHABIThe United Arab Emirates believes OPEC+ made the correct technical choice when it agreed to cut production targets and the unanimous decision had nothing to do with politics, energy minister Suhail al-Mazrouei said on Tuesday. His comments came after several members of the oil producers group endorsed the steep cut to output targets agreed this month after the White House accused Saudi Arabia of coercing some other nations into supporting the move, a charge Riyadh denies. OPEC+ comprises the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia. We fully trust and believe in the technical credibility of OPEC and OPEC+. We always meet and discuss the facts based on our analysis of the market and how we can all contribute to taking the right measures to balance the supply and demand, and that decision is always taken unanimously and the last decision was taken on the same logic, Mazrouei told reporters. I would like to reiterate that there is nothing political about any decision we take in OPEC. Coming ahead of November mid-term elections in the United States, the move drew sharp criticism from the Biden administration which said there would be consequences for U.S. ties with Riyadh. The United States has stressed the cut would boost Russias foreign earnings and blunt the effectiveness of sanctions imposed over its invasion of Ukraine. Kuwaits foreign ministry on Tuesday also lent its support to the Saudi stance on the cuts, saying in a statement that the collective decision had a purely economic framework. Mazrouei said the OPEC+ decision stabilized prices, rather than increasing them, adding it was lack of stability that was driving investors away. Prices have been stabilizing and actually if you look at October 2021 before anythingbefore all the crises, the geopolitical onesyou would see we are in the same price environment, the Emirati minister said. He voiced concern that many oil producers had lost capacity due to lack of investment. Asked if the UAE planned to ask for a higher baseline as it works to build its own capacity to 5 million barrels per day by 2030, Mazrouei said there was a mechanism for any country to raise that request. By Maha El Dahan Peter Wakisi, 36, dries coffee harvests gained from the farm after applying frass from black soldier Flies as manure in Nyiize Kawomya on Aug. 22, 2022. (Badru Katumba/AFP via Getty Images) Uganda Says Coffee Exports Down 14 Percent Year-Over-Year Due to Drought KAMPALAUgandas coffee exports declined last month due to the impact of a drought affecting many growing areas across the country, the state-run sector regulator said. The east African country shipped a total of 503,695 60-kg bags of coffee beans in September, down 14 percent compared with the same period a year earlier, Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) said in a report. The decrease in exports was mainly attributed to lower yields this year that were characterized by drought in most regions, UCDA said, adding the dry conditions had resulted in a shorter harvest season in central and eastern Uganda. Uganda is Africas largest exporter of coffee, followed by Ethiopia, and relies on earnings from the crop as a major source of foreign exchange. September is the last month of the crop year, which starts the previous October. In the 20212022 (OctSept) crop year, Uganda exported 5.9 million bags that fetched $876 million, down from 6.5 million bags worth $630.01 million. Some years earnings are higher despite a decline in volumes, because of rises in international coffee prices. In this photo provided by Ibrahim Almadi, Saad Ibrahim Almadi sits in a restaurant in an unidentified place in the United States in August 2021. (Ibrahim Almadi via AP) US Confirms Saudi-American Citizen Jailed Over Critical Tweets The U.S. Department of State (DOS) confirmed on Oct. 17 that Saudi-American citizen Saad Ibrahim Almadi has been sentenced to 16 years in prison by Saudi Arabian officials over social media posts he shared while remaining in the United States that were critical of the government. We have been following the case closely. We have consistently and intensively raised our concerns regarding the case at senior levels of the Saudi government and we will continue to do so, DOS deputy spokesman Vedant Patel said at a news conference on Tuesday, adding that U.S. officials raised the issue with Riyadh as recently as yesterday. Patel noted that Washington first raised its concerns with Riyadh on Almadis detention in December 2021, as soon as it was made aware of the arrest. Almadi, a 72-year-old retired project manager from Florida, was detained in November 2021 after traveling to the oil-rich kingdom to visit family, his son, Ibrahim, told The Associated Press. He was sentenced on Oct. 3 on charges of supporting terrorism. Ibrahim said his father shared 14 mild posts on his personal Twitter account over the past seven years that were mostly critical of the Saudi governments policies and alleged corruption. He explained that his father was not an activist but a private citizen expressing his opinion while in the United States, where freedom of speech is a constitutional right. Details on Almadis imprisonment were first reported by The Washington Post. The paper reported that Almadi faced charges including harboring a terrorist ideology and attempting to destabilize the kingdom. Exercising freedom of expression should never be criminalized, Patel said at Tuesdays briefing. The spokesman did not detail what Almadi was charged with. Patel also confirmed that there was no DOS official at Almadis sentencing hearing, noting that Saudi Arabia moved up the hearing date without notifying the U.S. embassy, which last had access to Almadi on Aug. 10. The DOS is moving through the process to determine whether Almadi will be designated wrongfully detained, according to Patel. Ibrahim has accused the DOS of neglecting his fathers case by not declaring him a wrongfully detained American, which would elevate his file. They manipulated me. They told me to stay quiet so they can get him out, Ibrahim said, explaining his decision to go public this week. I am not willing to take a gamble on the Department of State anymore. There has been no immediate comment from Saudi officials. The news comes as a group of top congressional Democrats are aiming to punish Saudi Arabia after the OPEC+ announcement to cut oil production by taking back U.S. missile systems as well as other missiles and giving them to Ukraine instead. Saudi Arabia imports a significant amount of its weapons systems from the United States. Between 2009 and 2016, the Obama administration offered the kingdom $115 billion in weapons, training, and other military equipment, according to a Reuters report. The Associated Press contributed to this report. From NTD News Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) speaks to reporters after a House Republican Caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 21, 2021. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) US Entering Window of Maximum Danger on Taiwan: Republican Lawmaker The United States has entered the window of maximum danger when it comes to defending Taiwan, as the Chinese regime may seek to move against the self-ruled island within the next five years, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) said on Oct. 18. We must put American hard power in [Chinese leader Xi Jinpings] path before its too late, Gallagher said in a speech at The Heritage Foundation. Gallagher, a former Marine sitting on the House Armed Services Committee, said the United States couldnt build a fleet of warships to defend Taiwan within the next five years, but it could create an anti-navy to accomplish the same goal. By anti-navy, I mean asymmetric forces and weapons designed to target the Chinese navy, deny control of the seas surrounding Taiwan, and prevent [Peoples Liberation Army] amphibious forces from gaining a lodgement on the island, he said. Gallagher said the initial step would involve the surging of long-range conventional precision weapons in three concentric rings across the Pacific, from the first island chain on Chinas coastline to Alaska, Hawaii, and Australia. The second step is to stockpile munitions before any shooting begins. At current production rates, for example, it will take at least two years to boost Javelin production from 2,100 to 4,000 missiles annually, Gallagher said. In many cases, Chinese companies are the sole source or a primary supplier for the energetic materials used in our missiles. The final step of building an anti-navy is arming Taiwan to the teeth, he said, calling on Washington to clear the backlog of $14 billion worth of arms sales to Taiwan that have been approved but not delivered. Lack of Leadership in US Defense Gallagher said Washington can afford these moves by reducing the size of [the Department of Defenses] civilian workforce, the joint staff, the office of the secretary of defense, the overall number of flag and general officers, and the fast-growing DEI [diversity, equity, and inclusion] bureaucracy. We can resurrect the 2015 Defense Business Board study of DODs core business practices, which identified a path to saving $125 billion over five years, more than enough to fund the anti-navy and the navy the nation needs, he said. Gallagher also criticized the lack of leadership in the Biden administrations defense strategy. We lack leadership in the Pentagon capable of bending the bureaucracy to their will in service of a defense strategy that prioritizes hard power, the Republican lawmaker said. And we lack leadership in the White House that understands the paradox of deterrencethat to avoid war, you must convince your adversary that you are both capable and willing to wage war. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) claims Taiwan as part of its territory, even as Taiwan is a sovereign nation with a democratically elected government. Beijing has vowed to conquer Taiwan by force if necessary. The CCP initiated military drills near Taiwan after a controversial visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in August, firing multiple ballistic missiles over Taiwan and imposing a blockade of its international sea. U.S. Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) launches a rocket into the air at a U.S. troops' exercise ground near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in South Korea on April 9 during the US artillery battalion's annual exercise for defence aganst possible attack by North Korean troops. (Kim Jae-Hwan/AFP/Getty Images) US Missiles Could Be Manufactured in Australia Australia could become integral to U.S. national security supply chains after it was announced that the pacific nation is looking to establish a domestic missile industry that would support the U.S. and Australian defence forces. At a press conference in Washington D.C, Australian Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy told reporters that Australia had contracted two of the dominant missile producers in the U.S. defence industry, Lockheed Martin Australia and Raytheon Australia, to see what opportunities Australia has to manufacture missiles or missile parts for both countries. This is a really important enterprise, Conroy said. The lessons from the Ukraine war are that we use missile stocks or all munitions, but particularly guided weapons, very fast in a conflict, he said. Thats why the guided weapons enterprise is a multibillion-dollar exercise to develop that, and Im confident that at the end of this process, we will have a much more sovereign capability to manufacture and upgrade missiles which are so important. Conroy stated that in terms of domestic military capabilities, Australia required a larger stockpile than it currently possessed. Quite frankly, we need more missiles in Australia, both as a stock and also the ability to maintain, repair, and upgrade those missiles, he said. The comments from Conroy were echoed by Lockheed Martins global number two executive, Frank St John, who told the Australian Financial Review (AFR) on Oct. 17 that the world strategic environment was rapidly deteriorating, leading military and defence contractors to focus on building up their existing platforms and maximising their performance. Given the urgency of the threat environment that we are facing, I think building capacity with the systems we have and finding ways to integrate those systems to create new capabilities and effect is more pragmatic at this point than a development of a new thing that might not be fielded for 10 years, he told AFR. As much as we would like to develop new things, we have to have practical and open and pragmatic with customers about what meets your urgent needs now. Manufacturing Mobile Rocket Systems in Australia Lockheed Martin has also opened talks with the Australian government to manufacture Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) in Australia after the company faced production delays and supply change issues. MLRSs are a highly mobile heavy tracked automatic missile launcher that fires surface-to-surface rockets from launcher weapons platforms. The three-man crew can fire the weapons in less than one minute and launch up to 12 Guided MLRS (GMLRS) or Extended Range GMLRS rockets, four Precision Strike Missiles or two Army Tactical Missile Systems. It is also transportable via C-17 and C-5 aircraft. Our supply chain in the U.S. is stressed in a lot of critical areas like propulsion and explosives, so we want to expand the supply chain to include Australian industry, St John told AFR. This is critical for the company which the U.S. military has contracted to recapitalise and refurbish 94 of the U.S. armys existing MLRS systems. The contracts, worth more than $586 million (A$986 million), will overhaul and upgrade the M270 MLRS as zero-time launchers with brand new engines, improved armoured cabs and the new Common Fire Control System, which will provide compatibility with future MLRS Family of Munitions. The launchers improved armoured cabs significantly expand the interior volume and incorporate new energy-absorbing seats that provide additional protection from mine blasts and improvised explosive devices. Lockheed Martin will also upgrade the fire control panel and fire control system. A person's belongings are placed on the street to be moved to storage after his tent was cleared from the sidewalk at a sprawling homeless encampment on East Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on Aug. 9, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck) Vancouver Residents, Pundits Offer Diverse Views on Mayor-Elect Ken Sims Landslide Victory When Ken Sim competed with Kennedy Stewart in Vancouvers municipal elections in 2018, he lost to Stewart by fewer than 1,000 votes. When the two vied for the same position of Vancouver mayor on Oct. 15, voters sent Sim and his ABC Vancouver party to a landslide victory, a development some are seeing as a rejection of recent progressive policies. Sim beat Stewart by more than 35,000 votes, and still would have won if all other mayoral candidate votes were combined. His party also won every city councillor and school trustee seat its candidates ran for. However, despite the colossal victory and a convincing statement from the electorate, opinions are divided on what led to ABC Vancouvers dominance. Vote for Sim or Vote Against Stewart? Vancouver resident Zofia Kwiecien said Stewarts unwillingness to address the growing homeless situation and the associated crime were the leading factors for the sharp turn in voting. There have been increasing cases of violent crime in Vancouver and other parts of southwest B.C. Most recently, on Oct. 18, an RCMP mental health and homeless outreach officer was stabbed to death at a homeless campsite in Burnaby. In the first nine months of this year, Vancouver saw a 6.7 percent increase in violent crime compared to the same period last year, according to the Vancouver Police Departments latest public safety indicators report. People are sick of this, Kwiecien told The Epoch Times. Its just a disaster, a complete disaster. People just had enough, which is saying quite a bit for Vancouver because you know how woke it is here, she said, adding, Nobody voted for Ken Sim. Everybody voted against Kennedy Stewart. Yet former Vancouver mayor Sam Sullivan, CEO of the non-profit Global Civic Policy Society, believes Sim deserves much of the credit. Vancouver mayoral candidate Ken Sim speaks during a town hall in Vancouver on Sept. 7, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck) He worked hard for years. He worked on it for four years, mostly by himself, Sullivan said. I remember talking to him at one point about a year ago, and he said he had shaken 22,000 hands. Thats the kind of dogged persistence he showed and had committed to running. So Im not sure if it [the election results] had much to do with Kennedy Stewart and more to do with Ken Sim. Author and Vancouver resident Ray McGinness, who didnt vote for either Sim or Stewart, notes the various issues the city continues to grapple with, including growing addiction and homeless problems, frequent stabbings, and rising crime, as well as increasing property taxes. If theres a game plan, it doesnt seem to be working. It seems that something is spiralling out of control and that whatever is going into spearheading the response, that response from city hall doesnt seem to be working either, McGinness said. Add the gridlock in and out of the city, high housing costs, and two years of COVID mandates, and all of that kind of ends up being part of a recipe of a stew thats just been cooking for too long. And people dont find it very appetizing, he said. Election According to Sanjay Jeram, a senior lecturer in political science at Simon Fraser University in nearby Burnaby, Sim had fewer ideological competitors than Stewart. That was sort of an issue, even in the last election, as to why Kennedy Stewart barely beat Ken Sim. That was because the left was divided, he said. Mario Canseco, president and founder of Research Co., a public opinion and data analysis company, also says vote splitting worked against Stewart. Your leftist vote is sort of going in all directions, and I think that was the problem, Canseco said, noting that Vancouver is a centre-left town. Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart speaks during a press conference in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, on July 28, 2021. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press) There was also this expectation that the NDP machinery provincially would be behind Kennedy Stewart because he had some high-profile endorsements from cabinet ministers, and that was going to sort of help him get closer to Sim at the end. It ended up not happening, he added. The Status Quo Is Not Working The election result didnt surprise David Leis, vice-president of engagement and development with the Frontier Centre for Public Policy. From his perspective, Vancouver has struggled to maintain a sense of affordability for residents, and its identity became interwoven with progressive policies that suffocated its growth. You had a weak incumbent whose brand was already tarnished, Leis said. Theres a malaise and recognition thats happening in different public opinion polls that showed us that people are very concerned about the health and vitality of not just Vancouver, but the Lower Mainland. And that is illustrated through lack of affordability and housing, which is atrocious and has massive impacts on the ability of the community to function. Leis says theres an increased realization that things are not working from a public policy point of view in Vancouver, including the allocation of large amounts of funds into harm reduction and poverty initiatives that dont show results. Its a recognition that the status quo is not working, and to pursue that status quo and the dead-end policies is a recipe for disaster. So its a healthy sign of democracy when people are looking for alternatives, he said. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin at an election rally in Oregon with Republican candidate for governor Christine Drazan. (Courtesy John Burke) Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin Rallies for Republican Candidate Christine Drazan With polls surging in her favor, Oregons Republican gubernatorial candidate Christine Drazan welcomed Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin to a rally in her state on Oct. 18. Gov. Youngkin surprised everyone by winning in Virginia by focusing on parents, families, and communities, Drazan told a crowd of more than 2,100. We have a lot in common with Virginians, including a commitment to change! Drazan vowed to get politics out of the classroom, declare an emergency to address the homeless crisis, roll back ballot measure 110 which decriminalized hard drugs, and restore public safety in the state. She leads in a three-way race against Democrat Tina Kotek and independent candidate Betsy Johnson. Youve got the Kotek-Biden agenda at work in Oregon, and you cant do anything but shake your head, Youngkin told supporters who gathered in the small town of Aurora 25 miles from Portland. They are agents of chaos. At $5.54 per gallon, Oregon has the third highest gas prices in the nation, behind California and Alaska. The price of groceries has soared by 13.5 percent this year, the biggest year over year increase in 43 years. After some of the longest lockdowns in the nation, its student test scores in math, English, and science, have plummeted. As few as one-third of students statewide reached key benchmarks as they returned to in-person learning this fall. Oregon leads the nation in homelessness, has a rampant drug problem, and skyrocketing crime, particularly in downtown Portland. Youngkin urged voters to choose change. Oregonians are ready for a leader who wants to keep schools open, keep the streets safe, and keep their money in their pockets, he said. Its your moment to take back your state, he added. Thats what weve done in Virginia, and its what Christine Drazan is going to do in Oregon as your next governor. Youngkin beat out a democratic gubernatorial candidate in the last election, which is the first time a Republican has won a statewide election in Virginia since 2009. Nobody thought that a Republican governor candidate could win in Virginia, Youngkin said, But we stood up last year and its your turn to stand up now. Oregon hasnt elected a Republican governor in 40 years. Drazan is now leading her Democrat opponent Tina Kotek in four different polls. And shes flush with cash after a recent $1 million infusion from Nike founder Phil Knight and $1.5 million from the Republican Governors Association. Former Oregon Speaker of the House Kotek is a progressive who is strongly endorsed by labor and public service unions. On Oct. 22, she will welcome Mass. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat, for a campaign rally. Independent candidate Betsy Johnson, who resigned from the Democrat party to make a bid for the governors seat, trails in the polls but may be siphoning votes from Kotek. This three-way race will shatter political spending records in the state. With three weeks left to go, the campaigns reported spending more than $43 million. Thats more than the record nearly $40 million spent by Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, in 2018. Youngkins visit follows President Joe Bidens trip to Portland last week to stump for Kotek and Democrat congressional candidates. With ballots now arriving in Oregonians mailboxes, the candidates hold their final debate on Oct. 19. On Oct. 20, Johnson will also host a roundtable with Portland businesses to talk about how crime and homelessness have impacted on the citys economy. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson at the start of a meeting with Mayors of Canada's largest cities in Ottawa on Feb. 6, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld) Watson Told Trudeau Convoy Protesters Were Nasty and Un-Canadian: Phone Call The outgoing Ottawa mayor denied politicizing the protests Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson told Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a phone call that the Freedom Convoy protesters were nasty people that dont represent the country, saying they remind him of the Republican Party, documents presented at the inquiry into the use of the Emergencies Act show. His comments were shown at the inquiry on Oct. 18, where he later denied to the convoy protesters lawyer that he had politicized the protests. A challenge for everyone. Still a pretty unstable situation. Nasty people out there that just dont represent Canada, Watson told Trudeau on Feb. 8, according to a transcript presented at the public inquiry into the federal governments use of the Emergencies Act, as first reported by Blacklocks Reporter. Reminds me of the Republican Party down south. Cant reason with them, so vulgar, and hateful attacking people, ripping masks off, honking their horns. The transcript was presented by senior counsel Natalia Rodriguez while Watson was testifying at the inquiry. The call between the mayor and prime minister revolved around getting officers from the Ontario Provincial Police and the RCMP on the ground with the Ottawa Police Service to respond to the protests, but which needed agreement from the municipal, provincial, and federal levels. Watson said during his testimony that he shared Trudeaus frustration that Ontario Premier Doug Ford wasnt taking part in tripartite discussions with the City of Ottawa and the federal government regarding responding to the protests. We couldnt get a clear answer as to whether they were going to support the number of officers that were needed, and the premier did not come to Ottawa during the occupation, he said. The pressure eventually worked, Watson said, as they got additional police officers from the province. Most of this was done behind the scenes so that we were not going to show that, at least at the political level, there was this fractious debate, he said. Politicization Watson denied he politicized the protests when cross-examined by Freedom Convoy counsel Brendan Miller, who asked if the mayor agreed that he did not properly handle the situation that was before him in January and February. No, I think I would characterize it as, given all the information and the circumstances, we did the best we could, which obviously was not good enough, Watson said. Can you agree with me that you politicized the protests and politicized the situation? Miller probed, to which Watson said he disagreed with that question. Youd agree that the politicization of the matter, which you claim was not yourself, but that the matter was politicized by the federal government? Millier asked. No, Watson replied. The inquiry was formed by the federal government as required by the Emergencies Act to examine the justification of its use. Omid Ghoreishi contributed to this report. A gas pump is seen situated while pumping gas at a Shell gas station in Houston, Texas, on April 1, 2022. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) White House Signals Significant Drawdowns From Strategic Reserve Beyond 180 Million Oil Barrels The White House on Tuesday signaled additional significant drawdowns from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) beyond the 180 million barrels announced in March. But an expert says these drawdowns failed to control oil prices. The final 15 million barrel tranche of the total 180 million barrel SPR drawdown is expected to be announced Wednesday, according to the White House. This sale will complete the historic, 180-million-barrel drawdown the President [Joe Biden] announced in the spring, which has helped to stabilize crude oil markets and reduce prices at the pump, a White House fact sheet states. Biden has also called on the Department of Energy (DOE) to be ready for additional significant SPR sales this winter if needed due to Russian or other actions disrupting global markets. The SPR is at its lowest level since 1984, with around 400 million barrels remaining. At its peak, in 2010, there were over 726 million barrels. A maze of crude oil pipes and valves is pictured during a tour by the Department of Energy at the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in Freeport, Texas, on June 9, 2016. (Richard Carson/Reuters) On Wednesday, Biden will also announce that the U.S. government intends to repurchase crude oil to replace the depleted SPR inventory when prices are at or below $67 to $72 per barrel. The White House said the DOE is finalizing a new rule to allow fixed-price contracts through a competitive bid process for oil delivered at a future date, which the Biden administration hopes will create certainty for the oil markets. This repurchase approach will protect taxpayers and help create certainty around future demand for crude oil. That will encourage firms to invest in production right now, helping to improve U.S. energy security and bring down energy prices that have been driven up by Putins war in Ukraine, the White House fact sheet states. Biden Failed to Control Oil Prices The Biden administration is coming to grips with the reality that its SPR drawdowns failed to control oil prices, according to Phil Flynn, a senior account executive at The Price Futures Group and author of The Energy Report. If at first you dont succeed, release more oil. The Biden administration still doesnt get the fact that the release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) failed to control oil prices, Flynn wrote in The Energy Report on Tuesday. Its kind of like the little shop of horrors. When you start giving the market a little bit of blood its going to want more and more and more, and it will never be truly satisfied, he added. This is especially true because the Strategic Petroleum Reserve was never meant as a vehicle to control prices and if it was, then the size of the SPR was totally inadequate for the job. Flynn, who expressed skepticism that tapping the SPR was to lower gas prices, said the Biden administration isnt getting the message that its strategy isnt working. The Bryan Mound Strategic Petroleum Reserve, an oil storage facility, is seen in this aerial photograph over Freeport, Texas, on April 27, 2020. (Adrees Latif/Reuters) He noted that the price of gas is 54.5 cents higher than a year ago before the SPR releases began. The White House, however, said gas prices are 40 cents per gallon lower from their peak earlier this year. The White House also accused retailers of hiking gas prices for profit and Biden is expected to call on them to pass on savings to consumers. The profit that energy refining companies are now capturing on every gallon of gasoline is about double what it typically is at this time of year, and the retailer margin over the refinery price is more than 40 percent above the typical level, the White House fact sheet states. These outsized industry profit marginsadding more than $0.60 to the average price of a gallon of gashave kept pump prices higher than they should be. Keeping prices high even as input costs fall is unacceptable, and the President will call on companies to pass their savings through to consumersnow. After capturing unique, breathtaking interactions with marine life on camera, thousands of photographers from around the world submitted their most impressive shots to Oceanographic Magazines Ocean Photographer of the Year Awards 2022. The cream of the crop exemplifies the magic and majesty of the ocean. Each year, the Ocean Photographer of the Year Award puts a spotlight on the beauty of the ocean and the threats it faces. In celebration of the diversity of the marine world, the awards comprise nine categories including several new for 2022Wildlife, Fine Art, Conservation (Impact), Conservation (Hope), and Human Connectionand feature a plethora of provocative photographs from international artists that must be seen to be believed. The Winner Six judges unanimously awarded first place to French Polynesia-based photographer, Ben Thouard. His winning photoalive with power and movementfeatures a surfer battling a formidable wave off the Tahitian village of Teahupoo (meaning place of skulls). This is the unseen part of surfing, Thouard told Oceanographic Magazine. I have so much respect for both the wave and the surfers surfing such a heavy wave is a huge challenge. Thouard describes himself as raised by the sea on his website. Alongside surfing, he studied art and gravitated toward photography after finding an old camera in his parents attic. He dropped out of a Parisian photography school in 2006 in favor of real-world experience in Hawaii, eventually settling in Tahiti. A surfer battles with the underwater turbulence created by the heaviest wave in the world, Teahupoo. (Coutersy of Ben Thouard) Second Place Second place in the awards went to Katherine Lu, a diver and underwater photographer from the United States, whose photo of a blanket octopus with its bold colors illuminated on a night dive in the Philippines, captured the judges imaginations. I was very sick during this dive, Lu told the magazine. I spent a lot of time trying to equalize near the surface. When my guide frantically signaled for me to come down I hesitated for a moment, but went for it, pushing myself down. Luckily, my ears equalized, and there before my eyes was this beautiful blanket octopus. We swam alongside her and then, like magic, she opened up her blanket to show herself in all her glory. A blanket octopus shows off its beautiful patterns and colors. (Courtesy of Katherine Lu) Third Place Third place went to Brook Peterson, a photographer from the United States. Her photo captured a diving cormorant disrupting a school of fish, causing them to configure in a swirling shape that resembles a human face. This image was made under the oil rig platform, Ellen, off Los Angeles, California, Peterson told the magazine. There was a large school of baitfish under the platform for several weeks and, as a result, numerous other animals there to feed off the baitfishsea lions, bonita, and cormorants. The image depicts a cormorant hunting through a large bait ball. A cormorant dives through a huge school of baitfish, creating a series of shapes that mimics that of a human face. (Courtesy of Brook Peterson) All winning photos from the competition can be seen here, and will also be on display for a month in a free exhibition at Tower Bridge in London, England, from Oct. 5 to Nov. 7. Check out more of the amazing photos below: A pod of pilot whales pose for a family portrait. (Courtesy of Rafael Fernandez Caballero) A diver descends into the deep, with light beams as their guide. (Courtesy of Brandi Mueller) A harp seal at sunset. (Courtesy of Ellen Cuylaerts) A swarm of jellyfish around a sunken ship. (Courtesy of Martin Broen) Corals off Okinawa, Japan, spawn during a full moon. (Courtesy of Ishino Shota) A humpback whale rises from the Indian Ocean into the golden glow of a Western Australian sunrise. (Courtesy of Jake Wilton) A freediver hovers amongst light beams in a cenote. (Courtesy of Fabrice Guerin) A frame grows new coral fragments on a depleted reef. (Courtesy of Joe Daniels) A Brydes whale trailing a huge fishing net that measures at least 12 meters. (Courtesy of Judith van de Griendt ) A manta ray cruises above a sandy seabed off Coral Bay, Western Australia. (Courtesy of Brooke Pyke) Humpback whales enjoying the winter waters off Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. (Courtesy of Brooke Pyke) Waves break on a misty morning in Scarborough, England. (Courtesy of Michael Spencer) A seagull flies past a breaking wave in the light of the rising sun. (Courtesy of Gergo Rugli) Anemone fish at home in their colorful anemone. (Courtesy of Matty Smith) A pregnant leafy sea dragon. (Courtesy of Matty Smith) Tannic acid creates a rainbow effect in an underwater cave system in Mexico. (Courtesy of Martin Broen) A whale shark moves through a bait ball on Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. (Courtesy of Jake Wilton) An orca mother and calf swim in the open ocean, sun rays beaming through the surface. (Courtesy of Andreas Schmid) Two polar bear cubs cozy up to their mother. (Courtesy of Nadia de Lange) Southern right whales gather off a remote beach. (Courtesy of Sean Scott) A solitary wave breaks in the final moments before a storm rolls in. (Courtesy of Ben Thouard) Polar bears make a home of an abandoned station on Kolyuchin Island, Russia. (Courtesy of Dmitry Kokh) 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 Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas on Wednesday sent a protest letter to the Chief Operating Officer of Oman Air for its decision to start operating from the Mopa International Airport from January 1, 2023, instead of using the Dabolim airport. The Aam Admi Party (AAP) MLA has further called on the opposition MLAs as well as the tourism stakeholders, including the small and medium hoteliers, to form an united front to oppose any move to shut down the Dabolim airport. Lodging his protest with the Oman Air senior Executive, the Benaulim MLA said the decision of Oman Air will be counter-intuitive to the interests of the operations, interests of its customers as well as that of the people of Goa. He drew attention of Oman Air to the fact that Mopa airport is located far from tourist centers of Goa, thereby causing a major inconvenience to its customers. That release could not be found. It remains the firm position of the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) that Nigerias INEC has caused industrial scale damages to the countrys crucial Presidential Election fixed for 25th Feb 2023, to the extent that whopping 77.4m citizens of voting age have been discriminatorily disenfranchised and excluded from participation and voting. It is also shocking that while the whopping 77.4m Nigerian citizens of voting age were disenfranchised from participating and voting in the 2023 General Elections, the Commission has turned around and allowed estimated 15m ghost names, minors and migrants to be smuggled into the countrys National Register of Voters as registered voters till date. The disenfranchised 77.4m prospective voters include 30m denied registration in the 2021/2022 Continuous Voters Registration (CVR), 29.3m registered voters still denied PVCs since 2019 and 31st July 2022 and 18.1m of the 27.4m new registrations disenfranchised and destroyed by the Commission. As it stands today, these 77.4m citizens of voting age cannot participate and vote in Nigerias General Elections of 2023 especially in the 2023 Presidential Poll. This is more so when participation and voting in Nigerian Elections are not all comers affair. To participate and vote, voters must bear validated INEC-issued PVCs. 120 Million Citizens Of Voting Age Exist In Nigeria According to the current United Nations population statistics including the Worldometer (worlds live statistics on population, economy and so on), Nigerias estimated population as at Friday 14th Oct 2022 is 217.8m, out of which 55% or more than 120m represent those in 18 years and above or citizens of voting age. By INECs recent official statistics tracked in several print and online media, the total registered voters in the country as at Feb 2019 was 84m and 96m as at 31st July 2022. INEC also announced that 12m (now 9.3m) citizens were registered as voters between 28th June 2021 and 31st July 2022 and more than 20m Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) had not been given to their owners since 2019 or before the commencement of 2021/2022 CVR on 28th June 2021; out of which, it has been independently estimated that many belong to Southern and Northern Christians. 30m Citizens Of Voting Age Never Registered In 2021/2022 CVR From several investigations carried out by Intersociety, while no fewer than 15m of the 96m roguishly registered voters in the country are illegitimately and unlawfully registered by INEC as voters including independently estimated 10m illegal aliens and under-age children and 5m registered fictitious or ghost names recently exposed by CUPP; there are independently estimated 30m citizens of voting age never captured or registered by INEC during the 2021/2022 Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise. The number had involved persons of voting age that have never been captured as registered voters since their birth and attainment of 18 years and above as stipulated in Section 12 of the 2022 Electoral Act as amended. The no fewer than 30m independently estimated unregistered citizens of voting age did not include 18.1m recent registrations destroyed by INEC including 11m successful online registrants that were destroyed by the Commission due to the Commissions failure to capture their physical biometrics at designated registration centers across the country after they have successfully registered online. INEC Destroyed 68% Or 18.1m Of 27.4m 2022 New Voters registrations Total of 18.1m of total 27.4m new (2022) registrations involving citizens of voting age were deliberately destroyed by INEC during CVR held between 28th June 2021 and 31st July 2022; leaving only 9.3m or 32% validated. They had included 7m-11m successful online registrants shut out and massively disenfranchised by the Commission over its failure to capture their physical biometrics at designated registration centers across the country before the closure of the CVR exercise on 31st July 2022, 1.12m destroyed by INEC between 28th June 2021 and 12thJan 2022; 1.85m destroyed by the Commission between 1st Jan and 28thJune 2022; 1.1m destroyed by the Commission in Jan 2022 and 2.7m destroyed from 31st July to 12th Oct 2022. These are according to INECs publicly released official statistics and did not include 19.1m online applicants recorded by the Commission during recent CVR exercise including those who attempted registering online but discontinued owing to one reason or the other. 29.3m Registered Voters Still Denied PVCs In Nigeria Total of 29.3m registered voters are still denied PVCs by INEC and as it stands today, they are ineligible to participate and vote in any election in Nigeria or any part thereof; whether bye-election, legislative, governorship, local government or presidential. By INECs official records evaluated by Intersociety, there are no fewer than 29.3m affected citizens or those denied PVCs till date and they include 20m registered voters denied PVCs since 2019 or before commencement of the 2021/2022 CVR exercise and 9.3m newly registered voters (formerly put at 12m by INEC but now reduced to 9.3m owing to recent destruction by the Commission of 2.7m of the 12m), captured by INEC between 28th June 2021 and 31st July 2022 and yet to be issued with PVCs. It is further strongly suspected that many of them belong to citizens of Christian Faith and non Muslim others. With INECs unchecked discriminatory policy, gross incompetence and nonchalant attitudes, it is strongly estimated that not more than 20% or 6m of the 29.3m registered voters presently without PVCs will be issued PVCs in the end or between Sept and Dec 2022. Signed For: International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) Principal Officers: Emeka Umeagbalasi, Criminologist/Researcher Board Chair Chinwe Umeche Esquire, LL.B, BL Head, Democracy and Good Governance Program Chidinma Udegbunam Esquire, LL.B, BL Head, Campaign and Publicity Department Contacts: Mobile/WhatsApp: +2348174090052 Email: [email protected] Website: https://intersociety-ng.org LAGOS, Wednesday, October 19, 2022: Media Rights Agenda (MRA) today condemned last weekends shutting down by Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle of five broadcast stations in the State for alleged violation of professional ethics, saying the action signaled a descent into anarchy in the country and should never happen again. In a statement issued by Mr. Ayode Longe, MRA Programme Director, the organization said: It is most disheartening that following the bad example set by the Federal Government in its intermittent censorship of broadcasting stations in abuse of its power and authority, the Zamfara State Governor now believes that the broadcast media are fair game in his undemocratic maneuvering to gain a political advantage to the extent that he is shutting down even stations owned by the Federal Government. The Zamfara State Government issued a statement on October 15, 2022, through the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Ibrahim Dosara, announcing the immediate shut down of three television stations and two radio stations in the state, namely: the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) owned Pride FM radio, Gamji Television, Gamji FM radio, and Alumma Television, claiming that the affected media houses attended a rally organised by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state despite an Executive Order banning political rallies for security reasons. The government directed security agents to arrest any staff member of the affected stations who attempts to go into the stations to perform any duty. Describing the State Governments action as illegal, unconstitutional and an obscene abuse of power, Mr. Longe said it is only in a lawless society that a government would even contemplate shutting down a media organization for performing its professional and constitutional duty of covering a political event by a rival political party and actually proceed to do so. According to him, no governor has the authority to shut down any media house even if it has violated its professional ethics as there are procedures to follow to seek redress or sanctions if the governor feels the stations are in breach of any law or regulation. Besides, Mr. Longe, said: There is absolutely nothing unprofessional in the action of the broadcasting stations in covering a political rally by an opposition political party, even if the purported ban on political rallies by the Governor was legally done. The fact that the rally took place at all despite the purported ban by the Governor is itself a newsworthy event and the media ought to cover and report it. There is nothing in the Code of Ethics for Journalists or the Nigeria Broadcasting Code or any Law currently in force in Nigeria that makes the action of the broadcasting stations unprofessional or unethical and it is not within the authority of the Governor to establish professional or ethical codes for the media. Accusing the Governor of attempting to gain an unfair political advantage by preventing an opposition political party from campaigning during a period of electioneering campaigns in violation of the Electoral Act 2022, he reminded the governor that his action shutting down the stations is a gross violation of the rights of the people of the state and other parts of the country under Section 39 of the Constitution as the action denied access to information to the viewers and listeners of these stations who depend on them for news and other information. Mr. Longe said although the state government has reopened the stations and apologised for the closure while also ordering the withdrawal of the security agents deployed to the media houses, it is nonetheless necessary to emphasize that the arbitrary actions taken by the Governor in the first place, merely because the media houses did not pander to his whims, were reprehensible and should never be repeated in the State or elsewhere in the country. For further information, please contact Idowu Adewale Communications Officer [email protected] For the bleeding economy to resurrect, there must be a battle for a man who has proven moral and sacred emblem of integrity, selflessness, true to self, focus and determination without fear of the unknown bullets of Tomorrow. Yes, soomeone must be an example for others to follow. The preparation has been placed on him before he was born. So many conspiracies and noise from brothers, neighbors and friends, but it is an armless battle of economy saboteurs. Some will clap, some with tears, that is how battles has been since there is a fight. Resources battle of oil theft and the path to national security. People have started sneezing at my backyard in the Niger Delta region. The cock crow on oil theft against the local on environmental pollution and military gun boats positioned at all the creeks were on duty post of collection, within their mind, who Nigeria help? They leave their primary assignment and only asked us to raise all our hands upon our head, as if there was a war, the men on uniform, snuff on their Nose, no one could hold his nose any more, sneezing and running. Tompolo is coming, run for your dear life, if you are a complicit, collude in oil theft, run Tompolo is coming. All the feigned personnel against Akpofire are now in perpetual hunger like flood victims from Bobougbene Community, gun boats at the entrance of pipelines are now sneezing. Yes I was afraid when Oweizide Ekpemupolo point directly to the uniform men in the Niger Delta region and the business of connival, there is total silence that not the locals alone are the perpetrators of this crime but those we know, that we know, but all their fingers were against the Host communities, today, there is total silence on the Sea. Tantita security services NIG Ltd, the telescopic eyes mounted at the sea, both those who had chased him before when he was running for Safety are now on the run. In few weeks to come, the world will witness voluntary retirement from service, such people I do not know their names because I am afraid and I am not Tompolo. Tompolo Tantita will not spare you, for his mission is to save the Nigeria's Economy. Those who set up the masquerade are afraid of the direction the masquerade is going, Amaseikumor, the King of all masquerade was assigned for a national assignment. Fear engulfed the region, all the sectors, the right of way they used to deceive the people not to go into their pipelines for covering up illegalities, protocols are broken, men at work are now men on the run. Run for your dear life, if you are into oil ... Tompolo is coming from the creeks to the sea. Aso Rock fevered, the Lord of the Niger Delta region is coming to Save the Nigerian economy. The pot of sharing formula is broken. They were looking for sincere men to fight corruption, that those who were fighting corruption is now running for Safety; no, your sincerity is too much to be with us. It only takes faithful men to serve Deities, because deities are sincere oracles, no one plays with their rules, not even the Chief Priest, any deviation, death penalty, and Tompolo who has served deities of his ancestors for years and build munificent temples for them will not take any assignments for granted, you asked him to come and protect your facilities? Then oil theft complicit should be on the run or confess, for Tantita Oracle is coming. Amaseikumor is coming, Tompolo and his spiritual Tantita security services company is coming, run for your life. Tompolo's fight on oil Theft, A snuff on the Nose of Nigerians, confusion loose upon Nigeria, business men too are not safe. What a fight? The economy is laughing, individuals are weeping? Why did they choose Tompolo? Why is this Masquerade dancing beyond our expectations? DPR too is not safe, IOCs too is not safe, the evil spirit of oil dev. Collectors on uniform too are running, collaborators to bombard the innocent communities are been mobilized to Protest against Tompolo are on the run. King of the waters is coming, Oweiseimor Sarabobouwei is coming. Why Bini-ebi Madinorbo Deity watches over the sea operations, Tompolo watches over the creeks. Some in high ministries are celebrating, some are weeping, the source of sharing of money is coming to an end. The operation crocodile on the Niger Delta region for oil surveillance and deposit money into their banks by the personnel through our poor boys as drivers are no more. The River suddenly become pure as floating crude oils adrift away. When someone is working, the results are visible. I foresee hunger and debt ravaging men and women like flood victims. Let this empire become inclusive so that anonymous debtors could pay their debts. Tompolo is government, and as the president of the creek Republic, Nigeria is safe to invest in developing all the Communities where all these pipelines passed through with Bridge, road network, good schools, hospitals, electricities, and human capital development in the Niger Delta region. Now that Tantita security services NIG Ltd has saved them from recession, in return, we deserve the pay back with visible measure of development from the Nigerian government to the Niger Delta region. Yes, there is massive employment of youths into Tantita, yes, the oil companies, they said our people are not qualified, but today those unqualified youths recruited by Tantita security services NIG Ltd is saving the Nigerian economy and the Multinational. Such is the irony of life. Let the International communities should come and witness this, that our terrians are no longer difficult to access as those from Abuja with that English in their mouths are constantly touring round the creeks to save the country as Tompolo did. Unusual waters springing out from their Nostrils as Tompolo fights against oil theft move beyond Akpofire, who is safe? The man is too committed, this is what fighting corruption should be, we must join hands and hope for the best and cover our injuries as the battle unfolds from the high seas. This is the new blue print to Negotiate more Development in return to our region, Let us calm our aggrieved nerves to winning this battle and drop our spoons as the big fight unveiled the real actors of oil theft. Asiayei Enaibo The Talking Drum Promoters of Nigerias only electricity integrated company, Geometric Power group, are exemplary Nigerians because of their uncanny patriotism, according to Abia State governor Okezie Ikpeazu. Governor Ikpeazu was speaking at his 58thbirthday colloquium in his country home of Umuobiakwa in Obingwa Local Government Area. Only outstanding patriots who are development oriented can bring home almost $600m in investment at a time many other citizens are taking out money from the country to invest overseas or to keep in foreign banks, said the governor. Geometric Power located both its 188megawatt plant and Aba Power distribution company in Aba, Abia State, commonly referred to as the Taiwan of Africa because of its prominent role in Nigerias indigenous manufacturing. Once the 27-kilometre gas pipeline from Owaza in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State is completed and the plant commissioned, it will be a game changer in not just Abia State, whose nine out of its 17 LGAs are already being serviced by Aba Power Limited, but also the whole country because the rest of the country will have more power freed from our dear state. Dr Ikpeazu said that the world-class electricity business speared by Geometric Power led by Professor Bart Nnaji, a former Minister of Power, would cause other power generation and distribution companies in Nigeria to raise their service standards. He explained that it was in recognition of the positively disruptive role which Geometric Power group is bound to play in the countrys development that made me support it without reservations. The governor observed that if not for the world-class electricity from Geometric Power, manufacturing firms like Nemeith, based in Ikeja, Lagos State, would not have decided to establish plants in Aba. In fact, the multi-billion naira Enyimba Economic City being developed between Aba and Port Harcourt in the Rivers State would not have started but for geometric Power, he declared. Enyimba Economic City is another transformational project because it is designed to replicate in Nigeria a place like Shanghai City which has been playing a crucial part in Chinas stunning transformation within a few years, stated the governor. I am proud I was in Egypt last February to witness the $50m credit facility signing ceremony between AfriExim Bank and Geometric Power. I was surprised that the AfriExim Bank was providing facilities to firms in different countries, but none to Nigerian firms except the one coming to Geometric Power whose operations are in Abia State. Dr Ikpeazu, therefore, urged other Nigerian firms to raise their business standards to global levels so that they, too, could benefit from long-term facilities from international lenders as Geometric Power has done. The governor, who is leaving office next May after eight years, said that his major legacies would include Geometric Power groups takeoff and Enyimba Citys development, and not roads and flyovers. We are keenly interested in multi-billion naira projects that can create critical jobs and business opportunities for our people, so that they do not have to leave the Southeast and South-south in their millions in search of better living standards. Both Professor Nnaji and Mr Darl Uzu, chairman of Enyimba Economic City, took part in the colloquium and took time to explain the vision behind each of the projects. The colloquium, which was on scientific leadership for the transformation of Igboland, was chaired by Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, president of the Nigerian Society of Pharmacists and a former chief executive of Neimeth Pharmaceutical plc. In attendance were former Senate President Adolph Wabara, Senator Ohuabunwa, Abia State University Vice Chancellor Onyemaechi Ogbulu, veteran journalist and columnist Ray Ekpu, among other prominent persons from Abia State. As the colloquium was coming to an end, Governor Nyesom Wike of the Rivers State arrived and drove straight to Dr Ikpeazus private residence. Drug arrests continue PHUKET: While Phuket residents struggle against the continuing downpours and floods, Phuket police and other anti-drugs officials have been proud to announce the arrests of several suspects on drug charges, including one man found with two pills. drugscrimeimmigrationpolice By The Phuket News Wednesday 19 October 2022, 11:59AM Akara Suwatthikul of the Phuket Provincial Defense Office led a special operation accompanied by no less than four ranking officials from anti-drug operational units set up in Phuket had managed to arrest two suspects for drugs, the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket) reported yesterday (Oct 18). The operation was claimed to have been conducted under the instructions of Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew to crack down on drugs. The raiding party was bolstered by six members of the Territorial Defense Volunteers (OrSor), said the report. The team of law-enforcement officers arrested Mr Sasipong and Mr Pakorn (family names withheld) after the two were found with 17 pills of methamphetamine (ya bah) and four bags containing a total of 3.61 grammes of crystal meth (ya ice). The ya bah pills were orange, noted the report. The men were also found with more than B4,000 in cash. Also seized in the arrest were 60 cough pills, a modified lighter and two mobile phones, the report added. Sasipong and Pakorn were both charged with illegal possession of a Category I narcotic with intent to sell and/or distribute, said the report. Of note, the two men were arrested in the economically repressed slum area of Soi King Kaew, Rassada. Meanwhile, Phuket Provincial Police yesterday reported the arrests of two young men caught at the Phuket Check point at Tha Chatchai trying to bring meth onto the island on interprovincial buses. The two men were caught and arrested last Sunday (Oct 16), said the report. At about 5:20pm, officers searched a bus from Danok, in Sadao District, Songkhla, and found Mr Wuttichai, 23, from Krabi with 43 ya bah pills. At about 9pm a search of a bus from Phatthalung found Mr Thitipong, 23, from Phatthalung, with 189 ya bah pills. Both men were taken to tha Chatchai Police Station nearby and charged with illegal possession of a Category I narcotic. Also on Sunday, at about 2pm officers found Myanmar national Ms Tiri, 20, arriving on a bus from Chumphon. Ms Tiri was carrying her passport, but was allowed to stay temporarily only in Ranong province, Phuket Provincial Police reported. Ms Tiri was arrested for violating the conditions of her permission to enter the country, police noted in their report. In Thalang, police are continuing their zero tolerance arrest for drugs. Thalang Police reported that on Oct 15 at about 4pm, officers acting under the direction of Thalang Police Superintendent Col Pisit Chuenphet arrested Worakorn Maliwan, 31, a resident of Moo 3, Pa Khlok. Worakorn was arrested by the roadside near the Ao Por Bang Rong Intersection after he was found with two ya bah pills. That same day, Thalang Police also arrested Nattakit Panniam, 18, from Trang province, at a workers accommodation dwelling in Moo 3 Pa Khlok after he was found with eight ya bah pills. Both were taken to Thalang Police Station and charged with possession of a Category I narcotic. While Phuket was reeling from floods across northern parts of he island and in Phuket Town on Monday, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Sermphan Sirikong led an assembly of officers at Phuket Provincial Police headquarters in phuket Town in rejoicing Thailands National Police Day. Flood recovery efforts target hard-hit communities PHUKET: Disaster officials focussed flood relief efforts on Thepkrasattri and Sirsoonthorn yesterday (Oct 18), where torrential rain struck again, adding to local residents woes as they continued to cope with standing floodwaters. weatherdisastersSafetytransport By The Phuket News Wednesday 19 October 2022, 09:56AM Roads in the two subdistricts were affected, with traffic greatly affected. Some roads were closed while others were restricted to one lane only. Villages in Moo 6 Srisoonthorn and Moo 4 Thepkrasattri, and especially residents in front of Wat Baan Don, were particularly affected, with floodwaters as deep as 40-60cm plaguing residents. Sittichai Chantarawat, head of the Thepkasattri Tambon Administrative Organisation (OrBorTor), along with village headman organised an emergency relief kitchen to cook and distribute food along with drinking water to the villagers affected. Communities along Thepkrasattri Rd continue to be affected. The area in front of the National Housing Authority housing estate in Baan Lipon flooded yesterday evening, with traffic travelling southbound affected. In Moo 3, Srisoonthorn, disaster officials with assistance from soldiers from the 18th Infantry Division began assembling a temporary bridge to install where floodwaters had washed a small bridge serving several households in the area. Without the bridge the homes are isolated The temporary Bailey bridge being installed needs to be eight metres long and three metres wide, officials reported. However, the bridge may take three days to complete and install. Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew inspected the Soi Paniang and Soi Samkong 2 areas in Samkong, on the north side of Phuket Town. Disaster officials are working on alleviating flooding in that area as well, with works on clearing drains and installing a large mobile pump to draw standing floodwater into the Bang Yai Canal underway. The whole situation was caused by heavy and continuous rains over the past few days. Drainage will return to normal, but if there is still heavy and continuous rain, it will result in more water, Governor Narong said. We must also admit that drainage in low areas in the event of continuous rain is slow. In the past, we had a lot of monkey cheeks [weirs and small isolated areas created to hold excess runoff], but now many of those places have become dwelling places for people, he added. Currently, the province is supported by the Commander of the Third Naval Area to provide equipment along with the troops. This gives us seven large water pumps and we are expected to pass the flood crisis soon," he added. Phuket Town braces for floods as Bang Yai nears overflow PHUKET: Residents in Phuket Town and Rassada have been told to prepare for floods as the Bang Yai Canal, which runs right through the heart of the Phuket Town, nears breaking its banks. weatherdisastersSafety By The Phuket News Wednesday 19 October 2022, 12:48PM Phuket Town Mayor Sarot Angkanapilas issued the warning at 11am, urging people to sandbag entrances where they could and to elevate their belongings especially electrical equipment to beyond floodwaters reach where possible. The Phuket Irrigation Office has warned us that now there is a mass of water from the area flowing into the Phuket Municipality. Therefore, people are asked to be vigilant. Closely follow the news, weather forecast and the water volume in the canal, Mayor Sarot said. If there is something on the ground, lift it to the top and be careful about electricity and electrical equipment to be raised above the water level. The amount of water in the next half hour will come in more than usual, in addition to the constant rainfall. Phuket Municipality has asked for water pumps from the Phuket Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office to be installed in many areas, and we have asked for support from the Navy and the Army and the Ministry of Education to install water pumps, Mr Sarot continued. But due to the mass of water flowing into Klong Bang Yai, there will be a lot. As a result, pushing water out of the area is difficult, so people are asked to be vigilant for similar flooding like we had on Sunday, he added. The Phuket Irrigation Office (PIO) issued its formal warning at 10am, calling for residents in Phuket Town and Ratsada to beware flooding. The office reported that as of 4pm yesterday that 113.3mm of rainfall had increased water levels at Bang Neow Reservoir, 89.5mm had fallen on Bang Wad Reservoir in Kathu and 82.3mm had fallen at Klong Kata Reservoir in Chalong. The average rainfall over three days, Oct 17-19, was expected to reach 224.7mm in Thalang District, 188mm in Kathu District and 198.1mm in Mueang Phuket District, the PIO reported. The PIO station monitoring water levels in Klong Bang Yai in Ket Ho Kathu reported that the water level in the canal was 87cm lower than the canals banks. The monitoring station at Satree Phuket School marked that the water level in the canal was just 3cm lower than the banks there. That was as of 10am, with water still flowing into the canal and widespread heavy rainfall throughout the area. Hong Kong: Plastic bag charge set to rise in Dec The Government announced that the three pieces of subsidiary legislation for enhancing the Plastic Shopping Bag Charging Scheme were passed by the Legislative Council today. The enhanced scheme will be implemented on December 31. The three pieces of subsidiary legislation amend the Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance and the Product Eco-responsibility (Plastic Shopping Bags) Regulation. The enhancements include increasing the charging level per plastic shopping bag from the current level of at least 50 cents to at least $1, removing the present exemption for plastic shopping bags carrying frozen or chilled foodstuff items; and tightening the scope of exemption. Tightening the scope of exemption is such that free plastic shopping bags can only be provided when purchasing foodstuff items without packaging or not wholly contained in any packaging, or food and beverage takeaway items in non-airtight packaging, subject to the basic principle of one free plastic shopping bag per single transaction. The Government will promote the scheme's enhancements to the trade and the public and prepare a best practice guideline for the trade to understand the relevant requirements. This story has been published on: 2022-10-19. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. City_news Westmounts Villa Sainte-Marcelline fate in limbo In a turn of optimism, parents and children of Villa Sainte-Marcelline are feeling a bit relieved as the board of directors of the private school have unanimously voted to keep the school open and look for solutions with the Sisters of Sainte Marcelline order. The order is now saying that solutions are being looked into in order to keep the school active for the near future, despite previously saying in their original statement that the school will close due to the inability to pay or raise the necessary funds to finance the work to be done. The future of Westmounts Villa Sainte-Marcelline was put into question after the Sisters of Sainte-Marcelline congregation sent a notice that it would not renew the schools lease for next year. Citing structural issues with the building and a lack of funds for the necessary repairs, the congregation said it was, faced with the moral obligation to make the painful decision to send Villa Sainte-Marcelline a notice of non-renewal of their lease. The congregation acknowledged the sudden shock and sadness over the announcement. Were very sensitive to the repercussions of this announcement on the students, their parents, and all the school staff. The schools board of directors was unaware of the impending decision, writing in an open letter to parents that the administration was only made aware of the congregations decision two days prior. The activities of the Villa Sainte-Marcelline will continue as they normally do, and this in no way calls into question the course of the current school year. We will spare no effort to ensure the well-being and success of our students and their teachers, said the letter. The school administration wrote to parents Friday reassuring them that the school will remain open to study while the structural issues are under investigation. Many parents are former alumni themselves and have been working around the clock in order to raise funds and find concrete solutions to pay for the structural repairs. The Westmount school was founded in 1959 by The Soeurs de Sainte-Marcelline, which provides students with preschool, elementary and high school educations. 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 . Kevin Johnson is executive director of the Election Reformers Network. This essay was written for The Fulcrum. The Fulcrum covers whats making democracy dysfunctional and efforts to fix our governing systems. My ten-year-old son is not happy as he comes down to breakfast. Im cold, he complains. Can we turn the heating on? No! I splutter into my muesli in barely controlled fury. You can jolly well put a dressing gown on for a start. And why arent you wearing any slippers, you idiot? Arthur trudges back upstairs in a sulk. Chilly reception: Harry and two of his children bundle up on the sofa in a bid to beat the autumn chill and keep bills down I am not sure you are really winning them over with this experiment of yours, says my wife. I give it a week before they force you to buckle. Well, if theres one thing that is certain to stiffen my resolve it is the suggestion that I have no backbone, that I lack steely resolve. And the tyranny in Wallop Towers this autumn is the prospect of bankruptcy-inducing gas and electricity bills. This month my energy bill along with the vast majority of those in the country has gone up. Not by a little. But by a lot. Our Prime Minister may well have intervened and ensured that this winter the typical households energy bill is no higher than 2,500 a year, but that is still more than double what it was last year. Also, I am not a typical household. Ofgem, the official energy regulator, defines a typical household as one with 2.4 people living in it. Well, I have six living in mine though luckily the eldest, Alex, is currently off at university (mysteriously his dirty clothes still seem to end up in the laundry room, silently demanding they be cleaned on yet another hot wash). And in even more chilling news, the Chancellor slashed the length of the Energy Price Guarantee to six months meaning it will end in April rather than in two years time. Bills could rise to as much as 4,347 a year for the typical household by then, says consultancy Cornwall Insight, which makes it even more important we start thinking about how to save money now. Drastic times call for drastic measures. Usually I would turn the heating on just for an hour or so a day at the start of October or when the temperature falls below about 17c or so outside, which it has certainly done in the past fortnight. This year? Ive decided were not turning it on. What? For ever? said my wife incredulously when I suggested this a few weeks ago. No, not for ever. But for as long as possible. Jake Berry, the Conservative Party chairman, was castigated recently when he suggested how people could cope with high energy bills. They can either cut their consumption or get higher salaries or higher wages, and go out there and get that new job, he said in an interview. Bill shock: The typical household energy bill is set to be more than double what it was last year The usual anti-Tory crowd on social media had a field day. They accused him of naked cruelty and having a medieval mindset. Yes, the bit about getting a higher-paid job when plenty of people are already juggling two jobs was insensitive and he has subsequently apologised for being clumsy. But his suggestion that we should reduce usage was not just sensible, it is imperative. The rest of Europe is acutely aware that Vladimir Putins disgraceful invasion of Ukraine, and turning off the gas pipeline to Europe, is putting huge pressure on energy supplies. Germany has already started dimming its street lights and turning down the temperature of swimming pools, while in France the Eiffel Tower illuminations are being turned off earlier than usual, something that at least is good for the planet. But in Britain, most politicians seem afraid to say the blindingly obvious: the easiest way to cut our energy bills is to use less energy even with the prospect of blackouts this winter. Consumers are already taking action into their own hands, however. A survey commissioned by the Liberal Democrats admittedly before the new (lower) price cap was announced found that a shocking 23 per cent of consumers said they would not turn their heating on at all this winter. Thats almost one in four. This month, Lakeland, the homewares retailer, published an in-depth report into consumer behaviour, including a survey of 3,000 people. A hefty 89 per cent said they had already taken measures in an attempt to save energy. The most common thing people have done so far? Turned off the lights. More than eight in ten people say they have flicked the switch a considerably more popular move than turning down the thermostat; only 56 per cent had done that. But cutting down on heating is the most effective way you can save energy. The figures are stark. Having ten energy-saving light bulbs turned on for six hours costs 20.4p, according to Bloomberg, the financial publisher. Heating costs: Turning on gas central heating for six hours - in a typical house (as defined by Ofgem, with 2.4 people using 2,900kWh of electricity, 12,000kWh of gas a year) - costs 6.76 Turning on gas central heating for six hours in a typical house (as defined by Ofgem, with 2.4 people using 2,900kWh of electricity, 12,000kWh of gas a year) costs 6.76. Thats 33 times more expensive. Every week that I can avoid turning the heating on, I am saving a considerable sum quite a bit more than the 47.32 a typical household would save, something closer to 75 to 80, according to my calculations. Thats because not only do I live with four children, a wife and our dog, but we also live in a Victorian end-of-terrace house in London. It is not very easy to heat efficiently. It has lovely, large sash windows. When we moved in we replaced some rotten ones with double-glazed sashes, but we then ran out of money, so some of the bedrooms get very cold at night. I also, due to complicated reasons mostly involving poor wifi, work in the coldest room in the house. It has three outside walls and a French window so draughty that overgrown wisteria tendrils have ominously made their way into the room. Wrapping up: Harry believes he will save between 75 and 80 for every week he delays turning on the central heating However, by 4pm, the children coming home from school usually insist the heating is turned on. Not this year. They too will adopt my dress-as-a-yeti approach. There has been a mixed response to my enterprise. My wife usually rolls her eyes at my latest wheeze to save money, but even she on seeing the projected bill from British Gas has decided to back me to the hilt. The children, however, are not enthusiastic. Even though its been a relatively mild autumn so far, there have been grumblings. Felix, 17, doesnt feel the cold and though he is loath to support any idea of his parents because hes the aforementioned 17 appears to be secretly embracing the new Spartan regime. The two youngest are my main opponents, complaining about how chilly the kitchen is in the morning. Celia, 14, likes to be warm. Though when she moaned at the weekend, I was less than impressed. Thats because you are wearing a strappy top. I said. Its October; strappy tops should be considered as vests. Put on another layer! For now, it has not been too much of a struggle. Weve had a few cold nights, where even the London temperature has dipped to 3c or 4c, but nothing seriously making me consider donning a long-sleeved vest or long-johns my go-to tactic when we hit proper winter. The only sign, for me, that were starting the long, relentless march towards the big freeze is that I now instinctively reach for a dressing gown when I get out of bed pyjamas are just not enough to keep away that early morning chill. Again, it comes down to layers. So far, while there has been low-level discontent in the ranks, theres been nothing close to mutiny. If things get really bad, we will crank up the wood-burning stove in the sitting room. Yes, environmentalists loathe them for causing pollution, but they are remarkably effective. Savings: Delaying putting the central heating on for one week should save the average household 47.32 Of course, they can only heat one room, not the whole house. And, like many families of our generation, we spend most of the time in our open-plan kitchen, not the sitting room. By the time the clocks go back on October 30, however, we may have to decamp straight after our evening meal to the warmth of the fire. For now, another layer or two is doing the trick. And it would appear that many other people are reaching for a pullover rather than turn on the heating. Sales of cashmere at John Lewis are up 45 per cent on last year, and the department store has sold 80 per cent more draught excluders and five times as many hot-water bottles. And the one aspect of my project that Arthur and Celia are embracing is the hot-water bottle. Usually considered a fun, Christmas holiday indulgence along with mugs of cocoa and silly Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer ear muffs they are now being treated as a bedtime essential. I have also started to leaf through the Lakeland catalogue with an indecent lust. Who knew there were such things as heated Alaskan husky faux fur throws, heated foot warmers, slippers you can warm in the microwave and my favourite the heated poncho? I have tried out a Dreamland heated neck and shoulder warmer, while working at my desk. While it makes me look a complete wally and I have to unplug it when I go to answer the doorbell, it is remarkably effective at raising your body temperature. It works out far cheaper to run than an electric heater, which involves heating air that then escapes out of draughty windows. Cut off: The new chancellor Jeremy Hunt (pictured) has slashed the length of the Energy Price Guarantee to six months I have promised the children that with some of the money we are saving from not turning on the heating we can invest in some microwavable slippers a snip at 29.99 a pair. I have also explained to them that it will be good for them to live in a cold house. I realise this makes me sound like some Dickensian ogre, but there is fascinating scientific evidence that suggests living in overheated houses is not just bad for the environment, but bad for ones health. Official government data shows that in 1970, during the winter, the average internal temperature in homes with central heating was estimated at 13.7c. Forty-one years later, this estimate had risen by 4c to 17.7c. Its not that we have just whacked up the thermostat, but also our insulation and double-glazing has improved. We no longer have to live in the cold for any period of time, something that may be partly behind our obesity epidemic, according to Mike Tipton, a professor of human and applied physiology at the University of Portsmouths Extreme Environments Laboratory. In an interview recently he said: We have a whole set of resources to sustain our bodies temperature and health. But to maintain them you need to challenge them. Were not really doing that any more. In hot homes we become what he calls thermostatic metabolically incapable of coping with natural cool. Turning down the thermostat improves your resilience, he said. A Dutch study suggests that keeping cool indoors if only for a few hours a day could stave off obesity and other disorders. Arthur looks sceptical when I tell him about this research, while filling up his hot-water bottle. But youre not obese, he says. Im not obese. I think youre doing this to save money, not to be healthy. Drat. Hes rumbled me. But sometimes you can both save money and do the right thing. How long do I think we will last? I am realistic. A few winters ago, our boiler broke down during a week when it was snowing and the experience was utterly miserable; in the evenings we resorted to walking around the house wrapped not just in scarves, coats and woolly hats but our duvets, too. It only lasted for a few days, but we spent as much time as possible in other peoples homes, school, the gym or local cafes. But mild discomfort is different from being wretched. I am confident that with some microwavable slippers we can make it beyond Halloween. Can we make it to Advent? Or even Christmas? I dont know. Watch this space; every day that I dont reach for the thermostat will be a small victory for my wallet and in the fight against Putin. moneymail@dailymail.co.uk Ithaca Energy will rejoin the London Stock Exchange in a significant boost for British energy supplies. The North Sea oil producer owned by Israeli energy group Delek said it will use the proceeds from a float to become a key player in providing energy security to the UK. It comes at a time when households are being warned to prepare for potential blackouts in the wake of Russias restriction of gas exports to Europe. London listing: Ithaca owned by Israeli energy group Delek said it will use the proceeds from a float to become a key player in providing energy security to the UK Ithaca produced the equivalent of about 66,700 barrels of oil per day in the first half of the year, of which 35 per cent was natural gas. Executive chairman Gilad Myerson said it has significant growth opportunities and its plans are in line with the Governments. He said: We are proud to be investing in the UK at a time when domestic energy security could not be more important. Chief executive Alan Bruce said: Our mission is to help meet the energy needs of the UK while operating in a sustainable manner. Ithaca was taken off Londons junior AIM market by Delek in a 1billion deal in February 2017. HSBC has been accused of greenwashing after the advertising watchdog banned posters which boasted of the banks climate change credentials. The lender was ordered to remove all of its climate change doesnt do borders ads, which appeared on bus stops around the country, after the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled they misled customers. The decision will send shots across the bows of companies around the world, as they try to boost their green image in an attempt to attract customers worried about climate change. Under fire: HSBC was ordered to remove all of its 'climate change doesn't do borders' after the Advertising Standards Authority ruled they misled customers Robbie Gillett from campaign group Adfree Cities, which led the complaint against HSBC, said: This is a significant moment in the fight to prevent banks from greenwashing their image. HSBC can no longer ply us with ads pretending they are green while continuing to bankroll climate breakdown in the background. HSBC and other banks... must stop funding fossil fuels instead of attempting to buy public favour with deceptive marketing campaigns, before these reputational risks turn into legal ones. The complaint to the ASA focused on two HSBC posters. The first read: Climate change doesnt do borders. Neither do rising sea levels. Thats why HSBC is aiming to provide up to $1 trillion in financing and investment globally to help our clients transition to net zero. The second said: Climate changes doesnt do borders. So in the UK, were helping to plant 2m trees which will lock in 1.25m tonnes of carbon over their lifetime. The ASA received 45 complaints about the adverts, including from Adfree Cities a network concerned about the impacts of corporate advertising which alleged that the posters were misleading because they failed to mention significant information about HSBCs contribution to carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions. The lender has previously been targeted by campaigners because it is one of the biggest funders of fossil fuels. HSBC argued that its strategy was aligned with global goals for reaching net zero carbon emissions, and referred to reports which claim that fossil fuels will still be important as industries transition from carbon-intensive energy production to new greener methods. But the ASA rejected HSBCs arguments, stating that unqualified claims could mislead if they omit significant information. Consumers would assume from the adverts that HSBC was making a positive overall environmental contribution, the regulator said. But they would not necessarily understand that the bank was simultaneously involved in the financing of businesses which made significant contributions to carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, it added. The ruling means that banks will have to be extremely careful when making any claims about their environmental ambitions. Companies across every industry are under increasing pressure to display their ESG (environmental, social and governance) credentials. But this is drawing the attention of regulators, who suspect that many companies may be exaggerating how green they are in the hope of attracting more investors and customers. Americas financial watchdog, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has fined the Bank of New York Mellon over claims that it falsely implied some of its funds had undergone ESG quality reviews. And it is probing Goldman Sachs over whether some of its funds, which have clean energy or ESG in the title, are living up to their name. In the UK, the Competition and Markets Authority has warned businesses that it is cracking down on so-called greenwashing, and has initially targeted the fashion ranges of Asos, Bohoo and Asda. And Shell was ordered by a Netherlands court to cut its carbon emissions sooner than planned. HSBC has already caused a stir in the ESG world, after Stuart Kirk then-head of responsible investments at the banks asset management arm said earlier this year: Who cares if Miami is six metres underwater in 100 years? He later left the bank after being suspended, claiming that there was too much groupthink in the industry. Facebooks owner has been ordered to sell moving images platform Giphy. The UKs Competition and Markets Authority told Meta to reverse the 2020 takeover. The ruling came amid fears the US social media giant could block or limit rivals access to Giphys moving images, which are known as gifs. The UKs Competition and Markets Authority has ordered Facebook-owner Meta to reverse the 2020 takeover of Giphy The watchdog also argued that the 350million deal would reduce innovation in the advertising market. The CMA first ordered Meta to sell Giphy last year. It has now reissued the order after Meta lost an appeal against the initial decision. Responding, a spokesman for Meta said: We are disappointed by the decision but accept the ruling as the final word on the matter. We will work closely with the CMA on divesting Giphy. The ruling was the first time Britain has blocked an acquisition by a US tech giant signalling a new determination to scrutinise digital deals. Stuart McIntosh, who led the investigation, said: This deal would significantly reduce competition in two markets. Asos suffered an 89 per cent drop in adjusted pre-tax profits last year, resulting in an operating loss of nearly 10million. The group's reported pre-tax loss of 32million was worse than the companys forecasts, and compares to a profit of 177million a year earlier. Asos bosses told investors on Wednesday it needed to address problems with its supply chain, refresh its culture, cut costs and alter is offerings to customers. Results: Online fashion firm Asos has slumped to an annual loss it announced today The online fashion retailer also confirmed it had secured new terms with its lenders on a 350million borrowing facility. Asos shares rose sharply today and were up 10.83 per cent or 53.04p to 543.04p in early morning trading. Boss Jose Antonio Ramos Calamonte, said: 'ASOS is a strong business with a compelling brand, customer offer and fashion credibility, with dedicated and passionate employees. 'Against the backdrop of an incredibly challenging economic environment, this unique combination has enabled our business to deliver a resilient performance this financial year in the UK - but I know we as a Company can achieve far more.' In terms of how the group will seek to change its fortunes, Calamonte, said: 'In recent years, the quest for growth has resulted in ASOS becoming excessively capital intensive, too complex and overstretched globally, which has resulted in a lack of meaningful growth and scale in its key international markets of the US, France and Germany.' Aftermath: The likes of Asos and Boohoo struggled in the aftermath of lockdowns Operational changes will, Calamonte said, 'simplify the business...by improving our speed to market, reinforcing our focus on fashion, strengthening our top team and leveraging data and digital developments to better engage customers.' The group posted revenues growth of 1 per cent to 3.94billion in the year to the end of August. Asos, which also owns the Topshop and Miss Selfridge brands, said the first-half loss in its 2022-23 year would be exacerbated by elevated markdown to clear stock, with year-on-year declines in freight rates and cost mitigations expected to benefit the second half. It said while trading was volatile, September saw a slight improvement relative to August. 'Within the UK, ASOS expects a decline in the apparel market over the next 12 months but remains confident in its ability to take share against that backdrop,' it said. The group, whose shares have fallen 80 per cent this year, made an adjusted profit before tax of 22million in the year to 31 August, in line with guidance that was lowered last month and down from the pandemic boosted 193.6 million made in 2020-21. Online-based retailers like Asos and Boohoo fared well during the early phases of the pandemic, but started to struggle amid the reopening of stores after the ending of lockdown restrictions. Like other age groups, the demographic served by Asos and Boohoo is under pressure from the cost-of-living squeeze, while shoppers are returning significantly more products than during the pandemic. The group said the move to 'right-size' its stock portfolio in the first half would result in a non-cash write-off of between 100million to 130million. Capital expenditure is expected to be between 175million to 200million, down from the previously guided 200million to 250million. Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, said: 'With outlook comments which reflect the likely volatility and challenges in the immediate future, Asos finds itself at a crossroads and has announced a 12 month transformation plan which arches across the entire business. 'Such a sweeping transformation mid-stream is both ambitious and necessary. It will also bring execution risks as the company attempts to rebase its offering, and costs as the plan moves into more targeted areas, such as data-driven technology and marketing. 'It will also hope to repair some share price damage. Shares have declined by 81 per cent over the last year, as compared to a drop of 24 per cent for the wider FTSE 250, and by 90 per cent over the last two years. 'In that respect, the company almost has a clean slate from which to work. Perhaps unsurprisingly, general market views range from one extreme to the other, with the overall consensus of the shares coming in at a hold. To some extent, this tells its own story - the jury is out, the clock is ticking and the pressure is on for Asos to deliver its transformation aims and quickly.' A runner makes his way through the course during the 13th annual Oil Creek 100 Race on Saturday, Oct. 15. [October 19, 2022] Jay Dawdy Named CEO of the Year by Westfair Business Publications Gryphon Strategies, LLC (Gryphon), a global leader in investigations and business intelligence, today announced that its CEO and President Jay Dawdy, CFE, CMA, has been named CEO of the Year by Westfair Business Publications. Westfair honors and celebrates Westchester and Fairfield-based business leaders for their outstanding leadership, success, and community support with their annual C-Suite Awards. Gryphon was founded in 1989 as an insurance investigations firm and has been headquartered in Westchester County from the start. Jay joined Gryphon in 2000, became a partner, and is now the firm's President and CEO. Under Jay's leadership, Gryphon has expanded significantly, adding business lines and global offices. Gryphon's team of experts provides the local business community and global organizations with due diligence, litigation support and investigations, data mining and analytics, business intelligence and global strategic advisory services. Gryphon currently boasts over 80 employees with offices in Miami, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., London, and Buens Aires. "Jay's determination to deliver quality work to our clients is fierce. That is one of the reasons Gryphon has grown from just eight employees to over 80 in the past 14 years," said Josephine D'Ippolito, partner and Chief Operating Officer at Gryphon. "But his generosity and support for employees are just as strong. He not only cares about the work we do but the people behind what we deliver." Jay will be recognized at the Westfair C-Suite Awards Ceremony on Thursday, October 27 at 5:30 p.m. at The Stamford Hotel in Stamford, Connecticut. ABOUT GRYPHON Gryphon partners with clients across the globe to help them assess new opportunities and tackle their most complex problems, often in challenging and opaque markets. The company's diverse global teams bring deep expertise and a range of perspectives to their work in complex due diligence, internal investigations, cutting-edge data mining and analytics, litigation support, and global strategic and political risk advisory. With over 25 in-house language capabilities and country experts in offices in the U.S., UK, and Latin America they collaborate across the firm-supported by an extensive network of local contacts on the ground- to deliver powerful results that help clients gain an edge. More information about Gryphon can be found at www.gryphon-strategies.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005190/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Mary Kay Inc. Establishes the Business Case for Gender-Responsive Procurement at the Diversity Summit in Prague, Czech Republic A long-standing champion and global advocate for women's empowerment and gender equality, Mary Kay shared with transparency its gender-responsive procurement (GRP) global journey at the Diversity Summit in Prague, Czech Republic. Hosted by Startup Disrupt on September 13, 2022, at the newly renovated Clam-Gallas Palace, the summit was the largest European hybrid conference on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), bringing together more than 50 keynote speakers from the non-profit, government, and business sector. The event is held under the auspices of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Capital City of Prague, and the US Embassy in the Czech Republic. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005912/en/ "Studies show that women entrepreneurs tend to reinvest up to 90% of their earnings in their families and communities, thus linking inclusive economic growth directly to development," says Virginie Naigeon-Malek, Mary Kay Inc. Global Head of Sustainability and Social Impact. (Credit: Mary Kay Inc.) Speakers and thought leaders included the American space enthusiast Alyssa Carson, Helena Dalli, European Commissioner for Equality, Lenka Simerska from the Czech Republic Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Denisa Linhartova from the Czech Olympic Commission, economist Danuse Nerudova, Lea Lundblad from Apple, Rebeca Grattan from Avast, and Virginie Naigeon-Malek from Mary Kay Inc., sharing insights on key topics such as: Leveraging DEI Ecosystem with Business Goals; Developing and Sustaining DEI Company Culture; Inclusive Design and Innovation; Women's Empowerment. "The purpose of the Diversity Summit was for us to bring together some of the brightest minds in the private, public, and government sectors and to unite their voices in our unyielding rally towards gender equality not only in the Czech Republic and Europe but also all around the world. We know that reducing inequality boosts economies and develops lasting and robust societies that give all individuals - women and men - the opportunity to fulfill their potential," said Patrik Juranek, Founder and CEO of Startup Disrupt. Virginie Naigeon-Malek, the Global Head of Sustainability and Social Impact at Mary Kay Inc., was one of the featured keynote speakers on the topic of women's economic empowerment in which she built the business case for the inclusion of women suppliers of services and products into the global valuechain as a powerful strategy for companies to drive sustainable growth and social impact. UN Women defines gender-responsive procurement1 as "the sustainable selection of services, goods, or public works from women-owned or women-led enterprises and also gender-responsive businesses - those having gender-responsive policies and practices for employees and supply chains." In the Europe region, women account for less than a third of entrepreneurs. Studies show that even though women get half the investment capital compared to men, their companies deliver twice as much revenue for each dollar invested.2 "Investing in women-owned businesses and including them in the global supply chain is not only the right thing to do it is also the smart thing to do for corporations. As women suppliers win more business, their families, local communities, and national economies benefit. Studies show that women entrepreneurs tend to reinvest up to 90% of their earnings in their families and communities, thus linking inclusive economic growth directly to development. Women businesses need to have an equal footing while competing for contract opportunities," said Virginie Naigeon-Malek, Mary Kay Inc. Global Head of Sustainability and Social Impact. Watch the video to learn more about Mary Kay's commitment to Supplier Diversity & Inclusion (SDI) and gender-responsive procurement. "Building on the success of the Sustainable Future International Conference, we were delighted to partner once again with Startup Disrupt who's putting Diversity at the top of the global agenda, fostering dialogue across all stakeholders, and engaging our communities. We all need to work collectively with an innovative mindset to remove barriers to women's empowerment and equality," said Edita Szaboova, General Manager of Mary Kay Czech Republic and Slovakia. Did you know? Globally, 1 in 3 businesses are owned by women. Yet - on average, women-owned businesses globally win less than 1% of all procurement spend by large corporations and governments. Estimates suggest that corporate procurement offices manage an average of 64 percent of a company's total enterprise spend. Source: Vazquez, E.A & A.J. Sherman. (2013). Buying for Impact: How to Buy from Women and Change the World. Charleston, South Carolina: Advantage. ABOUT MARY KAY One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty company in 1963 with one goal: enriching women's lives. That dream has blossomed into a multibillion-dollar company with millions of independent sales force members in nearly 40 countries. As an entrepreneurship development company, Mary Kay is committed to empowering women on their journey through education, mentorship, advocacy, networking, and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in enriching lives today for a sustainable tomorrow, partnering with organizations from around the world focusing on promoting business excellence, supporting cancer research, advancing gender equality, protecting survivors of domestic abuse, beautifying our communities, and encouraging children to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com, find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or follow us on Twitter. ABOUT STARTUP DISRUPT Startup Disrupt was founded in 2020 and is dedicated to helping businesses and tech disrupters to change the 'old' way of thinking in industries, products, and services. We are a future-oriented group of passionate startup enthusiasts who want to help a new generation of startup founders, engineers, developers, tech innovators, and others to succeed. The purpose of Startup Disrupt is to become a startup platform designed to provide knowledge, inspiration, and connection to entrepreneurs, startup founders, technology innovators, and startup communities all over the world. For more information, visit https://www.startupdisrupt.com/. 1 UN Women. (2022). "Procurement's Strategic Value: Why Gender-responsive Procurement Makes Business Sense." New York: UN Women. 2 "Funding Women Entrepreneurs: How to Empower Growth." (June 2020). Prepared for: The European Commission By: Innovation Finance Advisory. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005912/en/ [October 19, 2022] MiX Telematics Sets Second Quarter Fiscal 2023 Conference Call for October 27, 2022, at 8:00 a.m. ET and 2:00 p.m. SAST MiX Telematics Limited (JSE: MIX) (NYSE: MIXT) ("MiX Telematics" or the "Company"), a leading global SaaS provider of connected fleet management solutions, will hold a conference call on Thursday, October 27, 2022, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern time and 2:00 p.m. South African time to discuss its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2023, which ended September 30, 2022. The results will be reported in a press release prior to the conference call. MiX Telematics management will host the conference call and simultaneous webcast, followed by a question-and-answer period. Date: Thursday, October 27, 2022 Time: 8:00 a.m. Eastern time and 2:00 p.m. South African time U.S. dial-in: 1-877-451-6152 International dial-in: 1-201-389-0879 South Africa dial-in: 0-800-983-831 Conference ID: 13733661 Please call the conference telephone number five minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Gateway Investor Relations at 1-949-574-3860. A ive audio webcast of the conference call will be available in listen-only mode simultaneously and available for replay here and via the investor relations section of the Company's website at www.mixtelematics.com. A telephonic replay of the call will also be available after 11:00 a.m. Eastern time on the same day through Thursday, November 3, 2022. U.S. replay dial-in: 1-844-512-2921 International replay dial-in: 1-412-317-6671 Replay ID: 13733661 About MiX Telematics MiX Telematics is a leading global provider of fleet and mobile asset management solutions delivered as SaaS to 838,300 global subscribers spanning more than 120 countries. The Company's products and services provide enterprise fleets, small fleets and consumers with solutions for efficiency, safety, compliance and security. MiX Telematics was founded in 1996 and has offices in South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uganda, Brazil, Australia, Romania and the United Arab Emirates as well as a network of more than 130 fleet partners worldwide. MiX Telematics shares are publicly traded on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE: MIX) and MiX Telematics American Depositary Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MIXT). For more information, visit www.mixtelematics.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005292/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 18, 2022] Rivada Space Networks Signs MoU with Quantum Encryption Leader SpeQtral to Develop Ultra-Secure Communications for Government & Enterprise Worldwide SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rivada Space Networks GmbH, a global network company launching a constellation of 600 low-earth-orbit satellites (LEO) to enable secure, global connectivity for governments and enterprises, today announced it has signed a partnership agreement with SpeQtral, an emerging leader in quantum-secure communications systems. Our world is increasingly data-driven, cloud-based and cybersecurity conscious, creating an ever-growing demand to upgrade the networks that transport data around the globe. And with the geopolitical and cybersecurity threats of recent months, we are increasingly looking to the new low-earth-orbit (LEO) constellations and a fundamentally different network architecture to provide connectivity that meets today's demands for security, latency, throughput, reach and mobility. Quantum-secure communications systems and specifically Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology are seen as crucial elements in the development of forthcoming highly secure, satellite-enabled connectivity networks. QKD uses quantum entanglement to distribute encryption keys to secure communications networks. SpeQtral's QKD technology platform enables the creation and distribution of computationally uncrackable encryption keys, by leveraging the laws of physics instead of computational algorithms. Rivada Space Networks (RSN) is partnering with SpeQtral to demonstrate the technical compatibility of adding a QKD encryption layer to enhance the security of communications over low earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations. In 2024, RSN will start the launch of its 600-satellite laser-connected constellation with four precursor satellites and SpeQtral will launch its QKD satellite, SpeQtral-1. This will allow RSN and SpeQtral to jointly establish quantum-secure data links over the RSN precursor satellites and validate both the space and ground station terminals required for QKD-enabled encrypted traffic on the Rivada Space Networks constellation. Chune Yang Lum, Co-founder and CEO of SpeQtral, said: "We are delighted to work with international partners to employ SpeQtral-1 for the demonstration of ultra-secure communications, executing on our vision to realise global QKD. We have had strong synergies with our partners thus far and are excited to bring our technology one step closer to enabling telecommunication network providers to incorporate a valued-added quantum security feature to their offering". Severin Meister, CEO of RIvada Space Networks GmbH added: "Recent events in Ukraine have demonstrated that we are increasingly reliant on the commercial satellite sector and in particular new satellite constellations to provide high-performance, resilient communications infrastructure. Security is a key attribute of Rivada's unique gateway-less architecture and we believe leveraging quantum technlogy will enable us to deploy the most secure communications network in the world. Meister continued: "Trialing this innovative new technology here in Germany is extremely important for us as we recently joined the EU's multi-stakeholder Secure Connectivity Programme, and we are excited to add quantum encryption capability to the provision of an independent and secure communications infrastructure for Europe". * Rivada Space Network Chief Operating Officer, Mark Rigolle outlined Rivada's game-changing connectivity network with all its advantages for enterprise and government communications at the Asia Pacific Satellite Communications Council (APSCC) annual gathering of the Asia Pacific satellite and space community taking place in Seoul. Register to listen to the livestream and learn more about the opportunities for secure data communications in Asia at the session on Tuesday 18th October, 14:00 Satellite Constellations #APSCC. To meet with Rivada, email [email protected] NOTE TO EDITORS Rivada Space Networks representatives will be at APSCC in Seoul from 18-20 October. To arrange an interview, please contact Melanie Dickie. Email: [email protected] About Rivada Space Networks (www.rivadaspace.com) Rivada Space Networks GmbH is a disruptive new company set to establish and operate the first truly global low latency point-to-point connectivity network of LEO satellites. By connecting its satellites with lasers, Rivada Space Networks will provide resellers and B2B customers with the ability to securely connect any two points on the globe with low latency and high bandwidth. The constellation of 600 low-earth-orbit communications satellites will represent a fundamental change in the availability of secure, global, end-to-end enterprise-grade connectivity for Telecom, Enterprise, Maritime, Energy and Government Services markets. Rivada Space Networks is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rivada Networks, Inc. www.rivada.com About SpeQtral (www.speqtral.space) There is a tremendous need for robust technologies and systems that can handle the significant security challenges posed by quantum computing innovation. Supported by a world-class, multidisciplinary team of quantum scientists, cryptographers and engineers, SpeQtral is on a mission to secure the world's networks for the fast-approaching quantum revolution. Media Contacts: Brian Carney, SVP Corporate Communications Rivada Networks, Inc Tel: +1 (207) 256-0386 Email: [email protected] Anna Erhardt, Head of Corporate Communications Rivada Space Networks GmbH Tel: +49 1517 24 97 010 Email: [email protected] Melanie Dickie, Director MPD Communications Tel: +31 6 14 22 97 62 Email: [email protected] Joanne Liao, Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships SpeQtral Tel: +65 93695066 Email: [email protected] Follow Rivada Space Networks on: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/rivada-networks/ Twitter: @rivadaspace View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rivada-space-networks-signs-mou-with-quantum-encryption-leader-speqtral-to-develop-ultra-secure-communications-for-government--enterprise-worldwide-301652826.html SOURCE Rivada Space Networks [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] SMBC Continues Growth With New Human Resources, Strategy & Transformation Appointments SMBC, a member of SMBC Group, announced today the appointment of Robin Milberg as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and Paul Sweeney as Head of Strategy & Transformation. Both report to the SMBC Group in the Americas Chief Operating Officer, Debbie Freer. "Our company is growing exponentially and having the best leadership is critical. Both Robin and Paul bring decades of experience to their new roles, having finely honed their skills within their respective areas of expertise," COO Freer said. "Our promise is that we will learn our client's unique business needs. This hands-on, relationship-based approach differentiates us, but is also predicated on a skilled and engaged workforce following and building upon a common strategy. Robin understands the need for a diverse and inclusive workplace to best serve both our clients and employees. Paul's approach to strategy and transformation epitomizes a comprehensive and effective approach focused on execution," added Freer. Robin joined SMBC in September 2015 and is a seasoned HR executive who brings deep experience within financial services. As CHRO, Robin is responsible for developing and implementing the overall HR strategy for the Americas, including the full life cycle of the employee experience and ensuring the supporting HR technology, data, and operations are effective and efficient. She acutely understands the need for her team to partner with the business and use their expertise to support growth within the organization. Most recently, Robin was Managing Director and Head of HR for SMBC, where she led the daily operations of the HR team. She oversaw significant organizational change and executive level hiring, and led the team charged with developing new HR policies and processes to meet increasing industry regulatory requirements. Prior to SMBC, Robin was with the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) in its Corporate and Institutional Banking division for eight years, where she gained a deep understanding of HR's role as a business partner with specific and necessary kills. She held positions of increasing responsibility, including Managing Director and Senior HR Business Partner for Markets, in the company's London, England and Stamford, Connecticut offices. Before RBS, Robin worked for General Electric, Inc. for 10 years in various HR roles. Robin earned her Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of Connecticut. Paul joined the company in September 2019 as the lead transformation program manager responsible for securing cost reduction and enabling improved profitability and scalability while enhancing internal controls. Since December 2021, he has also served as the Head of the Americas Division Corporate Services Group, inclusive of Corporate Real Estate & Facilities, Operational Resilience, and Procurement. In this role, he led this group's transformation through the identification and delivery of functional enhancements that support SMBC's business strategy. In addition to his oversight of Corporate Services, Paul was appointed Head of Strategy & Transformation, where he will be accountable for the strategic transformation of the organization in the Americas to align with U.S. regulatory requirements, including combined U.S. operations and bank holding company structuring. Before SMBC, Paul spent 14 years at JPMorgan Chase Asset Management, where he most recently led the transformation of its design, delivery, and maintenance of financial management information systems with a focus on controls, operational leverage, streamlined processes, and data quality. He also served as CFO of JPMorgan Chase Asset Management's Global Investment Management Operations, where he developed strategic goals for the organization and established, tracked, and reported on financial targets aligned with those goals. Paul earned an MBA from Fordham University's Gabelli School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Providence College. About SMBC Group SMBC Group is a top-tier global financial group. Headquartered in Tokyo and with a 400-year history, SMBC Group offers a diverse range of financial services, including banking, leasing, securities, credit cards, and consumer finance. The Group has more than 140 offices and 86,000 employees worldwide in nearly 40 countries. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG) is the holding company of SMBC Group, which is one of the three largest banking groups in Japan. SMFG's shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and ADRs on the New York (NYSE: SMFG) stock exchanges. As of June 30, 2022, its total assets were $1.97 trillion. In the Americas, SMBC Group has a presence in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. Backed by the capital strength of SMBC Group and the value of its relationships in Asia, the Group offers a range of commercial and investment banking services to its corporate, institutional, and municipal clients. It connects a diverse client base to local markets and the organization's extensive global network. The Group's operating companies in the Americas include Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC), SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., SMBC Nikko Securities Canada, Ltd., SMBC Capital Markets, Inc., SMBC Rail Services LLC, Manufacturers Bank, JRI America, Inc., SMBC Leasing and Finance, Inc., Banco Sumitomo Mitsui Brasileiro S.A., and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Co., Ltd. For more information, please visit www.smbcgroup.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005279/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] Two CIBC leaders named among Canada's Most Powerful Women TORONTO, Oct. 19, 2022 /CNW/ - Today, CIBC celebrates two exceptional leaders on being named recipients of this year's Women's Executive Network (WXN) Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards. Kikelomo Lawal, Executive Vice-President and Chief Legal Officer was selected in the Professionals Award category. For more than 25 years, Kikelomo has worked as a lawyer both on Wall Street and Bay Street, as in-house counsel, and currently leads our global Administration team, while overseeing our enterprise-wide Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy. She also believes in paying it forward and is dedicated to mentoring others and giving back to the community. Melanie Au, Senior Director, Sales Origination and Strategy, Personal and Business Banking, was selected in the Canadian Tire Community Impact Award category which honours women leaders who strive to make a difference in their communities. Melanie has volunteered in her community for many years. Whethr serving weekly hot meals at The Sharing Place or providing professional expertise as Vice Chair for The Scott Mission, Melanie is a passionate advocate for vulnerable individuals and families across the Greater Toronto Area. "We are incredibly proud of the contributions these two exceptional women make to our bank and their communities," said Victor Dodig, President and CEO, CIBC. "They continue to move our bank forward, inspiring others along their journey, and living their purpose both in the workplace and in their communities." This year's award recipients join CIBC's Laura Dottori-Attanasio, Christina Kramer, Sandy Sharman and Veni Iozzo, who have received recognition in previous years and who are current members of the WXN Hall of Fame. The Women's Executive Network's Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 awardsTM celebrates the professional achievements of female leaders across Canada in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. They are presented to outstanding women in thirteen different categories with the winners selected by WXN's Diversity Council of Canada. A complete list of recipients is available on the Women's Executive Network website. As a proud WXN Partner, CIBC's support is aligned with the bank's commitment to creating the necessary conditions and opportunities for women to thrive and succeed in leadership positions. About CIBC CIBC is a leading North American financial institution with 13 million personal banking, business, public sector and institutional clients. Across Personal and Business Banking, Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, and Capital Markets businesses, CIBC offers a full range of advice, solutions and services through its leading digital banking network, and locations across Canada, in the United States and around the world. Ongoing news releases and more information about CIBC can be found at www.cibc.com/en/about-cibc/media-centre.html. SOURCE CIBC [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] UnitedHealthcare Awards More Than $180,000 in Community Grants to Support Behavioral and Maternal Health in New Mexico As part of an ongoing effort to address vital social determinants of health across New Mexico, UnitedHealthcare has awarded three New Mexico-based organizations $188,000 in community grants to address behavioral and maternal health in local communities. "A community-based approach which addresses the unique needs of community members is critical to reducing health disparities and achieving health equity in underserved populations," said Drew Peterson, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community & State of New Mexico. "UnitedHealthcare is committed to supporting local organizations through grants which address social determinants of health and foster improved health outcomes for the people of New Mexico." The grant recipients include: New Mexico Doula Association - $50,000 to provide access to doula care for women and other pregnant people with financial need, promoting expanded maternal care in rural and frontier communities and a reduction in the maternal mortality rate. New Mexico Perinatal Collaborative - $40,000 to support and expand a statewide initiative with 27 birthing facilities. The initiative helps improve the health of and outcomes for pregnant families and their infants by promoting safe birthing best practices through a focus on quality improvement strategies and training for facilities, doctors, nurses, midwives and other perinatal care providers. National Latino Behavioral Health Association - $98,000 to launch trainings for behavioral health bilingual language interpreters, and two eight-week youth cohort groups focused on reducing risk factors in the onset of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use. "Resourcing New Mexico's communities by directly supporting prevention services and the state's behavioral health workforce are excellent strategies in building capacity of the behavioral health system in New Mexico," said Fredrick Sandoval, executive director, National Latino Behavioral Health Association. "With the funding received from UnitedHealthcare, we are able to enhance current evidence-based prevenion programs to help reduce the onset of substance use and other stressors among New Mexico youth." According to the New Mexico Human Services Department, New Mexico experiences a higher maternal mortality rate of 21.5 deaths per 100,000 live births compared to the national average of 17.4 deaths per 100,000 live births. Increased access to necessary maternal and doula care can help identify and solve for the most common challenges facing women and other pregnant people, infants and birthing families, including mental health conditions, cardiac conditions, embolism and hemorrhage. "The funding from UnitedHealthcare for New Mexico Perinatal Collaborative supports perinatal health care providers across New Mexico - particularly those in rural areas who have limited access to critical training and continuing education - by helping them improve outcomes for families in their local communities," said Jennifer Mastripolito, executive director, New Mexico Perinatal Collaborative. "Through this opportunity, we are able to mobilize a doula workforce which is an essential part of the birth team that improves both maternal health outcomes and helps families thrive," said Melissa Marie Lopez, executive director, New Mexico Doula Association. UnitedHealthcare's commitment to addressing social determinants of health by supporting community-based initiatives is a continuing priority. In 2021, UnitedHealthcare provided $2.85 million to the March of Dimes to fund hospital quality improvement initiatives as part of a public-private partnership to address Black maternal health. Additionally, the company's Empowering Health grants have invested $40 million to expand access to care through partnerships with local communities in 29 states since 2018. In New Mexico alone, UnitedHealthcare has provided several grants to local organizations including those addressing affordable housing, food insecurity and nutrition assistance in underserved communities, bringing the company's investment in the state to more than $380,000. UnitedHealthcare serves more than 205,000 members enrolled in employer-sponsored, individual and Medicare and retirement plans in New Mexico, with a network of 41 hospitals, and over 11,000 physicians and other care providers statewide. For more information on how UnitedHealthcare is working to build healthier communities across New Mexico, visit www.uhccs.com/NewMexico. About UnitedHealthcare UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making the health system work better for everyone by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. In the United States, UnitedHealthcare offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 1.5 million physicians and care professionals, and more than 6,700 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. The company also provides health benefits and delivers care to people through owned and operated health care facilities in South America. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified health care company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow @UHC on Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005209/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 18, 2022] CGTN: China emphasizes education, sci-tech, talent in modernization drive BEIJING, Oct. 18, 2022 /CNW/ -- In Xi Jinping's report made at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), he dedicated a part to a long-standing strategy that is aimed at talent cultivation. Titled "Invigorating China Through Science and Education," the strategy was unveiled in 1995 and has been enriched with the infusion of new insights contained in a series of policies rolled out since then. "Education, science and technology, and human resources are the foundational and strategic pillars for building a modern socialist country in all respects," Xi said. Innovative power China put unprecedented effort into innovation in the past decade, and there are many clear examples of the country's innovative power in that time: world-class supercomputers, a domestically built space station and the manned submersible Fendouzhe (Striver), which set national diving records in the deepest part of the ocean. China's sci-tech progressed faster in the last 10 years than any other decade in history, according to Vice Minister of Science and Technology LiMeng. The current annual spending on research and development (R&D) is 2.7 times that of 2012. China rose to 11th on the Global Innovation Index 2022, up from 12th last year, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) last month. "We will open up new areas and new arenas in development and steadily foster new growth drivers and new strengths," Xi said. Better education Innovation is the result of well-educated talents. To develop education that meets the people's expectations, Xi said China will "move faster to build a high-quality educational system, advance students' well-rounded development, and promote fairness in education." "As a university professor, the most important thing is cultivating talent, because in fact, the core element of innovation is talent," Xie MingYong, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a delegate to the congress, told CGTN. Education in China at all levels has approached or exceeded the average level of middle- and high-income nations, with compulsory schooling reaching the intermediate level of high-income countries, according to data from the Ministry of Education. In 2021, there were 18.44 million full-time teachers at all levels and in all types of schools nationwide, an increase of 26.2 percent over 2012. Link: https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-10-18/China-emphasizes-education-sci-tech-talent-in-modernization-drive-1eeOR3XC9uU/index.html View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cgtn-china-emphasizes-education-sci-tech-talent-in-modernization-drive-301652966.html SOURCE CGTN [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 18, 2022] Mobile Game Company Wemade Play will participate in G-STAR 2022 with affiliated companies SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wemade Play (the representative Hodae Lee, www.wemadeplay.com) announced on October 18th that it will participate with its affiliates in 'the G-STAR 2022' BTB (Business to Business) event, an international game exhibition held in November in BEXCO located at Busan, South Korea. Wemade Play will introduce 'Anipang Club', the NFT-based global mebership service, and the advertising monetization business which has been praised for creating the most successful in-game advertising business in South Korea. And, Wemade Connect, which is servicing Korea's representative mobile SNG 'Every Town', etc. including 'ABYSSRIUM', an idle game which has been enjoyed by 60 million people around the world, also plans to see global developers while introducing P&E games and mobile games in various genres. Hodae Lee, the representative of Wemade Play said, "it is expected that three companies including Korea's national game developer 'Wemade Play' and others will make an opportunity for the best cooperation and mutual growth with various partners while introducing the strengths of each company such as the NFT membership, the advertisement business, the P&E business, etc. in this G-STAR 2022. The BTB event of G-STAR 2022 that three companies Wemade Play, Play Links and Wemade Connect prepared a large event hall with 20 booths will be held for three days from November 17 to 19, 2022. Wemade Play, which was established in 2009, is a developer of Korea's national game and most famous puzzle game 'Anipang' series. Since a success in the in-game advertising business based on 'Anipang' series, the company has been preparing the development of a global service of 'Anipang Club', the NFT-based membership using Anipang IP. SOURCE WEMADE PLAY [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 18, 2022] Experience "Collaboration, Anywhere" with MAXHUB at InfoComm Southeast Asia 2022 SINGAPORE, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MAXHUB, a leader in audiovisual technology and a trusted business partner, will be showcasing its latest corporate solutions at InfoComm Southeast Asia (SEA) 2022. Find it at booth A10 from 2-4 November at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC) in Thailand. Learn more about its premium products and be among the first to experience some of the brand-new devices built for collaboration, anywhere. Engage First-Hand with MAXHUB's Latest Solutions MAXHUB's High-Performance Interactive Flat Panel (IFP) Series Be one of the first to experience the latest version of the IFP solution a complete upgrade to the V5 series at the MAXHUB booth. Not yet launched globally, visitors will enjoy a sneak peek into its standou features, including next-level writing interaction, and a top-notch presentation and audiovisual experience. Both the V5 and new IFP series, powered with an Intel Core Processor, will be on display at InfoComm SEA where we'll be putting the devices through their paces. The high-performance Intel processor, designed for intelligent performance and immersive visuals, guarantees 4K, ultra-HD quality, robust multitasking capabilities, and creative freedom. MAXHUB is an Intel Titanium IoT Solutions partner, signifying exceptional business and technical skills, and proficiency in developing advanced solutions using Intel technologies. MAXHUB's Digital Signage The Ultimate Conferencing Display Solution The newly launched Digital Signage will make its Bangkok debut at the InfoComm SEA exhibition. Purpose-built to make every team meeting more effective, this best-in-class 4K conferencing solution enhances efficiency under all conditions. Thanks to safe, wireless screen-sharing, the display amplifies productivity and team engagement in every space. Digital Signage makes teamwork easy in small huddle-room environments while commanding attention in boardroom-sized venues. Equally powerful in open spaces, this versatile MAXHUB device offers solutions in a variety of meeting settings. It's also a cost-competitive solution, perfect for small-to-medium companies hosting local and remote collaboration and brainstorming sessions. MAXHUB's Top-of-the-Range Integrated LED Wall Raptor Series A ground-breaking achievement in collaboration, the MAXHUB Integrated LED Wall Raptor Series is an incredible all-in-one solution. The integrated studio-quality speaker enhances voice intelligibility, while its cutting-edge operating system supports an improved overall performance. All of this is packed into a lightweight, ultra-thin packaging, sporting a sleek fabric design. Enjoy stunning 4K visuals, sensational color accuracy, and amazing depth that will help maximize impact. Plug-and-play installation with simple maintenance means you can enjoy the perfect presentation or communication experience with minimal setup time. Total Solutions for Every Workplace Scenario Experience collaboration, anywhere with MAXHUB and its total-solution offering. Streamline your communications and empower your employees to achieve greater levels of productivity and efficiency with our advanced, premium technologies. SOURCE MAXHUB [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 18, 2022] VIMTA forays into Electrical and Electronics Products Testing Sets up a world-class Lab for Electrical & Electronics Products Testing and Certifications to support the 'Make in India' mission (including Medical Devices) HYDERABAD, India, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- VIMTA Labs, a leading Life Sciences Contract Research and Testing Organization in India, inaugurated its state-of-the-art EMI/EMC Lab at Neovantage Park (MN Park), Genome Valley in Hyderabad. The facility was inaugurated by Shri. K.T. Rama Rao, Hon'ble Minister for IT, Industries, MA & UD, Govt of Telangana, in the presence of Shri Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary (I & C), Shri. E V Narasimha Reddy, Vice Chairman & MD, TSIIC, Shri Shakti M Nagappan, Director Life Sciences & Pharma, Govt. of Telangana; Dr. S P Vasireddi, Chairman, Ms. Harita Vasireddi, Managing Director and other senior Management of VIMTA. The lab is equipped to handle advanced and complex testing to support the Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) requirements of Active Medical Devices, Wireless, Defense, and other electronic Industrial sectors. Hon'ble Minister, Mr. K.T. Rama Rao said, "I am pleased to launch Vimta Labs EMI/EMC testing facility at Genome Valley, the global powerhouse of Life Sciences. This facility will complement the existing world-class infrastructure at Genome." Speaking on the occasion, Dr. S. P. Vasireddi, Chairman, VIMTA Labs said," VIMTA is driven by quality as its core value and we are constantly focused on building an ecosystem to support the Life Sciences industry products development and compliance; be it food or pharmaceuticals or medical devices, etc. We see that over the last few years, the Indian ESDM sector has witnessed a significant shift from basic testing to areas such as product development, original design manufacturing, and others. Our foray into EMC testing aims to cater to the growing needs of the life sciences and biomedical industries for precision testing. The advanced semi-anechoic lab will help position India as a global leader in EMC testing." Adding to this, Ms. Harita Vasireddi, Managing Director, VIMTA Labs said, "As the policy focus shifted to encourage 'Make in India' for medical equipment, defense, electric vehicles, etc., we could identify the need for a world-class testing facility to support the mission. We acquired EMTAC Laboratories in 2020 to expand our service offerings to these industries. With our vast experience in the laboratory business, we identified the need for VIMTA to further expand its capabilities and become strategically equipped to offer the best E&E testing facilities which are in accordance with applicable national and international standards. We are further planning to invest up to Rs.70 Crores in the next 5 years to create more testing infrastructure. Our labs offer operational excellence in terms of multifunctional testing, testing for equipment with unique or advanced features, and a range of testing solutions to diverse verticals in the ESDM sector." Corporate video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKDkx2MiJbA Website : - www.vimta.com About Vimta Labs Ltd. Making a positive impact on the wellbeing of human lives has inspired every aspect of VIMTA's work. Whether it is diagnostic testing or helping launch new drugs or testing their safety and efficacy, testing quality of food products or environment testing, offering new information through data, or ensuring the safety of devices, VIMTA is an organization that is driven by quality and inspired by science. The industries served include bio/pharmaceutical companies, governmental agencies, food manufacturers & business operators, physicians and other healthcare providers, hospitals, patients, consumers, electronics & electrical product/component manufacturers, and a wide spectrum of industries. It serves customers across the globe and is reputed for its quality. Vimta Labs, Est. in 1984, with headquarters in Hyderabad, is listed on Indian stock exchanges - BSE & NSE under the ticker symbol VIMTALABS. Media Contact: Anurag Kumar Konnections IMAG [email protected] +91-8686072400 Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1924061/Vimta_Labs.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] NSI Global Counter Intelligence Officially Rebrands to NSI Global SYDNEY, Oct. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, NSI Global Counter Intelligence is proud to announce its Rebranding to NSI Global and the relaunch of its new corporate website www.nsi-globalcounterintelligence.com. The rebranding to NSI Global better reflects the growth of its global network and its significant expansion in the provision of highly specialised services in the world of Risk Management and Intelligence. NSI Global provides Counterintelligence, Counterterrorism Intelligence, Counterinsurgency Intelligence, Cyber Threat Intelligence, Risk Advisory, Geopolitical Risk, Technical Surveillance Counter Measures, Digital Forensic Incident Response, Offensive Cyber Security, Communication Security, Enhanced Due Diligence, Litigation Support Servics, and Advanced Government Only Technologies. NSI Global helps protect its clientele from financial loss and reputational damage and provides invaluable intelligence to protect its people and their business. "We are trusted advisors to private, high/ultra-high-net-worth individuals, top-tier law firms, multinational corporations, and government. We deliver the results our clients need to build organizations that are secure, compliant, and resilient in an era of ever-increasing risk. We believe the rebrand to NSI Global and relaunch of our corporate website better reflects our greatly expanded specialised service offering," said Claude Khoury, COO of NSI Global. "In today's volatile world and due to the speed at which threats arise, it is important for the individual, risk professionals, C-Suite executives, diplomats, and government officials to be able to navigate these risks in their global environment. Our firm will guide you in taking proactive countermeasures, making informed strategic decisions, and most importantly, help you ensure the security of your most valuable assets. As we have for more than two decades, NSI Global will continue to protect, serve, and secure our loyal clientele's peace of mind and inform their futures. We invite potential clients to visit our new website to view our greatly expanded range of services and get in contact for a confidential meeting," said Navid Sobbi, CEO of NSI Global. About NSI Global NSI Global is a Risk and Intelligence Advisory firm. For over two decades they have built a reputation for consistently managing large-scale projects involving complex and sophisticated threat mitigation. NSI Global is trusted by Governments, Law Enforcement, Multinational Organisations, and High/Ultra-High-Net-Worth Clients, to advise them on all aspects of Information Risk, Operational Risk, Cyber Risk, Corporate Risk, and Economic Espionage Risk. Their clients trust them to uncover vulnerabilities and threats and provide guidance on the most important aspects of their business. SOURCE NSI Global [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] German-Based Logistics Powerhouse FIEGE Logistics Acquires World Fashion Logistics, Establishing Foothold In Southeast Asia's Fast-Expanding Logistics Landscape The acquisition will allow World Fashion Logistics, now listed as Fiege Far East (Singapore) to tap into the established robust infrastructure and expertise of FIEGE Logistics in its operations and services SINGAPORE, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- FIEGE Logistics, one of the top-growing German-based logistics powerhouses, has announced its acquisition of home-grown logistics provider World Fashion Logistics. Following the acquisition, World Fashion Logistics will now be listed as Fiege Far East (Singapore) an integrated logistics service provider to top global retail B2B and B2C clients in the fashion lifestyle, consumer product, and industry logistics with in-depth expertise in connecting brands and consumers across channels. The acquisition arrives with FIEGE Logistics exploring avenues of diversification to bolster its presence and positioning in the Southeast Asia retail-logistics landscape. CFO of FIEGE Logistics, Alfred Messink, said: "Asia is fast gaining traction as the most lucrative market for major brands, especially in luxury, athleisure, and street fashion markets that Fiege Far East (Singapore) operates in. Despite widespread perceptions that the pandemic has decimated the retail sector, consumer demands have increased in particular markets such as luxury fashion, making it clear that efficient and up-to-date solutions are indispensable in the logistics market. Therefore, it is strategic for us to expand our operations in the region to present solutions that add value to the ecosystem." The company believes that the acquisition will further contribute to the increase in efficiency level, improved business operations, and risk management for Fiege Far East (Singapore). With a comprehensive range of integrated end-to-end solutions, Fiege Far East (Singapore) is well positioned in the business logistics chain, given that it supplies innovative and streamlined solutions that assist business owners to receive ther merchandise, stock keeping, and quality check, as well as distributing them to their customers (B2C) or to their storefront (B2B). For e-commerce clients, the company facilitates the complete e-commerce process by storing goods, packing, and tapping into their robust carrier network. Meanwhile, for business stakeholders, Fiege Far East (Singapore) supplies storage solutions for major manufacturing companies, as well as fashion and lifestyle companies. In storage, Fiege Far East (Singapore) also provides added services such as quality control, assembly of parts, labelling, and timely delivery to the desired locations connecting the optimal IT solutions to offer a digital experience and transparency across the entirety of the supply chain. "Our holistic approach and customer-centric solutions empower our clients to be more focused on their core competencies such as manufacturing, selling, and running stories by taking over their logistics operations. The current e-commerce wave has retailers fixated on managing and scaling their businesses. Fiege Far East (Singapore) operations will harmoniously complement retailers' business efforts while relieving retailers from logistical concerns in the equation." shared Gianmaria Betertti, Managing Director of FIEGE Logistics. As an e-commerce leader, the acquisition enables Fiege Far East (Singapore) to diversify its operations and expand its retail-logistics footprint in Southeast Asia, in addition to its existing strong clientele base of world-renowned luxury fashion labels and lifestyle retail chains. With the acquisition, a more standardised e-commerce solution will soon be introduced, enabling Lean Management and reengineering operational processes. For more information, please visit www.fiege.com About FIEGE Logistics The FIEGE Group, headquartered in Greven in Westphalia (Germany), is one of Europe's most innovative logistics companies. A workforce of over 23,000 employed at 133 locations based in 16 countries back FIEGE and its international operations in core markets across all of Europe, and all the way to Asia. FIEGE is a fifth-generation family business that is regarded as a pioneer of contract logistics. Its modular solutions in Logistics, Digital Services, Real Estate and Ventures form the essence of its business activities. In 2021, the FIEGE Group generated 1.8 billion euros in turnover while overseeing more than four million square metres of logistics space. For more information, please visit www.fiege.com . About Fiege Far East (Singapore) FIEGE Far East (Singapore) was set up in Asia in 2005 (Formerly known as World Fashion Logistics), by Gianmaria Beretti (Managing Director of FIEGE Logistics) who brought with him from Italy a specialized management team and his thirty years' experience in the logistics industry for the fashion market to build a successful enterprise. The business underwent rapid growth and expanded its range of service from quality control and restoration to optimizing costs solutions, complete fulfillment service (Inbound/Storage/Outbound) for omnichannel retailers in B2B & B2C, reverse logistics and distribution. Today, FIEGE Far East (Singapore) incorporates the expertise built through extensive years spent working for the fashion industry, consumer product and industry logistics with a global geography coverage. FIEGE Far East (Singapore) is the ideal logistics partner to any fashion, consumer product and industry logistics customers. We stand out for our care towards each customer's needs, our constant search for innovative solutions, and our use of tools and technology to provide real-time information on our operations SOURCE FIEGE Logistics [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] Checkout.com launches Fraud Detection Pro to combat rise in online fraud Online fraud increased by 285% 1 in 2021, with businesses over the year losing $20bn 2 to online payments fraud globally. By 2025, businesses are expected to lose $206bn to payments fraud Checkout.com's Fraud Detection Pro is a state-of-the-art solution, with its machine learning engine studying billions of transactions and enabling merchants to benefit from Checkout.com's global network effect, alongside a set of sophisticated risk tools to block fraud and identify genuine customers In 2022 Checkout.com's Fraud Detection solution saved merchants over $1.95bn in potential fraudulent losses LONDON, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Checkout.com , the cloud-based payments service provider, today announces the next evolution in the fight against fraud with Fraud Detection Pro, a fully flexible solution used by businesses such as Curve and Delivery Hero to solve the rising problem of online payments fraud and optimise revenues. As the trend of consumers shopping and managing their finances online continues to grow, online fraud is increasingly impacting businesses. In 2021 online fraud increased by 285%, with businesses globally losing $20bn and, in the UK alone, 1.3bn was defrauded from businesses over the year. The problem shows no signs of slowing down with businesses expected to lose $206bn by 2025 due to payments fraud, and according to Checkout.com's State of Retail report, 25% of eCommerce companies around the world are experiencing a significant rise in fraud and chargebacks. A state-of-the-art solution for a growing problem New types of fraud such as bot attacks, account takeover and synthetic identities are continuously emerging and are more sophisticated than ever as they evolve to overcome existing fraud solutions. For businesses who accept online payments, it is critical to have robust systems in place to quickly block fraud, while reducing friction for genuine customers. Philip Quinn, Senior Product Operations Manager at Curve, said "Fraud is unfortunately an inevitable part of rocessing payments, as fraudsters continue to evolve their strategies and become increasingly creative. We need to maintain as much control as we can and be fully prepared to respond quickly and with precision. Checkout.com's Fraud Detection Pro solution is like using a scalpel, compared to some of the other tools in the market that are more like a sledgehammer. Using our own data and specific rules, the solution is fully customisable and can easily adjust to new threats, which means I have one less thing to worry about. It's a tool we really trust." Checkout.com's Fraud Detection Pro is the next evolution in fraud detection solutions, providing merchants with sophisticated decision strategies, flexible rules and the ability to build unique customer segments for a more granular approach to assessing and routing transactions. Merchants using Fraud Detection Pro are able to leverage Checkout.com's network effect, as its machine learning sees billions of transactions, enabling merchants to greatly benefit from Checkout.com's advanced velocity in tackling new and emerging fraud. "With billions of dollars being spent online every year we are seeing payments fraud becoming increasingly sophisticated, making robust online fraud prevention and identity verification critical," said Ido Lustig, VP of Risk and Identity Product at Checkout.com. "As one of the leading payment service providers to global businesses, we are continuously investing in deep capabilities dedicated to mitigating fraud risk and enhancing authentication. Our innovative solutions allow merchants to take complete control of their customer journeys to deploy either rules-based or dynamic machine-learning authentication strategies. Our recent acquisition of Ubble, a leading identity verification provider and continued investment in this space will add significant value to our fraud management suite over the coming years." This announcement follows Checkout.com's recent update to its Authentication solution, helping merchants combat fraud and optimise their revenues, alongside the launch of Integrated Platforms , a fully flexible, bespoke solution to support marketplaces and sellers in an evolving digital economy. Fraud Detection Pro is now available for all merchants globally. To learn more about how Checkout.com is helping businesses combat fraud, visit our Fraud Detection webpage About Checkout.com Checkout.com is a global payments solution provider that helps businesses and their communities thrive in the digital economy. Purpose-built with performance, scalability and speed in mind, our modular payments platform is ideal for enterprise businesses looking to seamlessly integrate better payment solutions. With a global team spread across 19 offices worldwide, we offer innovative solutions that flex to your needs, valuable insights that help you get smart about your payments' performance, and expertise you can count on as you navigate the complexities of an ever-shifting world. Find out more at www.checkout.com . 1 Is fraud outpacing fintech?, Fintech Futures 2 Value of e-commerce losses to online payment fraud worldwide in 2020 and 2021, Statista Press Contact: [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/checkoutcom-launches-fraud-detection-pro-to-combat-rise-in-online-fraud-301653219.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] Celebrate the Festival of Lights with a Tastefully Curated Diwali Gifting Range from Ferns N Petals (FNP) The brand is expecting a growth of 60% for its Diwali Gifting category Diwali collection is available in over 120+ countries on www.fnp.com Recently, FNP has rolled out a brand new Diwali campaign NEW DELHI, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ferns N Petals (FNP) India's leading new-age gifting brand celebrates Diwali with an exquisite range of gifting options. Capturing the spirit of love, everlasting light and joy, FNP brings an exclusively curated Diwali collection which brightens homes and brings sweetness during this joyous time of the year. With the onset of the festivity, FNP has also rolled out a touching brand film on #DiwaliRishtonWali that celebrates the beauty of human emotions and strong relationships #KijiyeDilSeDelivery. Keeping in mind the festive needs of it's discerning customers, the brand has thoughtfully curated and packaged over 200 exclusive gift hampers with options and combo deals starting from INR 399 to INR 4999. This Diwali, FNP patrons can choose from a wideassortment of traditional gifts ranging from cakes, flowers, indoor plants, statues of deities, traditional hand painted diyas, dry fruits, personalized gifting, rejuvenating spa hampers, healthy savouries and much more. Touching millions of hearts of non-resident Indians, the exclusive Diwali collection is also available in 120+ countries where customers can place orders from the comfort of their homes. Mr Anand Shankar, General Manager, Category FNP said, "The market is teaming with countless players both online and offline selling Diwali products. The festival of lights is one of the most significant occasions at FNP. Convenience, quality, experience and value added products remain our key focus. While sweets, dry fruits and savouries rules the roost, we are seeing a gradual shift towards non-perishable, value-based, utilitarian products like electronic gadgets and personalised items for gifting purpose. We have also curated the finest range of flower arrangements and premium range of gift hampers for our discerning consumers." For customers looking for novel items fnp.com has a selection of perfumes, grooming kits, electronic gadgets, toys, games, watches, men's accessories, conscious hampers and indulgence sets, plants and much more from brands like Kesar, Choko La, Davidoff, Park Avenue and more. Order Diwali gifts online for loved ones using FNP's express delivery services. About the Company Ferns N Petals (FNP) came into existence the year 1994 and has now grown to be the largest gifting portal in India in the last 27 years. The journey started with a single store under the entrepreneurship of Mr. Vikaas Gutgutia, which has now emerged as a reputed brand with 12 verticals under the FNP World. Today, the brand leads the floral, gifting and cakes industry with over 400+ outlets in more than 125+ cities Pan-India. Lighthouse India Fund III has recently invested INR 200 crore (USD 27 Million) in the company. Recently, the brand joined the most coveted platform International Film Academy Awards 2022 (IIFA Awards) as official Gifting Partners held in Abu Dhabi. The 12 verticals are FNP Retail & Franchising: FNP E-commerce India | UAE (Dubai, Qatar, KSA) | Singapore, FNP Cakes, FNP Venues, FNP Weddings & Events, FNP Floral Touch - UAE, WDH (Wedding Design Hub), Flowers 'N' More, FNP Flagship, FNP Media, Last Journey (into funeral services) and BabyBless (into baby planning services). Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1924764/Diwali_Gifts.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1832266/Ferns_N_Petals_New_Logo.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] Indian Ambassador to US Taranjit Singh Sandhu visits Chandigarh University, Gharuan CHANDIGARH, India, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "There is huge demand of Indian professionals amongst the US Companies especially in the field of Science & Technology," says Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Indian Ambassador to US. "We made the US Officials realize the importance of Indians who go to United States specially the professionals in the field of Stem (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) who bring value and competitive edge to them. About two third of the total Indians who travel to the US on various type of visas belong to the field of science and technology," said Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Indian ambassador to US while replying to the question of the long US visa delays problem. Indian High Commissioner at US was speaking during his visit to the campus of Chandigarh University, Gharuan. Sandhu further added that, "After the issue of visa delays was taken up by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar with his counterpart during his recent visit to US, the situation has started improving. In a recent information released by US ambassy in India, more than one lac appointments of H and L workers has been recently released and with this waiting time for US visas will drastically come down for the Indians." "The Indian professionals are in great demand amongst the US Companies because they have excelled in the field of STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)," added Sandhu. He further said that, "Young universities like Chandigarh University should create specialised domains such as space technology, information technology, agriculture, mathematics and other areas where the expertise o Indians have been acknowledged at global level. This will create a space where international students can be attracted from all over the world to come and study in India." While giving details about US students coming to India, Indian Ambassador to US said, "Recently the US Department of State has launched Gandhi-King scholarship exchange initiative under which number of US students can come and study in India. This scholarship also allows the faculty to visit Indian universities under the exchange programs and joint research initiatives." Under the importance of New Education Policy, Ambassador Sandhu said, "Indian universities should reach out to international universities for various initiatives such as setting up of offshore campuses of global universities at the existing campuses at Indian varsities. Campus to campus relations, twin programs and joint research initiatives are some of the key areas which needs to be addressed by the Indian universities to work upon globalisation of Indian education." While replying to the question of global standing of India, Taranjit Singh Sandhu said, "The global image of India has improved under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, as many global leaders have approached our Prime Minister to resolve international issues including establishment of peace and stability in the world." He further added that, "There is yet another dimension of Indian presence at global level, where through its state of the art technology, Indian has managed to become a manufacturing hub in various spheres specially in the field of medicine and healthcare. During the recent pandemic, India not only was amongst the first few nations, which produced their own vaccines, but India emerged as a global manufacturing hub of Covid vaccines for other nations. Currently, there are three US vaccines for Covid 19, which are being produced in bulk in India, and that resulted in providing the Covid vaccination to poor countries like Africa, Latin America, Indo Pacific countries at a reasonable price. Understanding its global obligations, India also supplied Covid vaccination to more than 100 countries under its 'Vaccine Maitri' program. All these efforts have improved the global positioning of India and now, the world looks with hope and positivity towards India whenever there is a global crisis." The Indian ambassador to US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu visited Kalpana Chawla Space Research Centre where he interacted with the students, who are working on the 75 students satellite program. The ambassador also visited Technology Business Incubator where he interacted with the young entrepreneurs of the Chandigarh University. Satnam Singh Sandhu, Chancellor Chandigarh University said, "It's a matter of great pride that a Punjabi is representing India at United States as an ambassador. We interacted with the Indian ambassador about the possibilities of the collaboration with US universities under the New Education Policy, that can help our students to attain global exposure. We also apprised the Indian ambassador to US about the current 30 + collaborations of Chandigarh University with the reputed US universities and colleges." About Chandigarh University Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade University and an autonomous educational institution approved by UGC and is located near Chandigarh in the state of Punjab. It is one of the youngest universities in India and one of the only private universities in Punjab to be honoured with A+ Grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). CU offers more than 109 UG and PG programs in the field of engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and others. It has been awarded as The University with Best Placements by WCRC. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1924780/Taranjit_Singh_Sandhu.jpg Media Contacts: Prabhdeep Singh [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] Global Laboratory Information Management System/LIMS Market to Grow with a CAGR of ~12% During 2023 - 2033, backed by the Increasing Role of Technology in the Healthcare Industry across the Globe - Kenneth Research New York, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kenneth Research has published a detailed market report on Global Laboratory Information Management System/LIMS Market for the forecast period, i.e. 2023 2033 which includes the following factors: Market growth over the forecast period Detailed regional synopsis Market segmentation Growth drivers Challenges Key market players and their detailed profiling Market Scope of Global Laboratory Information Management System/LIMS: Market Size Value in 2022 (Base Year) ~ USD 1 Billion Market Forecast Value in 2033 ~ USD 3 Billion Growth Rate (CAGR) of Laboratory Information Management System/LIMS Market (Global) ~12% Forecast Period of Laboratory Information Management System/LIMS Market (Global) 2023 2033 Global Laboratory Information Management System/LIMS Market Size: The global laboratory information management system/LIMS market is estimated to garner a revenue of around USD 3 billion by the end of 2033 by growing at a CAGR of ~12% over the forecast period, i.e., 2023 2033. Further, the market generated a revenue of nearly USD 1 billion in the year 2022. The primary factors driving the growth of the global laboratory information management system/LIMS market are the significant role of technology in the healthcare industry, and worldwide growth in the healthcare industry. For instance, there is a significant presence of hospitals in countries worldwide. As of 2020, the number of hospitals in Japan was more than 8200, while the count in the United States (U.S.) came up to 7000. The global market is further expected to be propelled by factors, such as, increased use of data analytics in labs, growth of automation in health care, and increasing digitalization across various enterprises around the world. Get a Sample PDF of This Report @ https://www.kennethresearch.com/sample-request-10008208 Global Laboratory Information Management System/LIMS Market: Key Takeaways The North America region to gain the largest portion of the revenue by 2033 The cloud-based sub-segment to dominate the revenue graph The hospitals & clinics sub-segment remains prominent in the end user segment Rapid Digitalization across Various Sectors around the World to Boost Market Growth The increasing demand to rise productivity rate across various enterprises, and increased insistence on ensuring regulatory compliance and preventing errors are expected to be responsible factors to drive the growth of the global laboratory information management system/LIMS market. For healthcare industry, LIMS services offer improved visibility and control required for managing changes associated with the complexity of patient data environment. It was noted that, enterprises across the globe, faced an average of 20 security breaches in 2020 and this number is estimated to grow over the forecast period. Hence, this is expected to fuel the growth of the global market significantly over the forecast period. In addition to this, digitalization across various sectors has been increasing throughout the years and is expected to increase even more over the projected years. Along with that, expenditure behind digitalization is also growing rapidly. For instance, nearly 65% of the worlds Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is predicted to be digitized by 2022, and digitally transformed organizations are projected to contribute to more than half of the global gross domestic product (GDP) by 2023, accounting for nearly USD 54 trillion. Hence, this is estimated to be a major factor to propel the growth of the global laboratory information management system/LIMS market. To Gain MoreInsights into the Global Laboratory Information Management System/LIMS Market Analysis, Browse Summary of the Research Report @ https://www.kennethresearch.com/report-details/laboratory-information-management-system-market/10008208 Global Laboratory Information Management System/LIMS Market: Regional Overview The global laboratory information management system/LIMS market is segmented into five major regions including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa region. Technological Advancements in Cloud Based Services to Propel the Market in the North America Region The market in the North American region is projected to hold the largest market share by the end of 2033. This can majorly be ascribed to the increase in the number of healthcare facilities opting for cloud-based services in order to reduce their cost. Moreover, cloud friendly policies and laws by the government are adding to the market growth in the region. Furthermore, the U.S in the North America region is one of the countries with the best cloud based strategies. As per the U.S. Department of the Interior, a cloud smart strategy was introduced in the year 2018 that provides guidelines related to security, labor skills and procurement for faster cloud adoption. Moreover, technical advancements in cloud- managed systems and enterprise Internet of Things (IoT) applications, and being a highly developed region in healthcare industry are estimated to be prime factors to fuel the growth of the laboratory information management system/LIMS market in North America region. Rapid Development in Healthcare Infrastructure to Favor Market Growth in the Asia Pacific Region On the other hand, market in the Asia Pacific region is estimated to witness a significant growth during the forecast period. The market growth can be majorly attributed to rapid development in healthcare infrastructure, along with the governments support to digitalized services. Moreover, increasing funding in healthcare infrastructure, and increasing health expenditure in regional GDP are expected to influence the growth of the laboratory information management system/LIMS market. As per The World Bank, in the year 2019, share of global health expenditure in East Asia & Pacific region accounted to 6.67% of GDP. Get a Sample PDF of Global Laboratory Information Management System/LIMS Market @ https://www.kennethresearch.com/sample-request-10008208 The study further incorporates Y-O-Y growth, demand & supply and forecast future opportunity in: North America (U.S., Canada) Europe (U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Hungary, Belgium, Netherlands & Luxembourg, NORDIC [Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark], Poland, Turkey, Russia, Rest of Europe) Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Rest of Latin America) Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Rest of Asia-Pacific) Middle East and Africa (Israel, GCC [Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman], North Africa, South Africa, Rest of Middle East and Africa). Global Laboratory Information Management System/LIMS Market, Segmentation by Deployment Type Cloud-Based Delivery Mode On-Premises Delivery Mode Web-Based Delivery Mode The cloud-based segment is anticipated to hold the largest market size by the end of 2033. This can be accredited to the lower cost and high rate of awareness among different sectors related to the cloud, increasing internet penetration among individuals across the globe. According to The World Bank, individuals using the internet was 40% of global population in 2015, and in 2020, the percentage had increased to 60% of global population. Access full Report Description, TOC, Table of Figure, Chart, etc. @ https://www.kennethresearch.com/sample-request-10008208 Global Laboratory Information Management System/LIMS Market, Segmentation by End-User Hospitals & Clinics Pharmaceuticals Companies Contract Research Organizations Others The hospitals & clinics segment is estimated to hold a substantial market share in the laboratory information management system/LIMS market during the forecast period. The growth of the segment can be accredited to the existence of a huge patient pool in the hospital facilities requiring clinical treatment. Furthermore, rising healthcare expenditure per capita worldwide is also estimated to propel the growth of this segment. According to the data by The World Bank, as of 2019, current health expenditure per capita among the global population was USD 1,121.97. Global Laboratory Information Management System/LIMS Market, Segmentation by Component Software Services Few of the well-known market leaders in the global laboratory information management system/LIMS market that are profiled by Kenneth Research are Abbott Laboratories, Autoscribe Informatics, Illumina, Inc., LabLynx LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System), LabVantage Solutions Inc., LabWare Ltd, Agilent Technologies, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific, PerkinElmer Inc., Siemens, and others. Do You Have Any Query or Specific Requirement? Ask to Our Expert: https://www.kennethresearch.com/sample-request-10008208 Recent Developments in the Global Laboratory Information Management System/LIMS Market In August 2022, Matrix Gemini version 6.5 was released by Autoscribe Informatics with new web browser applications to satisfy the changing needs of contemporary laboratory informatics systems. In June 2022, in order to improve lab operations and eliminate errors, LabVantage Solutions Inc. announced that it has signed a contract with Holo4Labs (H4L) to integrate H4L's mixed reality software solution with its cutting-edge LIMS platform. Browse More Related Reports: One-Step ELISA Market Analysis by Application (Hospitals & Clinics, Diagnostic Centers, Pharmaceutical Companies, and Research Centers); by Sample Type (Tissue Lysate, Plasma, & Serum, and Others); and by Target Molecule (Insulin, Albumin, IgG, TNF Alpha, Lysozyme, IL-6, and Others)-Global Supply & Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2022-2031 Mental Health Software and Devices Market Segmentation by Component (Software, and Devices); by Software Delivery Model (Subscription, and Ownership Model); by Functionality (Clinical, Administrative, and Financial Functionality); by Mode of Access (Desktops/Laptops, and Tablets/Smartphone); and by End-User (Community Clinics, Hospitals, Private Practices, and Home Care Settings)-Global Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2020-2030 Nutraceutical Excipients Market Analysis by Product Type (Binders, Disintegrants, Fillers & Diluents, Coating Agents, and Flavoring Agents, Lubricants, and Others); by End Use (Prebiotics, Probiotics, Proteins & Amino Acids, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Vitamins, Minerals and Others); and by Form (Dry and Liquid)-Global Supply & Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2022-2031 Vapor Deposition Market Analysis by End-Use (Automotive, Electrical & Electronics, Aerospace, and Others); by Process Type (Physical, and Chemical Vapor Deposition); and by Application (Medical Devices, and Equipment, Microelectronics, Decorative Coatings, Cutting Tools, and Others)-Global Supply & Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2022-2031 Digital Pathology Market Analysis by End User (Pharma & Biotech Companies, Hospitals & Clinics, and Diagnostic Labs); by Application (Disease Diagnosis, Teleconsultation, Drug Discovery, and Others); and by Product Type (Software, Scanner, Storage, Artificial Intelligence, and Others)-Global Supply & Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2023-2033 About Kenneth Research Kenneth Research is a leading service provider for strategic market research and consulting. We aim to provide unbiased, unparalleled market insights and industry analysis to help industries, conglomerates and executives to take wise decisions for their future marketing strategy, expansion and investment, etc. We believe every business can expand to its new horizon, provided a right guidance at a right time is available through strategic minds. Our out of box thinking helps our clients to take wise decision so as to avoid future uncertainties. Contact for more Info: AJ Daniel Email: [email protected] U.S. Phone: +1 313 462 0609 Web: https://www.kennethresearch.com/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] Global Home Healthcare Services Market to Acquire an Impressive Revenue by 2033 and to Grow with a CAGR of ~9% During 2023-2033; Rising Demand for Personal Care for Geriatric Population to Elevate Market Growth - Kenneth Research New York, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kenneth Research has recently published a detailed market report on the Global Home Healthcare Services Market for the forecast period, i.e., 2023-2033 which includes the following factors: Market growth over the forecast period Detailed regional synopsis Market segmentation Growth drivers Challenges Key market players and their detailed profiling Global Home Healthcare Services Market Size: The global home healthcare services market is to acquire a notable revenue by 2033 and grow at a CAGR of ~9% during the forecast period. In addition, the market garnered significant revenue in 2022. The demand for personal care for the aged population is the major factor driving the market expansion. The rising geriatric population worldwide enhances the market expansion. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that by 2030, every 6th individual in the world to be 60 or older. The public health insurance investments made by the government are helping to fuel the expansion of the global home healthcare services market. In 2019, 10.52% of Norways GDP was spent on the healthcare sector. In addition, the European Commission spent about USD 1062.1 billion, or roughly 8.2% of its GDP on public health in 2020. The market will continue to rise as more people are diagnosed with diseases such as diabetes, kidney, heart and dementia. For instance, by 2030, it is expected to be 643 million diabetics worldwide, and by 2045 it is predicted to be 783 million. Get a Sample PDF of This Report @ https://www.kennethresearch.com/sample-request-10352449 Global Home Healthcare Services Market, Key Takeaways North American region gains the largest portion of the revenue The dialysis equipment segment to influence the revenue graph The nursing care segment retains a sizable presence in the market Growing Aging Population and Rising Incidence of Lifestyle Diseases to Accelerate Market Expansion The geriatric population needs special care for their health, and since many older people are unable to travel to the hospitals or have no one to drive them there, home healthcare services are crucial. Therefore, the need for home healthcare services increases as the ageing population grows. The number of individuals 65 and over worldwide was 703 million in 2019, and the United Nations projects that number to reach 1.5 billion by the year 2050. People are at a high risk of getting lifestyle-based disorders such as diabetes, cardiac diseases, kidney failures, high cholesterol, hypertension, and others owing to their sedentary and obese lifestyles WHO estimates that 422 million people worldwide have diabetes causing 1.5 million fatalities. In addition, 17.9 million people worldwide die from cardiovascular disorders each year, making them the leading cause of mortality. Global Home Healthcare Services Market: Regional Synopsis The global home healthcare services market is segmented into five major regions including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa region. Browse to access an In-depth research report on Global Home Healthcare Services Market with detailed charts and figures: https://www.kennethresearch.com/report-details/home-healthcare-services-market/10352449 Increasing Prevalence of Alzheimers Disease and Growing Elderly Population to Fuel the Asia Pacific Market By 2033, it is predicted that the North American market to have the biggest market share. North American markets are expected to grow as a result of the ageing population in the region. In the United States, there were 54.1 million people aged 65 and older as of July 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The need for home care services rises owing to an increase in Alzheimers disease prevalence. Over 6.5 million U.S. citizens have Alzheimers disease. Thi figure is anticipated to grow to around 13.5 million by 2050. Growing Geriatric Population and Rising Hospital Expenses to Boost the APAC Market On the other hand, the Asia Pacific (APAC) market is anticipated to experience rapid expansion. Home healthcare products and services are becoming more popular as a result of factors such as inadequate healthcare infrastructure, exorbitant in-hospital treatment centres, chronic conditions that require extensive care, and a growing geriatric population. In 2020, there were around 265 million people aged 60 and older (19% of the overall population) and 191 million persons aged 65 and above (14%). Businesses are also focusing more an emphasis on underdeveloped nations such as China and India. For instance, Apollo Homecare offers reliable plans for a number of categories including maternal and infant care, geriatric care, cardiac and lung rehab and many more. These programs offer individualized healthcare services and medical oversight. In addition, out-of-pocket spending in China was 35.23% in 2019 and is predicted to increase in recent years. Get a Sample PDF of the Global Home Healthcare Services Market @ https://www.kennethresearch.com/sample-request-10352449 The study further incorporates Y-O-Y growth, demand & supply and forecasts future opportunities in: North America (U.S., Canada) Europe (U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Hungary, Belgium, Netherlands & Luxembourg, NORDIC [Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark], Poland, Turkey, Russia, Rest of Europe) Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Rest of Latin America) Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Rest of Asia Pacific) Middle East and Africa (Israel, GCC [Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman], North Africa, South Africa, Rest of the Middle East and Africa) Global Home Healthcare Services Market, Segmentation by Product Peak Flow Meters IV Equipment Coagulation Monitors Dialysis Equipment Over the forecast period, the dialysis equipment segment is expected to expand at a considerable CAGR. The increase in the number of persons with kidney issues and failures fueled the development of the segment. In the United States in 2018, there were close to 37 million residents, 1 in 7 of whom had renal disease, and around 2 in 1,000 individuals had end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), kidney failure where the solution could be transplant or dialysis. An estimated 2 million people worldwide suffer from kidney disorders. Access full Report Description, TOC, Table of Figures, Chart, etc. @ https://www.kennethresearch.com/sample-request-10352449 Global Home Healthcare Services Market, Segmentation by Type Physician Care Nursing Care Occupational & Speech Therapy Physical Medical Social Services Others The nursing care segment is anticipated to hold a substantial market share during the forecast period. In-home care services are used by 65.5% of people. At some period in their life, a large number of people require long-term nursing care. Long-term nursing care services may be needed by the geriatric population, sick or handicapped adults, disabled children, and children with special needs, including those who are chronically or terminally ill. 71% of adults who turn 65 eventually require long-term care. Up to 31 million individuals in the U.S. is predicted to be needed long-term care services by 2050. Global Home Healthcare Services Market, Segmentation by Payer Private Health Insurance Public Health Insurance Personal Savings A few of the well-known market leaders in the global home healthcare services market that are profiled by Kenneth Research are Amedisys, Inc., LHC Group Inc., Brookdale Senior Living Inc., Trinity Health, AccentCare, Inc., BAYADA Home Health Care, Kindred at Home, Home Instead, Inc., Sompo Care Inc., Extendicare, Inc., and others. Enquiry before Buying This Report @ https://www.kennethresearch.com/sample-request-10352449 Recent Developments in Global Home Healthcare Services Market On February 3 rd , 2022, Extendicare Inc. stated that it had reached a deal with Sienna-Sabra LP to sell its 1,048 senior living units in Saskatchewan and Ontario for USD 307.2 million. On June 30th,2021, Amedisys Inc. stated that it would strategically acquire Contessa health for USD 250 million in order to expand its home-based hospital services to include tech-enabled, higher acuity hospitals with skilled nursing facilities. Browse More Related Reports: Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) Market Segmentation by Treatment (Plasmapheresis, Corticosteriods, and Intravenous Immunoglobulin); by End-Users (Clinics, Hospitals, Research and Academic Institutes, and Others); by Route of Administration (Injectable, and Oral)- Global Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2031 Mastitis Market Segmentation by Treatment (Antibiotics, and Others); by End User (Hospitals, Academic Institutes, Hospital & Clinics, and Others); and by Type (Clinical, and Sub-Clinical Intramammary Inflammation)-Global Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2031 Biologics Market Analysis by Product Type (Monoclonal Antibodies, Recombinant Proteins/Hormones, Vaccines, and Cell & Gene Therapy); and by Application (Cancer, Infectious Disease, Immunological Disorders, Haematological Disorders, Cardiovascular Disease, and Others)-Global Supply & Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2022-2031 Veterinary Ultrasound Market Segmentation by Product (Portable, Cart Based, and Software Ultrasound Scanners); by Animal Type (Large, and Small Animal); by Type (2-D, 3-D, and Other Ultrasound Imaging); and by End-Use (Veterinary Hospitals, and Clinics)-Global Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2031 Intracranial Pressure (ICP) Monitoring Market Analysis by Application (Traumatic Brain Injury, and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage); by End Users (Hospitals, Clinics, and Trauma Centers); and by Technique (Invasive, and Non-Invasive Monitoring)-Global Supply & Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2022-2031 About Kenneth Research Kenneth Research is a leading service provider for strategic market research and consulting. We aim to provide unbiased, unparalleled market insights and industry analysis to help industries, conglomerates and executives to take wise decisions for their future marketing strategy, expansion and investment, etc. We believe every business can expand to its new horizon, provided a right guidance at a right time is available through strategic minds. Our out of box thinking helps our clients to take wise decision so as to avoid future uncertainties. Contact for more Info: AJ Daniel Email: [email protected] U.S. Phone: +1 313 462 0609 Web: https://www.kennethresearch.com/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] UBCI BANK-Union Bancaire pour le Commerce et l'Industrie selects Finastra to provide next-generation digital customer experience Finastra's corporate banking solution will deliver deep functionality across trade and cash management services for UBCI customers in Tunisia LONDON, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Finastra today announced that Union Bancaire pour le Commerce et l'Industrie (UBCI), a large Tunisia-based corporate bank, has selected Finastra's Fusion Corporate Channels to support trade and cash management. The best-in-class digital banking offering will enhance the customer experience for the bank's corporate clients, while reinforcing its position as a leader in the market for transaction banking. Nadia Maslah, Chief Information Officer at UBCI, said, "Finastra's Fusion Corporate Channels stands out with its proven capabilities that support growth and corporate banking digitalization. The end-to-end automation of cash and trade services will enable our clients to grow their business through the highest quality digital experience. We look forward to building a new level of client satisfaction with Finastra's expertise and knowledge of the corporate banking market." Fusion Corporate Channels is an industry-recognized digital banking platform with deep functionality across corporate banking services. The solution delivers a single, intuitive portal to unify trade, cash, supply chain finance, lending, and treasury services for corporate clients, giving them the digital channel they need for a holistic view of their business that can be used on demand and on any device. "As one of Tunisia's most forward-thinking banks with a corporate banking platform, UBCI is paving the way for digital transformation of corporate banking in Tnisia," said Kamal El Khoury, Managing Director for Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, Lending at Finastra. "With our open banking architecture which enables a smooth integration, we look forward to helping UBCI enhance its operations and generate growth for the bank and its corporate clients alike." The solution is being implemented with Finastra's partner, Tesselate. To find out more about Fusion Corporate Channels, click here. For further information please contact: Sofia Romano EMEA PR Manager T +44 (0)7552 865009 E [email protected] finastra.com 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 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. About UBCI: Founded in 1961, UBCI has today 102 Branches and 112 ATMs operating all over the country within its main economic centers. UBCI offers a wide range of products and services for its Retail and Professional Clients covering their daily banking activities, project financing, insurance and wealth management. Also serving its Corporate and Institutional Clients, UBCI stands out in particular through its specialized teams in the fields of cash management, market activities, investment banking, international trade, financial engineering, leasing and factoring. Certified ISO 9001 for its international activities since 2002 and for its electronic banking activities since 2012, UBCI also pays particular attention to Corporate Social Responsibility issues. For more information, visit www.ubci.tn. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1916021/FINASTRA_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ubci-bank-union-bancaire-pour-le-commerce-et-lindustrie-selects-finastra-to-provide-next-generation-digital-customer-experience-301653349.html SOURCE Finastra [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] New Electoral District Software allows for Visualization of Boundary Changes CALGARY, AB and TORONTO, Oct. 19, 2022 /CNW/ - Election Assistant has released in beta a new federal electoral riding redistribution software package that allows pundits, journalists, activists, and political parties to visualize the voter base under the proposed redistribution of riding boundaries across Canada. "Every ten years the Canadian political world is thrown into a tailspin when the boundaries for electoral ridings change," says Election Assistant co-founder Terry Debono. "Political parties are left wondering if they will be able to hold onto their existing seats and what seats might be up for grabs based on the change in electoral boundaries. Election Assistant's software means you don't have to guess anymore." The software allows users to visualize the 2021 federal election results, as well as previous elections, over the new proposed 2025 boundaries for all 338 existing ridings in the country. The resulting maps can be used to determine which new seats will be in play for a political party, and where incumbent seats are safe, or made vulnerable by the changes. "Election Assistant is responding to challenges being expressed by activists and politicians, pollsters and pundits across Canada," says Shawn Veltman, co-founder, and lead software developer for Election Assistant. "There is a long period of limbo between when the Federal Electoral Districts team announces the intended changes and when Elections Canada can distribute new data to political parties and the public. Election Assistant can provide much of that data now, making it possible for savvy political organizers and others to get ahead of the redistribution curve." Election Assistant is a new enterprise, based in the Greater Toronto Region, and in Calgary, Alberta. "Our intent," says Veltman, "is to open registration to Election Assistant's comprehensive all-in-one election software package later this fall. Some of our existing clients asked for this riding redistribution visualization software now so they could plan door knocking in neighbourhoods that will be in their ridings once the new district confirmation is approved. We made time to provide them with what they needed." To arrange a walk-through of the software, or to investigate Election Assistants other "all-in-one" features email [email protected] SOURCE Election Assistant Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] Global Correctional Facilities Security Market to Grow at a Noteworthy CAGR during 2022-2031; Market to Expand on the Back of the Appalling Crime Rates across the World - Kenneth Research New York, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kenneth Research has published a detailed market report on Global Correctional Facilities Security Market for the forecast period, i.e. 2022 2031, which includes the following factors: Market growth over the forecast period Detailed regional synopsis Market segmentation Growth drivers and challenges Profiling of key market players Global Correctional Facilities Security Market Size: The global correctional facilities security market is estimated to garner a substantial revenue by the end of 2031 by growing at a noteworthy CAGR over the forecast period, i.e., 2022 2031. Further, the market generated a sufficient revenue in the year 2021. The security at correctional facilities keeps the staff and inmates safe in the setting. The growth of the global correctional facilities security market in the forecast period is to be mainly attributed to the appalling crime rates worldwide. For instance, According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime's 2019 Global Study on Homicide, 464,000 people died from violent crimes in 2017. Additionally, the average crime rate across the globe is about 45 crimes per 100,000 people. Furthermore, growing governmental actions to prevent crimes, organizing campaigns to spread awareness, and strict laws against accused persons are also expected to propel the growth of the global correctional facilities security market significantly over the projected period. Get a Sample Copy of This Report @ https://www.kennethresearch.com/sample-request-10073278 Global Correctional Facilities Security Market: Key Takeaways The North America region to gain the largest portion of the revenue by 2031 The video surveillance & analytics segment to dominate the revenue graph Electronic Monitoring segment remains prominent in the Life Outside of Prison Technologies segment Growing Crime Rates across the Globe to Boost the Market Growth It is observed that there are about 11 million new jail admissions yearly around the world. In the United States (U.S.) alone the population of prisoners in 2022 is nearly 2 million. The most common among the crimes in the world is larceny, which constitutes more than 1500 incidences per 100,000 people. In the U.S., nearly 16% of prisoners are serving time in prison for murder, while approximately 46% are imprisoned for drug offenses. Incarceration of offenders is done considering many factors, including punishment and justice. Thus, a correctional facility is considered a prerequisite for public safety, as incarcerating people committing crimes, especially ones of violent nature, ensures the safety of the rest of the society. Hence, frightening proportion of prisoners globally are expected to be a major factor to drive the growth of the global correctional facilities security market. In addition to this, high requirement for security in the prisons, increased use of drones are estimated to be responsible to propel the market growth. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, prisoners have been assigned different security levels for the safety of all federal inmates. These include minimum (14.6% of inmates), low (35.8%), medium (33.3%), high (12.5%), and unclassified (3.7%). Moreover, drones are increasingly being used for commercial purposes. Nevertheless, inadequate regulations often lead to their uncontrolled use. It was noted that, the number of drones in the U.S. for recreational flying has reached around 854 thousand units. This figure is apart from drones used by hobbyists, which need not be registered. The commercial drone registrations currently stand at around 320 thousand. The Federal Aviation Administration mandates registration of drone that weighs about 0.55 pounds or more with the authorities. Browse to access In-depth research report on Global Correctional Facilities Security Market with detailed charts and figures: https://www.kennethresearch.com/report-details/correctional-facilities-security-market/10073278 Global Correctional Facilities Secrity Market: Regional Overview The global correctional facilities security market is segmented into five major regions including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa region. Presence of a Vast Prison Network System to Fuel Market Growth in the North America Region The market in the North American region is projected to hold the largest market share by the end of 2031. The presence of a vast prison network system in the U.S. is considered the primary reason for the market growth in the region. It is estimated that ~21% of prisoners in the world are held in prisons in the U. S. As of 2022, the crime rate in the U.S. was determined to be nearly 48 occurrences per 100,000 people. Abject poverty, lack of opportunities for education and employment, abuse of alcohol and drugs, racial disparity, mental illness, and exposure to other offenders are common reasons for the high prisoner population and large prison system in the region. The immense need for a correctional facility leads to the growth of the correctional facilities security market in North America. It was observed that, as of July 2021, the United States had the highest number of incarcerated individuals worldwide, with almost 2.2 million people in prison. The U.S. was followed by China, Brazil, India, and the Russian Federation. Increasing Crimes against Women to Influence Market in the Asia Pacific Region It was noticed that, In China, 38 per cent of women experienced psychological violence by their own partners. In East Asia and the Pacific, women and girls make up 77 per cent of trafficked persons and the most frequently detected form of exploitation among trafficked persons in this region is sexual exploitation, making up 61 per cent of detected cases. Violence against women in the Asia-Pacific region is also perpetrated through sexual and street harassment, menstruation stigmatization and lack of access to hygiene products, forced marriage, digital harassment and cyber violence, marital rape and lack of access to justice and survivor-centred support systems. Hence, this is expected to drive the regional correctional facilities security market significantly. Furthermore, strict laws against violence against women are also expected to propel the market growth over the projected period. Get a Sample PDF of Global Correctional Facilities Security Market @ https://www.kennethresearch.com/sample-request-10073278 The study further incorporates Y-O-Y growth, demand & supply and forecast future opportunity in: North America (U.S., Canada) Europe (U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Hungary, Belgium, Netherlands & Luxembourg, NORDIC [Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark], Poland, Turkey, Russia, Rest of Europe) Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Rest of Latin America) Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Rest of Asia-Pacific) Middle East and Africa (Israel, GCC [Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman], North Africa, South Africa, Rest of Middle East and Africa). Global Correctional Facilities Security Market, Segmentation by Internal Security Technologies and Inmate Management Video Surveillance and analytics Prisoner Management Cell Phone Jamming Access Control RFID Scanners Hand-Held Metal Detectors Non-Metallic Detectors Radio Communication & Intercom Prison Cell Sensors The video surveillance & analytics segment is anticipated to hold the largest market size by the end of 2031. The market growth should be primarily attributed to the growth and the effective use of modern technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, deep learning, and computer vision technologies. For instance, the investment in AI has been increasing considerably. As of 2022, ~92% of top businesses invest in AI regularly. Access full Report Description, TOC, Table of Figure, Chart, etc. @ https://www.kennethresearch.com/sample-request-10073278 Global Correctional Facilities Security Market, Segmentation by Life Outside of Prison Technologies Electronic Monitoring The electronic monitoring segment is estimated to have a substantial growth over the forecast period. This growth can be primarily be ascribed to the growing electronics industry all over the world. For instance, it is estimated that, user penetration will be nearly 30% in 2022 and is expected to hit nearly 37% by 2025 in consumer electronics. Global Correctional Facilities Security Market, Segmentation by Contraband Smuggling Screening Technologies Metal Detectors X-Ray People Screening X-Ray Vehicles/Cargo Screening Vehicle Inspection Access Control Global Correctional Facilities Security Market, Segmentation by Perimeter Security Technologies Video Surveillance & Analytics Drone Security Counter-Drone Security Detection Sensors Physical security information management (PSIM) Few of the well-known market leaders in the global correctional facilities security market that are profiled by Kenneth Research are ADANI SYSTEMS, Inc., Advanced Perimeter Systems Limited, Black Creek ISC, Bosch Security Systems, LLC, CENTRALSQUARE, Costruzioni Elettroniche Industriali Automatismi C.E.I.A. SpA, Eagle Advantage Solutions, Inc., Geutebruck., Guardian Security Solutions, Montgomery Technology, Inc., and others. For More Information or Query or Required Customization @ https://www.kennethresearch.com/sample-request-10073278 Recent Developments in the Global Correctional Facilities Security Market In June 2022, The MIC IP Fusion 9000i 9mm camera was introduced by Bosch Security Systems, LLC which offers an enlarged thermal vision and 360-degree coverage in about 30 seconds. In November 2021, A The Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) policy is being fully complied with by the full-body scanners manufactured by ADANI SYSTEMS, Inc., which was awarded a multi-year, multi-milliondollar contract by the Ohio Department of Corrections (FBI). Browse More Related Reports: RF Cable Market for Aerospace & Defense Industry Segmentation by Cable Type (Coaxial, and Fiber Optic Cable); and by Application (Data, Video, and RF Transmission)-Global Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2020-2030 Global Maritime Patrol Aircraft Market Analysis & Outlook 2030 Global Instrument Landing System Market Analysis & Outlook 2030 Global Commercial Satellite Imaging Market Analysis & Outlook 2030 About Kenneth Research Kenneth Research is a leading service provider for strategic market research and consulting. We aim to provide unbiased, unparalleled market insights and industry analysis to help industries, conglomerates and executives to take wise decisions for their future marketing strategy, expansion and investment, etc. We believe every business can expand to its new horizon, provided a right guidance at a right time is available through strategic minds. Our out of box thinking helps our clients to take wise decision so as to avoid future uncertainties. Contact for more Info: AJ Daniel Email: [email protected] U.S. Phone: +1 313 462 0609 Web: https://www.kennethresearch.com/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] LambdaTest launches Voices of Community, a monthly talk with testing and QA experts from across the globe San Francisco, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LambdaTest , the leading continuous quality testing cloud platform, announced the launch of Voices of Community, a monthly talk with testing and QA experts from across the globe. The once-in-a-month free live webinar is hosted by Manoj Kumar, VP - Developer Relations, LambdaTest. Through Voices of Community , the organization hopes to bring experts together to talk about the lessons from the past, discuss the present scenario, and talk about where the industry is headed. The community is at the center of everything we do at LambdaTest. Voices of Community will bring community experts to talk on topics that they hold close to their hearts. These are people who have built the platforms and tools we use day in and day out at our jobs. We cant wait for the community to soak in all the learning, said Manoj Kumar. Manoj is also a member of the project leadership committee for Selenium and an Appium committer. In the first episode of Voices of Community, John Ferguson Smart, the author of the best-seller, BDD in Action, as well as Jenkins: The Definitive Guide and Java Power Tools and the creator of the Serenity BDD test automation framework joined Manoj. In the upcoming episode , the renowned testing icon and creator of Selenium WebDriver, Simon Stewart, will be joining in as the guest speaker. One thing that I learnt while working on Selenium is that community is the biggest factor for a project's success. More importantly, I learnt that community is also one of the biggest factors for personal success. Being able to listen and learn from other people's experience, applying lessons from their insights, learning about what works and what doesn't, and finding out about the trends in our industry helps us grow as developers and testers. That's why I'm excited to be part of "Voices of Community" by LambdaTest. I hope that you enjoy and learn from what this initiative will offer the testing community. Wishing them and you! every success and the best of luck! Onwards and upwards!, said Simon Stewart, Creator, Selenium WebDriver. The testing and developer landscape is always in a state of flux. Being a QA in today's digital-led world means that one has to reinvent themselves constantly. The community plays a vital role as people from different walks of life can influence and nudge you to stay constantly updated. Voices of Community by LambdaTest is a great initiative that will bring experts from within the community to share the lessons from the past, discuss the present scenario, and talk about where the industry is headed, said John Ferguson Smart, Creator, BDD Serenity. To explore more about the Voices of Community, visit here and to register for the upcoming session with Simon Stewart, visit here . About LambdaTest LambdaTest is the leading continuous quality testing cloud platform that helps developers and testers ship code faster. Over 10,000+ customers, one million users across 130+ countries rely on LambdaTest for their testing needs. LambdaTest platform provides secure, scalable, and insightful test orchestration for customers at different points in their DevOps (CI/CD) lifecycle:- ? Browser & App Testing Cloud allows users to run both manual and automated tests of web and mobile apps across 3000+ different browsers, real devices, and operating system environments. ? HyperExecute helps customers run and orchestrate test grids in the cloud for any platform and programming language at blazing-fast speeds to cut down on quality test time, helping developers build software faster. For further information please contact the LambdaTest press office: Bilal Mahmood on [email protected] or +44 (0) 20 3640 7759 and +44 (0) 771 400 7257. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] Genius Group Ltd. Announces 17.18% Revenue Growth in First Half of 2022 and Expansion of Gross Margin on a Pro Forma Basis to 48.49% Genius Group Limited ("Genius Group" or the "Company") (NYSE American: GNS), a leading entrepreneur Edtech and education group, today announced its financial results for the first half of 2022. Financial Highlights From the First Half of 2022 H1 2022 revenue growth to $7.44 million, 17.18% growth over H1 2021 and revenue of $16.57 million on a pro forma basis in H1 2022 H1 2022 gross margin of 29.97%, compared to 25.85% in H1 2021 and gross margin of 48.49% on a pro forma basis in H1 2022 H1 2022 net loss of ($3.50) million and net loss on a pro forma basis of ($2.61) million in H1 2022 H1 2022 EBITDA net loss of ($1.96) million compared to EBITDA net loss of ($0.62) million in H1 2021 and EBITDA net loss on a pro forma basis of ($0.95) million in H1 2022 Cash and equivalent as of June 30, 2022 of $7.58 million compared to $1.78 million as of December 31, 2021 Roger Hamilton, CEO of Genius Group, commented: "Through the first half of the year, Genius Group has continued to see strong demand, resulting in pro forma margin expansion and significant growth in the number of students visiting our platform. Individuals are increasingly turning to online learning to complement their education and acquire the digital skills required in today's economy, and this is reflected in our results." Operational Highlights The number of students grew to 2.8 million, which represents a 13% growth on an annualized basis. On a pro forma basis, Genius Group had a group user base of 4.2 million (students and users) at the end of H1 2022. The number of paying students grew to 39,124 since December 2021, a 9.44% annualized growth rate. On a pro forma basis, the company had 164,673 paying students and users. The number of partners grew to 10,622 since December 2021, a 7.9% annualized growth rate. On a pro forma basis, partners grew to 12,391 since December 2021. Other Recent Highlights Appointment of Richard Berman as Audit Committee Chair after he joined the Company's Board of Directors in January 2022 Appointment of Tim Murphy as Director and Head of Compliance Committee on the Board in September 2022 Appointment of Erez Simha as Chief Financial Officer to scale the company through both organic and inorganic growth Appointment of Rav Karwal as Chief Revenue Officer to lead revenue, sales, and other go-to-market strategies and ensure exceptional client experiences Acquisition of New Zealand-based Education Angels, a provider of in-home child care services, for US$1.9m Acquisition of South African-based E-Squared Education Enterprises, a full campus with primary, secondary and college education for students in entrepreneurship, for $2.6m Acquisition of U.S.-based University of Antelope Valley, accredited university in California, for $13m Acquisition of U.K.-based Property Investors Network, a provider of property investment education, for $19.1m Acquisition of U.S.-based Revealed Films Inc., media production company that specializes in multi-part documentaries, for US$10m Sold a senior secured convertible note with a principal amount of $18.1m for a purchase price of $17 million Financial Guidance We are maintaining our 2022 pro forma adjusted EBITDA guidance at a lower pro forma revenue range. Pro forma annual revenue of $35.0m-$38.0m Pro forma adjusted EBITDA of $0.5m - $1.5m Weighted average share count of 22,458,386 Number of students (and users) 4.2m-4.4m Webcast and Conference Call Genis Group will host a live webcast to discuss the results today at 8:00 a.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. SGT. The webcast and supplemental information can be accessed on the investor relations section of the Genius Group website at ir.geniusgroup.net. An archive will be available after the conclusion of the live event and will remain available via the same link for 6 months. Time: Wednesday, October 19, 2022, at 8:00 a.m. ET / 8:00 p.m. SGT Webcast: Go to the Investor Relations section of the Genius Group website to listen and view the slides. Dial-in: 877-407-0712 (U.S. Toll Free); +1 201-493-6716 (International) About Genius Group Genius Group is a world leading entrepreneur Edtech and education group, with a mission to disrupt the current education model with a student-centered, life-long learning curriculum that prepares students with the leadership, entrepreneurial and life skills to succeed in today's market. The group has a group user base of 4.2 million in 200 countries, ranging from ages 0 to 100. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws, including (without limitation) statements regarding our or our management's expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future and other statements that are other than statements of historical fact. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result" and similar expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: the Company's goals and strategies; the Company's future business development; changes in demand for online learning; changes in technology; fluctuations in economic conditions; the growth of the online learning industry the United States and the other markets the Company serves or plans to serve; reputation and brand; the impact of competition and pricing; government regulations; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing and other risks contained in reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company's filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof. Key Business Metrics We monitor the key business metrics and Non-IFRS financial measures to help us evaluate our business and growth trends, set growth targets and budgets, and measure the effectiveness of our sales and marketing efforts. These key business metrics and Non-IFRS financial measures are presented for supplemental informational purposes only, are not a substitute for IFRS financial measures, and may differ from similarly titled metrics or measures presented by other companies. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Key Business Metrics and Non-IFRS Financial Measures" for detailed descriptions of the measures and metrics. Non-IFRS Financial Measure We have included Adjusted EBITDA because it is a key measure used by our management and board of directors to understand and evaluate our core operating performance and trends, to prepare and approve our annual budget and to develop short- and long-term operational plans. In particular, the exclusion of certain expenses in calculating Adjusted EBITDA can provide a useful measure for period-to-period comparisons of our core business. We calculate Adjusted EBITDA as net profit / loss for the period plus income taxes and social contribution plus / minus finance revenue /expense result plus depreciation and amortization plus share-based compensation expenses plus bad debt provision. GENIUS GROUP LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION (In US Dollars) As of June 30, As of December 31, 2022 2021 (Unaudited) (Audited) Assets Current Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 7,576,587 $ 1,784,938 Accounts receivable, net 2,137,771 1,018,003 Other receivables 4,226,476 66,000 Due from related parties 2,025,440 44,245 Inventories 96,181 92,530 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,866,462 3,490,446 Total Current Assets 18,928,917 6,496,162 Property and equipment, net 6,753,497 6,776,116 Operating lease right-of-use asset 808,376 1,077,241 Investments at fair value 109,583 29,069 Goodwill 17,156,708 1,320,100 Intangible assets, net 3,509,138 1,394,969 Other non-current assets 13,296,318 501,750 Total Assets 60,562,537 17,595,407 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Current Liabilities Accounts payable 1,608,171 1,078,381 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 3,620,576 2,064,302 Deferred revenue 2,494,753 2,561,912 Operating lease liabilities - current portion 210,809 436,271 Income tax payable 377,190 - Loans payable - current portion 28,923 65,415 Loans payable - related parties - current portion 532,265 425,551 Convertible debt obligations, current portion 900,974 507,765 Total Current Liabilities 9,773,661 7,139,597 Due to related parties - - Operating lease liabilities - non-current portion 842,056 894,589 Loans payable - non-current portion 1,281,786 85,858 Convertible debt obligations, non-current portion - 766,245 Deferred tax liability 1,070,157 723,122 Total Liabilities 12,967,660 9,609,411 Commitments and Contingencies Stockholders' Equity: Contributed capital 94,026,740 50,924,276 Subscriptions receivable (1,954,415 ) (1,900,857 ) Reserves (34,809,105 ) (31,888,638 ) Accumulated deficit (16,523,809 ) (13,493,684 ) Capital and reserves attributable to owners of Genius Group Ltd 40,739,411 3,641,097 Non controlling interest 6,855,466 4,344,899 Total Stockholders' Equity 47,594,877 7,985,996 Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity 60,562,537 17,595,407 GENIUS GROUP LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (In US Dollars) June 30, June 30, 2022 2021 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) Revenue $ 7,443,230 $ 6,351,751 Cost of revenue (5,212,637 ) (4,708,872 ) Gross profit 2,230,593 1,642,859 Operating (Expenses) Income General and administrative (5,249,054 ) (3,055,332 ) Depreciation and amortization (178,807 ) (81,993 ) Other operating income 166,001 67,230 Loss from foreign currency transactions 58,759 (66,187 ) Total operating expenses (5,203,101 ) (3,136,282 ) Loss from Operations (2,972,508 ) (1,493,423 ) (Expense) Income Interest expense, net (99,298 ) (182,783 ) Impairment loss (480,372 ) - Other income 30,713 - Total Other Expense (548,957 ) (182,783 ) Loss Before Income Tax (3,521,465 ) (1,676,206 ) Income Tax Benefit (Expense) 24,238 47,039 Net Loss (3,497,227 ) (1,629,167 ) Other comprehensive income: Foreign currency translation (69,375 ) 70,711 Total Comprehensive Loss (3,566,602 ) (1,558,456 ) Total Comprehensive Loss is attributable to: Owners of Genius Group Ltd (3,420,929 ) (1,530,682 ) Non controlling interest (145,673 ) (27,774 ) Total Comprehensive Loss (3,566,602 ) (1,558,456 ) Weighted-average number of shares outstanding, basic and diluted 17,794,634 16,155,812 Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations (0.20 ) (0.10 ) GENIUS GROUP LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In US Dollars) For the Period Ended June 30, 2022 December 31, 2021 (Unaudited) (Audited) Cash Flows From Operating Activities Net loss $ (3,497,227 ) $ (4,489,198 ) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: Stock-based compensation 150,317 293,837 Depreciation and amortization 835,757 1,574,913 Deferred tax liability - 105,650 Amortization of debt discount - 140,837 Provision for doubtful debts - (39,108 ) Amortization of tax liability (29,679 ) - Impairment loss 480,372 - Loss on foreign exchange transactions (58,759 ) 153,692 Interest expense on lease liabilities 58,026 131,291 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable (480,438 ) (30,554 ) Other receivable - (66,000 ) Prepaid expenses and other current assets (1,840,348 ) (1,927,176 ) Inventory (3,651 ) 20,013 Accounts payable 430,633 256,562 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (609,406 ) 254,080 Deferred revenue 82,841 1,015,200 Deferred tax liability - (257,953 ) Other non-current liabilities - (217,291 ) Total adjustments (984,335 ) 1,407,993 Net Cash Used In Operating Activities (4,481,562 ) (3,081,205 ) Cash Flows From Investing Activities Purchase of intangible assets (313,876 ) (804,314 ) Purchase of equipment (79,455 ) (77,797 ) Acquisition of PIN, EA and ESQ (2,116,456 ) - Deposit on investment in UAV (6,604,194 ) - Investment at fair value (80,514 ) Net Cash Used In Investing Activities (9,194,496 ) (882,111 ) Cash Flows From Financing Activities Amount due to/from related party (338,280 ) (154,345 ) Proceeds from sale of future shares - 953,087 Proceeds from equity issuances, net of issuance costs 2,605,215 3,127,442 Proceeds from IPO, net 18,060,447 - Issuance from convertible debt (147,582 ) - Operating lease liability payments (306,811 ) (758,522 ) Proceeds/ (Repayments) of loans payable (192,465 ) (71,967 ) Net Cash Provided By Financing Activities 19,680,524 3,095,695 Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash (212,817 ) 379,408 Net Increase (Decrease) In Cash 5,791,649 (488,213 ) Cash - Beginning of year 1,784,938 2,273,151 Cash - End of period 7,576,587 1,784,938 Pro Forma Financials Pro forma financials for Genius Group (The full Group including the Group and the all Acquisitions YTD): Unaudited pro forma financials provided for the period ended June 30, 2022, for the full Group, including all acquired companies YTD as if they were operating as one during these periods. The acquisitions included in the table below are Property Investors Network (acquired April 30, 2020), Education Angels (acquired April 30, 2022), E-Square (acquired May 31, 2022), University of Antelope Valley (acquired July 07, 2022) and Revealed Films (acquired October 04, 2022). Genius Group Pro forma Six Months Ended (USD 000's) Summary Income Statement June 30, 2022 Sales 16,573 Cost of goods sold (8,536 ) Gross profit (Loss) 8,037 Other Operating Income 225 Operating Expenses (11,086 ) Operating profit (Loss) (2,824 ) Other income 783 Other Expense (588 ) Net Income (Loss) Before Tax (2,630 ) Tax Expense 24 Net Income (Loss) After Tax (2,605 ) Other Comprehensive Income (70 ) Total Income (Loss) (2,675 ) Net income per share, basic and diluted (0.15 ) Weighted-average number of shares outstanding, basic and diluted 17,794,634 Genius Group Pro forma Six Months Ended (USD 000's) Adjusted EBITDA June 30, 2022 Net Income (Loss) (2,605) Tax Expense (24) Interest Expense, net 108 Depreciation and Amortization 938 Goodwill Impairments 480 Stock Based Compensation 150 Adjusted EBITDA (953) Genius Group Pro forma Six Months Ended (USD 000's) June 30, 2022 Summary Balance Sheet Data: Total current assets 21,751 Total non-current assets 56,781 Total Assets 78,532 Total current liabilities 12,033 Total non-current liabilities 11,904 Total Liabilities 23,937 Total Shareholders' Equity 54,595 Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity 78,532 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005474/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] FiscalNote ESG Solutions' Equilibrium and Work Management Platform Leader Asana Announce Integration for Decarbonization and ESG Workflow Management FiscalNote (NYSE: NOTE), a leading AI-driven enterprise SaaS company that delivers legal and regulatory data and insights, today announced that Asana (NYSE: ASAN), a leading work management platform for organizations, is now integrated with Equilibrium's award-winning platform ecosystem. The groundbreaking integration equips companies with the ability to manage complex decarbonization and ESG workflows. The integration includes reporting and disclosures across environmental, social, and governance themes such as carbon emissions, nature loss, board composition, labor practices, and more. Equilibrium - part of FiscalNote ESG Solutions - is a next-generation, AI-powered ESG solution helping global organizations transform their sustainability data management across their operations and supply chains. Equilibrium enables enterprise teams to manage their organization's decarbonization, ESGperformance, and market perception by moving past static spreadsheets and legacy technologies. "We've built this carbon management and ESG reporting integration with Asana's best-in-class work management platform to help teams around the world navigate the growing complexity and size of ESG transformations," said Frank Meehan, General Manager, FiscalNote ESG Solutions. "Equilibrium, in partnership with Asana, can now support ESG tasks regardless of an organization's size, geographic distribution, or industry. We believe this will not only enhance our customers' ability to meet ESG reporting and disclosure requirements but help them stay ahead of the regulatory curve and demonstrate powerful and effective ESG leadership." Supporting Prominent ESG Frameworks and Standards The Equilibrium-Asana collaboration will significantly ease the complex and cumbersome ESG work management process and enhance the ability to seamlessly integrate siloed teams and workflows. The integration guides enterprise teams through prominent ESG reporting frameworks such as GRI, SASB, TCFD, and the GHG Protocol at the disclosure level. As an example, users of both Asana and Equilibrium may be assigned to complete disclosures. Someone within the ESG team may be tasked with composing high-level TCFD disclosures, while another person within the finance team may be tasked with populating GRI governance disclosures. Now, the Equilibrium-Asana integration can seamlessly sync and update the ownership of tasks on both platforms. "The current process for ESG reporting for many organizations is cumbersome - disconnected across spreadsheets, email, presentations, meetings, and more," said Catherine Buan, Head of Investor Relations, Asana. "Now organizations can leverage Asana templates from Equilibrium's solution across their entire organization, so they can immediately start executing on their most important initiatives. By enabling organizations to increase visibility and better manage their ESG efforts, we're helping them achieve their sustainability goals faster." The integration also includes a curated playbook for ESG reporting, preloaded with tasks that can be assigned in the Asana platform. Future plans for the integration include expansion into Equilibrium's "Goals" module to enable teams to set quantifiable ESG goals and then assign ownership to various departments or particular members. Learn more about the Equilibrium-Asana integration here. About FiscalNote ESG Solutions FiscalNote ESG Solutions is the most comprehensive ESG platform and advisory solution in the market helping organizations become sustainability leaders - from getting started with strategic insights, benchmarking, and reporting to embedding ESG into an organization's DNA. FiscalNote ESG Solutions brings together Equilibrium's AI-powered platform, award-winning analysis, global advisory, and a peer community to help an organization achieve its ESG goals. Visit: fiscalnote.com/esg. About FiscalNote FiscalNote (NYSE: NOTE) is a leading technology provider of global policy and market intelligence. By uniquely combining AI technology, actionable data, and expert and peer insights, FiscalNote empowers customers to manage policy, address regulatory developments, and mitigate global risk. Since 2013, FiscalNote has pioneered technology that delivers mission-critical insights and the tools to turn them into action. Home to CQ, Equilibrium, FrontierView, Oxford Analytica, VoterVoice, and many other industry-leading brands, FiscalNote serves more than 5,000 customers worldwide with global offices in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. To learn more about FiscalNote and its family of brands, visit FiscalNote.com and follow @FiscalNote. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005451/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] "Lelo", "Strategy Agmashenebeli" and "United National Movement" will nominate Ana Abashidze, Nazi Janezashvili and Giorgi Burjanadze as candidates for public defender.As a result of consultations, they decided that the opposition will be supported by the candidates nominated by non-governmental organizations.Giorgi Vashadze, the leader of "Strategy Agmashenebeli", said that only 3 candidates deserve his trust and he cannot deceive the public and name the fourth because he has to fill 7 candidates.According to Davit Usupashvili and Levan Bezhashvili, members of "Lelo" and UNM, other parliamentary subjects will be obliged to fill the number of candidates to 7.According to the procedure, from among the candidates evaluated by the 9-member commission, the 7-member group of opposition, factions, political groups, and non-partisan MPs will be able to nominate candidates for public defense, which should not be less than 7, by October 21.According to the amendment to the regulations, candidates for the position of Public Defender in 2022 were submitted to the Parliament of Georgia in accordance with the order of the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia."Lelo" demands the initiation of consideration of the draft law on the creation of an anti-corruption agency in the parliament. This bill was initiated in the parliament in 2021.The political secretary of the party "Lelo", Salome Samadashvili, said that the "Georgian Dream", which is the center of corruption, does not think that this is the country's problem, however, according to her, the Vake Park tragedy showed the opposite."This is the corruption that deprives our children of the chance to live in a normal country. As it turns out, this corruption is dangerous for people's lives.It is a fact that until now the "Georgian Dream" did not consider it necessary to consider this initiative when corruption kills people and when the European Union tells us that if we do not fight corruption, this country has no future in the European Union, but the Georgian Dream, which is itself the center of this corruption, does not He thinks that this is the problem of this country," she said. [October 19, 2022] Quad to Host Call to Discuss Third Quarter and Year-to-Date 2022 Results Quad (NYSE: QUAD) will hold a conference call at 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday, November 2, to discuss third quarter and year-to-date 2022 results. The call will be hosted by Joel Quadracci, Quad Chairman, President & CEO, and Tony Staniak, Quad CFO. The full earnings release and slide presentation will be concurrently available on the Investors section of Quad's website at www.quad.com/investors. As part of the conference call, Quad will conduct a question and answer session, and investors are invited to email their questions in advance to [email protected]. Participants may pre-register for the webcast by navigating to https://dpregister.com/sreg/10170526/f41d0988a0. Participants will be given a unique PIN to gain immediate access to the call on November 2, bypassing the live operator. Participants may pre-register at any time, including up to and after the call start time. Alternatively, participants may dial in on the day of the call as follows: U.S. Toll-Free: 1-877-328-5508 International Toll: 1-412-317-5424 An audio replay of the call will be posted on the Investors section of Quad's website shortly after the conference call ends. In addition, telephone playback will also be available until December 2, 2022, accessible as follows: U.S. Toll-Free: 1-877-344-7529 International Toll: 1-412-317-0088 Replay Access Code: 1227790 About Quad Quad (NYSE: QUAD) is a global marketing experience company that helps brands reimagine their marketing to be more streamlined, impactful, flexible, and frictionless. Quad's strategic priorities are powered by three key competitive advantages that include integrated marketing platform excellence, innovation, and culture and social purpose. The company's integrated marketing platform is powered by a set of core specialties including business strategy, insights and analytics, technology solutions, managed services, agency and studio solutions, media, print, in-store, and packaging. Serving over 4,600 clients, Quad has more than 15,000 people working in 14 countries around the world. Please visit quad.com for more information. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005001/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] Gluware to Preview Gluware 5 and Showcase the Future of Network Automation in Healthcare at ONUG Fall 2022 Gluware keynote to highlight digital transformation in healthcare through innovations that accelerate network hyperautomation SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gluware, Inc. , the leader in intelligent network automation and an ONUG Fall 2022 Thought Leadership sponsor, will provide an early preview of Gluware 5, including Gluware Topology, API Modeling, Gluware Service Connectors, and enhanced Network RPA. Gluware executives will host the Main Stage Keynote Presentation, "Network-Powered Digital Transformation in Healthcare," along with several other sessions highlighting how Gluware is making network hyperautomation a reality for enterprises looking to dramatically improve network performance, transform operations, and reduce costs. Siji Atekoja, Deputy CIO and CTO at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, will join Jeff Gray, CEO and Co-founder of Gluware, for the ONUG Fall Main Stage Keynote. Responsible for leading enterprise architecture, digital transformation, infrastructure engineering, and service delivery, Atekoja is a highly regarded strategist and transformational leader with a proven track record of success and a powerful vision for what is possible and needed within the healthcare industry. Together, Gray and Atekoja will highlight how Gluware's intelligent network automation ensures network performance, reduces cyber security threats, and enables growth by delivering innovations that meet the IT needs of hospital systems and healthcare organizations. "Healthcare has changed, and the need to transform how we deliver care by expanding our reach, doing more with less, and attracting top talent are industry imperatives that are increasingly dependent on the capabilities of our networks," said Siji Atekoja, Deputy CIO and CTO at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. "Healthcare strategies shine a light on the critical role of the network and our network teams. The use of network automation in the industry illustrates the fundamental importance of the platform in enabling digital transformation." "While all enterprises face complex challenges within their networks, the healthcare industry presents a unique combination of concerns, potential risks, and urgent automation needs," said Jeff Gray, CEO and Co-founder of Gluware. "Healthcare organizations using Gluware's suite of intelligent network automation solutions will gain more network visibility, security, perfomance, and sustained compliance. We are proud to present alongside Siji and Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, which utilizes Gluware to power their enterprise network automation journey." At ONUG Fall 2022, Gluware executives, customers, and networking experts will highlight how Gluware's intelligent network automation accelerates hyperautomation and enables NetDevOps at scale. These industry thought leaders will showcase how Gluware simplifies the discovery, analysis, maintenance, and automation of traditional, API-driven, or cloud-based networks and how to optimize network performance in the face of escalating complexity. The complete list of Gluware sessions includes: Gluware Keynote: Network-Powered Digital Transformation in Healthcare Today's healthcare industry is host to complex multi-platform, multi-vendor networks that operate in highly regulated environments and hold security paramount. Join Jeff Gray , CEO and Co-founder of Gluware, and Siji Atekoja , Deputy CIO and CTO at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, to discuss how network automation powered by Gluware is helping to transform operations, attract top talent, and achieve distinction and preeminent rank among national healthcare centers. Today's healthcare industry is host to complex multi-platform, multi-vendor networks that operate in highly regulated environments and hold security paramount. Join , CEO and Co-founder of Gluware, and , Deputy CIO and CTO at Wexner Medical Center, to discuss how network automation powered by Gluware is helping to transform operations, attract top talent, and achieve distinction and preeminent rank among national healthcare centers. Gluware Proof of Concept: Accelerate M&A by Automating Network Assessment and Site Documentation with Gluware Join Kevin Irwin , Senior Director of Product Management at Gluware, as he demonstrates how Gluware simplifies mergers and acquisition processes through rapid onboarding and compliance enforcement to reduce costs, increase network resiliency, and improve security. Join , Senior Director of Product Management at Gluware, as he demonstrates how Gluware simplifies mergers and acquisition processes through rapid onboarding and compliance enforcement to reduce costs, increase network resiliency, and improve security. Gluware Open Session (Online Only): Discover Gluware No-Code API Integrations with Cisco Meraki and ServiceNow Join Olivier Huynh Van, Chief Science Officer and Co-founder of Gluware, and Michael Haugh , VP of Product Marketing at Gluware, to see how Gluware no-code API integrations make onboarding controller-based systems and automating your network management/services layer faster, easier and more powerful. Attendees will also see how Gluware no-code API integrations can be easily deployed using Gluware Network RPA's drag-and-drop process automation. Join Olivier Huynh Van, Chief Science Officer and Co-founder of Gluware, and , VP of Product Marketing at Gluware, to see how Gluware no-code API integrations make onboarding controller-based systems and automating your network management/services layer faster, easier and more powerful. Attendees will also see how Gluware no-code API integrations can be easily deployed using Gluware Network RPA's drag-and-drop process automation. O&A Working Group Showcase: Join Michael Haugh , VP of Product Marketing at Gluware, and fellow ONUG Orchestration and Automation Working Group members, for a demonstration that will include leveraging Gluware Network RPA no-code process automation to automate the audit and remediation of a Meraki environment with a ServiceNow integration. Join , VP of Product Marketing at Gluware, and fellow ONUG Orchestration and Automation Working Group members, for a demonstration that will include leveraging Gluware Network RPA no-code process automation to automate the audit and remediation of a Meraki environment with a ServiceNow integration. Cloud Security Notification Framework (CSNF) Starter Kit Training : Join Tim Silverline, VP of Security at Gluware, as he demonstrates how to automate an event-driven network lockdown during a security-event-triggered CSNF using Network RPA, with the ability to restore the network when the security event has passed. For more information about Gluware, click here , or request a demo or free trial today. About ONUG ONUG is the only organization composed of senior-level IT executives from the Global 2000 that represents the interests and initiatives of the Enterprise Community. Through its global event series, working groups, training academies, and webinars, ONUG plays a central role in the creation of new and improved tools to develop, manage, and secure the digital enterprise. ONUG's peer permission structure fosters the exchange of information among the world's largest organizations as they build and secure the digital economy. The ONUG community is made up of IT leaders from Bank of America, Cigna, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, eBay, FedEx, Fidelity Investments, Gap Inc., GE, Intuit, JP Morgan Chase, Kaiser Permanente, the Lippis Report, Morgan Stanley, Pfizer, State Street Bank, TD Ameritrade, UBS, Oath, and hundreds more. For more on ONUG, go to www.onug.net or follow on Twitter @ONUG_. About Gluware Gluware is the leading intelligent network automation suite for the cloud era, trusted by Global 2000 enterprises, across industries, from Pharma to Finance. Gluware automates the networks of the world's largest and most complex enterprises by simplifying how multi-domain, multi-vendor enterprise networks are discovered, analyzed, and maintained. The company's code-free, intent-based approach to network automation reduces the business risk of unplanned outages and downtime while elevating the performance of people and systems. For more information, please visit www.gluware.com . Media Contact Dex Polizzi Lumina Communications for Gluware [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gluware-to-preview-gluware-5-and-showcase-the-future-of-network-automation-in-healthcare-at-onug-fall-2022-301653222.html SOURCE Gluware [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] Fiverr Celebrates its First Annual International Freelancer Day (October 19th) to Honor All Freelancers Around the World Fiverr International Ltd. (NYSE: FVRR), the company that is revolutionizing how the world works together, today announced its establishment and recognition of October 19th as International Freelancer Day - a day to honor and celebrate freelancers across the globe for their contribution to the world's economy. Around 46.5% of the total global workforce are self-employed; that's roughly 1.6 billion people around the world, according to the World Bank. With so many days throughout the year already honoring other professionals, there is still not an official global day to commemorate the freelance community and their contributions to the work world - this day aims to change that. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005350/en/ Fiverr has announced its establishment and recognition of October 19th as International Freelancer Day - a day to honor and celebrate freelancers across the globe for their contribution to the world's economy. (Graphic: Business Wire) While there are many benefits to being a freelancer, they still feel they aren't recognized as contributors to the larger work world. In a recent survey of freelancers on Fiverr, it was revealed they believe the top benefits of freelancing include the ability to work from home (49%), being their own boss (39%), and the ability to choose their projects/type of work/or clients (33%). However, when asked about the perception of freelancers' contribution to the global economy, 34% of freelancers feel they are unrecognized as significant contributors. "The amount of people engaging in independent work is rising as people place more value on freedom and flexibility when it comes to integrating their work-life. They're prioritizing their families, their mental and physical health, their passions, and their interests," said Micha Kaufman, Founder and CEO at Fiverr. "Without freelancers, millions of businesses would go unstarted; projects woud not be completed, and deadlines not met. We feel it's important to establish this day to pay tribute to freelancers everywhere, to celebrate their talent and honor their passion, for their contributions to millions of businesses and the global economy. We invite other organizations to join us in building on this significant day for the years ahead." As part of International Freelancer Day, Fiverr and the Freelancers Union have established the Freelancer Wellness Fund. This fund will offer microgrants to support the holistic well-being of freelancers across the world. It's intended to support them in areas outside of their work - serving as cash assistance towards the broad umbrella of wellness-related expenses including, but not limited to, mental wellness, social wellness (e.g., child daycare and other family-related expenses), physical wellness, and financial wellness (e.g., financial literacy workshops, etc.). "Freelancers are a crucial part of the workforce, and their contribution to the economy should be recognized; it's high time there is an official day to honor and celebrate them," said Rafael Espinal, Executive Director of the Freelancers Union. "Freelancing, like other professions, has its benefits but also its challenges, which is why we have partnered with Fiverr to offer the Freelancer Wellness Fund. This fund is an excellent step to honor freelancers by supporting their mental and physical health." In addition to the Freelancer Wellness Fund, Fiverr community members will also be hosting a variety of networking events around the world this week to bring together the freelance community to connect, engage, and support each other in their local areas. The events will be held in over ten cities globally, including in the U.S., Australia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, the U.K., and Germany, among other locations. Additionally, Fiverr is running a global social media campaign encouraging freelancers around the world to share why they freelance with the prompt, "I freelance so that I can", which will be reposted across its social channels. To learn more about International Freelancer Day and to apply for the Freelancer Wellness Fund, click here. About Fiverr Fiverr's mission is to revolutionize how the world works together. We exist to democratize access to talent and to provide talent with access to opportunities so anyone can grow their business, brand, or dreams. From small businesses to Fortune 500, over 4 million customers worldwide worked with freelance talent on Fiverr in the past year, ensuring their workforces remain flexible, adaptive, and agile. With Fiverr's Talent Cloud, companies can easily scale their teams from a talent pool of skilled professionals from over 160 countries across more than 550 categories, ranging from programming to 3D design, digital marketing to content creation, from video animation to architecture. Don't get left behind - come be a part of the future of work by visiting fiverr.com, read our blog, and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005350/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] State Street Opens New Office in Chile to Support Continued Growth in Latin America State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT) announced today the opening of a new office in Chile to help the firm serve and support institutional clients in Latin America, with a focus on custody, fund administration and securities lending. The firm has appointed Alberto Menendez to lead the Chile office and as sales representative for Chile and Peru. Menendez is based in Chile and will report to Maria Ximena Vasquez Barbosa, regional sales head for Latam and Caribbean excluding Brazil. The launch of the Chile office marks an important milestone as the firm builds on its ongoing expansion of client capabilities in the region. In 2021, State Street announced that its Brazilian bank began offering foreign exchange capabilities and sales operations. "We are proud of our growth in Latin America, which continues to be a critical market for the global investment community," said Marcia Rothschild, State Street's head of Latin America and The Caribbean. "With our new office, State Street is even better positioned to serve our clients, globally and locally, as they navigate the evolving challenges of investing in emerging markets." "I am excited to lead this new office and help State Street accelerate its growth plans in Chile, Peru and other Latin American countries," said Menendez. "State Street has broughtmarket leading solutions and unprecedented scale to the region, and the opportunity ahead is only growing as we continue to expand our capabilities on behalf of clients." Menendez brings more than 10 years of experience in the region. He joins State Street from Credicorp Capital Chile, where he served as distribution manager, overseeing the distribution of first-class mutual funds, ETFs and alternative asset managers, including State Street's ETFs for Chile, Colombia and Peru. Prior to that, he held leadership positions at AFP Provida, Celfin and AFP ING of Colombia. About State Street Corporation State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT) is one of the world's leading providers of financial services to institutional investors including investment servicing, investment management and investment research and trading. With $35.7 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration and $3.3 trillion* in assets under management as of September 30, 2022, State Street operates globally in more than 100 geographic markets and employs approximately 41,000 worldwide. For more information, visit State Street's website at www.statestreet.com. *Assets under management as of September 30, 2022 includes approximately $55 billion of assets with respect to SPDR products for which State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC (SSGA FD) acts solely as the marketing agent. SSGA FD and State Street Global Advisors are affiliated. 2022 State Street Corporation - All Rights Reserved 5045835.1.1.GBL.RTL View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005594/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] Eswatini Insurance Industry Report 2022 - Key Trends and Opportunities to 2025 - ResearchAndMarkets.com The "Eswatini Insurance Industry - Key Trends and Opportunities to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The 'Eswatini Insurance Industry' report provides in-depth market analysis, information and insights into the Swazi insurance industry. The report provides a detailed outlook by product category for the Swazi insurance industry. It provides values for key performance indicators such as gross written premium, penetration, premium accepted and premium ceded, profitability ratios, and premium by line of business, during the review period (2016-2020) and forecast period (2020-2025). The report also analyzes distribution channels operating in the segment, gives a comprehensive overview of the Swazi economy and demographics, and provides detailed information on the competitive landscape in the country. The report brings together the publisher's research, modeling and analysis expertise, giving insurers access to information on segment dynamics and competitive advantages, and profiles of insurers operating in the country. The report also includes details of insurance regulations, and recent changes in the regulatory structure. Key Highlights Keyinsights and dynamics of the Swazi insurance industry. A comprehensive overview of the Swazi economy, government initiatives and investment opportunities. The Swazi insurance regulatory framework's evolution, key facts, taxation regime, licensing and capital requirements. The Swazi insurance industry's market structure giving details of lines of business. Eswatini's reinsurance business's market structure giving details of premium ceded along with cession rates. Details of the competitive landscape and competitors' profiles. Scope It provides historical values for the Swazi insurance industry for the report's 2016-2020 review period, and projected figures for the 2020-2025 forecast period. It offers a detailed analysis of the key categories in the Swazi insurance industry, and market forecasts to 2025. It profiles the top life insurance companies in Eswatini and outlines the key regulations affecting them. Key Topics Covered: Executive Summary Economy Overview Regulatory and Compliance Key Market Trends Life Insurance Overview Penetration and Growth Premiums Trends General Insurance Overview Penetration and Growth Premiums and Profitability Competitive Landscape Insurance Industry - Market Share and Concentration Competitor Profiles Reinsurance Overview Ceded Premiums by Segment Regulatory and Compliance Framework Insurtech Appendix Companies Mentioned State Life Insurance Corporation of Eswatini Jubilee Life Insurance Company Limited EFU Life Assurance Limited Adamjee Life Insurance Company Limited Pak Qatar Family Takaful Limited IGI Life Insurance Limited TPL Life Insurance Limited Askari Life Insurance Company Limited E.F.U. General Insurance Company Limited Adamjee Insurance Company Limited Jubilee General Insurance Company Limited Security General Insurance Company Limited IGI General Insurance Limited United Insurance Company of Eswatini Limited UBL Insurers Limited East West Insurance Company Limited Askari General Insurance Company Limited Atlas Insurance Limited For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/4sdy53 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005639/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] Sponsors of the Future and Nail Pop Launched The 'Caring for the Caregivers' Campaign to Support the Neurodivergent Community Nail POP sponsors local caregivers' "me time" by donating award-winning portable nail art printers EAST GREENWICH, R.I., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sponsors of the Future (SoF) and Nail POP are announcing the launch of the Caring for the Caregivers campaign to support the community of caregivers looking after neurodivergent children and teens, ensuring they take time to focus on their own self-care. SoF is dedicated to facilitating strong connections between local communities and businesses like Nail POP by providing opportunities to participate in local campaigns like this. "Nail POP is happy to connect people with their life experiences and is thrilled to be a part of this movement. It is extremely important that caregivers get the attention and support they require to make them feel good and appreciated. We are proud to support SoF's mission to help local caregivers and the neurodivergent community." said Leo Yang, Managing Director of Nail POP. "SoF is excited to work with Nail POP to help support the 'me-time' campaign for caregivers that spend countless hours looking after their loved ones but neglect caring for themselves. We believe that Nail POP, through its sponsorship and donations, can provide emotional connections with family, friends, and the community that is aligned with SoF's mission. Together, we are happy to provide an opportunity to sit back, relax, and enjoy yourself and each other through a fun, portable experience anytime and anywhere," said Lauren Cheng, Head of Community Relations, SoF. Cheng added, "This is also a great way for community and businesses to create a bigger impact and participate in a widespread movement to educate the world about building emotional connections with the neurodivergent communities. SoF has a mission of inclusivity and provides programs and ecosystems for the neurodiverse communities." Through this campaign, SoF aims to bridge the gap between separate entities that are meant to work togeher by providing ways to develop ecosystems that facilitate strong connections and partnerships between businesses and local communities. This includes individuals with challenges, their caregivers, educators, doctors, parents, local stakeholders, and more. If you are a caregiver or a company, school, or organization that wishes to participate in this movement, click here . For donations and other fundraising opportunities, visit our website . About Nail POP Nail POP is part of DS Global , a company that develops and manufactures portable photo printers, beauty devices, and more that connect people with their life experiences. Nail POP is a CES Innovation award-winning portable nail art printer. It is compact, making it easy to take on the go and helping the community connect anytime, anywhere. The Nail POP printer uses an FDA-compliant nail sticker cartridge which is durable, water-resistant, and safe for children and adults. Nail POP is a proud sponsor of the 'Caring for the Caregivers' campaign. About Sponsors of the Future (SoF) SoF is a non-profit organization that creates programming to empower neurodivergent children and teenagers to live independent lives. SoF bridges the gap between separate entities meant to work together. For more information on the Caring for the Caregivers Campaign, click here. Visit sponsorsofthefuture.org. Media Contact: Sydney Wells 781-910-9834 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sponsors-of-the-future-and-nail-pop-launched-the-caring-for-the-caregivers-campaign-to-support-the-neurodivergent-community-301653587.html SOURCE Sponsors of the Future [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] DataOps.live Sponsors IMPACT 2022 and Launches New Orchestrator for Monte Carlo LONDON, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DataOps.live, the software company dedicated to helping organizations build, test and deploy their critical data applications and data products more effectively, and Monte Carlo, the data reliability company, today announced availability of the DataOps.live Orchestrator for Monte Carlo. DataOps.live is also a Silver Sponsor at their upcoming IMPACT 2022 Event. "Monte Carlo is a leader in data observability, so it makes perfect sense for DataOps.live to integrate by orchestrating Monte Carlo as a core component of data pipelines, empowering our joint customers with exceptional control and observability," says John Marchese, EVP Strategic Business, Alliances & Channels, DataOps.live. "Our platform now provides a low-code orchestrator for Monte Carlo and collects critical operational metadata on data pipelines, data usage, and data infrastructure, that in combination with Monte Carlo data quality metadata can uncover and deliver major business benefit to joint customers." Monte Carlo enables data engineers and analysts to monitor the health and dependencies of data assets across the entire Snowflake Data Cloud, from ingestion to analytics, through a single collaborative interface. CDOs and other data stakeholders hve a holistic view of the 's data health and reliability across business use cases. Joint DataOps.live/Monte Carlo customers such as Roche Diagnostics are already using Monte Carlo to automate data quality monitoring and anomaly detection, surfacing issues related to data freshness, volume, distribution, schema, and lineage. DataOps.live orchestrates Monte Carlo as part of the overall Roche data pipelines and provides an additional unique perspective in terms of the operational metadata gathered from all the disparate data pipeline components of Snowflake data products. As a result, organizations can build test and deploy data pipelines faster, AND unify all this metadata to make better business decisions. IMPACT 2022 is being held virtually on October 25 26 and in-person in several cities. DataOps.live is attending the New York event on October 25th, as well as sponsoring all IMPACT 2022 events as a Silver Sponsor. DataOps.live and Monte Carlo are proud to have Roche as a joint customer speaking at the event in "Roche Diagnostics: Using DataOps to Build and Manage Data Products and Data Mesh on Snowflake" on October 25th at 12:10pm EDT/5:10pm BST. Register for the event at impactdatasummit.com/2022. To find out how DataOps.live can help drive success from modern data architectures, visit DataOps.live. About DataOps.live DataOps.live was built to meet the real-life needs of modern, data-driven companies using Snowflake's cloud data platform. It removes the need for enterprises to choose between governance and agility, delivering fundamental improvements in both. The platform brings agile DevOps automation (#TrueDataOps) to the Snowflake cloud data platform. DataOps.live is a single platform for 100% of an organization's DataOps lifecycle needs around Snowflake. Media Contact: Patrick Connolly 1 (608) 738-8029 [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dataopslive-sponsors-impact-2022-and-launches-new-orchestrator-for-monte-carlo-301653503.html SOURCE DataOps.live [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] Brad Anderson, Former CEO of Best Buy, Joins Advisory Board of Dallas-Area Tech Startup Spacee DALLAS, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spacee , which provides the best computer vision and AI solutions that help businesses drive new insights, improve efficiency and boost revenue, announced today that Bradbury Brad Anderson, the former CEO and Vice Chairman of consumer electronics retailer Best Buy, has joined the companys Advisory Board. Other Board members include Brad Crutcher, former COO and CEO of Texas Instruments, and Duncan MacFarlane, Professor of Electrical Engineering at Southern Methodist University. Anderson retired from Best Buy in 2009 after 36 years with the company. He started as a salesperson for Sound of Music, a small chain of stereo stores that were the precursor to Best Buy, and worked his way up to CEO in 2002. Anderson was introduced to the Spacee team via a mutual friend in the Dallas area. When I met the Spacee team, I was immediately impressed by what they were doing, said Anderson. Spacee is tackling major issues for retailers that are critically important - issues such as drawing shoppers into stores, engaging them during the shopping experience, and better tracking inventory. Im fascinated by the innovative work theyre doing, and excited to work alongside Skip and team to help get Spacee technology into more stores. We feel so fortunate to have someone of Brads caliber on our Advisory Board, said Skip Howard, foundr and CEO of Spacee. Brad has had a front-row seat for the evolution of retail technology, and brings decades of experience and a fresh new perspective on the current challenges facing retailers. From the very start when we were introduced, he made it clear that he had some fantastic ideas to help Spacee grow. Were thrilled to have him. Spacee pioneered the use of computer vision in retail in 2017, with the first Computer Vision-driven interactive in-store experiences. The company leverages computer vision AI to create unforgettable retail experiences, gather actionable real-time analytical data, and increase supply chain efficiency. The company provides two solutions: HoverTouch, which transforms existing surfaces into interactive experiences; and Deming, unobtrusive shelf-mounted robots that continually scan store shelves tracking inventory in near real time. Both have been deployed by multiple retailers across the U.S, Europe, Middle East and Asia. About Spacee Spacee provides the best computer vision and AI solutions that help businesses drive new insights, improve efficiency and boost revenue. Spacees interactive displays help engage and educate, and its unobtrusive shelf robots collect near real-time inventory data needed to help decrease stockouts and improve supply chain efficiency. The company works with leading brands around the world including Audi, Walmart, Panasonic, Coca-Cola and Mercedes-Benz. Learn more at spacee.com . Media Contact: Michelle Faulkner Big Swing 617-510-6998 [email protected] A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0540ab0c-29d2-4987-9d9e-fd3d6761d0d2 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] Report: LOKKER's Research of 170,000 Websites Reveals Over 5.1 Million Data Privacy Risks, Amidst Increasing Lawsuits and Legislation Regarding Data Privacy New analysis identifies significant issues across several industries' websites, putting businesses in jeopardy of breaches and non-compliance REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LOKKER , provider of data privacy and compliance solutions for the enterprise, today launched its second annual research report detailing global online data privacy risks. Its latest research analyzed 170,000 websites around the world, identifying more than 5.1 million data privacy risks. The research comes at a pivotal moment as enterprises deal both with a boom in lawsuits for data privacy violations they are often unaware they are making, and a need to become compliant with new privacy laws. LOKKER's research uncovered that companies are inadvertently sharing site visitors' personal data with a host of third parties that introduce a range of vulnerabilities, like JavaScript trackers, fingerprinters, data skimmers, and session replay scripts. While third-party cloud software provides beneficial website features, many collect and share visitors' information, often with unauthorized parties and without the website owner's knowledge. As a result, brands are putting their customers and themselves in jeopardy risking millions of dollars in legal expenses, regulatory fines and penalties, and substantial erosion of consumer trust. "Many organizations don't know the extent to which they're sharing data with third parties because they can't see what's happening behind the scenes in the browser, let aone control it," said Ian Cohen, founder and CEO of LOKKER. "Without visibility into the privacy risks imposed by third parties, organizations are exposed to a growing number of class-action lawsuits claiming violations of both current and soon to be enacted laws in California, Utah, Virginia, Connecticut and Colorado. We see the recent burst of data privacy-related lawsuits as the beginning of an expansion of US regulatory actions not unlike GDPR enforcement in Europe. Getting control over website browser data privacy has never been more urgent for companies." Key takeaways from LOKKER's latest report include: The web browser is the new endpoint to defend There are nine critical web privacy risks businesses need to get under control, including malware, data skimming of PII and PHI, trackers, cookies being set in each session, fingerprinting scripts, foreign domains making requests, session replay scripts recording activity, young domains serving JavaScript and bad SSL certification. More than 38,000 fingerprinting scripts lead to widespread consumer profiling, capturing information such as a person's location, IP address, type of device, fonts installed, and other specifications of their computer and browser. This enables savvy data brokers to create profiles ('fingerprints') that are continually enriched until a website visitor is able to be identified. Over 11,000 scripts originated from known nation-state actors, the vast majority from Russia . 93% of online trackers are from Google (71.19%), Facebook (15.7%), and Microsoft (6%) These trackers - JavaScript that is collecting information on a host site and sending it to a third party - are also coming from sub-brands like Google's Doubleclick ad network and Microsoft's LinkedIn platform. The top social media networks are harvesting data from education, financial services, and healthcare sites Analysis of education sites in the US (over 6,000 domains inspected) found that Facebook trackers are on 42% of sites, Microsoft on 15%, Twitter on 10%, and both SnapChat and TikTok on 5% of sites. Of over 5,000 hospital and healthcare services' sites, 40% have Facebook trackers, 13% have Microsoft trackers, 8% have Twitter trackers, and 6% have Pinterest trackers. Of note, TikTok trackers were discovered on 5% of the sites analyzed. Across the home pages of the Fortune 1000 websites, Facebook trackers were identified on 46% of sites, Microsoft on 31%, Twitter on 21%, and Pinterest on 11%. When it comes to US financial services sites, Facebook is on 36% of sites, Microsoft on 19%, and Twitter on 10%. "The increasing number of class action lawsuits, growing consumer concern about personal data privacy, and imminent data privacy laws going into effect in 2023 are increasing pressure on organizations to take control of data privacy risks on their websites," Cohen added. "Organizations have an immense responsibility to protect their customers and their company. It's critical that they mitigate these threats by not exposing consumers' personal data to unauthorized third parties." For LOKKER's complete report that discusses these risks and their impacts further, as well as how companies can prepare themselves to be compliant with 2023 privacy regulations, visit https://lokker.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/LOKKER_OnlineDataPrivacyReport_Oct22.pdf About LOKKER LOKKER is a Silicon Valley-based data privacy technology company creating software for companies to protect their customers' sensitive personal information from being misused and shared. LOKKER's Privacy Edge platform is a SaaS-based solution that automates detection and mitigation of Javascript-based threats that lead to major incidents, fines and reputational damage for companies. For more information visit, lokker.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/report-lokkers-research-of-170-000-websites-reveals-over-5-1-million-data-privacy-risks-amidst-increasing-lawsuits-and-legislation-regarding-data-privacy-301653172.html SOURCE Lokker [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] Ampaire and Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance Lay the Foundations to Advance Electric Aviation Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) and Ampaire have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), paving the way for future collaborations. LOS ANGELES, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AFI KLM E&M and Ampaire have signed a memorandum of understanding that anticipates bringing the worldwide resources of AFI KLM E&M to the introduction and global support of electrified aircraft. The two companies intend to accelerate the introduction of sustainable aviation by utilizing their respective core competencies. The MoU covers a broad range of mutual interests, from Aircraft Development, Maintenance Training & Support and Data Analytics. Energize the future with experience Ampaire, a leader in electric aircraft, is in the process of certifying the nine-seat, hybrid-electric Eco Caravan, with a service introduction planned for 2024. The company intends to expand its product line to larger hybrid-electric aircraft and eventually to fully electric aircraft as that technology becomes technically and economically feasible. Under the MoU, the companies anticipate developing training for a worldwide network of ground engineers, installing Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) upgrades and, potential component pooling and operational data analysis to ensure optimal support. This groundwork can be extended to collaborate on support of a 19-passenger aircraft. Kevin Noertker, Ampaire Founder and CEO, stated: "Ampaire and AFI KLM E&M will work together to explore maintenance support for game-changing low-emissions aircraft on a worldwide basis. AFI KLM E&M's powerful global network and strong expertise will give operators everywhere high technical confidence in new propulsion systems. These systems will also provide optimized maintenance costs compared to conventional turbines." In constant search of innovations and solutions at the cutting edge of technologies, the ambition is to make AFI KLM E&M the preferred partner on maintenance training development for electrical aircraft. It may include the use of modern solutions like augmented reality and virtual reality. The companies are also planning to collaborate on STC installations of Ampaire's hybrid-electric upgrades through the airline's global MRO network. Ton Dortmans, EVP KLM Engineering & Maintenance, said: "This MoU anticipates a future with expanded new ways of air transportation options hand-in-hand with lower emissions. We have chosen to collaborate with Ampaire because their approach is visionary and also extremely methodical and practical, which means these beneficial technologies can be already introduced in the very near future." About Ampaire Los Angeles-based Ampaire was formed in 2016 with a mission to become the world's most-trusted developer of practical, compelling electric aircraft. The company is upgrading existing passenger aircraft to hybrid-electric powerthe quickest, most efficient approach to making commercial electric air travel a reality with available technology. The company ultimately intends to offer upgraded and all-new hybrid-electric aircraft, as well as fully electric aircraft. Ampaire technology is scalable to large regional aircraft. Ampaire has scored a series of industry firsts since the 2019 maiden flight of its Electric EEL technology testbed aircraft. Its EEL market demonstration aircraft has flown nonstop from Los Angeles to San Francisco and the length of the UK. In 2022, it flew a leg of 1,135 miles en route from LA to the EAA Air Venture show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. www.ampaire.com About AFI KLM E&M Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance is a major multi-product MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul) provider. With a workforce of over 12,800, AFI KLM E&M offers comprehensive technical support for airlines, ranging from engineering and line maintenance to engine overhaul, aero structure and fan thrust reverser support, as well as the management, repair and supply of aircraft components, structured around a powerful logistics network. AFI KLM E&M supports almost 3,000 aircraft operated by 200 major international and domestic airlines. www.afiklmem.com For Ampaire : [email protected] [email protected] For more information please contact: Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance Communication Department E-mail: [email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1920709/Ampaire_Logo.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1921620/Ampaire_Eco_Caravan.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1921619/Ampaire_fully_electric_Tailwind_concept_aircraft.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ampaire-and-air-france-industries-klm-engineering--maintenance-lay-the-foundations-to-advance-electric-aviation-301649854.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] New Enterprise Communications Report Finds 90% of Business Leaders Prefer Phone Over Other Communication Tools RingCentral, Inc. (NYSE: RNG), a leading provider of global enterprise cloud communications, video meetings, collaboration, and contact center solutions, today released results of a new enterprise communications report that surveyed business leaders and technology decision makers on their current and anticipated phone and technology use. The research revealed telephony is as relevant as ever for businesses of all sizes-and is a strategic driver of customer experience and top-line revenue. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005347/en/ (Graphic: Business Wire) Seven Key Findings of Survey Phone is still king - Over 90% of respondents said that phones are considered one of their main communication tools, with a majority (52%) saying it is their primary communication tool. And over 95% of business decision makers say it is important for customer engagement and revenue generation. Company size doesn't matter - While small companies are the most likely to say phone is their primary communication tool (58%), even the largest enterprises (10,000+) still are primarily on phone (55%) Phone is being used for everything - Companies are using phones for everything wih over half of respondents saying they are used for internal calls (74%), internal meetings (59%), external client calls (82%), external client meetings (61% ), external vendor calls (70%), outbound customer calls (64%), and inbound customer service (52%). Traditional systems still reign supreme - a majority of respondents say their company use mobile or on-prem phones with a smaller but growing group using cloud solutions (31%) Phone usage is expected to increase - The future of phone use is bullish according to respondents with a majority expecting phone use at their company to increase in the short term and only 5% reporting an expected decrease. Anytime, anywhere - when asked, the top features professionals want are the ability to use their phone for calls (34% rank in their top three) and texts (30%) where they already work on the laptop or desktop SMS is here to stay and only getting bigger - over 95% report using SMS in some capacity at their company, particularly amongst larger organizations it's the channel consumers prefer." "Businesses know that telephony is more than just a communications application, and is central for workplace productivity," said Jon Arnold, Principal, J Arnold & Associates, an independent industry analyst firm. "When investing in technologies to support hybrid work, compromises cannot be made with telephony given its real-time nature, as well as the fact that the research shows how telephony usage is only going to increase." For more details, visit this new interactive page. About RingCentral RingCentral, Inc. (NYSE: RNG) is a leading provider of business cloud communications and contact center solutions based on its powerful Message Video Phone??(MVP) global platform. More flexible and cost effective than legacy on-premises PBX and video conferencing systems that it replaces, RingCentral empowers modern mobile and distributed workforces to communicate, collaborate, and connect via any mode, any device, and any location. RingCentral offers three key products in its portfolio including RingCentral MVP, a Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) platform including team messaging, video meetings, and cloud phone system; RingCentral Video, ?the company's video meetings solution with team messaging that enables Smart Video Meetings; and RingCentral Contact Center solutions. RingCentral's open platform integrates with leading third-party business applications and enables customers to easily customize business workflows. RingCentral is headquartered in Belmont, California, and has offices around the world. 2022 RingCentral, Inc. All rights reserved. RingCentral, Message Video Phone, MVP, RingCentral MVP, RingCentral Video, RingCentral Contact Center, Smart Video Meetings, and the RingCentral logo are trademarks of RingCentral, Inc. About the Data The data referenced was collected via online survey from participants in the United States, Canada, and in the United Kingdom. Participants were recruited by Ipsos between July 13-25, 2022. Selected participants were those responsible for communication technology at their company. Additionally, selected participants are full time employees and hold a title of manager level or above. Relationships between variables collected were analyzed using parametric statistics for statistical significance. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005347/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] Major General John H. Russell Leadership Award Honors Equitable President Nick Lane Equitable President Nick Lane will be honored with the 2022 Marine Corps University Foundation (MCU Foundation) and Alumni Association Major General John H. Russell Leadership Award today at the Union League Club in New York City. The award, honoring Major General John H. Russell, the 16th Commandant of the Marine Corps, is presented annually at the Foundation's luncheon to a distinguished American whose commitment to personal and professional excellence embodies those qualities of leadership and character uniquely associated with the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Corps University Foundation welcomed back the John H. Russell Leadership Award Luncheon this year after a three-year hiatus due to Covid. Past recipients of this prestigious honor include His Eminence, Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan, former New York City Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly and publisher of The New York Times Arthur O. Sulzberger. The full list is available here. "All of us at Equitable extend our heartfelt congratulations to Nick on receiving the Major General John H. Russell Leadership Award," says Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EQH) CEO and President Mark Pearson. "This honor reflects not only his exemplary service to the country, but also the great qualities he developed in the United States Marine Corps that he now carries every day in the stewardship of our company." Lane currently leads Equitable's Commercial Businesses and Marketing and Digital functions. He also serves as a member of the Equitable Holdings Management Committee. He has held many leadership roles in his nearly 15-year career with the company. Most recently, he served as CEO and President of AXA Japan, where he was responsible for a $5.4 billion annual revenue business and led a team of 9,000 employees and distributors. Prior to that, he was Senior Executive Director at Equitable with responsibility across the firm's commercial divisions. Lane also ran global strategy for AXA Group, where he led development and oversight of the company's five-year strategic plan and M&A portfolio screenings across 60 countries. In addition, he oversaw AXA Group's asset management business. Earlier in his career, Lane was a leader in the sales and marketing practice of the global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Aliance Bernstein and has previously served on the boards of AXA Investment Managers, AXA Private Equity and AXA Real Estate Management. Lane has also held leadership roles with key professional organizations, including Chairman of the Insured Retirement Institute (IRI) and Director at the Life Insurance Marketing and Research Association (LIMRA). Before joining the private sector, Lane served in the United States Marine Corps, earning the rank of Captain. He received an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University. "I am humbled to receive this recognition from an organization I deeply respect on behalf of the extraordinary men and women with whom I have served," says Lane. "I applaud the important work MCU Foundation does on a daily basis. At Equitable, we remain committed to supporting the military community, including wounded warriors and veterans through scholarships and support services for active-duty military personnel." Lieutenant General Richard Mills, President and CEO of The Marine Corps University Foundation explained that "the Foundation is thrilled to honor Nick Lane this year. His service to the Corps, the Country and the military and civilian communities exemplifies the very best of what being a Marine is all about. Nick is truly Semper Fi, Always Faithful, to the core values that Marines adhere to: Honor, Courage and Commitment." The MCU Foundation's objective is twofold: to prepare Marines at all levels to address complex security challenges in a rapidly transforming world through an unparalleled education in security and warfighting studies, and to groom the next generation of decision makers within the Marine Corps, government and the private sector, equipping them with the critical thinking skills that will enable them to achieve success in any number of career paths. Today, the Foundation's efforts to enrich and enhance professional military education focus on: Strengthening the Marine Corps University's position of thought leadership in military studies and national security affairs, Cultivating the problem-solving skills that enable Marines to think creatively and act decisively in uncertain environments, and Developing the most knowledgeable, well-rounded and forward-thinking leaders, from Corporal to General "My time in the Marines instilled so many invaluable leadership qualities in me and provided me with the opportunity to work with and learn from amazing men and women from all over the country," Lane concluded. Lieutenant General Kevin Iiams, Commanding General for the Marine Corps' Training and Education Command, served as the military guest of honor for the event. "Once a Marine, always a Marine," liams remarked. "The leadership traits unique to Marines stay with them as they make contributions to the world after their Marine Corps service. I am proud to be a part of recognizing an American who embodies the values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment we continue to uphold." About The Marine Corps University Foundation Founded in 1980, the Marine Corps University Foundation has provided substantial intellectual and financial resources to the Marine Corps University. Equipping Marines with critical thinking skills that will enable them to achieve success throughout their careers in the Marine Corps, and in any number of other career paths they may pursue. Given the University's finite resources, the Foundation raises funds to attract todays 'leading minds' to Quantico so that they may educate active-duty Marines in security studies, terrorism, warfighting, emerging states and defense policy, along with critical geostrategic matters. Marines then apply this knowledge in conflict zones around the world. For more information about The Marine Corps University Foundation or the Russell Leadership Luncheon, please visit www.mcuf.org or contact Meredith Terrian at (407) 371-5668 or [email protected]. About Equitable Equitable, a principal franchise of Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EQH) has been one of America's leading financial services providers since 1859. With the mission to help clients secure their financial well-being, Equitable provides advice, protection and retirement strategies to individuals, families and small businesses. Equitable has more than 8,000 employees and Equitable Advisors financial professionals and serves 2.8 million clients across the country. Equitable is the brand name of the retirement and protection subsidiaries of Equitable Holdings, Inc., including Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company (Equitable Financial) (NY, NY), Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company of America (Equitable America), an AZ stock company, and Equitable Distributors, LLC. Equitable Advisors is the brand name of Equitable Advisors, LLC (member FINRA, SIPC) (Equitable Financial Advisors in MI and TN) GE- 4986163.1(10/22)(exp.10/24) View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005505/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] The Arbor Day Foundation and J.M. Huber Corporation to Strengthen Forests and Communities Around the World The Arbor Day Foundation and J.M. Huber Corporation ("Huber") are expanding their partnership to focus tree planting efforts on forests and neighborhoods that need trees the most in the U.S. and around the globe. This year, the partnership will provide support for nine reforestation projects, an urban community tree planting event, and additional tree planting opportunities for Huber employees. Reforestation efforts in the U.S. will be located in New York's Catskill Mountains and various project sites across North Carolina, with international projects taking place in Brazil, China, France, and Germany. In France, Huber will team up with the Foundation's local planting partner to provide an urban tree planting opportunity for community members in Montrouge, just a few miles south of Paris. The event will plant 1,000 trees with the help of Huber team members and community volunteers in an effort to enhance the community's urban forest and provide ecological benefits to residents. Additionally, Huber will fund the distribution of hundreds of trees to their workforce in Georgia in early 2023 through the Foundation's Community Canopy program, which ships individual trees to local employees' homes. The program will also provide educational tools and information to ensure that the trees are planted in the most ideal location to maximize environmental benefits. "We are thrilled to be working with Huber to help increase our ability to plant the right trees in the right places, worldwide," said Dan Lambe, Chief Executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. "This multi-faceted partnership is a great way to invite people from many walks of life to participate in vitally important ecosystem preservation efforts and experience the true power that trees have in our communities." For the past 50 years, the Arbor Day Foundation has worked to plant nearly 500 million trees in forests and communities around the world. Through a global network of partnerships, the Foundation facilitates projects that empower organizations of all sizes to reach their sustainability goals via measurable, impactful work through trees and forests. The Foundation recently announced an initiativeto plant 500 million trees over the next 5 years in the forests and communities that need them most. "Supporting high-impact environmental causes is essential to achieving our sustainability goals and is one of the foundational pillars of our Huber Helps program," said Don Young, EVP & Chief Sustainability Officer of Huber. "By engaging employees in a community planting event and inviting them to plant their own tree at home, we are seeking to demonstrate Huber' commitment to carbon reduction through the power of trees, while also supporting the growth and protection of forest ecosystems across the planet." Since its inception in 1883, Huber has had a long-standing commitment to philanthropy and community engagement (cash, in-kind product donations and employee volunteerism) to support a wide variety of worthy charitable initiatives in the communities where its employees and shareholders live and work. The Company has committed to donating 1% of its net income annually to organizations supporting Affordable Housing, Education & Wellness, and the Environment. In 2021, J.M. Huber and the Foundation planted a variety of tree species on reclaimed minelands in West Virginia, as well as longleaf pine stands to help restore endemic wildlife habitat in the lower Mississippi River Valley. As these trees continue to grow and mature, these projects' impact will help improve degraded landscapes and former forests, providing benefits such as flood mitigation, carbon sequestration, and improved wildlife habitat for generations to come. About the Arbor Day Foundation Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than one million members, supporters and valued partners. Since 1972, almost 500 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to lead toward a world where trees are used to solve issues critical to survival. As one of the world's largest operating conservation organizations, the Arbor Day Foundation, through its members, partners and programs, educates and engages stakeholders and communities across the globe to involve themselves in its mission of planting, nurturing and celebrating trees. More information is available at arborday.org. About J.M. Huber Corporation J.M. Huber Corporation, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia (US), operates a diverse portfolio of companies: CP Kelco, Huber Engineered Materials, Huber Engineered Woods and Huber Resources Corp. With locations around the world, our businesses create products used in a broad range of applications including personal care, food and beverage, agricultural nutrients and adjuvants, building materials, flame retardants and smoke suppressants, as well as sustainable forestry services. Founded in 1883, Huber is one of the largest family-owned companies based in the US. For more information, visit www.huber.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005416/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] Menlo Security: Most Consumers are Confident in Ability to Identify Threats, but Fail to Implement Basic Precautions The FBI is trying to contact you. Your Microsoft device has a virus (but you own a MacBook). There's a warrant out for your arrest for tax evasion (though you filed well before April 15). Since the advent of the internet, bad actors have taken to creative ways to prey on consumers. Research released today from Menlo Security, a leader in cloud security, revealed that consumers have: Received a message from their CEO offering payment in gift cards (22%) Were offered a fortune by a Nigerian Prince (37%) Were offered a free cruise (49%) Not all cyber threats are quite this obvious - receive an email from PayPal or Zelle that you've received a payment? Better check that email address to make sure it's legit. Is that really your Aunt Karen texting you a link to her Amazon wish list? She's never been a texter. Even as threat actors become more sophisticated and launch personalized attacks designed to manipulate individuals, most consumers are confident they can identify, and report suspected malicious cyber activity (77%). Despite this, 56% are still worried they may fall for a threat (and 30% reported that they had) - and that number jumps to 72% when it comes to concerns about a similar fate for a parent, child or loved one. Most alarming, most consumers still fail to implement basic best practices when it comes to protecting their devices, despite nearly a third (31%) reporting receiving spam emails multiple times per day. Only 21% use email security software Only 33% consistently use two-factor authentication (2FA) Only 28% don't use repeated passwords Only 20% use a password manager Generational divides Perhaps the most obvious and easiest way to protect yourself from online security threats: don't click links you don't trust. Gen Z, the generation that has never know life without internet, email and texting (and the least likely to have received any offers from the Nigerian Princes of the world), are the least likely to not click on suspicious links (59%) compared with Baby Boomers (88%), Gen X (82%) and Millennials (73%). The younger generations - Gen Z (38%) and Millennials (35%) - are more likely to implement practices like consistent 2 Factor Authentication (2FA) use when compared to Baby Boomers (31%) and Gen X (33%). What is consistent across generations: most are not implementing basic cyber safety practices. It's not just personal information we should worry about It's not just consumer's personal bank info or PayPal account that's at stake. 56% of people report doing personal business on a work device (raise your hand if you enabled iMessaging on your work laptop or sent that report to your personal email to work on later) or logging into work systems from a personal phone (who doesn't have their work email on their personal phone these days?), putting their employer's data at risk as well. "For cybersecurity leaders, it's harder now than ever to secure company data," said Mark Guntrip, senior director of cybersecurity strategy at Menlo Security. "This goes beyond the challenges of ensuring employees have access to the data they need regardless of their physical location, it's about educating people on the steps they need to take to not only guard against threats, but learn to identify increasingly sophisticated, personalized threats - look no further than Uber's recent data breach - design to appeal to individuals." Looking into 2023, threats and attacks, including Highly Evasive Adaptive Threats (HEAT) - which are used as beachheads for initiating ransomware, extortionware and other endpoint breaches - are only going to continue rising. While just over half of consumers had heard of phishing (68%), password attacks (55%), trojan horses (51%), or malware/ransomware (66%), most had not heard of other attacks such as smishing (11%). It's perhaps not realistic to expect the everyday consumers to keep up with the latest threat vectors; but in our "work from anywhere" world with increased usage of SaaS apps that are accessible via any browser, anywhere, these highly evasive adaptive threats (HEAT) are only going to continue rising. This means the burden often falls on corporations to defend against the weakest link in the security chain: people. How to protect your data According to Guntrip, there are basic steps everyone should take to ensure their data - personal and company - are protected: Enable 2FA Use strong passwords (random combinations of letters and numbers are best) and store them securely in a password manager Don't use repeated passwords Report suspicious communications Install security software and ensure all your devices are running the latest software Back up your files to a cloud or offline location regularly Don't respond to, click on links or open/download attachments from any number or email you don't know (we promise your CEO isn't really texting you about how your bonus will be paid via gift card you can download by clicking on that weird looking link). For corporations, additional steps that should be taken include: Have cloud security that spans web and email to prevent ransomware and other attacks Set up systems to require 2FA for all employees Ensure employees review security protocols as part of training and development Enforce strong password requirements for email and other applications Survey Methodology In partnership with Dynata, Menlo Security conducted a consumer survey, targeting 1,000 adults across the United States, age 18+, during October 2022. Figures for age, gender, education, income, employment and region were weighted to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate, no estimates of sampling error can be calculated. About Menlo Security Menlo Security protects organizations from cyberattacks by eliminating the threat of malware from the web, documents, and email. Menlo Security's patented isolation-powered cloud security platform scales to provide comprehensive protection across enterprises of any size, without requiring endpoint software or impacting the end user-experience. Menlo Security is trusted by major global businesses, including Fortune 500 companies, eight of the ten largest global financial services institutions, and large governmental institutions. Menlo Security is backed by Vista Equity Partners, Neuberger Berman, General Catalyst, American Express Ventures, Ericsson Ventures, HSBC and JP Morgan Chase. Menlo Security is headquartered in Mountain View, California. www.menlosecurity.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005560/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] 1Kosmos Adds SOC 2 Type II to Long List of Technology Certifications 1Kosmos, the only company that unifies identity proofing and passwordless authentication, today announced it has received a System and Organization Controls (SOC) 2 Type II certification. This certification validates that 1Kosmos, which provides identity proofing and passwordless as a cloud service, maintains effective system level controls that ensure the security of its platform. This is the latest in a series of certifications the company has received including support for the FIDO Alliance FIDO2 for strong and multi factor authentication, Kantara Initiative NIST SP 800-63 rev.3 for credential management, ISO 27001 for the handling and retention of sensitive data, and iBeta Quality Assurance for biometrics accuracy. 1Kosmos has previously received SOC 2 Type I certification. SOC 2 Type II reports on the description of controls provided by the management of the service organization, attests that the controls are suitably designed and implemented, and attests to the operating effectiveness of the controls. "1Kosmos is committed to delivering standards-based and transparent solutions that address customers identity verification and passwordless challenges for both workforces and customers," said Hemen Vimadalal, CEO of 1Kosmo. "SOC 2 Type II certification provides customers and prospects yet another measure of confidence that the BlockID platform has been externally audited and validated to meet the strictest industry standards for security, availability, and confidentiality." 1Kosmos BlockID is a live biometric driven, distributed digital identity platform that helps organizations establish with certainty the identity of individuals who are accessing their systems, applications and data, on a continuous basis, while supporting secure multi-factor passwordless authentication to online services. BlockID also provides organizations with secure, automated employee onboarding with self service identity proofing to corporate applications, data and resources. 1Kosmos establishes with certainty the identity of individuals accessing consumer, corporate and government systems, applications and data. An audit conducted by Deloitte confirmed that 1Kosmos meets the security Trust Services Criteria established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). For more information on SOC 2 Type II certification, visit: https://www.aicpa.org/interestareas/frc/assuranceadvisoryservices/sorhome.html. About 1Kosmos 1Kosmos enables passwordless access for workers, customers and citizens to securely transact with digital services. By unifying identity proofing and strong authentication, the BlockID platform creates a distributed digital identity that prevents identity impersonation, account takeover and fraud while delivering frictionless user experiences. BlockID is the only NIST, FIDO2, and iBeta biometrics certified platform that performs millions of authentications daily for some of the largest banks, telecommunications and healthcare organizations in the world. The company is funded by Forgepoint Capital and Gula Tech Adventures with headquarters in Somerset, New Jersey. For more information, visit www.1kosmos.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005200/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] Peloton Collaborates with Texas A&M University to Teach Data Management & Analytics to Future Petroleum Engineers HOUSTON, Oct. 19, 2022 /CNW/ -- Peloton and Texas A&M University announced today the collaboration of content for two courses within the universities' Petroleum Engineering curriculum. This initiative is part of Peloton's mission to empower future petroleum engineers and other key players in the industry. Peloton aims to shape the future generation of petroleum engineers through utilization of industry-leading software. Starting in Fall 2022, Peloton began providing four hours of educational content about the role of data management and analytics in the petroleum industry for better decision-making. The content has been incorporated into the Intro to Petroleum Engineering (PETE 201) course instructed by Dr. Catherine Sliva. Peloton is also a Capstone Project Sponsor for Interdisciplinary Data Analytics Practicum (STAT 483) instructed by Professor Sutanoy Dasgupta. In this course, a Peloton representative will be available to provide guidance and training for senior-level students. The course STAT 483 is a required part of the coursework requirements for the Certificate of Data Analytics for the Petroleum Industry, a specialized certification offered to select students within Texas A&M's colleges of engineering, science, geosciences and Mays Business School. This program is coordinated by Dr. Siddharth Misra, associate professor, and Douglas Von Gonten Faculty Fellow in the Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering. "By sharing this content, we aim to shape the future generation of petroleum engineers, providing an opportunity for students to learn from and gain experience with real-world scenarios through utilization of industry-leading software solutions. We anticipate this is just the beginning of our collaboration, and we are committed to making this university partnership a success, which is why we are working closely with the professors to provide any additional resources or support that they need," said Monty Meloche, President/COO of Peloton." "We always appreciate when companies like Peloton want to support us in our teaching curriculum," said Dr. Siddharth Misra. "When our students can interact with successful companies who are making a real impact on the industry, the lessons are more memorable and a valuable part of their learning experience." In addition to supporting new material in the two courses, students are also encouraged to apply for the Peloton Summer Internship Program, which was launched in summer 2015 and has included interns from many different universities between Peloton's offices in Canada and the United States. Internship programs cover an array of areas of expertise, including business administration, platform security, information technology, accounting, and the Peloton Platform Data Management Rotational Program. For further information about Peloton's software solutions, its involvement at Texas A&M University or its internship program, contact [email protected]. About Peloton Peloton, headquartered in Calgary, Canada, provides industry-leading oil & gas software solutions. The Peloton Platform energizes the oil and gas digital transformation through mobility, automation, and data integration by providing fully integrated well data lifecycle, production data lifecycle and land data management solutions. Over 600 oil and gas clients worldwide rely on Peloton technology to equip their stakeholders with the tools and information necessary to manage, simplify and optimize their operations. Visit www.peloton.com to learn more about our office locations and data management solutions. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/peloton-collaborates-with-texas-am-university-to-teach-data-management--analytics-to-future-petroleum-engineers-301652645.html SOURCE Peloton [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] CampusDoor and Sparrow Drive Digital Transformation In Private Student Lending CampusDoor, one of the nation's largest third-party, private student loan origination platforms, today announced an exclusive joint venture with Sparrow to expand banks' and credit unions' competitive advantage in capturing and retaining Generation Z borrowers. Founded by Gen Zers to address the frustrations they experienced when taking out loans, Sparrow is a digital search engine that makes it easy for students to find educational financing. Now Sparrow and CampusDoor are jointly offering a proprietary solution to help lenders bring the same ease and transparency to their prospects. The customized solution, focused only on each lender's own products, is available as an optional front end to CampusDoor's platform. "This exciting venture will further help lenders provide a 'wow experience' to every student applicant," said Sara Parrish, President, CampusDoor. "We searched high and low to find a partner who could deliver the 'sizzle' that aligns with the expectations of today's borrowers. We are glad to have identified these qualities in Sparrow." Since 1995, CampusDoor has facilitated more than $30 billion in student loans. The company's end-to-end solution manages the entire process-from origination to disbursement-on behalf of hundreds of lending and institutional clients. The white-label platform supports a fast, easy laptop or mobile loan application powered by a robust origination engine that instantly customizes loan terms and requirements according to each borrower's financial scenario. On-staff underwriters and a call center ensure a human, supportive experience. Non-bank mortgage lenders have also signed on for CampusDoor services like Student-Loan-in-a-Box-which allows them to offer private student loan refinancing with a ready secondary market. Using the Sparrow/CampusDoor co-solution, banks and credit unions can quickly guide borrowers through an application-explaining their options while anticipating and answering their questions with tips and FAQs. The solution auto-populates information, in a logical sequence, so users never have to leave the platform to gain insights from elsewhere. These include details on their future payment schedules so that students understand the long-term impact of their decisions. The goal is to win applicants' trust, leading to stickier relationships with them. "As a Gen Z founder, I know firsthand the pain points that many of us had to overcome with getting through the student loan process," said Harrison Hochman, CEO of Sparrow. "We are thrilled to find a partner in CampusDoor, who shares our commitment to making educational financing more accessible and understandable. Working together, we hope to empower more students to gain the resources they need to fulfill their dreams." About CampusDoor CampusDoor, one of the nation's largest third-party student and specialty loan origination shops, has processed more than $30 billion in private student loan applications, assisted more than 2.2 million borrowers and supports more than 1,200 unique loan programs. See CampusDoor.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221018006280/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] Gwynedd Mercy University Names New Vice President for Finance and CFO Gwynedd Mercy University has named Heather L. Meier, CPA as its next Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer. James Trusdell, MBA who has held the Vice President for Finance and Administration and CFO role since March 2020 will transition to a newly created Chief Operations Officer (COO) role at the University. Both will assume their new roles on November 9. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005683/en/ Heather L. Meier, CPA, Gwynedd Mercy University's new Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer. (Photo: Business Wire) Meier brings many years of experience as a financial leader in higher education to the position. She comes to GMercyU from Georgian Court University, where she holds the same role. Prior to her time at GCU, Meier served as Controller and Acting Vice President for Finance at Montgomery County Community College for more than six years. She also has held finance roles at other local universities, including La Salle University, Jefferson University (formerly PhilaU) and Villanova University. "We are delighted to have such an experienced financial leader join our Gwynedd Mercy University leadership team at a time of significant change and opportunity," said University President Deanne H. D'Emilio, JD. "Heather's strategic financial planning knowledge and expertise will be invaluable as we pursue a number of exciting initiatives outlined in the University's Strategic Plan, including the construction of the Frances M. Maguire Healthcare Innovation Campus and other campus improvements, the addition of new academic programs, and the launch of a Comprehensive Campaign in connection with the University's 75sup>th Anniversary. I am confident that she and Jim Trusdell, along with the other members of the leadership team, will position the University for the future." Meier, who earned her bachelor's degree from a private college in Maryland, similar in size to GMercyU, looks forward to working at her hometown University. "I am especially drawn to Gwynedd Mercy University's Mission and Core Values, and I can't think of a better time to join the GMercyU community," said Meier. "I am excited to take the lead in the strategic financial planning and analysis that will support the University as it begins the next 75 years of its history." D'Emilio made the decision to split the role of VP for Finance and Administration and CFO into two positions in July based on the changing needs of the University, which has embarked on a number of significant initiatives in recent years to achieve its vision of becoming the Catholic University leader in professional and healthcare education. Meier will oversee financial planning and performance, including all accounting functions, forecasting, risk assessment and management, payroll and auxiliary services. Trusdell will focus his attention on business operations, including the multiple planned campus improvement and construction projects in alignment with a newly completed facilities master plan and the finalization of the sale of 15 acres of campus to St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. He also will oversee the University's Human Resources, Plant Services and Information Technology departments. Meier earned her Master of Business Administration in Strategic Management from Villanova University, and her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Economics, with a minor in Accounting from McDaniel College. She is a Certified Public Accountant. Gwynedd Mercy University prepares students to become top professionals in the fields of nursing and other health professions, education, business, and the arts and sciences. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1948, Gwynedd Mercy University is a co-educational institution offering more than 40 bachelor's, master's, and associate degree programs as well as two doctoral programs on a full- and part-time basis. The University's campus is situated on 160 private acres on Sumneytown Pike between routes 309 and 202 in Gwynedd Valley, Montgomery County. The university also offers online and accelerated undergraduate and graduate programs for working professionals and career-changers. Learn more at gmercyu.edu, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005683/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] First Financial Bank and FHLB Dallas Award $16K to Fort Worth Nonprofit First Financial Bank, N.A. (First Financial), and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) awarded Community Frontline with $16,000 in Partnership Grant Program (PGP) funds. The partners joined to award the grants during a ceremonial check presentation at Community Frontline's offices in Fort Worth. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005726/en/ Representatives from First Financial Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas joined in Fort Worth, Texas to award $16,000 to nonprofit Community Frontline. (Photo: Business Wire) Community Frontline is a community-focused nonprofit based in Fort Worth, Texas. The organization concentrates on racial justice, police/community relations, mentoring, education and community development. Community Frontline will use the grant proceeds to build organizational capacity and cover salary expenses. <> "All of us at Community Frontline are grateful to First Financial and FHLB Dallas for their partnership and financial support as we work to promote racial justice," said Community Frontline President Dante Williams. Marcus Morris, president and CEO at First Financial Bank, Fort Worth Region, said the partnership with FHLB Dallas increased the impact. "First Financial is proud to partner with FHLB Dallas to provide Community Frontline with resources to further its important mission in the community," Mr. Morris said. In 2022, FHLB Dallas and its members provided nearly $559,000 in PGP funds to 38 community organizations in its five-state District of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. See the complete list of the grant recipients and visit fhlb.com/pgp to learn more. "FHLB members are incredible community partners with first-hand knowledge of the communities they serve. We appreciate our partnership with First Financial Bank to distribute PGP proceeds to further their work in the community," said Greg Hettrick, first vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas. About First Financial Bankshares: Headquartered in Abilene, Texas, First Financial Bankshares, Inc. is a financial holding company that through its subsidiary, First Financial Bank, N.A., operates multiple banking regions with 78 locations in Texas. The Company also operates First Financial Trust & Asset Management Company, N.A., with eight locations and First Technology Services, Inc., a technology operating company. About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $77.7 billion as of June 30, 2022, serves approximately 800 members and associated institutions across our five-state District of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. FHLB Dallas provides financial products and services including advances (loans to members) and grant programs for affordable housing and economic development. For more information, visit our website at fhlb.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005726/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] Fineqia Supports Art&Co. Charity Auction in Partnership with NFT4Refugees in Dubai LONDON, Oct. 19, 2022 /CNW/ - Fineqia International Inc. (the "Company" or "Fineqia") (CSE: FNQ) (OTC: FNQQF) (Frankfurt: FNQA) is proud to support Art&Co.'s latest in-person and online exhibition in partnership with NFT4Refugees showcasing innovative quantum NFTs to be auctioned for humanitarian causes at Waldorf Astoria hotel in Dubai on Thursday, October 20, 2022, as well as online at www.artandco.net, from 17:00 Dubai time. The online auction will comprise 10 NFTs and physical artworks by Roman Lipski, a pioneer in quantum art, and 5 refugee artists: Hana, Aabreniuk Ouif, Baron Sha'ar, Obaid Yemen, Cederick Diyavova, and Youssef. These unique objects will come in digital and printed versions and with every purchase, the buyer will receive an NFT. Roman Lipski specialises in "Quantum Blur", a technique for manipulating images using quantum operations in collaboration with Swiss research scientists. The artist opened the Google House in Berlin with an AL performance in 2019. He now explores the format of Quantum Art for NFTs to support the project NFT4Refugees. The presented series is a unique one-off project by Roman Lipski. "Fineqia is delighted to be converging finance, art, and Web 3.0 in a unique event supporting exceptional NGOs that assist refugees and empower artists pioneering TechArt as an emerging field," said Fineqia's CEO Bundeep Singh Rangar. NFTs4Refugees lists artworks from international artists as a partnership between the World Datanomic Forum and the Schwarz Foundation, led by Paula Schwarz. The money from an art sale goes to an artist's selected Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO). Charities include the World Food Program, Upgrade Ukraine, The United Nations, AI4Good, and Stand wih Ukraine. "NFT4Refugees was created to help artists familiarise themselves with the digital art space using NFTs and is where profitable art meets giving back in the most transparent way," said Paula Schwarz, CEO of NFT4Refugees. Paula believes in promoting peace through art and trusts that technology can enable people who have less. NFT4Refugees is strengthened by The World Datanomic Forum and the Schwarz Foundation. The World Datanomic forum organises a broad network of interdisciplinary researchers, non-profits, governments, and corporate actors to collect data and support solutions. Equally, the Schwarz Foundation is a private non-profit institution aiming to foster the exchange of ideas and practices between cultures and countries. Fineqia supported Art&Co. during the Covid pandemic in 2020 when the platform was used to launch the world's largest online art auction for Covid relief. Fineqia has now partnered with Art&Co. again for the purpose of supporting refugees. More information about the event can be obtained by contacting Bundeep Singh Rangar at +971 58 508 7376 and [email protected] or Paula Schwarz at +49 160 90133000 and [email protected]. About Art&Co. Art&Co. connects the worlds of art, finance, and support groups. It links freelance artists to support humanitarian causes. Art&Co. works with partners in the tech-industry to bring about new forms of TechArt around the world. Art&Co. is an initiative by InsurAid, a company set up to encourage corporate and personal donations to support those affected by humanitarian disasters, public health and safety crises. InsurAid focuses on events for which insurance is scarce or unavailable. About NFT4Refugees NFTs4Refugees lists artworks from international artists as a partnership between the World Datanomic Forum and the Schwarz Foundation. The money generated is used to discover new artists among the community of refugees supported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the World Food Program together with NFTs4Refugees. NFTs4Refugees enables artists to tap into NFTs as a new field of interest. All NFTs sold on our platform support decentralized grassroots organizations or non-governmental organizations working with refugees that an artist has selected. Our partners are located in Ukraine, Yemen, Syria, Greece and many other regions. Welcome to your new connecting point of art & humanitarian aid around the world! About Fineqia International Inc. Fineqia International is listed in Canada (CSE: FNQ) and quoted on stock exchanges in the United States (OTC: FNQQF) and Europe (Frankfurt: FNQA). Fineqia International sets out the corporate governance, corporate culture, processes and relationships of the company under which the Company and its subsidiaries are managed and managed. Fineqia International monitors and ensures the success, planning and growth of the Company and all of its subsidiaries. More information can be found at https://investors.fineqia.com/news. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fineqia-supports-artco-charity-auction-in-partnership-with-nft4refugees-in-dubai-301653695.html SOURCE Fineqia International Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] Instacart Unveils an Enhanced Ad Buying Experience in Ads Manager and Launches Shoppable Video Ads for All CPG Brand Partners New Objective-Based Framework for Buying Ads Marks Most Extensive Upgrade Yet to Instacart's Self-Service Portal, Ads Manager Instacart Launches Shoppable Video Ads for all Advertisers Following a Pilot With More than 40 Brands, Including Celsius, Clorox, Hormel, Mondelez International, and That's It. SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Instacart, the leading grocery technology company in North America, today announced an enhanced ad buying experience in Ads Manager, the company's self-service portal, putting marketing objectives front and center for brand partners. Beginning today, Instacart brand partners will start campaign creation by choosing an objective, which will streamline their ad setup by reorienting their campaign around their specific goals. Brands choosing 'reach,' 'engage,' or 'maximize sales' with their campaigns in the new Ads Manager framework will see tailored recommendations for the ad formats, targeting, and bidding options to help them achieve their campaign goals. This new objective-based framework provides more guidance and options for over 5,500 brand partners on Instacart. As part of the new Ads Manager experience, Instacart also announced the availability of shoppable video ads for all brand partners. Shoppable video ads combine immersive rich media creative with a set of in-line shoppable products to shorten the path from inspiration and discovery to purchase. Brands can leverage this new format for a number of use cases, from spotlighting innovative product launches, and shaping complementary regimens to creating ready-to-go baskets for target consumers. Shoppable video ads are available today in Ads Manager and are designed to help CPG brands achieve their objectives to 'reach' or 'engage' consumers on Instacart depending on their campaign goal. Shoppable videos on Instacart autoplay with sound off and can be between three and 30 seconds long; advertisers can select and pin three to 20 directly shoppable products from their portfolios with Instacart's seamless add-to-cart functionality. The new ad unit can also drive consumers to a custom landing page or product detail page for further exploration and deeper storytelling. "Over the last year, we've built multiple new ad formats to enable brands to drive impact on Instacart by deploying a comprehensive suite of ad solutions," said Ali Miller, VP ofAd Products at Instacart. "Today marks a significant next step in our ad platform's evolution by making this new format fully available, alongside a new Ads Manager buying experience that helps brands align their campaign setup with business results that matter. We're excited to continue to collaborate with our brand partners to unlock more rich media ads across Instacart that help elevate their brands and products and inspire and engage more consumers." Instacart offers brands of all sizes a robust suite of full-funnel ad products in Ads Manager that enable brands to inspire and connect with consumers throughout the entire shopping journey. This year, Instacart has launched several new inspirational and discovery products, including Pop-Ups, Pages, Shoppable Display, and now Shoppable Video bringing the best of storytelling and inspiration to help drive conversion. These top-of-the-funnel products complement Instacart's flagship sponsored product offering, which allows brands to secure premium digital shelf space and maximize sales and category share. Since launching in 2020, Ads Manager has helped brands and agency partners identify advertising goals, set custom budgets and schedules, control content, and manage Instacart Ads at the campaign level. Select Shoppable Video Ad Pilot Partner Testimonials: "Instacart's new shoppable video ads are an effective way to help us introduce our new Clorox Disinfecting Mist and its product benefits to our target consumers," said Ti-Yanna Boone, Home Care Marketing Manager at Clorox. "We're extremely pleased with the pilot results, which proved to us that Instacart consumers are engaging with this new format on the platform. We've seen click-through-rates from our shoppable video ads exceed industry averages, so we plan on deploying the new ad unit in the future to help us achieve our full-funnel marketing objectives." "Instacart is an essential marketplace and platform for our growing brand to utilize in our media mix," said Elizabeth Pigg, CMO at That's it. "We are always looking for new ways to engage with both existing and new consumers for our brand and we were excited to pilot Instacart's new shoppable video ads. The new format allows us to showcase our product portfolio and simple ingredients, inspire consumers with our vibrant videos that highlight our natural, non-GMO fruit snacks, and enable customers to quickly add That's it. to their cart as they shop for their favorite healthy foods." "At Mondelez International, reaching and engaging the online consumer is a major part of our growth strategy and Instacart is a partner that helps us drive this," said Francesca Hahn, VP of Digital Commerce at Mondelez International. "We were excited to pilot Instacart's new shoppable video ads because they helped us tell richer stories to consumers as they shopped some of our most loved brands, like OREO. Instacart offers us a toolkit of shopper-driven ad products that we can leverage to fuel our company's growth." About Instacart Instacart, the leading grocery technology company in North America, works with grocers and retailers to transform how people shop. The company partners with more than 900 national, regional, and local retail brands to facilitate online shopping, delivery and pickup services from more than 75,000 stores across more than 13,000 cities in North America on the Instacart Marketplace. Instacart makes it possible for millions of busy people and families to get the groceries they need from the retailers they love, and for hundreds of thousands of Instacart shoppers to earn by picking, packing and delivering orders for customers on their own flexible schedule. The Instacart Platform offers retailers a suite of enterprise-grade technology products and services to power their e-commerce experiences, fulfill orders, digitize brick-and-mortar stores, provide advertising services, and glean insights. With Instacart Ads, thousands of CPG brands from category leaders to emerging brands partner with the company to connect directly with consumers online, right at the point of purchase. For more information, visit www.instacart.com/company, and to start shopping, visit www.instacart.com. For anyone interested in becoming an Instacart shopper, visit https://shoppers.instacart.com/. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/instacart-unveils-an-enhanced-ad-buying-experience-in-ads-manager-and-launches-shoppable-video-ads-for-all-cpg-brand-partners-301652899.html SOURCE Instacart [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] OSC survey explores Canadians crypto ownership and knowledge TORONTO, Oct. 19, 2022 /CNW/ - The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) today released the results of an investor survey on crypto assets that found 13% of Canadians currently own crypto assets or crypto funds. Overall, half of Canadians surveyed could accurately define crypto assets, but most lacked a working knowledge of the practical, legal and regulatory aspects of owning them. The average crypto asset knowledge score was just 37%. The survey also found 38% of Canadians believe crypto assets currently play a key role in the financial system. "The data from our crypto asset study provides the OSC with valuable insights about Canadians who are and who are not investing in crypto," said Tyler Fleming, Director of the Investor Office at the OSC. "As a responsible regulator, the OSC is monitoring the rise in crypto assets in Canada and around the world. The survey helps us better understand Canadians' knowledge of the risks and rules, and their motivation for investing in these assets." Almost half of those surveyed do not plan to buy crypto assets in the next 12 months, while 31% of Canadians do plan to buy within that time frame. Crypto buyers' reasons for purchasing included: wanting to make more money compared to a traditional savings account. believing in the value of the technology. wanting a speculative investment or gamble. wanting to diversify their portfolio. While more than three-quarters of people surveyed had never invested in crypto assets, there were interesting insights about those who had invested. Crypto owners: were more likely to be investors who own investment funds, stocks and other types of securities. had higher general financial literacy and knowledge about crypto compared to non- crypto asset buyers. compared to non- asset buyers. were more aggressive in their approach to investing, and more comfortable with risk than non- crypto investors. investors. were also more likely to have been targeted by crypto advertising and feel it motivated them to purchase. The OSC study lso found crypto asset owners were more likely to be: male (67%) between the ages of 24-44 (59%) more formally educated (49% have an undergraduate degree or higher) employed full-time (67%) with a somewhat higher income (37%: $100k+ annually) Crypto purchasers relied mostly on word of mouth as a source of information (41%) before purchasing. Others considered posts by social media influencers (21%), consulted an expert in blockchain technology (20%) or relied on their financial advisor (15%). Almost three quarters (74%) of those who own crypto assets weren't recommended to buy them by their financial advisor and most never even discussed the option. The online survey of 2,360 Canadians was conducted from April 26 to May 10, 2022. This included 2,185 Canadians from the general population, and an oversampling of 175 crypto owners to ensure at least 500 crypto owners were included in the survey. Learn more about crypto assets at GetSmarterAboutCrypto.ca. All investments have some level of risk, and crypto assets are no different. Always check to see if the platform you plan to use is registered. The OSC has a regularly updated list of crypto asset trading platforms registered in Ontario. To protect yourself from unqualified or fraudulent individuals trying to sell you an investment or give you investment advice, visit Check Before You Invest to search the Canadian Securities Administrators' National Registration. For more financial education resources, investors can visit GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca or sign-up for the Investor News newsletter. The mandate of the OSC is to provide protection to investors from unfair, improper or fraudulent practices, to foster fair, efficient and competitive capital markets and confidence in the capital markets, to foster capital formation, and to contribute to the stability of the financial system and the reduction of systemic risk. Investors are urged to check the registration of any persons or company offering an investment opportunity and to review the OSC investor materials available at http://www.osc.ca. Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Add us on Instagram Watch us on Youtube Visit Us: OSC.ca InvestorOffice.ca SOURCE Ontario Securities Commission [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] Inszone Insurance Services Continues Expansion in Texas with the Acquisition of Proctor Insurance Inszone Insurance Services: a rapidly growing, national provider of benefits, personal and commercial lines insurance, announced today the acquisition of Proctor Insurance, providing the fifth acquisition in the state of Texas. Founded by Jeff Proctor in 1988, Proctor Insurance has been a pillar in the Houston area. Jeff started in his community founding two grocery stores in the Houston area, but when those were sold to a local chain, he begun looking for a change of pace which would allow him to provide for his wife and three small children and lead him away from the 7-day work week. After consulting with a friend in the insurance industry, Jeff decided to open his agency and built it from the ground up. He built a reputation of success among small hotels and motels, who appreciated the honesty and dedication of him and his team. Getting ready to retire, Jeff knew he wanted to find a company to provide opportunity for advancement and further education to his employees while also providing great resources to his clients. p> Proctor Insurance customers will continue to receive the service they are accustomed to, under the Inszone Insurance brand. "Jeff of Proctor Insurance told us his team was his true success story, and he was 100% right, we couldn't be happier to provide them with the resources to continue their great work under the Inszone brand," says Norm Hudson, CEO of Inszone Insurance Services. "We are excited to see our service footprint grow in the state of Texas and look forward to many years of success with the team from Proctor Insurance." Inszone Insurance is expected to announce a number of important acquisitions in the upcoming months as it continues to build its national presence. About Inszone: Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Sacramento, California, Inszone is a full-service insurance brokerage firm which provides a broad array of property & casualty insurance, along with employee benefits solutions. With a strong, experienced management team, Inszone continues to grow organically, as well as through acquisitions. With 31 locations across California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Missouri, Texas and Illinois, the company is looking to further expand throughout the United States. For more information about Inszone, please visit www.inszoneinsurance.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005936/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] University of Phoenix Transfer Student Scholarships Support Students Transferring or Returning to School University of Phoenix offers scholarships for transfer students and is highlighting the scholarship availability during National Transfer Student Week as part of a broader effort to raise awareness and understanding of the practical ways that transferring credit can save students time and money. Scholarships of up to $3,000 are available throughout the year and are awarded to prospective students for the opportunity to pursue a degree at the University of Phoenix. There are currently about 39 million adults in the U.S. with some college and no degree. Students who have some college and no degree do not need to start over but can continue their work toward a degree by transferring. "Transferring credit can lower costs and help individuals find the school that best fits their educational needs and career aspirations," states Devin Andrews, vice president, admissions and evaluation. "We are proud to provide a supportive transfer process to transferring students, those who are coming from other institutions and those making the decision to return to school. The University of Phoenix Transfer Student Scholarships are intended to provide support to transfer students and honor their commitment to continuing their educational and career path forward." In recognition of National Transfer Student Week, additional scholarships of $500 each will be available to currently enrolled University of Phoenix students who have already transferred credit. While the transition between institutions can be complex, the Universty of Phoenix works to make the process of transferring credit straightforward for students, as well as actively seeking money saving opportunities with relevant life and work experience. In the fiscal year 2022, University of Phoenix had 24,329 transfer students enroll, and of those, 14,512 came from community colleges. The University of Phoenix supports student transfers in multiple ways: Simplifying the college credit transfer process: knowledgeable staff provide supportive guidance and academic advising, request transcripts from prior institutions on students' behalf, and specially trained transfer evaluators review all prior credit; Earning life and work experience credits: earning college credit for prior learning is an assessment process, offered at no cost, that allows individuals to demonstrate learning gained from work and life experience that may count towards a degree. The assessment includes evaluation of on-the-job training, workplace certifications, military service and other life experiences Offering generous credit transfer possibilities: credit transfers can cover up to 75% of a bachelor's degree; Saving students money: on average, University of Phoenix students save $11,000 and shave 1 year off their undergraduate degree with eligible transfer credits and relevant work experience. Vanity Hicks is a University of Phoenix student and Transfer Student Scholarship recipient. Her transfer included credits from her military experience, credits earned with Sophia.org and Study.com, as well as credits from completing a prior learning assessment (PLA). "Becoming a transfer student at University of Phoenix has truly been the highlight of my educational journey. Earning a Bachelor of Science in Health Management degree is no longer a distant dream, but an obtainable reality," she shares. "My transfer credits gave me the opportunity to boost my graduation date by more than one year, and literally saved thousands of dollars on my overall tuition. As a scholarship recipient, I am one step closer at reaching the finish line and entering the healthcare profession, all thanks to University of Phoenix. I Rise!" Hicks worked closely with Ross Casillas, senior academic counselor, to identify opportunities and realities for transfer credit. "Working with Vanity was a pleasure. She was very driven and dedicated to graduating sooner. We explored three different options including PLA, courses through Sophia.org and courses through Study.com, which allowed her to transfer in 56 total credits," shares Casillas. "Working closely on the precise courses she should take and deadlines on when credits needed to transfer allowed Vanity to bring in a majority of her general education and elective credits, as well as some of her core credits. All-in-all, this saved her over a year of time in her program and saved her more than $11,000 in tuition." Learn more about the Transfer Student Scholarship here. About University of Phoenix University of Phoenix is continually innovating to help working adults enhance their careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, and Career Services for Life help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005151/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] The Fat Jewish to Host Decrypt Studios' Inaugural Crypties Awards Josh Ostrovsky, better known by his Instagram handle @thefatjewish, will host the inaugural Crypties Awards on November 30th at Art Basel Miami, Decrypt Studios, the Web3 production studio, announced today. The Crypties, the first awards ceremony of its kind for the crypto community, honors creative and technical trailblazers who are advancing the industry and bringing Web3 to the mainstream. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221017005992/en/ (Graphic: Business Wire) The Fat Jewish, an American entrepreneur, radio host, social media personality, author, and plus-size model, burst into the mainstream with his humorous Instagram account in 2013. It now has over 10 million followers. As one of the first to pioneer outlandish content creation and highly relatable meme commentary on the platform, The Fat Jewish has expanded his media empire, launching businesses such as Babe canned wine, appearing in films and television shows with everyone from Adam Sandler to Katie Couric, and working with major brands such as Burger King and Malibu Rum on highly visual advertising campaigns. "Crypto is sick and awards shows are sick, so can you actually imagine how sick a CRYPTO AWARDS SHOW is gonna be??" The Fat Jewish said, referring to his involvement in the Crypties. "The world of crypto is fun, edgy, and a bit irreverent, so who better to act as the master of ceremonies than one of the most sensational people on the internet, The Fat Jewish?" said Alanna Roazzi-Laforet, founder of Decrypt Studios. "Josh understands the media landscape better than most, and knows what entertains people," she added. "The Crypties are a night to honor the best in our business-but we want to have a bit of fun, too. Josh is the perfect person to put on a great show for the crypto community." The Fat Jewish will be joined on stage throughout the evening by industry heavyweights to help present the Crypties Awards. Earlier this month, Decrypt Studios announced the new awards initiative and highlighted members of the event's inaugural Advisory Board, including: Adam Friedman, CAA Avery Akkineni, Vayner3 Cassandra Sagehorn, On Chain Studios Chris Jacquemin, WME Dan Rozenberg, Innovah Dave Meeker, Dentsu Drew Kim, Sleepy Tiger Fastackl, Kanon Josh Thompson, Gotham Labs John Wu, Ava Labs Layne Haber, Connext Leo Matchett, Decentralized Pictures Foundation Phil Quist, CAA Ryan Xavier Lewis, Anonymous Ryan Wyatt, Polygon Studios Wojtek Kaszycki, Mobilum Nominees for the Crypties Awards are currently being announced @cryptiesawards on Twitter throughout October. Attending / Partnership For information on attendance, VIP tables, partnership, or sponsoring The Crypties, please contact Decrypt Studios at [email protected]. Media Inquiries To arrange a briefing, please contact Megan Linebarger at [email protected]. About Decrypt Studios Decrypt Studios is a Web3 creative studio providing blockchain solutions for brands, strategic partners, and event initiatives. We demystify digital assets and virtual worlds, providing tools to help stakeholders reach new audiences via Web3 offerings and activations. With an insider's perspective provided by sister organization Decrypt Media, Decrypt Studios cuts through the hype to provide real world results across the scope of the blockchain ecosystem. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221017005992/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 19, 2022] TRENDPOP LAUNCHES SELF SERVE SUBSCRIPTION TO MAKE GOING VIRAL ACCESSIBLE TO ALL IN MOVE TO DISRUPT SHORT FORM SOCIAL VIDEO SPACE New plan offering puts the power in the hands of the brands, agencies, and record labels looking to reach new audiences through short form social video. LOS ANGELES, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Trendpop, a Collab.Inc SaaS data and insights platform for short form social video marketing, has launched a self-service subscription offering to meet the needs of brand marketers, influencer marketing agencies, and record labels to understand and take action around what makes a video viral. The announcement was made today by Trendpop's CEO, Yoav Zimmerman and CTO Jonathan (Yoni) Ben-tzur. Trendpop, a viral video insights platform, has launched a self-service subscription Trendpop is disrupting the social video marketing landscape by unlocking the secrets of what it takes to go viral on short-form social video platforms. To date, the platform has been available on a private invite only basis. This new platform offering opens up access to all, reducing or eliminating the manual workflow required to obtain a deep understanding of which videos, sounds, creators and hashtags are about to become the next big trend. Marketers can sign up today at trendpop.com to use Trendpop to identify viral trends and emerging creators in real-time, pinpoint key signals that contributed to their success, and predict what will fuel future growth. Marketers can then leverage these insights to run more effective influencer marketing campaigns or create better original content, and creators can plan their next viral video. The self-serve subscription offering enables anyone to access the freshest data as Trendpop monitors millions of social video posts per day, having analyzed over 2 billion data points to date. The Trendpop database currently contains over 170 million creators, 90 million sounds, 40 million hashtags, and over 2 billion videos with 3-4 millio new videos being added to the platform everyday. Data is constantly processed and aggregated in near real-time to provide statistics as fast as possible, allowing Trendpop to discover trends as they are starting out, with many getting identified at as few as 50 videos posted. Trendpop's AI systems help identify both viral and up-and-coming trends on TikTok to continuously monitor so that you can see the breakdown of a trend as it's happening. "In a social media world shifting to vertical video and algorithmic feeds, it is vitally important to adapt to survive," said Zimmerman. "Our mission is to help creators and brands authentically grow their audience in this new landscape, and with our new self-serve offering, anyone can take advantage of the Trendpop platform." "With the launch of self-serve, we're thrilled that Trendpop is more accessible than ever before to the brands and marketers working within the Creator Economy. Trendpop continues to solidify its status as a must-have tool for any company that needs to keep pace with the culture on TikTok," said Collab Co-CEO Tyler McFadden . While Trendpop is currently focused on TikTok, the company is taking a huge bet on short-form social video in general. The future of Trendpop envisions an all-in-one platform which allows digital marketers to win not only on TikTok, but on other emerging short-form social video platforms as well most notably Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts making Trendpop the ultimate marketing tool for influencer marketing. Marketers can sign up for a 7-day free self-service trial before purchasing a subscription at https://trendpop.com/ About Trendpop Trendpop was co-founded by Yoav Zimmerman (CEO) and Jonathan (Yoni) Ben-tzur (CTO) in August 2020. During its inception, Zimmerman and Ben-tzur wanted to build a platform that helps virtually anyone go viral. Zimmerman and Ben-tzur raised money from YCombinator (W21) to build Trendpop and grew to profitability in 12 short months. In January 2022, Trendpop was acquired by Collab, a veteran company in the digital creator space and an official TikTok creative and marketing partner. Today, Trendpop powers the TikTok marketing programs of major record labels in North America and is quickly expanding to new markets in the film, television, beauty, and DTC eCommerce industry. Trendpop is currently used by leading marketing and A&R professionals in the music industry (both indie and major) to help their artists go viral on TikTok and hundreds of brands and creators who consistently win on social video. About Collab: Collab is the leading creator technology company driving the creator economy and short form video. Working with the biggest names and fastest rising social media creators, Collab generates 35 billion views every month across digital platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook. Collab's proprietary technologies increase creator earnings, grow creator audiences, deliver exclusive TikTok campaign tools for brands, and protect and monetize digital content. As of Q3 2021, Collab has paid its network of creators and rights holder partners more than $200 million.. Collab represents 1000+ creators with a combined 2.4 billion total followers, and has one of the largest UGC (user generated content) libraries in the world. As an official TikTok Marketing and Creative partner, Collab provides brands with unique strategic advantages on the platform. Combining custom technology, campaign expertise, and talent relationships, the company has become the number one creator network on TikTok and a top ten provider of content on YouTube. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trendpop-launches-self-serve-subscription-to-make-going-viral-accessible-to-all-in-move-to-disrupt-short-form-social-video-space-301654160.html SOURCE Trendpop [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The opioid crisis recently claimed the life of an innocent. Sadly, this is part of a worsening local trend. Consider that this news comes after so many comedians mocked rainbow fentanyl warnings about the danger posed to youngsters. Sure, drug dealers and Halloween pranksters probably aren't selling to youngsters or spiking candy BUT the danger of this drug can OBVIOUSLY impact children who reside in homes suffering from illicit drug abuse. Here are the basics of the local story . . . The department said four of the overdoses were deadly. One of the victims was a toddler found unresponsive Oct. 11 near East 56th Street and Norton Avenue. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Toddler dies from fentanyl overdose, Kansas City police say KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The fentanyl crisis in Kansas City is becoming more of a problem according to the Kansas City Police Department. Officers responded to nearly two dozen overdoses in Kansas City, Missouri, involving fentanyl in less than two weeks. The department said four of the overdoses were deadly. Toddler among 4 recent victims of deadly fentanyl overdoses in Kansas City KANSAS CITY, Mo. - In a two-week period this month, Kansas City, Missouri, police say they have investigated the deaths of four people - including a toddler - caused by fentanyl overdoses. Police took to social media Wednesday afternoon outlining the number of cases, describing the crisis as "getting worse." KCPD Warns Of Spike In Suspected Fentanyl Overdoses In September, KCPD's Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) seized four large amounts of fentanyl: a 3,300 pill seizure, an 11,000 pill seizure, a 3,100 pill seizure, and a two-kilogram seizure. The department's largest seizure this year, to-date, is 41,000 pills. On multiple occasions, the DEU has seized fentanyl in brick/kilogram form. KC police: 4 people, including toddler, die from fentanyl in 13-day span KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Kansas City police are investigating the death of a toddler exposed to fentanyl. On Oct. 11 at 5:15 p.m., they responded to 56th and Norton after someone called an ambulance about a toddler boy who was unresponsive. Developing . . . In fact . . . Ever since Mayor Q's administration allowed a homeless camp to exist FOR MONTHS in Westport and then confronted the problem by way of political protest . . . The "houseless" have chased away customers from this town's oldest party place. Now, new complaints are taking hold amid more cheap talk about a fix . . . "Two Kansas City bar owners say homeless individuals aren't getting the help they need from the city and it's affecting their business. " Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . Kansas City business owners want more action from the city to address homelessness Kansas City has announced a strategic plan to end homelessness in the city within five years, but Matt Alexiou, co-owner of Southside Bar and Grill, says the plan is only surface deep. Since November, Alexiou said, he has been communicating with city council members, the city manager, the mayor and homelessness prevention coordinator about how unhoused people are affecting his business and community. Over a dozen agencies meet at Park U to address metro homelessness. What can be done? KANSAS CITY METRO (KCTV) - This first-ever summit at Park University will help area organizations see what others are doing to help the housing insecurities and homelessness in the KC Metro they call an ever-increasing concern. Developing . . . This morning we learned of one more reason why a massive KCPS shutdown is underway . . . The buildings need major repair and put students at risk. At least that's the narrative that most are taking away from a recent incident. Here's the recap . . . Coupled with low enrollment, Longfellow is one of 10 schools KCPS has proposed to shutdown.That's according to a report issued last week during a meeting on Blueprint 2030, which is the school system's strategic plan for accelerating academic achievement and enhancing our student experience. On Wednesday morning, students at the elementary school were transported to Children's Mercy Hospital for suspected carbon monoxide poisoning. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Report shows Longfellow Elementary School too costly to maintain KANSAS CITY, MO - When it comes to maintaining Kansas City Public Schools, Longfellow Elementary School has one of the highest maintenance bills. Coupled with low enrollment, Longfellow is one of 10 schools KCPS has proposed to shutdown. 6 children, 2 adults taken to hospital after reported carbon monoxide leak at a KC-area elementary school Several ambulances and emergency were dispatched Wednesday to a Kansas City, Missouri, elementary school after several children were reportedly sickened by a carbon monoxide leak.The incident started around 9:30 a.m. at Longfellow Elementary on Holmes Street in Kansas City. Students showing symptoms after carbon monoxide leak at Longfellow Elementary KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Multiple students were showing symptoms after a carbon monoxide leak was reported at Longfellow Elementary School. Several responding agencies were seen outside the school with students taken into ambulances. Longfellow Elementary School is located in the 2800 block of Holmes Street in Kansas City, Missouri. 8 kids, 2 adults hospitalized after carbon monoxide leak at Longfellow Elementary School in Kansas City Ten people - eight students and two adults - were hospitalized Wednesday after becoming ill from a carbon-monoxide leak at Longfellow Elementary School in Kansas City, Missouri. The Kansas City, Missouri, Fire Department said a leak in one of the building's two boilers, which are used to heat the school, was the culprit of the CO leak. Students reunite with parents after carbon-monoxide leak at Longfellow Elementary KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Students and parents are reuniting at Manual Career and Technical Center at 1215 East Truman Road after a carbon-monoxide leak at Longfellow Elementary School in Kansas City, Missouri. Six kids and two adults were hospitalized following the leak Wednesday morning. Developing . . . A quick perspective . . . We respect a statement sent our way tonight and that's why we're posting it . . . It comes by way of a local group that has done important work and we think they're speaking/writing from the heart. Our only fear is that we're all losing sight of the culpability of a suspect who is charged with running a horrific sex dungeon in his house. Sure, there are legitimate gripes with media and police about a lot of things . . . HOWEVER . . . None of the complaints are as relevant as the charges currently waged against a suspected creeper. Again . . . Because we can hold two competing ideas in our head at the same time. We share this statement that's resonating in local urban communities . . . Shirleys Kitchen Cabinet Statement Regarding Missing Black Women and Girls The handling of the rape, kidnapping and assault case in Kansas City highlights troubling patterns when covering missing Black people. Kansas City, Mo. Today, Shirleys Kitchen Cabinet founder Michele L Watley released the following statement regarding the ongoing investigation into Timothy Haslett Jr. the Excelsior Springs, Missouri man charged with with rape, kidnapping and assault, and troubling patterns of the coverage of the case: Like many in our community, I am praying for the victim, her family and for victims that may have yet to be identified. I also lift up Jayonna, a local teenager who has been missing since Sept. 9, 2022, in prayer with the hope that she returns home safe. It is deeply devastating and heartbreaking to hear about these horrific crimes. And the events surrounding how these crimes came to light are equally disturbing. Downplaying the outcry from leaders calling attention to a pattern of missing Black women and girls in our community, police and local media dismissing community journalism as gossip, and local mainstream medias one sided reporting prioritizing police statements over the community is beyond problematic and irresponsible. These factors have led to wide-spread disparities in missing persons in the Black community and why these cases are difficult to solve. These factors contribute to the disparities in sex trafficking victims, with over 40% of sex trafficking victims being Black. Community leaders, clergy and others who step out to call attention to missing Black people are the sources we trust. Community journalism is the voice in the void where mainstream media has and continues to fail in its reporting of Black stories. And between the current federal investigation of racism in Kansas City Police Departments hiring practices, years of unchecked abuse by law enforcement with the Kansas City Kansas Police Department in the federal investigation of Roger Golubski, and a well documented history of police in this region failing to fully and safely serve Black citizens, theres good reason to question police departments in this region handling this case. With both sides of the state line - Kansas and Missouri - having been at the center of sex trafficking, there must be urgency when addressing claims of missing Black people. Because of this, our community has to be the first line of defense, keeping an eye on those we love and standing tall against the systems that fail us seemingly at every turn. We have to support community journalists who are telling our stories. And we must call to task those who prevent us from keeping our communities safe. ### Developing . . . Arguing with professors is always a waste of time. However . . . Since the Missouri AG doesn't have a real opponent for his Senate run . . . It seems that scrounging for e-mail dox of progressive profs might be a worthwhile distraction. Here are the basics of the slap fight . . . The request for Turners emails was just one of five open records requests that Schmitts office sent to Missouri State University since the start of the year, according to records obtained . . . Under the Sunshine Law. Requests filed in late March and April sought professors emails and documents related to a Facing Racism Institute training for Springfield Public Schools and communications with the district; an administrators emails that had keywords associated with the Missouri School Boards Association, as well as correspondence with Nixa School Board members; and materials related to a Department of Homeland Security grant awarded to the university that aims to protect against radicalization to white supremacy. A spokeswoman for MSU said the university had no comment about the attorney generals requests. The requests to MSU came months ahead of two highly criticized open records requests Schmitts office sent to the University of Missouri one for professors emails related to a journalism course on fact-checking and another targeting a research program that helps teachers implement social emotional learning in their classrooms. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Here's where to go to find emergency and non-emergency resources. Man arrested after shots fired at police officers in Scarborough Toronto police said someone inside a house on Shenley Road was 'actively shooting at officers' Woman in critical condition after stabbing outside school in Toronto's East Danforth neighbourhood According to Toronto police, a group of people were at the back of a school near Danforth Avenue and Gledhill Avenue Nature Canada and CLIF Bar and Company have teamed up to host a day camp aimed at bringing outdoor exploration to families. Three families in the Greater Toronto Area will be selected to participate based on submitted drawings on what their dream day in nature looks like to them. - Pexels photo I do think people will come out of long COVID with more faith in their bodies because your body is always on your side, Heather Mallick writes. Contract talks between an Ontario education union and the provincial government have been adjourned by a mediator until Nov. 1. - Metroland file photo Tech experts give some sympathy to feds over $54M ArriveCAN price tag, but not too much Critics say it takes a lot to develop an app of this scope, but the price tag is still too high Accuracy is one of the tenets of journalism. Along with truth, fairness and independence from those we cover, getting the facts rights is imperative. Ukraine requires much more air defense systems and fighter aircraft to stop Russias brutal drone and missile attacks on the civilian population, says Dan Rice, Special Advisor to Ukraine Armys Commander-in-Chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi. Thats according to CNN's Outfront with Erin Burnett, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Asked by a host, how much more weapons Ukraine says it needs to stop the ongoing Russian missile and drone strikes, Dan Rice said The biggest thing they need right now is air defense systems both missiles and aircraft. We really need the Ukrainian Air Force to be restocked. But we are putting in a lot of air defenses, they are just getting there, like the NASAMS. He added that Ukraine needs a lot more than is being delivered at the moment as it is impossible to defend everywhere considering a 1,200-mile front line, noting that is only possible to defend key cities. Under the new commander, General Surovikin, Russia is ruthlessly attacking the civilian population, the special advisor said, adding that this is a war crime, and pointing to Russias intentions to make the upcoming winter very difficult for Ukrainians by attacking the energy grid. They are trying, in my opinion, to get to the negotiating table, trying to go back to the 2014 lines, Rice suggested, at the same time noting that Ukraine wont have it. Ukraine wants all of its lands back. Ideally, the Poles will give them their old Russian fighters, and Ukrainians know how to operate them, how to maintain them, Dan Rice stressed, adding that the U.S. could give F-16s to Poland in return, which would not cost the taxpayers as these aircraft have already been mothballed in the U.S. Germany has transferred another package of military support to Ukraine. The relevant list on the Federal Republic of Germany's website was updated on October 19, Ukrinform reports. Thus, Ukraine received 5 armoured recovery vehicles (10 in total), 7 heavy and medium bridge systems, 167,000 rounds of ammunition for fire arms, 100 tents (200 in total), 183 generators, 116,000 winter jackets, 80,000 winter trousers, 240,000 winter hats. In addition, Germanys military support to Ukraine in planning/in execution includes 5 armoured recovery vehicles, 35 load-handling trucks, and 8x8 4,000 sleeping bags At the same time, on the list, the IRIS-T air defense system is still not marked as transferred, as the German media wrote about last week and Ukrainian officials spoke about. iy The Armed Forces of Ukraine have shot down 223 Iranian-manufactured Shahed-136 suicide drones over the past 36 days. The relevant statement was made by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Since the moment the first Iranian-manufactured Shahed-136 suicide drone was shot down within the territory of Ukraine (September 13, Kupiansk), the Air Forces anti-aircraft defense units and other units of Ukraines Defense Forces have destroyed 223 unmanned aerial vehicles of that type, the report states. The Shahed-136 loitering munitions, marked by Russian invaders as Geran-2, are destroyed with air defense missile units, fighter jets, self-propelled anti-aircraft vehicles, man-portable air-defense systems, anti-aircraft guns, heavy machine guns and other weapons. A reminder that Ukraines anti-aircraft defense units destroy 85% of the Shahed-136 drones used by Russian invaders. mk The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has condemned the support of the Islamic Republic of Iran for Russias armed aggression against Ukraine. The relevant statement was made by Yaroslav Zelezniak, Member of Parliament from the Holos [Voice] faction, on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. A total of 303 Members of Parliament voted in favor of the corresponding statement. In its statement, the Verkhovna Rada emphasizes that Irans decision to supply weapons to Russia makes the Islamic Republic of Iran responsible for the consequences of the Russian armed aggression against Ukraine. The Iranian-manufactured weapons provided to Russia have already caused destructions to infrastructure and casualties among civilians in Ukraine. Tehran must be held responsible for this, and Ukraines losses must be compensated, Members of Parliament stressed. The Verkhovna Rada urged Iran to immediately stop the supply of weapons to the Russian Federation, condemn Russias armed aggression against Ukraine, as well as show responsibility and willingness to change its policy. One of the steps towards this could be the admission of responsibility for the downing of the passenger aircraft of Ukraine International Airlines, PS752, which took place near Tehran in January 2020, the promotion of an impartial investigation, the prosecution of those responsible, and the fulfillment of international legal commitments regarding full compensation payments to the victims. At the same time, Parliament called on the Ukrainian government to terminate any effective bilateral agreements with Iran, providing for the liberalization of the visa regime, and immediately work on the severance of diplomatic relations with Iran. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine recommends that the President of Ukraine and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine immediately start talks with the State of Israel, the United States and the European Commission in order to develop the effective measures countering Irans programs of the production of weapons of mass destruction. In addition, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine called on the international community to take all necessary measures to prevent the continuation of Irans arms supplies to Russia, namely through sanctions against the relevant Iranian legal entities and individuals. Members of Parliament also urged the Governments and Parliaments of foreign states to promote the strengthening of Ukraines defense capacity, namely to enhance the countrys air and anti-missile defense, as well as its ability to detect and counter the use of suicide drones and unmanned aerial vehicles. mk Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba has announced the start of BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle shipments from Greece to Ukraine. A relevant statement was made after talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece Nikos Dendias, during their joint press conference in a bomb shelter in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "We especially appreciate the weapons that Greece is transferring to Ukraine so that we can defend our land. It is very important that the long-awaited shipment of BMP-1 armored infantry vehicles from Greece to Ukraine has already begun. Soon they will arrive in our army and will immediately strengthen the fighting capacity and defense capabilities of our country," Kuleba said. Read also: Greek FM Nikos Dendias arrives in Kyiv The minister noted that the issue of the development of cooperation in this area was raised at the meeting with Dendias. According to Kuleba, strengthening the air defense and missile defense is the top priority for Ukraine now. "Greece knows our request and will process it," Kuleba said. As reported, Germany sent the first batch of Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Greece so that it could hand over BMP-1 vehicles to Ukraine. ol President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky thanked President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the support for Ukraine and noted a special role of Turkey in the grain initiative and its extension. According to Ukrinform, Zelensky wrote this on Twitter. Continued a friendly dialog with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Thanked for the unshakable support of the territorial integrity, sovereignty of Ukraine. Noted Turkiye's special role in the Grain Initiative and its continuation. Ukraine-Turkey interaction in the security sphere highly appreciated, Zelensky wrote. As reported by Ukrinform, on October 16, Ukraine and Turkey at the intergovernmental level expressed their support for the extension of the grain agreement after November 22, 2022, when the current agreement expires. Ankara on Tuesday said the agreement on grain exports from Ukraine should be extended for six months or a year. iy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba commends the results of his first African tour and announced preparations for the second one. "I am pleased with the trip [to African countries]. First, we began to understand the nuances of African politics, the situation and opportunities for Ukraine in Africa much better. Second, the views of our African colleagues on a number of issues were changing literally before our eyes, because Russian propaganda has been working quite powerfully in Africa," Kuleba said at an online briefing on Tuesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. According to him, the first, immediate results of the African tour could be seen in the vote for the historic resolution of the UN General Assembly, which was supported by 143 states, including all four countries visited by the minister: Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Kenya. "But this is only the result that is on the surface. During the tour, we managed to agree on a number of specific things," he noted. The minister mentioned the results of the African tour, including the agreement on visits to Ukraine by the President of Senegal and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cote d'Ivoire, the decision to open the Embassy of Ukraine in Ghana and the development of a road map for the development of UkraineGhana relations, a number of business forums, decisions on the visit of Cote d'Ivoires business delegation to Ukraine, a number of memoranda of understanding between the Exporters and Investors Council under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and relevant African institutions. The minister had to end the tour of African countries ahead of schedule due to Russian missile terror using Iranian drones. Still, Ukraines representative for the Middle East and Africa Maksym Subkh has already visited Ethiopia, Mozambique, Botswana, South Africa, and today is visiting Nigeria on behalf of the minister. Responding to journalists' questions, Kuleba said that he did not plan to resume the interrupted tour but the preparation for the second one would start soon. Kuleba added that President Zelensky had already held 17 conversations with African leaders this year, and the first major Ukraine-Africa conference was planned to be held next year. As reported, on October 3, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba began the first-ever tour of African countries in the history of Ukrainian diplomacy which was supposed to last until October 12. ol In the conditions of full-scale Russian aggression, the support of Ukraine by the European Union member states continues to grow. Thats according to Inara Murniece, the Latvian Parliament Speaker, who spoke in an interview with Ukrinform. "As the head of the parliament, I regularly participate in the meetings of parliament heads of the EU countries. And I had the opportunity to observe how the attitude and position of the EU countries and heads of their parliaments are changing. This support continues to grow. Currently, the advantage is on the side of those who support Ukraine. And even those countries that initially spoke out and acted discreetly are already sending you weapons," Murniece said. She emphasized that this happened precisely thanks to Ukraine and Ukrainians: "This is support for your courage, your love for the Motherland, and the fact that you are now standing guard over our common European values." At the same time, Murniece emphasized the importance of the fact that European society now supports the policy of values. "This creates motivation for governments to support the policy of values as well. Otherwise, there may be a risk that the governments will be tempted to slide back to Realpolitik," said the head of the Latvian parliament. As reported earlier, with the onset of the Russian invasion, the EU and its members have shown solidarity with Ukraine and started providing the nation with significant political, economic, humanitarian, and military assistance. For the first time in history, the EU allocated military aid to a country in a state of active hostilities. From the so-called European Peace Fund, which is formed at the expense of the contributions of the EU states, Ukraine received five tranches of financial assistance for the purchase of weapons and military equipment for a total amount of more than EUR 2.6 billion. At the same time, the high representative of the European Union, Josep Borrell, stated that the EU will provide Ukraine with military assistance for as long as it is necessary. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece Nikos Dendias considers Russia's attacks on Ukrainian cities, killing and injuring innocent people, to be a war crime. Dendias made a corresponding statement at a joint briefing with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Before that, Ukraines top diplomat informed that the negotiations between the foreign ministers had been interrupted by an air raid so the diplomats had to continue them in a bomb shelter. Dendias thanked Kuleba for the meeting which took place in extraordinary circumstances, amid Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities. "These attacks kill and injure dozens of innocent people. Greece condemns these attacks in the strongest possible terms. I consider these attacks to be war crimes," Dendias said. He noted that he was visiting Ukraine already for the third time since the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion. "I believe that my current visit is symbolic. I want to use it to express the complete solidarity of the Greek government led by Prime Minister Mitsotakis, the Greek people with the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian people. Being here, I will reaffirm the position that Greece always adheres to: full respect for international law, territorial integrity and sovereignty are sacred principles for us," the minister stressed. Read also: Greek FM Nikos Dendias arrives in Kyiv As reported, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece Nikos Dendias makes a visit to Kyiv on Wednesday, October 19. ol President Volodymyr Zelensky has informed new Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson about the fight of Ukrainians against the Russian invaders and thanked him for the support provided. The head of state wrote this on Twitter, Ukrinform reports. I was first of the foreign leaders to talk with new Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. Wished the Swedish prime minister good luck! I briefed him on our repulse of the Russian aggression. We appreciate extensive support for Ukraine from Sweden, in particular in security. Sure it will continue to strengthen, Zelensky wrote. As Ukrinform reported, Sweden's parliament on October 17 elected leader of the conservative Moderate Party Ulf Kristersson as prime minister. iy Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak has called on France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, which are among the leaders in providing Ukraine with weapons and military equipment, to step up actions to strengthen Ukraines air defense. He said this at a briefing for representatives of the diplomatic corps of these countries in the Office of the President, Ukrinform reports with reference to the Presidents Office. Yermak said that every day in Kyiv and other cities of Ukraine, air-raid sirens sound for hours. Russia is carrying out insidious mass attacks on critical infrastructure of Ukraine and the civilian population with the help of missile weapons and kamikaze drones. "Certainly, given what has been happening in recent days, one of our main priorities is to create protection for our cities, civil infrastructure and create an air shield for Ukraine. And I am very glad that today it is no longer a matter for discussion, but only a matter of time. And this should be done as soon as possible," Yermak said. Yermak also repeatedly emphasized that for actions during the war against Ukraine, the Russian Federation must be designated as a state sponsor of terrorism with implications. He expressed hope that the countries represented at the meeting will support the adoption of the PACE resolution, in which the Russian Federation will be called a terrorist regime, at a sitting of the European Parliament on November 21-24. According to him, Ukraine knows exactly how to win the war. "Today, Ukraine with your help and support, for which we are very grateful but still single-handedly destroyed almost 50% of the potential of NATO's main threat. And that is why I am convinced that Ukraine's membership in NATO will strengthen the Alliance," the head of the President's Office said. In addition, Yermak reminded that the International Working Group on Security Guarantees for Ukraine, co-chaired by the head of the Office of the President and former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, developed recommendations on security guarantees for Ukraine, which could become the basis of a document called the "Kyiv Security Compact." This document was sent to the leadership of Ukraine's partner states, and the Ukrainian side is waiting for their reaction and comments on the proposals. "We continue consultations with our partners and believe that the steps to create a special air defense can be the first in the implementation of the program of security guarantees for our country," the head of the President's Office said. Diplomatic representatives noted the importance of the provided information. Photo credit: Presidents Office President Volodymyr Zelensky has met with Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece Nikos Dendias. This is the third visit of Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias to Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Grateful to the Greek government and society for their support. In particular, for the decision to supply Ukraine with infantry fighting vehicles, Zelensky wrote on Telegram. He also thanked for the principled and staunch stance of Greece during the adoption of the decision to grant Ukraine the European Union candidate status. It is important to us that Greece supports Ukraine in overcoming all challenges. And we feel this support, Zelensky stressed. According to the Presidents Office, the head of state discussed with the Greek foreign minister key issues of bilateral cooperation: strengthening support for Ukraine and sanctions pressure on Russia, as well as ensuring a tough consolidated response of the international community to the crimes of the Russian aggressor against Ukraine. Noting Greece's consistent support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within internationally recognized borders, Zelensky thanked the Greek government and society for effective assistance provided to Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression, primarily in the defense sphere, as well as for supporting Ukraine's initiative to include the historical center of the city of Odesa to the UNESCO World Heritage List. He also highly appreciated Greece's decisions and practical steps regarding the supply of infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine. In addition, Zelensky briefed Dendias on the aftermath of missile terror by Russia, which seeks to destroy Ukraine's critical infrastructure, primarily energy, on the eve of winter and the beginning of the heating season. "But the enemy is not capable of destroying the will of our people," Zelensky said and called on Greece to actively participate in the restoration of Ukraine, primarily in the energy sector. Separately, Zelensky and Dendias discussed the prospects of stepping up interstate cooperation at the highest level. Federal President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier has canceled his visit to Kyiv initially scheduled for Thursday. This was reported by Bild, according to Ukrinform. The Office of the Federal President explained the schedule change with "security considerations." It is noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and security authorities of Germany advised that the federal president not travel to Kyiv due to constant air strikes over the recent days. The decision to cancel the trip was made on Tuesday, the newspaper says. The tabloid writes that the parties had been negotiating the visit for weeks. The publication claims that the cancellation caused a stir in Kyiv. An unnamed Ukrainian government official told the newspaper: "While the federal president is canceling his visit, there are many foreign diplomats and guests willing to show their presence in the capital right now." For almost two weeks, Russia has repeatedly attacked the Ukrainian capital, launching cruise missiles and Iranian-made kamikaze drones. Several explosions were heard in Kyiv on Wednesday. However, the Russian missiles were intercepted with the help of the German IRIS-T air defense system, the newspaper notes. Steinmeier's cancellation has, according to the media, an effect of a "political explosion." It should be recalled that this spring, Steinmeier was unable to visit Kyiv due to the reluctance of the Ukrainian side to accept the president. The reason for such a stance was Steinmeiers failed policy (as foreign minister in Merkel's government) towards Russia. This led to a certain cooling between Kyiv and Berlin, which lasted several months. Later, in the summer, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine finally invited his German counterpart to visit the Ukrainian capital. Steinmeier publicly acknowledged his mistakes after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24. | By Mary Therese Phelan Under blue skies on a crisp fall day, state leaders, educators, researchers, and representatives from more than a dozen community organizations gathered Oct. 12 on the lawn of the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) for a ceremonial presentation of a $2.4 million check, kicking off a long-term grant to address health disparities in West Baltimore. Sen. Guy Guzzone, chair of the Budget and Taxation Committee, signs the ceremonial grant check. Its really exciting to see everybody, said the grants principal investigator Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD 11, MS 05, BSN 04, CRNP-Neonatal, FNAP, FAAN, welcoming the 50-plus attendees gathered to celebrate the launch of the West Baltimore RICH (Reducing Isolation and Inequities in Cardiovascular Health) Collaborative, funded by a Pathways for Health Equity Grant from the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission (CHRC). I can't believe we've been working together for over 18 months. And many of us have never seen each other because of COVID. The RICH Collaborative seeks to achieve positive health and social impact in the University of Maryland, Baltimores West Baltimore neighborhood by bringing partner organizations together to advance common interventions for improving hypertension outcomes and social isolation. The collaborative comprises community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, academic institutions, and health care organizations, all working together to address hypertension and social isolation in four ZIP codes in West Baltimore, selected due to substantial race-based disparities in the represented areas. We also know that when organizations work together, we can do so much more together than any one organization can do alone, said Ogbolu, associate professor; chair, Department of Partnerships, Professional Education, and Practice; and co-director, Center for Health Equity and Outcomes Research, UMSON. We partnered together because we know that when organizations work together to improve community health and connect people to social resources that they need within their communities, we make communities safer, stronger, and healthier. The projects key objectives include establishing the collaborative using nurse-managed health centers, leveraging mobile health care, and enhancing care coordination through a community health worker model to decrease the number of patients with uncontrolled hypertension and to increase participation in social support groups. Specifically, the project seeks to: Reduce health disparities Improve health outcomes Increase access to primary care Promote primary and secondary preventive services Reduce costs and hospital admissions and readmissions Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, the Bill and Joanne Conway Dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing, said the occasion marked a significant moment in West Baltimore. I cannot think of a better reason to come together than to recognize how we are stepping forward together to address health disparities, expand access to health services, and ultimately to help improve health outcomes, she said. Kirschling and others thanked Maryland state Sen. Antonio Hayes (District 40, Baltimore City), sponsor of Senate Bill 172, for leading the way with the Maryland Health Equity Resources Act of 2021; Maryland state Sen. Guy Guzzone, chair of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, for ensuring the necessary funding; and CHRC for supporting nine diverse projects across Maryland. Kirschling also thanked the 14 community organizations partnering with UMSON. Collaborative work such as this is not always easy in fact, sometimes it can be downright messy but it is well worth it, she said. It is at the heart of being able to address complex problems that are bigger than any single organization can tackle alone. We all benefit when abilities, expertise, and know-how are combined for the greater good. For Hayes, playing a role in improving health outcomes in West Baltimore is especially meaningful because, like Ogbolu, he was born and raised in the community. This is a good day for West Baltimore, what Ive called home all my life, he said. Theres very few times in your legislative career where you have victories like this, and this is one that Im most proud of. All Marylanders deserve access to high-quality, affordable health care, Hayes said. Health inequities based on race, ethnicity, disability, and place of residence persist throughout the state, as shown in maternal and infant mortality rates and other measures, he continued. In underserved areas of the state, people with chronic conditions such as hypertension, heart disease, asthma, diabetes, and substance and mental health disorders have worse health outcomes and are less able to get the care and treatment they need. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed health inequities and highlighted the need to address them, he added. In his role as committee chairman, Guzzone said approving funding for the RICH Collaborative was a matter of doing the right thing after decades of systemic inequity. When Antonio came to me, this was a moral question, he said. In my mind, this was about digging deep. If we cant use our resources in the state for something like this, to improve the health of everyone, what are we doing? And were going to make sure that that funding continues for years to come, because its going to take years and years of work to try to rectify some of the inequities that have occurred over the years. Evidence shows a significantly lower life expectancy for residents in West Baltimore neighborhoods when compared to wealthier communities, such as Roland Park, just a few miles away. Debbie Rock, CEO and founding executive director of RICH Collaborative community partner LIGHT Health and Wellness Comprehensive Services, which has been serving women, children, and families impacted by HIV, poverty, substance abuse, mental health, and trauma for more than 23 years, said she was impressed with how the RICH Collaborative was already working behind the scenes. From the beginning, the state, the medical, and academic institutions have solicited and listened to the feedback that our clients offered and ensured that their comments were valued, she said. That has kept us all on the right track of doing great work together. Kelsie Challenger, a community outreach worker supervisor with the RICH Collaborative, leads a team of six selfless, dynamic, and creative community outreach workers, many of whom are longtime residents and natives of West Baltimore and share similar lived experiences as the communities served by the collaborative. As community outreach workers, our role and responsibility is to listen, to support, to empower, to accommodate, and to advocate for community members, she said. One such community member, Ericka King, who lives in one of the targeted ZIP codes, said as a single parent raising four grandchildren and dealing with numerous health issues herself, having community workers check in on her on a regular basis will be a tremendous relief. I have noticed a majority of pharmacies, doctors offices, and dental offices are either boarded up or they have moved to other locations, she said. Having available health resources and community outreach programs that offer mobile health units can make a huge and positive impact in our community. Other speakers included: Mark Luckner, MA, executive director, CHRC; Dana D. Farrakhan, DrPH, MHS, FACHE, senior vice president, University of Maryland Medical System; Danny Bellamy, CEO, Total Health Care, RICH Collaborative community partner; and community member Clarence Giles. Partner organizations working together to achieve the collaboratives goals include: A Better Tomorrow Starts Today counseling agency Ascension St. Agnes Hospital Bon Secours Community Works Coppin State University Helene Fuld School of Nursing Druid Heights Community Development Corp. Lifebridge Health Grace Medical Center LIGHT Health & Wellness Ministers Conference Empowerment Center University of Maryland Medical Center Downtown and Midtown campuses University of Maryland School of Medicine Department of Cardiology University of Maryland School of Nursing University of Maryland, Baltimore Community Engagement Center Two federally qualified health centers: Total Health Care and Chase Brexton The organizations were selected based on opportunities to synergize and expand efforts to provide care and services to West Baltimore residents. For further details about the Pathways for Health Equity Grant from CHRC for the West Baltimore RICH Collaborative, read the grant announcement. Tired of conflicts that left villages smoking ruins, tired of rapes and assault by the marauding combatants, tired of running across borders as a refugee, mother-of-four Anyek Rose John had had enough. She and five other women set out on foot for a rebel base in this remote corner of South Sudan to demand their husbands, sons, brothers and neighbours lay down their arms and return home. As they stepped out of the bush, one fighter at the camp recognized his mother, one a sister, another a neighbour from the community where he had been forcibly recruited by the rebel group two years previously. 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. 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 (right) leads a session with women at a village near Magwi. Rose and her group provide free mediation services. UNHCR/Anthony Karumba 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. 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. "In Magwi, we have peace." 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. This story is part of a series about the "Pockets of Hope" initiative in South Sudan. New York, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Oct, 2022 ) :Workers at an Amazon warehouse in the state of New York voted decisively against establishing a union, US officials announced Tuesday, dealing a setback to the fledgling labor drive at the e-commerce behemoth. The tally was 406 against Amazon Labor Union's (ALU) proposal and 206 in support of the organization, said a spokeswoman for the National Labor Relations Board. The election marks the second straight defeat for the ALU, which surged to prominence in April following its upset win at a large Staten Island warehouse that voted to become Amazon's first US facility to unionize. ALU president Christian Smalls dismissed the vote at the Amazon facility near the city of Albany in New York state as unfair. "It was a sham election where workers were subjected to intimidation and retaliation on a daily basis and even the workers who volunteered to be election observers were faced with threats of termination," Small said in a statement. Smalls said he was "proud of the brave workers in upstate New York who stood up in the face of a vicious anti-union campaign to challenge a trillion-dollar corporation." "We will continue to empower all workers to give them the right to unionize. You miss 100% of the shots you don't take!" he added on Twitter. Amazon, which has continued to contest its defeat in the first Staten Island vote, said it was pleased with Tuesday's outcome. "We're glad that our team in Albany was able to have their voices heard, and that they chose to keep the direct relationship with Amazon as we think that this is the best arrangement for both our employees and customers," said spokesperson Kelly Nantel. The elections at Amazon have come amid a wave of labor drives at consumer-facing companies, including Starbucks, Apple, REI and Chipotle, all of which have voted to unionize one or more store or restaurant. But Amazon's initial victory in Staten Island, a New York borough, was on a much bigger scale, providing a jolt to the US labor movement while propelling Smalls and other ALU leaders to prominence. Smalls, a former Staten Island Amazon worker, and other current and ex-employees established the group 2021, denouncing Amazon's rigid workforce practices during the pandemic and arguing a union was the way towards better pay and benefits. But after prevailing in the 8,000 employee JFK8 warehouse, the ALU had also lost a second election in May at the smaller LDJ5 warehouse, which is also in Staten Island. Besides trying to spread the ALU to new Amazon sites, the union's leadership is also facing barriers in getting Amazon to come to the bargaining table to recognize the union and negotiate a contract. Amazon has refused to accept the election outcome in the first Staten Island vote, citing alleged improprieties. Last month, a National Labor Relations board official rejected Amazon's claims as groundless after a 24-day hearing. But Amazon has said it plans to appeal that decision. Rio de Janeiro, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Oct, 2022 ) :Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro apologized Tuesday after his visit to a group of teenagers he implied were sex workers drew accusations of "pedophilia" from opponents. Fighting for re-election in an October 30 runoff against veteran leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the far-right president has been swept up in a firestorm over his remarks about the underage Venezuelan girls, whom he called "very pretty". "If my words, which were taken out of context in bad faith, were somehow misinterpreted or caused discomfort to our Venezuelan sisters, I apologize," Bolsonaro said in a video posted online. "My commitment has always been to better welcome and assist all people fleeing dictatorships anywhere in the world," he added, flanked by his wife and Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido's representative in Brazil. Bolsonaro recognizes Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate leader, rather than socialist President Nicolas Maduro. The controversy erupted Friday when Bolsonaro spoke in a YouTube interview about visiting the home of "three or four very pretty 14- or 15-year-olds" last year in a poor Brasilia neighborhood. "There was a vibe between us. I turned around. 'Can I come in your house?' I went inside. There were 15 or 20 girls (in the house), all Venezuelans aged 14, 15, getting ready on a Saturday. Why? To earn a living," he said. The anecdote appeared intended as one of Bolsonaro's frequent warnings that Brazil will suffer the same fate as crisis-torn Venezuela if it elects Lula. But Bolsonaro found himself on the defensive after Lula allies attacked the comments as "depraved" and the hashtag #Bolsonaropedofilo (Bolsonaro pedophile) went viral online. His campaign succeeded Sunday in a petition to electoral authorities to ban an attack ad based on excerpts from the interview. But Bolsonaro said the preceding day had been "the most terrible of my life." - Repeated anecdote - In an interview on Tuesday, Lula said Bolsonaro's behavior "is that of a pedophile." "He realized it, that's why he got scared and tried to explain himself as quickly as possible," Lula said. After Bolsonaro's apology, at least two other videos in which the president had told the same anecdote about the girls were shared online. Rosangela da Silva, Lula's wife, tweeted an excerpt of another interview with Bolsonaro a month ago in which he insinuated that the girls were prostitutes. In May, Bolsonaro also relayed the anecdote during an event broadcast on public television. "Is that what we want for our daughters and granddaughters?" he said. Bolsonaro, who vehemently rejects the opposition's criticisms, said in Tuesday's video that his former women's minister, Damares Alves, had "almost immediately" investigated the girls' case and found they were not in fact prostitutes. He said Alves and First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro had visited the girls Tuesday and "found they were rebuilding their lives (and) even helping other Venezuelan refugees find jobs and integrate" in Brazil, which hosts an estimated 260,000 Venezuelan refugees, migrants and asylum seekers. Newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo reported that the Venezuelan teens and their mothers had refused a request from Bolsonaro's campaign to record a video on the president's behalf. (@FahadShabbir) Mexico City, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Oct, 2022 ) :Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Tuesday discussed migration, drug trafficking and economic development with his US counterpart Joe Biden, officials said, amid a simmering trade dispute between the neighbours. Biden confirmed he would attend the so-called "Three Amigos" summit in Mexico with Lopez Obrador and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the Mexican leader said. A date has yet to be announced for the three-way talks, which are expected to be held sometime in December. "We had a cordial conversation with President Joe Biden on migration, security and development cooperation," Lopez Obrador tweeted after the phone call. "He confirmed to me that he will visit Mexico to participate in the North American Summit," he added. Mexico faces a formal trade complaint from the United States and Canada under a North American trade deal, the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Washington and Ottawa say Lopez Obrador's push to boost the state's role in the energy industry hurts foreign investors and hinders the development of clean energy. The White House said in a statement the phone call between the two leaders focused on "actions to reduce the number of individuals who unlawfully cross the US-Mexico border and to expand legal pathways as an alternative to irregular migration." Biden and Lopez Obrador also spoke about combatting fentanyl and gun trafficking, the White House said. Lopez Obrador told reporters earlier Tuesday that Mexico's relations with the United States -- its largest trading partner -- were "very good" and "on an equal footing."Tuesday's talks follow an announcement by Washington last week of a new program granting legal entry to 24,000 Venezuelan migrants, while returning to Mexico all those caught crossing the border illegally. The move has left thousands of Venezuelan migrants hoping to enter the United States by land stranded in Mexico. (@Abdulla99267510) Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has lauded the Chinese companies working in Pakistan and China for their donations to the Flood Relief Fund. ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-Oct 19th, 2022) Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif says China helped Pakistan in every difficult time and this is a good example of long-standing relationship between the two countries. He was talking to a delegation of Chinese disaster management experts led by Emergency Commanding Officer, Xu Xianbiao which called on him in Islamabad on Wednesday. He said Pakistan is grateful to the Chinese leadership and the people of China for helping in this difficult time. He informed the delegation that various areas of Sindh and Balochistan are still under water, in which water-borne diseases are creating new challenges. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also lauded the Chinese companies working in Pakistan and China for their donations to the Flood Relief Fund. The delegation will provide technical assistance to Pakistan on short, medium and long-term projects in the construction of infrastructure to predict floods and reduce its effects between Pakistan and China. The Chinese delegation has formed a working group to cooperate with the relevant Pakistani institutions and authorities and will submit a detailed plan and report to the NDMA on Friday for the rehabilitation of people and infrastructure in the affected areas. CCTV: We noted that the Global Development Initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping a year ago has been widely supported and well received by the international community. Could you update us on anything about this initiative and in particular on the progress of its implementation? Wang Wenbin: Development is an eternal theme of humanity. Without development, nothing would be possible. During the General Debate of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly in September last year, President Xi Jinping put forth the Global Development Initiative (GDI) with an aim to refocus international attention on the issue of development, step up international cooperation and provide Chinas insight and solution for solving difficult development issues and speeding up implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The initiative has been warmly received by the international community since its inception. It is a rallying call to galvanize support for the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. It offers a roadmap for bridging the North-South gap and a strong boost to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Over the past year or so, with the concerted effort from both China and the rest of the international community, the GDI has witnessed solid implementation. It has not only achieved multiple early harvests, but also enjoyed progress on a full range of fronts with clear priorities. It signifies that the GDI has progressed from laying the foundation to establishing the pillars and is evolving from broad strokes to refined details. First, galvanizing international consensus on promoting cooperation under the GDI and speeding up the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. More than 100 countries and many international organizations have supported the GDI and nearly 60 countries have joined the Group of Friends of the GDI. The GDI has been incorporated into the cooperation documents between China and ASEAN, Central Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Pacific Island countries. Last June, when hosting the High-level Dialogue on Global Development, President Xi Jinping announced 32 important measures to implement the GDI, which helped to bring development back to the center of the international agenda and received high recognition. Second, establishing two financing platforms. The Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund pledged by President Xi Jinping has been set up and is now supporting cooperation under the GDI. Phase III of the FAO-China South-South Cooperation (SSC) Trust Fund has been officially launched. In the meantime, we are exploring new ways to raise fund and mobilize various parties to pitch in and advance practical cooperation in the eight key areas as identified by the initiative. Third, advancing institution building for cooperation in various sectors. China has set up a Global Development Promotion Center to provide an action platform for implementing the GDI. We launched and established such platforms as a World TVET League, the China-Pacific Island Countries Climate Action Cooperation Center, an International NGOs Network for Poverty Reduction Cooperation, and worked with all sides to foster cooperation networks in such areas as agriculture, education, epidemic response and climate action. Not long ago, China hosted a ministerial meeting of the Group of Friends of the GDI, where new actions in seven areas and the first batch of projects of the GDI project pool were released, including 50 practical cooperation projects on poverty reduction, food security and industrialization and more than 1,000 capacity building projects. Fourth, enhancing knowledge-sharing on development. We have issued the first Global Development Report, which provides insight for the global development cause. We are accelerating efforts to build a Global Knowledge Network for Development and engaging actively in experience-sharing on state governance and development to promote mutual learning among countries. The GDI is an example of China contributing its solutions to addressing the global governance deficit and other global challenges. It is a vivid illustration of building a community with a shared future for mankind that demonstrates the sense of responsibility of Chinas diplomacy in the new era. The CPC always puts the people front and center. We hope to see people of all countries as well as the Chinese people lead better lives. Going forward, we will continue to see Chinas development as part of human development and contribute to global development, provide public goods, and work together with the people of all countries to inject stability and positive energy into a world fraught with uncertainties and make new progress in building a community with a shared future for mankind. Yonhap News Agency: The DPRK fired artillery shells towards its maritime buffer zones with the ROK late October 18. Do you have any comment? Another question, will China send a senior official to the DPRK after the 20th CPC National Congress to share outcomes of the congress? Wang Wenbin: On your first question, we have noted relevant reports and the statement from the DPRK. It is hoped that all parties will bear in mind the overall interest of maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, stay committed to seeking a political settlement, address each others concerns in a balanced way through dialogue and consultation, and avoid triggering a spiral escalation of the situation. As to your second question, I would like to refer you to the competent authorities. Dragon TV: Kelsey-2, a ROK cargo vessel, listed in waters near Putian, Fujian Province on October 15. After the speedy rescue by the Chinese side, more than 20 crew members have been safely relocated. What is your comment? Wang Wenbin: China and the ROK are close neighbors and have a tradition of helping each other in the wake of natural disasters and emergencies. After receiving the distress signal from the ROK cargo vessel, relevant Chinese agencies immediately organized effective rescue efforts. The ROK side thanked the Chinese side for the rescue. Previously, the ROK side had helped distressed Chinese fishermen and crew members multiple times as well. This is cooperation based on humanitarianism and a reflection of the friendship between our two countries. CCTV: The past decade witnessed Chinas active participation in the reform and improvement of the global governance system. But some Western media are concerned that China may try to change the international order. How does China view its status and role in global governance? Wang Wenbin: Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, China has always been on the side of solidarity and cooperation, on the side of the trend of the times, and on the side of the common interests of the vast majority of countries. We have participated in the reform and improvement of the global governance system with unprecedented breadth, depth and strength, worked to build a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, equity, justice and mutually beneficial cooperation, and promoted the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. China is a staunch defender of the existing international order. We have always firmly upheld the international system with the UN at its core, the international order underpinned by the international law and the multilateral trading system centered on the World Trade Organization. Over the past decade, China has steadily increased its contribution to the UNs regular budget and become the second largest contributor to the UNs regular budget and peacekeeping assessments. China has actively and fully delivered on its WTO accession commitments, significantly expanded market access, and continued to open up to the world at a high level. The overall import tariff has been lowered from 15.3% to 7.4%. Of the 160 services sub-sectors of the WTO, China has opened approximately 120 to foreign suppliers. We have reviewed and revised nearly 200,000 laws and regulations. China also took an active part in the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference and facilitated the adoption of outcomes of the conference, demonstrating its determination to strengthen solidarity and coordination and safeguard the multilateral trading system. China is an active contributor to world peace, common development and response to global challenges. President Xi Jinping proposed a united, equal, balanced and inclusive global development partnership and a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and put forward the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, which are welcomed by the international community. China is among the first countries to meet the UN Millennium Development Goals. We contributed an average of 38.6% to the world economic growth in the past decade, more than any other country in the world. China takes an active part in the mediation of hotspot issues, including the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, Iranian nuclear issue and Afghanistan, and efforts for their political settlement. China sends more peacekeepers than any other permanent members of the Security Council. Chinese military vessels have participated in escort missions in the Gulf of Aden for 14 consecutive years. China also put forward an initiative on international food security cooperation and the Global Initiative on Data Security, worked for the conclusion of the Paris Agreement, committed itself to the two goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, and provided more than 2.2 billion doses of COVID vaccines to more than 120 countries and international organizations, making Chinas contribution to the response to global challenges. China is a responsible major country working to reform and improve the global governance system. China calls for a vision of global governance featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. We work for the G20s transition to a mechanism of long-term governance. We initiated the establishment of the AIIB and the NDB to build new cooperation platforms for global economic governance and foster an open world economy. China is committed to deepening BRICS cooperation. We have put in place an extensive BRICS-plus platform, and kept improving the representation and say of emerging markets and developing countries in international affairs. No matter how the international situation may evolve, Chinas resolve to practice true multilateralism stays unchanged; our commitment to improving global governance stays unchanged; and our dedication to promoting multilateral cooperation stays unchanged. China upholds openness and inclusiveness rather than a closed-door and exclusionary approach, international law rather than supremacy over others, consultation and cooperation rather than conflict and confrontation, and development in keeping with the times rather than self-isolation. China will continue to take an active part in the reform and improvement of the global governance system, promote greater democracy in international relations and foster a more equitable and reasonable global governance system. We will take real actions to work on the deficits in global governance, respond to global challenges and contribute our wisdom and strength to building a community with a shared future for mankind. Pakistan Muslim League-N, Senator Afnan ullah on Tuesday said that Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI), chairman is creating unrest in the country to regain power in the parliament ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Oct, 2022 ) :Pakistan Muslim League-N, Senator Afnan ullah on Tuesday said that Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI), chairman is creating unrest in the country to regain power in the parliament. The last regime of PTI under the leadership of Imran Khan could not launch any public welfare project, he said while talking to a private television channel. Imran Khan is following the agenda of 'Gold Smith' and trying to sabotage national institutions for occupying premier seat, he said. Commenting on long march call given by Imran's party, he said no one is above the law in this country. He said if anyone found in violating law and order situation, action would be taken without discrimination. He said Imran Khan could face imprisonment in foreign funding case. To a question about use of social media, the Senator said Imran Khan has hired a team in foreign country and through the modern technology attacking on national institutions. To a question about by elections results, he said anti-state mind-set groups are supporting Imran's party to fulfill sinister design in Pakistan. Commenting on early elections, he said Nawaz Sharif will return Pakistan to lead election campaign. He said the PML-N, would sweep general elections with thumping majority. (@FahadShabbir) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th October, 2022) South Korean Vice Defense Minister Shin Beom-chul held a video conference with his Philippine counterpart, Franco Nemesio Gacal to discuss cooperation in weapons supply, personnel exchange, and combined exercises, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported on Wednesday, citing the country's defense ministry. During the online conference, held in the context of the Joint Defense Cooperation Committee, Gacal noted that the South Korean FA-50 light combat aircraft had greatly contributed to the modernization of the Philippines' armed forces, the news agency reported. In turn, Shin called on the Philippines to support Seoul's efforts for the denuclearization of North Korea, the news agency added. North Korea has carried out eight test missile launches since September 25 and over 25 since the beginning of 2022. Pyongyang has emphasized that its test launches are being carried out in response to the refusal of the US and South Korea to stop joint military drills, which Pyongyang believes threaten regional stability. The former head of the sole state-owned railway operator in Moldova, Calea Ferata din Moldova (Railway of Moldova), Iurie Topala, who was accused of fraud, corruption, embezzlement and abuse of office in the interests of a criminal group, will be extradited to his homeland from Belgium, Moldovan police said on Wednesday CHISINAU (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th October, 2022) The former head of the sole state-owned railway operator in Moldova, Calea Ferata din Moldova (Railway of Moldova), Iurie Topala, who was accused of fraud, corruption, embezzlement and abuse of office in the interests of a criminal group, will be extradited to his homeland from Belgium, Moldovan police said on Wednesday. In January, Topala was detained by Interpol officers in Belgium. "Today, the Belgian authorities have notified the legal authorities of Moldova about the decision to extradite Iurie Topala, who was put on the international wanted list on November 23, 2021. He will be handed over to the Moldovan authorities in a few days," the police wrote on Telegram. Topala voluntarily resigned in September 2019. According to the Court of Accounts of the Republic of Moldova, by the end of 2020, the debts of Railway of Moldova reached 459 million lei ($26.5 million), of which about $4 million were wage debts. In January 2021, the Moldovan parliament decided to create a special commission to analyze the economic and financial situation of the company and the performance results of the railway transport industry in the period 2010-2020. WARSAW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th October, 2022) A malfunctioning aircraft has prevented Polish Minister of National Defence Mariusz Blaszczak from flying to South Korea to sign a contract on procurement of the K239 Chunmoo multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), therefore, the document will be inked in Warsaw on Wednesday, the Polish Ministry of National Defence said. On Monday, Blaszczak said that Poland would buy 288 MLRS from South Korea, 18 of which would be integrated with Polish military vehicles Jelcz and delivered to the country together with munitions in 2023. "The visit did not take place due to a malfunctioning aircraft. The contract on procurement of South Korean MLRS Chunmoo will be signed today in Warsaw," the ministry said in a statement. The K239 Chunmoo is a self-propelled multiple rocket launcher capable of firing guided or unguided artillery rockets. HELSINKI (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th October, 2022) Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and his wife Jenni Haukio will make a state visit to Iceland, where they will discuss the security situation in Europe, Ukraine, the process of joining NATO and climate change with local authorities, the Finnish presidential office said in a statement. The visit is timed to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries and will take place on October 19-20. "President Niinisto will hold official talks with Icelandic President Gudni Johannesson at the Bessastadir presidential residence on Wednesday, October 19. The topics of the presidents' conversations will be... Ukraine, the security situation in Europe, Finland's entry into NATO and Nordic cooperation," according to the statement. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th October, 2022) Iran has imposed retaliatory sanctions against the UK, accusing the British authorities of inciting unrest and adding nine individuals, two broadcasters, the UK National Cyber Security Center and the Government Communications Directorate (GCHQ), as well as a number of companies to the sanctions list, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. The ministry said that sanctions were imposed against the UK-based Iranian broadcaster Iran International and the Persian version of the BBC tv channel, as well as media companies Volant Media, Global Media and DMA Media. Tom Tugendhat, UK Deputy Home Secretary, was included in the sanctions list, among other individuals. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran ... announces the imposition of sanctions against several legal entities and individuals in the United Kingdom because of their deliberate actions to support terrorist groups . .. By imposing these sanctions, Iran recognizes the responsibility of the UK government for supporting terrorism, violating human rights, as well as for the fact that the UK was involved in organizing and inciting disorder and terrorist attacks in Iran," the ministry said on Telegram. These sanctions include a travel ban and asset freeze. The UK has imposed sanctions on Monday against a number of high-ranking representatives of the security services and political figures of Iran, as well as against the so-called Iranian morality police, due to human rights violations during protests following the death of Mahsa Amini. (@FahadShabbir) Iranian Ambassador to Sweden Ahmad Masoumifar said on Wednesday that Western countries were responsible for the recent unrest in Iran, urging them not to interfere in Tehran's internal affairs MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th October, 2022) Iranian Ambassador to Sweden Ahmad Masoumifar said on Wednesday that Western countries were responsible for the recent unrest in Iran, urging them not to interfere in Tehran's internal affairs. On September 13, 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was detained by Iranian morality police in Tehran for wearing an "improper" head covering. The young Kurdish woman fell into a coma while in police custody and died a few days later. This sparked weeks of mass protests that escalated into unrest in Tehran and several other large cities. According to the authorities and state media in Iran, calls for subversive actions were disseminated on fake Telegram channels. In response, the Iranian government blocked internet access throughout the country, and law enforcement agencies detained and arrested protesters. "The unrest has subsided in recent days, but Iran holds Western countries responsible for their role in stirring up protests and the damage caused to civilians and officials who were victims of these events... I expect from the Swedish government, as well as from all other foreign governments, that it will not interfere in Iranian internal affairs and will allow Iran to shape its future naturally based on dialogue at the national level," Masoumifar was quoted as saying by the Fars news agency. Tehran said that the mass protests over Amini's death were orchestrated by foreign powers and summoned the ambassadors of the United Kingdom, Norway, and the charge d'affaires of France. The European diplomats were given a note of protest in connection with anti-Iranian media reports and calls for the overthrow of the Iranian government. (@FahadShabbir) BISHKEK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th October, 2022) Kyrgyz Defense Minister Baktybek Bekbolotov proposed on Wednesday the deployment of a small contingent of the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) on the border with Tajikistan to maintain peace. "I recently met with CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas. I told him that there would be no peace between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Why? Because the Kyrgyz have their own truth, the Tajiks have their own. Until an arbitrator stands between us, for example, a small contingent from the CSTO, peace will not be achieved," Bekbolotov said at a press conference. According to him, peacekeepers could control the ceasefire and ensure that the parties do not deploy additional forces and equipment on the border. "When these problems are solved, it is possible to solve political issues - to continue the delimitation and demarcation of the border," Bekbolotov added. The undefined territories between the two countries periodically become a zone of clashes. The last time the situation on the Tajik-Kyrgyz border escalated from September 14-16. As a result of the clashes, Kyrgyzstan reported at least 63 people dead and 198 injured, while Tajikistan said 41 people were killed and 30 injured. On September 25, both countries agreed to cease fire and facilitate the process of border delimitation and demarcation. WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th October, 2022) The US Capitol Police (USCP) said on Wednesday that its officers responded to a "suspicious vehicle" in the vicinity of the Capitol building. "Our officers responded to the 100 block of East Capitol Street for a suspicious vehicle. Please stay away from the area," USCP said via Twitter. A Fox news correspondent said that a police service dog picked up a trace of something in the vehicle, adding that there was a concern about the presence of weapons in the vehicle. The correspondent added that at least two persons are in custody as a result of the ongoing investigation. ALMATY (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th October, 2022) Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said on Wednesday that over 50 international companies had relocated from Russia to Kazakhstan and that the issue of setting up production sites requires to be worked out by authorities. "So far, more than 50 international companies have relocated from Russia to Kazakhstan. It is unproductive to concentrate them all in large cities. The Akim (regional administration) should work out the location of such production facilities near the city of Almaty along the Big Almaty Ring Road, which will provide a significant benefit to the region's economy. I order that a discussion of this issue should be held between the government and companies," Tokayev said at a public meeting in the Almaty Region. The president also said that the Kazakh government should create necessary conditions for the investors to establish new manufacturing facilities, including those that are moving their production from other countries. In February, Russia began a military operation in Ukraine, responding to calls for help from the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in defending against Ukrainian troops. Since then, many foreign companies have halted or suspended their operation in Russia. Russia does not understand why France is spreading disinformation about the situation in the Central African Republic, Russian Deputy Representative to the United Nations Anna Evstigneeva said during a UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th October, 2022) Russia does not understand why France is spreading disinformation about the situation in the Central African Republic, Russian Deputy Representative to the United Nations Anna Evstigneeva said during a UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday. "As a diplomat, I do understand the natural interests of France and Africa and the emotions that push her representatives to make statements, similar to what we heard today, but I don't understand what it is that France is expecting to obtain by constantly repeating the same disinformation," Evstigneeva said. The statements France is making sound cynical given Paris' engagement in the region and the accusations of crimes levied against the French military, Evstigneeva added. France has said the situation in the Central African Republic is fragile and polarized, and actions against armed groups in the country need to continue. France made the statements in a context of its stated concern with Russia's growing influence in Africa as Paris considers the continent to be within its sphere of influence. WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th October, 2022) The US government confirmed the detention of American citizen Saad Ibrahim Almadi in Saudi Arabia, State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said on Tuesday. "We can confirm the detention of Mr. Almadi in Saudi Arabia. We have been following the case closely," Patel told reporters. US diplomats repeatedly raised their concerns over this case both in Washington and Riyadh, and discussed the situation with the Saudis last time on Monday, he added. "Exercising the freedom of expression should never be criminalized," Patel said. The Washington Post reported on Monday that 72-year-old Almadi was arrested in Saudi Arabia for his critical posts about the local government. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison earlier in October, according to the reports. University Police Apprehend Suspects in Classroom Disturbance Tue, 10/18/2022 - 18:13pm | By: University Police Department University Police have apprehended two suspects in conjunction with a late afternoon disturbance in a Hattiesburg campus classroom at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM). The suspects are believed to be part of a social media video prank, and entered an occupied Harkins Hall classroom at approximately 4:15 p.m. One of the apprehended individuals wore all black with Halloween-themed makeup, threw a cup of water on a student and made threatening remarks, while the second individual filmed the encounter. The suspects fled from the classroom, and police were able to quickly apprehend the first suspect, while the second suspect reported to the University Police Department a short time later without further incident. University Police are currently interviewing witnesses, and the suspects are expected to be facing criminal charges. Neither of the apprehended individuals are believed to be currently affiliated with the University, and University Police do not believe there is an ongoing related threat to the USM community. If you have related information, please contact University Police at 601-266-4986. The Ethiopian military has taken control of three towns from rebel forces in the northern Tigray region. By Nathan Morley The Ethiopian military has taken control of three towns from rebel forces in the northern Tigray region. The gains come amid growing alarm about the resurgent conflict pitting federal forces and their allies against Tigrayan rebels. Earlier, the Ethiopian National Defence Force took control of the towns of Shire, Alamata and Korem without fighting in urban areas. Listen to our report: Earlier this week, the head of the African Union called for an immediate ceasefire in the region. Moussa Faki Mahamat urged the resumption of humanitarian services. At the same time, U.S. development agency USAID chief Samantha Power joined the call for the joint offensive by Ethiopian federal forces and Eritrean Defence Forces (EDF) to stop. Ethiopian government forces have been involved in fighting with Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) rebels since late 2020. Over the last two years, the conflict has killed thousands of civilians and displaced millions. AU-led peace talks were expected to take place in South Africa, but no date has been fixed for the meeting after it was postponed, ostensibly do to logistical problems. The Tigray region has been largely isolated since the war broke out leaving over five million people without electricity, phone, and internet services. Cambodia sentenced exiled opposition figure Sam Rainsy to life imprisonment on Wednesday for allegedly attempting to cede territory to a foreign entity, according to a court ruling. The case related to the politician's promises to protect the rights of the country's indigenous people, who continue to face discrimination mostly over land rights. A document from the Phnom Penh Municipal Court -- seen by AFP -- said Rainsy had been "sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of attempting to hand over a part of national territory to a foreign entity" in 2013. The court also stripped him of all political rights, it added. It relates to a 2013 meeting between Rainsy and a leader of the US-based Montagnard Foundation, which works to protect the rights of indigenous minorities in Vietnam. A video posted by an anonymous Facebook account in 2018 appeared to show him pledging to uphold the rights of Cambodia's indigenous people. Rainsy and the Montagnard Foundation's then-leader Kok Ksor also signed a document with three articles from the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on minorities' self-determination rights. But Cambodian authorities accused him of treachery, and of attempting to give land to foreigners. Montagnard people are a mostly Christian ethnic minority group that lives in Vietnam's mountainous Central Highlands region. Rainsy has lived in France since 2015 to avoid jail on a number of convictions he says are politically motivated, including a 25-year sentence passed in March last year. Strongman Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday said Rainsy's family have been traitors to Cambodia. Cambodia's top opposition leader called for a swift verdict in his treason trial Wednesday, after a court ended more than two years of evidence hearings in a case rights groups have said is politically motivated. Kem Sokha, the co-founder of the now-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party, stands accused of conspiring with foreign entities to overthrow strongman ruler Hun Sen's government. The trial only began some two years after Kem Sokha's arrest, and hearings were postponed in March 2020 following coronavirus restrictions. During a hearing Wednesday, Kem Sokha told judges he wanted the proceedings to finish soon as he was suffering back and shoulder pain from long spells sitting in the dock. "I don't want to suffer any longer... I want it to finish very soon and to receive justice," he told the court. Judge Koy Sao at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court announced the end of witness and evidentiary hearings, after more than 60 sessions. The court will begin hearing closing submissions from December 21 after parties submit their written arguments. The 69-year-old has vehemently denied the charges. If convicted he faces up to 30 years in jail. Arrested in 2017, Kem Sokha's party was dissolved ahead of widely criticised elections the following year -- leaving Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party to canter to victory virtually unopposed. Critics say 70-year-old Hun Sen -- Asia's longest-serving leader -- has wound back democratic freedoms and used the courts to stifle opponents, jailing scores of opposition acitvists and human rights defenders. In June, a Phnom Penh court convicted about 60 opposition figures -- including dual US-Cambodian citizen Theary Seng -- in a mass treason trial that rights groups have condemned as politically motivated. Hun Sen has vowed to run for office again during a national election next year and has supported his eldest son Hun Manet to succeed him in the future. A US citizen jailed in Saudi Arabia is being punished for "mild" Twitter posts on topics including the war in Yemen and the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, his son told AFP on Wednesday. Saad Ibrahim Almadi, a 72-year-old of Saudi origin, was this month sentenced to 16 years in prison, the latest in a spate of what human rights groups describe as draconian sentences for social media criticism of the government. The case risks further ratcheting up tensions between Riyadh and Washington, longtime partners currently at odds over oil output cuts approved by the OPEC+ cartel, which the White House says amount to "aligning with Russia" in the Ukraine war. Almadi was detained on arrival in Saudi Arabia in November last year for what was meant to be a two-week trip, said his son Ibrahim, who went public with the case this week, criticizing US officials for failing to do more to secure his release. The State Department said on Tuesday it had "consistently and intensively raised our concerns regarding the case at senior levels of the Saudi government", and that "exercising freedom of expression should never be criminalized". On Wednesday, Ibrahim shared with AFP a list of Twitter posts he said had been used in evidence against his father -- information he said had been confirmed by the State Department. They include posts on taxes as well as controversial demolition work in Mecca, the holiest city in Islam, and the Red Sea city of Jeddah. One post questions why Saudi Arabia is unable to prevent attacks by Huthi rebels in war-wracked Yemen, where the kingdom heads a military coalition in support of the internationally recognized government. Another refers to the "sacrifice" of Khashoggi, whose killing by Saudi agents in the kingdom's Istanbul consulate sparked global outrage. Saudi officials also found an unflattering caricature of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler, on Almadi's phone, Ibrahim said. Case 'mishandled' Almadi was charged in part with supporting and funding terrorism and trying to destabilise the kingdom, Ibrahim said. Ibrahim accused the State Department of having "mishandled" his father's case, including by not sending a representative to the October 3 sentencing -- something the State Department acknowledged on Tuesday, saying Saudi Arabia originally gave a later date for the hearing before moving it up. "My father should be their biggest worry from day one," Ibrahim said, referring to US officials. "The problems and the tensions between Saudi and the US shouldn't start because of oil. It should start because senior American citizens are detained over tweets." Ibrahim also expressed concern for his father's health. "They prevent him from sleeping. They make him stand up. He's 72 years old and his health condition is just decreasing," Ibrahim said by phone from the United States, where he lives. "He had back problems. He needs surgery done as soon as possible in his back. I already have an appointment for him here." Almadi received a 16-year travel ban on top of his jail sentence. Saudi officials have not commented on Almadi's case or on other recent verdicts against people who criticised the government on social media. Nourah al-Qahtani, a mother of five in her late 40s, was recently sentenced for 45 years for using Twitter to "challenge" the country's leaders. Salma al-Shehab, a doctoral candidate at Britain's University of Leeds, was sentenced to 34 years in prison for allegedly aiding dissidents seeking to "disrupt public order" by retweeting their posts. Democracy for the Arab World Now, a US-based rights group founded by Khashoggi, said last week the verdicts could reflect recent appointments to the Specialised Criminal Court, which handles such cases. "The Crown Prince is appointing loyalist security officials who lack even basic training as judges to its kangaroo 'counter-terrorism' court, punishing the mildest social dissent with shocking sentences," said Abdullah Alaoudh, DAWN's Gulf director. Ali Shihabi, a Saudi analyst close to the government, said on Twitter on Tuesday that Saudi authorities were "managing a tricky transition that could easily slip into civil strife". "Govt. is prioritizing stability as it imposes change on a very polarized society," he said. "This is a very imperfect process + prosecutorial/judicial overreach is happening." At least 21 people were killed in two separate bombings in the central Hirshabelle state of Somalia, officials said. A powerful car bomb exploded in Jalalaqsi town when soldiers operating a security checkpoint intercepted a vehicle. The checkpoint is near local government buildings and a military base belonging to African Union peacekeepers from Djibouti. At around 2:30 p.m., a vehicle arrived at the checkpoint, one of the soldiers collecting taxation pointed a gun and stopped it, said Mire Hussein Siyad, deputy district commissioner of Jalalaqsi. When the gun was pointed at [it], the vehicle exploded, Siyad told VOA Somali. He said Wednesdays explosion killed at least 15 people, including the towns two civilian leaders, Mayor Adan Mohamed Isse and Mohamed Nur Agajof Dabaashe, the district commissioner. Dabaashe was recently replaced as Jalalaqsi commissioner, but he had not handed over responsibility yet, Siyad said. Other victims included soldiers at the checkpoints and civilians including street vendors. The explosion destroyed a building near the checkpoint where the local officials were based. Siyad said two AU peacekeepers were injured in the attack. Siyad said the target was the towns main bridge. Meanwhile, six other people including four civilians were killed a separate explosion, when a three-wheeled motorcycle with explosives attached, struck the Bulobarde town bridge. The important bridge links Somalias south and central regions. Pictures taken by the witnesses show the explosion partially damaged the bridge. The district commissioner of Bulobarde, Ahmed Mahad Nur, told VOA Somali that two men riding the motorcycle drove it onto the bridge. He said one of the men jumped off before the explosion while the second one detonated the explosive-laden motorcycle and died in the blast. Nur said the man who jumped was shot and killed by security forces. He said troops seized two other motorcycles laden with explosives. The officials said the two explosions were coordinated and intended to destroy the two bridges. They wanted to bring down the two bridges at the same time, Siyad said. Its the most crucial bridge between the central and southern regions, said Nur. Nur vowed the local government will rebuild the damaged bridge. The al-Shabab militant group immediately claimed responsibility for the two attacks. Bulobarde and Jalalaqsi in the Hiran region (Hirshabelle state) have been the focal point of efforts to mobilize the local population against al-Shabab. Somali army spokesperson General Abdullahi Ali Anod on Tuesday reported that government forces and local fighters are completing preparations for new operations against al-Shabab in Hirshabelle, and in Southwest, Galmudug and Jubaland states. He said the operations could start within a week or weeks. Al-Shabab has threatened clans mobilizing against them with violence. Amnesty International said Tuesday it had evidence raising serious concerns that Iranian authorities tried to justify a crackdown on prisoners at Tehran's Evin prison by saying it was battling a fire at the facility and working to prevent prisoners from escaping. Iranian authorities have said eight people died and 61 prisoners were injured in a fire at the prison Saturday. Consistent with long-standing patterns of denial and cover-up of their crimes, the authorities swiftly issued statements attributing the deaths to asphyxiation from smoke inhalation and fighting among the inmates, Amnesty said in a statement. The organization called for the U.N. Human Rights Council to establish an investigative and accountability process to address the most serious crimes under international law and other serious human rights violations committed by the authorities in Iran. Amnesty also urged Iranian authorities to allow independent international observers to have unhindered access to Iranian prisons as soon as possible. Prisoners and their families have expressed serious concerns about their safety, especially after the suspension of visits to prisoners after the incident. Experts say record-breaking floods in Australia are allowing mosquitoes to thrive, increasing the risk of spreading diseases like Japanese Encephalitis. Communities across three states have in recent days been hit by flooding, and more torrential rain is forecast this week. Parts of eastern Australia have been repeatedly flooded in the past two-years. Mosquitoes need stagnant water. Immature insects emerge from eggs and develop underwater until they become pupae, and then adults. Females require blood before laying eggs and can inject saliva and virus into humans when they bite. Mosquito-borne diseases are a perennial problem in Australia, where thousands of people are infected with the Ross River virus each year. In 2021, Japanese Encephalitis gained a significant foothold in Australia for the first time. More than 40 people were infected with the virus, and seven people died, according to government data. The virus moves between mosquitos and water birds. Pigs, too, can also harbor the virus. The illness it causes can be mild, but in some cases, patients can suffer seizures. Experts have said that fewer than one percent of people infected will develop a severe brain condition called encephalitis which can be fatal. Associate Professor Cameron Webb from the New South Wales Health Department told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that recent flooding increases the risk of Japanese encephalitis infection. There [are] hundreds of different types of mosquitos in Australia, but there is one mosquito in particular that we are concerned about when it comes to Japanese encephalitis virus, he said. It is a mosquito that thrives in freshwater environments, the type of environments that have been created by excessive rainfall and flooding across much of the country. Two naturally occurring climatic phenomena La Nina and the Indian Ocean Dipole are fueling the flooding. Experts have said that their impact is being intensified by climate change. Australian troops and residents have been racing to build a two kilometers long levee to stop floodwaters from inundating the town of Echuca, north of Melbourne. Parts of eastern Australia have had their worst flooding in decades. With heavy rain in the forecast later this week, regions from Queensland to Tasmania in eastern Australia are once again on flood watch. Australia has announced plans to fast-track multi-billion-dollar renewable energy projects in the states of Victoria and Tasmania. They include offshore wind farms and undersea transmission cables. Australia has for the first time a legislated target to cut greenhouse gas output that aims to reduce carbon emissions by 43% by 2030. Australias center-left government has said its renewable power will help the rewiring the nation. The pledge includes the rapid development of the offshore wind industry in the state of Victoria. Electricity links between Victoria and neighboring New South Wales will also be upgraded. The federal government will also help fund a cable called the Marinus link project that shares power between the island state of Tasmania and the Australian mainland. Power generation in Tasmania is dominated by hydro power, which generates around 80% of its electricity. Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, told reporters in Canberra Wednesday that the Marinus link will boost energy reliability. Tasmania, which is currently at 100% renewables, will now have the opportunity to get to 200% renewables and share that extra capacity with the mainland, which is good for Tasmania, thousands of jobs to be created and good for the mainland because it improves our energy reliability and, of course, reduces emissions, he said. Coal and gas still generate most of Australias electricity. The nation of 25 million people has been one of the worlds worst per capita emitters of greenhouse pollution. But there is an undeniable shift away from fossil fuels. Australias renewable energy sector is growing. It accounted for 32.5% of the countrys total electricity generation in 2021, an increase of almost 5% compared to 2020, according to the Clean Energy Council, a non-profit industry body. Solar is Australias largest source of green power. The renewable energy mix includes large-scale hydropower facilities and wind farms. The government research agency, CSIRO, has said wave energy could contribute up to 11% of Australia's electricity needs enough to power a city the size of Melbourne by 2050. Botswana has expressed concern over an influx of asylum seekers who fled from countries where they had already been granted refugee status. Nearly 700 refugees have arrived from neighboring Zimbabwe, citing poor conditions at the refugee camp, while others have come from South Africa, driven out by xenophobic attacks. Addressing journalists Tuesday, Botswanas minister of justice, Machana Shamukuni, said the country has seen the arrival of onward movement asylum seekers. He said Botswana expressed its concern over the issue at a recent executive committee meeting of the U.N. refugee agency in Geneva, Switzerland. These are asylum seekers that have been granted international protection elsewhere, but they still come to Botswana to seek asylum again, he said. Once you are accorded international protection, the expectation, even in the international community is that you should stay there so that you are protected, you enjoy protection there, but when you proceed to another country and seek protection again when you are accorded protection in another jurisdiction, then it becomes problematic." The majority of the 688 recent arrivals, originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, more recently lived at the Tongogara Refugee Camp in Zimbabwe. Shamukuni said others are Somalis who left South Africa due to xenophobic attacks. On the challenges of onward movement, as to why they decide to leave camp in areas where they are given international protection and they come to Botswana to seek asylum again, it talks to conditions in some of the camps, he said. Issues of housing, education, issues of access to health. These are the reasons they state. But also you will recall, in South Africa, there was the issue of xenophobia. It drove out a lot of them, particularly the Somalis. Adriano Nuvunga, director of the Center for Democracy and Development in Maputo, Mozambique, said Botswanas peace and stability are magnets for fleeing refugees. Botswana is one of those victims due to its political stability and some possibilities for people to find opportunities and survival and also the welcoming nature of the Botswana people, he said. These nations will continue to suffer an influx of refugees because of failed governance systems in our region which triggers conflicts and conflict triggers people to seek refugee [status]. Its a vicious cycle of bad governance. Zimbabwean-born Watson Chibi, who has spent nearly two decades as a refugee in Botswana, said asylum seekers are lured to the country due to prospects of a better life. Pertaining [to] the issue of refugees from Somalia and DRC coming to Botswana, its an issue that when I was a refugee, it was worrisome, he said. In Botswana, when you are from Somalia or DRC, resettlement is very easy. People go for resettlement from those two countries. Due to its isolated location, Botswanas refugee population has never been high, and is now down to 1,019 from more than 3,000 three years ago, as the U.N. refugee agency scales down operations. The majority of refugees, mostly from Namibia and Zimbabwe, were repatriated over the last two years. Cameroon says a fresh wave of cholera outbreak provoked by ongoing floods in its northern border with Chad and Nigeria has killed at least 17 people and many more are feared dead in difficult-to-access villages within a week. An emergency meeting by government officials and relief agencies on Wednesday ordered the deployment of humanitarian workers to overcrowded hospitals, especially on the border with Nigeria. Cameroons Public Health Ministry officials say several hundred fresh cholera cases have been detected on the countrys northern border with Nigeria with at least 17 people dead and many other civilians in desperate conditions at hospitals. The government of the central African state on Wednesday said the death toll and suspected infections may be higher as humanitarian workers are not able to travel to towns and villages that are difficult to access. The government says insecurity from ongoing Boko Haram terrorist attacks prevents aid workers from providing assistance to suspected cholera patients in some localities on Cameroons northern border with Chad and Nigeria. Midjiyawa Bakary, the governor of Cameroon's Far North region on the border with Chad and Nigeria, says he presided at an emergency meeting ordered by Cameroon president Paul Biya on Wednesday. Bakary says it was decided that all civilians on Cameroon's northern border with Chad and Nigeria should immediately respect measures taken at the emergency meeting to reduce or stop the wave of cholera attacks. He says local councils must construct community toilets and latrines, civilians must use the toilets and people should stop drinking water from flooded streams that are likely contaminated. Bakary says Cameroons military will protect health workers dispatched to areas still suffering Boko Haram attacks. Bakary said humanitarian workers in affected towns and villages are instructing civilians on consuming cooked food and boiling water to reduce cholera contamination and infections, especially among children. Bakary called on civilians to stop the practice of defecating in streams, fields, forests, bushes, lakes and rivers and to wash their hands with soap and clean water regularly. The government says Mayo-Sava, a department on Cameroons northern border with Nigeria, is hardest hit by the cholera outbreak. Roger Saffo, the highest government official in Mayo-Sava, says international relief agencies are donating personal hygiene to children and medication for aid workers to take care of the needs of civilians in affected towns and villages. We have already received sanitary kits from the regional office of the World Health Organization based in Maroua and Doctors Without Borders which has permitted the medical personnel to take care of the suspected cases, disinfection of infected localities in collaboration with the community in Mayo-Sava division, he said, speaking via the messaging app WhatsApp from Mora, the capital of Mayo-Sava. The government says floods are triggering the spike in cholera cases. Linda Esso, deputy director for the Fight against Epidemics and Pandemics at Cameroons Public Health Ministry, says Cameroonians should not think that the ongoing wave of infections originates in Nigeria, which reported a cholera outbreak after this month's deadly floods on the border with Cameroon. She says there are possibilities that some civilians infected or affected by the outbreak are moving to access hospitals on both sides of the border to seek help. The U.N. reports that up to this month, more than 1,000 cases of cholera were reported in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states in Nigeria that share a border with northern Cameroon and Chad. Esso said the cholera outbreak is spreading rapidly in areas of the Lake Chad basin that are shared by Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria, Niger and the Central African Republic. Cameroon government officials say they have engaged in discussions with Nigeria and Chad to jointly combat the outbreak along their borders. Cholera is a bacterial infection that causes severe diarrhea and dehydration, usually spread over water. It can be fatal if not treated in hospitals. Cameroonian health officials are asking people with confirmed and suspected cholera cases to refrain from seeking treatment from African traditional healers. Canadas highest court is deliberating whether to overturn a nearly 20-year-old immigration agreement with the United States on the grounds that asylum-seekers cannot safely be returned to Canadas southern neighbor. Canadian immigration experts have argued before the Supreme Court of Canada that the Safe Third Country Agreement should be repealed because of what they describe as unconscionable conditions that migrants face when returned to the United States. The agreement was signed in 2002 and went into effect in December 2004. In it, the United States and Canada agreed to turn back travelers at legal land crossings who claim asylum or refugee status in one country after having been in the other. Janet Dench, executive director of the Canadian Council for Refugees, is one of the groups fighting the agreement in the Supreme Court. What the evidence shows and what we hear from people who've experienced it, as well as independent investigations of the situations, is that it is really very abusive conditions of detention, where people spend long periods in conditions that are really atrocious, she said to VOA. Advocates for scrapping the agreement say it violates Canadas constitutionally guaranteed rights to life, liberty and the security of the person by forcing asylum-seekers back into what they describe as deplorable conditions in immigration detention facilities in the United States. They say it could also result in migrants being sent back to countries where they could be persecuted. Asked to comment on conditions in U.S. detention centers, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson told VOA that the agency is firmly committed to the health and welfare of all those in its custody. In an emailed statement, the spokesperson said, All people in ICE custody receive medical, dental, and mental health intake screening within 12 hours of arriving at each detention facility and that ICE annually spends more than $315 million on the spectrum of health care services provided to people in ICE custody. As of October 14, 28,067 people were being held in ICE detention centers. US detention inspection While U.S. officials maintain that detainees are well treated, immigration lawyers and advocates in the U.S. have for years criticized detention conditions for immigrants in the United States. The Immigrant Defense Project and the Center for Constitutional Rights in February published a report in which five people shared their experiences in the U.S. immigration detention system. They said conditions in the detention facilities inflict harm and break peoples spirits." In September, federal investigators published the results of an unannounced inspection at the privately owned and operated Torrance County Detention Center in Estancia, New Mexico, where an earlier report from the Department of Homeland Securitys inspector general recommended that all of the detainees be moved to another facility because of unsatisfactory conditions. The center is typical of U.S. immigration facilities, the reports authors said. The Canadian side Canadian government lawyers defended the Safe Third Country Agreement before the Supreme Court, maintaining that the agreement is constitutional and allows for exceptions in cases where refugees would face harm. They also asked that any ruling striking down the pact be suspended for a year so the government can formulate an alternative. That makes sense to Vancouver-based immigration lawyer and policy analyst Richard Kurland, who said in an interview he believes Canada should end the agreement but there needs to be something to replace it. The 2002 agreement was prompted by the idea that people were trampling into Canada after failing their refugee claims [in] the United States and just bilking Canada for government proceeds, he said. So, the public did not like that. The political solution was to discuss that Safe Third Country Agreement. A peculiarity of the agreement is that it was written in such a way that it applies only at legal border crossing points. That means that asylum-seekers who sneak across the nearly 9,000-km-long border can remain in Canada to have their claims processed. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police stopped 23,348 refugee status claimants in the first eight months of this year, a six-year high. That is 13% more than in all of 2017, when such crossings started to be counted. Since February 2017, a total of 67,805 refugee claims were made by people crossing between border posts. Of those, 28,332 claims were accepted and 19,646 were rejected. Jamie Liew, an associate law professor at the University of Ottawa and a practicing immigration attorney, says the recent increase in crossings may be the result of the easing of many border restrictions imposed to fight COVID-19. I imagined that the pandemic might have played a role given that the border was largely closed to a lot of people and the ability to move across the border was more difficult, Liew said. There is no indication when the Supreme Court of Canada will render a decision. At 8,891 kilometers, the U.S.-Canada border is the longest undefended international boundary in the world. A warming climate could bring viruses in the Arctic into contact with new environments and hosts, increasing the risk of "viral spillover," according to research published Wednesday. Viruses need hosts like humans, animals, plants or fungi to replicate and spread, and occasionally they can jump to a new one that lacks immunity, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Scientists in Canada wanted to investigate how climate change might affect spillover risk by examining samples from the Arctic landscape of Lake Hazen. It is the largest lake in the world entirely north of the Arctic Circle and "was truly unlike any other place I've been," researcher Graham Colby, now a medical student at the University of Toronto, told AFP. The team sampled soil that becomes a riverbed for melted glacier water in the summer, as well as the lakebed itself which required clearing snow and drilling through 2 meters of ice, even in May when the research was carried out. They used ropes and a snowmobile to lift the lake sediment through almost 300 meters of water, and samples were then sequenced for DNA and RNA, the genetic blueprints and messengers of life. "This enabled us to know what viruses are in a given environment, and what potential hosts are also present," said Stephane Aris-Brosou, an associate professor in the University of Ottawa's biology department, who led the work. But to find out how likely they were to jump hosts, the team needed to examine the equivalent of each virus and host's family tree. "Basically, what we tried to do is measure how similar these trees are," said Audree Lemieux, first author of the research. Similar genealogies suggest a virus has evolved along with its host, but differences suggest spillover. And if a virus has jumped hosts once, it is more likely to do so again. 'Very unpredictable' The analysis found pronounced differences between viruses and hosts in the lakebed, "which is directly correlated to the risk of spillover," said Aris-Brosou. The difference was less stark in the riverbeds, which the researchers theorize is because water erodes the topsoil, removing organisms and limiting interactions between viruses and potential new hosts. Those, instead, wash into the lake, which has seen "dramatic change" in recent years, the study says, as increased water from melting glaciers deposits more sediment. "That's going to bring together hosts and viruses that would not normally encounter each other," Lemieux said. The authors of the research, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences journal, caution they are neither forecasting an actual spillover nor a pandemic. "The likelihood of dramatic events remains very low," Lemieux said. They also warn more work is needed to clarify how big the difference between viruses and hosts needs to be to create serious spillover risk. But they argue that warming weather could increase risks further if new potential hosts move into previously inhospitable regions. "It could be anything from ticks to mosquitoes to certain animals, to bacteria and viruses themselves," said Lemieux. "It's really unpredictable ... and the effect of spillover itself is very unpredictable. It can range from benign to an actual pandemic." The team wants more research and surveillance work in the region to understand the risks. "Obviously, we've seen in the past two years what the effects of spillover can be," said Lemieux. The European Parliament (EP) has awarded its 2022 Sakharov Prize to "the brave people of Ukraine" in their battle against Russia's unprovoked invasion in late February. The EP said in a statement Wednesday that the award went to "brave Ukrainians, represented by their President [Volodymyr Zelenskyy], elected leaders, and civil society." "This award is for those Ukrainians fighting on the ground. For those who have been forced to flee. For those who have lost relatives and friends. For all those who stand up and fight for what they believe in. I know that the brave people of Ukraine will not give up and neither will we," European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said in the statement. The annual prize is named after the Soviet physicist and dissident Andrei Sakharov and was established in 1988 by the European Parliament to honor individuals and organizations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms. Washington has exhausted viable options for containing North Koreas missile and nuclear programs and now must prioritize deterring the regime from using its weapons to carry out attacks against the U.S. and its allies, experts say. North Korea test-fired 27 missiles so far this year, believed to be a record, in defiance of the U.S. and South Korea, which responded with a show of force. This month, the regime of leader Kim Jong Un has conducted six missile tests, mostly involving ballistic missiles banned by U.N. sanctions. The latest test came with Fridays launch of a short-range ballistic missile. A short time earlier, Pyongyang dispatched about a dozen warplanes near the inter-Korean border, prompting South Korea to send F-35 fighter jets to ward them off. On October 10, North Korea said the purpose of its missile launches over the previous two weeks was to assess nuclear counterattack capabilities on targets in South Korea. It said the U.S. redeployment of the USS Ronald Reagan to the region made the launches necessary for its self-defense. The U.S. Navy adjusted course for the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier on October 5, a day after Pyongyang fired an intermediate-range ballistic (IRBM) missile over Japan for the first time since 2017. The aircraft carrier departed the area after participating in naval exercises with South Korea. Deterrence by default Experts said Washington now must focus on preventing Pyongyang from using its nuclear weapons and missiles to launch an actual attack against the U.S. and its allies, as trying to curb the regime from developing and testing them seems unlikely. Harry Kazianis, the president of the Rogue States Project, said, Washington is now forced to essentially accept North Korea as a de facto nuclear weapons state. Christopher Johnstone, who recently served as the director for East Asia under President Joe Biden and now is Japan Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said, The most realistic approach in the near term is to strengthen deterrence, including through closer defense cooperation among the United States, Japan and South Korea. Washington, Seoul and Tokyo conducted several trilateral exercises, including on October 6, two days after Pyongyang launched its missile over Japan. The U.S. National Security Strategy published on October 12 says strengthening extended deterrence in the face of North Korean weapons of mass destruction and missile threats is Washingtons goal as it seeks diplomacy to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. The National Security Strategy is a legally mandated annual report sent by the White House to Congress to present the national security vision of the executive branch to the legislative branch. North Korea may not be persuaded to abandon its programs," said Scott Snyder, director of the program on U.S.-Korea policy at the Council on Foreign Relations. Deterrence is important in terms of discouraging use. Denuclearization options Experts said Washingtons options for denuclearization may have been exhausted as they see a Pyongyang uninterested in dialogue striving to become a nuclear state. The United States and its partners and allies have tried virtually everything, said Evans Revere, a former State Department official with extensive experience negotiating with North Korea. Nothing has convinced or compelled North Korea to make [a] strategic decision to give up its nuclear weapons and missile programs. So far, evidence suggests that a decision to denuclearize or even freeze missile and nuclear programs is highly unlikely. He added, however, that denuclearization should not be ruled out as a long-term goal, and one option at Washingtons disposal is to make it as painful as possible for North Korea to develop and test its weapons by imposing heavy sanctions in cooperation with U.S. allies and partners. Three days after North Korea flew the IRBM over Japan, the U.S. Treasury issued new sanctions on North Korea-connected individuals and entities that support its weapons programs. The U.N. Security Council remains divided on how to handle the regimes IRBM flight over Japan. China and Russia defended the missile launch as a defensive measure against U.S. threats, leaving the councils October 5 meeting on North Korea to dissolve without an agreement on next steps. Ken Gause, director of the Adversary Analytics Program at CNA, said, We missed the boat on denuclearization. The failure in Hanoi was our last best chance for the near term, Gause said. You have to freeze the program. Thats the best you can do. Dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang remains stalled since working-level talks in Stockholm failed in October 2019. The Hanoi summit in February 2019 broke down over disagreement on Pyongyang-sought sanctions relief and Washington-sought denuclearization. North Korea has already ruled out denuclearization by codifying into law on September 8 its readiness to use nuclear weapons in the event of what it perceives as an imminent threat. John Kirby, the National Security Councils director of strategic communications, said on October 11 that Pyongyang has not responded to U.S. offers for talks. VOAs Korean Service contacted North Koreas U.N. mission in New York asking under what circumstances Pyongyang would be interested in talks but did not receive a reply. Robert Einhorn, a former special adviser for nonproliferation and arms control at the State Department who is now a current senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said Pyongyang is not going to be prepared even to make substantial reductions in its capabilities or limitations of its programs unless it receives very significant concessions by the United States and its partners. Einhorn said Pyongyang is completing and enhancing a list of weapons its leader Kim announced in his speech in January 2021. They include some already tested, such as tactical nuclear weapons, ICBMs, a submarine-launched ballistic missile, and new types of ballistic missiles, among others. When Thomas Kean moved to Myanmar in 2007, he didnt expect to stay for almost 15 years, or that he would become editor-in-chief of the prominent news outlet Frontier Myanmar. As a graduate of Australias Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Kean first came to Yangon to work for the Myanmar Times. I knew so little about the country and the context that I had no expectation of working there longer than a year, Kean told VOA. I thought it seemed like a really interesting opportunity to see what the country was like. Over the next 15 years, Kean who joined Frontier Myanmar in 2016 witnessed dramatic changes, including to the countrys media and political environment. Strict censorship directives were eased during the fledgling moves to a democracy, only to be replaced with arrests and repression when the military seized power in a February 2021 coup. Relatively few journalists still work in Myanmar, and those who do operate at great risk to their safety. Since the coup, 159 have been arrested, including three from Frontier Myanmar. At least 59 are still in custody, according to data from the Myanmar Journalists Network. Kean left Myanmar in August 2021 and is now based in Melbourne, Australia. After more than six years as Frontier Myanmars editor-in-chief, he stepped aside in September and is now the magazines editor-at-large. In an interview with VOA, Kean reflected on the changes for Myanmars media environment and the risks those still inside take to report the news. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. VOA: What was Myanmars press freedom environment like when you started working there? Kean: It was really demoralizing. But I persisted because I built good relationships with colleagues. A lot of journalists at the Myanmar Times were committed to what they were trying to do in a difficult environment. It was an interesting challenge. You wouldnt pursue stories that were so off limits that you knew they would be censored, but you also didnt want to just write stories that were so anodyne that they would obviously pass the censorship board. VOA: Are there any examples of those kinds of stories that stand out? Kean: A colleague and I went to a copper mine in Monywa in mid-2008. We rode a motorbike around the fringes, and stumbled across people who were trolling [searching] through the tailings and had an artisanal copper mine business. It was an interesting story, and I was disappointed that it was censored. But on other occasions stories werent censored, and youd go, OK, maybe thats an area thats not so sensitive to the military. Youd learn from it, week to week. But also the censors were so erratic, and that was one of the frustrations. Something permitted one week would be censored the next. VOA: How did you witness press freedom evolve? Kean: Before the 2010 general election, things started to change unexpectedly. For whatever reason, the military felt they needed to allow some coverage of the candidates to lend credibility to the election. That opened up the possibility of speaking to and writing about political dissidents. It was an improvement. From there, it required media organizations to push the boundaries to see what was possible. And slowly the censorship board relaxed control, week by week. Then in August 2012, they lifted pre-publication censorship completely. VOA: What happened to press freedom following the February 2021 military coup? Kean: Aside from asking whats happening, the first question the morning of the coup was, What is the military going to do to the media? Other media organizations immediately left the country, and I totally understand that. If youre reporting in Myanmar now, the military is gunning for you. We did that for a couple weeks, and we didnt get shut down. But by late March it became too dangerous for journalists to work on the streets. The protest movement was becoming more violent. There was obviously suspicion from security forces. But protesters were also suspicious of reporters asking questions. VOA: Frontier took a break from operating last fall. Can you talk about that decision? Kean: We stopped operating in October 2021 to make it easier for staff to quietly leave if they wanted. My family and I left in August 2021 due to visa problems. Our journalists were having to move around regularly to feel safe. There wasnt really an advantage to being on the ground, so we decided it was better for them to work from a relatively safe environment outside the country. The plan was to begin operating again in December, but that month one of our journalists was detained by the military in Yangon. We waited until he was released in late December before we started operating again in January. VOA: How has operating outside Myanmar presented challenges to reporting? Kean: Its hard to say how much of the challenge is from reporting outside the country and how much is just from the terrible political situation. Our journalists can get in touch with sources from outside the country. The problem is that theyre just terrified to talk at all, even off the record. As journalists, we dont want to use pseudonyms or anonymous sources. But at least half of our sources are anonymous now. Its not something we want to do, but in this environment, whats the alternative? If you were a person on the ground in Yangon now, why would you talk to a journalist? VOA: Do you view Frontier and independent Myanmar media in general as part of the opposition against the military? Kean: Being a journalist and being a media organization that reports independently on the situation in Myanmar does, in a way, make you part of a resistance to the coup because your values and what you stand for are completely anathema to the regime. Independent media are still playing a really important role in Myanmar. U.N. human rights officials have condemned Irans violent suppression of anti-government protests as a violation of international law and call on Iranian officials to end their deadly crackdown against peaceful demonstrators. A month has passed since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini sparked nationwide protests against the Iranian government. Amini was arrested by the so-called morality police for improper wearing of the hijab and died three days later on September 16 while in police custody. U.N. human rights officials said they are alarmed by the unabated violent response by security forces against protesters, and reports of arbitrary arrests and the killing and detention of children are also deeply worrying. U.N. human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said as many as 23 children reportedly have been killed and many injured by security forces who used live ammunition, metal pellets, and fatal beatings. She said schools also have been raided, and children arrested by security forces. Under the human rights treaties accepted by Iran, the Islamic Republic has an obligation to protect childrens right to life under any circumstances, and to respect and protect their right to freedom of expression and peaceful protest, said Shamdasani. Along with the mass arrests of protesters, our office has also received reports of the arrests of at least 90 members of civil society including human rights defenders, lawyers, artists, and journalists. The U.N. human rights office said the continued unnecessary and disproportionate use of force against protesters must stop. It also is calling for the immediate release of all those arbitrarily detained. Media reports say Irans Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khameinei blamed the United States and Israel for the unrest, accusing the countries of trying to stop Irans progress. Shamdasani said her office is very concerned about the case of Elnaz Rekabi, a female Iranian climber who competed in Seoul, South Korea without a hijab. She has since returned to Tehran, and it is not clear whether she will face repercussions. "Concerns are being raised with the authorities as well. What we have to stress is that women should never be prosecuted for what they wear," she said. "They should never be subjected to violations such as arbitrary detention or any kind of violence with regards to what they wear. We will be following this case very closely." Shamdasani said her office has expressed its many concerns about the protests directly to Iranian authorities. In turn, she said the Iranians have shared documents with U.N. officials including investigation reports into Mahsa Aminis death. The government has said Amini died of a heart attack and was not mistreated. Her family said she had no history of heart trouble and that her body bore bruises and other signs of beating. Shamdasani said that meanwhile, the violence in Iran continues unabated, and her office continues to receive reports of crackdowns, raids, arbitrary arrests, and killings. For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine. The latest developments in Russias war on Ukraine. All times EDT. 11 p.m.: Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova said she spoke to Republican Senator Pat Toomey and Chris Van Hollen, a Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, over the phone about enhancing sanctions on Russia. "We welcome Senators bipartisan initiative that can enhance sanction regime on Russia, introduce secondary sanctions and save lives of many Ukrainians in future," Markarova said in a statement posted on Twitter. 10:30 p.m.: In Russia, the death toll from Monday's crash of a Russian warplane into a residential area rose to 15, The Associated Press reported. The Su-34 bomber came down in the port city of Yeysk after one of its engines caught fire during takeoff for a training mission, the Defense Ministry said. Both crew members bailed out safely, but the plane struck a neighborhood, causing a huge blaze, officials said. 10 p.m.: Around 5 million people, from the parts of Ukraine that Moscow has claimed to have annexed, have left for Russia, a security official was quoted Wednesday as saying by Russian state news agencies, according to Agence France-Presse. "Around 5 million residents of Donbas and southeastern regions of Ukraine have found shelter in Russia," said the secretary of Russia's National Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, referring to the Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. He gave no details of how they arrived in the country or within what time frame. 9:10 p.m.: Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Wednesday the capital's life would remain "normal" after President Vladimir Putin introduced measures that could see transport restricted and increased security in the city of 12.5 million, Agence France-Presse reported. While introducing martial law in four Ukrainian regions, Putin also placed several Russian regions, including Moscow, on "increased alert." "I need to say that at the moment, no measures that would limit the normal rhythm of life are being introduced," said Sobyanin, who has tried to keep a business-as-usual approach in the capital. The Russian capital has been deeply affected by an exodus of Western businesses and parts of its middle class leaving the city since Putin announced a mobilization. 8:12 p.m.: 7:33 p.m.: A Russian missile strike hit a major thermal power station in the city of Burshtyn in western Ukraine on Wednesday, the region's governor said, the latest in a wave of attacks on critical infrastructure ahead of winter, Reuters reported. The latest salvo hit the coal-fired Burshtyn plant in the region of Ivano-Frankivsk that supplies electricity to three western regions and to 5 million consumers, more than 10% of Ukraine's pre-war population. "Our region experienced missile fire today. The Burshtyn thermal power station was hit, which caused a fire," Svitlana Onyshchuk, Ivano-Frankivsk's governor, said in a video statement online. She said no one was hurt in the strike to the area hundreds of kilometers from the front lines that has until now been relatively unscathed by the war. The same facility was hit by four missiles on Oct. 10, the governor said. 6:52 p.m.: The Moscow-installed authorities of the port city of Mariupol, which fell to Russian forces after a devastating siege earlier in the year, took down a monument to Ukrainian victims of Stalin's famine on Wednesday, Agence France-Presse reported. Kyiv calls the 1930s man-made hunger under Joseph Stalin a genocide, while Moscow has been downplaying it as an episode of famine across the Soviet Union. "We are not taking out a memorial, we are getting rid of a symbol of the political disinformation of the population, particularly of our youth," local youth organization spokeswoman Evgenya Krotova told RIA. "The stone will be recycled into construction material," the administration said on Telegram. The monument was made out of two blocks of granite topped by stalks of wheat and barbed wire. 5:58 p.m.: 5:15 p.m.: India on Wednesday issued an advisory asking all its citizens to avoid traveling to Ukraine, citing the 'deteriorating security situation' in the country, Reuters reported. "Indian citizens, including students, currently in Ukraine are advised to leave Ukraine at the earliest by available means," the Indian Embassy in Ukraine said in a statement published on Twitter. 4:27 p.m.: Kazakh officials say more than 50 international companies have relocated from Russia to Kazakhstan since Moscow launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported. Prime Minister Alikhan Smaiylov told reporters on October 19 that another 56 international companies that have left Russia in recent months had "expressed their willingness to settle in Kazakhstan." President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev added that officials in the country's largest city, Almaty, should settle the relocated companies around the financial capital of the oil-rich Central Asian state. "This will significantly help the economy of our country. Discuss this with the government and the companies," Toqaev told Almaty city officials. After Russia launched its full-scale aggression against Ukraine in late February, more than a thousand international companies stopped or suspended their operations in Russia, while 320 international companies fully left the Russian market. 3:55 p.m.: European Union governments will agree to impose new sanctions on Iranian generals and entities over the use of Iranian-made drones in Russian strikes on Ukraine, four diplomats and a French official said on Wednesday, according to Reuters. Ukraine has reported a spate of Russian attacks using Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones in recent weeks. Iran denies supplying drones to Russia, while the Kremlin has not commented. Sanctions experts from the 27 EU members agreed to list three generals and the manufacturer of the Shahed drones as well as relisting four others in a meeting on Wednesday. It will be put to national ambassadors at a meeting scheduled for the afternoon. 3:30 p.m.: The U.S. Department of Justice and FBI announce sanctions targeting a Russian national and two of his companies for sending dual-use U.S. technology to Russia, VOA's National Security correspondent Jeff Seldin reports. 3:12 p.m.: Norways domestic security agency has taken charge of an investigation into drone sightings near key infrastructure sites, after the airport in the countrys second-largest city briefly closed Wednesday after locals spotted at least one drone, The Associated Press reported. Hedvig Moe, deputy chief at PST, the intelligence agencys acronym, said there was an elevated intelligence threat from Russia and that Russia is in a pressed situation as a result of the war and is isolated by sanctions over its war in Ukraine. We are in a tense security-political situation, and at the same time a complex and unclear threat picture that can change in a relatively short time, she said. Also, a man with dual Russian and British citizenship was jailed for two weeks on suspicion of flying drones on Norways Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, news reports said. Under Norwegian law, it is prohibited for aircraft operated by Russian companies or citizens to land on, take off from or fly over Norwegian territory. Norway is not a member of the European Union but mirrors its moves. 2:30 p.m.: 2:15 p.m.: U.S. President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is "in an incredibly difficult position" and is resorting to brutalizing Ukrainian citizens, Reuters reported. "I think Vladimir Putin finds himself in an incredibly difficult position and what it reflects to me is it seems his only tool available to him is to brutalize individual citizens in Ukraine to try to intimidate them into capitulating," Biden told reporters at the White House. 2:00 p.m.: The FH70 155-millimeter howitzer has been used by NATO countries for over 40 years. The letters and number actually stand for Field Howitzer for the 1970s. Ukrainian forces first got their hands on them courtesy of Italy in May and received training in Estonia. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalists met with a frontline FH70 crew and watched them in action against Russian forces. 1:25 p.m.: Thousands of residents were hastily leaving the Russian-occupied city of Kherson on Wednesday on ferries and buses after local Russian-backed authorities announced a mass evacuation, The Associated Press reported. Konstantin, a city resident who asked for his last name to be withheld for security reasons, said thousands of people have lined up in a queue expecting to leave. It looks more like a panic rather than an organized evacuation -- people are buying the last remaining groceries in grocery shops and are running to the Kherson River port, where thousands of people are already waiting, Konstantin told the AP. (The Russian-backed authorities) are just taking people away and are not saying where exactly. Konstantin described columns of military vehicles driving around the city and civilian trucks carrying archives of documents belonging to Russian-installed government to the left bank of the Dnieper River. Mostly its the pro-Russian officials, state employees, families with children and the elderly who are fleeing, Konstantin said. People are scared by talks of explosions, missiles and a possible blockade of the city. An operator of a hotline Russian-installed officials in Kherson set up said the shelling of the city could start in the coming hours. Khersons Russian-appointed governor Vladimir Saldo said that entry to Kherson will be closed for at least seven days. 12:40 p.m.: 12:15 p.m.: The people of Ukraine and their representatives were awarded the European Unions top human rights prize Wednesday for their resistance to Russias invasion and ongoing war, The Associated Press reported. The EU award, named for Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, was created in 1988 to honor individuals or groups who defend human rights and fundamental freedoms. Sakharov, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, died in 1989. Its the second straight year EU lawmakers used the Sakharov Prize to send a message to the Kremlin. Imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny won it last year. This award is for those Ukrainians fighting on the ground. For those who have been forced to flee. For those who have lost relatives and friends. For all those who stand up and fight for what they believe in, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said. I know that the brave people of Ukraine will not give up and neither will we. When they nominated Ukraine for the prize, MEPs praised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his bravery, endurance and devotion to his people and highlighted the roles of Ukraines state emergency services. Zelenskyy welcomed the honor in a tweet Wednesday, saying he was grateful for the award given to the Ukrainian people, and he noted that the EUs support has been very important to Ukraine. 11:30 a.m.: Ukraines Air Defense Forces say Russia attacked several regions of Ukraine with missiles on Wednesday afternoon, again targeting the countrys battered power grid as winter weather approaches, The Associated Press reported. Authorities said Ukrainian soldiers shot down four Russian cruise missiles and 10 Iranian-made drones during the attack. Air raid sirens rang out for more than three hours in Kyiv, sending many people into the capitals subway stations for shelter. Russian attacks have become part of daily life in the capital. Some people kept working on their computers underground, some took chairs and blankets with them. The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, announced that the so-called heating season when authorities pump heat to urban buildings will begin on Thursday, several days earlier than usual. Klitschko said the early step was being taken so that Kyiv residents do not overload the beleaguered power supply system by turning on electric heaters and air conditioning units. 11:15 a.m.: 11:05 a.m.: Israel offered on Wednesday to help Ukrainians develop air attack alerts for civilians, signaling a softening of a policy of non-military intervention in the war after Kyiv appealed for ways to counteract Iranian-made drones being used by Russia, Reuters reported. Ukraine's ambassador, however, asked for systems that would shoot down the drones instead, while Defense Minister Benny Gantz said Israel was firm on not supplying Kyiv with weapons. Though it has condemned the Russian invasion, Israel has limited its Ukraine assistance to humanitarian relief, citing a desire for continued cooperation with Moscow over war-ravaged neighbor Syria and to ensure the well-being of Russia's Jews. On Tuesday, Ukraine stepped up appeals for Israeli help after reporting multiple Russian strikes using Iranian Shahed-136 'kamikaze' drones. 10:40 a.m.: The routine torture by Russian forces and their affiliates of detainees during their half-year occupation of the eastern Ukrainian city of Izyum was part of a "policy and plan," Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a statement on Wednesday. 10:25 a.m.: Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has hinted at Tehrans hand in supplying Russia with bomb-carrying suicide drones that Moscows forces are deploying in Ukraine, The Associated Press reported. Speaking to students in Tehran on Wednesday, Khamenei touched on Irans drone program. On building advanced missile and drone equipment, (our enemies) had said they are photoshopped when their photos were published, Khamenei said. Now they say that Iranian drones are very dangerous and ask, 'why do you sell them?' Iran has denied supplying Russia with drones, even though the ones now used on the battlefield have been identified by Ukraine and Western nations as Shahed-136 drones, a triangle-shaped drone previously attributed to Iran. The leader of Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard previously hinted that Tehran had sold weapons to world powers as well. 10:10 a.m.: European Union governments have provisionally agreed to impose sanctions on eight people and entities over the use of Iranian-made drones in Russian strikes on Ukraine, three diplomats said, according to Reuters. Ukraine has reported a spate of Russian attacks using Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones in recent weeks. Iran denies supplying drones to Russia, while the Kremlin has not commented. Sanctions experts from the 27 EU members agreed to the list in a meeting on Wednesday. It will be put to national ambassadors at a meeting scheduled for the afternoon. EU governments have until Thursday morning to decide whether to approve the sanctions, the goal being to agree the package before leaders convene in Brussels for a summit starting later in the day. 9:50 a.m.: 9:20 a.m.: The Russian military claims it has defeated a Ukrainian attempt to seize control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, The Associated Press reported. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said that Ukrainian forces early Wednesday used 37 boats in an attempted landing to take over the plant located on the left bank of the Dnieper River. He said that Russian forces thwarted the attack and destroyed the landing party. Konashenkovs claim couldnt be independently confirmed. Ukrainian officials made no immediate comment. The Zaporizhzhia plant, which is Europes largest nuclear facility, was seized by Russian forces early during the conflict. It has seen relentless shelling in areas close to the plant, triggering fears of a possible nuclear catastrophe. 9:10 a.m.: 9:00 a.m.: President Vladimir Putin introduced martial law on Wednesday in four Ukrainian regions he says are part of Russia as some residents of the Russian-held city of Kherson left by boat after Moscow warned of a looming assault, Reuters reported. The images of people fleeing Kherson were broadcast by Russian state TV which portrayed the exodus - from the right bank of the River Dnipro to its left bank - as an attempt to clear the city of civilians before it became a combat zone. Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian presidents office, accused Russia of laying on a propaganda show in Kherson. The Russians are trying to scare the people of Kherson with fake newsletters about the shelling of the city by our army, and also arrange a propaganda show with evacuation, Yermak wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Eight months after being invaded, Ukraine is prosecuting major counter-offensives in the east and south to try to take as much territory as it can before winter after routing Russian forces in some areas. Kherson is the biggest population center Moscow has seized and held since it began its special military operation in Ukraine on February 24. The city is on territory which President Vladimir Putin says is now formally incorporated into Russia, a move Ukraine and the West do not recognize. 8:50 a.m.: Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak poured scorn on Russian President Vladimir Putins declaration of martial law in the four regions of Ukraine that Moscow annexed. This does not change anything for Ukraine, Podolyak said on Twitter Wednesday. 8:40 a.m.: Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree on Wednesday restricting movement in and out of eight regions adjoining Ukraine, Reuters reported. The measures apply to the southern regions of Krasnodar, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk and Rostov, which are all near Ukraine, and the territories of Crimea and Sevastopol, which Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014. 8:30 a.m.: 8:15 a.m.: Tiny amounts of gas briefly appeared in the Russian Nord Stream 1 pipeline on Wednesday, website data showed, weeks after it was ruptured in the Baltic Sea by what investigating teams said was suspected sabotage caused by explosions, Reuters reported. Gas flows were at 102 kilowatt-hours per hour (kwh/h) between 0700-0800 CET (0500-0600 GMT) on Oct. 19 from zero, and at 119 an hour later, the data showed. The data subsequently showed that the flows dropped back to zero starting from 0900 CET. Before the stoppage in late August, Nord Stream 1 carried some 14,000,000 kilowatt hours per hour of Russian gas. Nord Stream's operator did not immediately respond to a request for comment and no explanation was immediately available. 7:55 a.m.: 7:40 a.m.: A senior Ukrainian official accused Russia of organizing a "propaganda show" in occupied Kherson after Russian-installed officials said they were preparing to defend the city from imminent Ukrainian attack and urged civilians to flee. Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian president's office, also accused Russia of trying to scare Kherson residents with what he described as fake newsletters about Ukrainian shelling of the city in southern Ukraine. "The Russians are trying to scare the people of Kherson with fake newsletters about the shelling of the city by our army, and also arrange a propaganda show with evacuation," he wrote on the Telegram messaging app. "Propaganda will not work." 7:10 a.m.: A Ukrainian presidential adviser told Russia on Wednesday that "reality can hurt" after a Russian-appointed official said the Ukrainian army was poised to try to retake the occupied city of Kherson and urged residents to evacuate, Reuters reported. Kherson is the biggest population center seized by Moscow in its invasion of Ukraine and is on territory which President Vladimir Putin says is now formally incorporated into Russia, a move Ukraine and the West do not recognize. "Less than a month has passed since the pompous announcement of Kherson annexation and solemn concert on the Red Square, as the self-proclaimed city administration... ceremoniously evacuates in anticipation of Ukrainian justice. Reality can hurt if you live in a fictional fantasy world," Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak wrote on Twitter. 6:50 a.m.: Ukraine said Wednesday its military had shot down more than 220 Iranian-made drones in a little more than one month, following this week's attacks that used "kamikaze drones." "Since the first downing of an Iranian-made Shahed-136 kamikaze drone on the territory of Ukraine on September 13, the ... Air Force and other components of the Defense Forces of Ukraine have destroyed 223 UAVs of this type," Agence France-Presse reported citing a statement by the military. 6:30 a.m.: 6:00 a.m.: Agence France-Presse reported Wednesday that Ukraine's state nuclear operator Energoatom said 'about 50' Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant staff are in Russian detention. 5:30 a.m.: Ukraine has removed its ambassador to Kazakhstan in Central Asia, according to a decree published on the presidential website, after remarks he made about Russia spurred condemnation from Moscow, Agence France-Presse reported. Russia's foreign ministry had urged Kazakhstan to expel Petro Vrublevsky after he gave an interview in which he made comments about "killing" Russians. He later apologized for the remarks. Astana had said it communicated the "unacceptability" of Vrublevsky's statement to Kyiv and an agreement had been reached for his recall. The decree published by Ukraine's presidency on Tuesday evening did not specify why the ambassador was relieved of his duties and did not appoint a replacement. In early October, Kazakhstan's foreign ministry summoned Russia's ambassador in the ex-Soviet country for a "serious talk" following Moscow's demand to expel the country's Ukraine envoy. Ties between Russia and Kazakhstan have been strained since the launch of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, with the Central Asian country seeking to balance ties with the West and ally Moscow. Kazakh leader Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has publicly disagreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin over Ukraine. He also assured the safety of thousands of Russians fleeing to Kazakhstan after the announcement of Moscow's military call-up in September. 5:00 a.m.: The Russian-installed leader of the annexed Ukrainian region of Kherson said on Wednesday that authorities plan to evacuate around 50-60,000 people over the next six days amid escalating pressure from a Ukrainian counteroffensive, Reuters reported. Speaking on an online broadcast of "Soloviev Live," Russian-installed governor Vladimir Saldo said authorities were moving civilians to the left bank of the Dnipro in order to "keep people safe" and allow the military to "act resolutely." "I drove through the regional center this morning. On the exterior, there was nothing to suggest there was a lot of pressure," Saldo said. "But when I arrived at the river port, I saw that the boats were waiting and are already loaded with people ready to go to the left bank of the Dnipro," he said, adding that the situation "is getting tense." He said an estimated 10,000 people a day would be moved over the next six days, and that some regions in Russia were being prepared to accept people. More than 5,000 people have already left Kherson in the last two days, Saldo told state television. Russian forces in the Kherson region have been driven back by 20-30 kilometers (13-20 miles) in the last few weeks and are at risk of being pinned against the western bank of the 2,200-kilometers-long Dnipro River that traverses through Ukraine. 4:30 a.m.: Russian telecoms-to-healthcare conglomerate Sistema agreed a $256-million deal for a stake in Melon Fashion Group Reuters reported Wednesday, months after the retail outlet scrapped plans for an initial public offering, or IPO, due to the conflict in Ukraine. Based in St. Petersburg on a site that housed a sewing factory in Soviet times, Melon owns four mainly women's fashion brands Zarina, Befree, Love Republic and Sela and had 846 stores across Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Belarus at the end of 2021. Plans for an IPO sometime this year were shelved after Russia launched what it calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine. In a statement, Sistema said it would acquire 47.7% of Melon from Swedish investment group Eastnine and East Capital Holding and some private investors for a total of $256 million (15.8 billion roubles). For Eastnine, the sale represents a rare successful exit for a Western firm offloading its Russian assets. It will secure around $189 million (193 million euros) for its 36% stake, Eastnine said in a statement. At the end of 2021, it valued its shares at $120 million (122 million euros), and in March warned the conflict in Ukraine would see that drop. Several Western companies and investors have sold their Russian operations for token sums as part of an exodus of Western companies. Sistema President Tagir Sitdekov said Melon Fashion Group "is growing fast and demonstrating operational excellence," and said Sistema had the right experience to continue developing the company. The deal is expected to be completed by the end of 2022, Sistema and Eastnine said in separate statements. It is subject to regulatory approvals by Russia's competition authorities and will require the greenlight of a Kremlin commission established earlier this year to govern the disposal of Russian assets by Western firms. 4:00 a.m.: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday Russia's missile and drone attacks on power stations and other infrastructure in Ukraine are "acts of pure terror" that amount to war crimes, Reuters reported. "Yesterday we saw again Russia's targeted attacks against civilian infrastructure. This is marking another chapter in an already very cruel war. The international order is very clear. These are war crimes," von der Leyen said in a speech to lawmakers in the European Parliament. "Targeted attacks on civilian infrastructure with the clear aim to cut off men, women, children of water, electricity and heating with the winter coming, these are acts of pure terror and we have to call it as such." 3:30 a.m.: Belarus said on Wednesday that it had begun summoning citizens to check their eligibility for military service but that it was not planning mobilization, Reuters reported. "The military registration and enlistment activities are strictly routine and are expected to be completed by the end of this year," the defense ministry said. 3:25 a.m.: A scheme used in Spain and Portugal to cap the price of gas used to generate electricity is worth considering for implementation across the European Union, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday. "It really merits to be considered at EU level. There are still questions to be answered but I want to leave no stone unturned," von der Leyen told a meeting of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. 3 a.m.: 2:30 a.m.: Patriotic messages stating the fact that "Bakhmut is Ukraine" are scrawled on monuments all around this frontline city. But not everybody agrees that it should be so, Agence France-Presse reported. Bakhmut is located in eastern Ukraine's industrial Donbas region, where Russia-backed rebels started a conflict in 2014 and loyalties are often very divided. Social media groups created by local residents in Bakhmut, which had 70,000 residents before the war, contain posts that criticize the Ukrainian army's actions but stop short of actively supporting Russia. 2:00 a.m.: 1:20 a.m.: The United States, Britain and France have asked for the U.N. Security Council to discuss the issue of Russia using Iranian drones in the war in Ukraine. Diplomats said Tuesday the request included asking for a U.N. official to brief the council during a closed-door meeting Wednesday. Ukrainian officials have said drones used in waves of attacks during the past week, including on Ukraines capital, Kyiv, were Iranian-made Shahed-136 attack drones that Russia used to carry explosives and crash into their targets. Iran has denied supplying the drones to Russia, and Russian officials have denied using them. Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur told reporters Tuesday he expects more drone attacks against "many cities in Ukraine." Pevkur said Ukraine has managed to shoot down about half of attacking drones, but that it still needs more help. Ukrainian officials have in recent days repeated their calls for allies to provide more air defense aid. Ukraines foreign ministry said that in the past week alone, more than 100 self- Iranian-made drones have slammed into power plants, sewage treatment plants, residential buildings, bridges and other targets in urban areas. 12:30 a.m.: Vladimir Putin's grip on power in Russia remains firm despite military setbacks in Ukraine, a botched mobilization, and political infighting, eight well-informed sources said, but some said that could change fast if total defeat beckoned, Reuters reported. Most of them said the Russian president was in one of the tightest spots in his more than two decades in power over Ukraine, where his invading forces have been pushed back in places by a Western-armed Kyiv. But the sources, including current and former Western diplomats and government officials, said no imminent threat was apparent from his inner circle, military or intelligence services. "For the moment, Putin is hanging in there," said Anthony Brenton, a former British ambassador to Russia. 12:15 a.m.: Poland is set to sign a framework agreement for the purchase of 288 K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers from South Korea, the Polish defense ministry said on Tuesday, Agence France-Presse reported. Under the deal set to be signed 18 of the rocket launchers will be delivered in 2023 and mounted on Polish Jelcz vehicles. The ministry said in a statement that the system can carry ballistic missiles with a range of 290 kilometers as well as guided missiles with an 80-kilometer range. Poland has massively stepped up its weapons purchases since Russia invaded Ukraine, as well as sending military aid to Kyiv and taking in millions of Ukrainian refugees. 12:05 a.m.: U.S. F-16 warplanes intercepted two Russian bombers in international airspace near the U.S. state of Alaska on Tuesday, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said, according to Agence France-Presse. The Tu-95 bombers were intercepted after "entering and operating within the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone," NORAD said in a statement. The Air Defense Identification Zone, or the ADIZ, is a perimeter in which air traffic is monitored beyond the border of national airspace to provide additional reaction time in case of hostile actions. Interceptions of Russian aircraft in the area which is close to the country's far eastern border are relatively frequent. Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Malawi has discovered a mass grave in the north of the country containing the remains of 25 people suspected to be migrants from Ethiopia, police said Wednesday. "The grave was discovered late on Tuesday, but we cordoned it off and started exhuming today. So far, we have discovered 25 bodies," police spokesman Peter Kalaya told AFP. Police were alerted by villagers in the Mzimba area, about 250 kilometers north of the capital, Lilongwe, who stumbled onto the grave while collecting wild honey in a forest. "We suspect that they were illegal migrants who were being transported to South Africa via Malawi," he said. He added that evidence gathered from the site indicated the victims were Ethiopian males ages 25 to 40 years. The decomposing bodies were exhumed and taken to a morgue for autopsies. The bodies appear to have been buried "probably not more than a month" ago, he said. Malawi is a popular route for illegal immigrants from East Africa being smuggled to South Africa, the continent's most industrialized country and a magnet for poor migrants from elsewhere on the continent. Kalaya said that between January and September this year, authorities intercepted 221 illegal immigrants, 186 of whom were Ethiopians. The death toll from heavy flooding in Nigeria has now surpassed 600, with more than 1 million people displaced from their homes. The flooding has covered farms and roads and slowed shipments of food and fuel. Authorities are struggling to free up the gridlock, as a jump in prices is already making life more expensive for Nigerians. At Dantata Bridge in coastal Kogi State, tons of food and fuel stretch for many kilometers, far from their destinations, as the impact of Nigerias worst flooding in 10 years unfolds. The bridge is a link line that allows the crisscross of essentials between northern and southern Nigeria, including Abuja, the capital. But weeks of severe flooding in Kogi State have washed away farmland and affected access roads, including Dantata Bridge. Abuja resident Bashiru Usman says the effect is seriously being felt in Abuja. "We are struggling to get the fuel," said Usman, who works as a petrol dealer. "As you can see from the queue, there's no fuel. It's only one filling station in the whole area that sells fuel." Authorities say more than 2 million people in 33 of Nigeria's 36 states have been affected. They blame the flooding on torrential rainfalls that started in July and the release of water from Cameroon's Lagdo Dam. But experts say Nigeria's poor urban planning scheme made matters worse. In some instances, floodwaters covered rooftops, leaving communities completely submerged. Halima Sani arrived at this makeshift camp in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, about one month ago with her eight children. She says food is a major problem. "Before the flood came, my husband and I were farmers. We used to feed on our farm produce," she said. "We were about to harvest when the flood came and destroyed everything. We were not able to harvest a single crop, and our house is underwater. That's why we came here for shelter. I struggle to find something to eat with my children." This week, President Muhammadu Buhari directed emergency responders to scale up their interventions and said up to 12 metric tons of grain are being shipped to the most affected areas to help curb the impact of the floods. But camp officials are not certain when the aid will arrive and say they're running out of places to put new arrivals. "We are still calling on the federal government to come in where these people live." said camp coordinator Aliyu Adoga. "If they can relocate them to somewhere else where they can get new accommodation, it will be easy for them, because this is a yearly occurrence." Economic experts predict food prices will jump up to 25 percent by the end of the year as result of the flooding. They also say the trend could continue next year. Nigerian authorities are planning to hold talks with Cameroon in November about the periodic opening of the Lagdo Dam. Authorities also say they will be focusing on climate change mitigation during the United Nations Climate Change Conference, or the COP27, slated for November in Egypt. Until then, hundreds of thousands displaced here will look for life's basic needs food, shelter and clean water. A new Gallup poll released this week found that 70% of Ukrainians want to continue the war with Russia until they achieve victory, and 91% said victory means recapturing all Ukrainian territory seized by Russia, including Crimea. The poll was conducted in September amid excitement over recent battlefield victories and before the latest wave of airstrikes against Ukrainian population centers. The findings suggest strong support for the position of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who declared late last month that he would not pursue a negotiated end to the war as long as Vladimir Putin remains president of Russia. Speaking soon after Putin proclaimed Russia's illegal "annexation" of four Ukrainian territories, Zelenskyy said, "Ukraine will not hold any negotiations with Russia as long as Putin is the president of the Russian Federation. We will negotiate, but with the new president." At the time the poll was conducted, a Ukrainian counteroffensive had regained large swaths of territory in the nation's east, buoying spirits across the country. Ukrainian forces are now closing in on the key southern city of Kherson, but progress there has been slower and costly, while Russia has retaliated with a devastating series of rocket and drone attacks on civilian targets and infrastructure across Ukraine. RJ Reinhart, a lead author of a series of reports Gallup is putting out this week based on the poll findings, said it is too early to predict what impact the Russian bombardment might have had on public attitudes. "Even today, the Russians are targeting power plants in Ukraine with the idea of turning this into a really cold, dark winter, [in hopes that] that will encourage the Ukrainian population to essentially give up on the fight and realize that somehow the Russians will win, or at least the Ukrainians won't win," he said. "There's another side to that," he added. "It may encourage them to fight that much harder." Perhaps not surprisingly, the Gallup survey found that support for fighting until victory is strongest in regions farthest from the ground war and weakest in regions where people are closest to the action. "Backing for the war effort is highest in places such as the country's capital, Kyiv (83%), and in the West (82%), Central (78%) and North (75%) regions of the country. Much smaller majorities in the country's East (56%) and South (58%) support continuing the war," Gallup reported. "Where you've got the war right at your doorstep, your primary concern is simply stop the fighting, stop the violence that's going on," Reinhart said in a phone interview. In addition, he noted: "You typically have the western part of the country more aligned with Europe, more aligned with the West, whereas in the east you have a population that is at least somewhat more aligned with Russia." Nevertheless, he said, the poll shows that "you have a clear majority that supports fighting on until victory." On a separate question about the quality of their lives, Ukrainians were unhappy with their current conditions but hopeful about the future. Asked to rate their living conditions on a scale from 1 to 10, respondents put their current conditions at an average of 4.6 but set their expectations for five years from now at 7.9. A little more than half of the respondents told Gallup that the economic conditions in the city or area where they live are getting worse, while nearly a third reported that economic conditions are getting better. The survey also asked respondents how they feel about the leadership of major countries including the U.S., China, Russia and Germany. "Perception of Russian leadership has tanked, with less than 0.5% of Ukrainians now approving of Russia's leadership," Reinhart told VOA. "Views of Russia's key ally China are also quite poor; 14% of Ukrainians approve of China's leadership, down from 36% in 2021." Views of the leadership of the United States, which has assisted Ukraine with billions of dollars' worth of war materiel and humanitarian aid, have improved dramatically. Some 66% of Ukrainians say they approve of U.S. leadership, up from just 37% in 2021. While Germany has taken significant steps to support the Ukrainian war effort, including the shutdown of the Nord Stream gas pipeline from Russia, only 46% of respondents said they approve of German leadership, almost unchanged from the 48% who said the same thing last year. "Ukrainians may have not shifted on Germany due to the perceived delays in substantial military assistance from the country," Reinhart said. On Thursday, journalists from different parts of the world will attend the 2022 Pulitzer Prize ceremony in New York, but one female award winner will be absent. Sanna Irshad Mattoo, a Kashmiri photojournalist who shares this year's Feature Photography award with three other Indian journalists for their coverage of the COVID-19 crisis in India, was barred from boarding her flight to New York on Monday. "I was stopped at immigration at Delhi airport and barred from traveling internationally despite holding a valid US visa and ticket," Mattoo tweeted, adding it was the second time this year that she was denied traveling outside India. Indian authorities have not explained why they have imposed a ban on Mattoo's travel out of the country. "We are disappointed that Sanna Irshad Mattoo, a contributor to Reuters, has not been allowed to travel to the United States to receive her Pulitzer Prize in New York alongside her peers," a Reuters spokesperson told VOA. "We believe that journalists should be able to travel freely." Despite her absence, Matto will be awarded her share of the $15,000 prize to be divided equally among four Reuters journalists, including Danish Siddiqui who was killed in Afghanistan in July 2021. "[Mattoo's] absence due to the Indian government preventing her travel abroad will be noted," Marjorie Miller, Pulitzer Prizes administrator, told VOA, adding that Mattoo is the only journalist prevented from attending this year's award ceremony. Widespread condemnations Journalists and free press advocates have condemned the Indian travel ban on Mattoo. "This decision is arbitrary and excessive. Indian authorities must immediately cease all forms of harassment and intimidation against journalists covering the situation in Kashmir," said Beh Lih Yi, Asia program coordinator at Committee to Protect Journalists, in a statement on October 18. "In India, arbitrary travel bans have increasingly become the principal tactic of the authorities to silence independent and critical voices in the country," Amnesty International said in a statement on the same day. In July, Aakash Hassan, another Kashmiri journalist, said Indian immigration authorities barred him from traveling to Sri Lanka without giving him a justification. Earlier this year, a group of U.N.-affiliated human rights experts called on the Indian government to stop systemic harassment against a prominent Muslim Indian journalist. Since stripping Kashmir of its symbolic autonomy in 2019, the Indian government has reportedly imposed various heavy-handed tactics to stifle dissent among the majority Muslim Kashmiri population. Indian authorities say the measures are aimed at tackling Islamic terrorism and sedition in Kashmir, but human rights and free press groups say the policy is repressive and discriminatory. "The Indian government and nationalist groups are escalating intimidation and attacks against journalists, from trumped up arrests and legal charges to coordinated online and offline abuse," Suzanne Nossel, chief executive officer at PEN America, told VOA. "The Indian government not only condones but encourages this abuse, especially against journalists raising the alarm about the rising tide of discrimination and hatred against Muslim communities." India's ranking in the World Press Freedom Index this year dropped to 150th place from previous year's 142nd rank out of 180 nations, in which 1 is the freest, according to media watchdog Reporters Without Borders, Two days after a court freed Abdalle Ahmed Mumin on bail, the Somali Journalists Syndicate secretary general is back in custody. Abdalle Ahmed Mumin of the Somali Journalists Syndicate is back in custody Tuesday, just two days after a court freed him on bail. Officers from the Somali National Intelligence Agency, or NISA, detained Mumin at the airport as he prepared to travel to Nairobi in Kenya for medical treatment. This was the second arrest in a week. Police so far have not commented on the case. Mohamed Ibrahim is president of the Somali Journalists Syndicate. At about 5 p.m., NISA officials at the airport arrested Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, who was heading to Nairobi. Then, NISA transferred Abdalle to the police, and he is currently held at the CID headquarters, he said. Mumin was first arrested on October 11 on what authorities say are security-related charges. Ibrahim said authorities charged his colleague with instigating disobedience of the law, contempt of the state and failure to obey orders from authorities. A Mogadishu court on Sunday granted Mumin bail in that case. Ibrahim said his organization is fighting for Mumins unconditional release. Abdalle was denied [permission] to meet with his lawyers and to meet with his people. He is being kept incommunicado. As [the] Somali Journalists Syndicate, we condemn the move, and we call upon the Somali government to immediately release Abdalle and stop harassing the media, he said. Journalists in Somalia expressed concern over the arrest and also over a government directive banning media coverage of the militant group, Al-Shabab. Media organizations protested the directive, saying it amounts to suppression of freedom of expression and puts journalists at risk from the militant group. Said Yusuf is a photographer with the European Press Agency. Recently, the government has exerted pressure on the media, particularly private media. The media was suppressed when it comes to getting information, and now targeted arrests have been started. What is good for the media is to get the freedom of expression. Therefore, we call for media freedom of expression, he said. VOA reached out to the head of Somalias criminal investigations department, Colonel Guled Sheikh Hussein, but he declined to comment, saying he was not aware of the arrest. Abdullahi Hassan, a conflict researcher for Amnesty International, said the Somali government is backpedaling on its commitment to the rule of law. The continued persecution of Abdalle Mumin just days after he was released on bail by the Banadir Regional Court demonstrates Somali authorities' blatant disregard for the rule of law and lack of respect for freedom of expression. Abdalle has committed no crime and must be immediately and unconditionally released, he said. Hassan said the arrest sends a troubling message. Targeting a prominent defender of human rights and press freedom under the guise of national security sends a chilling message to journalists, human rights activists and anyone else who dares to criticize authorities, he said. Somalia is the most dangerous country for media in Africa, with journalists under pressure from the government and militants, says media watchdog Reporters Without Borders. Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared martial law in four of Ukraine's regions, parts of which are under the control of Russian troops, as Ukrainian forces continue to liberate occupied territories in the country's east. Putin said at an online session of the Russian Security Council on Wednesday that he signed a decree declaring martial law in Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions all of which Russia illegally annexed last month. Putin didn't immediately describe the steps that would be taken under martial law, but said his order was effective starting at midnight on Thursday. His decree gives law enforcement agencies three days to submit specific proposals. Putin's move came as the Russian-installed leader of Ukraine's southern Kherson region said it had started evacuating tens of thousands of civilians and Moscow-appointed officials in the face of a Ukrainian military's advance. Vladimir Saldo said on Wednesday that more than 5,000 people have left the region in the past two days. Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys office, said on Wednesday that Russia is trying to scare the people of Kherson with fake messages about the shelling of the city by our army and are also staging a propaganda show with evacuation. Drone controversy Meanwhile, the U.N. Security Council met Wednesday in a private meeting at the request of the United States, Britain and France to discuss the issue of Russia using Iranian-made drones in its war in Ukraine. Washington, London and Paris say Tehrans supplying of these UAVs to Russia is a violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231, which allows for transfers of restricted items to or from Iran only when approved on a case-by-case basis by the Security Council. No such approval has been sought. We had a very clear indication that the drones have been delivered from Iran to Russia and they have been used in Ukraine, Frances ambassador Nicolas de Riviere told reporters as he left the meeting. This is a violation of Resolution 2231. We anticipate this will be the first of many conversations at the U.N. on how to hold Iran and Russia accountable for failing to comply with U.N. Security Council-imposed obligations, said Nate Evans, spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. As was outlined during todays meeting, there is ample evidence that Russia is using Iranian-made UAVs in cruel and deliberate attacks against the people of Ukraine, including against civilians and critical civilian infrastructure, he added, in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. Ukrainian officials have said drones used in waves of attacks during the past week, including on the capital, Kyiv, were Iranian-made Shahed-136 attack drones that Russia used to carry explosives and crash into their targets. Estonian official Irans U.N. ambassador told reporters that his government categorically rejects the unfounded and unsubstantiated claims, which he said are part of a disinformation campaign against his government. It is disappointing to pursue their political agenda, these states are trying to launch a disinformation campaign against Iran and make misleading interpretation of the Security Council Resolution 2231 in order to wrongly establish a link between their baseless allegation against Iran with this resolution, Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said. Russias deputy U.N. envoy told reporters that the allegations are baseless, there have been no arms transfers in violation of the resolution and no Iranian drones were supplied to Russia for use in Ukraine. I would recommend that you do not underestimate the technological capabilities of the Russian drone industry, Dmitry Polyanskiy said. I can tell you we know what we do, and we know how to do it. Ukraines foreign ministry said that in the past week alone, more than 100 Iranian-made drones have slammed into power plants, sewage treatment plants, residential buildings, bridges and other targets in urban areas. U.N. correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this article. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. The World Health Organization said on Wednesday it will temporarily suspend the standard two-dose vaccination regimen for cholera, replacing it with a single dose due to vaccine shortages and rising outbreaks worldwide. The U.N. agency said "the exceptional decision reflects the grave state of the cholera vaccine stockpile" at a time when countries like Haiti, Syria and Malawi are fighting large outbreaks of the deadly disease, which spreads through contact with contaminated water and food. As of October 9, Haiti had confirmed 32 cases and 18 deaths from the disease, while many cases were still awaiting confirmation. "The pivot in strategy will allow for the doses to be used in more countries, at a time of unprecedented rise in cholera outbreaks worldwide," WHO said in a statement on Wednesday. The WHO's emergencies director Mike Ryan told reporters in a briefing that the change in strategy was a sign of the "scale of the crisis" caused by a lack of focus on safe sanitation and immunization for all at risk. "It's a sad day for us to have to go backwards," he said. The one-dose strategy had proved to be effective as a response to cholera outbreaks, the agency said, although the duration of protection is limited and appears to be much lower in children. The disease often causes no or mild symptoms, but serious cases cause acute diarrhea and can kill within hours if untreated. Cholera cases have surged this year, especially in places of poverty and conflict, with outbreaks reported in 29 countries and fatality rates rising sharply. The WHO also said that climate change means that cholera is a risk in an increasing number of countries, as the bacteria causing the illness multiplies faster in warmer waters. A cholera outbreak in Syria has already killed at least 33 people, posing a danger across the frontlines of the country's 11-year war and stirring fears in crowded camps for the displaced. A cholera outbreak in a north Cameroon refugee camp has killed three people and infected at least 36, the UN refugee agency said on Wednesday. The first case was confirmed on Saturday in the Minawao refugee camp, which hosts around 75,000 people who fled Boko Haram insurgents in neighboring Nigeria. When midterm elections get under way next month, voters in several Republican-controlled states will be casting their ballots in congressional districts with borders that courts have rejected. In Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Ohio, the congressional maps were drawn by Republican legislators in the aftermath of the 2020 census. Judges later ruled that the maps were illegally drawn or likely to be proven illegal at trial. But the U.S. Supreme Court, and other federal courts following its precedent, have allowed the rejected maps to be used for this election, rejecting proposals to make them fairer. Their rationale? A little-known legal concept that says judges should refrain from changing voting rules close to an election because doing so can lead to chaos and confusion and keep voters away from the polls. Known as the "Purcell principle," the concept takes its name from a 2006 Supreme Court case called Purcell v. Gonzalez. The case involved a legal challenge to Arizona's voter ID requirements. It was a midterm year, and the Supreme Court dismissed the challenge. 'Bedrock tenet' In the 16 years since the Arizona ruling, the "Purcell principle" has become what Supreme Court Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh has called a "bedrock tenet of election law." When an election is close at hand, the rules of the road must be clear and settled," Kavanaugh wrote in February, explaining his decision to allow Alabama's Republican-backed congressional map to take effect even though it had been rejected by a three-judge panel. "Late judicial tinkering with election laws can lead to disruption and to unanticipated and unfair consequences for candidates, political parties and voters, among others." That means judges should be wary of issuing orders that change voting rules close to an election, and so they have. In 2020, the Supreme Court repeatedly blocked changes that sought to make it easier for voters to cast their ballots during the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Critics say this amounts to putting the administration of elections ahead of safeguarding the right to vote. "I think the balance they've chosen is out of whack," said Dan Vicuna, the national redistricting manager for the watchdog Common Cause. Rick Hasen, a University of California-Los Angeles election law expert who coined the term "Purcell principle" in 2016, has argued that the Supreme Court should "rein in" the doctrine. Republicans have stood by their maps. Hans von Spakovsky, a former county election official now with the conservative Heritage Foundation, said the Purcell principle is a "good rule" with an important purpose. "Anyone who's got a problem with [an election] law or regulation has plenty of time before an election to file a lawsuit," von Spakovsky, manager of the Heritage Foundation's Election Law Reform Initiative, said. Districts redrawn each decade The disputed congressional maps in the four states are considered "gerrymandered," a portmanteau with origins in early 19th-century American politics. Every 10 years, following a constitutionally mandated census, U.S. states redraw their congressional and state legislative maps to reflect changes in their electorate. Gerrymandering occurs when voting district maps are redrawn for political gain, for example by packing opposition party voters into one district so as to reduce their influence in others. The practice is legal in most states, and both Democrats and Republicans engage in it. But when a map is flagrantly drawn to favor one group over another, it can run afoul of state and federal laws. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibits racial discrimination in voting. Under the law, voters can seek judicial relief if they believe a voting practice or procedure such as a new political map "abridges" their right to vote. Under the Voting Rights Act, challengers can also bring claims of "vote dilution." Vote dilution occurs when minority voters cannot elect the candidate of their choice because of gerrymandering. This was part of the claim in the legal challenge against the congressional maps in Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana. Former procedure Before Purcell, aggrieved voters could sue for judicial relief and courts did not dismiss the challenge simply because an election was close at hand. But that changed with Purcell, according to David Gans, director of the human rights, civil rights and citizenship program at the Constitutional Accountability Center. "Purcell has made it incredibly difficult for courts to provide relief when state governments violate the right to vote, when they put in place discriminatory maps that dilute the vote for communities of color," Gans said. Consider what happened in Georgia. In December, civil rights groups filed lawsuits against the state's new political redistricting maps that appear designed to give Republicans an additional House seat even though the state's electorate has become increasingly Democratic. Then in March, with the state's primary elections under two months away, U.S. District Judge Steve Jones, citing the Purcell principle, ruled that the challenged maps could be used even though he found that they included boundaries that violated the Voting Rights Act. "Changes to the redistricting map at this point in the 2022 election schedule are likely to substantially disrupt the election process," Jones wrote. In Alabama and Louisiana, federal courts found that the two Southern states' redistricting maps violated the Voting Rights Act, only to be overruled by the Supreme Court. High court's rulings The Supreme Court, dominated by six conservative justices appointed by Republican presidents, has applied the Purcell doctrine "in a way that's mostly friendly to Republicans," Vicuna said, but that has not always been the case. In March, for example, the high court refused to overturn a map drawn by the North Carolina Supreme Court over the objection of Republican lawmakers who wanted to use their own map. In addition, the high court has rejected Republican challenges to redistricting maps drawn by Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, though not on the grounds of Purcell. Election law experts say that while the likelihood of voter confusion can be a strong argument against making last-minute changes in voting procedures, it should not be the sole factor. "One of the reasons the court has gone awry is that it's not looked at the sort of traditional factors that apply when there's a request for emergency relief," Gans said. "Purcell has essentially replaced that sort of more careful fact-specific analysis with this across-the-board hostility to protecting voting rights." The wife of jailed RFE/RL consultant Ihar Losik has been detained after police searched her apartment in the western city of Baranavichy. Darya Losik's parents told RFE/RL that police searched their daughter's home early in the morning on October 18, waking her and her 4-year-old daughter, Paulina. According to her parents, Darya Losik was then told she was to be detained for 72 hours until her pretrial restrictions were decided on an "unspecified criminal case." Police then took her to the regional capital, Brest, her parents said, adding that their granddaughter is currently staying with them. Meanwhile, the BGM Telegram channel, founded by Darya Losik's husband, cited several other Telegram channels close to the government as reporting on October 18 that Darya Losik faces a charge over an interview with the Poland-based Belsat, which Belarusian authorities shut down and labeled extremist in July last year. The United States has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Darya Losik, a State Department spokesman said at a briefing. RFE/RL President Jamie Fly has also demanded Darya Losik's immediate release and condemned her detainment. "Darya Losik is guilty of nothing more than advocating for her wrongly imprisoned husband, Ihar Losik. She must be released immediately to care for her daughter, Paulina. The Losik family has endured enough," he said. Ihar Losik was sentenced to 15 years in prison in December last year on charges that remain unclear. The husband of exiled Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Syarhey Tsikhanouski, as well as four other bloggers and opposition politicians and activists, were sentenced to lengthy prison terms along with Losik at the time. Losik and other defendants have insisted the case against them is politically motivated. Russian forces launched airstrikes Tuesday on numerous Ukrainian cities, hitting energy facilities and cutting power and water supplies to hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy characterized the Russian attacks on energy and critical infrastructure "terrorist attacks" that eliminated any chance for peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelenskyy said the attacks were aimed at driving the country into the cold and dark as winter approaches. "Since Oct 10, 30% of Ukraine's power stations have been destroyed, causing massive blackouts across the country," he tweeted Tuesday. "No space left for negotiations with Putin's regime." Russia and Ukraine held several rounds of talks in the first month after Moscow's Feb. 24 invasion, but they collapsed. The Kremlin has said talks could only be possible if Ukraine meets Russian demands and accepts its takeover of Ukrainian territory, but Kyiv has rejected talks on such terms. The mayor of Zhytomyr in western Ukraine said the entire city of 250,000 was initially without electricity and water after a double missile strike Tuesday on an energy facility. Quick repairs restored power to some homes but hours later about 150,000 residents were still without power. Missile strikes also hit an energy facility in Kyiv and killed two people, while a strike severely damaged another energy plant in the south-central city of Dnipro, Ukrainian authorities said. A regional Ukrainian governor in the eastern city of Kharkiv said that eight rockets fired from across the nearby border with Russia hit an industrial area. A barrage of explosive-laden drone attacks Monday on Kyiv and the airstrikes on energy and water facilities appear to be aimed at diminishing the capability of the Ukrainian people to continue the fight against Putin's eight-month invasion. Ukraine says Russia is getting thousands of drones from Iran, although Tehran denies it is assisting Moscow. The Iranian-made Shahed drones that hit targets in Kyiv have also been widely used elsewhere in Ukraine in recent weeks. SEE ALSO: An Associated Press photographer caught one of the Iranian drones on camera Monday, its triangle-shaped wing and pointed warhead clearly visible, though the Kremlin refused to confirm their use. Ukraine's foreign ministry said that in the past week alone, more than 100 self-destructing Iranian-made drones have slammed into power plants, sewage treatment plants, residential buildings, bridges and other targets in urban areas. In his nightly televised address on Monday, Zelenskyy said Russia is using the drones because it is losing territory in the war. "Russia doesn't have any chance on the battlefield, and it tries to compensate for its military defeats with terror," he said. "Why this terror? To put pressure on us, on Europe, on the entire world." The airstrikes have prompted renewed calls by Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian leaders for their Western allies to provide Ukraine with more air defense weapons. Britain's defense ministry said Tuesday that in addition to the drone attacks, Russia has spent the past week using cruise missiles to carry out "a heightened tempo of long-range strikes against targets across Ukraine." "As Russia has suffered battlefield setbacks since August, it has highly likely gained a greater willingness to strike civilian infrastructure in addition to Ukrainian military targets," the ministry said. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Monday that the drone attacks continued "to demonstrate Putin's brutality." She said the United States will hold Russia accountable for "its war crimes." U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was "deeply disturbed by the continuing missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian cities and towns," according to U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric. Guterres called for the attacks "to immediately cease and for urgent de-escalation." Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared martial law in four of Ukraine's regions, parts of which are under the control of Russian troops, as Ukrainian forces continue liberating occupied territories in the country's east. Putin said at an online session of the Security Council on Wednesday that he signed a decree declaring martial law in Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions all of which Russia illegally annexed last month. Putin didn't immediately describe the steps that would be taken under martial law, but said his order was effective starting at midnight on Thursday. His decree gives law enforcement agencies three days to submit specific proposals. Putin's move came as the Russian-installed leader of Ukraine's southern Kherson region said the evacuation had started of tens of thousands of civilians and Moscow-appointed officials in the face of a Ukrainian military's advance.Vladimir Saldo said on Wednesday that more than 5,000 people have already left the region over the past two days. Meanwhile, the United States, Britain and France have asked for the U.N. Security Council to discuss the issue of Russia using Iranian drones in the war in Ukraine. SEE ALSO: Diplomats said Tuesday the request included asking for a U.N. official to brief the council during a closed-door meeting Wednesday. Ukrainian officials have said drones used in waves of attacks during the past week, including on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, were Iranian-made Shahed-136 attack drones that Russia used to carry explosives and crash into their targets. Iran has denied supplying the drones to Russia, and Russian officials have denied using them. Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur told reporters Tuesday he expects more drone attacks against "many cities in Ukraine." Pevkur said Ukraine has managed to shoot down about half of attacking drones, but that it still needs more help. Ukrainian officials have in recent days repeated their calls for allies to provide more air defense aid. Ukraine's foreign ministry said that in the past week alone, more than 100 Iranian-made drones have slammed into power plants, sewage treatment plants, residential buildings, bridges and other targets in urban areas. Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office, said Wednesday Russia is "trying to scare the people of Kherson with fake messages about the shelling of the city by our army and are also staging a propaganda show with evacuation." Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. No media source currently available The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Some educators dancing that the Teachers for Economic Development event in Harare on Wednesday addressed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa. (Video: VOA) TUESDAY, Oct. 18, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- The federal government is pumping millions more dollars into an effort to expand the United States' network of community mental health centers. Up to 15 states now can apply for $1 million grants to help plan new Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) in their region, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Tuesday. Funding for the grants was included in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, passed earlier this year. These crisis centers are available around the clock to help anyone with mental health or substance abuse problems, regardless of their ability to pay. The $15 million in additional planning funds is in addition to nearly $300 million awarded in September for new and existing CCBHCs, the agency said. Today were talking about providing to Americans 24/7 support for crisis care, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said during a media briefing. Thats something thats only been available to some. Depending on your income and your ZIP code, you could be totally out of luck. Thats going to start to change. The strategy is to provide enough funding that at least 10 more states will be able to open their own local CCBHCs every two years, gradually expanding a network of crisis centers across the nation, said Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., a leader of the bipartisan 2014 Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act that created CCBHCs. Ten states Michigan, Missouri, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon and Pennsylvania are operating CCBHCs as part of a demonstration program created by the 2014 law. Early next year, federal officials expect to name up to 15 states that will receive $1 million one-year planning grants. From that group, 10 states will be selected in 2024 to join the demonstration project. Step by step, we are going to take this nationwide, said the laws other major sponsor, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. Statistics from the 10 states now in the program show how the effort is changing peoples lives already, Stabenow said. People who receive services at CCBHCs show a 72% reduction in hospitalization; 69% reduction in emergency room visits; 41% decrease in homelessness; and they spent 60% less time in jails, she said. CCBHCs are reimbursed through Medicaid for the full cost of services they provide at higher, more competitive rates than community mental health centers now receive, the HHS said. However, they are also subject to exacting quality standards and are required to get people into care more quickly. A CCBHC must provide routine outpatient care within 10 business days after an initial contact, to keep people from languishing on waiting lists, the agency said. Expansion of the CCBHC program is part of the Biden administrations effort to tackle Americas mental health crisis, joining the launch of the 988 crisis line in July, Becerra said. The 988 line is the 911 for those who are about to do something they should not do with their own life, Becerra said. 988 becomes a place where you get help, and if we do it right, when you call that three-digit number you will get the support you need and you will get the support you need because we now will be establishing nationwide Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. Sgt. Chad Matthews, supervisor of the Crisis Response Support Section with the Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland, said these crisis centers are helping take pressure off police officers, who are often the first responders in a mental health crisis. The available options for most police officers when encountering someone experiencing a mental health crisis is either a trip to a hospital or a jail cell, Matthews said at the briefing. "The problem for law enforcement is simple how do we best help those experiencing a mental health or behavioral health crisis? We know the answer isnt criminalizing mental health, and we also know that emergency rooms are not equipped to handle someone in a mental health crisis. These new crisis centers are vital to bridging the gap between a law enforcement encounter and treatment, Matthews said. The hope is that the stigma around mental health eventually will dissolve as treatment becomes routinely available, Blunt said. We need to get to where, as a society, we're just as willing to talk to your friends about somebody in your family who has a mental health problem as somebody who has another kind of health problem, he said. You know, there's not very much hesitancy to talk about my mom or my dad or my child has cancer, Blunt continued. We should get to where we can talk about mental health with the same ease, with an understanding that this is a health problem. It is almost always, almost 100% of the time, a problem that can be dealt with in a way that people continue to be able to be part of their family and part of their community. More information The National Council for Mental Wellbeing has more about Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. SOURCES: Oct. 18, 2022, media briefing with: Xavier Becerra, secretary, U.S. Health and Human Services; U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.); U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.); Sgt. Chad Matthews, supervisor, Crisis Response Support Section, Montgomery County Police Department, Maryland A drawn-out judiciary procedure which involved world leading cement manufacturer Lafarge SA ended with the company pleading guilty, in a U.S. district court, for having allowed its employees in Syria to provide material support and resources to ISIS. It will have to pay a fine of 778 million dollars. This procedure is distinct from the one opened in France where Lafarge is charged with violati ng an embargo, financing a terrorist enterprise, endangering the lives of others and "complicity in crimes against the humanity. However, these legal actions are still very far from the truth. In reality, Lafarge provided Daesh with some 6 million tons of cement, which was used to build fortifications and underground bunkers for the jihadists on such a scale that it took the Russian aircraft 6 months to destroy them. But it was never tried for this, or even indicted. Subsequently, Lafarge authorized the French Special Forces to use its Jalabiyeh factory as a military base. For these two operations, Lafarge dealt directly with the U.S. and French intelligence services, CIA and DGSE respectively. Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share The Covid-19 pandemic decimated activity in large North American central business districts, none more so than downtown San Francisco, which has struggled mightily to rebound. These statistics, from a recent report by the University of California at Berkeleys Institute of Governmental Studies that uses mobile-phone location data, are from last spring (a report with updated numbers should be out next month). Timelier Google location data for the whole city indicate that while retail and recreation mobility has continued to rise, activity at workplaces which are concentrated downtown has been about the same in September and October as in the spring. The much-watched back-to-work statistics from Kastle Systems, which measure how many people come into the buildings that use the companys security systems, do show an increase for the San Francisco metropolitan area, to 42% of pre-pandemic normal last week from about 35% in the spring bumping it up to second-to-last place among the 10 metro areas tracked, ahead of Philadelphia. But its not clear how much of that is in downtown San Francisco and how much is in other areas like the large complex of biotech labs and offices along the bay just south of the city, where the parking lots were full when I passed by on a workday late last month. Advertisement My view was from an upstairs window of a double-decker Caltrain that I was riding to get a sense of the (greatly underutilized) current state of public transportation in the San Francisco Bay Area, the topic of another column. Subsequently, I spent a couple of days roaming around downtown San Francisco. Having visited a year earlier when it was an eerily deserted wasteland where you could ride the cable cars for free, I can report that it felt somewhat less deserted, the cable cars are back to costing $8 a ride, and a fair number of tourists are riding them. There was also a lot more going on in downtown San Francisco than in nearby downtown San Jose, which according to the UC Berkeley report was at 50% of pre-pandemic activity this spring. But downtown San Jose is perennially sleepy. Compared with its former self, and even with some outlying city neighborhoods and suburban downtowns I visited, San Franciscos downtown is still awfully quiet. Why is that? Since the onset of the pandemic, San Francisco has been the subject of pretty much constant analysis and critique, with observers calling out its struggles with wildly expensive housing, persistent homelessness, drug abuse, rampant petty crime and dysfunctional governance. These are real problems, but none is new. If you want to know whats changed about the city since February 2020, the main answer is simply that large employers there and in surrounding areas, as well as those they employ, took to working from home with greater alacrity at the outset of the pandemic and have stuck to it with more persistence than their counterparts anywhere else in the US. According to the US Census Bureau, about 35% of employees in the San Francisco and San Jose metropolitan areas were still working mostly from home last year higher than in any other large US metro area and up from 7.2% and 4.8%, respectively, in 2019. Two close-to-downtown neighborhoods in San Francisco had WFH shares above 55%. With some large area employers finally requiring workers to return to the office this fall, those numbers will be down somewhat this year, but the change from before the pandemic will surely still be huge. Advertisement By contrast, the statistics on homelessness and crime in San Francisco show no such sea change. The citys homeless population was actually slightly smaller in January 2022 than in January 2019, albeit higher than it was for most of the 2010s. With crime, the story depends somewhat on which one youre talking about. Homicide is the one for which statistics are most reliable over time and across jurisdictions, and San Franciscos homicide rate did go up a shocking 50% from 2019 to 2021 (its down 9% so far this year). But the 2019 homicide rate was the citys lowest in more than 34 years, and compared with every other year in the 2010s, the 2021 figure didnt look so alarming. For perspective, Ive included the national homicide rate in the chart below, plus those of Portland, Oregon, and Minneapolis, two cities with (1) empty-ish downtowns and (2) much clearer evidence of a pandemic murder wave. While San Francisco has never been one of the nations murder capitals, it has long been plagued by rates of robbery, burglary and theft much higher than those of California and the US. And while robbery and burglary had at least been trending downward over the years, there was a sharp increase during the 2010s in larceny-theft, which covers offenses such as shoplifting and pickpocketing. This started before California voters decided in 2014 to reclassify all thefts of $950 or less as misdemeanors and worsened afterward. Advertisement Since 2019, though, larceny-theft in San Francisco is down 17%. Most other offenses are also now at levels below or similar to those before the pandemic, with the one big exception being auto theft, which is way up in the rest of the country, too. Some of this can probably be chalked up to there being fewer people out and about to rob or assault or pickpocket, and fewer open stores from which to shoplift. The risk of being a crime victim may well have risen for the much smaller number of people going to downtown San Francisco. Similarly, homeless people can both seem more threatening and be in greater danger themselves when fewer other people are on the street. San Franciscos ills have also been spreading beyond its borders. With fewer people going out in the big city, Walnut Creek, home to one of the regions liveliest suburban downturns, has experienced a sharp increase in robberies over the past two years. Homelessness rose in the rest of California from 2019 to 2022 even as it fell in San Francisco. Meanwhile, the rise of remote work makes it easier for those exasperated by the high costs and persistent problems of San Francisco and the Bay Area to flee, with San Franciscos population falling by an estimated 58,764, or 6.7%, from April 2020 to July 2021 and that of the rest of the nine-county Bay Area by 124,294, or 1.8%. San Francisco is the second-most-affluent large US city, and San Jose is the most affluent, with estimated median household income in 2021 of $121,826 and $126,377, respectively. The San Jose and San Francisco metropolitan areas also top the median income list, and San Francisco is one of the relatively few principal cities of a large metro area that is more affluent than its suburbs (San Diego and Seattle are among the others). Its residents tend to be people with ample resources to escape what they deem a bad situation, especially if they can keep their jobs when they leave. Advertisement In some ways that bad situation is already improving. San Francisco rents have gone from about 230% of the national average in 2019 to 166% as of September, according to Apartment Lists estimates. The citys politics also appear to be in the midst of a course change, with voters already tossing out several school board members and the district attorney. But then theres that semi-deserted downtown, and the havoc it threatens to unleash in the form of a commercial real estate crash and possibly a public transportation meltdown, too. The fact that so many people in San Francisco and rest of the Bay Area could and can work from home has been a blessing in many ways. The city and area had about 70% fewer Covid-19 deaths relative to population than the US as a whole, giving the area a Covid mortality rate similar to Canadas and lower than that of all but a couple of European countries. The expanded ability to work from home also brought more flexibility for parents and others with care responsibilities, new opportunities for the disabled and less geographically constrained labor markets, among other benefits. WFH is fine, but dealing with the fallout from the Bay Areas extreme preference for it isnt going to be easy. More From Bloomberg Opinion: Advertisement San Franciscos Empty Train Cars Spell Trouble: Justin Fox California Versus Florida, a Covid Reckoning: Justin Fox Make Sun Belt Cities More Like New York and L.A.: Conor Sen This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Justin Fox is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering business. A former editorial director of Harvard Business Review, he has written for Time, Fortune and American Banker. He is author of The Myth of the Rational Market. 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 Investors in the French retail group Casino Guichard-Perrachon SA, and parent Rallye SA, may be forgiven for thinking theyve been here before. Over the past five years, Casino has embarked on a 4.5 billion ($4.4 billion) disposal program and completed several refinancings. Meanwhile, Rallye the investment vehicle of Casino chairman Jean-Charles Naouri and controlling shareholder in Casino agreed to a restructuring plan with the French courts in early 2020. This gave it 10 years to pay back its then 2.9 billion of borrowings. Yet shares in Casino fell to a fresh low last week after Standard & Poors cut its credit rating. The difference this time around is that there are few easy options left for the company to pay off the about 5 billion of net debt in its French business. Its already engaged in an extensive disposal program, agreed to sale and leaseback deals for French supermarket properties and refinanced its debt several times. Advertisement To ensure it can meet about 3 billion of bonds maturing over the next three years, it must consider selling more assets with its holdings in Latin America the most likely candidate. Alternatively, it could seek an investor for its French supermarkets, its famous Parisienne chain Monoprix and its convenience store Franprix, or it could strike a deal with rival Carrefour SA. While Casinos financing structure is convoluted, it owns quality assets that are in tune with how consumers want to shop, which is in smaller stores and online. Although its retail businesses were hit hard by the pandemic and Paris remained sluggish long after economies reopened, the city is buzzing again and third-quarter results next week should reflect an influx of tourist spending. But the intervening period took its toll on free cash flow. Thats problematic because Casino had net debt in its French retail business of about 5.1 billion at June 30, and just under 7.5 billion across all of its operations. This dwarfs the companys market value, which is now less than 900 million. Debt remains stubbornly high despite 4 billion of disposals over the past five years. Advertisement There is also an impact on Rallye: It relies on dividend income from Casino to service its own debt, and Casino cannot pay a dividend until it has effectively halved the total debt in its French business. Casino should be able to repay the about 200 million of bonds falling due in January. It recently raised 600 million from the sale of its GreenYellow renewable energy business, and it hopes to bring in another 500 million from disposals by the end of 2023. These proceeds should help meet the about 1.2 billion of bonds maturing in 2024. (It has also been buying back the debt.) But it has about 1.8 billion more maturing in 2025. Unless cash flow improves drastically, that likely means more disposals. Casino is rejigging its holdings in Latin America so that it will have stakes in three listed entities, estimated to be worth over 2 billion. Advertisement A more controversial choice would be to sell a stake in Monoprix and Franprix. The French food retail assets are now held in a single holding company, owned 100% by Casino, which could facilitate outside investment in the unit. But this may not be straightforward. Some of the chains real estate has been sold off, while some of Casinos loans are secured against its French assets. That leaves room for a deal if Casino can find a partner. Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinskys Vesa Equity Investment Sarl still has a 10% stake in the company. Then there is Carrefour. The two retailers flirted with a merger in 2018, and again a year later. Since then, Carrefour has explored other potential tie-ups a sale to Canadas Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. and a potential takeover by domestic rival Auchan last year. Neither came to fruition. But Carrefour has a duty to its shareholders to explore any deal that may be beneficial, and Auchan is still keen to consolidate. So perhaps its time to reconsider Casino. For all of its financial complexity and mountain of debt, it owns two desirable French retailers. Advertisement If Naouri had followed contemporaries Bernard Arnault and Francois Pinault into luxury, he would likely be enjoying the resilience of top-end spenders, exemplified by LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SEs better-than-expected results last week. Instead, Naouri is selling groceries in what may become a more difficult environment. He got out of a tight spot three years ago when Rallye agreed to the debt restructuring. Casino also started to make a dent in its borrowings before the pandemic, so there is hope that it can find a way forward this time around. Yet even if that happens, one thing is certain: It wont be as straightforward as selling Louis Vuitton handbags to the rich. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Andrea Felsted is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering consumer goods and the retail industry. Previously, she was a reporter for 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 The Biden administration is basking in credit for helping Israel and Lebanon settle a maritime border dispute that will allow the two countries, historically hostile to each other, to exploit natural gas reserves in the Mediterranean Sea. Both sides signed off on the final draft of the US-brokered deal last week, after President Joe Biden spoke on the phone with Lebanese President Michel Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid. It would be churlish to gainsay Bidens role in pulling off that rarest of things: an American foreign-policy win in the Middle East. However, theres also the curious incident of the dog in the nighttime. But, I hear you say, the dog did nothing in the nighttime. Yes that was the curious incident. In this shameless rip-off from The Adventure of Silver Blaze, one of Arthur Conan Doyles best Sherlock Holmes mysteries, the unexpectedly docile pooch is played by the usually pugnacious Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah and Irans favorite poodle. As eager as Biden was to be the honest broker, the deal is the result of Nasrallahs willingness to restrain himself from growling and snapping at anything to do with Israel and the US. How long he will curb his instincts is anybodys guess. Advertisement It is important to remember that Aoun serves at Nasrallahs pleasure: In Lebanons dysfunctional political system, Hezbollah has the combination of parliamentary representation and military strength to make and break governments. So the president was only able to sign the deal because Nasrallah withheld his veto. Thats an unusual choice, given the profound hatred Hezbollah and its masters in Tehran feel for Israel and the US. It would have been entirely in character for Nasrallah to nix the deal, even if that meant denying Lebanon an opportunity to access the gas basin. He has previously shown little interest in his countrys economic wellbeing. Hezbollah is financed by a combination of Iranian largesse, extortion rackets and smuggling. This allows it to function as a state within the state, bankrolling its mostly Shiite followers while remaining insulated from the plight that is driving other Lebanese to hold up banks to get at their own savings. Advertisement But as impervious as he is to the desperation of his countrymen, Nasrallah is acutely sensitive to any shift of the political winds. Over the past two years, more and more Lebanese have come to blame Hezbollah for the political sclerosis that afflicts their country, sustaining endemic corruption and barring the way for economic reform. A spasmodic protest movement among young urban Lebanese has directed much of its ire at Nasrallah. For many, Hezbollahs role as a political spoiler and economic hindrance now supersedes its image, carefully nurtured by Nasrallah, as a dogged defender of Lebanese interests from the villainous Israelis and perfidious Americans. Blocking the maritime border negotiations would have confirmed Hezbollahs reputation as a spoiler, something Nasrallah can ill-afford. He will have gritted his teeth at a deal that, in effect, obliges Hezbollah to forswear attacking Israeli gas infrastructure, but better that than incurring even more of the wrath of his countrymen. Advertisement Nasrallah also needed to throw Aoun a bone. The president has been playing a poodle to a poodle, and has little to show for it whether to his own Maronite Christian constituency or the broader public. The deal with Israel gives him something resembling a success, even if it will be years before any gas is extracted from Lebanons Kana field. But if Nasrallahs restraint is the product of his immediate political circumstances, it will be easy enough for him to change his mind if the wind turns in his favor or if he receives a fresh missive from Tehran. Nobody should be fooled by his post-facto claim that the Israeli-Lebanese agreement was the result of Hezbollahs resistance. That is not the same thing as taking ownership of the agreement and guaranteeing its terms, regardless of political expedience and ideological imperatives. Biden can have the credit for now. But it doesnt take a Sherlock Holmes to deduce that Nasrallah will not remain muzzled for long. Advertisement More From Bloomberg Opinion: Israel Makes Right Choice on Natural Gas Fields: Zev Chafets Rushdie Attack Shows Hard Truth of Iran Soft Power: Bobby Ghosh Ignore Israel Politics. Its Economy Is Thriving: Matthew Winkler 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 Slumped, underwhelmed and mildly irked, Vladimir Putin listened in silence as Tajikistans veteran autocrat Emomali Rahmon seized the opportunity presented by a regional get-together to berate the Russian president, issue rambling counsel and demand respect. It was a snapshot of Moscows current predicament, eight months into a supposed blitzkrieg in Ukraine and more telling than either side intended. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Tajikistan is not just any ally. Its a poor nation of some 10 million thats home to Moscows largest overseas military base. Remittances made up more than a quarter of its GDP even during the pandemic, most of that from migrant workers toiling in Russia. In late June, when Putin needed safe destinations for a post-invasion tour abroad, he started with Rahmon and promptly proclaimed himself on friendly soil. And yet, last Friday, came this awkward, discursive seven-minute-plus soliloquy viewed well over eight million times on YouTube since it began circulating over the weekend. We have always respected and respect the interests of our most important strategic partner, Rahmon told Putin at a summit with other Central Asian leaders, index finger pointed. But we want to be respected too. Advertisement Central Asia, and Tajikistan in particular, isnt breaking with Putin over Ukraine. Economic and trade ties with Russia are still vital to the wider region, indeed Rahmon was pushing for more investment and attention, not less. Yes, the invasion of a former Soviet neighbor certainly hasnt gone unnoticed especially by states like Kazakhstan, with a significant ethnic Russian minority and directly menaced by Kremlin hawks but Rahmon didnt discuss the war. This was about Russias faltering military, economic and political might, and its implications. The effect may not be too different. That the disastrous assault on Ukraine has distracted the Kremlin from its interests elsewhere has been obvious. Its made it easier for hostilities to boil over, including between Tajikistan and neighbor Kyrgyzstan. Elsewhere, tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan have flared up, too. And yet theres been no repeat of Januarys show of force, when troops from the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization were flown into Kazakhstan to help restore order after street protests. In an expression of unhappiness with the response in its own hour of need, Kyrgyzstan unilaterally cancelled Indestructible Brotherhood joint drills due last week. Armenias leader has come under pressure to withdraw altogether. Advertisement This is more than a temporary interruption. Moscow, long obsessed with its status as a great power, is permanently losing its pull. Central Asia remains tethered to Russia through basics like trade and pipelines, and that wont change overnight. Kazakhstan, for all its careful diplomatic balancing, is dependent on Russia for its main oil export route. And Moscow has long been able to use cultural and historic ties with elites to make up for the inability to engage in Chinese-style infrastructure diplomacy and economic persuasion. But Soviet memories fade, especially when an invasion and economy-crimping sanctions lend a hand. It doesnt help, of course, that Russias military has also been dealt a major reputational blow in Ukraine, one which simultaneously batters its credentials as regional policeman. Moscows ineptitude on the battlefield and its inattention have left the CSTO alliance never quite the match for the Warsaw Pact that Russia hoped for ailing. Advertisement And thats before considering the impact of Russias clumsy mobilization drive on the region. The campaign has sent hundreds of thousands over the border to flee the draft, filling up every empty bed, driving up rents and other costs from Bishkek to Almaty. Kazakhstan alone said earlier this month more than 200,000 Russians had entered the country. Worse, short of their own, Russian recruiters have tried to catch central Asian migrants in the dragnet to make up the military numbers, promising generous salaries, citizenship (a new bill allows foreign nationals to become Russian citizens after serving for just a year) but also resorting to deportation threats and widespread deception. Several Central Asian states, including Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, have warned citizens they risk jail if they join the fight. Its important to note that Rahmon isnt by any means the only one pushing back hes just the latest. Kazakh leader Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, sitting next to Putin at a flagship event in St Petersburg in June, said he would not recognize the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk peoples republics of eastern Ukraine. He has banned Russian propaganda symbols and cancelled the May 9 Victory Day Parade. Out of all its neighbors, Belarus was the only ex-Soviet state to back Moscow last week in a UN vote to condemn Russias referendums in Ukraine. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan all abstained, while Turkmenistan did not vote. Advertisement Russias backyard isnt what it was, and thats creating opportunities for other powers. China, its trajectory increasingly divergent from Russias, isnt falling over itself to step into the breach. Contrary to popular belief, it would be quite happy for Moscow to continue to play its role as security guarantor while leaving Beijing room in other areas. But China abhors a power vacuum, and its without question becoming increasingly assertive in an area seen as crucial to its security, and to projects like the Belt and Road infrastructure program. Theres a good reason the region was the first President Xi Jinping visited after his lengthy Covid isolation. In Kazakhstan, he pledged resolute support for the defense of its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity a not-so-subtle warning. Advertisement Having battered the economy by bringing on crippling sanctions and inadvertently strengthened NATO, Putin finds himself tested now even by his most reliable, least democratic allies. The list of self-inflicted wounds is only growing longer. More From Bloomberg Opinion: The Flawed Strategic Russian Defeat Theory: Leonid Bershidsky Putin Finds Limit of Xis Limitless Friendship: Clara Ferreira Marques War in Ukraine Is How the Soviet Union Finally Ends: Hal Brands This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Clara Ferreira Marques is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist and editorial board member covering foreign affairs and climate. Previously, she worked for Reuters in Hong Kong, Singapore, India, the U.K., Italy and Russia. 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 As military strategists in the West war-game a possible nuclear escalation by Russian President Vladimir Putin, theyre also pondering the role disobedience could play. What if Putin gives the order to nuke, but others in the chain of command refuse to execute? Should the US and its allies try to sway those individuals now? Scenarios in which insubordination from conscientious objection to outright mutiny come into play arent far-fetched. If Putin were to escalate, hed do it with so-called tactical warheads. These are currently in storage and would first have to be transported to launch bases and mounted on missiles. Dozens of officers would have to sign off and relay the order, knowing that Western spy agencies would be watching them at every step. We can assume that many of these officers will have qualms. They may privately oppose Putins war against Ukraine. They may not want to be complicit in mass murder. They may fear an uncontrolled escalation leading to Armageddon. Or they may simply be aware that one option for US President Joe Biden is to answer a Russian nuke with a conventional military strike that wipes out the base that fired the missile. Executing a launch order could well be suicidal. Advertisement Another potential for disobedience looms in Belarus, where the Russians are again massing troops to threaten a new front against Ukraine. In one scenario, Alexander Lukashenko, dictator of Minsk and minion of Moscow, would send his Belarusian forces to fight with the Russians against the Ukrainians. Im sure that he would give the order to the Belarusian army to participate in this invasion if he was sure they would fight, reckons Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the exiled leader of Belarus pro-democracy opposition movement. But Lukashenkos not sure. Both he and Putin apparently consider mass insubordination in the Belarusian ranks possible, if not probable. After Lukashenko stole his last election in 2020, huge numbers of Belarusians took to the streets to try to topple him; they also sided with their Ukrainian neighbors in leaning toward the European Union and freedom. Lukashenko cracked down brutally. If he now ordered his troops to shoot at Ukrainians, they might just switch sides and fire at the hated dictators goons instead. Or they might defect to fight for Kyiv. Advertisement History teems with precedents for decisive acts of military disobedience by individuals or entire regiments. During the Battle of Leipzig in 1813, the entire contingent of Saxons fighting for Napoleon suddenly turned around on the battlefield and joined the coalition against him. In March 1917, the first of Russias two revolutions that year began in earnest when elite units of the Imperial Guard joined the demonstrators. Especially in the nuclear context, even a single individual can make the difference. Stanislav Petrov was the officer on duty early one morning in 1983 when the Soviet Unions computers detected incoming atomic missiles from the US. He had orders to immediately launch the retaliatory strike. Acting on a hunch he later said he put the odds at 50-50 he instead decided that the alarm was an error. For several terrifying seconds, he stared at screens flashing Launch. He didnt launch. Nor did he report the alarm to his superiors. By disobeying, he saved the world. Individual soldiers have to make such decisions of conscience all the time, even when the stakes arent nuclear. In 2011, two colonels in the Libyan Arab Republic Air Force were ordered to bomb civilians in Benghazi. They instead turned their Mirage F1 jets around and landed on Malta, where they requested asylum. Two days after that, the pilot and copilot of another jet received the same order. They ejected and let their plane crash. Advertisement The tension between blind obedience and insubordination is as old as organized warfare. Top brass understandably fear any rupture in the lines of authority it could lead to a breakdown in discipline, order and the ability to fight. But slavish obeisance is worse. The Germans who perpetrated the Holocaust later claimed they were just following orders. Neither the judges at the Nuremburg Trials nor the world bought that excuse. Drawing a direct lesson, postwar Germany today enshrines disobedience in specific circumstances as a soldiers duty rather than its dereliction. Russians in the era of Putin must ask themselves questions similar to the dilemmas Germans faced during the Third Reich. What is their role in their countrys crimes? How much will they allow themselves to know? Will they stand up when it matters? Will they disobey when they must? Those who do as Stanislav Petrov once did may just save the world. More From Bloomberg Opinion: Advertisement We Cant Give Putin His Off-Ramp: Andreas Kluth Putins War Hawks Are No Longer In Step: Leonid Bershidsky An Unhinged Putin Is A Warning to China and Xi: Clara Ferreira Marques 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 Researchers at Boston University sparked alarming headlines this week by creating a more lethal version of the omicron Covid variant. At the heart of the uproar is the fact that the researchers didnt have any obligation to inform anyone beyond an internal review board about what they were doing. Some officials at the National Institutes of Health only heard about the research through the media. Another recent development could prove even more concerning: Nature reported last week on plans for 40 new virology labs being built around the world. Known as BSL-4 labs, designed to deal with the most dangerous pathogens, theyre being built in India, Singapore, the Philippines, Kazakhstan and Russia, among other countries. The ostensible aim is to make us safer, but even before this current pandemic, some virologists saw these BSL-4 labs as a problem the germ equivalent of the nuclear proliferation. The bottom line is that the speed of scientific research has to be balanced with public safety. Advertisement The issue of lab safety has become politicized during the Covid pandemic, as the political right has been more likely to favor the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 originated from a lab accident in China. (Only truly fringe conspiracy theorists think it came from a deliberate leak.) People on the left have been more likely to insist that the virus jumped from bats to humans, perhaps via another animal. So far, I dont think there has been enough evidence to tell us definitively where it came from. But regardless of Covids true origin, the best way to prevent the next pandemic is to increase precautions surrounding all potential avenues, whether thats wet markets, bat guano collection, or research labs. In the case of the BU researchers, there seems to be a gray area about how much detail they were obligated to report to government funding agents. Even if they followed existing guidelines to the letter, though, we need clearer rules for researchers and stronger oversight to make sure the risks inherent in live-virus research dont outweigh the potential benefits. The debate has also put gain of function research back in an unflattering spotlight. That term isnt well defined, but generally refers to research that alters viruses to change what theyre capable of doing. Such experiments have been extremely controversial, including an endeavor to create bird flu viruses that can be transmitted between mammals, attempts to alter bat coronaviruses to infect human cells, and experiments aimed at finding new possible iterations of SARS-CoV-2. But gain of function might also describe techniques that use altered viruses to deliver gene therapy to treat cancer and hereditary diseases. With such a broad definition, its not feasible or in the publics best interest to ban all gain-of-function research. Advertisement One solution could be an outside body, such as the Office of Science and Technology Assessment, to judge whether experiments using live viruses are safe enough. Thats something Rutgers University biologist Richard Ebright suggested to me last year. That way independent experts can weigh the risks and benefits of research with public safety as the overriding goal. Its possible that more oversight could slow down valuable research. Where does necessary transparency end and micromanaging begin? The best we can do is find a balance between research speed, public safety and transparency when dealing with the modification of live viruses. More oversight here wont necessarily bog down our understanding of the current pandemic. Many experiments can be done with so-called pseudo viruses, which use key structures from real viruses but dont have the ability to replicate. These were important in work that was done quickly to understand the omicron variant when it emerged in South Africa last year work that probably saved many lives by showing that the mRNA vaccines could still protect against this variant if people got a booster shot. Advertisement Unexpected things can go wrong when scientists work with dangerous viruses and bacteria. Accidents and even deliberate leaks have happened in the past. Purdue University virologist David Sanders once told me that hed been on a team inspecting a lab called Vector in Siberia where there had been a 2004 Ebola leak that killed a worker, and a suspected 1977 leak of a previously extinct flu strain, which subsequently spread worldwide. The movie and book The Hot Zone is based on a true story about a deadly relative of Ebola cropping up in a primate facility in Virginia in 1989. Or consider the anthrax attacks that took place in 2001 in the wake of Sept. 11. The US biodefense community assumed it must be the work of foreign terrorists. But it turned out the attacks were carried out by an American scientist who worked in a high-security lab. Advertisement Blind trust in scientists isnt being pro-science. Scientists can have motives other than the publics best interest, including producing high-impact publications to further their careers. And sometimes even with the best of intentions, they make mistakes. More From Bloomberg Opinion: Long Covid Has Become a Parallel Pandemic: Lisa Jarvis Heres Who Really Needs the New Covid Booster: Faye Flam History of Lab Leaks Has Lots of Entries: Stephen Mihm This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Faye Flam is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering science. She is host of the Follow the Science podcast. 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 The investment seemed virtually risk-free, guaranteeing hefty returns after only a short period of trading. By exploiting how Germany once taxed dividend payments, dozens of bankers, brokers and lawyers helped investors snatch billions of euros from the national treasury. A decade later prosecutors won their first convictions for tax crimes. By late 2022, some 1,600 people were facing investigation in Germany alone in whats come to be called the Cum-Ex affair. 1. Whats a cum-ex trade? The trades exploited an interpretation of the tax code that appeared, at the time, to let multiple people claim ownership of the same stock and crucially the right to a refund of taxes withheld from dividends. The transactions relied on the sale of borrowed shares just before a company was scheduled to pay dividends. This enabled more than one investor to claim a refund on a tax that was paid only once, according to German authorities. The practice was named after the Latin terms cum/ex, meaning with/without, because the stock was sold with but delivered without a dividend payment. Advertisement 2. Why is it controversial? For years tax authorities granted the refunds despite having knowledge that the process could lead to multiple payouts. While there were several attempts to mend the practice, in 2007 lawmakers said tax officials had to tolerate occasional incidents. Law enforcement authorities, however, started to investigate a few years later, arguing that parliament had focused on the unintended side effects of legitimate transactions not trades set up deliberately to generate tax refunds. Prosecutors argue that people involved in the transactions knew they were double-dipping on the refunds. The practice ended in 2012 when Germany revamped how it collects dividend tax. Similar deals were being reviewed in Denmark and Belgium. 3. Which banks and investors used it? According to a parliamentary inquiry, the practice was first noticed by banks as early as the 1990s. A decade later, transactions were set up by traders at structured finance units of banks, mainly in London. Cum-Ex spread beyond the banking industry as some former bankers set up funds to allow wealthy individuals to take advantage of the loophole. Many investment banks across Europe and the US participated at some level: buying or selling stock, lending shares to the short seller, providing capital or acting as custodians. Advertisement 4. How wide are the investigations? At least half a dozen probes were started in Germany, with one in Cologne being the broadest. Major banks including JPMorgan Chase & Co., Barclays Plc, Bank of America Corp.s Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley have seen their Frankfurt offices raided. At Deutsche Bank AG alone, dozens of former and current employees were under investigation, including five former board members. Its headquarters as well as the home of a former co-chief executive officer, Juergen Fitschen, were raided in October 2022. The banks say they are cooperating with prosecutors. Investigations were opened in other countries including Belgium and Denmark. 5. Has anyone been charged and/or convicted? Yes. Former M.M. Warburg Chief Executive Christian Olearius in July 2022 became the first leading banker to be charged. A former colleague described as his right-hand man was convicted of aggravated tax evasion in 2021 and sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison. Hanno Berger, a German tax attorney, made a partial confession in a German court after being extradited from Switzerland. Executives linked to Duet Group, a London asset manager, were charged in Germany in September. Paul Mora, a former investment banker at UniCredit SpAs HVB unit from New Zealand, was placed in 2021 on Interpols Most-Wanted list. Two former London bankers were convicted in 2020 but given suspended sentences after cooperating with Cologne investigators. Germanys top criminal court in July backed these verdicts, dubbing the trades a blatant money grab. The cases are likely to continue for years. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share Jeremy Hunt is UK prime minister in all but name. Liz Truss is nothing more than a specter walking the corridors of power, occasionally wailing and clanking her chains. On Monday, she didnt even take an urgent question posed by Labour on what on earth is going on, leaving the job to her former leadership rival, Penny Mordaunt. She also turned up late and looked miserable. Hunt is now both the public face of the government, routinely acting as its spokesman in parliament and the media. He is also its leading decision-maker, tearing up almost all of Trusss budget and starting from scratch. There are no parallels in British history. The nearest comparison for Hunt is Mario Draghi, the former president of the European Central Bank who was parachuted into power in Italy 2020 when Giuseppe Contes government collapsed. Britains Draghi is the great survivor of British politics. He got his first Cabinet job in 2010 (as minister of culture, sport and digital), became the longest serving health secretary (2012-2018), and served briefly as foreign secretary (2018-19) before Boris Johnson consigned him to the backbenches. He also ran for the prime ministership twice once in 2019 when he came second to Johnson and then in the most recent round when he was eliminated in the first ballot. Until last week, it looked as if he was destined to be always the bridesmaid and never the bride. Advertisement His survival points to the power of two great political virtues: patience and toughness. Hunt has been patient enough to remain in Conservative politics even after his vocal support for remaining in the European Union in the 2016 referendum turned him into a marked man on the Brexit right. During his exile to the backbenches, he was chairman of the Health and Social Care Select Committee, a job he did with admirable restraint, pointing to the governments failures without breaking with party unity. Hunts emollient political manner may suggest a certain wetness to certain Tories a description Margaret Thatcher used in the 1980s to deride internal party critics of her policies. That perception of weakness comes from mistaking stridency for strength. Hunt took on junior doctors in a high-profile fight over pay and conditions and then went on to run the National Health Service, perhaps the most difficult job for a Tory politician, for five long years. You cant do that if you are anything but tough. When Theresa May tried to move him from health to business during a Cabinet reshuffle in 2018, he not only refused but negotiated an extension of his already enormous portfolio to include social care. If British politics is a giant schoolyard, the Palace of Westminster is Hogwarts for people obsessed by political magic. Boris Johnson is a Flashman figure a schoolboy who succeeded by breaking the rules and not giving a damn. Truss is an eccentric intellectual the girl who reads Ayn Rand and says outrageous things. By contrast, Hunt is a head boy: a dutiful and responsible lad who gets on with the teachers and tries to bring order to the school. By all accounts he was an ideal head boy at Charterhouse before going up to Oxford. Advertisement His governing philosophy is a combination of One Nation Toryism which emerged in the mid-19th century and contemporary managerialism. He belongs to the responsible wing of the British establishment: His father Nicholas Hunt was an admiral and a knight of the realm; and his old school, Charterhouse, is a manufacturer of dutiful public servants in contrast to Eton, a training ground for flash boys. His heart has always been on the left of the party with its commitment to sound government and social reform. Though, to his discredit, he flirted with gung-ho rhetoric for a while to win over the Brexit right. His five years at the NHS the biggest employer in Europe were marked by a commitment to managerial fixes. He spotted the extraordinary variance in performance between the best-run and worst-run hospitals and borrowed an idea from the educational sector (special measures) in order to put the worst performers on notice and force them to learn from the best performers. But he was also a quiet revolutionary. Thatcher had reorganized the NHS into an internal market with purchasers (such as health authorities) buying services from providers (such as GPs and hospitals). Hunt concluded that this led to fragmentation and replaced the internal market with what he regarded as integrated services or a joined up health service in the ghastly language of managerialism. Advertisement High up in the list of charges against Johnson for poor government is his refusal to bring Hunt back to front-line politics, either as secretary of state for health or as procurement tsar during the Covid crisis. That was a waste of his deep expertise and rolodex of contacts. I have no doubt that many more people would have survived Covid if Hunt had won the 2019 leadership race rather than Johnson. Hunts most pressing task is to provide stability for a traumatized country and party economic stability by ensuring that the markets believe that Britains fiscal policy is now responsible and political stability by showing he is now in charge rather than his next-door Downing Street neighbor. A growing number of Tory MPs argue that Hunt should be made prime minister formally while Rishi Sunak is returned to the chancellorship; others ask why the party needs to bother with further disruption when Hunt is really in charge. Hunt can be compared to another figure apart from Draghi, who is after all the creature of a very different political system. That would be Tony Blair. It is hard not to think of the former Labour prime minister while listening to Hunts slick parliamentary performances and emphasis on stability. At least the Blair of the early years before he became an evangelist for democratizing the Middle East. Advertisement The two have the same commitment to professionalism, the same respect for experts, and the same humility in the face of global markets. The country has been through a carnival of policies since Brexit from muscular nationalism to blue-collar conservatism to free-market fundamentalism. Britain has also seen a circus-worth of political clowns, not least Johnson. Perhaps the proper end of all this will be to return to early Blairism stable policies championed by sensible men and women. Heir to Blair may not be the best formula for winning over the right of the Conservative party but that faction has forfeited any claim to influence thanks to the recent disaster. The country will undoubtedly vote for Keir Starmer and Labour if it doesnt have a Blair on offer. More From Bloomberg Opinion: Advertisement How a Journalist, a Bureaucrat and a King Invented British Majesty: Adrian Wooldridge Liz Truss Is Still in Office, But No Longer in Power: Therese Raphael Have the UKs Keystone Cops Hit Peak Markets Chaos Yet?: John Authers This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Adrian Wooldridge is the global business columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. A former writer at the Economist, he is author, most recently, of The Aristocracy of Talent: How Meritocracy Made the Modern World. 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 Throughout the eight months of the Ukraine invasion, Vladimir Putin has stressed that his war is an existential struggle for Russia, a fight for a new world order. Now, important Western policy thinkers appear to be coming to the same conclusion: The narrative is shifting from helping Ukraine win to shaping a postwar global order that would sideline Russia, rendering it unable to cause further trouble. This shift challenges the conventional wisdom that the war will end with some kind of negotiated compromise before or after the Putin regime falls. Many in the West and not just in Central Europe, where the belief that Russia never changes has always been widespread will argue that Russia needs to be stripped of its oversized international role. And some will say, increasingly openly, that it must be brought to its knees, like Nazi Germany or its ally Japan, before it can be rebuilt and reintegrated into the world. French political scientist and civil servant Nicolas Tenzer eloquently laid out this argument on Substack. It was a mistake, he wrote, to try to re-engage with a post-Communist Russia based on an illusion born of the hopes of 1991 a mistake made by stupid and corrupt politicians. The West, Tenzer argued, should not be shy about setting its own war goals, even if its not officially part of the Ukraine war and those maximalist goals should include a Russian pullback from every country and region where the Putin regime currently has a presence, including not just Ukraine and Georgia, but also Syria, Belarus, Armenia, the Central Asian states and the African and Latin American nations where the Wagner Group a private military company linked to Moscow operates. According to the argument, Russia should also lose its veto in the UN Security Council, all access to the Western financial system and its influence networks in the West. A semi-defeat, Tanzer wrote, would still be a victory for Russia because it would retain its global ambitions; Russia needs to be turned into a normal country the opposite of an empire. It cannot be transformed from the inside alone. Advertisement Fiona Hill, one of the most respected Russia experts in the US and a former Russia guru in the Trump administration, offered a less radical version of the same argument in a recent interview with Politico. She also called for Russia to lose its Security Council veto. The war, she said, isnt really about Ukraine. This is a great power conflict, the third great power conflict in the European space in a little over a century, Hill was quoted as saying. Its the end of the existing world order. Our world is not going to be the same as it was before. In this paradigm as in Putins Western interests go well beyond the fall of the his regime. The strategic goal is a Russia permanently diminished. However, even as his troops suffer one battlefield setback after another, Putin is still shaping the discourse simply because Western advocates of his strategic defeat cant articulate how it can actually happen. What exactly would stripping Russia of its UN veto achieve except a Security Council majority that could authorize the direct involvement of a Western force in the Ukraine war? Putin is not to be stopped by mere condemnation, as numerous General Assembly votes that went overwhelmingly against him have shown. And how does Russia relinquish its military presence throughout the former Soviet Union and in parts of the developing world if it is not decisively defeated in a broader conflict than the Ukraine war? If it is merely forced to retreat from some, or even all, Ukrainian territories, it would still have the size and the resources to maintain influence elsewhere and prepare for another go at Ukraine, too. Advertisement Literally no one, even the most radical proponents of stripping Russia of the remnants of its prominent post-World War II role, is suggesting a full-scale war with Russia. Even Tenzer admits as much. By saying that we are not at war we are certainly not suggesting that Western leaders declare loudly that we are we put ourselves in a kind of frame of mind that prevents us from formulating war aims, he writes. The disclaimer is important: Hes not actually calling on Western governments to declare war on Russia but he advocates going for results that can only be achieved in a full-scale war. That taboo against direct military confrontation is a cold-war remnant: It rests on the idea that Russia would respond by nuking the world. Whether or not it actually could, the fear is powerful enough that no responsible political expert wants to cross that line for now. What this means is that any prospect for a new world order in which Russia becomes a meek, contrite, post-imperial state now rests on the shoulders of Ukrainians. The hope and expectation is that they will be able to defeat the Russian military without getting nuked in response or, what goes unsaid is that if they get nuked, their martyrdom will serve the greater goal of turning Russia into a complete pariah and thus permanently weakening it. Advertisement For all the Western support that comes in the form of ammunition, training and equipment, Ukrainians are still fighting alone: Its their soldiers who die, and its their country that is being methodically destroyed by Russian strikes on cities and infrastructure. And for all their success on the battlefield, the outcome of the war is far from decided. As Russia goes for the Syrian option of trying to bomb Ukraine into the Middle Ages, Ukraines advantages in motivation and tactical creativity may not be as effective as they were during the recent counteroffensive. Cynical, poorly armed and trained, Russias mobilized soldiers are nevertheless going to make it harder for Kyiv to break through the invaders defenses, especially during the winter. And if Ukrainians do win, they have no interest in conquering and denazifying Russia: They just want their own country back, and they have a lot of rebuilding to do. The flaw in the strategic defeat logic is that, while Russias nuclear capability is seen as the joker in Putins hand, there are no practical means for the West to render Russia small and pliant. To achieve the maximum goals, the West would need to ignore Putins nuclear leverage and put boots on the ground. Because, again in this perspective, unless Russia is similarly subjugated, it cannot be denazified the way Germany and Japan shed their imperialism thanks to decades of occupation, forced demilitarization and externally imposed political structures. The recourse is to accept that Russia is not out of second chances yet and that it can still change from the inside. Its naive to expect a liberal democracy to emerge immediately from the ruins of Putins regime a far-right government acting out of an even deeper resentiment is a more realistic scenario. Its equally naive, however, to expect that a country of Russias size and stamina will somehow slink away if the West applies tougher diplomacy or hardens the already unprecedented economic sanctions. Advertisement What Russians must be offered is a vision of inclusion, not hopeless, eternal defeat; we need the kind of optimistic prospect Germany and Japan faced as they reformed. Uncompromising toughness that draws the line at direct military interference is as hypocritical a stance as that taken by Putins open appeasers in the last two decades. The only future that could unite and motivate the ragtag Russian resistance to Putin, the war, Russian imperialism and totalitarianism both inside and, increasingly, outside the country is one in which Russia is part of the West, with all the constraints and benefits that involves. Russia tried to eliminate the consequences of Stalinism on its own in the 1990s and it failed. We Russians failed, as I must keep reminding myself. But that doesnt mean we cannot and should not try again. That is the worlds best hope in the face of total war. More From Bloomberg Opinion: Advertisement Putins War Has Come Home to Russia: Leonid Bershidsky We Cant Give Putin His Off-Ramp: Andreas Kluth Putins Air-Terror Campaign Against Ukraine Is Already Failing: James Stavridis This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Leonid Bershidsky, formerly Bloomberg Opinions Europe columnist, is a member of the Bloomberg News Automation Team. He recently published Russian translations of George Orwells 1984 and Franz Kafkas The Trial. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article The Commanders have to run the ball and to play disruptive defense. And they often have to make a play or two in the final minute to seal things. This story is part of an in-depth series investigating the Barangaroo precinct, one of Sydneys largest urban renewal projects. See all 19 stories . Crown Barangaroos new owners are pivoting towards tourism and high net-worth travellers as part of plan to revitalise the gambling giants $2.2 billion investment. Crown Barangaroos new boss Mark McWhinnie, who is barely two weeks into the role, said Crown had to play its role within the tourism sector as borders open up from COVID. Were post-COVID now. We need to be out there to encourage international tourism back into Australia, [and] help elevate the desirability of Sydney as a gateway city, by what we do at Crown, he said. Crown casino is planning to target more high-end Asian tourists. Credit:Louie Douvis He is part of the new management team from Blackstone that has swept through the upper echelons at Crown, led by fellow Macau veteran Ciaran Carruthers, who joined last month. Office and retail assets are proving resilient in a volatile economic environment with investors ploughing up to $49 billion into high-profile, higher-yielding bricks and mortar. Mirvac and Blackstone are testing the demand with the listing of their co-owned office tower at 60 Margaret Street in Sydney and the accompanying retail complex known as the MetCentre, with a price tag of around $900 million. Ray White head of research Vanessa Rader said the recorded sales volumes are higher than a year ago when the pandemic was in full force. Overseas investors remained interested in local assets as Australia is still seen as a safe haven for investment given its economic and political stability. Mirvac and Blackstone are selling their joint interests in 60 Margaret Street, Sydney Credit:Nic Walker The flows of capital are at a significant turning point, the big buyer of 2021, real estate investment trusts (REITs) are retreating rapidly this year selling more than they are buying, Rader said in her investment update. A couple of weeks ago, I asked a university colleague if she had an unusual number of students experiencing psychological distress. Yes, she replied. I have lots of students like that. I told her that I had never had so many students dealing with mental health issues. We looked at each other in silence not knowing what to say. I already knew that Australian university students suffered significant rates of anxiety and depression. When I wrote a column on higher education for The Age, Id report on research about students mental health. One study that stood out, published in Australian Psychologist, showed university students had higher levels of psychological distress than the general population. Studies show university students have higher levels of psychological distress than the general population. Credit:Istock Photo I also knew from studies that financial stress and working long hours affected students mental health. I can reel off other predicators for psychological distress, too. At the moment, none of these predicators seem to worry my colleagues and I more than the enduring effects of COVID-19 lockdowns on students. Now it seems that our hunch that the COVID pandemic has had a negative psychological impact on students is correct. A new Monash University study, led by PhD candidate David Tuck, concludes that more tertiary education students experienced higher levels of psychological distress during the pandemic. Motorists are being urged to avoid parts of Sydneys eastern suburbs during their commute home after a crash involving a motorcycle and four cars landed the male motorcycle driver in hospital. Emergency services attended the scene at the intersection of New South Head Road and Manning Road at about 4.25pm on Wednesday, and treated the motorcyclist at the scene. A crime scene has been established and major traffic delays are persisting while officers from Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command wait for a specialist crash investigation unit to arrive. There were no other reports of anyone else being injured in the accident. Billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart has long had influence over the conservative side of politics. And new-ish Opposition Leader Peter Dutton isnt immune to her charms either. In June, Dutton was invited by Rinehart on a day trip to her Roy Hill mine in the Pilbara, with return flights from Perth paid for by the family company, Hancock Prospecting. A spokesperson for the opposition leader told us the trip was an opportunity to see how the operation worked. The cozy relationship is no huge surprise given Rinehart is listed as one of Duttons closest corporate confidantes. Hancock Prospecting, meanwhile, is in a bit of strife after its multimillion-dollar sportwashing deal with Netball Australia backfired when Diamonds players refused to wear the companys logo. It all started with a protest by Indigenous squad member Donnell Wallam over Rineharts dad and company founder Lang Hancocks racist belief that Aboriginal people should be sterilised and bred out. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The areas around Shepparton, Rochester and Maribyrnong have been the focus of much of the devastation caused by widespread flooding in Victoria over the past few days. Echuca, Murchison, Carisbrook, Kerang, Horsham, Newbridge and other towns have also been impacted or are expected to be. Using Nearmaps aerial camera system attached to planes, as well as satellite imagery, The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald can provide a birds-eye view of the spread of the inundation by comparing the regions before and after the floods. The satellite imagery comes via Sentinel-2 a constellation of two polar-orbiting satellites placed in the same sun-synchronous orbit by Europes Earth Observation Programme in 2015. The images show how the weather event caused the Goulburn, Murray, Maribyrnong, Campaspe and Avoca rivers to burst their banks. In Melbournes Port Phillip Bay, murky floodwater can be seen draining into the ocean from the Yarra River. Aerial images arent available for all regions, either because of cloud cover obstructing the view or because satellites or planes have not yet passed over those regions. The brightness and contrast of some of the satellite images have been increased to improve visibility. With flood warnings still in place for parts of the state, the situations captured in these images are likely to change again in the near future. Advertisement Echuca Advertisement Echuca sits at the meeting point of the Murray and Campaspe rivers and contends with flooding threats on two fronts. Floodwater from the smaller Campaspe River, seen running top to bottom in the satellite images above, peaked in Echuca at 96.25 metres Australian Height Datum, or above sea level, on Sunday and is receding. By Tuesday morning, it was at 95.56 metres and falling. But satellite imagery from Monday shows the enormous swelling of the Murray, which snakes left to right across the image and is now the biggest cause for concern in the town. The mayor on Tuesday morning told residents they had 24 hours to save the towns CBD. The Murray River at Echuca Wharf was at 94.29 metres on Tuesday and is expected to exceed major flood levels on Wednesday. The river could then peak at 95 metres AHD by Friday. The Bureau of Meteorology notes the river could reach levels higher than the 1993 flood, which measured 94.77 metres AHD. Seymour Advertisement Advertisement Shepparton and surrounds Advertisement Medibank Private has confirmed that hackers have stolen sensitive health information from systems that hold the records of about 1 million customers after the criminals threatened to spread the information unless the insurer paid a ransom. On Thursday, Medibank said it had received a sample of data on 100 customers from the hackers which it confirmed as authentic, and warned that it expected the number of affected customers to grow substantially in coming days. Police are investigating threats made in the wake of a major cybersecurity breach at Medibank Private. Credit:Louise Kennerley Chief executive David Koczkar said the sample included codes that specify where a customer had been treated and which conditions had been treated. These could range from sprained wrists to drug and alcohol addiction. "They're used across the health system, and they cover all range of physical and mental health conditions," Koczkar told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. London: Israels foreign ministry has chastised a senior Australian diplomat over Canberras decision to drop its recognition of West Jerusalem as the nations capital, labelling the move a wretched decision which risked encouraging extremists to further agitate in the region. Israels Foreign Ministrys political director, Aliza Bin-Noun, met with Australias ambassador, Paul Griffiths, for more than 30 minutes on Tuesday after he was summoned for a reprimand following the Albanese governments decision. The decision to no longer recognise West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel returns Australias policy to the international mainstream, but the timing has infuriated Israel. Credit:AP Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who also serves as foreign minister, called the decision a hasty response to an incorrect report in the media and expressed hope that the Australian government manages other matters more seriously and professionally. In a statement from the ministry, Bin-Noun conveyed that Israel would now consider its next steps in response. If you know of local business openings or closings, please notify us here. PREVIOUS OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS - Air Products & Chemicals Inc. plans to invest a half-billion dollars to produce environmentally friendly hydrogen in New York state. - The Trexlertown Chick-Fil-A plans to add a second drive-thru lane as part of a plan to reduce traffic congestion. - The Harrisburg-based Mid Penn bank has opened its first full-service branch in the Lehigh Valley in South Whitehall. - The Allentown Planning Commission put off a decision on a new Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen at the site of the former Nostos Greek restaurant. - The former Star Crete concrete plant at the intersection of Farmersville Road and Easton Avenue has been sold for $1.58 million, and that may clear the way for a medical office building. - The local business SuperSets Gym will open its third location in Allentown's South Mall, with no opening date set yet. - The jewelry boutique Versant will close later this year, but the business will be consolidated at Gary Werkheiser's other location in Saucon Valley Square. - The DSW Woodmill Commons has moved to Berkshire West, 1101 Woodland Road in Wyomissing. - Trainer Michael Melendez has opened his new Reading Extreme Boxing Club where PacSun used to operate in the Berkshire Mall. - Frackville NAPA Auto Parts held a grand opening with the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce and Frackville Business & Professional Association. - Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers in North Manheim Township held a grand opening, in conjunction with the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce and Pottsville Business Association. - PDC Machines, a maker of hydrogen compressors, showed off a new plant in Lower Salford. - Maya Capital Partners has acquired Amwell Valley Self Storage, a 265-unit storage business on Route 31 in Ringoes, New Jersey. - Norwescap is buying the former Sullivan's on the Main restaurant in Phillipsburg to renovate the building and then use it for programs to help educate and feed people. Available for Roku, Fire TV, AppleTV WFMZ+ STREAMING NEW WAY TO WATCH! Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. It's nearly 40 years since Bill Forsyth's film was released it flew under the radar to become a much loved, but not widely known cult classic. Its gentle nature combined with Mark Knopfler's soothing guitar strains led to a loyal following with Knopfler's "Going Home" theme becoming an instantly recognisable instrumental track familiar to many well, at least those of us of a certain age anyway! Mac is a Texas business man, as cool and slick as the oil that he deals in. It's 1983 and Scotland is the new oil capital of the world. Mac is sent on a mission to the tiny Shetland coastal village of Ferness with orders to buy up the entire place so that his company can build a new oil refinery right on top of it. It probably doesn't need me to tell you that once Mac experiences the breathtaking surroundings of the Shetlands and meets the endearingly eccentric locals that the deal becomes increasingly unlikely as he shakes off the capitalist ties that bind. The unsentimental reaction of many of the locals is what sets Forsyth's story apart as he avoids the immediate cliches. At a time when oil reigned supreme and we were yet to understand the climate crisis that we were blindly walking into, it was money that really talked. The residents of picturesque Ferness find the landscape harsh and difficult to work they welcome the opportunity to get "Filthy Dirty Rich" and can't wait to escape to an easier life "It's Ferness, not Narnia" says one local. It's only Ben, a beachcomber and self-proclaimed Laird, along with Stella, the local barmaid, who are able to see the beauty of the place and still be transported by the wonders of the unpolluted sky that reveals comets, stars and the spectacular northern lights. Frankie Bradshaw's stark metallic set provides a nice canvas onto which Paule Constable's lighting and Ash J Woodward's projection bring this to life particularly well at the end of act one the Minerva briefly becomes planetarium in effective style. The iconic red phone box is the main anchor to the film in Daniel Evans' new production this is also his last as artistic director before taking over at the RSC next year. Evans directs within the small space creatively but ultimately it is in David Greig's book that the meandering nature of the film does not translate onto the stage. With some significant cuts from the film, characters feel underdeveloped and the whole thing feels too comfortable to consider investing too much worry about the plight of Ferness or its locals. The creation of an odd love triangle between Mac and his two hotelier hosts, Gordon and Stella, is an unnecessary distraction. Knopfler's ethereal screen score gently paddles along in the background with his familiar guitar sound never far from your ear. He has added numbers for this new musical adaptation which range from the bland and colourless to some more successful upbeat Gaelic sounds. There are occasional breakout moments to get the toes tapping but otherwise it's largely unmemorable. Gabriel Ebert feels tentative as Mac and lacks the emotional depth to believe his transition from outsider to local. Paul Higgins is a likeable Gordon, the hotelier and accountant combined, who acts as negotiator for the villagers. The rewritten role of Stella is given plenty more guts by a nicely engaging and fine voiced Lillie Flynn. Hilton McRae gives a warm and gentle Ben that acts as a nice point of calm in proceedings. The environmental connotations are largely skimmed over which seems like a missed opportunity and, like much of the rest of this otherwise warm and endearing musical, it is frustratingly unsatisfying. Mel Giedroyc and ATG Productions have confirmed that Giedroyc has officially withdrawn from the recently announced touring pantomime production of Mother Goose. She was set to star as The Goose alongside Ian McKellen in the titular role and comedian John Bishop as Vic Goose. Replacement casting will be announced shortly. Giedroyc released the following statement: "Due to personal reasons, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the forthcoming production of Mother Goose. I am thankful to the producers of the show for being so understanding and wish everyone involved in the production a fantastic tour throughout the UK and Ireland. Now, more than ever we all need a bit of joy, and I can't wait to see it myself. I know it is going to be fantastic." The press releases also stated that "Everyone in the show sends love and best wishes to Mel and her family". Mother Goose will run at Theatre Royal Brighton from 3 to 11 December 2022, before moving to the Duke of York's Theatre in the West End (15 December to 29 January 2023) and onto Chichester Festival Theatre (7 to 11 February), Sheffield Lyceum (14 to 18 February), Wolverhampton Grand (22 to 26 February), Liverpool Empire (28 February to 3 March), Oxford's New Theatre (7 to 11 March), Dublin's Bord Gais Energy Theatre (22 to 26 March) and Cardiff Millennium Centre (28 March to 1 April). Further venues are to be confirmed. The company also includes Oscar Conlon-Morrey (as Jack), Simbi Akande (as Jill), Sharon Ballard (as Evil Fairy Malignia) and Karen Mavundukure (as Good Fairy Encanta), with Adam Brown, Gabriel Fleary, Richard Leeming and Genevieve Nicole. Directed by Cal McCrystal (One Man, Two Guvnors), the production features set and costume design by Liz Ascroft, choreography by Lizzi Gee, lighting design by Prema Mehta, sound design by Ben Harrison and puppet design and creation by Chris Barlow. Casting is by Anne Vosser and the production manager is Ben Arkell. Tickets for Brighton, London, Liverpool and Oxford are on sale below. Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap will celebrate its 70th anniversary in the West End on Friday 25 November 2022. Producer Adam Spiegel has announced a special midday matinee on that date, where guests with "a historic connection to the show" will be invited to attend the special one-off performance. In addition, new casting for the London production (set to begin performance on 21 November) has also been revealed. The company will include Sara Lessore (The Tempest) as Mollie Ralston, George Banks (Coronation Street) as Giles Ralston, Jonathan Tynan-Moss (Doctor Who: Time Fracture) as Christopher Wren, Sarah Whitlock (returning from previous productions of The Mousetrap) as Mrs Boyle, Philip Childs (Long Day's Journey Into Night) as Major Metcalf, Phoebe Sparrow (Downton Abbey) as Miss Casewell, Rob Pomfret (The Responder) as Mr Paravicini and George Jones making his West End debut as Detective Sgt Trotter. The Mousetrap has also formed an initial two-year partnership with the National Literacy Trust, an independent charity working to give children the literacy skills to succeed in life. Together they will launch the Young Mystery Writers programme, with over 30 secondary schools in London and cities across the UK participating. Young students from disadvantaged backgrounds will be given the opportunity to write their own whodunnit short story and be published as part of a celebratory anthology. They will also be gifted a trip to a West End show. Spiegel commented: "As the custodian of The Mousetrap in its 70th year I am delighted to be supporting the fantastic work of the National Literacy Trust. Agatha Christie has inspired countless readers from every walk of life and I can think of no better partnership to honour the legacy of her work." Tickets for the West End production are on sale below. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. The Fastenal Company Distribution Center recently donated eight tool boxes to an industrial technology classroom at Winona Senior High School. The tool boxes will help students in the small engines class, taught by Jerry Benedict. Nicole Danfield, EHS & Sustainability manager, and Stacy Wera, administration manager, recently visited the classroom on behalf of Fastenal to present the tool boxes to Benedict and his students. Fastenal has been a strong supporter of industrial tech classes at WSHS, and has made several donations to help provide teachers and students with the tools they need for hands-on learning. Winona Senior High School offers industrial technology courses in four areas Woods, Metals, Automotive and Engineering. These courses provide life-long, practical skills for students regardless of future career goals. Students can explore a number of technical skill areas which can lead to the discovery of interests and abilities and a potential career. Some of the advanced courses can help set up students for success at a technical college, including the possibility of testing out of introductory courses. For more information about the course offerings at Winona Senior High School, visit winonaschools.org. WEST BEND A 31-year-old Horicon man entered a not guilty plea on Wednesday morning to charges of causing the death of a Mayville woman and her child while driving last summer. Steven Bruskiewicz Jr. faces two counts of homicide by negligent use of a motor vehicle, one count of homicide by negligent use of a motor vehicle of an unborn child and reckless driving causing great bodily harm. If found guilty of any of the homicide charges, he could face up to five years in prison and five years of extended supervision on each count. Bruskiewicz is accused in the deaths of a pregnant Mayville woman and her 1-year-old child. Bruskiewicz appeared in the courtroom of Washington County Circuit Court Judge Michael Kenitz. According to a press release from the Washington County Sheriffs Office, the investigation stems from a multivehicle crash that occurred near the intersection of Highway 164 and Elmwood Road in the village of Richfield on June 28. During the incident, a southbound vehicle was struck from the rear by a vehicle allegedly driven by Bruskiewicz and pushed into the oncoming lane of traffic, where it was struck by a northbound vehicle. The crash resulted in the death of the driver of the southbound vehicle, Casey Schwartz, 30, of Mayville, her unborn child, and her 1-year-old son, Octavius Schwartz. A 67-year-old Waukesha man was seriously injured in the crash. The crash was investigated by the Sheriffs Office Crash Reconstruction Unit, which was assisted by the Wisconsin State Patrol. The final investigation showed that Bruskiewicz, who was driving his work van, caused the crash and was using social media and other applications on his cellphone at the time of the crash. A hearing in the case will occur on Nov. 28. The Wisconsin Dells Police Department now has its next second-in-line official. Ben Wiese, a former patrol sergeant and 12-year full-time veteran of the force, was appointed as Lieutenant in a unanimous vote by the citys common council at a meeting on Oct. 17. The position has been vacant since the retirement of Perry Mayer in April. Officer retires after almost 30 years with Wisconsin Dells Police Department Wisconsin Dells Police Department Lieutenant Perry Mayer, who has been with the department since 1992, is retiring. Mayer is looking forward to spending more time with family and enjoying outdoor activities. Im just excited to be in this new position, said Wiese in an email. Its new to me and I have a lot to learn, but I look forward to the future here at WDPD. City clerk/treasurer Sarah Brown swore in Wiese at the meeting. We had several very good candidates for the Lt. process, but Lt. Wiese was selected because of his experience as a supervisor for the past 8 years, his innate leadership ability, and his ability to manage critical incidents, as he has demonstrated in the past, said department Chief Nicholas Brinker in an email. Wiese is a native of Wisconsin Dells and graduated from Wisconsin Dells High School in December of 2002. Prior to returning home for his associates degree in criminal science from Madison College and subsequent law enforcement career, Wiese spent four years with the United States Marine Corps and was stationed in 29 Palms California with 1st Battalion 7th Marines. He was with an infantry unit and had two overseas combat deployments. During his time at Madison College, Wiese worked as a part-time officer with WDPD (2008-2010). He was then hired as a full-time officer and spent eight years as a sergeant prior to his promotion, and also handles the departments K-9 police dog, Rocky. Lt. Wiese understands and shares the vision that I have for the department and I look forward to working with him in the future as part of the department command staff, said Brinker. Cournoyer honored, new officers sworn in In addition to Wieses promotion, the department also commended another one of its leaders and swore in three officers who became full-time after previously being hired as summer patrolmen. Sgt. DuWayne Cournoyer, along with Sgt. Lucas Killick and Officer Austin Stoddard from the Lake Delton Police Department (LDPD), were all nominated for the Lake Delton Police Department Life Saving Award by LDPD Chief Daniel Hardman. The three were honored for their assistance with a potential suicide situation on a bridge over Dell Creek during the summer. Its an honorable award to receive, said Cournoyer. Ive been doing this job for about 14 years now and its not the first life Ive saved. Not the first life our officers in our department have saved. Cournoyer went on to explain that while officers do not need awards, it is nice to receive the recognition. Wisconsin Dells Mayor Ed Wojnicz also commended Cournoyer and the Lake Delton officers for their work during the situation. DuWayne went above and beyond with what he needed to do to save somebody who was in crisis at the time, said Brinker at the council meeting. On July 30, Cournoyer, Killick, and Stoddard all noticed several people gathering on the north side of the Dell Creek bridge. In addition, a male whose name was redacted in the nomination memo, appeared as if he was going to jump from the bridge into the creek, which would have been a likely fatal fall from nearly 100 feet. Killick and Stoddard both approached the man and later pulled him off of the bridge railing and Cournoyer released his arm from the nearby light pole. All three then handcuffed him before Stoddard spoke with him about his mental health challenges, family trauma, and how he had attempted suicide in the past. It is evident that based upon the quick and appropriate response by Officer Stoddard, Sergeant Killick, and Sergeant Cournoyer that (name redacted) life was saved, wrote Hardman in his nomination memo. Three officers within the Wisconsin Dells Police Department, Nicholas Sleben, Scott Parkhurst, and Todd Wagner, were sworn in by Brown as full-time members of the department. Sleben and Parkhurst have been with the department since October of 2021 and Wagner joined the force in August of this year. WDPD now has 17 members, including 13 patrol officers. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Baku will host 27th Azerbaijan International Construction Exhibition on October 19-21, Azernews reports. This year, 279 companies from 17 countries will take part in the exhibition. Among countries are Azerbaijan, Belarus, the Czech Republic, Germany, Britain, Hungary, Iran, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, the UAE, Russia, Turkiye, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine. BakuBuild is the largest building and interiors trade show in Azerbaijan and the Caucasus region. At the same time, it is an effective business platform for increasing the volume of sales and expanding sales throughout Azerbaijan and the Caucasus region. Some B2B meetings are expected to be held on the second day of the exhibition. Moreover, the photo gallery "Humans of construction" will display photography featuring the most influential and inspiring professionals working in the UK's built environment. The gallery will showcase an artistic and educational insight into the diversity, character, and fabric of the UK's construction industry. BEIJING, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Museveni, on Tuesday exchanged congratulations on the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. In his congratulatory message, Xi said that with an everlasting traditional friendship, the two countries have in recent years established comprehensive cooperative partnership, steadily increasing political mutual trust and deepening cooperation in various fields. China and Uganda have firmly supported each other on issues involving their respective core interests and major concerns, and coordinated closely in global and regional affairs, he said. The Chinese president said in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two peoples have supported and helped each other in times of difficulty, writing a new chapter of China-Uganda friendship. Xi said he attaches great importance to China-Uganda relations, and stands ready to work with President Museveni to take the 60th anniversary as an opportunity to deepen cooperation in various fields under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, so as to bring benefits to the two countries and their people and jointly build a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era. For his part, Museveni said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 60 years ago, Uganda and China have coordinated closely in a joint effort to implement multiple major cooperation projects, with their sound relationship bursting with vitality. The Ugandan side will stay committed to promoting Uganda-China relations, said Museveni, expressing his confidence that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries will surely continue to deepen so as to deliver greater benefits to the two peoples and contribute to world peace, stability and cooperation. (Source: Xinhua) Xi Jinping joins a group discussion with delegates from south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region who are attending the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Beijing, Oct. 17, 2022. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi] BEIJING, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) Comrade Xi Jinping on October 17 joined a group discussion with delegates from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region who are attending the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). During the discussion, he stressed that the report to the Party's 20th National Congress further charts the way forward for the cause of the Party and the country, and it will serve as a political manifesto and guide for our Party to unite and lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics on the new journey in the new era. Xi said that, to study and implement the spirit of the Party's 20th National Congress, we need to have a good command of the importance of the work of the past five years and the great changes in the first decade of the new era, of the worldview and methodology of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and of our mission to advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through a Chinese path to modernization. We should also keep firmly in mind the important requirement of using the great transformation of our own to navigate the great social transformation and the call of the times for us to strive in unity. The entire Party and all the Chinese people need to unite as "one piece of adamantine iron" under the banner of the Party and stay committed to the same goal in mind and action to steer the giant ship of our great rejuvenation, braving winds and waves, toward its destination. Five delegates of the Guangxi delegation Liu Ning, Lan Tianli, Zhou Jiabin, Zhu Xuelan and Zheng Zhiming gave their opinions on the report to the congress based on reality and their own experiences. They gave speeches respectively on issues of striving to follow the Chinese path to modernization in Guangxi, fostering a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, preserving the landmark natural landscape in Guilin, developing agricultural industries with local characteristics, and deepening efforts in independent innovation. They all believe that the report to the 20th CPC National Congress, from a commanding height in considering both China's national rejuvenation and global changes of a magnitude not seen in a century, scientifically lays out goals, tasks, and major policies for developing the cause of the Party and the country in the next five years or even longer period to come, putting forward a series of new approaches, strategies and measures. It will serve as a guiding document for us to build China into a modern socialist country in all respects and realize the second centenary goal. They expressed unanimous support for the report. In a lively atmosphere, Xi exchanged views with delegates. Having listened attentively to them, Xi said that he was happy to join the discussion as a delegate of the Guangxi delegation. He extended his sincere greetings to all delegates present and over 2.5 million Party members as well as 57 million officials and residents of different ethnic groups in the region. Xi noted, since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional Committee of the CPC and regional government have implemented the CPC Central Committee's decisions and plans, and united and led the people of all ethnic groups in the region in promoting the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy in a coordinated manner. Facing the grave challenges of global changes of a magnitude not seen in a century and the once-in-a-century COVID-19 pandemic, the regional Party committee and government have led the region in winning the critical battle against poverty, building a moderately prosperous society in all respects together with the rest of the nation, and bringing the comprehensive strength of the region to new heights. As a result, reform and opening up in the region has been deepened comprehensively, ecological system improved continuously, people's living standards raised considerably, and both urban and rural areas have taken on a new look. Great changes have taken place in Guangxi, which can find expression in deepened strict Party governance, solid ethnic unity, sound social stability and border security. These achievements represent successful practices of the Party's ethnic policies and the system of regional ethnic autonomy in the southern border region, vividly reflecting the great transformation over the past 10 years of the new era in our country. The past five years and the first decade of the new era have been truly momentous and extraordinary in the development of the Party and the country, stressed Xi. As a Chinese saying goes: "One can't tell how hard it is to get things done unless he is fully engaged; a success may look easy but it takes painstaking efforts." In the past 10 years, by overcoming various hardships as if wading across treacherous waters, climbing over steep slopes and breaking through tough barriers, we have made a series of breakthroughs and milestone achievements in the cause of the Party and the country. Practices have proved that the CPC Central Committee's major principles and policies since the Party's 18th National Congress are absolutely correct, and the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a right way leading to sound and steady progress. It conforms to the realities of China, reflects the will of the Chinese people, and meets the requirements of the times. We must gain confidence and initiative from history, and present an "excellent answer sheet" to the people and the future on the new journey ahead. Xi pointed out that in order to implement the Party's innovative theories, we need to gain a good command of their worldviews and methodology as well as make good use of their stances, viewpoints, and methods. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress stressed that we should always put the people first, maintain self-confidence and stand on our own feet, and constantly uphold fundamental principles and break new ground. We should also adhere to a problem-oriented approach, apply systems thinking, and maintain a global vision. Only through conscientious study and implementation of the above six points can we obtain a deep understanding of the reason, rationale, and philosophy governing these innovative theories. We should not only know their meaning, but also grasp their essence and carry them out in the whole process of the Party and the country's work on all fronts, noted Xi. Xi stressed, in the new era, the Party has developed a deeper understanding, more mature strategies and richer practices for building a modern socialist country, and thus successfully advanced and expanded the Chinese path to modernization. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress elaborated on the characteristics and essential requirements of the Chinese path to modernization, Xi said. Taking deep root in China, the Chinese path to modernization is in line with our national conditions. We must always pursue the development of the country and the nation by relying on ourselves, take our country's destiny of development and progress firmly in our own hands, strengthen our confidence, uphold fundamental principles and break new ground so as to write a new chapter of building China into a modern socialist country in all respects. Xi pointed out, since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee has maintained its resolve and exercised full and rigorous self-governance in the spirit of "spending 10 years grinding a sword." Driven by a strong sense of mission, we have resolved to "offend a few thousand rather than fail 1.4 billion" and waged an unprecedented battle against corruption, thus forging a synergy in the Party's self-reform, said Xi. Exercising full and rigorous self-governance is a journey to which there is no end; the Party's self-reform is a ceaseless pursuit. We must persist in carrying out self-reform of the Party so as to ensure that it will never change its nature, its conviction, or its character and that the Party is always the firm core leadership guiding the cause of Chinese socialism. Xi stressed, only in unity and through strenuous effort can we succeed. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, our Party has firmly relied on the people to stabilize the economy and boost development, fight against absolute poverty and build a moderately prosperous society, contain COVID-19 and resist other major disasters, as well as tackle challenges and defuse crises. We have overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles and created impressive miracles one after another. The most important task at hand is to roll up our sleeves and work hard to put into action the major decisions and arrangements made at the 20th CPC National Congress and produce tangible results. Xi hoped, under the guidance of the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress, Party committees and governments at all levels in Guangxi will unite and lead officials and the people of all ethnic groups to fully and faithfully apply the new development philosophy on all fronts, resolutely implement the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee, and do a better job in promoting high-quality development of the border ethnic area. They should make greater breakthroughs in serving and integrating into the new development pattern, achieve greater progress in pursuing green development, contribute more to safeguarding national security, bring about more results in exercising full and rigorous self-governance of the Party, and strive to open up new prospects for building a magnificent Guangxi in the new era. Xi Jinping joins a group discussion with delegates from south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region who are attending the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Beijing, Oct. 17, 2022. [Xinhua/Ju Peng] (Source: Xinhua) Articles Sorry, there are no recent results for popular articles. A mother accused of murdering her 5-year-old daughter, 37-year-old Melissa Towne was arraigned in a Texas courtroom on Tuesday. Person of interest in Oklahoma river killings case taken into custody on unrelated charge The campaign for the October 30 Brazilian presidential run-off elections is unfolding in the wake of a crushing defeat of the Workers Party (PT)-led opposition to Brazils fascistic President Jair Bolsonaro in Congressional and state elections. This, despite the PTs lead in the presidential vote, in which former PT president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva placed first with 48 percent of the vote against Bolsonaros 43 percent. President Jair Bolsonaro and PT candidate and former president Lula da Silva. [Photo by Alan Santos/PR and Ricardo Stuckert/Instituto Lula] As a result, Bolsonaros Liberal Party (PL) became the largest party in the Brazilian House in over 25 years, taking 99, or 20 percent, of the seats. The entire coalition now supporting the PT in the second round took only 108 seats. The PL will also be the largest party in the Senate, after taking the lead from candidates supporting Lula in key states such as Sao Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul and in recent PT strongholds such as Rio Grande do Norte. Two key allies of Bolsonaro crushed Lula allies in the first round of gubernatorial elections in Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, the second- and third-largest states in terms of number of voters, gaining far more than the necessary 50-percent-plus-one votes to avoid a run-off. In Brazils most populated and industrialized state, Sao Paulo, the PT candidate, Fernando Haddad, who lost the presidential race to Bolsonaro in 2018, came in a distant second to the Bolsonaro ally Tarcisio de Freitas. The results are a clear expression of the PTs inability and unwillingness to make any appeal to workers, centering its campaign instead on promising better diplomatic relations with the imperialist powers and stability for corporate profit-making. Such promises are nothing but a rephrasing of despised and fraudulent Thatcherite trickle-down economics, with promises that benefits to large corporations can create welfare at the bottom. As expected, the PT reacted to its political defeat by moving not to the left, but to the right. Days after the first round of the election, it set the tone of the run-off campaign with an ad in which Lula declared he was in favor of life and not only himself, but every woman he had married was opposed to abortion, adopting Bolsonaros own far-right rhetoric. A few days later, the PT started reproducing on social media a video of Bolsonaro speaking at a Freemason Lodge, with a key Lula ally, Deputy Andre Janones, going so far as declaring it proved Bolsonaro is serving the Antichrist. Meanwhile, Lula and the PT have struck an alliance with Senator Simone Tebet, who came in third in the first round of the presidential race with almost 5 million votes, and was until recent days denounced by the PT as the candidate of the bankers. Tebet declared on the evening of the October 2 vote that she would give her coalition two days to state their position on the second round before she declared hers, eventually backing Lula as her coalition, which gained 60 seats in the House, declared its neutrality. On Monday, Tebet and her senior economic adviser, former central banker during the hated neoliberal Fernando Henrique Cardoso administration, Arminio Fraga, met 650 CEOs and business leaders to appeal for a vote for Lula. They presented Lula as the last line of defense of the putrid Brazilian political system, and especially of the Brazilian Supreme Court (STF), against a Bolsonaro majority in Congress that could impeach justices and help him cling to power. At the same time, they reassured the audience that the ultra-right configuration in both houses would render whatever populist rhetoric the PT employed toothless, if not stillborn, repeating Lulas mantra that agribusiness and financial markets have nothing to fear from him. In Sao Paulo, where the PT was caught completely off guard by the weakness of its candidate Fernando Haddad, the party promised to crush social opposition with an iron fist. In an interview with the Roda Viva program on Cultura public television, Haddad declared his government would not allow the invasion of lands, referring to the PT-linked Landless Workers Movement (MST), a key element of the partys left posturing which Lula himself sought to disown previously in the campaign. Toeing the same line, Lula attacked Bolsonaro in the first TV debate of the second round by asking him how many maximum security prisons he had built, and proudly claiming he had built five. He also boasted of his record military spending, appealing to Bolsonaros own base in the military, telling Bolsonaro that as deputy you were very proud of having me as president ... you know I took care of the Armed Forces, the army didnt have boots, the navy didnt have ships. This reactionary praise of a massive increase in security spending had already been made by Lulas senior adviser and former Foreign Relations and Defense minister, Celso Amorim, in an interview with Estado de S. Paulo a day before the first round vote. Amorim declared Lula intended to raise defense spending from 1.2 to 2 percent of the GDP, and create nothing less than four new security agenciesa National Guard, a Border Patrol, a Forest Patrol and a Coast Guardwhile making maximum use of defense loopholes in trade deals to advance a protectionist industrial policy. In other words, Lula would align Brazil with the international turn towards a war economy. Outside of churches and meetings with billionaires, the main arena for the campaign has been the Electoral Court (TSE), where the PT is fully engaged in relentless petitioning for orders of removal of false information from the internet and social media, which elevate the TSE president Alexandre de Moraes to the arbiter of what is true or false in public discourse in the country. In terms of its own narrow political outlook, the party obtained a major victory when last week Moraes ordered the removal of content spread by Bolsonaro linking Lula to the well-known corruption scandals the PT oversaw in its 14-year rule. Meanwhile, the party also took a hit when Moraes ordered the removal of material spread by the PT linking Bolsonaro to cannibalism and pedophilia. Predictably, none of these reactionary maneuvers to attract ultra-right religious leaders and promises to arm soldiers to the teeth has diminished one iota the extent of the political crisis engulfing Brazil, or Bolsonaros authoritarian threats, that derive from it. The PTs choice of fighting Bolsonaro by posing as anti-abortion zealots and making other backward appeals has only emboldened the fascistic president to double down on his God, Fatherland, Family slogan, derived from Brazils historic home-grown fascist movement, the Integralistas. Proponents of such appeals to the most backward elements in society will now have an unprecedented presence in Congress with the election of representatives such as Senator Damares Alves, Bolsonaros former minister for Women, Family and Human Rights, who dedicated her time in office to the persecution of medical staff performing legal abortions on minors pregnant through rape. But most significantly, Bolsonaro obtained a major triumph in the silence of the Armed Forces regarding its parallel vote count on October 2. Announced with great bombast before the elections, the results of the audit have been retained by the Defense Ministry, reportedly on Bolsonaros orders and against an order of the Court of Auditors. The silence of the military has been celebrated in the press as a major democratic achievement, in which the military supposedly stepped down from the electoral process and a golden path to democracy had finally opened up. Contrary to such a wishful thinking, the non-disclosure of the report amounts to a full-fledged constitutional crisis, in which the military either remains silent and thus aligns itself with a lying and coup-mongering president attempting to counter defeat with claims of electoral fraud, or decides to defy him, upending the chain of command. Bolsonaro is leaning on the ambiguity of the militarys silence to claim Lulas advantage in the first round already pointed to fraud. He has called upon his fascist supporters to occupy polling sites during the second round vote in preparation precisely for a show of force in his challenge to the results, knowing the outcome will be ultimately decided in the barracks, whatever the result of the October 30 ballot. While the PT seeks to conceal the extent of the crisis and negotiates with business leaders, it is also leaning on the pseudo-left, which elected the federal representative winning the second most votes in the country and the most votes in the state of Sao Paulo, Guilherme Boulos of the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL). Boulos made his career as a leader of the urban counterpart of the famed MST, the Homeless Workers Movement (MTST). Finishing second in the Sao Paulo 2020 mayoral race, Boulos provided the PTs right-wing 2022 campaign with a left veneer, saying his presence in Congress would help push a new Lula administration to the left. Boulos took the opportunity of a CNN interview on October 12 to shrug off the growth of the far-right, declaring half of the PL, Bolsonaros party, are not Bolsonaro loyalists or flat-earthers, but people that have always been around. In other words, despite the PT and PSOLs claims Lula should be elected to fight fascism, once elections end they will resume horse-trading with the far-right, hoping corruption can keep a new Lula government afloat in face of an increasingly volatile and dangerous domestic and international situation. These declarations are politically criminal and vindicate the Brazilian Socialist Equality Group (GSI)s assessment before the first round that a vote for Lulas coalition would do nothing to stop the advance of the far-right in Brazil, let alone ameliorate the dire conditions faced by Brazilian workers. What is needed is a complete break with the PT and its apologists, and a socialist and internationalist strategy. A public-private partnership to eradicate polio has failed, despite an effort that began in 1988. This graphically illustrates the inability of the capitalist system to mobilize the resourcespolitical, social, and economicto meet the challenge to human health, not only of polio, but of COVID-19, and the likely emergence or resurgence of even more epidemic diseases in the near future (e.g., monkeypox, Ebola, or some other). The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), a joint effort between the Gates Foundation, Rotary International, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has relied on private philanthropies (Gates and Rotary) to make up for inadequate public funding. It has reportedly spent approximately $1 billion per year and yet has repeatedly failed to meet deadlines for global eradication due to both insufficient funding, limitations of access to vulnerable populations due to war and ineffective vaccination strategies, all reflecting constraints imposed by the capitalist system. The Gates Foundation has just announced a commitment to donate $1.2 billion to a new phase of the GPEIs eradication effort. However, the fundamental constraints that have led to the programs past failures remain. Another $1.4 billion was pledged Tuesday by numerous governments worldwide, in each case a drop in the bucket compared to their spending on war and corporate bailouts. The Biden administration, for example, pledged $114 million, about what it spends on the war in Ukraine in 10 hours and close to what the Pentagon spends in 45 minutes. A man holds his 10-month-old baby daughter who suffers from polio, in Suleiman Khel, Pakistan, May 6, 2020 (AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad) Before effective vaccines were developed, the disease, which is highly contagious, was widespread and much feared due to its often devastating life-long paralysis. It can be spread via contact with the saliva, feces (either directly or via contaminated water or other materials), or by aerosols from an infected person. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, waves of polio, which tended to peak during summer, resulted in tens of thousands of cases of paralysis per year in the US alone. Parents feared letting their children go outside to play due to the danger. Travel restrictions and quarantines were imposed to help reduce the spread with substantial public support. The stated intent of the current phase of the polio eradication program, which is supposed to reach its goal by 2026, is to eliminate transmission of the wild disease (i.e., infections not originating from mutated vaccine-derived virus) in Pakistan, where 20 cases have been reported so far this year, and Afghanistan, where two cases have been reported this year. These are likely to be significant undercounts. The disease is still classified as endemic in these two countries. In addition, there have been recent outbreaks in Sudan, Malawi, Mozambique and Iran. The situation in Pakistan has been greatly exacerbated by the recent catastrophic flooding, the result of climate change, where contaminated floodwaters provide a ready route of transmission for the polio virus and other water-borne disease pathogens. Polio has also recently reappeared in countries where it had previously been eliminated, including Israel, Britain and the US. The persistence and re-emergence of polio is one of the strategic failures of the GPEI. In poorer countries, the program has relied on a form of vaccine based on attenuated, but not killed, virus to provoke an immune response. The attenuated-virus vaccine (Sabin) is cheaper and easier to administer than the Salk vaccine, which uses the killed virus, since it is given to the recipient in liquid form by minimally trained individuals. By contrast, the Salk vaccine must be given in multiple injections by medical personnel and has more stringent storage and handling requirements. Another characteristic of the oral vaccine is that while it provides immunity to the disease, the polio virus can still reproduce in a vaccinated individual and is still transmissible to other, unvaccinated individuals, who themselves develop immunity. Thus, vaccination of only a fraction of the inhabitants of a given community can result in widespread immunization, making the program more cost effective. However, there is a major drawback to the oral vaccine. In a small but nevertheless not insignificant number of cases, the attenuated virus can mutate to a virulent form, causing disease in unvaccinated individuals when they are exposed via community transmission. This is known as vaccine-derived polio. While the wealthier nations long ago switched to exclusive use of the injected, killed virus vaccine, for the reasons cited above the oral version is used by the GPEI in poorer countries. While the GPEI has successfully reduced the occurrence of polio by 99 percent below its previous level, mostly in its first 10 years of operation, the failure to achieve total eradication, as had previously been accomplished with smallpox, has opened a window for its resurgence. This vaccine-derived disease is what is appearing in unvaccinated members of communities in countries where polio had previously been greatly reduced or eliminated, including detections of virus via wastewater testing in London and the New York City metropolitan area, where vaccination rates are significantly below the levels needed to effect herd immunity. There is a further danger. Both the current oral and injected polio vaccines are highly effective in preventing disease in vaccinated individuals. However, as is being graphically illustrated by the failure to implement effective measures to eradicate SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, the continuing spread of the virus is allowing variant after variant to emerge. A number of these variants are more transmissible and/or more virulent than the original form, creating a never-ending pandemic. As the polio virus continues to spread, it is entirely possible that variants will emerge that are less susceptible to the immune responses elicited by the current vaccines. The latest evidence that the disease is continuing to spread comes from a wastewater sample recently taken from a collection system that overlaps portions of the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens in New York City which tested positive for the vaccine-derived polio virus. Since April, samples containing the virus have been found across a large swath of the New York City metropolitan area. In addition to boroughs of the city, the virus has been detected in Nassau to the east and Rockland, Orange and Sullivan counties to the northwest. The state health department has reported that a total of 70 separate samples from the region have tested positive. Testing for the polio virus had not been conducted for years in the US and other wealthy countries based on its elimination there decades ago. Wastewater testing was resumed in the New York City area only after an unvaccinated man in Rockland County was diagnosed with the disease. Of the 70 positive samples so far obtained from this area, 63 have been genetically linked to the Rockland case, which was caused by a mutated, vaccine-derived strain. Of those 63, Rockland had 37, Orange 16, Sullivan eight, Nassau one, and one each from Brooklyn and adjacent Queens. These results strongly indicate that the virus is well established in these communities and appears to be spreading. Recent detections of mutated, vaccine-derived strains have also taken place in Israel and the UK. In response to this latest discovery, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has extended the previously declared state of emergency through November 8 in an attempt to increase vaccination rates, which had fallen to dangerously low levels in recent years. Although no additional cases of the disease have been reported so far in the US, the number and geographic spread of virus detections, which can be transmitted asymptomatically, demonstrate that this pathogen has been circulating widely for some time. Some cases may have gone undiagnosed due to lack of familiarity with the disease symptoms among the medical community resulting from its absence for many years or a lack of proper sanitation and medical care available in poorer communities. Vaccine hesitancy promoted by right-wing forces during the COVID-19 pandemic is also likely a factor in allowing the virus to spread. New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett has declared that the virus is an imminent threat to the public health. The states response, however, does not match this pronouncement, mirroring the failure regarding COVID-19. The NYSDOH reports that since July, more than 28,000 doses of polio vaccine have been administered in Rockland, Orange, Sullivan and Nassau counties, a 14 percent increase over last year. However, this remains grossly inadequate to address the significant vaccination deficit in portions of the New York metropolitan area. For example, in Rockland County, the vaccination rate for children under 2 years old is only 60 percent in 2022, down from 67 percent in 2020. The rate is as low as 37 percent in some areas in the county. The NYSDOH recommends a minimum of 90 percent vaccination to control disease spread. The necessity of total eradication has been made clear during the current COVID-19 pandemic. China has undertaken a major campaign, based on well-established public health procedures, to eliminate SARS-CoV-2 within its territory. However, due to the criminal live with the virus policies implemented by the capitalist ruling class throughout the rest of the world, repeated reinfection from external sources is unavoidable. A recent meeting of the GPEI emphasized the need for adequate funding to accomplish the goal of polio eradication. It estimates that $4.8 billion is needed to achieve this goal within five years. Based on past failures to reach stated goals, the adequacy of this amount must be questioned. By comparison, this is a drop in the bucket compared to the huge sums that have been disgorged by central banks to bail out the financial and corporate elite since the outbreak of COVID and that is continuing to be expended to fund the war against Russia in Ukraine. The elimination of all new funds to fight COVID in the just-passed US budget clearly demonstrates where the ruling classs priorities lie. The GPEI is going cap in hand to donors begging for funds. The recent pledge by the Gates Foundation of $1.2 billion represents only a quarter of the already inadequate GPEI estimate of need. The contrast between the earlier successful smallpox eradication program and the failure of the polio effort is instructive and illustrates the decay of the capitalist system, which is now incapable of mounting an effective program to protect the population from a growing number of deadly diseases. An effective vaccine against smallpox was first developed in Europe in 1796 by Edward Jenner, though there are records to indicate that an inoculation had been developed in China more than two centuries earlier. However, it was not until 1967 that a concerted effort aimed at global eradication was launched by the WHO. The last naturally occurring case of smallpox anywhere in the world was diagnosed in October 1977. The disease was declared by the WHO to have been globally eradicated in 1980. Thus, the goal was achieved in approximately 13 years. It remains the only human disease to have been successfully expunged from the earth. The cost of the effort from 1967 to 1979 is estimated at $300 million. A major part of the program was undertaken by the US and the Soviet Union. The contrast between the total eradication of smallpox in less than a decade-and-a-half and the failure to do so regarding polio in more than three decades is an object lesson in the rapid decay of the capitalist system. It is unwilling and, indeed, unable to allocate the necessary resources to effectively address the health of the worlds population. At the same time, through economic crisis, the devastation wrought by perpetual war and environmental deterioration, the capitalist system is creating conditions that promote the emergence and spread of diseases, such as COVID-19, monkeypox, Ebola and others which threaten to devastate humanity. Registered nurse with marks on her face as she removes her mask after performing rounds in a COVID-19 unit at Scotland County Hospital in Memphis, Missouri [AP Photo/Jeff Roberson] Across the United States, staffing shortages among nurses and health care workers worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic continue to weigh on crumbling health care systems, jeopardizing patients and pushing whatever staff remains out of the profession. Recent figures from McKinsey & Company predict that shortages of up to 450,000 registered nurses are expected within the next three years in the US. The COVID-19 pandemic has turned hospitals into centers of death, not only for patients but for health care workers who have died at much higher rates than other professions and have had to endure continued moral injury, severe levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, substance abuse and suicide. Over 20 million people have perished throughout the world from coronavirus. The death toll in the US, already undercounted, is becoming increasingly difficult to track as the ruling class has announced a sharp decline in its reporting of COVID-19 from daily to weekly records. While virtually all mitigation measures have been dropped, the reality is that an average of over 400 Americans are officially dying of COVID-19 every day, and the numbers are expected to skyrocket with surges in fall and winter. This unsustainable situation is intersecting with the upcoming twindemic of a new deadly COVID-19 surge paired with a surge in flu cases. This combination of respiratory illnesses overburdening health care systems is already a reality, with many pediatric hospitals in the US filling to capacity. Even prior to the pandemic, health care workers and patients have suffered under increasingly higher patient-to-nurse ratios, which demonstrates how the capitalist system prioritizes profits over patient outcomes. As a result, understaffing is leading to preventable tragic outcomes for patients. Nurses are increasingly turning to social media to share their stories. One nurse expressed her deep anger over what she called a needless patient death at her hospital in a Reddit thread, where she explained that a 40-year-old patient with a wife and two children died a preventable death due to criminal understaffing. The nurse explained the situation at the hospital where nurses each care for seven patients at once, all while a tele-nurse (virtual and not on site) is monitoring vitals for 40 patients at the same time with no charge nurse on duty. The patient had a temporary pacemaker, and no one had the time to fill out the proper forms informing the tele-nurse. The floor nurse assigned to this patient was in an isolation area without a phone. The tele-nurse was trying to contact the nurse when it was noticed that the patient was in a fatal heart rhythm. Ultimately, the patient ended up more or less unsupervised with a temporary pacemaker, a dangerous situation, and went into a preventable, terminal state. One tele-nurse monitoring 40 patients is a criminal act of negligence by the hospitals administration, as is having a floor nurse in charge of seven patients. But this did not prevent the hospital from placing blame on the floor nurse for the patients death. The post was met with many nurses expressing their anger at the systematic understaffing across the country in the health care industry, with one commenter stating, As a former med/surg oncology nurse who would have 8 patients at a time no teley/cardiac nurse should have 7 patients!!! Dear Gawd! Im afraid to get sick right now and have to end up in a hospital. Im trying to tell people how bad it is, but they dont get it. Another comment by a nurse read, It is managements responsibility and job to provide the resources necessary for safe patient care. The conditions you describe are criminal and blame will be laid directly on the feet of the folks who enabled such unsafe conditions to exist. Let them try to blame the direct caregivers. They will not be happy with the results. The problem of understaffing and poor ratios resulting in preventable tragedies was a reality far before the COVID-19 pandemic but has since been exacerbated. The WSWS spoke to Claire, an ER travel nurse, who commented on the Reddit post and explained how the death of a young patient due to short staffing still haunts her nearly a decade after the fact. The tragedy took place at a hospital in Reno, Nevada, where her healthy 18-year-old patient passed away due to a pulmonary embolism after a long fight to resuscitate him. This took place in an understaffed hospital that was filling up with other patients who needed immediate attention. She described the night as hell. Claire told the WSWS, Its been too long that hospital administrators have put profit above patient care, and consequently its tragic outcomes like 18-year-old healthy young men dying because there are not nurses being staffed to assist when the shit hits the fan. She said the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic exponentially increased the number of nights similar to this one, and it was a wartime emergency environment that was incredibly grim and intense. Patient care, outcomes and potentially lives are all at risk due to the subjugation of social needs to profit. Ample research has consistently proven that proper ratios and staffing save lives. An observational study in Illinois showed that when Patient-to-nurse staffing ratios on medical-surgical units ranged from 4.2 to 7.6 ... After adjusting for hospital and patient characteristics, the odds of 30-day mortality for each patient increased by 16 percent for each additional patient in the average nurses workload. It also noted, If study hospitals staffed at a 4:1 ratio during the 1-year study period, more than 1,595 deaths would have been avoided and hospitals would have collectively saved over $117 million. While the Biden administration proclaims the pandemic is over, health care systems across the country and world are dangerously straining under the burden of COVID-19 and staff shortages. Emergency rooms are beginning to close, all while the short staffing of health care workers is resulting in poorer patient care overall and an untold number of preventable deaths. On Monday, Georgias Piedmont Atlanta Hospital began diverting all ambulances away from the facility as severe overcrowding in its emergency room required it to close its doors. There was no space to accept new patients who need psychiatric or emergency care or critically ill ICU patients. Numerous other hospitals in the region are experiencing an influx of patients as a result of the closure of the for-profit Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center, which is closing its doors supposedly due to financial hardship. Whatever the cause for the closure, the fact that it happened points to the irrationality of the capitalist system. The fact that a major urban hospital that serves over 2 million people in the region could close as society faces the impending twindemic is a social crime. The crisis is not limited to the US, with emergency rooms across Canada shutting their doors in recent weeks due to short staffing. This provoked Dr. Paul Parks, president of the emergency medicine section of the Alberta Medical Association in Canada, to say, It is really a disaster mode because the definition of disaster in medicine is that the demand outstrips the ability to supply the care. Thats whats happening every day in our hospitals across the country. In Ontario, Canadas most populous province, 16 emergency departments closed due to nurse shortages, according to Ontario Health. Nurses and health care workers are angry and ready to fight for their interests, with a strike by mental health workers in Northern California at Kaiser Permanente pushing into its 10th week, and 6,200 health care workers at Kaleida Health in Buffalo, New York, voting by 96 percent to strike for their demands. Another 6,000 health care workers at Michigan Medicine had a rotten contract imposed on them, despite the union memberships overwhelming demand to go on strike for safe staffing. A powerful three-day strike by 15,000 health care workers in Minnesota took place last month. In all of these struggles, health care workers have nearly identical demands revolving around staffing, which is directly tied to patient outcomes and working conditions that must be transformed to halt the mass exodus of nurses from the field. However, the critical roadblocks that must be overcome are the corporatist trade unions, tied to the ruling class and Democratic Party, who are loyal to the CEOs and health care giants. The unionsfrom the California Nurses Association, to the NUHW, the Communications Workers of America, Service Employees International Union and the Michigan Nurses Associationare working to divide the working class, impose concession contracts and starve out strikes to prevent what should be a larger fight for improved patient ratios, outcomes and working conditions. The McKinsey & Company report noted that to fill the gap of up to 450,000 nurses that will be needed by 2025, [T]he United States would need to more than double the number of new graduates entering and staying in the nursing workforce every year for the next three years straight. American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten has returned from last weeks extraordinary trip to the Ukraine and Poland in support of US imperialisms proxy war against Russia. This was all in a days work for the head of the teachers union, who has been a valued overseas operative for the State Department for many decades. Just a week following Bidens remarks on the heightened danger of nuclear Armageddon, Weingarten cynically used the suffering of children and teachers in war-torn Ukraine to solidarize herself with the wars escalation. Weingartens mission aimed specifically to whitewash the Nazi-infested regime of Volodymyr Zelensky. It concealed the direct fascist lineage of the US-installed governmentthe better to promote the effort to oust Russian President Vladimir Putin and carve up Russia on behalf of Wall Street. The AFT president met with Lvivs Mayor Andriy Sadovyi, a far-right politician with a long association with the Ukrainian fascist legacy of Stepan Bandera. A virulent anti-Semite, Bandera was the founder of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) which collaborated with the Nazis in World War II and was involved in mass murder. Weingarten has been neck-deep in US conspiracies in Ukraine for some time. In 2014, she traveled to the region, backing the US-instigated coup which toppled the elected government and installed a regime supporting American geopolitical aims. This coup was implemented primarily by far-right shock troops including the Right Sector and the neo-Nazi Svoboda Party which also advances Bandera as a hero. The AFT president has been sent to the Ukraine to provide a democratic camouflage for US imperialism in keeping with the playbook of the State Department and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). In early April of this year, Weingarten was the first US trade union official to visit Europe after the war began, embarking on a tour of Poland and its border with Ukraine. During this tour she met with US Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski, son of Zbigniew Brzezinski, the US national security advisor to President Jimmy Carter and an architect of US imperialist policy during and after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Last week, just before boarding her plane to Ukraine, Weingarten solidarized herself with the Ukrainian bombing of the Kerch Strait Bridge to Crimea, an incendiary escalation of the war into Russian territory. Echoing US State Department-run media, Weingarten sanctions every attack on Russian civilians and territory, while decrying any Russian retaliation as criminal. (left) Mark Brzezinski, US Ambassador to Poland, and (right) Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) trade union, on April 4, 2022. Mark is the son of Zbigniew Brzezinski. [Photo: Randi Weingarten] This is not new. As a longtime member of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Weingartens record supporting US wars of aggression is extensive. In fact, Weingarten views her service to US imperialism abroad as her most critical role. For her, the collapsing state of public education, the fact that thousands of teachers have died of COVID-19 or that a whole generation of young people face potentially disabling Long COVID are non-issues. As for her supposed concern for the Ukraine wars effects on children, families and educators, Weingarten and the AFT have, for over two years, deliberately underplayed the deaths of educators, the orphaning of children and the human cost of the bipartisan let it rip approach to the pandemic. She has been the linchpin of the deadly reopening of schools across the US, systematically blocking strikes and protests by educators and youth. Prioritizing the economy over the lives of educators, students and families, the AFT and the National Education Association have partnered with Trump and Biden, turning schools into centers of viral transmission. Weingarten states that the AFT was invited on her current tour by the Trade Union of Education and Science Workers Union (TUESWU). This union, however, is no more a genuine organization of workers struggle than the AFT. It was set up in the wake of the dissolution of the Soviet Union, played its US-assigned role during the Maidan coup in 2014, and is part of the Education International (EI). Like similar CIA-labor outfits around the world, Education International is used to subvert genuine teachers struggles, spy on the working class and advance US geopolitical interests. For example, Education International is now also very active in Afghanistan since the Talibans return to power according to EI consultant Samidha Garg. As of September, EI has established a new task force, the Afghanistan Teachers Rights Observatory, to monitor, document, assess and report on the situation on the ground in Afghanistan. The pro-war activities of Weingarten, the AFT and EI demonstrate the truth of Trotskys assessment that the unions grow together with the state power under conditions of imperialism. At the very end of his life, Trotsky emphasized this critical relationship in his unfinished article Trade unions in the epoch of capitalist decay. Explaining this integration of the unions with the state, he said, This position is in complete harmony with the social position of the labor aristocracy and the labor bureaucracy, who fight for a crumb in the share of superprofits of imperialist capitalism. (Weingartens annual pay package was $543,562 as of June 2021, according to the IRS 990-O form filed by the AFT.) Even more pointedly, Trotsky concluded: The labor bureaucrats do their level best in words and deeds to demonstrate to the democratic state how reliable and indispensable they are in peacetime and especially in time of war. By transforming the trade unions into organs of the state, fascism invents nothing new; it merely draws to their ultimate conclusion the tendencies inherent in imperialism. Trotskys analysis is timely, as the unions integration into the capitalist state apparatus has reached new levels. Bidens newly created Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment is one example, but these developments are starkest in the overseas operations of the AFL-CIO. In fact, perhaps the most insidious element of the unions is their long association with the overthrowing of left-wing regimes and the subversion of workers struggles internationally. One must call things by their right names: a labor movement that aligns itself with the foreign policy of Wall Street and the CIA is not a labor movement, but an imperialist agency. This criminal collusion has a long history. What are the political origins of Education International? EI, of which Weingarten is a prominent director, was formed in 1993 under the leadership of Albert Shanker, merging together AFT- and NEA-affiliated international anti-communist organizations. Shanker, the longtime AFT president and former head of the New York City teachers union, was politically trained by former Trotskyist-turned-apologist for imperialism Max Shachtman. Shanker, in turn, employed Shachtmans wife in his office and served as the political mentor of Randi Weingarten. The political role of Max Shachtman is highly significant. A former leader of the American Socialist Workers Party (SWP), he (together with James Burnham and Martin Abern) reacted to the 1939 signing of the Stalin-Hitler pact by abandoning the defense of the Soviet Union against imperialism. Giving up on the capacity of the working class to overthrow capitalism as well as the fight for a political revolution against the Stalinist bureaucracy, Shachtman advocated third campism. He claimed that the USSR was no longer a workers state, but a bureaucratic collectivist regime. By 1942, he stated that a Soviet victory in the war would result in a new slavery. Abandoning the class basis of socialist politics, an orientation to the working class, Shachtman was swept up in the moods of a despondent pro-nationalist American intelligentsia. His political faction split with the SWP, formed the Workers Party and jettisoned the fight for socialism, instead pressing for minimal democratic reforms. The former Trotskyist eventually became transformed into a Cold Warrior and full-throated supporter of the US government. In the post-war period, he became a die-hard advocate for the trade union bureaucracy, aligning himself with the Reutherites in the United Auto Workers. In 194647, a near-civil war erupted within the UAW over the new federal anti-union Taft-Hartley law, and specifically its requirement of anti-communist loyalty affidavits. Shachtman threw his support behind UAW President Walter Reuther who forced through Taft-Hartleys implementation. The UAW oversaw the purging of the entire generation of socialists and communists which built the union in the heroic sit-down movement. The political defanging of the UAW was the beginning of its long process of decay that culminated in its demise as a workers organization. It set the right-wing trajectory for the entire US labor movement. Shachtman went on to became a political adviser to George Meany, the viciously anti-communist president of the AFL-CIO. Shachtman supported the most hawkish wing the Democratic Party and endorsed US wars in Korea and Vietnam as well as the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba. Shachtmans anti-socialist legacy continues today both in the form of the Democratic Socialists of America and in the US-controlled labor-CIA organizations which span the globe. As WSWS writer Eric London notes, Shachtmans political progeny, including figures like Tom Kahn, became deeply embedded in the AFL-CIOs activity on behalf of American imperialism through the American Institute for Free Labor Development (AIFLD). These institutional anti-communist operations conducted by the American Federation of Labor (AFL) began in 1944 across Europe with the Free Trade Union Committee (FTUC). The FTUC was funded by the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) under David Dubinsky and run by Jay Lovestone, the former US Communist Party national secretary-turned anti-communist, and his protege Irving Brown. Brown had worked for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS, forerunner of the CIA) during World War II. When the OSS was disbanded, Brown and Lovestone focused on labor operations, boasting our trade union programs and relationships have penetrated every country of Europe. In 1949, in the context of an immense postwar upsurge of the working class internationally including the Chinese Revolution, the US established the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) to undercut the growth of support to the socialist-leaning World Federation of Trade Unions. Funding for the ICFTU was made available through the AFLs International Affairs department, via a business conduit. According to Philip Agee, a former CIA agent and whistleblower, The ICFTU established regional organizations for European, the Far East, Africa and the Western Hemisphere At the highest level, labor operations congenial to the Agency [the CIA] are supported through George Meany, President of the AFL, Jay Lovestone, Foreign Affairs Chief of the AFL and Irving Brown, AFL representative in Europeall of whom were described to us as effective spokesmen for position in accordance with the Agencys needs. As the powerful working class of Latin America expanded and grew more militant, the US founded the notorious Latin American CIA front, the American Institute for Free Labor Development (AIFLD), in 1961. It served to back brutal US coups in Brazil, Argentina and Chile installing pro-US military dictatorships. Under Meanys successor, Lane Kirkland, the AIFLD stepped up its backing of right-wing unions in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. At the same time the Reagan administration increased its funding for the death squad regimes in Central America and the contras seeking to overthrow the Sandinista government in Nicaragua. AFT President Al Shanker served as AIFLD vice president. Domestically, the AFT set up the Albert Shanker Institute to promote pro-democracy policies, making Weingarten its president. The AFL-CIO continues to run filthy counterrevolutionary operations around the world through the rebranded American Center for International Labor Solidarity (ACILS), funded by the National Endowment for Democracy and the United States Agency for International Development. EI and Solidarity Centers partner together on their ideological campaigns in many countries. Weingarten sits on EIs board for North America-Caribbean; Lily Eskelsen-Garcia, the former president of the NEA, is likewise the vice president for North America-Caribbean. EI provides position papers on issues of grave import to world imperialism, funnels funds to right-wing groups, spies on the working class around the world and carries out other assignments by the imperialist powers. A look at its public activities, most recently published for 2018, demonstrates its preoccupation with US geopolitical influence: Asia Pacific Strategy Meeting on Trade Justice, WTO Forum Trade 2030 and Trade and International Development. Workers everywhere have paid a heavy price for the union bureaucracys promotion of anti-communism and its corollary, the international suppression of the class struggleboth ideologically and physically. Weingartens highly choreographed war propaganda trip epitomizes this bitter opposition by the union apparatus to the working class, both at home and abroad. The working class, nevertheless, is bursting onto the scene of history. A sign that workers are increasingly breaking free of the decades of reaction imposed by the AFL-CIO bureaucracy is the growing support for socialist autoworker Will Lehman and his campaign for United Auto Workers (UAW) president. Lehmans campaign, endorsed by the World Socialist Web Site and International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees, has made the fight for socialism and the international unity of the working class the centerpiece of his campaign. Join us today. The United States and Japan concluded two-week long, bilateral military drills on the Japanese island of Hokkaido on October 14. Called Resolute Dragon, it was conducted as part of Washington and Tokyos acceleration of imperialist war plans, above all targeting China, but also directed against Russia. The war exercises involved approximately 1,400 personnel from Japans Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF), the formal name for the Japanese army, and 1,600 US Marines. The militaries fielded tilt-rotor MV-22 Ospreys and other military aircraft, Japans Multiple Launch Rocket System and the USs High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), and US anti-tank Javelin missiles. Japanese Ground-Self Defense Force (JGDDF) Type 90 tanks maneuver through a course during an annual exercise at the Minami Eniwa Camp in Eniwa, Japan's northern island of Hokkaido Dec. 7, 2021. [AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko] They were the largest bilateral drills involving US Marines on Japanese soil and took place after separate war games in the Sea of Japan involving the US and South Korea as well as trilateral drills with the US, South Korea, and Japan. This is the second year in which the US and Japan have conducted what are slated to be annual joint Resolute Dragon exercises. These war games have been presented as preparations for defending remote islands from an attack. In reality, Washington and Tokyo are preparing for war with China, which involves plans for goading Beijing into a conflict over the island of Taiwan. The US is systematically undermining the One China policy, to which Washington has adhered since ending formal diplomatic relations with Taipei in 1979 and recognizing Beijing de facto as the legitimate government of all China. Washington has conducted highly provocative diplomatic visits to the island, including that of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in August. President Biden has repeatedly asserted that Washington would go to war with mainland China over Taiwan, effectively ending its policy of strategic ambiguity, aimed at preventing crisis and conflict across the Taiwan Strait. The HIMARS and Javelin missiles tested on Hokkaido have also been supplied to Ukraine as part of the US-instigated war against Russia. Washington intends to use this weaponry to turn Taiwan into a porcupine, bristling with arms. With complete indifference to the fate of the Taiwanese working class, such a strategy is meant to turn the island into a warzone, bogging mainland China down in a protracted conflict. In October 2020, the previous Trump administration in Washington approved the sale of eleven HIMARS to Taiwan, part of the total $18 billion in US arms sales to the island during his term. At Washingtons direction, Taipei is now planning to increase this purchase to 29 HIMARS units as part of a record $40 billion military budget for 2023. The US Congress is also currently considering military legislation calling for spending $10 billion over the next five years to further arm Taiwan. This would be in addition to the $1.1 billion in arm sales the Biden administration approved in September. The legislation also calls for fast-tracking arm sales to the island, which could include some of the 25,000 Javelin missiles the bill would authorize the US Defense Department to purchase in 2023 and 2024. In this context, an article published on October 14 by the Australian ABC News praising the Javelin missile reads like an advertisement for the weaponry. Lieutenant Colonel Felix Guerra, the head of the 3rd Marines battalion, which took part in the Resolute Dragon exercises, told ABC News the firing of Javelin missiles in Japan was rare, but a good symbol for our partners, our allies here, the Japanese, to see that it's a valuable asset. The ABC cited Professor James Brown, an expert on Russia-Japan relations at Temple University in Tokyo, who stated, Its (the Javelin missile) primarily an anti-tank weapon. The chances of Russia launching an invasion of Hokkaido are very minimal. The decision to use this [is] primarily symbolic rather than practical: reminding the Russian side just how potent the weapon has been in Ukraine. While Russia may not be about to invade Japan, the US and its NATO allies are recklessly prosecuting a war against Russian in Ukraine. The potential for US instigated provocations in the Russian Far East cannot be ruled out as Washington pursues a strategy of weakening, restabilizing and breaking up Russia. The latest US National Security Strategy released this month identifies Russia and above all China as the chief threats to American global dominance. The focus of the war games was the interoperability and readiness of US and Japanese forces, according to Major General Jay Bargeron, the commanding general of the 3rd Marine Division, who stated the exercises would ensure we are prepared to rapidly respond to crisis throughout the Indo-Pacific. For Japan, this means dispensing with the restrictions imposed by Article 9 of its constitution, which expressly forbids Japan from waging war overseas. Tokyo, therefore, has seized on Chinese aggression to deepen its plans for remilitarization. This includes plans to double military spending over the next five years and plans to acquire first-strike capabilities in the form of cruise and ballistic missiles and the conversion of its huge naval helicopter carriers into fully fledged aircraft carriers, Japans first since World War II and capable of handling F-35B fight jets. Tokyo is seeking to counter widespread anti-war sentiment by demonizing China, Russia and North Korea as menacing threats. Most recently it seized on Pyongyangs launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) over Japan to generate an atmosphere of fear in the country. In an interview with the Financial Times published on October 12, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated, We need to do a thorough examination of whether Japans defense capability is adequate or not. As part of this, Tokyo plans to release a new national security strategy in December, the first in nearly a decade. Kishida continued, As the only Asian member of the Group of Seven, we are working with the G7 as well as many other countries to impose tough sanctions against Russia and to continue support for Ukraine. I hope that such a response will send a proper message to east Asia, and especially to China. This message includes Tokyos further militarization of the East China Sea, building up forces on islands in the Ryukyu Island chain. This island chain stretches from the southern island of Kyushu to Yonaguni Island, just 110 kilometres east of Taiwan. The US and its allies, including Japan, are recklessly turning the Indo-Pacific region into a powder keg that is leading to a war between nuclear armed powers. Doctors for Assange, a group of more than 300 medical experts from around the world, issued an open letter on Monday to British Home Secretary Suella Braveman and US Attorney General Merrick Garland, insisting that they immediately halt the state persecution of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange and free him unconditionally. The doctors organisation, which has campaigned in defence of Assange since late 2019, explains that it is now composed of psychiatrists, psychologists and other respected and highly qualified healthcare professionals from more than 35 countries. They write that they are deeply concerned that the ongoing extradition of Assange from Britain to the US, and his related imprisonment in London, threatens not only the health of Julian Assange, but also the health of our democracy. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange being taken from court in London, Wednesday May 1, 2019. [AP Photo/Matt Dunham] The letter was sent in the aftermath of news that Assange had tested positive for COVID-19 on October 8. The doctors note: Given his chronic lung ailment, Mr Assange may be at increased risk of serious illness resulting from Covid infection. In addition, Mr Assanges mental health is placed at further risk by the solitary confinement that he has been forced to endure since his positive Covid test. Assanges wife Stella, who reported the positive COVID result, explained on Twitter that the response of the Belmarsh Prison authorities in London was to isolate Assange in his cell 24 hours a day. Several days ago, Stella reported that Assange was still testing positive for the virus and was enduring his 10th day of solitary. Yesterday she tweeted the welcome news that Assange had tested negative, meaning that his full-time isolation will be ended and he will be able to again receive visitors, including his family. As the WSWS noted when it first reported Assanges COVID infection, the exposure of the WikiLeaks publisher to the potentially deadly virus was the deliberate and predictable outcome of the actions of the British authorities. They had rejected the warnings from Doctors For Assange that the WikiLeaks founder would be at heightened risk of succumbing to COVID and the accompanying calls for his release from prison in the earliest stages of the pandemic. As repeated COVID waves swept through Belmarsh and the British prison system as a whole, claiming dozens of lives, Assange was excluded from a prison-release program for vulnerable, non-violent offenders. He has been kept in Belmarsh without charge, solely to facilitate the US extradition attempt. The District Court rejected a bail application, even as it initially blocked extradition on narrow health grounds early last year. While Assange has tested negative, there is a growing body of evidence linking COVID infection to long-term health risks, including the heightened danger of heart attacks and strokes. A study published in the journal of the American Medical Association last year found that people who had experienced a bout of the coronavirus were twice as likely as a comparable cohort to suffer from a stroke. Assange, prior to his infection, had already suffered a minor stroke during extradition proceedings last November. In addition, COVID infection can damage the lungs, under conditions where Assange already has a protracted lung ailment. Long COVID, which studies indicate can affect anywhere from 5 to 40 percent of those who have been infected, covers a debilitating series of conditions that can involve almost every organ in the body. Whatever the outcome of his COVID infection, as the doctors note, Assanges health and his very life remains in imminent danger as long as he is imprisoned and the US pursues extradition. Significantly, the doctors present not only a medical indictment, but also a strong political condemnation of the treatment of Assange, with the two elements of his plight inextricably connected. They write that the threats to Mr Assanges health are the cumulative result of extraordinarily cruel, unusual, degrading and inhuman conditions imposed on him. These include more than ten years of arbitrary detention, including his current confinement in Belmarsh, sometimes described as Britains Guantanamo Bay; character assassination campaigns in the media; a relentless persecution that systematically violated the rule of law and due process; illegal surveillance in the Ecuadorian embassy, and being targeted in plans of the CIA to kidnap and assassinate him. The letter includes a sharp precis of the lawless US campaign against Assange which has involved the firepower of at least three government agenciesincluding the Department of Justice overseeing the attempted prosecution, the CIA drawing up plans for kidnap and assassination, and the FBI overseeing and greenlighting computer crimes in Iceland committed by a hacker in a scheme to falsely implicate Mr Assange, as corroborated by the government of Iceland. The latter is a reference to Sigurdur Thordarson, a convicted Icelandic hacker and child molester, who also served as a key witness for the indictment that forms the basis of the US extradition request. Last year, Thordarson admitted that the information he provided largely consisted of lies, proffered in exchange for immunity from US prosecution. The doctors note that Assanges suffering has been exacerbated by the knowledge that he would never receive a fair trial in the US. The letter cites the assessment of former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer that this treatment constitutes psychological torture. Melzers finding, first made in 2020, was based on rigorous medical examinations of Assange. The doctors state that as medical experts, they have a responsibility to speak out against and oppose state torture. They conclude by calling for the recipients of the letter, the British Home Secretary and the US Attorney-General, to urgently intervene to end the extradition process and ensure Julian Assange is promptly released. The letter is the latest in a series that Doctors for Assange has issued to the governments and authorities responsible for the persecution of Assange in the US, Britain and Australia, where the WikiLeaks founder was born and holds citizenship. All previous letters, despite the credentials of their authors and the weight of their indictment, have been either blithely dismissed or simply ignored, as were Melzers findings of psychological torture. That response itself underscores the barely-concealed lawlessness of the US-led campaign to destroy Assange for his exposure of the war crimes of the US and its allies in Iraq and Afghanistan. On Monday, US prosecutors recommended that former Trump White House advisor Stephen K. Bannon be sentenced to six months in prison and pay a $200,000 fine. The Republican operative was found guilty on two counts of contempt of Congress by a Washington D.C. jury this past July in a trial that lasted less than a week. The maximum penalty for contempt of Congress is one year in prison and a $100,000 fine, meaning Bannon could face up to two years in prison when he stands before US District Judge Carl J. Nichols, a Trump appointee, this Friday. To say that the six-month sentence recommended by US prosecutors is a slap on the wrist fails to convey the degree of leniency Bannon is being afforded. The sentence recommendation, only a quarter of the amount of time he could spend in prison, comes after a year in which Bannon has not only refused to cooperate with the House Select Committee on January 6, he has incited fascistic violence against its members on a near-daily basis. The Select Committee issued a subpoena to Bannon for documents and testimony on September 23, 2021. The first deadline for Bannon to produce documents was October 7, 2021. Bannon let the day pass without producing a single document. One week later, on October 14, Trumps former advisor failed to appear for an in-person testimony. The next week, the Select Committee voted 9-0 to recommend that Bannon be held in contempt, and on October 21, 2021, the House of Representatives, in a near-party line vote of 229 to 202, voted to hold Bannon in contempt. For nine months Bannon attempted, and failed, to get the charges dismissed outright or delay the trial until after the midterm elections. After Bannon was found guilty in July of 2022, he went on Fox News right-wing Tucker Carlson program and demanded a real committee to get to the bottom of January 6 and investigate what happened to Ashli Babbitt. Babbitt, an Air Force veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Trump supporter and QAnon adherent, was shot and killed by a US Capitol police officer as she attempted to break into the House chamber on January 6, 2021. She was part of the fascist mob that stormed the Capitol in an attempt to block certification of Joe Bidens election victory. Trump and his backers have sought to turn her into a martyr as part of their defense of the attempted coup and its perpetrators. The same week this past July that Bannon denounced the House Committee on Fox, he said he was going to kill this administration, referring to the Biden government, in the crib. As host of the fascistic War Room podcast, Bannon, a former officer in the US Navy, played an integral role in Trumps coup. Through his program, Bannon helped coordinate the Stop the Steal movement online and at multiple in-person rallies leading up to the attack on the Capitol. In the Justice Departments sentencing recommendations filed Monday, US Attorney Matthew Graves wrote that since the subpoena was issued by the January 6 Committee last September, Bannon has pursued a bad-faith strategy of defiance and contempt. Explaining the importance of Bannons documents and testimony, Graves wrote that it was a matter of national importance: the circumstances that led to a violent attack on the Capitol and disruption of the peaceful transfer of power. Graves noted that to date Bannon has flouted the Committees authority and ignored the subpoenas demands and has not produced a single document to the committee or appeared for testimony. The only time Bannon attempted to cooperate with the subpoena was right before the trial was set to begin this summer. Graves wrote that Bannon attempted to leverage the information he unlawfully withheld from the Committee to engineer dismissal of his criminal prosecution. When his quid pro quo attempt failed, the Defendant made no further attempt at cooperation with the Committee - speaking volumes about his bad faith. Bannon has not only acted in bad faith, he has spent the last year since he was subpoenaed by the committee propagating Trumps lie that the 2020 election was stolen and leading Republican efforts to organize future coups. On an almost daily basis, Bannon has current and aspiring Republican politicians and operatives on his program to champion the America First movement and the transformation of the Republican Party into a fascist organization. Graves himself noted that this past July on his podcast Bannon threatened to go medieval on these people, referring to members of the January 6 Select Committee. US prosecutors observed that Bannon was at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel, a nerve center of the January 6 conspiracy, on January 5, 2021. At a hearing of the Select Committee, Vice Chair Liz Cheney claimed that Bannon was at the hotel on January 6 as well. The Willard Hotel served as a nexus for Republican lawyers, rally organizers, right-wing operatives and militia elements involved in the coup plot. Bannon reportedly mingled with pro-Trump legislators at the hotel the day before they voted against certifying the Electoral College vote, which had been made official on December 18, 2020 when the various slates of state electors met in Washington D.C. to register their votes. On his January 5, 2021 edition of the War Room, the former Goldman Sachs investment banker and ex-Breitbart editor predicted that All Hell is going to break loose tomorrow. None of the high-level Willard Hotel co-conspiratorsEastman, Giuliani, Ellis, Stoneor Republican lawmakers such as Stop the Steal leaders Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar, Mo Brooks and Tommy Tuberville, and others like Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley, who voted against certification hours after the attempted couphave been charged by the Biden Justice Department more than 21 months after Trumps failed overthrow of the government. That these, and hundreds of other high-level Republican officials, as well as Trump accomplices in the military, police and intelligence agencies, have not been criminally prosecuted underscores that the Democratic Party is incapable of and unwilling to defend the democratic rights of the population. The day after the sentencing recommendations were released, Bannon had on his program the third highest-ranking member of the Republican caucus in the House of Representatives, Elise Stefanik of New York. Stefanik replaced Liz Cheney in the Republican leadership after Cheney refused to back Trumps election lies. New York Representative Elise Stefanik appears on Steve Bannon's War Room podcast. [Photo: WarRoom.org] After Stefanik, Bannon welcomed the fascist host of Info Wars, Alex Jones. In his appearance, Jones defended anti-Semites Ye (Kanye West) and Jack Posobiec and hawked his book, saying it exposed the globalist agenda. Former Trump White House trade advisor and weekly guest on the War Room Peter Navarro is facing an upcoming contempt of Congress trial for ignoring a House Select Committee subpoena. Navarro rejected a plea deal earlier this summer that would have seen him spend just 30 days in jail. The Department of Justice has refused to indict two other high-level Trump co-conspirators who refused to comply with the January 6 Committees subpoenas and were held in contempt by the Houseformer White House Communications Director Dan Scavino and former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. Amid the escalating war with Russia in Ukraine and US plans for war with China, the United States is rapidly moving toward a wartime mobilization of its economy. Last week, the two highest-ranking Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee introduced a bill granting the Pentagon emergency wartime procurement powers, removing major peacetime limitations on arms purchases by the Pentagon and procuring missiles in wartime quantities. A US Marine HIMARS system at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. (Credit: US Marines) [Photo: US Marines] In an amendment to the annual National Defense Authorization bill, the Senate Armed Services Committees Democratic chairman, Jack Reed, and the ranking Republican committee member, Jim Inhofe, proposed to increase US procurement of long-range missiles such as the HIMARS by 10 times or more. The bill comes as the United States intensifies its involvement in its proxy war with Russia in Ukraine, while making it abundantly clear that it is seeking to provoke a war with China over Taiwan. In both conflicts, the type of long-range weapons being procured in massive quantities under the bill are seen as critical. Whether you want to call it wartime contracting or emergency contracting, we cant play around anymore, a senior congressional aide told Defense News. Chillingly, the aide referred to operational plans against China, implying that the Pentagon has a timetable for war with the worlds most populous country. Its hard to think of something as high on everybodys list as buying a ton of munitions for the next few years, for our operational plans against China and continuing to supply Ukraine, the aide said. The wartime procurement procedures would allow the Department of Defense to make non-competitive awards to arms manufacturers for contracts related to Ukraine, and remove restrictions requiring contractors to provide accurate cost data - measures intended to protect taxpayer funds. A screenshot of the proposed bill, showing the proposed procurement of 700 HIMARS systems. The sheer numbers of armaments requisitioned by the bill are consistent with a full-scale war or even two. The public text of the bill calls for the procurement of 700 HIMARS systems, the long-range missile launchers credited with turning the tide in the war in Ukraine. To date, 16 HIMARS systems have been delivered and deployed in Ukraine. The number now being procured is more than 40 times greater than the number sent so far. Since the HIMARS system first entered into deployment approximately 20 years ago, some 540 units have been built, averaging about 54 units per year. This means that the current bipartisan proposal would increase the production rate nearly twenty-fold. The amendment procures 6,000 ATACMS missiles, capable of striking targets at a distance of hundreds of miles, and 100,000 of the GMLRS missiles fired by the HIMARS systems in Ukraine. To date, the United States has provided 126 155mm howitzers to Ukraine. But the procurement for the 2023-24 budget year would secure an additional 1,000 units of the weapon. The massively expanded military procurement takes place amid a years-long program to expand the United States nuclear arsenal, including the purchase of all-new intercontinental ballistic missiles, strategic bombers, and nuclear-capable submarines. In June, a strategy document adopted by NATO pledged to prepare the alliances members for high-intensity, multi-domain warfighting against nuclear-armed peer-competitors. In September, the Defense Department announced that the United States and its allies were planning to expand their nations industrial base for building bombs, rockets and artillery for the war with Russia in Ukraine. In the name of providing long-term support to Ukraine, the the US and its allies pledged to massively escalate their wartime production of ground-based long range fires, air defense systems [and] air-to-ground munitions, the Pentagon wrote. The plans to put the US economy and supply chain on a war footing comes against the backdrop of growing demands within the US political establishment for a wartime mobilization. On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken claimed that the Chinese military was planning to seize Taiwan on a much faster timeline, amid the deepening Sino-American standoff over the Taiwan Strait. The conflict between the United States and China was intensified in August by the visit to Taiwan by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Elbridge Colby, one of the principal authors of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, called for a national mobilization against China. Why are we not on a national mobilization footing? Colby asked. If we get in a war we will have to be, but by then it may be too late. The calls for aggressively expanding the United States industrial base for wartime procurement comes against the backdrop of provocative war games launched by the United States throughout Europe. On Monday, the Pentagon confirmed that the United States has placed the George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier battle group under NATO control as part of a major military exercise in the Mediterranean Sea. Asked by a reporter Monday what kind of message the US was trying to send to Russia by doing this, a Pentagon spokesperson replied, It just shows the power of the Alliance, adding we will defend every square inch of NATO territory. The maritime operation, known as Neptune Strike, takes place simultaneously with a US nuclear war training exercise known as Steadfast Noon, in which B-52 bombers and F-16 fighters simulate dropping atomic bombs over Europe. Amid escalating tensions, strikes by the Russian and Ukrainian military targeting civilian infrastructure raged on both sides of the border between the two countries on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. On Sunday, RIA Novosti reported that 16 explosions were heard throughout the Russian city of Belgorod, some 25 miles from the Ukrainian border. That same day, the administrative building in the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk in the Donbas was destroyed by shelling. These strikes were followed Monday and Tuesday by a series of aerial attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, including in Kiev, and Ukrainian authorities reported that one third of the countrys power stations were damaged. US-aligned military analysts gloated that the attacks on civilians depleted the store of weapons available to Russian forces, with the UKs Ministry of Defense declaring, Russias defense industry is probably incapable of producing advanced munitions at the rate they are being expended. It added that Russias depletion of its long-range missiles is likely to constrain their ability to strike the volume of targets they desire in future. In other words, the US and its NATO allies see Ukrainian civilians as little more than cannon fodder, soaking up Russia's long-range missiles and procuring an advantage on the battlefield for the NATO-aligned forces. In March, President Joe Biden said the US is not going to send in offensive equipment to Ukraine because it would trigger World War III. Over the subsequent months, the United States has flooded Ukraine with armored vehicles, long-range missiles, drones and even aircraft. On October 7, Biden warned that the escalating war in Ukraine risks Armageddon referring to nuclear war. Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to launch a nuclear strike if the United States or NATO seeks to attack either the Russian homeland or territories annexed by Russia last month. On October 6, one day before Bidens Armageddon comment, 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. Zelenskys comments raised questions as to whether he was advocating that the United States carry out a nuclear attack on Russia as the only way to cripple Russian nuclear capabilities. The escalation of the US war drive is in keeping with the Biden administrations National Security Strategy, issued last week, which pledged to expand the US military, integrate economic life with war-making, and win the competition for the 21st century in what it called the decisive decade. In his letter announcing the strategy, Biden declared that Our National Defense Strategy relies on integrated deterrence: the seamless combination of military and non-military domains. The White Houses fact sheet on the document declares that The Biden-Harris Administration has broken down the dividing line between domestic and foreign policy. As the Biden administration escalates its plans for full-scale war with Russia and China, it is clear that these war plans will entail a massive attack on the social, economic and political rights of the working class, which will be told it must accept poverty wages and intolerable working conditions in the name of the war effort. The relentless escalation of the war must be stopped! We urge all of those who agree with this perspective to contact us today. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar made a 10-day visit to the US from September 18 to 28. While Jaishankar led the Indian delegation at the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the principal purpose of his visit was to bolster the Indo-US military-strategic partnership. Above all, New Delhi wanted to reassure the Biden administration that whatever their differences over the US-NATO war against Russia, India is a staunch ally of US imperialism in the Indo-Pacific and intends to integrate itself still more fully in Washingtons reckless and ever-more provocative military-strategic offensive against China. India has thus far refused to cede to US demands it condemn Moscow, which allowed itself to be goaded by the western imperialist powers into invading Ukraine, as the aggressor and impose punishing economic sanctions on Russia. Secretary of State Antony Blinken holds a joint press conference with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar at the Department of State on September 27, 2022. [Photo: U.S. Department of State] Speaking at a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the last day of his visit, Jaishankar said he was very bullish about the Indo-US alliance. He called it a very positive experience with a lot of promise to jointly shape the direction of the world. Blinken, for his part, termed the Indo-US partnership one of the most consequential in the world. In his remarks, the US Secretary of State repeatedly stressed the importance of the Quadthe quasi-military alliance of the US, its principal Asia-Pacific allies, Japan and Australia, and India. With the full support of the Indian bourgeoisie and virtually the entire political establishment, Indias far-right Narendra Modi-led government is doubling down on its military-strategic partnership with US imperialism even as Washington demonstrates that it is ready to risk triggering nuclear war to prevail over Moscow and China. In the case of Russia, the Biden administration has responded to Russian President Vladimir Putins warnings that Moscow could be forced to resort to using nuclear weapons, by stepping up its already massive military support for Ukraine. Even as it does so, Washington is intensifying its full-court press against China, embargoing the sale of advanced computer technology to China and announcing plans to massively arm Taiwan and transform it into a vast US military depot. These developments point to the criminal character of the Indian ruling class. Well aware that at the beginning of this century the CIA and various US military-strategic think tanks had labelled India the worlds most important swing state in global geo-politics, New Delhi forged ever closer ties with Washington as it mounted a drive for global hegemony through wars across the Middle East and Central Asia and now unbridled strategic competition with Russia and China. The Indian bourgeoisie has thus encouraged US imperialism to act ever more aggressively and recklessly around the world, but especially in its war drive against Beijing. If not stopped through the revolutionary intervention of the international working class, this drive will culminate in a global conflagration that will inevitably engulf South Asia and threaten all of humanity. In addition to dramatically increasing bilateral, trilateral and quadrilateral ties with the US, Japan and Australia during the two and half years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Modi government has used the border dispute with China that flared up in May 2020 to fan hostility to Beijing and legitimize Indias working ever more closely with Washington to counter Chinese influence in South Asia and across the Indian Ocean region. India, which like China, is now preparing to keep tens of thousands of troops, tanks and warplanes forward deployed along their disputed Himalayan border for a third successive winter, has welcomed Washingtons very obtrusive attempts to insert itself in the border conflict. This includes repeatedly tying the Indo-China border tensions to the South China Sea dispute as examples of Beijings aggression and refusal to adhere to the international world order. Earlier this week, the Indian and US militaries began a two-week training exercise, Yudh Abhyas (War Practice), with the express aim of practicing for high-altitude conflict and in an area located less than 100 kilometers from the Line of Actual Control (i.e., the disputed India-China border) in Auli in the northern state of Uttarakhand. Not surprisingly, Beijing has denounced the exercise as a provocation. Underscoring the breadth of Indo-US cooperation against China, Jaishankar participated during his US visit in the first-ever US-Pacific Island Country Summit. The summit was part of Washingtons belligerent response to growing Chinese economic and strategic influence in the South China Seathe site of some of World War Twos biggest naval battles. The US and Australia have issued a series of threats in recent months against the government of the tiny Solomon Islands for defying their wishes and signing a security pact with Beijing of the type Washington endeavours to forge with governments the world over. Indias participation in the US-Pacific Island Country Summit marks a further step in Indias integration into the wider US strategy against China. Indias relations with some of the Pacific Island countries, such as Fiji, which has a large ethnic Indian population, are stronger than that of the US. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Fiji in November 2014. Jaishankar also met Papua New Guinea foreign minister Justin Tkatchenko in Washington to discuss ongoing cooperation and how it can be developed. Welcoming the steps taken by India, Derek Grossman, a national security analyst at the Rand Corporation, which has close connections with the US security establishment, said this is how great powers think and act: globally. That said, there are numerous tensions in the Indo-US alliance, as the Indian ruling class scrambles to assert its predatory interests under conditions of an ever deepening systemic global capitalist crisis, and Washington ruthlessly seeks to use its military might and still dominant position in the world financial system to arrest the erosion in its world position. As reported by the Hindu on September 30, the US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions against a Mumbai-based petrochemical company, accused of selling Iranian petroleum products. Washington accuses Tib Petrochemical Private Limited of purchasing millions of dollars worth of petrochemical products for onward shipments to China. This is the first Indian company to face such a ban since the US withdrew from the Iran nuclear accord in 2018 and unilaterally imposed global economic sanctions against Iran that are tantamount to war. New Delhi, meanwhile, is piqued by Washingtons efforts to restore its frayed relations with Indias arch-rival, Pakistan. During his US visit, Jaishankar voiced Indias displeasure at Washingtons recent approval of the sale of $450 million worth of military equipment to Pakistan to help refurbish its F-16 fighter jet fleet. The Indian foreign minister declared that the US relationship with Pakistan, its principal regional partner throughout the Cold War, has not served either of the two countries, and bluntly rejected Washingtons claim that the F-16s will be used to fight terrorism, saying that you are not fooling anybody. Defending the US decision to renew its defence ties with Pakistan while promoting India as its major military-strategic partner in South Asia, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters that Washington looks to both India and Pakistan as partners, because we do have in many cases shared values. Blinken called for a constructive India-Pakistan relationship after meeting with Pakistani Foreign Minister Bhutto Zardari on Sept. 26 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Neither New Delhi nor Washington is going to jeopardize their burgeoning partnership over relatively modest US attempts to maintain its longstanding ties with Pakistan and its military, with a view to ensuring Islamabad doesnt become wholly dependent on China. The strength of New Delhis push back is undoubtedly due, at least in part, to its belief Washington is using rapprochement with Pakistan as a means to pressure New Delhi to distance itself from Russia. Significantly, Pakistan is reported to have recently started shipping artillery and other munitions to Ukraine. The war in Ukraine has thrown Indian foreign policy and geopolitical strategy into crisis. For the past two decades it has sought to straddle the ever-widening fault lines in world geopolitics. Beginning under the Congress Party-led United Progressive Alliance government and then even more so under Modi and his BJP, the Indian ruling class has made its reactionary partnership with US imperialism the cornerstone of its geopolitical strategy. But even as New Delhi aligned with the US ever more openly against China, it maintained close ties with its longtime strategic partner Russia and did so for multiple reasons. Russia remains its largest supplier of weapons and weapons systems. Unlike the US, it has been ready to transfer military technology to India through various joint ventures. Russia has also provided crucial support to Indias nuclear program. Finally, the Indian establishment is well aware that unlike its all-weather friend Russia, Washington has repeatedly threatened India and is intent on reducing its much-vaunted strategic autonomy to nil by making it wholly dependent on US weapons and support. Despite US threats to sanction India, New Delhi has purchased and deployed $5 billion worth of Russian-made S-400 Triumf air defense missile batteries, which are considered one of the world's most advanced long-range surface-to-air defense systems. More recently, India ignored the US sanctions on Russia after the Ukraine war and became the second largest buyer of its oil, taking advantage of deep discounts that helped the Indian economy to face the impact of steep price increases in global oil prices and global economic crisis intensified by the war and COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, New Delhi has been trying to placate the US and the European imperialist powers by distancing itself from Russia in some ways, including by sourcing military equipment from other countries so as to reduce its dependence on Russia. According to the US Foreign Affairs magazine, though Russia remains Indias largest supplier of arms, the share of Russian weapons in Indias arsenal has shrunk by nearly half over the past decade. Following Russias invasion of Ukraine, New Delhi deferred its plans for more military purchases from Moscow, including a deal for 21 new MiG-29 fighter jets for the Indian Air Force. Washington, however, is far from satisfied and will exploit every opportunity to disrupt and ultimately break Indias partnership with Russia, for it views the subjugation of Russia as pivotal to strengthening its hand against China, which it has identified as its principal strategic threat. Under conditions where the US and its NATO allies are escalating their war with Russia and Washington is ratcheting up tensions with China, Indias precarious geopolitical balancing act is becoming increasingly untenable. Residents of Jackson, Mississippi are facing an on-going water crisis following massive flooding in late August that resulted in the collapse the citys underfunded and antiquated water and sewerage systems. More than a quarter of those who live in Jackson, the state capital, subsist below the official poverty level. In the aftermath of the flood, they have to deal with cloudy and brown water, including chlorine leaks and traces of lead, as well as brittle piping. And on top of these barbaric and unhealthful conditions, they face massive water bills. Residents are experiencing deja vu from 2012, when Democratic Mayor Harvey Johnson signed a $90 million deal with Siemens to modernize the citys water and sewerage infrastructure, implement automated billing, and improve the accuracy of the citys water meters from 86-94 percent to 98.5 percent. The new automated billing system failed to send bills to residents, resulting in more than $43 million in unpaid water bills. This sparked a 2020 lawsuit seeking to recover the $90 million paid to the company, with the city spending millions on court and attorney fees. By this point Jacksons water system had degraded further, prompting the current mayor, Chokwe Antar Lumumba, also a Democrat, to say it would take more than $1 billion to address the citys crumbling water and sewerage systems. On Monday, October 10, hundreds of people rallied outside the governors mansion in Jackson to protest the malign neglect of the citys water infrastructure. The rally, organized by the Poor Peoples Campaign and the Mississippi Rapid Response Coalition, called for unity between the city and the state and advanced the slogan: Free the land, clean the water, keep it public. Notwithstanding the dead-end reformist and pro-Democratic Party politics of these organizations, the demonstration in a limited way reflected the anger and demand for change among Jackson residents. On the same day, a public meeting was held at which residents expressed their discontent with the policies of both the Republican-controlled state government and the Democratic-controlled city administration. The meeting was taped and uploaded onto the NBC News YouTube channel. Participants denounced excessively high bills for water they were unable to drink or safely use. One resident exclaimed, A $1,310 water bill for a widowed woman thats 82 years old and gets one check a month. Come on here! Jackson residents and supporters hold signs as they march with members of the Poor People's Campaign of Mississippi to the Governor's Mansion in Jackson, Miss., to protest the ongoing water issues, poverty and other social ills, on Oct. 10, 2022. [AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis] Jackson resident Virginia Evans, in an interview with NBC News, said she has been struggling to pay off her water debt for six years. Evans said she owes nearly $6,000. They [the Water Sewer Business Administration] were unable to give me any information, she said. Theres nothing they could do to help me. Evans said she uses only boiled water, despite the boil-water advisory having been lifted, for dishwashing and laundry. Other speakers held up water bills, with one showing a balance of $5,154.94 and another owing arears of more than $17,000. In an interview with CNN, Jackson resident Annie Brown said she received a $700 water bill in September. My story is that youre trying to pay for somebody elses mistake, she said. I dont know whats going on in this city. Resident Laura Crowley said her September water bill was $93, up $56 from the prior month. Its not fair because of the simple fact that we didnt have [clean] water for a long time and we couldnt use our water, but then our water bill is steady going up, Crowley said. She added, They dont care about us. They dont care about the poor. They dont care about the people thats trying to work and take care of their bills. In Lexington, North Carolina, residents are facing a similar issue. On September 26, the city of Lexington announced plans to overhaul its water and sewer systems over the next decade, with a budget allocation of $204 million. The repair and replacement costs will be passed on to customers to offset the citys investment, with massive increases for residents. Reverberations from the Siemens debacle are still being felt in Jackson. The mayor recently issued a statement about mounting complaints, saying: Inconsistent billing is due [to] water meter and billing software problems. Each issue is being handled on a case-by-case basis. This comes a month after Mayor Lumumba mentioned a possible one percent increase in the sales tax to pay for repairs. Such a regressive tax would fall most heavily on the citys working class and poor residents. According to World Population Review, [T]he average household income in Jackson is $55,850 with a poverty rate of 24.46 percent, or approximately 40,000 out of 160,000 residents. The citys poverty rate is five percent higher than that for Mississippi, the poorest state in the US, and nearly 13 percent higher than the nations. From 1989 to present, the city of Jackson has been run by the Democratic Party, a party supposedly for working people and, particularly, blacks and other minorities. Over this entire period of more than three decades, Jackson residents have faced declining real wages, longer work hours, harsher working conditions and soaring costs for health care and other necessities. This is now compounded by the ongoing suffering caused by the pandemic and near-double-digit price increases for food, gas and rent. Despite President Bidens campaign talk about following the science on the COVID-19 pandemic, he has adopted wholesale the let-it-rip and forever COVID policies of Trump, ending funding for anti-pandemic services and forcing workers back onto unsafe job sites, as well as students and teachers back into unsafe schools. Meanwhile, both big business parties in the US and capitalist governments all over the world ignore the ever worsening impact of climate change, which is driving the increasing frequency and severity of hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters. As the World Socialist Web Site stated in relation to the Jackson flood disaster: Capitalism has no solution to any of these problems. The subordination of all of social and economic life to private profit and the division of the world economy among rival capitalist nation states block a rational response to crises like that in Jackson, Mississippi while preventing the coordinated global planning necessary to address their underlying causes. The only solution lies in the expropriation of the corporate oligarchs and the big banks to free up trillions of dollars which must be put into rebuilding and developing the countrys infrastructure and combating climate change through emergency measures coordinated on a global scale. This will only be possible through the socialist reorganization of society by the working class to meet human needs and not private profit. Ceylon Petroleum Cooperation (CPC) workers held a protest strike on Tuesday against privatisation despite the Sri Lankan governments threats to penalise them under the draconian Essential Public Services Act (EPSA). Some 4,000 workers at various levels, including technicians, clerks, executive officers and engineers participated in the industrial action. As a result, all plants were paralysed, including the Kolonnawa distribution centre, Muthurajawela storage complex and the Sapugaskanda refinery in the Colombo suburbs. In the capital, hundreds of workers protested at the roundabout near the parliament. Protest march by Petroleum Corporation workers in Colombo on 22 August 2022 [Photo: WSWS] However, at noon the trade unions halted the protest action, bowing to the governments threats. The protest had been called to coincide with parliaments debate on the governments amendment to the Petroleum Special Provisions Act, which will give private companies the right to import, store and supply oil. The unions called the protest, not as a genuine struggle against the privatisation and to defend the rights of CPC workers, but to derail and suppress the workers growing opposition. After dispersing the token strike within hours, the union spokesman Bandula Saman Kumara said it was not worth continuing the strike by disrupting the services because the bill will get passed somehow in the parliament. He said the unions would find alternative ways to defeat the passing of the bill in Parliament. That claim is bogus. For months, the unions have called futile protests to allow workers to let off steam, permitting the governments plans to go ahead. They will do the same in the future. A worker told the WSWS: I participated in the strike to oppose the privatisation. The trade unions have called several futile protests to pressurise the government. I dont trust these unions. To stop the privatisation of public institutions we need a united struggle of the working class. I read the WSWS articles and agree to building workers action committees, independent from the unions. An engineer said: The government is continuing the privatisation process, intimidating workers. However, the employees organised under government-controlled unions also participated in the protests. The union leaders mislead the struggles. Workers must understand the union leaders duplicity. We must organise ourselves to protect our rights, abolishing the capitalist system. The protest was called by the CPC Trade Union Collective (TUC), a combination of 11 trade unions, including the Petroleum General Workers Union (PGWU), Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya, Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya and Sri Lanka Progressive Union. These unions are respectively affiliated with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). President Ranil Wickremesinghe is implementing the savage austerity program dictated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Determined to brutally suppress any workers resistance, he is continuing to use the EPSA declared by his predecessor Gotabhaya Rajapakse. At present, the government has brought the electricity, petroleum and health services under this draconian law. Any person or organisation that violates essential services orders faces conviction, after summary trial before a Magistrate and is liable to rigorous imprisonment of two to five years and/or a fine of between 2,000 and 5,000 rupees ($US11-25). The movable and immoveable property of those convicted can be seized by the state and his or her name removed from any register maintained for profession or vocation. On Monday, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara declared that if any trade union or any worker disrupted CPC services, they would face action under the EPSA. The CPC human resources manager warned that disciplinary action would be taken against workers if they assembled at CPC premises during the protest. On October 4, the CPC authorities suspended the Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya union secretary Bandara Arambekumbura as part of this intimidation campaign. The CPC is one of the key industries to be privatised under the IMF measures. The companies expressing willingness to enter the market include the Lanka India Oil Company (LIOC), Chinas Sinopec, Petroleum Development Oman and Shell. The government plans to hand over more than half of CPCs 1,200 filling stations to such companies. These moves will lead to the privatising of all CPCs other facilities, including storage and refining. The CPC privatisation is part of a broader program dictated by the IMF as a remedy to the unprecedented economic crisis in Sri Lanka. Other so-called reforms include privatising or commercialising all state enterprises, slashing public education and health services, and increasing taxes and prices to siphon money from low-income earners. Wickremesinghe told parliament on October 5: By reducing the burden of SOE [state-owned enterprises], we can expand the [foreign] reserves by getting 2 to 3 billion US dollars. The ruling class is determined to impose the burden of the world capitalist crisis that has been aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the US-led war in Ukraine against Russia on the working class. The Central Bank and the government have temporarily defaulted on massive foreign loans and are seeking to fill the government coffers to pay the international loan sharks. The TUC has called several protests in recent months as workers opposition to privatisation and the threat to jobs and conditions has developed. On August 22, the TUC called a protest to pressure the power and energy minister who had declared he would not reverse the program. On September 20, the TUC cynically organised a prayer to a mythical god asking it to halt the governments moves. The political parties that control these unions fully support the IMF program. All the unions are responsible for the Wickremesinghe governments attacks on social rights. They oppose any independent struggle to defend the rights of workers. Since April, millions of workers and poor people have participated in mass struggles demanding an end to the skyrocketing cost of living, shortages of essentials and long hours of power cuts. They forced the resignation of President Rajapakse and his government. On April 28 and May 6, millions of workers joined general strikes in support of this struggle. However, the unions, backed by pseudo-left groups like the Frontline Socialist Party, betrayed those struggles, diverting them behind the demands of the opposition SJB and JVP for a capitalist interim regime. The workers cannot stop privatisation and fight for their rights through the trade unions. They are tied to the capitalist system and therefore support putting the burden of its crisis on the backs of workers. The CPC workers struggle against privatisation has again showed that without a political struggle against the government and capitalism, the working class cannot defend its rights. To fight against the governments IMF austerity offensive, the CPC workers and all workers need to build independent action committees in every workplace and neighbourhood. Without fighting for socialist policies, however, workers and the poor cannot defend their right to decent jobs, wages and living conditions. That means the nationalisation of the major industries, plantations and banks under the democratic control of the working class and the repudiation of all foreign debts. The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) is campaigning for a democratic and socialist congress of workers and rural toilers to lay the foundation of a socialist mass movement to fight for this program. We urge workers and youth to join the SEP and its youth movement, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality, to lead this struggle. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijan and Hungary have discussed the cooperation between the two countries in the SMBs sector, Azernews reports. The discussion took place during a meeting between Azerbaijani Small and Medium Business Development Agency Board Chairman Orkhan Mammadov and Hungarian Ambassador Tamas Jozsef Torman. During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on such issues as the organization of joint events related to SMBs cooperation, as well as the expansion of ties between the business communities of both countries. "Had a fruitful introductory meeting with the newly appointed Ambassador of Hungary to Azerbaijan Mr. Tamas Jozsef Torma. Discussed enhancing #business cooperation and joint development programs with #KOB?A. Would like to wish Mr. Ambassador success in his tenure in Azerbaijan," Orkhan Mammadov tweeted. The diplomatic relations between the two nations were established on November 27, 1992. The Hungarian embassy in Azerbaijan was established in January 2009, while the embassy of Azerbaijan was opened in Hungary in September 2004. Around 50 documents have been signed between the two countries. Azerbaijan and Hungary have also had fruitful cooperation within international and regional organizations. Hungary signed a strategic partnership agreement with Azerbaijan on November 11, 2014. The trade turnover between the two countries totaled $35.1 million in 2021. woman wearing yellow cashmere sweater with text the essentials overlayed in white Welcome to The Essentials, our weekly series highlighting a must-have classic, key to building a timeless, pulled-together closet. We all know the ease of slipping into a great sweater. It feels cozy and familiar, offering a sense of comfort akin to that of a decades-spanning friendship. But today, I'm specifically spotlighting cashmere women's sweaters. Produced from the soft undercoat of certain breeds of goats found in mountains around the world, including Mongolia, China, and Australia, cashmere wool is inherently refined and a rare resourcehence the steep price tag on 100 percent cashmere products. But as our former Accessories Editor Katie Attardo puts it, "Lightweight, warm, and soft, cashmere is an attainable luxury." She's right; the natural characteristics of the fiber, when partnered with quality production and manufacturing, leave us with beautifully crafted knitwear that is softer, warmer, and more delicate than its scratchy wool counterparts. And, as you'll discover below, some of 2022's best cashmere sweaters come with surprisingly affordable price tags, too. Find your next go-to, forever knit from our favorite cashmere sweaters ahead. Whether you're in need of a statement silhouette or are leaning towards a more neutral addition, I've got you coveredbecause there's never a wrong time to invest in quality cashmere. The Best Cashmere Sweaters Best Embellished Cashmere Sweater GANNI Crystal Button Long Sleeve Jumper I'm crazy about the Danish It-brand Ganni for many reasons. But right now, it's mainly because of its sleek gray sweater with crystal-shoulder buttons that offer just the right amount of personality. Plus: The embellished sweater is the perfect embodiment of 2022's daytime disco trend, a maximalism-influenced trend that encourages you to wear shimmer at all hours of the day. So, if you're on the hunt for a naturally cool yet polished knitwear additionone that's ideal for both in-office work days and off-duty weekends spent brunchinglook no further than this pull-over piece. Story continues Pros: Made from 50 percent recycled cashmere; A neutral gray color; Perfect amount of office-appropriate flair; Under $500. Cons: Only offered in one shade; Medium is largest size left. Best Cashmere Sweatshirt NAADAM Cashmere Zip Up Hoodie NAADAM is a sustainable brand that sources its cashmere from Mongolias Gobi Desert and works directly with local goat herders to provide its customers with artisan-made knitwear at affordable pricing. The Cashmere Zip Up Hoodie is a great starter piece if you're new to the knitwear label, as it's a lounge piece you're likely to continuously reach for while hunkering down indoors during the upcoming chilly fall and winter days. And for when you need to leave the couch and venture outdoors, dress up the sweatshirt by pairing it with dark-wash denim and heeled ankle boots. Pros: Sustainably and ethically made; Reviewers gush about quality and comfort; Under $500. Cons: Runs big, according to reviewers. Best Affordable Cashmere Sweater Quince Mongolian Cashmere Crewneck Sweater Quince allows sustainable and timeless cashmere pieces to be accessible to all, regardless of budget. Case in point: Its Mongolian Cashmere Crewneck Sweater, which happens to be one of the knitwear brand's best-selling, most iconic pieces. Also to note is that this crewneck is perfect for subtle layering, as its slightly baggy silhouette leaves with you plenty of room for experimentation. For instance, I'd start by wearing a white button-up underneath and then teaming the tops with wide-leg dark trousers and ballet flats. Pros: 12 colorways; Three times as warm as wool; Made from Grade-A Mongolian textiles; Costs only $50; A cult favorite. Cons: Only goes up to an XL; Some reviewers say the sleeves run loose and the fabric feels a bit itchy. Best Sustainable Cashmere Sweater Reformation Jacopo Cashmere Cut Out Sweater The thin knit of the Jacopo Cashmere Sweater is perfectit's the perfect warm and (of course) soft long-sleeved sweater to call on for crisp fall evenings. Speaking of its knit fabrications, Reformation uses a combination of 90 percent recycled and 10 percent virgin cashmere, which, in total, has 87 percent less carbon impact than standard cashmere wool. In addition to being a sustainable style, it's a sultry one, too: The front cut-outs accentuate your form and offer more of a flirty feel, which is great if you want a sweater that also belongs in your nighttime, going-out rotation. Pros: Sustainably made; Trendy cutouts; Pearl detailing; Under $500. Cons: One black colorway; The largest size is an XL. The Best Cashmere Turtleneck Cashmere Stand Collar Sweater The Cashmere Stand Collar Sweater from Lafayette 148 is the definition of a great investment piece. The New York City-based luxury brand has given us a luxurious and high-quality cashmere sweater with an array of colors to choose from, ranging from lilac, inky black, bubblegum pink, and seafoam. Yes, it admittedly falls on the more expensive end of the budget spectrum, but it's a 100 percent cashmere find that will last you for ample seasons to come. Put simply: It's a sweater you can feel confident in knowing that you've chosen an elevated style that's inherently luxe and genuine cashmere. Pros: Offered in plus and petite sizing; A relaxed comfortable fit; Comes in four colorways. Cons: Over $1,000; Dry clean or hand wash only. Best Cashmere Polo Sweater Lisa Yang Celeste Cashmere Polo Sweater Lisa Yang is known for her mastery of knitwear and this cashmere polo sweater is no exception. In addition to being a conscious fashion choice, it's an essential for those who love subtle preppy style. Oh, and note how it's the perfect shade of teal that offers just the right amount of a color punch. Minimalists, consider this your easy foray into color, as you'll find it to be a slightly exploratory step up from your usual muted hues and washed-out neutrals. Pros: 100 percent cashmere; Designed in a roomy and oversized fit; Easy pull-over silhouette. Cons: Largest size is L; Hand wash only; No button enclosures. Best Plus-Sized Cashmere Sweaters Henning Cashmere Pullover Sweater Henning is a fashion brand with a clear-cut mission: Founder and CEO Lauren Chan offers luxury staplesblazers, trousers, knitwear, slip dresses, etc.exclusively for plus-sized shoppers. As Chan details, "We want you to wear our clothes and feel as smart, sharp, and powerful as you truly are." And its Cashmere Pullover Sweater epitomizes the core of the brand perfectly. Cut in a classic silhouette and fabricated from a tech-forward, 3D-knit blend of cotton and cashmere, it's a piece you can constantly reach in good faith, knowing it'll never go out of style. Pros: Offered in a size range of 1X to 4X; Side slits for breathability; Made to order. Cons: Only comes in black; 85 percent cotton and 15 percent cashmere. Best Mock Turtleneck Cashmere Sweater Vince x Nordstrom Monogram Cashmere Crewneck Sweater Part of an exclusive collection with Nordstrom celebrating Vince's 20th anniversary, this crewneck is crafted from 100 percent genuine cashmerewhich makes its under-$500 price tag all the more impressive. And for those who are fond of under-the-radar details, notice the monochromatic monogram, raglan sleeves, and mock turtleneck, all of which reflect Vince's strategically minimalist point of view. And in the bright green hue, this sweater is what I'd call a rainy-day hero piece, as the bright cactus color will brighten up even the dreariest of gloomy days. Pros: Offered in black, green, and tan; 100 percent cashmere; Comfortable raglan sleeves. Cons: Dry clean or hand wash only. Best Graphic Cashmere Sweater Tory Burch Dip-Dye Cashmere Shrug Add an eclectic pop of neon to your wardrobe with this Tory Burch sweater shrug. This striped cashmere knit is undeniably playful with both its tie-dyed look and asymmetrical knot design. This is a piece that one-of-a-kind dressers with individuality complexes (It's me: I'm that type of dresser who needs to be different) will gravitate towards, as the print is created through a digital printing technique that yields a different, wholly unique result each time. I'd wear this cashmere sweater shrug atop a full-skirt midi dress and with leather mules. Pro: Unique dip-dyed look; Under $500; 100 percent cashmere. Cons: Selling out quickly; Pink colorway Best V-Neck Cashmere Sweater Gentle Herd Striped V-Neck Wool-Cashmere Sweater The subtle stripes, wide v-neck, and relaxed silhouette on Gentle Herd's camel-colored cashmere sweater have me dreaming of pairing it with white tailored pants and a brown chunky loafer for an effortlessly cute fall outfit. It's a great neutral-but-still-interesting piece that I, as an unabashed maximalist, will absolutely be adding to my growing knitwear collection as I stock up ahead of the impending cold-weather months. And at only $115, it leaves plenty of room in my budget to continue shopping for more. Pros: Under $200; A roomy, relaxed fit; Effortlessly polished. Cons: 70 percent wool and 30 percent cashmere; Only offered in S, M, and L; One camel colorway. Best Cashmere Cardigan The Elder Statesman Striped Ribbed Cashmere Cardigan For those unfamiliar with the luxury brand, The Elder Statesman celebrates pristine knitwear craftsmanship, typically through an unapologetically bold perspective. Look to its Cashmere Cardigan in highly-saturated rainbow stripes, for instance. Made of decadent, 100 percent cashmere, it's a conversation-starting sweater that audacious dressers will be fond of. I'd advise pairing it atop a black midi dress and slipping on a pair of lug-sole chunky boots for an outfit that reads, "I'm an enigma: I love neutrals as well as statement wares." Pros: A one-and-done statement; Pure cashmere; Quality materials; Lustrous buttons. Cons: Over $1,500; Dry clean only. Best Cashmere Sweater Vest Jardin des Orangers Cashmere Sweater Vest You can neverI repeat: Never!go wrong with a jewel tone. Intrinsically opulent, the rich hues create a feeling of sartorial sophistication with minimal styling effort required on your part. Jardin des Orangers Cashmere Sweater Vest in verdant emerald green is a prime example of a hard-working jewel tone in action. Here's a tip from me to you that'll make the saturated shade pop even further: Team this sleeveless knit with crisp white separateseither a button-down or sleek trousersfor a sharp contrast. Pros: 100 percent cashmere; Perfect for fall layering; Offered in XL+; True to size; Under $500. Cons: Dry clean only. Saudi and US flags line the King Abdulaziz Road in the Saudi Red Sea port city of Jeddah, on July 14, 2022, ahead of a visit by US President Joe Biden. AMER HILABI/AFP via Getty Images A 72-year-old US citizen was sentenced to 16 years in prison in Saudi Arabia, his son told media. Saad Ibrahim Almadi was arrested for 14 tweets criticizing the Saudi government, his son said. Almadi holds dual US-Saudi citizenship and was living in Florida when he made the tweets. A retired project manager from Florida was tortured and sentenced to 16 years in prison by Saudi Arabia over tweets he made in the US that criticized the Saudi government, his son says. Saad Ibrahim Almadi, 72, holds dual US-Saudi citizenship. He was arrested in November while visiting family in Saudi Arabia and was sentenced earlier this month, according to his son Ibrahim, who first spoke to The Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin in an opinion piece published Sunday. Almadi was arrested for making 14 tweets over the last seven years, including some criticizing corruption and policy decisions in the Saudi government, his son said. The retired project manager also posted a tweet referencing Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi journalist notoriously murdered by his own country's agents in 2018, said Ibrahim, per The Post. Gurbaksh Singh Chahal (@gchahal) October 18, 2022 A State Department spokesperson confirmed to Insider on Wednesday that Almadi had been detained by Saudi Arabia. "We have consistently and intensively raised our concerns regarding this case at senior levels of the Saudi government several times in both Washington and Riyadh and will continue to do so," the spokesperson wrote in an email. "The Saudi government understands the priority we attach to resolving this matter. Exercising the freedom of expression should never be criminalized," they said. Speaking to The Guardian, Ibrahim said Saudi agents kidnapped his father from an airport and detained him in a hotel while searching his phone. Almadi had felt safe traveling to Saudi Arabia for a visit because of his American citizenship and because his tribe had good connections there, Ibrahim told The Guardian. Story continues Almadi was later convicted of harboring a terrorist ideology, trying to destabilize the Saudi kingdom, and supporting and funding terrorism, according to The Post. He was also given a 16-year travel ban on top of his imprisonment, meaning that if the full sentence is carried out, he'd be 87 years old upon his release and 104 years old when he is allowed to return to the US, the outlet reported. Ibrahim accused the Saudi government of torturing his father when his family contacted the US State Department in March, per the Associated Press. He also alleged in his interview with the AP that the State Department had mishandled his father's case by not declaring him a "wrongfully detained" American, which would have elevated the priority of Almadi's case. The US State Department did not respond to Insider's queries on Ibrahim's allegations about the department's handling of Almadi's case. Yet another case in Saudi Arabia's crackdown on dissent Almadi's arrest and sentencing is the second high-profile incident this year in which Saudi Arabia traditionally seen as a US ally handed a lengthy prison sentence to one of its citizens over social media posts they made while abroad. Salma al-Shehab, a Saudi student attending Leeds University in the UK, was sentenced to 34 years in prison for retweeting activists who condemned the Saudi government, The Guardian reported in August. She had a small following herself, with 159 followers on Instagram and fewer than 3,000 followers on Twitter, per the outlet. In another case, Saudi national Nourah bint Saeed al-Qahtani was sentenced to 45 years in prison for her tweets, human rights group Democracy for the Arab World Now said in August. The arrests are generally seen in the West as a crackdown on dissent under the rising Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He's pushed to diversify Saudi Arabia's economy and called for a "more moderate Islam" in his country, but has also been mired in controversy over his hardline approach to criticism. President Joe Biden met with Prince Mohammed in July, when the pair was videoed bumping fists. Critics of Biden's visit to Saudi Arabia said he undermined his 2019 pledge to make Saudi Arabia a "pariah" state in the wake of Khashoggi's assassination. More recently, already tense relations between the US and Saudi Arabia fractured further when the OPEC+ group said earlier this month that they would cut oil production by two million barrels a day in coordination with Russia. The White House called the announcement a "clear" indicator that OPEC+, which includes Saudi Arabia, was "aligning with Russia." "There's going to be some consequences for what they've done, with Russia," Biden said in a CNN interview. Read the original article on Insider Bee Attack Deputies - Credit: Robert Rizzuto/Hampden County Sheriff's Department/AP Photo A woman used bees to help fight an eviction, unleashing a hive on a bunch of sheriffs deputies tasked with booting someone from their home in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. According to Mass Live, the incident took place on Oct. 12, as Hampden County Sheriffs Officers tried to serve eviction papers to a man named Alton King, Jr., who has reportedly been in an eviction battle since 2018. A group of protesters were already at the scene when Rorie Susan Woods, 55, pulled up to the house in an SUV towing a trailer filled with hives and allegedly began shaking them to let the bees out. More from Rolling Stone Deputy Michael Joslyn attempted to stop Woods, who successfully freed one of the hives by breaking the cover, the police report reads, causing hundreds of bees to swarm around. Deputy Joslyn was stung in the face and had to retreat. By all accounts, Woods was extremely prepared to carry out her mission, donning a beekeepers suit to protect herself as she unloaded three more hives near the entrance of the home. The bees even appeared to protect their (other) queen, stinging several officers as they tried to arrest her. Brutal as those bee stings may have been, however, Woods arguably landed the most vicious blow herself. After the cops eventually detained her, and as they were escorting her to the cruiser, one told Woods that he and several of his colleagues were allergic to bees. Oh, youre allergic? Woods replied. Good. (Hampden County Sheriff Nicholas Cocchi said one stung officer was taken to the hospital, but everyone was otherwise fine.) Woods, for her efforts, is facing multiple felony assault and battery charges and, yes, bees apparently qualify as a dangerous weapon as well as disorderly conduct. Shes pleaded not guilty and was released without having to post bail. (The name of Woods lawyer wasnt immediately available.) Story continues Its unclear if Woods has any specific connection to the man who was being evicted, Alton King, Jr, who reportedly owes $1.2 million on his property. But, previous reports indicate that, at the very least, Woods would be very empathetic to those facing eviction. She spent several years trying to fight her own eviction, even joining a lawsuit for people who claimed they were the victims of predatory lending. Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. Wes Moore is on the rise and some of the Democrats close allies already have their sights on more than just the Maryland governors mansion. Moore is poised to become just the third elected Black governor in U.S. history if he holds onto a wide polling lead in Maryland. He may well be the nations only Black chief executive in the country next year. Accomplishing that feat comes with lofty expectations from a Democratic Party hungry for a new generation of leaders. Moore would also enter the governorship under intense scrutiny: a political neophyte promising to usher in an era of transformation in his first elected gig. If such a high-pressure debut seems like cause for caution, his supporters arent tempering their enthusiasm. Moore has racked up a slew of endorsements, including a rare political nod from Oprah Winfrey. Democratic luminaries are drawn to the energy and charisma he displays on the trail running for the states open governorship. Even President Joe Biden chose a Democratic Party event in the Washington, D.C. suburb of Rockville as his unofficial midterm campaign kickoff. There Biden heaped praise on Moore, the former head of the Robin Hood Foundation, the anti-poverty nonprofit, as well as a captain who led troops in the Armys 82nd Airborne Division in Afghanistan. Wes is the real deal. The real deal, folks. Hes a combat veteran. Only drawback is hes a Rhodes Scholar, Biden joked. Former CEO of one of the biggest anti-poverty organizations in America, he continued, and if we all do our part, the next governor of Maryland. And while the president made no mention of his former boss, others in the party cant help but compare Moore, a moderate, to the nations first Black president. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer not-so-subtly reached for not one, but two former presidents as comparisons when asked about Moores experience. Ronald Reagan didn't have much experience before he became the governor of the largest state, except as an actor. Barack Obama had a few years [in the U.S. Senate], said Hoyer, the No. 2 Democrat in the House, deflecting criticisms raised about Moore. Story continues Moores been slammed during the campaign as unequipped to meet Marylands challenges, having never worked in government before, and hes been labeled as a phony by his Republican challenger for being untruthful about how long hes lived in Baltimore, embellishing parts of his biography in his best-selling memoir, The Other Wes Moore. These projections being placed on Moore can be heavy for any candidate, particularly for someone new to the political arena. It also speaks to the rarity of Black candidates getting elected to statewide posts, which are typically seen as a springboard for any future run for the Senate or the White House. The Moore candidacy highlights Democrats craving to find a class of leaders that is younger and more diverse than its current crop of long-tenured party heads, one that can help excite the base. If theres anyone working to tamp down on the torrent of future expectations however, its Moore himself. He has made clear that he plans to serve two terms in office if elected governor. Nodding to that promise, Moore frequently peppers stump speeches and interactions with voters with phrases like, This is truly going to be Maryland's decade. Moore, who turned 44 over the weekend, often redirects talk about his own trailblazing candidacy to more broadly speak about the history-making Democrat ticket hes on. One that includes Aruna Miller, the nominee for lieutenant governor who would be the first woman of color and immigrant elected to statewide office; Brooke Lierman who would be the states first woman comptroller; and Rep. Anthony Brown (D-Md.), running to become the states first Black attorney general. Moore does acknowledge the history hes attempting to make but is quick to pivot to policies he hopes would define his tenure as Marylands chief executive. Its dawned on me, he said in an interview. Its something I do take a sense of pride in. But I also know that the reason that I'm in this race is not to make history, Moore added. The reason I'm in this race is because we want to make child poverty history. We want to make economic inequality history, we want to make the racial wealth gap history. Deval Patrick, the former two-term Massachusetts governor, said he understands the pressure of constant speculation and elevated aspirations from outsiders. Patrick, along with Douglas Wilder of Virginia, are still the only elected Black governors in U.S. history. If I thought that Wes was interested in being governor because he wanted to be something else, I'm not sure I would have taken your call, Patrick, who ran for president in 2020, said in an interview. Patrick has been advising Moore on how to block out the distractions. He doesnt doubt Moore could play a prominent role in the party but says he must keep focused on the task before him. Thats how hell earn future opportunities. You cant let that stuff go to your head, Patrick adds. He's interested in being governor and being the best governor for all Marylanders. That is exactly the kind of person I want to support. And it makes me proud that he is a Black man running for the job. Moore is also running a broad base campaign in a blue state where voters have elected Republican governors in three out of the previous five election cycles. There is stuff for progressives to like and theres stuff for moderates to be comfortable with, said Mileah Kromer, who heads the Sarah T. Hughes Center for Politics at Goucher College, which has conducted public opinion polling on the campaign. Maryland voters dont view Moore as somebody who is going to raise taxes or will ultimately shift to becoming a socialist or far-left candidate once in office, Kromer said. Moores policy positions bear that out. While his Republican challenger has attempted to label him as someone who would defund law enforcement, Moore is calling for boosting resources for state law enforcement agencies. Instead of championing Medicare for All, hes pushing to reduce barriers to Medicaid enrollment for low-income Marylanders. While 36 states are holding gubernatorial elections this fall, only a handful of them feature Black nominees: Stacey Abrams in Georgia, Deidre DeJear in Iowa, Yolanda Flowers in Alabama, Chris Jones in Arkansas, and Moore all Democrats. Aside from Moore, Abrams is the only Democrat within striking distance of their Republican opponent, but she trails incumbent GOP Gov. Brian Kemp by the low single digits in most polls. Moore has largely been untested since winning his primary this summer. While hes laid out detailed policy proposals on improving the states transportation, education system and climate, its unknown how hell respond to challenges including working with the state legislature or dealing with violent crime in places like Baltimore which is on pace to top 300 murders for an eighth straight year, according to database from The Baltimore Sun. But Moore is still operating in comfortable political territory for now. He led by 32 points in a Washington Post/University of Maryland poll out earlier this month. Thats even larger than the advantage Moore had over Republican Dan Cox in aBaltimore Banner/WYPR/Goucher College survey in September where the Democratic nominee was up 22 points. Cox has been disparaged by the states popular, term-limited incumbent Republican Gov. Larry Hogan as a QAnon whack job. Hogan has publicly announced hewont support Cox in the fall. Marylands GOP nominee has called into question the results of the 2020 presidential election and, at last weeks gubernatorial debate, refused to say if hed accept the outcome of his own election against Moore. At this point, it would be similar to saying that before a surgery takes place [deciding] whether or not the surgery went well, Cox said, while also calling for reparations for business owners hurt by lockdowns at the height of Covid-19 pandemic. Cox enjoys the support of former president Donald Trump and held a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago on Monday. Moore, meanwhile, is scheduled to hold a fundraiser with former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton on Thursday. Despite his polling lead and the broad campaign hes running centered around tackling income inequality in the state, with a campaign slogan of leave no one behind some backers are already concerned that Moores every move as the states chief executive will be judged by an even higher standard than usual because of his race. At a campaign stop this month in Capitol Heights, Md., Moore took a tour of the facility of Mary & Main, a Black-owned dispensary, which bills itself as a premium medical cannabis supplier. The aromatic lounge area featured edibles, creams and several flower strains with names such as Georgia Pie, Cake Mix, Cheetah Piss and Gary Payton. The event unfolded the same afternoon that Biden announced pardons for all citizens convicted of simple marijuana possession under federal law. It also took place against the backdrop of Maryland voters considering the Question 4 ballot measure legalizing marijuana for recreational use for adults 21 and older. Its supported by nearly 3 out of 4 voters, according to recent polling. This is a very special moment, Moore told the group about the upcoming election and the prospects of full legalization in Maryland. Currently, only medicinal weed is legal in Maryland. I don't think that's by accident, that in this time that Maryland is going to have a new governor and lieutenant governor, new attorney general and comptroller, that its actually the most appropriate time for our state to be moving forward in this conversation, Moore said. The assembled business owners were excited about Moores visit. This is the first time were going to have a Black man in office, who is a Democrat thats going to talk about cannabis that knows anything about it, Christina Johnson, the CEO of Standard Wellness Maryland, a local cultivator, told Moore. But in an interview, Johnson expressed concern that glitches in how the states recreational program is implemented, which is set to roll out next summer, will likely result in unnecessary blowback for Moore. Wes cannot afford to not have his finger on the pulse of this thing, because he's Black, Johnson said, following the roundtable. Wes [handling of the rollout] is going to be hyper-scrutinized because of the color of his skin, period. With Election Day quickly approaching, some Democrats are cognizant of historic trends that havent always been kind to the party in Maryland. Moore is not the states first Black gubernatorial nominee. The two previous Democratic gubernatorial nominees have also been Black men. Anthony Brown, the current nominee for attorney general, was one of them and ran at the top of the ticket in 2014 after serving two terms as Democrat Gov. Martin OMalleys lieutenant governor. He lost that years election in a surprise upset against then-relatively unknown Larry Hogan, the current governor, who won by roughly 66,000 votes. While Brown says he looks forward to working with a Moore administration, scaling up investigations in the state, particularly on environmental protection issues, he also is mindful of lessons learned from his failed gubernatorial run campaign eight years ago. The lesson learned from 2014 is to focus on core Maryland values, Brown says, which include kitchen table issues like schools, a strong vibrant local economy and strengthening protections within the state on abortion access. So speak to those core values that are important to Marylanders, don't spend a whole lot of time focusing on our polling, Brown says. Chris Cadelago contributed to this report. Amalfi Coast, Italy OCTOBER 19, 2022: Columbia Pictures and Escape Artists commence filming on THE EQUALIZER 3 - the third Robert McCall action thriller film directed by Antoine Fuqua, written by Richard Wenk, based on the television series created by Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim. PICTURED: (L to R) Dakota Fanning, Denzel Washington. Photo by: Stefano Cristiiano Montesi Stefano Cristiiano Montesi; shutterstock Nearly two decades later, Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning are ready for another go. The two actors who costarred in the 2004 Tony Scott movie Man on Fire smiled together in Italy's Amalfi Coast for a photo call ahead of the production of their new movie Equalizer 3, in theaters next September. The sequel also stars Gaia Scodellaro and is again directed by Antoine Fuqua. When Fanning, 28, confirmed her casting news back in June, she reacted on Instagram and called Washington, 67, a "legend": "My gratitude to share the screen once again with the legend of all legends is endless. Can't wait." Her actress sister, actress Elle Fanning, shared a message on her own page, writing, "The reunion to beat all reunions!!!!" In Man on Fire, Fanning played a 9-year-old named Lupita Ramos relying on her former-CIA bodyguard John W. Creasy (Washington) to rescue her after she's kidnapped. It also starred Christopher Walken, Radha Mitchell, Marc Anthony and Mickey Rourke. RELATED: John David Washington Says Dad Denzel Washington Taught Him About Embracing 'the Freedom to Fail' Amalfi Coast, Italy OCTOBER 19, 2022: Columbia Pictures and Escape Artists commence filming on THE EQUALIZER 3 - the third Robert McCall action thriller film directed by Antoine Fuqua, written by Richard Wenk, based on the television series created by Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim. PICTURED: (L to R) Gaia Scodellaro, Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning. Photo by: Stefano Cristiiano Montesi 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. Washington plays Robert McCall in the Equalizer movies, a retired agent who is pulled back into dangerous missions. The first hit theaters in 2014 and a second in 2018. He told Collider earlier this year about prepping to return to the action franchise after his Oscar-nominated turn in The Tragedy of Macbeth, "I gotta get in shape and start beating people up again. I get to beat people up again. The Tragedy of Macbeth and then going and beating some people up can't get any better, right?" Back in 2004, while promoting Man on Fire, Washington praised Fanning and her acting skills, even at that young of an age. Amalfi Coast, Italy OCTOBER 19, 2022: Columbia Pictures and Escape Artists commence filming on THE EQUALIZER 3 - the third Robert McCall action thriller film directed by Antoine Fuqua, written by Richard Wenk, based on the television series created by Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim. PICTURED: (L to R) Gaia Scodellaro, Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning. Photo by: Stefano Cristiiano Montesi Stefano Cristiiano Montesi "She's a sweetheart, as you'll see if you've talked to her already. She's a bright young woman and she's just a joy to be around. You can't not like her," he told IGN at the time. "Dakota is a child, but she is a wonderful actor. And that's what we were doing together: acting. I don't know what a 'child actor' is. She's an actor who's a child." At that same time, a young Fanning told the outlet that Washington "was so nice and I couldn't wait to see him every day." She added, "I want to be like him one day." Equalizer 3 is in theaters Sept. 1, 2023. The post Dawes Announce 2023 North American Tour Dates appeared first on Consequence. Dawes will embark on a North American tour in 2023 in support of their eighth studio album, Julys Misadventures of Doomscroller. Dawes tour next year will kick off in Birmingham, Alabama on March 2nd. The lengthy 30-date run will take them across most regions of the country, hitting cities like Nashville, Chicago, Philadelphia, Houston, Denver, Seattle, and San Fransisco, before they make a grand hometown return for the finale on May 5th at The Theatre at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles. And good news for longtime fans: Were back to the Evening With format, frontman Taylor Goldsmith said in a press release. Two sets. Just us. Long nights. Full hearts. Buy tickets. Come early. Well all have to break out the catalog master lists and bingo cards as we try to get to every song weve got. You can grab pre-sale tickets starting today with the code PUMPKIN. General on-sale follows this Friday, October 21st at 10:00 a.m. local; head over to Ticketmaster to secure your seats. See Dawes full 2023 tour date schedule below. Dawes recently completed a tour supporting The Head and the Heart. Misadventures of Doomscroller follows 2020s Good Luck with Whatever, which featured one of our favorite songs of that year, Didnt Fix Me. Dawes 2023 Tour Dates: 03/02 Birmingham, AL @ Iron City 03/03 Atlanta, GA @ The Eastern 03/04 Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium 03/05 Louisville, KY @ Headliners Music Hall 03/07 Bloomington, IN @ Bluebird 03/08 Cincinnati, OH @ Taft Theatre 03/10 Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall 03/11 Harrisburg, PA @ XL Live 03/12 Washington, DC @ Warner Theatre 03/14 Ridgefield, CT @ Ridgefield Playhouse 03/16 Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore Philadelphia 03/17 Boston, MA @ Roadrunner 03/18 New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre 04/06 Dallas, TX @ The Factory in Deep Ellum 04/07 Houston, TX @ The Heights 04/08 Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater 04/11 Fayetteville, AR @ JJs Live 04/12 St Louis, MO @ The Pageant 04/14 Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre-WI 04/15 St. Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre 04/16 Lawrence, KS @ Liberty Hall 04/18 Wichita, KS @ Wave 04/19 Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre 04/20 South Salt Lake, UT @ The Commonwealth Room 04/22 Seattle, WA @ Neptune Theatre 04/23 Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall 04/26 San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore 04/27 Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern 04/28 Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern 05/05 Los Angeles, CA @ The Theatre at Ace Hotel Story continues Dawes Announce 2023 North American Tour Dates Abby Jones Popular Posts Subscribe to Consequences email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox. (Left to right): Ewan McGregor and Ethan Hawke in Raymond & Ray And now for something completely different: Ethan Hawke and Ewan McGregor starring in a movie about two guys who spend most of the running time talking. Between them, Hawke and McGregor have top-lined dozens of low-key movies, from Reality Bites and the Before trilogy (Sunrise, Sunset, and Midnight) to Beginners and Salmon Fishing In The Yemen. But neither has made anything quite like Raymond And Ray, and theyd never done anything togetheruntil now. Written and directed by Rodrigo Garcia (who guided McGregor in Last Days In The Desert), Raymond And Ray casts Hawke as Ray and McGregor as Raymond, estranged half-brothers who reunite after their fathers death for a sentimental and darkly funny road trip, discovering that pretty much everyone else in their fathers orbitincluding his caregiver (Sophie Okonedo) and his last ex (Maribel Verdu)loved the guy and found him interesting, charming, expressive, and eager to learn more about life and its mysteries. Read more Raymond And Ray is in theaters now, playing in limited release, and will begin streaming on Apple TV+ on October 21. The A.V. Club caught up with Hawke via Zoom for an early morning interview from his Brooklyn home. As the sun shone brightly on his face, and his dogs popped up on screen every few minutes, Hawke discussed collaborating with McGregor on Raymond And Ray, talked about his unpredictable project choices, and shared his excitement about the success of Maya Hawke, the oldest of his four children. The A.V. Club: Lets start with Raymond And Ray. You and Ewan met years ago. You were familiar with each others work. What took so long for you guys to connect on a project, and how did it go? Ethan Hawke: I dont know why it took so long. We were supposed to do a movie together, I want to say sometime right around 2000. It was an Andrew Niccol film we were both attached to, that didnt end up happening. I thought it would happen many times over, but once it did happen, it was absolutely effortless. Hes a consummate pro, Ewan. Hes a classy person. He knows what he wants to do. Hes easy and funny. It extremely benefited the whole film that Ewan and Rodrigo had worked together before, and they had a shorthand. Oddly, Rodrigo was the cameraman on Reality Bites and Great Expectations, so Id known him pretty well when I was younger, and wed followed each other over the years. Wed been on the jury together at Sundance. We each had these different relationships, and then we formed a pretty easy working relationship. Story continues AVC: The movie is a drama and a dark comedy. How tricky was it to thread that needle so the humor didnt detract from the emotional beats? EH: That was one of our biggest jobs, just finding the right tone. Like, Whats the tone of this movie? It sounds a little pretentious to say, but I cant help it. When I first read the script, I thought, Oh, this is like a Chekhov short story or something. What I mean by that is the strange humanness and darkness, combined with eccentricity that is so funny, but rooted in normal human behavior. We are funny, even when we dont mean to be. AVC: Youve done several big projects lately, including The Northman and Moon Knight. How refreshing was it to shoot something modest like Raymond And Ray, which primarily consists of two-hander scenes in a car, in a house, or at a cemetery? EH: It was wonderful. Theres a simplicity to the movie that is the kind of filmmaking that is most generous towards the actor. Its fun to get dressed up as a Viking king and ride horses in the snow. With Marvel, and having that big budget, it was fun, but a lot of things matter beyond the simplicity of acting. Raymond And Ray is such a gentle film, and such a human piece. Ewan was just coming off of Obi-Wan, so the two of us really enjoyed spending 10 minutes in hair and makeup, having no big production value, and just letting it be about real relationships. AVC: One thing Ive always appreciated about your career, and I think a lot of people do, is that nobody knows what youll do next. Is that the dislike of repeating yourself? Is it a thirst to try a bit of everything? EH: I dont know. What an interesting question. I kind of fall back on this expression I heard somebody say one time. An older actor once said to me, One lifetime is not enough to be good at this. If you, in the back of your mind, are seeking learning experiences, then you just gravitate towards something different, something new, something where youre not sure how youll handle it. And now, I just enjoy it. AVC: Whats happening with Revolver, the Beatles-themed movie that would team you up with your daughter, Maya? EH: Maya and I have been talking about movies, acting, performance, music, and writing since she was a little kid. I feel certain that were going to work together soon. I dont know if its going to be Revolver. I dont know where that is. Theyre trying to raise the money to make that movie. I dont even know what the status of it is. AVC: You and another of your kids, Clementine, joined Maya on stage during a concert last month in Hollywood. That must have been a proud dad moment EH: I took her younger sister to go see her in concert. She really wanted to see one of those concerts, so we went to see a couple of them in L.A., and it was a ball. Her new record is absolutely fabulous, and it was fun to see her connecting with her own generation in the way Stranger Things has connected with such a large audience. So many young people love that show, and theyre so passionate about it. I feel excited for her, because theyre all going to get to grow up together. Raymond & Ray Official Trailer | Apple TV+ AVC: Youve been there yourself as a child actor. How do you feel about your children entering the family business? EH: I imagine that its pretty common throughout history. If somebody runs a clothing shop or a pizzeria, oftentimes their kids start running it or start their own restaurant. They have a head start because theyve been watching the business at work, so they understand a lot of the nuances, having seen it as they grow up. Whats wonderful is seeing your kid do what they love to do. Its thrilling to see Maya be so happy and excelling at what she does. I dont care what it is that she does, as long as she loves it and her hearts in it. As far as the other kids, theyre all a little younger, so itll be really interesting to see where they go. They love their big sister more than they love me. Shes a big influence on their psyche, too, now. Whether that pushes them away from the arts because they want to find their own thing, or whether that pushes them towards it, I dont know. AVC: Speaking of children, one of your current projects is the animated series Batwheels, which debuted on HBO Max a few weeks ago. How did that come about? How cool is it to play Batman? EH: To be honest, I love animation, and I have been so grateful for how television is designed for young kidsits the babysitter when you dont have onethat it felt like I should do something. Raising four kids, I spent so much of my life watching shows for young people that I felt it might be amusing to try to do one. FLYING ARMANI: If flying business class with Etihad Airways was already a premium experience, wait to see what it will be with a complete refurnishing by Armani/Casa. The United Arab Emirates national airline unveiled its first luxury collaboration with Armani/Casa, set to be inaugurated onboard in December. More from WWD The new look, named The Constellation Collection, is inspired by the stars and was designed together with Giorgio Armani. In addition to seats and furnishing, the partnership will include cutlery and serving ware, all labeled Armani/Casa in the airlines business class. Tony Douglas, group chief executive officer of Etihad, said: [Today] we unveil a completely new and elevated way to fly with Etihad Airways an experience defined by our Emirati heritage yet shaped by a clear vision for our future. Known globally for its Italian luxury and elegance, Armani/Casa is the ideal brand partner to create an unparalleled level of bespoke service and refinement for our guests. The collection uses fine textiles and was inspired by the color palette that reflects the surroundings of Abu Dhabi; the dark green is reminiscent of the regions date palm trees, aquamarine represents the color of the mangroves and slate gray can be seen in Abu Dhabis skyline. In addition, the new design features a matching pillowcase and duvet set with Armani/Casa signature designs and guests on longer flights will benefit from the airlines new innovative memory foam mattress. The matching pillowcase and duvet set from the partnership between Etihad Airways and Armani Casa. The restyling was designed in line with Etihads commitment to sustainability. The materials used have reduced equipment weight by up to 10 percent, resulting in less fuel burn and emissions. Etihad Airways is one the worlds leading airlines and one of two flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates. In 2018, the airline company teamed with Acqua di Parma to provide its first class guests with an exclusive range of amenity bags such as body lotion, shower gel, hand cream, shampoo and conditioner and a lip balm. Story continues Best of WWD Click here to read the full article. (from left) George Clooney and Julia Roberts in Ol Parkers Ticket To Paradise. It would be easy to shrug away Ticket To Paradise as something mild and airy that goes down smoothan easy pick for an airplane watch, or if youre ever stuck in a hotel with basic cable. But you will find no such pussyfooting here. This movie stinks, truly stinks, and the fact that it had the component parts to be a winner makes it all the more frustrating. George Clooney and Julia Roberts, the last among a certain kind of Hollywood A-lister, play estranged couple David and Georgia. He is an architect, or something, because we see him stomping around a construction site with a hardhat, and its unlikely that hes tying steel. We see Georgia at her enormous L.A. gallery, mocking the modern art that shes selling. (I think its upside down, she says. I believe I saw a similar gag on The Flintstones.) The point is they are both super successful, but we never see them talking about their work and theyve got the time to disappear for a while without checking in or taking meetings or anything. I can barely do that and I write about movies on the internet, for Gods sake, thats a notch below dog catcher. Read more Their daughter Lily (Kaitlyn Dever) has just graduated from law school, so as a gift to herself before starting work at a big firm shes taking her best pal Wren (Billie Lourd) on a trip to Bali. (Wren is bringing an enormous supply of multi-colored condoms.) While there, Lily becomes enchanted by a hunky seaweed farmer (it happens!) named Gede (Maxime Bouttier), and soon thereafter she sends a message back to her parents: Im getting married. While David and Georgia truly cant stand to be in the same room together, they agree to present a united frontthey will fly to Bali and try and knock some sense into their daughter. They concoct the strategy to appear to be cool with the decision, but sow seeds of doubt. Story continues Theres nothing about this that isnt fertile ground for a good old fashioned screwball comedy. The problem is that director Ol Parker, who co-wrote the screenplay with Daniel Pipski, seems completely allergic to jokes. Bring a microscope with you to a screening of Ticket to Paradise and report back if you can find anything funny. Is Dever shouting Dad, youre embarrassing me!! while Clooney mugs and shakes his rump to C+C Music Factory considered humor? Maybe to those who have given up on movies it is. Clooney, it has well been established, has comedy chops, but theres only so much he can do with no written material. He contours his voice and smirks, weaving his head to put as much spin as he can on barbs and would-be witticisms, but this gets tiresome after about 10 minutes. His zings at his ex-wife eventually paint him as an unlikable jerk. Roberts abundant natural charisma is lost, unfortunately, when shes portraying just another wealthy white woman in paradise. Kaitlyn Dever, so very funny in Booksmart, has a one-note character here: she is defined by being in love with her new boyfriend. Why? Well, hes handsome, and he seems committed to a mellow life harvesting seaweed in a very photogenic spot. Hes also madly in love with her, but hes got even less motivation. Shes straight-up boring, and you need to figure that vacationing college grads come in by the busloads, no? Theres nothing about her that stands out. If anything, Billie Lourds character has 10 times the personality (and dresses with more panache, too.) It just feels like someone sketched they are in love on a first draft of this screenplay and never got back around to filling it in. Ticket to Paradise | Official Trailer [HD] The Bali of Ticket To Paradise is a joke. Most of the movie is set at a luxe resort, except for an engagement party thrown by Reges extended family. Here we get a surface view of Balinese culture, seen only on a beach. We see no real life. No one goes to a grocery store in this movie. Theres no depth, other than everyone is saintly. Here was an opportunity to dig in to a fascinating culture (google Balinese monkey chant) and present it against modernity, and we got nothing. And while its obvious that David and Georgia (and we, the audience) are meant to ultimately support this marriage, no one bothers to ask basic questions. What is she going to do there? Her career plans have gone from the legal world to hanging out. Can a couple live on love and seaweed alone? Ticket To Paradise already opened in Europe and is doing quite well, and this years The Lost City, while a bit more high concept (and entertaining), shows that comedies with A-listers with advancing age can still draw people to the theater. The location photography in this one is certainly pleasant (each character has their own Ive never seen anything more gorgeous moment) so the fault here really lies with the writing and direction. Its as if everyone made this movie about the joy of being on vacationwhile also taking one. An ad from Republican Doug Mastriano uses stock footage that appears to be from Belarus. Facebook/Doug Mastriano campaign An ad posted by the Doug Mastriano campaign uses footage previously featured in Russian propaganda. The stock footage of two young girls appears to have come from a videographer in Belarus. In July, a Russian embassy used the footage in an ad encouraging people to move to Russia. Over the summer, as its soldiers were bogged down in a war that has made their nation an international pariah, Russia's embassy in Spain posted a video on Twitter encouraging people to move to their country, boasting that newcomers would enjoy a land of traditional values free from "cancel culture." Doug Mastriano, a state senator and the Republican nominee for governor in Pennsylvania, is promising voters in his state much the same thing, his campaign centering the candidate's opposition to transgender rights and anti-racist pedagogy. And in a new ad, the GOP candidate who won his May primary after a late endorsement from former President Donald Trump even features an image from the same photoshoot used by the Russian government. Posted on Monday, the ad features two blonde girls holding hands. "For their future," it reads, "there is hope." Visitors to the Mastriano campaign's Facebook page will see it featured as the header. But the girls are not Pennsylvanians and they are not in Pennsylvania. Insider was able to track the image back to Pexels, a company based in Germany that offers a repository of free stock photos and videos. It was posted by a videographer who lists their location as Minsk, the capital of Belarus. In July, a Russian embassy posted video encouraging people to "move to Russia." Twitter/Russian Embassy in Spain It is not the first time that the campaign appears to have used stock footage from the site. In late September, Mastriano who has spread conspiracy theories about the 2020 election and false claims about vaccines posted a four-minute video on YouTube that features him speaking over stock footage from Russia, Poland, and Belarus that a liberal super PAC also traced back to Pexels, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Similarly, a recent video released by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, stressing the GOP's "Commitment to America," also relied on stock footage from Russia and Ukraine. Story continues Democrats have also used questionable stock footage in their ads. In North Carolina, for example, a Democratic candidate in 2016 ran an ad featuring testimonials from ostensible voters who were in fact stock-photo models; their Republican opponent likewise ran an ad about their commitment to disadvantaged children that featured kids in Africa, per The Washington Post. The allure of stock footage especially, of course, the free variety is money. The Shapiro campaign is flush with it, having $11 million in the bank after already spending $44 million on ads. Mastriano, by contrast, has relatively little of it: he has spent less than $3 million and has just under $2.6 million left. In recent weeks, Mastriano and his staffer, Jenna Ellis, a former lawyer for the Trump campaign, have complained of a lack of financial support from national Republicans, namely the Republican Governors Association. Those complaints have come as Mastriano has been mired in controversy over his associations, with the candidate recently campaigning with Jack Posobiec, a far-right conspiracy theorist who previously claimed that leading Democrats were part of a pedophile ring that operated inside a pizza parlor in Washington, DC. Mastriano has also praised Andrew Torba, an anti-Semite and self-styled Christian nationalist, paying $5,000 to Torba's social media company, Gab, in "consulting" fees. The Republican nominee later distanced himself from Gab following criticism from Jewish and Republican leaders, only to then accept a $500 donation from Torba himself. Another controversy was sparked after Reuters uncovered Mastriano donning a Confederate uniform while a serving as an instructor at the US Army War College. "From constantly lying about the 2020 election and peddling dangerous conspiracies, to repeatedly using Russian propaganda in his videos, Doug Mastriano's skulduggery knows no bounds and it is further proof that he his unfit to be governor of Pennsylvania," Manuel Bonder, a spokesperson for Democratic candidate Josh Shapiro, said in a statement to Insider. Mastriano did not respond to a request for comment. Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com Read the original article on Business Insider Iran sends drone trainers to Crimea in latest sign of deepening relations between the country and Russia People demonstrate outside the Iranian embassy in Ukraine on October 17, 2022 in Kyiv, after the city was hit by swarms of kamikaze drones sold by Iran to Russia, leaving at least three dead. Photo by SERGEI CHUZAVKOV/AFP via Getty Images Iran sent personnel to Russia train Russian soldiers in flying Iranian drones, according to US officials. The move signals an increasing closeness between Moscow and Tehran. Russia in recent days has used the Iranian drones in a series of attacks throughout Ukraine. Iran sent military personnel to Crimea to help train Russian forces in operating the Iranian-acquired drones that Russia has deployed in recent attacks throughout Ukraine, according to media reports. The Iranian trainers' arrival at a Russian military base in occupied Crimea signals a deepening relationship between Iran and Russia following the latter's purchase of a fleet of drones from the former amid the ongoing war. The Daily Mirror was the first to report the presence of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps specialists in Crimea earlier this week, and The New York Times, CNN, and several other outlets confirmed their presence on Tuesday citing US officials familiar with classified intelligence. A spokesperson with the State Department declined to comment on "purported intelligence leaks," but stressed that the agency has been warning since July that Iran was planning to give weapons to Russia for use against Ukraine. "There is abundant evidence that Iranian UAVs have been used to attack Ukrainian civilians and military targets, although Iran continues to lie shamelessly about its involvement," the spokesperson told Insider. "The presence of Iranian trainers on the ground in Russian-occupied Ukraine would further implicate Iran in assisting Russia's unprovoked and brutal war, including attacks on Ukrainian civilians." Russia in recent days has relied on Iranian drones in a series of attacks targeting civilian and electrical infrastructure. Russia's initial acquisition of the weapons signaled an increasing closeness to Iran, and the reported deployment of elite forces to Crimea is yet another sign of Tehran's growing influence in the war. "Sending drones and trainers to Ukraine has enmeshed Iran deeply into the war on the Russian side and involved Tehran directly in operations that have killed and injured civilians," Mick Mulroy, a former senior Pentagon official and retired CIA officer, told The Times. Story continues It was not immediately clear how many Iranian trainers had arrived in Crimea or whether they remain at the same base where most of the drones have resided since arriving from Iran. One intelligence source told CNN that "dozens" of Iranian personnel had been sent. According to officials, Russia first began testing and using the drones in August, but due to user error, experienced several failures with the weapons. Russia initially sent its operatives to Iran to remedy the errors, but Iran in recent weeks has opted instead to send its trainers into Crimea, according to reports. The Iranian elite forces are stationed in Crimea far from the fighting and are primarily focused on training Russian soldiers in flying the drones, The Times reported. It is not clear if Iranian personnel are flying the aircraft themselves. Iran provided Russia with two types of drones, including Shaheds, which have a range of more than 1,000 miles and are meant to explode and destroy targets, and the Mohajer-6, which are often used for surveillance and carry missiles. US officials have cited Russia's reliance on Iran for drones as proof that Western sanctions are effectively curtailing Russia's ability to replenish its weapon stocks, several outlets said. But Russia has still managed to wreak terror throughout Ukraine in recent days as the country launched a bombardment of suicide drones and strikes that have left several people dead and civilian infrastructure devastated. Read the original article on Business Insider LaKeith Stanfield (Atlanta) and Omar Sy (Lupin) are set to star in the next film from The Harder They Fall filmmaker Jeymes Samuel, a project called The Book of Clarence, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap. Legendary has acquired the rights to produce the film, with James Lassiter, Shawn Carter and Tendo Nagenda all attached as producers. Nagenda, who recently exited Netflix, previously oversaw production on The Harder They Fall at the streamer, and this is the second time that Lassiter, Carter and Samuel have collaborated following that feature. Plot or even genre details for The Book of Clarence are being kept under wraps. However, Samuel will write, direct, produce and also compose for the new film, which will be his third feature following his Jonathan Majors-starring neo-Western from last year and They Die By Dawn. Also Read: Atlanta Season 4 Review: Donald Glovers Series Comes Full Circle in Final Season Stanfield currently stars on the fourth and final season of Atlanta and will next be seen in Disneys Haunted Mansion. He also previously starred in Samuels The Harder They Fall. Sy currently stars on Netflixs Lupin and had a film Father and Soldier premiere at Cannes this year ahead of a French release later this year. Hell next be seen in Lionsgates Shadow Force and Peacocks The Killer. Jeymes Samuel is represented by CAA and Matthew Johnson and Greg Slewett at Johnson, Shapiro, Slewett and Kole. LaKeith Stanfield is represented by CAA, Stark Management and Ginsburg Daniels Kallis. Omar Sy is represented by CAA and Agence Adequat in France, as well as attorney Warren Dern at Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern. Deadline first reported the news. Also Read: Haunted Mansion': First Footage From Star-Studded Disney Ride Movie Debuts at D23 2024 offensive lineman Jo Cryer has received an offer from the Nebraska Cornhusksers. After a great conversation with @DonovanRaiola Im blessed to receive an offer from Nebraska University, Cryer tweeted. Cryer attends Many High School in Many, LA. He is listed at 64 and 290 pounds. Both On3 and Rivals grade Cryer as a three-star recruit. On3 ranks him as the 65th-best inside offensive lineman in the 2024 class. He has also received offers from Michigan State, Memphis, and Louisiana Tech. Cryer is a continuation of Nebraskas aggressive recruiting in the state of Louisiana. Nebraskas top 2023 commit is wide receiver Omarion Miller, who is from Vivian, LA. Cryer is the third 2024 recruit in the state to receive an offer from Nebraska joining wide receivers Joshua Jackson and Elijah Garrick. After a great conversation with @DonovanRaiola Im blessed to receive an offer from Nebraska University #GBR #huskers pic.twitter.com/X24G2Xu2JG Joseph Big Hoss Cryer77 (@JoBighossCryer) October 19, 2022 Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinion. Let us know your thoughts, and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today! List Big Ten West Standings After Week 7 Big Ten West standings Story originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire Jordan Peele on the set of Nope Nopethe latest wholly original, thought-provoking spine-tingler from Oscar-winning writer-director Jordan Peelecomes to Blu-ray next week, meaning the film, which was shot on IMAX cameras, will now squeeze onto TVs for home viewing. Though its not the ideal way to view his sci-fi chiller, Peele has made peace with that fact. When Im making a movie, I am thinking about the fact that it is a theatrical thing, Peele told io9 over video chat. Im trying to make an experience that the audience can be loud in and theyre going to relate to each other. But its also in the back of my mind that, you know, a lot of the way people are going to watch it is [on DVD or Blu-ray]. So I dont think it takes away from the cinematic experience at all. And in fact, theres some great special features, including a documentary and some great bonus scenes. Read more Emerald wearing an enviable Jesus Lizard t-shirt. Nope star Keke Palmer, who plays the quick-thinking Emerald Haywood, agreed. I think Nope is one of those movies that is a twofold [experience], she said. There is the version where its like, yes, see it in IMAX and get that experience. But to me its also one of those movies that youre going to watch over and over and over again, that you will probably watch once a year for more reasons than one, whether its the action or the feeling you had when you first saw it in the theater, or just the fact that at the heart of it, its a brother and sister story. So I think the cinematic relevance from IMAX, it does travel home in a different way. Nopes alien invasion tale takes a different tone from others in the genre. Its definitely not a heartwarming Spielberg sort of story, but its also far more than just the tale of a villainous ET targeting the human race. Very early on, I reached out to Keke before I was finished with the script in any kind of regard, I believe, or maybe I had a very early draft, and she very much latched on to what I thought was amazing about this. [Nope] was a bit of a throwback of an idea of what a film could be, Peele said. So it was ambitious, it was epic, and had this idea of being a blockbuster in mind, but was also trying to tell a story that is about heart in its centerpiece. And so we talked about that, and we talked about how exciting it was to be able to be Black people talking about something that ambitious. Story continues Palmer felt the same. Obviously, what Spielberg brings is iconic, but what makes it Jordan Peele is the fact that its not what you think it is. That was also the twist that I loved when I read it, because I had an idea of where the story was goingnot only of where I thought my character was going, but also where I thought the spectacle was going. And I think that kind of flips the whole concept on its head just in general[when] in our society we see something and we tell the story, and it couldnt be further from the truth. We couldnt let Peele and Palmer escape without asking them their favorite scary movies to watch during the Halloween season. For Palmer, its A Nightmare on Elm Street (Freddys my guy!); her first guess for Peele was The Nightmare Before Christmas I love Henry Selick, Peele agreed, nodding to his upcoming role in Wendell & Wildbut then she declared its going to be something really obscure, which it was. Shout out to Japanese independent horror, circa the early 2000s! Theres a movie called The Suicide Club, Peele said, that I would watch right now. Its really scary. Nope arrives on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD on October 25. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel and Star Wars releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about House of the Dragon and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Play is so important, even in times of tragedy. Now, the kids and community of Uvalde, Texas, will have a new place to play and have fun, thanks in part to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle! Through their Archewell Foundation, the Sussexes helped support the DeLeon Park Playground Project to build a new playground near Robb Elementary School, where 19 students and two teachers died in the May 2022 school shooting. It has been an honor to support the children and families in Uvalde design and build this amazing space where the community can come together, said James Holt, Executive Director of Archewell Foundation, in a statement. Our hope is that this special project can help the community heal, and be home to imagination, games and play for many years to come. More from SheKnows Uvalde kids at DeLeon Park Build Day Meghan and Harrys Archewell Foundation partnered with the City of Uvalde and KABOOM!, an organization that builds kid-designed playspaces. The goal is to provide a sense of hope for the Uvaldve community that has come together to recover after the tragedy at Robb Elementary School that impacted the lives of the entire community on May 24, according to a recent press release. The new playground is located at DeLeon Park, which is just four blocks from Robb Elementary. This project was led by the community, including kids, who shared their ideas for the playground during Design Workshops in August. The most common requests included slides, swings, merry-go-rounds, and tetherballs. Click here to read the full article. It warms my heart to see everyone unify to bring hope and positive change for our community and children by helping to build this special playground, said community member Mayra Vasquez in the release. Im excited to see many families come together to work out, have family gatherings, and allow our kids to release energy and have fun at the end of the day. Story continues KABOOM! CEO Lysa Ratliff and Archewell Executive Director James Holt with volunteers at DeLeon Park Build Day Mayor Don McLaughlin said in a statement, Uvalde has a long road ahead to recover, but this is a resilient and close-knit community. Coming together to build the new playground at DeLeon Park has given community members a way to unite around something positive as they try to heal. He added, We are grateful for the rallying of support from KABOOM!, Archewell, and others who are committed to the long-term health and well-being of the kids and families in Uvalde. Playgrounds bring joy to the community, but especially to the kids who are experiencing trauma in the aftermath of the deadly school shooting. This is a place where they can run, laugh, swing, slide, play games, and just have fun which is such a vital part of childhood and life in general. The Uvalde community has experienced an unthinkable tragedy, said Lysa Ratliff, CEO of KABOOM!, in a statement. Throughout our history we have experienced the healing power of coming together, and of play. Our hope is that our work can play a small role in helping the community build toward their future. KABOOM! is also committed to building beyond DeLeon Park and is actively raising the resources to address the broader playspace needs in Uvalde. We are ready to work in partnership and in bold new ways to ensure that all kids and families in Uvalde have a great place to play. That works starts today, and continues until playspace equity is achieved. Meghan Markle recently shared the profound impact of Queen Elizabeth's passing. https://t.co/rOFVVRHtvr SheKnows (@SheKnows) October 19, 2022 This isnt the first time the couple has shown support for the community of Uvalde. Back in May, Meghan Markle made a low-key visit to the Texas city to pay respects at the memorial set up outside the Uvalde County Courthouse. According to PEOPLE, this visit was done in a personal capacity as a mother, to offer her condolences and support in-person to a community experiencing unimaginable grief. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who themselves are parents to Archie, 3, and Lilibet, 1, created the Archewell Foundation to uplift and unite communities through acts of compassion. They founded it in Dec. 2021 with a special message that read in part: We believe in the best of humanity. Because we have seen the best of humanity. We have experienced compassion and kindness, from our mothers and strangers alike. In the face of fear, struggle and pain, it can be easy to lose sight of this. Together, we can choose to put compassion in action. We invite you to join us as we work to build a better world, one act of compassion at a time. What an inspiration! Even royal kiddos love to be read to! Here are some of their favorites. Launch Gallery: All the Times Meghan Markle Has Gotten Candid About the Joys and Challenges of Parenting Best of SheKnows Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Reuters ROMEDespite condemning Russias invasion of Ukraine, Italys long-serving politician Silvio Berlusconi has spoken out about rekindling his most unusual bromance with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Berlusconi, who has just been voted back into power as part of a far-right coalition set to take office this month, was caught on audio tape admitting that despite criticizing Putin after the invasion began, he accepted a birthday present from him on his 86th birthday on Sept. 29. I have reconnected with President Putin, Berlusconi said, according to an audio tape that has circulated in Italian media. He sent me 20 bottles of vodka and a really sweet letter for my birthday. I responded with 20 bottles of Lambrusco and a similarly sweet letter. Berlusconi previously appeared to defend Moscow in the audio recording, noting that Russian ministers have complained about being on the outs with Italians because were giving Ukraine weapons and financing. I personally cannot express my opinion, because if I tell it to the press, there will be a catastrophe, but I am very, very, very worried, he was quoted saying in Russian media. It is not, of course, the first time the two leaders have exchanged gifts during their high-profile friendship. Berlusconi also gifted a bizarre duvet featuring a portrait of the two leaders to the Russian president for his birthday in 2017. And it is hard to forget the infamous sex scandal when admitted escort, Patrizia DAddario, taped Berlusconi telling her to, Wait for me on the big bed. Putins, the one with the curtains. Putins daughters were also hosted on a yacht by Berlusconis Russian-speaking daughter Barbara in 2002, and the Italian leader has also been a guest at Putins Black Sea resort many times before the invasion. So close were the two men that they were the subject of a number of Wikileaks cables, in which the U.S. wrote, Berlusconi admires Putin's macho, decisive, and authoritarian governing style, which the Italian PM believes matches his own. Story continues Berlusconis camp denied the two had rekindled, and a spokesman told The Daily Beast that Berlusconi supports his coalition partners in their desire to continue to support Ukraine, but shortly before the Sep. 25 election, Berlusconi told an Italian television talk show that Putin was being vilified. The troops were supposed to enter, reach Kyiv within a week, replace Zelenskyys government with decent people and then leave, he said. His party released a statement backtracking. The position of Forza Italia and President Silvio Berlusconi with respect to the Ukrainian conflict and Russian responsibilities is known to all and is in line with the position of Europe and the United States, reaffirmed on several public occasions, his party said in a statement on their website. There are no margins of ambiguity, nor have there ever been. 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. A drone flies over Kyiv during an attack on October 17, 2022. SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images; Insider Russia on Tuesday denied deploying Iran-made suicide drones to attack Ukraine. The claim contradicted photo evidence as well as assessments by the US and UK. The drones killed multiple civilians in Ukraine, far from the battlefield, officials said. Russia on Tuesday denied using "suicide drones" supplied by Iran to attack Ukraine, the day after photos showed it doing just that. Dmitri Peskov, the spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, used a press briefing to reject the suggestion that Russia was deploying Iranian gear. "Russian equipment with Russian nomenclature is used," he said, according to the Reuters news agency. "All further questions should be directed to the Defence Ministry." The claim sits uneasily with evidence from the strikes on Monday, as well as assessments from US and UK intelligence agencies. A Russian drone is seen during a Russian drone strike, in Kyiv, Ukraine October 17, 2022. REUTERS/Roman Petushkov Photos of the skies over Kyiv showed the distinctive delta-shaped Shahed-136 drones heading for targets in the capital, a target far from the frontlines which Russia has nonetheless prioritized in recent days. Striking photos from the AFP news agency showed one of the drones less than 100ft from the ground before hitting a target, while other imagery presented a more distant view. A composite photo showing a drone in the sky in Kyiv and the aftermath of it hitting in Kyiv, Ukraine, on October 17, 2022. YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images; Insider The White House yesterday said that the drones used were Shahed-136 models. It also dismissed efforts by Iran to deny that it had supplied the weapons to Russia, directly accusing Iran's officials of lying. State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said Monday that Russia's drone operators are being trained in Iran. Britain's Ministry of Defence also said that Shahed-136 drones had been used in Ukraine, identifying them in an assessment published Tuesday. And US intelligence officials told The Washington Post in a Sunday report that Iran has agreed to send more weapons to Russia, including surface-to-surface missiles and more drones. Per Reuters, at least one wrecked drone found in Ukraine had been labelled with a Russian name, Geran-2, instead of Shahed-136, perhaps bearing out Peskov's claim of equipment with "Russian nomenclature" being used. Story continues The drones are an attractive weapon for Russia because they are simple, have a long range and are relatively cheap, as Insider's Jake Epstein reported. The drones are also slow and low flying, which makes them relatively easy to shoot down. But Russia can send many at once, leaving Ukraine's options for responding limited. The drones killed multiple civilians in Kyiv on Monday, officials said. Ukraine's first lady, Olena Zelenska, on Monday attributed one of the deaths directly to an Iranian drone, publishing a photograph of a woman called Vika. Per Zelenska, she was killed by drone strike along with her husband and their unborn child. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said five people were killed when the drones hit Kyiv on Monday, including an elderly woman found in the rubble. The EU said it will investigate Iran's role and will sanction Iran if it find that its military is backing Russia. Denmark also said that Iranian drones were used, with its foreign minister saying on Monday: "Iranian drones are used apparently to attack in the middle of Kyiv, this is an atrocity." Read the original article on Business Insider Former Oath Keeper was prepared to fight and 'die' for Trump on Jan. 6, he says A former member of the Oath Keepers testified Tuesday that he believed he and other members of the far-right group were preparing to fight to prevent President Joe Biden from taking office as they traveled to Washington on Jan. 6 -- an account that the federal government believes bolsters its case as it seeks to convict five Oath Keepers of the rarely-used charge of seditious conspiracy. Jason Dolan, 46, pleaded guilty more than a year ago to conspiracy and obstructing an official proceeding and he entered into a cooperation agreement with the government against the militia group. As part of his plea, Dolan admitted that when he traveled to Washington, he brought an M4 rifle that he left at a hotel in Arlington, Virginia, on Jan. 6, 2021; and that he was part of the so-called "stack" formation of Oath Keepers that was seen climbing the east steps of the Capitol during the insurrection. Dolan is the first cooperating witness from the Oath Keepers to take the stand against five members of the group currently standing trial on charges of seditious conspiracy and a host of other alleged felonies. Among the accused is Stewart Rhodes, the group's founder. The five have pleaded not guilty. The trial is now in its third week and is expected to stretch well into November. Dolan, who served in the Marines for 20 years before retiring, testified on Tuesday that he was an alcoholic and grew increasingly radicalized in 2020 as he watched videos and online content pertaining to the presidential election. He said he found the Florida chapter of the Oath Keepers as he was looking for ways to "vent" about Donald Trump's loss to Biden and then discovered the group, made up mostly of former military and members of law enforcement. MORE: Oath Keepers discussed possibility of 'blood in the streets' on Jan. 6, FBI agent testifies Prosecutors showed texts from Dolan -- sent via Signal, an encrypted service -- to other Florida Oath Keepers where he openly discussed being prepared to resort to violence to prevent Biden from taking office in January 2021. Story continues "If I'm lucky I get a prison sentence, tagged with treason, or a bullet from the very people I would protect," Dolan wrote in one message, according to what was shown in court. Under questioning from the government, Dolan said he believed he was mentally preparing himself at the time to fight and "back up my words with actions." Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Nestler asked Dolan about a late-December 2020 message from Rhodes to the group where Rhodes stated, "We need to push T[r]ump to do his duty. If he doesn't, we will do ours." Dolan said he believed Rhodes meant specifically in the message that if Trump wasn't going to act then the Oath Keepers would have to be willing to resist an "illegitimate government." "There was a feeling our country was slipping out of our fingers, and we needed to defend our country," Dolan said. "Conquer or die." The government then showed the jury Dolan's M4 assault rifle that he stored at a Virginia hotel on Jan. 6 and asked him directly if he was preparing to use it to take up arms against the government. Dolan answered, "Yes." He later said he brought "hundreds" of rounds of ammunition with him on the drive from Florida. PHOTO: Demonstrators attempt to enter the U.S. Capitol building during a protest in Washington, D.C., Jan. 6, 2021. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images, FILE) He said that he and other members stored their firearms at a hotel just outside Washington with the understanding that if then-President Trump invoked the Insurrection Act, they'd be able to bring their weapons into the city to work alongside pro-Trump forces in the government against people opposed to Trump. "You would be fighting with pro-Trump forces basically against pro-Biden forces within the United States government?" Nestler asked. "Yes," Dolan said. Asked more directly, Dolan said that Oath Keepers believed if Trump didn't stop the certification of Biden's victory by invoking the Insurrection Act, then they would have to take matters into their own hands. "That we will -- we will act to stop the certification of the election now, by any means necessary," Dolan said. "That's why we brought our firearms." Defense attorneys throughout the trial have denied the group ever planned to use weapons stored near the Capitol to attack the government and that so-called "quick reaction forces" were meant to be defensive in nature, if the group was to come under attack by anti-Trump protesters. MORE: Ex-Oath Keeper says 'many weapons' were stored outside capital during Jan. 6 attack Dolan testified Tuesday that when he and others were outside the Capitol, the mood grew furious as they learned then-Vice President Mike Pence had refused to delay certification of the election. "I think you kind of felt a palpable feeling where the crowd went from being [a] pretty, pretty happy, joyful crowd to a pretty pissed off crowd," Dolan said. "You could almost feel the crowd change." Three of the five Oath Keepers on trial -- Kenneth Harrelson, Kelly Meggs and Jessica Watkins -- entered the Capitol on Jan. 6; the other two, Thomas Caldwell and Rhodes, the founder, did not. But prosecutors have alleged Caldwell and Rhodes were key in the planning and organizing. Dolan testified that when people were preparing to climb the steps of the Capitol, he heard members of the pro-Trump mob begin to chant, "Oath Keepers, Oath Keepers," which he said "felt pretty neat" in that the group was seemingly being called up to help. He said he joined the crowd in chants of "treason, treason" because he truly believed that's what members of Congress had done in certifying the election. He wanted them to feel afraid of him, he said -- and so be "scared into doing the right thing." Former Oath Keeper was prepared to fight and 'die' for Trump on Jan. 6, he says originally appeared on abcnews.go.com As former Trump adviser Tom Barrack begins his defense in his ongoing criminal trial on charges that he illegally lobbied Trump's presidential campaign and his subsequent administration on behalf of the United Arab Emirates, his defense team is planning to call former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to testify, government attorneys said Wednesday. Mnuchin would be the latest high-profile witness to appear in the trial, which has been underway for nearly a month in Brooklyn, New York, after former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson testified earlier this month. The revelation came just before federal prosecutors rested their case against Barrack Wednesday morning. MORE: Trump's 1st secretary of state testifies he never asked Tom Barrack to 'conduct any diplomacy' for US The government's high-profile case at times offered a glimpse into the workings of former President Donald Trump's inner circle during the 2016 campaign and the early days of his administration, including their contacts with foreign officials. Trump associates including Paul Manafort, Jared Kushner, and Rick Gates have all been mentioned over the course of the trial. Prosecutors accuse Barrack, a Los Angeles-based businessman and longtime Trump associate, of acting as a foreign agent for the UAE from 2016 to 2018 yet failing to register with the Department of Justice, which they say constitutes a crime. They also allege Barrack lied when federal agents interviewed him in 2019 about his relationship with the small Persian Gulf nation. Barrack was arrested in California in July 2021 and has pleaded not guilty to the charges. His trial began in September. Barrack's attorneys, who during opening arguments dismissed the government's case as "ridiculous," will now present his defense, which they have indicated will feature numerous witnesses. PHOTO: Tom Barrack leaves Brooklyn federal court on Oct. 3, 2022, in New York. (Yuki Iwamura/AP) The government concluded its case Wednesday after testimony on Tuesday from one of Barrack's former employees, Justin Chang, who described his firm's international business operations. Chang testified that two UAE sovereign wealth funds had committed to invest nearly $400 million into a fund tied to Barrack's company around the time that prosecutors said Barrack was acting as an agent of the UAE. Story continues But Chang also said it was common for Barrack's company, Colony Capital, and many others in the industry to seek investments from UAE sovereign wealth funds, describing them as some of the largest in the world. "Lots of people talk to sovereign wealth funds," Chang said. The majority of the government's case rested on hundreds of Barrack's emails and text messages, which prosecutors and witnesses read aloud to the jury over several days. The correspondences showed Barrack and his aide, Matthew Grimes, arranging meetings with senior UAE government officials to discuss policy initiatives over the course of several months. MORE: Trump inauguration head pleads not guilty to being foreign agent "You are the only direct channel to the candidate and no one else," Barrack's UAE contact, Rashid Al Malik, told Barrack in one email regarding Trump. Al Malik is also charged in the case but is currently at large. The attorney for Grimes, who is also a defendant in the case and has pleaded not guilty, has argued that Grimes was acting in an assistant role under the control of Barrack, not the UAE. "A foreign agent is not the person who packs and carries the luggage ... or babysits the children," attorney Abbe Lowell said. Tillerson testified for the prosecution that he had no knowledge of Barrack's contacts with the UAE and that he never asked Barrack to engage in diplomacy on behalf of the United States. But Tillerson also conceded there were conversations about foreign policy that he was not a part of, including discussions between Trump and his son-and-law, Jared Kushner, who Tillerson said was also in communication with government officials. Editor's Note: This story has been updated. Former Trump ally Tom Barrack planning to call Steve Mnuchin as witness in trial as defense begins originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Whether you're planning a big holiday meal for a large family this Thanksgiving and dislike cooking, or are in charge of the main dish for your upcoming friendsgiving, fast food chain Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen has a Southern-style solution for you. Some Americans have begun opting out of traditional Thanksgiving dinners in favor of amping up side dishes, or have chosen to simply forgo a giant turkey and replace it with a smaller bird. But for those still looking forward to enjoying some savory, juicy turkey this November, Popeyes has you covered. The company, famous for its fried chicken and biscuits, has spread its wings ahead of the holiday season to offer a Cajun-style turkey once more. PHOTO: The Cajun-style turkey from Popeyes. (Popeyes) The fast-food chain announced the return of the fan-favorite Thanksgiving dinner staple on Tuesday. Pre-orders are open, with deliveries slated to begin as early as Oct. 24. The bird, which feeds 8 to 12 people and costs $94.99, is marinated with Popeyes' signature blend of Louisiana seasoning, slow roasted and flash fried for a crispy coating, then frozen and packaged to be delivered for an easy thaw, reheat and eat experience. Customers can preorder the turkey for pickup from their local Popeyes by calling or visiting in person, while supplies last, or online for direct delivery to their doorstep. Online orders will arrive one to three business days after the order is shipped. PHOTO: The Cajun-style turkey from Popeyes. (Popeyes) The announcement is likely a relief for those with busy lives or anyone who could use a little help in the kitchen: Popeyes conducted its own survey of over 500 people and found that "more than 50% of respondents feel stressed to host Thanksgiving dinner at their own home and think that the turkey is the hardest dish to cook as part of the meal." Popeyes will ship a frozen, fully cooked Cajun-style turkey to your Thanksgiving table for just under $100 originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com WASHINGTON Virtually any high school student in America, if asked to name a Supreme Court decision, could probably point to Brown v. Board of Education and explain that it was the landmark ruling that found public school segregation unconstitutional. Now, 68 years after the nation's highest court handed down one of its most recognized and consequential opinions, its meaning is being debated in two closely watched cases in which the justices must decide if colleges may consider race in admissions. An anti-affirmative action group is challenging the way Harvard University and the University of North Carolina weigh race as one factor when they consider prospective students for admission. That group reads the 1954 Brown decision as commanding universities to be colorblind, providing no advantage to applicants based on race. The position that prevailed in Brown, the plaintiffs told the justices in a brief that quoted from a 2007 Supreme Court opinion, was that "no state has any authority ... to use race as a factor in affording educational opportunities among its citizens." Stay in the conversation on politics: Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter Guide: A look at the key cases pending before the Supreme Court Themes: Supreme Court to grapple with race, elections in new term But critics say that approach turns Brown and the 14th Amendment on its head. Brown prohibited public schools from excluding Black children "solely on the basis of race," they say, but it didn't bar a university from considering race as it seeks to achieve the opposite goal: assembling a diverse class of students that reflects the population. "No equivalence can sincerely be drawn between the segregation Brown rightly condemned and a universitys limited consideration of race ... to assemble a diverse class," Harvard told the Supreme Court in a brief this summer. How the high court reconciles those contrasting visions could have sweeping implications for a nation that continues to wrestle with race nearly six decades after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Efforts by employers to counteract decades of discrimination in hiring, for instance, could be affected by the decision. Story continues Oral arguments in the two cases one focused on Harvard and the other on the University of North Carolina are set for Oct. 31. The University of North Carolina case deals squarely with the 14th Amendment, because UNC is a public institution. The Harvard suit implicates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits entities that receive federal funding from discriminating on the basis of race. A decision is expected next year. "Brown never said that the equal protection clause is colorblind," said David Hinojosa, an attorney with the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law who will argue at the high court on behalf of a number of students and alumni at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. "It was a categorical exclusion of Black children from all-white schools and that has nothing to do with race-conscious admissions." The Supreme Court on Oct. 3, 2022. 'Discriminating on the basis of race' Many conservatives disagree with that reading of the landmark case. Part of the anti-affirmative action group's argument is that by giving an edge to African American students in some admission decisions Harvard discriminates against Asian American students in the zero-sum endeavor of filling out a first-year class. And the historical record, they argue, supports the idea that the framers of the 14th Amendment wanted no preference given based on race. "It prevents the government from looking solely to what a person's skin color is to decide how it's going to treat them," said Edward Wenger, a lawyer who filed a brief on behalf of Edwin Meese, the former attorney general for President Ronald Reagan. "And that is what the equal protection clause is all about: No matter who you are, no matter what color your skin is, the government sees you as a human being just like everyone else." Granted: Supreme Court to consider use of race in college admissions Spillover: Supreme Court's affirmative action cases could affect hiring, employment Jackson: New to the job, Justice Jackson is having a moment on the Supreme Court That view was largely endorsed by Chief Justice John Roberts and two other current members of the court's conservative wing in a 2007 case challenging the consideration of race at public high schools in Seattle and Jefferson County, Kentucky. Roberts asserted that the key takeaway from the Brown decision was that 14th Amendment prevented states from treating children differently based on race. "The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race," Roberts wrote in a section of the plurality opinion joined by Associate Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. Thomas and Alito remain on the high court. Brown was a unanimous decision that effectively overturned the court's 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson ruling. Plessy endorsed the "separate but equal" doctrine, opening the door to segregation and the Jim Crow era in the American South. The Brown opinion concluded that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal" and held that Black students were deprived of equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the 14th Amendment. This May 8, 1964 file photo shows Linda Brown Smith standing in front of the Sumner School in Topeka, Kansas. The refusal of the public school to admit Brown in 1951, then nine years old, because she is Black, led to Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. Debate over history, meaning, intent At a time when the Supreme Court has increasingly looked to the historical underpinnings of the words in the Constitution including in major rulings earlier this year on abortion and the Second Amendment academics and outside groups have engaged in an amicus brief battle in the Harvard and UNC cases in an effort to frame what lawmakers had in mind when the 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868. President Andrew Johnson vetoed the Civil Rights Act of 1866, arguing in part that the nation's first civil rights law gave special treatment to Black citizens not afforded to whites. Congress overrode that veto and went on to pass the 14th Amendment to ensure that the protections couldn't be easily unwound by subsequent congresses. But conservatives point to other moments in the historical record to make their case, arguing, for instance, that federal legislation approved in 1866 and 1867 that sought to help former slaves with clothing and other necessities was an effort to right the wrong of slavery, not a race-conscious effort to give a boost to African Americans. Thomas pressed that point in a concurrence in the 2007 case involving high schools. "Race-based government measures during the 1860s and 1870s to remedy state-enforced slavery were therefore not inconsistent with the color-blind Constitution," Thomas wrote in a footnote in the 2007 decision. Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson appeared to come to the opposite conclusion earlier this month in one of the more interesting exchanges during oral arguments so far this term. In a separate case involving how states should consider race when drawing congressional districts, Jackson said that she didn't believe the history of the 14th Amendment demanded the high court embrace the idea of a colorblind Constitution. "I don't think that the historical record establishes that the founders believed that race neutrality or race blindness was required," Jackson said. Thomas and Jackson are the only African American justices on the court. Jackson has recused herself from the Harvard suit because she had served on the university's board of overseers, but she will take part in the UNC case. Jonathan Feingold, a law professor at Boston University, sees a decadeslong political agenda behind the debate over Brown's meaning as much as a legal theory. "To reckon with racism means that you have to see and think about and then attend to all of the ways in which race and racism manifests and shapes our society," said Feingold, who co-wrote a brief backing Harvard and UNC. The goal of opponents, Feingold said, "is to actually take off the table the tools that are necessary to transform American society to one that is more racially equal, and racially just, for everyone." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Famed Brown v. Board ruling debated in Supreme Court admissions cases Halloween, the spookiest time of the year, is almost upon us. Watching scary movies, carving faces into pumpkins, and dressing up in elaborate costumes are just some of Halloweens most fun traditions. But theres another tradition that tends to rear its ugly head almost every year, and thats really bad Halloween costumes. Theres always at least one person (celebrities included) whose Halloween costume is insensitive, problematic, and downright offensive. A quick rule of thumb: cultures are never costumes. Dressing up as someone from a specific culture, especially one that is marginalised, is a form of cultural appropriation and can even be considered racist. The same goes for dressing up as events like the Covid-19 pandemic, natural disasters, mass shootings, or movements such as #MeToo or Black Lives Matter. These costumes make light of serious events, and minimise the long-term effects many people still endure because of them. Just in case you want to know more on what to avoid, here is a list of Halloween costumes you should steer clear of this year (and every year). Jeffrey Dahmer Theres been renewed interest in Jeffrey Dahmer this year, after Netflix released its controversial series Dahmer Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. Many people have dressed up like the convicted serial killer in the past, sporting his signature spectacles and wearing wigs resembling his hairstyle along with short-sleeve button-down shirts. However, the mother of one of Dahmers victims recently urged people not to dress up as the serial killer because it exploits his victims and re-traumatises their families. The Will Smith/Chris Rock Oscars slap Please dont go to any Halloween parties as anything related to the infamous Oscars slap. Hasnt there been enough discourse already? Dont be the one to reignite the debate, especially if you are a white person. Queen Elizabeth II Too soon. Johnny Depp and Amber Heard This is not the couples costume you think it is. Dressing up as anything relating to the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard trial a defamation case in which serious accusations of domestic violence were made would trivialise claims of abuse and perpetuate harmful narratives about survivors. Story continues Anything relating to Roe v Wade The overturning of Roe v Wade, which legalised abortion in the United States nearly 50 years ago, was one of the biggest moments of the year. That doesnt mean it should be your Halloween costume. The decision to overturn the longstanding right to an abortion made access to abortion care and health care services even harder for millions of Americans, especially those from marginialised communities. Marilyn Monroe Ever since her rise to Hollywood stardom, Marilyn Monroe has been a prominent figure throughout pop culture. Many people have called out the media for its constant portrayal and exploitation of her image. From an unwatchable Netflix biopic, to Kim Kardashian taking over her wardrobe, its time we leave Marilyn alone. Transphobic costumes Unfortunately, transphobic Halloween costumes are more popular than you might think. Costumes such as Tranny Granny and Caitlyn Jenner use transphobic slurs and reduce transgender people to a caricature. These costumes reinforce harmful stereotypes about transgender people, so call them out whenever you see them. Monkeypox and Covid-19 Its easy for anyone to put on a mask, purchase a fake syringe or medical gloves and call themselves Monkeypox for Halloween. But doing so would make light of the monkeypox virus, of which there have been nearly 57,000 confirmed cases across the world in 2022 so far. The same goes for dressing up as the Covid-19 virus. The coronavirus pandemic killed millions of people, and continues to seriously affect those who are unvaccinated. Any costume that resembles the SARS-CoV-2 virus, anti-vaxxers, or someone with Covid-19 are to be avoided. Playboy Bunny While Playboy Bunny costumes have been a Halloween costume staple for years, perhaps now is not the best time to don the bunny ears. This year, the ten-part docuseries Secrets of Playboy was released on A&E, which waged allegations against the culture of the Playboy Mansion and the late Hugh Hefner himself. Several former Playmates, including Hefners ex girlfriend Holly Madison, have even opened up about their traumatic experiences in the Playboy Mansion. Body-shaming costumes Body-shaming is never okay, especially when its a Halloween costume. Not only does wearing a fat suit for Halloween display a total lack of creativity, it shows that you believe being plus-size is a joke. Its not. Plus-size people cant dress up as a thin person for Halloween, so recognise your thin privilege. The Dock Street Theatre in Charleston, South Carolina, is reportedly haunted by the ghost of a woman who was struck by lightning on its balcony. traveler1116/Getty Images From cemeteries to prisons, there is no shortage of haunted places in the South. Dozens of workers who died on the job reportedly haunt Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham, Alabama. Visitors to the Tennessee State Prison say they've heard screams from executed prisoners. The LaLaurie Mansion in New Orleans, Louisiana, has seen two centuries worth of paranormal activity. The LaLaurie Mansion. Steve Wagner/Getty Images Apparitions appearing, feelings of overwhelming negative energy, and being physically touched by a ghost are all unexplainable phenomena that some have claimed to experience while visiting the LaLaurie Mansion in New Orleans' French Quarter. For over 200 years, the LaLaurie Mansion the living quarters of the notoriously sadistic slave-owner Madame Delphine LaLaurie in the 1830s has been reported to be very haunted. It isn't uncommon for visitors to hear moans coming from the room where LaLaurie kept her slaves two centuries ago, or hear phantom footsteps echoing throughout the mansion. In her days as a slave-owner, LaLaurie would do horrendous things to her slaves in her attic, like mutilation. Her exploits were so infamous that they were covered in the "Coven" season of "American Horror Story," with Kathy Bates playing LaLaurie. Now, spirits of deceased former enslaved people are said to roam the mansion. Georgia's Lake Lanier is considered to be very spooky by locals. Lake Lanier. Rajesh Pandit/Getty Images Situated in northeastern Atlanta, this haunted lake has seen much tragedy. In 1958, two women (Delia Mae Parker Young and Susie Roberts) vanished after their car veered off the bridge as they were crossing Lake Lanier. Young's body was found near the bridge just a later, but Roberts' body and their car were missing for a staggering 32 years. Locals still claim to see a ghostly Young wandering around the bridge wearing a blue dress. Legend has it, she abducts visitors to the lake and drags them to the bottom. Between Young and Roberts' car crash, and the 200 people who have died in swimming and boating accidents since 1994, many believers view the lake as a paranormal hotspot. Story continues The Hotel Galvez in Galveston, Texas, is reportedly built atop the graves of thousands who died in 1900 during a hurricane. Hotel Galvez. Timothy L Barnes/Shutterstock From the outside, the opulent Hotel Galvez in Galveston seems like an innocent beachfront vacation spot. But locals and staff will tell you there's a long history of paranormal activity. In 1900, the Galveston hurricane killed between 6,000 and 12,000 people, making it the deadliest natural disaster in US history. Some say the hotel was built atop the graves of thousands of the hurricane's dead, which haunt the hotel to this day, according to Houstonia Magazine. The Galvez is also famous for its "ghost bride" story, which tells the tale of a woman named Audra who stayed in room 501 while she awaited her fiance's return from sea so they could be married. One day, after hearing that her lover's ship had sunk and he would never return to her, Audra traveled to the hotel's eighth floor and reportedly hanged herself from the building's west turret. In true "Romeo and Juliet" fashion, a few days later, her fiance returned and learned of Audra's tragedy. Patrons of the hotel can take a guided ghost tour through the property and have a "Dinner with the Ghosts" to try their luck at feeling or spotting one of the Galvez's resident spirits. Another haunted hotel in the state is the Driskill Hotel in Austin. Visitors have reported smelling a ghost's cigar smoke in the building. The Driskill Hotel. Ritu Manoj Jethani/Shutterstock Opened by cattle baron Colonel Jesse Driskill in 1886, the Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas, is known as one of the most haunted hotels in the nation. Due to financial troubles, Driskill had to forfeit the hotel, but some believe his spirit never left. Although the hotel has been smoke-free for years, guests have reportedly smelled cigar smoke, believed to come from Driskill himself. Other ghosts, including a bride and a man who died in the hotel, have also reportedly been spotted. The Driskill might also have a cursed painting. In 1887 US Senator Temple Lea Houston's 4-year-old daughter Samantha died after falling down the hotel's grand staircase. Today, a portrait of her hangs in the hotel, and guests say that if you stare at the painting long enough, Samantha will grin back at you. Spirits reportedly run amok at this Hollywood-famous abandoned prison in Tennessee. The abandoned Tennessee State Prison. Phillip Foster/Shutterstock The historic Tennessee State Prison in Nashville, where scenes from "The Green Mile" and "Walk the Line" were filmed, is known for its otherworldly residents. Those who have dared to wander through the Hogwarts-esque building have reported hearing the sounds of people clanging on their cells and screams coming from the lingering souls of inmates who died in the prison's electric chair. Other reports of paranormal activity include phantom footsteps. Last year, a tornado ripped through the prison, which only adds to the spookiness of this abandoned building. Dozens of workers who died on the job reportedly now haunt Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham, Alabama. Sloss Furnaces. Stephen Reeves/Shutterstock During the industrial boom in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Birmingham, Alabama, was famous for its nearby deposits of iron ore, limestone, and coal used to make steel, earning it the nickname "magic city." The Sloss Furnaces, now a historic landmark, is where much of that steel was produced. But James "Slag" Wormwood, the foreman in charge of over 100 workers, reportedly made his employees work in dangerous conditions, resulting in 47 of them dying on the job. According to the Travel Channel, one worker's shirt got caught on a flywheel powering a generator, and he was dragged into the gears of the machine. The tale goes that the workers rebelled and threw Slag into one of the furnaces. Along with the screams of past workers, it's rumored that Slag now haunts the second floor of the complex and can still be heard tormenting his employees. Patients who died in this West Virginia facility's cramped halls reportedly haunt the building to this day. The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, West Virginia. Malachi Jacobs/Shutterstock When the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, West Virginia, opened its doors in 1864, it was only supposed to house 250 patients. But by the 1950s there were 2,400 patients almost 10 times its limit leading to severely inhumane and overcrowded living conditions, according to the museum now operating there. Of the thousands of patients committed to the facility, hundreds died. Now a historic landmark, visitors can take ghost tours of the building to try and see some of its former residents, who reportedly still haunt the building. A murder mystery is rumored to haunt this Mississippi restaurant. King's Tavern. Google Maps King's Tavern, one of the oldest buildings in Mississippi, has a dark, haunted past. In the 1930s, the remains of three human skeletons two men and one woman along with a jeweled dagger were removed from the wall behind the restaurant's fireplace. The remains were never identified but rumor has it that the remains of the woman belonged to Madeline, the mistress of the restaurant's first owner, Richard King, who opened the spot in 1789. Some people believe Madeline is responsible for some of the building's paranormal activities, which include beds feeling warm and reflections appearing in mirrors. The outlaw Wiley Harpe and a crying baby he shot and killed also reportedly haunt the hotel. Some visitors have reported hearing a crying child in the upper level of the tavern when no one was upstairs. The infamous outlaw Jesse James is said to haunt the St. James Hotel in Selma, Alabama. St. James Hotel. John Coletti/Getty Images Built in 1837, the St. James Hotel is one of the oldest buildings in Alabama. During the Civil War, soldiers used the St. James as an outpost to discuss strategy. Following the war, the hotel's new owner, Benjamin Sterling Tower, allowed Jesse James and his gang of outlaws to stay at the hotel one night. According to al.com, guests have reported seeing apparitions of the outlaw, his girlfriend Lucinda, and a man dressed in attire from the 1800s in rooms 214, 314, and 315. Over the years the St. James has fallen into disrepair, forcing its owners to shutter its doors. But earlier this year, the Alabama News reported a Hilton brand hospitality company purchased the building and plans on restoring and reopening it this year. Who knows if Jesse James will still haunt the premises when construction finishes. A ghost supposedly haunts the St. Augustine Lighthouse in Florida. St. Augustine Lighthouse. Smithlandia Media/Getty Images The historic St. Augustine Lighthouse illuminates the waters of the nation's oldest port. But the picturesque structure is also known for its frequent paranormal activity. It is rumored that ever since light keeper Joseph Andreu fell off his scaffolding while painting the tower in 1859, visitors have reported seeing his ghost on the premises, according to the St. Augustine Record. But that's not all. When the lighthouse was being built in 1871, Hezekiah Pittee, the superintendent of lighthouse construction, moved to St. Augustine and lived on-site with his family. Pittee's three daughters frequently played in a railway cart used to transport materials from the shipping docks to the lighthouse. One day in 1873, the girls were riding in the cart but fell off the dock and drowned. According to the museum, visitors say they hear the sounds of children playing around the lighthouse to this day. Cahawba, Alabama, is the state's most famous ghost town. The Barker House in Cahawba, Alabama. Low Flite/Shutterstock For a short time (1820-1826), the town of Cahawba, Alabama, was a thriving riverside antebellum town that served as the state's first capital. But after the Civil War and a flood in 1865 both ravaged the town's infrastructure, Cahawba quickly became a ghost town. Today, the town is a popular jaunt for ghost hunters and supernatural enthusiasts. Numerous abandoned buildings, like the Barker house which acted as quarters for slaves at the Kirkpatrick Mansion are reportedly haunted by apparitions of their former inhabitants. A trail in town leads to a slave burial ground where bodies were buried between 1819 and 1957. Perhaps the town's most famous paranormal story is that of Pegues' ghost. According to the town's website, one night in 1862 while wandering through a patch of trees behind Colonel C. C. Pegues' home, a young couple found an orb of energy, believed to be Pegues' ghost. It quickly floated away into the woods, beckoning for the couple to chase it. After finally catching up, the young man reached out to touch the ghostly ball, and it disappeared. A portal to the other side reportedly exists at the Crescent Hotel in Eureka, Arkansas. The Crescent Hotel in Eureka, Arkansas. Bonita R. Cheshier/Shutterstock Tucked into the Ozark Mountains, the Crescent Hotel dubs itself "America's most haunted hotel." Rumor has it that when Norman Baker purchased the hotel in 1937, the businessman pretended to be a doctor and turned the hotel into a hospital for cancer treatments. For two years he offered fraudulent "miracle cures" until he was arrested for mail fraud. The patients who died at Baker's hands reportedly still occupy the building's basement, which Baker turned into a morgue during his time as owner. That's not all. In the late 1990s, two certified mediums were hired to "read the hotel." One of the mediums, Carroll Heath, told hotel staff that he discovered a portal to the "other side" right above the former morgue in the basement. The medium said the portal was for people of the same "frequency" to communicate with the otherworldly. The Marshall House in Savannah, Georgia, served as a hotel during the Civil War and through two yellow fever epidemics. The Marshall House in Savannah, Georgia. Darryl Brooks/Shutterstock Savannah is Georgia's oldest city, but it's also frequently named America's most haunted city. The Marshall House where numerous people died during its stints as a Union hospital during the final months of the Civil War, and a hospital during two yellow fever epidemics in the mid-1800s is central to the city's spiritual folklore. Guests who have stayed at The Marshall House have reported a variety of paranormal activity including seeing ghosts in its hallways and foyers, hearing children running at night, and having faucets turn on by themselves, according to its website. The apparition of a woman struck by lightning reportedly still haunts the Dock Street Theatre in Charleston, South Carolina. The Dock Street Theatre. traveler1116/Getty Images At the Dock Street Theatre, located in Charleston's historic French Quarter neighborhood, guests have reported seeing ghosts roaming inside the building and on its stage. But the theatre is best known for two notorious resident spirits. According to Ghost City Tours, the more famous of the two is Nettie Dickerson, a woman who was struck dead by lightning on the theater's second story balcony. It's rumored that she still haunts the theatre today, wearing the same red gown she wore on the night of her death. The other spectre is Junius Booth, the father of President Abraham Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth. Although Booth's theater troupe performed at the building and he once tried to kill the theatre's manager, he didn't die at the theatre, so it is unknown why his spirit still reportedly haunts the building. Hooded monks and faces in the walls are among the spirits reportedly spotted at the San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio, Texas. San Fernando Cathedral. CrackerClips Stock Media/Shutterstock The San Fernando Cathedral, the oldest church in Texas, is known for its colorful light projections explaining the history of the city. But the gothic-style church is also known for its paranormal activity. Visitors have reported seeing faces in the walls on the backside of the church and the ghost of a white stallion galloping in front of the building. Other notable otherworldly guests include a mysterious man dressed in all black and hooded monks, who are the most commonly reported ghosts by visitors. If the ghosts aren't spooky enough for you, in 1936 workers remodeling the church unearthed a box of charred bones and tattered uniforms, believed to belong to soldiers fighting to defend the Alamo, according to Ghost City Tours. The remains are housed within the cathedral, perhaps contributing to some of its paranormal activity. A voodoo queen is buried at the St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 in New Orleans. The St. Louis Cemetery No.1 in New Orleans. Scott A. Burns/Shutterstock Known as a "City of the Dead" due to its rows of above-ground graves, the St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is New Orleans' oldest and most haunted burial ground. Numerous fallen soldiers and victims of the yellow fever are rumored to haunt the cemetery. Perhaps the most famous ghost to call the cemetery home is the Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau. Though she's buried in the cemetery, people have reportedly spotted her ghost all throughout the French Quarter, including in front of her old home at 1022 St. Anne Street. Legend has it that those who leave three Xs marked on the Voodoo Queen's grave are granted a wish and must return to her grave with a gift in exchange, though this is frowned upon. According to the Associated Press, due to a rise in vandalism, the cemetery closed to the public in 2015, but visitors can still tour via authorized tour guides. Chloe the ghost girl reportedly haunts Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana. Myrtles Plantation. Roberto Michel/Shutterstock To the uninitiated, Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana, looks like any other 18th-century plantation. But look past its storybook Spanish moss trees and the fountain in the center of its brick patio and you'll find a disturbing paranormal past. The plantation's most famous ghost is named Chloe, a former slave-turned-mistress by the plantation's Master Woodruff. The story goes that one day Mrs. Woodruff caught Chloe eavesdropping on her master and chopped her ear off as punishment, according to the New York Times. In an act of revenge, Chloe poisoned a birthday cake and killed Mrs. Woodruff and two of her three children. Today, visitors still spot Chloe haunting the plantation, and some have even captured her in their pictures. Read the original article on Insider Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, right, faces challenger Aramis Ayala. TALLAHASSEE Former Orlando-area State Attorney Aramis Ayala is making a longshot bid to unseat Republican Attorney General Ashley Moody, saying a key issue is the independence of Floridas top legal officer. But as with other contests this year for state Cabinet seats, the race between Ayala and Moody is an undercard to elections for governor and U.S. Senate and has made few waves. During a news conference last month, Moody dismissed the idea of debating Ayala, saying shed prefer discussions with those that are serious about being an attorney general that enforces the law, indeed, and works with law enforcement." A former Hillsborough County circuit judge, Moody, 47, is the favorite in the race for a number of reasons, including incumbency, fund-raising, support from Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump and name recognition from media appearances on Republican-friendly television networks. Ayala, 47, drew attention in 2016 when she became the states first Black elected state attorney, winning in the 9th Judicial Circuit in Orange and Osceola counties. She defeated two opponents in the Aug. 23 Democratic primary for attorney general and said the states chief legal officer should fight for all Floridians, not to support DeSantis political ambitions and Republican cultural wars. This past legislative session, I just saw the trampling on our rights. The conversations were becoming extremely harsh towards the people we should be serving, Ayala said. And I realized that you can't sit and say nothing. And that's the job of the attorney general, to be an advocate, to provide for justice and get cover. And we were completely uncovered this entire legislative session, from voting rights to dont say gay, to the attack on teachers, all the way through the attack on women. University of Central Florida political-science professor Aubrey Jewett, who described Ayala as a real longshot, said being progressive helped Ayala win the state attorneys race in 2016 but puts her out of step with many Floridians. Story continues Even if Florida Democrats at the top of the ticket do better than expected, or even win, it is difficult to imagine they will have coattails long enough to help Ayala beat Moody, Jewett said. Ayala's best hope would be if a majority of Florida voters thought that some of the cases that Moody has gotten involved with --- including supporting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's effort to overturn Joe Biden's election --- were too extreme. But in the present Florida political climate, that does not seem likely. As state attorney, Ayala created a firestorm by saying she would not seek the death penalty, in part pointing to racial inequities in death sentences. Then-Gov. Rick Scott removed Ayala from handling capital cases. Ayala challenged the decision, but the Florida Supreme Court backed Scott. Ayala did not seek re-election in 2020. When asked how she would handle the death penalty as attorney general, Ayala pointed to creation of a statewide conviction integrity unit to investigate claims of innocence. "We're spending $51 million every single year in the state of Florida, and we are leading the nation in Death Row exonerations, meaning we get it wrong the most, Ayala said. It is incumbent upon us to make certain, number one, that we're getting it right. With statewide conviction integrity, that would be the starting place for that, as well as to ensure that if we're going to proceed with a death penalty, that they are the proper use of resources and that we are encouraging public safety and we're deterring crime." A Plant City native, Moody worked in civil litigation for the Holland & Knight law firm before being appointed as a federal prosecutor and elected judge in 2006. In 2018, Moody defeated Democratic lawmaker Sean Shaw by 6 percentage points to become attorney general. In office, Moody has drawn headlines as a legal cudgel for DeSantis and national Republicans. As examples, Moody has joined forces with DeSantis to file lawsuits challenging President Joe Bidens policies on such issues as the handling of the coronavirus pandemic and immigration. She also requested that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigate former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg for helping Florida felons pay outstanding legal costs so they could register to vote in 2020. The investigation ended without charges in 2021. In addition, Moody signed Florida onto a multi-state brief at the U.S. Supreme Court backing an effort by Texas to challenge 2020 presidential-election results. And lately, she backed DeSantis decision to suspend Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren, who had pledged not to prosecute cases under a new Florida law that bans most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. More than 100 legal scholars and dozens of former judges, prosecutors and police chiefs have questioned Warrens suspension, arguing that the move runs counter to professional standards, sets a dangerous precedent and violates the constitutional separation of powers. During the Warren suspension announcement, Moody said ignoring laws means ignoring the will of the people. Let me tell you who makes the laws and decides whats criminal. Its you. Its the people of this state through their elected representatives," Moody said. Moody, who did not respond to an interview request, has a massive financial advantage over Ayala as the Nov. 8 election nears. As of Sept. 23, Moody had raised $8.13 million since the start of 2019 for her campaign account and the political committee Friends of Ashley Moody and had more than $6 million in cash on hand. She pumped $771,462 into media ad time on Sept. 23. Ayala raised less than $30,000 in the first four weeks after her primary victory and didnt list any assistance from the Florida Democratic Party. She had about $23,000 in cash on hand in her campaign account as of Sept. 23. Among Ayalas biggest contributors during the campaign has been former former professional basketball player Shaquille O'Neal, who contributed $3,000 shortly after she announced her bid for the office in March. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Aramis Ayala challenges Ashley Moody in longshot bid for Florida Attorney General The Citizens Clean Elections Commission has rescheduled its interview with Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake after abruptly canceling it. The Citizens Clean Elections Commission has rescheduled its interview with Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake after abruptly canceling the interview that was planned in partnership with Arizona PBS last week. The interview will air at 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23, on AZTV Channel 7 (KAZT). The commission backed out of the Oct. 12 interview on Arizona PBS after the TV station agreed to a separate interview with Democratic candidate Katie Hobbs. The commission and Arizona PBS had invited both candidates to a debate, but Hobbs declined. When a candidate agrees to a debate but their opponent declines, the commission organizes a question and answer session for the person who agreed to participate, which was Lake in this case. Hobbs previously had asked for separate town hall-style interviews, but the commission held a public hearing and rejected the request. When Hobbs announced that Arizona PBS invited her to a separate interview the morning of the scheduled Lake interview unbeknownst to the commission that event was abruptly canceled. Lake lambasted Arizona PBS and Arizona State University President Michael Crow for sidestepping the commission's rules and accused them of a making "backroom deal" with Hobbs. ASU leaders said they were acting out of journalistic fairness, though fallout from the decision has landed on the university. Election guide: November 2022 Hobbs, meanwhile, is scheduled to appear on PBS for a 30-minute interview at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Arizona PBS is a community service of ASU and broadcasts from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in downtown Phoenix. Story continues ASU journalism school Dean Battinto Batts advised students to attend class virtually during the Hobbs interview, "as we do not know what the onsite circumstances may be around the Cronkite building after 3 p.m.," he wrote in an email. Reach reporter Taylor Seely at tseely@arizonarepublic.com or 480-476-6116. Follow her on Twitter @taylorseely95 or Instagram @taylor.azc. If this story mattered to you, please support our work. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: How to watch: Kari Lake interview rescheduled after PBS debacle Explore Argentina wine country aboard a private seaplane, with excursions through some of the country's most beautiful landscapes. SB Winemaker's House One unforgettable hotel in Argentina's wine country is inviting oenophiles to experience their favorite varietals at new heights. The newly opened SB Winemaker's House & Spa Suites, located in Mendoza, is already a wine lover's dream, thanks to its rich amenities like in-room spas and an on-site restaurant serving local and organic dishes paired with spectacular wines. And, really, we'd expect nothing less from its owner, Susana Balbo, one of the country's most prominent winemakers. But, the boutique hotel takes things up several luxurious notches above the rest, thanks to its unique wine safaris via its partnership with Air Safaris. SB Winemaker's House The hotel offers several trip options, including day trips and overnight experiences that take guests to stunning destinations throughout the region, including the Andes Mountains, Esteros del Ibera, and Patagonia. "Feel the freedom to fly over one of the most dreamed of and remote scenarios in Mendoza, which has vineyards and mountains as protagonists," the hotel's website explains of the journeys. :How to Find the Best Wines From Argentina All expeditions are aboard a private seaplane, which comes fully equipped with high-end comforts. On overnight trips, guests have the opportunity to stay at partner resorts like Colonial Wine Hotel in Cafayate and an eco lodge within the Ibera National Park. And on both day trips and overnight excursions, guests will have the chance to participate in plentiful activities planned through the hotel. SB Winemaker's House Safari options include its Los Andes From Above Day Tour, which takes guests over Mendoza's vineyards and mountains, and through its crystalline salt flats, before landing in an oasis in the middle of the desert to enjoy a luxurious meal designed especially for them. Guests can also add an optional activity like a 4x4 ride, wakeboarding, or local trekking. Story continues For a more nature-focused outing, book Esteros Del Ibera: A Wild Experience in a Natural Paradise, which takes visitors to Ibera National Park. The tour includes round trip hotel-airfield transfers, a flight in the hybrid seaplane plane, two to three nights accommodation in the only eco lodge within the Ibera National Park, a safari by vehicle to the Costa del Palmar, a night safari, horseback riding, a boat ride through Laguna del Ibera, and (somehow) more. SB Winemaker's House Another option is its Argentinian Patagonia: The Splendor of Lakes, Forests, and Mountains, a safari where guests will take flight over the magical landscapes before landing on water at Lago Escondido, Lake La Plata, Lake Pulmari, and Nahuel Huapi. Guests can add on tailor-made excursions, including ATVs, horseback riding, trekking, and wine tastings. Its final offering is Cafayate From The Roots To The Sky, an air safari to Cafayate, where Susana Balbo began her wine career. During this experience, guests will fly over the vivid Valley of the Calchaquies and land just in time to try traditional dishes paired with the best local wine before nightfall. The experience includes the flight, local accommodations at a Colonial Wine Hotel in Cafayate, a tasting experience at El Esteco winery, and additional add-ons like horseback riding or an electric bike circuit to the Quebrada. SB Winemaker's House And this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the wine experiences available at the hotel. See all the offerings, and book your vineyard getaway, here. false FILE PHOTO: Signage is seen in front of the ECB building, in Frankfurt By Jesus Aguado MADRID (Reuters) -The European Central Bank is set to warn of the adverse impact on Spanish banks' solvency of a proposed tax on the sector and of a higher cost of credit in an upcoming non-binding opinion, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said. "Attention will be drawn to the adverse impact on solvency and to risks for the transmission of monetary policy, as higher taxes could lead to an increase in the cost of loans," one of the sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity. The ECB declined to comment. It is not unusual for the ECB to issue an opinion on similar tax proposals, as was the case for the financial sector of other euro zone countries, such as Lithuania in 2019, when it warned about potential negative consequences for the sector. The central bank's opinions describe the risks from any proposed measures on credit or financial stability. Governments are not obligated to take such opinions into account but most amend proposals in the case of warnings likely to be seen as a negative assessment. In July, Spain's leftist ruling coalition introduced a bill in parliament to create a temporary levy on banks and large energy companies aimed at raising 3 billion euros ($3 billion) by 2024. Warnings raised by the ECB could give the sector more fire power to potentially amend the bill that is being debated in parliament. The government's rationale for imposing that tax was to help offset higher living costs on vulnerable households at a time when lenders were already benefiting from higher interest rates. Banks have however warned about the negative impact on credit and on the economy at a time when recession looms and lenders could also be forced to set aside more provisions to weather the crisis. The banking tax includes a 4.8% charge on banks' net interest income and net commissions above a threshold of 800 million euros, leaving out smaller Spanish lenders and the units of foreign banks in Spain. Story continues Taxing revenues in Spain instead of profit means that even a bank with potential losses might be taxed, hitting capital, the first source said. A team of experts from the ECB and the Bank of Spain and from areas such as supervision, financial stability, economy and monetary policy, are working to form the opinion, which is expected shortly. Internal calculations undertaken by those experts believe that the tax could hit the Spanish banks' capital by an average of around 0.5 percentage points. "It affects solvency and financial stability but will not ultimately put Spanish banks at risk," the first source said. Though bankers have said that legally challenging the bill was an option, a senior executive from a top Spanish bank recently told Reuters that no legal options were being explored for now. The ECB will determine that the tax proposal could lead to more expensive loans as costs arising from the tax could be passed on by banks to companies despite the government's intention to limit those side-effects, the first source said. "What that means is that the translation of monetary policy in Spain will be different from the one in Germany as a consequence of this tax." Among the risks, the tax proposal also poses a risk to competition as it is being implemented in just one country from within the euro zone under this current scheme, the source added. (Reporting by Jesus AguadoAdditional reporting by Balazs Koranyi in FrankfurtEditing by Elisa Martinuzzi and Peter Graff) England Under-21s will face defending champions Germany at Euro 2023. Lee Carsleys side, who were in Pot Two, were also drawn against the Czech Republic and Israel in Group C for next years tournament in Georgia and Romania. England beat Germany 3-1 in a friendly in Sheffield last month thanks to goals from Folarin Balogun, Conor Gallagher and Cole Palmer. Carsley said: Getting to this point, we always knew there would be tough teams in all of the pots. Its going to be tough. We know how difficult it has been with the qualifying campaign. The group-stage draw for next summer's #U21EURO finals has been made! pic.twitter.com/07v1nIzBaJ England (@England) October 18, 2022 We had two difficult games against the Czech Republic (in qualifying). We played Germany in the last international window so we have done a lot of preparation on them, we need to make sure we have the same level against Israel. Germany beat the Young Lions on penalties in their Euro 2017 semi-final in Poland before going on to win the tournament. They have reached the last three finals, losing to Spain in 2019. The Young Lions won Group G, finishing three points ahead of the Czech Republic, but lost their first competitive qualifier since 2011 with a 2-1 defeat to Slovenia in their final game in Huddersfield in June. England, who will be based in Batumi in Georgia, have not won the Under-21 Euros since 1984 and have been knocked out of the group stage in the last two tournaments. It is the first tournament which starts in June with the Young Lions for boss Carsley after he replaced Aidy Boothroyd last year. Like this Halloween reveler dressed as Napoleon Dynamite last year, many modern costumes are inspired by pop culture. (Photo: Roy Rochlin/Getty Images) From spooky to sexy to just plain bizarre, the custom of dressing up every Oct. 31 has had a lot of twists and turns. Heres a look back at the history behind Halloween costumes and getting all decked out for the scariest night of the year. Early roots in Europe What we know as Halloween began with the ancient Celts, who celebrated a holiday called Samhain beginning on Oct. 31 to mark the end of harvest and the start of the winter season. The revelries included feasting, tales of ghost and spirits and perhaps animal sacrifice. Little is known about these celebrations since the ancient Celts passed down their histories orally, leaving no written records, but Lisa Morton, who has authored several books on Halloween, including Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween, tells Yahoo Life theres no evidence that costumes were part of the festivities. Catholic missionaries arrived in Ireland around the 5th century, but rather than stamping out Samhain they instead co-opted it, incorporating the holiday into their own traditions and moving the Catholic feast of All Saints Day so that it was celebrated on Nov. 1. Morton says All Saints Day had a very minor tradition of costuming that was practiced sporadically among some parishes, with some congregates dressing up as saints for the day or having a small pageant in the church. But when the Catholic Church added another feast day called All Souls Day, which was celebrated on Nov. 2, a more widespread costuming tradition began to take form. Beggars would go from house to house offering to say prayers for the souls of deceased loved ones in purgatory in exchange for soul cakes small treats that had been specially made for the occasion. Eventually, children wanted to get in on this activity, too. Kids saw this happening, so the kids would dress themselves as beggars and put soot on their faces and so forth and offer to do the same thing go from house to house and offer to say the prayers for the loved ones, Morton says. Story continues The practice of going door to door for soul cakes was pretty much gone by the 19th century. But in England children around that time began to celebrate Guy Fawkes Day which commemorates a failed plot to blow up Parliament on Nov. 5, 1605 by dressing up and begging for supplies to burn effigies. It was very simple. They would dress themselves up in big top hats or whatever they found in the attic, maybe paint their faces with soot, and people would give them money or firewood for the celebrations, Morton says. Late 19th century: Costuming in America During the Victorian era, dressing up in costumes was incredibly popular, but Halloween didnt have a monopoly on the trend yet. People dressed up for all kinds of parties, for school pageants, for other holidays, Morton says. Costuming was very popular at the time in general. There was no strict thing where it was associated only with Halloween. Morton says one Christmas tradition called belsnickeling, which mostly took place in parts of Canada and the northeastern United States, involved people concealing their identities with masks and costumes, going door to door and performing little skits in exchange for treats from their neighbors. Belsnickeling is actually the closest thing we have to trick-or-treat, but there probably is not a real direct tie to that, she says. Halloween was just getting introduced to the U.S. at that point, as Irish and Scottish immigrants came to America in droves and brought their traditions with them. One aspect of Halloween that was particularly appealing to American kids was the mischief-making. They loved that whole idea of playing pranks at the end of fall and on Halloween, Morton says. And by the time we get into the early 20th century, prank-playing was a huge deal in America. That and parties were the parts that really caught on with everybody in this country. A teacher poses with Halloween decorations circa 1905. (Photo: Historic Photo Archive/Getty Images) Early 20th century: Trick-or-treating emerges By the 1930s, Halloween pranking wasnt just an innocent, rural activity. As the U.S. quickly urbanized the antics became more destructive and expensive, with young people setting fires and wreaking havoc on cities. In their efforts to curtail the vandalism, civic groups started handing out pamphlets to homeowners advising them on how to appease the pranksters. One of the tips was to hold a costume party for the kids, Morton says. And these costumes were very simple. It would be like, Hey, just give them a sheet when they come in the door, and they get to be a ghost. The idea of buying off the pranksters was very successful, and started to spread. This was also during the Great Depression, so costumes and treats were basic and homemade. Taken around 1925, this photograph shows children wearing makeshift ghost costumes for Halloween. (Photo: Kirn Vintage Stock/Corbis via Getty Images) The first time that we hear the phrase trick-or-treat recorded is in a 1927 newspaper mention from Canada, but it does not mention the kids being in costumes. So the whole thing with trick-or-treating and costumes and saying the phrase and getting the treats, we dont really have that established until about 1939, which is when we see that first [U.S.] mention of it in a national magazine article. And at that point its becoming really popular. Post-WWII: "The magic of American retail" With sugar shortages and American industry focused on war production, Halloween and trick-or-treating went mostly on hiatus during World War II. But in the post-war years the holiday came back with a vengeance. Television and the magic of American retail, Morton says, really gave Halloween a boost. For the first time candy companies could mass produce goodies that saved parents at that time, usually mothers from having to labor all day in the kitchen making treats. Meanwhile, the emergence of costume companies like Ben Cooper gave kids endless options for dressing up. A major turning point in Halloween costuming came in 1957, when Universal released all of their classic horror films to a television syndication package called Shock Theater. Suddenly, television is now full of the classic horror movies and kids are seeing those and now theyre saying, I want to be Dracula or I want to be the Wolf Man or I want to be Frankenstein, Morton says. And the costume companies really pick up on that, and that becomes a really big part of Halloween at that point. These vintage masks demonstrate the mid-century popularity of horror characters like Frankenstein. (Photo: Mike Danahey/Courier-News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) 1970s: Halloween is "reclaimed by adults" Monster-mania had been big with kids for several decades, but it wasnt until the late 70s, Morton says, that Halloween started to get really scary with the emergence of haunted attractions and the release of slasher films like John Carpenters 1978 movie, Halloween. These pop culture favorites helped the holiday evolve into being a celebration that adults could enjoy, too. Halloween kind of gets reclaimed by adults in the 70s and 80s, Morton says. I think at that point is when we start to see the rise of adult costuming. New Yorks Village Halloween Parade, which took place for the first time in 1974, also helped adult dress-up go mainstream. Elaborate, over-the-top costumes became in vogue thanks to members of the LGBTQ community, who helped shape the parades identity. Times were changing. People were starting to come out, Jeanne Fleming, the parades artistic and producing director, said of the parades origins in a 2018 interview with Logo TV. In those days, the West Village was filled with creative people and the gay community was centered there. So in many ways, at that time, this was Pride. 2000s: The rise of "sexy costumes" and going global By the early 2000s, adult costuming saw a surge in sexy costume popularity with the emergence of slinkier versions of everything from nuns to animals to fictional characters. As Lindsay Lohans character in the 2004 film Mean Girls famously observed: In the real world, Halloween is when kids dress up in costumes and beg for candy. In girl world, Halloween is the one day a year when a girl can dress up like a total slut and no other girls can say anything else about it." In 2006, the purchasing director for BuyCostumes.com told the New York Times that perhaps 90 to 95% of their female costumes had a flirty edge to them, and that sexy costumes were so popular the company had to break its "sexy" category into three subdivisions. The trend has continued, with lingerie and costume retailer Yandy establishing a reputation for sexualizing seemingly innocuous concepts, from 2014's "Sexy Lobster" to its current "Pretty Pencil" ensemble and a racy Wordle-inspired get-up. Yandy's 2022 Halloween collection includes this "Sexy Edible Gummy." (Photo: Courtesy of Yandy) My personal favorite sexy costume was 'Sexy Corn' which, unsurprisingly, wasn't a bestseller, Morton says of the 2013 Yandy ensemble. She explains some feminists have argued that these costumes can be a way for women to mock the overly sexualized images of women in advertising and the media, or to experiment with how they express their sexuality. I think that in terms of the sexy costuming coming in, it is something that a lot of people find empowering, Morton says. But some have worried that the trend encourages the misrepresentation and sexualization of young girls, which can have damaging effects such as depression, eating disorders and low self-esteem. In 2018, Dr. Gail Saltz, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry, wrote that parents should start having conversations with their daughters about the pressure to wear sexy Halloween looks, before she is already mowed over by a peer group. Is the Halloween costume a conversation worth having or even a battle worth waging? I would say yes, it definitely is, she said. In 2013, Walmart crossed a line with its "Naughty Leopard" costume marketed to toddlers, which they pulled from stores after backlash from parents. But it isnt just risque outfits that have gained steam in the 21st century. Around this same time, Morton says, the Americanized version of Halloween and costuming spread like wildfire to different countries thanks in part to Halloween-themed episodes of syndicated American sitcoms, as well as fast-food chains exporting the holiday with merchandise like McDonald's Halloween-themed Happy Meal buckets. Even in some countries with devout religious observances, the now-secular holiday and its accompanying costumes and revelry have been embraced and become an annual fall tradition. It has been really surprising to see it catch on in some really unexpected places, Morton says. Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Life's newsletter. Sign up here. Advertised as "Italy's No. 1 brand of pasta," the popular brand Barilla will face a lawsuit over accusations it misled consumers to believe products made in Iowa and New York were actually made in Italy. A federal judge on Monday denied Barillas motion to dismiss a class-action lawsuit accusing the company of misrepresenting its products. Judge Donna Ryu found that the companys phrase, "Italy's No.1 brand of pasta, could mislead consumers to believe that the pasta is made in Italy. Barilla also features the green, red and white colors of the Italian flag on the signature blue boxes. The Illinois-based company Barilla will face a class-action lawsuit for alleged mislabeled products and deceptive marketing aimed at misleading consumers to believe that the products are made in Italy. In addition to asking the court to stop Barilla from using Italys likeness in marketing and on the product, plaintiffs are seeking monetary compensation, claiming they overpaid for pasta. A forced return to the office? As job market cools, companies may regain upper hand with workers Are 'I bonds still a good bet? What to know when considering these inflation-protected assets Barilla originated as a bread and pasta shop in Italy but is now based in Illinois. Barilla argues that its trademark is used to invoke the companys Italian roots through generalized representations of the brand as a whole, not mislead buyers. The judge's decision comes on the heels of a similar complaint filed against the makers of Texas Pete hot sauce after a California man learned the product isn't actually made in Texas. The Illinois-based company Barilla will face a class-action lawsuit for alleged mislabeled products and deceptive marketing aimed at misleading consumers to believe that the products are made in Italy. More:Massachusetts woman protests 'wrongful eviction' by releasing swarm of bees on police More: Makers of Texas Pete hot sauce face lawsuit over product being made in North Carolina What does the lawsuit claim? In the original complaint, Matthew Sinatro and Jessica Prost said that because of how the companys products are advertised, they purchased multiple boxes of Barilla spaghetti and angel hair pasta with the belief the pasta was made in Italy with Italian ingredients. The Illinois-based company Barilla will face a class-action lawsuit for alleged mislabeled products and deceptive marketing aimed at misleading consumers to believe that the products are made in Italy. The complaint says Barilla doesnt exclusively use Italian wheat in its products and exploits consumers who are willing to pay more for authentic Italian pasta. The company is accused of using deceptive advertising and marketing to charge more and increase profits. Story continues Homemade In-N-Out, Cinnabon and Cane's? How to make 'copycat' recipes at home Rolls-Royce unveils its first electric: Begins 'all-electric' goal: See the roughly $400,000 car The plaintiffs also claim Barilla has an unfair advantage over lawfully acting competitors at the expense of unwitting consumers. Barilla did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment. Camille Fine is a trending visual producer on USA TODAY's NOW team. What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Barilla pasta sued over products being made in US, not Italy PANAMA CITY A local man was arrested Saturday night and charged with driving drunk and fleeing Florida Highway Patrol troopers. According to a press release from the FHP, a trooper attempted to stop a suspected drunken driver traveling east on U.S. 98 near the Hathaway Bridge about 11:15 p.m. The FHP said the driver, Deric Marshall, 43, of Panama City, fled, sparking a car chase throughout Panama City that ended near 23rd Street and Michigan Avenue. Panama City police: arrest man accused of being 'willing participant' in Vibez brawl Panama City motorcyclist, 47: dies Tuesday in head-on collision with truck in Callaway The release says a trooper performed a PIT maneuver on Marshall, which caused him to crash into a utility pole and business sign. Marshall then got out of his vehicle and began to flee on foot, according to the FHP, but two troopers were able to catch and arrest him. "(Marshall) was then transported to Bay County Jail," the release reads. "Charges against (him) include aggravated fleeing, reckless driving, DUI, resisting arrest with violence and no valid license. (Marshall) also had an open warrant out of Bay County Jail for fleeing and attempting to elude." This article originally appeared on The News Herald: FHP: Panama City man drove drunk, fled troopers, sparking car chase Election 2022 Pence (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Former Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday warned against the growing populist tide in the Republican Party as he admonished Putin apologists unwilling to stand up to the Russian leader over his assault on Ukraine. Speaking at the conservative Heritage Foundation in Washington less than a month before November's midterm elections, Pence addressed the growing gulf between traditional conservatives and a new generation of populist candidates inspired, in part, by former President Donald Trump, who has transformed a large swath of the party. Today, on the cusp of a new era of Republican leadership ... I think we need to chart a course that doesnt veer off too far in either direction," Pence told the think tank audience. Our movement cannot forsake the foundational commitment that we have to security, to limited government, to liberty and to life. But nor can we allow our movement to be led astray by the siren song of unprincipled populism thats unmoored from our oldest traditions and most cherished values," he said. "Let me say: This movement and the party that it animates must remain the movement of a strong national defense, limited government and traditional moral values and life. To that end, Pence criticized those in the party who have pushed a more isolationist foreign policy, particularly when it comes to Russian aggression. Earlier Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared martial law for four illegally annexed Ukrainian regions as his forces have suffered stinging battlefield defeats and renewed attacks on Ukrainian cities and vital infrastructure. Now, I know there is a rising chorus in our party, including some new voices to our movement, who would have us disengaged with the wider world," Pence said. "But appeasement has never worked, ever, in history. And now more than ever, we need a conservative movement committed to Americas role as leader of the free world and as a vanguard of American values. Story continues As Russia continues its unconscionable war of aggression to Ukraine, I believe that conservatives must make it clear that Putin must stop and Putin will pay," he added. "There can be no room in the conservative movement for apologists to Putin. There is only room in this movement for champions of freedom. Pence has been traveling the country, campaigning on behalf of Republican midterm candidates as he lays the groundwork for a potential 2024 presidential campaign. Some of the candidates he has endorsed have espoused the kinds of populist and isolationist views he seemed to take issue with Wednesday. Arizona's Republican Senate candidate Blake Masters, for instance, has labeled the Russia-Ukraine conflict a European problem and has criticized federal spending on Ukraine. Pence's speech largely focused on the conservative Freedom Agenda, which he released earlier this year. It serves as both a concrete policy plan for Republicans as well as an implicit criticism of Trump, who has spent much of his time since leaving office obsessing about the 2020 election instead of looking forward. Pence, who again argued in his remarks that in order to win "we must do more than simply criticize and complain," has been a target of Trump's ire since he refused to go along with the former president's unconstitutional plot to try to overturn the will of voters in January 2021. Pence once again stressed the importance of the oath he took when he was sworn in as vice president, adding that, The American people must know that conservatives will not simply pay lip service to keeping faith with the Constitution, but that we will always keep our oath that we will keep our oath, as the Bible says, even when it hurts" and "stand for the Constitution ... even when it would be politically expedient to do otherwise." Longtime El Paso resident and former El Paso District Attorney Jaime Esparza was nominated by U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday to serve as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Texas. Esparza served as the district attorney for the 34th Judicial District of Texas, which includes El Paso, Hudspeth and Culberson counties, from 1993 to 2020. Friday's nomination prompted U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, to release a statement celebrating Esparza's nomination and urging the Senate to confirm him. "I am proud to support the nomination of El Pasoan and former District Attorney of 28 years Jaime Esparza for the position of U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas," Escobar said. "I have consistently sought to elevate El Pasoans to important positions within our government and am grateful to President Biden for supporting our community with yet another El Paso nominee." More:El Paso DA Yvonne Rosales denies all allegations in citation to remove her from office Escobar recommended Esparza's nomination in January 2021 in a letter to Biden and gathered additional support from national and Texas-based organizations, including the League of United Latin American Citizens. "LULAC is proud to support and strongly recommends the appointment of Jaime Esparza for United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas," the organization said in a letter to Biden. "As you know, there is a dearth of Latinos in the legal profession, with only about 4% of Latinos in this field. We need Latino representation across the board, and having Mr. Esparza's expertise and knowledge in the 34th Western District would be a significant asset to the state of Texas." Former El Paso County District Attorney Jaime Esparza has been nominated to serve as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Texas. In the same letter, votes of support for Esparza came from the National Narcotic Officers Associations' Coalition, the Texas Council on Family Violence, the Texas Gang Investigators Association and the Texas Narcotic Officers Association. Escobar noted the groups' support in her statement, adding: "With the bipartisan and bicameral support he has received, I urge the Senate to confirm Jaime Esparza as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas." Story continues Escobar noted that, over his more than 25-year stint as El Paso district attorney, Esparza was instrumental in establishing programs and processes that still are integral to the city's fight to stem crime and provide support for victims. "As District Attorney, Mr. Esparza created the Domestic Violence 24-hour project, an award-winning program to ensure victims of domestic violence are heard and that their cases have the evidence and support they need," Escobar said in her statement. "Additionally, Mr. Esparza began the District Attorney Information Management System (DIMS), which reduced arrests by 20 percent and saved El Paso County millions of dollars. He has been a strong advocate for crime victims and will serve honorably as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas." This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Biden nominates former El Paso DA Jaime Esparza for US attorney When a journalist at The Wire, an independent Indian publication, published a story on October 6th about a meme pages claim that their Instagram post had been wrongfully removed, it hardly seemed like the kind of story that would draw much attention. The Instagram account, @cringearchivist, was a private account with fewer than 1,000 followers. The fact that their post, a satirical image depicting an Indian government official, was removed for breaking the apps rules around sexual activity despite showing nothing of the sort was odd, but not the kind of thing that might draw international attention. But in an increasingly bizarre turn of events, the nonprofit newsroom began publishing stories with more explosive claims about what it alleged led up to the removal of @cringearchivists post. And, in an even more unusual move, Meta not only refuted the claims but said the publications reporting was based on fabricated evidence and likely the result of some kind of elaborate hoax. What happened? After the initial story on the Instagram takedown, The Wire then started looking more closely at what happened. After not getting a response from Meta, reporters started asking around with sources inside the company. According to what one reporter for The Wire told NewsLaundry, sources within Meta told them the post had been removed not by Instagrams moderators but at the behest of Amit Malviya, an official in Indias ruling BJP party who oversees its IT cell. The Wire then published a followup to its original story on October 10th, with the headline Exclusive: If BJPs Amit Malviya Reports Your Post, Instagram Will Take it Down No Questions Asked. The story alleged that Malviya had the power to remove Instagram posts thanks to Metas controversial cross-check program, which has been credited with shielding high-profile celebrities and politicians from the companys rules. It was an explosive allegation. While cross-check has received plenty of scrutiny, no previous reporting had indicated that those privileges might extend to the ability for those outside the company to influence content takedowns. Story continues Where to even begin with this story?! X-check has nothing to do with the ability to report posts. The posts in question were surfaced for review by automated systems, not humans. And the underlying documentation appears to be fabricated. Andy Stone (@andymstone) October 11, 2022 Meta immediately refuted the story. Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said that cross-check had nothing to do with the ability to report posts" and that the original Instagram post was removed due to Instagram's automated tools. He also said that the underlying documentation appears to be fabricated. Rather than backing down, though, The Wire published a new story the next day, this one featuring an email supposedly sent by Stone in which the comms official blasted staff for allowing the documents to leak. But the supposed email only raised more questions about The Wires reporting. Most glaringly, the grammar and syntax in the messages was strange. It used phrases like for the last one month and post which I will tweet about it. Journalists who cover Meta and frequently interact with Stone pointed out that not only did it not sound like him, it didnt sound as if it was written by a native English speaker. I'm also late to this saga (in Israel & just catching up on the news). My immediate thoughts on this fabricated @andymstone text: -An experienced spokesperson/Crisis Comm professional would NEVER write such an email. -It looks like a sloppy/failed Google Translate attempt. WTF? pic.twitter.com/7wnqz4ocCK Nirit Weiss-Blatt, PhD (@DrTechlash) October 14, 2022 Stone also denied sending the email, and again said The Wire seemed to be relying on faked documents. Meta also published its own rebuttal on October 12th. The screenshots, according to the company, were fabricated. The @cringearchivist posts in question were removed by the companys automated systems, not a human, much less an Indian government official. We hope that The Wire is the victim of this hoax, not the perpetrator, the company wrote. Once again, The Wire responded that it wasnt backing down. On October 15th, it published yet another story, titled Meta Said Damaging Internal Email is Fake, URL 'Not in Use', Here's Evidence They're Wrong. The lengthy post included several technical explanations about how the alleged emails from Stone were analyzed and verified. It also cited emails from independent security researchers who allegedly backed up their analysis. And, crucially, it included a screen recording from Metas Workplace software that allegedly showed proof of the takedown requests. But, again, The Wires supposed evidence only raised new questions about its sources. On October 16th, Meta weighed in again. This time, the company said that an internal investigation revealed the alleged Workplace video was created from a Workplace account created with a free trial of the software on October 13th. At this time, we can confirm that the video shared by The Wire that purports to show an internal Instagram system (and which the Wire claims is evidence that their false allegations are true) in fact depicts an externally-created Meta Workplace account that was deliberately set up with Instagrams name and brand insignia in order to deceive people, the company wrote. It is not an internal account. Based on the timing of this accounts creation on October 13, it appears to have been set up specifically in order to manufacture evidence to support the Wires inaccurate reporting. And, once again, The Wire said it was standing by its reporting. In a statement on October 17th, the publication essentially said it would no longer engage with Meta on the topic. The publication accused the company of attempting to goad them into revealing its sources. We are not prepared to play this game any further, it said. By repeatedly making wild claims about #TheWires evidence, the #Meta hopes we will feel obliged to seek and publish further information that could be more easily traced back to our sources. We are not prepared to play this game any further. ~@thewire_in https://t.co/qkgp6v9ADv Mahtab (@MahtabNama) October 17, 2022 Meanwhile, the alleged proof provided by The Wire continued to fall apart. And one of the security researchers who The Wire said had backed up their verification said he had never sent the messages it cited in its reporting. On October 18th, the publication reversed course, saying it would review its reporting, and would pull the stories from public view while it investigated. This will include a review of all documents, source material and sources used for our stories on Meta, The Wire wrote in a statement. Based on our sources consent, we are also exploring the option of sharing original files with trusted and reputed domain experts as part of this process. Now what? At this point, there are still more questions than answers about how and why The Wires reporting went so wrong. Its clear there are serious issues with the evidence'' it relied on, though its not clear whether it intentionally lied or if it was misled as part of some broader scheme. The publication has said numerous times it relied on two separate sources, which suggests the whole thing is more complex than one bad source. More information is likely to come out in the coming days and weeks as The Wire and others now look more closely at how the story got so out of control. But theres a reason why the stakes in this particular incident feel so high. India ranks 150 out of 180 in terms of press freedom, according to Reporters Without Borders. And The Wire, a nonprofit publication, is one of a shrinking number of independent newsrooms in the country. Its also worth pointing out that some elements of this saga point to real and serious issues about Metas policies and how they impact its billions of users. For one, the entire situation began with something many people have experienced: a content moderation decision gone awry due to a mistake in the companys automated systems. Amid all the back and forth, Instagram ended up reinstating the original Story post from @cringearchivist that had kicked off The Wires investigation. Theres also the fact that Meta has been less than forthcoming about its cross-check rules for celebrities, politicians and other VIPs. Many details we now know about the program only came to light thanks to a company whistleblower and other investigative reporting into the company. The companys own Oversight Board, which has been working on an advisory opinion for nearly a year about the program, even accused the company of misleading it about the program. And while there continues to be no evidence that cross-check would enable a company outsider to initiate content takedowns, journalists and activists have long raised questions about whether Meta gives too much leeway to Indias BJP in other policy decisions. Put all that together and it becomes clear why a publication like The Wire might be so invested in a story like this in the first place. Our recent coverage of Meta began with an incident that reflected the lack of transparency at the social media giant and its various platforms, The Wire wrote in its most recent statement. Unfortunately, its own reporting has so far only made things more opaque. Update 10/28: After officially retracting its stories about Meta, The Wire said in a new statement that it fell victim to a "deception" by "a member of our Meta investigation team." The note didn't identify the staffer, but said "the person responsible is no longer associated with The Wire in any capacity." "The Wire acknowledges that the internal editorial processes which preceded publication of these stories did not meet the standards that The Wire sets for itself and its readers expect from it. To have rushed to publish a story we believed was reliable without having the associated technical evidence vetted independently is a failure of which we cannot permit repetition." Bunker Hill Mining Corp. TORONTO, Oct. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bunker Hill Mining Corp. (the Company) (CSE: BNKR) is pleased to announce filing of an independent Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) for the Bunker Hill Mine in the Silver Valley region of Idaho, USA. The report, dated September 30, 2022 and entitled "Technical Report and Pre-Feasibility Study for Underground Mining, Milling and Concentration of Lead, Silver and Zinc at the Bunker Hill Mine, Coeur d'Alene Mining District, Shoshone County, Idaho, USA" was prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). Bunker Hills news release dated September 6, 2022 summarizes key results, assumptions and estimates contained in the PFS. The Company is pleased to report there are no material differences between the key results, assumptions and estimates contained in the PFS and this news release. The PFS is available on the Companys website at www.bunkerhillmining.com and has been filed on SEDAR under the Company's issuer profile at www.sedar.com. NEW PAYMENT BOND The Company reports that it has been successful in securing a new payment bond to secure a portion of its cost recovery obligations to the US Environmental Protection Agency (the US EPA), resulting in a $3,000,000 improvement in liquidity. As reported in the Companys financial statements for the period ending June 30, 2022, the Company held restricted cash of $9,476,000 as of June 30, 2022 which included $7,001,000 as collateral for a letter of credit to the US EPA. This letter of credit has been reduced to $2,000,001 as a result of a new $5,000,000 payment bond obtained through an insurance company. The collateral for the new payment bond is comprised of a $2,000,000 letter of credit and land pledged by third parties, with whom the company has entered into a financing cooperation agreement that contemplates a monthly fee of $20,000 (payable in cash or common shares of the Company, at the Companys election). Story continues The new payment bond is scheduled to increase to $7,001,000 (from $5,000,000) upon the advance of the multi-metals Stream from Sprott Private Resource Streaming & Royalty Corp. (see the Companys news release of December 20, 2021 for further detail), which would result in a further $2,001,000 improvement in liquidity for the Company from the release of restricted cash. WATER MANAGEMENT SERVICES The Company is also pleased to report that it has awarded a new water management consulting services contract to MineWater LLC (MineWater) for strategic environmental support at the Bunker Hill Mine through September 30, 2023. Among other accomplishments to date, MineWater successfully commissioned and executed a pilot water treatment study through 2021 and 2022 that demonstrated an ability of the Bunker Hill Mine to meet water discharge standards with an in-mine water treatment system. MineWater has been awarded 6 US patents for environmental technologies to address in situ metals immobilization in underground mines, pit lakes and groundwater impacted by mining; using these patents and other technologies, MineWater solves water issues related to mine sites, particularly arising from the mobility of dissolved heavy metals. Pursuant to the contract, the Company agreed to pay MineWater $60,000 in cash and issue 1,599,150 Restricted Share Units, which will vest immediately to common shares of the Company that will be subject to customary resale restrictions in Canada and the United States. QUALIFIED PERSON Mr. Scott E. Wilson, CPG, President of RDA and a consultant to the Company, is an independent qualified person as defined by NI 43-101 and is acting as the qualified person for the Company. He has reviewed and approved the technical information summarized in this news release. The qualified persons have verified the information disclosed herein, including the sampling, preparation, security and analytical procedures underlying such information, and are not aware of any significant risks and uncertainties that could be expected to affect the reliability or confidence in the information discussed herein. ABOUT BUNKER HILL MINING CORP. Under new Idaho-based leadership, the Bunker Hill Mining Corp intends to sustainably restart and develop the Bunker Hill Mine as the first step in consolidating a portfolio of North American precious-metal assets with a focus on silver. Information about the Company is available on its website, www.bunkerhillmining.com, or within the SEDAR and EDGAR databases. For additional information contact: David Wiens, CFA CFO & Corporate Secretary +1 208 370 3665 ir@bunkerhillmining.com Cautionary Statements Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are within the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as well as within the meaning of the phrase forward-looking information in the Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations. Forward-looking statements are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Companys future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as believes, anticipates, expects, estimates, may, could, would, will, or plan. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet managements expectations. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the Companys intentions regarding its objectives, goals or future plans and statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: the ability 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, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains; failure to identify mineral resources; failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves; the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results; the Companys ability to restart and develop the Bunker Hill Mine and the risks of not basing a production decision on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability, resulting in increased uncertainty due to multiple technical and economic risks of failure which are associated with this production decision including, among others, areas that are analyzed in more detail in a feasibility study, such as applying economic analysis to resources and reserves, more detailed metallurgy and a number of specialized studies in areas such as mining and recovery methods, market analysis, and environmental and community impacts and, as a result, there may be an increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit with no guarantee that production will begin as anticipated or at all or that anticipated production costs will be achieved; failure to commence production would have a material adverse impact on the Company's ability to generate revenue and cash flow to fund operations; failure to achieve the anticipated production costs would have a material adverse impact on the Company's cash flow and future profitability; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals; political risks; changes in equity markets; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; the inability of the Company to budget and manage its liquidity in light of the failure to obtain additional financing, including the ability of the Company to complete the payments pursuant to the terms of the agreement to acquire the Bunker Hill Mine Complex; inflation; changes in exchange rates; fluctuations in commodity prices; delays in the development of projects; capital, operating and reclamation costs varying significantly from estimates and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry; and those risks set out in the Companys public documents filed on SEDAR. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Cautionary Note to United States Investors Concerning Estimates of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources This press release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. Unless otherwise indicated, all resource and reserve estimates included in this press release have been disclosed in accordance with NI 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Canadian disclosure standards, including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and resource and reserve information contained in this press release may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term resource does not equate to the term reserves. Under U.S. standards, mineralization may not be classified as a reserve unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the reserve determination is made. The SECs disclosure standards normally do not permit the inclusion of information concerning measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources or inferred mineral resources or other descriptions of the amount of mineralization in mineral deposits that do not constitute reserves by U.S. standards in documents filed with the SEC. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. U.S. investors should also understand that inferred mineral resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists or is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of contained ounces in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute reserves by SEC standards as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. The requirements of NI 43-101 for disclosure of reserves are also not the same as those of the SEC, and reserves disclosed by the Company in accordance with NI 43-101 may not qualify as reserves under SEC standards. Accordingly, information concerning mineral deposits contained in our website may not be comparable with information made public by companies that report in accordance with U.S. standards. Rich Miller The political action committee affiliated with the Illinois Network of Charter Schools is always well-funded, well-organized, well-run and often quite successful at electing legislative candidates who are supportive of their cause. But, unlike, say, Personal PAC, which focuses almost solely on the issue of abortion in its ubiquitous direct mailers, you dont often see charter schools even mentioned in the cash-rich INCS Actions mailers. And INCS is the only identifier on its mailers. They dont mention the full name of the group itself. Theres nothing illegal or even particularly wrong about that. The group wants more allies at the Statehouse, so they use polling to shape their campaign messaging, instead of using their own core issues, which may not move enough voters. And because theyre an independent expenditure committee, campaign contribution caps do not apply. So they can spend big. And they do. This year, though, INCS broached an issue that caused them some Statehouse trouble. Repeal the dangerous SAFE-T Act, blares one dot-point in a mailer on behalf of Rep. Chris Bos (R-Lake Zurich). Violent Criminals shouldn't be allowed out on the streets with no cash bail. Its the top item in what INCS claims is Chris Bos' plan to reduce crime and make our communities safer. Theres probably not a huge overlap between staunch charter school proponents and enthusiastic criminal justice reform advocates, but the latter group does have quite a bit of influence in both legislative chambers, which is how the SAFE-T Act was passed in the first place. Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago), who has been one of the SAFE-T Acts most vocal proponents since the massive pushback against the criminal justice reform law began, issued a statement last week about the INCS mailer. Its disappointing to see this from the charter school industry especially since their own website says they serve 92% of students of color, Peters statement read. They should support the elimination of cash bail given 87% students are on free and reduced price lunch and are profoundly impacted by the issue. I hope they reconsider their position especially for the families their schools serve. Story continues Sen. Peters was described by the Chicago Teachers Union earlier this year as being a staunch CTU supporter, and that union is perhaps the most vocal opponent of the charter school system. Ive since been told that INCS Action will no longer use the issue in future mailers. Somebody over there just wasnt thinking things through. Its one thing to help a super-minority party candidate win, its quite another if how you aid that person winds up damaging your core issue with the super-majority party. I figure theyll find a way to patch things up. Theyre usually pretty good at this stuff. According to disclosures filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections, INCS has, as of this writing, sent three mailers on Bos behalf, at $11,400 a pop. It reported having $1.9 million cash on hand at the end of September. Rep. Bos definitely needs the help. He ended June with just $10,000 in the bank and has since reported raising just $19,000. INCS has already reported spending more money on Bos than the incumbent has available. Bos is up against Nabeela Syed, a hard-charging opponent who has reported raising about $372,000 between the beginning of July and Oct. 14. Rep. Bos isnt yet a Tier One target, but Syed walks a lot of precincts and convincingly won a Democratic primary, which undoubtedly boosted her name recognition. So, unless the bottom drops out on the Democrats, she could make it a close race, particularly if the House Democrats put her cable ads on Chicago broadcast TV. What money has been spent by the Republicans has focused mainly on the crime issue, which INCS evidently picked up on. The Republicans have been criticized, however, for using a photoshopped image of Syed which falsely makes her look like shes holding a sign saying Defund the police. The Democrats have been known to do this sort of thing, too, of course. The House Dems are running two cable TV ads for Syed. One mixes economic issues with abortion. Rising prices hurt everyone, the 15-second ad begins. I'm Nabeela Syed. I'm fighting to cut property taxes and prescription costs. Extreme politician Chris Bos opposes a woman's right to choose, no exceptions. I'm Nabeela Syed. I'll protect your pocketbook and your rights. The other 15-second spot focuses solely on Bos, claiming he will outlaw a woman's right to choose, even in cases of rape and incest. According to Illinois Right to Life Action, Rep. Bos is Fully pro-life. Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax.com. This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Rich Miller's Capitol Fax: INCS putting money behind Rep. Bos Oct. 19JENKINS TWP. U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Tuesday said with the new federal funding he helped secure, the Weinberg Food Bank will be able to expand their operations and provide more food to families in Northeastern Pennsylvania who need it. Casey, D-Scranton, joined local leaders from the Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO) to tout federal funding for the expansion of the Weinberg Regional Food Bank $250,000 in community project funding from the FY22 spending law and $580,000 through the American Rescue Plan. The expansion initiative includes constructing a 15,000 square foot addition, including a freezer and cooler space. Casey toured the food bank and met with CEO Weinberg and volunteers from local food banks to discuss the importance of federal funding for food banks and food pantries to combat hunger in Pennsylvania. "The pandemic exacerbated existing food insecurity issues in Pennsylvania and across the nation," Casey said. "During these difficult times, CEO Weinberg Regional Food Bank met the moment and provided thousands of hungry families in Luzerne County with some measure of relief." The Weinberg Regional Food Bank is a 50,000 square-foot food distribution center located in Jenkins Township. As more families faced increased food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic, CEO distributed more than 19.5 million pounds of food and grocery products in 2020 a 7-million-pound increase from 2019. Even as the economy begins to recover from the pandemic, officials said the prevalence of hunger remains in the community. According to the latest data from Feeding America, in Luzerne County approximately 41,060 individuals were food insecure in 2020 including 13,530 children who lack safe and consistent access to nutritious meals. Roderick Blaine, Director of Administration at the Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO), the funding offers a great opportunity for CEO to expand its operations and he thanked Casey for his efforts. Story continues Blaine said CEO's Weinberg Food Bank works with more than 250 partners, working together to end hunger in Northeastern Pennsylvania. "As a regional food bank, we acquire and redistribute food that comes to us either by donation, purchase or government commodities," Blaine said. "That food is then distributed across our network, who in-turn provide prepared meals and groceries to about 15,000 people each and every week." Blaine said over the last two years, the number of hungry families in our community hit an all-time high. "With the increased need for food in our region and the space limitations we experienced over these trying times, we are expanding our Food Bank facility," Blaine said. "The expansion project will give us an additional 15,000 square feet of space, including additional cooler and freezer space to support our mission of fighting hunger with healthy foods." Blaine said because of Casey's advocacy, the Weinberg Regional Food Bank is fortunate to have been awarded federal funding from the USDA to support the expansion project. "Sen. Casey has a track record for supporting anti-hunger legislation and programs that help children receive a better opportunity for a strong, healthy start in life," Blaine said. "We are fortunate to have him representing us in Washington and we are honored to have him here today." Mary Ellen Spellman, Food Bank Director of the CEO Weinberg Food Bank, said 66,000 prepared meals were provided to regional families last month and 21,000 families were given groceries for their homes. Spellman led Casey on a tour of the facility. Deborah Shurtleff, founder and president of the Wyoming County Community Alliance, said her organization provides food to about 110 families. She said she and her husband deliver food to some of those families and she said the appreciation of the service by the families makes the entire operation worthwhile. "Many times when we arrive at a home, the children come running out," Shurtleff said. "I remember one child smiling and saying, "Look mom, we have apples." Casey highlighted two different funding streams for CEO Weinberg Food Bank. The first is $250,000 in community project funding (formerly earmarks) from the FY22 federal appropriations bill. That funding is going towards the food bank's physical expansion of the building, including more freezer and cold storage space. The second is $580,000 from the American Rescue Plan. This money was sent to the state and then distributed to individual food banks. Quick facts Current: 50,000 square feet with 9,840 square feet of cold storage space. Proposed: 15,000 square feet to include additional cold storage. Also adding a greenhouse. Pre-COVID, on average about 11,000 people received food each week. Currently, the food bank serves about 15,000 people each week through its network of partner food distributions. Pre-COVID, Weinberg provided 12 million pounds of food to meet the needs of the community. Over the past 12 months, Weinberg provided 14.5 million pounds of food to its network. The food bank's inventory turned over more than 21 times within the past year. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle. A cheering crowd gathered at the Teheran airport early Wednesday morning to welcome home climber Elnaz Rekabi from her competition in South Korea. Rekabi became a celebrity in Iran after she participated in the event without wearing her nations mandatory headscarf covering. The International Federation of Sport Climbing said Rekabi wore a hijab during her initial appearances at the one-week climbing event. She wore just a black headband in Sunday's final. Her action came in the wake of nationwide protests over the Sept. 16 death of a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, who was detained by Iranian morality police over her clothing. STAY UP-TO-DATE: Subscribe to our Sports newsletter now! Elnaz Rekabi--the Iranian climber who refused to wear compulsory hejab while competing--is greeted as a hero at 5AM at Tehran airport after her plane lands from Seoul. Imprisoning her will only increase the Iranian nation's enormous admiration for her. pic.twitter.com/7LFUk8hTTJ Karim Sadjadpour (@ksadjadpour) October 19, 2022 An Instagram post on an account attributed to Rekabi described her not wearing a hijab as "unintentional," though it wasnt immediately clear whether she wrote the post or what condition she was in at the time. In a historic move, Iranian athlete Elnaz Rekabi who represented Iran at the Asian Climbing Competitions finals in Seoul, competed without hijab, disobeying the Islamic Republic's restrictions for female athletes. pic.twitter.com/KvxE5NoQLi Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) October 16, 2022 Rekabi was on Irans 11-member delegation, comprised of eight athletes and three coaches, to the event, according to the IFSC. Story continues Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi competes in the women's boulder finals of the Asian Championships of the IFSC in Seoul. Media from outside Iran had expressed concern that Rekabi could have been arrested when she returned home. However, Iranian officials denied those claims. So far, human rights groups estimate that over 200 people have been killed in the protests and the violent security force crackdown that followed. Iran has not offered a death toll in weeks. Demonstrations have been seen in over 100 cities, according to the group Human Rights Activists in Iran. Thousands are believed to have been arrested. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sport climber Elnaz Rekabi met by cheering crowd in return to Iran Appoints Dean Vocisano as the Country Manager for ANZ to expand rapidly across the region SYDNEY, October 18, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pixis, the California-headquartered codeless AI infrastructure company, today announced the onboarding of Dean Vocisano as the Country Manager of Australia & New Zealand citing its expansion into the market. Currently, the Series C funded company provides codeless AI technology for demand generation and marketing optimization to over 200 businesses across the American, MENA and APAC regions. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221018005882/en/ (L-R) Neel Pandya, CEO - Europe & APAC at Pixis, and Dean Vocisano, Country Manager - Australia & New Zealand at Pixis (Photo: Business Wire) With over fifteen years of experience in the marketing space, Dean has worked with leading companies across industries and has equipped them to achieve their strategic and performance goals with utmost ease and expertise. Prior to joining Pixis, Dean held senior roles at ShopFully, Salmat and Rakuten Advertising. Founded by Shubham A. Mishra (Global CEO), Vrushali Prasade (CTO) and Hari V (CBO), Pixis has raised $124M in funding to date. Its latest funding round was led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2 with participation from new investor General Atlantic, as well as existing investors. The companys customers include noteworthy brands such as DHL, Kumu, BetaBrand, SmartAsset and Joe & The Juice. Europe & APAC CEO, Neel Pandya, shares, "Australia contributed $12.02B to total digital ad spends in 2022 and is expected to grow further as we head into the last quarter of the year. Weve found the Australian market to be proactive in their search for AI products and eager to adopt new technology. Were also excited to welcome Dean Vocisano to the team as ANZ Country Manager, he will play a pivotal role in our expansion into the region. We look forward to growing our team in Australia and strengthening our presence in this compelling new market." Story continues Comprising 80+ proprietary AI models, Pixis' codeless infrastructure is deployed across an ecosystem of AI products. A key differentiating factor for Pixis is user experience, where its entire AI infrastructure can be deployed in 15 minutes by marketers themselves without data scientists or IT/tech team intervention. Upon deployment, it takes 8 seconds to activate the AI, and to initiate an initial audit of current marketing strategies so efficiencies to scale and inefficiencies to rectify can be identified. Pixis customers use the AI infrastructure to augment decision-making with data-backed recommendations for targeting, media management, creative communication, performance optimization, and more. Earlier this year, Pixis announced its expansion into the MENA region, more recently into Spain, and is rapidly becoming the go-to AI technology for demand generation and marketing optimization. Brands like Skoda, DHL and Joe & The Juice have observed incredible results after deploying Pixis AI. Skoda was able to experience a 10% improvement in its cost per lead and 17% boost in average daily leads volume. While globally renowned chain of juice bars and coffee shops, Joe & The Juice, witnessed 14% increase in conversion rates, after adopting the Pixis AI infrastructure. Newly appointed Country Manager, Dean Vocisano, shared, "Its an exciting time to be part of such an innovative and forward-thinking AI company, especially considering the profound transformations were witnessing in the marketing landscape. Im elated to be a part of an effort thats concentrated on helping democratize AI for marketers, and to see true adoption of technology by traditionally non-technical professionals." View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221018005882/en/ Contacts Anjali Devaiah, Pixis, Anjali@pixis.ai Rishabh Chauhan, One2en, Rishabh@one2en.com If all goes as planned, within three years, Morgan County will have accurate information about the amount of water flowing under it. During its meeting Monday, Oct. 17, the Morgan County Board of Commissioners approved a contact with Texas-based Intera, Inc., an environmental and water resource consulting firm, to conduct a 3-year study on the water supply under the county. 'Education is key': Coroner warns Morgan County's fentanyl death count is rising. Commissioner Bryan Collier said it is important to know how much water is available underground and where it is currently being used. Collier said there are places around the nation where life has been disrupted due to a shortage of water. He said there are places where development has been slowed or stopped due to the shortage. For Morgan County, Collier said, neighboring counties have come in to tap into the county's water supply Collier added the county needs to know how much water there is under it and where it is going. Failure to find out answers could impact future development plans. Per the contract, the cost will not exceed $1.257 million. The money will come from the funds the county received from the American Rescue Plan Act. Grant requested for Martinsville Youth Center The commissioners approved applying for a $500,000 grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs for the Martinsville Youth Center. Before filing for the grant, several reports had to be completed. One report was the Four Factor Analysis for Limited English Proficiency Persons. The results of that report would determine if the county must establish a program for people who have limited English proficiency (LEP) The results showed that out of the 53,290 county residents who are over 18 years of age, 34 speak another language. The threshold for requiring LEP compliance is at least 5 percent of the population or more than 1,000 people. Because of those results, the county will not be required to develop a language access plan. Story continues The county will continue to find translators when needed. If the youth center does receive the funds, they will go to update the building on Morton Avenue. Rezone requests Following objections of several residents, the commissioners voted to deny a rezoning request for Terry Johnson and Randall Adkins for property on North Kitchen Road in Madison Township. The commissioners did approve a rezoning request for Scott and dawn Phillips and Vernon and Donald Swigert for property located on East Watson Road in Madison Township. Other business The commissioners approved a contract with Baker Tilly financial advisors for assistance on the bond process that will be used for county construction projects. The board also approved a contract with Banning Engineering for GIS support work for the county. Only two bids were received for snow removal by private companies in the county. They were taken under advisement and will be discussed at the November meeting. The board also approved its 2023 meeting schedule. The next scheduled meeting of the Morgan County Board of Commissioners is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 7, at the Morgan County Administration Building, 180 S. Main St., Martinsville. Redevelopment Commission The Morgan County Redevelopment Commission held a short meeting on Monday, Oct. 17, to pay bills and update members on several ongoing projects. The public meeting began around 15 minutes late due to the commission's executive meeting. RDC consultant Chelsey Manns said updates to the Waverly Sanitary Sewer Plant are progressing, and there would be an update at the next meeting. More:State Road 37 traffic to shift north of Martinsville due to work along I-69 Finish Line corridor. RDC attorney Dakota VanLeeuwen gave the board an updated offer sheet for property located in Madison Township. Several years ago, the commission purchased the property with the thought it would be used at a later date for a sanitation plant. Now the plant is built and operational, the commission is planning to sell the unused section of the land. Manns told commission members she is still working on updating the county's Tax Increment Financing map. The next scheduled meeting of the Morgan County Redevelopment Commission is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 14, at the Morgan County Administration Building, 180 S. Main St., Martinsville. This article originally appeared on The Reporter Times: Morgan County to look into water resources for future development The claim: Antony Blinken confessed the U.S. was responsible for the Nord Stream gas leaks European officials suspect sabotage was the cause of leaks found in late September in two underwater pipelines that carry natural gas from Russia to Germany, but multiple investigations to determine what happened are ongoing. Many suspect the leaks, which were preceded by two explosions, were the result of an attack carried out at a time of heightened global tension over Russias invasion of Ukraine. But if thats the case, it remains unclear who is responsible. A video that has been widely viewed on Facebook, though, claims Secretary of State Antony Blinken has already admitted that the U.S. and President Joe Biden were behind the incident. Blinken confesses that Biden did it, reads the caption of the Oct. 4 video, which was shared nearly 400 times in seven days. The four-minute video says there are theories floating around that the U.S. is to blame for the damage to the Nord Stream pipelines and claims recent statements by Blinken solidify these theories. But the claim is false. Blinken talked about the situation at a Sept. 30 press conference, but never indicated the U.S. was responsible for the leaks. Follow us on Facebook! Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the claim for comment. This handout picture released on September 27, 2022 by the Danish Defence Command shows the gas leak at the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline as it is seen from the Danish Defence's F-16 rejection response off the Danish Baltic island of Bornholm, south of Dueodde. The two Nord Stream gas pipelines linking Russia and Europe have been hit by unexplained leaks, Scandinavian authorities said on September 27, 2022, raising suspicions of sabotage. Blinken: U.S. will 'determine who was responsible' for pipeline leaks Blinken, who spoke at the press conference alongside Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, said the U.S. has been supporting the investigation and is working to be able to determine who was responsible. Blinken denounced what he called an "absurd allegation made by Russian President Vladimir Putin that the U.S. and its allies were responsible for the incident. We will get to the bottom of what happened, Blinken said. Blinken also described the situation as a tremendous opportunity to once and for all remove the dependence on Russian energy and take away from (Putin) the weaponization of energy as a means of advancing his imperial designs. Story continues In response to a USA TODAY inquiry, the State Department said the U.S. was not responsible for the pipeline leaks. "Any suggestion the United States was involved with this is ridiculous and has no basis in fact," a State Department spokesperson told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. "We all know Russia has a long history of spreading disinformation and is doing it again here." Biden has also denied the U.S. was responsible for the leaks, calling them a "deliberate act of sabotage," and promising to send divers to examine the pipeline to "find out exactly what happened," Bloomberg reported. PolitiFact also debunked the claim. Our rating: False Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that Blinken admitted the U.S. was responsible for the Nord Stream gas pipeline leaks. Blinken discussed the situation at a press conference, but did not confess the U.S. was behind it. He called allegations that the U.S. was responsible "absurd." 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: No, Blinken did not say U.S. was behind Nord Stream leaks WAUSAU More than 200 employees will lose their jobs when Foot Locker permanently closes its distribution center on the far west side by the end of April. The company notified Mayor Katie Rosenberg and the state Department of Workforce Development about the closure and layoff plans Tuesday. According to the letter Foot Locker sent, the company identified ways it could make its distribution network more efficient and effective. Foot Locker will begin phasing out distribution operations at 500 N. 72nd Ave. in Wausau starting at the end of January, and the facility will be closed by the end of April. The letter said the entire facility will be shut down, all 210 employees will be affected, and the closure will be permanent. Rosenberg said Eastbay and Foot Locker brands that integrated in 2020 have been "employment pillars" in the Wausau community for decades. "This is understandably hard news for our community and the 200 employees who are affected," Rosenberg said. "I talked to leaders at Foot Locker yesterday, and they told me they are working with employees to find other positions within the company, and they are also holding job fairs if employees are seeking new opportunities." Cara Tocci, Foot Locker's vice president of global corporate communications, told the Wausau Daily Herald that the company is working with affected workers to help them find other opportunities, offering a competitive severance package, stay bonus and career service support. Tocci said the company will still maintain a presence in the market, continuing to operate its customer care center. The first layoffs will include 162 employees on Jan. 31, and the second round of layoffs will include 48 employees and will be completed before the end of April. The notice said the company gave workers contact information for the local workforce development board, and all workers are non-union employees with no bumping rights. More:Half of Central Wisconsin is a 'child care desert.' This project is helping providers get licensed, open more slots This article originally appeared on Wausau Daily Herald: Foot Locker to close Wausau distribution center, with 210 layoffs Giro The route for the 2023 Giro dItalia features 70.6 kilometres of time trialling spread over three stages, a huge increase from the 26.2 kilometres of time trialling in 2022. The route, unveiled this afternoon in the Giorgio Gaber Teatro Lirico, Milan begins with an 18 kilometre time trial on a bike path in Abruzzo and concludes with a circuit stage in Rome three weeks later. As well three time trial stages, including a brutal uphill one on stage 20, the 2023 route features six other uphill finishes, eight sprint days and a tough final week including the mountains of the Dolomites. 2022 winner Jai Hindley along with former winners Vincenzo Nibali and Alberto Contador were present for the ceremony in Milan, with Contador labelling the 2023 route a "10 star" Giro d'Italia. The last time the Giro dItalia featured more than 70 kilometres of time trial action was in 2013, and this will be seen as a move to entice the likes of Remco Evenepoel, Geraint Thomas and Primoz Roglic to Italy next year. The standout of the three time trials in 2023 will be the stage 20 mountain time trial from Tarvisio to Monte Lussari sanctuary. As well as the time trialling action, the route features more than 50,000 metres of climbing including a summit finish at Monte Bondone. The opening weeks action will take place in the south of Italy before travelling north through the Tuscany region towards Turin, Bergamo and then the Dolomites. A key feature of the second week will be a hilly stage around the town of Bergamo which will feature many of the climbs associated with the Il Lombardia monument as well as an Alpine stage in Switzerland. The third week will see the riders tackling a classic Giro dItalia final week in the high mountains. Stage 16 from Sabbio Chiese to Monte Bondone is bound to be particularly gruelling with more than 5,200 metres on the way to the summit finish. Stage 19 is a key Dolomite stage and will feature multiple mythical climbs associated with the Italian grand tour. Story continues The riders will take on the Passo di Campolongo, the Passo Valparola, the infamous Passo Giau and then the Tre Cime di Lavaredo associated with a big win for Vincenzo Nibali when he won the 2013 edition of the race. If the brutality of stage 19 wasnt enough, the stage 20 mountain top time trial, close to the border of Slovenia, will feature unbelievably savage gradients of 15% in the first 4 kilometres of the final climb alone. When they finally reach Rome, the winner of the 2023 Giro dItalia will be crowned around the ancient site of the Colosseum making for a fitting finale to what promises to be a brutal edition of the Italian Grand Tour. Monroe County sheriff's department in 2022. Richardson Road winds through a remote area of Indiana 45 blanketed in tall, thick trees near Lake Lemon. In early May 18 years ago, a turkey hunter walking through the wooded territory stumbled across a man's partially decomposed body, later determined to have been there between eight to 15 months. Investigators called to the scene found sparse evidence that painted a harrowing picture. The victim's skull had two bullet holes, suggesting to investigators he was shot "execution style." He also reportedly had well-healed boxers fractures in his right hand and rib fractures that were still healing months before his death. Previous coverage:A body was found in 2004 in Monroe County. Police still don't know who he was It was a tough case from the onset for investigators in 2004. All they had was half a skeleton in an isolated ravine. There was no trace of who this man was nor who could have left him there. Without any concrete leads, the investigation soon went cold. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office collected all of the related case files into a binder and placed it on a shelf. The countys only unidentified homicide victim may have remained forever unnamed. Enter Detective Alexander Hahn. Hahn has been investigating this unsolved homicide for some years now, with his quest beginning soon after he transferred into the Monroe County Sheriff Office's investigative unit. "The binder was sitting there and he took the initiative to take it off the shelf," Sheriff Brad Swain recalled. The Monroe County Sheriffs Office commissioned a clay rendering of an unidentified man found dead near Lake Lemon to try to locate his family. He has been identified through genetic genealogy as Steven Gabbard, last seen in Indianapolis. While intrigued by the details, Hahn had very little to go on deteriorated human remains, a vague time frame of how long the body had lain undiscovered and an indication of foul play. There wasn't much evidence at the scene that could lead investigators to a suspect. "Whoever did it didn't leave any trace (behind)," Hahn told The Herald-Times earlier this year. How was John Doe identified? With all other investigatory tools exhausted, Hahn tried a new method, one that he'd read about from a string of recently resolved criminal cases. Think 23andMe, but with a forensic, true crime twist. Story continues Now, thanks to investigators finding a genetic link between Monroe County's "John Doe" and a close relative, Hahn has at least some answers that many have waited nearly a decade to hear. As of last week, Monroe County's "John Doe" has been confirmed to be Steven Gabbard, a man in his late thirties from Louisville, Kentucky, who was last seen in the Indianapolis area. With this breakthrough, Monroe County's only unidentified homicide victim within the past 20 years finally has a name. But the investigation is far from finished. Now, police must find his killer. "It is an ending, but it's also a beginning," Swain said. Genetic genealogy: new hope for cold cases Monroe County's Sheriff Office investigators tried everything they could think of to identify Gabbard and locate his family. Over the years, local police commissioned a composite sketch and clay rendering of the man's face, hoping it would spark recognition from his loved ones; neither led to a positive identification. Investigators also used what little identifying information they had to search through federal databases, such as the U.S. missing person's report. These data sources enabled Hahn to collect a list of potential matches from other cases across the United States. Gabbard was among them, but police could not firm up a stronger connection. Who killed Ann Harmeier? Social media campaign seeks to solve a murder 42 years later When conventional methods didn't bring a break in the case, Hahn turned to genetic genealogy, a new investigatory technique that has recently led to breakthroughs in several state and national cold cases. Genetic genealogy extracts DNA from an unknown individual to determine key ancestral aspects, potentially identifying a biological relationship with a known DNA sample. This can help police locate family members of a missing or deceased person. Genetic genealogy has made strides in criminal forensics since the process positively identified Joseph James DeAngelo, the so-named "Golden State Killer" and former California police officer who committed serial rapes and murders in the 1970s and '80s. According to Hahn, that prominent case was the first time he heard of this investigatory tool. The genealogy analysis has been used to identify perpetrators and victims. Margaret Ann Sniegowski Jr. was known as Boone County's "Jane Doe" for nearly 30 years before an analysis led to a positive identification. In May, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office received special funding from the county to pursue forensic genealogy examination through Othram, a private laboratory that extracts human DNA from trace amounts of degraded or contaminated materials and identifies potential close relatives. Genealogy at work:Bloomington woman reunites with the family she thought had abandoned her 50 years ago Othram completed a DNA comparison between the human remains and Gabbards living nephew, with the positive identification being made last week, according to the sheriff's office. Gabbards nephew and other family members have since been notified. "The self-initiative in this case has been successful, with his family having closure and progress in hopefully seeking justice for this man," Swain said. Details of the 2004 murder case: What we know so far; police still seeking tips When he went missing, Gabbard was last seen in Indianapolis. It is still unknown whether his death occurred in Monroe County. According to Swain, Monroe County investigators have connected with authorities in the Indianapolis area who initially looked into Gabbard's disappearance and also suspected foul play. Swain declined to specify what other agencies are attached to the investigation, due to the sensitive nature of the case. "In one sense, were returning the ball back to another agency, but we're also wanting to work with them to get a resolution for this and see what information they have," Swain said. The case is active and ongoing. If anyone believes they have information that would aid in the investigation, contact Detective Hahn at 812-349-2822. Reach Rachel Smith at rksmith@heraldt.com or on Twitter @RachelSmithNews. This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Monroe County police identify homicide victim with forensic genealogy * Washington plays hardball with Chevron's Venezuela license * Mexico president set to speak with Biden Oct 18 (Reuters) - The latest in Latin American politics today: The Bahamas would send troops to Haiti if asked -minister NASSAU - The Bahamas would send troops or police to Haiti as part of a peacekeeping force if asked to do so by the United Nations or the Caribbean Community, a Bahamian government minister has said, as Haiti's humanitarian crisis worsens. The United States and Mexico on Monday called for U.N. support for a security mission to Haiti, where a gang blockade of a critical fuel port has crippled economic activity and left millions of people facing hunger. "If Caricom determines to send troops in, Caricom will no doubt determine how that troop make-up will be, which could include Bahamian troops," National Security Minister Wayne Munroe told reporters. Washington plays hardball with Chevron's Venezuela license WASHINGTON - U.S. officials have made clear that allowing oil major Chevron Corp to expand in Venezuela depends on a grand gesture: the Venezuelan government and opposition returning to election talks in Mexico at least for a first round, three people close to the matter said this week. Under a technical service agreement signed this summer with Venezuela's oil company PDVSA, Chevron asked the U.S. Treasury Department to relax sanctions on Venezuela to allow the company to take operational control and have a greater say in procurement and trading at the four oil ventures it shares with PDVSA. The State Department has insisted that any relevant easing of sanctions will only come if Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro returns to talks and takes concrete steps toward free elections. Mexico president to speak with Biden Tuesday MEXICO CITY - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador will speak with his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden later on Tuesday, he said during a regular news conference. Lopez Obrador said he was not sure what the call would be about but it might concern the meeting between both leaders and Canada's prime minister scheduled for December. (Compiled by Steven Grattan Editing by Bill Berkrot) The king of heartbreak is back. Lewis Capaldi took to Instagram on Tuesday (Oct. 18) to reveal that his sophomore album, Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent will be arriving on May 19, 2023. In addition, the star will be embarking on a global tour, which kicks off on January 14 in Leeds, England, and will stretch across Europe until March 15 in Munich, Germany. On March 30, Capaldi will cross the pond to begin his North American tour in Nashville, Tenn., on March 30. His US dates wrap up on May 11 in Houston, Texas, before he heads off to Australia and New Zealand. More from Billboard Capaldi revealed on Instagram that he is signing the first 2000 copies of his album that have been pre-ordered. The announcement comes just a month after Capaldi welcomed his sophomore albums era with the emotive Forget Me and its ironically goofy music video. Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent is a follow-up to Capaldis debut album Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent, which landed the 26-year-old star his first Grammy nomination for the albums breakthrough single, Someone You Loved, which was up for song of the year at the 2020 ceremony. The album peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard 200 and spent an impressive 177 weeks total on the chart. Someone You Loved, meanwhile, topped the Hot 100 chart for three weeks, and spent 54 weeks total on the chart. Capaldis debut albums second single, Before You Go, peaked at No. 9 on the Hot 100 dated September 26, 2020. Click here to read the full article. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, ARMENPRESS. Over 100 lecturers from 15 Armenian universities received training within the framework of the 2020-2022 SciNova project. As a result, the Scientific-Research Methodology courses were reformed in 10 higher educational institutions across Armenia, becoming accessible by the new variant for more than 800 students. The program is implemented jointly with Aston University within the Creative Spark: Higher Education Enterprise Programme framework funded by the British Council. In November 2020, FAST (Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology) designed the SciNova Program aimed at creating a curriculum on "Research Design and Science Commercialization''. The curriculum introduces Masters and/or Ph.D. students in Armenia to the basics of conducting quality research and creating commercial value from scientific inventions. In the first half of 2021, the curriculum was developed by FAST and piloted at the Armenian National Agrarian University (ANAU). In addition, training of trainers (ToTs) for a broader audience of academic staff was organized with the participation of key Armenian higher education institutions (HEIs) that provide STEM education. The scale-up of the program anticipates integration of the developed curriculum into the academic programs of the main Armenian HEIs starting from the 2022-23 academic year and beyond. For this purpose, Training of Trainers will be made available to the academic staff from all institutions, as well as a bilingual manual will be developed and provided for free to ensure the smooth integration of the program. The curriculum for Research Design and Science Commercialization courses have been developed in cooperation with subject matter experts and ongoing consultancy and validation from Aston University. An event presenting the results of the 2-year program was attended by the UK Ambassador to Armenia John Gallagher and Addeh Hovassapian, Country Director, British Council Armenia. Hovassapian attached importance to the program, expressing conviction that the educational course will significantly contribute to the development of respective skills and capabilities among the youth. FAST Vice President for Strategic Programs Syuzanna Shamakhyan said they plan to continue cooperation with universities as part of SciNova. We plan to continue supporting especially the effective implementation of the Commercialization of Scientific Innovation course, as a relatively new knowledge and sector, as well as to develop bachelors programs, ensuring continuity of courses in this area and development of skills from an earlier age, she said. The presentation of a bilingual handbook for trainers was also held at the event. The Fairfield Township Offices, 718 Wabash Ave., Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021 in Lafayette. LAFAYETTE, Ind. Former Fairfield Township Trustee Taletha Coles anointed Cheryl Watkins to be her successor as interim trustee in her resignation letter filed Wednesday. That might not be the way it works. There is no official oath of office on file for Watkins being the chief deputy trustee, Tippecanoe County Clerk Julie Roush said. No oath might mean Watkins is chief deputy in name only. Additionally, the Journal & Courier requested and received a copy of Watkins' voter registration card, which is public record. On Oct. 11 the last day to register to vote or to file a change of address for one's voter registration Watkins changed her residency from a Bradford Place apartment in northern Wea Township to 1214 Roberts St. in Lafayette, which is Coles' address, according to Watkins' voter registration. The Journal & Courier emailed Coles asking for additional comment about her resignation and whether Watkins resides at her house. Coles did not respond. The Journal & Courier left a voicemail message for Watkins at the township office and emailed Watkins at the township's front desk email address. Watkins later told the J&C that she moved out of the Bradford Place apartment and into Coles' residence in September, saying the previous arrangement was month to month and an inconvenience. As anyone who followed the debacle in Wabash Township last year knows, if Watkins does not reside inside the township, she cannot be its trustee. Township employees do not have to reside inside the township, according to Indiana law, but elected officials must live in the township. Former Wabash Township Trustee Jennifer Teising was convicted in January of 21 counts of theft for collecting her township paycheck while not residing in the township. After selling her house, Teising changed her address on her voter registration, licenses and vehicle registrations to her former boyfriend's house. However, testimony in her trial indicated she did not reside there. She merely stayed at the house on rare occasions. Story continues Roush said they are trying to sort out who steps in as interim trustee. Bill Jones, Tippecanoe Township trustee and an expert in township government, said Wednesday morning that Coles is mistaken about Watkins being the interim trustee. Fairfield Township Board President Perry Schnarr not Watkins steps in now as interim trustee until a caucus of the Democratic Party's Fairfield Township precinct committee leaders can be convened, which must be in 30 days, Jones said. That means the caucus will be after the election, Jones said. If Democratic trustee candidate Monica Casanova wins, the caucus likely will appoint her to fill the job. If Republican trustee candidate April O'Brien wins, the Democratic caucus will likely appoint a person to fill the job for less than eight weeks, Jones said. Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Who will be Lafayette's Fairfield Township's interim trustee? A 200-year-old white oak tree along the Salmon Falls Trail in South Berwick. I had the delightful chance to tag along on a recent site walk led by Tin Smith of the Great Works Regional Land Trust (gwrlt.org). While this particular walk was on some land the trust is hoping to acquire in South Berwick, Maine, the GWRLT and many local land trusts offer regular guided hikes and walks on their preserves. I love these walks because I always learn something new, usually about both the history and the natural history of the land. This time, in addition to learning about the property we were on, we visited a historic oak tree an approximately 200-year-old white oak. Evelyn Merz stands in front of a 200-year-old white oak tree during a site walk of the Salmon Falls Trail in South Berwick presented by the Great Works Regional Land Trust, which hope to acquire the land where the trail is for conservation. We have a number of species of oak in New England, the most common to find around here are the northern red oak (one of the largest trees in the Northeast) and the white oak. When most of us think of oak trees, we are probably picturing a northern red oak (Quercus rubra). These stately trees are distinguished by the deep fissures (often red) in their bark and bristle-tipped leaves. White oaks (Quercus alba) are just as stately but have lighter bark (hence the name white, even though the bark is more often a light gray rather than white, and the leaves have rounded tips. A white oak leaf and acorn. One thing that is really fun about these walks is that you can count on everyone present to be super excited about something like an old white oak. The land we were walking on had been managed and logged in the past. Luckily, the owners kept this beautiful old oak. It was hard to miss. As we rounded a bend in the trail there it was, towering over its younger neighbors (a mix of poplars, red oaks, white oaks and beech). The Salmon Falls Trail in South Berwick where the Great Works Regional Land Trust recently held a site walk. Its trunk could have easily held 10 of its smaller neighbors. The age of this tree is a guess, but based upon the size it is thought to be at least 200 years old. According to the Native Plant Trust (gobotany.nativeplantrust.org), this species is one of the slower-growing, but longest-lived oak species. Given that the lifespan of a white oak is 500 to 600 years or more, this one is just a young adult. Story continues White oak acorns have fewer tannins and are sweeter, the reason wildlife prefer them over red oak acorns. This tree is an incredibly important member of the forest. It probably didnt start producing acorns until it was 50 to 100 years old, and now those acorns feed over 100 species of birds and mammals. White oak acorns are more attractive to wildlife than their red oak cousins because they contain less tannin. Tannin is a naturally occurring chemical with preservative properties and a bitter taste. Red oak acorns take two seasons to mature and so need those preservatives to keep from rotting as they lie around on the forest floor. White oaks take only one season to mature and so have fewer tannins and a sweeter flavor. If you hunt you know that white oak acorns are a deer magnet. Deer will walk past piles of red oak acorns to reach those of a white oak. More: Black trumpet mushrooms herald the fall on the forest floor: Nature News This white oak spoke to me about the importance of conservation in general. Protect this land and we are protecting the whole ecosystem that supports this tree as well as the ecosystem services this tree provides. We are protecting the river and salt marsh that this forest abuts. We are protecting a place for all of us to experience nature. When we came upon this tree in the forest, the first thing the kids in our group did was run to it for a hug. With the increasing rate of development in the rural areas of New England, it is more important now than ever to conserve as much open space as possible for future generations. Susan Pike Susan Pike, a researcher and an environmental sciences and biology teacher at Dover High School, welcomes your ideas for future column topics. Send your photos and observations to spike3116@gmail.com. Read more of her Nature News columns online at Seacoastonline.com and pikes-hikes.com, and follow her on Instagram @pikeshikes. George and Evelyn Merz at the base of the 200-year-old white oak tree. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Nature News: 200-year-old white oak an inspiration to conserve land The pilot and passenger of a twin-engine plane that took off Tuesday morning from John Glenn Columbus International Airport and crashed near the border of Ohio and West Virginia about an hour later have been identified. The Ohio Highway Patrol identified the deceased as 45-year-old Eric Seevers, of Parkersburg, West Virginia, and Timothy Gifford, 49, of Orient. The patrol did not identify who was piloting the plane. The crash occurred around 7:15 a.m. in a parking lot at the Pioneer Buick GMC dealership on Pike Street on the 1000 block of Pike Street in Marietta, according to the patrol. Video from the crash shows the a large ball of fire as the plane landed on the dealership. The 1974 Beechcraft King Air E90 took off from John Glenn Columbus International Airport around 6:40 a.m., believed to be headed to West Virginia. The Ohio Highway Patrol is investigating after a plane departing John Glenn International crashed in Marietta Tuesday morning. No one on the ground was injured, but there was damage reported to vehicles at the car dealership, the patrol said. Both men had pilot's licenses, according to Federal Aviation Administration records reviewed by The Dispatch. Gifford got his license in 2019 and had a medical assessment in March that stated he must wear glasses when flying. Seevers got his pilot's license on June 18. Gifford is a retired firefighter from the Columbus Division of Fire, according to Steve Stein, president of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 67, which represents city firefighters. He joined the division in 2006 and retired in May. Stein said Gifford was an active member of the firefighters' union and had worked with him during his career. "He was a helluva guy. Tim was one of those guys beyond being a great firefighter and a great paramedic, he was a great person," Stein said. "He worked, led, and taught with compassion and served without question. I wish we could have 1,600 Tim Giffords, but we were lucky to have had one." Stein said the union will be assisting Gifford's family as needed. The patrol was investigating the crash along with the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration, though the NTSB will ultimately take the lead and issue a report on the crash. Story continues bbruner@dispatch.com @bethany_bruner This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Pilot, passenger killed in Marietta plane crash Tuesday morning Missing toddler Quinton Simon is believed to have been buried in a landfill, police have said. Local Georgia police and the FBI think the 20-month-old Quinton was placed in a dumpster and taken to a landfill in the area, prompting a search that is now underway. Chatham County Police Chief Jeff Hadley said at a press briefing on Tuesday that we know that this is going to be a physically, mentally and emotionally gruelling task for our investigators and team. We want justice for Quinton just like everyone else, he added. No arrests have been made in the case, according to WJCL. The Chatham County Police Department announced on 12 October that they believed Quinton is no longer alive. In the same update, police said Quintons 22-year-old mother, Leilani Simon, is considered the prime suspect in the case. During a 13 October press conference, officials said they could not publicise much information on the investigation yet because they only have one shot to arrest and charge Ms Simon. Here is everything we know about the case so far: When did Quinton go missing? The toddler went missing on 5 October from his home in Savannah, a coastal city on the border between Georgia and South Carolina, in Chatham County. Quinton was last seen at about 6am that day at an address in the 500 block of Buckhalter Road, and was reported missing at approximately 9.40am by his mother, Leilani Simon. She told police her son was playing in a playpen when he was last seen, although earlier reports suggested Quinton had wandered off, CNN reported. A dispatch call by emergency service, which has been obtained by local media, suggested the front door to the family home was found open and that Ms Simon told 911 she Thinks someone came in and took him. Quintons babyitter, Diana McCarta, said she was messaged at 9am asking if she knew where he was, and immediately went to the familys home to help search for Quinton before his mother eventually phoned police at about 9.40am, she said in an interview with WSAV. Story continues A missing persons poster for Quinton Simon (FBI) Ms MsCarta said that the family didnt want that (her help) and she had been due to look after both Quinon and his three-year-old brother that day but was told not to come at 5.30am, about half an hour before he was last seen. He was wearing a light blue Sesame Street shirt and black pants. What has his family said? Speaking to reporters days after his disappearance, Quintons grandparents said the boys mother hasnt always done the right thing, and expressed concern for the 20-month-old. Sometimes she does really great, sometimes she doesnt, Billie Jo Howell told ABC30. I dont know what to think right now...I dont know if I can trust her or I dont. I just know Im hurting and I want this baby home. Hes my baby. Ms Howell reportedly lived at the same address as Quinton and Ms Simon along with her husband Thomas Howell, and her daughters boyfriend, WJCL reported. The news outlet obtained court documents alleging an eviction despite, with Ms Howell seeking to remove her daughter and her boyfriend from the property over alleged damage and a lack of peace. This remains unconfirmed however. The same documents also stated that Quintons grandparents have custody of the child, according to WJCL. Quintons mother has not spoken to reporters. Ms McCarta, who told WSAV she babysits the two children, said in an interview on 11 October that she had previously reported the family to Georgias department of families and children services (DFCS) with concerns, but this was unconfirmed. The department told the The Independent: DHS/DFCS is bound by both state and federal law to protect the privacy of the people we serve. As such, we are unable to comment on the specifics of any reported abuse or neglect cases nor confirm or deny the existence of any abuse or neglect records. It continued: We take seriously every report that might be made to the Department and work with law enforcement when appropriate to ensure the safety of Georgias children. At least one Facebook post from Ms Howell, which was seen by Fox News last week, meanwhile referred to the coming calm after a storm, local reports said. It remains unclear what the message behind the reshared post was, in light of an expected update from police on the evidence found. Is there a motive? Early into the search for Quinton, Chatham County police said they did not believe foul play was involved in his disappearance and that they hoped to find him alive, WJCL reported. Despite that, police said they were saddened to report on 12 October that they believed the 20-month-old was dead and that his family had been informed. In a statement that was shared to Facebook, police said. The CCPD and the FBI have notified Quinton Simons family that we believe he is deceased. His mother, Ms Simon, has been named a prime suspect. Officials held the first press conference on the case on 13 October, where they reiterated the belief that Quinton is deceased. To the Chatham County community, our heart breaks along with yours trying to comprehend what we believe happened here. The FBI along with our law enforcement agencies have followed every lead, every tip and every piece of evidence to get to this point and we will continue to do so, FBI Supervisor Senior Resident Agent Will Clarke said. Officials did not disclose the nature of evidence suggesting Quinton is dead, or why Ms Simon is the main suspect. What agencies are involved in the search? The FBI is supporting the Chatham County Police Department in the investigation, with law enforcement spending 18 to 20 hours a day looking for the 20-month-old child, CNN reported. Chatham County police said in an earlier statement that it had executed search warrants and continued to interview those who might have information that could be helpful in the investigation with the help of the FBI. Where have investigators searched? In the days after Quinton was reported missing, search warrants were carried out on a nearby pond, a backyard swimming pool and the house itself in the 500 block of Buckhalter Road in Savannah, police said. Those areas were re-canvassed on 10 October when the pool in the backyard of the home was was drained. While it was unclear if any evidence was found or removed from it, police announced on 11 October the discovery of evidence that we believe will help move this case forward. That evidence went under analysis, police said. Christine and Truely Brown. TLC;TLC Christine Brown had to tell her "heartbroken" daughter she and Kody had split without him there. On Sunday's "Sister Wives," she described the task as "the worst conversation" of her life. Christine said she wanted to move with Truely to Utah so Truely's siblings could "envelop" her in love. TLC's "Sister Wives" star Christine Brown revealed why she had to tell her "heartbroken" 12-year-old daughter Truely that her relationship with Truely's dad, Kody Brown, had ended without him there. Early on Sunday's episode, viewers saw Christine and Kody meet to discuss more details of their separation, including a temporary visitation plan for Kody, who asked to take Truely to his fourth wife Robyn Brown's house. Christine liked the idea and also suggested that she and Kody plan a time to sit down and tell Truely about their split so the news wouldn't "accidentally slip" out in front of her, but Kody resisted. Kody, Christine, and Truely Brown in 2020. Christine Brown on Instagram Later in the episode, Christine explained to the cameras that her worst fear had come true. She said that she was on the phone with her older daughter, 26-year-old Mykelti Padron, talking about how excited she was to move to Utah and be closer to Mykelti and some of her other older kids who live there. "Then I heard a gasp, and I looked behind me and there was Truely," a visibly devastated Christine said in a solo interview. "Kody and I were going to talk to Truely together, we just hadn't come to an agreement. But I obviously didn't have a choice anymore." Christine said she began by confirming for Truely that they were moving to Utah and though her daughter was already in tears, she decided to tell her there were "more" changes ahead. The mom of six said she could sense that Truely hadn't figured out that she and Kody had split yet. Kody Brown and Christine Brown from "Sister Wives." Gabe Ginsberg / Contributor / Getty Images So, she explained to the preteen that they were the only two people in the family moving to Utah (Christine's 21-year-old daughter Gwendlyn was staying in Arizona, and her other daughter, 19-year-old Ysabel, was moving to North Carolina for college). Story continues Christine said that Truely then asked if her parents were "getting divorced." "And her little face was so heartbroken," Christine told the cameras. She then explained why she chose her next words very carefully. Christine and Kody announced to the public in November 2021 that they were ending their relationship after more than 25 years of "spiritual" marriage. But Christine was Kody's third wife and they were never legally married. So, since there was no legal paperwork to file and Christine no longer believed in the teachings of the fundamentalist Mormon church that Kody belongs to, she decided to speak about her separation from Kody to Truely as if it had already happened. "I could have said 'yeah, we're going to be getting divorced,' and then every time Kody would come over, she'd be watching us like crazy and worrying and wondering," Christine said. "And then also she might have this false sense of hope that we would get back together again. So, I said 'well, love, we're already divorced." Christine Brown was was raised in polygamy. TLC She described telling her daughter about the end of her marriage as "the worst conversation of my life," but was optimistic that Truely's siblings in Utah would "envelop" her in love once they got there. Kody was upset that he was not there to help tell Truely the news. "I want a relationship with my children, especially those who are young or vulnerable," he said in a solo interview. "So it's almost like this is just following a narrative. She's setting Truely up with 'Dad's never here anyway, right?' I mean, she's leading Truely down the road." "If my relationship is bad with my children, it's not always my fault," he continued. "It's that I haven't had a mother who has been willing to actually help that." He said Christine had been painting him as absent to their kids because she needed "excuses to be able to leave" him. "Sister Wives" airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on TLC. Read the original article on Insider Jack Greiner of Graydon Law A Liberty University student who alleges that a fellow student raped her cannot proceed anonymously in her federal lawsuit against Liberty and the fellow student. The Virginia-based court found that the students decision to name the fellow student in her suit meant that she waived her own ability to proceed as Jane Doe. The facts of the case are all too sad and familiar. Jane Doe alleges that in October 2020, she was date raped in her off-campus apartment by an individual defendant she named in the complaint. The individual was also a student at Liberty University and allegedly used alcohol and a roofie to render Doe incapacitated, raped her, and impregnated her. Plaintiff alleged that when she reported the matter to Liberty, it deterred her from taking proper steps to pursue her perpetrator, and instead shifted the focus onto plaintiffs consumption of alcohol, thereby allow[ing] her rapist to graduate unscathed. In November 2021, plaintiff filed suit against Liberty and the alleged student rapist, who the court identified only as Named Defendant. In her complaint, plaintiff raised seven counts. Plaintiff raised the following against Liberty only: Count 1: Pre-Assault Deliberate Indifference/Hostile Environment." Count 2: Post Assault Deliberate Indifference. Count 3: Hostile Environment. Count 4: Negligence. Count 7: Retaliation under Title IX. Plaintiff also raised two claims against the named defendant: Count Five: Assault. Count Six: Battery. The alleged student rapist filed a motion to dismiss based on Does failing to identify herself in the complaint. Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the title of the complaint must name all parties. According to the court, that requirement is more than mere formality. It serves the vital purpose of facilitating public scrutiny of judicial proceedings and therefore cannot be set aside lightly. When a party seeks anonymity, a district court has an independent obligation to ensure that extraordinary circumstances support such a request by balancing the partys stated interest in anonymity against the publics interest in openness and any prejudice that anonymity would pose to the opposing party. Story continues In support of her effort to remain anonymous, Jane Doe argued that the allegations of rape, miscarriage and PTSD are among the most private and sensitive matters, therein weighing in favor of anonymity. The court acknowledged that in Title IX cases alleging sexual assault, it is common for plaintiffs to proceed anonymously. But the court noted that in those cases, typically neither party is named. Here, however, as the court noted, Jane Doe identified her alleged rapist and repeated his name throughout the complaint. It would do little good in the courts view to order the alleged rapists name to no longer be used, as that would be like putting toothpaste back in the tube. The courts solution to the dilemma was to grant the alleged rapists motion to dismiss, deny Jane Does request to proceed anonymously, and give her 14 days to file an amended complaint identifying herself or dismiss the alleged rapist. No word yet on which option Jane Doe chose. Jack Greiner is a partner at the Graydon law firm in Cincinnati. He represents Enquirer Media in First Amendment and media issues. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Strictly Legal: No unilateral anonymity for alleged rape victim The Minnesota Vikings made three roster moves on Tuesday, including releasing wide receiver Blake Proehl who was entering the third week of his practice window coming off the Physically Unable to Perform list. What was intriguing was that the Vikings didnt immediately fill Proehls roster spot. On Wednesday afternoon, they did just that by signing outside linebacker Benton Whitley to the active roster. Whitley was an undrafted free agent out of Holy Cross this past April and signed with the Los Angeles Rams. He was waived in final cuts and signed with the Kansas City Chiefs to be on their practice squad. By adding him to the active roster, the Vikings are now up to six edge rushers and seven defensive lineman. In his career at Holy Cross, Whitley played in 42 games accruing 111 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss, 15.5 sacks, two passes defended and one forced fumble. Story originally appeared on Vikings Wire YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Anniken Huitfeldt says the footage showing execution of Armenian prisoners of war by Azerbaijanis is gut wrenching. She states that those responsible for such crimes must be held to account. The videos that have surfaced of Azerbaijanis executing unarmed Armenians are gut wrenching, and this is why we had to react. I repeat that those responsible for such crimes must be held to account, the Norwegian FM said in an interview to ARMENPRESS, on the sidelines of her official visit in Armenia. The Minister said she was encouraged by the recent statement after the quadrilateral meeting in Prague, where the Armenian Prime Minister and the Azerbaijani President reiterated that they recognize each other's countrys territorial integrity. This is an important step in the right direction towards a peaceful solution, Anniken Huitfeldt said. Norway follows closely the talks on a possible peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, she said. Anniken Huitfeldt believes that a lasting peace can only happen through negotiations. During her meeting with her Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan in Yerevan, FM Anniken Huitfeldt has also reaffirmed the readiness of Norway to support Armenias sovereignty and territorial integrity. Speaking about the humanitarian challenges caused both by the 44-day war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh and the recent aggression against the sovereign territory of Armenia, the Norwegian FM said: We understand the difficult situation many Armenians find themselves in, in these challenging times for your country. We are already involved in some humanitarian support projects in the region, which also benefit ethnic Armenians. One of the purposes of my visit here today is to understand better if and how Norway may be of assistance, and to find new areas of cooperation. As for the relations between Armenia and Norway and the priorities of Norway in Armenia and the region, the Minister said they are encouraged by Armenias dedication to democratic reform. It is a brave choice, in a complex region, in a difficult time. The purpose of my trip is partly to explore how Norway can support you in this. We want to expand our bilateral relations with our Armenian friends, based on common values. We also believe that a peaceful and prosperous South Caucasus is important, not only to the countries in the region themselves, but also to Europe and Norway, the FM said. Anniken Huitfeldt assured that Norway will continue to support Council of Europes action plan for Armenia. CoE, EBRD, and some international human rights organizations are our main channels for support to your important reforms. Our priorities for support in the region are rule of law, democracy, human rights, and the environment, she added. Community service: Traveled to the Ukrainian border to provide humanitarian aid; youth soccer coach; Scout leader Education: Bachelors degree from Princeton University; University of San Francisco Law School Gina Mosbrucker Age: 59 Community of residence: Goldendale Occupation: District 14 state representative; business entrepreneur; hotel owner Education: Associate degree from Clark College; bachelors degree from University of Washington Community service: Participated in 60 miles of walking and 120 miles of bike riding for cancer and health organizations; volunteers with children to build their self-esteem; volunteers with homeless Previous elected office: State representative since 2015 Endorsements (list three): Public School Employees of Washington, Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs, Washington Farm Bureau District 1 Amanda McKinney Age: 44 Party: Republican Residence: Yakima Previous elected office: Yakima County Commission incumbent. Community service: Yakima Valley Greenway Jr. Gap 2 Gap race director; United Way co-chair annual campaign 2016-17; former YMCA board member; Co-chair of Habitat for Humanity/St. Paul Cathedral Home Build program; St. Paul Cathedral School/CTCS School Board President; financial services volunteer for Yakima County Womens Prison Reentry Program, Yakima County 2040 facilities planning task force; Yakima Diocese Catholic Education Task Force member. Education: Double bachelors, pre-law and political science from Central Washington University. Licensed mortgage broker. Endorsements (list three): Central Washington Homebuilders Association, State Farm Bureau, Washington State Association of Realtors. Fundraising: $27,946 raised, $3,536 spent as of Oct. 14. Angie Girard Age: 59 Party: Democrat Residence: Yakima Previous elected office: None. Community Service: Yakima County League of Women Voters, past member and volunteer; Junior Achievement, volunteer; South Central Washington Science Olympiad Board, founding member and secretary; South Central Washington STEM Advisory Team, member; United Way of Central Washington Review Panel, and Dispute Resolution of Yakima and Kittitas Counties, past board member. Occupation: Director of accreditation and compliance at Pacific Northwest University of Health Science. Education: Heritage University, masters of education; attended Eastern Washington University. Endorsements (list three): State Attorney General Bob Ferguson, Dr. Sara Cate, Lora Alegria. Fundraising: $28,531 raised, $2,274 spent as of Oct. 14. If you are sending a Letter To the Editor, please be sure to follow these rules: Letters have a firm 200-word limit and will be edited for grammar, clarity and accuracy. The person who signs the letter must be the author. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Letters must address the editor, not a third party. We will not print form letters, libelous letters, business promotions or personal disputes, poetry, open letters, letters espousing religious views without reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Yakima Herald-Republic cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters. Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Economy of Armenia Vahan Kerobyan has recently visited Jermuk resort town after the latest large-scale attack of Azerbaijan, to get acquainted with the situation. The situation is worrying, however I must say that hotels in Jermuk have started operation. In the night of September 13, as Mayor Vahagn Arsenyan says, there was no free place [in the town], but its clear that the situation is not that same now. Nevertheless, we see that life is activating both there and in other places. The Jermuk ropeway does not operate because spare parts still need to be imported there and renovation is also necessary. There was no free place in Jermuk before September 13, now maybe the 10-15% of the hotels are occupied by tourists, the minister told reporters. As for the economic damages caused to Armenia as a result of the Azerbaijani aggression, the minister said that the settlements bombarded by Azerbaijan do not have a great participation in Armenias economy, but added that this, in general, affected the overall business environment, because many events have been cancelled, some investors have started to delay their programs. But the minister called on all investors not to stop or delay their plans. The minister also said that the government has allocated funds to the governorates for the quick restoration of that settlements. Today the governorates are engaged in activating the environments. We in our turn are planning programs to boost the tourism environment, Vahan Kerobyan said. 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. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, ARMENPRESS. Member of Parliament of Armenia Sona Ghazaryan has sent a letter, as head of the Armenia-Luxembourg Parliamentary Friendship Group, to President of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg Fernand Etgen over the latest aggression of Azerbaijan against Armenia. In her letter Sona Ghazaryan presented the situation in Armenia and the danger of a new attack, the Parliaments press service said. Responding to the letter, Mr. Etgen on behalf of the parliament of Luxembourg has expressed full continuous support to Armenias democracy and territorial integrity, emphasizing that the aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan against the sovereign territory of Armenia is a direct attack on Armenias sovereignty. As a support, Fernand Etgen said a decision has been made to send a high-ranking delegation of the Parliament of Luxembourg to Armenia. The dates of the visit are being clarified. ADR faction head Fernand Kartheiser informed that the Foreign Minister of Luxembourg Jean Asselborn responded to the questions of the Armenian MP relating to Azerbaijans latest aggression, reaffirmed the condemnation of Azerbaijans actions, stating that they have been condemned by the European Union. The FM of Luxembourg said the deployment of EU mission on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border is important which could play a stabilizing role. Jean Asselborn also said that the EU mission could contribute also to the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The FM once again urged to refrain from processes contributing to further escalation of the situation. Age: 45 Address: 3818 Dudley St. Occupation: Attorney Political party: Democrat What experiences qualify you for this office? I was elected to the Legislature in 2006 and 2010 serving eight years on the Appropriations Committee. As a testament to my leadership and good relationships across the political spectrum I was selected to serve on the Committee on Committees, Legislative Performance Audit, Retirement Systems, Redistricting Committee, and chaired the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Task Force. If honored to be elected again I would have the second most seniority in the Legislature to help deliver more for our community. Why do you want to be a state senator? As a mom, wife, attorney and former state senator I was concerned about the direction of our politics. I believe my knowledge, experience and relationships can make a positive difference. I will work hard to bring down the temperature, keep an open mind and find common ground to ensure balanced policy results for families and businesses. Government cannot be the answer to all challenges, but it should be a positive partner in keeping our economy and quality of life strong. What would be your priorities in terms of legislation? Tools to help working families succeed, tools to help small businesses succeed, and a strong public education pre-K through college. Would you support continuation of election of legislative leaders and committee chairmen and chairwomen by secret ballot or support a rules change that requires open voting? Why? I strongly support our nonpartisan unicameral Legislature because it is a generational point of pride and because it works as a model of good governance compared to the partisan dysfunction that cripples our sister states and federal government. Legislative leaders have always been selected under a process that ensures the best candidate wins without regard to partisan pressure. That process should continue. I do not support rules changes that would weaken or dismantle our nonpartisan unicameral Legislature. Do you support legislation prohibiting or limiting abortion in Nebraska and why? Under what circumstances, if any, should abortion remain legal in Nebraska? I do not support abortion bans or additional restrictions. The decision about whether to have a child is a private matter that belongs with Nebraskans and their doctors. I have led the fight to protect reproductive rights as a state senator and civil rights attorney. I know the issues, process and rules to hold the line. I have worked to successfully expand child care, prenatal care and family planning services, raised wages and doubled funding for the Every Woman Matters program. Do you support legislation to allow Nebraskans to carry guns, either openly or concealed, without government permits or required gun safety training? Why or why not? I believe in robust individual civil rights and liberties. I also believe no right is absolute and support commonsense regulations to advance our shared public safety goals, such as permit requirements and training. Would you be inclined to support the governors agenda or be more independent in determining your priorities and legislative agenda? I believe in a strong separation of powers to ensure checks and balances and deliver sound policy results. I have always worked independently to set my priorities and legislative agenda. If honored to be elected again I am excited to collaborate with my colleagues and the next governor on workforce development, child care, education, infrastructure and health care. I will always be a strong champion for our nonpartisan Legislature and for individual civil rights. YORK The York Rotary Club had special visitors at a recent meeting meeting Barbara Bartle, governor of Rotary District 5650, and Deb McCaslin, governor of Rotary District 5630. McCaslin and Bartle are following the footsteps of Rotary International President Jennifer Jones, who started the Imagine Rotary Tour to talk to community leaders about how to address the worlds most pressing challenges. Bartle said, The idea of Imagine Rotary Tour comes from the importance of getting our story outside of Rotary Club meetings and into the community and beyond because we know there are so many people who want to serve, they just may not know what to do. Bartle and McCaslin visited with Yorks Rotary members about Rotary International program updates, the mission of Rotary and where Rotary is heading into the future. Currently, there are 1.4 million Rotarians in the world and 46,000 clubs all working together to make a difference by helping families with emergency needs, supporting education, helping grow local economies and protecting the environment. McCaslin said, The thing that has been really exciting is seeing the pride of the communities. The people are so excited about the projects theyve been working on and the building of great partnerships. York Rotary board member Stephen Postier shared he is always impressed with how members of the York Rotary Club always go out of their way to support non-profits and organizations within the community through acts of service. Within the last year, the York Rotary Club has held their annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive for Blue Valley Community Action (BVCA), donated medical supplies to help Ukrainians in need, put together hygiene bags for York County Health Coalition, made birthday bags for BVCA and have completed many other micro-projects for families in the community of York. Postier said, A lot of good has been put in this community by both current and past Rotarians. Hopefully future Rotarians can help carry on that legacy. In addition to recognizing their many accomplishments, the York Rotary Club dedicated the Paul Harris Fellow Award, the highest honor of Rotary, to the late Jack Vincent who was a servant leader in York. According to rotary.org, Rotary established the recognition in 1957 to encourage and show appreciation for substantial contributions to what was then Foundations only program, Rotary Foundation Fellowships for Advanced Study, the precursor to Ambassadorial Scholarships. Postier said, Jack has done a lot for this community. In spirit, he simplified what Rotary stands for in this community. The Rotary will donate $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation in honor Vincent and his service to the community. Following meeting, the York Rotarians gave the district governors a community tour where they saw the Peyton Parker Lane Playground under construction, the Rotary-branded tables in downtown York and other various locations. The government is considering building helipads along new roadways to aid with emergency evacuations. According to Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, the suggestion has been examined by the ministries of civil aviation and road transport. The civil aviation ministry has advocated for increased use of helicopters to improve connectivity, particularly in rural and mountainous locations. He emphasised that helipads on major roads will aid in quick evacuations during emergencies. "All the new highways should have helipads... Along them so that infrastructure is in place," Scindia said. Both Scindia and the Minister of State for Civil Aviation Gen (Retd) V K Singh pitched for having helipads in every district. Also read: Nitin Gadkari says CANNOT make cycle tracks in Mumbai; Here's the reason WHY? They were speaking at the Civil Aviation Ministers' Conference in the national capital. The government has also decided to incubate a Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) pilot called 'Project Sanjeevani' by deploying a helicopter in the next few weeks to provide emergency medical services at AIIMS Rishikesh. The helicopter will be based at the hospital at 20 minute notice and will have a service cover to an area of 150 km radius. Currently, there are around 80 dedicated helicopter corridors. Delhi | We had talks with Ministry of Road Transport that all the new highways should have helipads along them so that infrastructure is in place. Helipads on national highways will help in immediate evacuations during emergencies: Civil Aviation Min Jyotiraditya Scindia (18.10) pic.twitter.com/AgdPmtxEBF ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2022 At the time of the announcement of medical helicopter service Scindia in a statement, said, "Air ambulances are soon going to be operational. A Request for Proposal will be invited in the next couple of weeks for AIIMS Rishikesh so that helicopters are pushed into service to save precious time and lives." Only 49 air ambulances are now being operated in India by 19 providers, and around 4,100 patients have used air ambulances in the last three years, according to the information given by the ministry before the Parliament in March. The ministry sought Expressions of Interest (EoI) from air operators who could provide one single-engine or twin-engine helicopter in the capacity of an air ambulance with EMS capability for a period of six months, based on a helipad at AIIMS Rishikesh, for its trial project. With inputs from PTI The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will hold officials accountable for any fatal or serious accidents caused by poor road engineering. In a circular, NHAI stated that the authority had taken a serious view of the dereliction of duty by the representative of NHAI/IE/AE involved in the process of issuance of the provisional certificate, thereby jeopardising user safety in blatant disregard of policy guidelines and contract provisions. "However, it has come to notice that provisional completion certificates are being issued keeping safety works such as road marking, road signages, and end treatment of crash barriers in the punch list, which not only compromise the safety of users but also bring a bad name to NHAI upon the occurrence of accidents/ fatalities," the circular said. The pending items are put under a category called a punch list. Also read: Delhi transport department denies selling Tata Winger to specially-abled girl, DCW issues notice "It must be ensured that road safety works on the project highway are complete in all respects prior to issuing a provisional certificate. Regional officer/ project director/independent engineer will be held liable for any fatal/serious accidents resulting from poor road engineering works," it said. The state-owned agency has said the project highway can safely and reliably be placed in operation/service, and minor work that is incomplete and are not likely to cause material inconvenience to the users or affect their safety is included in the punch list to be completed within 30 days. Recently, Union minister Nitin Gadkari attributed some of the road accidents to faulty project reports and stressed that companies need proper training for preparing detailed project reports for the construction of highways and other roads. Last month, former Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry was killed in a road accident after his car hit a divider in Maharashtra's Palghar district. According to National Crime Records Bureau data, over 1.55 lakh lives were lost in road crashes across India in 2021 -- an average of 426 daily or 18 every single hour -- which is the highest death figures recorded in any calendar year so far. With inputs from PTI A Lufthansa flight that took off from Frankfurt, Germany to Bangalore, India made an emergency landing in Istanbul, Turkey due to an on-board medical emergency. As per the reports, it is learnt that the flight will be taking off shortly after the completion of some technical processes. However, passengers on the flight have complained of the delay and poor efforts from the crew for their support. The flight was supposed to take off at 8pm (25 hours after it landed unscheduled at Istanbul). Its 7:35pm now, and there is still no sign of the crew, passengers said. Grammy winner - Ricky Kej, was also on the flight and has raised the complaint on Twitter. @lufthansa worst ever service from Lufthansa, stranded in Istanbul airport for 18+ hours..elderly people, babies..everyone struggling ! You promised hotels, quick resolution..but NOTHING! #emergency LH754 pic.twitter.com/mVSDfAIryX October 19, 2022 Lufthansas India-bound flight (LH 754) took off from Frankfurt, Germany on Tuesday at 1:05 PM for Bangalore with an estimated arrival time of 1:25 AM, Wednesday. However, the aircraft registered a medical emergency, while it was over the Black Sea in Turkeys airspace. Resultantly, the aeroplane made an emergency landing in Istanbul at 2 PM. Also read - India's domestic passenger traffic sees jump, serves over 10 million passengers in September The exercise caused a delay of roughly 24 hours, and therefore, passengers are now expected to reach their destination - Bangalore, India, on Thursday morning. Passengers have also registered criticism for carelessness and failing to address their concerns. 24 hours now, stranded at Istanbul airport. Our airline @lufthansa has zero staff here, still no hotel rooms, and absolutely no information as to when we will take off. I reiterate, I believe @lufthansa is treating us this shabbily, only because it is the Indian sector. October 19, 2022 The airline, on the other hand, has confirmed the emergency landing for the reason mentioned above. Also, it said in a statement, For safety reasons, the oxygen cylinders used to treat the medical emergency must be replaced before continuing the flight. Unfortunately, this (took) more time than originally expected. The flight continuation from Istanbul to Bangalore is now scheduled for 8 pm local time Wednesday (October 19). Lufthansa deeply regrets the circumstances and is doing everything to minimise the inconveniences for its passengers. Note: All times are local. Rolls-Royce, the British aviation and aerospace conglomerate has reiterated its commitment to support Indias vision of self-reliance in defence, through collaboration opportunities to co-design, co-develop and co-produce fighter jet engines in the country. Rolls-Royce is presenting its advanced defence capabilities and future-ready technology solutions at the DefExpo 2022 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, which is scheduled to take place from 18th-22nd October. With more than 16,000 military engines in service spanning across 160 customers in 103 countries, the company is a powerful player in the defence aerospace engine market. The company will also familiarise customers and potential partners with its technologically superior offerings for naval defence, including full-electric propulsion solutions and the power-dense MT30 marine gas turbine for aircraft carriers, frigates and destroyers. For naval customers at DefExpo, Rolls-Royce will be showcasing solutions including full electric propulsion (IFEP) as well as other offerings such as the MT30 - the worlds most power-dense marine gas turbine in service today with destroyers, frigates and aircraft carriers. MT30 offers a superior power-to-weight ratio, generating up to 40MW from a 30-tonne packaged unit, and offers ship designers much more options and flexibility in designing the naval vessels of tomorrow. For the past nine decades, Rolls-Royce has been serving the Indian armed forces with technology products and solutions to power land, naval and air defence capabilities. Rolls-Royces Power Systems business will be also showcasing its advanced solutions for naval and land defence at the expo. Kishore Jayaraman, President, India & South Asia, Rolls-Royce, said, As India takes steps to realise its vision of self-reliance in defence, we believe we are well positioned to help leapfrog this journey through meaningful partnerships for co-creation of engine technologies. True self-reliance will come when such a partnership not only results in Intellectual Property (IP) ownership in India, but shared creation of capabilities in-country to indigenise defence technology in the future. Alex Zino, Executive Vice President - Business Development & Future Programmes, Rolls-Royce, said, The UK is a natural ally for India, and it is heartening that the two countries have pledged greater cooperation in defence. We, at Rolls-Royce, are committed to support such a partnership. Our rich history of engine technology development for both civil and defence engines, particularly in the gas turbine-based aero-engine segment, makes us a partner of choice to collaborate and co-develop defence technology in India. Bouncing back from the slump of the Covid-19 pandemic the Indian aviation industry is on the path of recovery. The Domestic air passenger volume increased 46.54 percent year on year to 10.35 million in September, according to data released on Wednesday by the aviation safety regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). According to the data, Indian domestic carriers (excluding the recently launched Akasa Air) carried a total of 7.06 million passengers on local routes. On August 7, this year, Akasa Air began domestic flight operations. According to DGCA data, the average passenger load factor (PLF) of these carriers was 77.5 percent, compared to 72.5 percent PLF delivered in August 2022. PLF is an airline metric that measures how much of an airline's passenger-carrying capacity is used. In terms of market share, leading carrier IndiGo cornered 57 percent of the total domestic traffic pie, carrying 59.72 lakh passengers across its domestic network, followed by full-service carrier Vistara, which flew 9.96 lakh passengers with 9.6 percent market share. The combined market share of Vistara, Air India, and AirAsia India stood at 24.7 percent in September. Also read: 'Not a T20 match...' Air India CEO on airline's revival, plans international flight operation expansion Besides, Vistara also had the best on-time performance, with 91 percent of its flights arriving and departing from four key airports -- Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru -- on time. In Vistara, Tata Group holds 49 percent, while in AirAsia India, it has 83.67 percent holding. Moreover, Tata Group regained control of Air India on January 27 this year following its privatisation. Meanwhile, Indian airlines are competing for a significant share of international flight operations. in the country. Considering the goal, Air India has announced that the airline plans to achieve 30 percent share of the international flight operations in the country. To achieve the goal the Tata-owned airline has unveiled the revival plan 'Vihaan.AI'. Currently, the airline has a domestic market share of 10 percent and an international market share of 12 percent. With inputs from PTI The newly launched Indian airline Akasa Air is finding it hard to please its passengers due to teething issues. After facing backlash on social media for not having an option of auto allotting seats, an Ahmedabad-Bengaluru flight was cancelled on technical grounds at the last moment. The passengers of the Akasa Air blame the airline for cancelling the flight at the last moment and not offering food or accommodation to the stranded passengers, reports PTI. As per various passengers, they had to face hardship on Tuesday as their flight from Ahmedabad to Bengaluru was cancelled on technical grounds at the last moment. This caused chaos at the airline's check-in counters with passengers demanding alternative flights to their destination, a passenger said. Akasa Air QP 1332 was scheduled to depart at 9.55 pm, but the airline informed the passengers that it was rescheduled at 10.55 pm, the passenger told PTI over phone. At 10.30 pm, they said that they have cancelled the flight due to some "technical" reasons, he said. "The airline said that we can fly on Wednesday at the same time. But it did not offer passengers food or hotel accommodation. It told us to take a refund or wait till tomorrow at the airport," the passenger alleged. An airline spokesperson confirmed that the fight was cancelled on the technical ground. "The flight has been cancelled due to technical reasons. The aircraft is grounded and being inspected. The passengers have been given the option either to avail the full refund or make arrangements in a hotel on their own and the airline will disburse that amount," said a spokesperson. Akasa Air said it has also offered reimbursement on city travel to hotels. The flight has now been scheduled for 7.35 pm on Wednesday, it said. With PTI inputs Gujarat may soon get its first aircraft manufacturing plant. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence on Wednesday that aeroplanes will soon be manufactured in Gujarat and that spare parts will be manufactured in the state's Rajkot. He was speaking to a crowd in Rajkot's Race Course area after launching a number of projects, including housing for the economically disadvantaged. Modi is in Gujarat for two days, where Assembly elections are scheduled for the end of December. Praising the engineering industry in Rajkot district during his address, Modi said, "Aeroplanes will be manufactured in Gujarat soon, and their spare parts will be made in Rajkot." Some leaders built bungalows for themselves after coming into politics but did not do anything for the poor, he said without mentioning anyone. Also read: India's domestic passenger traffic sees jump, serves over 10 million passengers in September The claim can be backed by the fact that Defence Minister signed a pact with Airbus in 2021 to get 56 C-295 medium transport aircraft in India. In this partnership, 40 aircraft were to be manufactured in India under a joint partnership with Tata Consortium. At the time, it was planned that after the delivery of promised aircrafts, the subsequent aircrafts produced would be exported to countries cleared by the Ministry of Defence. "They came into politics and built their bungalows but never thought of improving the conditions of those living in slums. I have taken up the work of building houses for the poor," he said. Aeroplanes will be manufactured in Gujarat soon, and their spare parts will be made in Rajkot: PM Narendra Modi Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 19, 2022 On the occasion, he handed over the possession of nearly 1,100 houses built under the 'Light House" project to the beneficiaries. Before the rally, the PM also led a roadshow from the airport till the Race Course ground. With inputs from PTI The Punjab government sought the Centre to reinstate domestic flights from the state's airports in Adampur, Pathankot, Sahnewal, and Bhatinda. Rahul Bhandari, the Punjab's principal secretary for civil aviation, made the request at this location. He said that these airports were a part of the Government of India's regional connection programme, and that services from these airports were halted during the coronavirus outbreak. According to Bhandari, this has dealt a serious blow to air connectivity in the area and caused several inconveniences for travellers. The official said this must be reversed, and the Centre must immediately resume flights from these airports. He said this would help in saving time, money, and energy of people besides ensuring direct air connectivity across the country. Bhandari said it will also give a major fillip to the economic activity in the region. Also read: 'New highways should have helipads...' Government mulls new project for infra development Flagging another issue, the principal secretary urged the central government to expedite the construction of a civil terminal at Halwara airport. He said the land for it has already been given by the Punjab government, and the work on this ambitious project to be completed at Rs 46 crore has already begun. He said the need of the hour is to speed up the work for its early completion. Bhandari also said the terminal of Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport in Chandigarh has been constructed on land falling in the revenue district of SAS Nagar, Mohali, but, unfortunately, the name of Mohali is missing from the airport's name. He said Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has already lodged a protest with the Centre for not including the name of Mohali city in the name of this airport and added this legitimate demand should be looked into. The official also sought more international flights from the airport, noting that more than Rs 450 crore has been spent on the facelift of this world-class airport. Starting more international flights will help NRIs from Punjab to stay connected with their roots, he said, adding that people from not only Punjab but Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Uttarakhand too will benefit from it. With inputs from PTI By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijan exported 19.5 million tons of oil worth $14.8 billion in January-September 2022, Azernews reports, citing the State Customs Committee. In the first nine months of the year, Italy was the primary importer of Azerbaijani oil, accounting for 7.5 million tons of oil worth $5.6 billion. The top five countries in terms of oil imports from Azerbaijan were Italy, India (1.6 million tons of oil worth $1.3 billion), Israel (1.8 million tons of oil worth $1.3 billion), the UK (926,011 tons of oil worth $752.5 million) and Croatia (799,127 tons of oil worth $687.1 million). Meanwhile, Azerbaijan exported 359,203 tons of oil worth $211.9 million to Turkiye and 506,359 tons of oil worth $304.5 million to Ukraine in the first three quarters of 2022. During the reporting months, the share of oil in the total structure of exports amounted to 50.4 percent. In 2021, Azerbaijan exported 27.1 million tons of oil worth $13.2 billion. The top five countries in terms of oil imports from Azerbaijan were Italy, Israel, Croatia, Germany, and Portugal. In addition, Azerbaijan produced 34.6 million tons of crude oil in 2021. The slight increase in oil production last year was primarily due to the gradual elimination of voluntary oil output cuts under the OPEC+deal. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, ARMENPRESS. In conditions of the difficult situation for the economy of Armenia, 11% economic growth is expected in the country by the end of this year according to preliminary calculations, President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan said while delivering a lecture at the Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski entitled Economy of Armenia: Facing the Universal and Regional Challenges. The President said that the movement of a large number of foreign companies to Armenia, the inflow of foreign labor force was an additional boost to the countrys economic growth. The President also talked about the decline that Armenias economy faced in different times, particularly reminding the 2009 financial crisis which also affected Armenia. Then, he touched upon the economic decline of 2016 which was conditioned by sanctions against Russia. Vahagn Khachaturyan said the economy of Armenia is very deeply integrated into the Russian economy. Armenia is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) since 2013. However, the President said that Armenia is also very actively cooperating with the European Union, the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) came into force last year. We are able to use the cooperation with the EU, in line with it we have a 170 million [population] EAEU which we can use. Moreover, the representatives of Bulgarian business could use this advantage by using Armenias territory, the President said. The next economic decline in Armenia was registered in 2020 connected by both the coronavirus and the war. But it 2021, an economic growth was again registered in the country. There is going to be an unprecedented economic growth this year, 11% according to preliminary calculations. I think in conditions of todays global economic crisis, registering such an economic growth is quite interesting, needs to be studied by specialists, but Armenia managed to do that, he said. Speaking about the factors contributing to this high economic growth, the President said that following the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the inflow of labor force from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine to Armenia has greatly increased. And this inflow was mainly ensured by high-quality IT specialists. And given Armenias economic, especially tax policy, around 70 companies were registered in Armenia. And the government of Armenia has responded to the needs of these companies very quickly. And the favorable conditions attracted the Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian high-tech, IT representatives so that they establish companies in Armenia. And this is an additional impetus for us. We still continue paying special focus to this sector, to the foreign companies which have already become Armenian companies because officially they are no longer the companies they were, he said. The President also said that the number of tourists visiting Armenia has significantly increased, reaching 589,000 in the first half of this year. The export volume of goods to Russia has also greatly increased. He said that the remittances this year comprise around the 18% of the GDP compared to the 10-12% in the past. Why is Armenia attractive, the President said because of good regulations, affordability and freedom. Registering a business in Armenia takes a day, even hours, as it is happening online, and there is also no problem with the opening of a bank account. Snake on the plane just got real for passengers aboard a United Airlines flight as they discovered a snake aboard the aircraft. Passengers onboard United Airlines flight 2038 were shocked to see a snake on a plane which resulted in a lot of panic at the end of a flight from Floridas Tampa city to New Jersey. The officials were called to catch the reptile. The Boeing 737 registered N27252 had landed only a few minutes before the snake was discovered on the flight. The snake was found while the aircraft was taxiing to the gate. None of the passengers were injured and no delays in operations were reported. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said in a statement that the airports wildlife operations staff and Port Authority Police Department officers met United Flight 2038 at the gate and removed the "garter snake" and later on released it into the wild, according to The Washington Post. The statement further added that no one was injured and operations were not affected. Also read: Kedarnath Helicopter Crash: DGCA recently fined chopper operator Aryan Aviation Rs 5 lakh for violations In a statement, United said passengers alerted the crew to the snake, and the airline "called the appropriate authorities to take care of the situation." The Washington Times reported citing local media of New Jersey, News 12 New Jersey, that the passengers flying in business class spotted the snake while the plane was taxiing after landing. Passengers started shrieking and pulling up their feet, according to the TV station. After the snake was removed, passengers deplaned with their baggage, and the plane was searched for any other reptiles crawling aboard and found none, according to the New York Post citing Simple Flying. Earlier, in February, a similar incident took place on an AirAsia flight in Malaysia when the passengers found a snake while the plane was in the air. The viral Tik Tok video from the flight showed that the reptile was inside a light fixture above passengers. Meanwhile, in 2016, a large snake -- believed to be a venomous green viper -- emerged from an overhead compartment on an Aeromexico flight in Mexico, according to The Washington Post. A passenger`s video posted on Twitter shows the creature hanging from the ceiling of the plane, which received priority landing clearance when it reached Mexico City. (With inputs from ANI) New Delhi: Actress Srishti Shrivastava has been at the receiving end of praise for her role in the Madhuri Dixit starrer 'Maja Ma'. Anand Tiwari's film delves deeply into how society supports male privilege and puts unfair expectations on women. Srishti Shrivastava, while speaking about the filmmaking process and her character, said, In one line Maja Ma is a progressive start to break gender stereotypes and a start of queer stories in India. There were lots of conversations that happened with Anand Sir (Director) when we started shooting for Maja Ma, about what the film is about and about my character. Such an important subject matter needs to be handled with care. My character works with the LGBTQ community so we needed to make sure I understood the background and so I met a lot of people from the community. I met Ivanka Das who is also with me in the film who plays Komal, met the members of the Humsafar Trust, the conversations we had helped create Tara. There was one thing we discussed that could go either way. It can be really in the face or Tara can be vulnerable, because Tara Patel could be very harsh in that sense, very pushy. That was our journey while we were shooting the film as to how to make her as human as real and understand her point of view. So, Maja Ma was very nice for me because I got to explore a character in-depth like really deeply. She added, I couldnt have asked for a better on-screen family to work with. We all were so invested in telling this story earnestly and honestly. Also getting to work with Madhuri Maam, is something I will eternally be grateful for. I have been dancing to her songs since I was little and I know all the steps to all her songs, all her expressions, moments, everything. I have been preparing since I was 4 years old. (Hahaha). I was mentally prepared of course but I was nervous the first day but then I was having so much fun, it all fell into place. Madhuri Maam understands dance, I mean understand is an understatement, she lives and breathes dance, and I completely get it because I function in a similar way. We totally got along and I was not nervous when I was dancing, I was having a blast with her. The Madhuri Dixit-starrer tells the story about a simple middle-class family whose lives start spiralling after the truth about its matriarch comes out. New Delhi: FMGC major and parent company of Maggi brand Nestle India announced on Wednesday its Q3 profit result. It has increased 8.3% YoY to Rs 668 crore in September. According to the exchange filing by the company, the quarterly revenue increased 18.3% YoY to Rs 4,591 crore. ALSO READ | Best 5G Mobile Phones Under Rs 20000 that you can buy this Dhanteras - In PICS "This achievement has been on continued strong volume and mix evolution with broad-based double-digit growth across all categories. Growth has been very strong in the large metros and mega cities and continued to be robust across smaller town classes including rural markets," Nestle Chairman and MD Suresh Narayanan said. ALSO READ | From iPhone 14 Pro Max to Google Pixel 7 Pro: Best camera phones in Flipkart Diwali Sale 2022 - in PICS The company recorded total sales of Rs 4,567 crore in Q3 of the current fiscal -- highest sales growth during a quarter in the last five years, according to the company. The total sales growth stood at 18.2 per cent. The company's domestic sales grew at 18.3 per cent in the quarter. "We are witnessing early signs of stability in prices of a few commodities such as edible oils and packaging materials. However, fresh milk, fuels, grains and green coffee costs are expected to remain firm with continued increase in demand and volatility," Nestle said in the filing. Nestle Dividend 2022 Meanwhile, the company has declared second interim dividend for 2022 of Rs 120 per equity share (face value Rs 10 per equity share) amounting to Rs 1157 crore, which will be paid on and from November 16. This is in addition to the first interim dividend of Rs 25.00 per equity share paid on May 6. Every year, Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs all celebrate Diwali to symbolise the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and joy over despair. Deepavali, popularly known as the festival of lights, is celebrated nationwide with great pomp. People perform puja, observe rituals, decorate their homes with diyas, rangoli, ornaments, and lights, enjoy delectable sweets and meals, dress in new traditional attire, and more. Hindu mythology states that Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya on Diwali after slaying Ravana and spending 14 years in exile. People make wishes for health, wealth, and prosperity to the goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesh, and god Kubera as part of the festival of lights. With Dhanteras or Dhan Trayodashi as the first day and Bhai Dooj as the last, Diwali festivities last for five days. Govatsa Dwadashi signifies the beginning of Diwali in Maharashtra one day earlier. The festivities will so begin on October 21 in Maharashtra. Drik Panchang predicts that Diwali's five days will start on October 22 and end on October 26. Also read: Dhanteras 2022: Do NOT buy scissors, knives; check 5 things to buy on this auspicious occasion According to the lunisolar Hindu calendar, Diwali is observed between the middle of October and November. According to Drik Panchang, here is a list of the five days of Deepavali. 1. Dhanteras or Dhan Trayodashi on October 22: The first day of the Diwali festival in India is known as Dhanteras or Dhanatrayodashi. It is commemorated on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha, which falls in the month of Ashvini in the Hindu calendar. The Dhanteras puja muhurat will be observed from 07:00 to 08:17 pm on October 22. 2. Narak Chaturdashi or Kali Chaudas on October 23: Narak Chaturdashi is a Hindu festival that falls on Chaturdashi (the 14th day) of the Krishna Paksha in the Shalivahan Shak Hindu calendar month of Kartik. It is also referred to as Kali Chaudas, Narak Chaudas, Roop Chaudas, Choti Diwali, and Narak Nivaran Chaturdashi. It is the second day of the five-day Deepavali/Diwali festival. Narakasur, an asura (demon), was slain on this day, according to Hindu tradition, by Krishna and Satyabhama. Abhyanga Snan on Chaturdashi day, also known as Narak Chaturdashi, will begin at 05:05 am and end at 06:27 am. 3. Chhoti Diwali and Badi Diwali on October 24: Due to the solar eclipse, the day after Chhoti Diwali and Badi Diwali will be celebrated on the same day (Monday, October 24, 2022), (25 October 2022) this year. Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs all celebrate Diwali, which is known as the festival of lights. The festival is observed during the Hindu lunisolar month of Kartika and typically lasts five days or six in some parts of India. The Lakshmi puja muhurat will begin at 06:53 pm and end at 08:15 pm on October 24. Additionally, the Amavasya tithi will last from 05:27 pm on October 24 to 04:18 pm on October 25.4. 4) Govardhan Puja on October 25: Govardhan Puja, also known as Annakut or Annakoot, is a Hindu holiday during which followers of Krishna worship Govardhan Hill and prepare and present Krishna with a wide array of vegetarian foods as an expression of their thanks. The Govardhan Puja muhurat is from 06:28 am till 08:43 am.5. 5) Bhai Dooj on October 26: On the second lunar day of Shukla Paksha in the Vikram Samvat Hindu calendar or of Shalivahan Shaka calendar month of Kartika, Hindus celebrate Bhai Dooj, Bhaubeej, Bhai Tika, or Bhai Phonta. It is celebrated during the Holi celebration and the Diwali or Tihar festival. On this day, the Aparahna time will last from 01:12 pm to 03:26 pm. People perform Lakshmi Puja, also known as Diwali Puja, on the third day (Diwali). During the lengthy festivities, it is the most important day. Early in the morning, devotees offer prayers to their ancestors, and on Amavasya, they perform Shradh for them. Lakshmi Puja is performed on Diwali during Pradosh Kaal, which begins after sunset and lasts for two hours and twenty-four minutes (approximately). Also read: Diwali 2022: Yoga Asanas to lose weight this festive season - Alia Bhatt's trainer tells us how! Heart is an interesting organ The heart is no ordinary pump. A pump as small as a fist pumps litres of blood non-stop. Like any pump, it has its own mechanics, valves, and even an electrical supply. Here are some of the interesting facts about the heart that would blow your mind. The heart is an organ situated just slightly to the left of the breastbone in the middle of the chest between the two lungs. It is enclosed in a double-walled sac called the pericardium.[2] The heart starts beating as early as 4 weeks after conception and it never stops! Every day it pumps seven and a half thousand litres of blood throughout the body, which amounts to millions of litres of blood in its lifetime. For an organ that weighs 300 grams and is no larger than a hefty fist, that is a lot of effort [1] Here are some very interesting things about the heart that you probably did not know: The heart can function without a brain, or a body provided it has an oxygen supply. It has its own electrical system known as the cardiac conduction system that controls the beating of the heart. The heart pumps about 70 to 80 times every min. Like in mechanical pumps, there are valves in the heart, which stop the reverse flow of blood and hence the mixing of blood with oxygen and blood without oxygen. There are about 75 trillion cells in the body, and each of these has access to the blood pumped by the heart; but not the cornea of the eye, because it has no blood supply. The right side of your heart pumps blood into your lungs. The left side of your heart pumps blood back through your body. When you are at rest, it takes your blood just six seconds to go from your heart to your lungs and back, eight seconds to get from your heart to your brain and back, and sixteen seconds to get from your heart to your toes and back. The youngest person to have heart surgery was a minute-old baby. Although the surgery was successful, she will eventually require a heart transplant. The remains of a 3,500-year-old Egyptian mummy included the earliest documented instance of cardiac disease. Most heart attacks happen on Mondays.[3] The weight of a human heart is less than half Kg. But the typical male heart weighs about 50 grams more than a female heart does. The heart of a woman beats a little more quickly than that of a man.[4] The silphium plant, which was used as an early form of birth control, is generally supposed to have given rise to the famous heart shape that is used as a symbol of love. Your blood vessel network will reach more than 60,000 miles if you stretch it out. Heart cells stop dividing, which means heart cancer is extremely rare. Laughter is beneficial to your heart. Your immune system gets a boost, and stress is reduced. (Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only. Please consult a qualified doctor before taking any decisions regarding recommendations in the article or for more information.) Reference: Anatomy of a human heart, Michigan Medicine, February 27, 2019 Heart, National Geographic Newsletter Is There a Better Time of Day to Have a Heart Attack?, Circulation Research-2010;106:430431 Heart Facts, Temple Heart & Vascular Institute, February 10, 2021 (Brand Desk Content) New Delhi: According to police, a four-and-a-half-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by a driver at her school in posh Banjara Hills here on Wednesday. The accused was eventually apprehended. The girl's mother told police on Tuesday that her daughter, who has been attending the school for the past five months, had complained about leg pain. According to a police release, the girl informed her mother on Monday that a man working at the school took her to a room on the premises and sexually assaulted her. The girl's parents rushed to the school to find out what was going on. As they approached the building, the girl recognised the person who had harassed her. According to police, the man was discovered to be the school principal's car driver. The incident, according to the girl's parents, demonstrates the principal's negligence. They asked that legal action be taken against both the accused and the principal. The accused has been arrested and action would be taken against the principal, police said. A case was registered under stringent sections of law and the accused may face tough punishment if the allegation is proved, they added. Meanwhile, Geeta Murthy, president of BJP Telangana's Mahila Morcha, condemned the incident and demanded harsh punishment for the accused and trial of the case in a fast-track court. Also Read: Suspended IAS officer Jitendra Narain writes to Amit Shah, claims he was in Delhi on day of alleged rape (With PTI inputs) New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party MLA Raaj Kumar Anand is likely to replace ex-Delhi minister Rajendra Pal as Social Welfare Minister who resigned from his post on Oct 9. The AAP-led Delhi government has sent Rajkumar Anand's name to Delhi's Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena. Raaj Kumar Anand was given a ticket by the party from Patel Nagar in the 2020 elections. Raaj Kumar won the election with 61 percent votes. Coming from the Jatav community, Raaj Kumar Anand is one of the prominent faces of the party. He is also considered close to AAP chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Rajkumar Anand completed his studies in Uttar Pradesh and holds an M.A. in Politics. His wife Veena Anand has also been an MLA since 2013. Why did ex-Delhi minister Rajendra Pal resign? On October 9, AAP minister Rajendra Pal Gautam submitted his resignation from the council of ministers. He took this big step after his alleged presence at a conversion event sparked controversy. He was allegedly seen taking an oath denouncing several Hindu gods at the event and converted to Buddhism. Taking to Twitter, Gautam announced his resignation and said, "Today I have been freed from many shackles, and been born again. Now I will continue to fight for rights and atrocities on the society more firmly without any restrictions." He tendered his resignation in a letter typed on his letterhead. However, the letter was not addressed to anyone in particular. The AAP leader in his letter wrote that the BJP has been targeting several sections of society for political gains, and he cannot be a mute spectator to that. However, he does not want his actions to cause any inconvenience to the party leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. (With agency inputs) New Delhi: Hours after Congress presidential candidate Shashi Tharoor flagged the issue of "polling irregularities" in Uttar Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took a swipe at him on Wednesday (October 19, 2022), saying he should be grateful he wasn't "locked up in a bathroom". BJP IT department head Amit Malviya also claimed that the Thiruvananthapuram MP will be "ridiculed" and "shamed" for taking on the Gandhis. "Shashi Tharoor is whining like a sore loser. Did he actually expect elections in Congress to be free and fair? He should be grateful that he wasn't locked up in bathroom," Malviya said in a tweet. "The worst is still to come. In the next few months he will be ridiculed and shamed for taking on the Gandhis," he added. Shashi Tharoor is whining like a sore loser. Did he actually expect elections in Congress to be free and fair? He should be grateful that he wasnt locked up in bathroomThe worst is still to come. In the next few months he will be ridiculed and shamed for taking on the Gandhis. Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) October 19, 2022 His remarks came after the campaign team of Shashi Tharoor, who on Wednesday conceded defeat to Mallikarjun Kharge in the Congress presidential election, had reportedly written to the party's chief election authority, flagging "extremely serious irregularities" in the conduct of the election in Uttar Pradesh. Besides demanding that all votes from Uttar Pradesh be deemed invalid, Tharoor's campaign team had also raised "serious issues" in the conduct of the election in Punjab and Telangana, various media agencies reported. In his letter to Central Election Authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry, Tharoor's chief election agent Salman Soz said that the facts are "damning" and the election process in Uttar Pradesh is "devoid of credibility and integrity". He said after a detailed discussion with polling agents, Tharoor's team is constrained to report "disturbing facts". Soz conveyed to Mistry that what has been witnessed in Uttar Pradesh is an open challenge to the authority of "your office" as well as contempt for the orders of the Congress president and the Congress Working Committee to hold free and fair elections. "We would like to underline that we have no evidence that Kharge Ji was aware of how his supporters were engaging in electoral malpractice in Uttar Pradesh. We are certain that if he was aware, he would never allow what happened in Uttar Pradesh," Soz reportedly wrote in his letter. "He (Kharge) would not allow the tainting of an election that is so important for the Indian National Congress," Soz was quoted as saying in the letter. Shashi Tharoor team's letter flagging 'serious irregularities' in Congress polls should not have been leaked to press: Madhusudan Mistry Responding to complaints by Shashi Tharoor's team related to polling in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Telangana, Madhusudan Mistry said he will respond to letter point by point. He said the letter should not have been leaked to the press and Tharoor's team should have directly engaged with the poll authority. Mistry also said there was no basis for the contents in the letter and there was nothing specific in the complaint. Mallikarjun Kharge defeats Shashi Tharoor, elected new Congress president Meanwhile, Mallikarjun Kharge was on Wednesday elected the Congress president after defeating Shashi Tharoor in an electoral contest, the sixth in the party's 137-year-old history. Mistry announced that of the 9,385 votes polled in the Congress president poll, Kharge received 7,897 votes, while Tharoor could only manage 1,072, while 416 votes were declared invalid. Kharge is the first non-Gandhi Congress president in 24 years. (With agency inputs) KOLKATA: In big trouble for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Union Home Ministry has ordered the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to probe the October 9 violence in West Bengals Mominpur and adjoining areas. The Ministry of Home Affairs approved the NIA investigation after getting a report from the state government. Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari had earlier written to the Union Home Ministry demanding the deployment of the central paramilitary forces in the violence-hit parts of the state and a probe by NIA. Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has ordered the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to probe the October 9 violence in Mominpur, West Bengal: Sources (Pic: File photo of Police deployment in Mominpur area on Oct 11 after Sec 144 was imposed there) pic.twitter.com/vgjGcRAFfE October 19, 2022 The Kolkata Police has already handed over a copy of the five FIRs registered in the city. The police have arrested 57 people so far in connection with the violence. Complying with the order of the Calcutta High Court, the city police have already formed a Special Investigation Team, or SIT, with the Kolkata top cop at the helm to probe the case. On October 9, vehicles were vandalized and people hurled stones in Kolkatas Mominpur area. According to the police, the violence ensued after religious flags put up for Milad un-Nabi were allegedly torn down. As the violence escalated, a large number of people surrounded the Ekbalpur Police Station. Security was beefed up in the area. Several policemen were injured in the violence, including Deputy Commissioner of Police Soumya Roy, who was hit by a crude bomb. NIA on Tuesday lodged an FIR in the October 8-9 clashes between two communities in the Ekbalpur area of the city, the central anti-terror agency said. The police had clamped Section 144 Cr PC in Ekbalpur till October 16 to maintain the law and order situation in the area. Patna: The lives of the people of Bihar have come under risk because of the state government's failure to effectively implement its much-touted prohibition law, the Patna High Court has said. The remark came from the single judge bench of Justice Purnendu Singh, who also enumerated the "adverse consequences" of the government's "laxity" like a spurt in hooch tragedies, drug addiction, and environment hazards posed by improper destruction of seized bottles. 2016 Liquor Ban: Nitish Kumar's promise to Bihar women Sale and consumption of alcohol was completely banned in the state by the Nitish Kumar government in April, 2016, in keeping with a promise made to the women of Bihar by the chief minister ahead of the assembly polls held the previous year. The bench was hearing the bail petition of Niraj Singh, a resident of Muzaffarpur district who has been in jail in a prohibition-related case since November last year. 'Failure of the state machinery': Patna HC "This court finds that the lives of the citizens of the state are risked by the failure of the state machinery in effectively implementing the provisions of Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016, as amended from time to time," the bench, in its order dated October 12, said. The court underscored the "large numbers of hooch tragedies" taking place after prohibition came into force as "the most worrying part" and rapped the state government for having "failed to develop standard operating protocol" for treatment of those who fell ill upon consumption of spurious liquor. It noted that illicit liquor was laced with methyl, five millilitres of which was "enough to make one go blind and 10 millilitres is quite often fatal" and expressed the view that "separate health centres" should be in place, manned by specially trained personnel for treatment of such patients. The court also remarked that besides hooch, "rampant use of illicit drugs" was another cause for worry and pulled up the government for having "failed to stop trafficking" of narcotics across the state. Concern over charas, ganja and bhang consumption The bench noted with concern that consumption of charas, ganja and bhang, all derivatives of cannabis, had shot up since prohibition and "most addicts were below 25 years of age, some even as young as 10 years old". Highlighting bureaucratic corruption, the court observed that officials of police, excise and transport departments appeared to "love liquor ban, for them it means big money. The number of cases registered is few against kingpins/syndicate operators" in comparison to those lodged against the poor. "Majority of the poor... Who are facing the wrath of this Act, are daily wagers... Only earning members of their family," the court noted grimly. The state government came in for some praise by the court for its innovative policy of making bangles out of crushed liquor bottles. The court, however, stressed on the need for an "environment-friendly policy" with respect to liquor contained in the bottles and pointed out that in localities close to the places where it is destroyed, the quality of underground water and soil has deteriorated. Concern was also expressed over the hiring of minors as having become "a new way of smuggling liquor in the dry state". "They (smugglers) know that once they (the minors) are arrested, they will face trial in juvenile court and will be released within a few months". YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, ARMENPRESS. The members of the delegation of the EU technical mission, accompanied by Gegharkunik Governor Karen Sargsyan, Commander of the Second Army Corps of the Armenian Armed Forces, Colonel Vahram Grigoryan, Vardenis community head Aharon Khachatryan, visited the border zones of Vardenis community settlements. ARMENPRESS reports the commander of the second Army Corps of the Armed Forces Vahram Grigoryan presented to the members of the EU delegation the situation created as a result of the encroachments of the Azerbaijani armed forces on the borders of the Republic of Armenia on May 12, 20221 and September 13, 2022 with the help of a military map, as well as observation devices and the real facts of the invasion of the territory of the Republic of Armenia by the Azerbaijani military. "Azerbaijan violated the borders of Armenia in several directions in both 2021 and 2022 and entered our territory several kilometers deep in several directions. The presence of the Azerbaijani armed forces terrorizes the residents of the bordering settlements, disrupts their normal life and activities," Vahram Grigoryan said. According to Gegharkunik Governor Karen Sargsyan, permanent support will be provided to the observation activities of the EU mission delegation. United Nations: China has once again blocked a proposal by India and the US at the United Nations to list Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Shahid Mahmood as a global terrorist, the fourth instance in as many months that Beijing has blocked bids to blacklist terrorists at the world organisation. It is learnt that China placed a hold on the proposal by India and the US to designate Mahmood as a global terrorist under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council. This is the fourth time in as many months that China has put a hold on listing proposals to designate Pakistan-based terrorists under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee regime. The US Treasury Department designated Mahmood a global terrorist in December 2016. United Nations: China on Wednesday put a hold on a proposal by India and the US at the United Nations to blacklist Pakistan-based militant Hafiz Talah Saeed, the son of Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed, in the second such move within two days. Hafiz Talha Saeed, 46, is a key leader of the dreaded terrorist group LeT and the son of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed. In April this year, he had been declared a terrorist by the Indian government. It is learnt that China placed the hold on the proposal under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council. It is the second time in less than two days that Beijing put a hold on the bid submitted by India and the US to designate a Pakistan-based terrorist as a global terrorist. In a notification, India's Home Ministry said that Hafiz Talha Saeed, 46, has been actively involved in recruitment, fund collection, and planning and executing attacks by the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in India and Indian interests in Afghanistan. He has also been actively visiting various LeT centres across Pakistan, and during his sermons propagating for jihad against India, Israel, the United States of America and Indian interests in other western countries, it had stated. Hafiz Talha Saeed is a senior leader of the LeT and is the head of the cleric wing of the terrorist organisation. Also Read: China BLOCKS US-India move to blacklist Pak-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Shahid Mahmood as global terrorist China on Tuesday put a hold on a proposal by India and the US at the United Nations to list Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Shahid Mahmood as a global terrorist. Beijing placed a hold on the proposal by India and the US to designate Mahmood, 42, as a global terrorist under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council. The US Department of Treasury had designated Mahmood as well as another LeT leader Muhammad Sarwar in December 2016 as part of the action to disrupt Lashkar-e Tayyiba's (LeT) fundraising and support networks. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the Defence Expo 2022 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. While addressing the dignitaries, PM said, "DefExpo2022 is displaying a grand picture of the New India, the resolution for which was taken by us during Amrit Kaal. It has the nation's development, states' participation, youth power, young dreams, young courage&youth's capabilities." PM Modi also laid the foundation stone of 52 Wing Air Force Station Deesa at the inauguration ceremony. PM Modi is on on a two-day visit to poll bound Gujarat where he will also launch development projects worth Rs 15,670 crores in the Gandhinagar, Junagadh, Rajkot, Narmada and Tapi districts of the state. "The biggest Defence Expo of the country so far has marked an emphatic beginning of a new future. I know that this has also caused inconvenience to some countries but several countries, with a positive mindset, have come with us: PM Modi at DefExpo2022 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat," PM Modi said. Also Read: From Gujarat to Ayodhya visit, here is PM Modi's schedule for Diwali season "I'm delighted that when India is giving shape to these opportunities of the future, 53 African nations that are friends of India are standing shoulder to shoulder with us", he added. The biggest Defence Expo of the country so far has marked an emphatic beginning of a new future. I know that this has also caused inconvenience to some countries but several countries, with a positive mindset, have come with us: PM Modi at #DefExpo2022 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. pic.twitter.com/sNa63xfPp7 ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2022 To give impetus to the defence sector, India`s "biggest ever" defence exhibition - DefExpo 2022 is being held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. This is the 12th edition of the event that has been organised on the theme `Path to Pride`.At the India Pavilion, Prime Minister unveiled HTT-40 - the indigenous trainer aircraft designed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). #DefExpo2022 is displaying a grand picture of the New India, the resolution for which was taken by us during Amrit Kaal. It has the nation's development, states' participation, youth power, young dreams, young courage&youth's capabilities: PM Narendra Modi in Gandhinagar, Gujarat pic.twitter.com/BhIPRPVf6r ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2022 The Expo, being held under the theme 'Path to Pride', will have the largest-ever participation in the exhibition. It will, for the first time, witness a defence exhibition held exclusively for Indian companies, including domestic subsidiaries of foreign firms, divisions of companies registered in India and exhibitors having joint ventures with Indian companies. For the first time, States, and Union Territories (UTs) have been invited to set up pavilions at the event. New Delhi: Ahead of Diwali, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CQAM) in NCR and adjoining areas on Wednesday (October 19, 2022) predicted "very poor" air quality in Delhi and directed authorities to enact stage two of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which includes banning the use of coal and firewood in hotels, restaurants and open eateries. In a meeting held on Wednesday, the sub-Committee noted that there is a forecast for "deterioration" of air quality over Delhi and that the Air Quality Index (AQI) may move into the "very poor" from October 22. It also said that the AQI is likely to worsen after Diwali on October 24. "Therefore, in an effort to prevent the deterioration of the air quality further, the sub-Committee decided that all actions as envisaged under Stage II of the GRAP - 'Very Poor' Air Quality (Delhi AQI ranging between 3O1-4OO), be implemented in right earnest by all the agencies concerned, with immediate effect in the NCR in addition to all actions under Stage I," the CQAM said in an order. The GRAP, notably, is a set of anti-air pollution measures followed in the capital and its vicinity according to the severity of the situation and is classified under four stages of adverse air quality in Delhi. Stage one in a case of 'poor' air quality (AQI 201-300); stage two for 'very poor' air quality (AQI 301-400); stage three for 'severe' air quality (AQI 401-450); and stage four for 'severe plus' (AQI >450). Curbs imposed in Delhi in view of deteriorating air quality ahead of Diwali Under stage two of GRAP, the use of diesel generators is also not allowed except for essential services related to national security, defence-related activities, projects of national importance, telecommunication, data services, medical, railway and metro rail services, airports, inter-state bus terminals, sewage treatment plants, and water pumping stations. The use of coal and firewood in tandoors in hotels, restaurants, and open eateries is also not allowed under stage two. The authorities are also required to hike parking fees to discourage private transport and increase the frequency of bus and metro services. Other measures to be taken under stage two include vacuum-based sweeping of roads every day, water sprinkling to prevent dust pollution and strict enforcement of dust control measures at construction and demolition sites. The agencies concerned have also been asked to ensure an uninterrupted power supply to discourage the use of Generator sets. Six months jail for bursting firecrackers on Diwali in Delhi The Arvind Kejriwal-led government on Wednesday announced that purchasing or bursting firecrackers on Diwali in Delhi will attract a jail term of up to six months and a fine of Rs 200. Addressing a press conference, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said production, storage and sale of firecrackers in the national capital will also be punishable with a fine of up to Rs 5,000 and three years in jail under Section 9B of the Explosives Act. Rai informed that 408 teams have been set up to implement the ban. The Delhi Police has set up 210 teams under assistant commissioners of police, while the Revenue Department has set up 165 teams and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee has constituted 33 teams. Rai said a public awareness campaign, "Diye Jalao Patakhe Nahi", will be launched on October 21. The Delhi government will light 51,000 diyas at Central Park in Connaught Place on Friday. The minister said 188 cases of violations have been detected and 2,917 kg firecrackers seized till October 16. Honble Environment Minister Sh. @AapKaGopalRai Addressing an Important Press Conference | LIVE https://t.co/MgY2RNnCzv AAP (@AamAadmiParty) October 19, 2022 "Pollution levels rise around Diwali every year. The major reason is the bursting of firecrackers. Emissions from firecrackers are extremely dangerous, especially for kids, women, and the elderly," he said. "Therefore, the Delhi government has imposed a complete ban on the production, sale and use of all types of firecrackers this year too. The ban covers online delivery of firecrackers," the minister added. He also urged Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav to ensure the ban on firecrackers is strictly implemented in the entire NCR "as the smoke from firecrackers burst in the region impacts the people in Delhi also". Fireworks had led to major changes in PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations in Delhi on Diwali night (November 4), according to the DPCC. Emissions from firecrackers and farm fires had pushed the capital's 24-hour average air quality index for the day after Diwali to 462, the highest in five years. Earlier last month, the city government re-imposed a complete ban on the production, sale, and use of all types of firecrackers till January 1, including on Diwali, a practice it has been following for the last two years. Delhi's air quality remains poor for fourth day Meanwhile, Delhi's air quality on Wednesday continued to be in the poor category for the fourth consecutive day. The 24-hour average AQI stood at 228 at 4 pm. At least six out of the 35 monitoring stations in the city recorded the air quality in the "very poor" category. 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 agency inputs) People's philosophies and perspectives about religion and religious symbols are confusing in India. On the one hand, there is a big uproar with large-scale demonstrations if Hijab is prohibited, but no one blinks an eye if girls are compelled to remove their 'mangalsutra and bangles.' The army of pseudo-intellectuals has even puzzled Supreme Court judges on the issue of hijab, as evidenced by recent rulings in which two SC judges delivered a split verdict on whether Karnataka's ban on hijab in classrooms should be reinstated or repealed and called for CJI to hear the case. While Justice Hemant Gupta supported the hijab ban, Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia stated that he "respectfully disagreed" with him as he considered the education of girls most important. In todays DNA, Zee News Rohit Ranjan analyses Adilabads incident of discrimination against Hindu women as increasing inequality among religions in India. ''.. DNA LIVE + OK, Not OK ? + VS ...'' ! + '' + VS ...'' !@irohitr https://t.co/LfBtzTsBBJ Zee News (@ZeeNews) October 19, 2022 A shocking incident is coming from the Adilabad district of Telangana where a Telangana Public Services Commission examination was scheduled to be held on October 16. However, at the examination centre, Hijab/burqa-laden Muslim women were allowed to enter the venue unchecked by the security staff but Hindu women were stopped and forced to remove religious symbols like Mangalsutra and bangles in the pretext of investigation. The staff also barred women from entering the examination hall who refused to take off the ornaments. Hindu girls were barred from following their religion for the sake of their future. They faced discrimination under the pretext of investigation while the administration allowed Muslim women to enter without any hindrance. The question of equality arises here. Both women, the one wearing mangalsutra and bangles and the other one wearing burqa should have been checked equally. Watch tonight's edition of DNA for more in-depth information and other details. DU Merit List 2022: Delhi University will be releasing the DU Merit List 2022 for UG Admissions today, October 19, 2022. The DU Final merit list is expected to be released by 5 PM today at the official portal. Students can see the merit list once it is published on the official website, du.ac.in. Additionally, students will have access to the merit list via the CSAS portal on admission.uod.ac.in. Delhi University has now published the DU Academic Calendar for the academic year 20222023. According to this, first-semester students will start attending classes on November 2, 2022. The initial release date for the DU Merit List 2022 was yesterday, October 18, 2022. Delhi University, however, made the decision to delay the publication of the merit list till today, October 19, 2022. Officials made this choice since the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear St. Stephen's College's petition over DU Admissions. DU Merit List 2022: Here's how to check Visit the official website- admission.uod.ac.in or du.ac.in On the homepage, click on the Declaration of First CSAS Allocation List link The PDF for DU UG First Merit List 2022 will appear on the screen Check and download the result Take a printout of the result for future reference The simulated list, which included everyone applicant who submitted an application for DU Admissions 2022 during Phases 1 and 2, was effectively a mock allotment list. At DU, seat distribution is now in progress. Bihar: A question on a Class 7 exam question paper in a Bihar school supposedly distinguished Kashmir from India, igniting a new dispute. Midterm exams for students in grades one through eight were conducted by the education department of the Bihar government from October 12 till October 18. It came to the fore when the students of class seven were asked in their English exam: "What are the people of the following countries called? One is done for you."The paper setter cited the example of China and asked "As the people of China are called Chinese, what are the people of Nepal, England, Kashmir, and India called? Subhash Kumar Gupta, the district education officer, firmly declined to address the issue in front of the camera. Educationists and Bharatiya Janata Party officials claim the situation is a conspiracy, and they are asking the Union Education Minister to look into it. Sanjay Jaiswal, the BJP's state leader in Bihar, uploaded a picture to his social media and shared the image of the question paper alongside captioning it as" "...Bihar government is still silent on my concern that they feel Kashmir as not a part of India. He wrote in a Facebook post in Hindi," This question itself advocates that the officials in Bihar government consider Kashmir as a different country as Nepal, England, China, and India. Kishanganj, Bihar | Class 7 question paper terms Kashmir as separate country Got this via Bihar Education Board. Ques had to ask what are people from Kashmir called? Mistakenly carried as what are people of country of Kashmir called? This was human error: Headteacher, SK Das pic.twitter.com/VVv1qAZ2sz October 19, 2022 Nitish Kumar is "so restless with his desire to become the Prime Minister that they are forcing anti-national question papers on the children of class 7. Notably, an identical question was posed in Bihar in 2017 as well, and a student in the Vaishali region caught the error. The BJP reacted by slamming the Nitish Kumar government. JD(U)-RJD together was attacked by Sanjay Jaiswal, who claimed they were supporters of the Popular Front of India (PFI). Bengaluru: Mapanna Mallikarjun Kharge, a staunch Gandhi family loyalist from Karnataka, has become the Congress' first non-Gandhi president in 24 years. The 80-year-old leader succeeds Sonia Gandhi at the grand old party's highest office. Kharge defeated Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor in the October 17 Congress' Presidential polls, which saw over 9,500 delegates across the country voting. A leader with more than 50 years of experience in politics, he is also the second AICC President from Karnataka after S Nijalingappa and also the second Dalit leader after Jagjivan Ram to hold the post. Kharge was elected MLA for nine times in a row, seeing a steady rise in his career graph from humble beginnings as a union leader in his home district of Gulbarga (renamed as Kalaburagi). He joined the party in 1969 and went on to become President of the Gulbarga City Congress Committee. That Kharge was unconquerable at the hustings was mirrored until the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in which he bucked the Narendra Modi wave that swept Karnataka, particularly Hyderabad-Karnataka region, and had won from Gulbarga with a margin of over 74,000 votes. ALSO READ | When Mallikarjun Kharge rebelled against Indira Gandhi He has won from the Gurmitkal assembly constituency nine times before he plunged into the Lok Sabha poll arena in 2009 and has been a two-time MP from Gulbarga parliamentary segment. However, in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls the veteran leader was defeated by BJP's Umesh Jadhav in Gulbarga by a margin of 95,452 votes. For Kharge, popularly known as "solillada Saradara", (a leader without defeat), this was the first electoral loss in his political life spanning more than five decades. Mallikarjun Kharge has played multiple roles in different ministries A hard-boiled Congressman and loyal to the core to the Gandhi family, Kharge has played multiple roles in different ministries that has enriched his experience as an administrator. He has also served as the leader of the opposition in the Karnataka Assembly and President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee. Kharge was the leader of the Congress party in Lok Sabha from 2014 to 2019 but could not become the leader of the opposition, as the grand old party could not get the post as its numbers were less than the mandated 10 percent of the total number of seats in the Lower House. He has served as Union Cabinet Minister for Labour and Employment, also Railways and Social Justice and Empowerment- in the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government. He had also held various portfolios in successive Congress governments that governed the state. He was Home Minister of Karnataka in one of the most trying times, under S M Krishna as the Chief Minister, as the tenure saw the kidnapping of Kannada thespian Rajkumar by the notorious poacher Veerappan and the Cauvery river water conflict, both of which had created a law and order situation in the state. New Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge was elected to Rajya Sabha from Karnataka Kharge was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka in June 2020 and was the 17th Leader of the Opposition in the Upper House until recently, ahead of his resignation from the post to contest the Congress' Presidential election. He had succeeded Ghulam Nabi Azad as LoP in February last year. He was several times seen as a top contender to become the Chief Minister in Karnataka, but could never occupy the post. "Why do you keep saying Dalit again and again? Don't say that. I'm a Congressman," Kharge has said several times in the past, whenever the Dalit CM topic cropped up with him as the contender. Sober by temperament and nature, Kharge has never landed in any major political trouble spot or controversy. Born in a poor family at Varavatti in Bidar district on July 21, 1942, he did his schooling and BA as well as Law in Kalaburagi. He was into legal practice for some time before plunging into politics. He is a follower of Buddhism and is the founder-chairman of Siddharth Vihar Trust which has built the Buddha Vihar complex in Kalaburagi. Married to Radhabai on May 13, 1968, they have two daughters and three sons. One son, Priyank Kharge is an MLA and a former Minister in Karnataka. A vocal critic of the Narendra Modi-led government, Kharge's elevation to head the Congress is expected to give a boost to the cadre amid hopes that it would unify the party leadership in the state that goes to Assembly polls by April next year. New Delhi: The newly elected Congresss National president Mallikarjun Kharge, on Wednesday (October 19, 2022) addressed his first press conference as the president of Congress and said that under his leadership, he would work towards strengthening the party and fight against the "fascist" forces who are attacking democracy and the constitution. Kharge also extended his wishes to his fellow party member Shashi Tharoor. He also thanked the outgoing president Sonia Gandhi for her excellent leadership. Delhi | We all have to work like workers of the party, nobody is big or small in the party. We have to unitedly fight against the fascist forces that are attacking the democratic institutions under the garb of communalism: Congress President-elect Mallikarjun Kharge pic.twitter.com/LWlVoEOVRs ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2022 I want to congratulate my partner Shashi Tharoor as well. I met him and discussed how to take the party forward. I want to thank Sonia Gandhi on behalf of all party workers. Under her leadership, we formed our govt in the centre twice, he said in the press conference. Attacking the current ruling government, Kharge said, We have to fight together against the fascist forces who are attacking democracy and the Constitution We all have to work like workers of the party, nobody is big or small in the party. We have to unitedly fight against the fascist forces that are attacking the democratic institutions under the garb of communalism, he added. Kharge will be sworn in as the party President on October 26, Congress MP Randeep Surjewala informed during the press conference. The newly elected Congresss national president Mallikarjun Kharge is all set to lead India's oldest national political party. In a close fight between Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor, Kharge has been elected as the Congress president in the presidential polls, the sixth in the party's 137-year-old history. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, ARMENPRESS. Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan delivered a lecture at Saint Kliment Ohridski as part of his state visit to Bulgaria. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the office of the President of the Republic of Armenia, with the lecture entitled "Armenia's economy. Facing the global and regional challenges", the President specifically referred to the economic development, vision and attractiveness of Armenia. Referring to foreign economic ties, Vahagn Khachaturyan noted that Armenia's economy is closely integrated with Russia's economy due to the fact that Armenia has been a member of EAEU since 2013, but at the same time, the President emphasized that this does not prevent Armenia-EU active cooperation. During the lecture, the President also referred to the rates of economic growth of Armenia in the current year and the underlying reasons, which are also related to the inflow of labor and companies from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. According to the President, the favorable conditions of Armenia's tax field and financial banking system are an additional incentive for foreign investors and enterprises. President Khachaturyan noted that Armenia always pays special attention to the field of high technologies, foreign companies and investments and takes active steps to make them more favorable and attractive. New Delhi: Mallikarjun Kharge has been elected as the 137th President of the Congress Party. Leaders of the party congratulate him on his victory. With 7,897 votes, Kharge defeats Shashi Tharoor. Rahul Gandhi, the former Congress chief, congratulated him on his election and stated that he will represent a democratic vision of India. "Congratulations to Mallikarjun Kharge Ji on being elected as the President of Congress."The Congress President represents a democratic vision of India. His vast experience and ideological commitment will serve the party well as he takes on this historic responsibility," Gandhi wrote on Twitter. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress general secretary, also congratulated Kharge, saying his vast experience will help the party. "I am confident that your ground experience in political life will help strengthen the ideology of the Congress," she said in a tweet in Hindi. "Under your leadership, the Congress will continue to fight to protect the Constitution and democracy," she added. Vadra paid a visit to Kharge's home with outgoing Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to congratulate him. During the meeting, Kharge's wife was also present. As reported by the Outlook Rajasthans Congress leader Sachin Pilot quotes that Mallikarjun Kharges election is a win of democracy. Mallikarjun Kharge won with a huge majority; a win of democracy. I congratulated him. I have faith that his experience will benefit the party. 9000 elected people elected the president - this was never done before by any party. The Opposition must be nervous today, Pilot told the media. As per the Hindustan Timess article. Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel states that he believes the party will move forward under Kharge's leadership. After years, polls for Congress president were held and Mallikarjun Kharge won by a huge margin. We believe that the party will move forward under his leadership and we will be able to rein in the fascist forces, he told reporters. Ashok Gehlot, Rajasthans chief minister says, It is a moment of pride that Mallikarjun Kharge became Congress President, he is an experienced leader. Congress will strengthen under his leadership, and our party is united across the country. Congratulations to Mallikarjun Kharge ji on being elected as the President of @INCIndia. The Congress President represents a democratic vision of India. His vast experience and ideological commitment will serve the party well as he takes on this historic responsibility. October 19, 2022 Congratulations to Mallikarjun Kharge ji on being elected as the President of @INCIndia. The Congress President represents a democratic vision of India. His vast experience and ideological commitment will serve the party well as he takes on this historic responsibility. Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) October 19, 2022 (With agencies' inputs) New Delhi: On the fateful night of the 26/11 terror attack that shook the city of Mumbai, a woman named Devika Rotawan recalls being shot by a bullet at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. Her testimony in court led to the prosecution of the infamous terrorist Ajmal Kasab. Rotawan spoke about her traumatic experience with United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who is in Mumbai. The UN chief arrived in the financial capital of the country on Wednesday to pay tribute to the victims of the 26/11 attacks. He will be on an official visit to India from October 18-20. Here is what Devika told Guterres as quoted by ANI: " I told him I was injured at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus & identified Ajmal Kasab in the court. I also told him I want to study & become an officer, end terrorism." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres received a warm welcome from Indian officials. "Warm welcome to the UNSG @antonioguterres as he arrives in Mumbai for his official visit to India from 18-20 October 2022," tweeted Arindam Bagchi, Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs. UN Chief Antonio Guterres' 2-day visit to India After paying tributes to the victims of 26/11, Guterres will deliver a public address at IIT Mumbai on the subject - "India @75: UN-India Partnership: Strengthening South-South Cooperation" #WATCH | Mumbai: United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres meets with 26/11 Mumbai attack survivor, Devika who had suffered a bullet shot injury at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus whose testimony led to the prosecution of terrorist Ajmal Kasab pic.twitter.com/mFByvrW3JS ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2022 On day 2 of his visit, Guterres will jointly launch the Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) booklet, logo, and tagline along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This India-led climate initiative wants to urge people to focus on lifestyle changes to live sustainably. The concept was introduced to the world at COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021 by PM Modi. Remembering 26/11 attacks The 26/11 terror attacks in 2008 which targeted Mumbai have left a permanent scar on the country. Ten Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists carried out coordinated shooting and bombing attacks for 3 days across the city, killing hundreds including foreigners. Several police officials were martyred as well in the terrifying attacks. The attacks began on Wednesday 26 November and lasted until Saturday 29 November 2008. Chennai (Tamil Nadu): Expelled AIADMK leader Sasikala has reacted to the report of the Arumugasamy Inquiry Committee, which probed the death of former Tamil Nadu chief minister and AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa and called for an investigation against Sasikala among three others. The expelled AIADMK leader denies all the allegations levelled against her in the report expressed readiness to face inquiry. ANI quoted her as saying, Expelled AIADMK leader Sasikala reacts to Arumugasamy Inquiry Committee's report, says, "I deny all the allegations levelled against me in the report. I never interfered in the medical treatment of J Jayalalithaa. I am ready to face an inquiry on this." Expelled AIADMK leader Sasikala reacts to Arumugasamy Inquiry Committee's report, says, "I deny all the allegations levelled against me in the report. I never interfered in the medical treatment of J Jayalalithaa. I am ready to face an inquiry on this." (file photo) pic.twitter.com/LII0birhrD ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2022 It may be noted that Justice A Arumughaswamy Commission of Inquiry (CoI) probed the circumstances leading to former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's death in 2016. It has reportedly indicted V K Sasikala, the late leader's close confidante, medical doctor K S Sivakumar, former Health Minister C Vijayabaskar and the then Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan and recommended a probe against them. The Arumughaswamy Commission of Inquiry concluded that Sasikala, Jayalalithaa`s personal Doctor K S Sivakumar, then Health Secretary Radhakrishnan, C Vijayabaskar who was health Minister then are found to be at fault and an investigation is to be ordered. Earlier in August, the single-member commission of retired Justice Arumugasamy submitted its report to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin after five years. After the demise of Jayalalithaa in December 2016, full-scale politics erupted over the cause of her death and the medical procedures followed during her hospitalisation. Also read: 'Why wasn't Jayalalithaa taken abroad, despite...': SHOCKING FINDINGS of Arumugasamy panel against Sasikala, others Former Tamil Nadu CM O Pannerselvam had requested a probe into her death, therefore, the Arumughaswamy Commission was assigned to enquire into the circumstances, health condition and situation leading to the hospitalisation of the late Chief Minister J Jayalalitha on 22 September 2016, and subsequent treatment provided till her unfortunate demise on 5 December 2016. Notably, the commission commenced its investigation in November 2017 with many hearings of close aides of Jayalalithaa and doctors who provided treatment, then Tamil Nadu Health Minister Vijayabhakar, then Health Secretary Radhakrishnan, then Finance Minister of Tamil Nadu and AIADMK senior leader O Pannerselvam. Aarumugasami filed his 608 pages final report in Tamil and 500 pages report in English. Over 159 witnesses in relation to Jayalalithaa reportedly have appeared before Arumughaswamy Commission and have put forward their points of view. Also read: Jayalalithaa's death: Probe report holds close aide VK Sasikala guilty, calls for further investigation On the contrary, a report by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences` panel of doctors has asserted that the treatment provided to late Jayalalithaa was as per "correct medical practice and no errors" have been found in the care provided. This clean chit provided relief for Apollo Hospital where Jayalalithaa was admitted. The panel found all the final diagnosis and timeline of events of Jayalalithaa`s health was fully observed and also agreed with Apollo`s treatment and diagnosis. The Aarumugasami panel recommended an investigation against former State Chief Secretary Rama Mohana Rao and two medical doctors, Dr YVC Reddy and Dr Babu Abraham. It, however, did not specify if it found a "fault" with them or not. It said that the government may, "decide and investigate" the matter against Dr Pratap C Reddy, chairman of the Apollo Hospitals, where she was treated. The Tamil Nadu government, which tabled the Commission of Inquiry's (CoI) report in the Assembly on Tuesday, said that it would initiate action against "certain individuals," after obtaining the opinion of legal experts. (With ANI/PTI Inputs) Srinagar: Two Hybrid Lashkar terrorists responsible for the killing of two non-local labourers in Shopian have been apprehended within hours after the attack. One of the terrorists, identified as Imran Ganie resident of Harmain Shopian, had lobbed grenades at labourers at their rented accommodation. ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar visited the Hermain area of Shopian in South Kashmir to take stock of the situation following the killing of two non-local labourers in a terrorist attack around midnight. ADGP Kashmir accompanied by senior officers from Police, army and paramilitary forces after inspecting the terror crime scene, told reporters that two persons including Imran Bashir Ganai have been arrested so far. ADGP said Imran and his associate were acting as hybrid terrorists of Lashkar-e-Toiba and attacked the labourers from UP who were staying at temporary accommodation in the area. Also Read: Ghulam Nabi Azad announces 3 agendas for Jammu and Kashmir, calls for restoration of statehood ahead of assembly polls ADGP Vijay Kumar said Imran and his associate arrested by police have confessed to the Grenade throwing incident on labourers killing two of them on spot. Vijay Kumar said that these two hybrid terrorists carried out the attack on the directions of Lashkar Commander Abid and Danish forces are raiding several places to track down these terrorists. Vijay Kumar further said the Killing of Kashmiri Pandit Puran Kumar Bhat was also carried out by LeT, three days back on 15th October. He said forces are after these terrorists carrying out soft targets on non-locals and soon, they will be eliminated. At midnight, the terrorist lobbed a hand grenade due to which 2 non-local labourers got killed in the Hermain area of Shopian in South Kashmir. Although they were immediately taken to the District hospital Shopian where they were declared bought dead. After medico-legal formalities, the bodies were sent to Srinagar where they will be sent to their native village. LG Manoj Sinha assured honoured transportation of the bodies to their villages: "District administration Shopian has deputed senior officers to make arrangements for transportation of the mortal remains to their respective villages with full honours." Killings of Kashmiri Pandits continue Earlier, a Kashmiri Pandit Pooran Kishan Bhat was shot dead by terrorists in Chowdry Gund village of Shopian. Sources in the police said that both arrested terrorists have given many leads and soon the hybrid terrorists module will be busted. They said they are trying to nab the active terrorists who are using hybrid terrorists for those incidents to neutralise them. LG Manoj Sinha condemns terrorism LG Manoj Sinha while condemning the killing said that authorities have intensified the efforts to crush the terrorism he said in a tweet, "Words cannot adequately condemn today's barbaric terror attack on Manish Kumar and Ram Sagar from Kannauj, UP. My deepest condolence to their families. One terrorist has been arrested & hunt is on for the others. Security apparatus has been directed to launch coordinated CT ops." We have intensified our efforts to crush terrorists and terror ecosystem and have given full freedom to the security forces. Terrorism is a curse for civilised society. People from every community must come together to condemn heinous acts and root out terror & its elements. he added Mehbooba Mufti too condemned the incident but took a dig at the government. She said, "Distressing to know that two labourers were killed in an attack. At the risk of sounding repetitive, there is no sense of security & dignity for anyone living in J&K. These issues will be resolved only when GOI acknowledges that they exist." This year 24 civilians were killed in target killings across Kashmir including Kashmir Pandits, non-local employees, and labourers. they were mostly killed by Hybrid terrorists whose police is having no records of the earlier crimes. These target killings and Hybrid terrorism is seen as a big challenge and worry for security forces. SIU raids regarding IED case in Pulwama Meanwhile, a Special Investigation Unit of J&K on Tuesday morning conducted raids at multiple locations regarding IED case in Pulwama district South Kashmir. A senior Police officer said that SIU (which is the Investigation Agency of Police on the District Level) is conducting raids in Jandwal, Armulla, Nilloraand Bandzoo villages of Pulwama regarding the recovery of 30 KG IED in August. The officer further stated that already few people have been arrested earlier in connection with this case. It's pertinent to mention that An IED weighing approx. 25 to 30 Kgs was recovered near Tahab Crossing on Circular road in Pulwama by Police and Security Forces in August SRINAGAR: J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has lashed out at National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah and said that J&K witnessed worse bloodshed during the partys rule. Sinha also reiterated that the Centre is committed to dismantling the terror ecosystem that exited within government apparatus and outside. We are also committed to pushing the last nail in the coffin of terrorism in J&K and making this place terror-free, Sinha said. Reacting strongly to Farooq Abdullahs statement regarding killings of non-locals and Kashmiri Pandits, Jammu and Kashmir Lt. Gov Manoj Sinha said, if we provide the figures about the innocent killings during their rule in J&K, they will be ashamed. "Agar Mai Aankday Batao Toi Kalik Kam Pad Jayegi Unkay Chehray Potnay Kay Liye, Sinha said while reacting to the statement of National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, who recently said that the killing of Kashmiri Pandits will not stop unless the justice is to be done here. Abdullah also referred to the abrogation of article 370, terming that as an injustice to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Slamming the NC leader, Sinha said, . but the question arises justice to whom? I want to ask those who demand justice who was in power when the Vandhama massacre took place. Who was in power when 26 people were killed in Udhampur and 17 people were killed in Litter Pulwama? Who was ruling J&K when countless massacres of minorities and Muslims took place? The LG said efforts are continuously being made to misguide people of J&K by those who cant digest peace. Some people don't want the business to flourish in Kashmir and who don't want students to study. But I want to tell them strike days are over and today travel advisories are being lifted by foreign countries. Those not happy with this are trying to disrupt peace here. Sinha said that these anti-peace elements don't want a common person to live in a peaceful atmosphere and hence continue to play mischief. But they will never succeed, he assured. Sinha said while questions are being raised about hat why terrorism has not ended post article 370 revocation, the figures portray a different picture. Killings of minorities, civilians and security forces personnel are far less than what it used to be prior to August 2019, he added. I want to assure the people of J&K that we are committed to dismantling the terror eco-system that exited within government apparatus and outside. We are also committed to pushing the last nail in the coffin of terrorism in J&K and making this place terror-free. The LG said that gone are the days when J&K affairs would be run on the directions of the neighbouring country. No innocent should be punished but at the same time no culprit will be spared thats the law we follow, Sinha said. Srinagar: A Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist, who was arrested for killing two migrant labourers in a grenade attack in the Harmen area of South Kashmir`s Shopian district died on Wednesday during a firing by another militant, police said. Identified as Imran Ganaie resident of Harmain Shopian, was shot by another terrorist during an anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir. The Kashmir Zone Police informed about his killing on Twitter, it said, "Based on disclosure of arrested hybrid terrorist and in continuous raids by police and security forces, another contact has been established between terrorists & SFs at Nowgam, Shopian, in which hybrid terrorist namely Imran Bashir Ganaie killed by firing of another terrorist". Also Read: Kashmiri Pandit shot dead by terrorist in J&K's Shopian "Incriminating materials, arms & ammunition has been recovered from the site of contact. Search still going on. Further details shall follow." On his disclosure, his accomplice was also arrested on Tuesday. Based on disclosure of arrested hybrid #terrorist & in continuous raids by Police & security forces, another contact has been established between terrorists & SFs at Nowgam #Shopian, in which hybrid terrorist namely Imran Bashir Ganaie killed by firing of another terrorist. (1/2) Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) October 18, 2022 ADGP Vijay Kumar said Imran and his associate arrested by police have confessed about the Grenade throwing incident on labourers killing two of them on spot. Vijay Kumar said that these two hybrid terrorists carried out the attack on the directions of Lashkar Commander Abid and Danish and forces are raiding several places to track down these terrorists. Vijay Kumar further said Killing of Kashmiri Pandit Pooran Kumar bhat was also carried out by LeT, there days back on 15th October. He said forces are after these terrorists carrying out soft targets on non-locals and soon, they will be eliminated. New Delhi: The newly elected Congresss national president Mallikarjun Kharge is all set to lead India's oldest national political party. The first non-Gandhian Congress president in 24 years, Kharge, has announced to do a press conference at 4-4:30 PM, hours after winning the All India Congress Committees Presidential Polls. This will be Mallikarjun Kharges first press conference as Congresss President. Mallikarjun Kharge was, on Wednesday, elected the Congress president after defeating Shashi Tharoor in an electoral contest, the sixth in the party's 137-year-old history. Congress' central election authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry announced after counting that of the 9,385 votes polled in the Congress president poll, Kharge got 7,897 votes and Shashi Tharoor 1,072 votes, while 416 votes were declared invalid. At a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, Mistry declared Kharge elected as Congress president. Delhi | I will hold a press conference between 4-4:30pm today: Mallikarjun Kharge, after getting elected as the President of the Indian National Congress pic.twitter.com/23StOAxhF9 ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2022 Congratulating his competitor, Shashi Tharoor said that the final verdict has been in favour of Kharge. He also conveyed his congratulations to Kharge for his victory. "The decision of the party delegates is final and I accept it humbly. It is a privilege to be a member of a party that allows its workers to choose their president," Tharoor said. "Our new president is a party colleague and senior who brings ample leadership and experience to the table. Under his guidance, I am confident that we can all collectively take the party to new heights," he said. Also Read: When Mallikarjun Kharge, now Congress president, rebelled against Indira Gandhi Tharoor said the party owes an "irredeemable debt" to outgoing president Sonia Gandhi for her quarter-century of the leadership of the party and for being the anchor during the most crucial moments. "Her decision to authorise this election process, which has given us new pathways to the future, is undoubtedly a fitting testament to her sagacity and vision for our party. I hope she continues to guide, motivate and inspire the party's new leadership team in overcoming the challenges ahead," he said. Tharoor also thanked former president Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for doing their bit to support free and neutral elections. "The Nehru-Gandhi family has held, and will always hold, a special place in the hearts of Congress party members, and with good reason too," he said. Kharge is the first non-Gandhi Congress president in 24 years. (With agency inputs) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (October 19, 2022) congratulated Mallikarjun Kharge for being elected the new Congress president after defeating Shashi Tharoor in an electoral contest, the sixth in the party's 137-year-old history. Taking to his official Twitter account, Modi wished a "fruitful tenure" for Kharge. "My best wishes to Shri Mallikarjun Kharge Ji for his new responsibility as President of INC. May he have a fruitful tenure ahead," he said in a tweet. My best wishes to Shri Mallikarjun Kharge Ji for his new responsibility as President of @INCIndia. May he have a fruitful tenure ahead. @kharge Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 19, 2022 Modi's tweet came minutes after Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a press conference and said that all have to work together to fight the "fascists forces" threatening democracy and the Constitution. A vocal critic of the Modi-led government, Kharge also said that no one in the party is big or small and that he will work as a true Congress soldier to strengthen the organisation. "No one is big or small and all have to work together as karyakartas to strengthen the Congress," he said. LIVE: Newly elected Congress President Shri @kharge addresses the media from his residence. https://t.co/besQLfrIYf October 19, 2022 Earlier in the day, Congress' central election authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry announced that of the 9,385 votes polled in the Congress president poll, Kharge received 7,897 votes, while Tharoor got 1,072 and 416 votes were declared invalid. Kharge is the first non-Gandhi Congress president in 24 years and will formally take over as the party's chief on October 26. Srinagar: Mehbooba Mufti has raised questions over the killing of Lashkar Hybrid terrorist and expressed her worry for Kashmiris safety, saying that if a terrorist is killed in police custody, how can anyone else feel safe? She also demanded an investigation of the hybrid terrorists killing. Condemning recent events of killings in the valley, Mufti said, The security situation in Kashmir region has deteriorated and the rise in civilian killings is a big concern. I condemn the killings of Kashmiri Pandit and civil labourers. I want an investigation done in the killing of the Hybrid Terrorist too. It needs to be thoroughly investigated. We cannot have a catch and kill policy here as was prevalent in Punjab at one point of time, Mufti said. Earlier ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said, Imran Bashir Ganie (Hybrid) Lashkar terrorist, has been killed by another terrorist during anti-terrorist operation launched by forces on the information of Imran at Nowgam area. He added Based on disclosure of arrested hybrid Lashkar terrorist Imran and in continuous raids by Police & security forces, the contact has been established between terrorists & forces at Nowgam Shopian, in which hybrid terrorist namely Imran Bashir Ganaie got killed by firing of another terrorist. Police arrested Imran Ganaie, soon after the two non-local labourers were killed in grenade attack in shopian and police claimed that Imran was responsible for the attack on non-local labourers in Hermain Shopian was arrested. Patna: After the question paper row in Seemanchal, Bihar education minister Chandrashekhar Yadav has ordered an inquiry into the issue and has asked the district magistrate of Kishanganj to submit the inquiry report. The English question paper for Class 7 apparently mentioned Kashmir as a separate country. The question was in the form of `fill in the blanks` where it was asked what the people of China, Nepal, England, Kashmir and India are called. Interestingly, the same question was asked in the 2017 examination as well. The minister admitted that it was a mistake by the concerned official and there was no justification for it. The question was asked in three districts of Seemanchal region including Kishanganj, Araria and Purnea. "We have initiated an inquiry into the matter and asked the district magistrate to investigate and find out who set such a question," Yadav said. "We will take action against that person. Kashmir is an integral part of our country," he said. Also Read: Exam paper in Bihars Kishanganj mentions KASHMIR as separate country, BJP slams Reacting to the BJP allegation, Yadav said that mistakes can be made by any person. "Mistakes happened by PM Narendra Modi as well. You (BJP leaders) need to keep in mind those mistakes as well. PM Narendra Modi said Takshashila university is in Bihar. The Takshashila university is in Pakistan and Vikramshila university is in Bihar. Still, the way the question was asked in the class seven examination was absolutely wrong and the culprits will be booked for it," Yadav said. The question was asked in an examination paper of English to students of class 7 of government schools coming under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan which is regulated by the Bihar State Project of Education Council. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, ARMENPRESS. Following the invitation by the government of the Republic of Armenia, the OSCE will send a needs assessment team to the country on 21-27 October, ARMENPRESS was informed from the official website of the OSCE. The purpose of the visit is to assess the situation in certain border areas, on the basis of the OSCEs mandate and expertise within its comprehensive concept of security. The technical team comprised of international experts and representatives of the OSCE Secretariat will visit areas along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and hold consultations with the relevant national and local stakeholders as well as international partners on the ground. Hyderabad: AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to defend the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 before the Supreme Court. In a letter to the Prime Minister, the Hyderabad MP said he should defend the Act as it upholds India`s diversity. Owaisi wrote the letter in the wake of the hearing in the Supreme Court of a petition challenging the constitutionality of the Act. The apex court has sought the Central government`s stand on the legislation. The MP wrote that it is a general duty of the executive to defend the constitutionality of parliamentary legislation. He pointed out that the Act was enacted to protect the character of places of worship as they stood on August 15, 1947. The primary purpose behind such a provision was to protect diversity and pluralism in India. This was to ensure that independent India did not suffer from religious disputes that cause perpetual divisions in society. This was clearly a reflection of the values of India`s freedom struggle, he said. "When this law was introduced in Parliament, it was rightly stated to be a measure necessary to avoid controversies that arise from time to time regarding conversion of places of worship which tend to vitiate the communal atmosphere. It was enacted as a law with the hope that it would heal the wounds of the past and help restore communal amity and goodwill," reads the letter. Owaisi recalled that while deciding the Babri Masjid dispute, the Supreme Court had stated that by enacting the 1991 Act, the state had enforced the constitutional commitment and operationalised its constitutional obligation to uphold the principle of secularism, which is part of the basic structure of the Constitution. "While Parliament intended the Act as a measure to preserve communal harmony and peace, the Supreme Court considered it to be an affirmation of the solemn duty which was cast upon the State to preserve and protect the equality of all faiths as an essential constitutional value, a norm which has the status of being basic feature of the Constitution." Owaisi further urged the Prime Minister not to let the executive take any view which deviates from the true spirit of constitutionalism as reflected in the Supreme Court judgment as well as in the aims and objects of the legislation. The MP said the apex court found that the concept of `constitutional morality` is embedded in our constitutional system, adding that it is the basic rule which prevents institutions from turning tyrannical, warns against the fallibility of individuals in a democracy, checks State power and safeguards minorities from the tyranny of the majority. "This is now being put to test. I hope that the executive headed by you will act to uphold the ideal of constitutional morality and defend the Act of 1991. "The Act represents the idea that one cannot endlessly litigate against history. That modern India cannot be the battleground of resolving medieval disputes. It puts an end to unnecessary religious disputes and protects India`s religious diversity. Therefore, I urge you to defend the sanctity of this solemn legislation," he added. New Delhi: Continuing his attack on Nitish Kumar, political strategist Prashant Kishor on Wednesday (October 19, 2022) claimed that the Bihar Chief Minister is in touch with his former ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and that he may join hands with the party again if the situation demands so. Talking to the news agency PTI, Kishor, who has earlier worked with the Bihar CM both as a professional and a party colleague, said that Nitish Kumar has kept a line of communication open with the BJP through Janata Dal (United) MP Harivansh. "People who are thinking that Nitish Kumar is actively building a national alliance against the BJP will be surprised to know that he has kept a line open with the BJP. He is in touch with the BJP through his party MP and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Harivansh Ji," the 45-year-old activist said. He added that Harivansh has not been asked to give up his Rajya Sabha post for this reason even though the JD(U) has severed ties with the BJP. "People must keep this in mind that whenever such circumstances arise, he can go back to the BJP and work with it," Kishor, who is currently on a 3,500-km-long 'pada yatra', covering every nook and corner of Bihar, said. The JD(U), however, said that the Bihar chief minister has publicly announced that he will never again in his life join hands with the BJP. "We strongly refute his claims. Kumar is in active politics for over 50 years and Kishor for six months. Kishor has made such a misleading comment to spread confusion," JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi said. Nitish Kumar snapped his party's ties with the BJP in August this year and joined hands with the RJD-Congress-Left alliance in Bihar. After coming to power in Bihar in 2005 as the face of the BJP-led NDA, Kumar first broke ties with the party in 2013 and joined hands with the RJD-led opposition in the state in 2014. He then switched sides in 2017. The BJP, notably, has accused him of changing alliances due to his "greed" for power. Adalaj (Gujarat): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched the 'Mission Schools of Excellence' intiative at Gujarat's Adalaj town. The Mission will help strengthen education infrastructure in Gujarat through setting up of new classrooms, smart class rooms, computer labs and overall upgradation of infrastructure of schools in the State. During the inaugural event, PM said that the recently launched 5G telecom service will take the education system to the next level in the country. He pointed out that knowledge of English was considered as the mark of being intellectual even though the English language is just a medium of communication. "The 5G service will go beyond smart facilities, smart classrooms and well as smart teachings. It will take our education system to the next level, Gujarat has taken first step in the country for this,through Mission Schools of Excellence" the prime minister said. He advocated the use of local languages to make sure those uncomfortable with English are not left behind. Also Read: 'Defence Expo displaying the grand picture of New India', says PM Narendra Modi at DefExpo22 in Gandhinagar "Earlier, knowledge of the English language was considered a mark of being intellectual. In reality, the English language is just a medium of communication," the prime minister said. Ahead of smart services, smart classrooms & smart teaching, 5G will take our education system to next level. Students will easily experience Virtual Reality & Internet of Things in schools. Guj has taken first step in the country for this,through Mission Schools of Excellence: PM pic.twitter.com/1zgJvPQzim ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2022 "There were villages where girls were not sent to school. In tribal areas, the few education centres that were available had no facility to teach Science," PM said. The change in Gujarat in the past 2 decades, in the field of education, is unprecedented. 20 yrs ago, 20 out of 100 children didn't go to school. A large number of those who used to go to school used to drop out by the time they reached std 8. The situation of girls was worse: PM pic.twitter.com/Gj7mXMrzDW ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2022 "The change in Gujarat in the past 2 decades, in the field of education, is unprecedented. 20 yrs ago, 20 out of 100 children didn't go to school.A large number of those who used to go to school used to drop out by the time they reached std 8. The situation of girls was worse," he added. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday laid the foundation stone of 52 Wing Air Force Station Deesa at the inauguration ceremony of DefExpo 22 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. PM Modi is on on a two-day visit to poll bound Gujarat where he will also launch development projects worth Rs 15,670 crores in the Gandhinagar, Junagadh, Rajkot, Narmada and Tapi districts of the state. The Expo, being held under the theme 'Path to Pride', will have the largest-ever participation in the exhibition. It will, for the first time, witness a defence exhibition held exclusively for Indian companies, including domestic subsidiaries of foreign firms, divisions of companies registered in India and exhibitors having joint ventures with Indian companies. At the India Pavilion of the expo, he will unveil HTT-40, the indigenous trainer aircraft designed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The aircraft has state-of-the-art contemporary systems and has been designed with pilot-friendly features. Also Read: From Gujarat to Ayodhya visit, here is PM Modi's schedule for Diwali season During the programme, he will also launch 'Mission DefSpace', aimed at developing innovative solutions for defence forces in space through industry and startups. He will later lay the foundation stone of the Deesa airfield in Gujarat. The forward airforce base will add to the security architecture of the country. Gujarat | At the inauguration ceremony of the #DefExpo22 at Gandhinagar, PM Narendra Modi lays the foundation stone of 52 Wing Air Force Station Deesa. pic.twitter.com/3tozXKkt5i ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2022 Among other programmes on Wednesday, Modi will launch the 'Mission Schools of Excellence' at Adalaj and will lay the foundation stone of various development projects in Junagadh. A PMO statement said he will later inaugurate the India Urban Housing Conclave 2022 and dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple projects in Rajkot. He will also inaugurate the exhibition of innovative construction practices in Rajkot in the evening. On Thursday, the prime minister will launch 'Mission LiFE' at Kevadia and later participate in the 10th 'Heads of Missions' conference being held there. He will also lay the foundation stone of various development initiatives at Vyara. During the DefExpo, the second India-Africa Defence Dialogue under the theme 'India-Africa: Adopting strategy for synergizing Defence and Security cooperation' and the second 'Indian Ocean Region Plus (IOR+) Conclave' will also be held. The grand event will also have the first-ever Investors' Meet for defence, having more than 100 startups to showcase their innovations, with 451 partnerships and launches likely to be sealed. The statement said the 'Mission Schools of Excellence has been conceived with a total outlay of Rs 10,000 crores and will help strengthen education infrastructure in Gujarat through the setting up of new classrooms, smart classrooms, computer labs and overall upgradation of schools' infra. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin his two-day visit to poll-bound Gujarat on Wednesday. The PM will inaugurate the DefExpo 22 in Gandhinagar today and also launch development projects worth Rs 15,670 crores in Gandhinagar, Junagadh, Rajkot, Narmada and Tapi districts. The Expo, being held under the theme 'Path to Pride', will have the largest-ever participation in the exhibition. It will, for the first time, witness a defence exhibition held exclusively for Indian companies, including domestic subsidiaries of foreign firms, divisions of companies registered in India and exhibitors having joint ventures with Indian companies. At the India Pavilion of the expo, he will unveil HTT-40, the indigenous trainer aircraft designed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The aircraft has state-of-the-art contemporary systems and has been designed with pilot-friendly features. Also Read: From Gujarat to Ayodhya visit, here is PM Modi's schedule for Diwali season During the programme, he will also launch 'Mission DefSpace', aimed at developing innovative solutions for defence forces in space through industry and startups. He will later lay the foundation stone of the Deesa airfield in Gujarat. The forward airforce base will add to the security architecture of the country. Among other programmes on Wednesday, Modi will launch the 'Mission Schools of Excellence' at Adalaj and will lay the foundation stone of various development projects in Junagadh. A PMO statement said he will later inaugurate the India Urban Housing Conclave 2022 and dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple projects in Rajkot. He will also inaugurate the exhibition of innovative construction practices in Rajkot in the evening. On Thursday, the prime minister will launch 'Mission LiFE' at Kevadia and later participate in the 10th 'Heads of Missions' conference being held there. He will also lay the foundation stone of various development initiatives at Vyara. Also Read: 'When forces of good cooperate, forces of crime can't operate': PM Modi at Interpol meet During the DefExpo, the second India-Africa Defence Dialogue under the theme 'India-Africa: Adopting strategy for synergizing Defence and Security cooperation' and the second 'Indian Ocean Region Plus (IOR+) Conclave' will also be held. The grand event will also have the first-ever Investors' Meet for defence, having more than 100 startups to showcase their innovations, with 451 partnerships and launches likely to be sealed. The statement said the 'Mission Schools of Excellence has been conceived with a total outlay of Rs 10,000 crores and will help strengthen education infrastructure in Gujarat through the setting up of new classrooms, smart classrooms, computer labs and overall upgradation of schools' infra. Chandigarh: Punjab has reported nearly three-fold jump in farm fire incidents in the last nine days, with total number of such cases reaching 2,625 so far this season. From September 15 till October 10 this year, the state had witnessed 718 stubble burning incidents. According to data from the Ludhiana-based Punjab Remote Sensing Centre, the state recorded 436 farm fire cases on Wednesday. From September 15 till October 19, a total of 2,625 farm fire incidents have been recorded, as per the data. The situation looks better this year compared to farm fire incidents in the last two years as the state till October 19 had reported 7,115 and 2,942 such incidents in 2020 and 2021, respectively. On October 19 in 2020 and 2021, the state had registered 698 and 496 incidents of stubble burning, respectively, as per the data. On Wednesday, maximum stubble burning incidents were recorded in Tarn Taran (124), followed by Amritsar (82), Gurdaspur (64), and Patiala (27), among other districts, as per the data. The farm fires continued despite the state government assuring more crop residue management machines and launching massive awareness programmes against stubble burning. Also Read: Centre accuses Punjab of not taking adequate steps to prevent stubble burning Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday in Ludhiana exhorted farmers to refrain from burning paddy straw as it poses a serious threat to human life through air pollution. Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Janjua asked the senior officials of the state to conduct regular inspections in all the districts to take stock of the ground situation of stubble fire incidents. In a statement, Janjua said due to incidents of stubble burning, Punjab has to face embarrassment at the national level as the Supreme Court, National Air Quality Commission and National Green Tribunal have also expressed displeasure over stubble burning incidents in the state. He said it is very crucial to assess the ground situation of stubble burning incidents, and therefore, the senior officers concerned must visit the respective districts for random checking. The chief secretary directed the deputy commissioners that farmers who do not burn stubble should be given special honour at the district level, aiming to encourage other farmers as well. He also said more farmers should be sensitised about not burning stubble by making announcements from religious places in villages and through awareness camps and using other mediums. Janjua noted that so far this season, compared to the previous years, there has been a significant reduction in the cases of stubble burning and efforts should be continued to reduce it further. Paddy straw burning in Punjab and Haryana is one of the reasons behind the alarming spike in air pollution levels in the National Capital Region 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. The state recorded 71,304 stubble burning incidents in 2021, 76,590 in 2020, 55,210 in 2019 and 50,590 in 2018, with many districts including Sangrur, Mansa, Bathinda and Amritsar witnessing large number of such cases. New Delhi: Public anger over the release of 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case is growing. Now, an affidavit by the Gujarat government has revealed that one of the convicts, Mitesh Chimanlal Bhatt was accused of outraging the modesty of a woman on June 19, 2020. This was while he was on parole. The state government's counter-affidavit presented to Supreme Court was shared on social media by Live Law. On November 29, the Supreme Court will hear the pleas challenging the remission of sentence and release of 11 convicts in the 2002 Bilkis Bano gang-rape case and the murder of her seven family members during the Gujarat riots. A bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and C T Ravikumar directed that the reply filed by the Gujarat government be made available to all parties. The petitioners have been given time to file their reply to the affidavit filed by the Gujarat government. "A counter has been filed by the Gujarat government. Let counter affidavit be made available to all counsels," the bench said. The Gujarat government on Monday had told the apex court that petitioners challenging the remission are nothing but an "interloper" and a "busybody". It had also said that since the investigation in the case was carried out by the CBI, it had obtained "suitable orders" for grant of remission of the convicts from the Centre. The Bilkis Bano case Bilkis Bano was 21 years old and five-month pregnant when she was gang-raped while fleeing the riots that broke out after the Godhra train burning incident. Her three-year-old daughter was among the seven family members killed. The 11 men convicted in the case walked out free from the Godhra sub-jail on August 15 after the Gujarat government allowed their release under its remission policy. They had completed more than 15 years in jail. (With agency inputs) Jaipur: Vishwa Hindu Parishad, on Wednesday (October 19, 2022) urged the Centre to eliminate the benefit of reservation for Hindus who convert to Christianity. According to VHP national spokesperson Vijay Shankar Tiwari, those who have converted to Christianity are still using their Hindu names and credentials in documents and benefiting from the reservation accorded to Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). The central government should make a plan and do a survey to ensure that those people who are from the SC and ST community and adopted Christianity don't get the reservation benefits, he said. Tiwari said, his organisation will undertake an awareness campaign on the issue in the coming days. Prabhat Sharma, a local spokesperson of the VHP, said there are many cases where people belonging to SC and ST categories adopted Christianity but did not change names and other credentials. Based on these documents, they are getting reservation. Mumbai: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will pay tributes to the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai on Wednesday on the first day of his three-day visit to India. Guterres landed in Mumbai on Wednesday shortly after midnight via a commercial flight from London. He was greeted by senior Maharashtra government officials on arrival. He later drove to the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in south Mumbai, where he will pay tributes to the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks. The Taj Mahal Palace hotel was one of the targets of the horrific 26/11 terror attacks in 2008. Guterres will deliver a public address at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai on the subject -- "India @75: UN-India Partnership: Strengthening South-South Cooperation" later in the day, before flying to Gujarat. Also Read: UN chief Antonio Guterres warns global leaders world is in peril and paralysed It is his first visit to India since his second term in office commenced in January. He had earlier visited the country in October 2018 during his first term at the top office. The UN secretary general will join Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an event relating to the Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) in Gujarat's Kevadiya on October 20. Mumbai | UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrives in India on a three-day official visit This is his first visit to India, since he assumed his second term in office in January this year. pic.twitter.com/U05YtmkSqM ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2022 His visit to the country comes more than a week before the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee holds its two-day deliberations in India. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar would hold bilateral discussions with Guterres on issues of global concern, and steps to deepen India's engagement with the UN, including through the country's upcoming presidency of the G20. Also Read: PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate DefExpo 22, projects worth Rs 15,780 crores on 2-day visit to Gujarat today In Kevadiya, Guterres is expected to pay floral tributes at the Statue of Unity, the MEA said, adding that he will also visit the country's first solar-powered village in Modhera (Gujarat) and other development projects in the area. The UN secretary general will also visit the Sun temple in Modhera, before departing for his onward destination, the MEA said. Armenia is considering more defence deals with India including possible procurement of drones and loitering munitions (aka suicide drones), besides mid-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system like the Akash, The Print newspaper reported citing sources. October 19, 2022, 12:11 Armenia considers buying surface-to-air missiles, drones, loitering munitions from India report STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 19, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: Deeper defence cooperation was the focus of the bilateral meeting between Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan and Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the sidelines of DefExpo 2022 in Gandhinagar Tuesday, the newspaper added. The meeting comes weeks after the reported purchase of the Indian multi-barrel Pinaka launchers, anti-tank rockets, and other range of ammunitions by Armenia. According to The Print, the anti-tank rockets are Konkurs anti-tank guided missiles and other munitions include a wide variety of ammunition including 80-mm mortars. Sources in the government remained tight-lipped about what transpired during the bilateral meeting with the Armenian minister but maintained that defence cooperation was the focus. The Centre has been wary of speaking on the defence cooperation with Armenia because of the ongoing tensions with Azerbaijan, a country that Turkey and Pakistan support. However, sources told that Armenia has been considering the possible procurement of the indigenous Akash air defence systems. It is also looking at arming itself with loitering munitions developed in India by private companies like Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Solar Industries. As reported by ThePrint earlier, Azerbaijan is seen by many as part of an emerging axis with Turkey and Pakistan. It has used Turkish drones to fight the war against Armenia and is also in talks with Pakistan to buy the JF-17 fighter aircraft, The Print reported. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, addressed a gathering in Junagadh, Gujarat and urged the people of the state to unite against those constantly demeaning Gujarat and its citizens. Time has come to show our strength against those whose day starts and ends with abusing Gujarat and its citizens, PM Modi said. Glad to be in Junagadh. Foundation stone of various projects are being laid which will greatly benefit the citizens. https://t.co/vZ8kPLnz4J October 19, 2022 Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister on a lighter note said that Diwali and Dhanteras have arrived early and the preparations for new year celebrations are already underway for the people of Junagadh. Extending gratitude to everyone present on occasion, the Prime Minister thanked the people for their blessings. The Prime Minister expressed happiness for dedicating and laying the foundation stones of projects that were worth more than the states budget in earlier times. He said that this is all due to the blessings of the people of Gujarat. The Prime Minister termed the area comprising Junagadh, Gir Somnath and Porbandar as the tourism capital of Gujarat. He said the projects that are being planned today will create huge opportunities for employment and self-employment. My chest swells with pride today, the Prime Minister remarked and credited it to the people of Gujarat and their blessings. The Prime Minister highlighted that even after he left Gujarat to take up responsibilities at the Centre, it was the team of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel who took care of Gujarat with the same set of values and traditions. Today, Gujarat is developing at a rapid pace, the Prime Minister said. Also Read: PM Modi launches 'Mission Schools of Excellence' in Gujarat, says '5G will take education to next level' The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the improvement of coastal highways along with the construction of missing links. In the first phase of this project, a total highway length of over 270 Km will be covered across 13 districts. Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of two water supply projects and for the construction of a godown complex for storage of Agri products at Junagadh. At Porbandar, Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the holistic development of Shri Krishan Rukshamani Mandir, Madhavpur. He also laid the foundation stone of sewage and water supply projects and for maintenance dredging at Porbandar Fishery Harbour. At Gir Somnath, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of two projects, including the development of a fishing port at Madhwad. Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendra Patel, Members of Parliament, Shri Rajeshbhai Chudasama and Shri Ramesh Dhaduk, and Ministers from Gujarat Government, Shri Rushikesh Patel and Shri Devabhai Malam were those present on the occasion among others. New Delhi: President Vladimir Putin declared martial law in four Ukrainian regions he claims are part of Russia on Wednesday, as some residents of the Russian-held city of Kherson fled by boat after Moscow warned of an impending attack. Russian state television broadcast images of people fleeing Kherson, portraying the exodus - from the right bank of the Rover Dnipro to its left bank - as an attempt to clear the city of civilians before it became a combat zone. Kirill Stremousov, deputy head of the local Russia-backed administration, issued a video appeal after Russian forces in the area were pushed back by 20-30 kilometres (13-20 miles) in recent weeks. They risk being pinned against the western bank of Ukraine's 2,200-kilometre-long (1367-mile-long) Dnipro river. Putin told his Security Council that he was imposing martial law in four Ukrainian regions that it partly occupies and seeks to fully control, including the Kherson region, in a move that appeared to be designed to help Russia strengthen its grip. It was unclear what the immediate impact of much tighter security measures on the ground would be. Putin also issued a decree restricting movement into and out of eight Ukrainian border regions. The head of the Ukrainian president's office, Andriy Yermak, accused Russia of staging a propaganda show in Kherson. Also Read: 'Full page ad war' against PM Modi in Wall Street Journal: Twitteratis slam 'Hindu haters', 'divisive forces' "The Russians are trying to scare the people of Kherson with fake newsletters about the shelling of the city by our army, and also arrange a propaganda show with evacuation," Yermak posted a message on the Telegram messaging app. This was reported by Reuters in their article. After routing Russian forces in some areas, Ukraine is waging major counter-offensives in the east and south to try to take as much territory as possible before winter. Kherson is the largest population centre seized and held by Moscow since the start of its "special military operation" in Ukraine on February 24. The city is located on territory that President Vladimir Putin claims have been formally incorporated into Russia, a move that Ukraine and the West oppose. Thousands have been killed, millions have been displaced, Ukrainian cities have been razed, the global economy has been rocked, and Cold War-era geopolitical fissures have resurfaced. In Kherson, Stremousov said the city and especially its right bank could be shelled by Ukrainian forces, adding that residents who left would be given accommodation inside Russia. "I ask you to take my words seriously and to interpret them as a call to evacuate as fast as you possibly can," he said. "We do not plan to surrender the city, we will stand until the last moment." OFFENSIVE EXPECTED Stremousov's boss, the Russian-installed chief of the Kherson region, said 50,000-60,000 people would be evacuated in the next six days. Kherson had a pre-war population of around 280,000 people, but many have since fled. "The Ukrainian side is building up forces for a large-scale offensive," said Vladimir Saldo, the official, told state TV. "Where the military operates, there is no place for civilians." Saldo, who said Russia had the resources to hold Kherson and even counterattack if necessary, also said he was banning civilians from entering the region for seven days. Staff at Kherson's Russian-backed administration were also being relocated to the left bank of the Dnipro, he said. The evacuation calls followed a gloomy assessment of Russia's prospects in the area from General Sergei Surovikin, the new commander of Russian forces in Ukraine. "The situation in the area of the 'Special Military Operation' can be described as tense, Surovikin told the state-owned Rossiya 24 news channel. "The situation in this area (Kherson) is difficult. The enemy is deliberately striking infrastructure and residential buildings." Vladimir Rogov, a member of the Russian-installed council governing Zaporizhzhia, another region in the south, said Ukraine's forces had intensified overnight shelling of Russian-held Enerhodar. Many employees of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear station live there. Artillery fire had hit the town's outskirts and there had been 10 strikes around a thermal power station, he said on the Telegram messaging app on Wednesday. Also Read : Ukraine joining NATO will lead to World War III, warns Putin's Russia Dmytro Orlov, whom Ukraine recognises as mayor of Enerhodar, blamed Russia for the shelling. "The shelling, first of the industrial zone, and then of the city itself, began around midnight and it did not stop in the morning," he posted on Telegram. International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi quotes he expected to return soon to Ukraine amid negotiations to establish a protection zone around the Zaporizhzhia facility, Europe's largest nuclear power station. The plant is in one of four Ukrainian regions Russia has proclaimed as annexed but only partly occupies. The other three are Kherson, and the eastern border provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk - together known as Donbas. Putin declared them regions of Russia after staging what Moscow called referendums in September, which Kyiv and Western governments denounced as illegal and coercive. New Delhi: Mallikarjun Kharge became the newest president of the Grand Old Party defeating Shashi Tharoor in a contest whose outcome was known the day nominations were announced. Kharge not only enjoyed the blessings of the Gandhi family, but also the rebel G23 group whose support Tharoor was counting on. Kharge, a nine-time MLA and two-time MP from Karnataka, is Sonia Gandhis blue-eyed boy. For decades, he has remained loyal to the Congress, even as he was repeatedly overlooked for the post of Karnataka chief minister. But he did rebel. And he did that against Indira Gandhi. In the late 1970s, relations strained between then Karnataka CM Devaraj Urs and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Urs, whom Kharge considered his political guru, was against Sanjay Gandhis return to politics. He suspected that Congress leaders opposed to him were airing their grievances to Indira through Sanjay. One particular grievance was that Urs held both positions of CM and state party chief, and he wasnt willing to relinquish either. One of the tallest leaders in Karnataka at the time, Urs commanded the loyalty of most Congress MLAs, a fact that discomfited Indira. The PM, on her part, suspected that Urs was getting closer to the Janata Party. Indira finally removed Urs as state unit president, and the latter responded by floating his splinter group Congress (U) in 1979. Also Read: Shashi Tharoor says 'REVIVAL of Congress has begun today', wishes Mallikarjun Kharge 'ALL SUCCESS' Kharge stood by his mentor and followed him to the new outfit. But he soon returned to the Congress fold after the 1980 Lok Sabha election, as Urs failed to win a single seat in Karnataka. Kharge has since remained loyal to the Congress, so much so that he named his sons Rahul and Priyank after the Gandhi siblings, and his daughter Priyadarshini after Indira herself. Various reports say Kharge and his father escaped to Gulbarga from Bidar when he was only five years old. The Razakars were on a rampage in their native village, even killing Kharges mother and sister. This is ironic in the sense that Kharges opponents often accuse him of being soft on radical Islamists. But the octogenarian worked hard to rise through the ranks first as a student leader, then as a labour union leader, practising law, and finally entering the Congress. Appointed as president of the Gulbarga city unit in 1969, Kharge contested the assembly elections for the first time three years later. He won and repeated the feat eight times. In 1976, he became a minister for the first time in the Urs government. He was considered, and subsequently overlooked, for the post of Karnataka CM thrice in 1999, 2004 and 2013 in favour of SM Krishna, Dharam Singh and Siddaramaiah. In 2004, as the Number 2 in SM Krishnas outgoing government, he was expected to take the CMs chair after the party returned to power. However, he had to make way for Dharam Singh, and his supporters urged an upset Kharge to take up the matter with Sonia Gandhi. He refused. The Congress rewarded his loyalty by first appointing him a leader in Lok Sabha, and then Rajya Sabha after he lost in the 2019 general elections a first. Now as Congress chief, he becomes the first non-Gandhi to hold the post in almost 25 years. Kharge is also the second Dalit to lead the Congress after Jagjivan Ram (1969) and the second from Karnataka as well after S Nijalingappa (1968). The Congress believes that having one of its most prominent Dalit faces at the helm would serve rich dividends in Karnataka which goes to polls next year. Ayodhya: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reached Ayodhya on Wednesday to take stock of the final stage of preparations for the sixth edition of Deepotsava celebrations to be held on the eve of Diwali in the holy city on October 23, and also gave necessary instructions to the officials concerned in this regard. Deepotsava, a festival started by Chief Minister Yogi in 2017, has been growing in terms of the grandeur of celebrations every year making it quite a spectacle not only for people within the country but also abroad, will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time this year, according to a press statement. "The Chief Minister first inspected the helipad being built at Saket College, where the aircraft with PM Modi onboard, will be landing. The Chief Minister reviewed the arrangements and all the places that PM Modi will be visiting during his stay in Ayodhya on October 23. Many foreign and special guests will also be staying there," the statement read. The Chief Minister conducted an on-site inspection of several ghats, including the venue of the programme and Ram ki Paidi and reviewed the arrangements for the lighting of diyas (earthen lamps) and the duties given to the volunteers. CM Yogi also directed police officers to be on alert to ensure security throughout the Deepotsava celebrations. Also Read: Guidelines for festive season in UP: CM Yogi Adityanath says 'time is sensitive ...police must remain vigilant' Preparations are on to decorate every intersection in Ayodhya with `Rangoli` and diyas and to introduce the world to India`s rich and colourful Sanatan culture and traditions. Furthermore, CM Yogi reviewed the progress in the construction works of the Shri Ram temple in Ayodhya on Wednesday. He also visited Ramlala and Hanumangarhi and prayed for the state`s prosperity. As per the statement, the Chief Minister also visited Raj Sadan where he met Raja Vimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra and discussed his arrangements for the royal reception and co-banquet of foreign guests during Deepotsava. New Delhi: Kriti Sanon is an actress who is making a lot of noise these days with her craft and is all set to impress the audience with her next release 'Bhediya'. The actress' look in short hair and bangs has been the biggest attention-grabbing part of the film's trailer which has just been released today as well. Following her two major wins for best actress this year, a source close to the actress revealed, "Kriti will be throwing a Diwali party for all her industry friends, family, and close ones. All her co-stars both previous and new, team members, along with filmmakers, and all her close ones can be expected at the celebratory Diwali party, for the phenomenal year that has been." Kriti has been creating buzz throughout the year first when she launched, The Tribe", her fitness community which marked Kriti's foray into entrepreneurship on her 8 years in the industry. She also won two prestigious honors for best actress for her role as a surrogate mother in Mimi and definitely, the audience is excited to see more of her. Over the course of her career, Kriti Sanon has made her way into the audiences hearts with films like Bareilly Ki Barfi, Luka Chuppi and Mimi, performances for which she won massive praise. On the work front, the trailer of 'Bhediya' in which she stars alongside Varun Dhawan was released just yesterday and has garnered praise from the audience. Apart from that, she is all set to be seen in Shehzada, Adipurush and Ganapath, and Anurag Kashyap's unannounced next. New Delhi: The four labour codes on wages, social security, industrial relations and occupation safety, health and working conditions which were likely to be implemented from July 1, did not kick in. However, the media is abuzz with a lot of speculations regarding Cost to Company (CTC), provident fund and gratuity. Once implemented, the new wage code will purportedly impact working hours, salary restructuring and PF contribution, encashing of Earned Leaves among the prominent ones. Since these are early speculations, employees will have to wait till government officially notifies the rules. (Also read: LIC Dhan Varsha Plan: Single premium of Rs 10 lakh turns into 1 crore, check details of the policy) New Wage Code 2022 gazette notification Till now, 23 states have pre-published draft rules on these laws, while the Centre has completed the process of finalising the draft rules on these codes in February 2021. The central government has notified four labour codes, namely, the Code on Wages, 2019, on August 8, 2019, and the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Code on Social Security, 2020, and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 on September 29, 2020. (Also read: Dhanteras 2022: Check out 6 quick tips to find out purity of gold while buying it) New Wage Code Implementation Date Since labour is a concurrent subject, the Centre wants the states to implement these as well in one go, as has been reported earlier. Thought there is no official word on the new wage code implementation date, it is expected to kick in soon. New Wages Act 2022 Meanwhile a report in the media states that if the basic pay of an employee is Rs 25,000 per month, and assuming that the employee has an annual increment of 5 percent, the amount of EPF on retirement will be Rs 1,16,62,366. In the same vein, if the basic pay of an employee is Rs 15,000 then post retirement the EPF fund will be Rs 65,36,758. An employee's Cost to Company is an assimilation of various allowances along with the basic pay. The pay structure also combines HRA, LTA, Conveyance, DA, special allowance, medical allowance, and other incentives. New Delhi: Audiences have been anxiously waiting for the release of Ammu, Prime Video's first Telugu Original Movie, ever since the trailer released. This suspenseful drama tells the tale of a lady who rises like a phoenix in the face of adversity. The cast and crew of the movie attended a special screening that the makers held in Hyderabad before the movie's October 19 release. In addition to Karthik Subbaraj and actor Naveen Chandra, the event also had Niharika Konidela, Deva Katta, Sharath Marar, Raj Kandukuri, and Swathi. Ammu, played by Aishwarya Lekshmi, will tell the account of a woman who, after her dream marriage with cop Ravi, played by Naveen Chandra, turns into a nightmare, rises from the ashes like a phoenix. What Ammu initially believed to be a singular incident evolves into a vicious pattern of abuse that traps her and crushes her spirit and soul. Pushed to her limits, Ammu teams up with an unlikely ally, played by Simha, to break free. Here are some of the pictures from the event: With Karthik Subbaraj as the Creative Producer, and written and directed by Charukesh Sekar and produced by Stone Bench Films, the drama thriller stars Aishwarya Lekshmi, Naveen Chandra, and Simha. The film will be released in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi on October 19, 2022, exclusively on Prime Video. New Delhi: Amid the festive season in the country, the government cyber agency warned that free gift offers can be a trick by Chinese websites to steal users' confidential information. In an advisory, CERT-In, under the IT Ministry, cautioned users against adwares targeting prominent brands and tricking customers in fraudulent phishing and scams. ALSO READ | Apple unveils the entry level iPad at Rs 44,900; Check specs, features, more "Fake messages are in circulation on various social media platforms (WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, etc.) that falsely claim a festive offer luring users into gift links and prizes," it said. "The threat actor campaign is mostly targeting women and asking to share the links among peers over WhatsApp/Telegram/Instagram accounts," it added. ALSO READ | Apple launches next generation 'Apple TV 4K'; Check prices, specs and more The victim receives a message containing a link to a phishing website similar to the websites of popular brands, and are lured with a false claim of a special festive offer of prizes or money on answering a questionnaire. The attackers then entice the users to give sensitive information like personal details, bank account details, passwords, OTPs, or use it for adware, and other adversarial purposes. The website links involved are mostly Chinese (.cn) domains and other extensions such as .top, .xyz. These attack campaigns can effectively jeopardise the privacy and security of sensitive customer data and result in financial frauds, the advisory noted. Who is Ivana Knoll? Miss Croatia who risked Qatar decency laws during FIFA World Cup 2022 by wearing skimpy outfits - In Pics San Francisco: Global smartphone brand Motorola has showcased its rollable smartphone in a quick demo video at the Lenovo's Tech World 2022 event. The demo shows the moto phone's screen extends and retracts, with a moving wallpaper to match with the press of the side button, reports The Verge. (Also read: Apple introduces next-gen iPad Pro with M2 chip, starts at Rs 81,900) The video only shows the front of the device, and the screen seems to wrap around the phone, rolling upwards. (Also read: Apple introduces redesigned iPad in 4 colours, starts at Rs 44,900 ) As far as prototypes go, this concept appears to be on the "operational" side of the spectrum -- there are battery and cellular indicator icons on the screen. The rolling display is a flexible OLED panel, measuring 6.5 inches when extended and retracting down to "just over" 4 inches, the report mentioned. The company did not provide any further details on whether it will ever reach the market or not. In a later segment of the video, Lenovo showed off another concept device -- a laptop with a rolling display, the report said. The video shows that the laptop's screen extends upwards, providing a ton of additional, vertical screen real estate. Meanwhile, this week, the company has launched an affordable smartphone -- moto e22s -- in India that comes for Rs 8,999. Turkeys main opposition party applied to the countrys supreme court on Tuesday seeking a suspension of the enforcement of a newly-approved media law that mandates prison terms for people deemed to be spreading disinformation", AP reported. October 19, 2022, 16:17 Turkish opposition seeks suspension of disinformation law STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 19, ARTSAKHPRESS: Last week, parliament approved a 40-article legislation that amends press and social media laws with the stated aim of combating fake news. Critics fear that the measure will be used to further crack down on social media and independent reporting as the country heads toward elections. The legislation, which was approved with the votes of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan s ruling party and its nationalist allies, came into effect with its publication in the Official Gazette earlier on Tuesday. The most controversial provision, Article 29, foresees up to three years in prison for spreading information that is contrary to the truth about Turkeys domestic and international security, public order and health for the alleged purpose of causing public worry, fear and panic. Engin Altay, a senior member of the main opposition Republican Peoples Party, applied to the Constitutional Court for the suspension of the implementation of Article 29. This is a law that (aims to) present (the governments) lies as the truth, and the truth as lies, and cant be accepted, Altay told reporters after submitting the plea. The party would seek the annulment of the entire legislation at a later date, he said. New Delhi: Amid the increasing severity of the Ukraine-Russia war, India on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, has issued an advisory asking citizens to avoid travelling to Ukraine, citing the 'deteriorating security situation' in the country. "Indian citizens, including students, currently in Ukraine are advised to leave Ukraine at the earliest by available means," the Indian Embassy in Ukraine tweeted. Russia's military is pressing on with its strategy of targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure, leaving people without power in scores of cities and towns as the war approaches its eight-month milestone. https://zeenews.india.com/world/charge-everything-ukraine-appeals-to-its-citizens-as-russian-missile-strikes-hit-power-plants-2524411.html Shelling overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday morning in Energodar, the closest city to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, knocked out the power and water supply in some of the city's districts. Early reports said the shelling damaged one of the city's electrical substations, Energodar's mayor Dmytro Orlov said. London: Indian-origin Suella Braverman has resigned as UK Home Secretary, according to reports emerging from her office in London on Wednesday. Braverman, the daughter of a Goan-origin father and Tamil-origin mother, was only appointed Home Secretary 43 days ago when British Prime Minister, Liz Truss took charge at 10 Downing Street. Her exit followed a face-to-face meeting with Truss earlier on Wednesday and is not believed to be the result of disagreement over government policy. It comes soon after the sacking of Krasinski Kwarteng as chancellor last Friday and the axing of the majority of the government's mini-budget on Monday by his successor, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. The move is expected to further shake up Truss' embattled leadership. Suella Braverman may no longer be UK Home Secretary, media reports indicate Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 19, 2022 Trouble mounts for Liz Truss, UKs interior Minister Suella Braverman resigns Also Read: UK PM Liz Truss appoints Jeremy Hunt as new Finance Minister Over 5,000 Kherson residents have left the city in the past two days, Kherson Region acting Governor Vladimir Saldo said on Wednesday, Tass informs. October 19, 2022, 14:45 Over 5,000 people leave Kherson in past two days STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 19, ARTSAKHPRESS: "In the past two days, more than 5,000 people have left Kherson," he said in a live broadcast on the Rossiya-24 TV Channel. The resettlement of Kherson Region residents has been organized using federal budget funds, he said. "All the measures related to the movement along the river and further resettlement are for free and are being arranged using Russian budget funds," he added. The Kherson Region acting governor said on Tuesday that residents on the right bank of the Dnieper River would be evacuated to the left bank over the threat of flooding, which might occur if the Ukrainian military struck the Kakhovka hydropower plant. He also said that Ukraine was amassing forces in the Nikolayev-Krivoi Rog direction. Saldo added that the decision to relocate residents was also prompted by the creation of large-scale defensive fortifications. A mums gut feeling to trust her instincts has saved the life of her 10-year-old son after he fell seriously ill with a deadly condition. Catherine Parkins says Beau had been complaining of a tummy ache for two weeks before it got worse while he was on a sleepover with friends in January. The boys were up dancing to some TikTok dance, just messing around, and Beau was sat down, she told Yahoo News Australia from the UK. And thats not like Beau at all. He is usually the first one up. By midnight the young boy had been dropped off at home in London and had started vomiting. By the morning he had stopped. Beau Parkins was left fighting for his life after his appendix perforated and he was diagnosed with sepsis. Source: Catherine Parkins He didn't have a fever, Ms Parkins said. There were no signs whatsoever, other than he just looked unwell. On Monday, she phoned her doctor, worried that Beau had a stomach bug. She said, yup its going around, its completely normal, its this time of year, the mum explained. She said, listen Im not concerned, lets see how he is later. Young boy's body goes into shock But by 2pm, Ms Parkins said it was clear that Beau was masking pain and really uncomfortable. I 100 per cent knew... when I looked into his eyes, there was something, she said. I know him best of anyone. She would later learn by that point Beaus body was going into shock. He was suffering from acute appendicitis which had led to his body being overcome by sepsis. His appendix had perforated and was leaking toxins into his body, Ms Parkins said, but at such a slow rate that it was more like an uncomfortable stomach ache. Everything at that stage had started to close down. Instead of anything coming out, it all stays in, and that's when it's dangerous. Catherine Parkins said her son had a whole team of doctors working to save his life. Source: Catherine Parkins A life-threatening condition Trusting her intuition, Ms Parkins took Beau into Chelsea and Westminster Hospital where a blood test revealed that Beaus inflammation markers, which should have been between one and 10, were over 200. They were calling more and more people into the room because they couldn't believe that he was still conscious or that he walked into A&E, Ms Parkins said. Story continues They werent saying too much at that stage but Beau was booked in to have surgery the following day. It was then the surgeon explained that Ms Parkins little boy was suffering from sepsis, a life threatening condition caused by the bodys response to an infection I didn't even consider sepsis at this point, she said. I was just so shocked that it could be appendicitis and I'd missed it. And even then I didn't realise the complete severity of sepsis. I just knew that it can kill you. Overnight, Beau took a turn for the worst. He was bad, he was in absolute agony, like screaming, and they would just up the morphine, Ms Parkins said. They were trying to reduce the inflammation around the appendix to try and fight some of the sepsis before they took the appendix out. They wanted to try and get it under control because if anything was going to kill him it wouldn't be the perforated appendix at that stage, it would be the sepsis. After a terrifying night, Beau went in for surgery where they scraped off the infection from all of his organs because it had spread". Catherine Parkins says the outcome could have been a lot different if she hadn't trusted her gut instinct. Source: Catherine Parkins Son with sepsis came back from the brink Throughout the ordeal, Ms Parkins didnt let on how serious her sons condition was. I didn't tell him anything, I literally said you have to go and have your appendix out and then you'll be back, she said. But by this time he was going in and out of consciousness anyway, partly because of the level of morphine that they were giving him. It was only when I started to get positive signs [from a team of doctors], maybe four days post surgery, that I actually spoke to Beau and said, you know you came back from the brink. Beau went on to spend 10 days in hospital, with his mum often going into the chapel to pray. It was horrendous at times [but] he was so strong and brave, Ms Parkins said. Even when I would get upset and I would try and cover it up, he would be like, why have you been crying? Although he still gets tired easily and needs to rest more often, the 10-year-old has since made a full recovery. His mum is now committed to raising awareness of sepsis, and trusting your gut instinct. I just think that if I hadnt done that, how different the outcome would have been, she said. 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. AUBURN Criminal justice reforms were a major point of contention on Tuesday during a debate between two of the three candidates running in the 48th state Senate District. Democratic state Sen. Rachel May defended her vote for bail and discovery reforms that have been criticized by Republicans and blamed for spikes in crime. In 2019, the Democratic-led state Legislature approved the changes that eliminated cash bail for misdemeanors and nonviolent felony offenses. The legislation also required the timely sharing of evidence between prosecutors and defense attorneys. Speaking during the televised debate at Cayuga Community College in Auburn, May said New York had the most punitive bail laws in the country and there were individuals who were held without bail for extended periods, sometimes more than a year, without a trial. "It was not just wrong and unfair, it was deeply unjust and it was targeting communities of color in particular and tearing families apart, causing a lot of the concentrated poverty and child poverty that we have seen in a lot of communities in this state," she said. After the state Legislature passed the bail and discovery legislation, the reforms were the subject of "unfounded and purely political" attacks, May said. She cited data that shows the changes have not led to more rearrests or people not showing up for trial. The Brennan Center issued a report in March that found no connection between bail reform and the increased crime rate. May's Republican challenger, Onondaga County Legislator Julie Abbott, began her response with a question, "How safe do you feel in your neighborhood?" She criticized the bail reform laws, labeling them as "get-out-of-jail-free cards" for individuals who commit crimes, and panned discovery reform, blaming the changes for the inability to keep prosecutors in district attorney's offices. "I personally think it was well intended. I hear what the senator is saying," Abbott said. "But sometimes we're human and when you make an error, it is your job to turn around and say 'we made a mistake.'" May acknowledged that lawmakers heard some of the criticisms and amended the law. But she reiterated that there is no correlation between bail reform and increased crime. She noted that there are states that did not adopt bail reform changes where the crime rate spiked. If we are going to address increased crime, May thinks policymakers have to look at other issues, such as mental health, poverty and substance abuse. Abbott agreed with the need to increase access to mental health services but took a swipe at May for being endorsed by the Working Families Party, which has called for "defunding" the police. May said the state has increased funding for law enforcement but agreed with a central premise of the defund the police movement that there should be changes in how agencies respond to mental health emergencies. In her final rebuttal, Abbott blamed anti-police rhetoric for contributing to fewer individuals wanting to become law enforcement officers. On other issues, Abbott and May agreed about the need to protect watersheds. May wants to help farms adopt sustainable practices that can protect lakes and tributaries from manure runoff. Abbott thinks the state's bureaucracy must be addressed to make it easier for grant money to be accessed. The candidates disagree on the recent change to the farmworker overtime threshold, which will be lowered to 40 hours over a 10-year period. May supports the lower threshold because she thinks "people's work should be rewarded." Abbott said she heard from a farm in Onondaga County that is exploring whether to add robotics to its operation. She called the state's policy "completely out of touch." May reiterated her support of abortion rights, reminding voters that she supported the passage of the Reproductive Health Act in 2019 that codified Roe v. Wade into state law. Abbott agrees that there are circumstances in which abortions are needed, but opposes "late-term abortions" unless there is a medical issue. She also criticized the state for providing funding for out-of-state residents to get abortions in New York. It's one of the few debates between Abbott and May in the 48th district, which includes all of Cayuga County and most of Onondaga County. The cities of Auburn and Syracuse are in the district. A third candidate, Conservative Justin Coretti, could not participate in Tuesday's debate due to work responsibilities. The debate was held three weeks before Election Day, which is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Early voting begins Saturday, Oct. 29, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 6. By Azernews By Fatima Hasanova A delegation of foster family specialists from Turkiye is visiting Azerbaijan within the framework of a memorandum on cooperation between the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population and the Turkish Ministry of Family and Social Services, Azernews reports via a statement from the ministry website. A meeting was held with a delegation from the Social Services Agency under the ministry. Vugar Behbudov, chairman of the agency board, informed the delegation about the activities in the sphere of adoption. He said that in line with a presidential decree, dated November 1, 2019, the Labor Ministry has been entrusted with the management of adoption. Over the past period, an electronic infrastructure, and a new modern management mechanism have been created in this sphere. Accessibility, efficiency, and transparency in the adoption process have been ensured. In keeping with another presidential decree, dated February 15, 2022, he added that preparations for the introduction of the Foster Family model of care were introduced. The agency chief added that advanced world experience is being studied in this area, and special importance is attached to the exchange of experience with Turkiye. At the meeting, information was heard on the Turkish methods and rules of work in the application of the Foster Family model. Within the framework of the visit, the Turkish experts familiarized themselves with social institutions for children deprived of parental care in Baku and Lankaran. It is planned to hold training for employees of the Labor Ministry working in the field of adoption and trainers of foster families, who are the members of the delegation. The two candidates vying for the 22nd Congressional District seat addressed issues important to older voters during a virtual forum on Tuesday. The forum was hosted by Empire Report and sponsored by AARP New York. Democrat Francis Conole and Republican Brandon Williams answered questions about Medicare, Social Security and other issues affecting seniors. Social Security Conole, D-Syracuse, mentioned that he has several family members on Social Security and acknowledged the fate of the earned benefit the program's trustees' report in 2021 revealed that full benefits can be paid for 13 years before there is a "significant, though manageable, funding shortfall." He said the economy's strength is an important factor in the health of the program. He also proposed lifting the income cap the maximum taxable earnings this year is $147,000 to strengthen Social Security. "It is vital to our seniors and we absolutely have to protect it," Conole said. Williams, R-Sennett, believes that a strong economy will help ensure Social Security is there for seniors receiving the benefit now and those who will soon be eligible. "We've made a promise to the American people, to the retirees, that we will be there for them and that we will provide this benefit," he said. "Nothing that I'm going to do is going to change that." To preserve Social Security, Williams called for a bipartisan approach because "no one party, no one point of view can solve this." Medicare Williams shared a personal story about how Medicare helped his family. His mother-in-law had a fall and moved into his home while she recovered from her injury. That was costly and Medicare, he said, was critically important. Like Social Security, he believes a strong economy will help ensure Medicare is there for future generations. He also supports "free market policies" to control costs. "We have so much regulation and administrative burden in our health care system that costs are skyrocketing," Williams said. Conole said Medicare is vital to central New Yorkers and seniors throughout the 22nd district, which includes all of Onondaga, Madison and Oneida counties. A portion of Oswego County is also in the district. He wants to protect Medicare from privatization and pledged to never accept privatization of the insurance program. Two things he supports are the implementation of allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices and expanding the program to include dental, hearing and vision coverage. "I think that expansion is something that's vital and something that's going to be important to strengthen the program and take care of our seniors," Conole said. Drug prices Conole called high prescription drug prices a "tax on our seniors." He recalled meeting a woman whose daughter helps pay for her drugs. He supports expanding Medicare's ability to negotiate prescription drug prices and allowing prices to be capped. He also wants to see generic drugs made available sooner. Williams says it's "essential" to make prescription drugs affordable. He proposed a cap on out-of-pocket costs for seniors, which he thinks is the most effective approach. He also wants to ensure that prescription drugs are manufactured in the U.S., not China. Caregiving Williams repeated his experience when his mother-in-law had to move into his house due to her fall. He thinks the main problem with caregiving right now is the availability of workers. The labor shortage is affecting nursing homes and other caregivers. One possible solution is allowing for home care and training family members who can provide care for their loved ones. Conole agrees that there should be options for people to stay in their homes and receive care. He supports investments to train people who want to work in long-term care and wants to ensure that nursing homes are adhering to standards. As polls show Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has a double-digit lead in his bid for a fifth term, he is using his campaign war chest to support Democrats in competitive U.S. Senate races. Two polls released on Tuesday show Schumer, D-N.Y., leads Republican challenger Joe Pinion by at least 12 points. A Quinnipiac University poll found Schumer is up 54 to 42%, while a Siena College poll showed Schumer leading by 20 points, 57 to 37%. In the Quinnipiac poll, Schumer has a 90-point advantage with Democrats (94 to 4%). Pinion leads with Republicans, 88 to 11%, and has an eight-point lead, 50 to 42%, among independents. A majority of voters (51%) have a favorable view of Schumer, while 26% said they have a positive opinion of Pinion. The Siena College poll offers a different snapshot of the race. Schumer and Pinion have big leads among voters in their own parties, but it's Schumer who has an eight-point lead (51 to 43%) with independent voters. Federal Election Commission records indicate that Schumer has invested in his own reelection bid a sign he's not taking anything for granted despite being considered a safe incumbent. His campaign spent $4 million in the third quarter, with media buys being the largest expense. He has released nine campaign commercials, including one highlighting his work on a semiconductor chips bill that led to Micron selecting Onondaga County as the site of a new manufacturing plant. Aside from operating expenditures, Schumer's campaign provided more than $15 million to Democratic candidates and groups across the country. The New York Democrat transferred $5 million to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and donated $1 million each to joint fundraising committees supporting Democratic Senate candidates in Florida, Georgia, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. There were also $500,000 donations to joint fundraising accounts for candidates in Arizona, Colorado and Washington. Democrats now hold 50 of the 100 Senate seats. They are in the majority because Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, is the tiebreaking vote. Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan political prognosticator, rates four races Georgia, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as toss ups. Two of those seats (Georgia and Nevada) are held by Democrats, while Pennsylvania is an open seat and there is an incumbent Republican in Wisconsin. Three seats are considered "lean Democrat" Arizona, Colorado and New Hampshire. The open seats in North Carolina and Ohio are rated "lean Republican." In New York, Cook Political Report believes Schumer is safe. His race is in the "solid Democratic" column. He has a massive fundraising advantage over Pinion, with $1.3 million raised in the third quarter and $20 million left in the bank. Pinion raked in $146,477 and spent $164,093. He has $7,533 cash on hand. U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney spent more than $600,000 since early August to win the Republican nomination and maintain her status as the heavy favorite to win the 24th Congressional District race. Tenney's total expenditures were $641,325, the largest of which was $324,900 for an ad buy on Aug. 8. She aired TV ads in the 24th district prior to the Aug. 23 primary, which she won with 54% of the vote. Since the primary, Tenney's largest expense was $36,144 for another ad buy in late September. The Republican congresswoman's campaign also contributed to GOP candidates and committees. The donations include $750 to state Assemblyman David DiPietro and $500 donations to the Niagara County Republican Committee, Ontario County Republican Committee and Wayne County Conservative Committee. In the last two months, Tenney raised $218,644, including $142,144 from individuals and $76,500 from PACs and other committees. Her notable donors included the American Israel Public Affairs Committee ($10,000), Republican congressional candidate Brandon Williams' Central New York PAC ($5,000) and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's Huck PAC ($5,000). She also received $1,000 from the NRA's political arm and $1,000 from Friends of del Lago, the Seneca County casino's political committee. Tenney had $310,560 cash on hand entering October. Tenney is seeking her third term in Congress. She has represented parts of central New York, the Mohawk Valley and the Southern Tier for two nonconsecutive terms. She moved to Canandaigua and is running in the new 24th district, which is comprised of all or parts of 12 counties, including Cayuga County. Democratic candidate Steven Holden has yet to file an October quarterly fundraising report. He had $66,946 cash on hand when he last filed in August. Members of the Gage County Board of Supervisors were briefed on a lawsuit involving all of Nebraskas election commissioners during its regular meeting Wednesday morning. Gage County Attorney Roger Harris discussed the lawsuit regarding unconstitutional elections with the board during a brief meeting, and what it means for Gage and other counties. We did receive notice of a lawsuit thats been filed that involves basically the election commissioners, Harris said. It is a lawsuit filed in Lancaster County District Court. The election commissioner here (Dawn Hill) has been named, as have the other 92 election commissioners in the state of Nebraska, along with the governor and a host of other people and the software company that puts together the election materials. We notified NIRMA and they did send out a coverage letter, so we are covered by our insurance company. This alleges that the elections are done in an unconstitutional fashion and it brings in all kinds of stuff. The civil suit was filed in Lancaster District Court by Rick Hill of Lincoln. Harris said he brought the issue to the board in case members decided to not work with NIRMA, the countys insurance carrier. If they decided not to, the county attorneys officer or another attorney would handle the case. If we want to opt out of the coverage and have a NIRMA attorney representing us we would need to notify them in seven days, Harris said. I think theres a definite advantage to having coordination with the other counties that are similarly situated in this, as well as the elected officials. Im sure there will be some people who work together to make it more cost effective. Age: 60 Address: 3245 S. 28th St., Lincoln Occupation: Criminal defense attorney Political party: Democrat What experiences qualify you for this office? For 32 years, I served Lancaster County as a deputy public defender, representing clients in over 10,000 cases. I have real-world experience in every type of case the office handles, including juvenile, felony, misdemeanor, appeals and mental health cases. For over three decades Ive worked with courts, prosecutors, probation and treatment providers to serve our clients and our community. This is a complex job. I have the proven dedication and experience necessary to lead the office competently and effectively. What changes do you anticipate making if youre elected? I will review caseload standards. The Public Defender Office handles thousands of cases annually, which is far more cost-effective than assigning private counsel. Hiring additional deputies may help us more effectively represent clients and save taxpayer money. We will be more supportive in mentoring new attorneys and law clerks. Training will be more effective, thorough and structured. We will increase collaboration and cooperation, both within the office and with outside agencies to best serve our clients and Lancaster County. If elected, what will be your top priorities and why? The focus of everyone in the office must be to zealously advocate for our clients. We will assist clients with mental health and substance issues to enter into Diversion, problem-solving courts and treatment programs, which decrease recidivism. We will work to decrease overincarceration, advocate to establish a Mental Health Court, and assist the legislative process in those endeavors as needed. I will work full-time at the office, supporting attorneys and staff through mentoring, working side-by-side and leading by example. How has the work youve done up to now prepared you to make decisions about the various work done by the office, whether representing people on criminal charges, minors in juvenile court or mentally ill people facing civil commitments? Ive been a deputy public defender over 30 years, acting as lead counsel in thousands of cases, training and supervising law clerks and mentoring young attorneys. Very few attorneys have the experience I possess handling juvenile, felony, misdemeanor, appeals and mental health cases. With extensive work with our case management system, I am well-prepared to administer case assignments and caseloads. My years of hands-on work in Nebraskas justice system have given me the tools necessary to effectively lead the office. How important is it that the Lancaster County Public Defender handle cases personally? Why? Managing a caseload is only part of the of the work, though a crucial one. All the attorneys there work hard at a tough job. If the public defender is never in court, they cannot observe how judges and prosecutors manage their dockets and treat attorneys and clients. They cannot mentor attorneys dealing with clients, judges and opposing counsel. Im the only candidate with real-world experience as a public defender in every type of case the office handles. What are the most important issues for your office in the coming years? Reform the cash bond system. It unjustly penalizes the poor and leads to excessive incarceration, at great cost to taxpayers. I will work with criminal justice reform advocates and legislators to aid in fixing this broken system. I will work with the county attorney to get more people into Diversion and other problem-solving courts, which again, will help clients and their families, and save taxpayer money. We must keep fighting to end racism and discrimination in Nebraskas criminal justice system. What can the public defender do to help find alternatives to incarceration for people suffering from substance abuse or mental illness? Warehousing people in jail has never worked. The majority of our clients have substance use and/or mental health issues. Diversion, Drug Court, Mental Health Court/Diversion, and Veterans Court are all effective and humane ways to help clients without simply throwing them in jail. The focus should be on getting people the treatment they need. Sarpy County launched the first Mental Health Court pilot program in Nebraska. I would work to help establish a Mental Health Court in Lancaster County. Lancaster County has had a public defender's office to represent those accused of criminal cases who can't afford a private attorney where the state is seeking a jail sentence since 1979. In addition to the public defender, the office employs 23 attorneys, a social worker, six paralegals, two investigators and a handful of support staff. On average in a normal year, the office handles 6,500 to 6,600 cases. The term is for four years and the public defender will be paid $179,689 next year. Democrat Kristi Egger of Lincoln, a longtime attorney in the public defender's office, defeated her former boss, incumbent Joe Nigro, in the primary. She faces Republican Trevin Preble of Lincoln. Forty-nine women and men serve in Nebraska's unique, one-house Legislature. They are citizen legislators, their jobs considered part-time, and they meet for 90 working days in odd-numbered years and 60 working days in even-numbered years. The 108th Legislature will convene in January. Senators are paid $12,000 a year, a salary set in the state Constitution that cannot be changed without a statewide vote. Senators' duties include representing the people and best interests of their legislative districts; appropriating funds to further the state's progress; strengthening the state's productive capacity and creating new opportunities; and keeping a careful check and setting policy on the operation of state government. The Legislature is nonpartisan, so senators do not run with party labels, although they do have party registrations, including Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, independent. State senators are elected to four-year terms and after two consecutive terms must wait four years before running again. Of the 25 seats up for election this year 13 have no incumbents. In three races, opponents face no opposition. Two of those uncontested seats are in Southeast Nebraska: Myron Dorn of Adams in District 30 and Tom Brandt of Plymouth in District 32. Five other Southeast Nebraska districts are on the ballot this year. In District 2, incumbent Robert Clements of Elmwood faces challenger Sarah Slattery of Plattsmouth. Four Southeast Nebraska districts will elect new senators. The candidates in those districts are: District 24: Patrick Hotovy of York and Jana Hughes of Seward. District 26: Russ Barger, George Dungan III, both of Lincoln. District 28: Roy Christensen and Jane Raybould, both of Lincoln. District 46: James Michael Bowers and Danielle Conrad, both of Lincoln. Age: 44 Address: 7300 Forbes Drive, Lincoln Occupation: Attorney Political party: Republican What experiences qualify you for this office? I have actual, real-world, leadership and management experience. In the corporate world I managed teams of more than 20 people. I have successfully started and grown a thriving law practice. My practice centers around criminal law, family law, juvenile law and general civil litigation. Our local judges have appointed me to represent indigent individuals on cases up to and including murder. I will bring this experience to bear as the next public defender. What changes do you anticipate making if youre elected? The culture of the public defenders office is in serious need of reform. Possession and use of alcohol at the office, against county policy, is just one example of the culture that needs to change. I will be a proactive leader and help assess which cases the office keeps, saving taxpayer dollars. A new culture of professionalism and fiscal responsibility needs to take over. I will run the office like you would expect at any workplace. The people deserve better. If elected, what will be your top priorities and why? First and foremost, to provide the best legal representation to those individuals my office is appointed to serve. Specifically, I will work with the county attorney and community stakeholders to address those individuals with mental health and substance abuse issues who do not fit into any of our current problem-solving courts or diversion programs. Helping individuals live their best life and stop the cycle of incarceration for minor offenses will increase resources to focus on crime prevention. How has the work youve done up to now prepared you to make decisions about the various work done by the office, whether representing people on criminal charges, minors in juvenile court or mentally ill people facing civil commitments? I have practiced extensively in the areas of criminal and juvenile law. I have represented people of all ages and backgrounds for crimes ranging from traffic violations to murder. Being a small business owner has given me the experience to manage people and budgets. My leadership experience in the corporate world includes supervising and mentoring individuals and leading successful teams. This experience has given me the abilities necessary to guide and manage the Lancaster County Public Defenders office. How important is it that the Lancaster County Public Defender handle cases personally? Why? It is vitally important for the public defender to carry a current caseload. In other jurisdictions, the public defender carries a significant caseload. The public defender, on a daily basis, should be observing, leading and mentoring not only their employees, but also young attorneys that are accepting criminal court appointments. This can only be done effectively if you are practicing in the courtroom, working alongside those you lead, and maintaining a constant presence within the courthouse. What are the most important issues for your office in the coming years? Dealing with limited judicial resources and tight budgets is an important issue. Housing individuals in jail for more than $100 a day is not sustainable. We must come up with new and creative solutions to help individuals struggling with mental health and addictions. We cannot rely on state and federal officials to solve these problems for us. I will work with community stakeholders to tackle these issues in a way that respects individuals who struggle while providing a safer community. What can the public defender do to help find alternatives to incarceration for people suffering from substance abuse or mental illness? A small percentage of people with substance abuse and mental health issues use an extraordinary amount of resources. Housing these individuals in the county jail for minor offenses costs tens of thousands of dollars per year. We need to engage stakeholders in the community to help solve this issue. Nonprofit organizations and churches can help support these individuals. There are better, less expensive options that can provide real help and keep these individuals out of the judicial system long term. A long-simmering project to deliver clean drinking water to more than 22,500 Eastern Montana residents got a boost this week. The Department of Interior this week announced a $3 million grant to help complete a feasibility study for the Dry Redwater Regional Water Authority. As planned, the system would pull 4,000 acre feet of water a year from Fort Peck Reservoir near the North Fork of Rock Creek and treat the water at a newly constructed plant nearby. From the plant the water would be pumped through a spider web of about 1,350 miles of pipeline across a region stretching more than 100 miles east to west, from Sand Springs to Fairview in a region between the Yellowstone and Missouri rivers. People out here need the water, said Mandy Nay, DRWA coordinator. Plea A letter Nay and former DRWA Jerry Meissner sent to a House subcommittee in 2019 detailed some of the problems with local water. What appears to be mud comes out of peoples kitchen faucets in rural homes in our service area. The Garfield County School District water well showed excessive fluoride and nearly twice the recommended level for both sodium and total dissolved solids. The raw water supplies currently supplying the towns of Circle, Jordan, Richey, and Lambert are all over the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for fluoride and above the secondary limit for sodium. Additionally, the Town of Circle is experiencing a chronic bacterial growth problem in their wells that requires extensive rehabilitation and replacement. The quality of current water available is so poor it cannot sustain a healthy existence for those living in our area. Residents are required to buy and haul their water in order to survive. Nay, who lives in Circle, said untreated water extracted from wells in the region is so caustic it corrodes plumbing fixtures like pipes, faucets and hot water heaters. Some of the water is so rich with alkali that it cant be used to mix concrete. She compared the quality of the water to a Third World country. Rocky road Getting to this point in the project has taken 17 years. The DRWA was formed in 2005, but its original feasibility study had to be revamped after more communities, like Glendive and Sidney, indicated an interest, increasing the number of customers by almost 40%. In 2012, the Bureau of Reclamation, the agency in charge of working with the water authority, determined the project didnt meet economic feasibility requirements. In 2016, before the DRWA could revise its feasibility study to meet Reclamations requirements, the act authorizing the project expired. Without the completed study and with an estimated price tag of $200 million, of which the federal government would pay 75% Reclamation would not support the project as financially viable, according to a 2017 Senate hearing. Reclamation was also concerned about whether 1.5 megawatts of electricity could be delivered by the Western Area Power Administration to power the water systems pumps between May 1 and Oct. 31, the peak of irrigation and air conditioner season. The Congressional Budget Office in 2019 estimated the DRWA would need $5 million between 2020 and 2024 to complete the study. That doesnt count state money that has already been appropriated to the project, about $108,000 from the Montana Legislature with another $90,000 awarded in grants. Last year, the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation noted the entire projects cost could hit $270 million or more. The DRWAs most recent projection has put the cost at more than $377 million. These costs are to be updated as part of the process we are working through with (Bureau of Reclamation), Nay wrote in an email. One update the group is working on is including the Chippewa Cree Tribe in the project. The tribe now operates camping concessions at Hell Creek on Fort Peck Reservoir, about 40 miles north of Jordan and could be a potential future customer. "We're more than happy to participate," said tribal chairman Gerald Gray. "Engineers are looking at what it would take." Montana State Parks, before leaving Hell Creek, oversaw the installation of a new water system at the park in 2019. The initial cost estimate was almost $800,000. Others The Dry Redwater Regional Water Authority is one of four rural water projects being developed across the eastern two-thirds of the state. The others include the Fort Peck Dry Prairie Regional Water System, the Rocky Boys-North Central and the Musselshell-Judith Regional Water System. These other systems, as of 2021, were delivering clean water to 26 communities or water districts, public entities and thousands of rural customers, according to DNRC. Although expensive to build, Nay said the Dry Redwater system would be $300 million cheaper over 50 years than doing nothing, according to a 2018 study. In announcing the awarding of the federal grant, Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland said in a press release, Water is essential to every community for feeding families, growing crops, powering agricultural businesses, and sustaining wildlife and our environment. The money was part of President Bidens Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., supported the measure. Montanas two Republican lawmakers in Washington, Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Matt Rosendale, voted against the law saying it unnecessarily increased the nations debt. Citing the current drought across the West, the Department of Interior said $210 million from the law would be spent on drinking water projects for communities via water storage and pipeline projects. The projects are expected to develop more than 1.7 million acre-feet of additional water storage capacity, enough water to support 6.8 million people for a year. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocates $8.3 billion for Bureau of Reclamation water infrastructure projects over the next five years to advance drought resilience and expand access to clean water for families, farmers, and wildlife, the Department of Interior wrote in its press release. The investment will repair aging water delivery systems, secure dams, and complete rural water projects, and protect aquatic ecosystems. Nay said the Bureau of Reclamation has been good to work with, even allowing money spent so far to go toward DRWA's matching funds. By Azernews By Fatima Hasanova On October 19, three international exhibitions opened in Baku, Farid Mammadov, Director General of Caspian Event Organizers, said at the opening ceremony, Azernews reports via Trend. Addressing the opening ceremony, Azerbaijani Small and Medium Business Development Agency Board (SMBDA) Chairman Orkhan Mammadov said that "exhibitions play an important role in promoting products and services produced by small and medium-sized enterprises. Rebuild Karabakh-2022 the Restoration; Reconstruction and Development of Karabakh the 2nd International Exhibition, Construction BakuBuild - 2022 the 27th Azerbaijan International Exhibition, Aquatherm Baku - 2022 the 14th International Exhibition Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, water supply, plumbing, and swimming pools will be held in Azerbaijan's Baku today. Local and foreign companies along with German, Iranian, and Turkish national stands are in Baku to showcase their products. Over 300 companies from different countries are taking part in the exhibition. The exhibitions are organized by the Caspian Event Organisers. Montana voters will decide Nov. 8 whether to approve a ballot initiative declaring that an embryo or fetus is a legal person with a right to medical care if it survives an abortion or delivery. The measure would impose severe penalties on health workers who dont provide that care. Legislative Referendum 131 was approved for next months election by state lawmakers in 2021, more than a year before the U.S. Supreme Court removed federal protections for abortion in June. Abortion remains legal in Montana because of a 1999 state Supreme Court ruling that protects it under the state constitutions right-of-privacy provision. Three laws passed by the Republican-led legislature in 2021 to restrict abortion have been blocked while a legal challenge proceeds, arguing that they violate the constitutional provision. But lawmakers sent LR-131 directly to voters to decide whether it should become law. Here are five key things to know about the ballot measure: 1. What would the initiative do? LR-131 would impose criminal penalties of up to 20 years in prison and up to a $50,000 fine on any health care worker who doesnt try to save a born-alive infant. That term is defined as a legal person who breathes, has a heartbeat, or has voluntary muscle movement after an abortion or delivery. The measure would require health care providers to take medically appropriate and reasonable actions to keep the fetus or infant alive, but it doesnt define or give examples of such actions. The health care workers liable under the initiative would be doctors and nurses but also any individual who may be asked to participate in any way in a health care service or procedure. The initiative includes a mandatory reporting requirement, which means that any employee or volunteer at a medical facility who is aware of a violation must report it to authorities. 2. Where did the initiative come from? House Bill 167, the 2021 legislation that authorized the referendum, was sponsored by state Rep. Matt Regier (R-Kalispell), chair of the panel that oversees the state Department of Public Health and Human Services budget. We need to make it abundantly clear that here in Montana, the protection of all life is available, Regier said while introducing the bill in January 2021. The bill is similar to model legislation created by Americans United for Life in 2018 as a template for state lawmakers nationwide. So far, 18 states have provisions along those lines, and more are considering them, according to the group. Its president and CEO, Catherine Glenn Foster, testified in support of Montanas bill during the 2021 legislative session. The Montana measure does not include a provision in the model legislation that gives an infants parents the right to refuse medical intervention if the treatment isnt necessary to save the infants life, would only temporarily prolong the infants death, or carries risks that outweigh the potential benefits to the infant. The Montana measure also excludes a clause in the model legislation that exempts parents and guardians from criminal and civil liability. The Montana initiative doesnt address parental liability. Bradley Kehr, Americans United for Lifes policy counsel, described the ballot initiative as well tailored to the needs of Montana. 3. What does the initiative have to do with abortion? Regiers bill says the purpose of the referendum is to protect infants who have survived abortions from being denied medical care and being left to die. The measures passage would move the Family Research Councils classification of Montanas born-alive protections from weak to strong compared with the rest of the nation, according to Connor Semelsberger, director of federal affairs for life and human dignity for the nonprofit organization, which advocates for anti-abortion measures. Montana is not among the nine states that require health providers to report when an infant is born alive during an abortion. The Family Research Council lists the states that do as Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Texas. Instances of fetuses surviving abortions are very rare. In Minnesota, which the Family Research Council points to as having the strongest protections in the U.S., five of the 10,136 abortions performed in 2021 resulted in a live birth, according to a state health department report. None of the five survived. The number of abortions in which a fetus could survive is small, too: The point at which a fetus can survive outside the womb is generally considered to be after 22 weeks of pregnancy, and about 1% of all abortions in the U.S. happen at or after 21 weeks. The leaders of two Montana clinics that provide abortions said the initiatives passage would not affect their operations, as Montana law restricts performing abortions after a fetus is viable. The law does not define viability. Nicole Smith, executive director of Blue Mountain Clinic in Missoula, said her clinic provides dilation-and-evacuation abortions that would not result in a live birth. We do not provide obstetric or labor-and-delivery care, she said, adding that she would refer a patient who needed that kind of care to someone who specializes in high-risk pregnancies. Helen Weems, director of All Families Healthcare in Whitefish, said her clinic does not perform abortions after 12 weeks. LR-131 is designed to look like an anti-abortion measure, but it has no relevance to her clinic, she said. There would never be an occasion in my practice where there would be an infant born alive, Weems said. 4. If clinics that provide abortions wont be affected, who will? The initiative also covers any natural birth, induced labor, or cesarean section. That could present obstetricians and gynecologists with an ethical dilemma of having to choose between their obligation to provide the best available medical care to their patients or the potential of facing legal penalties, according to a position paper by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists opposing the Montana measure. The organization said LR-131 could require an aggressive course of treatment in extremely complex and often tragic medical situations. It opposes the measure as government interference in the patient-physician relationship that would impose additional trauma on families. Smith said the initiative would apply to miscarriages and to hospital deliveries in cases when parents know their child wont live but want to complete the birth for a chance to hold the baby and say goodbye. Opponents of the ballot initiative use the example of an early labor and delivery at 20 weeks. They say that rather than allowing the family to hold, say goodbye to, or baptize the baby before it dies, the measure would require health care workers to remove it in an attempt to save its life. A study of nearly 5,000 infants born before 27 weeks of gestation found that all 129 infants who were born before 22 weeks and were included in the study died. Two received active medical treatment. Of those born in the 22nd week, 5% survived. Most of the 24 hospitals in the study provided treatment to all infants born at 25 or 26 weeks. Those born at week 26 had an overall survival rate of about 81%, and 59% survived without moderate or severe impairment. 5. What does existing federal and state law say? Under Montana law, its already a felony to purposely, knowingly, or negligently cause the death of a viable, premature infant. A federal law passed in 2002 says a person includes every infant member of the species homo sapiens who is born alive at any stage of development. It defines born alive as evidence of a heartbeat, breathing, or voluntary muscle movements, but does not include any additional provisions. Opponents of the Montana measure point to those laws as evidence that LR-131 is unnecessary and is instead meant to drive conservative voter turnout. This cruelty is being forced on already grieving families for the cold, calculated political gain of extreme-right politicians, Weems said. Regier, the legislator whose bill authorized the referendum, said current Montana law does not go far enough to protect infants. Semelsberger, of the Family Research Council, said the same about the federal law and that it has lacked enforcement. The organization supports a federal bill introduced by U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) that would add requirements to save the life of an infant, though with up to five years of maximum prison time, instead of the 20 years in Montanas measure. The Bismarck Mandan Chamber EDC is developing a five-year strategic plan to deal with projected population growth of 10% in the metropolitan area over the next decade. Affordable housing and diversification could be keys to economic development success, officials told chamber members and others who gathered Tuesday at the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum to learn about the plan. "Economic development has changed so much in the last few years and I think we were just looking at focusing our efforts to make sure that we were doing the best we could for the community and for the membership," chamber Vice President Nathan Schneider said. "And I just think this just gives us a playbook to do that. Three priorities The three main strategies that the chamber is looking at are economic development marketing, product development and middle-income housing development. Meeting attendees heard from Chad Chancellor, co-founder of Next Move Group, a national economic development consulting firm that has been working with the chamber for the past six months. A common concern was that too much reliance on state government jobs and the energy sector could result in an economic downturn if Bismarck-Mandan doesnt diversify, according to an overview of the strategic plan. Chancellor said research found a shortage of housing available for less than $400,000. As you grow, Im worried that thats going to actually make this market even tighter, he said. Supply chains are now longer than ever. Its taking longer to build houses than ever; developers have to get these subdivisions financed. So later on, youre going to see housing is an issue. Available child care is another issue that will arise with a growing population, Chancellor said. The labor market is looking tight for the Bismarck-Mandan metropolitan area, he said, explaining that though 69,811 people work and live in the area, there are 3,997 people who commute for their job and 5,865 people who live in the area but commute elsewhere for their job. High-growth industries for the Bismarck-Mandan metro area include aircraft manufacturing, plastics, service industry machinery, farm machinery, construction machinery, as well as machine shops and metal fabrication. Shrinking industries include concrete and sewer pipe manufacturing; coal, sand and gravel mining; oil and gas pipeline construction; and engineering services. Industries with increasing wages are health care and related fields, medical manufacturing, financial services, liquid beverage manufacturing and metal-related manufacturing. A lot of people sometimes say, Why does economic development matter? Thats probably harder to define here because your communitys growing ... which is good. But in some ways, its hard to write a strategy because you dont have a crisis, Chancellor said. Driving action Chancellor provided examples of how the chamber can act on the strategies. Featuring advantages such as low utility rates and tax exemptions on the chamber's website might attract more private sector businesses to the area, and marketing and creating a video series of people who are not from Bismarck but live here now and love it can boost economic development marketing, he said. He also suggested bolstering the Northern Plains Commerce Center industrial park to accelerate product development. Commissioning a housing study, studying housing incentives being implemented by South Dakota and Iowa, and redeveloping vacant buildings downtown could help develop middle-income housing, he said. Schneider said New Move Group's suggested plan isnt just throwing darts at a dartboard. These are strategies that theyve looked at that they feel can be successful here. Theyre showing us examples of how other communities have done this, and I think its important that we follow this playbook because it is based on research and examples provided of how we can do it. Schneider said there will be several conversations around the community, trying to figure out whos going to do what, and is this an idea that we even want to pursue." Because the reality of it is we need community support to make a lot of these things happen. And so it cant just be us," he said. Burleigh County Sheriffs deputies arrested two people suspected of abducting children in Virginia. Timothy Truitt, 36, and Amelia Hamilton, 31, both of Virginia, are charged in North Dakota with child neglect, court records show. Hamilton is further charged with misdemeanor possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. Truitt is charged with misdemeanor false information to law enforcement. He was also wanted for abduction in Virginia. A deputy about 10:30 p.m. Monday stopped a vehicle on Interstate 94 west of Bismarck that was associated with an out-of-state Amber Alert for two children from Virginia, according to the sheriffs department. A third person in the vehicle, Michael Hamilton, 58, of Elma, Washington, was released from the traffic stop but interviewed again on Tuesday. He was arrested for hindering law enforcement, and possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, the department said. Authorities say Amelia Hamilton with help from Truitt and Michael Hamilton had taken the two children in the car from their guardian in Virginia. The children were dressed only in diapers, which were completely filled and so wet they had soaked through to the car seat, according to an affidavit. The children were placed in the care of Child Protective Services and will be returned to Virginia, the department said. North Dakota's Ethics Commission appears to be starting an investigation into seven complaints, and has appointed an outside attorney for legal advice. It's unlikely the public will ever learn the details or outcome of the situation. The five-member panel on Wednesday voted unanimously to appoint Dickinson attorney Shea Miller as a special assistant attorney general to represent the commission related to the seven complaints. The vote came after an executive session closed to the public. The panel also advanced a proposal to expand its authority. State government ethics law makes confidential any information "revealing the contents of a complaint" and "that reasonably may be used to identify an accused individual" -- though that information may be disclosed if the accused grants permission. Commission Executive Director Rebecca Binstock declined to comment on specifics of the seven complaints. Miller's hiring is the first time the board has needed a special assistant attorney general, she said. The panel has $20,000 remaining in its two-year budget for investigation costs. Binstock told the board it might need to request additional funds to carry out its duties. Commission Chairman Paul Richard said December will bring a better budget picture. Binstock will do "the bulk of the investigation"; the special assistant attorney general will provide legal advice to the panel, Richard said. Assistant Attorney General Allyson Hicks recused herself from the executive session. The panel has received 23 complaints since it first met in September 2019, with least 14 of those rejected as of May. Binstock declined to say how all previous complaints have been handled. New rule The commission on Wednesday unanimously adopted a general conflict of interest rule. It will affect state agencies, boards and commissions without a current conflict of interest statute or rule. Those entities may not adopt less restrictive rules. The seven-page rule outlines definitions, disclosures of potential conflicts of interest, a "neutral reviewer assessment" for potential conflicts, disclosure forms and documentation. The rule goes into effect immediately. The board in August approved a disclosure form which will be posted online in coming days. The panel in June adopted rules for potential bias arising in "quasi-judicial" proceedings of state boards such as the Industrial Commission and Public Service Commission. Those two boards make decisions usually involving companies in the energy and utility industries; both boards have their own ethics policies. Increased purview? The Ethics Commission advanced proposed legislation that would add "employees of the executive branch" to its jurisdiction. Binstock will pre-file a bill for the 2023 Legislature to take up. Hicks told the board the change would essentially quadruple or balloon the number of people under its jurisdiction. Binstock couldn't immediately estimate how many people that would be. The executive branch includes such agencies as the Health and Human Services Department, the Attorney General's Office and other state agencies. The ethics board already has oversight of elected and appointed officials of the state's executive and legislative branches, including state lawmakers, legislative staff and executive branch officials. Richard said, "There's a lot of situations where, I would hope that, employees within the executive branch when they're making decisions are in fact assessing whether or not they have a conflict or should recuse themselves from that decision and kick it up to their supervisor or kick it to another person in the department, whoever that might be." He said it's unclear why executive branch employees weren't included in the 2018 ballot measure that bore the Ethics Commission. He said the addition is "appropriate" and enhances transparency. "When you look at other commissions throughout the country, this is not an exclusion that is widespread," Richard said. "I think it's filling in gaps that we have discovered over the past two years." Binstock said the addition of executive branch employees is "within the spirit" of the ballot measure that wrote state government ethics mandates into North Dakota's constitution. Rep. Jim Kasper, R-Fargo, who led the House Ethics Committee in 2019, declined to comment on the proposal until he knew more about it. The Ethics Commission next meets Monday for a special meeting to discuss an amendment to its 2023-25 budget proposal. A Minnesota metals company is planning a $433 million minerals processing facility in central North Dakota as part of a federal effort to expand domestic manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles and the power grid. The Biden administration on Wednesday awarded $2.8 billion in grants to projects in 12 states including the one in North Dakota's Mercer County. A total of 20 companies nationwide are getting money for projects to extract and process lithium, graphite, nickel and other battery materials, manufacture battery components and strengthen U.S. supply of critical minerals, officials said. Mercer County Commission Chairman Travis Frey said it's good news for the county in the heart of coal country because it's very important that we diversify our industries." We just want to partner with industries that can further grow our economy, grow our population and help North Dakota and our county as a whole continue being a robust economy and energy production area for the nation, he said. The U.S. Department of Energy announcement Wednesday comes as the administration seeks to boost production and sales of electric vehicles as a key part of President Joe Biden's strategy to slow climate change and build up U.S. manufacturing. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said funded projects will "make battery materials and components here at home that we currently import from other countries'' such as China. Talon project Minnesota-based Talon Metals Corp. is getting a $114 million grant to build a facility in Mercer County to process nickel and other minerals for batteries from raw ore mined in Minnesota. It will invest $318 million of its own money in the project, which Gov. Doug Burgum said will create 150 jobs. By increasing domestic production of nickel and other battery minerals and reducing our reliance on foreign sources, we can strengthen our economy, our communities and our national security while continuing to grow North Dakotas status as a powerhouse for the nation," Burgum said in a statement. It wasn't immediately clear if all of the new jobs would be in Mercer County or if some would be in Minnesota. Talon is the majority owner and operator of the Tamarack Nickel Project in central Minnesota, the only high-grade nickel-copper-iron-cobalt deposit under development in the U.S., according to the governor's office. Subsidiary Talon Nickel (USA) LLC plans to transport raw ore from the Tamarack mine by existing rail to the proposed Battery Minerals Processing Facility in Mercer County. "Todays announcement is a clear recognition that production of domestic nickel and other battery minerals is a national priority," Talon CEO Henri van Rooyen said in a statement. Neither the governor's office nor Talon released the site of the Mercer County facility. Talon in a statement said "the acquisition of the preferred site in North Dakota is actively under negotiations." Both the company and the governor's office identified it as an "industrial brownfields" site, a term generally referring to previously contaminated land that has been cleaned up so it can be redeveloped. Talon said in a statement that having the processing facility in North Dakota rather than closer to the mine in Minnesota "significantly reduces land disturbance and the scope of environmental review and permitting." The project will be subject to state and federal environmental reviews and permitting, and the company and Department of Energy said there will be "consultations with tribal sovereign governments." A portion of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation is in Mercer County. Talon considered 18 sites in Minnesota and surrounding states for the plant, according to Todd Malan, the company's head of climate strategy and its main spokesman. "North Dakota had a number of key attributes (rail proximity, industrial brownfield site with expansion capacity, drier environment than we have at the mine site) and good rail access to our customer (Tesla) in Texas," he said in an email to the Tribune. "Timeline, we will go into a negotiating process with DOE and property owners. Goal is to be producing for Tesla by 2026." The Biden administration's goal is to establish a lithium battery supply chain by 2030. Workforce development Frey said Mercer County remains "huge advocates of our coal mining and coal power plants" but that "weve been actively courting and trying to get new types of industry to the county for the past several years. Talon has a workforce development agreement with the United Steelworkers Union. "Through workforce training and a strong collaboration, well ensure that the jobs created will put us on strong footing and continue to sustain our communities well into the future, Union President Tom Conway said in a statement. The federal grants announced Wednesday are funded by last years $1 trillion infrastructure law and are separate from an executive order Biden issued last spring invoking the Defense Production Act to boost production of lithium and other critical minerals used to power electric vehicles. Projects also are being funded in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and Washington state. At least two projects will be in states that have yet to be selected. (The Associated Press contributed to this story.) Interior Secretary Deb Haaland took her Road to Healing tour to South Dakota on Saturday. It was her third stop after visits to Oklahoma and Michigan. Road to Healing collects oral histories on experiences at American Indian boarding schools. There were more than 400 boarding schools in the nation that attempted to forcefully wean young Native Americans from their culture. The tactics used at the schools were often brutal, leaving emotional scars on the youth that still exist today. When the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative Investigative Report was released, it detailed many of the abuses. While the tour collects the testimonies, it attempts to be a healing source for survivors and their descendants. Saturdays session was held at Sinte Gleska University on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. Survivors and their relatives, tribal leaders and community members attended. The first hour was open to the public, and then it was closed for personal accounts. The session was recorded and it may be released later. Stories shared at the session, some of which were made public afterward, were heart-wrenching. Children were taken from their parents and then the schools attempted to separate them from their culture, often by force. The schools operated for 150 years. So why a Road to Healing now? Because these were experiences many survivors didnt share because they were so painful. Some descendants were told the stories, but they remained in the family. The tour and investigative report are making the stories part of the historical record and attempting to help survivors and their relatives heal. Its important that we have an accurate record of what happened at the schools. The U.S. and Canada attempted to take away the Native American culture and force a different lifestyle on them. The effort failed, but it left an awful legacy. We can learn from it only if it is factually recorded. The tour is just one of a number of steps being taken to undo past actions against Native Americans. The Founders Museum in Barre, Massachusetts, has announced its returning about 150 items to the Lakota Sioux. Some of the items are believed to have a direct link to the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre in South Dakota. Oglala Sioux Tribe President Kevin Killer said the return will begin that process of healing. Under the 1990 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, colleges and museums receiving federal funds are supposed to return artifacts to tribes. The University of North Dakota announced recently it is working to return Native American remains and artifacts found on campus. In another initiative, Haaland formed the Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force to replace names that contained slurs. The McKenzie County Commission has submitted Homesteaders Gap as a replacement for Squaw Gap. The U.S. Board on Geographic Names must sign off on the proposal. These actions can be difficult for some people. Not everyone in McKenzie County wants to change the name, but they are taking part in the process. It will help people heal and improve relations with tribes. These steps are overdue and must continue. Well deploy a round-the-clock service that provides more accessible and dependable mobility options to all residents of LA whether theyre carpooling to work along Pico, catching a ride to the nearest Metro stop, meeting up with friends at The Broad, or taking the kids to Dodger Stadium. When we think about our next cities, Los Angeles jumps out, said Waymos co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana. LA is a remarkable, vibrant place and Waymos experience leaves us best positioned to tackle its driving complexity. Were working closely with Angelenos to ensure were addressing the transportation needs and priorities of their communities as we bring the Waymo Driver to LA. Our operations in Los Angeles build on our unparalleled expertise across both ride-hailing and trucking. Everything weve learned over 12 years of autonomous driving has prepared us to serve Angelenos. Waymo remains the only company operating a fully autonomous, commercial ride-hailing service for passengers round the clock in Phoenixs East Valley no NDAs, remote operators or pre-defined pick-ups. Were the first and only company in the world providing autonomous ride-hail trips to and from an airport (Phoenixs Sky Harbor), and we drive more fully autonomous miles in the U.S. than any other company. Weve also autonomously driven millions of miles on freeways , giving us a head start handling some of Los Angeless most challenging roads. Roads that include criss-crossing freeway ramps, narrow surface streets, high numbers of unprotected left turns, blinding sunsets down its east-west roads, and distracted drivers. Were excited to serve Angelenos with an autonomous driving technology that outperforms even highly attentive human drivers at avoiding fatal crash scenarios the Waymo Driver. With approximately 13 million residents, the Los Angeles metropolitan area is one of the largest ride-hailing service areas in the world and the third largest in the U.S., with an estimated market opportunity of $2 billion in 2022. As a commercial opportunity, Los Angeles is the equivalent of a dozen smaller U.S. ride-hailing market opportunities combined. Were grateful for the support from key local LA community partners, including MADD California and Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, and local stakeholders. "If we want to change the car culture in Los Angeles, we need to give Angelenos real alternatives to owning their own vehicle including a world-class public transportation network, a range of active transportation options, and the convenience of mobility as a service across our City, said Mayor Eric Garcetti. By adding Waymo to our growing list of ways to get around, were making good on our commitment to ease congestion on our streets, clean our air, and give people a better way to get where they need to go. "The Second District of Los Angeles has a set of unique transportation challenges, with the highest rates of traffic safety issues, a lack of access to reliable and affordable transit, and limited or delayed access to emerging mobility solutions. We need technology partners who are willing to sit down with our communities and explore how their products might help us solve our transportation challenges, rather than create more. I am excited that Waymo's vision, leadership, and sustained presence in Los Angeles will result in a lasting and fruitful partnership for the Second District." Holly J. Mitchell, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and Director of the LA Metro Board. Waymo has already made the previously unimaginable future of autonomous driving a present reality for thousands of riders in both Phoenix and San Francisco. Were thrilled to bring this experience to Angelenos next. "If we want to change the car culture in Los Angeles, we need to give Angelenos real alternatives to owning their own vehicle including a world-class public transportation network, a range of active transportation options, and the convenience of mobility as a service across our City, said Mayor Eric Garcetti. By adding Waymo to our growing list of ways to get around, were making good on our commitment to ease congestion on our streets, clean our air, and give people a better way to get where they need to go.Waymo has already made the previously unimaginable future of autonomous driving a present reality for thousands of riders in both Phoenix and San Francisco. Were thrilled to bring this experience to Angelenos next. Los Angeles will be Waymos next ride-hailing city, joining Phoenix and San Francisco as we expand to more locations. Weve gotten to know many LA neighborhoods, including Downtown and Miracle Mile, Koreatown, Santa Monica, Westwood and West Hollywood, and well begin driving autonomously in several central districts over the coming months as we prepare to serve Angelenos. Hundreds of officers in the London Metropolitan Police are getting away with misconduct, much of it criminal, according to an official report authorted by Baroness Casey. Racism, sexism, homophobia and criminal levels of misconduct are rife on the force. Hundreds of them must immediately be fired. Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley says he is "appalled" at the findings and the situation "cannot continue". The Met chief who was appointed last month said the report showed "patterns of unacceptable discrimination that clearly amount to systemic bias" towards black and Asian officers and staff. Admitting that its findings showed hundreds of his officers should have been sacked, he also apologised to the public and the force's "honest and dedicated officers" who he said had been let down. Sometimes I'll be talking about stuff in Britain and an American will say to me, but damn, your cops don't even have guns! They barely kill anyone! They wear cute little sweater tanks! Sure. But think of it like this: in America, every time you run in to the cops, the bigotry is either at a 1 or a 10, where 1 is professional and 10 is you're fucked. Would you like to get, say, 4 out of 10 every single time in return for knowing that 10 will never happen? You would, absolutely. No problem. Bigotry at 4/10, eat it for breakfast. With this report, London wakes up to the reality that the number is closer to 8. You'll still take it over the guns and the killologists and the Klan Sheriffs, but that's not a happy life. British ex-service veterans are getting big bucks to train and advise the Chinese Red Army and Air Force, and the UK government is warning them to keep their mouths shut about anything that might be a military secret. Officials expressed "concern and disapproval" of these schemes because they posed "a threat to UK and western interests". Although they are not explicitly banning pilots from providing training, they aim to take steps to "manage the risk". About 30 former pilots are already believed to have taken advantage of "very generous" recruitment packages offered by China to work for the country's air force through third parties, including, in particular, a flying academy based in South Africa. But the warning, or threat guidance, will remind British pilots not to disclose any sensitive information to the Chinese military and ask those approached to tell the Ministry of Defence what is going on so that it can be monitored. Pretty sure they're not paying upwards of 250,000 to have a barbarian shout the recruits into shape, but if that's the going rate I'm happy to give it a try. A mural painted by a high schooler in Grant, Michigan, is "under fire", as NBC News puts it, because it contains symbols from an anime show, the Hand of Mary, and characters wearing clothes in rainbow colors and the blue, pink and white bands associated with gay and trans pride. At a school board meeting on Oct. 10, parents accused the student artist of promoting witchcraft by including the Hamsa hand as well as the video game character that bears the likeness of a demon. Parents also objected to the use of LGBTQ colors. Witchcraft! Demons! Gays! According to local news reports, the girl attended a school board meeting where she was hounded by dozens of angry parents, and left it in tears. "I put my art up there to make people feel welcome," the student artist said, her voice breaking, in footage captured at the meeting by WZZM-TV, a local news station based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The response from one local nasty: "I feel like she did a really good job finding excuses to defend the things she put on," says Katelyn Thompson. "None of us are that stupid." Not everyone was against her: Tracey Hargreaves, who has two children in the Grant Public School system, came to the defense of the student artist. "I am a conservative, right-wing, gun-loving American," Hargreaves declared at the meeting. "And I've never seen more bigoted people in my life." In an interview with TODAY.com, Hargreaves said, "The meeting turned into a hate fest. Usually there are 10 people at these meetings, 50 showed up. It wasn't even about the mural People were talking about how we need to pray the gay away." She's now being made to remove elements of the muralwhich the school insists is something she wants to do. The narrative around this painting is pretty awful! A kid painted a nice mural for her high school, got screamed at by psychopaths, received minimum viable support from those who approved the design, and what do we get? "Hmmm, controversial art!" headlines, like it's Piss Christ or something. I hope she gets into the Royal College of Art and never looks back. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijan has increased the trade turnover with Italy by $8.8 billion in the first three quarters of 2022, Azernews reports per the State Customs Committee. In January-September, the trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $14.7 billion, with exports accounting for $14.5 billion and imports for $228.3 million. Thus, Italy is also Azerbaijan's largest trade partner during the reporting period. During the corresponding period of 2021, the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Italy amounted to $5.9 billion. The diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on May 8, 1992. Italy's first embassy in the South Caucasus was opened in Azerbaijan in 1997 and the embassy of Azerbaijan in Italy has been functioning since 2003. Italy was one of the first countries to express support for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, as well as an interest in participating in restoration efforts in Azerbaijan's liberated territories. Last year, Azerenergy and Ansaldo Energia signed a cooperation agreement on the construction of energy infrastructure in Azerbaijans liberated territories. According to the agreement, Ansaldo Energia will supply equipment for four 110 kV substations to be built in Aghdam, Kalbajar, and Gubadli districts. Azerbaijan is a major supplier of energy to Italy. In Azerbaijan, over 100 Italian companies operate in various sectors. At the same time, Italian firms have contracts worth more than 10 billion ($11.8 billion) for Azerbaijani projects both inside and outside the country. Azerbaijan's total investment in the Italian economy is estimated to be around 1.7 billion ($2 billion), with Italy investing approximately 770 million ($910.8 million) in Azerbaijan. Saad Ibrahim Almadi (72), a dual US-Saudi national, is serving a 16-year-sentence for posting tweets that were critical of the Saudi government. He posted the tweets in Florida, but when he went to Saudi Arabia, he was apprehended and convicted of harboring a terrorist ideology and trying to destabilize the kingdom. From The Guardian: [P]rosecutors focused on 14 tweets that the American published over a seven-year period while he was living in Florida, including posts that referenced Jamal Khashoggi, the Washington Post columnist who was murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018. In an interview with the Guardian, Almadi's son, Ibrahim, said Saudi agents kidnapped his father from the airport and held him in a hotel while they searched his phone, which contained photographs of caricatures of Saudi officials, such as a cartoon of a bloated and fat Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince. The Saudi royal family, which recently invested $2 billion in Jared Kushner's business, have a history of arresting and torturing people critical of their policies. From The Washington Post: A Saudi court recently sentenced a woman to 45 years in prison for allegedly damaging the country through her social media activity. A Saudi doctoral student at Leeds University in England was sentenced to 34 years for spreading "rumors" and retweeting dissidents, a case that drew international outrage. Ibrahim says his father was detained over 14 "mild tweets" posted on Twitter over the past seven years, mostly criticizing government policies and alleged corruption. He says his father was not an activist but a private citizen expressing his opinion while in the U.S., where freedom of speech is a constitutional right. CNN interviewed Almadi's son, Ibrahim Almad, who said his father has been tortured while in prison. If you want to be appointed a special junior deputy on Herschel Walker's very stable genius police force, you can buy the appointment from him for the price of attending his upcoming fundraiser. He ordered 1,000 fake police badges to hand out at the even this weekend. From NBC News: "Herschel Walker has been a friend to law enforcement and has a record of honoring police," said Gail Gitcho, the Walker campaign strategist who ordered the badges Saturday. "If Sen. Warnock wants to highlight this, then bring it on," Gitcho added. "It just gives us a chance to talk about Herschel's support of law enforcement and law enforcement's support for him. It's a great issue for us." But to Warnock and his campaign, Walker is only reinforcing the criticism that he hasn't been honest about his experience and that he isn't a "serious" candidate. "My opponent, Herschel Walker, is not ready," Warnock told reporters Monday. "I pointed out the fact that he claimed to be in law enforcement to be a police officer and that he threatened a shootout with the police. And his response was to produce a fake badge? The people of Georgia deserve a serious person to represent them in serious times." Finally, a made-up holiday I can total get behind! It's NATIONAL HAGFISH DAY! According to the National Today website: Hagfish Day is observed on the third Wednesday in October every year, falling on October 19 this year. It is a day to celebrate the existence and importance of the hagfish the squiggly, slimy fish species. Although it is often considered the ugliest fish species, it plays a vital role in the overall ecosystem and equilibrium within marine life. The hagfish is, by all accounts, hideous. National Today describes it like this, "With no jaw, no bones, and no scales, this fish species is not the easiest on the eyes." Seacoast Online recently published an informative and hilarious article about the hagfish. Author Ellen Goethel describes them as "one of the most disgusting-looking fish" she has encountered in her career in fisheries. She also says they have been "described as a sack of blood. Its skin is only connected to its internal organs in a very few places." She goes on: Hagfish are scaleless, jawless, boneless fish that have a skeleton of cartilage and look somewhat like an eel. Growing up to 35 inches and covered with slime, they have a head with thick barbels, a skull of cartilage and no backbone or jaw. They don't look like a fish at all. These fish have over 100 slime glands that secrete slime through between 90 and 200 pores located down the length of their body. Goethel also describes the "truly horrific way that they feed": During the night they emerge from their muddy habitat and attack a dead or dying fish and burrow into its body with their mouth. Their mouth is jawless surrounded by four pairs of barbels (whisker-like projections for sensing) and a plate with two sets of sharp teeth made of cartilage. This projection can grasp food and rip pieces off, pulling it into its gut. Once inside the body cavity of their prey, they proceed to digest all its internal organs leaving an empty sack of the fish's skin and bones. The skin of the hagfish can digest and absorb nutrients more efficiently than its gut! As horrifying as these creatures are, they do helpful things for our ecosystem, as they are instrumental in digesting dead animal carcasses on the bottom of the ocean floor. Thank you, dear hagfish. Goethel also explains that the hagfish is considered a culinary delicacy in Korea, where "they also tan their hides and use them as leather for wallets." Thank you again, dear hagfish. Goethel also recounts this scene that seems right out of a horror film: Imagine this; in 2017 there was a truck in Oregon full of slime eels headed to be shipped to Korea. The truck overturned on a highway and within minutes the entire road was covered in slime expanding to engulf an entire car. It boggles the mind. I wonder how they cleaned it up? If you want to learn more about the hagfish, go read the rest of Goethel's article here. And here's a 3-minute primer on the critter from the Smithsonian Channel, appropriately titled, "The Hagfish Is the Slimy Sea Creature of Your Nightmares." But the hideous creature still does good in this world, so let's appreciate the hagfish, even if it's the stuff of nightmares. In the words of the National Today website, "Once you look past their exterior, hagfish have a lot to offer and deserve to be celebrated." Rorie S. Woods of Hadley, Massachusetts was arrested after she allegedly unleashed a swarm of bees on police officers arrived at a man's home to serve eviction papers. Apparently a group of people protesting the eviction was on the scene when Woods arrived with a trailer of bee hives. From Mass Live: "At that time a female later identified as Rorie Susan Woods exited her vehicle and went to the back of the trailer and started shaking bee hives to let the bees out," the report states. "Deputy Michael Joslyn attempted to stop Woods who successfully freed one of the hives by breaking the covercausing hundreds of bees to swarm around. Deputy Joslyn was stung in the face and had to retreat." Woods, 55, then donned a beekeeper's suit and began liberating more angry bees, [deputy sheriff Daniel[ Soto reported. She rolled three more large hives off the trailer and carted them to the entryway of the home, situated on a stately cul-de-sac. "Officers at this time attempted to stop Woods but were attacked by the bees," Soto's report reads. More chaos ensued and several Sheriff's Department employees were stung, including three who are allergic to bee stings, according to the narrative. Woods attempted to resist arrest but was eventually taken to the ground and handcuffed by deputies, with a large group of protesters clamoring for her not to be arrested, the report states. "While Woods was being escorted to the cruiser, (another deputy) advised Woods that he and several officers were allergic to bees," the narrative says. Woods' response, according to the report: "Oh, you're allergic? Good." A startup manufacturer and 43North winner that makes fiber-based building insulation from recycled corrugated cardboard and has raised over $50 million in financing is proceeding with plans to construct an addition to its Hamburg manufacturing facility to boost production. CleanFiber Buffalo which won $500,000 in the state-funded business-plan competition in 2016 as UltraCell is planning to construct a 5,250-square-foot metal panel addition to its existing 60,000-square-foot masonry-and-panel building at 250 Lake Ave., bringing the total size to 66,000 square feet. That will give the company more room for material handling, as well as new equipment, as part of what CEO Jonathan Strimling described as a $15 million investment in the facility. "We're moving more and more product through the facility, and we need more space," Strimling said. "We're making a substantial capital investment in the plant." Strimling would not disclose revenues, but said the company's sales are up 50% over the previous quarter and 120% over the past six months. The company sells its insulation through a network of distributors and installers, who have used the product in "thousands and thousands of homes" in the Northeast, MidAtlantic and Midwest. "We're growing extremely rapidly," he said. The project will be reviewed at a public hearing Wednesday evening at the Hamburg Planning Board. Originally founded in Massachusetts, UltraCell moved to Buffalo and changed its name after its 2016 43North win. The company uses recycled cardboard fiber to make high-performance and clean cellulose insulation that it says is more efficient and safer than regular insulation, by using a patented process to infuse fire retardant directly into the fibers. It employs 90 at its facility, located on part of the former Bethlehem Steel plant. In May, CleanFiber secured $14 million in debt financing from California-based Lapis Advisers to support the expansion of its production plant. It previously landed $37 million in other financing to back its business growth, including $750,000 from the Western New York Impact Investment Fund and Buffalo Angels, as well as other U.S. and Canadian investors. "We've brought a lot of external capital into the area, as well," Strimling said. Taco Bell Hamburg officials also will continue their review of a site plan for a Taco Bell Restaurant at 4923 Southwestern Blvd. Quick Service Realco an affiliate of Overland Park, Kan.-based franchise operator KBP Brands, wants to build a 2,200-square-foot restaurant and drive-thru, along with 17 parking spaces on the 0.68-acre site across from the Lowe's plaza. The restaurant will seat 30 and employ eight. Splash Car Wash Splash Car Wash is seeking guidance from the town on a preliminary proposal to demolish the former TGI Friday's restaurant building at the entrance to the McKinley Mall at 3701 McKinley Parkway and replace it with a 5,200-square-foot car wash facility, with 24 vacuum stalls and stacking for 39 vehicles. Additionally and separately, Frank Russo Jr. is planning a 14-lot subdivision, as an extension of Niles Avenue. Hamburg IDA Separately, the Hamburg Industrial Development Agency on Wednesday also approved a pair of extensions for previously approved tax break packages for Iskalo Development Co.'s renovation project at 17 Long St. and KCE NY 6 LLC's construction of a new 20-megawatt battery energy storage facility at 2026 Electric Ave. Iskalo is pursuing an adaptive-reuse and renovation of a 28,890-square-foot former grocery store, which will be converted into an ambulatory health care facility. When it applied for tax breaks over a year ago, Iskalo had planned to start its project by either fall 2021 or spring 2022, but the work did not begin until late spring, and renovations to the building "shell" are only 35% complete. Iskalo Executive Vice President said in a letter to the IDA that the company expects to finish the rest of the shell renovation within the next six months, with some site work and additional interior build-out for the tenant in 2023. The energy storage facility, which was approved in September 2021, was delayed by supply chain shortages, according to a resolution approved by the Hamburg IDA board. Startup spotlight: Local startup for social service organizations raises $400k While working with community-based organizations in Western New York as consultants, Duane Conners and Jamie Bono realized all the organizations whether they dealt with food, housing, transportation, healthcare, education or employment all wanted the same thing: a better way to collect and communicate data. That realization eventually led Conners and Bono to start their own company, wellconnected, in March 2021. The company developed a centralized social care platform called allco, which connects community-based organizations on a single platform. "It's a top-to-bottom solution for community based organizations," said Conners, who serves as wellconnected's CEO. "Everything from grant reporting to case management to capacity building and understanding." The company has since raised $550,000 of a $750,000 goal. Locally, Launch NY and the Buffalo Innovative Seed Fund contributed a combined total of $400,000. Wellconnected plans to use that money to grow their platform and hire more employees. Connecting community members across multiple service organizations To develop the allco platform, wellconnected partnered closely with 211 Western New York, a call center that connects people with resources and services in their communities, such as housing support, mental health care and food assistance. 211 is a national program with regional and statewide call centers. 211 maintains a directory of local community-based organizations. But to make sure that directory is up to date, 211 employees have to call those other agencies or scrape their websites, Conners said. With allco, agencies can log in to the platform, claim their profile and update their information for free. Organizations that pay to use the allco platform have access to additional features. For example, if someone visits Harvest House a Buffalo healthcare and education organization that uses the allco platform to get healthcare, but also needs assistance finding housing, an employee at Harvest House can use allco to find local housing programs and send that person a referral through allco. The housing organization will then have access to the person's file, so the case worker there will have information about the person's situation and needs ahead of time. When a person gets entered in the allco system by any agency on the network, they maintain a single account, Conners said. "They don't have to re-intake you and understand your whole story because all of your information can go with you," Conners said. "They can open up your account, review your profile and start supporting you without you having to walk through any sort of traumatic backstory. The last thing we want to do is hinder anybody from seeking support." The platform also makes it easier for community-based organizations to report required information to granting agencies or government bodies, Conners said. Wellconnected sees growth beyond New York In Western New York, the allco platform has facilitated 43,000 referrals for service for 40,000 people, Bono said. There are around 100 community-based organizations using allco. Sixty are paying to use the platform, and 40 are maintaining their profiles for free, Conners said. Beyond Western New York, wellconnected recently onboarded the Southern Tier 211 region to the allco platform and are in the process of adding the Hudson Valley and Long Island regions. Wellconnected plans to use the funds from Launch NY and the Buffalo Innovation Seed Fund to scale the allco platform to the entire Northeastern United States by working with 211 centers in other states. The company currently has five employees and is looking to hire three more for engineering and community engagement positions. Natalie Brophy Want to know more? Three stories to catch you up: Welcome to Buffalo Next. This newsletter from The Buffalo News will bring you the latest coverage on the changing Buffalo Niagara economy from real estate to health care to startups. Read more at BuffaloNext.com. THE LATEST, IN CONTEXT What: The Buffalo-based venture development organization Launch NY received a $750,000 grant from the federal government. Tell me more: Launch NY provides mentoring and funding to early-stage startups in the 27 westernmost counties of New York State. The grant from the Economic Development Administration will support and expand Launch NY's #InvestLocal financing programs, which will bring more funding to innovative startups in and around Buffalo, Binghamton, Ithaca, Rochester, and Syracuse. Launch NY also won a $750,000 grant from the federal government in 2021. The organization used that money to develop its Fast Forward initiative, designed to catapult seed-stage companies to greater heights with intensive portfolio management programming. Why it matters: This grant will enable the organization to continue and expand its mission of building up the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Upstate New York and creating jobs and wealth. Launch NY has invested more than $9 million in 84 startups that have gone on to create 473 jobs, attract $157 million in additional funding and generate $50 million in annual revenues. More than 40% are led by underrepresented founders. "Our ultimate goal is to increase the amount, impact, and sustainability of seed capital for seed stage startups in order to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem that catalyzes innovation and fuels economic growth across the region," Launch NY President and CEO Marine LaVigne said in a statement. "This grant will help us achieve that goal by ensuring that Launch NY can continue providing access to 'first money in' for under-resourced entrepreneurs." THE LATEST Catch up on the latest news from the Buffalo Niagara economy: A pair of new retailers Sierra and Homesense picked Amherst for their first stores in Western New York. Josh Allen and Kaleida leaders announced the largest gift yet for the Patricia Allen Fund $2 million from West Herr Automotive. A strike has ended at Sysco Syracuse, which was affecting about 30 drivers from the Buffalo area. A Buffalo Bills stadium deal won't be done for months as another extension agreement was reached. Local hotel operator Jay Patel purchased the Millennium Hotel in Cheektowaga. The final phase of the Colvin Estates housing development in Buffalo is getting underway. A conference examined ways to improve food security in Buffalo: The American Food Equity Conference identified programs that will help ease the food insecurity plaguing Buffalos East Side and other low-income areas. But they need money to succeed. Workers at the Geico office in Amherst are trying to form a union and become the insurer's first site to successfully organize but it won't be easy. A new microbrewery is on tap for the West Side neighborhood near the H.H. Richardson complex. Plans to turn the former Lion Brewery on Jefferson Avenue into apartments won backing from the Buffalo Planning Board. A Cleveland auto dealer plans to open a car sales business on the site of the former Parker's Great British Institution business across from the Tesla plant on South Park Avenue. The president of Oishei Children's Hospital is leaving for a new job. ICYMI Five reads from Buffalo Next: 1. It's 43North week, and 15 startups are competing for five $1 million prizes in this year's revamped competition. Organizers made the changes to keep the contest relevant in the increasingly competitive market to attract and nurture promising startups. 2. For kids with autism, a different way of learning: Canisius College's Institute for Autism Research offers a unique social skills intervention that starts with young children, but could improve the quality of life for all autistic people. 3. As Micron picks Syracuse, will Genesee County ever land its own semiconductor win? The Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park, or STAMP, pitches its ability to lure workers from both Rochester and Buffalo. But is its location, in an isolated spot in the Town of Alabama, more of a liability than economic development officials think? 4. Will there be enough snowplow drivers this year? Some municipalities say they are short-staffed, and others say they are ready for the winter months. 5. A handful of solar farms proposed for sites across Western New York will be among the biggest in the state, which is pushing to get more electricity from renewable sources. The Buffalo Next team gives you the big picture on the regions economic revitalization. Email tips to buffalonext@buffnews.com or reach Deputy Business Editor David Robinson at 716-849-4435. A Cleveland-area company specializing in senior residential communities is eying a pair of Wehrle Drive properties in Amherst for an adult-living project, which would span a breadth of care from independent living and villas to memory care and assisted living. Omni Smart Living of Solon, Ohio, is proposing to build a new complex of 31 separate buildings near George Karl Boulevard with what it describes in planning documents as first-class amenities for Amherst residents who no longer want the responsibility of maintaining a home, but don't want to leave the town. Sign up for the Buffalo Next free newsletter The News' Buffalo Next team covers the changing Buffalo Niagara economy. Get the news in your inbox 5 days a week. The company is buying 22.8 acres of land at 2360-2370 Wehrle from Arista Development's Robert Nuchereno, who had previously proposed a pair of medical office buildings for the same site six years ago. But only 16.6 acres of the site would be affected by the two-phase construction project, which would begin in April 2023, with completion by December 2025. Plans call for a pair of three-story independent-living residence buildings and a three-story assisted-living and memory care facility, all located at the northern end of the site, connected with linked corridors, and surrounding a pond. The rest of the buildings located between the bigger buildings and existing development to the south along Wehrle are clusters of villas, as well as a clubhouse and pool. The property is set back from Wehrle, between George Karl and Berkley roads, and the project design calls for access off the dead end of George Karl. The site would include 329 parking spaces. Omni is a private-equity investment and development firm that has developed and operates eight active-adult or senior residence communities under its Vitalia brand, all in Ohio, as well as more than $2 billion in commercial office and other assets through its Omni Property Companies. This would be its first project in Western New York. Company officials could not be reached for comment. The project would require site plan approval, a rezoning from "office building district" and "residential district" to "multifamily residential district," additional zoning variances and permits, including from the Federal Aviation Administration because of the proximity to Buffalo Niagara International Airport. But first the company sought and received support from Amherst officials to amend the town's bicentennial comprehensive plan to changing the land use for the site from commercial office to "medium residential." Three local residents spoke out against the request at the town Planning Board last month, but the motion passed. Company officials said in their application that the project "enhances the livability of the area in offering additional choices in lifestyle and having options that are not otherwise available." It also will "enhance community character by removing commercial zoning and continuing investment in older neighborhoods." And it would "meet a very high standard for quality development, while respecting appropriate buffers in existing neighborhoods." Omni also argued it would benefit the town by strengthening its "diverse economy" and tax base and making the community more attractive through careful infill development. And it advances the town's goals and initiatives in the comprehensive plan, and "adds to the renowned beauty, character and environmental quality of the town." "This proposal injects new life into an older area of the town by providing a diverse choice of retirement housing," Omni officials wrote. "The requested amendment coincides nicely with both the adjoining residential and commercial neighborhoods." U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer is urging Edwards Vacuum to consider a business park in Genesee County for a future manufacturing project. Schumer made his pitch for STAMP, short for the Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park, which is near Batavia, in a phone call to Edwards' president, Geert Follens. Edwards has a warehouse in Sanborn. Schumer said Wednesday the company is considering "onshoring" manufacturing from overseas. Edwards makes high-tech vacuum equipment that supports the semiconductor industry. "Leading Western New York sites like STAMP offer a major opportunity for companies like Edwards Vacuum that are looking to grow by plugging them into Upstate New Yorks rapidly growing semiconductor industry," Schumer said in a statement. Micron Technologies recently announced plans to invest up to $100 billion in a chip-making plant outside Syracuse that is expected to create 9,000 jobs. STAMP has been attempting to attract a semiconductor industry project of its own, but without success. The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting colder and Halloween is coming. October is the perfect time to go to a haunted house a place of dares and scares and lots of laughs. Laughs? OK, we are not talking about Fright World here, and chainsaws are not included. This haunted house is home to The Addams Family Musical, the debut production from OConnell & Company in its new home, a former church and community center currently occupied by a ferociously comical cast, their unseen band and the walking dead. If this is a haunting, it is also a hoot. Where the Addams family lives, it is always Halloween. Their comfort zone comes dressed in black and wrapped in cobwebs, where the dead are welcome and torture is lets just call it stimulating. The Addamses arent materializing on Bailey Avenue to deliver deep insight into the human condition or to face thought-provoking dilemmas that challenge modern concepts of what is right and what is wrong. For this show, they just have a little family problem to deal with, and they share it with us. The engagement level is just about perfect for a musical based upon comic characters created by a cartoonist with a really macabre sense of humor. While they sing and dance and levitate, we laugh, we cringe and we can relate. The plot is as light as a century-old shroud: Wednesday Addams (Madalyn Teal) has fallen in love with Lucas (Jared Eichel), a normal young man, and the two want their parents to meet before announcing their engagement. Wednesday is naturally concerned about appearances, and about how her elegantly lusty parents, Morticia and Gomez, will come across to outsiders. What are you trying to say, her mother demands. Im saying were like we are and theyre from OHIO, Wednesday answers. OHIO?! Gomez exclaims. A swing state?! Horrors! And, somehow, that level of silliness continues for a good two hours or so, fueled by the exuberant campiness of Joey Bucheker as Gomez and the lovely Anna Fernandez as his cara mia, Morticia. His hot-blooded passion is a well-balanced counterpoint to her self-assured sexiness, and they are great together. Young John Perno has his own moment as their son, Pugsley, who, worried about losing his sister, uses his solo to lament What if she never tortures me anymore? Michael J. Galante is lovable as Uncle Fester, thoughtfully raising the dead to help the course of true love run smoothly. Michael Starzynski and Kelleigh Murray are tasked with being normal as Lucas parents, Midwestern to the core and baffled by their host and hostess but too polite to say so. Unsurprisingly, they, too, fall under the Addams family spell. Rounding out the cast are Sara Kovacsi as the indispensible Grandma, Dan Mink as the manservant Lurch, and an outrageous ensemble of zombie ancestors who serve as characters, scenery, stagehands and Greek chorus. They reportedly do their own terrifically effective Im long dead makeup, and their herky-jerky perambulations around the stage are a joy to behold. Director Dewayne Barret, who helmed the hit A Chorus Line for OConnell & Company last season, has expertly nudged his players to the edge of outrageousness but never pushed them over. Musical direction was by the capable Joe Isgar. Credit for this show coming together at all in this space goes to the companys executive director, Mary Kate OConnell, to managing director Joey Bucheker, and to the hardworking tradespeople, volunteers and performers who moved in, cleaned out, set up, and got it all going in time for opening night. If Halloween is allowed to have a Christmas miracle, this was it. Theater preview The Addams Family Musical 4 stars (out of 4) Presented by OConnell & Company through Oct. 30 in its new theater at 4110 Bailey Ave., Amherst Ticket are $25-$38 (oconnellandcompany.com). The mural of a black-and-white highway appears badly frayed. But look a little closer, and the tears in the canvas reveal colorized glimpses underneath of the once-grand Humboldt Parkway, before it was destroyed to make way for the Kensington Expressway. "The imagery shows a moat that now exists in the neighborhood, and then shows the beauty that once was," said wheatpaste artist Max Collins, who created the mural. "I'm trying to give context to what the loss was." Collins, during a residency in summer 2021 at Albright-Knox Northland, now closed, also created an accompanying exhibition that includes a smaller version of the mural. The two-layered mural, entitled "Humboldt Parkway: Now & Then," can be seen on a wall at Northland Avenue and Chelsea Place, kitty-corner from the Northland Workforce Center. 'They cannot replace what's gone': Route 33 residents split over restoration plan "There are so many things you could do around the city," one resident said. "This won't do anything for the City of Buffalo but put a Band-Aid over it." Collins will display and discuss the exhibit on Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. in Eugene V. Debs Hall, 483 Peckham St. Jason Haremza, a city planner in Rochester, will talk about that city's decision to convert part of a sunken highway known as Inner Loop East into a walkable street that's generated new residences and shops. Collins will re-create the mural at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery's Fall Gala on Nov. 5, with attendees invited to participate by peeling away the image of the expressway. Collins' attempt to challenge viewers about the highway, built a half century ago, and the parkway considered by some to have been Frederick Law Olmsted's most beautiful, is timely: Gov. Kathy Hochul announced in January that $1 billion is being set aside to address the highway's impact on Buffalo's neighborhoods. A federally required study that began at the time of the governor's announcement is likely to favor a deck, or cap over the highway between East Ferry and Dodge streets, rather than restoring the parkway that once connected Delaware and Martin Luther King parks by burying the highway. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a city like Buffalo, so it just seems we have to do this right," Collins said. "It's a really important moment to make the right decision, because they clearly didn't when this was built. "I'd like to see our city make a bold move, particularly when there is a precedent around the country of these projects being successful," he said. Numerous cities around the country have removed or are seeking funds to remove highways that predominantly tore apart Black neighborhoods. The removal of the parkway to make way for the Kensington, also known as Route 33, led to a decline in quality of life, reduced home values, loss of businesses and increased noise and air pollution. Collins doesn't like the idea of a deck over the Kensington. "It won't restore Humboldt Parkway, and I think it's going to be a maintenance nightmare," he said. "For a price tag like this, there should be a more promising impact. I think they should consider removing it entirely given the success in other cities." Collins, a native Buffalonian, lived in Portland, Ore., from 2016 to 2020, where he became a licensed funeral director and taught people how to artistically memorialize people as a way to deal with grief and loss. That experience informs his latest work. "Grief pertains to a place just as much as a person, and I felt like there were so many angles I could really sink my teeth into with Humboldt Parkway, like the loss of the city's green space," Collins said. "That was especially true knowing there was already energy percolating about burying the highway or doing a cap." Collins used his museum residency to focus on Humboldt Parkway after walking down Northland Avenue on his first day, stopping at the highway and looking at the street sign to realize the parkway was once there. He did research on how the highway came about and the impact it had on residents at the Central Library, the Buffalo History Museum and The Buffalo News archives, collecting photographs and engineering documents later used in collages. Collins came up with the idea of a two-layered mural, and because his mural process is printing photographs and adhering them, he knew the installation could be done quickly. "I was essentially able to colorize an old photo of Humboldt Parkway, and then over a walkway across the highway take a photograph to mimic the same perspective of the parkway shot," he said. Wheatpaste allowed the highway to slowly peel away, revealing the parkway underneath. The 17 pieces in Collins' exhibition create a non-linear, visual history with text and images, making use of used and found objects. Kensington Expressway project comes into focus, but some say 'generational' plan falls short The estimated $1 billion Kensington Expressway tunnel and related roadwork would be one of the most complex projects the state Department of Transportation has ever undertaken but the likely plan is less ambitious than Gov. Kathy Hochul has at times indicated when discussing the project. To inform people of the forced relocation of thousands required when the highway was built, Collins mounted a tin ceiling panel overlaid with the words: "Two Months Left for Moving, 526 Families Still Lack Homes." Continuing in smaller type, it says, "Two-Man Relocation Center Struggles to Solve Problems Raised by Kensington Expressway." A framed photograph of the construction site, roughened with gravel Collins took from the side of the highway, has an orange stripe through the middle showing where the parkway, once ran. He also uses a stripe over a photo of the parkway, superimposed with an article titled "Demolition Work Starts Tomorrow for Expressway." Another framed image features a raised window with a map of the highway, with a photo of the tree-lined parkway occupying the lower window space. Another image shows men from the mid-20th century planting trees under a headline dripping with irony: "Queen City's Crowning Glory Still Her Trees." A shovel bears the face of Robert Moses, New York State's leading advocate of putting highways through neighborhoods for urban renewal. The exhibition was shown earlier this year at MusicalFare Theatre in Amherst. "It was kind of mind-boggling how many people didn't know the history of Humboldt Parkway," Collins said. The community-engaged artist has held exhibitions and created murals in Buffalo in the past. Images he created of West Side residents who appeared in documentary photographer Milton Rogovin's book, "Triptychs," can currently be seen on Massachusetts Avenue near 19th Street. By Trend Azerbaijan Bank Association and Azerbaijan Bar Association sign memorandum of cooperation, Trend reports citing Azerbaijan Bank Association. President of Azerbaijan Bank Association Zakir Nuriyev and Chairman of Azerbaijan Bar Association Anar Baghirov signed the memorandum. Nuriyev noted that this document will contribute to the further improvement of the relevant processes in the judicial and legal sphere, including raising the level of professionalism of lawyers and attorneys in the banking sector. "This will allow analyzing legislative acts, and regulatory documents related to the banking and financial system, and prepare the necessary proposals in this direction, to ensure the professional participation of lawyers in the development of relevant legislative initiatives related to the financial and banking system, the preparation of reasonable proposals to the relevant authorities and implementation of other activities related to this type of activity," he said. Baghirov, in his turn, stressed that the signing of this memorandum will allow combining efforts in the direction of expanding common interests, real opportunities and mutual cooperation, creating and developing active ties in the field of teaching, learning and research, as well as providing the necessary support to the board in the preparation regulatory, educational and other materials. He added that a committee on business law has been set up within Azerbaijan Bar Association. Police in Oklahoma say the suspect in the killings of four people at a marijuana farm has been arrested in South Florida. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation says in an evening post on Facebook that Wu Chen was taken into custody without incident Tuesday afternoon by officers with the Miami Beach Police Department. It adds that the arrest came after a car tag reader flagged vehicle he was driving, and says he was taken to the Miami-Dade County Detention Center. Police say the man will be charged with murder and shooting with intent to kill and will face extradition to Oklahoma. The fight over Buffalo's reapportioned Council districts is headed to court as a political action group, a coalition of block clubs and nine city voters collectively filed a lawsuit Tuesday aimed at nullifying the 2022 redistricting map. Throughout the reapportionment process, Our City Action Buffalo contended the districts should be more inclusive and racially balanced and that the public should have been given more time to review the proposals and offer feedback. Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown signs controversial Council reapportionment plan into law In approving the measure, the mayor said in a statement that complaints about reducing minority representation on the Council were unfounded. In their State Supreme Court lawsuit, the petitioners said Buffalo's reapportionment process "failed to meet the basic requirements of the law necessitating this court's intervention." While "even the best-run process for determining representational districts can create discontent," according to their lawsuit, "... it should be the rule of law not the fiat of an entrenched few that creates the playing field for democracy in the City of Buffalo." The nine city voters named as respondents in the lawsuit come from four city Council districts, four from the Niagara, three from Fillmore and one each from Ellicott and North. Named as defendants are the Buffalo Common Council, Mayor Byron W. Brown and the Erie County Board of Elections. By law, the city must redraw its councilmanic district boundaries every decade to reflect population changes in the city. Each district must be approximately equal in population. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, Buffalo's population grew for the first time in 70 years to 278,349 from 261,275 in 2010. Our City Action Buffalo, the lead petitioner in the lawsuit, is a nonprofit, grassroots political organization. It "works to identify, nurture, and promote local leadership focused on counteracting legacies of systemic oppression and promoting housing and environmental justice" in Buffalo and throughout Western in the City of Buffalo and Western New York." The University Block Club Coalition, another petitioner, is a nonprofit group representing residents and block clubs in Buffalo's University District. During the wrangling over the redistricting process, Our City Action Buffalo offered its own redrawn map for consideration, arguing that the one initially presented by the city's reapportionment commission did not take into account neighborhoods or promote racial fairness. The political action group's proposal called for eliminating the Fillmore District and increasing the size of the Ellicott District, while creating a new Elmwood-Allentown District. Grassroots group backs candidates and takes on Buffalo Common Council: 'Time to prepare to govern' Our City Action Buffalo turned out voters to propel India Walton to a mayoral primary win last year. Now the group is leading the fight against Common Council district boundaries it says are gerrymandered. In their lawsuit, they charged the city with engaging "significant departures from the laws governing the redistricting process" that resulted in "negative effects that create unique and specific injuries to each petitioner that can only be remedied by the relief requested through this action." They are asking the court to annul the city's approved redistricting map that was signed into law by Brown on Aug. 15, and allow for an alternate set of district boundaries to be created from a process that is more fair. A city spokesman declined to comment on the lawsuit. Common Council President Darius G. Pridgen defended the redrawn Council map last summer when the Common Council approved it, saying, "I think the Council has done everything legally to not only respect the law but its citizens. A Buffalo woman faces a first-degree assault charge for allegedly pouring hot kitchen oil on a man last week. Nyirabukara Mukarukundo, 37, was arrested by Buffalo police Monday night at the Ferry-Fillmore District station, according to a police report. Mukarukundo is accused of severely burning the victim Friday night during a dispute at a home on Broadway, east of Memorial Drive. Mukarukundo pleaded not guilty at her arraignment in Buffalo City Court on Tuesday morning. She was released on her own recognizance, according to court records. She and the victim got into an argument about a truck and she tried to grab the keys to the vehicle, the victim told police. She chased him outside and poured oil on him and the truck, he told officers. Mukarukundo told police she owns the truck and the victim hadn't paid her money. She said the victim punched her and she threw the grease on him in self-defense, according to the incident report. There were no fireworks in the live debate between 23rd Congressional District candidates Max Della Pia and Nick Langworthy on television Tuesday night, just a lot of clashing swords. Langworthy, the state Republican chairman, had the flashier blade and was quick on his feet with his party's lines about law and order and the shortcomings of the Biden and Hochul administrations. Della Pia, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and the Tomkins County Democratic chairman, tended toward slower, wonkier answers but was generally impervious to Langworthy. The contest began with a question about energy policy, which found the two men in general agreement about the need for more energy independence. Asked if we were in a recession, Della Pia noted that he has an economics degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy and said, "We need to put some stops on the economy." Langworthy declared: "Yes, we're in a recession. It feels like a recession. Meet with people in a diner and they think we're in a recession." Federal spending, he added, "is not going to get us out of this mess. There are going to be tough times ahead." The candidates had similar answers to a question about how to bring down energy prices produce more energy but different ways to get there. Langworthy blamed environmentalists for "grinding energy to a halt" and proposed developing the state's natural gas. "We should not be bowing down to Saudi kings begging for more oil," he concluded. Della Pia said it was a case of "Economics 101, supply and demand." He blamed the oil companies for profit-taking and proposed looking for cleaner sources of energy, including nuclear power. They found common ground on the need for price support for farmers, a major constituency in the predominantly rural district, but they retreated behind party lines on the hot-button issues abortion, crime and gun control. Same with questions about universal health care, forgiving student loans, the border with Mexico and legalizing marijuana nationally. Della Pia thought abortion rights should be guaranteed nationwide. Langworthy refused to say whether he would vote for a nationwide ban on abortions, but suggested it should be a states' rights matter. Both men cited the May 14 massacre in Buffalo. To prevent more mass shootings, Della Pia proposed gun registration and a ban on high-capacity magazines. Langworthy contended it's a mental health problem and more efforts should be made to identify potential murderers. As for crime, Langworthy blamed New York's relaxed bail laws for last week's murder of Keaira Bennefield in Buffalo. Della Pia blamed the judge for not imposing bail on the suspect, her estranged husband, after he was arrested earlier on a domestic abuse charge. Both candidates waffled on supporting President Biden or former President Donald Trump if they ran again in 2024. Della Pia said he was proud of Biden's record but wouldn't commit, while Langworthy said Trump "got a lot of great things done." As for an endorsement, "We would have to have a conversation about that," he explained. Della Pia came closest to drawing blood after the moderators, Chris Horvatits and Dave Greber from WIVB-TV, questioned Langworthy about the 11,000 duplicate signatures on Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin's nominating petitions. Langworthy cited the chaotic process of collecting signatures and the confusion over redistricting, adding that "I didn't touch the petitions personally," and Della Pia found an opening. "This is not a mistake," he flatly declared. "This is fraud. And he, as captain of the ship, needs to take responsibility for it. If he didn't know, he was asleep at the switch." In his closing statement, Langworthy noted that the district has had "a revolving door of representatives" and promised to be "a stable conservative voice for the people of Western New York." Della Pia concluded by citing his experience in team building during his years in the Air Force and declared, "We need a different kind of congressperson, someone who wants to work with others." The moderators closed the session by reminding viewers that early voting for the Nov. 8 election begins on Saturday. Well weve seen and heard Republican Govs. Greg Abbott and Ron DeSantis tell and show us how much they hate illegal immigration. And while I agree we should have strong borders I also believe that Abbott, DeSantis and many Republicans are in reality pro illegal immigration. Why do I say that? Well there is plenty of evidence to come to that conclusion. Both governors states are big agricultural producers yet not one of their bussing trips involved picking up any of the tens of thousands of farm workers who are undocumented immigrants working the farms in their states that have worked on those same farms year after year. They would be incredibly easy to find since they are working in the same place day after day, all day long in plain view but yet these governors have done nothing. The same situation in meat packing plants in their states. Approximately 75% of the people working in meat packing plants are undocumented immigrants, yet I havent seen these governors make one move on any meat packing plant in their state. Where is the press that lauds these governors for their strong stand on illegal immigration? Why arent they taking these governors to task for what is happening in plain sight? Will the press ask DeSantis to certify that no undocumented immigrants will rebuild Florida? The only conclusion one can come to is the GOP secretly loves illegal immigration and want it. In a few weeks, voters will go to the polls. Without hesitation, I highly recommend supporting and voting for Congresswoman Claudia Tenney to represent us in the newly formed 24th District. During her stint in Congress, Claudia has been a tenacious fighter for the following signature causes: Co-launched the House Election Integrity Caucus in Congress, to ensure that Americans in every state and territory have confidence in free, fair, accurate, and transparent elections. Introduced a resolution to create a Select Committee on Older Americans to ensure Congress is meeting the needs of Americas seniors. Co-led the bipartisan Reaching Improved Mental Health Outcomes for Patients Act, which passed the House as part of a larger package, to improve programs that provide care and treatment for mental health, suicide prevention, substance abuse, and much more. Spearheaded the bipartisan Essential Caregivers Act to ensure our loved ones in nursing homes never again endure the pain and suffering of isolation they experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic. Received the Guardian of Small Business Award from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) for her work on the House Small Business Committee, supporting Americas small businesses. Now more than ever, the 24th district needs a proven representative with Claudias legislative experience and passion representing us on Capitol Hill. Please join me on Election Day, Nov. 8, by sending Congresswoman Claudia Tenney back to Washington. Steve Barnhoorn Honeoye Nexta, an Egyptian startup that plans to launch its banking app in the coming months, has secured a $3 million investment from eFinance Group, a state-owned provider of digital payments solutions. This news follows the $2 million pre-seed round Nexta announced this March, which Egyptian early-stage VC Disruptech led. Last year, Nexta obtained a provisional license from the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) and will look to fulfill further requirements and meet certain obligations before obtaining the CBEs final approval for the agent banking license it needs to launch its services in the country. The Nexta app will have a partner bank to handle settlements and act as an intermediary between itself and the CBE -- however, itll power its cards and tech. Founded by Ahmed Hisham in 2021, Nexta wants to disrupt the Egyptian fintech scene with its next-generation banking app and card. According to the company, the Nexta card will aggregate users existing payment cards, allowing more effortless money transfer and tracking spending, among other features. Were trying to build next-generation banking and provide a seamless user experience to the consumer. We want to make easy and instant onboarding, card aggregation, linking all of your cards and several methods of cash-in features, the co-founder and CEO told TechCrunch in an interview, adding that the company plans to make revenue from interchange fees. Thats the first thing we are going in with the soft launch, and budgeting and tracking spending. And then well add more features every month or quarter more features to solve the pinpoints of Egyptians. Egypt is among the highest consumer spending markets across Africa. It is also one of the regions most cash-reliant markets, meaning theres an immense opportunity for fintechs to bring consumers spending online by launching card services. Egyptians looking for fresh alternatives that do not include telco-powered mobile wallets and digital channels from legacy banks can turn to Nexta and Telda, the Sequoia-backed fintech that announced a $20 million seed round last week. Story continues Unlike Telda, which allowed signups from its yet-to-be-launched apps (it didnt bode well with its over 30,000 users after waiting almost a year to use the app), Nexta has limited its waitlist to signups from its website, engaging them through content marketing in preparation for its launch. Hisham declined to reveal how many subscribers are on the companys waitlist. Like Sabbah, in an interview with TechCrunch last week, Hisham agrees that both consumer-facing fintech apps ultimately compete with cash. I believe that the competition is very healthy and thanks to Telda for the awareness they made to consumers and taking the first step. The Egyptian market needs not only Telda and Nexta but four or five other players like us, the CEO added. In a statement, Ibrahim Sarhan, eFinances chairman and CEO, said the investment in Nexta is in line with Egypts digital transformation plan and vision for 2030, including the Groups plan to maximize its assets and investments by investing in the fintech space. Nexta is among the promising companies financed by the Group within several targeted investments, Sahar said. Its worth noting that the Group took part in establishing Nclude an investment fund to invest in emerging fintech companies, thus improving the current and future direction of fintech in Egypt. Hisham, who describes this investment as a strategic partnership rather than a funding round, said Nexta is glad to have e-finance on board as the demand for financial services in Egypt increases. We believe there is a huge opportunity for us to offer a differentiated and outstanding experience to different users in such a promising market, he said. Proceeds from the investment will help Nexta prepare for its launch, hire talent and invest in its technology. Update: This report was updated with a correction to the amount Next raised: $3 million instead of $5 million. By Azernews By Laman Ismayilova Azerbaijani Culture Minister Anar Karimov has met with Israeli Ambassador to Azerbaijan George Deek, Azernews reports, citing the ministry. Warmly welcoming the ambassador, Anar Karimov spoke about the centuries-old friendship between Azerbaijan and Israel. He emphasized that the cultural relations between the two countries are developing closely in many areas. The minister stressed the importance of implementing joint projects to further strengthen cooperation in culture and art. The Israeli ambassador expressed his satisfaction with the sincere friendship and important cooperation existing between the countries. He was informed about the Baku Process, initiated by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev as well as "Peace4Culture", a global campaign put forward by the Culture Ministry to ensure lasting peace for the preservation, revival, and restoration of culture in post-conflict times. Next, the Culture Minister and the Israeli ambassador discussed other issues of mutual interest. Dave Zweifel is editor emeritus of The Capital Times. dzweifel@captimes.com, 608-252-6410 and on Twitter @DaveZweifel. Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less. MENOMONIE The plight of Nicaraguans living under an authoritarian regime will be the focus of a presentation at University of Wisconsin-Stout to recognize Hispanic Heritage Month. Professor Analisa DeGrave, who teaches Latin American literature and civilization and Spanish language courses at UW-Eau Claire, will present Art and Performance as Resistance to Authoritarianism in 21st Century Nicaragua at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, in the Willow/Walnut Room of the Memorial Student Center. The event, sponsored by Latinos Unidos, a UW-Stout student organization, is free and open to the public. Whether in Nicaragua or in exile, Nicaraguans use art and performance to raise awareness concerning the violation of human rights in their country, said DeGrave. She will address what the word authoritarianism means in the context of todays Nicaragua, ruled by President Daniel Ortega, as well as how the political and humanitarian crisis of April 2018 impacted the country. Through the first six months of this year, a record 111,000 Nicaraguans seeking asylum were encountered entering the U.S., compared with about 51,000 in all of 2021. In September, U.S Customs Border and Patrol Commissioner Chris Magnus said, Failing communist regimes in Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba are driving a new wave of migration across the Western Hemisphere, including the recent increase in encounters at the southwest U.S. border. Alejandro Calixto Martinez, president of Latinos Unidos, said its important to recognize Hispanic Heritage Month at UW-Stout. The Latino community has played an important role throughout the history of the United States. Moreover, Latinos represent approximately 19% of the U.S. population. Many people know they are of Hispanic heritage, but they do not know much about the culture, he said. Latinos Unidos has about 175 members this year, Martinez said. It provides an opportunity for these students to learn about their roots and hopefully provide a space for them to come and have fun. Martinez, from Reedsburg, is a senior majoring in hotel, restaurant and tourism management. Vice President Jonathan Romero is a senior from Beloit. The FBI set me up with a corrupt briefing and then leaked that to smear me. Thats what U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson said in a debate last week after his opponent, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, noted federal agents met with the senator in 2020 to warn him that he might be the target of Russian disinformation campaign leading up the presidential election. At the time, Johnson was investigating the family of now-President Joe Biden, including its relationship with Ukraine. Not long before Johnsons investigation, the senator met with a former Ukrainian diplomat to discuss debunked claims that Ukraine aided Hillary Clintons 2016 campaign for the presidency. Heres how we got from that to Johnsons claim that he was set up: On July 4, 2018, Johnson and other Republicans went to Russia, reportedly to warn officials there not to interfere with the 2020 election. After the trip, Johnson told the Washington Examiner that the United States response to Russian interference was overblown. We need to really honestly assess what actually happened, what effect did it have, and what effect are our sanctions actually having, positively and negatively, he said. He also called for American sanctions focusing more on Russian President Vladimir Putins inner circle, and suggested the two countries didnt have to be enemies. A year later on Meet the Press, Johnson was unequivocal that Russia interfered with the 2016 election but added, I dont know to what extent the Ukrainians did. I dont know to what extent DNC and Hillary Clinton campaign were involved in kind of juicing up the the Ukrainian involvements as well. Johnsons statement came months after he met with a former Ukrainian diplomat, Andriy Telizhenko, to discuss unsubstantiated claims that Ukraine aided Clintons campaign. Telizhenko, the FBI would warn Republican lawmakers a few months later, was a potential conduit for Russian disinformation. Telizhenko told The Washington Post he met with Johnson for at least half an hour on Capitol Hill and with Senate staff for another five hours. He said Johnson invited him to meet. The meeting took place July 11, 2019, according to a photograph taken of the two posted to Telizhenkos Facebook page. U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., claimed Johnson wanted to give credibility to disinformation advanced by Telizhenko and Andriy Derkach, a Ukrainian politician accused by the Treasury Department of having been an active Russian agent, for the purpose of helping Trumps reelection campaign, The Washington Post reported. Johnson pushed back against that claim, saying his staff vetted the reliability of Telizhenkos information. FBI briefing In August 2020, the FBI warned Johnson that he was the target of a Russian disinformation campaign aimed at promoting Russias interests in the lead-up to the election. Around the same time, Johnson, who served as chair of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security, was overseeing the committees investigation into the role Bidens son Hunter played with a Ukrainian energy company while Biden was vice president. A committee report, issued before the November presidential election, found no evidence that Hunter Bidens work on the companys board affected U.S. policy. The younger Biden is currently under Department of Justice scrutiny, however, related to potential tax crimes in not declaring some of his income, including from ventures overseas, as well as a false statement related to a gun purchase, The Washington Post reported. The FBI briefing Johnson received was first mentioned in a September 2020 report, issued in part by a committee Johnson chaired. The report included little information about the briefing besides saying the FBI stated that it is not attempting to quash, curtail, or interfere in the investigation in any way. More detail about the FBI meeting became available in a May 2021 Washington Post article, citing anonymous sources as stating officials planned to ... alert members of Congress ... that they faced a risk of being used to further Russias attempt to influence the elections outcome. Regarding reports that I received an FBI briefing warning me that I was a target of Russian disinformation, I can confirm I received such a briefing in August of 2020, Johnson said in a statement to The Washington Post. I asked the briefers what specific evidence they had regarding this warning, and they could not provide me anything other than the generalized warning. Without specific information, I felt the briefing was completely useless and unnecessary (since I was fully aware of the dangers of Russian disinformation). Johnson spokesperson Alexa Henning said the senator provided information about the briefing to The Washington Post after one of its reporters came to the senator already equipped with details about the meeting that the paper obtained from anonymous sources. The FBI warning was known as a defensive briefing, which are given to people to alert them they are being targeted by foreign governments for harmful purposes, according to the Post. Johnson told the newspaper that he did not view the FBI meeting as a defensive briefing. Clarity sought Johnson has since requested information about the briefing from the FBI but hasnt received a sufficient response from the agency, he wrote in a letter this August. Asked how the FBIs non-response proved the agency was corrupt, Henning said, If the FBI has nothing to hide, why have they been completely unresponsive? She also pointed to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report finding Barnes was interviewed by a Russian-funded television outlet several times in 2015 and 2016, during which he denounced the violence of American police. Denying that Johnsons investigation was influenced by Russian disinformation, Henning also referred to information the senator received from whistleblowers alleging FBI leadership told employees not to look into a recovered laptop that allegedly belonged to Hunter Biden. So whats the rest of the story? By not providing records about the briefing, the FBI casts further doubt on the true purpose for the briefing, Henning said. But the fact that the FBI, which generally does not comment on ongoing investigations, didnt share more details with Johnson isnt, in itself, evidence the briefing was corrupt. Whether information about the briefing was leaked to smear Johnson isnt known, but national media outlets routinely rely on anonymous sources in reporting on national security issues. Age: 64 Address: 1925 Dakota St., Lincoln Occupation: State senator Political party: Democrat What experiences qualify you for this office? I have been a state senator for eight years, where I serve as vice chair of the Judiciary Committee and serve on the Education Committee. I co-chaired the LPS $250 million bond issue to better every school in every zip code, co-chaired the $6 million Union Plaza Campaign for our first urban park and co-chaired the $9.6 million Centennial Mall renovation campaign. I am a mom, attorney and small business owner. This has prepared me to serve Nebraskans in Washington. What is the biggest challenge facing the country and how do you believe Congress should address it? The biggest challenge facing the country is the toxic partisanship that hinders our ability to solve our nations biggest challenges. For example, many Americans cannot afford visits to the doctor, prescription medications and necessary surgeries. Congress must reduce the cost of prescription medications and ensure affordable, accessible health care for all Americans through programs like the Affordable Care Act. Its beyond time for people in both parties to find common ground and work together for all Americans. What specific legislation and priorities would you pursue in the interest of Nebraska and your congressional district? I will pursue agriculture investments to help Nebraskan farmers, with a primary focus on passing a farm bill as soon as I get to Congress. I will also work to pass legislation for paid sick and family leave, as well as child care. In addition, I will prioritize legislation to stop government mandates on bodily autonomy, guarantee access to birth control, and also guarantee the ability of individuals to travel across state lines for health care. Do you believe there is evidence of global climate change? If so, what should Congress do, if anything, to address its impact? Clear evidence shows that climate change is rapidly changing our global landscape and threatening Nebraskas economic interests. Nebraska and other states are facing severe droughts, countries are seeing devastating natural disasters, and temperatures have been continuously climbing. Farmers are also seeing the effects in our agriculture sector. We must plan for the impacts of climate change and diversify our energy resources. Do you believe Congress should enact some form of increased gun control measures? Why or why not, and if so, what form should the legislation take? Congress must enact commonsense reforms to our gun laws. Our citizens are forced to live in fear at schools, places of worship, grocery stores, etc. I support universal background checks, red flag laws and age restrictions on the purchases of firearms. I support the Second Amendment. I agree with former Justice Antonin Scalia when he said not every gun in every place at every time is protected. The gun violence in this nation needs to end. What significant differences are there between you and your opponent? I will work across the aisle. My opponent has demonstrated he will only take orders from his party leaders. Whether opposing birth control, same sex marriage, interracial marriage, or an amber-alert system to inform people of active shooters, he marches lockstep to his partys commands. He doesnt support reproductive health care access, even in the case of rape/incest. Unlike my opponent, I dont take corporate PAC dollars. I will answer to the people and not parties or special interests. What role would your party affiliation, party leadership within the House and your partys House caucus play in determining how you would vote? One of the many reasons that I am running for Congress is to end the grenade launching from both sides of the aisle. My party will not dictate how I vote. I will vote in the best interest of Nebraskans. Period. What committee assignments would you seek or prefer? I would like to be on the Agriculture Committee to ensure our agriculture interests are protected. I would also like to be on the Appropriations Committee so that I can ensure Nebraska economic interests are heard and supported. Finally, I will request to be on the Veterans Affairs Committee to ensure our veterans receive the support they deserve for their sacrifice. EU Commissioner Urges US Lawmakers to Establish New Crypto Rules Mairead McGuinness. Source: a video screenshot, Eurodesk Brussels Link / YouTube Mairead McGuinness, the European Commissions commissioner for financial services, warned about the dangers that digital assets could pose to financial stability and called for US politicians to draw up new rules to govern the crypto industry. Per the Financial Times, during a trip to Washington, DC, the commissioner met politicians who are at the center of crypto regulation discussion in the USA, including the Republican member of the House Patrick McHenry and the Democratic senator Kirsten Gillibrand. McGuinness told the Financial Times that she was encouraged by the meetings and that the US politicians seem to be moving in the same direction as their EU counterparts. She added, however, that, Theres a lot of concern at a European level as to [what would happen] if crypto were not to be regulated. There could be in time, if it grows financial stability problems. There also are investor issues around a lack of certainty. Ever since the collapse of the Terra/LUNA ecosystem, the market crash this year, as well as the following string of bankruptcies, regulators across the world have sharpened their already growing focus on the industry. McGuinness argued that any regulation imposed on the industry has to be global if it were to work. Referring to other countries that have started following the EUs lead on crypto regulation, she told the news outlet that, We do need to see other players also legislating, perhaps differently, but with the same objective We need to look at global regulation of crypto. Similarly to McGuinness, the Financial Stability Board called for a global framework for crypto regulation efforts. Last week, as reported, this international advisory body created by the G20, laid out its recommendations for crypto regulation and said that most existing stablecoins are not in compliance. However, when it comes to the US, the Financial Times report cited people close to negotiations, saying that the two parties are still months away from reaching an agreement on key questions, including the stablecoin regulations. This is despite the increased effort to come to an agreement over the industry regulation among politicians and regulatory agencies, with some taking a tougher stance towards crypto companies specifically, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). At the beginning of the month, the group of financial regulators comprising the US Financial Stability Oversight Council issued a report, calling on politicians to reach an agreement on crypto-related matters. Among other conclusions, the Council recommended taking steps to address regulatory arbitrage, including coordination, legislation regarding risks posed by stablecoins, legislation relating to regulators authorities to have visibility into, and otherwise supervise, the activities of all of the affiliates and subsidiaries of cryptoasset entities, and appropriate service provider regulation Famous Canadian businessman and television personality Kevin O'Leary, aka Mr. Wonderful, argued that a piece of regulation called the 'Stablecoin Transparency Act' has a chance of getting passed by the US Congress very quickly after November 8, the date of the midterm elections. Per him, both the Democrats and the Republicans support some form of crypto regulation so the regulations are coming, he stated. Meanwhile, over in the EU, a major event occurred just this month: after two years of discussions, the EUs landmark crypto legislation Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (MiCA) passed the European Parliament. The bill aims to regulate all crypto-related activities. Also, as reported recently, the European Commission, which is the EUs executive branch that proposes legislation and implements decisions, seeks to have automated software to monitor decentralized finance (DeFi) activity via the Ethereum (ETH) blockchain data. ____ Learn more: - European Regulator Lists What is Needed for 'Responsible Crypto Sector' - 'More Work to Be Done' as EU Imposes Strict New Crypto Regulations - US Treasury Begins Public Consultation on How to Regulate Crypto - A Former CFTC Chair Thinks There is No Need For New Laws on Stablecoins: Heres What He Said South Korean Police Have Seized $1.3m in Crypto in 2022, Critics Say Its Not Enough Source: Thierry Chabot/Unsplash South Korean police have seized $1.3 million worth of crypto in criminal investigations so far this year, official numbers have revealed. According to Segye Ilbo, the figure is just a small fraction (1.4%) of the total $92 million worth of assets seized by officers in criminal investigations. The data was compiled by the National Police Agency and made public by Choi Ki-sang, a Democratic Party lawmaker. It includes figures from the first half of 2022, with a total for the year unlikely to be made public until the middle of 2023. The statistics also showed that officers had asked courts to let them confiscate cryptoassets in 13 separate cases this year. In 2021, officers made 36 such requests and only made eight requests in the whole of 2020. $1.3 m Seized: Officers Cant Keep up with Criminals Critics claim that the modest figure of $1.3 million shows that the police simply lack the knowledge and IT capabilities required to fight Web3-era crime. They claim that officers are unable to keep up with criminals with some stating that crypto-powered money laundering is actually rising sharply in South Korea. The police force last year announced the launch of a network of specialized crypto teams, while the government is set to respond by launching a new crypto regulator. And, more recently, the nations prosecution service announced that it is ready to spend big on sophisticated crypto monitoring tools. But despite claims that officers are getting better at stopping crypto-related crime, experts beg to differ. Lee Woong-hyuk, a Professor of Policing at the elite Konkuk University, was quoted as stating: The term fiber art is a relatively new one, coming into use by art historians to describe the work of the artist-craftsman in the period following World War II. Those years saw an expansion of the design and production of art fabric and a new appreciation for the aesthetics surrounding them. The womens movement was important in contributing to the rise of fiber art due to the long, traditional association of women with textiles in the domestic sphere. Seeking to reexamine roles of gender and the arts and the sometimes arbitrary notions of fine art and craft, artists sought to reclaim and add meaning to what many thought as merely womens work. Indeed, many of the most prominent fiber artists are women. Since the 1980s, fiber work has become more and more conceptual, influenced by postmodernist ideas, coinciding with a growth in interest in using textile media in a fine art context. More than just weaving, fiber structures are created through knotting, twining, plaiting, coiling, pleating, lashing, interlacing and even braiding. Artists explored the qualities of fabric to develop works that could be hung or free-standing. The most recent juried exhibit in the upper gallery of the Carlisle Arts Learning Center (CALC) is designed to illustrate the connection of traditional textile methods to these contemporary works being created by todays fiber artists. (un)Common Threads features 26 artists showing a wide range of textile and fiber arts. Curated to illustrate the evolution of traditional materials and techniques into modern works, pieces came from as far away as Missouri, Colorado and Washington State, as well across the East Coast and mid-Atlantic region. Meghan Udell creates soft sculptural objects with Wild Goose Chase and Take a Moment as she uses knitting with a form of steganography, the practice of concealing a message within another message or a physical object to create a form of ciphered storytelling. In these creations, she uses Morse code contained within her knitting to share a hidden message. Claire Renaut uses a non-traditional material in her knitting. Renaut creates a hand-spun newspaper yarn that is used in Rag Times 1 and 2 and One Noh Square. She has lived in the United States and Europe, finding newspapers, with their localized interpretations of what stories deserve to be told, to be a common object in every place she has lived. Renaut describes, Each step of the process, cutting the newspaper into thin strips, spinning the stripes into a yarn, to the weaving or the knitting is long and meticulous. Each step becomes a meditation. In times of fast technology, I enjoy the slow and deliberate pace of using hands-on traditional tools and method. In these works, Renaut knits the stories of others into a tale of her own. Inner Earth by Deborah Fingerlow uses a traditional freeform technique of weaving but has used an upcycled vintage metal table as its frame. The glass tabletop protects the weaving suspended below, allowing one to look down upon its woven earth-tone fibers. Kathy Spoerings Graffiti is a hand-woven tapestry that takes a different approach in its thematic conception. Drawing on the often-seen urban landscape of aerosol art creations on abandoned buildings or train cars, this brilliantly colored piece captures the urgent imagery and messaging that makes street art so vital. It is fascinating to see how the transformation is completed in a completely different medium. Lady by Michelle Moats is a painterly approach to the fiber arts as she has made a 2D needle felting painting with fiber. From a distance, the shadowy portrait of the woman is easily mistaken for an oil painting with gentle brushstrokes. Only upon closer examination do the fiber details reveal the true creative source. Another set of entries whose medium fools the eye is Rebecca Foxs Blankie Row and Deconstructed Quilt, which are both made of ceramic. These hanging woven cloth structures resemble doilies and baby blankets, which appear to be stiffened by starch and hung on the walls. In a thoughtful addition, while viewers are asked to not touch the art, Fox has available pieces of her ceramic weaving that creates a full sensory experience in being able to touch and experience the material. Joh Riccis mastery of fiber art is evident in her three pieces Does The Caged Bird Sing?, Y Knot! and Chameleon Bloom. The latter two are crafted with a variety of knotting techniques that yield soft sculptures. The intricacies of the knotting coupled with the minute scale in which they are completed are a visual marvel. In Does The Caged Bird Sing? Ricci uses crochet stitches with cotton thread and yarn to make a hand holding a wooden birds cage with woven sheeps wool to create a nest. Her sculptures are a wonderful example of how fiber arts can cross artistic lines to create three-dimensional sculptures. (un)Common Threads is a fascinating introduction to the evolution of the fiber arts, a medium with which many may not be familiar. At the same time, the variety of work shows that the medium continues to evolve into two- and three-dimensional works, using materials both expected and unexpected. After a visit to the CALC gallery, viewers are sure to appreciate the fiber arts and will be looking for more in the future. (un)Common Threads is on view at the Carlisle Arts Learning Center until Oct. 29. Gallery hours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, or by appointment. CALC is located at 38 W. Pomfret St., in Carlisle. The exhibition is free and open to the public. Visit www.CarlisleArts.org or call 717-249-6973. I know you guys are inundated, but there are hundreds of people out blocking the street, trying to push cars over and trying to run people over. I know you guys are busy, but this is chaos here, said one woman. HARRISBURG John Fetterman, the Democratic nominee for Senate in Pennsylvania, released a doctors note Wednesday saying he is recovering well from a May stroke as he vies for an open seat in a campaign against Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz, who has questioned Fettermans fitness to serve. Five months after the medical emergency from which Fetterman said, I almost died, he is fighting some lingering effects of the stroke the elephant in the room, he called it at a recent rally. He uses closed-captioning to quickly interpret and respond to questions, and sometimes stumbles over words. In the one-page letter, Dr. Clifford Chen wrote that Fetterman, the lieutenant governor, continues to endure effects of the stroke that involve speech and being able to respond quickly. But he said Fetterman exhibited no effects on his cognitive ability or his ability to think and reason after the stroke, which occurred just days before the primary election. Fetterman, 53, is recovering well from his stroke and his health has continued to improve, Chen wrote after examining Fetterman on Friday. Chen is a primary care physician in Duquesne affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center who has given $1,330 to Fettermans campaign and tens of thousands of dollars more to Democratic causes over the past 20 years, according to federal election records. He concluded that Fetterman has no work restrictions and can work full duty in public office. With less than three weeks before the Nov. 8 election, Fetterman is trying to counter Ozs relentless attacks on his health while also acknowledging, going into their Tuesday debate, that his recovery is not complete. The race to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Pat Toomey could determine party control of the Senate. Fetterman has declined to release a fuller suite of his medical records or provide access by reporters to his doctors or specialists. Still, some independent experts on strokes who were consulted by the Associated Press before Fetterman released Chens note said the candidate appears to be recovering remarkably well and they are optimistic that he will continue to get even better. Someone who is speaking and moving and looking the way he does has a very good long-term prognosis, said Dr. Alexandre Carter of Washington University in St. Louis, who specializes in neurologic rehabilitation. Carter said it is hard to assess how rapidly Fetterman is recovering because certain basic details, including the strokes severity, what part of the brain was affected or how serious his earlier symptoms were, have not been made public. Carter, who examined videos of Fetterman with voters and being interviewed, said campaigning was a great stress test for his ability to do the job. Strokes often leave one side of the body weak or even partially paralyzed, but Carter saw no sign that Fetterman has trouble walking or favors one side, and he does not use a cane. Despite Fettermans language-related difficulties, hes speaking quite well. His speech is fluent. He knows what he wants to say. Most of the time it comes out perfectly clear, Carter said. Fetterman had the stroke just days before winning the Democratic primary. It kept him from campaigning for much of the summer and, when he returned, the state of his recovery was on full display. Oz, a heart surgeon-turned-TV celebrity who has treated stroke patients, has accused Fetterman of lying about his health and suggested that the stroke has left Fetterman unequipped to serve effectively in the Senate. Fettermans critics seized on the candidates struggles to understand speech, also known as an auditory processing disorder, after his in-person interview with NBC News this month. Fetterman had used closed-captioning in interviews going back to July. But for the first time, NBC News cameras showed Fetterman reading an interviewers questions off his computer monitor before he responded. An auditory processing difficulty does not mean someone has trouble hearing its about how quickly and accurately the brains language network turns sound into meaning, said Brooke Hatfield of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. There are different types, but generally the brain needs to kind of reroute itself to decode speech signals after a stroke, said Hatfield, a speech pathologist who has worked extensively with stroke patients. Responding to speech is asking the brain to work really fast. Somebody whos recovering, their brain might need just a little more time to make those connections. Fettermans use of the closed-captioning system implies to me that hes got a very strong visual system he can read information more easily than he can hear it and process it, Hatfield said, adding that it is a tool much like wearing glasses. About 20% of stroke survivors experience some type of auditory processing difficulty, said Dr. Babu Welch, a brain surgeon at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Improvement takes time, speech therapy and practice. Chen said in his note that Fetterman has significantly improved after working with a speech therapist. Welch said that he could not comment specifically on Fettermans progress but that someone who appears to be doing pretty well in October from a May stroke, thats pretty good. That usually suggests theres going to be continued improvement. Problems with auditory processing do not mean someone also has cognitive problems, the experts agreed. The brains language network is different from regions involved in decision making and critical thinking. Just because you have a disability doesnt mean that youre cognitively impaired, Carter said. He is baffled by controversy over Fettermans use of closed-captioning, saying, People who have significant comprehension problems or cognitive problems, captionings not going to help them. Fetterman will use closed-captioning in the debate. Questions about Fettermans condition had swirled for weeks after the stroke, fueled at least in part by the campaigns initial limited disclosures about the episode and later by Ozs questions about Fettermans absence from campaigning for much of the summer and his refusal to engage in more than one debate. Fettermans campaign first revealed the stroke on May 15, two days after he was hospitalized, and said it was caused by a condition called atrial fibrillation. Fetterman later acknowledged that his cardiologist said he could have avoided the stroke had he taken prescribed blood thinners. Fetterman said he thought wrongly that losing weight and exercising would be enough. The campaign did not release key additional details for two more weeks. Doctors implanted a pacemaker for the atrial fibrillation, along with a defibrillator that turned out to be a precaution for a different and more serious condition called cardiomyopathy. The defibrillator can deliver corrective shocks if it senses the weakened and enlarged heart muscle has fallen into a life-threatening irregular rhythm. In a letter made public in June, Dr. Ramesh Chandra, Fettermans cardiologist, said the candidate would be fine and able to serve in the Senate if he ate healthy foods, stuck with his medication and exercised. Chens letter said Fetterman was doing that, adding that he can walk 4 miles to 5 miles without difficulty. By Azernews By Laman Ismayilova A project Pearls of Karabakh Cuisine has been presented in Shusha, Azernews reports, citing Trend Life. The project is a winner of the grant competition, organized by the Agency for State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations, to mark a number of significant events including the Year of Shusha, the Day of Restoration of Independence (Oct 18), International Chefs Day (Oct 20) and the 30th anniversary of the World Association of Chefs' Societies (WACS). Speaking at the event, president of the Azerbaijani National Culinary Association, the World Platform of Islamic Countries Culinary Societies (WICS), and WACS member, Honored Cultural Worker Tahir Amiraslanov noted that the 28 chefs attended the Second Karabakh War and played a role in the liberation of their native lands from invaders. Six of them became martyrs, they gave their lives for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. The book presentation of the same name and a series of events took place in a military unit. The author of the book is Gulnara Alaskarova. Copies of the book were handed over to the library and canteen of the military unit, soldiers, and officers. Around 36 culinary specialists held master classes on Karabakh cuisine for military culinary personnel in Shusha. The servicemen were also treated to dishes of the Karabakh cuisine including Shusha pilaf, Karabakh kata, etc. Servicemen-culinary specialists, as well as persons who took an active part in the work on the project, were awarded certificates. Scott Goodyear went in search of answers at the Carlisle Post Office Monday afternoon. Instead, he left about 90 minutes later following a brush with local law enforcement. Ive not received mail for two weeks, Goodyear said in a phone interview following the incident. I stood in line with 25 other people for the same reason. A North Middleton Township man, he said a U.S. Postal Service truck came through his neighborhood in recent days to deliver Amazon products. But there was no sign of personal mail. Sharing his line Monday was an older woman from Boiling Springs who had no problem speaking her mind. She was demanding to know what was going on, he said, adding that the woman insisted on answers after waiting to talk to a supervisor for 30 minutes. Goodyear said it was at that point a clerk pointed a woman to the door to leave, which prompted him to speak out as well. I had enough. You dont disrespect the elderly. Carlisle Police were then called to the post office where Goodyear said they interviewed him and other witnesses, though later left without charging anyone. We regret any service problem experienced by our customers and appreciate it when they bring issues to our attention, said Mark Lawrence, a strategic communications specialist for the Atlantic area of the postal service covering upstate New York and central and western Pennsylvania. The information provided by the customer is logged and distributed to the office of concern to address the issue. He did not elaborate on the incident Monday in Carlisle. Lawrence has suggested customers with questions, concerns or comments reach USPS online at www.usps.com or call 800-275-8777. The public can also notify the federal agency by Twitter @USPSHelp. There have been plenty of concerns recently regarding mail delivery in the area. All last week, Jerry Burdett of North Middleton Township received no mail including the insurance statements he needed for regular payments. By Friday, Burdett was so fed up he stopped at the Carlisle post office to vent his frustration toward management. Like Goodyear, he was not alone. There were nine people behind me at the time, all for the same reason, Burdett said. We had to wait 30 minutes for one of the supervisors to come out. A woman jotted down his name and address. Two days later, on Sunday, Burdett finally received his mail. The whole episode reminded him of a previous inconvenience. We went through this nightmare about a year ago, he said. Week after week, it was going on for a long period of time. He estimated that regular and consistent mail delivery in his neighborhood was only restored in January. If youre going to raise prices, we should at least get the damn service, Burdett said. Delivery issues Mail delivery on some routes can be disrupted occasionally due to employee availability for such reasons as illness, personal leave and retirements, Lawrence said. He said the postal service uses a number of strategies to continue with delivery, including authorizing overtime to get the necessary mail delivered, expanding delivery to earlier in the morning and later in the evening and on Sundays, using additional carriers from nearby offices, hiring additional full-time and seasonal personnel and allowing customers to sign up for Informed Delivery, which allows them to preview their mail and manage packages that are scheduled to arrive soon. Lawrence said postal service will hold a job fair from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Penn Harris Hotel in Camp hill, with job postings updated frequently on its career website. The efforts seem a little too late for Kim Miller of Camp Hill, who is the president of the Keystone Area Local of the American Postal Union representing clerks, motor vehicle drivers and maintenance and custodial workers. This is the first that I heard about the Carlisle post office, she said Monday. Im aware of many routes not being delivered due to a shortage in mail carriers. She attributes the shortage to a number of factors. Under [Postmaster General] Louis DeJoy, they cut staffing, Miller said. Were down to the bare bones. Its a lack of everybody in the system. Its robbing Peter to pay Paul. Though efforts are being made to recruit through job fairs, the postal service faces tough competition, she said. With the warehouses going up and hiring, people are not choosing to work at the post office. Miller has experienced the problems firsthand. Ive had numerous complaints from my neighbors, she said. They know that Im a postal worker. They have asked, Whats up with the mail. I tell them to call your post office and ask for your mail. I expect mail six days a week, but I didnt get it, Miller said. Recently, I was waiting on my medicine when I ran out. I called the pharmacy but couldnt get any. Finally, I got my medicine through the mail. I have to worry about older Americans. They may not have cars to drive into the city post office. They depend upon the post office. If youre not getting mail delivery, I encourage you to go to your postmaster and find out what the problem is, she said. We need to draw attention to this. Its an outrage. Call your congressman. MADISON, Wis. A Pennsylvania man whose 5-year-old daughter and her mother were killed in a car crash involving the Wisconsin state Senates minority leader has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the lawmaker. Brandon Fink, whose daughter Khaleesi Fink and the girls 27-year-old mother, Alyssa Ortman, were killed in the July crash, filed the lawsuit Friday in Ashland County (Wisconsin) Circuit Court, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Tuesday. Court documents show that the family lived in Clearfield, Pennsylvania. The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, names Democratic state Senate Minority Leader Janet Bewley, another driver and three insurance companies as defendants. Bewley, who represents a state Senate district that covers northwestern Wisconsin, pulled out of a Lake Superior beach entrance in Ashland on July 22 and into the path of a car driven by Ortman, according to police. When Ortmans car collided with Bewleys, it spun across Highway 2 and was hit by a vehicle driven by Jodi Munson, 45, of Washburn. Ortmans daughter was pronounced dead at the crash scene. Alyssa Ortman later died at a hospital, according to police. The Ashland police report, obtained by the Associated Press, says Bewley was distracted by her hands-free mobile phone at the time of the crash. The lawsuit alleges that all three drivers acted negligently. Bewleys spokesperson, Joey Huey, said the state senator would have no comment. Ashland County District Attorney David Meany said his office has started receiving law enforcement reports on the crash but that any decision on whether to pursue charges is pending a complete review of the case. Its unclear how long that might take, he said. Prison escapee accused of sending threatening letter, powder SCRANTON Federal prosecutors have accused a Pennsylvania prison escapee of sending a letter with threats to kill President Joe Biden and the chairman of the Jan. 6 committee, among others, and containing a white powder with an allusion to anthrax. Robert Maverick Vargo, 25, of Berwick, is charged with making threats against the president and a federal official and with interstate communications with a threat. The U.S. attorneys office in Scranton said the Washington office of U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., received a letter Oct. 11 threatening him, the president and a federal judge, and referencing Thompsons role as chairman of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. Prosecutors said the letter alluding to anthrax contained a white powder that U.S. Capitol Police determined did not pose an immediate public safety hazard. Prosecutors allege that both letter and substance were sent from the Luzerne County Correctional Center in Wilkes-Barre. Vargo made headlines over the summer when he ran away from a clean-up detail operated out of the Luzerne County jails minimal offenders unit on July 17. Federal marshals recaptured him days later near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Court documents indicate that Vargo pleaded guilty to an escape charge Friday in Luzerne County and awaits sentencing Dec. 27. A message was left Wednesday for the attorney representing him. He was also awaiting trial on burglary, weapons and other counts in Columbia County; his attorney in that case declined comment. Federal court documents dont list an attorney for him and the federal public defenders office said it had not yet been contacted about representing him; listed numbers in his name were no longer in service Wednesday. A pregnant woman and her husband killed in Kyiv by what Ukrainian officials said was a Russian kamikaze drone strike were inseparable, like yin and yang, their close friend has told CNN. These people loved life, Anna Petrukova said of Victoria Zamchenko and her husband Bohdan, both 34, who she described as a wonderful couple. They had a lot of plans they dreamed of their own home, children, a full-fledged family, travel. They had very big plans for this life, Petrukova said. The Zamchenkos died at home in their apartment in Kyiv on Monday, following a barrage of strikes by Russian-launched, Iranian-made kamikaze drones, according to Ukrainian officials. Victoria Zamchenko was six months pregnant with the couples first child. Drones have played a significant role in the conflict since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in late February, but their use has increased since Moscow acquired new drones from Iran over the summer. Unlike more traditional, larger and faster military drones that return to base after dropping missiles, kamikaze drones are designed to crash into a target and explode, detonating their warhead and destroying the drones in the process. The Ukrainian military and US intelligence say Russia is using Iranian-made attack drones. US officials told CNN in July that Iran had begun showcasing Shahed series drones to Russia at Kashan Airfield south of Tehran the previous month. In August, US officials said Russia had bought these drones and was training its forces how to use them. According to Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia has ordered 2,400 Shahed-136 drones from Iran. Yin and yang The Zamchenkos were among at least five people killed in the Russian drone attacks on Kyiv Monday, which sent shock waves through the Ukrainian capital, damaging residential buildings and burying civilians under rubble. At least three people died in separate strikes on Tuesday. Petrukova, who was in phone contact with Victoria Zamchenko just minutes before her death, said the first drone strikes Monday had trapped the couple in their apartment. Story continues They could no longer leave the house because there was an incoming hit at the [thermal power plant] right opposite, Petrukova recalled. So they were sitting in the corridor. The last message from her was at 8:18 a.m. [when] she heard two more incoming hits. After that, obviously, there was a fifth one. And the connection with her was lost. Petrukova added that the couple had been considering leaving the city, after the windows of their apartment were blown out in an attack last week. Victoria Zamchenko and her husband Bohdan were killed in their Kyiv apartment. - Courtesy Anna Petrukova Victoria Zamchenko had returned to Kyiv in August from her home city of Rinve in western Ukraine. She had missed her work as a sommelier at a local wine shop, Petrukova said. She was cheerful, highly intelligent, soulful, funny, deep kind of person, Petrukova said of her friend. We always had something to talk about and something to be silent about. Together since their university days, the Zamchenkos were inseparable, like yin and yang, Petrukova said. It is impossible to imagine them separately. They always held hands, always hugged. There was a lot of tenderness and warmth between them. It was always a pleasure to be around them. They were fun people. CNNs Ivana Kottasova contributred reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The country music industry may be centered in Nashville, but much of the talent and sound behind Music Citys best-known export originates elsewhere. The Country Music Hall of Fame medallion ceremony on Oct. 16 provided a strong reminder that the genre synthesizes people, style and abilities from across America. Late honoree Keith Whitley found his way to Nashville from eastern Kentucky through a bluegrass portal. Record executive Joe Galante brought marketing savvy to town from New York after working rock records by David Bowie and Lou Reed. More from Billboard And Jerry Lee Lewis forced by an illness to stay home developed his flashy piano playing and performance skills after hanging out at R&B/blues club Haneys Big House in Ferriday, La., before launching his recording career in Memphis ahead of his shift to country in 1968. The first performance during the induction Alabamas My Homes in Alabama, a song that was key in the band signing with Galante at RCA in 1980 clung to that concept, celebrating the groups hometown roots despite exploring a range of American cities. The rest of the guest list similarly represented multiple facets of popular music and geographical backgrounds. Oklahoman Garth Brooks found all the dramatic high points of Whitleys Dont Close Your Eyes in a guitar/vocal format, ironically closing his own eyes during the chorus while seemingly channeling the songs lead character. Texan Lee Ann Womack created spine-tingling sensitivity in her version of Lewis Middle Age Crazy, infusing the late-70s ballad with fierce sympathy and just a touch of scorn. East Tennessee-born Kenny Chesney fought through the emotionally challenging country love song The Good Stuff, a title that found favor in part because Galante pushed for its release to radio. And former San Francisco resident Chris Isaak delivered a faithful rendition of the Killers Great Balls of Fire, replete with heavily reverbed vocals and Jen Gundermans interpretation of Lewis piano-banging and shiny glissandos. Story continues Galante recalled in his acceptance speech that late BMI executive Frances Preston, a 1992 Hall inductee, had told him that country music revolves around the song and the artist. That combination of impactful songs and distinct artists describes the works that defined the medallion ceremonys honorees. Lewis rode his pumping piano as it was listed on the label of his early Sun recordings to a singular place in rock and country history, with Great Balls of Fire and Whole Lotta Shakin Going On succeeding in both genres in the late 1950s. He refocused on country in 1968, leading to a 13-year run of hits that included a remake of Chantilly Lace, honky-tonk hit Whats Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made a Loser Out of Me) and an improbable take on Over the Rainbow, bolstered with a self-reference to ol Jerry Lee. Jerry Lee doesnt walk onstage and politely thank an audience for being there, Hank Williams Jr. said while inducting the Killer. Jerry Lee doesnt ask for your attention. He demands it. He doesnt take the stage. He commands it Jerry Lee doesnt play songs. He owns songs. Whitley applied a rich vocal tone to tunes he inhabited emotionally. Dont Close Your Eyes, Im No Stranger to the Rain and When You Say Nothing at All performed by Mickey Guyton during the ceremony while Hall of Fame member Don Schlitz, who co-wrote it, watched from the audience provided his first three No. 1 hits in just a few months in the late 1980s, earning significant airplay at the time he died from alcohol poisoning in 1989. Where Lewis is famously confident, Whitley hid lingering self-doubts, a trait that was perhaps key to his ability to embody sadness and vulnerability in his recordings. Keith was three weeks away from being made a member of the Grand Ole Opry when he passed away, recalled Lorrie Morgan, who was his wife at the time. He didnt know it. And he would have never suspected this [induction] in his life. Whitleys breakthrough made him an addition to the new traditionalist movement of that era, and he became a significant influence on many acts who followed him, including Tim McGraw, Chris Young and Brooks, who officially inducted him into the Hall. This night, Brooks announced, is long overdue. Galante, meanwhile, was hailed as an executive who, by asking the right questions, helped the country industry better understand its product, its audience and the connection between them. He developed data, as Hall of Fame CEO Kyle Young noted, that informed difficult decisions and inspired marketing plans for a product that had frequently been worked on gut instinct. Not that Galante operated strictly from a mathematical playbook. Joe also looked beyond the numbers, to the things you cant quantify, like originality and heart, said Young. He overruled the data when it felt right. Galantes successes were numerous. He directed key campaigns for Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton, Ronnie Milsap, Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride and Miranda Lambert, who performed a guitar/vocal version of White Liar in his honor. Kix Brooks, while inducting Galante, noted that Brooks & Dunn was contemplating a split when a merger put the executive in charge of their label. The chance to work with Joe frickin Galante was enough incentive for the duo to give it one more try, which turned into a second 10-year run. Galantes own sensitivities were on display during his acceptance speech, where he told how his father, a 30-year postal service employee, had never understood the job that consumed his son. He discovered only after his dads death that the elder Galante had routinely purchased Billboard off newsstands in New York and saved photos and stories about his boy. You get the point, Galante said, just before the emotion took over the story. Ultimately, its those human tales the ones delivered by singular artists that built both Music City and the Rotunda that houses the bronze plaques of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Johnny Cash, Jimmie Rodgers and Willie Nelson will have to make room for three more occupants who made their entrance somewhere else but left their mark in Nashville. Click here to read the full article. Maddie Abuyuan / BuzzFeed News; @hiitaylorblake on Twitter One of TikToks favorite birds, the beloved Emmanuel the emu, has a life-threatening case of avian influenza. However, virologists and animal handlers have raised concerns about how the owner is dealing with the sick bird. Avian influenza is a disease caused by influenza type A viruses that naturally spread among wild birds, such as ducks, geese, vultures, and hawks, and can infect domesticated poultry, such as chickens, turkeys, and ducks. People dont normally contract bird flu viruses, but if they do, infections can sometimes be fatal. When a virus jumps from birds to humans, the concern is that the germ could undergo genetic changes and spread more easily from person to person, setting the stage for a flu pandemic. (Although the current threat to humans is considered to be low, according to the CDC.) Taylor Blake, who works on Knuckle Bump Farms in South Florida, has 2.4 million followers on TikTok and posts videos of Emmanuel and other animals in an effort to teach people about farm life. On Saturday, Oct. 15, however, Blake revealed on Twitter that she lost over 50 birds in just three days following what she believes was the introduction of avian influenza via wild Egyptian geese. The wild birds would fly into her farm every night, she said. Domesticated birds can get sick by coming into contact with contaminated saliva, nasal secretions, and feces from other infected birds; Blake mentioned that state officials believe the excess standing water from Hurricane Ian made the virus more rampant. If your emu (or any bird) has avian influenza, do not kiss it. Do not cuddle with it. Do not touch it. Bird flu is extremely dangerous to humans and other animals. And it sounds harsh but to prevent its spread, birds that get avian flu should be euthanized. 08:40 PM - 16 Oct 2022 Bird flu is typically separated into two categories: low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI), which causes little to no symptoms in birds, and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strains that are extremely contagious and deadly to birds, which are likely responsible for the colossal loss at Blakes farm. Story continues HPAI has been spreading in Europe for about a year and recently made its way to Canada. It was detected for the first time in Florida in January and has since been found in several other states, including Kentucky, New York, Virginia, Delaware, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, and Nebraska. Emmanuel is one of the last remaining birds at the Florida farm and is currently fighting for his life, Blake said. I cannot even begin to express the guttural feeling of watching innocent animals die, Blake tweeted. [Emmanuel] has a long road ahead, but I know in my heart that God is healing him. I know all of this wont be in vain. As tragic as the loss is, infectious disease experts cant help but cringe at the photos Blake has shared of her cuddling, kissing, and handling a sickly Emmanuel the only surviving emu on the farm without protective equipment. Some experts are questioning why Blake said she attempted to save some of her animals, which in this scenario should be euthanized to prevent further spread. In her defense, Blake says she cant wear a mask because it stresses the bird and that shes taking other steps, including sanitizing her hands, clothes, and body, as well as quarantining on the farm. Typically during outbreaks of bird flu, millions of domestic poultry are euthanized to stop the spread of the viruses. This years outbreak is the worst in North America since 2014-2015, when 50 million chickens and turkeys in the US either died or were culled to stop the spread of the disease. @angie_rasmussen Cuddling, kissing, or touching an infected animal that has avian influenza is horrifying on so many levels. 01:39 PM - 17 Oct 2022 Douglas Reed, an associate professor of immunology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine who studies avian influenza, told us that H5N1 viruses the strain that's currently circulating in US wild birds and poultry have been on our radar for a long time as a potential pandemic virus. Close contact with sick birds in the way that Blake is handling Emmanuel is not recommended. Fortunately there has been no sustained human-to-human transmission, but with every exposure we risk that the virus could adapt to spread more easily human-to-human, Reed wrote in an email. Handling or close contact with infected animals without use of appropriate personal protective equipment accentuates that risk, as we do not have a good understanding of how avian influenza viruses transmit from birds to humans. Of course, I also feel compassion for the individuals involved in this particular story; it is heartbreaking to have a pet become ill and potentially die (or need to be euthanized) from a serious disease, Reed continued. But in this instance the risks to the humans involved, and to the rest of us, also has to be weighed. Kirsten Lie-Nielsen, author and homesteader at Hostile Valley Farm in Maine, said she feels Blake's attempts to save Emmanuel are "unforgivably selfish" due to the extremely contagious nature of the virus. As someone who had to cull her own flock this spring because of avian influenza, Lie-Nielsen feels it's not fair to risk the virus spreading to other farms just because of one emu. "This virus is highly contagious within poultry, and can be spread by wild birds that stop by Emmanuel's farm or by visitors to the farm on their boots or clothes. That puts other people's flocks at risk," Lie-Nielsen wrote in an email. "I completely understand Blake's adoration for her bird. I adored my birds. My heart goes out to her. But there is no good reason why Emmanuel gets to 'recover' when others have lost their friends forever and his recovery puts even more birds at risk. "And that is to say nothing of poultry farms affected where a family's entire livelihood is destroyed," she wrote. "Why is Emmanuel different?" Poultry infected with bird flu are usually culled (euthanized) to prevent further spread, the CDC says, but Reed said it's possible an exception was made in Blake's case because it appears Emmanuel was isolated from other birds "and was not a (literal) flight risk." Still, he said "it's rather extraordinary that culling didn't happen in this case." It's also "unusual" for a bird to survive H5N1 infection, Reed said. "Because theyre typically culled, I dont know how soon a bird would be considered cured (virus negative)." One 2010 study found that H5N1 persisted in duck feathers for as long as 5 months. But "how long it is until the animal is truly virus free," Reed said, "we dont yet know." How bird flu spreads and what to know about your personal risk at this time People can contract bird flu by touching their mouth, eyes, or nose after prolonged, close, and unprotected contact with infected birds saliva, feces, or bodily fluids, according to the CDC. The virus can also become aerosolized in droplets or dust, so its possible to get infected via inhalation, as well. Not everyone who gets infected experiences symptoms, but those who do may feel mild illness, such as sore throat, eye redness, runny nose, body aches, headaches, and fatigue. More serious conditions are possible, too, like pneumonia, that require hospitalization. Fever is not guaranteed; meanwhile, other less common symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, or seizures. Person-to-person spread is incredibly rare, the CDC says, but even when it has happened, it hasnt led to further spread among people. Since 2003, 19 countries have reported rare, sporadic human infections with H5N1 bird flu viruses, but no known events have occurred with the H5N1 virus circulating in US birds at this time. Thread of avian influenza virus (AIV).First off a PSA - DO NOT touch, handle or attempt to treat suspected sick or dead birds yourself - particularly poultry, waterfowl (ducks, geese, etc) or seabirds. These are VERY dangerous viruses that can infect people and be deadly! 12:07 PM - 16 Oct 2022 The best way to prevent infection, the CDC says, is to avoid exposure from the start. If thats not possible, the use of gloves, medical-grade face masks, and eye protection is an absolute must. Otherwise, its important to wash your hands with soap and water and change your clothes after touching or handling wild birds. Only two infections in humans with the currently circulating H5N1 bird flu viruses have been reported. The first occurred in December 2021 in an asymptomatic person in the UK who raised birds. The second and the only case reported in the US was confirmed in Colorado in April in a person who was culling (eliminating) infected poultry and whose only symptoms included fatigue. (Just four people have contracted LPAI viruses in the US.) Globally, a total of 863 infections and 455 deaths caused by H5N1 have been reported since 2003, according to an alert posted in January by the World Health Organization. The good news is that the current risk to the general public is low, the CDC says. (Although people with job-related or recreational exposures to birds may face higher risks of infection and are advised to take appropriate precautions.) Equally as positive is the fact that the latest H5N1 viruses in the US do not carry the same mutations as past strains that allowed them to spread faster among poultry and infect people more easily, the CDC says. The detections of H5 viruses in wild birds, poultry and in one person in the United States do not change the risk to the general publics health, which CDC considers to be low, the agency says on its website. Right now, the H5N1 bird flu situation remains primarily an animal health issue. However, CDC is watching this situation closely and taking routine preparedness and prevention measures in case this virus changes to pose a greater human health risk. The agency notes that if multiple reports of H5N1 infections in people emerge across the US, or if person-to-person spread is occurring, then it may be time to consider avian influenza a public health risk. In the meantime, you should avoid handling dead or sick birds. If you must, the CDC recommends wearing disposable gloves and using an inverted plastic bag over your hand when picking up a dead bird. You can also help reduce the viruss spread among wild birds by regularly cleaning your bird feeders with a 10% bleach solution. If you are exposed to bird flu, you should isolate yourself from others until you recover. You can also take flu antiviral drugs that can help protect you from severe illness with avian influenza; these work best if taken soon after symptoms begin. Some evidence shows that flu antivirals arent as effective against some H5N1 and H7N9 viruses, which are another type of avian flu that can cause sporadic outbreaks in humans. Flu shots can also reduce your risk of getting seriously ill with bird flu viruses, although they cant prevent infection, the CDC says. UPDATE Oct. 18, 2022, at 21:03 PM More on this Instagram hadnt been invented yet when characters in Sense and Sensibility struggled to protect their reputations at all costs, but they behave as if they already were afraid of it. When the University of Virginia Department of Drama presents playwright Kate Hamills energetic adaptation of Jane Austens beloved first novel at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the Ruth Caplin Theatre, its closer glimpse of the high-stakes world the 18th-century characters inhabited will feel as familiar and fresh as this mornings selfie. Director Marianne Kubik said plenty of emotions are in play as the curtain rises on the production. For one thing, gratitude for being able to work together in person after the pain and frustration of pandemic isolation is strong, and cast members and the creative team are savoring the experience of creating theater together after time apart. Kubik said that returning to in-person rehearsals and work last semester felt freeing. The word she uses for this semester is refreshing. It is amazing. It is like normal, Kubik said. This semester, I thought, This is what it feels like to be home again. A bittersweet note comes from the fact that its likely to be the final performance together for the third-year MFA candidates involved in the production. Kubik said part of the productions joyful energy comes from the eagerness of undergraduates and graduate students to collaborate. They have just embraced the energy of working with the grad students, the director said of her undergraduate cast members. They are working together as colleagues. The grad students are mentoring undergrads in the working space. There has been a lot of joy and laughter in the room. I think the students embraced it from the beginning; theyve been cast since April. Despite the high-stakes nature of some of the storylines, its a comedy, Kubik said. There is a lot of comedy in Jane Austen. Shes like the female version of Anton Chekhov. This is lighter. Were learning what its like to evoke a different time period. Taking part in a theatrical production in college can create an ethereal feel and memories to treasure. To the director, its clear that these students arent taking anything for granted especially after pandemic shutdowns ended up limiting the numbers of in-person experiences students could enjoy during their college theater careers. UVa students are hard workers. They always are, but I think they put extra work into this because they want to enjoy this, Kubik said. Theyre enjoying everyones company and diving into a story that so many people know and adore. Ah, the story. Hamills playful adaptation of Sense and Sensibility helps bring home to UVas young actors the zero-sum gravity of the marriage Olympics of the upper-crust characters era, plus a more universal glimpse of the lasting consequences of impulsive actions and moments that can take a lifetime to live down. Kubik said the cast takes seriously being able to take on this story with responsibility and agency as well. Over the summer, audience members who saw Virginia Theatre Festival performances of Hamills adaptation of Little Women witnessed her approach to a completely different story, Kubik said, adding that Hamill really puts her focus on adhering to what the story is. Hamill doesnt completely modernize them, but she asks some questions, Kubik said. Ive asked the actors to think about it: Youre a young woman with no agency, no rights, no property. They can approach it with the freedom they now have. I think its great to look back on these classics and ask questions. Audience members can look to the Gossips characters to get a sense of running commentary on the action in Sense and Sensibility and its characters inevitable missteps along the way. Dont be surprised if perils and plot twists feel immediate and fresh in our social media-saturated world. Someone puts something on Twitter, its global, Kubik said. In some scenes, it could have happened, and youd be reading about it on Instagram. Somebody would be taking a selfie. The play does come with a content warning: The production contains discussions of death and pregnancy; a brief depiction of a dead body; discussion of child abandonment; and discussion of and depiction of emotional distress. Other performances are scheduled for 8 p.m. Oct. 27, 28 and 29. Free parking is available in the Culbreth Road Parking Garage, which is next to the theater. Tickets are $14; theyre $12 for seniors and for UVa faculty, staff and Alumni Association members. Students get in for $8, and full-time UVa students who reserve their seats in advance can get in for free. For tickets, go online to artsboxoffice.virginia.edu or call (434) 924-3376. A spate of shootings has struck Charlottesville over the last two months and many of those cases remain unsolved. Between Sept. 1 and Oct. 18, the Charlottesville Police Department received 11 reports of shots fired and weapons violations, according to the departments crime map. Five of those occurred in October alone. The department has responded to approximately 162 calls of shots fired in the last six months. Right now we do seem to be in a spike, said acting field operations head Capt. Tony Newberry. Two shootings occurred last weekend alone. Two juvenile males were shot, one with serious injuries, on Saturday near the Omni Hotel parking lot along Ridge-McIntire Road at the end of the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville. Police continue to investigate whether there may be any possible connection between that shooting and shots fired in the early morning of Oct. 16 on Hardy Drive. According to a news release, a Charlottesville police officer reported gunshots near the Omni parking lot just off the Downtown Mall around 5:15 p.m. on Saturday, Oct.15. Officers responded to find a male juvenile with apparent gunshot wounds. That person was transported to the emergency room at the University of Virginia Hospital with serious injuries, while a second male juvenile victim arrived separately after the shooting with non-life threatening injuries. The teenage boy who had serious injuries is in stable condition but is still in the hospital, Newberry said. Newberry believed at least four people were involved in that daylight shooting. Fewer than 10 hours later, at 2:39 a.m. Sunday, police responded to a call of shots fired on Hardy Drive, about a half-mile from the earlier shooting. There were no reported injuries from the incident, according to a press release on the departments website. Police collected multiple shell casings from the area. There are some persons of interest and some names identified, but I dont think any arrests yet, Newberry said. We have a limited number of detectives and all of these cases are with that group and theyre working them all right now. CPD needs 110 sworn police officers, officers who have been through a year of training, to be fully staffed. Newberry said they only have 80, and he believes that thats why theres been an increase in shootings. The officers that we have, theyre going from call to call, which does not leave a lot of time for things like extra patrols and proactive enforcement. So it leaves us with a lot of opportunity for these things to happen, Newberry said. Rising gun violence is hardly unique to Charlottesville. An October 2021 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that firearm deaths increased 14% in 2020. AH Datalytics, an independent data analysis firm, has collected homicide reports from major cities across the country. Last year saw 6,927 murders. So far this year, there have been 6,564. The shootings last weekend are among several, including a fatality, that have occurred within the past seven weeks in Charlottesville. Daquain Maurice Anderson was shot near Court Square about 3 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17. Anderson later died of gunshot wounds at UVa hospital. A month later, police still havent made arrests in connection with his death. On Wednesday, Sept. 28, at about 2:40 p.m., shots were fired in the 900 block of Anderson Street. When officers arrived, they found two men suffering from gunshot wounds. The men were taken to UVa Hospital. No arrests have been made in that shooting either. At that time, a woman whose daughter attends nearby Venable Elementary School said her daughter heard the shots as she was coming home from school. First she heard the shots, so she hid behind a car, a woman said at that time to a Daily Progress reporter. Then another car went right by her, driving fast down Ninth Street South, and she saw two people inside it. She and other neighbors are concerned about the neighborhoods safety, she said, and pointed to a nearby car that bore three bullet holes from a nighttime shooting several weeks ago. CPD wants to hire more police, which Newberry said its the first step to addressing gun crime in Charlottesville. But that comes with its own challenges. We are third when it comes to pay. Our competition in this area primarily comes from the university or the county. You have the option to still live in this area but make more money, Newberry said. We welcome Charlottesvilles new personnel policy that will embolden the city to take disciplinary action the next time one of its employees participates in an unlawful insurrection to overthrow results of a free and fair presidential election. The city distributed a new personnel policy Monday that seems to make clear that employees can no longer do that. City employee Allen Groat got away with doing it when he entered the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6, 2021. He should not have. Groats entry into the Capitol with protesters whipped into a frenzy by defeated incumbent Donald Trumps Big Lie of election fraud forfeited Groats claim to First Amendment protection, University of Virginia law professor George Rutherglen said. The citys claim that it could not discipline or fire Groat because he was not charged with a crime was wrong, Rutherglen said. People can act unlawfully and not be charged because prosecutors are pursuing more serious offenders. But it does not absolve a person who knowingly broke the law. Groats Facebook post showing him with a leader of the racists Proud Boys, an organization that plotted to stop certification of the Electoral College votes that made Democrat Joe Biden President of the United States, was not the problem. Neither was the Facebook F-bomb he dropped on Black Lives Matter or his social media screeching about Stop the Steal. It was intentionally acting in a way that he knew, or should have known, was unlawful that stripped him of a free speech defense. Anyone who went into the Capitol acted unlawfully, Rutherglen told The Daily Progress. If you come up to a police line and cross it, it is no longer protected speech or expression. The new personnel policy leaves none of this in doubt. Here is what it says about off-duty activities: The efficient provision of public services requires that employees refrain from conduct, on- and off-duty, that will undermine City government objectives or impair the proper performance of governmental functions. The term conduct as used in this section includes internet and social media communications. Employees should refrain from the following conduct, on- and off-duty: Conduct that impairs discipline or harmony among co-workers. Conduct that impairs the performance of the employees job duties. Conduct that impairs City business operations. Disclosure of confidential or sensitive governmental information. Conduct that undermines close working relationships that are essential to the effective performance of an employees job duties. We are pretty sure that trying to overturn a presidential election qualifies as undermining City government objectives and impairing harmony with co-workers. Also, proudly posting your photo on social media with a leader of a racist paramilitary group will undermine close working relationships with most city employees and almost all city employees of color. The new policy forbids lying, which in our view should be a no-brainer, but one that in these days of political hatred and extremism obviously needs to be spelled out. One of the citys worst failures in Groats situation was that Charlottesville learned of his presence at the Capitol in the weeks after the attack and that he lied about why he needed Jan. 6 off. But the city did not fire him for participating in the Capitol breach. Part of the problem is that that was actually known in January 2021, Charlottesville Mayor Lloyd Snook told Daily Progress reporter Alice Berry. For whatever reason, the city imposed some form of discipline on him that did not include terminating him. When the issue arose publicly in June 2022 in the filing of a lawsuit by ex-Charlottesville Police Chief RaShall Brackney, it sparked anger among community activists. Firing Groat at that point raised questions for the city, Snook said. Should that decision be based on things we knew about at the time, or should it be based on things we knew about but had no idea people were going to get upset about? Snook asked. The better question is why no one in authority early in 2021 saw a distinction between a peaceful protest and an armed, deadly attack on the United States Capitol. Mistaking an attempted coup for free speech is the very miscalculation that threatens American democracy to this day. By Azernews By Vugar Khalilov South Caucasus Weekly Review: 10-16 Oct 22 This project of Azernews is designed to cover major weekly developments in the South Caucasus nations. HIGHLIGHTS Yerevan, Paris discuss regional situation, Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization Armenian PM attends summit of CIS heads in Astana EU technical group arrives in Armenia to discuss deployment of civilian mission Georgian parliament approves agreement on technical cooperation with Germany UN General Assembly elects Georgia as member of Human Rights Council Georgias Defense Minister attends NATO meeting Azerbaijan identifies Armenian perpetrators involved in Ganja missile strikes Baku: Macrons false allegations disrupt Frances mediating role in Azerbaijani-Armenian peace talks Azerbaijani, Armenian foreign ministers negotiate draft peace deal in Astana ARMENIA Yerevan, Paris discuss regional situation, Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and French representative in the EU Council, adviser to the President Isabelle Dumont have discussed the regional situation, as well as Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization, Azernews reports, citing the Armenian media. The French Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Brice Roquefeuil also attended the meeting held on October 10 in Yerevan. The sides discussed problems concerning the execution of the agreements reached at Prime Minister Pashinyan's meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on September 26 in Paris. The officials also exchanged views on the outcomes of the October 6 Prague meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders under the auspices of the European Council and French presidents. The formulation of a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan based on the UN Charter and the Alma-Ata Declaration of 1991, as well as the implementation of border delimitation work, as well as the maintenance of the EU civil mission on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, were emphasized. Armenian PM attends summit of CIS heads in Astana Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the summit of the heads of the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) held in the Congress-Centre of Astana, Kazakhstan, on October 14. The leaders of CIS states met in a narrow-format meeting, which was followed by an expanded format summit attended by delegation representatives. Humanitarian cooperation, ensuring security and other issues were on the agenda of the summit. Prior to the summit, the session of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the CIS member states held in, Astana, where Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. EU technical group arrives in Armenia to discuss deployment of civilian mission The advance team of the European Unions monitors arrived in Armenia on October 14 to discuss the issues relating to the exact deployment location of the EU civilian mission along the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Azernews reports, citing Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan. Armenian Security Council Secretary, Armen Grigoryan welcomed the members of the EU Technical Assessment Mission to Armenia and reaffirmed Yerevan's readiness to support the mission in all matters. Grigoryan also highlighted the mission's role as an additional security guarantee in the region. The parties discussed a number of issues related to the scope of the mission's functions. When questioned about the prospective relocation site of the EU civilian mission, Hovhannisyan indicated that these issues are currently being discussed. In response to the question that the CSTO has also expressed readiness to send observers, the deputy minister said: We are open to all proposals thanks to which our security will be strengthened, and we will avoid the situation we had in September. Within the framework of the first meeting of the European Political Community in Prague, Armenian Prime Minister Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met on October 6, 2022 under the aegis of the French President, as well as the President of the European Council. Armenia agreed to support 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. GEORGIA Georgian parliament approves agreement on technical cooperation with Germany The Parliament approved the agreement on technical cooperation between Georgia and Germany with 92 votes, Azernews reports, via the Georgian media. As the Deputy Regional Minister, Mzia Giorgobiani said, the Agreement allocates 2,1 million as a grant to Georgia, to be directed to the project Sustainable Urban Development in Georgia, assigned to the GIZ in cooperation with the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, she stated UN General Assembly elects Georgia as member of Human Rights Council The UN General Assembly elected Georgia, along with thirteen other nations, to serve on the UN Human Rights Council for the years 20232025 on October 11. The council's 47 members are chosen from regional groupings on the basis of geographical location, and the member countries are in charge of advancing and defending human rights across the world. Georgia was initially elected as a member of the UN's international organization in 2015 for the term 2016-2018. Along with Georgia, Algeria, Morocco, South Africa, Sudan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, South Korea, Vietnam, Romania, Chile, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Belgium, and Germany presented their candidates for the council. Georgias Defense Minister attends NATO meeting Georgias Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze attended the meeting of the contact group of Ukraine in the Ramstein format. The meeting, organized by the US Department of Defense, was held at the NATO headquarters in Brussels. The Defense Ministry reports that at the meeting, the situation created as a result of Russias aggression in Ukraine and the needs of the country, as well as the security challenges facing US allies and partners, were discussed. Defense ministers and high-ranking military personnel of more than 50 like-minded countries participated in the meeting. Within the framework of his visit to Brussels, Burchuladze held a meeting with the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg. Later, he also met the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer, and discussed issues of deepening practical cooperation between NATO and Georgia. AZERBAIJAN Azerbaijan identifies Armenian perpetrators involved in Ganja missile strikes Azerbaijan has identified Armenian perpetrators involved in missile attacks on Ganja city during the 44-day war in 2020, Azernews reports, citing Prosecutor-General Kamran Aliyev. Aliyev made the remarks while visiting the territory destroyed as a result of the Armenian missile attack on Ganja city on October 11, 2020. Three criminal cases have been filed, and the criminals have been identified, he underlined. The Prosecutor-General further stated that during the first and second Karabakh wars (in 1988-1994, 2020 respectively) Armenians frequently utilized mercenaries in warfare. "Azerbaijan has evidence of the participation of mercenaries from Armenia in the second Karabakh war. The identities of those mercenaries are also known. Azerbaijan sent petitions to the countries of which they are citizens, work to this effect continues," Aliyev said. Despite significant challenges, Azerbaijan continues to work on the extradition of mercenaries who participated on the Armenian side during the second Karabakh war, he underlined. "Unfortunately, some states don't provide sufficient assistance in this regard. However, as you know, after the second Karabakh war, Azerbaijan prosecuted the perpetrators of the Khojaly genocide. These mercenaries will be held accountable as well. On the other hand, the country uses the documents of these criminal cases in the International Court of Justice and other international forums. The evidence presented to Azerbaijan reveals that the policy of Armenia as a state contradicts the norms of international law," Aliyev stressed. Baku: Macrons false allegations disrupt Frances mediating role in Azerbaijani-Armenian peace talks President Emmanuel Macrons false allegations are undermining Frances mediation role in the Azerbaijani-Armenian peace talks, Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. The ministry made the statement in response to Macron's anti-Azerbaijani remarks in his televised interview on October 12. The ministry emphasized that the claims, largely addressed to the domestic audiences, explicitly defend Armenia and are unacceptable. We reject the French president's groundless charges against Azerbaijan, the ministry stressed. It went on to say that Emmanuel Macron is the president of the country that has not condemned Armenia's occupation of Azerbaijani territories for nearly 30 years. Despite the fact that his country is a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, the French president has said nothing about Armenias illegal activities in the formerly occupied lands, its gross violation of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, and the rights of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis, as well as Armenia's disrespect for fundamental principles of international law, and its failure to implement the UN Security Council resolutions, the ministry recalled. Unfortunately, the French president remains tight-lipped on Armenia's refusal to fulfill the provisions of the trilateral statement posing threat to the regional security by planting mines in Azerbaijani lands. Azerbaijan, for its part, despite the Minsk Group's inability to function, did not reject the French president's mediation initiatives for the rehabilitation of ties with Armenia, and so far, two quadrilateral meetings have been held under Macron's auspices (February 4, 2022, and October 6, 2022). However, the French president's views on Azerbaijan call into doubt his neutrality and impartiality of the mediation efforts, the ministry stressed. In light of Azerbaijan's attempts to ensure regional peace, stability, and prosperity by restoring ties based on international legal principles, France's one-sided stance and unjustified accusations compel to rethink this country's mediation efforts, the statement added. Azerbaijani, Armenian foreign ministers negotiate draft peace deal in Astana Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan met in Astana to negotiate a draft peace treaty under the aegis of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Azernews reports, citing the Foreign Ministry. The meeting between Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, and Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan has started in Astana, the ministry tweeted. During the trilateral meeting on October 14, Bayramov highlighted that the previous meeting in a similar format was conducted in May in Dushanbe, emphasizing that the present meeting is an excellent chance to examine progress since then. He underlined that a bilateral meeting on the peace accord was held on October 2 in Geneva, during which Azerbaijan provided Armenia with the major elements of the prospective peace deal and is awaiting Armenia's reply in this regard. The minister added that Azerbaijan submitted the basic principles of the peace treaty in February, and at the end of the quadrilateral conference in Prague (October 6), both Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed to mutually recognize and respect each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty, which should be regarded as progress toward signing the accord. The sides also exchanged views on potential directions of the normalization between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Bayramov highlighted the importance of starting practical actions based on the progress achieved during the negotiations of the trilateral working group on the opening of communications. It was reported that the border delimitation commissions had already been established, with two meetings already held, and a third meeting scheduled for the near future. Bayramov emphasized that Azerbaijan is in favor of taking concrete steps in certain directions in this process. The minister emphasized the importance of full implementation of the trilateral declarations by Armenia. He added that Armenia continues to plant mines in Azerbaijani territory and refuses to give mine maps, torpedoing the normalization of relations. During the discussion, perspectives on other humanitarian concerns conducive to the normalization process were also sounded. Earlier, Bayramov and his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan met to negotiate a draft peace treaty in Geneva on October 2. The bilateral meeting was organized in accordance with the task assigned to foreign ministers to develop the text of the peace treaty as agreed by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on August 31 in Brussels under the auspices of European Union Council President Charles Michel. Josh Throneburg is the clear choice to represent Virginia's 5th district in the US Congress. Here are some of the reasons I will be sure to turn out to vote for Josh on November 8th. 1. He supports addressing the climate crisis while creating green jobs for Virginians 2. He cares about protecting our children's future, including through fighting for clean air and water, access to affordable healthcare, quality education starting in preschool, and addressing inequality 3. He believes that people should have the freedom to live their personal lives as they choose, including personal medical and reproductive decisions 4. He supports commonsense measures to reduce gun violence, while also protecting individual liberty In contrast, incumbent Congressman Bob Good has voted against many beneficial bills, including: 1. Increasing access to mental health care. 2. Authorizing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices to lower medication costs. 3. Grants to communities for violence reduction efforts. 4. Protecting access to contraception. 5. Efforts to help communities mitigate the effects of climate change. 6. Sending more support to Ukraine. Bob Good did not show up for a scheduled debate against Josh Throneburg. He should have to defend his positions and job performance if asked basic questions. He is probably betting that he can win re-election solely based on our gerrymandered district. Let's prove him wrong. Vote for Josh Throneburg, for compassion and common sense. Lillian Mezey Charlottesville Editor's note: This story is developing. Check back for updates, photo and video from the scene. At least one person is dead Wednesday, Oct. 19 following multiple foggy-morning crashes on southbound Interstate-5 that had a domino effect, causing more accidents throughout the day and backing traffic all the way to Albany. In all, Oregon Department of Transportation reported 65 vehicles collided in what is likely one of the worst pile-up crashes in state history. More crashed Wednesday afternoon in two separate crashes in the backup from Highway 228, where the southbound lanes were closed. In one of those subsequent crashes, a truck reportedly caught fire and exploded after a tractor-trailer collided with another, ODOT spokesperson Angela Beers-Seydel said. A semi hit another semi. Explosions were reported, Beers-Seydel said. ODOT had to pull resources from far and wide. We have responders from the coast, from the mountains." The department is used to reports of two- or three-vehicle accidents on a regular basis, Beers-Seydel said. Wednesday's pileup was altogether different. This is not something we see very often, certainly not outside of a winter storm, she said. The freeway was initially closed at milepost 216 near the OR 228 Halsey-Brownsville exit following the crashes, an ODOT news release said. Traffic was being detoured to OR 99E. The freeway was likely to be closed all day, Oregon State Police Capt. Stephanie Bigman said by email. The northbound left lane of Interstate-5 was temporarily closed at milepost 211 so southbound drivers could turn around into the northbound lanes, according to ODOT. By 4:30 p.m., ODOT announced one lane had opened, and by around 5:10 p.m., ODOT said Interstate 5 southbound was open south of OR 228. At 6:30 p.m., a new update announced that southbound I-5 remains closed south of Albany at the OR 34 interchange, milepost 228. Traffic is being detoured to 99E. Southbound traffic can reenter I-5 near Halsey at the OR 228 interchange, milepost 216. Northbound traffic remains open, but travelers should expect delays. The precipitating incident involved 15 to 20 commercial motor vehicles and 45 passenger vehicles, with the crashes spanning a 1-mile stretch of the freeway, according to Oregon State Police. Fog was considered the preliminary cause. Travelers should drive with caution, use alternate routes and look for emergency responders, according to Oregon State Police. First-hand accounts Tsendjav Jargal was behind the wheel of a lime-green Peterbilt car carrier when a vehicle in front of him abruptly braked. He stopped. No flashing lights, Jargal said. And that was that. Jargal held a palm vertically in front of his face. The fog that settled over I-5 Wednesday morning may as well have been a wall. Couldnt see at all, he said. Traffic was moving about 45 mph, Jargal said. He said he whipped the commercial tractors steering wheel but couldnt avoid a vehicle slamming to a halt in front of his. Garrett Moore was hooking the smashed Peterbilt behind a massive wrecker truck. He said Corvallis-based Bobs Auto Repair & Towing took a call from the trucks owner. Moore had no idea what he was driving into until he saw myriad ODOT and state police vehicles lining the roadway, he said. Meanwhile Jargal wasnt sure how he was getting home to California, he said. He was quiet for a moment, then mentioned his children, the youngest 6 years old, he said. I have a big family, he said. Three kids. A tow truck operated by Charles Varner, a driver with Albany-based AA Towing, was saddled with a construction contractors van and was pulling a smashed Chevrolet Silverado 3500 behind it. Varner said he was hard-pressed to remember the last collision that ensnared dozens of cars on I-5. It could have a 1988 incident, when 24 cars collided south of Albany, he said. Smoke blowing over the freeway diminished visibility and was blamed in a chain-reaction crash that killed seven and injured 38. (Beers-Seydel confirmed this pileup had been considered the state's worst for I-5.) Its been a long time. I was a little grasshopper when that happened, Varner said. The aftermath The Department of Environmental Quality and HAZMAT teams responded to six of the commercial motor vehicles that were leaking fluids onto the roadway, an OSP news release said. School buses from Eugene arrived at the scene to aid in relocating around 30 to 40 stranded motorists to Pioneer Villa at exit 216, according to OSP. Samaritan Health Services Public Information Officer Mark Ylen said Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis received at least three patients involved in the crashes and Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital received at least one. In an update sent around 3 p.m., ODOT said Interstate-5 southbound was closed from milepost 228 (the OR 34 Corvallis-Lebanon exit) to milepost 211 due to multiple, multi-vehicle crashes on top of cleanup of the earlier crashes. Less than an hour later, a different ODOT update said a jackknifed semi-truck had closed down the southbound freeway south of U.S. 20 in Albany. Traffic was being detoured at U.S. 20. There were multiple crashes on I-5 between Albany and Harrisburg throughout the day, including in the backups from earlier crashes. "Obviously, these types of incidents are very rare, thank goodness, ODOT's Beers-Seydel said. Beers-Seydel didnt yet know how many people were killed or injured in the three crashes Wednesday. She also couldnt say how many police and fire departments responded to the crashes. But the response was massive. This involves all of our response teams from multiple jurisdictions, multiple cities. Weve got everyone out there, she said. The crash Wednesday morning involved more vehicles than the crash in 1988. Seydel-Beers said she was waiting on staff to pull department data to confirm whether any I-5 crashes had involved more vehicles. Thats the one that comes to mind, she said. I dont know that this is the worst. I have to wait for the data. A weather warning About an hour before the crash, at around 6:55 a.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service issued a dense fog advisory for areas in the mid-Willamette valley including Corvallis, Albany and Lebanon. Other affected cities affected included Springfield and Eugene. The advisory was in effect until noon, according to NWS, and visibility was one-quarter to one half-mile in dense fog below 3,000 feet. Impacts include hazardous driving conditions, the advisory said, and drivers should slow down, use headlights and leave plenty of distance between themselves and other cars. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Albany Democrat-Herald. The heavy fog comes ahead of expected cool and wet weather throughout the area. A Monday, Oct. 17 National Weather Service special weather statement said the rainy season is expected to start Friday or Saturday, bringing an end to the extended unseasonably dry and hot weather. The statement said roads may become slippery with the wet weather, and clogged drains or gutters may overfill. A smoke air quality advisory is also still in effect in Linn and Benton counties. The advisory is in effect until 6 p.m. Thursday, according to NWS. Community members should limit outdoor activities and keep children indoors if its noticeably smoky. If you demo it and rebuild it, archeologists will come. Researchers finished Tuesday a two-week-long excavation underneath the Van Buren Bridge, which is set to be removed and replaced, beginning in 2023. The span over the Willamette River was built in 1913, and the Oregon Department of Transportation has deemed it seismically vulnerable in its current state. Cultural resource and preservation laws necessitate an archeological survey be done of any state project that requires digging up land that could be historically significant. Because of this, eight archaeologists from Oregons Museum of Natural and Cultural History have been excavating the area beneath the bridge, where people dumped their trash from 1910-1913. This is what archaeologists would call a data recovery project, said Lexie Briggs, communications specialist for the museum. In this case, what they're trying to do is dig up a representative sampling of what's in this dump. What they found The archaeologists have found some telling items in the dumping site so far, including fragments of plates, bowls, cups, medicine and beverage bottles, brick, butchered cow bone and some Chinese ceramics. Most of the items are from 1910-1913, but some items have also been located from before and after that time frame. There are three different stations at the dig; one station digging in the trenches, one transporting the buckets up above and one at the top sifting through the dirt. Chris Ruiz, deputy director of Archaeological Research at the University of Oregon, said the team will know when theyre done once they reach culturally sterile ground, meaning no more items can be found of cultural significance. They will take everything they found back to the lab and catalog everything, possibly even putting back together some items they found individual pieces of. It helps put together a story, Ruiz said. Briggs said one of the nice things about archaeology is its ability to tell stories that may not otherwise get told. Material history can sometimes tell you stories that don't get written down, stories that are from people who maybe were less privileged or less covered in history textbooks, Briggs said. These stories can give you a more clear view of what was actually going on. A crick in the ol' bottleneck Drivers cross Van Buren Bridge as they head out of Corvallis on Highway 34. Heading out of Corvallis, three lanes downtown quickly merge into one on the bridge, which ODOT refers to as a bottleneck to travelers and freight as it is narrow, has low clearance, and is currently weight restricted to 12 tons. The new bridge will be built in the same location and include two eastbound travel lanes, a bike lane and a protected bicycle and pedestrian path. There will also be improvements to the intersection of Van Buren Avenue and Northwest First Street, where a new signal will replace the current flashing yellow pedestrian crossing light. Design and construction of the replacement bridge will cost around $72 million. The bridge replacement has not gone without its controversies, however, as some groups are against demolishing it. The group PreservationWORKS! believes there are alternatives to the current plan, including sliding the bridge upriver to provide a bicycle/pedestrian crossing between the Riverfront Park and the Berg Natural Area on the east side of the Willamette River, or possibly reactivating the bridges swivel mechanism. The bridge was constructed with money from a bond passed in November 1912, the first bond Corvallis women were able to vote on. This and other historically significant factors are keeping some from supporting the removal and replacement project. Corvallis city leaders attempted to take ownership of the bridge but ultimately withdrew their application. Construction is set to begin in 2023. 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. Related stories: Lebanon police have arrested a local man accused of sexually abusing a minor. Officers arrested Caleb Rosburg Fry, 37, Tuesday, Oct. 18 on suspicion of four counts of first-degree sexual abuse. According to court documents, the alleged crimes took place between Nov. 1, 2021, and Oct. 18 and involved a victim younger than 14. Court records show Fry was convicted of third-degree rape in Linn County in 2005. He was convicted of third-degree assault in 2007. Fry was scheduled to be arraigned in Linn County Circuit Court on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 19. After being determined by fewer than 400 votes in 2018, the Denton County Precinct 2 commissioners seat comes down this year to Republican Kevin Falconer and Democrat Diana Weitzel. Heres a rundown of the two candidates for the countys southeastern precinct, including their backgrounds and answers to several questions. The seat for Precinct 2 which encompasses much of the countys southeastern corner has belonged to Republican Ron Marchant since 2007. Marchant announced last year he wouldnt be seeking reelection, so the seat is now guaranteed to change hands pending the results in November. Weitzel won the Democratic Partys nomination in March, with two-thirds of the vote. The Republican primary was between three candidates and ended up going to a May runoff, in which Falconer earned the nomination with nearly 70% of the vote. Precinct 2 is typically the most competitive of the four commissioner precincts when it comes to party lines. In 2018, Marchant won the precinct by fewer than 400 votes, beating Democrat Brandy Jones by about half a percentage point. The precinct looks different now following last years redistricting. Much of the feedback during that process centered around the changes to Precinct 2 specifically, because it got the most drastic changes out of the countys four segments. Critics accused the Republican-held Commissioners Court of gerrymandering the lines to reduce the chances of a Democratic victory. A map shows Denton Countys revised redistricting proposal for commissioner precincts. Precinct 2 still encompasses much of Carrollton, Plano, Dallas and The Colony but now stretches across Lewisville Lake, picking up Shady Shores, Corinth and land north of the lake. In total, the precinct picks up nearly 20,000 additional residents under the new lines, increasing to 238,198 residents total. Falconer, a chief development officer for a restaurant company, spent five years as Carrollton mayor until earlier this year. Weitzel is a Dallas attorney with a background in the health care industry. Ahead of the election, the Denton Record-Chronicle reviewed several types of public records to build candidate profiles for the two candidates, including campaign finance reports and voter history. According to the most recent campaign finance filings available from Denton County, Falconer raised $8,819 from July 1 to Sept. 29, while Weitzel raised $7,222. Falconer spent $6,419 over that period, while Weitzel spent $7,360, although Falconer reported far more total funding maintained by the end of September: $22,139 to Weitzels $2,644. The candidates took time over the past week to answer the same three questions before early voting begins Monday, Oct. 24. Here are their responses in alphabetical order, in some cases lightly edited for clarity and length. Kevin Falconer Kevin Falconer Age: 59 Born in: Dallas Education: Bachelor of Architecture from Texas Tech University, Master of Business Administration from Texas Tech Experience: Registered architect with over 30 years in development; currently chief development officer for a restaurant company Online: votefalconer.com If elected, whats your top priority heading into the term? Id say the top one has got to be reducing the tax burden on our residents. Property taxes are just so out of control. Ive shown in Carrollton, we reduced the tax rate while I was mayor and council member for eight years in a row, and I want to bring that same philosophy of efficient government to Denton County. And then, public safety and reducing congestion are obviously two other prime issues that we want to address. What county services do you think should be prioritized the most for Precinct 2 residents? From a services perspective, I would say that is likely going to be the roads and bridges, transportation and reducing congestion. One of the primary roles the county provides is coordinating transportation projects, and as we are growing so rapidly in Denton County, and especially in Precinct 2, those roads and coordinating with our cities and our broader North Texas region and, of course, the state, to make sure that were taking care of those things and reducing traffic and congestion, I think, is of prime importance. What do you think is the biggest issue facing Precinct 2 coming out of the pandemic, and whats your approach to addressing it? The biggest issue, which I think is also a huge opportunity, is what I briefly mentioned, and thats growth. This is obviously not related just to the pandemic, but the pandemic did increase our growth even more as people were moving out of some of the more urban areas like Dallas and into areas like Denton County. So, that only expedited our growth rate. Were one of the fastest-growing counties in the country, and I think that is something that we have to make sure were addressing, so that growth is positive growth and it is one that we can all be happy about. Falconer Campaign Finance Falconer Voting History 1 Falconer Voting History 2 Diana Weitzel Diana Weitzel Age: 65 Born in: Vincennes, Indiana Education: Bachelor of Science from Indiana State University, Juris Doctor from Texas Wesleyan School of Law, Executive Master of Business Administration from Texas Christian University Experience: Over 15 years as health care executive, currently practicing law Online: dweitzel4cc2.com If elected, whats your top priority heading into the term? My top priority would be health care. That would be health care for families, women, children and also veterans. I want to focus on general services, also the immunization clinics; the primary care for women, children and families. Also, the STD testing centers, women, infant and children programs, and womens health services. I think its very important that we expand health care for all of those people. As a prior health care executive, there needs to be a priority for the county for this. I just want to make sure Denton County has affordable health care regarding prescription drugs, mental health and well-woman and child care. What county services do you think should be prioritized the most for Precinct 2 residents? I believe it should be health care. I believe they should be providing services for women, children and families, and also for the veterans. But also, I think we need to have community feedback. We need to be able to have an open forum deciding what Precinct 2s needs are and having public discussions, because it needs to be a balancing act between the county and the citizens of Precinct 2. Regarding, maybe, senior living, the schools, the medical care thats being provided, multitrack housing and also theyre doing more business development. I think there needs to be a balance with that with Precinct 2, and basically a lot of the infrastructure, as well as the property taxes. That is a big issue within all the precincts. What do you think is the biggest issue facing Precinct 2 coming out of the pandemic, and whats your approach to addressing it? I think one of the biggest issues coming out of the pandemic is being able to have speedy trials, because that has not happened. That kind of goes up to the Denton County judicial system. But also, about the jobs, the education and health care. That has all been taken into consideration because of COVID and the monies that are being put toward that. But one of the biggest things is the right to a speedy jury trial, because that didnt happen during COVID, and so theres been a lot of people that are sitting in jails that havent had that. The biggest thing, too, is the health care. Theres supposed to be a new health care surge of COVID coming up this fall, and I think we need to be proactive to be able to look at that to find out what is the best action plan for that. We also have to look at the jobs, education and school system. It has to go back to the well-being and the safety of the citizens of [Precinct 2]. Weitzel Campaign Finance By Trend The Azerbaijani Army launched a counter-offensive operation, later called the "Iron Fist", on September 27, 2020, in response to the large-scale provocation of the Armenian armed forces along the frontline, Trend reports. The erupted 44-day Second Karabakh War ended with the liberation of Azerbaijans territories from nearly 30-year Armenian occupation. Trend presents the chronicle of the 23-rd day of the second Karabakh war: - President Ilham Aliyev has received a delegation led by the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Mustafa Sentop. - President Ilham Aliyev gave a video interview to the Russian TASS news agency. - President Ilham Aliyev shared a publication on Twitter about Armenia's heavy artillery shelling of settlements in violation of the humanitarian ceasefire. - President Ilham Aliyev congratulated Chief of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Elchin Guliyev on raising the Azerbaijani flag on the Khudafarin bridge. - President Ilham Aliyev shared a publication on Twitter about the liberation of several villages in the Jabrayil district. - The Armenian military equipment and weapons were destroyed. The list of the destroyed equipment has been announced. - A high-ranking official of an Armenian Armed Forces battalion was killed. - As a result of the shelling of the Tartar district by the Armenian Armed Forces, the owner of the house was seriously injured. - Armenia shelled Azerbaijani positions on the state border. - The Azerbaijani army has seized a certain amount of military equipment abandoned by Armenian troops. - Armenians opened fire on the film crew of the Azerbaijani AzTV channel in Aghdam, injuring one journalist. - The Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan has released a video of a war trophies seized from Armenian troops in the direction of Jabrayil and Fuzuli. Your morning rundown of the latest news from overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Why is the UN donating $42 million to Cuba without demanding that it reach the victims? 'Senior UN officials should have demanded that the Cuban government commit, in writing, to the donation reaching the victims of Hurricane Ian free of charge.' Given all the condemnations and the repeatedly proven fact that the Castro regime hijacks international humanitarian aid donations, UN high officials should have demanded from the Cuban government a written pledge that the donation will actually reach the victims of Hurricane Ian, and free of charge. So should the European Union (EU) and the Canadian government, led by leftist Justin Trudeau. But no one did, even though their ambassadors in Havana are witnesses to the repeated Castroist embezzlement of funds and products (because that's exactly what it is) that reach Cuba as humanitarian aid. On October 12, the UN announced "a 42 million dollar action plan" to support some 800,000 people in the provinces of Pinar del Rio and Artemisa affected by the storm. The EU, meanwhile, revealed that it will give (or has already given) the Cuban dictatorship one million euros to help the victims. "Our emergency aid will help provide vital support to those directly affected on the ground," said Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarcic. Moreover, on October 14 the Canadian Embassy in Cuba reported the delivery of a donation to the Cuban authorities of $1.2 million in medical supplies for the population affected by the fire at the Matanzas supertanker base, and later by Hurricane Ian. In the heat of the moment, upon reading the news of the Canadian aid, Cuban activist Felix Llerena, youth ambassador for Cuba for the Youth and Democracy in the Americas organization, asked, "Did you give it to the Church or to charitable groups? Or to the totalitarian state that steals the donations and then sells them to the people?" Regarding the main donation, the UNs, spokesman Stephane Dujarric explained that the $42 million plan will target housing, health, education, food security, access to clean water and electricity. To finance the plan, the U.N. has already disbursed $7.8 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund and $3.7 million from its Cuba country team budget. That's $11.5 million to start. From a humanitarian viewpoint, good news, but... Undoubtedly, in humanitarian terms, the news is magnificent. In terms of housing alone, the hurricane in Pinar del Rio totally destroyed 11,524 homes and partially destroyed another 49,091. The problem is that of those 42 million dollars from the UN, and the other two million dollars, the victims will receive little, perhaps very little, at least for free, if experience with past situations like this is any indicator. It is well known that cash and products that are donated to the island are seized and handled exclusively by the dictatorship, which baldly uses them to cover governmental expenses and needs. The regime does not allow churches or prestigious humanitarian institutions to be in charge of distributing the aid received, and on top of this, profits from that aid through stores. It is even known that members of the dictatorial elite make profits off these donated funds and products. For decades independent journalists and Cuban activists have been decrying this, and requesting that all humanitarian aid to Cuba be distributed through independent NGOs or humanitarian organizations. But no one listens to them, least of all UN and EU officials, who are increasingly leaning to port (the left). There is an abundance of documented evidence indicating that humanitarian aid sent to Cuba does not actually reach its intended recipients, or very little of it; or recipients are forced to pay for it. On the same day that the $42 million in aid was announced, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) reported that it did not yet know the ultimate location of the 43 complete firefighter protection kits it sent to Cuba after the fire at the Matanzas supertanker base, in which 17 firefighters died, including several young men completing compulsory military service. Searching almost at random, we find that in January of 2012 the opposition organization Cuban Democratic Alliance criticized the sale at MLC stores of donations delivered after Hurricane Sandy hit the island. The regime claims that donations can't be given for free In September 2017, the regime was caught red-handed and had to admit that it was selling humanitarian aid it had received after Hurricane Irma. In a ministerial resolution, it argued that the donations could not be given out for free because the victims had to cover "the costs of distribution and transport." In July 2021 the ship Libertador arrived in Havana from Mexico carrying 600 tons of rice, beans, powdered milk, wheat flour, tuna and cooking oil, among other foodstuffs, to aid the people of Cuba during the Covid-19 crisis. Shortly afterwards, several Internet users from Havana reported the sale of these donations at MLC stores. "Three days ago the last shipment of Mexican humanitarian aid arrived and the regime has already begun to stock the MLC stores with sacks of rice and grains 'Made in Mexico'" at an average price of 25 dollars each," said one of them. In August of 2021, in Ranchuelo, Villa Clara, Diario Las Americas spoke with a woman who denounced the president of the CDR herself for "selling food packages to households; here they don't give a thing away, they're like hunting dogs going after the money." Unconditional humanitarian aid benefits the ruling mafia The UN World Food Program (WFP) could not explain how a donation of 253 tons of sunflower oil and 430 tons of wheat flour from that entity ended up at MLC stores. In this regard, the Ministry of Domestic Trade shamelessly reported that "the decision to sell donated oil was an alternative to the shortages experienced on the island." Period. In the end, these millions in UN aid, and other donations, may once again end up being a kind of subsidy for the 60-year old dictatorship. In short, it is reprehensible, but it accords perfectly with Castroist logic, that with the "revolutionary" economy already almost destitute, the government mafia should seize, more than ever, a good part of that international aid. And what about the desperate families who lost their homes, all their belongings, their crops and animals, who don't have a roof over their heads or food? "Too bad," Raul "The Cruel" and the mobsters who continue to prop him up in power might say, even if he's already decrepit, and more perverse than ever. A half-dozen teams made of local landowners and foresters will celebrate Florida Forests Week (Oct. 23-29) by becoming temporary teachers in local 4th-grade classrooms during that week. Florida Forests Week is a program of the Florida Forestry Association, of which the guest teachers are members. Theyll conduct 45-minute sessions that will reach more than 400 students. The first such effort took place just twice before: Malone 4th graders and those at Dayspring Academy were the first to see it, just before Hurricane Michael destroyed so many trees here. That devastation put the effort on hold as foresters and landowners regrouped and began to recover. One of the participants, John Alter, described in a letter to the editor the aims of the teaching assignment. Alter, who lost a massive number of trees in the disaster, has now replanted to replace them all, and his story may now include something new for students after his journey in hope, persistence, and commitment in picking up a splintered dream and making it grow anew in the face of such destruction. Thats a powerful new force for all the Forestry in the Classroom team members as they share information about trees and their importance here, where more than half the land is forested, and in the larger world. The 45-minute teaching unit will tell the captivating story of trees, which will include references to chemistry biology mathematics civics business the learning list goes on, Alter said in his letter. The students will be challenged with a series of questions and facts that cause them to listen, think and make choices. This brings new insights into their understanding of forests and the role trees play in their everyday lives. Alter said theyll learn about the more than 5,000 products that come from trees.We call them Goods from the Woodsand we all use the goods every day, Alter noted. Hes confident the 4th-graders will come away from the sessions fully aware and willing to share what theyve learned. Just ask a Jackson County 4th grader about how valuable trees are to all of us, he said in his letter. Presentation team participants will include Lesia Andrews, Carley Barnes, Shawn Cook, Caroline Dauzat, John deBrauwere, Danny Duce, Emily Lowe, Matt McGaughey, Tom Stadsklev, Rudy Sullivan, Barry Stafford, and Alter. The rate of infant deaths in Alabama for 2021 will again rank among the highest in the nation, State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said today, with Black infants dying at twice the rate of white infants. Alabamas infant mortality rate was 7.6 per 1,000 live births last year, up from 7.0 in 2020. Harris said that was not a statistically significant difference from last year or the previous ... The USAIDs Workforce for an Innovation and Startup Ecosystem (USAID-WISE) and Hanoi-based technology school MindX signed an agreement on Oct. 18 to make digital skills training more affordable to Vietnamese students. MindX offers courses that prepare students for tech careers. Photo by MindX As per the partnership agreement, USAID-WISE will provide technical assistance and co-investments to help MindX develop and scale its Income Share Agreement (ISA) program, an innovative financing solution designed to pre-fund those who cannot afford technology courses and require no repayment until the learners have successfully secured a job. USAID-WISE will contribute about half of the financial resources needed to run the program. Other forms of support also include reviewing quality assurance procedures, streamlining repayment collection processes, etc. The activity is part of USAID-WISE efforts to improve the upward mobility and competitiveness of Vietnam's workforce for the 4th Industrial Revolution. During the two-year activity, WISE expects to equip 1,000 learners with 4IR skills, provide $400,000 in education finance, and leverage $600,000 in private sector resources. "We are very glad that both MindX and USAID-WISE share a vision of taking digital skills training into the mainstream. Through this income share agreement program, we're hoping to remove financial barriers for low-income tech enthusiasts and enable thousands more to enter the digital workforce each year," said Nguyen Thanh Tung, co-founder and CEO of MindX. Learners participating in the ISA program will not have to pay any fees until they find a job. Photo by MindX By the first quarter of 2023, the program is expected to run a pilot on 50 Vietnamese students regardless of their geographical locations, of which 10% are set to be women. Before officially being entitled to the ISA program, applicants will need to pass a two-month introductory course called "Code for everyone" as a test of their drive and commitment. MindX will deliver the training with a special quality-control process for ISA-funded students, including technical tests, mock interviews, orientation workshops, and mentor support throughout the training period. The company also guarantees jobs for its students upon graduation. At MindX, technology subjects like programming, graphic design, and UI-UX design are available for all ages from 9-year-old kids to students and working professionals. More than 30,000 students have graduated and successfully stepped out into the working world from the school, becoming entrepreneurs, startup founders, engineers, and more. Some are now brought to live and work in over 12 countries via their career. A satellite image of storm Nesat on the morning of October 19, 2022. Photo by the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting Storm Nesat was packing 117 kph winds to the north of the Paracel Islands at 4 a.m. Wednesday and is forecast to keep weakening as it gets closer to central Vietnam. The National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting said the storm will move southwest at 10-15 kph on Wednesday. It will be around 120 km from Vietnam's central coast from Quang Binh and Thua Thien Hue Provinces at 4 a.m. Thursday, when it will meet a strong cold spell to weaken to 74 kph winds. The storm will move a bit north afterwards and weaken into a tropical depression before entering provinces from Thanh Hoa to Quang Binh on Friday morning, carrying winds of around 50 kph. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the storm will weaken to around 65 kph winds on Thursday. Waves of up to five meters are forecast in the Gulf of Tonkin and along the central coast in the next two days. Storm Nesat is the third storm formed in the Vietnamese waters in the past three weeks. The most recent one, Son Ca, caused severe floodings that left 10 people dead in central Vietnam and damaged tens of thousands of houses in Da Nang and Thua Thien Hue Provinces. Tourists walk on the Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills near Da Nang. Photo by Shutterstock Vietjet's first direct flights from Indian cities New Delhi and Mumbai arrived in Da Nang Tuesday, marking the launch of the services. There are four weekly flights to Delhi and three to Mumbai. The budget carrier also plans to start flying between Da Nang and India's Ahmedabad in December as the city seeks to tap into the Indian tourist market. Tran Phuoc Son, vice chairman of Da Nang, said the start of services between India and Da Nang, offers opportunities for the city to increase international tourist arrivals in the absence of major markets like China, Da Nang news portal reported. Last month Vietjet began direct services to New Delhi and Mumbai from Phu Quoc Island. Vietnam received 94,000 Indian visitors in the first nine months of this year. There had been 200,000 in 2019, the year before Covid began. Since March Vietnam has allowed quarantine-free entry and resumed its pre-pandemic visa policies under which Indians can apply for e-visas to enter the country. This year 200,000 international visitors have come to Da Nang, well above its full-year target of 180,000. By Azernews By Sabina Mammadli Those responsible for attacks on civilians should be held accountable and justice should be brought to the victims, Pakistani Ambassador to Azerbaijan Bilal Hayee said. The envoy made the remarks at the event in Ganja, dedicated to the second anniversary of the Armenian missile strikes on the city. We are here today to express solidarity with the people and the government of Azerbaijan on the second anniversary of the missile attack on Ganja city, which killed many civilians and damaged infrastructure. I also visited Ganja in 2020, right after the attack. We saw the damaged infrastructure and even the belongings of the people whose homes were destroyed there, he said. The ambassador noted that attacks on civilians, even during wars, shall never happen, noting that Pakistan has always stood by Azerbaijan and will stand for the integrity of the country. Hayee added that international law is on the side of Azerbaijan and Pakistan will continue to support Azerbaijan bilaterally, and in the international arena, as well as support the establishment of peace. Armenia can benefit from the immense opportunities that already emerge with the regional and economic integration. So, we hope that in coming months and years Armenia will reciprocate the justice of Azerbaijan to normalize relations, to sign the peace treaty and delimitate borders, which will bring prosperity to the region, he noted. Similarly, Iranian ambassador to Azerbaijan Seyyed Abbas Mousavi stressed that Iran condemns the terrorist acts committed against civilians. "At the same time, Iran strongly condemns the terrorist attacks against diplomats and embassies," the ambassador added. During the event, First Deputy Prosecutor-General of Azerbaijan Elchin Mammadov informed that the countrys Prosecutor-General's Office has opened 87 criminal cases on the cases of the aggressive war waged by the Armenian Armed Forces and the crimes committed during the Second Karabakh War. He noted that 39 of these criminal cases are related to premeditated murder and harm to the health of the civilian population, the willful destruction of property, 26 - to the premeditated murder and harm to the health of civilians as a result of the explosion of mines and other explosive devices, 8 - to the illegal involvement of individual armed formations and mercenaries in the Karabakh region and participation in hostilities against Azerbaijan, 4 are related to illegal appeals directed against the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, 3 are related to the destruction of infrastructure facilities with heavy artillery shells and ballistic missiles, and 3 others - to the destruction of historical monuments and culture in the occupied territories and cases of environmental crimes. Speaking at the event, Head of the Communication Policy Section of the Presidential Administration Javid Musayev emphasized that Armenia attempted to falsify the reality by spreading disinformation during the second Karabakh war. "The ambassadors to Azerbaijan along with the assistant of the Azerbaijani president and the prosecutor general visited the scene of the tragedy the day after the missile strikes on Ganja. Hundreds of foreign media representatives and bloggers arrived in Ganja through the Foreign Ministry," Musayev noted. Musayev stressed that President Ilham Aliyev was interviewed by roughly 30 foreign media outlets during the 44-day war, and nearly 140 tweets were posted on the head of state's Twitter account, out of which, 44 contained the latest updates from the front. He added that shortly after the war, the president held a four-hour briefing with around 50 representatives of foreign media. This means that, unlike Armenia, Azerbaijan spread reliable information, the official noted. Furthermore, Musayev stated that the Armenian leadership is responsible for the missile attacks on Azerbaijani cities, killing 100 and injuring nearly 500 civilians, to which Azerbaijan responded on the battlefield. "Armenia has been spreading disinformation against Azerbaijan since the first days of the war. Azerbaijan waged the information war as well to reveal the truth to the international press," Musayev said. He urged foreign diplomats visiting Ganja to share the implications of missile strikes on the city in their own countries. Iran has been rocked by the story of Mahsa Amini who died in the custody of morality police after being arrested on veil infringement. Her death sparked a wave of protests by women in Iran and worldwide who are removing their hijabs in public and asking for the freedom to decide when and what to wear. Iran violently cracked down on these protests arresting and killing many. Some activists see the obligation to wear the hijab as a tool of oppression and control of women and claim it is a choice to express ones faith only when one can choose not to wear it, without repercussions. The Council of the EU expanded today its list of sanctioned Iranian individuals and entities and condemned the violent crackdown of protests as well as the Internet shutdown. Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB, for short) has been enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights (Article 9), as well as in the UN Declaration of Human Rights (Article 18) for over 70 years and has been adopted into many national laws and Constitutions. Everyone, anywhere, has the right to believe what they wish, has the right to express those beliefs privately and publicly, and to come together with other believers, provided the beliefs are not going against the other human rights and principles in the ECHR and UDHR. Governments cannot infringe on these rights; on the contrary, they need to protect them. Instances of violation of FoRB have increased lately, in Europe as well as worldwide. Antisemitic remarks and violence are still popping up, Christians continue to be persecuted for their faith and Islamophobia is on the rise. Our MEP Peter van Dalen, who serves as co-chair of the Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Religious Tolerance, has recently visited Pakistan as part of a larger delegation where he had various meetings and discussions with Pakistani officials about blasphemy laws in the country and the abusive ways they are used to target people who wish to change religion. The two recent examples we have are Shafqat Emmanuel and Shagufta Kausar (Christian couple sentenced to death in Pakistan on blasphemy charges in 2014 and kept on the death row until their acquittal in June 2021) and Asia Bibi (Christian woman condemned to death by hanging in 2010 under the same blasphemy laws and acquitted in 2018). Both these cases of acquittal came after intense pressure from the European Parliament (where MEP Peter van Dalen played a pivotal role) and after the EU-Special Envoy on FoRBs visit to Pakistan in 2018. In the current mandate (2019-2024), we do not yet have a special representative on freedom of religion or belief, which is a serious and regrettable mistake given the influence this person and position can have in cases of discrimination like the ones mentioned above. "In Pakistan, hundreds of people are on death row because they are believers. Ahmadis and Christians are awaiting the death penalty, accused of blasphemy. That's not just in Pakistan. There are countless countries in this world where Christians and other believers are persecuted. And the EU has the obligation, enshrined in a treaty, to stand up for religious freedom."- said Peter van Dalen after his return from Pakistan. We, as Christians, need to continue to fight for the protection of the freedom to believe, pray, worship and assemble with other believers. These rights stem from our conviction that human beings are created by God in His image and therefore have inherent worth and dignity. Theyre also strengthened by the view that believers form together one body, a community bound by love, so that when one member suffers the entire body is affected. This view is defined by Jesus teachings and His sacrifice for us which tore the veil of separation between us and God and between us and our neighbors. That freedom and unity given to us at the cross is precious and it still applies. It is because of this belief that we speak against the Iranian governments abuse and repression of women who are also created in Gods image and endowed with freedom. We deplore the violence against Muslim and other minority believers in some Indian provinces. It is reprehensible what the Uyghur minority has to endure in China. We find it unacceptable that elected officials and public figures hold and express racist, antisemitic views. Religion and belief should never be used as weapons to exclude and discriminate, but to unite and love. That is the basic tenet of every major religion in the world today and something worth defending so that it remains available to all. As Haiti faces a deadly resurgence of cholera, gangs continue to foment violence. Secretary of State Blinken strongly condemn(ed) the acts of violence, the looting, the destruction of the past weeks, including the gangs continuing fuel blockade, which has had a devastating impact across Haiti, undermining the health, undermining the safety, of thousands of people. In response to the crisis, the United States announced new measures to provide support to the people of Haiti and to hold those who continue to foment violence accountable. The Pan American Health Organization estimates that more than 1.2 million people are at risk of contracting cholera. USAID and Centers for Disease Control staff are on the ground in Haiti, working alongside Haitian health workers and NGOs to respond to the cholera outbreak and deliver care to those who need it. We will accelerate the delivery of additional humanitarian relief to the people of Haiti, promised Secretary Blinken. The U.S. is also working to deploy assistance to the Haitian National Police to strengthen their capacity to counter gangs and re-establish law and order. Over the past 18 months, the United States has allocated more than $90 million in security assistance to strengthen the Haitian Polices crime-fighting capacity. In an effort to hold malign actors accountable, the United States issued a new visa restriction policy under the Immigration and Nationality Act against current or former Haitian government officials and other individuals involved in the operation of street gangs and other Haitian criminal organizations. This includes support these bad actors may provide in funding or facilitating arms or drug trafficking. Such actions also apply to these individuals immediate family members. In addition, on a multilateral level, the U.S. and its allies have drafted a resolution proposing specific sanctions measures to enable the international community to hold malign actors accountable for their actions. With these actions and others, said Secretary Blinken, we will lay out in the days and weeks ahead . . .a clear message that the United States will continue to support the Haitian people during this critical time. We remain committed, he said, to working with the international community and the Haitian people as they seek to restore security and democratic order for a more prosperous future. In violation of numerous United Nations resolutions, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK, has continued to develop and launch ballistic missiles. Between January 1 and October 12, 2022, Pyongyang launched forty-three ballistic missiles. DPRK launches of ballistic missiles are clear violations of multiple Security Council resolutions, said U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield. This includes A dangerous and destabilizing reported long-range ballistic missile over Japan. Pyongyang clearly feels emboldened, she said. Multiple Member States and the International Atomic Energy Agency have reported the DPRK is reconstituting its nuclear testing site in preparation for a seventh nuclear test. Kim Jong Un has called for in his words the highest rapidity in advancing the DPRKs WMD program. Unfortunately, Kim Jong Un Appears to be getting his way, said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield. Since the beginning of this year, 13 Council members have joined us in condemning these unlawful actions and in voting to impose real costs to the DPRK real costs that would impede its WMD and ballistic missile pursuits. However, two Council members, Russia, and China, have gone out of their way to justify the DPRKs repeated provocations and block every attempt to update the sanctions regime, said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield. Nonetheless, It is still within our power to come together just as we did in recent years when we unanimously responded to the DPRKs provocation, she said, emphasizing the importance of remaining unified. We can and must return to a time when we spoke with a unified voice against the DPRKs malign behavior and when we stood together in support of the global nonproliferation regime. This means fully implementing existing DPRK resolutions. It means undertaking sanctions maintenance efforts. And it means pursuing a resolution to address DPRK sanctions evasion activities going forward. The truth is the DPRK is testing capabilities that can threaten every single UN Member State. That threatens all our individual and collective security, full stop. And by serving on this Council, we have all taken on the weighty responsibility of protecting and defending international peace and security, said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield. So, lets do our jobs. Let us honor that commitment. We wish to reach out to all sections of our society, without any consideration of religion, caste, creed or financial status. Quality for Nation building is our slogan "This Engineering College is meant to train and develop men and women of high calibre, equipped with the most modern scientific knowledge and technological skills destined not only to help our people in their march towards progress but also to bring glory and honour to our people and our country", said His Beatitude Moran Mor Cyril Baselios Catholicos on the day of inauguration of the College in 2002.Conferred with autonomous status in July 2020, College is progressing in the direction of consolidating its strengths and developing the strategies to reach the new heights of excellence. College offers five B.Tech Programmes in the conventional branches with consistently high enrollment. All the B.Tech Programmes MBCET has set the tradition of handholding students from the beginning itself, the training part goes along with academics so that students can develop their personalities. In MBCET, there is a strong facultywere first accredited in 2016 and got reaccredited in 2019.There are special electives in the areas of AI and Machine Learning, which are offered through the programme electives/minor/honors to ensure a wider coverage of skill domains and to develop different levels of competencies as required for the various types of jobs. The strong tie up with the industries pave the way for garnering attention of the industrial ecosystem of this part of the State. This had resulted in record placement offers in the current year, despite the pandemic. The M.Tech programmes offered are in the areas of Telecommunication Engineering, Structural Engineering, Machine Design, Power Drives and Control and Computer Science and Engineering. College is also hosting many Ph.D Scholars, who pursue research under the affiliating. University. Placements are also secured by the M.Tech and Ph.D scholars through the initiatives of the Departments.MBCET has set the tradition of hand holding students from the beginning itself, the training part goes along with academics so that students can develop their personalities. In MBCET, there is a strong faculty advisory system by which the advisor mentors a group of 20 to 25 students from the first day of admission onwards. The advisor identifies the students' potential and the interests and guides them accordingly in their course works and internships. The Internal Quality Assurance Cell is methodically overseeing the performance of all the Departments and Divisions.MBCET believes in keeping its faculties up-to-date with the knowledge of latest trends and technologies in their areas of expertise through different channels. Keeping it in mind, a Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) was formed to inspire, support, and strengthen new directions in pedagogy and learning at MBCET. TLC facilitates courses through custom-made workshops, good teaching practices, innovation in teaching methods. TLC receives technical support from the faculty of the elite institutions like IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, Bennet University, NIT Calicut, IIST, NITK Surathkal, Amritha University, and so on for conducting the faculty training and development programs in the subject domain as well as pedagogy. College is also in the forefront in promoting the cultural activities, sports and games in the campus and also by sending students to the National level and Inter University level competitions.MBCET has formally institutionalized the collaborations with the industry by creating a new portfolio of "Corporate Relations" in 2020 along with the advent of autonomy. The new division is facilitating the creation of an ecosystem for the promotion of skill development and also enables industry-academia collaborations. It also provides career guidance, ensures placements, promotes innovation, and supports entrepreneurship. The College has signed several MoUs with a number of industry collaborators, so as to get preferential treatment for training and internships. The list of our industry partners includes GTech, Technopark, Vydyuthi Energy Services, Tata Elxsi, HLL Lifecare Ltd, NISH, BSNL RTC, VinVish, and so on. Career oriented training programmes are being planned to make the student `fit for job from day one'.To augment the quality of higher education, the college has been trying to globalize the community by establishing connectivity with the leading international Universities like Bowie State University(USA), Gannon University(USA), Malardaien University(Sweden), University of Dayton(USA), Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne(Australia), Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Massachusetts(USA), University of Technology(Malaysia)and others.College is working on its own Resource Centre for content generation because online learning has become a new norm these days. 3D animation and AR/VR shall also be used in content generation so as to help in the delivery of the contents of the engineering subjects to enable immersive learning. The college is also finding opportunities for training and mass employment generation in the high-tech areas because now every aspect of life is influenced by high technology in some form or the other. So, the social and community aspects of digital learning are also being investigated. Seamless connectivity to the foreign institutions are being worked out to become globally competent in education and high end research.Since the College is centrally located in a fast expanding industrial ecosystem of Kerala and because of the geographical advantage it is seen that there are many enabling factors that come in its favour to excel. So, College is enthusiastically going forward by drawing its strength from the grand push being offered by the Management and the Government. It is sure that such enablers will help it to attain a stable growth and reach the pinnacle of excellence in engineering education and research in the coming years. VJIT assists the students in redefining the learning procedure by providing appropriate technological-related courses Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful" are some of the wise words said by sir Samuel Johnson.Research is the back bone of academics. Today it is highly effective to arrange lectures and student meetings with distinguished scientists, academics, and a top-notch staff of research laboratories to raise students' awareness of and interest in research issues. VJIT has created a fully functional R&D Centre, to promote research culture on campus. It encourages the students and faculty to undertake the research in newly emerging frontier areas including multidisciplinary fields.The primary benefit of pursuing a degree programme is that students can apply for and obtain jobs quickly.The institute emphasizes specialization based on students' strengths and provides them with the best degree to graduate with. VJIT offers B.Tech courses in AI, CSE, IT, ME, CE, and other fields. The institute also provides master's degree programmes such as MBA and M.Tech, which are regarded as excellent career options for good placements and a successful career.Placements provide an excellent opportunity for students to gain practical experience. The college's Training and Placement Cell (TPC) serves as a dynamic centre for the growth and engagement of students. The dynamic placement team at VJIT collaborates with the best companies to provide training in accordance with industry standards and to open doors for students in good companies.With 680 unique offers and 1330+ multiple offers from over 80+ companies this year, VJIT saw record breaking placement. The average package for the year was Rs. 5 LPA, while the highest package was Rs. 15 LPA that students from the CSE Department received from Cisco and Byjus. According to Times of India, VJIT is the 10th best engineering school in Telangana for job placements in 2022.VJIT maintains high standards in order to educate, enrich, and excel in the delivery of professional education through top quality faculty who strive to mould students into socially responsible professionals through creative teamwork, innovation, and research. The institute main mission is to construct cutting edge infrastructure facilities for knowledge acquisition optimization in order to holistically nurture students and prepare them to excel in a global context. Today, VJIT envisions itself as a reputable institution in this emerging education sector in Engineering, Technology, and Management at all national and international levels through knowledge generation and distribution through intellectual, cultural, and ethical efforts with human values. RENO I-80 Gold Corp. announced results from the final six holes drilled in the 2022 surface drill program targeting the high-grade South Pacific Zone at the companys Granite Creek Property in Humboldt County. The SPZ was discovered in 2021 immediately north of the underground mine workings at Granite Creek. I-80 Gold said the 2021/2022 drilling campaigns were very successful in delineating and expanding mineralization in the SPZ, with new results continuing to confirm significant upside potential. The deepest and most northerly hole intersected 15.7 grams of gold per ton over nearly 22 feet. Drilling in the South Pacific Zone has ended the year on a high note with the final six holes intersecting high-grade gold mineralization over mineable widths and further extending the deposit along strike to the north, said Tyler Hill, senior geologist of i-80. The continuity of high-grade mineralization makes the SPZ a priority for development, and we look forward to continued expansion drilling in the new year. The company said the high-grade mineralization at Granite Creek occurs in a near-identical geological setting as that at Nevada Gold Mines multimillion-ounce Turquoise Ridge Mine immediately to the north. I-80 Gold is currently extending the decline to depth in order to provide access to the SPZ on an expedited basis with a target to complete underground drilling and bring the SPZ into the Granite Creek mine plan in 2023. The company will now complete an updated resource for the underground mineralization at Granite Creek that will be included in a subsequent economic update that is expected to be released in the first quarter of 2023. Additional drilling is being planned for 2023 both along strike and at depth to continue resource expansion. In addition to Granite Creek, i-80 Golds properties include Ruby Hill near Eureka, McCoy-Cove south of Battle Mountain, and Lone Tree and Buffalo Mountain in the Battle Mountain Trend near Interstate 80. Lone Tree and its processing infrastructure are expected to become the hub of i-80s Nevada operations. ELKO One of two women charged in an elaborate jewelry theft scheme has been arrested. TNeal Stubbs, 34, of Elko was booked into jail Oct. 15 on a felony warrant for attempted grand larceny and conspiracy to commit grand larceny. Stubbs and Rainey Lang are accused of entering a local jewelry store separately and one of them making off with a ring that had a price tag of $11,200. However, the store was not putting its real merchandise out where it could be stolen, so they ended up with cubic zirconium valued at only $300. According to court records, a woman with blue hair entered the store and was trying on engagement rings when a blonde woman holding a dog entered and they began talking about the dog. The blue-haired woman asked to hold the dog. They took pictures and then began bickering when the ring could not be found. The blonde later identified as Stubbs then fled the store and the blue-haired woman said she was going to call 911. The crime occurred on Feb. 28. The next day, police were called to a different jewelry store after two women matching the description entered with a dog. After finding out the ring was not real diamond, they complained that they got ripped off at the other jewelry store. Police were able to trace their vehicle to Carlin but the owner of the residence was not cooperative. Stubbs and Lang were charged Sept. 12 with attempted grand larceny because they had specific intent to steal an item valued at more than $5,000, according to the criminal complaint. They were also charged with conspiracy to commit grand larceny. According to Elko County Jail records, Stubbs was arrested in March 2019 for drug paraphernalia, in September 2020 on two felony counts of drug possession, and twice in 2021 on two counts of failure to appear in court on misdemeanor charges. In 2015, Lang was arrested in Billings, Montana, on theft and drug possession charges after allegedly trying to steal a suitcase full of merchandise from J.C. Penney, according to a report in the Billings Gazette. The report said she was accused of taking a suitcase for sale in the store into a dressing room, stashing other merchandise in the suitcase and then walking out of the store without paying for any of the items, which had a total value of $796. As of Wednesday, Stubbs remained in Elko County Jail with bail listed at $7,500. Lang has not been located. Xi Jinping delivered a report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on behalf of the 19th CPC Central Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 16, 2022. "To build a modern socialist country in all respects, we must, first and foremost, pursue high-quality development," Xi said in a report at the opening session of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. "We must fully and faithfully apply the new development philosophy on all fronts, continue reforms to develop the socialist market economy, promote high-standard opening up, and accelerate efforts to foster a new pattern of development that is focused on the domestic economy and features positive interplay between domestic and international economic flows," Xi said. "We will work to see that the market plays the decisive role in resource allocation and that the government better plays its role," Xi said. Secretary of the CPV Central Committee and Chairman of its Commission for Information and Education Nguyen Trong Nghia (L) and Robert Floyd, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation. (Photo: VNA) During the visit, the Vietnamese delegation had working sessions with Harald Troch, deputy head of the Human Rights Committee of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Austrian Parliament; Maria Maltschnig, secretary in charge of international relations of the Social Democratic Party of Austria; and Robert Floyd, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO). The delegation also visited the Research and Laboratory Centre of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and talked with the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of Vietnamese intellectuals in the European country. During the working sessions with the Austrian officials, Mr. Nguyen Trong Nghia affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to cooperative ties with Austria as the two nations are celebrating the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties this year. He reaffirmed Vietnams foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of international relations, and active and proactive international integration. Vietnam wants to deepen Vietnam-Austria ties in particular and Vietnam - European Union (EU) relations in general, including consolidating the friendship and cooperation, and increasing meetings and exchanges with Austrian political parties, and party groups in the European Parliament (EP), Nghia said. In the process of scientific and technological development, Vietnam advocates promoting research and effective application of the nuclear energy industrys achievements for peaceful purposes and sustainable development, especially in the fields of health, agriculture, industry and environmental protection, Nghia said. In addition to its consistent stance on nuclear non-proliferation, Vietnam has always striven to be an active and responsible member of multilateral international institutions on atomic energy such as the IAEA, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and CTBTO, he said. The Vietnamese official spoke highly of the role played by the CTBT in ensuring security and reducing the risk of nuclear crisis; and the CTBTO's mission to promote the soon enforcement of the CTBT. Leaders of the Austrian parliament, Social Democratic Party of Austria, CTBTO and IAEA highly evaluated the delegation's working visit, saying it was an important milestone that contributed to consolidating and deepening relations between Vietnam and Austria, including ties between the CPV and political parties of Austria and between Vietnam and the CTBTO and IAEA. They highlighted the fruitful development of the Vietnam Austria relations across fields, within the framework of the Vietnam - EU relationship and multilateral mechanisms of which both countries are members. The two sides agreed to enhance coordination in implementing the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and promoting the Austrian Parliament to soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). They also discussed the possibility of theory-policy exchanges between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Social Democratic Party of Austria. The Austrian officials congratulated Vietnam on its election to the UN Human Right Council, expressing their belief that Vietnam will take on this position well in the context of complicated developments in the world and the region. According to the officials from the CTBTO and IAEA, there remains large room for the two sides to expand cooperation. The two sides discussed orientations and solutions to enhance the effective application of atomic energy to promote socio-economic development, as well as Vietnams effective participation in international organisations. In his meeting with representatives of the Vietnamese Embassy and the Vietnamese community in Austria, Nghia highly valued the efforts of the embassy in promoting the Vietnam-Austria friendship and cooperation, and the relations between Vietnam and UN organisations in Austria, especially the CTBTO and IAEA. He also affirmed that the overseas Vietnamese intellectual community is an integral part of the intellectual community in the home country, expressing his hope that they will continue to contribute to the homelands development and serve as a bridge promoting connections between the two countries./. Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (R) and his RoK counterpart Park Jin in Hanoi on October 18 (Photo: VNA) Welcoming his guest, Minister Bui Thanh Son said Parks official visit to Vietnam holds great importance amid the 30th anniversary of the countries diplomatic ties this year. The officials agreed to coordinate closely to promote all-level mutual visits and meetings in flexible forms, pay more attention to enhancing ties in diplomacy, defence and security, and maximise existing bilateral dialogue and cooperation mechanisms. Minister Bui Thanh Son highly valued the sustained economic partnership, especially in investment and trade, amid adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. He asked both sides to maintain efforts to achieve the trade target of 100 billion USD by 2023 and 150 billion USD by 2030 in a balanced manner through bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms like the Vietnam - RoK Free Trade Agreement (VKFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The Vietnamese Government always welcomes Korean businesses expanding investment in Vietnam, with priority given to digital technology, electronics, renewable energy, infrastructure development, and construction of high technology complexes, industrial parks, and high-quality agricultural zones, he said. Son called on the RoK Government to increase non-refundable aid for Vietnam; reduce and gradually lift requirements in terms of contractors and goods origin when it comes to loans from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF); and boost the effectiveness of collaboration in science, technology, healthcare, labour, culture, education, and people-to-people exchanges. Speaking highly of Vietnams achievements in the COVID-19 fight and socio-economic development, Minister Park affirmed that the Korean Government attaches importance to Vietnams role in the region and wishes to develop all-round relations with the Southeast Asian nation. Sharing Vietnams concern about the promotion of balanced trade, he asked the Vietnamese Government to create more favourable conditions for Korean enterprises in the country to stabilise supply chains after the pandemic. He stated that the RoKs Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue working closely with its Vietnamese counterparts and other agencies of the two countries to achieve their targets in all aspects. At the talks, the ministers also discussed international and regional issues of common concern. Minister Bui Thanh Son affirmed that Vietnam always pays attention to the situation in the Korean Peninsula and hopes the parties concerned will exercise self-restraint, avoid escalation, persist in dialogue, and take into account each others concerns and interests as well as common interests of the region and the world, thereby contributing to peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula, the region, and the world at large. Vietnam is ready to help with the promotion of dialogue, cooperation and denuclearisation in the peninsula, he said. Minister Bui Thanh Son also called on the RoK to continue supporting and sharing the common vision of ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea. Park said navigation security in the East Sea is critically important to regional peace and development, voicing his countrys support for the maintenance of peace, stability, and freedom of navigation and overflight, legal order, peaceful settlement of disputes, and compliance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Minister Bui Thanh Son also asked the RoK to continue advocating ASEANs efforts to enhance solidarity and cooperation, stressing that Vietnam and ASEAN are actively seeking solutions to stabilise the situation in Myanmar./. By Azernews By Vugar Khalilov Chairman of the State Committee on Diaspora Work Fuad Muradov has met with members of the Azerbaijani community in Australia, as part of his visit to Melbourne and Ballarat cities, Azernews reports, citing the committee. Addressing the event, Muradov thanked his compatriots for informing the Australians about the Azerbaijani realities during the 44-day war (2020) with Armenia, as well as the post-war period, congratulating them on the occasion of October 18, the Day of Restoration of Azerbaijan's Independence. The chairman reported on the multifaceted activities of the state committee, as well as the Diaspora Support Fund, coordination councils, Azerbaijani Houses, Azerbaijani Sunday schools, and summer camps for diaspora youth, recalling President Ilham Aliyev's recommendations at the 5th Congress of World Azerbaijanis. Ramil Gurbanov, Charge d'Affaires of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Australia, Fiji, and New Zealand, among others, spoke at the occasion. The attendees discussed how to promote the activities of diaspora groups in Australia. Muradov also met with representatives of the Jewish Community Council of the Australian State of Victoria (JCCV). The meeting was also attended by Ramil Gurbanov, JCCV Chief Operating Officer Naomi Levin, JCCV Executive Member Frank Greenstein, Senior Policy Analyst Jamie Hyams, members of the Azerbaijan Cultural Association of Victoria Nira Elgart, Tatyana Zemlinsky and representatives of the State Committee. They were briefed about the activities of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria, and it was discussed how to build tight relationships with the Australian Jewish community. Moreover, Azerbaijan's flag-raising ceremony was held in Federation Square in the city center. Representatives of the State Committee, Arif Eser Torun, Turkish Consulate General in Melbourne, and Azerbaijani students from the city's higher education institutions attended the ceremony commemorating October 18. Muradov and Gurbanov emphasized that such gatherings will help to unite the Azerbaijani people in Australia. A tree-planting event was also held in Melbourne to commemorate Australia's friendship with Azerbaijan. The chairman of the State Committee, a member of the Victorian Legislative Council, the deputy leader of Victoria's Liberal Party, the president of the Legislative Assembly of Victoria from 2010 to 2018, the Turkish consulate general in Melbourne, and members of the Azerbaijani community attended the event. Muradov emphasized the symbolic significance of the tree planting on the 30th anniversary of the two nations' diplomatic ties. He also thanked the members of Victoria's Legislative Council for the advancement of diversity in Australia and the attention paid to the Azerbaijani minority. David Southwick, Bruce Atkinson, and Arif Eser Torun spoke at the event on the multicultural principles that unite Australia and Azerbaijan, as well as friendly relations with the Azerbaijani diaspora, and Azerbaijan-Turkish brotherhood. At the reception (Photo: VNA) On October 18, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Secretary Dinh Tien Dung received Singaporean President Halimah Yacob on a State visit to Vietnam. Appreciating Hanois efforts to preserve heritage associated with tourism development, the President of Singapore expected the city to share valuable experiences in preserving relics, heritage and ancient houses. The Singaporean leader proposed that Hanoi promote cooperation in the field of education and training, hoping that the city would pay attention to supporting the Singapore business community, thereby encouraging businesses to develop further. Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung affirmed that the achievements of bilateral development cooperation between the two countries have been made thanks to the attention, support and unity of the high level leaders of the two States and the efforts of the people of Vietnam and Singapore. Expressing agreement with the cooperation proposals of the Singaporean leader, he shared an overview of the development situation of the capital city, in which he confirmed that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the capital's economy still achieved some positive results. He emphasized that in the coming time, Hanoi wishes to promote existing cooperation activities and expand new cooperation fields with Singapore, especially urban planning and management; finance; medical; travel; smart city development, e-government; and environmental protection. Expressing special interest in promoting cooperation in the field of education and training, the Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee directed specialized agencies of Hanoi to consider and implement cooperation with Singapore on vocational and professional training, focusing on consolidating and improving the quality of the city's executive and management apparatus. He also shared some experiences, highlighting the challenges in preserving Hanoi's major historical sites. Emphasizing that historical and cultural issues are important factors for a nation, he affirmed that the preservation is a great responsibility that is always interested and prioritized by Hanoi./. Article on Alunmay, the theoretical journal of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, September 2022 issue (Photo: NDO) According to the article, currently, Laos has diplomatic relations with 143 countries, of which Vietnam is the only one country Laos has a special relationship with. The special relationship between Laos and Vietnam was not born by chance, but has been documented in terms of history, geography and many other important factors. During the past 60 years, the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam were not born by chance, but were created by the great President Ho Chi Minh, President Kaysone Phomvihane, and the beloved President Souphanouvong, the predecessors of the two countries, laid the foundation, which has been inherited by generations to this day, becoming a relationship that is hard to find in the history of international relations. Laos and Vietnam established diplomatic relations on September 5, 1962. During the past 60 years, the spirit of fighting solidarity and the fraternal friendship between the two peoples of Laos and Vietnam has always been cultivated and constantly blossomed, reflected in the process of standing side by side in the war, fighting against a common enemy until a new regime was built. After the country was liberated, the special relationship between Laos and Vietnam was further promoted, comprehensively developed and deepened. The article analyzed that, during the period of the national-democratic revolution, along with the long and heroic struggle, the Laos-Vietnam fraternal fighting alliance on the armed front, the two countries still cooperated and coordinated with each other in international forums to enlist international support for the just struggle of the two peoples. During the period of national defense and development, the two countries have continued to closely coordinate and support each other in many aspects. On July 18, 1977, Laos and Vietnam signed an Agreement of Friendship and Cooperation. Since then, the comprehensive cooperation between Laos-Vietnam, Vietnam-Laos has started a new era under new conditions. In 1986, Laos and Vietnam carried out the doi moi policy declared in practice. Currently, the two countries continue to promote the special relationship of solidarity and comprehensive cooperation in both breadth and depth, both at the central and local levels for the benefit of the two peoples and have made achievements in many fields: politics-diplomacy; human resource training; defence security; economy, trade and investment; culture, society and health. The article affirmed that the relationship between the two countries has become a great friendship, special solidarity, and a pure model in international relations, as the leaders of the two countries have assessed: the Laos-Vietnam, Vietnam-Laos special relationship is incomparable, an invaluable heritage of the two countries, and has become a rule in the existence and development of the two countries. Besides the good results, the article also points out that the relationship between the two countries still has some issues that need to be further resolved, including the fact that economic cooperation still has some limitations, being not commensurate with its potential. In order to continue to protect and cultivate the ever-growing great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam, the article also recommended that in the coming time, it is necessary to focus on educating cadres, civil servants and people, especially the young generation, about the tradition of special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. At the same time, the two sides need to actively and proactively research, connect and effectively organize the implementation of agreements and decisions of the two Politburos, two Governments, branches and localities of the two countries; working closely to solve problems with sincerity, trusting each other as brotherly comrades. The two sides need to pay attention to research and adjust regulations and mechanisms to suit the special relationship, and to be consistent with the regulations of regional and international integration. The article also emphasized that, in the current conditions, the two sides need to continue to protect the special relationship and solidarity for a long and lasting stability, with a sense of vigilance and proactive prevention and control of all destructive plots of hostile forces; while enhancing cooperation and coordination in regional and international forums./. Mr. Thuong at the meeting (Photo: VNA) On October 17, in the capital Phnom Penh, Politburo member and Standing member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committees Secretariat Vo Van Thuong met with King Norodom Sihamoni. He expressed his pleasure to pay an official visit to Cambodia during the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Year, thanking the King for welcoming the delegation, and conveying the cordial greetings of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Nguyen Xuan Phuc to the Cambodian Queen mother and King. Mr. Thuong expressed his pleasure that Vietnam - Cambodia relations in recent years have continued to develop well in all fields, bringing practical benefits to the people of the two countries, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and in the world. He affirmed that Vietnam always attaches great importance to and gives top priority to the Vietnam - Cambodia relationship. He expressed his deep gratitude for the sincere, valuable and effective support and assistance that the late King Norodom Sihanouk, as well as King Norodom Sihamoni, have given Vietnam so far. King Norodom Sihamoni highly appreciated the significance of Mr. Thuong's visit, showing the importance of Cambodia - Vietnam relations, conveying the greetings of the Queens Mother and the King to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Vietnamese leaders. He emphasized the good neighborliness, friendship and mutual help between Cambodia and Vietnam. King Norodom Sihamoni was pleased that the leaders of the two countries continued to maintain and promote the Cambodia-Vietnam cooperative relationship, for the benefit of the two peoples, for peace, stability, and cooperation in the region and the world. The Queens Mother and the King personally always actively contribute to the two countries' relations and believe that the two countries' relations will continue to develop strongly. King Norodom Sihamoni congratulated Vietnam on great and comprehensive achievements, especially in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, restoring socio-economic development, and enhancing its position in the international arena. He also expressed his deep thanks to Vietnam for helping Cambodia escape the former genocidal regime, as well as always supporting Cambodia in the development of the country today./. Mr. Chu Tuan Duc (first from right), representative of the Vietnamese Embassy, presents certificates of merit to members for their outstanding contributions to the association at the ceremony (Photo: VNA) Speaking at the event held on October 16, Phan Thi Binh, Head of the organizing board, said the association was among one of the earliest groups established in Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1990. Its main purpose and motto is to help Vietnamese solve difficulties they face in daily life, such as offering consultations on employment and housing. Mr. Nguyen Van Thinh, Head of the Association, said that so far overseas Vietnamese have been recognized as one of the most successful immigrant communities in Germany. According to him, members of the association have worked to build relationships and connections to help Vietnamese workers integrate into the German society, promote the learning of the German language, introduce employment opportunities, and preserve Vietnamese culture and language. Chu Tuan Duc, Minister-Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission at the Vietnamese Embassy, lauded the associations development so far and highlighted its contributions to the host nations COVID-19 response and to charity activities back in their homeland. There are about 1,000 overseas Vietnamese living in Magdeburg city./. Vietnamese pepper introduced at the event (Photo: baoquocte.vn) The event aims to advertise Vietnam's food industry in the European and international markets, especially to learn and connect more with partners in the French market. Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang said that the great interest of businesses for Vietnam's main spice is a huge opportunity for the two sides to directly exchange and meet each other's demands, thereby developing trade between partners. He affirmed that authorities at all levels of France and Vietnam are ready to support manufacturers and companies of the two countries to well maintain trade flows, as well as the operation of supply chains, mobilizing all efforts to recover after the pandemic and work together for sustainable and even development. In recent years, Vietnam has become the world's leading pepper producer with a yield of more than 1,200 kg/ha of cultivation, accounting for nearly 30% of world production and 50% of global exports. According to VPA President Hoang Thi Lien, to sell Vietnamese pepper in supermarkets in France like rice, Vietnams sectors need to have more efforts, in which VPA plays a leading role, co-operating with exporters, farmers and manufacturers. In addition, the role of representative agencies in France such as the Trade Office or the Embassy of Vietnam is also very important, especially in providing information and facilitating close connection with French partners. France is an important market in the European Union (EU). In terms of export turnover, France is currently ranked 4th position in the region, after Germany, the Netherlands and the UK, but it is a potential market. Vietnam's pepper export market share to France accounts for 10% of the total export market share to the EU. France is likened to a "filter funnel" because "if Vietnam's large pepper exporters can connect with large French importers and distributors, then in addition to strengthening their brands and products, they can deeper penetrate into the potential EU market". This is one of the activities in the National Trade Promotion Program Framework 2022, chaired by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The event attracted the participation of nearly 20 large manufacturing and exporting enterprises from Vietnam and 30 spice importers, traders and retailers of France. The Vietnamese pepper enterprises participating in this delegation are very strong and have good export potential. Many large French importers and wholesalers also participated in the event. This will be the time for the Vietnam Pepper sector to invest and develop the brands in France and Europe. On this occasion, the VPA attended the Sial Paris International Food Fair 2022 from October 15-19. Attending the fair is a good opportunity to promote the national brand image for Vietnam's food industry in the EU market in particular and in the world in general, including pepper and spices. Attending the fair, VPA introduced products of 8 businesses specializing in pepper and spice products./. Giant panda Jing Jing plays at the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 18, 2022. Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries. The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) CHENGDU, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries. The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. It is the first giant panda cooperation program between China and the Middle East. The China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda dispatched experienced breeders and veterinarians to accompany the animals and help them adapt to the new environment. Over a month ago, the pandas were given physical checkups and quarantined. They are in good health, according to the center. Experts from China have provided onsite guidance at the venue where the two pandas will live in Qatar and helped establish a professional giant panda breeding and management team. In May 2020, China and Qatar signed a cooperation agreement on giant panda protection and research to promote international cooperation on panda protection and the protection of biodiversity and endangered species of the two countries. Giant pandas Si Hai (L) and Jing Jing await their journey to Qatar at the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 18, 2022. Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries. The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) Workers transfer giant panda Jing Jing for a journey to Qatar from the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 18, 2022. Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries. The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) Giant panda Si Hai feeds on bamboo at the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 17, 2022. Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries. The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. (Photo by Chen Juwei/Xinhua) Giant panda Jing Jing feeds on bamboo at the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 17, 2022. Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries. The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) A breeder feeds giant panda Si Hai before its journey to Qatar at the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 18, 2022. Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries. The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) Editor: JYZ A boy experiences virtual reality goggles while visiting the 3rd edition of the new media art festival RADAR in Bucharest, capital of Romania, Oct. 16, 2022. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua) Children jump over a light installation while visiting the 3rd edition of the new media art festival RADAR in Bucharest, capital of Romania, Oct. 16, 2022. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua) A boy experiences virtual reality goggles while visiting the 3rd edition of the new media art festival RADAR in Bucharest, capital of Romania, Oct. 16, 2022. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua) A woman enjoys an interactive light installation while visiting the 3rd edition of the new media art festival RADAR in Bucharest, capital of Romania, Oct. 16, 2022. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua) Children interact with a small intelligent robot while visiting the 3rd edition of the new media art festival RADAR in Bucharest, capital of Romania, Oct. 16, 2022. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua) People interact with a small intelligent robot while visiting the 3rd edition of the new media art festival RADAR in Bucharest, capital of Romania, Oct. 16, 2022. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua) Editor: JYZ A crane remotely controlled with the help of 5G technology, moves a container at the East-West Gate (EWG) Intermodal Logistics Terminal near the village of Fenyeslitke, eastern Hungary, on Oct. 18, 2022. Europe's first land-based intermodal logistics terminal using 5G technology opened near the village of Fenyeslitke on Tuesday. The 5G network required for the East-West Gate (EWG) project was built by Vodafone Hungary and the network equipment was supplied by Huawei of China. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua) FENYESLITKE, Hungary, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Europe's first land-based intermodal logistics terminal using 5G technology opened near the village of Fenyeslitke in eastern Hungary on Tuesday. The 5G network required for the East-West Gate (EWG) project was built by Vodafone Hungary and the network equipment was supplied by Huawei of China. The terminal, built at a cost of over 40 billion forints (95.3 million U.S. dollars), will be able to handle up to one million twenty-foot containers (TEUs) per year, making it the largest such facility on the continent in terms of theoretical capacity and area. "With the construction of the East-West Gate, Hungary is back on the map of international rail logistics," Janos Talosi, chief executive officer (CEO) of the investor East-West Intermodal Logistics company, adding that the most advanced technologies available have been incorporated into the terminal, making transport faster and more accurate. "Our vision was for EWG to become a gateway for the new Silk Road," he told Xinhua on site following the opening ceremony. China is promoting modern technology within the framework of its Belt and Road Initiative, hence it is no coincidence that EWG opted for a state-of-the-art private 5G network provided by Huawei, according to Talosi. EWG is the first terminal in Europe to control cranes remotely using 5G technology. The terminal has one 41-meter wide and two 28-meter wide giant cranes on rails, as well as a 20-meter high rubber-tyred crane. The cranes, supplied by Austrian company Kunz, are equipped with 20 high-resolution cameras the images of which, with the help of 5G, can be viewed in real time at the center of the terminal, enabling the workers to control the cranes as if they were working in the crane cabins, The primary function of the terminal is to transship incoming rail shipments, which is necessary because, while 1,435-millimeter gauge rails are used in Europe, 1,520-millimeter gauge is used in Russia and many Asian countries. EWG also has a significant capacity for transshipment of agricultural products and could soon become the largest rail hub for Ukraine's food exports. The first train carrying agricultural goods from Ukraine rolled into the terminal during the opening ceremony. From November 2022, the terminal is expected to be capable of handling 800 tonnes of grain and 450 cubic meters of sunflower oil per hour, making it the largest rail hub for Ukrainian food exports, according to the company. A crane remotely controlled with the help of 5G technology, is seen at the East-West Gate (EWG) Intermodal Logistics Terminal near the village of Fenyeslitke, eastern Hungary, on Oct. 18, 2022. Europe's first land-based intermodal logistics terminal using 5G technology opened near the village of Fenyeslitke on Tuesday. The 5G network required for the East-West Gate (EWG) project was built by Vodafone Hungary and the network equipment was supplied by Huawei of China. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua) A crane remotely controlled with the help of 5G technology, moves a container at the East-West Gate (EWG) Intermodal Logistics Terminal near the village of Fenyeslitke, eastern Hungary, on Oct. 18, 2022. Europe's first land-based intermodal logistics terminal using 5G technology opened near the village of Fenyeslitke on Tuesday. The 5G network required for the East-West Gate (EWG) project was built by Vodafone Hungary and the network equipment was supplied by Huawei of China. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua) A crane remotely controlled with the help of 5G technology, moves a container at the East-West Gate (EWG) Intermodal Logistics Terminal near the village of Fenyeslitke, eastern Hungary, on Oct. 18, 2022. Europe's first land-based intermodal logistics terminal using 5G technology opened near the village of Fenyeslitke on Tuesday. The 5G network required for the East-West Gate (EWG) project was built by Vodafone Hungary and the network equipment was supplied by Huawei of China. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua) Editor: GSY Giant panda Jing Jing plays at the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 18, 2022. Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries. The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) CHENGDU, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries. The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. It is the first giant panda cooperation program between China and the Middle East. The China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda dispatched experienced breeders and veterinarians to accompany the animals and help them adapt to the new environment. Over a month ago, the pandas were given physical checkups and quarantined. They are in good health, according to the center. Experts from China have provided onsite guidance at the venue where the two pandas will live in Qatar and helped establish a professional giant panda breeding and management team. In May 2020, China and Qatar signed a cooperation agreement on giant panda protection and research to promote international cooperation on panda protection and the protection of biodiversity and endangered species of the two countries. Giant pandas Si Hai (L) and Jing Jing await their journey to Qatar at the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 18, 2022. Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries. The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) Workers transfer giant panda Jing Jing for a journey to Qatar from the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 18, 2022. Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries. The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) Giant panda Si Hai feeds on bamboo at the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 17, 2022. Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries. The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. (Photo by Chen Juwei/Xinhua) Giant panda Jing Jing feeds on bamboo at the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 17, 2022. Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries. The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) A breeder feeds giant panda Si Hai before its journey to Qatar at the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 18, 2022. Two giant pandas left their breeding base in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Tuesday for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries. The two pandas -- three-year-old female Si Hai and four-year-old male Jing Jing -- left the Ya'an base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. They will be flown to Qatar on a special plane from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) Editor: GSY The relevant departments have developed a detailed set of reasonable consumption of electricity by the population, enterprises, institutions and organizations under martial law, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal says. "Over this week, we have proven that we can promptly restore and return to operation most of the power grids. To do this, power engineers, rescuers, local authorities, and the government are working in an enhanced mode. Everyone is in their place. Everyone knows what to do. We will restore everything," Shmyhal said at a government meeting on Tuesday. According to him, on Monday, during the evening peak, the level of electricity consumption in Kyiv decreased by 10% compared to the previous day, in the entire central region of the country by 8%, however, in Ukraine as a whole, the level of consumption during the evening peak increased by 1.8% due to the western and northern regions of Ukraine. "Therefore, I want to emphasize once again: maximum energy saving is what we ask every Ukrainian to do. This is especially true in the evening hours. From 17:00 to 23:00, do not use washing machines, boilers, air conditioners, heaters. Limit the use of electric kettles and electric stoves. Turn off the lights in rooms where you are not. Reschedule maintenance work during daylight hours. I appeal to business: turn off signs and unnecessary lighting. Every kilowatt of energy that you do not use will give additional stability to our power system," he stressed. Shmyhal noted that at present, the responsible departments have developed a detailed set of reasonable consumption of electricity by the population, enterprises, institutions and organizations under martial law, in particular, during the period of maximum load during peak hours. "This set of measures will make it possible to apply restrictions pragmatically and effectively if necessary," the prime minister said. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent an appeal to the participants in the second Restoration, Reconstruction and Development of Karabakh Exhibition and the 27th Azerbaijani International Construction Exhibition. Dear participants in the exhibition! Dear ladies and gentlemen! I congratulate you on the opening of the 2nd Azerbaijan International Exhibition Restoration, Reconstruction and Development of Karabakh ? Rebuild Karabakh and the 27th Azerbaijan International Construction Exhibition. This year's exhibition is of tremendous importance in the way of reconstruction of our liberated territories, their rapid integration into the national economy and sustainable development, as well as the establishment of beneficial business relations in this direction. Historically, Karabakh was one of the most developed regions of Azerbaijan. Unable to come to terms with the occupation of these territories by Armenia for nearly 30 years, Azerbaijan restored historical justice and territorial integrity in the 44-day Patriotic War. Our people, who showed unity and solidarity in achieving the Glorious Victory, are now returning to their homeland, to native Karabakh, and will live on these lands forever. The post-war reconstruction of the territories liberated from occupation, sustainable settlement there, as well as the transformation of this region into a developed corner of our country are among priority goals ahead of us. Azerbaijan has focused all its efforts on the successful realization of this supreme goal. Examples are being set in the direction of creating a safe life, building cities, towns and villages, establishing strategically important and comprehensive infrastructure, integrating the region into local and foreign value chains, as well as rehabilitating the environment in liberated territories. The implementation of the Zangazur corridor project will turn the region into an important transport and trade hub. In other words, the liberated territories are being rapidly restored, and our goals related to the Great Return are being successfully fulfilled. The restoration and reconstruction work underway in the liberated territories forms an important basis for cooperation with the leading businesses, for public and private partnerships, as well as for the stability and development in the region. On this basis, the Rebuild Karabakh exhibition, which has been organized for the second time and is rich in breakthrough ideas, innovative solutions and effective initiatives, will create a new model of a useful business environment. I encourage leading businesses to take advantage of the opportunities generated by the exhibition and bring together all their efforts and creative ideas in support of the restoration of our territories. I am sure that the Rebuild Karabakh exhibition will go down in history for productivity and achieved results, as well as the meetings, discussions and initiatives put forward during the exhibition. It will also be an advantageous platform for business relations and contribute to the successful implementation of all the efforts and initiatives for the restoration and reconstruction of Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur. I wish you all fruitful business days and the best of luck with the exhibition. Karabakh is Azerbaijan! Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku, 19 October 2022 Ukrainian business restored production volumes in September, the share of enterprises operating with the same capacity utilization as before February 24, 2022 increased, but uncertainty remains in the long term, these are the results of the fifth monthly survey of the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting. "We record a significant improvement in business expectations, assessments of the economic situation and the business climate after a significant drop in August. In September, we recorded such an increase in optimism," Oksana Kuziakiv, executive director at IER, said during an online presentation "Economic trends from a business point of view." According to the study, the share of "pessimists" regarding the general economic situation in the country significantly decreased from 22.6% in August to 14.0% in September, while 27.4% of respondents are optimistic about the situation (22.3% in August). The share of enterprises that do not expect any changes also increased from 55.1% in August to 58.6% in September. Most likely, such changes are associated with an improvement in the situation with demand, as a rate of decline in sales and new orders decreased and a decrease in negative assessments of government policy by 6%, the authors of the survey indicated. Micro-enterprises were reportedly the slowest to reopen compared to small and large ones. At the same time, such enterprises significantly improved their expectations of changes in the financial and economic situation. "In August, the expectations of micro-enterprises were pessimistic. In September, this situation changed, and micro-enterprises began to expect positive changes in the financial and economic situation for the future more than the average enterprises of other sizes," IER Senior Researcher Iryna Fedets said. At the same time, businesses are cautious in their forecasts for an increase in the number of employees: business leaders do not expect an increase in employment, but they are less likely to predict a decrease in the number of employees. "The decline in employment rate significantly decreased. Businesses don't want layoffs, but they can't hire new staff. The business does not feel either a lack of skilled workers or such a great need for them," explained Oksana Kuziakiv, executive director at IER. According to the results of the study, the index of obstacles in finding qualified workers has a positive value, which increased from 0.06 to 0.09, and the index of obstacles in finding unskilled workers, where the value is negative, remained unchanged and amounted to -0.07. Businesses traditionally named the rise in prices for raw materials and materials (63%), difficulties with the transportation of raw materials or goods across Ukraine (41%) and the lack of working capital (37%) as the biggest obstacles. The business also added a "new" obstacle a break in supply chains: it immediately took the 4th position, it was noted by 31%. "Importantly, the percentage of respondents who chose lack of fuel and security as obstacles was the lowest in all five surveys we conducted. It means that the business adapts to the conditions of the environment and feels safer," the IER expert said. The survey results also showed that export activity continues to resume and there is growing optimism among exporters about the future, but the number of companies that want to start exporting for the first time decreased from 7% in May to 2% in September. The situation is better in the woodworking industry, where again (as in July) there are no enterprises that stopped exporting and could not restore it, and the resumption of exports in the chemical industry and metallurgy also intensified. The worst situation with exports is in mechanical engineering: 26% of respondents did not resume exports. The main problems for exporters in September were queues at the western borders of Ukraine (60%), the impossibility of exporting by sea (44%) and complex customs formalities (40%). The survey involved 521 enterprises located in 21 regions of Ukraine. The survey was conducted from September 8 to September 22, 2022. The very fact of turning to Iran for help with the supply of drones is the Kremlin's recognition of its military-political bankruptcy, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has said in a video statement on Tuesday. "For decades, they spent billions of dollars on their military-industrial complex, and in the end they bowed to Tehran to get fairly simple drones and missiles," he said. At the same time, Zelensky said, "strategically, this will not help them in any way anyway. It only additionally proves to the world that Russia is on the trajectory of its loss and is trying to draw someone else into its accomplices in terror." "We will definitely provide an appropriate international response to this. But now, at the tactical level, due to Iranian drones, terrorists can still have certain hopes, some calculations, new illusions. All this will fall apart, as will their preliminary calculations," Zelensky said. As a result of the Russian armed aggression against Ukraine, some 428 children were killed, more than 815 were wounded, the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) of Ukraine has said. As of the morning of October 19, 2022, more than 1,243 children were affected in Ukraine as a result of Russia's full-scale armed aggression. According to official information from juvenile prosecutors, some 428 children killed and more than 815 were wounded of varying severity. Children suffered the most in Donetsk region, namely 415, while 258 children in Kharkiv; some 116 in Kyiv; some 77 in Mykolaiv; some 69 in Zaporizhia; some 68 in Chernihiv; some 64 in Luhansk; some 57 in Kherson and some 31 in Dnipropetrovsk," the PGO said in Telegram channel. These figures are not final, since work is underway to establish them in places of active hostilities, in temporarily occupied and liberated territories. During the recording of crimes committed on the territory of Donetsk region, the body of three children aged two, nine and 14 with signs of shrapnel and mine-explosive wounds was found at the site of a spontaneous burial in the town of Lyman. As a result of the bombing and shelling by Russian armed forces, some 2,663 educational institutions were damaged, and 326 of them were completely destroyed. The Russian armed forces are responsible for the vast majority of war crimes identified in Ukraine during the full-scale invasion, according to a release to the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine written report to the United Nations General Assembly. Thus, in accordance with the release published on the website of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, since the end of February and March 2022, the UN Independent International Commission has been investigating war crimes in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Sumy regions of Ukraine. In particular, the Commission documented attacks where explosive weapons were used in indiscriminately in populated areas that were under attack by Russian armed forces. The Commission also found that Russian armed forces attacked civilians attempting to flee. The Commission also documented patterns of summary executions, unlawful confinement, torture, ill-treatment, rape and other sexual violence committed in areas occupied by Russian armed forces across the four regions on which it focused. People have been detained, some have been unlawfully deported to the Russian Federation, and many are still reported missing. Sexual violence has affected victims of all ages. Family members, including children, were sometimes forced to witness the crimes. "The impact of these violations on the civilian population in Ukraine is immense. The loss of lives is in the thousands. The destruction of infrastructure is devastating," Chair of the Commission Erik Mse said. It is also noted that the Russian armed forces are responsible for the vast majority of the violations identified, including war crimes. At the same time, Ukrainian forces have also committed international humanitarian law violations in some cases, including two incidents that qualify as war crimes. The Commission has also identified examples of both parties to the armed conflict, although to different degrees, failing to protect civilians or civilian objects against the effects of attacks, by locating military objects and forces within or near densely populated areas. In this regard, the Commission recommends enhanced coordination of international and national accountability efforts, to improve effectiveness and prevent harm to victims and witnesses. The Commission, consistent with its mandate, will seek to contribute to the identification of those responsible. The Commission visited 27 towns and settlements and has interviewed 191 victims and witnesses. Its investigators inspected sites of destruction, graves, places of detention and torture, as well as weapon remnants, and consulted a large number of documents and reports. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky updated Decree No. 581 "On procedure for protecting the rights and interests of Ukraine during the settlement of disputes, consideration of cases involving a foreign entity and Ukraine in foreign jurisdictional agencies" of 2002 to increase the effectiveness of such protection and recovery of compensation from Russia for the war unleashed by it. "At this stage of work, the issue of competence has become acute, that is, a clear definition of the public agency that will be involved in the implementation of this recovery mechanism and the submission of relevant applications. The presidential decree provides such competence to the Ministry of Justice," Deputy Justice Minister Iryna Mudra told Interfax-Ukraine about new decree of the head of state No. 722 of October 18. She said the currently existing legal mechanisms for collecting compensation from states present a number of difficulties. "One of the first obstacles already 'right from the jump' is sovereign jurisdictional immunity and the need for the consent of the respondent state to the jurisdiction of the relevant jurisdictional body," the deputy minister said. Mudra said that since spring, the issue of developing and creating an appropriate mechanism for recovering damages has been dealt with by a working group created by presidential decree, to which she is a member, which includes representatives of the highest authorities of Ukraine, as well as foreign and Ukrainian experts in the international law. The deputy minister said that every day the war unleashed by Russia is causing more and more destruction, and the losses inflicted on Ukraine are growing, and only as of the beginning of summer 2022, incurred along with the costs necessary for restoration, they were estimated at $750 billion. Since the first case of an enemy launching Iranian-made Shahed-136 "kamikaze" drones on the territory of Ukraine, the Ukrainian army has already shot down 223 UAVs of this type, the Command of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said. "As of October 19, from the first case of the destruction of an Iranian-made 'kamikaze' drone Shahed-136 on the territory of Ukraine (September 13, 2022, Kupyansk), the air defense of the Air Force and other components of the Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed 223 UAVs of this type," the AFU said in the Telegram channel. EU has evidence of Russian use of Iranian drones against Ukraine Massrali The European Union has evidence that Iran is providing Russia with unmanned aerial vehicles to wage war against Ukraine. This was announced in Brussels on Wednesday at a briefing by representative of the European Commission, Nabila Massrali. According to Massrali, the issue of Russian use of Iranian drones in the war against Ukraine was the subject of discussion during the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, which was held this Monday. She said the High Representative Josep Borrell and Foreign Ministers have expressed grave concern over the growing reports that Iranian-made drones are being used in Russian aggression against Ukraine. This was also discussed with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba Dmytro Kuleba. There was broad political approval that the EU should react quickly, according to the official. Exclusion of Russia from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) will limit its ability to influence the new rules for combating money laundering in the world, according to a statement to the McFaul-Yermak international group on Russian sanctions. The statement notes that back in April 2022, the McFaul-Yermak group recommended that Russia be excluded from the FATF. "If Russia is excluded from the FATF, it will lose the ability to influence the new anti-money laundering rules with the help of new financial technologies [such as virtual assets and NFTs]," the text of the document says. In the event of exclusion from the FATF, Russia would also lose the ability to participate in mutual evaluations and approve mutual evaluation reports, and its trade with the rest of the world would be disrupted due to the difficulty in obtaining export and import payments. Such restrictions would be useful in cases where Russia would be looking for new buyers for its oil. In addition, having Russia blacklisted by the Financial Action Task Force would limit Russia's ability to evade sanctions, as the current sanctions regime often allows Russian companies to circumvent sanctions against the financial sector by structuring operations through one or another Russian bank that was not sanctioned. Blacklisting Russia would also reduce foreign direct investment and likely speed up capital outflows. At the same time, foreign companies will also face much higher investment costs in Russia. Foreign banks and other financial institutions will impose significant additional due diligence when dealing with any legal entity in Russia. As an example, it is noted that after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the commission of war crimes, several international organizations excluded or suspended the activities of Russia, in particular, the Council of Europe and the UN Human Rights Council. The winner of the Sakharov Prize of the European Parliament was the brave Ukrainian people. This was announced by President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola on her Twitter page on Wednesday. They are standing up for what they believe in. Fighting for our values. Protecting democracy, freedom & rule of law. Risking their lives for us. And today proud winners of Sakharov Prize of European Parliament. No one is more deserving. Congratulations to the brave people of Ukraine! she said on Twitter. Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is a human rights prize established in 1988 by the European Parliament in honor of Soviet physicist and human rights activist Andrei Sakharov. This is the main human rights award of the European Union. The Russian occupation forces on Wednesday attacked Chernihiv by kamikaze drones as a result of which three people were injured, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kyrylo Tymoshenko has said. "Chernihiv, October 19, 2022. We are documenting the first consequences of the strikes by kamikaze drones. According to preliminary information, no victims, there are injured people," he said on the Telegram channel. He specified that three people were injured, two of them were hospitalized in critical condition. By Azernews By Fatima Hasanova President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan shared a post on his Twitter account to congratulate Azerbaijan on the Day of Restoration of Independence, Azernews reports. "I congratulate fraternal Azerbaijan on October 18 - the Day of Restoration of Independence. On behalf of the Turkish state and people, I convey greetings and love to all the Azerbaijani people," the publication reads. Similarly, Uzbek Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov in a tweet also congratulated his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov on the day. "Dear @bayramov_jeyhun, I sincerely congratulate you on the 31st anniversary of the Independence of Azerbaijan. May the friendship between our countries and peoples be eternal", the message said. Jeyhun Bayramov expressed gratitude to Norov in a tweet on his page. Thank you dear @VladimirNorov for your warm wishes. Grateful to people and government of brotherly #Uzbekistan for the continued support of our independence and sovereignty. May the friendship between our nations be indeed eternal, he tweeted. Correspondingly, the Delegation of the European Union (EU) in Azerbaijan congratulated Azerbaijan on the day, EU Ambassador to Azerbaijan Peter Michalko tweeted. "EU Delegation congratulates the people of Azerbaijan on the Independence Day! We wish peace and prosperity to Azerbaijan," the publication said. On Friday, October 21, at 11.00, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency's press center will host a press conference of the Russian Volunteer Corps fighters entitled "Liberation of Russia through liberation of Ukraine" on participation in hostilities, interaction with units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and political persecution of fighters Russian Volunteer Corps in Russia. Participants include fighters of the Russian Volunteer Corps Fortuna, Cardinal, Rex (8/5a Reitarska Street). The broadcast will be available on the YouTube channel of Interfax-Ukraine. Details by phone: (096) 476 5581. On Thursday, October 27, at 11.00, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency's press center will host a press conference entitled "Transformation and prospects for agro-industrial complex development in high-level processing of agricultural crops in Ukraine in war and post-war periods." Participants include President of the Ukrainian Association of Industrial Biotechnologies "UkrBiotechno," entrepreneur, advisor to the National Investment Council under the President of Ukraine on economic projects and investments Oleksandr Batatin; Vice-President of the Ukrainian Association of Industrial Biotechnologies "UkrBiotechno," manager for the processing of agricultural crops Oleksandr Malytsky; Director of the expert department of the Ukrainian Association of Industrial Biotechnologies "UkrBiotechno," entrepreneur, expert on the introduction of renewable energy Oleh Pontus (8/5a Reitarska Street). The broadcast will be available on the YouTube channel of Interfax-Ukraine. Details by phone: (050) 351 5277. International Business-Conference Ukrainian brad, cereals, flour and pasts on the way to the EU ABOUT CONFERENCE The International Business Conference "Ukrainian bread, cereals, flour and pasta on the way to the EU" will be held in Lviv (Premier Hotel Dnister, 6, Mateyka St.) on October 27-29. In the course of the event, it is planned to gather more than 200 top managers and owners of flour mills, groats, bakery enterprises and pasta producers, key specialists of the industry and representatives of companies supplying products, equipment and technologies. TARGET AUDIENCE OF THE CONFERENCE Owners and top management of grain processing enterprises, bakery industry, representatives of retail chains of Ukraine and Europe, leading experts of the grain market and AgriFood of Ukraine and the world, importers of goods of the "Grain Grocery" group, representatives of authorities and industry associations, suppliers of equipment and technologies and others participants of agro-industrial and related sectors. ORGANIZERS: Public Union Miller of Ukraine Lviv Regional Military Administration All-Ukrainian Association of Bakers Agro Marketing Agency LLC SUPPORTED BY: Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Ministry of Economy of Ukraine Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Branch Association "Union of Food Industry Producers of Ukraine" (Ukraharchoprom) SPONSORS: Buhler Ukraine, Concern Khlibprom The last few seasons for agricultural business in general and grain processing in particular have been extremely unpredictable. The quarantine period turned into martial law in Ukraine. And if the business has already adapted to the difficulties faced with the introduction of the lockdown, then the challenges of the military year 2022 again forced to review the established processes and working conditions in the sector. Despite the limited export of grain, competition between millers and traders for quality raw materials remains fierce on the market, which affects purchase prices. Added value and stressful logistics, changing geographical directions and transport sales channels to European ones. The grain processing industry continues to transform under the pressure of factors. The difficult situation requires market participants to make decisions related to both ensuring Ukraine's food security and establishing foreign trade. For these reasons, the International Business Conference "Ukrainian bread, cereals, flour and pasta on the way to the EU" is announced. KEY TOPICS The current macroeconomic situation of Ukraine and its prospects Market of grain raw materials: what do we have and what to expect? What challenges does the internal market pose to producers of grain products? Possibilities of Ukrainian grain products on EU markets The strategy of entering European trade networks in the "Private label" format; Experience, successful cases and strategies for entering the European market What should be done to become competitive on the European market? Is it possible to overcome the existing logistical difficulties in trade? WFP cooperation programs with Ukrainian grain processors Business tour "Acquaintance with modern production of flour and bread at enterprises in Poland" (a separate program for October 28-29 will be published additionally) SPEAKERS Matthew Hollingworth, Representative & Country Director, Ukraine at World Food Programme Oleksandr Haydu, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Agrarian and Land Policy (TBC) Oleh Ustenko, adviser to the President of Ukraine on economic issues Taras Vysotsky, First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Oleksandr Zhemoyda, director of the Department of Multilateral and Bilateral Trade Agreements of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine Rodion Rybchynskyi, director of the "Flour Mills of Ukraine" Union, chairman of the board of the NGO "Ukrharchoprom", UN FAO grain sector expert Maryna Zabarylo, director of the consumer panel Consumerscan, GFK Ukraine Yevheniy Motsny, commercial director of Skvyrskyi KHP LLC (TM "Skvira") Oleksandr Taranenko, president of the All-Ukrainian Association of Bakers Vladislav Averchenko, General Director of Concern Khlibprom Dmytro Romanov, FAO/EBRD representative Oleh Onishchenko, manager of technical and presentation issues of the company "SGS-Ukraine" Dmytro Zhygunov, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Head of the Department of Grain Processing Technologies, Odessa National Academy of Food Technologies Andrii Druzyaka, an independent expert on the grain market of Ukraine and the world Oleksandr Bondarchuk, director of "Stern Ukraine" (representative office of Muhlenchemie in Ukraine) Andrii Sharan, candidate of technical sciences, director of Buhler Ukraine AGENDA October 27 9.00 - 10.00 Registration, morning coffee 10.00 - 14.00 Plenary part of the conference. Speakers' presentations 14.00 - 15.00 Lunch break 15.00 - 18.30 Continuation of the plenary part. Summing up 19.00 - 21.00 Friendly dinner TERMS OF PARTICIPATION Registration fee for 1 delegate UAH EUR 10000 250 Registration includes: receiving all informational and practical materials of the conference business cards of participants placement of the business card of the company coffee breaks, lunch buffet, informal communication Discounts: 15% - for member of the Union Millers of Ukraine and All-Ukrainian Association of bakers Registration is obligatory by the link - https://forms.gle/ZJBfWUSqRLn8YMUdA or at the conference page https://conference.ukrmillers.com TERMS OF ACCOMMODATION AT PREMIER HOTEL DNISTER Conference delegates have a special 25% discount for accommodation in the period from October 26 to 28, 2022, for rooms of the "Premier" and "Suite" categories. You can make a reservation at a special rate in the reservation department. Code word - grain conference Contacts of the reservation department Tel.: +38 (032) 297 43 17 +38 (032) 297 43 26 Viber: +38 (067) 673 67 05 E-mail: reservation@dnister.lviv.ua Hotel website: https://dnister-hotel.phnr.com/ua ACCOMMODATION IN LVIV IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE REGISTRATION FEE AND IS PROVIDED BY THE PARTICIPANTS BY THEIR OWN. If you have any questions regarding participation, advertising, making a presentation, please, contact: Forty Burundian rebels have been killed in a joint offensive by the militaries of Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi in eastern DRC, a Congolese army spokesman said on Sunday. President Joe Biden is to "re-evaluate" the US relationship with Saudi Arabia in light of the OPEC+ decision to cut oil production, a White House spokesperson said Tuesday. "I think the president's been very clear that this is a relationship that we need to continue to re-evaluate, that we need to be willing to revisit," National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told CNN. "Certainly in light of the OPEC decision, I think that's where he is." The 13-nation, Saudi-led OPEC cartel and its 10 allies headed by Russia agreed last week to reduce output by two million barrels a day from November, raising fears that oil prices could soar. The decision was widely seen as a diplomatic slap in the face, since Biden traveled to Saudi Arabia in July and met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It also comes at a sensitive moment for Biden's Democratic party, as it faces November midterm elections with rising consumer prices a key Republican talking point. Kirby added that Biden is "willing to work with Congress to think through what that relationship (with Saudi Arabia) ought to look like going forward." His remarks come a day after Senator Bob Menendez, the lead Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called for Washington to halt all cooperation with Saudi Arabia. "The United States must immediately freeze all aspects of our cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including any arms sales and security cooperation beyond what is absolutely necessary to defend US personnel and interests," Menendez said. "As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I will not green-light any cooperation with Riyadh until the kingdom reassesses its position with respect to the war in Ukraine." Biden said last week that he would look at alternatives to prevent more price hikes. These could include further releases from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve, potentially increased US domestic drilling, and more drastic measures, including limits on exports. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has called on private sector companies to engage in projects to extract heavy economic metals from black sand. El-Sisi made the remarks on Wednesday during the inauguration of a complex for the industrial concentration and separation of heavy metals extracted from black sand at the Egyptian Black Sand Company (EBSC) in Borolos city in Kafr El-Sheikh governorate. The eco-friendly EGP 4 billion project implemented by the EBSC, an affiliate of the Armed Forces National Service Projects Organisation (NSPO), seeks to help reduce the import of economic metals extracted from black sand and export the surplus to European and Asian markets. The markets include the UAE, Japan, China, Spain, the UK, and the Netherlands, said NSPO Director-General Walid Abul-Magd. Egypt seeks to extract around 76 million tons of economic metals, said Abul-Magd, citing feasibility studies conducted by the Egyptian Nuclear Materials Authority (NMA) that contributed to the project. Metals extracted from black sand will contribute to vital industries, including manufacturing ceramics, paints, hulls of aircraft and vehicles, and other technological industries. In a speech during the ceremony, El-Sisi said the state welcomes the private sectors participation in the black sand project, inviting private companies to establish black sand extraction factories or to partner with the government in this regard. Feasibility studies ensured the presence of sufficient black sand reserves and global demand on the extracted metals, El-Sisi said in a message of encouragement to the private sector. If there are financial flows worth EGP 20-30 billion from the private sector, there would be two or three or four [black sand] factories in two years, El-Sisi said. El-Sisi invited large real estate development and contracting companies as well as companies operating in the mineral resources field to engage in the black sand project, noting that the metals extracted will be exported. The black sand project in Kafr El-Sheikh will generate export revenues of $100 million and will save up to $50 million paid for imports, said NSPOs chief. Gold sand in Egypt Egypt aims to make optimum use of black sand deposits along its northern coastal strip, extending over 400km from North Sinais Rafah city to Alexandrias Abu Qir, according to the documentary Gold Sand, screened at the ceremony. Black sand can also be found in Bernice on the Red Sea coast and Lake Nasser in southern Egypt. The EBSC complex in Kafr El-Sheikh extends over 80 feddans (83 acres) and comprises six factories for separating minerals from black sand. Giant eco-friendly dredger involved Electric-powered floating dredger Tahya Misr will be carrying out the first phase of mining in the project with a production capacity of 2,500 tons per hour. The giant 550-ton dredger arrived from Rotterdam to Kafr El-Sheikh in August to be part of the black sand project. Andrew Foster, managing director of Mineral Technologies that is engaged in the project, said the project will bring benefits to Egypt in the form of downstream industries. The project will also help Egypt increase exports and become part of the global mineral sands industry, Foster added in a recorded speech during the ceremony. We are excited and committed to support EBSC in the successful ongoing operation of the plant and future projects, Foster noted. The Netherlands-made eco-friendly dredger will transfer black sand to the concentration floating factory in Borolos that has an estimated production capacity of 600,000 tons. Ensuring workers safety Metals extracted from black sand include the slightly radioactive zircon and monazite as well as ilmenite, rutile, garnet, and magnetite. The project helped create 5,000 direct and indirect job opportunities, according to the documentary. El-Sisi highlighted the need to ensure the safety of workers in the black sand complex, stressing that the state is ready to provide the necessary materials required for protecting them. Environmental studies have been conducted to ensure the safety of the workers, said head of the NMA Hamed Mira, adding that workers are highly monitored by the NMA and committed to a specified number of working hours to ensure they are not affected by radiation. Moreover, radioactive monazite and zircon are preserved in special packages to prevent radioactive leaks, he added. Mira noted that the eco-friendly project does not produce any carbon emissions. Opening investment horizons The black sand project in Kafr El-Sheikh is the latest worldwide that uses advanced mining technology, Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement earlier on Wednesday. He added that the new project aims at extracting metals from black sand to be used in many precision industries. This would open the horizons for new investments that back the national economy and the comprehensive development process, Rady stressed. The inauguration of the new factory is a new addition to the series of mega national projects that aim at full exploitation of Egypts natural resources, the spokesman said. According to the EBSC website, the project is focused on the exploration, separation and concentration of economic minerals from beach black sands and stream sediments in collaboration with international experience, transfer and localization of advanced technologies. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Mineral Resources Mohamed Shaker, Minister of Defence and Military Production Mohamed Zaki, and other state officials attended the inauguration ceremony. Search Keywords: Short link: Although African countries' contribution to greenhouse gases does not exceed 3 percent, they are the most keen on investing in renewables and clean energy sources, Mahmoud Mohieldin, UN Climate Change High Level Champion for Egypt and UN Special Envoy on Financing 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, said on Tuesday. In a webinar hosted by the United Nations University (UNU) under the title World Energy: Looking Ahead to COP27, Mohieldin said energy projects in Africa where 600 million people lack energy need sufficient funding. Furthermore, global warming is preventing African countries from achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the areas of poverty, health, climate and economic growth. Therefore, he added, it was necessary to involve developing countries especially in Africa in the negotiations on energy transition. "While some countries are going back to using dirty sources of energy such as fossil fuel, African countries concentrate on using the renewable," Mohieldin said, referring to one of the largest solar plants in the world in Egypt and to green hydrogen projects in Egypt, Namibia, Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Kenya and South Africa. He stressed that financing climate action and energy transition in developing countries in a way that guarantees achieving all of the UN SDGs requires developed countries to honour their pledges. Most importantly, the annual 100$ billion pledged at the Copenhagen conference, a pledge which has been honoured by only seven out of 23 countries. Thirteen years ago, in Copenhagens COP15, advanced economies had pledged $100 billion to help developing economies achieve climate action goals. The pledge was endorsed by 2015s Paris Agreement and was enforced a year later with the aim of decreasing global warming by 1.5 degree Celsius. The climate champion said that climate projects in Africa are compatible with the Paris agreement in terms of implementing both mitigation and adaptation measures. They need, however, technical knowhow and financial support from developed countries. He pointed out that Africa was ready to become the starting point of a global just energy sector transition. Mohieldin also participated in a session, held virtually, under the title COP27: Turning pledges into plans. He was joined by Dmitry Mariyasin, Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, and Esther Wandel, Head of Division for Investment Funds and Sustainable Finance at the German Federal Ministry of Finance. During his speech, Mohieldin reaffirmed the importance of adopting a holistic approach to climate action according to the Paris agreement. Such an approach, he stressed, would help developing countries make progress in the areas of mitigation, adaptation, addressing losses and damages, and financing climate action. He also referred to the importance of scaling up climate action for the nexus between water, food and energy. Mohieldin also stressed the importance of increasing the efforts to tackle increasing desertification and drought rates, and the adverse impact such phenomena had on livelihoods. He stressed the importance of scaling up private sector participation in climate action, and mobilising more investments, pointing out that more than 60 percent of financing climate action is obtained by incurring debts. Search Keywords: Short link: The former CEO of French cement giant Lafarge on Wednesday accused the company's new owners of leading a 'biased' inquiry to blame him for terror financing claims in Syria, a day after a landmark US fine against the group. Lafarge pleaded guilty in a US court Tuesday to paying millions of dollars to the Islamic State group and other jihadists in war-torn Syria between 2013 and 2014, and agreed to a $778 million fine over conspiring to provide material support to US-designated "foreign terrorist organisations". The US Justice Department said company executives, including former chief Bruno Lafont, knew of the arrangement with the jihadists. After the settlement, Lafarge now faces the possibility of the introduction of evidence from the US prosecution into a separate French case over similar charges. Lafont -- who was chief executive from 2007 to 2015, when the company merged with the Swiss building supplies company Holcim -- again strongly denied "ever being informed of any payments to the benefit of terrorist groups or any provision of supplies to such groups", according to a statement issued through his lawyers. The former chief, who has been charged with "financing a terrorist organisation" in the French case, accused Holcim of singling him out for blame. "It appears throughout the testimonies and revelations of those involved in this case that the so-called inquiry led by Holcim is entirely and exclusively biased against Bruno Lafont and the former directors of the Lafarge group, and that Holcim has systematically been opposed to finding out the truth," the statement said. "This raises questions about the facts and responsibilities that Lafarge admitted to in the United States under Holcim's guidance." Holcim, which says it took over Lafarge without knowledge of the Syria business dealings, said it had been cleared of any wrongdoing by US authorities. Lafont said he wished to again appear before French investigating magistrates to "touch on certain recent elements" and "request the declassification of certain documents", and is also seeking "the testimony of certain people likely to add new elements on the case". Lafarge still faces charges in France of complicity in crimes against humanity over the dealings to keep open the Jalabiyeh cement plant in northern Syria. In May, a French appeals court approved the charge, opening the door for a trial of the company and eight former executives, including Lafont. Unlike in the United States, the group does not have the option of negotiating a settlement, which is not allowed under French anti-terrorism statutes. Search Keywords: Short link: Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan accused each other of stirring tensions on their shared border, raising fears of military escalation one month after deadly clashes between the two Central Asian countries. Clashes regularly erupt between the two former Soviet republics, as some of their 970-kilometre (600-mile) border has been contested since the end of the Soviet Union. Border authorities from both sides published press releases Wednesday, with photos and videos, accusing each other of using drones, digging trenches and transferring military staff and weapons to the border. Tajikistan's border guard service accused Kyrgyzstan of "deliberate actions to escalate the situation in the border areas", the Khovar news agency reported. It accused Kyrgyzstan of repeated "violations" of Tajik airspace, including near the town of Isfara close to Batken. Kyrgyzstan in turn said Tajik forces were "continuing to take measures that could act as a catalyst for a new border conflict". Kyrgzystan's defence ministry said Wednesday that peace with Tajikistan was not possible under the current circumstances. Fighting last month in the southern Kyrgyz region of Batken, bordering Tajikistan, left around a hundred dead according to authorities from both sides. Both Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are members of the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), a regional military alliance. Kyrgyz Defence Minister Baktybek Bekbolotov said Wednesday that he recently met with CSTO Secretary-General Stanislav Zas and "told him that there would be no peace between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan". "Kyrgyz people have their truth, Tajik people have theirs," Bekbolotov told a press conference in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek. "Until an arbitrator comes between us, there will be no peace," he added. He suggested the deployment of a "small contingent" of CSTO peacekeepers that would carry out "ceasefire control and the withdrawal of heavy equipment from the border". According to the minister, Kyrgyzstan is also purchasing S-125 "Pechora-2BM" missile systems from Belarus, which will be delivered "by the end of the month" and deployed in the boder town of Batken. A spokesperson for the Kyrgyz parliament told Russian news agency TASS that on Thursday lawmakers will consider a bill facilitating the procedure for firearms permits in the border regions with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Earlier this week, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov asked his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to help resolve the border dispute. Search Keywords: Short link: By Azernews By Sabina Mammadli Turkish Ombudsman Institution prepared a report on Armenian missile attacks on Azerbaijani civilians, Turkish Human Rights and Equality Commissioner Seref Malkoc said. The remarks were made at a meeting of the Asian Ombudsman Association in Baku on October 18. Malkoc reminded the participants that a lot of civilians were killed as a result of ballistic missile attacks on Azerbaijani cities by Armenia in the 2020 second Karabakh war. "At the invitation of the Azerbaijani Ombudswoman, we visited these cities and prepared a report on human rights. Then, we visited the liberated territories of Azerbaijan and prepared a report on the mines," the official added. The Armenian armed forces launched missile strikes on Ganja city five times on separate days in October 2020. On October 4, the first missile attack was carried out, killing one person and wounding more than 30 others. The second missile attack occurred on October 5, injuring three individuals. On October 8, a third missile strike was carried out but no casualties were registered. On October 11, a fourth missile attack killed ten civilians and injured more than 40 more. On October 17, the fifth missile attack occurred, killing sixteen civilians and injuring 55 others. The attacks caused significant damage to the city's infrastructure, homes, and vehicles. Children and women were among those slain and injured in Armenia's brutal onslaught. The Egyptian Dar al-Iftas 7th International Conference of Fatwa Authorities Worldwide launched on Tuesday a "Fatwa charter for confronting climate change," which is based on Islamic morals and values as well as jurisprudential principles. The two-day event kicked off in Cairo on Monday under the auspices of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi under the title Fatwas and Sustainable Development Goals. Scholars and Muftis from 90 countries attended the religious event, along with representatives of the United Nations and the World Health Organization. The Fatwa charter to confront climate change demonstrates that the general secretariat of Fatwa Authorities Worldwide is well aware of its responsibility and how it can contribute to addressing the climate change problem, Palestinian Grand Mufti of Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Mohamed Hussein said in the closing ceremony of the event. He pointed out that the charter was launched only days before the 27th session of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Sharm El-Sheikh. Hussein said that the charter urges all parties to abide by any laws and conventions aimed to reduce the risks of climate change. He concluded his remarks by urging the international community to face up to its responsibilities and play its role in dealing with climate change as a threat to all humankind. Hussein also stressed that countries should assume responsibility in proportion to the damage they cause. The charter prohibited, in accordance with Islamic law, practices deemed illegal by the authorities, such as hunting, killing or capturing birds, wild animals or marine organisms. It also prohibited the cutting or damaging of plants as well as collecting, possessing, transporting or trading in fossils without permission from the authorities. It also prohibited trafficking in endangered living organisms without a license from the authorities. The charter also prohibited any means of disposing of hazardous waste unless permitted to do so by the authorities. The charter stated that exceeding air pollutant emission limits, or leakage of air pollutants from installations or buildings, is religiously forbidden and that the same holds for such emissions from cars, engines or machines. Search Keywords: Short link: One of the poorest and most arid states in the world, the landlocked nation of Chad has been hit by exceptional floods that have affected hundreds of thousands of lives. In the beleaguered capital of N'Djamena, a field of tents has sprung up to provide emergency shelter and victims are striving to salvage what they can from the ruins of their homes. In Walia, a poor neighbourhood to the south of the city, dozens of homes were ravaged last week after the Chari River burst its banks following torrential rains, an AFP journalist saw. Water levels rose by up to five metres (16.4 feet), which local officials said was unprecedented, and swept aside makeshift defences erected by desperate inhabitants. "The flood defences gave way on Thursday at 8 am and my house was completely engulfed," said Antoinette Nemercie, a woman in her 30s standing up to her ankles in water. She scrabbled around to pick up pieces of corrugated sheeting, tied them together and placed them in a canoe, which would take her family and their belongings to a safer place. "People are going around the streets in boats, stealing property from wrecked homes," she said, explaining that looters had already taken jewellery, money and a canister of cooking gas from her house. 'Under water' On Monday, the side of the road leading from Walia to the capital was a desolate sight of mattresses, saucepans and crockery that people had retrieved from their homes. "We don't have a place to stay, our belongings are in the street," said Marie Noelle Aziza. "I lost my money and gold. I have nothing left". Since the end of June, more than 340,000 people in Chad have been hit by floods, according to a provisional UN report. In the area around Walia, more than 60,000 people have affected, according to the authorities. "Much of the district is under water," Mayor Mahamat Saleh Kerima said. An elderly woman died in her home last week, but there were no other known casualties, he said. He said 100 members of the police force had been tasked with evacuating residents. Some people have found shelter with their families in the city centre, he said, while tents have been set up to accommodate almost 2,000 people. The mayor said the local authorities had distributed bags and sand to inhabitants to provide makeshift floodwalls, and the government and NGOs had also pitched in. But this was not enough -- "the water levels this year were higher than in previous years," he said. Ngartoim Ndojinga, a man in his sixties, said he had lived in the neighbourhood since he was a child and had never seen the river so high. Climate link Singambaye Djekounda of the National Meteorological Agency told AFP his organisation had predicted abnormal rainfall and warned of flooding in some areas. "We asked the authorities to reinforce the dykes in N'Djamena but unfortunately, the appropriate measures weren't taken," Djekounda said. The rainy season in the Sahel typically runs from June to September and routinely claims lives. But this year, the devastation, and the rainfall, have been exceptional, say experts. In neighbouring Niger, the poorest country in the world by the UN's development benchmark, 192 people died, more than a quarter of a million people were affected and 30,000 homes destroyed, according to figures released on October 6. "All our studies say that these rains can be linked with climate change," Katiellou Gaptia Lawan, head of Niger's national meteorological agency, told AFP. Search Keywords: Short link: Mahmoud Mohieldin, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for Egypt and UN Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, revealed on Wednesday that the 27th session of the UN Conference on Climate Change (COP27) is preparing a criteria paper for public and private climate action financing. The paper intends to direct money to the activities, sectors and countries that are most in need, and push developed countries toward fulfilling their climate related pledges. Mohieldin made the remarks via video at Benha University's first annual conference of humanities postgraduate studies. The climate champion said that the five regional forums initiative launched by Egypt's presidency of COP27, UN regional economic commissions and HLCs, aims mainly to link regional projects, investments and finance entities in unprecedented ways in order to find projects that can benefit from the $130 trillion GFANZ finance and other sources of financing. Mohieldin said that the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects launched by Egypt is an unprecedented initiative across all countries that hosted the previous COPs, and it aims to localise climate action and scale up the participation of local actors such as governorates, municipalities, volunteer work entities, NGOs, universities and scientific research centres. He explained that local actors have registered 6,281 projects, the best 18 of which will be selected based on compatibility with environmental and climate goals and making the most of digitalisation and technology development. Twenty-seven projects will be selected by governors (one for each governorate) to represent the governorate, and the competition will be held annually as it succeeded in setting an investment map across Egypts governorates. Mohieldin said the priorities of COP27 include adopting a holistic climate action approach that balances mitigation and adaptation measures, addresses losses and damages, and mobilises sufficient finances for climate activities, turning pledges and commitments into actual implementation, enhancing local and regional aspects of climate action to integrate with the global effort, and applying the previously mentioned mechanisms of financing climate action. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypts Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with General Motors (GM) and Al-Mansour Automotive Group on Tuesday for them to become the exclusive principal mobility partner for the 27th session of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Sharm El-Sheikh 6-18 November. Related Egyptian real estate developer SODIC added to sponsors of COP27 According to the Egyptian foreign ministry, GM and Al-Mansour Automotive will provide 150 electric vehicles to facilitate transporting VIPs, dignitaries and participants in the conference to help reduce tailpipe carbon emissions in Sharm El-Sheikh during COP27. The MoU was signed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Cairo by Ashraf Ibrahim, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and the General Coordinator of the COP27 conference, Sharon Nishi, Managing Director of General Motors Egypt and North Africa, and Ankush Arora, CEO of Al-Mansour Automotive. This contributes to providing the highest levels of mobility services for participants and visitors to the conference, stressing the pivotal role played by the private sector in promoting sustainable business models and supporting climate goals and the keenness of the Egyptian government to actively engage the private sector along with development partners, international financial institutions and multilateral development banks in promoting sustainable business models and supporting climate goals, said Ibrahim as he welcomed General Motors and Al-Mansour Automotive as the exclusive mobility partner of COP27. GM is delighted to support COP27 as the Mobility Principal Partner to showcase our EV line-up and drive toward an all-electric future. GM is committed to our global vision of zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion, enabled through leadership in electrification, connectivity and autonomous technology, Sharon Nishi, Managing Director of General Motors Egypt and North Africa said. She added that GM was driven to help create a forum that highlights key policy issues and priorities needed to pave the road for future electric vehicles and local industrialisation plans in Egypt, as well as help reduce carbon emissions. We are pleased to sign an MoU with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This partnership is perfectly in line with Al-Mansour Automotives strategic goals, as a leading company, to reshape and transform the Egyptian Automotive industry in a way that conforms with Egypt 2030 sustainability vision. Our partnership also accords with the conference's objectives of reducing tailpipe carbon emissions to protect the planet from climate change," said Ankush Arora, CEO of Al-Mansour Automotive. GM stood alongside other companies, governments and civil society organisations at COP26 to support the declaration on rapidly accelerating the car industry's transition to zero emission new cars and vans in leading markets by 2035 or earlier. The American automotive giant is investing $35 billion through 2025 in EV and AV projects to lead the transformation of the industry towards a more sustainable future. GM and Al-Mansour Automotive Group had previously signed an MoU to explore investment opportunities in emerging Egyptian companies that aim to provide new technologies or solutions supporting sustainable mobility. Search Keywords: Short link: Two senior officials from the Palestinian Hamas group visited Syria's capital on Wednesday for the first time since they were forced to leave the war-torn country a decade ago over backing armed opposition fighters. The visit appears to be a first step toward reconciliation between Hamas and the Syrian government and follows a monthslong mediation by Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah group, both key backers of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Over the years, Tehran and the Iran-backed Hezbollah have maintained their relations with Hamas despite Assad's rift with the Palestinian group. Before the rift, Hamas had long kept a political base in Syria, receiving Damascus' support in its campaign against Israel. Hamas' powerful leadership-in-exile remained in Syria, even after the group took power in the Gaza Strip in 2007. But when Syria tipped into civil war, Hamas broke with Assad and sided with the rebels fighting to oust him. On Wednesday, Khalil al-Hayeh, a senior figure in Hamas' political branch, and top Hamas official Osama Hamdan were among several officials representing different Palestinian factions who were received by Assad. Al-Hayeh had regularly visited Beirut over the years, meeting with Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah; their last meeting was in August. After Wednesday's meeting, al-Hayeh said Assad was "keen on Syria's support to the Palestinian resistance'' and called his visit a "glorious day.'' "God willing, we will turn the old page and look for the future,'' al-Hayeh said, adding that Hamas is against any "Zionist or American aggression on Syria.'' Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes around Syria over the past years, mainly targeting Iran-backed fighters. Hamas' re-establishing of a Damascus base would mark its rejoining the so-called Iran-led "axis of resistance'' as Tehran works to gather allies at a time when talks with world powers over Iran's nuclear program are stalled. The move by Hamas also comes after Turkey restored relations with Israel and after some Arab states, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, normalized relations with Hamas' archenemy Israel. The pro-government Al-Watan daily says Damascus will be reconciling with the "resistance branch'' of Hamas and not the Muslim Brotherhood faction, an apparent reference to Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal who was once based in Damascus but is now in Qatar. *This article was edited by Ahram Online Search Keywords: Short link: Palestinian movement Hamas on Wednesday said it restored relations with the Syrian government after a visiting delegation held a "historic meeting" with President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus. The Islamist group, which controls the Gaza Strip, was long one of Syria's closest allies, in large part due to a shared enmity towards Israel. But it left Syria in 2012 after condemning the Assad government's brutal suppression of protests in March 2011, which triggered the country's descent into civil war. "This is a glorious and important day, in which we come back to our dear Syria to resume joint work," Hamas chief of Arab relations Khalil al-Hayya told reporters in Damascus. "This is a new start for joint Palestinian-Syrian action," he said after meeting Assad along with other representatives of Palestinian factions. Hamas and Assad have agreed to "move on from the past and look to the future," al-Hayya added. Wednesday's meeting with Assad "is in line with the broader rapprochement between Hezbollah and Hamas evident in Lebanon over the past year or more," said Maha Yahya of the Carnegie Middle East Center. The moves come amid fundamental shifts in Middle East relationships, including the Islamist group's long-time ally Turkey restoring full diplomatic ties with Israel in August. 'Hostile' attitudes Charles Lister, Director of the Syria Program at the Middle East Institute, said rapprochement is the "only logical move" Hamas could take. "Given the prevailing regional trend of Arab engagement with Israel, it's not surprising to see Hamas' leadership in Gaza seeking to re-enhance and amplify their role within the Axis of Resistance," he told AFP. Aron Lund, a fellow with the Century International think-tank, said the thaw has "been propelled by the hostile regional attitude to Hamas and by Israel's normalization with several Arab states." "Hamas simply doesn't have the luxury of being able to ignore or oppose the Syrian government indefinitely," Lund said. Al-Hayya said there was consensus among Hamas leadership and supporters over the resumption of ties with Syria -- a move also backed by the Palestinian group's foreign sponsors. "All the states we notified of our decision were welcoming and supportive of the move, including Qatar and Turkey, who encouraged us to take the step," al-Hayya said. Turkey supports rebels against the government in Syria's civil war, but has lately signalled a willingness to reconcile with Damascus. According to Lund, Hamas' rapprochement with Damascus "seems to have been facilitated by the fact that several other Arab states have reconnected with Assad's regime." "Turkey's recent softening of tone will also have helped," he told AFP. 'Too early' The Syrian presidency said Assad met a delegation of Palestinian leaders without mentioning the restoration of ties with Hamas. But the presidency published a video of Assad and Al-Hayya holding hands as they walked with other Palestinian officials. The two-day Hamas visit to Syria comes after the Islamist group signed a reconciliation deal with its Palestinian rival Fatah in Algiers last week, vowing to hold elections by next October in a bid to settle a 15-year intra-Palestinian rift. A Hamas leader told AFP that the group, which was headquartered in the Syrian capital before leaving the country, plans to reopen its Damascus office. But it was "too early" to talk about relocating its headquarters to the Syrian capital, said the official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The thaw between Hamas and Damascus was brokered by Tehran and Hezbollah, a senior Hamas source said. For the past decade, Syrian officials had accused Hamas of betrayal. In a 2013 speech, Assad had accused Palestinian groups he did not identify of treating the country like a "hotel" that they leave "when conditions are tough" in a thinly-veiled reference to Hamas. Hamas has its origins in the transnational Muslim Brotherhood, whose Syrian branch was one of the leading factions in the armed opposition after Syria's civil war broke out. Hamas officials have said they broke ties with the Brotherhood in 2017. Search Keywords: Short link: More than 100 Palestinian have been killed since the start of the year, the heaviest toll in the occupied West Bank for nearly seven years, according to the United Nations. A Palestinian man was killed on Wednesday in the occupied West Bank, an AFP correspondent said, after what Israeli police described as a gun attack against Israelis at the entrance to a settlement. The man "fired at the entrance of Maale Adumim (settlement) towards security guards... wounding one of them in the hand before being neutralised by the other guards," the Israeli police said in a statement, while an AFP photographer saw the body of the alleged assailant. The Magen David Adom, Israel's equivalent of the Red Cross, confirmed it treated "a man in his twenties with an injured hand" who was then taken to a Jerusalem hospital. Maale Adumim is one of the biggest Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Violence has surged in recent months in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, amid near daily West Bank raids by Israeli occupation army and an uptick in attacks on troops. The expansion of military operations in Jenin and elsewhere in the West Bank followed deadly attacks on Israelis earlier this year. Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 Six-Day War. Around 475,000 Israelis now live in settlements across the territory, which are considered illegal by international law. They live alongside some 2.8 million Palestinians, who in different areas of the West Bank are subject to Israeli military rule or live under limited Palestinian governance. Search Keywords: Short link: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Wednesday he will discuss with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida strengthening their bilateral defense and security partnership to counter a more assertive China when the leaders meet in Australia this week. Kishida will make the first visit to Australia by a Japanese prime minister since Shinzo Abe in 2018 when he arrives Friday in the west coast city of Perth, officials said. "Prime Minister Kishida and I will discuss ways to strengthen our cooperation and achieve our shared vision for a peaceful, stable, climate resilient and prosperous Indo Pacific,'' Albanese said in a statement. Kishida and Albanese will consider further implementing the Reciprocal Access Agreement, a security cooperation pact Kishida struck in January with then-Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison that removes obstacles to holding joint military exercises in either country. "Discussions between leaders will look to strengthen the defense and security partnership, and leaders will consider next steps to implement the Reciprocal Access Agreement, which will enhance the ability of defense forces to operate and exercise together,'' Albanese's office said in a statement. The leaders were planning a new declaration on security cooperation that would revamp a document signed in 2007, Kyodo News reported this week. Signed by then-Prime Ministers Abe and John Howard, the pact committed the countries to regional and global peace and stability as well as cooperation on counterterrorism and rebuilding Iraq after the 2003 Iraq War. The new agreement would be more "ambitious'' than the 2007 version, Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported. Japanese Ambassador to Australia Shingo Yamagami described the new agreement, which would also strengthen intelligence sharing, as "epoch making'' and would shape relations between the two nations for the next decade, The Australian newspaper reported. Yamagami did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Kishida would visit Perth from Friday to Sunday with the leaders' annual meeting on Saturday, Japanese and Australian officials said. "Through Prime Minister Kishida's visit to Australia, we aim to further develop the cooperative relationship between the two countries in the areas of security, defense and economy, and to further strengthen cooperation toward the realization of a free and open Indo-Pacific,'' Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said in Tokyo. Perth is the capital of Western Australia state, which exports most of Australia's liquified natural gas. Energy cooperation will be high on the leaders' agenda with Japan depending on Australia for more than a third of its LNG and with global supplies disrupted by the Ukraine war, Kyodo reported. The leaders were expected to agree on cooperation in securing stable supplies of Australian LNG, rare earths and other resources, The Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper in Tokyo reported. Western Australia "played an important role supporting Japan's energy security and will be vital to both countries' plans for clean energy transition," Albanese's office said. Concerns about China's growing influence in the region heightened early this year when Beijing signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands that has raised fears of a Chinese naval base being established in the South Pacific. Albanese highlighted the importance Australia places on its relationship with Japan when he flew to Tokyo within hours of being sworn in as prime minister following May elections. The occasion was a summit of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, better known as the Quad, which brought Albanese and Kishida together with U.S. President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Albanese returned to Japan last month for Abe's state funeral, bringing with him three former Australian prime ministers, including Howard, in an extraordinary show of Australia's respect. Search Keywords: Short link: French cement company Lafarge pleaded guilty Tuesday to paying millions of dollars to the Islamic State group to keep a plant operational in Syria, at a time when the militant group was engaged in torturing kidnapped Westerners, and agreed to pay roughly $778 million in penalties. The Justice Department accused the company of turning a blind eye to the conduct of the Islamic State, negotiating a revenue-sharing agreement with the militant group as it was acquiring new territory and as Syria was mired in a brutal civil war. The company's actions, already investigated by French law enforcement authorities, occurred before it merged with Swiss company Holcim to form the world's largest cement maker. Justice Department officials described it as the first case in which a company has pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Lafarge and a long-defunct Syrian subsidiary entered the plea in federal court in Brooklyn, agreeing to criminal fines of $90.78 million and a forfeiture of $687 million. "There is no justification - none - for a multi-national corporation authorizing payments to a designated terrorist group. Such payments are egregious violations of our laws, justify maximum scrutiny by U.S. authorities, and warrant severe punishment,'' said Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, the Justice Department's top national security official. Prosecutors say the company paid through intermediaries nearly $6 million to IS and al-Nusrah Front, another militant group, in 2013 and 2014. The fixed monthly payments weren't because of the company's ideological alignment with the groups, the Justice Department said, but made purely in pursuit of an economic advantage. The company had constructed a $680 million plant in northern Syria in 2011, and facing competition from cheaper cement imported from Turkey, regarded the payments to IS as a way to ensure the continued operations of the plant and to protect its employees and the transport of raw materials into the facility. The Justice Department accused the company of using fake contracts and falsified invoices to hide the partnerships, and of committing to a revenue-sharing agreement with IS in hopes that it would incentivize the group to protect the company's interests. In one message, a company executive told colleagues that "we have to maintain the principle that we are ready to share the 'cake,' if there is a cake.''' And after Lafarge evacuated the plant in September 2014, IS took possession of the cement that the company had produced and sold it at prices that would have yielded the group about $3.21 million, prosecutors say. The payments came at a time when other companies were pulling operations out of the region and at a time when beheading videos released as publicity by IS made clear to the world the Islamic State's barbaric actions. Charging documents, for instance, quote an Aug. 20, 2014, email exchange in which company officials describe their negotiations with IS, with one talking about the need to check with a company lawyer about "the consequences of this kind of deal.'' One day earlier, IS had released a grisly video of the murder of freelance American journalist James Foley. "Make no mistake: Lafarge and its leadership had every reason to know exactly with whom they were dealing, and they didn't flinch," Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said Tuesday. "Instead," she added, "Lafarge forged ahead, working with ISIS to keep operations open, undercut competitors, and maximize revenue. And all the while, through their support and funding, Lafarge enabled the operations of a brutal terrorist organization.'' The allegations involve conduct that was earlier investigated by authorities in France. Lafarge had previously acknowledged funneling money to Syrian armed organizations in 2013 and 2014 to guarantee safe passage for employees and supply its plant. In 2014, the company was handed preliminary charges including financing a terrorist enterprise and complicity in crimes against humanity. A French court later quashed the charges involving crimes against humanity but said other charges would be considered over payments made to armed forces in Syria. That ruling was later overturned by France's supreme court, leading another French court earlier this year to state that Lafarge must face charges of complicity in crimes against humanity. No date for a trial of Lafarge and eight of its executives has been set yet in France. The wrongdoing precedes Lafarge's merger with Holcim in 2015, though the Justice Department said the transaction was completed without a thorough examination of Lafarge's past activities in Syria. In a statement, Holcim said that when it learned of the allegations from the news media in 2016, it voluntarily conducted an investigation and disclosed the findings publicly. It fired the former Lafarge executives who were involved in the payments. "None of the conduct involved Holcim, which has never operated in Syria, or any Lafarge operations or employees in the United States, and it is in stark contrast with everything that Holcim stands for," the company said. "The DOJ noted that former Lafarge SA and LCS executives involved in the conduct concealed it from Holcim before and after Holcim acquired Lafarge SA, as well as from external auditors.'' Lafarge said in its own statement that it has "accepted responsibility for the actions of the individual executives involved.'' It added: We deeply regret that this conduct occurred and have worked with the U.S. Department of Justice to resolve this matter." It said the "conduct occurred during a period of intense violence and coercive pressure from terrorist groups,'' as the company "tried to manage the grave security challenges in the area surrounding its cement plant during the Syrian civil war.'' The Islamic State group is abbreviated as IS and has been referred to as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS. Search Keywords: Short link: The Egypt Economic Conference 2022 is set to kick off on Sunday in Cairo, with the participation of economists and businessmen, to draw a roadmap for the future of the Egyptian economy, the Egyptian government announced on Wednesday. The three-day event was called for by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi in early September when he urged the government to organise an economic conference to discuss the present economic conditions to boost all sectors of the domestic economy. According to cabinet spokesperson Nader Saad, the conference will include the announcement of several incentives for the industrial sector and exporters as well as a number of government initiatives to stimulate economic performance. The spokesperson said that the agenda of the conference will focus on three main tracks: macroeconomic policies, private sector empowerment and creating a business-friendly environment, and formulating a roadmap for the priority sectors in the governments work program. Saad said the discussion of the roadmap will witness a number of interactive sessions that will discuss the visions and ideas of experts on what policies are required to achieve national goals in several priority sectors in the Egyptian economy and the measures required to overcome the challenges facing those sectors. The discussions on the second day of the conference will include tackling the role of the Sovereign Fund of Egypt (TSFE) and the State Ownership Document. The closing session will review the prominent conclusions and recommendations reached during the conference concerning the policies required to face the current challenges in the Egyptian economy. The conference will also have roundtable sessions with the participation of government representatives, including the prime minister, as well as intellectuals, economists and representatives of political parties. The cabinet said that 92 officials from the government will attend the conference, including ministers, in addition to 68 MPs, 72 economy professors, 39 economists, 22 heads of commerce chambers and unions, 133 representatives of local and foreign companies, 22 representatives of NGOs, 11 party leaders, 47 ambassadors, 27 businessmens associations and 37 members of the National Dialogue. According to the Egyptian government, the technical committee of the conference received about 300 economic suggestions to be discussed in its sessions. The Egyptian government launched in early October a mobile app and website (www.eec2022.gov.eg) for the conference. Search Keywords: Short link: Two giant pandas have left China for Qatar in a cooperation program on the research and protection of the animal between the two countries. Produced by Xinhua Global Service By Azernews By Vugar Khalilov The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has made public the number of children killed as a result of Armenias missile attack on civilian settlements during the 44-day war in 2020, Azernews reports. The ministry has posted a tweet mentioning the names and ages of the victims. 10-month-old Narin; 1-year-old Madina; Maryam 6; Aysu 7; Orkhan 11; Shahriyar 13; Artur 13; Farid 14; Fidan 14; Nigar 15; Orkhan 16; Shahmali 13. These are the names & ages of 12 kids killed during indiscriminate shelling by Armenia of densely populated towns in Azerbaijan in 2020. RIP! the ministry tweeted. In continuation of their violations of international humanitarian law during the 44-day war, the Armenian armed forces launched multiple missile strikes on Azerbaijan's civilian cities, located far from the war theater. Azerbaijans Barda city was attacked after the U.S-mediated humanitarian truce became effective at 08:00 (GMT +4) on October 26. As a result of the missile attack from the Smerch multiple rocket launcher on Barda, five civilians, including a child, were killed and 13 civilians, including children and women, were seriously wounded. The Armenian armed forces launched missile attacks on Barda on October 5, 8, 27, and 28. As a result of Armenia's military aggression, 100 Azerbaijani civilians were killed, including 12 children and 27 women. As many as 454 people were injured, including 35 children. Some 181 children lost one parent, five children lost both parents, and one family lost all members. In total, 12,292 residential and non-residential buildings and 288 vehicles were damaged. The Armenian armed forces launched missile strikes on Ganja city five times on separate days in October 2020. On October 4, the first missile attack was carried out, killing one person and wounding more than 30 others. The second missile attack occurred on October 5, injuring three individuals. On October 8, a third missile strike was carried out but no casualties were registered. On October 11, a fourth missile attack killed ten civilians and injured more than 40 more. On October 17, the fifth missile attack occurred, killing sixteen civilians and injuring 55 others. The attacks caused significant damage to the city's infrastructure, homes, and vehicles. Children and women were among those slain and injured in Armenia's brutal onslaught. It seems Sudan and Ethiopia are eager to achieve calm relations in order to focus on their own internal challenges. Tension between Sudan and Ethiopia did not prevent the two countries leaders from holding bilateral talks on the sidelines of the 10th Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa, the second this year following the forums 5 July summit. Those meetings at the forum was regarded by some observers as proof of approaching calm between the two countries, while others suggested they would yield no results. The forum is regularly held in the ancient Ethiopian capital Bahir Dar, overlooking Tana Lake, where the Blue Nile originates. The historic citys name literally means the House of Sea. Residents around the Nile in this area used to call the lakes seas, and cities and provinces houses. After meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, the head of Sudans Sovereign Council said that reaching an agreement on technical issues for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is possible. Ethiopias Ahmed stressed that the dam his country is building, which has sparked a heated, complicated dispute between Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt, will bring great benefits to Sudan and will not become its foe, according to the statement released after the Sudan-Ethiopia meeting. The statement added that Khartoum and Addis Ababa agreed on the need to resolve their border conflict, which saw rounds of armed clashes, in which Sudan regained most of the disputed area in the Fashqa region. Since the fall of the 30-year rule of Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir, during which time the Muslim Brotherhood were in power, differences between the two countries have surfaced. Disputes over GERD and its technical issues erupted, and tensions over reaching a binding legal agreement on procedures for filling the dams reservoir according to a schedule agreed on by the three Blue Nile countries. Sudan fears the GERD may be damaged or may even collapse, especially since the safety of its construction has been widely questioned. Abbas Sharaki, a professor of geology and water resources at Cairo University, said, if the dam collapses for any reason, it will cause extensive destruction in central Sudan. Central Sudan, the most productive region in the country, is already struggling economically. Opinions similar to Sharakis are widely circulated in the Sudanese press by a number of experts. However, others such as Mohamed Abdallah, a professor of political science in Khartoum, rule out the damage or collapse of the dam. He focuses on the benefits of the dam for Sudan, especially in facing floods. Floods in Sudan are caused by heavy rains and the overflow of small rivers, not by the flooding of the Blue Nile as a result of heavy rains in Ethiopia. Sudan needs a large number of dams on the tributaries of the Nile and other rivers since a number of its regions that the Nile does not cross were affected by this years heavy rains, such as West Kordofan in the centre, South Darfur in the west, and Kassala in the east. As for the conflict over Fashqa, the region is Sudanese land according to an agreement signed between Ethiopia and Sudan in 1902. However, a large number of Ethiopian Amhara residents had taken up arms and used militias to expel the residents of Fashqa and take control of the fertile land. Following the fall of Al-Bashir, Khartoum and Addis Ababa engaged in armed conflict in which Sudan retrieved a large portion of Fashqa, raising the armys credit among the people. Making matters worse between the two countries, clashes that erupted in the Ethiopian north between the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front and Ahmeds government led tens of thousands of Tigrayans to flee to neighbouring Sudan, which is already suffering from a fragile economy, increasing tensions between the two states. Sudan wants the fighting in Ethiopia to stop to stay the influx of displaced Ethiopians into its territory. But Addis Ababa does not accuse Khartoum of supporting Tigray, nor does Sudan accuse Ethiopia of standing against its own interests. However, in the first four months of the fighting, 45,000 displaced people crossed the Tekeze River, according to a February 2021 UNHCR report. In November, fighting between Tigray and the government will enter its second year. The majority of the Tigrayan population suffer from poor food security, while UN agencies estimate that millions of people in northern Ethiopia may be exposed to famine within months if the world -- preoccupied with Ukraine, which directly affects the largest group of industrialised countries in the world -- does not help them. Both Sudan and Ethiopia are reeling with political and economic troubles, and according to Sudanese journalist Fayez Al-Salik, the talks at the forum were meant to install calm so that both countries can look to other, more pressing problems. But Khaled Mahmoud, an Egyptian journalist specialising in African affairs, begs to differ. Mahmoud believes that even if the two regimes were facing challenges, they are standing on solid ground, with no threats in sights, though Ethiopias position is more complicated. Both countries suffer from political crises, but Sudans affairs are much simpler, though its problems are political, not a civil war that may have grave repercussions as is the case in Ethiopia, he says. Moreover, Al-Burhans pledge before the UN General Assembly to withdraw from political life will greatly ease tensions in Khartoum. This is not happening in Ethiopia despite preparations for peace talks, Mahmoud added. Comparing the two leaders is in Al-Burhans favour. Ahmed, who won a Nobel Peace Prize, is being frowned on in the Western media because so much is expected of him. He has turned into a hero of Civil War. Whereas Al-Burhan was given direct Western clearance to attend the funeral of Queen Elisabeth II and allowed to address the UN General Assembly, he noted. In my opinion, Sudan is opening a door for calm and peace with Ethiopia to focus on taking economic decisions and holding talks, that are going to be arduous, with international financial institutions, Mahmoud stated. In the end can Ethiopia keep up with Al-Burhans moves? It is unlikely, but not impossible. *A version of this article appears in print in the 20 October, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: Fathy Abdel-Wahab, Head of the Cultural Development Fund Sector, and Ahmed Hanno, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts and general curator of the Cairo International Animation Forum, inaugurated the 13th edition of the Cairo International Animation Forum (17-24 October), under the auspices of the Minister of Culture Neven El-Kilani. Attending the opening were Marat Gatin, Director of the Russian Cultural Centres in Egypt, Tomislav Bosnjak Ambassador of Croatia and Sherif Gad, President of the Arab Union of Graduates of Soviet and Russian Universities. The opening was also attended by David Sadoulet, Counselor of Cultural Cooperation at the French Embassy, and Georgi Todorov, Cultural Counselor of the Embassy of Bulgaria. ## The celebration began with the opening of the animation exhibition in Adam Henein Hall at Al-Hanager Arts Centre. The exhibition displayed works by graduates of the Faculty of Fine Arts and the Cinema Institute, who were also present. In the ceremony, which took place on the stage of Al-Hanager Arts Centre, the forum's awards were handed out. In addition, a number of leading Egyptian artists in the field of animation were honored. The Honorees included artists such as Samy Maghawry, Islam El-Sayed, director Attia Khairy, and musician Sherif Nour. Abdel-Wahab said that the art of animation had the ability to influence and spread aesthetic and moral values. He also pointed out that the number of works participating in this year's session is 110, representing 29 Arab and foreign countries. Gatin expressed his happiness for going up to the stage three times to receive awards for Russian artists. Russian director Denis Chernov won two awards for best film and best director for his film "Teddy Boom", whereas director Andrei Koplin won the second place award for the film "The Everlasting Story". Gatin stressed that such festivals represent a strong bridge for the communication of cultures between peoples.On this occasion, Abdel-Wahab said that he was happy to see 'the spirit returning' to the Cairo International Animation Forum. "We will soon start organizing art workshops to develop the artists' skills. Artists will get the chance to benefit from the experience of professionals in the field from Egypt and abroad," he said. Search Keywords: Short link: "These invading forces have taken control for the moment of some areas including Shire," the Tigray Central Command said in a statement, adding that the rebels were in a "life or death" struggle. It said the joint forces had entered the city of about 100,000 people on Monday, adding: "The enemies are massacring our people with heavy weaponry/armaments in the areas it invades." The Shire area had been the scene of an offensive by Ethiopian and Eritrean troops as intense fighting was reported in Tigray, triggering deep alarm in the international community. It is not possible to verify battlefield claims as Tigray is under a communications blackout and access to northern Ethiopia is restricted for journalists. UN chief Antonio Guterres warned Monday that the situation in Ethiopia was "spiralling out of control" as the fighting raged. The rebel announcement came a day after the Ethiopian government vowed to seize airports and other sites in Tigray. The African Union had called on Sunday for an immediate and unconditional truce as the combat intensified between pro-government forces and the Tigray People's Liberation Front who have been at war for nearly two years. NATO on Monday began its long-planned annual nuclear exercises in northwestern Europe as tensions simmer over the war in Ukraine and President Vladimir Putin's threat to use any means to defend Russian territory. Fourteen of NATO's 30 member countries were due to take part in the exercises, which the military alliance said would involve around 60 aircraft including fighter jets and surveillance and refueling planes. The bulk of the war games will be held at least 1,000 kilometers (625 miles) from Russia's borders. U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken said North Korea's latest round of missile provocations shows it is upset that Washington and its Asian allies are strengthening cooperation. "Over the last months... we have significantly increased our own work with our allies and partners in the region -- South Korea, Japan." He added, "I think that Kim Jong-un saw that and didn't like it. And it's a response to that." Speaking at a discussion at Stanford University with former U.S. State Secretary Condoleezza Rice, Blinken said, "We brought [large-scale military exercises] back... to make sure that we could defend and hopefully deter any kind of North Korean aggression... which has lots of benefits, including bringing [South] Korea and Japan closer together." U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (right) talks with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at Stanford University in California on Monday. /AP-Yonhap Since the inauguration of President Yoon Suk-yeol in May of this year, the three allies held more than 20 high-level meetings either in person or by phone and security and diplomatic cooperation has mostly recovered. Early this month, the U.S., South Korea and Japan held their first two-week joint naval drills on the East Sea. "We've, for example, renewed exercises that we'd had for years that were put in abeyance a few years ago," Blinken said. "I think from the leadership's perspective in North Korea, part of what we're seeing is it doesn't like to be ignored." Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg said the U.S.-South Korea and U.S.-Japan alliances are "ironclad" and constitute the "core" of efforts to enhance global peace and security. U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg speaks at a journalists forum in Seoul on Tuesday. Speaking at Kwanhun Club, an organization of senior South Korean journalists, Goldberg said Seoul, Tokyo and Washington must work together. "For decades, our alliances with countries including [South] Korea and Japan have been central to promoting peace, security, and prosperity around the world," he said. "These alliances have never been more essential than they are today, and expanding their reach and scope is in our collective interest." When asked if the Biden administration was willing to serve as a mediator between South Korea and Japan, the U.S. envoy said Seoul and Tokyo are able to speak to each other one on one, while Washington is more focused on "trilateral" cooperation. Goldberg also criticized China for failing to block North Korea's missile provocations and enforce UN sanctions. "We cannot rely on [China] to play a supportive role in resolving regional and global challenges if that kind of attitude continues," he said. But he said calls in South Korea to redeploy tactical nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula are "irresponsible and dangerous." What is important is "making sure that we don't have a world where a whole variety of countries conclude that they're going to be better off if they acquire nuclear weapons that they don't have," he added. South Korea and the U.S. will stage massive joint air drills from Oct. 31 to Nov. 4 with about 240 fighter jets flying over the Korean Peninsula. It is the first time the two countries have mobilized such a large fleet for joint aerial drills since December 2017 and sends a warning to North Korea, which is widely expected to conduct another nuclear test before U.S. midterm elections in November. "The drills aim to test combined wartime air operations of the Korean and U.S. air forces and improve their combat readiness and capabilities," South Korea's Air Force said. Some 140 South Korean fighter jets, including F-35As, F-15Ks and KF-16s, and about 100 U.S. fighters, including F-35Bs and F-16s are taking part. KYODO NEWS - Oct 20, 2022 - 12:38 | All, Japan Former Empress Michiko turned 88 on Thursday, yet continues with her long-standing daily routine along with husband former Emperor Akihito despite swapping residences with the current emperor and his family. At what is now called the Emperor Emeritus' Residence on the Akasaka Estate, the former empress takes a morning and evening walk with her 88-year-old husband and reads aloud from books after breakfast, according to the Imperial Household Agency. The couple moved back into the Akasaka residence in April for the first time in around 30 years, completing a swap with their son, Emperor Naruhito, and his family, who moved into the Imperial Residence within the Imperial Palace in September 2021. The current emperor ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne on May 1, 2019. The former empress has been growing balloon vine seeds at the Akasaka residence, a gift from students of a nursery school located near the Takanawa Imperial Residence, where the couple temporarily lived for around two years. The empress has not only been concerned about the coronavirus but she also expressed concern, along with the former emperor, about Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures when northeastern Japan was hit by a large earthquake on March 16, according to the agency. Last month, the former empress mourned the passing of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, whom she had befriended for years. The former empress has been under observation since being diagnosed in August with deep vein thrombosis, a condition in which a blood clot forms in a deep vein, in her right calf. She continues to experience mild fevers in the afternoon, and her diagnostic indicator of heart failure remains above the normal range. Due to the pandemic and other reasons, the former empress has refrained from holding birthday celebrations for the past three years. However, this year she received birthday wishes from her son Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako at her residence while taking necessary precautions. The former emperor became the first Japanese monarch to abdicate in about two centuries, bringing to an end the 30-year Heisei Era. His eldest son Emperor Naruhito, 62, subsequently ascended the throne. Related coverage: Japan's Prince Hisahito, 2nd in line to throne, turns 16 Japan princess eager to engage with public by passing on culture KYODO NEWS - Oct 19, 2022 - 19:56 | All, Coronavirus, Japan The estimated number of foreign visitors to Japan in September increased 11.7-fold from a year earlier to 206,500, government data showed Wednesday, with the figure likely to jump in the coming months after Japan removed almost all its COVID-19 entry restrictions earlier this month. The figure exceeded 200,000 for the first time since February 2020 but was down 90.9 percent from September in the pre-pandemic year of 2019, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. Visitors in the month were primarily businesspeople, technical interns and international students. Although the government resumed accepting foreign tourists in early September on tour packages that were unaccompanied by tour guides, the number of visitors entering the country for tourism remained sluggish at 19,013. On Oct. 11, the government removed its cap on daily arrivals and its ban on individual, non-prearranged trips to revive the country's struggling inbound tourism sector. Tourists are no longer required to travel on package tours or obtain a visa if they are citizens of one of 68 countries and regions with which Japan had a waiver agreement before the pandemic. The lifting of the restrictions "has a tremendous impact. The weak yen is also a tailwind." Koichi Wada, the head of the Japan Tourism Agency, said at a press conference. He expressed hope that tourist numbers are poised to make a full-fledged recovery. The tourism ministry told parliament Wednesday that it is discussing quarantine operations with the health ministry, aiming to resume the acceptance of international cruise ships. In September, the biggest number of foreign arrivals was from South Korea at 32,700, followed by Vietnam at 30,900, the United States at 18,000 and China at 17,600, according to the tourism organization. Meanwhile, the number of Japanese who went overseas in September totaled 319,200. The figure was 6.1 times higher than a year earlier but an 81.8 percent drop from the same month in 2019. Related coverage: Japan scraps COVID border controls in hopes of reviving tourism boom Japan sees over 100,000 foreign visitors in Aug., 5th month in row FOCUS: Hopes grow for win-win effect of inbound tourism in Japan, weak yen KYODO NEWS - Oct 19, 2022 - 15:58 | World, All North Korea said Wednesday it had fired artillery shells off its east and west coasts the previous night to "send a serious warning" to South Korea, according to the country's official media, with Seoul saying that the firing resumed Wednesday afternoon. The South Korean military's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Pyongyang fired a total of some 250 artillery rounds from 10 p.m. Tuesday toward the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan, with an additional 100 shots fired from around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday into waters off the west coast. A spokesman for the General Staff of the Korean People's Army in North Korea said in a statement Tuesday's artillery fire was "a powerful military countermeasure" to South Korea's firing of dozens of rounds from multiple rocket launchers in an area along the Military Demarcation Line, the Korean Central News Agency said. The General Staff ordered eastern and western frontline units of the KPA to "open a threatening, warning fire once again" in response to South Korea's fresh launch Wednesday morning of over 10 shells from multiple rocket launchers in the frontline zone, KCNA said. "The enemy's war drill" against the North is "going on in a frantic manner," the KCNA quoted the unnamed spokesman as saying. He called on Seoul to "immediately stop the reckless and inciting provocations which are escalating military tensions in the forefront area." The South Korean military began Monday a field training exercise involving U.S. forces in the country. The JCS has urged Pyongyang to immediately halt its actions. None of the shots fired Tuesday by the North fell into the territorial waters of the South, the JCS added. The latest barrage comes after the North fired artillery shells into coastal waters last Friday, which was also purported to be a "countermeasure" to South Korean artillery fire earlier that day. North Korea has recently been test-firing ballistic missiles at an increased rate, and speculation has been growing that it could conduct what would be its seventh nuclear test and first since September 2017. KYODO NEWS - Oct 19, 2022 - 16:40 | All, Japan Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida lowered the bar for the Unification Church to be issued a dissolution order Wednesday, saying the government could request a court consider it if the controversial religious group is found to have violated civil law. Kishida retracted remarks from a day earlier in which he said the government could request an order to dissolve the church only if an investigation determines it has engaged in acts that breach criminal law. At a parliamentary session on Wednesday, Kishida said his administration decided on the new interpretation after taking into account recent court rulings involving the Unification Church and the experiences of those who claim to be victims of the group. Kishida further clarified conditions under which the government could call on a court to issue a dissolution order, but an opposition lawmaker lambasted him for his policy about-face, saying it achieves nothing. Since the religious organization was cast into the public eye as a result of the murder of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe by the son of a follower, its dubious practices have been put on display. It has been accused of soliciting financially ruinous donations from members and engaging in "spiritual sales," in which it pressures people to purchase jars and other items for exorbitant prices by using threats. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party's ties to the church have also been heavily scrutinized, and the government said Monday it will probe the group based on the "right to question" under the Religious Corporations Law. While the government has yet to cement the details on how to proceed with the investigation, Kishida stressed the government will take a "case-by-case" approach in its decision to request a court to issue a dissolution order. The prime minister also said the government could initiate the process to request a dissolution order, even if criminal cases involving members of the organization are still in the courts. Kishida had been originally reluctant to launch a probe into the Unification Church partly out of fears it may violate the principle of freedom of religion. Earlier this week, however, Kishida said he decided to direct an investigation into the Unification Church to begin, given that in less than a month the government had received more than 1,700 telephone consultations from followers and others complaining about its conduct. Depending on the outcome of the probe and the ruling of a court, the group -- founded by a staunch anti-communist in South Korea in 1954 -- could lose its status as a religious corporation and be deprived of tax benefits, although it would still be able to operate in Japan. Abe's murder in early July at the hands of Tetsuya Yamagami, who claims his mother was allegedly taken advantage of by the church that is now formerly known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, brought attention to the church's practices. Yamagami says his family was financially ruined after his mother made huge donations, leading him to target Abe as he was aware that the country's longest-serving prime minister had links to the group. Abe appeared in a video message aired at an event held by an organization affiliated with the group in 2021. Related coverage: PM Kishida vows help to those financially affected by Unification Church Japan's PM to probe Unification Church amid backlash, 1st such move Support for Kishida down further to 35% amid Unification Church row President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva visited Jabrayil and Gubadli districts on October 19. The head of state attended the opening of the 14.2-kilometer Shukurbayli-Jabrayil section of the Shukurbayli-Jabrayil-Hadrut highway. President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva viewed the projects of Azerbaijan-Turkiye International Forestry Training Center, Smart Seedlings" and "Friendship Forest" Complex to be established in Jabrayil district. The head of state and the First Lady attended the ceremony to release 18 gazelles to the territory of Jabrayil district under the implementation of reintroduction projects. The head of state laid the foundation stone for the Digital Management Center of Jabrayil Power Network and viewed the construction works carried out at the 330/110 kilovolt international "Jabrayil" Junction Substation. President Ilham Aliyev familiarized himself with the projects of "Bargushadchay" and "Zabukhchay" reservoirs in Gubadli district, and laid the foundation stone for the Digital Management Center of Gubadli Power Network. The master plan of Gubadli city was submitted to the head of state and the First Lady. President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva participated in the groundbreaking ceremony of the Occupation and Victory Museums in Gubadli. KYODO NEWS - Oct 19, 2022 - 12:59 | World, All, Japan Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Wednesday he will discuss security, energy and climate change with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida this weekend in Perth. The meeting in the state capital of Western Australia on Saturday will take place as the two countries are stepping up security cooperation amid China's military rise and maritime ambitions. Kishida, who will begin a three-day trip on Friday, and Albanese are set to issue a joint declaration underscoring the importance of a "free and open Indo-Pacific," according to Japanese government sources. "Japan is a close and trusted friend of Australia -- our partnership is fundamental to both countries' strategic and economic interests," Albanese said. "Prime Minister Kishida and I will discuss ways to strengthen our cooperation and achieve our shared vision for a peaceful, stable, climate resilient and prosperous Indo-Pacific." In announcing Kishida's visit in Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno called Australia a "special strategic partner" for Japan that shares basic values and strategic interests. The top government spokesman said Japan hopes to strengthen security and economic cooperation with Australia through Kishida's visit. During the meeting, they are expected to consider steps to implement a bilateral reciprocal access agreement signed in January, aimed at facilitating the deployment of troops in each other's country for joint drills and relief operations. The planned joint declaration would be an update of the document signed in 2007 by then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and former Australian Prime Minister John Howard. It recognized "common strategic interests" embodied in their respective security alliances with the United States. Kishida's visit to Australia will be the first by a Japanese prime minister since 2018. He had planned to visit Australia in January, but the trip was canceled due to a wave of COVID-19 infections in Japan at the time. According to officials, energy and climate change will also top the agenda when Kishida meets with Albanese, who took office in May. "As Australia seeks to become a clean energy superpower, we will remain a steady and reliable supplier of energy to Japan including for new energy sources like hydrogen," Albanese said in a statement. Albanese visited Japan in May for a Quad summit. Late last month, he also traveled to Tokyo to attend the state funeral for Abe, who was gunned down during an election campaign speech in July. Japan and Australia are both part of the Quad, a four-way security framework that also includes India and the United States. Former Malagasy Prime Minister Norbert Ratsirahonana speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Antananarivo, Madagascar, Oct. 7, 2022.(Photo by Sitraka Rajaonarison/Xinhua) The CPC not only listens to the interests of the Chinese people, but also promotes the common interests of all humanity, former Malagasy Prime Minister Norbert Ratsirahonana has said. ANTANANARIVO, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) always adheres to the principle of "serving the people" and "strives to find all means to bring a better life for the Chinese people," former Malagasy Prime Minister Norbert Ratsirahonana has said. There is a "total symbiosis" between the CPC and the Chinese people, he told Xinhua in a recent exclusive interview. Having made four visits to China, 83-year-old Ratsirahonana noted during his last trip in December 2019 that "the advances have been even greater," not least the increase in real estate infrastructure, the improvement of road networks and the beautification of cities. Aerial photo taken on June 29, 2022 shows a view of the Nansha Bridge, which links Guangzhou City and Dongguan City, in south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei) "China's growth rate has had an impact on the daily lives of the Chinese," he said. Thanks to the firm "political will" of the CPC, absolute poverty was eradicated in China, he said. The CPC, he said, not only listens to the interests of the Chinese people, but also promotes the common interests of all humanity. In today's turbulent world, China's proposal of building a community with a shared future for mankind shows that it shoulders responsibilities not only at the national level, but also at the international level. By advancing this idea, China has shown its determination to contribute to world peace, he explained. "China is willing to share the benefits of its growth with other countries, with other populations that are still in poverty," he said. Ratsirahonana said China's help to Madagascar speaks to that truth. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, there have been relations of brotherhood, solidarity and cooperation between Madagascar and China, he said, citing tangible aid provided by China in such fields as health, agriculture and infrastructure. Photo taken on May 6, 2022 shows the demonstration fields of hybrid rice varieties in Mahitsy, a town northwest of Antananarivo, Madagascar. (Photo by Sitraka Rajaonarison/Xinhua) Highlighting the technological cooperation between Madagascar and China in the field of hybrid rice, Ratsirahonana said, "such cooperation really touches the daily life of every Malagasy." He voiced his hope that China will continue to provide support, assistance and cooperation to help Madagascar achieve food self-sufficiency in the near future. Regarding the upcoming 20th National Congress of the CPC, Ratsirahonana said the decisions that will be taken during the meeting will affect not only the lives of the Chinese people but also the lives of other countries in the world. The visiting UN special envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen (L), meets with Syria's Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad in Damascus, Syria, Oct. 17, 2022. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua) DAMASCUS, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- The visiting UN special envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Monday called for progress on the political front to resolve the Syrian crisis. Speaking to reporters following his meeting with Syria's Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, Pedersen recounted the difficulties facing the Syrian people, saying that despite a ceasefire being established in 2020, many civilians are still being killed, and 15 million Syrians still need humanitarian assistance. Pedersen made it clear that the UN is still committed to working on providing humanitarian assistance and supporting a nationwide ceasefire, but these two factors are not enough without progress achieved on the political front. The UN envoy said he and Mekdad discussed ways to establish "confidence-building measures" in line with Security Council resolution 2254 that provides for a roadmap for a political settlement of the Syrian crisis. "We start slowly but steadily to implement the different provisions of the UN Security Council resolutions, and the good news is that all parties say they are committed. The question is can we build a little bit of confidence so that we are able to move forward," he said. The two officials also discussed the UN-facilitated Syrian Constitutional Committee, said Pedersen, adding although the mechanism hasn't been working so far, its prospects remain. The Syrian Constitution Committee was launched in late 2019 in Geneva, as part of the peace process that seeks to reconcile the Syrian Government with its opposition and to revise the Syrian constitution or draft a new one. Since then, it has held several meetings but has yet to agree on an agenda. BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of foreign political parties and governments, and international organizations have congratulated the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and General Secretary Xi Jinping of the committee on the opening of the 20th CPC National Congress. In their congratulatory messages, they spoke highly of the CPC's remarkable achievements and its important contributions to improving the well-being of the Chinese people and people in the rest of the world. The 20th CPC National Congress is an important milestone in the history of the CPC's development, said Abou el-Fadhl Baadji, general secretary of Algeria's National Liberation Front, adding his party is willing to enhance communication, consultation and experience exchange with the CPC. The CPC has become an important example for countries around the world to learn about state governance and poverty alleviation, as well as improving people's wellbeing and promoting people-centered development, said Solly Afrika Mapaila, general secretary of the South African Communist Party. Through the convening of the congress, the CPC will advance to new victories, said Jeronimo Osa Osa Ecoro, general secretary of the Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea, adding that his party is willing to continue to deepen its friendly relations with the CPC as well as the friendship between the people of the two countries. Sigmar Gabriel, former leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany and former vice-chancellor and ex-minister for foreign affairs of Germany, said he believes that the 20th CPC National Congress will bring new solutions to global issues for humanity, and expects Germany and China to enhance the willingness and ability of all countries to jointly solve human crises through international cooperation. The 20th CPC National Congress will lead China's efforts in safeguarding world peace, promoting the building of a fairer international order, and uniting global progressive forces to jointly bridge the gap between the rich and the poor and tackle climate change and other important issues, said Massimo D'Alema, former prime minister of Italy and president of Italianieuropei Foundation. The Central Committee of the Cambodian People's Party said that the party fully supports Xi's vision of building a human community with a shared future, and stands ready to continuously consolidate the ironclad friendship between the two sides and jointly build a Cambodia-China community with a shared future. Zhang Ming, secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), said that the SCO members appreciate and speak highly of the great achievements China has scored in its development under the CPC's leadership. They are confident that the successful convening of the congress will create new conditions and new opportunities for China and other SCO members to comprehensively deepen cooperation and build an even closer SCO community with a shared future, Zhang said. The following leaders have also sent their congratulatory messages: Sam Nujoma, former president of Namibia's South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) and founding president of Namibia Mulatu Teshome, former Ethiopian president Danilo Turk, former Slovenian president Mizengo Peter Pinda, former prime minister of Tanzania and member of the Central Committee of CCM (Ruling Party Tanzania) Essam Sharaf, former Egyptian prime minister Mohsen Basurra, member of the leadership of the Yemeni Islah Party and deputy speaker of the House of Representatives of Yemen Saleem Mandviwalla, deputy chairman of the Senate of Pakistan Mohamed Nabil Benabdallah, leader of the Party of Progress and Socialism of Morocco Paul Mashatile, treasurer general of the African National Congress Puteri Anetta Komarudin, chairperson of Economic Affairs of Golkar Party and chairperson of Indonesia-China Parliamentary Friendship Group of the House of Representatives, Indonesia Fathi El Koleib, member of Political Bureau and secretary of International Affairs, Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine Fausto Pinato, member of the National Executive Committee of Progressit Party of Brazil and president of Brazil-China Parlimentary Front of the Brazilian National Congress Bert De Belder, head of the Department of International Relations of Workers' Party of Belgium Jeremy Bradshaw, secretary of the Conservative Parliamentary China Group Eduardo Tzili-Apango, founding member and chair of the Eurasia Studies Group in Mexico Zivadin Jovanovic, president of the Belgrade Forum for a World of Equals. BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese judicial agencies will step up protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) in a bid to support the country's drive to achieve greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology, a senior judge said Wednesday. Sound rules will be introduced to protect IPR in sectors such as big data, artificial intelligence and genetic technologies, and judicial actions will be enhanced against monopolies and unfair competition, He Rong, vice president of the Supreme People's Court (SPC), told a press conference on the sidelines of the ongoing 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Greater efforts will be made to regulate and guide the sound development of capital, He said, adding that judicial agencies will also advance international cooperation and exchanges. Over the past decade, China has made notable progress in judicial protection of IPR, according to He. The number of IPR lawsuits closed in the first instance has totaled 2.74 million since 2013, registering an average yearly increase of 24.5 percent, she said. Lawsuits concerning IPR have covered a wide scope of cases involving patents, trademarks, copyrights, business secrets, integrated circuit designs, new plant species, geographic indications, monopolies and unfair competition. Consumers' rights and the rights of people having new forms of employment have been better protected. The IPR court under the SPC and four specialized courts for IPR in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and the Hainan Free Trade Port have facilitated the country's reform on IPR case settlement. With persistent efforts to ensure foreign entities enjoy equal legal protection in China, more and more foreign enterprises have settled their IPR disputes at Chinese courts, He said. BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- China is widely acknowledged as one of the safest countries in the world, Xu Ganlu, vice minister of public security, told a press conference here on Wednesday. Noting that China is one of the countries with the lowest homicide rate and the lowest number of gun- and explosives-related cases, Xu said the country has witnessed significant drops in the numbers of criminal cases and safety accidents over the past decade. The number of major criminal acts including homicides and rapes in 2021 was 64.4 percent lower than that of 2012, while the numbers of drug-related crimes, robberies and thefts also dropped by 56.8 percent, 96.1 percent and 62.6 percent respectively, Xu told journalists on the sidelines of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. According to a survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics in 2021, some 98.6 percent of those polled felt safe living in China, up by 11 percentage points from 2012, he said. The vice minister said some 3,800 police officers had sacrificed their lives in the past 10 years in the process of defending social security and stability. Nonetheless, Xu said China will continue to crack down on organized crime and root out local criminal gangs on an ongoing basis and focus its efforts on serious criminal offenses of major concerns to the public, to better safeguard national security, social stability and interests of the people. The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, the capital of China, Oct. 16, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of foreign political parties and governments worldwide have congratulated the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and General Secretary Xi Jinping of the committee on the opening of the 20th CPC National Congress. In their congratulatory messages, they spoke highly of the CPC's remarkable achievements and its important contributions to improving the well-being of the Chinese people and people in the rest of the world. The CPC remains committed to the principle of wholeheartedly serving the people, and has brought prosperity and happiness to the Chinese people, said Abdulla Yameen, leader of the Progressive Party of Maldives and former president of the Maldives. Mizuho Fukushima, head of the Social Democratic Party of Japan, expressed her wish that the CPC will achieve greater development and make more contributions to eradicating poverty in the world, safeguarding global peace and protecting the Earth. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, extended his sincere congratulations on the convening of the 20th CPC National Congress and expected the congress to make greater contributions to peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia as well as to global peace. He hoped that South Korea-China friendship and cooperation will grow stronger with time. With its eyes set on the new era, the CPC has led China in forging ahead relentlessly along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and achieving national prosperity, which has won admiration and praise from the world, said Bayanjargal Tsogtgerel, chairman of the Mongolian National Democratic Party. Under the leadership of the CPC, a friendly China will continue to advance along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, said Ata Serdarov, chairman of the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan. For more than 100 years, the CPC has gone through a glorious journey of struggle and victory, and led the Chinese economy to the forefront of the world, said Gennady Zyuganov, chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation. Heinz Bierbaum, president of the Party of the European Left, said that the convening of the 20th CPC National Congress is of great significance, and that his party looks forward to further strengthening its relations with the CPC. The 20th CPC National Congress is convened at a time when the great cause of the Chinese people enters a new stage, said Hilal Hilal, assistant secretary-general of Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party of Syria. Under the leadership of the CPC, the Chinese people have made great progress in such fields as politics, economy and culture, he added. Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said "we're inspired by the CPC's foresight and steering the Chinese nation on a path of high quality governance and socioeconomic development." Zardari made the remarks in a speech congratulating the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which opened in Beijing on October 16. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Journalists attend a press conference via video link in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2022. The press center for the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) hosted the press conference on the topic "Under the Guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, Strive to Build Higher-Standard Rule of Law in China" on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Yin Gang) A journalist raises his hand to ask questions during a press conference via video link in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2022. The press center for the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) hosted the press conference on the topic "Under the Guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, Strive to Build Higher-Standard Rule of Law in China" on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Ming) A journalist asks questions during a press conference via video link in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2022. The press center for the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) hosted the press conference on the topic "Under the Guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, Strive to Build Higher-Standard Rule of Law in China" on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Ming) The press center for the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) hosts a press conference on the topic "Under the Guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, Strive to Build Higher-Standard Rule of Law in China" in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2022. Yin Bai, deputy secretary-general of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, He Rong, vice president of the Supreme People's Court, Tong Jianming, deputy procurator-general of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, Xu Ganlu, vice minister of the Ministry of Public Security, and Zuo Li, vice minister of the Ministry of Justice, attended the press conference. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) The press center for the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) hosts a press conference on the topic "Under the Guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, Strive to Build Higher-Standard Rule of Law in China" in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2022. Yin Bai, deputy secretary-general of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, He Rong, vice president of the Supreme People's Court, Tong Jianming, deputy procurator-general of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, Xu Ganlu, vice minister of the Ministry of Public Security, and Zuo Li, vice minister of the Ministry of Justice, attended the press conference. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) NAIROBI, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- A Kenyan lecturer has said that China's "tremendous economic growth" over the last decades has put the country "in a very well-poised position to influence global economies." Produced by Xinhua Global Service By Azernews By Vugar Khalilov Azerbaijani Ombudswoman Sabina Aliyeva and her Moroccan counterpart, as well as the Permanent Independent Commission on Human Rights of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on joint cooperation, Azernews reports. The memorandum was signed as part of the Baku International Conference of Ombudspersons and National Human Rights and Institutions, held to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Azerbaijani Ombudsman's Office on October 19 in Baku. Addressing the event, Aliyeva said that Armenian subversive groups continue to mine the Azerbaijan lands without being subjected to any international pressure. "The Azerbaijani Ombudsman's office repeatedly appealed to international organizations over the actions of Armenia. Unfortunately, the government of Armenia has not yet taken any steps regarding the transfer of accurate maps of minefields to Azerbaijan. Taking advantage of its impunity, Armenia continues to mine Azerbaijani territories with the help of subversive groups," she said. "The Ombudsman's office repeatedly appealed over the violations of international law to the international community both during the war and in the post-war period, prepared reports, appeals, and statements, based on proofs collected and sent them to the relevant international organizations," Aliyeva stressed. Leaders and employees of national human rights organizations of Turkiye, Pakistan, Morocco, Indonesia, Moldova, Japan, Hong Kong, Northern Cyprus, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Hungary, China, and Korea, representatives of international organizations, civil society institutions, NGOs, media, as well as MPs and other officials attended the international conference. The main goal of the conference is to promote the reforms carried out in the fields of protection, provision, and promotion of human rights in Azerbaijan at the international level, at the same time, to discuss the current trends and challenges in the field of business and human rights, and to share positive country experiences in this regard. LOS ANGELES, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- California's wildfire carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions in 2020 were approximately two times higher than California's total greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions since 2003 to 2019, a latest study showed. The study, titled "Up in smoke: California's greenhouse gas reductions could be wiped out by 2020 wildfires," was published in this month's edition of the journal Environmental Pollution. The historic megafires of 2020 released an estimated 127 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the air. That compares to the 65 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions California was able to reduce between 2003 and 2019, according to the study. California experienced its most disastrous wildfire year on record in 2020. CalFire, the state agency responsible for leading California's wildfire prevention and suppression, reported that over 17,000 square kilometers got burned in 2020. The 2020 fires were followed by another extreme fire season with about 10,000 square kilometers burned in 2021. The study noted that without considering future vegetation regrowth, CO2e emissions from the 2020 wildfires could be the second most important source in the Golden State above either industry or electrical power generation. The study also warned a positive feedback loop between climate change and wildfire that's very negative. Michael Jerrett, lead author of the study and a professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles, was quoted by the USA Today on Tuesday as saying that climate change is creating conditions conducive to larger wildfires while the wildfires are adding to the greenhouse gases that cause climate change. "Our analysis suggests that significant societal benefits could accrue from larger investments in improved forest management and stricter controls on new development in fire-prone areas at the wildland-urban interface," the study said. MOSCOW, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- The situation in the zone of the special military operation can be described as tense, commander of Russia's joint group of forces in Ukraine Sergey Surovikin told media on Tuesday. The Ukrainian side does not abandon attempts to attack the positions of Russian troops, he said, adding that the Ukrainian army losses 600 to 1,000 people every day. The Russian army will act consciously in a timely manner, without excluding the adoption of difficult decisions, he said. TEHRAN, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Iran's foreign minister said on Wednesday Tehran will add at least four institutes and 15 officials of the West to its "terrorists blacklist," the details of which will be announced in the coming hours, according to semi-official Tasnim news agency. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks during a visit to an institute in Tehran that supports epidermolysis bullosa (EB) patients. Those people and institutes have played a role in imposing medical sanctions on Iran and promoting "violence and extremism" that have caused insecurity in the country during the recent unrest following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, said the Iranian top diplomat. Certain states have turned unilateral sanctions into a "modern tool" for the systematic violations of human rights, he added, noting that those countries "shed crocodile tears" after Amini's death and sought to incite "riots and terror" in Iran by abusing the Iranian people's emotions. More than 1,000 EB patients in Iran need a special dressing produced by a Swedish company for their wounds, but were unable to obtain it due to U.S. sanctions, said Amir-Abdollahian, adding that foreign ministers from Sweden and the United States have at the same time claimed that pharmaceuticals are not included in the sanctions against Iran. The U.S. sanctions against Iran have intensified since 2018, the year when Washington pulled out of the nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers. Although the United States claims that humanitarian items, including medicine and foodstuff, are not included in the sanctions list, its embargoes on Iran's oil exports and banking sector have, in practice, prevented the country from importing such goods. Iranian government spokesman Ali Bahadori Jahromi said earlier 480 thalassemia patients have died in Iran over the past four years because of the U.S. sanctions, which prevented Iran from importing medicine for rare diseases. In addition, 220 thalassemia patients could die this year for the same reason, while EB patients and those suffering from other rare diseases are also among the victims of the sanctions on Iran each year, he added in a tweet. BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- With the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) opening on Sunday, the world is paying close attention to the programs of action and overarching policies that will be formulated during the landmark event. When delivering a key report to the CPC congress, Xi Jinping said China has always been committed to its foreign policy goals of upholding world peace and promoting common development, reiterating the country's dedication to promoting a human community with a shared future. The world has once again reached a crossroads in history, and its future course will be decided by all the world's peoples, he said. In the face of headwinds from setbacks in economic globalization, the COVID-19 pandemic and flare-ups of regional conflicts, global collective efforts are in urgent need to address growing deficit in peace, development, trust and governance. Against such backdrop, Xi has proposed the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and the Global Security Initiative (GSI). Offering Chinese wisdom to human society standing at a crossroads, the two initiatives have been greeted with applause from the international community. BRIDGING DEVELOPMENT GAPS Development is at the top of governance agenda and the perennial theme of human society. Epitomizing Xi's global vision and people-centered philosophy, the GDI aims to focus global attention on development, foster global development partnership, and achieve more robust, greener and more balanced global development. Targeting the deficit of development, it aims to overcome the challenges brought by the pandemic and accelerate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. "The holistic Global Development Initiative is a valued contribution to addressing common challenges and accelerating the transition to a more sustainable and inclusive future," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Putting the people front and center, a fundamental pursuit of the initiative is to meet the aspirations of people around the world for a better life and realize the common values of humanity. To that end, China has been walking the talk. In January, China launched the Group of Friends of the GDI at the United Nations, and over 60 countries have joined it. In the same month, China launched Phase III of the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)-China South-South Cooperation Trust Fund with a total amount of 50 million U.S. dollars, providing considerable resources for international cooperation in poverty reduction and food security. In February, the China-Pacific Island Countries Climate Action Cooperation Center was inaugurated to support relevant countries in enhancing their capacity to cope with climate change. The GDI is "a 'remobilization' of world development cooperation and a 'reaffirmation' of the people-oriented concept," said Fahd Almenei, researcher with the Center for Research and Intercommunication Knowledge of Saudi Arabia. COMMON SECURITY "With peace, a country enjoys prosperity, just as with rain, the land can flourish," Xi once quoted an Uzbek proverb. The world today is not a peaceful place. And rivalry between two sets of policy choices -- unity or division, cooperation or confrontation -- is getting more acute. Deeming that humanity is an indivisible security community, Xi proposed the Global Security Initiative to create a new path to security featuring dialogue over confrontation, partnership over alliance and win-win over zero-sum. The GSI, which emphasizes the need for common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, provides the right guiding philosophy to ensure global peace and security, said David Monyae, director of the Center for Africa-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg. "The China-proposed Global Security Initiative is crucial as it comes at a critical time when the world is grappling with multiple crises," Monyae said. Sergei Lukonin, head of the Department of Chinese Politics and Economics at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said the GSI "can certainly bring additional new directions for the peaceful development of the whole world." "I believe that the GSI will help build an indivisible, just and equitable security global community," said Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh. CHINESE SOLUTION As Xi has said, "only when countries develop together can there be true development; only when countries prosper together can there be true prosperity." As a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of the international order, and a provider of public goods, China has been committed to promoting the development of its own and the whole world at large. China will continue to follow the Chinese path to modernization to achieve the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and will continue to promote the building of a human community with a shared future, Xi has said. "By doing so, we will create new opportunities for the world with new advances in China's development and contribute our vision and strength to world peace and development and human progress," he added. Commenting on the two important initiatives, Sudheendra Kulkarni, former chairman of the Mumbai-based think-tank Observer Research Foundation, said the GDI and the GSI presented by China are of immense benefit to the international community. "These initiatives are noble ones because they are in the interest of the whole mankind" and look for "the contribution of all countries in order to sustain peace and stability in the world and in order to work all together for the common interest," said Algerian Ambassador to China Hassane Rabehi. In a highly interconnected world where non-traditional threats are more challenging, countries can promote peace and preserve the gains of development only through common development and cooperation, said Pramod Jaiswal, research director of Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement. Therefore, China's vision of building a human community with a shared future is peculiarly worth appreciation, Jaiswal observed, voicing confidence that China has been playing a crucial role and will encourage more participation in the cause. JUBA, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Three United Nations agencies on Tuesday called for concerted efforts to help tackle food insecurity and malnutrition in South Sudan where hunger has hit unprecedented levels. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), UN children's fund (UNICEF), and the World Food Programme (WFP) said almost 65 percent of the population, or 7.74 million people are severely food insecure with 2.9 million of those on the cusp of starvation and another 87,000 in famine-like conditions. Adeyinka Badejo, WFP Acting Country Director in South Sudan said ending hunger in the country starts with ending sub-national conflict and tackling the climate crisis. "I call on all stakeholders to create conditions for peace and stability that will enable the country and its population to prosper, to increase food production, to curb the level of hunger that is spiraling out of control, and to build resilience to climatic shocks," Badejo said in a joint statement issued in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. The UN agencies said severe, multiyear flood events, surging subnational violence, and economic pressures are pushing more people into worsening levels of acute food insecurity - a key driver of childhood malnutrition, disease and poverty. Meshack Malo, FAO Representative in South Sudan called for the need to make agriculture and agri-business an attractive option to ambitious young South Sudanese citizens. "FAO is supporting the formation of farming cooperatives and facilitating access to markets. Growth in the agricultural sector provides sustainable livelihoods, positively contributes to the national economy, and helps reduce overdependence on imported foods," Malo added. The UN agencies said despite being dependent on food imports, South Sudan has enormous potential to produce food and become a breadbasket of East Africa. However, the agencies said with continuing sub-national conflict that is forcing people to flee their homes and disrupting livelihoods, the country finds itself in a recurring food crisis. Hamida Lasseko, UNICEF Representative in South Sudan, said children pay the highest price as manifested in the alarming and increasing rates of severe wasting in children seen across the country. "As the world is perpetually enveloped in climate-related, political and economic crises, we must double down on our efforts in South Sudan to address food insecurity," said Lasseko. UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council on Wednesday welcomed a deal between Lebanon and Israel on the resolution of their maritime boundary dispute. In a press statement, the members of the Security Council commended the announcements that Lebanon and Israel have agreed to end their dispute over their maritime boundary and delineate it permanently. "This is a major step, which will contribute to the stability, the security, and the prosperity of the region. It will benefit both countries and their people and will allow both parties to benefit equitably from energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean," says the press statement. The leaders of Lebanon and Israel announced on Oct. 11 that the two countries had agreed to resolve a decades-long dispute over their maritime boundary in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Atamelang Matale works to build a biogas digester at Betesankwe Village in the Southern District, Botswana, on Sept. 2, 2022. (Photo by Sharon Tshipa/Xinhua) Botswanan women masons are partaking in energy transition through the biogas project in the southern African country. GABORONE, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- At Botswana's Betesankwe Village in the Southern District, about 110 km west of Gaborone, the country's capital, 29-year-old Atamelang Matale is absorbed in building a new biogas digester in partnership with three colleagues. The new digester, with a size of 30 cubic meters, will be her 20th and so far the largest she has ever built, all using agro-waste, such as cow dung and chicken litter to produce biogas directly used for cooking, heating, and lighting in southeastern Botswana. "This is the biggest biogas digester I have constructed to date. The digesters I built before only ranged between 6, 10 and 20 cubic meters in size. This is huge, so we will be camping out here for the three weeks it will take to complete it," she told Xinhua in a recent interview. The undertaking by Matale is a result of her training through the Botswana Biogas Project funded by the Global Environment Facility and the United Nations Development Programme. The Biogas Project launched in January 2017 sought to promote the production and use of biogas as an environmentally friendly source of energy for farms, households and institutions that produce or have access to agricultural waste. Matale said being a biogas digester mason has made her financially independent despite the gender discrimination that prevails in the male-dominated construction industry. Atamelang Matale works in a biogas digester pit at Betesankwe Village in the Southern District, Botswana, on Sept. 2, 2022. (Photo by Sharon Tshipa/Xinhua) Tracey Rukero, a young female biogas digester mason who completed her training last year and has since constructed four digesters, shared similar sentiments. "Many people don't think we can do the job," she said. Since 2018, 70 biogas digester masons have been trained by the Botswana Biogas Project in six vocational training centers, 29 percent of them women. Speaking at a high-level event on climate change in Kigali, Rwanda's capital, in June this year, Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi reaffirmed the nation's commitment to a gradual transition from over-reliance on coal for electricity generation. He drew attention to the need to increase the country's share of renewable energy, and significantly improve the efficiency of the energy system. The government regards the development of a sustainable and commercial biogas sector as a key mechanism for achieving the reduction of harmful greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and effectively managing agricultural waste, especially from the livestock industry. In its first nationally determined contribution to the global reduction of GHG in 2010, Botswana pledged to reduce its emissions by 15 percent by 2030, taking 2010 as the base year. Botswana's GHG emissions make up 5 percent of Africa's total global emissions, according to the country's Climate Change Policy. For this commitment to be realized and for biogas to make a plausible contribution to the reduction of GHG, Rukero and Matale's experiences point to the urgent need for mindset change among citizens, some of whom feel that the biogas digester initiative has a bad smell, and producing it means handling dirt. Matale said the biogas project has been a success already and can go far as it has brought financial relief to Batswana because they are using renewable energy resources to generate energy that is clean and free. Matale said that during the construction process and at handover, beneficiaries are taught how to feed and operate the digesters. She, however, further explained that the digesters should be carefully maintained and once they run out of energy, they should be fed with new agro-waste such as cow dung in order for them to continue working. John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), delivers his first policy address to the HKSAR Legislative Council since taking office in Hong Kong, south China, Oct. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai) HONG KONG, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), delivered on Wednesday his first policy address to the HKSAR Legislative Council since taking office. The report covers a raft of policies and measures to boost growth and improve people's livelihood. It aims to boost Hong Kong's competitiveness and start a new chapter for the international financial hub. Under the "one country, two systems" principle, Hong Kong has the distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world, Lee said. Having direct access to the huge mainland market and strong international connectivity at the same time, Hong Kong serves as a bridge linking the mainland and the rest of the world, he said. Key national strategies including the 14th Five-Year Plan, the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and the Belt and Road Initiative provide Hong Kong with unlimited opportunities, said Lee. "In the next five years, I will lead the government team to unite and motivate all sectors of the community, and give full play to our fine traditions of inclusiveness, unity and respect for different viewpoints," he said. "We will make our best endeavor, all for better serving our people and better developing Hong Kong." The report laid out measures to build a solid foundation for security while upholding the principle and leveraging the advantages of "one country, two systems," further improve governance, create strong impetus for growth, earnestly address people's concerns and difficulties in daily life, safeguard harmony and stability, let young people thrive, and combat the COVID-19 epidemic, tell good stories of Hong Kong and scale new heights. "Over the next five years, I look forward to working with you all to build a more promising and united Hong Kong where people enjoy living and working," said Lee. "Together, let us start a new chapter for Hong Kong advancing from stability to prosperity." John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), delivers his first policy address to the HKSAR Legislative Council since taking office in Hong Kong, south China, Oct. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai) BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Delegates to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) continued holding group meetings on Wednesday. They deliberated the lists of preliminary nominees for the candidates of members and alternate members of the 20th CPC Central Committee, as well as members of the 20th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. The lists were approved at the second meeting of the presidium of the congress on Tuesday. The delegates also discussed draft resolutions on the report of the 19th CPC Central Committee, the work report of the 19th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, and the amendment to the Constitution of the CPC. XINZHOU, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Wanghuagou village, once a remote and impoverished village in north China's Shanxi Province, has seen dramatic changes in the past decade thanks to China's poverty alleviation and rural revitalization efforts. Produced by Xinhua Global Service President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have viewed the project of Azerbaijan-Turkiye International Forestry Training Center, Smart Seedlings" and "Friendship Forest" Complex to be established in Jabrayil district. The head of state and the First Lady attended the ceremony of releasing 18 gazelles to the territory of Jabrayil district under the implementation of reintroduction projects. Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mukhtar Babayev informed President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva of the work to be done in the complex. The European Commission building is seen in Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 18, 2022. The European Commission has proposed a new package of measures aimed at improving stability in European gas markets. Presented by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other European Commissioners on Tuesday in Strasbourg, France, the measures include joint gas purchase, the creation of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) pricing benchmark, and default energy solidarity between member states of the European Union (EU). (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong) BRUSSELS, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission has proposed a new package of measures aimed at improving stability in European gas markets. Presented by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other European Commissioners on Tuesday in Strasbourg, France, the measures include joint gas purchase, the creation of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) pricing benchmark, and default energy solidarity between member states of the European Union (EU). Von der Leyen also emphasized the need to continue efforts to save gas, and invest in renewable energies. "In the context of the current gas crisis, we stand ready to accompany firms willing to enter into a joint purchasing consortium, subject to safeguards and in line with our competition rules," said Margrethe Vestager, executive vice-president of the European Commission. The goal of joint gas purchasing is to reduce uncoordinated bidding for gas supplies between the member states, resulting in fairer access to gas and potentially lower prices. Companies would submit their requests for gas on a bidding platform, and these requests would then be aggregated, and the platform would look for suppliers. The EU member states would be obliged to pool at least 15 percent of their storage filling for the next filling season. The European Commission has also proposed creating a new price benchmark for LNG, which would better reflect the reality of the current gas market than the existing Title Transfer Facility (TTF) price index. "The current pricing benchmark is no longer adapted to a market that is shifting from pipeline gas to LNG. We will develop a new benchmark and put in place a mechanism to limit excessive gas prices in the meantime," von der Leyen said on social media. The temporary spike cap mechanism will manage excess volatility in electricity and gas derivative markets. Meanwhile, default energy solidarity rules between member states will apply in case of disruption when there is no bilateral agreement in place. There are currently only six such bilateral agreements between EU member states under the security of supply rules. The EU is currently battling sky-high energy prices, which are a consequence of the COVID-19 crisis, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The EU has therefore vowed to wean itself off Russian fossil fuels while transitioning to green energy. People are seen outside the building of the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 18, 2022. The European Commission has proposed a new package of measures aimed at improving stability in European gas markets. Presented by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other European Commissioners on Tuesday in Strasbourg, France, the measures include joint gas purchase, the creation of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) pricing benchmark, and default energy solidarity between member states of the European Union (EU). (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong) A man rides past shared bikes in Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 18, 2022. The European Commission has proposed a new package of measures aimed at improving stability in European gas markets. Presented by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other European Commissioners on Tuesday in Strasbourg, France, the measures include joint gas purchase, the creation of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) pricing benchmark, and default energy solidarity between member states of the European Union (EU). (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong) A vehicle passes the building of the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 18, 2022. The European Commission has proposed a new package of measures aimed at improving stability in European gas markets. Presented by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other European Commissioners on Tuesday in Strasbourg, France, the measures include joint gas purchase, the creation of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) pricing benchmark, and default energy solidarity between member states of the European Union (EU). (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong) Pedestrians pass the building of the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 18, 2022. The European Commission has proposed a new package of measures aimed at improving stability in European gas markets. Presented by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other European Commissioners on Tuesday in Strasbourg, France, the measures include joint gas purchase, the creation of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) pricing benchmark, and default energy solidarity between member states of the European Union (EU). (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong) Bicyclists and vehicles are seen in Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 18, 2022. The European Commission has proposed a new package of measures aimed at improving stability in European gas markets. Presented by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other European Commissioners on Tuesday in Strasbourg, France, the measures include joint gas purchase, the creation of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) pricing benchmark, and default energy solidarity between member states of the European Union (EU). (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong) Riders pass the building of the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 18, 2022. The European Commission has proposed a new package of measures aimed at improving stability in European gas markets. Presented by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other European Commissioners on Tuesday in Strasbourg, France, the measures include joint gas purchase, the creation of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) pricing benchmark, and default energy solidarity between member states of the European Union (EU). (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong) GAZA, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Tuesday announced that a senior Hamas delegation would visit Syria on Wednesday for the first time in 10 years. Hamas spokesman in Gaza, Hazem Qassem, told Xinhua that the delegation would be headed by Khalil Al-Hayya, the movement's leader in charge of the Hamas bureau of Arab and Islamic Relations. "Hamas movement's delegation will visit Damascus as part of a broader delegation that includes several Palestinian factions," said Qassem, who declined to say if Hamas leaders will hold talks or meetings with Syrian officials. On Sept. 15, Hamas announced that it would continue to build and develop solid relations with Syria "to serve the Palestinian people and their just causes." The Hamas leadership had taken Damascus as its headquarters since 1999. In 2012 following the outbreak of the Syrian crisis, the movement left Syria and is currently settled in Qatar and Turkey, causing a rupture with the Syrian leadership. In June, a Hamas source revealed to Xinhua that significant progress had been made to restore the relationship between the movement and Syria following efforts by the Lebanese Hezbollah leadership to bring the two sides together. LONDON, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Liz Truss, prime minister of the United Kingdom (UK), on Wednesday defied calls to resign after almost all the measures in her government's economic blueprint had been scrapped following market turmoil. Responding to a question from the opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer on why she should remain in power during the weekly Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) in Parliament, Truss said: "I am a fighter and not a quitter." The prime minister, who has been in office for only six weeks, is facing growing pressure to resign after the "mini-budget," the fiscal plan announced by her government last month, caused economic chaos and tanked the ruling Conservative Party's poll rating. The mini-budget, which contained controversial debt-funded tax cuts, has been blamed for plunging the British pound to a 37-year low against the U.S. dollar, while pushing up the cost of government borrowing and mortgage rates. One of the main architects of the fiscal plan, Kwasi Kwarteng, had to resign last week from his position as chancellor of the exchequer. His successor, Jeremy Hunt, tore up almost all the announced tax cuts and limited the government's cap on rising energy prices. With her economic strategy reversed and Kwarteng gone, Truss's premiership is thought to be increasingly untenable. At least five Tory lawmakers have publicly demanded her resignation, and Truss has been seeking to pacify disgruntled voters by owning up to her mistakes. In an interview with the BBC on Monday, the prime minister apologized for going "too far and too fast" with the economic policies and took responsibility for "the mistakes that have been made" in the first weeks of her premiership. However, she vowed to stay on and take the party to the next general election. "I have acted in the national interest to make sure that we have economic stability," she said in Wednesday's PMQs, referring to the removal of Kwarteng and U-turns on the mini-budget measures. WELLINGTON, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- An online matchmaking meeting was held on Wednesday between New Zealand food exporters to attend the upcoming fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE) and the Chinese companies looking for market opportunities. More than 10 Kiwi food exporters, with products ranging from cherries, dairy products, peanut butter, wines to lamb and beef, talked directly to Chinese companies seeking Kiwi partnership during the online matchmaking. At the meeting, the New Zealand export companies introduced their brands before having one-on-one talks with their potential Chinese partners. The online event was organized by the China Construction Bank and was supported by the China Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand. Participating Kiwi companies include New Zealand Cherry Co., Ltd, Milk New Zealand Dairy Ltd, Allied Faxi New Zealand Food Co., Ltd, Prime Range Meats Ltd and Delegat Limited, among others. TEHRAN, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday imposed sanctions on a number of British institutes and individuals for "supporting terrorism and terrorist groups, promoting and instigating terrorism, violence and hate-mongering and violation of human rights." The ministry issued a statement on its website saying the move was made within the framework of the related legal regulations and sanction mechanisms as well as a "response in kind." "Iran holds the British government responsible and accountable for supporting terrorists and violators of human rights who organize and instigate rioting and acts of terrorism in Iran from UK soil," said the statement. The listed entities included the National Cyber Security Center of Britain, the British Government Communications Headquarters, as well as Volant Media, Global Media, DMA Media and anti-Iranian TV channels they support, namely BBC Persian and Iran International, according to the statement. Iran's sanctions have also targeted several individuals, including British Minister of State for Security Tom Tugendhat, and British military commander in the Gulf Don MacKinnon. The sanctions will prohibit the targeted individuals from obtaining visas and entering Iran and will freeze their assets and bank accounts inside Iran. Earlier in the day, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said they will target people and institutes that have played a role in imposing medical sanctions on Iran and promoting "violence and extremism" which have caused insecurity in the country following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. Police personnel are seen at the scene of an attack at the entrance to Ma'ale Adumim, a large Israeli settlement located east of Jerusalem, Oct. 19, 2022. A Palestinian who had killed Israeli police in a recent attack was shot dead on Wednesday night in the West Bank while perpetrating another attack, said Israeli police and army. (Photo by Muammar Awad/Xinhua) JERUSALEM, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian who had killed Israeli police in a recent attack was shot dead on Wednesday night in the West Bank while perpetrating another attack, said Israeli police and army. The man was identified as Udai Tamimi from the refugee camp of Shuafat in East Jerusalem, who killed a soldier in a drive-by shooting attack at a checkpoint near the camp on Oct. 8, the army said in a statement. On Wednesday night, the man opened fire at security forces guarding the entrance to Ma'ale Adumim, a large Israeli settlement located east of Jerusalem, the police said in a separate statement. The guards shot back and killed him, the police said, adding one security member was lightly injured. Right after the shooting in Shuafat, large forces of police officers, soldiers, and Shin Bet internal security agents launched a manhunt and carried out numerous raids in Shuafat, saying Tamimi is believed to be hiding in the camp. Tension has been flaring between the Israelis and the Palestinians since the beginning of this year as a series of Palestinian attacks set off almost daily raids by Israel to arrest suspects in the West Bank. The tension was further fueled by clashes at the holy Al-Aqsa mosque compound in East Jerusalem. Police personnel are seen at the scene of an attack at the entrance to Ma'ale Adumim, a large Israeli settlement located east of Jerusalem, Oct. 19, 2022. A Palestinian who had killed Israeli police in a recent attack was shot dead on Wednesday night in the West Bank while perpetrating another attack, said Israeli police and army. (Photo by Muammar Awad/Xinhua) Police personnel are seen at the scene of an attack at the entrance to Ma'ale Adumim, a large Israeli settlement located east of Jerusalem, Oct. 19, 2022. A Palestinian who had killed Israeli police in a recent attack was shot dead on Wednesday night in the West Bank while perpetrating another attack, said Israeli police and army. (Photo by Muammar Awad/Xinhua) Valentine Rugwabiza (Front), the UN secretary-general's special representative and head of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic, speaks at a Security Council meeting at the UN Headquarters in New York on Oct. 19, 2022. The top UN envoy for the Central African Republic (CAR) said Wednesday that there is real hope for peace in the country. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- The top UN envoy for the Central African Republic (CAR) said Wednesday that there is real hope for peace in the country. The calm in certain parts of the country thanks to the redeployment of national defense and security forces and the proactive preventive posture of the UN peacekeeping mission in the CAR has allowed people to move more freely and has allowed more displaced persons and refugees to return in two areas recently freed from the grip of armed groups, said Valentine Rugwabiza, the UN secretary-general's special representative and head of the UN peacekeeping mission in the CAR, known as MINUSCA. However, the humanitarian needs in these areas remain alarming and must compel humanitarian partners to continue to mobilize. It is also important to consolidate the security and political gains. This must be done through increased commitment on the part of development partners, she told the Security Council in a briefing. "In particular, I'm calling for partners to, once again, mobilize to ensure that efforts made to guarantee the socio-economic reintegration of former combatants and the extension of the state's authority must continue. Lasting solutions for the reintegration of these former combatants within local communities, as well as the reintegration of refugees and displaced persons are vital, and, if successful, will strengthen the new policy of decentralization, which is currently being established," she said. Such efforts will also increase the contribution that local elections make to the democratization process, as they will allow inclusion and national reconciliation, she added. "There is still real hope for peace in the CAR. Political efforts aimed to ensure an end to violence are vital. And efforts are also vital to optimize MINUSCA's mandate and to ensure the continuation of a republican dialogue (in the CAR)," said Rugwabiza. All of this must be conducted with the support of the guarantors and facilitators of the CAR peace process, as well as with the continued support of regional and international partners, she said. "So we have reason to hope, and as such all parties to the conflict must ensure that a political solution to the crisis prevails. Mediation must be used as a compliment to political action. MINUSCA'S deterrent capacity is important because parties to the conflict still sometimes think that violence is a way forward." She asked the Security Council to play its part in providing effective and continued support through a robust and flexible mandate for MINUSCA, as well as in ensuring that the mission has the resources required," she said. "The government, the sub-region, and the people depend on MINUSCA as we seek a lasting solution to the crisis in the CAR." Rugwabiza called on the CAR government to lift restrictions on night flights, saying they are essential for the safety and security of UN peacekeepers, humanitarian actors, partners on the ground and people in need of humanitarian assistance. BAGHDAD, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Two officers from a Kurdish commando force were killed and seven commandos wounded on Wednesday in a bomb attack in Iraq's semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan, a Kurdish security source said. The attack occurred when a roadside bomb, planted by Islamic State (IS) militants, detonated near a vehicle carrying commandos affiliated with the Kurdish security forces known as Peshmerga, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. The source said that the troops were conducting an operation to hunt down IS militants in a rugged area in the southern part of Sulaimaniyah province in northeastern Iraq. He said the blast destroyed the vehicle, killing two officers and wounding seven commandos aboard. Akam Omer, commander of the Peshmerga commando force, was among the wounded, the source added. Also in the day, the Iraqi intelligence, in coordination with the regional Counter-Terrorism Service in Sulaimaniyah province, captured six suspects wanted for terrorist acts while they were preparing to flee the country, the media office of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command said in a statement. Over the past months, Iraqi security forces have conducted operations against extremist militants to crack down on their intensified activities. The security situation in Iraq has been improving since the defeat of the IS in 2017. However, its remnants have since melted into urban centers, deserts and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. A man wearing a mask is seen near the Westminster Bridge in London, Britain, Oct. 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ying) The WHO's International Health Regulations Emergency Committee said after its quarterly assessment meeting last week that despite a decline in severe cases and the falling number of weekly deaths, deaths from COVID-19 nevertheless remain high compared with other respiratory viruses. GENEVA, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday that COVID-19 is still a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the WHO's highest alert level. The announcement came although the number of weekly deaths is almost at its lowest level since the pandemic began. The WHO's International Health Regulations Emergency Committee said after its quarterly assessment meeting last week that despite a decline in severe cases of COVID-19, and the falling number of weekly deaths, deaths from COVID-19 nevertheless remain high compared with other respiratory viruses. A flower is seen on the National COVID Memorial Wall in London, Britain, Oct. 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ying) It also warned of COVID-19-related complications and post-COVID-19 conditions, with the full impact of these still not completely understood. The outbreak could also evolve during the upcoming winter season in the Northern Hemisphere, the committee said. Meanwhile, the current gaps in global surveillance of COVID-19 have hindered early identification and evaluation of the virus' evolution. With the virus expected to continue evolving, the committee said that the genetic and antigenic characteristics of future variants cannot yet be reliably predicted. Evolving variants may pose challenges to current vaccines and therapeutics, the committee warned. A nurse administers a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to a man in Prague, Czech Republic, on July 18, 2022. (Photo by Dana Kesnerova/Xinhua) "Given the above considerations, the committee concurred that continued coordination of the international response is necessary," and considered that "the situation remains dynamic and requires frequent reassessments, and that the termination of the PHEIC, when considered feasible, should be implemented as safely as possible." The committee recommended that there should be three key priorities in the future: strengthening surveillance and achieving vaccination targets for at risk-groups; continuing to increase access to affordable therapeutics; and strengthening pandemic preparedness planning, while continuing to protect the most at-risk groups. UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday made a joint statement at the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, on behalf of 25 countries, calling for the immediate and complete lifting of unilateral coercive measures. The world is facing interlocking global challenges with developing countries disproportionately affected. A true, effective and functional multilateral system based on international solidarity, unity and cooperation is urgently needed more than ever, said Dai Bing, the charge d'affaires at the Chinese Permanent Mission to the United Nations. And yet, despite the grave hardships and challenges, developing countries and their populations continue to fall victim to unilateral coercive measures, which run counter to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, multilateralism and the basic norms of international relations, he said. "We reaffirm the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations as well as the duty of states to cooperate with one another in accordance with the charter. We reaffirm the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which strongly urges states to refrain from promulgating and applying any unilateral economic, financial or trade measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations," he said. Regrettably, despite the global call to urgently lift unilateral coercive measures, the imposition of these illegal measures continues to cause devastating, sometimes even life-threatening consequences, to targeted countries and their peoples. Unilateral coercive measures, coupled with secondary sanctions and over-compliance, exacerbate existing humanitarian and economic challenges, result in lack of access to essential goods and services such as food, medicine, safe drinking water, fuel and electricity, and negatively affect the enjoyment of human rights, including the right to health and the right to life, he said. "We reaffirm our opposition to unilateral coercive measures and call on imposing states to immediately and completely cease such practice. We call on states to avoid imposing future unilateral sanctions not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations. The current circumstance calls for solidarity and unity rather than confrontation and division, to address global challenges and promote and protect human rights for all," he said. Antigua and Barbuda, Belarus, Bolivia, Cambodia, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Cuba, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Laos, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Palestine, Russia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, as well as China signed up to the statement. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended a groundbreaking ceremony of the 35 kV substation and Digital Management Center owned by Azerishig OJSC in Jabrayil. The head of state laid the foundation stone for the substation and Digital Management Center. The Digital Management Center will be fed from the 110/35/10 kV Jabrayil substation. UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- The UN secretary-general's special adviser on genocide prevention, Alice Wairimu Nderitu, on Wednesday expressed grave concern over the renewed fighting in Ethiopia's Tigray region and called for an immediate halt to hostilities. "Enough is enough," said Alice Nderitu in a statement. "If we are really serious about stopping the ongoing atrocious violence in Ethiopia and preventing future atrocity crimes, we need to act now and put an end to this war that has cost already too many lives." She urged the government of Ethiopia and authorities in Tigray to investigate and bring to justice those who have committed serious human rights violations. "All perpetrators, regardless of their standing, must be brought to justice," said Nderitu. She said that targeting civilians based on ethnicity or perceived affiliation to the warring parties remains a vital characteristic of the conflict. Horrifying levels of hate speech and incitement to violence exacerbate the situation. Nderitu said the conflict has reached new worrying levels of violence since a five-month humanitarian truce ended in August. She said there was a proliferation of local militias and other armed groups across the country, committing particularly dehumanizing violence against civilians based on their ethnicity and perceived allegiance with the enemy and imposition of strict controls on communication channels, including internet shutdowns. The special adviser also said there was widespread arbitrary detention on ethnic grounds, obstruction of humanitarian access and attacks on humanitarian aid workers. She said the use of inflammatory language by political leaders and armed groups in the Tigray conflict, often propagated through social media, dehumanizes groups. Nderitu said that diaspora blogs that call for the genocide of the Tigrayan people are also of deep concern. Hate speech and incitement to violence fuel the normalization of extreme violence in Tigray and neighboring Amhara and Afar regions. Nderitu called on religious and community leaders and Ethiopians in the diaspora to use their voices to speak out against hate and stand in solidarity with affected communities. She urged tech and social media companies to utilize all tools available to stop the spread of hate speech that could constitute an incitement to discrimination, hostility, or violence on their platforms. ANKARA, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Turkish underwater demolition teams have disabled a mine in the Black Sea, the defense ministry said Wednesday. A mine was detected off the coast of the Kiyikoy district in the northwestern province of Kirklareli and teams from the Underwater Defense were dispatched to the scene, the ministry said in a statement. "The mine has been secured and defused by the teams," it noted. This is the fourth such incident since the start of the Ukrainian crisis on Feb. 24. In April, Turkiye detected three mines in the waters of Bosphorus Strait, which connects the Black Sea with the Marmara Sea. Turkish navy and its mine-hunting vessels are monitoring the Black Sea for stray mines, according to the defense ministry. Ukraine's navy had deployed mines near the ports of Odessa, Ochakov, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny since the start of the Russian "special military operation," Russia's Federal Security Service said in March. Ukraine refuted the Russian claim. NAIROBI, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Kenya on Wednesday launched an initiative that seeks to spur the country's industrial growth. President William Ruto said in Nairobi, Kenya's capital, that the Kenya Manufacturing Vision 20by30 provides a roadmap to increase the sector's contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) from the current 7.2 percent to 20 percent by 2030. "It is possible for us to create a million jobs from the manufacturing sector," Ruto said. He observed that the East African nation will expand its industrial sector through continuous engagement, consultation, sharing of ideas, and moving together as a nation. "We can build a whole eco-system that will aggregate Kenya's production since we have put in place initiatives to create an enabling business environment, for instance, policies, and infrastructure. Furthermore, we can leverage natural resources such as clean energy to bring down the cost of power," he said. The Kenyan leader noted that there are huge opportunities for value addition. "We have the biggest competitive advantage in the tea sector. By processing our tea, we can increase revenues through export," he said. Rajan Shah, chairman of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), said that there are four key areas, which have the potential to enable the realization of Vision 20by30. "Global competitiveness, export-led growth, industrialization of agriculture which shall create the linkage between agriculture and industry and small and medium enterprise development," Shah added. ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), the central bank, on Wednesday announced that it will offer a ransom in reward as part of ongoing efforts to crackdown hoarding, illicit transfer and transaction of foreign currency and gold. The bounty follows the suspension of bank accounts belonging to 391 individuals who were allegedly involved in illegal foreign currency transfer activities. Disclosing the new directive relating to the tips and rewards on illicit money and gold transfer and transaction, Mesfin Getachew, NBE's legal services director, said the law will be transmitting 15 years of imprisonment against the guilty besides confiscating the foreign currency notes and relevant items. According to the latest announcement, the bank will reward informants up to 15 percent of the foreign currency or an equivalent amount of gold value, which the police confiscated from the guilty with the help of the information obtained. The informants can provide information related to illicit money transfers or transactions in person or through various mechanisms, Getachew said during a briefing Wednesday. The punishment targets individuals engaged in hoarding and transfer of foreign currency, transfer and transaction of gold as well as printing and transfer of counterfeit currencies, said Abate Mitiku, the bank's change management, planning and communication director. The reward is believed to help ease the country's pressing foreign currency deficit, which is considered one of the country's major economic bottlenecks, Mitiku said. "The ever growing illegal money transfer and transaction is more affecting the lives of people in Ethiopia than the war going on in the northern part of the country," Mitiku added. The latest measures by the NBE came as the gap between informal and official exchange rates is increasing at an alarming rate. In recent days, one U.S. dollar has been trading as high as 80 Ethiopian birrs on the parallel market, while the official rate remained around one U.S. dollar to 52.8 Ethiopian birrs. TOKYO, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Over 130 photographs are shown at an exhibition marking the 50th anniversary of the normalization of the China-Japan diplomatic ties here in Japan. The exhibition, titled "Forever Neighbors", is on its Japan tour after being held in Beijing in June. With people-to-people exchanges as the main theme, the exhibition, which opened at Tokyo Tagenbunka Space on Tuesday, reflects the aspirations of people from all walks of life in China and Japan hoping for friendships from generation to generation. Apart from 110 photographs exhibited in Beijing, 27 photographs with Japanese characteristics have been included in Japan's version of the exhibition. The photographs were categorized into three parts, namely a review of Sino-Japanese exchange activities over 50 years, China in the eyes of the Japanese and Japan in the eyes of the Chinese, as well as photographic works of young people from the two countries. Yang Yu, charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Japan, and former Japanese Prime Ministers Yasuo Fukuda and Yukio Hatoyama, attended the opening ceremony. During his congratulatory speech at the opening ceremony, Yang said that peace, friendship, and win-win cooperation are the only correct choices for the two neighboring countries. It's our common mission to renew our original aspiration for peace and friendship, draw inspiration from historical experience, adhere to the principles and spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, and build a more mature and stable China-Japan relationship under the guidance of the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, said Yang. It is believed that the precious pictures in this exhibition can lead us through history to relive the original aspirations for friendship, and enhance the sense of mission and responsibility for maintaining and developing the cause of China-Japan friendship, he said. Hatoyama said that Japan and China are not only neighbors who cannot move away, but also neighbors who do not want to move and are neighbors forever. People-to-people friendship functions as an indispensable and important glue for the friendly relations between the two countries, he said, adding that he looked forward to the improvement of Japan-China relations in the next 50 years with the joint efforts of everyone. Hideo Tarumi, Japanese ambassador to China, said in a letter of congratulation to the exhibition that he, as the Japanese ambassador to China and a photographer meantime, hoped that the people of both countries can establish a relationship of mutual respect, recognition and help through photography. The exhibition will last until Oct. 30, with lectures given by photographers also to be held. WELLINGTON, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand government is strengthening counter-terrorism laws to make it harder for people who are known threats to undertake terrorist acts, Justice Minister Kiri Allan said on Wednesday. Following the terror attack in Auckland's Lynn Mall supermarket last year, where the individual responsible was known to be a threat to New Zealand's security, the cabinet sought a review on how the control order regime could be strengthened, Allan said in a statement. "The changes we are making will improve the effectiveness of the Control Orders Act, and expand the criteria for high-risk individuals who can be covered by the restrictions, which limit their ability to undertake an attack," she said. "While no law can ever stop a motivated terrorist from undertaking an attack, these changes will go a long way in preventing, disrupting and limiting their ability to do so," the minister said. The changes to the control order regime include expanding the eligibility criteria for those who can be covered by a control order to include if the person has received a conviction for objectionable publications that promote torture, extreme violence, or cruelty. This is in addition to the current criteria, which includes a conviction for objectionable publications that promote terrorism. The changes also expand the eligibility criteria to include people sentenced to home detention and community-based sentences. Currently, it is limited to sentences of imprisonment. The changes make name suppression requirements more flexible so that an appropriate balance can be struck between preventing the glorification of terrorism activity and reassuring the public that a known terrorism risk is being appropriately managed. "Overseas, we have seen examples of how imprisoned terrorists continue to attempt to influence and incite others from behind bars. We are seeking to further reduce any ability for designated entities to be glorified or to support others in carrying out acts of terrorism," Allan said. The proposed changes to the designation and control order schemes are in line with the government's commitment to implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the terrorist attack on two Christchurch mosques on March 15, 2019, which killed 51 people, she said. MOSCOW, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree Wednesday, declaring martial law in Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson from Thursday. "It (The decree) will immediately be sent for approval to the Federation Council," the Kremlin said, citing the president at a meeting with members of the Security Council. Putin also announced the "formation of a coordinating council" under the Russian government, which would work towards meeting all necessary objectives that arise in the course of the country's special military operation, the Kremlin said, adding that the council would be headed by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. UK: Campaigners have expressed "serious concern" about claims that 11 Albanians were taken out of Britain soon after arriving on small boats, despite government claims that asylum seekers from Albania would not rush in. According to the Guardian, the Albanian asylum seekers were transferred from a Home Office processing center in the English county of Kent to Stansted Airport, where they were placed on a flight back to Albania. Following claims by then-Home Secretary Priti Patel that the UK would return people who arrived in Britain with "false" asylum claims, the Home Office last month admitted it did not have the authority to expedite the deportations of Albanian asylum seekers. arrival. Also Read: China again comes forward to save Pakistani terrorist, opposes India at UN "The removal of 11 people in Albania shows that people in Manston may be denied due process," said Mishka Pillay, campaign advisor for Detention Action. "We have serious concerns about Manston; the most vulnerable are being cut off from access to vital support and justice," she continued. Patel signed a deal with the Albanian government in August to repatriate those who arrived illegally, but the Care4Calais charity challenged the move in court. Also Read: Ai-Da the robot encapsulates the flawed logic of the Lords debate on AI Some campaigners describe the conditions at the processing center in Manston, Kent as "nightmare" and "inhumane". Also Read: Anti-Hindu violence in Leicester, 180 organisations write to British PM Liz Truss Enver Solomon, CEO, said, "The appalling inhumane conditions we are seeing in reception facilities for men, women and children seeking asylum, highlight the unacceptable lack of contingency planning by this government, which is causing serious harm to vulnerable individuals." delivering." Refugee Council. Many of the children we help are trapped in hotels or housed in Manston as age-defying adults, suffering from the fact that they can't get enough food, feeling unsafe, and some In cases, itching occurs." Dhaka: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the country's Hindu community not to consider themselves a minority. She said that in Bangladesh all people have equal rights irrespective of their religion. Addressing the Hindu community, she said that you people have the same rights as I have. Sheikh Hasina said this while participating in a virtual program organized by Dhaka's Dhakeshwari Temple. She has said that 'We want people of all religions to live with equal rights. If you are a citizen of the country, then your rights are equal. You have the same rights as I have.' While wishing the Hindu community on the occasion of Krishna Janmashtami, PM Sheikh Hasina has said that you people should not consider themselves inferior. She said that if all the people of the country move forward with this confidence, then bad people of any religion will not be able to disturb social harmony. We have to have this faith and move forward with unity. However, Sheikh Hasina also condemned a section of Hindus. She said that there are some people who want to show that the condition of Hindus in Bangladesh is very bad. Sheikh Hasina said that 'I want to say one thing with great sadness that whenever any incident happens in the country, some people try to spread in the country and abroad that the condition of Hindus in Bangladesh is bad and they have no rights.' Hasina said that if any incident happens in the country, then the government takes immediate action on it. Sheikh Hasina said that 'The government takes action, but even after this it is propagated that Hindus have no rights here. But there is no talk on the action taken by the government.' Hasina said that it has happened many times when action was taken, Muslims were killed in police firing while protecting the temple. Similar incidents have also happened in this country. She said there are more Durga Puja pandals in Dhaka than in West Bengal or Kolkata. Durga Puja is celebrated on a large scale here. This cement company gave $777.8 million to ISIS, confessed to crime in court T20 World Cup: New Zealand can never be written off says McCullum UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres gets warm welcome in Mumbai President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has viewed the construction progress at 330/110 kilovolt Jabrayil junction substation. President of AzerEnergy Open Joint Stock Company Baba Rzayev informed the head of state of the Jabrayil Junction Substation. The substation, the foundation of which was laid four months ago, has undergone the stages of ground disturbance, construction and installation. Canals for underground communications have been built, most of the work in the 330 and 110 kilovolt open distribution facilities has been completed, and the building of the Digital Management Center has been constructed. Informing about the importance of the Jabrayil Junction Substation, Baba Rzayev said that it would ensure the supply of Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur regions with sustainable electricity, meet the demand of megaprojects to be implemented, connect into the Jabrayil-Nakhchivan-Aghri (Turkiye) substation and further to Europe through Turkiye's energy system. It will be possible to gain additional and more favorable access to energy markets, increase export opportunities, and connect the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic to the general energy system of Azerbaijan after many years. In particular, the construction of the 330-kilovolt Jabrayil substation is of tremendous importance for the transfer of energy produced in the Khudafarin and Giz Galasi hydropower plants, jointly built with Iran, as well as alternative and renewable energy sources, to the general energy system of Azerbaijan. A 3-stage planning was carried out for the realization of the Azerbaijan-Turkiye-Europe cross-country international project, which is of international importance and is of interest to many countries. At the first stage, the 330 kilovolt Aghjabadi and Imishli substations, which are located closest to the territories liberated from occupation, will be expanded and completely reconstructed, and high-voltage electricity lines will be installed in Jabrayil, 132 kilometers from the Aghjabadi substation and 130 kilometers from the Imishli substation. Construction of a 330 kilovolt line from the Aghjabadi substation to Jabrayil has already started. At the same time, most of the work has been done on the 330 kilovolt junction substation in Jabrayil. At the second stage, in order to connect Nakhchivan with the main energy system of the country, a 255-kilometer double-circuit power transmission line will be built from the Jabrayil Junction Substation to the Autonomous Republic, crossing the Zangazur corridor, and a 330 kilovolt Nakhchivan substation will be built. At the third stage, in order to create an energy hub of Azerbaijan, Nakhchivan, Turkiye and Europe, an additional 400 kilovolt converter substation will be built in accordance with European energy standards to convert 330 to 400 kilovolts in the territory of the Autonomous Republic close to the fraternal country, and a 230-kilometer double-circuit power transmission line will be built from Nakhchivan to Turkiye. This will be a project of great strategic importance. A presentation on the export and transit prospects of Azerbaijan's energy system was shown at the event. Amazon workers at the LDJ5 Amazon Sort Center rallying in support of the union on April 24 on Staten Island, New York. Chris Smalls successfully organized the JFK8 Amazon Fulfillment Center across the street, making it the first Amazon plant to unionize. Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis/Getty Images The first thing Daniel Olayiwola typically does when he clocks in for work at a 1-million-square-foot Amazon warehouse in San Antonio, Texas, is look for a forklift. Next, he grabs a hand scanner to scan items stacked on 40-foot-high racks of pallets, strapping himself into a harness to clamber up and down. Then he affixes a "cage" to the forklift's rear that will hold dressers, 50-pound bags of dog food, and other heavy items. Finally, he's ready to scan his first item. Everything Olayiwola, 29, has done to prepare for his first scan can be deemed "idle time" by Amazon, he said. If he racks up too much idle time, he risks a written warning from Amazon management. Olayiwola points to the characterization of these tasks as "idle time" as one of many indignities that stem from Amazon's drive to get the most from the workers who staff its more than 1,200 warehouses and fulfillment centers. "It feels like you're in jail," said Daniel Olayiwola, a member of the worker-advocacy group United For Respect, who is now circulating a petition to push for better pay for workers at his San Antonio warehouse. Vincent Gonzalez for Insider To cut the time it takes to scan items, Olayiwola said, he and his coworkers sometimes urinate into empty bottles they keep with them in their forklifts. They plan ahead when possible, urinating in bottles in their car right when they pull up at the warehouse before their shifts, he said. "It feels like you're in jail," said Olayiwola, a member of the worker-advocacy group United for Respect who is circulating a petition to push for better pay for workers at his San Antonio warehouse. "It's just too much to be worried about how quickly you can go to the bathroom or undo a harness so you can go to the bathroom." Amazon has said warehouse workers can take breaks for activities like using the bathroom, talking to coworkers and managers, and grabbing snacks. It's also said its buildings have bathrooms and break rooms on each floor, giving all employees access to them. "The health and safety of our employees is always our top priority, and, overall, we have robust safety protocols and more than 8,000 safety professionals across our operations who work every day to support our teams," an Amazon representative, Paul Flaningan, said in a statement. Story continues People like Olayiwola are at the heart of Amazon's quest to get goods to its customers at speeds that were unheard of just a few years ago. Customers may now expect one- and two-day shipping, but those workers say it has made the job an endless chase to hit quotas. Across the US, unions are raising the alarm that the way Amazon runs its warehouses could soon spread throughout the warehousing industry and they see a fresh chance to build union membership within one of the country's fastest-growing forms of employment. Retailers like Amazon and Walmart perfected warehouse efficiency In its 2021 annual report, Amazon told investors it'd take just two hours for an item to land on a truck from one of its fulfillment centers. Two decades ago, that process could have taken up to 18 hours. That efficiency is the result of decades of warehouse innovation, pioneered by Walmart and then turbocharged by Amazon, David Weil, who headed up the US Department of Labor's wage and hour division under President Barack Obama, said. Walmart invested in technology to remake the warehouse from a place that simply stores large amounts of inventory to a facility that constantly moves goods in response to consumer demand. Warehouse workers traditionally moved huge pallets, but now they're more often unloading those pallets for shipping to individual customers. A worker on an Amazon warehouse floor can be tasked with packing hundreds of boxes an hour. Oli Scarff/Getty Images Amazon refined this model as it made two-day-shipping times a key selling point for its Prime subscription program. Other retailers competing in e-commerce are optimizing their distribution centers to keep up in many cases poaching Amazon talent to do it. When it comes to hiring people to oversee warehousing and logistics operations, "Amazon is a gold standard with a halo," Martha Josephson, a partner at the headhunting firm Egon Zehnder, said. Amazon's model changed what workers did and how fast they did it, Weil said. Warehouse workers traditionally moved huge pallets, but now they're more often unloading those pallets for shipping to individual customers. A worker on an Amazon warehouse floor can be tasked with packing hundreds of boxes an hour. The repetitive movement and accidents tied to that kind of work are linked to greater injury rates. Unions see Amazon and warehouses as a prime opportunity to organize. There are roughly 1.8 million warehouse and storage workers in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Amazon is by far the largest employer of warehouse workers, with more than 750,000 operations employees in more than 1,200 facilities. Unionization rates in the industrial sector have been declining for decades. A 2.3-percentage-point decline in membership from 2020 to 2021 dropped the ratio of unionized warehouse and transportation workers to 14.7%. Labor advocates point to laws that allow employers to force workers to sit through anti-union meetings. Amazon spent $4.3 million on anti-union consultants in 2021, according to HuffPost's reporting on Department of Labor filings. Amazon successfully fought off unionization efforts until this year. As the coronavirus pandemic supercharged e-commerce and put more pressure on warehouses to deliver, an underdog union win by Amazon workers at the JFK 8 facility on Staten Island, New York, in April was seen by some as a sign of a resurgent labor movement in the US. There were other union drives in Alabama, New York, and New Jersey, but, to date, Staten Island remains the lone victory. In Bessemer, Alabama, Amazon workers voted against unionizing with the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union in two separate elections in 2021 and 2022. The Amazon BHM1 fulfillment center seen before sunrise on March 29, 2021, in Bessemer, Alabama. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty Images "When people say stuff is hard, I'm like, there is no job hard at Amazon," CoCoa Eatman, a Bessemer worker, told Insider in March when explaining why she voted no. "None! I pick just like a robot." Other workers told Insider they trusted Amazon's processes or had negative experiences with unions in the past. But the Amazon Labor Union, a new union led by current and former Amazon workers, said its Staten Island victory had energized other workers. Even as the ALU is fielding legal challenges from Amazon over the outcome, workers in other states, including Minneapolis, California, Tennessee, and New Jersey, have reached out, looking to develop their own organizing drives, Seth Goldstein, an attorney for the ALU, told Insider. "ALU is becoming a movement," he said. "If you run an aggressive, worker-based campaign that strives to improve people's lives, I think you can be successful." But workers at an Amazon facility outside Albany, New York, voted against unionizing with the ALU on Tuesday. The final count included 406 against unionizing and 206 in favor, according to the National Labor Relations Board, which oversees union elections. Heather Goodall, a 50-year-old worker there who helped organize the union effort with the ALU, said the campaign focused on warehouse safety and wages. She said that during a shift on a hot July day, she got tangled while climbing the stacks and became increasingly dizzy hanging in her harness high above the warehouse floor. She was taken away by an ambulance and the medical episode kept her out of work for weeks, she said. "We're glad that our team in Albany was able to have their voices heard," an Amazon representative, Kelly Nantel, said in a statement after the vote, "and that they chose to keep the direct relationship with Amazon as we think that this is the best arrangement for both our employees and customers." In September, Amazon said it was increasing average pay for "frontline" fulfillment and transportation employees by an average of about $1 an hour, raising average pay for those employees to above $19 an hour from $18. Warehouse workers elsewhere such as those at the beverage maker Keurig Dr Pepper have unionized in part to stave off Amazon-style management. Keurig warehouse workers aren't bound by onerous productivity quotas common to e-commerce warehouses, said Adan Soto, who was heavily involved in organizing 300 of his coworkers in Victorville, California, underneath the Teamsters. Previously, six Keurig Dr Pepper facilities in Southern California had unionized with the Teamsters. Workers at a facility in Redford, Michigan, have also organized, and a warehouse in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is attempting to organize as well, but the majority of workers at Keurig Dr Pepper warehouses and factories are not unionized. The contract the Victorville union signed with Keurig this year included changes that Soto believes will help stave off Amazon-style productivity requirements. Soto wants to unionize Amazon workers next. "There's one Amazon facility that's being built right behind the Victorville facility as we speak," he said. "And guess what? I'm going to be out there with flyers to help those people organize as well." Sean O'Brien, the general president of the Teamsters, said warehouses were an "ideal situation" for unionizing. In e-commerce and nonunion sectors, workers face tremendous pressure to perform and conditions have deteriorated, O'Brien said, blaming a "high demand for instant gratification." Olayiwola is still working on his petition but is considering other options, including an organizing drive with a union. Vincent Gonzalez for Insider "It's given us an opportunity to organize in a lot of these industries, whether it's Amazon or food distribution or any warehouse in general," O'Brien said. Meanwhile, Olayiwola is still working on his petition but is considering other options, including an organizing drive with a union. "It's difficult to get change, and looking at a union of some sort might be in the cards," he said. "I'm very optimistic because there's power in numbers." Read the original article on Business Insider As the global data privacy regulatory landscape gets more convoluted and constrictive, engineering teams looking to use structured data to improve their products and AI models are being pushed to jump through plenty of hoops to stay compliant. BetterData, which is launching onstage at the TechCrunch Disrupt SF Battlefield startup competition, is aiming to help customers quickly generate representative, synthetic structured data so that technical teams can work with data in a compliant way without waiting for months to gain clearance to use actual user data or generate their own. The company's product helps generate the AI data in a secure way that allows clients to upload real user data and securely transmit and convert it without a copy of the data landing on BetterData's servers. User data is tokenized and stored on a blockchain which is only accessible with a user's private encryption keys. Image Credits: BetterData The generative data copy maintains the key properties of the original structured data while anonymizing and scrambling the information. This enables teams to train models and create products that are capable of parsing organic user data, but helps them avoid lengthy bureaucratic processes often required to gain access to user data. The startup's co-founders, CEO Uzair Javaid and CTO Kevin Yee, have backgrounds in AI data generation and blockchain security. They met at the Entrepreneur First program in Singapore. The duo have raised $770,000 in funding and grants so far and are in the process of closing a seed raise. "Weve spoken to hundreds of data teams and they all face the problem which is access to data," Yee told TechCrunch in an interview. "It takes a long time to access data under data protection rules... Theyre trying to innovate, but it takes so much time." Image Credits: TechCrunch The company announced onstage that they will be expanding the private beta after a number of successful pilot programs. BetterData is particularly targeting customers in the Banking Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) world, as well as data and AI teams at tech companies. Yee and Javaid hope their product can not only help those teams stay compliant with the increasing sprawl of data privacy regulations but can also help them avoid data attacks and leakages by tapping encryption and the blockchain. The blockchain element will also allow customers to have an immutable access log and a full breakdown of data lineage so they can ensure that data is never being mishandled. For now the company's product focuses exclusively on processing and generating structured data, but as they build out their functionality, they plan to start generating text data using natural language processing models. They are planning to launch a public beta of their cloud services solution by the end of this year. Thank god for elections! With the 2022 midterms imminent, President Biden has decided to release more oil from the nations Strategic Petroleum Reserve to put downward pressure on gasoline prices. He's no dummy, Biden. He has clearly made the connection between gas pricesstill fairly high, at around $3.85 per gallonand the electoral prospects of the incumbent party, which happens to be his own. But another Biden move may be more important. The Energy Dept. plans to purchase oil to replenish the reserve at prices ranging from $67 to $72 per barrel and sign contracts with producers locking in the price two or three years in advance. Normally, the government purchases oil for the reserve at market prices, timing the purchases so that taxpayers get a good deal. If it sells oil from the reserve when market prices are at $100 per barrel, for instance, and replenishes when market prices are at $50, the program operates at a nominal profit. Government contracts for future purchases would set a kind of price floor for oil, letting producers know theyd be able to sell some oil to one buyer at a known price, even if the market price is lower. The government might end up overpaying, relative to the market price, but it could still buy at a lower price than it sold the barrels it is replacing. The Biden administration has been selling oil since May, with market prices ranging from $78 to $120. So replacing those barrels at around $70 would still be a bargain for taxpayers. FREEPORT, TEXAS - OCTOBER 19: In an aerial view, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve storage at the Bryan Mound site is seen on October 19, 2022 in Freeport, Texas. US President Joe Biden is planning to release fifteen million barrels of oil from the nation's emergency reserves in an effort to continue curving gas prices around the country. The deal completes Biden's March initiative to release 180 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Why guarantee a fixed price? Up till now, oil producers have readily cranked up supply as prices rose, with no government assist needed. Producers would cash in as long as prices remained high, but the added supply often sent prices lower, which was a kind of a built-in corrective. But that dynamic has changed. Punishing oil-industry losses in 2020 and the move to renewables have made drillers and their investors a lot more cautious about adding capacity, especially if it costs a lot of money. Nobody wants to finance new infrastructure if the payback period is long and demand might dry up before the returns are in. Story continues Tighter oil supplies and this new reluctance to add capacity explain a lot of this years spike in oil and gasoline prices. As prices have risen, U.S. drillers have very cautiously been producing more, with production inching up from a bottom in 2020. But the monthly pace of production growth is about 30% slower than it was from 2017 to 2020, when prices were far lower. That reflects the industrywide trend of returning profits to shareholders instead of plowing cash flow back into infrastructure. Drillers dont really want to grow anymore, given the pressure on the industry to shrink. [Follow Rick Newman on Twitter, sign up for his newsletter or sound off.] The Biden locked-in price is supposed to let producers know there will be at least one large purchaser willing to pay a set price that should allow them to earn a profit, even if market prices are low. We think thats an important signal for producers, a senior Biden administration official told reporters on October 18. The strategic petroleum reserve will be an important part of helping moderate price flows not only when prices are going high, but when prices are going low. Thats a fairly radical move for Biden, given that he came into office promising a green energy revolution and practically pledging to put the fossil fuel industry out of business. The Biden White House wont spin it this way, but the price guarantees could let some oil producers sell to the government at $70 per barrel when the market price might be, say, $50 or $60. Thats because of the contracts locking in those prices two or three years in advance. So in the future, it might look like the government is overpaying, as a sop to the fossil fuel industry. But the purpose is to encourage more production by removing some of the risk that added supplies will lower prices so much that drillers lose money. Energy historian Gregory Brew points out that U.S. oil producers can earn a profit at market prices ranging from $48 to $69, depending on location. The Biden team seems to have chosen price targets for contracted purchases that would allow mostly all U.S. producers to earn a profit. Under the new policy, the government could still purchase oil at market prices, and it could offer contracted prices below the $67 to $72 range if market conditions warranted that. If drillers know theyll able to sell at least some of their future product for a profit, theyre less likely to worry about overproduction and more likely to add capacity. Market prices could still be lower than what the government pays, and consumers would benefit from those lower prices, passed on to them through cheaper gasoline and other energy products. This is a back-door subsidy to the fossil-fuel industry, which might send environmentalists into fits of rage. But the turbulent energy markets of 2022 have made very clear that most countries, including the United States, lack an effective bridging strategy to get to the point, decades from now, when theres enough renewable energy to meet everybodys needs. We have nowhere near enough renewable energy right now, and well be very depending on fossil fuels for a long time. Private-sector energy firms are behaving rationally by shaving capacity and focusing on short-term profitability, given the longer-term threat to oil and gas. Theres a role for government when the private sector fails to meet the public need, which is whats been happening this year. Biden has also threatened to block U.S. firms from exporting oil and gas prices if domestic prices get too high, as a way of encouraging them to produce more and get U.S. prices down. A block on exports would probably be counterproductive. With foreign markets closed to them, U.S. drillers would probably produce less, which could end up raising domestic prices by even more. Its a good bet Biden knows this and is bluffing about shutting off exports, allowing him to seem tough on the industry at the same time he's offering a bit of stealthy aid. Biden is the bad cop; the Energy Dept. is the good cop. The oil and gas industry is still unlikely to consider Biden a pal. Earlier this year, the American Petroleum Institute outlined a variety of things Biden could do to boost production and lower prices, such as speeding up permitting and allowing more drilling on land and in waters under federal control. Biden hasnt followed any of that advice. Instead, hes offering less-visible inducements that might work behind the scenes. The only thing he wants voters to notice is lower pump prices. Rick Newman is a senior columnist for Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter at @rickjnewman Click here for politics news related to business and money 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 For the first time in North America, Bigo Live, a social media platform will have their life-size mascot on full display for communities to interact with LOS ANGELES, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bigo Live, the leading global livestreaming platform that empowers creators to be their most authentic selves through broadcasting and viewing, has announced that its Giant Dino will be arriving in Los Angeles next week the first US city as part of its world tour. Follow Bigo Live's Giant Dino on its world tour The Giant Dino, which represents Bigo Live's mascot, will be on display at the Westfield Century City Mall on Monday, October 24 from 10am 9pm. The Bigo Dino, which stands over 16 feet high and 8 feet wide, will give mall-goers the chance to take photos with the app's fun and friendly mascot. On site, there will be Bigo Live merchandise as well as brand ambassadors highlighting what they love about the world's leading social live streaming app. Bigo Live's world Dino tour has provided a special, memorable offline experience for Bigo users around the globe, including in Thailand, Singapore, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. Further locations in LA will be unlocked and disclosed across social channels over time, so people can continue to follow the BIGO mascot wherever it lands next in the City of Angels. Eric Kim, Senior Operations Director at Bigo Live, said: "By bringing the BIGO Giant Dino to Los Angeles, we hope to curate a space where we can bring together our Los Angeles Bigo community to see our giant mascot in person and celebrate the online culture that has come together so naturally on Bigo Live. "In Los Angeles, we continue to see a strong presence of our users, so we wanted to continue our tour to commemorate Bigo users here and highlight the creative content that this city's people have brought to our platform. Nowadays it's important to emphasize the connection between our real life and our life online, which is why events like this are a great way to bring even more people together as one community." Story continues As a major player in the livestreaming world, Bigo Live is hosting the Dino tour as a way to showcase how virtual and physical worlds can bind together and complement each other. The tour is a symbol of celebration in bringing together the online and offline culture of Bigo Live and connecting their creators that share the same local communities. For more information on Bigo Live or the event, follow Bigo Live on Instagram and to begin your livestreaming journey, download the Bigo Live app (available on iOS and Android). About Bigo Live: Bigo Live is one of the world's fastest-growing social live streaming communities where users broadcast in real-time to share life moments, showcase their talents, and interact with people from around the world. Bigo Live has around 400 million users in over 150 countries and is currently the market leader in the live streaming industry. Launched in March 2016, Bigo Live is owned by Bigo Technology, which is based in Singapore. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bigo-lives-giant-dino-world-tour-lands-in-los-angeles-for-its-first-stop-in-north-america-301653986.html SOURCE Bigo Live Oct 19 (Reuters) - Canada's largest union Unifor said on Wednesday it has started negotiations with Canadian National Railway Co over a new contract that covers more than 3,500 workers. The current agreement expires on Dec. 31 and the contract discussions come at a time when North American railroad operators are under the scanner over working conditions and pay. Last month, the Biden administration secured a tentative deal between railroads and unions at the last minute to avert a potential strike, after negotiations stretched for more than two years. Unifor said on Wednesday that both parties exchanged proposals and agreed to meet and continue negotiations in November and December. The union's proposals include higher wages and better benefits, as well as addressing the ongoing issue of contracting out unionized work. "We look forward to further constructive discussions with Unifor," Canadian National Railway said. As of Dec. 31, Canadian National Railway had 22,604 employees, of which 17,167 were unionized employees. (Reporting by Priyamvada C in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta) Company donates $1,000 for every winning game Tropicana Field glows blue in honor of available customer assistance ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Tampa Bay Rays winning season helped raise $100,000 for Duke Energy Florida customers in need. The company contributed $1,000 to Share the Light FundSM agencies for every regular season win by the Tampa Bay region's Major League Baseball team. To highlight the collaboration and help raise awareness of the available financial assistance for Florida individuals and families, Tropicana Field was lit up blue on Monday, Sept. 26, following their last home game. "Duke Energy Florida remains focused on supporting customers with payment assistance, tools and programs to help individuals and families in need," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "Together with the Tampa Bay Rays, we can lighten the load for our customers and continue making a difference in the communities we serve through programs like Share the Light Fund." The Share the Light Fund program is a customer assistance program to help Florida residents in need pay for utility expenses such as electric, natural gas, oil or wood. Donations are matched dollar for dollar, up to $500,000, by the Duke Energy Foundation. One hundred percent of funds collected are distributed locally by county on a monthly basis to 14 United Way and other social service agencies to assist Duke Energy Florida customers, based on need. "The Tampa Bay Rays are proud to support Duke Energy Florida customers experiencing financial hardships through the Share the Light Fund," said Rays President Brian Auld. "This is an important opportunity to give back to the Tampa Bay community and help families who need it most." Residents who need financial assistance are encouraged to visit duke-energy.com/sharethelight to locate available resources. Click here for drone footage of the blue lights at Tropicana Field Duke Energy Florida Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 10,300 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 1.9 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida. Story continues Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 28,000 people. Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company has interim carbon emission targets of at least 50% reduction from electric generation by 2030, 50% for Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions by 2035, and 80% from electric generation by 2040. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear. Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2022 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' "World's Best Employers" list. More information is available at duke-energy.com . The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter , LinkedIn , Instagram and Facebook . Tampa Bay Rays The Tampa Bay Rays mission is to energize the community through the magic of Rays baseball. The organization is committed to building a strong community bond through meaningful interactions and charitable donations, and has proudly represented Major League Baseball since 1998. Media contact: Audrey Stasko Media line: 800.559.3853 Twitter: @DE_AudreyS Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/duke-energy-florida-tampa-bay-rays-bring-light-to-customers-in-need-with-100-000-donation-special-tribute-at-tropicana-field-301653922.html SOURCE Duke Energy MONTREAL, Oct. 19, 2022 /CNW/ - On October 14, 2022, a Hearing Panel of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) accepted a Settlement Agreement, including penalties, entered into between IIROC staff and National Bank Financial Inc. Specifically, National Bank Financial Inc. has admitted to the following contravention: a) Between January 2015 and March 2018, National Bank Financial Inc. failed to set and maintain adequate internal controls concerning certain transactions related to trading errors in eighteen accounts and to options trading authorizations affecting four clients in 2015, contrary to Dealer Member Rules 17.2A and 2600. Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, National Bank Financial Inc. agrees to the following penalty: a) A fine in the amount of $250,000. National Bank Financial Inc. also agrees to pay costs in the amount of $40,000. The Settlement Agreement is available at: National Bank Financial Inc. Settlement Agreement The Hearing Panel's decision will be made available at www.iiroc.ca. IIROC formally initiated the investigation into National Bank Financial's conduct in May 2017. National Bank Financial Inc. is an IIROC regulated firm. * * * All information about disciplinary proceedings relating to current and former member firms is available in the Enforcement section of the IIROC website. Background information regarding the qualifications and disciplinary history, if any, of advisors currently employed by IIROC-regulated firms is available free of charge through the IIROC AdvisorReport service. Information on how to make investment dealer, advisor or marketplace-related complaints is available by calling 1 877 442-4322. IIROC investigates possible misconduct by its member firms and/or individual registrants. It can bring disciplinary proceedings which may result in penalties including fines, suspensions, permanent bars, expulsion from membership, or termination of rights and privileges for individuals and firms. Story continues IIROC is the pan-Canadian self-regulatory organization that oversees all investment dealers and their trading activity in Canada's debt and equity markets. IIROC sets high quality regulatory and investment industry standards, protects investors and strengthens market integrity while supporting healthy Canadian capital markets. IIROC carries out its regulatory responsibilities through setting and enforcing rules regarding the proficiency, business and financial conduct of 174 Canadian investment dealer firms of varying sizes and business models, and their 32,000 or so registered employees. IIROC also sets and enforces market integrity rules regarding trading activity on Canadian debt and equity marketplaces. For more information, visit www.iiroc.ca. SOURCE Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) - General News Cision View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2022/19/c6626.html Foxpoint KANSAS CITY, Mo., Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Foxpoint, a leading tech-enabled logistics platform and holding company for OTR leasing, announces the promotion of Joshua Krause to Chief Operating Officer to continue driving business initiatives forward. Joshs growth-focused mindset and automotive industry experience enabled him to overhaul the Sales and Marketing functions of our business to increase efficiencies and customer engagement, said Jeff Dema, Foxpoint Chief Executive Officer. We are pleased to promote Josh to COO and know his passion for optimization and operational excellence will continue to drive our business forward. Krause joined Foxpoint in 2018 as a Sales Manager and was promoted to Vice President of Sales and Marketing in 2020. He previously held finance and sales management roles at automotive companies in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Nevada. In his role as VP at Foxpoint, he tripled the companys leasing portfolio, developed and led a new sales strategy, and restructured the marketing spend. Krause also championed a customer-focused culture shift to revolutionize the organizations business model for all departments. I am thrilled to take on this new role and use what Ive learned from being boots on the ground with the Sales and Marketing teams across the entire organization, said Josh Krause, Chief Operating Officer of Foxpoint. With a future-facing outlook and ability to challenge the status quo, we can continue to provide effective solutions to our transportation partners. Foxpoint is the holding company for OTR Leasing, a tech-enabled specialty finance company that leases Class 8 Trucks, and RAPID, an all-inclusive Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system for asset management, workflow management, and reporting. With cutting-edge technologies and data-driven solutions, Foxpoint brands increase efficiencies and streamline decision-making. Krauses appointment to the executive suite will allow Foxpoint to enhance its cross-functional capabilities and continue transforming the future of transportation. Story continues About Foxpoint Foxpoint was founded in 2013 and is a leading technology-enabled logistics platform based near Kansas City, Mo. For more information, visit foxpoint.com. Contact: Josh Zolotor, Foxpoint josh.zolotor@otrleasing.com 913-214-8950 DUBLIN, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Germany Used Construction Equipment Market - Strategic Assessment & Forecast 2022-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Research and Markets Logo The expected number of used construction equipment units sold by 2028 in the market is 28,664. Rising investment in public infrastructure renovation and housing projects is expected to support the demand for used equipment in the German market during 2022-2028. Germany's economy contracted by 5% in 2020, and the country's major sectors, such as construction and manufacturing, were adversely impacted due to the unavailability of labor & raw materials. In 2021, Germany's economy displayed a slight recovery due to a surge in government investment in upgrading the country's infrastructure. The German government planned to invest USD 12.9 billion in rail infrastructure. Several expansion and refurbishment projects are in progress across the country. For instance, USD 5.7 billion funds are allocated for the expansion and upgradation of Frankfurt International Airport. The country's construction industry is expected to thrive in 2022 due to ongoing construction and renovation projects. However, the manufacturing industry's growth is expected to be hampered due to reduced raw material supply and declining industrial production output. The production output of the manufacturing industry fell by 3.9% in Q1 2022, the most significant decline since April 2020. KEY HIGHLIGHTS The Earthmoving segment has the largest share in Germany used construction equipment. Excavators held the largest market share in the earthmoving segment in 2021. Infrastructure upgradation projects such as the renovation of the commercial building, railway stations, and airports, repair of runways, and extension of roadways & bridges across the country will drive the high demand for Germany's used construction equipment market. Rising prices of used equipment in Germany constitute a significant challenge. There is a surge in construction equipment demand due to increased investment in infrastructure projects across the country. However, the supply of material needed for the production of new equipment is lagging, resulting in long delivery times for new equipment making the used construction equipment more appealing to buyers across Europe, which pushes up the prices of used construction equipment in the European market. Story continues Renting and leasing companies have a strong presence in Germany which can hamper the demand for used construction machinery. Zeppelin GmbH and HKL Baumaschinen GmbH hold the largest market share in construction equipment rental & leasing in Germany. The renting companies in Germany provide a wide range of construction equipment. They are providing trained operators for operating rented equipment. Other construction equipment rental companies are also providing logistics & insurance facilities to attract customers. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS Surge In Renovation & Repair Projects for Public Infrastructure The German government introduced a repair & rehabilitation program for developing roads across the country in 2022. The program focuses on existing roads, bridges, and cycle paths. The government allocated USD 429.2 million for road network maintenance in Baden Wurttemberg state in 2022. Additionally, USD 265.4 million is earmarked for the renovation of federal highways. The 2022 rehabilitation program includes 50 bridge maintenance projects, 250 km of highways, and 190 kilometers of state roadways repair and maintenance. In addition, several road repair works are being planned for states such as Saarland, Hesse, and Rhineland- Palatinate in 2022 for a budget of USD S408.3 million. The demand for used construction equipment such as road rollers, excavators, wheel loaders, asphalt pavers, & backhoe loaders is expected to grow in Germany used construction equipment market. Due to its uses in road repair and infrastructure renovation projects. Used Construction equipment is ideal for redevelopment, repair & small budget projects due to its lower cost than new equipment. A surge in rehabilitation and renovation projects is expected to support the demand for used construction equipment instantly compared to new equipment whose supply chain is still in recovery. Rising Investment for Upgrading Railways & Housing Sectors In 2021, the German government initiated several measures to develop the housing market. It allocated USD 5.9 billion under its housing policies towards constructing 100,000 rental units in the next four years. The government has also allocated USD 9.4 billion as a housing subsidy to be used over the 2018-2024 period. In 2021, 293,000 units of houses were built across the country. The government aims to increase the construction of houses in 2022 to overcome the housing crisis. 18% of housing projects were directed to renovating and repairing the existing buildings. In addition, the German government is also increasing the investment in the modernization and renewal of Germany's rail infrastructure in 2022. The government allocated USD 13.9 billion in 2022 compared to USD 920.3 million in 2021 for modernizing projects in the railway sector. Political Distress & War Between Russia & Ukraine Drive the Demand for Used Construction Equipment According to VDMA, German construction machinery production is expected to grow by only 1% in 2022, and the supply chain of construction machinery is adversely impacted by an ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. The association cautions about the delay in supplying new equipment in the market due to a major shortage of raw materials (iron, nickel, & steel) imported from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. Low production of new construction equipment will increase the demand in Germany used construction equipment market due to sizeable ongoing infrastructure upgradation projects across the region. Auction Companies Are Upgrading Online Channels for Attracting Customers The companies such as Ritchie Bros & Equippo are upgrading their online full-service marketplace for used construction equipment in Europe. Purchase and sales of used construction machinery have faced obstacles such as a lack of transparency regarding quality and the complexity of logistics procedures in the European market. Therefore, the companies such as Equippo have upgraded their online services for buying and selling used construction equipment. The company provides various previously unavailable facilities in conventional transactions, such as inspection results by independent inspectors, money-back guarantee, and logistics agency services. MARKET RESTRAINTS Sharp Rise in Used Equipment Prices & New Emission Norms Are Expected Hamper the Demand for Used Equipment in German Market There is a constant increase in used construction equipment prices in Germany. According to Ritchie Bros, there was a 23% rise in prices of large earthmoving equipment such as excavators, dozers, & motor graders. A similar price surge was witnessed in aerial equipment such as cranes, forklifts & aerial platforms & medium earthmoving equipment such as backhoe loaders, mini excavators & trenchers. Cost efficiency is one of the major qualities of used equipment, making it a perfect choice for small repair & redevelopment projects. But the constant rise of prices can be a main restrictive factor for the growth of Germany used construction equipment market. The government has proposed strict emission standards for non-road mobile machinery such as construction equipment, railroad engine, and off-road vehicles. The stage V emission standards would replace a multi-layered legal framework in Europe. Stage V emission standard focuses on reducing the emission of nitrogen dioxide & particulate matter. The country also has Blue Angle norms for construction machinery. This norm is comparatively more stringent than the previous norms for noise emission and low emission levels. These emission norms in the country are expected to hamper the demand for diesel-based large used construction equipment. The Growing Renting & Leasing Market is expected to confine the Demand for Used Construction Equipment. Equipment Rental Association estimated the value of equipment leasing in Europe was USD 25.6 billion in 2021. Germany is one of the largest markets for equipment leasing in Europe. According to Equipment Rental Association (ERA), the German rental and leasing market of construction machinery grew by 4.2% in 2021. Leasing has established itself even more firmly in the construction industry. In Germany, agriculture, mining, and public utilities - contributed ~ 4% to the total value of the leasing market. Various renting companies in Germany provide a wide range of construction equipment. Renting is often preferred when contractors need specialized equipment that they do not have in their fleet. Contractors prefer to rent equipment that is costly and required for a specific operation, such as hydraulic excavators, skid steer loaders & dumpers. The growing renting and leasing market in Germany is expected to hamper Germany used construction equipment market. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE Caterpillar is the market leader in Germany used construction equipment market. The company excels in selling the used earthmoving type of equipment in 2021. The company's crawler excavators & wheel loaders were popular in Germany's used construction equipment market segment in 2021. Volvo Construction equipment was the second largest player in Germany used construction equipment market in 2021. The company's wheel loader was sold maximum in 2021. Excavators & mini excavators were among the prominently used equipment sold by the company in 2021. Komatsu promotes used equipment by extending the warranty program Komatsu Advantage Extended Coverage Plan for used equipment, reducing maintenance charges. Komatsu's key belief is that partnerships are the best way to solve challenges and meet society's needs. The company partners with 20 start-up companies across Japan, the United States, & Europe to launch "SMART CONSTRUCTION" solutions. Key Vendors Caterpillar Komatsu Volvo Construction Equipment Hitachi Construction Machinery Liebherr Hyundai Construction Equipment XCMG SANY JCB Other Prominent Vendors Terex Corporation Takeuchi Manufacturing JLG Liu Gong Auctioneers Profile Ritchie Bros. Proxibid Equippo Sandhills Global Surplex Apex auctions Angermann machinery & equipment GmbH & co. Distributor Profiles De Bau Machines BAUMA BS Baumaschinen Service GmbH For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/wo23v7 Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com 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 Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/germany-used-construction-equipment-market-analysis-report-2022-2028---political-distress--war-between-russia--ukraine-drive-the-demand-for-used-construction-equipment-301653958.html SOURCE Research and Markets TORONTO, Oct. 19, 2022 /CNW/ - GWL Realty Advisors (GWLRA) announced today that it has once again been recognized by the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) as one of Canada's leading real estate organizations, earning its sixth consecutive '5 Star' (top quintile) rating. GWLRA awarded GRESB 5 Star rating. (CNW Group/GWL Realty Advisors) The company placed in the top five percent in the global 'Diversified / Non-listed / Core' category (12th out of 259 companies) and scored above the GRESB global averages in each of the main categories covering environment, social and governance (ESG) issues as well as management and performance. "It is rewarding to be recognized for our progress on sustainability," said Ralf Dost, President, GWL Realty Advisors, "and we are committed to expanding our team's ESG capabilities to support this effort." Another way GWLRA is influencing positive change is through its Canadian Real Estate Investment Fund, which integrates sustainability and ESG into its investment and operating decisions. The fund also earned a GRESB '5 Star' (top quintile) rating and was ranked among the top six percent globally in the 'Diversified / Non-listed / Core' category -- representing a positive bump from last year. "Our clients have made it clear that they want to be part of the solution," said Steven Marino, EVP, Portfolio Management, GWLRA. "Our Canadian Real Estate Investment Fund is an example that investment objectives and sustainability goals can coexist." ESG Achievements by the Numbers: In less than 10 years ('13-'21), GWLRA's office and residential portfolio has: At year-end 2021, 86% of all eligible buildings in GWLRA's entire managed portfolio (by floor area) had attained either LEED or BOMA BEST certification. GWLRA-managed properties have attained 17 health, wellness, and accessibility certifications over the past three years, including FitWel, WELL, and Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certifications. So far this year, GWLRA-managed properties and staff have received 21 awards and recognitions related to sustainability, operational excellence, and tenant engagement, including the "Climate Leader" LEAP Award from one of our clients. Story continues GWL Realty Advisors GWL Realty Advisors Inc. is a leading North American real estate investment advisor providing comprehensive asset management, property management, development and specialized real estate advisory services to pension funds and institutional clients. GWL Realty Advisors Inc. manages a diverse portfolio of office, industrial, retail and multi-residential assets as well as an active pipeline of new development projects. Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) GRESB is the global environmental, social and governance (ESG) benchmark for real assets, which is the defining standard for sustainability performance for real assets, providing independent, standardized, and validated ESG data. The 2021 benchmark covers more than 1,520 property companies, real estate investment trusts (REITs), funds, and developers. Combined, the GRESB real estate assessment represents US $5.7 trillion in real asset value. GWL Realty Advisors Logo (CNW Group/GWL Realty Advisors) SOURCE GWL Realty Advisors Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2022/19/c9319.html By Azernews By Sabina Mammadli We hope the opening of the Greek Center in Azerbaijan will serve to the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Greece, Cultural Attache Maria Delaki told Azernews. Delaki answered Azernews questions on the sidelines of the opening of the center for Greek language and studies at the Azerbaijani University of Languages on October 19. She noted that the opening of the center will boost the development of cultural relations between the two nations. I think we can do a lot of things, for example, a student exchange. I will work in this center and we will arrange some events to get to know each other, and maybe, we will arrange some events in Greece. I think it will be very nice cooperation, very productive, and very creative. I will try my best to this effect, she said. The cultural attache stated that they are trying to arrange the establishment of the Azerbaijani Language and Culture Center in Greece, too. Further, noting that she has lived in Azerbaijan for the last four years, Delaki expressed her love for the country, noting that she has observed a lot of similarities between Azerbaijanis and Greeks. Azerbaijani University of Languages Rector Kamal Abdullah and Greek Ambassador Nikolaos Piperigos participated in the opening ceremony of the center. The opening of the center occurred amid the visit of Greek Environment and Energy Minister Kostas Skrekas to Baku. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in May 1992. The embassy of Azerbaijan in the Hellenic Republic has been operating since April 16, 2004. The embassy of the Hellenic Republic in Azerbaijan was established on May 27, 1993. In total, twenty-four documents were signed between Azerbaijan and Greece. The trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $435.7 million in 2021. IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GATC Health ("GATC" or "the Company"), a science and technology company revolutionizing drug discovery and disease prediction using artificial intelligence (AI), today announced that John O'Reilly has joined its Advisory Board. O'Reilly currently serves on the UCLA Health System Board and as Chairman of the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada Governing Board in Las Vegas. He will use his 40-plus years of leadership experience to support the Company in strategic planning and partnership endeavors. GATC Health's patented AI helps detect diseases earlier and create safer, more effective drugs by mimicking the complex interactions of human biology. (PRNewsfoto/GATC Health) O'Reilly is one of the key leaders in developing the University Medical Center and University of Nevada, Las Vegas Academic Health Science Center. Previously, O'Reilly served as the Chairman of the Nevada Medical Center, a non-profit entity privately funded to develop and acquire cutting-edge healthcare innovations. He is a lawyer and business advisor for various health and healthcare entities, as well as formerly being the Chairman of the Governor's Healthcare System Review Committee for the State of Nevada. "John's decorated career brings an impressive range of expertise to GATC Health's Advisory Board," said Jeff Moses, President of GATC Health. "His broad-based healthcare knowledge and experience will be helpful as GATC continues to foster more industry partnerships and look for opportunities to further expand the reach of our novel AI platform." O'Reilly also serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the O'Reilly Law Group and was previously the Chairman/CEO or board member of publicly traded companies and various privately owned and non-profit entities. In addition, O'Reilly was appointed Chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission and has used his experience in gaming, public utilities, banking and finance, mergers and acquisitions, complex litigation, non-profits/foundations, international business, and regulatory compliance to serve as a consultant, advisor, committee member and expert witness to organizations across the U.S., Asia and Australia. Story continues "GATC Health's cutting-edge approach to disease detection and drug discovery is as logical as it is revolutionary. The ability to understand complex biological systems at a molecular level will set a new precedent for the diagnostics and drug discovery industries," O'Reilly said. "I am thrilled to join this talented team and help introduce their AI platform to the world." O'Reilly is a cum laude graduate of St. Louis University where he earned a Juris Doctorate degree and a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in accounting. He is also a cum laude graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a Master's Degree in Business Administration. O'Reilly served as a Captain, legal officer, military judge and Chief of Civil Law and Contracts Officer in the United States Air Force. About GATC Health GATC Health Corp is a pioneering technology company using whole genome analysis and multiomics-based artificial intelligence to revolutionize disease detection and drug discovery. The company's patented AI platform reduces risk, time and costs for life science companies by digitally reproducing the human body to find non-obvious answers to biology's most complex questions. GATC Health is accelerating healthcare's transition to predictive, individualized medicine. Disclaimer The information set forth herein is presented for informational purposes only and should not be deemed an offer to sell securities. This announcement contains information which the Company believes to be correct, including certain financial information and projections, but the Company does not guarantee as to the accuracy or completeness of such information. The Company reserves the right to modify or amend the information contained herein. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/healthcare-veteran-john-oreilly-joins-gatc-healths-advisory-board-301653023.html SOURCE GATC Health By Mica Rosenberg and Kristina Cooke NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -A group that works with union pension funds is pressing Hyundai Motor Co to respond to reports of child labor at U.S. parts suppliers, warning of potential reputational damage to the Korean automaker. SOC Investment Group, which works with union pension funds that have more than $250 billion in assets, sent a sharply worded letter on Wednesday to company chairman Euisun Chung, saying investors were concerned in the wake of a July investigation by Reuters that found child labor at a Hyundai subsidiary in Alabama. In addition, the letter cited a recent federal and state investigation into children working at another Hyundai supplier in the state. "Child labor and poor workplace health and safety have regulatory and legal repercussions for Hyundai in the U.S. and can cause reputational damage across the globe," said the letter from the group, which advises on corporate accountability issues. The letter urged Hyundai's board of directors to oversee the company's response and called for several actions including an independent assessment of human and labor rights risks in the supply chain with publicly released results and ongoing monitoring. Reuters first documented child labor practices at Hyundai-owned SMART Alabama LLC earlier this year. Then in August, authorities found children as young as 13 working at Alexander City, Alabama-based SL Alabama, a Korean-operated parts supplier and unit of Korea's SL Corp, and the company entered in to a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor. Hyundai's global chief operating officer, Jose Munoz, told Reuters on Wednesday that the company is investigating child labor violations in its U.S. supply chain and plans to "sever ties" with suppliers in Alabama found to have relied on underage workers. Earlier, Hyundai spokesperson Ira Gabriel said the automaker's subsidiary, SMART Alabama, had already ended its relationship with a third-party staffing company. Story continues SOC's letter to the company comes after a public rebuke last week from leaders of the United Autoworkers union (UAW) and a September letter to the company from more than two dozen local and national advocacy groups and unions calling for an end to child labor practices. The Washington, D.C.-based SOC, which said the funds it works with hold an estimated 27,000 shares in Hyundai, has taken a more activist approach to call out worker mistreatment and other social issues, including pressing major companies like Apple Inc and Tesla Inc to make corporate changes, said Dieter Waizenegger, the group's executive director. "In the U.S. system, oftentimes the monetary risk for labor rights violations is relatively small so it might be seen as a cost of doing business," Waizenegger said. "I think investors like us need to step out and say, 'the value of the fines is not capturing your risk even remotely. Your product might be tinged for a long time.'" (Reporting by Mica Rosenberg in New York and Kristina Cooke in San FranciscoAdditional reporting by Joshua Schneyer in New YorkEditing by Matthew Lewis) With temps dropping throughout most of the U.S. and Canada, isnt it time to start thinking about a vacation to Jamaica? Weve got some info on a visit that is just about as unique as you can imagine. That would be a tour planned by GanjaVacations, which in addition to the essentials like where to hang your hat, eat meals and get around this tropical island, they also provide tours to wellness facilities, herb houses (weed shops) cannabis farms, Rastafarian areas and a lot more. Jamaicas average year-round temps, by the way, are between 78 and 88 degrees. GanjaVacations' founder and CEO Norman Lawrence was born in Jamaica though hes lived for several decades in the U.S., that is to say long enough to earn B.A. and MBA degrees from Columbia University and then work for such companies as Chase Manhattan (NYSE: JPM), Citicorp (NYSE: C) and First Chicago. Lawrence, who attended the recent Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Chicago, said GanjaVacations is a product of recent changes in Jamaican law as well as his on-the-ground experience with a local resort client. What Are Those Cannabis Changes? The long and the short of it, Lawrence explained to Benzinga is that in Jamaica you can buy weed legally at any of the herb houses that are popping up all over the island. You can do that with your own doctors recommendation or you can tell the herb house's medical person that you intend to use your ganja for a therapeutic purpose. Although ganja is technically legal only for medical purposes, any adult over 18 can buy up to two ounces. Just dont smoke in public and dont take it with you when you return to your home country. If you feel like getting an MMJ recommendation from an herb house, that can be done for around $10, with basically no questions asked. jamaica_1_0.jpg Now, Lets Get This Tour Started Heres what GanjaVacations can do to make your trip easy to manage, informative and loads of fun. Story continues First, they will arrange housing, which involves cannabis-friendly lodging. Check HERE for a full list of weed-friendly places to stay. Get your notebooks out...there are at least four dozen. Traveling from place to place, including airport pickup, is also taken care of as visitors can choose an individual tour or a group experience. Places to visit include herb houses, health and wellness facilities, cannabis farm and weed tours, including Bob Marley's birthplace and final resting place, and a visit to the Rastafarian areas where youll learn about the religious importance of ganja among this community. Jamaica was the first country to officially legalize cannabis for religious use. Whether your cannabis vacation interests are recreational, medicinal, culinary, cultural or whatever, says Lawrence. GanjaVacations will find it and take you there. Last but not least: The cost of the tours is super reasonable! See more from Benzinga Don't miss real-time alerts on your stocks - join Benzinga Pro for free! Try the tool that will help you invest smarter, faster, and better. 2022 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. TORONTO, Oct. 19, 2022 /CNW/ - Members of the media are invited to attend Ontario's seventh annual Access to Justice (A2J) Week from October 24 to 28, featuring a diverse offering of virtual programming for licensees, the broader justice sector and the general public on the theme of Access to Justice Counts: Using data to address the legal needs of Ontarians. Law Society of Ontario Logo (CNW Group/The Law Society of Ontario) Ontario's A2J Week is hosted by TAG: The Action Group on Access to Justice in collaboration with the Law Society of Ontario and justice sector partners. A2J Week programming includes free educational opportunities for legal professionals, community and justice sector workers and members of the public. Visit the TAG website for detailed information about the full line-up of events, summarized below: Monday, October 24 Innovations in access to justice technology and regulatory sandboxes AI, human rights and access to justice Public Legal Education Association of Canada Annual Conference Tuesday, October 25 Designing client-centred access to justice Discover new career pathways for paralegals Dangerous workplaces and low pay Self-representation: Where we stand, where we go from here Legal Aid Ontario's Anti-Racism Action Plan project Women leaders in access to justice Get to know the (civil legal services) delivery system: Get the help you (or your clients) need! Wednesday, October 26 Access to justice in Arab communities in Ontario Public workshop: University of Ottawa Law Practice Program free legal clinic 2022 Public libraries as critical partners in access to justice Recent developments in access to justice for Indigenous Peoples Thursday, October 27 Public workshop: Answers to your everyday legal questions Public workshop: University of Ottawa Law Practice Program free legal clinic 2022 Public workshop : Language rights and French-language services in Ontario Friday, October 28 Well-being matters: mental health in the legal professions Leadership juridique francophone en action Story continues Members of the media: please confirm your attendance at any of the sessions in advance by contacting the media contact below. Thank you. TAG was established by the Law Society of Ontario in 2015 to facilitate better coordination and collaboration across the justice sector. With support from the Law Society of Ontario and the Law Foundation of Ontario, TAG works with a range of justice stakeholders to develop meaningful, public-centred solutions that advance systemic change. Read the backgrounder. The Law Society regulates lawyers and paralegals in Ontario in the public interest. The Law Society has a mandate to protect the public interest, to maintain and advance the cause of justice and the rule of law, to facilitate access to justice for the people of Ontario and to act in a timely, open and efficient manner. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. SOURCE The Law Society of Ontario Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2022/19/c2871.html Data Bridge Market Research The prevalence of advanced software, the rising need for better healthcare facilities and an integrated healthcare system, and the prevalence of funds from healthcare IT players for technological advancement are all expected to boost the growth of the medical practice management software market in the forecast period of 2022-2029. CHICAGO, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A Qualitative Research Study accomplished by Data Bridge Market research's database, titled Medical Practice Management Software Market with 100+ market data Tables, Pie Charts, Graphs & Figures spread through Pages and easy-to-understand detailed analysis. The Medical Practice Management Software Market research report is a useful manual that guides readers to strategize their moves in the Medical Practice Management Software market. It is basically very important to visualize and comprehend the market thoroughly before entering it. It requires time and energy, but this market research report is a solution to this problem. The report portrays the practicality of any new product or service through research driven truly with potential customers. It empowers an association to locate the target market and customers views regarding the need or eagerness for the product or service. Data Bridge Market Research analyses that the medical practice management software market which was USD 6.80 billion in 2021, would rocket up to USD 13.85 billion by 2029, and is expected to undergo a CAGR of 9.30% during the forecast period 2022 to 2029. In addition to the market insights such as market value, growth rate, market segments, geographical coverage, market players, and market scenario, the market report curated by the Data Bridge Market Research team also includes in-depth expert analysis, patient epidemiology, pipeline analysis, pricing analysis, and regulatory framework. Download Sample Copy of Medical Practice Management Software Market Report @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-medical-practice-management-software-market Medical practise management software (PMS) is a type of healthcare software that manages a medical practice's day-to-day activities, including veterinarians. Users can usually enter patient demographics, schedule appointments, keep track of insurance payors, execute billing duties, and generate reports using such software. Most PMS systems in the United States are built for small to medium-sized medical practises. Story continues Medical practice management software includes systems for entering and tracking patients, scheduling and tracking patient appointments, sending insurance claims and patient statements as part of the collection process, processing insurance, patient, and third-party payments, and generating reports for the practice's administrative and clinical staff. Using a PMS typically entails maintaining vast sets of data up to date, such as lists of diagnoses and treatments, insurance company lists, referring physicians and providers. Recent Development In August 2020, WRS Health has released the Urology cloud , an electronic health record that allows Urologists to manage their practises and maximise their workflows efficiently and financially. In November 2020, as part of the MextGen Ophthalmic Suite, NextGen Healthcare launched a dedicated optometric workflow in its fully integrated eye care platform to improve the overall quality of clinical eye care for patients while also optimising financial results for providers by combining practise and optical management for efficient charge capture. Some of the major players operating in the Medical Practice Management Software market are: AthenaHealth (U.S) Aprima Medical Software (U.S) CareCloud Inc. (U.S) eClinicalWorks (U.S) TotalMD (U.S) Epic Systems Corporation (U.S) NXGN Management, LLC. (U.S) ECLIPSE Foundation (Canada) NexTech Systems LLC (U.S) Cerner Corporation (U.S) AdvancedMD Inc. (U.S) CollaborateMD Inc. (U.S) Henry Schein Inc. (U.S) Allscripts Healthcare LLC (U.S) Greenway Health LLC (U.S) Get the Full Research Report to Understand More @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/checkout/buy/enterprise/global-medical-practice-management-software-market The report provides insights on the following pointers: Market Penetration: Comprehensive information on the product portfolios of the top players in the Medical Practice Management Software market Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on upcoming technologies, R&D activities, and product launches in the market Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of the market strategies, and geographic and business segments of the leading players in the market Market Development: Comprehensive information about emerging markets. This report analyzes the market for various segments across geographies Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new products, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the Medical Practice Management Software Market Opportunities There are no big infrastructure expenses and the software expense is commensurate with a low subscription rate, cloud-based medical practise management is especially beneficial for small to medium-sized clinics. The software's scalability is greatly enhanced by its cloud-based distribution strategy (pay-as-you-go storage utilization). It eliminates departmental silos of clinical information, simplifying and consolidating storage resources to minimise costs and improve workflow. The organization's storage and server power are hosted off-site. The cloud vendor provides all off-premise system support resources. To support the quality of patient care, the cloud infrastructure also provides true disaster recovery and business continuity solutions. As a result, cloud-based services are predicted to continue to be in high demand. Market Dynamics: Medical Practice Management Software Market Rising need for better healthcare facilities The prevalence of advanced software, the rising need for better healthcare facilities and an integrated healthcare system, and the prevalence of funds from healthcare IT players for technological advancement are all expected to boost the growth of the medical practice management software market in the forecast period of 2022-2029. On the other hand, the growing adoption of IT-enabled healthcare solutions and a growing preference for patient-centered care would provide several chances for the medical practice management software market to expand throughout the forecast period. Improved and more accurate invoicing procedures Medical practise management systems are becoming more popular as they improve the ability to meet important regulatory requirements and ensure that the physician completes key regulatory data elements simply by receiving a notification alert, as well as reducing the time and resources required for manual data entry. These systems also offer improved and more accurate invoicing procedures and insurance details, as well as alerts for receiving advance beneficiary notice, which helps to reduce claim denials. As a result, using medical practise management software saves time and resources in the long term, propelling the market forward. Cloud-based delivery aids healthcare providers in automating day-to-day medical tasks Cloud-based software systems assist in the storage of data on external servers, making it available via the internet, as all that is required is a computer with an internet connection. In medical practice management, cloud-based delivery aids healthcare providers in automating day-to-day medical tasks. Cloud-based systems are less expensive to deploy than on-premises systems, and this software eliminates the need for in-house maintenance, which is likely to be the primary driver driving their rising popularity. FAQs covered in the Report: The complete profile of the companies is mentioned. And the capacity, production, price, revenue, cost, gross, gross margin, sales volume, sales revenue, consumption, growth rate, import, export, supply, future strategies, and the technological developments that they are making are also included within the report. This report analyzed five years data history and forecast. The growth factors of the market is discussed in detail wherein the different end users of the Medical Practice Management Software market are explained in detail. Data and information by market player, by region, by type, by application and etc, and custom research can be added according to specific requirements. The report contains the SWOT analysis of the Global Medical Practice Management Software Market Finally, the report contains the conclusion part where the opinions of the industrial experts are included. To Gain More Insights about this Research, Visit @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-medical-practice-management-software-market Key Industry Segmentation: Medical Practice Management Software Market By Product Type Stand-alone Practice Management Software Integrated Practice Management Software By Component Software Services By Mode of Delivery On-premise Cloud-based By End-User Pharmacies Diagnostic Laboratories Hospitals Other End Users Regional Analysis/Insights: Medical Practice Management Software Market The countries covered in the medical practice management software market report are U.S., Canada and Mexico in North America, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Rest of Europe in Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Rest of Asia-Pacific (APAC) in the Asia-Pacific (APAC), Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, South Africa, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East and Africa (MEA) as a part of Middle East and Africa (MEA), Brazil, Argentina and Rest of South America as part of South America. North America dominates the medical practice management software market due to the adoption of advanced software along with rising number of government initiatives. Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the highest growth rate in the forecast period of 2022 to 2029 due to the increasing awareness among the physicians and the growing number of technological advancements in the region. Table of Contents: Introduction Market Segmentation Executive Summary Premium Insights Global Medical Practice Management Software Market Regulations Market Overview Global Medical Practice Management Software Market, By Product Type Global Medical Practice Management Software Market, By Component Global Medical Practice Management Software Market, By Mode of Delivery Global Medical Practice Management Software Market, By End User Global Medical Practice Management Software Market, By Region Global Medical Practice Management Software Market: Company Landscape SWOT Analyses Company Profile Questionnaires Related Reports To Check the Complete Table Of contents, click here @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/toc/?dbmr=global-medical-practice-management-software-market Explore More Reports:- Medical Robotic System Market , By Deployment Type (On-premises, Cloud Based), Products and Services (Instrument and Accessories, Robotic Systems and Services), Application (Neurology, 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Contact Us:- Data Bridge Market Research US: +1 888 387 2818 UK: +44 208 089 1725 Hong Kong: +852 8192 7475 Email:- corporatesales@databridgemarketresearch.com FILE PHOTO: Small toy figure and mineral imitation are seen in front of the BHP logo in this illustration SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Mining giants BHP and Antofagasta Minerals said on Wednesday that a mining royalty bill in Chile would affect competitiveness and encourage miners to reevaluate investments. Chile is the world's top copper producing nation and the government has proposed a royalty with a portion based on sales and the other subject to profitability, which progresses as the price of copper increases. Speaking to Chile's Congress, BHP's vice president of corporate affairs for the Americas, Rene Muga, said the current bill would impact the company's competitiveness abroad and negatively impact its own operations in other countries. "It is our duty to warn that in a highly competitive global world, Chile cannot disproportionately increase its taxes without significantly affecting investment levels," Muga said. He added that the initiative would lead the mining company to reconsider an announced investment portfolio of $10 billion, since it was designed "without considering such an excessive tax burden increase." For his part, the vice president of corporate affairs of Antofagasta Minerals , Rene Aguilar, pointed out that with the proposed changes, total taxation would exceed 48%, putting it on par with high-tax countries such as Congo, Mongolia and Zambia. "It is essential to consider the depreciation of investments in the calculation of mining income," Aguilar said. "This is a very relevant point, especially for groups like Antofagasta, which has a potential investment portfolio of close to $5 billion for the coming years." Both company representatives acknowledged that there's room for more contribution from the mining sector, but pushed for collaborative agreements that maintain business sustainability. Other global mining giants like state-owned Codelco, Glencore, Anglo American and Freeport-McMoRan also operate in Chile. (Report by Fabian Cambero; Writing by Alexander Villegas; Editing by Alistair Bell) OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 19, 2022 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada continues to work hard to resettle at least 40,000 Afghan nationals as quickly and safely as possible, which is one of the largest commitments of its kind in the world. To date, over 22,581 Afghan nationals have arrived in Canada. Today in Halifax, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, welcomed 311 Afghan nationals who arrived on a charter flight from Pakistan. This flight includes government-assisted refugees, privately sponsored refugees, and extended family members of Afghans who worked for or assisted the Government of Canada. These new arrivals are destined for approximately 20 communities across Canada, including Toronto (ON), Fredericton and Saint John (NB). Resettling at least 40,000 Afghan nationals is a complex initiative that requires a whole-of-government approach, as well as strong domestic and international partnerships. It is through the critical support of provinces and territories, resettlement service providers, and Canadians who have sponsored Afghan refugees and helped newcomers settle in their communities that we will achieve this goal. We also value the ongoing collaboration of key international partners including Pakistan, and the tireless work of international organizations and referral partners including the International Organization for Migration, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Frontline Defenders and ProtectDefenders.eu. Together with our partners across the country and around the globe, Canada is making a difference in the lives of Afghan newcomers and their families. Individuals and businesses looking to get involved through volunteering, donating, sponsoring or supporting the wider resettlement efforts can learn more about how Canadians can help. Photos of today's arrival are available in Dropbox for use by the media. You can also monitor Canada's progress on welcoming Afghan refugees to Canada. Story continues Quote "This morning I had the privilege of personally welcoming this latest charter flight of Afghan refugees to Canada. These brave newcomers will soon begin their journey to rebuild their lives in communities across the country, and here in the Atlantic region where many will settle. Despite the ongoing challenges, and the difficult work ahead of us, we remain on track to reaching our commitment to resettle at least 40,000 vulnerable Afghans to Canada by the end of 2023." The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Quick facts Today's flight is the 16th charter flight of Afghan refugees to arrive in Canada from Pakistan since January 2022. Find our latest arrivals data on our Key figures webpage. Many of today's newcomers will join existing communities of Afghans already settled in Toronto (approximately 4,395 people), Fredericton (75 people) and Saint John (70 people). Detailed information about the destination communities welcoming Afghans is available on our website. While many newcomers arrive in Canada's largest cities, smaller communities offer welcoming, safe places with settlement services, employment opportunities, affordable housing options and a lower cost of living. Resettlement Assistance Program service provider organizations (RAP SPOs) are working to make newcomers, including Afghans, feel welcomed and integrate successfully in their new communities. Associated links Follow us: SOURCE Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Cision View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2022/19/c5853.html On the occasion of the German Pain Congress 2022 (Deutscher Schmerzkongress 2022) the CNS-specialist announces Change for Health campaign DUSSELDORF, Germany and BARCELONA, Spain, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Neuraxpharm, a leading European specialty pharmaceutical company, today announces its "Change for Health" campaign that aims to increase the acceptance of medical cannabis and provide better information to patients, physicians and pharmacies. Based on the concept "If we turn our back on medical cannabis, we turn our back on millions of patients" Neuraxpharm is fostering a change for health across society on medical cannabis as a treatment to help improve the quality of life of hundreds of thousands of patients. With this awareness campaign, Neuraxpharm wants to encourage healthcare professionals, regulators, patients, and the public to rethink their preconceptions about cannabis and embrace it as an effective, individualized treatment option. At the heart of the campaign 'Change for Health' stands a video to raise awareness, a dedicated website www.neuraxpharm.com/change-for-health which explains the campaign background and educational materials such as crosswords and myths and facts. In Germany the campaign is being launched on the occasion of the German Pain Congress 2022 (Deutscher Schmerzkongress 2022) which is held from 19.-22. October 2022 in CC Rosengarten, Mannheim. At the congress the company is present with its own booth and will furthermore sponsor the symposium "Cannabinoids in pain treatments" to raise further awareness of this high-potential treatment approach. Neuraxpharm's campaign will be implemented at European level, starting with Germany, the Czech Republic and Switzerland, and will be extended to more countries as their legislation evolves. Already five years ago, medical cannabis was approved in Germany. Since then, demand has grown constantly. However, many doctors still seem to have reservations to prescribe medical cannabis or patients to take it, perhaps due to a lack of information. As a result, only one to two percent of physicians in Germany prescribe medical cannabis.1 Moreover, the stigmatization of medical cannabis is still widely spread and access to it for patients in need is still difficult to obtain. In addition to a changed mindset, information on medical cannabis and the respective treatment options are key to improve patients' access. Story continues While a growing number of studies confirm the improvement of quality of life in many indications through medical cannabis, patients who are seeking pain therapy or suffer from other disorders such as anxiety or diseases like epilepsy and multiple sclerosis appear to find it difficult to obtain a prescription. According to experts, medical cannabis could help over 650,000 patients in Germany. However, there are currently only around 130,000 patients being treated.2 Dr. Jorg-Thomas Dierks, CEO of Neuraxpharm, commented: "Medical cannabis is still a sensitive topic surrounded by prejudices. With our campaign we want healthcare professionals, regulators, patients, and the public to rethink their perception of medical cannabis and how this treatment can help millions of patients with unmet medical needs. Because a change in our mindset towards medical cannabis will lead towards an improvement of patient's health." Together with its partner, the Israel-based global pharma company Panaxia, Neuraxpharm is among the first pharmaceutical companies to make medical cannabis products available in Europe. The company offers an innovative and complete medical cannabis portfolio covering several patients' needs and consisting of standardized full-spectrum CBD and THC extracts for oral, as well as for inhalative use, the latter being the first of its kind in Europe. As a well-established partner for pain specialists, neurologists and psychiatrists, Neuraxpharm ensures that its medical cannabis meets the highest quality and safety standards of a prescription medicine. Moreover, Neuraxpharm provides all relevant information to enable doctors to make tailor-made prescriptions and instructions for pharmacies on how to prepare the ready-to-use product. 1 About the Group Neuraxpharm Neuraxpharm is a leading European specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of central nervous system disorders (CNS) with a direct presence in 19 countries. Backed by funds advised by Permira, Neuraxpharm has a unique understanding of the CNS market built over 35 years.2 With its focus on CNS, Neuraxpharm develops and commercializes established brands, value added medicines, generics, Consumer Healthcare products, medical cannabis, beyond-the-pill solutions and is continuously striving to offer a wide range of effective, high quality and affordable CNS treatment options in Europe. Present with its products in more than 50 countries, Neuraxpharm also manufactures pharmaceutical products and active pharmaceutical ingredients in its own manufacturing sites, Lesvi and Inke, in Spain. For more information please visit https://www.neuraxpharm.com 1 According to the platform Nowomed 2 Medizinisches Cannabis: Warum Arzte, Apotheken und Krankenkassen die Legalisierung bremsen (rnd.de) Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/neuraxpharm-launches-european-campaign-to-increase-awareness-of-medical-cannabis-301652618.html SOURCE Neuraxpharm Kenneth Research Key Companies Outlined in NORDIC Veterinary Diagnostics Market Research Report by Kenneth Research include Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Heska Corporation, Boule Diagnostics AB, IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., Zoetis Inc, bioMerieux, INDICAL BIOSCIENCE GmbH, Scil animal care company GmbH, DiaSystem Scandinavia AB, and others. New York, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kenneth Research has published a detailed market report on the NORDIC Veterinary Diagnostics Market for the forecast period, i.e., 2022-2031 which includes the following factors: Market growth over the forecast period Detailed regional synopsis Market segmentation Growth drivers Challenges Key market players and their detailed profiling NORDIC Veterinary Diagnostics Market Size: The NORDIC veterinary diagnostics market is predicted to gather a revenue of around USD 167 million by the end of 2031 and to grow with a CAGR of ~7% during the forecast period. Additionally, the market has garnered a revenue of around USD 82 million in the year 2021. The rising number of dogs and cats is ascribed to the market expansion. For instance, according to the European Pet Food Industry, 88 million households, or nearly 38% had at least one pet animal. In addition to this, animals are currently experiencing an outbreak of several diseases, which is expected to fuel the market expansion of the NORDIC veterinary diagnostics industry. According to the information from the Norwegian Zoonoses Report 2019, diagnostic tests on 118 dogs in Norway revealed that 20 have the disease campylobacteriosis. Get a Sample Copy of This Report @ https://www.kennethresearch.com/sample-request-10065111 NORDIC Veterinary Diagnostics Market: Key Takeaways Infectious disease segment to influence the revenue graph Hospitals segment retains a sizable presence in the market Escalating Demand for Healthy Meats and Growing Household Disposable Income to Fuel the Market Growth Owing to the regions residents consuming more consistently, there has been an increase in demand for nutritious meats. The NORDIC veterinary diagnostics market is therefore anticipated to increase as a result. Norway consumed more than 55 kg of beef per person overall in the year 2019. Additionally, according to the OCED figures, the anticipated meat consumption rate in Norway in 2029 is 20.8 Kg per capita of pork meat, 18.5 Kg per capita of poultry, and 12.6 Kg per capita of beef and veal. Story continues Furthermore, the household discretionary income in the NORDIC region has been steadily increasing over the forecast period. For instance, according to the information published by the Organization for Economic Corporation and Development, Finlands household disposable income in 2020 was USD 36,269. In addition to this, from 10 years ago, Swedens yearly household disposable income increased each year until 2021. The average per capita disposable income was about USD 26,960.62 in 2021. The average yearly household disposable income was USD 60,778.4 in 2020. The rising consumption of meat products and the increasing household disposable income propels the market growth. Browse to access the In-depth research report on NORDIC Veterinary Diagnostics Market with detailed charts and figures: https://www.kennethresearch.com/report-details/nordic-veterinary-diagnostics-market/10065111 NORDIC Veterinary Diagnostics Market, Segmentation by Disease Type Infectious Diseases Non-Infectious Diseases Others On account of the rise in Zoonoses infections among animals, the infectious diseases segment is predicted to have the highest share over the forecast period. In Norway, there were 103 confirmed cases of zoonoses out of the 2108 flocks that were examined, according to the Norwegian Zoonoses Report 2019. 99% of all human rabies deaths are caused by rabies in dogs. Thousands of people per year die from dog-mediated rabies, many of whom are youngsters. Over 150 nations and territories throughout the world have the disease. Every year rabies claims the lives of about 59,000 people worldwide. Moreover, from September 16 to October 5 in 2011, two artic foxes and eight reindeer in Norways Svalbard archipelago were found to have rabies, and as a result, 280 people got post-exposure prophylaxis. The rising cases of infectious diseases in animals drive the growth of the segment. NORDIC Veterinary Diagnostics Market, Segmentation by End-Users Clinical Laboratories Hospitals Research Institutes Others Get a Sample PDF of the NORDIC Veterinary Diagnostics Market @ https://www.kennethresearch.com/sample-request-10065111 The Hospitals segment is estimated to hold a substantial share over the forecast period. The growth of the segment can be attributed to the peoples strong desire to have their pets treated by highly skilled medical personnel. There were around 1375 hospitals and clinics in Norway in 2019. Furthermore, in 2022, it is anticipated that Norways veterinary activities to generate about USD 0.57 billion in revenue with a yearly growth rate of 3.1% (CAGR 2022-2027). In addition to this, the surge in the number of veterinarians is predicted to promote further growth of the segment. According to the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe, there are 3,326, 3,000, and 2500 veterinarians in Sweden, Norway, and Finland, respectively. The expanding number of hospitals increased revenue, and the rising number of veterinarians drive the growth of the segment. NORDIC Veterinary Diagnostics Market, Segmentation by Technology Diagnostic Imaging Immunodiagnostics Clinical Chemistry Hematology Test Others Few of the well-known market leaders in the NORDIC Veterinary Diagnostics Market that are profiled by Kenneth Research are Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Heska Corporation, Boule Diagnostics AB, IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., Zoetis Inc, bioMerieux, INDICAL BIOSCIENCE GmbH, Scil animal care company GmbH, DiaSystem Scandinavia AB, and others. Enquiry before Buying This Report @ https://www.kennethresearch.com/sample-request-10065111 Recent Developments in NORDIC Veterinary Diagnostics Market On June 30 th, 2021, the agreement with Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc and Seegene, Inc. was announced for the clinical development and commercialization of infectious disease molecular diagnostic products. On August 31st, 2020, a corporation among Boule Diagnostics AB and its OEM clients was announced to provide goods and services for the hematology platform. Browse More Related Reports: Facial Injectors Market Segmentation by End-User (Hospitals, Cosmetic Centers, and Dermatology Clinics); by Application (Facelift, Wrinkle Reduction, Lip Enhancement, Acne Scar Treatment, and Others); and by Fillers Type (Collagen, Dermal, Polymer, Synthetic, Hyaluronic Acid, and Others)-Global Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2031 Bone Growth Stimulators Market Segmentation by Product (Device [Implant & External], Bone Morphogenetic Protein [BMP], Platelet-rich Plasma [PRP], and Others); by Application (Spinal Fusion, Delayed Union, Non-union Bone Fracture, Maxillofacial Surgery, and Others); by End-Use (Hospital, Homecare, and Academic & Research Institutes)-Global Demand Analysis and Opportunity Outlook 2022-2030 Neurovascular Devices Market Analysis by Product (Embolic Coils, Carotid Stents, Intracranial Stents, and Others); by Therapeutic Application (Ischemic Strokes, Cerebral Aneurism, Carotid Artery Stenosis, and Others); by Process (Neurothrombectomy, Cerebral Angiography Technique and Others); and by End-User (Hospitals & Surgical Centers, Ambulatory Care Centers, and Others)-Global Supply & Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2023-2033 Population Health Management Market Analysis by End User (Healthcare Payers, Healthcare Providers, Employer Groups, and Others); by Component (Services, and Software); and by Mode of Delivery (Cloud, and On-Premise)-Global Supply & Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2023-2033 Telehealth Market Analysis by Component (Hardware, Software, and Services); by End User (Healthcare Payers, Providers, Consumers, and Others); and by Delivery Mode (On-Premise, and Cloud Delivery Mode)-Global Supply & Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2023-2033 About Kenneth Research Kenneth Research is a leading service provider for strategic market research and consulting. We aim to provide unbiased, unparalleled market insights and industry analysis to help industries, conglomerates, and executives to take wise decisions for their future marketing strategy, expansion and investment, etc. We believe every business can expand to its new horizon, provided the right guidance at a right time is available through strategic minds. Our out of box thinking helps our clients to take wise decision so as to avoid future uncertainties. Contact for more Info: AJ Daniel Email: info@kennethresearch.com U.S. Phone: +1 313 462 0609 Web: https://www.kennethresearch.com/ TORONTO, Oct. 19, 2022 /CNW/ - Beginning today, the union representing 68,000 registered nurses, nurse practitioners, registered practical nurses and health-care professionals will kick off a year-long countdown to its 50th anniversary on October 19, 2023. Ontario Nurses' Association Logo (CNW Group/Ontario Nurses' Association) The Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA), Canada's largest nurses' union, will celebrate its 50 years of advocacy with a series of provincial and local community events. "Since 1973, ONA has focused its efforts with one end goal in mind: advocating for health-care professionals and the patients who rely on us for high-quality public care," says ONA President Cathryn Hoy, RN. "Despite decades of challenges and many triumphs along the way we have never wavered in our commitment to those we care for. And when conditions of work are excellent for nurses and health-care professionals, patient care benefits." Nearly 50 years ago in Ontario, nurses and health-care professionals stood together and formed ONA, a union dedicated to fighting for a female-dominated sector characterized by poor working conditions and compensation. It is a proud, milestone event as ONA and its members recommit to advocating for public health care, and the workers who play an irreplaceable role in delivering care. "In 2022, as we mark our 50th anniversary, ONA's struggle for fairness and equitable treatment for nurses and health-care professionals continues," says Hoy. "Through ONA, we will continue the fight to keep nursing and health care united and strong." ONA is the union representing more than 68,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals, as well as 18,000 nursing student affiliates, providing care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, clinics and industry. SOURCE Ontario Nurses' Association Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2022/19/c9130.html President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have also visited Zangilan District. The president and the First Lady met with students and teaching staff of Aghali village secondary school and village residents, launched the Archimedes screw turbine type Hydro Power Plant, and viewed conditions created at Zangilan International Airport. They attended the groundbreaking ceremonies of the first residential building and a school in the city of Zangilan. (Reuters) -U.S. cigarette maker Altria Group Inc said on Wednesday industry peer Philip Morris International Inc has agreed to pay $2.7 billion for the exclusive right to sell IQOS heated tobacco products in the United States. IQOS is a smokeless tobacco heating device that was developed by Philip Morris and sold in the United States by Altria until the U.S. trade regulator banned the import and sale of the product last year following patent claims from rival R.J. Reynolds. Philip Morris is looking to overturn the ban. Altria, which sells cigarette brands like Marlboro in the United States, was spun off from Philip Morris International in 2008 when the company wanted to separate its U.S. and overseas businesses. Altria said one of its subsidiaries had an option to extend the IQOS contract until April 2029 after it had reached certain milestones. However, Philip Morris disagreed with Altria's position. "The parties were unable to reach a long-term agreement and decided to enter into the Agreement to transition and ultimately conclude their relationship," Altria said in a statement. Philip Morris, which reports quarterly results later on Thursday, aims to resume supply of IQOS products in the United States by the first half of 2023. Altria still holds the rights to sell IQOS in the United States until May 2024, after which it transitions to Philip Morris. "We are ready to invest behind IQOS to bring it to market at scale across the U.S.," Philip Morris Chief Executive Officer Jacek Olczak said. Altria said it has already received $1 billion from Philip Morris and will receive the remainder by July 2023. Separately, Philip Morris raised its buyout offer for Swedish Match AB in a last-ditch effort to get shareholder support for its $16 billion move into the fast-growing market for cigarettes alternatives. (Reporting by Anirudh Saligrama, Deborah Sophia, Abinaya Vijayaraghavan and in Uday Sampath in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Juby Babu; Editing by Stephen Coates and Christopher Cushing) Saguenay, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - October 19, 2022) - First Phosphate Corp. ("First Phosphate" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Yves Caprara has been appointed to the advisory board of the Company. Mr. Caprara is an international expert in purified phosphoric acid technologies and their applications, with a focus on sustainability within the Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) Battery industry. He is a veteran in the industry, who held the post of Chief Executive Officer of Prayon SA, Europe's largest producer of technical grade phosphoric acid. During his time there, Mr. Caprara ran operations in Europe, the United States, Canada, China, India, Brazil and Morocco. He was also a member of the board of the International Fertilizer Association from 2015-2020. "Mr. Caprara's decades of experience and transnational knowledge of the high grade phosphoric acid market, especially as it relates to the LFP Battery industry, are highly coveted by First Phosphate," said Chief Executive Officer John Passalacqua. "I am looking forward to working closely with Yves as First Phosphate rolls out its six phase integration strategy within the North American and global LFP Battery space." First Phosphate holds over 1,500 sq. km of total land claims in the Saguenay Region of Quebec, Canada that it is actively developing. Its properties consist of rare anorthosite igneous rock formation that generally yields high purity phosphate concentrate devoid of high concentrations of deleterious heavy metals. "Alongside Morocco, where new phosphoric purified capacity is expected, Quebec has an important role to play. In the United States, the depletion of current assets will lead to further import of phosphate to secure agricultural demand, and Europe has almost no domestic supply of phosphate. Future demand growth from the LFP Battery industry cannot be met without new deposits such as those that will be brought to market by First Phosphate," said Mr. Caprara. "I am impressed by First Phosphate's ambitious emerging industrial plan for phosphate beneficiation and phosphoric acid production for the LFP Battery space to meet the looming shortages and supply-side shocks that will almost certainly manifest by 2025-2030," he added. Story continues Mr. Caprara is the co-author of the industry awareness piece, "Identifying the Pinch Points in the LFP Supply Chain" published in the February 9, 2022 issue of Battery Metals Review: https://firstphosphate.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BMR_Feb22-Final.pdf First Phosphate's flagship property is located approximately 110 km driving-distance north of the City of Saguenay, Quebec's sixth largest city which hosts daily flights to Montreal, a skilled industrial workforce, strong local infrastructure, and which is 30 km driving-distance from the deep sea Port of Saguenay. The Company has partnered with the globally recognized Pufahl Research Group at Queen's University to determine the detailed mineralogy and geochemistry of phosphatic ore and waste minerals at Lac a l'Orignal, a step which complements the bulk geochemical assays and metallurgy being conducted by SGS Canada Inc. (Quebec / Lakefield). First Phosphate is fully focused on integrating its phosphate material directly into the supply chain of major battery and electric vehicle producers in North America. The Company has already received promising assay results for its Begin-Lamarche Property, confirming the presence of high-grade phosphate, and is expecting to announce its 43-101 technical report results for Lac a l'Orignal this fall. -30- For additional information, please contact: Investor Relations: investor@firstphosphate.com Media Relations: media@firstphosphate.com Website: www.FirstPhosphate.com Follow First Phosphate: Twitter: https://twitter.com/FirstPhosphate LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-phosphate/ About First Phosphate Corp First Phosphate is a mineral exploration and development company fully dedicated to extracting and refining advanced phosphate material for the Lithium Iron Phosphate ("LFP") Battery industry. First Phosphate is committed to producing at high purity level, at full ESG standard and with low anticipated carbon footprint. First Phosphate plans to integrate directly into the research & development ("R&D") and supply chain functions of major North American LFP Battery producers that require battery grade phosphate material that emanates from a consistent and secure supply source. First Phosphate holds over 1,500 sq. km of total land claims in the Saguenay Region of Quebec, Canada that it is actively developing. First Phosphate properties consist of rare anorthosite igneous rock formation that generally yields high purity phosphate concentrate devoid of high concentrations of deleterious heavy metals. Forward-Looking Information and Cautionary Statements Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "potential", "believe", "intend" or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements relating to: Mr. Caprara's experience being sought by and beneficial to the Company; Mr. Caprara's anticipated positive working relationship with the Company; the Company's future development plans of its Saguenay region property; Morocco and Quebec serving as new sources of phosphoric purified capacity; anticipated depletion of phosphate reserves to increase import demand from those areas; future demand growth from the LFP Battery industry cannot be met without new deposits such as those that will be brought to market by the Company; anticipated supply shocks to manifest in 2025-2030; the stated goals of the partnership between the Company and the Pufahl Research Group at Queen's University; the Company's focus on integrating its phosphate material directly into the supply chain of major battery and electric vehicle producers in North America; and the Company's announcement of its 43-101 technical report results for Lac a l'Orignal this fall. Forward-looking information in this press release are based on certain assumptions and expected future events, namely: Mr. Caprara's experience will be sought by and beneficial to the Company; Mr. Caprara will develop a positive working relationship with the Company; the Company will further develop its Saguenay region property; Morocco and Quebec will serve as new sources of phosphoric purified capacity; anticipated depletion of phosphate reserves will increase import demand from those depleted areas; future demand growth from the LFP Battery industry cannot be met without new deposits such as those that will be brought to market by the Company; anticipated supply shocks to manifest in 2025-2030; the furtherance of stated goals of the partnership between the Company and the Pufahl Research Group at Queen's University; the Company will focus on integrating its phosphate material directly into the supply chain of major battery and electric vehicle producers in North America; and the Company's 43-101 technical report results for Lac a l'Orignal will be available this fall. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: Mr. Caprara's experience will neither be sought by nor beneficial to the Company; Mr. Caprara's inability to develop a positive working relationship with the Company; the Company's inability to further develop its Saguenay region property; Morocco and Quebec will not serve as new sources of phosphoric purified capacity; anticipated depletion of phosphate reserves will not increase import demand from those depleted areas; future demand growth from the LFP Battery industry can be met without new deposits such as those that will be brought to market by the Company; anticipated supply shocks to manifest in 2025-2030 do not occur; the inability to further the stated goals of the partnership between the Company and the Pufahl Research Group at Queen's University; the Company will not focus on integrating its phosphate material directly into the supply chain of major battery and electric vehicle producers in North America; and the Company's 43-101 technical report results for Lac a l'Orignal will not be available this fall. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141024 Orkin Canada's annual national rattiest cities list is out! MISSISSAUGA, ON, Oct. 19, 2022 /CNW/ - Multiple lockdowns during the pandemic saw bolder rodent activity and migration to residential neighbourhoods last year. As pandemic fears wane, and Canadian cities are back in business, food sources are abundantly available in urban areas again for rats and mice. As winter rolls in, Orkin Canada reminds home owners and business owners to take precautions and keep rodents out. *Cities are ranked by the number of rat and mouse treatments the company performed from August 1, 2021 to July 31, 2022. This ranking includes both residential and commercial treatments. (CNW Group/Orkin Canada) "With more available food, there will be exponential population growth. Food availability favours population growth since there will be less competition for food, which also will result in high reproductive potential, high survival and healthy thriving populations," said Alice Sinia, Ph.D. entomologist with Orkin Canada. The pest control company has released its annual national list of the top 25 "rattiest" cities in Canada, with the City of Toronto taking the lead. Orkin Canada experts report that with food more abundantly available in commercial areas, some of the aggressive behaviours among rats and mice that were noted during the lockdowns, such as cannibalism, "street fights" and territorialism, will likely lessen. However, with population growth, there will also be increased activities and sightings. City rankings are based on the number of commercial and residential rodent (rats and mice) treatments that Orkin Canada carried out from August 1, 2021 through July 31, 2022. The top 10 rattiest cities in Canada in 2022 are: Toronto Vancouver Burnaby Kelowna Mississauga Calgary (mice only) Victoria Richmond Edmonton (mice only) St. John's For a complete list of Canada's rattiest cities please download here. As the cooler weather approaches and rodents may be looking for warm shelter, Orkin Canada suggests you do a basic inspection and implement some rodent-proofing tactics to prevent rats and mice from entering your homes and frequenting your property: Seal cracks or holes in your foundation, in walls, and in expansion joints Install weather stripping around windows and doors Screen open vents and repair worn out window screens Where possible, keep shrubbery at least a metre away from exterior walls of your home Remove moisture sources such as clogged gutters Practice proper garbage storage, be diligent in keeping garbage and old food away from your house, use tight-fitting lid containers and do not overflow Do not store objects near exterior walls, instead store them distanced away from the wall and about 18 inches off the ground Rodent proof shed if present. Sheds can be major breeding and harbourage spots during the winter Story continues About Orkin Canada Orkin Canada, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rollins, Inc. (NYSE:ROL) is the country's largest pest control provider and leader in the development of fast, effective and environmentally responsible pest control solutions. One key program is the Home Pest Protection Program that prevents and eradicates pest infestations in residences and provides key information about pests. Orkin Canada provides professional services to both residential and commercial clients from coast to coast. For more information, visit www.orkincanada.ca , like www.facebook.com/OrkinCanada or follow @orkincanada. Orkin Canada (CNW Group/Orkin Canada) SOURCE Orkin Canada Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2022/19/c5987.html Rosies Base to investigate its proprietary nanoTi titanium alloy in manufacturing medical devices to treat spinal trauma and spine conditions. CAMBRIDGE, Mass. & WESTMONT, Ill., October 19, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rosies Base LLC, a start-up R&D company developing bio-compatible, durable, and cost-effective nano-structured alloys that are ideal for use in cutting-edge medical devices, today announced a research agreement with SpineCraft, a medical devices company focused on developing comprehensive spine surgery systems. Rosies Base is the worlds only supplier of nanoTi, a titanium alloy created using a proprietary metallurgical rolling process that delivers ultra-fine-grained metal alloys that are thinner and stronger than standard alloys, and possess anti-microbial properties that resist the formation of biofilms on implanted devices. The agreement with SpineCraft calls for the companies to investigate the compatibility and effectiveness of nanoTi in the manufacture of spinal implant rods. "Nano-structured metals offer a variety of advantages over conventionally produced alloys, including higher strength, improved processing capabilities, and novel biological properties," said Fumie Yusa, Ph.D., vice president and COO of Rosies Base. "We expect our partnership with SpineCraft, a leader in the spinal orthopedics field, to demonstrate the superiority of our nanoTi alloy compared with conventional medical-grade titanium." "SpineCraft is dedicated to developing next-generation spine surgery systems to improve and enhance quality of life for patients with spine disorders," added SpineCraft President & CEO Wagdy Asaad, MD. "We are eager to explore the potential of the innovative nanoTi alloy developed by Rosies Base." About Rosies Base Rosies Base LLC, headquartered in Cambridge with research facilities in Natick, Mass., is a start-up R&D company developing bio-compatible, durable, and cost-effective nano-structured alloys that are ideal for use in cutting-edge medical devices. Building on seven decades of precision manufacturing expertise serving the automobile and watch industries, Rosies Base is pioneering innovative manufacturing technology that enables highly accurate and precise microfabrication. The companys first product, nanoSUS, is a nano-structured stainless steel designed to offer higher strength than conventional surgical-grade stainless steel, with improved processing capabilities and novel biological properties. For more information, please visit rosiesbase.com. Story continues About SpineCraft SpineCraft is a leading medical device company focused on developing, manufacturing and marketing outcome-driven spine surgery systems that provide comprehensive spine care for patients with spine deformities, complex spine problems, degenerative spine conditions and spine trauma. SpineCraft is headquartered in Westmont, Illinois with distribution channels in the U.S., Europe, Middle East and Asia-Pacific. For more information, visit www.spinecraft.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221019005116/en/ Contacts MEDIA CONTACT Brad Perriello Circle Hill Life Science Communications b.perriello@rosiesbase.com (617) 817-1385 * This content was produced in Russia where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in Ukraine By Alexander Marrow MOSCOW, Oct 19 (Reuters) - A Russian lawmaker on Wednesday urged state institutions to stop using WhatsApp messenger and the industry ministry sought to promote domestically produced software as Russia tries to wean itself off Western technology. WhatsApp owner Meta Platforms Inc. was found guilty of "extremist activity" in Russia in March and later added to financial monitoring agency Rosfinmonitoring's list of "terrorists and extremists". Meta's lawyer in court has said Meta was not carrying out extremist activity and was against Russophobia. Russia blocked Meta's Facebook and Instagram in March, objecting to restrictions on Russian media and some posts permitted by users in Ukraine. Widely used among Russians, WhatsApp has always remained available, but Anton Gorelkin, deputy head of the Russian parliament's committee on information policy, on Wednesday said he personally would be deleting the app and recommended a wider ban. "I think it is necessary to introduce a full ban on WhatsApp use for official purposes by the Russian state and municipal employees," Gorelkin wrote on Telegram, an alternative messenger that is very popular in Russia. "Whether it is a Russian alternative or from Dubai does not matter - the main thing is that it does not belong to a company that openly participates in the information war against our country and is included on the list of terrorist and extremist organisations." Russia has acknowledged major shortcomings with its electronics industry. As Western sanctions and an exodus of foreign firms stymie its access to technology imports and solutions, Moscow has sought to boost the industry with tax breaks and preferential loans. Vasily Shpak, deputy industry and trade minister, said the niche vacated by foreign telecoms manufacturers should be filled by domestic ones. "There will be no going back," Interfax news agency quoted Shpak as saying, adding that firms exiting the country must not be allowed to return to the same niches they have vacated. "This niche should be filled by our producers," Shpak said, calling for electronics products with domestic software to form the "basis of Russia's technological independence". (Reporting by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Mark Trevelyan) TORONTO and BARBADOS, Oct. 19, 2022 /CNW/ - Sagicor Financial Company Ltd. (TSX: SFC) ("Sagicor" or "Company") has been notified of an unsolicited mini-tender offer by New York Stock and Bond LLC to purchase 10,000 common shares1 in the capital of the Company from Sagicor's shareholders at a price of US$4.00 per common share. The unsolicited offer represents a discount of approximately 12% to the closing price of the common shares on the TSX on September 20, 20222, the last trading day before the offer was commenced, and a discount of approximately 10% to the closing price of the common shares on the TSX on October 18, 2022. 3 The common shares do not trade on a recognized stock exchange in the United States. Sagicor does not endorse New York Stock and Bond LLC's unsolicited offer, has no association with New York Stock and Bond LLC or its offer, and does not recommend acceptance of the offer. New York Stock and Bond LLC's offer has been made at a price below the current market price for the common shares. Mini-tender offers such as New York Stock and Bond LLC's seek a small number of a class of outstanding shares and so avoid many of the investor protections like disclosure and procedural protections applicable to most bids under Canadian law. Securities regulators have expressed serious concerns about mini-tender offers, including the possibility that investors might tender to such offers without understanding the offer price relative to the actual market price of their securities. The Canadian Securities Administrators have issued long-standing guidance on the practice of mini-tenders, which can be found here. Additionally, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has cautioned investors about mini-tender offers noting that "some bidders make mini-tender offers at below-market prices, hoping that they will catch investors off guard if the investors do not compare the offer price to the current market price." The SEC published investor tips regarding these offers on its website which can be found here. Story continues Sagicor urges shareholders to obtain current market quotes for their common shares and to consult with their broker or financial advisor in considering New York Stock and Bond LLC's offer. According to New York Stock and Bond LLC's offer, Sagicor shareholders who have already tendered their common shares can withdraw their common shares at any time before 5:00 P.M. (New York City Time) on November 2, 2022 (unless the offer is extended) by following the procedure described in New York Stock and Bond LLC's offer documents. About Sagicor Financial Company Ltd. Sagicor Financial Company Ltd. (TSX: SFC) is a leading financial services provider in the Caribbean, with over 180 years of history, and has a growing presence as a provider of life insurance products in the United States. On August 25, 2022, Sagicor announced that it entered into a definitive agreement to acquire ivari, a leading middle-market individual life insurer in Canada with over 80 years of history in the region. Sagicor offers a wide range of products and services, including life, health, and general insurance, banking, pensions, annuities, and real estate. Sagicor's registered office is located at Clarendon House, 2 Church Street, Hamilton, HM 11, Bermuda, with its principal office located at Cecil F De Caires Building, Wildey, St. Michael, Barbados. Additional information about Sagicor can be obtained by visiting www.sagicor.com. Cautionary Statements Certain information contained in this news release may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always identified by the use of words such as "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "foresee", "could", "estimate", "goal", "intend", "plan", "seek", "will", "may", "would" and "should" and similar expressions or words suggesting future outcomes. This news release includes forward-looking information and statements pertaining to the mini-tender offer from New York Stock and Bond LLC. These forward-looking statements reflect material factors and expectations and assumptions of Sagicor. Sagicor's estimates, beliefs and assumptions are inherently subject to uncertainties and contingencies regarding future events and as such, are subject to change. Risks and uncertainties not presently known to Sagicor or that it presently believes are not material could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed in its forward-looking statements. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect events and results are included in other documents and reports that will be filed by Sagicor with applicable securities regulatory authorities and may be accessed through the SEDAR website (www.sedar.com). Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect Sagicor's expectations only as of the date of this press release. Sagicor disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by law. _______________________________________________ 1 Sagicor only has common shares issued and outstanding. New York Stock and Bond LLC's tender offer document mischaracterizes Sagicor's common shares as "ordinary shares". According to the terms set out New York Stock and Bond LLC's offer, it reserves the right to purchase an additional amount of common shares over and above 10,000 common shares, with such amount is not to exceed two percent (2%) of the issued and outstanding common shares. 2 Based on the daily USD to CAD exchange rate published by the Bank of Canada on September 20, 2022. 3 Based on the daily USD to CAD exchange rate published by the Bank of Canada on October 18, 2022. SOURCE Sagicor Financial Company Ltd. Cision View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2022/19/c7377.html ReportLinker Major players in the seamless pipes market are Nippon Steel Corporation, ArcelorMittal SA, JFE Steel Corporation, Tenaris S. A. , Vallourec AG, Jindal Saw Ltd. , Sandvik AB, Shalco Industries Pvt. Ltd. , United Seamless Tubular Pvt. New York, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Seamless Pipes Global Market Report 2022" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06323512/?utm_source=GNW Ltd., IPP Europe Ltd., TMK Group, United States Steel Corporation, Salzgitter Mannesmann Stainless Tubes GmbH, Tubos Reunidos S.A., Zekelman Industries Inc., and Kamal Steel. The global seamless pipes market is expected to grow from $217.42 billion in 2021 to $227.21 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5%. The seamless pipes market is expected to grow to $272.73 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.6%. The seamless pipes market consists of sales of seamless pipes by entities (organizations, sole traders, and partnerships) that are long steel pipes with benefits such as high-temperature resistance, fatigue resistance, and good impact resistance and are used for applications such as transportation of water or oil, and heavy wall tubing applications that can withstand high pressure or perform in extreme environments. Seamless pipes refer to solid steel pipes, which are in sheet or bar form and are formed into a solid round shape and then heated and cast over a form such as a piercing rod to create a hollow tube or shell. The main types of seamless pipes are hot finished and cold finished seamless pipes.Hot finished seamless pipes refer to pipes, made by heating a solid billet or bloom and then punching or piercing it to make a hollow out of it. The various materials include steel and alloys, copper and alloys, nickel and alloys, magnesium alloys, and other materials.The production process includes continuous mandrel rolling, multi-strand plug mill, cross roll piercing, and pilger rolling. Seamless pipes are used in various industries such as oil and gas, building and construction, power generation, automotive, aviation, and other applications. North America was the largest region in the seamless pipes market in 2021.Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in seamless pipes market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The seamless pipes market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides seamless pipes market statistics, including seamless pipes industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a seamless pipes market share, detailed seamless pipes market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the seamless pipes industry. This seamless pipes market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry. The installation of new transmission pipelines is expected to propel the growth of the seamless pipes market going forward.Transmission pipelines refer to large-diameter steel pipes, used to transport crude oil from their respective gathering systems to refining, processing, or storage facilities. Transmission pipelines help the seamless pipes market grow by operating at high pressure and temperature to move natural gas from compressor stations and storage facilities to regulators. For instance, in November 2021, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, a principal agency of the U.S. federal statistical system, new transmission pipelines were constructed that have about 3 million miles of mainline and other pipelines are also being built that link natural gas production areas and storage facilities with consumers. Further, in 2020, this natural gas transportation network delivered about 27.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas to approximately 77.3 million customers. Therefore, installing new transmission pipelines across the globe drives the seamless pipes market. Technological advancements are a key trend gaining popularity in the seamless pipes market.Major players operating in the seamless pipes market are focusing on developing innovative products for various industries such as oil and gas, hydrogen energy, and others to strengthen their position in the market. For instance, in July 2021, TMK Company, a Russia-based manufacturer of seamless pipes developed smart pipes for trunk gas pipelines with Gazprom, a state-owned multinational energy corporation based in Russia.The worlds first technical solution was developed to monitor and diagnose pipeline infrastructure integrity. The pipes have uniquely built-in sensors, which provide updates on gas pipeline stress-strain behavior in real-time and assess its remaining service life to prevent emergencies. In April 2020, Maruichi Steel Tube Ltd, a Japan-based producer of seamless pipes, welded steel pipes, structural tubes, and conduit tubes acquired Kobelco Steel Tube Co.Ltd for the deal amount of $100 million. The acquisition is expected to strengthen Maruichis businesses by expanding manufacturing plants in USA and Asia to grow and support decreasing domestic demands for structural steel pipes both in domestic and international markets.Kobelco Steel Tube. Co. Ltd is a Japan-based manufacturer, specializing in seamless stainless steel pipes and tubes. The countries covered in the seamless pipes market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06323512/?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 Sonoro Gold Corp. VANCOUVER, Canada, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sonoro Gold Corp. (TSXV: SGO | OTCQB: SMOFF | FRA: 23SP) (Sonoro or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has closed an oversubscribed, non-brokered private placement of 4,160,732 units (the Unit) at $0.15 per unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of $624,110 (the Offering). Each Unit consists of one Sonoro Common Share and one Share Purchase Warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional Sonoro Common Share for a period of two years from the closing date at an exercise price of $0.225 per share. All securities issued and issuable in connection with the Offering will be subject to a 4-month plus one day hold period ending February 20, 2023. The Offering has received conditional acceptance from the TSX Venture Exchange but remains subject to receipt of final acceptance from the TSX Venture Exchange. In connection with the Offering, the Company entered into finders fee agreement with GloRes Securities Inc. (Finder) pursuant to which the Company paid to the Finder: a cash finders fee equal to 7% of the gross proceeds raised from subscribers introduced to the Company by the Finder, and non-transferable finders warrants (the Finders Warrants) equal in number to 7% of the gross proceeds raised from subscribers introduced to the Company by the Finder. Each Finders Warrant entitles the Finder to purchase one common share in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.225 for a period of two years following the closing of the Offering. In total, the Company paid $3,500 in Finders fees and issued 23,333 in non-transferable Finders Warrants. Directors and Officers of the Company participated in the Offering by subscribing for 800,000 Units for gross proceeds of $120,000, constituting a related party transaction pursuant to TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9 and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (MI 61-101). The Company relied on Section 5.5(a) of MI 61-101 for an exemption from the formal valuation requirement and Section 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 for an exemption from the minority shareholder approval requirement of MI 61-101, as the fair market value of the transaction did not exceed 25% of the Companys market capitalization. Story continues The net proceeds from the Offering will be used to fund the ongoing development of a proposed heap leach mining operation at the Companys Cerro Caliche gold project in Sonora, Mexico. About Sonoro Gold Corp. Sonoro Gold Corp. is a publicly listed exploration and development company holding the near development stage Cerro Caliche project and the exploration stage San Marcial properties in Sonora State, Mexico. The Company has highly experienced operational and management teams with proven track records for the discovery and development of natural resource deposits. On behalf of the Board of Sonoro Gold Corp. Per: Kenneth MacLeod Kenneth MacLeod President & CEO For further information, please contact: Sonoro Gold Corp. - Tel: (604) 632-1764 Email: info@sonorogold.com Forward-Looking Statement Cautions: This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, relating to, among other things the intended use of the proceeds of the Offering, the Companys intention to proceed with the execution of its exploration and development plans for its Cerro Caliche Project, including the development of a heap leach pilot operation, and the forecast release of an updated resources estimate. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable based on current circumstances, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the risks that the Company will not be able to secure sufficient future financing necessary to fund all of its proposed exploration and development of its Cerro Caliche Project, or to fund its other project exploration and development business; future exploration results will be unfavourable and will not support the proposed plan to build a heap leach pilot operation or justify further exploration efforts; equipment failures, accidents, or external problems (e.g. civil unrest, public health emergencies) may materially increase the Companys business expenses or delay (or prevent altogether) the execution of the Companys business plans; and unanticipated changes in the legal, regulatory and permitting requirements for the Companys mineral exploration programs and development plans for its projects, at present, all of which are located in Mexico, may prevent the Company from carrying out some or all of its business plans. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law or the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. Readers are encouraged to review the Companys complete public disclosure record on SEDAR at www.sedar.com for further information regarding the Companys business and the risks associated therewith. This press release does not constitute or form a part of any offer or solicitation to purchase or subscribe for securities in the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction in the United States, and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons, as such term is defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act (Regulation S), except pursuant to an exemption from or in a transaction not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act. 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. The Brainy Insights The increasing investment in sustainable energy sources across the globe is the driving factor of the transformer oil market growth. The expansion in demand for Transmission and Demand (T&D) infrastructure owing to the incorporation of the plants generating renewable energy in the developed regions like North America, South America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa are assisting in propelling the market growth. Newark, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As per the report published by The Brainy Insights, the global transformer oil market is expected to grow from USD 2.23 billion in 2022 to USD 3.67 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 6.40% during the forecast period 2022-2030. The increase in customer needs and exponential development in distribution networks are anticipated to expand the transformer oil industry demand during the projection period. Moreover, the growing focus on rural electrification in emerging economies like China and India, coupled with a general awareness about equipment maintenance, is also helping to propel market growth. However, the increasing demand for dry-type transformers and the growing adoption of renewable and green technologies are restraining market growth. Furthermore, the ever-increasing research and development activities to explore the potential of sulfur-free mineral-based transformer oil with excellent compositional consistency are opportunities for market growth. Get a Sample Copy of the Research Report: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/enquiry/sample-request/12960 Competitive Strategy To enhance their market position in the global transformer oil market, the key players are now focusing on adopting the strategies such as product innovations, mergers & acquisitions, recent developments, joint ventures, collaborations, and partnerships. Market Growth & Trends The growth of the transformer oil market is driven by rapid urbanization & industrialization and a rise in electricity consumption. Moreover, the growing focus on enhancing the reliance on transformers is the market growth trend. In addition, the rising transmission & distribution of electricity across the globe are the driving factor of the market growth. Further, the governments in emerging countries are undertaking initiatives to provide an uninterrupted power supply, and growing the existing grid infrastructure propels market growth during the forecast period. Also, the manufacturers are concentrating on introducing green and safer products owing to the increasing worldwide environmental consciousness, which is helping to drive market growth in this region. In addition, the growing focus on boosting the reliance on transformers in power systems and energy grids for uninterrupted electricity supply for industrial, residential, and commercial activities is also encouraging to propel the market growth during the forecast period. Moreover, the increasing demand for transformer oils that offer enhanced efficiency, corrosion resistance, and raised durability drives the market growth. Story continues Inquire Before Buying This Research Report: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/enquiry/buying-inquiry/12960 Key Findings In 2022, the insulator segment dominated the market with the largest market share of 29.15% and market revenue of 0.65 billion. The function segment is divided into chemical stabilizer, insulator, lubricant, and cooling agent. In 2022, the insulator segment dominated the market with the largest market share of 29.15% and market revenue of 0.65 billion. This growth is attributed to the increasing the development of the power industry. In 2022, the naphthenic oil segment dominated the market with the largest market share of 27.14% and market revenue of 0.60 billion. The type segment is divided into paraffinic oil, naphthenic oil, bio-based oil, silicone-based oil, and others. In 2022, the naphthenic oil segment dominated the market with the largest market share of 27.14% and market revenue of 0.60 billion. This growth is attributed to the different advantages associated with mineral oil, such as cost-effectiveness, high thermal, oxidation durability, and easy availability. In 2022, the small transformer segment dominated the market with the largest market share of 21.16% and market revenue of 0.47 billion. The end-use segment is divided into distribution transformers, small transformer, utility transformers, power transformers, large transformer, and others. In 2022, the small transformer segment dominated the market with the largest market share of 21.16% and market revenue of 0.47 billion. This growth is attributed to the increasing electricity consumption in developing and developed countries. In 2022, the industrial segment dominated the market with the largest market share of 41.12% and market revenue of 0.91 Billion. The application segment is divided into industrial, residential, and commercial. In 2022, the industrial segment dominated the market with the largest market share of 41.12% and market revenue of 0.91 billion. This growth is attributed to the rapid growth of industries such as oil & gas, building & construction, chemicals, and railways. Get your Customized Research Report: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/enquiry/request-customization/12960 Regional Segment Analysis of the Transformer Oil Market: North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, U.K., Italy, Spain, Rest of Europe) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Rest of APAC) South America (Brazil and the Rest of South America) The Middle East and Africa (UAE, South Africa, Rest of MEA) The Asia Pacific region occurred as the largest market for the global transformer oil industry, with a market share of 46.35% and a market value of around 1.03 billion in 2022. The Asia Pacific dominates the transformer oil market due to the increasing industrial and commercial sectors. Moreover, the ever-increasing population, urbanization growth, and demand for transformer oil are also helping to drive the region's market growth. In addition, the increasing power requirements, coupled with the long upgradation of the aging electrical infrastructure, are expected to propel the market growth in this region. Further, the North American region is expected to show the fastest CAGR of 9.03% over the projection period. This growth is attributed to the maturing of the industrial & manufacturing sectors. In addition, the modernization of existing transformers and technical upgradation, along with declining crude oil prices, are also propelling market growth in this region. Key players operating in the global transformer oil market are: Exxon Mobil Corporation Royal Dutch Shell PetroChina Company Limited Repsol Savita Oil Technologies Limited Sinopec Lubricant Company Ergon, Inc. APAR Industries Nynas AB Petro-Canada Chevron Corporation Phillips 66 Company Gandhar Oil M&I Materials Limited Lubrita Gulf Oil International Cargill, Incorporated. Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P. Hydrodec Group plc. Hyrax Oil Sdn Bhd. Valvoline Cummins Engen Petroleum Limited San Joaquin Refining Co Sasol This study forecasts revenue at global, regional, and country levels from 2019 to 2030. The Brainy Insights has segmented the global transformer oil market based on below mentioned segments: Global Transformer Oil Market by Function: Chemical Stabilizer Insulator Lubricant Cooling Agent Global Transformer Oil Market by Type: Paraffinic Oil Naphthenic Oil Bio-based Oil Silicone-based Oil Others Global Transformer Oil Market by End-Use: Distribution Transformers Small Transformer Utility Transformers Power Transformers Large Transformer Others Global Transformer Oil Market by Application: Industrial Residential Commercial Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/report/transformer-oil-market-12960 About the report: The global transformer oil market is analysed based on value (USD Billion). All the segments have been analysed on global, regional and country basis. The study includes the analysis of more than 30 countries for each segment. The report offers in-depth analysis of driving factors, opportunities, restraints, and challenges for gaining the key insight of the market. The study includes porters five forces model, attractiveness analysis, raw material analysis, supply, demand analysis, competitor position grid analysis, distribution and marketing channels analysis. About The Brainy Insights: The Brainy Insights is a market research company that provides actionable insights through data analytics to companies to improve their business acumen. They have a robust forecasting and estimation model to meet the client's objectives of high-quality output within a short period. They provide both customized (client-specific) and syndicate reports. Their repository of syndicate reports is diverse across all the categories and sub-categories across domains. Their customized solutions meet the client's requirements whether they are looking to expand or planning to launch a new product in the global market. Contact Us Avinash D Head of Business Development Phone: +1-315-215-1633 Email: sales@thebrainyinsights.com Web: http://www.thebrainyinsights.com President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended a groundbreaking ceremony of a school building in the city of Zangilan. Minister of Science and Education Emin Amrullayev informed the head of state and the First Lady of the 960-seat school building. The three-storey school building will occupy an area of 1.6 hectares. The head of state laid the foundation stone for the school. Growth Plus Reports Pune, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the latest report published by Growth Plus Reports, the global ventricular assist devices market is expected to clock US$ 2.52 billion by 2030 and to grow at a CAGR of 8.50% during the forecast period. The global ventricular assist devices market is driven by increasing heart failure cases, the growing geriatric population, and technological advancements. Additionally, favorable reimbursement policies and the introduction of novel products contribute to the growth of the global ventricular assist devices market. This exclusive information is published by Growth Plus Reports in its report titled Ventricular Assist Devices Market Global Outlook & Forecast 2022-2030 Ventricular assist devices, also known as artificial circulatory support systems, aid in controlling blood flow and pumping blood from the heart's left ventricle. Ventricular assist devices are implanted in the left ventricle or both ventricles during open heart surgery to maintain positive blood pressure throughout the body. Ventricular assist devices are divided into two types: continuous flow devices and pulsatile flow devices. Download PDF Brochure of Ventricular Assist Devices Market Size - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis with Strategic Developments at: https://growthplusreports.com/inquiry/request-sample/ventricular-assist-device-market/7893 Growth Drivers Increasing heart failure cases and the high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases are contributing to the growth of the global ventricular assist devices market. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 697,000 Americans died from heart disease in 2020 In the United States. Between 2017 and 2018, the United States spent roughly US$ 229 billion on heart disease management. Coronary heart disease accounts for approximately two out of every ten deaths in the United States. About 20.1 million adults aged 20 and up are affected by coronary artery disease (about 7.2 percent). The rising prevalence of cardiovascular and heart diseases is driving the market. The global ventricular assist devices market has been analyzed from five different perspectives Product, Type, Application, End User, and Region Excerpts from by Product Based on products, the global ventricular assist devices (VAD) market is segmented into: Right Ventricular Assist Devices Bi-Ventricular Assist Devices Left Ventricular Assist Devices Total Artificial Heart Left VADs dominate the global ventricular assist devices market because it is a lifesaving treatment for heart failure and increases the patient survival rate. Additionally, the shortage of transplant organs and the associated risk is boosting the global left ventricular assist devices market. The total artificial heart (TAH) segment shall show exponential growth during the forecast period. Treatment with TAH bypasses the use of immunosuppressive drugs, has less chance of implant rejection, and provides hemodynamic stability. Excerpts From by Application The global ventricular assist devices market, based on the application, has been segmented into: Destination Therapy (DT) Bridge To Recovery (BTR) Bridge To Transplant (BTT) Bridge To Candidacy (BTC) The bridge to transplant segment dominates the global ventricular assist devices market, owing to the increasing recommendation by cardiologists, the growing prevalence of heart diseases, and the shortage of organ transplants. Excerpts from by Region Segmentation The global ventricular assist devices market has been segmented into North America Europe Asia Pacific Rest of the World The global ventricular assist devices market is dominated by North America and the Asia Pacific. The large share of North America in the global market is attributed to favorable reimbursement policies, increasing cardiovascular diseases, and an increasing geriatric population. Additionally, Developed infrastructure, advanced healthcare systems, and growing healthcare expenditure are contributing to the growth of the North American ventricular assist device market. Inquiry Before Buying: https://growthplusreports.com/inquiry/before-buying/ventricular-assist-device-market/7893 Excerpts from Competitive Landscape The prominent players in the global ventricular assist devices market are Abiomed, Inc. Berlin Heart GmbH Boston Scientific Corporation Calon Cardio Jarvik Heart, Inc. LivaNova PLC Medtronic Plc ReliantHeart Inc. Abbott Laboratories Terumo Medical Corporation Table of Content INTRODUCTION Market Ecosystem Timeline Under Consideration Currency Used in the Report RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Research Approach Data Collection Methodology Data Sources Secondary Sources Primary Sources Market Estimation Approach Bottom Up Top Down Market Forecasting Model Limitations and Assumptions PREMIUM INSIGHTS Current Market Trends (COVID-19 Perspective) Key Players & Competitive Positioning (2021) MARKET DYNAMICS Drivers Restraints/Challenges Opportunities GLOBAL VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICES MARKET - ANALYSIS & FORECAST, BY PRODUCT Right Ventricular Assist Device Bi-Ventricular Assist Device Left Ventricular Assist Device Total Artificial Heart GLOBAL VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICES MARKET - ANALYSIS & FORECAST, BY Type Continuous Flow Pulsatile Flow GLOBAL VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICES MARKET - ANALYSIS & FORECAST, BY APPLICATION Destination Therapy (DT) Bridge to Recovery (BTR) Bridge to Transplant (BTT) Bridge to Candidacy (BTC) VALUE PROPOSITIONS RELATED TO THE REPORT: Powered with Complimentary Analyst Hours and Expert Interviews with Each Report Comprehensive quantitative and qualitative insights at segment and sub-segment level Covid 19 impact trends and perspective Granular insights at global/regional/country level Deep-rooted insights on market dynamics (drivers, restraints, opportunities) and business environment Blanket coverage on competitive landscape Winning imperatives Exhaustive coverage on 'Strategic Developments' registered by leading players of the market CUSTOMIZATION OPTIONS: Distributor Landscape Assessment Pricing Intelligence Customer Base Assessment Investment & Initiatives Analysis 'Business Profile' of Key Players Directly Purchase Premium Copy of Ventricular Assist Devices Market Growth Report (2022-2030) at: https://growthplusreports.com/checkout?_token=4fHZIfn21YkZvnh1znCQ0uPrmyCC1IkyymLPkbXm&report_id=7893&license=Single About Us: Growth Plus Reports is part of GRG Health, a global healthcare knowledge service company. We are proud members of EPhMRA (European Pharmaceutical Marketing Research Association). Growth Plus portfolio of services draws on our core capabilities of secondary & primary research, market modelling & forecasting, benchmarking, analysis and strategy formulation to help clients create scalable, ground-breaking solutions that prepare them for future growth and success. We were awarded by the prestigious CEO Magazine as "Most Innovative Healthcare Market Research Company in 2020. CONTACT: Manan Sethi Director, Market Insights Email: enquire@growthplusreports.com Phone no: +91 96545 76783 Web: https://growthplusreports.com/ Verde AgriTech Ltd SINGAPORE, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verde AgriTech Ltd (TSX: NPK) ("OTCMKTS: "VNPKF") (Verde or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has rectified the water issues encountered during construction of improved road access to Plant 2.1 As part of Plant 2s logistics corridor, the Company upgraded the road infrastructure, including 22 kms of roads, 14 kms of asphalting, and the construction of a new bridge. Fortunately, the road issue did not damage human or environmental wellbeing and was surmounted quickly and definitely. Now we can put all our focus on achieving another year of record production and delivery, commented Verdes Founder, President & CEO, Cristiano Veloso. About Verde AgriTech Verde is an agricultural technology company that produces potash fertilizers. Our purpose is to improve the health of all people and the planet. Rooting our solutions in nature, we make agriculture healthier, more productive, and profitable. Verde is a fully integrated company, from the mining and processing its main feedstock from its 100% owned mineral properties, to the Product sales processes, which also include direct technical advice for farmers, and distribution. Verdes focus on research and development has resulted in one patent and eight patents pending. Among its proprietary technologies are Cambridge Tech, 3D Alliance, MicroS Technology, N Keeper, and Bio Revolution.2 Currently, the Company is fully licensed to produce up to 2.8 million tonnes per year of its multinutrient potassium fertilizers K Forte and BAKS, sold internationally as Super Greensand.3 By the end of 2022, it plans to become Brazil's largest potash producer by capacity.4 Verde has a combined measured and indicated mineral resource of 1.47 billion tonnes at 9.28% K 2 O and an inferred mineral resource of 1.85 billion tonnes at 8.60% K 2 O (using a 7.5% K 2 O cut-off grade).5 This amounts to 295.70 million tonnes of potash in K 2 O. For context, in 2021 Brazils total consumption of potash in K 2 O was 7.92 million.6 Story continues Brazil ranks second in global potash demand and is its single largest importer, currently depending on external sources for over 96% of its potash needs. In 2021, potash accounted for approximately 2% of all Brazilian imports by dollar value. Corporate Presentation For further information on the Company, please view shareholders deck: https://verde.docsend.com/view/9r8qbde5zi7xb95e Investors Newsletter Subscribe to receive the Companys updates at: http://cloud.marketing.verde.ag/InvestorsSubscription The last edition of the newsletter can be accessed at: https://bit.ly/InvestorsNL_August_2022 Cautionary Language and Forward-Looking Statements All Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resources estimates reported by the Company were estimated in accordance with the Canadian National Instrument 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum Definition Standards (May 10, 2014). These standards differ significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. This document contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements" are made as of the date of this document. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the estimated amount and grade of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves; (ii) the PFS representing a viable development option for the Project; (iii) estimates of the capital costs of constructing mine facilities and bringing a mine into production, of sustaining capital and the duration of financing payback periods; (iv) the estimated amount of future production, both produced and sold; (v) timing of disclosure for the PFS and recommendations from the Special Committee; (vi) the Companys competitive position in Brazil and demand for potash; and, (vii) estimates of operating costs and total costs, net cash flow, net present value and economic returns from an operating mine. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "envisages", "assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on Verde's or its consultants' current beliefs as well as various assumptions made by them and information currently available to them. The most significant assumptions are set forth above, but generally these assumptions include, but are not limited to: (i) the presence of and continuity of resources and reserves at the Project at estimated grades; (ii) the geotechnical and metallurgical characteristics of rock conforming to sampled results; including the quantities of water and the quality of the water that must be diverted or treated during mining operations; (iii) the capacities and durability of various machinery and equipment; (iv) the availability of personnel, machinery and equipment at estimated prices and within the estimated delivery times; (v) currency exchange rates; (vi) Super Greensand and K Forte sales prices, market size and exchange rate assumed; (vii) appropriate discount rates applied to the cash flows in the economic analysis; (viii) tax rates and royalty rates applicable to the proposed mining operation; (ix) the availability of acceptable financing under assumed structure and costs; (x) anticipated mining losses and dilution; (xi) reasonable contingency requirements; (xii) success in realizing proposed operations; (xiii) receipt of permits and other regulatory approvals on acceptable terms; and (xiv) the fulfilment of environmental assessment commitments and arrangements with local communities. Although management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. Many forward-looking statements are made assuming the correctness of other forward looking statements, such as statements of net present value and internal rates of return, which are based on most of the other forward-looking statements and assumptions herein. The cost information is also prepared using current values, but the time for incurring the costs will be in the future and it is assumed costs will remain stable over the relevant period. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions do not reflect future experience. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates assumptions and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These risk factors may be generally stated as the risk that the assumptions and estimates expressed above do not occur as forecast, but specifically include, without limitation: risks relating to variations in the mineral content within the material identified as Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves from that predicted; variations in rates of recovery and extraction; the geotechnical characteristics of the rock mined or through which infrastructure is built differing from that predicted, the quantity of water that will need to be diverted or treated during mining operations being different from what is expected to be encountered during mining operations or post closure, or the rate of flow of the water being different; developments in world metals markets; risks relating to fluctuations in the Brazilian Real relative to the Canadian dollar; increases in the estimated capital and operating costs or unanticipated costs; difficulties attracting the necessary work force; increases in financing costs or adverse changes to the terms of available financing, if any; tax rates or royalties being greater than assumed; changes in development or mining plans due to changes in logistical, technical or other factors; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; risks relating to receipt of regulatory approvals; delays in stakeholder negotiations; changes in regulations applying to the development, operation, and closure of mining operations from what currently exists; the effects of competition in the markets in which Verde operates; operational and infrastructure risks and the additional risks described in Verde's Annual Information Form filed with SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com) for the year ended December 31, 2021. Verde cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on our forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to Verde, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Verde does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by Verde or on our behalf, except as required by law. For additional information please contact: Cristiano Veloso, Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Tel: +55 (31) 3245 0205; Email: investor@verde.ag www.investor.verde.ag | www.supergreensand.com | www.verde.ag ____________________ 1 See press release at: https://investor.verde.ag/verde-announces-commissioning-of-its-plant-2/ 2 Learn more about our technologies: https://verde.docsend.com/view/yvthnpuv8jx6g4r9 3 See the release at: https://investor.verde.ag/2-5-million-tonnes-per-year-potash-mining-concession-granted-to-verde/ 4 See the release at: https://investor.verde.ag/verde-to-reach-3-million-tonnes-potash-production-capacity-in-2022/ 5 As per the National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects within Canada (NI 43 -101), filed on SEDAR in 2017. See the Pre-Feasibility Study at: https://investor.verde.ag/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/NI-43-101-Pre-Feasibility-Technical-Report-Cerrado-Verde-Project.pdf 6 Union of the Agricultural Fertilizers and Correctives Industry, in the State of Sao Paulo (SIACESP, from Sindicato da Industria de Fertilizantes e Corretivos Agropecuarios, no Estado de Sao Paulo). CHENGDU, China, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wuhou district, a central urban district of Chengdu, the capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province, has made great strides in improving people's livelihood and pushing forward high-quality development. Wuhou district in Chengdu, Sichuan province takes a series of measures to promote high-quality development. West Wisdom Valley C8 project, the first industrial park in Wuhou focusing on digital economy, is currently under construction. Several leading enterprises in the field have expressed their intent to cooperate with the project, including GDC Technology and Xiaomi Corp. E-commerce giant JD's southwest regional headquarters has been completed and put into use. It can accommodate tens of thousands of people. JD is also enhancing cooperation with an industrial functional zone known as Tazhuang Meigu to build large-scale industrial clusters. Relying on the innovation resources from the West China Center of Medical Sciences of Sichuan University and its affiliated hospitals, the West China Health Valley in Wuhou is striving to step up the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements in order to build health industry clusters. As of July, it has become home to 58 enterprises, forming four industrial clusters revolving around precision medicine, medical cosmetology, health management, and medical instrument circulation. Focusing on key areas such as urban industry and medical health, the district is introducing and cultivating a number of leading enterprises, platforms and projects in 12 industrial chains to improve its modern industrial system. Along with its increasing economic strength, the district is continuing to increase investment in people's livelihoods. When the autumn semester began in September, a number of new schools were put into use in Wuhou. It is also cooperating with colleges and universities to build affiliated schools, and making efforts to introduce high-quality basic educational resources and form clusters of high-quality schools. To improve elderly care services, the district began to promote home care beds last year so that more elderly people can enjoy professional home care services without leaving their homes. Story continues Wuhou district is also actively responding to the people's expectation for a better life through the renovation of old communities, focusing both on visible projects such as environmental improvement and aesthetics, as well as invisible infrastructures such as underground pipe networks and security facilities. The district will accelerate the promotion of smart governance. It will build more intelligent governance application scenarios to meet the needs of differentiated, personalized and diversified community services. SOURCE Wuhou District of Chengdu Yasmene McDaniel Yasmene McDaniel, CEO of HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast Houston, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HCA Healthcare Gulf Coast Division President Troy Villarreal today announced Yasmene McDaniel has been named chief executive officer (CEO) of HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast, effective October 17, 2022. McDaniel has served as interim CEO of HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast since June 2022. She joined the HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast team in July 2021 as chief operating officer (COO). In addition to cultivating strong relationships with Southeasts medical staff and community leaders, Yasmene has been instrumental in the growth of service lines and in providing oversight for multiple facility construction and expansion projects, said Villarreal. She has a proven track record in leading strategic planning and business development initiatives and in improving colleague, patient and physician engagement. I know she will continue to utilize her operational experience to lead Southeast to even stronger years ahead. Driven by a calling to increase healthcare access and quality for communities in need, McDaniel has served in several healthcare leadership roles in her 15 years in hospital and physician group operations. Prior to her role at Southeast, McDaniel was the COO of Corpus Christi Medical Center. She also held multiple positions during her three-year tenure in the Houston market with HCA Healthcare Physician Services Group. Before joining HCA Healthcare, McDaniel served as chief administrative officer at Sparks Health System in Fort Smith, Arkansas and led development initiatives for the Jackson Health System in Miami, Florida, including opening a new hospital. A native Texan, McDaniel holds two masters degrees in business administration and healthcare administration from Texas Womans University in Denton and a bachelor of science degree from Baylor University. She is active in several community chambers of commerce, is a board member of the Southeast Texas Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Story continues McDaniel is the first black hospital CEO appointed to serve in the Gulf Coast Division. I always wanted to work in healthcare and am thankful for all the opportunities Ive experienced to prepare me for this next step in my career, said McDaniel. I am honored to serve HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast, which has a rich culture of providing compassionate care. I look forward to working with our care teams and medical staff to continue the longstanding legacy of providing exceptional care to our community. ### Interview requests are welcome. About HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast has served Southeast Harris County for more than 60 years. The 361-bed hospital offers a full spectrum of services, including a Level III Trauma Center, an accredited Chest Pain Center, a Primary Stroke Center, and an accredited surgical weight loss program. The hospital has several specialty services including the Center for Neurosciences and Orthopedics, the Center for Cardiovascular Services, two free-standing emergency departments and an offsite Rehabilitation Hospital currently under construction. HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast is recognized as an area leader for womens services and is supported by its Level III neonatal intensive care unit, 24/7 OB hospitalists, and three offsite midwifery clinics. The hospital received a Spring 2022 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade A and has been recognized by multiple organizations as a top place to work. For more information, visit HCAhoustonhealthcare.com/southeast About HCA Houston Healthcare HCA Houston Healthcare is the leading provider of healthcare in the Greater Houston area, treating nearly a million patients annually. With an employee base of 15,000, HCA Houston Healthcares comprehensive network includes: 13 hospitals, 10 outpatient surgery centers, 11 freestanding emergency centers and numerous freestanding diagnostic imaging facilities. The system operates a regional transfer center that provides support for patient transfers into and out of its facilities, as well as access to ground and air transportation within a 150-mile radius. As one of the regions largest healthcare systems, HCA Houston Healthcare recognizes the importance of giving back to the communities it serves. A strong advocate for the next generation of healthcare professionals, HCA Houston Healthcare is a major supporter of the University of Houston College of Nursing and the new University of Houston College of Medicine. For more information, visit HCAhoustonhealthcare.com. About HCA Healthcare Gulf Coast Division HCA Houston Healthcare is the leading provider of healthcare in the Greater Houston area, treating nearly a million patients annually. With an employee base of 15,000, HCA Houston Healthcares comprehensive network includes: 13 hospitals, 10 outpatient surgery centers, 11 freestanding emergency centers and numerous freestanding diagnostic imaging facilities. The system operates a regional transfer center that provides support for patient transfers into and out of its facilities, as well as access to ground and air transportation within a 150-mile radius. As one of the regions largest healthcare systems, HCA Houston Healthcare recognizes the importance of giving back to the communities it serves. A strong advocate for the next generation of healthcare professionals, HCA Houston Healthcare is a major supporter of the University of Houston College of Nursing and the new University of Houston College of Medicine. For more information, visit HCAhoustonhealthcare.com. Attachment CONTACT: Annette Garber HCA Houston Healthcare 281-928-0129 Annette.Garber@HCAhealthcare.com Zero Hash Comprehensive portfolio of cryptocurrencies now available to Currents over four million members CHICAGO, Oct. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zero Hash, the leading global B2B2C crypto-as-a-service infrastructure provider, today announced it has partnered with Current, a leading U.S. financial technology platform, to provide access to no-fee crypto trading for its over four million members. The integration with Zero Hash allows Current members access to buy and sell dozens of crypto assets without trading fees, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, in the Current app. Current members receive instant liquidity from their trades in their spending accounts, allowing them to buy, sell and access their funds instantly without the need to move money between accounts, wait for funds to settle or pay trading fees. Zero Hash, the leading global B2B2C crypto-as-a-service infrastructure provider, removes the technological and regulatory complexities of fiatto-crypto conversion. Zero Hash provides the complete building blocks for supporting crypto trading, including liquidity, custody, and regulatory and compliance infrastructure. Zero Hash brings the deep domain expertise of powering crypto products for some of the major consumer fintech platforms worldwide. The latest data shows that 75% of retail investors between the ages of 21 and 42 look to the crypto sector for the greatest investment opportunities, and nearly half already own cryptocurrency holdings. Against this backdrop, we are pleased to partner with Current on their first crypto product, said Edward Woodford, CEO of Zero Hash. We see the most agile fintechs now offering crypto to meet consumer demand and ensure their users remain sticky. Our turnkey solution for digital assets allows Current to focus on building innovative products and experiences for their customers, launching quickly and securely and with little regulatory burden. At Current we have always been focused on onboarding people onto the financial system, said Trevor Marshall, Chief Technology Officer, Current. Now, through partnering with Zero Hash, were able to immediately onboard our over four million members to cryptocurrency through a trusted entity in Current. This allows Current members to be participants in these alternative networks and benefit from the value they create to improve their financial outcomes. Story continues About Zero Hash Zero Hash is a B2B2C embedded infrastructure platform that allows any platform to integrate digital assets natively into their own customer experience quickly and easily (a matter of API endpoints). Zero Hashs turnkey solution handles the entire backend complexity and regulatory licensing required to offer crypto products. Zero Hash powers neo-banks, broker-dealers, payment groups, as well as non-financial brands to offer digital asset trading and custody, crypto-backed rewards and round-ups programs, and the ability to earn crypto through staking and more. Zero Hash is backed by investors, including Point72 Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures, and NYCA. Zero Hash LLC is a FinCen-registered Money Service Business and a regulated Money Transmitter that can operate in 51 US jurisdictions. Zero Hash LLC and Zero Hash Liquidity Services LLC are licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the New York State Department of Financial Services. In Canada, Zero Hash LLC is registered as a Money Service Business with FINTRAC. Zero Hash Australia Pty Limited is registered with the DCE registered provider number 100804170001. About Current We are a leading U.S. financial technology platform serving the needs of Americans who are working to create a better future for themselves. Our mission is to enable members to change their lives by creating better financial outcomes. Leveraging the best technology, we deliver inspirational and motivational products as we all move forward in a world of increasing digitization and complexity. To learn more about us, visit http://www.current.com or download our app on the App Store or Google Play. Current is backed by investments from Andreessen Horowitz, Tiger Global Management, TQ Ventures, Avenir, Sapphire Ventures, Foundation Capital, Wellington Management, QED Investors and EXPA. Contacts Zero Hash Edward Woodford PR@zerohash.com Current Erin Bruehl Senior Director of Communications, Current media@current.com Two area residents were killed and another man was seriously injured in a single-vehicle crash early Tuesday in King George County, police said. According to Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller, a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 was heading south on State Route 605 near Birchwood Creek Road at 3:41 a.m. when it ran off the right side of the road. The vehicle went airborne and struck several trees, Geller said. The driver and two passengers were all ejected from the Silverado. Michael C. Ambrose, 27, of Woodford, and Amber D. Arbogast, 29, of King George, were pronounced dead at the scene. The third victim was transported to the VCU Medical Center in Richmond to be treated for serious injuries. Trooper S.K. Wendell is investigating the incident. Stafford County supervisors have asked the Planning Commission to study what impact solar facilities might have on the community after two out-of-state companies filed applications to build separate solar facilities in the southern portion of the county. For Stafford County, this is something new, said Planning Commission Chair Kristen Barnes. We dont have anything like this in Stafford County. The Planning Commission is now expected to develop amendments to the countys comprehensive plan and local codes in an effort to update the standards for solar and energy storage facilities in the county. The commission is expected to present its findings to supervisors by Jan. 17. Barnes said between now and then, the Planning Commission will examine environmental impacts, emergency response and safety concerns, effects on county residents and much more. My bottom line is, is it good for Stafford, period, Barnes said. Although a proposed solar farm is new for Stafford, its a form of alternative energy that communities across the state have focused on since 2020, when former Gov. Ralph Northam signed the Virginia Clean Economy Act, which sparked investments in solar installations throughout Virginia. That law requires the two largest electric utilities in the stateDominion Energy and Appalachian Powerto become carbon free by 2045 and 2050, respectively. Since Northam signed the law, 51 local governmental authorities have been approached to build large-scale solar installations in their jurisdictions and 44 have already approved applications for similar facilities, as reported in a recent survey by the University of Virginias Weldon Cooper Center and the Virginia Department of Energy. Locally, Kinglet Solar of Santa Monica, California, filed a conditional use permit in July with Stafford officials to build a 183-acre community solar facility on the north side of Truslow Road between Virginia Avenue and Locust Street. The facility is expected to eventually bring power to 660 shared solar subscribers. Kinglet is intended for inclusion in Dominions shared solar program, which allows low-income households to subscribe to electricity generated by the facility and save money on their utility bills, Patrick Harper, project developer for Kinglet, wrote in an email. Harper, who said his company has offices in Washington as well as Asheville and Durham, North Carolina, said Kinglet is also developing community-scale projects in 10 other Virginia locations. Our transmission team has previously developed projects in Powhatan and Chesterfield counties, he wrote. Both of these facilities are currently part of Dominions solar fleet. Jack Wilson, a representative with Dominion Energy, said the shared solar program is an opportunity for customers who want solar power for their home but are unable to install panels of their own. For example, its a good fit for customers who live in apartment buildings, shaded areas, or who do not have enough space on their property to install a solar array, Wilson said. Under Dominions shared solar program, customers purchase a subscription in a shared solar facility and receive a bill credit for the proportional output of the solar facility attributable to that subscriber, according to Dominions website. Orlando, Florida-based esaSolar Engineering, which is doing business in Halifax and Lunenburg counties as well as in Chesapeake, also submitted a July proposal to Stafford officials to build a solar facility on 36 acres at the corner of Enon and Truslow roads near the countys new Musselman Park. A website of that project shows construction is expected to begin in 2024 to generate power for approximately 600 low to moderate income homes as well as some businesses. Like the Kinglet project, Justin Vandenbroeck of esaSolar said the intention of his companys Stafford facility is also to participate in Dominions shared solar program. Elsewhere, Spotsylvania County officials said they are nearing the end of the project construction phase at the massive solar facility that includes 1.8 million solar panels. The site, near Fawn Lake in the western part of the county, covers 3,500 acres and will feed 484 megawatts into the grid, making it perhaps the largest solar facility on the East Coast. The remaining items at the project are construction of their operations and maintenance facility and the closing out of environmental permits, said county spokeswoman Michele McGinnis. The sPower solar facility in Spotsylvania drew opposition beginning in 2018, when Utah-based Sustainable Power Group sought rezoning and special-use permits to build the facility that the county approved in 2019. Apple, Microsoft and the University of Richmond contracted to receive the electricity credits from that sprawling facility. While McGinnis said no other solar facility requests have crossed her desk, in May of this year, Caroline County supervisors deferred a vote on four solar projects until next month. Like their peers in Stafford, county officials in Caroline are examining all issues of the proposals. Last month, the Caroline County Board of Supervisors voted 60 to deny a special exemption permit for the Energix Racehorse Solar project on 145 acres off Quarters Road. About 30 residents living near the site signed a petition opposing the project. Caroline supervisors also denied a permit for CC Solar on a 1,600-acre parcel. Mike Finchum, Caroline Countys director of planning, stated in an email that the Woodford Solar project goes to public hearing Nov. 10 and a decision on the Ladder Solar project, which has already had a public hearing, rests with county supervisors. Finchum added that pending changes to Virginias Department of Environmental Quality stormwater regulations are important considerations for leaders in Caroline County. So much so that the board is considering revocation of the previously approved solar regulations for both major and minor projects until any modifications at the state level are finalized, Finchum wrote. With two applications for solar facilities, Staffords Planning Commission will take a look at the pros and cons of solar facilities. Barnes said in addition to the Planning Commission looking at issues like the facilities impact on local residents, county ordinances and stormwater management, safety is also a key concern. Billie Shelton, who serves on Staffords Planning Commission and is a lifetime member of the Hartwood Volunteer Fire Department, as well as the former fire chief at Fort Belvoir, said emergency access to these facilities is critical to minimize the impact on the surrounding community. We have to have access for emergency vehicles in and out, you have to have control of vegetation because invariably these things, eventually, the inverter could fail and start a little brush fire, Shelton said. Were going to be looking at all of those things. Shelton said the commission will also examine what happens when solar facilities in Stafford one day reach the end of their service life. Solar panels have a lifespan of about 15 to 20 years, Shelton said. Were going to look at what happens to the materials that are left in the decommissioning process. The Nebraska State Patrol on Wednesday released information regarding the investigation into a Sept. 27 shooting in Oakland that left one person dead. The Oakland Police Department and Burt County Sheriffs Office responded to reports of a domestic disturbance and shooting in the 300 block of North Oakland Avenue at approximately 9 p.m. Upon arrival, officers located a male subject with a gunshot wound. The person, identified as Ryan Schuman, 32, was transported to an area hospital where he died. The Burt County Attorney requested that the Nebraska State Patrol investigate the incident. In a prepared release, an NSP spokesman said the preliminary investigation suggested that the parties involved were engaged in a domestic physical altercation, when one of the subjects discharged a firearm a single time. That individual made a claim of self-defense. Following a thorough investigation and consultation with the Burt County Attorney, all evidence and statements collected substantiate the assertion of self-defense. The investigation has shown that Schuman had attempted to prevent two people, a male and female, from leaving an apartment. Schuman then attacked the woman, striking her repeatedly. At that time, the male fired one shot at Schuman to end the attack. The male and female then left the apartment to get help and call 911. The woman was treated for injuries at the scene. No arrests have been made in this case and no charges are pending. Voters in the City of Tekamah will have decisions to make in the Nov. 8 general election. Contested races are on the ballot for Tekamahs mayor and both city council seats available this cycle. Two-term incumbent mayor Ron Grass is being challenged by first term city council member Jane Walford. Walfords run for mayor means she has to give up her West Ward council seat which is up for election this year. Joel Bacon and Jessica Russell survived the May primary and are on the ballot for the open seat. The East Ward is a little different. Incumbent Kelly Adamson was running unopposed until last month when Lisa Thompson entered the race as a write-in candidate. Because she is a write-in candidate, her supporters must do just thatwrite her name in on the line provided on the ballot. But since she recorded her candidacy with the countys election commissioner, Sarah Freidel, Thompsons supporters have a little more latitude with spelling and clarity of handwriting. Thompson, a Burt County native, is an underwriter for Berkshire Hathaway Homestake Companies and was the marketing and events coordinator for the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. She said Burt County gave her the opportunities she needed to succeed and she wants to use her education and strong moral background to help the city move forward. She said her passion for small-town rejuvenation is balanced by a respect for the history that brought the community to this point. Tekamah man Shawn Qualley also has mounted a write-in campaign. He is running for a Ward 2 seat on the Tekamah-Herman school board. ard 2 represents the districts rural Burt County patrons. A political newcomer, Qualley got into the race over what he called excessive spending by the district. Among his attributes, Qualley has a combined 17 years of experience in the Air Force and Department of Defense as a financial analyst. he also has another 10 years of experience in logistics He is running against incumbents Bill Skinner and Paul Potadle. West Ward voters also have a choice to make at the county level. The 2020 census forced a change to the boundaries for districts on the county Board of Supervisors. The West Ward was moved from District 3 to District 1 and the citys East Ward was moved from 1 to 3. In District 1, incumbent Democrat Kevin Tobin is being challenged by Republican Sam Titus. A profile of candidates running for Tekamahs mayor and city council seats, as well as the District 1 and Ward 2 races, is planned for the Nov. 1 issue of the Plaindealer. Incumbent Ted Connealy is running unopposed for the District 3 seat. In District 5, the area around Lyons, Republican Jeff Kutchera is running for the seat being vacated by Democrat Dale Webster. In District 7, south central Burt County, incumbent Republican Carl Pearson is running unopposed for his second term. Elsewhere in the courthouse, District Court Clerk Michele Quick, County Assessor Katie Hart, County Attorney Edmond Talbot, County Clerk Sarah Freidel, County Sheriff Eric Nick, County Surveyor Fred Frankllin and County Treasurer Robin Olson all are unopposed. All are incumbents for their respective offices. At the township level, voters in Summit and Silver Creek have contested races to decide. Summit voters are asked to pick three from a field that includes Dennis Fleischman, Tom Hansen, Joe Goebel and Dave Wakehouse. The ballot in Silver Creek shows Ray Petersen, Trent Leichleiter, John Hundahl and Colby Hansen in the pick-three race. At the state capitol, the District 16 seat in the state legislature is up for grabs. Incumbent Ben Hansen defeated challenger Connie Petersen 6,455-2,269 in the May primary. In Burt County Hansen, the Blair businessman was an 1,123-399 winner over the Hoskins, Nebraska woman. Both are on the November ballot again. All of Nebraskas constitutional officersthe governor, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor and attorney generalalso are on the ballot. In the open race for governor, Republican Jim Pillen squares off against Democrat Carol Blood, Libertarian Scott Zimmerman and write-in candidate Dave Wright. Burt County voters also will notice a new name in one of the federal races. Redistricting caused by the recent census has moved the county into Congressional District 3. The incumbent is Republican Adrian Smith. Smith will face Democrat David Else, and Legal Marijuana Now candidate Mark Elworth, Jr. Voters who dont want to wait until Nov. 8 to cast their ballots have two choices. They can vote in person at the county clerks office during regular business hours, or they can request an early-voting ballot be mailed to them. Freidel, the election commissioner, said 78 early-voting ballots had been mailed by late last week. Those wanting an early ballot must make their request before Oct. 28. But in order to vote in the general election, you have to be registered. If a citizen has not registered before, is a new resident of Nebraska, or needs to update their registration, there are several convenient ways to do it. Prospective voters can register in person or by mail at their county election office; in Burt County, thats the county clerks office. Registration also is available online through the Secretary of States online voter registration system, NEReg2Vote. The system is very accessible and widely used. A drivers license or state ID is required to complete the process. The Department of Motor Vehicles offices will also register citizens online when they are updating their drivers license. Also, teenagers who turn 18 before Nov. 8 can register to vote and vote in the election even if they have yet to turn 18. According to Secretary of State Bob Evnen, any citizens who are new residents, or residents who need to update their registration, need to act quickly. The deadline to register by mail or through a state agency is Friday, Oct. 21. The following Friday, Oct. 28, is the last day to register in person at county election offices. The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) has determined that a man who shot 32-year-old Oakland resident Ryann Schuman did so in self-defense. No arrests have been made and no charges are pending at this time from the Sept. 27 shooting after which Schuman died. In a prepared statement, State Patrol officials said authorities received a report at about 9 that night of a shooting at an apartment. The residence is in the 300 block of North Oakland Avenue, in Oakland. Burt County Sheriffs deputies and Oakland Police found Schuman, who was taken to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The Burt County Attorney asked NSP to investigate the incident. A preliminary investigation suggested those involved were engaged in a domestic physical altercation, when one of them discharged a firearm once. The individual said it was done in self-defense. NSP said the investigation since has shown that Schuman had attempted to keep a man and a woman from leaving his apartment. Schuman then attacked the woman striking her repeatedly. At that time, the man fired one shot at Schuman to end the attack, the NSP said. The man and woman then left the apartment to get help and call 911. The woman was treated for injuries at the scene. After a thorough investigation and consultation with the Burt County Attorney, all evidence and statements collected substantiate the assertion of self-defense, the NSP stated. On its Facebook page after the shooting, Oakland-Craig Public Schools said Schuman was a staff member. He was described as a paraprofessional at the high school and worked in the elementary afterschool program. June 19, 1941 October 14, 2022 Dr. Richard Dick Bergstrom passed peacefully at home on Oct. 14, 2022. Dick was born on June 19, 1941, outside of Onawa, Iowa. The farm on which he grew up did not have indoor plumbing or electricity until Dick was a teenager. He worked every day on the family farm, and he was valedictorian of his high school class. He graduated from Iowa State in 1963 as a history major. An Army ROTC cadet in college, Dick was commissioned as an artillery officer in 1963, but deferred his active-duty obligation to attend medical school at the University of Iowa. While at medical school, he met Sheryl Bergstrom, nee Kuhl, of Aberdeen, South Dakota. They were married on Feb. 4, 1967. After finishing medical school, the Army called him to active duty. He completed an internship in St. Petersburg, Florida, and did on-the-job orthopedics training before being sent to Vietnam in December 1968. He served with the 22nd Surgical Hospital and the 85th Evacuation Hospital in Phu Bai until the end of September 1969. Of note, Dr. Bergstrom treated casualties from the infamous battle of Hamburger Hill (Hill 937). After leaving active duty as a captain, Dr. Bergstrom completed a general surgery residency in St. Louis followed by an orthopedics residency from 1971 to 1974 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. He completed a hand surgery fellowship at the Kleinert Kutz Hand Center in Louisville, Kentucky. Dr. Bergstrom was the one of the first surgeons to successfully perform a multiple finger replantation (reattachment) surgery in Nebraska. Dr. Bergstrom practiced medicine for over 50 years of which he spent over 40 years in Fremont. He made the lives of thousands of patients better. Dicks Swedish heritage was an integral part of his life. He was fluent in Swedish and lived in Linkoping, Sweden, for a year while doing a fellowship in arthroscopic surgery. Dr. Bergstrom co-authored and translated an orthopedics textbook from Swedish to English. He was an avid chess player, and he began violin lessons in his 60s. A firm believer in life-long learning, he enjoyed nothing more than reading a good book. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ethel and Fred Bergstrom; and by his brothers, Robert Bergstrom and Thomas Bergstrom, M.D. Dr. Bergstrom is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sheryl Bergstrom; and his children, Kirsten Bergstrom of Helsinki, Finland, Lars (Renee) Bergstrom of Lone Tree, Colorado, Annika (Stephen) George of Waterloo, Nebraska, and Karna (Matt) Bock of Leawood, Kansas; as well as 10 grandchildren. Over the years, Dick and Sheryl opened their home to 11 foreign exchange students from Finland, Iceland, and Sweden who are a part of the Bergstrom family. He is also survived by his siblings, Patricia Smith, Mary Bergstrom and John Bergstrom. He was 81. Visitation will be held on Friday, Oct. 21, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Dugan Funeral Chapel. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 2:30 p.m. at Sinai Lutheran Church in Fremont. Interment will take place on Monday, Oct. 24, at 10 a.m. with Military Honors at Omaha National Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Wounded Warrior Project or Sinai Lutheran Church in Fremont. Condolences may be left at duganchapel.com. Dugan Funeral Chapel, 402-721-2880 Kevin Shaughnessy, executive vice president of Colorado Springs-based Phil Long Dealerships, will represent Colorado in the competition for the 2023 TIME Dealer of the Year award, a news release announced this week. Shaughnessy is among 48 nominees who will compete for what is one of the auto industrys highest awards; the TIME Dealer of the Year award recognizes the nations most successful car dealers who also show an ongoing commitment to community service, according to the release. "At the heart of our mission weve always had philanthropy as a core value and as weve grown, the amount of philanthropy we can provide within our state and our communities has really grown," Shaughnessy said Wednesday. "I suppose that being entrusted with leading the automotive dealerships for Phil Long I think that dealers appreciate the support of what our whole organization has done and I get to be the guy I guess who gets the recognition." Shaughnessy joined Phil Long Ford in 2006 as a general sales manager and has since worked his way up the corporate ladder; he was named vice president and managing partner of the dealership group in 2018. Before working at Phil Long, Shaughnessy started in automotive retail in New Mexico and Texas. At Phil Long, Shaughnessy, who lives in Denver and works mostly in Colorado Springs, oversees more than a dozen brands with dealerships across the region. Shaughnessy serves on the board of Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center in Colorado Springs; the nonprofit was founded by Jay Cimino, president and CEO at Phil Long, and has served nearly 13,000 veterans, military members and their families. He also oversees Phil Long Dealerships annual United Way workplace campaign and Susan G. Komen Colorado partnership, the release said, and directs the companys philanthropic efforts by leading the Corporate Sponsorship & Philanthropy Committee. It really is the combined efforts of 1,200 wonderful employees, an organization that is philanthropic at heart and a partner like Jay Cimino that pushes us to do more always, Shaughnessy said. Dealers are nominated for the TIME award by the executives of state and metro dealer associations around the country; Shaughnessy was nominated by Tim Jackson, president and CEO of the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association. Three finalists and a winner for the TIME award will be selected among four regions by a panel of faculty members from the Tauber Institute for Global Operations at the University of Michigan, the release said. The three finalists will receive $5,000 to give to their favorite charities, and the winner will receive $10,000 to give to charity, with funds donated by Ally, a digital financial services company. Shaughnessy and the other nominees will be honored at the 106th annual National Automobile Dealers Association Show in Dallas on Jan. 27. Dr. Brian Erling, former CEO of Penrose-St. Francis Health Services in Colorado Springs, has a new job in another state. Renown Health has selected Erling as that health system's new CEO and president, according to a news release from Renown; he'll assume his new duties Nov. 14 in Reno, Nev. Erling was named CEO of Penrose-St. Francis Health Services in 2018 after several months as interim CEO. He left the position in August; parent company Centura Health provided no reason for his exit. He had been with Centura since 2016, first as group chief medical officer. Patrick Sharp, previously CEO of Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango, was named the new CEO of Penrose-St. Francis in September. Renown Health, with more than 6,500 employees, includes a trauma center, two acute-care hospitals, a children's hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and a not-for-profit insurance company. The Gazette Chris Reen, president and CEO of Clarity Media Group, the Denver-based owner of The Gazette in Colorado Springs, The Denver Gazette, Colorado Politics and the Washington Examiner, has been honored with the 2022 Frank W. Mayborn Leadership Award from Americas Newspapers, a leading newspaper industry group. Reen was presented with the award Monday during Americas Newspapers senior leadership conference, which took place in New Orleans, according to a post on the groups website. Americas Newspapers was formed in 2019 after the merger of the Inland Press Association, based in suburban Chicago, and the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association, headquartered in Atlanta. At the time, Americas Newspapers pledged to double down on the mission of its legacy associations and committed to explain, defend and advance the vital role of newspapers in democracy and civil life. The group added it would put an emphasis on educating the public on all the ways newspapers contribute to building a community identity and the success of local businesses. Reen served as Americas Newspapers inaugural president; in that role, he was instrumental in guiding the group during its first year, said Nat Lea, president of Americas Newspapers and president and CEO of WEHCO Media, a Little Rock, Ark.-based media company. We all owe Chris a huge debt of gratitude for putting this new merged association on firm footing, especially in the face of the challenges that COVID threw at us just a few months after he took office, Lea said in announcing the award. Reen, he added, was exactly the right person to steer this association through its first year as president and to play a vital role in the planning process as the merger of Inland and (Southern Newspaper Publishers Association) took shape. Lea also cited Reens commitment to education being at the core of Americas Newspapers mission: educating the public about its stake in newspapers future; educating local businesses about the reach and effectiveness of newspapers products and services; and educating group members on the trends, strategies and best practices for a sustainable path to prosperity, according to the post on Americas Newspapers website. The annual Frank W. Mayborn Leadership Award is named for Frank Mayborn, who served as president of the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association in 1961-62. The owner and publisher of newspapers in Temple and Killeen, Texas, and the owner of a television station, Mayborn died in 1987, according to online posts; the journalism school at the University of North Texas is named for him. The Mayborn award is presented to an industry executive to recognize his or her vision, community leadership and contributions to the newspaper industry. To receive this award and even be announced in the same sentence as Frank Mayborn is an incredibly humbling honor, Reen said. He was an icon and leader in the newspaper industry and publishing and broadcast media. He had a distinguished military career. A leader in his community and he was incredibly important and influential in our industry for many, many years. Reen said he also was gratified to receive the award from Americas Newspapers. The trade group is a tireless advocate and champion for the newspaper industry and continues to advocate for the important role that newspapers play in our local communities, Reen said. Which, of course, fits right into the mission of The Gazette in Colorado Springs and Denver, Reen said. Our role is to make a positive contribution and a difference in the communities in which we operate. Thats what Americas Newspapers supports and, like I said, really advocates for. Americas Newspapers has taken a lead role in lobbying Congress for passage of the Journalism Competition & Preservation Act, Reen said. The proposed bipartisan legislation co-sponsored in the House of Representatives by Republican Ken Buck of Colorado would allow news publishers to collectively negotiate for fair compensation from big tech companies that use and profit off news organizations content, according to online posts in support of the measure. That is legislation that would positively impact community newspapers all over the country, instead of Facebook and Google making as much money as they do on our backs and our content, Reen said. U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., asks a question during a hearing held by the Senate Finance Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 12, 2021. Democrats held leads in three of the four seats up for grabs on the State Board of Education this year as of 9 p.m. on Election Day. Colorado Springs police were searching for a man who robbed a business at gunpoint in the 5600 block of East Woodmen Road around 10:20 a.m. Tuesday. The man was wearing a black ski mask when he entered a business and pulled out a handgun, according to police. He demanded money from an employee, who complied. He fled the scene westbound. Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country Sign Up View all of our newsletters. The Colorado Springs Police Department is short more than 100 officers amid a rise in crimes, including homicides. The city has had 40 homicides so far this year, up from 30 at this time last year, Police Chief Adrian Vasquez told the City Council Monday during a budget workshop. The chief shared additional crime statistics with the board Tuesday and strategy for increasing overall staffing through more frequent police academies at a board retreat with Mayor John Suthers. The community has seen an increase in both property crimes, such as burglary, and crimes against people, such as assault, in recent years, although the rate is not increasing locally as fast as it is in similarly sized cities nationally, Vasquez said. Property crimes are up 9% year to date and crimes against people are up 8.7% year to date in Colorado Springs, Vasquez said. He noted that some recent statewide criminal justice reforms have worked against police when it comes to stopping "prolific offenders." "The problem is they are not in jail very long," he said. There is no clear reason why homicides are rising, but Vasquez said he has noticed some disturbances are turning deadly faster among people who don't know each other. The Police Department has 693 sworn officers, he said, not counting 41 people who are in the academy and will join the department later this year. The city has designated enough funding for the department to have 803 sworn officers and expects to boost the funding again in 2023 to add an additional 15 positions. The chief told the council he does not expect to fill all the funded positions until 2024. Attrition has been a major issue for the department, with 78 officers leaving last year and 64 leaving so far this year. About half the officers who left last year and so far this year retired. The next largest group of officers changed careers, he said. The local trend is in line with national patterns. The Police Executive Research Forum found 23.6% more retirements in 2021 than in 2019 and 42.7% more resignations in 2021 than in 2019 across 179 departments in the U.S. and five in Canada. Vasquez said the department is going to shift how it runs academies to help fill positions and get ahead of attrition. "We are going to start smaller academies, but we are going to have them very frequently pushing people through," he said. The city has also boosted pay for new hires in the academy slightly, up to $62,000, city staff said. Councilman Wayne Williams noted the trends in retention have improved a bit lately. "The number of people leaving for nonretirement reasons is going down," he said. The Police Department is also prioritizing funding improvements suggested by a third-party consultant study that examined use of force at the department earlier this year, Vasquez said during a budget workshop Monday. The study found that officers were unhappy with their use-of-force training. The department is planning to hire an independent contractor soon to complete an audit of the existing training, Vasquez said. Moms for America Action Endorses Gov. Greg Abbott Announces Texas Capitol Press Conference Thursday, Oct 20th, 10am, South Capitol Steps NEWS PROVIDED BY Moms for America Action Oct. 19, 2022 BRANSON, Mo. Oct. 19, 2022 /Christian Newswire/ -- Moms for America Action, the political action arm of Moms for America, representing thousands of moms and conservative families around the nation, today endorsed Gov. Greg Abbott for reelection. Additionally, Moms for America Action will be holding a press conference on the South steps of the Texas Capitol with moms from across Texas on Thursday, October 20th. Event Details: DATE: Thursday, October 20th, 2022 TIME: 10am, CST LOCATION: South Capitol Steps, Texas State Capitol GUESTS: Moms for America Action and Texas moms from around the state. Kimberly Fletcher, President of Moms for America Action, issued the following statement: "Texas is at the forefront of the fight against far-left efforts to erode our constitutional rights, defund the police, and keep our borders open. All over the Lone Star State, parents have gotten involved in their children's education, demanded a return to law and order, and are turning out to VOTE for candidates who will secure our southern border. We're proud to endorse Gov. Greg Abbott for reelection, and will be gathering on the South steps of the Texas Capitol to hear from moms from around the state who are fighting back." Moms for America Action promotes public policy based on the freedom sustaining principles of Free Enterprise, Limited Government, Entrepreneurship, Individual Freedom, National Sovereignty, Traditional American Values, Strong National Defense and Constitutional Rule of Law. For more information, please visit us at MFAaction.com. SOURCE Moms for America Action CONTACT: Maria Wagner, 630-698-0072, maria@momsforamerica.net President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended a ceremony to launch Archimedes screw turbine Hydro Power Plant in Zangilan. Minister of Agriculture Inam Karimov informed the President and the First Lady of the Plant. President Ilham Aliyev launched the Plant. Archimedes Screws Turbines are a new form of small hydroelectric power plant that can be applied even in low head sites. ASTs offer a clean and renewable source of energy and are safer for wildlife and especially fish than other hydro generation options. A grassroots parent organization is asking Manitou Springs School District 14s board of education to look into what the group sees as a dramatic increase in staff turnover in recent years. At Mondays board meeting, several members of a group called Stand Up for Manitou said the districts turnover rate has skyrocketed from 8.41% in 2019 to 23.56% in 2022. According to data the group presented at the meeting, the increase has taken the districts attrition from the lowest in the region to the highest. District 14's rate is slightly higher than Harrison, Widefield, Fountain-Fort Carson and Academy School District 20, all of whose turnover rates are at about 23%. Group representative Brenda Holmes-Stanciu said Stand Up for Manitou conducted an exit survey, through a third-party group called Newmeasures LLC, in an attempt to find out why teachers were leaving the district. According to the group, Newmeasures asked 61 former teachers, staff and administrators to participate in the survey, and 87% agreed. The top two reasons employees cited for leaving were "district leadership" and "district culture," according to the survey. There is a clear lack of trust in district leadership and lack of confidence in the future of the district, the group stated in a PowerPoint presentation. Similarly, respondents did not feel there was open/transparent communication and questioned whether the district did right by employees. "They are feeling that their suggestions, their ideas, their areas of expertise are being listened to and then just moved past," said Holmes-Stanciu. District 14 has consistently been one of the Pikes Peak region's highest-performing school districts. The state did not administer Colorado Measures of Academic Success testing in 2020 because of COVID-19, and in 2021, test scores reflected significant learning loss throughout the state. But Manitou Springs' English Language Arts scores actually went up from 2019, and continued to rise this year. On Monday, though, several group members read anonymous statements from current Manitou staffers who reportedly didnt want their names known due to fear of retaliation. The statements backed Holmes-Stancius claim that Manitou staff members dont feel valued or supported, and that the current culture discourages dissension. The culture has become toxic over the last three years because of the actions of the district leadership, read one statement. (Manitou Springs School District) is not the jewel of small (schools) in the area any longer, read another. Other speakers expressed support of district leadership and cautioned against giving too much weight to third-party surveys and anonymous statements. I feel that (the supportive culture) is still there, said former Superintendent Gary Miller, who dismissed Stand Up for Manitous assertions as garbage. The dual narrative of a concern about teacher attrition rates and some unknown fear of retaliation is distracting, irresponsible and misguided, said Rosanna Czarnecki, a District 11 educator and D-14 parent. If current staff are dissatisfied with their administration, there are internal human resource processes in place for them to address any concerns. Czarnecki went on to ask, Who, exactly, is retaliating against whom? And what is the nature of that retaliation? Trevor Robbins, a former Manitou Springs High School teacher, said in his case the retribution came, either directly or indirectly, from Superintendent Elizabeth Domangue. Robbins, who spoke at Monday's meeting, told The Gazette that in 2021 he was given a letter of reprimand in response to parent complaints that arose from his attempt to teach his students about the nuances of COVID-19 protocols. In August 2021, the city of Manitou Springs reinstituted an indoor mask mandate, citing an upward trend in COVID cases. Some students blamed Domangue for the mask edict, Robbins said, and he was trying to explain to them that the decision came from the city and not the school district. I was trying to educate my kids on why we're in the situation we were in, Robbins said. Three parents complained (to Domangue) that we were talking about masks and vaccines in class. Feeling the reprimand was unfair, Robbins challenged the letter through the established channels. But before he was set to plead his case before the board, he was suspended, allegedly for an unrelated incident in which he had scolded students for using their cellphones during the Pledge of Allegiance, he said. Robbins successfully appealed the letter of reprimand and was eventually reinstated into the classroom, but the experience led him to resign at the end of the 2021-2022 school year. Robbins, who worked in education for 18 years, said he doesnt plan to return to teaching. The former educator said he knows of other ex-staffers with stories similar to his. "I am one of many," Robbins said. When asked for comment, Domangue said personnel matters involving current and former employees are confidential. The superintendent released a statement after Mondays meeting. I invite former employees to meet to discuss any concerns or thoughts that would be helpful for progress, the statement said, in part. My door is always open, and I am always happy to talk in hallways, driveways, games, community events, etc. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have viewed conditions created at Zangilan International Airport. President of Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC Jahangir Asgarov informed the head of state and the First Lady about the airport. The runway of Zangilan International Airport is 3,000 meters in length and 60 meters in width. The airport will be capable of accommodating all types of aircraft, including heavy cargo aircraft. Built in accordance with international standards, the airport terminal will be able to serve 200 passengers per hour. The terminal has a VIP lounge, cafe, medical point and office rooms. Zack Smith is a legal fellow in the Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at The Heritage Foundation. The committee backing the ballot measure seeking to expand liquor licenses this week was the recipient of a $4.6 million donation, the largest campaign contribution given to an issue committee in Colorado this election cycle. It's also the sixth largest in state history, according to TRACER, the state's campaign finance database. The money came from U.S. Rep. David Trone, D-Maryland, and his brother, Robert, through their company, Colorado Fine Wine & Spirits LLC. The company owns three Total Wines locations in the state. The ballot measure the Trones are backing asks voters to allow retail liquor license owners to hold more liquor licenses than currently allowed under state law. The limit now is capped at three, the number of Total Wine locations the currently operating on the Front Range. Under Prop 124, the number of allowable licenses would jump to eight through 2026, before gradually increasing to an unlimited number by 2037. The committee has now raised $12.5 million in cash and non-monetary contributions, with $10.7 million coming from the Trone brothers. The pair have already made the state's top ten list for big dollar contributions to an issue committee, with a $3.5 million contribution to the Proposition 124 committee a month ago. Total Wine is the nation's largest alcohol-specific retailer, with more than $5 billion in sales in 2021 in 22 states. The company is also battling against a measure on the November ballot in Massachusetts that deals with liquor license expansion, but one that places limitations on the number of licenses held by larger retailers. The company has put $2.1 million into the fight against Question 3. The Boston Globe reported Tuesday it was the most that a company has spent to directly influence a ballot question, rather than working through an opposition committee, in the past ten years. While the Trones' latest contribution to the Colorado committee backing Prop 124 is the largest by far to an issue committee this year, it's not even close to the record. That was set in 2016 by Altria , which gave $12.4 million to the campaign to defeat Amendment 72. That measure would have hiked taxes on tobacco products by $315.7 million annually, with the revenue spent on a variety of health-related initiatives. Altria holds the top four spots on the state's list of biggest issue committee contributions. The company's single largest contribution was $6.2 million, they also gave a $5 million contribution to the committee No on 72. Altria was the only contributor to the anti-72 committee. The measure lost on a vote of 53% against to 47% in favor. Rounding out the top five was a $4.7 million in 2014 from Monsanto to fight Proposition 105, which would have labeled genetically modified foods as such. That measure lost by more than 30 percentage points. Polis' campaign called the charge a "false comparison." The two candidates had predictably hewed to their talking points, even as Ganahl pledged, if elected governor, to not sign any abortion-related bill that comes her way and to instead let voters decide changes to Colorado's abortion statutes. Polis, meanwhile, argued the government shouldn't intervene between a woman and her doctor on a matter as intimate, difficult and challenging as abortion. "If you care so much about women's health care choices, how come you fired so many women health care workers because they didn't feel comfortable getting a vaccination during Covid?" Ganahl said. Polis answered that he certainly encourages people to get vaccinated. "Did they lose their jobs? Did you fire them?" Ganahl said. "No," Polis replied. "State workers? There was a period of time during the midst of the pandemic, where they either got tested or they had the vaccine." "You either believe in women's health care choices or not," Ganahl said. "I am opposed and I have been opposed and you know I have been to vaccine requirements," Polis said. Ganahl replied, "So, why didn't you put your foot down? You're in charge. You're the governor." "Because it's not about rhetoric. It's about encouraging people to do the right thing," Polis said. The claim appears to be broader than just whether Polis himself literally "fired" women for refusing to get vaccinated. It deals with actions he allegedly took during the pandemic, specifically as it relates to vaccines and health care workers. In a statement, Polis' campaign reiterated points the governor made during the debate, which The Denver Gazette, The Colorado Springs Gazette, Colorado Politics, KOAA News5 and the El Pomar Foundation's Forum for Civic Advancement sponsored. Heidi Ganahl would take away a womans right to choose, she would put women and doctors in jail for making their own healthcare decisions," Amber Miller, the campaign's spokesperson, said. "Coloradans see right through the false comparisons in order to distract from the real life choice voters face on Nov. 8 between less freedom in Heidis Colorado or more freedom with Governor Polis. The record shows that in August 2021, Polis asked the state Board of Health to "engage in expedited rulemaking" to require that health care workers, including staff in long-term care facilities, be vaccinated against COVID-19. He also announced that staff working in state-run "24/7 facilities" be inoculated by the end of September of that year. Polis asked the board to require inoculation for "all personnel working directly with our vulnerable populations, personnel working in facilities with medically vulnerable populations and personnel in the settings where people receive essential medical care." Two weeks later, the state health board voted to require licensed facilities vaccinate their workforce against COVID-19 by Oct. 31. By a 6-1 vote, the board adopted the emergency rule, which placed the onus on the state's roughly 3,800 licensed, certified health care facilities to ensure their workforces are vaccinated. At the time, officials said individual providers would not face threats to their license if they refused to be vaccinated, but the facilities themselves may be penalized, up to the revocation of their license. It's not immediately clear how many health care workers left or lost their jobs as a result of the mandate. In October 2021, The Denver Post, citing officials, said UCHealth fired more than 100 workers for refusing to get vaccinated. The majority of the hospital system's workforce complied with the mandate, and a spokesperson said less than 0.5% of UCHealth's workforce either did not get vaccinated or got an exemption. In November 2021, the Colorado Sun, citing data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, said 5,290 health care workers left or lost their jobs because of the mandate. That sum amounted to, at the time, 1.8% of the Colorado's 280,000 health care workers. Polis also signed an executive order in October 2021 that suspended certain personnel rules, the effect of which was to expedite the pre-disciplinary process for state employees who are out of compliance with the vaccination requirements for agency staffers who interact with vulnerable populations, notably with those who live in congregate settings. "The existing process would prevent, hinder, or delay the state in addressing noncompliance by state employees," the governor's order said. "State employees noncompliance with existing COVID-19 vaccination and/or testing requirements threatens the states ability to adequately respond to and recover from the ongoing pandemic and endangers the health of fellow state workers, members of the public who interact with the state, members of vulnerable populations and populations in congregate living settings, and the general public." The order added: "The State must remain vigilant in light of variants that continue to circulate among our population, and take action when needed to continue to protect public health and our economy from the pandemics effects." When police arrested Nora Hilda Rios-Vargas for the burglary of a Weld County trailer home where someone had stolen $15,000 in jewelry and $3,000 in coins, there was only one definitive piece of evidence linking her to the crime scene: shards of a bloody latex glove with her DNA on it. At the same time, there were many more pieces of evidence suggesting another suspect was the actual burglar. The victim himself believed the alternate suspect was responsible. The alternate suspect knew when the victim would be gone and where he kept his valuables. Police found coins scattered outside the alternate suspect's own trailer. The alternate suspect also had a motive to frame Rios-Vargas. And the alternate suspect never let police question her. However, a trial judge refused Rios-Vargas' request to call the alternate suspect as a witness in her trial. The judge believed he was forbidden from allowing a witness to take the stand under the circumstances. Although Rios-Vargas' jurors heard about the alternate suspect, they were never told why she did not testify. On Tuesday, the Colorado Supreme Court heard arguments in Rios-Vargas' appeal, after a jury convicted her as charged and she received a four-year prison sentence. "Here, the trial court determined that Ms. Rios-Vargas had no right to call the alternate suspect, the person we claimed was actually guilty of this burglary, because that person was so apparently guilty of the crime, there was nothing we could possibly ask that wouldnt lead to an incriminating response," public defender Casey Mark Klekas argued to the justices. He added: "A defendants rights to present a defense shouldnt diminish the more evidence there is that someone else is guilty." Several members of the Supreme Court appeared visibly uncomfortable with the circumstances of Rios-Vargas' conviction. "It seems to me theres a really strong argument that somebody else committed this crime," observed Justice Richard L. Gabriel. "The prosecution successfully argued you dont get to put this woman on. And argued all this alternative suspect evidence was speculative. Wouldnt that suggest an unfairness?" The government responded that Rios-Vargas had, in fact, argued to the jury she had been set up, and the defense had done everything short of placing the alternate suspect on the witness stand. "Which would have been the most powerful piece of evidence," pushed back Justice Monica M. Marquez. The trailer park burglary occurred in 2013. The victim, who is now deceased, suspected the alternate suspect was the culprit. Among other circumstantial evidence, the alternate suspect rented a trailer from the victim across the street, and the burglar had coincidentally stolen the title to that home. Police never ruled out the alternate suspect as the potential burglar. Rios-Vargas subpoenaed the alternate suspect to testify, but then-District Court Judge Thomas J. Quammen appointed an attorney for her. The attorney relayed that the alternate suspect planned to invoke her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Quammen decided he would not allow the defense to question the alternate suspect at trial, only for her to "take the Fifth." He acknowledged there was ample evidence pointing to the alternate suspect, but her own constitutional rights were "paramount to the rights of Ms. Rios-Vargas to put on a defense." Last year, the state's Court of Appeals upheld Rios-Vargas' conviction. Although it disagreed with Quammen's approach for handling the alternate suspect, the court nonetheless believed the Supreme Court had precluded the alternate suspect from taking the witness stand with its 1976 decision of People v. Dikeman. In that case, a majority of justices overruled decades-old precedent and established that defendants may not call witnesses who intend to invoke their Fifth Amendment rights, only for the purpose of having the jury hear the alternate suspect decline to implicate themselves. Now, Rios-Vargas is asking the Supreme Court to overrule Dikeman. "This is how innocent people are convicted," Klekas wrote to the court. He explained the procedure that some other states have adopted, in which a trial judge determines, without the jury present, how deeply the defense may question an alternate suspect about incriminating topics. Then the suspect is permitted to take the witness stand and invoke their right against self-incrimination as needed. "Dikeman cramped the constitutional rights of defendants and I think its paramount to overrule a case when it does so," Klekas added. Justice William W. Hood III was the most hesitant to adopt a new rule for questioning alternate suspects. He worried defense attorneys could be emboldened to place alternate suspects on the witness stand, even when there is minimal evidence to support an alternate suspect theory. "We're just gonna see this popping up in case after case. Maybe that sounds alarmist," he said. Klekas argued that if the prosecution wants the jury to know the truth about an alternate suspect, the government can simply grant immunity in exchange for the witness's testimony. But Assistant Attorney General Brittany L. Limes believed that would disadvantage prosecutors in instances where the defendant and the alternate suspect may have actually colluded to commit the crime. "The prosecution is put between a rock and a hard place of deciding: Do we offer this witness who might be as guilty as the defendant immunity, and essentially allow her to testify? And we cannot use her statements to prosecute her?" Limes said. Even if that were true, responded Justice Carlos A. Samour Jr., a defendant has the constitutional right to present a defense. And in Rios-Vargas' case, the jury was left to wonder why they never heard from the alternate suspect, if the defense was so sure she was the culprit. "It seems to me it was unfair to the defendant to prevent them from calling their alternate suspect while at the same time (the prosecution was) arguing to the jury that the alternate suspect defense was was ambiguous and vague and speculative," Samour said. "That seems unfair to me." By Trend International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi hopes to visit Russia again and meet President Vladimir Putin as soon as possible, Trend reports citing TASS. "I hope yes, and I hope as soon as possible," he told reporters on Monday during a visit to Argentina when asked whether he planned to visit Russia again for meeting with Putin. The IAEAs chief visited St. Petersburg on October 11, meeting with Putin there. He called contacts with the Russian leader extremely important from the viewpoint of ensuring the security of nuclear facilities, including the ZNPP. Director General also visited Kiev twice where he met Zelensky. A Mason City man who pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery was sentenced to 10 years in prison in Cerro Gordo District Court on Tuesday. According to court records, 39-year-old Pierre Raki Dunson will be required to serve at least half of the prison term per Iowa Code regarding forcible felonies. The original charge, first-degree robbery, stemmed from an incident that occurred at the Yesway convenience store at 1303 Fourth St. N.W. in Mason City around 5 p.m. Aug. 8. The affidavit stated Dunson approached the store clerk from the rear and grabbed the worker by the throat and choked them. Dunson demanded the clerk open the register and give him the money inside. Dunson then threatened to kill the clerk if the crime was reported and exited the store with more than $300. He was apprehended by Mason City police later that evening at an undisclosed location and manner. Crimson Education Admissions Consulting https://www.crimson.mba Crimson Education Admissions Consulting Signature Read More With over two thousand MBA programs worldwide, finding the right fit can be daunting. If youre looking to dive into a management career and arent sure where to start, keep reading to find out what kind of program is right for you. Also check out s MBA Consulting Services for even more focused attention: https://www.crimson.mba/ Kinds of MBA ProgramsIf youre an MBA hopeful, there are a number of options to consider. Lets take a look at some of the most common:Residential MBAsThis is the classic two-year MBA program where graduate students relocate to a university campus and dedicate themselves to full-time study. Generally, these programs require 2-5 years of work experience and attract early-career professionals ready to take the next steps to advance in their professions. Residential MBAs are perfect for those with limited work and familial commitments who have the time and resources needed to dive into the world of business management. Advantages of residential programs include working with a cohort, access to internships, networking opportunities, and a diverse array of electives and specializations to choose from. These are often considered the default MBA programs the standard from which other types of programs are derived. Famous examples include the core MBA programs at the M-7 schools.International MBAsAn International MBA, also known as a Global MBA, is a popular specialization that focuses on international business practices in addition to the traditional curriculum of a two-year MBA. In addition, these programs often require study-abroad semesters and internships with transnational corporations. International MBAs are perfect for students who are looking to begin a career in global business and who need the knowledge and cultural know-how to establish a successful practice. You can read the US News list of the top International MBA programs in the United States here.Online MBAsFor those unable to relocate, online MBA programs provide an alternative route to an MBA degree. Online programs often have flexible calendars, allowing students to build schedules around their other commitments. Many online programs also include one or more in-person events during the course of study, allowing for greater opportunities for professional development and networking. Though not as immersive as residential programs, many online MBAs have developed an online cohort model to provide the chance to work with and network with classmates and organizations in the MBA program and beyond. Check out the US News listings of the Top Online MBAs in the United States for more.Executive MBAsThe EMBA is an excellent alternative for mid-career professionals who want to earn their MBA while advancing their current employment. Unlike a 2-year residential MBA, the average EMBA student is 38 years old and has 10 years of work experience. These programs tend to be more streamlined, as most mid-career professionals have already developed specializations through their work experience. Whereas most MBA candidates front the cost of their degree themselves, companies commonly finance EMBAs for their employees as a form of investment in the companys future. EMBA programs are usually designed around a weekend and evening schedule in order to accommodate students work and familial responsibilities. In addition to Executive MBAs at the M-7 B-schools, top programs include the Ross School of Business, the Stern School of Business, and the Haas School of Business.Part-time & Weekend MBAsOften combined with other MBA program types, part-time and weekend MBAs provide students with more than the standard two years to complete their studies. Like EMBAs, these courses are usually held in the evenings, on Fridays, and/or on the weekends. If the program is online, students can participate from any location. However, students will usually enroll in local programs and commute to nearby campuses or satellites to participate in classes. Part-time and weekend MBAs carry the advantage of in-person and cohort based-classes with the flexibility to complete studies at a students own pace. Check out this list of top part-time MBA programs for more information.Accelerated MBAsAvailable both online and in-person, accelerated MBAs are fast-paced programs that allow students to complete their studies in 12 months instead of two years. A great option for the budget-minded, accelerated programs are a cheaper alternative to the traditional MBA structure. Many still offer specializations that permit students to custom-tailor degrees to match their career goals. Heres the Kellogg School of Business One-Year MBA Program, one of the top accelerated MBA programs in the country.ConclusionsAs MBA programs increase in demand, these broad categories are often combined to create innovative and flexible combinations. For example, you may see accelerated online programs, weekend EMBAs, or online international MBA programs. Additionally, your career goals, budget, family commitments, and ability to take time off work to study will define the ideal program for you. If you need any extra help finding the perfect fit, reach out to one of our expert MBA Advisors at to get the one-on-one attention that you deserve: https://www.crimsoneducation.org/la-es/our-services/postgraduate-services/crimson-mba-contact-us/ The MBA Team!_________________ The Danville Symphony Orchestra will kick off the 2022-23 season Saturday returning to the George Washington High School auditorium to perform a classical concert titled 3 Bs. The program title refers to the three composers, Beethoven, Berlioz and Bernstein, whose works will be highlighted during the evening of music. Under the direction of Peter Perret, the symphony will open the program with the Roman Candle Overture by Berlioz and continues with a challenging piece, Symphonic Dances from West Side Story. The final selection is Beethovens Symphony No. 7. The Danville Symphony is a 50-member volunteer regional orchestra beginning the 31st season and does not charge admission. They are supported by the generosity of patrons who donate, along with gifts and grants. The doors open at 7 p.m. with the concert beginning at 7:30 p.m. Perret has been the conductor since 2011. He is the conductor emeritus of the Winston-Salem Symphony and was the music director there from 1978 to 2004. He was also conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic from 1975-78, conducting 200 concerts with this group. Perret has conducted more than 35 classical programs as principal guest conductor of the Capetown (S. Africa) Symphony Orchestra. Additionally he has led ensembles in Naples, Geneva, and Belgium, including founding the Young Chamber Orchestra of Brussels as a conducting student. The musical season will include future concerts for winter and spring: Christmas/holiday concert at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 at the GW auditorium; Winter classical at 7:30 p.m. March 4 at the GW auditorium; Spring Pops at 3 p.m. at the Carrington Pavilion; and Independence Day Celebration (time TBA) July 7 at Carrington Pavilion. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad A Center for Greek Language and Studies opened at the Azerbaijani University of Languages on October 19, Azernews reports. Azerbaijani University of Languages Rector Kamal Abdulla and Greek Ambassador Nikolaos Piperigos participated in the opening ceremony. Nikolaos Piperigos stated that the opening of the center is significant from the point of view that Azerbaijan and Greece are united not only by diplomatic relations but also by expanding cultural and educational ties. Our story begins 30 years ago in 1992. Greece recognized Azerbaijans independence and very quickly, our two countries started to work together. There were mutual visits over the last 30 years at all levels between presidents, prime ministers, and ministers. Over the last 30 years, we have agreed already to cooperate in an extensive array of sectors. There are currently around 30 agreements in a wide range of sectors from economy, industry, energy, transport, agriculture, education, culture, etc, he said. The ambassador underlined that the educational and cultural bonds are extremely significant, adding that the opening of the second center for the Greek language is an important event that follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the Greek Embassy and the Mugham Center. Expressing his confidence in the development of current and future prospects of cooperation, he recalled that this year there was already a meeting between the Greek prime minister and the Azerbaijani president, as well as the Greek environment and energy minister is on a working visit to Baku. In addition, the ambassador noted that the 5th joint ministerial meeting between Greece and Azerbaijan is expected to be held in the last months of 2022. Moreover, Nikolaos Piperigos added that Baku is the only capital in the world that has two active university programs in the modern Greek language at the Baku Slavic University and the Azerbaijani University of Languages, as well as one for ancient Greek at the Baku State University. Today we are proud of the inauguration of the Greek Center at the Azerbaijani University of Languages, and we look forward to the creation of ancient languages program, where ancient Greek will be present, among other illustrious languages such as Sanskrit, Latin, and Chinese that constitute the primordial elements of knowledge in human history, he said. This year we celebrate our 30 years of diplomatic relations. My mission as a diplomat is to look beyond, and try to do whatever is necessary for our relations to flourish even more for the next 30 years, he said. Prior to the opening ceremony, Kamal Abdullah and Nikolaos Piperigos discussed fruitful cooperation in the culture and education sectors between Azerbaijan and Greece. GREENSBORO The two candidates for Guilford Countys at-large school board seat have about a mile between them in how they talk about race, sexual orientation and working with other board members if elected. My first question is: How are they going to work with me? replied Republican Demetria Carter during a candidate forum on Tuesday hosted by the League of Women Voters of the Piedmont Triad. Because I come to the board with a definite viewpoint about whats going on and why its going on and also about whats needed to be changed. Im willing to work with anyone, but Im not going to be anybodys fool, and Im not going to be anybodys patsy because they think an idea is good, when I think the idea does not advance students and their learning. Democrat Alan Sherouse, a Baptist pastor, took the same question. Candidates forum Guilford County Board of Education At-Large candidate Demetria Carter at the candidate forum held by League of Women Voters of the Piedmont Tr Any elected official is a servant for all people, not simply those who voted for her or him, he answered. I certainly have a commitment and an ability to work widely across political lines, to accomplish a sense of common good, to hold hands with people to the left of me and the right of me, to move forward toward the justice and the equity that we certainly all want for all children. I happen to think that what I want for our public schools is very close to what historic Republicans want for their public schools. Not extremist Republicans, but historic Republicans. Carter worked as an attorney, manager and in other capacities for the federal government for about 40 years, before retiring in 2019. I know how to hire, and I know how to fire, she said. The forum between Sherouse and Carter was one of two the League of Women Voters held Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church. The other featured Republican Alan Branson and Democrat Kay Cashion, who are vying for the at-large seat on the Guilford County Board of Commissioners. Candidates forum Guilford County Board of Education at-large candidate Alan Sherouse speaks at the candidate forum at First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro o Unlike other seats that are districted, the school board and county commissioners each have one at-large role that is chosen by all voters in the county. Carter and Sherouse are both newcomers in seeking a place on the school board. They are trying to fill the seat currently held by Winston McGregor, who chose not to run for reelection. McGregor is also the boards vice chairwoman, a role that the board members elect from within their own ranks. Sherouse and Carter had differing takes on every question they were asked, but the divergent worldviews they expressed especially stood out when it came to how they talked about race and sexuality. Both candidates were asked what they planned to do to reduce the academic performance achievement gap between Black and brown students and white students. Sherouse called addressing the academic achievement gap his, primary concern. He praised the districts progress on narrowing racial gaps when it comes to graduation, and said he wanted to learn from things Guilford County educators have done, such as trying to practice restorative justice in discipline. Racism, he said, exists without racists. Its a system, a system that was built and was functioning as it was built to function and it results in inequitable outcomes to this day, he said. Carter said that she has experienced racism, up close and personal being born during the segregation era, living as a child before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and not attending an integrated school until high school. You want to know what its like being forced to end segregation, you come to me, she said. I can tell you its nothing like it is today. I have lived in this country since that time. Dont talk to me about racism because you dont have a clue. Sherouse brought up the experiences of LGBTQ students in relation to multiple different questions, such as when discussing school safety or diversity. He said schools should be safe places for LGBTQ students and for students from all different types of families, and he said teachers should feel free to share their sexual orientation, like being able to display pictures of their partner in the classroom. Im appalled at the LGBTQ agenda in our schools, Carter said. I dont want to know what a teachers sexuality is. And neither should your children. **** After a short break during Tuesdays event, Branson and Cashion, the candidates for the at-large commissioner seat, took the stage. Cashion, a commissioner for the past 18 years, is the incumbent. Branson, her opponent, has eight prior years of experience on the board, serving from 2012 to 2020. Both referred to each other as friends in their opening statements. Candidates forum Guilford County at-large Board of Commissioners candidate Kay Cashion before League of Women Voters of the Piedmont Triad at the Mullin Life C The first question they took was about how the county government could work with local governments in the county and other groups to solve homelessness. Cashion said the county is participating in a task force on homelessness with representatives from governments and groups, treating it as an issue for the whole county, rather than something for each city or town to figure out alone. We know that out in the unincorporated areas they are not necessarily experiencing homelessness now, but they may be as housing dries up for the lower or limited-income residents here, she said. Branson said affordable housing is a loaded topic, and it's something counties and municipalities are going to have to keep addressing. We see a lot of folks in tents on the side of the roads nowadays. We see a lot of folks under the bridge. Some of these folks suffer from mental health, which Kay and I have worked diligently on to create the new mental health facility in Guilford County. We have worked many hours across the board, Republican and Democrat, to bring an opportunity for these individuals to get their lives back together and off the streets, and back in a regular-paying job. Candidates forum Guilford County at-large Board of Commissioners candidate Alan Branson answers questions at the League of Women Voters of the Piedmont Triad c Later in the forum, the candidates took questions about property taxes. Although the property tax rate stayed flat, the tax revenue the county received increased after a recent revaluation of properties. Folks, you need to pay attention because your taxes are on the rise, Branson said. You need to have some business folks with a pretty sharp pencil to keep an eye on the whole crowd, both the commissioners and the Guilford County Board of Education, because they will not watch your dollars. Cashion said that if voters had agreed to pass a referendum approving a quarter-cent sales tax, that would have given the county another option for revenue. However, she said, with voters in May rejecting the sales tax but supporting a $1.7 billion school construction bond referendum, she feels that residents want the county to take care of the schools with the means available, such as using property tax dollars to fund the debt for school improvements. A renewable energy company says it will seek state approval for six solar projects that would be among the largest in North Carolina and have the capacity to produce a combined 480 megawatts of electricity enough to power the equivalent of about 67,000 typical homes at one time. California-based Cypress Creek Renewables will file applications for the facilities with the N.C. Utilities Commission this week, a company spokesperson said Monday. Based on other Cypress Creek projects in North Carolina, total investment in the new power plants would likely top $500 million. The solar farms, if approved and fully operational, would reduce emissions that contribute to climate change by 370,000 tons per year, the equivalent of taking 71,000 cars off the road, according to Cypress Creek. Two of the 80-megawatt projects are planned in Duplin County, with the others in Bladen, Jones, Onslow and Wayne counties. Cypress Creek has submitted proposals with Duke Energy to sell electricity generated by the solar farms directly to the utility, and there likely will be stiff competition from other projects. While Duke originally planned on committing to at least 700 megawatts of additional solar capacity from new projects through its 2022 solar procurement program, the utility has received eligible proposals totaling nearly 5,000 megawatts, spokesman Randy Wheeless said Monday. We are awaiting a N.C. Utilities Commission decision on an approved (megawatt) target quantity, Wheeless added in an email. Part of the plan Dukes future energy mix will be guided by the states so-called carbon plan when it is approved this year by the utilities commission. That plan will provide a path for meeting North Carolinas target of eliminating 70% of climate-related emissions, compared to 2005 levels, by 2030 and reaching carbon neutrality by mid-century. Those standards were established by climate legislation passed by the N.C. General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper in October 2021. The commission has received carbon plan proposals from Duke and other organizations and completed weeks of public hearings ahead of its final decision, which must come by the end of the year. Cypress Creek spokeswoman Angeli Chandler said the company expects Duke to commit to between 1,200 and 1,500 megawatts of new solar energy this year. While we hope to secure a contract with Duke Energy under (the 2022) procurement, there is a reasonable chance that Duke Energy will elect to contract with other projects submitted, Chandler noted. If a project is not selected, it can participate in the next annual Duke Energy procurement or choose to not proceed. Construction on Cypress Creek projects accepted by Duke and approved by the utilities commission would likely begin in 2024 or 2025, she added. Local land-use approvals, environmental studies, and reviews of grid compatibility and connection costs also would be part of the pre-installation process. Clean-energy leaderboard Cypress Creek Renewables says it has invested more than $2.3 billion in North Carolina projects and owns 145 solar and energy storage sites in the state. The company, which operates a 24-hour operations center in Durham, also runs more than 100 facilities for other owners and employs about 150 people in North Carolina. The company already is seeking approval for a $104 million, 80-megawatt solar facility near Denton in Davidson County and a nearly $90 million, 74-megawatt project in Lenoir County. Investments from companies like Cypress Creek are critical to meeting the states climate goals, said Matt Abele, spokesman for the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association. As a whole, North Carolina has more than 8,000 megawatts of solar installed, so proposed projects like these would continue to add to our states leadership on the national clean-energy leaderboard, Abele explained. North Carolina is fourth in the nation for solar capacity, behind California, Texas and Florida. Two Helena-based groups will receive a portion of the $1.4 million the Otto Bremer Trust is giving to Montana organizations, it was announced Tuesday. Shodair Children's Hospital will get $250,000 to help build a new hospital to provide pediatric and adolescent mental and behavioral health services. Helena-based Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Montana will get $40,000 for general operations to create and support one-to-one youth mentoring relationships in central Montana. The money is part of $14,608,759 in grants and program-related investments given away nationwide Tuesday by the Bremer Trust as part of its most recent grant cycle. Craig Aasved, Shodair's chief executive officer, said they were "thrilled and humbled for the support from the Otto Bremer Trust." "This gift helps us get closer to the $2.5 million remaining to complete our capital campaign fundraising efforts," he said in an email. "This new hospital is for Montana kids. It's what they deserve, and we were intentional about the process making it for Montanans, built by Montanans as $60 of the $66 million stayed here." Jesse Mahugh, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Montana, said This funding provides leverage to build upon the already amazing community support. He said the grant will allow us to enroll more children in our mentoring program and recruit more volunteer Bigs. We are expanding our program within Cascade County, Lewis and Clark County, and Jefferson County; but would also like to expand into the other 16 counties in our potential service area, he said. Mahugh said those interested in enrolling a child in the program or becoming a volunteer Big, should visit www.bigcentral.org or call 406-442-7479. Bremer is a private charitable trust based in St. Paul, Minnesota, created in 1944 by Otto Bremer. It helps support a better quality of life for residents of Montana, Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin. Since it started it has given nearly $1 billion in its region. Below is a list of grants awarded to other organizations throughout Montana: Western Montana Big Brothers Big Sisters NW Montana, Kalispell: $35,000 for general operations to support youth through mentoring. Families First, Missoula: $20,000 for general operations to strengthen families in western Montana through education, connection, play and partnership. YWCA Missoula, Missoula: $80,000. For general operations to provide shelter and services for survivors of domestic violence and families experiencing homelessness in Missoula. Central Montana Big Sky Youth Empowerment Project Inc., Bozeman: $25,000 for general operations to provide youth development, mentoring, and tutoring to youth in south-central Montana. Cancer Support Community Montana, Bozeman: $50,000 for general operations to provide support, education and wellness for people impacted by cancer and their families. FAST Blackfeet, Browning: $45,000 for general operations to address food insecurity, improve healthy food access, provide nutrition education, and increase food sovereignty for reservation citizens. Livingston Food Pantry of Park County, Livingston: $55,000 for general operations to serve low-income people experiencing food insecurity, poor nutrition, and increased risk for chronic health issues. Eastern Montana Community Leadership & Development, Inc., Billings: $250,000. To support a capital campaign to develop quality, safe, affordable housing for low-income and underserved individuals, working poor families, and older persons. Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow Inc., Billings: $60,000 for general operations to support people with disabilities to live independently through education, support, and opportunities. Roundup Memorial Hospital Association, Roundup: $65,000 for the purchase of medical equipment critical for identification, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and fetal well-being. Southeast Montana Area Revitalization Team Inc., Baker: $10,000, for general operations to aid small business development, community planning and affordable housing. Statewide Alzheimer's Association Montana, Billings: $25,000 to raise Alzheimer's and dementia awareness, education, resources, and support within rural communities in Montana. American Red Cross of Montana, Great Falls: $250,000 for the renovation of facilities to collect, process, and distribute donated blood and respond to disasters. Smiles Across Montana, Bozeman: $40,000. For general operations to improve oral health outcomes through equitable, affordable and quality preventative and restorative dental care and education. For more information, visit ottobremer.org. Editor's note: This story was updated to include comment from Shodair. Active and retired Montana military members could face hours of windshield time to secure life-saving medications because of a reduction of local pharmacies covered by their health insurance, state and federal officials have warned. Beginning Monday, nearly 15,000 independent pharmacies across the country will no longer be in-network with Tricare, the U.S. military's health care program and government-managed health insurance. That pharmacy network is managed by Express Scripts, a contractor with Tricare. While it's unclear how many pharmacies in Montana may be affected, or where those pharmacies are located, the reduction is expected to hit roughly 400,000 Tricare recipients nationwide, according to federal officials' estimates. Montana had 37,683 Tricare beneficiaries in fiscal year 2020, the more recent year with available data, according Master Sgt. Michael Touchette with the Montana National Guard Public Affairs Office. "According to Express Scripts service center, those Tricare recipients who are affected by this change will be notified by mail that their pharmacy is no longer in network and will have the option to switch to another in-network pharmacy in their community or have eligible medications switched to home delivery," Touchette said in an email to the Montana State News Bureau this week. The Montana National Guard has not received any requests for help nor any complaints about the Tricare reduction, Maj. Ryan Finnegan, also with the Montana National Guard, said. Still, Montana State Auditor and Commissioner of Insurance and Securities Troy Downing last week called on the Biden administration to intercede in Express Scripts' decision to reduce the number of in-network Montana pharmacies, saying the change puts Montana veterans and their families at risk. "Montana veterans, who served with honor and distinction, deserve greater and more convenient access to their prescriptions not less. Allowing this plan to move forward threatens our veterans by removing critical access to prescription drugs," Downing said in an Oct. 12 press release. "This is a D.C. decision that fails to consider the needs of rural states. This policy will harm Montana service members, retirees and their families." In its own press release last week, Defense Health Agency's pharmacy operations division chief Edward Norton Jr. said the network will still include 40,000 pharmacies. The Defense Health Agency is confident that the new pharmacy contract maintains the quality of the Tricare retail pharmacy network, Norton Jr. said. Some independent pharmacies are leaving, but Tricare families will continue to have access to an excellent network of pharmacies. In Havre, Gary & Leo's pharmacy co-owner Eric Ward estimated he had over 100 Tricare recipients before his pharmacy was cut from the Tricare network earlier this year. "More of them were retired," Ward said. "We tended to see them more than anyone." The Havre Walmart has already been removed from the Tricare network, Ward said, and another pharmacy Ward's company just purchased was set to lose their contract with Tricare on Jan. 1, 2023. Ward also chairs the Montana Pharmacy Association, which voiced its concerns this week about the reduction, pointing to the Department of Defense awarding its entire network management contract to Express Scripts, a pharmacy benefit manager, which is often referred to as PBM. Managing the entire pharmacy network in a single contract allows PBMs in the middle-man role like Express Scripts to take a greater share of the claim recipients make to the insurance agency. The result is a smaller reimbursement rate for pharmacies, like Ward's. "It was costing me money every time a patient with Tricare came in," he said. And it's not just the arrangement between Express Scripts and Tricare, Ward added. PBMs have had a serious impact on pharmacies around the state. In Great Falls, three of the four independent pharmacies have shut their doors in recent years due to the dwindling reimbursement rates set up by PBMs, Ward said. One pharmacy clinic in Havre, which did not return a call seeking comment for this story, is still in network for Tricare recipients, Ward said, but he's not sure how long that may last. Last year Tricare announced Walmart was leaving its network, and CVS would take its place. Havre has a Walmart, but not a CVS. Tricare recipients can still have medications delivered to them through Express Scripts' program, but, as federal officials have pointed out, mail service can be inconsistent, especially in rural places and particularly in the winter. "Trying to force (Havre recipients) into the CVS network, that's 120 miles from here," Ward said, pointing down the road to Great Falls. "When you need an antibiotic, you can't drive 120 miles when you're sick. You can't really plan on when you're sick and order two weeks ahead of time for it to show up in the mail." Emails seeking comment from Tricare and Express Scripts were not returned Wednesday. Downing's call on the federal administration joined a chorus of federal officials, including the entirety of Montana's bipartisan congressional delegation, in denouncing the reduction. U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat who chairs the Senate appropriations subcommittee on defense, sent a letter in late September to Under Secretary of Defense and Personnel Readiness Gilbert Cisneros to take action. "No longer able to rely upon their local pharmacy to access needed medication and in-person pharmacist counseling, (beneficiaries) would be forced to drive long distances to find corporate in-network pharmacies or be funneled into Express Scripts' mail delivery program," Tester wrote. "That is unacceptable." U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, a Republican, was one of 100 U.S. senators and representatives who issued a letter to Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Seileen Mullen seeking more information on the reduction in pharmacies as well as reimbursement rates that could affect continuing pharmacies' ability to operate. The reduction in pharmacies, the letter notes, is taking place two months earlier than planned. In an emailed statement this week, U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale, a Republican, noted an approved pharmacy under the new structure could be 30 miles or more away and mail service can be inconsistent. "The Defense Health Agency must reconsider this change that will very likely risk the health of Montana service members and veterans," Rosendale said. DECATUR Two violent Decatur deaths, one by gunshots and the other by fire, were examined by a Macon County coroners jury Tuesday. Jurors took only minutes to conclude that Arrion L. McClelland was the victim of a homicide while Cory J. Ballinger died accidentally after choking to death on fumes in a travel camper fire. In the case of the 24-year-old McClelland, Decatur police Detective Ben Massey said he was shot to death in the early hours of August 14 after gunfire erupted in a parking lot next to the Lock Stock & Barrel. One bullet wounded McClelland in the pelvis while a second, fatal round, struck him in the head. Massey said McClelland had been at the bar and was among people in the parking lot next to the business when the gunfire started. A vehicle pulls up with with one, and most likely two subjects, and it appears to be two people fire rounds in his direction and Mr. McClelland is struck twice, the detective said. Questioned by Coroner Michael E. Day, Massey said the precise circumstances leading up to the shooting were not clear. The detective said there may have been some words exchanged based on video recordings, but had no evidence to corroborate that is what sparked the gunfire. So Mr. McClelland was not armed and took no active role in any type of firefight or anything along those lines? Day asked. There was a handgun recovered from Mr. McClelland, however there was no indication that he fired it, Massey replied. He said it did not appear the victim knew the identity of the killers before they pulled up and shot him to death. Massey said police have since arrested Kyle Escoe, 18, and Dionte A. Robinson, 24, who are both being held on first degree murder charges. A third suspect is still being sought in connection with the murder. Turning to the accidental fire death of Ballinger, 49, jurors were told the fierce blaze on the morning of August 21 that destroyed the travel camper where he was staying had consumed any trace of what had caused it. Special Agent Robert Dunn with the Office of the State Fire Marshal said he was unable to pin down a precise cause but, asked by the coroner, said he saw nothing to indicate it was arson. Dunn said the camper was kept next to the garage of a home in the 1400 block of North 27th Street and had an electrical hook-up powered by a cord run from the garage. The agent said Ballinger had been drinking with friends the evening before the fire. I was told they were partying in the garage until 1 a.m. or so and he then went into the camper to go to bed, Dunn added. The last person who spoke to him left at 1:30 a.m. and she said he was watching a movie in the camper. Day told the jurors what happened next was speculation. But he noted Ballinger was a smoker and his blood showed traces of both alcohol and cocaine and it may have been that he just hadnt woken up when the fire started by some kind of accident. So he could have been drowsy and then passed out or just gone into a deep sleep, Day said. DECATUR As bloody pictures of a Decatur man with multiple bullet wounds flashed up on a courtroom TV screen, the attempted murder trial of Delahn L. Amos got underway Tuesday morning. Amos, 31, is pleading not guilty and opted to have the case decided by Macon County Circuit Judge James Coryell. In addition to the attempted murder charge, the defendant is also pleading not guilty to aggravated battery involving the discharge of a firearm and being a felon in possession of a gun. The charges date to the night of August 27, 2020, when Decatur police officers, alerted by the sound of multiple gunshots, arrived in the 1100 block of North College Street. Several officers, called to testify by Assistant Macon County States Attorney Tammy Wagoner, told the judge they found the 36-year-old victim crying for help in the bushes of a side yard where he had crawled to try and hide himself. Previous court testimony alleges the victim, who worked as a tattoo artist, had been lured to the area expecting he was being commissioned to do tattoo artwork. Instead, as part of some dispute, he was ambushed by Amos, who was armed with a rifle, and another Decatur man, Levron K. Hines, who both shot him. The victim ended up being wounded six times, four of the bullets striking him in the back. Amos, represented by defense lawyer Mike Harmon, has consistently maintained his innocence and insists he was not one of the gunmen. Hines, 39, had appeared in court October 4 and took a plea deal that saw him admit to a charge of aggravated battery with a firearm in return for a charge of attempted murder being dismissed. He was sentenced to nine years in prison. Whatever the outcome of the bench trial, Amoss legal problems dont stop there. He is also denying charges that he shot to death 31-year-old Decatur man Demetrius D. Maclin a murder prosecutors allege took place the night before the defendant was involved in the attempted murder. Witnesses had previously testified they saw Amos sitting in a car arguing with Maclin before hearing the sound of multiple gunshots. Maclins body had been found in the car which was parked at the intersection of West Grand Avenue and North Edward Street. Amos told police he was never there and had been with a girlfriend at the time the murder took place. No trial date in that case has been set. The bench trial continues. PEKIN Krown LLC became the first business in Illinois to open a social equity cannabis infusion company during a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Department of Agriculture on Tuesday. The new facility is located at 845 Brenkman Drive in Pekin. Allison Dries, owner and co-founder of Krown LLC, said her business will make is own high-quality affordable edibles and will partner with Wyld, one of the nation's leaders in cannabis edibles, for additional products. The venture is expected to create 17 jobs, and Dries hopes she can double that number by next year. "As a social equity company we will be offering high-paying jobs to people who may not have previously had those types of opportunities," Dries said. "Our hiring practices will focus on hiring people who have been negatively impacted by the past war on drugs." Under the marijuana legalization law signed in 2019, the Department of Agriculture was to issue up to 40 infuser licenses no later than July 1, 2020. Another 60 licenses then could be issued by Dec. 21, 2021. After Jan. 1 of this year, the department may modify or raise the number of infuser licenses or changed the licensing application process to eliminate or reduce any potential barriers. Kristi Jones, deputy director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture, said there are a dozen more licensees moving forward with construction. These businesses and the ones that follow will create thousands of new jobs, she added. "Local governments throughout Illinois received over $146 million in cannabis tax disbursements last year, and Pekin was one of the towns that was a beneficiary of these tax disbursements," Jones said. Krown was issued one of the available licenses in August 2021. Dries said she also applied a license for a growing facility but it was not issued. However, she added that it may be possible to expand in the future. Renovations to the facility began in March and wrapped up this month. Pekin Mayor Mark Luft said he is grateful to have a new woman- and veteran-owned business that was started from scratch and was the first to make its mark in the state. "I think that this shows everybody how Pekin is growing, the business-friendly atmosphere that we have here (and) the welcoming committee that comes with that," Luft said. A day without Elon Musk is an OK day. Not that I don't like him. He's a business genius, after all, who launched the electric-vehicle future. He helped preserve online access in a battered Ukraine by sending over 12,000 Starlink terminals that work with orbiting satellites. Ukraine thanked him for that. Ukraine was less enthusiastic about Musk's tweeted "peace plan," which included surrendering much of its occupied land to Russia. Ukraine's ambassador to Germany responded with a vulgar suggestion. Point is, Musk may be a techno-wizard and the world's richest human. But that doesn't make him the globe-trotting wise man able to resolve the knottiest political tensions. Of course, he can put off-the-top-of-his-head observations on Twitter, the social media giant he seems about to buy. Lots of smart people do. But his vow that if/when he becomes Twitter boss he will end the moderation policies that got former President Donald Trump thrown off the platform is problematic from a business model standpoint. Oh, that may sound swell to a chest-pounding libertarian. And true, Twitter would be Musk's party to which he could invite anyone to say almost anything, however repulsive, false or dangerous. What Musk seems to miss, apart from a sense of civic responsibility, is this: No one has to be on Twitter. Letting Trump and his thuggy minions back on would ruin the neighborhood. Twitter would turn into a "right-wing cesspool," as a writer for Vanity Fair put it. When Trump was booted off Twitter after the Jan. 6 attacks on the Capitol, he started his own social media platform, Truth Social. Trump had 90 million followers on Twitter but only 4 million on Truth Social. Now, why would that be? The reason is that all those liberals, moderates and sane conservatives that Trump was trolling on Twitter give a very wide berth to Truth Social. No one goes to a fight with only one guy in the ring. The right complains that Twitter unfairly censors its political opinions. Not true. The right may not have a monopoly on idiocy, but it does have a commanding market share -- the crowning example being dangerous conspiracy theories about the 2020 election having been stolen. It's interesting that so-called conservatives in the Texas legislature passed a law that would stop tech companies from banning commentary on the basis of political viewpoint. They seem to have missed the lecture on the rights of private ownership. Christopher Cox, a former Republican congressman from California, says he sympathizes with conservative angst over some of the platforms' decisions. But as a board member of Netchoice, a tech industry lobbying group, Cox says, "Politicians exercising control over the political speech of others is a very dangerous recipe." You can't own the libs if the libs have left the premises. And that lack of customers may be a big reason Truth Social may be going the way of Trump Steaks, Trump University and the six bankrupt Trump casinos. A Twitter that becomes a right-wing cesspool transforms itself into a Truth Social. Finding a proper balance for content moderation is not easy to do, but understand this: A site bursting with lunatics hollering QAnon crap would be avoided by the very people it should want. As for the world's richest man, Musk should know that he does not get to dominate my attention for free. If he's interested in paying me to listen to everything he has to say, he should give me a call. I'm open to negotiation. But he should know: It will cost him. Musk may be a tech superman, but a day without him is still an OK day. Same goes for a day without Twitter. By Trend Excavation work at the under-construction airport in Azerbaijan's Lachin is currently underway, Media Manager of AzVirt LLC Jeyhun Safarov told Trend at the Baku Expo Center on October 19. According to him, the relevant work takes a long time due to the difficult terrain. "We believe current excavations will be completed by the end of 2024 beginning of 2025. AzVirt LLC is making every effort to have all work done on time," Safarov said. As he noted, the company is engaged in the construction of three major areas of the airport. "These areas are airport runways, aprons, and guideways," Safarov said. Lachin Airport is the third to be built on Azerbaijan's liberated lands. The grand opening of Fuzuli Airport took place on October 26, 2021, while the opening of Zangilan Airport is expected to be held on October 20, 2022. High-end, yet affordable skin care services are the primary focus of Sweet Winks, LLC, according to owner Sarah Mullins Botts, who noted additional services including lash extensions and organic teeth whitening are also offered as the business maintains its goal to enhance the natural appearance of its customers. Sweet Winks at 502 Wood Avenue East in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, was a recent recipient of a $10,000 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) Seed Capital Matching Grant. Sweet Winks, LLC, provides a variety of personal care services close to home here in Southwest Virginia, Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA executive director/general counsel said. The new business projects two full-time employees and four part-time employees within five years. I started Sweet Winks, LLC to serve women like me who are looking for an enhanced, but natural look, Botts said. Sweet Winks is a full-service studio for light aesthetics such as eyelash extensions, lash lift and tint, brow lamination, brow tint, facials, teeth whitening and more. Botts is a licensed cosmetologist and certified lash artist. The new business opened in March and Mullins said bookings for appointments are about a month out. Sweet Winks is a one stop shop for natural organic beauty procedures and products, Botts said. We focus on women ages 14-70 and men ages 16-60. A nurse practitioner is under contract and available to provide injections including botox and fillers, Botts added. Retail merchandise is also available and includes jewelry, essential oils and organic skin care products. I used the VCEDA grant to complete the renovations at our new location, Botts said. I could not have done it without the grant. Ive already added another full-time employee and a part time employee. Botts worked with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Mountain Empire Community College (MECC) in developing her application to VCEDA and received a letter of support from the Wise County Industrial Development Authority. It has been a pleasure to work with Sarah and to see the business thrive, Becki OQuinn-Purdie, SBDC director at MECC, said. Mountain Empires Small Business Development Center has enjoyed seeing the business grow in such a short period of time. Sarahs commitment to great customer service and quality care is evident. Through the VCEDA Seed Capital Fund, Sweet Winks has been able to give this region the option for these services without the need to travel outside the area. The passion and excitement that Sarah has for her business was obvious when reviewing her application materials, Wise County IDA Executive Director Brian Falin, said. The Wise County IDA was proud to provide a letter of support for Sweet Winks in their application for the VCEDA Seed Capital program. With personal care services being widely sought after, we see a great opportunity for the business to grow and offer additional services that will only increase the quality of life aspects of our community. Hunan Overseas Chinese Federation leaders met with the UAE Chamber of Commerce. On September 21, Sun Minsheng, party secretary of the Hunan Overseas Chinese Federation, Li Zuyuan, member of the Party Leadership Group and vice chairman of the Hunan Overseas Chinese Federation, met with the UAE Chamber of Commerce to learn about the development of the Chamber of Commerce and listen to relevant reports. Chen Linghui, president of UAE Hunan Chamber of Commerce, thanked Hunan Overseas Chinese Federation for its long-term care and support for the work of the Chamber of Commerce. He also briefly reported the relevant work of the 2022 general election of the Chamber of Commerce and the development status of the Commerce. He hoped that the Hunan Overseas Chinese Federation could give guidance and put forward suggestions to maintain the healthy development of the Chamber of Commerce. Sun Minsheng fully recognized the outstanding contribution made by the UAE Hunan Chamber of Commerce to the friendly exchanges between China and Arab States and Hunan. And he wished the UAE Hunan Chamber of Commerce a successful completion of its term change. Sun Minsheng said that the Chamber of Commerce should adhere to the principle of openness, fairness and justice, carry out the term changein accordance with the constitution, elect a group of leaders who are enthusiastic about overseas Chineseaffair, safeguard rights and interests of overseas Chinese in Hunan, and promote the friendly exchanges between the UAE and Hunan. The Hunan Overseas Chinese Federation will always pay attention to and help the development of UAE Hunan Chamber of Commerce. At the same time, He hoped that the chamber of Commerce will unite local overseas Chinese in the development process, make use of its own advantages to forge ahead. Over the course of 60 days, USDA economists raised their 2023 All-Milk price projections by 40 cents. In making that move from a $22.50 to a $22.90 per hundredweight price forecast, economists pinned the hopes of higher prices to the Class IV portion of milk checks. At the moment, the U.S. butter price is well above the world market, and that price has been buoying Class IV prices. Butter prices likely will fade, to some degree, after this fall and early winters hot holiday baking season. However, the other portion of the Class IV category, dry milk powders, may take over the pole position from its counterpart when holiday butter demand backs off. Thats because natural gas is a key energy source for drying down milk. If natural gas inventories remain limited throughout Europe due to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the continents skim milk and whole milk powder supplies could dwindle. That, in turn, would cause customers to turn to other sources such as the United States. Those shifts in buying patterns would underpin the category or even send Class IV prices higher. Thats part of the reason USDA economists raised Class IV projections from $20.35 to $21 over the last 60 days. While Class IV shows upside, the Class III cheese category has been rather flat on the price front. USDA projections moved only 10 cents in the past month. While cheese demand remains strong, several new cheese plants have come online and that will keep supplies strong throughout the next year. Overall, U.S. cheese production has grown 19% from 2014 to 2021, reported AMPI CEO Sheryl Meshke at the Global Dairy Symposium held during World Dairy Expo. We project that will grow by 13% by 2025, said the leader of the nations No. 1 cheese co-op that is also ranked No. 12 in the world. While USDAs price projections would indicate profitability for many dairy farms, volatility will remain, and that will make risk mitigation strategies so very important. Dairy will be the most volatile commodity in agriculture moving forward, shared Torsten Hemme of the IFCN Dairy Research Network. Dont fight volatility. Manage it, advised Hemme, alluding to the fact that farmers should lock in a profit when futures markets present opportunities. To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com. (c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2022 October 13, 2022 Tomorrow, October 18, the Clean Water Act (CWA) will be 50 years old. Its an important law thats helped to dramatically improve water quality in the United States. To be candid, weve come a long way since the 1970s. Back in those days, the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland caught fire due to oil pollution and became a symbol for the need to act. But despite the laws many successes, one major failure remains: We still do not have a clear understanding of what constitutes a Water of the United States (WOTUS). If a property is subject to WOTUS, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers regulate it; if not, it is regulated by the states. EPA has repeatedly tried to define a WOTUS, first in 1986, then in 2015, and yet again in 2019. At this moment, yet another version is under review at the White House Office of Management and Budget. WOTUS has also kept the U.S. Supreme Court busy; earlier this month, they heard arguments in yet another of numerous WOTUS cases. In the first case, Riverside Bayview Homes, the Supreme Court established that wetlands adjacent to navigable waters were subject to the CWA. In the second case, SWANNC, the Supreme Court held that isolated wetlands or ponds that were not adjacent to navigable waters were not subject to the CWA and that migratory bird use of ponds did not establish jurisdiction. The third case, Rapanos, before the Supreme Court is at the heart of todays problem because there was no majority decision; four justices were for limiting federal jurisdiction, four justices supported federal jurisdiction, and one justice concurred with those limiting jurisdiction. As a result of the split, courts of appeals have applied different tests to establish or rebut the jurisdiction of the CWA. In the current case, Sackett versus EPA, a homeowner purchased land adjacent to a lake and planned to build a home. EPA said the lot contained wetlands and was subject to the CWA. Whether or not the wetlands in this case are WOTUS will depend on which of three tests are used in making the determination. Thats what this court will decide. What it means on the farm This decision is particularly important to farmers and ranchers, who need to know which of their lands may be subject to the CWA because the consequences of a mistake can be dire. Speculation on where the Supreme Court may land is premature. But it would be nice, 50 years into the Clean Water Act, to have a clear understanding of what a WOTUS is and is not. A farmer or rancher should not have to hire an army of consultants and lawyers to make such a determination. Meanwhile, soon we will see EPAs new rule. NMPF, other agriculture organizations, and members of Congress have asked EPA to cease work on a new WOTUS rule until the Supreme Court issues its ruling next year. EPA has rebuffed that request, saying they can craft a rule that will be durable. That would be welcome . . . if it is a good rule. A durable bad rule will undoubtably drive everyone back into court, giving the Supreme Court another bite at the apple and that could last another 50 years. To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com. (c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2022 October 17, 2022 The city of Concord is continuing efforts to achieve a National Historic District designation for the Logan Community, a historically rich neighborhood and one of the largest African American communities in the city. Community members are invited to share photographs, yearbooks, documents and stories that can help inform the National Register nomination process. Residents can share their memories and photographs at a community meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 4 p.m. at the Logan Multi-Purpose Center or by submitting materials online. The Logan Community is one of the most vibrant and historically significant neighborhoods in the city. The neighborhood bears the name of the Rev. Frank T. Logan, a former slave and minister from Greensboro who was appointed principal of the Concord Colored School in 1891. The school later became the Logan School in 1924. Leaders from the Logan Community helped shape Concord into the diverse, thriving community that residents enjoy today. To honor their legacies and the stories still being written by todays residents, the city is pursuing a National Historic District designation for the Logan Neighborhood. The city is working with consultants Richard Grubb and Associates on the Logan National Register Study. The consultants are holding a community meeting at the Logan Multi-Purpose Center at 184 Booker Drive SW on Oct. 25, from 4-7 p.m. During the meeting, residents will receive an update on the status of the Logan study in the National Register of Historic Places nomination process. Anyone unable to attend in person is encouraged to share relevant photographs and stories online by visiting publicinput.com/LoganStudy. National Register and designation of a property as historically significant is an honor that formally recognizes properties that are architecturally or historically important to the community. Being listed on the National Register does not impose any additional regulations on property owners, unless property owners use the tax credit process to rehabilitate historic houses or other federal funds. Also, a National Register District is not a local historic district; it does not subject proposed work on a home to review by a Historic Preservation Commission. A letter was sent to residents of the Logan Community in January 2021 providing an overview of the Study List process and survey activity occurring within the Logan Community. The district was approved for the Study List by the National Register Advisory Committee on June 10, 2021. Being included in the Study List is a prerequisite for National Register listing. The National Register inventory and study is more detailed than the Study List application, and is also subject to review by the National Register Advisory Committee, which meets in February, June and October. Additional information will be made available to the community as on-site survey activity is scheduled. Emerging technologies are having a profound impact on all industries - and the sector of product authentication is certainly not an exception. Indeed, over the past years, the skyrocketing demand for readily-available international products has put the global distribution system in front of new challenges. And, among these, are the growing risk of counterfeiting and fraud. Luckily, new technologies can be efficiently used to minimize the risk of counterfeiting, protect product authenticity, and give manufacturers and customers unprecedented levels of visibility into the supply chain. And, the Metaverse is the leading technology behind this transformation. Learn how to use this technology to safely authenticate products in the guide below. The Basics of the Metaverse And How This New Technology (News - Alert) Can Help With Product Authentication Before diving into the different ways to use the Metaverse to your advantage, it is important to be clear on what the Metaverse meaning is and why it is difficult to craft a specific definition. Firstly, this is an emerging technology, and much of its potential, future uses, and implications are still unknown. In turn, this makes the definition of Metaverse incredibly dynamic - and radically different from the meaning of the term as it was coined by Neal Stephenson in 1992. Nonetheless, to understand what the Metaverse is and how it works, it is important to understand that this technology is supported and fuelled by a wide range of other innovations, including the Blockchain, Cryptography, Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and the Internet of Things. These technologies have enabled the creation of virtual space that is collective, shared, and enhanced by computer-generated environments and features, which is today called the Metaverse. Here is how this technology can help manufacturers fight product counterfeiting and fraud. 3 Ways To Authenticate Products Using the Metaverse The Metaverse is opening new opportunities for the product authentication and supply chain management sectors. And, that is thanks to the technologies behind it, including Digital Twins, NFTs, Blockchain, and the Internet of Things. Here are a few safe Metaverse-supported ways to prevent counterfeiting and guarantee product authenticity to your customers. Using Technologies Such As Digital Twins and NFTs The first, safest, and most efficient way to prevent counterfeiting involves the creation of a digital twin of each product or unit a manufacturer is looking to track throughout the supply chain. A digital twin is a digital representation of a physical item that exists in the Metaverse and that reflects each movement and transaction the physical asset experiences. By creating digital twins of a product in the supply chain, manufacturers, distribution managers, and consumers can track each item throughout the supply chain journey to the consumer and beyond. When creating digital twins, manufacturers can utilize technologies such as Non-Fungible Tokens - or NFTs - strings of numbers and letters, which are unique and impossible to alter and represent a physical asset in the metaverse. Leveraging the Benefits Offered by Blockchain Technologies The reason why NFTs are so effective in preventing counterfeiting and fraud is that they are supported by the blockchain - and, in turn, they benefit from the same features and properties of this digital ledger. Blockchain is deemed to be such a revolutionary technology because it provides a way to record, store, and share transactions in a secure and unalterable way. When using this system in the supply chain, manufacturers can monitor and track each transaction and handoff concerning each product. And, even more importantly, they are able to make this information - including proof of origin and authenticity - accessible to other employees, third-party providers, and consumers. Moreover, introducing a blockchain system allows manufacturers to create an end-to-end tracking system that provides accurate, real-time data about a products journey, status, and conditions. Introducing Smart-Packaging Solutions To Boost Unit-Level Traceability Creating digital twins of physical assets and tracking them through the supply chain thanks to underlying blockchain infrastructures is certainly one of the most efficient ways to authenticate products and ensure their authenticity. Nonetheless, these systems work even better when paired with other technologies, including smart packaging solutions. Technology-enhanced packaging incorporates systems such as NFC, RFID, and tamper-evident labels that allow manufacturers to monitor the conditions of a product throughout the supply chain. This is especially important for pharmaceutical products, as well as personal protection equipment, fragrances, and other fast-moving consumer goods. Indeed, when adulterated or refilled, these assets can represent a severe public health risk. Luckily, manufacturers can now use smart packaging solutions and the digital representation of physical items to monitor in real-time the status of each product. Whats more, when these systems are paired with IoT devices, manufacturers can also deliver this information to consumers, thus boosting trust and ensuring that buyers can make better-informed decisions. Working With a Specialized Product Authentication Expert The Metaverse is undoubtedly a complex technology with the potential to disrupt many industries. However, since this technology is still in its early years, introducing it within a business or organization might not always be straightforward without the help of a product authentication expert. Thanks to a team of specialized professionals, organizations can benefit from ad-hoc product authentication solutions and seamless integrations. include_once "/home/jwreview/public_html/$theme/includes/sidebar.php"; ?> Don't believe the pervert media. Reuters, NBC News, entertainer John Oliver and Denver 9News zealot Kyle Clark all want you to believe that parents nationwide are simply imagining an infestation of "furries" (children dressing up and identifying as animals) in their public schools. The gaslighting campaign is so toxically incandescent that you can see the glow from a SpaceX rocket. Let me assure you: You are not crazy. They are. First, let's review the headlines over the past week. Here's Reuters on Oct. 18: "Fact Check No evidence of schools accommodating 'furries' with litter boxes." Here's NBC News on Oct. 14 in a piece by whopping four-reporter "misinformation" police squad: "How an urban myth about litter boxes in schools became a GOP talking point." Over the weekend, comedian John Oliver dismissed the parental sound and fury over furries as "humiliating nonsense" and mocked conservative state legislators as "heartbreakingly stupid" for amplifying constituents' concerns. Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here. Denver 9News conservative-bashing zealot Kyle Clark two weeks ago purported to debunk the furry frenzy by simply regurgitating several Colorado school districts' blanket denials, including Jefferson County, which told the news station: "There is absolutely no truth to this claim. There are no litter boxes in our buildings and students are not allowed to come to school in costume." That deceitful stock answer was authored by communications executive director Kimberly Enloe; shared with district leaders for "awareness and alignment" (translation: marching orders and echo chamber formation); and sent to multiple news outlets inquiring about the anthropomorphic animal contagion. 9News executive producer Nathan Higgins revealed his intentions to neuter the controversy when he accused parents of spreading a "conspiracy theory" in his inquiry to the Jeffco schools' PR team seeking any "substantiated or specific instances or claims of furries in schools." Here is the whole truth, which the pervert media labels "misinformation" because truly informed nuclear families threaten The Great Parental Replacement agenda: A vigilant group of parents and kids in Jefferson County have been hounding school officials about the bizarre presence of "furries" in Colorado middle schools and high schools since February 2022. This is not a "GOP talking point" or an election-season ploy. This is not a joke or satire. It's real, it's disruptive, and it's sick. Lindsay Datko and a team of eight citizen activists with Jeffco Kids First file Colorado Open Records Act requests to expose the lies and secrets driving wedges between parents and their children not just on curriculum indoctrination, but on all matters pertaining to family autonomy, health and safety. "We leave no stone unturned," Datko told me. And that's why the pervert media and their fellow travelers believe she and her group must be smeared and destroyed. On Oct. 13, the county school district's records custodian coughed up a 36-page document filled with emails between parents, school officials and other parties chronicling the need for costumed critter control. I obtained and verified the hair-raising trove. Back in February, a parent had informed JeffCo's "chief student success officer" Matt Palaoro about rabid furries at Wayne Carle Middle School who wore "cat/dog ears, tails, fur gloves, collars, and leashes" while threatening peers who objected. The parent's son reported that the costumed students would "hiss, bark, scratch, and meow" at students who objected to the behavior. Another child reported that the herd of furries would "walk on all 4s in the hallway" and "also eat with their face in their food." Back in March, parents at Drake Middle School in Jeffco met with principal Melinda Feir to alert her of the classroom disruptions caused by the human pet parade. In April, another parent reported furry sightings at Dakota Ridge High School. In August, Drake Middle School updated its dress code specifically to ban animal ears and tails. (The public records show that litter boxes were never mentioned; it was Datko's group that discovered they were being used during lockdowns.) include_once "/home/jwreview/public_html/templates/double_ads.asp"; ?> Despite the long electronic trail of complaints and alarms, left-wing activist and Colorado Times Recorder propagandist Heidi Beedle slammed GOP gubernatorial candidate Heidi Ganahl in a hit piece titled "Ganahl Falsely Claims that Kids Are 'Identifying as Cats ... All Over Colorado & Schools Are Tolerating It.'" What Beedle and the publication fail to disclose is that Beedle is not making this up an apologist for furries who penned a 2,000-plus word celebration of the "oft-misunderstood community" in 2018 for the Colorado Springs Independent. She highlighted a 16-year-old "wolfdog" named "Avedis" whose parents drive him to "all-ages meetups" and quoted "Chip," a "DenFur" convention staffer who explained that "(w)hile furry is not an exclusively LGBTQ phenomenon, it skews pretty gay due to its obvious LGBTQ appeal." "Furry allows you to try out different identities," the wolfman told Beedle. "If you're not sure if you're gay, you can roleplay as a gay character. If you're not sure if you're trans, you can roleplay as a different gender. Furry allows you to experiment." Rolling Stone chronicled the spread of this "long-misunderstood subculture" (gee, that sounds familiar) to young TikTok viewers in 2019. Dr. Cynthia Morton, a high school counselor, blogged on "Making a Safe Place for Students Who Identify as Furries, Therians, and Otherkins" back in 2018. Now that parents are blowing the whistle on this filthy infiltration, gaslighters pretend we're the ones with mental illness and demand that families doxx their own children instead of holding public safety menaces in the schools accountable for their "diversity" perversity. Never forget: You are not crazy. They are. (COMMENT, BELOW) ASHMORE In the midst of harvest, busy farmers were able to get lunch on the go Wednesday from Charleston High School FFA's drive-thru at the Total Grain Marketing elevator in Ashmore. "All meals are in the field right now, so this is appreciated," said Judy Coffey of Ashmore as she picked up hamburgers and more for Coffey Family Farms. Her grandson, sophomore Ben Coffey, said he and his classmates formed an assembly line to staff the drive-thru. Students grilled burgers, paired them with buns and American cheese, and wrapped them in foil outdoors against the backdrop of grain silos. The wrapped burgers were then transferred into a storage shed and placed in warming pans. Rows of paper bags stuffed with condiments, chips and cookies stood at the ready in the shed for burger orders from the farmers. "We take the meals and run them to their trucks," Ben Coffey said, adding that the meals also included the choice of water or soda. He said this service enabled the farmers to quickly pick up their lunches and get back to work. "It feels really good to help people out." Sophomore Kaylin Nolte was among the students placing fresh grilled burgers into the lunch bags. She said the drive-thru had already filled several orders within minutes of opening for business at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the grain elevator along Illinois Route 16, just east of the Ashmore-Oakland road. Nolte said some of the farmers gave monetary donations to the FFA program while picking up their hamburger meals. For her, she said this generosity reinforced why the agriculture students organized the event in the first place. "Farmers do a lot for us, so we need to do a lot for them," Nolte said, adding that her grandfather farms. Agriculture teacher and FFA advisor Ben Oakley said students have been able to start moving into the new vocational trades building at the high school this fall, take part in a forestry competition at Fox Ridge State Park, and host a horse judging competition at the Coles County Fairgrounds. He said they are now preparing to spend three days next week at the National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis. Oakley said his students were brainstorming ideas for a fall service project when they decided to hold their first ever drive-thru at a grain elevator. He said the FFA chapter got a good deal on hamburger patties from The Butcher Shop in Charleston and obtained other needed supplies with the help of money it received from a Bayer Fund America's Farmers Grow Communities grant won by local farmer Janice Sweeney. MOUNT ZION In the 18 months since her husbands death, Amber Oberheim has been on a mission to bring about change. My blue family is way too important to continue to sit idly by and watch them be scrutinized, disrespected and murdered. It is time to start celebrating heroes and stop victimizing felons, Oberheim said during her husband's funeral in May 2021. That call to action was captured on a video that was shared Wednesday morning with those who attended the 10th annual Mount Zion Community Prayer Breakfast at the Mount Zion Convention Center. Oberheim, the president and founder of Peacemaker Project 703, was the featured speaker at the event hosted by the Mount Zion Chamber of Commerce. The Peacemaker Project 703 was created after Champaign police officer Chris Oberheim was fatally shot May 19, 2021, while responding to a domestic disturbance at a Champaign apartment complex. Chris Oberheim was a Decatur native and was a member of the city's police force before taking a job in Champaign. His brother continues to serve in the Decatur department. Ive heard her speak before and its always meaningful, but its probably more meaningful today than before, said Decatur Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe, a Mattoon native. Her message is very powerful. Moore Wolfe's slight change in perspective follows an Oct. 12 officer-involved shooting in Decatur that left two officers wounded and the suspect, Jamontey O. Neal, 32, dead. Moore Wolfes son, Macon County Sheriff's Deputy Travis Wolfe, was among the officers involved in the Decatur shootout. He was unhurt, a status he shared with his mother via phone soon after the incident. Also in the audience was Mandy Moore, who brought students from the Mount Zion Illinois CEO, an entrepreneurship program for junior and senior high schoolers. They learned the value of community and turning adversity into solutions, Moore said. Moore said she understands the students have their own struggles in life. And God will meet us there, she said. We have to rely on our faith. Christian County Sheriff Bruce Kettlekamp greeted Oberheim with a hug after the breakfast. I want to support her because she is so supportive of law enforcement, he said. We appreciate all that she does. Peacemaker Project 703 provides support for law enforcement officers and their families through community outreach, reform and education. The number, 703, was Chris Oberheim's badge number. For Oberheim, the support and strength runs deep through law enforcement and her faith. Oberheim said she finds strength each time she views the video of her eulogy for her husband. I woke up that morning and told the girls, today is going to be an epic day, she said, recalling the day of the funeral after her presentation. I had energy and felt good. Oberheim gave God the credit for her positive outlook. We played party tunes in the car on the way over to the funeral home because we know thats what Chris would have wanted, she said. The pain suffered through the weeks that followed the shooting was channeled into positive intentions, Oberheim said. Were making a purpose out of pain, she said. Some of the most powerful moments in my life have come after losing my husband. Even the creation of Peacemaker Project 703 was an afterthought, prompted by the negative reaction to the image of her husband's killer, who was shot to death by a second Champaign police officer who responded to the call with Oberheim, shown on a local television station with angel wings and a halo. Oberheim said social media posts encouraged businesses to pull their advertising from the station and instead put it toward a Go Fund Me account created for the Oberheim family. The family, in turn, decided to use the money to advance the call to action she made during the funeral. Thats how Peacemaker Project 703 came into existence, Oberheim said. The death of her husband came at a time when the family was already dealing with a health challenge involving one of their four daughters. In May 2020, the child began suffering from debilitating headaches without a diagnosis. No matter how hard I tried and how many things we attempted, I could not fix her, said Oberheim, who has a medical background as a nurse practitioner. After more than two years of hospital and doctor visits, the child recently underwent a surgery to remove a cyst in her brain. Oberheim became emotional as she shared a photo of the daughter in a hospital bed offering a thumbs up and news that she recently under went surgery. While it is still early, Oberheim said the prognosis is good. Throughout her recent life challenges, Oberheim said she would hear the words Fear not in her head. She often wondered why those words kept resonating in her thoughts, eventually finding her answer in the Bible. The verse, Isaiah 41:10, reads: Fear not for I am with you ... I will strengthen you. I will help you. Oberheim said she continues to use the same encouragement, as well as Gods direction, while continuing to use a tragic event to bring positive change and support for police and other first responders. The pension systems of the UAE and Saudi Arabia have improved their score, ranking 25th and 27th out of 44 retirement systems in the 14th annual Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index (MCGPI). Globally, Iceland was top, followed by the Netherlands, while Thailand ranked last. This years MCGPI also features Portugal as a new addition. The MCGPI is a comprehensive study of 44 global pension systems, accounting for 65 percent of the worlds population. It benchmarks retirement income systems around the world, highlighting some shortcomings in each system, and suggests possible areas of reform that would help provide more adequate and sustainable retirement benefits. The UAE and Saudi retirement income systems were benchmarked against global peers across three key areas of focus: adequacy, sustainability, and integrity. UAE UAEs overall index value improved from 59.6 in 2021 to 61.8 in 2022, jumping from C to C+. This is primarily due to improvement in its scores for adequacy and sustainability. The UAEs pension adequacy rankings are supported by the countrys generous retirement benefits, which ensure a continued income to sustain a good quality of life with a suitable minimum pension relative to earnings. Its improvement in sustainability can be attributed to the UAEs high labour force participation rate, especially for individuals over the age of 55. The robust governance structure around the national pension system in the UAE also contributed to its strong ranking in terms of integrity. Overall, the UAE has put in place a sound structure for a funded pension system for Emiratis with both the public and private sectors setting aside mandatory contributions during an employees tenure. Progress is being made to implement a new retirement savings scheme targeted at supporting private sector employers and expat employees to plan for their financial future, said the study. The UAEs retirement income system comprises a minimum state pension and a national employment-based scheme administered by the Abu Dhabi Pension fund (ADPF), the Sharjah Social Security Fund (SSSF), and the General Pensions and Social Security Authority (GPSSA) for the rest of the Emirates. Emiratis contribute 5 per cent of their salary, and employers contribute 12.5 15 per cent of an employees salary, with benefits guaranteed by the government. As the country continues to ramp up its effort to attract and retain talent, the UAE also recently announced the launch of a new mandatory unemployment insurance scheme, which is applicable for both public and private sector employees, with the mandate to help both Emirati and foreign employees receive compensation of up to 60 per cent of their previous salary for three months if they lose their jobs. Furthermore, the recently launched Golden Pension scheme is aimed at helping private-sector foreign employees invest their end-of-service benefits as well as support employers to fund their end-of-service financial commitments. MCGPI has, however, identified key areas that may be improved to continue to retain and build on UAEs ranking. Factors include introducing a minimum access age to ensure benefits from pension plans are preserved for retirement purposes. As life expectancy is on the rise, leading to more people in retirement, increasing the state pension age may also help relieving some of the burden on the state pension. Furthermore, increasing investment towards educating and promoting a savings culture in the UAE amongst locals, will help address the lack of planning for a life of retirement. The UAE scored 63.8 (27th globally) in adequacy, driven by the countrys generous retirement benefits with suitable minimum pensions relative to earnings. Positive scores around sustainability are driven by the high labor force participation rate, especially for individuals over the age of 55 and due to the sound structure of a funded pension system with mandatory contributions set aside for the retirement benefit, with a score of 51.9 (25th globally). The countrys highest score was awarded for the integrity of its pension systems, 72.6 (26th globally), supported by the overall high degree of governance structure. SAUDI ARABIA Saudi Arabias overall index value improved from 58.1 in 2021 to 59.2 in 2022, primarily due to an increase in its sustainability score which went from 50.9 to 54.3. The sustainability of the Kingdoms pension system has been bolstered in recent years due to an increased labour force participation rate, with the number of women with jobs nearly doubling in the last five years, and by the mandatory contributions set aside for retirement benefits as a percentage of annual compensation by both employee and employer. Despite the improvement, the study suggests further increasing the state pension age over time to strengthen its sustainability. The 2021 merger of the Public Pension Agency (PPA) into the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) has helped consolidate $29 billion of funds. The move has strengthened the position of the pension system in terms of its financial status, investment returns and opportunities for strategic diversification, it said. The adequacy score in Saudi Arabia, which saw a slight dip this year from 61.7 to 61.4, can be improved by increasing the minimum level of support provided to the poorest aged individuals. While the Kingdom also recorded a positive integrity score, driven by the overall high degree of governance structure around the pension system in the Kingdom, it could be further elevated by enhancing the level of communication to pensioners from private pension arrangements, and increasing the labor force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise. Robert Ansari, Mercer's Head of Investment and Retirement for IMETA, stated: Included in the index for a fifth year, Saudi Arabias index score has increased for 2022 once again faring better than a number of more established global peers. With two thirds of its population under the age of 30 and continued population growth, the introduction of private pension plans as a complementary retirement program in the Kingdom will reduce the pressure on the existing social security programmes and enhance the overall retirement income. It will also serve as a further mechanism to attract and retain talent in a buoyant job market and deliver overall financial well-being for its citizens. The study revealed a few key areas that require development in the countrys pension system, including increasing the minimum level of support provided to the poorest aged individuals, further increasing the state pension age over time and increasing the labor force participation rate at older ages. The study called for encouraging higher levels of private saving, both within and beyond the pension system, to reduce the future dependence on the public pension, while also adjusting the expectations of many workers. By the numbers Saudi Arabia had an overall index score of 59.2, ranking 27th on the list. The Index uses a weighted average of the sub-indices of adequacy, sustainability and integrity. The country scored 61.4 (30th globally) in adequacy, driven by the Kingdoms healthy pension replacement ratio and net household savings rate. Strong mandatory contributions set aside for retirement benefits have helped improve the sustainability of the system, with a score of 54.3 (20th globally). The country scored the highest for integrity, 62.5 (36th globally), supported by the overall high degree of governance structure around the pension system in the Kingdom. Global results Globally Iceland had the highest overall index value (84.7), closely followed by the Netherlands (84.6) and Denmark (82.0). Thailand had the lowest index value (41.7). For each sub-index, the systems with the highest values were Iceland for adequacy (85.8) and sustainability (83.8), and Finland for integrity (93.3). The systems with the lowest values across the sub-indices were India for adequacy (37.6), Austria for sustainability (22.7), and the Philippines for integrity (30). In comparison to 2021, Mexico showed the most improvement as a result of pension reform, which improved outcomes for individuals and pension regulation. -TradeArabia News Service The number of COVID-19 cases reported in Nebraska declined slightly last week, continuing a steady decline that began in late August. The state recorded 1,050 virus cases for the week ending Wednesday, down 4% from 1,096 the week before, according to figures reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cases in Nebraska are down almost three-quarters from peak summer levels seen in late July, when the most recent omicron wave of cases peaked. They are at their lowest levels since late April. Nebraskas COVID-19 levels also rank in the bottom dozen among the states. Lancaster County followed the state trend with numbers improving last week, causing the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department on Tuesday to move the risk dial from mid-yellow to low-yellow. For the week ending Saturday, cases dropped from 187 to 169. The seven-day rolling average of hospitalizations also decreased from 35 last week to 31 on Tuesday. U.S. cases fell 12% for the week and have been falling since July. Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 nationally also were down 6.9% from the week before. In Nebraska, 128 people were hospitalized with the coronavirus, down from 139 the week before. But many pandemic experts have their eyes on Europe, where virus cases and deaths are rising. Virus activity in Europe often has proven a precursor of whats to come in the United States. But rather than having one dominant variant, it appears likely that the next wave will involve multiple variants with the ability to evade immunity, said Dr. James Lawler, a co-executive director of the University of Nebraska Medical Centers Global Center for Health Security. A variant called XBB is driving an increase in cases in Singapore. And another called BQ.1.1 may be behind a rise in cases in Germany. All are derived from the BA.4 and BA.5, the two most recent variants upon which a portion of the formula for the new bivalent booster shots is based. I think we may see a very different unfolding of events this time around, Lawler said. However, it is likely the U.S. will see waves rolling across the country as it has seen in past fall and winter seasons, with cases starting to increase in the Northeast, then moving across the Midwest and South as fall turns into winter. Wastewater testing in the Northeast indicates an uptick already has begun there. The testing picks up virus particles shed by people ill with the virus. In Lancaster County, wastewater testing showed an increase in the number of virus particles last week, but the three-week average is trending downward, the health department reported. The original vaccines still do a good job of protecting people from serious illness. But people get better protection, Lawler said, if they recently have been boosted. The new boosters seem to provide some additional protection against the latest variants, but researchers wont know for sure until clinical studies are conducted. Vaccination remains a critical tool to help manage COVID-19 as we move further into fall and winter, Lincoln/Lancaster County Health Director Pat Lopez said. She said more than 33,000 doses of the new, updated boosters have now been administered in the county. Under current guidance, Lawler said, people can get the new boosters two months after their last shot of the original vaccine. The CDC says people who recently have had COVID-19 can consider waiting as long as three months after their symptoms started to get the shot, or three months from when they tested positive if they had no symptoms. But Lawler said hed recommend getting boosted after a month. The new boosters recently were approved for children ages 5 to 11, in addition to everyone 12 and older. In Douglas County, cases and the per-capita case rate crept up slightly during the week ending Oct. 15. Cases and case rates in Sarpy and Cass counties continued to trend downward. Nebraska added four COVID-19 deaths last week, bringing the total number of confirmed or probable deaths to 4,552. The state has had nearly 540,000 confirmed cases. Authors from each point of the adoption triangle adoptee, adoptive parent and birth parent will share their experiences with adoption, motherhood and the community in an open forum Saturday at Francie & Finch bookstore. "I've never met a human being who doesn't have a connection to adoption or at least a curiosity about how it feels from every angle of the experience," author Suzanne Ohlmann said. "We created the event to be a connective experience for the audience and with the hope to shed some light on a universal topic." Ohlmann, an adoptee, detailed her journey to trace her history and find her biological family in "Shadow Migration," taking readers through decades of migration and exploration from India to a haunted house in San Antonio. "This idea of us coming together as women, as writers, as daughters, as mothers who are all representatives of this triangle, it's charged," Ohlmann said. "Because we have this bond from every angle of it. We are survivors of adoption." Ohlmann met fellow author Jody Keisner during Olhmann's April book launch in Seward through a mutual connection. Ohlmann and Keisner share the same publishing company the University of Nebraska Press and both published books this year. 'Adoption From All Sides' Authors Jody Keisner, Suzanne Ohlmann and Holly Pelesky will share their experiences with adoption, motherhood and the community in an open forum this weekend. When: 4-5 p.m. Saturday Where: Francie & Finch, 130 S. 13th St. More information: francieandfinch.com/events-page/ "I was just blown away," Keisner said of Ohlmann's book. "Her story was so incredible." Ohlmann said the two were instantly connected through their adoption experiences. Later, Keisner gave a guest lecture at the Lied Lodge and Conference Center, which Holly Pelesky attended while pursuing her Master of Fine Arts at the University of Nebraska. Pelesky reached out to Keisner on social media and the two met up for coffee. The meeting was several hours long and ended in tears as the pair shared their experiences with adoption and the stigmas that accompany it, Keisner said. The two decided to coordinate an event where they could talk openly about the issue and host community discussion. Keisner suggested including Ohlmann to complete their trio. "Obviously we also have books, but whether or not we did, this is something we needed," Pelesky said. "It feels very lonely, when you're proceeding through the world and it seems like there's no one who can understand, if not your experience, at least your emotions." Pelesky got pregnant while pursuing her undergraduate degree and connected with an adoption agency. The agency set up counseling appointments to make sure this was what Pelesky wanted before giving her profiles of different couples looking to adopt. It felt weird, Pelesky said. Like she was working in HR, scanning through candidate's resumes. She rejected all the couples in the first batch the agency sent her, but when she saw a pair of faces staring at her from the second batch, she knew they were the right ones. Were coming at it from different places," Pelesky said. "Im a mother, Jody is an adoptee and an adoptive mother both, and Suzanne is an adoptee. So we all have a different lens into the same process. When she entered her master's program in 2016, Pelesky picked a mentor that specialized in nonfiction writing and realized she had a story to tell about being a birth mother. I started writing and realized I had so much to say," Pelesky said. "Not necessarily about the adoption process, but to my daughter. Her novel "Cleave" is a series of letters written over the years to her daughter, who is currently 17 years old. In contrast, adoption only takes up two chapters of Keisner's novel "Under My Bed and Other Essays," which explores the fears of women and mothers. "My adoption plays into that because I have this fear of losing the people I love most, this fear of abandonment essentially," Keisner said. "I trace a lot of this fear back to ... being separated from my birth mother and the trauma of that." Keisner hopes the conversation can change the flippant narrative surrounding adoption. She said she's tired of people talking about adoption as a final option. "I hear people say, 'Well, she could always adopt,' like adoption is the last round of baby making," Keisner said. "Like if you get real desperate, adoption is something you can fall back on. ... They don't understand how complicated the process is and that it can last a year or two." Although Keisner has met both Ohlmann and Pelesky, the three have never been in the same room together. "There is no waving a wand and fixing the trauma inherent to adoption," Ohlmann said. "Storytelling, honesty and humility is a means to repairing the wound. I don't know about healing, but I believe in repairing." Friday is the deadline to register to vote in Nebraska for the Nov. 8 general election. Voters must register in-person at a local election office by 6 p.m. Friday. In Lancaster County, the Election Commissioners office is at 601 N. 46th St. Call 402-441-7311 with questions. Find your local election official's office. New voters had until Oct. 21 to submit their voter registration forms online or by mail in time for the upcoming general election. Oct. 28 is the deadline for voters to change their address, party affiliation or name. Mail-in registrations had to be postmarked by Oct. 21 in order to be accepted. Other important election-related dates for voters: * Oct. 28: Deadline for voters to request absentee or vote-by-mail ballots in-person or by mail. * Nov. 8: Absentee/mail-in ballots must be returned, either in person or must arrive in the election commissioner's office by mail. * Nov. 8, Election Day: Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Nebraska State Patrol has determined the fatal shooting of a 32-year-old Oakland man Sept. 27 was self-defense. In a news release, State Patrol Spokesman Cody Thomas said Oakland Police and Burt County Sheriff's deputies were called to an apartment in Oakland on reports of a domestic disturbance at 9 that night and found Ryan Schuman with a gunshot wound. He died at the hospital, and the shooter, whom the State Patrol didn't identify, said he shot in self-defense. The State Patrol said their investigation found that Schuman had tried to prevent a man and woman from leaving, then attacked the woman, hitting her repeatedly. Thomas said at that time the man fired one shot at Schuman to end the attack. The man and woman then left to get help and call 911. The woman was treated for her injuries at the scene. Through investigation and consultation with the Burt County Attorney, they decided not to arrest or charge the man who shot Schuman because all evidence and statements substantiated the claim of self-defense. Democratic congressional nominee Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln said Tuesday she has raised nearly $1.5 million for her campaign without accepting any corporate political action committee funding, unlike her opponent, Republican Rep. Mike Flood. More than $1.3 million of Pansing Brooks' campaign funding has come from Nebraskans, she said during a news conference in Lincoln. "Lots of Nebraskans donating small amounts of money," Pansing Brooks said. "When I entered this race, I took a no corporate PAC pledge because I will not be beholden to any special interest or political party only to Nebraskans." Pansing Brooks said Flood "has become a product of (Washington) D.C. beholden to special interests and his party bosses" since his election to the House seat June 28. "I am committed to answering only to Nebraskans in this race," she said. Flood defeated Pansing Brooks in the June special election called to name a successor to former 1st District Republican Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, who resigned from the House following his conviction on charges of lying to federal officials about illegal foreign contributions to his 2016 reelection campaign. The special election filled the remaining six months of Fortenberry's term. The two party nominees will meet again in the Nov. 8 general election to choose a House member to fill the eastern Nebraska House seat for the next two-year term beginning in January. Patrick J. ODonnell informed Nebraska state senators Tuesday that he will retire as clerk of the Legislature at the end of the year, ending 45 years in the position. It has been an honor to serve, ODonnell said in a brief message sent to senators late in the afternoon. I wish you well in the upcoming session, he said. The clerk of the Legislature is responsible for ensuring that all constitutional, statutory and policy requirements are followed when the Legislature conducts its business. The office of the clerk acts as the administrative arm of the Legislature and maintains official records of all legislative business. As a veteran and respected clerk, ODonnell has been particularly effective in keeping the legislative process moving while maintaining decorum. The person Gov. Pete Ricketts should appoint to the U.S. Senate seat when Ben Sasse leaves for academia is Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert. Appointing Stothert would be a win-win. This is Stothert's third term as mayor of Omaha, and she seems to be tiring of the job. Much has been made of Stothert's frequent absences from our city while on vacation. She recently requested authority from the Omaha City Council to be mayor while out of town. That idea was rejected, then shortly thereafter Stothert went on a 26-day vacation in Italy. Omaha's citizens are unhappy with Stothert's tearing down of the Dale Clark Library, with millions of dollars in cost overruns and historic manuscripts now being stored in an old Shopko building. If Ricketts appointed Stothert to the Senate, he'd be getting an experienced, loyal Republican in that office, Stothert can be somewhere other than Omaha, and the citizens of Omaha can get a fresh face in our mayor's office. Good idea, right Governor Ricketts? Ricky Fulton, Omaha At a candidate forum last week current County Attorney Pat Condon declared he would prosecute women and their doctors if the Legislature passes an abortion ban and also enforce a gay marriage ban if the Supreme Court overturns Obergefell. Both of these extreme scenarios are real possibilities given Justice Clarence Thomas' concurrence opinion in Dobbs and the potential various outcomes of the legislative elections this November. We need a county attorney who will focus on public safety: prosecuting and preventing violent crime, working with policymakers to enact laws proven in other states to reduce recidivism and keeping our community safe. We don't need a county prosecutor focused on stripping our individual liberties from us. Someone committed to using their office to criminalize women and their doctors for reproductive care or investigate and break apart loving LGBT families is not the right fit to lead the Lancaster County Attorney's office in 2022. As a local attorney and former litigator I am writing to urge you to support Adam Morfeld to be our next Lancaster County Attorney with your vote on Nov. 8. Meg Mikolajczyk, Lincoln Bahrain Islamic Bank (BisB), a leading provider of Islamic digital banking services in the Kingdom of Bahrain, revealed its latest innovative service, exclusively offered to new corporate and under formation customers. According to Bisb, the service will enable new corporate account applicants to avail a branding package, which includes both the development of a company logo and graphic design services, without any additional fees, to support them in kicking-off their future businesses off the ground by reducing operational costs. Applicants will gain access to a well-structured and comprehensive brand guidelines manual in addition to a graphics kit enabling startups to launch their first marketing campaign. The offer is available for applicants in the following industries: Food and Beverage (F&B), beauty salons, spas, fashion, sports, in addition to innovative products and services. As part of the Banks strategic partnerships and collaborations with local universities, these services will be provided by fresh graduate students specialized in the field of graphic design, providing them the opportunity to gain first-hand experience with various clients. Jawad Humaidan, Chief Corporate and Institutional Banking Officer at BisB, said: We are pleased to be launching this innovative product as the first of its kind in the Kingdom. This exclusive initiative designed for niche corporate clients aims to provide support for local startups and small and medium enterprises enabling them establish their own brand with the support of expert graduates in the field. We look forward to empowering young talent by providing fresh graduates with the opportunity to gain real-world professional experience, all while supporting startups, placing both on the right path towards success. Accordingly, wed like to invite potential applicants to open new corporate accounts for their companies through BisBs Mobile App to make use of this exclusive and limited time offer. New applicants interested in benefitting from the service are required to apply for a corporate account directly through BisBs mobile app and submit a comprehensive business plan before the 31st October 2022.-TradeArabia News Service RACINE A man who was arrested on allegations he was high when he crashed into a Wisconsin State Patrol squad, injuring a passenger in the vehicle, had his sentencing hearing delayed after he allegedly tested positive for drugs. Harrison Geiser, 26, of St. Paul, Minnesota, previously pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, possession of a narcotic drug, and misdemeanor causing an injury accident while under the influence. Judge Robert Repischak began the proceedings on Monday for what was supposed to be sentencing in Racine County Circuit Court with the report from RCAP (Racine County Alternatives Program), which indicated the drug test Geiser took before court came back positive for drugs in his system. Attorney Andrew Mishlove, who represents the defendant, told the judge his client has all sorts of prescribed medications, which could have tripped the drug test. Additionally, he pointed out the RCAP tests are just preliminary screenings, so the test would have to be sent to a lab for official findings. Repischak told the defendant he would not have him arrested, but he had some advice: Drop the shovel. The hole is deep enough for you, OK. The judge added that, if a subsequent test showed the defendant was using controlled substances, at the next hearing Geiser would be taken into custody. Repischak also said he wanted the PSI (pre-sentence investigation) writer to have notice of the failed drug test. Obviously if it turns out that Mr. Geiser was using substances, a violation of his bond, that may impact the PSI writers recommendation, and it may influence what the state and the court would wish to do, Repischak said. A status hearing was set for 8:15 a.m. Nov. 15. Case history According to the report generated by the Racine County Sheriffs Office, the crash between Geisers vehicle and the Wisconsin State troopers patrol vehicle occurred as the RCSO was investigating an unrelated OWI. A Racine County deputy pulled over a vehicle for an equipment violation on Interstate 94 just south of Highway 20. The driver used a fake name when identifying himself, showed signs of impairment, and was driving with two children under the age of 3 years old in the backseat. One of the children was not in a safety seat and the other was sitting in a car seat that was not properly installed. After Hughley was arrested, another deputy was called to bring appropriate car seats before the children could be transported to the RCSO, where they could possibly be picked up by family members, pending the investigation. During this waiting period, a Wisconsin State Patrol vehicle arrived, blocking a lane of traffic. Soon after, Geisler crashed into the State Patrol squad car with his 2017 Honda Civic. According to the report generated by the RCSO, Geisler had no traffic in front of or next to him as he approached the State Patrol squad. In Geislers vehicle, deputies reported finding heroin. The commercial vehicle inspector who had been in the State Patrol squad reportedly suffered minor injuries because of the crash. Geisler was treated at a hospital before being arrested. Court The defendant was originally charged with 14 counts, 10 of which were felonies. Geiser was scheduled for trial in June but instead pleaded guilty to a reduced number of charges in a negotiated settlement with the Racine County District Attorneys Office. As part of the settlement, the DAs Office said it would recommend seven years of incarceration followed by seven years of extended release. WATERFORD A West Allis man was charged with his fifth OWI after allegedly crashing into a parked car and boat in western Racine County. Joshua D. Malicki, 42, was charged with a felony count of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence (as a fifth offense). According to a criminal complaint: At 1:14 a.m. on Sunday, officers were sent to the area of Grand Drive and Pleasant View Drive for a vehicle crashing. Officers found a black Ford truck which had struck a parked truck and a boat. There were two open cases of beer and several beer cans in the cabin of the Ford. Officers spoke to the driver, Malicki, who claimed a mechanical issue caused him to crash. Officers could smell alcohol coming from him, and he had glassy, bloodshot eyes as well as slow and slurred speech. He said he had two beers and a shot, and was driving home from the bar. He completed the field sobriety tests and refused to take a preliminary breath test, saying he wasnt going to pass it anyway. He was arrested. Malicki was given a $2,000 cash bond in Racine County Circuit Court on Monday. A preliminary hearing is on Oct. 26 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, online court records show. RACINE Sylvia Bennett-Stone lost a daughter to gun violence in 2004. In the wake of that tragedy, she wanted to be involved in efforts to increase community safety. To start, she participated in a Student Pledge Against Gun Violence event, a national program that has grown since then. I wanted to encourage the other kids, said Bennett-Stone, national director of Voices of Black Mothers United, an organization that works with people affected by gun violence in order to foster healing. This was the way of encouraging them and getting them past their grief. On Wednesday, the Day of National Concern, more than 100,000 students in more than a dozen states signed anti-gun violence pledges. That included students at Starbuck Middle School, 1516 Ohio St. Were never going to use our guns to solve our problems, said one of the students signing the pledge in Starbucks hallway Wednesday afternoon before one of her friends added, Were gonna solve them ourselves. Students signed a pledge to never bring a gun to school, never use a gun to settle a personal dispute and understand the importance of personal decisions. My individual choices and actions, when multiplied by those of young people throughout the country, will make a difference, the pledge states. Together, by honoring this pledge we can reverse the violence and grow up in safety. Wednesdays effort was a partnership between Voices of Black Mothers United, Racine County and the Racine Unified School District. The Student Pledge Against Gun Violence program has grown over the years, with more than 10 million signatures since 1996, and this is the first year Racine students were involved. In addition to student signatures, signs outside the Racine County Courthouse and along area highways aimed to raise awareness for the anti-gun violence effort. The new effort comes during a year of increased local gun violence. Racine has had nine homicides so far this year, according to the Racine Police Department. According to the law enforcement arm of the Racine Violence Crime Reduction Initiative, there were 841 shots fired calls in the first nine months of 2022. That is far higher than the same time frame in recent years, with 631 calls in 2021, 737 calls in 2020, 401 in 2019 and 292 in 2018. There were 241 gun violence arrests through September of this year, slightly up from 234 arrests at the same time last year. Nakeyda Haymers brother was shot and killed in 2017, and she said gun violence truly does impact everyone around you, not just the victim or offender. Haymer, the Wisconsin state lead of Voices of Black Mothers United, hopes that students who signed pledges will become leaders who can help themselves and their peers make good decisions. With the youth being our future, we need to establish and really pour into those leaders so that the work can continue, and then the communities not only get safe but they remain safe, Haymer said. Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave agreed, saying that students signing the pledge is going to reverberate throughout our county and hopefully to other youth. Delagrave called the pledge one tool in the toolbox to reduce crime and said it is part of Racine Countys proactive, holistic approach to address local gun violence. Our county is only as strong as our youth. And, if our youth are consistently facing trauma, in this case, gun violence, our county isnt very strong. The officials were excited to see students signing pledges and taking active control over their lives. Delagrave hopes that those who signed the pledge ask themselves what they want their future to look like and how they can make that future a reality. We hope that they reflect on that and have some of these ideals and goals in place and not let gun violence or trauma affect that vision, Delagrave said. Bennett-Stone aims for youth engagement so that less violence occurs, and Wednesdays event could play a role in decreasing gun deaths. If we can encourage our youth to make better choices, Bennett-Stone said, and (give) them hope for their own lives, perhaps they wont choose to take another. RACINE In a move seeking to combine a public health perspective with responses to crime, current City Council President John Tate II has been hired by the City of Racine to serve as its first-ever manager of violence prevention. Racine Mayor Cory Mason announced Monday during his budget address that the 2023 budget included the creation of an Office for Violence Prevention. The hire of Tate was announced Wednesday by Mason and Public Health Administrator Dottie-Kay Bowersox, one day after it was reported that Tate had turned down a job offer from the City of Madison to be that citys first-ever police monitor. While John had opportunities for public service in other communities I am pleased he has chosen to do this work in his hometown. The city continues to invest in traditional law enforcement, Mason said in a statement; on Monday, Mason announced the 2023 budget included funds for restoring six of the 11 police officer positions cut from the Racine Police Department in the 2021 city budget. The creation of this position, Mason continued, allows us to bring an additional public health perspective to crime and crime prevention. We know we need to use every tool available to us to reduce violent crime. The violence prevention manager will allow us to work in partnership with the community on evidence-based strategies to reduce crime. Tate, a Racine native, has a masters degree in social work from Loyola University and was head of the Wisconsin Parole Commission until June 10 when he resigned at the request of Gov. Tony Evers amid criticism of the approved parole of Douglas Balsewicz, a man who had murdered his wife, Johanna, in front of their children in 1997. Prior to Tates resignation, Balsewiczs parole was rescinded. That move, Tate said, could expose the state to litigation since Balsewiczs parole was revoked without Balsewicz himself doing something to demonstrate he presently remains a threat to society and did not deserve the parole that had been granted. Tate was elected as an alderman for the first time in April 2017 and became City Council president in April 2020. He will step down from his elected role to work for the city. This is the second time in less than two years that an alderman has made such a move. In August 2021, then-Ninth District Alderman Trevor Jung resigned to become the citys transit manager. According to the city, as violence prevention manager, Tate will work with the National Network for Safe Communities (NNSC), a research center based at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. We are looking forward to working with John Tate II to implement our group violence intervention by working with community member(s) social services and law enforcement, Nick Loumos, a group violence intervention field adviser with NNSC, said in a statement. John Tate II is a proven leader with deep ties to the Racine community. We are excited to support him and the City of Racine in their work to reduce community gun violence. Madison job Tate had been named as Madisons first independent police monitor on Oct. 10. The monitor job, which has become increasingly commonplace in major cities, would have the ability to investigate Madison police and conduct community outreach on police matters. Neither the board nor the monitor is given the power to fire or discipline police tasks reserved under state law for the citys Police and Fire Commission. The City of Madison was in the midst of contract negotiations with Tate when he notified officials he was going with the Racine job instead. The effort to hire a police monitor, led by the citys Police Civilian Oversight Board, has seen fits and starts since the boards creation in September 2020. The boards first hiring process, launched in July 2021, drew 30 applicants. Two were named finalists in October 2021, but one dropped out shortly thereafter. In January, the sole finalist for the job, current Madison Department of Civil Rights Equal Opportunities Division Manager Byron Bishop, dropped out of the running as well amid revelations that he discriminated against a woman he had been having an affair with and violated state licensing requirements at his former company about 16 years ago. After it was announced that Tate had been picked to be Madisons police monitor, Republican candidate for state attorney general, Eric Toney, issued a statement calling Tate an appalling choice because of Tates decisions as chairman of the Parole Commission. Reporter Chris Rickert of Lee Newspapers and Dee Holzel of The Journal Times contributed to this report. At the beginning of the school year, Margret Hinze was both a special education teacher for grades six to 12, and a contestant in the Miss Racine Scholarship Competition. One of her students joked that if she did not win, Miss Hinze could not be their teacher anymore. It looks like they get to keep their teacher. RACINE The president of Racine's city council has backed out of a job as Madison's first independent police monitor mere days after the City of Madison announced the hire and 15 months after Madison's Police Civilian Oversight Board first set out to find someone for the post that would act as a civilian check on the Madison Police Department. John Tate II turned down the job to take a different position with the City of Racine's government, said Gregg McManners, Madison's interim director of human resources. The City of Madison did not say what the position was. A spokesperson for the City of Racine did not immediately reply to a message asking what job Tate was taking with the city. Tate said Tuesday evening that he plans to issue a statement in the coming days regarding his plans, but would not comment Tuesday. The City of Madison was in the midst of contract negotiations with Tate when he notified officials he was going with the Racine job instead. This would be the second move in less than two years of an alderman going from the City Council to working for the city. In August 2021, then-Ninth District Alderman Trevor Jung resigned to become the city's transit manager. Madison job Tate had been named as Madison's first independent police monitor on Oct. 10. The monitor job, which has become increasingly commonplace in major cities, would have the ability to investigate Madison police and conduct community outreach on police matters. Neither the board nor the monitor is given the power to fire or discipline police tasks reserved under state law for the citys Police and Fire Commission The monitor position pays between $104,672 and $141,308. Tate was interviewed as a finalist in August alongside three others: Madison attorney Joel Winnig, Milwaukee public records legal advisor Robert Copley and state Department of Transportation diversity, equity and inclusion official Rodney Saunders Jr. Madison city attorney Michael Haas did not immediately respond to an email about how the hiring process for the monitor will proceed. Tate had recently resigned as head of the Wisconsin Parole Commission in June at the request of Gov. Tony Evers and amid mounting criticism of the commissions initial plans to parole Douglas Balsewicz, who served less than 25 years of an 80-year sentence for fatally stabbing his wife, Johanna Balsewicz. The effort to hire a police monitor, led by the city's Police Civilian Oversight Board, has seen fits and starts since the board's creation in September 2020. The boards first hiring process, launched in July 2021, drew 30 applicants. Two were named finalists in October 2021, but one dropped out shortly thereafter. In January, the sole finalist for the job, current city Department of Civil Rights Equal Opportunities Division Manager Byron Bishop, dropped out of the running as well amid revelations that he discriminated against a woman he had been having an affair with and violated state licensing requirements at his former company about 16 years ago. The board and monitor position were created by the Madison City Council after years of pressure from activists to increase oversight of police in the wake of a string of fatal police shootings. The creation of the monitor was also one of 146 recommendations in a December 2017 consultants report that deemed the police department far from a department in crisis whose use of force was limited in volume and primarily minor in nature. After it was announced that Tate had been picked to be Madison's police monitor, Republican candidate for state attorney general, Eric Toney, issued a statement calling Tate an "appalling" choice because of Tate's decisions as chairman of the Parole Commission. Reporter Chris Rickert of Lee Newspapers, as well as Adam Rogan and Dee Holzel of The Journal Times, contributed to this report. The novel by award-winning author Yaa Gyasi has yet to make its formal debut in Kenoshas Big Read event, which is less than a year away. But Homegoing appears to have found a place in the Kenosha County Board chambers. On Tuesday night, the novel was the topic of discussion for a third consecutive meeting, as yet another resident questioned the intent of a County Board supervisor who challenged the Kenosha Public Library directors recommendation to offer Homegoing, the National Endowment of the Arts selection for next years Big Read event, to community. Supervisor Tim Stocker had earlier described the book as controversial, pornographic and graphic in its depiction a childs rape. Two weeks ago, Kenosha resident and Congregations United to Serve Humanitys community organizer Lori Hawkins called on Stocker to read the book in its entirety, while putting into context the graphic descriptions and controversial topic that described the plight of Ghanaians captured and sold into slavery during the 18th century. The novel describes the brutality and violence endured by those enslaved. In her historical fiction novel, Gyasi tells the story of two Ghanaian half-sisters, one who marries a white Englishman, the other sold into slavery. For a time, unbeknownst to each other, both reside in the same slave castle, only the former lives a life of luxury in Ghana, while her sibling is held captive and shipped to America. Targeting library director Over the past several weeks, however, residents have continued to wonder why Stocker has targeted Kenosha Public Library Director Barbara Brattins reading recommendation and the need to raise the issue before the County Board, which has no oversight of the citys library system. Several residents also expressed concern about possible attempts to somehow censor the book. At the Tuesday meeting, resident Joan DeVries, echoed Hawkins sentiments that Stocker, who had pressed the librarian to change the book for the Big Read event, sought to undermine Brattins authority by bringing the issue to the board. I think that some of the people that were concerned about this, that is the question: `To what end are these concerns brought to the board? DeVries asked. If you read, we should be able to read what wed like. Were adults. Earlier, Stocker had alluded to the city librarys reading program as one that catered to teens and adults. While past Big Read events have promoted family literacy, next years community Big Read in Kenosha will be geared toward an adult audience, according to library officials. DeVries was also critical of Stocker who is the County Boards representative on the Kenosha County Library System Board, for which Brattin also serves as director for attempting to police what adults read. I really find it kind of insulting and I know a lot of people that do that. You have the right to say its inappropriate. It may be inappropriate for certain ages. But to tell us what we can read? she said. And, the big question is, where are you going with this? she said. What will you do with this? Stocker clarifies comments During supervisor comments, Stocker responded saying: Its clear that my announcement a few weeks ago needs clarification. He said, There seems to be some confusion regarding my intent. Nothing I have said or done has attempted to ban the book. I have not called for it to be removed from the library shelves. I have not even called for it to be removed from the list of books available for the Big Read program. Stocker said he was concerned about Brattins recommendation given her position in the community. The position of librarian and her recommendation represent every elected official in the city, in the county and it is my hope that this recommendation does not accurately reflect our values thats why I wanted each one of you to be aware of it, he told the board. 1. Yes. Using marijuana odor to determine probable cause is vital to police investigations. 2. Yes. As the ordinance is written, it targets police; that shouldnt be allowed to stand. 3. No. The council should leave the ordinance alone and respect the will of the voters. 4. No. The council should repeal the ordinance altogether. It conflicts with state law. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say how the council should proceed on addressing the ordinance. Vote View Results Abdul Latif Jameels corporate office in Japan, announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with 'The Garage', a start-up district of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) in Saudi Arabia. The partnership is aimed at promoting large scale business and commercial development in the Kingdom. Through this MoU agreement, Abdul Latif Jameel Japan and The Garage will collaborate to support and engage promising innovative Japanese start-ups, enabling them to conduct competitive product development, pilot studies, full-scale commercialization, and fundraising activity across the fields of life sciences, metaverse, and Industry 4.0. The agreement will also include a range of promotional activities to increase the number of Japanese applicants for The Garages incubation program in line with Abdul Latif Jameel Japans aim to support cross-market business alliances. The MoU was signed in Tokyo by the President and CEO of Abdul Latif Jameel Japan, Shigeki Enami and CEO of The Garage, Omar Al Shabaan. The President of KACST, Dr Mounir bin Mahmoud El Desouky, also attended the signing ceremony. The Garage has been designed to be a hybrid model that combines business incubators and startup accelerators within an open workspace. It supports business development by providing a wide range of matching events, acceleration support, and a corporate license in Saudi Arabia. Enami said: The Garage project is a perfect bridge to connect innovative technology start-ups with both expertise and ultimately, potential investors, to help realize their ideas commercially. With over three quarters of a century of commercial success and a long history of supporting entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia and beyond, Abdul Latif Jameel Japan is proud to support Vision 2030s focus on innovation in this way whilst helping promising Japanese start-ups to gain access to the support and services that they need to thrive, he continued. Al Shabaan said: The Garage was inspired by the origin stories of some of the worlds most successful tech companies like Apple, Google and Amazon, which famously launched their businesses from the inside of a garage. Our aim is to create an environment that pays homage to this inspirational culture, which is synonymous with innovation. Through our partnership with Abdul Latif Jameel Japan, we hope to provide the perfect place for promising Japanese entrepreneurs and start-ups to turn their dreams into realities, and their ideas into innovations that can make untold contributions to Saudi Arabia and the realization of its ambitious plans for the future.-TradeArabia News Service KEARNEY An Illinois man was arrested on three felonies Tuesday following a pursuit in Hall and Buffalo Counties. Around 3:25 p.m. a Nebraska State Patrol trooper observed a Hyundai Elantra traveling west on Interstate 80 over 100 mph. The trooper attempted a traffic stop one mile east of the Wood River interchange. As the trooper approached the vehicle to contact the driver, the driver accelerated and fled at a high rate of speed. The trooper initiated a pursuit. The vehicle continued west with speeds in excess of 110 mph. After approximately 15 minutes, troopers deployed stop sticks, and the car stopped in the median of I-80, where the driver was taken into custody without further incident. During the pursuit, the trooper observed the driver throw multiple items out of the vehicle. Another trooper was able to locate a handgun believed to have been thrown from the vehicle two miles east of Shelton. The driver, Steven Little, 32, of Chicago, Illinois, was arrested for flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, carrying a concealed weapon, driving under the influence of alcohol, obstructing a peace officer and numerous traffic violations. Little was lodged in Hall County Jail. Shannon Vesely taught English for 41 years and raised four children. I guess it goes without saying that during those 41 years of teaching and mothering, I had very little time to write my own stuff, she said in an interview from her home in Ottumwa, Iowa. Over the years, I wrote a sprinkling of things, but mostly I just held a lot of things in my head so that when I retired and actually had the time and the opportunity, I could sit down and begin to write a book. And thats exactly what I did. Six years into her retirement, Vesely has found a rhythm of writing. The result, The Way of Things, published in 2021 by Rogue Faculty Press, won the Nebraska Book Award for Poetry by the Nebraska Center for the Book. She will be honored during a presentation at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Nebraska State History Museum in Lincoln. Vesely will join poets Jeff Lacey, Dwaine Spieker and Jason Miller in a reading at 7 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Kearney Community Theatre as part of the Don Welch Teachers Conference. Vesely grew up in Kearney, daughter of poet and English professor Don Welch. It was clearly a blessing to grow up in the household where I did, Vesely said. Around the supper table at night, there was often talk about education and about creative endeavors, particularly writing. I got that kind of background even before I had my dad as a teacher. While studying at Kearney State College, Vesely took classes from her father. He taught from 1959 through 1997 and received the Distinguished Paul W. Reynolds and Clarice Kingston Reynolds Endowed Chair in English, Poetry and Creative Writing. He also wrote 30 books of poetry, starting with Dead Horse Table in 1975. A statue of Welch stands outside of the Ryan T. Calvin Library on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus. I was very fortunate to have him as a dad and as a teacher, Vesely said. As a poet, Vesely often hears echoes of her fathers writing in her own words. She said, Its a weird thing my mom and I were just talking about this recently I really believe that with my dad and me, there is some kind of genetic transfer. Its uncanny, sometimes, the similarity between rhythms or imagery that we will both use, unbeknownst to the other. I can only credit that with good genes. Naturally, Vesely grew up hearing the speech rhythms of her fathers writing voice. They are so distinctive, she said. A lot of that became ingrained in me as well. I can still hear some of those speech rhythms today. The Nebraska Book Awards program, sponsored by the Nebraska Center for the Book, recognizes and honors books written by Nebraska authors, published by Nebraska publishers, set in Nebraska or concerning Nebraska. Vesely just returned from a three-week writing retreat in Pennsylvania. She worked on a second book that she describes as a collaboration with the work of her father. Its kind of like what Natalie Cole did with her dad, Nate King Cole, after he passed away, and they digitally did a duet between the two of them, Vesely said. Im going back and looking at, of course, my dads published poetry, journals and file folders he had at home. Im trying to pair a lot of my dads work with mine, taking the chapter titles from some of the lines I found in his little walking journals he carried in his pocket as he walked around the alleys of Kearney. In doing that, Vesely learned how humbled she felt. My dad was just an excellent writer, she said. He was an excellent teacher of writing, but he was also just a wonderful writer. That is sometimes intimidating when I sit down to write. I have his image in my mind and his words in my mind as well. Many times I think that I just dont measure up. If my dad were here, he would say, Thats just not true. Vesely finds inspiration in the natural world. You will see traces of nature in many of the poems I have in my book, she said. I am influenced by both the flora and the fauna of the Midwest. My dad never made any bones about the fact that he loved birds of all kinds not only pigeons, but all birds. He knew birds extremely well. I was joking to my daughter that one time this summer, I had just finished a poem about birds when I looked up to no one in particular and said, Oh, man, Im a bird person now. I think Ive inherited that from my father. Ive found that birds fascinate me. When it comes to capturing thoughts, Vesely considers poetry a satisfying way to express herself. The poem is just the quintessential way to capture these thoughts, she said. Its the perfect blend of content and form. To be able to put in to a poem not only what you want to say content-wise, but to be able to artistically shape it on a page and then be able to infuse it with those sounds that make it more than just ordinary speech thats the best of all worlds for me. Vesely writes free verse poetry, something that allows for a tremendous amount of freedom. Many people will look at a free verse poem and think, oh, gosh, anybody could do this just slap something down, she said. But in studying poetry, especially under my dads tutelage, I began to realize how much craft was actually there, both in a purposeful breaking of lines, the organization of stanzas, the use of subtle near-rhyme I began to be aware of how much of that craftsmanship was going into some of the free verse poems that look simple on the surface. That really attracted me as a student and then, as my life progressed, I realized I wanted to hone that craft. KEARNEY The city of Kearney Park and Recreation Department is hosting the Fifth Annual Holiday Light Festival in December at Yanney Heritage Park. The city is looking for businesses, schools, service clubs and organizations to get involved by decorating an assigned tree or area along the Yanney Park walkway. Creativity is welcomed and is an important part in making the event successful. There will be various themed nights throughout the 10-day event to add to the fun and festivities. There is no registration fee; however, spots are limited. To register or to receive a packet with more information, or for sponsorships, contact the Park and Recreation Department at 308-237-4644 or email jcramer@kearneygov.org. This image shows a form of prostitution. Yonhap A Korean national accused of scamming a businessman by framing him on a bogus prostitution charge will be repatriated from the Philippines this week, police in Seoul said Wednesday. The suspect, only identified by his surname Kim, is under suspicion of setting up the victim, also a Korean national, on the bogus prostitution charge with minors by sneaking girls into the victim's hotel room in the Southeast Asian country in 2016, the National Police Agency (NPA) said. Kim's accomplice then approached the victim and extorted 500 million won ($350,000) from him as a bribe for local police officers in return for the charges to be dropped, the NPA said. Kim was arrested in the Philippines after nearly two years of police cooperation between the two countries, the NPA said. Kim, who is undergoing trials in the Philippines for other crimes, will be brought into the country Thursday, officials said. (Yonhap) Aramex, a leading global provider of logistics and transportation solutions, has completed the acquisition of Access USA Shipping (MyUS), a global technology-driven platform, for an all-cash purchase price of about $265 million. The transaction, after having obtained all the necessary regulatory approvals, marks Aramexs largest acquisition to date. Following the acquisition, MyUS will be fully integrated into Aramexs business, operating as a business unit within the companys courier business segment. MyUS will retain its brand name and will be complementary to Shop & Ship, Aramexs subscription-based last mile e-Commerce solutions platform. The acquisition will further strengthen Aramexs cross-border express business by increasing shipment volumes, growing and diversifying its customer base, and expanding coverage in new origins and destinations. This transaction is also expected to be immediately value accretive for Aramex, providing strong growth in revenues, attractive profitability and superior cash conversion. Cost-effective package forwarding solutions MyUS provides cost-effective package forwarding solutions. In 2021, the company generated more than $100 million in revenue and delivered 1.1 million packages to customers who shop from retailers based in the US, UK and China. The company has about 180 thousand active customers. Over its 25-year history, MyUS has mastered a customer-centric business model that innovatively addresses the needs of e-Commerce shoppers worldwide, underpinned by cutting-edge proprietary software, scalable technology, and industry-leading expertise. It has 300 employees, the majority of who are based in the US. Othman Aljeda, Chief Executive Officer of Aramex, said: With the successful close of our largest strategic acquisition to date, Aramex has become an even more competitive player in the cross-border e-Commerce space. Given how complementary MyUSs business is to ours, we believe our wider stakeholder universe will realise the immediate and long-term positive benefits of this acquisition. Our shareholders will immediately see the impact on financial performance, and over the long term we can unlock further value through operational and cost synergies. Our customers are set to benefit from further enhanced network coverage and service excellence from first to last mile. Cross-border service Our employees will benefit from knowledge sharing, further developing their expertise in the cross-border express business, including learning and adopting MyUSs leading proprietary software. As we start the integration process, I would like to extend a warm welcome to MyUSs employees and customers and look forward to growing further, together. Ramesh Bulusu, Chief Executive Officer of MyUS, said: We are ready to take our products and solutions to new markets by leveraging on Aramexs extensive global network, scale, knowledge and expertise in markets exhibiting very attractive characteristics such as the Mena region, the UK and Australia. Together with Aramex, we will work on developing a joint business plan to unlock revenue and operational synergies to help grow the cross-border e-Commerce business and bring customers the best solutions and services. Ultimately, our goal under Aramexs ownership is to accelerate our growth in a fragmented multi-trillion-dollar global e-Commerce market. During the transaction, Citi Group acted as financial adviser, and Cravath, Swaine & Moore acted as legal adviser to Aramex; while UBS acted as financial adviser, and King & Spalding acted as legal adviser on behalf of all sellers, including an affiliate of Palm Beach Capital, a middle-market private equity investment firm based in West Palm Beach, Florida.-- TradeArabia News Service A coalition of local Wisconsin governments is asking the state Legislature to reconsider how municipalities are funded in order to address the revenue crisis that plagues cities and villages across the state. The state of Wisconsin will be debating its biennial budget beginning in January, said Jerry Deschane, executive director of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities. We would like to partner with the state to rebuild the sharing partnership, the financial sharing. On Wednesday morning, the League of Wisconsin Municipalities held a news conference to discuss the funding problems that cities and villages face and how they can be addressed by the state. The discussion occurred as a part of the leagues 124th annual conference held at the La Crosse Center. The panel was composed of Deschane, Patrick Barlow, village president of Holmen, and Justin Nickels, mayor of Manitowoc and president of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities. Local governments are struggling to fund essential services such as street maintenance, police and fire departments, emergency medical services, snow plowing, parks, schools and more. The heart of the problem is due to how local governments are funded solely through property taxes and state or federal aid. Wisconsin is the only state that forces local governments and schools and technical colleges and counties and towns all onto the property tax, Deschane said. What we are saying is we need to diversify (city revenues), it shouldnt all be on the property tax. Perhaps we could spread the burden of police, fire, EMS, snow plowing all those essential local services a little more fairly and not put them all on the backs of property taxes, Deschane continued. We are at the point where there is a serious concern about (cities) ability to continue to provide these services. This year, the state has a $4.3 billion budget surplus, a growth driven largely by increases in sales tax revenues. Referendums are one tool local governments have turned to in order to compensate for the lack of revenue. In Holmen, there are two referendums on the ballot: one to increase its police and EMT forces and another for school improvements in infrastructure and technology. If these referendums pass, it will result in a $1.38 and $0.04 increase in the mill property tax rate, respectively. The important thing to know is that as our community continues to grow, thats the first years impact, Barlow said. As more residents come and houses are built, that begins to be subdivided across all those residences. And so thats what we had to be very clear about so (citizens are) fully informed as they vote. Nobody wants their property taxes to go up either, but thats the only solution that we have, Nickels said. Were saying we need to change the system of how we collect taxes because that is the only alternative." Nickels wants to improve the quality of life for Wisconsinites by developing parks, recreation and downtown areas. The essential services are core to our communities, Nickels said. But if we want to truly grow as a state, it really starts with providing places where people want to live. The League of Wisconsin Municipalities is a nonprofit organization of 190 cities and 415 villages across the state. It was created in 1898 to help Wisconsin cities and villages learn from one another, to train and inform the people elected to the cities and villages and to advocate on their behalf with the Legislature, governor and state agencies. This evening at 6:30 p.m. there will be a public information session at the Holmen Public Library to discuss the referendums on the upcoming ballot. October is American Archives Month, a time to celebrate the fact that Vernon County has its own archives, cared for by the Vernon County Historical Society (VCHS) and housed at the Vernon County Museum. The archives contains all kinds of information that you probably find useful, such as maps, photographs, oral histories, obituaries, and genealogies. Recent visitors to the archives have been looking for 19th-century newspaper articles about ancestors, information on effigy mounds in Vernon County, and aerial photographs of property. The obituaries, family files, and plat maps are used on a daily basis, and the community, church, and other files also see regular use. What could you find here? The archives includes a large section on rural schools in Vernon County, with at least one file per school. Using this information, we were recently able to compile the book, Country Schoolhouses of Vernon County, Wisconsin, now for sale at the museum for $25. We have also used this information to create a country schoolhouse tour of eastern Vernon County, which will take place on Saturday, Oct. 22. Using your own vehicle, the tour will guide you to visit over two dozen of the former country schoolhouses or sites of the area. Start by picking up a tour guidebook and map from the VCHS table at the Lawton Library, 118 N. Bird St., La Farge, between 9 a.m. and noon on Oct. 22. Or, you may pick up the materials beforehand at the Vernon County Museum, 410 S. Center Ave., Viroqua, on Thursday, Oct. 20, or Friday, Oct. 21, from noon to 4 p.m. Suggested donation for the guidebook and map is $10. Then drive the tour of the many country schoolhouses and sites. A few of the schools will be open for you to tour that Saturday more information about this will be in the guide. The tour will finish up at the Rockton Bar in Rockton between 2 and 5 p.m. Copies of the country schoolhouses book will be available for sale that day at the La Farge library and Rockton Bar during the event. Another topic covered in the archives is agriculture, including the round barns of Vernon County. A whole file box is devoted to the topic of round barns, while a separate box is designated for barns (not round). The round barn file includes current and previous editions of the local round barn book, lots of articles, and photographs. A recent addition to our collection of round barn photos is a set of large, full-color photos taken by Bob Kisken, currently on display in the museums conference room. They can be viewed during regular October business hours of Monday-Friday, noon to 4 p.m. Troy Manthey, the new owner of the Julia Belle Swain steamboat in La Crosse and the Spirit of Peoria paddlewheeler formerly in Peoria, Ill., says he hopes to announce a new home port for both by the end of the year and to have both operating as excursion boats by May. Manthey, who bought the Julia Belle Swain last December and the Spirit of Peoria in April, said Tuesday that renovation work on both boats continues in La Crosse. Theyre moored side-by-side on the Black River near Loggers Field at Copeland Park. We will go to drydock over at Brennan (across the river) hopefully soon, for the underwater work on both boats, Manthey said. Renovation work on both paddlewheelers should be completed by mid-spring, Manthey said. He expects to spend $1.5 million to $2 million renovating the Spirit of Peoria, and $2.5 million to $2.6 million renovating the Julia Belle Swain. We are hoping that when we finish work on both boats, we will spend a week or two here (in La Crosse) doing cruises for the community and for charity here to thank the community for the support they have given us, and the great work they have done on renovating the boats, Manthey said. Then the boats will leave for their new home port. Manthey said he plans to relocate the boats somewhere where they can operate year-round. We intend to keep them together, operate them together, he said. And were negotiating with a couple of cities right now. They need to be in a much larger market (than La Crosse) to make them viable. Manthey and his wife own StarShip Cruises & Events in Tampa, Fla. He said they operate the largest fleet of dining yachts in Tampa, along with water taxis, a pirate ship and a speedboat thrill ride. The Julia Belle Swain, one of the nations last steamboats, was last used for cruises in 2008. Built in 1971 in Dubuque, Iowa, it initially was used for cruises in Peoria. Bob Kalhagen bought the boat in 1994 and operated it from La Crosses Riverside Park from 1995 to 2008. Kalhagen announced in early 2009 that he would not operate it that year because of the slow economy. The steamboat regularly traveled from Winona, Minn., to Prairie du Chien in its heyday and employed 30 to 40 seasonal workers on the vessel. According to Tribune files, a committee that became the nonprofit Julia Belle Swain Foundation acquired the boat in 2013 for $250,000 and began needed renovation work. But project costs had ballooned to more than $2.6 million by 2017 and renovation work stopped. La Crosse businessman Don Weber, who was by far the largest donor to the renovation project, became the boats owner. Robert McMahon Jr., whose Stoddard-based Pinnacle Marine Corp. brokerage service specializes in the passenger boat industry, introduced Manthey to Weber. When you sit down with Troy, you know right away this was not just an opportunity for a business, Weber said. It was a passion. And I knew this was someone who was going to go forward with it and take care of this vessel and allow people to enjoy it. Manthey said he is a fifth-generation riverman whose great-great-grandfather was John Streckfus, founder of Streckfus Steamers. That company operated a number of steamboats. I want it to be on a river where it belongs, Weber said, when asked whether he will be sorry to see the Julia Belle Swain leave La Crosse. And for people to enjoy it. If youre really going to survive and know the business, you want it where you can run it year-round. You cant do that up here. Its either it would no longer exist, or its going to be out on a river somewhere. Manthey said he is grateful to Weber and the foundation for saving the Julie Belle Swain. The investment Don made (in the foundation) made saving and restoring her a viable business option, he said. Alex Knoepker Age as of Sept. 1: 24 Town of residence: Tomah, WI Occupation/company: Director of Bands at Tomah HS, Tomah Area School District Family: Single What is your proudest professional accomplishment? I am most proud of the connections I make with my students as their band director. Without students that WANT to make music together, your band program cannot thrive. When many people see a marching band coming down the street, they have no idea how much time, effort, or energy it took just to get the band to be at that event, or even what it took for kids to be able to play music while marching. Showing kids that music helps you become a better person while giving you amazing experiences in school is my favorite part of my job. Please tell us what community and volunteer activities youre involved with and why? I am involved with many aspects of volunteering in the greater Tomah area as well as throughout Wisconsin. I am originally from Warrens and I have been involved with the Warrens Cranberry Festival as a volunteer in many ways since I was a small child. I help coordinate vendors and food booths with the Monroe County Agricultural Society, which hosts the Tomah Tractor Pull and Monroe County Fair each year. I serve on the board of the Tomah Concert Association, which brings professionals from all over right here to Tomah. I also serve as the Band Director with the Kids From Wisconsin, a non-profit organization based out of Wisconsins State Fair Park that brings a Broadway-caliber show to over 40 communities around Wisconsin each summer. I am an organist and accompanist at Queen of the Apostles Parish in Tomah and Warrens. I love playing, listening to, and watching live music. I do all of these things because I believe there is a lot of good in our community that comes from these organizations. Serving others and showing other people my age that volunteering is still something our community really needs is important to me. We (people my age) are the next generation and we need to rise up to the needs in our community. Tell us what inspired you to be a leader in your organization and in your community: I was fortunate enough to watch many great leaders lead staff and students as I grew up in the Tomah Area School District. I would consider many of my childhood mentors role models for the type of band director and person I want to be as an adult. Seeing so many people want to make our community a better place through their volunteering, dedication, and commitment inspired me to get involved as a volunteer myself. What advice would you offer younger leaders to aid their success? Jennifer Luedtke Age as of Sept. 1: 29 Town of residence: Holmen, WI Occupation/company: Human Resources Manager, Town n' Country Title Family: I live with my fiance, Ashton, and our 2 beloved goldendoodles (Fitzgerald & Murphy) & 2 cats (Emma & Charlotte)! My Mom & Stepdad (Nancy & Dean) live in La Crosse, my Dad lives in Trempealeau, and my (future) in-laws live in San Diego. What is your proudest professional accomplishment? In 2021, I was selected to be a presenter and speaker at a national title industry conference for the American Land Title Association in New Orleans. It was an honor to be entrusted to share my knowledge with others in my industry, as well as moderate a panel discussion on diversity with former Google executive recruiter Ginny Clarke. Please tell us what community and volunteer activities youre involved with and why? La Crosse Oktoberfest - board of directors: Being a part of this organization has shown me so much about the meaning of community and Gemutlichkeit. There are so many wonderful people that are a part of the Oktoberfest organization and family that come from all across our community that have a love and passion for bringing this festival alive. I primarily work with coordinating the volunteer groups that work during the festival - and through that I have also met some really wonderful people. Holmen Area Community Center - board of directors: As a Holmen alumni and current resident, this organization has allowed me the opportunity to connect with other community members and work with other community partners to build a facility that will help promote the mission and values of HACC. Western Wisconsin Workforce Development Board - board of directors, vice chair ... American Land Title Association - Talent Committee Chair ... Wisconsin Land Title Association - Convention Committee Chair ... La Crosse Rotary After Hours - member: Being a part of Rotary has always been in my blood. Rotarians are the most giving, generous people I have ever met and will always be there to help make their community a better place to live, work, and play. It's true that you can't change the world on our own, but you can when you're in Rotary - there are 1.2 million Rotarians around the world that help make a difference each day. Tell us what inspired you to be a leader in your organization and in your community: My entire life, I have been surrounded by wonderful leaders and influential people, but more specifically, my mother, Nancy McHugh. She is my biggest cheerleader and is someone who I have looked up to as I have navigated my career and young professional leadership path. She has inspired me to not sit on the sidelines, work hard, and go out there and get after it. In other words, I have always been encouraged to reach and achieve goals that will help advance my career, but most importantly, feed my soul. I enjoy volunteering my time, helping others with whatever I can, and leading people to their true success. What advice would you offer younger leaders to aid their success? Josh Finch Age: 26 Residence: City of Hillsboro Occupation/Company: City Administrator, City of Hillsboro What is your proudest professional accomplishment? Sitting where I am today in my current role isnt something I take lightly, but I am beyond thankful to have been afforded the opportunity. Through this role, I have been able to work with several brilliant people on various projects such as an updated downtown revitalization plan, an economic development plan, a capital improvement plan, the solicitation of multiple state and federal grants, and the creation of the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce (DBA Visit Hillsboro). The list goes on and on, but I think, truly, that I am most proud of being able to play even a small role in helping Hillsboro continue to thrive. Please tell us what community and volunteer activities youre involved with and why? Locally, I serve on the Hillsboro Cemetery Association, assist with the Library Board, and I am the inaugural Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce Chair. I assisted in the creation of the Chamber and found others to comprise of the initial chamber board of directors. This has been a terrific experience (dont get me wrong, a lot of hard work!) but I know that Hillsboro will be much better with having a chamber to assist in downtown planning, business development, growth and retention. On a regional level, I am a member of the Wisconsin City/County Management Association. On the national level, I voluntarily serve as the president/CEO for a national fraternity. While all these items might have stark differences, the ability to give back and provide support to students, new/existing businesses, and the various organizations is something I strive for. Having grown up and been impacted by various organizations and businesses myself, I wish to try and provide a positive impact to others! Tell us what inspired you to be a leader in your organization and in your community: I learned early on that one of the greatest gifts you could give is your time. My family instilled a sense of community into me at such a young age as my grandfather and father are both veterans. My grandfather served as a county supervisor and as town chair, collectively, for 30 years. My grandmother was an educator most of her life and always encouraged me to do two things: continue learning and be willing to step up and help support others when in need; it takes a village. Also, having been in Hillsboro for the last 16 months, they (the council and staff) took a chance on me at 24 years old. The trust they showed in me is something that drives me to want to always do better. This is a community that has seen some tough economic times, no different than many rural communities unfortunately, but if I can assist and hopefully make a difference with even one business or project, to me its completely worth the long days and lack of sleep. What advice would you offer younger leaders to aid their success? Michelle Maland Age as of Sept. 1: 37 Town of residence: Holmen Occupation/company: Architect, HSR Associates, Inc. Family: Ian (Husband), Brienna (7 - daughter) and Cade (4 Son) What is your proudest professional accomplishment? Completing the hours and six examinations needs to become a licensed architect in Wisconsin. It was a goal I had set for myself when I started school and being able to stamp my name on drawings is a great feeling every time. Please tell us what community and volunteer activities youre involved with and why? I volunteer on the property committee for the Salvation Army and recently became a member of their Advisory Board as well. I feel grateful to be able to offer my knowledge to the Salvation Army and assist them in maintaining their current facilities and planning for the future. The facilities they have are necessary for them to carry out their mission to help those in need. I am glad to help in any way. Tell us what inspired you to be a leader in your organization and in your community: We have some very good leaders and mentors at HSR that inspire and support me to grow and become a better leader. Being a leader is not a natural thing for me, but over the years it has become easier taking on more responsibility and having the confidence in myself. I truly love what I do and being able to help people love the spaces they are in inspires me daily. I enjoy being able to share that with our clients and my community. The love of what I do makes it easier to share and lead others in the office and community. What advice would you offer younger leaders to aid their success? CADOTT Back in 2003, when Wayne Lautsbaugh purchased a small, defunct butcher shop north of Cadott, appointments to slaughter cattle and pigs at his business were few and far between. When I first opened my doors, summer was dead, Lautsbaugh recalled as he gave an Aug. 25 tour of the Crescent Meats butcher shop he owns. There would be times of the year when there were hardly any animals coming in at all. Small plants like us were going out of business. That certainly isnt the case today. Meat processing plants across Wisconsin and elsewhere in the U.S. cant keep up with demand. Many plant owners say they have plans to expand, and many report waiting lists of a year or more before they can get more animals in to be processed. Lautsbaugh said he is experiencing the same business crunch. As some of his 16 employees busily cut up meat and hauled packages on a recent morning, Lautsbaugh described how he is booked through the end of next year and cant take new appointments until after that date. Since the coronavirus pandemic began, he said he turns down about 20 customers each week who are seeking to have animals butchered at his facility. I cant take on any new customers, Lautsbaugh said. There is no down time here anymore. Were busy all year long. Other meat processors describe similar demand for processing animals exceeding their ability to do so. Many say they are scheduled through the rest of this year and part-way into 2023. Some, like Lautsbaugh, dont have openings until 2024. Farmers say they often face waits of at least one year to have their animals slaughtered and processed. Some say they have to contact multiple processors before finding one willing to take them on as a customer. Sometimes that means long travel times to haul their animals to processing locations. When the pandemic began two years ago, Stephanie Schneider learned that her usual meat processor was too busy to take her animals, raised on herTogether Farm south of Mondovi, because of overwhelming demand. She eventually found another processor but lost customers for a time because of changes in how the meat was processed and labeling differences. Schneider eventually was able to resume service with her original processor and gained back customers, she said. But many farmers continue to struggle finding a place to have their animals processed, she said. She makes appointments to bring her animals to her processor one year ahead of time, and farmers not planning that far in advance are struggling to get their animals butchered. Finding a place to have your animals processed is a big challenge right now, Schneider said. I feel really lucky to have a processor I really like, but many farmers arent in that situation. Meat Processing expansion efforts A meat processing shortage in Wisconsin and elsewhere has been present for some years, and it was exacerbated by the pandemic. When meatpacking workers at large plants contracted the COVID-19 virus, output from those plants was reduced significantly, straining a sector that already lacked enough processors even before the pandemic. That, in turn, created overwhelming demand for the smaller meat processors and revealed the shortage of those processors. For a time the amount of meat available at groceries was reduced, and already long waits to butcher farmers animals grew even longer. Gov. Tony Evers administration has worked to address the meat processing shortage in Wisconsin. Among those efforts are the $10 million Meat and Poultry Supply Chain Resiliency Grant Program made available through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding and the Meat Talent Development Program, funded by $5 million in ARPA money. Another $200,000 to help meat processors across the state expand their operations was approved as part of the 2021-23 state budget. Four meat processing companies Cargill, JBS, Tyson Foods, and National Beef Packing control more than 80% of the beef market in the U.S. When those processors experienced processing disruptions during the pandemic, the resulting meat shortage at groceries revealed the need for more, smaller meat processors. Wisconsin Farmers Union and other organizations have advocated for diversifying the meat processing sector, a move that provides jobs for more processors while shortening wait times to butcher animals, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) Secretary Randy Romanski said. We have a real need to expand our meat processing capacity, and enabling more processors to enter the market not only meets an important need but can add to the economies of our rural communities, Romanski said. Applications for expansions by meat processors were so numerous, he said, that the state increased the maximum $50,000 grant limit to $150,000 per processor seeking to expand. In addition to money needed for growing their operations, meat processors said they need more workers, Romanski said. The Meat Talent Development Program will address that, he said, by providing training through Wisconsin technical colleges. There is a lot happening right now to help address the meat processing shortage, Romanski said, and we plan to have even more efforts in the future. We recognize the importance of this issue. To provide more opportunities for farmers to sell their meat and to get food to people in need during the pandemic, DATCP partnered food distribution agencies like Feeding Wisconsin and Hunger Task Force. Those agencies in turn began using ARPA funding they received to purchase more food, including meat, from small- and medium-size farms. We are making an intentional effort to purchase food from smaller farmers whenever we can, said Stephanie Jung Dorfman, executive director of Feeding Wisconsin. We are still certainly partnering with commodity associations and big producers, but we are paying market prices to smaller farmers, and that is helping them while also getting high-quality meat and other foods to consumers regionally. Hopeful for the future Lautsbaugh was among recipients earlier this year of a $50,000 state grant to expand his processing plant. With the grant maximum being raised to $150,000, he has applied for another $100,000 and is hopeful about receiving that funding too. That money is needed to help pay for his expansion that will cost an estimated $7.5 million to $8 million and expand Crescent Meats processing capacity from 3,000 to 7,000 animals annually. With the expansion, the companys processing plant would grow from 12,000 square feet to 32,000. Expansion is possible in large part, Lautsbaugh said, because of so many more farmers marketing their meat directly to consumers instead of selling to large buyers. Thats been a big change from when I first started in this business, he said of direct sales. There is a lot more awareness about where meat comes from, and more people are willing to pay for what they want. While demand for his services are high now, Lautsbaugh worries that could lessen as the economy progresses past the pandemic. He also is concerned about finding enough workers, noting he needs 20 to keep up with demand now but only has 16. Schneider said the meat processor she takes her animals to also plans to expand to meet demand. But, like Lautsbaugh, that processor also is scrambling to find enough employees, Schneider said. (Meat processing) is another industry that is struggling to find enough workers, she said. Despite challenges, Lautsbaugh is heartened by the significant uptick in meat processing business in recent years. He said he hopes that will continue as more people are concerned about eating healthy food. Even before building an addition to his business, Lautsbaugh is growing it through ICON, a meat brand specializing in meats such as elk, bison and venison that he is part owner of. ICON products are sold in 30 U.S. states, he said. Meat processing is a family affair for Lautsbaugh. His wife Stacey oversees the companys finances, and his son Vance and daughter Samantha are involved in the business. In fact, if it werent for them, Lautsbaugh said he wouldnt be expanding his meat processing plant. Operating this business was a struggle for many years, he said. But we worked hard to make a good product and build relationships There are still struggles. This is a hard business. Not everyone wants to do this kind of work. But to wake up every day and work with your entire family is a blessing. President Joe Biden is telling voters that he hasnt given up on lowering gasoline prices. Biden says he has ordered the release of 15 million barrels from the U.S. strategic reserve and will consider additional withdrawals this winter. Its a message with clear political implications as the presidents approval rating has moved in the opposite direction from changes in gasoline prices. The Biden administration on Wednesday awarded $2.8 billion in grants to build and expand domestic manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles in 12 states. The announcement comes as the administration seeks to boost production and sales of electric vehicles as a key part of President Joe Bidens strategy to slow climate change and build up U.S. manufacturing. Russian President Vladimir Putin doubled down Wednesday on his faltering invasion of Ukraine with a declaration of martial law in four illegally annexed regions and preparations within Russia for draconian new restrictions and crackdowns. North Korea has fired about 100 more artillery shells toward the sea in response to South Korean live-firing drills at border areas as the rivals accuse each other of dialing up tensions with weapons tests. British Home Secretary Suella Braverman has become the second senior minister in a week to leave embattled Prime Minister Liz Truss government. Her departure came hours after Truss appeared in Parliament to describe herself as a fighter and not a quitter. The South Carolina Supreme Court will hear a case that could determine the scope of abortion restrictions in the state. Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi has returned to Tehran after competing in South Korea without wearing a headscarf. Her move was seized upon by demonstrators as the Islamic Republic has faced weeks of protests over its mandatory hijab. The International Energy Agency said Wednesday that it expects carbon emissions from the burning of fossil fuels to rise again this year, but by much less than in 2021 due to the growth in renewable power and electric cars. Florida has seen an increase in cases of flesh-eating bacteria this year driven largely by a surge in the county hit hardest by Hurricane Ian. The state Department of Health reports that as of Friday there have been 65 cases of vibrio vulnificus infections and 11 deaths in Florida this year. Black-white disparities exist in fertility medicine and are reflected in life-and-death outcomes for babies. That's according to a large study of U.S. births published Wednesday in the journal Pediatrics. A 75-year-old New York City man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 1976 killing of a World War I veteran. Martin Motta pleaded guilty on Tuesday in the death of 81-year-old George Seitz. Samana Business Centre, part of Dubai-based Samana Group, has been launched with a women-focused CSR campaign. It will encourage, motivate and support female entrepreneurship by offering free-of-charge serviced workspaces for those women who sign up with the business centre. In collaboration with UAEs top women-only organisations, Samana Business Centre initially will support 50 female entrepreneurs not only with the free-of-charge office spaces but will equip them with advice on business formation, marketing and mentorship to help them start off. Supporting diversity Urusa Imran, Head of Women Empowerment Unit at Samana Business Centre & Samana Group, said: Today we are starting an exciting initiative at Samana Group with an aim to give back to the society. We are lucky enough that we live and work in a city which supports diversity, inclusion and gender equality. The inclusion of women in UAE boards and establishment of several organisations for and by the women are a testament to UAE's vision for women. It is a great inspiration for us at Samana Business Centre as well as a motivation for women in UAE which helps them play their part in different sectors and contribute to the national economy. Samana Business Centre is a sister concern of 26-year-old Samana Group, which also owns and runs Star Business Centre and Star Executive Business Centre DMCC in the business hubs of Dubai. The operational management of Samana Business Centre has an extensive experience in business centres helping start-ups, young entrepreneurs and multinational companies in starting and expanding their operations in/to Dubai. Samana Business Centre dealing in mainland and freezone business set-ups - is a cost-effective, one-stop-shop for new businesses, multinationals, SMEs and the companies who are planning for re-structuring and cost cutting. Ready infrastructure The plug-and-play Samana Business Centre JLT, Star Executive Business Centre Business Bay, Star Excutive Business Centre DMCC and are modern facilities situated in Dubais business hubs. The ready infrastructure at the business centres allows companies and start-ups to set up their offices in Dubai and reduces the hassle that comes with acquiring an independent leased office space. Samana Business Centre has the finest serviced office suites put together by top architects, interior designers and ergonomic specialists who are pooled specifically to create perfect meeting points that can serve as business incubators.-- TradeArabia News Service The leader of a large-scale Wisconsin drug trafficking organization was sentenced Tuesday to 16 years in federal prison, authorities reported. Levi Bagne, 31, of Buckeye, Arizona, was sentenced by Judge James D. Peterson for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and money laundering. Bagne pleaded guilty to the charges on May 24, 2022, U.S. Attorney Timothy OShea said in a statement. Bagne was the undisputed leader of a large-scale drug trafficking organization that was responsible for bringing more than 20 pounds of methamphetamine into central Wisconsin from Arizona. Bagne used drug funds to make mortgage payments on his house, buy a trailer, ATVs, and a motorcycle, as well as build a swimming pool, OShea said. On Nov. 12 and again on Feb. 15, Bagne and co-defendant Krista Sparks mailed packages containing methamphetamine from Arizona to co-defendant Cory Freyermuths residence in Oshkosh. The packages were seized by law enforcement and found to contain six pounds of methamphetamine, OShea said. On Sept. 2, agents executed a search warrant on a storage unit belonging to Bagne and Freyermuth in Stevens Point, recovering 10 pounds of methamphetamine, OShea said. The investigation also revealed that Bagne and Sparks used multiple bank accounts to launder drug proceeds, and a May 26, 2021 raid at his Arizona house found a safe containing $40,050 in cash, nine firearms, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, OShea said. As part of his plea agreement, Bagne agreed to forfeit his residence in Buckeye, $40,050 in cash, a 2021 PJ 22-foot trailer, and a 2019 Honda CBR1000RR motorcycle, OShea said. Peterson in sentencing Bagne noted that he had multiple prior drug trafficking felony convictions and prior prison sentences that had not deterred him from dealing drugs, OShea said. Six people have pleaded guilty in the meth dealing scheme involving Bagne. When it comes to moving vehicles, Madisons traffic signals are among the most efficient in the nation, according to a new study. Researchers at Texas A&Ms Transportation Institute found Madison drivers are nearly twice as likely to hit a green light as a red light, spend less time waiting and are only half as likely as drivers in other large cities to get stuck at an intersection for more than one cycle. Relieving congestion isnt just a matter of convenience, said Kartik Jha, a Texas A&M research scientist and co-author of the study. When traffic flows smoothly, vehicles run more efficiently, lowering greenhouse gas emissions as well as air and noise pollution. Everybodys time is precious, Jha said. But the environmental impacts are huge. City traffic engineer Yang Tao said the study provides useful information, but adds its only one measure of success. Our system goal is really not just to look at most efficiency for motor vehicles, Tao said. Our goal is to create a multimodal system. Providing people choices. Some choose to drive. Others choose to walk or bike. The study relies on a new source of big data to analyze traffic flows at a scale that would be impractical using traditional methods, which rely on equipment to measure traffic volumes, cameras to calculate velocity, and often a traffic engineer on the side of the road. That is much more expensive, Jha said. You cant do that at every intersection throughout an area or across the U.S. The method Jha and his fellow researchers used anonymized location data generated by cellphones, GPS devices, Bluetooth signals and other wireless technologies to analyze movement patterns at roughly 210,000 traffic lights in more than 100 cities across the country. They were able to determine how many vehicles were moving through an intersection at any 15-minute interval, how fast they were going, how long they were stopped and even whether they could get through the intersection in a single cycle. The researchers then calculated an efficiency index for each city based on the share of vehicles that arrived at lights that were green. The national average was 1.7, meaning a driver is 1.7 times more likely to get a green light. With an index of 1.1, Fresno, California, had the least efficient lights, giving drivers a roughly equal chance of hitting red or green. Boulder, Colorado, had the highest index, 2.6. Madisons ratings The Madison areas 407 lights scored 1.9, fourth-best among comparably sized cities and 22nd out of 101 urban areas evaluated. The average delay was just 13 seconds, four seconds less than the national average. Only three other cities had shorter delays. Madison drivers get stuck in intersections for more than one cycle just 0.2% of the time, half the national average. In general, the study found areas with more traffic lights tended to be more efficient at moving traffic, though Jha points out that geographic constraints and other factors make it hard to compare one city with another. For example, college towns like Madison often put more emphasis on pedestrian safety. Every city will have different goals, Jha said. Theres no right or wrong. Unintended consequences Madisons high score is not necessarily a good thing, said Chris McCahill, managing director of the State Smart Transportation Initiative and member of the citys Transportation Commission and Transportation Policy and Planning Board. Keeping cars moving quickly is only one metric of success that is often at odds with other goals such as safety. Longer green lights can make it harder for bus riders, pedestrians and cyclists to get across a busy road, and increased traffic speeds make collisions deadlier. We might have reasons we dont want traffic moving as fast as possible, McCahill said. Focus on vehicular traffic often leads to a circular argument, said Robbie Webber, a mobility advocate and retired transportation policy analyst. People drive in part because they dont feel safe using other forms of transportation, because its not convenient, Webber said. People drive because they dont have a choice. And while gridlock is a problem, McCahill notes promoting traffic flow has unintended consequences. For the most part, improvements in traffic flow look good until you zoom out to the macro level, McCahill said. Even though you might see environmental benefits from keeping cars (moving), the bigger picture tends to be that, once you do that, more people drive. But in one of the states fastest-growing areas, Tao said system efficiency is a way to move more people without widening roads, and if done right it can free up road space for bikes, pedestrians and buses. It almost feels like a contradiction, Tao said. They really go hand in hand. Promising results The studys findings were also limited by the timing: The data were collected during a single week in October 2020, when many workplaces and college campuses were closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. But while traffic volumes have generally returned to pre-pandemic levels, McCahill points out the increase in remote and hybrid workplaces has reduced peaks, especially in the morning rush hour. If were still measuring delay in the way we used to, its going to look very different now, he said. Jha notes the study was not intended to rank cities but rather to show that its possible to use crowdsourced location data to identify problem intersections, which they can then fine-tune using more traditional methods. The findings actually show promising results, Jha said. McCahill hopes to see future studies take a more inclusive look. Weve been seeing data from cellphones being used to get information about people walking and biking, he said. Thats where some of the really exciting work is happening. Burlington Police officers reported that they responded to a driveway of a residence on the 100 block of Madison Street at 8:16 a.m. Wednesday after receiving a report of a woman yelling for help. When they arrived, officers said they found a man Richard "Rick" Lawrence Sallmann wrapping a jacket around a woman's head, attempting to suffocate her. "Officers intervened and stopped the assault," the BPD said Friday, and Sallmann was arrested soon after fleeing. Vietnam and RoK target $100 billion in two-way trade in 2023 Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son proposed Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) strive towards raising two-way trade turnover to US$100 billion by 2023 and $150 billion by 2030, during talks with his RoK counterpart Park Jin in Hanoi on Tuesday. Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (right) welcomes his RoK counterpart Park Jin in Hanoi on Tuesday. VNA/VNS Photo Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son proposed Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) strive towards raising two-way trade turnover to US$100 billion by 2023 and $150 billion by 2030, during talks with his RoK counterpart Park Jin in Hanoi on Tuesday. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the RoK Park Jin is on an official visit to Vietnam for the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between the two countries. Minister Son said that the RoK minister's visit holds particular significance as the two countries are celebrating their 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year. It also provides an opportunity for the two sides to discuss orientations to deepen bilateral relations in the future. The two ministers reviewed outstanding achievements in the development of the bilateral ties over the past 30 years and agreed to take measures to continue boosting the relations in the future. They agreed to coordinate closely to promote exchanges of delegations at all levels and pay more attention to enhancing cooperation in diplomacy, national defence and security, and upholding dialogue and cooperation mechanisms. Minister Son spoke highly of the two countries' efforts to maintain economic cooperation, particularly in investment and commerce, amid the great impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. He suggested the two countries continue to strive to increase the two-way trade turnover to $100 billion by 2023 and $150 billion by 2030 via bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the Vietnam-RoK Free Trade Agreement (VKFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP); and to increase the export of Vietnamese products to the RoK. Son said that the Vietnamese Government always encourages RoK businesses to invest in the country, prioritising digital technology, renewable energy, infrastructure development, construction of specialised technological complexes and industrial and hi-end agricultural zones. He proposed the Korean Government increase Official Development Assistance (ODA) for Vietnam. He improved the efficiency of cooperation in science, technology, healthcare, labour, culture, education and people-to-people exchanges. RoK Minister Park Jin spoke highly of Vietnam's achievements in COVID-19 prevention and control and socio-economic development. He affirmed that the RoK Government attaches great importance to the position and role of Vietnam in the region and wishes to develop the relations and multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam further. He proposed the Vietnamese Government create conditions for RoK businesses in Vietnam to help stabilise the supply chain after the COVID-19 pandemic. He confirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the RoK would continue coordinating closely with the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry and relevant agencies of the two countries to develop bilateral relations and cooperation in the future. The two ministers also discussed regional and international issues of common concern. Minister Son said Vietnam is concerned about the recent situation in the Korean Peninsula and hopes that parties involved will exercise restraint, refrain from activities that would escalate tension and promote dialogues, taking into account mutual, regional and international interests and contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula, region and the world. Vietnam is willing to contribute to promoting dialogues, cooperation and denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula, he said. Minister Son proposed that the RoK continue supporting and sharing the common vision about ensuring security, safety, and maritime and aviation freedom in the East Sea. Minister Park Jin affirmed that maritime security in the East Sea is very important to peace and development in the region and voiced support to maintain peace, stability, maritime and aviation freedom and orders, as well as settle disputes by peaceful solutions and measures, following international laws, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The same day, RoK minister Park Jin met Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and President Nguyen Xuan Phuc. DP Worlds Jebel Ali Port and free zone will play a key role in boosting non-oil trade between the UAE and India to $100 billion over the next five years, complementing the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed in February 2022. The CEPA, which officially came into force on May 1, 2022, includes eliminating tariffs on more than 10,000 products and services over the next 10 years, which will have an enormous impact on trade between the two countries and the wider Gulf region. In 2021, Dubai accounted for 86% ($38.4 billion) of the total $44.8 billion worth of total non-oil trade between the UAE and India. Indian companies at Jafza are the second largest partners in terms of trade volume (4.4 million metric tonnes) and fourth for trade value ($6.5 billion). Despite macroeconomic and geopolitical headwinds across the globe, India and the UAE have seen an increase in trade, with DP World as a key logistics enabler, said DP World in a statement. As per the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Indias non-oil trade with the UAE witnessed a 14% increase during the July-August 2022 period, just months after the CEPA came into force. DP World recently hosted "The India-UAE Bridge; Dubai Indias Gateway to the World" along with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for key business leaders in Mumbai to showcase the role of Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone in building non-oil trade volumes between the two nations. DP World is also supporting the Make in India initiative and Production Linked Incentive schemes to boost manufacturing, investments, and exports in India via its Jebel Ali hub, offering unmatched logistics and trade solutions and greater access to new markets. The Jebel Ali Port and Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), which form a world-class, integrated ecosystem for over 9,000 companies from around the world, serve more than 3.5 billion people globally by connecting directly to 150 ports and more than 180 shipping lanes. Through its joint investment platform with Indias National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), DP World will invest up to $3 billion to create world-leading integrated logistics infrastructure for India. DP Worlds portfolio of multimodal logistics assets and services includes five port terminals with a total annual capacity of 6 million TEUs, as well as five container freight stations. It also operates 31 container trains, seven rail-linked private freight terminals, Cold Chain facilities and a fleet of 60 trucks. DP World is currently developing three free-trade zones, more than 20 built-to-suit warehouses and 100+ hubs for express cargo. Its feeder service, Unifeeder is the largest coastal shipping player in India with more than 70% market share of coastal traffic. Alongside physical infrastructure, customers and exporters can use DP Worlds single-window digital platform CARGOES.com to book freight seamlessly, receive instant quotes online and choose preferred modes of transport. Indian manufacturers can reach buyers from UAE, the Middle East and Africa through Bharat Bazaar, a world-class traders market linked to Jebel Ali Free Zone where they can store, showcase, and sell their products. With a full array of solutions on offer like storage, handling, packaging and logistics, Indian manufacturers have the flexibility to sell locally in Dubai or to export to other countries. Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO & Managing Director - DP World UAE & Jafza said: "India and the UAE have shared a close relationship for many years. Our vision and goals are common to create a self-reliant and sustainable market. In alignment with the UAE governments strategy, we at DP World look forward to driving the success of Indias revolutionary Make in India initiative, while helping the emirate of Dubai retain its position as a leading trade hub and Indias gateway to newer, larger markets. DP Worlds key offering towards this is the India-UAE Bridge, an initiative that will integrate our assets and capabilities to enhance trade values for both nations. We also have the India Traders Market under development and the new Agri Terminals capabilities, which will all help Indias trade with the world." Rizwan Soomar, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Subcontinent & Sub-Saharan Africa, DP World said: "DP World is committed to partnering the growth of bilateral trade between India and UAE with the enabling ecosystem we have built in terms of logistics facilities and capabilities. Our key assets including maritime terminals, rail-linked private freight terminals, free trade zones among others are geared to support the growing trade needs of the industry. The UAE is an excellent gateway for Indian exporters to have better access to markets and customers in Africa, the Middle East and Europe. With the CEPA now firmly in place, I am confident that bilateral trade will reach the $100 billion mark well within the target time period." Robin Banerjee, Vice-Chairman, CII Maharashtra State Council, CII said: "Today, India is one of the biggest consumer markets in the world. The UAE has emerged as our third largest trade partner, with total non-oil bilateral trade valued at more than $72 billion. By collaborating with DP World, we want to capitalise on this success. DP Worlds offering and exceptional connectivity have cemented Dubais position as the preferred logistics and distribution centre for Indian businesses. Their UAE-India Bridge and global logistics and financial solutions support traders and manufacturers in India and the UAE to fund their trade ambitions, thus contributing to economic gains for both countries. Businesses are gaining greater exposure and benefiting from Jafzas excellent connectivity and thriving digital solutions."--TradeArabia News Service Colonel Richard Black (ret.) on Russias Largest Radio Talk Show: Warning on Nuclear War Threat Oct. 18, 2022 (EIRNS)At 7:30 this morning in Moscow (04:30 UTC) former U.S. Army Col. Richard Black was the guest for 25 minutes on Solovyov Live, Russias major TV talk show, watched by millions. The interview began with Colonel Black discussing why there is a threat of nuclear war, with reference to former President Donald Trump, in his Oct. 9 rally in Mesa, Arizona, where he demanded negotiations with Russia and from former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (like Black, a combat veteran) on the elitist cabal of warmongers. Later in the interview the colonel stated that he believes that the period between now and the U.S. midterm elections is one of the greatest dangers, citing the precedent of initiation and escalation of war and terrorism in attempts to influence the outcome of elections. In this regard he cited Bill Clintons 1999 attack on Serbia during the Lewinsky affair, the 9/11 attacks, and the 1933 Reichstag fire. He noted that the British and the CIA are adept at creating false-flag operations and went into some detail into the appearance of mass murders in Bucha, Ukraine. We are in an era of politicians who seem oblivious to the threat of nuclear war, he said, contrasting it with his own experiences in Germany in 1984 and the sensitivity which was brought to bear by leaders on both sides in East and West Berlin to avoid any occasion of escalating conflict. The danger of proximity of borders leading to escalation, he reported, was one of the arguments put forward by President Vladimir Putin against NATOs expansion closer and closer to Russia. Host Vladimir Solovyov said that he was frightened by the current of unprecedented rhetoric blasting out of NATO, citing the characterization of President Putin as a legitimate military target and the description of Russia as a terrorist state. Colonel Black replied that in his view, one of the most dangerous aspects of the situation is the unwillingness of the NATO foreign policy establishment, which he described as an echo chamber, to ever allow the consideration of any alternative viewpoint. He referred back to his time in the Pentagon, when he could, and did, effectively oppose policy with which he disagreed. There is a war of illusions, he said, starting with the cultivated illusion that the Russian Federation is just a generic substitute for the Soviet Union, when actually they are dramatically different. He expressed the hope that the U.S. midterm elections would result in some kind of improvement, but stated that they would not dislodge the warhawks in both parties. The interview went five minutes long, with Solovyov expressing the hope that Colonel Black could return. The interview is being posted on all the programs social media outlets, in addition to the live stream. EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 19, 2022 How Not To Choke on Your Words Oct. 18, 2022 (EIRNS)Theres no denying that it is a turbulent world. The twists and turns will leave the unprepared tossed aside. Witness, the vaunted price cap on Russian oil that U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell worked so hard to impose upon Europe and dictate to Russia. The EU drafters on the energy crisis apparently just walked away from imposing more sanctions, and actedeven in their awkward, still incompetent fashionas if they were hearing crowds of citizens in the streets of France, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Italy. The draft reads: This is the moment to act, for this winter and beyond.... The current situation causes economic and social hardship, placing a heavy burden on citizens and on the economy. The proposals to be discussed at the European Council on Oct. 20-21e.g., seeking long-term contracts to avoid the Netherlands spot market and suchwere completely sensible years ago, but far short of whats needed now. As Vladimir Putin has repeatedly offered: Just stop choking on your words and simply say, open the section of Nord Stream 2 that worksor expand orders through the underutilized TurkStream pipeline. But the phrase price cap has seemingly disappeared as fast as one can say, OPEC has to increase production of oil, or as fast as Britains Liz Truss can eat her words. Helga Zepp-LaRouches discussion about the unrest in Europe with ChinaPluss World Today broadcast made a similar point. The energy and food crisis is real. Western governments have failed to consider the general welfare of their populations, and their people have that palpable sense. There is no way out if governments dont apply themselves to the unsolved financial crisis from 2008, if they dont address solutions, and join with China and Russia in building a new economic system. Russians heard former U.S. Army Col. Richard Black (ret.), an American making perfect sense about the danger of nuclear war, on the hugely popular Solovyov Live television show. U.S. Senate candidate Diane Sare has her rival, incumbent New York Sen. Chuck Schumer caught between a rock and a hard place, possibly creating the sort of catalyst for an ignored populace in the U.S. as Zepp-LaRouche indicated in Europe. The most efficient pathway through this turbulent world begins with pronouncing the two words, Lyndon LaRouche. That is exactly what has been usefully put on the table for the breakout LaRouche youth movement, when the pathetic Ocasio-Cortez or the whining Ben Norton have their bluffs called. The true name of peace is economic development, and the name of economic development is Lyndon LaRouche. Hold yourself accountable to think like a world leader, one who actually cares for the general welfare of the population, and the present twists and turns dont have to toss you overboard. Truth-seeking activity means never having to choke on your words. New Zealands government is ending its support for a popular program on the British playwright William Shakespeare. Shakespeare wrote plays and poems during the late 1500s and early 1600s. He is considered by many to be one of the most important writers in the English language. The art agency said the program depended too heavily on busy schools, failed to show relevance to todays art, and depended on a kind of art linked to British imperialism. But many have criticized the decision by the art agency Creative New Zealand. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is among the critics. She also was a former student actor who took part in the program. Ardern said, I was a participant in Shakespeare in Schools. I thought it was a great program. She said students interested in drama and debate have limited opportunities to connect with other students from different schools. She said, I was one of those kids. And so I would like to continue to see other kids have those opportunities. Ardern added that the financial decision was not up to her or the government. Creative New Zealand receives financial support from taxpayers but is run independently. The Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand has run the school programs, workshops, and events for about 30 years. Students act, direct, make clothing for plays, or create musical performances. The plays are set in current times or have different story elements from the ones written by William Shakespeare more than 400 years ago. The center has received about ten percent of its yearly budget from the government agency. Dawn Sanders is the centers chief. She said she was not expecting the rejection last month. It remained in place after a recent meeting. She criticized the decision. Sanders said more than 120,000 students have been involved in the events and programs over the years. Many go on to work in the theater or film. Others, she said, have used their acting skills in their jobs. For example, lawyers can become better at arguing their cases and doctors at talking to patients. Creative New Zealand did not comment. In its 11-page rejection note, however, one agency member said the center had proved the ongoing value of its local and national Shakespeare competition model. Some 4,600 young people join 24 events each year. The agency official wrote, The application does make me reflect on the ongoing relevance of Shakespeare. The person questioned if supporting Shakespeare is most relevant for a decolonizing Aotearoa in the 2020s and beyond. Aotearoa is a native name for New Zealand. The group that made the decision said that the Shakespeare center seems paternalistic and that its request for financial support did not show the relevance to art of current times. Sanders said she would try to find other financial support and promised the program would continue. Since the dispute became public, she said, people have already given thousands of dollars online. Former Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters wrote on the social media site Facebook about the decision. He strongly criticized the officials responsible. Ardern said it would be wrong to take a single financial decision and make it a statement about society. She did not say what Shakespeare role she had played as a student, saying it would steal attention from the situation. She said, So I might just leave out the details for now. Im Gregory Stachel. Nick Perry Crain reported this story for Reuters. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story relevance adj. relating to a subject in an appropriate way imperialism n. the effect that a powerful country or group of countries has in changing or influencing the way people live in other, poorer countries drama n. the art or activity of performing a role in a play or show opportunity n. a situation in which it is possible for you to do something that you want to do assess v. to make a judgment about (something) reflect v. to think carefully about something paternalism n. the attitude or actions of a person or organization that protects people and gives them what they need but does not give them any responsibility or freedom of choice society n. people in general thought of as living together in organized communities with shared laws, traditions, and values _______________________________________________________________ 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 the 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. Our comment policy is here. Olga Lopatkina is a Ukrainian mother of six children. She had adopted the children, orphans who had lost their parents, legally taking them into her family as her own. A few months ago, the children were in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol and unable to leave. She was worried about them. The children had spent their vacation in the port city. But then the war with Russia began. Her adopted children were suddenly alone and afraid in a city at war. All they had now was her oldest son, Timofey, who was 17 years old. He promised to take care of his younger siblings. There was no clear choice for Olga. Trying to rescue the children herself would be dangerous. Getting others to help the children might put them in danger. That was the beginning of her battle against Russia. Associated Press reporters said that Russia is openly working to take Ukrainian children and bring them up as Russians. They found thousands of children separated from their parents in shelters in Mariupol and other cities and at homes for orphans in the Russian-supported separatist territories of Donbas. They include those whose parents were killed by Russian bombing and others in the care of government organizations. Russia claims that the children do not have parents or guardians to look after them, or the parents are not available. But the AP reported that officials have sent Ukrainian children to Russia or Russian-held territories without getting their approval. They lied to the children, saying that their parents did not want them. AP said Russia used the children for propaganda and gave them Russian families and citizenship. AP said its investigation is the largest to date on the taking of Ukrainian children. It is the first to follow the process all the way to those already growing up in Russia. The AP spoke to many parents, children and officials in both Ukraine and Russia. It used emails, letters, Russian documents and Russian state media. Sign of genocide Whether or not the children have parents, raising the children of war in another country or culture can be a sign of genocide. That is, it is an attempt to remove the identity of an enemy nation. Lawyers say that Russian President Vladimir Putin is responsible for the policy. He has openly supported adoptions. Stephen Rapp is a former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues. He is helping Ukraine bring legal charges against Russia over the children. Even when parents are dead, Rapp said, their children must be sheltered, cared for, or adopted in Ukraine rather than sent to Russia. Russian law bars the adoption of foreign children. But in May, Putin signed an order making it easier for Russia to permit adoptions and give citizenship to Ukrainian children without parental care. The law also makes it harder for Ukraine and surviving family members to win them back. Russia also has prepared a list of Russian families for Ukrainian children and pays them for each child who gets citizenship up to $1,000 for those with disabilities. Petro Andryushchenko is an adviser to the Mariupol mayor. He said, It is absolutely a terrible story. He claimed hundreds of children were taken from Mariupol. We dont know if our children have an official parent or (stepparents) or something else because they are forcibly disappeared by Russian troops. The situation is complex because many children in Ukraines orphanages are not orphans at all. Ukraines government said that most children of the state are not orphans, have no serious illness or disease and are in an institution because their families are in difficult circumstances. It is difficult to find the exact number of Ukrainian children sent to Russia. Ukrainian officials claim it is nearly 8,000. Russia has not given a number, but officials regularly announce the arrival of Ukrainian orphans in Russian military planes. Olga Lopatkinas teenage son Timofey had become like a father to all his stepbrothers and stepsisters. Three had long-term illnesses or disabilities, and the youngest was just seven years old. They suffered through the intense bombing. They tried to leave Mariupol but pro-Russia forces at a checkpoint would not accept the childrens documents. Instead, the officials took the children to a hospital in the Donetsk Peoples Republic, or DPR, a separatist Russian-controlled area in Ukraine. The Donetsk officials told Lopatkina she could have her children back if she came through Russia to Donetsk to get them in person. Lopatkina feared a trap. If she went to Russia, she might never be able to leave. She and her husband had moved to France where she took a job at a factory. The children asked when they could go home to their mother. They were badly fed, hit and mistreated, Timofey said. After two months of negotiation, DPR officials finally agreed to let a volunteer, with permission from Lopatkina, collect the children. They asked Timofey if he and Olgas other children wanted to go back to his foster family or stay in Donetsk. Now that I have a chance, I will, of course, go home to my parents, he told them. Together again Timofey met his father in Berlin. They drove to France, where Timofey went to meet his mother at the factory as a surprise. When Timofey arrived, she was in shock. For him, the happiness was intense, like nothing he had ever experienced before. Back at the house, the other children were waiting. They ran toward their mother and jumped into her arms. Let me see you! she screamed. The two dogs joined the party, barking. It took Timofey several days before he could believe he was really back with his parents. He no longer had to act like a father to his siblings. I kept my promise, he said. Im a child now. Im Dan Novak And Im Jill Robbins. Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English. ______________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story adopt v. to take a child of other parents legally as your own orphan n. a child whose parents are dead. sibling n. your brothers and sisters. absolutely adv. completely or totally institution n. a building where certain people are looked after circumstance n. (often pl.) a condition or fact that affects a situation foster adj. describing a situation in which a child lives and is cared for by people who are not their parents ______________________________________________________________________ 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. Yoga is often thought of as a quiet and solitary activity, but sometimes it is easier to say namaste with a bleating goat on the mat. This is the case at Lainey Morses No Regrets Farm & Sanctuary at 26641 Bellfountain Road in Monroe. The yoga classes here include goats that climb between twisting bodies, bleat words of encouragement or simply plop down on a mat for a nap to find true zen. The original founder of Goat Yoga, Morse started the business in 2016 when she noticed the therapeutic effect her goats had on her mental health during an especially rough patch in her life. Every free moment of my day is spent out in the field or in the barn with these goats, Morse said. If people want to see me, they have to come here, because I dont get off the farm. She added that many people have heard of equine therapy, but goats can be just as therapeutic, and theyre not as big and intimidating as horses. These goats are neither motivated by food nor treats but rather by their love of being around people. Morse said if you put in the love from the start, goats can be some of the calmest and friendliest animals around. We don't have a fence; they just want to be with the people, she said. Its super special. Before it was Goat Yoga, Morse held Goat Happy hour at her farm, calling it that because she noticed that everyone always left happy. Heather Davis, who co-founded Goat Yoga with Morse, had the idea to throw yoga into the mix, and taught the classes herself. Goat Yoga instantly became a viral sensation, and Morse stopped holding classes at her farm in 2017 to expand to 10 locations across the country. She quit her corporate job of 10 years and pursued Goat Yoga full time. From 2018 until 2020, her life was a whirlwind of marketing, social media, guest speaking and managing the back end of all the classes. It all came to a halt in March 2020, along with the rest of the world, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Afraid of getting sick, Morse did not resume some version of classes again until spring 2021. 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. Our tagline is farming happiness, and it wouldve been terrible for the brand to be known as farming sickness, she said. I would rather fail than get anybody sick. Instead, she opened The Goatel a goat-themed vacation getaway in nature to improve mental health in various locations across the country. Goat Yoga slowly started to return, and on Oct. 1, Morse reopened her farm in Monroe for small public classes. It still doesnt feel like real life, she said. It doesnt seem believable. Morse is writing a memoir about how Goat Yoga started and changed her life. Her goats, who came out of retirement to work these classes once again, remember exactly what theyre supposed to do. Its all they ever knew, so you put down a yoga mat and they just automatically think, 'Oh, its Goat Yoga time, she said. She caps her classes at 10 people, and they begin with 30 minutes of yoga followed by an hour of taking in the scenery with a drink in hand. Classes are $45 per person and can be booked at https://headquarters.goatyoga.net/. People come out with autism, addictions, mental health issues, Morse said, and everybody just leaves going, Wow, that was so magical and yet its so simple. Related stories: The winter season can pose a challenge for artists. Festivals and farmers markets come to a close, and its difficult to find a physical space to sell art out in the rain and cold. LEXINGTON The Dawson County Commissioners gave the Road Superintendent the green light to proceed with a road study after the Darr petition was received during their meeting on Friday, Oct. 14. Back in June, Surveyor Mark Streit told the commissioners he had been asked by Shotkoski Hay Company to survey property they owned in Darr as they planned to split up a lot and sell the ground. Streit said he ran into an issue because he found a dedication for a street that ran through the property. Zoning Administrator Pam Holbrook said the dedication for the street dates back to 1902, the year Darr was formally platted. The dedication should be able to be vacated, but as Darr is an unincorporated community the question of if it fell under the countys purview was also brought up. Streit said he wanted to know about the statutes that were in place so he could proceed, as Shotkoski Hay wanted to move ahead on their end. Deputy County Attorney Katherine Kuhn had said she would look into the situation. In September, Commissioner Bill Stewart said that the Shotkoski Hay Company plat in Darr is moving forward. During the Sept. 30 meeting, attorney Brian Copley appeared representing Shotkoski Hay Company in regard to splitting up property in Darr. Copley said he had reviewed the statutes and noted there were two ways to move forward. One way was for Shotkoski to acquire 10 signatures from landowners in a 10 mile radius, approving of the action. Copley said the other way was for the commissioners to direct the county surveyor to prepare a report without the signatures and then submit it to them so they could make a ruling. Copley said they were requesting this, as it would make the process quicker. Deputy County Attorney Kuhn in turn said that this was a two-step process, requiring the 10 signatures before the commissioners could ask for a report to be prepared. She said she did not think acquiring 10 signatures was too much to ask. Copley said they felt this was an unnecessary step in the process and that Shotkoski has been trying to move forward with the property since June. The commissioners said they would require the 10 signatures from surrounding landowners before moving forward with the process. Copley said they would do so and return them to the county clerk. During Fridays meeting, the Darr petition with signatures was presented to the commissioners who directed Road Superintendent Mark Christiansen to study the use of the roads in Darr. Another agenda item involving roads was the awarding bids for an asphalt resurfacing project. Two bids had been received from Paulsen, Inc. and Western Engineering. The commissioners voted to accept the bid from Paulsen in the amount of $4,109,365.51. There was a public hearing held to discuss an amendment to the zoning regulations. Zoning Administrator Pam Holbrook explained that this would amend re-platting procedures that were put in place in 2018 and would remove a criteria. There was no opposition at the hearing and the commissioners approved the amendment. The next action item was an appointment to the Dawson County Tourism board, which the Lexington Chamber of Commerce recommended the new Dawson County Fairgrounds manager, Barb Rohde, to replace Becca Putnam. The commissioners concurred with the decision. The commissioners voted to request a list of lodging tax remitters from the Nebraska Department of Revenue. The lodging tax is a sales tax imposed upon the total gross receipts charged for the occupancy of any space furnished by a hotel in this state. Also presented was an agreement for professional services with Oak Creek Engineering for three river bridges in the county, the commissioners voted to approve the matter. During the board of equalization meeting the commissioners approved the adoption and appropriations regarding setting the current tax levies. Following both meetings the commissioners undertook an inspection of the Dawson County Jail. Age: Declined to provide Address: 125 N. Highland Ave., Upland Occupation: Optometrist Political party: Libertarian Website: None What experiences qualify you for this office? I started and operated my own small business in Norfolk and had to learn some things the hard way I know what it is like to be attacked by electronic warfare. I have had to resort back to my U.S. Military Academy training of two years and am thankful for it. Dealings with business and money are important to keep transparent. I helped to keep our condominium community running smoothly as secretary/treasurer. Why do you want to be state treasurer? I want a thorough understanding about Nebraska state revenue and expenditures. It seems that too many politicians are afraid to make tough decisions when it comes to money because they are not informed well enough; I admire Margaret Thatcher's economics when no one else wanted the job. Fortunately, Nebraskans do well at balancing the budget, but Nebraska citizens are going to face some challenges with outside investors. What would be your priorities? 1. I would like to review the tax revenue and make sure that every real estate parcel is taxed with no exemptions. These parcels would be at various rates to accommodate for growth; but they all need to be on the books to study the budget. No real estate should be labeled "tax exempt." 2. I want to make sure that there are no security breaches with the office of the treasurer. It is misleading to say that we have cybersecurity. Are there any changes you would support or propose in the operation of the state treasurers office? I want to keep the office of the state treasurer in the city of Lincoln where all of the legislation is happening. I understand that there was a satellite office opened in Omaha, and I would close it. When dealing with finances, I want to be able to meet our leadership and bureaucracy in person. LEXINGTON Crossroads Mission Avenue would like to invite the public to an Open House on Nov. 3from 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m., as they introduce themselves to the Lexington Community and present the building which will house the Crossroads facility. The recently purchased building is at 907 W 8th St in Lexington. A capital campaign is underway which will provide for renovation of the building to meet the current needs of Dawson County. The Open House will commence with a ribbon cutting by the Lexington Chamber of Commerce, and will provide opportunity for Crossroads to share their vision for bringing homeless services to Lexington. Renovation of the building is planned, with foreseeable occupancy in 2024, bringing emergency shelter services and transitional housing options to Dawson County residents. Crossroads Mission Avenue has been serving the homeless in Central Nebraska for 39 years, with locations in Kearney, Grand Island and Hastings. They provide comprehensive care in a nurturing environment, including services such as safe shelter, hot meals, life skills classes, and personalized case management to help their guests gain employment, financial independence and stable housing. The transitional housing component allows guests to take the next step in their recovery with supportive services close-by, and before moving on to complete independence and self-sufficiency. These steps will equip Crossroads guests for successful living after their time at the shelter and lead to homelessness prevention. In 2021, Crossroads Mission Avenue served 947 men, women and children in Central Nebraska by providing more than 42,000 nights of stay for the needy. Completion of the nearly $1.5 million dollar project will provide supportive services to homeless and needy Lexington residents, and affordable housing options for Dawson County. The renovated building will include 17 units of housing for homeless individuals with emergency shelter beds as well as transitional living apartments for individuals coming out of the 4-Phase Recovery program, or those referred by another agency. Crossroads Mission Avenues housing model provides a safe, sober, and clean living scenario which restores dignity to each individual. Crossroads began serving the Lexington community in July 2022, partnering with Food Bank for the Heartland to provide a monthly mobile food pantry. Crossroads staff, guests and volunteers within the Lexington Community work together to pass out food boxes. There are no requirements to attend the monthly event, which serves up to 450 families. Over the next year, Crossroads will continue fundraising, and will apply for capital grant funds. During this time, they will address staffing needs for this new facility, and prepare to open a thrift store called Mission Avenue Thrift in this temporary location. Each Crossroads Mission Avenue location includes a Mission Avenue Thrift Store which provides employment and volunteer opportunities within the community, in addition to supplying a local option for low-cost clothing and household goods. Sales from the thrift stores directly support the homeless ministry in each location, and is an essential part of Crossroads sustainability model. Once fundraising has been completed, and construction begins, Crossroads will move the Lexington Mission Avenue Thrift Store to a permanent location. Daniel Buller, Executive Director for Crossroads Mission Avenue, believes that Crossroads is in a unique position to serve the homeless and needy men, women and families of Dawson County. The ministry of Crossroads Mission Avenue is blessed to be in a position that allows us to expand our services across underserved areas of Central Nebraska. Our dedication is "bringing glory to God through the helping of people". We are committed to serving Lexington and Dawson County by offering emergency shelter and transitional living services along with Bible based programming and case management to help stop cycles of poverty in the lives of those we are privileged to serve. God is glorified when we compassionately extend a helping hand to our struggling neighbors and help carry the burdens that lend to the state of homelessness that people are faced with. At Crossroads we refer to each individual as a guest of the mission, and we are excited to soon open the doors to our Lexington guests and see the amazing work of God in their lives. Thank you to everyone who is willing to help make this amazing facility, programming, and case management a reality for this area of the great state of Nebraska. Crossroads Mission Avenues mission is to bring glory to God through the helping of people. Homelessness recovery is a long, complicated process for many of their guests, and step by step, Crossroads is there to help them in that process. About Crossroads Mission Avenue Crossroads has been serving the homeless in Central Nebraska for 39 years. They have grown to include campuses in Hastings, Grand Island and Kearney, which served 947 individuals last year! Each location provides services that include emergency shelter, 4-Phase Recovery program, and personalized case management which helps their guests gain employment, financial independence and stable housing. Crossroads Mission Avenues mission is to bring glory to God through the helping of people. The Executive Director of Crossroads Mission Avenue, Daniel Buller, is available for interviews about Crossroads Mission Avenue and their expansion in Lexington. Age: 66 Address: 6275 Country Club Drive, Columbus Occupation: Livestock producer; founder and chairman, Pillen Family Farms and DNA Genetics Political party: Republican Why do you want to be governor? Nebraska is a special place filled with great opportunities and incredible people. We owe everything we have to this state. I want to serve as governor to ensure all our children and grandchildren have the same opportunities I had, so they can pursue their dreams, raise their families and earn good livings. We can do that by focusing on our kids, fixing our broken tax code, growing our economy, defending agriculture, strengthening rural communities and preserving our conservative Nebraska values. What would be your first-year priorities or agenda? First and foremost, we must focus on fixing our broken tax code and solving our property tax problem. Thats a big undertaking, and its going to require not only fiscal discipline at every level of government, but also an attitudinal change. We have to bring stakeholders together, rural and urban alike, with the goal of setting parochial interests aside and doing whats best for the whole state. Nobody can achieve transformational tax change alone, but together, we can. What do you identify as Nebraskas primary challenges or needs? Campaigning in all 93 Nebraska counties has only strengthened my conviction about our states tremendous opportunities, but we have to embrace them. Our kids are sought-after, well-educated talents, and we have to keep more of them here. Our people are entrepreneurial and industrious, so we have to get government out of their way and let them keep more of what they earn. Our communities are great places to live, and we have to strengthen and grow them. If you support additional local property tax relief, how would you achieve it? To achieve transformational property tax reform, first, we need to tightly control spending at every level. Government should treat nickels like manhole covers. We have to balance the three-legged stool of state taxation by sawing the property tax leg down to size. We need to move to an income-potential assessment system for ag land. Finally, we have to reform the TEEOSA school aid formula so that every Nebraska students education is supported by the state, no matter where they live. Do you think voters should have to show a photo ID? I strongly support enhancing election security through Voter ID. A photo ID requirement is a simple, commonsense step to ensure that voters are who they say they are, protecting the integrity of their vote. We have to show photo ID to board a plane, drive a car, and even open a bank account theres no reason we shouldnt require it for something as important as casting a ballot. Do you support legislation prohibiting or limiting abortion in Nebraska and why? Under what circumstances, if any, should abortion remain legal in Nebraska? Life is a precious gift of Gods grace, and it should be protected by Nebraska law from conception until natural death. I will do all I can to outlaw the murder of unborn babies and ensure the dignity of human life. Do you support legislation to allow Nebraskans to carry guns, either openly or concealed, without government permits or required gun safety training? Why or why not? The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution enshrines the God-given right of law-abiding Nebraskans to keep and bear arms. I fully support constitutional carry legislation, which removes unconstitutional impediments to concealed carry. I have always been, and will continue to be, a strong advocate for Nebraskans Second Amendment rights. Should Nebraska raise the minimum wage? What is a fair wage, given our cost of living? Today, many companies already set starting pay higher than the current minimum wage. The free market works best when government gets out of the way. Rather than ineffectually raising the statutory minimum wage, which will only increase the costs Nebraskans pay for everyday goods and services, we should focus on bringing down the cost of living for Nebraskans by saying no to increased government spending at every level and letting Nebraska families keep more of what they earn. What experiences qualify you for this office? Ive spent my entire life in Nebraska agriculture, growing up on a Platte County tenant farm and building a multi-generational, family-run agribusiness. Our family has created several thousand jobs in rural Nebraska communities with a business I started with my father, growing it from 60 sows and 1,200 market hogs into a leading pork producer. I have the experience needed to run state government like a business, grow our economy, protect our freedoms and preserve our Nebraska values. Bahrain will continue developing its regulatory frameworks to enhance the kingdoms competitiveness to be an attractive destination for investment. This was the view of Dr Jameel Al Alawi, Senior Legal Adviser at the Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB), who spoke at the 3rd webinar on Digital Economy Laws, organised by the National Competitiveness Centre in Saudi Arabia, in cooperation with the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). Dr Al Alawi spoke on some the legislative measures pursued by the kingdom to facilitate the implementation of its digital trade agenda. United Nations Convention Among the measures highlighted by Dr Al Alawi were Bahrains accession to the United Nations Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts. Al Alawi explained some of the main reasons behind the accession to the convention were to be part of the international effort to harmonise rules on electronic commerce and to facilitate the implementation of other existing commerce related conventions and treaties by removing possible legal obstacles in implementing these conventions and treaties to operate effectively in an electronic environment. Examples of such treaties and conventions are United Nations Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards and the United Nations Convention on the International Sale of Goods. Electronic Communications and Transactions Law A further legislative measure highlighted by Dr Al Alawi was the kingdoms enactment of a thoroughly revamped Electronic Communications and Transactions Law to replace the old Electronic Transactions Law. Dr Al Alawi noted the revamped law introduced the concept of trust services such as electronic signature, electronic seal, electronic time stamp, electronic website authentication and electronic registered delivery service. The revamped law also removed many of the exclusions that existed under the old law making it possible for notarisation to be done electronically and enabling commercial documents and instruments to be made in electronic form. Protection of Personal Data Law Dr Al Alawi also spoke on the Protection of Personal Data Law whereby Bahrain was the first GCC mainland jurisdiction to introduce a modern and comprehensive law to protect personal data. Dr Al Alawi pointed out the kingdoms approach in developing its legislation in a manner consistent with best international practice and in line with international harmonisation initiatives wherever feasible. Examples highlighted in this respect were aligning the new electronic communications and transactions law with the United Nations Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications and drawing up the Information Technology Crimes Law to be largely in line with the Council of Europes Convention on Cybercrimes. Dr Al Alawi also highlighted a number of pioneering provisions and laws enacted by the kingdom. These include the Sovereignty Over Data in Cloud Computing Data Centers to encourage the use of cloud computing centers located in the kingdom by foreign parties and the Electronic Transferable Records Law to enable the use of electronic documents and instruments such as electronic cheques and electronic bills of lading. Another pioneering initiative introduced by the kingdom within the Personal Data Protection Law was the concept of an independent data protection guardian to ensure compliance with the provisions of the law especially in sectors that maintain sensitive personal data of citizens.-- TradeArabia News Service Three statewide questions will appear on general election ballots. Two are on the ballot via the initiative petition process and one is a proposed constitutional amendment that was placed on the ballot by the Legislature. One initiative would enact a law requiring Nebraskans show photo identification before voting and the other would raise the state's minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2026. Both campaigns met the statutory requirements to qualify to go before voters Nov. 8. Voter ID was given the ballot No. 432, and the minimum wage question was given No. 433. After nearly a decade of failing to advance a voter ID law out of the Legislature, the petition for the proposed constitutional amendment was signed by 172,000 Nebraskans, according to sponsor Sen. Julie Slama of Sterling. As a proposed constitutional amendment, the petition needed about 124,000 signatures, equal to 10% of the registered voters in the state, including 5% of voters in at least 38 of Nebraska's 93 counties. Secretary of State Bob Evnen's office said the voter ID petition submitted 136,458 valid signatures and met the requirement in 76 counties. The measure has long been sought by Republican members of the Legislature but has failed to overcome a Democratic-led filibuster. Opponents have said a voter ID measure would make it harder for older, lower-income and non-white voters to cast a ballot. Raise the Wage Nebraska submitted more than 160,000 signatures in July following a campaign that would gradually raise the state's minimum wage over the next several years. A proposal for a new state law, the minimum wage petition had 97,245 valid signatures it needed a little more than 86,000, or 7% of registered voters and reached the 5% threshold in 44 counties, Evnen said. If approved by voters, Nebraska's minimum wage would increase from $9 per hour to $10.50 per hour on Jan. 1 before increasing $1.50 each year until 2026. The campaign was backed by a coalition of 27 organizations and politicians, who said raising the minimum wage would benefit about 1 in 5 workers in the state. A pair of petitions to legalize medical marijuana in Nebraska failed to qualify for the ballot, falling more than 9,000 signatures short. The proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot would give communities with airports the authority to use a minimum revenue guarantee agreement as a tool to attract additional commercial airline passenger service. The proposal (LB283CA) was introduced by Sen. Eliot Bostar of Lincoln. It would authorize cities or other subdivisions that operate an airport to expend revenue on developing regularly scheduled commercial passenger air service and would apply to all nine commercial passenger airports in the state. "The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series" by Jessica Radloff; Grand Central Publishing (528 pages, $30) Bazinga! Sheldon Cooper used the word when he had a victory. Jessica Radloff could use it about her book, The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series. All too often, definitive and inside compendiums are neither. In this case, Radloff delivers an oral history thats an exhaustive dive into the 279 episodes (and one unaired pilot) of the beloved sitcom that ran on CBS from 2006 to 2019. A show like The Big Bang Theory is not supposed to be a mainstream success, Radloff begins. Not when the two lead characters are a theoretical physicist and an experimental physicist. Or when episodes involved the Born-Oppenheimer approximation and Schrodingers Cat. Or when a lot of attention is paid to whiteboards and theorems. Over the series run, Radloff wrote some 150 articles about it. Shes Glamours senior West Coast editor and had all of the actors and executive producers cooperation in this. So over two years, Radloff did scores of interviews and wove them into a hefty book. It may be surprising that there are 528 pages worth of material. Yet, there are enough anecdotes and stories from the cast and the executives to sustain it. This delves into how the show developed and how the characters evolved over the years. The actors who played them had so many wonderful memories they were happy sharing with her. Radloff includes all of it, including studio bosses impressions and a now disgraced former network boss machinations over the actors salaries. The stars united and held out for a big payoff. They knew they could as the series became a global hit. Ive gone to Comic-Cons all over the world, and its one of those things you dont really understand until you walk into a convention center and get mobbed in a foreign country, said Kevin Sussman, who played Stuart, the comic book store owner. Thats when I realized, holy moly, the popularity is insane And so many people would tell me, Oh, Im such a Stuart or My boyfriends such a Stuart. I was in Saudi Arabia and a woman in a burqa came over and said, Im such a Stuart! The book is undeniably a valentine to the show. And, why not? It was the rare sitcom that kept audiences laughing and was smart enough to go out on top. Its not surprising but still fun to learn about how Cuoco was forever taking photos of the cast. Like the others, she realized early on this was a special show. Most TV casts feel compelled to tell everyone that they are family. This cast, which came together young and stayed together, really did become that close. Its apparent in the interviews that those relationships deepened and broadened. Johnny Galecki and Kunal Nayyars mom bonded over smoking and drinking and a certain similar sense of humor, Galecki said. Chuck Lorre, the co-creator of The Big Bang Theory, and a creator of Two and a Half Men, Dharma & Greg, Mom, The Kominsky Method, among others, recalls Jim Parsons audition to play Sheldon. He didnt just come in and read the lines, Lorre said. He had prepared a fully realized character. He had prepared the material so his dialogue had a rhythm, intonation, syntax, the pauses, everything was calculated I wanted to know if he could create that performance again. And he did it perfectly, as if he had never done it before. There are fun asides, as Galecki recounted. For some reason, Simon and I had this thing where we have rented a lot of boats together, which makes no sense because neither of us are sailors. But every time we went to Comic-Con and wed rent a boat, hed buy a captains hat, and wed just endanger everyones lives. The series, which received 55 Emmy nominations, winning 10, was well known for its accuracy with the equations on the whiteboard, done by a UCLA physics professor. Even throwaway lines, such as when Sheldon rattles off Latin, are correct. Even the takeout food was real, not craft services that had been out all day. The book reminds us that the show could easily have faded away during the Writers Guild of America strike from November 2007 until February 2008. Many shows did. Instead, CBS did something very smart. CBS began repeating the first eight episodes over and over again, which not only created familiarity for those who had already seen the show, but those who hadnt had a chance to watch something new, Radloff writes. And without streaming services like Netflix or Hulu at the time, choices were limited. That was a boon for the series. Unlike when networks kill off a series quickly because the ratings dont match the expectations, The Big Bang Theory had the chance to sit with people. And people found that they loved it. It was sweet without being syrupy. It showed someone on the spectrum without making a huge deal out of it. It was funny and kind. The book recounts the off-screen romance between Galecki and Cuoco, how they tried to be coy about it, and how they remained such close friends when they were no longer involved. While Penny, Cuocos character, was there from the start, the other two main female characters, Melissa Rauch as Bernadette and Mayim Bialik as Amy Farrah Fowler, joined later. They wed, respectively, Howard and Sheldon, and added depth to the show. It always seemed that the two had a great friendship, and the book reveals that the teenage Rauch had been obsessed with Bialiks show, Blossom. I had a Blossom hat collection, Rauch shared. One character who the audience never sees receives her due. Mrs. Wolowitz, Howards mother, who sounds like Harvey Fierstein only louder, was the actress Carol Ann Susi. She died in 2014, but the cast told terrific anecdotes about her. Remember this was a woman whose whisper was a bellow, and it was usually about brisket. Co-creator Bill Prady recounted Susi coming to him, all excited, saying: Im having lunch with my friend at the Farmers Market, just having a conversation, when someone comes up and says, Are you the mother from The Big Bang Theory? I mean, how did she know? She was a lovely lady and I adored her. The cast stuck together both on that couch and in negotiations. They made good on the Hollywood trope of being a family. And after all those years, Parsons felt it was time to end. The cast had already signed through the 2019 season. I was in New York that summer doing a play on Broadway when my dog, Otis, died at the age of 14, he said of the summer of 2018. His husband and I had him since he was eight weeks old his passing brought a sense of clarity for me. I dont think there was a part of me that actually thought I would do more seasons after the 12th, but I was ready to get out of the security of the show to fully find out what was next for me. I was ready to move back to New York full time. "My People: Five Decades of Writing About Black Lives" by Charlayne Hunter-Gaultl Harper (342 pages, $27.99) Early in her life, Charlayne Hunter-Gault made history. Then, for half a century, she covered it. In 1961, at age 18, she was one of the first two Black students to be admitted to the University of Georgia, after a lengthy legal fight. She was already working as a journalist inspired as a child, she says, by the comics pages Brenda Starr and she would go on to write for the New Yorker and the New York Times (where she founded the newspapers Harlem bureau), and to become a substitute anchor and national correspondent for PBS NewsHour, garnering two Emmys and a Peabody. She also spent more than a decade in South Africa as a reporter and bureau chief for NPR and CNN. That stellar career is on display in her new book, My People: Five Decades of Writing About Black Lives. Its a thoughtfully chosen sampler of Hunter-Gaults work that ranges chronologically from a piece she wrote in 1961 not long after she entered the University of Georgia to columns published as recently as last year. Thematically they focus, from many different vantages, on the complexities of civil rights and race. Hunter-Gault is one of those gifted reporters who can both marshal facts and bring a human touch to a story. Her 1970 profile for the New York Times of U.S. Rep. Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress (and later the first Black woman to run for a major partys nomination for president), captures Chisholms impressive political skills and determination as well as her fearless sense of humor, as when she notes, in the midst of the Vietnam War, Many gentlemen in the House of Representatives have sons eligible to serve in Vietnam who are in reserve units. I know one who has six sons, all in the reserves. He can afford to get up and talk about escalating the war. In On the Case in Resurrection City, a long-form piece on the 1968 encampment on the National Mall by thousands of civil rights protesters that lasted for 42 days, Hunter-Gault brings an anthropologists eye to examining the social structure that develops as various groups angle for power, and a novelists touch to sketches of some of the individuals who populate the place. Another expansive and remarkable piece, The Third Man, published in the New Yorker in 2010, is not only a detailed profile of South Africas controversial then-President Jacob Zuma, but an absorbing history of the nations post-apartheid politics. Hunter-Gault writes perceptively about popular culture in some of the pieces, like a stunning 1971 interview with actor Woody Strode. In another, Roots Getting a Grip on People Everywhere, she talks to people about their response to the 1977 TV miniseries based on Alex Haleys novel about his enslaved ancestors. It was a phenomenon that drew a viewing audience of 80 million people (inconceivable in todays fragmented media landscape) and inspired countless conversations. People gathered to watch it together, and a New York bartender tells Hunter-Gault that one night the crowd in his bar got so angry over the treatment of Kunta Kinte that they would not allow the jukebox to be turned on even after the show had ended. They just wanted to talk it out, he said. Some of the pieces in the book are personal essays, and among the most engaging are those about Hunter-Gaults favorite places. Several of them recount her first experience, as a little girl, of traveling from her small hometown in Georgia to Harlem, where shes delighted to play hopscotch on paved sidewalks instead of a red-clay playground. In others, she writes about her discovery as an adult of Oak Bluff, the Black enclave on Marthas Vineyard that she would eventually make her home. She writes of her only meeting with Martin Luther King Jr., a chance encounter in 1961 that moved her to tears, and of her long and inspiring relationship with Nelson Mandela. In several pieces, she writes of moving onto the University of Georgia campus, where one night a white mob surrounded the dormitory shed been placed in, throwing bricks and bottles through windows. She was evacuated, but not before police used tear gas to break up the mob. The gas drifted in the broken windows, and the house mother told the other residents to change their bedsheets. Hunter-Gault recalls some of her angry dorm mates throwing quarters at her and ordering her to make the beds before she left, with a police escort. There is a circular rhythm to much of the book, with subjects and issues appearing in one article only to return in one written years or decades later. Its touching to read a 1977 story about an energetic young John Lewis, voting organizer and a disciple of nonviolent demonstrations and coalition politics, and then to read her 2020 tribute, Remembering John Lewis and the Significance of Freedom Rides. It can also be dispiriting to realize that, across half a century, Hunter-Gault returns to the essential subject of racism because it is so intransigent. There are times, she writes, when, watching the news, I am brought to tears, not least when I see some of those I still think of as my fellow citizens, nevertheless exhibit awful behavior toward others who dont look like them the latest being the despicable behavior at the Capitol. It is in these moments that I wonder: Why have they not learned from history? Is it because not all of our history is being taught in many schools around the country? And why is there no embrace of respecting differences of opinion? But Hunter-Gault always seems to turn toward hope, and she finds forgiveness in her heart: I leave you with the question: what can we all do to keep working toward a more perfect union? Go Dogs! NONFICTION; A collection of smart, edgy essays about troubles of our modern world from climate change to racism to grief. "It Takes a Worried Woman" by Debra Monroe; University of Georgia Press (175 pages, $19.95) "It Takes a Worried Woman" is the title of the new essay collection from author Debra Monroe, yet it is not the title of any of the essays and as far as I can see, does not appear in the body of any of the pieces. So, the question arises: It takes a worried woman to do what? To sound the alarm, I think. Maybe a worried woman can't do all that much to end sexism, racism, acquaintance rape, hate crimes, the collateral damage of the pandemic, climate change, chronic illness, death and grief. But she can certainly make us think about these things. These 14 essays are edgy, nervy and anxious, alloyed and stabilized by a generous base of intellect, insight and humor. Fans of Jo Ann Beard will recognize a similar blend and effect. If the Worried Woman were a superhero, a finely developed sense of irony would be one of her signature weapons. For example, in the opening paragraph of "My Taciturn Valentine," Monroe writes, "Whether the strong, silent lover found in books and movies caused me to believe in the strong, silent lover sitting near me on a barstool, or the fantasy of the strong, silent lover sitting near me on a barstool near any woman causes his double to recur in art, is a chicken-or-egg question." Or, "Good lovemaking doesn't happen right away. They say that. I wouldn't know. I never waited to find out." But in other essays, where the silent man has morphed into a rapist or a batterer, the slightly clueless female friends into hurtful reality-deniers, the irony evaporates, replaced by simple repetition. Look at this. Look again. No, look again. Monroe's 2010 memoir, "On the Outskirts of Normal," described her adoption of a Black baby girl as a single mother living in rural Texas. Now, her daughter has gone off to college at a small-town university (it seems to be Texas A&M, but it isn't named.) Terrifyingly, her daughter is involved in several incidents of targeted racial violence. These events are touched on from varying angles in at least four essays: "The Wrong Conversation About Hate Activity," "Through the Bathroom Window at Dusk," "The COVID Sunday Drives" and "Mistletoe." Three of the four of these are previously published, but Monroe has chosen not to modify the pieces to weave them into a linear narrative she brings up the issue each time as if it's the first. This is often the case in collections of previously published pieces; that may well be its origin here. But in "It Takes a Worried Woman," it seems to work as a device rather than an irritation. The same thing with her husband's near-fatal bike accident, her mother's violent second husband and problems relating to her house and neighborhood. This collection doesn't focus on finding hope and giving comfort. Even the endings of individual essays tend to stop short in a moment of regret or anguish. As a different type of woman with different life circumstances than Debra Monroe, I kept looking for the soothing counterpoint, the ray of light that is in my nature to crave and find. To get it, I had to keep flipping back to read the one happy ending out of the 14. In it, a kitten that was almost killed but wasn't "eventually became an old cat blinking in the lap of an old man across a roomy room from a contented old woman, me. I didn't foresee any of that." Whew. I needed that. One can only hope life has more unworrisome surprises in store for Debra Monroe, and for the rest of us. Marion Winik is a writer and professor in Baltimore. Four teens were arrested Monday night when they were interrupted as they were trying to steal a vehicle and a bicycle from a Southwest Side parking garage, Madison police reported. At about 10:25 p.m. Monday, officers were sent to an apartment complex in the 5800 block of Raymond Road on a report of burglary in progress in the underground parking garage, police spokesperson Hunter Lisko said in a statement. Officers set up a perimeter and as they approached, they could hear movement inside the garage, where they learned a Kia and a bicycle were being targeted, Lisko said. As officers were preparing to enter the garage, four males later determined to be juveniles fled on foot, with all four quickly apprehended by officers after foot pursuits, Lisko said. One 14-year-old was armed with a facsimile firearm and was arrested on tentative charges of burglary, possession of a facsimile firearm, party to a crime of attempted operating a motor vehicle without owner's consent, and resisting arrest. A second 14-year-old was arrested on tentative charges of burglary, PTAC attempted OMVWOC, and possession of burglarious tools. The third 14-year-old was arrested on tentative charges of for burglary, PTAC attempted OMVWOC, resisting arrest, and tampering with a GPS monitoring device (ankle monitor). The 13-year-old was arrested on tentative charges of burglary, PTAC attempted OMVWOC, resisting arrest, and obstructing. The teens were taken to the Dane County juvenile jail for an initial assessment. Authorities did not indicate whether they were placed in detention or released. Citations against two radio personalities for illegally entering the state Capitol during the COVID-19 pandemic were dropped last week after their attorney pointed out that a slate of fake Donald Trump electors was also in the Capitol during that time but was not cited. Michael Crute and Dominic Salvia, hosts of The Devils Advocates Radio Show, as well as show producer Bryan Kelly, were cited under state administrative code for entering a locked building on Dec. 22, 2020, when the Capitol was otherwise closed because of the pandemic. The group was there to put up a Christmas tree that included ornaments lampooning Republican lawmakers after Republican state Reps. Paul Tittl and Shae Sortwell and others put up their own tree in the Capitol rotunda and held other activities without a permit because Democratic Gov. Tony Evers had decided not to put up a tree during the pandemic. Crute, Salvia and Kellys consolidated case was slated to go to trial on Monday but was instead dismissed at the request of the Dane County District Attorneys Office on Oct. 13 after the attorney for the three, Jeff Scott Olson, sent a letter to Judge John Hyland on Aug. 24 pointing out that 10 people who sought to serve as electors for the former president were also in the Capitol on Dec. 14, 2020, when it was shuttered, but they were not cited as his clients were. Our defense strategy was going to be the defense of selective prosecution, Olson said on The Devils Advocate on Monday. You can discriminate as a prosecutor or a police officer and you can prosecute just about anybody you want to that youve got probable cause on. ... You can make all kinds of discretionary distinctions. The one you cant make under the Constitution is to select somebody for prosecution because of their expressive activity, because of their viewpoint, because of the content of their protected speech. Olson said the intent was to compare his clients to the Republican electors who arguably had no more business in the Capitol than you did when it was a locked building. Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne said in an email the case was dropped because the prosecutor handling it did not feel at this time in the interest of justice jury trials in these matters was warranted. The 10 Republicans, including former Wisconsin GOP state party chair Andrew Hitt, met to sign a fake certificate purporting to give Wisconsins 10 electoral votes to Trump, even though he had lost the state. The effort was part of a nationwide attempt by Trump and his supporters to sow doubt about the November 2020 election results and keep the former president in office. Olson told the Wisconsin State Journal that in preparation for trial hed subpoenaed Hitt to testify about his activities at the Capitol on Dec. 14. Hitt did not respond to a phone message from the State Journal. Emails Olson provided showed that an aide to former Republican state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, currently a member of Congress, had reserved a room at the Capitol for the group to use. Salvia in 2016 reached a $75,000 settlement with the state to resolve a federal civil rights lawsuit he filed against former Gov. Scott Walkers administration after being arrested in 2013 while covering the mass arrests of people protesting Walker administration policies in the Capitol. Mukesh Ambani, India's second richest man and chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), has bought Dubai's most expensive villa for a record-breaking $163 million, reported Bloomberg citing people familiar with the matter. The Indian billionaire had bought the beach-side mansion last week from the family of Mohammed Alshaya, a Kuwaiti tycoon whose business conglomerate owns local franchises for retail brands like Starbucks, H&M and Victoria's Secret, stated the report. The ten-bedroom plush residence, with a private spa, indoor and outdoor pools, is a short stroll from the $80 million home that Ambani had reportedly bought for his son Anant earlier this year. The Dubai Land Department had reported a property deal worth $163 million on Palm Jumeirah earlier this week, without disclosing the buyers identity, said the Bloomberg report. A spokesperson for Reliance declined to comment, while representatives for Alshaya didnt respond to requests for comment. Ambani, who has a net worth of $84 billion, has been snapping up properties overseas, increasingly looking westward for second homes. Reliance had reportedly spent $79 million last year to buy iconic UK country club Stoke Park, it added. Carl Gulbrandsen, a key player in advancing research at UW-Madison who advocated for stronger ties between universities and private companies, died Monday at the age of 75. A Viroqua native, Gulbrandsen worked for the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, or WARF, for nearly two decades, serving as its managing director until 2016. During his tenure, two research institutes, the Morgridge Institute for Research and the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, were formed. WARF serves as the independent licensing and patenting arm for UW-Madison. Gulbrandsen was a founding member of the nonprofit Wisconsin Technology Council, and as a lawyer with a background in intellectual property law helped UW-Madison and other University of Wisconsin System schools patent and license their research technologies. He also advocated for the use of stem cells in medical research at a time when it was controversial, Wisconsin Technology Council President Tom Still said. It was Gulbrandsens defense of stem cell technologies then that paved the way for Madison-area companies to use them in their own research now, Still said. He also played a role in the formation of the WiCell Research Institute, which banks and distributes stem cell lines globally, he said. He was among those people in an early stage who recognized that stem cell technologies would help revolutionize medicine, Still said. About that time, the late 90s, early 2000s, the human genome was fully mapped. That was something that was helping to put UW-Madison and Wisconsin on the map, and continues to this day. Mary Gulbrandsen, Carls wife of 51 years, said he was the kind of person who believed that collaboration between people was the key to success. He wasnt an I person, Mary said. He would never say he did anything by himself. Gulbrandsen died after a long battle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a rare respiratory disease, according to his obituary. Son of a physician Born in 1947 in an area of Viroqua that boasted a deep Norwegian heritage, Gulbrandsen grew up going on late-night calls with his father, Lars, a small-town doctor, his obituary reads. He later went on to receive a bachelors degree in biology from St. Olaf College in Minnesota. It was there while playing drums in a band that he met Mary, and they married in 1970 before he was drafted into the Army and served in Germany at the 97th General Hospital. Upon returning to the U.S., Gulbrandsen started to pursue a Ph.D. in physiology at UW-Madison before switching to law school, which was a momentous decision in his life, his obituary reads. Joining WARF and serving the university is the best professional decision I ever made, Gulbrandsen said in a 2015 article in the Wisconsin State Journal. It is remarkable and humbling to work with very creative, intelligent people to move technologies to the marketplace and to improve lives. He and Mary had three children and have seven grandchildren, whom he cited as one of his reasons to retire from WARF in 2016. Music also played a large part of Gulbrandsens life, and he toured with bands in college, Mary said. Gulbrandsens drum set calls the Wisconsin Historical Society home after he gave it to his cousin, Butch Vig, who went on to be the drummer for the Grammy-nominated band Garbage. An introvert by nature, Gulbrandsen had a natural curiosity about him that made him a good listener, Mary said. He wasnt always the most conversant, but he loved being with other people, and he was just a good soul, she said. Understood the science It didnt matter what the latest research at WARF was, Gulbrandsen was always excited about it, Mary said. It was the groundbreaking stem cell research that got all of the press, Mary said, but he loved coming home to talk about research that ophthalmologists were doing in advancing eye care, or new baths that researchers were developing to hold transplant organs. It was always fun to have him tell us what was new that day, she said. He could understand the science. ... He was good at translating it to other people. Gulbrandsen was also instrumental in pushing forward undergraduate research at System campuses that didnt have doctoral programs or the financial backing that UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee have, Still said. In helping create WiSys, the System equivalent of WARF, Gulbrandsen was an original thinker in pushing research forward across the state. He understood the value of town-and-gown relationships, Still said. He was never somebody who thought the university alone was going to do great stuff or that private industry alone could solve every problem. ... He firmly believed that people from different sectors in Madison and across Wisconsin could do better working together. When it comes to moving vehicles, Madisons traffic signals are among the most efficient in the nation, according to a new study. Researchers at Texas A&Ms Transportation Institute found Madison drivers are nearly twice as likely to hit a green light as a red light, spend less time waiting and are only half as likely as drivers in other large cities to get stuck at an intersection for more than one cycle. Relieving congestion isnt just a matter of convenience, said Kartik Jha, a Texas A&M research scientist and co-author of the study. When traffic flows smoothly, vehicles run more efficiently, lowering greenhouse gas emissions as well as air and noise pollution. Everybodys time is precious, Jha said. But the environmental impacts are huge. City traffic engineer Yang Tao said the study provides useful information, but adds its only one measure of success. Our system goal is really not just to look at most efficiency for motor vehicles, Tao said. Our goal is to create a multimodal system. Providing people choices. Some choose to drive. Others choose to walk or bike. The study relies on a new source of big data to analyze traffic flows at a scale that would be impractical using traditional methods, which rely on equipment to measure traffic volumes, cameras to calculate velocity, and often a traffic engineer on the side of the road. That is much more expensive, Jha said. You cant do that at every intersection throughout an area or across the U.S. The method Jha and his fellow researchers used anonymized location data generated by cellphones, GPS devices, Bluetooth signals and other wireless technologies to analyze movement patterns at roughly 210,000 traffic lights in more than 100 cities across the country. They were able to determine how many vehicles were moving through an intersection at any 15-minute interval, how fast they were going, how long they were stopped and even whether they could get through the intersection in a single cycle. The researchers then calculated an efficiency index for each city based on the share of vehicles that arrived at lights that were green. The national average was 1.7, meaning a driver is 1.7 times more likely to get a green light. With an index of 1.1, Fresno, California, had the least efficient lights, giving drivers a roughly equal chance of hitting red or green. Boulder, Colorado, had the highest index, 2.6. Madisons ratings The Madison areas 407 lights scored 1.9, fourth-best among comparably sized cities and 22nd out of 101 urban areas evaluated. The average delay was just 13 seconds, four seconds less than the national average. Only three other cities had shorter delays. Madison drivers get stuck in intersections for more than one cycle just 0.2% of the time, half the national average. In general, the study found areas with more traffic lights tended to be more efficient at moving traffic, though Jha points out that geographic constraints and other factors make it hard to compare one city with another. For example, college towns like Madison often put more emphasis on pedestrian safety. Every city will have different goals, Jha said. Theres no right or wrong. Report: More than half-million Wisconsin homes could qualify for new weatherization incentives New federal incentives will provide billions of dollars to make homes more energy efficient, the single most cost-effective tool for slowing climate change. Unintended consequences Madisons high score is not necessarily a good thing, said Chris McCahill, managing director of the State Smart Transportation Initiative and member of the citys Transportation Commission and Transportation Policy and Planning Board. Keeping cars moving quickly is only one metric of success that is often at odds with other goals such as safety. Longer green lights can make it harder for bus riders, pedestrians and cyclists to get across a busy road, and increased traffic speeds make collisions deadlier. We might have reasons we dont want traffic moving as fast as possible, McCahill said. Focus on vehicular traffic often leads to a circular argument, said Robbie Webber, a mobility advocate and retired transportation policy analyst. People drive in part because they dont feel safe using other forms of transportation, because its not convenient, Webber said. People drive because they dont have a choice. And while gridlock is a problem, McCahill notes promoting traffic flow has unintended consequences. For the most part, improvements in traffic flow look good until you zoom out to the macro level, McCahill said. Even though you might see environmental benefits from keeping cars (moving), the bigger picture tends to be that, once you do that, more people drive. But in one of the states fastest-growing areas, Tao said system efficiency is a way to move more people without widening roads, and if done right it can free up road space for bikes, pedestrians and buses. It almost feels like a contradiction, Tao said. They really go hand in hand. Promising results The studys findings were also limited by the timing: The data were collected during a single week in October 2020, when many workplaces and college campuses were closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. But while traffic volumes have generally returned to pre-pandemic levels, McCahill points out the increase in remote and hybrid workplaces has reduced peaks, especially in the morning rush hour. If were still measuring delay in the way we used to, its going to look very different now, he said. Jha notes the study was not intended to rank cities but rather to show that its possible to use crowdsourced location data to identify problem intersections, which they can then fine-tune using more traditional methods. The findings actually show promising results, Jha said. McCahill hopes to see future studies take a more inclusive look. Weve been seeing data from cellphones being used to get information about people walking and biking, he said. Thats where some of the really exciting work is happening. TWIN FALLS Amalgamated Sugar employees gathered in front of the factorys newly installed American flag mural Sept. 28 to present a $2,500 check to representatives of American Legion Post 7. The donation, part of Amalgamated Sugars Presidents Safety Award, will support the American Legion in its Food Convoy program, which collects food donations for veterans homes across Idaho. Just after Veterans Day each year, we begin our Food Convoy, with American Legion Posts in this area taking care of veterans homes in Boise and Pocatello, said Mark Marvin, a Navy veteran and Commander of the American Legion Post 7. That is why we appreciate Amalgamated Sugar, who has donated several hundred pounds of sugar over the years to this effort, and now this $2,500 contribution. Amalgamated Sugars Presidents Safety Award is a program in which the company donates to a charitable organization after a factory location meets certain safety milestones. When the Twin Falls factory reached 250,000 hours without a recordable injury, the factory received $2,500 to do- nate to a charitable organization. A committee of Twin Falls factory employees selected the American Legion for this Presidents Safety Award donation. Past recipients include Habitat for Humanity, the Magic Valley Humane Society, QRU and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho. Hitting 250,000 safe work hours is a big accomplishment, and this is the fifth time our factorys employees have reached that goal, said Ron Story, president of the BCTGM Union Twin Falls Local 283G. We are proud of our safety record and the impact we have been able to make in our community with these donations. TWIN FALLS The Harrison Elementary School library and Magic Valley High School library each received $5,000 in grant funding from the Idaho Commission for Libraries for the 2022-23 school year. At Harrison Elementary School, the funds will be used for the purchase of quality, age-appropriate fiction and nonfiction books for all grade levels. The funding also ensures that students are allowed to check out at least two books per week. Because of this grant, we will have enough books for our students to be able to take at least two books home per week to read with their adults, said Harrison Elementary School Librarian Mysti Brown. If our students only check out one book per week during the 36 weeks of the school year, that is not nearly enough for them to develop reading fluency or interest. At Magic Valley High School, the funds will be used to expand the school library with age-appropriate books to meet a wide variety of interests. The funding will also allow MVHS to host a Culture of Reading event to promote recreational reading within their student body. MVHS school librarian, Lara Erickson, hopes to be able to send each student home with a book after this event. The Harrison Elementary School funding comes from the commissions Supporting Beginning Readers Mini-Grants, with the goals of increasing the amount of reading done in the home; increasing access to age-appropriate, quality, fiction and nonfiction titles in elementary school libraries; and increasing the number of children reading on grade level. Research verifies that children who are not reading on grade level by the end of first grade only have a one in eight chance of ever catching up without costly direct intervention, youth services consultant Staci Shaw said. The availability of reading material in the home, whether owned or borrowed from the library, is directly associated with childrens achievement in reading comprehension. In addition, access to books both in the home and in school libraries has shown to be a strong factor in addressing poverty. The majority of Idahos public school libraries do not have the funding to provide enough fiction and nonfiction books to meet the needs of Idahos students, school library consultant Jeannie Standal said. TWIN FALLS A man faces aggravated assault charges after shooting a gun in the direction of a person after a fight, court records say. Jesse Ortiz-Meda, 35, of Twin Falls was arrested the night of June 19 after a fight between him and two relatives inside a tint shop on the 2400 block of Kimberly Road, police said. Ortiz-Meda fired the gun twice toward a man who was leaving the building, court records say. No one was injured but gunshots hit the businesss front window. Police reviewed surveillance video and concluded that the fight was a mutual combat situation and that Ortiz-Meda wasnt being threatened when he fired the weapon. Ortiz-Meda told police that he was defending himself, court records said. Ortiz-Meda has posted a $25,000 bond, and his preliminary hearing has been rescheduled several times. The next preliminary hearing date is Nov. 4. Mini-Cassia ribbon cuttings The Mini-Cassia Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber Ambassadors hosted a ribbon cutting at Zipfers Country Store to commemorate their beautiful remodel and reopening on September 30th. Zipfers carries everything from large variety of hot deli foods and cold beverages to gas and groceries so stop on by. They are locally owned by Sarah Juarez & Raymond Brookins and are located at 9 E. Ellis in Paul. The Mini-Cassia Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber Ambassadors hosted another ribbon cutting at Intermountain Cassia Regional Hospital to commemorate the grand opening of Classic Air Medical on September 22nd. Voices Against Violence check presented Nick Garcia and his son Dominick presented a check for $230 to Angela Michelle Chapman McDavid, the executive director of Voices Against Violence. This is the 6th year that Nick has run the 9.5 miles to raise money for domestic violence. President Joe Bidens recent mass pardon for people convicted of nonviolent marijuana offenses has the support of almost two-thirds of Americans, according to new polling. That may explain why even Republicans in Congress, who are reflexively critical of virtually anything Biden says or does, have been mostly silent in response to his historic move. Which makes this the right time to finish the reform by removing marijuana from the federal list of Schedule 1 drugs where, contrary to all reason, it sits alongside more dangerous drugs stuff like heroin, LSD and ecstasy. Bidens mass pardon of anyone convicted of simple possession of marijuana under federal law sounds huge, and it certainly has symbolic value. As he said in a statement released by the White House: Sending people to prison for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit. But its important to note that it didnt actually release a single person from prison. Thats because most marijuana-possession convictions are at the state level, and so are unaffected by Bidens pardon of federal convicts. Those affected total an estimated 6,500 people, all of whom have either served their time already or were never actually incarcerated. For that relative sliver of the population, the practical effect of Bidens order is to clear their records a significant thing for someone applying for a job. But the symbolism is real, serving as confirmation that the administration, like most Americans, has moved on from the outmoded hysteria that defined Americas approach to pot for generations. A substance demonstrably less dangerous than cigarettes or alcohol shouldnt be contraband in the way that heroin and other truly dangerous illicit drugs are. Bidens announcement included plans for a scientific review of the federal governments current listing of marijuana among the most serious Schedule 1 illicit drugs. That listing has complicated state legalization efforts around the country because it blocks new state-sanctioned marijuana industries from conducting business directly with banks since, technically, those industries are still defined as criminal enterprises under federal law. If pot were removed entirely from the federal drug-scheduling system, that would solve the problem immediately for existing state legalizations and make new ones less complicated. Biden also called for governors to follow his lead by pardoning all people convicted of simple possession under state laws, which could affect millions of people. But many Democratic governors have already done that and, perhaps predictably, Republican governors and other GOP politicians are rejecting the idea as an election-year stunt. They will have to come around eventually society has fundamentally evolved on this issue, even in red-state America. Getting pot off the federal drug schedule is the best way to further that evolution. The National Bank of Angola (BNA) yesterday warned three companies that are illegally carrying out financial activities Elite Service, Kwanza Net and Big Bizness warning the public to refrain from commercial relations with them. The companies in question sell international payment cards, through the Visa network, wallets for emergency reserve and savings in foreign currencies and term deposits in foreign currencies, as well as foreign exchange trading. However, according to the BNA, they are not licensed for this activity, so the regulator calls on banking financial institutions and the general public to refrain from establishing any business relationship with them. The central bank also warned, its promoters to refrain from any act that could be qualified as a crime. Johnson Controls, a global leader for smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, will be showcasing its end-to-end integrated solutions related to fire protection, fire detection, security, renewable energy, at Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (Adipec 2022), which kicks off on October 31. Hosted by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Adipec is one of the worlds most influential gatherings for energy industry professionals. This year the focus will be on accelerating the energy transition and unlock real value in a decarbonized future. During the four-day exhibition, Johnson Controls will also showcase its PAGA (public address & general alarm) and telecommunications systems used by leaders across high-risk verticals. Johnson Controls is a leading total integrated solutions provider for the oil & gas and petrochemical industry. As a pioneer in this space, the global company contributes to the safety and security of the industrys high-value assets, including telecommunication solutions and digitalization across onshore and offshore plants Johnson Controls vast Fire, Security and Telecommunication portfolio which includes renowned brands like Tyco, Ansul, Autocall, Zettler and Spector Lumenex set the standard for the industry across the region, said a top official. "Adipec is an important platform to connect with industry leaders across the spectrum with a common goal to revolutionize the energy sector. At Johnson Controls, we offer integrated solutions that not only deliver actionable insights for the industry, but also streamline processes and enhance operational performance," remarked Mohammad Khalid, the Vice President and General Manager for Middle East and Africa. A key player in the renewable energy sector, Johnson Controls provide innovative, next-generation solutions that guarantee safe, reliable, and efficient operations. Its specialized division is dedicated to the needs of the offshore, onshore, LNG, and pipeline market segments through a comprehensive range of customized solutions, said Khalid. "Our deep expertise and long-standing experience in the segment make us a trusted partner across the value chain," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Tigray is caught between a joint offensive by the Ethiopian and Eritrean armies in the north and Ethiopian troops in the south, assisted by regional forces from Amhara and Afar. The Tigray rebels announced on Tuesday that Ethiopian and Eritrean forces had seized the key town of Shire, in this northern region of Ethiopia, which is in the grip of a deadly conflict, amid international concern and calls for an end to the fighting. The invading forces have for the moment taken control of some areas, including Shire, the rebel command said, calling on all able-bodied Tigrayans to stubbornly defend the region. Two humanitarian sources confirmed to AFP the capture of Shire, without giving further details. Shire, a town with a population of 100,000 before the conflict and located some 50 km from the border with Eritrea, a country that borders the whole of northern Tigray, is home to an airport and is on a road linking Mekele, the regional capital, some 300 km away. It is also home to thousands of Tigrayans displaced by the conflict that has ravaged northern Ethiopia since November 2020. In recent days, the United Nations, the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU) and the United States, among others, have expressed concern about the intensification of military offensives in Tigray, particularly in Shire, which has been the target of shelling for several days. Two civilians and an employee of the NGO International Rescue Committee (IRC) died in one of these bombings on Friday. Mozambiques Council of Ministers yesterday approved a decree to create a disaster management fund, a government spokesman said. The disaster management fund is a bank account managed by the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction [INGD], Filimao Suaze told the media moments after the weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers in Maputo. According to the source, the disaster management fund aims to support the charged organs and bodies linked to the management of natural disasters in Mozambique. This is actually an update of the law, explained the Council of Ministers spokesman. Mozambique is considered one of the most severely affected by climate change in the world, facing cyclical flooding and tropical cyclones during the rainy season, which runs from April to October. In the 2020/2021 rainy season, the country was plagued by extreme weather events highlighted by storm Chalane and cyclones Eloise and Guambe, in addition to other weeks of heavy rain and flooding. The 2018/2019 rainy season was one of the most severe in memory in Mozambique: 714 people died, including 648 victims of two of the largest cyclones (Idai and Kenneth) ever to hit the country. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A University of Exeter graduate has discovered a new, animal-free method through which neuroscientists can produce human neuron-like cells to study brain development. Emily Rose-Martin, who graduated in Medical Sciences at Exeter in 2021, made the discovery while taking part in the Animal Free Research UK Summer Studentship Program. Currently, scientists often use brain cells from rodents to study brain diseasesbut one of the limitations is that the results do not always translate to the human brain. Working in the laboratory of Professor Asami Oguro-Ando, at the University of Exeter Medical School, Rose-Martin discovered a new way to create a type of brain cell that does not rely on animal research. The cells created via the new method are human-like, making it more likely that research using them could lead to benefits in humans. The new method is outlined in a research paper published in Frontiers in Pharmacology, making the new method available to scientists worldwide. Rose-Martin says that "it's so exciting to be a key part of a team to have made a discovery that can really contribute to science, so soon after graduating. I'm incredibly proud that this new model system could be a valuable tool for neuroscientists. I hope it will accelerate the development of new therapeutics to help people affected by brain disorders better manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life." Neurons are one of the major cell types in the brain, forming networks of connections to process information. There are many different types of neurons in the brain, which all have different functions and ways of communicating in these networks. Glutamatergic neurons are one of the main subtypes of neurons, affected in a variety of brain disorders, such as Schizophrenia or Autism. Glutamatergic neurons are special cells that can boost the activity of other neurons, thereby performing an important role in controlling the way cells in the brain communicate and function. To research the role of these cells in disease, neuroscientists can either study rodent neurons or human brain cells called SH-SY5Y cells. Under the right conditions, SH-SY5Y cells can be transformed into mature neuron-like cells of different subtypes. However, until now, scientists have not been able to transform SH-SY5Y cells into glutamatergic cells, limiting their potential in brain disorder research. During Rose-Martin's project, she discovered a new method to create glutamatergic neuronal cells from SH-SY5Y cells. This technique repurposes a growth supplement commonly used to grow neurons (known as B-27) and is the first time SH-SY5Y cells have ever been transformed into glutamatergic neuron-like cells. This new method does not require the use of any animal-derived components, making it completely animal free. Professor Asami Oguro-Ando, who oversees the research, said using the new model of brain cells in research would be much cheaper than alternatives, such as using stem cells, and could accelerate the search for new treatments. She says Rose-Martin's "cell model offers neuroscientists a new tool to study the function of glutamatergic neurons in healthy brain function and how this goes wrong in brain diseases or disorders. These cells are simple to genetically modify, meaning that scientists can easily adapt this model to investigate how disease risk genes affect the function of glutmatergic neurons. This model is also highly cost-effective, allowing scientists to generate large numbers of neuronal cells that can be used to test the safety of drugs or new treatments on neurons in pharmacological toxicity studies." Samples of images after low-pass filters and high-pass filters in MXR dataset. HPF=high-pass filtering. LPF=low-pass filtering. MXR=MIMIC-CXR dataset. Credit: The Lancet Digital Health (2022). DOI: 10.1016/S2589-7500(22)00063-2 Artificial intelligence (AI) is used in a wide variety of health care settings, from analyzing medical images to assisting with surgical procedures. While AI can sometimes outperform trained clinicians, these superhuman abilities are not always fully understood. In a recent study published in The Lancet Digital Health, researchers found that AI models could accurately predict self-reported race in several different types of radiographic imagesa task not possible for human experts. These findings suggest that race information could be unknowingly incorporated into image analysis models, which could potentially exacerbate racial disparities in the medical setting. "AI has immense potential to revolutionize the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of numerous diseases and conditions and could dramatically shape the way that we approach health care," said first study author and NIBIB Data and Technology Advancement (DATA) National Service Scholar Judy Gichoya, M.D. "However, for AI to truly benefit all patients, we need a better understanding of how these algorithms make their decisions to prevent unintended biases." The concept of bias in AI algorithms is not new. Research studies have shown that the performance of AI can be affected by demographic characteristics, including race. There are several potential factors that could lead to bias in AI algorithms, such as using datasets that are not representative of a patient population (e.g., using datasets where most patients are white). Further, confounderstraits or phenotypes that are disproportionately present in subgroup populations (such as racial differences in breast or bone density)can also introduce bias. The current study highlights another potential factor that could introduce unintended biases into AI algorithms. For their study, Gichoya and colleagues first wanted to determine if they could develop AI models that could detect race solely from chest X-rays. They used three large datasets that spanned a diverse patient population and found that their models could predict race with high accuracya striking finding, as human experts are unable to make such predictions by looking at X-rays. The researchers also found that the AI could determine self-reported race even when the images were highly degraded or cropped to one-ninth of the original size, or when the resolution was modified to such an extent that the images were barely recognized as X-rays. The research team subsequently used other non-chest X-ray datasets including mammograms, cervical spine radiographs, and chest computed tomography (CT) scans, and found that the AI could still determine self-reported race, regardless of the type of scan or anatomic location. "Our results suggest that there are 'hidden signals' in medical images that lead the AI to predict race," said Gichoya. "We need to accelerate our understanding of why these algorithms have this ability, so that the downstream applications of AIsuch as building image-based algorithms to make predictions about healthare not potentially harmful for minority and underserved patient populations." The researchers attempted to understand how the AI was able to make these predictions. They looked at a variety of different confounders that could potentially affect features in radiographic images, such as body mass index (BMI), breast density, bone density, or disease distribution. They could not identify any specific factor that could explain the ability of AI to accurately predict self-reported race. In short, while AI can be trained to predict race from medical images, the information that the models use to make these predictions has yet to be uncovered. "There has been a line of thought that if developers 'hide' demographic factorslike race, gender, or socioeconomic statusfrom the AI model, that the resulting algorithm will not be able to discriminate based on such features and will therefore be 'fair.' This work highlights that this simplistic view is not a viable option for assuring equity in AI and machine learning," said NIBIB DATA Scholar Rui Sa, Ph.D. "We need to recognize the potential limitations of AI and adapt our methodologies to ensure that AI is fair for all." More information: Judy Wawira Gichoya et al, AI recognition of patient race in medical imaging: a modelling study, The Lancet Digital Health (2022). Judy Wawira Gichoya et al, AI recognition of patient race in medical imaging: a modelling study,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/S2589-7500(22)00063-2 Provided by National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra speaks during a news conference announcing investments in the nation's behavioral health infrastructure, at the HHS Humphrey Building, Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022, in Washington. Credit: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin The government announced plans Tuesday to award millions of dollars in grants to expand all-hours mental health and substance abuse care in more communities around the country. "Today we're talking about providing to Americans 24/7 support for crisis care," Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said. "That's something that's only been available to some, in some places. But depending on your income and ZIP code, you could be totally out of luck. That's going to start to change." There are more than 400 community behavior health clinics across 46 states that provide 24-hour care for any child or adult who walks through the door, even if they can't afford to pay. The effort began in 2014, born from bipartisan legislation years in the making from Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and Republican Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri. The clinics, often run at the local level or by nonprofits, have struggled with spotty funding from the federal government, making it difficult to retain staff and pay for services. The gun violence bill that President Joe Biden signed into law after shooting rampages at a school in Uvalde, Texas, and a grocery in Buffalo, New York, bolstered federal funding to the states for the program. In addition, Biden's COVID-19 relief plans have set aside more than $1.2 billion for the centers. The clinics also serve those with private insurance and offer a sliding pay scale for those who are uninsured. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, left, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., the top Republican on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, & Related Agencies (Labor/HHS), arrive for a news conference to announce investments in the nation's behavioral health infrastructure, during a news conference at the HHS Humphrey Building, Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022, in Washington. Credit: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin Now the federal government is asking states to scale up their efforts around the clinics, offering $1 million grants starting next year for up to 15 states to map out an expansion of the centers. Ten of those states will then be selected in 2024 for more money for their programs through Medicaid by securing federal matching funds at an enhanced rate. The goal is for 10 states to join the program every other year until all 50 are folded in. Nine states are already getting higher reimbursement rates from Medicaid for patients who seek help from community centers. In the other states, centers can receive money directly from the federal government$300 million worth of grants were awarded in September. Children as young as 4 years old have sought help at the Arundel Lodge in Edgewater, Maryland, since it launched an urgent care center for mental health and substance abuse in December with the help of a $2 million federal grant. Area teachers and school counselors have called to get help for their students. Doctors send patients who need immediate help to the clinic, to avoid long wait times at expensive, private rehabilitation centers. And police officers now take some people who are in crisis to the lodge, rather than jail cell or a hospital. The lodge's urgent care is staffed with nurses, mental health specialists and peer counselors who help walk-ins develop plans for treatment, said executive director Mike Drummond. "On a walk-in basis, we can evaluate them, assess them, develop a plan of treatment, initiate treatment," Drummond said. 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Body weight targets that stigmatize and potentially harm patients continue to be commonly used in everyday clinical practice, but are outdated and long overdue for change, argue obesity experts, patient advocates and clinical ethicists in a seminar at this year's International Congress on Obesity (Melbourne, 1822 October) (the biennial congress of the World Obesity Federation). Dr. Alex Craven, an obesity surgeon from Austin Health in Melbourne, Australia and colleagues draw on existing research to describe how concepts such as "ideal body weight" or "normal" body mass index (BMI) are overly simplistic and don't tell you about the health of a person. "These constructs suggest there are distinct categories of underweight, ideal, overweight and obese, with sharp boundaries that hinge on a decimal place," says Dr. Craven. In reality, the link between body weight and health is more complex, he explains: "As a disease, obesity has many outcomes. Increased body weight is only one outcome, and it's not the most important." Body weight is not the best predictor of ill health Having a higher body weight increases the risk of developing diseases such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, but it's not a simple relationship. "You could be categorized as 'normal weight' by BMI but have health problems associated with excess fat, or you could be categorized as having 'obesity' and have no health problems," says Dr. Priya Sumithran, head of obesity medicine at Austin Health, Australia. "The problem with using weight metrics alone to set treatment goals is that they put too much emphasis on a target weight and that can be misleading." Evidence suggests that the risk of developing metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke is much more complicated than just having excess weight. For instance, where fat is distributed, and the way it interacts with the body, are critically important. At the same time, the pressure to achieve and maintain unrealistic body weight goals can have substantial psychological and social impact on individuals, and prioritizes weight-based outcomes over health. On top of this, declaring "a normal weight range" can fuel weight bias and stigma, demotivate patients and promote eating disorders such as binge eating. Patient-centered goal setting in obesity treatment The goals and perceived success of obesity treatments, (like surgery, medications and lifestyle interventions), are often linked to body weight targets based on 'ideal' or 'normal' body weight. It is important that health professionals go beyond this outdated and inaccurate approach to ensure they are making patient-centered recommendations, say the authors. The seminar highlights that when it comes to treating obesity, the amount of weight lost, and its impact on health outcomes, is much more important than the patient's final weight. "Outcomes like controlling obesity-related diseases, improving physical function, and better mental health are not only important to patients," says Andrew Wilson, an advocate for people with a lived experience of obesity from the Weight Issues Network in Australia. "They are also linked to medically important outcomes like life expectancy and quality of life. Focusing on these is good for everyone." Professor Louise Baur, president of the World Obesity Federation and chair of Child & Adolescent Health, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia, comments, "Body mass index is a practical screening tool that can be used in assessing people with obesity. While it's simple and cheap for doctors and other health professionals to use, it must be used in conjunction with good clinical assessment that looks at whether physical and psychological health complications are present." Provided by International Congress on Obesity Credit: CC0 Public Domain Noninvasive brain ultrasound treatment represents a promising alternative to other brain stimulation modalities and pharmaceutical drugs; however, testing it can be challenging due to a lack of preclinical systems for chronic stimulation in awake animals. As described in research published in Advanced Science, investigators recently developed a system to deliver ultrasound stimulation to the brain in awake, naturally behaving mice. The team used the system to evaluate the effects of ultrasound neuromodulation on sleep and working memory. The advance will also help other scientists test different ultrasound treatment protocols in mouse models of diverse neurological conditions. "Ultrasound is an exciting modality of neuromodulationbecause of its non-invasive nature, there is a high potential for using ultrasound to treat brain disorders." said corresponding author Hyunjoo J. Lee, Ph.D., of Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. "I hope our system can help many neuroscientists to explore the therapeutic potential of ultrasound stimulation in the future." More information: General-Purpose Ultrasound Neuromodulation System for Chronic, Closed-Loop Preclinical Studies in Freely Behaving Rodents, Advanced Science (2022). Journal information: Advanced Science General-Purpose Ultrasound Neuromodulation System for Chronic, Closed-Loop Preclinical Studies in Freely Behaving Rodents,(2022). DOI: 10.1002/advs.202202345 Lebanon warned Wednesday a cholera outbreak that has left five dead is "spreading rapidly" in the cash-strapped country, with cases rising after the extremely virulent disease spread from neighbouring Syria. Lebanon's first cholera outbreak in decades began earlier this month as it struggles amid poor sanitation and crumbling infrastructure after three years of unprecedented economic crisis. "The epidemic is spreading rapidly in Lebanon," Health Minister Firass Abiad told reporters. Since October 6, Lebanon has recorded 169 cholera casesalmost half of them in the past two daysas well as five deaths, according to the health ministry. It comes just weeks after an outbreak in Syria, where more than a decade of war has damaged nearly two-thirds of water treatment plants, half of pumping stations and one-third of water towers, according to the United Nations. Abiad said that while the "vast majority" of cases were Syrian refugees, health officials "have started to notice an increase in cases among the Lebanese". Lebanon hosts more than one million Syrian refugees, many of them already poverty-stricken before Lebanon's economic collapse began. Cholera is generally contracted from contaminated food or water, and causes diarrhoea and vomiting. It can also spread in residential areas that lack proper sewerage networks or mains drinking water. Abiad said that contaminated water was used for farming, spreading the disease on fruit and vegetables. Frequent and prolonged power cuts across Lebanon have interrupted the work of water pumping stations and sewerage networks. The source of Syria's first major cholera outbreak since 2009 is believed to be the Euphrates River, which has been contaminated by sewage. Cholera can kill within hours if left untreated, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), but many of those infected will have no or mild symptoms. It can be easily treated with oral rehydration solution, but more severe cases may require intravenous fluids and antibiotics, the WHO says. Worldwide, the disease affects between 1.3 million and four million people each year, killing between 21,000 and 143,000 people. 2022 AFP Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The use of digital technology in residential care homes can reduce the number of emergency department attendances by 10% each month, according to new research presented at the European Emergency Medicine Congress today (Wednesday, Oct. 19). Preliminary evidence from a study that modeled the effect of implementing the U.K.'s National Health Service (NHS) HealthCall digital technology across the North-East of England showed it had the potential to make a significant impact on attendances by residents of care homes in accident and emergency (A&E) departments. Alex Garner, a Ph.D. student in the Statistics and Epidemiology program at Lancaster Medical School (Lancaster University, U.K.), working on the Learning Care Homes Project, told the congress that HealthCall Digital Care Homes was an app that could be used in care homes to provide staff with easy access to clinical advice. "Care homes that are registered with HealthCall are provided with devices on which the staff can use the app. Staff are trained on taking observations of residents' condition, such as body temperature and blood pressure, and uploading these observations to the app. They can also include text about a person's condition. The observations are sent to a clinician at a central hub who has access to the resident's NHS healthcare record. The clinician can then provide advice for staff on next steps in the resident's care. The advice might be to keep monitoring the resident, or for a healthcare professional to visit, or to take them to an emergency department." Mr. Garner and his colleagues collated data on 8,702 care home residents in 122 homes from County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust and linked these with clinical data from HealthCall. Using this information, they created statistical models to predict how rates of A&E attendances changed over time. The models took account of fluctuations caused by the time of year and also the COVID-19 pandemic. "HealthCall rolled out in care homes gradually throughout the study period of June 2018 to September 2021," he said. "New homes joined each month, and we can identify when each home started to use the HealthCall system, incorporating this into our statistical models. We assessed whether usage of the app in a care home had a significant impact on expected numbers of A&E attendances. We tested for an immediate change and also for a gradual change over time in emergency attendances. "Our preliminary models suggest a 10% reduction in the expected monthly emergency department attendances for residents in care homes using HealthCall technology compared to attendance rates before HealthCall was introduced. There is insufficient evidence so far to suggest that the use of HealthCall could result in an additional gradual decrease in emergency attendances for individual residents over time, but we are investigating this further. "The technology also allows for ongoing monitoring of residents' health as well as providing more convenient and timely access to clinical advice." The researchers continue to develop their modeling and investigate the impact of HealthCall technology on A&E attendances and admission, length of inpatient stays, number of community nurse visits, rates of A&E admissions compared to transfer back to the care homes, rates of A&E arrivals by ambulance, and whether any of these outcomes are affected by how much the care homes use the app. The technology is now being rolled out to a further 300 care homes in the north of England, including in North Cumbria, South Tees, Newcastle Gateshead and Rotherham. "Our study shows that digital technology could bridge the gap between health care and social care in the U.K., provide staff with ready access to clinical expertise and potentially improve the quality of life for care home residents," said Mr. Garner. "Different systems for care home in other countries may mean health care and social care interact in different ways, but the opportunities that technology provides to strengthen these links can be a useful tool for improving care for residents, especially when used to bring clinical expertise into day-to-day decision-making." Previous research has suggested that some emergency hospital admissions of care home residents in the U.K. may have been unnecessary, as well as being detrimental to residents' well-being. "Care homes look after some of the most vulnerable members of our society. Ensuring residents receive the correct level of care is of utmost importance. It is hoped that having quick access to this type of advice can lead to reductions in A&E attendances and hospital attendances through providing more targeted care in the home," he said. A strength of the study was the use of large amounts of data that are routinely collected within the NHS, including information from hospitals and other specialist medical settings, community care and HealthCall. The linked data were stored in the University of Durham Trusted Research Environment (TRE), which allows the researchers to access the sensitive data remotely while the data remain stored in a secure system. Professor Youri Yordanov from the St Antoine Hospital emergency department (APHP Paris), France, is Chair of the EUSEM 2022 abstract committee and was not involved in the research. He said, "At a time when overcrowding in emergency departments is becoming a chronic issue, and with an aging population due to increased life expectancy, initiatives such as this that help to reduce the number of attendances of elderly patients to A&E are welcome and much needed." More information: Abstract no: OA103, "Impact of digital technology in care homes on Emergency Department attendances" by Alex Garner, in the Well-being session, 08.3010.05 hrs CEST, M1-2-3, European Emergency Medicine Congress Provided by European Society for Emergency Medicine Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A new study conducted at Tel Aviv University has determined that use of the Inquiry Based Stress Reduction (IBSR) technique among women with increased risk of breast cancer (carriers of BRCA1/BRCA2 genes) can be very helpful in coping with stressful events, enhance emotional and psychological well-being, improve quality of sleep, and assist in decision making. The study was led by Dr. Shahar Lev-Ari of the Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University, in cooperation with Prof. Eitan Friedman of Sheba Medical Center and assistance from other researchers, as part of Ph.D. student Clara Landau's dissertation. The study was published in the prestigious JAMA Network Open medical journal. Dr. Shahar Lev-Ari explains that in many cases, young women, carriers of BRCA1/BRCA2 genes, suffer from a state of uncertainty with regard to their future, mainly due to the realization that they are highly likely to contract breast cancer and/or ovarian cancer. Furthermore, at present there is no effective treatment for preventing the illness and the only active procedure for reducing the risk of cancer is a risk-reducing mastectomy and/or oophorectomy around the age of 40. It was this procedure that Angelina Jolie underwent in 2013. Researchers add that due to fear and uncertainty in many cases, the carriers suffer psychological and physical symptoms that seriously disrupt their normal lives. As part of this, in the present study, the researchers sought to examine whether workshops and tools for promoting personal health, relief of stress and tension, and strengthening of mental soundness can improve the emotional well-being and quality of sleep of these young women carriers. The study included 100 women carriers of BRCA1/BRCA2 genes currently under supervision at the Meirav Breast Center at Sheba Medical Center. As part of the study, the carriers learned and practiced the IBSR method (mindful self-inquiry for reduction of stress, the clinical application of "The Work" by Byron Katie), aimed at providing the participants with self practice techniques based on increased mindfulness, work on stress-causing beliefs (the "Inquiry" process), and cognitive reframing. The results were very impressive. After participating in the workshops and self practice, the carriers showed great improvement in all aspects of personal growth, positive relations with others, life goals, and self acceptance. In addition, a clear improvement was seen in quality of sleep, which returned to normal. Furthermore, with regard to doubts over whether to undergo surgical procedures such as mastectomy and oophorectomy, a clear change of attitude was found among the participants, with some from a position of ruling out any procedure to making an appointment. Therefore, the researchers are of the opinion that these findings indicate that study and practice of IBSR techniques may improve the psychological well-being of women with BRCA1/BRCA2 gene mutations, and constitute the basis (in conjunction with other studies) for recommending to consider providing this technique to women, along with oncogenetic consultation. Dr. Shahar Lev-Ari says, "To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest ever study in the world, in the framework of such an experiment, as far as the number of participants is concerned. We think that healthcare services, in Israel and worldwide, should evaluate the impact of coping with the genetic information and surgical procedures offered to asymptomatic women carriers on their emotional well-being and quality of life, and offer them interventions to promote their health on the individual level, such that have been scientifically proven in improving the quality of life and emotional well-being of these women." More information: Carla Landau et al, Effect of Inquiry-Based Stress Reduction on Well-being and Views on Risk-Reducing Surgery Among Women With BRCA Variants in Israel, JAMA Network Open (2021). Journal information: JAMA Network Open Carla Landau et al, Effect of Inquiry-Based Stress Reduction on Well-being and Views on Risk-Reducing Surgery Among Women With BRCA Variants in Israel,(2021). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.39670 Family-owned businesses in the UAE and the GCC countries are in danger of losing billions of dollars of wealth and assets due to lack of legacy or succession planning, when the founders of the family businesses are in need to pass on the legacy to the next generation, says an expert. Success of family businesses sometimes depends on how the family members whose relationship are often governed by tribal or traditional values manage their expectations especially when it comes to sharing the wealth or taking over the management of the business in case of the death of the founder of the business, says Leena Parwani, founder and CEO of LPH Financial Services. Although most UAE family businesses that started off in the 1960s-1980s have passed over to the next generation successfully, many of them might not succeed to the third-generation transition. Legacy planning is a financial strategy that prepares people to bequeath their assets to a loved one or next of kin after death, according to Investopia. These affairs are usually planned and organised by a financial advisor, says Parwani. According to Capgemini Research Institutes World Wealth Report 2021, the population of high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) or the number of people owning more than $1 million in the Middle East region grew by 6.8 percent to 800,000, while their wealth soared by 10.7 percent to $3.2 trillion in 2020. The wealth of these rich people mostly belonging to businessmen are in danger due to lack of legacy planning. Global financial wealth rose by 10.6 per cent in 2021 to $530 trillion, according to Boston Consulting Group. Due to lack of proper corporate structure and corporate governance, most family-owned businesses are failing to maintain the same level of growth under the next generation as before. Many family business founders have passed away without leaving a clear succession plan, a will or legacy planning, resulting in legal disputes among the successors on their perceived share in the family wealth, says Parwani. The Covid-19 pandemic has created an urge among most family-owned businesses to undertake some kind of legacy planning or succession planning to protect the family wealth from being plundered. Weve seen more clients take an interest not only in Wills, but also in mental capacity planning by way of an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) or Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). A third type of planning, known as lifetime planning, has also gained popularity, said a report by HSBC. Whereas a Will only takes effect after an individuals death, and an EPA/LPA only while they are mentally incapacitated, other types of plans can be set in motion during their lifetime. Clients are increasingly considering trusts, partnerships, and family investment companies as a way of relinquishing value, control and/or influence to the next generation during their own lifetime, or as a way of introducing the next generation to the familys wealth as a means of continuity. For some, the current economic climate has created an opportune time for wealth transfer, with lower asset valuations and lower effective transfer tax rates resulting directly from the pandemic. Some clients are not yet ready to surrender control to trustees. As an alternative structure, a family limited partnership (FLP) or a family investment company (FIC) may be considered, HSBC report says. FLPs and FICs can still help to coordinate and protect assets, but allow senior family members to retain greater control of assets while transferring wealth in a more gradual manner to the younger generation. An FIC is a private company whose shareholders and directors are members of the family. Shares are usually divided into different classes with varying levels of control. For example: parents own shares with voting rights, while children and grandchildren hold shares with economic or dividend rights but no voting rights, she says. Saudi Arabia has the largest number of millionaires in the Middle East with more 224,000 millionaires living in the Kingdom. According to the World Wealth Report 2022 issued by the Capgemini Research Institute for Financial Services, Saudi Arabia is ranked 17th globally in the number of millionaires. There has been a 6.7 per cent increase in millionaires in Saudi Arabia in 2021 when compared to 2020 - from 210,000 to 224,000. The Kingdom was followed Kuwait, which witnessed an increase of 6.1 per cent in the number of millionaires from 205,000 to 217,000. Kuwait is 18th globally after Saudi Arabia. The UAE is home to 92,600 US-dollar millionaires; 4,000 multi-millionaires worth more than $10 million; 251 centi-millionaires (over $100 million), and 14 US-dollar billionaires, according to the latest Henley Global Citizens Report. Parwani says: A large chunk of the wealth might disappear into thin air, right after the death of the founder of the business as the second and the third-generation representatives of these family-owned businesses might not possess the same entrepreneurial zeal. Many of them spend the wealth lavishly in luxury, sometimes wild lifestyle. It is therefore very important for the founders, chairman and the leaders of the family-owned businesses to start doing legacy planning to protect their hard-earned wealth. If a business owner doesn't have a plan in place for his estate, its management might go against his wishes once it is passed on. Legacy planning is important for all family-owned businesses small or big. For a small business or farm, or any other assets that require ongoing maintenance, legacy planning is often an important financial tool, she says. - TradeArabia News Service Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The EU's drug watchdog on Wednesday approved Pfizer and Moderna's COVID injections for children aged six months and up as fears grow of a winter wave of infections. At the same time, the European Medicines Agency also approved a separate shot by Moderna, specifically targeting the BA.4 and BA.5 strains of the coronavirus Omicron variant. The EMA's human medicines committee "recommended... the use in children aged six months to four years for Comirnaty and use in children aged six months to five years for Spikevax," the Amsterdam-based watchdog said, referring to Pfizer and Modern's jabs respectively. But it said that compared to shots recommended for people aged five years and older, the doses for infants will be lower. Pfizer's Comirnaty can be given as a primary vaccination consisting of three doses while Spikevax will consist of two doses. "For children within these age groups, both vaccines are given as injections in the muscles of the upper arm or thigh," the EMA said. Meanwhile it also approved Moderna's adapted Spikevax booster jab against the new strains of the Omicron variant. "The bivalent vaccine is recommended for adults and children from 12 years of age who have already had a primary vaccination course against COVID-19," the EMA said. The adapted Spikevax vaccine is the second in the 27-nation bloc's toolbox to fight the highly infectious BA.4 and BA.5 types of the variant. While the original COVID vaccines that emerged nearly two years ago provide some protection against newer variants, the race has been on to produce jabs that specifically target the milder but more infectious Omicron strains. Previous "variants of concern" like Alpha and Delta eventually petered out but Omicron and its sub-lineages have dominated throughout 2022. The BA.4 and BA.5 types have in particular helped to drive new cases of the disease in Europe and the United States in recent months. The EMA warned last month that while death rates were down the pandemic is "still ongoing" and urged countries to roll out booster programmes before winter, when cases are expected to rise. The EMA's recommendations will be sent to the European Commission for a final decision. 2022 AFP Figure shows the percentage of survey respondents who believed that harassing or threatening public health officials was justified in November 2020, before the coronavirus pandemic began, compared to July to August 2021. Credit: JAMA Network Open / Rachel J. Topazian, Emma E. McGinty, and Hahrie Han COVID-19 has killed more than one million Americans. Distrust in science has hobbled the rollout of life-saving vaccines that scientists developed in historic time. And the cultural chasms cleaved by school closures, quarantines and mask mandates still run deep and wide. To mend the scars, bridge the divides and avert far worse future outcomes from new crises, experts are demanding that national and state officials work to unify the splintered approach to public health that hampered the pandemic response and has stymied efforts to combat such stubborn epidemics as diabetes, obesity, and overdoses. These experts assert that since SARS-CoV-2 first emerged nearly three years ago, the virus that causes COVID-19 has inflicted deep physical, mental, and social wounds on the United States that could take decades to heal without elevating and advancing a strategy that prioritizes national public health. The Commonwealth Fund Commission on a National Public Health Systemwhich includes Ellen MacKenzie, dean of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Healthpublished a detailed strategy for overhauling the national hodgepodge of more than 2,500 state and local health agencies to better prepare for future threats and better address current ills. "The scale of this catastrophe demands a commensurate response: the development of a national public health system to protect millions more from ongoing health crises and future emergencies," the Commonwealth Fund's report states. A formal national strategy and system, the report continues, must work to improve the health of U.S. citizens regardless of their race or socioeconomic status, and restore the trust in public health officials that has sunk to record lows in the pandemic, according to a Johns Hopkins survey. "The United States lacks a national public health system capable of protecting and improving health, advancing health equity every day, and responding effectively to emergencies," the report states. "While the public health systems of other nations led coordinated responses with strong data systems, networks of advanced laboratories, effective communications, and teams of outreach workers, the U.S. response splintered, leading to widely disparate outcomes across the country." MacKenzie said the nation is "at a pivotal moment." "The United States is suffering from stark health inequities and high rates of chronic illness, and we continue to endure a pandemic that has taken more than a million American lives and more than 6 million lives globally," she says. "This has exposed the harsh truth that our nation's support for public health is inadequate. But if we act on the urgency our nation is facing, we can turn COVID's brutal lessons into positive change." Wax and wane, boom and bust Federal officials have already admitted to multiple failings in the U.S. response to COVID-19. In April, Rochelle P. Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ordered a sweeping agency overhaul to modernize operations, including its Data Modernization Initiative aimed at improving "data and surveillance capabilities across the federal and state public health landscape." Walensky, a 1995 graduate of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, has repeatedly warned how the lack of adequate investments in public health undermine the nation's readiness for the next pandemic. Funding for public health "has been waxing and waning, disaster to disaster," she told STAT in September. The report authored by the Commonwealth Fund Commission on a National Public Health System agrees, and funding is one of the four organizing elements for its 14 recommendations. Congress must provide stable, adequate funding for state and local agencies paired with mandated standards and expectations, especially for guaranteeing equitable distribution of resources to all communities, the Commonwealth Fund report states. The federal government, the report argues, must end its "boom and bust" cycle of increasing support only in emergencies. In exchange, state and local agencies would meet "basic standards" that would be assessed through a "revised accreditation process." "The chronic underfunding of public health has left behind a weak infrastructure with antiquated data systems, an overworked and stressed workforce, laboratories in disrepair, and other major gaps," the report states. Beth Blauer, associate vice provost for public sector innovation at Johns Hopkins, has repeatedly sounded the same warning for the past year on the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center's Pandemic Data Initiative. "Most of the systemic issues with public health data that motivated the Pandemic Data Initiative are still present today," says Blauer, data lead for the CRC and author of the Pandemic Data Outlook blog. "There is still outdated, under-funded, and insufficiently staffed data infrastructure at the local, state, and federal levels, which is now exacerbated by employee burnout. States continue to use their own unique systems of data collection and reporting in the absence of uniformly mandated federal data standards. Many marginalized and under-resourced communities are experiencing a rapid deepening of historic health disparities due to continued inadequacy of demographic data." The report states that up to $13 billion in new annual investments would be needed to improve the information technology and public health infrastructurespending that "pales in comparison to the trillions of dollars lost as a result of the inadequate public health response to the pandemic." Federal coordination under a singular mission The commission recommends that Congress authorize an undersecretary of public health at the Department of Health and Human Services to formulate a singular mission rather than relying on the competing priorities of the department's 21 agencies, which include the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institutes of Health. "There is no clear administrative structure that organizes the many federal agencies involved in public health," wrote Joshua Sharfstein with BSPH gradaute Megan Wallace in the New England Journal of Medicine in January 2022. Sharfstein, vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Bloomberg School, helped the Commonwealth Fund Commission prepare its recommendations. "At the state and local levels, variation is the rule, not the exception." There are 50 state health departments and 2,459 local offices in the United States. Some are standalone departments, whereas others are offices within a broader agency. Some states control the local health departments while most hold no sway over city and county agencies, Sharfstein and Wallace's review notes. The White House should reconvene the disbanded National Prevention and Public Health Council to help promote coordination across the country, the Commonwealth Fund report recommends. Moreover, an organized, national public health service should merge its efforts with those of individual health systems. "Some of the greatest successes in the U.S. pandemic response came about when health care systems rallied to defend their communities, sharing their workforce, data, and communications platforms to advance public health efforts," the report states. A national public health system must formalize and support these connections with hospitals and medical societies to harness that same collective effort and target it at everyday health issues, the report urges. Regain the public's trust The public health sector faces a "crisis of trust" that has grown out of "experiences with racism and discrimination, ideological opposition, and misinformation," the report states. The public health sector must, the report states, share decision making with communities, expand diversity among its workforce, and "communicate more effectively in the face of misinformation." This is not a criticism of public health workers, Sharfstein points out. "It's a criticism of the lack of support given to them." "Many public health employees worked incredibly hard during the pandemic and have been subjected to unacceptable treatment and harassment," he adds. "There needs to be federal leadership. In other countries it is very clear how public health decisions are made. In the United States, it's not so clear. We need a coherent system, not a haphazard collection of agencies that happen to have 'public health' in their titles." A model for the world The proposals laid out in the Commonwealth Fund Commission on a National Public Health System are ambitious but not unachievable, MacKenzie says. In fact, many of the recommendations include common-sense approaches and strategies that would simultaneously achieve the goals of strengthening public trust while streamlining public health operations. The report outlines a system that is transparent and accountable, that is built on systems and data that are modern and secure, and that develops engagement with communities and key stakeholders that is reliable and representative and characterized with integrity. "The challenges are great, but solutions are not out of reach," says MacKenzie. "The recommendations in the Commonwealth Fund report are attainable, with the potential to make a powerful impact." What's more, she adds, is that these recommendations may not only prepare the United States for the next potential health emergency, but may also help address the health challenges that have plagued the nation for years. "If we build a smarter, stronger public health system, we can better respond to the next emergency, and confront pressing issues such as maternal mortality and overdose and addiction," she says. This image provided by Covis Pharma shows packaging for the company's Makena medication. A panel of federal advisers says the drug intended to prevent premature births should be withdrawn because it doesn't work. The recommendation is non-binding but clears the way for the Food and Drug Administration to remove the drug from the market. The FDA deemed the drug ineffective and called for its removal in 2020. But manufacturer Covis Pharma has challenged that decision, setting up this week's public hearing to discuss the drug. Credit: Covis Pharma via AP Federal health advisers have concluded that a drug intended to prevent premature births hasn't been shown to work, clearing the way for U.S. regulators to follow through on a long-delayed effort to get it off the market. The Food and Drug Administration's advisory panel voted 14-1 Wednesday that the injectable drug Makena should be withdrawn, despite appeals from the manufacturer to keep it available pending additional research. The experts essentially agreed with a 2020 FDA decision that deemed the drug ineffective and called for its removal. The manufacturer, Covis Pharma, had challenged that decision, setting up this week's rare public hearing. "If we allow Makena to remain on the market, it implies the FDA looked at a large study, found no benefit and yet allowed this drug to stay on the market," said Dr. Margery Gass, an obstetrics specialist. "I think that's a bad precedent." Gass and other panelists encouraged Covis to continue studying the drug to determine if a subgroup of women could benefit. "I do think that our patients deserve an answer and they deserve that well-designed clinical trial and I think that taking the drug off the market is going to allow that," said Dr. Mary Munn of the University of South Alabama. FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf is expected to make a final decision on withdrawing the drug in the next several months. If he follows the panel's advice, it would be the first time the FDA has formally pulled a drug that it initially approved based on promising early data. The FDA granted Makena accelerated approval in 2011 based on one small study in which it appeared to reduce the rate of premature birth in women with a history of the problem. Preterm birth raises the risk of disability and death in infants and affects about 10% of U.S. deliveries. FDA's approval was conditioned on a larger follow-up study to confirm whether Makena resulted in healthier outcomes for babies. But in 2019, results from that 1,700-patient international study showed the drug neither reduced premature birthsas originally thoughtnor resulted in healthier outcomes for infants. The FDA has been moving to revoke the drug's approval since then. But the long, bureaucratic process underscores the difficulty of removing a drug from the market when a manufacturer won't do so voluntarily. Luxembourg-based Covis Pharma argued this week that Makena benefits women at highest risk of early deliveries, including Black Americans, and proposed narrowing its approval to that group while it conducted another study to confirm effectiveness. The company's presentations included outside experts who said removing Makena would worsen racial disparities in prenatal care. "The FDA should do what is best for our patients, which is to keep this medication available for those of us who manage these very high-risk patients every day," Dr. Yolanda Lawson, an obstetrics specialist at Baylor University, told the FDA panel. But the experts ultimately sided with FDA scientists, who stressed that they were "unable to identify a group of women for whom Makena had an effect." The drug also carries risks, FDA noted, including blood clots and depression. The FDA has faced pressure to crack down on unproven drugs approved under its accelerated approval program, which has allowed dozens of drugs to launch based on early results since the early 1990s. The flipside of the program means removing drugs if their initial promise isn't confirmed by later studies. Makena has become something of a poster child for the program's downsides, since the drug has remained on the market for more than a decade without any confirmed benefit. According to a recent federal report, the U.S. has spent $700 million on Makena since 2018 through various government programs, including Medicaid. About 350,000 women have used the drug in the last decade, according to Covis. Even if the drug is removed, some doctors are expected to continue prescribing its key ingredient as a specialty medication. Compounding pharmacies have long offered their own formulations of the drug. Both Makena and the compounded medications consist of a synthetic form of the hormone progesterone, which helps the uterus grow and maintain a pregnancy. 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Credit: CC0 Public Domain A new study by UC San Francisco researchers of more than 23 million people concludes that some commonly used and abused drugs pose previously unidentified risks for the development of atrial fibrillation (AF), a potentially deadly heart-rhythm disorder. The researchers analyzed data from diagnostic codes from every hospital admission, emergency room visit and medical procedure in California for the years 2005 through 2015, identifying nearly one million people who had no preexisting AF, but who later developed AF during these years. Among patients in the databases examined, 132,834 used cannabis, 98,271 used methamphetamine, 48,700 used cocaine, and 10,032 used opiates. In the longitudinal study, published in the European Heart Journal on October 17, 2022, the UCSF scientists found that marijuana users had a 35 percent increased likelihood of later developing AF. "Despite exhibiting a weaker association with incident AF than the other substances, cannabis use still exhibited an association of similar or greater magnitude to risk factors like dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease. Furthermore, those with cannabis use exhibited similar relative risk of incident AF as those with traditional tobacco use," the study authors reported. "To my knowledge, this is the first study to look at marijuana use as a predictor of future atrial fibrillation risk," said principal investigator Gregory Marcus, MD, MAS, a UCSF professor of medicine with the Division of Cardiology. AF is an abnormally disordered pumping rhythm arising from electrical disturbances in the heart's upper chambers, the atria. In severe cases of faulty atrial pumping, clots may form in the atria, and then break off into the bloodstream and cause deadly strokes. AF-related strokes cause more than 150,000 US deaths each year. Unlike cocaine or methamphetamine use, both stimulants previously known to sometimes lead to sudden cardiac death due to profound disruptions in the orderly electrical signaling and pumping within the heart's other chambersthe ventriclesthere is no demonstrated mechanism whereby marijuana use causes heart arrhythmias. The study was not designed to probe specific marijuana constituents that might be responsible for elevated AF risk, but inhaled particulates are a likely factor, according to Marcus. There is some evidence from previous studies that particulate matteras from the known risk factor tobacco smokecan increase the likelihood of an AF episode among those already diagnosed with the disorder. Particulate matter inhalation increases inflammation, and inflammation is a known trigger for AF, Marcus said. "It's also intriguing to consider that inhaled substances travel directly from the lungs to pulmonary veins, which empty into the left atrium, and that the pulmonary veins and the left atrium are especially important in generating AF," Marcus said. He hopes to conduct controlled studies in humans to more directly study the effects of marijuana on heart rhythm, and to further investigate possible mechanisms through which use of the other drugs may lead to increased AF risk. Highest AF Risk Found for Methamphetamine Marcus's research team found that methamphetamine use increased AF risk the mostby 86 percent in those whose medical records pointed to methamphetamine use compared to those whose medical records did not indicate use. Cocaine was associated with a 61 percent increase in AF risk, and use of opiates was associated with a 74 percent increase in risk. To conduct the study, the scientists obtained medical records from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, California State Ambulatory Surgery databases, Emergency Department databases, and State Inpatient databases. Individuals were not identifiable. Research cited by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that marijuana use is increasingthere are about currently 48 million people in the United States who use marijuana each yearand about nine percent of first-time cannabis users become drug-dependent within a decade. According to the CDC, U.S. opiate overdose deaths rose to 80,816 in 2021, while methamphetamine overdose deaths increased to 32,856. It is likely that the prevalence of more insidious harms is increasing as well, according to Marcus. "Efforts to reduce substance abuse have the potential to reduce long-term cardiovascular complications associated with AF," he said. More information: Anthony L Lin et al, Cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, and opiates increase the risk of incident atrial fibrillation, European Heart Journal (2022). Journal information: European Heart Journal Anthony L Lin et al, Cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, and opiates increase the risk of incident atrial fibrillation,(2022). DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehac558 Using millisecond-scale recordings from a dense 3D array of electrodes, researchers in the laboratory of Rice University neuroengineer Chong Xie were able to map the locations and activity of up to 1 million potential synaptic links in a living brain. Credit: Xie Lab/Rice University It's a mystery how human thoughts and dreams emerge from electrical pulses in the brain's estimated 100 trillion synapses, and Rice University neuroengineer Chong Xie dreams of changing that by creating a system that can record all the electrical activity in a living brain. In a recently published study in Nature Biomedical Engineering, Xie and colleagues described their latest achievement toward that goal, a 3D electrode array that allows them to map the locations and activity of up to 1 million potential synaptic links in a living brain based on recordings of the millisecond-scale evolution of electrical pulses in tens of thousands of neurons in a cubic millimeter of brain tissue. "The thing that is novel about this work is the recording density," said Xie, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at Rice and a core member of the Rice Neuroengineering Initiative. "Microcircuits in the brain are very mysterious. We don't have many ways to map their activity, especially volumetrically. We want to deliver very dense recordings of the cortex because those are important, scientifically, for understanding how brain circuits work." Xie collaborated on the study with colleagues from Rice and the University of California, San Francisco, including Loren Frank of UCSF and co-corresponding author Lan Luan of Rice. Neurons are small. Each cubic millimeter of brain tissue contains about 100,000. That density is roughly the same for humans and other mammals, including the rodents that are the subject of experiments in Xie's lab. The processing power of the brain arises from synaptic connections between neurons. Synaptically linked neuron pairs are connected by narrow bridges of tissue called axons, which are just a few millionths of a meter in diameter. Xie's team has spent years developing a material called nanoelectronic thread (NET) that is thin, ultraflexible and biocompatible, a trifecta of properties for making minimally invasive electrode implants. In previous studies, Xie's team has demonstrated techniques for emplanting tightly packed NET arrays of up to 128 electrodes. The researchers also showed their arrays could stay in place for up to 10 months, recording the pulsed spikes of electricity, or action potentials, in nearby neurons. "When neurons fire action potentials, there are very faint electrical signals coming out of them," Xie said. "You have to place the electrodes very close to each neuron in order to capture that signal. Usually, that means a distance less than 100 microns." A micro-CT scan shows some of the 1,024 flexible electrodes in a 3D neural array implanted in the visual cortex of a rodent. Credit: Xie Lab/Rice University Using electrodes to record neuronal spikes has been a primary technique in neuroscience for decades, but the evolution of electrode materials has gradually transformed the implantation of neural electrodes from highly invasive procedures that damaged the very brain tissue the electrodes were meant to measure to procedures that result in no measurable tissue damage. One of the primary focuses of Xie's lab is scaling up the size of its implant arrays. In the new study, Xie and colleagues, including Hanlin Zhu, one of the lead graduate students on the project, implanted arrays of 1,024 NET electrodes in a 1 cubic millimeter volume of brain tissue. "The primary signals we try to measure are the electrical spikes coming from neurons," Xie said. "That's how they communicate. And one thing we care a lot about and really want to understand is how neurons are connected." Xie said there is no straightforward way to probe synaptic connections. "Axons can be very long, and each neuron can be connected by many thousands of others," he said. "It's a very, very, very messy network. And probing it is an extremely challenging task, especially while the brain is working." The density of the new electrode array, together with its ability to capture millisecond-by-millisecond changes in the electrical spikes of individual neurons allowed Xie and co-authors to decipher potential synaptic links between neuron pairs. "When the synapse works, you usually see a typical pattern when you look at the firing activity of the two neurons," Xie said. It takes a bit of time for the electrical impulse that starts in the presynaptic neurons to propagate down the axon and activate the postsynaptic neuron, he said. "We record many, many spikes, and then we need to sort the spikes and attribute each of them to individual neurons," he said. "We know the location of each electrode, or channel. And each channel records no more than a few neurons at a time. Each neuron is also typically recorded by more than one contact as well. So, you can do something akin to triangulation to identify the location of individual neurons." Once the neurons are mapped, it's relatively easy to calculate the distance between them and from that, the propagation time for synaptic activation. The 1,024-electrode array gave Xie's team a ratio of approximately one electrode per 100 neurons in the cubic millimeter volume of brain tissue under study. The lab is working to create denser arrays that pack more electrodes into the same volume. The vast majority of neurons in people's brains are unused, despite the fact that our brains typically consume about as much energy as can be supplied by the body. Neuroscientists don't fully understand why the brain has so many unused neurons, and Xie said that's a factor his team considers in the design of their electrode arrays. "I want to capture as much of the interactivity as possible," he said. "I would argue that we don't need a 1-to-1 ratio of electrodes to neurons to capture all of it, and it is indeed my dream to capture all the interactivity." More information: Zhengtuo Zhao et al, Ultraflexible electrode arrays for months-long high-density electrophysiological mapping of thousands of neurons in rodents, Nature Biomedical Engineering (2022). Journal information: Nature Biomedical Engineering Zhengtuo Zhao et al, Ultraflexible electrode arrays for months-long high-density electrophysiological mapping of thousands of neurons in rodents,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41551-022-00941-y Research suggests that supports are more likely to be provided to meet the needs of the majority of people with cancer who are older, rather than to younger people with cancer. Credit: Shutterstock October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Canadian Cancer Society estimates that one in eight women will contract breast cancer in their lifetime, making it the most common cancer among Canadian women. It is also the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women under 40 years old. Incidence of breast cancer continues to increase among these younger women, though scientists do not yet understand why. Young women (and men) with breast cancer face unique challenges, such as disruptions to career or family plans, greater likelihood of more aggressive cancers and a lifetime of fears of recurrence. Further, many targeted supports (like support groups and resources) are not always available or accessible for younger people. Research suggests that supports are more likely to be provided to meet the needs of the majority of people with cancer who are older. This was made worse during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, access to health-care services of all kinds changed, as did cancer care and support. As a result of pandemic restrictions, many face-to face appointments and support groups offered through local and regional organizations were paused or at best moved online. These changes to cancer care and support made sense in the context of a virus that poses a major threat to immunocompromised people with cancer. But this move also left many feeling even more isolated, at a time when their diagnosis already brought feelings of loneliness. This in turn has led to depression for some people navigating cancer. Cancer in younger patients The authors of this article are both women under age 45 who have experienced a cancer diagnosis. Now we study cancer, its unique impacts on young people and the ways young people can be better supported during and beyond treatment. In both our research work and our personal experiences, we've recognized the tremendous potential for digital communication technologies like social media and instant messaging to connect younger cancer patients to one another, and provide information, emotional support and, crucially, hope during difficult times. Research with young adults with cancer highlights the benefits of social media to offer support specific to adolescents and young adults. And through talking with younger adults and organizations that serve them (such as Young Adult Cancer Canada), researchers are learning that digital communication tools have been essential for their emotional and mental support needs, particularly during the pandemic. Younger adults have shared that the communities they find on social media sites like Instagram or TikTok can help them to feel less alone. They often feel out of place navigating cancer care, where they are often a generation younger than the others they see around them at appointments or support programs. Digital technologies can offer a community of people at the same life stages. When younger people with cancer find community online they also find others who have the same concerns about having children, interrupting their careers, or managing young families during the course of their illness. Digital communities Digital technologies make these kinds of communities possible because they allow people to connect across geographical boundaries. There might be only one other person your age with cancer in your city or town, and you might never run into them if your treatment appointments don't line up. But online you can connect with others from around the world, meaning that even people with rare cancers can find one another. However, not all online tools are created equal. In a soon to be published study, which was recently presented at the 2022 Social Media and Society annual conference, Hodson, one of the authors of this article, learned that Facebook and Twitter are viewed as more negative than Instagram or TikTok, which offer more hopeful and positive depictions of cancer. And different platforms also attract different users. Facebook tends to attract gen X users, whereas Instagram and TikTok skew to gen Y and Zdata that needs to be taken into account when providing digital support to people with cancer, and particularly younger people. Of course, social media also presents challenges for people experiencing a cancer diagnosis. Alarmingly, they are a growing source of misinformation. And if misinformation leads to people with cancer rejecting conventional treatments, it can result in deadly outcomes. In Hodson's study, participants also indicated that they sometimes experienced harassment or trolling when discussing their disease on online platforms. This results in a less safe space for people with cancer when they are at their most vulnerable, and can prevent some people with cancer from benefiting from these valuable connection tools. Digital communication technologies are an invaluable resource for young people who experience a cancer diagnosis and are living with cancer, but right now most of these groups are created on the fly, are independent and are not moderated. This means that not everyone who needs them has access to them, and when people do use social media to connect with others, they're exposed to such problems as misinformation and online bullying. We recommend that health-care institutions and policy-makers alike consider ways to build out communities on popular social media platforms for younger people with cancer to ensure everyone can connect. We encourage social media platforms to create moderation policies and procedures that allow young people experiencing cancer to connect safely. This October, we call on social media companies to think beyond pink, and provide spaces for all young people with cancer to connect with each other in safe, inclusive and supportive ways. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Ms Lisa Antonsen holds the 'music' pillow. Credit: Lisa Antonsen Patients waiting in an emergency department for urgent surgery are less anxious, more relaxed and experience less pain if they are given a special music pillow to rest on, according to research presented at the European Emergency Medicine Congress today (Wednesday, Oct. 19). Ms. Lisa Antonsen, a nurse in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Odense University Hospital (Odense, Denmark), told the meeting that she found a statistically significant association between listening to music and patients' reports of reduced pain and improved relaxation and well-being. "When I first started in the emergency department, I noticed that patients waiting for acute surgery were often nervous and even anxious. They wanted to know how long it would be until their surgery and this was impossible to tell them due to the waiting list in the department and the need to prioritize urgent cases. So they experienced a lot of uncertainty. I wondered how we could support these patients. I knew that music has been shown to have positive effects on pain, relaxation and well-being in other health care settings, but it has never been tested before with patients waiting for acute surgery," said Ms. Antonsen, who carried out the research as part of her Master's thesis. She invited all patients waiting for urgent surgery in the emergency department to take part in the study, and she enrolled 14 men and 16 women aged between 18 and 93 years. The patients were waiting for surgery for health emergencies such as appendicitis, intestinal obstruction, abscess or inflammation of the gall bladder. She offered them a music pillow for 30 minutes during the waiting time. The pillow contained a speaker with an MP3 player plugged into it. The MP3 player had a MusiCure program of specially composed music. Before and after using the music pillow, Ms. Antonsen asked patients to rate their pain, relaxation and well-being on a visual scale ranging from 0 to 10. After listening to music, 15 patients were interviewed about the experience and their answers contributed to the qualitative part of the study. "We found that while using the music pillow, the patients experienced a decrease in pain from an average score of 4.8 to 3.7. Their relaxation improved from an average of 4.6 to 7.6, and their feeling of general well-being increased from an average score of 4.3 to 6.6," she said. "The statistical results demonstrated a positive association between music and acute pre-operative patients' self-reported pain, relaxation and general well-being. The patients described both physical and mental well-being while listening to the music. They felt relaxed and found themselves thinking about something other than the pain and the worries related to the surgery. Thus, the music session provided a break from the acute hospital environment." As an example, a 65-year-old woman told the researchers, "It made me relax and, for a moment, I did not think about being here at the hospital. I just came to think about being outside in nature listening to birdsong. For a moment, something else happened." Ms. Antonsen told the congress about some of the notes she made during the qualitative part of the study. She described one woman in the emergency department in November 2020: "She was upset. Her face was tense, and you could tell that she had just cried. She said that it had been a tough day. During the music session, she lay calmly in bed with her eyes closed. When the music session ended, she said, "not already." Then she smiled at me. She seemed to be more comfortable." However, the busy and constantly changing environment of an emergency department was a source of disruptions to the music listening. "For music to successfully promote mental and physical well-being, patients should be undisturbed while listening to it. Therefore, attention needs to be paid to the current organizational structure of emergency departments in order to implement music interventions successfully," said Ms. Antonsen As the study was observational and the patients were not randomized to have a music pillow or not, it cannot show that access to a music pillow causes the improvements in pain, relaxation and well-being, only that it is associated with it. "A larger study needs to be conducted to determine if music itself has an effect on pain, relaxation and general well-being," said Ms. Antonsen. She said that the mixture of quantitative and qualitative research was a strength of the study, enabling the different methods to support each other and provide different insights. The music pillow used in the Ms. Antonsen's pilot study continues to be used in her emergency department and she hopes to make it permanent. Professor Youri Yordanov from the St Antoine Hospital emergency department (APHP Paris), France, is chair of the EUSEM 2022 abstract committee and was not involved in the research. He said, "Emergency departments are stressful places for patients, who have often arrived in them unexpectedly due to suddenly deteriorating conditions or accidents. Initiatives such as this, that appear to contribute to a reduction in patients' anxiety, and also the pain they are experiencing, are very welcome. Music helps people relax at the best of times. Now this study suggests it can do the same during stressful times too. We look forward to larger studies that may confirm the findings of this pilot study." More information: Abstract no: OA100, "Music in the acute pre-operative nursing carea mixed-method pilot study" by Lisa Antonsen, in the Well-being session, 08.40-10.05 hrs CEST, M1-2-3, European Emergency Medicine Congress Provided by European Society for Emergency Medicine Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A team of scientists from the Krembil Brain Institute, part of the University Health Network in Toronto, and Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, has developed the first computer model predicting the role of cortical glial cells in cognition. The paper was published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). "The role of neurons is well documented, but neurons are interspersed with glial cells and many synapses in the brain have glia nearby," says Dr. Maurizio De Pitta, a scientist at the Krembil Brain Institute and the first author of the study. "We currently do not understand how neurons and glia work together, or how glial dysfunction contributes to cognitive deficits." Glial cells are abundant throughout the brain and play several important roles. These cells have long been thought to be passive bystandersphysically supporting neurons and synapses, bringing nutrients to neurons, and removing toxins and waste products. However, scientists have recently discovered that glia interact with neurons in a fashion similar to the way that neurons communicate with one another through chemical signals. This paper presents the first theory of the role glia play in cognitive processing, in the brain. "The type of glial cells that we studyknown as astrocytescan modify the activity of our brain circuits and influence the way we behave," says Dr. De Pitta. The study looked at the role of astrocytes in working memory, which is the ability to store information for ongoing tasks, such as following the storyline of a movie or counting to ten. "We know that astrocytes release specialized chemical signals and we have shown that this signaling could mediate different readouts of working memory," says Dr. De Pitta. "Revealing that chemical interactions between neurons and astrocytes could be at the core of working memory, also tells us what could go wrong when we have working memory deficits, which are often warning signs of major brain disorders." He adds that "if we want to truly understand dysfunction in working memory, we need to consider the interaction between glial cells and neurons." Also noted in the article: Like radio systems, synapses have been traditionally thought to transmit on a single frequency band. Taking astrocytes into account, we now know there can be multiple frequency bands. It is generally believed that different forms of working memory rely on a variety of circuits; however, this study shows that the same neuron-glial circuits could encode for various forms of working memory. The way that astrocytes are arranged with respect to neurons could control our working memory capacity, or how many things we can keep in mind simultaneously. Currently, there are no effective techniques to record glial activity in the human brain. The researchers hope to eventually create a high-fidelity modela "digital twin"of the brain's neuron-glia circuits, from genes to cells. Such a model can help to uncover markers of neuron-glial interactions and improve the diagnosis and treatment of various brain diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and epilepsy. "With our new theory, we are not just looking at the brain in black and whitethat is, whether given neuron populations are active or inactive. Rather, we are viewing the brain in technicolor, gaining a deeper understanding of cellular communication by including glia and their signaling," says Dr. De Pitta. "This gives us a much more comprehensive and realistic picture of the complexity of the brain." As technology advances, De Pitta and his team at the Krembil will use their models to develop techniques to modify neuron-glial circuit activity to treat disease. "Our ultimate goal is to study neuron-glial interactions to uncover new therapeutic targets for brain disorders." More information: Maurizio De Pitta et al, Multiple forms of working memory emerge from synapseastrocyte interactions in a neuronglia network model, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2022). Maurizio De Pitta et al, Multiple forms of working memory emerge from synapseastrocyte interactions in a neuronglia network model,(2022). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2207912119 GitHub link for code to reproduce the models in this work: github.com/depitta-lab/eig-classes-pnas-2022 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Black, Hispanic and Native American people continue to be more likely to be hospitalized with the fluand less likely to be vaccinated against it, according to a federal report. Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studied influenza hospitalizations since 2009 and vaccination rates since 2010. The findings, released Tuesday, showed alarming disparities between white adults and adults of color. Compared to white patients, hospitalization rates among Black patients were roughly 80% higher. Among American Indian and Alaska Native patients, hospitalization rates were 30% higher and among Hispanic patients, 20% higher. Vaccination rates against the flu were consistently higher among white and Asian adults, the researchers found. During the last flu season, about 38% of Hispanic people, 42% of Black people, and about 41% of Native American people got the shot, significantly lower than the more than halfabout 54%of white people who were vaccinated. The reasons for the disparities, experts say, have roots in structural racism, with communities of color suffering higher rates of chronic illness, hesitancy and access barriers that can make them vulnerable to severe outcomes. As the nation's health care system braces for a possible "twindemic"higher flu virus rates as well as COVID-19 casesexperts say the findings are an urgent reminder to protect vulnerable communities of color against the viruses. "We know that there are more severe outcomes in these populations, partly because of lower vaccination coverage, but also because there's chronic disease in these populations," lead author and CDC epidemiologist Carla Black told USA TODAY. "We would like to obviously increase that coverage and get everybody protected." She urged jurisdictions to work with trusted partners within communities to help deliver outreach, education and shots. "Last season, even though disease activity was low, it was still worse than the prior season," she said. "That makes us worry that maybe we're ripe for another severe influenza season. So, we don't want people to be complacent." 'We are not powerless' to fight disparities in communities of color Boston Medical Center infectious disease physician Dr. Sabrina Annick Assoumou, a professor of medicine at Boston University, said structural racism's barriers are contributing to the disparities. "People of color, Black people, Latinos, Indigenous people are often going to be disproportionately impacted," she said. "The same structural factorsaccess to care, access to preventionall those factors are all going to come into play, and unfortunately, lead to a disproportionate impact on some of the same communities that were impacted from COVID." She implored health care workers to make efforts to reach communities of color as soon as possible. "We are not powerless. We have vaccines," she said. "Mobilize people and share the concern that this may be a difficult winter season of respiratory infections." Assoumou said protection is particularly needed for the elderly and young children, who can bring the virus home to those elder relatives with underlying health problemsa particular concern among many families of color who live in multigenerational households. In a study of vaccine uptake among roughly 27 million older adults, who were Medicare beneficiaries during the 2015-16 flu season, researchers found similarly lower vaccination rates among adults of color, who are among the most vulnerable to the flu and severe outcomes. People of color were also less likely to receive a high-dose flu vaccine. Lead author Dr. Salaheddin Mahmud, director of the University of Manitoba Vaccine and Drug Evaluation Centre, said the rates are likely even more dismal among those who lack insurance or are wary of the shot. "Had we looked at people who were hesitant, had we looked at people who were not insured, the gap would have been even larger," he said. "Our data points to the fact that these are structural and systematic issues. ... Even among the people who sought these preventative services, who have the resources to go and get vaccinated and accepted those preventative services, there were significant disparities." Outreach, information on flu's dangers may help close the gap For successful vaccine uptake, health systems need to form continuous relationships with underserved communities of color and meet them where they are, said Ashley Carmenia, health equity director at RAO Community Health in North Carolina. "Consistency and trust is key to trying to turn the tide on some of these disparities,particularly as it pertains to vaccination uptake," Carmenia said. "Building that trust gets you a lot further than just coming in when you have the resources, hitting it in this one-and-done, and then they never see you or hear from you again." The findings in Tuesday's CDC report aren't new nor surprising, but they are concerning due to the long stretch of time studied, said Dr. Margot Savoy, chair of family and community medicine at Temple University. The study captured figures during a time in which efforts were underway to mitigate flu spread and increase uptake. "We thought we might be able to close the gap," she said. "The hope was that you might see that the number would shrink, that you might actually make it better over time. And what we see is that the gap still persists. ... So there's still work to be done." Savoy said outreach efforts should inform patients that antivirals are available for influenza, and that the virus can be deadlyfacts she said were overshadowed during the pandemic. "Patients who get vaccinated against influenza rarely end up hospitalized and hardly ever die from influenza," she said. "The groups that are historically disadvantaged groups are the ones who are also dying, so that history is playing out. And it's continuing." (c)2022 USA Today Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain High levels of trauma-related mental health disorders across UK police forces are partly the result of bad working conditions such as having too little time, sexual harassment, and dealing with difficult situations without support, according to a study led by the University of Cambridge. However, officers who say they feel supported by colleagues, and have a sense of doing meaningful work, had around half the rates of a form of PTSD as the national average for policing staff. Researchers behind the study say their findings suggest that simple improvements to the working lives of policescheduled time for support from peers and supervisors, for examplecould dramatically reduce the level of psychiatric problems in UK forces. Sociologists surveyed thousands of police personnel across the country in 2018 and found that 12% showed clinical symptoms of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD), a chronic condition in which repeated trauma exposure causes social disconnection, feelings of worthlessness, and an inability to regulate emotions. Complex PTSD often leads to "burnout" and substance abuse. In fact, 90% of police workers in the original survey study 'The Job, The Life' had experienced trauma, and one in five of these reported symptoms of either PTSD or C-PTSD. Now, the same team of researchers have analysed survey data provided by 12,248 serving police officers to determine the working conditions and on-the-job situations with the strongest links to Complex PTSD. The latest findings are published in the journal Policing. Trauma detailed by officers with probable levels of Complex PTSD based on the survey screening included dealing with fatal car accidents, rapes, homicides, suicidesincluding of childrenand drug overdoses. Exposure to physical violence made little difference to rates of C-PTSD, nor did long working hours. However, officers who described it as "very difficult" to take time away from the job for personal or family matters had C-PTSD rates over 50% higher than the UK-wide average for police. Those who described their relationship between work and personal life as "not fitting well at all", some 15% of police officers in the study, had twice (24%) the average policing rates of C-PTSD. One officer suffering with probable C-PTSD described how what you see "impacts on your life outside of work", offering the example of cases involving dead children that "make you anxious about your own children's wellbeing. To a degree you lose your innocence." Another C-PTSD sufferer said "it is a given and accepted" that the job means exposure to trauma, and describes the occupational health team in their force as "brilliant" but few in number. "They are only able to put 'sticky plasters' on, and send the officers back out," the officer said. Police officers who described never having enough time to "get the job done" had almost double the rates of C-PTSD as the average across UK forces, 22% compared to 12%, as did officers who reported experiencing sexual harassmentwhether from the public or colleagues*. Officers who said they could never rely on the help and support of colleagues were most likely to suffer with Complex PTSD, with over 43% displaying symptoms, but such claims were relatively rare. One detective with C-PTSD symptoms recounted dealing with sexual abuse cases as the sole investigating officer. "Little or no support from management. Victims hanging all their hopes and pressures on me." By contrast, C-PTSD rates were just 7% among those who said they could always rely on colleagues, and just 6% among those who say they regularly get a feeling of a job well done, with researchers claiming that a sense of meaningful work may provide a "protective effect" mentally. "Our research shows that the debilitating psychological misery often caused by trauma exposure isn't an inevitable part of the difficult job of policing, it is exacerbated by poor working conditions," said Prof Brendan Burchell, lead author from Cambridge's Department of Sociology. The team also conducted analyses beyond individual officers to compare forces, revealing a strong link between "work intensity"those forces with more officers reporting a lack of time to effectively policeand increased rates of Complex PTSD. Of 18 anonymised UK police forces, the one with the highest reported time constraints among officers had C-PTSD rates of 29%, well over double the average for the overall policing population. "Severe austerity cuts since 2010 leading to a marked reduction in police numbers without a decrease in the demands of the job inevitably creates more time pressure for remaining officers," said Burchell. "Single-crewing, shift work and fewer resources mean that time for encouraging words between colleagues or space for officers to acknowledge their traumatic experiences are few and far between." One officer with probable C-PTSD described being "single crewed" at a rural location for a year, with nearest support almost an hour away. Another spoke of going from a shift team of five to working alone. "My coping strategy of being around colleagues who had been to the same fatal accident or suicide was taken away from me." Cambridge co-author Dr. Jessica Miller, who is also director of research for Police Care UK, the charity that funded the research, added: "The police forces reporting the best working conditions had much lower rates of PTSD. Modest investments to improve their working conditions could see significant reductions in psychological problems among police officers." More information: Brendan Burchell et al, The association between job quality and the incidence of PTSD amongst police personnel, Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice (2022). Brendan Burchell et al, The association between job quality and the incidence of PTSD amongst police personnel,(2022). DOI: 10.1093/police/paac054 Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain and the Worlds Most Improved Airline 2022, recently celebrated 40 years of direct operations between the kingdom and the Hellenic Republic. Athens International Airport organized two events in the Greek capital in collaboration with the airline to commemorate the anniversary. The celebration included a press event where members of the media were invited to interact with Gulf Air Acting CEO Captain Waleed AlAlawi and members of the airlines executive management and airport officials. The celebration also included a trade event which was attended by Athens International Airport CEO Dr Yiannis Paraschis, President Hatta & Fed Hatta (Hellenic association of travel & tourist agencies) Lysandros Tsilidis in addition to Police Major General Chief Commander of Athens International Airport Konstantinos Markopoulos, owners and managers of tour operators, travel agents, and shipping agents. Speaking at the event, Captain AlAlawi said: "The Kingdom of Bahrain and Greece enjoy a strong trade and commerce relationship, and Gulf Air values the Athens route as it links both countries with a flow of tourists to both destinations. The airlines flights to its Greek seasonal destinations Mykonos and Santorini have just ended, making this summer the second time we bring back these two favorite destinations due to their popularity amongst our passengers." "Moreover, Gulf Air recently launched a stopover programme in which passengers can choose to stay in Bahrain for a number of nights and explore what it has to offer," stated the top official. "The programme best suits Greek travellers when connecting from Athens via Bahrain to the Middle East, GCC, Indian Subcontinent and the Far East. We look forward to another 40 years of successful operations to Athens, and we trust that our Greek travellers will enjoy the products and services of our customer-centric airline," he added. Dr Paraschis said: "Serving Greece for 40 years and, since 2001, flying from Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos, Gulf Air has been one of our most valuable airline partners, with a remarkable contribution to the connectivity of our airport and the city of Athens!" "In these 21 years of operations to/from our airport, the airline has been offering its clients a top-notch airline product, having carried in total more than 800,000 passengers on more than 10,000 flights, demonstrating in 2022 a double digit increase in passengers and flights vs 2019," he noted . "We would like to extend our warmest wishes to our airline-partner for further development in the Athens market and reconfirm our commitment to the continuation of our close and successful cooperation for the next 40 years - and many more!," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Boston University is refuting a series of misleading claims about research at the University's National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL). The reports, which first appeared on Monday in the United Kingdom's Daily Mail, claimed researchers at the lab had "created a new deadly COVID strain." In a statement Monday afternoon, BU called the reporting, which was picked up by other outlets, including Fox News, "false and inaccurate," and said this research made the virus less dangerous. The University also noted that the research was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), which consists of scientists as well as local community members, and that the Boston Public Health Commission had approved the research. "They've sensationalized the message, they misrepresent the study and its goals in its entirety," says Ronald B. Corley, NEIDL director and BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine chair of microbiology, of the news reports. The study set out to examine the spike proteins on the SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant (BA.1). Researchers were interested in comparing the variant with the original virus strain, known as the Washington strain. They wanted to find out if the virus was truly less virulent, says Corley, "simply because it wasn't infecting the same cells as the initial strain." They were "interested in what part of the virus dictates how serious of a disease a person will get." But Corley says the news reports pulled one line from the paper's abstract out of context, with the Daily Mail suggesting in its headline that the researchers had created a "deadly COVID strain with an 80% kill rate." The newspaper went on to make a series of other misleading claims, including that the study was "gain of function research," alleging researchers set out to make a more deadly virus. Not true, says Corley. And the University's statement strongly denied it. "We want to address the false and inaccurate reporting about Boston University COVID-19 research, which appeared today in the Daily Mail," said the BU statement. "First, this research is not gain-of-function research, meaning it did not amplify the Washington state SARS-CoV-2 virus strain or make it more dangerous. In fact, this research made the virus replicate less dangerous." Corley says the line pulled out of context actually had nothing to do with the virus' effect on humans. The study began in a tissue culture, then moved to an animal model. "The animal model that was used was a particular type of mouse that is highly susceptible, and 80 to 100% of the infected mice succumb to disease from the original strain, the so-called Washington strain," says Corley. "Whereas omicron causes a very mild disease in these animals." That 80% number is what the media reports latched onto, misrepresenting the study and its goals. "This was a statement taken out of context for the purposes of sensationalism," says Corley, "and it totally misrepresents not only the findings, but [also] the purpose of the study." In fact, according to BU's statement, "this research mirrors and reinforces the findings of other, similar research performed by other organizations, including the FDA." That's supported by one of the lead researchers on the study, Mohsan Saeed, a NEIDL investigator. "Consistent with studies published by others, this work shows that it is not the spike protein that drives omicron pathogenicity, but instead other viral proteins," says Saeed, a BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine assistant professor of biochemistry. "Determination of those proteins will lead to better diagnostics and disease management strategies." Stringent safety procedures Since its opening in 2009, NEIDL has allowed scientists to study a range of infectious diseases and pathogens in a protected environment. The lab is governed by strict safety procedures. Long before a researcher begins studying a disease or pathogen, their proposal has to go through a series of rigorous safety reviews, says Robert Davey, a BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine professor of microbiology, who is based at the NEIDL. "Before anything is done in the NEIDL, it goes through multiple layers of careful safety review and this is done through committees that are part of Boston University and also committees that are outside of, independent of, BU, such as the Boston Public Health Commission," says Davey. "We get a completely independent look at anything that's about to be done. Only after all that is approved and double-checked are you then allowed to proceed with the work. And that work only occurs with the oversight of the environmental health and safety group at BU." The study was conducted in the lab's biosafety-level 3 facilities. All studies are conducted in a biosafety cabinet, with researchers having to enter their workspace through a series of interlocked doors. All floors and walls are sealed, and the lab is fitted with sophisticated filtration and decontamination technology. And if the researchers had seen anything untoward during the study, they would have immediately shut it down and reported it. "We take our safety and security of how we handle pathogens seriously, and the virus does not leave the laboratory in which it's being studied," says Corley. "Our whole goal is for the public's health. And this study was part of that, finding what part of the virus is responsible for causing severe disease. If we can understand that, we can then develop the tools that we need to develop better therapeutics." "Ultimately, this research will provide a public benefit," according to the University's statement, "by leading to better, targeted therapeutic interventions to help fight against future pandemics." Two papers studying the human mobility in the Osaka metropolitan area during the COVID-19 pandemic detail trends, which could be important in future COVID-19 prevention and management. Credit: Osaka Metropolitan University More than two years have passed since the first outbreak of COVID-19, and infection rates continue to change as new strains emerge. Many aspects of COVID-19especially the long-term effectsremain unknown, so continued infection prevention measures are essential. Osaka Metropolitan University researchers, Assistant Professor Haruka Kato and Professor Atsushi Takizawa of the Graduate School of Human Life and Ecology, conducted a time series analysis of human mobility to explore how lifestyle changes could lower COVID-19 transmission, while maintaining social and economic activities. They found that controlling people's mobility in specific areas according to infection levelsrather than uniformly restricting all human mobilitiescould be effective in reducing the number of new COVID-19 infections. The researchers performed two time-series cross-correlation analysis; the first examined the total distance traveled daily by residents of Ibaraki City and the number of COVID-19 infections in the area, from January 2020 to July 2021. Ibaraki City is a typical suburban city in the Osaka metropolitan area, located between Osaka City and Kyoto, with a population of approximately 280,000. Due to Ibaraki City's extensive train network, many residents commute to either of the larger business centers, which takes approximately 30 minutes. When the first state of emergency was declaredfrom April to May 2020the total distance traveled by residents of Ibaraki City decreased and did not significantly change afterward, except during consecutive holidays. Furthermore, a small positive correlation between the total distance traveled and the number of COVID-19 infections was observed, with the strongest correlation between them when infections were set to lag six weeks behind the total distance traveled. This study clarified the distance the residents traveled only had a weak relationship to the number of infections, although prior research that analyzed the early-stage period clarified a strong correlation. The result suggests that other factors such as mask use, contact infection by droplets, and ventilation may have an impact on the number of new infections. The results of the Ibaraki City analysis were published in PLoS ONE on September 1, 2022. The second analysis examined the types of places people visited during the pandemicincluding grocery stores and pharmacies, parks, workplaces, residences, retail stores, and using public transitand how visiting these locations related to the total number of people infected over a 2-week period. The study covered three adjoining prefecturesOsaka, Kyoto, and Hyogofrom March 2020 to September 2021, and showed a strong relationship between the number of COVID-19 cases and amount of visitors to grocery stores or pharmacies, as well as parks, and a weak relationship to using public transportation. These results were published in npj Urban Sustainability. Both studies suggest that human mobility may only need to be restricted in specific areas depending on the state of the pandemic to be effective in reducing the number of new COVID-19 infections. "Together, these results are important because they show it is possible to maintain social and economic activities while taking measures against coronavirus infections," Professor Kato said. "They also suggest the need for walkable cities, where people can live without cars by taking public transit, in preparation for living in a post-pandemic world where the new coronavirus is still present." More information: Haruka Kato et al, Time series cross-correlation between home range and number of infected people during the COVID-19 pandemic in a suburban city, PLOS ONE (2022). Haruka Kato et al, Time series cross-correlation between home range and number of infected people during the COVID-19 pandemic in a suburban city,(2022). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267335 Haruka Kato et al, Human mobility and infection from Covid-19 in the Osaka metropolitan area, npj Urban Sustainability (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s42949-022-00066-w Journal information: PLoS ONE Provided by Osaka Metropolitan University Credit: CC0 Public Domain The effects of different parenting styles on children's weight have been determinedand indicate parental warmth is key to a healthy weight, the International Congress on Obesity in Melbourne (1822 October, the biennial congress of the World Obesity Federation) will hear. The analysis of data on more than 10,000 U.K. children found that authoritarian and neglectful parenting in early childhood were linked with higher weight throughout childhood and adolescence. Both of these types of parenting are characterized by a lack of parental warmth. "The effect of parenting style on a child's weight is often considered a taboo subject," says researcher Alexa Segal, of the Center for Health Economics & Policy Innovation at Imperial College Business School, Imperial College London, London, U.K. "However, a comprehensive understanding of the associations between parenting style and childhood and adolescent obesity has great potential to inform obesity policy and contribute to the development of more effective health and nutrition programs." Latest figures from the National Child Measurement Program for England show that 27.7% of reception age children (45 years) and 40.9% of year 6 children (1011 years) are overweight or obese. Ms. Segal, Dr. Laure de Preux and Professor Marisa Miraldo used longitudinal data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) study to look at the association between parenting style during early childhood and child's weight later in childhood, in early adolescence, late adolescence and early adulthood (ages 7, 11, 13, 16 and 23, respectively). Parenting style was divided into four categories based on questionnaires which were filled in by the parents and children. A subset of participants were also filmed interacting with their parents. The four parenting styles examined in the study, the first of its kind, were: authoritative (parents who maintain clear boundaries but are also warm), authoritarian (parents who maintain strict discipline and show little warmth), permissive (parents are empathic but have few rules) and neglectful or uninvolved (parents who are emotionally uninvolved and have few rules). The analysis of up to 23 years of data on 10,510 participants showed that youngsters who experienced authoritarian or neglectful styles of parenting in early childhood (age 7) were more likely to have a higher weight (taking into account their age, sex and height) than those who experienced authoritative parenting. They were about 1.5kg (3.3lb) heavier, on average. The association was seen at all ages. The study's authors say that the lack of warmth associated with authoritarian and neglectful parenting may mean that a child's ability to self-regulate their food intaketo eat when hungry and stop eating when fulldoes not develop properly. Ms. Segal explains, "Authoritarian mothers are characterized by being demanding and controlling, while having low warmth and responsiveness. "This could lead to them not responding to their child's hunger cues by, for example, not allowing them to select a snack when hungry, and/or asserting control over the child's food intake by, for example, putting them under pressure to clean their plate when they are not hungry. "This control means that the child does not develop their own ability to regulate their own energy intake, meaning they might overindulge when they have the ability. "Neglectful parenting, on the other hand, may be an issue of true neglect, where no rules are givenso children might have a free rein to select unhealthy options. "Future interventions and studies could explore whether parenting styles can be adapted to be warmer and more authoritative." The results also suggested that permissive parenting was associated with increased weight, although the effect lessened with age. However, this result wasn't statistically significant and more evidence is needed to reach a firm conclusion. The study's authors say that it is imperative that the influence of family life is considered when devising obesity strategies. Ms. Segal adds, "Our findings can help inform obesity prevention and treatment programs by acting as a reminder to policymakers that modifiable risk factors for childhood obesity have significant roots within the home. "Future childhood obesity programs could include parent support classes, where parents learn the importance of parenting style in preventing obesity. In cases where a child is already living with obesity, doctors and others providing support might consider stressing the effect that a lack of parental warmth has on a child's weight." Professor Louise Baur, President of the World Obesity Federation and Chair of Child & Adolescent Health, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia, comments, "This study highlights the fundamental importance of parents in raising healthy children. The world today often makes it difficult for children and families to eat well, be physically active, sleep well and cope with stress. Parents who are able to set appropriate limits for their child, while bringing warmth and sensitivity to the relationship, may be better able to help their child be as healthy as possible." Provided by International Congress on Obesity Credit: CC0 Public Domain The death toll from an Ebola epidemic declared last month in Uganda has climbed to 44, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press briefing in Geneva that there had been 60 confirmed and 20 probable cases, with 44 deaths and 25 recoveries. "We remain concerned that there may be more chains of transmission and more contacts than we know about in the affected communities," he added. The previous death toll provided by the WHO on October 5 reported 29 fatalities. President Yoweri Museveni last week ordered two districts at the heart of the epidemic in central Uganda to be put under lockdown, imposing a travel ban, a curfew and the closure of public places. Museveni had already ordered traditional healers to stop treating the sick, in a bid to stop the spread of the virus. He also ordered the police to arrest anyone infected with Ebola who refused to isolate. The authorities say the outbreak remains concentrated in the central districts of Mubende and Kassanda has not reached Kampala, despite a couple testing positive for the virus in the capital. Tedros on Wednesday said two cases from Mubende sought care in Kampala, "increasing the risks of transmission in the city" of 1.5 million people. Ebola is spread through bodily fluids, with common symptoms being fever, vomiting, bleeding and diarrhoea. Outbreaks are difficult to contain, especially in urban environments. Uganda's last recorded fatality from a previous Ebola outbreak was in 2019. The particular strain now circulating in Uganda is known as the Sudan Ebola virus, for which there is currently no vaccine. The World Health Organization says clinical trials could start within weeks on drugs to combat that strain. 2022 AFP Credit: Queensland Brain Institute / Professor Stephen Williams The function of the human brain is exceptional, driving all aspects of our thoughts and creativity. Yet the part of the human brainthe neocortexresponsible for such cognitive functions has a similar overall structure to other mammals. Through close collaboration between The University of Queensland (UQ), The Mater Hospital and the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, researchers have discovered the human brain's enhanced processing power may stem from differences in the structure and function of our neurons. The results of this study have been published in Cell Reports as "High-fidelity dendritic sodium spike generation in human layer 2/3 neocortical pyramidal neurons." Professor Stephen Williams at UQ's Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) explained that his research team had studied the electrical properties of human neocortical pyramidal neurons embedded in their neuronal networks. "To study human neurons, we prepared live tissue slices from small blocks of the human neocortex collected from patients who were undergoing neurosurgery for the alleviation of refractory epilepsy or the removal of brain tumors at the two hospitals," Professor Williams said. "We compared the electrical properties of human and rodent neocortical pyramidal neurons by making intricate simultaneous electrical recordings from their cell bodies and thin dendrites. "Our research revealed that human and rodent neocortical pyramidal neurons share fundamental biophysical properties. "For example, we showed that both the dendrites of human and rodent neocortical pyramidal neurons generate dendritic sodium spikes, suggesting a conservation of the machinery for integrating the many thousands of input signals that a neuron receives. "However, we discovered the computational function of human neocortical pyramidal neurons is dramatically enhanced." QBI postdoctoral fellow Dr. Helen Gooch and co-author on the paper, said the team found that the architecture of the dendritic trees of human neocortical pyramidal neuronsthe branch-like extensions that conduct electrical signalswere larger and more complex than other mammals like rodents. "This elaboration of the dendritic tree in humans was accompanied by the generation of dendritic spikes at multiple sites, which actively spread through the neuron to drive the output signals of each neuron," Dr. Gooch said. "We suggest that this enhancement of distributed dendritic information processing may therefore be one factor that increases our brain's overall processing power." The translation of such discoveries paves the way for a better understanding of how the electrical activity of the human brain is disturbed in disease. Mater Hospital Neurologist and co-author, Dr. Lisa Gillinder said, "As clinician researchers, we are not only excited to learn more about the normal function of human brain cells, but through future research in this field we also aim to better understand the functional changes that occur in conditions like epilepsy with the hopes of improving treatments." More information: Helen M. Gooch et al, High-fidelity dendritic sodium spike generation in human layer 2/3 neocortical pyramidal neurons, Cell Reports (2022). Journal information: Cell Reports Helen M. Gooch et al, High-fidelity dendritic sodium spike generation in human layer 2/3 neocortical pyramidal neurons,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111500 Provided by Queensland Brain Institute A SWIMMING ADVISORY IS POSTED at the following beach site: North Shore Ocean Terrace - 73rd Street, Miami Beach MIAMI, FL - Two consecutive beach water samples collected at this location did not meet the recreational water quality standard for enterococci. By state regulation, the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County is required to issue an advisory to inform the public in a specific area when this standard is not met. An advisory has been issued because two consecutive water samples collected at this beach exceeded the Federal and State recommended standard for enterococci (greater than 70 colony forming units of enterococci per 100ml for a single sample). This advisory issued recommends not swimming at this location at this time. The result of the sampling indicates that water contact may pose an increased risk of illness, particularly for susceptible individuals. The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County has been conducting marine beach water quality monitoring at 16 sites, including the beach sites at these locations weekly since August 2002, through the Florida Healthy Beaches Program. The sampling sites are selected based on the frequency and intensity of recreational water use and the proximity to pollution sources. The water samples are being analyzed for enteric bacteria enterococci that normally inhabit the intestinal track of humans and animals, and which may cause human disease, infections, or illness. The prevalence of enteric bacteria is an indicator of fecal pollution, which may come from storm water run-off, wildlife, pets and human sewage. The purpose of the Florida Healthy Beaches program is to determine whether Florida has significant beach water quality concerns. Following in the steps of President Trump and Elon Musk, Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, may soon own his own social media platform. Parler, which describes itself as the premier global free speech platform, agreed to a deal in principle to sell itself to the controversial rapper and fashion designer, the company said Monday. The move comes after Instagram and Twitter suspended Ye after he shared a series of racist and antisemitic statements on both social media platforms. The rapper said the bans prompted his decision to buy the company. "When I got kicked off of Instagram and Twitter at the time, I knew it was time to acquire my own platform," Ye told Bloomberg News on Monday. "People had talked about it and mentioned this idea for years, but enough was enough." Parler welcomed the deal, saying: "The acquisition ensures Parler a future role in creating an uncancelable ecosystem where all voices are welcome." So what is Parler? Launched in 2018, Parler is based in Nashville. It is one of a string of new social media sites and web platforms that have become a home for right-wing supporters who feel alienated by the tightening policies of bigger sites like Facebook and Twitter against hate speech and violent rhetoric. The platform describes itself as a "welcoming, nonpartisan Public Square" that prides itself on not limiting users' speech even when it is offensive, such as the comments West made earlier this month. Twitter suspended Ye's account after he said he was going "death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE," the latest in several outbursts that have been peppered with antisemitic tropes. "Parler's content policies are based on the principle of individual rights including everyone's inalienable rights to speak freely and think for themselves," Amy Peikoff, head of policy and legal at Parler, said in a statement. "While Parler has always prohibited violent or other rights-violating content, we agree with Nadine Strossen and other scholars that 'objectionable' but otherwise lawful speech is best addressed by allowing or encouraging more speech." Any attacks on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation/identity, religion are flagged by filters that users can choose to use, Peikoff added. Apple and Google last year removed Parler from their app stores following the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, saying the company hadn't done enough to curb threats to safety. Who owns it? Parler's backers include conservative political donor Rebekah Mercer, according to CNN. Parler's parent company CEO George Farmer is married to Candace Owens, the commentator who has been supporting Ye as he has gone on various outbursts. The conservative firebrand was at Ye's side at the YZY runway show during Paris Fashion Week, where the pair sparked a backlash by wearing "White Lives Matter" shirts (a slogan popularized by fascist and neo-Nazi groups). Parler focuses on politics, health and social issues and does not fact-check users, said Jennifer T. Edwards, executive director, Texas Social Media Research Institute at Tarleton State University. "Parler is a niche social media platform on which conservatives feel the most comfortable. Users flock to sites that make them feel like they belong," Edwards said. How big is Parler? Parler doesn't have the reach of Twitter or Meta-owned Instagram. Its appeal appears to have waned this year in the face of competition from startups targeting right-wing users. In the U.S., Parler had 725,000 monthly active users in the first half of 2022, compared with 5.2 million in the same period last year, according to data analytics firm Data.ai. Its ranking tumbled from third place among social/micro blogging apps in the U.S. in the first half of 2021 to 10th in the first half of this year. Who else does it compete with? Parler has been overtaken in the rankings by former President Trump's Truth Social and Gettr (founded by ex-Trump aide Jason Miller). It also faces competition from Gab the microblogging and social networking service known for its far-right userbase, where posters include Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene as well as Me.We, Rumble and DLive. But being owned by Ye could be a boost to Parler. "Through West's efforts, Parler has the potential to become more mainstream," Edwards said. "People who have never heard of the social media platform will flock to it, merely out of curiosity." ___ TUESDAY, Oct. 18, 2022 (HealthDay News) Florida residents dealing with the horrific aftermath of Hurricane Ian now need to be concerned about a spike in flesh-eating bacteria cases, health officials warned. "The Florida Department of Health in Lee County is observing an abnormal increase in cases of Vibrio vulnificus infections as a result of exposure to the flood waters and standing waters following Hurricane Ian," the county health department said in a statement. Residents should "always be aware of the potential risks associated when exposing open wounds, cuts or scratches on the skin to warm, brackish or salt water." "Sewage spills, like those caused from Hurricane Ian, may increase bacteria levels," the statement continued. "As the post-storm situation evolves, individuals should take precautions against an infection and illness caused by Vibrio vulnificus." Lee County health officials know of at least 29 cases and four deaths in the county, according to data updated last Friday. All but two were reported since Ian barreled through the state. While Florida health officials track the bacteria throughout the year, Lee and Collier counties are the only areas with confirmed cases. Collier County had three confirmed cases in 2022, including one since the hurricane, CBS News reported. Once Vibrio vulnificus enters human skin, it quickly becomes necrotizing fasciitis, which breaks down tissue and can require amputation to stem the bacteria's spread through the body. The bacteria enters the body via open cuts or wounds. Symptoms of infection include fever, chills, and later a drop in blood pressure and blistering skin lesions. The infection is especially dangerous to those who have chronic liver disease or take immunosuppressant medications. The bacteria can also enter the bloodstream, causing sepsis and leading to organ failure and sometimes death. It "has the potential to cause severe illness or death," the Lee County Health Department warned in a news release posted shortly after the hurricane. Lisa M. Meeks, from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and colleagues used data from a nationally representative sample of 5,851 physicians to examine workplace mistreatment experienced by physicians with disabilities and determine whether physicians with disabilities are more likely to experience mistreatment in their workplace than physicians without disabilities. The researchers found that the majority of physicians with disabilities reported at least one type of mistreatment (64 percent) and were more likely to experience all types of mistreatment both from coworkers and from patients, compared with nondisabled physicians. Physicians with disabilities were more likely to have been threatened with physical harm by coworkers (odds ratio [OR], 8.03) and patients (OR, 2.6) and were more than 17 times more likely to have been physically harmed by coworkers and 6.5 times more likely to have been physically harmed by patients. Physicians with disabilities were 5.8 times more likely to be subjected to unwanted sexual advances from coworkers and 3.6 times more likely from patients versus their nondisabled peers. World Travel Market (WTM) London, a leading global event for the travel industry, has confirmed Sabre Hospitality, a top technology provider for the hospitality industry, as sponsor of its Technology Stage at this years event. Sabre Hospitality President Scott Wilson will lead a session on how retailing will revolutionise hospitality. Wilson takes the stage on November 8 at 14.30hrs. His session, The Next Wave of Revenue: How Retail Will Change Hospitality will give an insight into how to build a successful retail strategy and the implications that this can have on guest satisfaction, revenue, and strategic differentiation from competitors in an evolving industry. Meanwhile, senior execs from Sabre Hospitality will be available on its stand at WTM London to talk through its product offering for hotels, including its new intelligent retailing platform, SynXis Retail Studio, and intuitive guest service management solution, Nuvola. Wilson said: We are delighted to return to WTM this year. As one of the leading events for the travel industry, WTM provides us with the opportunity to connect with global customers and to showcase our latest innovations. In todays fast-moving market, it is more important than ever to maintain connections with customers, partners and associates, and events such as WTM provide a great platform for us to do this. The Sabre-sponsored travel tech stage at this years WTM London features A-list speakers from some of the industrys most important companies, such as Expedia, Thomas Cook, hotelbeds, Accor and Travel Republic. Charlotte Lamp Davies, founder of consultancy A Bright Approach, will be hosting a series of sessions on the Tuesday covering topics including AI and big data, with another panel discussion looking at how travel companies can address the tech talent crisis facing many industries. Sessions organised by leading media outlets, Travolution and Phocuswire, will look at the trends revealed by their latest respective research projects. The evolution of chatbots and robots will be discussed in a panel hosted by UKs Travel Technology Initiative. Hybrid work, blockchain, revenue management and loyalty schemes are also on the agenda. Elsewhere, Silicon Valley-based innovation platform Plug and Play is hosting a Travel Disruptors Pitch Battle, giving 10 startups the chance to explain to attendees and the judging panel comprising senior industry figures - how their business will change the industry. The winners will be offered promotion at next years WTM and be part of the next Plug and Play cohort, connecting them with corporations, venture capital firms, universities, and government agencies. Juliette Losardo, WTM London Exhibition Director, said: Sabre Hospitality is a perfect partner for The Technology Stage at World Travel Market a global leader in technology, forward-thinking and disruptive. Technology underpins the modern travel sector as it does with many industries and the Technology Stage at WTM facilitates discussion on the most essential topics emerging from within travel. WTM London, a three-day exhibition which facilitates business connections for the global (leisure) travel community, runs from November 7 to 9 at ExCel London. TradeArabia News Service 1) Why are you running for the Justice of the Peace position? What strengths will you bring to the bench if elected? I have had the privilege and honor of serving Missoula County as a Justice of the Peace for the past six years and I am seeking reelection. I am a member of the Missoula community and I have committed my career to public service. Having spent the bulk of my career on the back end of the criminal justice system, I value the opportunity to directly impact individuals early in their contact with the justice system. I aspire to positively influence individuals as they enter the justice system, be a voice of reason, and protect community safety. I bring an understanding of equity to the bench, having been a probation and parole officer, which is a balance of law enforcement and social work. I understand good people sometimes make bad choices and they may be deserving of a second chance. I also understand, that for the sake of community safety, some people must be incarcerated. As Justice of the Peace, I support evidence-based interventions that lead to jail diversion, lower cost to taxpayers, reduced recidivism, and less victimization. My knowledge of community corrections and years of courtroom experience benefit those entering the justice system as well as crime victims. I am fair and enforce accountability for people so that they can work to right their wrongs. I want to help improve community safety and reduce crime using multiple alternatives and community resources, and I view incarceration as one of the many tools available to judges. I was long considered a strict, but fair, parole officer and I continue in this same manner while serving Missoula County as a Justice of the Peace. 2) Whats the importance of the role the Justice of the Peace position plays in Missoulas criminal justice system? Justice Court is an opportunity for meaningful interactions with those who come before the court to both hold people accountable and influence positive behavior change. Often mental health and substance abuse issues are at the forefront of criminal activity and must be addressed by the court. A Justice of the Peace must rule by the law, however; by imposing specific sentencing conditions for individuals, there can be accountability and support for a defendant. A Justice of the Peace has the opportunity to intervene with thousands of people every year and can be a pivotal point of change for some people, whether that be incarceration, diversion from jail or a simple fine. Justice Court is a place to be heard and be treated with dignity and respect regardless if it is a simple traffic citation or a new felony charge. Upholding the law and educating those along the way is something you will see me do in my courtroom. Missoula Justice Court has a much greater role in our community than just the criminal justice system. In 2021 there were 8,227 criminal violations and 2,327 civil cases filed. Civil cases in justice court can be contract violations, collections cases, orders of protection or landlord tenant matters. Each of these issues is important to and has an impact on the people involved, and as your Justice of the Peace I have the knowledge and experience to address these important issues accurately and fairly. 3) How would you balance holding people accused of violent offenses accountable with mitigating overcrowding at the jail? As a Justice of the Peace my role in felony violent offenses is to address bail and set release conditions before the defendants case is transferred to District Court. People who have been accused but not convicted of crimes have the presumption of innocence in our legal system. The purpose of bail is therefore not accountability, but public safety and to maximize court appearance with appropriate conditions. My years of training and experience working in corrections, along with working with law enforcement and talking to victims provides me a solid foundation for making decisions about community safety. Additionally, I also have extensive training and knowledge of mental health and substance abuse issues as well as an understanding of criminal risk factors, enabling me to set responsible bail and release conditions. Drinking and driving is a problem in our community and is a violent offense. I have implemented ROAD Court, a DUI treatment and accountability court to address the problem of impaired driving and substance use. ROAD Court is a holistic approach that is influencing positive behavior change and making our community safer. ROAD Court holds participants accountable for their actions by identifying the root problem and addressing chemical dependency and co-occurring issues. It is supported by a team of professionals from the prosecution, the defense, misdemeanor probation, law enforcement, and a treatment provider. In the past five years I have applied for and been awarded several grants, totaling $958,037 to address impaired driving and fund ROAD Court. ROAD Court has had 27 graduates and diverted 786 days of jail at the rate of $144 a day saving taxpayers $113,184 in just jail costs alone. ROAD Court is getting to the root of the problem, making our roads safer and saving lives. 1) Why are you running for the Justice of the Peace position? Everyone accused of a crime is innocent until proven guilty but if proven guilty, that person must serve their full punishment for the safety of the community and the victim. This basic principle is not happening in Missoula. The majority of citizens in Missoula are suffering because repeat criminals are committing crimes that damage individuals and the overall quality of life in Missoula. I want to stop the revolving door policy that releases criminals back into the Missoula community to commit more crime, harm the majority of law-abiding citizens, destroy the social fabric of Missoula, and frustrate law enforcement. 2) What strengths will you bring to the bench if elected? I will listen to any case before me with laser intensity, render decisions with fairness, impartiality, and integrity; set bail appropriately to protect victims and our community; show compassion to victims of crime and misbehavior, and will work closely with law enforcement to follow all local, state, and federal laws. In the 30 years that Ive lived in Missoula Ive worked with women, children, and veterans to make their lives better by locating housing, food, transportation, child care, benefits, education, and medical care for them. I will carry that experience and passion with me to this office as I listen to cases before me. For more than 20 years I served as the chairman of Neighborhood Watch and worked with Missoula City Police and Missoula County Sheriff's Department representatives on programs to make neighborhoods around Missoula safe. My entire purpose for living in Missoula for the past 30 years was to bring joy and happiness to this lovely community, so my purpose for serving as JP will be to do the same by protecting the vast majority of good citizens from a tiny number of criminals that are making life in Missoula difficult right now. 3) Whats the importance of the role the Justice of the Peace position plays in Missoulas criminal justice system? The Justice of the Peace is often the first step in the justice system that a person meets when in a conflict or life celebrations like marriage. It is the JP that assigns bail for major crimes and settles conflicts between neighbors over disagreements. If a landlord evicts a tenant from an apartment or home, the JP reviews the case and decides on the outcome of the case after evidence is present, including payments to landlords if damage to property was done or rent was not paid. Lifes challenges come before the JP and are dealt with on a case-by-case basis. My preference will be toward the people in any case that are harmed as opposed to those that did the harming. For too long, the JP office has bent over backward to provide special programs and treatments to those that misbehave and break the law while those that are harmed continue to suffer. This must stop. For first-time minor offenders, such as minor traffic violators, the JP has the opportunity to give judgments to a defendant that teach a lesson and show compassion. The hope will be to render a judgment that changes their life for the better so that offense will not happen again and thus make life better in our community for all of us. 4) How would you balance holding people accused of violent offenses accountable with mitigating overcrowding at the jail? Violent offenders, including those involved in murder and rape, have no place roaming freely in our community or society in general. Priority must be given to keep violent offenders locked up in jail away from innocent community members, and especially their victims, if they are convicted of these crimes. Repeat offenders are of special danger to our society and must be separated from the rest of us. Special programs to provide rehabilitation to repeat offenders sounds nice on paper, but in reality the repeat offenders continue to commit crimes unless stopped and removed from the rest of us. As the JP, I would not take kindly to violent repeat offenders, including those that cause great damage while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. My first job as a JP will be to review the previous criminal record of an offender to see if this person has been before the court or other courts causing great harm to others. HUSON Situated on the northern bank of the Clark Fork River, Missoula River Lodge offers clients pristine trout fishing, iconic mountain views and cuisine from a nationally recognized executive chef. And bears really like that food, too so much so that the lodge appealed to state officials last year for assistance in keeping bears out of their dumpster, located where the lodge driveway ends at the west end of Huson Road. The lodge property, prime habitat for local wildlife of all types, is tucked alongside an oxbow and just upstream of the confluence of Sixmile Creek and the Clark Fork. Wildlife biologists and bear managers described the immediate vicinity of the Sixmile-Clark Fork confluence as one of the most vital wildlife connectivity zones in Missoula County. An emerging public-private partnership aimed at funding and constructing bear-resistant garbage enclosures could help ease conflicts with food-seeking bruins. An enclosure built in June at the fishing lodge just west of Huson is a marquee example of the long-lasting structures the group hopes to build more of. And, they say, it shows how private efforts can join with public expertise and grants to accomplish projects more quickly than government action alone. But, group members stressed that their success in Huson was due in part to a fundraising effort that will need more support if more enclosures are to be built. A recent study by the Missoula Bear Smart Working Group found that unsecured garbage is by far the leading cause of human-bear conflicts in the area, accounting for about half of all conflicts. Bear managers and biologists have described an epidemic of bears raiding garbage and coming into conflict with humans, particularly this year, when bears are struggling with a failure of natural foods largely due to an ongoing drought. When local or transient bears find easily accessible garbage, they stick around, said Jamie Jonkel, a Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks bear manager based in Missoula. But if it's secured, they'll move on, likely without conflict. "It's a wildlife bonanza there," said Pat Sweeney of the Ninemile Wildlife Working Group, pointing up at the mountains ringing Huson. Sweeney and Jonkel said that mountains and public lands to the north and south of the Clark Fork pinch together along Interstate 90 near the site at the western outlet of the Missoula valley, making it "a really good movement corridor" for wildlife, including bears. Grizzlies have often passed through the area in recent years, Jonkel said, and black bears are plentiful. Lodge Manager Sheree Baxter described consecutive seasons of bear conflict stretching back years, in which bears outsmarted, or overpowered, improvised deterrence methods. When lodge staff locked shut the lid of their circular plastic dumpster, bears could still knock it over or flex the lid edge up enough to pilfer the contents. So then they attached the dumpster to an upright pole near the entry to the property. No luck. "We tried a lot of things," Baxter said. "They played with that thing like a circus ball ... they played with that thing like it was nothing." In 2021, the lodge made an agreement to keep the dumpster at Larry's Sixmile Bar and Grill about 1.3 miles east in Huson. But that was a temporary fix, Baxter said, and "when Jamie said there were grizzlies, that really woke everybody up." So in early September 2021, Baxter emailed Jonkel seeking help. Republic Services, she wrote, recommended building an enclosure to house the dumpster, but Baxter was struggling to find a contractor and determine what to build. Jonkel stepped in to guide the process, which Baxter said "makes less barrier to entry" for a property owner seeking an enclosure. The lodge dumpster enclosure ended up being a test-piece of sorts for cooperation between Jonkel and Sweeney; Chad Bauer, a municipal market manager for Republic Services; Vance Russell, owner of Flying Arrow Enterprises; Defenders of Wildlife; and Blake Nicolazzo, who worked with Jonkel to start an ongoing GoFundMe to pay for projects. "To me, this is the future," said Nicolazzo, who has a branding and communications firm in Missoula. "We all have to show up the best we can." She said that by taking private donations through GoFundMe, partnering with Defenders of Wildlife for funding, and leaning on the lodge and FWP to cover some of the cost, the collaborative group was able to get the almost $8,000 enclosure paid for and built far quicker than a government agency alone could have. Money, particularly grant funding, she and Jonkel said, is often more readily available to partnerships that show they have the energy and, crucially, the track record to actually execute projects. Materials for the metal enclosure, which is topped by electrified wire, cost about $3,400, Russell said almost three times what they normally cost. Labor, including earthmoving, and the construction of a concrete pad for the enclosure pushed the total cost to just under $8,000. The lodge paid for $3,500 in labor, Defenders paid $1,000, FWP chipped in for electric fencing, and Nicolazzo's GoFundMe money paid the rest. Russell said "there are definitely ways to make it more affordable," noting that the optional concrete pad and sliding cantilever gate raised the cost of this enclosure. Jonkel said that wood sheathing can make similar enclosures look less industrial. Russell noted that "it's just a bulletproof design." Jonkel acknowledged that many people would balk at shelling out thousands of dollars to enclose their garbage bin. But, he said, bear resistant garbage bins with latching lids often stop working after a couple years, and there aren't bear-resistant round dumpsters like the one at the lodge. The enclosure, he said, will last decades: "They are forever, if you maintain them. This is gonna be here long after we're all dead." Jonkel and Nicolazzo said they hope the Huson project will spur more GoFundMe donations, allowing them to tick off more of the 25-plus projects on their list. Jonkel said it was "the perfect first project" to showcase the collaboration, which melded Jonkel's bear expertise, Bauer's consultation on enclosure design and waste removal logistics, Russell's fabrication and construction know-how, Sweeney's local knowledge, and funding from Defenders, Nicolazzo and the property owner. "I love our little motley crew, our partnerships," Nicolazzo said. "We're actually doing it, it feels so good." After stepping into her new position as University of Montana provost just a few months ago, Pardis Mahdavi is diving head first into the job looking to restructure academic programs. Mahdavi showed the faculty senate four organizational models her office is currently considering to consolidate the campus seven colleges into five larger schools in various combinations. Our students have spoken clearly, Mahdavi said. They want more interdisciplinary training and want to understand the linkages between theory and practice. Throughout the semester the provosts office has solicited feedback from faculty in department meetings, surveys and senate meetings. Initial anonymous academic renewal survey results from late September show mixed reviews from the campus community. When asked what excited the faculty about plans to restructure academic programs, some respondents were optimistic about the promise for new interdisciplinary opportunities. If we continue to stay the way we are, we will continue to lose creditability, one commenter wrote. We need and must adapt to the changing world; and we can do so with high regard and respect of our past and present. Others noted their skepticism, and one said there was very little that they were excited about. The new provost seems to be in a decide-announce-defend strategy which is usually reserved for emergency situations, another said. There seems to have been little to no discussion with relevant departments on campus. For those for whom the changes are big and important, at least a discussion would have been useful. Under the current academic structure, students may end up having to add multiple majors and minors to their course loads in order to accomplish their academic goals, she said. Through restructuring Mahdavi aims to build coalitions across disciplines by allowing faculty the choice to affiliate with instruction outside of their current department. Ultimately, her goal is to mold the university into a space that better prepares students for careers in todays tumultuous world. More than a million fewer students were enrolled in college at the start of this year than before the pandemic began, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Enrollment in undergraduate and graduate programs has been trending downward since 2012 as the cost to attend continues to climb and students rack up large sums of debt. Both students and faculty will have the opportunity to engage with different approaches and different disciplinary backgrounds, Mahdavi said. Faculty will get to collaborate with colleagues across campus, perhaps designing new courses and new degrees that are truly interdisciplinary in nature and meet the grand challenges of our time. Faculty can already request joint appointments under the universitys collective bargaining agreement. However the campus is not currently maximizing integrative opportunities for students, Mahdavi said. For example, students who want to pursue game design or sound design have to double major in both computer science and media and design. Though plans for restructuring are still in a draft phase, the provosts office aims to bring the matter to the Board of Regents this academic year. Initially, the goal was to roll out a proposal for the regents meeting next month. But after receiving more feedback than we had anticipated, the provosts office is shooting for meetings in either January or March. We recognize that this is a pretty monumental change and there is no need to rush to failure, Mahdavi said at a recent faculty senate meeting. "Lets take some time to get this right. That said, lets not take two years. Since the faculty survey was conducted, the provosts office has been meeting with departments and programs across campus to gauge their perspectives on restructuring. Plans to reinvent academic organization at the university have been in talks for at least the last decade, Mahdavi said. During the 2018-2019 school year, the university underwent a cost-saving restructure, which consolidated some academic dean positions while Jon Harbor served as provost. Restructuring will not result in budget or staff cuts, Mahdavi said. At this time, no plans to reorganize have solidified and incoming feedback could continue to alter the models that are being considered. The state health department on Tuesday announced it will consolidate contracts for temporary or travel staff at its health care facilities to help reduce costs that have caused a hole in the department's budget. Montana State Hospital, for example, ended the fiscal year $17 million over budget, largely due to reliance on contract staff to fill the hole in employee shortages at the facility. The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services operates multiple facilities, with multiple contracts for companies that provide temporary traveling medical professionals, such as nurses and certified nursing assistants. The new contract, posted to the state procurement website on Tuesday, will consolidate the services under one document. Due to continuous health care workforce shortages, DPHHS facilities must at times leverage travelers to fill our critical staffing needs, DPHHS Director Charlie Brereton said in a press release Tuesday. As part of our ongoing facilities reform, we devised this new approach to allow for a competitive bid process that could result in substantial savings to the state. While utilization of travelers is a longstanding practice that has spanned multiple administrations, the department is committed to ensuring their appropriate use and reevaluating ways to reduce associated costs across our facilities. The new contract will secure services for five state-run facilities: the Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs, Montana Mental Health Nursing Care Center in Lewistown, Intensive Behavior Center in Boulder, Montana Chemical Dependency Center in Butte and the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls. The contract will fall under the oversight of the department's new Healthcare Facilities Division, created under DPHHS' recent reorganization aimed at increasing accountability and attention toward improvements. Brereton said in the press release the department anticipates awarding the contracts in the coming months. Estimated costs for the contracts were not immediately available. In a press release Tuesday, the governor said Montana has agreed to look at developing a regional clean hydrogen hub along with North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Were ramping up American-made energy in Montana, from wind, to oil and gas, to hydropower, to hydrogen, Gov. Greg Gianforte said in a press release. The plan is called the Heartland Hydrogen Hub and would involve states and industry groups coordinating in the fields of agriculture, transportation, national security and clean energy production. The other governors who signed the agreement include North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers. The memorandum of understanding includes "coordinating and developing a regional clean hydrogen hub as contemplated by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act" passed by Congress. The states will develop a proposal to submit to the U.S. Department of Energy to seek federal funding. A couple pleaded guilty Tuesday to mitigated deliberate homicide more than three years after the death of their daughter at their Lockwood home. Ronald Aaron Mink and Laura Elizabeth Mink admitted in Yellowstone County District Court to allowing their infant daughter to go hours without anything to drink and die of dehydration. In early March 2019, Deputies with the Yellowstone County Sheriffs Office responded to a report of an unresponsive child at a home on the 3500 block of Tigard Avenue, according to court documents. They found the 17-month-old girl, identified in court documents as S.M., along with her father Ronald Mink and her 2-year-old brother. S.M. was declared dead at the scene. Laura Mink, the girls mother, arrived at the house after deputies. She told investigators S.M. was diagnosed with hypotonia, a condition that left the child with decreased muscle tone. Her parents were treating her condition by giving her cows milk and a special formula. Ronald Mink told deputies the last time he gave S.M. a bottle to drink was around 8 p.m. the night before she died. The day he found his daughter dead, according to court documents, Ronald Mink assumed his wife had given S.M. another bottle before she left for work. He told investigators he didnt check in on S.M. until 11 a.m., and saw she was unresponsive and her body was stiff. He did not call 911 until 2 p.m. that day, according to phone records. Personnel with Child Family Services took the couples son into protective custody. Within a few weeks, Yellowstone County prosecutors charged Ronald and Laura Minks with deliberate homicide. Both have been in custody in Yellowstone County Detention Facility since March 21, 2021. Earlier this month defense attorneys for the two reached a plea agreement with county prosecutors. In exchange for pleading guilty to mitigated deliberate homicide, Ronald and Laura Mink would be sentenced to 30 years in prison, with five of those years suspended. They would also be ineligible for parole for the first 12 years of their sentence. The couple appeared in person for their change of plea hearing Tuesday. Both were under extreme mental stress, they said while under oath, which caused them to fail to care for their daughter. This neglect led to S.M. dying in her crib of dehydration. After accepting their pleas, Yellowstone County District Judge Mary Jane Knisely said their sentencing hearing will be set for a later date. They will remain in custody at YCDF until then. Child fatalities tracked by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services peaked over the last decade in 2019, according to DPHHS data, with 17 deaths reported. Liam Gallagher has claimed that his brother Noel blocked him from playing an Oasis song at the tribute concert for the late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins. The special concert at Londons Wembley Stadium was put on in honour of Hawkins, who was found dead in his hotel room in Colombia in March. Other performers included Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, comedian Dave Chappelle, musician Nile Rodgers and Californian band Queens of the Stone Age. On Wednesday (19 October), responding to a fan on Twitter whod asked if any Oasis songs would feature in the Knebworth 22 documentary out next month, Liam tweeted: No Oasis songs as the angry squirt has blocked them he also blocked the Oasis I sang for Taylor Hawkins tribute hes a horrible little man. In a follow-up tweeted, he added: You can stop us using the songs but you cant erase our memories shame on you Noel Gallagher. The Independent has contacted both Gallagher brothers for comment. Noel has the rights to many of Oasiss tracks, after the band split in 2009. Liam opened the event in September with renditions of Oasiss 1994 tracks Rock N Roll Star and Live Forever. It is unclear what Oasis song he wanted to perform that he allegedly couldnt. In an interview with The Independent in 2019, Hawkins talked about how he is Team Liam. He is truly one of the last great rock stars, he said. He just f***ing stands there on stage, the bastard, in his parka, eye-balling, with a tambourine that hes not even playing. I just love him. No oasis songs as the angry squirt has blocked them he also blocked the oasis I sang for Taylor Hawkins tribute hes a horrible little man Liam Gallagher (@liamgallagher) October 19, 2022 Last year, Liam suggested that Oasis breaking up helped cement their legacy as one of the greatest British bands of all time. Story continues The rock group split in 2009 after Noels heated confrontation with his younger brother Liam at Rock en Seine festival near Paris. The breakup devastated fans, who have bombarded the brothers with pleas for a reunion ever since. While Liam has supported the idea and tweeted at his brother to get on board, Noel has repeatedly said he is against it. Sara Lawrence, a 2021 graduate of Lake Norman High School, is headed to Reno, Nevada to serve an 18-month mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There are about 54,500 missionaries serving in 411 missions across the U.S. and around the world. Sister Lawrence, as female missionaries are called, will arrive in Nevada in mid-October and will be teaching others about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, studying Scripture and volunteering for community service projects. Lawrence is the third child in her family to serve a mission for the church. Missionaries, who are typically between the ages of 18 and 25, voluntarily serve and provide the financial means to do so, but do not choose the area where they are asked to labor. Her parents, Jennifer and Shane Lawrence, are happy to support her in her desire to share the love of God with others. Jennifer Lawrence said, She has always found ways to perform acts of kindness for family and friends and will now be able to broaden her circle of people to love and serve. Lawrence is excited about her assignment. I am most excited to get to know so many new people, she said, I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and I want to share that message of love with everybody I can. In addition to having a quick wit and fabulous sense of humor, Lawrence is known for being an excellent student and loyal friend. Before graduating high school, she was highly involved in improv groups and theater productions at Lake Norman High School and Masterworks School of the Arts. Before her decision to serve a mission, Lawrence attended Brigham Young University as an elementary education major. She also spent four months in Mexico teaching English to children with a group from International Language Programs. Her family and friends are praying for her and excited to hear about the people she will meet and the experiences she will have while she is a missionary. Visitors are welcome to attend Sunday services at 148 Lazy Lane, Mooresville. Services start at 8:30 and 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Butte police reports No need for help Late Sunday night, police received a call about a woman in an altercation with a man near the intersection of Gold and Montana streets. She was also allegedly walking in and out of traffic. Cindy Alane Charon, 41, of Butte reportedly told officers that she didnt need any help from them and got verbally abusive. Officers felt she was a danger to herself and others and arrested her for misdemeanor disorderly conduct. Attempt to strangle A call came in Monday night about an ongoing argument at the Ramada by Wyndham, 2100 Cornell Ave. A woman told an officer that Ryan Christopher McConnell, 38, of Butte had allegedly pulled her from behind and attempted to strangle her. McConnell was found west of the hotel and was arrested for felony partner or family member assault. Joint effort Jerry William Walker, 52, of Billings reportedly absconded from Yellowstone County. In a joint effort, Adult Probation & Parole and Butte police arrested Walker early Monday afternoon on a $10,000 felony warrant out of Yellowstone County. DUI offenses Brandon Alidor Parrett, 21, of Butte jailed at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday for the misdemeanor offenses of driving under the influence (first offense), no liability insurance in effect, failure to have two headlights and having an open container in the vehicle. Parrett was allegedly driving at a high rate of speed on Mercury Street and an officer pulled him over. He appeared to be intoxicated and failed field sobriety maneuvers. A Breathalyzer indicated he was over the legal limit. Joseph Milton Christieb, 32, of Anaconda was booked and released late Monday afternoon for the misdemeanor offense of driving under the influence (first offense). Simple assault Curtis Delbert Schieve, 40, of Butte was arrested Sunday afternoon on a warrant for misdemeanor simple assault. Several offenses Kenneth Alex Peterson, 42, of Butte was booked into the jail at 4:45 a.m. Wednesday for felony violation of release condition, and three misdemeanor offenses. He was picked up near the intersection of Idaho and Silver streets. Knife allegedly used Late Tuesday night, a woman living in the 3400 block of Sanders Street called 911. When officers arrived, she alleged that Joseph Russell Schelin Jr., 62, of Butte kicked her to the ground and attempted to stab her. The woman reportedly had a laceration on her hand. Schelin was arrested for misdemeanor partner or family member assault with a weapon. MHP arrest While on Browns Gulch Road Monday afternoon, a trooper with the Montana Highway Patrol arrested Scott Damien Ristedt, 38 and homeless, for the felony offenses of theft and displaying plates assigned to another vehicle. Ristedt also had two out-of-jurisdiction warrants out for his arrest. More reports Propane bottles were stolen from Fairmont Estates. A woman heard a single gunshot in the 1800 block of Wilson. Police investigated and no one else in the neighborhood heard the shot and officers couldnt find anything A bike was taken from a residence in the 400 block of North Jackson Street. A person living in the 2200 block of Yale Avenue called to report that someone was shooting at a rabbit. What do the Park Street Parking Garage, a building on South Excelsior Avenue and a wall on N. Montana Street have in common? Theyre all canvases to murals that have been painted during the past few months. The art is part of a $30,000 Superfund Advisory and Redevelopment Trust Authority grant that was awarded to local artist and trained sign painter BT Livermore in spring 2018. Livermore had been living in Butte for a couple of years when he was encouraged by some community members to apply for a SARTA grant to add art to Butte. Eventually, Livermore painted the mural at 109 N. Montana St., the words ITS BETTER IN BUTTE in large letters against a bright yellow and blue background. Livermore likes to think of the murals as a pleasant surprise to passersby going about their lives in town. I think I like creating these sort of hidden gems that brighten your day when you see them, Livermore said. Mine is in an alleyway, and its just kind of a boring, plain alleyway that no one thinks about but now its visible from Montana (Street), so now youre walking down or driving down and boom, its this huge pop of color. The process of getting the murals on walls included meeting with the Butte Historic Preservation Commission and getting its approval for certain walls, then matching that wall with an artist and making sure both they and the building owner are happy with the prospective art. All in all, it took Livermore more than a year to work out the details, and then COVID-19 hit, putting everything on hold. Now, as of September 2022, there are four murals up around town, with another to be added in the spring or summer of 2023. Livermore said one was painted in June, one in July and two in September, including Livermores own. They said that mural took a week 25 total hours to complete. Part of the role of the historic preservation commission is to make sure the murals wouldnt distract or detract from the various historic ghost signs that adorn Uptown Butte, said Julia Crain, Assistant Director of the Butte-Silver Bow Department of Reclamation. Crain is staffed to the SARTA board, and is tasked with administering its grant program, drafting minutes, putting together agendas, and other administrative duties. She said the SARTA board administered 31 grants the year Livermore was awarded the grant, and that the call for application submissions opened in 2017. She said the board approved Livermores application because it liked the investment the murals made in arts and culture in Butte. Its a great way to encourage people to spend time Uptown looking for these murals and enjoying them, she said. The murals are providing an additional experience that makes it exciting for people to be customers in this area. Crain said that everyone who lives in Butte is eligible to apply for grant funds, and that the funds are available to any person, group or business that has a project that benefits the community and economic development Funds have gone toward projects such as healthy food initiatives, investments in local festivals, and the rehabilitation of buildings as well as other parts of Butte. The SARTA Board has a grant application process every two years, with its next funding opportunity being anticipated for winter 2023, according to its website. Missoula artist April Werle, who painted the mural at 327 S. Excelsior Ave., said that Livermore reached out to her via Instagram, where she posted pictures of various murals shed done. Murals are one of Werles main mediums, so she had a lot of experience before painting her mural in Butte. Werles mural is of two hands touching, the fingers meeting in a point, in front of a Filipino sun. The hands are surrounded by tropical foliage and pine needles. Werle herself is Filipino and said that without giving too much away the mural is really centric on the idea of home. She called the mural an ode to the Filipino community. She was born and raised in Montana, but thanks to the community around her, stayed rooted in her culture, which not every Filipino-American may have access to, she said. A lot of kids dont feel connected to our community outside of their own home or community, so if you drive by the mural and you know what it is, you know its for you, she said. While she was painting the mural, a Filipino man stopped by because he noticed the sun immediately, Werle said. So that was exciting. Before COVID, Werle said she had actually designed a different mural for a different wall. When she finally was able to paint her current design at the end of June 2022, she said it rained heavily for two days, and took five days to complete. Werle said she decided to paint the mural for two reasons. One, I really love Butte, she said. I spent a couple summers in Upward Bound in Butte, I had an art teacher in my summers in Butte that played a huge role in my decision to pursue art Glenn Bodish. And two: Im always looking for an opportunity to create cultural representation in the form of public art work, she said. Missoula-based artist Stella Nall and Alaska-based artist Somer Hahm both painted murals in the Park Street Parking Garage. The website for the project, buttemurals.com, is currently under construction. After 11 years, Baron knew the routine. With an oversized cereal box strapped to his back and a Wheaties cap teetering on his head at a jaunty angle, he was ready for St. Helenas one-of-a-kind Pet PAWrade. Last year we were Yogi Bear and Jellystone poeple, said Edie Partridge, the mastermind of the Breakfast of Chompions entry in Saturdays pet parade. We do it every year, and we always do something different and fun. 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. They were accompanied by Edies husband Jim, their friend Anne West, and dogs Baron, Poochie, Boo and Meyli. Wheaties, waffles, syrup, eggs, bacon, puppy-ccino no detail was missed, not even the Photoshopped Chompions spelling on Barons cereal box. It takes a while to plan, Edie Partridge said. I start in the summer. As for the eternal Pet PAWrade question are the dogs really into this? Jim Partridge is realistic. They tolerate it, he said. The winners of the pet parade were: - Best in Show: Run for the Roses - Most Creative Group: Crushing It! - Best Performance: Ouaf-Ouaf - Best Costumed Pet: Top Gun: Terries - Judges Choice: Deer Park or Bust - Honorable Mention: Sven & Her Frozen Gang The Pet PAWrade judges were Mayor Geoff Ellsworth, Patti Coyle, Carolyn Steil, John Harrington and Pat Clarey. Followed immediately by the Harvest Festival, the Pet PAWrade might have been St. Helenas biggest party since the COVID-19 pandemic began more than 2 1/2 years ago. It was more crowded and the costumes even more elaborate than last years event, when the community was still emerging from the pandemic doldrums. Nonprofits and arts and crafts vendors lined Oak Avenue, while the St. Helena Historical Societys Heritage Center offered a sneak peek at the Hilos Visibles (Visible Threads) exhibit honoring local Latino heritage. By the time the fun wound down in the late afternoon, Baron was back to being plain old Baron, Trevi was free from his Prisoner of Love costume, and Blaze had clocked out of his job as a UPS Delivery Dog. The dogs might have merely tolerated it, but the people had a blast. The Orient Express is all about luxury and comfort, but those who hop on board St. Helena Dramas latest production should expect an unsettling, thrilling ride. The student cast and crew of Murder on the Orient Express, which runs Oct. 20-23, say youll never guess the culprit in Ken Ludwigs adaptation of Agatha Christies classic murder mystery, co-directed by students Anna Harrington and April Shaw. The cast and crew features 41 students, so theres no shortage of suspects. 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. Could the killer be Elizabeth Sandoli's loud and obnoxious Helen Hubbard, who reminds Sandoli of her middle school self? Here I am as a level 1 Elizabeth, and when Im playing her I get to be a level 10 Elizabeth, Sandoli said. Or could it be the mysterious and seductive Countess Andrenyi (Nicole Martinez)? I love the costumes, and I also love that shes very elegant, since Im not elegant, Martinez said with a laugh. Also not to be discounted as a suspect is Michel the conductor, played by Josh Johnson in his first main role after years of being involved in St. Helena Drama. Dont expect to like Ewan Olivers character, Samuel Ratchett, an American businessman who does something fairly awful in an early scene. Rhett Ryans Monsieur Bouc, on the other hand, while not the brightest rail on the track, is the kind of guy youd want to grab a cocktail with, said Ryan, who memorably played Uncle Fester in The Addams Family. Boucs character and everyone else for that matter is intellectually inferior to the legendary Hercule Poirot, played by Gabriel DuBois. DuBois role might be the most demanding in the show, and even a lifelong actor like him is challenged by the inevitable scene where Poirot walks the characters and the audience through a tangled trail of clues. Fresh off her performance as the grandmother in The Addams Family, Haven Demchuk is playing another lady of a certain age, Princess Dragomiroff. Accompanied by her neurotic handmaid Greta Ohlsson (Erin Ries), the princess has a cold and regal bearing that Demchuk says takes her out of her comfort zone as an actor. Ries said she finds it easier to play Greta because shes so nervous and Im always nervous onstage anyway. Appearing onstage for the first time is Leo Ambriz-Aguilar, who plays a waiter and a radio operator trying to get in contact with the train. Ive always wanted to be part of Drama going back to middle school, but my schedule didnt allow it, said Ambriz-Aguilar, a senior who worked on the crew of last springs The Addams Family. Being part of it now is all Ive ever wanted. Its so much fun. Murder on the Orient Express" plays for four performances only at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20; 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21; 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23 in the St. Helena Performing Arts Center, 1401 Grayson Ave. The show is suitable for ages 10 and up. Tickets ($20 general/$10 students/seniors) are available at sthelenadrama.com. St. Helena is an amazing town in the heart of the Napa Valley, and we are fortunate enough to call it home. My family has been here for 50 years now, and while that is not a lot of time relative to many here, this community welcomed us here in 1972 and we have become an integral part of it. I am thankful for this strong sense of belonging and for the connections made over these five decades. We have a very important decision to make in this election in terms of the direction that we want our town to take. Do we want to stay true to our roots (we are an agricultural community, after all), retaining that which makes St. Helena special while allowing for the improvements that any entity requires to successfully evolve? Or do we want to see our small, rural, historic community change dramatically and become subject to excessive commercialization and development? I choose the former vision, which is why I am supporting Paul Dohring for mayor of St. Helena. Paul has a great deal of experience in our city government, and beyond this he and his wife, Kara, who teaches in our public schools, have lived here for 31 years. They are a part of the fabric of our community, and they care about St. Helena in its most authentic sense. They raised their children here, and Kara has taught and influenced many children in this community (among them ours). Having this deep sense of St. Helena is, to me, critical, as it allows one to make decisions based upon what is best for the long-term health of our town, balancing our need to evolve with our need to retain the special small-town qualities which make us unique. In my view, a pro-development stance is not what we need or want. Bringing in significant commercialization and development is not necessary in terms of city funding for needed infrastructure and maintenance the funds are currently available and with the pandemic in check, work can and will proceed. Significant development would dramatically alter St. Helena. We need to evolve in a thoughtful, measured manner. This more aggressive development stance supported by Pauls opponent is also, I feel, reflected in the excessive number of signs placed around town supporting him, both on private and public properties. And in ongoing forums at the Cameo. I value a more subtle, balanced approach to our local elections, as it is more in keeping with the St. Helena I know. As mayor, Paul will help us thrive while protecting St. Helena's unique character. He has been on our City Council for eight years, four of them as vice mayor. He embodies our shared values of balanced growth with preservation of what makes St. Helena special, which is our rural, small-town character coupled with a nice level of sophistication. Finally, if you like both candidates, please vote for Paul for mayor. If he wins, both Paul and Eric remain on the council. If Eric wins, Paul will no longer have a seat on our council. This would be a tremendous loss, as Pauls experience and institutional knowledge are of great value to us. Thank you for your time and consideration. Beth Novak Milliken Spottswoode Winery President & CEO The St. Helena Star editorial board unanimously endorses Cecilia Aguiar-Curry for Assembly District 4. Aguiar-Curry is a hard-working and passionate public servant with an outstanding track record as an effective policy-maker and leader in Sacramento. Our choice was made easy both by her competence and by the contrast with her opponent, who lacks experience. Our endorsement approach is to conduct a sort of job interview, boiling down to the essential question: Why should the voters hire YOU to represent them? We ask both candidates similar questions, designed to show us their grasp of the job and the districts issues, their record of relevant experience, their competence at solving problems effectively, and a host of other qualities. The incumbent for Assembly District 4 is Aguiar-Curry of Winters, whom this board has endorsed since she was elected to her first two-year term in 2016. The challenger is Bryan Pritchard, a St. Helena resident who is a newcomer to politics. In our "job interviews" with these two candidates last week, Aguiar-Curry demonstrated a strong advantage in experience, readiness, problem-solving, and proven ability to serve. As demanding as it is to serve on a city council or school board, the bar for a paid, professional, highly consequential regional position such as being a member of the assembly is significantly higher. Aguiar-Curry clears that bar with room to spare. Aguiar-Curry takes her job personally. That deep sense of commitment is evident when she talks about issues like telehealth which she was working on well before the pandemic and rural broadband access. Aguiar-Curry is the type of policy wonk who understands politics. Since urban areas wield disproportionate clout in the Legislature, Aguiar-Curry has built relationships with elected representatives of those areas. She teaches them about issues that matter in rural areas like ours, and in return she lends an ear when they seek her support for a bill thats important to them. Shes worked with everyone from State Senator Bill Dodd and Rep. Mike Thompson earning their endorsements to community stakeholders around Clear Lake. Aguiar-Curry has taken a personal interest in leveraging state aid in hopes of improving the lakes clarity. That bipartisan approach extends into the state Capitol, where Aguiar-Curry has collaborated with Republicans on projects like Californias cap-and-trade program. Aguiar-Curry said her prior experience as mayor of Winters, where she worked on economic development, helped her hone her ability to bring people together in pursuit of a shared goal. That experience is lacking in her Republican challenger. A winemaker, Pritchard has a decent grasp of key issues like water and agriculture, but he doesnt have the professional experience necessary to solve those problems through the political process. Pritchards criticisms of establishment politics can be scattershot. At one point he said remaining in office for an extended period of time makes officials corrupt, but when we pressed him he conceded that was maybe not the right word. He also criticized politicians for taking winery money moments before touting his own winery donors. He casts himself as a moderate, but he showed little interest in calling out the Republican Partys more extreme elements. Aguiar-Curry aced her job interview. She has our whole-hearted endorsement. (The original version of this editorial incorrectly stated that Lake County is predominantly Republican.) Napa County supervisors named Planning, Building and Environmental Services Director David Morrison as the interim county executive officer until they can permanently fill the position. The Board of Supervisors made the move on Tuesday. In other actions, supervisors acknowledged receiving an automatic 1.8% pay raise. 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. On July 28, the board dismissed previous CEO Minh Tran. Assistant CEO Becky Craig has since filled in with the title of acting CEO. Craig said she needs help in the CEOs office, which is adjusting and rebuilding. For example, it will soon have new employees to fill vacant posts and that will require her attention. I would like to be able to spend time with them, to be able to get them up to speed and hit the ground running, she said. Also, one of Craigs primary duties is helping to prepare the county budget. That work begins in earnest in January. With Tuesdays action, she is once again assistant CEO. Morrison described his role as a partnership and himself as being on temporary loan as interim CEO. Meanwhile, Planning, Building and Environmental Services Assistant Director Brian Bordona will take over leadership in that department on an interim basis. I am deeply humbled by this opportunity, to be considered this afternoon, Morrison told supervisors. Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza praised Craig. Youve done a phenomenal job, he told her. You stepped up at the moment when this county needed you most. He also praised Morrison. I think youre the right person for us at the right time, said Pedroza. Both Morrison and Craig have told the Board of Supervisors they will not be candidates for the permanent position, a county news release said. A county report called Morrison a seasoned department head who has the knowledge, interest and ability to lead the organization. Once the county finds a new CEO, he will resume his post as planning director. Riverside announces former Napa CEO Tran will take job Former Napa County CEO Minh Tran is to work for Riverside County. Why did Napa County give him severance pay? Morrison, 61, took the Planning, Building and Environmental Services post in 2014. He has had a high-profile role in many wine country issues, from the Walt Ranch vineyard project to groundwater to changes in conservation law. Morrison earned a $236,000 base salary in 2021, according to Transparent California. He will receive a temporary 10% salary increase while serving as interim CEO. Also Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors dealt with supervisor salaries on the consent calendar, which is reserved for items expected to be non-controversial and not needing discussion. Board of Supervisors salaries are set by county law at 47.09% of that of the states Superior Court judges. When the state grants judges a raise, county supervisors automatically see their own pay increase. On July 22, the county received notice that Superior Court salaries had risen 1.8% effective July 1. Supervisors on Tuesday amended the countys salary table to reflect this. The biweekly salary rose from $4,053 to $4,149, to $107,874 annually. That is a base salary and doesnt include such things as medical and pension benefits and car and cellphone allowances, which can total $20,000 to $50,000 annually, depending on the supervisor. Supervisors set their raises on autopilot years ago, settling on the current formula in 2005. A county report called Tuesdays recognition of the higher salary a mandatory action. Yolo County reports its supervisors make a base salary of $90,029 annually. Contra Costa County supervisors make 65% of a judge salary, or about $148,000 annually. Sonoma County supervisors in 2021 earned $161,000. Napa Countys highest-paid employee in 2021 was former CEO Tran, who had a base salary of $306,404. More than 350 of about 1,500 Napa County employees had higher base pay than county supervisors, according to Transparent California. Updated at 2:17 p.m. Wednesday A Napa County jury on Monday returned a $4.35 million verdict against a State Farm Insurance company agent, agreeing that the agent was negligent when she failed to increase the coverage for a Silverado homeowner before the Atlas Fire five years ago. 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. The homeowners, Jack and Gayle Daniels, lost their dream home at 114 Westgate Drive in the wildfire, one in a cluster of infernos that erupted across the North Bay on the night of Oct. 8, 2017. Nine days before the Atlas Fire, on Sept 29, 2017, they called their St. Helena State Farm agent, Alyssa Samrick, to update her on the final costs of a remodel, with their understanding that their insurance coverage would be appropriately increased. However, the policy was not increased before the fire, leaving the couple grossly underinsured, according to the complaint. In October 2018, the Danielses filed a complaint against Samrick and State Farm, claiming negligence and breach of duty. Almost exactly five years later, a jury reached its decision. Their State Farm agent Samrick was negligent. Its an important decision, said Kevin Pollack, attorney for Jack and Gayle Daniels. Insurance companies cant treat customers this way. They market themselves as being there to protect their customers. Thats not what happened here. According to Pollacks research, the cost to fully compensate the Danielses for their economic loss totaled $13.13 million. State Farms coverage totaled $2.99 million. The insurer ultimately paid the Danielses a total of $3.49 million. The jury awarded the Danielses $4.35 million. (Prior claims paid to the Danielses will be deducted from that amount.) The Danielses also claimed that they suffered emotional distress from losing their home and all of its contents. Forced to flee the fire, they were lucky to escape with their lives, said the complaint. However, the jury rejected damages for emotional distress for both Jack and Gayle Daniels. It found that Samrick bore 51% of the responsibility for the harm to the couple. At the same time, the jury found the Danielses were 49% responsible. Pollack said he absolutely disagreed with that assessment. There could be an appeal on that legal issue, he said. At the end of the day, my clients had a 50-year relationship with State Farm and were told they could trust the agency, and thats not what happened, said Pollack. Im thankful my clients can move past this now, he added. The Danielses currently live in another state, but plan to rebuild their Silverado home. It was very difficult to remain in Napa after the fire, Pollack said. The Danielses had been State Farm customers for about 50 years, the majority of that time with the same St. Helena office. A representative for State Farm could not immediately be reached to comment for this story. Samrick sent a statement to the Napa Valley Register by email: "The Daniels have been compensated for their claim, which is included in the awarded amount and this case is still pending." According to her website, Samrick has been an agent for 14 years. Her office is now located in Napa. Underinsurance became a critical issue after the 2017 wildfires in Northern California. According to one survey by the nonprofit United Policyholders, 64% of respondents reported they did not have enough insurance to cover the cost of repairing, replacing or rebuilding their homes after the fires. As wildfires continue to burn in parts of the United States, state public health officials and experts are increasingly concerned about residents chronic exposure to toxin-filled smoke. 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. This year has seen the most wildfires in the past decade, with more than 56,000 fires burning nearly 7 million acres nationwide, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. While the total area burned is less than in some recent years, heavy smoke has still blanketed countless communities throughout the country. Climate change is causing more frequent and severe wildfires, harming Americans health, pointed out Dr. Lisa Patel, deputy executive director at the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, which raises awareness about the health effects of climate change. The data we have is very scary, she said. We are living through a natural experiment right now weve never had fires this frequently. Patel sees the effects of wildfires in her work as a practicing pediatrician at Stanford Medicine Childrens Health, treating more women and underweight and premature infants at the neonatal intensive care unit when wildfires rage in Northern California. As researchers focus on the public health impacts of wildfire smoke, state health and environmental officials across the country have had to issue more air quality notices and provide guidance and shelter for residents struggling during periods of heavy wildfire smoke. And as experts have found, this issue isnt isolated to the West Coast it hurts more residents in the Eastern U.S. Studies show that chronic exposure to wildfire smoke can cause asthma and pneumonia, and increase the risk for lung cancer, stroke, heart failure and sudden death. The very old and very young are most vulnerable. Particulates in wildfire smoke are 10 times as harmful to childrens respiratory health as other air pollutants, according to a study in Pediatrics last year. What concerns experts is particulate matter in the air smaller than 2.5 microns across; there are around 25,000 microns in an inch. People inhale these microscopic bits, which then can embed deep in their lungs, irritating the lining and inflaming tissue. The particles are small enough to get into a persons bloodstream, which can lead to other short- and long-term health effects. Particulates in wildfire smoke are even hindering national progress on reducing air pollution, after decades of improvement. The federal Clean Air Act has substantially decreased the level of toxic particles from industrial and automotive pollution across the country since 1970, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes. But air pollution is expected to worsen in parts of the West because of wildfires, some researchers have found. A United Nations report earlier this year warned of a global wildfire crisis, saying the probability of catastrophic wildfires could increase 57% by the end of the century. Researchers are trying to better understand how more frequent wildfires affect human biology. Keith Bein, associate professional researcher at UC Davis, created a rapid-response mobile research unit in 2017 that he deploys when there are fires around the state. Hes like a storm chaser, but for wildfires. Napa County to spend money on wildfire prevention Napa County plans to provide wildfire fuel removal money, though officials said there will be a cost to other projects. With his mobile unit, Bein can measure particulate matter in the air, take samples back to his lab and then determine their toxicology and chemical composition. When near these fires, he said, the smoke is so bad that it feels like theres no escaping it. The smoke rolls in, and you get that sinking feeling all over again, he said. Massive wildfires that tear through communities are becoming more common. The fires arent just burning trees but also synthetic materials in homes. And with repeated exposure to different particulates, health risks are more pronounced and can evolve into chronic conditions, Bein said. Researchers are just beginning to understand how more frequent wildfires in residential areas impact human health, he added. Its happening more frequently every summer, he said. The length of the fires is growing. The public exposure to the smoke is also growing. Once-in-a-lifetime events are happening every summer. This is a different kind of exposure. In 2020, a study in Environment International found that winter influenza seasons in Montana were four to five times worse after bad wildfire seasons, which typically last from July until September. The findings shocked the study's lead author Erin Landguth, an associate professor at the University of Montana. We know that hospitalizations for asthma and other respiratory conditions spike within days or weeks of wildfires, she said. The thought that this could potentially lead to effects later and how that can affect our immune system is really scary. Landguth is currently expanding her study to all Western states. She expects to find a similar trend throughout the Mountain West and Pacific Northwest. Monsoon season in Arizona and New Mexico may disrupt the trend there, she said, while air pollution is already so bad in California from smog and other pollutants that it might be difficult to pinpoint how wildfires are harming human health. But wildfires are not just in the West, nor is their health impact geographically isolated. Some fires burn so intensely at such high temperatures that smoke rises into the atmosphere, where strong winds can carry the smoke long distances. This was glaringly apparent in 2021 when the sun glowed red, and the sky hazed over New York City and throughout the Northeast, as smoke drifted from massive wildfires in California, Oregon and other Western states. That smoke is hurting the health of more people in the Eastern U.S. than it is in the West, said Katelyn ODell, a postdoctoral research scientist at George Washington University, who released that finding in a study in GeoHealth in 2021. Wildfire smoke contributed to more asthma-related deaths and hospital visits in Eastern communities than those in the West, she and other researchers found, in part because of higher population density. The smoke hitting the Eastern U.S. doesnt just come from the West; there are wildfires and prescribed burns throughout the country, said ODell. Its sometimes easy to feel distant from fires and their impacts when youre far from the flames of these large Western wildfires that are in the news, she said. But wildfires impact the health of the U.S. The next orange sunset people enjoy should be a moment to check an air quality mobile app, she said. In Minnesota, the state has issued 46 air quality alerts since 2015, according to the states Pollution Control Agency. Of those, 34 were due to wildfire smoke, and 26 of those were issued last year. That took state officials by surprise, said Kathy Norlien, a research scientist at the Minnesota Department of Health. The wildfire smoke risk is not just coming from the plumes that drift from the West Coast and Canada, but also from wildfires in the Boundary Waters a lake-filled region in the northern stretches of the state. She expects the problem to worsen in the coming years. At this point, were planning for the worst-case scenario, she said. We have not had the extent that the Western states have had. But with climate change and concern over drought and the dry conditions, planning is of the utmost importance. She meets regularly with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and other state officials about how to get the message to state residents about the increasing wildfire risk to public health, encouraging residents to sign up for air quality alerts. State officials also have established larger community centers and buildings as safe air shelters. The public plays an enormous role in both preventing (nearly 90% of wildfires are caused by humans, according to U.S. governmental data) and adapting to wildfires, many experts say. For people living in fire-prone areas, there are nonflammable building materials for new homes and indoor air purifiers and upgraded climate-control systems. But these solutions may be too costly for some families, said Patel, of Stanford Medicine. She counsels families about how to affordably stay safe during wildfire season, encouraging the use of N95 and KN95 masks, which were pivotal in combating the spread of the coronavirus. She also shares designs for do-it-yourself air filtration systems. But she emphasized that wildfires will continue to rage across the country and cause adverse health effects unless climate change is reined in through serious public policy. Until then, climate change will continue to be the biggest threat to public health, she said. Summer used to be a time Id look forward to, she said, but now I look at it with dread with the heat and wildfires. British company Babcock promotes its Arrowhead 140 frigate for the international market at Euronaval 2022, a naval defense exhibition in Paris, France. The vessel is a highly adaptable, flexible, affordable frigate platform that can be accommodated with multiple combat system options and multiple weapon choices according to modern Navy requirements. Babcock displays a scale model of its Arrowhead 140 frigate at Euronaval 2022, International Naval Defense Exhibition in Paris, France. (Picture source Navy Recognition) The Arrowhead 140 frigate was selected by the British Royal Navy for the Type 31 program as well as for a naval program in Poland and Indonesia. The design of Babcocks Arrowhead 140 frigate originates from an air defense frigate, but is able to change operational role rapidly depending upon capability needs and will meet naval requirements both now and in the future. It is a multi-mission surface combatant capable of conducting AAW (Anti Air Warfare), ASuW Anti-surface warfare, ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) and EW (Electronic Warfare) operations and is operationally proficient in both blue water and littoral areas. Based on Arrowhead 140, Babcock can build modern platforms that navies can use to tailor to their own specifications and when you add world-leading experience in naval platform in-service support with a deep understanding of support cost drivers, the Babcock team offers a glimpse into an exciting new world of UK and international ship build delivery and intelligent ship support with Arrowhead 140. Babcock has also optimized the design of the Arrowhead 140 to reduce maintenance costs, minimize the potential risks during missions and operate in adverse environmental conditions. In terms of technical features, the Arrowhead 140 has an overall length of 138.7 m, a maximum beam of 19.8m, and a design draft of 4.8m. She has a displacement of 5,700 tons. The vessel is designed to carry more than 160 people but she can be operated with a minimal crew of 80-100. The Babcock Arrowhead 140 frigate is equipped with a Thales tactical information and command system (TACTICOS) that combines Combat Operations and Maritime Security Operations in one CMS (Combat Management System). The TACTICOS technology is used on board more than 200 ships (from small patrol craft to full-size frigates and destroyers) operated by 25 navies. Those include the U.S. Navy as well as navies in Asia, Europe, the Gulf region, Latin America, the Middle East, and North Africa. The adaptable platform means that naval forces may choose alternative systems using indigenous capabilities and combat systems, Babcock is able to accommodate multiple combat system options and multiple weapons choices. The propulsion system of the Arrowhead 140 frigate is a CODAD (Combined diesel and diesel) type including four MTU 20V 8000 M71 (8.2 MW) diesel engines and MTU 16V 2000 M41B (900 kW) generators. The vessel can reach a top speed of 28 knots (52 km/h) with a maximum endurance of 9,000 nautical miles (17,000 km). The weapon systems of Type 31 include VLS (Vertical Launching System) Sea Ceptor anti-air missiles, a Bofors 57mm Mk 110 main gun, two 40mm Mk 4 secondary guns, four 7.62mm machine guns, and four 7.62mm miniguns. But according to customers requirements, the main weapon systems can be adapted using different types of missiles and main guns. The Baku Court of Appeal decided to suspend the proceedings against human rights defenders Leyla and Arif Yunus. However, this decision does not exempt them from criminal prosecution, Turan reports. Human rights defenders Leyla Yunus, director of the Institute for Peace and Democracy, and her husband Arif Yunus were arrested in the summer of 2015 on charges of economic crimes and treason against the homeland. On August 13, 2015, Leyla Yunus was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison and Arif Yunus received seven years in prison. The spouses denied the charges, claiming the political nature of the case. After protests by international organizations on December 9, 2015. On December 9, 2015, the Baku Court of Appeals commuted the sentence of the Yunus spouses to a suspended sentence of five years each. On April 19, 2016, the spouses left Azerbaijan for medical treatment with the consent of the court. In the same year, the Supreme Court returned the case for review by the appellate court, but due to the absence of the convicts, the review was postponed. Today, the Baku Court of Appeal suspended the proceedings due to the impossibility to consider the case due to the absence of the Yunus spouses. According to lawyer Elchin Sadigov, the defense insisted on considering the case with the participation of the defendants online. The defense insisted on the termination of criminal proceedings on exculpatory grounds. However, the court rejected the petition and did not withdraw the arrest from the apartment of the couple's daughter. As the lawyer explained, despite the termination of the proceedings, the criminal prosecution of the spouses Yunus has not been withdrawn. The proceedings may be resumed if they arrive in Azerbaijan or submit a request for their arrest abroad and extradition to Azerbaijan. We note that the Yunus spouses were granted political asylum in the Netherlands. The European Court of Human Rights had earlier ruled that persecution of the Yunus couple was unlawful. They were found to be in violation of their rights under Article 18 (the limits of the use of restrictions) of the European Convention, that is, for political reasons. The case of the Yunus spouses is in the "Anar Mammadli group," the activists, whose full acquittal by the Strasbourg court decision is insisted upon by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The nuclear escalation of the nearly eight-month conflict in Ukraine can only be the beginning of a global battle, New York University business professor Nouriel Roubini said, who predicted the 2008 crisis. According to him, the world could also witness a nuclear conflict in Iran and, what worries the U.S. the most, China's war over Taiwan. He argues that there is already a cold war between the U.S. and China that could escalate into a "hot war" as President Xi Jinping seeks to unite China and Taiwan. "In some sense, World War III has already started, Roubini said. It started in Ukraine because this conflict has broader implications that go well beyond Russia and Ukraine. Its the beginning of something else. Speaking to Yahoo Finance, Roubini emphasized the geopolitical threats and what he calls the new Cold War that has erupted between the United States and China, as well as between the West and the "revisionist" powers, including Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and Pakistan. "They're essentially challenging the economic, social, and geopolitical order that the U.S., and Europe, and the West created after World War II, Roubini said, explaining this crisis could ensnare the U.S. According to Roubini, in addition to Ukraine, another hot spot could be Iran. "The negotiations between the U.S. and Iran on the new nuclear deal are not going anywhere, and Israel is saying if [Iran is] going to become nuclear and they're one step away from it we're going to attack them, Roubini said. At the same time, the U.S. and China are on a collision course as the two countries continue to clash on fronts from trade to labor and technology movement. "I believe the next 5-10 years is going to be the time where theres going to be a confrontation between the U.S. and China on the issue of Taiwan and that could be a trigger of this cold war becoming a hot war, he said. Thats how we get to World War III.